The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 11, 1845.

twelve days, to the great inconvenience of the plaintiff,
who was no doubt entitled to some compensation. How-
ever, she would be content with a verdict for the rent
and expenses.—Verdict for 17/. 4s.

is tottering, a touch will overbalance it. Be it that the
corn-laws might be removed but temporarily, they had
received the authority of Sir Robert Peel, within the last
two years, that once off they could never be put on again.
These laws once destroyed, the monopolists who profited
by them, having lost their scuree of guilt would join for
the destruction of all monopoly whatever.
Mr. ParNToN just begged to state for their informa-
tion, that having been in the potato market this morning,
he had seen a large cargo of York potatoes, and that the
owner of them, after endeavouring to find a sound
potatoe, could only get three. The price of them in the
York market is at present V., and it would very soon
,:i`se to 161. per ton.
Mr. WEST, in order to lay before the meeting a
few of those data on which the resolution rested,
quoted very largely from an article which appeared some
time ago in the Liverpool Times. Ho then quoted from
a printed circular a statement of the condition of the
crops, in the various foreign countries. Russia has a
sufficiency, but it is very doubtful if there be anything to
spare. Poland, an insufficieut crop. In Pomerania
the crops were very moderate. The Duchy of Posen
but middling. In Hungary very bad, and in Bohemia
and Austria very defective. Comparing the prices paid
at present with those paid last year, the country pays
400,000/. a week, and 20,000,0001. annually more for
wheat than it paid last year. Those who opposed the
repeal of the corn-laws, he said, were not toe ancient
aristocracy, but the modern aristocracy, who gamble
away their income, and think the people should pay fur
their imprudence. He remembered the time well when
these laws were imposed, when a mob crowded
down the Strand, with the cry of " bread or blood,"
assailed the bakers' shops as they passed, brought out
the loaves, and having fixed them on poles paraded them
down to the Parliament House. But how were they
received there? By the bayonets, through which the
Members bad to go, in order to pass these laws.
Several gentlemen here pressed their amendments to
the original resolution on the attention of the meeting ;
but sfter not a little debate on order, the amendment
proposed by Mr. Hatchard was put to the meeting, and
carried against the original resolution almost unani-
mously.
Mr. GOFER rose to move a resolution, deploring the
state of the country, advising the abolition of taxes on
food, but, on the consideration that the country would
be left to the evils of machinery, deprecating the repeal
of the corn-laws. This speaker on getting up, told the
meeting that he would not be put down but by
violence. After his lucubrations on machinery,
" a pair of hand-power," the corn-laws, and
the injury which the working man would sustain from
the extension of commerce, he sat down, and was fol-
lowed by Mr. Gover, jua., who was equally tenacious 01
his liberty and privilege to address the meeting, however
unwilling they might be to hear him. After many in-
terruptions, and much confusion, the gentleman sat
down, and the meeting, having appointed some of the
requisitionists to draw up a memorial to her Majesty,
separated.

LATE FIRE IN CRIPPLEGATE,
CORONER'S INQUIRY.
Yesterday, at two o'clock, Wm. Payne, Esq , City
coroner, and a jury of eighteen parishioners, assembled
at the Fountain Tavern, Red Cross-street, " to inquire,
on behalf of her Majesty, when, how, and by what
means, certain houses in the parish of St. Giles, Crip-
plegate Without, were lately burnt." The houses are
situate in Brairses-buildings, Beech-street, Barbican.
The inquiry caused great interest, and the large room
in which it was held was thoroughly crowded with the
most respectable inhabitants of the ward. Mr. Ford,
printer, on whose premises the fire was first seen, and
Mr. Allen, who occupied premises adjoining, were in at-
tendance, and so was Mr. Braidwood, superintendent of
the London Fire Brigade. The jury having viewed the
premises,
A very long investigation took place, the details of
which are too cumbersome for insertion, the evidence
having been completed,
The CORONER summed up, and stated that if the
jury found Mr. Ford guilty of wilfully setting his pre-
mises on fire, he should not immediately commit him,
but send him for further examination before a justice of
the peace.
The jury deliberated for about 20 minutes, and re-
turned the following verdict :—We find George John
Ford guilty of arson."

WISE PRECAUTION.—The winter is advancing, and
the French newspapers contain no accounts of the death or
capture of Abd-el-Kader. Louis Phillipe has given orders
to have the Marseilles telegraph immediately broken, and its
offices are to be superseded by Monsieur Thiers, who will
have an appointment at Algiers, so that there may be no
delay for the future in the transmission of the French vic•
torie,s.—Punch.

BQUEST OF UFWARDS OF 6,0001. TO HER MAJESTY.
—Yesterday morning the funeral of an eccentric but wealthy
individual took place. The deceased, Mr. William Akers,
was aged 87, lately residing in lodgings at No. 17, Dean-
street, Fetter-lane. The deceased had begun business in
early life as a ladies' fancy fan maker. He was a bachelor,
and by assiduity and parsimony had accumulated a large
fortune. For the last 20 years he had retired from business,
and resided at the house of Mr. Sydenham, where he died.
His habits whilst there were miserly, his only luxury being
sometimes a little gin and water. Ms property was invested
in the Funds, and at his death was found to amount to about

8,0001. For the last seven years he had been nearly blind,
but otherwise in perfect possession of his faculties. A fort-
night since he was taken ill, and was attended by Mr. Kelly,
a surgeon, of Fetter-lane. On opening his will, it was found
that to a poor woman who attended him in his illness, by a
codicil made a day or two before his death, he bequeathed
2001. He had no relatives living, nor any acquaintances with
whom he was on friendly term, with the exception of Mrs.
Sydenham, and to whom he has only left 1001., to her son
1001., and to each of five grandchildren 100/. ; also 300/. to
a young man residing at Wimbledon, whose father and
mother had many years since lodged with deceased's sister,
who being fond of the child had made her brother, whilst
she was living, promise to do something for him. This he
refused to do until a day or two before his decease, when he
made the codicil. There are several other legacies to per-
sons of whom he had only a slight acquaintance. The resi-
due of his property, amounting to above 6,0001., he bequeaths
to her Majesty, to be applied, he wishes, towards the liqui-
dation of the national debt. He has not left anything to

any charity or the poor of the parish where he has so long
resided. Amongst the numerous instances of parsimony, he
engaged the first floor at twenty guineas a year, but he could
not rest until he prevailed upon his landlord to take off the
odd shillings. The only ambition he expressed in life was
that he should be buried with pomp, and yesterday morning
he was interred at his own request, in 'Wimbledon church-
yard, where lie the remains of his sister and her husband.
The funeral procession consisted of mutes, plume of feathers,
javelin men, hearse, drawn by four horses, decorated with
plumes and housings of rich velvet; three mourning coaches,
each drawn by four horses, similarly decorated. His execu-
tors are Mr. Kitchen, jeweller, of Dover-street, Piccadilly,
and Mr. Jones, a retired jeweller, formerly of (Henrietta-
street, Covent-garden, to whom he has left 501. each. These
gentlemen were only known to him by his doing business
for them in the formnr part of his career in life.
LORD STANLEY'S DEClSlON.—Yesterday's over-
land mail brings us the unwelcome intelligence that a dis-
patch from Lord Stanley, hostile to the interests of the
squatters and of the community, and conveying full power
to the governor to carry out his new squatting regulations,
with such modifications as he may think proper, has reached
the colony by the Fetruary Post-office packet.—Melbourne
Courier, July 2.
THE BERKESWELL MURDER.—NATHANIEL SHARP,
THE SUPPOSED CULPRIT, IN CUSTODY.—In the course of the
morning of yesterday (Wednesday), police constable Holmes,
of the Coventry force, took a young-looking fellow, of about
twenty years of age, before the Mayor of Coventry, and other
magistrates, on suspicion of being concerned in the murder of
Thomas Tranter, an old resident in the parish of Berkeswell,
but who was killed by some person unknown on the 17th
ultimo. The Hall of St. Mary's was much crowded. The
prisoner gave his name as James Reed—same name as the
person who is supposed to have committed the murder, and
who has likewise absconded, and the particulars of his appre-
hension are these :—He is a labourer, out of employment, and
came from Denham, in Buckinghamshire, twenty-three miles
from Aylesbury. He was detained at the Aylesbury Police-
office, as applying there on Saturday night last for a bed, on
his giving the name of James Reed. The attention 9f the
officer in waiting was more particularly directed to him on
giving this name, and examined him closer. It appears that,
n his opinion, he corresponded with the description given in
the Government Gazette of Young Reed, of Berkeswell, and
he was accordingly detained. Holmes brought him to Co-
ventry on Tuesday night, ho was examined yesterday, and
will be further remanded until to-morrow (Friday), when he
will be taken before the magistrates of the county.
SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.—The
trial of speed between the Fairy and Wonder, so long sought
fbr, came off to-day, on the occasion of her Majesty's steam
tender Fairy taking the Ministers to and from the island.
The Wonder went down to Cowes on purpose to meet the
Fairy on her return. The two fast vessels, the best possibly
of their respective plans, screw- propeller and paddle-wheels,
made a fair start from the Brambles (off Cowes), and after a
rapid run to the Southampton Docks, the Wonder beat her
competitor by four minutes in time, or about one mile and a
half in distance, showing a superior speed eqaal to nearly
three miles per hour. The time occupied by the Wonder
from the Brambles was 39 minutes ; the distance is roughly
estimated at 11 miles. Her Majesty's Ministers arrived at
and embarked from the Southampton Docks at half-past 10,
and were received by Mr. Forbes, Deputy-Chairman ; Capt.
Ward, R.N., superintendent ; and Mr. Saintsbury, the secre-
tary, and returned at half-past three, and immediately pro-
ceeded by special train to town. Mr. Lobb, the mayor, re-
ceived the distinguished party, and handed the Duke of
Wellington to his carriage.
BRISTOL AND LIVERPOOL JUNCTION RAILWAY.--

The following letter has been addressed, by the authority of
the Board of Admiralty, to Messrs. Johnston, Farquhar, and
Leach, of London, the solicitors to the line of railway called
the "Bristol and Liverpool Junction Railway :"
o f
the
Adt
on signifyrai
ty Gentlemen—Having3,t,oou3r,oul
lettera ihde
iro beforef
"Admiralty, Ist December, 1845.
the
m2yB
Lordships't Lords
ultimo,r d s
assentC o Commissioners
no
tai
hms se i
com-
mandedl:r ei
prin-
ciple ciple of the proposed bridge across the Severn, in connexion
with the Bristol and Liverpool Junction Railway, but before
the parties proceed to carry it into execution, my Lords will
require the working plans to be submitted to them for appro-
bation.
" I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
" W. A. B. HAMILTON.
"Messrs. J6s,ohnMoorgate-ston, Farquhar
street,
."and Leach,
THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO BUCKINGHAM
PALACE.—Yesterday morning workmen commenced laying
down the main pipes leading from the Horse Guards to
Buckingham Palace, which will in future be supplied with
water from the Trafalgar-square wells. The pipes will be
carried from the Treasury across St. James's Park.
CONSCIENCE VERSUS THE BOARD OP TRADE.—
The Clerk of the Peace for the county of Lancaster, notwith-
standing the order of the Board of Trade to the contrary,
refused to receive railway plans and books of references on
the 30th ult. ; and the agents of such lines as were thus
driven to the last day, and they were many, made the re.
quired deposits on Monday morning the Ist of December
under protest. Amongst the number of lines in this predica-
ment is the Furness Railway, fer its intended extension to
Ulverston and branch to Broughton.—Cumberland Pacquet.
Their Highnesses Prince and Princess Nicholas
EsLerhazy and family, it is understood, will prolong their re •
sidenco in this country until the end of May, when they re-
turn to Hungary. The Prince and Princess are staying on a
visit to the Hon. Captain Frederick and Lady Elizabeth Vil-
livra, at their manta Towoeister.

LIGHTHOUSES.

Thera has been recently delivered, pursuant to an
order of the House of Cbthinons, dated August 1, a bulky
" blue bt Olt," of upwards of eight hundred pages, con-
sisting of the report of the Select Committee on
light-
houses, and the minutes of evidence upon which that re-
port was founded. This Committee was appointed
by the House of Commons on the 20th of February, on
the motion of Mr. Hume, for the purpose pf inquiring
into " the state and management of lighthouses, floating
lights, huoys, and beacons, under the charge and manage-
ment of the Corporation of the Trinity House of Dept-
ford Strond, of the Commissioners of Northern Light-
houses, of the Corporation for Preserving and Improv-
ing the port of Dublin, and of all lights, buoys, and
beacons in the hands of any other Corporation, public
body, or private individuals ; also, in the amount of
the gross and the net revenue of each, the expenses of
managing the same, and the appropriation thereof ; also
into the authorities under which the respective dues are
collected and applied; also to inquire into the circumstances
attending the purchase of private lighthouses by the
Trinity House, and the amounts paid for the same, and
the state of the accounts of such lighthouses ; also to
ascertain all the changes and improvements that have
been made in lighthouses, &c., and the extent of relief
which has been afforded to shipping by reduction or
alteration of dues in the United Kingdom since the
passing of the Act of 1834 ; and how far the recom-
mendations of the Select Committee on lighthouses, in
1834, have been carried out ; also to consider whether
any and what alterations can be made in the light and
other dues, and the management of the same, to re-
lieve the shipping of the country."
This Committee met about thirty days, and during
that period examined nearly forty witnesses, the mi-
nutes of whose evidence occupy nearly three hundred
and fifty folio pages of this volume. The appendix oc-
cupies about the same quantity. The report extends to
thirty-one pages; but the following is an abstract thereof,
presenting its most material and interesting portions.
It commences with a review of all that Parliament has
done with respect to the lighthouses of the United King-
dem, since the investigations of the House of Commons'
Select Committee on Foreign Trade its 1822 (when va-
rious inquiries were made into the revenue, management,
And expenditure of the lights and lighthouses belonging
to the Crown, Trinity house, and private individuals),
and thus concludes this branch of the subject:—lt there-
fore appears that, by the sacrifice of more than a million
sterling, the recommendation of the Select Committee of
1834, " to have all public lights placed under one board,
and free from private claims," has finally been carried
into effect as respects England; and Parliament will
thereby be enabled to legislate freely respecting them,
n such manner as shall be considered best for the public
interest.

With regard to the debt incurred for the purchase of
these lights, the Committee states that it requires the
serious coesideration of Parliament, as the burden is
almost entirely borne by the commercial shipping of the
country. It may be divided into two separate portions,
the first interred on account of liabilities on the Con-
solidated Fund under Acts of Reciprocity; the second
incurred for the purchase of leases granted by the Crown
and by Parliament.
The sum of 205,4521. was paid by the Trinity House
to the lessees and proprietors of seven of those lights
ieased by the Crown, for the purchase (calculated at
221 years) of the sum of 9,131/. payable yearly to them
trom the Consolidated Customs, under the Reciprocity
Acts, in compensation for the reduction of light dues on
foreign vessels, according to conventions of commerce
,vith foreign powers.
The Consolidated Customs having been relieved from
the yearly payment of that sum of 9,1311., the Treasury
should, in justice to the shipping interest, repay the
debt incurred by the Trinity House on that account.
The amount of the first portion of the purchase-money
and interest thereon up to June, 1845, paid by the Tri-
nity House, was 256,9081. And your Committee submit
that, under no circumstances should that sum be allowed
to remain a charge on the commercial shipping of the
country. This heavy charge was incurred on political
grounds, for the benefit of the nation ; and the nation
sould therefore pay it.
Your Committee further observe that the sum of
977,0931., the second portion paid for the purchase of
the leases and possessions of lighthouses, ought not to
be charged on the commercial shipping, because the
grants of these lighthouses were originally made by the
Crown, by the Trinity Board, or by Parliament ; and
the Treasury, therefore, and not the commercial ship-
ping, ought to be obliged to pay that amount.
Your Committee would further observe that, although,
by the purchase of the private lights, the union of
management contemplated by the Act of 1836 has been
obtained, yet the reduction of the dues recommended by
the Select Committee of 1834, and also kept in view by
that Act, has not been obtained, and cannot be wholly
effected until the debt so contracted be discharged.

force has been, and we trust is destined long to continue,
paramount ; but the earliest attention of Parliament is
requisite to obviate the results that may take place from
the changes that are going on in the world by tke intro-
duction of steam ; and in our own country in particular,
amongst the coasting shipping.
Your Committee are the more anxious to direct the
attention of Parliament to this important subject, be-
cause some other branches of our trade which have
hitherto supplied the hardiest of our sailors have of late
years considerably diminished, from various causes,
which it is unnecessary to detail.
From our colonial trade in the East and West Indies
we have had, and shall continue to have, a supply of
seamen ; but the Greenland and the South Sea fisheries,
the Baltic trade, the Newfoundland, and, beyond all the
others, the coasting trade, have supplied the hardiest of
our sailors, and a decrease of the supply from those
sources must undoubtedly affect the future manning of
the navy ; and consequently lessen the naval power of
the country.
From the evidence before the Committee, the coasting
trade, which has, beyond all other trades, afforded to the
navy the largest supply of the hardiest of our seamen, is
likely to decrease, unless Parliament shall adopt timely
measures to protect it.
The coal trade from the north of England must be
considered the chief branch of the coasting trade ; and
the evidence respecting the rising competition of rail-
roads, deserves the particular attention of Parliament,
with reference to the burden arising from the light dues.
The late increase of railroads from the coal districts in
the north, and the expectation that they will soon be
employed to supply London with coal, are so well known,
and the consequences to the coasting coal trade so evi-
dent, that your Committee consider it unnecessary to
do more than direct the attention of Parliament to the
subject as one of vital interest to the kingdom.
The coasters also on the south and west coast of Eng-
land complain of the light dues, stating that they have
been losing of late years, and that the trade has been
much depressed.
Your committee are of opinion that the extent of
injury to the shipping, to the trader, and to the con-
sumers generally, from the light dues, will be best un-
derstood by perusal of the evidence tow submitted to
the House ; and Mr. Ogilby states that the merchant,
the broker, the shipowner, and the consumer, are all in-
jured by these dues ; and that a great spur would be
given to the coasting trade it the light dues were taken
off altogether ; and in that opinion your Committee en-
tirely concurs.

AMOUNT OF OVER-SEA TRADE.
In considering the policy of abolishing light dues,
and of providing from other sources for the
maintenance of the lights, buoys, beacons, and the
establishments requisite to manage them, it was ne-
cessary to ascertain what proportion of the amount
of light dues now received was paid by the
coasting trade, by the over-sea British trade, and by fo-
reign ships respectively, and what amount of relief con-
sequently would be given by such abolition to each of
these separate branches. And your Committee having
called for returns on this point, for the year 1843, it is
shown that the amount paid by foreign vessels is in this
case only about 13 per cent. of the whole.
Your Committee, therefore, are of opinion that the
small proportion of 13 per cent. of the gross amount of
light dues thus paid by foreigners should not operate to
prevent our own commercial shipping being relieved
from the remaining 86i per cent.

SIAINTENANCE OF LIGHTHOUSES.
It is alleged, and with great justice, that the commer-
cial shipping have hitherto borne the wl.ole expense of
the erection and maintenance of the lights, whilst the
Royal Navy and revenue vessels have equally had the
benefit of the lights, but without any contribution from
the public Treasury towards their support.
Your Committee request the attention of the House to
the increased expenses attending the outfit and sailing
charges of British vessels, as compared with foreign
vessels, their competitors ; and express their conviction
that the British shipping require reduction of those ex-
penses to enable them to compete with foreign shipping,
and with railroads. It may be, moreover, observed, that
ships employed in foreign trade have had some relief by
being allowed to take in their provisions from bond ; but
the coasting trade have not had that indulgence.
The higher wages of the British seamen, their more
expensive and better food, the increased charge of many
articles of outfit, of artisans' wages, of increased rate of
insurance by taxation, and many other charges, which
the shipowners submitted to whilst the trade was pro-
fitable, are now become burdensome ; and in the pre-
sent depressed state of the commercial shipping, it ap•
pears inexpedient to compel them to maintain an
establishment kept up for purposes essentially Rational.
Your Committee, having duly considered all these and
many other circumstances, are of opinion and recom-
mend to the House, " That all expenses for the erection
and maintenance of lighthouses, floating lights, buoys,
and beacons on the coasts of the United Kingdom, be
henceforth defrayed out of the public revenue ; and that,
as the Trinity House has incurred a debt, under autho-
rity of the 6th and 7th Will. IV., c. 79, in purchasing
the rights of private individuals for their leases and pos-
sessions of lighthouses, the Government ought to take
upon it that debt."

PROPOSED TONNAGE RATE.
It was originally suggested to the Committee of 1834,
and has again in various ways been urged upon the at-
tention of this Committee, that, supposing it should be
deemed advisable to continue any special tax to provide
for the annual expense of the lighthouse, buoy, and
beacon establishments, it would, nevertheless, be proper
to abolish altogether the present light, buoy, beacon,
and other dues, and to impose a tax in the shape of a
small tonnage rate—it is considered that Is. per ton per
annum would be amply sufficient—to be annually levied
ou all the registered tonnage of the United Kingdom,
and on all colonial and foreign vessels entering its ports.
And it appears from the evidence, that a decided pre-
ference is given by almost all the witnesses to that mode
of providing for the maintenance of these establishments.
It has also been suggested to your Committee, that it
is of great importance to have an adequate sum col-
lected towards a fund for the support of merchant sea-
men; and that if the light dues were taken off, a ton-
nage duty of one shilling per ton, once a year, would I
be willingly paid by shipowners to provide means for
forming a merchant seamen's fund, which your Commit-
tee have stated in another part of this report to be a
most desirable object.
Your Committee, after mature consideration of all
the circumstances relative to, and connected with the
present state of the several establishments for managing
the lights, &c., in the three kingdoms, are of opinion
" that all public and general lighthouses, and floating
lights, buoys, and beacons in the United Kingdom,
should be placed under the management of one board, re-
sident in London; and that that central board in London
should be the Trinity Board of Deptford Strond."
And at the same time, with a view of carrying out
the recommendations of the Committee of 1834, your
Committee recommend " that in future one-third of the
members of the Trinity House of Deptford Stroud be
nominated by the Crown."
Taking the total of British tonnage registered, and
the foreign tonnage entering our ports, in the year 1844,
at 4,781,128 tons, and charging ls. per ton, the sum of
239,0561. would be produced (at the least).
If these plans were adopted, the tonnage rate could be
modified according to the time of employment of the
ships ; and your Committee would certainly recommend
the plan of tonnage duty in preference to the existing
system.
If the mode of assessment by a tonnage duty on vessels
be adopted, it may deserve to be considered whether the
tonnage of the Royal Navy, of the vessels employed by
the customs, preventive service, and excise, should not
also be included, with the view of lessening, as much as
possible, the charge on the commercial shipping. By a
return, it appears that in the years 1813, 1814, and 18 15,
years of war, the average tonnage of ships of war was
304,583 ; and in the three years 1842, 1843, and 1844,
the average was 165,655.
CENTRAL BOARD OF MANAGEMENT.
Your Committee have had under their serious consi-
deration the system of managing the lighthouses, buoys,
and beacons of this empire by separate boards in Eng-
land, Scotland, and Ireland, each constituted in a diffe-
rent manner, and charging different rates of dues, and
acting under different rules, authorised, some by patents
only, and others confirmed by Acts of the Legislature.
The constitution of these boards is either by self-elec-
tion, or by ex-officio appointment ; and although there
has been some degree of control given to the Trinity
House over the Scotch and Irish boards, as to the
placing of lights, buoys, and beacons, yet the admini-
stration of each may be said to be independent, and not
subject to any superintendence or control in their gene-
ral management, except in so far as the Queen in Coun-
cil has power over all.
The magnitude of the department of lights, and its
mportance to this commercial and naval country, make
it an object of great interest.
PENSIONS AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES.

As the Trinity Board has continued, contrary to the
recommendations of previous Select Committees of this
House, to apply, out of the light dues, large sums yearly
to pensions and other charitable purposes, it is requisite
that your Committee should notice, somewhat in detail,
the state of that question, as it is one of importance,
both in principle and in the amount of funds dealt with.
Your Committee, after mature deliberation, are of
opinion that all pensions and charitable allowances now
paid by the Trinity Corporation out of the surplus light
dues (except retiring pensions to servants belonging to
the establishment) shall cease with the lives of the indi-
viduals now on the pension list ; and that the sums
requisite to pay such pensions bo provided for by Par-
liament.
At the same time, your Committee, whilst they ex-
press their decided opinion (that no more money ought
to be distributed from the surplus dues in charity by the
Trinity Board), de strongly recommend that a com-
prehensive measure be brought forward by Gorernment,
to form a fund for the relief and support of all destitute
and aged masters, mates, and seamen of the merchant
service, their widows and children, upon a scale adequate
to their wants, and your Committee hare to state with
much satisfaction, that the shipowners examined by the
Committee, whilst objecting to any part of the light
dues being distributed in charity, declared themselves
willing to contribute to such charitable fund as would
hold out to all British merchant seamen liberal induce-
ment to remain in tho service of their country, by en-
titling them to receive relief from that fund under sick-
ness and accident, and also support in old age for them-
selves and families.
ECONOMY IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LIGHTS.
Your Committee has already expressed an opinion
that the public general lights are inefficient in brilliancy,
but it is difficult to ascertain correctly how far the seve-
ral expenses for the buildings, fittings, stores, attendants,
wages, &c., are regulated with due economy or not.
Several witnesses have complained of the lavish expense
in maintaining the lighthouses, and of the large esta-
blishments kept up to manage them ; but, whether any
change be made in the mode of supplying the funds to
maintain the lighthouses, or whether the present mode
shall continuo, Your Commit* must Mum a atroPii

opinion that every possible reduction of the expenses
ought to be made, consistent with the efficiency of the
lights and the comforts of the attendants.
In 1834, of all the public general coast lights, the sum
of 5081. was the average charge for each light in the
year. By the above statement for 1844, taking an aver-
age of all the public general coast lights, the sum of 4591.
is the charge per light ; and thus for the whole of the 121
public general lights, the sum of 55,5391. would suffice,
in future. to maintain them. If the 29 floating lights
he taken at 1,2001. a year, the sum of 34,800/.
would be required to maintain them ; and these
two classes of lights (in number 150) would con-
sequently require 90,339/. to maintain them the whole
year. The charge for the managing establishment,
it the whole of the lights be united under one, would be
small when compared with the gross amount of
35,9051 paid in 1843. And your .Committee are of
opinion that the relief to the shipping, the benefit to the
coasting trade, and the advantage to the naval service,
by taking off the light dues altogether from the commer-
cial shipping, and paying the expense and maintenance
from the Treasury, would be great, and is most desir-
able to be effected.

The attention of your Committee has been called to
the erection of fixed lighthouses where floating lights are
now maintained, and to the substitution of iron for stone
and brick houses ; and there is reason to believe that a
considerable reduction of expense in the light depart-
ment may be effected by the adoption, in part, of these
improvements.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
DEC. 10.—The Royal Family are expected to leave
Osborne on Saturday.
Prince Albert visited Northwood House, the seat of
G. H. Ward, Esq., on Tuesday, with Sir Edward Bo-
water. The house has cost above 20,0001. lately for
embellishments by foreign artists. The grounds are
beautifully laid out, no expense being spared about them.
Mr. W. is considered to have the finest collection of
evergreens in England, and the grounds are the most
beautifully situated. His Royal Highness spent nearly
two hours in going over the house and grounds. The
"Court Circular" tells us that the Queen and Prince
Albert walked in the Plantations of Osborne House on
Monday ; that on Tuesday the Queen. and Prince took
their usual early walk in the pleasure grounds of Os-
borne House. On Wednesday the Queen and Prince
Albert promenaded in the plantations of, &c. If this
account of the doings of her Majesty is to convey to her
subjects what;is really taking place at Osborne, it is non-
sense. Why, her Majesty and the Prince are out in all
weathers. Let any one conceive to himself a country
squire and his lady, after a London season, once more
back into the country, to their own pet place—their
" turtle dovery," if you like—that they are having some
alterations made in the shrubberies and grounds—that
they are superintending them—that the squire, or the
Prince, has a spade in his hand (not made for show but
use, the same as the gardeners and labourers use), and is
digging a hole in the pleasure grounds to plant a shrub
in—that his lady, or the Queen, plants the shrub, and
holds it while he treads it in. This may daily be seen
at Osborne by all persons having business at the house,
and no more notice is taken of the parties or of the
children, who are pla) ing near them, than of a squire
and his lady. A piece of ground is being laid out and
planted, to screen the view of the stables from the house
and grounds. One gentleman sent 100 curious ever-
greens, and quantities have been sent from Windsor, &c.;
and we know instances that, where the land has not
been dug deep enough, and a certain person cannot send
the spade so far into the gravelly soil as it ought to go,;
we know he can make the pickaxe turn it up. The work
being completed, the lady takes his arm, and with one
child on each side, away they trudge together across the
park to admire the views, or observe the progress of
some improvements, like an old English squire and his
lady.
POOR-LAW UNIONS.—The guardians of
.the poor of
the Isle of Wight have advertised for tenders from per-
sons willing to supply 1,4001 b. of good beef, 1201 b. of
currants, 1201 b. of raisins, &c. &c., to furnish the in.
mates of, the poor-house (569) a dinner on Christmas-
day. We hope the inmates of all the poor-houses in
England will be as well provided for.
NEW LIGHT AT THE R.Y.S. HousE.—A splendid gas-
light, with four burners, has been exhibited during the
last week in front of the R.Y.S. House. It is a fine ob-
ject for vessels making for Cowes harbour and road-
stead, and it is so powerful that the various yachts mill
have no difficulty in finding their buoys in the night-
time. It burns from sunset to sunrise, and can be dis-
tinctly seen from the mouth of Southampton waters, from
which it bears S. by W.

LIABILITY OF APPLICANTS FOR
SHARES IN RAILWAY COMPANIES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—In your City article of yesterday you say
" Promptly ought applicants for shares to perform their
duty, so as to prevent law suits—escape from liability
there is none." The Attorney-General and Mr. S. Pitt
Taylor say " We advise quiescence, and if any legal
proceeding be instituted, defend them." If I might be
allowed to offer advice, it would be that the instant par-
ties receive letters of allotment they should, by adver-
tisement, call together all parties concerned in the com-
pany, and should demand of the Directors the
position in which they stand, as regards surveys, ex-
penses, &c., and they should then determine whether
it be advisable or not to prosecute the scheme; and if it
be determined to dissolve the company, let the affairs at
once be placed under the charge of the Court of Chan-
cery, under the provisions of the Joint Stock Company
Act, 7th and Bth, Vie., c. 112, for the settlement of the
affairs of the Joint Stock Companies. From such mo-
ment all suits must be stayed, and no further expenses
incurred—and each individual will have only to contri-
bute his fair and equitable proportion of expenses in-
curred. All bubble schemes will be exploded by allowing
only legal expenses—by bubble companies I mean
schemes which originated with attorneys, engineers, sur-
veyors, &c., solely for the purpose of getting an imagi-
nary line surveyed, and plans deposited, and having
enormous expenses paid out of deposits calculated on
being obtained only., by means of extortion, by threaten-
ing law and equity suits those who have been silly
enough as to write for shares in the scheme. If the whole
body of applicants for shares go to the Court of Chan-
' eery to dissolve the company, and engage attorneys of
the first eminence, I feel assured it will be found to be
the cheapest and best way of getting out of the clutches
of designing men. I cannot conclude better than in your
own emphaticO words, "ESCAPE FROM LIABILITY THERE
IS NONE.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERT WILLIAM DICKENSON.
Ilfracombe, Dec. 10th, 1845.

HARBOURS OF REFUGE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sta,—The Government, thanks to your noticing the
subject, has at last turned its attention to the alarmingly
defenceless state of the Humber, and it is currently re-
ported that something will be done at the mouth of the
river to render it more difficult for the steamers, in case
of war, to get up to this town unseen. A fort on one of
the Sands is talked of. If this were done the Humber,
perhaps, might be improved as a harbour of refuge. At
present it is not a bad one, compared with many, but it
might be made better.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
A CONSTANT READER.
Hull, Dec. 9, 1845.

SUPPOSED DEATH FROM VlOLENCE.—Wednesday
afternoon, Mr. William' Payne, the City Coroner, held an
inquest at Guy's Hospital, on the body of Mr. John Clarke,
master mariner, who resided at Swansfleet, Yorkshire, and
who entered the above institution on the 26th ult. with a
compound dislocation of the right thumb, which was in a
state of mortification, from the effects of which he died on
Sunday last. The only account given of the accident was
by the deceased to some of his friends, but at the time he
was not aware that the injury was likely to terminate fa-
tally, it could not be received in evidence. The statement
of the deceased was, that on Friday, the 21st of November,
he was going along Park- street, Scuthwark, about nine
o'clock, when he was knocked down by some men. He was
found by two policemen, who thinking him drunk, threat-
ened to take him to the station-house, but, finding him se•
riously hurt, they took him to a house where he found that
his thumb was broken, and that he had been robbed of his
pocket-handkerchief. There being no evidence before the
jury in reference to the accident, they returned a verdict,
" That the deceased died from exhaustion, arising from the
injury to the thumb, but how the injury wa3 caused there
was no evidence."

•
GAME TRESPASS.—On Monday, Mr. Thomas
Cheesman, solicitor, of Gravesend, who is joint occupier with
his brother of a farm at Luddesdown, the property of Wm.
Masters Smith, Esq., of Camer, appeared before the county
magistrates at Rochester, with two other parties (Mr. Walter
Cheesman and Mr. H. Price) on a charge of trespassing on
the farm in search of hares. It appeared that on the 24th
of November the parties with others, two on horseback and
two on foot, with four greyhounds, were observed by Mr.
Smith's keeper beating a piece of their own turnips in search
of hares. he offence was alleged to have been committed
in violation of a clause in their lease, and the defence that

they had always coursed with the knowledge of a former
keeper without molestation, and that the whole cf the Earl
of Darnley's tenantry in the neighbourhood were allowed to
do so. The defendants were convicted in a penalty of ls.
each, and 14s. 6d. each costs.

- .
HER. MAJESTY'S STAG HOUNDS.—Yesterday was a
by-day, the meet taking place at Gerrard's Cross-common;
and notwithstanding the fixture had not been publicly
announced, the field, including the Earl of Rosslyn and
several officers from London, Windsor, and Hounslow, num-
bered nearly two hundred. Upon an untried deer being
turned out on the Common it took away to the Pied Horse,
doubling back by the French Horn towards Fulmer, leaving
the village to the right, over the Common to College Wool
Henryand Wexham Church, and thence over Mr. Nash s
farm to the Slough station, crossing the
railway
onto Salt-
hill. The deer, after doubling round by andChaey,__ick,
wa
away
s
11(1
for Chippenham and Dorney, and thence to Eaton
mile below
quarters.
The Salt-
hill, taken
aftercl o s
ae tyl
excellent
xßeealtlhe
n- rtoraudi,i about oaunt itaul
hour
- a -
and
The country was in excellent huntingi order. The meet to-
morrow will take place at the Blackog,edfont.
STATE or TRADE.—There was a considerrble im-
provement in the state of the market yesterday, and pur-
chases, both of yarn and goods, were made more freely than
last Week. In prices, there was no absolute change to be
noticed, except that they were steadier and better defined
than some weeks past. We are sorry to state that. a rather
extensive failure of a calico-printing house was announced.
The engagements are stated to bo about 60,000/.—Rochdale
Flannel Market, Monday, Dec. B.—The flannel market is
decidedly worse, and very little business has been transacted
at any price. Wool is a drug, and very difficult of sale. In
fact there is no demand either for manufactured goods or the
raw inaterial.—Mitchester Guard!
THE GRAND DUKE CONSTANTINE.—PLYMOUTII,
DEC. O.—Last night the Russian line-of-battle ship Inger-
manland, Captain Moffit, bearing the flag of Admiral Lutke,
and having on board the Grand Duke Constantine of Russia,
put back through contrary winds. She was accompanied by
her consort, the corvette Vaarschafsky, Captain Glimenap.
The wind at this time (3 P.m.) is gone from S.W. to
W.N.W., and continues veering towards the north. In all
probability the Russian ships wilpeaye the Sound spin to-
morrow amain.

FREE TRADE MEET.ING AT •
DERBY.
A numerous, respectable, and enthusiastic meeting of, ti
free traders was held on Tuesday, in the ball ok
Mechanics' Institution, Derby, for the purpose 65. row, 7\
warding the forty shilling qualification movement;,-;ftpde.
advancing the cane of free trade generally. .I.Tpwar4 -
of 2,000 persons were present. ."..IYZCS
The chair having been taken by W. Evans,
for North Derbyshire, the proceedings :comment/ed. I?3f
reading two letters, one from Lord Duncannon, and the!
other from Mr. Cavendish, M.P. The writers expressed— ' ta.tio
their regret at their inability to be present at the tatiiltl'l/410,--,
ing, but both expressed their good wishes for its success,
and their adhesion to the principles in support of which
it was held.
Mr. COI3DEN in an eloquent speech urged on the meet-
ing the paramount necessity of attendingto the registration
for the purpose of getting rid of the corn-laws, against
which the feeling of the country was unanimous. No
one had courage to give them a character, although they
were passed for what was called the protection of the
English people. But not only did the people not dare
to praise the corn laws, but, making them a kind of
political Jack Shepherd—(Laughter)—if any body lost
money by the fall of scrip, or the decline in the value of
shares, why the corn-laws were at once blamed.
Mr. Moss, the late Mayor of Derby, proposed a reso-
lution, pledging the meeting to forward the qualification
movement for South Derbyshire, which, being seconded
by Mr. WEBB, a tenant farmer, was carried by accla-
mation.
Mr. STRUTT, M.P., in an eloquent speech, moved
a vote of thanks to Messrs. Cobden and Bright, which
was carried by acclamation ; and Mr. Cobden having
acknowledged the compliment, thanks were voted to the
the Chairman, and the meeting separated.

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen held a Court and Privy Council yes-
terday at Osborne House, Isle of Wight.
The Council was attended by his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, the Duke of Buccleuch, Lord Privy
Seal ; the Duke of Wellington, Commander-in-Chief ;
Sir Robert Peel, First Lord of the Treasury; Sir J.
Graham, Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
ment ; the Earl of Aberdeen, Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs; Lord Stanley, Secretary of State
for the Colonies ; the Right Hon. H. Gotilburn,
Chancellor of the Exchequer; the Earl of Lincoln,
Chief Commissioner of the Woods and Forests ; and
the Right Hon. Sidney. Herbert, Secretary- at-War'..
At the Council, Parliament was ordered to be fur-
ther prorogued from Tuesday, the 16th December,
unto Tuesday, the 30th December.
Mr. C. Greville was the Clerk of the Council in
Waiting.
At the Court the Right Rev. Dr. Wilberforce,
Bishop of Oxford, had an audience of her Majesty,,
and did homage upon his appointment to that see.
Sir James Graham, her Majesty's principal Secre-
tary of State for the Home Department, and the
Bishop of Norwich, Clerk of the Closet, assisted at
the ceremony.
The Earl of Warwick was the Lord in Waiting.
Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Buccleuch, Lords
Aberdeen, Stanley, and Lincoln, Sir James Graham,
the Chancellor of the, Exchequer, and Mr. Sidney
Herbert, travelled from town to attend the Council
by a special train on the South-Western Railway.
At Basingstoke the Duke of Wellington joined his
colleagues.
From Southampton the party was conveyed in the
Fairy steam-yacht to Cowes, arriving at Osborne
House at five minutes past twelve o'clock.
After the Council the Cabinet Ministers left Os-
borne House, together with the Bishop of Norwich,
the Bishop of Oxford, and Mr. C. Greville, and were
conveyed in the Fairy steam-yacht to Southampton,
where a special train was in reacis.;ness on the South-
Western Railway. The party proc,,eeded to Basing-
stoke, where the Duke of Wellington alighted from
the train ; the other noblemen and gentlemen went to
town, accomplishing the distance in one hour and
fifty-three minutes.
The Queen and Prince Albert took a drive in
pony phaeton on Tuesday afternoon.
The Royal Family were taken an airing in a car-
riage on Tuesday afternoon.
Yesterday morning her Majesty and her Royal
Consort took their usual early walk. The royal
children were taken in the pleasure-grounds yes-
terday.

i ~:

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had
a general meeting yesterday. There were present
the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of
London, Ely, Llandaff, Rochester, and Salisbury ;
the Judge of the Prerogative Court and the Judge of
the Admiralty Court.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of New South Wale',
New Zealand, and Ceylon, and also fiPm the Lord
High Commissioner of the lonian Islands.