was then declared to be invalid on two grounds: first, that it was not piracy for Brazilians to carry on the slave-trade until they made it to be so by Brazilian municipal law; and second, because the Felicidade was wrongfully taken, not having any slaves on board; and therefore, that she did not become a British ship when she was captured by the Wasp. The prisoners were therefore liberated, and despatched to Brazil at the expense of the British Government.]

28.-Lord Campbell moves the rescinding of a Standing Order prohibiting any person from publishing the lives of deceased Lords of Farliament without the consent of heirs and executors. It had not been applied, he said, since the time of Curll, who appeared on his knees at the bar for announcing the publication of a libellous life of the Duke of Buckingham. Lord Brougham had published lives of several peers, and he himself (Lord Campbell) had employed his leisure, he hoped without incurring the censure of the House, in writing the lives of the predecessors of his noble and learned friend at that moment on the woolsack. Lord Chancellor (Lyndhurst) hoped he did not come down to the present time. Lord Campbell: No, I hope it will be long before that is required." Order rescinded.

The

Several Irish magistrates dismissed about this time, on the ground of their mischievous activity in organizing Orange Lodges.

August 2. Explosion of fire-damp in Crombach Mine, near Merthyr Tydvil. There were 150 men and boys at work in the colliery at the time, 122 of whom were got out alive. The rest, 28 in number, were suffocated. The mine was generally reputed to be badly ventilated, but this did not prevent the men using naked lights in preference to the protected "Davy.' At the inquest on the bodies the jury expressed an opinion that sufficient precautions had not been taken for ventilating the workings.

Such is the desperate eagerness for gambling in shares in Leeds, that the police have to be employed to keep the streets clear leading to the Stock Exchange. The chairman, at a meeting of stockbrokers called for the purpose, referred to the alarming spirit of reckless speculation going on, and warned them of the disastrous consequences. It was said to be not an uncommon thing for 100,000 railway shares to be sold in one day in Leeds.

4.-Wreck of the emigrant ship Cataraqui, and loss of 423 of her passengers and crew. During a heavy gale she struck on a reef on the west coast of King's Island, Bass's Straits, and being ground to pieces almost instantly by the fury of the waves, there were only nine out of all her company who could manage to keep on pieces of the wreck till the following morning, when they contrived with difficulty to reach the shore.

4.-Royal Assent given to the bill for the amendment and better administration of the laws for the relief of the poor in Scotland.

5.-Sir H. Jenner Fust gives judgment in the Arches Court in the case of the Rev. James Shore, a clergyman originally licensed to preach by the Bishop of Exeter in his diocese, but who had latterly officiated in various Dissenting chapels. His plea was that, having taken the oaths required by the Toleration Act, he was no longer within the jurisdiction of the Bishop. The judge now pronounced this plea inadmissible, as a person cannot throw off holy orders at pleasure. (See March 8, 1849.)

7.-In answer to Lord Campbell, the Lord Chancellor said that the law officers of the Crown did not think it was necessary or expedient to appoint Lords Justices to exercise the Royal authority during the absence of the Sovereign from this country.

8.-Royal Assent given to a bill for punishing Brazilian slave-traders or pirates.

9.-Parliament prorogued by the Queen in person. The Royal Speech alluded to the chief measures passed during the session, and thanked the Commons for the liberal supplies voted. At the close of the ceremony, the crown, carried by the Duke of Argyll, fell from the cushion, but was not much injured. In the afternoon her Majesty left Buckingham Palace for Woolwich, where she embarked with Prince Albert on board the royal yacht for Antwerp en route to Germany.

11.-Early indications of the potato disease. R. Parker, potato dealer, writes to Sir James Graham : 66 On Tuesday last I went down by the Dover 8 o'clock train. On my arrival there I immediately drove all round the neigh bourhood, and found the whole of the crops, early and late, not excepting the cottagers gardens, were being entirely destroyed. Or my return I could trace it by the side of the whole line at Tonbridge; I have since looked over the tops that come as covering on tha article to the different markets, and find the are all affected. ... Being apprehensive i might be general, I thought it my duty to in form you, as it is probable you might desire t make further inquiry." This was amongs the first communications made to Governmen regarding the appearance of the potato diseas in the country.

12.-Inauguration of the statue erected to Beethoven on the Munster Platz, Bonn, hi native place.

13.-Riot at Dunfermline, and attempt b the mob to set fire to the house of Mr. Alex ander, a manufacturer who was alleged to hav made himself obnoxious by reducing wages.

14. Mr. G. Hudson returned for Sunder land by a majority of 128 votes over his op ponent, Colonel Thompson. The contest ex cited unusual interest, and both Mr. Coble and Mr. Bright gave active service in aid

their brother of the League. The express mployed by the Times to carry the news, accomplished the distance, 305 miles, in eight hours, although a part of the journey had to be performed by post-horses. Copies of the Times, with the result of the poll, were delivered over the North of England next forenoon.

15.-Came on at Croydon Assizes, before Lord Chief Justice Tindal, the case of Cooke Wetherall, a prosecution raised against the reverend defendant for criminal conversation with Mrs. Cooke, his own daughter. He was fifty-five years of age, and had discharged the Ladies of Rector of Byfield, Northamptonshire. la support of the charge Mr. Serjeant Shee detailed the early quarrels of Mr. and Mrs. Cocke, her return to her father's house, and the general deception which was practised towards his client. The criminal intimacy was chiefly spoken to by the domestic servants. Verdict for the plaintiff, damages 3,000l.

The last-received portion of the Sycee silver sent by the Chinese exposed to public competition; 400,000 ounces were sold for 60d. per ounce, and the remainder for 60d. These prices were considered high, being exclusive (according to the terms of the contract) of all the gold above five grains in the pound troy which might be found in the silver, and which was to be paid for separately at another fixed rate.

18. Fire in a Manchester warehouse, Aldermanbury, City, destroying stock and premises estimated at 250,000!. Although no fe was lost on the occasion, the coroner exerCised his ancient prerogative of summoning a y to inquire into the cause of the fire. They turned a verdict to the effect that its origin Was accidental.

19.-Whirlwind at Rouen, destroying in a seconds three factories, and burying most f the workmen in the ruins. Upwards of people were reported killed or wounded, the whole valley of Daville, through which the whirlwind took its course, presented scene of desolation.

- Centennial commemoration of the gatherof the clans at Glenfinnon in 1745. Arments on a suitable scale, and in a very spirit, were made by Macdonald of alladale at the inn of Glenfinnon, for the modation of those whom the celebration draw to the spot. The memory of those in the perilous '45 was proposed as a by Macdonald of Marr, who presided on occasion. The visitors, with the neighting peasantry, who mustered strongly on ccasion, afterwards walked to the head of shiel, and marched round the monument ter there to Prince Charles. The day's ceedings were brought to a close by an extion of national games.

21.-Explosion of fire-damp in Jarrow Colliery, near South Shields, being the sixth Rapity of the same kind in this pit during the

last twenty-eight years. On seeing the dreaded cloud of smoke ascend from the shaft, a viewer and over-man went down to render assistance. In the first workings a few of the men were found alive, and sent up to the top, but as the whole of the ventilating apparatus had been destroyed by the explosion, two days elapsed before the pit could be completely searched. In the lower seam one man was found alive, but much exhausted, and ten corpses lying around him. During the 23d and following day, fifteen bodies were brought up. Thirty-nine in all perished, including the over-man Defty, who in his anxiety to render assistance penetrated too far into the workings, and was suffocated by the choke-damp.

26.-The anniversary of the birth of Prince Albert celebrated by the royal visitors at Coburg in a style of simplicity charmingly characteristic of German manners. The chief event of the day was the rustic festival at the Palace of Rosenau, where the illustrious visitors engaged in the holiday rejoicings of the homely villagers, who came swarming in from the surrounding district. The royal party left Rosenau on the 3d September, and returned homeward by way of Antwerp, where they were again received by the King of the Belgians; and Eu, where they were received by the King and Queen of the French.

30.-A correspondent of the Dublin Evening Post, who had traversed the greater part of the counties of Dublin, Meath, Cavan, and Fermanagh, reports the prospects of the harvest "The potato to be in general most favourable. crop, however, is far from satisfactory. appear everywhere in great abundance, but in several districts a rot has set in, and two-thirds of the tubers are found to be rotten within, though large and well-looking without."

These

31.-A combined English and French fleet blockade Buenos Ayres, with the view of protecting settlers belonging to the two countries from the oppressions of Rosas.

September 6.-The Gardener's Chronicle records :-"All that we see, or hear, or read of the potato crop, convinces us that the extent of the injury which has befallen it is in no degree exaggerated, but the contrary, and there is no present help for it. We see no prospect of stopping the murrain by human agency, and we believe that the best thing to do under the circumstances is to let the crops alone, unless means can be found of consuming them immediately, and in that case they should be taken up and dried."

Captain Sturt compelled by drought to return on his voyage of discovery across the continent of South Australia.

9.-Fight for the championship and 2001. between Caunt and Bendigo of Nottingham. It was decided in favour of Bendigo, after a contest which lasted two hours and thirty-eight minutes, during which time ninety-three rounds

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were fought. The fight commenced at Newport-Pagnell; then they were compelled to move to Stoney Stratford, back to Wheddon Green, and ultimately to Lutfield Green. The spectators had thus to follow the pugilists between thirty and forty miles.

9.-Died in consequence of injuries received through a fall from her horse, which she was exercising in a stubble-field at Hanworth, Mrs. Theobald, well known in the sporting world and to those who followed the Queen's hounds.

10. The inquiry into the state of the Andover Union Workhouse, which had been going on for a fortnight, was concluded this day, by the Poor-law Commissioners directing that an indictment be preferred against the master and mistress. It was shown in evidence that the miserable inmates, through want of food, were in the habit of gnawing at the decayed bones which they were sent to break for manure.

Addressing the electors of Southwark to-day, Sir W. Molesworth makes an elaborate defence against charges raised by one of his opponents, Mr. Miall, concerning the nature and tendency of the writings of Hobbes. At the polling next day, Sir William was elected to the vacant seat by a large majority.

Died at Boston, U.S., aged 66, Joseph Story, LL.D., a distinguished American judge.

13.-Fire at Martinhampstead, near Exeter, destroying about fifty small dwelling-houses.

15.-A violent eruption of Mount Hecla, opening two new craters.

16.--Destroyed by fire, the premises at Blackfriars occupied by Sir Charles Price and Co., oil and colour merchants. About three o'clock an alarming explosion occurred in the building, through one of the turpentine vats becoming ignited. To escape from this new disaster most of the firemen leapt into the Thames, and were rescued by small boats. The blazing liquid rushed into the river, setting fire to barges and other small craft moored in the vicinity. At one time there were blazing fifty puncheons of turpentine and eight tons of cod oil.

The Arabs under Abd-el-Kader cut up a squadron of French cavalry, entrapped into a dangerous locality in pursuit of the chieftain.

Died of gastric fever, at the early age of thirty, Thomas Davis, editor of the Nation, one of the most active and accomplished of the Repeal party in Ireland.

17.-Explosion at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, caused by the ignition of the inflammable matter extracted from old fusees. Seven of the workmen employed in the operation were killed, and the building blown to pieces.

The Roman Catholic prelates issue a manifesto against the new Colleges as dangerous to the faith and morals of the people.

Considerable attention was drawn to the Irish land question this month, by letters from the Times commissioner (T. C. Foster), who visited and minutely inspected various large estates the south and west of the island belonging to resident as well as non-resident proprietors. His account of the miserable condition of the cottars, and their indolent, unthrifty habits gave great offence to members of the Repea party. In answer to one speech, John O'Connell, (in a letter signed "John Foster, Halesworth,") was stated to be a "liar and blackguard." Mr. O'Connell's own estate at Darrynane and Ca hirciveen was described, to the great indigna tion of the agitator and his family, as one the worst visited, and his peasantry as among the most wretched in the island.

of

October 2.-Died at Wiseton Hall, Not tinghamshire, aged 64, Earl Spencer, formerly Viscount Althorp, and Chancellor of the Ex chequer from 1830 to 1834.

3.-The League activity in the registration was directed with such consummate ability, tha at the close to-day of the revision for the Wes Riding they were found to have added 2,14 adherents in that single division.

8.-Rev. J. H. Newman writes to a friend "I am this night expecting Father Domini the Passionist, who from his youth has bee led to have distinct and direct thoughts, first the countries of the North, then of England After thirty years' waiting, he was, without h own act, sent here. But he has had little t do with conversions. I saw him here for a fe minutes on St. John Baptist's Day last yea He does not know of my intention; but I mea to ask of him admission into the one Fold Christ. . . . P.S. This will not go till all over. Of course it requires no answer."

12.-Died, aged 65, Mrs. Elizabeth Fry, philanthropic Quakeress, who devoted much her time to ameliorating the condition of pr soners confined in English gaols.

13. Sir R. Peel to Sir J. Graham :-"T accounts of the state of the potato crop in In land are becoming very alarming. . . . Ì fores the necessity that may be impressed upon us an early period of considering whether there not that well-grounded apprehension of actu

scarcity that justifies and compels the adoption of every means of relief which the exercise of the prerogative or legislation might afford. I have no confidence in such remedies as the prohibition of exports or the stoppage of distilleries. The removal of impediments to import is the only effectual remedy."

16.-Mr. Basevi, architect, killed by a fall from the belfry of Ely Cathedral, which he was engaged in restoring.

- Rise in the rate of discount. To-day the directors of the Bank of England advanced the rate from 2 to 3 per cent., and on the 6th Nov. to 3 per cent.

20.-During a fog on the Midland Railway, near Masborough, a special engine runs into the mail train, which had broken down, and injures many of the passengers. Two died after surgical operations had been performed.

25.-During the past week there were announced in three newspapers eighty-nine new schemes, with a capital of 84,055,000l.; during the month there were 357 new schemes announced, with an aggregate capital of 332,000,000!.

Meeting at Kilkenny, presided over by the High Sheriff, to take into consideration what remedial measures could be adopted with reference to the present alarming state of the potato crop. On the same day the report from Galway is: "The distemper is spreading with frightful rapidity. Several fields which last week were tried and found safe are now more or less affected." From Drogheda it is also reported that the plague is extending its ravages; and, "what is yet more alarming, we learn from various places that potatoes which had been pitted from three to fourteen days apparently sound are now diseased." Yesterday the Government Commissioners presented their first report to the Lord-Lieutenant on the best means to be used for checking the spread of the disease.

26.-Dr. Lyon Playfair writes from Dublin to Sir R. Peel :-"I send you a draft-copy of a report which I intend to offer to my colleagues to-morrow morning for their signature; and, with verbal alterations, I am sure it will be adopted. You will see the account is melancholy, and it cannot be looked upon in ther than a most serious light. We are confident that the accounts are underrated rather than exaggerated.

- Died at House of Gask, Perthshire, aged 79, Caroline Baroness Nairn, authoress of many popular Scottish songs.

28. The British Museum receive in gift the rich library formed by the Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville.

30.-The New Hall at Lincoln's Inn opened by the Queen. At the grand banquet covers were laid for 500 guests. All the barristers were attired in their wigs and gowns. Prince

Albert was admitted a Bencher on the occa sion, and appeared in legal costume. In reply to a Royal Address, the Queen expressed a hope that learning might flourish and virtue and talent rise to eminence in the New Hall.

31.-Capt. Waghorn reaches London with the express portion of the Indian mail, having made the journey from Trieste in fifteen minutes less than one hundred hours. His route was the German one, by way of Niederndorf, Innspruck, Kempten, Meningen, Stuttgard, Cologne, Ostend, and Dover.

A Cabinet Council, held at the private residence of Sir Robert Peel, sits two hours and a half deliberating on the alarming prospects of the country through the failure of the potato crop.

--

Resolution of a meeting in Dublin, presided over by the Duke of Leinster :-"That the Committee do respectfully represent to his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant that it has now been ascertained beyond a doubt that. famine, and consequent pestilence, are imme. diately imminent, unless the Government shall, without hesitation or delay, take the mos prompt measures to provide for the people, and to organize means for the distribution of such food in each locality throughout the land. That we respectfully call upon his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant forthwith to order the ports of Ireland to be opened for the importation of Indian corn, rice, and other articles suited for human food.

During this and the early part of the fol lowing month the Anti-Corn-Law Leaguer. were unusually active in pressing their question on the public mind, the speakers turning with much adroitness and force in their favour the present condition and future prospects of Ireland.

November 1.-Cabinet memorandum :— "The calling of Parliament," writes the Prime Minister, "at an unusual period, on any matter connected with a scarcity of food, is a most important step. It compels an immediate decision on three questions: Shall we maintain unaltered?-shall we modify?-shall we suspend the operation of the Corn Laws? The first vote we propose-a vote of credit, for instance, for 100,000l., to be placed at the disposal of the Lord-Lieutenant for the supply of food-opens the whole question. Can we vote public money for the sustenance of any considerable portion of the people on account of actual or apprehended scarcity, and maintain in full operation the existing restrictions on the free import of grain? I am bound to say my impression is that we cannot."

2.-Lord Stanley to Sir Robert Peel: "I find it difficult to express to you the regret with which I see how widely I differ in opinion with Graham and yourself as to the necessity for proposing to Parliament a repeal of the Corn Laws. Since the Cabinet on Saturday, I have reflected much and anxiously upon it; but I cannot bring my mind to any other conclusion than that at which I had then arrived. ... I foresee that this question, if you persevere in your present opinion, must break up the Government one way or the other; but I shall greatly regret, indeed, if it should be broken up, not in consequence of our feeling that we have prepared measures which it properly belonged to others to carry, but in consequence of difference of opinion among ourselves."

Statue of William IV. set up in King William-street, facing London Bridge.

3.-Lord John Russell presented with the freedom of the city of Edinburgh.

5.-Elopement from Brighton of Lady Adela Villiers, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Jersey, with Capt. Ibbetson, of the 11th Hussars. They managed to elude pursuit till Gretna Green was reached, where an irregular marriage ceremony took place. They were afterwards married at St. Pancras Church.

At a meeting of the Council of the Royal Institution, Mr. Faraday announces a discovery tending to show that light, heat, and electricity are merely modifications of one great universal principle. The discovery was, that a beam of polarized light is deflected by the electric current, so that it may be made to rotate between the poles of a magnet. Thus the problem which had long disturbed science as to the power of magnetizing iron by the sun's rays received satisfactory elucidation from the experiment of Mr. Faraday.

6.-Elizabeth Mundell, an old woman living in Westminster, murdered by Martha Browning to secure possession of two notes, which turned out to be of the Bank of Elegance. The coroner's jury in the first instance returned a verdict that the deceased had strangled herself while in a fit of temporary insanity; but suspicion afterwards attaching to the young woman living with her, she was apprehended and convicted, making a full confession of the crime before her execution.

Cabinet memorandum: "To issue forthwith an Order in Council remitting the duty on grain in bond to Is. and opening the ports for The admission of all species of grain at a smaller rate of duty until a day named in the order." "The Cabinet," writes Sir Robert Peel, "by a very considerable majority, declined giving its assent to the proposals which I thus made to them. They were supported by only three members of the Cabinet-the Earl of Aber. deen, Sir James Graham, and Mr. Sidney Herbert. The other members of the Cabinet,

some on the ground of objection to the principle of the measures recommended, others upon the ground that there was not yet sufficient evi dence of the necessity for them, withheld their sanction."

6.-Died at Christchurch, Hants, aged 66, Lord Stuart de Rothesay, formerly British Am. bassador at St. Petersburg.

7.-The Orangemen of Armagh reorganize their society under the name of the Protestant Alliance.

10. Sir Robert Peel writes to Lord Cloncurry, chairman of the Dublin Relief Committee, with reference to his lordship's proposal for opening the Irish ports for the importation of food free of duty, and closing them against exportation: "Although considerations of public policy and public duty prevent me from entering into a discussion of the particular measures recommended for immediate adoption; yet I beg to assure your lordship that the whole subject is occupying the unremitting at tention of her Majesty's confidential advisers."

12. The first sod of the Trent Valley Rail way raised by Sir Robert Peel on a piece of ground near Tamworth.

17.-The Times publishes a table of all the railway companies registered up to the 31st of October, nunibering 1,428, and involving an outlay of 701,243, 2081. "Take away," it was remarked, " 140,000,000/. for railways completed or in progress, exclude all the most extravagant schemes, and divide the remainder by ten, can we add from our present resources even a tenth of the vast remainder? Can we add 50,000,000!. to the railway speculations we are already irretrievably embarked in? We cannot, without the most ruinous, universal, and desperate con fusion.

Inquiry at the Thames Police Court regarding the sickening and unheard-of cruelties perpetrated by Capt. George Johnstone upon the crew of the ship Tory. The first charge investigated was that of the mur der of Mars, the second mate. The captain had obtained some wine and brandy from a French ship, and commenced afterwards a course of excessive intoxication, which led the crew to talk of securing him as a madman. "This," says a witness (Yelverton), "coming to the captain's ears, he had Mars put in irons, and went down every half-hour to cut an inch of him. I saw one piece cut off about the size of my hand; it was cut off his head, and all the hair was upon it. Afterwards the captain took Mars to the inner cabin, which was his bedroom, taking with him a strand and a hawser. I don't know what was done there, but wo heard Mars sing out as if he was choking. H brought him out again, and set him agains the cabin-door, whilst he himself sat on the locker-head. Capt. Johnstone then commence pitching the cutlass at him, sometimes sticking it in his head and sometimes in his breast. The second charge was for the murder