of their estates, or with such provision for their future maintenance as may be considered a just equivalent." On a division 68 voted for the motion, and 202 against it.

11.-At Bolton the keeper of a menagerie, on entering one of the dens, is set upon by a leopard and worried to death.

12.-Verdict given in O'Connell's case, being the twenty-fifth day of trial. Sentence deferred.

- Thanks of both Houses voted to the army of Scinde.

15.-The water breaks into the Landshipping Colliery, Haverfordwest, which was wrought beneath the river, and completely destroys the works. Fifty-eight men and boys were in the pit at the time, only eighteen of whom escaped.

17.-Establishment of a "" Society for the Protection of Agriculture," designed to counteract the efforts of the Anti-Corn-Law League. Duke of Richmond chairman.

23.-Lord John Russell's motion for a Committee of the whole House, to inquire into the condition of Ireland, negatived by a majority of 324 to 225. The debate lasted nine nights, the question being treated as one involving the entire policy of the Government towards that part of the kingdom. Such of the traversers and their counsel as were members of the House left Ireland for the purpose of engaging in the debate. Mr. O'Connell spoke on the last night, and was answered by Sir Robert Peel, the last speaker on the ministerial side.

26.-Proceedings in the Court of Queen's Bench regarding the great frauds on the Custom-house. The charge in the case was conspiracy to defraud the Crown of certain duties upon goods imported, by the fabrication of false entries and the insertion of the leaves on which these false entries were made into the Blue-books in which the "light entries" were made by the landing waiters, and on which the duties were charged. By the connivance and aid of Homersham and Burnby, two of these officers (the former since dead, and the latter the principal witness against the defendants), Messrs. Mottram and Williams, silk merchants, Wood-street, and their clerk, Horsley (indicted with them), had carried on a course of fraud on the revenue for a considerable time and to a large amount. The present case was of necessity limited to one charge, but Burnby estimated the gross amount of the fraud at from 400,000l. to 500,000l. annually between the years 1837 and 1842, the time over which the transactions spread. Horsley had absconded, but the other defendant, Mottram, was now convicted. Sentence deferred.

27.-Tried in the Court of Common Pleas, an action for Crim. Con. brought by Lord William Paget against the Earl of Cardigan. The principal witness for the prosecution was a person named Winter, who swore that he had been directed by Lord William Paget

to lie under a sofa in the back drawingroom in a position in which he was capable of seeing what passed in the front drawing-room, for the purpose of observing and hearing what passed between Lord Cardigan and Lady Paget; that in this situation he had partly seen and heard matters which, if true, could leave no doubt that criminal intercourse had taken place between the parties. The cross-examination of this witness tended very much to damage his evidence, and also reflected on the conduct of the plaintiff. Immediately on the conclusion of Sir W. Follett's speech for the defendant, the foreman of the jury announced that they would spare the Lord Chief Justice the trouble of summing up. Their verdict was "For the

defendant.

Sir

March 1.-Mr. T. Duncombe moves for a return of all moneys paid to Hughes, Ross, and Jackson, reporters for Mr. Gurney at the Repeal demonstrations, on account of any communications made by them to the Government. James Graham said he was not prepared to assent to any resolution, the effect of which would be to hold these people up to public execration and possibly to expose them to popular fury. "I think it my painful duty to risk the incurring of such obloquy. It is my proud satisfaction that upon the whole I have succeeded in administering the law, asking for no extraordinary powers; and in putting down dangerous turbulence in England, and in bringing to condign punishment great public offenders in Ireland, I have faithfully and honourably, I trust, pursued the path of duty, and am not to be deterred by any attacks of the hon. member." The motion was lost by a majority of 144 to 73.

3.-D'Aubigny, commander of the French establishment in Tahiti, writes: "A French sentinel was attacked last night. In reprisal I have caused to be seized one Pritchard, the only daily mover and instigator of the disturbances of the natives. His property shall be answerable for all damage occasioned to our establishments by the insurgents; and if French blood is spilt, every drop shall recoil on his head."

4. Came on for trial in the Central Criminal Court the charge of libel raised at the instance of Lord William Paget against Thomas Holt, proprietor of the Age newspaper, in so far as he had alleged that the case heard in the Court of Common Pleas was a conspiracy on the part of Lord William and others to extort money from Lord Cardigan. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty; but in respect that the defendant was at present undergoing a sentence passed upon him in the Court of Queen's Bench in the case of the Duke of Brunswick, the Recorder deferred passing another sentence upon him in the meantime. On the 9th the defendant was brought up for judgment, and sentenced to four months' imprisonment in Newgate, to commence at the expiry of his present term in the Queen's Prison.

5. At the annual meeting of the proprietors of the Thames Tunnel it is stated that 2,038,477 people had passed through it from 25th March last. This had produced 8,478/. 25. 8d., besides 460/. paid by stall-keepers.

6. At the Northampton assizes a Frenchwoman named Nathalie Miard was indicted for endeavouring to extort 400/. from the Rev. C. Marsh, rector of Barnock, and son of the late Bishop of Peterborough. It appeared that when in London the prosecutor was in the habit of frequenting a house of ill fame kept by Madame Lodon. Here he became ac quainted with the prisoner, and with her proceeded to Paris, where they lived together for some time. The result of their intercourse was the birth of a child; and for the purpose of keeping down all knowledge of the circumstances in his parish, the prosecutor had from time to time paid Miard considerable sums, till her demands became so extravagant that he said he could not supply them. The jury returned a verdict of Not guilty, which was received with applause by a crowded court.

8.-The Chancellor of the Exchequer introduces his plan for the reduction of the Three-and-a-half per cents. His intention was to propose the conversion of the Three-and-ahalf into Three-and-a-quarter per cent. stock, which should continue till October 1854, after which period the interest should be reduced to three per cent. with a guarantee that for twenty years from 1854 there should be no further reduction. From 1844 to 1854 the public would save 625,000/. per annum, and for the year following, 1,250,000l. per annum,

The Lord Chancellor introduces the Dissenters' Chapels Bill, for confirming the possession of religious endowments in the hands of Dissenters, and arresting such litigations as had recently taken place in the case of the Lady Hewley's charities,-originally given by her ladyship to Calvinistic Independents, but which had gradually passed to Unitarians, whose occupancy was successfully contested. The Lord Chancellor's Bill proposed to terminate all further legal controversy respecting the right to voluntary endowments connected with Dissenting chapels, by vesting the property in the religious body in whose hands it had been for the preceding twenty years. The measure gave rise to considerable excitement out of doors among Church people, but was ultimately carried through both Houses with slight amendments.

11.-Captain Bernall draws the attention of the House of Commons to the refusal of the War-office to allow a pension to Mrs. Fawcett, the widow of the officer who fell in the late duel. Sir H. Hardinge defended the refusal, not upon general grounds, but upon the special circumstances of the case, particularly the near relationship of the parties,

the slightness of the affront, and the preci pitancy of the hostile meeting.

12.-Banquet to O'Connell in Covent-garden Theatre, "to show, on the part of Englishmen, the admiration entertained towards him for forty years' constant and consistent advocacy of the rights and privileges of Irishmen." He referred to the union with Ireland, and detailed at great length the grievances under which she laboured, maintaining that a remedy could only be found in equal franchise, equal representation, equal corporate reform, and equal freedom of conscience from a Church to which they did not belong.

20. At the Norfolk assizes Lord Abinger sentences a young lad named White to transportation for life, for sending a letter to a farmer in the parish of Blaintisham, in December last, threatening to set fire to his premises unless he gave more work.

25.-Fancy Fair in the Thames Tunnel.

29.-Waverley Ball in Edinburgh in aid of the funds of the Scott monument. One who was present writes, "The White Lady of Avenel was there; so was Anne of Geierstein, Amy Robsart, Julian Peveril, Isaac the Jew, Young Hazlewood, Sultan Saladin, monks and friars, Highlanders, Turks and Saracens, whiskered, bronzed, and turbaned. Dominie Sampson intermitted his studies, and stepping in by mistake, no doubt, found himself in presence of Vanity Fair. The veritable Baillie Jarvie of the Saltmarket popped in, lighted by Matty, with lantern in hand and coats kilted." This was the most successful fancy dress ball given in Edinburgh.

April 1.-The American dwarf, known as General Tom Thumb, appears before the Court at Buckingham Palace.

3.-John Bryce executed at Edinburgh for the murder of John Geddes, his brother-in-law, at Blaw Wearie, West Calder, on the 27th December last. Bryce made a full confession before death, and described the precise manner in which the murder was perpetrated.

4. Fire at the Rose and Crown wine vaults, Oxford-street; six people burned.

7.-Lord Abinger, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, dies during the sitting of the assizes at Bury St. Edmunds.

10. Came on for trial at the Central Criminal Court the great conspiracy and willforgery case, in which William Henry Barber, solicitor, Joshua Fletcher, surgeon, and three others, were charged with attempting to defraud the Commissioners of the National Debt, by forging wills and personating individuals, in whose names stock was invested in the Funds. At the termination of the second case, charging them with uttering and publishing a testamentary writing purporting to be the will of Ann

Slack, and thereby obtaining possession of 3.500. in the Three-and-a-half per cents., the jury returned a verdict of Guilty. Barber,

who seemed greatly astonished, then declared his innocence, and said Fletcher knew quite well he was innocent. These two were sentenced to transportation for life.

15.--Dr. Wolffe writes from Merve, 230 miles from Bokhara, that the prospects of finding Stoddart and Conolly alive are getting dimmer and dimmer as he gets nearer the capital of the Khan.

16. Mr. Hume moves a resolution for giving effect to the recommendation of the Committee of 1841 upon National Monuments, that the public should be admitted more freely into Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, and other cathedrals throughout the country. Experience, he said, had now proved what had long been denied, that Englishmen may be admitted to places containing works of art without hazard to these works from mishehaviour. Sir Robert Peel admitted the justice of the plea, but at present the control of these buildings belonged entirely to the ecclesiastical bodies, and while that right continued theirs by law the House ought not to interfere by resolution. The motion was ultimately withdrawn, Mr. Hume expressing a wish that the sentiment now expressed would have its effect in the proper quarter.

19.- Interview of Dr. Wolffe with Nayeb Samut, the chief of artillery to the King of Bokhara. By the king's command he was then informed of the fate of Conolly and Stoddart. The Nayeb said, "During the stay of Conolly and Stoddart they took every opportunity of despatching, in the most stealthy manner, letters to Cabul; and on this account his Majesty became displeased [in June, 1842]. Both were brought, with their hands tied, behind the palace. They kissed each other, and Stoddart said, 'Tell the Queen I die a disbeliever in Mahommed, but a believer in Jesus-that I am a Christian and die a Christian.' Conolly said, We shall see each other in Paradise.' Then Saadat gave the order to cut off first the head of Stoddart, which was done; in the same manner the head of Conolly was cut off." -Wolffe's Narrative.

22. Scene in the House of Commons with Mr. Ferrand, M. P. Mr. Roebuck taunts him with having stated that Sir James Graham had used his power as a minister of the Crown to procure a false return relative to the Keighley Union rates, for the purpose of crushing him. Mr. Hume also draws attention to another statement publicly made by Mr. Ferrand, to the effect that Sir James Graham had made use of his official influence to make Mr. Hogg, the member for Beverley, commit perjury as chairman of an election committee, by delivering an opinion contrary to his own feelings. Mr. Ferrand denied using the last expression, but re-affirmed the truth of the first. Sir James

Graham: "I think it impossible, considering the nature of the assertion and the position which I hold by the favour of her Majesty, that the matter can rest here; and I trust therefore that he is prepared to take the proper course for substantiating so grave a charge.' Mr. Ferrand appeared in his place next night, and repeated that what he had affirmed about the false return was quite true. He was proceeding to state that if he had in any way wounded the personal honour of any member--when he was interrupted by a loud burst of laughter and ironical cheering, in the midst of which he took up his hat and hurried out of the House, Sir James Graham indicating by gestures his amazement at the proceeding. Sir Robert Peel said he would venture to say that since the time when a public performer undertook to compress himself into the limits of a quart bottle there had been no case which had given rise to more disappointment to the audience than this. On the 24th it was agreed that Mr. Ferrand should have another opportunity of acknowledging or denying the accuracy of his repeated charges, and if he admitted their accuracy he was to be allowed to take proof before a select committee. the 26th Mr. Ferrand made another attempt at explanation, but the House almost unanimously adopted the resolution of Sir Robert Peel, that the charges against Sir James Graham and Mr. Hogg were unfounded and calumnious.

On

May 1.-The London police make a simultaneous attack on the West-end gaming-houses, and seize a quantity of gaming implements, about 3,000l. in cash, besides I.O. U.'s, and capture seventy-three people, who are fined in sums varying from 17. to 60%.

6. Sir Robert Peel introduces his new Bank charter and Banking regulations. In the course of one of his addresses he said, "I propose with respect to the Bank of England that there

should be an actual separation of the two departments of issue and banking, that there should be different officers to each, and a different system of accounts. I likewise pro

pose, that to the issue-department should be transferred the whole amount of bullion now in the possession of the Bank, and that the issue of bank-notes should hereafter take place on two foundations, and two foundations only -first, on a definite amount of securities, and after that, exclusively upon bullion; so that the action of the public would, in this latter respect, govern the amount of the circulation. There will be no power in the Bank to issue notes on deposits and discount of bills, and the issue-department will have to place to the credit of the banking-department the amount of notes which the issue-department by law will be entitled to issue. With respect to the banking business of the Bank I propose that it should be governed on precisely the same principles as would regulate any other body dealing with Bank of England notes. The fixed amount of securities on which I propose that the Bank of England should issue notes is 14,000,000l. and the whole of the remainder of the circulation is to be issued exclusively on the foundation of bullion. I propose that there should be a complete and periodical publication of the accounts of the Bank of England, both of the banking and issue departments, as tending to increase the credit of the Bank, and to prevent panic and needless alarm. I would therefore enact by law, that there should be returned to the Government a weekly account of the issue of notes by the Bank of England-of the amount of bullion-of the fluctuation of the bullion-of the amount of deposits-in short, an account of every transaction both in the issue-department and the banking-department of the Bank of England; and that the Government should forthwith publish unreservedly and weekly a full account of the circulation of the Bank."

Augustus Dalmas, a French chemist, murders Mrs. Sarah M'Farlane on Batterseabridge, about II o'clock at night, by cutting her throat. He afterwards delivered himself up to justice, and was convicted at the Central Criminal Court; but being considered of unsound mind the extreme sentence of the law was departed from, and he was ordered to be confined for life as a criminal lunatic.

7.-Theatre Royal, Manchester, destroyed by fire. The dressing-rooms only were saved, and a part of their furniture.

15. Sir Henry Hardinge sworn in as Governor-General of India. On the same evening the East India Company gave their customary dinner to Sir Henry on his appointment.

18. Fire at Naworth Castle, one of the seats of the Earl of Carlisle. The building itself, and a large collection of ancient furniture and pictures, were entirely destroyed, with the exception of the tower of "Belted

Will," where there was a series of apartments kept furnished as they had been left by that border chief.

22.-It is announced in the Free Assembly that 70,000l. had been collected for the Sustentation Fund, 50,000l. for schools, 32,000/. for missions; and that 230,000l. had been expended, or was expending, in the building of churches.

23. The House of Lords sits as a Committee of Privileges, to consider the claims of Sir Augustus Frederick D'Este to succeed his father as Duke of Sussex, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Arklow. At Rome, in 1792, the deceased Duke had met with Lady Augusta Murray, daughter of the Countess of Dunmore, and falling violently in love with her, they were after some delay married there by an English clergyman. On returning to this country they were married by banns in St. George's, Hanoversquare, which marriage, however, was admitted to be legally invalid. The openly manifested repugnance of the King to the match led to a separation after the birth of two children-the present claimant and a daughter. The chief points of the claim were submitted to the common-law judges in the form of a case. After due deliberation the judges came to an unanimous opinion that the Royal Marriage Act was in force in foreign countries as well as in England; and that a marriage at Rome, if otherwise valid, when contracted between individuals who did not come within the scope of the Royal Marriage Act, became of no effect if one of the contracting parties was included within the provisions of that Act, and had married without the consent of the King. A decision was therefore recorded that the claims of Sir Augustus D'Este had not been established.

29.-Sentence pronounced upon O'Connell and the other traversers in the Court of Queen's Bench, Dublin. With respect to the principal traverser the sentence of the Court was that he be imprisoned for twelve months, pay a fine of 2,000l. and enter into security and recognizances for his future good behaviour for the term of seven years in the sum of 5,000. The other traversers were sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, a fine of 50%. and to find securities for the same time in the sum of 1,000!. Mr. O'Connell, on entering to take his place in the traversers' box, was received with a shout of enthusiasm by the bar and the audience. The utmost consternation and amazement was shown at the severity of the sentence. Mr. O'Connell said, "I will not do anything so irregular as to reply to the Court, but I am entitled to remind Mr. Justice Barton that we each of us have sworn positively, and that I in particular have sworn positively, I was not I am engaged in any conspiracy whatever. sorry to say that I feel my imperative duty to add that justice has not been done to me." Shortly after the sentence the traversers, in

custody of the sheriff, took their departure for Richmond Bridewell, the prison selected by the traversers themselves. O'Connell immediately issued a proclamation headed "Peace and Quiet," urging the people to show their regard for him by their obedience to the law, and their total avoidance of any riot or violence.

"Russia

June 1.-The Emperor of Russia visits London. He at first took up his quarters at the Russian Embassy, but, on the pressing invitation of the Queen, removed to Buckingham Palace as the guest of her Majesty. During his visit the Emperor had several conversations with the Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Aberdeen, and Sir Robert Peel, relative to the state of Turkey, and the events that might be expected to follow in case of the dissolution of that empire, which, in the opinion of the Czar, was an event not far distant. Their conversation ultimately took the form of a memorandum, deposited originally in the secret archives of the Foreign-office, but brought to light in after years, when the Emperor pleaded a common understanding with England in defence of his proceedings against Turkey. and England (so runs the memorandum) are mutually penetrated with the conviction that it is for their common interest that the Ottoman Porte should maintain itself in a state of independence and of territorial possession which at present constitutes that empire, as that political combination is the one which is most compatible with the general interest of the maintenance of peace. Being agreed on this principle, Russia and England have an equal interest in uniting their efforts in order to keep up the existence of the Ottoman empire, and to avert all the dangers which can place in jeopardy its safety. With this object, the essential point is to suffer the Porte to live in repose, without needlessly disturbing it by diplomatic bickerings, and without interfering, without absolute necessity, in its internal affairs. In order to carry out skilfully this system of forbearance, with a view to the wellunderstood interest of the Porte, two things must not be lost sight of. They are these :In the first place, the Porte has a constant tendency to extricate itself from the engagements imposed upon it by the treaties which it has concluded with other Powers. It hopes to do so with impunity, because it reckons on the mutual jealousy of the Cabinets. It thinks that if it fails in its engagements towards one of them, the rest will espouse its quarrel, and will screen it from all responsibility. It is essential not to confirm the Porte in this delusion. Every time that it fails in its obligations towards one of the great Powers, it is the interest of all the rest to make it sensible of its error, and seriously to exhort it to act rightly towards the Cabinet which demands just reparation. The object for which Russia and England will have to come to an understanding may be expressed in the following manner :-

1. To seek to maintain the existence of the Ottoman empire in its present state, so long as that political combination shall be possible. 2. If we foresee that it must crumble to pieces, to enter into previous concert as to everything relating to the establishment of a new order of things, intended to replace that which now exists, and, in conjunction with each other, to see that the change which may have occurred in the internal situation of that empire shall not injuriously affect either the security of their own states, and the rights which the treaties assure to them respectively, or the maintenance of the balance of power in Europe. For the purpose thus stated, the policy of Russia and of Austria, as we have already said, is closely united by the principle of perfect identity. If England, as the principal maritime power, acts in concert with them, it is to be supposed that France will find herself obliged to act in conformity with the course agreed upon between St. Petersburg, London, and Vienna. Conflict between the great Powers being thus obviated, it is to be hoped that the peace of Europe will be maintained even in the midst of such serious circumstances.

3. At the weekly meeting of the Repeal Association, Smith O'Brien stated he had deliberately and solemnly come to the conclusion that not one drop of intoxicating liquor should pass his lips until the Union was repealed.

- The Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes his resolutions on the Sugar Duties. Colonial to continue as at present, at 24s.; China, Java, Manilla, and other countries, when it is not the produce of slave labour, at 34s.; Brazil and slave-labour states to continue at 63s. On a division, the Government proposal was carried by 197 to 128.

Insurrection in the island of Dominica, in consequence of a misapprehension on the part of the negroes that the taking of the census was part of a plan for reducing them once more to a state of slavery.

4.-Ascot races attended by the Emperor of Russia and the King of Saxony.

5.-Dinner to Mr. Charles Knight on the occasion of completing the" Penny Cyclopædia," and as a mark of respect to him as an author, editor, and publisher.

10. The Repeal rent for the week announced as amounting to 3,2297., being the largest sum yet collected.

11. The private bankers memorialize Sir Robert Peel regarding the clause in the New Bank Act restricting the issue to 14,000,000/. We respectfully submit upon securities. that the effect of such an absolute limitation will be to restrict the business of the country, by leading to a general withdrawal of legitimate accommodation, unless some power be reserved by the bill for extending the issue, with the sanction of the authorities above alluded to, in

(71)