The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-02-25 00:00:00

season

consequence.

The Lexington investigation, after nine days' patient
hearing of witnesses, and going through a mass of
conflicting testimony, had terminated in the Jury
bringing in a verdict and presentment. They ex-
onerate the captain from all blame after the fire had
broken out, but strongly condemn the present system
of fitting up and inspecting steam-boats.
A very destructive fire had occurred on the 27th ult.
at New York, by which an immense amount of pro-
perty had been consumed. It broke out in South-
street, and destroyed a great number of stores or ware-
houses, one of which was 50 feet in front and rear, by
nearly 200 feet deep, and five stories high. The accu-
mulated destruction of property from this fire is esti-
mated at TWO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. of which very
little was insured. Another fire also broke out in
Pearl-street on the evening of the same day. The loss
from this catastrophe is estimated at 115.0,000 dollars.
There must be something egregiously wrong in the fire
police systeM at New.York.'' --
There is no news of any importance from Canada.

By an arrival from Rio de Janeiro, news had been
received that two French bomb vessels had reached
that place at the end of November, and that from two
to three thousand troops were daily expected.

The villanously ungrateful conduct of the respective
governments of Spain and Portugal towards those un-
fortunate British subjects who have been instrumental,
more or less, in the overthrow of Don Carlos, in the
one, and Don Miguel, in the other, of these distracted
countries, is such as must excite the indignation of
every man who has the least spark of feeling, or the
least degree of respect for honesty of principle. The
case of those British subjects who entered the service
of Don Pedro is, if possible, even worse than those
who were inveigled into the service of Queen Christina.
We rejoice to find that Lord Sandon called the atten-
tion of the House of Commons to the condition of
those poor men who are still claimants on the Govern-
ment of Portugal. His Lordship's speech, on intro-
ducing this subject, will be found in another column.
He said that the men who had been induced, by the
policy of this country, to enter into the service of Don
Pedro, in 1832, had afterwards been called upon by
the Portuguese Government to abandon the conditions
upon which they had entered the service, and to accept
otherS in their stLad. That, however, they had re-
fused; and in consequence of that refusal they have
been subjected to the most gross and brutal indignities.
They have been put into dungeons, deprived of every
means of subsistence, and almost reduced to a state of
nudity. This is the sort of return with which they
have met for contributing to place the 'present Queen
of Portugal upon the throne. This is a characteristic
specimen of " liberal" honesty and gratitude. These
men, who had, in many cases, shed their blood, and,
in all cases, risked their lives, on behalf of Don Pedro
and his daughter, have been refused every farthing of
their pay from 1833 to 1835—not because the means
to pay were not in the hands of the Government, but
because they refused to submit to fraudulent imposi-
tions of the most scandalous description. It is true
that Commission after Commission had been appointed,
for the alleged purpose of inquiring into these claims :
but the real objects of each of these Commissions
were, undoubtedly, delay and chicanery. From 1835
to the present time nothing has been done towards
satisfying the just claims of these unfortunate indivi-
duals. They have been compelled to wander about
the streets of Lisbon in the most destitute and misera-
ble condition. Their appeals even for temporary relief

from the government have been treated with contempt.
Many of them, goaded on by despair, have committed
suicide. The representations of the British Govern-
ment on the subject of these claims, have throughout
been contemptuously disregarded. This is not to he
wondered at. England, under the present Administra-
tion, is uniformly treated in the same manner, not only
by Portugal, but by every other petty government in
the world. As was very properly remarked by Lord
Sandon, " we hear nothing of French claims, or Bel-
gian claims, or American claims." The claims of
other countries readily obtain satisfaction, while those
of Great Britain are contumeliously postponed or
refused. This is one of the blessed results of Whig
ascendancy.

The " tyranny" of the liberals is only matched by
their consummate impudence. Never were these
odious qualities more completely or unitedly developed
than in the instance of the Middlesex county meeting
of freeholders, to petition for the liberation of Mr.
Sheriff Evans, which was held on Friday last, at the
Freemasons' Hall, in London. That meeting was
convened by Mr. Sheriff Wheelton, in compliance with
a requisition, most numerously signed by the magis-
trates, freeholders and electors of the county. The
object of the meeting was most distinctly and empha-
tically stated in the advertisement by which the meeting
was convened. That object was declared to be, the
liberation of the Sheriff now in custody, under the
charge of the Serjeant-at-Arms, at the instance of the
House of Commons. To attain that object it was
proposed that the meeting should proceed by an ad-
dress to the Crown, or otherwise, as might be deemed
most advisable. It is necessary to make this explana-
tion in order that the character of the extraordinary
scene which we shall presently describe may be the
better understood. The meeting was convened for a
specific purpose, which purpose was clearly defined and
well understood. It was, therefore, a matter of some
surprise to find that, before the appointed hour for the
meeting, Mr. Hume, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Warburton,
Mr. Wakley, Mr. Tuffnell, Mr. \rigors, and Mr.
Pryme, all members of Parliament, backed by a horde
of Precursors, had taken possession of the room.
There could have been no objection to the presence of
these gentlemen as mere listeners at the meeting : but
it certainly appears to be the very height of impudence
that they should take an active part in the proceedings.
Such, however, appeared to be their determination.
One of the most prominent topics to be brought before
the meeting was the conduct of the House of Com-
mons, or rather of the " tyrant majority," in reference
to the Sheriffs of Middlesex. The House of Commons
was, in fact, to be put upon its trial, before the bar of
public opinion. Where, then, was the decency or the
delicacy of those. members of the Commons who thus
obtruded themselves upon the meeting ? But why ask
such a question ? No rational man would ever expect
either decency or delicacy
,from such coarse and vulgar

buffoons as O'Connell, Hume, Wakley, and others of
the same kidney.

It was evident that the presence of the Radical
worthies whom we have enumerated was a prelude to a
disgraceful and disgusting scene—a scene quite in
keeping with the recent tyrannical and unconstitutional
proceedings of the House of Commons. O'Connell
was, of course, backed by the Precursors of the metro-
polis; while Mr. Coppock, the redoubtable agent of
the Reform Club, was busily engaged in collecting and
arranging the Radical scum of Middlesex. A " row"
was evidently contemplated ; and a " row" ensued,
such as it would baffle• the descriptive powers of a
" Boz" to narrate. Soon after 12 o'clock, taking ad-
vantage of the temporary absence of the county func-
tionaries, that old humbug, Hume, was moved into
the chair. It was of no avail that Mr. Mann protested
against such a barefaced intrusion. It was of no avail
that he said that "it was a county meeting, convened
by the Sheriff, and that that functionary, or his dele-
gated representative, had the right to preside." This
protest was met with the mingled hisses and groans of
the " most beautiful pisantry on the face of the earth,"
and of the " ragged janiscaries of revolution from St.
Giles's." Mr. Hume's conduct in occupying the
chair, at the instance of the Precursors and Radicals,
has sunk him lower than ever in the opinion of the
electors of Middlesex. His effrontery in usurping the
chair was only exceeded by his impudence in asserting
that " the right of publication by the House of Com-
mons was a privilege conducive to the rights and liber-
ties of the people." This bold assumption of the
"rejected of Middlesex" was treated with becoming
indignation by the great majority of the meeting. The
only parties who " honoured" him with their cheers
were the Ribbonmen and the revolutionists. To them
the tyrannical sentiment was exceedingly welcome.
After Mr. Hume had, in vain, essayed to procure a
hearing, Mr. Wakley,_ the " fire-king," alias the
" medical mountebank," obtruded himself upon the
notice of the meeting. He rose, he said, to move a
resolution, which he had brought with him, ready •
"cut and dry." From this token of preparation it is
evident that the whole proceeding was a preconcerted
affair—that it was, in fact, the development of a plan
which had been diligently concocted in the Reform

Club-house, in the first instance, and then in the pur-

year

Leus of St. Giles

Mr. Wakley's attempt to address the meeting was
very properly met by Mr. Taylor—a liberal common
councilman—who rose to order, and desired that the
requisition to call the meeting should be read. This
demand forced Mr. Hume to confess that "he had not
got a copy of the requisition." What right had this
conceited and pragmatical personage to occupy the
chair, if he was unprepared to show for what object
the meeting had been convened ? To remedy this
glaring informality, a hue and cry was made for a espy
of the requisition. At length a reporter for one of the
evening ministerial organs discovered, in the profun-
dity of his inexpressibles, a slip of a newspaper, con-
taining the adver4senient calling-the meeting:. This
document was seized upon with great avidity by the
" gentlemen" on the platform, and read amidst loud
hisses and cries of "That's not the requisition." Such
was the miserable subterfuge to which the factious
intruders were compelled to resort, in order to give a
colourable regularity to their mischievous pranks.
After this contemptible farce had been enacted, Mr.
Wakley again attempted to " drug" the meeting with
his-nauseous oratory. He had the impudence to de-
nounce the party by whom the meeting had been called
as " noisy fellows," asserting that, " as the Sheriff had
not arrived, he, the fire-king, ought to have occupied
the chair !" This we suppose, was a burst of spleen
and jealousy at the elevation of the member for Kil-
kenny, He next called upon the meeting " fairly to
discuss the question :" as if there was any degree of
fairness to be expected from O'Connell and his coal-
heaving myrmidons. The whole speech of this over-
bearing quack was a strange jumble of incongruities
and self-contradictions. After voting, in every in-
stance, against the Sheriffs, and giving utterance, in
his place in the House of Commons, to the most harsh
and unjustifiable language towards the Sheriffs and
those who stood up in their defence, he had the auda-
city to declare, that " no man valued liberty more than
he did"—that " no man could he more reluctant to
place any restriction on his fellow subjects that was not
called for by law and justice"—and that " if any man
complained against the Sheriffs for acting as they did,
he was guilty of a gross injustice." Well might the
impatient audience exclaim, " You have done
It would be almost as sickening a task to wade
through the mass of vulgar abuse with which Mr.
Wakley loaded the respectable part of the meeting, as
it would be to peruse a volume of the Lancet, Among
the choice and delicate expressions with which he gar-
nished his oration, we find the following :—" Stupid
old fellow"—" I wish I had a strait-waistcoat for that
old lunatic"—" who is the old vagabond?"—with
many others equally elegant and dignified. Such lan-
guage is quite familiar to those Irish audiences.who
are in the habit of listening to the harangues of Daniel
O'Connell ; but it is somewhat new to find an English
member of parliament so far forget himself, as to adorn
his speech with the " Bowers of Billingsgate and St.
Giles." But we forget that we are living under a re-
form dynasty, when it is by no means necessary that a
senator should be a gentleman.

Mr. Wakley had not been long on his legs when the
Under-Sheriffs of Middlesex entered the meeting. The
appearance of these gentlemen, one of , whom claimed
the right to occupy the chair, was the signal for a scene
of confusion and riot which beggars all description.
A rush was made to the platform by a party of indivi-
duals from the body of the room—the barrier in front
of the platform was torn down—the tables and chairs
allotted to the reporters were upset—and an indescrib-
able scene of tumult and violence ensued, in which the
low Irish vagabonds that had obtruded themselves into
the meeting were riot the least conspicuous. Mr. Un-
der-Sheriff France was precipitated from the platform,
and narrowly escaped being seriously injured.. Mr.
Warburton and others skulked into one of the side
avenues leading to the platform. Mr. Hume . was
ejected from the chair, and that post of honour, toge-
ther with the chairman's table, was thrown off the
hustings on to the floor of the. room. So serious was
the collision, that it was deemed advisable to read the
riot act, which was done amidst the most deafening.
uproar. After the RIOT ACT had been read, Messrs.
Wakley; Hume, Warburton, and others quietly sneak-
ed out of the room. Not so, however, O'Connell. He
was determined to bully the Sheriffs, by displaying his
utter disregard of the law. Even after the reading of
of the RIOT ACT, this " bloated buffoon" had the ef-

frontery to move that Sir J. S. Lillie should take the
chair, in order that a resolution, approving of the un-
justifiable proceedings of the " tyrant majority" might
be passed by the unwashed non-electors.
After this disorderly meeting was broken up, the
requisitionists, accompanied by the Under-Sheriffs and
a great number of the respectable electors, adjourned
to another room, where there was no fear of their be-
ing overborne by physical force, and where they gave
utterance to the strongest expressions of condemnation
in reference to the incarceration of the Sheriffs. The
independent freeholders of Middlesex have done
ho-
nour to themselves, by thus stepping forward in de-
fence of the constitutional rights of Englishmen. We
hope their example will he extensively followed, until
the " tyrant majority" are compelled to moderate their
unwarrantable pretensions.

THE PRESIDENT STEAM-SHlP.—This magnificent vessel,
the largest and, we suppose, the longest in the world, arrived
at this port on Saturday last, under canvass, from London,
last from Plymouth. For the present, she lies at anchor in
the Sloyne, but will, no doubt, enter the Trafalgar dock, if
her great size will permit of it, to take on board her engines,
which have been manufactured by Messrs. Fawcett and Co.
The President will, we believe, make her first trip to New
York from Liverpool, and, in conjunction with the British
Queen, keep up a regular communication by steam between
the old and the new world. [We have endeavoured to put
our readers in possession of a more detailed description of
this splendid vessel, but have not succeeded in getting on
board of her. We hope to give particulars on Friday.]
'Fur MONA'S ISLE STEAMER.—We have great pleasure
in inserting the following testimony to the humanity, zeal,
and intrepidity of Captain Gill, of the Mona's Isle steam:.
packet, as exhibited by him on a late trying occasion :
" Lloyd's, 21st February, 1840.
" SlR,—The circumstances under which you, with so
much promptitude and zeal, rendered assistance to the crew
of the Magazine Life Boat, thereby enabling them to save
the crew and passengers (twenty in number) of the barque
Corsair, wrecked on Jordan Flats, on the 27th ultimo, hay:
ingbeen brought under the notice of the Committee for ma-
naging the affairs of. Lloyd's, I am ditecten'tO express to you
the high sense entertained by them of your benevolent ser-
vices on that occasion.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
" W. DOBSON.

" Captain William Gill,
Mona's Isle Steam-packet, Liverpool."

CAPTAIN CLEGG.—We perceive that Mr. Brotherton,the
member for Salford, has given the following notice of a
motion for Wednesday, (to-morrow,) in the House of Com-

mons :

" That an humble address be presented to her Majesty,
praying that her Majesty will be graciously pleased to con-
fer upon Captain Clegg, commander of the merchant ship
the Huddersfield, of Liverpool, some mark or title of dis-
tinction suitable to that peculiar heroism which braves dan-
ger in the rescue of human life—a spirit of humanity so
worthy of encouragement, so congenial to our nation, and so
becoming the character of a female Sovereign to notice, and
which was so nobly exemplified towards the crew and passen-
gers of the Steam-ship the William HuskissOn' from the
wreck of which the captain of the Huddersfield,aud his ship's
company, saved 93 persons, including 15 women and some
children, from inevitable death."
We would suggest the propriety of conferring some naval
distinction upon individuals signalising themselves in the
manner Captain Clegg has done. The transfer of men of
such intrepid courage to the Royal Navy would be the best
possible plan for supplying a succession of heroic spirits to
that already distinguished service.

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.—On Tuesday, the 4th
inst., the Town Council of Edinburgh elected Dr. James S.
Simpson, to be Professor of Midwifery, in their University.
Among the candidates were some of the most celebrated
physicians in London, Dublin, and Edinburgh. The ap-
pointment is highly honourable to Dr. Simpson, who has
thus raised himself, at a very early age, by the strength of
his high attainments alone, to one of the most honourable
and lucrative offices in the medical profession. Dr. Simpson
is son-in-law to Walter Grindley, Esq., Toxteth-park, and
has many friends in Liverpool who will rejoice to hear of his
promotion.

MN'EMONICAL CONVERZATIONES.—WC are glad to find
that Master Bassle, the extraordinary youth whose mnemo-
nical powers hare been the theme of wonder and admiration
wherever they have been exhibited, has returned to Liverpool.
He has announced two couverzationes, to be held in the
Medical Hall, on Thursday next, at 12 o'clock. Master
Bassle's answers to questions upon history, chronology,
geography, mythology, and the physical sciences, will sur-
prise and confound the visitor. No matter how difficult may
be the queries the answers will be prompt and correct. The
system by which he has acquired such extraordinary faculty
will be published.
CONCERT FOR TILE CHARITIES.—We beg to remind our
readers that the grand miscellaneous concert, on behalf of
the funds for the public charities, takes place this evening,
(Tuesday,) in the Theatre Royal. We trust there will be a
full house for the sake of the object in view, which we again
recommend to public support.
LIVER THEATRE.—The performances, at the Liver The-
atre, continue in the same superior and correct style twat we
have frequently praised. The season will shortly close, con-
sequently those who have not yet visited this elegant place of
amusement, should lose no time in doing so.
WIRRAL CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION.—A meeting of
the members of this loyal and constitutional body was held
at Poole's Royal Hotel, Woodside, yesterday. George King,
Esq., presided. The business done had reference to a con-
servative candidate for South Cheshire, in the place of Mr.
Tollemache, who, by a ruse of the Whigs, will be prevented
coming forward in the event of an election taking place this
yea After about an hour's deliberation, the meeting se-
lar 'ed.

LIVERPOOL GREAT STEEPLE CHASE.—The betting on
this great national event, which has hitheito not been over
brisk, now begins to assume abusiness-like appearance. Lot-
tery, the winner of the chase last year, still holds his rank of
first favourite, with increased claims to patronage, for, in ad-
dition to other victories in the early part of this season, he
carried off the prize at Dunchurch the week before last in
gellant style, beating several horses of great celebrity in this
description of racing. It is admitted, on all hands, that the
Steeple Chase of last year eclipsed every thing of the sort in
this quarter, and we have strong reason to believe, that the
forthcoming one will at least keep pace in attraction. The
town is expected to be full of fashionables and persons from
a distance. Thursday, the sth of March, is the day fixed
The betting is 5 to 4 against Lottery (taken;) 7 to 1 against
The Nun ; 10 to 1 against Seventy-four.
PRESENTATION .TO THE SHERIFF OF MIDDLESEX.—WC
find in the Times of Saturday last the following interesting
memorandum :—" Presented to Mr. William Evans, Sheriff
of Middlesex, Epistles of the Right Rev. Joseph Hall, D.D.,
Bishop of Norwich, by the Rev. Ambrose Dawson, 8.D.,
one of the Senior Fellows of Brazenose College, Oxford,
being a very small token of his very great regard for his pri-
vate character, and still greater esteem and admiration of that
public line of conduct which he has pursued during this most
extraordinary collision between the courts of law and the
House of Commons, in which a straightforward honest man
is suffering for doing his duty to his Queen and country,
which is enough to bring down upon the nation the contempt
of every foreigner, rend the heart of every true Briton, and
rouse sympathy and condolence for the sufferer in the heart
of every right-minded man.—Feb. 21." Our readers will
recognize in this paragraph the name of the late respected
minister of St. Michael's Church in this town, and the bro-
ther of Mr. Richard Dawson. The sentiments which he has
thus put on record reflect honour on his character as a man
and a Christian minister.
LEEDS.—ANOTHER CONSERVATIVE TRIUMPH.--Wed-
nesday morning was the day appointed for the election of a
councillor for the Bramley ward of the borough, in place of
a Whig whose office had been declared vacant by the council
last week, in consequence of his having been declareda bank-
rupt. As soon as the probability of' a vacancy was made
known the Conservatives met and nominated Mr. W. Wil-
son, of Armley Grange, tanner, as their candidate, and every
preparation was made for a contest; but it was early signified
by the Whig party that they did. not intend to start a candi-
date. Of course the affair went off very flatly ; the poll
opened, at nine o'clock, and within the first quarter of an
hour, 23 votes were tendered for Mr. Wilson' and after au
hour had elapsed without a vote being tendered for any other
candidate the poll was closed, and Mr. Wilson, declared
elected.
HEROIC CONDUCT OF A YOUNG LADY.—A few evenings
ago, as a young lady was on a visit to a friend in the peaceful
village of Youlgreave, in this county, a young gentleman,
son of a wealthy and highly respectable miller and farmer, in
the same neighbourhood, was escorting her front her friend's
house, and having to pass.. &small fishpond situated in the
pleasure grounds attached to the house, and, from the dark-
ness of the night he accidentally slipt into the water, and
would, in all probability, have been drowned, had it not been
for the determined resolution of the young lady, who, at the
imminent peril of her own life, rushed into the water, and
succeeded in grasping firmly hold of her lover's arm, and
safely brought him on terra firma.—Derby Mercury.
SERMON TO THE JEWS.—We understand that the Rev.
H. S. Joseph will preach a sermon at St. Simon's Church,
Sir Thomas's Buildings • on .Friday evening next, when the
ordinance of baptism will be publicly administered to a con-
verted Jew. The " children of the House of Israel" are
affectionately invited to attend this very interesting service.
INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.—Thomas Barton Bowen,
Esq., one of her Commissioners, will hold his next
courts for the relief of Insolvent Debtors as follows, viz.:—
At Lancaster, on Tuesday, the 10th of March • Preston, the
17th ; Liverpool, the 18th ; and Chester the 20th.

THE HORNBY CASTLE ESTATE.--We hear it stated, and
believe the report to be substantially correct, that with a view
to prevent further litigation, an amicable arrangement has
been made, and that an application will shortly he made to
parliament for an act to confirm the rights of all parties._
Lancaster Gazette.

Thomas Fitzherbert Brockboles, Esq., the sheriff of Lan-
cashire, has been pleased to appoint Mr. Emery Skellorn, of
Oldham, solicitor, his deputy for taking or granting replevins
within the hundreds of West Derby, Salford, Leyland, and
Blackburn, in this county.
The office Of physician to the County Lunatic Asylum is
vacant. Amongst the candidates is Dr. Hunter Lane,
formerly of this town, but now of Lancaster ; of his high pro-
fessional skill and attainments there is no doubt, and the in-
mates and science would benefit by his appointment.
Tun BACIIELORS' BALL.—The bachelors of Liverpool
have given halls heretofore, but they have generally been
dress balls. They have once more determined upon a higher
flight, and the ball which they are to give to the fair maidens
of our town, on Thursday next, is nothing less than a fancy
ball.

FIRE IN KENT-SQUARE.—On Friday night, about a quar-
ter before ten o'clock, a fire broke out in the cellar of the
house occupied by Mr. Pritchard, in the southeast corner of
Kent-square. lite smoke from the premises excited con-
siderable alarm in the neighbourhood; but the apprehension
was speedily allayed by the comparative slightness of the
danger and the activity of the police.

LIST OF PASSENGERS By THE PACKET-SHIP " SOUTH
AMERICA," FROM NEW Yo x.--Adam Hope, Jas. Brush,
C. Schuehitrdl, Fernand Schuehardl, Martin Norman, Geo.
Howland, jun., Jas. Donaldson, Alex. Murry, Lieut.-Col.
Chichester and servant, Miss Chichester, three children, and
two servants, Lukin Robinson, James Connell, Jos. Mackay,
John Torrence, Wm. Cormick, John Wm. Carter, A.Shaw,
John Greenshield, jun., Felix Mercare, William Wright,
and Robert Lyons.

SMUGGLING TOBACCO.—At the Police-office, on Friday,
James M'Clerrin was brought before the sitting magistrate,
John Holmes, Esq., on a charge of smuggling a quantity of
tobacco in the brig Clio. It appeared, from the testimony of
the tide-surveyor, Mr. Stoker, that he boarded the vessel in
the river, and, after rummaging through her, found about.
191bs. of tobacco stowed away in the hammock of the pri-
soner, who acknowledged that it belonged to him. He was
given into custody. The captain was in attendance, and gave
the young man an excellent character. The prisoner de-
clined to say any thing in his defence, and he was convicted
in the usual penalty of £lOO, the Magistrate stating, at the•
same time, that the Board of Customs, with whom alone the
power of mitigation rested, might, in consideration of his
previous good character, be induced to remit the whole or a
part of it.
The directors of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
have humanely voted the sum of sixty pounds to the widow
and children•of the late Edward Watt, engineer of the Queen
of the Isle steamer, who was unfortunately killed on board
that vessel about a fortnight since, while on the passage from
Douglas to this port.
MEMORIAL OF CRAnIER, 4IDLEY, AND LATIMER.—

A meeting of the subscribers to this undertaking is convened
for Thursday week, in Oxford. The committee have found
it impracticable to obtain an eligible site for " A Church
commemorative, chiefly by external decoration, of the three
Martyr Prelates." It will, therefore, be proposed to substi-
tute for this a monumental structure at the extiemity of St.
Mary Magdalen Church-yard, together with the rebuilding
and enlarging the northern side of tine church in a correspond-
ing style of architecture, with a view of containing about as
many persons as would have been accommodated in a sepa-
rate place of worship.
GRATIFYING TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO A CLERGYMAN.
—The ladies of Birkenhead have presented the Rev. A. Knox,
the minister of St. Mary's, with a purse, containing the
handsome sum of two hundred and fifty sovereigns, and also
a beautiful time-piece for the chimney, on the base of which
is the following inscription : Presented to the Rev. An-
drew Knox, by his congregation and the inhabitants of Bir-
kenhead and its vicinity, the above time-piece and £250, as
a token of their esteem and affection for his indefatigable
zeal in the discharge of his ministerial duties:"
LECTURES ON THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.—We per-
ceive from an advertisement in the London papers, that the
course of Lectures on the English National Church Esta-
blishment, by the Rev. Hugh M`Neile, will he delivered in
the metropolis on the 6th, 10th, 13th, 18th, 20th, and 24th
March. The Rev. Gentleman's eloquence will, doubtless,
secure him an attentive audience ; and we feel assured his
addresses will produce a powerful effect on his hearers.
THE CHARITABLE Socit:Tr.—We beg to call the atten-
tion of our readers to an advertisement, which appears in
another part of our paper, of a sermon to be preached this
day week, at St. Michael's Church, by that highly-esteemed
and popular preacher, the Rev. Hugh Stowell, of Manches-
ter. His name will be sufficient to draw an overflowing
congregation, and it is only with a view of calling attention
to the excellent charity whose cause he will then plead, that
we notice the sermon. We think the Charitable Society,
whose visitors make it their duty to relieve the poor at their
own dwellings, and to comfort them in their distresses, an
institution well deserving a warmer support from a Christian
community than it at present enjoys. One mode in which
they afford assistance—namely, by the loan of blankets—
must be particularly beneficial during such a perishing frost
as the present. We sincerely hope they may receive a large
addition to their funds, and shall be glad if these remarks
should induce any of our readers to become subscribers to
this useful charity.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

PROCEEDINGS TO ENFORCE CALLS ON RAIL-
WAY SHARES-SHEFFIELD AND MANCHESTER
RAILWAY COMPANY.

Our attention has been called to this subject by a few re-
marks addressed by Mr. Lawrence, a proprietor of the
Northern and Eastern Line, to the Directors, at their late
half-yearly meeting, in which he alludes to " the highly sa-
tisfactory contrast which their forbearance has afforded,
during seasons of difficulty, now successfully overcome, to
the cold severity with which some Boards of Direction have
pressed on the proprietors, the carrying on, or the attempting
to carry on, an unwilling proprietary, in opposition to diffi-
culties which seemed almost insurmountable." The result
of this considerate course of proceeding has been to produce
amongst the shareholders that cordial and hearty desire to
second the endeavours of the Direction, which, now that
the difficulties of the money market are gradually dissipating,
will enable them to proceed with their works as one united
and unanimous proprietary ; and in proof of this, a number
of shareholders, holding to the amount of 2200 shares, have
voluntarily pledged themselves not to sell their shares until
the road is opened.
Now what, we ask, would have been the result, if the Di-
rection had pursued the more stringent course of proceeding,
and acted up to the full powers of their act of parliament?
They might perhaps have extracted more money from the
pockets of their present proprietors, but having gained the
money they would have lost the men. Their shares, with
£25 paid, instead of being worth £l3 or £l4 in the market,
with a probability of rising to par, so strong, that, the Direc-
tors themselves have offered to take to the amount of £lOO,OOO
at that rate within three years, would have been given away,
or transferred to paupers, and the works now fast progressing
to completion must have been stayed entirely. The Com-
pany would in fact have consisted of a Board of Direction,
Engineers, Lawyers, and Secretary, without a proprietary
worthy of anything but the name.

We wish to call the attention of a Company, whose title is
at the head of this article,- to the proceedings of the Northern
and Eastern Directors, and to urge them to pause before
plunging into the vortex of litigation, towards which, we have
reason to believe, they are hurrying. It is true that for up-
wards of two years past the Directors of this Company have
not attempted to enforce from their Shareholders the pay-
ment of arrears, but it is scarcely necessary for us to tell
them that their prospect of doing so is not improved as yet,
and will not be improved, until' something like confidence is
infused into the minds of the Proprietors. They may drive
respectable men into the Gazette to avoid paying, or they
may in a few cases recover the amounts due ; but, in either
way, they will lose the men,—for there are few persons who
will continue paying their money into a concern, the value
of whose stock decreases with every call that is made upon
it, and will decrease, until the undertaking itself is reduced
to the same extent as its bona" fide proprietary.
Let us not, however, be misunderstood. We do not allow

the principle that men who have voluntarily contracted lia-
bilities should be altogether released from them, without
contributing something to compensate for their breach of
faith. We would not advise indiscriminate forfeiture of every
share upon which the full amount due has not been paid up.

There are, however, amongst the Proprietors of the Sheffield
and Manchester Railway Company, a certain number of in-
dividuals who cannot pay, and perhaps others who ought not
to be called upon. Let the shares of these individuals be
at once forfeited, and the undertaking reduced proportion-
ately. There are other Proprietors who have sold their shares,
but not got rid at the. same time of their" liabilities. Let
these individuals pay up a portion of the amount due and
retire from the concern. There will then remain a smaller
proprietary composed of good and substantial men, able and
willing to pay up their calls as they become due; and the
Directors knowing the amount which every call will realize,
will then be able to form a correct idea how much of the
line they can successfully proceed with, and of how much
they ought to defer the execution. It is plain they cannot
now proceed simultaneously with the entire line. If they at-
tempt it they must press upon the willing proprietors to
make up for the tardiness of the unwilling. If they accom-
pany this course of making heavy and frequent calls by law
proceedings against defaulters, a still further depression in
the price of their shares must take place, and the proprietary
will very shortly limit itself.

But it may perhaps be argued by the Directors that they
can still arrange to proceed with only a portion of the line,
without releasing any considerable number of the present
proprietors. True ; but where is the advantage of keeping
a stock of shares constantly hanging upon the market, from
which nothing can be derived in the shape of capital, and
which in the meantime only contribute to prevent good men
from entering into the concern? The fact is, that the know-
ledge of this heavy lot of shares being ready to pour into the
market on the first rise which takes place, is the very cir-
cumstance which deters such men from becoming proprie-
tors. Let the company at once say, "We will proceed with
half the line, and lop off all our doubtful shares, reserving
to ourselves the benefit to be derived from their re-appropri-
ation ;" and the market being relieved, their stock will
at once assume a fair and legitimate value, instead of
being, as at present, unsaleable at any price.
We have thrown out these few remarks for the considera-
tion of the Directors and Proprietors at the approaching
half-yearly meeting. We firmly beiieve that the undertaking
is a sound one, and will be a profitable one. The line to
Ashton-under-Lyne, or to Glossop, would of itself be a
paying line; and if this were once got into course of forma-
tion, the shareholders and the public would begin to appre-
ciate it as it deserves. We shall probably return to the sub-
ject in our next, when we shall have had an opportunity of
knowing the result of the general meeting. In the meantime
we may observe, that our Liverpool friends are not quite
aware of the value of this undertaking as an opening for the
commerce oil their port to an important district, which has
hitherto been almost entirely shut against them.

HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF THE NORTHERN
AND EASTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.
The half-yearly meeting of this Company was held on
Thursday at the Company's Offices, Moorgate-street, City,
William Crawshay, Esq. in the chair.
The report, which was read by the Secretary, and appeared
to be received with great satisfaction by the proprietors pre-
sent, explained the motives by which the Directors had been
actuated in suspending the prosecution of the works during
the past half year. This, it appeared to them, could not have
been effected without pressing more hastily and urgently for
calls than would be advisable in the present state of the
money market, or resorting to some mode of raising the ne-
cessary funds which might have seriously injured the ultimate
fair prospects of the concern.
The Directors, however, confidently expect that in March
next they will be enabled to complete arrangements for the
most rapid prosecution of the road to Broxbume, and that a
considerable portion of the requisite funds will, by that time,
have been raised upon loan on reasonable terms.
The estimate for completing .he line to Bishop's Stortford
has again been revised by their engineer, Mr. Stephenson,
and the Directors are confirmed in their view that the 29
miles of railway which will belong to this Company, when
in a complete state of conveyance, including stations, engines,
carriages, and stock of every description will be obtained for
a capital not exceeding_£7oo,ooo. or little more than £24,000.
per mile, which when compared with the cost of other lines,
and the extensive traffic considered, the Directors think must
render it an investment equal to the most advantageous in

lucrative prospect.
The Directors, in conclusion, congratulate the proprietors
upon the improved prospects of the undertaking generally,
and express their confident expectation that before the next
yearly meeting a portion of the line will have been opened,
and that th• whole will be completed in the autumn of 1841.
The Chairman, in the course of a long conversation which
ensued, detailed the manner in which the Directors intended
to raise the necessary funds to carry on the undertaking.
The Directors had entered into several contracts for works,
the payment for which they had been enabled to defer; and
they had also taken up on loan a sum of £lOO,OOO. upon
their personal security, to be repaid by the Company in the
course of three years. In return for this unexampled in-
stance of zeal and confidence, they only claimed the privilege
of receiving the amount of this loan in an equivalent number
of the shares of the company at par. It was also announced
that only an additional amount of £l5. per share would be
required to be called up at present, and that the line from
London to Broxburne will be completed at a cost of £4O. per
share, upon the present number of shares appropriated. It
was also stated that a number of proprietors holding 2200
shares, had entered into an engagement not to sell their shares
until the road is opened, and that not one of the forfeited or
unallotted shares held by the company would be brought into
the market, until the proprietary have had an opportunity of
ascertaining the working of that portion of the line which is
now in course of formation.
In order to enable the Company to borrow money upon
their works, and to effect other objects, rendered necessary
by the present position of the undertaking, the Directors
are now before parliament for an amended act, reducing their
nominal capital from £lOO. to £6O. shares, which there is
every reason to expect they will be able to procure this ses-
sion.

PROPOSED BRANCH RAILWAY TO CONNECT THE HIGH
PEAK. WITH THE NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY.— A sur-
vey of this line of railway is now completed, and application
isintended to be made to parliament next session for its
formation. It is to join the North Midland line at Amber
Gate, at which place there will be a first class station ; from
thence the line winds along the course of the river Derivent,
and forms ajunction with the High Peak Railway at Croin-
ford. The length of the line is about four miles. The de-
lightful village of Matlock will then possess the advantage o
e of
f
a direct railway communication with London and mors
the principal towns. The distance from Matlock to om.
ford being only about a mile, omnibuses doubtlessebe
i
established for the conveyance of passengers, between
c., 'ee
the two places.—Derby Mercury.

MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY —THE
STOCKPORT VIADUCT.-All the arches, except one, on the
Lancashire side, are turned, so that ten of the 63-feet arches
may be said to be almost completed ; whilst the stone piers
for two others, on the Cheshire side, are ready to receive the
super-structure; and the brickwork for the two small arches
at the extremity of the viaduct, like those at the Lancashire
end, is rapidly proceeding to a termination. Twelve of the
twenty-six arches may therefore be said to he pretty well out
of the hands of the workmen, and another six months will
see the perfection of one of the most gigantic productions of

art of a similar character in this kingdom.—Stockport Ad-
vertiser.

SEIAKSPEAR CLIFF SLIP.—The part of the Shakspear
Cliff, on the west end of it, which slipped down on Monday
fortnight, is likely to be very beneficial to the railway, and a
great saving of expense. The tunnel will be improved by
being shortened about 100 feet. It is said at least 25,000
cubic yards in the solid state, have fallen. It extends not
less than one-sixth of a mile into the sea, and being about
ten feet above high water mark, forms an excellent break-
water for the Dover harbour. Some believe it will be of the
greatest service to the harbour in preventing that accumula-
tion of shingle at the mouth which causes the bar.

NEWCASTLE AND NORTH SHIELDS RAILWAY.—At the
annual meeting of the proprietors of this company, held at
Newcastle on Tuesday week, a highly satisfactory report was
read from the directors. The number of passengers from
the opening of the railway to the 31st of December (little
more than half a year) had greatly exceeded the parliamen-
tary estimate, amounting altogether to 350,000, and yielding a
revenue of £10,500. The increase in the traffic had been so
steady, notwithstanding the state of the weather, that the di-
rectors felt justified in anticipating that the number of pas-
sengers in 1840 would amount to nearly one million. This
traffic would yield a most remunerating rate of interest to the
proprietors. The traffic in goods had also been consider-
able, and had proved a great convenience to the public.—
Midland Counties Herald.

LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY.—From the
extraordinary exertions made by the contractors for that por-
tion of our railway between Winchester and Basingstoke,
there can be no doubt the Directors will be enabled to re-
deem the pledge they gave at the last half yearly meeting,
that the line should be opened throughout in the spring of
the present year. The facilities afforded, by the expeditious
travelling on the railway, to visitors to the Isle of Wight,
will cause an increase in the number of those who yearly seek
the enjoyment of the delightful scenery and the pure air of
this garden of England. To meet this increase of traffic, a
company is about to be formed, to establish a line of iron
steam boats, of forty horse power each, and with better ac-
commodation to passengers than that afforded by the vessels
now employed on the station.—Hampshire Independent.

WEEKLY RETURNS OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC.
(From the Railway 4ifagazinej

' Passen- 'cash Passeng.
N A M
tiers. • pr.wk. p. day. per day.
.-1
X. X. X.
Birmingham .. 111093 981 14
South Western.... 20271 35 5
Great Western .. 2243 73
Greenwich 21788 752 1981 281 31121
Manchester& Leeds 10279 577 43t6} 1468
Birming. &Derby — 720 181 21
York &N. Midland 1331 290 20 f 3 190
Croydon
Midland Counties 2668 2491 16 2t 381
Eastern Counties 4170 —f 5951
Glasgow & Ayr 1395 j 55 5 t 1 2324
Ulster —

WELSH LITERATURE.-MANUSCRIPT SOCIETY.

(SEE ADVERTISEMENT.)
It affords us pleasure to inform our readers that the of
of the Welsh MS. Society are in regular progress, and that
the members of the committee proceed with the administra-
tion of its concerns, for the attainment of its objects, with
as much expedition as circumstances will admit. The first
literary work which has engaged their attention, and which
they have undertaken to publish, is entitled "Liber Landa-
rensis, or Llyfr Llandaf, ' being the ancient register of the
cathedral church of Landaff, which was originally written in
the twelfth century, having been compiled by Jeffrey (Gal-
fridus), brother of Urban, bishop of Landaff, who was pro-
moted to the see in the year 1108, and died in 1134.
This ancient MS. is written partly in Latin and partly in
Welsh, and the whole is intimately connected with Welsh

historical literature, and contains information relating to the
Christian church in Britain from an early period, but parti-
cularly with respect to the see of Landaff and the surround-
ing district from the fifth to the twelfth century. Its con-
tents consist more especially of biographical memoirs of St.
Samson, St. Teilo, St. Dubricius, and St. Oudoceus, (the
last three of whom were the first prelates of the see), and of
particulars of its ancient territories granted to the church by
various individuals, with much curious information relating
to that district during the (lark ages, at a time when history,
with respect to similar places in the principality, is nearly
silent.

The nature and importance of the book may be best esti-
mated by considering the esteem in which it has been held
by our most eminent ecclesiastical historians and antiquaries,
viz., Usher, Spelman, Cressy, Dugdale, Wharton, Collier,
Nicolson, Turner, Browne, Willis, and Godwin, all of whom
have quoted passages from it, and made references to it, as
containing interesting information relating to the antiquities
of the church nowhere else to be found. _ _ _

To execute the office of editor, the committee considered
themselves fortunate in obtaining the services of the gifted
and learned Professor Rees, of St. David's College, Lampe-
ter; but he had scarcely commenced his official labours,
when a sudden and premature death deprived both the soci-
ety and his country of the benefit of his talents and acquire-
ments. This unexpected event necessarily caused some in-
terruption in the progress of preparing the work for the
press; but the Rev. W. J. Rees, of Cascob, Radnorshire,
readily undertook to supply the place of the lamented de-
ceased, considering that honourable office as a kind of legacy
bequeathed to him by his departed nephew, whose studies
were much in unison with his own.

A considerable space of time was afterwards taken up in
collating the MS., in making fac-similes, and in transcribing
a copy of the work and preparing it for the press. These
necessary preliminaries having been accomplished, we are
informed that at present the work is proceeding through the
press with all possible expedition ; hut an undertaking of
this kind necessarily requires much time, in order to ensure
the utmost accuracy, and to render it worthy of the society
and of the public. The original work, with English transla-
tions and notes, constituting a volume of considerable size,
is expected to be ready for publication in the course of the
ensuing months.
It is worthy of observation, that several ancient copies of
this celebrated and interesting work are reported to have
been in existence, and to have been met with in the course
of the last two centuries, which at present are not to be found,
viz., the Selden copy, which was in the library of flengwrt,
Merionethshire; the copy which was in the library of Llan-
nerch, Denbighshire; the copy in the Cottonian library,
British Museum ; rnd two copies in the archives of Landaff
Cathedral. Respecting these copies considerable inquiries
have been made, but without success! Some of them, how-
ever, it is believed, are still in existence ; and should any
persons possessing collections of Welsh MSS., on examining
their literary stores, meet with them, the communicating
such intelligence would doubtless be most acceptable infor-
mation.

We are informed that the committee, being anxious that
the concerns of the society should proceed without interrup-
tion, have been, and continue to he, busily engaged in pro-
curing suitable materials for the printing of another volume,
to succeed the Liter Landarensis without delay, and have
been most fortunate in their researches. To carry on their
proceedings considerable sums will of course be wanted, but
they hope that the object of their undertaking will procure
an important addition to the present list of royal, noble, and
highly-respectable patrons, and that their exertions will be
appreciated and encouraged by a liberal and discerning pub-
lic, so as to prevent any hindrance in the accomplishment of
their laudable and patriotic designs.

THE STATE OF THE STREETS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sir,—Having read in your paper (many miles distant from
Liverpool) of the increase of salary of your chief constable,
I did expect to find your streets at night orderly, but am
sorry to say I was much disappointed, and although I am
acquainted with many of the principal towns in the kingdom,
I have no hesitation in saying, I have, for the last three
nights, witnessed more immorality and indecency in your
town than in any other. The state of Dale-street, Chapel-
street, and Tithebarn-street, from the number of prostitutes
and other bad characters, is disgraceful ; the language made
use of by those parties is most revolting, and the streets are
almost impassable. On Saturday night last, in Tithebarn-
street, I heard women, principally Irish, shouting to persons
on the opposite side of the street, in language of the most
horrid and beastly description, (indeed so awful was it, that
it can never be erased from my memory,) and with impunity.
Your chief constable may be an efficient officer, but there
can be no doubt that he is a well-paid one, and such a state
of things does not reflect much credit upon him or his assis-
tants. By giving these few remarks publicity in your excel-
lent paper, you will oblige
A COMMERCIAL MAN.
Crooked Billet Inn, Exchange-street East,
24th Feb. 1840.

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL INTELLIGENCE

OXFORD' FEB. 22.—Three scholarships are now vacant in
University College, and the election to fill them will be on
Friday, March 20; one of them is on the Bennett foundation
open to natives of the province of Canterbury, and the others
are open without limitation as to place of birth. Candidates
are required to present the usual testimonials in person to
the master on or before Monday, March 16. The examina-
tion will commence on the day following.
On Thursday. March 12, an election will be holden in
Pembroke College for an exhibitioner on Mr. Oate's founda-
tion ; candidates for which must not have exceeded the age of
19, certificates of which and of good conduct must be pre-
sented to the master or vicegerant on or before Tuesday, the
10th, when the examination will begin.
Addresses have been unanimously agreed on, in convoca-
tion, to his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and to her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Kent, on the marriage of her
Majesty.
The Rev. John Ashworth, of Brazenose College, has been
approved of, in convocation, as one of the classical examin.
ing masters.
Edward Wells Esq., Fellow of New College, has been
elected Radcliffe fellow, in the room of Dr. Hammick.
The Marquis of Downshire has been pleased to appoint
the Rev. H. Randolph, of Balliol College, one of his domes-
tic chaplains.
The Lord Bishop of Hereford has instituted the Rev.
Richard Lane Free, of Christ Church, to the vicarage of
Manzel-Lacy, Herefordshire.

On Monday a public meeting was held at Salisbury, the
mayor presiding, at which it was resolved to take immediate
steps for the formation of a branch railway from Salisbury,
to join the London and Southampton line between Stock-
bridge and Basingstoke, on the direct route to London.
MILDNESS OF THE SEASON.--Finsthwaite, Feb. Ig.—The
mildness, the serenity, and the gentle and " shifting gales p,
appear to have virtually ousted the chilling blast of old winter,
whose thraldom seems to have yielded to the genial exhala-
tions of spring. This is manifested by the appearance of the
modest floweret, claiming the protection of Flora's breath—
by
the throstle whistling a benediction on the semblance
of an approaching spring—by the woodland choir uniting in
proclaiming a jubilee on the emerging of a happy season. It
might seem, however, that the general spring-like appearance
is to be attributed to the openness and humidity of the past
and present month, and that a return of wintry weather to
again hold the little flower in embryo—to retard the carolling
of the joyous choristers—and usurp the prerogative of the
present seemingly forward spring—may be anticipated.—
correspondent of the Lancaster Gazette.
VALUABLE DISCOVERY OF LEAD ORE.—The neighbour-
hood of Minsterley and Pontesby, in Shropshire, was, on
Friday week, the scene of great rejoicing, in consequence of
a rich vein of lead ore having been discovered on the top of
one of the hills forming one of the Hiperstones, ill that coun-
ty. A very poor man was enclosing a little of the hill to
make a garden to a mud hilt he had built ; and in digging a
ditch round it, he found some pieces of ore which, upon fur-
ther examination, proved to be a large vein of lead. It has
been opened to the depth of 12 yards, and there is 4 feet
thick of solid blue ore of very fine quality ; and in all proba-
bility, will prove a source of great wealth for ages to come. It
is said that the person who discovered it was so poor, that he
and his family had had nothing for some days but potatoes
and salt, and that when he saw the great body of wealth, he
was so alarmed that he did not know what to do ; but, after
a time, he went and informed the parties, Messrs. Cross and
'Walker, of Chester, who had taken a lease of those hills for
mining purposes andi there is no doubt, from their known li-
berality, that he will be richly rewarded.

TESTIMONIAL TO THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

Abridrlfrom the akow Mail.
In consequence o gef
a requisitioGl g
n addressed) to the Lord
Provost, by about-130 noblemen and gentlemen connected
with the West of Scotland, a meeting was held in the Assem-
bly-rooms, Ingram-street, on Tuesday last, for the purpose
of taking measures to erect a memorial in this city comme-
morative of the eminent services rendered to his country by
his Grace the Duke of Wellington. At the hour appointed,
one o'clock, the spacious hall was completely crowded, by
gentlemen of the highest influence and standing in the West.
Out of the total number of 500 or 600 who were present, a
party of 50 or 60 chartists took up a position in the centre
of the hall, and though of course they completely failed in
tripping up the heels of this meeting, as they have done in
other cases, they nevertheless were successful in creating
some annoyance. This,_.perhaps, was beneficial after all, for
it had the effect of increasing the enthusiasm of the admirers
of the Great Dille in a commensurate degree, and the burst
of applause Ivbich followed one of the biting hints of Sheriff
Alison, addressed to the chartists, was perfectly thrilling :--
" In what state would you have now been, (said he) if when
you had the national debt on your backs, you had had the
chains of France about your necks ?" Amongst those on the
platform and in other parts of the hall, were—the Ld. Provost,
his Grace the Duke of Hamilton, Ld. Belhaven, Ld. Kelburn ,
Geo. Houstoun, Esq. M.P. for Renfrewshire, Col.. Macin-
tosh. Capt. Anderson, Kirkman Finlay, Esq., W. M. Alex-
ander, of Sothbar, Sheriff Alison, Principal Macfarlan, Dean
of Guild Browne, Jas. Reddie, Esq. Jas. Campbell, Esq. Jas.
Campbell, Esq, of Moore-park, Robt. Findlay Esq. Wm.
Leckie Ewing, Esq. Robt. Dalglish„ Esq. A. S. Dalglish,
Esq. John Smith, ygst. Esq. Archd. M`Lellan, Esq. William
Brown, Esq. of Kilmardinny, Professor Jeffrey, Wm. Davie,
Esq. the Messrs. Baird of Gartsherrie, W. Campbell, Esq.
Esq. T. D. Douglas, Esq. John Pollok, Esq. William.
Mathieson,Esq. J. R. Denniston, Esq. And. Macgeorge,Esq.
John Leadbetter, Esq., Alexander Morrison, Esq., C. L.
Donald, Esq., &c., &c. We were delighted to observe on
the platform Major-General Sir Neil Douglas, K.C.8., a
townsman of this city, a companion in arms in many Cam-
paigns and battles, and a personal acquaintance of the Great
Duke. The gallant veteran travelled a long journey in order
to be present on this interesting occasion.
Leiters of apology for absence were, we understand, re-
ceived from the Duke of Montrose, Sir W. M. Napier, Sir
Norman Lockhart, James Ewing, Esq., of Levenside, Robt.
Monteith, Esq., younger of Carstairs (from indisposition.)

Lord Brougham will reside at Cannes, in the south of
France, where he has an estate, for about two months. in
order to recruit his exhausted strength.
_ _

Her Majesty will hold a court this day, at Buckingham
Palace, to receive the addresses of congratulation from the
universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
It is again said that African corsairs have been seen cruis-
ing off the coast of Spain. Three French ships of war have
been sent in pursuit of them.
A portion of her Majesty's bride-cake has reached Dur-
ham ; and, as we have had the pleasure to taste this rarity, we
pronounce it without hesitation to be " a righte royale
daintie," which far surpasseth any compound of flour, sugar,
butter, eggs, currants, citron, and other fruits, that we have
ever before partaken of.—Din-ham Advertiser.
A letter from Trieste, in the Journal de Franrfort, says
that a short time since Madame Schoberlechner, a singer,
who enjoyed a high reputation in Italy, became suddenly in-
sane in consequence of the disapprobation expressed by the
public on her appearing before them for the first time in the
character of Norma.

, CANINE SAGACITY.—A few days ago a Highland drover
was stepping on board a steamer at Port Glrsgow, and as he
was rather late, he only made his way into the vessel by
climbing over the paddle-box. His dog was left behind, and
no sooner did the Highlander notice his loss than he set up a
" sad lament" for " my poor dog Tray," in which he shared
the sympathy of the whole of the crew and passengers. From
Port Glasgow to the Broomielaw the poor Celt was gloomy
and desponding, and the loss of his four-footed friend pressed
heavy on the man's spirits. Arrived at the place of debarka-
tion, the drover was amazed by seeing the dog that he had
lost and lamented, wagging his tail to him in token of wel-
come; and upon investigating the matter, it appeared .that
the brute had accompanied the steamer at her full speed; the
whole way up, on the south side, then crossed the Glasgow
Bridge, and scudded down to the landing-place, to meet its
master. The feet of the poor animal were sadly cut up, but
this was made up to a great extent by the almost enthusiastic
reception of its master.—Glasgow Mail.

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. -A patent has lately been
granted by her Majesty to a gentleman residing near this
city, for producing a beautiful and sparkling wine resembling
the Foreign Champagne from the green stalk of the Rhubarb
plant grown in England. We understand the plant is %Try
wholesome, and the quantity of wine .to be made from it is
immense—the annual produce of an acre of ground exceed-
ing one hundred and fifty hogsheads.—Bath Herald.

WARNING TO WOULD-BF. INSOLVENTS.—At the court for
the hearing of insolvent:debtors, on Wednesday last, at
Wakefield, before J. 13. Bowen, Esq., Elkanah Fearnley, of
Swamp, near Queen's-Head, stuff manufacturer, was op-
posed by Mr. Wasney on behalf of Mr. Joseph Dobson,
manufacturer, Halifax. It appeared, on examining Fearn-
ley and investigating the matter of his petition, that he had
neglected to put in his schedule £l5l 14s. received from a
house in Leeds. The court also found him guilty of selling
machines and goods at a great sacrifice, but the sale was
found not to be a real one, and, in fact, nineteen of his ma-
chines with some warps, &c., were proved to have been lately
in the hands of insolvent weavers. The insolvent was de-
fended by Mr. Dowes, but after a lengthened hearing the
court sentenced him to six months imprisonment, and ap-
pointed Mr. Dobson to be assignee of his estate. We hope
this will have some effect in putting a stop to such practices
which are now as numerous as they are disgraceful.
EXTRAORDINAY INSTANCE OF DEATH FROM FRIGHT.—
On Wednesday afternoon, as Miss Susan Shipley, a maiden
lady of independent fortune, residing at No. 28, Devonshire-
place, New-road, was enjoying a walk in the Regent's-Park,
a large dog, of the Newfoundland species, in a fit of playful-
ness, sprung up and put its paws in front of her. Such was
the alarm created that she immediately fainted away and fell
upon the pavement. On recovery she gave her address and
was placed in a hackney-coach, and conieyed to her residence.
On her arrival she appeared much excited, and shortly after
getting within doors was seized with violent paroxysms and
fits. She continued getting gradually weaker, and medical
aid was called in, but in the course of a few hours she died.
information of the occurrence has been forwarded to the
coroner, but no one has been found who saw the dog or the
deceased at the time the animal jumped up at her.
EXTRAORDINARY FAT BULL.—On the 11th instant was
slaughtered by Mr. Edw. Tapp and Mr. John Phillpots, of
Leominster, the extraordinary bull, eight years old, fed on
grass, hay, and Swede turnips only, which won the prizes at
the Hereford and Gloucester Agricultural Meeting for 1839,
and which was bred by Mr. John Morris, of Stockton, whose
breed is so much apps eciated. The weight per quarter of this
splendid animal was as follows :-455 lbs., 452 lbs., 404 lbs..,
386 lbs. ; total, 1697 lbs., or 141 stone 5 lbs. ; being 35 stone
4A lbs. per quarter. The weight of rough fat was 16 stone,
and the head and tongue weighed 53 lbs.—Hereford Journal.

The increasing importance of the Moldavian and Walla-
chian ports of the Black Sea is shown by a statement pub-
lished in the Marseilles journals, from which it appears that
during 1839 no fewer than 294 ships, measuring together
74,868 tons, arrived at that port from the Black Sea ; and
from Galatz and Brailow, which in 1837 sent only 13 ships of
2,456 tons, 71 ships of 11,958 tons were entered, being teu
more vessels than Egypt sent.

Rear-Admiral Sir John Louis has been appointed to the
command pro. tem. of the fleet, at Malta.
On Wednesday last, Sir Frederick Smith, one of the
Commissioners appointed to ascertain the most desirable line
for a railway into Scotland, arrived here, and has since been
Over sands, surveying the Morecambe Bay line. lie leaves
to-day for Carlisle. Professor Barlow, another of the com-
missioners, was expected, but he has not arrived.—Lan-
caster Gazette.

CANNING AND BROUGHAM.—The premier is said also to
have offered the place of chief baron of the exchequer to
Brougham, who refused it on the ground that it would pre-
vent him sitting in parliament. " True," was the reply,
" but you will then be only one stage from the woolsack."
" Yes," returned Brougham, " but the horses will then be
off."

It has occasioned some surprise that the Bishop of Car-
lisle should have been married at Marlborough House, and
not in a church. This savours too much of Lord John
Russell's broomstick marriages ; nor is it really one of the
highest dignitaries of the church the person whom we should
expe'ct to see turning his back upon the sacred edifice on such
an occasion.

The conservatives of the county of Dublin are up and
stirring, in anticipation of an election. A requisition has
been got up, and is already numerously signed, calling upon
J. H. Hamilton, of Sheep Hill, Esq., and Captain Thomas
E. Taylor, of Ardgellan Castle, to offer themselves as candi-
dates, because the present members do not represent the
interests and opinions of the majority of the constituency.
For the following net amount of the receipts of the post-
office for nearly two centuries, we are indebted to the
Mirror :

1653. £lo,ooo
1663.....
1674...
1718...
1724. 96,339

1746. £88,323
1774.
1779. 657,388
1817. 1,353,601
1838. . 1,659,553

AN ACTIVE MAN.—Lord Brougham arrived at Paris at
one o'clock in the morning, went to bed, got up at nine,
went out at ten, paid visits till dinner time, dined at the
Rocher de Cancale, attended the opera, thence went to .the
ball at the Hotel de Ville, after which he proceeded to the
bal masque at the opera, and started at five in the morning
for Frnjes.
imagined had been long enough married to hate Miet 1
ii
" A weaver of Levoncourt in the Meuze," says a locittiii-
per. " who
children, improper connection existedhe-
ined that an
tweet* his wife and an old man of 78 I Meeting • Mai - his
supposed rival a few days ago at a public house, the weaver
abused the old man, and threatened him with such violence
that he dropped down dead with terror. The weaver, in his
passion, hastened home, and finding his wife occupied in
milking their cow, seized a mattock, and killed her at one
blow with it. He then rushed to the house, caught up a
razor, and cut his own throat before one of his sons, who was
witness to both fatal acts, could prevent him."
THE DUKE.—The Duke of Wellington is so much better,
that it was not thought necessary by his medical attendants
to publish any bulletin yesterday. We are happy to learn
that her majesty has sent to inquire after the duke's health.
Prince Albert sent his private secretary, Mr. Seymour; on
the same mission, and the Duke of Saxe Coburg called in
person. Her majesty the Queen Dowager has manifeited
the most anxious interest on the occasion of the duke's late
illness, and has sent to inquire daily at Apsley House.' Co..
lonel Cowper, from her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent,
called on Wednesday, and also vast numbers of the leading
nobility and gentry.—Times of Friday.
A LAPLAND Wircis.—l lay once more on the floor of a
Lapland fisherman's hut on the way, cooked some reindeer
tongues for supper. The owner was out, and the place was
tenanted only by a hag that realised all my ideas of a sorce-
ress, ready to raise a storm or sell a wind. Her face, dark
brown and wrinked, from the combined action of dirt, smoke,
and hard weather, showed her to be of the genuine Semi
breed. Her chin was peaky, and, with her sharp prominent
cheek bones, formed a well-defined triangle. Her hair was
concealed beneath a red cloth cap, which terminated in what
resembled a horse's hoof turned upwards; and a belt studded
with silver stars confined round her waist a moudda, from
which the hair was worn oft' in front, and which displayed
a shining surface, polished by the frequent wiping of her
hands. In the corner of the room something movedi but
whether dogs or children, or both, the uncertain light- from
the hearth did not allow me to distingush, and the smell that
pervaded the whole place did not invite a closer inspection
of that particular spot. Not speaking anything but her
native language, she spaced me the witchery
of het tongue;
but seeing my raw victuals, she brought me a small filing-
eau and wooden ladle, taking the precaution to lick the-latter
by way of ridding it of grease. As the savoury smell_of the
thawing meat became perceptible, a dozen halry d
dogs,
something like those of the Fesquin'a"; crowdedba rounde
we,„ me,
and eyed me and my food alternately. sued for
the remains, and each showed so much . voracity,
. and seemed
.
so unused to eating, that it became doubtful whether they
would not devour one another by mistake. In the meantime
the deer were supplied with moss collected and stacked for
people. When they were refreshed, I put
a
intot the hand of the dame, which brought a
wintersilver use
coibny i
horrible grin on her features. 1 bade her adieu.—Dillon's
Iceland and Lapland.