The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-17 00:00:00

N°. 17,883.] LONDON, THURSDAY EV NING SU Ny JANUARY 17, 1850.

ARGYLE SUBSCRIPTION ROOMS, Gra'
Windmill-street, St. J

Musical DirectorandCondaCtor, M. LAURENT, jun

This ACADEMY, for Tuition and Practice of DANCING, is
NOW OPEN for the Season. To.tching by Professors Catkin',
Moxey, and Franconi.
For Terms of Frivate Tuition apply at the office.—Tcms of Sub-
scription, for morning and evening practice:—Six months, 5/. 55.;
One mouth, 17. 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.

13-LACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE
The Number for JANUARY is Reprinting. Copies of the
Second Edition will be sent from Edinburgh per Railway, This
Evening,-so as to be ready for delivery to the public in London on
the Morning of Saturday, the 19th Instant.
Edinburgh, 45, George-street, January 17, 1850.

On Saturday, the 29th ult., wee published, leap. price 55.,
T E POOR ARTIST;
or, Seven Eye &gilts and One Object.

" Science in Fable."

" The Poor Artist might be briefly described as an odd, ' out of the
way' book. Possibly some would say that it was by a disappointed
artist run-mad ; hut if so, he has a good deal of method, some philo-
sophy, and considerable powers of observation and dsscription still
remaining, with a strong vein of humo..r and qulot sarcasm."—Eng-
lish Churchman, Jan. 3.
John Van Voorst, 1, Paternoster-row.

rr HE NOVELTY most recently introduced by
-IL MESSRS. NICOLL Is called NICOLL'S PATENT EIDER
DOWN PALETOT, such novelty consisting in the adaptation of
Eider Down in the formation of NICOLL'S PALETOT, the original
elegance and utility of which is, however, faithfully preserved.
Eiders are found In great numbers in Iceland and the Ferr
Islands, where their beautiful and delicate down is well known to be
proof against the most severe cold, and even the small quantit3
which can be compressed and concealed between the two hands, wil
serve in the formation of a Palettst, which, while it has most extra-
ordinary lightness, has, nevertheless, more warmth than the fines,
and thickest blanket, the great desidera,um for a winter garment
being thus accomplished, namely, personal warmth without fatigue.
Public inspection is invited at MESSRS. NICOLL'S wholesale and
retail warerooms,
114, 116, and 120, REGENT. STREET, and 22, CORNHILL,

London.

THE NICOLL PALETOT (Registered 6 and
7 Vict., cap. 65) WAREROOMS, 114. 116, 120, REGENT-
STREET, and 22, CORN HILL.
Many have assumed the use of the word PALETOT, but Messrs.
NICOLL are the sole Patentees of the design and material.
The Wholesale and Counting House Departments for the London
Branches in the Shipping and Woollen Trades are in CHANGE-
ALLEY, CORNHILL, and 120, REGENT-STREET.
The NICOLL is the distinguishing name given to a garment
secured by Royal Letters Patent front general imitation. It has all
the advantages of Messrs. NICOLL'S original invention, the RE-
GISTERED PALETOT of LLAMA CLOTH. The NICOLL PA-
LETOTS are charged One, Two, Three, and Three-and a-half
Guineas, according with the climate or purpose for which they may
be required.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

MALTA. JAN. 4.—The French steamer from the
Levant, due on the 2,1 inst. only arrived to-day. The
weather has been very tempestous.
The Osiris has not come in from Alexandria.
Her Majesty's steam-frigate Growler went out
this morning with the Princes sons of the Emperor
of Mqrocco, and bound to Tangier ; they were saluted
from Fort St. Angelo's battery on going out, but
finding the sea very rough outside, the Growler, after
two hours, returned to port.
Yesterday the Princes paid a visit to her Majesty's
ship Prince Regent, which ship still lies here wind-
bound. They were received with all the honours, a
salute being fired and yards manned on their depar-
ture. A sad accident happened on the occasion,
which, however, there are great hopes to believe will
not be fatal. One of the life-lines being left in-
securely fastened, two men fell from the yard to the
deck below. One was very much hurt, the other
escaped with much slighter wounds. Ihth were con-
veyed to the Naval Hospital and:are doing well.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON.
In Malta Harbour—The Ceylon, receiving-ship,
bearing the flag •of Rear-Admiral Edward Harvey,
Superintendent of Malta Dockyard, and second in
command ; Prince Regent, 92, Captain Martin ;
Growler steamer, commander Stoddart ; Volage, 6,
surveying-ship, Captain Thomas Graves ; Oberon,
laid up ; Hercules, 12, store-ship, Captain R. Fulton ;
Waverley troop-ship, Captain J. Morgan.
At Gibralta—The Janus steamer, Lieutenant
Powell.
At Leghorn—The Porcupine steamer, Lieutenant
E. F. Roberts.
At Naples—The Locust, manned by the officers
and crew.rtf,.oe 41...n`thpe.
At C-phalonia--The Frolic, 16, Captain N. Van-
, sittart, and the Sharpshootersteatn-gun-vessel, Lieu-
tenant-Commander Bailey.
At the PirEeus of Athens—The Racer, 12, Captain
C. Beddoes ; Auxiliary, surveying-tender to Volage,
Mate J. H. Glover.
At Salonica—The Research, surveying-tender to
Volage. Lieutenant Lord John Browne.
At Macronissi—The Queen, 116, Captain C. 'Wise,
bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker,
G.C.8., the Commander-in-Chief; Caledonia, 120,
Captain T. W. Carter; Howe, 120, Captain Sir J.
Stirling; Bellerophon, 78, Captain Robert L.
Baynes ; Powerful, 84, Captain the Hon. R. S. Dun-
des; Vengeance, 84, Captain Sir H. M. Blackwood;
Firebrand steam-frigate, Captain T. 0. Knox ; Bull-
dog, Commander Key, Rosamond, Commander Foote,
and Ardent, Lieutenant Nowell, steam-sloops ;
Ganges, 84, Captain H. Smith; Spiteful, steam•cor
vette, Commander J. Carmichael.

At Constantinople—The Odin, the Hon. F. Pel-
ham, and Dragon, Captain W. H. Hall, steam-
frigates ' • and Tartarus steam-vessel, Commander Sir
G. Webster.

En route from Malta to England—The Thetis fri
gate, 36, Captain H. Codriogton.

MAIL STEAM-PACKETS.
At Malta—The Antelope, Lieutenant F. Smyth,
repairing ; Medina, Lieutenant A. Darby ; Spitfire,
Lieutenant Gardiner; Medusa, Lieutenant Bathurst.
En route to Marseilles from Malta—The Merlin,
Lieutenant J. H. Turner.

En route from Malta to the lonian Islands and
Greece--The Triton, Lieutenant Glinn.
PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION
COMPANY'S FLOTILLA.
A t Snuthampton—The Pasha, Queen, Tagus,
Euxine, Ilindostan, and Indus.

En route to Gibraltar and Southampton from
Malta—The Sultan.
At Constantinople—The Erin.
En route to Alexandria from Malta—The Ripon.
UNITED STATES SQUADRON.
_ _ _

At Naples—The Independence frigate, bearing the
flag of Commodore Charles W. Morgan ; Mississippi
steam •frigate, Captain Long ; and Cumberland
frigatez

At Leghorn—The Constitution frigate, Captain
Conover.

At Spezia—The Jamestown corvette, Captain S
Mercer.

En route from Gibraltar to Naples—The St. Law-
rence, Captain Paulding; and Erie sloop.

FOREIGN SHIPS OF WAR AND PACKET; IN PORT.

Yachts—T'ne Firefly, Peterel, and Nautilus.
lonian Government Steamer—The Eplanisos.
Tunis Steamer—Tne Minos.

Austrian Steamer—The Marianna.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 16.—The Sidon steam-frigate,
22 guns, on the design of Rear-Admiral Sir Charles
Napier, K.O IL, 1,326 tons, 560-horse power, by
Seaward, made her first trial to-day after her refit
since put out of commission, and being supplied with
new boilers and more capacious steam chests, &c.
The weather, contrary to its state for some days, was
peculiarly adapted for a favourable trial ; there was a
topgallant breez-, the tide mostly slack. At 10 o'clock
the vessel was slipped from her moorings in the har-
bour. The following officers, naval and civil, were
on board to witness and report upon the trial :—Sir
Charles Napier, K.C.13.; Captain 11. D. Chads, C.B.
of the Excellent; Captain James Hope, C. 13., of the
Terrible ; Captain L. T. Jones, late of the Penelope ;
Commander J. A. Stevens, of the Blenheim (in
charge) ; Mr. R. C. Allen, master of the Blenheim ;
Mr. Macdonald, Master-Attendan,t ; Mr. 'Murray,
C.E., Chief Engineer of the Dockyard; Mr. Lambert,
C.E., Assistant ditto; Mr. Lynn ; Mr. Brunet, of the
firm of Seaward', the makers of the engines ; Mr.
Biddlecomble, Master of the Royal Yacht ; Mr.
Ozzard, R.N.; Mr. Ward, R.N., &c.

The vessel was stowed in all respects as for sea,
weights being placed in the ♦arious receptacles to the
amount of the necessary quantity of provisions and
water for three months' service for a complement of
300 men. All her sea stores were actually on board,
and placed in their proper departments ; her sails for
,ea-service, and even her bending sails, were stowed
in the sailroom. Under these circumstances her
draught of water was :
Forward ... 16fc. 4in.
Abaft
and her ports out of the water as under:—
Foremost port ... 9fr. Bin.
Midship port
After port ... ... 7 11
leaving her tremendous and unparalleled battery 8
feet 1 inch clear of the water. She made eight runs
at the measured mile in Stoke's Bay, but two of them
being rejected by the officers as incomplete trials, six
runs only were allowed to draw the average from.
They were as follows :
First run ... 11.009 knots per hour.
Second ditto 10.146
Third ditto ... 11.077 --
Fourth ditto ... 9.756
Filth ditto ... 11.392
Sixth ditto ... 9.375
yielding as the result an average speed of 10i knots
per hour. Unexpected and eminently gratifying as
this result was, she would have achieved even a
greater speed had the measured water been unob-
structed; the course was crowded by small coasters,
and consequently the Sidon had to be steered a cir-
cuitous course to avoid collision.

The engines worked most satisfactorily, and made
from eighteen to nineteen revolutions per minute;
pressure of steam, 101 b. ; height of engine barometer,
26 deg. ; quantity of coal on board on leaving the
harbour 190 tons in bunkers. The new boilers af-
forded an ample supply of steam, and are fitted
with steam-chests aeparatel from the boilers, so that
the steam can be taken either from the one or
front the other at pleasure, the great advantage of
which is, that in preparing for action the steam
is taken from the boilers instead of from the
steam-chest, and the top of the boiler is three feet
below the water line, and, consequently, it is presumed,
out of the range of shot. The vessel altogether pre-
sented the most perfect man-of-war appearance of any
vessel in the steam navy upon the paddle principle,
and is as admirably fitted for realising the most satis-
fsctory results as she looks. Her internal economy,
or rather the economy of her in-board arrangements,
is such as no other vessel of the class afloat can ex-
hibit, and it was a subject of remark on the part of
the gallant and distinguished captain of the Terrible
that his vessel was not able to show a like perfection
of stowage room. Every apace is adapted to some
beneficial use in the Sidon; whereas in the Terrible
space is sacrificed. There are lying in this harbour
three of the finest steamers in the world ; but although
each is ready for sea and is to be tried, yet, with a
strange perversity, they are ordered to be tried sepa-
rately, whereas a squadron is assembled at Lisbon ex-
pressly for the object of a trial together. The follow-
ing are the respective armaments of these vessels :
SIDON, 1,326 TONS.
No. Weight. Calibre. Length.
Main Deck ... 14 60 cwt. 68-pounders 8 ft. 10 in.
Upper Deck ... 6 54 cwt. 68-pounders 8 ft. 0 in.
Ditto .. 2 88 cwt. 68-pounders 9 ft. 6 in.

22
TERRIBLE, 1,847 TONS.
No. Weight. Calibre.
▪ 3 ... 97 cwt. ... 56-pounders
• 4 ... 85 cwt. ... 10-inch.
4 ... 97 cwt. ... 56-pounders
10 ... 65 cwt. ... 8-inch

Upper Deck
Ditto ...
Nlain. Deck ...
Ditto ... ...

TERMAGANT, 1,556 TONS.
No. Weight. Calibre. Lenth.
Upper and Main Deck 24 56 cwt. 32spounders 9 ft. bin.
The above allows that the Sidon, Although of 600

tons less burden than the Terrible, and upwards of
200 tons less than the Termagant, carries, a heavier
arr.qament than either, and her midship gun on the
ma in desk is upwards of eight feet from the water ;
whereas, now she has completed coaling, the Ter-
e's is not more than five feet or thereabouts ; we are
asst ming from her appearance at fifty yards' distance.
The fore and main masts of the Sidon have been
shipped six feet further forward, which has improved
her appearance, and is expected to improve her sail-
ing. She will be tried to-morrow or Friday again
with all her coals, in order- to ascertain the differ-
ence of speed when deep over that of a general
draught of water. But f,r the impedimets to day
above alluded to, there is no doubt but that she would
have realised an average speed of 11 knots. She losts
by the increase of her steam-chests stowage room for
90 tons of coals. -
Commanders Hewlett and Grenfell of the Excel-
lent and Illustrious, in this harbour,- are promoted
to the rank of Captain the former for service in
her Majesty's ship Excellent during a term of four
years, and the latter for is very dashing exploit before
Acre.

Commander Sir William 'Wiseman succeeds to the
Excellent, vice Hewlett; and Commander Mathias to
the Illustrious, vice Grenfell.
PROMOTIONS.
WOOLWICH, JAN. 16.—Commander Sidney Gren-
fell (1840), of the Illustrious, 72, depot ship of ordi-
nary, Portsmouth, to be Captain.
Commander Richard S. Hewlett (1845), of the
Excellent gunnery ship at Portsmouth, to be Captain.
Mates—Ennis Chambers (1848), acting lieutenant
(1849) of the Cambrian, 40, on the East India Sta-
tion ; Alfred. Graves (1848), of the Powerful, 84, on
the Mediterranean station ;: _itind4Q3dfrey Taylor
(1848), of the Driver steam-sloop, on the Pacific sta-
tion, to be Lieutenants.
APPOINTMENTS.

Rear-Admiral of the WhitelCharles John Austen,
C. 8., to be Commander-in-Chief on the East India
and China station, vice R,,ar-Admirsti of the White
Sir Francis Augustus Collier, K.C.8., K.C.H.,
deceased.

Commander Thomas Mathias (1837), to the Illus-
trious, vice Grenfell, promoted.
Commander Sir William S. Wiseman (1846), to
the Excellent, vice Hewlett, promoted.
Rear-Admiral C. J. Austen, C.B , attained the rank
of Admiral on November 9, 1846. This gallant
officer has seen considerable service, having been mid-
shipman of the Unicorn at the capture of the French
frigate Tribune in 1796, and of the Endymion in her
attack upon the Dutch 74-gun ship BrutuP, and two
brigs in 1797. He was Lieutenant of the Scorpion
at the capture of the Dutch brig-of-war Courier, and
commanded the Bellerophon at the bombardment of
St. Jean d'Acre in 1840.

Commander Sidney Grenfell (1840) promoted to
Captain, was Lieutenant of the Cyclops at the attack
upon Gebail and the storming of Sidon.
Captain Henry Chad=, C. 8., of the Excellent, gun-
nery-ship at Portsmouth ; Captain Ellice, Comptroller
of Steam Machinery; and Captain Sir Baldwin
Walker, K.C.8., Surveyor of the Navy Commis-
sioner, appointed to inquire and report on matters
connected with the screw-propellers, met at Somerset-
house on Saturday last for the transaction of their
duties in that department.
Mr. Hughes, assistant to the Chief Engineer at
Somerset-house, and Mr. Dinnan, Inspector of Ma-
chinery, went over the Retribution steam-frigate, the
Niger, and the Megara steam-sloops, at Woolwich,
this afternoon, to inspect the machinery of these
vessels.

Mr. Dinnaa is to proceed on board the Terrible
steam-frigate to Lisbon, to be present, as Inspector of
Machinery, during the trials about to take place with
the steam-vessels of the experimental squadron ordered
to assemble at Lisbon.

The Vulture steam-frigate, of 470-horse power, is
to he commissioned immediately at Devonport.
PLYMOUTO, JAN. 15.—The exploring ships Enter-
prise and Investigator hove in sight to the eastward
this morning at half-past eleven o'clock, under double
reefed topsails and courses. Shortly after twelve
they entered the Sound by the western passage, and
continued there, beating about, apparently waiting for
orders from the Port Admiral, until nearly two
o'clock, when they anchored inside the Breakwater,
and their captains proceeded to the Admiral's-office,
at Mount Wise. There was no steamer in company
with the ships.
It blew a heavy gale from the eastward all day
yesterday, and so continued through the night until
eight o'clock this morning, when the gale abated.
Wind easterly ; moderate breeze.
WEDNESDAY, JAI.. 16.—The exploring ships En-
terprise and Investigator will probably remain here
until Friday, when they sail for the northern region..
In consequence of the heavy and unwieldy fittings of
these ships a considerable time was occupied after
they came inside the breakwater before they could
be manceavred to their anchorage ground. Some
stores, expressly adapted for a severe climate, will be
sent ff from the dockyard at Devonport.
We understand that Admiral Austen is to have the
command-in-chief in the East Indies, vice Admiral
Collier, deceased ; and it is reported that the Raleigh,
50, Captain the Hon. George Hope, now on her pas-
sage from South America, is to be fitted to take the
ibg of Admiral Austen, if she is found qualified for
that service.

The Indefatigable, 50, Captain Robert Smart, is to
be paid wages to day, and to proceed this afternoon or
to-morrow morning to Lisbon. It is understood that
the Indefatigable will go to sea 50 hands short of her
complement.
The steam-vessel Gladiator, 6, was this morning,
at 6 A.M., taken into dock to have her copper exa-
mined.
will probably be com-
missionedti he frigate Ar rdeatyh.o sa , 50,
Wind—Easterly.

CAPTAIN DOUGLAS'S COURT-MARTIAL.
MR. WARREN'S " LETTER."
(From the United Service Gazette.)
The " Letter to the Queen on a late Court-Mar-
tial" has, at las', made its appearance, after repeated
announcements and repeated postponements—the
latter c.f which are, to our minds, now fully accounted
for by the nature of the performance, and the character
of its disclosures. Doubtless, the learned author of
this " Letter" felt the responsibility which he was
assuming, and the necessity of having ample time for
examination and refl?ction. We can honestly assure
our readers that we have risen from the perusal of this
havelong lreetatde r—
everyfor longword
de-
vouring interest—perfectlyitofisits varied contents with butast
astounded,
teodo,
nlong,
omuch
sinceuh wb
by
its accumulated proofs of judicial incapacity, nor even
by the facts now for the first time laid before the
public, but that the true state of the case should have
been brought under the notice of the Horse Guards'
authorities, in Captain Douglas's " Memorial," in
vain ; and that they should have allowed the startling
facts of that case to be made public, and that by one
so capable of doing it with telling effect. One
result of this letter cannot fail to be a prompt re-
consideration of the particular case of Captain
Douglas
:id anotherathird must be, b
e a public and impartial
investigation into the new facts now brought for-
d—and perhaps the most
important of all—a complete reconstruction of the
system of courts-martial, and the dealing with
them at the horse Guards, as well previously, as
subsequently, to the trial. On this last point of
view Mr. Warren's letter to the Queen assumes a
really national importance ; for a second such trial,
and a second such treatment of the appeal from
the finding and sentence, will not be tolerated,
and should at once be put beyond the reach of
possibility.
The " Letter to the Queen," which Mr. Warren
states in his preface to have received the concur-
rence and approval "of some of the most eminent
lawyers in the kingdom, to whom it was submitted
for dispassionate examination "—may be regarded as
dividing itself into four parts. First, a preliminary
view of the state of the question, and of the power of
the Queen to order a reference of the case to the
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council—a propo-
sition which is most clearly demonstrated, and
which will go far to dissipate the awe-inspiring
mystery in which the finding, however erroneou*,
of courts-martial is at present invested. Secondly,
a ntirretive—and a highly interesting one, in
which will instantly be recognised a hand thoroughly
practised in such matters—of facts occurring previ-
ously to the ordering and holding of the court-iner-
tial, and on which they throw a strong and painful
light, and which facts were wholly excluded by the
Court from their consideration, though earnestly
pressed upon them by the prisoner. Thirdly, an
elaborate analysis of the charge in its different " in-
stances," with the evidence adduced in support of
each. We have perused this portion of the letter with
deep attention; and have not the least hesitation in
expressing our opinion, that we never read anywhere
such a crushing exposure of judicial fallacy and mis-
carriage. It is positively annihilating. The struc-
ture of the charge is thoroughly dissected by the
fearless knife of this expert anatomist, and discloses
a series of malformations, so to speak, which had, we
own, escaped ourselves, not so thoroughly animated
as himself. Bath charge and evidence are reduced to
real absurdity ; but an absurdity cruel And fatal to

the unfortunate officer against who:n they bad been
levelled. Mr. Warren's mode of dealing with this
part of the subject has struck us most forcibly,
evincing, as it does, a perfect mastery of the facts
of the case, and of the principles of legal logic appli-
cable to them. We happen, ourselves, to have seen
our opinion on this part of the case confirmed by
a legal authority of no mean eminence. The last
part of the letter is devoted to a statement of the
mode in which the proceedings were dealt with at the
Horse Guards, subsequently to the making up of the
Court-Martial, including the abortive "Memorial" of
Captain Douglas; and Mr. Warren then takes occa-
sion to point o'it very vividly the crazy and unsound
structure of our present military legal system, as
evidenced by these proceedings ; and without stopping
here he proceeds to point out what he considers the
proper mode of remedying the evil ; and, returning
to the case of Captain Douglas, concludes by one of
the most dignified and affecting appeals to her Ma-
jesty that ever was offered on the part of a British
officer to his Sovereign—asking not for mercy, but
"justice ;" and that justice we entertain no earthly
doubt that her Majesty will command to be
promptly administered. From a paragraph in this
last part (page 252) we learn distinctly that
Lord Brougham has had these proceedings brought
under his considoration. " His Lordship has recently
publicly recorded his opinion that the proceedings of
Martial Tribunals require a reformation " (we pre-
sume in his letter to Sir J. Graham on law reform,
&c.), " and I believe myself justified," says Mr.
Warren, " in stating that his Lordship was induced
to make this important declaration by reason of the
present proceedings."
Having thus laid before our readers an outline of
this manifesto—for such it is—we shall content our-
selves this week with simply alluding to the two most
prominent features of it. We allude, first, to a
startling episode, in the form of two inquests at Al-
derney and Guernsey, held on the wife and child of one
Patrick Riley, a private of the 16th Regiment, whose
deaths occurred under circumstances of painful and
extraordinary mystery, immediately after the issuing
of an order, to which Colonel Le Mesurier and Ge

neral Bcll were parties. It is evident that Mr. War-
ren deals with this part of the case with great caution
and with the air of a writer conscious that his readers

will draw their own inferences freely from the
premises which he presents to them. That we
have done, but at present shall say no more than that,
if Mr. Warren's facts are correct, and we
assume that they are, a heavy responsibility
attaches to several parties in respect of those facts.
The mode in which he connects them with the pro-
ceedings of the Court-Martial is, that they decisively
operated on the mind of Captain Douglas while he
was pprsuing a line of conduct which the Court was
inqUiring into, in order to discover and decide whe-
ther that conduct irrin criminal or not. That such
connexion is made out, and very closely, in the letter
befdre us, is, to our mind.,• perfectly clear ; and we
cannot conceive how the Court should have prohibited
Captain Douglas from inquiring into facts so de-
cisively bearing on the points into which it had been
ordered to inquire. To this subject we shall again
return. The other feature of the letter is one that
fills us with unfeigned concern and surprise, to use the
mildest terms which occur to us. We allude to the
fact that one answer, which appears to us of capital
importance, by the only witness called to estab-
lish the charge of falsehood, nowhere appears
on the report of the proceedings to the Horse Guards,
who have, consequently, based their judgment on a
defective record. Mr. -Warren pointedly asks—What
if, under these circumstances, the sentence had been
death! and it had been carried into effect, and the
discovery not made until three months after Captain
Douglas had been shot ? That the answer in question
was given in point of fact is clearly established, and
nothing can be more unfortunate than this error on
the part of him whose duty it was to record the
answer in question. Toat the omission was purely
accidental Mr. Warren expressly states—and, indeed,

no on• can for a moment doubt the fact ;1 but the

question remains, what effect may this omission have
had on the fate of Captain Douglas ? Altogether this

remarkable letter contains abundant matter for serious

reflections to all who are interested.

As for Mr. Warren himself, who, from the purest
and most disinterested motives, has volunteered the

championship of a deeply injured soldier, and brought
under the notice of the highest authorities in the
realm the ricketty state of the Military code, we do
think that he has established the strongest imaginable
claim to the sympathy, admiration, and cordial sup-
i•ort of every British officer. It is something new to
see a civil lawyer, so distinguished by his writings,
and for every hour of whose time there must always
be profitable employment, stepping aside to lend to
innocence a gratuitous and spirited advocacy. We
thank the eminent barrister most cordially, in the
name of the Army, for his timely and most valuable
co-operation, and we feel quite satisfied that the ulti-
mate reward of such earnest chainpionship will not
be limited to that satisfaction which every good man
must feel at having performed an honourable and
philanthropic deed.

STATISTICS OP THE JEWS.—An official publication
Informs us that there are hardly more than from
4 000,000 to 5,000,000 Jews in the whole world; whereas
Buddhism numbers 400,000,000 adepts; Brahmisne
200,000,000; Christianity, 230,000,000 to 250,000,000;
Maitornetanism, from 130,000,000 to 150,000,000; and
Fetishism (or pure idolatry), from 80,000,000 to
100,000,000. The 5,000,000 Jews are thus distributed:
—There are some 500,000 in Syria and Asia'ic Turkey;
250,000 in European Turkey; 600,000 in Morocco and
North Africa; 50,000 to 80.000 in Ea. tern Asia; 100,000
in America; and shoat 200,000 in Europe—viz., 13,000
in England; 1,594 in Belgium; 850 in Sweden and Nor-
'% ay ; 6,000 in Denmark; 70.000 in France; 52,000 in
the Low Countries; 1,120,000 in Russia (more than
one-fifth of the entire rage); 631,000 is Austria and its
dependencies; 214,431 in Prussia; 175,000 in tho Ger-
man States; and 4,000 in Italy.
1/1E LITERPOOL WATER SUPPLY.—LIVERPOOL,
TUESDAY ETENING.-:-At an est,ly hour this morning the
leading men who take an active part in public matters
hero wore on the alert. The long mooted qUestion of a
supply of water, which has occupied attention hare
during the last two or three years, assumed another
phase in consequence of the matter having been referred
to Mr. Robert Stephenson, the Member for Whitby.
Some few years ago an Act of Parliament was obtained
to procure water from Rivington, a mountainous dia-
-1 trict in the east of Lancashire. This Act has been the
cause of endless heartburnings, and so strongly repug-
nant is it to the feelings of the inhabitants, that almost
every supporter of the project who filled an honourary
office has been dismissed, and his place occupied by an
advocate of an increased local supply. Notice has
been given to have the Act repealed during the en-
suing session, but bef 're going to Parliament it was
deemed prudent by both the opposing parties to submit
the whole question to Mr. Stephenson, whose award will
probably secure the repeal of tho obnoxious Act, if his
views be in that direction, or prevent its repeal if he be
of opinion that the district around Liverpool does not,
or cannot, provi•le a sufficient permanent supply. The
court of inquiry, which was held in the Session House,
was opened about eleven o'clock, when Mr. Stephenson
took his scat, and in a brief address statei that e o was
there to hear any evidence that might bo offered by
either ra-ty; that in the meantime borings would be
made in the neighbourhood, and that the question should
receive at his hands the most impartial consideration, as
at present he Lai no decided views either way on the
tubject. After nearly two hours hai been consumed in
speeches and explanations by the gentlemen who are
opposed to cash other on this subject, the court was ad-
journed till this day week, when the question will be
pursued uninterruptedly to the close. Whatever the
result may be, the position of the arbitrator is therc-
verse of enviable, fer his decision is certain to be ob-
noxious to one of the two parties into which the town is
divided. The acrimony which this question has already
created is melancholy.
FLATTERING TESTIMONIAL.....A. splendid service
of silver plate, weighing between 200 nod 300 oz.. and
other articles, have been presented to Cap* a'n G. Babot
by the inhabitants of Jersey, as a testimonial of their
approval of his public conduct during the period of 22
years that he has been employed in the command of
steam-ships trading to and from the port of Southampton
and the Channel Islands. The inscription on the plate,
which is all of British manufacture, is to the fill° eing
effect: —" This salver, together with a tea and coffee
' service of plate, and a gold watch, was presented to Capt.
George Babot by the inhabitants of Jersey, in token of
their high estimation a his nautical ability, his unre-
mitting zeal in the discharge of his duties, and his un-
varying attention to the comforts c f his passengers and
the interests of the public while in command of the
steamers Ariadne, Atalanta, and Dispatch, A,D. 1849."
The several us t'cles presented to Cal t tin Babot on this
occa'ion comprised a superb silver plateau, a tea and
coffee service complete, and also a gold e a'ch with cable
chain and key, the produce of a subscription tea le by
the inhabitants of Jersey; a smaller plat :au contributed
by Southampton; and a telescope by the inhabitants of
Guernsey; and were presented to him in the Chamber
f Commerce at Jersey, in the presence c f the most re-
spectable inhabitants, in a highly flattering manner.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—Dropsy cured by Holloway's
Pills.—Extract of a letter from Mr. Patrick O'Regsn, dated
Drundeer,Dec. 26, 1849. " To Professor Holloway. Sir,—
For fifteen years I suffered severely from dropsy, and frequently
so bad that I could not move, and for weeks together I was
unable to lie down. I have been tapped five times, and under
the treatment of various medical men, without obtaining any
permanent relief. Seeing in one of the Dublin papers the
wonderful cure of Mr. Robinson, of Wootton, determined
in giving your Pills a trial, and it is with gratitude that I in-
form you that your admirable medicine has completely cured
me also. Sold bi all Druggists and at Professor fleCevray'a
Establishment, 2 4, Strand, London! .
1

DEPUTATION to LORD JOHN RUSSELL
ON THE TEA D U7'IES.
Yesterday, at 1 o'clock, Sir Thomas Birch and
Mr. Cardwell, Members for Liverpool, accompanied
by the following gentlemen—Messrs. 'William Rath-
bone, Christopher Rawson, and Edward Brodribb, on
behalf of the mercantile interests of Liverpool; Mr.
William Law, as representing the magistrates and
the Chamber of Commerce, Edinburgh ; and Mr.
Kinnear, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and
Manufactures of Glasgow, had an interview with
Lord John Russell and the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer at the Treasury, on the subject of the reduc-
tion of the duty on tea.
The deputation having been introduced,
Sir Tuostas BIRCH presented the memorial lately
agreed to at Liverpool, setting forth in outline the
more prominent arguments in favour of the diminu-
tion of an impost obnoxious to the moral sense and
commercial requirements of the community.
Mr. CARDWELL, M P., then recapitulated the sub-
stance of the previous interview, two years since,
succinctly meeting the objections urged against his
statement of the case in the House of Commons. The
trade with Chins, which in 1827 amounted only to
610,0001. exports, now exceeded a larger amount
than that which it attained in 1845, viz., 2,400,0001.
Small as this amount appeared for the consumption of
British manufactures by 300,000,000 people, it unfor-
tunately exceeded the amount which the reciprocal re-
lations of the trade enabled it to sustain. Figures
would be read by Mr. Brodribb which would show
the falling off that had taken place since 1845. He
then referred to the opinions of the British Consul
and of Sir J. Davis, quoted in the report of the Select
Committee of •1847, and to the recent letter from the
Chinese Consul, Mr. Alcoek, to the effect that-the
limit to our trade with China was the quantity of tea
we were able to take in repayment. He then referred
to the year 1784, when a reduction in the duty from
66 per cent. to 12k per cent. produced an immediate
increase of consumption in the first year, and in twelve
years nearly fourfold. He adverted to the increased
consumption of tea in recent years, notwithstanding
the high duty, as refuting the answer made by Mr.
Alderman Sidney and other members of the trade,
that we had nearly approached the limits of demand.
Tea seemed to be peculiarly the consumption of the
English race. In the Australian colonies, where
there was no duty, the consumption was 91b. per head,
in the United Kingdom only 111 b. per head per
annum. He then dwelt upon the calculations as re-
garded the revenue, and after saying that other gen-
tlemen would go into the moral and social conditions
which this question raised, Mr. Cardwell concluded
by saying that the more favourable position of the
revenue in the presentlear had induced the deputation
again to bring their case before the consideration of
Government.
Mr. EDWARD BELODRIBB, while admitting that the
tea dealers as a body were not in favour of a reduc-
tion of the duty sought by the deputation, fearing
that it would inevitably increase competition and re-
duce their property, said that was an argument
involving a conviction that the public would derive
more benefit than the mere amount of the duty
reduced, as well as that the consumption would quickly
increase. This argument also would, he hoped, tend
to remove from his Lordship's mind the impression, if
any such existed, that the deputation were actuated
entirely by selfish motives. The commercial part of
the question might be very briefly dealt with. It
appeared by a dispatch from Mr. Consul Alcock, that
the balance of trade against China was 10,000,000
dollars, and that unless this balance could be reduced
the present amount of purely British trade—that is,
of our manufactured goods imported into China—
could not be maintained. The lest article which
would suffer would of course be the opium drug,
and before the balance of trade could adjust itself,
the exclusively British portion of the trade
would, is all probability, be annihilated. 'Without,
therefore, going into the question of how the present
amount of British trade is interfered with in its re-
lation to China, or whether, if it is continued on its
present footing, every shilling's worth of our manu-
factures will not be altogether excluded from that
country, it was very clear that unless the present
balance against China could be reduced, our present
amount of British trade could not be sustained.
That balance could only be reduced by the increase
of our exports from China, which could only be
effected by a reduction of the duty as now sought.
The exports of tea from China within the last two
years had fallen by five millions of the amount ac-
tually taken for home consumption, and by nearly
14 millions of the home consumption and foreign
exports. The estimates for the ensuing year were
that they would fall short about five or seven millions
more. Mr. Brodribb then enlarged on the social and
moral grounds, which, in the opinion of the deputa-
tion, were the strongest upon which a reduction could
be urged.
Mr. Law, as exponent of the feelings prevalent
amongst the magistrates and mercantile interests of
Edinburgh, ably enforced the latter opinions alluded
to by the previous speaker, as to the necessity of the
reduction on account of the poorer classes, especially
those of the agricultural calling.
Mr. KINNEAR at some length urged the same line
of arguments on behalf of the Glasgow interests.
Mr. C. RAWSON next addressed his Lordship, and
followed up his arguments by a tabular statement,
illustrative of the enormous and ruinous reduction of
the exports to China from 1845 as compared with
1848, and which discrepancy, he said, would be still
further apparent when the tables of the trade of 1849
came to be published.
Mr. R kTHIIONE closed the representations of the
deputation, by urging the previous admission of the
Premier, as to the justice and humanity of the appeal
for a diminution of the duty, now that a surplus re-
venue was at the disposal of the Government. He
contended that tea was the only article of f)od no
longer a luxury that was neglected by the Legisla-
ture, and prayed that the deputation might not be
sent away with a refusal ; urging, finally, the pro-
priety of such a boon at such a time, to the moral
regeneration and physical comforts of the masses.
Lord 'Touts RUSSELL, having attentively listened
to the representations of the various members of the
deputation, said that the gentlemen must ho perfectly
well aware that at the present moment Government
could not be expected to give a definite answer on a
question involving so many points of importance. lie
assured them that the subject should receive the best
consideration of himself and of his Right lion. Col-
league the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The members of the deputation thanked his Lord-
ship for the courtesy with which he had received them,
and retired.
We understand that a deputation from Manchester
on the same subject will be favoured with a similar
interview in the course of the next few days.

SINGULAR. ACCIDENT AT TIM lirTne.—A pain-
ful sensation was occasioned in this town on Sunday
morning by the discovery of the body of Mr. Edward
Cole, farmer, of St. Osyth, in the river at the Ilytbe.
It appears that be left the Woolpack Inn, S. Botelph's-
street, shortly btfore 12 o'clock on the previous night,
in his horse and chaise, and from the track of wheels
across the tramway by the side of the bridge, it was
evident the horse, either by guidance or mistake, had
plunged with the chaise into the river, a descent of
about 10 feet. A man named Lillie, in the employ of
Mr. W. Stannard, saw a horse and chaise, about 12
o'clock, proceed at a rapid rate round the corner of the
Swan public-house, near the spot, the driver appearing
to be in a stooping position, as though asleep; and he
hastened to see whether the vehicle got safely over the
bridge, which he concluded was the case, as on arriving
there he saw nothing of it; but unfortunately the man
is very deaf, or he must have heard the horse plunging,
and might have been in time to rescue the deceased
from a watery grave. The horse, which had been re-
leased from the gig by the fall, was found in a most ex-
hausted state shortly after the discovery of the body;
the cushions, also, which had been floated away by the
tide, were picked up in the course ( f the day, together
with a boa belonging to Miss Cole, who came to Col-
chester with the deceased, but had returned home early
in the evening with another person. An inquest was
subsequently held on the body of the deceased, when
evidence confirmatory of the above statement having
been iven, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental
death.'—Essex Standard.

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.—The Marquis of Clan-
ricarde arrived in town y esterday from Ireland. The
Marchioness and Lady Emily De Burgh have also come
to town fr,,m visiting the Duke and Duchess of Nor
at Arundel Castle. Viscount and Viscountess
ay from Palmer-
stonßread-
arrived in Carlton-gardens y
lands, near Romsoy, Hants. .Mii t) arrived
season. The Right
for the
ha to
uh si es , near
mansionHawiinchE, aN.o.BiTuTarhee.ylee3ssatL°relrrddonfy from, Min. to-
is e also
ere came to town yesterdayfcrl from
Hon. lenry Labouvvehi
Stoke-park, near
Lordship's seat in y„kshirffet.ethrnerrochon_sosucilfnuircaaoirmrle)-
ndsor. e sr e ar
arrived in London yesterday evening from Castle
Howard, his
aqruiiisvoedf L 4
aa n
rs,daon Ws
an: (thew h e
.h
oLords yPersetseirddeanyt on
Bowood-park, Wilts. The Right Hon Sir John Cam
Hobhouse arrived at his mansion in Berkeley
yesterday afternoon from Erlestoke park, Wilts. All
the other members of the Cabinet had previously arrived
is the metropolis.
We are enabled to announce that a meeting of the
Protectionist Members of Parliament will assemble at
Lord Stanley's residence, in St. James's-square, at
twelve o'eldck on the 31st inst., the day on which Par-
liament is summoned to meet, when eh, proprietyof
moving an amendment to the Addreea will be ttikea into
conoidentioo.—herald.