Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-25


absolutists in check
The friends of IRELAND are discussing the advan-
tages which would accrue to that island by render
ing the extension Of Irish railways available for
shortening the passage between Great Britain and
America. Among other statements, the following
is one OF the most striking:
"Amercan merchants at present direct to England
and Scotland where they make the bulk Of their purchases
They then proceed France Belgium, Switzerland, and
Germany, for of their fancy articles. On their return
they are pressed for ime and visit the of Irish
uactues Of the question The Irish manufacturers are
thus debaed all opportunities of showing what they are
DOING pushing their husnes having their invention
stimulated by personal contact with foreigners If passengers
were landed Irish port, they could be in Dublin
in few hours from that city they could visit Belfast ex-
anime goods and make purchases, and after ALL reach Eng
land they do at present. The English reader
fancy that these suggestions offered with view
call into existence in Ireland possible and yet
existent rade As of energetic sagacous we'll
regulated industry Belfast under disadvantage may
vie with any part of the United Kingdom. The Belfast cot
weaves occupies nearly 100000 and required
The sswed branch formerly employed only lew hundred
upwards of 300, 600 understood to be en-
gagged in IT, Ten years ago, only few foreign houses I'M
ported Belfast manufactures and supplied the countries in
which they were located Now the light fabrics and
sewed goods of Belfast supass the French and SWISS and are
beating them in the continental markets. Several Bel
fast houses have agents all Europe Twenty years ago.
and Of the Indian islands, and considerable part Of
what imported into the United States manufactured
in France and Germany, and of the heavier fabrics in
Russia Belfast has almost the exclusive supplying Of
these markets"
There is considerable discussion going on in the
daily press about the Law Reforms proposed to
be introduced at the commencement of Parliament.
The most marked one will be the creation of
Cabinet Minister, with the title Of Lord Keeper,
and the dignity of President of the Peers. The
title Of " Lord Keeper" is not associated with
pleasant recollectons to the reader of English his
tory. He remembers that the Lord Keepers of the
TUDoRs were formidable personages, encompassed
with vast powers, and dispensing favors to the few
and terrors to the many with naughty hand. In
the reign of ELIZABETH one of the most memorable
duties Of the Lord Keeper was to fout and scold
the servile commons, by command of her highness,
whenever they presumed to pry too curiousy or
inquisitvely into the deep mysteries of State. In
the days of the STUARTs the Office of Lord Keeper
in many respects resembled that of Chancellor.
The judicial and political functions were sometimes
united, sometimes severed, according as the conve-
nience of party needed. But the Office was at this
time, Of far less power for evil than during the
preceding dynasty. After the Revolution, we hear
no more of high judicial pretensons. The name
and dignity of Chancellor took the place Of those
of Keepers. The Times advocates such an ex-
tension of judicial power in the hands of the Lord
Keeper as would 60 far to annhlate the parlia-
mentary functions of the Attorney and Solicitor
General in the House of Commons, and trench
upon the popular rights.
The Morning Chronicle and the Manchester
Guardian have not yet settled the question as to
applicability of cotton machinery to the spinning
of flax into yarn; but the truth appears to lie
between the Flax has been spun by cotton machinery
but it has only been when ired with equal quantity Of
cotton The cultivation of the best kinds Of American cotton
has very much increased in India during the last year. 1t
appears that only sixty pounds of clean native cotton per
be raised upon land which will produce lis lbs. of Ame
can cotton very large increase Of good cotton expect
ed from India during the present year.
The formation in New York of Free-Trade Association
has excited great attention in England, and the liverpool
Mercury with great gee, the authority Of the
s York Tribune, secret organization of the
of New York fee-trade President at the next
election, in the person of the Hon. Robert J. WALKER.
We told of subscription in aid Of this project, already
exceeding $500 OOO and which is be raised by the free
traders both sides Of the Atlantic Million News
papers to be bought up; writer's and orators 10 be well
paid and influence of every kind brought to bear upon the
election, that scout and OUT feeader may te placed
in the Presidential chair Our freetraders who look upon
their universal panacea for all political and
cal evils in all parts Of the world, delighted with the
scheme We do not know what they would say to a sub
scrpon being entered into in the United States place Lord
STANLEY the place d Lord JOIN RUSSELL but this would
be only the retort courteous.
The Christmas railway traffic has this year been immense.
The number Of packages and parcels sent from London the
four days preceding Christmas by the Northwestern the
Great Northern, the Great Western, and the Eastern
ties Railways, than fifty thousand those from the
country London, upwards of thirty thousand So great
the exchange Of Christmas cheer between and country
The Bank rate Of interest had been previously to its late
increase, two and half per cent for about thirteen months
previously TO which had been three per cent for about
year. The late increase occasoned by the transmission
Of gold to Pars consequent the question being raised Of
the proprety of aboshng that metal legal tender in
France The French merchants and others having payments
to receive in England have called in the amount while il is
in their power to get it coined and the English houses with
payments to make in France have been equally anxious to
ship gold to avert the possibility of being required to pay in
silver at premium, which would be the if the takedo
alteration should be decided upon. This has been the chief
Of the movement which has been going and there
fore very easy to decide its limit thought that the
decision Of the French Assembly will be against any aera
ton should prove So the whole will have been
unnecessary one, and the gold will back again.
But, although the dminution Of bullion Of entirely
ransory and limited character such called for precau
onay measures yet the step taken by the bank is by no
means to be regarded unnecessary An unsound state OF
speculation rapidly developing ITSELF both in the Stock
Exchange and the Shares Market but particularly in