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 171. 4s.

is tottering, a touch will overbalance it. Be it that the
corn-laws might be removed but temporarily, the) 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 source of gain would join for
the destruction of all monopoly whatever.
Mr. PAINTON 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
rise to 164 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. He 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 insufficient 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
400,0001. 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 the ancient
aristocracy, but the modern aristocracy, who gamble
away their income, and think the people should pay for
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 had 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 after 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. GOVER 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, jun., 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.

LIGHTHOUSES.

There has been recently delivered, pursuant to an
order of the House of Commons, dated August 1, a bulky
" blue book," 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 of inquiring
into " the state and management of lighthouses, floating
lights, buoys, 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 bands 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 in to 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-
dom, since the investigations of the House of Commons'
Select Committee on Foreign Trade is 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,
in such manner as shall be considered-best for the public
interest.
_ _

vr nil regard to the debt incurred for the purchase of
these lights, the Committee states that it requires the
serious consideration 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 incurred 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
leased by the Crown, for the purchase (calculated at
221 years) of the sum of 9,1311. 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
with 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
should 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.

EFFICIENCY OF THE LIGHTS.

Your Committee has the satisfaction of reporting
that, " according to the evidence before them, the public
general lights on the coasts of England, under the
management of the Trinity House in London ; those on
the coasts of Scotland, under the management of the
Northern Commissioners in Edinburgh ; and the lights
on the coast of Ireland, under the management of the
Ballast Board in Dublin, are all maintained in an
efficient state." _

The complaints made in petitions to the House of
Commons, and by witnesses before your Committee,
have not been in any case against the efficiency of the
lights, but against the high charge for light dues, or
the mode of levying them, or the irregularity of the
rates.
In 1834, there were in England 126 lights (of which
128 were fixed, and 18 floating); while, in 1844, they
had increased to 175, containing 1,152 burners alto-
gether.
The aggregate number of lights in the United King-
,lom in 1833-4 was 219, cnnsisting of 105 public general
coast lights, of 93 local or harbour, and 21 floating
lights ; while the aggregate number of lights in the
United Kingdom in 1844 was 309, consisting of 121
public general coast lights, of 29 floating lights, and of
159 local or harbour lights. There has consequently
been an increase in the United Kingdom of 83 lights
since 1833, viz.:—
In England of 8 public general, of 8 public floating,
and of 33 harbour lights
In Scotland of 4 public general, and of 10 harbour
lights ..
In Ireland of 4 public general, and 16 harbour lights 20

Total
The Isle of Man lights were not returned in 1833,
but are now included in the total number, and will
make

00
The total gross receipts for the public general lights
in the year 1843, by the Trinity House, Commissioners
of Northern Lights, private individuals, and the Ballast
Board, were 240,3041.

The total gross receipts of dues for the public general
lights in 1843, were 356,905/.
It must be evident that so large an amount levied on
the commercial shipping for the public general lights,
besides the amount levied for local or harbour lights,
must form a considerable portion of their expenses.
It appears by the return for 1843, that the eggregatP
amount of light dues collected for the United Kingdom
in that year was 356,905/., and that the charge for col-
lection was 15,8141., or nearly ss. per cent. ; and that,
by other returns before this Committee, the stamp
duties of the United Kingdom are collected at the rate
of 21. 2s. 811 per cent., and the property and income-
tax at the rate of 21. 16s. 6id., whilst, in the parish of
larylebone, the parish rates are collected at a charge
of 11. 6s. Bd. per cent. ; and your Committee submit
that, in case the collection of light dues shall be discon-
tinued, the above sum of 14,953/. would be wholly saved;
and if continued, there is no reason why the charge for
collection should not be greatly reduced.
Your Committee further submit, if light duties shall
continue, they ought to be collected by the officers of
Customs in every port of the United Kingdom, free of
all charge whatsoever, in like manner as was enacted
in the case of Ireland by the Acts of the 51st and 52d
Geo. 111.

PRESSURE OF LIGHT DUES.

Your Committee~ are Convinced, on the clearest evi-
dence, that the light dues press heavily on the commer-
cial shipping of this kingdom, especially on the coasting
trade.

They are heavy on British shipping as compared with
other countries. In Russia, France, the United States
of America, and Prussia, no separate charge is made for
lights. The British over-sea trader complains that
.hips, from the continent of Europe bound to the East
or West Indies, or any part of the soith of Europe, pass
up and down Channel without paying any light dues,
whilst British ships sailing with cargo from the United
Kingdom to the same ports must pay heavy light dues ;
that vessels wait for a full cargo, or go in ballast up and
down Channel to avoid the charge of light dues ; and
that it consequently often happens that merchants cannot
execute the small orders they receive at home or from
abroad at the time wanted, and thereby often lose the
market.

COASTING TRADE SUPPLY OF SEAMEN.
The rates for light dues are not only unequal in the
amount charged by the boards in each of the three king-
doms, as shown in another part of this report, but they
press also, in the opinion of the witnesses, more heavily
on some branches of the shipping than on others.
Thus, whilst every class of shipowners complain of the
burden of light dues, the sailing coasting traders have
the strongest ground for complaint, as they say their
trade has been a losing one for some years past. They
dlletsehriipopraintitg, whilst they have
and of the coasters
ianl epgaer
ttihe au et
atrh, e
hes valuebeoe
nf a
to meet the competitor of the steamers, now generally
employed between the principal ports of the kingdom ;
and the competition of steamers daily increasing has
obliged them to lower the freights so much that the
look to relief from the light of sailing their
dues,
which form a large part of their expenses. indeed, in
owners are now compelled to seek every possible means
oftn ey lessening
consequently theexpense vessels, and
some places, the sailing coasters have already much de-
creased in number, and in others have entirely ceased to
sail, leaving the trade to the steamers.
The steamers also complain loudly of the burden of
the light due, which become very heavy,
as they make
more frequent voyages, and pay every time they pass
the lights.
Your Committee is most anxious to submit to the
House the claims of the coasting-trade to immediate re-
lief, not only on economical, but on political grounds of
the highest importance to the maritime interests of this
country.
The great support of the naval power of the United
Kingdom has been the facility of obtaining a supply of
hardy seamen from the mercantile shipping, whenever
required for the service of the navy, Great Britain has
had several branches of commerce, the nursery of that
hardy race which have so ably maintained the honour
and power of the country on that element where her

force has been, a9d 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 the 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 undpubtedly affect the future manning of
the navy ; and masequently 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 now submitted to
the House ; and 3lr. Ogilby states that the merchant,
the broker, the shipowner, and the consumer, are all in-
jured by these dikes ; 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 OE 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, anti 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 theamount 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 862 per cent.

MAINTENANCE OF LIGHTHOUSES.
It is alleged, and with great justice, that the commer-
cial shipping have hitherto borne the whole 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 exptnses 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 stational.
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 ls. per ton per
annum would be amply sufficient—to be annually levied
on 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 fur 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
be willingly paid by shipowners to provide means for
forming a merchant seameifs 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, Bcc., in the three kingdoms, are of opinion
" that all public and general lighthouses, and floating
lights, buoys, ii d 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.lBLs,
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 NINAGEITIENT.
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
importance to dais 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 bo brought forward by Government,
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 have to state with
much satisfaction, that the shipowners ekamined by the
Committee, whilst objectinc, 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 st atnen liberal induce-
ment to remain in the 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 tho 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 continue, your Committee must expreu a otrolig,

opinion that every possible reduction of the expenses
ought to be made, consistent with the efficiency of the
light, 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 publicgeneral 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
be 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 90,3391. to maintain them the whole
year. The charge for the managing establishment,
if the whole of the lights be united under one, would be
small when compared with the gross amount of
35,9 05/. 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 snipping, 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
improvenaents.

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 whatlis 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 MOT e
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 snore notice is taken of the parties or of the
children, who are playing 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, &e. &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 will
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.

FREE TRADE MEETING AT
DERBY.

A numerous, respectable, and enthusiastic meeting of
Tree traders was held on Tuesday, in the hall of the
Mechanics' Institution, Derby, for the purpose of for-
warding the forty shilling qualification movement, and
advancing the cause of free trade generally. Upward&
of 2,000 persons were present.
The chair having been taken by W. Evans, Esq., M.P.
for North Derbyshire, the proceedings :commenced by
reading two letters, one from Lord Duncannon, and the
other from Mr. Cavendish, M.P. The writers expressed
their regret at their inability to be present at the meet-
ing, but both expressed their good wishes for its success,
and their adhesion to the principles in support of which
it was held.
Mr. COBDEN in an eloquent speech urged on the meet-
ing the paramount necessity of attending to the registration
for the purpose of getting rid of the corn-laws, against
which the feeling of the country was unanimous. No
one bad 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, bdt, making them a kiral of
political Jack Shepherd—(Laughter)--if any body lost
money by the fail 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-

lation.
Mr. STRUTT, M.P., in an eloquent speech, moved
a vote of thanks to Messrs. Cobden and Bright, which
was carried by acclagation ; and Mr. Cobden having
acknowledged the coffiplitnent, thanks were voted to the
the Chairman, and the meeting separated.