The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-23 00:00:00

CON7'E2!PORARY PRESS.

PROTECTION OF THE LANDED INTEREST.
( From the Morning Herald.)
It was not unamusing, during the debate on the corn
laws, to mark the eagerness with which the advocates of
Free trade in corn asserted that the burdens of the
landed interest are light, in comparison with those under
:Which the trading classes labour. The only proof, how-
ever, offered on this point, was to the effect, that a small
-portion of the assessed taxes do not affect farmers.
To counterbalance this very trifling exemption, the
.agricultural classes, it may be stated, are subjected to
'pearly the whole burden of the poor rates—a burden
-Amounting to many millions annually. From that bur-
den mercantile capital is almost entirely free.
The whole of the county rates, moreover, fall exclui-
sively on the landed interest; and the aggregate amount
of these constitutes a very serious tax on agricultural
-property.
The Tithe Commutation Act, too, was gravely alluded
'to by some of the politico-economical reasoners on the
whig benches, as a boon to the landowners. A more
i'inpudent violation of truth has hardly ever been at-
tempted even by the advocates of free trade.
Tile Tithe Commutation Act is neither more nor less
than an act of confiscation directed against the land-
owners. Why should the landowners be taxed for the
commutation of tithes ? The landowners do not now
Pav tithes, excepting as consumers; and the commutation
f tithes will not add in the slightest degree to the va-
lue of the property of landowners!
TI at the landowners do not pay tithe, is proved pretty
fininly by the fact, that consumers complain of tithe as
emsstituting an intolerable burden upon them ; but if
landlords only suffered from the existence of tithe, con-
iturners, we may rest assured, would contrive to bear
such a calamity with a degree of equanimity altogether
*urprising! No : the public—that is to say, the body
of consumers—pay tithe; and the public, therefore,
ought, in conformity with the most obvious principles
of justice, to be compelled to bear the expenses of com-
mutation.
-But the estates of landowners will be improved by the
abOlition of tithes. Such is the argument of the econo-
mists. And true it is, undoubtedly, that, so long as
tithes.esist, tithe-free farms will let in the market fur
higher rents than tithed farms will. But to argue from
that fact, that when tithes shall cease, the general value
of landed property throughout England will increase—is
to leave out of view the exceedingly important circum-
stance, that the moment tithes shall cease, the price of
produce will fail. Tithe now enters as an element into
price. Abolish tithe, and prices will be lowered in pro
portion. When the landowners of England shall have
()ought up the tithes, they will discover that they have
paid an enormous sum for nothing. After the tremend-
ous outlay which the Tithe Commutation Act will im-
pose upon them, their property will be worth not one
sliilling more in the market than it was before !
'Yet the Tithe Commutation Act is modestly described
in Parliament as a boon to the landowners!
That act is simply one of those measures which the
political economists design as a fatal blow at the inde-
gendence of the landed interest. If it be tamely per-
enitted to come into full effect, the day is not far distant,
when landowners will be called on to commute the poor
rate. The political economists, in short, will he satisfied
with nothing less than the utter destruction of the land-
owners—and j,he establishment of the most grinding des-
Ootisrn to which the labouring poor in any country have
ever been subjected!

—TWAT- IS CONSERVATISM ?
(From the Blackburn Standard.)
One of contemporaries in an adjoining town (who
appears to be little read in the political catechism) in-
quires " What is Conservatism ?" and proceeds at once
after asking the question to denounce those principles
of which by Isis query he avows himself ignorant. This
logic is by no means singular in these radical scribes ;
for proceeding without data, having no principles of their
own, they rove about into all kinds of suppositious pas-
tures, and are mightily wonder stricken when they find
themselves successfully secured in the conservative
.pound. They are a description of political vagrants,
having no real home or shelter anywhese, abiding now
under the battered roof of whiggism, and now reclining
(won the fetid shambles of radical violence and democra-
tic destruction. What is Conservatism ? We will tell
the refined Jacobin what is Conservatism, and if he have
Socratic ingenuity enough he may accept the benefit to
he derived from a stated answer.

In the first instance, espousing the great principles of
the constitution, Conservatism not only acknowledges
but pledges its existence to maintain the monarchy of
these realms. It is not loyal to the person but to the
place of the Sovereign. It permiis no mental reserva-
lion such as " while that form of government may ex-
ist: but identifies its own existence with the duration of
that form, and enlists all the energies of its party (for it
wants no other) to maintain and vindicate the monarchy
of the kingdom.
To uphold and support the independent legislative
rights and powers of the House of Lords, is its next ob•
feet. Believing that the opinions of the great landed
proprietors, the hereditary judgment (ay, and even pre-
judices) of our nobility, are conducive of good ; that no
selected body of men could supply what would be lost by
the subversion of the upper house; and knowing that
we have derived from that institution sal) innumerable
Odwa,ntages and incalculable welfare as no other country
441o.elairn.; the Conservatives are zealous in the mainte-
natime of the peerage, which forms the second estate of
4Aar (roverntn?nt.
- To perpetuate the integrit, and liberty of the Com-

mons is the next design of Conservatism. To ensure
the full and fair representation of the intelligence,
thought, and industry of the country—to uphold pro-
perty, to indemnify labour, to encourage striving worth,
to reach desert, and put back destructive presumption—
to exclude no man, and to otfer easy qualifications for the
attainment of the lowest—to repulse the ferocious strug•
ales of an evil republicanism, and to hand down to our
posterity that realized freedom our country has so long
enjoyed—are part and parcel of Conservatism.
And, conjoined with the state, Conservatism recog-
nises and advocates our church establishment—the vis►-
ble Protestant and national ecclesiastical polity—the reli-
gion of our forefathers, confirmed alike by conviction
and by law. Conservatism will not tolerate intolerance,
and is therefore strenuously inimical to Popery; it will
vigorously and fearlessly espouse the principles of the
Reformation, and is hostile therefore to the enlightened
children of Maynooth, and the beaded bantlings of Peter
Dens.

Conservatism, moreover, is illiberal enough to prefer
British interests to the interests of foreigners; it pos
sesses feeling enough to be patriotic, and to regard the
honour of the country beyond all price ; it will not bend
to the selfish and spiteful theories of mortified pretend-
ers who have missed becoming whip oppressors, and
have maudled into helpless radicals; it sees by history
the pernicious results of certain measures, and avoidS
them ; it knows that the rational tights of man, politi-
cally, must be limited by the law, and that no rights can
be recognised by any other power; it affirms, uncondi-
tionally, that no rights can be substantiated but those
which the state acknowledges; and that the man who
talks of natural privileges must first prove that he pose
sesses any claim, further than the authority of our sta-
tutes, to the very privileges with which as a subject he
is invested, or can justly demand the right of protection
for life or property even by virtue of any other instru-
ment than a legal charter.
Such are the principal tenets of Conservatism, up-
holding the rooted constitution of our country, main-
taining its religion, and diffusing through all classes the
healthful spirit of our government. If men wish to
know the principles by which we are guided, we have
given them; and we are ready to defend them against
the gigantic intellect of our whig-radical contemporary,
who, with that pragmatical imbecility which is the spirit
of his party, has attempted to cast upon our principles a
miserable doubt, which, if ventured in politics, might be
much more aptly hazarded in any thing which is most
plain to us. But will he give us an explanation -of his
own tenets? Not he; for it would be like the descrip-
tion of a hurricane, but wind, and noise, and nothing.

LIVERPOOL MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

LECTURES ON GEOLOGY.

On Wednesday evening Professor Scouter delivered his
second lecture on this important subject, in which he explained
the structure of the most important rocks, and the ,causes of
their peculiar formation,
Having spoken of the minerals composing the various rocks
of our globe, we now come to treat of the rocks themselves.
They are either formed of simple or compound minerals.
Quartz and limestone are welt known instances of the former.
and conglomerate granite of the latter mode of formation. A
rock may he either a mechanical aggregate or a chemical com-
pound. Quartz is a chemical compound, and homogeneous in
appearance. Basalt is simple in appearance, but an aggregate
of pyroxeneand felspar. Limestone is a chemical compound,
while new red sand-stone is a rock of mechanical structure,
composed of an aggregate of loCse sand transported by water
to a place where the current has subsided, and the sand has be-
come agglutinated. liornblend is an aggregate of crystals.
There are many interesting points connected with the natural
history of rucks, which are of great importance to the student
in geology. Of these their laminar structure or cleavage is
highly instructive. It may be well to notice, in introducing
this portion of the subject, that rocks are divided into two grand
classes, namely, those which are stratified and those which are
not. The former of these have been deposited by the action of
water, the latter have been produced by the agency of heat.
The laminar structure of rocks in many instances differs from
the lines of the stratification, and in this manner often gives
rise to considerable difficulty in determining the inclination of
the strata. The common clay slate or argillaceous schist, is a
common example of this fact, for we frequently find in it that
the line of cleavage runs obliquely to the line of stratification.
This variation has been the subject of considerable discussion
amongst geologists: It may naturally be inquired how is it pos-
sible to determine the line of stratification, when it differs from
that of cleavage. If the rock contains shells, the flat surface
of the shell will indicate the true position of the rock at the
Lilac of its formation. Again, if we find a great number of
pebbles in rocks, as the pebbles must have settled according to
the laws of gravitation we are enabled to determine the line of
stratification. The coloured veins met with in rocks, although
they may be waved, indicate the line of stratification. Although
granite is ac igneous rock, it frequently presents appearances
of stratification, which has given rise to an idea that granite is
a stratified rock. When, however, we examine these appear-
ances minutely, we find that they afford no ground fur such au
opinion.
But of all the structures which rocks assume, one of the most
interesting is the columnar form met with at the Giant's Cause-
way, Fingal's Cave, &c. The spheroidal form of rocks is a
modification of the same' phenomena, which, however, are not
all accounted for upon the same hypothesis. One of the must
beautiful of these spheroidal forms of rock, is that which occurs
in a. certain sort of limestone, called pisulitic limestone, from
its presenting the appearance of an agglutinated mass of peas.
The explanation of this is very simple. It occurs in volcanic
countries, where the thermal springs are very abundant. These
springs contain a great deal of carbonate of lime in solution.
As the excess of the carbonic acid escapes, a precipitate is
formed which is whirled round by the spring until a number of
the small particles assume the form of a spherical mass or pea,
and a number of these becoming agglutinated together, the
pisolitie structure is formed. A vet y curious application isanade
iii dials of this curious property of thermal springs. The water
is cooled by causing it to pass over branches of trees, and then a
number of medals or moulds are placed in its way. These, in a
short, time, become covered over with a hard smooth incrusta-
tion of carbonate of lime, and present a very striking appear-
ance. Iron pyrites in the globular form consists merely of an
immense number of fibres which radiate from the centre of a
Spheroid. There are in Derbyshire a uumber of rounded masses
of limestone, the formation of which is somewhat difficult to be
accounted for, although we can easily explain the process. For
instance, if mud or moist mail is left to itself, by virtue of a very
curious but unknown law, certain portions of it will accumulate
together, and form bales of differeut magnitude, if shells (which
seem to form a magnet of attraction) be mixed with it. This
process is daily going on at the bottom of lakes, &c., as well as
in the arts and manufactures. Mr. Babbage, in his interesting
work upon the arts and manufactures, gives a description of. its
occurrence in the process of porcelain manufacturing. In this
art the flints and clay are both reduced to a fine state of division
before they are mixed together. '['his being dune they are
mixed with water. If used immediately they are of course fit
for the object intended, but if allowed to remain together for a
few days. the flint separates from the clay, and forms a number
of spherical nodules. By far the most interesting variety of
spheroidal rocks are those which occur in volcanic rocks, such
as trap, &c. These rocks are formed in a very different meaner
to the preceding, by the. action of fire. The basaltic rocks are
explained on the same principle. These rocks commonly as
some a columnar form, although that shape is by no means pe-
culiar to them. These columns are of various configurations.
Sometimes they have only three sides, and at others twelve;
these forms ate however rare, the most common are five or six
sided prisms. They vary exceedingly in length and breadth.
The basaltic columns in the Isle of Sky are many of them 410
feet in length; at Ailsa they are nine feet in diameter.. A very
important point to be remarked is, that all of our,basaltic co-
lumns are articulated,the joints being IS inches to:2 feet in length.
The under surface of these joints is concave,and thauppercouve.x.
Finial's cave has been produced by the continued wearing ac-
tion of the waves upon the basaltic columns of which it.is com-
posed. Basaltic columns can easily be procured by art. For
the first explanation of them we are indebted to Mr, Watt, of
Birmingham. He took seven cwt of basaltic mud and exposed
it fur eight hours to the strongest heat of a furnace, and alier-
wards allowed it to cool slowly fur eight days, during which he.
watched it with the closest atention. As the.. cooling com-
menced little globules appeared, which gradually increased in
size aunt they appeared to be an inch in diameter. Long strings
of them were thus producer), which, by pressing upon one
another assumed columns of prismatic structure, as exemplified
in nature atFingars Cave. Igneous trap very frequently be-
comes converted into prismatic structure in passing up ion)
veins or fissures. In this case the columns shoot out from the
sides and meet in the middle, where the prismatic form is con-
fused and lust. Many rucks, which ate nut of igneous origin,
have this columnar structure. Pat adoxical as it may appear,
this has been caused by heat, although the rocks themselves
have not been melted. The old red sand stone of Edinburgh is
an instance of this kind; it presents the usual basaltic appear-
ances, its columns being eighteen feet iu length, and two feet
in diameter. Although the existence of this rock may seem to
be at variance with the igneous theory, when properly ex-
plained it furnishes strong coufirmatory evidence of its correct-
ness, „Another instatice is presented at Dunbar, where the co-
lumns composed of spheroids are two feet in diameter, and fifteen
inches iu length. Now, in the first place, when this columnar
structure, occurs in rocks which are net of igneous formation,
it is found that these rocks exist in the neighbourhood of vol•
came rocks. Now, basaltic rocks having been in a, state. of
fusion at their formation, imparted their heat to the rocks adja-
cent to them, and in this manner produced the continuer
structure of the other rocks. We can prove this artificially.
For instance, the sand stones which are used as arches for fur-
naces employed in fusing iron are exposed to. an enormously
high temperature. They are never incited, yet when they are
taken out after the expiration of many months, and broken, we
find that they break up into columns. Thus we see that the
mere application of heat to other rocks will give thesame co-
lumnar structure to them. If green bottle glass be exposed to
a heat insufficient; to melt it for a long time, it will be found
thet its structure has been changed. and that it has assumed a
prismatic columnar form. We have another beautiful example
in nature. Coke is a very infusible substance. There occurs
in nature a description of carbonaceous flatter called anthracite,
which has the same relation to common bituminous coal that
coke has. In short, anthracite is a coke formed by nature. It
has been stated that trap rocks have been predueed in a state of
fusion, and that the adjoining_ strata. have in.,this manner been
intensely heated. Trap his been found iit the vicinity of an-
thracite, its beat having driven off all its original bituminous
matter, and given a columnar structure to the ;residual anthra-
cite.
Rocks are said to have a
.porphyritic structure when they
have a number of large crystals embedded in them. This por-
phyritic structure has clearly been produced by heat, because
the crystals have their angles perfect. which never could have
been the case had they been subject to the rolling action pro-
duced by water. We find that this description of rock is also
produced artificially. Thus, on examining the
.slag formed in
our furnaces, we find it to contain crystals of titanium.
The granular is another very common structure of
,rock, be-
ing a very strong resemblance to refined sugar. The saccharoid
limestone is so called. on account of this resemblance. This is
a case of chemical union. But the granular structure also ex-
ists in mecbuttically agglutinated rocks, as, for example, the
common red sandstone. The difference is, that in the chemical
structures the grains exist in the forms of crystals, with all the
faces perfect, whilst in the mechanical, the grains are rounded.
The arnygd
aloidal structure derives its name from a Greek
word signifying an almond. It consists of rocks, in which a great
number of little bodies are embedded as a number of almonds in a
paste. This struettne has been the result of an exceedingly
complicated process. It occurs extensively in trap rocks of
iricous ortoin; and there can be no doubt but the interior crys-
tals were formed after the rocks wore melted iu cavities which

existed in them. The plum-pudding stone is differently con-
structed. 'l'his •consists of a number of pebbles,. which have
been rolled along until they have become cemented together by
calcareous matter. But such is not the cause of amygdaloidal
rocks. We frequently find cavities in them quite empty, whilst
in others the almond-tike structure has commenced its forma-
tion. To explain this process is also exceedingly simple. lu
the first place, we mentioned that the true amygdaloidal struc-
ture occurs extensively in rocks of igneous origin. The first
circumstance to be explained is the formation of the cavities in
the rocks. All volcanoes contain within them a mass of water,
which makes its escape in the shape of steam. Thus, if we ex-
amine Etna or Vesuvius during an eruption, we see a quantity
of steam rushing from them, and, in doing so, it carries up the
lava in the state of a very fine powder. As the steam concenses
' it assumes the form of rain and being mixed with the powdered
lava, occasions the mud showers so often met with in volcanic
countries. This vapour, mixed with the melted lava, forms a
great number of cavities in it, which become elongated in the
passage of the stream of lava. If the lava be in a viscid state,
a great number of cavities will be formed in it. In the case of
the amygdaloidal rocks, they have been in a viscid state, like
the dough of bread. The next circumstance is the explanation
of the manner in which the interior crystals came to be formed
in these cavities. In all volcanic countries these vapours are
charged with carbonic acid or other mineral substances. In
Iceland the Geysers contain a great quantity of flint or silica.
Now these substances which are thus helal in solution are pre-
cisely the substances which we find in the amygdaloidal coun-
tries. They have therefore been formed in the following man-
ner. For instance, let us imagine hot water charged with car-
bonate of lime to flow into the cavities, and crvstallize ahem
over with calcaceous spar until the cavities are filled. Water
can hold silica in solution abundantly, although we cannot do
it by art in our laboratories. The Geysers precipitate the silica
as the water cools. In the Azores springs are found which
likewise hold silica in solution. In the same manner in Lough
Neagh, in Ireland, wood is changed into siliceous matter. The
Dutch rush is capable of separating silica from water. Sponges
contain siliceous matter, which they must have separated from
water. Again, the common sugar cane can dissolve siliceous
matter, which it carries up through its tissue and deposits in its
bark. In the Mauritius the sugar cane is used as fuel, and as
it contains potash the ashes are frequently found converted into
glass. If you examine an agate you will find it to consist of a
number of concentred layers or coats like those of the onion.
This substance is found in amygdaloidal structures. Chalce-
donies and zeoiites are formed in the same manner.
We have now to explain what is meant by the term conglo-
merate. It means an aggregate of substances. When you
examine the fragments of the conglomerate you find that they
are all rounded, and very rarely have angles. The .reason of
this is that they consist of a number of different substances,
which have been roiled together by a powerful current from a
considerable distance. Thus plum pudding stone tells a curious
history. We see that before this rock was formed other rocks
must have existed, and therefore the river which brought down
:he various fragments of which it is composed must have run
over a country abounding in the different rocks of which it is
composed. Lertain,parts of our red sand stone are formed of
conglomerate. Now red sand stone is the oldest rock which we
know of, but the occurrence of conglomerate in it shows the
existence of other rocks before it. Those rocks of which the
fragments are angular have been formed of rocks which have
been transported from no distance. These stones are called
Breccias. In the Isle of Wight we find masses of flint which,
when viewed at a distance, appear as common flints, but which,
when taken hold of, immediately fall in pieces in sharp angles.
In the next lecture, which will be delivered to-morrow even-
ing, Dr. Scouler will proceed to the consideration of stratified
rocks.

SPORTEVG INTELLIGENCE.

Manchester, Tuesday Evening.

Mr. Mostyn's mare continues to lead for the Chester Cr;p-
-51 offered last night, takers at 6. She stands to win several
parties, both in Liverpool and here, very heavy stakes. The
well-known capabilities () her trainer, and her short journey
to the ground, are two things that her friends no doubt look at,
backed by the knowledge, that she can live the distance. Sy Ivan
is next in favour, which is to be accounted fur from the flatter-
ing accounts received from Iledgeford as to his present form,
which is represented by those who saw him a week ago—" bril-
liant." The running of the stable, in the Trial Stakes, at
Coventry, last week, is also not overlooked. Sylvan figures
now at 7 to 1, which has been accepted, and halt a point be-
yond that would doubtless be considered a favour. Whaley's
party do not allow him to totter; it is clear that they would bid
at anything beyond our quotation. Mr. Price's horse, Went-
worth, hashad to give way a little, owing to the advance of
Sylvan ; and, at the present day, there is no disposition to back
two or three of the middle rank, particularly Mersey, Zohrab,
and Combat ; the first-named mare, from previous public work,
has never cut out fur the front rank, and it is more than proba-
ble that she will go back still further. It appears doubted
whether Mr. Houldsworth's horse will run ; and Chit Chat can-
not appear so well in his old friends' opinions since his defeat
on Wednesday; his running of last year, over the same trial
course, made the captain's party a little too sanguine. Lord
Derby's horse remains with friends; our quotation has been
taken in the course of the past two days; and Conservative has
also been backed at. lOU to 3.—For the Derby, Lord Jersey's
horse and the Nonplus colt gain friends: the former, coining
out of so successful a Newmarket stable as Lord Jersey's, is
acknowledged to be in fashion ; and the latter is represented as
the horse of the great northern phalanx. It is little to take—
say 6 to i—upon the Cobweb colt, so many weeks before the
Derby day (May 3lst,) and particularly when the length of the
field is looked at. Nothing has been done upon him here for
the Riddlesworth Stakes, which will be decided on Monday
three weeks.—The following are the prices of the Chester Cup
horses in any demand worthy of.notice

THE CHESTER TRADESMEN'S PLATE, P.P.
51 to 1 against Mr. Mostyn's Birdlime (take 6)
61 to 1 „ Mr. Robinson's Whaley (take 7)
7to l „ General Yates's Sylvan (t and aft off)
11 to 1 „ Mr Price's Wentworth
12 to 1 „ Mr. Fowler's Mersey
14 to 1 „ Mr. Fairlie's Zohrab
14 to 1 „ Mr. Clarke's Magician
16 to 1 „ Lord Derby's Parolies (1k)
20 to 1 „ Mr. Barrow's Catherine (take 25)
20 to 1 „ Mr. Bower's Lord Stafford
20 to 1 „ Mr. Houldsworth's Combat
200 to 7 „ Mr. Cooke's Rachel
to 3• „ Conservative (1k)
50 to 1 „ Galewood (taken.)
Offers to back Sylvan against each of any four; or to hack
Rachel against Violet, Conservative, Vesper, Fusileer, Combat,
or King Cole (in one bet) for a sum.

counslNG.

The successful dog, Sultan, in the great contest decided over
Southport, is not the bona fide property of Mr. Clayton, of
Preston, who nominated him, but of Mr. Read, of Clayton, near
Chorley ; that gentleman purchased him, when five months'
old, for ten shillings. It appears his public work this year, so
far as we can glean, do not entitle him to be worth a thought in
the eyes of the spectators. Nor does it, we are given to under-
stand, now strike many persons that, on the 13th and 14th of
November, he was clearly beat over the Southport ground—say,
in the Rossall Puppy Cup, be beat Cora (Mr. Craven's) in the
first ties; and then, in the second ties, Mr. Weatherald's Swal-
low defeated him ; Mr. Chew's Venus, in the deciding course.
beating Swallow. On the following day, in the Crusslands'
Stakes, Mr. Hunt's Rector beat him in his first course ; Mr.
8., Robinson's Empress beating, in the deciding course, Rector,
easy. His portrait was taken yesterday.

THE BALLOT.—In illustration of the working of the ballot
system, it may be mentioned, that iu the common council of
London, a few years no, this famous nostrum was found to be
such a cover fur fraud and deception, that it was abolished, the
proposi!ion for that purpose hav►ng come from the " Liberal"
party, bitterly disappointed at the result of an election wherein
they had the major►ty of the promises, but the minority of the
votes.

On Wednesday last, Mr. Thomas Povey, police officer of
Preston, in Lancashire, visited this town to persuit of a person
named William Forrester, a solicitor's clerk, who stands charged
wbith having embezzled a large sum of money, received by him
for Mr. James Bailey, solicitor of Warrington. his master.
Intimation was instantly given to Mr. Brown, superintendent
of police, who der.patched inspector Bailes to accompany the
visiting officer in search of the accused, whom they soon dis-
covered and took into custody. He was sent off to Warrington
the same evening.—Sunderland }Jerald.
THE GLORIOUS UNCERTAINTY OF THE LAW.—On Monday •
:last, at the Yorkshire assizes, a man named William Smith,
pleaded guilty to forging a bill of exchange fur the payment of
I:6o.—The Honourable Mr Wortley, who was counsel for the
prisoner, said, he hoped his lordship (Sergeant Atchei ley, who
was presiding fur Mr. Justice Coleridge) would allow the prisoner
to retract his plea, because the objection be was about to make
must, by law, be made before pleading. The indictment charged
the offence as having been in the reign of his lute majesty, and
concluded, that it was " against the peace of our sovereign lady
the queen, her crown, and dignity." He, therefore, submitted
that the indictment was bad, and begged to put in his demurrer.
—The learned Sergeant said, he would leave the case at present,
and consult the judges on the point.—On the following day
Smith was again placed at the bar, when Mr. Wortley renewed
his application, and Mr. Noggins was heard in reply. Mr.
Justice Coleridge admitted Mr. Wortley's demurrer ; and
Smith, who before hart pleaded guilty, was immediately dis-
charged.—Doncaster Ga;ette.
MELANCHOLY SUICIDE AT HASTINGS.—A coroner's inquest
was held on Thursday last, at the Pelham Arms Inn, on the
body of Lieutenant-General W. Miller, director general of the
royal artillery, &c.; when it appeared that the deceased had for
some time contemplated self-destruction, and had attempted to
put a period to his existence by means of poison before he
quitted . Woolwich. The deceased left his residence in Den 7
mark-place, about twelve on Tuesday, having previously,en-
gagtd to dine
,with Major Saunders, of his own corps, no*
living in Pelham Crescent ; but not returning within the given
time. Miss Miller, his daughter, at three o'clock, made a com-
munication to Major Saunders, to the effect that sbe was
alarmed at her parent's absence." The crier was immedi-
ately sent through the town, stating that a gentleman of the
description of the deceased (at given by his friends) was Missing.
Much excitement was thereby caused, aunt every effort was
made to find him; but he was not discovered until the ensuing
morning, when the Hastings and St. Leonard's hatriers dis-
covered the body, though not dead, in a.shaw, near Hastings.
When found, it was discovered that his throat was dreadfully
cut ; and before he could be removed from the spot, he had
ceased to breathe. Major Saunders, Lieut. E. Slatierley, and
the sou of the deceased, were examined relative to the state of
the deceased's mind; and the evidence clearly established the
melancholy fact, that the gentleman had committed the deed
while labouring under temporary insanity. The jury .returned
a verdict acccordin,ely.—Susses •Expi
GOTHA CANAL,--The greatest of all the Swedish national
undektakings is the Gotha Canal, which is reckoned 'the most
stupendous of the kind in the north of Europe. The grand
project of uniting the Baltic and the Cattegat, by opening a
passage across. the country through the lakes, had occurred to
Johan Brask, Bishop of Linkoping, so early as the end of the,
15th century, during the wars with Denmark, when the occu,
pation of the Sound, by a hostile power, arrested the irnportaa
lion of the necessary articles of consumption into Sweden.
Charles XII. revived the design, and employed in his execution
the celebrated engineer, Pelheim; but his death caused a
second interruption ; nor was the work resumed until 1754, in
the reign of Adolphus Frederick. The chief difficuly• was to
overcome the natural obstructions caused by the famous cata-
racts of 'l'rulhmtta, which rendered the navigation at that part
of the stream altogether impracticable. This they attempted
to effect by means of dams and sluices, constructed in the bed
of the river at vast labour and expense. At length, after many
obstacles and delays, partly the effect of these ill-judged mitt-
sureq, the canal was completed in 18(Y.), upon a plan suggested
by Gustavus 111. which dtrects the waters into a separate than-
eel, thus entirely avoiding the falls and whirlpools that bad
baffled all the efforts of the original projector. Time new cut is
excavated through the solid rock to the ex'ent of 4,700 feet, the
. depth is 11, and the breadth '2l feet. It has nine basins or locks,
five of which are hollowed in a rock 110 feet high. By these
• means the waters of Wiener are conducted over three separate
I declivities into time Gotha, 126 feet lower than the surface of the
• lake.—Edinburgh Cabinet Library, Scandinavia, Ancient amid
Modern.

Importo.

EAST INDIES, CAPE OF GOOD ROPE, Sic.

Lipsey, (378) T Forshaw, from Calcutta, with 2750 bgs rice, 3"13 bgs
saltpetre, 5 cs silk pee goods, 311 chts shellac, 75 chts lac dye, 5 chts 4
cs sundries, order-9 chts lac dye. 1 cse silk pce goods, 41 bxs shellac, '
ble raw silk, 20 bgs seed lac, 992 bgs sugar, 93hgS saltpetre, 535 bgs
(try ginger, 365 bgs sticklac, Crawford, Colvin and co-5 .es. silk piece •
goods, G Malcolm and co-5 do, Sands, Turner and co-1 bls raw silk,
W .Baker and co-1 box silk pee goods, 1 cht lac dye, 590 bgs oil seed,
Rawson and co-2 bxs sundries, W Rose and co-4 cs conts unknown,
Presents--River
Euphrates, (617) A Hannay, from Calcutta with 7300 bgs saltpetre,:
5203 buffalo horns, 12 t 5 c buffalo horn tips, 50 hgs 1361 pktSgmger.
51 his jute yarn 129 chts lac dye, 45 his raw silk, 35 cs silk pee goods,
bls munjeet, 5 bls safflower, 68 chts shellac, 31 chts indigo, 17 pkgs
sundries, order-4 es silk pee goods, 1 hie raw silk, Sands, Turner and
co-141 bls jute, Rowlinson and co—River
Queen Mah. (394) N Ireland, frrm Calcutta.3BB bags saltpetre, 1365
bags rice, 35 hhds tincal, 100 hales 158 bundles etiunjeet, 800 bags dry
ginger, 74 chests shell-lac, 26 chests lac dye, W•Rotheram-1514 bags
sugar, 1070 bags saltpetre,. 29 chests shell lac, 9 chests lac dye, 3 bales
raw silk, 1 case silk piece goods. Sands, Turner and co-280 hags salt-
petre,lll bags dny ginger, 15 hhds tincal, order-40 chests 20 brls con-
tents unknown, ft Allison-200 bales hemp, E. I. company-191 pees
eapan wood, 2'6 buffalo horns, 1 bale wool, 1 parcel shoes, NI Hunter
—5 cases silk piece goods, G Malcolm and co-1 case talc, W Fox-
-1 box preserves. .
Mandarin. (421) It Donald. from Calcutta, 50 hhilsah,ri. 20 casks
133 packages leaf tobacco, 7 hhds lineal, 131 bags rice, 9 casks silk
'piece goods, I boa earthenware figures,. 1 .box teao3l4hrests lac dye.
2855 bags oil seed. 52.. chests indigo, 462 bundles rattaps, 1 box silk
handkerchiefs, 199 chests shell lac, order-1784,g bigs saltpetre,
100 chests shell lac. 44 hales safflower, 50 hales jute, Acraman, Briggs
and co-9 hhds 1 -bid tincal, 8347 'pees horn tips, E FrodSham-480
sacks flour, Heyworth and co-400 bales jute. lAvingslon and.eo,-42,
:do, R c/Hinson and co-11 chests lac dye, Ogilvy, (inlanders and c 0.40
.40 chests shell lac, 5 chests bees' wax, ditto-,-11 bales hides,, boxes
lac dye, 1 rase torahs, 4 bales jute, 16 packages rice, sugar, itc. M
Bunter-1365 bags rice, Ewart, Myers and co—" D

SOUTH .AMERICA.
Arica, (188) T Bate, from Callao, WI bags saltpetre: 120 torts pearl
shells, 83 bales sarsaparilla, 110 bales sheeps' wool, 410 dry hides, A
Gibbs aßd Sons-600 wet salted hides. Kers, Imrie and co-85-jars
balsam, 42 bales sheeps' wool. 1 small box contents unknown, 1 case
5 parcels patterns, order-10 bales sheeps' wool, W Hammond-2
boxes bulbs. 2 parcels contents unknown, It M Ferguson-1 small box
contents unknown, S llope-1 do, G F Dickson

UNITED STATES.
Hermes, (298) A Sumner, from New York. with 154 bls cotton, J
Watt, jun.-124 do. Dixon, Wain and co-19 do, F Newsom and co-
-323 do,.order-64 do, Phelps, James and co—Myer
Britannia, (606) W F Clark, from Savannah, with 472 Hs cotton,
Molyneux, Witherby and co-658 do, Wainwright, Sheils and co-
-97 do, J Holford and co-99 do, Baring Pros and co—loo do, Bolton
Ogden, and (70—'25 do, W Forde and co-400 do, Roskell, Ogden and
co-161 do, order—River

Robert Isaac. ('413) J G Mills, from SiVannah, 618 hales cotton,
Molyneux, Witherhy and co-333 do, T Crowder-88 do, order-198
.10, Baring Brothers and cu-3 0 `do, Ewart, Myers and ,o-100 do,
Ewart, bl;ers and co-100 do, W and J Brown and co-26 do, D Bu-
chanan a•id Sou-75 do, Johnson and Holmes
Westchester, (652) W Ferris, from Savannah, 600 bales cotton, Hum-
phreys and Biddle-263 do, Wainwright, Sheils and co-37 00, 'l' and
J Sands and co-124 do, Molyneux, Witherby and co-77 do, W and
J Brown and co-163 do, Baring Brothers and co-777 do, order-2
do, 20 brls cattle hones, Waddington, Holt and co—W D
Aurelius, (459) T C Stoddard, from Savfinnah, 1590 bales cotton,
Humphries and Biddle—P D
Higginson, (453) D Oampbell, from Charleston, 100 "oales cotton,
Calder-134 do, T Crowder-34 do, D Jackson-14 do. Chaloner and
co-27 do, T B Blockblirne-848 do, order—BM do, Bartclu and co—S2
do, 1 brl cotton seed, Finlay and Alston—Q D
Lady Rowena, (339) W Young, from Charleston, 62 bales cotton,
Roskell, Ogden and co-3 do, the master—.sB7 do, Ihf brl rice, order
—11,472 bushels padeyllllland Smith—P D
Alieghaney, (399) A 111ichaels..frorn Charleston, 217 bale" cotton, W
rnd J Brown and co-11)0 do, D Jackson-134 do, 11 W Iteintab-61
do, D Williams-49 do, W Stuart-425 du, order—P
Persia, ,(432) W P Johnson, from Charleston, 52 biles cotton. W
Baker and co-143 do, 0 Jiicksan-73 do, .1 Hobson and Suns-138 do,
J Ilulford and co-313 do, A Taylor-486 do, order
Aheona, (381) J Chambers, from New Orleans. 68 bales cotton, A
Denniatonn and co-15U'do, order-160 do, W and .1 BrOWn and c -
21 do, Ogilvy and c 0402 do, Orford, Ramsden ann co-385 do, W
Smith and Son-23 cases hardware, (British returned) Byrn Brothers
and co
Mary Ann. (312) S Child, from New Orleans, 761 bales cotton, W
and J Brown and ,co--. 71 do, R and T Wotid*ard-70'do, It Bant—

-121 do, order— D
Ft-refs, (429) J •Corrfforth, 'frorri Ailalactreola, 400 bales cotton,
Molynetts, Witherhy and co-466 do•W an 4 J Brown and co-100
tlo. T W Smith and co-167 do, J C Lawton-46 do, J T Crook-53
do, Ellerton and Carter-24 do, 25 deer skins, -the mnster—Q D
Avon, (482) A Child, from Natchez, 17,32 hales cotton, W and J
Brown and Co-52 do, Wades, Pickeisgill and co-20 do, orihr—on
shore