The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-09 00:00:00

EXTRAMURAL INTERMENTS BILL.

Order for Second Reading read ; Motion made and Question
proposed, " That the Bill tr.t now read a second time:"—
Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and at
the end of the Question to add the words " upon this day
sis montim :" Question put, " That the word now' stand
part of the Question." The House divided :
MINORITY—AYES, 4.
Bair, Stephen O'Connor, Feargus TELLIES.
M`Naghten, Slr.E. Stanford, J. F. Lacy, 11. C.
SiducT, Alderni an

MAJORITY-NOES, 17.3.

COURT CIRCULAR.

The following bulletin of her Majesty's health was
issued yesterday
. " Buckingham Palace, May 8, Nine A.M.
" The Queen and the Infant Prince continue well.
" JAMES CLARK, M.D.
" CHARLES LOCOCH, M.D.
" ROBERT FERGUSON, M.D." !'
Her Majesty's recovery is so far advanced that no
more bulletins will he issued.
Her Royal Highneli the Duchess of Kent visited
her Majesty yesterday at Buckingham Pelace. '
The nobility and gentry called yesterday at Buck-
ingham Palace to read the bulletin.
His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe
Weimar visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Kent yesterday, at Clarence House, St. James's.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, accom-
panied by his Serene Highness the Prince of Leinin-
gen, honoured the performance of the French Plays
with her presence last evening. Her Royal Highness
was attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson and Sir
George Couper.
Lord John Russell has issued invitations for a full-
dress dinner, in celebration of her Majesty's birth-
on Wednesday next, the 15th inst., at his resi-
dence in Chesham-place.
A deputation, ou the subject of the navigation of
the Master of
the river Bann, had an interview with the Chancellor
of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence
in Downing-street. The deputation consisted of Sir
ER.obee.rtWFoe
tßhaerta,ioMtb.wPo. Captain. Jones, 'M.P:;
Mr. Thomas Bateson, M.P.; Sir William Vernon,
Workman
aeon
, BMaarctr.i,a3l tpe.n;, Bart., M.P., . Sir
TlCeArier. Mr. Charles J. Knox,
Mr. J. C. Galt; Mr. H. B. Mackay, Mr. IL Belles,
and Mr. John Gwynne.
Mr. Henry G. Gordon, Chairman of tie Oriental
Bank, had an interview with Larl Grey yesterday4at
the Colonial-office. •
The Building Committee of the Royal Commission
for the Exhibition of 1851, consisting of Mr. Cuhitt,
Mr. Barry, Mr. R. Stephenson, Mr. C. R. Cockerell,
Mr. Brunel, and Mr. Donaldson, met yesterday in
the new Palace of Westminster. Mr. Scott Russell,
Secretary of the Royal Commission attended. ' Mr.
Company; M.P.'
M. Digby Wyat was also present. . .
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had
a committee meeting yesterday.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colo-
nial-office from the Governors of Malta and Gibraltar.

a special meeting of the
crew of the Infante, who
c,lriliidld for the purpose of consi-
dering -. . ..... ~..„
committee
ttt
LIVERPOOL SHIPWRECK AND IIUMAINE SOCIETY,_
We understand that on Saturday'.
he fie oc
case
steh
ofis st ohcei ect4
tNavians
so nobly rescued 169 persons from the wreck of the Cushla
Machree. Captain. Purdy appeared before the committee
at their request, at:comp:Ned by the captain of the Cushla
Machree, and from their unittd testimony it appeared that
Captain Purdy had acted in a most meritorious and judi-
cious manner. The committee, therefore, voted him a silver
medal of the first class and 30/. in money; and also awarded
51. to the mate and a/. to the boatswain. the officers in com-
mand of the Infanta's boats. and 121. for distribution among
the rest of the crew. The committee, we understand, regret
to confirm the reports which have appeared relative to the
unfeeling conduct of three vessels passing the Cushla
Machree whilst in her helpless condition, without offering
rescue. One of the three was. the brig Jessie, of Liverpool.
—Liverpool Albion.

TIMES.—The English are a strangely apathetic peo-
ple. here we are in the midst of dangers more serious
than the alarm of a French, or a Dutch, or a Danish in-
vasion, and there is no getting any one to stir. It is not
merely Government that is threatened, but our very ex-
istence as am industrious, mercantile, and solvent com-
munity. First, the Exchequer is menaced to its utter-
most farthing. Disraeli and his colleagues have devoted.
a third of our taxes to destruction. So rife is the spirit
of mischief, that almost anybody may propose to the
House of Commons the abolition of a profitable tax, and
be surprised with a majority. In the North, Ferrand
his proclaimed a crusade against cotton, and at this mo-
ment the fate of millions, a third of our exports, and no
slight proportion of our customs, depends, if we believe
him, on his inexorable fiat. The incipient rebellion has
now retired its head in the heart of the metropolis. On
Tuesday seconvention of the British peerage and yeo-
manry mutually pledged themselves to force upon Par-
liament the restoration of the corn-laws. Possessing, as
they boast,nine-tenths of the horses in this country; being
able, at their discretion, to drive the labourers into re-
volt; and being also, as they intimated, more muscular
than the townspeople, they announced their intention of
resorting to force, if necessary, and adopting the most
terrible steps that a sense of their wrongs could sug-
gest. By way of breaking ground, it was unanimously
resolved to resist taxes and tithes without more ado. It
ever there was a crisis, surely this is one. The Pre-
tender at Derby, the flotilla at Boulogne, the mutiny at
the Nore, were dangers comparatively local, external, or
distant. But in the present instance we are surrounded,
besot, end possessed by resolute men, who announce the
most atrocious design's, and are capable of the most
effective execution. Yet, strange to say, such is the
apathy, perversity, and stupidity of the British people,
that no stranger would imagine them so much as con-
scious of any danger. They walk on a volcano, and
know it not. Consols are obstinate at 95i, though
threatened with the reduction of the dividend. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer is obliged to confine de-
posits in the savings-banks to 100/., and to reduce
the interest as well. There is no military prepara-
tion. In Paris, if a drunken man singis the "Mar-
seillaise" after ten o'clock, or the President is lam-
pooned in a Socialist journal, a hundred thousand men
have to sleep under arms. Here not a drummer, not
a sentinel, has been added to the force. Nobody
expects to get off paying his taxes, except by Act of
Parliament. Though cotton is banned the country, the
wool-market is inanimate at February's prices. In fact,
there is no alteration whatever, any more than if these
terrible demonstrations had taken place at Berlin, or
Madagascar, or the planet Jupiter, instead of the Crown
and Anchor Tavern. Now, how is this? An English-
man, though generally cool, and constitutionally brave,
is not absolutely impenetrable to danger. On the con-
trary, he is exceedingly cautious and self-defensive. So
there must be some reason why, in the present instance,
he is really conscious of no danger at all, though it is
continually dinned into his ears that he is in very great
danger. There are two reasons for the fact—more than
two, perhaps, but two reasons so sufficient that we need
not ask for more. These reasons are, first, that the
noblemen, gentlemen, and tenant farmers who are kick-
ing up this rote are really not in earnest, and know that
what they are saying is all mere moonshine; secondly,
that if they were ever so much in earnest, they do not
pusses ono respecteble adherent among the working
classes—not one labourer or artizsn, of any sort or kind,
in the whole country. From John O'Groat's House to
the Land's-end they cannot produce one ploughman or
shepherd, one miner or collier, one weaver or spinner,
one artificer out of a neith whoer, so will stir a finger fur
them, unless it be some good•for-nothing fellotv. paid by
the day to carry a placard, attend meetings, and swill
beer in their behal'. There is an impassable gulf t.e
tween them and the working classes. In tie cause of
crd.r and the operations of industry landowners and
nirmers are omnipotent with their labourers; but it is
far otherwise in times of disorder, and in the equal
arena of political discussion. Our agricultural labourers
know very well that they cannot exist without great
Lowest that those great towns cannot exist without our
foreign trade, and that our foreign trade is maintained
Lim manufactures. Notwithstanding, therefore, some
odd bite of Socialism here teed there, in one form or
another, the principle of free trade is dominant and
sacred iu the heart of British industry; and the labour-
ing population of this country is almost as one man
against the so-called protection. The rage of a wild
beast in a cage is more amusing than dreadful. If you
s; e a mad bull on the other side of a river you do not
quicken your pace, lout stop to observe his futile de-
monstrations. Now, the British public tae the insur-
mountable barrier between coroneted Protection and
hob-nailed Industry. They see the Duke of Rich-
mond and his confederates cannot get at the people.
Why, what will they do? Take them at their own
worth. The illustrious Jolah, the Nottinghamshire
Goliath, threatened on Tuesday that the tenant-farmers
would soon turn off their labourers, and drive them into
combination and revolt, while they would themselves
mount their horses, not, however, to suppress the riot,
but tJ force protection on the Legislature. Suppose the
labourers out of work, and the farmers on horseback—
what then? That is the question. The labourers would
not march a2ainst the towns. They know better than
to do so. They would only be injuring their best
friends, and would get• well thrashed into the bargain,
for a town can always defend itself against the country.
No. They would do what they always have done under
similar circumstances. They would destroy thrashing
machines, drill machines, and other implements for the
economising of labour; and they would finish the day
with setting fire to a few ricks and homestead,. Where
would Captain Jolah and his troop of Protectionist
yeomanry be all this time? Riding about for an
appetite in search of au enemy. lit fact, they could
do nothing. They know it. Whet, then, becomes
of the stuff they talk? At the Tuesday's meeting Mr.
11. Higgins, of Hereford, in seconding a resolution put
into his hands by the Duke t f Richmond, said, "I call
on the Government, and I tell them to redress our
wrongs; and unless they do to we are prepared to ex-
ercise the strength we still retain in our arms.—(Loud
cheers.) If they won't be led by argument and by ra-
tional means—if they won't listen to the voice c f reason,
and to facts and figures which show the impossibility of
farmers continuing under this system—if they won't
alter their system by moral force—then we will fight for
it." This invitation to arms was accepted, wo are told,
with tremendous applause, the whole meeting standing
up and cheering vigorously. Let them not try the ex-
periment. The very first people they will have to fight
will be their own labourers;—their own plouglireete and
carters, and thrashers; and they will have to tight for
their own houses and farmyards. When they have
beaten their own servants, and secured their own houses,
it will then be time for them to decide whether they will
march upon Manchester or the metropolis, and whether
they will exterminate cotton spinners, or simply reduce
them to bondage. So long as that is all the chance they
have of restoring the corn-laws, we can afford to laugh
at them, and the public at large to take no tie tice what-
ever of their vagaries.
CHRONICLE.—The division on the second reading
of Mr. Fitzroy's County Court Extension Bill, carried
by the common sense of the country, in defiance of pro-
fessional prejudice, is a pretty clear proof that the public
ate resolved henceforth to judge and act for themselves
on questions of law reform. In future, it will Le worse
than useless for the judicial phalanx, headed by the At-
torney -General, to warn them off the hallowed precincts
of technicality, or for that distinguished law officer to
exclaim, sybil-like, procul, o procul este prvrani.
The unlearned crowd will, despite of him, rush
in; they will invade the innermost recesses of
the sacred grove; and it is just possible
that they may in time be emboldened to
approach the venerated mystery of Costs. What a host
of meanings is comprised in that monosyllabic term.
Costs are the mainspring of our judicial system, the in-
spiration of our lawyers, the pivot of our law. The bare
sound evokes a long train of mournful images; and we
are rather surprised that Dante forgot to assign a con-
spicuous place in his "Inferno" to an unsuccessful suitor
looking at the sum total of his attorney's bill. Whether,
however, the victim poetically condemned to this de-
scription of penance had bcoa successful or unsuccessful
in his suit, might well remain a bone of contention for the
commentators. No definite conclusion could be drawn
from his occupation or his despair—for the obvious reason
that a litigant might easily be ruined by the prosperous
prosecution of a single cow se of proceedings, and would
have no occasion to exclaim with Pyrrhus, " Another
such victory, and lam undone," The monstrous injus-
tice to which we are snxious to direct attention is_
brought about in two ways—by awarding insufficient
costs, or by giving no costs at all. The taxed costs (as
they are called) to which a successful party is entitled,
are notoriously inadequate to defray his actual expenses,
on the most moderate scale? They do not even cover
the fees he cannot avoid paying. The distinction between
"taxed costs" and "costs as between attorney and client,"
so familiar to the profession, speaks volumes; and the es-
tablished mode of calculating &Allele or treble ,oats (occa-
sionally given by statute) affords a curious illustration of the
absurd notions which prevail en this subject. "'The
true mode," saes Mr. Archbold, "of estimating the
amount of the double costa is, first, to allow the pi evad-
ing party the single costs, including the expenses of Hit-
usages, counsel's fees, &c., and then allow him one half
of the amount of the single costs. Treble costs ccnsiet
of the single costs, half of the single costs, and half of
that half.' Fine by degrees and beautifully less. This
true mode cf carrying out the intentions of the L. Orde-
rer° reduces double to one-and a-half. and treble to
one-and-three-quarters! The courts of ; quity have
pushed the pracnce of exempting wrong-doers from
costs to a highly mischievous extent. Let a trustee, for
example, act as perversely or negligently as l e well can,
providt d he is not guilty of downright corruption or dis-
honesty, the entire costs of the vexatious proceedings
ho may have originated or prolonged will to saddled
upon the trust property. The courts of cones in law
maeifset the same reluctance to apply the only
rive cheek on litigiousness. We need rot go further
for an inetance than to our own law report on Tuesday
lass. It will ihele be seen that the rule obthitied bj
the Attorney-Genera!, on behalf of the Else tee) Tele
oaph Company, for a criminal information neeeins
Me ,srs. Willnier and Smith, was dismissed without
caliing on Mr. Peacock, the second counsel for the de,
rendants—a pretty strong intimation cf opinion as to

PRINTERS' PENSION SOCIETY.

The anniversary festival of this valuable society,
which has for its object the relief of aged and infirm
printers and their widows, was yesterday held at the
London Tavern ; Mr. Frederick Peel, I\LP., in the
chair.

The cloth having been removed, after an excellent
dinner," The Queen," " Prince Albert, Albert Prince
of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family," were the
toasts firstdisposed of, the Chairman introducing them
most appropriately. Next came " The Stationers'
Company," in proposing which Mr. Peel stated that
the company had, from the first establishment of the
institution over whose anniversary he presided, been
amongst its most liberal supporters.
To this toast Mr. W. RIVINGTON responded.
The CHAIRMAN then said—Gentlemen, I um now
about to propose to you the continued and the in-
creased prosperity of that society in which we all
take so great an interest. Its object, indeed, is one
which can hardly fail of commanding the sympathy
and support of every one present in this room. It
concerns the welfare of a class of men engaged in the
mechanical labours of an art which is, perhaps, the
noblest that has ever yet been invented.—(Cheers.)
And certainly, if those who contribute to the happi-
ness and the pleasure of existence are entitled to tae
sympathy and support of their fellow-men, then do I
know no class which can prefer a more valid claim on
that respect than the body of pressmen and composi-
tors. There is scarcely any member of the commu-
nity who is not under an obligation to remember the
journeyman printers. The journeyman printer is in-
strumentally the immediate agent in forming the mind
of every man amongst us ; for who is there, I would
ask, who would be content to live upon the resources
of his own intellect—who does not desire to think the
thoughts and profit by.the observations of other men ?
Who is there that does not desire to strengthen and
sharpen his own faculties by imbibing the knowledge
and the reflections of the learned, and by the study of
those great works of genius which have been the pro-
duction of a few enlightened minds ? And, gentle-
men, but for printing, but for the labour of the jour-
neyman printer, these great works would have been
accessible only to the few. To them, the journeyman
printers, we owe the merit of having brought the
1 works of genius within the reach of every man
who desires to possess himself of them. And
if this is the case with members of the community
at large, how much more to the authors of
our land ? The noble art of printing, the artisans
of which are the objects of this charity, is, of all
others, most calculated to promote the improvement
and civilization of the world, and it is impossible to
forget the obligations which the people of this country
owe to the press. ..10 a body its members have ever
been the advocates of the free liberty of printing, and
have ever contended—successfully contended—for
the unrestricted communications of the feelings and
opinions of the people. But the consideration which,
of all others, makes me take an unaffected interest in
the prosperity of this society is the knowledge of the
fact that it gives relief to those whom age and
infirmity have rendered incapable of active em-
ployment. It does not, perhaps, give a pension
enough to render exertion altogether unnecessary,
but one at least sufficient to relieve a poor man of
that anxiety which he must feel in the decline of life
at the decay of his physical pos?ers.—(Loud cheers.)
I had intended at first to have mentioned some of
the hardships and vicissitudes of the life of the printer ;
but when I recollect the company I am addressing,
and my own want of acquaintance with the practical
working of his art, I am constrained to forbear detail-
ing facts with which every man in this room is better
acquainted than myself. But when I reflect that theirs
is an employment which wears out its workmen sooner
than any other—that this is the occasion which consti-
tutes the main source of income of this society, esta-
blished for their benefit, I have no doubt that this
appeel will meet with the response it has experienced
in preceding anniversaries, and enable the society
not only to maintain but to extend and to
enlarge the circle of its benefits. From the infor-
mation which I have received, I am given to under-
stand that I am not over-stating the number of prin-
ters, pressmen, compositors, and their apprentices, in
London,: when I place them at so high a figure as be-
tween 5,000 and 6,000. Now the number of pen-
sioners here does not exceed fifty—(Hear, hear)—and
I wish not only to see the number of pensioners in-
creased, but also the value of their pensions mug-
mented.—(Hear, hear.) These results, however,
must depend on your own exertions.—(Cheers.) To
them alone the society can look for an enlargement
of the basis, a widening and extension of the opera-
tions of the charity. And, for myself, I hope that
these results will speedily be realised, and ask of you
therefore to drink with mc, " The Printers' Pension
Society, and increased prosperity to it."—(Cheers.)
Mr. Alderman Sanomoas next rose and said that
he had been dining at another charity up stairs, but
could not resist the impulse to come downon ando
be
ranged among the supportors of the i urable
Gentleman in the chair.—(Hear.)
• irman s) excellent
good fortune to hear his (the Chairman's) He had had the
individuals ro-
long to see many
address and he must say that he. who had lived suffi-
ciently
he
foundsuch
never more rejoiced than whenf!
the day—(Cheers)—
of the prosperity of thelllrrioituiess of London, was
mingling in
anxious fur fthorean politicalo reputation, who
ot the coaurnegomf
etnl, the
pinugtattiloient;olei
by mingling
interests of
tphraotmroet
huge bodies of the people.—(Cheers.) Arid, in that
socialehose charities,iirs t to fo
found
dd
light it was a satisfaction to find an individual, of the
honoured name of Peel—the son of &statesman that had
dcne so much for his country—(Cheers)—so anxious to
show to all classes of the people his desire to promote
a useful and charitable institution. The Honour-
able Gentleman in the chair had already entered upon
his career in Parliament with no mean success, and
having established his reputation there, desired to
mingle with the various clams of the people, to un-
derstand their sympathies, and to know their wishes.—
' (Hear, hear.) The Hon. Gentleman must know
much was expected from him. His grandfather, who
was a great merchant, and, in that sense, a great pa-
triot, and his father, who was a great statesman,
made such expectations natural; but, for himself, he
thought their Chairman had shown himself a man of
talent, had exhibited the zeal of a chairman, and,
therefore, for his own merits, he proposed health,
happiness, and all honour to the Chairman, who bad
that day honoured them with his preEence.—(Cheers.)
The :CHAIRMAN, responding, briefly regretted his
inability better to perform the duties of his officel
and, in conclusion, proposed " The Governors and
Directors of the Bunk of England," who had that
night contributed fifty guineas towards the' charity
.0m
This toast having been drunk,
Mr.
Tuninone
m eN
proposed "The Authors of Great Britisiani,:,
enti
who, ing the name of the Rev. Erskine
reply. atter acknowledging the' compliment, elo-
quently pleaded the cause of tbe
whose welfare the gentlemen present were naturally'
Interested.
ro p
chairman, in a most, osed by Mr. PEEL, the
" The Press" was then
eloquentP address, reviewing its
progress from the
ben it led to a reformation in
days
when it
exercised t salutary
Its
religion to the present,
influence over politics.
The Rev. E.
NEALEi
proposed immediately after,

Mr. C. Pearson, M.P., examined by Mr. WYLD•-•
Ile believed that the large body of gas consumers in
the City might have, at 4s. per 1,000 cubic feet, and
even at less than that, gas superior to that for which
they, now paid 6s. per 1,000 feet, after paying to the
manufacturer an ample profit. It was on this prin-
cipal that the Great Central Gas Consumers' Com-
pany was started. About fifteen years ago the price
of gas per 1,000 cubic feet in the City was 155., but
since then, owing to the pressure of competition and
public opinion, it had been gradually reduced to 7s.
and 65., and it was now proposed to fix it at 4s. His
view of the matter was that after paying a dividend
of 10 per cent., to be derived from supplying at 4s.
per 1,000 cubic feet, the surplus should be applied
beneficially for the public in a further reduction of
price, or, as at Manchester, in some general public
improvement. Had the old City companies reduced
their price permanently to 45., and consented to
come under reasonable regulations, he should never
have desired to see them disturbed in their monopoly,
provided the public could have been secured for all
time in a fair price for gas. On the withdrawal of
the Bill last session about 20 or 30 persons out of
500 retired, the persons so retiring holding between
200 and 300 shares, and Mr. Croll, the engineer, paid
the entire expense of going to Parliament, amounting
to between 3,0001. and 4,000/. About 6,400 gas
consumers had contracted to take gas from the com-
pany on their proposed terms of a maximum of 49.
for five years, with a reduction to 3s. 6d. end 35.,
when increased consumption would admit. The com-
pany having obtained sufficient capital to warrant
them in commencing their works, obtained the con-
sent of the Commissioners of Sewers to lay down
their pipes without waiting for an Act of Parliament,
and since the last session the old companies had re-
duced their prices to ss. and 45., and implied their
willingness to be subjected to the same obligations as
those proposed to be imposed upon the Consumers'
Company. Knew of no impediment to the progress
of the company beyond the question of legal liability,
and the natural hesitation that in these days there was
to embark in undertakings where the liability was not
settled by Act of Parliament. The company's con-
tract with Mr. Croll was for 5,7, or 14 years, the
gas to be delivered at ls. 4id. into the company's
gas-holders, Mr. Croll to supply the labour and
materials, and keep the works in repair, and to have
the benefit of all the residual produce.
Cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT, Q C., and Mr.
WARREN—The company . had made calls on 9,164
shares. The amount of the first call paid was 8,3671.,
and the second 13,5051., with some outstanding ; and
on the third call, which was payable from the 16th of
April to the 28th of May, there would be 10,426/.
paid ; and some of the directors and others had been
paid
intitcbiperaetiohnadobfeen futurereci
calls,eved 576
shares. 34,0001.
The contractors had been paid 5,0001.; for laud at
d Altogetherfullinn
Bow, &c., 5,0001. or 6,0001.; and Parliamentary ex-
penses, 4,000/• / • and there was 13,000/. in hands at
the bankers'. The Parliatnen tary subscription deed
showed 15,000 shares, in which 7,000 taken condi-
tionally found a place.
The Hon. CHAlRMAN—Supposing, Mr. Pearson,
the City well supplied,with gas, and that the profit did
not exceed 10 per cent., do you think there is room
for a new company to come in ?
Mr. Pearson—Supposing they were on the best
terms, and looking at the question singly or simply, I
should not think there was. Would not recommend
any one to embark if there were no expectation of
getting more than 5 per cent profit, but if it were in
an improving neighbourhood, should consider 6 per
cent. a capital profit. Held 50 shares in the com-
pany, which were his qualification as a director. The
scandalous publications of the opposing companies had
affecled the value of the shares, though the general
impression in the City was that the concern was a
highly respectable one. Mr. Croll, who held 1,250
shares, had staked his whole fortune of some 20,0001.
on the issue of this measure. The proposed limits for
lighting had been materially altered in the present
Bill. Understood that the company's gas factory at
Bow was ready for the roo£ They were under con-
tract to supply the consumers by the 29th of Sep-
tember, or were liable to actions from 6,000 people.
Mr. Deputy Harrison, member of the Court of
Sewers, stated that the petition of the inhabitant
householders in the city, praying that the Central Gas
Company might be permitted to lay down their pipes
and mains had been acquiesced in by 30 out of 80
members of the Court. The old companies then re-
duced their prices to 4a., but as it was feared this
would not be permanent, the Central Gas Company
were urged to go on with their Bill this session. Toe
Court of Sewers had granted the permission under
their seal, and could not revoke it.

Mr. Fieling, linendraper, said the recent reduc-
tions in price from 6s. to 4s. stimulated consumption.
The tradesmen burnt more gas, and added lights to the
upper part of their dwellings.
Mr. CORRIE, on the pare of the opponents, raised
an objection to the Bill to the effect that its title was
not in conformity with the objects sought for in the
preamble and proposed provisions.
The CHAIRMAN overruled the objection, and the
Committee adjourned till Friday.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.
TUE MARKLAND SERMON.
CAMBRIDGE, MAY B.—The annual sermon founded by
Mr. Marklaud, ou the subject of " Church lq;xtetThien
over the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Em-
pire," will be preached at St. Mary's Church by the
Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Liandbff on Sunday
morning; next, the 12th inst.
PEMBReKE COLLEGE.
"lorry Goode, M.B. (B.A. 1848), has been electeds
Fellow of this society on the foundation of Bishop Larry
KING'S COLLEGE.
Thomas Lewis Sole), has been elected a Student of
this college.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE.
The annual
gcneral meeting the members of the
Royal Yacht Squadronis fixed fur Friday next, ut the
Thatched House Tavern, when there will be several
candidates ballotted for. Arrangements will then be
made for the regatta of 1850, and the number and value
of the cups to be sailed for settled. We hope that the
ladies will not be forgotten, and that there will be a ball
this year.

NOTES FROM .N INRVEII, AND TRAVELS IN .11E50..
POTAMIA, ASSYRIA, AND SYRIA.—By the Rev. J. P.
Fletcher, Minister of St. Saviour's Church, Haverstock-hill,
2 vols.—The extraordinary discoveries which Mr. Layard
has of late made at Nimroud, have given a special interest
to all information coining from that locality, while the stir-
ring events of which the Eastern parts of the world have
become the scene, give additional importance to any wells
written narrative, which enters fully into a detail of passing
events and circumstances. The present work of the Rev.
Mr. Fletcher will therefore command considerable attention;
fur it communicates not only the incidents of a two-years
a'3_
i residence in the immediate locality of Nineveh, but gives
districts
further account of excursions into the most remote
of Assyria, which are but little known at present. A4leeb
these
n
particular characteristics are detailed i'l most
agreeable
manner, g
manner, under the attractive form of an elegant
com-
bined with a matter-of-fact description whi
truthful, and thoroughly to be depended uclhiosnt.a inap'hserite iass,
therefore, every attraction about it to make it a moat popu-
lar publication, and to render it as useful as it is entertain-
ing.—Messenger.
A very interesting and instruc-
- series, was delivered yesterda at
FORTIFICATION.--
five lecture, first of a
y Mr.jor W. 11. Adams,3 of
the United Service Institutio
inn,
The subject of the
presence of a large cumber
the Royal Military COl!e.ge,
of military and .
''''
orielstific, and was illustrated by
'entitle gentlemen.
and drawings. In the course of
lecture was pennant.
ga unant oflicer explained the system upon
a large number
were originally constructed, and the
his address the ,sas
which fortification
inducedseere‘ibs; the‘ invention of
whichgunpowder,
changesltalian and French engineers.
under the auspices of Thu!
heany ital.
The improvements ss ic were made in the art of fortifi-
cation by the great master of defence, Vauban, were dwelt
upon at some length, and a detail given of' the various
parts of a regular fortification, with the most modern and
efficient modes of attack and defence. Some interesting
anectiotes relative to the sieges of Antwerp, Gibraltar, Pisa,
Badajos. Ciudad Rodrigo, &c., were introduced in the course
of the lecture, and at its close an explanation was given
of the various terms used in fortification, the weight of
metal, calibre, and range of the various sized guns, howits
zers, mortars, and rockets, and the composition and power of
shells, grape and canister shot, and shrapnel shells. The su-
periority of iron over brass guns was pointed out in the fact,
that after eight or ten rounds the latter began to melt at the
muzzle and vent, and were so hot as to be rendered useless,
wl,ile the former during one of the sieges in the Peninsular
war were filed continuously for fifteen hours at the rate of 21
rounds per hour, the only inconvenience being that the vent
was enlarged to the size of the mouth of a drinking glass,
and the gnu consequently required an additional charge of
powder. The lecture was listened to with much interest and
attention, and at its termination the gallant officer was
loudly applauded. 'the subject of permanent fortifications
will be resumed on Wednesday next. and will be followed by
lectures on field works, and attack and defence, &c.