The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-09 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

41EV,

I,i_ :1

a se

On Saturday afternoon, Sept. 5, the Rhadamanthus
steam-vessel sailed from the Victualling- office, Ply mouth,
for Cork, with a portion of the 55th Regiment from St.
George's-square Barracks, Davenport. The Dee steam-
vessel, after being repaired, will follow in a few days
with the remainder of the regiment. The sth Fusileers,
under the temporary command of Major Johnson,
arrived at Plymouth last Thursday, and marched to
Devonport yesterday (Monday). Three companies have
yet to arrive from Cork, which will be brought over by
the Rhadamanthus in a few days. The total strength
of the regiment is 1,060 men. The regiment last served
in the Mediterranean, and will probably proceed to the
East during the next year. The sth Regiment was
highly distinguished in the Peninsular war, having
served from Roleia to Toulouse. The regiments be-
longing to the Plymouth division were inspected by
Major-General the Hon. H. Murray, last week.
The Reverend Mr. Mathias, who has succeeded the
Reverend Mr. Gleig in the chaplaincy of Chelsea Hos-
pital, officiated for the first time on Sunday last. The
salary attached to this office is 3001. per annum, with
perquisites. Both clergymen, in early life, were com-
missioned officers. Mr. Gleig served while connected
with the 85th in the Peninsular, North American, and
the New Orleans wars, and received some severe wounds.
Mr. Mathias was at one period an officer in the 79th
Highlanders.
EDUCATION IN THE ARMY.—SOM9 weeks since we
announced that the Government had directed attention
to the general condition of the soldier, and that one of
the first reforms about to be introduced into our military
system was the establishment of normal schools at
Chelsea, for the training of teachers for the army in
general. The Royal M.litary Asylum at Chelsea was
first established in 1801 by the late Duke of York, the
commander-in-chief of the period. It affords accommo-
dation to about 1,000 boys and girls, who are instructed
on Dr. Bell's system. The boys on leaving have the
option of altering the army or going to any other em
ployment suited to them, while the girls are placed out
as apprentices.

The instruction now imparted is as simple as it was
on the first establishment, and the inmates merely learn
spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, with little, if in-
deed any, geography or history. It may be add that
even in these branches the children are seldom profi-
cient, owing, no doubt, to the system of employing an
irregular class of teachers.
According to the War-office announcements, the edu-
cational staff at the new schools will comprise :—A head-
master, who must be a clergyman, a second master and
juniors, &c., and all of wh.nn must be efficient instruc-
tors in the higher branches of general education,
including the first rudiments of the art of military
theory, of field plactice, &c. &c. An examination of
candidates took place within the last few days, but, we
believe, resulted only in the selection of a person to the
boys' school. The other appointments may not be made
for/some time. The Rev. G. R. Gleig, principal chap-
lain to the forces, resigned the office of chaplain to Chel-
sea Hospital, which he also held about three weeks
since, but he continued to perform service at the institu-
tion up to Friday last, and on the following day made
the necessary preparations for a visit to France, Prussia,
Austria, &c., where he will make inquiries into the
modes adopted for the education of the army in those
countries. On his return he will make a report to the
Secretary-at-War, upon which, of course, will depend
the movements of the Government. The Rev. Gentle-
man will, for the future, be the inspector-general of
military schools.

TESTIMONIAL TO THE BRAZI

LIAN CONSUL AT LIVERPOOL.
Liverpool, Aug. 10, 1846.
Dear Sir,—The merchants and shipowners of this
port connected with the Brazil trade, whose names we
beg to hand you herewith, being desirous, on the occa-
sion of your leaving Liverpool for the metropolis, to
mark their appreciation of the kindness and attention
you have uniformly exercised towards them, and also
their approbation of the efficient and courteous manner
with which you have fulfilled your official duties during
ten years' residence in this important commercial town,
and having deputed the undersigned to constitute a com-
mittee for the purpose of carrying their views into effect,
we have much pleasure in presenting fur your accept-
ance the accompanying service of plate, as a token of
esteem, which we trust you will receive with feelings of
gratification equal to those with which it is offered.
With best wishes for your future welfare and happi-
ness, we have the honour to remain, dear Sir,
Your most obedient servants,
BENJAMIN DARBYSHIRE.
. J. M. BRAGA.
WILLIAM HADFIELD.
JOSEPH PATER.
JAMES RYDER.
ROBERT AKED.
The Chevalier da Silva, Brazilian Consul-General,
Liverpool.
Names of the Subscribers to the Testimonial presented
to the Chevalier da Silva, Brazilian Consul-General at
Liverpool:—J. Bramley Moore, Esq. ; Messrs. Samuel
Johnston and Co. ; M'Calmont, Brothers, and Co. ;
William and James Tyrer; Crabtree, Aked, and Co.;
Cetesworth, Wynne, and Lyne ; Ashly, Brothers ;
James Rider, Esq.; Braga and Co.; WTear and Had-
field ; Charles Ironside and Co.; Stewart, Ker, and Co.;
Imrie and Tomlinson ; Harrisons and Latham ; Higgin
and Lane ; James Dalglish and Co. ; Benjamin Darby-
shire, Esq.; Todd, Naylor, and Co.; Edward Jones and
Co. ; William Moon, Esq. ; Lyon and Fynney ; Robert
Singlehurst and Co. ; C. and F. L. Schwiud.—Liver-
pool, 10. h August, 1846. _

- -
Liverpool, Aug. 12, 1346.
Dear Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of the
letter which you did me the honour to address t 6 me on
the 10th instant, accompanying the service of plate
which the merchants and shipowners of this important
commercial town, connected with the Brazil trade, have
deigned, through you, to present to me, as well as a
token of their esteem, as a mark of their satisfaction of
the manner in which I have, during a residence of ten
years, fulfilled my official duties as Consul-General for
the empire of Brazil in the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland.

I have received with unfeigned pleesure feelings
of the greatest gratification these tokens of their esteem,
which I shall cherish as long as I live, and regard as a
proof of the approbation of so distinguished and inde-
pendent a body of the English Nation. I only fear that
the fulfilment of such dutia, on my part, may have
fallen short of the value which they so flatteringly have
been pleased to bestow 'upon them.
Before concluding, I beg to assure you that I shall
always bear a lively remembrance of the courtesy and
many acts of. kindness whia I have invariably received
from you., and the gentlemen whom you represent, and
that I shall deem it a pleasing duty to endeavour to
merit their continuance.

With these sincere feelings, and my warmest thanks,
which I beg you to accept, and to convey to the sub-
scribers, with the assurance of my distinguished consi-
deration, as well as best wishes for your and their wel-
fare, I have the honour to remain, dear Sirs, •
Your most obedient servant,
ANTONIO DA SILVA, junior.
To Joseph Pater, E,q., James Ryder, Lq., Robert
Aked, Esq., Benjamin Derbyshire, Esq., J. Marques
Braga, Esq., William Hadfield, Esq., &c., &c.

BARON PLATT A BUTLER.—The worthy Baron
travelled nearly all night, in order to be in Wells as
early as possible on the following morning. On reach-
ing one of the inns on the road, finding that Boniface
had retired to the arms of Morpheus or his better half,
his Lordship attacked the door with such vehemence that
locks, bolts, and bars flew back, and admittance was
gained in a trice. having fortified the inner man, his
Lordship was proceeding from the room he occupied to
his carriage, when ho met " mine host." " What have
Ito pay ?" ho asked. " Oh, nothing, nothing," was the
answer, " we don't charge butlers when they bring their
masters here." The worthy justice shook his sides with
laughter at the idea of her Majesty's representative being
taken for a butler, and the sides of the generous host
shook under very different emotions when he discovered
that he had made so great a mistake.—Somerset County
Gazette.

How OLD as ova PLANET 2—Some years ago,
some person or other (in fact I believe it was myself)
published in this magazine a paper from the German of
Kant, on a very interesting question, viz„ the age of our
own little earth. Those who have never seen that paper,
a class of unfortunate people whom I suspect to form
rather the majority in our present perverse generation,
will be likely to misconceive its object. Kant's purpose
was, not to ascertain how many years the earth had lived :
a million of years, more or less, made very little differ-
ence to him. What he wished to settle was no such
barren conundrum. For, had there even been any means
of coercing the earth into an honest answer, on such a
delicate point, which the Sicilian canon, Recupero, fan-
cied there -was, but which, in my own opinion, there
neither is, nor ought to be (since a man deserves to be
cudgelled who could put such improper questions to a
lady planet)—still what would it amount to ? Wha t
good would it do ns to have a certificate of our dear little
mother's birth and baptism ? Other people—people in
Jupiter, or the Uranians—may amuse themselves with
her pretended foibles or infirmities: it is quite safe to do
so at their distance; and in a female planet like Venus,
it might be natural-(though, strictly speaking, not quite
correct) to scatter abroad malicious insinuations, as
though our excellent little mamma had begun to wear
false hair, or had lost some of her front teeth. But all
this we men of sense know to be gammon. Our mother
Tellus, beyond all doubt, is a lovely little thing.
I am satisfied that she is very much admired throughout
the solar system, and, in clear seasons, when The is seen
to advantage, with, her bonny wee pet of a moon trip-
ping round her like a lamb, I should be thankful to any
gentleman who will mention where he has happened to
observe, either he or his telescope, will he only have the
goodness to say, in what part of the heavens he has dig.
covered a more elegant turn out. I wish to make no
personal reflections. I name no names. Only this I
say, that though some people have the gift of seeing
things that other people never could see, and though
some other people are bore with a silver spoon in their
mouths, so that, generally, their geese count fir swans,
yet, after all, swans or geese, it would be a pleasure to
me, and really a curiosity, to see the planet that could
fancy herself entitled to sneeze at our earth. And
then, if she (viz., our earth) keeps but one moon, even
that (you know) is an advantage as regards some people
that keep none. There are people, pretty well known
to you and me, that can't make it convenient to keep
even one moon. And so I come to my moral; which is
this, that, to all appearance, it is mere justice; but, sup-
posing
it were not, still it is our duty (as children of
the earth), right or wrong, to stand up for our bonny
young mamma, if she is young; or for our dear old
mother, if she is old; whether young or old, to take her
part against all corners; and to argue through. thick and
which (sober or not) I always attempt to do, that '
she is the most respectable member of the Copernican
systera,—De Cheincey, i. Tgies,Nagazine.

SINGULAR ELECTION AT
GALWAY.

THE KING Or THE FISHERMEN.—Sunday last, after
mass and evening prayers, the fishermen of Chuidagh

proceeded to the election of an Admiral and Vice-Ad-

iniral for the future government of the interests of their
colony. Impressed with the importance of the issue to
their welfare, this primitive people determined upon
making their choice from the most impartial and
experienced among themselves, and to conduct the elec-
tion with the utmost decorum and propriety. At the
appointed hour the very Rev. T. D. Folan, 0. P.,
prior of the West Convent, with the Rev. Messrs. Mul-
lins and Meath, 0.P., Bernard Murphy, Esq., solici-
tor ; Counsellor Fitzpatrick Patrick Joyce, Esq., Do-
minick-street ; Bernard N'Donnell, Esq., solicitor ;
Mr. 'Joseph Murphy, Mr. Finarty, of the town,
proceeded to the new piscatory and national school
in the district, to preside over and witness the
election. The Very Rev. Mr. Folan requested our
respected townsman, B. Murphy, Esq., to receive the
votes and place them to the credit of the respective car,
didates. The fishermen having taken up their position
outside the school, where a piper was placed to amuse
them with some old Irish airs, a person was placed
at the door to admit only one at a time to enter to record
his vote. The proceedings occupied about two hours
and a half. Previous to the close of the election,
the Rev. George Commons, P.P., of Claddagh, the
Rev. B. J. Roche, P.P., St. Nicholas East, and
the Rev. Dr. O'Toole, principal of St. Mary's College,
made their appearance, and expressed themselves
highly gratified with the exemplary conduct and de-
corum of the poor people. No fisherman was allowed
to vote under eighteen years of age. Before closing
the election, the Very Rev. Mr. Folan directed a per-
son in attendance to visit every lane in Claddagh with a
bell, and to invite the presence of those who might
wish to vote ; but the answer returned was that
more than half of them could not come for the want
of clothing. The election having concluded, Mr.
Murphy acknowledged the votes in favour of each can-
didate, when it appeared that Bartholomew Hynes as
adrenal, and Owen Jones as vice-admiral, had an
overwhelming majority in their favour. Hynes is a
very respectable old fisherman, and does credit
to the choice of the poor people. The other
candidates were then appointed as a council,
with whom the admiral and vice-admiral are to
consult upon every important question affecting the
interests of the colony. The Rev. Mr. Folan having
communicated the result to the fishermen who were in
waiting, the name of their king was hailed with loud
cheers, the piper striking up " Garryowen." The Rev.
Mr. Commons then addressed them in Irish, telling them
as the admiral and vice-admiral were of their own
choosing, it was imperative on them, in everything in
which their fishing interests were involved, to render them
implicit obedience and act upon their advice, to which the
poor people responded with hearty cheers. They then
quietly returned to their homes, and as the even-
ing turned out wet, were prevented gracing the oc-
casion with the amusements which they had in con-
templation to celebrate the election of' their sovereign.
They, however, erected a bonfire in front of the con-
vent gate. The following evening (Friday) the Very
Reverend Mr. Folan went in the Admiral's boat to
remain fishing with them during the night ; and we
are glad to mention that there was a very general
though rather small take of excellent harvest herrings
on the occasion, which will afford some temporary re-
lief to numbers of the poor creatures, who have been
for a considerable time in the most wretched condition
imaginable, and who, the moment this relief ceases,
will, unless other means be found to assist them, be in
as pitiable a plight as ever.—Galway Vindicator.

BELFAST PROTESTANT ASSO
ciAno/sT.

The third annual soirée of this society took place on
Thursday night, in the Music Hall, Belfast. The at-
tendance was numerous. Orange banners were placed
round the walls, on which were inscribed appropriate
; mottoes. The flags belonged to the following lodges of
, the Orange Society—viz., Nos. 631, 1,033, 182, 132, 347,
• , 586, 246, and 245..- The stewards and a large proportion
, of the meeting wore orange and purple scarfs, collars,
• and rosett, s. The favourite tints were also very pro-
: fusely displayed on the dresses of the ladies. The refresh-
ments, consisting of tea, cakes, and- fruit, were of the
very best description, and in great abundance. There
was a brass band in attendance. We observed the fol-
lowing gentlemen on the platform:—William Blackwood,
Esq., J.P., Saintfield House; J. D. R. Cleland, Esq.,
ex-J.P., Rathgael House; J. R. Biers, Esq., ex-J.P.,
Bainbridge; J. Bates, Esq., W. Seeds, Esq., J. Wilson,
Esq., D. M'Connell, Esq., Dr. Mulholland, Dr. Beck,
James Rogers, Esq., S.T.C.D., Henry Cooke, Esq.,
T.C.D., Rev. Daniel M'Afee, Rev. Mr. Pierce, Lis-
naskea, and the Rev. Mr. Hamilton. William Black-
wood, Esq., was called to the chair. The secretary
then read a letter from W. G. Johnson, Esq.,
apologising for his unavoidable absence, and en-
closing 11. towards the funds of the society. Letters of
apology were also stated to have been received from
Lord John Chichester, M.P., enclosing 1/. ; Earl of
Roden, enclosing IL ; Earl of Rathdown, Lord Adam
Loftus, Earl of Enniskillen, the Very Rev. the. Dean of
Dromore, Colonel Bruen, M.P., and Rev. J. M. Bellew,
Droghedaf enclosing 21. The chairman, in a brief in-
troductory speech, stated that he had great pleasure in
meeting the members of that association, inasmuch as
they had shown their deep-rooted attachment to the
glorious principles of the reformation at a time when
the rulers of the land and tha leaders of the people had
apostatised from the truth and the integrity which charac-
terised the deeds of their heroic fathers. After callieg
upon the electors not to vote at the next election for
any candidates who would not pledge themselves to
Protestant principles, the speaker exhorted them to ex-
hibit in their lives the evidence of Christian faith
and freedom. He besought them to be strong in
the Lord, and in the power of his might, and to be
ready, if need be, to lay down their lives in the defence of
the cause of civil and religious freedom, the cause of
Protestantism, and the cause of Ged. The chairman then
proposed " The Queen, long may she enjoy health, hap-
piness, and prosperity ; ever mindful of those principles
—religious and political—which placed her illustrious
house on the throne of these realms."—(Cheers.)
" Prince Albert, and the rising scions of the house of
Brunswick. (Cheers.) " The Reformation and the
Revolution ; and no surrender of the blessings be-
queathed to the Protestants of these lands, as well
as all others, by those glorious events." (Tre-
mendous cheering.) Mr. Rogers responded in an
eloquent speech. " The Protestant Established
Church of the empire, may it be made and
kept pure from all Popish and Tractarian leaven,
and thus maintained as a blessing to our land."— (Great
cheering.) Air—" The Boyne Water," Rev. Mr.
Pierce briefly replied. "The Sister Churches of the Re-
formation; long may peace and brotherly affection unite
them together in the truth of the Gospel."—(Cheers.)
Rev. Daniel M'Afee, of Derry, responed. " The
Earl of Roden and his fellow-defenders of Protes •
taut truth in Ireland."—(Prolonged cheering.) " The
Protestant electors of Belfast." John Bates, Esq., re-
sponded. During the course of his speech, he reviewed
the struggles of the Protestant electors since 1832, and
stated that they were as ready at the approaching elec-
Von to gain the victory, as they had frequently shown
themselves before. J. D. R. Cleland, Esq., was then
called on to preside, when the thanks of the meeting
were voted to Mr. Blackwood, for his dignified conduct
in the chair. At twelve o'clock the numerous meeting
terminated.—Belfast News Later.

CoLossEum.—On Saturday the Princess of Prussia
attended by the Countess Ker, Lord Denbigh, Count
Puckler, and Baron Bunsen, visited the Colosseum. Her
Highness was accompanied through the establishment
by Mr. Bradwell, who had the honour of explaining the
various admirable attractions, so agreeably distinguish-
ing this 'valuable exhibition, to her Royal Highness and
suite.

&RT-UNION EXIIIBITION.—The works of art se,

leeted by the prize holders of the year 1846, and re-
cently exhibited to the subscribers at the Suffolk. street
Gallery, were on Monday thrown open to the Fablic
gratuitously. Until the 12th of the present month the
exhibition will be open from ten o'clock in the morning
until six o'clock in the evening, and in order that those
persons whose business occupies them all day may have
au opportunity of seeing the works, the rooms will be
_ _ .

opelied on the Bth, 9th, 10th, and 11th from seven until
ten o'clock in the evening. Tickets will be required for
the evening exhibition. The visitors on Monday were
extremely numerous.
WOOLWICH, SEPT. 7.—MILITARY MOVEMENTS.--
Brigade-Major Cuppage's company, 9th battalion Royal
Artillery, left Woolwich this morning, at half past
three o'clock, for the Nine Elms Terminus of the South-
Western Railway, en route for Southampton having
received orders to embark on board the mail steam-
packet which leaves to-morrow for Gibraltar, to relieve
Captain Shone's company, sth battalion, stationed in
that garrison since August, 1840. As Brigade-Major
Cuppage does not proceed with his company, the com-
mand will devolve on Second Captain J. B. Dennis.
THEFT OF BOOKS FROM GRAY'S INN.-011 Satur-
day information was received by the police, that a num-
ber of bound volumes of Acts of Parliament had been
abstracted from the library of Gray's
EXTRAORDINARY AGITATION OF THE SEA—VTOM
a paper read at a late meeting of the Penzance Natural
History Society, by Mr. R. Edmonds, jun., it appears
that, on the Ist ult., the day on which the awful storm
occurred in London and other parts of England, about
four o'clock in the morning an extraordinary agitation
of the sea was observed by the labourers employed in
excavating Penzance Pier, the tide being then about
five hours ebb, and the sea very calm. The water sud
denly returned towards the shore tothe depth of between
one and two feet, and, ufter an apparent pause, rushed
back "like a river " to its former level ; the time occu-
pied in the influx and the reflux, including the time of
the water appearing to be stationary, was about six
minutes. The influx and reflux was observed only once.
It appears from the same paper that, with only one ex-
ception, all the shocks of the earth and extraordinary
oscillations of the sea in Cornwall during the present
century, whose elites are known, have happened nearer
to the moon's first change, or quarter, than at any other.
—WeAt Briton.

A VALUABLE MONKEY.—Some time ago a monkey
kept in a stable yard of the hotel at Launceston, was
observed to be scrutinising the inside of an old glove,
with an air of unusal mystery and importance. Upon
examining the glove it was found to contain a 10/. note,
and the pieces of about five 11. notes, of the old Tamar
Bank, dated ten years since. This became the property
of " boots," who sold his bargain for 3/. 10s., and the
pieces were secured by the ostler. The monkey must
have selected the glove from a quantity of rubbish
which bad been lying in the yard for seven or eight
years. The Tamar Bank has merged into the Union,
which latter gavo 12/. for the notes.

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN
TRADE.

Although the weather has throughout the week been
highly favourable, and rapid progress has been made
with the harvest in the north—which would, under ordi-
nary circumstances, most probably have produced a
further depression in the corn trade—business has al-
ready in some degree rallied from the temporary inacti-
vity of last week. This must be wholly attributed to
the continued spread of the potato disease, respecting
which the most alarming accounts pour in from all parts
of the kingdom. What portion of the crop may be ulti-
mately saved in a condition fit for human food it is yet
impossible to say ; but from the rapidity with which the
disorder is extending, the most serious apprehensions
are entertained. In many localities, where a few weeks
ago all was thought safe, the fields now present a black
and burnt appearance, the air around being tainted by
the stench which arises from the decomposition. We
still hope that the failure may not turn out so complete as
is at present feared will be the case ; but that the yield
of potatoes will be exceedingly deficient admits of no
doubt. Taking into consideration the fact that this
useful roet, besides affording support to a large propor-
ticn of the population, is extensively employed for feed-
ing cattle, it is difficult to form a conception of the vast
extra consumption of grain which must be consumed by
a failure, or even great deficiency, in the yield thereof.
Already the value of bacon and other sorts of animal
food have risen considerably, under the impression that,
in consequence of the apprehended scarcity of potatoes,
the cost of fattening pigs, &c., will be greatly increased ;
and there is too much reason to fear that prices of all
sorts of provisions will be high during the coming
winter. Some influence was produced on the Wheat
trade by the dull advices from Mark-lane on Monday
last; and at all the principal markets held in the early
part of the week prices gave way about two shillings per
quarter. The fall was, however, only temporary ; and
the value of the articles has already in some degree re-
covered from 'the depression.
Contrary to expectation, a falling off has taken place
in the arrivals of wheat into London, only 12,610 quar-
ters having been reported up to this (Saturday) evening.
The quantity exhibited at Mark-lane by land carritige
samples from the home counties has also been small. On
Wednesday the show consisted of what had been left
over from previous receipts, there being little or nothing
fresh up either from Essex or Kent. This imparted con-
fidence to factors, and they were less eager to press
sales than was the case at the beginning of the week.
Buyers, on the other hand, manifested more disposition
to purchase, but found they were unable to do so on as
easy terms as before; and a clearance was effected at
rates not previously obtainable. Later in the week the
inquiry for English wheat became more active, and the
little offered on Friday was easily placed at an advance
of from ls. to 2s. per quarter. Foreign wheat having been
held relatively higher than that of home growth, and the
superior condition of the new rendering a mixture of
old less necessary than in ordinary seasons, the transac-
tions in foreign have been on a restricted scale through-
out the week. On Friday there was, however, a some-
what improved demand for fine Danzig and Rostock, at
prices which could certainly, not have been realised on
Monday. The inquiry for bonded wheat on French
account has rather increased than diminished; and had
holders been more reasonable in their pretensions, rather
extensive operations would probably have been entered
into. The prices asked have, however, been too high to
admit of the execution of the orders received; and the
actual business done has, consequently, been unim-
portant. The duty is still at the maximum point, and
is likely to remain there for some weeks; but if the
potato crop should really turn out so deficient as is ex-
pected, and an importation of foreign wheat become
necessary, prices of the articles will, later in the year,
rise so as to cause a material fall in the duty.
Town-manufactured flour has been in moderate re-
quest, at the recently enhanced terms; and there is now
no prospect of the millers reducing their quotations.
The arrivals of this article coastwise have been quite
trivial; and towards the close of the week good Norfolk
Households were held ls. per sack higher than on Mon-
day last. For American flour the demand has been
active; several parcels have changed hands, in bond, at
245. to 245. 6d. per brl.; and for good brands' of Western
Canal 283. to 295. per brl., duty paid, was asked, and in
some cases -nlstained, on Friday. The stock of free
foreign flour has already been greatly diminished; and
as future arrivals are likely, in the first instance, to be
stored under lock, the probability is, that what is now
free will bring higher prices than those at present current.
• Indian corn has met a ready sale at 345. to 355. per
quarter, being Is. per quarter more than it was worth
last week.

REVIEW OF THE FOREIGN CORN TRADE.
We have advices from New York of the 20th of Au-
gust, being six days later than the news per Hibernia
steam-ship. Harvest operations had been nearly brought
to a close in the United States, and supplies of new
wheat were coming forward freely. At New York a
fair extent of business had, it appears, been done in flour
for expert to Europe; and prices had, on the whole,
rather rallied; for fine brands of western canal 4 dolls.
64c. had been paid, and superior George-town and
Brandywine had realised 4 dolls. 184 c. to 4 dolls 25c.
per barrel. Wheat and Indian corn had also been
taken for export; good qualities of the former at 81c.
per bushel, and the latter at rates varying from 51c. to
54c. per bushel. The Philadelphia market, on the 17th
of August was tolerably well attended, and several par-
cels of flour were taken for shipment at 4 dolls. per
barrel. Of wheat, 3,500 per bushel prime old Penn-
sylvania red had been taken at 85c. per bushel. Tht
next accounts from America will most probably inform
us of a material rise; as the advance which the value of
wheat underwent here about the middle of August would,
no doubt, occasion holders on the other side to raise
their pretensions.

All over the continent of Europe the value of wheat
ran up immediately it became known that England
would in all probability require foreign aid, in conse-
quence of the failure of the potato crop. Prices are
nearly as high now at Baltic as they were previously at
Mediterranean ports ; and there is certainly not much
prospect of business being done unless a further and
material advance takes place here.
Letters from Dantzic of the 29th ult. state that a great
deal of excitement had prevailed there, and that sellers
had hardly known what prices to ask for the finer kinds
of wheat. Fine high-mixed could certainly not then
have been bought below 495. per quarter free on board,
and other sorts were held equally high, 455. had actu-
ally been paid for secondary sorts of mixed wheat,
weighing only 601bs. to 611bs. per bushel. The exports
to France, Holland, and Belgium had caused a very ma-
terial decrease in the stocks, and it was estimated that of
the 9,000 lasts remaining, little above 1,000 lasts con-
sisted of fine quality.
In Lower Poland the wheat crop was not well spoken
of, but in the upper provinces both the quantity and
quality would, it was thought, prove satisfactory. Rye
had produced very badly ; and tae crops of most kinds
of spring-sown corn would, it was expected, be de-
fective.

At-the Lower Baltic prices of wheat have run up in
the same proportion as at Dantzic ; and, notwithstand-
ing the late important rise here, quotations are still re-
latively lower at Mark-lane than they aro at any other
market in Europe.
From Hamburgh we have advices of Tuesday last. In
wheat there had not been much doing, the demand
having been almost wholly of a local character. Fine
62ilbs. Marks was then held at equal to 48s. 93., and
lighter qualities at from 445. to 475. per quarter free on
board. A good many contracts for barley and oats, to
be shipped from Denmark, bad been closed since the
previouspost day. For the former article prices varying
from 225.' 93. up to 245. 63. per quarter., according to
weight, &c., had been paid ; and for 38ilbs. Danish oats
equal to 19s. 9d. per quarter, free on board had been
realised.

A letter from Bruges, dated Ist instant, states that
the quality of new wheat grown in that neighbourhood
was generally approved of, but that in point of quantity
the crop was decidedly below that of ordinary seasons.
Barley, rye, oats, and potatoes would all prove short,
and of inferior quality.
From France the reports respecting the harvest are as
bad as well as can be ; and in Italy, and other southern
countries, the yield of corn seems to have greatly disap-
pointed the growers. The value of wheat has risen to
a very high point at all the leading ports in the Mediter-
ranean ; and the high value of this article has caused a
good deal of attention to be directed to Indian corn.
At Marseilles as much as 275. 91 per quarter, free on
board, had, on the 29th of August, been paid ; and a
large vessel, capable of carrying 2,000 quarters, had
been charged to load for Great Britain at ss. per quar-
ter, with 10 per cent. and 10 guineas gratuity.—Mark-
lane Express.

ASRBURTON.--PEAT GAS.—A company, of which
Mr. Vargo is the principal, has taken a certain portion
of the moor from the Duchy, for the purpose of cutting
peat for gas. They have made their experiment here
with the most complete success. The consequence has
been, that they have taken the Ashburton gas-works
from the old company for five years. They will com-
mence lighting at Michaelmas, and they engage to
supply the gas at 2s. per 1,000 cubic feet less than the
present company. The light is said to surpass that made
from coal or any other combustible material. It is
patent, we believe; and in the manufacture of the peat
there is a mixture of coal, tar, and rosin with it. The
company will have in their employ about 60 men, who
will be engaged cutting peat during the remainder of the
season. It is possible for a good turf cutter to obtain
under favourable circumstances as much as 30s. a week.
—Devonport Telegraph.
TRANSMIGRATION OF SOULS IN SCOTLAND.---OIICe
upon a time, we will not say hew long ago, a carter, in
the exercise of his vocation, was leading a cart of coals
for a spirit dealer called Weir, in the Brigton of
Glasgow. Previously to discharging his cargo of black
diamonds, the horse' gave a significant look and a low
neigh, or, as it is expressly termed in the Doric, a
nigghcr, which arrested the attention of a weaver named
Johnny Auld, then passing. The honest wabster was
as struck with the sound as if he had heard some long
forgotten air which had been buried in his memory
since boyhood. He stood gazing a minute at the musi-
cal quadruped, then disappeared a little, and returned
with his hat in his hand, filled to the brim with oats.
Giving them to the horse while the carter looked
on, thinking he was demented, he gave a clue to
his benevolence by saying, " Oh, man ! (stroking the
head of the humble Bucephalus affectionately) I kent
him ling syne as weel as ony ane in the Brig-
o' Glasgow. He wrought wi' me in the same
shop for eight Years thegither, and our looms were as
near ane tanither as you an' me. Oh, sir ! (to the carter)
ye maun use him weel, for he was a good weaver in his
day, and as fine a fallow as ever keepit the crown o' the
ciusie !" This anecdote, in all its essential points, is
literally true, having been told to us by an eye and ear
witness, Our informant did not learn how the weaver
accounted for the strange transmigration of his former
companion at the loom.—Dumfries Standard.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH-EASTERN.

! Extensive improvements are being made on this line
and its branches. At Dover the work consists in the
enclosing, by a seawall of 200 feet leng, a space of
ground for the erection of an hotel. The wall is heiug
formed under the direction -of Mr. P. W. Barlow, the
company's engineer, in compliance with an agreement
with the Commissioners of the Harbour. At Ashford
capacious buildings are being constructed for the stowage
and repair of the locomotives employed, and when com-
pleted it will be the company's principal locomotive
depot. The works were designed by Mr. Stephenson, but
will be carried out by Mr. Barlow. Their estimated cost
is 100,0001. In the immediate vicinity of the station, the
company are building a church and cottages for four
hundred workmen'. A breakwater has been erected in
the Whtstable Harbour, which has been singularly sue
cessful in its action, having deepened the entrance and
the harbour from four to seven fret, and will enable
it to be used by colliers of any tonnage. An ex-
tensive coal-pier is also in course of erection, as the
harbour is now certainly the best for the supplies of
the county of Kent with coals. It will be the coal
harbour of the railway. The object of the operations
at Folkestone Harbour is the deepening of the entrance
so as to enable the continental steamers to enter and
depart at low water. The work at present in hand
is the removal of the rocks which lie under water
immediately at the entrance. It is proceeded with by a
staff of divers, who fasten chains round the prominent
portions of the rock, which are then raised by cranes in
barges. From sixty to eighty tons per day are removed,
and are used in the construction of a pier at the cast end of
the harbour, which operates as an improvement to the
entrance by retaining the shingle, or beach. On the rocks
being entirely displaced, the entrance will be further
deepened by dredging and by a proposed backwater at the
upper part of the harbour. The wall of the upper basin or
backwater will form a station to which passengers will be
brought by the branch line to the edge of the quay where
the steamers are lying, thus avoiding the inconvenience
attending' their conveyance in omnibuses from the upper
station. The whole of these works have been designed and
are being carried out by Mr. Barlow. The Tunbridge
Wells Extension is a work of a very interesting charac-
ter, from the difficulty of the country and peculiar posi-
tion of the town. It is situated in a basin formed by a
ridge of hills, which nearly surrounds it, and the rail-
way is extended from the present station, which is out-
side the ridge, by a curved tunnel, to a station in the
centre of the basin, which is remarkable for its central
and convenient. position in the town. In the extension to
Hastings, the railway will pass a second time through
the ridge by a tunnel. The railway is nowhere above
the surface of the town, and the station may in fact be
said to consist of an enlarged part of the tunnel, so that
the line passes through the very centre of the town, with
the existence of a railway being scarcely perceptible.
BIRMINGHAM, LICHFIELD, AND MAN-
CHESTER.

BIRMINGHAM, MONDAY —.A special meeting was held
at Dee's Royal Hotel this day. The chair was taken by
Mr. Spooner, M.P., chairman of the board of directors.
There was a tolerable attendance of shareholders.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the meet-
ing, read the terms of the agreement entered into by the
directors of the Birmingham, Lichfield, and Manchester,
and of the London and North-Western Companies, the
latter company agreeing to purchase the shares of the
former company by paying any sum not more than
16,0001. for the expenses of the company's stmessful
application to Parliament, and a furtar sum of 20,1201.
fur a bonus of 21. per share on those allotted and paid
up; the London and North-Western Company agreeing
to proceed with the works of the proposed line, and com-
plete them within the specified time.
A SHAREHOLDER inquired when it was probable the
21. per share bonus would be paid.
The CHAIRMAN explained that the London and North
Western Company would have to give four weeks' no-
tice of the meeting of their proprietory, after which he
did not doubt that the affair would be speedily ar-
ranged.
Mr. R. C. CHAWNER, of Liehfield, informed the meet-
ing that he had recently been assured by Mr. Swift, on
behalf of the London and North Western Railway Com-
pany, that as soon as their meeting could be called, and
the arrangfn3ents confirmed, the money would be 'mid
over and the affair settled.

Resolutions confirming the above arrangement were
then passed, and powers given to the directors to
complete it, and attach the seal of the company to the
transfer.•

STATE OF THE LAW.
(From the Commercial Magazine.)
The parliamentary session having drawn to a close,
and the fate of many of the railway projects being now
ascertained, parties connected with them are naturally
anxious to understand their legal position, and the nu-
merous cases which have been investigated and decided in
our law courts during the last few months, render the
present a favourable opportunity to present our readers
with the following brief summary of the best established
principles affecting the liabilities of the different parties
who are concerned in railway proceedings :-
1. RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF ALLOTTEES IN
ABANDONED SCHEMES.-It is now clearly established
that an allottee who has paid his deposit upon shares in
a scheme which is abandoned without applying to Parlia-
ment, can recover back his deposit from the promoters of
the scheme, without any deduction for preliminary ex-
penses. Thus, where the promoters have failed to allot
the requisite number of dares, or having allotted them,
have abandoned the scheme without applying to Parlia-
ment, or have induced the public to apply for allotments
by means of fraudulent representations, in all these
cases the entire deposit may be recovered back, and the
expenses must fall upon the managers. In most of
them the allottee may bring an action at law, or file a
bill in Chancery, against any one of the promoters who
has acted, or held himself out to the world as acting, in
the formation and carrying out of the scheme. The
allottee of shares in such an abandoned scheme cannot
be sued for the payment of the deposit, if he have not
paid it, nor can he be compelled to contribute towards
the payment of the debts and expenses which the pro-
moters have incurred.
ry 2. RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF ALLOTTEES IN

SCHEMES WHICH ARE NOT ABANDONED BY THE PRO.

MOTERS.—The position of an allottee who applies for
shares in a scheme which the projectors do not abandon,
but carry out so far as by prospectus they may have con-
tracted to do, or so far as the conduct of the allottees
will enable them to do, is somewhat different to the
position of those who have formed the subject of our
first division. These allottees, if they make default,
may probably be liable to an action to recover da•
mages from them for the breach of their contract with
the promoters, or to a suit in Chancery for the double
purpose of recovering the deposit, and enforcing the
execution by them of the Parliamentary contract and
subscribers' agreement.
3. RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF A LLOTTEES IN
SCHEMES WHICH ARE REJECTED BY PARLIAMENT.—
Before a scheme is brought into Parliament, the usual
deeds are invariably signed by the allottees, and these
deeds confer upon the promoters ample powers to carry
on or abandon the scheme, and to pay all necessary ex-
penses attending the same. Therefore, in cases where
the promoters have done all that is necessary to place
the merits of the scheme before Parliament, but Parlia-
ment rejects it, the allottees must submit to the terms
of the deed they have signed ; and probably the only
power they possess is that. of checking the promoters in
any improper payment or dealing with the funds of the
company. But where the allottee has signed the usual
deeds, but the proper number of shares are not sub-
scribed, or any fraud was practised upon him by the
promoters, or the scheme is abandoned in an unautho. 1
rased manner, he will have the same remedies against
the promoters as if no deed had been signed by him.
4. RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF ScanenoLDEas.—A
mere purchaser of scrip, or of letters of allotment, or of
bankers' receipts, has no rights against, and incurs no
liabilities to the promoters. If the scheme in which he
has acquired an interest be abandoned, he must look to
the party from whom he bought, and it is very doubtful
whether he has any implied rights against him. The
case of Thomson v. Sanders, which appears to establish
such rights, is not relied upon by lawyers, although it
has not yet been expressly over-ruled. It is, however,
possible that the holder of these documents may have a
right to use the name or the original allottee for the
purpose of proceeding against the promoters, but there
are many difficulties in the way of such a step, and the
point has yet to be decided.
5. RIGHTS OF CREDITORS TO sun THE PROMOTERS,
ENGINEER, SOLICITOR, OR OTHER OFFICER OF A
SCHEME.—The creditors, like the allottees, may sue any
one of the promoters who has acted, or held himself out
to the world as acting, in the formation and carrying out
of the scheme. These parties constitute the company, or
project, or scheme; and each and all of them is or are
liable for all debts properly incurred for the advance-
ment of the common design. The engineer, solicitor,
secretary, or other officer of the company, may, by their
conduct, render themselves personally liable; but the mere
circumstance of their holding office in the company, that is
to say being the servants of the company, cannot render
them responsible for the debts of the company, their
employers. On the other hand, they have no power to
bind the company by virtue of their offices alone ; such
a power must be expressly conferred upon them. There-
fore, the engineer's assistants or the solicitor's clerks, or

any other sub-contractors, cannot sue the projectors or
company. If this were suffered the confusion it would
cause would be indescribable. It would be just as ab-
surd as to allow al: a tailor's workmen to sue a customer
who had ordered a coat from their master for wages due
to them from him for making the coat.
6. Maras OF DIRECTORS OR PROMOTERS.—The di-
rectors or promoters may recover contribution from each
other for all expenses connected with the scheme which
they are called on to pay. At law they may recover the
proportionate Part of each, with reference to the whole
number of promoters, but without any regard to the sol-
vency of the others; thus, if there are ten, and One pays a
debt, only a tenth can be recovered from each of the others;
but in equity an equal contribution can be enforced from
all the solvent„parties, without any regard to the original
number cf promoter 3. The promoters are the parties with
whom all the contracts connected with the scheme are
entered into. They must all of them sue for any breach
of contract on the part of allotteee, engineers, or others.
As the promoters are generally very numerous, and have
in most cases undergone changes, it will be difficult to
maintain proceedings on such contracts; because the same
parties must sue with whom the contract was made, and
the mere fact that one director is elected to succeed ano-
ther in a scheme which has no charter or Act of Parlia-
ment, will not give the party so appointed any power to
sue upon his predecessors' contracts. Hence appears
the indiscretion of entering into contracts by a general
name of office, as "Committee," or " Directors," &c. It
will be important for the future to have oontracts with
companies of this kind made with a certain small num-
ber of persons as trustees. After the act is obtained, the
directors have great end summary powers given to them
to recover deposits Am shareholthrs, and to act gene-

rally in the affairs of the company, which will be found
in the general and special acts relating to the subject.
They must, however, be careful not to exceed these
powers. The recent act for facilitating the dissolution
of certain railway companies (9 and 10 Vic. c. 2?), will
also require attention, but we must reserve our notice of
its provisions fbr a future paper.