ftlistellantaus.

A paragraph has been going the round of the newspapers with regard to an asserted narrow escape of the Prince of Wales at Osborne. We are authorized to state that there is not one word of truth in the whole of the very circumstantial narrative. There are no preserves at Osborne, and consequently no battues; and Lord Canning has never been out shooting there wider any circumstances. The whole foundation for the exaggera- tion is, that several weeks since, at a shooting-party in Windsor Park, Colonel Grey was -struck by a stray shot; and Lord Canning was amongst the shooters, and was not very well. All the statement about the hare, the danger of the Prince of Wales, and Colonel Grey's throwing himself before the young Prince, is pure invention.—Morning Chronicle, Dee. 26.

The "Honourable G. P. Judd, Minister to his Highness the King of the Sandwich Islands," accompanied by two nephews of the said King, after visiting the United States, has arrived at Liverpool by the Canada. The Minister's trip has reference to the late proceedings of the French; but the Princes are merely travelling for observation. " The two young gentlemen," says the Liverpool Standard," who from their exterior and manners are fully entitled to the name, are brothers, about seventeen and sixteen years of age. They speak English thoroughly, with pleasing correct- ness, giving every evidence of good manners and education. the youngest is named Alexander Lihihiho; who has been destined and selected by his uncle, the King of the Islands, to succeed him on his throne should he himself die child- less. This, however, is but a remote probability, as he is married, and is only thirty-four years of age."

We learn with sincere pleasure, that letters received by the last mall from India not only contradict the statement that the Marquis of Dalhousie was unwell, but announce that he is in excellent health, and that he has no intention of resigning the high office he fills, the duties of which his eminent talents so well qualify him to discharge. Edinburgh Courant.

By the death of Dr. William Hart Coleridge, the Bishopric of Barbados and the Windward Islands falls to the disposal of Ministers. Bishop Cole- ridge's death occurred suddenly, from the bursting of a blood-vessel near the heart, while he was looking at the ruins of the bridge of St. Saviour's over the Otter, near his seat of Salston, at Ottery St. Mary.

The obituary records the death of Mr. Patrick Frazer Tytler, the his- torian of Scotland. By this event a literary pension reverts to the Crown.

The O'Gorman Mahon, M.P. for Ennis, has written a letter to the Times, contradicting a report that he had accepted office. He has no idea of the kind. To sever him from friends with whom he is connected by " sacred bonds," " will require the preliminary step of removing me from this earthly scene." [He will then accept office subsequently: where?] The United Service Gazette mentions a report that an expedition is about to be set on foot by private enterprise to start once more in search of Sir John Franklin, under the command of Sir John Ross. The American papers mention a similar enterprise proposed by Commander Lynch, who has offered his services to President Taylor as its leader: with generous enthusiasm, he has ventured to pledge himself to " raise sufficient from private sources to charter, strengthen, and equip " the vessel; which he thinks should be a steamer.

The Lords of the Admiralty have presented Mr. O'Byrne with 1001. as an acknowledgment of the value of his labour in compiling the Naval Biographical Dictionary.

The Lords of the Treasury have given notice of their determination to disallow after the present year all entries in departmental expenses under the head of the "gratuities generally termed Christmas-boxes."

The next batch of convicts under sentence of transportation will be forwarded to the new settlement of Perth, Western Australia.— Times.

We have heard from authority, upon which reliance can be placed, that the contemplated reduction of the Army will be to the extent of ten thou- sand men; but the details of the manner in which it is proposed to effect it have not transpired.—Morning Chronicle.

There never were so many English ships either actually building or cons tracted for as at the present time, when the Navigatiou-laws have only ten days' existence before them. The unprecedented number of vessels build- ing at Sunderland has been repeatedly mentioned in the newspapers; and we have recently heard of a gentleman who had gone to Liverpool with the intention of contracting for the building of three or four large ships; but he found all the shipbuilders full of orders, and not one of them would con- tract, even at a high price, for a vessel to be immediately commenced. We believe that the builders on the Thames are in precisely the same con- dition; and we shall not be at all surprised to hear that orders have been sent to foreign ports, not because foreign vessels are better or cheaper, but because English vessels cannot be obtained.—Manchester Guardian.

Sir Robert Peel has addressed his tenantry in a practical letter, of which the following is a copy.

"To the Tenant-Farmers on the Estate of Sir Robert Peel.

"I wish to communicate with you on the present state and the prospects of agriculture, so far as they concern our relations of landlord and tenant; and I know not that I could select any better mode of communication than this which I have adopted. "There can, I think, be no question that the effect of the recent changes of the law in respect to the free import of the main articles of subsistence, will be to maintain a range of low prices in average seasons, and to prevent very high prices in seasons of dearth. In other words, their effect will be to insure, so fin as legislation can insure it, cheapness and abundance of food as the ordinary rule— to diminish the risk of scarcity—and to mitigate the suffering from it should it unfortunately occur. " It is because I believe that this will be the effect of the changes to which I have referred, that I look upon them as irrevocable, and that I advise you to dismiss altogether from your calculations the prospect of renewed protection.

"It is my firm persuasion that neither the present nor any future Parliament will consent to reimpose duties upon the main articles of human food, either for the purpose of protection or of revenue.

"I would at once act upon that persuasion, and proceed to consider in what degree the free import of provisions affects the relation in which we stand to each other, if I did not believe that other causes, less permanent in their operation, have had a material influence upon the present value of agricultural produce. I allude in particular to the *general scarcity and high prices which recently prevailed for two or three successive years, not merely in this country, but throughout great part of Europe—to the extraordinary stimulus thus given to production—and the natural consequence of that stimulus, a temporary and undue depression of price. " I propose, therefore, to defer for a time that general review of the relation in which we stand to each other, which, but for the circumstances to which I have referred, I would at once have undertaken. " When undertaken, it will be upon principles which I thick you will admit to be just. I shall not refer merely to the diminished price of one article or another, but I shall take into the account all the considerations which fairly enter into the question—shall try. to estimate the effect of recent legislation and of improved means of conveyance, in reducing not only the price of produce, but the cost of p;oduction also—and shall compare the disadvantage to which the tenant-farmer may be exposed from competition with producers in other countries, with the benefit which he may derive, if he has ordinary skill and capital, from the aboli- tion of duties on many articles which are or may be profitably consumed upon farm.

" I do not undertake to make a general and indiscriminate abatement of rent, but, aided by good advice, I shall consider the special case of each farm, and the circumstances under which it was entered upon; and in the instances in which I shall be satisfied that there is a fair claim for an abatement of rent, I will make it, and make it with ;much greater pleasure in favour of an old and improving. tenant than in favour of a stranger. " Although, as I have before observed, I do not consider the present the suitable period for this general review of our position, yet I am prepared without delay to cooperate with you in preparing to: meet, not foreign competition only, but that competition with domestic skill and capital, which will be at least as formidable to those farmers who are insensible to the rapid progress of agricultural improve- ment, and neglect to keep pace with it. " I have not the presumption to offer you advice as to the practical manage- ment of your farms; but I may try to impress upon you this troth, that if there be any of you who produce, on the average, not more than eighteen or twenty bushels of wheat per acre, and if there be other farmers who, in not more favour- ed positions and on land of equal quality, produce forty—and if they produce this, not by expensive farming, but by wise economy—by the command of adequate capital—by the application of scientific skill—by the liberal employment of labour —by the saving of every particle of minium, and the restoration to the earth of those elements of fertility which are withdrawn with every crop,—I may, I say, without presumption, try to impress upon you this truth, that there is no amount of protection from foreign produce, no abatement of rent, which would enable you to meet the competition of your own countrymen. "To aid the exertions which are required to encounter successfully that com- petition, I make to you the following proposal. " The rent due at Michaelmas last will be payable, according to custom, in the course of a few days. In the case of all those tenants, occupying more than ten acres of land, who Oen pay the Michaelmas rent, and discharge any former arrears that may be due,Twill set apart 20 per cent of the last half-year's rent, and will forthwith apply the amount under the general direction of my agent, hut in concert with the tenant, in such improvements as may be most beneficial to the farm. I shall give the preference to drainage, to the removal of mnnecessary fences, and to the means of preventing the.waate of 131ABlife. On this expenditar no return will be required from thelmmat.

"The Berne course shallbe taken with regard to the half-year's rept whielt will be due at.Lady.day next.

"If upon any of year farms additional draining should be still requisite, I will execute the work upon the some terms as heretofore; the tenant drawing the materials and paying 4 per cent upon-the outlay. As to other permanent im- woven-lents, requiring an expenditure whichdhe tenant, cannot conveniently meet, bat on which he may be wilding to pay a reasonable rate of interest, (such, for in- stance, as additional shedding for the feeding of cattle,) I will consider favourably spyproposals that any be made to me on that head.

"It is hardly necessary to refer to biases of longer duration than one year, as they are so few in number. In the cases, however, in which they do exist, I ;rill consent to release the tenant froth his engagement, on his giving, at the proper period of the present year, the same notice which would be required in the case of yearly tenancies.

"Such tenancies are, as yeaars well awam, the ehnost invariable rule in this immediate neighbourhood; but if ea), of you,are desirous of expending money on the improvement of your farina, and wish for the additional security of a lease for years I have no disinclination to grant it, being satisfied as to the skill and capital of the tenant requiring it.

If you prefer to a lease a written agreement, stipulating for.reimbursement en account of naexhausted impravements,en the principle long acted upon in car- taffi districts, I am willing to enter into such agreement.

" It does not occur to me that there are any other points to which it is ne- cessary for me, for the present at least, to refer. I have thought it would be for your advantage that 1 should fully. explain to you my views and intentions with regard to matters so deeply concerning your interests; and I hope I have done so in a spirit becoming the long connexion that has subsisted between us, and the friendly intercourse we have always maintained.

" Believe me, with every good _with for your welfare, sincerely yours, "ROBERT PEEL.

" Drayton Manor, Dec. 24, 1849.

" P.S. The payment of rent will be made, as usual, on the 1st and 3d of Janu- ary; but as this notice will reach you only a, short time previously, I will not ex- clude from the benefit of it a tenant who may make all payments, due by him within the period of one month following."

Some paragraphs have got into the provincial press to the effect that there will be tides of extraordinary height all over the globe on the 29th or 80th of this month—today or tomorrow. It is stated that the authori- ties at the Customhouses of Leith and Dublin have acted -in the full ex- pectation of •the casualty, and taken precautions to protect wares and buildings from damage. But Sir William Rowan Hamilton, the Astrono- mer-Royal at the Dublin Observatory, has officially replied to queries, that, after recalculation of the tide-tables in his observatory, his assistants find "no reason to expect that the tide at the end of this month will at- tain any extraordinary height. Of course it may be favoured by winds, but that we cannot foresee."

Results of the Registrar-General's return of mortality in the Metropolis for the week ending on Saturday last—

Number of Deaths. Autumn Average.

Synaptic Diseases 197 .... 307 Dropsy, Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat 36 49 Tubercular Diseases

178 Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses 131 196 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels

AO Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration

214 Diseases of the Stomacb, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion

65

'Dim..es of the Kidneys, Sc

11 • Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, Sc 4 .... 10 Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, Sc

Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tiotomoke

1 Malformations

Premature Birth 25 .... 29 Atrophy

18 Age

57 Sudden

12 "Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance

Se

The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 54.5° in the sun to 2151.602° in

Total (including unSpecilled causes/ 1049

the shade; the mean temperature by day being warmer than the average mean temperature by 2.5°. The direction. of the wind for the week was variable. " In the Metropolitan districts the deaths registered in the week ending last Saturday were 1,043 ; the weekly average of the last quarter of five previous years, corrected for increase of population, is 1,162. In the correaponding week of the year 1846, 1,276 deaths were returned ; in that of 1847, 1,946 deaths, when the mortality was increased by influenza; and in the same week of 1848 the deaths were 1,118. Bat though still considerably less than usual, the weekly -contingent now shows a tendency to rise to the winter rate of mortality, and the present return shows an increase of 41 on the deaths of the previous week. In three successive weeks ending December 15th, the deaths from 'bronchitis were respectively GO, 86, 89; last week they rose to 110, whilst theaverage is only 68: from asthma there were 21, 16, 26, and 19 in the last four weeks; and from pneumonia, (or inflammation of the lungs,) 94, 88, 90, and 81. The mortality from pneumonia, which is less than the average, occurs to a mach greater extent among children than aged persons ; and the latter class are now the principal sufferers, from the increased colduess of the weather. Three men and five women -died last week at ninety years and upwards ; two of the women had turned ninety- five years. From diarrheas and dysentery the deaths were 19. .A woman of seventy died on the 16th December, in Great Pulteney Street, from debility which succeeded an attack of cholera. All epidemics are less fatal than usual, except measles, which rather exceeds the average.

"The mean daily reading of the barometer at Greenwich Observatory was above 30 inches on the last three days of the week ; the mean of the week was 29 952. The daily mean temperature, which was 51° on Sunday, gradually fell to 33° on Friday and Saturday; the mean of the week was 42°, rather more than the average of the same week in seven years. The daily mean was about 10° above the average enSuuday and Tuesday, and 6° below it on Friday."

A new stench-trap has been so oonstructed that it is always shut; and it will carry off any dirt or rubbish which may fall through the grating over it. It con- sists mainly of a cylinder, divided into four chambers, which turns on a pivot be- low the receiver, and is mode air-tight by means of vulcanized India rubber. On receiving water front above, the cylinder revolves, bringing beneath the receiver another division, and emptying the find. The inventor suggests, that by means of a stream of water and a pipe from the gully-hole to the top of an adjoining house, the cylinder, in revolving, would serve to ventilate the sewer.—Builder.

The city of Utica, New York, does not owe a single cent of public debt, and has money in bank, besides taxes due and collectable. It has an abundant supply- of water brought into the houses of the °Risme, fresh from the mountain-springs. It is lighted by gas of pure and excellent quality; has the best-appointed and most effective fire department of any city of its size in America • and la the may city in-the State which wholly escaped the ravages of thetholen: last summer.:.. New York Herald.

.- - We have-reason to believe that all differences have been made wp in.theThird Regiment of Dragoon Guards, and thatColocei Arthur is to continue-int/le com- mand..—Sun.

The ancient usage of readings is about to be resumed at the Middle Temple, Readings will be delivered by Mr. Bowyer, p.e.L. end barrister-at-law, (who bag been appointed to perform the duties of Reader,) on the evenings of the three Wednesdays in Hilary Term next, thel6th, 284, and 60th of January, in the -hail of the Middle Temple; and all the students and other members Of the Inns of Court will be admitted, without the payment of any-fee, to these and the sub- sequent readings.—Times.

An eccentric old bachelor who lately died at Madras has lefts sum of 10001., the interest. of which is to be divided annuelly into four portions, to be distributed at-the discretion of the minister of St. Cyrus, ICincardinealtiee; one pertion:tobe given to the tallest woman that has been married in the parish during the year, and one to the shortest; a third portion goes to the oldest woman married daring the year, and the fourth to the youngest.--.American Paper.

The Manchester hank of .Heywood and Co. has jest.lnored into new Premises expressly.erected for the .business: they have cost 10,000/, and appear to be equally =4814141am/ handsome, wjth every repent improvement in ventilatian and in safety from robbers and fire.

The Secretary of State has allowed the iollowing -rewards to the On- played in the ,deteetion and, conviction of the Manningsm-Liovector teld, ISL; Sergeants Langley, Witcher, and Thornton, 10/. each ; Shaw, Renda1,and Smith, 8/. each; Andrews, 51.; Constahles Beings 101. Barton 8/. and Lackey 5/.

The Vigilant revenue-cutter has captured a vessel on the Thames at .Cliffs with 14,402 peuuds,of contraband tobacco on board. The tobacco was packed in Mises ready for "naming," and these were placed in casks, which were stowed in the hold. The crew of three ,then and two boys have.been rat to pricer' by the Boche,ster Magistrates.

Fear Latter-day Saints have, een detected by the Police in -unlawfally killing salmon at night in the river Ammon, near Carmarthen. Three of the Sain6 mgde such geed Ase of. their legs that they escaped ; but the other was captured, and was net day fined20s. by the Magistrates.

A gamekeeper in the service of Lord Scarborough, at Hunsworth, has been shot by ,s poacher. The ,keeper and an assistant were going their rounds at night; they encountered four men armed with .guns; words arose, and the keepers fol- lowed them. The poachers -threatened to fire, and presently one levelled his piece; the keeper lowered -his head, and the charge lodged in his ,shoulder. One of the gang has been taken.

Robert Orphan, gamekeeper to the Earl of Lansdale, at Lowther Castle, in Westmoreland, has been dreadfully mangled by a charge from a -poacher's gun; his recovery is all but hopelesi. He came upon the poacher at-night, and on.his advancing the man immediately fired. Three poachers were subsequently taken in the neighbourhood.

A-Turin letter recounts a-horrible assassination committed on the railroad be- twen Turin and Asti. " A foreigner, staying at one of the first hob* of She Sardinian capital, had received a ARM of 6,000 francs. On his departure for Asti, heaves waylaid-by four-men, very well dressed, who dogged his steps ip sash a manner as to e.geite,ao ,suspicion of their atrocious design. Towards , nightfall, seeing that their.vietim 'directed his path towards the railroad station, the raffians took four „places in the train, and rode in -the same carriage as the traveller. What took place during the journey to Asti we are not able to inform the reader. The four unknown had only ffiken tickets for Valdichiesa; on.calling at which sta- tion they alighted. The train resumed its coarse; hut when it reached Asti,and the conductor opened the carriage-door, he could not awake the stranger. Growing impatient, the conductor palled him by the leg, and-afterwards by the coat. He .was petrified ,to behold a corpse yield to the impulse and roll at his feet! IThe body bore the -marks of recent strangulation, and the 6,000 francs had-disap, peered."

Mr. Frincep, a gentleman of Bishopsteignton, having beep out shooting, and returning in a boat by himself, was seized by an apoplectic fit. Some lightermen found him lying in Use bettom of the beat; the body was still warm, but life was gone.

On the 18th instant, Captain Carden, of Herbert Hall, Crickhowell, was shoot- ing in the woods about-Deny Park; and having discharged one of the barrels of his gun, was about reloading it, when the other barrel went off, and blew 'his right hand to pieces, a portion of the charge grazing his cheek-bone, and carrying away part of the scalp. The unfortunate gentleman was immediately conveyed to the residence of Mr. Clarke of Danygraig ; where a surgeon was very speedily in at- tendance, and amputated the arm :roidaway between the.wrist and elbow. The operation was borne with great ftrinness.—Monmotta Merlin.

Two men have been killed at the Sturton-le-Steeple station of thellanehester and Lincolnshire Railway. They had been assisting bricklayers at the station; a luggage-train came np, and they approached it to get on a carriage, expecting that it would atop; bat the load and speed were greater than usual, the train dashed forward, and both the men were run over.

Three little boys of New Accrington were sent from home on Sunday to the school ; but instead of going thither, they spent some hours in sliding on a pond that they had been warned was dangerous. I.n the afternoon, the ice broke, and all were plunged into the water. A man heard their cries, and ran fora pole to assist them; but on his return they had sank.

A little boy fell out of a carriage on the Bolton and Preston Railway, in conse- quence of a door not having been fastened, while the train was in full speed. The father was in the carriage, and there was great difficulty in preventing him from leaping out. On arriving at a station, the engine went back to search for the child; and he was found on the road crying, but quite unhurt.

During a thick fog at Birmingham, a little girl fell into a look of a canal: a boy heard her screams, ran to the place, descended the lock-gates by the pinks. tiona on the surface, and managed to get hold of the girl. The cries of bah eventually brought assistance, and they were rescued.

The accounts of the Bank of England for the week ending the 22d December exhibit, when complied with those of the preceding week, the following results■•

BANEINV DEPARTMENT. Increase. Decrease.

Rest Polak Deposits £2,567 733,718

- -

Other Deposits

£440,285 Seven-day and other Bala is

Government Securities, including Dead-weight ----= —,-..

Other Securities 57,147

-

Notes unissued 29,660

-

Actual Circulation

119,490

Baum DIPAILTRENT

Notes issued 147,170

-

Bullion 69,381 vas week.

- Last week.

Total Bullion In both Departments

17,080,642 16,991,261

Actual Circulation

17,803,410 17,952,900