The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-06 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

T FREEMASON' S QUARTERLY REVIEW.'
A portrait of Dr. Crucifix, with a design of a beau-
tiful testimonial to a brother who deserve so well of
the Masonic fraternity, constitute the fitting em-
bellishments of this Number of the "Freemason's
Quarterly Review." The articles are so exclu-
sively devoted to subjects interesting- to, and
only to be, fully understood by, the craft, that
being of the uninitiated, we can only speak of
them in very general terms. The most interest-
ing is from the prolific pen of the Rev.. Dr.
Oliver, who is a constant contributor to the pages
of this Periodical. As allegories are now some-
what rare, we quote the following entire. It• is
entitled " Time and his Children :"
' Few who have paced the gorgeous halls of the Vatican
can fail to remember a lovely basso-relieve, from the
matchless chisel of Praxiteles, representing Time and
his three daughters, the Past, the Present, and the Fu-
ture. What expression has the.-cunning Greek given to
the first ! what a tale of broken hopes and faded dreams
while the joyousness of her sisters, so varied in its cha-
racter,
the friendship
speaks of love
of the Prefect of the palace, the present Cardinal Fieschi,
I had free permission to roam at will through itkthou-
eitn
tiot sc
odme vee.
uranestactre'dy,eotr so
pleasure intense
y
sand halls and chambers, an indulgence I seldom failed
to avail myself of on those days when they were left to
the guardianship of their own awful solitude. It was on
one of these visits that Metzofaufl, the learned librarian
of the Pope, who had noticed my admiration of the cape
dopra in question, placed in my hand a manuscript, writ-
ten in choice Italian, the production of one of his prede-
cessors. As it relates to this well-known group, I have -
translated it for the benefit of the readers of the Quarterly.
In the olden days of the earth, when the gods loved to
descend from Mount Olympus to wander among the sons
of men, when every fountain boasted its nymph, and
every grove its dryad, there were born unto Time, by one
of the Hours, three daughters, fair as the rosy-fingered
Aurora, and beautiful as the Paphian goddess. The,
were named the Past, the Present, and the Future. Their
education was entrusted to an old female relative of
Time's, called Experience ; and, but that their froward
disposition inclined them rather to mock at than imbibe
the wise precepts of their venerable ;
-Lstruclress, they.
might have become as wise as th,;,, _-teat
parent.
One morning, it was a :dolt May Morning, the sun
sparkled with unusual b7;;Jliane,-,
and a gentle breeze,laden
with perfumes fre- the adjacent meadows, mirrored
through the -
green vine foliage that covered their dwell-
ing. no sisters gazed from their lattice upon the lovely
v.:itley, blue mountains, and clear streams, which lay ex-
, tended before them.

"What a delicious day for a ramble among-those disr
tant groves and meadows !" exclaimed thfit Future.
"Delightful !" echoed the two sisters. •
" Experience, who seldom lost skltt of them, shook

6,C06,833

her head significantly, and turning her weather-wise eye
upon the blue unclouded sky, dryly remarked, that she
had seen mornings of fairer promise close in a stormy
eve. The sisters laughed, for they made it a point to
laugh at everything Experience advised.
" lire had lovely weather yesterday," said the Past,
" not a drop of rain fell the entire day."
" And I am positive," said the Future, " that this day
will prove as fine."
" And sec," added the Present, "there is not a breath j

to shake the white blossoms from the orange-trees ; the
wild bees' hum has become languid with delight ; and
'see, there go a troop of Joys, wreathed with flowers, and
dancing to the merry notes of the cithara ; let us join
them.'

"No," interrupted the Past, "let us rather take a
boat and sail down the smooth stream of Retrospection
—the waters are bright and clear, and on the banks of
that sweet river grow flowers of richer hue and perfume
than any of the Elysian fields ever yielded ; we will
weave them into garlands, and—
" Nonsense !" exclamed the Future ; " I hate viewing
a place a second time ; let us pay a visit to Happiness,
her temple lies only a little way on the other side of yon-
der hill."

" Agreed," said the Present ; " though I own I
would rather hunt for slumbering zephyrs amongst the
half-closed leaves of the asphodel on a sunny bank in
the garden."
The Past, perceiving she could gain no one to coin-
cide with her proposal, also acquiesced. The madcaps
would have started instantly had not Experience de-
tained them, and insisted, much against their inclina-
tion, on their taking three faithful servants to accom-
pany them. The Past was consigned to the care of Me-
mory, an ancient thoughtful sort of fellow, of a most gro-
tesque appearance, owing to his head being twisted
nearly round on his shoulders. The Present had En-
joyment for her conductor, a pleasaiii cheerful compa-
nion, but unfortunately a little too'ißauch addicted to
making copious libations to Bacchus: The Future had
for her guide, Hope, a young and inexperienced travel-
ler, but who, from her buoyant spirits and fanciful tales,
made the road seem shorter than any of her fellow-
servants.

It was arranged that the Past and Memory should lead
the way, but they had hardly commenced their journey,
when the latter, recollecting that he had not brought his
staff along with him, returned to fetch it. Mean-
time the Future, impatient of delay, and urged by Hope,
set off in high glee at the anticipation of outstripping the
others, and being first at the temple of Happiness.
'the Present, who did not wish to lose sight of the Fu-
ture altogether, nor yet daily too long with the Past,
sauntered along quietly, plucking a flower here, or cap-
turing a butterfly there ; at one moment chatting and
laughing with a troop of Fauns, or joining in their rustic
dances, beneath the spreading branches of a lofty oak ;
or again loitering beside some gushing fountain, and re-
galing herself with the purple clusters that hung in wild
profusion from the interlacing tendrils.
At length the Past and her companion Memory, who
had overtaken her, set forth ; their pace was firm and
equal, and as they proceeded they looked not upon the
pleasant scenes before and around them, but with averted
eyes gazed through the vista of Years into the vale of
Time, which they had quitted ; every spot they had
passed by seemed clad in brightness and verdure ; they
spoke but of the delights of yesterday, and the songs of
Memory, for the old man had a sweet and plaintive
voice, always turned upon his early joys and sorrows.
The Future—for it is now time to trace her course—
still continued to progress gaily. Unlike the Present,
she disdained to cast a look upon the blessings that lay
scattered in her way. Nature in vain showered the
fairest fruits and flowers in her path ; Music breathed
her most touching melodies ; Mirth framed his gayest
measure. Both were alike unheeded ; for Hope, in her
aerial robe and floating locks, danced on before her, ever
pointing to some distant object glittering in the sun's
golden rays—some vine-clad hill or sparkling stream ;
and the giddy Future, urged by her ardent guide, pressed
on to gain the halcyon spot, overlooking in her eagerness
the rocks and brambles on the road, which too fre-
quently bruised and lacerated her tender feet. They
had not, however, journeyed far in this manner, before
they reached a small olive grove by the way-side, in
which a fane of the purest white marble had been erected.
On its altar burned a clear flame, fed with rich gums
and spices by a vast number of doves, whose fluttering
pinions fanned the fire they supplied. Sleeping at the
foot of the altar lay a winged boy, his ambrosial locks
curled round a cheek as soft and roseate as a ripe peach.
Hope was the first to perceive him. "It is Love she
cried. "Ah ! could we but capture the sweet boy, what
happiness !—what delight !"
The eyes of Future sparkled at the idea. " Dear
Hope !" she exclaimed, " what a delightful thought. I
would cherish him more tenderly than my favourite
lamb ; he should sleep in my bosom ; and I would feed
him and kiss him."

" Softly," whispered Hope. " I shall certainly catch
him while he sleeps." But .Hope was deceived ; the
urchin, who had heard every word she uttered, suffered
her almost to lay her hands upon his downy pinions,
when, starting from his pretended slumber, he ran away,
laughing at his disappointed admirers. Neither of the
damsels were, however, easily dispirited.
" We shall have him yet," said the Future, and off
they both started in pursuit of the fugitive. Through
brakes and thickets they rushed with heedless speed—
now bounding across the open glade like rival Atalantas
—now threading, like Theseus, a labyrinth of tangled
underwood, as they caught distant glances of the flying
boy, who,
" Bright with his owl immortal smile,"
laughed at the hopeless chase, now suffering them to gain
upon his path, in order to maks their disappointment at
at his loss the greater. Such is the character of Love—
happy only in baffling the pursuit of those who seek him.
Wearied with the fruitless chase, the giddy girls de-
termined to return to the high road, and resume their
journey to the Temple of Happiness ; but, alas ! they
had lost the path. Terrified and exhausted, the Future
sat down at the root, of an old tree, her mind filled with
'gloOnp, anticipations ; for Hope had.wandered from her,
deep into the forest, in expectation- of finding a wood-
-nymph named Content; with whcina she trusted to rest
for a short time.
Meanwhile, the Present, encouraged by enjoyment,
continued sporting merrily onwards, seldom, indeed,
troubling herself about the fate of her runaway sister,
the Future, or bestowing a thought upon the Past, both
of whom she looked upon as romantic visions ; at length
she reached the Grove of Love. The boy, wealy of his
chase, was seated beside his altar ; he beckoned thy
travellers to approach, and they entered the fane. En-
joyment offered him a fresh honey-comb, and the Pre-
sent stooped to kiss his glowing lips. At first, the ur-
chin seemed fearful of approaching the strangers ; but,
gradually becoming more bold, he crept into the arms
of the Present, and nestled his cheek upon her soft
bosom. Enjoyment, delighted with the scene, flung
showers of rose-leaves over them ; he pressed from the
rich grape its ruddy juice, and they quaffed deeply the
maddening draught ; the maxims of Experience were
forgotten in the delirium of the hour. .I_ve crowned
the Present with flowery garlands, and Enjoyment re-
velled in delight.
But pleasure the most exquisite soon palls. Enjoy-
ment soon sank listlessly upon a bank of flowers ; the
fervid breath of Love had prematurely withered the gar-
land on the brow of Pleasure ; his wings became clogged
with honey-drops, and his snowy garments empurpled
with the blood of the vine.
The day closed drearily. The voice of the fierce wind
was heard howling in the deep valley, and the wings of
the storm crushed the dark pines upon the mountain's
head. Sadly, and with anxious solicitude, Experience
sat upon the threshold, watchin4 for the return of the
three wanderers ; at length a figure bent with grief
approached. It was the Future ; but how changed !
her blue eyes were suffused with tears—her step had
lost its buoyancy. Hope was no longer her companion ;
she had deserted her, and a woe-worn melancholy being,
named Despair, supplied her place. The deluded girl
wept long and bitterly as she sank into the arms of Expe-
rience, and in those tears was the agonizing confession
that she had spent
A weary day of hopes and fears.
Began in folly—closed in tears.
Following closely on her sister's steps, came the Present.
She, like the Future, had drank the cup of disappoint-
ment to the lees ; the pollutions of Pleasure had dimmed
the fire of her eye, and paled the rich carnation of her
check. Enjoyment had deserted her, and a gaunt being,
named Remorse, who was ever by her side, reminded her
of her ruined wasted feelings.
Last of all came Past, with Memory 50 supppiDg

ber ; little change was to be seen in her manner or ap-
pearance, save that her brow wore a graver shadow than
it had done in the morning ; for she had heard of her
sisters' disasters, and dropping a tear to the blighted
day-dreams of the Future, and the delusive pleasures of
the Present, she hinted to Experience that, in time to
come, Memory should be given to check the wishes of
the Future, Hope to regulate the actions of the Present,
and Enjoyment to sweeten the recollections of the past.

FRANCE.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, JAN. 4.—The Parliamentary campaign appears
to be opening favourably for Ministers, more on account
of.the want of union and ordinary tactics on the part of
their opponents, than from any innate strength of their
own. Thus Lamartine was decidedly a more popular
candidate for the Presidency of the Chamber of De-
puties than Sauzet ; and yet, by the different frac-
tions of the Opposition agreeing to vote each for their
own special candidate in the first instance, instead
of combining all their strength in favour. of Lamar-
tine at once, the Ministerial candidate obtained
an absolute majority, and was elected. In the same
way the Ministers have just carried all the elections in
the Bureaux on the Address, and there is no doubt, from
the Deputies appointed to draw up that document being
all Ministerialists, that it will be just what that Cabinet
wishes. Debates on it will of course take place, but it is
not expected that the Opposition will carry any essential
lamendments. The plain fact is, that neither the ultra
Conservatives, Count, Mole and his party, nor the war
party, Thiers and Co., are either of them strong enough
, to attack the holders of the power and the purse-strings
, of the State with success ; and they are so far from com-
bining that no immediate danger is apprehended by the
Cabinet. It is impossible as yet to foresee on what
points the debate on the address will mainly turn, but
the reduction of the army, the expense of the occupa-
tion of Algiers, and the late proceedings before the Court
of Peers, will afford ample topics to hang a discussion upon.
It is stated that the reduction of the army has ac-
tually been carried into execution ; that is to say, that a
company in each battalion has been broken up, and its
officers and men drafted into the other companies, so as
to complete their effective force; but no official announce-
ment of this circumstance has yet been made public.
The attention of Great Britain ought to be turned
to the fact, that two French corvettes, with a
large detachment of marine infantry on board, and consi-
derable quantities of warlike stores have actually sailed
from Toulon for New Zealand with the intention of aid-
ing the French settlers there in making good their
footing. These settlers are at present located on British
ground, and it is to the interest of Great Britain that
her rights and privileges should not be attacked with
impunity even in that remote quarter of the globe.
It has been stated by several of the Paris papers, that
the four sail of the line ordered for sea, at Toulon, have
s d!tcl for the Levant; but acoording to the last accounts
from that port, this is incorrect. They are stilt there
ready for sea at a moment's notice, and it is now evident
from the King's speech on the opening of the Chambers,
that their destination is Tunis, in case of a Turkish ex-
pedition being sent to bring the Bey to order. The
King declareid his intention of hindering any foreign
power from interfering with the French settlements in
Africa. This is well known in the political circles of
Paris to mean, that he will not allow the Porte to remove
the Bey, of Tunis, who is favourable to France, from his
13eylick. The right of France to interfere in the quarrel,
if there be a quarrel, between the Porte and the Bey is
not very evident ; and as the Four Great Powers of
Europe are bound by treaty to maintain the " integrality"
of the Ottoman empire, this empty boast of Louis
Philippe means that he would oppose any allied squa-
dron in an hostile demonstration against Tunis. We
are not advocates for needless war, but if it sheuld be
judged fit to support the Sultan in maintaining his
authority at Tunis, and if a French squadron should
attempt to defend the entrance of the Goletta, we should
like to see every ship of it sunk. Between the words,
however, of Louis Philippe and his actions there is, as
every body knows, an immense difference.
Nothing is known for positive as to whether M. de
Salvandy, the French Ambassador to Madrid, is recalled
or not ; but we should not be surprised if he has been
ordered home. Espartero we believe to be perfectly
in the right, on account of the etiquette observed by France
since the death of Ferdinand VII. If the preceding
diplomatic agents of France had not been accredited to
the Regent for the time being, but to the young Queen
herself, there would be just cause for complaint at Espar-
tero's refusal. But because he now wishes to deal ac-
cording to the same measures and standard as were
adopted with regard to his predecessors, the French Go-
vernment pretends to take offence, and to talk big.
There is no danger, however, of any hostilities resulting
from a breach with Spain. Louis Philippe dares not go
to war, and this every body knows ; hence Espartero,
who has a better title to his Regency than Louis Philippe
has to his crown, can afford to beard the wily old despot
with impunity. Not that the Spaniards would fight
any more than the French ; the. Don of the present day
has a most tender respect for the safety.othis own per-
son. The most serious affront that has been offered to
the Court of the Tuileries is certainly the studied ab-
sence of the Russian Charge d'Affaires and all the
Russians, from the official receptions on New Year's-
day. Whether the Emperor Nicholas means it as a joke,
or as a serious affront, it is impossible to tell ; but the
mot d'ordre came from St. Petersburg, and it has pricked
the Citizen's gentility of the Tuileries to the quick.
Paris is more than dull this winter ;it is well nigh
dead, as far as business or pleasure are concerned.
There is little or no business in the retail line now
doing, and in foreign commerce, the Americans, who
are the principal customers, are unsually shy in their
orders. All the fashionables are either in London or.
Rome, or Germany (Vienna, Berlin, Dresden, &c.)
Nobody now thinks it worth while to come to Paris,
when better entertainment, better company, and more
real enjoyments are to be obtained elsewhere. The dif-
ference between Paris of 1842, and Paris of 1838, is
astonishing ; as great, indeed, as that between the capi-
tal in the latter year and in 1830. The carnival enter-
tainments of masked ba!ls have begun ; but these affect
only the riff-raffs and demireps of the metropolis ; even
these are unusually dull. The King is said to be much
cast down in spirits, and to be breaking rapidly. He
complains much of his own personal anxiety, and is more
taciturn than usual. Every thing and every body in fact,
are suffering from the results of what the French term
" une fausse position."

POST-OFFICE.

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF LETTER.S, JAN. 5.

[The numbers given are in some degree the result of
estimate, more especially those previous to the reduction
in the'rates.]

LETTERS SENT THROUGH TILE LONDON GENERAL POST.
Year immediately preceding reduction, viz.,
that ending Dec. 4, 1839 (chargeable let-
ters only)
1840
1841

Increase in the last year's lett.rs since 1840 19,362,000
Ditto since, reduction 47,583,000

LETTERS SENT THROUGH THE LONDON DISTRICT POST.
Year immediately preceding reduction, viz.,
that ending Dec. 4, 1839
1840
1841

Increase in the last year's letters since 1840 2,514,000
Ditto since reduction 9,542,000

LETTERS DELIVERED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
[The letters sent out of the United Kingdom are of
course excluded from this account.]
Year immediately preceding reduction, viz.,
that ending Dec. 4, 1839 (exclusive of
franks, which are estimated at 7,000,000) 75,469,000
1840
1841

Increase in the last year's letters since 1840 27,732,000
Ditto since reduction 121,031,000

COURT CIRCULAR.

berNtirtioN.knsothit,eirWmitrlizzowrnrin—gT.shwearen and Prince Al-
His Royal Highness shot again at the Flemish Farm'
attended by the Earl Delawarr, Sir Robert Peel, Colonel
Bouverie, Lord Charles Wellesley, and Mr. G. E. Anson,
The Lady Clementina Villiers and the Earl of Leices-
ter arrived to-day on a visit to her Alajesty.
Major-General and the Lady Isabella Wemyss, and
Mr. George Edward Anson will have the honour of
joining the Royal dinner circle, at the Castle this evening

His Excellency the American Minister has left town
on a short visit to Lord Ashburton, at the Grange.

Mr. Wickham, Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes,
►ad an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer
j•esterday, at his official residence in Downing-street.

Baron de Nieumann, the Austrian Minister Pleni-
potentiary on a Special Mission, had an interview with
the Earl of Ripon yesterday, at the office of the Board of
Trade.

The Sardinian Minister transacted business yesterday
at the Foreign-office.

The Postmaster-General had an interview yesterday
with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Downing-street.
Lord Fitzgerald has left town on a visit to the Duke
of Buckingham at Stowe.

Despatches from the Governor of the Bahamas, and
also from the Governor of St. Ilelena, were received
yesterday at the Colonial-office.

NEWLY INVENTED COMPOSING MACHINE.
—The London Phalanx, of Saturday week, thus con-
cludes its leading article :—" Amongst other interesting
movements, we may mention the fact, that the principal
portion of this number of the Phalanx has been com-
posed in type of a newly-invented composing machine ;
and is the first piece of periodical literature which has
ever been typographed in this manner. It is the begin-
ning of a new era in the art of printing, which, with a
very little practical experience, will render the art of
composing type so simple and elegant., that ladies may
sit down, as at a piano-forte, and set up in type their own
sweet effusions, with as much ease as they can commit
them to writing. The keys are marked with the letters,
and, when touched with the finger, the corresponding
type falls into its place with the rapidity of spelling. It
will multiply printing, and reduce its price, without di-
minishing the number of workmen, or lowering their
wages ; for cheap production multiplies demand."

SING SUN

EVI

,
ANTI-CORN•LAW CONFERENCE.
THE MEMBERS Or THE WORKING MEN'S ANTI-CORN-
LAW CONFERENC -TO THE RADICAL REFORMERS OF
GREAT BRITAIN 11,ND IRELAND, ADOPTED AT MAN-
CHESTER ON THE..-ST INST.
" Fellow-countryeti—:The appalling distress under
which hundreds of thousands of our countryman are at
present suffering, the alarming fact that that distress is
daily increasing both in extent and severity, and the me-
lancholy prospect that we, with millions more, shall ere
long have to be numbered among the sufferers, if some
means be not adopted to stay the progress of the evil, and
relieve those at present suffering from its influence, call
loudly and imperatively on every one who wishes well to
his country to endeavour to apply a remedy. Guided in
our deliberations by the evidence which was laid before
us, and the, state of public opinion, we have come to the
determination to support, and to endeavour to procure,
the repeal of the Corn and Provision-laws ; because we
are convinced, that the remedy sought wil more easily
and speedily be obtained by such conduct, than by any
other course of proceedings which, under present cir-
cumstances, we could adopt ; and our purpose in in-
truding upon your notice is to state to you the reasons
which have induced us to come to this determination, and
to endeavour to convince you of the propriety and the De►
cessity of pursuing a similar course of conduct.
" Deeply impressed with a sense of the iniquity of all
prohibitory duties on the necessaries of life—fully aware
of the unjust and partial principle upon which the pre-
sent Corn-laws are founded—and sensibly feeling, in the
high price of food, the effects of their oppressive ope-
ration—we have often expressed our abhorrence of the
principle, our dissatisfaction with their operation, and
our convictions that they ought to be repealed. We,
therefore, make no sacrifice of principle in endeavouring
to obtain their abrogation.
" We do not pretend to assert that the corn monopoly
is the greatest ; but it is one which is so glaringly un-
just, that almost every person who has the slightest per-
ception of right and wrong, except those who are bene-
fited by its existence, can see and must admit, the op-
pressive and selfish nature of its establishment. It was
not designed and enacted for the purpose of increasing
the national revenue, but for individual aggrandizement
—not for the protection of a nation, but of a class—not
for the benefit of the people, bat for the aristocracy ;
and from the injustice of its provisions being more
directly, prominently, and frequently presented to the
perceptions of the people, the natttral consequence may
easily be inferred—that a very great portion of them,
who have studied but little the principles of general poli-
tics, will seek to obtain the destruction of a monopoly,
the influences of which are so obviously injurious, before
they will attack any other.
" Consistency of principle dictates that those who
condemn an abuse should assist in removing it ; and
sound policy will point out the propriety of attacking
that abuse against which the greatest numbers can be
arrayed. Convinced by our own observations, and the
information of others, that, if all who condemn the pre-
sent Corn-laws would assist in destroying them, there
would he `found a greater number of opponents to their
existence than could possibly be at present obtained
against any other abuse, either in the Constitution or
laws of the country: we, therefore, feel constrained to
use our best exertions to obtain their repeal.
" But let it not be imagined that we compromise, or
with you to compromise, the great and righteous prin-
ciple of equality of political rights, for which we
have so long contended ; and without which we ven-
ture to assert, no permanent good can be effected
for the people of this country. On the contrary, we
believe we are doing more to further the success of
that principle, by joining in the present agitalion
against the Corn-laws, than we could do either by
opposing or standing aloof from it. For surely, by
seeking to stifle the expression of other people's opinions
when they do not exactly coincide with our own,
we should only show our intolerance and bigotry, by en-
deavouring to deprive others of their liberty; we should
only prove our unfitness to be entrusted with our own, by
standing aloof from, or by endeavouring to thwart any
agitation having for its object the good of our country,
because it may not be for objects which we think are of the
greatest importance; we should only make known that
we were the slaves of ambition and faction; whilst, by al-
lowing to others the same freedom of expressing their opi-
nions which we claim for ourselves—by being as careful
of trenching on other people's liberty, as we should be firm
in resisting their invasion of ours—and by assisting in
abrogating every abuse in the institutions of our coun-
try, whether those abuses be attacked singly or collec-
tively, we shall prove to all intelligent and candid men,
that we are honest and consistent advocates of the great
principles of commercial, religious, and political equality.
The latter course of conduct will ensure the respect and
co-operation of all liberal-minded and intelligent men in
obtaining our rights ; while the former would only con-
vince them that there would be danger in admitting us to
any share of political power.
" But, independently of principles of consistency and
duty, principles of policy would compel us to join the pre-
sent agitation. Every reflecting mind must be sensible
that, as the number and extent of monopolies can be dimi-
nished, the number of those interested in their existence
will diminish in proportion; and those who had an interest
in their continuance, on finding that there is no hope of a
renewal of those by which they benefited, will be amongst
the most strenuous opponents of those which may remain,
because they will have the best knowledge of their ope-
rations ; those who are seeking to destroy monopolies
will increase in intelligence, in confidence, in number,
and strength; and those who are striving to uphold them
will be diminishad in numbers, dismayed in spirit, and
weak in action, till at last every monopoly, save that
of legislation, will be destroyed; and the people at large,
on finding that they are not benefited so long as that is
suffered to remain, ‘i ill attack it with an union, an
energy, an intelligence, and a determination, which will
be resistless. But should the utmost efforts of the advocates
ofcotnmercial freedom be of no avail in inducing the Legis-
lature to comply with their wishes, then we shall have
gained a host of allies in attacking and endeavouring to
destroy the monster monopoly—the monopoly of portical
power, which is Ore fruitful source from which all Others
spring,. The Corn-law repealer will attack it as a means
of removing those laws which lie believes are so inju-
rious to the commerce and prosperity of the nation ;
those who are desirous of removing religious distinctions
in the State, and are striving to abolish compulsory pay-
ments for religious purposes, will attack it as a means of
enforcing their principles and redressing their grievances;
whilst the friends of freedom in commerce, in religion,
and politics, will seek its destruction as a means of cor-
recting every abuse, and removing every impediment
which preventsithe full development of the faculties of
man and the attainment of the greatest degree of happi-
ness at which he can possibly arrive.
" Hoping that the reasons which we have adduced will
be sufficient to persuade you to imitate our conduct, is
the fervent wish of the undersigned members of the
Working Men's Anti-Corn-law Conference."

THE ITALIAN OPERA.—Mr. Lumley has
succeeded in retaining the following singers -:—Madame
Molteni, and Signors Santi, Guasco, and George Ron-
coni. These will be new to this country, and Ronconi is
now by far the finest baritone, as well as the best actor,
Italy can boast of. Madame Molteni is a young prima
donna of much promise, as well as an actress of great
talent. Iler engagement is dated from the 20th of Fe-
bruary to the 15th of August. Santi is a bass of good
preterlsions, and Guasco a tenor, with a melodious fresh
voice, and a singer of considerable acquirements. Grisi,
Persiani, Mario, and Lablache, will return ; Tamburini
goes to Italy; Pauline Viardot's indifferent health ren-
ders her engagement doubtful. Rubini has promised to
sing for a limited number-of nights, for which he is to
receive 1,0001 Cerito will certainly appear in the month
of May ; and Carlotta Grisi, and her husband, Perrot,
are both retained, but not to lead the ballet before
Easter, as erroneously stated. Guy Stephan is again
engaged. Worn-out operas are to be shelved, and seve-
ral new works are to be brought out, amongst which wo
may mention La l'estale, by Mercadante, which has
been very popular in Italy, and has just been produced
with great success at Paris ; and Maria Padilla, by
Donizetti, written for Mdlle. Loewe and the company
now performing in Milan. The theatre will be opened
on Saturday, Feb. 26.
THE ANCIENT MINERAL SPRINGS OF ST.
AGNES, HOXTOIC—Ie the course of ths excavations
which are now in progress at- the end of Fittfield-street,
Old-street, for the formation of a new sewer, when the
workmen reached that part of the road which is opposite
the St. Agnes mineral baths, they castle against a Roman
brick gutter, at the depth of about twelve feet,which was
found to communicate with the site of the ancient baths
known by the above name. The effect was, that upon the
gutter being removed the baths were soon emptied, ar.d
the supply was lost, as the water ran down the course of
the new sewer. At the time of the discovery a fall of
earth had taken place in the sewer, when the water
speedily rose to a height of ten feet. Previously it was
not known where the source of the spring was ; but
it is now ascertained to have run from the west. In the
title-deeds of the property no mention is made to that
effect. The bricks that formed the gutter are of the most
solid and compact structure, each is twelve inches
long, six inches wide, and the• diameter of the boro
three inches and a half ; each weighs from twelve to
fourteen pounds. The baths were originally erected in
the year 1242, by Agnes, daughter of Sir John de Finn,
one of the knights who accompanied King John to the
Holy Land. After the sewer is formed, Mr. Moore, the
proprietor of the baths, is led to believe that the Com-
missioners of Sewers of the Holborn and Finsbury di-
vision will restore the communication between the
springs and the baths. Some gentlemen connected with
the Antiquarian Society have visited the spot.
SINGULAR PLEDGE.—Yesterday information
was received at all the metropolitan police stations, that
in the course of the afternoon a fine male child, sup•
posed to be about one month old, had been found placed
in one of the pledging boxes on the premises of Mr.
Reynolds, a pawnbroker, near the Mile End-road. It
was wrapped up in two bed gowns, two patched blankets,
&c. It has been removed to the workhouse.
THEATRICAL.—The Birmingham Theatre
opened last week for the season with a very talented
company. They have been playing a round of Shaks-
pear s plays to lull houses, the principal t •baracter in
each being supported by Mr. Woolgar, a gentleman ho
has attained much celebrity in the provinces. The
theatre is under the management of Messrs. onr oan

Simpson. •
A white woodcock was shot, a few days ago,
at Moldy, in the Basses-Pyrenees.
Mr. Frederick Chatterton, the well-known
harpist, has arrived in Paris at the Hotel Windsor, Rue
Rivoli.
A few days since a woman at Elvange, in the -Moselle,
who had just lost her d augh t e r,ai,tffifibte)atefittrrvetseedheyn,i,:,
young
fell
ne thetoilechildren.
downi
gfhaat gnoo
and
and was waiting by the side of the coffin for it taken
the
to thel
nrneertse
when vast e
ysSo
he
aemt
nthtecahisn
expired immediately.