The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-02-03 00:00:00

The house, after some further discussion, adjourned

H OUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNEsDAy

Mr. GISBORN proposed certain resolutions for the pur-
pose of giving the committee on the petitions f,,r railway
bills power to report not only whetber the standing or-
ders had been complied with, but also whether in any
particular case they ought to he suspended and the parties
allowed to go on with their bill ; but they were opposed
by
Lord G. SOMERSET and Mr. STRUTT, and negatived
after a short conversation without a division.

On the motion of Sir T. FREEMANTLE, the Public
Works (Irelane) Bill was read a srcond time after a ,host
discussion on the adequacy of the grant, in which Mr.
Hume, Mr. O'Connell, Sir R. Ferguson, Sir IL Barron,
Mr. M. Milnes, and Mr. F. French joined. The only
feature of importance in it was Mr. O'Connell's en.plta-
tic declaration, that they were within three or four weeks
of an actual famine in Ireland. The bill was then ordered
to be committed to-morrow.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-THURSDAY

The Duke of RiCIIMOND presented petitions in favour
of protection, and reiterated his attacks on the ministeria'
scheme, which he conjured their lordships to reject, and
thus force the government to appeal to the country, the
great body of which bad been proof against the bribes of
the league.

Lord KINNAIRD defended the League against the
charge of bribery, and when the Duke of Richmond de-
clared his readiness to be responsible for all that was said
or done at protection meetings, wished to know whether
the noble Duke was willing to be re-possible for burning
The Times, or for comparing a member of the other
house to Satan ?

Earl GREY expressed his satisfaction at the proposed
measure, but regretted that it had not gone further. It
seemed to him that delay would only keep agitatin alive,
and that the country required the abolition of all protec-
tive duties, which were, i❑ his opinion, from first to last a
mistake.

Lord ASHBURTON agreed that a free trade, if it could
be established, was consistent with common sense, but
could not see how it was to be introduced in a country
like England, burdened with debt, and in which so many
complicated interests were at work. Free trade was a
fallacy, for there were certain duties, such as those on
tea, which must be retained for the purposes of revenue.
In his opinion, it would be impossible for the British far-
mer to compete with the foreign corn-grower. Wiih re-
spect to the conduct of the Anti-corn-Law League,
though not illegal, it was fatal to the constitution. arid the
government would neglect their duty if they permitted
such a system to continue.
Lord MONTEAGLE could not see that the maintenance
of duties for the sake of revenue on such articles as tea
and tobacco had anything to do with the abolition of pro-
tection to native industry. Though he objected to the
three years' limitation in favour of the agricultniist4, lie
was prepared to look upon the proposed measure a, a
whole, and to consider it as the greatest stet) yet made to-
wards improved legislation on the subject. After some
further observations from the Duke of Richmond, the
matter dropped.
The Earl of Dar,HousiE then brought forwartthe sub-
ject of railviay legislation, and having called the attention
of the house to the vast amount of railway business to be
transacted during the sesfion, as well as to the immense
amount of capital involved in the projected lines, and the
consequent difficulty in dealing with them, proposed the
appointment of a committee of the same nature as that
appointed in the lower house on the motion of Sir Robert
Peel.

_
After some discussion, in which Earl Grey, Lords
Brougham, Kinnaird, Montelgle, and Ashburton took
part, a numerous committee was appointed, and their
lordships adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY.

Petitions were presented for various?ailwyy bills

Air. BRIGHT gave notice that, on Mot day, he would
move the re-appointment of the Committee on the Game
Laws.

Sir R. PEEL, in answer to a question from Lord John
Russell, said he had no objection to lay on the table the
papers with respect to the hostilities in Rio de la Plata,
as far as they had reference to the grounds on which
France and England had united on this question, but the
papers relating to the atrocities committed he must at pre-
sent decline producing.
Loid JOHN RUSSELL, in answer to a question from
Mr. Escott, stated that he had not yet determined whe-
ther he should, during the present session, again bring in
the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill.

Mr. HAsTiE, on the part of the bankers of London,
complained of their being compelled by the standing
orders to pay the money they received for railway deposit
into the Bank of England in the name of the Accountant-
General of the Court of Chancery. lie thought there
ought to be some relaxation of the standing orders in this
respect, as the greatest confusion would prevail. lie be-
lieved that all purposes would be answered by paying the
money into the Bank of England, and sufficient protec-
tion afforded to all bond fide railways. He would make a
motio❑ on the subject on a future day. _ _ _

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that the
deposits, when paid in to the name of the Accountant-
General, were as available for the purpose of trade as if
paid into the Bank in any other way. All that was re-
quired to get it out was the order of the Court of Chan-
cery.

Sir R. PEEL trusted the house would not interfere in
this matter, as he felt convinced that the spirit of impro-
per speculation would never be put an end to unless the
public sustained some inconvenience.
After a few observations from Mr. F. BARING, the
subject dropped.

Sir C. NAPIER. moved for a committee to inquire into
the manner in which the poor-law commissioners have
exercised the powers for the establishment of district
asylums for houseless poor in the metropolis, confided to
them by the statute of the 7th and Sth Vic., c. 101. Also,
to inquire into the effects of any asylums supported by
voluntary subscriptions, which may have been formed for
the same purpose.— Agreed to.
Lord ASHLEY, in moving for leave to bring in a bill to
reduce the hours of working of young persons in factories
to 10 in the day, observed that he was about to revive a
discussion which had often been proposed and often re-
linquished in that house. Ile was the more encouraged
to do this by the recollection that the last decision on this
important question was not the decision of the house, but
the decision of ministers. The house twice asserted his
proposition ; and it was only after the greatest exertions
that the minister at last succeeded in reversing it. Dur-
ing the discussion on that occasion 33 out of 42 represen-
tatives of towns in the manufacturing districts had voted
for a Ten Hours Bill through all the division,, and he ex-
pected that they would pursue the same course during the
discussion to which he was now inviting the legislature.
He believed that the same desire for a Ten Hours Bill
which then prevailed among the operatives still existed
unmitigated among them, and that, instead of having
abated, it had gathered strength and increase from the
lapse of time. Two years had now passed since his last
proposition on this subject had been rejected. In that
time events in our own country had demonstrated the
truth and safety of the principles which he advocated, and
accounts had been received from foreign countries corro-
borating in every material respect the conclusions to be
drawn from the events in Great Britain to which he al-
luded. The question might he reduced within this nar-
row compass—" Can a Ten Hours Bill be adopted with-
out injury to the interests of the trade, and without de-
preciation of the wages of labour ?" He then gave the
house a history of a series of experiments which had re-
cently been made in the manufacturing districts on the ef-
fect of reducing the hours of labour. Mr. Gardner, of
Manchester, had reduced the hours of labour in his fac-
tory to 11 hours. Messrs. Harrocks and Jackson, of
Preston, had made a similar reduction. So had several
other eminent manufacturers. The result in every case
demonstrated that the produce of the reduced hours of la-
bour was both greater and better—that the hands were in
better health—that their children were better educated—
and that the feeling between the employers and the em-
ployed was much ameliorated. Such, also, had been the
effect of a decree issued in Prussia limiting the hours of
labour to 10 hours a-day in the case of all children under
16 years. Accounts had been transmitted to him from
Elberteldr, in which the most satisfactory descr;ption was
given of the results of that law on the moral and physical
condition of the operatives. Passing from these indivi•
dual details, he proceeded to show that the effects of the
limitation of the hours of labour on the moral, physical,
and financial condition of our population engaged in ma-
nufactures formed a constant contradiction to all the pre-
dictions uttered by the antagonists of the Ten flours Bill
when it was last under discussion. Their first prediction
was, that the cotton trade would be destroyed by any such
limitation as he proposed ; their second was, that the wa-
ges of the protected parties would be diminished; their
third was, that the wages of their children would be re-
duced to a mete nothing; and their fourth was, that the
children would be dismissed, and tha t great physical suf-
fering would be the result in their respective families.
The history of the cotton trade during the last year was
the best refutation of the first part of these predictions :
the fact that there were now 30,000 children under 13
years of age working six hours and receiving instruction
three hours a-day, when there were very few receiving
education in 1833, and the report of the operative spin-
ners themselves,—who formerly opposed the enactment
limiting the labour of children to half time,—stating that
the physical and moral condition of their children had
been so much improved that they did not appear to be
the same race of human beings, were the best refutation
of the latter part of them. He implored the house to
consider that the greater part of the children employed
during the present long hours of labour were females.
Was there not something cruel and monstrous to take
young girls of 13, the very day on which they reached
that age, and to demand from them the same extent of
labour which was demanded from the most vigorous
adult men? How could they learn on their return home
any of those domestic arts which were so necessary to the
comforts of the labouring man when he returned jaded
and weary to his humble cottage? There was evidence
enough to prove, though he would not quote it. that the
degraded condition of the female population was one of
t4,4hief causes of distress and crime in our manufactur-
ing towns. Ile contrasted with the degraded condition of
the female population in our manufacturing districts the
great improvement which had taken place in the intellec-
tual, moral, and physical condition of the female op-ra-
fives at Lowell, in the United States, since the labour had
been limited to 12 hours a-day. The fact was, that our
women were unsexed in nature and habits by being ab-
stracted from their domestic ditties so long by their pro-
tracted industry in heated factories. Society suffered by

it—individuals suffered by it ; and the operative popula-
tion would suffer by it, until legislation gave them, what
Madame Camt man told Napoleon was the best gift he
could give to Fiance. " a generation of mothers." He
impressed on the house the consideration that it would be
well both for the masters and the operatives to have this
questions finally settled. Nothing could be easier than
to repeal his bill. if its effects should be found to be pre-
judicial ; for the operatives would be the first to cry out
against them ; but if its effects were likely to prove be
n,ficial, then they had a right to expect that the house
would assent to their just and rears nable requests He
implored the house, therefore, not to throw out this mea-
sure; tor if they did, they would destroy all hope of se-
cular improverrunt among the younger part of the manu-
fac uring population ; they would aggravate the feud
which so long existed between the house of want and the
house of plenty ; they would render poverty discontented,
wentli and t roper ty odious, and would impede the social
moral and rtl gious improvement of all classes of the
community.

Sir J. GRAHAM did not intend to offer any opposition
to the introduction of the present bill. After compli-
menting Lord Ashley on the sacrifices which he had
made in this cause—sacrifices which were greater than
fell to the 1 t of 'cost men to make—he proceeded to con-
tend that everything which had occurred in the manufac-
turing districts since the passing of the act of 1814, in-
stead of encouraging further legislation on the subject,
' showed that we ought not to disturb the existing ar-
rangem,nts. If it were true that higher wages had been
gained by the operatives in consequence of a reduction in
their hours of labour, he was glad to hear it; but he
theuoht that it was a reason for not interfering further by
le26l,tion between the employer and the employed.
After pointing out the advantages which had been gained
for the labouring manufacturing population by Lord
Ashley since 1833, in the prohibition of all infant labour
under a certain age, in the limitation of labour to six
hours among children under thirteen years of age, in the
prohibition of all night labour, and in restricting the
labour of all young persons between the ages of thirteen
and eighteen to twelve hours a day, he proceeded to con-
tend th+t any further interference by Parliament with
manufacturing labour would be an interference with ca-
pital and machinery, which would be highly dangerous
in a commercial country like our own. It might be
asked, why, if such were his opinions, he allowed this
bill to be introduced His answer was, that on former
e< asions Lord Ashley had endeavoured to engraft his
opinions as amendments on measures proposed by the
Government, but that on the present occasion he had in-
troduced, on his own responsibility, a substantive mea-
sure, which it would be discomteous to reject without
examination. He begged to remind the house that this
qeestian was connected with the relaxation of the re-
striptioes on our commercial code and on the supply of
food, which had recently been submitted to the considzra-
tion of the house. He therefore thought that the deci-
sion cf the louse on his lordship's bill should he post-
poned until the house had come to a decision on the pro-
position of government as to the laws affecting the im-
portation of corn. So far as he was personally concerned,
co decision on those laws, he it favourable or unfavour-
ble to the government, could shake " his unalterable
opinion" as to the inexpediency of interference with
adult labour. No arguments which Lord Ashley had
used, or would use, were likely to obtain his support to
the second reading of his bill ; nevertheless, for the rea-
sons which he had stated, he would not object to its in-

tr.,duction.
Lord J. MANNERS would give his cordial support to
the bill of his noble friend.
After some observations from Mr. Bright against the
bill,

Mr. FIELDRN said hiQ excerience of factories was more
extensive than that of Mr. Bright, and he was surprised
that Government should oppose a ten-hours' bill, for it
might be adopted with cleat benefit to all parties. As to
the argument that the bill was au invasion of property, it
was precisely the same argument- that was used in favour
of the continuance of slavery. To protect labour, it was
necessary to preserve the labourer from being compelled
to work as long es a steam-engine.

„ -
Mr. WAKLEY thought Mr. Fielden's opinion was de-
serving of more weight on this subject than that of any
man in the kingdom, and he hoped it would have its full
influence upon the mind of Sir James Graham.

- -
Lord Asn).Ey replied, and leave was given to bring in
the bill.

Mr. ESCOTT asked Lord John Russell whether it was
his in'ention to renew a bill introduced by him in the last
session for re-org wising the ecclesiastical courts.

Lord JOHN 11USSELL, before answering the question,
wished to take two or three days to consider the subject.
Leave was given to Lord MANNERS to alter and
amend the laws rdating to pious and charitable purposes.
Adjourned to Mond,y—not so much to observe the fast
cn the anniversary of the death of King Charles as in con-
Sequence of the state of public business ! So, at least, it
was made to appear by Sir Hobe' t Peel.

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL

THE RIVER PLATE

DESTRUCTION AND CAPTURE OF THE BATTERIES OF
ROSAS IN THE PARANA, BY THE COMBINED BRITISH

AND FRENCH FORCES

The efforts of Britain and France to put a stop, by ne-
gociation or mere armed demonstration, to the devastat-
ing war waged by Rosas against Monte Video, and to
secure, at the same time, the opening of the River Plate
and its tributaries to the commerce of all nations, have at
length brought about an appeal to force. By the Cyclops
steamer, which left Rio on the 23d December, we learn
that, on the 20th November, the positions of Rosas, on
the Parana, were attacked by the united forces, and, after
an obstinate action, which lasted from 10 o'clock, a.m.,
until 7 p.m., were carri-d triumphantly, the enemy leav-
ing 400 dead in the forts (al blacks !), besides having
been all day seen carrying out their dead and wounded in
carts. The louts on the side of the combined force; is re-
ported to be, British, 10 dead and 23 wounded. Among
the former are two officers, Lieut. Brickdale, of the Fire-
brand ; Andrews, D.dphin. The French lest IS dead and
70 wounded. This disparity is in part accounted for by
one of their vessels, the St. Martin, being recognised by
the enemy as one of the Buenos Avrean squadron captured
off Monte Video, and attracting an unusual amount of
his fire, and her being, besides, unable to take up her in-
tended position. This vessel had 41 disabled at an early
period of the engagement, and was riddled with shot.
To give our readers an idea of the strength of the
enemy, we give the following from the Brazil Courier, of
December 13:—
"On the ISth of November, the combined forces
moored about three miles from Point Obligado.
" In the evening, the captain of the Fulton, and Capt.
Sullivan, of the Philomel. British, and Capt. Trehouart,
French senior in command, went in a boat to reconnoitre
the position of the enemy's forces. They found four bat-
teries established on the right bank of the river. These
batteries mounted about 24 pieces of artillery, mostly of
heavy calibre, besides several detached field-pieces. The
river itself was barred by a stockade formed with 24 yes-
seles bound together by three strong iron chains. This
stockade was placed between the third and fourth batte-
ries. At one of the extremities, on the right bank, were
1110 fire-ships ready to be let go; at the other extremity,
on the left bank, was moored the Republicano (Rosas's
brig), armed with many pieces of heavy calibre, and de-
signed to take in enfilade the opposing ships. Two of
these batteries were nearly on a level with the river, and
two others on peaks more or less elevated. Lastly, about
4,000 men, infantry and cavalry, were posted so as to pro-
tect the shores, and oppose any landing. The works were
very strong, and evidently under the direction of Euro-
pean engineers, well acquainted with the rules of art ; and
the tenacity of resistance is to be attributed to the fact
that the batteries were served by foreign deserters."
The attack was excellently arranged. The little fleet,
consisting of two steamers (the Gorgon and Firebrand), a
corvette, two brigs, and a brigantine, British ; and one
steamer (the Fulton), a corvette, two brigs, and a brigan-
tine, French—advanced in three divisions, led respec-
tively by Captains Trehouart, Sullivan, and Hotham,
British senior in command. The St. Martin, Capt. Tre-
houart, got into difficulty, but was generously assisted by
the British brig Dolphin taking up a position near her,
and drawing upon herself a portion of the enemy's fire.
In this position, a bomb-shell from the Dolphin set fire
to Rosas's brig, the Republicano (he wasn't in it), which
took fire, and shortly after blew-up. The fire ships were
loosed, but the current floated them in the wrong direc-
tion to do harm. In the midst of the fire, Capt. Hope,
of the Firebrand, went in his boat to break the chains
which united the stockade.

His intrepidity was crowned with the most complete
success. When once the chains were broken, the strong
current opened the line of vessels forming the stockade,
and the Fulton immediately took advantage to pass
through, and place herself in a position higher up, so as
to cross her fire with that of the first division.

It was at this period that Captain Trehouart, quitting
the St. Martin, which was totally disabled for further
service, went on board the Gorgon to concert with his
colleague, Captain Hotham. Thence he passed to the
Expeditive, and made the signal of union to the candour
and the Procida : he then ordered his three ships to run
aground at pistol-shot distance from the batteries, at
which they threw a shower of grape. The corvette Comus
came up quickly to sustain this intrepid manoeuvre. At
the same time Captain Hotham disembarked, with much
skill and vigour, 325 English soldiers. This determined
conduct on the part of the two commanders, executed
with equal bravery and success, overcame the last resist-
ance of the enemy, aid decided the day.
The first English detachment, under the command of
Captain Sullivan, had been received on landing by a heavy
fire of musketry from the enemy in ambush in an adjoin-
ing wood, but the arrival of the rest of ►he troops, under
the orders of Lieutenant Hindle, quickly put the enemy
to flight, notwithstanding the efforts of their cavalry,
which were charging and ruthlessly slaughtering the
English infantry. _ _ _

Captain TrehOuart having likewise landed with his men,
shortly after joined the English, and took possession of
the batteries, on which the enemy discontinued further
resistance.

On the morning of the 21st, additional forces landed,
and completed the destruction of the batteries. The gun
carriages were destroyed, and ihe guns broken or cast into
the river. Ten bronzed canno❑ only were preserved, and
shipped on board the combined squadron. All this day
the allied forces remained ashore Rithout being in the
least disturbed.

It was during the hottest part of this remarkable en-
gagement that Captain 1-lotharn wrote to his colleague,
Captain Trebouart, the words underneath quoted—words
equally honourable to the writer and to the party ad-
dressed—" If the title of brave' has ever been deserved,
it is by you and your crews." "Si le titre de brave a
jamais cte merite, c'est par vous et vos equipages."
The engagement with the batteries began at 10 a.m.,
and lasted till 5 p.m., during which time There was an in-
cessant firing. From sto 7 p.m. the landing and the des-
truction of the works took place.

Feb. 3,1846 i

- - oar
Too much credit cannot be given to all Parties en°, 0
in this gallant affair ; and it is particularly gratifYiN,
notice the perfect cordiality and mutual admiration el
ing between the leaders and forces of the two nations.

AMERICA.
We have received New York advices to the 13th/sd;
nuary inclusive, together with late accounts from es
and Mexico, by the arrival of the packet-ship Step
Whitney, Captain Popham. Tbe
These advices are of considerable importance. 00,
proceedings in Congress with regard to the Oregon (1..0r,
still continued to partake of the same warlike chsrslo
but no decisive vote had yet been taken in either at Et
houses. In the Senate, on the Bth ultimo, Mr. Alleotto
port ed back from the Cernrnittee on Foreign Afralty
joint resolutions advising the President to notify tn,
British Government the desire of the United Stat`Jdf
terminate the joint occupancy of 'he Oregon tetTAeit
now in force with an amendment directing the Prewol
to adopt that step. In introducing this Mr. Allea4r
he was instructed to move an early day for its constui,
tion ; but, as a senator bad intimated to him that Vol
to nded to start a preliminary question on Monday,
January, he should on that day move the Senate to Pi
day to take up the joint resolution. The proceediatlir
the Senate present no other feature of interest. AB_,
gards these of the House of Representatives, the di#74
sion upon the Oregon notice question had not tertnias_o
The great demand upon our space precludes. bo",o,
the possibility of giving any lengthened details of the
ceedings ; and we must content ourselves with stl'
that no new views had been elicited during the debate:A
The contemplated movement against the existing ?I;
had at length opened. A bill to repeal the law bad bet
introduced into the House of Representatives.
All parties, speculators and buyers in the flour andtlt;
ton markets, were eagerly looking ont for Eurolgol
news ; and, as the latest dates received from Englo.
were of the 4th December, it was expected that late
counts would shortly be received by the sailing pack
The arrival out of the celebrated Corn-laws annoaa
ment of The Times might be daily expected.
Our Canadian advices stil hint at the existence of di::
sension in the Cabinet; but nothing definite bad '
spired. The journals comment warmly upon the D!"
tering proceeding of the American Congress.
Mexican accounts to the 14th December contradietti
,i
ls"
report that General Paredes had made a revolutio
movement against the existing Government.
The j..urnals r ceived publish aZdespatch from Gettelli
Paredes to the Secretary of War, dated San Louis Itv:01
tosi, November 26, stating that Colonel Barragon
circulated reports of his intention to pronounce fur a
tatorship, he had ordered Barragon to be arrested
proceedings taken against him. The Mr xican Diarol;
Gaberne confirms this. There would, therefore, be,
obstacle in the way of Mr. S,idell, the American -0311
ter; and we may probably receive within a short Pe%l
accounts of the settlement of the Texan and Califora''
questions.

The congregation of Ignatius Loyola have ii.augurntelt
in their church at flume, a Triduum for the conversion'
the people of England. oast
ANNEXATION OF IRELAND.—In the American vt-
of Representatives the other day, the clerk gra% e'y rey
proposal, made by a member, to annex Ireland to
United States.
On the 12th ult , the anniversary of the birth of tie
King of Naples, the Queen a as safely delivered of a prinn
His Majesty, therefore, was felicitated on both even"
the same time.

Another misfortune occurred last month to the Unite;
States steam-frigate Princeton, abile in the harbour
Boston. The furnaces of her engines yet her on fire,..i'Del
she was much damaged in the aftrr part before the Sate be extinguished. Her powder magazines 0
flooded with water.

,„.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.—Of fiFtc-eight independent ,
vereigns in Europe, eighteen have less populitioo 8-0
this kingdom, and thirty have less square miles.
kingdom of Saxony approaches nearest to it in m1;0110'01
territory, having 5,705 square miles, and a populationA
1,680,000. This country is capable of sustaining an eq;
number, besides having the great athani,ge of being '
vourably situ ited for a commercial marine.

Paris jeu-nals state that the campaign against Ahd•ell
Fader was for a moment at an end. The splendid eav'lfri
corps of Youssouf bad been so cut up and harassed
pursuit of the Emir, that it been found necessary to
solve it. About A bd-el-Ka ler nothing cerain was kno$"0(
Besides the weather disasters of the desolating corps,
General Levasseur, the Arabs hung ui.on his retreat, C
off by scores the stray soldiers, and captured imalel°
quantities of arms and baggage.
The Aklibar of Algiers has a letter of the 6thin'tsnf
„
from Djidjili, stating that at about six o'clock itsthe ~sei-e;
big of the preceding day lightning fell upon the
blockhouse, and caused four cases of ammunition toes'
plode. The place and every article in it was destreleA:
and the ten men who were on duty at it were all dre4"r
fully burnt or onwilated by the splinters. One gu"nree
died the same night, and five more were expected to skirt
the same fate.

PROTESTANT CONFERENCE."—The result of the •-• j,
gelical Conference, at Berlin, has not oftic ally trarispiqn;
but their discussions have turned upon the four ;
points :—the junction of all the Evangelical coogreeatil,
in Germany ; the organisation of a general church gove,the
went, arrangement in the mode of worship, and
~'ef
congregational confession of faith. It appears that tui,
have unanimously voted in favour of establishieg ecclq,
astical conferences at regular periods, the delegates tO
chosen by the various districts and by the universitle;)
With retard to the form of church government, it is ,
but certain that Prussi,,Wirtemberg, Saxons , and Bade'
are favourable to u synod and to Prestry terian institutions'
PREMATURE INTERMENT.—The Paris Constiittlien el
states that the cases of premature interment prey, nted
fortuituous circumstances amount in France, since tv,
year Ita33, to ninety-!our. Of those, thirty-five persooot
awoke of themselves from their lethargy at the mottle
the funeral cetemony was about to commence; thirtee.r
recovered in consequence of the affectionate care of theilo
families; seven in consequence of the tall of the CoffilPt.
which they were inclosed; nine owed their recovers'.
wounds inflicted by the needle in sewing their winalciejg
sheet; five to the sensation of suffocation they experien,o
in their coffins; nineteen to their interment having be
delayed by fortuitous circumstances; and six to their.'„,
went having been delayed in consequence of doubts h:,;
ing been entertained of their death. It is awful to relleo
how many persons in the absence of such " fortuil,t,
circumstances," have been and may daily be hurled alte
No supposed corpse should be interred until it exhibits °-
equivocal symptoms of decomposition.
tot
20th last news from the Caucasus up to P
20th December, informs us that the forts on the left 01•
of the Russian line were surprised by the mountaineer
the Russian garrison consisting of from 800 to 1200 mete
has been cut to pieces, or made prisoners ; the loss oft
mountaineers was also very considerable. A large On,
thy of arms and ammunition fe 1 into the lands of thet'o
tors. Prince Woronzow has given orders for preparatior,
that are really extraordinary at this season of the Yes!,
The preceding intelligence was communicated by a tre'reto
ler who lett Ttflis on the 2oth December. They apoear,.o,
have been known in other parts of Russia, fora cer`f,
spondent writes from St. Perersburgh, the 8 h Jattu°r;tl
that the last despatches from the Caucasus had produel-0
a great sensation in all circles. The Emperor Nich°o
reached St. Petersburgh on the llth of January, on eat
return frern his tour. After some hours' repose, he 'cos
to the cathedral church of Casan, and was present at
ti ass. The populace received him with evety mark of
tisfaction. From church, the Emperor went to the 0)0
ter palace after having reviewed the guard on duty•
the evening there were illuminations.
SITUATION OF THE CANTON OF BERME.—The ,oiorl,
of the Great Council of Berne, relative to the revisi°°tbe
the Constitution being appointed to be submitted t° b,
e
approval of the Primary Assemblies on the Ist of 1.41',
ruary, parties are beginning again with all energy to af
t,{
tate, in order to bring together the elements of a victor}
which both sides make sure. The eyes of all Switzernvo
are directed towards Berne, for on the attitude it tarty
depends in a great measure the forrune of the liberal P ort
of the Confederation. If the Government triunnOl's'o.4
may he assured that there will be a pau-e, or at least_
414
modifications in the federal policy ; and if the banistwi be
of the Jesuits is obstinately demanded, there will 110
again that display of hot zeal which a year ago excite lye
deputation of this canton. On the other hand, if the tit
dical party obtain the upper hand, it may occur tits se
will bring into all that appertains to the federal pnlic,,,/av
ardour the more fierce in proportion to the deep ref'ficls'
merits it has to satiate. All, however, greatly derbal)s
which party soever may triumph, in keeping M. Ne4lo,
at the head of affairs. This 'Magistrate, whilst,
extensive influence, he has supported a Governopet
which, but for him, could not have lasted a moot big
the defeat of the corps francs, has by no means ltreigo
ascendancy over the best-informed Radicals. The f!ealef
diplomacy regards very attentively the march of e'foil
being quite aware of the conseqomce that may.
throughout Switzerland from the political organiztOttli/
the canton of Berne; for it must not be forgotten thijirott/
canton of Berne will take the lead in federal affairs
the Ist of January, 1817.
ri°‘
MARITIME DISASTERS AT THE BLACK SEA.----„a the
several weeks past dreadful weather has prevailed °„ThiP
Black Sea. Storms and hurricanes of incrediblefor,4
drove the waves in every direction, and with stlell
that the shipping in the harbour are not in safetY• tb
hear from all quarters of fresh shipwrecks. M°l.eirce,ro
20 vessels, laden with wheat have been lost on the r
sian coast coming from Taganrog and Kertsch•olstu
greater number of these ships were Turkish or It dil;
aad were bound for the coast of Anatolia, where t":100c
tress of the population is increasing daily in con°' Ole;
of the late bad harvest. A real famine rages in the,
rior, particularly in the districts of Upper Armenlosbig:,
great number of Greek, British, and Austrianrsa.P.,,
which were coming from the ports of Southern
and of which a part were likewise laden with, precti
perished near the entrance of the Bosphorus, on tt)„Dpo
of the western coast of the Black Sea. The stesiii'o
which trades between Kertsch and Redut-Ralehh, vtrYeej,
danger of being cast by a whir lwidel on the rocks sera " ogee
Gelendschik and:Anapa. Its machinery became die
and the boat continued its route with its sa""-
ied
mountaineers of that part of the Caucasus cro
rocks on the coast in the hopes of pillaging the for',
and some Circassian balls reached her deck• colon
for the Russian seamen, the weather becare:.
e
and they were enabled to reach the port of Anar"ie`;l,
navigation of the sea of Azoff is concluded for litl6 are tat
The ports of Taganrog, .5; aicopol, and Portjans6'ber
ready covered with ice. On the 10,11 of Dece°
last merchant vessel passed the strait of Kertsch• 01.11,01
a Greek, freighted for Marseilles. The greatersea
of the merchant ships which entered the Black" bet* l'arte
the month of September to the month of Nov' tn,„rp Po,
Greeks, and came to purchase wheat to the sootl)rtic'
of Rustot, notwithstanding the high price of that

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enteral ;fiiiszrilanp.
The League fund has now
reached £160,000.
_ e HO% E. Hon. Lascelles, son of Lord Harewood, has
°otte forward as the conservative candidate for Ripon.
tbArou era general anti-militia movement is getting up
necesagahrovut the country. It is one as vain as it is un-
Lord Lincoln, havins, announced his intention to sup-
Port the
to _ premier,
• j has been requested by his consti,uents
Itate his seat for South Nottinghamshire.
the ,s's expected that Sir Robert Peel's measure will pass
it • `-.omtrions by a very small majority—under 30. If so,
estsure to be rejected by the Lords.
_III is stated that the Duke of Wellington has had a large
a ember of the proxies which were withdrawn from him on
Lai,first blush of the ministerial business returned to him.
b Y°un men were killed, on Friday, at Lambeth,
°an explosio gn of fire-works, and three o hers were dan-
gerously hurt.
S
the course of a case at the London Bankruptcy'
mulk
Ls?.t.irt,
manon
aturda
£y, it came out that the insolvent, a
had paid 170 for his walk.
the
Lord Redesdale has given up the post of whipper-in for
the government in the House of Lords, in consequence of
Nit,,ew measure.
Posbl"EcH---There is to be seen in the garden of Mr.
goTns,erboeorkryWoodward, of the South Brink, Wisbech,
trees bearing fruit of this year's growth.
jahhue amount Of wheat in bond in this country on sth of
sera was 944 548 quarters of foreign, and 3,344 quer-
!! of colonial p'ioduce.
„In testimony of the unwearied exertions on behalf of
'ail free church, Mr. Fox Maule has been presented with
',',‘,!e and beautiful drawing-room screen.
c:o.eroreeertejoare more prisoners in the Wakefield House of
n at the present time than there has been for
threer,
.Years.
Is said that Lord Ashley will vacate his seat for
ofTetshire prior, to voting on the commercial propositions
;sue Premier, as they far exceed his expectations.
twee Saturday night, a young woman, apparently be-
een
so -wenty and thirty years of age, threw herself off
,Hungerford Suspension Bridge, and was drowned.
enl
fewer than fifty-four thousand copies of the Times,
nelni4acnins,' the Premier's speech were printed on Wed-
tol,4 Thursday week, Mr. Thomas Wrigley, of Congle-
loes committed suicide by taking laudanum, near Mat-
ke, whither he had gone for the benefit of his health.
roPPos
—"TeaK.--'slr. Stuart, Q C., was elected without
this borough onTuesday last, in the
°m of the Right Hon. W. E. GladstoT ne.
fro 4rentrP.—lt is said that Dr. Nicholl intends to retire
4,_rne thell be rep
his resentatio
sor n of Cardiff, and that Mr. Glad-
''";l wi succes.
OW Sunday last, a female, name unknown, who had
just arrived in' London in a cab from Barnet, threw
here 1f into the Thames, and was (frowned.
A girl Iva
and s found, a day or two back, in the Gloucester
the b eraeleY Canal, under circumstances which had to
elier that she has been murdered.
Ii hie Gaxel'e steamer, on her passage from London to
414.11," Sunday week, when near the Dudseon light, fell
crap'," a schooner of about SO tons, coal laden; and
. a
.A!apti took place which resulted in the schooner sinking.
tea ,s'emale named Cooper, at Wals'all, has been commit-
tb a charge of manslaughter, for having caused
"ogu her neglect the death of her infant child, which
; (dery
LY starved.
tooa Priday fortnight, Mr. Thomas Wrigley, of Congle-
The deceased
suicide at Ma.lock by taking laudanum.
"eceased had faired in business, which so preyed upon
his
bmind as to incite him to self destruction.
goiaarjug the Parliamentary recess, the massive official
troroctrio of the Usher of the Black Rod has been taken
'l'd en
be e drawer d
in which it was deposited. The drawer
g '
e open.
Stun
agtontlernan st der], at the Clerkensvell Police-office, on
li'daY, that he paid £1,600 a year for the dust of Is-
the
n Parish, and that he calculated his loss, yearly, by
iilferage of dustmen, at between £4OO and £5OO. _
the 3,i late and long-coatinued heavy rains have caused
tenth:lames to overfl icv its b inks, inundating all the low
de for 'soles above and below Windsor-bridge, to the
Pth of
The
several feet.
that 0. Morning Herald, of Friday, expresses its belief
Who. 'le rumours of ministerial resignations given
. else- s'e are well founded and adds, that they are likely to
Lalic'w b grid y more.
Grey aY s London papers contain a note from Lord de
tete': stating that no application had been made to him to
there Mr. Gladstone for Ripon, and consequently that
1. could have been no refusal.
thattV Ashley, in his speech on Thursday night, hinted
the he Should not have another opportunity of addressing
teaa**nuse of Commons. It is said that the noble lord in-
air,.l4s,. after voting for Sir Robert Peel's measure, to re-
his seat and appeal to his constituents for re-election.
oti alkrtGE OF MURDER.—At the Lambeth Police-court,
tu
taans4 "daY, Mr. Frederick Munton, a respectable master
We
the,,
rnat of his was chargewife, with id, on suspintent tocion, withmurder wilfullhyer. cuttille
ng
remanded.
Mr' R.
E. B. Geary. of Chancery-lane, London, a soli-
sos1; of considerable standing, is in custody, charged with
sum ing a chancery certificate and a bank receipt for the
the of £2596 17a., with intent to defraud the trustees of
t Rev. Edward Franks, a deceased lunatic, of the same.
VPADE nUSBANDRY.—This system of cultivation is
rp,entuing rife in the rural districts east of Knaresbrough.
ri"e experiment is said lo have exceeded the most san-
ne expectations of its patrons, where it had been tried
48t rear.
The radical press have represented Mr. Stuart, the new
far
member for Newark, as " a secona-rate barrister." So
in lrom this being the case, however, Mr. S. is the lead-
r. g counsel in the pr'ncipal Vice-Chancery Court, and in
s:nsequence of his absence at Newark, it was actually
7"brY to close the court ior a day.
•VrAt. ACCIDENT.—At a place called Milton Chapel,
oear
espahnteroury, a splendid viaduct, consisting of three
care,"atve arches, with the approaches on each side, se-
ar Bby various intersecting little arches, fell in last
killedlM', and one of the workmen repairing it was
-PLORABLE MISTAKE.—On the 10th instant, George
died
n' Esq., of the Yniaced win Iron Works, Breconshire,
ter; I consequence of having taken., by mistake, afilaidis-
Tse'arg houid ( composed of caritharides and acid ).
%elf, Ttal mistake was committed by the gentleman him-
'fi'4l he lingered in dreadful agony for three days.
.
raw e (Jerold of Friday, says that many resignations of
hold al offices, as well as of offices in the royalf hroeutsbee-
ttaisliaY be expected. They ereexpected o
tiered anal plan was promulgated,w and when was con- -
kid as likely to be less formidable than it has proved
titirraillaw they must be realised, and realised in greater
ers than was thought probable, before Tuesday.
eraser*TlNG.—On Friday and Saturday week, in the
gr es. near Lowther, the Earl of Lonsdale gave a
aroork •ng treat to a number of his sporting friends,
Slaktshootist whom were the Hon. Col. Lowther, the Messrs.
,40t, &c. About 500 hares and other game were
„"ich his lordsh,p made presents of to his friends,
ttat•,4Y, tradesmen, and workmen.
tt..opb:l( VAILU RES.—The London papers announce the
of another bank in Yorkshire—namely, the
Net'n'", at Retford Bank. At the time the Leeds and
s1(141g Bank stopped payment last week it held a
he
a-'"°unt of railway deposits, which it had received as
aotis gents of the Sheffield and Retford Bank, from per-
asAat Leeds and the neighbourhood.
QUARREL.—A lad named Robson was killed on
W511.5"14 niAt by his uncle, named Routledge, at Swal-
Th Norti; '
e ' amberland, where
.both . the parties resided.
rlele ' the brother, came e house, and ir.-
gePhes;:' and after some quarrelling, the uncle struck his
down
astuldenly on the jugular vein, when the latter tell
ru
_Pd expired almost immediately . John Manners has addressed a letter to his.con-
lesr,,4!% at Newark, in which he states that his opinion
he view protection has undergone a change ; but that
reer!a the proposal of free-trade measures by Sit R.
torasi,.'tO feelings Jf the deepest regret and alarm. Ills
%iv,
lost) states that lie shall vote against the comprehen•
krit'.lleasure.. unless his constituents desire him to vote
loar„e,Practice of the Bank of England with regard to
the ; 'IC, undergone an ot• er modification. in restricting
4,l::cum/iodations to fourteen days only ; but thin is
coon„°•ood to have reference only to the applieations
do netted with the railway deposits, and has nothing to
t 0 th„ti_,' the new measures of government. With regard
°los" uePosits, a few. days only are now required to re-
,rtie all this weight from the money market.
hil COURIERS.—The courier of the Morning Herald,
'44 tiled by the overturning of his cabriole. The, Times
to whose instructions are, to take no illiberal advan-
-1)14(4;1 Competitor, brought forward the Herald's dTs-
!iiiees te Roanne, where, however, the Herald courier
/Per next stage did not appear, so that both despatches
farweadelivered to The Times Paris courier and brought
0,r,t1 lo England.
i,tr`u-,s,,c'ENcE.—A short time ago Mr. James Baker,
'N, of Hereford, received a letter bearing the
'tarors" Post mark, and enclosing one dozen of postage
°°t which, it was stated, were forwarded as the value
tear call glass seal stolen out of Mr. Baker's shop seven
the ti,.` lete, .g(), • - It does not appear that Mr. B. ever missed
ao that the realworth of which was about sixpence,
in:teres
t.the repentant thief restored cent. per cent. fur
04 s
Alice aturday week, an explosion of gunpowder took
ultod aurl''°o the premises of Mr. Edward Garratt, grocer
Lilieb-ttilggist at Arnold, four miles from Nottingham,
`'tetieeatroYed a large amount of property, but was not
loos ...ed with the immediate loss of life. Several per.
ttita iswere, however, seriously injured, and George Gar-
trocesittat eXpected to recover. The injuries done to the
11,114ie e 8 are estimated at £350, and to the building, the
„ Which will have to be taken down, at £4OO.
"aertn„ atUrday week, at a late hour, a man named Bro-
gelstie-' io a state of intoxication it is believed, went to a
•'"ans house near Harrogate, for the purpose of
ti.ressa:(Bll3.
,the servant, to whom he was paying his ad-
iha.e a thief
snaking an unusual noise, lie was suspected
oees .'l, and, in the momentary fear and excitement,
°Oe or timer of the house seized a gun, and, by his orders,
Lthe sera
ureast ant men poured the
. contents into Brother-
b asan, , who soon after expired.
ptedhariPUL ACCIDENT —On Wednesday week, near
kited Mr- Gown, a ;mall farmer and butcher, who
441 shes on age near Reedliant? Church, went irntoosetoh;
tooting
wZabove day with his gun, for the
w purpose
ssillg his bird' On returning home lie was playfullypg
• willieshreie‘t Y, a.sweet child about three )e r
O his feet unthinkingly set his gun down on the butt!
tWe ne rauzzle loaded and on cock, the father leaning up-
!!r!tr latcer,isktletghs7 moment the child was playing be-
or, unconsciously pulled the trig-
e gun went off, and the contents entered the
itoltthe a.Wer 4en'ltthbe head, blowing the oor man's brains out
lausidatela e akull. We need hardly add t.ha.t be was
-suit% 1: corpse, stretched at the feet of his innocent,
aPPY, boy.—Ipswich Express.

The extraordinary mildness of' the weather has led to
results of a singular character as affects the vegetable
kingdom. The shrubs have begun to put forth their foli-
age, and in some sheltered places the pear trees are in
blossom. The cuckoo has been heard, and most of the
birds are in full song.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.—It will be seen by an adver-
tisement that the Hon. W. H. Dawnay has withdrawn
from the representation of the county of Rutland, on ac-
count (as he observes) of his being " unable to gainsay
the startling details in Sir R. Peel's explanations," and
yet being unwilling to act contrary to the principles upon
which he was elected to the House of Commons. The
belief is that Viscount Campden will again offer himself for
that county ; and it is even said that he will not he op-
posed. The Marquis of Exeter's eldest son (Lord Burgh-
ley) will not be of age till the 30th of April.—Stamford
Mercury.
It is said in the highest circles, that the most illustrious
personage in the kingdom has, with her own fair hand,
written a kind and condescending letter to a Whig noble-
man, expressive of regret that any objection had arisen to
his :holding office, when on a late occasion tne task of
forming an administration had been confided to Lord
John Russell. This gracious act must console the noble-
man in question for the repugnance of a certain noble
earl to his appointment, and is very gratifying to his lord-
ship's friends.—Daily News.—[Office, or power and pelf,
my lord, would have " cans,led " von much better than
" a kind and condescending letter."]

HYSTERICS INDUCED BY SYMPATIIY. At a recent
inquest, a wife, giving evidenc . touching her husbind's
death, seemed about to faint, and the summoninv officer
and others hastened to her support. The coroner said
she would be better if left to herself ; and his advice hav-
ing been followed, she gave her evidence without Et•lt
like overpowering emotion, until towards is conclusion,
a juror expressing sympathy for her situation she became
hysterical, and in that state was led out of the room.
The coroner then said that sympathy invariably rroduced
such an effect, whilst apparent harshness or indifference
towards persons in the witness's situation seemed to
string their nerves, and enable them to perfiirm painful
duties, for which commiseration would unfit them.

TROTTING MATCH.—ATROCIOUS CRUELTY —A few
days ago, at Leeds, a wager was laid between Mr. John
Hutchinson, pipe-maker, and Mr. Proctor Hall, solicitor,
that Hutchinson's pony should trot 120 miles in 24 hours.
Hutchinson staked £2O that he should: Mr. Hall £lO
that he could not. A butcher officiated as j •ckey. The
start took place on the Skipton road, at tine o'clock on
the Thursday morning, and the poor beast kept well up
to his task until four o'clock the following afternoon,
when he manifested symptoms of distress. Thirty miles,
however, remained unaccomplished, and stimulants were
administered, which so far re-animated the dying animal,
that be again started, and completed the undertaking, but
died on the Sunday afterwards.

HORRIBLE AFFAIR.—At Greenwich police-office, last
week, Anna Maria Richardson, daughter of the late as-
sistant to Professor Airy, of the Hoye' Observatory, at
Greenwich, was brought up under the following circum-
stances. The father of the girl has a wife and nine chil-
dren, and formerly held a situation at a salary of £240 a-
year, but was discharged in consequence of some disgust-
ing circumstances which have come to light. Suffice it
to say, that his daughter left home and occupied lodgings
which had been engaged for her by her father, where she
was delivered of a male child on the 15th of September,
and which she says died on the 25th of the same month.
After its death the father bought a coffin, in which he
placed the body of the child, and buried it in a garden,
where it was found by a labourer who was making a cess-
pool. The child is supposed to have been poisoned ; at
any rate, there is sufficient evidence to show that Richard-
son, who hes absconded, was a party concerned in con-
cealing the birth. The prisoner was remanded.
EFFECTS OF THE H IGH TIDE.—The highest tide in the
memory of any cne was that in the Bristol Channel on
Thursday, and did much damage. At Weston super
Mare, the beautiful new esplanade. erected a few years
since at great cost, and repaired only last season at a very
large outlay, has been all but completely destroyed. It
has been always considered safe from the encroachments
of the sea, but the high tide of Thursday overtopped it,
threw down its walls, and washed away a considerable
portion of the embankment. It will cost some hundreds
of pounds to repair it. The lower esplanade was more
fortunate, and successfully resisted the power of the
waves. A boat belonging to the place was washed on
shore, and her bottom beaten in, and another vessel was
injured. The surrounding neighbourhood is also much
fleoded. At Kingston Seymour, a wall which was
erected to keep out the sea from overflowing the pasture
lands was thrown down, and about 40 sheep destroyed.
The Bristol and Exeter Railway, near Highbridge, is
under water for full two miles, and the first and second
up trains were detained in consequence fur a considera-
able time. It is said that below Bridgewater the damage
has been even more considerable.
BRITISH SAILORS ON BOARD OF AMERICAN SHIPS.
—A correspondent of the London Times who signs him-
self " Sailor," remarks that it behoves brother Jonathan
to be acquainted with the following fact :—That although
Great Britain's hardy sons do now contribute some three-
fourths of the crews of the United States' navy—pro-
bably, also, of their merchant vessels—there is not one
man amongst them who will be the traitor to his country
to " trip air anchor or " trim a sail," much less " light
a match," on board that craft which shall dare to insult
or attack his own glorious ensign. Nor can it be too ge-
nerally known that last year, when America agitated the
same Oregon qu estiou, and the intelligence became ir-
culated in the east, several of her men-of-war, then at an-
chor at Singapore-roads, were unable to put to sea in con-
sequence of the majority of their crews, who were En-
glishmen, going aft to a man, and demanding of the cap-
tains and officers an assurance that they should not be re-
quired, by word or deed, to work their vessels against
their country. Upon this assurance, end this •only, have
those vessels ever been able to move from their untoward
fix ; and they, as well as others, floating under the spang-
led-banner, will, most undoubtedly, become placed in the
same unenviable position, should Mr. Polk and his friends
dare to move their pioneers one inch upon the neutral
ground of Oregon."
ADVENTURE OF A HORSE.—Many of our readers will
recollect of the story of the British sailor, who, falling
from the topmast of a Dutch war vessel, happened to
alight on the deck on his feet unhurt, and, turning the
quid of tobacco in his mouth, and shrugging up his trou-
sers, looked coolly around him and asked the astonished
foreigners " If any of them cou!d do the like of that ?"
The following is a sort of parallel to it :—On Thursday,
while a cart at Coal-hill, Leith, was about to be emptied
of its contents into a vessel, and being backed for that
purpose, the protecting chain gave way, and cart and
horse fell over the quay-side, a height of about fifteen feet
to the vessel below. Being entangled, however, by the
rigging in their progress they were for a time suspended
in mid-air, until the horse was extricated and laid on the
ship's deck. By this time a crowd had collected, and
great was the laudable anxiety manifested to know how
far the animal had been injured. For a long time he lay
immoveable on the deck, and various were the surmises
as to his fate. To the satisfaction of all, however, be at
last got upon his feet and looked around him—as the sai-
lor did. As he could not be got upon the quay he was
unceremoniously turned over the ship's side into the wa-
ter, where, being taken in tow by a boat, he swam up to
the slip where the railway improvements are going on,
and being there mounted by his driver, he shook his tail,
and, to the amusement of the numerous on-lookers, pas-
sett along the stone bridge, like Tarn o'Shanter's mare at
a round gallop, as if nothing had happened !—Editibuogh
Paper.
THE HOUSE AND ITS AVENUES ON TUESDAY EVE-
NING.—No event has recently excited such intense and
general interest in the metropolis, as the anticipated
statement of Sir Robert Peel on Tuesday night, develop-
ing his measures for the abandonment of the " protective
system." As early as one o'clock, " strangers" who
had obtained orders of admission to the gallery of the
House of Commons, began to assemble at the doors ;
and, by two o'clock, there were four times as many ap-
plicants, holding members' orders, as could be accommo-
dated in the house. Long before four, the lobbies and
passages leading to the House of Commons, as well as
the street between Great George-street and Westminster
Abbey, were crowded with well-dressed persons. Many
of the members who were recognised, and known to be
opponents of the Corn-laws, were warmly cheered; and
the Duke of Wellington, in passing along Palace-yard,
on his way to the House of Lords, came in for a full
share of popular applause. On the doors being opened,
a few minutes before four, there was a tremendous rush
to the Strangers' Gallery, which was speedily filled. The
interior of the house presented a spectacle widely differ-
ent from its usual dull and quiet appearance at so early an
hour. The seats below the bar, to which strangers are
admitted on the personal introduction of members, were
crowded by peers and other distinguished individuals:
and, on the front seat, immediately behind the Serjeant-
at-Arme. sat Prince Albert, with the Duke of Cambridge
and the Earl of Jersey. This was the first visit paid by
his Royal Highness to the house during its sitting; and
considerable speculation arose as to the motives of his
presence—whether it was attributable to mere curiosity
or to a desire, in an exalted quarter, to countenance the
ministerial measure. The members continued arriving
in rapid succession until half-past four o'clock, when the
house presented a striking and exciting scene—not only
the body of the house, but the side galleries also, being
completely crowded. Indeed, there has not been so full
an attendance of members for many years, even during
the debates of Sir Robert Peel's Corn-law Bill, in 1842,
or the no less important discussions on the tariff. Sir
Robert rose at a quarter to five o'clock, and the hum of
conversation which had resounded through the house was
instantly hushed. The right hon. baronet spoke in his
usual firm and manly tone : but his statement was re-
ceived with great coolness by the majority of members
on his own side, and he was indebted, almost entirely,
to the oppositionists for the cheers with which some of
his sentiments and declarations were greeted. At the
conclusion of Sir Robert's statement, many of the mem-
bers left the house; and those who remained relapsed
into their usual indifference during the brief discussion,
or conversation which subsequently took place.— Watch-
man.

NAVIGATION.—To the inhabitants of a " sea girt isle,"
like unto Great Britain, and indeed to every other mari-
time nation, every instance of valor or skill evinced by
those devoted to navigation is justly and honourably es-
teemed. The deed of Grace Darling was one of heroism
and benevolence; and recently the affair of the schooner
6, Whim," which has been navigated four thousand miles
by Captain Kerridge and only one man, all the hands on
board having died, with the exception of one other, who
was incapacitated. No such other instance of naval skill
and indefatigable exertion is known in the records of naval
history ; from their continued exposure to the atmosphere,
they were in hourly danger of an attack of Rheumatism,
which, had it occurred, their fate, and that of the ship and
cargo, would have been sealed. To guard against such a
calamity, we would recommend that all persons should be
provided with Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills, which
may be taken at any time without restraint of employment.

.-

THE RAILWAYS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE FRITH OF-FORTH

SKETCH SHEWING THE EDINBURGH AND NORTHERN RAILWAY IN FIYESHIRE, AND ITS CONNEXION WITH

THE NORTHERN RAILWAYS, AND THE GREAT FIER AT DURNTISLAND

1' OT far

.4,0