The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-22 00:00:00

DINAPORE.

A letter from Dinapore, dated the 18th inst., says:—
" We are all in great fidgets here, I mean the mili•

tary, in consequence of an Order having just come down
to the officer commanding this division, to have a corm
in readiness to take the field at a moment's notice.
The Ist N.I. is the first for active service, but it is said
they will not be allowed to go, as they are not complete,
and have at present very few officers with the corps.
The wise heads seem to think that the 36th Regiment
will go, as they have only one soldier short in the
regiment, and are very strong in officers. I don't envy
the lucky ones that have to march down, they will not
have to go very far—only to Sewgowlie on the frontier;
it will be a trip there and back again, I dare say, without
even one shot being fired."—Bengal Hurkaru, Jan. 27.
The following is an extract from a Dinapore letter of
the 27th ult.:— _

" The artillery who went up to Benares for their
annual practice some time back, and sent after forth-
with on account of the disturbed state of the Nepaul
frontier, are now, would you believe it, under orders to
trace their steps to that station to finish what they had
left undone ? A fine thing this to be subject to. Where
the fault lies we know not ; but that one has been com-
mitted there can be no doubt of, as we have heard from
very good authority that the disturbance was greatly
exaggerated. The 49th reached this on the 25th, and
started again the evening of the 26th. Their present
destination is Benares ; they have suffered greatly from
cholera since they left Dacca, having lost about,2oo
sepoys, and left a considerable number at Bhagulpore in
a very precarious state. Captain Mitchell commands the
regiment, as Colonel Fernie appeared before a medical
committee, and is off to the Cape. The Ist regiment
N. I. were reviewed this morning by Colonel Right.
Her Majesty's 39th Regiment went through a great
many evolutions with steadiness and celerity, reflecting
great credit on its worthy commandant and officers.
Their file-firing was excellent, and kept up with great
spirit ; their light infantry manceuvres had a pretty
effect. The officers of that corps entertain Colonel Right
and staff this evening. The 23d N. I. are to be reviewed
on the 306, and the 36th shortly after.—Englishman.
Feb. 1.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Calcutta Overland Price Ciarent of Feb. 7.)
Immediately after the dispatch of our last number a noti-
fication appeared, to the effect that Government were pre-
pared to make advances, under the previous regulations, on
goods hypothecated to them at the reduced rate of Is. 10d.
per rupee. This, although not effective in inducing parties
to avail themselves of it to any great extent, has materially
affected the ruling of our exchange on England, and in con..

sequence caused a very active demand for all staples of ex-
port from this country, and at, generally speaking, an ad-
vance in price, with the exception of those articles which are
principally influenced by the scarcity of available tonnage
and consequent high ruling of freights.
This decline in exchange has, however, been equally felt in
our import markets, and has been the cause of increased
dullness, holders (from the ruinous rate at which they are at
present forced to make their remittances) showing no dispo-
sition to meet purchasers, who on their part seem equally
determined to hold back.

The Government express, bringing London dates to the
7th of December, came in on the evening of the 19th ult.,
but the intelligence received by this opportunity not being of
a very important nature, very slightly, if at all, influenced
our markets.

Indigo—The accounts received by the last mail, although
rather discouraging for this dye, had no effect on this market,
and at a public sale of 680 chests held the day after the ex-
press arrived, former rates were fully maintained ; our opi-
nion nevertheless was, that prices would give way as soon
as the French had completed their purchases, and no doubt
such would have been the case ; but on the 22d ult. the Go-
vernment lowered their rate of exchange from Is. 11d. to
Is. 10d. per rupee, which caused many English buyers to re-
appear in the market, and prices have in consequence been
supported. We have now but few fine marks remaining,
and the quantity available consists of bought-in lots, native
manufacture, and up-country and Buxar sorts ; but even of
these we do not think more than 15,000 maunds will be of-
fered for sale, so that we may consider the season closed by
the end of this month, and the crop will be divided as fol-
lows :—England, 29,000 chests ; France, 10,000 chests ;
America, 500 chests ; and Gulfs, 500 chests.

The principal part of the English shipments have been
made rather as remittances than on speculation, many per-
ties preferring this to any other mode of sending home money.
Exports from the Ist of „November, 1844, to the sth of
February, 1845, have been as follows, viz.:—
Chests. Factory maunds.
19,157 70,789
9,624 33,705
535 1,822

To Great Britain
France
North America
Red Sea, Bombay, and
Gulfs
All other ports

96 312
2 5

Total 29,414

106,633

Sagar—This article has throughout the past fortnight
been in extensive demand, and sales to a considerable ex-
tent have been effected at in moat instances an advance of
about four annas per maund. The new crop of date which
is now arriving being of a superior description, is
readily taken as it comes to market at from Company's rupees
10 to 10 8 per maund. A few parcels of Dobarah (or chris-
talized) have also arrived, and found a ready sale at from
11 to 11 8.

Fine white Benares continues scarce and in inquiry, Com-
pany's rupees 12 to 12 2 being readily paid.
Several manufactories under European superintendence
being now at work, the demand for low Khaurs and Ghoor
continues at high rates.
Experts from the Ist instant up to date amount to 25,000
maunds.

Saltpetre—The accounts brought by the last mail being
more favourable with regard to this staple have caused an
increased activity in our market, and a good business has
been done for Great Britain. For France and North Ame-
rica there has been but little inquiry.
Exports, from the let inst. up to date, are to Great
Britain 9,075 maunds. _ _ _

Rum—One or two small sales have been effected since our
last, at about 7 annas per gallon, bat manufacturers still
prefer shipping. Exports have of late been heavy, being in
December and January no less than 150,000 gallons against
for the corresponding period of the previous year 34,000
gallons ; and from the Ist instant up to date amount to 8,000
gallons.
Raw Silk—The late accounts having been more favourable
for the finer descriptions, a large amount of business has been
done in Cossimbazar, Jungypore, and Gonatea of the Nov.
bund, at full prices. The native manufacturers at last appear
to have found the advantage of paying more attention to the
reeling of their silk, as a decided improvement is discernible
in the quality of this bund.
Of Hurrypole and Radnagore our market is now nearly
cleared, and the parcels remaining being generally of an
inferior description arc difficult of sale.
We of late notice several small pnrchases for France and
North America, which will, we hope, prove the forerunner of
more extensive shipments to these parts.
Exports, from the Ist instant, have been as follow, viz.:—
To Great Britain, 671 mds. ; France, 5.

Silk Piece Go'ods—We have no alteration whatever to
notice in the demand or price of these goods since our last,
corrahs of every description being readily purchased on
arrival, at about former rates. Choppas and bandannas
continue scarce, and any parcels offering find a ready sale.
Exports, from the Ist instant up to date, have been as follow,
viz :

Great Britain France.
Coraha
Choppas and bandannas 255
Coloured and Printed Goods —The Caubul dealers have
taken off a limited quantity of suitable styles of chintzes ;
and the stouter makes of Turkey red twills continue in de-
mand, although at rather lower prices. Imports of all kinds
in January amounted to 737 packages.
Woollens—We have no change whatever to notice ; the
market remains in the same depressed condition, with in-
creasing stocks.
Imports in January, 478 bales.
White Mule Twist—Transactions since our last have again
been on a very limited scale, but we can scarcely notice any
alteration in value. No. 40 is comparatively in best demand.
Imports in January amounted to 1,824 bales, or 863,0801 b.
Coloured Yarn—Turkey red, German dye, has sold to a
fair extent, at from 1-9-4 to 1-12-6 per lb. In British there
has been less doing, but sales are reported at 1-7.3. In
orange and green a few transactions are reported at about pre-
vious rates. Imports in January were as follows, viz.:—
Red, 137 bales, or 55,4001 b. ; orange 91 bales, or 89,0001 b. ;
green 21 bales, or 8,2001 b.

Copper—Transactions since our last have been quite unim-
portant, and sales can only be effected by submitting to a
further decline. Imports in January were as follows, viz. i
Tile and ingot, 1,853 maunds ; foreign, 1,720 maunds; sheet
and plate, 1,398 maunds ; pig, 680 maunds ; old, 1,240
maunds ; japan, 324 maunds ; nails, 79 maunds ; South
American, 1,646 maunds. _ _

Iron—A speculative demand has lately been experienced,
and about 35,000 maunds of common bar have changed
hands ; the present price for good sound iron is 2r. 2a. per
maund. Imports in January were as follows, viz.:—Bar,
bolt, and rod, 33,294 maunds ; hoop, 1,694 maunds ; sheet,
19,108 maunds; Swedish, 12,280 maunds ; pig, 1,497 maunds;
Bails, 735 maunds ; old, 96 maunds.
Spelter—ln very moderate inquiry, prices have declined,
and have still a downward tendency.
Imports in January were 17,478 maunds.
Lead and Tin Plates—Stamped pig has sold to a moderate
extent at 6 rupees per maund ; but in other descriptions
there has been scarcely anything doing, and prices have not
altered.

Shell Lac and Lac Dye—A moderate business has been done
in these articles, but principally in low qualities ; former rates
are fully maintained.
Exports from Ist inst. up to date are as follows, viz. :—To
Great Britain—Shell lac, 414 maunds; lac dye, 52 maunds;
France, Shell lac, 208.
Hides, Horns, and Tips—There has not been much doing
in hides lately, but prices are maintained, and shipments to
Great Britain go forward pretty freely. Buffalo horns and
tips are in moderate demand, the former at 9r. to Or. Ba.,
and the latter at Br. 4a. to Or. 4a. per maund. Exports from
the Ist inst. up to date:—Hides, Great Britain, 16,669 pieces;
France, 1,796 pieces; North America, 1,740 pieces.
Cowries, Tincal, and Cutch—Cowries—We have not heard
of any sales lately, but shipsments to Great Britain go for-
ward freely. Tincal and Cutch—Nothing doing. Experts
from Ist instant up to this date are as follows, viz.,—Cowries,
Great Britian, 660 maunds.
IMPORTS FROM EUROPE.

Imports in January were as follows, viz.:—
Tin plates, 96 boxes ; lead, sheet, 1,268 bags ; lead, pig
6,316 maunds; ditto, sheet, 842 maunds.

British Cotton Piece Goods—We have again to notice an
inactive market in all the leading staples, and, netwith-
standing the reduction in exchange, prices show no amend-
ment, and, with considerable tightness existing among the
bazaar-dealers for money, no material improvement can, we
fear, be safely looked for for the next month or two. Gray
shirtings have been sold in moderate quantities at rather
lower prices than were current on the 20th ultimo. White
shirtings have engaged little attention, but we hear of no
alteration in value.

-White jaconets continue saleable at about last month's
sales, and stocks are moderate. Grays are quiet. Imports
in January were as follows :
White. Gray.
Lon ;cloths and shirtings 518 packages. 1,644 packages.
Maddapollams
Cambrics 94 0

Jaconets
Lappets

Lenoes
Book Muslins
Mulls and mediums

Beer—Transactions have been confined to some few hogs-
heads of Allsop's at 59, and, until the new beer arrives, there
will be nothing doing. The imports in January were as fo
lows, viz. :
Bass's . 108 hhds.
Allsop's l9B
Barclay's
Rees's 4O
Tennant's 47

Taylor's
Palmer's
Saunders's 143
Sundries .. 300

Checks, spots, and stripes 229
Scarfs and chuddurs ...... 179

Dhooties
Twills

SHIP NEWS.

ARP,IVALS AT SAUGUR FROM THE 18TH OF JANUARY TO THE

4111 OF FEBRUARY, 1845.
Jan. 19 —The Hon. Company's ship the Amherst, Pater-
son, from Khyouk Phyoo, on the 15th of January—the Earl
of Hardwicke, Drewt, from the Cape of Good Hope, on the
13th of November—the Tenasserim, steam-vessel.
Jan. 20.—The Bentmck, steam-vessel, Kellock, from Suez.
Jan. 21.—The Chatham, Gifford, from Singapore, on the
26th of December.

Jan. 24.—The Success, M'Kerlie, from Cork, on the 10th of
September—the Ceylon, from Newcastle, on the Ist
of August.
Jan. 25.—The Dhur, Cumberland, from Madras, on the
10th of January—the Sophia, Chaplin, from Penang, on the
9th of January.
Jan. 26.—Arratoon Apcar, Durham, from Singapore., on
the 31st of December—the Australia, Blanchford, from Bom-
bay, on the 27th of November—the Ingleborough, Rea, from
Liverpool, on the 28th of August—the Recorder, Sharp, from
Bombay, on the 9th of December.
Jan 27.—The Ilasheny, Saxton, from the Cape of Good
Hope, on the 20th of November—the Colonel Newall, from
Liverpool, on the 28th of August.
Jan. 28.—The William Wilson, Shilstone, from Rangoon,
on the 12th ofJanuary.
Jan. 29.—The Bengalee, Boadle, from Liverpool, on the
18th of September.
Jan. 30.—The John Brightman, Viall, from Singapore, on
the 7th of January—the John Hepburn, Livingstone, from
Singapore, on the 14th of January—the Espiegle, Shaw, from
Moulmein, on the 13th of January.
Feb. 4.—The Pallas, Henley, from Penang, on the 16th of
January.

DEPARTURES FROM SACGUR FROM THE 16TH OF JANUARY

EXCIIANGE.

Immediately after the issue of the late Government noti-
fication the rate for good bills declined to Is. lOid., and even
Is. 101 d. per rupee ; but at the former figure we consider the
principal business for the mail to have been done, although
buyers are now indisposed to operate except at Is. 100.
French bills with documents have been let off at Is. 100.,
but not, we believe, to any great extent.
MONEY MARKET.

TO THE 31) OF FEBRUARY, 1845,

Jan. 17.—The Spiteful (her Majesty's steam-vessel) ; the
Maidstone, Nash, for the Cape and London.
Jan. 18.—The Enterprise, steam-vessel ; the Asia, David-
son, for London; the Cowasjea Family, Durham, for Singa-
pore and China.

Jan. 19.—Fyzel Rohoman, Nacoda, for Muscat.
Jan. 20.—The Joseph Manook, Young, for Rangoon—the
Coquette, Eldridge, for Macao.
Jan. 22.—The Fattle Rohoman, Nacoda, for Bombay—the
Harlequin, Morris, for Singapore—the Anne Louise, Ireland,
for llavre.

Jan. 23.—The Lord Althorp, Elliot, for Liverpool—the
Dorothea, Smith, for St. Helena and London—the William
Wallis, Pringle, for Liverpool—the Asie, Guyodo, for Bourbon.
Jan. 24. —The Sulimany, Monk, for the Mauritius--the
Monarch, Walker, for St. Helena and London.
Jan. 25.—The Ripsima Anna Maria, Heckford, for Moul-
mein—the Raize Rohany, Nacoda, and the Pattie Mobareck,
Nacoda, for Muscat.

Jan. 26.—The Juddle Rohoman, Nacoda, for Muscat—the
Arid, Burt, for Singapore and China—the Gloriana, Webb,
for the Cape and London—the Fettle Hair, Ingalls, fur Ba-
tavia—the Tenasserim (steam-vessel)—the Amherst.
Jan. 27.—The Blorenge, Banks, for Liverpool.
Jan. 29.—The Blundell, Hunter, for Jamaica and London
—the I'Asie, Duperon, for Bordeaux.
Jan. 30.—The Lord Hungerford, Pigott, for the Cape and
Demerara—the Elphinstone, Fremlin, for London—the Ivan-
hoe, Simpson, for Liverpool—the Kandiana, Rigley, for
London.

We have no alteration to notice since the 20th .ult. Go•
vernment securities and hand stock of all denominations con
tinue to change hands to a fair extent at our quotations.

CURRENT VALUE OF GOVERNMENT SECURITIES, BANK
STOCK, &C.
_ .

Transfer Five per Cent 2or. Ba. to 21r. Oa. prem
Second do., according to Nos 4r. Ba. 7r. Ba. „
Third do., do
New do., do 9r. 12a. —10 r. Oa. „
Sicca rupees, Four per Cent Or. 12a. Ir. Oa. dis.
Company's rupees, do Or. Ba. Or. 12a. ,
Bk. of Bengal Shs., 4,000 Co.'s rs., 2,750 to 2,800 pm., ex. div,
Union Bk. Shares, 1,000 Co.'s rs., 260 to 265 pm., ex. div.
Agra Bk. Shares, 500 Co.'s rs., 270 to 280 pm., ex. div.
Mussoorie Bank Shares, 500 Co.'s rs., nominal.
Bank of Western India Shares, 300 Co.'s rs., nominal.

Jan. 31.—The City of Palaces, Major, for Bombay.
Feb. I.—The Rustomjee Cowasjee, Hill, for Bombay—the
Futteh Salam, Nacoda, for Cannanore and Judda—the Ot-
terspool, Wickman, for Liverpool.
Feb. 2.—The Enterprise (steam-vessel)—the Fattle Barry,
Nacoda, for Allepee, Aden, and Judda.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Stafford, March 20.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PLATT.)

REGINA V. WILLIAM WALKER.

TV am' Walker, a labouring man, 29 years of age,
was placed at the bar, ckarged with the wilful murder of
William Sudbury, on the 15th of August last.
Mr. Beadon conducted the case for the Crown; the
prisoner was defended by Mr. J. Neale.
The prisoner and the deceased were both labourers in
the employ of Mr. Thomas Cammack, who keeps the
Bassett Pole Inn, in the parish of Drayton Bassett. On
the afternoon of the day on which the unfortunate affair
took place, Walker and the deceased were drinking at
this public-house. Walker had a sickle in his hand, and
some dispute arose between him and Sudbury regarding
meat, which the latter accused him of not having paid
him for. Walker went out, but returned soon after, still
holding the sickle. The altercation continued, but
whether the prisoner actually received a blow from the
deceased, as was attempted to be shown for the defence, did
not very clearly appear. However, Cammack heard him
suddenly exclaim, `• What does he mean ?" and imme-
ciately saw him strike Sudbury on the head with the
sickle. He fell from the blow, and the prisoner made
his escape, but afterwarth gave himself up of his own ac-
cord. Sudbury died in about six hours from the effect
of the wound, the point of the sickle having penetrated
the parietal bone, and caused an aperture through which
the brain issued.

Mr. NEALE having addressed the jury for his client,
His Loans Hip summed up the evidence, and, after
pointing out the distinction between the crime of murder
and the inferior offence of manslaughter, the jury were
told to consider their verdict. They returned ono of
manslaughter, and the prisoner, who had previously
borne a good character, received from the Learned Judge
the merciful sentence of six months' imprisonment,
without hard labour.

Frederick Gregory, convicted last night of a wholesale
burglary at Stone, Zwas again tried to-day fur a like of-
fence, and found guilty.
Mr. Meteyard prosecuted in both cases.
The prisoner made a most artful defence, but it availed
him little, for he was transported for ten years.
CIVIL. SIDE.
(Before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a Special Jury.)

HILLIARD V. VIE REV. - SNEYD.
This action was brought to recover the amount of an
attorney's bill. It did not seem to possess the least in-
terest to any one beyond the parties concerned; but the
trial had not terminated when this report left.
Sergeant Talfourd and Mr. Whitmore were for the
plaintiff ; Mr. Godson, Q.C., and Mr. Gray, for the de-
fendant.
With this case the business of the assizes will terminate.
The commission-day at Shrewsbury is fixed for Sa-
turday.

NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Huntingdon, March 20.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PARKE.)
John Wrightson and William Lewis were indicted for
the manslaughter of William Hall.
Mr. Gunning prosecuted, and Mr. O'Malley defended
Wrightson ; the prisoner Lewis was undefended.
The spot in which the deceased met his death is situ-
ate in a yard leading out of Poorfolks-lane, in the town
of St. Ives, and in which yard Lewis resided with his
mother, and Wrightson, who is a corporal in the Gre-
nadier Guards, at the house of a widow named Asplin.
On the morning of the 22d of July last, the prisoner
Lewis and the deceased had been drinking, and pro-
ceeded, in a state of intoxication to the yard, when the
deceased knocked at Mrs. Asplin's door, and requested
p6rmission to lodge at her house for the night. This
she refused, in eousequence of the state in which he
was ; and, on his persisting in knocking at her door,
she called up the prisoner Wrightson, who proceeded,
half dressed, into the yard. A " scrimmage" then took
place, which was witnessed by several persons from their
windows, and one stated that the deceased was struck
on the head—by whom it did not distinctly appear—and
immediately fell. The voices of the prisoners were
heard during the scuffle. One or two persons went out
to see what was the cause of the disturbance, and found
the deceased on the ground in a state of stupor, and the
prisoner Wrightson was seen to kick him twice, but he
had no shoes on, and seemed to be only endeavouring to
rouse him.

A surgeon was called, who proved that the death was
caused by extravasation of blood on the brain, which
might have been produced by a blow or a fall, or brought
on by drunkenness or any great excitement.
The Learned JUDGE, having inquired whether, in case
of its having been produced by external violence, death
would be instantaneous, and being answered in tho
affirmative,---it appearing that the deceased had spoken
after ho was on the ground, he thought the case too
doubtful to allow it to proceed against the prisoners
further, and directed an acquittal.
Thomas Hill was indicted for setting fire to a stack of
haulm, the property of John Bull.
Mr. Guivinso opened the case to the jury for the
prosecution, and, from his statement, it appeared that
the fire in question broke out about nine o'clock in the
evening of the 6th of March, and consumed a large
haulm stack standing in the prosecutor's rick-yard, at
Yelling, in this county. In order to bring home to the
prisoner the perpetration of this outrage, it was proved
that, on the evening of the fire, be had purchased a box
of lucifer matches, and, a few minutes before the fire
broke out he was seen loitering about the prosecutor's
premises. Several witnesses were called to prove that
the prisoner had frequently invited them to set fire to
the prosecutor's premises. On one occasion, he asked
a labourer of the prosecutor's "to go with him, and do
something to be sent out of the country, as transports
lived better than he did;" and the prisoner also stated to
the same person " that he should stop a little while be-
fore the March assizes, then he should not have to lay
long in prison."
The case against the prisoner was wound up by the
testimony of Robert King. This witness deposed to his

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 2.21 1845.

having had a conversation with the prisoner the night
after the fire, on which occasion he asked him " if he
should not have been sorry to have seen his master's
premises burnt to est es?" And he replied, " I should
have been sorry if I had broken my muck fork." The
prisoner afterwards said, " If I had done as I had wished
to do, I should have been at home and in bed, and it
would never have happened." He further stated when
in custody, " that he did not care what became of him ;
they might send him to h— if they pleased."
The Learned JUDGE pointed out to the jury the various
facts on which the guilt or innocence of the man must
turn, and left if for them to say whether or not they en-
tertained a reasonable doubt of the prisoner's guilt.
The jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty;
and the prisoner was sentenced to transportation fur
twenty years.

IRELAND.
DISMISSAL OF A MAGISTRATE.

DUBLIN, 11Liacu 19.—The Tipperary 'Vindicator
states that Captain IVeatherall has been dismissed
from the commission of the peace for the King's
County, in consequence of a memorial to the Lord-
Lieutenant from a poor man named Dunn. The
same journal states that " Dunn also complained of
another magistrate, Sir Edward Synge, Bart., about
whose case there hus been as yet no decision." No
particulars are given as to the nature of the charges
or the memorial. The Tipperary Vindicator adds—
" The Lord-Lieutenant has ex?rcised a wise and an
admirable discretion, and has given unbounded satis-
faction to the inhabitants of Birr, who delight in
recogni!•-ing this wholesome exercise of his power."
PROVINCIAL COLLEGES IN IRELAND.

A meeting took place in the Corporation-hall,
Londonderry, on Saturday last, to adopt a memorial
to the Government, praying that one of the new
colleges may be established in that city. The
principal inhabitants of the district, without distinc-
tion of party, were present, including the Lord Bishop
of Derry, Sir Robert Ferguson, M.P., Mr. T.
Bateson, M.P., Dr. Boyd, M.P., Mr. Acheson Lyle,
Chief Remembrancer, &c. The Mayor presided. All
the gentlemen named offered their most earnest co-
operation in carrying out the object of the meeting.
Mr. A. LYLE, Chief Remembrancer, whilst advo-
cating the claim of Londonderry for one of the new
colleges, stated his views for enlarging the usefulness
of the University of Dublin, by founding a large
number, say one hundred scholarships for Roman
Catholics, and the like number for Presbyterians.
The Rev. \V. M'CLURE, who formed one of the re-
cent deputation to London from the General Assem-
bly of the Presbyterian Church, stated, from his re-
collection of conversations with some members of the
Government, that the new Colleges are to be endowed
by Government ; the Professors to be appointed with-
out reference to religion, and subject to removal by
Government. The Colleges not to have the power of
conferring degrees, but to be associated with some
other College, or affiliated to a University, for the
purpose of granting degrees in law and medicine, but
having no power to grant degrees in theology.
A memorial and resolutions were adopted, and the
meeting separated.

Every other county had, to a great extent, given up
that abominable practice. It seemed that in Mayo
this reformation had made little way, if any. There
were here the same drunken habits that existed in
Ireland half a century before, and the high and
glorious examples given in other parts of the country
had no weight here. lie was extremely sorry for it,
when he saw what it brought so many men to. There
was scarcely one of those murderous cases that did
not originate in it. But he hoped in God that the
day would soon come when the people would be as
free from those abominable habits as they were now
unfortunately addicted to them. He could not but
also regret the great difficulty he felt in arriving at
the facts of the cases, or at the truth, owing to the
unfortunate want of education among the peasantry
of the country. There was scarcely a case in which
he was not obliged to examine the witnesses through
the medium of an interpreter. He did not find this
to anything like the same extent in other counties in
Ireland. The interpreter here was quite competent
to discharge his duty, was a good Irish scholar, and
well able to interpret the language ; yet from the ig-
norance of the people, he (the Learned Judge) felt it
almost impossible to undertand the cases, or get at
the truth. That was a misfortune which he hoped
would some day or other cease, and that the people in
this county would be as well able to communicate
their ideas in English as the people of other counties.
It would be for their own benefit to learn the EngliA
language and receive education, for when they left
the country, and went to England and elsewhere,
they would find themselves in great difficulty from
their not knowing that language, and from not being
able to transact their business in it.

HIS LORDSHIP then proceeded to pass sentence
on the prisoners. It will be seen that thirteen
have been sentenced to transportation for various
periods.
This is a sad picture of a county which is to all
intents and purposes under the entire spiritual con-
trol of the lion of the fold of Judah. And let it be
borne in mind that Bann Richards is a Whig, and
something more.

FOUR CHILDREN BURNT TO DEATH.

SKIBBEREEN, MArton 16.—A melancholy occur-
rence, and one attended with awful loss of lives,
took place in this neighbourhood last night. A
family living on the lands of Lahenagh, after re-
tiring to bed, were awoke with the fumes
of burning straw ; the father made his way to the
place where the smoke proceeded from, and found the
kitchen, which he left a few moments previous, en-
veloped in flames, so much so, that he was not able to
effect an entrance into the sleeping apartment of his
wife and children, and, horrible to relate, four of his
children were consumed in the flames. One and his
wife succeeded in escaping the conflagration by
jumping through the window in the sleeping apart-
ment, and by this means saved their lives. The house
has been burned to the foundation, and the remains
of the children, when witnessed by the medical gen-
tlemen who attended there (Mr. Crowly, of Skib-
bereen), cannot be described.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL EN-
GINEERS, MARCH 18.
The President, Sir JOHN RENNIE, in the Chair.
A paper on the drainage of the Ancholme Level,
Lincolnshire, by Sir John Rennie, President, was
read. It commenced by describing the position of
the Ancholme Level, which consists of a low tract of
land, of about 200,000 acres in extent, situated on
the south side of the river Humber, about ten miles
below its junction with the river Trent. The river
Ancholme runs through the centre of this level, and,
with its tributary streams, empties itself into the
Humber at the village of Ferraby. The alluvial
matter brought down by these streams formed a bar
at the junction of the Ancholme with the Humber,
which, by preventing the discharge of the drainage
waters, caused the level to be inundated with water,
rendering this tract of land totally unfit for tillage.
The paper then, after entering into great historical
detail as to the works which were executed at various
periods, from the time of the Romans, to render this
tract of land available for agricultural purposes,
stated that in the year 1801, the late Mr. Rennie
being applied to for his opinion as to the best plan
for improving and completing the drainage and navi-
gation of the level, reported that he attributed its
defective drainage tolhe deficient capacity of the
Ancholme and the subsidiary drains to carry off the
floods; to the till of the old Ferraby sluice having
been laid too high, and to there not being any catch-
water drains to prevent the floods from the adjacent
high lands from descending into the level. As a
remedy for these evils, he recommended that the
river Ancholme should be still farther improved, by
straightening, deepening, and enlarging its channel,
and that two new locks should be placed upon ;
also, with a view to preventing the floods from the
high lands inundating the level, two catchwater
drains should be made—one on the east side and the
other on the west side of the river Ancholme, with
separate and independent sluices at their junction
with the Humber, by which means all the highland
and lowland waters would be separated, and each
body of water would thus be effectually discharged
into the Ilumber without interfering with the other.
The catchwater drains involved an important and
novel principle, for in his opinion by the old
Dutch method of simply cutting a seties of
straight drains to some convenient point, for discharg-
ing their water, the highland and lowland waters
were mixed together, and the highland waters
coming from a hi4lier level with a greater velocity
down upon the lowlands, forced their way first to the
outfall. The less rapid waters of the lowlands were
thus kept back, and were left to stagnate, the sluices
being unable to discharge the whole body of water
during the time when the tide with the Ilumber per-
mitted the sluice doors to be opened, and it was thus
impossible that the level mild be drained; but by
separating the highland from the lowland waters,
each body of water could be effectually discharged
by an independent sluice. These catch water drains
would answer also the important purposes of irriga-
tion during dry seasons, and for navigation.
The plans which were also at the same period
being beneficially carried intotffect by Mr. Rennie,
and on a more extensive scale in the east and
west and Wildmore fens, near Boston, and also on
the Witham, near Lincoln, were partially executed;
but the works not being completed, and for want of
funds not being subsequently kept in repair, the
drainage was found very- insufficient, and at length
Sir John Rennie was called in to complete the system.
He proposed that the plans of his father should be
carried out; that the Ancholme should be further im-
proved, and a new sluice made at Ferraby, with a
cill placed at a lower level, and new bridges made
throughout the lines ; also that an overfall and weir
should be constructed, with a large reservoir to catch
the sand which was brought by floods from the sur-
rounding hills, and had previously blocked up the
main and lateral drains. Minor weirs and reservoirs
were also recommended for the smaller drains and
brooks where they united with the level. These
works having been executed, the effect was that the
drainage was rendered complete and effective, and the
district was converted into a tract of fine arable
land, Subsequently another sluice was constructed
below Ferraby, with its till two feet below the
low water mark of extra spring tides in the Humber.
This sluice, which had three openings of eighteen feet
each in width, with draw-doors and sell-acting gates,
was perfect in its effect, discharging about four times
the quantity of water in the same time that had
been previously accomplished. The whole of these
works were completed by Sir John Rennie, forty-
three years after Mr. Rennie's report, and 556
' years after a regular system of drainage had
commenced, and the district was freed from water
without the aid of mechanical power, thus establishing
what was contended to he the surest principle of
drainage, the separating of the highland from the
lowland waters by catch-water drains, and discharg-
ing them independently of each other by their several
outfalls.
In an interesting discussion which ensued, the cor-
rectness of the principle was fully admitted, and it was
shown that by selecting proper localities for the out-
falls, and by placing the cills of the sluices below low
water mark of spring tides, there were not any fen
districts in the kingdom that could not be drained
without mechanical aid.
It was announced that there would not be any
meeting on Easter Tuesday, and the meeting was ad-
journed until Tuesday, April the Ist, when the
monthly ballot for members would take place, and the
following papers would be read :
No. 706. " An Account of the new Cast-Iron Pier
at Gravesend." By J. B. Redman, Grad. Inst. C.E.
No. 711. "On Gas Meters." By A. A. Crole,
Assoc. Inst. C. E.

NECESSITY OF ASCERTAINING
THE AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES OF
THE COUNTRY.
(From the-Journal of Commerce.)

It is very discreditable that in such a country as
Great Britain, so little should he known of its agri-
cultural statistics; and that, in fact, nothing should
be officially known on a subject of so much interest
and importar.ce to the national welfare. Every ses-
sion of Parliament we hear the most contradictory
assertions advanced as to the agricultural capa-
bilities of the country— the one party stoutly
maintaining, as an argument for the repeal of
the corn-laws, that England, in the most
favourable seasons, does not grow a sufficiency
of food for its inhabitants; the protectionists
as firmly maintaining that in ordinary years it
does grow sufficient, and in good years more than
sufficient, for its entire population. Where a subject
of this kind is left to vague conjecture, where there
are no official means for accurate information, It
might naturally be expected that each party would
adopt the views that best accorded with the political
object it wished to achieve. Our own observations