Monmouthshire Merlin

TO THE DYING YEAR. THOU desolate and dying year- Emblem of transitory man, Whose wearisome and wild career, Like^hine, is bounded by a span It seems but as a little day Since nature smiled upon thy birth, And spring came forth in fair array, To dance upon thf joyous earth. Sad alteration!—now how lone, How verdureless, is nature's breast, Where ruin makes his empire known, In autumn's yellow verdure drest The sprightly bird, whose carol sweet Broke on the breath of early day— The summer flower she loved to greet, The bird, the flowers, oh where are they ? Thou desolate and dying year! Yet lovely in thy lifelessness, As beauty stretched upon the bier In death's clay-cold and dark caress; There's loveliness in thy decay, Which breathes, which lingers round thee still, Like memory's mild and cheering ray Beaming upon the night of ill. Yet, yet the radiance is not gone Which shed a richness o'er the scene, Which smiled upon the golden dawn When skies were brilliant and serene. Oh, still a melancholy smile Gleams upon nature's aspect fair, To charm the eye a little while, Ere ruin spreads his mantle there! Thou desolate and dying year Since time entwined thy vernal wreath, How often love hath shed the tear, And knelt beside the bed of death How many hearts, that lightly sprung When joy was blooming but to die, Their finest chords by death unstrung, Have yielded life's expiring sigh. Promise of youth fair as the form Of heaven's benign and golden bow; Thy smiling arch begirds the storm, And sheds a light on every woe Hope wakes for thee, and to her tongue A tone of melody is given, As if her magic voice were strung With the empyreal fire of heaven. And love, which never can expire, Whose origin is from on high, Throws o'er thy morn a ray of fire From the pure fountains of the sky.- That ray which glows and brightens still Unchanged-eternal, and divine— Where seraphs own its holy thrill And bow before its gleaming shrine. Thon desolate and dying year, Prophetic of our final fall! Thy buds are gone—thy leaves are sear— Thy beauties shrouded in the pall: And all the garniture that shed A brilliancy upon thy prime, Hath like a morning vision fled Unto the expanded grave of Time. Time Time! in thy triumphal flight How all life's phantom's fleet away- The smile of Hope—and young delight- Fame's meteor beam-and Fancy's ray; They fade-and on thy heaving tide, Rolling its stormy waves afar, Are borne the wreck of human pride, The broken wrecks of fortune's war. There, in disorder dark and wild Are seen the fabrics once so high, Which mortal vanity had piled, As emblems of eternity; And deemed the stately piles, whose forms Frowned in their majesty sublime, Would stand unshaken by the storms That gathered round the brow of time. Thou desolate and dying year Earth's brightest pleasures fade like thine, Like evening shadows disappear, And leave the spirit to redine. The streams of life, that used to pour Its fresh and sparkling waters on, While fate stood watching on the shore, And numbered all the moments gone Where hath the morning splendour flown Which danced upon that crystal stream ? Where are the joys to childhood known, When life is an enchanted dream ? Enveloped in the starless night Which destiny hath overspread- Enrolled upon that trackless flight, Where the dark wing of time had sped. Oh! thus hath life its even tide Of sorrow, loneliness, and grief And thus divested of its pride, It withers like the yellow leaf: ^e's autumnal bower, Vren plundered of its summer bloom; '8 ^e s autumnal hour, Which heralds man nnto the tomb. FLORIO.

SONNET ON PROFESSOR WILSON'S BUST. How like a lion in quiescent might The noble-soul'd Old Christopher appears! The mental glory of internal light Smiles beautiful amid his ripening years. No petty meanness—no flesh-shapen fears O'ercast the expressive firmness of his face; His brow, a dome of thought, majestic rears Hi. eye a thousand fancies seems to (Bee His flowing locks curl round a neck of grace, And all the aspect of his form is power- A manliness that age cannot displace; Fresh and unbending as in youth's gay hour! The heathen had their gods, and, Scotland, thou May'st trace as proud a form in living Wilson now! ANDREW PASK.

A Chapter on Beggars. This being the period alike of severest distress among the lower class, and for the exercise of discriminating charity by those more advantageously circumstanced, a few words as to the mendicant population, which is now. painfully extensive, may not be considered out of place. Our pfiiirpose will be answered, if we save any portion of our readers! liberality from the un- worthy for the deserving. Professional mendicants are a far more iptelligent crew than a careless spectator would imagine. Their assumed air of piteous stolidity, intended to represent the effect of years of hepeiess privation, is doubly deceptive. Not only does it pro^tice, as it Is intended to do, a compassionate sentiment in the mind of the beholder, but it gives him the idea, that instead of a wily, prac- tised actor, be sees a person so bowed down by sorrow, as really to be incapable of other occupation than mendicancy. But (his is so far from beiag the case, that the beggar is frequently a man very considerably superior in it- -A scale. to the dupe he is deieiviog. Male beggars are generally impostors. Now and then you see a poor broken wretch shivering on a door-step, whose misery there is me mistaking. But usually, the. male beggar is a lazy vagabond, who ougla to be carryiog a musket or a hod. Espe. cially are those fathers of families" to be refused alms, who select the wettest and most unpleasant weather to promenade the centre of the carriage way, in company with a group of children. These children are' borrowed or stolen and the first time they ever heard of their mutual relationship, was the time when they were summoned to be dragged aloug by their newly-found papa. Look at them well, and you will see that the ties which connect the party are not those of blood. Sometimes an equally apocry- phal mother is added to the band, and sometimes a baby, who is the only innocent member of the gang. The loud-mouthed rascal, who roars down a quiet street, in a monotonous, conventicle tone: "My Christian friends, I am not a common beggar, but have moved in a respect-ible sphere of life," &c. &c., ought to be at once transferred to the policeman. His lesson, written out for him by some better-educated friend, will probably be found in his pocket in a state of extreme grease, from many laborious perusals. Never give a farthing to beggars who sing hymns. As an un. varying rule they are impostors, who hope to extort money by the mere annoyance they cause. As for the ballad-singer, as a general rule, the policeman should be referred to, yet one some- times bears a female voice which distress and cold have not en- tirely ruined, proceeding from a thin and wasted form—she may have sung the same air, perhaps, in warm and lighted room, amidst the applause of ftiends-it is impossible to refuse her your charity. The poor tradesman," who can't get work. should be ques- tioned. Sometimes a timid, modest request is preferred by a deserving unfortunate, but you will, by drawing him out of the routine phrases of beggary, easily find out whether he is an ac- customed mendicant. The voice will give evidence for or against him. If a man declares that he is a poor sailor, your honour," don't waste time in asking him what ships or captains he koows. Most likely he has a lesson by heart, with quite enough sea- slang to floor a land-lubber. But make him show you his hands -Iher\ is no imitating the hands of a real poor Jack, which look like bundles of frosted carrots dipped in tar. If you find these witnesses, give him something—he may live to board an enemy's ship. The lucifer venders are of two classes. Since the magistrates have adopted the plan of treating everybody who carries a match box as a small trader, with whom the police have no business to meddle, the saving badge has been assumed by hundreds.— But sometimes the little capital of a poor mother is invested in a few dozen boxes of these lights, and she and her children really endeavour to sell them. You must use your discletion when a miserable object proffers you an article as an excuse for begging, —but as a rule do not hsten to men or boys who engage in this speculation. Even if real traders, these might be much better employed. We cannot too highly recommend the practice of placing your charity at the disposal of the magistrate. He, lurrouudsd by his quick-sighted subordinates, has the means of effecting the greatest amount of good with your money, and it is. never mis- placed. We are always glad when a police reporter is requested to acknowledge the receipt of charity. Some real charity is sure to be in progress. These hints may induce many benevolent persons to look twice before they bestow their alms-we hope it may be so, because we desire that their kindness may be displayed towards worthy distress. But after all, the cold weather has come, and potatoes are bad, and biead is dear; and so, gentle reader, see what you can do towards helping those unhappy and destitute poor who reside near you, perhaps perishing for food in sight of wealth and plenty unbounded. You can put on double the quantity of elothes, and heap on your grates double the quantity of coal, and for you the whitest and mealiest potatoes of a sack are picked, and very likely you do not even know the publishing price of a half-quartern loaf. We congratulate you cordially that it is so—but let all your comforts remind you how very wretched it must be to be deprived of them, and then we know what you will do next.— English Gentleman.

READINGS FROM MEPHYSTOPHILES. [Mephystophiles is the title of a new publication, which strug. gles much to be a successful rival of Mr. Punch. Our old friend is, however inimitable.] THE PEASANTS' YULE. These are happy days for English peasants. Their healths are drunk at agricultural dinners, which they eat not. A Geologi- cal Dean, of twopence-charging Westminster, delivers lectures to teach them how they can live on beans like horses, peas like pigs, or mangel wufze) tike cows. A Playfa.r and a Kane held forth to prove that they can do on starch for weeks with no worse consequence than becoming stiff as an orphan's father. Charles Dickens writes for them fairy tales, "sold for the author," at the low figure of ifve shillings. The House of Commons main- tains the system of corn laws, solely for their use and benefit. Finallv, lo overlook fifty other benefactions, one Duke (of Rich. mond) will send to Portugal for potatoes, if the said peasants will only pay for them another (of Cambridge) thinks them models of human felicity, but has no objection to eat a charitable dinner or two on their account, and a third (of Norfolk) recommends, in the event of their being supperless, to add, as a relish to their bacon and potatoes, a little curry-powder, made of "pepper and that sort of thing." Amid so much care and benevolence, who can avoid exclaiming with Irish fervour- Ofortunatosaimium si sua bona, oo-rint! Meantime, to illustrate the vanity of such benevolence to their objects, and the rich return brought to those who thus throw their bread on the waters—the landlords are in capital condition, the peasant starve I The object of everybody's solicitude proves like a watch fire. Christmas came, but brought his babes round a foodless table, their hunger mocked with such images and voices as potato starch-mangel wurzel-Cricket on the Hearlh -labourers' health-curry. powder God befriend him, the head of a noble brood, to whom, with fresh-faced young ones, the "winter wind" blows even less unkind than man's em- broidered ingratitude! PUN-GENT DESCRIPTION. An inveterate putter was thus described by Owen Jones :— He is a verbal Inquisitor, and has tortured every word in the English language till it confessed, a double meaning." GREEN-ROOM GOSSIP. Miss C., though exceedingly amiable, is usually called "the loveliest lass of the plain." A bosom friend (Miss H.) kindly made this pun palp,ble to the lady, who, therefore, retorted They say of me I'll tell you what they say of you that the Commissioners of the Roads ()ught to proceed against you for not having your face pass-able." A PRIZE DUKE. Why, in heaven's name, do they call these fellows Stags?" said Captain Polhill. I can't answer that, my dear fellow," replied R-, '= but looking at their rags you see it is impossi- ble to call them Bucks. WARNING TO PARENTS. The daily papers report that a young man, while sitting with his family at breakfast, was seized with a violent fit of gaping, which terminated in lock-jaw. The cause of his drowsiness at so early a part of the day remained a mystery till it was dis. covered that the unhappy youth had imbibed, along with his eggs and coffee, a leader of the Standard. NOVEL VELOCITATION. Mountjoy, the celebrated pedestriau, was appleed to by Vates to run an amateur four miles. I should like it of all things," said Mountjoy ,j" but I can't do it at present, I've so much walk. ing upon my hands." THE LEATHER MARKET. The leather market is putting its best foot foremost. The article was in lip-top condition there is nothing like it in our recollections. The coblers on the ground entered heart and soul into business; calf was consequently in great demand: prices were cut fine for some time, then came beautiful, at the end waxed dull; and several sellers footed off with their all un- sold. These last gentlemen will not sell off" till leather looks up. so that they may make their own with somcthiog to boot. t

READINGS FROM PUNCH. THE TROSPECT OF WAR. Our readers will have perceived by various paragraphs that there is an intention on the part of government to re organise the militia. This patriotic old corps has dwindled down to a few cor- pulent sergeants in different parts of the kingdom, who keep up what they call a depot, consisting generally of one room, hung around with big drums and other military trophies belonging to The days when they went soldiering, A long time ago.' The announcement of the intended calling-out of the mititia has given an impetus to a vast deal of smothered patriotism, which it iseapected will break out all over the kiogdom into a scarlet rasb, in the shape of a general putting on of red uniforms. In the neighbourhood of Hammersmith the patriotic flame is burn- iog with peculiar brightness, and one volunteer has already en. tered himself at the station house as a man determined to lay down his life and his business in the cause of his country. This energetic individual has formed himself into a corps of one, and has valourouslycalled upon the war office to send down an efficient staff for the purpose of reviewing him. A field-day will, it is expected, come off shortly on Brook Green, when this Valiant Unit will draw himself up in front of the officers, who will be entrusted with the task of reviewing him. The scene will, it is expected, be very animating, and the ma- noeuvres gone through will embrace the whole of the platoon exercise, performed alternately with an umbrella and a musket; for it was found, during the old militia campaign, that the soldiery suffered more from the rain than from the enemy. When we remember that Hammersmith is the key to the me- tropolis on the western side, and that Brook Green may be con- sidered one of the bolts of the great gate of London, it is com- fortable to feel that we have a pledge of the loyalty of the district in the military enthusiasm of its inhabitant. Napoleon used to say that he never Deed have lost Paris if he had been certain of the banlieue, and there is a comfort in knowing that the foe must cut its way through Brook Green before it can penetrate into the capital. The one volunteer will, it is expected, obtain a commission, which will enable him to practice the noble virtue of self-com- mand, which indeed constitutes the true hero. THE BAL MASQUE. Well, Samuel, what caraktur was yon at the Bal Maskey 1" Oh 1 went as Hivanoe. What was you?" Why, a gmt. of the time of Charley-Maog." ASSAULT ON PRINC. ALBERT. Cats may look at kings. It is their perspective right: their privilege, no doubt secured to them by the common law, since no human memory can tell the time when they did not enjoy such immunity. There is a large mob of the well dressed and respect- able, who. in the most persevering way, dispute this peculiar right of cats whenever the opportunity presents itself. Thus, the Queen cannot take a walk from her palace, but Brighton orimalkins will, with their goggle eyes, stare at her. The P'ince, her husband, cannot visit a show of fat beasts without be. ing subjected to brutal curiosity on the part of the two-legged animals not exhibited. We have a recent instance of this mixed stupidity and gross ill manners. A few days ago the Royal Albert visited the cattle-show at the Horse Bazzar, where he was so set about by a gaping multitude," lhat, says the accouut: It was a matter of the utmost difficulty for His Royal Highness to observe with anything like comfort the points and peculiari- ties of a single animal*" The farmers and butchers, we are told, were roost respectful. It was the genteel mob—the crowd of well-dressed and respect. able sight seers-that tioobled the Prioce, and assaulted him with their vulgar staring. They all of them, no doubt, thought of the cats, and believed themselves quite worthy of cats' pri- vilege. "Observations such as-, Oh, there be is. See how lie smiles! He knows his own beast; I told you he would,'greeted his ear in all directions." The nincompoops! The vendors of apples or oranges are fined or imprisoned for stopping the way can nothing be done with the mob of respectables who give chase to royally-as though it was a stray peaeock-whenever it walks abroad in the wcrid 1 If wottld hugely content us to see an example made of some of these stiipid offenders, who hunt and outttare gentle- man because, for the lime, it is his misfortune to be a Prince. We should like to have some of them, just for a week or two, placed on the tread mill, or set down to oakum. For, is it not provoking, that Prince Albert cannot get a fair sight of prize heifers aud prize pigs, he is so thronged about by those, we must call prize asses! RAILWAY SCALE OF MANNERS. We have often been struck with the difference of maoner as- sumed by rail way officials towards different people. Shut your eyes, and you can tell from the tone of their voices whom they are addressing. The following examples will best illustrate our meaning. The Railway Potentate is calling upon the passengers to get their tickets ready.—He catts :— To the Third Class.—ForttMtme.—"Tickets, tickets, come get your tickets ready." To the Second Class.—forte.—" Tickets, Genta.; get your tickets ready, Gents." To the First Class -Piano. Get your tickets ready, Gen- tlemen, if you please tickets ready, if you please, Gentlemen. A CAPTTAI. SPEC. A great deal of money might be made by taking extensive premises in the City as soup rooms, and selling nothing but Norfolk soup at twopence a basin. A pinch of curry costs about a farthing, and. as hot water may be hdd for almost nothing, the profit on every basin of the Norfolk Soup would bo at least 150 per cent. This seems a more promising undertaking just now, than even the railways. PUNCH'S DIGNITY OFFENDED. Dr. Bowriog, the other day, at the great Anti-Corn Law meeting in the city, declared, in allusion to the Free Traders, that, from the Premier himself, down to Punch, everybody was with them. The Premier had shown his adherence to their views by deserting his friends." From the Premier down to Punch, indeed Punch never de- serted his friends. Pttnet never left his party in the lurch. Punch never changed his coat,except for a new one of the same pat- tern. Punch never ran allay with other people's clothes, and (hen wore them on his own back. Punch did not inveot the slid- ing scale. Punch never bolstered up monopoly at all his cudgel h.. always been wielded against it. Punch never upheld the poor Law. The nation has not Punch to thauk for the Income Tax. The worth of a thing is just what it will fetch and Punch would be sorry to exchange his Office, 92, Fleet-street, for that of any First Lord of the Treasury. Down to Punch! Does Dr. Bowering go down the rive: to Richmond 1 Does he come down to London from the country? Would he reckon downwards from the Corporal to the Captain? Up to Punch, Dr. Bowring, if you please, another time.

A miser late!y died at Boulogne, in her 85th year; and, although possessed of property to the amount of 42,000 francs, and had 1,730 francs in her chamber, there is no doubt she died from starvation.

IRON, COAL; RAILWAYS, ETC. MANUFACTURE OF IRON.—The value of iron for manufacturing purposes, is, it seems, considerably deteriorated by frequent change in the mode of transport, and exposure to the atmosphere. A proportionate ox,disation ensue* and when it reaches its des. lination, it is so much per cent. less valuable than if conveyed at once, and almost uncooled, from the furnace to the workshop or factory. What can be done with it in this condition is illustrated by the following remarkable fact Thirty-one pounds of Shrop- shire iron has been made into wire upwards of one hundred and eleven miles in length and so fine was the fabric, that a part of it was humorously converted, in lieu of the usual horse hair, into a barrister's wig In order to effect this extraordinary tenuity, the process consists of heating the iron and passing it through rollers of eight inches diameter, going at the rate of four hundred revolutions per minute, down to No. 4 on the wire-guage. It is afterwardsdrawn cold, at Birmingham or el-ewheie, down to the extent of 38 on the same guage, and so completed to tha surpris- ing length of one hundred and eleven miles. PRICE OF 1R: N IN FRANCE.—The sales of St. Dizier on the 18th instant, were very fair for the provinces, and large lots too. lised £16. H/s.i and small lots were paid even as high as £ 16.16«. The iron merchants of Paris have been purchasing very little lately, as they will Dot give £16. Flat iron was sold at X14 per ton, delivered at SI. Dizier. On the whole, the iron trade is in a very dull state, the ironmasters wishing to obtain high prices, and the purchasers are very reluctant in making any extensive speculations. The important question now before the Minister of Commerce, as to the allowing the importation of northern iron at a reduced duty, occupies the attention of the iron merchants and contractors generally throughout France, and, as the ferger or ironmasters wish to rise the price for 1846, very little will be doing until government has decided this vital point, which will be so beneficial to the progress of civilisation. AMERICAN IRON TRADE.—In the spring of the present year, there were but two anthracite furnaces in blast between Potts- ville and Phllacielphia-Dr. Palmer's, the Pioneer," on the Island, and one at Phcenisville. There are now four in blast, and another will be added to the number in one or two weeks. They are capable of turning out 275 tons of iron per week, or 13.750 tons per annum. In the course or next season, the fol. lowing furnaces will be in operation in the coal region, and on the canal between this place and Philadelphia—they are all at this time either in blast or in process of erection,-at Spring Mill, two; Conshehocken, one; Phoenixville, three; Birdsbo- rough, one Reading, one in the coal region, three. These furnaces, eleven in number, can produce 610 tons per week, or 30,500 tons per year. Heretofore, three tons of co<t have been required for the engine and stack to produce a ton of iron but since the new method of heating the blast at the tunnel-head has been introduced, the quantity of coal used has been reduced to about two and a half tons to smelt a too of iron. These furnaces alone will consume seventy-five thousand tons of coal per annum. This quantity is independent of that which will he required by therolliog mills, steam forges, and other iron works, erected aod in course of erection, which will require about fifty thousand tons more. In taking the census during the week, of a portion of the borough, it was discovered that no less than twenty-three fami. lies occupied a buildiog which was erected in the Oicliard for an hotel, numbering upwards of one hundred persons. In Morris's Addition also, one house contains sixteen families, some of which keep boarders-aftd in another small house there are six fllmiltes-making forty-five families in three houses, with a popu- lation of two hundred and twenty-seven persons. At St. Clair, about four miles from Pottsvtlle, which last year contained be- tween 100 and 200 people, during the present season eighty new buildings have been erected, and next season one firm intend to build 139 miners' houses. It is whispered that an extensive roll- ing mill will be erected in connexion with the furnace near St. Clair.— Miner's Journal. FEMALE LABOUR IN COAL MINES.—It would appear that the coun'.y of Clackmannanshire enjoys the unenviable notoriety uf still having the humane law brought in by Lord Ashley for en.an. cipating the female from the degrading labour of the mine, evaded within its borders thrte cases were brought before the sheriff a short time since, where the overman and one of the workmen were fined f5 each. The sheriff addressed the court after the conviction, and strongly animadverted on the practice. He ob- served, that when the provisions of the Act came to be fairly carried into effect, the public and the colliers themselves would be convinced that the legislature had judged wisely in passing such an enactment; it was degrading to see women, and even giils, employed below ground, dragging, cr pushing, heavy wag- gons loaded with coal, which was not only beneath them in a moral point of view, but was ill-adapted to their bodily confor. mation he hoped that soon something more than merely not giving their countenance to such practice, would take place. and that they would exert themselves at once to put an end to the practice.—Mining Journal. MODE OF MINING COAL IN ClIINA,-It might be expecled that in China, where most of the practical aits have, from time im- memorial, been carried on with all the perseverance of that in. dusti ious people, the operation of mining coal would be conducte(f with some regard to science, in relation to sinking, draining, and extraction. We have, however, good authority, especially in regard to the environs of Pekio, for stating that the process is still in a very imperfect state. Machinery there to lighten labour is unknown. They have not even an idea of the pumps indispensable to draw off water. If local circumstances allow, they cut drainage galleries if not, they abandon the work when- ever the inundation has gained too far upon them. The mattock and shavel, the pick and the hammer, are the mining instru- menls-the only ones, in fact, which the Chinese employ in working the coal. The water of the mine is emptied by. the slow process of filling small casks, which are brought up to the surface by manual labour. Vertical shafts are not used. In working horizontal coal seams, the timbering is expensive, and the mate- rials cost about two copecs per pound, English wood being 501., by weight in China. The coal, when mined, is put into baskets- and drawn upon sledges, which are raised to the surface by mal pual strength. Each basket contains about three poudsoTcoas and one man can raise about eight baskets in a day. This i equivalent to 12 cwt. English per day. CONSUMPTION OF SMou.A simple. but effectual, form of fur- nace for steam boilers has been registered by Messrs. Galloway, Knot Mill, Manchester, and by which, it is said, that the so long desired object of preventing the emission of volumes of carbon is completely effected without valves or air pipes of any descrip- tion. The boiler adopted is the old circular one, the water com- pletely surrounding the fire bars and flue in this are two dis- tinct sets of fire bars with their bridges; behind these, one flue only tapers off to a size sufficient for the conveyance of the va. pours; and, just behind the bridge, a perpendicular tube con- nects the upper and lower portions of the water through the most powerful part of the heat, and thus causing a highly useful addi- tional heating surface. By this arrangement, and by firing each grate alternately, the black smoke from the newfy made or stirred up fire is brought in immediate contact behind the bridge, with the flame and incandescence ot the other fire, -and thereby consumed, passing up the chimney in the form of invisible va- i.pour, without any complex admission of air except leough the fire bars. We have not yet been able to inspect the plan but it is certainly exceedingly simple, and is stated to be effectual.- Manchester paper. POSTPONING PROJECTS.— It is highly important, at the present period, to bear in mind the difference between postponing and abandoning a project. Assuming a project fair, beua fitis and feasible(and, if not, the subscribers should see to it, by inqu iiies of their own )-we do not see how it can be affected, or how the relative right and responsibiliiiesof promoters and supporters can be altered by the postponement of it till the session after'the ensuing. Obviously, under existing circumstances, nothing could, in many instances, be more piudent than such a course, particularly with a view to avoid the perils of hurried engineer- ing while, as an opposing and competing scheme, it can as well be supported (if necessary) in Parliament, although not pre. pared at present itself to pass through Parliament, The sub. scribers are just as much prepared for the session after next as for the next; their deposits can of course, if not wanted, be returned, due security being taken for the repayment, when required, for the prosecution of the project. By this course of proceeding, great iolp and disappointment will be avoided and we cannot conceive any objection to II ;-there is no occasion for absurdity or for alarm.—Railway Critic. The Directors ot the Great Western Railway have just made a call of fS upon the £ 100 shares in the Company, making ooy* £ 85 paid. UREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—From the 1st of January, the paper tickets which were received by passengers on paying their fares, will be exchanged for small cards. Each station will have a supply of cards numbered consecutively, and filled up for any other station on the line, and all that will be requited on delivery to the passenger, will be to add the date. This is done by a very novel machine, about the size of a narrow quart cup, fastened to the counter. The card is introduced into an opening in the front, and, by a very slight pressure, receives the date. The ticket case at the Buth Station is a very curious piece of work. manship, and has attracted considerable attention. It has a very large number ofdivisioos tocontain the cards for each of the classes and the return tickets, with a sliding, and, apparently, solid lid, about two feet long, which shuts up into a space.of not more than six inches in length. We understand the plan to be the invention of a Quaker gentleman in the North of England. The usual meeting of the South Staffordshire East Worcester- shire, and Shropshire ironmasters, preliminary to the quarlerly meetings which commence at Walsall on the 16th January, was held in Wolverhampton on Friday. Thrgentlemen who Rttendect unanimously resolved not only "to support existing rates," but the feeling was prevalent amongst the large capitalists and best informed members of the trade, that the present demand for iron, combined with future expectations, would justify a further ad. vance. Amongst the reasons assigned for the brighter prospects of the iron trade at the present jnncture, is the return of Sir R. Peel's ministry to office. An immediate dissolution of Parlia- ment was looked forward to with great apprehension, and more especially so by the directors of and speculators in the new lines of railway. A question has arisen whether or not a dissolution of Parliament, even when applications had been partly heard before Committee, would not, as a matter of course, Dullify all existing notices, as a notice to the next Session could not be understood as a notice to the next Parliament. Should this objection be held gOQa, and a dissolution take place during the ensuing Session, the consequences to the iron trade, as well as to the owners of railway scrip, would be most disastrous.

VALUE OF SHARES IN GOOD LINES. COURT or CHANCERY.—In the matter of Dyce Somf)re.-Ilr. Calvert recently appeared in suppoft of this petition, which is presented to the Court by Lords Combermere, Lonsdale, and others, the trustees of the marriage settlement of Mr. and Mrs. Dyce Sombre, asking the Court to sanction an ariangemem which the tiustees had entered iuto with Mrs. Dyce Sombre to this effect. By the trust of the settlement, the trustees were empowered to lay out a portion of the trust fund in the purchase of Great Westcn, London and Birmingham, and Grand June. tion Railway shares. The trustees had purchased Great Western and London and Birmingham shares, and lately an offer was made to the trustees by the Great Western Company, of 280 new shares, the price of which was £ 7.000, and those shares were purchased by the trustees. Mrs. Dyce Sombre having ad. vanced the money to pay the depor-it. those shares were now at a premium, which would realise £ 2,940. I he London and Bir. mingham Railway Company had also offered the trustees 77 new shares, which Ihe had also accepted, which would now realise a premium of £ 1,386, Mrs. Dyce Sombre having ad- vanced the deposit for them. The trustees now asked the Court to sanction the sale of those shares, in orJer that the premiums thereon, amounting to more than £ 4.000, might be realised and that, after paying Mrs. Dyce Sombre what she had advanced on the deposits, to invest the residue of the money to the trusts of the settlement.. The Lord Chancellor said it was a very profitable transaction, and granted the prayer of the petition. Mr. Calvert asked his Lordship to grant a reference to the Master, in case any future offers of shares should be made to the trustees, to inquire if their purchase would be for the benefit of the trust estate. Such a reference yvould save the expense of applying again to the Court. The Lord Chancellor said the Master could not anticipate what might be the value%f those shares, and his Lordhhipeotttd not therefore make any prospective order upon the subject.

DOMESTIC NEWS. 4- THE MILITIA.—The letters which we lately published of the Secretary ot State for the Home Department and of the Secre- tary at War, leave no doubt of the intentions of the government as to the enrolment of the militia for immediate service our readers must not treat the matter with any degree of levity, as it relates in a great measure to every person in the kingdom, without any distinction whatever. It must be understood that the militia will not on this occasion be raised, as incorrectly re- ported a short time since, by beat of drum, but according to the old system of ballot or process, which no one above the age of 21 need flatter himself that he can avoid. It appears that of the number at first enrolled io a single distract-say Sussex- one third will be called on for duty for three years, when they will be discharged (each man having the option of volunteering into the line), and will not aaain be required for at least six years. It is understood by those connected with the militia, that government have not determined upon enrolling that body through any fear of war, but with a view of affording 'he Canadas, New Zealand, and other portions of the- colonies ad- ditional military force.— London paper. Orders have been transmitted to each of the four divisions of Roval Marines to send out recruiting parties. Despatches from the Governor of the North American pro- vinces were received on Monday at the Colonial Office, to- gether with despatches from the Governors of Ceylon, the Cape of Good Hope, and Malta and also from the Loid High Com- missioner of the Ionian Islands. THE MINISTRY. -We noticed a few day" a^o the statement that Lord Eiltnborongh would be appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, vice Lord Haddington. It is now very generally rumoured that Lord Haddiogton will no) leave Sir Robert Peel's Cabinet, but will take another office in the Administration. Lord Stanley is said to be assuring his friends that he does not disapprove of any measure contemplated ty the Government. What does this mean ?—lhat Lord Stanley is a free-trader, or that Sir Robert Peel is not ?—Sun. MR. MACAULAY.—The following short note from Mr. Macau- lay to J. M<«cfariand, Esq., Edinburgh, will be read with in- terest. It was written in reply to one fiom the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, transmitting the memorial from that' body to the Queen, io favour of opening the ports :—" Lon- don, Dec. 22, 1845.—You will have heard the termination ot our attempt to form a Government. All our plans were frus- trated by Lord Grey. I hope that the public interests will not suffer. SII Rouert Peel must now undertake the settlement of the question.' It is certain that be can settle it. It is by no means certain that we could have done so. For we shall to a man supplJfthjm and a IIHge proportion of Ihose who are not in office would have refused to support us. On my own share in these transactions I reflect with unmixed satisfaction. From the first, I told Lord John that I stipulated for one thing only —total and immediate lepul of th" corn-laws; that my objec- lions 10 gradual abolition were insurmountable and that if he declared lor totatand immediate repeal, I would be, as to all other matters, absolutely in his hands that I would take any office or no office, just 115 suited him best; aad thai he never should be disturbed by any personal pretensions or jealousies on my part. If everybody else bad acted thus, there would now have been a Liberal Ministry. However, as I said, perhaps il is best as it is. I do not think that, if we had formed a Govern- ment, we should have entertained the question of paying the Roman Catholic Priests of Ireland. I cannot answer for others but I should have thought it positive insanity 10 stir the mailer. I will send your petition to the Secretary of S'nte fpr the Home Department, as soon as it is clear that the Govern- ment is eettled.—Ever yours, truly, T. B. MACAULAY." A splendid baron of beef, weighing upwards of three hun. dred pounds, was the principal dish, according to custom, upon the royal banquet-table, at the Castle, Windsor, on Christmas- day. SALE OF THE LATE EARr. OF VERULAM'S BLoon STOCK.— Duvernay, 400 guineas. Corumba, 90 guineas. A bay mare by Isbmael, out of Corumba, 155 guineas. Charlotte, 145 guineas. A brown filly by Muley Moloch, out of COlumba, two years old, 3t guineas. A brown yeartingcottbybtanf, out of Corumba, 180 guineas. A b. m. by Laurel, out of Christine, four years oid, 40 guineas' A ch. c. by Plenipotentiary, dam by lshmael, 63 guineas. A b. f. by Plenipotentiary, out of Corumba. 15 guineas. THE QUARTER OF A MILLION LEAGUE FUND.—Since our last—that is, during Wednesday and yesterday, for Christmas- day was a general holiday here—in two days, then, the subscrip- tions to this fund have been increased by upwards of three thou- sand pounds, the total amount which on I uesday evening reached £61,895, having been augmented yes'erday to upwards of £65,000.-Manohester Guardian. The free traders of Wigan had, up to Wednesday night, sub. scribed upwards of £1,40010 the quarter of a million League fund.— I iverpcol Mercury. WEST RIDING ELECTION.—A requisition calling upon Lord Morpeth to come forward as a candidate for the representation of the West Riding of Yorkshire, was presented to his lordship ai Castle Howard, on Friday evening, by a deputation consisting of Messrs. F. H. Fawltes, Charles Wuod, M.P., Homer Stans- field, and Edward Baines, jun. His loidship has consented to be put in nomination. Air. Gladstone's appointments will require him to vacate hit seat tor Newark, where it is understood that his re-election will be opposed by the Duke of Newcastle. It is confidently staled that the same Duke intends to carry his principle of doiog what he likes with his own" so far as to oppose the re-election of his son, Lord Lincoln, for South Nottinghamshire.—Sun. THE HERTFORD ELECTROV.—The writ for the election of a knight of the shire for this county arrived on Thursday night, and was proclaimed publicly at the Town-Hall aDd on the pld- Cross, on Frid.fr morning. The nomination is fixed for Thurs- day, the 8ihot-1Jt.DII,ary.-HerUord Mercury. The late S 'tlobert Crawford Pollock, Baronet, of Pollock, Renfie.>v%ht-r: and uf Frederick street, Edinburgh, lately died in North Biitara^ bachelor. His funded and personal property in England, whhin the province of Caoieibury, is estimated ai £30,000, which is beyond hi, effects in Scotland. The Rev. T. Spencer, of Himon Charterhouse, is lecturing at New York, on Temperance and the English Corn Laws. The application of electro-magnetism to the purpose of a telegraph, it is said, bids fair to supersede all similar plans at present in use upon railways. During a trial of speed last week, an engine on the Manches- ter and Birmingham line ran from Manchester to Crewe, a dis- tance of thirtv-one miles in thirty minutes. LENDING NEWSPAPERS.—The Nottingham Journal has the following in its notice to correspondents :—" An Old Subscriber is informed that lending newspapers is a direct violation of the law, as being injurious to newspaper property and to the public revenue, by its tendency to decrease the consumption of paper, and the issue of newspapei stamps. The Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes and the proprietors of newspapers have, by their supineness in this marter, suffered the law to become in- operative by not enforcing its provtsions. Our correspondent may, if he thinks proper, lay aD information and claim a moiety of the penalties." A wild duck and five fine whitings were found attached to the hoek of a poacher's line in the Tay last week. STOGKTON AS IT WAS. AND AS IT Is-—In 1788, Stockton imported coals for the consumption of the town—the coals brought coastwise 5s. 6d. per chaldron, having amounted in that year to £117 18t. IJd. Last year (1844), (lie port of Stockton exported coals coastwise and foreign to the extent cf 1,621,227 tons. Whitehaven And Berwick are now coal-exporting places yet in 1788 the former duty was £43 9s.,and the htt<-rf94 179. JOj, on coals imported for home consumption.—Carlisle Journul' The Derby Mercury says, It is a singular fatl that all broad beans about this country have been found, on examination, growing with the eye in ibe contrary direction in the pod to what they have dooe for previous years. We are informed that a si- milar occurrence happened in the year 1755." Canning's ministry was 20 days in completing—Wellington's 24 days—Grey's 6 days. HARVEST IN DECEMBER -Monday, the 1st instant, Mr.* Morgan John, farmer, near Pant-y-lladron, two miles east of Cowbridge, reaped a field of wheat. The produce, as might have been expected, was not very abundant, nor of a very superior quality. It may be nowise in our agriculturists to adopt such a Bysterji of farming.—Hereford Journal. CHTUSTMAS.—The excellent Mayoress, Mts. Habetfield, of Bristol, WIt. her accustomed liberality, has distributed, amongst the dest-rving poor women of Bristol, Clifton, and the Wells, her annual donations of roast beef, plum pudding, baby-linen, flan- nel- petticoats, &e.; and hill Worship the Mayor also gave or. ders for the usual distribution of the aforesaid provisions to the poor prisoners of the gaol and bridewell. RATING OF PRINCE ALBERT'S FARM AT WINDSOR.—The Prince still demurs to the legality of the claim which has beeo made npon him by the parochial authorities, in pursuance of a resolution unanimously passed at a vesiry nKeting held in Sept. last; and his Royal Highness, under the mipiession that the parish haa no legal cldilll upon him for any poor-rales alleged to bedue for Flemish farm, intends 10 have a case submitted to the officers of the Crown, and to abide by their opinion on the sub- ject. In the event of the opiniou of the L*w Officeis of the vCrown being in favour of the view taken of the matter by the Prioce Consort, and adverse to the expectations cf ihe parishio- ners, a vestry meeting wiil be immediately called, in order lo come to some final decisioo on the subject. WELLSdt^Two Awful cases of 3u<i«t**n death occurred in this city within ihe past week. One was Mrs. Grasl, a widow, aged 74 she bsdvjost risen from her bed on Fuday morning last, and was in the act of dressing, when she fell dead at the foot of the bed. The other was a woman named Allan. On Sunday last she was correcting her little boy, and put herself ia a passioo, when she fell down dead over him. C'REWKTRNE.—A fire, supposed to have been occasioned by an incendiary, happeneJ on the premises of Mrs. Donithorp, near here, on Tuesday last. A waggon-houie and rick of straw were consumed. BisBop OF OXFORD.—Il is in contemplation by the parishion- ers of Alveisioke shortly to present a testimonial of respect to their late beloved Rector, Dr. Samuel Wilberforce, recently ele- vated to the See of Oxford. The testimonial, which will consist of a splendid piece of plate, is now in course of manufacture by Messrs. Payne, goldsmiths, of Bath. DESTRUCTION OF ABBEPLV HALL, WOHCESTFR.—This noble mansion, occupied by the widow of the late James Moillett, Esq., of Birmingham, has unfoitunately been destroyed by fire. Mr. Moillett bought the propetiy only three years ago, when be spent from ten to fifteen thousand pounds in beautifying it, or rather in turning a brick house into a beautiful villa in the Italian style, and in adding an extra tower on the west side. He did not, however, live long to enjov 'be fruit of his laste and judge ment, for in about twelve months he died. Since that time the family resided at the retreat, until 'be event happened which lias totally destroyed the properly- It appears that on Christmas- day Mrs. Moilieit was entertaining her friends in her usual fes- tive manner, when the joyous scene was broken in upon by a cry that the building above their heads was on fire. The ser. vaots first discovered the flames, and tried ineffectually to quench ihe fearful element, so that the assembled guest, might not be distuibed, and when it was known generally, a. messenger was dispatched to Whley Court, from whence an engine soon are rived, with men to woik it. The house stands upon an eminence. so that many persons soon collected from the surrounding neigh- bourhood, who tried all in their power to put a stop to the fire. The supply of water was unfortunately scanty, 10 that they were obliged to resort to a pool about a quarter of a mile from the spat, and 9uckelfulls were lunded over that distance from hand to hand. All efforts were. however, ineffectual, for the fire gradually burst right through I le roo and piesented a scene which was awful to look upon, ahd continued until twelve o'clock at night. The fire, i' is <hought, originated in ashore. room, where a girl named Jane White went in to fetch some cheese aod apples, and she must have dropped a spark amongst some shavings and papers. The house, &cc.. 15 tosured 10 the Birmingham District Fire-office for ^4.000. rs. L1 oillett was removed as .oon as the fire was d.scove.ed to the Hundied House Inn, though her Majesty the Queen Dowager bad, with her wonted benevolence, immediately npon hearing of the catamity. sent word that apaitments a. -he Court should be placed at the disposal of the family, if they chose to accept of them. Afire broke out on Saturday night last at the farmstead of Mr. Turley, of Martley, ncarly dwiroyiDg al) tbe buildings.

FRANCE. OPENING OF THE CHAMBERS. PAMIS, SATURDAY, DEC. 27.—In conformity with the royal decree of the 19th of November, the legislative session was: opened to day by the King in person, and with the usual forma- lities. This is the fourth session of the Chambers since the lasl general election. As on former similar occasions, the interior of the house was arranged for the reception of his Majesty and the royal family. The whole of the galleries were filled by the ambassadors, ministers, and representatives of foreign powers, and the public galleries were filled with ladies. At one o'clock, ihe cannon at the Invalides announced that the King had left the l'uilleries. His Majesty was accompanied by his sons, and surrounded by the marshals of France, general officers, and by his staff. A great body of cavaliy, infantry, and National Guards kept the ground. The Queen and royal family preceded the King. The arrival of the King at the Chamber of Deputies was announced by a salvo of artillery. The Kiog on his en- trance to the Chamber was received with loud acclamations. Having taken I is seat on the ihrone, and saluted the peers and deputies, he detivered the following speech SPEECH OF THE KING OF THE FRENCH. "GtNTLEMEN, PEERS, AMD DEPVTIFS, In calling you together around me, 1 am happy to think that we can congratulate each other on the general state of cur coun- try. I am confidenl that the good understanding of the powers of the state, and the maintenance of our policy of order and con- servatism, insure more and more the regular developement otour institutions, and the progress of the national prosperity. My government has proceeded with the execution of the great works which you have voted. The measures necessary for fully carrying them out will be proposed to you. We have thus, in a few years, given to France, on the one hand, powerful guaran ees of peace and security, and on the other, the means of extending its fruitful industry, and of spieading prosperity throughout all parts of our territory and among all classes of the population. At the same time that these important results have been accomplished, the state of our finances has become from day to day more satisfactory. The financial laws, and other laws, the object of which is to introduce important ameliorations into the administration, vtill be immediately laid before you. 1 continue to receive from all foreign powers pacific and amicable assurances. I hope that the policy that has maintained general peace through so many storms will one day do honour to the memory of my reign. The friendship which unites me with the Queen of Great Britain, and of which she has lately given me so affectionate a proof, and the mutual confidence of our two governments, have happily injured the good and intimate relations of the two states. The convention concluded between its to put an end to the odious traffic in slaves, is at this moment in the course of execu- iion. Thus, by the cordial co-operation of the maritime forces of the two states, the slave trade will be effectually put down and at the same time our commerce will be again placed under the exclusive surveillance of our flag. I have teason to hope that the great exertions of France and England will bring about, on the banks of the Plata, the re-es- tablishment of lelations commercial, tegular, and pacific. This is the only object of our efforts. Events which I deplore, but which have given a new oppor- tunity for the display of the heroism of our soldiers, have troubled our possessions in Africa. I have taken prompt measures 10 en- sure that the domination of France shall everywhere maintain the force and ascendant which belongs to it. With the Rid of time, our energetic perseverance will lay the foundation of the security and prosperity of Algeria. Gentlemen, you have given me your loyal concurrence in the great and difficulttask which the will of the nat:on has called on me to fulfil. Providence has blessed our efforts. It has also granted to me precious consolations in my family. Wherever my sons have appeared, I have the confidence that they have worthily carried the name of France. My grandsons increase in number, and grow under my eyes. My dearest wish, and my fondest hope iI, that by our devotion to France, by our zeal in serving it well, its affection may be insured to us, and the inti- mate union of my country and family be for ever confirmed." The speech was followed with ciies of Vive le Rlli," The newly-cieated peers and the trewly-elected deputies were then sworn in, in presence of the King. The Keeper of the Seals then declared the session of 1846 opened. The King then rose, and having saluted the peeis and deputies, retired, accompanied by the royal family, and a deputation from both houses.

UNITED STATES. IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE. LIVERPOOL, SUNDAY, NOON.—The British and Notth Ame- rican steamship Cambria, Captain Judkins, ariived in the Mer- sey, this morning, in III days, from Boston, including her etay at Halifax to land and take in her mails. She brings mnetyone passengers. The Cambria spoke the Acadia, hence, on the 4th, between Halifax and Boston. The papers by tins ariival extend over twelve day, and the news is of the bighsst importance, comprising, a New York paper says 1. The whole diplomatic correspondence between the Ame. rican and British ministers upon the Oregon question. "2. Intelligence from Washington, upon the best authority, that the negotiations, which it wen thought had been suspended, have been te-opened by Mr. Pakenham, upon new propositions of compromise. 3. In the event of any difficulty taking place with England upon this question, the probable action of Congress upon this subject, and the proposition, by Colonel Benton, of otganisiog f]00,000 militia, in order to meet the important crisis, including also a suitable inciease of our steam navy, foilifications, and eaval afmaments. "4. The re-opening of negotiations between Mexico and the United States, and the proposition for the purchase of California, with the probable expectation of a magnificent plan for uniting both republics, so as to give peace to both, and to present an im- portant front to all European governments. rhe«e things effect our foreign relations. In domestic affairs, the prospect that a revenue tariff will be established by Con- gress, together with a specie currency system for the government, as the best general plan to prevent inflations, give protection to all the interests of the country, and anable it to meet and prevent all commercial explosions hereafter."

INDIA. THE OVERLAND MAIL. [FROM THE MORNING HERALD.] SUMMARY-—-Intelligence of a warlike character was received yesterday from the Punjaub. The Tixh Govemmemt, it ap. pears have bcome incensed at the reported intention of the Bri- tish authorities to appropriate the territories on this side of the Sutlej, and have urged the soldiery to march towards the river with the view of repelling the expected aggression. By the last accounts some cavilry hud actually proceeded in the direction indicated. and though opinion was divided as to the policy of the movement, more men were expected to follow. In the meantime strong measures of defence have been adopted at Ferozepore, and as Sir Henry Hardinge may now calculate upon having a well- disciplined force of some 50,000 men at his command, there can be little fear of the result whatever course the reckless spirit ol the Sikhs may impel them to pursue. Goolab Siogh remains at Jumboo the Ranee continues to conduct the atrdlrS of state and the army has been separated into three divisious, and placed under the respective commands of Sndar lej Singh (the ex- governor of Peshawur), Rajah Lall Singh, anJ Sirdar Jewun Singh. Lall Singh is still unpopular. Several deserteis from our army have been taken into the Sikh service. Our news fron, Scinde is of a favourable complexion, the troops continuing healthy, and the country tianquil. Islam Khan, the Boogtie chief, is said lo h tve surrendered himself to Captain Tabor, #t Shahpoor. Sir C. Napier was to leave Kurrachee in Ihe begin. ning of December, 00 a tour of inspection. The proposition for ao exchange of territory with our ally Meer All Moorad ii be- fore government. Nothing posi'ive has yet transpired in regard to the conspiracy recently discovered at Gwalior. An official in- vestigation into the circumstaoces is siill, it would appear, going on. The kingdom of Oude and the dominions of the Nizam seem to bt still viting with each other in the extent ot tlife internal mismanagement, and the degree of oppression to which their in. habitants are subjected. The Nuam continues to struggle with pecuniary difficulties, which not even the practice of unparalleled extortions can overcome. Theie is no intelligence of striking interest trom Affghanistan. The matter in dispute beU--een Lieut.-Colonel Wallace and Captiin Le Grand Jacob has been referred for the investigation and decision of a court of inquiry at Belgaum. Amongst our lccallllCldtnts we may mention that the Malay who committed such frightful butchery a short time since by running a muck" in the native town, is to be tried at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, which cotnmeuced on the 3rd instant. Captain Curtis, of the 1st Lancer*, a most active and intell-gent officer, has been appointed superintendent of police. Mr. Deacle, of the Calcutta boarBs, is about to open the new Bombay theatre. We hear that a collision took place at sea abyut eleven o'clot k on Sfurday night last, between the steamer Sir James Carnac, Captain P. Duverger, and the Parsee, Captain Grisdale the former was on her passage to Tankarta Bunder, and the latter returning from that port laden with opi'tm and treasure, to the amount of 315,000 rupees (£31,5QO). The crew and passengers of the Partee were all saved, but the vessel and cargo went down on the spot. TheCaroilc returned to Bom- bay yesterday morning.— Overland Bombay Times, Dec. 21.

ALGERIA. Accounts from Algeria Shire that Abd.el Kader was only an hour in advance of his deadly enemy, General Jousouff, whose indefatigable perseverance, cunning, and courage, lieem to menace the Emir wiih capture or death. No Indian ever fol- lowed the track cf a foe," says a private leller, with more per- tinacity, sagacity, and resolution, than Jousouff displays id'the pnrsuit of the heroic Abd-el Kader."

The Emperor of Russia had an interview with the Pope on the 13th instant.

rASHIONS FOR JANUAHY. The damas fashionable this season is veloates, the broad velvet stripe contristingweti with this rich description of silk. These dresses require no trimming, but are made extremely full and very long behind on other materials flounces of A tendon. or point lace, aie worn. Taffetas d' ltalie are fashionable for petites soirt 6s, and are made with numerous narrow flounces, rtlcyones, satins a la Heine, taffetas Victoria, Pekiti6s levan- tines, onibr^es in dark colours ;—papelines camayeux are all in favour for dinner or evening wear. and in richer materials velvets, dSmas, satins spotted with velvet, ticc. All shades of grey £ >re fashionable en neglig6, particularly pearl Rrey, iron grey, and taupe. I he make of dresses varies but little. al»ays high bodies for the morning evening corsiges are still light and pointed, A pretty style of trimming is a plat ol two shades of the colour of the dress edging the revers of both botiv and skirt these little plats will also be used on dresses of tiiia materials for evening iveaj on white crape, or sky blue, or crape lisse. The small collars and cardinal cuffs suit well with the plain redingote these collars stand erect, a little open round the throat, embroidered and trimmed with narrow lace. put on a little full 'he cuffs ate of the same style, turned back on the ) sleeve forming gauntlet, and closing with small fiold buttons. Wreaths a la Ceres, a la Ninon, a I'lsabeau, with couronties Rachel and Pamela, are the fashionable doillures; they are all made with waxed leases instead of velvet. being lighter Pelisses ]a Valliere, Manteaux, Bayard, and Fouliere, are all in favour; the Andalouse is also pretiy, a kind of demi-man- telet, generally made of black or deep blue velvet, richly orna- mented with giinp i the form is elegant, and calculated to shew the dress* A new form of bonnet, less open at the sides than the Pamela, is talked of. Velvet bonnets of the beaver colour are very f. shionable, ornamented with featheJs of the same colour, or with several small ones, sometimes mixed with the colour of the lin- ing, pink or verise. Lace is again being used on the edge of bonnets; on white bonnets the lace is point d'An^leterre; on black, green, or ruby velvet, it is fine black lace these are orna mented with an aigrette or ostrich feather on a lappet of black- lace instead of ribbon.—Z-onrfpu and Paris Ladiit' Mogaf ine of Fashion.

Corn Trade. The settlement of the ministry (for we presume it may now be regarded as settled that Sir Robert Peel and his former col- leagues are to retain power) has, unquestionably, had a bene- ficial effect on the grain trade much doubt and uneasiness con. linue*, however, to be felt as to what course the Government are likely to pursue in respect to the corn laws. That some altera- tion will be proposed is the universal opinion; but all arealike in the dark al tu what the change is to be. We do not profess to be better informed rhan the rest of the public on this important subject, but we have no hesitation in saying, that the present amount of protection is not likely to be coniinued. At the same time It is difficult to conceive what reason the Premier will ad. vance for undoing thai which he brought forward so recently as 1842 as a final settlement of the question. Fo asser*—as the opponents of the present system do—that the measure has failed, would be an awkward admission from the very party who intro- duced it; whilst, at the same time it would be untrue. The object of a sliding-scale of duties is to afford an adequate protec- tion to .farmers in years of plenty, when sufficient grain is grown at home for the consumption of the country and in adverse sea. sons, to diminish the impost in proportion to our necessities. We have already stated above, that the return of Sir Robert Peel to power has had the effect of imparling a firmer tone to the trade in gram. Hitherto no very marked rise in prices has occur- red, but there has been much less anxiety manifested to pres, sales of wheat; whilst buyers, who had for nearly a fortnight previous refrained almost wholly from making purchases, have again com- menced operations. A tolerable extent of business has, conse- quently, been done; and there are indications of a further im- provement. The rise 00 wheat-from the lowest point of de- pression—may, taking the kingdom collectively, be estimated at Is. to 2s. per quarter; and though other soils of grain have not participated in the improvement, the downward tendency has been checked. On the whole, we feel inclined to think thai tlie panic is now over; and, being satisfied that there is a material deficiency in Ihe produce of wheat, and likewise lhat the potato disorder bus caused a greatly increased consumption of that article, we should not be surprised to see prices gradually creep up again, nearly if not quite, to the point at which they stood previous to the recent ministerial changes. At Mark-lane business has been, more or less, interfered with by the Christmas holidays, '^he supplies have been small, and the attendance at !fIarket by DO meaos numerous; notwithstand- ing which, a decided improvement hos tl\kllo place in ihe 10neol the trade. Neither on Wednesday nor Friday r.ere the transac- tions on an extensive scale but the few runs of wheat exhibited on the Essex, Kent, and Suffolk stands were taken by the millers at prices which could sralcely have been reahsedinthe com mencement of the week, though the quality of wheat on s..le was very inferior. The inquiry for free foreign wheat has not been lively, owing. prubably, to the factthat many of our prin- cipal milieu are still holders. The demand haa Also been checked by ihe high pretensions of sellers; few of whom hav«- been willing to accept former leini«. Thenottontbatamateria) modlficalion in the duty is likely to be made has given rise tn niore IDqlliry for wheat in bond, and prices have been offered which could not have been previously obtained. For fine high- mixed Danzig, 565., and for fair ted Baltic, 53s. per quarter, were refused on Fiiday, holders of the former declining to sell below 5lii. whilst the latter was held at 54s. to 55s. per qur. Th" upward -.vement.n plices of wheat hail had very little in- Huence on flour, the article having been difficult of disposal throughout the week, though freely offered at Monday's cur- rency. The arrivals of barley have not been large; the inquiry for this grain has, however, been languid and, excepting choice malt- ing qualities, which have—in consequence of 8ctualscareity- commanded full terms, the turn has rather been in favour of the buyer. Malt has also moved off slowly, at about the rates of last week. The market has been sparingly supplied with English and Scotch oats, and the receipts Irom abroad have likewise been small upwards of 25,000 quarters having, however, arrived from Ireland, ihe supply hali proved more than equal to the de- mand. In th^.commencement of the week there were slight symptoms of anintprovfmenttn the trade; but since then the principal dealers have held back, and though Monday's currency has been well maintained, it has been difficult to make progress insaies. The duty on this grain rose to 5s. per quarter on Thursday, previous to which the greater part of those in bond were entered for home consumpiion at this poit. In beans and peas there has been very little doing since Mon- day; and in the absence of transactions of moment, quotations have remained nominally tmaltered, The duty on beans, after having stood at the minimum point for many weeks, rose a step on Tbursdoy.—Mark-lane Eipress.

From the Smyrna papers, we leara that railways are at pre- sent the order of the day in Turkey Of three projected lines, which should lespectively conned the Turkish capital with Smyrna, Varna, and Adrianople, the relative merits are ear- nestly discussed. The Impartial newspaper decides in favour of the Smyrna line, on account ot the pioductive provinces through which il would pass, stating, also, that ihe difficulties arising from the nature of the soil are not so gteat as may be imagined. -Times.. The Viceroy of Egfpt is about to fouod at Cairo a school of the fine arlS, for the puipose, it is said, of disseminating amongst his subjects*' raste for the study of all things relating to Egyptian architecture. According to a letter from Palermo, Ihe Express of Russia having expies-ed a wish to plant a tree in the Olivezza park, as a souvenir of her stoy in Sicily, senral persons advised her to seiect a laurel, when the Emperor exdaio,ed, I'll have no lauiels, let others plant them, I am for an orange tree The territorial legislature of Oregon has abolished slavery, and prohibited the admission of coloured persons, either as slaves or settlers.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.—Liverpool, Dec. 25.—A water tanl, situate in Water-street, Toiteth-park, and containing 1600 tuns of water, elevated some twelve feet above the level of the stieet, buist this day at two o'clock, spreading destruction on every side, attended with serious injury to many individuals. One old woman was dragged out of the cellar of a public-house, at great risk to tho^e who ventured to her assistance, but 'heir aid came too late—she was dead. Eight bouses in Rock-street, which runs at the back of the water-works' premises, are paitly demolished, and the ruins are momentarily expected to fall, and it is feared that there are several persons in the cellars of these houses, to whom no help whatever can be rendered, the influx of water 10 these apartments rendering it impossible for ihem to escape with life. Ten houses, occupied by >ome fifty- five individuals, all of them in a low class of life, industrious, hard-working persons, are expected lo come down. ACCIDENTS.—On Tuesday evening, as Edward Howell, a man in the employ of Messrs. Waring cc Co., at Guinness fic Co.'s Porter-storex, King-slre. t, was driving a horse and cart along the road leading from the Dings lo the Old Market, when, owing to the darkness of the night, and the vehicle coming in contact with the kerbstone, Howell was thrown into the road, and the wheels passing over him, so mutilated one of his legs that, on being taken to the Infirmary, Mr. Gleeo considered III imme. diate amputation necessary we oodeMand the poor man is going on favourably. 00 Wednesday, Thomas Hall, about 70 yeais of age, an inmate of Foster's Alms-house, fell asleep by the fire, and was very severely burnt through, his clothes ig- niting. Bridget Bryan, a little girl, connected with some of the fruit-stalls, was severely injured at the Drawb.idge, by a catt parsing over her legs. 0'1 Thursday, a man nameLl Connor, SUS- tainedsuehfevere injuries in a distuibaoce in Leopard-lane, that he was obliged to be conveyed to the Infirmary.—Bristol Mer.

OMIBfJS. A KINO REPROVED.—A King was riding along in disguise, and seeing a soldier al a public door. stopped and ølked the soldier to drink with him, and while they were drinking the King swore. The soldier said, I am sorry to hear young gen- tlemen swear." His Majesty took no notice, but swote agdin. The soldier said, I'll pay part of the pot, if YOII please, and go, for I so hale swearing, that if you were the King himself I should tell you of it." Should you indeed 1" said the King. I should," said the soldier. Awhile after the King having in- vited some lords to dine with him, the soldier wag sent for, aud while thev were at dinner he was ordered into the room to wait awhile. Presently the King uttered an oath the soldier, im- mediately (but modestly) said, II Should Dot my lord and king fe>lr au oath 1" The King, looking first at the soldier, said, There, my lords, is an honest man he can firmly and re- spectfully remind me 01 the great 81n of swearing; but you can sit uod let me slain my soul by swearing, and not so much as tell me of it." SCENE ON A CHRISTMAS EVE.—They sat at table unlillate in the night; there was no cloth laid,they did not wet their mouths lightnings might have flashed around them. two armies might have been engaged io battle, even the sky might have threatened to crush them in its fall.—they were unmoved oc their seats— they weredeofand dumb. Now and then there escaped from t'leir lips a half-biokeo, unconnected, and unmeaoiDg sound, and their eyes rolled horribly- at the same time. 1 stood looking at them with astonishment and dread. I shall never forgettbehor. rible contortions I there saw! Despair, fufy, malicious jPy, and anguish, were by turns visible in their countenances. Their lage appeared to me that of the fuiies, their gravity that of the judges of hell, and their anguish that of malefactorll. Uut what was iheir object! ynu ask. They attend, perhaps, to the welfsie of the community!" Oh no! "They aie seeking the philoso- pher's stonef" YOIl are mistaken. "They wish to discover the quadiature of the circle 1" No. "Then they are railway mad if they neither hear, nor see, nor spe<<k, nor feel, what can they be doiog 1" They are gambling MOVINO AND LIFTING HOUSES.—" One need not walkthrough many streets in New York without witnessing in one of them a removal or lilting up cf a house this is almost peculiar to Amerlcon mechani, s, and I was nevei tired of looking at it. The practice has contributed very much to the straightness and uni- formity of the sireets, and so perfectly at home are they at tt, that if an adveitisement were to appear in the Sun, the Herald, or the Tribune, to remove the London Mansion-house to Hamp. stead- heath, there would be several offers for the job. A worthy tradesman in the city of Brooklyn, opposite New York, wanted lo convert his two parlour windows inlo a shop fiont. No. no,' said the builder, don't throw away your parlour I will hft the house up, and build youa much better, loftier, and more spa- cious shop where ihe parlour now stands. The screws and lim- bers were accordingly brought, aid I saw the two-story brick hou«e go up slowly, whilst the daughteis were looking out ol window ai if nOlhrng was gOIng on mote thftn usual. I watched the alteration every time 1 crossed the ferry to Brooklyn, and in the course uftwo or ur three weeks the tradesman was occupying his new and handsome store, as the shops are called."—Hubio. A lady once asked a gentleman what wit was like. To which he replied like your ladyship's bottle of sal volatile—poignant at opening, but on being too much handed about, loses all its fla- vour, and becomes qUite insipid. Free thinking does not always mean thinking freety it is more commonly being free from thinking. It is genorally the late of a double dealer to lose his ftiendt and keep his enemies. QIUBBLINO.—A quibbling writer of the last century quaintly observes, that when the cannoDS of the princes begao wet! the canens of the church were destroyed. "It was," says La, lint mitrufii that governed the world-, and then nitrum first S.int Peter and then Saltpetre." GooD—Maoy years ago, not far off, a certain Jusiice was called to gaol to liberate a worthless debtor, hy receiving his oath that he was not worth five dollars. Well, Johnny," said the Justice, as he eotered, "can you swear that you are not worth live dollars, and never will be V' 0, Why," answcred the other, rather chagrined at the quest;ou, 1 canr swear that I am not worth that amount at pieseot." "Well, well," re- turned the Justice, 1 can swear to the rest, so step forward, Johnny." After hypocrites, the greatest dupes the devil has, are those who exhaust an anxious existence in the disappointment and ven- ations of business, and live miserably and meanly, only to die magnificently rich.

THE CORN-LAWS. It has bean supposed that Sir Robert Peel's plan for the repeal of the Corn-Laws was,-to fix, in the first instance, a duty of 4s. a quarter on wheat, and to diminish Is. a year till the duty was wholly abolished. We have the strongest convic- tion that the immediate and total repeal of the laws would not only be better for the coontry, but that it would especially be better for the farmers than this abolition by steps. Our reasona for so thinking are as follow-1st. The alarming state of the country, arising out of the deficiency of the com crop and the failure ef the potatoe crop imperatively requires the immediate removal of every restriction on the import of food from abroad. Where the very lives of the people are endangered there should be no delay, nor any restraint or discouragement whatever oa the import of food. 2nd. The deficiency of the crops in the ^?L?*Pr°ducing countries of Euiope will make it the more difficult for us to obtain the suppliei required by our national exigencies; and the same fact will of course make it quite im. possible that any quantity of corn calculated materially to effeot the price in England could reach us till after the next harvest. At no possible time, therefore, could immediate repeal be safer to the farmer, or more necessary for the public. 3rd. (Jnder immediate repeal the farmers would be much more likely to obtain an immediate and satisfactory reduction of their rents than under a gradual reduction of the duty. The latter plan would afford an excuse to the landowners for putting offinde. finitely the reductions which they ought to make. 4th. A gradual reduction of protection, extending over four years, would keep prices unsettled and declining for the whohe of that period: it would be one long discouragement to the farmer. Nothing is so pernicious to every department of industry as a prospective reduction in the value of the article produced. It would be a complete bar to enterprise and the employment of capital on the land, till the final step 3hould have been taken. The history of the recent changes in the tariff shows the severe temporary evil of keeping large branches of industry in a state of suspense. 5th. The political security and social happiness of the people require that this source of bitter strife among the different classes should he at once done away. 6th. It would be as easy for any Ministry, Whig or Tory, to carry total and immediate repeal in Parliament, as to carry the plan said to have been proposed by Sir Robert Peel; whilst the people would not give to the latter plan that support which is indis- pensably requisite to ensure the success of any measure for abolishing the Corn-Laws. Such are the reasons which lead ua to believe that the immediate lemoval of the bread-tax would be incomparably better for the country, and especially for the farmers, than its gQklual removal.

HOLI.OWAY'S PILLS A CERTAIN CURE FOR ASTHMA.—Read the following cure:—James Holmes, a cotton spinner, residing at AncMtes. Manchester, had been astbmatical for these last three y»rs;he was frequently so bad, that when rising from bed he could scarcely speak or breathe, and would COURh and spit for half-an-hour together^and olten expected he would be choked He was much reduced in strength, and after everv other means of cuie failed, he used these wonderful pills, which have removed every symptom of asthma, and he is now as free from it as when he was a child. LADIES MADE HAPPT !-It is the observation of one of our best writers, that elegant occupation is the source of happinesa to the amiable sex;" and we can sincerely commend Mr.C. Mitchell, I ondon, for having contributed to this most desirable result by the publication of a charming little work, entitled," A Guide to Fancy Needlework aud Embroidery." It is amusing, practically instructive, beautifully illustrated with designs, and in all respects fitted to enlist its thousands of fair votaries for one of the refined IIccomplishmentl of the age one which ia patronized bv Royalty, cultivated by the great. A more accept. able present for a young lady it would not be easy to find; and as a means of recreative industry in schools, it is of really insnr passable importance Its cheapness (one shilling) must com mend an extensive sale.

0- MARK-LANE, MONDAY, DEC. 29. The arrivals of wheat are small during the past week, and to this day's market. The trade opened by factors seeking is. to 2s. per qr. advance, which was obtained for some of the best samples but this advance was not generally obtained, and the market closed about the s<me as this day week. Flour meets an imptoved demand, at fully late prices. Malting barley sells freely, at fully late prices; and other descriptions hardly support late rates. Beans sell slowly, without alteration in value. Grey peas Is., and white peas 2s., per qr. lower. We are largely supplied with oats; and the late decline hav- ing caused some demaud from the country, the trade has assumed a firmer aspect, and last week's prices have been fully main- tained. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. WHEAT,Essex & Kent, new red 52 58 White 59 63 — Old, red 56 65 Ditto 64 66 RYE.old 34 38 New 38 40 BARLEY.grinding.2831 malting 36 — Chevalier..36 38 Irish 27 28 Bere 07 NIALT, luffolk and Norfolk 58 63 Brown.56 60 „ vTShHaDd,U?re, 60 Chevalier..65 OATS,Yorksh& Lmcolnsh, feed 20 22 Potato .26 — Aoughallfic Cork, black. 22 23 Cork, whiie.23 24 UUJ, r V—U- 23 24 Westport ..24 v\aterford, white 21 23 Black .20 22 ^ewi7 25 26 u a 1 w a 20 22 Scotch, feed 21 — Potato .27 30 Clonmel 25 — Limerick 27 SO Londondeiry 25 — Sligo. 26 27 BEANS,Tick, new. 34 38 Old, small.52 — PEAS, Grey 40 — Maple .36 — White. 48 50 Boilers .50 —> FLOUR, Town-made.55 60 Suffolk50 per sack ot 2801ba Stockton & Norfolk 48 Irish ..50 52 FOREIGN GRAIN AND FLOUR IN BOND. WHEAT, Dantzic 52 56 fine 60 Hamburg. 50 52 Rostock 52 54 BAIlLkY 23 26 OATS, Brew 24 28 Feed.Ig 22 FLOUR, American, per barret.. 30 32 Baltic —

LONDON, MONDAY, Dec. 29. The arrivals last week from Ireland were 4,250 firkins butter and L,274 bales bacon, and from foreign ports, 4,717 casks butter! As usual, at this season of the year. there was but a moderate amount of business transacted in the butter market during the past week, and prices are without alteration. 1 n the bacon market there was a steady sale for landed parcels without any alteration in price. In other articles no change to notice. Stocks and deliveries for the week ending December 27th BUTTER. I BACON. Stock. Delivery. Stock. Deliver 1843 60,100 4,7H0 6,300 1 460 1844 19,790 5,870 I 4,0J0 2,460 1845 48,550 6,880 4;910 2,530

BUTTER, BACON, CHEESE, AND HAMS. IRISH BUTTER (new)s g. CHEFSE, pei cwt. a. a. per cwt. — — Double Gloucester 62 68 Callow, new, on brd 93 — Single ditto 48 52 Sligo 92 — Cheshire 50 76 Cork, 1st 98 — HAMS. ENGLISH BUTIER. Irish .t. 56 64 Dorset.perSrkin. 54 — Westmoreland 66 — FOREIGN. York 66 70 £ r,™J.n1e",Md. *«• 1°4 i08 BACON, new 48 62 Dmo'Klel 100 1 Middles .I 1

SMITHFIELD CATTLK MARKET. MON. DEC. 29. The beef trade was sieady at, m most transactions, an ad» trance in the cu.rencies obtained on .his day se'nnigh .of 2d. per Bibs. A few very superior Aberdeenshire and west Ireland itcota produced 4s. 6d. per 81bs. Some time before the close of the trade the whole of the beasts had changed hands. The number of sheep was unusually small, hence the mutton trade ruled active, and the quotations improved 2d. per 8lbs. the pi imest old Downs selling readily at 5s. 2d. per 81bs. The general quality of the sheep was good. There were very few calves on offer, yet the veal trade was by no means active, though plices were well supported. The pork tiade was steady, at full rates of cuirency. The number of pigs on sale was small. Per 81bs., to sink the offal. s. d. a. d. a. d. s d. Coarse and Inferior Prime coarse wool- Beasts 2 10 3 4 led Sheep .4 8 4 10 Second quality do.3 6 3 8 Prime South Downs Prime large Oxen.3 10 4 0 ditto .5 0 5 2 Prime Scots, &c..4 2 4 6 Large coarse Calves4 0 4 6 Coarseand Inferior 4 Prime small ditto..4 8 5 0 Sheep 3 6 4 0 Large Hogs 3 10 4 6 Second quality do.4 2 4 6 Neat small Porkera.4 8 5 2 Suckling Calves, 18s. to 30s.; and quarter-old Store Piga, 16, to 21s. each. Beasts, 2,460; Sheep, 16,610; Calves, 70. Pigs, 2f0.

LATEST CURRENT PRICES OF METALS. LONDON, DEC. 26, 1845. £ a. d IRON-Dara "Wales tton 9 0 0 London 10 0 0 Nail rods 1010 0 Hoops (Staf.) .+ 11 10 0 Sheet „ 12 10 0 Bars 11 0 0 Welsh cold blast foundry blast 5 10 O Scotch pig b Clyde 3 15 O Rails 12 0 0 Russian c CCND. 1510 0 PSI 16 00 Gourieff 14 10 O Archangel 13 12 6 Swedish d, for arriv 0 0 0 on the spot. 12 0 0 Steel,fagt .o oo.-oo 15 15 0 kegse 15 0 O COPPER-Tilef. 92 0 0 Tough cake 93 0 0 Bestsetected 96 0 0 Ordinary sheets 0 010* bottoms 0 oilj TIN-Com. blocks g 5 3 0 bars 5 4 6 Refined 5 8 0 Strai ts h 411 9 „ Banca 4 13 0 TIN PLATES—Ch., IC. i box 115 0 IX 2 1 0 Coke, IC 1 10 0 IX 1 16 O LEAD-Sheet fc 20 0 0 Pig, lefined. 21 0 O common 19 0 0 Spanish, in bd 1810 0 American 17 15 0 Sr-ER.TFK—(Cake)I 21 5 0 ZINC—(Sheet) m export 30 0 0 QUICKSILVER n .6. 0 4 6 KFFINF.D METAL. ton 0 A 0 a Discount 24 per cent. b Net cash. c DiaBunt 2y per cent. d Ditto. a In kegs £ and f-inch. t Discount S percent, g Ditto 2J per cent. h Net cash, in bond, i Dig. count 3 per cent, k Ditto 21 per cent, I Net cash bond m Discount I i per cent. n discount 11 per cent. • For home use it is £ per ton. REMARKS. The transactions in metals this if -en. Very limited the only alterations to notice arein Scotch pig-iron, which ia rather firmer. Foreign tin, ofting to the recent arrivals, a little lower, and spelter is also a shade lower. Other metals at last quotations.

PRESENT PitlCF- OF l'IN PLATES. NEWPORT. DEC. 27. £. a. d..£ I d No. [C. per box. Lit 0 Waiters.0 2 0 No. FX. per box » 17 0 It 030 „ No.lXX. per box. i- 8 0 ,k 0 3 u

51USTOL HAY MARKET, DEC 30, Hay pei ton.••••••••••••••»»».2 10 '0 to "3 10 0 Straw per Dozen. 0 1 0 lo 0 1 6 j C'f ivewport, oaiuraay, January 3, 1846. Printed and Published for the Proprietor, E D WAR D UOWLlNG, of Stcrv 11 ill, in the Parish ot St. Woolos, ia the MEHIIN (ienertl Printing Office, situate in Corn.ttteet.in the Borough of Newport,by WILLIAM CHRISTOPHERS, of No. I, Chailes-street, in the said Borough London Agents:—Messrs. Newton and Co., Warwick-square, Mr. R. barker, 33, Fleet-street; Mr. G. Keynell, 43. Chan* eery-lane, Mr. S. Deacon, Coffee-house, No. 3, WalbraeK near t h« Mansion House, whtro this paper ia lefuUrl y iJtQj