The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-31 00:00:00

Sl7 N 7 DECEMBER 31, 1846.

national debt by the sum he had mentioned in order to
ransack the world for food, and buy it up at any price.
—(Cheers.) Yes, that was his plan. He was sneered
' at and laughed at because he bad suggested such a plan,
but he would demonstrate that England, since the union,
owed Ireland 60,000,0001.—actually 60,000,0001.—50
that they had been defrauded of that sum. They might
laugh as they pleased, but when they laughed and sneered
' at him tor making such a proposition, he would remind
them that at the time of the union, Ireland owed but
20,000,000/, and England owed 446,000,000. He wished
the meeting to mark the difference; and how, he asked,
could anything be more unjust then to make Irelan
liable for half the 446,000,000, one penny of which the)
did rot owe, and one penny of which they would nott,
owe if they had an Irish Parliament.—(Cheers.) They
were perfectly wiling to pay their own debt, and even
;n the worst of time‘, if not cramped and crushed by
the blighting union, would have b, en able to pay it.—
(Bear, hear.) lie woul I remind the English pres 3 which
so cautiously and studiously avoided all mention of that
fact, that the debt had been since increased to
800,000,000, and the English Parliament had continued
to saddle Ireland with an undue proportion. If at the
time of the union, the Irish debt were only 20.000,000 L,
and that of England 446,000,000/., it was reasonable to
expfct that the debt of England having since increased
to nearly double the amount, the increase of the Irish
debt would have been is the same ratio. Why did not
the English press take notice of that fact? It was one
that could not be denied, and it was one which marked 1
as strongly as any other feature, the accursed effects of
the legislative union.—(Cheers.) If two men were get-
ting into partnership, one owing 20,000/, and the other
nearly half a million, could anything be more ludicrous
than that the man owing the large amount should say
to the other, " I will take you into partnership, and
make myself liable beside for half your debt of twenty
thousand?" " Why, you are very generous and good,"
would be the natural reply. "Yes, but if," he added,
" you must make yourself liable _for half my 446 thou-
sand," would not the natural impulse be to kick such a
dishonest man out?"-(Laughter.) The principle was
Mahe as That was precisely he way.,as regarded the
financial robbery of Ireland by England. That was the
position of th, two countries.—(Hear.) England should
lint flatter herself they forgot or forgave it. To for
give' it ,they were ready, if she came_ forward to save
the country ; but forget, they never could, till they
' had a-Parliament in College-greeh to take the seal
off the bond.—(Loud cheers.) . The Hen Gentle-
man then adverted to the secession from the association,
and repeated what he had so frequently urged on the
subject. He commented on the obstinacy of Mr. Smith
O'Brien in refusing to agree to a conference to decide
,the " legal question," which formed the sole matter of
dispute between the seceders and the association. It
was not, however, to be wondered at that Mr. Smith
`O'Brien should prove so pertinacious, when it is recol-
fleeted with what obstinacy he opposed the entreaties of
*'the Irish on the question of atteneance on Parliamentary
committees. In spite of every entreaty he persisted,
and the consequence was that he got locked up in jail.
'He did not go there in vindication of any public prin-
' 'ciple, but solely to indulge a whim of fancy, and for his
pains he was laughed at by the whole House of Com-
'„ mons. The present was the last saccasion on which he
'should advert to the " secession' or the seceders. It
'appeared as if Mr. Smith O'Brien was walking in the
steps of Mr. Feargus O'Connor, who had ruined the
dorm party by his inculcation of the principles of
`physical force. But he would assure Mr. O'Brien that
'ho should not destroy the Repeal Association by any
such means. The Association now stood on a fair and
-intelligible basis, which he trusted the machinations of
-the evil disposed would never he able to shake. In con-
clusion, he announced that it was the intention of the
Association, before the end of the week, to issue an
address to the people to give up all force and violence,
and to abstain from plundering property, and interfering
with the transmission of provisions ft om place to place.
Mr. J. MOLLOY, barrister, read the following petition
to the Legislature on the subject of Irish distress ;
" The petition of the undersigned members of the Loyal
National Repeal Association of Ireland,
" Humbly showeth,—That in this, the 46th year of
.thennion, life and property in Ireland are rendered in-
secure by distress and destitution of the most appalling
Nature, the horrors of which are aggravated from the
consciousness that none bat an Irish Parliament can be
expected to have the local knowledge and intimate local
interest requisite for devising adequate means of relief,
" That fur eight months to elapse, until the harvest of
-1847 relieves their immediate wants, 4,000,000 of the
'lrish people must be mainly supported upon the grain
supplies imported from foreign countries, or the British
colonies ; and that the Executive does not appear to
have as yet estimated and provided against the deficiency
of food for such a lengthened period.
"That the merchants of Great Britain and Ireland
cannot procure sufficient freightage to transport the re
quisite supply of bread-stuffs to the Irish ports.
" That the suspension of the navigation laws, probi•
biting importation in foreign bottoms, would do muck
to supply the deficiency in tonnage requisite for the
transport.
**That several of her Majesty's frigates and war-
steamers, now lying idle in dock or elsewhere, might be
usefully freighted for that purpose, with the collateral
advantage to the state of keeping able seamen in em-
ployment.
" That the Lords of the Treasury should purchase and
store food at convenient depots, such food to be trans-
mitted with dispatch to the districts where food has
risen to famine prices.
" Therefore your petitioners humbly pray that the
navigation laws be forthwith suspended, and that such
vessels of her Majesty's navy as shall be deemed requi- '
site for the purpose shell be made available to the mer-
cantile interest, or in their default to the Lords of the
Treasury, for the prompt importation of the required
supplies of food, and that depots thereof be formed at
convenient places for sale below famine prices, in order
to mitigate, in so far as human efforts may, the fearful
calamity with which it has pleased Divine Providence,
for its own wise purposes, to afflict Ireland.
" An I your petitioners will ever pray."
Mr. JOHN O'Coseetr,, M P., in bringing up a second
report of the Parliamentary Committee, took occasion to
advert to the very laudable anxiety which existed to lay
the foundation of a peasant proprietary in Ireland, The
Morr.ing Chronicle had assumed that the former report
of Captain Broderick should be]looked upon as the mani-
festo of the association on the sul)ject, to which every
member of it should consider himself pledged. In prais-
ing a considerable portion of that report, the Morning
Chronicle complained that it did not go far enough in its
recommendations as to what was to be done with the
waste lands. But that report was merely the first of a
series, and did not profess to dispose of the matter en-
tirely. The Honourable Gentleman reiterated the de-
mand of Mr. O'Connell for a loan of 30,000,000/. insist-
ing that, in strict justice, England ought to confer that.
suns as a gift on Ireland, in consideration of the fioan •
cial injustices committed on her since the Union.
At the conclusion of the proceedings the rent for the
week was announced to be 571. 7s. 4d.
The meeting then adjourned.

THE LATE TREASURY MINUTE.
LETTER OF MR. MORE O'FERRALL, M.P.

The Dublin Evening Post says :—The following is
the letter alluded to in the Treasury Minute of the Ist
of December, addressed to Colonel Jones by Mr. B.
More O'Ferrall, M.P. :

"Dublin, Nov. 9, 1846.
" Sir—l address you, as First Commissioner of Public
Works, on a subject relating to the reproductive em-
ployment of the labouring classes, although the decision
of the question with which I shall conclude belongs ex
elusively to her Majesty's Government. That decision
may be influenced by your report on the validity of the
grounds which I allege in favour of my views, and,
therefore, it may save time to address the Government
through you.
" The magistrates, rate-payers, and principal pro-
prietors of the barony of Carbery, county of Kil-
dare, having, at meetings assembled by public no-
tice, taken into consideration the several Acts
passed in the last session of Parliament for.
the promotion of employment among the labour
ing classes, and having given full consideration to Mr.
Labouchere's letter, unanimously resolved to act under
the 9th Vic. cap. 4, commonly called the provision for
summary proceedings to facilitate drainage, which was
passed, as stated in the words of the title, To afford
facilities for Increased Employment for the Labouring
Classes in Works of Drainage during the present year.'
It received the royal assent on the sth of March, 1846,
and expires in August, 1847. I request your attention to
the words of the 45th clause—' And whereas, by reason
of the failure or destruction of a portion of the potato
crop of the last season in Ireland, there is reason to ap-
prehend that in certain districts great distress may,
during the ensuing spring and summer, prevail among
the labouring classes of the population, and it is expe-
dient, with the view to alleviate such distress, by provi-
sions of a more summary nature than hereinbefore con.
tained, to give for part of the present year increased
facilities and powers for commencing, without delay, and
carrying on various works of utility connected with the
drainage and improvement of lands in such districts,
whereby remunerative employment may he afforded to
the labeuring classes. Be it therefore enacted, &c.,
"It appeared to the meetings that this Act was ad
mirably framed to effect the object of speedy and remu-
nerative employment ; that under its provisions pro-
perty would be better protected; that public loans would
be better secured, and greater facility afforded for re-
payment of principal and interest than by the plan pro-
posed for reproductive emplo)rnent—by drainage and
sub-soiling, under the terms of Mr. Labotich.-re's letter,
That the provisions of the Act of Parliament being
clear and precise. no delay could arise from mistakes of
form, and no impediment intervene from want of suffi-
cient authority, and, consequently, that the unemployed
would be sooner set to work than if we held sessions
under the 9th and 10th Vic., cap. 107, commonly called
The Useless Employment Act.' At each of the meet•
ings above referred to, a number of applications under
the 9th Vic., cap. 4, were signed and transmitted toyour
office, amounting to 21, for opening the main outfalls of
all the lands of the barony, which comprises 38,352
arable statute acres.

" You are aware that the barony of Carbery is
boundPd by the rivers Boyne and Black water, and that
the latter has been opened under the provisions of the
sth and 6th Vic., cap. 89, at an expense under 10,0001.,

PRICR SD.

and that the Boyne is now in progress on an estimate of
26,0001.

" The object of the proprietors is, therefore, to take
advantage of the means to improvement afforded by
these two great works, and by opening up the small tri •
butaries through every part of the barony, to enable all
the land to be thorough drained to a depth of three feet.
The great impediment to drainage hitherto in fl it coon-
trics, has been the want of suffici.nt outfall, or the power
to maintain it if once established.

" The drainage Acts of :he sth and Gth Viotoria, cap.
89, and 9AI Victoria, cap. 4, have fully and beneficialy
supplied these advaNtgges—the latter of All connut
be obtained for drainagtsfexecutrdPilt.dfr Mr. Lab,n-
chere's h tter.r

" Many thousands of pouPda Imre been wasted or
drainage in Ireland from the want of -eo-oreration on at]
ext,rd«d scale to maintain the outialls.

" Unfounded apprehensions prevailed as to the ex-
pense of works otatated usitier.,the-./3-;ara of W..rks,
which the experience of the Moak, on Wackwater in
some Inejtsurt, removed, and a disposition pryvaits to
have-the. smaller woi Its executed under the sante sup%r-
inteLdenee. The higillgiime,otkaterest charged for loans
under the 9th Vic., cap. 4, still offers some impediment ;
but I have strong hopes that when the proprietors con-
sider calmly the amount of expein iture proposed, coin
pared with the benefits to he conferred, they will give a
ready assent to most. if not all, the works now undei
survey. You will observe that the sinking of the outfails
is only a preparatory w,,rk to the large and useful under
taking of thorough drainage.
" The sinking of the outfalls, if generally assented to,
may occupy our surplus labour about six months ; but
the thorough drainage will aff ,rd employment for soma
years with large profit, when conducted under a prop. r
system. .

" There are many matters of an engineering and agri-
cultural character which will require close and careful
consideration before we can undertake the rough drain-
age on a large scale ; and. therefore, it is desirable to
make all necessary inquiries while the outtalls are it.
progress, to enable us to come to a satisfactory d. cision
.without unnecess3ry hiss of time.
"-If thorough-drainage is carried on simultaneously
on each estate, the charge for the bfst professional advice
will amount to a small contribution from each proprietor.
Tile manufactdrers; Of skill and experience, will be in-
duced to establish Works by the large and constant de-
mand, and can afford to sell them at a .Very moderate
pric-, from the low ccst at which peat fuel can be sup-
plied, which will again afford employment for a etas,- 0•
labour unsuited to the more skilled operations of thorough
drainage. A system of general employment and improve-
ment will tend to establish a market value for labour in
the district, according to its quality, raising the intelli-
gent and industrious man from a class in which there is
no emulation, because there has hitherto been no reward.
The price of labour will rise according to its quality;
the farmers can afford to pay for it like any other com-
modity which is high or low in price; according to its
quality and supply. There will be, I trust, a constant
and growing demand throughout the country for well-
instructed foremen drainers; and in this-way, by being
early in the field of improvement, I trust our barony
will be able to dispose of the growing Block of labour,
without resorting to those means of compillsicin which
has brought discredit on Irish proprietor* and accumu-
lated misery on the poor.
" The t ffecia-of individual proprietors in improvement
are necessarily very limited. There is a point at which
individual exertion must cease. Public opinion exercises
a great influence for good or evil. If opinion (hies not
keep pace with individual efforts, they cannot be long
sustained. To this cause I attribute much of the apathy
which is said to prevail among Irish proprietors ; great
efforts have been made by individuals, and they have too
often ended in disappointment from want of public
sympathy. _ _

" I agree with those who complain that Irish proprie-
tors look too much to Government for aid ; but on the
other hand, they have just reason to complain that the
laws intended to aid their exertions are so imperfectly
framed as to lead them into difficulties and impede their
efforts at moments of the greatest pressure. It is with
reference to this subject in particular that I now ad-
dress you.
" I have stated the general desire that prevails to sink
the outlalls of the barony, under the 9th Vic., cap. 4,
which it is desirable to follow up by a general thorough
drainage. It is true that applications for thorough
drainage may be made under the provisions of the 9 it
Vic., cap. 4 ; but. under that Act, money has seldom
been obtained under 5 per cent. interest, though the
Treasury are empowered to advance it at any rate of in-
terest they think fit.
" The Million Act. 9 Vic., cap. 101, was intended.as
a boon to landed proprietors. It authorised an advance
of money at 3i per cent. intere t, and 3/. per cent. f.,r
repayment of principal in 22 years ; but, uiVOrtunatei),
the Act is inoperative in this country through its -
feets, and no steps can be tal:en to pr• fit by the ben.
lent intentions of the Legislature until the Act is
amended, unless the Treasury collow the exaittp!e ef Mr
Labnuchere, anti alisinne similar testtoitsibth
" A difficulty suggested itself to me on the publicatien
..f Mr. Lab,tuchere's letter, ,hich, I presume, hns tee.
overcome in some manner unknown to me, otherwise I
would not venture to propose an issue from the million
voted for drainage under the proti,.ions of 9th and 10 le
Vic., cap. 101, to he expended uncer the 1-rorisiens of
the 9th Vic., cap. 4.

"Thy- difficulty appars to me increased under the in.
struction issued on the 3d November, by which it is di-
rected that the sessions shall decide by resolution %%
ther they will proceed strictly under the 9th and 10.11
Vic., cap. 107, or under Mr. Labouchere's letter. It
th, works are executed under Mr. Labouchere's letter,
they cannot be paid for out of money appr..priated b)
Parliament, to be expended under the provisions of 9.h
and 10th Vic., cap. 107, so far as I know the provisions
of the Appropriation Act ; but if this difficulty
has been overcome, and the money approwiated
to be paid under an Act of Parliament can be paid on a
Minister's letter, there is stronger ground for presuming
that money appropriated to be expended under the pro
visions of 9th Vic., cap. 191, may be authorised to be
adraneed under the provisi. ns of 9th and 10th Vic., cap.
4, both being Drainage Acts.
" From your experience as Chairman of the Board of
Works, you are fully aware of the delay and inconve-
niences arising from the defects of the Million Act,
which cannot be amended for some months ; may I,
therefore, hope Jou will represent the facts to her Ma-
jesty's Government, and inform me of their decision at
your earliest conveaience—namely, whether they will
direct advances to be made from the million voted for
drainage in Ireland on the terms specified in the 9th and
10th Vic., cap. 4.
I have the honour to be your obedient servant,
" It. MORE O'FERRALL.
" To Colonel Jones, First Com. Public Works."

DARING ASSAULTS.—ATTEMPTED ROBBERIES.—
Between three and four o'clock on Sunday afternoon,
two genteelly-dressed young men, when proceeding
along the Paisley-road a little way beyond this Sheddens-
toll, were set upon by four ruffians, knocked down, and
very severely kicked. Their cries brought assistance,
from Plantation house, and the highwaymen hail to de-
camp without obtaining any booty beyond two silk hand-
kerchiefs, although several attempts were made to carry
off the watch of one of the young men. One day this
week, a gentleman who lives on the Govan- road, re-
ceiving payment of a sum of 251. in a shop in the Gal-
lowgate—a transaction which had evideuly been ob-
served by two of our god watch robbers, who after-
wards accompanied him to Patrick in one of the omni-
buses, in which they no doubt learned he was going out
at the foot of the Craw -road. One of the thieves—both
of whom were well attired—got out before they arrive d
at the place above-mentioned, while the other alighted
along with the gentleman. No sooner, however, had
the omnibus gone upon its way, than the gentleman was
set upon by the two scoundrels, who knocked him dowe,
and, but for his coat having been securely fitstentd
would have eased him of his money as well as his gold
watch and somewhat showy appendanges. Luckily the
cries of the gentleman brought assistance, and the high
waymen decamped. When such things are done within
a few yards of the extended municipality, on the public
highway, in daylight, what may be expected during the
shacks of night?—Glasgow Citizen.
DEADLY' ENCOUNTER BETWEEN Two SALMON.—
Instatmes of the ferocity of the varied species of bired,
and quadrupeds have been often recorded in the public
j ,urnals, and Mr. Jesse and Mr. St. John have lately
furnished interesting incidents regarding the traits and
halits of these animals ; but we have this week to nar-
rate a more remarkable occurrence, in the character of
the salmon, than we have yet had the opportunity to re-
cord. The facts are these :—While several cattertucn
(of the preventive service) were on their roui,ds the other
day, and bearing along the Findhorn, b 4 tw en Glenfer-
ness and Dulcie Bridge, they observed an unusual e
motion among the spawning-beds on the ford. On ap-
proaching the spot two large male salmon were seen
engaged in mortal combat for possession of a female.
Never did chivalric knights contest for the hand ce
" ladye fair" more fiercely than these buirdly " lords of
the flood." The tranquil bosom of the stream was
lashed into foam by the struggles of the finny antago-
nists ; in the meantime the object of the fray. beating
silently about " spectatress of the fight." From the
appearance of the stream—dyed with blood, and
gradually assuming its former smooth surface—it w.s
evident that the contest was over. One of the salmon,
ut last, floundered on the surface—dead, and the victor,
it may be conjectured, exhaustedly bore 4,ff his prize.
The men, who had the curiosity to watch the fight, as a
proof of their story, conveyed the dead salmon to the
nearest dwelling, that of Mr. George Mackintosh, March
Strype, near the entracce of the secluded valley calk('
the Streens. The victorious salmon hid torn off the
flesh, or rather fish, along the back from head to tail to
the very bone. In the movement of salmon spawning,
the male ones have been often seen chasing one another,
but such a fray as this has not been witnessed by the
oldest fisher or poacher on the Findhorn.—Elgin Courier.

BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES FOR THE POOR.—Tues-
day the committee of the baths and wash-houses made
a report of the numbers of persons who had availed
themselves of the benefits of the institution, situate in
George-street, Euston square, since its opening on tl'e
3d of August last, during which period, up to the 27th
December inst., 34,634 males and 4,394 women Nave
bathed; 7,961 poor women have washed the wearing
apparel of themselves and families, amounting to 30,764,

ROYAL ARTILLERY.
Wool:criers, I)Ec. 29.—The public generally
nisant of the fact that the present practice rang
Royal Artillery in the Plumstead marshes is tot
adequate to the wants of the service. Owing to the
increase of steam navigation on the river, the e
of ensuring a clear range free from danger ___ 4*-
vastly increased, and during the last two years scarcely
a day has passed in which the practice has not been ma-
terially interfered with, and in many cases suspended for
the day. The late Lord Bloomfield, commandant of the
garrison, stated, in his e%idence before a Committee of
the House of Commons on the South-Eastern Railway,.
that, " within the last spring (1845) we have had 28
consecutive days without firing a single shot," owning to
the interruptions that took place by ships and steamers
passing by or anchoring in front of the practice
range. En consequence of these interruptions, the Board
of Ordnance determined on selecting a more eligible
spot for a practice range, where the operations would be
1c -s liable to interruptions from passing traffic, and'
where a larger space mesht be secured to test the heavier
Pieces of ordnance which the present improved system of
gunnery has brought into such general use. The greatest
distance allowed in th pre-ent practice range is 1,500
yards, which is the whole length of the marshes from
the entranee eat. to the " Bait," and as the heavy 96-,
p ,unclers will throw a shot three miles, these guns have;
very seldom open fire(L and thenly with a redueedti
,z s-
cerge of powder. It became nceasary tierefore to
secure a range of at least three miles in length, in order
to test these heavy pieces of ordaa.nee.
_The Board of
Ordnance at first attempted to secure a range of this
le.gth in the Plumstead Marshes, to extend from
the preSent practice range to Erith, and notices
were . served from the office of Mr. Colquhoun,
the local law agent of the Board of Ordnance,'
upon the freeholders of the land in question,
requiring them to send in their claims for corn
nensathin. This proposition -weis af. orwards abandoned, -
on aceeunt of the gr. at expense which the undertaking
would involve, the lano in the marshes being amongtt.
the richest pasture land in the kingdom, and from its.
preximir.y to W.e,lwien atilt the metropolis always corn-
mending a high price. The lowest average price would,
it, was corephtod, be eh .ut 100 L per acre. The attention
of the Board of Ordnance was then directed to Shoebury
Ness, the extreme point of land on the south-eastern •
(iciest of E,seic, and early in the summer of the present
v car, Lieutenant-Wow-I J. A. Chalmer, Assistant
Dwctor-fletieral of Artilery, Brioade-Major Sandham,
R,_ E., and Sir Thomas Hastings, Kot., went down
to Southend in the Lightning, an.i itupected the ground -
around Shoehury Nosh. Their report was highly recom-
;nendatory of the apatite eligible fora practice range on a
more extended -sue*, -than at . present held by the Go.
eernmeuti. - -The- Mixsiiiitesiiraiikati board of-Didnancs,
have how, determined on securing a range-Of-at leastibir
Miles in elidnt at this spot, and have ordered'a enivey
to be made of the ground is order to select the most eligi-
ble site for the erection of batteries, &c. Barrack's- are
to be erected in a healthy spOt tar a company or Itjyiil
Artillery, which will be stationed there tor the purpose
or vkorking the gun=, and a range of stabling will be
erected for the required number of horses. All these
preliminary arrangements will be commenced without
felay. The expense will be but small compared with that
of a range at Plornsiead. and will be included in the
Ordnance estimates for 1847. A more eligible site for a
practice range could not have been selected. The ground
around Shoebury Ness consists of an open down or com-
mon, overgrown with rank giass, and affording an
asylum for thousands of wild rabbits, The channel
around it is quite out of the track of vessels, only a few
barges is passing by the spot occasionally, whilst at low
water the tides ebbs off the sands to the distance of two
or three miles, leaving that space also available for
practice.

We understand that experiments similar to thAse that
took place in the Royal Arsenal some time since:. will
take place at Shoebury Ness. Four guns (32 potthders)
will be tried at a range of 4,000 yards, 'batnely, the
common service gun, the gun invented by Mr. Monk,
that invented by Lieutenant-Colonel Dundas, R.A., and
the intermediate gun between these two last, known as
the Admiralty gun. The experiments determine the
relative strength and capabilities of the guns.
Fifty 32-pounder guns, on Lieutenant Colonel
. Dun-
das's principle, have been ordered to be cast ftia4 rming
the steam-guard ships.
The committees of officers belonging to the Royal
Artillery Institution and the Royal Artillery Library
have mct several times for the purpose of selecting a
site for the erection of a new institute on a more exten-
sive scale than the present. Lieutenant- General Sir
Thomas Downmsn, C.B. and K.C.11., commandant of
the garrison, officiated as president, and Captain Barker
as secretary. A deputation from the institution, consist-
ing of Captains- Grant and 'Barker and Dr. Little, has
,een appointed to confer with a deputation from the
ibrary committee, to fix on the most eligible spot.

TEE ROYAL GENERAL ANNUITt ,SOCIETY.-ThiL
charity held its annual meeting on Tuesday, at the Lcin-
dnn Tavern; John P. Hayward,'Esq., in the chair. The
hairman in a brief speech dwelt upon .the objects of the
charity. He congratulated them upon the prosperous
And increasing state ot the funds since Stephen J. Aldrich,
Esq.. had accepted .the secretaryship, and state d that
a,• o.g the strwards of their forthcoming festival they
• u übered no I,ss than fifty peers and fifty members of
P rliament. ,Ntr. Aldrich then read the report, which
how. d •hat there wire at present six male and fiftech
reetp-nts, the majority of whose ages varied
from eLl.ty to eighty four, and e%en eighty-aix, in the
c. 4;f 455. and 30s. per month. Upon the motion
f James J.,heston,, jun., Esq., seconded by James
Eatl tile report %%as unanimously adopted
is ti acclamation. The &rectors and • tier otlicer3
h nre cleated, J. H. Thompson, Esq., moved
a v. to ot thank- to the chairman.

The late Sir Charles Wolst-ley, Bart., of Wolseley
bill, S aro dshire, by his will, dated the 17th of March
ast, has I,ft in trust tt.r hi, oily turvi‘ing son, now Sir
s Wohele:., Bart.. who inht fits the tamily estates,
:tit th. pl 'tr., pictures, pi inTs, and turniture in the man-
won ht use of 1%. olse'ey Hall, to be held as heir looms,
~.oh the entailed estates. Also leaves in trust for him
ill his n stock in the fun s of the empire of
to enjoy thr annual pri.reed. for his lite, then in
;ru•t for tits grandson, %Vahan) Henry Wolseley, now in
ills second year, the son of the present Sir Charles, or
'o other sons; but should none attain a vested interest,
then to his nephew, Wiliam Eertie Wolseley, and his
i: sue, in eefault to testator's two daughters, and their
issue. Leaves all moneys invested, or other securities,
rents due and in arrear, together with the proceeds that
may arise from the sale of his effects, cattle, horses, and
rarriag. s to be held in trust, one moiety for his grand-
sons, Ernest and Francis, the youngest sons of his
daughter, the Marchioness de Lousada, the other moiety
to his daughter Caroline, the wife of Marmaduke Salvin,
Esq., of Baron Hull, Durham, and to her children. All
the residue, not made heir-looms, he leaves to his son
Sir Charles, absolutely. The funded and personal
estates in England was estimated for duty at 8,0001.
The deceased baronet was in his 78th year.

CHEAP BIBLE CIRCULATION.—At a meeting re-
,•ently held in Manchester, Dr. Adam Thomson, of
Coldstream, gave the following interesting particulars
e4arding the cheap circulation of the Bible. He showed
that by the strict and judicious supervision of the Go-
vernment Board in Scotland without whose license no
Bible can be printed there, the utmost correctness was
insured. As to price the reduction was almost incre-
dible. Ile exhibited one copy of the Bible, which be-
fore the abolition of the monopoly, cost four shillings,
and was now produced by the Free Bible Press Com-
pany at eightpence -halfpenny ; another embossed and
gilt, which from five shillings has been reduced to ten-
ence, &c. ; and in regard to the extended circulation, to
which this immense reduction in price bad led, his state-
ments, made on the authority of a report presentel by the
Scottish Board to her Majesty and both Houses of Par-
iament, were more remarkable still. In Scoth nd alone,
from January 1845 to January 1846, sixteen editions of
the Bible were printed, consisting of 312,000 copies.
But what, it was asked, must be the number of Bibles
printed in England now, when besides all that are sold
by booksellers to individuals, to families, to schools, and
to congregations, there were disposed of by the Bri-
tish and Foreign Bible Society alone, dining the last
year, the enormous number of 1,441,651, being probably
a million more than in any year prior to the abolition
of the Bible monopoly, and the institution of the Free
Bible Press Company of Scotland. It had been calcu-
lated that the savings to the Bible society, during the
last year alone by the reduction on price of their im-
mense issue, must have be, n upwards of 14,0001.
THE LABOITR OF PRISONERS.—The Journal des
Debuts observes, that the measures lately adopted by
the Pope to remedy the inconvenience occasioned to the
honest operative by the competition raised by prison
iabour had not t seeped the notice of the Council General
of the Se ne, the same complaint having been raised in
Paris. During the last session of the Council-Genera!,
the following resolution was adopted. on the motion of
M. Itobinet, one of the ne tubers :—" Considering that
in consequence of hiring out the labour of prisoners,
several honourably trades exercised by operatives, with
large families,witwith
sufficient an d by
meanstheir woifv ess,
bhsl have cneeaes, ede
and
do furni
exposefurnisht
them to distress ; considering. moreover,
i that in conse.
(pence of the improvement introduced into prison dis-
cipline the condition of many honourably individuals,
free from crime, has become, as regards material com-
forts, more untortunate than that of certain criminals,
and that it behoves e quity, morality, and public order,
that such comparisons should not exist, the Council-
General expresses a wish that the Governmeat should
d. liberate on a system of prison labour which shall not
produce a con pc iti,:n ruinous to free labour."
PRICES OF SWEEP STOCK.—The prices of every
description of sheep stock, which were high during the
spring and summer, rose unpreesdentedly in the latter
end of August and in September. Lambs were never
sold so high before, if the few years when the Cheviot
bre=d first began to displace the black faced breed be
ex •epod ; and then only the ewe side were so:d at a
ransom, being in request wht rever the situations were
accounted at all favourable for breeding purposes. Draft
ewes have not sold so well since 1818 and 1819, when,
perhaps. they w. 1., a shade higher. The state of the
wool- market, however, has frequently been better ; and
it is worth noticing that so late as 1834, the aggregate
price of the three leading sales of the storemaster
'amounted to a much higher figure than they do this.
In 1834, the average price of Cheviot wedder lambs, in
August, was 1 ls. Gd ; of wool, 375. ; and of ewes in
September, 21s. 6d. ; aggregate, 70s. Thi6sd.y
;eaargrethe.
averages taken in the same way and at the same time,
were—lambs, 13s. ; wool, 235. ; ewes, 21s
gate, 575. Gd. It must be admitted in this comparison
that much higher prices than those above stated were
obtained for both lambs and ewes, during the latter
markets of this year, by the dealers, a matter much to
be rejoiced in by the right thinking; he who has the
water to wade need conslderation seldem accorded to
him ; and the dealer having come through on the right
side this year, will enter the market in the ensuing in
better spirits,— Dumfries Courier.

~~
~~

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
•.Thi eminent PANTOMIME THEATRE, and the FI ST PANTO-
MIME COMPANY.
THIS EVENING _ _

Will be performed Balfels-opera7 entitled THE BONDMAN.
*roulade Vernon, Mr. Weiss ; Floreville, Mr. Rafter; Morliere,
r.Homoastle ; La Valliere, Mr. Galli ; Ardenford, Mr. Harrisen ;
Mal-a-Pmpoa, Mr. Harley; Madame Corinne, Miss Romer; Grisette,
Miss ReWAn Isaacs.
After which will be produced the 'Grand Coinic Christmas Panto-
Mime, being a mixture of the historical and legendary, entitled
HARLEQUIN AND ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. The
Overture and Music composed by Mr. R. Hughes; the new and ex-
tollers -Scenery by Mr. Grieve, Mr. Telbin, and numerous as-
sistants ; the Tricks and Transformations by Mr. Blamire ; the Ma-
sWdery by Mr. R. Sloman ; the Dresses by Mrs. Bovey, Mrs. Balls,
and a host of auxiliaries. The whole produced under the superin-
ondence of Mr. W. West.
Scene 1. ABODE or ICArorna. THE Encrusyares.—Date and lo-
cality not exactly known, but considered by the Antiquarian Society
to have been discovered " somehow or ether," " some time or other,"
near " somewhere or other " Ralyba (the Enchantress, not by Balfe,
mistress of all the elements, except those of " Arithmetic," having
quite miscalculated her power), Mr. H. Homcastle ; Fiends and Fu-
ries (illustrating a common expression of speech, with anything hut
a common expression of countenance), Messrs. J. W, Morgan, Burt,
Connell, and H. Payne; Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. (tne four Ele-
ments, with a strong love of mischief), by Dealers in each ; the
March of Intellect (travelling " mcog." as " Young England," a true
bit of British blood, by Intellect out of Industry, dam by Science,
out of Perseverance, has never been beaten, and can be matched
against anything), Miss Annie Payne.—How the March of Intellect
pays a " flying visit" to Kalyba ; and how, being empowered by the
Committee on National Education, he gives the old lady sudden no-

tice to quit, by as suddenly changing the premises to
Scene 2. INTERIOR of INFANT SCROOL.—Schoolmaster, Mr. Big-
wig, who, at the request of his " Illustrious Visitor," gives the boys
half-holiday on the occasion.
Scene 3. EXTERIOR AND BARBACAN OF COVENTRY CASTLE.
The Earl of Coventry (Lord High Steward of England, and his own
into the bargain), Mr. Mazzoni ; the Countess of Coventry (a good
housewife, argl supposed to have been the inventor of the celebrated
" Coventry Cale"), Miss Haines ; Head Nurse (with good character

from her last place), Mr. Cheel; Master George (afterwards cele-
brated for a battle he fought with a dragon, but at present without
any knowledge of " arms," except his nurse's), Miss Marks ; Masters
,redrew, David. Patrick, Denis, James, Anthony (very youthful
nights, but destined, with their " cousin George," to astonish the
atives by and by as " The Seven Champions of Christendom"), Mas-
ers Coyle, Savell, Dix, Welsh,Desborg, Francis.—How the youthful
t. George is feted on his birth-day—how he makes his" first," and
nearly his " last " appearance la public on the occasion—how his
"cousins " Andrew, David, Patrick, Denis, James, and Anthony
come to A ish him many happy returns of the day—and how Kalyba
shows her " love of children" by taking the " whole brood under
her wing."
NOTICZ.—" Nothinge material to our historic" occurring during
a period of fifteen yeirs, the author trusts that the audience will al-
low him to cut it, and come again to
Scene 4. KALTEA'S HOUSE OF COZZICTION George of Eng-
land (a rum'un to look at, but a rare'un to go), Mr. W. H. Payne;
St. Andrew of Scotland, St. David of Wales, St. Patrick t f Ireland
St. Denis of France, St. James of Spain, St. Anthony of Italy (all
pretty much of the same kidney!) Mr. Heath, Mr. Douglas, Mr.
Marks, Mr. Chapino, Mr. Sanger, Mr. J. Haynes.—How St. George
and his brother champions (considerably grown since their last ap-
pearance in public) are kept in durance vile, and on " very short
commons" by Kalyba—how Kalyba pops her affections on St. George
who " can't abide her"—in short, how—but we won't anticipate—
merely observing, that the upshot is the Downfall of Kalyba, and
the Emancipation of the Seven Champions of Christendom !
Scene 5. DOVER Roans.—How the Seven Champions of Christen-
dom set out for their respective destinations—" the management
having, in the handsomest manner," made special arrangements for
that purpose with the various " Metropolitan Conveyance Com-
panies.

Scene 6. Elam OF THE IsTizz.—Almanzor, King of Morocco (his
own Lord High Admiral, Commander-in-Chief, &e., on his way to
King Ptolemy's Court, to court King Ptolemy's dau.thter). Mr. T.
Matthews ; Ptolemy, King of Egypt (rather a remote ancestor of
Ibrahim Paella, better known as Abraham i'arker), Mr. Priorson.
Moorish Sailors, Attendants on King Ptolemy, &e. How Altnanzor
came to Egypt to be married—the Princess having a decidel objec-
tion to their being " bound in Morocco ;" and how St. George. not
having even " dipped" into the question of " lights," runs his
steamer on shore, and saves himself on the funnel.
Scene 7. GRAND HALL IN TIM PALACE OF PTOLEMY THE FIRST,
Km; OF EGTrr.—The Princess Sabra, Mr. Hance. about to be mar-
ried to the King of Morocco, but patriotically devoting hersel; to the
digestive organs of the Dragon (a gentleman, whose prodigious
allowance of jaw enables him to speak for himself ), Mr. Wieland.
How this " marriage in high life" is suddenly interrupted by the
Dragon, who, not only forbids the banns ; but elopes with the bride;
thereby plunging " her illustrious parents and several families of dis-
tinction at the west-end of the town into the deepest affliction," &c.
(vide Morning Papers).