The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-21 00:00:00

3 TUB AID AND PROTECTION TO BE INSURED TO

THE EMIGRANTS ON LANDING.
The anxiety of the sub-committee on this point
has been greatly relieved by the communications
which they have had with the Colonial Land and
Emigration Commissioners, who have most readily
placed at the disposal of the committee the macinery
already established in our colonies for securing to the
new comers the same protection, aid, and guidance
which they are in the habit of affording to parties
who emigrate under their own direction.
On reaching the colonies, the emigrants will be
received by Government officers, who will be in-
structed to give them all the assistance and advice
they may require, as to the rate of wages, the places
where employment may be most readily obtained,
and other similar points. They will also be received
in barracks and rationed for a limited period, should
any delay inevitably occur in securing employment
for them.
Committees of ladies already exist in Sydney and
Melbourne for the purpose of addressing female im
migrants to suitable situations; and it may reasonably
be expected that the interests of the communities of
which they become members will induce the colonial
Legislatures to co-operate actively with the com-
mittee in providing promptly and carefully for the
emigrants consigned to them.

4. THH COST OF THEIR OUTFIT AND PASSAGE.
Assuming that the sojourn of each emigrant in the
probationary-house may average a fortnight, the sub-
committee conceives, from examination of the ac-
counts of similar establishments, that the total
outlay thereby incurred will not exceed Bs. per week
per head.
The cost of passage may be estimated at from 121.
to 141. per head, and the sum of money to be given
to each emigrant on landing by the emigration agent
in the colony should not exceed 10s.
The sub-committee would further suggest, in order
to diminish the expenses and extend the operatiofis of
the committee—

1. That the district committees should ascertain
whether applicants for emigration, or their friends,
have any means of contributing a portion of their
passage-money ; and that in every case in which such
means are found to exist assisted passages only should
be granted.
2. That in every case the emigrant should be re-
quired to furnish her own outfit, as specifieclloy the
committee. In cases where the emigrants, `hale ac-
tually no means of procuring such outfit, the parishes
on which they have a claim for support may reason-
ably be expected to provide it.
It might be also advisable that the committee
should consider whether, at • some future period, it
would not be well to make known throughout the
colonies that assisted passages would be granted by
them to females whose friends, having already emi-
grated, are desirous of sending home for them, but
do not possess the means of defraying the cost un-
aided.

Were the committee to defray one-half of the ex-
pense of their passage, the other half being previously
lodged ' in the h ands
..of the Government agent by
their friends in the colony, all anxiety ;as`to their
future fate would be dispelled, whilst the aid and
protection thus affarded to women desirous of joining
their friends abroad would prove an incalculable
benefit to them and to the communities which they

_
(Prom the Times.)
In the midst of the splendour and abundance of
this country there is so appalling an amount of squalor
and destitution, that the imagination almost recoils
from conjuring up before it the alternate pictures
that would convey a faithful idea of the social condi-
tion of one of our great cities. It would be easy
enough to dwell upon the contrast between the ex-
tremes pf human fortune presented to the eye of the
observer as he passes along the London streets, and
yet how faint are its outward signs, in comparison
with the inward agony ef:,extreme destitution in the
midst of civilization. The presence of the evil and
its enormous amount are well ascertained facts. Not
only is there no dispute thui far, but we are all
agreed as to the necessity of checking the spread of
" pauperism," and administering relief to those who,
whether by circumstances beyond their control, or
more directly by their own faults, have been worsted
in the game cf life. Now, there is no use in
tde-
ceiving
our s as to the effect of individual efforts or
of gusts r 'ng benevolence. It may be easy
enough to minis er, to the necessities of A and B;
but C and D all crouching against the wall a little
further on, their penury as extreme, their abasement
as deep, as that of the persons who may have been
snatched from a fate otherwise inevitable by the
hazard of fortuitous charity. The impulse to give
relief to the afflicted is implanted in us at our birth,
and the attempt to stamp it out of our hearts by a
steady course of syllogisms is but an endeavour to
degrade human nature. But mere almsgiving, how-
ever well intentioned, will never attain any great
permanent end, or produce any general effect worthy
of mention. _ _

The mixture of feelings with which we contem-
plate the humane effort that is in course of opera-
tion in behalf of the distressed .needlewomen may
be gathered from the above brief remarks. That
any considerable number of, young persons ire so
trying a situation should he assisted to emigrate to
our distant colonies, under a proper system of checks
and restraints, in order that the fund be not
perverted to the benefit of undeserving objects,
will no doubt prove of the utmost advantage to
the persons so assisted. That many young women
who would have pined away in wretched garrets at
home with wan cheeks and broken health, and that
others who would have been reserved for a still
worse fate, will in those remote dependencies of the
British empire become happy wives and mothers, we
have no manner of doubt. Those who are disposed
to contribute their " donation," or their " mite " to
the fund for promoting Female Emigration may do
so in a cheerful spirit and with a quiet conscience.
Every shilling so contributed will buy off a full shil-
ling's worth of misery from a class of persons who
have, unfortunately, but too few opportunities of ex-
tricating themselves from the tideway of evil fortune.
A man fairly thrown upon his beam ends may do a
thousand things—but what can a woman do ? She
may go for a governess, or a companion, if she can ob-
tain employment. She may paint fans, or, if she have
a turn for the plastic arts, and the market be not
overstocked, she may try her hand at wax flowers.
Beyond these and two or three other similar resources
a woman is only separated from the union, or from
death in the streets, or from a degradation worse
than 'a thousand deaths, by her needle. The class
of needle-women therefore is necessarily a large one.
The central reservoir of destitution in London is fed
by innumerable rills of poverty from every class of
English society. The shirt one wears may not im-
probably be the result of a long vigil by the daughter
or widow of a member of one of the learned profes-
sions who has been suddenly called away, of a West
Indian merchant or an Irish landlord. -Whoever she
might have been, educated with whatever pains,
reared in whatev4r luxury, that long vigil and weary
task will but entitle the weary workwoman to a few
pence—a pittance scarcely sufficient to procure so
much sustenance as will strengthen her poor fingers
for the discharge of another task of the like nature.
Not only are the ordinary reasons for contributing
to a charity potential in such a case, but where the
object is to relieve the 'distress of women in so help-
less and forlorn a condition as these, we should hope
that the principles of every Christian and the impulses
of every gentleman will be found enlisted on the same
side.

We must, however, at this point, again protest
against the surposition that persons who have con-
tributed to this praise worthy object can be permitted
to salve their consciences over with the supposition
that enough has been done. We have no doubt that ,
before any long time has elapsed the organization of
a continuous system of emigration will be one of the
most useful, as it certainly will be one of the most ra-
tional, developments of the poor-law. A license of
this sort has already been granted to the guardians of
unions, and although it has not as yet been extensively
acted on, there must ere long be an improvement in
this respect. It will occur at last even to parochial
authorities, in place of bandying a " pauper " about
from union to union throughout the country, and
maintaining him as a perennial inmate of some
workhouse or other, that it would be more advan-
tageous to pass him on once for all to a
parish where lie will be able to make his own
way, and will trouble the board no more. The
systemis
newhich
administration, wasillonreecitipiercaulgiarrolay
liable to abuse, unless its working be watched witht
systemno
discretionin its
the most jealous eye. In such a ease as this, how-
ever, we may relieve ourselves with the reflection that
boards of guardians have hitherto steered very clear
of the sin of over prodigality. They are as unwilling
to pay down a round sum to free themselves from a
disagreeable claimant as an indifferent whist player
is to part with his honours. It was in the course of
the investigation of the lamentable affair at the late
Mr. Drouet's, if we remember right, that the calcula-
tion was accurately put forth of the comparative ex-
pense of rearing a pauper child in pauperism or of
dispatching an emigrant out to Australia. There is
but little occasion to add that the balance was found
to be heavily in favour of the emigration scheme. Now,
if we use this result, within reasonable limits, in a con-
sideration of the policy of our present poor. law, we
cannot but foresee that emigration, upon an extensive
and organized scheme, must soon be engrafted upon the
old method of administering the law. If the boards
of guardians will not see the necessity of availing
themselves of so excellent a subsidiary means of keep-
ing down the pauperism of the country and of re-
lieving the tension upon the overstrained rates, we
are not without a remedy. The matter is now ripe
for di-cussion in the Houses, and no doubt the ques-
tion will be entertained with an attention commensu-
rate with its importance.
Having thus earnestly repudiated the idea that any
mere scheme of benevolence, however laudable it itself,
will ever operate in any permanent or efficient way
upon the aggregati distress, even of one class
of sufferer., such as the distressed needlewomen,
we return again with pleasure to the sub-
ject of this charitable scheme. The sub-
committee appointed to establish the conditions
under which the objects of the charity shall become
entitled to its benefits has published a report, which
will be found elsewhere ; most of the restrictions and
rules laid down appear rational enough, some, per-
haps, a lithe arbitrary, but where there is so much
of misery under every category, no doubt any
moderate restriction will not defeat the objects of
the donors to the charity. It may relieve the
minds of those who are still hesitating as to
whether they shall contribute to the fund, to know
than no young woman but such as can give
good guarantees of previous character will be
admitted to a participation in its benefits. The
greatest care will be taken that on the outward
voyage the young emigrants shall not be ex-
posed to any deleterious or contaminating in,.
fluences. Measures have also been concerted
with
,the- Colonial Land and Emigration Commis-
sioners, who have placed at the disposal of the com-
mittee the machinery established in the colonies " for
securing to the new comers the same protection, aid,
and guidance, which they are in the habit of affording
to parties who emigrate under their own direction."
There is to be a Probationary House, capable of AO-
commolating about fifty women, in which they will
be retained for some time previous to their embarca-
Hon, in order that their characters and past lives may
in the meanwhile be subjected to satisfactory tests.
The sub committee, in short, appears to have set
earnestly to work in the task of removing the most
natural and.plausible objections to this benevolent
project. Under Sueh protest as the one we have just
entered, the scheme may be safely recommended to
the generous c )usideration of the public.

join.
This report having been considered, it was pro-
plied and carried,—" That the same be received and
adopted."
• •

loe sttam-ship Ajax, arrived in
F.
the river
ifir°eßms'SsC.Trki, has brought eleven horses, the
produce of lielai2d,.as part of a large general cargo,

~,,.

MR. H. _DEMPSTER AND T lIE
11. E. I. COMPANY.
• TO THE EDITOR OF TILE; SUN.
SIR,—For the honour and credit of nautical science,
so long as I had means of my own, or could be sup-
plied by my relatives and friends, it never once oc-
carred to me to exhibit my nautical improvements,
• (now pretty wt 11 known to the publ!c) fur money,
thinking that some one or other would have picked
me up before getting altogether on the brink of
despair. Latterly, since coming to London (June
16, 1849), I hare been obliged to solicit some help
to assist me on with my experiments. The success I
have met with, my present position and future pros
pects, may he gleaned from what follows :
Oa applying to the 11. E. I. Company, they gave
me 51. Sir Charles Forbes, Bart. gave 121.; Sir
James Duke, Bart.- (then Lord Mayor), 1/. ; Sir
John Pirie, U., James Matheson, Esq., M.P., 1/. ;
A. Anderson, Esq., M.P., 11.; Captain A.
Forbes, 1/.; A. Jardine, Eiq., 11.; Sir Charles
Malcolm, R.N., Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, R.N.,
Captain Hamilton, R N., Lieutenant-Colonel Sykes,
J. P. Muspratt, Esq., J. C. Whiteman, Esq.,
Mason, E q., Herbert, Esq., J. G. S. Lefevre,
Esq., G. R. Porter, Esq., Nayes, Esq., E. Speer,
Esq., T. C. Harrison, Esq , H. and T. Kinnard,
Esqs., Marjoribanks, Esq., Hoare, Esq., D.
Dunbar, Esq., Wigram, Esq., Saunders, Esq.,
Hewitt, Esq., Morgan, El. Bonner, Esq.,
Galbraith, Esq., Pollock, Esq.' CaMeron,
Esq., Martin, Esq., J. Macgregor, Esq., M.P., P.
ienings, Esq., and a, few others individually gave
smaller sums.
The greatest part of amount received in this form
having been expended disseminating information on
my nautical improvements, and finding a difficulty to
increase the number of my patrons, and thinking
that the Hon. East India Company, as a body, might
again come to the rescue, with a distant hope that
they ultimately may feel' inclined to adopt me as
a protege of theirs, as the nautical improvements
originated with me whilst in the Bombay pilot Ser-
vice, I again applied.
All my correspondence for improvements that ever
I gave to the public I always directed copies to the
Hon. East India Company, and were I not certain
that my services have been of much greater value to
the public generally since I left my situation at Bom-
bay than they would have been had I remained in the
pilot service there until this time, which would have
entitled me to a pension, I would not now presume in
the attempt to show that I consider myself to have a
slight claim upon their sympathies.
The following answer to my application for a little
aid to help me through, and my succeeding letter,
will show exactly my present position, and where I
consider any slight claim I can establish rests :
" East India House, January 3, 1850.
" Sir,—With reference to the letters you addressed
to the Court of Directors of the East India Company,
under date the 10th November, 27th December, and
Ist instant, on the declining state of the deep sea
fisheries, the discontinuance of welled smacks hereto-
fore in use in ced-fishing, and the defects in the fish-
ing department, suggesting improvements in the
berthing of the fishing-smacks off Billingsgate-
market, whilst unloading, and praying relief, I am
directed to inform you that the East India Company
have no concern with the cod-fishery or with Bil •
lingsgate-market, and that the Court of Directors de-
cline to grant to you any further pecuniary assist-
ance.—l am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,
"JAMES C. MELYILL.
" Mr. H. Dempster."
Having received the above poser, it caused me to
set my wits to work. The Hon. East India Com-
pany being constantly in my mind was the mainstay
I would have to trust to in the event of being taken
aback. I wrote as follows :
" TO THE HONOURABLE THE DIRECTORS OF THE HON.
EAST INDIA COMPANY.
" Jan. 7, 1850.
" Gentlemen,—Respectfully acknowledging the re-
ceipt of your letter, dated the 3d instant, in answer
to my communications on the subject of the declining
state of the deep sea fisheries, fishing smacks and
Btllingsgate market, &c., together with the decision
the Hon. Court of Directors had come to, declining
to render me any further pecuniary assistance, I
humbly-trust to be excused for giving further trouble
on the same subject. I entirely concur with your
Hon. Board, that as a body the improvements neces-
sary to be made on the cod-fisheries of Great Britain
is not at all a subject likely to be connected with the
duties of your Court, nor did I, when forwarding my
information, expect it was a subject likely to be re-
sponded to as one that commanded your attention.
My chief views were, as it is a subject of general
public utility, and as your llon. Board are, perhaps,
equally (if not better) acquainted with the extent of
my labours far many years back, whilst endeavour-
ing to promote, not only improvements in the 1
fishery department, but general improvements in the I
art of nautical science, my present position and
how circumstanced, &c. I hoped your Honourable
Board might have sympathised a little farther with
toe, until I can get the proper parties fairly inter-
ested in the matter. It is possible your Honourable
Court may be of opinion that I have no legal claim
to solicit assistance from the Honourable East India
Company to promote my objects in view, any more
than I have a claim upon others, and that if the mem-
bers of.every board who must necessarily reap ad-
vantages-from my labours were to act as generously
towards me as your Honourable Court did on a
former occasion, that I might get on very well ; so I
might, if other parties to whom I have applied had
tendered to me a moiety of their patronage ; un-
luckily for me at the present time, however, such has
not been the case. I have laboured hard, trying my
skill at several quarters, but with the exception of
receiving short evasive answers, not at all entering
either into the merits or demerits of the question. I
have received but little ; in fact, my attempts to get
money for my labours have as yet been completely
discomfited. When I call on parties to whom I have
forwarded my information, as soon as my
circumstances and the object of my visit is under-
stood, if I am not politely requested to retire, a broad
enough hint is given that it is high time to go
away.' Unless the sinews of war are supplied no
war can be carried on, any more than considerable im-
provements can be brought forward without the aid
of capital. One way to prevent an invader from en-
tering a territory is by cutting off his means of
transit and supplies if possible, thereby starving the
aggressors into submission. Such are the tactics it
would appear many would employ against me. My
improvements are considered intrusive innovations ;
otherwise how is it, that although they have already
been practically and satisfactorily shown upon a small
scale to be improvements, still there is no one will
adopt them upon a larger scale, so that they may be
rendered of greater advantage to the public ? There
are few persons seen inclined to offer me pecuniary
assistance that I may go on progressing; there are
none who have ever attempted to confute any of my
arguments advanced as improvements, and perhaps
that is the most satisfactory part for consolation.
What are scientific societies constituted for when such
practical instruments as my improved trawling
apparatus, for instance, is allowed to re-
main both unconfuted and unadopted. One
or the other courses should be attended
to by men professors of practical science.
The improved trawl is calculated to become of univer-
sal commercial value, and as such I have stated it to
be. No man should be allowed to palm inventions
upon the public unless they be correct in practice as
well as theory. The great bulk of the public may
be considered as unreflecting. There are many who
give themselves little concern about anything be-
yond their own individual interests. The following
will show that latterly I have experienced a pretty
severe proof of the fact.
" June the 16th, 1849, I arrived in London; was
well clothed, and had a few pounds in my pocket.
With it, and some pecuniary resources I received in a
friendly manner from your Hon. Board and a number
of other gentlemen privately, I speculated with lite-
rary productions. I thought that with written argu-
ments the discriminating public would reward me for
the considerable sacrifices made, and much exertions
employed to promote works of public interest. The
result of my literary speculations up to this date has
been to extract all my funds, gear worn out, and my
property all gone.
" Instead of acting upon the more common method
of publishing my literary productions on sale, I
forwarded them to parties, trusting of course
that their merits would have been appreciated, and I
would have been rewarded accordingly when calling for
an opinion, &c. That experiment, however, has been en-
tirely discouraged. It might do well enough for men
of means to present their information and ideas in
such a form, but not for such as expect remuneration
for their literary efforts. There is scarcely one out of
every fifty called upon who will respond with what
may be termed a patriotic spirit. Nature.' prejudices
are against innovations. Many men have got plans
and hobbies of their own, from which they are de-
sirous to obtain a name. Being disappointed on
calling, it sometimes occurs to ask for the property
sent to be returned—that also is of no use. It cannot
be found ; it was not ordered; why was it sent?
and who cares about it ? are the answers to be ex-
pected if it be asked for. •
"With respect to any claim I may have upon the
Hon. East India Company more than others in the

time of adversity, unless the statement that follows
entitle me to establish a claim, I have no other to
offer. Just now I have no papers to guide me as
to dates ; I will endeavour, however, from recd-
lection, to state as correctly as possible., About
twenty-four years ago my relations obtained for me
a free mariner's indenture for your II m. Company's
territory. After hiving expended a considerable sum
f money for the fees of indenture, outfit, passage
money, and other preliminaries, I arrived at Calcutte.
On my arrival there I found the indenture in my
po,session was not to me worth the value of the paper
it was writ'en upon. It was no recommendation to a
situation, and as there were a number of officers lying
on their oars at Calcutta, waiting for berths that had
been promised them, although they were not inden •
turgid men, plainly showing to me the utter futility
of the indenture at all. Since the openh)g of free
tr,,de, of course it has become altogether useless. It
was some time afterwards I entered the Hon. East
India Company's marine service, with a view of get-
ting on to be a pilot of Bombay Harbour. I ulti-
mately did so. During the year 1834, whilst a pilot
of Bombay Harbour, the idea to build and rig sailing
vessels upon an entirely novel principle originated
with me. All the money I had made in India was spent
there, practically showing the merits of that novel
invention in the first place. The idea having been
considered better adapted for yachts than any other
class of vessels,- and there being but few yachters at
Bombay then, it was considered that England was a
better field for bringing my inventions forward. I
ultimately gave up my situation at Bombay, with the
express object that I might be enabled to make the
inhabitants of Britain's Isle acquainted with my new
nautical improvements. Since coming home, which
is now about eleven years ago, my mind, my time,
and a property left me by my father, at Kinghorn,
have all been expended endeavouring to promote the
object I bad in view when I left my place at Bombay.
Since coming home I have always made it my duty
to se:id copies of my correspondence to the public on
the subject to the address of your Honourable Board.
" Gentlemen, the foregoing statement being all that
I can offer as a claim, together with the efforts I have
made in Scotland and England to promote improve-
ments in the fishery department, I hope they may
be considered sufficient to enable your Honourable
Board to reconsider your last decision, 1 at present
being much in need of pecuniary aid.
Gentlemen, I have the honour to be
" Your most obedient and humble servant,
" H. DEMPSTER.

" 14, Cannon-row, Westminster."
To the above letter lam told no answer can be
given, I must try some other channel to bring for-
ward my inventions. With my improved model
yacht now lying at Shields I can make her perform
twelve manceuvres more than any other built or
rigged sailing-vessel afloat ; one of them being that
she will go over a rock whilst sailing at the rate of
seven knots, where there is one and a half feet less
water than her draught in centre, without sustaining
damage—something like a horse going over a five-
barred gate. But the rock that stands in the channel
of prejudice is not so easily to be got over. On one
occasion, during a very heavy gale of wind, the
model yacht was driven over rocks off North Berwick,
where there was three feet less water than she drew
in centre, and sustained little or no damage. Let
then the press get up a gale in favour of making the
experiment at London, as it was made at Bombay,
Canton, Leith, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Newcastle,
and Shields, and I'll be bound (if all goes well) the
little vessel alluded to (which is twenty feet in length
and six feet beam) will be seen floating and
manoeuvring about on the Serpentine River, Hyde-
park, in the year 1851.—1 am, Sir, &c.,

11. DE.AIPSTER.

NAVAL IN VELLIGENCE.

MALTA, JAN. 12.—The Peninsular and Oriental
Company's steamer Ripon, with the Indian mail, due
to-day, has not made her appearance. The French
steamer from the Levant has arrived, and will proceed
to Marseilles this afternoon.

Yesterday her Majesty's brig Racer, from Athens,
Suda, and Syracuse, came in. Except the receiving
ship, she is the only vessel of war in port.
The Spitfire steamer, with the crew of the Oberon,
has left this place for Leghorn, to relieve the Porcu-
pine, which vessel is hourly expected, and will be dis-
patched to the eastward to Sir W. Parker's squadron.
A melancholy accident has happened to an officer in
the Odin steam-frigate, Lieutenant 11. \V. Dawson,
late of the Thetis. It would seem that he had been
out shooting, and, on returning, had incautiously
placed a loaded gun between his legs, when, accident-
ally touching the trigger, the gun was discharged
and the contents were lodged in the heart of the un-
fortunate young man, who almost immediately ex-
pired. The accident has thrown a deep gloom ov, r
the:ship, for he was a general favourite.
Mr. Winstanley, of the M,Aina, has been invalided
to England fur change of air. lle has been tempo-
rarily relieved in his duties by Mr. Sainthill, a clerk
of the Volage, surveying ship, until a successor to
the Medina shall be appointed.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ward has arrived in Malta, to
relieve Colonel Whitty, in command of the Artillery.
Ile will assume command on the 20th. The corps
was yesterday reviewed by General Ellice, who ex-
pressed his extreme satisfaction at the state of effici-
ency in which he found them. The General in the
evening gave a magnificent ball.

The'irrembers of- the new Council of Government
were sworn in on Tuesday last, at the palace. The
Council was afterwards prorogued till the 15th inst.
The arrival of the Locust steamer from Naples, on
the 9th instant, brought the agreeable information
that the quarantine imposed on arrivals from Malta
had been taken taken off.

P.S. One o'clock, P.M.—The India mail is tele-
grated. The Medina will leave this evening at
eight, r.m.
News has been to-day received from Constantinople
of the death of Mr. Rizo, Greek Minister at the
Porte. The fleet is about to leave Macronissi for
Malta. This may be considered positive, on the
strength of letters to-day received.
PORTSMOUTII, SUNDAY.—The fallowing ships are
reported as ordered for commission :
The Trafalgar, 120 guns, to be commissioned at

Sheerness.
Amphion, 30 guns, 300-horse power, Sheerness.
Albion, 92 guns, Devonport.
Arethusa*, 50 guns, Devonport.
Vulture, first class steam-frigate, 470-horse power,
Devonport.
Aj•ix, screw, GO guns, 450-horse power, Portsmouth.
Fox, under repair, 42 guns, Portsmouth.
• The Terrible steam-frigate, 21, Captain Hope, C. 8.,
left, Spithead this afternoon for. Devonport, whence,
after being paid wages there, she will start, in com-
pany with the Indefatigable, 50, Captain Smart, for
Lisbon, to try the experiment of steamer r. sailer;
the firmer not to use her coals if she has fair wind,
and always to keep a forward course.
Captain W. F. Austen (1846), nephew of Rear-
Admiral C. J. Austen, appointed Commander-in-
Chief of the India and China station,_ is reported to
the Flag Captain to that officer; Lieutenant G. T.
M. Purvis (1841) to be Flag• Lieutenant ; and Mr.
Price, at present in the Hastings, in China, late
secretary to Sir Francis Collier, will be continued as
secretary.

The Phaeton, .50, Captain G. Elliot, when ready
for sea, is ordered to Devonport, to receive advance for
her crew.

The Madeira packet Eclipse passed this port for
London last night, and suit in passengers by a pilot-
boat, who landed at the Quebec Hotel. Her dates
were the 2d inst. The only news of consequence is
the re-imposition of the odious quarantine for five
days, which was operating most prejudicially to the
interests of Madeira.
THE SQUADRON OF EXERCISE IN THE TAGUS.
—The Hogue, 56, Captain Macdougal ; the
Leander, 50, Captain Dacres; the Arrogant-, 46,
Captain Fitzroy ; the Thetis, 40, Captain Codring-
ton ; the Encounter, 14, Captain Gordon ; the Con-
flict, 8, Commander Drake ; and the Scourge steam-
sloop, 6, Commander Lord Frederick IL Kerr, were
off Lisbon on the 19th instant, awaiting the arrivaline
c
of the Commodore (Captain Martin, of theal trial of
P
r
Regent, 92), to proceed on another.
sailing and steaming. The
above
returned from a partialcruise,
in v e
whichsh.P
qualities in sailing
fr
(auxiliary steam-frigate) showed
a
equal to the sailing g ea nde r ships had
Arrogantrd
I recently
screw -Esloopncou on rt
Encounter
corvette)off
the
scr
wind. The Hogue (
toenr
ab ewaitn tdh, ea
nCd h o
o fli c
Conflictt(ialaeot a ew
beat
block-ship) steamed 8i
bde)bythe Arethusa,
knots, and the Selovuhregne mak-
ingsttheaemesdqufaasdtreornthisanauagllt,nentozi
(as
ts knots.
reported speedilyton
frigates Indefatigable, y an
50's, and the Terrible steam-ship, the squadron will
be one of the most powerful and efficient ever at sea,
and will doubtless develop some valuable data for
ship-building, both sailing and steam. The Phaeton
is by White, of Cowes ; the Indefatigable by Edye,
of Dc.vonport dock-yard ; the Arrogant by Fincham,
of Portsmouth-yard ; the Arethusa by Captain Sir
William Symonds ; the Leander, by Blake ; the
Thetis, by the Scholars of the ex School of Naval

Put in commission last night. Captain T. M. C,
SymondE, 1841.

• 7
Whitilks
Aferiectu ; e Terribb; by ',tang; of W
4 4 •
yard ; the Encounter(hy Fin ha` • and-the Coeflid
_ ivy
4,„
V/e
ntohtef,lifaovfy-porffloyciengdtesfigbneetolt.letz,p;t4vl3;.
,
-sa. 7 "4
, , -- - - the naval service._ jr. is Rossihte4hat;-*
_
- - -
*37 --Miatini, jun., buddingisVaviict,cand; -trip a
Ajax, 60, fitting at Portsmout Anizzle ottesaY mod,
join the above squadron, and 14;t7Welits;,Wjth
the rest.
A NEW DESCE.IPTION OF ST' k-V MEL—For
some clays past great excitement has prevailed at
Marseilles by the arrival in that port of an entirely
new description of steamer, and which, if successful,will cause a complete revolution' in the present plans
of
Ipt,hrbtausdilendoimitlgtahrtseetesualitiegns.t.-2esveatFadEplpws.eatisrTablluliecil;so•befyssmeal is" named the
aMsts. 6Lriffeuutnineueir.;
in fact, there is nothingAto show whether she be pro-
p •)led by wind, or steanl, or car. -She glides through
the water as if propelled 'by some invisible agency.
,The propelling power is by a eimp:e lever of sufficient
power.—La Marine.
The French Admiralty have issued an order to tie
effect that the officers and seamen of the FA nch navy,
as well as the employes co..nected with the civil dt--
parttnent of the navy, are not to wear the se " or a-
ments" to the huff an face, the moustache and imperial.
They may, however, wear the beard encollier.
APPOINTMENTS.
WOOLWICH, JAN. 19.—Captain Thomas 31. C.
Symonds (1841), to command the Arethusa, 50 gun
frigate, commissioned this day at Devonport.
Lieutenant Octavius Cumberland (1841), to the
Arethusa.
Lieutenant Edward B. Rice (1844), to ditto.
Lieutenant Richard W. Courtenay (1844), to ditto.
Lieutenant Arthur W. A. Hood (1846), to ditto.
Lieutenant William Bowden (1847), to ditto.
Master David Craigie (1838), to ditto. •
Paymaster and Purser John H. Greaves (1835), to
ditto.
Second Master John P. Dillon (1848), from the
Fisgard, flag-ship at Woolwich, to ditto.
Midshipmen—Charles J. Fitton, E. H. Murray,
P. G. Luard, E. P. Pocock, and W. M. Cornwall, to
the Arethusa; Arthur Trahere, to the Terrible steam.
frigate, at Portsmouth ; and F. A. C. Dumaresq, to
the Cambrian, 40, East Indies. -
Master's Assistants—Alfred Perry and D. 0. Burd-
wood, to the Arethlus.
Clerks—Henry W. Arlidge (1847), Francis
Wheeler, and W. H. Oggard, to the Arethusa.
Naval Cadets—Thomas S. Dickenson and J. M.
Croke, to the Arethusa ; and D. K. W. Perry, to the
Arrogant steam-frigate !It Lisbon.
Rear-Admiral Charles John Austen, C. 8., accom-
panied by his Flag-Lieutenant; George.T..M. Pur-
vis (1849), andjhis Secretary, Paymaster, and Purser,
George P. Martin (1849), arrived at Woolwich to-
day, and immediately after, accompanied by Captain
Austin, C. 8., acting superintendent of the dockyard,
went on board the Fisgard flag-ship, and hoisted his
flag as Rear-Admiral of the White on board, where
it remained flying during the afternoon. The gal-
lant officer, with his Flag-Captain, Francis W.
Austen (1846), his Flag-Lieutenant and his Sec-
retary, will proceed overland to assume the com-
mand of the vessels of the Royal navy serving on the
East Indian and China station, and will hoist his flag
on board the Hastings, 72, formerly the flag- ship of
the late Rear-Admiral Sir Francis A. Collier, C 8.,
K C.H.
The following notice has been put up for the guid-
ance of the workmen of this dockyard :
" The paymeLts will, fir the future, take place on the
workmen quitting the yard, and each man is to sign the
tickets on which the amount (f wages is shown, and pre-
sent it when he claims payment. Those wages not taken
in regular rotation will be with} old till the following
week; unless the party is detained on duty."

A NEW NAVAL NOVELIST.—A successor to Capt.
Marryat, as a writer of narratives c f Baysl adventure, is,
we understana, about to ap; ear, in the person of a naval
officer of high rank, well known as baring commanded
at the blockade of Alexandria in Ib'4o. This dis-

tiLguished officer intends, it is said, to embody in a
series of naval stories the re3ults of his career of active
service in various parts of the world. llis first literary
enterprise is announced under the title of The P. trel,"
and its appearance will no doubt bo hailed with welcome
by the 'wading public in general, as well as by the
author's professional brethren.

COUNTRY QUARTERS, A NOVEL, ET THE COUNTESS
OF BLESSINGTON.—" 'This novel is OAS of the liveliest
and most natural of all Lidy Blessingtou's productions,
There is a rapid, quick, light, and easy style; a fr, e.
dom of narrative, a niceness cf observation, and a uni-
❑uteness f description, with an agreeable satire, which
please as, vvhi!e they (xeite our admiration. It is a
quiet narrative, flowing principally through ball-rooms,
drawing-rooms, mess-rooms, and the other resorts of
the gay and fashionable world. Numbers of gentle-
manly officers, with numerous light-laughing maidens,
and staid demure young eamsels, eat •r and
play their parts in this simple life•liko drama,
which is full of natural settles, painted in every derail
from nature, and evincing that grt at power of observa-
tion fir which Lady Blessington was celebr..ttd among
writers of fiction."—Sunday limes.

[ADVERTISEMENT.) TIIE ATRAPILATORY7 OR
LIQUID LIAR DYE.—The only dye that really answers
f,r al colours, and does not require re-doing but as the
hair grown, as it never fades or acquires that unnatural
red or purple tint common t all tiler dyes. Ross and
Sons car, with the greatest contid, rice, recommend the
above eas it fdllibie; and ladies and gent'emen re-
quiring it are requested, if convenient, t, have it done
the first tice at their establishment, which will enable
them to use it af.ecsvprds themselves without the chance
of f.ilure. They think it necessary to add that, by at-
tending strictly to the instructions given with the dye,
numerous patties have aucceeied equally well without
coming to them.—Addres,, Ross and Sons, 119 and 120,
Bishopsgate-street, London.
EXHUMATION OF HUMAN REMAINS.--OD Wed-
nesday John Orwell, of Redcliff-steer, railway labourer,
while employed in digging out the ground for the new
terminus of the Bristol and Exeter Railway, and at about
a few yards from the Bath-road at Totterdown, at the
depth of about a foot from the surface, discovered first
skull, and afterwards the ren ainder of the bones of a
human body, and then of another beneath the first, He
afterwards discovered, about a 3 and from the former, the
bones of another body. The two first found appeared
to be doubled up, and the other lying straight. He
found no clothes or buttons, or anything but bones; one
skelitmi appeared to be full grown, the others not so;
the bones were but very little broken. The earth in
which they lay was dark, but about the bodies yellowish.
He carried all the bones careful), to the other side of
the line, where they remain. The earth had not been
sunk deeper in the place. About a month ago he found
two skulls in the earth about six feet from the same
spot. The skeleton of a horse lay close by. An inquest
has been held by Mr. Grindon on these remains, and
Orwell having given evidence to the above effect, the
jury returned a verdict of "Found dead." The expla-
nation of these seeming marvels may prob,.bly be found
in the fact that a gallows formerly stood at this place,
under which criminals after their execution were some-
times interred.—Bristol Mirror.

ADVENTURES OF A Si. NOTE.--A short time since,
a lady residing at East Ham called upon the Rev. W.
Streatfield, the vicar of that parish, and in the course of
conversation asked the Reverend G'entlem_in the amount
of money collected at the church on the General Thanks-
giving Day. The sum was mentioned, which the lady
observed was rather less than she expected. as her hus-
band had put a 51. note into the plate. Upon this the
vicar remarked there must be some mistake, as no such
thing had been returned in the collection, and he there-
upon communicated the circumstance to Mr. T. Mat-
thews, by whom the plate was earned round. Mr.
Matthews, a highly respectable farmer, bad not seen
anything of the kind, and waited upon the gentleman re-
ferred to as the donor, who explained that he had the
note in his band some little time previously to dropping
it into the plate, and had rolled it up in a very small
compass. It at once occurred to Mr. Matthews that the
note might have fallen out of the plate, and, upon
making inquiry of the sexton where he was in the habit
of throwing the dirt, the placa wai pointed out, and,
after a minut3 search by Mr. Matthews and the vicar,
the missing note was found in the long grass of the
church) ard. It had been almost destroyed by the wet,
but sufficient was recovered (when pasted on a piece of
paper) to sati,fy the bank authorities, who have since
paid the amount. The affair has thus ended to the
satisfaction of all parties.—Essex Standard.
THE BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES.—BIRMINGHAM,
SATURDAY.--The deputation appointed to wait upon
Government with respect to the recent appointment of
magistrates on the nomination cf Messrs. Geach and
Thornton bad as interview with Lord John Russell and
Sir George Grey in Downing-street„ onj Friday last.
The Pt emier and Home Secretory declined to interfere,
and que.tioned the power of town councils to nominate
borough magistrates. They la ferred the deputationm e lengthto
rrd Chancellor. After an interview of so
twhiet:h Lthe Noble Lord the deputation was induced to Wipe,
if not believe, that the recent commission will be super-
seded.
SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY, JAN. 20.—The Penin-
sular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's ship
Indus, Captain J. Soy, took her departure this morning,
with the East India, China, and Mediterranean mails, in
charge of Lieutenant Tancock, R.N. She had about 120
passengers, and a large general cargo. The Ripon, with
the heavy portion of the homeward East India mail, is
xpnted here on Thursday next.
RUSSIAN ASSISTANCE IN SEARCHING FOR SIR JOHN
FRANKLIN.—It having bet n suggested (by the late com-
mittee of Arctic officers) that a memorandum, stating
what had been done, and what is now being done, to re-
lease Franklin, should be translated into the Russian
language, and plentifully circulated along the northern
coats of Siberia and throughout his Imperial Majesty's
American dominions, 200 or 300 copies printed, and at-
tached to each copy should be an order from the Russian
Minister in London, enjoining all Russian subjects, in
the Emperor's name, to carry out the objects therein
named. His Excellency Baron Brunow, on Monday last,
assured the British Government " that every step will be
taken to second the measures taken by the Admiralty fur
the discovery cf the expedition under Sir John Frank-
lin."— Unitcd Service Gazette.
PARLIAMENTARY BANQUET.—Lord Stanley has
issued cards of invitation for a grand dinner on the 30th
inst., at his mansion in St. James's-square, to an influen-
circle of his political friends iu the House of Peers.
The Noble Lord is expected to arrive in town on the
29th inst. from the Earl of Derby's seatoin-eLaneashire,
preparatory to the meeting of IN,rliament;"

;:;-`;L Ja•u LX