The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-27 00:00:00

WEXTECEAPEL.

Our market was very inactive to-day. In prices no
material change took place. Beef from 23 4d to 3s 2d ;
Mutton, 23 8d to 33 6d; Lamb, 45 10d to 5s 10d; -Veal,
3s to 3s 10d; and Pork, 2s 10d to 4s per Sibs.

1.3 OU. 0 TGB UOP MARKET.
Only a limi'ed business is doing in our marke
Holders, hog ever, will not sell exeept at full prices.

SECONDARIES.-(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Secondary POTTER )
BILL V. COLLINS.
This was an actiet, to recover 91. 15i. on an I 0 U.
There was no defence to the action.
WHITECHURCLI V. GILLENT.
This was an action to recover the sum of 481. premium
for the lease of a house, granted by plaintiff to de-
fendant.
It appeared by the evidence that the defendant had
obtained the house on the understanding that he should
perform certain repairs, in lieu of paying the premium,
but he had negle.:ted to do so.
The jury gave a verdict for the amount.

BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DAY.)
(Before Mr. Commissioner GOITLRURN.)
IN RE WOODIIAM.
This was an insole ency case under the old Act. The
insolvent had carried on business as a chinaman in Lam-
be tl. - walk.
Mr. Beard, from the office of Mr. Buchanan, appeared
with proofs preparatory to a dividend, the creditors, wbo
were chiefly of the Hebrew persuasion, having declined
to sign the proofs on Saturday from religious scruples,
and it became necessary to adjourn the case till this
day. The proofs were now admitted.

BOW-STREET.—(THIS DAY.)
A showily-dressed young woman, whose name did not
transpire, was charged on suspicion with stealing a gold
watch, the property of a professor of music, named Ken-
clay, residing in Euston-place, Euston-square.
The prosecutor stated, that on the evening of the Bth
instant, he paid a visit to the Holborn Casino, and re-
mained there till about half-past eleven o'clock. On
leaving the dancing saloon he accidently ran against the
prisoner, who enticed him up a court, and after
fumbling with him for a few minutes, she darted off, and
then he discovered that she had taken with her his valu-
able gold watch. No sooner had she disappeared, than
a couple of suspicious-looking fellows blocked up the
entrance of the court, and he was therefore afraid to
leave the spot at the moment.
Mr. HENRY—Then you did not follow the female ?
The prosecutor replied that he did not.
Mr. HENRY—How do you know that the female took
your watch ? The prosecutor said, when be entered the
court he examined his waistcoat-pocket, and found that
bis watch was quite safe. Directly the prisoner ran
from him he felt that there was something wrong,
and then, to his dismay, he ascertained that the prisoner
had managed to detach his watch from the guard-chain,
leaving the chain dangling from the pocket.
Mr. HENRY—Are you satisfied tt, at the prisoner is
the party? The prosecutor was confident she was. He had
not seen her since till last night, when he met her again
near to the same spot in Holborn, and gave her into
custody.
The prisoner, in her defence, said the prosecutor was
mistaken. She had neva seen him till last night, when
he came up to her and said " Ali, my dear, how do
you do?" She told him that she was quite well, and
asked him to treat her, but, instead.of doing so, he said
" What have you done with my watch? I shall give you
into custody," and shortly afterwards they came up with
a policeman, and he did so accordingly.
Mr. HENRY—What are you? Prisoner—An unfor-
tunate woman.
Mr. HENRY—Has the watch been found ?—The pro-
secutor replied in the negative, adding that the police-
man who was on duty near to the Casino on the night ,
of the Bth instant remembered having observed the pri-
soner
loitering about.
Mr. HENRY remanded the prisoner for a week, to
enable that officer to attend, and to allow time for in-
quiries at the pawnbrokers.
The prisoner was therefore detained in custody.
The five men, Bennet, Tiddyman, Laidler, Jones, and
Sullivan. who were remanded from last Wednesday,
were again placed at the bar on the charge of obtaining
sums of money from Mr. Wyatt, an aged and infirm
man, carrying on the business of tobacconist in Great
Queen-street, by threatening to give publicity to an un-
natural crime with which they charged him.
The whole of the prisoners were most respectably at-
tired, and were upon this occasion represented by Mr.
Games. Mr. Wontner, as usual, attended on the part of
the prosecution.
It will be remembered that the prisoners had by their
threats succeeded in extorting money from Mr. Wyatt
to the sum of 501. hard cash, an 1.0. U. for 501., and a
promissory note for 40/. The note was, however, partly
cancelled before the present proceeding were instituted,
but the 1.0. U. was to have been met and paid by the
prosecutor on the very day that the prisoners were en-
trapped.
Sergeant Thompson, F 11, deposed that on the 12th
instant, by previous appointment, he attended at the
prosecutor's house, about nine o'clock at night, and was
concealed behind a curtain. Soon afterwards Laidler
and Jones came into the shop, and saw Mrs. Lake, the
'prosecutor's niece. She asked where the others were,
and Laidler replied that they were at a neighbouring
public-house. She directed one of them to go for them,
and Jones left for that purpose. In the meantime
Laidler began talking to Mrs. Lake as though he were
a professional man, remarking that Mr. Watts, of the
Olympic Theatre, had been arrested for forgery; but, he
continued, " we have got Clarkson for him, and as 6,000/.
have been raised on the lease of the theatre, we shall do
everything to get him off." By this time the other
prisoner bad come in, and they were in-
vited into a back parlour by Mrs. Lake.
He heard Mrs. Lake ask them, " Well, gentlemen, what
is your demand upon Mr. Wyatt ? " Laidler replied
" 240 She asked him if all of them were to have the
money, and one or two of them said " Yes, certainly."
Some conversation then took place about an agreement,
Mrs. Lake asking where Mr. Laidler, who represented
himsell to be a solicitor, lived. Laidler replied " You
have got it," but Mrs. Lake said she had lost it, and
Laidler exclaimed " Well, never mind, you will find it in
the agreement here." Mrs. Lake then asked " Who
shall I pay the money to ?" Laidler said "To me, I
will make it all right with the rest." Sullivan was then
about to leave the room, when witness thought it high
time to come from his hiding place. He did so, and
said, " Which is the solicitor?" Laidler said, "Oh,
that is no matter now," and as witness thought so too,
he simply took him into custody, and told the other
prisoners that they were his prisoners. On the way
to the station-house, Laidler said, sneering, "Is that
b—y old fox Sullivan taken?" Witness replied that
he believed he was. " Ah," added the prisoner," I'm glad
of that. He was the general, you know, but with
all his generalship Ido not care. Mrs. Lake can clear
me." At the station-house he found on him an agree-
ment, and an I. 0. U. for 501., which he now produced.
Laidler gave his address as 5, Cecil-court, St. Martin's-
lane; and in searching his room, witness found the fly-
sheet of a brief; the draft of an agreement, and some
other papers, which he also produced. He had known
all the prisoners for some time. Bennett ho bad fre-
quently seen dressed as one of the Horse Guards Blue,
and as an Hungarian. Sullivan was frequently with
women, and upon different occasions ho had seen all the
prisoners together.
Laidler said the brief sheet found at his premises was
not in his handwriting.
Sullivan said that all that had been stated about him
was false.
The police-constable deposed to having waited out-
side the shop, while Sergeant Thompson went in, and to
seeing all the prisoners, with the exception of Laidler
and Jones, loitering about the street;
After which the depositions of Mr. Wyatt and Mrs.
Lake were read over. It will be remembered that one
of the prisoners first introduced himself to the prosecutor
by purchasing a cigar at his shop, and finding that be
was a man of nervous temperament, he enlisted the
services of the other prisoners, and commenced
the system of extortion which has led to this prosecution.
Mrs. Lake, who is neice of the prosecutor,
plsnned the meeting with Sergeant Thompson, her sus-
picion having been aroused by the mysterious communi-
cations which were passing between the prisoners and her
uncle, and to-her sagacity is due the credit of having
brought the conspiracy to light.
This was the case for the prosecution.
Mr. HENRY asked each of the prisoners if they had
anything to say, giving them the usual caution, that
what they did say would be taken down in writing and
used against them.
Laidler denied that he had ever been guilty of such
an offence. He had been an innocent tool in the bands
of others; and it was mainly at the request of Mrs. Lake
herself that he attended to see the matter settled.

The other prisoners said nothing, but Sullivan wished
to know if ho was charged with extorting money from
the prosecutor?
Mr. lIENny said he was.

Sullivan then replied that he was innocent. lie had
understood that the matter arose out of a gambling
transaction, and he had never spoken to or made any de-
mand on the prosecutor.
Mr. HENRY reminded him that he was present when
the demand of 24/. was made.
Sullivan said he was there entirely by accident; ho
was induced to go in by a boy conm cted with a permon
named Holland, and when he heard Mrs. Lake a,k what
demands they had upon Ler uncle he said distinctly that
he did not expect anything.
Mrs. Lake stated that the prisoner could hear all that
passed, but it was true that ho disclaimed having any
demands upon her uncle, and said that "ho did not ex-
pect anything."
Sullivan having again protested his innocence,
Mr. HENRY said it was his duty to commit them for
trial.

An attorney, who said he was instructed to watch the
case for Bennett by his uncle, a captain in the navy, ap-
plied to have his client admitted to bail, but his applica-
tion was refused.

Tho parties were then bound over to prosecute, and
the prisoners removed in custody.

THE RAILWAY ColumnsloN.—lt is understood that
Captain Simmons, the Government Inspector of Railway;,
succeeds Captain Harness, as Secretary tc, tin C911111114§1011.

ATTEMPT TO BURN DOWN THE

SURREY THEATRE.

At a few ni'.nuts after one e'cleck thii morning the
vicinity of the Surrey Theatre, in the Blacks riars-roeci,
was thrown into a state of considerable alarm by the
outbreAk of a file (suhsevently discovered to be the
work (dun incendiary) in that favourite theatrical estab-
-IMiment, the dr structien rf which for some time v.'as
threatened. The circumstances are these:—At the close
last night of the Lenten musical entertainments of Mr.
Henry Phillips (who has taken the theatre for the week)
the fireman and watchmen, who are expressly employed
to secure the safety of the bulling from fire, went over
the various departments as was their customary duty,
and saw to the proper extinguishing of the gas and
fires. At cne o'clock they resumed their rounds
and bad completed them, when one observed
a strong smell of something burning, and upon searching
the various rooms feund that it emanated from the ward-
room, and on the door being opened so dense was the
rush of smoke anal heat as to prevent the exact locality
of the fire being detected. The men promptly gave ae
alarm to the police, who started (if for the aid of the
engines, and in a short time tho e belonging to the bri-
gade, under the superintendence of Mr. Henderson, ar-
rived. Most fortunately their services; eventually were
not required, the firemen connected with the theatre,
aided by the police, succeeding in confining the mischief
to the apartment where it had been discovered. It at
once excited suspicions as to the origin, no light having,
it was said, been admit.e I into the wardroom
since the close of the theatrical entertainments
on Saturday night last; and an investigation
being made, sufficient proof was established to
show that it had been wilfully kindled, and no dout t by
some party who possessed a perfect knowledge of the
interior of the theatre. A basket filled with pieces of
canvas, saturated with oil and turpentine, had been placed
in one corner of the ward-room, and its contents fired
through a hole in the wall of the building from the out-
side. Whether the hole had purposely been made doss
Not transpire. It is evident the destruction of the
theatre was the intention of the miscreant. Had
the discovery taken place later, and the ward-room
" wed alight" (the phrase of the firemen) it would have
been impossible, from the peculiar construction of the
building, to have obtained assistance in time to check
its career, and the destruction of the whole house
would have been inevitable.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
NEWCASTLE RACES.
The following are the declarations of forfeit at New-
castle up to seven o'clock P.M. on Monday, and to the
close i❑ town .
The Northumberland Plate—Chanticleer, Inheritress,
Uriel, Defaulter, Legerdemain, Vanguard, Langton,
Strychnine, Quiz, Ada Mary, Alp, Priestess, Backbiter,
The Cocktail, Champion, Robert de Brus, Primrose,
Lady I em off, Clincher, Burghley, St. Valentine, Sir
Philip, Probity, Mulgrave, Seneca, Equiria, Timothy,
Luxury.
The Members' Plate—Lady Hyda, Ribaldry, Van-
guard, Strychnine, Robert de Brus (sold to go abroad),
Timothy, Baroness.
BETTING AT MANCHESTER—TUESDAY.
THE NORTHASIPTONSHIRE STAKES.-7 to 2 agst Os-
terley (take 4 to 1), 7 to 1 agst Harriott (t), 8 to 1
agst Mahratta (t freely), 2 to 1 agst Mounseer (t), 11 to
1 agst Chantrey (t), 15 to 1 egst Belus (t), 16;to 1 agst
Ballinafad (t), 25 to 1 agst Sylvan (t), 25 to 1 agst
Grief (t), 25 to 1 agst Bastinado (t 30 to 1).
THE ALTHORP PARK STAKES.-2 to 1 agst Prestige
(t freely). 7 to 2 agst Buckhound (t).
CHESTER CUP.-15 to 1 agst Miss Ann (t 16 to 1),
16,t0 1 agst Glauca, 18 to 1 agst Peep-o'-Day Boy (t),
20 to 1 agst Cossack (t), 20 to 1 agst Roland (t 22 to 1),
22 to 1 agst Fogleman, 25 to 1 agst Ellerdale (t 30 to 1),
30 to 1 agst Horn of Chase (t), 40 to 1 agst Mounseer
(50 to 1 taken freely).
METROPOLITAN HANDICAP-2 to 1 agst Cheerful (t),
25 to 1 egst any other.
DERBY.-6 to 1 agst Ghillie Callum (t 13 to 2), 7to
1 agst Bolingbroke, 12 to 2 agst the Nigger, 12 to 1 agst
Knignt of Avenel, 15 to 1 agst Itslian, 15 to 1 agst Vol-
tigeur.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, To ESDAY.
The Queen and Prince Albert walked this morning
in the Slopes and Windsor Park.
The Royal Family took walking and pony exercise
in the grounds around the Castle.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on
horseback this forenoon, attended by Colonel Bouverie.
The royal dinner party at the Castle this evening
included ber Royal Highness the Duchess of
Kent, Lady Fanny Howard, and Baroness de Speth.
There was no addition to the royal dinner party en
Monday evening.
The guard of honour of the Scots Fusilier Guards
on duty yesterday on the arrival of her Majesty at
the Great Western Railway station was commanded
by Lieut.-Colonel Micklethwait.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester
received their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam •
bridge and the Princess Mary and a select party at
dinner yesterday evening, at her residence, Gloucester
House.

A deputation, including Mr. Gurney, Mr. Foster,
and Mr. Dunn, had an interview with Lord John
Russell yesterday.
Mr. Christopher, M.P., transacted business yester-
day at the Railway Board.
.. _ . .

The Committee on Machinery of the Commission
for the Exhibition of 1851 met yesterday in the New
Palace of Westminster. The members present were
Sir John Rennie, Mr. Pusey, M P., Professor
Walker, Professor Willis, and Mr. Brunel. Colonel
Reid, R.E. (chairman), and Mr. Dilke, attended on
the part of the Executive Committee. Mr. S. Russell,
secretary to the Commission, was in attendance.
The Committee on Sculpture of the Commission
Exhibition of 1851 met yesterday in the New Palace
of Westminster. The meeting was attended by Vis-
count Canning, Lord Ashburton, Sir Richard West-
macott, Mr. Baring Wall, M.P., Mr. William Wyon,
and Mr. D. N. Maclise. Mr. Cole attended on be-
half of the Executive Committee. Mr. Stafford
Northcote, secretary to the Commission, attended.
The Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Carlisle,
the Countess of Carlisle, and Lady Mary Howard,
and Lord Eddisbury, visited the Museum of Practical
Geology, in Jermyn-street, yesterday.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had
a committee meeting yesterday.
Earl Grey left town yesterday for his seat, Howick
Hall, Northumberland.
Sir George Grey left town yesterday for his seat,
Fallsdon, Northumberland.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Lady Mary
Wood left town yesterday, for their residence, Mickle-
ton Hall, near Doncaster.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of South Australia, the Cape
of Good Hope, and Gibraltar.

WESTERN LITERARY INSTITUTION,
LEICESTER-SQUARE.
PROUT'S DIORAIIIC VIEWS OF AUSTRALIA.—We
were on Monday evening present at the private view
of the exhibition
of Prout's Dioramic Views of Aus-
tralia, which is to be opened to the public to-day, in
the theatre of the Western Literary Institution, ei-
cester-square. These views are painted by Mr. J.
Skinner Prout from sketches made by himself on the
spot, and their accuracy may be therefore depended
on. These dioramic (or, to speak more properly, dis-
solving views) are twenty-four in number, and illus-
trate every phase of emigrant, convict, and aborigi-
nal life, a hile they, at the same time, convey a much
more lively, and a much more accurate idea of the
splendid scenery of these magnificent colonies
than can possibly be conveyed by any ver-
bal description. The scenery of Van Die-
men's Land is of a very grand and sublime
character, consisting of bold headlands, lofty,
mountains, and towering precipices ; that of Norfolk
Island is beautiful exceedingly—it is a paradise, of
which man has made a hell—while that of new South
\Vales, combining the sublimity of that of Van
Diemen's Land with the beauty of that of Norfolk
Island, possesses greater variety than either. Mr.
Prout was present, and explained the different points
of interest in each view as it was exhibited, im-
parting in a pleasing manner, a variety of useful and
entertaining information on colonial matters, manners,
and people. All who intend to emigrate—all who have
friends in the Australian colonies—all who take an
interest in our colonial empire, or on the subject of
should,pay_a visit to this very inte-
restingp ena l discipline,
exhibition.

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
From the establiAment of the Messrs. Ackermann
and Company there has very recently issued a series
of most exquisite sketches, lithographed from original
drawings taken by Lieutenant IV. H. Browne, R.N.,
Enterprise, representing
late of her Majesty's ship
the sublime and extraordinary scenery witnessed by
himself and his brother navigators in their recent
voyage to the north in search of the Arctic expedition.
In noticing the admirable panorama now exhibiting
at Mr. Burford 's Gallery, in Leicester-square, we in-
cidentally mentioned that the paintings had been
copied from drawings made by Lieutenant Browne;
consequently, it only remains for us to announce
series
the fact of the present interesting publication.
.f he seei consists of ten beautifully coloured engrav-
ings, the illusion of which is wonderfully successful.

BOLTON'S PENNY OMNIBUS GUIDE FOR LONDON
LND THE Suaunas.—The appearance of this cheap and
useful little book supplies a desideratum which has long been
felt by the metropolitan public. In addition to a complete
and accurate list of all the conveyances, their routes, times,
places of departure and arrival, together with the various
tares, there is appended a list of stage-coaches running to
and from London, cab fares, Re., combined with a mass of
general and interesting information, such, for instance, as a
list for public and gratuitous exhibitions, a table of the
racing and steeplechase fixtures fur the current year, &c.
This little book cannot fail to command a most extensive
circulation, and no one in London should be without a copy.
GAME CERTIFICATES.—The net produce of the
duty paid on game certificates of each class and on licences
for the sale of game, according to a recently published re-
turn, amounted in 1844, to 139,592/. ; in 1t.415 it amounted
to 136,327/. ; in, Ig-16, to 140,6134 ; in 1847, to 145,327/. ;
and is 1848, to 126,024

one.

f SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM THE HORNING PAPERS or THIS DAY.
TlMES.—Easter is generally considered the car-
dinal point of the session. It may then be guessed
1 with tolerable accuracy what will he done, wh'sit will
never be attempted, and what will be introduced only
to be given up. The youth of the session is past ;
from this to Whitsuntide is the less imaginative, but
more practical period of manhood ; and then succeeds
the fag-end of the legislative life—weariness, haste,
vain repentance, and inevitable decay. But Easter is
rather early this year, and they who congratulate
themselves on having broken the neck of their annual
task may possibly find themselves deceived. There
are those who " sow their wild oats " in youth, and
rapidly mature into dulness; and there are those also
who scarcely wake up till they are men, and then
break into unsuspected activity. It may be so with
this session. Hitherto it has not shown remarkable
power either for good or for evil. There has been
scarcely one adjourned debate. With a regularity
that smacks of design the cry to " Divide '
has risen at the most critical moments, and con-
signed to the limbo of good intentions many
a well-prepared harangue. It is true we
have been spared endless reiterations, nor can it be
complained that any subject has been left unex-
hausted. But suppressed eloquence often begets open
dissatisfaction. There are murmurs of volcanic rebel-
lion in the foundations of the political world. On the
most leading question of the session Ministers have
been run very close ; on several other occasions they
have found their friends rather lax in their allegiance,
and lately they have had recourse to the ullima ratio,
the threat of a resignation. To check the rising sedi-
tion it has been found necessary to preach the doc-
trine of blind party submission. The utmost con-
tempt has been expressed for inconvenient excesses of
private opinion. " The beneficent whip," which an
eccentric writer holds to be the fated instrument of
African and Celtic civilization, has been still further
glorified for its mission on the backs of the Whigs.
We have a feverish, restless, and desultory House,
formidable not so much for any positive error as for
the slight resistance it might offer to a sudden and
attractive delusion. But if this be the youth of the
session, what are we to expect from its manhood ?
The danger is that no man can tell what to ex-
pect from it, or what not to expect. Wherever
there is uncertainty there is also danger.
If the House of Commons showed a little more
momentum, if its canvass were a little better filled, its
course would be steadier, and it would answer the
helm more truly. But whose fault is this ? It is the
fault of circumstances—the fault of many men and of
many things ; but the foremost fault of all is , that
colossal blunder which has tied the bulk of the agri-
cultural interest to an exploded, a blasted, and a
scandalous cause. A question long ago settled in our
great court of arbitration and before the tribunal of
national justice, with an award on its merits and a
verdict on its crimes, is still kept alive in the memo-
ries and follies of the defeated party. A hundred
;ving questions are thrown into abeyance by one dead
A fanaticism for the impossible past shuts out
.cs victims from a proper interest in the possible future.
In the frivolity, passion, and impotence of its pro-
ceedings, the Protectionist sect suffers a sentence
of self-excommunication. Thus it becomes an
element of disturbance rather than of activity in the
political machine. It lies across the deck of the
State like a broken mast, which can neither be used
nor consigned to the waves. Thus a party which
possesses many claims to our gratitude and respect
has made itself almost incapable of good. Every
question that arises is already prejudiced by its
bearings on a dead and gone corn-law. If an angel
from Heaven were to announce a new boon, or a
messenger from below were to suggest a new crime,
the novelty, from whatever source, would be judged
by its protective tendencies. So long as we have
such men amongst us, we must needs be liable to the
extremes of stagnation and tempest, to hollow con-
federacies and fruitless dispersions. Ministers are
said to complain of a state of things which adds fresh
elements of uncertainty to a game already more de-
pendent on chance than on skill. It is true that they
have to deal with variable winds, a treacherous cur-
rent, and a chopping sea ; but, u nfortunately for the
state, men with the trick of power can better turn
such a condition of affairs to their own convenience
than to the public weal. It is easier to baffle and
neutralize folly than to make it patriotic and wise.
The Ministerial specific for this disorder is to keep
the House of Commons well employed. A rapid
succession of business has brought it through its first
period with comparatively little damage. Ministers
have not permitted it either to rest or to fly off into
an eight days' debate. Their very errors have
amused and occupied the public mind. Alcibiades
lopped off his dog's tail to divert the attention
of the Athenians, and Lord Palmerston has
created a similar distraction by his fleet in the
Pincus and his squadron on the slave coast. There is
a prospective virtue in such absurdities, for every
mail that arrives is expected to bring the tidings of
some fresh political divertissement—some barbarous
protege to be avenged or chastised—some insurrection
to be encouraged or betrayed. For our domestic and
colonial affairs a more blameless and appreciable
policy is required. Last night the House of Com-
mons adjourned to meet on Monday week ; and for
that week, and the week after, the work is cut out
for us by a ready, if not a master-hand. The old •
nance and the navy estimates, the Irish Franchise
Bill, the Australian Colonies Bill, the stamp duties,
and the announcement of a Select Committee to in-
quire into the emoluments of all public offices, pro.
vide for the fortnight after Easter, and evi-
dently will have to fight their way against
rival and contending movements from all sides of
the House. Every independent legislator has his
designs on this critical period of the session, as
if it were now or never. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer must be at his post to defend
the window-tax, "taxes on knowledge," the malt-
tax, and we know not what taxes besides. A pro-
posed general revision of the salaries of our judicial
offices is already anticipated by Lord John's ampler
notice. Lord Palmerston will have to prove to Mr.
Cobden's satisfaction that a little bullying is an ad-
mirable substitute or assistance to arbitration ; and
either he or a colleague will have to reconcile Mr.
Disraeli to our existing diplomatic arrangements.
Such is the prospect as far as we are permitted to see
for the present, but we do not forget that there is
much to be done yet before Parliament has earned its
salt for this year. Not to ask for more than was
promised in the Royal Speech, there are measures of
great importance and of difficult determination still in
an embryo stage. There are but fifty days between
Easter and Whitsuntide, after which nothing re-
mains but to wind up the session, to gather up the
fragments, and to bury the dead. We have only
seven weeks left for preliminary discussion on the
general merits of such measures as may be proposed,
and two weeks out of the seven are already provided
for. So no time must be lost when we meet again.
CHRONICLE.—That the time has come for a
temperate and well-adjusted reduction of the higher
class of official salaries, whether political, diplomatic,
or judicial, few reasonable persons are likely to dis-
pute. In announcing their intention of taking the
first step towards this object, the Government are
certainly in no degree in advance of public opinion.
To spare the highly-paid functionaries while the
subordinate officers are in daily process of being
cashiered or cut down, is a sort of economy against
which every man's sense of justice revolts. The re-
trenchment which the voice of the country now
demands must pervade all ranks of the public ser-
vice, from the highest to the lowest. That the more
exalted offices of the State afford a fair scope and
margin for reduction, without impairing either the
efficiency of the administration or the real dignity of
the occupants, none but those whose minds are
sophisticated by false standards or vicious precedents
will be found to question. We repudiate, indeed,
the short-sighted parsimony which, in filling
such appointments as those of a Chief Justice
or Minister of State, would select these
officers on the principle of accepting
the lowest tender. The Crown is entitled to com-
mand for its service the highest talent and the most
distinguished merit that the community affords, and
those who accept its more eminent preferments should
be placed above the reach of temptation, of depend-
ence, or of contempt. These principles, it is true,
have been too much overlooked in other countries ;
while, in England, not content with a just and ra-
tional assertion of them, we have carried our munifi-
cence beyond the verge of prodigality. The differ-
ence in the rate of judicial and political remuneration
here and abroad—we allude particularly to the
United States and to France—is not merely the dif-
ference between a niggardly and an adequate allow-
ance—it is a disproportion which the diversities of
wealth, of prices, or of social habits in the respective
countries are quite inadequate to justify. Thus the
salary (as now reduced) of the Chief Justice of
England is B,oool.—that of the President of the
Court of Cessation in France is 800/. a year. The
salary of the English Ambassador to the French Re-
public (exclusive of residence and outfit) is 10,0001.
—that of the American Minister to the same country
is 2,0001. per annum. We should be sorry, indeed,
to exchange the exalted character and status of our
British judges for the inferior estimation and influ-
ence which necessarily attach to the underpaid law-
yers who preside in the French courts, nor do we
desire to see the representatives of Majesty in foreign
capitals cut down to a bare standard of Spartan fru-
gality. But there is a rational medium in all things,
and in the present instance there can be little doubt
that, if our neighbours have pitched there estimate
below the mark, we have erred, to almost the same
extent, in over-shooting it. It is idle to tell those
who know, as we do, the crowded numbers and the
curtailed profits of the English bar, that the presi-
dency of the Queen's Bench, with a salary of 7,000/.,
or even 6,0001. a year, is not a prize
tract and satisfy the ambition of the most suffilceiaernotedtottauta-

successful lawyers of the day. It is equally monstrous
to assert that such a sum is insufficient to maintain
unsullied the honc;:r and purity of the ermine.
Again, with re spec!: to tlie higher class of diplomatic
situations, which are usually held by men of rank
and property in this country, the State is undoubtedly
bound to supply its servants with the means of main-
taining the just dignity of their station, and of meet-
ing the extraordinary expenses which appertain to it.
The honour of the British Crown ought to suffer no
disparagement in the persons of its representatives
abroad ; but neither, on the other hand, ought
such appointments to be made subservient to the
purpose of repairing dilapidated fortunes, or of in-
dulging a taste for ostentatious magnificence. With
regard to the salaries paid to members of the Cabinet,
and to the holders of high political offices at home,
it is undoubtedly true that a public career in this
country, if it be viewed in a merely professional light,
is anything but a lucrative one. As a pecuniary
speculation, no prudent man, however great his ad-
vantages, or however fair his prospects of success,
would dream of investing his capital in politics. The
Secretary of State, who, after a long apprenticeship
to his harassing vocation, draws at last a precarious
5,000/. a year from the Exchequer, would find the
public still a heavy debtor to him on an accurate ba-
lance of profit and loss. Nor, indeed, if we should
take into account the qualifications required, the long
training undergone, and the wear and tear of body
and mind which the position of a leading Cabinet
Minister involves, would the mere amount of salary
appear extravagant. But it is not in such scales
that political service is to be weighed. Accord-
ing to the system of government which prevails in
England, statesmanship is not—nor is it desirable,
in our judgment, that it should be—regarded as a
remunerative profession. It is a career from which,
with rare exceptions, all who do not possess an inde-
pendent fortune are excluded. It is the power, the
influence, the patronage, the fame, the high place,
the noble theatre of action—and not the emoluments
—which form the attractions and the compensations of
office. The Noble Lords and Right Hon. Gentlemen,
who spend.and are spent in the service of the public,
find, in the salaries attached to their offices, an acknow-
ledgment of the gratitude of the community,
which is not, indeed, unacceptable in itself, but
which is incapable of being measured by a com-
mercial standard. Reduce the scale of Ministerial
salaries in due proportion to the retrenchments car-
ried out in other departments of the public service
—and there can be no doubt that the country will
be just as well served, by the same men, and
from precisely the same motives, as at the present
time. It is an understood principle in this country,
that reductions in public salaries should have only
a prospective operation. The application of this
maxim, rather than rule itself, was the occasion of a
somewhat keen discussion in the House of Commons
on Monday apropos to the Bill for reducing the
Chief Justices' salaries, and to Lord Campbell's ap-
pointment. The announcement made by Lord John
Rnssell in the early part of the evening, that it was
intended to submit the revision of judicial salaries to
a Select Committee, naturally suggested the inquiry
whether the emolument of the new Chief Justice—the
wax of whose patent is yet scarcely cool—would not
be subject to the discretion of that tribunal, and also
whether the Bill by which it is proposed definitively
to fix the salaries of the two Chief Justices would not
be more advantageously postponed. The Premier
conceded so far as to abandon that part of the Bill
which related to the Chief-Justiceship of the Common
Pleas, and he explained that appointments to
the Queen's • Bench, subsequent to that of the

new incumbent, would fall within the province of
the Committee. But upon the point of the salary
payable to Lord Campbell himself, Lord John Russell
stood firm—alleging that there was a distinct under-
standing and compact made with that Learned Lord,
that he was to receive not less than 8,0001. a year,
and that to re-open that arrangement would be to
make the revision of salaries operate retrospectively.
The insensibility shown to this argument by a large
and respectable section of the Members present,
who persisted in dividing in favour of an amend-
ment moved by Mr. Henley, may probably be attri-
buted to two circumstances. First, to a doubt as to
the complete sincerity of the Premier's allegation—a
doubt not unreasonably founded upon the fact pointed
out by the Member for Marylebone. " I can hardly
suppose," observed Sir Benjamin Hall, " that the
measure of which notice has been given this evening
did not exist in the intentions of the Government as
much as three weeks ago. The new Chief
Justice has hardly been that time in his seat. Is it
possible that his appointment can have been made
without reference to the impending reductions i" The
other consideration which probably made the House
suspicious of some indirect manoeuvre in this case,
was of a more personal character. Great as are the

acquirements, and eminent as are the claims, of Lord
Campbell, the reminiscences connected with his

judicial preferments preferments are not, it must be owned, parti-
cularly fragrant. The seventeen days' Chancellor-
ship of Ireland—" that superior job," as Colonel
Sibthorp rather happily termed it—is not yet effaced
from the memory of the generation that witnessed ro
intrepid a sacrifice to party obligations. We may
safely assume that, if the biographer of the Chan-
cellors had never thrust himself into the seat of Lord

Plunkett, the Home of Commons would not hive

manifested so malicious a desire to cut down the

emoluments of his Chief Justiceship.

SUPPLEMEAT TO THE POST-OFFICE

LONDON DIRECTORY for 1850.
It has been an annual custom with the proprietors
of the " Post-office London Directory" to publish a few
weeks subsequent to the assembling of Parliament in
February, a supplement to that valuable work, con-
taining amongst other information a Peerage and Par-
liamentary Directory, and a complete Postal Di-
rectory. This supplement is just published, and
within the compass of a thick royal octavo pamphlet
we have a Peerage and Parliamentary Directory
corrected up to the present time, and giving the town
residence during the present session, and country
seat of each Peer and Member of the House of Com-
mons; the names and addresses of all persons who
have commenced business since the publication in
December last of the Post-office London Directory
for 1850, and a Postal Directory furnishing
all the regulations of the Post-office as affecting
the receipt or dispatch of letters ; a list
of the post towns in the United Kingdom
arranged alphabetically, distinguishing those at which
money orders can be obtained or cashed, and in other
cases the exact distance from the town at which
money orders can be had ; also stating the time of
the delivery of London letters and the time at which
the box for the receipt of London letters closes, soy,
that the return of post can be always calculated. This
Postal Directory contains, likewise, an alphabetical
list of the 5,000
principal places throughout the
world to which mails are dispatched, with the king-
dom in which each is situated ;_ and " Universal
Rates of Postage on Letters and Newspapers to the
colonies and foreign parts, with the routes of the
mails and the days of their dispatch." This work is
clearly and neatly printed, and so admirably arranged
as to be exceedingly easy of reference. It is a fresh
proof of the ability, of the energy, and of the industry
of its spirited proprietors.

MANCIIESTER TRADE REPORT, MARCH 96.
There is no material change in the market to-day. Probably
a little more briskness has characterised it; inquiries have
been numerous, but the business done has been very limited.
The prices now °tiered for yarns are such as would little
more than defray the cost of the raw material, leaving a
lamentably low per ventage for the spinner. These rates are
insisted upon, but the producers still appear disinclined to
yield, and a few bargains hare been struck. The little busi-
ness that has been transacted is at prices a shade lower than
those of this day week. Forty-inch shirtings still holu their
price, and there is no disposition to make any further con-
cession. The goods market is
very irregular, and prices
slightly receding.

ABERDEEN RAILWAY.—It appears the directors
ntend to open the remaining portion of this line to Aberdeen
in the course of next week, provided
urovided they obtain the sanction
of the Government officer. On the line being opened for
traffic it will complete the communication between Aberdeen
r or London by railway'.
LOANS TO IRISII RAILWAY COMPANIES.—It ap-
pears from a return just issued that the Public Works Loan
Comtnissioners lent to the Dublin and Drogheda Railway
Company, at various periods, from the 26th of December,
1842, to the 20th of March, 1848, sums amounting in the
aggregate to 156,0001. at 5 per cent. The interest paid
amounted to 30,0504 and the principal repaid to '51,1791.,
,
leaving 105,8211. due. They lent to the Great Southern and
y
Western Company, between the 20th of September, 1847,
and the 29th of Januar 1849, 495,000/., at 5 per cent. The
interest paid amounted to 36,0121. They lent to the Water-
ford and Kilkennv, between the 20th of September, 1847,
and the 26th of November, 1849, 83,000/. The interest paid
amounted to 6,130/. They lent on the 3d of November,
1849, to the Midland Great Western (first advance) 100,0001.
at 3% per cent. Total of all moneys lent 834,000/., of which
51,179/. was repaid. The interest paid amounted to 72,1931.
I;he and Kingstown Commissioners o
f Public Works in Ireland lent to the
Dublin Company 75,000/. on the sth of No-
vember, 1832, and 37,200/. on the 29th of November, 1836,
at 4 per cent., together 112,200/., of which 54,5961. was re-
paid. 51,016. was the amount of interest paid, and 1,875/.
was the amount of interest due. The principal outstanding
amounts to 57,604/., which is in course of repayment by halt-
yearly instalments of 3,0001. The sum lent to the Ulster
Company, on the 18th of July, 1840, was 20,0001., at 5 per
cent., which has been repaid. The amount of interest paid
was 3,813!. On the Dublin and Kingstown branch to Dal-
key 25,000/. was lent on the 2 Ith of November. 1842, which
has been repaid with interest amounting to 1,535/. The
total amount advanced was 157,2001., of which 99,5961. was
repaid, leaving 57,6041. due, which is in course of payment.
The amount of interest paid was 56,367/. and the amount
due 1,875/.

ENCUMBDRED ESTATES.--A return has just been
made, pursuant to an order of the House of Lords, dated
15th February, 1850, from the Commissioners of the Court
of Encumbered Estates, Ireland, stating the number of pe-
titions lodged in their court, the total rental of the property
proposed to be sold, and the gross amount of encumbrances
stated to be chargeable thereon. By this return it appears
that the number of petitions lodged to the 15th day of Feb-
ruary (inclusive) is 481 ; the total rental of the property,
608,327/. Bs. 7d. ; and the gross amount of the encumbrances
stated to be chargeable thereon, 12,671,059/.135. 6d. Of the
481 petitions, 14 hate been dismissed, and 27 are duplicates.

If these dismissed and duplicate petitions, and the rental and
encumbrances stated therein, are deducted from the fore-
going, the result will be, as shown if the return :—l'eti-
tions, 440; rental, 531,4091. IGs.; encumbrances, 10,219,7721.
108. Bd.

SOUTH AUSTRALTA.—The Alpha arrived yesterday
from Adelaide. She is the first wool ship of the season from
Australia. hier dates are not co late as those per overland
mail; they, however, supply papers of intermediate date,
which allude to the arrival of several emigrant ships from
England. Villages and rural townships were rapidly
springing up, which would form a considerable advantage to
future emigrants seeking to locate themselves in a less scat-
tered society than the previous settlements afforded. Tke
discovery of gold in the colony is spoken of with interest,
and some lately found is stated to be of exquisitely pure
metal.

TILE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION OF 1851.—The
Lord Mayor has had the high gratification to receive a com-
munication from Prince Albert, of which the following is a
copy :

" Buckingham Palace, March 23.
"My dear Lord,— His Royal highness cannot allow the
splendid dinner given by your Lordship on Thursday last to
have passed over without endeavouring to express the grati-
tication which he derived from it. He commands me to thank
you very much for the kindness of the motives which prompted
you to give that entertainment, and at the same time to con-
gratulate your Lordship on the complete success which bids
lair to attend this endeavour to unite all parties and classes
throughout the united kingdom in the support of the Exhi-
bition of 1851.
"For hitaself, his Royal Highness desires me to add, that
he shall ever look back with true pleasure on an evening
which was to him personally one of unmixed satisfaction and
gratification. " C. GREY."
HIGHGATE SCHOOL.—The annual prizes of this
school were adjudged on the 23d inst., as follows :—Exhibi-
tion of 50/ per annurn—J. Martineau Fletcher; Governors'
Gold Medal for Latin Hexameters—Charles Griffith; Latin
Prose—J. Martineau Fletcher; Greek lambics—W. IL Ilan-
kin; History—R. Goodhall Smith.

MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—An event has just
occurred in the town of Reading which has caused
a painful sensation among the inhabitants. Mr.
John Weedon, late mayor of the town, on Tuesday evening
last, after transacting the business of the day, went out to
take his usual walk. As he did not return, and no tidings
were heard of him, a diligent search was made, and on
Tuesday morning his body was found in the River Kennett,
about fifty yards below the Basingstoke railway bridge. His
gold watch, purse, pencil-case, and papers were found upon
his person. Mr. Weedon practised as a solicitor for many
years, and only a few months ago retired from business.
NATIONAL GALLERY FOR SCOTLAND.—A Bill has
been introduced into Parliament for the erection of a national
gallery for Scotland at Edinburgh. The buildings (which
are to be on the Mound) are to contain apartments " for
other purposes connected with the promotion of the fine arts."
BANK or ENGLAND.—Yesterday a ballot com-
menced at eleven o'clock in the morning, for the puipose of
taking the determination by vote, in print or writilig, on the
resolution proposed at the court of proprietors last Thursday,
viz. :—" That a dividend be made of 4 per cent. interest and
profits for the half-year ending the 28th of February last,
without any deduction on account of the income-tax." At
four o'clock the ballot closed, and it appeared that the reso-
lution was unanimously confirmed.
DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR WIGAN.—
Between six and seven o'clock on Saturday morning an ex-
plosion of firedamp took place at Messrs. Evans and Tur-
ner's colliery, in Haydock, situated about a mile and a half
from Newton raceground. The explosion occurred in what
is called the Rock-pit," and thirteen persons were either
smothered or burnt to death, some of them being literally
burnt to a cinder. It appears that eleven of the persons
were working in a drift 1,000 yards from the pit's eye, with-
out any conductor,when this explosion took place, all of whom
were burnt to death. Two others were working about 120 yards
nearer the pit's eye, and they, on hearing the explosion, rushed
into the face of the fire, instead of making to the pit's eye.
There were five other persons in the workings at the time, but
they being employed considerably nearer the pit's eye did not
receive much injury. The pony-driver sustained, however, a
slight scorching; and one of the ponies was killed by a loaded
waggon being blown against him. The pit is about 140 yards
deep. The majority of the sufferers have left wives and
families. The men were allowed safety-lamps, if they thought
proper to use them ; but there does not appear to have been
any restriction against working with naked candles,
although the men had to run away from the fire the day
before the fatal occurrence took place. An inquest was held
upon the bodies of the sufferers on Monday, when the jury,
after examining several witnesses, returned the following
verdict:—" It so happened that the foul and inflammable
air in the said coal mine, by some means unknown to the
jury, took fire accidently and casually, and by misfortune
exploded, whereby the said above-named unfortunate
men and boys were grievously scorched and burnt
upon the body and limbs, whereby they instantly died."
—Halifax Guardian.
THE CATTLE TRADE.--The Apollo, screw steam
vessel, arrived at Blackwell on Monday, with a cargo of oxen
from Holland. On her passage she experienced a heavy gale
from the north, which caused loss or serious injury to nearly
50 fine oxen. Of these, abort 20 that were on deck were
thrown overboard; the remainder, about 30 in number, were
landed at Blackwall, many of them dead, and others dread-
fully mangled. It is believed that all this meat finds its way
into the London market.

ACCOUNTS OF THE COAL WHIPPERS' OFPICE.—
From statements of the accounts of the Coal W'hipper's
office for the past year, and of the branch office at IS, ool-
wich, which have just been ordered to be printed, it appears
that the receipts of the fund amounted, in the half-year
ending June 30, 1849, to 42,893/. ; and in the half-year end-
ing Dec. 31, to 42,748/. 19s. All expenses having been paid,
there remained, at the end of each of the six mouths, a balance
respectively of 2;2811. and of 2,376/. The receipts at the
Woolwich branch office amounted in the year to 1,026/.,
and the expenses to 9831., leaving a balance in hand of
about 401.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.—There are accounts from
Tasmania, which report the arrival of the six Irish political
offenders—Messrs. Smith O'Brien, Meagher, O'Dogherty,
Martin, Donaghue, and 111`111anus--in the brig of war Swift,
on the 27th October. His Excellency the Governor, by the
same vessel, had received instructions from the Home Go-
vernment to issue tickets of leave to them, on condition that
the indulgence thus afforded them should not be made a
means of escape. They all, with the exception of the first,
accepted the offer, and were located as follows :—M`Manus,
at Norfolk; Meagher, at Campbell Town; O'Dogherty, at
Oatlande; Martin, at Bothwell; and Donaghue, at Hobart
Town. They are all stated to have sufficient funds for their
support, with the exception of the latter, who represented
to the Governor that he was without funds, and requested,
therefore, that he might be permitted to reside at llobart
Town, in order that be might follow his profession of a law-
writer. This was granted to him. Smith O'Brien obstinately
refused to accept a ticket of leave, and was therefore, on the
following Wednesday, the 31st of October, dispatched to
Maria Island, where he will be under strict surveillance. lie
had, however, an opportunity of first speaking with Martin
and O'Dogherty.

TIIH ASYLUM FOIL IDIOTS.—This truly valuable
institution held its anniversary last evening, at the London
Tavern. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge pre-
sided. Asout 150 gentlemen were present. In proposing
the toast of "The Queen," the illustrious chairman men-
tioned that her Majesty had been graciously pleased to
present a donation of 250 guineas to the institution, and
which entitled her to a bed for one inmate during life. Mr.
C. Lushington passed a glowing eulogium upon the merits
of the institution, and the services that the chairman had
rendered it by his patronage and munificent benefactions. It
was afterwards mentioned that the illustrious chairman had
left a party who were assembled to celebrate the birthday of
his son, the Prince George, of Cambridge, in order to be pre.
sent at the anniversary of the institution. The claims of the
society having been warmly advocated by Sir George Carroll,
Mr. Cubitt, M.P., Mr. Spring Rice, and other gentlemen, it
was announced that the subscriptions of the festival amounted
to the munificent sum of 2,600/. His Royal Highness then
vacated the chair, and the company separated, highly gra-
tified with the results of the festival.

ASTURIAN MINING COMPANY.—A special general
meeting of the proprietors of this company was held yester-
day at the offices, 9, Austinfriars, for the purpose of consider-
ing a report and the proceedings of the board of directors
and liquidators; also the report of the committee on recon-
stitution, appointed on the 27th November last, with the
proposed deed of reconstitution, and counsel's opinion
thereon, kc. Mr. Charles Cunningham occupied the chair,
and, after the reading of the advertisement convening the
meeting, proposed an adjournment to the 16th of April, in
consequence of the illness of Mr. Moore, who had had the
preparation of the deeds of the company in hand. After some
discussien the proposition was agreed to. A few questions
were put to the chairman, which elicited the facts that the
actual amount owing at present to bankers, directors, kc.,
was 17,011/. 10s. 4d., and that they had been paying 2,000!.
a month off ever since August. 200,000/. had been spent
altogether in the concern, in which, the chairman stated, that
at present he, himself, his friends, and family, had about
15,000!. A letter from Mr. Kelly, Vice-consul of Spain, was
read, who augured extremely favourably of the increasing
value attached to the property of the company. The meet-
ing then adjourned.

DEATH OP THE DEAN OF SALISBURT.—The Very
Rev. Francis Lear, D.D., expired at the Deanery, in the
Close, Salisbury, at a late hour on Saturday evening last. He
was appointed to the deanery about the close of Sir R. Peel's
Ministry, through the influence of the Right lion. Sidney
Herbert, M.P., to whom he had been tutor. Tee deceased
also held the rectory of Eishopstone, near Salisbury, worth
about 1,0001. per annum. The benefice is in the gift of the
Pembroke family.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.—The draft of a Bill, pre-
pared by Mr. Wyld, M.P., has been privately circulated,
having for its object the establishment of an executive coun-
cil for the management of the convicts, and for the formation
of a Legislative Assembly for the free colonists of the island
of Van Dieinen's Land. It is proposed that the Legislative
Council shall consist of seven members, to be appointed by
or with the consent of her Majesty. The executive are to be
invested with the power to make laws for punishment and
discipline of convicts. It is proposed to appoint a Legisla-
tive Assembly, consisting of twenty-four members, seven of
whom shall be app' inted by her ➢lajesty. The assembly are
to be empowered to make laws, appropriate taxes, and to
impose duties, and also to make provision for the better ad-
ministration of justice.

GREAT FLOOD IN CALIFORNIA.—A letter just
from Philadelphia contains the following passage :—" Those
tremendous scourges—fire and water—have recently proved
very destructive is California. By the last arrival we were
informed of the burning of one-half of the city of San Fran-
cisco. And now we have, by the arrival of the Alabama at
New Orleans, news from San Francisco 14 days later, to
January Is—the principal item of which is, the submergence
by a flood of the city of Sacramento. Only one house, and
that built on raised poles, was above the water, which was
three or four feet deep. Immense herds of cattle have been
drowned—the inundation extending over the entire valley
of Sacramento, and varying from 20 to 50 miles in breadth,
from the Sierra Nevado to the coast range of mountains.
Much misery, starvation, sickness, and death must be the
natural results of this great overflow. The loss of property
at Sacramento city is estimated at 1,000,000 dollars. The
safferings of the inhabitants there are described as dreadful.
But one writer consoles himself by stating that this great
flood, while it destroys much property "will wash out the
gold in immense quantities." The Alabama has brought
500,0,20 dollars worth of gold dust on freight. Her mails
will not reach in time for the English steamer, all our
news from her being per telegraph from New Orleans.
At Stockton the Americans at the mines had been at-
tacked by large bands of Chilians. Several were killed
on both sides, and a number of Americans, who had
been taken prisoners, were afterwards released. The excite-
ment at San Francisco even was great on this subject, and all
the accounts say that the Chilians will be attacked in their
turn, and expelled from the country. Such a course would
probably lead also to the expulsion of other foreign (Spanish
race) gold diggers.