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N'.1.7,90q LONDON, WEDNESDAY W.: T. C
APRIL 21 1850.
-

(OCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER
COLOURS.
The FORTY-SIX fl ANNUAL EXHIBITION WILL OPEN, at
their Gellery, 5, PALL-MALL EAST, on MONDAY. April 29.
Admittance, One Shilling. Catalogue, Sixpence.
- GEORGE FRIPP, Sec.

LAND DEBENTURES.
TO .THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
pilt,—Hating just received from my friend Mr.
Bowen Thd Sun of the 17th inst., and having therein
perused with much satisfaction your leader on the
Prussian laudation, scheme, as applicable to this unfor-
tunate country, I feel tempted to send to you the en-
closed, which a few days previously Iliad written to the
editor of the Dublin Evening Mail, relati%e to the
Solicitor-General's Bill for repayment of advances,
struck as I am with the extraordinlry coincidence of
opinion put forward in your leader and of the suggestion
contained in my letter.
I am happy to be able to add, that•at last this subject
seems to be gaining that attention which its importance
deserves in this country, and which the advocacy of
some of the English press would ensure for it on your
side of .the Channel; and as The Sun has taken the lead,
perhaps you will not consider the enclosed accidental
testimony in favour of your sentiments as altogether
unacceptable.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
EDWARD WILMOT CILETWODE,
Woodbrook, Portarlington, Ireland,
- April 20, 1850.
P.S.—I need not add that the suggested clause con-
tains the spirit, not the words, requisite to ingraft it into
the Bill of-the Solicitor-General.

GREAT CENTRAL GAS CON-
SUMERS' COMPANY.
The interesting ceremony of laying the first stone of
the extensive works of this company on Bowe-common
took place at two o'clock yesterday,with all the imposing
formalities usual on such occasions. The works are in-
tended to be of vast extent, covering an area of more
than six acres, and are bounded by the Limehouse Canal
on the. one side and by the Blackvvall Railway on the
other. Though the proceedings of yesterday were
termed "Isyiug the first stone," a considerable portion
of the buildings have already been raised far above the
foundations, and the great block of Portland stone,which
attracted so much interest among the visitors on the
occasion, instead of being deposited, as ggnerally hap-
pens in such cases, in the foundation of the building,
was honoured with the far more prominent and conspi-
cuous position of being placed as a lintel over the central
doorway.
The centre of the ground is occupied by the retort
house, coal stores, and purifying house, the first-named
being nearly 300 feet long and upwards of 60 feet wide.
The stores are calculated to contain 10,000 tons of coals,
equal to nearly three months' consumption, and great
advantage is expected to be derived from the circum-
stance that the adjoining railroad is at such a height
above the surface as to allow of the coals being deposited
where they are to be used directly from the railway
waggons, while at the same time the junction of the rail•
way with the Eastern Counties line will give the company,
the option of procuring either sea or landborne coals.
There are four large tanks, each nearly 400 feet in cir-
cumference, and intended to be provided with gasholders,
capable of containing nearly two millions of cubic feet.
The ground contains sand, clay, and gravel in abundance
for the works. The contracts have been taken by the
Messrs. Rigby; and as 200 men are actively employed on
the works, it is anticipated that the consumers will be
supplied with gas from the new works before the end of
the• ensuing summer.
Tnoexas DAKIN, Esq., the chairman of the company,
officiated on the occasion, and was supported by the
board of directors, and by several hundred shareholders
and other influential friends of the company. • There
was also a large concourse of the inhabitants of the
neighbourhood. who seemed to take a lively interest in
the proceedings.
The CHAIRMAN having come forward to the front of
the platform, proceeded amid loud chi era to address
the assemblage. lle said—Whilst I feel the honour
conferred upon me in the opportunity now given me
of laying the first stone of the building of
the Great Central Gas Consumers' Company, I
cannot help experiencing some regret that it has
not fallen upon an individual more able to address you
upon so interesting an occasion. This is an event preg-
nant as I believe with consequences most beneficial to
the great community of which we form a part. The
element next in importance to the air we breathe is light.
which is in its first great source almost equally essential
to the existence of all animated being, discovering beauty
of form, giving the radiance and lustre of colour, and
gladdening' the face of universal nature; and when the
great source of light retires, and the curtain of night
fells around, the Great Author of the universe seems to
have put it to the ingenuity of his creatures to produce
artificial light, to rescue some of the hours of the night
teem oblivion, and to make them available fur the pur-
poses of industrial occupation, of necessary recreation,
or of mental labour. When we consider, adopting the
words of our great epic poet, that whilst
" Light and darkness in perpetual round
Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes on earth
Grateful vicissitude of day and night,
Light issues forth, and at the other door
Obsequious darkness enters"—
the bones of darkness being more than is necessary to
refresh afier the labours of the day, the inference is clear
that the forms of matter were placed at our disposal,
and the intellect and ingenuity of man were expected to
extort from them their tribute of useful ministration to
his wants iu this respect. Accordingly we find in all
ages the means through artificial light of shortening the
night and lengthening the day, so as to adjust the
necessities of the one with the demands of the other.
To the rude torch of less civilized life, and the various
applications of oil and wax in more modern times, until
the close of the last century, society was indebted for its
artificial light; in all these cases forming gas extem-
poraneously at the time of birning, and consequently
encumbered with the residuum, as well as being expensive
in Its formation; and it was not until near the close of
the last century that any approach was made to the sepa-
rate forniation of gas for the purpose of burning. Philo-
sophers had observed, in coal pits and other places,what
was called elae!ic inflammable air; but it was not until
the year 1798 that Mr. Murdoch first erected an apparatus
for the production ‘',l gas, at the manufactory of
Messrs. Boulton and Witt; &hp; and in 180' some ex-
tensive cotton mills at Man.7llefiter were lighted. In
1809 the first application was mae4.o to Parliament to in-
corporate the London and W
essmia,-.4.er Gas Light and
Coke Company. In 1815 Guildhall was egest lighted by
gas; and by the year 1822 gas lighting in the m.qtropolis
was extensively carried on amongst others by the .'w®
monopoly gas companies which now divide the supply of
the city of London between them, and whose conduct in
refusing the just demands of the eitieens of London,
temperately expressed, has given rise to the edifice we
are now inaugurating.—(Hear.) The inscription to be
placed 'upon the stone now before me will aptly usher in
the few remarks I shall feel it incumbent on me to offer
on this occasion—remarks which shall, on the one hand,
shortly place before you the circumstances under which
we were called into being at your bidding, and the pre-
sent poaitidn of your affairs; and it shall be my endea-
vour to do this without departing from the laws of good
temper or good taste, which lam sorry to observe our
opponents do not always regard; but, in their present
guerilla warfare, they seem to me, avoiding the nobler wea-
pons of truthful appeal and correct argument, to be using
the little sting of would-be-wit and personal attack, and
publishing statements devoid of truth. Your directors
feel their case is before you, and, instead of stooping to
answer amusing dialogues, are bent on making up for
time unavoidably lost, and giving form and substance to
.heir case. This is the proposed inscription--
IN
COMMEMORATION
OF

to them,what had been truly described by the toast-master
as a bumper toast. It war, " The Great Central Gas
Consueier's Company, and prosperity to it, and to those
who had the courage to embark in it." —(Cheers.) Ho
preceedel to describe the progress of the company since
its origin. lie had the honour, with a few friends then
in the roora, to be among the originators of the project,
and ho would endeavour to pet in a popular sense a few
of the reasons which had induced them to come forward.
He had for many years contended that the citizens of
London were entitled to receive their gas at a much
lower rate than they bad been paying, on the ground,
as he had dernonstrtned, that the chief expense
of gas was not in the making but in the distrihu •
tion. lie had shown that they should have received
their gas thirty-three per cent. cheaper than in
provincial towns, where a small supply is spread over
a large surface of country, just as a man with a thriv-
ing business, who turns his capital two or three times
in the year, may be content with smaller profits than a
man whose business is of a more precarious nature, and
who has to give long credits to his customers.—(l.lear.)
National taxation he regarded as a necessary evil; mu-
nicipal taxation he had long objected to; but now that
his own salary was paid out of it his dislike to the impost
had been lightened—(A laugh)—but, of all taxes, he
thought the worst was monopoly taxation. (Hear.)
The gas consumers of the city of London numbered be-
tween 8,000 and 9,000, and they used 500,000,000 cubic
feet of gas in the year. Now, a reduction of 2s. per
1,000 feet in the cost of that amount was equal to
50,0001. a year, so that there was a difference between
the amount paid by them in April, 1850, and in April,
1849, of fully 50,000/. in favour of the present
year.— (Cheers.) (A. gentleman here observed
that he had paid 7s. for gas in 1847.) It was
quite true that up. to 1848 they had bean paying 75.
per thousand feet. so that compared with that year they
had saved 75,000/. Than was what they had paid in
monopoly taxation. Now, let them compare that sum
with their municipal taxation. The whole amount paid
for the well-organized and disciplined army of police
that guarded their liver and property was but 27,000/.—
(Hear, hoer.) It had been said that their company
would add to the paving-rate by digging up the streets;
but the whole amount of the paving-rate, including the
expense of paving several new streets, was but 17,0001. a
year, while the whole sum paid for sewerage, including
the expense of 36 miles of new sew era in the last twenty
years, of lighting rate, which was 10,000/. a year, and of
paving-rate was only 39,0001.—(11eac, hear.) He would
next compare this monopoly• taxation with the national
taxation. His friend Mr. Anderton had given notice of
a motion in the Common Council, for a petition to Par-
liament against the odious window-tax. But Mr. An-
derton was an opponent of cheap gas, so that while he
censured an impost that taxed the light of day, he was
in favour of taxing the light of night.—(Hear, hear.)
What he (Mr. Pearson) %%anted was, that the poor me-
chanic should be able to have as good a light at night
at a cheap rate as any of them had.—(Hear, hear.) It
was said that the window-tax was injurious to the sani-
tary state of large towns, but he should like to know how
the sanitary condition of London was improved by hav-
ing those great gas works, which Mr. Anderton sup-
ported, i xtstieg in the most crowded and poorest part of
the City.—(Hear, hear.) The whole window-tax of the
city of Loneon was 69.6281., while he had already told
them of the sum which they paid in monopoly taxatior.
Again, he found that the 2,200,000 inhabitants of the
metropolis were supplied with flesh nna'; for 10,000,000/.
so that this gas monopoly tax in the city of Loudon
alone amounted to the 200th part of the whole expense
of supplying the entire metropolis with beef and mutton.
—(Cheers.) Their opponents had manufactured waste-
fully and distributed badly, and yet they divided cam--
MOUS ga;ns. It was said Oat this company were confis-
cating their property; but there were men conrected
with the management of the Central Gas Company who
would be incapable of embarking in any specula.
tion that would centherite hard-earned means. It these
monepolists had reduced their price in the first instance
as law as they had rethured it latterly, this company
would never have been called into existence.—(Liear,
hear.) Shakapere said that " there is a divinity that
hedges a king," but those gentlemen seemed to think
that there was also a divinity that hedges a gas com-
pany.—(Loud laughter.) In their return to Parliament
of their profits they put their dividends down at 10 per
cent. This was to be sure the truth, but it was not the
whole truth, or else how could their shares, on which 81.
had been paid, be selling at 300 Ter cent. ?—(Hear,
hears) They attributed their large dividends to the fact
of their having purchased the shares of two ruined com-
panies at halt their original value, but if that were so he
would like to know who had the best title to the term
"confiscators."—(Hear.)
The toast was drunk with great cheering.
The CHAIRMAN again rose, and in eloquent terms pro-
posed the " Health of Mr. Pearson," describing in detail
the great services which that Honourable Gentleman had
rendered to the company. On concluding he presented
Mr. Pearson with a megoificent silver flagon and dish,
as a mark of esteem from the directors personally. The
flagon bore the following inscription:—
" Presented to Charles Pearson, Esq , M.P., late
cha!rman of the Great Central Gas Consumers' Com-
pany, by his late colleagues, John Bradbury, Egg., G.
H. Bevil!, Esq., F. Clemow, Esq., Thomas Dakin, Esq.,
W. F. A, Deistic, Esq., Thomas Gabriel, Erq., T. H.
Massey, Eds., J Wyid, Esq., M.P., and A. A. Croll,Esq ,
engineer, in testimony of their estimation of his able ser-
vices in assisting to form the company, thus destroying
the gas monopoly that had existed in the City for thirty
years, and, by reducing the price, effecting a saving to
the consumers of nearly 50,000/. annually. The directors
have gre at pleasure in recording their sense of the
unvarying kindness of their late chairman whilst joined
with them in their arduous duties, by which their labour
was lightened amidst opposition and difficulty of no
ordinary kind. And they desire to express their fervent
wishes for his health, happiness, and prosperity, and a
long career of public usefulness.—April 23, 1850."
Mr. PEARSON acknowledged the high compliment paid
him iu suitable terms.
Mr. BENNOCII proposed the health of the counsel, soli-
citors, and Parliamentary agent of the company.
Mr. BRYDEN, the Parliamentary agent, returned
thanks.
Mr. GABRIEL proposed the health of Mr. Anstey and
their other visitors not members of the company.
Mr. et NSTEY returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health cf Mr. Croll, and
dwelt at some length on the great services rendered to
the company by that gentlemen.
Mr. Guam. returned thanks. He said:—l will not
affect to conceal the pride and satisfaction with which I
regard the expression of the sentiments in which this
toast has be. n proposed, or the manner in which you
have been pleased to receive it. It is the well-merited
character of the genius of this country that it felicitously
combines the must profound attainments in abstract
science with the most useful, profitable, and practical ap-
plication of those physical laws which rule the material
elements with which Providence has surrounded us. We
are met this day to celebrate the progress of scientific
discovery applied to the convenient purposes of civilised
life—of those mechanical and chemical combinations
which add lustre to the halls of kings and embellish with
economical cheerfulness and frugal light the workroom
of the artisan and the cottage of the peasant. Ido not
pretend to be above that infirmity of our common nature
which guides us by mixed motives. Ido not think, in-
deed, tnat even our selfishness was given to us either: to
serve ourselves alone, or to exclude advantage to society.
The prospect of the fair material rewards of industry
and genius stimulates each of us to toil for the whole.
The desire to earn the good opinion of mankind stimu-
lates us often to postpone the mere sordidness of avarice
to the interest and happiness of the community. It is
the unmixed advantage of an uedertaking such as that of
which we are assembled to celebrate the establishment
that it combines the excellencies of a substantial, cer-
tain, and profitable commercial undertaking, with the
promotion cf the domestic comfort, and the elevation
of the social habits of the people—that it consults at
once the material interests of the producer and the sav-
ing of tee consumer—that like mercy, but in a more di-
rectly mercantile and tangible shape, "it blesses him
that gives and him that takes."
ne es
y part and lot in this
matter is known to most of you. I am a practical
man. Ido not pretend to the mere vision of the trai-
ns
philanthropist. I am not led away by the
dreams of the mere inventor. My calculations have
been previously tested by extensive practical experience
—they are corroborated by the virtual testimony to
their accuracy, to he derived from the contracts on which
my estimates are founded, being all taken by eminent ex-
perienced and purely practical contractors. I believe, I am
confident, thulium serving the public. I am surel am se-
curing safe profits to the shareholders. Ido not pretend
to deny that I am certain of serving myself. If I sin
mistaken, I shell he the chief sufferer; for I hare not
hesitated to peril the gains of an active and successful
life upon the result.—(Hear, hear.) But I have pre-
viously tested by ample practical results the safety of
the experiment; and I can but say this, that you have
only to be true to each ether and the pledges you have
given to your fellovv-citizens, in order to realise
every promise you made to yourselves, and every pros-
pect you held out to the community.—(Cheers.) In
this as in every effort to benefit the public by new in-
ventions and fresh discoveries, we hes-e brought down
upon ourselves the vengeance of vested interests and the
fury of vast capitalists. We are resolved to meet their
uemeasur«l operehrium with perfect good temper and
equanimity; and their heavy attempts at leairy with the
old proverb, e let them laugh that win." I again thank
you gratefully for your kindness in this notice of my
name. and can only say that it will be to me a fresh
stimulus to deserve it.----(Cheers.)
Mr. WYLD, M.P., proposed the health of Mr. Rigby
and the officers of the company.
Mr. litutte returned thanks.
Ssme other toasts are eroposeo, and the company
separated tit a late hour.

THE ROYAL POLYTECHNIC
INSTITUTION.
LECTURES on MUSIC by Sir HENRY It. BISHOP resumed,
w;th an increased number of VOCALISTS for the Illustrations n
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at Eight, an don Tuesday, Thuo 5-
day, and Saturday, at Three o'clock.—Dr. Bachhoffner's Second
Lecture on the Philosophy of Scientific Recreation with Optical
Effects, daily at Two, ard on Tuesday and Thursday Evenings at
A varier-past Nine.—Lecture by J. 11. Pepper, Esq., on the
Chemistry of Hydrogen; vtith special reference to its application for
conveying by B: "oohs Pyrotechric and other. Signals to Sir John
Franklin, on Mayday, Wednesday, and Friday, at Three, and on
Tuesday and Titarsday Evenings, at Eight.—Dissolving Views,
illustrating the Arctic Regions and Ceylon ; also Views of London in
the Sixteenth Century, and as it now is.—Diver and Diving-
bell, &c., Etc

Admission, Is.—Schools, Half-price.
Analyses and Coein;cal Experiments conducted in the Laboratory,
under the direc“on of J. H. Pepper, Esq.

ARGYLE SUBSCRIPTION ROOMS, Great
Windmill-street, St. James's.
Musical Director and Conductor, M. LAURENT, jun.
This ACADEMY, for Tuition and Practice of DANCING, is
NOW OPEN for the Season. Teaching by Professors Calkins,
Homey, and Franconi.
For Terms if Private Tuition apply at the office.—Terms of Sub-
scription, for morning and evening practice :—Six months, W. 55.;
one month, It. is.; one evening, Is. Subscribers' tickets not
transferable.
The Academy will open for evening practice at a Quarter to Eight
o'clock, and terminate at Half-past Eleven precisely.

TO THE' EDITOR ' OF THE DUBLIN EVENING MAIL.
Sir,—As you have already commented so ably on the
Bill Proposed by the English Solicitor-General for ficili-
taing the working of the clogged wheels of the Irish
encumbered estates machinery, may I be permitted,
through you columns, to ask whether the introduction of
a clause to the following effect could injure the interests
of any of her Majesty's subjects; whilst it would some-
what improve the proposition of the Solicitor-General by
rendering it more like its Prussian " landshaft " anti-
type?
A clause to the following effect would not curtail the
full bounty held out by the English Solicitor-General
to the encumbered estates proprietor and to the money-
lender, whilst it would afford a boon to the struggling
proprietor who was not yet in the hands of the Encum-
bered Estates Commissioners.
As Mr. C. Bowen has so clearly detailed the Prussian
landshaft scheme, I only venture to propose this very
simple method of its practical adoption.
The English Solicitor-General's Bill thus amended,
would give to Irish estates (encumbered to more than
half their value) the full benefits of the Encumbered
Estates Commission, by providing for them " land
debentures," to the amount of half their purchase, for
—the mutual benefit of the money--lender, and the pro-
prietor who is " sold up." But, further, these advan-
tages would not be confined to those two classes: in the
case of esta'es not so highly encumbered as to qualify
them for the Encumbered Estates Commission, their
proprietors might raise money, by " land debentures,"
to the amount of half their value, similarly guaranteed
es in the former case. And thus all classes dependent on
land in this country; as well as the trading public gene-
rally, would derive the benefits of a system which should
not cost the state one shilling, nor even interfere with
any existing prejudice, save by the substitution of land
for gold as a security for the currency.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
EDWARD W ILMOT C HETWODE.

CANTERBURY SETTLEMENT.
some of the First Body of intended Colonists attend daily at
their rooms la, Adelphl-terrace, from Ten to. Five o'clock ; and a
Meeting of the Body is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Twelve
o'clock. Strangers desirous of communicating personally with gen-
tlemen about to emigrate, are invited to visit the rooms.

Woodbrook, Portarlington, April 13, 1850.
Clause suggested to be introduced into the Solicitor-

General's Bill, &c., to provide, &c.
" And, whereas it is necessary that an estate should
be encumbered to one•`_alf its estimated value, in order
to qualify for the management of tie Encumbered
Estates Commission, and whereas a sum amounting to
one-half the amount of the purchase of such estate may
be raised by laud debentures thereon, for facilitating
and carrying into effect the purposes of the sale, be It
further enacted that, in the case of estates not encuna-
lvne I to one-half their estimated value, and therefore
excluded from the operation of the Encumbered Esta,es
Commission, that land debentures' may in like man-
ner be raised thereon to the amount of one-half the
estimated value, for the purpose of clearing such estates
of other ircumbrances, or of enabling their proprietors
to improve the agricultural condition of their estates.
now overwhelmed by poor-law taxation, and foreign
competition."

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.
CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 22.
At a Congregation holden on:Saturday last, a grace for
the adoption of the petition upon the subject of National
Education passed the senate without opposition.
CORPUS COLLEGE.—Edward Henry Browne, 14th
Junior Optime, first Classic, and Chancellor's Medallist,
1850, has been elected a Fellow of this College.
ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE—VOIUntary Classical Exami-
nation 1850—First Class: J. F. Bateman, E. Calvert,
Gautillor, C. F. Holmes, Hutchinson, Langley, Mayor,
Morley, W. Oven, John Shaw. Second Class: Bartz,
Chambers, F. G. Holmes, Kempson, Pateltet, Tatham,
F. A. Nhite, Whittle.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTII, TUESDAY.—Captain James, R.E., the
Director of the Admiralty Works in this dockyard, has
resigned his appointment, we hope for something better,
which his talents and perseverance eminently deserve.
The Birkenhead steam-frigate, Commander J. A.
Stevens, embarked the 23d Royal Welsh Fusiliers at the
dockyard to-day, and sailed with them this afternoon
for Plymouth.
The Coldstresm Indiaman sailed from Spithead at
6.30 this morning,
The Victoria, American line-of-packet ship, arrived
at Spithead at 11 o'clock this morning.
Tne great steam-ship Simoon, 2,000 tons, built by the.
Messrs. Napier, of Glasgow, has been fitted and rigged
by Commander Lord Amelius Beauclerk, of the Strom-
boli.
On Wednesday last she made her first trial trip
down the Clyde, when she was found to answer remark-
ably well, but on returning up the river the feed pump
' rod carried away, and another slight accident basing
happened to the engine, Lord Beauclerk deemed it
necesFary to have a second trial before reporting her
ready for her Majesty's service, which was to take place
yesterday.
We are informed the squadron of evolution under
Commodore Martin is coming to rendezvous at Spit-
head for a short time, and that a court-martial will be
held on a Captain who has disagreed with the Com-
modore.

THE PUBLIC SPIRIT AND FIDELITY
WITH waicH 10,000 07 THE CITIZENS OF LONDON
SUPPORTED THE DIRECTORS OF THE
GREAT CENTRAL GAS CoNSUDIERS' Co3IPANY,
IN THEIR STRUGGLE TO SECURE FOR THE, COMMUNITY
GOOD AND CHEAP LIGHT,
THIS STONE
WAS LAID ON THE 23D DAY OF APRIL, 1850.
The Citizens' Company was called into being at the end of
1848, when the directors of the two monopoly companies
firmly refused any reduction of 6s. per 1,000 feet, the then
price. When this was found to be the case—when,
having found that smaller communities and worso pay-
ing districts were charged considerably less—and, as
perhaps was natural, those who had long grasped a rich
prize declined to relax any of the force with which
they extracted their revenue—they then, in the largest
public meeting ever known in the London Tavern, de-
termined to found their own establishment to have some
share in the production and management of what had
become an article of necessity ; and even when the com-
panies which had long denied any change, finding the
rich prize about to slip from their hands, reduced to 55.,
and then to 48., the citizens, being appealed to in a public
meeting, said, " No, we have lost our confidence in you ;
we will not have the prico stereotyped at 45., knowing
that with increased demand diminished price ought to
follow, which you would not give, we will have our own
company." This is briefly the history ; this is the
battle you have been fighting, and which remains to be
still fought out. Shall wealth gained by monopoly
(50,0001. a year, being now remitted)—shall influence
and the sympathy cf capitalist with capitalist rob you
of this opportunity of some management in what mainly
concerns you ? If you allow it you will never have
another chance; and another quarter of a century may
roll away without it, and leave you at the mercy of the
piesent directors nod those who may succeed them.
I have now to place the stone in its final resting-place
—long may it remain there to tell its noble story
Will you answer by your cheers " Success and Prospe-
rity to the Great Central Gas Consumers' Company."—
(Great cheers.)
The trowel and mallet provided for the occasion were
then handed to the chairman who proceeded to ammo
the mortar for the reception of the stone, and the huge
block was lowered in safety to its final resting place.
Three rounds of cheers were then called for, and re-
sponded to with most vehement enthusiasm by the as-
semblage.
Mr. BENNOCK came forward, and, after a short
ac-
dress from him, the assemblage separated.
7
THE DINNER.

APPOINTMENTS.
WooLvacEr, APRIL 23.—Midshipman Louis Geneste
to the Excellent gunnery-ship, at Portsmouth.
Clerk Francis M. Wright to the Hastings, 72, flag-
ship on the East India and China station.
Boatswain John May to the Resistance, fitting for the
Arctic expedition.
Commander Thomas A. B. Spratt (1849) and Lieut.
Charles F. F. Boughey (1846) have been appointed to
study steam at the factory iu Woolwich dockyard, and
Commander Spratt joined to commence his studies
to-day.
CAPTAIN AUSTIN'S ARCTIC EXPEDITIoN.—At the
Ro al Artillery mess, on Monday night, there were
about 120 officers of various ranks of the corps assem-
bled, to meet the officers of the Artic expedition. The
officers of the Royal Marine Mess, at Woolwich, enter-
tained tbe officers of the Are& squadron last night. The
ships are progressing rapidly. The best feeling prevails
amongst the officers and crews of the 'four shipi—a
spirit of emulation pre-eminately distingishes all classes.
On Thursday afternoon the Resolute and Assistance
will be towed to Greenhithe ; but, it is said, the Intrepid
screw-schooner, mill not leave Woolwich before the 30th
inst. The vacancies in the squadron are almost all
filled up ; but the Resolute requires a musician to
complete her crew. We trust that some enterprising
fiddler of good certificates will apply early to the gallant
and popular first lieutenant for the vacant rating Cap-
tain Sir James C. Ross and Captain Bird, the em-
u enders of the late expedition, visited the ships at
Woolwich yeatA•day.

The directors and shareholders and other friends of
the company swain assembled at six o'clock at the Lon-
don Tavern, where a sumptuous banquet was provided
in the usual first-rate style of the establishment. About
200 gentlemen sat down to dinner.
Thomas Dakin, Esq., the chairman cf the company,
presided, and was supported on either side by Ma.
Charles Pearson, M.P., Colonel Dunne, M.P., Mr. F.
French, M.P., Mr. C. Anstey, M.P., Alderman Sir W.
Magnay, Mr. James Wyld M.P., Deputy Harrison„
Common Councillors F. Bennock, Blake, and T. Hall.
Messrs. W. F. A. Delano, J. Bradbury, T. Gabriel, J,
Rigby, J. Massey, G. Bovell, J. Batford, D. W. Wire,
J. Blyden, A. A. Croll, and J. Stevens.
The usual loyal toasts having been given,
The CHAIRMAN gave " The Army and Navy."
Colonel DUNNE returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN then gave " The Lord Mayor and
Prosperity to the City of London," and joined to the
toast the health of Sir William Mt.gnay.
Sir. W. MAGNAY returned thanks, and bore testi-
mony to the anxious efforts of the magistracy of the
city of London on all ecca,dons to temper mercy with
justice, and to promote the interest.; Of the citia-ns.
Mr. D. W. WIRE proposed in eloquent tertrl the
health of Mr. French and the Members of the House of
Commons.
Mr. FRENCH, M.P., returned thanks, and said that
the countenar.ce of the citiz ns- of London, combining
as they d.d with so much (A energy. capital, and intelli
gence., was the best sanction that the House of Com-
mons could have at any time for their proceedings.
Mr. C. FEARSONS, M.P., proposed the next toast, and
. was received with loud cheers. He said he had to propose

THE CASE OF POISONING AT EDINDIIRGIL—We
understand that the circumstances elicited during the exa-
mination of the case have been considered by the authorities
sufficient to warrant them in fully committing Bennison for
trial. Since his apprehemion the accused has been in a
state of great nervous excitement, and is now much worn
out. The contents of the stomachi of the two dogs,.whieli
were taken to the Surgeons' Hall, were yesterday analysed,
and found to contain a quantity of arsenic. No other facts
of importance have been brought out in addition to these de-
tailed above.—Edinburgh Advertiser.

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letter from Vienna of tile 18th, addresged to Lb•
nendance of Brussel., says that the rumours that
been current of the intention of the Government
ace a forced loan of 120,000,000 florins on the
'ent provinces is not unfounded, it being con-
ed impossible to obtain a loan abroad, except on

most unfavourable conditions. The 120,000,000 florins
are destined, in addition to what may be realised by the
issue of the reserved shares of the Bank, to enable the
Bank to resume payment in specie. - The letter adds,
that the amount of paper money at present in
circulation in Austria is about 350,000,000
florins, of which 244,000,000 florins have been issued
by the Bank. All this paper has a forced circula-
tion, but is below par. The Government, after de-

THE FRE

[PRICE eSD,

'PUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
In the National Assembly on Monday the discus-
sion cm the Transportation 'Bill was renewed, and an
amendment proposed by M. A.TINTRA, declaring that
the wives and children of the transported should be
allowed to share the exile of their husbands and
fathers, was rejected by 3GI to 302, notwithstanding
an eloquent appeal by M. LAMARTINE to the Assembly
in its favour.

ducting the payments recently made by means of the
new loan and the Sardinian contribution, owes
170,000,000 florins to the Bank,

The Minister cf the Interior, BAROCHE, is sorely
galled at his defeat on Saturday. Neither M. BER-
RYER or M. Tntuns voted on the occasion ; and
among those who abstained was General D'llawr-
rouu, the President of the Council, between whom
and rd. BAROCHE a violent scene took place at a
Cabinet Council held on the following day. M.
BAROCHE has, it is said, tendered his resignation, and
the PRESIDENT will, if he be wise, at once accept it ;
for if we are to take the conduct of M. BAROCHE in
regard to the sale of the evening journals as a test of
capacity, a man of more damaging incapability can-
not be connected with any Ministry. It seems that
it is necessary for the vendors of the evening journals
in Paris to have a licence from the Minister of the
Interior; all these licences have been revoked by M.
BAROCHE, and new ones issued, authorising the sale
of the Ministerial journals Patric and Moniteur du
Soir, and of the Legitimatist Gazette de
France only, and every vendor of a journal who
shall presume to sell the Evenement (the journal
of M. VICTOR HUGO, and the first which proposed the
candidature of Louts NAPOLEON BONAPARTE for the
Presidency of the Republic), or the E stafette (a
journal of Moderate Republican principles, but op-
posed to Socialism), is threatened threatened by M.
BAROCHE with a suspension of his licence. Mea-
sures such as these cannot suppress the publication of
opinion, and only show on the part of those who adopt
them an irritability of disposition conjoined with a
stupid and narrow-minded incapability which cannot
fail to be most damaging to any cause which may be
burdened with their patronage. M. BAROCHE is more
dangerous as a friend than as an enemy.
The Credit says—
" We are authorised to declare that General Cavaig-
nac has not given to any one the right of representing
him as recommending or patronising any candidateship
whatever. In his opinion all pretensions ought to dis-
appear in presence of the name of the venerable man
whom he considers as the honourable representative et
French democracy."
M. CHARLES BLANC has been removed from the
office of Director of the Beaux Arts by the Minister
of the Interior, who has appointed M. DE GUIZARD to
succeed him. _ _ _

According to the Swabian -mercury, negotiations
have lately been entered into between Austria and
Electoral Hesse, for the accession of the latter to a
federal state, on the basis of the treaties of 1815.
At Vienna on the 16th some disturbances took
place in one of the faubourgs, but they were
promptly quelled by the armed force. They arose
in consequence of the people having attempted
to introduce provisions into the barracks of a,detach-
ment of Hungarian honveds and their fa-
milies on passage through the city, who had
cried out, on being lodged in the courtyard of the
barracks of the faubourg, that they were in want of
food. At one time large crowds of the working po-
pulation had assembled, and their attitude was rather
tnent.cinz.
The Emperor of Austria has just presented the
ex-Emperor, his uncle, with a vast domain in
Bohemia.

M. DE RAYINEVAL has been appointed Minister
Plenipotentiary to Rome.
Count ZAMOYSKI has arrived in Paris.
The Napoleon has the following on the visit of
the President of the Republic to Angers :—Arriv-
ing at Angers in the night, the President went
the next morning to the hospital, accompanied
by the Minister of War, General Castellene, the
Prefect, and the Mayor. On his passage there,
all the unfortunate man who had been taken
into the houses of the inhabitants endeavoured to
see him. Those who could not walk were brought
out on chairs by the people who had treated them with
such kind hospitality. The President stopped at
every step, and lavished consolation and assistance,
and never quitted any of them without leaving
behind bias some mark of the most lively in-
terest. It was at the hospital that the most
painful spectacle awaited him; the wounded were
there very numerous. He approached the bed of
each, and interrogated the sufferers with the
kindest solicitude. To one he promised a leave
of absence ; to another, a guarantee for the future
welfare of their families ; and assured them all
of the protection of the government. Before quit-
ting the hospital, the President, collecting around
him the members of the council of administration,
the medical men, and the sisters of charity,
thanked them in the name of the country and of
the army. He then presented the decoration of the
legion of honour to the director, and to Dr. Meronan,
and the cross of officer to the military intendant La
Caliniere, who, for 48 hours, had been incessantly oc-
cupied in one of the most painful duties, that of watch-
ing over the preparing the bodies for interment. The
President afterwards went to the barracks, occupied
by the 4th Regiment, where he was received with the
loudest acclamations.. Officers and soldiers were
moved even to tears in finding the chief of the state
hasten into the midst of them, and thus protest
against the malevolent insinuations of which they
had recently been the object. A sergeant, who
had by his exertions saved several of his com-
rades, was so affected when he received the
cross, that he could not utter a word of thanks,
and fainted. After this visit the President repaired
to the scene of the disaster, and demanded
to have an exact detail given to him of the sad
event ; he examined the suspension chain, and re-
marked with sorrow that they were for the most
part oxydised, and that a more careful surveillance
would have prevented such a misfortune. He ordered
a searching inquiry to be entered on. The presence
of the President on this spot attracted towards
it all the inhabitants of Angers, who, as well
as the soldiers, testified by cries a thousand times re-
peated of 'Vive N apoleon 1' their feelings at his thus
participating in their grief. At the moment of
the disaster, and in the midst of all the diffi-
culties attendant on the saving of the men, the prefect
remained constantly in one of the boats, at the risk
of his life. The cross of commander has recompensed
his noble devotedness, and the decoration of
chevalier the conduct of M. Delatouche, mayor
of Angers, and representative of the people, who
worthily seconded the prefect. The same favour was
granted to a man of the people, a hairdresser, whose
intrepidity was the subject of admiration to the
whole town. Half an hour before the accident,
two battalions of the line and a squadron
of hussars had crossed the bridge without
anything occurring to give an idea of danger.
This bridge is the ordinary one used by the
troops, as it is the direct road to the castle. The
General was waiting there to review the battalion of
the 11th. How could party spirit so fer pervert a
simple fact, as to represent it as a premeditated
design to isolate the regiment, and to preserve it
from any contact with the inhabitants of the fan-
bourgs ? Hatred always imputes to others what it
would be guilty of itself." A journal of Angers
says :—" At the moment when the President
of the Republic commenced his round of visits, no
one being aware of his arrival, there were few persons
in the streets. The cries of the getters-up of provo-
cations equalled those of the peaceable citizens, but
the former gradually disappeared, until the immense
crowd assembled at the terminus completely drowned
every other cry by exclamations of Vive le
.Presi-

dent-r
" - -
PARIS BOURSE, APRIL 23.—Latest prices.—Five
per Cents., 89f. 45e. ; Three per Cents. 55f. 60c. ;
Bank of France, 2,100 f.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT TILE
LONDON SToc 01(4E, Aram. 23.
Central of France (Orleans and Vierzon), 121%—Namur
and Liege, 6%—Sambre and Meese, 21‘.

SPAIN.

Madrid journals of the 18th have arrived.
E
The poca publishes a letter from Edinburgh,
stating that some Spanish Carlists were preparing to
send an expedition from Aberdeen ! Bank notes of
35,000,000 reals, for the bank of San Fernando, had
been received from England, where they had been en-
graved.

GERMANY.
A telegraphic dispatch from Berlin, dated fester
day morning, states that the final propositions of the
Prussian Government for a settlement of the affairs
of the Duchies were not likely to be accepted. The
dispatch adds, that the efforts made by the Prussian
Government to obtain a prolongation of the ad interim
Commission of Frankfort had failed ; but that the
negotiations of Austria for assembling a Congress
of Plenipotentiaries to replace it were likely to be
successful.
The Chamber of States of the Parliament of Er-
furt terminated on the 20th the revision of the Con-
stitution, and adopted the additional Act. it decided
that the electoral laws shall be brought into effect in
all the States of the Union on the 20th. A letter,
however, says that it was doubtful whether the Peo-
ple's Chamber would adhere to thi law, and still more
doubtful whether the different States would allow it
to be carried into execution.
A letter from Cologne, of the 20th, states that a
rather sharp discussion had taken place between the
Prince of PRUSSIA and the Bishop of Trinves, relative
to the oath of the Constitution required
.to be taken
by the Catholic clergy who hold situations. The
Prince formally declared that the Catholic. clergy
would be required to respect the Constitution, and
the Bishop formally asserted that they would not
alluw the Constitution to encroach on its rights and
privileges. In the course of the interview the
Prince intimated that the Holy See would be ap-
plied to, to regulate the relations between the
Prussian Government and the Catholic clergy.
A Vienna letter of the 18th states that the corona-
. tion of the Emperor of AUSTRIA is to take place on
the 18th August, the anniversary of his birthday.

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