The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-25 00:00:00

111M,0,410Nroolvs WEPWEIDAY ,itvlll4lliG3 D! PM 25 1344,

as having farelshed the means for procuring and
exhibiting the stock of gold or bullion in the Bank,
and so far as these deposits consisted of public funds,
there was thereby a loss sustained by the empire.
because the Bank does not allow any interest on
deposits, so that thus Scotland shares in the expense
of maintaining in England a gold currency, and in
pro-siding gold for the uses of Government.
These facts, then, show that the Noble Viscount
and the Noble Baron laboured under a misapprehen-
sion, when they gave it as their opinion that the
burden of finding gold for Scotch purposes lay upon
the people of England; therefore the good
people of Scotland may feel quite at their ease
upon this tloint, the more especially as, had the views
of these .11\4 oble Lords been correct, their effect, in
short, would have been this—that the people of
England would be obliged to collect throughout that
kingdom, the amount (in sovereigns) requisite to
pay for the cargoes of imported grain, consequently
withdrawing that amount from the circulation and
the ordinary uses of the country, a course, and a
result, never desired nor contemplated by the Premier,
as is proved by the Government having arranged with
the Bank of England for valuable considerations to
provide gold to pay its own notes when demanded.
Then, with respect to providing means for meeting
the payments requisite for carrying on war, paying
subsidies, and sustaining foreign speculations, it ap-
pears unnecessary, as regards the last, to do more
than refer to what has been already noticed, as to
importations of foreign grain, which are in fact fo-
reign speculations, and therefore a similar procedure
and the like observations are applicable to them ;
but with regard to meeting the expenditure of fo-
reign wars and subsidies, it is surely only requisite
to state, that so far as these are not provided for at
home, they are met by bills being drawn on the
Treasury, or on the different military and naval de-
partments of Government by the respective officers
to whom are intrusted such details. And here, again,
the remark occurs, that by such hills appearing nu-
merously in any particular part of the globe, the
exchanges there may rule against Great Britain, and
gold may again be demanded by the financiers
for their operations in these quarters, but,
whether they operate or not, it is evident that
as less foreign money (at the place of expenditure
and bill drawing) can be obtained for these bills on
the Treasury, &c., owing to the increased de-
mand for local moneys, the sterling amount must also
be increased, and a loss be thereby sustained. But
who pays for that? Surely not the people of Eng-
land alone, but the whole inhabitants of the empire
who pay such losses and expenditure through the
medium of taxation, whereof Scotland contributes
5,000,000/. annually, ixhich sum, be it however
noticed, is not remitted in Scotch notes, these being
confined within that kingdom.
The Noble Baron stated that the people of England
" pay every shilling of the expense of maintaining a
metallic currency, while Scotland benefits by the
stability of the standard, maintained at the expense
of England," and added " that this is the plain, the
naked truth," but unfortunately he did not explain
how the people of Scotland benefited by the people
of England maintaining a metallic currency. That
the people in England pay their bankers a very smart
commission on account of the business transacted by
them, is true, and that the people in Scotland have
hitherto been spared that additional cost in carrying
on their business is also true ; but it appears difficult
to comprehend, how a Scotchman should be consi-
dered liable for supporting the expenses of his neigh-
bour's establishment, he being perfectly satisfied
with his present state and comforts. Besides, the
whole world is ready to deal with, and to trust him,
to receive his orders, to receive his notes in payment
of any furnishings or supplies, knowing well that he
thereby secures the same sterling returns and facili-
ties as he obtains from his friends in the south ; and
there cannot be a stronger illustration on this point,
than by referring to the fact, that although the
amount of the revenue of Scotland is upwards of
5,000,000/—ESee Finance Accounts I. viii. for the
year ended fifth January, 1844, ordered to be printed
by the House of Commons, 26th March, 1844, pp.
26 to 623—and collected in Scotch notes, the Trea-
sury receives that amount from Scotland, in the very
same materials as the revenue collected in England,
nor does the Government experience the least diffi-
culty in providing for its various payments in every
part of the globe, whilst it possesses such materials,
convertible into gold, at the pleasure of the holders, by
an agreement long settled and lately renewed by a
wise Government. SCOTUS.
Edinburgh, 30th Nov., 1844.

LITERATURE.
TRAITS OP PRIVATE LIFE.
Bogue, London, 1844.
The volume before us consists of three short prose
tales, the last of which, entitled the" Len'aby Hunter,"
is the best, as being themost natural, and written, ap-
parently, with the greatest relish. The tales are
chiefly of a domestic character, and though they are
uniformly deficient in striking incidents and bold
dramatic contrast, such as the multitudinous readers
of fiction in the present day are so prone :o admire,
yet they present a series of pictures of familiar every-
day life in a very agreeable light, and the descriptions,
if in no instance forcible, are invariably unaffected.
The second story, " The Rivals," would have been
much improved in its effect, had it been subjected to a
rigid process of condensation.

COMIC MISCELLANY. Coburn, London, 1844.
The lively little work before us is the production
of Mr. Poole, the dramatist, but as it is merely a re-
publication of articles that have already appeared in
the pages of the New Monthly Magazine, and hare
been noticed from time to time in The Sun, we need
say nothing more on the present occasion than that
they are not unworthy of being republished. The
cleverest of the papers is one entitled the " Newgate
Annual," which is a capital quiz on some of the flash
novels that were so undeservedly popular a few years
since, but which now are most properly forgotten.

PUNCH. Vol. VII. London, 1844.
Our whimsical friend, Punch, has just completed
his seventh volume, and a livelier or a more amusing
one has not yet been brought out under his quaint edi-
torial auspices. Puns, caustic sarcasms, political
squibs, and all sorts of eccentricities, in verse as well
as prose, abound in every Number, and to those who
have not taken in the work regularly, as it appeared
in weekly Numbers, the present volume will be very
acceptable, furnishing them with the best possible
Christmas fire-side reading. The illustrations are
numerous, but—as might be expected—they arc of
different degrees of excellence. Some are simply ex-
travagant without the slightest humour to recommend
them ; but the majority are distinguished by infinite
drollery, and the sketches of the different political
characters introduced are hit off with great exactness,
so that the likenesses may be recognised at a glance.
Among them we find admirable caricatures of Sir
James Graham, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Brougham,
and Mr. Joseph Hume. The sketch in which the
two former worthies are represented as Sarah Gamp
and Betsy Prig, seated over a sly glass of gin at the
tea-table, discussing political matters in no amicable
mood, is a caricature worthy of H. B.

IRELAND.
" NO POPERY" CRY IN BELFAST.

DUBLIN, DEC. 22.—For some days past there has
been a great outcry in Belfast, amongst the ultra-
Tory party, on account of the attendance of many of
the principal Protestant inhabitants at the consecra-
tion of the new Roman Catholic church of St.
Malichi, in that town. Amongst those who so
offended was Mr. John Clarke, the Mayor, who has
been selected as the special object of vituperation, on
the ground of his having been placed in that office by
a corporation exclusively Tory in its composition.
The " Belfast Protestant Operative and Reformation
Society," forwarded to Mr. Clarke an address and
remonstrance, bitterly inveighing against his back-
sliding, and his treason towards Protestantism in con-
sorting with Papists in their chapel, even at the
" monstrous exhibition of the mass."

The Mayor has returned a manly and dignified
answer to the Society, maintaining his right to exer-
cise his own discretion in the duties of his office, and
rebuking their insolent attempt at dictation. In con-
clusion, he says :—" Considering that the population
of the town is largely composed of Roman Catholics,
who are interested in its peace and prosperity, and
who contribute to its public burthens, I do deli-
berately think they had a right to call on me as
Mayor to show to them the same courtesy that I had
already shown to all other denominations of Chris-
tians.

REPRESENTATION OF TIPPBRARY.—The Tipperary
Vindicator contains the following :—" A most impor-
tant meeting was held on Wednesday in Cashel, to
select a fit and proper person to represent this county,
in the room of the late deeply lamented Mr. Otway
Cave. Owing to the extreme inclemency of the
weather the meeting was not large. There was,
however, a respectable attendance, and what we prize
most highly—an admirable spirit of unanimity. All
present, without exception, and among those who at-
tended were some who have been always foremost in
the battles of independence in Tipperary—decided
that no one, however admirable in other respects,
could lay the slightest claim to the representation of
this county except an unconditional repealer. The
observations of our worthy and spirited representa-
tive, Mr. Maher, were unequivocally decisive on this
point, and the resolution proposed by the Archdeacon
Laffan, to the effect that the Honourable Mr. Hut-
chinson should be respectfully solicited to represent
Tipperary, was adopted without a dissentient voice."
MELANCHOLY CATASTROPIIE.—A young woman,
named lionora Ityan, late of Killaloe, servant to
Mr. Canty, baker, of high-street, went for a tub
of water to the public fount at Bank-place,
where she stood upon the parapet wall over the
river, for the purpose of placing a pail upon
the head of another girl, but by some awkward-
ness lost her balance, and unfortunately, as she raised
the vessel, fell back into the water. The tide was
falling with a strong current at the time, as the alarm
was given, and crowds ran to the spot, amongst
whom was a resolute young fellow, named Thomas
M'Creice, private of the 9th battalion Royal Artil-
lery, who, on seeing the poor girl struggling in the
river, instantly threw off his cap and belt,
, ran down
the steps of the slip adjoining, and, plunging into the
water, swam to her assistance. She was not at the
time twenty yards from the shore; but as soon as he
neared her, she suddenly caught him by the breast,
and having then entangled in him, he lost all power.
although he endeavoured to disengage himself fr?m
her grasp. Both were drawn down under the side
of the arch of the new bridge by the current,
and a rope was quickly lowered from the battlement,
but unfortunately not long enough to reach the
water. The artilleryman, however, made attempts
to catch hold of it, but without effect, and opposite
the Custom-house, in the presence of hundreds of
agonising spectators, both sufferers sunk to rise no
more. What renders this sad occurrence more cala-
mitous is, the fact that M'Creice has left a wife (ad-
vancedinpreigantaen.22imaneiek Chronicle.drthreechildren to deplore
his untimely

GUILDFORD JUNCTION
RAILWAY. '
A Special General Meeting of the Shareholders in
the Guildford Junction Railway Company was held
yesterday, in the Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle-
street, for the purpose of sanctioning an agreement
made by the Directors with the London and South-
Western Board, for the sale of the Guildford Junc-
tion line, granted in the last session of Parliament.
Mr. Ross D. Mangles, M.P., Chairman of the Board
of Directors, presided.
The SECRETARY read the Directors' report, which
detailed the negotiations on this subject. The Corn-
pany, by the Directors' agreement, were to give over
the railway to the South-Western Company, com-
pleted with a single line of rails, receiving in return
the sum of 75,0001. From this the Guildford Junc-
tion Company were recommended to pay a sum of
20,000/. to the proprietors of Prosser's Wooden Rail-
way Company, as a compensation for their abandon-
ment of the agreement to lay down Prosser's wooden
rails on the line. The report concluded with an
assurance on the part of the Directors that, after all
the requisite expenditure, sufficient would remain to
reimburse the Shareholders, with good interest on
their outlay.
Mr. IlAnnow, in moving the adoption of the report,
observed, that several persons, he amongst the num-
ber, had become connected with this Company for the
sake of a permanent investment, and had procured
their shares at a premium. Under these circum-
stances, therefore, he wished to know if those Pro-
prietors would have the option of taking shares in the
Company to which this line was to be transferred ?
The CHAIRMAN explained that the Directors, owing
to the opposition which threatened them on all sides,
were not altogether to be considered as free agents.
They were, therefore, compelled to agree to the best
terms they could, ibr had they refused the offer of the
South-Western Company, and the projected opposi-
tion lines had progressed, the property of the Guild-
ford Junction Company would have been rendered
valueless. To a limited extent, if any Proprietor
wished to tranfer his present holding for a corre-
sponding number of shares in the extension company,
he (the Chairman) was authorised to say that provi-
sion would be made, and the shares granted.
Mr. HADDOW was perfectly satisfied, and begged
to move the adoption of the report.
Mr. Huasx asked, if the South-Western Company
failed in Parliament in procuring their projected ex-
tension, whether the Guildford Junction would then
be an independent company ?
The CnArßstart—No. It was absolutely sold,
there being a specific clause in the agreement, signed
by Mr. Chaplin and himself, which said, " The pur-
chase is absolute, whether there be an extension line
or not."
Mr. LoE seconded the motion, which was unani-
mously agreed to.
Mr. HADLEY moved a resolution, to the effect that
the Directors be authorised to take the necessary steps
to complete the agreement with the South-Western
Company.
Mr. BLACKMORE seconded the motion, observing
that the course pursued by the Directors was the most
beneficial one which could be adopted.
This resolution was also unanimously agreed to.
The Cumustax, as the meeting was about to break
up, observed that if any gentleman desired shares in

the extension line, and would send in an application
to that effect within a week, he would try personally
to get them the shares they desired. If they applied
to him then they would get them.
A vote of thanks was passed to the Directors, and
the meeting separated.

ECCLESIASTICAL' INTEL-
LIGENCE.
(From the Western Luminary.)
We have authority to say that the Lord Bishop of
this diocese, in consideration of the strong feeling
which subsists in many places against the use of the
surplice in preaching, has withdrawn his order in
respect to that particular. Te the enforcement of
the rubrics his Lordship firmly adheres. A circular
letter to the clergy to this effect has just issued.
We are authorised to state that the Bishop of Exe•
ter has withdrawn the postscript to his letter to the
Dean. The statement made to him originated in a
mistake, which has since been explained.

OUR FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
AND THEIR REMEDY.

(From the Sentinel.)
When Sir R. Peel accepted office his dupe and his
sycophants loudly and confidently proclaimed the
return of national prosperity. Redeunt Saturnia regna,
was the shout of the Commons and the echo of the
Lords. Under his protecting regis, the landed interest
felt themselves secure. The moneyed men rejoiced
when they beheld the champion of the bullionists
safely domiciled in Downing-street. But the antici-
pations of the golden age have not been realised.
Corn is down to 455., and money is a drug. The
agricultural labourer starves and in desperation fires
the rick. The tenant, through low prices, his taxes
being undiminished, is compelled to pay rent out of
capital, all profits having vanished. His accumulations
ceasing, his consumption ceases, and other producers,
who used to supply his wants, find their goods lying
on their hands. Bankers cannot lend their money,
since there are no channels of trade open to prudence ;
and cautious bankers shun rash speculators. Where
are the exponents of this state of things ? Where are
the proofs of this stagnation and depression ? We
refer to the farmers, who demand the repeal of the
malt-tax; to the manufacturers, who insist on abolish-
ing the duty on raw cotton ; to those engaged in the
soap trade, who pray relief from the Excise; to the
dealers in colonial produce, who clamour for the re-
mission of the sugar duties • to the holders of realised
possessions, who complain of the infliction of the pro-
perty-tax; and to the struggling professionals of
every grade, who protest against any further fiscal
diminution of their incomes.
Sir R. Peel asked for a trial ; he has had it, and
proved himself to be a quack. It is not true, honestly
viewed, that he has made the revenue equal to the
expenditure; had he done so, by increasing consump-
tion and profits, he would have displayed the wisdom
of a statesman ; but when he effects his object by ar-
resting progressive accumulations, he simply performs
a trick of legerdemain, slipping the card from one
hand to another. He has had the fair trial for which
he asked, and there is not a class in society which is
not sinking under the weight of financial difficulties.
The farmers, gulled by his plausibilities, now see
through his perfidy ; and, while he has lost their con-
fidence, he has not won the support of the manufac-
turers. His acts disavow his principles. He pro-
claims theories, which he lacks the moral courage to
reduce into practice. He has no faith in truth. All
his hopes are based on his presumed tact, and what
Lord Stanley called " his art of dreseing up a case."
His colleague knows him well, and compliments his
chief on being an accomplished trickster.
We turn from Sir R. Peel to Mr. John Taylor.
We have seen the result of the Tamworth prophecies;
let us refer to those of Mr. Taylor. In 1833, this
gentleman published a pamphlet, entitled " Currency
Fallacies Refuted," in which we discover the follow-
ing prediction, which has been fulfilled to the letter.
We earnestly implore every man, whose mils(' is not
locked up and barred by prejudice, to ponder well on
the prophecy, and on its fulfilment.
"If we are to adhere to a metallic currency on the
present system, it is certain that heavy taxes cannot
be paid much longer by the producing classes. They
have found that out ; and this makes them so cla-
morous for the repeal of the house and window taxes.
Whenever these are abolished, others will remain,
equally obnoxious to the supposed cause of their dis-
tress ; they must also be reduced ; till at last the
Minister, driven to extremes, will consent to, if he
does not originate, a property-tax, in lieu of all other
imposts pressing particularly on the industrious
classes. Let this be agreed to, and what then will be
the condition of the landed interest ? With corn at
40s. a quarter, to which we shall come when the taxes
are commuted, it will take nearly the half of every
man's property to pay his share of the public debt.
Will the remaining half suffice to discharge his other
private obligations, all of them enhanced in the same
degree ? Even if it should, what a prodigious revo-
lution will have been quietly effected, in a few years,
by that Bill for restoring cash payments, which was
passed with acclamations by the wealthy members of
the State, but which has brought with it so much
misery to the productive classes. And how truly
does it illustrate the remark of a late eminent
Christian philosopher (Robert Hall), In the moral
system it is a part of the wise arrangements of Pro-
vidence, that no member shall suffer alone ; that if
the lower classes are involved in wretchedness and
beggary, the more elevated shall not enjoy their
prosperity unimpaired. "
This is the language of a statesman and a philan-
thropist, of a philosopher able to trace the relation
between cause and effect; and, assuredly, the day will
come when John Taylor will take rank among the
most signal benefactors of the human race.
The cause of all the distress is the monopoly of gold.
We cannot admire, nay we cannot even comprehend,
the logic of those pseudo free-traders who would
throw protection round a particular metal. All com-
modities, say they, should be left free to the in-
fluences and action of supply and demand, the com-
modity, gold, excepted. We should be glad to hear
the reasons for this preference explained by some
member of the League at Covent-garden Theatre.
It would be edifying to be told, why the manu-
facturers, who desire to push the foreign sale
of their goods, offer every possible inducement
to foreigners to take away gold and leave the
goods in our warehouses ; for, certainly, if
gold is cheaper than goods, the foreigner will take
the gold in payment for his imports. And when he
has drained us of the cherished metal, the Bank con-
tracts its issues, refuses discounts, compels the holders
of all commodities to rush simultaneously into the
market, to compete against each other as vendors,
and, by a glut, to reduce prices below the cost of pro-
duction. It is the monopoly of gold which creates
panics, and arrests progressive accumulations of real
wealth; thus the fund of wages diminishes, as popu-
lation advances, and pauperism demoralises the race
of operatives, makes bankrupts of the middle classes,
and compels affrighted property to vote more soldiers
and more police.
Let us endeavour to simplify this complex ques-
tion. Eight pennyweights and a half of gold,
thirty-four shillings in silver, and a quarter of wheat,
are all reciprocally natural equivalents. Impose a
tax on the wheat, and it rises in price. If, then, you
do not allow the gold to rise, you disturb the rela-
tions that formerly existed. Keep gold at its natural,
or untaxed price, and how can it any longer be the
just measure of the artificial and taxed price of wheat ?
The consequence, then, is, that you drag down the
taxed wheat to the price of the untaxed gold, and thus
throw that tax on the producer, which ought to be
paid by the consumer. And as all branches of in-
dustry are equally affected by the monopoly of gold,
all taxes necessarily fall on labour, and property goes
scot free. This is the cunning device of Sir R. Peel,
who has liberated the aristocracy from paying their
just contributions to the revenue. Hence he is their
pet statesman.
But, if these principles are true, as we firmly be-
lieve them to be, how blinded the manufacturers must
be to their true interest, while, in waging war against
the corn and sugar monopolies, they show such an
extraordinary desire to protect a metal. Let us see
how it affects them in that foreign trade on which
they have set their hearts. Prices, we shall suppose,
have risen to a remunerating rate, and are continuing
to rise ; the foreigner comes into our market, and
offers his goods for sale ; he inquires what he can get
back for them in barter or exchange, and ascertains
that gold is the cheapest of all commodities against
which he can exchange his wares. Of course he takes
the gold. Then the terrified Bank of England puts on
the screw. Money becomes scarce ; interest on loans is
increased, and with it the rate of discount. Bankers draw
in their accommodation. Why is all this ? Because
the Bank of England, the prime mover in the whole
system, must redeem its notes on demand at the
Mint price, not at the market price ; therefore it
keeps in circulation the smallest amount of notes pos-
sible. It is the foreigner who has abstracted our
gold, because gold is cheaper than goods, and he
causes all the mischief. What is the remedy ? Let
the gold rise, and then the inducement to its export
is removed, and the goods go instead of the gold.
How is this to be effected ? By abolishing the mo-
nopoly of the precious metals.
lt is to this simple point we would direct atten-
tion. If gold must be cheap, place everything else
on the same footing. Cheap Queens, cheap bishops,
cheap landlords, cheap soldiers and sailors, cheap fund-
holders ! To do this, you must abolish the debt, and
reduce the whole expenditure. Be it so, the bullion-
ists like this system ; but let us no longer be insulted
by the barefaced cruelty of compelling industry to
pay high taxes out of low prices.

THE QUEEN DOWAGER.—ight bunclre4 families
in the neighbourhood of Hampton-coUrt, Hampton, New
Hampton, and TeddingtOn, receive, by the kind charity
of her Majesty' the Queen DoWager, ihree pour* 4f
beef and 'two quartern loavee each everyghTiscmas.
This welcome silt was flistrih4iecl lesterclip

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Limerick Chronicle, Dec. 21.)
Royal Artillery in Ireland—Captain Stokes's com-
pany of the 6th battalion, at Ballincolig, is ordered to
embark per steam-vessel for Woolwich, there to join
head-quarters. Brevet-Major Rawnsley, ditto at
Banagher, and on the Shannon, Limerick district, is
ordered to be relieved.
Two companies 69th Regiment are ordered to
march from Templemore ; one company to Borriso-
kane, and one company to Borrisoleigh.
14th Depot—Her Majesty's steam-vessel Dee,
which sailed from Kingstown for Liverpool on Satur-
day, with this depot on board, returned on the 16th,
in consequence of easterly winds and rough weather.
The troops disembarked and occupy billets till further
orders.
35th DepOt—The detachment stationed at Por-
tumna with Lieutenant Henry and Ensign Morton is
ordered to join head-quarters at Nenagh. A com-
pany is ordered to march for Moneygall.
61st Regiment, Buttevant—Major Verner is in
command of two companies of 5 sergeants and 133
rank and file; at Dunmanway, under Capt. Thomas,
1 company; at Ballincollig 1 company, Capt. Bligh,
of 3 sergeants and 40 rank and file; at Millstreet, 1
company of 4 sergeants and 60 rank and file ; at
Bandon, 1 company, under Capt. Campbell, of 2 ser-
geants and 42 rank and file; recruiting, 2 sergeants
and 6 rank and file. Total effective strength, 57
sergeants, 21 drummers, and 1,063 rank and file.
Lieut.-Colonel Burnside commands.
65th Regiment, Castlebar—Major Wise is com-
manding two companies at Galway. Brevet Major
Patience is stationed with a company at Westport.
Captain Murray is at Outerard in command of a
company. Captain Smith is at I3allinasloe with a
company. Lieutenant-Colonel H. Senior is com-
manding at head-quarters. Lieutenant Cook is re-
cruiting at London.
73d Regiment head-quarters and right wing, five
companies, band and colours, &c., under the com-
mand of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Vander Meulen,
moved from Richmond Barracks, Dublin, to the
Royal barracks.
36th Regiment, Newry—Captain Routh's company
is stationed at Belturbet; Captain Maule's company
at Cavan.
sth Fusiliers—Captain Guy's company is stationed
at Omagh barracks, having relieved Brevet Major
Mortimer's company of the 36th Regiment. Re-
cruiting parties of the sth are stationed at Norwich,
Ballyshannon, and Aylesbury.
Captain WTarde has joined the brigade of Royal
Horse Artillery in this garrison.
Lieutenant-Colonel Slade, 30th, went to Newport,
on Thursday, to engage barrack accommodation for
a company of that regiment from this garrison.
Captain Capel's company 15th, Brevet Major Ged-
des's and Heard's companies 30th, are in orders for
out detachment at Newport, Castleconnell, and
O'Brien's-bridge.
A detachment of the 4th Dragoon Guards is
ordered to Newport Tip, and Killaloe. The Second
Bays, detach to Mohill and Ballinamore.
Captain Donald Stewart, 92d, has arrived at Ros-
common, on appointment as staff officer of pensioners
in that district.
Colonel Alexander Munro, K.H., sth battalion
Royal Artillery, Portobello barracks, Dublin, has
returned from leave of absence.
Ensign Wemyss, 93d Highlanders, has received
leave of absence until the Ist of January, 1845.
This officer is to proceed to join the service com-
panies in Canada in spring. The regiment returns
to this country from Canada, in the autumn of 1847.
One company 67th Regiment moved from Rich-
mond Barracks to Islandbridge barracks, to relieve
a detachment of the 32d Regiment which moved from
Islandbridge to Portobello Barracks, to relieve two
companies of the 16th Regiment under Major Brand,
which embarked for Cork to join head-quarters.
The undermentioned non-commissioned officers of
the 55th Foot, were lately admitted as out-pensioners
of Chelsea Hospital, on the following pensions :
Quartermaster Sergeant James Ryde, ls. 10id. per
diem ; Colour Sergeant James Traner, for length of
service and good conduct, 2s. 3d. per diem.
Mr. James Fitzgibbon, of Kingston, Upper
Canada, who distinguished himself in the 49th Regi-
ment during the American war, and subsequently as
a volunteer officer in the Canada insurrection, has
received 2001. from Sir Charles Metcalfe, the Go-
vernor, towards relieving his embarrassments.
The " Parliamentary Committee" of the Repeal
Association has just issued a report, in pamphlet
form, upon the army estimates of Great Britain and
Ireland for the year 1844-5. This speaks intolerable
assurance for a self-constituted, irresponsible, and
disaffected junta, who are still working to destroy
that mutual alliance and consolidation of both coun-
tries, which the solemn Imperial contract of 1800
declared to be one and inseparable. The legislators
of the Conciliation-hall have analysed every branch
of our military 'department, from the 'War-office,
Horse Guards, and Mutiny Act, down to the re-
cruiting sergeant's bounty money and recruits' neces-
saries. What next—a review of the Queen's house-
hold, Privy Council, Cabinet administration and
expenditure ? Nothing more probable. We must
be egregiously mistaken if the attention of Govern-
ment is rot directly turned to this audacious cabal in
the next Parliamentary session.
THE I.ITII REGIMENT.—This regiment, stationed
at Brompton, near Chatham, only requires thirty
men to complete its strength. Furloughs are granted
to the well-conducted men under the authority of
his Grace the Commander-in-Chief: to those who
are allowed to proceed to Ireland and Scotland, the
indulgence of six weeks, and those in England, to the
extent of four weeks.

FRENCH ACADEMY of SCIENCES.

SITTING OF DECEMBER 16.
One of the first papers read was from M. LefTwre,
giving a description of a new break applicable to rail-
road carriages. This is about the hundredth commu-
nication received by the Academy containing new in-
ventions of breaks, but we do not find that any report
has yet been made respecting them.
A letter was received from the Marquis de Jouf-
froy, complaining of the extraordinary delay of the
commission appointed to report on his new system of
railway. We are by no means convinced that the
system of M. de Jouffroy is so perfect as he considers
it to be, but it is impossible not to admit that his com-
plaint, considering the very great length of time that
has elapsed since the commission was named, is well
founded. If the opinion of the Academy of Sciences
on new inventions relative to subjects of public im-
portance be of any value, it ought assuredly to be
pronounced as speedily as possible. The opinion of
such a body, if favourable, is a recommendation for
inventors to which they are entitled; and, if it be un-
favourable, it is a guarantee against the adoption of
useless or dangerous innovations.

A paper was read on a new atmospheric motive
power, by M. Sy, which he calls perpetual.
A letter was read from M. Descombes, calling the
attention of the academy to the necessity of founding
a practical school of agriculture in every department
of France.

The Secretary announced that M. Remieu, prefect
of the Haute Marne, had sent to the academy a pam-
phlet, in which he recommends the creation of a ge-
neral direction for the sciences.

Letters were read from MM. Arthur, Clerge, and
Peltier, on the electrical theory of whirlwinds, and
the effects of lightning. On this occasion, M. Arago
observed that the academy had already appointed a
commission to report on this subject, and especially
on the recent storm at Cette, which is ascribed to
electrical causes.

M. Elle de Beaumont made some observations on
a question submitted for consideration, vix., "What
relation exists between the progressive cooling of the
earth and that of its surface.' M. Elle de Beaumont
thinks that the experiments made by M. Arago, in
the gardens of the Observatory of Paris with thermo-
meters sunk in the earth at various depths, furnish the
most essential elements which are necessary for the
solution of the problem. Availing himself of the prin-
ciples laid down by M. Poisson, in his inquiry as to
the cause of the wasting of terrestrial heat, M. Elle de
Beaumont has calculated that the annual cooling of the
surface of the globe has been greater than that of the
globe itself during a period of 38,359 years. Accord-
ing to this solution, the antiquity of the period when
our globe was entirely incandescent is of a remoteness
which defies calculation, and shows that persons who
attempt to fix the age of our planet by geological de-
ductions must still be very distant from a perfect
knowledge on this subject. Some recent discoveries
in geology have, indeed, shown that the earth is much
older than the earlier discoveries have led us to sup-
pose ; but if, as is generally believed, the globe was at
one time incandescent, the rate at which M. E. de
Beaumont calculates the progressive cooling of it, in
relation with the surface, would give to it an antiquity
far greater than has hitherto been assigned to it.
A communication of some interest to the lovers of
fat geese was made by M. Persoz. Our readers are
aware of the extent to which experiments in the fat-
tening of these birds has been carried by various pur-
veyors for the gastronomic world. M. Persoz appears
to have gone into the affair con (more, and to have
been fully imbued with the importance assigned to it,
A hundred modes of fattening geese have been con-
ceived, but most of those who have engaged in the
speculation have been of opinion that it was neces-
sary the food should contain the elements of fat
to be eliminated by the goose in the process of diges-
tion. M. Persoz is of a different opiniou, He contends
that it is cf no consequence WlWtlier the food be of
the kind alluded to or riot, as the goose, he says,
forms in the process of digestion fat from any food,
if it contains a certain proportion pf ii4zote. We hope
M. Persoz will also sh,p,w that it is not necessary, An
the fatteajp,f4 cf geese, to expose them to the tortures
themby many of the feeders, smoh as nailing
them by the feet and conenin4them 11 narrow
space to'.vreyeAt motion, W 9 re he objection to

partake of a good' fat goose, lithe feeding be merely
the result of abundance of of wholseome food, but We
confess that we never see a fat goose, and, above a
a large goose liver, without thinking of the atrtiCous
inhumanity that is frequently resorted to in order to
make the feeding of these poor animals a successftzl
speculation.

M. Baudrimont read a paper drawn up in concert
with M. Martin Saint-Ange, on the organic develop-
ment of the embryo in animals. These gentlemen
show that the egg in its process of development ab-
sorbs oxygen and emits carbonic acid, and that respira-
tion is essential to it.

A paper was received from M. Amussat on the
treatment of wounds of the blood-vessels. It was
not of a nature, however, to interest any other than
professors of surgery, but to them the observations
and experiment:, of so scientific a man as M. Amussat
must be invaluable.

M. Bonjour, a chemist, at Chambery, sent an
account to the academy of two cases of gano-rene,
produced by the eating of ergoted rye, but both of
which were cured by proper treatment. Cases of
poisoning by rye which has the ergot are by no
means unfrequent, and wv think the authorities
should devise means of preventing spoiled grain from
finding its way to the bakers. The sufferers are
always the poor, for with them bread made wholly or
partly of rye is the ordinary food, and it would be
but an act of humanity to protect them as much as
possible against the use of a deleterious substance.