The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-24 00:00:00

No. 16,648. LONDcN, WEDNESDAY EVENING SUN, DECEMBER '245 1845
•

LETTERS of CREDIT on INDIA.—The
UNION BANK of LONDON, ac Agents for the Oriental
Bank, are authorised to ISSUE LETTERS of CREDIT for any
Moneys paid to them, to be re-paid in rupees at the current rate of
e xchange on the day of presentation at the offices of the Oriental
Bank, in Bombay, Calcutta, and Colombo. Similar Letters of Credit
may be obtained at any of the branches of the National Bank of
Scutland, and of the Provincial Bank of Ireland.
By Order of the Directors,
W. W. SCRIMGEOUR, Manager.
Union of London, No. 2, Princes-street, Mansion House.

CADETS for INDlA.—Every infcrn ation con-
nected with OUTFITS for INDIA, partiMers of Passage
by Ship and by the Overland route, detailed Lists o, Outil's both for
Ladies and Gentlemen, with the necessary variations for officers,
writers, cadets, as,istant-surgeons, and others, may be had on ap-
plication to Messrs. THRESHER and GLENNY, East India and
Colonial Outfitters, 152, Strand, London, where all outfits are sup-
plied at the wholesale prices.

TO COMMERCIAL 'TRAVELLERS.—Every
description of solid and other LEATHER CASES, for carrying
samples or stock, made to order. Solid Leather and other POrtlllall-
tcaus, Carpet Bags, fiat Cases, &c. &c., in great variety, always In
stock.
John Southgate and Son, manufacturers, 76, Watling-street, London.

NEW STRONG-BUILT SMALL STEAM-
BOAT for SALE, with PAIR of HIGH-PRESSURE EN-
GINES and TUBULAR, BOILER.
For particulars, inquire of E. Xt. Clarke, optician, machinist, and
engineer, 428, Strand, London.
LONDON and BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.
SPECIAL NOTICE.
DAY TICKETS issued to l'assengers on WEDNESDAY, the 24th De-
cember, will be available to FRIDAY, the 2Gth.
By order,
R. CREED, Secretary.

Euston Station, Dec. 23

4i RE AT WESTERN RAILWAY
X CHRISTMAS.
Notice is hereby given, that the usual Return Tickets, at a Reduc-
tion of One-third of the Fares, will be allowed to passengers travel-
ling on this line, reckoning Christmas-day as a Sunday. All the
Daily Trains will, however, run on that day.
By order of the Directors,
C. A. SAUNDERS, Secretary,

OXFORD, THAME, HIGH WYCOMBE,
AND UXBRIDGE JUNCTION RAILWAY.
Notice is hereby given, that no further application for shams in
this Company will be received after the 27th inst.
By order,
R. MORTON CALIIIY, Seeretary,
43, Moorgate-street, Dec. 17, MS

THE OXFORD AND SALISBURY DIRECT
RAILWAY.
The Commitee of Management beg to announce that, in compliance
with the app
litcations and suggestions of several gentlemen of expe
rience, they have instructed the several bankers named in their
Letters of Allotment to continue to receive the preliminary deposits
from this time until the 7th of January next, in order that those
parties to whom Shares in this Company have been.allotted may con
suit their own convenience, by paying thefirst deposit at the present
time, or paying the whole deposit en or before the 7th of January
nexi

gy enter of the Beard,
Z. lIUTSIIERSTT, Secretary
31.2°n:1sta-chambers, Moorgate-street, Dee. 19, 1845.

FASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.
DEPOSIT ON EASTERN COUNTIES YORK EXTENSION

CHRIS alas HOLIDAYS.
ROYAL YoL YTEGHN IC INSTITUTION,
Lectures for this period of the year, by Dr. Ryan and
Professor Bachoffner In CHEMIt;TRY and NATURAL PHILO-
SOPHY will be illus!rated by interesting and brilliant experiments.
A Lecture on the PREVALENT DISEASE t!. POTATOES will be
delivered by Dr. Ryan, and also on the ATMOSPHERIC RAIL-
WAY, by rrofessor Bachoffner, a Working Model of which, car-
rying several persons, is exhibited daily. The additions to the
OPAQUE MICROSCOPE, DISSOLVING VIEWS, and CHROMA-
TROPE are very effective. The PHYSIOSCOPE. Submarine Ex-
periments by means of the DIVER and DIVING BELL. Among
the various additions to the Working Models is e,olemau's NEW
AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE, for ascending and de-
scending inclined Planes. A magnificent Collection of TROPICAL
FRUITS. M;*. Dowue, the celebrated Flute Player, will take part
in the Music, conducted by Dr. Wallis. Open from Eleven to Half-
past Five, an t from Seven to Half-past Ten in the Evening.
Admission, One Shilling. Schools, Half-price.

UTUNT, 57, STRAND, LONDON.-WEL-
LINGTON BOOTS, made to Measure, ONE GUINEA. 50
Ih,rior workmanship, the finest French leather, very durable, and
pleasant for tender feet.—Cash on delivery.

IPENCER'S CHINESE LIQUID HAIR DYE
changes in a few minutes, without trouble, red or grey hair,
whiskers, eyebrows, moustaches, &c., to a dark brown or black, by
simply using a comb wetted with the liquid. One application will
produce a pleasing and permanent change. Price 3s. 6d., 65., and
10s. per bottle.

To be had of the Proprietors, 29, Nottingham-place, Fieldgate-
street, Whitechapel-road, London ; also of Mr. Johnstone, 68, Corn-
hill ; Butler, 4, Cheapside ; Prout, 229, Strand ; Sanger, 150, Oxford-
street; Barclay, Farringdon-street ; Atkinson, 24, Old Bond-
street; Hooper, 43, King William-street, London •bridge; Finnigin,
Milsom-street, Bath ; Elmore, Bull-street, Birmingham ; and of most
Per timers and Medicine Vendors in town and country. sent to
;my mart of the kingdom by receiving a remittance, pest-paid.
Please to ask for " Spencer and Co.'s Chinese Liquid Hair Dye."
Observe, the Proprietor's address is on the wrapper.

FOGS AND DAMP Allt.
BARCLAY'S ASTHMATIC CANDY has, for
many years, been proved an effectual preservative from the
ill effects of the fogs and damp air which, in the winter season, are
so prevalent in this climate. Its effects are to expel wind, to pre-
serve the stomach from the admission of damps, and to relieve those
who suffer from difficulty of breathing.
Prepared only by Barclay and Sons, 95, Farringdon-street, Lon-
don ; and sold retail, by their appointment, by SanTer, 150, Oxford-
Hallows, druggist, 2, High-street, Islington ; Heudebourck,
street ; Gifford, 104, and H. Burfield, 180, Strand ; Johnston, 68,
CdrUngighiisit, i;
Church-street, Hackney; and all respectable Medicine
Venders in town and country.
Observe—None can be genuine unless the names of "Barclay and
Sons" are on the stamp affixed to each box.

ON THE VALUE OF THE SHARES
OF; THE RAILWAYS IN FRANCE AT THE
LONDON EXCHANGE.
The shares of the railways in France have, for some
time past, commanded a high price in the London
market. Important business has been transacted at the
Exchange ; on the Northern, Lyons, and Strasbourg
lines, and at a high price.
The line of rail from Strasbourg to Basle is now occu-
pying the attention of our speculators ; for some time
previously no busurss had been transacted in the market
on this line, but within the last few days the prices ap-
pear named in the share list varying from 91. ss. to 9/.
10s., and IN., which evidently indicates a demand for,
and eager purchase of, shares.
The announcement that a station will soon be opened
in the city of Basle itself, affording great accommoda-
tion to travellers, and presenting a means of economising
torotmile
shares, which avoids the risk
the
yly issued ; the facility of
formerly incurred of sending the shares to France in
order to obtain the annual dividend; in fine, the certainty
of an increased :dividend for this year—all these com-
bined causes have contributed to attract attention to this
line of rail, which will become of still greater import-
ance when the railroad from Paris to Strasbourg shall be
opened.

DUBLIN, IRELAND.
DREPEAL ASSOCIATION.
Ec.
Mr. 0
elation was held 22.—The weekly meeting of the Asso-
this day, Edward Clements, Esq. (bar-
rister), in he chair.
regal.. to a Whig
by reading the
't-‘;°NN ELL commenced the business of the day
, following letter from Mr. John Augustus
6,11, uu the position of the Repeal Association with
Adtrrni,tration :
" Williams Park, Dec. 22, 18-15.
" Sir—You are aware that influenza prevents
my atte""ce at the Alatssion•house Committee, and at
invalid, to
auutnit my sentiments ; I claim, therefore, the privilege of an
to the Repeal A9socia-
dun at the
Ministry may be formed.
with ettihuw
certain wh_present crisis, and whilst it is still quite un-
Bohigs and Tories have declared against repeal
at
measures al
could grant, vigour, but there are many most valuable
fur this country which an anti-repeal Cabinet
nt, and it seems to me the only course and
support
tn of Irishmen of all classes to welcome and
u
whateveryt Government will do most for Ireland,
no matter what name may be given to it.
"In several newspapers there is an unwarrantable in-
ference drawn from Mr. O'Connell having declared that
he would support Lord J. Russell in a repeal of corn-law
and other popular measures:- I cannot see how, with
common consistency he could have avoided saying this.
I repeat this expression, and 'protest against the infe-
rence that supporting a Government in certain good
measures is an abandonment of the principle that Ire-
land has a right to demand the restoration of her Parlia-
ment.
"To press this demand was the principle, but not the
sole object, for which I considered the Association
to have been embodied. rooked upon it as established
to promote (in every prabfitabli way without compro-
mise of' a great principle) the interests of this nation. I
entertain the opinion that the more prosperous a country
becomes the better able she will be to assert her own
rights, and I would without the least hesitation withdraw
from the Repeal Association, if being a member of it gave
an implied pledge that I should not join in seeking for
my ill-fated country any of the many practical measures
by which all classes would be benefited, and, above all, '
measures which would secure food to, and provide
employment for, two millions and a half of my country-
men, declared in official records to be in a state of desti-
tution.

" This evidence has long since been laid before Sir
Robert Peel's Government ; and not a single step did
that Ministry take to alleviate the sufferings of this im-
tnenqe body of their fellow-subjects.
" The Association will recollect that I have spoken
favourably of what I believed to be the good intentions
of Sir Robert Peel, but in my work on Ireland, published
two years ago, I said that he himself had made Ireland
his difficulty by calling to his councils men whose feelings
were notoriously anti-Irish, and on the downfal of such
I shall congratulate my countrymen.
" After having given the corn-law question deep atten-
tion, I some years ago was enrolled as a member of the
Anti-Corn-law League, by my esteemed acquaintance,
its respected leader, the Hon. C. P. Villiers. At the
came time the worthy Joseph Sturge enrolled me in the
Universal Suffrage Society, and I hope the day will
never arrive when a repealer will fear to say that he
will give his cordial support to any Ministry—Whig,
Tory, or Radical—which will introduce such measures,
and evince a sympathy with the people.
" I regret Sir Robert Peel's failure, for obstinacy was
not amongst his faults; but I shall rejoice in the discom-
fiture of his administration, if it excludes from return to
office the anti-Irish, anti-popular portion of his cabinet,
and cordially do I desire to see such men replaced by
statesmen like Lord J. Russell and Lord Morpeth, though
I fear they will not go far enough.
" Will you do me the favour to read this letter at an
early period of this day's business, and to believe me,
with esteem, very truly yours, " J. A. O'NEILL.
" To T. M. Ray, Esq., &c. &c."
In moving the insertion of the letter on the minutes, he
observed that the sentiments it contained were those
which would pervade the mind of every rational re-
pealer, had Lord John Russell been so fortunate as to
he able to form a Government. He then read a report
of his mission to Waterford, fcr the purpose of recon-
ciling the differences which existed amongst the re-
peelers in that town ; and stated that his success had
been unrestricted, unlimited, and complete. In future
no person would have any chance of representing the
constituency of Waterford but a real " Conciliation-hall"
repealer; and as a proof of their devotion to nationality,
they had that disv forwarded the sum of 401. to the funds
of the Association. Sir Winston Barron and Mr. Wyse
should yield at the next election to the better claims of
Sir Benjamin Morris Wall and Mr. Meagher, unflinch-
ing advocates of domestic legislation. In conclusion, he
read a letter from Dr. M•Hale, Archbishop of Tuatn,
which abounded, as usual, with abuse, and denounced
the Bequests Act and the infidel Colleges Act.
There was not (continued Mr. O'Connell) a sentiment in
that letter which would not be echoed by every Irish-
man. They were for Ireland, no matter what party was
in power—no matter what section of statesmen was in
office—they were for Ireland.—(Cheers.)
Mr. J. O'CONNELL read the following letter from the
Hon. Pierce Butler, M.P.:—
" Imperial Hotel, Sackville-street, Dec. 21, 1845.
"My dear O'Connell,—l inclose you my renewed sub-
scription to the Loyal Nation Repeal Association. I had
hoped it would have been in my power to have attended
your meeting to-morrow ; but letters from the country
demand my immediate presence in the county of Kil-
kenny. I regret much, and I know you will join me in
that regret, that the number of misguided wretches
ready at a moment's warning, and for a small bribe, to
take the lives of their fellow-countrymen, is increasing.
If the Government be not strong enough, or wise enough,
to prevent this mischief, and this stain upon Ireland, I
think the Association should at once take the business in
hand, and put down such a disgraceful system of oppres-
sion. The Roman Catholic clergy are doing their duty,
by denouncing the murders ; but they stand in need of
the vigorous and prompt co-operation of a firm Govern-
ment, or of the Association.
This is a painful subject, but it is one that demands

immediate attention.
" If Lord John Russell succeed in forming an Admi-
nistration. I trust that Ireland will show firmness, pru-
dence, and generosity, without any compromise of her
avowed principles. Lord John Russell must restore the
magistrates, Orangemen and repealers. He must give
a powerful but judicious support to our railway specula-
tions in Ireland, so as thoroughly to employ our labour-
ing population. He must impose a tax, a reasonable
tax, upon the absentees, for charitable purposes in Ire-
land. In fine, he must make Ireland what she ought to
he. As for the late Ministry, I have no feelings but
those of contempt and indignation, when I think of their
incalculable follies in regard to Ireland.
" They remind me of the well-known lines of the
ancient dramatist,' in reference to the uninformed and
aboriginal inhabitants of this terrestrial globe
They saw, indeed, and heard. But what to them availed
Or sight, or sense, or hearing? all things rolling,
Like the unreal imagery of dreams, in wild confusion
tossed.'
" With best wishes to your father, whose health I am
happy to hear is as firm as ever, believe me, my dear
O'Connell, very faithfully yours,
" PIERCE SOMERSET BUTLER.
" John O'Connell, Esq., M P."
Having moved the insertion of the letter on the minutes,
he observed that it was horrible to think of the dreadful
assassinations alluded to in the letter he had just read,
which were of daily occurrence in various parts of the
country. He had no hesitation in saying that Divine
Providence would continue to afflict the people of this
country and perpetuate their miseries in just punishment
of these atrocious crimes. It was the duty of that As-
sociation to cry out against the perpetrators of these
horrible crimes : they had done so frequently ; there
was not, in fact, an engine in their hands that was not
put in motion to prevent these atrocities, and it was,
therefore, rather unjust in his honourable friend to make
the charges he bad preferred against them. On no sub-
ject had the Association exerted itself more than in en-
deavouring to repress crime ; and, if the Hon. Gentle-
man had attended its meetings, he would have seen that
such was the fact. He was sure Mr. Butler had no in•
t
harking-in
with the cry of the magistrates of
e t
Tipperaryiion
andha Westmeath' who called out for a Coercion
t
vnes
Act because of the crimes of a few individuals. He
was happy to say these magistrates had received
a very decided slap in the face even from the late
(
Government,
the necessityvernment,as
of special commissions (prayed for in
the
gentleman sent down to inquire
their memorial), had asserted that there was no such
O'Connell's) opinion
nteend cei
dismissed magistrates, in whom the people had such im-
plicit confidence, were restored to their commissions.
If Lord John Russcll bad been able to carry on the Go-
vernment of the country there could be no doubt but he
would have done so.
materiallyty. lt wouldto the in
his
preservationMr of the peace if the
THE CRISIS.
Mr. O'CoNNELL having moved the adoption of the
report said he was ttnxioustt the
address a few words to the
meeting on the subject of e crisis at which they hau
arrived. They were in a strange state of puzzle. Sir
Robert Peel was Minister ten days ago—Lord John
Russell had become Minister in the interval, and
he believed he was correct in saying that
there was no Minister at that moment. That was
the state of England. He did not consider that
the Tories would, in all probability, be able to form
an Administration. They could assuredly have no con-
fidence in Sir Robert Peel—they had declared that fact
loudly and bitterly—they could have no reliance on him.
It should likewise be remembered that they (the Irish)
could have no confidence in him. Last week he was a
Leaguer, this week he may be a Protectionist, next week
he may be for something modified ; and he was so much
attached to a sliding scale, that he might get on a
sliding scale himself, and slip through their fingers.—
(Laughter.) They were placed in a curious position.
They had no Government, and no person could precisely
tall why. They could not tell why the Whigs did not
form an Administration—they could not tell why the
Tories ceased to be a Government.—(Laughter.) All
they knew was that both Whigs and Tories had
quarrelled amongst themselves, and that they agreed
upon nothing but to differ.—(Laughter.) There was
only one point on which they were perfectly unanimous,
and that was to differ among themselves.—(Laughter.)
What was all that to Ireland? that was the real question
to consider. The present crisis was most beneficial to

Ireland—it raised their expectations—it gave them the
certainty of success, if they were true to themselves
and to their country.—(Cheers.) What cared they for
Whigs or Tories ?—(Cheers.) Their cause was the
cause of Ireland—they were on a majestic march to na-
tionality, and the changes and shiftings of Administra-
tions only exhibited the throes and struggles of that
species of political tyranny that would debase them, di-
viding and separating them from each other. The pre-
nt was the time to rally together—every man should
be a repealer now—(Cheers.) On that day week he had
expressed his concurrence in the sentiments expressed
in the letter of Mr. Smith O'Brien. That patriotic gen-
tleman called emphatically for a " shout for repeal, arid
no compromise." And he (Mr. O'Connell) re-
peated his words, and added to them " repeal and
no comprornise"—(Cheers.) No matter who was Mi-
nister, touting should ever be able to divert them from
the pursuit of their object. Last week he had expressed
his intention of supporting Lord John Russell on the
subject of the corn-laws ; he had promised to attend
constantly during the debates on the corn question, and
that he would use his influence with the Irish Mem-
bers to attend likewise—that he would vote, and
that he would induce his friends to vote in every
division with Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright—(Loud
cheers.) He had no great liking for Sir Robert
Peel ; he knew what kind of a trickster he was,
but still he would be equally ready to support him if he
would undertake to make food plentiful and give cheap
bread to the people.—(Cheers.) But, while he said that
he would not hesitate to do ample justice to Lord John
Russell. That Noble Lord had placed himself in a per-
manent station of the highest order.—(Hear, and cheers.)
Whatever his conduct as a Whig might have been, it
was impossible to contemplate his conduct and mode of'
acting with regard to the corn-laws without feeling a
veneration for his person and concurrence in his
opinions.—(Cheers.) Lord John Russell had behaved
admirably on that occasion, and he would go with him
so far as he behaved himself, and net one inch further.
1-le (Lord J. Russell) had pledged himself to a fixed
ditty and against a total repeal of the corn-laws; but he
found that famine was approaching in England, that
distress was increasing in the agricultural districts: he
saw at once that the amount of wages paid in the manu-
facturing districts would diminish; he beheld great want
in England, and he perceived that in Ireland we were
approaching to a famine, and consequently, pestilence;
he did not allow the fear of being taunted with incon-
sistency to retard him in his career—he abandoned, and
manfully threw up his former opinions when he arrived
at the conclusion that they were wrong, and adopted
opinions favourable to the health and prosperity of the
people of both countries.—(Loud cheers.)
A VOICE—More power to him.—(Cheers.)
__ . .

Mr. O'CONNELL—.More power to him.—(Loud cheers.)
But he wished it to be understood that he was not jus:i-
fying any other act of his. He was not justifying the con-
duct of the Whigs, or speaking in their praise as a party;
but he apike in honest commendation of their leader. He
was vindicating the ancient fame of his family, which had
given many martyrs to liberty, and produced many friends
to the constitutional freedom of this country.—( Loud
cheers.) He therefore loudly and distinctly applauded the
recent conduct of Lord John Russell, but he would not
the less vote with Sir Robert Peel, if Sir Robert Peel
declared in favour of the abolition of the corn-laws. The
llon. Gentleman, having proceeded at considerable length
to point out the means by which he considered the repeal
cause might be advanced, then observed that this plan at
present was to get rid of the corn-laws, and by that
means put a stop to the famine and consequent destruc-
tion of the Irish people. He would give no preference
to Whig over Tory, or Tory over Whig—if ever he
had given a party vote he would never do so again, nor
would he ever vote for any measure except that hich
he considered beneficial to his country. In conclusion,
he gave notice that he would, on the next day of meeting,
call upon the repeal members to assemble together, and
determine upon what line of conduct they ought to
pursue under existing circumstances. In his opinion
there would be further changes before an Administration
would be formed.

Mr. GRATTAN, M.P., having addressed the meeting,
the rent for the week was announced to be 2181. 18s. 2d.
The meeting then adjourned.

ATTEMPT TO MURDER GEORGE READE,EsQ.
The Curlew Sentinel contains the following :—" We
learn from a respectable correspondent, that a desperate
attempt was made on Monday night last, about nine
o'clock, to assassinate George Reade, Esq., of
Duneeshal, near Carnew, county Wicklow, or
rather on the bounds of that and the connty Wex-
ford. The particulars of this dreadful attempt
to assassinate a respectable gentleman as com-
municated to us upon unquestionable authority, are as
follows :—Mr. Reade had dined with a friend who re-
sides in his immediate neighbourhood, Mr. Sawn, of
Tombrain, and on his return home at the above hour, he
stopped midway between Tombrain and his own resi-
dence, at a stream which crossed the road, to water his
horse, when a man leaped over the ditch, presented a
pistol within a yard of his person and fired, but without
effect. The villain then stood to see whether his in-
tended victim had fallen, and while in that position, Mr.
Reade had full opportunity of identifying him as a work.
man and tenant of his own, named Ronayne, who, find-
ing the slr)t had not succeeded, turned round and fled
through a fox ecver. Mr. Reade returned back to Mr.
Swan's and rode without delay into Carnew, and calling
out the constabulary, they proceeded in pursuit of
Ronayne, whom they arrested in his bed. His shoes
were fitted to the tracks found on the spot by the police,
and were found to correspond precisely. Being fully
identified by Mr. Reade. who was thus providentially
spared to his family, Ronayne was committed to Wex-
ford gaol on Tuesday, to abide bis trial at the ensuing
assizes."

The following additional particulars are given by the
Wexford Independent :—" We are informed that the
cause of this horrid attempt was, that Mr. Reade had, on
Monday, refused to give stang or quarter land to the
man in question, as he was giving it to other men in his
employment. Tne reason he assigned for his refusal
was, that the matt had an improvident family, and he had
found it requisite, a few months before, to forgive him
ten or twelve pounds. At that time he decided on paying
his wages weekly, and did so thenceforward. such were
the reasons which Mr. Reade himself assigned to the
man for refusing to give him the quarter land. As the
unhappy individual is now in custody, we forbear from
further observation. We have reason to hope, however,
and indeed to believe, that there was not a second person
in any manner concerned in the dreadful design, nor
aware of it. Mr. Reade has nearly fifty persons in his
employment, as he occupies about seven hundred acres
of land, a great part of which i 3 under tillage. It would
be a severe loss to the several poor families thus sup-
plied with the means of supporting themselves, that the
life of their employer should be madly or wickedly taken
away. We are sincerely rejoiced that he has escaped
without injury ; and, next to this, we feel pleasure in
believing that no other individual in his employment, or
residing in his neighbourhood, bad any part in the nefa-
rious intention to terminate his existence."

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
LIVERPOOL, DSC. 23.

STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The sales are—Bolton, Wigan, and
Liverpool, New Shares, 2 p.—Derby and Crewe, 21, p.—
Grand Junction, 242—Ditto, New Quarter Shares, 3314 p.
—Goole and Doncaster, 2s. dis.—Liverpool and Leeds Direct,
20s. dis. —Manchester and Leeds, Fifth Shares, 10% p.—
North Staffordshire, 23/4 p.—North Wales Mineral, New
Shares, 3%—Sheffield and Manchester, Quarter Shares, 64
p.—Somersetshire Midland, 11/s dis.—South- Eastern and
Dover, Consolidated Thirds, 2% p.—Ditto, Half Shares,
12s. 6d. p.—Tean and Dove Valley, 7s. 6d. dis.—Dutch
Rhenish, 2►%.
MANCHESTER, Dzc. 23. _ .

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Clitheroe Junction,
2%—Coventry and Leicester, PA—Eastern Counties, New,
121. 165. East Lancashire, No. 2, 834—Huddersfield, Hali-
fax, and Bradford, 51. 12s. c.—Lancashire and North York-
shire, 43s.—Leicester and Bedford, 22s.—Liverpool and Leeds
Direct. I%—Liverpeol, Ormskirk, and Preston, 334—Man-
chester and Birmingham' Quarters, 11—Ditto, ditto, 9
Manchester and Birmingham Continuation and Welsh Junc-
tion, 76—Manchester and Leeds, Fifths, 111/—Manchester
and Southampton 214—North Staffordshire, 51. Os. 9d.—
Shropshire Union Railway and Canal, 37s.—South-Eastern
and Dover, Consolidated No. 3, Halves, 3—West Riding
Union, 5/. 14s. 6d.—Nottingham, Erewash, Ambergate, and
Manchester, 2—Sheffield and Manchester, Quarter Shares,
No. 2, 814.

PRICE SD.

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.
(From the Times.)
Sir Robert Peel is Minister again, and the nation is
re-assured. The funds at least rise, and manufacturers
feel a little more encouragement to add to their stocks.
The test may be vulgar, but there is no other. Unhappily
for the sublimer class of politicians, there exists no scale
by which we can measure the aggregate fluctuations of
the moral susceptibilities. Were it possible for people to
lend their consistency at 342- per cent., and realise their
romance in Exchequer-bills—were there a consoli-
dated st ck for all the virtues. and a suitable secu-
rity for good taste—we might then, perhaps, have to
record a decided depression in this braneli of' the
funds at the present conclusion of the " Ministerial
crisis." In the absence of such a standard, we have no
altrrnative but to enter the money market and feel the
puke of the capitalist. Last week that pulse was low,
week, and irregular, denoting a general collapse of the
vital powers, a congestion of blued to the vital organs,
and consequent desertion of the extremities. Sir Ro-
le rt Peel returns, and a reaction ensues. He braces the
system like a tonic—like other tonics, rather bitter and
not very nice—port wine seasoned with bark, perhaps,
such as certain commissioners have recommended for
pauper ague. There certainly is an universal impres-
sion that Sir Robert Peel is the man to carry this mea-
sure. No other man can de it so c asily and so inoffen-
sively. No other statesman can boast so strong a posi-
tion. He is the Hercules who alone can force the gates
of trade, and open to our commercial navy the wealth
of Fortunate islands and Atlantic shores. The manifold
anomalies that are centred in his person, give him the
key to many classes and influences, which no other man
can command. He is the very type of our mixed and
motley state. By birth and ins ard sympathies a menu-
fecturer, by education and connexion an aristocrat, he
wanders through many phases of change, but attains a
sort of unity of returning to the creed of his fathers and
his native soil. The text of free trade was among the
first that he heard, and through his whole life it has rung
in his ears, thoueli ever so stifled by the clamours of
party and she whispers, perhaps, of private ambition.
"Quo semel est imbuta recens, servabit odorem
Testa diu."
It is just thirty years since old Sir Robert Peel de-
nounced with the mist enlightened sagacity and the
deepest indignation the fatal measure of 1815, foretelling
its blighting effects on the trade, the labour, and the
wealth of' the country, and on the landowner himself not
the least of all. A generation passed, and his son happily
lives to follow up the tradition of his father. his mea-
sure once resolved on, Sir Robert Peel needs all the de-
termination he can muster, and all the support he can
receive. We know now both our measure and our man,
and it is a very dilatory and superfluous wisdom to occupy
oneself in retrospective meditations on the course of the
present actual promoter. A hundred converging causes
make Sir Robert Peel a free trade Minister. Fit or
unfit, there is now no help for it. We must swallow our
congruities, bow to necessity, and give our allegiance to
the de
.facto repealer of the corn-laws. A task of incal-
culable difficulty' lies upon him. He has to overcome in
one way or another—we had almost said by fair means
or by foul—the inveterate prejudice of the ignorant, the
dogged pride of the exclusive, and the desperate selfish.
ness of those, who imagine themselves the interested
classes; and for this arduous task he demands, and very
reasonably claims thus far, the assistance of every man
who affects to wish well to his present cause. In fact,
it is a very rough piece of work that is to be done,
and whoever undertakes it must put into it all his
strength. He must be prepared for trials and sacrifices,
without which nothing really great ever was, or ever
will be, accomplisheed. Even the lesser changes of' the
last twenty years have not been without frightful strug-
gles. Putting out of question their wisdom or necessity,
they are not to he compared with that now in progress
for the magnitude and extent of their operation. The
Roman Catholic Relief Bill brought into Parliament a
few dozen noblemen and gsntlernen of that communion.
The Reform Bill disfranchised a few hundreds, and en-
franchised as many thousands. The other chief mea-
sures of the period were of still less compass and signi-
ficance. The repeal of the corn-laws affects every one
that eats and every one that produces bread, and every
one who can do either of these things—in other words,
the whole human race. It promises, and will most as-
suredly give to every civilised man increased facilities of
employment and subsistence. It will put a nation which
is the wealthiest, the most mercantile, Vile most in-
genious, the most adventurous, and the most philan-
thropical in the whole world, into immediate, free, and
open communication with every race that is civilised
enough to till the ground for food. It will bring all na-
tions to the best customer and the best producer of them
all. It will make the ports of Britain the ports of the
world. Is it, then, according to the analogy of human
affairs that so mighty and universal a development
should be so easily achieved? We are almost afraid to
ask whether it is according to that analogy that it should
be achieved by ordinary statesmen. The aristocracy
evidently betray a misgiving that it is not to be so
achieved. It was neither any assignable doubt of the
measure, nor any definite want of confidence in their
political powers, which broke up the late Whig junta.
They were altogether out of heart. They felt no call.
They could not embrace the occasion. A personal an-
tipathy, a pique, a jealousy, began the flaw, which
spread like lightning through the whole fragile combina-
tion, and with the loss of one member, the whole fell to
pieces. It is impossible not to suspect a z ,al which
allows itself to be so easily baffled. The Whigs are,
after all, recent converts; are they sincere? Something
unexplained hampers the movements of men who were
once tree as air and bold as lions. Is it a lingering fear
that the risk of the measure is their own? The men
who helped to cancel theological test, and scheduled
away rotten boroughs ; who made corporations popular,
and alms-houses gaols, are staggered at a change which
embraces the world in its benevolence. It was pos-
sible to corrupt or to threaten the British aristocracy
into the degradation of the Church, the disappointment
of a few boroughmongers, the ousting of mayors and
aldermen, and the insult and persecution of the poor.
Touch their rents, or seem to do so, and it is a more diffi-
cult affair. The change comes home. We must expect
that such of the landowners as cannot understand or feel
sure of the beneficial results to flow from the change
will feel themselves under a tremendous necessity to re-
sist it almost unto death. Self-preservation, not mere
interest, will goad them on. A large portion of our
landowners are only the nominal proprietors of their
estates. Extravagance, either their own or their pre-
decessors', or perhaps the absurd ambition of increas-
ing their rent-roll at the expense of their income, presses
them to the earth with mortgages, the interest of
which is barely covered by the rental. What they
can truly call their own is only the little surplus that
remains when the money lender has been satisfied. Their
actual rent, therefore, consists in the difference between
a high and low-pitched rental. Should, for example, the
gross rent be reduced by a third or a quarter, their own
differential rent is utterly destroyed. They are there-
fore in the position of a rash and needy speculator, who
makes a time bargain far beyond his means in the
confidence of corn maintaining its price. Settling day
comes. Corn has fallen only a few shillings a qusr-
ter, but the speculator, whose stake consisted in that
difference, is ruined. Too many of the landowners imagine
they foresee a settling-day in the abolition of the corn-
laws ; their actual rent being, as they imagine, a certain
artificial excess over a more natural rent. Repeal the
corn laws, and this margin disappears, and with it all
their income. They who are in this anxious position,
with mental faculties in keeping with it, will fight as for
life itself against a repeal. It will present itself to their
imaginations as a risk so horrible as to overpower the
judgment. Some already talk of throwing up their es-
tates altogether, and renouncing the British soil. They
have reason for that threat. Reduce rents but a little,
and their estates are no longer their own. They have
less than nothing. It is not surprising that they
should be incapable of a rational inquiry,
and should immediately prepare for the most des-
perate resistance. But this is not the only stumbling-
block to aristocratical enthusiasm. The rough work
which the people have cut out for them demands rough
and ready instruments. Could it be done by paper and
red tape—might it descend from Heaven, or spring out
of the ground—were it simply a matter for speeches and
divisions, with perhaps a tew gentle ebullitions of popu-
lar triumph when the work was fairly out of hand—the
most fastidious taste would not quarrel with it. It is
found, however, to be a far severer task than suits the
declining energies, the sobered enthusiasm, and, per-
haps, the satisfied ambition, of statesmen who are long
in their standing, old in their ways, and formed in the
views, with much to lose, and nothing to gain. It can-
not be done without turmoil and, perhaps, immediate
expense ; nor can it be done without some rather dis-
tasteful additions to the old staff. The monopoly of
Government and the monopoly of trade are perilled to-
gether. Adopt the principles, and you admit the per-
sons of the new system. Mere shame, apart from the
obvious necessities of the case, will not allow a handful
of late, and perhaps not very cordial, converts taking to
themselves the work of other and truer men. Such are
the difficulties, and such possibly the scruples, felt by
some of those in whose bands this arduous task is now
left. We can only recommend them, if they. entertain
the smallest doubt as to their own determination or
power, to give place as soon as possible to those who
may be found more able and willing.

BEXLEY AND CRAYFORD SOCIETY FOR THE PRO-
MOTION or USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.—On Tuesday evening
last a lecture was delivered to the members and friends of
this society, at the Infant's National School-room, Bexley-
heath. by Mr. Charles Mackie,
"On the Five Senses." The
subjects were treated of in a most interesting manner, and
afforded much instruction and the highest satisfaction to a
numerous and highly-respectable audience. At the conclu-
sion of the lecture the Rev. A. C. Langdale moved a vote of
thanks to the lecturer, and also to Mr. Henry Davids, the
respected secretary to the society, which were 'severally and
unanimously responded to. Mr. Mackie then said, that in
consequence of the very flattering reception he had met with
from the officers of the institution, he should be most happy
to deliver a lecture gratuitously to the members of the
society at such time as would suit their convenience. The
announcement was received with much approbation. A
lecture will be delivered early in January by the Rev. A. C.
Langdale, on electricity.—Kentish Independent.
The season for grouse shooting
.terminated on
Wednesday. Birds have been very plentiful with the game
dealers, aiid at lower prices than usual, but the weather has
generally been unfavourable for the majority of sportsmen
on the moors,—Durham Advertiser.