The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-03 00:00:00

THE STUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNJNG, DECEMBER 3, 1845.

respective Companies. It was then agreed upon gene-
rally that every 507. share of th e Brighten Company should
rank as 501, and every 201. share of the Croyclou Company
as 181. 10s., and that the details should be settled by three
members from each Board. The first meeting of these
gentlemen took place on the 27th October. At that
meeting discussions arose on the various matters which
were brought before them, and a certain minute was
made, which was afterwards cancelled, because it was
misunderstood by both parties. A second meeting was
held on the 29th October, and a discussion of some
three hours' length arose, but nothing resulted from it.
It became evident that the Chairman of the
Brighton Company would be outvoted, and as it was
getting late, Mr. Hill moved an adjournment, which was
carried. When the adjournment was carried the meeting
of course broke up. Mr. Hill then said that he thought
it his duty to state his intention of applying to the Board
of Directors to be released from this difficult duty. He
was against the amalgamation, and considered, therefore,
that he was not the very best person to conduct the
negotiation. Now, with every respect for Mr. Hill, he
(Mr. Wilkinson) thought the same thing. The
conviction had long forced itself on his mind
that they could get on better without him.
On the Saturday following, to their great surprise, Mr.
Hill came back to us and said that his Board had de-
clined relieving him from the onerous duty he had com-
menced. Accordingly they again set to work as at first,
and Mr. Hill asked what proposition they had to make,
and, on their replying in the negative, he proposed that
the amalgamation and the question of the Wandsworth
branch should be referred to a joint committee, com-
posed of an equal number of members of each Board of
Directors, who should report to the two Boards, and that
each Board should continue as usual to regulate all
matters connected with the conducting of the railways.
He (Mr. Wilkinson) moved an amendment to that pro-
position, and his motion was seconded by Mr. Roberts.
That amendment pr: posed that the interests of the two
companies, should be amalgamated from the 31st of
January, 1846 ; and that until the Act of Amalgama-
tion should be passed, the arrangements connected with
it should be conducted by a committee of twelve, con-
sisting of six members front each Board. On this
motion the votes of the parties present were taken, and
three Croydon Directors voted in favour of it, and two
Brighton Directors against it. The solicitors of the two
Companies were present, and Mr. Faithful, the solicitor
to the Brighton Company, then said that they had
nothing further to do !Lan to make a report
of their proceedings, as the consideration of all
other questions would be left to the joint com-
mittee. The Brighton gentlemen who were present
on that occasion laughed, and remarked that though the
Croydon Directors might easily choose their six Direc-
tors for the
,joint committee, yet the Brighton Directors
would find some difficulty in choosing their delegates.
On the evening of that day ho (Mr. Wilkinson)
received a letter from the Brighton Secretary, inclosing
a minute of some resolutions, and asking the Croydon
Directors to make an early choice of their six members
fur the joint committee. In consideration of that
request, the Croydon Board met on the following Wed-
nesday, and appointed six of their body. They then
sent a letter to the Brighton Secretary, saying that they
had made their choice of six members to form a
part in the joint committee, and requesting to
he apprised of the names of the Directors
delegated by the Croydon Company. This was on the
sth, and the two Companies were to meet on the 6th. On
the afternoon of the sth he was sent for suddenly, and
was told that the Brighton Board wished to see him. On
getting to the board-room he saw Messrs. Baynes and
Roberts outside; they went into the board-room together,
and were informed that the board had been considering
the resolutions that the Committee had come to, and
they bad found that they were illegal and could not be
carried. He replied that he did not see that those reso-
lutions were illegal, and one of the members
replied rather sharply, that the chairman had
asserted from the chair that they were illegal, and
that therefore their illegality could not be disputed
He (Mr. Wilkinson) had no doubt that them
could be found many members of Loth Boards who
would not admit the principle of such an assertion. This
Ives the second instance of the insincerity of the Brigh-
ton Board, and he could not help thinking that it
was an excuse to get off from the amalgamation. They
would not have raised these trifling objections if they
had any wish that the measure should be carried. Some
discussion took place, during which he observed two
gentlemen take up their hats and leave the room, and
these gentlemen happened to be both in favour of the
amalgamation ; and it appeared to him that this might
be in consequence of the vaccilation of the Board, which
was sometimes partly in favour of the amalgamation
and partly against it. After they had gone he
asked the chairman whether some way could not be
devised by which their proceedings could be done
legally. He felt very much inclined to take up his
hat and go away, but he did not do so, as he was
very anxious to come to some terms, and that considera-
tion alone induced him to remain. The Brighton
Directors then proposed some terms nearly the same as
those offered to them by the Croydon Company. They
proposed that until •the 31st of January, 1846, the
management of each Company should be by
their Directors as usual ; that the joint com-
mittee should be composed of five members of each
Board, and that the chairman should have the casting
vote. That such Committee should have the entire ma-
nagement of the Bill for the amalgamation, and that all
other matters, except some which were mentioned then,
should be referred to the other Directors. He took
these resolutions to Mr. Burchell, the solicitor to the
Croydon Company, the Board of the Brighton Company
having adjourned for a time to allow him an opportunity of
doing so. That gentleman found that the propositions
were adverse to the interests of the Croydon Company,
and he then went back to the Board and declared that
they could not agree to them. He asked the Board
what they would have done if they had not
met him that afternoon, and remarked that
any proceedings then going forward could not be
legal, as they had received no authority. They then
had some discussion about the agreement made between
the Brighton Company and the South-Eastern Company,
and he asked to be allowed to see that agreement. After
some hesitation the paper was sent for, and when the
Chairman had it, he said that he could not see it unless
he promised not to make any public use of it. He (Mr.
Wilkinson) said that it was necessary for him to make
use of it, that he thought it would be beneficial to the
Croydon Company, and the Chairman declined to show
it under these circumstances. He had determined to
put these facts under the consideration of the Croy-
don Proprietors the following day, but on the
following morning he received a letter from the
Brighton Board, saying again that the course
proposed by the Croydon Company was illegal, and sub-
mitting to the consideration of the Croydon Company
the resolutions which he bad declined accepting on the
previous day. He still thought, however, that they
might have some wish to come to terms on the question,
and, therefore, seat them a letter, saying that they could
not agree to the proposition sent, but would be glad to
make some other arrangement, if possible. At a meet-
ing of the Brighton Board; which occurred some time
back, the Chairman, in speaking of the amalgamation
of the Companies, remarked, that the subject had been
discussed by their Board before, and it seemed to
them that the project would have a beneficial result if
carried into effect. The question was again revived,
and they did not know what the Croydon Company had
done to promote its attainment, but they had done all
that lay in their power ; and he (Mr. Wilkinson) was
coming to a resolution which he would show, and to
which he wished to remark that he heartily subscribed,
viz., " That amalgamation, as a general principle, was
beneficial, and that there could be only one opinion with
regard to it." After that meeting he saw an advertise-
ment in the papers, proposing, on the part of the
Brighton Board, to rescind all that had been done with
a view of bringing about an amalgamation. At another
meeting Sir Isaac Goldsmid asked what was the gross
revenue of the Croydon Company, in order that they
might know what addition they could make to the
general funds in case of an amalgamation, and Mr.
Peter Clarke was about to answer the ques-
tion, and, in fact, begged to be allowed to do so.
That gentleman afterwards gave it as his opinion that
amalgamation would undoubtedly be beneficial to the
interest of the Companies, and would reduce the working
expenditure so much as to give an increased dividend.
He stated that he had gone over the subject with Sir
G. Euston, and had come to that conclusion after
careful calculation. He also gave it as his opi-
nion, that if the line to Portsmouth were made,
it would materially increase the traffic of the
Croydon Railway, and under the impression that
that line was to be formed, Sir George Euston
had evidently voted at that meeting, and so had many
others who had voted at that time. After that meeting
some time elapsed without anything being done, and it
seemed that both parties were taking a little time to cool,
after being somewhat heated in the discussion of the
question. He (Mr. Wilkinson) at length thought that
an interview with the Brighton Board was desirable, as
he had heard that they had entered into an agreement
with the South-Eastern Company, which hindered them
from giving any support to the Portsmouth line. That
agreement had been read at a public meeting, but
was now denied to them, and the great mystery
was then in their possession, but sealed up. He
again proposed to meet the Directors of the
Brighton Board, as he did not wish that trifles should
interfere with the important object he had in view, and
asked for a conference on the 17th. At the meeting,
which took place on that date, all the differences be-
tween the Companies was set forth by him, and he
seemed on that occasion to have given some offence to
the Brighton Board. He could not, however, connect
that in any way with their disinclination to join heartily
in the Croydon Company's efforts for the amalgamation
of the two Companies, as a question of so great moment
as the one then before them could not, he thought, be
interfered with, in consequence of any offence taken by
parties ; and he therefore was desirous of knowing the
reason of the Brighton Company wishing to rescind the
arrangements they had already made. He thought he was
authorised to ask, on the part of the Croydon Company,
for a sight of the agreement, and he did so then, but was
refused. At that meeting, however, he elicited the fact
that there was something in that agreement that pre-
cluded them from joining with the Croydon Company,
and that, therefore, it would be very difficult to persuade
them of the propriety of an amalgamation, as, however
convincetl they might he of any benefit, it would be, they
were unable to join in it. He asked them to put the
matter before the Proprietor:, but they declined, saying
that their Proprietors could not interfere between them
and their consciences. That interview terminated with-
out any conclusion being come to on either side. In
the course of the conversation, however, they were asked
if they could devise any means of overcoming the ctfficulty.
He (Mr. W.) proposed to take their proposition into
the next room, and see if it could be altered in any way,
so es to elk either arty. He loft the wo first para-
graphs unaltered, but on the third he proposed that, in-
stead of five Directors from each Company to form the
joint committee, there should be six, and there were

other alterations made which he thought would suit
both parties. He sent them that proposition, and re-
ceived no answer for three days. On the 20th both
Boards met, and he sent a letter to the Brighton Board,
asking them for an answer to his propositions. Their
reply was, that they could not agree to them,
but they were, at that time engaged in
framing other proposals, which they would shortly
submit to the consideration of the Croydon Board. We
likewise wrote to them for a copy of the agreement,
which we received, w ith a letter from Mr. Buckton,
stating that it had beE .n forwarded to him without any
intimation having be en given of the same to the
Soeth-Western Company, and that it should not
be used by them witl tout the consent of the Brighton
Company. Now the:re was the agreement (the Chair-
man here held up the document in question), and they
had never broken the 'seal. They had been advised by
their solicitor, Mr. Bt trchell, to open that agreement,
who contended that they were bound by the position
they occupied to make themselves acquainted with
its contents, and also to inform the Proprietors of the
same. Mr. Burchell had been requested to wait on them
(the Directors of the: Brighton Company), but he re-
turned, stating that he could make nothing of them.
However, shortly after, they received a letter from the
Brighton Company to the effect that they conceived it to
be their duty to protest most strongly against the advice
given by Mr. Burchell. We replied to this epistle,
stating that we had a right to the unqualified inspection
cf the document, and tht.t they would take measures to
effect that object if they did not hear from them by
the following Monday.. The Chairman then read
a reply to this letter' to a similar effect as the preceding,
and requesting to know if their sentiments were in
unison with the advice o F their solicitor. In the early
part of November they received a letter from Mr
Buckton (which the Chairman read), to the effect that
they could not concur in the proposition which they (the
Croydon Company) had made of calling a meeting of the
Proprietors, and denouncing strongly what they desig-
nated the threats and intimildation put out by them (the
Croydon Company), and refining to act any longer with
them if the demand were persisted in, and that they
were prepared to vindicate the part they had taken. To
this we sent the following answer.—(Here the Chair-
man read the letter, which, deplored the tenor of these
communications, and expressed a strong desire to keep
on the most amicable terms with the Directors of the
Brighton Company.)
A Gentleman here requested that the letter which
gave rise to these remarks should be read. _ _ _

The CHAIRMAN —lt has not been left out. On the 27th
a letter was received from Mr. Bueleton, regretting the
course that had been adopted by the Croydon Company,
and refusing to continue this correspondence. Now
they were at issue with the Company on these two points
—first, the right to ins pect the document in question; and,
secondly, as to the meeting of those gentlemen in equal
numbers. Now, with respect to the first point, he wished
to obtain their most .earnest attention. He found in the
report of the meeting that had taken place of the Direc-
tors of the Brighton Company, that the agreement was
merely mentioned as leaving been concurred in, and that
a resolution was proposed to the effect that the
same should be confirmed. However, this resolu-
tion was met with some opposition, for he
found that Mr. Henderson, who pointed out the
dangers, as he considered, that were threatened them by
the South-Western. Now what was the case? If this line
from Epsom to Croydon, which was contemplated, were
to come to Dorking, it must of course injure their line.
The Brighton line had sent down, a hundred
pounds towards the completion of the Dorking line,
notwithstanding what had taken place. The object of
the agreement was to change the traffic of the Ports-
mouth line. Now that this feeling was entertained by
other members of that Company was evinced by the op-
position of Mr. Cash, VI ho stated that this connexion with
the South-Western would lead to inextricable confusion.
An amendment had been proposed to the resolution, to
the effect that the adoption of the Guildford, Ports-
mouth, and Chichester line, which was proposed, would
entirely deprive them of the other line. It was
alleged against them (the Directors of the Croy
don Company) that they were sustaining the
Portsmouth interests because they were Croydon
Directors. Now that they were in the very position of
being about to amalgamate with the line from London to
Epsom, they would depart from that line, and cut them-
selves off from a traffic of 30,0001. Under these cir-
cumstances he could not conceive how the
Brighton Company could entertain for a moment
the thought of entering into such an injudicious arrange-
ment. Besides, if they permitted the South-Western to i
come down so far, they would:cut off all traffic from Chi-
chester for the Brighton line Moreover, they should
be prompted to secure their line by a line to South-
ampton. This line, which was to be carried out with
the line ' from Southampton to Petersfield, would have
the effect of making the South-Western depend on the
western traffic, for which it was originally designed.
The Brighton Company, by pursuing their present po-
licy, would be promoting hostile lines, for it was stated
that they were bound by the terms to keep within
ten miles west of this line, and could not
go further from Horsham.. This being the case, he felt
bound to consider that the Directors of the Brighton line
did not seem qualified to judge of their own affairs.
Having heard that statement laid before them, he con-
sidered that they were now entitled to go before their
Proprietors to make such arrangements as they might
deem advisable. They (the Directors) did not ask their
permission to see the agreement, for no such power was
vested in them, but they should ask the Brighton Pro-
prietors, and they had little doubt that on this, as on
the question respecting the numbers on each side, they
would give a favourable answer. A clergyman had bought
some shares in the Croydon line in consequence of the
resolution that had been agreed to. Now, in all probabi-
lity, others had bought shares on the same grounds ;
therefore he conceived, that even in the event of the
Directors of the Brighton line not returning
a favourable answer, they should not rescind
that resolution. Ho would attend at the meet-
ing of the Directors of the Brighton line, and even if
they came to an adverse resolution, they would not
desert the interests of the Croydom Company,
nor retire from their posts till the amalgamation
had taken place, when they would relinquish their trust.
If, on the other hand, the Directors of the Brighton line
should accede to their views, they would be ready to give
them their strenuous assistance. He would now re-
commend that the meeting should adjourn, as the most
advisable course.

Mr. G .kLE could not, for one, acquiesce in the sugges-
tion of the Chairman, that the amalgamation of the
Brighton and Croydon Companies was of little use
unless the interests of the Proprietors of the Direct
Portsmouth were consulted. He had become a
proprietor of Croydon shares on the faith of the
resolution of amalgamation that had been come
to; he had done more, he had actually changed Brighton
shares for Croydon ones. Now he, for one, could not
sacrifice the benefits of amalgamation for the interests of
the Direct Portsmouth.

The CHAIRMAN said that the Hon. Proprietor had
entirely mistaken his meaning; he had never said that
amalgamation had better not take place between the
two lines, if the interest of the Direct Portsmouth was
not to be considered.

Mr. GALE said he had certainly understood the
Chairman to say so. It was not, in his opinion, for
the meeting to say whether the policy of the
Croydon Directors cr that of the Brighton should be
adopted before the amalgamation took place, considering
that amalgamation should take place first. He thought
that until the agreement of amalgamation had been
concluded, each party ought to have a voice as to
the details.—(Hear, hear.) He considered that amal-
gamation with the Brighton line was of far
greater importance to the Croydon Proprietors than
the toll that would be received by them from the
Direct Portsmouth line, which, it must be remembered,
was only a line in perspective and not in esse. It was
clear to him that something like angry feeling had
existed among the Directors of the two Companies.
No one could doubt, as he had before stated, that it
was for the interest of the Proprietors that an amal•
garnation should take place, and if the Directors could
not agree as to the manner in which that should take
place, it became the duty oF the Proprietors to
look to the matter themselves.—(Hear, hear.)
He thought the best course to adopt would be to appoint
a certain number of Proprietors of each Company to form
a committee to meet together and consider what course
would be best to be pursued for the interests of all, no
gentleman being a Proprietor in the Direct Portsmouth
line to be a member of the committee.—(Hear, hear.)
He believed, looking at all that had taken place, that
the question of the amalgamation of the Brighton and
Croydon lines was valued by the public at something
like 200,000/.—(Hear, hear.) There could be no
doubt that errors had been committed on both
sides in the negotiations that had taken place between
the Directors, and that it was for the interest of all as
soon as possible to get a united Board of Directors.—
(Hear, hear.) He thought it was absurd to state that
the amalgamation was complete.
The CHAIRMAN had never stated that the amalga-
mation was complete ; all he had said was, that he con-
sidered it so. He admitted that there was a difference
between the two words, and it lay with the Proprietors
to say who were right and who were wrong. As he had
before said, h. e was willing, if the, Proprietors decided
against his opinion, to make way for others.— (Hear, hear.)
Let, however, the. Proprietors meet and decide between
the two conflicting opinions which were the best calcu-
lated for their own interests.—(Hear, hear.) He agreed
with the worthy Proprietors that the best course would
he to appoint a committee of Proprietors from each
Company to meet the Directors of both Companies.—
( aear, hear.) Such a resolution could not be adopted
by the present meeting, but he trusted it would be at the
one to be held by the Brighton Company. It was his
intention to attend that meeting, and such a proposition
should have his hearty support.
Mr. WILKINSON considered the amalgamation of
the two lines of the greatest value to them both, but as
it was clear that that meeting could do nothing effi-
ciently, he should move that it adjourn.
Mr. CASH did not see why, if a committee
of Proprietors was to be formed; the Proprietors of the
Portsmouth Company should not form part of it.—
(Hear, hear.) He hoped, however, that the Directors
of both the Croydon and Brighton Companies would be
able to manage the matter in dispute among themselves.
—(Hear, hear.) Ile for one should bo happy to see
a union of all the Companies—the South-Western, the
Brighton, and the Croydon.—(Hear, hear.) He did not
think that was an impossibility, although he was ready
to admit there were great difficulties in the way.—(Hear.)
Mr. LEVY hoped that the present discussion would
be now put an end to, and that an amicable arrangement
would be made among all parties.—(Hear, hear.) For
that purpose he would now move that the meeting
should adjourn for a fortnight. —(1-lear, hear.)
After some further discussion the meeting broke up,
no motion being put either for is adjournment sine die
or for any particular day, it being admitted on all hands
that such a motion, at a meeting so called, would be en.•
tirely useless, and have no weight.

THE DIRECT LONDON AND
MANCHESTER RAILWAY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—The Direct London and Manchester Railway Company
have deposited their plans and sections with the Clerks of
the Peace, in conformity with the standing orders, and the
Shareholders will feel their interests more secure now that
the hold assertion, as well as the quiet insinuation and the
occasionally argued impossibility of their being ready in
time for the next session of Parliament, are all swept away
together.

Accident might have delayed, or prevented entirely, the
accomplishment of their design, but apart from any occur-
rence which could not be guarded against, because it could
not be foreseen, the Shareholders had every reason to be
satisfied with the soundness of judgment and honesty of
purpose of all those in whose hands they had placed them-
selves.

The preliminary arrangements being made, they will natu-
rally now be anxious to learn when their shares will, tech
nically speaking, be " looking up," and here a few words
may not be considered out of place.
Doubtless, in the Direct London and Manchester, as in most
other railway companies, there are two classes of Share-
holders ; one, embarking their capital in what they think a
desirable investment, prepared to wait a reasonable time, and
to combat with reasonable difficulties. This class can in no
way be dispirited by passing events, the Company having
held on the " even tenor of its way" with fewer obstructions
than the majority of speculations of equal magnitude meet
with, whilst at no former period ware its prospects of success
better than at present. The other class being simply spe-
culators, who imagine they shall quickly realise a profit,
and who take their shares without the wish, and too often
without the power, to hold them. The position of the latter
is certainly not an enviable one, the most sanguine amongst
them can scarcely hope to see the shares at a premium for
some time to come; they must- make their account to wait a
more favourable moment, one, not very distant, yet not im-
mediate.

The shares being originally allotted to parties who might
be supposed to desire them as an investment of their capital,
in preference to such as were likely only to speculate in
them, it follows that they are not likely to be thrown in any
great numbers suddenly on the market, to depress it; the
low price, therefore, at which they have been quoted must
be ascribed to causes apart from their own intrinsic value,
which remains the same.

A second grand trunk line is called for by the demand for
increased accommodation ; it has, in fact, become essential to
the interest and comfort of the community; an immense
amount of traffic is ready at any time to be transferred to it,
and the chief promoters of the line will be its steady sup-
porters when made. It will pass through, or near to, twenty
towns of importance, many of them being the seat of manu-
factures, with a population larger than can be found in the
same given; distance in any other part of the United Kingdom,
all of which considerations are of great weight in ascertaining
the ultimate prospects of the Shareholders.
Suppose the Company not to obtain their Bill, and in the
fruitless attempt to expend 50,0001.; there would still re-
main 450,000/. of the deposit money to be returned, a sum
equal to 4/. 15s. per share. Upon what reasonable showing
is it, therefore, that they have been so low as 31. ss. in the
list ; the cause must be sought elsewhere than in the posi-
tion or prospects of the Company. The anticipated large
importations of foreign grain will require a large export of
bullion ; the withdrawal of so much as may be necessary
for that purpose will seriously affect the monetary affairs of
the trading part of the community ; only first-rate bills will
do in certain quarters, while second and third-rate paper
must be discounted at advanced rates in proportion to the
risk in the, first place, and, secondly, the difficulty of obtaining
it through the usual channels. Moneyed men know this, and
are waiting a higher inducement to draw their purse strings
than any railroad speculation can offer ; hence the general
dullness in share transactions without reference to any lines
in particular. The crisis over, with an advancing spring,
money will flow into its accustomed channels and scrip be
again sought after with increasing avidity ; the more so,
because in the meantime the market will have been cleared
of many schemes which before only obstructed legitimate
business and tended to bring suspicion on plans worthy of
encouragement. M.

THE IRON AGE.
(From the Railway Express.)
The golden age—the Age of gold !
Poets have sung, and historians told
Of the metal, which cast into mortal mould

Singular patterns produces ;
But alas ! for that very auriferous time,
No more is it subject for story or rhyme ;
For by " Rail" up Fame's temple-crowned gradient we
climb,
And Iron's the theme of the Muses.
Parnassus is tunnelled ; and Castaly's fount,
Is bridged. Even Helicon's turned to account;
All the Muses have shares, and they glide (but not mount)
On a prosy detestable level.
Their lines are worth nothing at all, for 'tis seen
That Chalybeate water's their false Hippocrene,
And Robert Montgomery shows us, I ween,
That Epics are gone to the Devil.
Iron—lron, and nothing beside !
We sit on it—live on it—walk on it—ride •
Pen treaties of peace with it—or by our side
We wear it for purpose of fighting ;
014 England had " Ironsides" once for a King :
Napoleon was crowned with Milan's Iron ring ;
And sulphate of Iron's the principal thing
In the fluid with which I am writing.
'Tis Iron that binds with its terrible chain ;
O'er Iron, in freedom we skim the broad plain ;
And if love should afflict with an ache or a pain
A remedy Iron discovers.
For a wild Iron horse gets a poke in his sides,
And with raging hot ribs off to Gretna he glides,
And distance uniteth, instead of divides,
A couple of runaway lovers.
Iron, they say, may be found in the blood ;
And Iron, we know, often spills life's red flood,
And cold Iron will op off a man in his bud ;
Even " into the soul" it enters.
Words are iron-ic, and were one to ask
Where 'tis not ?—to reply were as difficult task
As to find out the man in the strange Iron mask,
And who were his mystic tormentors.
Iron newspapers to chronicle crimes—
Books made of Iron—rare " Tracts for the Times;"
Iron to sound out the gay birthday chimes :
And, when we're Mortality doffing,
Death's Iron hand to an Iron couch sends us,
Ferruginous mixtures are made up to mend us,
And when cold as Iron—still Iron attends'us

In the shape of a safe Iron coffin.
Iron, and Iron wherever we go !
'Tis before us—behind us—above and below;
Plutus' tears were of Iron—but rhyme cannot show
The varieties or the amount of it;
Dr. Irons should hunt for that book underground,
Iron clasped (vide Scott), and by Iron, too, bound,
That of this iron age, ages hence, may be found.
Oa its pages some written account of it.

GRAY, THE POET.—THE SALE OF AUTOGRAPHS.
—On Monday the sale of autograph poems, &c., of Gray, the
poet, was resumed and concluded at Messrs. Evans's-rooms
in New Bond-street. The sale realised upwards of 1,5001.;
and among the lots sold yesterday, the following are worthy
of notice :—Gray's Odes, with numerous manuscript notes by
Gray, containing the author's avowal of the sources from
whence he borrowed his ideas. In the first ode, "Awake,
lEolian lyre, awake !" Gray, in one of his notes, states, " that
he alludes to the psalm, Awake, my glory! awake, lute
and harp !' &e." In two other stanzas be refers to
Pindar, on the " Power of Harmony," and observes,
" borrowed from the Pythian of Pindar." On " Night
and all her sickly dews," the poet (Gray) re-
marks, "To compensate the real and imaginary
ills of life, the muse was given us, by the same
Providence that sends the cheerfull presence of
the day to dispell the gloom and terrors of the night." In
the second ode, " Ruin seize thee, ruthless king, &c." He
acknowledges his obligations to Shakspeare, Spenser,
Dryden, and Cowley. He also states that he copied some
ideas from " Rafael's Vision of Ezekiel," from an ancient
Scaldic ode, and assigns his reason for giving the double
cadence in the third stanza. Throughout Gray has marked
the musical time. The auctioneer stated that Horsley set
this ode to music almost in the style Gray wished, although
he never saw Gray, or the book marked by him. The first
offer for this was ten guineas, and, after a most spirited
competition, was knocked down to Messrs. Payne and
Foss for one hundred guineas. Stowe's Survey, with
manuscript notes by Gray, sold for 141. 55., and Cla-
rendon's History of the Rebellion, also interspersed with
MS. notes by Gray, fetched 231. 105. A few drawings in a
book by Mr. Gray, when a boy, sold for 61. 10s. Hawes'
Pastime of Pleasure, black letter, with notes and corrections
by Gray, sold for 14/. 55. Fabyan's Chronicle, 2 vols. in
one, with MS. notes by Gray, which, according to the cata-
logue of this library, cost 2s. 6d., fetched yesterday six
guineas. A letter of Gray's to Mr. Brown—Haughty Con-
duct of Lord Sackville to the Members of the Court-Martial,
&c., 141. 103. A letter to the Rev. Mr. Brown, on the death
of George 11., on the legacies of George 11. to the Duke of
Cumberland, and description of Queen Charlotte's present
manners, &c., 17/. 10s. Letter to Mr. Brown, on Mr. Pitt's
(Lord Chatham) spirit and contempt in his treatment of
Bassy's proposals, Sic., seventeen guineas. Aceount of the
Death of the Duke of Cumberland, Alarming State of the
Metropolis, and two other letters, fifteen guineas. A long
autograph translation from Dante, canto 38, with a note by
Mason, sold for 181. The other lots sold fetched equally
high prices.
EMBODIMENT OF THE MILITIA.—We understand
from authority which we believe can be relied upon, that it
is intended next year to embody one-third of the militia
force of Great Britain, another third in 1847, and the
remainder in 1848, for permanent exercise and duty.
They will be sent in part to Ireland and part will
remain to do 'garrison and other duty in England ; and
encouragement is to be given both to officers and men
to volunteer into the line. To effect this alteration in the
law concerning militias, it will be necessary to repeal or alter
the existing Act of Parliament relating thereto; and we are
further informed that for this and other purposes the Legisla-
ture will be assembled the third week in January, and that
an Act of Parliament will lie brought in immediately. Par-
liament, as we are told by our correspondent, would be sum-
moned at an earlier period, except for the occurrence of the
county sessions throughout the kingdom, whieh are holden
in the early part of January, and at which many of the Mem-
bers have to officiate either as chairman or magistrate.—
Glow:eater Journal.

Mr. Baron Parke and family have been placed in
mourning by the demise of the learned baron's brother, John
Parke, Es q , formerly her Majesty's consul for the Roman
States, at Stretton Hall, Staffordshire, the seat of General
Monckton.

TIIE QUEEN OF DENMARK, EDITED BY MRS. GORE.
—The classifiers of literary productions will be rather puz-
zled what place to assign to one which has just been intro-
duced to the public by Mrs. Gore. We allude to " The Queen
of Denmark," a book, the most important events and cir-
cumstances of which are strictly historical, and which must
have been so designated, but for the links of fiction that neces-
sarily connect those scenes. It relates the brief career of the
lovely Caroline Matilda, youngest sisterof our George lll.,con-
sort of Christian VII. of Denmark, and mother of the' late
King Frederick VI., the causes of whose misfortunes, which
involved her in the fall of Struensee, the Minister, hurled
her from the throne, tore her from her children, and exiled her
for life from her adopted country, have never before been de-
tailed with such a convincing truthfulness, and such an un-
pretending simplicity, as are infinitely more captivating than
the most ostentatious efforts of art.

WHISKY.—In consequence of the increased
prices of grain, the distillers in the neighbourhood of Elgin,
and surrounding districts, have advanced the price of whisky
sixpence per gallon.—Aberdeen Herald.
A train going west on Saturday evening last, after
dark, on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, between Hay-
don-bridge and Harlwhistle, ran against a cow, which was
instantly killed. It appears that the animal jumped out of
a truck from a train going east, and had broken its thigh.
The engine, the Rapid, was thrown across the rails, and the
driver, Gallon, into the hedge, but he escaped unhurt, and
no further damage WU done.—Newcastk journal.

THE EFFECT' OF OPENING THE
BELG lAN PORTS.
(From the- Liverpool Times.)
On the sth of Septembor the ports of Belgium were
thrown open for the admit sion, duty free, of wheat, rye,
barley, buckwheat, maize, beans, peas, oats, pearl bar-
ley, potato flour, vermicelli, macaroni, potatoes, and rice.
Shortly afterwards the Belgian Chambers gave the Go-
vernment the power of opening them for every descrip-
tion of food. The following statement of the quantities
of those articles of food :;Imported into Antwerp since the •
opening of the ports, accompanied with a list of the
places from which supplies have been received, shows
how the opening of the ports has worked there, and
will give us a very good idea of how a similar measure
would have worked in this country, especially if it had
been adopted in the same prompt manner in which it
was adopted in Belgium and Holland :
On the 4th of September, the day before the opening
of the ports, the only cargo of grain of any description.
which arrived was a cargo of linseed, brought from
Odessa by the Norwegian bark Augusta.
On the sth, the day on which the ports were opened,
the English ship S•sho brought 1,035 bags of rice from
London.

On the 6th, the English ship Pink brought 100 sacks of
rice, 156 quarters of linse ed, and 12 sacks of wheat from
London.

On the Bth, the English ship Monarch brought 300
quarters of wheat from London.

- On the 9th, the Norwegian ship Gothenburg brought
17,390 poods of linseed front Taganrog, in the Black Sea.
On the 10th, the English vessel Andrew Wilson arrived
from London with a carp of wheat ; the Hoffnung,
Oldenburg smack, from .Hamburgh, with ditto ; the
Hanoverian koff ImmAnual, from Hamburgh, with ditto ;
and the English galliot Wave, from London, with a
cargo of coffee and rice.
un the 11th, the Hanoverian ship Hannah Catherira
arrived from Griesrevald with 2,655 - shales of barley.
On the 12th, the Hanoverian kotf Vrienschap arrived
from Accumerzeil with a load of wheat; the Danish
galliot Ora, from Hamburgh, with ditto; the English
galliot Elswick, from London, with ditto; the Hanove-
rian vessel Diane, with ditto; the Danish galliotErndte,
from Hamburgn, with ditto; the Danish vessel Ocean,
from Hamburgb, withditto.

On the 14th, arrived the English steamer Soho, bring-
ing, among other articles, 930 sacks of rice; the English
vessel Jane, from London, bringing 580 sacks of rice;
the Hanoverian ship FourGeshwisters, from Hamburgh,
with 33 lasts 59 vass of wheat; the Hanoverian vessel
Autona, with 33 lasts of wheat; the Danish vessel Ocean,
from Hamburgh, with 20 lasts of wheat and 503 lasts of
linseed; the Belgian vessel Minerva, from Rotterdam,
with 41 bags of pearl barley.
On the 15th, arrived the Antwerpen, from London,
with 575 bags of rice and 82 bags of peas ; the English
vessel Monarch, from Bull, with 44 sacks of potatoes ;
and the Dutch vessel Ernst, from Hamburgh, with 49
lasts of wheat.

On the 16th, arrived the Belgian vessel Jeannette,
with 520 sacks of rice ; the Frau Gsinet, Hanoverian
cessel, from llaniburgh, with 34 lasts of wheat ; the
Flora, Danish vessel, from. Eccenforde, with 260 tons of
wheat ; the Tito, a Sardinian vessel, from Odessa, with
1,870 tchetwerts of wheat ; the Danish vessel Maria,
from London, with 1,000 tans of barley ; the Rescctto,
a Sardinian vessel, with 1,600 tchetwerts of wheat.
On the 18th, arrived the Minerva, Belgian vessel, from
Liverpool, with 250 bags o f rice ; the Catherina, Danish
vessel, from Kiel, with 1,5.50 tons of wheat ; the English
vessel William, from London, with 620 quarters of wheat ;
the English vessel Archibald, from London, with 621
quarters of wheat ; the Austrian vessel, Ligusteo, with
2,990 carishes of wheat ; the Hanoverian vessel, Aurora,
from London. with 385 quarters of wheat.
On the 18th, arrived the Neapolitan vessel, Immacu-
late, from Marseilles, with 5,096 hectolitres of wheat ;
and the Hambugh vessel, Concordia, from London, with
440 quarters of wheat.
On the 20th arrived the ?russian vessel Fortuna, from
Odessa, with 2,743 tchetwerts of linseed ; and the
Danish vessel Auguste, with 1,967 tons of wheat.
On the 22d, arrived the English vessel Traveller from
Liverpool, with 1,800 sacks of rice; the English steamer
Soho, from London, with 740 sacks of rice, and 220
sacks of potatoes; the English vessel Commodore, from
London, with 720 sacks of rice, 610 quarters
of barley, and 258 quarters of wheat ; the Austrian
vessel Venato, with 2,700 tchetwerts of barley; the
Austrian vessel Albula, also from Odessa, with 2,130
tchetwerts of wheat ; and the Filago, Austrian vessel,
with a cargo of linseed.
On the 23d, arrived the Damon D'Urville, from Mar-
seilles, with 1,148 charges of wheat; the English vessel
Commodore, with 610 quarters of barley.
On the 24th, arrived the English vessel Monarch,
from Hull, with 72 sacks of potatoes ; the Norwegian
vessel Patria, with 1,875 tchetwerts of barley ; the
Austrian vessel Carlo, from Odessa, with 1,356 tchet-
werts of linseed ; the Danish vessel Peter, from Poole,
with 726 quarters of wheat ; the Dutch vessel Glasina
Theodora, from Marseilles, with 3,100 hectolitres of
wheat ; the Danish vessel Ceres, from Hull, with
a cargo of wheat , the Sicilian vessel Mogul, from Ber-
deanky, with 1,567 tchetwerts of wheat ; the Danish
vessel Concordia, from London, with 1,000 tons of
barley ; the Danish vessel Comet, from Samsoe, with
1,200 tons of barley ; the French vessel Elbe, from
Havre, with 200 bags of rice.
On the 25th, arrived the Belgian ship Reine, from
Hull, with 203 quarters of wheat ; the Danish ship
Vreindschap, from London, with 531 quarters of wheat.
On the 26th there arrived the English steamer Soho,
from London, with 250 bags of rice ; the Danish ves-
sel Ann, from Holbeck, with 900 tons of barley ; the
Hanoverian ship Hoffnang, from London, with 380
quarters of wheat ; the Mecklenburgh ship Wismar,
from Archangel, with 1.500 tchetwerts of linseed, and
200 tons of peas ; the Hanoverian ship Stadleer, from
Odessa, with 2,092 tchetwerts of linseed ; the Ham-
burgh ship Anna Maria, from Altona, with 29 lasts of
wheat ; the Bremen vessel Bernerda, from London,
with 455 quarters of peas ; the Danish ship Frangazu,
from Kiel, with 670 tons of wheat ; the Danish vessel
Hannah Eisabe, from Hamburgh, with a cargo of wheat;
the Prussian vessel Emma, from Griefswald, with 72
lasts of wheat ; and the Danish vessel Christina, from
Ecconforde, with 1,040 tons of wheat.

On the 27th, the English vessel Branch arrived from
London with 2,200 bags of rice ; the Belgian vessel,
Anna Marir, with 900 bags of rice ; the Hanoverian
vessel Carolina, from Hamburgh, with 1,918 hectolitres
of wheat ; the Belgian vessel Transit, from Liverpool,
with 1,060 sacks of rice ; the Etty and Maria from Ham-
burgh, with 35 lasts of wheat ; Bremen vessel Elizabeth,
from Altona, with 1,898 hectolitres of wheat; the Danish
vessel, Grinsdorff, from London, with 461 hectolitres of
wheat ; the Danish vessel Familien, from Leith, with
468 barrels of wheat.

And on the 30th, arrived the Hanoverian vessel,
Janetta, with a cargo of 42 lasts of barley.
Our limits will not allow us to continue this analysis
any further at present. We may state, however, that
the returns for the month of October, and that part of
November which is already elapsed, show exactly the
same results as the above. They prove that if the ports
had been open early enough large additional supplies
might have been obtained from foreign countries ; much
food which has left the country might have been detained
in it ; and the supplies got from abroad would have
been obtained from so many different quarters as to
prevent any danger of derangement of the cur-
rency. The opening of the ports, now that we are on
the edge of winter, would be a much less efficacious
measure than if it had been adopted two months since ;
but if it was done even now it would release little short
of 1,000,000 quarters of grain, and if it was announced
that the ports would remain open next spring, that an-
nouncement would produce an effect on prices which
would be felt throughout the whole of the winter.
The number of vessels bringing corn, grain, potatoes,
and other articles of food, which arrived at Antwerp
from the let of October to the 17th of November,
was 212.

A. deputation from Ashton-under-Lyne, consisting
of the Mayor of Ashton and three other gentlemen, accom-
panied by the Hon. Mr. Villiers, waited on Sir R. Peel yes-
terday, to present a memorial for the opening of the ports
from the inhabitants of that district. The Mayor, and one
other gentleman of the deputation, were well-known Con-
servatives residing at Ashton.
THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE ON A GRAVESEND
STEAMBOAT.—Mr. H. J. Colebrook. the young man who
fired a pistol at his head on board a Gravesend steamboat, is
now out of danger, and was on Monday delivered into the cus-
tody of his friends, as the mayor of Gravesend did not think
it advisable that he should be proceeded against for attempt-
ing self-destruction.
ROYAL PRESENTS.—SeveraI packages, containing
presents from his Majesty the King of Prussia to her Majesty
Queen Victoria and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge, are expected to arrive by an early steamer from Ham-
burgh, and the Lords of the Treasary have issued the usual
order for their delivery on their arrival to the Prussian Mi-
nister at this Court, for the purpose of being presented to
the royalersonages mentioned.
Theirlmperial Highnesses the Archdukes Ferdi-
nand d'Este and Stephen of Austria have arrived at Vienna.
Grand preparations are making in the Austrian capital for
the reception of the Emperor of Russia, who, according to
official accounts,' is expected to reach Vienna towards the
12th of this month, and remain there for one week. The matri-
monial alliance between the Princess Olga of Russia and the
Archduke Stephen of Austria is generally spoken of, but in'
high quarters nothing is yet positively known on the sub-'
ject. _ _ _ _

-
ATROCIOUS CRUELTY.—A case of horrid crulty
came before the mayor and magistrates at the Guildhall,
Rochester, on Saturday, in which Mary Ann Vigo, a girl
aged 13, was charged with forcing Sarah Gould, an infant
between three and four years of age, into a quantity of hot
tea, by which she was so dreadfully scalded that the skin fell
from the soles of her feet, and the effect of which cruelty will
be, should the sufferer survive, that the feet will be con-
tracted and she will become a cripple.
THE ROYAL SOUTIIERN YACHT CLUB.—The mem-
bers of the Royal Southern Yacht Club are about to erect at
Cowes a new Club-house at a cost of 6,000 L, the foundation
stone will be laid in a ;hod tiros by the Commodore, the
Marquis of Conyngham.
The venerable Lord Ravensworth's health is gra-
dually improving. The remains of the late Lady Ravens-
worth were interred in LamesleyChurch on Monday.

TUB FOREIGN Maus.—Vile following notice was
issued on Monday at the General Post-office, St. Martin's-le-
Grand:—The next mails for Gibraltar, Malta, Greece, the
lonian Islands, Egypt, India, and China, will be made up on
the morning of Wednesday, the 3d of December (this
morning), to be forwrrded by the Tagus steamer, vzd South-
ampton; by the overland closed mail to the Mediterranean,
India, &c., rid Marseilles, on the evening of the Bth instant.
Vigo, Oporto, Corunna, Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibraltar, on the
mornin,, of the 7th inst., rid Southampton. Next mail due,
the Madrid' steamer, on the Gth inst. Madeira, the West
Indies, Mexico, Honduras, Havannah, Granada, and Vene-
zuela, on the morning of the 2d instant (yesterday), by
the Severn steamer. Next mail due from West Indies,
Mexico, &c., the 7th instant; British North America, Ber-
muda, and ie United States, the Acadia steamer, on the
evening of the 3d inst. (to-night), rid Liverpool, Halifax,
and Boston, due to the 15th instant; Madeira, Brazils, and
Buenos Ayres, on the evening of the 3d inst., by Majesty's
gamer titgtill,via fametith...Next:Neket due the 314 t Kist
•

RENEWAL OF NEGOTIATIONS
WITH BRAZIL FOR THE MORE EFFECTUAL
SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE-TRADE.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The Jornal do Commercio of Rio de Janeiro, of the
11 th October, announces to the public that M. Galva()
and Mr. Hamilton had been appointed plenipotentiaries
on the part of Great Britain and Brazil to conclude a
convention which might promote the suppression of the
slave-trade without injurincr the lawful commerce of the
empire. On the next day, the 12th, the following
leader appeared in the same paper, the which we
are induced to transfer to our columns, from being
a very able and fair exposé of the conduct cf
the two Governments, and completely exonerates that
Ii of Brazil from the charges brought against it in a leader
of the Times of the 26th July last ; and not only so, but
the ability and talent displayed in this exposé is a com-
plete refutation of the calumnious assertion contained in
another article of the Times of the 15th May last, that
" the Brazilians were the most contemptible people in
the world," and other similar expressions, truly unworthy
that paper.
On the 20th of July last, when we endeavoured to
refute a leading article in the Times of the 15th of May
preceding, which sought to impugn the declaration
made by the Imperial Government that the convention
of 1817 had expired, we stated it as our opinion that
the Times, in the article referred to, bad no other object
in view than to induce the Brazilian Government, by
holding out a threat, to accede to the renewal of stipu-
lations which should revive the conventions whose ex-
istence had just terminated.
The right which England pretended to arrogate to it-
self by virtue of the first article of the treaty of 1826
appeared to us so extravagant and extraordinary, we
looked upon it as impossible that the statesmen at the
head of the affairs of Great Britain should wish to ap-
pear before the civilised world as sanctioning the putting
the threat held out by the Times in force.
When Brazil entered into the convention of 1826,
now untler consideration, England had already decreed,
by an Act of Parliament, that trading in slaves (by
British subjects) should be deemed piracy, and, conse-
quently, the first article of the convention referred to
does ti,)c contain a reciprocal or mutual, but a one-sided
or partial stipulation. By that article Brazil engaged to
declare, likewise, the trading in slaves piracy by her
municipal laws ; but England came under no new obli-
gation, because, as we have already stated, she had
previously promulgated such a law. This circumstance
is of itself a sufficient proof that it was never intended
at that time to declare the slave-trade piracy " by the
law of nations."
If such had been the intention, the Brazilian negotia-
tors most certainly would not have agreed to an ar-
ticle imposing a one-sided obligation, that is, on Brazil
alums, inasmuch as the slave-trade not being deemed
piracy in England by the law of nations, but merely by
the law of the land, it would have been necessary, to
have, rendered it piracy by the former, that the obli-
gation should be the same on both the contracting
pa -ties.

- it is unnecessary to extend our arguments on this
mint; we shall, therefore, confine ouriives to asserting,
for the second time, that if the first afticle of the con-
vention of 1826 gave England the right, as the Times
terms it, exceeding that of a belligerent, the second and
third articles of that convention would have been wholly
unnecessary which put in force the convention entered
into with Portugal in 1817, establishing the right of
visit, search, and detention, and creating the mixed
Commissions for deciding the cases of vessels so de-
tained for a definite period.
As an irrefragable proof that England does not pos-
sess the right she arrogates to herself, we need only
refer to the very reasoning the Times itself resorts to
; in insisting on such right.
Proposition—" The first article of the treaty of 1826
gives her Majesty the right to order all Brazilians found
on the high seas, engaged in the slave-trade, to be seized
and punished as pirates, and to dispose of the vessels on
board which they were taken as bone piratorum."
Proof—" This is the interpretation which the states-
men and legal authorities of England give to the first
article of the convention, and nobody can dispute its
correctness."
Let the English statutes (canons) speak for them-
selves, and the English jurisconsults supply the reason.
Notwithstanding the conclusiveness of this line of
argument of the Times, it nevertheless seeks a justifica-
tion for the violent measure the British Government was
about to adopt, by alleging that nothing but an imperious
necessity could induce that Government to avail itself of
so rigorous a measure; and asserts that such necessity
arises from-
-Ist. The negligence of the Brazilian Government in
fulfilling the obligations it incurred.
2d. The eagerness it evinced to avail itself of the
first pretence it had for considering the stipulations of
1817 null and void.
' 3d. The having rejected systematically all the propo-
sitions made by the English Government for the more
effectual suppression of the slave-trade.
IC there are any grounds for the first imputation,
all the blame rests with the "English" Government.
The acts of violence to which alone it has had recourse
for the suppression of the trade, have irritated the Bra
zilian population to such a degree, that the Imperial
Government has found its impracticable to adopt those
efficacious measures which alone can put a stop to the
trade in the interior. The Times and the English legal
authorities are well aware that a sincere and efficient co-
operation on the part of this country would be more
conducive to the putting down the trade, than all the
virulent means practised by the British cruisers; but
the habits of force and coercion which England cannot
direst herself of, preclude her from recurring to those
means by which only she can obtain such necessary co-
operation.
As to the second allegation, namely, that Brazil
eagerly seized the first opportunity which offered to get
rid of the stipulations of 1817, we assert that Brazil did
no more than she had a right to do. She acted agree-
able to the stipulations then in force, if, under the
colour of those stipulations, so much violence was exer-
cised, not only against the illicit, but likewise against the
lawful. commerce of this country; if it was always im-
possible to obtain redress on any occasion for the acts
of piracy committed by the English cruisers, not only
on vessels engaged in lawful foreign commerce, but like-
wise on coasting craft; if the sentences of the mixed
Commissioners, adjudging indemnification for damages
and losses sustained, were never carried into execution
by the English Government; if, latterly, the British
Commissary-Judges have taken no notice of the instruc-
tions contained in the convention of 1817, but have
acted on instructions received from their own Govern-
ment without their having been communicated to the
Brazilian Cabinet, it is, indeed, most extraordinary
that the endeavours of the Brazilian authorities to get
rid of a system so prejudicial to its commerce should, by
any possibility, serve as a pretext for acts of increased
violence.
The third allegation, that is, of the Brazilian Govern-
ment having systematically rejected all the overtures
made it by the English Government for the more effec-
tual suppression of the slave-trade, is absolutely false.
On the 27th of July, 1835, some additional articles to
I the convention adopted by the treaty of 1826 were
signed by M. Alves Branco and Mr. Fox, the which
were laid before the Chamber of Deputies, because they
could not be ratified by the Regency without the appro-
bation of the legislative body. The first "Majority
Ministry " examined those " additional articles," and
came to a conclusion, that they could not be
ratified as they were then drawn up, since they
would tend to the complete annihilation of the
lawful commerce of the empire, for they would have
established such cases as would have been considered
prima facie ground for the condemnation of any Bra-
zilian vessel whatever. The Imperial Government, in
consequence, proposed to Mr. Ouseley a modification of
those " additional articles" in such manner that they
should put an end to the slave-trade, without, however,
oppressing or ruining the lawful trade. Mr. Ouseley
declared himself ready to acquiesce in such a modifica-
tion, but, on the Senator Senhor Lopes Gama having
been nominated plenipotentiary on the part of Brazil
to treat with Mr. Ouseley in order to arrive at a defini-
tive settlement, Mr. Ouseley, after a great many ter-
giversations, confessed that ho was not furnished with
the requisite "full powers" to enter into such a nego-
tiation. On this occasion Senhor Lopes Gama had
drawn up the rough draft of a treaty to serve as a basis
for such negotiation, which rough draft was commu-
nicated to Mr. Ouseley—a substantial proof to all the
world of the good faith of the Imperial Government.
-Things remained in this state till 1842, when Mr.
Hamilton presented a new proposition, which he
asserted was based on the draft made by Senhor Lopes
Gama ; but, in fact, the proposition of Mr. Hamilton
diverged, in the most essential points, from that of
Senhor Lopes Gama, and these divergencies would have
given a death-blow to our licit trade: consequently it
was inadmissible.
Taking this very succinct but most faithful exposition
into due consideration, the civilised world will be able to
decide whether it was the Imperial Government which
systematically resigned the offers made by that of Eng-
land for the more efficacious suppression of the slave-
trade, or if it was not the English Government that
systematically sought to sacrifice the lawful commerce of
a nation (its friend) to its projects with respect to the
slave-trade.
We believe we have now replied to all the points in
the article of the Times alluded to • deserving of notice.
The rest consists of a declaration very common-place, on
the inhumanity of the slave-trade, but which comes with
a bad grace from those who, for many years, carried it
on with the most atrocious cruelty—from those, who
forced such an infamous traffic on their own coloofnies
from those who, not long ago, under pretence_
pro-
moting the prosperity of its Asiatic aFrltu_lturists, com-
pelled the Chinese to receive, at thepoin agriculturists,
the bayonet,
a poison that brutalises and kills them.as
the slave-trade
The English authorities, s? long
was useful to the nation, permitted
which ,
nowwithout
agitate referencethei
r
to those principles of humanity.
same zeal which they then displayed to
supply supply othiell-lecountries.with slaves, they now exercise ino
suppressing the trade in them ; but their motive is evi-
dently more of a commercial and political character than
of a humane one.
In fine, we are free to acknowledge that humanity
would be greatly benefited if England could carry her
point, and that Brazil ought to assist her by the stipula-
tions of the first article of the convention of 1826, and
by all the means in her power endeavour to extinguish
the demand for slavesin the interior of the empire, which
no doubt feeds the trade. But as England recurs solely
to force and violence, thus, under pretext of suppressing
a trade the municipal law of Brazil should consider to
be piracy, she herself commits an act of piracy (that is,
the right which the Times calls "exceeding that of a bel-
ligerent"). We are led to believe that, so long as those
acts of violence shall continue, it does not behove the
Brazilian Government to use the least exertion in ren-
dering assistance.
Such exertions, which would expose the Brazilian
Government to great unpopularity, and, perhaps, lead

to resistance in the interior, can only take place on sti.
mutual good understanding ; but as England, instead o
harmony, has substituted violence, and relies entir:ly
thereon, fancying that placing the Braailian Gov.‘rn-
ment in disrt-pute would promote the object it feigns to
have in view, we are of opinion that the Imperial Govern-
ment, protesting against the proceedings of the British.
Government, ought to consider the treaty of 1826 broken
until that Government, being undeceived, shall find that
force is insufficient to stop the progress of trade—conse-
quently, that it is not violent measures only which they
ought to have recourse to.

TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
FOREIGN-OFFICE, DEC. 1. •
The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Robert. L.
Longhead, as Consul at Londonderry for the United States
of America.

WHITEHALL, DEC. 1, 1845.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Robert George Chip-
perfield, of the city of Canterbury, Gent., to be a Muter Ex—
traordinary in the High Court of Chancery.
DECLARATIONS OF INSOLVENCY..

Thomas Moger, poulterer, Ifolborn-hill.
Michael Jones, grocer, Theobald's-road.
BANKRUPTCIES SUPERSEDED.
_ _

J. Swallow, sharebroker, Manchester. • ,
S. May and P. 51ottram, drapers, Shrewsbury.
BANKRUPTS.
William Guy Taylor and Elizabeth Guy, hosiers, Liver-
pool, to surrender, Dec. 16, and Jan. 6, at twelve, at the
Liverpool District Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool;
Reid, Friday-street, Cheapside, London; Greatly, Liverpool.
Lucy Lang and Ann Bayley Smith, lodging-house keepers,
Charterhouse-square and Charterhouse-street, Dec. 12, At
eleven, and Jan. 8, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Johnson, official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Hindmarsh,
Son, Jewin-crescent.
Jobs Clark, merchant, Minories, Dec. 10, at two, sod
Jan. 20, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Johnson,
official assignee, Basinghall-street ; Martin, Thomas, and
Hollams, Mincing-lane.
Edward Redwood, jun., china and glass dealer, Windmil-
street, Lambeth, Dec. 12. at twelve, and Jan. 8, at eleven, at
the Court of Bankruptcy. Bell, official assignee, Coleman-
street-buildings; Long, King-street, City.
John Maylard, grocer, Fetter-lane, London, Dec. 19, at one,
and Jan. 16, at two, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Edwards,
official assignee, Frederick's•place, Old Jewry ; Johrmu,
Walcot-square, Lambeth.
Benjamin Baldwin, warehouseman, Old Jewry, London,
Dec. 13, at eleven, and Jan. 17, at twelve, at the Court of
Bankruptcy. Follett. official assignee, Sambrook-court, Ba-
singhall-street ; Mardon and Prichard, Christchurch-cham-
bers, Newgate-street.
John Bromiley, manufacturer, Bolton-le-Moors, Lanca-
shire, Dec. 13, at eleven, and Jan. 2, at twelve, at the Man-
chester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester ;
Sutton, Manchester; Glover, Bolton.
Samuel Phillips, hatter, Kingston-upon-Hull, Dec. 15, and
Jan. 19, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope,
official assignee, Leeds ; Cape and Stewart, Gray's Inn ;
Colbeck and Co., ; Horsfall and Harrison, Leeds.
(Dividends, &c., in our next.)

HARBOURS OF REFUGE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
SlR,—The promulgation of important truths, through
the press to an educated people, ultimately produces
more benefit than if submitted to the private considera-
tion of the most enlightened individuals. Under this
impression I now offer through the unbounded circula-
tion of your paper, the following observations, intending
that they shall be considered jointly with the article
which appeared in your paper of the 25th instant, on
the projected " English Harbours of Refuge," by one
of the most distinguished of the talented men of France.
—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
London, Nov. 29. DUN DONALD.

BRIEF OBSERVATIONS.
Had gunpowder and its adaptation to artillery been dis-
covered and perfected by an individual, and had its won-
derful power been privately tested, indisputably proved and
reported to a Government, or to a council of militarymen,
at the period when the battering ram and cross-bow were
chiefimplements in war, it is probable that the civilians
would have treated the author as a wild visionary, and that
the professional council, true to the esprit de corps, would
have spurned the supposed insult to their superior under-
standing,.
Science and the arts, both of peace and war, nevertheless,
in despite of all such retarding causes, have advanced, and
probably will advance, until effects and consequences accrue
which the imagination can scarcely contemplate.
It is not, however, my intention to intrude observations of
an ordinary nature, but to endeavour to rectify an erroneous
opinion which appears to prevail, that consequences disastrous
to this country may be anticipated from the introduction of
steam-ships into maritime warfare. lam desirous of show-
ing that the use of steam-ships of war, though at present
available by rival nations, need not necessarily diminish the
security of our commerce, that still less need it necessarily
endanger our national existence, which appears to be appre-
hended by those who allege the necessity of devoting millions
of money to the defence of our coasts.
I contend that there is nothing in the expected new system
of naval warfare, through the employment of steam-vessels,
that can justify such expensive and derogatory precautions,
because there are equally new (and yet secret means of con-
quest, which no devices hitherto used in maritime warfare
could resist or evade.
That the like prejudice or incredulity which in all proba-
bility would have scouted the invention of gunpowder, if
offered to notice under the circumstances above supposed,.
may exist to a considerable extent in the present case, is
extremely likely: yet I do not the less advisedly aflirin,
that with this all-powerful auxiliary invasion may be ren-
dered impossible, and our commerce secure, by the speedy
and effectual destruction of all assemblages of steam ships,
and, if necessary, of all the navies of the whole world, which,
for ever after, might be prevented from inconveniently in-
creasing.

Awkir, then. with the sinister forebodings which have ori-
ginated the recent devices for protruding through the sterns
of sluggish ships of war additional guns for defence in flight!
Away with the projected plans of " piotective forts and
ports" of cowardly refuge ! Let the manly resolution be taken,
when occasion shall require, vigorously to attack the enemy,
instead of preparing elaborate means of defence. Fictitious
ports an the margin of the Channel cannot be better pro-
tected than those which exist, respecting which I pledge any
professional credit I may possess, that whatever hostile force
might therein be assembled could be destroyed within the
first 24 hours favourable for effective operations, in defiance
of forts and batteries, mounted with the most powerful ord-
nance now in use.

In the capacity of an officer all hope seemed to be pre-
cluded, that in time of peace I could render service to my
country; a new light, however, has beamed through the
cloud, for in the pursuit of my vocation as an amateur engi-
neer, it has become apparent that a plan, which I deemed
available only in war, may contribute to prevent the naval
department from being paralysed by wasteful perversion of
its legitimate support. Protective harbours (save as screens
from wind and sea) may be likened to nets wherein fishes,
seeking to escape, find themselves inextricably entangled ; or
to the guardian care of a shepherd, who should pen his flock
in a fold to secure it from a marching army.
No effective protection could be afforded in such ports
against a superior naval force equipped for purposes of de-
struction ; whilst their utility as places of refuge from steam
privateers is quite disproportioned to their cost—privateers
could neither tow off merchant vessels from our shore, nor
regain their own, if appropriate measures shall be adopted to
intercept them.
Impressions in favour of so expensive, ao despondent, and
so inadequate a scheme, can have no better origin than
specious reports, emanating from delusive opinions derived
from a very limited knowledge of facts. The hasty adoption
of such measures, and the voting away the vast sums re-
quired to carry them into execution, art evils seriously to be
deprecated. It is, therefore, greatly to be desired that those
in power should pause before proceeding further in such a
course. It behoves them to consider in all its bearings, and
in all its consequences, the contemplated system of stationary
maritime defence, subject, as that system may become, to the
overwhelming influence of the secret plan which I placed in
their hands, similar to that which I presented in 1812 to his
Royal Highness the Prince Regent, who (as stated last year
in my memorial to the House of Lords) referred its conside-
ration confidentially to Lord Keith, Lord Exmouth, and the
two Congreves, professional and scientific men, by whom it
was pronounced to be infallible, under the circumstances de-
tailed in my explanatory statement.
Thirty-three years is a long time to retain an important
secret, especially as I could have used it with effect in defence
of my character when cruelly assailed (as I have shown at
length in a representation to the Government), and could
have practically employed it on various occasions to my pri-
vate advantage. I have now, however, determined to solicit
its well-merited consideration, in the hope, privately, if pos-
sible, to prove the comparative inexpedience of an expendi-
ture of some 12,000,000/. or 20,000,0001. sterling for the con-
struction of forts and tharbours, instead of applying ample
funds at once to remodel and renovate the navy—profes-
sionally known to be susceptible of immense improvement—
including the removal from its swollen bulk of much that is
cumbrous and prejudicial.
However injudicious it might be thought to divulge my
plan, at least until energetically put in execution for an ade-
quate object; yet, if its disclosure is indispensable to enable
a just and general estimate to be formed of the merits of the
mongrel terraqueous scheme of defence now in contemplation,
as compared with the mighty power and protective übiquity
of the floating bulwarks of )3ntain, I am satisfied that the
balance would be greatly in favour of publicity. It
would demonstrate that there could be no security in
those defences, and those asylums, on the construction of
which it is proposed to expend so many millions of
the public money ; it might, therefore, have the
effect of preventing such useless expenditure, and
of averting the obviously impending danger of future parsi-
monious
an of
national
unnaturalessential
measures
of
naval
nautical
inadministration,prnv era e
nt, anabandonmentdth
of maritime degradation`—all inseparablefr odisgrace
hermaphrodite union between a distinguished service (which
immeasurably exalted) and the
might still further be most
extravagant,inefficient,and derogatory,
that could be devised for the security and protection of an
insular, widely-extended, colonial and commercial State.
DUNDONALD.

•' too, better encouragement might be allorded to meri-
torious officers and seamen who have long and faithfully served
their country. Thus, the 300 Captains proposed to be super-
annuated (most of whom were experienced old First Lieutenants,
sufficiently unfortunate in their tardy promotion), might be spared
the aggravation of a parsimonious national reward for the final
painful sacrifice of all the ambitious prospects of their early days.

TIIE STRIKE OF Tllll CARMARTHEN WEAVSES.-
Meetings of both masters and men have been held during the
week; at one of the former, Mr. John Evans, a master
weaver, proposed giving the men an advance of a half-
penny per yard. This was agreed to by the masters, but
the men stood out for a penny per yard extra. After some
demur and delay, most of the journeymen have returned to
their usual avocations at the advance proposed by the
masters. Numbers of them have, however, taken their de.
parture for Glamorganshire, in hopes to better themselves
either in that county or in England.— Welshman.
A young woman named Carr, who was lately
a domestic servant in Lord Strangford's family, has become
possessed of a fortune, estimated at 10,0001. the luck really
happening through the novelises hackneyed incident a the
death of au uncle in India."—Essex Ifernld.
ADVERTISYMENT.I—A Certain Cure for Asthma by Hol-
loway's Pills.—Read the following case:—James Holmes, a
cotton spinner, residing at Ancoats, Manchester, has been
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when he %vas a child.—Sold (also Holloway's Ointment) at
Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, and by al-
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world.