The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-13

6ed5Onb q ocs VI III
clined. It is timepiece that advances very regu'
arly nearly four minutes a-day, and no other
group Of exhibits To the naked eye an obsoFva
lion of time so easily made. How often nsye we
heard our guides exclaim, in the savannahs Of Ven
ezuela, or In the desert extending from Lima TO
Truxillo, "Midnight is past, the cross begins to
bendn' How often these words reminded US OF that
affecting scene where Paul and Virginia, seated
the sources of the river of Lataniers conversed
together for the last time; and when the old man,
at the sight of the southern warns them that
II is time to separate!-H'"nboldf.
The EXCAVATIONS AT Observation-Disclosures
from Mosul has been received TO the 4th OF March.
Mr. Layard and his party are still carrying on
their excavations at Nimrod and Nineveh. large
number Of copper vessels beautifully engraved
have been found in the former and from the latter
large assortment of fine slabs, illustrative OF the
rule, conquests, domestic LIE, and ars OF the an
Gent Assyrians are daily coming TO light and are
committed to paper by the able artist, Mr.. Cooper
one of the expedition. Mr.. Layard intends TO make
trip to the Chaboor, the Chaboras OF the Romans,
and to visit Relish Alma, the Resen OF Scripture,
where he hopes TO find treasure OF Assyrian re-
mains.
NAVIGATION LAws.-We understand that infor-
nation has been received that the advantage Of the
admission of British vessels into the indirect trade
with the United States, consequent upon the repeal
of the British Navigation laws, is beginning to be
felt in the orange trade from the Azores The car
goes in this trade being of perishable nature, the
exporter prefers British TO Portuguese vessels for
the purpose OF carrying tueIn 70 lOTclgu mar
ket as being both better found and more fearlessy
sailed, and therefore better calculated to deliver
them in good order; and several British ships have
been employed since the beginning of the present
year in the trade between these islands and the
United States. Portuguese vessels could at all
times be chartered at lower freight, but they have
only been employed in such voyages as were closed
to British vessels. THERE'S every reason TO believe
that, for the future, this trade will give regular
poyment to a certain number of British vessels Of
between fifty and sixty tons BURDEN Times.
STEAM COMMUNICATIONS WITH AusrRALIA.--A
deputation of members of Parliament and others
interested in Australian steam navigation, had an
interview yesterday week with Sir J. Hobhouse,
for the purpose of urging the President Of the Board
Of Control to remove a difficulty which had been
thrown in the way Of the steam communication be-
tween this country and the Australian colonies.
Sir J. Hobhouse assured the deputation that he
power, and added that he was personally anxious
to see the communication established.
NEwsPAPERs.-From parliamentary return
relative to newspapers, it appears that the aggre
gate number of stamps issued for newspapers in
the year lS49 was, for England and Wales, at Id,
Co. SOP at I'D, TO- 309233 for Scotland, at Id,
2SS 205 at 3D., 205, 900 and for Ireland, at Id
6,345,227, and at 3D., 3S ,S43. The number of pa
pers in London for the year ending January g. 1850,
was l60, which paid advertisement duty to the
amount of g. 45SI lbs. cd. The English provincial
newspapers numbered 232, and paid in duty on adj
vertisements 81, 604l. lbs. ed. The number of pa
pers in Scotland was "a, paying ls,o75l. los. Cd.
The number in Ireland was III, which paid, at Is.
rate of duty, the sum of III ,O26l. Os. I'D.
GIVING A PRISONER THE BENEFIT OF DoUBT.-
The following scene took place at the TOWN. hall,
Gravesend, short time since Recorder. Cen
tlemen of the jury, the prisoner at the bar is in
dicted for stealing piece of meat, the property OF
the prosecutor. You have heard the evidence, and
if you have any doubt upon your minds, you must
give the prisoner the benefit of such doubt (Jury
turned round in the box-much whispering
cious mods, with repeated reference to notes
Judge fdgetty from delay-prisoner from fear
How say you, gentlemen, guilty ''not
guiltys' Foreman. Guilty" but We recon-
mend him to mercy. Recorder (surprised.) On
what grounds? Foreman.-Because we don't think
he's the man. We don't think there is sufficient
evidence of "indentity." Recorder told you
before, gentlemen, that if you had any doubt, you
must give the prisoner the benefit of the doubt.
Foreman Well, then, we find him Guilty.