The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-03 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

FALMOUTH, JAN. 1.-By the Tagus steamer, arrived
last evening, we received the accompanyinc, despatches.
Her dates of leaving are from Gibraltar 23d, Cadiz 24th,
Lisbon 27th, Oporto 28th, and Vigo 29th ult.
Also arrived this morning two of the Royal Mail
Steam-packet Company's vessels, viz., the Thames, from
London, and Tay, from Southampton. The former pro-
ceeds on Monday, the 3d instant, with mails for Berbice,
Demerara, Tobago, and Havannah ' • and the latter will
also leave the same day with mails for Barbadoes and
the other West India islands.

The light winds, with thick and hazy weather, the
past week, have prevented the arrival at several vessels
expected:from the westward.
LISBON, DEC. 27.—The grand event of the week
which has just terminated is the result of the municipal
elections, which is most decidedly, and contrary to
general expectation, favourable to the present Ministers.
Those elections commenced on Sanday, the 19th instant,
and great were the preparations which had been made
on both sides for the contest. The mode of taking the
suffrages being by secret ballot, nothing like accurate
knowledge could be obtained until the scrutiny and
formal declaration both were over. The real state of
things was speedily made manifest in the declaration of
the return, by a most triumphant majority of the friends
of tranquillity, order, and good government. It is im-
possible to overrate the importance of this event, in
strengthening the hands of a soundly-reforming and
wisely economic Ministry, in blasting the hopes of Re-
volutionary and Republican conspirators, in checking
the hostile advances of Spain, and the insidious ma-
nceuvres of France, in withering the growing might of
the Septembrista party, in facilitating the means of keep-
ing faith with the public creditor, in smoothing the way
for the completion of unpopular, but indispensable, finan-
cial reforms, and in fortifying a weak and decayed
dynasty against the masked batteries and mines of every
description of secret confederation, club, and cabal.
On the 24th instant the French frigate La Belle Pottle,
commanded by Prince sle Joinville, arrived in the Tagus,
from New York in 24 days, accompanied by the brig
Cassard. After landing at the Arsenal his Royal High-
ness proceeded immediately :o the Palace, and it is said
he will make a stay here of some days. He is escorted
about by the King, and his appearance is anything but
prepossessing. As a stranger. common courtesy, to say
nothing of his high rank as a Prince, should compel him
to repay with urbanity the civilities and greetings which
everywhere await him; but his Royal Highness appears
wholly indifferent to the attentions bestowed upon him
by this polite people—a circumstance which is rendered
more remarkable from his being a native of the country
proverbial for its etiquette and bonhommie.

The ships of war fn the Tagus are the Indus and Re-
venge (British line), La Belle Poule, mentioned above,
brig Cassard, steamer Lavoisier (French).
Yesterday Prince de Joinville dined with their Majes-
ties at the Palace of the Necessidades, and was knighted
by the Queen with the Grand Cross of the Order of the
Tower and Sword.

The Baron Renduffe goes passenger in the Tagus
steamer, which takes the mail of to-day. Re is appointedy
Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Berlin.

FALSE ALARM IN A CHURCH —On Sunday,
during the celebration of last mass in the church of St.
Andrew, Westland-row, some person inside the sacred
edifice, whether through a malicious motive, in order to
cause mischief, or from fancied apprehension of danger,
called out that the gallery was falling. This was natu-
rally enough followed by a rush on the part of the more
timid of the congregation towards the principal doors.
Two policemen on duty- outside, rightly judging the
alarm to be unfounded, immediately closed the doors,
and thus prevented the serious consequences that would,
no doubt, have ensued from the indiscriminate-forcing
of a body consisting of hundreds of individuals through
comparatively narrow passages, and down a flight of
some half a dozen steps. Confidence and order were in
a very brief space restored, and the celebration of divine
service was concluded without further' interruption.—
Dublin Freeman.

STATE OF TRADE.---WE regret to state that
the trade in this town is as dull as ever. Go where we
will we are assailed on all sides with complaints as to the
slackness of business. The shopkeepers, in particular,
suffer severely. Nor is the slate trade, the staple produce
of the country, that which gives employment to so many
thousands of our fellow countrymen, and on which so
Many depend for their daily bread, in a more flourish-
ing condition. The freight, we understand, which
owners of vessels now obtain for a cargo hence to Lon-
don, Is only 13s. per ton, and, at the commencement of
the year just closed it was 20s. for the same weight.
Does not this fact speak volumes ?—Carnarvon Herald.

PUBLIC MEETING AT MAN-

CHESTER

A meeting of Deputies from operative Anti-Corn-law
Associations was held yesterday (New Year's-day), at
the rooms of the League, which had been lent for the
purpose. Deputies from many of the principal towns in
England and Scotland attended. A considerable number
of communications were also received from Associations
which are not able to bear the expense of sending repre-
sentatives to the meeting. '
Afterwards a public meeting of the inhabitants of
Manchester was held at twelve o'clock, in the Town-hall,
the large room of which was filled to overflowing. The
meeting was held for the purpose of petitioning Parlia-
ment against the Corn laws. The Chartists were present
in a considerable body, forming about one-fifth of the
entire number; and on John Brooks, Esq., being pro-
posed as chairman, raised a great clamour, but were ul-
timately restored to tolerable artier on one of their leaders
declaring that they were in a decided minority.
After speeches from the Chairman, Mr. Rawson, Mr
Falvey of Macclesfield, and two other gentlemen, the
following petition was carried by a great majority amidst
loud cheers:—

" To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and
Ireland in Parliament assembled.

"The humble petition of the inhabitants of Manches-
ter in public meeting assembled :
"Sheweth,—That your petitioners conceive that no
class in the community ought to be protected by law in
the perpetration of injustice ; that no individual or class
has a right (under the protection of a Legislature which
ought to be the representative of impartial justice to
all), to live without labour, eat of the produce of the toil
of any other individual or class; and, therefore, as it has
often been declared by Parliament that the wages of the
working men cannot be raised, maintained, or fixed by
law, it is inconsistent and unjust by law to raise, main-
tain, or fix the price of the food of the working
man; and as they know it has been proved before the
Committees of your Honourable House that corn can be
grown in Great Britain and sold by British farmers at
40s. a quarter, or 245. a quarter less than the price which
it is the intention of the Corn-laws to fix it at ; and, also,
that by the evidence of Mr. J. D. Hume, given also be-
fore the Committee of your Honourable House, it has
been proved that the Corn and Provision-laws inflict an
annual burthen upon the people of at least 58,000,000/,
a sum three times as great as is the entire annual
wages of all the persons engaged in the cotton manufac-
ture, and more than twice as great as the whole amount
of the annual wages. paid to the millions of the best paid
agricultural labourers ; they do most earnestly pray
your Honourable House will immediately obey the voice
of justice, by the total abolition of the unchristian and
immoral Corn and Provision-laws, and thus show to those
disposed otherwise to doubt it, that you are the supporters
of right, even though it may be upheld by wealth and
power, and not the upholders by the abuse of law of the
tyranny and injustice of a small but rich and powerful
fraction of the community.—(Applause.)
" And your petitioners would further express to your
Honourable House, that the Corn and Provison-laws,. in
the present or a similar form, have taken at least
58,000,0001. per annum out of the pockets of the indus-
trious and suffering portion of the community for 26
years, and thus have inflicted a total burthen of
1,300,000,000/., which vast sum has enriched and overfed
the landowners of the country at the expense of the
misery and privation of the people and premature death
by legal famine of vast numbers. Therefore your peti-
tioners would humbly suggest to your Honourable
House the immediate appointment of a Committee,
whose task it should be to ascertain in what manner the
injured people of Great Britain and Ireland may be best
compensated for the great loss and damage they have
for so long a period sustained, whether by a bounty upon
the importation of foreign corn, or by any other plan
which shall, by the superior wisdom of Parliament, ap-
pear to be best adapted to answor the object in view.
" And your petitioners, in conclusion, would direct
the attention of your Honourable House to the present
unjustifiable small amount of the burdens of the state de-
frayed by the land-tax; and would humbly pray that,
as the rental of land has risen enormously since the im-
position of the present tax upon it, the tax may be in-
creased in proportion ; and that thus about 20,000,000/.
per annum may be taken off the shoulders of labour and
placed upon the rich proprietors of the soil.
It was then moved and seconded, that the petition be
presented to the Commons by the Members for the
borough, and to the Lords by the Earl of Radnor, and
the motion was carried without opposition.

MEETING OF SPITALFIELDS
SILK WEAVERS.

On Saturday night a general meeting of the trade of
the Spitalfields silk weavers was held at the Crown and
Anchor, Waterloo-town, Bethnal-green, for the purpose
of receiving the report of the acting Committee appointed
to investigate the state and condition of the silk weavers
in that district. Several femalei were present.
Mr. BRITTEN having been appointed to the chair said,
that he was sorry he was under the necessity of again
having to address them on the subject of their present
state of starvation. There was 500 or GOO men there
that night, many of whom had not a dinner for their
families to-morrow. This is a most distressing case, to
have no food for your wives and familieS, and if you apply
to the parish what do you get? Stone-breaking! And
a man who has a wife and four children, what can he earn
at that ? He must go again and again to the stone-yard
before he can earn a shilling. A weaver knows nothing
at all about stone-breaking ; he is not fit for it ; yet he is
sent to the stone-yard if he applies fur relief, and there
he is confined and locked up.
Mr. Fox said, that at the last meeting they were in-
formed that three of the Committee would pay a visit
to the district, and which bad been done. He (Mr.
Fox), Mr. Claisse, the Secretary, and Mr. Hornhy, had
visited nearly 800 families in three days, and they had
found that their previous account as to the state of the
distress was not at all exaggerated.—(Hear, hear.)
They had seen many instances where children had been
crying for bread. One-half the looms were unemployed,
while those at work were not fully so ; there were many
houses, also, which were unoccupied where there used
to be weavers who had their looms. There were seve-
ral cases where a weaver had formerly his looms with
decent furniture, but it was gone, and he was now left
without bed or lothing for his large family. They had
Mr. Millar, Secretary to the Committee in commu-
nication with the Lord Mayor, at Mr. Hanbury's brew-
ery, and he informed them that an early meeting of the
Committee would take place to make arrangements for
the distribution of the funds raised for their relief. He
was glad that some. allusion had been made to the
eruelties of the stone-yard. It was an act of cruelty
toy put a man who had been brought up to the silk
trade to the task of stone. breaking.--(Hear.) In the
year 1837 there was a special order that no man who
was engaged in the silk trade should be put to stone-
breaking, and the reason was, that if, on leaving the
workhouse, they had work, they could not do it on ac-
count of the state of their hands.—(Hear.) That order
was obtained in consequence of certain disclosures made
at a meeting held at the Camden Head. Their cause
was taken up by the press, and the consequence was,
that there was a spicial meeting of the Board of Guar-
dians to inquire into the case, and that a special order
was made that no silk-weaver should he put to the
stone-yard. But time had gone on, and the old system
had come round again. He knew that the parish was in
difficulties, and that it was impossible for them to sup-
port the poor they had. But if the weavers were broken
down by poverty, they might be treated with humanity.
Afeer soma further discussion the report of the Com-
mittee was then unanimously received, and
Mr. Honsrssr moved, and Mr. CLAISSE seconded, a
resolution pledging the meeting to oppose the cruel prac-
tice of sending the silk-weavers to the stone-yard, which
was una4imonsly agreed to.

FRIGHTFUL MURDER of an IDIOT.
We copy from the Monitor au account of one of the
most diabolical outrageS that ever was perpetrated in any
country, even amongst savage tribes. It is the murder
of a poor idiot, under circumstances of the most shock-
ing barbarity. UnWilling to believe in the possibility of
such a fiendish criine, tke perpetrators being described
as military gentlemen, on a visit near Philipstown, we
expressed our disbelief of the statement. But just before
going to press, we learned, with horror, that the Outrage.
actually occurred, and that the description given by our
Contemporary is correct in all material particulars.
It seems that a mock inquest was held—that some of
the delinquents have fled, and that the Government, as
far as we are yet apprised from official or other sources
has taken no step for the arrest of the diabolical wretches
concerned in this most dreadful murder.—Dublin Even-
ing Post.
[The following is the statement referred to. Some
of the particulars appeared in The Sun last week, but it
appeared so incredible that an atrocity of the kind should
be passed over or hushed up in a Christian country, that
we attached little credit to it.--ED. Sun.]

TilE SUN, LONDON MONDAY, JA:./41/AliT 3, 1442.

WOOLWICH-FRIDAY.
ROYAL ARTILLERY.
Further experiments with the percussion lock on a
six-pounder gun have been very satisfactorily carried
on in the Royal Arsenal during the week, and it is fully
expected they will ultimately be adopted for heavy ord-
nance.
The retirement of Lieutenant-Colonel Sinclair on full
pay, which is daily looked for, will promote Major Re-
mer, the Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster-General, to
the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Rumour gives the situ-
ation of Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster-General to
Major Sandelands, Royal Horse Artillery ; and the
troop which will consequently be vacated loy him to
to Captain Bloomfield ; and it is also expected that Ma-
jor Romer, on his promotion, will proceed to Plymouth
to take the command of the Royal Artillery at that
station.

Colonel Dyneley, C. 8., Commanding Officer of the
Royal Artillery, gave a splendid dinner to the Staff-
Sergeants of the brigade at the Queen's Arms Tavern,
on the occasion of his promotion to Colonel and Aide-de-
Camp to the Queen. There' were 18 present, and the
chair was filled by Quartermaster-Sergeant Bowman, the
oldest non-commissioned officer in the brigade, and per-
haps in the army, as he has been 47 years in the regi-
ment. The vice-chair was filled by Quartermaster-Ser-
geant Hunter, the next in seniority. The usual loyal
toasts having been drank, the health of Colonel Dyne-
ley, their respected commanding officer, and long life to
him to enjoy his new honourable appointment, was given
from the chair, and drunk by the company with the
greatest enthusiasm. The evening was spent in the
most delightful harmony, and the party did not break
up till a very late hour. It was rather remarkable that
this dinner took place accidentally on the anniversary of
the day on which the Gallant Colonel commenced his ca-
reer as an artillery officer 40 years ago.
At the conclusion of the year it may not be considered
inappropriate to make a few observations on the benefit
the service has received by the publication, in a fair and
impartial manner, of matters immediately connected
with it. It is more than ordinary gratification to know
that durfng the last six months there has not been a sin-
gle instance of corporal punishment being inflicted on
any person belonging to the RoyaMtegitnent of Artil-
lery in the garrison at 'Woolwich, and there is reason to
believe the same could not be said of any similar period
of time since the formation of the corps. This most
pleasing result has arisen, not so much from the fear of
the infliction of the punishment itself, as from the know-
ledge that the names of those who should be so de-
graded would be made public, and their relations and
the friends of their youth become acquainted with
the crimes for which they were made to suffer. On
former occasions it was too often the case that the
infliction of corporal punishment, however justly the
party merited it, obtained for him the sympathy of
a portion of the press. and the consequence was he was
held up as- a martyr, and many others, from bravado
alone and the hope of being noticed, were induced to
commit crimes which they were aware would render
them liable to the same punishment, Fortunately for the
men, a better system now exists, and its good effects
have already been felt and appreciated both by officers
and those under their command.
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
The Driver, steam-vessel.—Commander S. Harmer, pro-
ceeded from Woolwich to Deptford dockyard on Thurs-
day, and was taken into dock there to examine her bot-
tom, and have her defects made good.
The Vixen steam-vessel.--Com. Boyes, left Woolwich,
on the 28th, under orders, to proceed to South America.
The Growler steam-vessel.----Mr. W. F. Castor has been
appointed Surgeon,and Dr. C. Forbes, Assistant-surgeon.
The Lightning steam-vessel.—Hugh Berners has been
appointed to the command of this vessel, vice Waugh,
promoted.
The mates of the Royal Navy are to take rank in the
Navy List in future according to their first warrants as
such, agreeable to the following regulation :
" The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are
pleased to direct, that in cases of a midshipman having
completed the required time to entitle him to pass for a
Lieutenancy, when the ship to which he belongs shall
happen to be detached so as to prevent his obtaining at
the moment an examination according to the established
regulations, the captain or commander of the said ship
or vessel in which such midshipman may be serving,
with the senior Lieutenant or second officer, and the
master or second master (according to the class of the
ship and the rank of the officers on board of her), as-
sisted by the naval instructor, if there be one on board, may
proceed to examine such midshipman as to his qualification
to perform the duties of a Lieutenant of her Majesty's
navy, and if they find him to be in their opinions duly
qualified, they are to give him a certificate to that effect,
dated on the day of such examination, and the captain
may forthwith give him an acting order as mate, and if
on the first opportunity that shall afterwards offer for his
being re examined according to the established regula-
tions he passes successfully, his rank as mate shall be
enrolled according to the date of his first provisional
certificate above ordered."
Some degree of jealousy haring existed betwixt the
gunners, boatswains, and carpenters, of her Majesty's
service and the first class engineers, in consequence of
the latter adopting the embossed button on their uniform
instead of engraved buttons according to order, the fol-
lowing alterations have been made :
" With reference to the memorazium of the 23d of
November, 1837, directing that the first class engineers
of her Majesty's steam-vessels shall wear the same uni-
formas the gunners, boatswains, and carpenters of her
Majesty's fleet, the Lords Commissioners of the Ad-
miralty are pleased to direct 'that the uniform to be
worn by the first class engineers, in order to distinguish
theta from other classes of officers, shall in future be as
follows :

" Coat.—Blue cloth, double breasted; buttons having
a steam-engine, with a crown above, embossed on them,
to be placed four and four, a large button of the same
kiad on the collar.
"Waistcoat.—With buttons similar to those on the coat.
" Trowers.—Plain blue cloth.
" Cap.—With a narrow gold lace band."

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
LATEST BETTING AT MANCHESTER—FRIDAY.
DERBY.-8 to 1 agst Attila (taken), 10 to 1 agst Chat-
ham (taken), 25 to 1 agst Robert De Gorham, 25 to 1
agst Ballinkeele, 33 to 1 agst Wiseacre (taken), 40 to 1
agst Meteor (taken), 37 to 1 agst William De Fortibus
(taken), 40 to 1 agst Dirce colt.
OAKS.-6 to 1 agst Passion, 11 to 1 agst sister to
Yorkshire Lad, 14 to 1 agst Lass of Lon•ton, 18 to 1 agst
Baleine filly.
CHESTER TRADES CUP (enter or not).-20 to lon
the field, 25 to 1 agst Prince Caradoc, 30 to 1 agst The
Dean, 6 to 1 agst Scott's lot, 8 to 1 agst Dawson's lot,
0 to 1 agst the Irish lot, and 12 to 1 agst the Welsh lot.

COURSING.
LANARKSHIRE AND RENFREWSHIRE CLUB, DEC. 16
AND 24.—The Wine Slide and Stakes of 30/. were won
by Mr. A. Graham's His Royal Highness, and his
0 yes 1 0 yes ! 0 yes ! The Champion Collar and
States of 121. were won by Sir A. W. Maxwell's Mo-
narch, beating Mr. A. Graham's Molly Loo. The Pol-
lokshaw's Stakes of 141. were won by Mr. J. L. Ewing's
Earl, beating Mr. A. Pollok's Phillip. The Darnley
Stakes of 91. were won by Mr. Pollok's Gipsy.
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.
Her Majesty's stag-hounds will meet on Friday at
Brick-bridge, at 11.

Mr. TudWiy's hds., Wed., Bertleigh Hill Cross ; Fri.,
Redlynch Gate.
___. .

Warwickshire hds., Tues., Mitford-bridge ; Thurs:,
Alveston House ; Sat., Farnborough-10f.
Mr. Hellier's hds., Wed., Dunchurch ; Fri., Castle
Bromwich.

Brighton hars., Wed., Patcham; Fri., Dyke-road-101
Brookside hars., Thurs., Telscombe Tye-101.
Mr. Mare's hds., Thum:, Woolpit Heath-10i.
Mr. Candler's hds., Wed., Himbleton ; Fri., Grafton
Mill—lq.
Cheshire hds., Wed., Duddon Heath ; Thurs., ditto ;
Sat., Tilstone-101.
Shropshire hds., Wed., Pimhill ; Fri., 0 teley Park-10i
East Kent hays., Tues., Winghara-street ; Thurs.,
Pineham ; Fri., Telegraph-101.0
Findon hds., Tues., Irolrabush ; Thurs., Dial Post ;
Sat., Hurston.

Tickham hds., Thurs., Key-street.
Somerset Subscription hds., Tees., Bagborough Plan-
tation ; Sat., Cleeve-hill-14.
Mr. Meynell's lids., Tues., Kedleston Inn ; Thurs.,
Radborne ; Sat., Swarkstone-bridge-10i.
Herefordshire hds., Tues., Aeotnbury Turnpike-10.
Mr. Atty's hds., Tu., 13ryni-y-pys ; Fr., Charlton Hall.
United Pack., Wed., Broadway-9.
Holderness lids., Tues., Kilnwick Percy • Thurs.,
Burton Constable ; Fri., Lmdesbro-gate-10i
ilarewood hds., Wed., Hook Moor ; Fri., Bickerton-
bar-10i.
Sirli. Sutton's hds., Tues., North Caulton; Wed., &op-
wick ; Thurs., Gate Burton ; Sat., Newhall Common-11.
F. B. H., Fri., South Turnpike-gate, near Redruth-10.
Wynyard hds., Thurs., Bradbury-bridge---104.
Lieut.-Col., Hildyard's hars., Wed., the Kennels ;
Fri., Stainton-104.
Atherstone hds., Tues., Newbold-gate ; Thurs., Bit-
teswell ; Sat., Bosworth-101.
Shute House beagles, Fri., Shapwick.
Major-Gen. Wyndham's hds., Wed.,ifold ; Fri., Pep-
per 'farrow ; Sat., Oakhurst.
E. Kent lads., Wed., West Brabourn ; Fr., Reindeer-10.
Oakley hds., Tues., Riseley ' • Thurs., the London
entrance to Woburn Park ; Sat., Cranfield-11.
Mr. A. Smith's hds., Tues., Netheravon ; Thurs.,
Daily Wood • Fri., Crowdown Clump-11.
Pytchley lids., Wed., North Kilworth ; Fri., Sulby ;
Sat., Pytehley-101.
Mr. Russell's has., Wed., Butcher Race ; Fri., Don-
nington ; Sat., Farnborough-10.
Ifeythrop hds., Wed., New Barn ; Fri., Addlestrop-
gate-10i.

FROM TEE EVENING PAPERS OE SATURDAY.

GLOBE.--The great importance of the subject
affords us sufficient excuse for recurring again to the
system at present pursued in the management of rail-
roads, particu:arly es at the inquest held yesterday, on
the body of another victim to the late horrible catas-
trophe on the Great Western line, certain facts were
adduced in evidence that are by no means calculated to
restore public confidence in the security of railway tra-
velling. It appears from the testimony of the engineers,
their assistants, and their foremen, that all had done
their duty most rigidly before the accident occurred ; and
that nothing any one of them was able to do could have
possibly prevented its happening. The engineers had
no idea of a slip being likely to take place, because their
assistants had given them no intimation of any thing, of
the kind ; and the latter were, of course, wholly blame-
less, because the foremen had made no report to them
which could induce a supposition that there %as reason
to apprehend, in or near the fatal spot, the calamity
which so soon transpired. The foremen ere, of course,
innocent, because they did net see anythiig which
caused them to expect what afterwards occurred ; and
therefore there is no one in fault ; and, however deplo-
rable the result, just such another event is likely to occur,
any day in the week, on the best regulated railways.
This would be true enough if the present system is
allowed to continue ; but we would suggest that the
process we have above described, of foremen reporting
to assistant engineers, who report to the principals,
should be entirely reversed, and that the engineers
should report to the assistants, who should in their turn
communicate with the foremen, who are mere work-
men, and as such are well qualified to repair a breach
when it has taken place, but are not likely to be enabled
to make those scientific observations by which its oc-
currence may be foreseen and prevented. The duty now
imposed on the chief engineer is to take a cursory
glance at the line—that of the assistants is to make a
superficial observation—and it is left to the foremen
to inspect minutely, with thc view of ascertain-
ing where there is danger to be apprehended ; and they,
of course, being little better than labourers, are wholly
unable to draw scientific deductions, from which ap-
pearances that are trifles in their eyes would be found to
indicate the contingency of certain disastrous results,
that might, by timely precaution, be altogether obviated.
We cannot take upon ourselves to say, that if it had
been Mr. Brunei's duty to inspect minutely instead of
to view superficially the spot where the accident
occurred, it would have been possible for him
to have detected symptoms of the slip, and
to have guarded successfully against it ; but he
would undoubtedly have been more likely to have
done so than the men to whom the duty of inspec-
tion is entrusted, and the public are assuredly entitled
to demand that the greatest precaution possible shall be
taken in a manner so much affecting their safety. If
such things are liable to happen every day, we can only
say that railroad travelling is a more hazardous matter
than we have usually considered it ; since, if accidents
that kill a dozen people at a time are incidents that no
skill can prevent, or no caution guard against, the fashion
of making wills before taking a journey of a few hundred
miles will soon be revived, and insurance offices will
begin to have new rates for persons accustomed to
railway travelling.

STANDARD.—We gave yesterday, in our Second
Edition, the whole of the Correspondence between the
British and United States Governments, as to " the
right of search." It may be right to explain that the
" right of search" claimed by Great Britain and the rest
of the civilised nations of the earth is reciprocal, and that
it does not extend beyond the ascertaining, by an in-
spection of a ship's papers, her right to the flag which
she Clinks proper to display. From the acknowledg-
ment of such a right the United States indignantly re-
coils, upon what principle it is impossible to conceive
without admitting suspicions which we are sure must
be undeserved. Happily, the manifest necessity for
the exercise of such a reciprocal right for the suppres-
sion of the slave trade has been so clear to the United
States officers, employed in concert with the British
and other officers on the African coast, that
they have freely exercised it themselves, and
agreed, by a written arrangement, to countenance
its exercise by others. This closes all com-
plaint as to the past on the side .of the United
States. If American vessels have been visited, they
have been visited by the authority of the American
officers on the spot, and volenti non injuria fit.
The United States Government may disavow the
acts of its officers, and there is too much appear-
ance in the correspondence of an intention to do so ;
but this does not change the state of the case as be-
tween the two countries. After the President shall
have disavowed the acts and engagements of the naval
commander, Great Britain, of course, cannot plead
them ; ' but all that gentlemen's acts before the dis-
avowal must be treated as the acts of the American
Government. We think too well of our trans.
Atlantic kinsmen to suppose that this officer can be
seriously condemned. He was sent to aid in suppress-
ing the slave trade—be believed his mission a bona fide
mission, and, acting in good faith, he agreed to an
arrangement absolutely necessary for the execution of
the service upon which he was (at least ostensibly) em-
ployed. Had he refused his consent to the arrange-
ment for a reciprocal search, it is plain that he would
have acted, not for the suppression, but for the pro-
tection and promotion of the slave trade. We confess
that we cannot at all understand the reasoning of the
American Minister. We are unable to see how any
nation compromises her rank and independence by con-
cessions perfectly reciprocal, except the recusant nation
claim a superiority to all others.
COURIER. It required no very intimate
acquaintance with the precise nature of the instructions
furnished to Lord Ashburton on the subject of his in-
tended mission to the United Stater, to hazard the
statement so cautiously made yesterday by an evening
contemporary, that " they specially regard three points,
and three points only—the affair of the Caroline—the
boundary question, and the right of search," these being
the precise points of difference between the two Govern-
ments, and upon which so much acerbity and pro-
fitless controversy had been already expended. As
assurance upon this point has been rendered doubly
sure by the revelations of our Contemporary, and as it is
now no longer doubtful but that Lord Ashburton's
mission has reference to the objects, with a view to
the accomplishment of which it had been specifically
determined upon, we may be permitted to congratulate
his Lordship, as well as the Government by whom he
has been appointed, on the fact, that even the bitterest
opponents of both are constrained to acknowledge
the wisdom and appropriateness of the choice.
" His appointment (says the Chronicle of this
morning in its City article) has been favourably re-
ceived in commercial circles, and has given a tone of
confidence to the holders of State Stocks. It will be
acceptable to the Americans, as the Messrs. Baring
have been for many years most extensively engaged in
American affairs, and in fact the agents of the American
Government in monetary operations. His Lordship is
besides a citizen of the great Republic, and one of the
largest landed proprietors, too, in the State of Pennsyl-
vania. His talents as a man of business are well known.
He is one of the largest householders in the United
States, and Lady Ashburton (late Miss Bingham) is
an American by birth. As an executive officer, to
carry out a prescribed line of instructions, few can
equal him.; and such, we presume, will be his position
in the discharge of his special mission." It is rarely
that appointments are so utterly unobjectionable as to
extort from opponents such valuable attestation to their
seasonableness and beneficial tendency as this extract
conveys.

ANNUAL BALL OF THE SOCIET Y
OF TRUE HIGHLANDERS.

- Baron Rothschild's stag-hds., Thurs., Denham, near
Quainton-14
Earl Fitzwillifun's hds., Tues., Barnwell Castle; Thurs.,
Abbott's Ripon-10.
(corn hds., Tues., Bardon Hall ; Thurs., Billesdon
Kennels ; Fri., Six Hills-14
Cottesmore hds., Tues., Laund Abbey ; Thurs.,
Stocken-14

The annual bail of Abe I, Society of True Highlanders
took place on Friday at the Freemasons' Tavern. The
small room had been originally engaged, but the attend-
ance was so much more numerous than had been ex-
pected, that at nine o'clock, the hour at which dancing
commenced, it was found absolutely necessary to ad-
journ to the large dining hall. The ball opened with a
Highland reel, and at this period
.the appearance of the
room was picturesque in the extreme. Each of the
dancers appeared in full Highland costume, and when
Mr. John M'Kay, the celebrated piper, who had kindly
offered his services, and who appeared in the full costume
of his clan, struck up " Tullochgorum," it required no
great effort of the imagination to fancy ourselves in
some chieftain's hall in the far north. The dancing,
which consisted of reels, quadrilles, country dances, and
waltzes, was kept up with great spirit, under the able su-
perintendance of Mr. Corrie, of Willis's Rooms, who
officiated as Master of the Ceremonies. At one o'clock
supper was announced, and after supper the dancing was
again renewed and kept up with great spirit until an
early hour in the morning. Among the company pre-
sent we observed some officers of the 72d Highlanders,
now stationed at Windsor, in the uniform of their regi-
ment, and many gentlemen in the costumes of the clans
Cameron, M'Kenzie, M'Gregor, M'Donald, Maclean,
M'Kay, and MTherson. The ball was one of the plea-
santest we have attended for a long time, and the ar-
rangements reflect the highest credit on the Stewards,
and all who had the management of it.

THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.--A most
diabolical attempt was made on Wednesday night to
cause a further accident on the Great Western line. The
mail train was on its way from London, and when within
about three miles of Bath, the signal was given to the
engine driver of something wrong, and the train was
stopped with all possible dispatch. On investigation it
appears that some villain had placed two large stones
(one on each rail) with the view of sending the engine
off the line, but which -did not take place. One of the
stones was orushed into a thousand atoms, and flew over
the driver and stoxer without doing them any serious
injury ; the other stone was forced on one side by the
sword, or guard, which is placed before the wheels, but
both the guards were put out of their place, and much
bent and twisted.

Tuz NEW POOR-LAW.—(From a Corre-
spondent.)—We have heard that it is the intention of
Ministers, on the meeting of Parliament, to propose
some alterations in the existing Poor-law Bill : the pre-
cise nature of those alterations is of course at present
unknown. Mr. Frankland Lewis, one of the Poor-law
Commissioners, has lately had several long interviews
with Sir James Graham at the Home-office.

REVENUE COMMISSION;—(From a Corre-
spondent.)—The Commissioners appointed to inquire
into the state of the revenue have commenced their im-
portant labours. They have already had several meet-
ings at Gwyder House, Whitehall (late the Reform
Club), where a suite of three rooms have been fitted up
for their accommodation. It is intended, we understand;
when the necessary alterations have been completed, to
remove the business of the 'Woods and Forests from its
present inconvenient office in Whitehall-place to Gwyde
House.

RAILWAY THROUGH CORNWALL.—A county
meeting is fixed for the sth of January, to consider the
subject of a projected railway to communicate with the
Bristol and Exeter line.