The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-30 00:00:00

TII E SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 30, 1850.

PROVIDENT CLERKS MUTUAL
LIFE ASSURANCE ASSOCIATION AND BE-
NEVOLENT FUND.
The managers of this lauclable and prosperous in-
stitution met yesterday at the London Tavern, for
the purpose of electing three annuitants, in addition
to those already dependent on the bounty of the
society. John Ahel Smith, Esq., M.P., occupied the
chair.

Mr. P. IT. ByaNE, the Secretary, having, at the
request of the Chairman, read the advertisement con-
vening the meeting.,
Mr. JONES said, in accordance with a resollfien
passed at their last general meeting, they were now
assembled for the purpose of carrying out the object
for which it was passed. He would just mention that
the statements of the candidates had been all fully
inquired into by the Bond—personally as regarded
London cases, and by the local committees as re-
garded country cases—and they were satisfied
that they were all most deserving persons; but
there must nrcessari4 _be, three of them unsuc-
ce3sful. That was,of courat;'aera matter of great regret
to the hoard, but the unsweiesafut now must look for-
ward for success on a future occasion. This was one of
the pleasing opportunities which the managers had of
crrying out the objects of the association, and it was
most gratifying to them to be now engaged in this
good work.— (Cheers.)
The CUAIRMAN said he could only expres,3 that
feeling of sympathy which everybody must have with
those who were compelled to seek the assistance of
the institution; and he believed it only remained for
him to declare the poll open, and that the managers
would proceed to take the votes.
The managers then proceeded to register the votes,
a process which lasted until three o'clock, when the
poll closed.
Mr. B. H. JONES, who occupied the chair in the
absence of Mr. John Abel Smith, M.P., then said—
Gentlemen, as the proceedings of theday have now been
brought to a close, it is my duty to state to you the
result of the ballot. When we commenced the busi-
ness of the day, you will remember I alluded to the
regret which we all in common felt, that some of the
candidates must be disappointed ; I now repeat the
observation which I then made, and beg to add that
this circumstance is one of great regret to us ; but, in
order to relieve all anxiety upon this point, I will state
at once the result of the poll, and reserve any further
observation which I may have to make until after the
announcement. The number of votes, then, which
have been polled for the different candidates are as

follows :
W. B. .. ••• ••• ... 1,037
G. T. ... • • ••• ... 513
A. B. ••• • • ... 1,421
A. W. R. ••• • • ••• 2,696
H. K. ... ••• • • ... 992
J. W. ... ••• • • .. 327
I, therefore, declare that the election has fallen on
W. B. for an annuity of 251. per annum, and on A.
W. R. and A. B. to yearly annuities of 151. each.—
(Cheers,) I have, in connexion with this election, to
announce, that since we came into the room, we have
had a further donation to the benevolent department
of ten guineas from James Clark, Dq.—(Cheers)--
and I wish very much that I could be enabled to in-
duce manyothers to look favourably upon the institu-
tion, and to show their interest in its welfare in a
similar manner.—(Cheers.) Nothing would give the
managers of the institution greater pleasure than to
have the power and means at their disposal
to give assistance to every party requiring it—
(Hear, hear)—and I do hope that though some
have been disappointed, they will, on a future
occasion, meet with that success which they per-
haps had reason to expect to-day. When we
declared the vacancies we had no idea that the
number of candidates would be so numerous. I will
take this opportunity of stating that as regards the
business of the association we continue to make a
very satisfactory progress.. During the present year we
have had about 45 new members to the benevolent
department; and therefore the appeal which we made
at the last annual meeting has not been altoqether in
vain. I hope that number will be greatly increased
during the year, especially as every one who has
paid the least attention to the working of the association
sees the amount of good which it has been the means
of accomplishing. Then, as regards the assurance
department, I find, on a comparison of the present
period with the corresponding period of last year,
that there is an increase of about 6,000/. in the amount
assured, which of course is very satisfactory to every
one connected with the association. I am not
aware that I have any further observations to make,
except to eay, with reference to the unsuccessful can-
didates, that it is the intention of the board to present
them with a donation of five guineas each, as some
little recompense for the expense they may have in.
curred— (Hear)—but it must be apparent to all that
we must husband our funds, and act according to
the means at our disposal, and not according to our
wishes and feelings. I would say with regard
to this election, that the managers have endeavoured
to act in the fairest and most impartial manner to-
wards all parties. They have shown every desire
to act with the strictest impartiality, and I think—at
least I may say for a certainty—that no one can bring
any charge against them of pursuing a different line
of conduct. It has always been their custom to act
straightforwardly and honestly, and though they
observe a certain amount of secrecy in their
proceedings, they do so with the intention of
sparing the feelings of those who become re-
cipients of the society's bounty.—(Cheers.) The
Chairman concluded by intimating that he should be
happy to answer any inquiries which might be put to
him with respect to the association.
Mr. COLEMAN said he had great pleasure in moving
a vote of thanks to John Abel Smith, Esq.,
M.P., for his kindness in taking the chair on
that occasion ; and, in support of the motion,
he would simply say that the uniform kindness which
he had shown to the association ever since its forma-
tion deserved the warmest thanks of every member of
their body. They were now presided over by the
worthy chairman of the board, Mr. R. H. Jones,
Mr. John Abel Smith having been prevented return-
ing again to the meeting; but, though the latter was
not present in person, he was glad to see that he was
so by deputy ; for every one would agree with him
that the portrait which was suspended in the room
was a most excellent likeness of Mr. John Abel
Smith, to whose valuable and disinterested aid the
society was so much indebted.—(Cheers.) But, al-
though be felt be had a right and title to speak in
such praiseworthy terms of that illustrious friend of
the association, he could not place second, in
point of usefulness and importance, the board of
management, at the head of which was the Hon. Gen-
tleman who now occupied the chair.—(Bear.) Ile
entirely responded to the sentiment uttered by Mr.
Jones, as be had no doubt the other members would,
that it was very desirable that all the candidates who
applied for assistance from the association in the shape
of annuities should be successful, and he hoped
and trusted that their future prospects were such as
to leave no doubt that those who had been distip-
pointed would ere long long be placed on the list of
annuitcnts.—(Hear.) Ile had great pleasure in
coupling with the vote of thanks to Mr. John Abel
Smith the names of Mr. Jones and the rest of the
board of management.--(Cheers.)
Mr. NISSEN seconded the motion, and said he
would present the benevolent department of the asso-
ciation with a donation of ten guineas as a humble
token of his appreciation of the great benefits it was
the means of conferring upon the members.—(Hear.)
Mr. J. G. NEELD returned thanks to the members
for the votes which they had given to Mrs. A. W. R.
who had been one of the successful candidates.
et The vote of thanks to Mr. John Abel Smith and
the Board of Management having been put and car-
lied unanimously,
The CHAIRMAN regretted that Mr. John Abel
Ssnith was not present to answer for himself,
because he was much better able to do so, but
he might say that he had uniformly devoted con-
siderable attention to the association, and might be
at that very moment doing more, perhaps, on its
behalf than he could venture to mention.—(Hear,
hear.) As regarded himself and colleagues, he could
only refer to their past exertions as a proof of what
they had done, and hope that for the future they should
continue to meet with the approbation of the members
but, at any rate, he could assure the meeting, that if
they failed in doing so, it, WQUiti Hut, ne isaan any want
of desire on their part.

Mr. TARRANT complained that the candidates for
annuities, in direct opposition to the fundamental
principle of the association, bad given publicity to
their names, and thus made it look mere like a cha-
ritable society than the benevolent department of an
assurance office. He was quite aware that the board
of management was not responsible for the conduct of
the applicants, they having adhered to the original
plan of simply giving the initials ; but he thought the
matter was one which should not be allowed to pass
by without some allusion being made to it.—(Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN said, so far as the individual feelings
of the board went, they were opposed to publicity
being given to the names of the applicants, and they
had shown their opinion of the matter by simply ad-
hering to the initials, but he did not think it would
be advisable to interfere with the course which the
candidates themselves might think it advisable to
pursue.—(Hear.)
The meeting then separated.

A very fine full length portrait in oil of John Abel
Smith, Esq., M.P., the treasurer of the institution,
by the celebrated painter Saye, was exhibited in the
room during the proceedings. The likeness in the
most faithfully r.ccurate we remember to have seen in
any case, and seemed to strike everybody who en-
tered the room. This painting is the result of a
subscription among the members, and is destined to
ornament the Board-room of the society.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR AND
LORD JOHN RUSSELL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sra,—l observe in your paper of last evening a
declaration made by Lord John Russell which surely
ought not to go unnoticed. It embodies a fact and
encourages a sentiment which I often see advanced
by our aristocratic legislators with the greatest ap-
parent innocency, but which if made, even in our
nurseries, would justly stand condemned and corrected
as selfish, low, and derogatory to all right ideas and
feelings of duty and honour. It was said by his
Lordship that he would " resist the reduction of the
present pension to such an amount as that the highest
talent could not be procured to fill the office of Lord
Chancellor."

Sir, is Mammon for everlasting to be held up as a
fit cbject for worship ? Shall pelf be thus calmly and
continually extolled as the all-glorious result at which
the highest talents aim ? I ask, Sir, seriously,• if it
be a fact—if it be a fact that our best high-minded
and gifted men are looking chiefly to money ? If so,
it surely ought only to be mentioned with deep re-
gret, and alluded to as an evil, a low debasing evil, to
which we must bow, though reluctantly. But his
Lordship made his declaration (as I often see made
in the House) as if the motive of money was,
as a matter of course, the great object of am-
bition among our learned, pious, patriotic and
highly gifted men. To me who have long
been accustomed, in humbler life, to see purer,
higher, and nobler motives instilled and acted from,
such gross ideas and aims do seem nothing less than
diabolical corruption. Sir, when we look to the in-
comes of the men to whom such declaration has refe-
rence—incomes where it is no longer question of
can we live upon so little ? can we be bomfortahle,
with such a sum ? nor even, can we mit; bo Very
luxurious? but incomes far exceeding any rightful
and reasonable requirement—l do say, under such
affluent circumstances, to hold up an additional thou-
sand or two as the high motive which is essential to
secure great, good, and talented men, is a libel, a
gross libel, on the Christianity, the genius, and talent
of the age ; or a horrid fact, which ought only to be
spoken of with disgust or sorrow.

•
If it be a fact, it requires immediately the pruning
knife, or the hatchet itself, of our religious and moral
teachers; if it be not a fact, our political guides ought
not to let one set of pensioners lead the public blind-
fold on behalf of other pensioners. A high-minded
talented aspirant for honour will mount the pedestal
of fame if you give him 9,000, but will refuse and
creep into shame, obscurity, and nothing, sooner
than take 8,000 ! ! ! Is this the doctrine noblemen and
statesmen preach in the ears of a moral and religious
people ? If such wickedness is to be encouraged by
the State, why pay the Church our millions to preach
against covetousness and sin ? A half-starving
cottager with a question of nine loaves or eight
loaves, honour or shame, would act a higher part.
Yours truly,
DALETIL
Cheltenh:lrn, May 29, 1850.

P.S. We must remember that these men pretend
to think it an honour and a duty to stand high and be
useful in a state ; then I wish to know wherein money
makes it a duty or no duty.

THE LONDON ASSOCIATION FOR

THE PROTECTION OP TRADE.

The annual general meeting of the members of this
association was held at Exeter Hall last night. The
meeting was rather thinly attended. George Cot-
ters), Esq., the president of the association, took the
chair.

Mr. BLAKEMAN, the secretary, read the report of
the committee of management for the year ending the
31st of March last. The report congratulated the
association on the increasing number of its members,
and the extended confidence reposed in it by the
trading community of the metropolis, and of many of
the manufacturing and other provincial towns; as
by this means they increased the facilities for render
ing that assistance and protection to the members
for which the association had been established. Since
November, 1848, subscriptions had been received
from 1,248 traders, and 23 honorary members had
been elected. There had been also a great increase
in the collection of debts for members. During the
year 1849, and up to the 29th of March, 5,330
persons had been written to for payments of debts
due to members, and
.though the large majority of
debts sent in for collection were deemed to be bad or
doubtful, payments had been obtained amounting in
the entire to 8,0131. 9s. 9d., in addition to which a
considerable sum had, no doubt, been paid per-
sonally, which, through inadvertence, bad not been
notified at the office. The results of all applications for
debts had been registered, thus supplying a timely
caution and valuable information to subscribers in all
cases where credit was required from them by the same
parties. The committee had petitioned in favour of
the Bill for the improvement of the bankruptcy law,
and the Bill for the extension of the jurisdiction of
county courts. They had established communica-
tions and continued in friendly correspondence with
nearly every Trade Protection Society in the United
Kingdom, through the medium of which much useful
information had been interchanged, and the practices
and connexions of swindlers were more fully and
promptly exposed. Traders, both in the metropolis
and in the provincial towns, received the earliest inti-
mation of all fraudulent attempts, and thus by means
of mutual co-operation mach of the important informa-
tion possessed by each society was made available for
the general good of all traders who became their
supporters.

The statements of accounts was then read, from
which it appeared that up to the 25th of March, 1850,
the total receipts were 1,4191. Os. 7d., and that the
balance in the banker's bands and in the hands of
the committee was 451. 18s. 10d.

The PRESIDENT, in moving the adoption of the re-
port, congratulated the association on the rapid pro-
gress which they had made, and expressed himself
strongly as to the necessity of union and co-opera-
tion among the traders of the West-end. They had
enrolled upwards of 1,200 members during the past
year, but he hoped that in the ensuing year each
member would bring at least one additional sub-
scriber, because the greater their number the greater
would necessarily- be the amount of information
which they received and interchanged.
Mr. HEAL Eeconded the motion. He said that their
money had been expended with the strictest economy,l
and in a manner which was best calculated to benefit
the subscribers. They had collected upwards of
8,0001. of bad debts for members within the year ; and
in addition to that, 3,000 inquiries had been made at
the office, averaging ten a day, and in all cases useful
information had been obtained. He expressed his
belief that the retail traders of London suffered more
by means of bad debts than by all the taxes united for
which they were liable, and any society which would
enable them to get rid of this great evil must be of
the greatest utility.—(Hear, hear) In conclusion, be
mentioned a case in which he would himself have
been victimized by a reverend gentleman, who had
given him a reference to a person in the Bank of Eng-
land, were it not for the information received through
the society.
Mr. GREENE bore evidence to the successful nature
of the labours of the association for the past year, and
said that no less than 16,000 letters had been for-
warded to members from the office.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Mr. ROGERS moved the next resolution, to the effect
that the progress of the association was highly credit-
able to the committee of management, and that it was
a highly gratifying fact that 1,272 traders had become
members during the Fast year.
Tire motion was carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the auditors,
after which, on the motion of Mr. Jeffreys, a vote of
thanks was given to the committee of management,
and their reappointment for the ensuing year was
confirmed.

Mr. MITCHELL moved that the future annual meet-
ings of the society be held in the month of February
in each year.

Mr. 61tunTois Sf con ded the motion, which was
agreed to.
Mr. ITFna, mound the tharks of the !neeting to Mr.
Biakeulete, the oeure:ary, and the other officers of the
association, for the zeal and industry shown by them

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

EPSOM RACES.—WEDNESDAY.
For the first time since 1798 the Epsom programme
announced a race to precede the two great events of the
meeting, in the shape of a Free Plate of 501., an addi-
tion to the ordinary quantum of sport acceptable to the
visitors, and creditable to the management. Apart from
this, the arrangement of the stakes, and of the business
of the course, was in every respect as of old—the same
officers, the same preliminary routine of saddling, can-
tering, &e., and with the same satisfactory results to the
public and the parties engaged in the actual business of
the meeting. It is almost superfluous to state that, with
a race for its staple "feature," on which speculation
reached an unprecedented amount, and on which the
quotations have shown the most extraordinary fluctua-
tions, a vast concourse of people were attracted to the
Downs. From the London-bridge terminus trains were
started from en early hour, at as short intervals as was
consistent with safety, not without some confusion—ren-
dered unavoidable by the rush for the carriages—but
happily without accident. lefo continuous was the pres-
sure at this station, that it was found impracticable to
forward many of the later applicants in time for the first
race; fortunately for them the alteration in the order of
running threw the Derby back full half an hour be-
yond the time at which it has usually been rue, and
thus none were disappointed cf their anticipated treat.
The Epsom line did not engross the whole of the trade,
a considerable number of " quiet, easy-going" people,
having no relish for a sque( es, preferring the route from
Waterloo-bridge to Kingston, and thence by road to
the DOR lig, the difference of time and expense being so
trifling, that we are almost inclined to think that those
who adopted it had the best of it.
By mid-day Epsom was so completely blocked up
that although the betting fraternity assembled, as cf
old, opposite the Eagle, the transaction of business to
any extent, was out of the question. In the din which
prevailed during the short time the attempt was perse-
vered in, we could make out that the four favourites
were in great favour, and Pitsford on the decline, but the
actual prices of the favourites all our industry failed to
elicit. We will therefore, change the venue to the
Downs. There the crowd was prodigious, extending
from the commencement of the rails to and some dis-
tance round, Tattenbam Corner, filling up the course
itself, and the space between the running ground and the
carriage enclosure on both sides. We cannot say
that the hill was so well covered with equi-
pages, or that the assemblage was so fashionable,
as wo have seen on many Derby days, but we
can safely affirm that numerically it has never been ex-
ceeded. The task of keeping this enormous and motley
assemblage in order, and of clearing the course, was as-
signed to the police, under Superintendent Hughes and
Inspector Beckerson and May, and it is due to them to
state that it was most admirably performed. The
Grand Stand was literally crammed, and so dense was
the crowd in the betting enclosure that it was almost as
difficult to ascertain the movements there as it was in
the town.

The struggle for the premiershiplaid between Clincher,
Bolingbroke, and Mildew, and for some time was so
close, that it would not have been easy to decide which
had the call ; 9 to 2 was taken about each; ultimately
Clincher settled down as first favourite, Mildew second
and Bolingbroke third, the Nigger, wbo was backed for
an immense stake, closing at six to one. Pitsford de-
clined to 12 to 1, and Voltigeur, after being a long time
almost on the shelf, came into favour, the last quota-
tion against him being 16 to 1. Nothing else was in
much request.
For the Handicap Plate, which was fixed for two
o'clock, sixteen horses out of an entry of twenty-three
started, Joe o'Sot winning by a neck. The Derby
came next, and so little time was occupied in weighing,
and other preliminaries, that by half-past two the tele-
graph was hoisted; it indicated 24 runners, two more

thait we anticipated would be found at the post. We
should state here that, shortly before the commence-
ment of the races, the trainer of Bolingbroke objected to
Deicaon's being allowed to start until his mouth had un-
dergone an examination; this was ordered, but no veteri-
nary surgeon being forthcoming he was permitted to run
under protest. (From what took place at Bath there can
be no doubt his ago is right). The course having beon
cleared, the flag was hoisted on the stand as a signal for
the competitors to be conducted to the front of the Grand
Stand. Saddling►, cantering, arid the customary parade
succeeded, and shortly after three o'clock the horses
were conducted to the paddock, and having been
formed by Mr. Ilibburd into order for starting, appeared
at the post, without any delay the flag was lowered, and
in the short space of 2 minutes and 50 seconds, the time
occupied in running the race, the cares and speculations
cf a year were closed by Voltigeur, "one of the safest
horses in the race," as many considered him the day
Lefore, passing the chair a very easy winner; next to
him came all the favorites, with the exception of Boling-
broke, who never showed in the race, and was " nowhere"
at the finish. Mayors, who ran forward to the turn,
broke down near the road, and was pulled up. Lord
Zetland and his friends are understood to be very large
winners, some of them, we suspect, netting more than
they would have done had their horse been at a hedging
price. The " ring" loses almost to a man, and the fet-
tling, we fear, will be a very heavy one.

Two races of small value followed the Derby, and
kept the mass of the company on the ground until be-
tween five and six o'clock. We have only to add that
the weather was remarkably fine throughout, and that
the day passed off, as far as we are enabled to speak from
personal observation, without a single drawback.

TLe Town Plate of 50 son. (handicap), for all ages.
One mild.

Mr. Osbaldeston's Joe o' Sot, 6 yrs, Bst 10Ib(F.Butler) 1
Hon. S. Herbert's Radulphus, aged, Bst 121 b ...(Sly) 2
Mr. Gurney's Bullfinch, 3 yrs, Est 61b ...(E Sharp) 3
Mr. Burgess's Slashing. Alice, 4 yrp, Bst (Dockery) 0
Mr.C.Hornshy'sThe Old Fox, 4 yrs,Bst(flornsby, jun.) 0
Mr. 11. Wadlow's Stanton, 4 yrs. 85t...( Whitehouse) 0
Mr. Bingley's Christiana, 4 yrs, Bst ....... . (Thick)
Mr.Dennistoun'sFerryhill,syrs,7st 101b(R.Sherwood) 0
Mr.R.Cooper'sPassion-flovrer,s yre,7st 101b(C.Planner) 0
Mr. J. Day's Mignon, 6 yrs, 7st 71b (Rob. Sherwood) 0
Lord Strathmore's g byEpirus,4 yrs,7st 101b(J.Smith) 0
Duke of Richmond's Ilarum•Scarum, 3 yrs, 6st 71b 0
Mr. Osborne's Sobersides, aged, 6st 71b ...(G. Mann) 0
Mr. Dorrien's Chariclea, 3 yrs, 6st 31b (liiett)
Mr. Marson na Rubina, 3 yrs, sst 91b (T. Smiib) 0
Betting-4 to 1 agst Bullfinch, sto 1 eg,t Stanton, 5
to 1 agst Joe o' Sot, 6 to 1 agst Slashing Alice.
Radulphus, with Bullfinch in company, made the run-
ning to the road, whore they were joined by Joe o' Sot,
who waited with them to the stand, und, obtaining a
slight lead, kept it to the end, and won by a neck, a
length separating the second and third. Run in 1 min.
47 sec.

The Derby Stakes of 50 soya. each, h ft, for three yrs
old; coltr, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 21b; the second to re-
ceive 100 sovs.;out of the stakes, andlhe winner to pay
100 sove. towards the police, and 50 says. to the judge.
One mile and a half.
Lord Zetland's Voltigeur, by Voltaire ...(J Marlton) 1
Mr. B. Hill's Pitsford (A. Day) 2
Lord Airlie's Clincher
Mr. Gratwicke's The Nigger (Flatman) 4
Mr. Ford's Penang (R. Sly) 0
Mr. W. Edwards na Bolingbroke (Robinson) 0
Captain Bastard's Mildew
Mr. Hussey's Royal Hart (Simpson) 0
Mr. Gannon's Deicoon (J. Sharp) 0
Mr. Gurney's St. Fabian (H. Pettit) 0
Mr. Greville's Cariboo (Rogers) 0
..

Mr. Davidson's Charley (Abrahams)
Mr. Meiklam's The Italian (Templeman)
Lord Exeter's Nutshell (Norman)
Mr. Lister's The Knight of Gwynne (Dockeray)
Count Batthyany's Valentine (Crouch)
Duke of Richmond's Ghillie Callum (S. Mann)
Mr. Merry's Brennus (J. Prince)
Lord Eglinton's Mayors (Marlow)
Major Martyn's The Swede ....(W. Abdale)
Mr. Disney's Captain Grant (D. Wynne)
Mr. Moseley's Alonzo (Whitehouse)
Sir G. Heathcote's Dark Susan c01t...(R. Sherwood)
Mr. S. Herbert na Augean (H. Edwards)
BETTING AT STARTING.
7 to 2 agst Clincher
9 to 2 agst Mildew
5 to 1 agst Bolingbroke
6 to 1 agat The Nigger
12 to 1 agst Pitsford
16 to 1 agat Voltigeur
20 to 1 agst Deicoon
33 to 1 agat Nutshell
40 to 1 agat The Italian
40 to 1 agst Ghillie Callum
50 to 1 agat The Swedo
1,000 to 15 agst any other.

Penang and Deicoon got away together, and, with The
Nigger, Mildew, The Swede, and Ghillie Callum laid up,
Voltigeur next, in company with Clincher, cut out the
work to the milepost, where Penang died away. Dei-
coon went on with the running at a good pace, followed
in rotation by Mildew, The Swede, and The Nigger,
Ghillie Callum, Clincher, and Voltigeur remaining in
their original positions. They went on thus to the road,
where Deicoon was beaten, and Mildew took the lead,
Clincher and The Nigger waiting on him, Ghillie Callum
and Cariboo next, and Pitsford, who laid off for the first
half mile, well up. Mildew was beaten at the distance,
and Voltigeur and Clincher then singled themselves out,
the former taking the lead opposite the stand, and run-
ning home a very easy winner by a length, Pitaford,
who came opposite the stand, beating Clincher for the
second money by half a length, The Nigger fourth, Mil-
dew fifth, and Ghillie Callum sixth. Mayors laid for-
ward in the early part of the race, but broke down at the
turn, and was not persevered with. The race was run in

three yrs old, 7st 101 b; four, Bst 1 llb; five, 9st 21b;
b6elbs; Ind sfroers 1 andso
sogeldingse
mallowed
,
2 min.
nCastoew see
o
Th Stakes of 5 sous. each, with 30 goys. added;
Mr. Hornsby's Old Fox, 4 yrs, BstBlb...(Hornby, jnn.) 1
Mr. Hill's Equiria, 3 yrs, let 101 b (Maton) 2
eurartstoters of a mile.
Mr3&s.il:l2 11.;aentbThd aged.e
iehonrw'sienLnq, 9
aundrymaid, aged, 9bt 311)...(H. Bell) 3
Lord Strathmore's Hood, 3 yrs, ist 711)... ..... (Pettit) 4
Mr. Drewitt's Mr. Milner, 4 yrs, Bst 1111) (Abrahams) 5
Betting-5 to 4 egst Equiris, 5 to 2 agat Laundry-
maid, and 4 to 1 apt The Old Fox. Equiria made the
running until half way up the distance, when he gave
way, and The Old Fox, taking the lead, won easily by a
length. Run in 1 min. 16 see.
The Burgh Stakes of 5 sous. each, with 30 added. Tho
winner to be sold for 100 sove., if demanded, &c., and
allowances if to be sold for less. The winner to be
sold by auction immediately after the race, and any
surplus over the selling price to go to the Fund.
Half a mile.
Mr. Hobson's Laundrymekl, aged, Bst 61 (Hornsby) 1
Mr. Hayter's Tho Handsome Doe, Gst 71b (Goater) 2
Mr. Lister's Hind of the Forest, 7:4 I Ilb (Abdele) 0
Me. Cuou4 Doiro,t, 4 yr,, Bst 3ib (C. Mauler) 0
Duke of Richmond's Claymore, 3 yrs, 6st 716(Collins) 0
Mr. Itsmsbottona's lole, 3 yre, Est 711) (E. Sharp) 0

Mr. Higgins's Scarcasm, 3 yrs, 7st llb (Crouch) 0
Sir G. Ileathcote's Lady Sarah f, 3 yrs, 6st 71b 0
Mr. Drew's Master Murray, aged, Bst 61b (Hackett) 0
Mr. Nawcombe's Tuscan. 5 yrs, ist 111 b (Dockeray) 0
Betting-2 to 1 sgst the Handsome Doe-7 to 2 agst
Hind of the Forest—and 6 to 1 agst Claymore and Laun-
drymaid. Won by a length. Run in 50 sec. The win-
ner was sold for 61 SOTS.

THE OAKS.
5 to 1 agst Eliza Middleton.
7 to 1 agst Tinglo.

(From the Chronicle.)
Yesterday was the " Derby Day." Long before this
announcement is in our readers' hands, everybody whom
it can possibly concern has been made aware that all the
" favourites" were beaten, and that Voltigeur (a horse
whose father was Voltaire, and who was ridden by
Marson), is the winner of the Derby for 1850. The
owner is the Earl of Zetland, the head of English Free-

masonry.
Yesterday, as the " Derby Day," was remarkable in
two points of view. First, it was the first really sum-
mer day of the year. The fine weather, long looked for,
came at last. Even the trifling showers which, last
year, made the earlier hour or two of the Epsom pilgri-
mage a matter of nervousness, were absent. The morn-
ing vas something cloudy, though it did not realise that
awful bundle of tautologies (every one of which repeats
another),
" The sky is overcast, the morning lowers,
And heavily with clouds comes on the day."
But shortly afar eleven o'clock the sun attained full
power, and by the time we reached the Downs, every
line in the well-defined horizon was brought out in as
char and bright a sunshine as we ever saw. The very vul-
garities of fair and booth, aggregated in gigantic fashion
along the course, took something of poetry from the
sunlight, while the natural beauties of the locality,
which no corruption of Cockneydona can spoil, were de-
liciously developed in the brightness of the day.
The second—and more " sporting " peculiarity of the
day, was the utter overthrow of the whole race of im-
postors called " Derby Prophets." The entire lot, upon
whose absurd audacity, or circumambient mystification,
whole droves of yokels and cockneys are not ashamed to
risk their savings, were held up as laughing-stocks in the
eyes of thousands upon thousands assembled. Not a
shuffle nor a wriggle remained to these unlucky hum-
bugs. But what of that? Every horse upon which a
" Prophet " had staked (valeant quantum) his character
and his judgment, was defeated. But the race of fools
is as enduring as that of knaves, and next Derby we
shall have the whole squad in full prophecy again, each
certainly contradicting all the rest, but each boldly ap-
prising his gang of dupes that " there is bat One Horse,
and * * * is his Prophet."
Setting aside all the cant and twaddle, the "Derby"
is a fine sight. As to calling it a development of " na-
tional " taste, that is all trash. You collect an immense
mass of people upon Epsom Downs, no doubt; but where
is the common object which is necessary to make the
assemblage a " national " one? Every class sends its
representative, but no two classes send representatives
with similar views. Nearly the only attendants who at-
tend because there is a " race," are composed of that
oddly constituted body called the " ring. ' It is their
business, just as it is the stock-jobber's business to be
near the Stock Exchange, the political jobber's to be in
the House, and the music jobber's to be at the Opera on
the first night of a bought composition. But oat of the
myriads who line the course, how many care about the
three minutes' work called the race? Not the " car-
riage aristocracy," who naturally enough like a
charming scene, and the rare novelty of being sur-
rounded, in perfect safety, by every variety of amusing
rascaldom. Not the protessional man, who treats his
wife and daughters to a day's fresh air, in anticipation
of the long vacation and the Ramsgate first floor. Not
the good-natured, listless guardsman, who comes down
in doe-cart or dragaand is very likely shying at little
Napoleans on a stick while the Derby is being run.
Not the attractive occupants of those vehicles profanely
called " loose boxes," whose inmates are sometimes in-
troduced as wives, but never to wives. Not the smart
articled clerks, or seedy copying clerks, who go down in
a state of hilarity and come up in a state of beer. Not
the small tradesman, who drives down his taxed-cart,
with a full-faced spouse in front, and a thin daughter
crouched in the rear. Not the sturdy mechanic, who
arrives from the railway footsore and weary, and un-
dergoes the rating of his termagant consort all the way
there because the road is dusty—all the time ho is
there because he has not provided her a better place,
I and all the way home, because he is drunk. Not the
hundreds upon hundreds of vagabonds of every kind,
from the " ring the bull" men doe n to the " balls
and rolling" gentry, of whom the police, in any more
rational and less constitutional country, would make a
splendid battue on the Derby day. What do all these
people care about " Mr. Gratwicke's b c," or " Mr.
Hill's ch c," or " Sir G. Heathcote's br f?" Fireworks,
fountains, or fiddlesticks would, if similarly favoured by
prestige, and the puffs of public house-keepers, draw as
large an assembly.
hut, take it for what it was, yesterday's Derby was a
scene worth seeing. The superb amphitheatre was
densely crowded; the carriages displayed even more
than their usual attractions, in the form of pretty faces
and pretty dresses; the weather was brilliant, the mob
was orderly, and the horses ran—very fast. Whether,
as the winners affirmed, the great race was a beautiful
display of animal power, or whether, as the long-faced
losers averred, the affair was obviously a " sell," was,
upon the grounds wo have stated, of not the slightest
consequence. The day was a perfect success, and there
seemed to be an unanimous feeling that " Oak-apple-
day" was more brilliant in gold-leaf than usual.
(From the Advertiser.)
Ersom, WEDNESDAY AFTERrOON.—HOW to narrate
anything "now, novel, cr entertaining" anent a Derby
day, is beyond my range of diversity. Never was there
a more exquisite one in point of weather, and never
were the Downs more enormously attended.
The road reminded one of ancient times, when there
was no other mode of transit, and yet the rail conveyed
its thousands, with a celerity and precision upon the
direct route from London-bridge which admitted of no
complaint, and extorted eulogies from the veriest of
" Yuung Rapids," as it did from the surliest of the old
safety-coach school.

Tlie A division of police clearing the course, the su-
perb stand, the commanding enclosure, the inspection of
the saddling after the lounge in the paddock, rendered
that which was in former times a scene, or continuous
scenes of turmoil and inconvenience, one unbroken chain
of comfort.

If we admit that in the good old times, or bad old times,
we could get a tolerably fair peep at the tits in the
Warren, there we must stop, as upon the old course, un-
cleared into the bargain, no man ever saw the race ran
for the Derby.
Then, again, the luxurious caterings of Mr. Lumley
and the solidittes of Mr. Careless at his monster booth,
with no end of liquids, at a moderate cost for indu-
bitable quality, made things pleasant for those who did
not choose to traverse the hollow or scale the hill, where
pc-nits were progressing in profusion.
After all, John Bull is not so unsociable; an animal as
he has been traditionally accounted. _

Most extraordinary interest attached to the great
event, as I have over and over again adverted to, and its
openness has been evinced by the winners being from 20
to 1, layers, to 25 to 1, takers, at starting.
But trivial attention was paid to the Epsom Town
Plate, a mile, which Joc-o'-Sot won from Radulphus,
mainly owing to the fine riding of Butler, Bullfinch run-
ning up a fair third.

borne proceeded now, instanter, to the paddock, where
Bolingbroke, Clincher, Mildew,The Nigger, with Ghillie
Callum will fortified with flesh, Deicoon, and Voltigeur
challenged attention, and all the usual variety of opinion
was offered.

A friend of mine, who had stood hard as a bran against
the son of John o'Gaunt, who was walking in the shade,
as typical of his running there, said " What a superb
horse he is; I shall be gammoned no longer; I'm off,
and will get out at any price ;" and so he did; and with
strong subsequent play in the Champagne Stakes to
drown the recollection of his fatuity.
Lord Zetland was so nervous, that he abandoned his
intention of coming down to see the race, and trusted
to the telegraph to put him out of his agony.
Butler rode Clincher, in spite of all the rumours to
the contrary, and had he not made the struggle which
ho did with the winner, between the road and the dis-
tance, he might have got second.
At length all was settled, the canters taken, and they
went to the paddock to commit themselves to the cus-
tody of Mr. Hibburd.
Mildew, in the saddling, showed some temper, and
sweated a little, but he was so blooming, and went so
well, that his " clique " were fond to madness.
It was a
game cf up and down with the three fa-
vourites, but their closing priceF, stood thus :—4 to 1
agst Clincher, 9 to 2 agst Mildew, and 5 to 1 agst
Bolingbroke. The Nigger's mark was 7 to 1, and Pits-
ford receded to 10 to 1, whilst Deicoon was offered agst
at 30 to 1, and a Noble Lord, and one or two others,
came to the Leviathan, and " tumbled to Voltigeur " at
20 to 1.

-1C r. Davis stated after the race, that Voltigeur eras
the worst horse in his book ; but I may observe, that he
will be about the best nag in the settling, as the public
have stuck to him, and there is a coterie of coachmen
and flunkies at the west-end, who, of ficed by the big wig
of the Earl of Zetland, have won their moneys to a tune
which will probably induce many of them to leave ser-
vice, and set up establishments of their own !
Deicoon, with Penang, cut out the work at a jolly
pace up the hill, the immortable Bolingbroke being
nearly the last off, and about the very first to cry, " hold,
enough !" his work for the Derby was most mysterious,
as I ventured some time since to observe, and I imagine
that no ono will be particularly anxious henceforth for
the pats-word to the stable, or to purchase him out of
chancery as the winner of the Emperor's Plate at Ascot.
A more thundering impostor never presented himself on
the hills of Surrey, and he is in every respect qualified
to lay the foundation•stone for a horse hospital for
lunatics.

But to return, Mildew went up at Tottenham Corner,
led oNer the mad, and looked well to outside the dis-
tanep, from whence, that is, from the London-road to the
distance, Clincher tried to make a sght of it with Vol-
tigeur.
As they drew towards the Stand, there was not tEe
shadow of a doubt as to the white jacket with the red
spots, Voltigeur eventually clearing the chair by a cou-
ple of length;, with "pretty Pitstord"a length in ad-
vance of Clincher, who was followed by The Nigger and
Mildew.
Now, a braggerd is a humbug and a
is cur; a Falstaff
without his wit, and a Pistol without a tithe of his voca-
bulary of euphuism; but it an act of justice to the
Adverliger Sir Oracle to remark,. that I landed two out
of my three in Voltigeur and Clinc er, Mr,
k-.h'anx put-
ting my No. 1 No. 3, and my No. 3 No. I.
It may also be recollec‘ter.l, and I know that it has
been, though the multitude who flocked to " The
'"-
pbet" after the " funking" encounter, that Mounseer, my
thixd ou the lieedee, was tit§ fiat 19r the chum. cup:

Perhaps it may be my unlucky lot never to pick a
winner again—yet still I trust, that if fortunate, my
friends will adopt my "lot," which would have borne
them out in triumph, more frequently than I had the
slightest right to anticipate.
A word in the ears of the wise: let them oppose me
for The Oaks to-morrow—though I will do my best to
fight the battle for them, as well as for YATES.

SOYER'S MAGIC STOVE.
After various experiments, which have extended
over a period of nearly twelve months, M. Soyer has
succeeded in bringing to perfection his magii stove,
the first idea of which was broached in his admirable
manual of gastronomical science, " The Modern
Housewife," published last summer, and the first
edition of which was exhausted in less than a week.
The magic stove was exhibited to the public at No.
5, Charing-cross, on Saturday and on Monday last,
and a more efficient, portable, clean, and ornamental
cooking apparatus it is impossible to imagine. The
whole apparatus can be placed in a hat, and the cook-
ing is conducted on the dinner table, without smell,
without smoke, and without even soiling the cloth.
The apparatus itself is rather ornamental than other-
wise. It consists of a round copper, in shape and
size somewhat resembling a counting-house inkstand,
with a furnace opening, and a flue passing from this
opening near the bottom of one of its sides, through
the middle, and up the centre to the top ; on this top
is placed a frying-pan, stew-pan, saucepan, kettle, or
coffee-pot. Adjoining the stove cr copper is a vessel
with two reservoirs for spirits of wine, or any other
kind of spirit, one at the bottom the other at the top.
To the bottom reservoir are affixed two burners
with their wicks; one of the burners is placed oppo.
site the opening of the flue in the stove, the other
burner is under the other reservoir. In connexion
with the upper reservoir is a tube, or blow-pipe, pas-
sing from the centre of its apex, down by its side,
under it, and opening in the wick that burns at the
mouth of the flue. The spirit in the upper reservoir
being heated by the burner beneath it, a gaseous va-
pour is generated, which, rushing out of the blow-
pipe, and coming in contact with the burner at the
mouth of the flue, is ignited and passes in a volume of
flame through the flue, and fries, stews, or boils
whatsoever is placed over it. It will cook l lb. of
rump steak in five minutes. It is the cheapest and
most commodious cuisine portative ever constructed.
A little explanatory book is sold or given with it.
And, to make everything complete, M. Soyer gives
receipts and instructions for the cooking of about a
dozen-and-a-half dishes, by means of this pocket-
kitchen of his. He has, moreover, fitted up
a small box, in size and shape like a lawyer's
deed-box, with a complete apparatus for cooking
and sending up a dinner for twelve persons.
The magic stove will go on cooking for about 48
minutes with one charge of spirits of wine, the cost
of which is just fourpence-halfpenny. We have par-
taken of chops and steaks cooked by the magic stove,
and they are certainly far superior to those cooked by
any of the ordinary methods. The heat is so intense
that the exterior of the chop or steak is at once car-
bonised, and thus the juices are retained without the
chop being burned, so that it is at the same time
crisp and succulent. To the sportsman, to the sailor,
to the soldier in camp or in bivouac, the magic stove
must be invaluable. It will enable pic-nic parties to
vary the eternal pigeon pie and cold roast fowl with
chop or steak or some warm viand, and will
emancipate the bachelor living in chambers from the
thraldom of his laundress ; while to families, as a sum-
mer cooking-apparatus, it will save more than its
cost in coal, and enable them to keep their domiciles
cool by doing away with the necessity for a kitchen-
fire, as it will boil water or coffee as efficiently as it
will cook chops or steaks. On the occasion of persons
wishing to use it in the open air there is a cover
which prevents the lamp from being blown out even in
the most tempestuous weather. This will render it in•
valuable at sea. We understand that Captain Austin
has directed that all the ships engaged in the northern
expedition shall be supplied with magic stoves.

MR. ALBERT SMITH'S ENTER-

TAINMENT.

Mr. Albert Smitb, by his various comic writings,
and also in no small degree by his social qualities,
' has achieved a very general popularity ; it was, there.
fore, natural that the announcement of an entertain.
merit to be sustained by himself in propria persona
should attract a crowded audience. After illustrating
in his amusing works many ludicrous phases of Eng.
lish social life, Mr. Albert Smith, in a happy mo-
ment, bethought himself of a new field for his pen,
and started off to the East (at least as much of it as
he could hop, ship, and jump over, in a very brief
tour) to make acquaintance with, and possibly to
quiz, the Orientals. Some results of his visit have
recently been embodied in a volume which is not only
amusing, but useful. On Tuesday evening he gave, at
Willis's Rooms, some gleanings from his experiences
in the shape of a descriptive discourse, inter-
spersed with songs, and illustrated by scenic views.
He calls his entertainment " The Overland Mail,"
and he supposes himself to start from Suez, on the
return journey to England. Of course his monologue
is a mere touch-and-go affair, seizing a few salient
points, and putting his brief experiences in the best
point of view to raise a laugh. Mr. Albert Smith,
we need not say, is very droll on the oddities of his
travelling companions. To avoid being boxed up in
a fly with several " overland babies," he betakes him-
self to the back of a dromedary, and records his
painful reminiscences of that uneasy mode of travel
in a capital comic song. We then have a graphic
description of the external ,aspect of Cairo, and the
internal comfort and thoroughly English character of
Shephard's Hotel. Here he meets with an original
oddity, whom he nicknames " undecided Mr. Parker."
This personage, who is pleasantly afflicted with an
inability to make up his mind to anything, was
hit off by Mr. Albert Smith with considerable power
of comic impersonation. After this, we have a
passage up the Nile in a kandjia, or Nile-boat, and
Mr. Albert Smith here throws down the gauntlet to
enthusiastic writers on Nile travelling, by giving a
grotesquely humorous description of the desagremens
of this mode of travelling. We are sorry to say, too,
that his Pyramids and his Sphynx do not quite come up
to the high mark of the poets. The remainder of the
entertainment consists of descriptions of Alexandria,
Malta, and the journey homeward to Boulogne, all
touched off in the same humorous strain. Thein-
terspersed songs are clever and were well sung, espe-
cially " The Matrimonial Mother," "The Boat on
the Nile," the song of the sailor with his tin
fiddle,
and a patter song, " The fast man." The scenic illus-
trations are beautifully painted by Mr. Wm. Beverley.
Some of them are really fine pictures, especially that
called "The Kandjia," "The Street in Cairo,"
" Malta," and " The Port of Suez." Mr. Albert
Smith rattled off his descriptive and vocal portion of
the entertainment with ease and point, and the tra-
velling characters introduced were cleverly embodied.
He was much applauded throughout. The entertain-
ment is announced for repetition on Monday next.

GRAY'S Inx, MAT 29.—At a numerous meeting of
c
eh the
ahrawl
eorfe tdhe iesl
asro;di ettoy
haveddaiya.,
the
the
11).0e
ec hwei
ar sgasi
ti du
studentsrsfo rmt ht
tinguished themselves in the voluntary examination for ho-
nours in the law of real and personal property and convey-
in the hall of this society, on Thursday and Friday
ltnast' and were classed in the following order :-1. Mr. Na-
thaniel Lindley, Middle Temple. 2. Mr. John Whitcombe,
Middle Temple. 3. Mr. Joseph Graham, Middle Temple;
Mr. William Crawford, Middle Temple ; and Mr. Henry
Kingsmill, Lincoln's Inn—xquales. 4. Mr. Edward Steere,
Inner Temple. 5. Mr. James Marshall, Gray's Inn • and
Mr. William Freeman, Lincoln's Inn—requales. 6'. Mr.
James Bridge Davidson, Lincoln's Inn ; and Mr. William
Llewellyn Terry, Inner Temple—fequales. 7. Mr. Thomas
Freeman Morse, Lincoln's Inn. Mr. Lindley received the
Lecturers' prize, consisting of a set of " Vssey's Reports (20
vols). Mr. W. D. Lewis has been again appointed the So-
ciety's lecturer.

A. VETERAN.—We regret to announce the death o
one of the most distinguished officers of the French army_
General Count de Vittre, Grand Officer of the Legion of
Honour, &c. Charles de laity de Villeneuve,l Count
Vittre, was descended from an old and noble family
School,
y'of Poi-
tou, was the comrade of the Emperor at the
(11)1,ihtuaserya,
where
and took a glorious part in the campaign 1 u
he was severely wounded. He also distinguished
the Spanish expedition in 1823,
where
Crillon, and M. A.
orders General Changarnier, the Duke e
he
had himselfunder
nder ht
oof Carrel,
the
Bayardwho on ,
ofa ctchoeu ;1t
9 tohf
eheins
tvn ar31,0. ur , gave e
G n e General lh Ci mo
utnhtedseu 17' iat
mt
r ee
s ..11essenger.
writer of Paris.—Galignanz
.—Last night these
was uncle to M. Hugues de,Coval, a distinguished political
as a preliminary
gardens were opened with
in
for the season which is about
VAUXHALL—TEE BAar,
entertainment to the opening fire
in
good order, and the ar-
rangements, take place. The gardens masquerade,MAQuE
seasons, Mr. Wardell, all that the frequenters
avail-
able,mth-eerenneloaedssear3.at
lessee of former seaso
rangements, under the superintendence of the well-known
As was stated in the bills, " all the
of the place can desire.
,as establishment"
no
~,,!ant of
and certainly
when they had entered, the
at-
tractions to induce the company to enter, and plenty to pro-
tractresources of ttahienfi
yar-thfaenireedm
gates. The
aavteanyues were brilliantly illuminated; every ac-
commodation was given for dancing, and for eating and
Balks
and
drinking. Three excellent bands were in attendance, the
incessant music of the instruments of which kept the com-
pany in continuous movement. For some hours the merri-
ment and frolic were kept up by hundreds of persons in cos-
tumes of all ages and countries, and in costumes not referrable
to any age or clime. There were many groups from Epsom,
who seemed determined to prolong the " Derby " day by the
addition of several hours from its successor. No signs of
exhaustion were perceptible in the votaries of pleasure, and
it was not till the " professionals " were completely worn out
that the patrons cf the place retired. The whole went off in
good style.

VISIT OF THE DUCHESS OF KENT TO THE HIGH..
LANDS. —We learn that her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Kent is expected to arrive at the Castle of Abergeldie, in
this comity (a lease of which she has taken) about the end of
June. When her Majesty arrives at Balmoral, her Royal
Highness will be in the immediate neigbourhood of her august
daughter.—Aberdeen Journal.
COLOSSEUM.—Among the numerous visitors to the
Colosseum, Regent's Park, on Tuesday, were the ambassador
from the Prince of Nepaul and suite.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY.-ThffiC fur
the Wcck ended Mr.y 26, [B5O : C. and 11. Main Line
2,6851. Is. Bd.; Mold, 1271. 2s. Od. ; teant-boats, 216/:
us. Od Total, a302e1! 14k, ea.

[The following appeared in our Third Edition of
last night
GERMAN Y.

A telegraphic dispatch from Berlin of the 26th
instant has the following news :

" His Majesty has Slept well during the greater
part of the night. The fever was slight, and the
swelling, but not the painful feeling in the arm, is
lessened. The wound presents a favourable appear-
ance, and the suppuration continues.
" Von MANTEUTFEL."
The Berlin papers of the 25th inst. publish the text
• of the note which the Governments of the Prussian
League have addressed to Austria. It is to the fol-
lowing purport :
" faly letter of the 3d inst. informed your Excellency
of the invitation which the Austrian Cabinet addressed
to all the members of the Germanic Confederation
appointing a meeting at Frankfort-on-the-Maine.
When we received that invitation I could only say
that his Majesty's Gwernenent would consider the
subject, but that a definitive resolution could only he
come to after a consultation with his Majesty's
allies : for to act in concert with them is not only
the wish but also the duty of his Majesty's
Government. That consultation has now taken
place, and his Majesty's Government is fully
satisfied with the strong sympathies it met with
among its allies, and which are a guarantee of a fa-
vourable progress of an affair in which we are all
equally interested and concerned. I am therefore
now enabled to empower your Excellency to make
the following declaration to the Austrian Cabinet,
and I trust that that Cabinet will recognise in this
declaration an earnest desire of his Majesty's Go-
vernment to do all in its power to bring this question
now pending in Germany to a favourable issue. In
considering the invitation of the Austrian Cabinet, we
and all the German Governments have hut one starting
point, viz., our consideration for the welfare and safety
of our common eountry. The union of all Germany,
the regeneration of the old Confederation on a
basis which answers to the real wants of the nation,
is to us of such vital importance that we think it our
daty to try every means by which success can pos-
sibly be achieved, and our sorrow at the prevailing
want of harmony has been so great as to make us
joyfully seize every opportunity by which this state
of things may Possibly be changed. We likewise
rec;gnise it as an immediate desideratum to provide
at least for a provisional superintendence of our
common" afreirs. All the German States are
equally interested in this, and a consultation
cf all the Governments cannot therefore ap-
pear in any other light than as the most na-
tural at el indeed federal way of arriving at a
general reselation. We are therefore happy that the
Austrian Cabinet has taken the first step on this
path, and we are prepared to respond to the invita-
tion, and to send our Plenipotentiary to Frankfort.
We do not think there can be any doubt as to the
character of the conf,rences to be held in that city.
We understand them to be free consultations of the
Sovereign States of Germany. on an international
basis of perfect freedom and independence, and
whose meeting and union must therefore result
from their own free will. We protest against the
convocation of a Congress on the basis of the ex-
tinct presidial functions of the dissolved Federal
Council ; and we cannot recognise to this meeting
the character of the former Plenum' of the late Fede-
ral Council. We consider this Assembly as a meeting
of 35 German Governments for certain and definite
purposeen W a cannot, therefore, allow that meeting
to take resolutions in the name of the Confederation,
and such which v;ould be binding on dissentient
Governments. No consequences whatever can re-
run; fur the latter from such resolutions, except that
the results of the meeting de cot apply to them.
We trust that this supposition will not be realied,
and that the interchange of views will lead to a har-
monious co-operation of all Governments. But this
very hope makes us the more positive in demanding
the perfect independence of all States. We therefore
openly protest the, we will not consent to any recon-
stitution of the Federal Council which neglects to
secure to all Governments the principle of a free union
on the basis of Federalism. We make this statement
with the same candour which we expect, &c.,
"Berlin, May 16 " SCHLEINITZ.
"To 'his Alsje=:ty's Am')assador, the
Count Bernstorff, at Vienna."