Allafscellantous.

Lord John Russell gave a Cabinet dinner on Tuesday, in Chesham Place. A Cabinet Council was held on Thursday, at the Foreign Office. These gatherings are watched with more than usual curiosity just now, on ac- count of the previous rumours as to the meeting of Parliament, the "open- ing of the ports," and so forth.

Some of our contemporaries have stated that it is the intention of the Honourable George Byng to retire from the representation of Middlesex at the next election, and that his successor will be Lord Robert Grosvenpr: We, however, have been informed that the probable successor to that honour will be the nephew of the present excellent and venerable Member, Mr. Byng.—Globe.

We have pleasure in stating that Lord John Russell has presented our townsman Mr. Barker, the son of the late " Old Sailor," with a landing- waitership in the port of London.—Dover Telegraph.

Among the passengers arrived in England by the Great Western, is Mr. George Bancroft, the new Minister of the United States at the Court of St. James's.

It is announced in the Copenhagen journals of the 19th instant, that the King of Denmark, in conformity with the joint prayer of the royal per- sonages concerned, has annulled the marriage contracted on the 10th of June 1841 between the Crown Prince Frederic Charles Christian and the Dutchess Caroline Charlotte Mary Anne of Mecklenburg Strelitz. The reason assigned is the ill health and shattered constitution of the latter; the object is, to give the Crown Prince a third chance of heirs to the Da- nish throne.

I [The Archduke Palatine of Hungary, a most popular dignitary, has long been lying dangerously ill; and the latest accounts received from Path describe his recovery to be hopeless.

The King of Prussia has conferred the cross of Red Eagle of the fourth class on M. Galle, the astronomer at the Observatory of Berlin, who was the first to perceive the new planet, the position of which was indicated by M. Leverrier.

Subjoined are the two letters published by the Morning Post, as having been addressed by two Lords of the Treasury to an Earl-

" Grosvenor Square, Oct. 16. "My dear --I decline to confirm the authority which, in answer to

your letter received at , I, with my father's concurrence, gave for your affixing my name to the requisition to Sir Montague Cholmely. Finding your letter of the 10th here, I just write to tell you how sound and just your view of the case appears to me to be. " Lincolnshire is, I know, full of Dissenters; and they would never be satisfied with one who has had so much to do with the Church of Rome as Heneage has. There is no news of any kind. Dissolution is thought so nearly impossible that no one regards the talk about it in some of the papers; and the meeting of Par- liament so improbable after the firm and bold step taken by Lord Besbrough, that people are just making their arrangements as if it were out of the question. There are more people in town than I should have believed at this time of the year.

" With kind remembrance to Lady , believe me, yours sincerely, " Treasury, Oct. 17.

" My dear —I am glad that your candidate's election has gone off

unanimously. I am afraid Heneage will be disappointed; but he was so little eager, and at the same time so resolved not to incur uncertain expenses, that I had no hesitation in agreeing with him that he ought not to put himself in nomi- nation without a clear assurance of a subscription. I think he expected Sir bf.. Cholmely would do the same. I write to Heneage by tonight's post, to calm any disappointment, should it exist. 1 have just sent to ••••••••• Street to inquire whether you were in town; but the answer is No'; therefore, I conclude your

Friday means next Friday. • • • " There are little or no news stirring in town, now that the Montpensier mar-

riage is over. I hope the newspapers will let the subject drop; for there is no use in crying out, although we have been cheated. I hear from good authority that the Queen is not so ill-looking, and that she has all natural indications of being capable of producing a little Prince of Asturias, while her so-called impo- tent husband has already a couple of children. Thus Montpensier's chance is not so good; and under no event is there any possibility of France and Spain being circled under one Bourbon. It is much more likely that fifty years hence there will be no Bourbon in either country. Still I hear from good authority, that both Louis Philippe and Guizot have behaved like a couple of knaves. Lord Dalhousie is likely to go to Bombay with the reversion of the Governor-General- ship. This is a large trout; but it will serve to draw the best man out of Peers camp. " I hope you are all well; and, with many remembrances, believe me ever, very sincerely yours

" I will look out •• •• ut for you on Friday next." Mr. Poulett Scrope has kept up his epistolary fire upon the Premier in the columns of the daily papers. On Monday, in the Horning Chronicle, be returns to the charge. Cases of starvation in Ireland are multiplying, and an awful responsibility rests on the Government. Too great reliance must not be placed on the voluntary efforts of the landed proprietors: care must be taken by means of compulsory superintendence to see that proper measures are adopted. On the subject of the " soreness" imputed to him, Mr. Scrope says- " When last year, for the fifth or sixth time, I brought the question before the House of Commons of an improved poor-law for Ireland, I will not deny that it was with pain that I found myself opposed by your Lordship. It was with equal pain and disappointment that I found the session allowed to close without your taking any step for realizing the measure of waste-land reclamation, which I had proposed as supplemental to a sound and effectual poor-law, and of which you had expressed your approval, and an intention to take it up as a Government measure. That pain has undoubtedly been increased by recent circumstances. The state of Ireland, peculiar to this year, has made it a matter of tenfold deeper regret that those measures were not adopted six months since; which would, in my opinion, have made it comparatively easy to deal with the present difficulties, and obviated much of the danger, the sufferings, and the mischievous future re- sults of the existing state of things there. " But if any feeling of a personal nature is mixed up with these regrets, it has no reference to myself, but to the loss of character and reputation that will have been incurred by the party which your Lordship heads, and of which I have been hitherto proud to form a unit, should they prove unequal to the task of car- rying Ireland through the difficulties of the present crisis, or of solving the problem of her future regeneration, when this bard trial shall have passed over."

On Tuesday, Mr. Scrope broke a lance with Mr. Senior, in the columns of the Times, in defence of his proposal to apply an efficient poor-law as the proper remedy for Ireland's troubles. Mr. Scrope assails the very foundations of Mr. Senior's statements in the recent number of the Edin- burgh Review.

A correspondence has appeared in the Times, under the head of "a very pretty quarrel," between General William Napier and Mr. John Sullivan. The General took offence at the following passage in Mr. Sullivan's speech at the last quarterly meeting at the India House- " Yet the gallant historian of the Conquest of Scinde, in one of the most dis- graceful books ever issued from the British press, had the temerity to assert that the evidence had been sifted and probed to the bottom."

In the first letter of the series General Napier desires to know whether Mr. Sullivan admits the correctness of the report of the offensive passage. That gentleman answers, that the report is perfectly correct; and that he considered himself warranted in using the.word "disgraceful "; but he adds, in conclusion, " If, in the judgment of impartial persons, the expression of my opinion was uncalled-for, I should be most happy to retract it." In this instance, however, " a fair word " did not " turn away wrath," for we find General Napier quite furious. He admits Mr. Sullivan's right to free speech in debate, and claims a reciprocal right to free comment on the published speech; which be embodies in these words=" I have the honour to tell you, a speech may be disgraceful from its folly, its insolence, or its falsehood: yours is so from all three?' Mr. Sullivan's rejoinder expresses (in justice to himself) his regret that he had not conveyed his opinion of the Conquest of Scinde in other language, because he dislikes "strong ex- pressions." " The object of this note is not to notice the insulting terms in which you have addressed me, and which I can assure you cause me no disturbance, but to free myself irom all suspicion of having intended to in- sult you when I expressed my opinion of your book."

An Admiralty order has been received at Sheerness for the following ships-of-war to be brought forward for commissioning with all possible ex- pedition—the Waterloo, 120 guns; the Howe, 120 guns; the Asia, 84 guns; the Ganges, 84 guns; and Monarch, 84 guns; the Hawke, 72 guns; Achilles, 72 guns; Russell, 72 guns; and Hercules, 72 guns. The following frigates are also nearly completed—the Cornwall, 50 guns; Conquestador, 50 guns; Worcester, 50 guns; and Chichester, 50 guns. Many merely want but a few stores to complete them, when they are to be immediately put into commission and scut upon foreign service. The artisans and mechan- ics have been compelled for some time past to atop in the usual hours al- lowed for their meals, and to work until quite dark, so as to complete the orders of the Admiralty for foreign equipment.

The Enniskillen Reporter contains a pleasing account of a military cere- mony which took place recently—the presenting of a silver medal of merit, Ott by the Commander-in-chief, to Colour-Sergeant David Brown, of the Ninety-second Highlanders. The medal was presented before the regiment by Colonel M`Donald; who complimented the recipient. Mr. Brown was made sergeant eighteen, and colour-sergeant ten years ago; and during the whole period his character has been irreproachable.

According to the opinion expressed in the Mark Lane Express, founded on a return of the relative quantities of wheat sold each week from July to October in 1845 and 1846, there is much less home-grown wheat on band this year than last. Our dependence must, therefore, be upon foreign grain. Luckily, the prospects in this respect are more cheering than here- tofore.

The arrivals at Liverpool from America have begun to tell. Five ves- sels are reported by the local correspondent of the Standard- " One of them, the Great Western, is a steamer, and therefore only capable of bringing comparatively small freight. Let us, however, look at what these five ves- sels have supplied. The quantity stands thus: 7,700 barrels of flour, 40,000 bushels of wheat, 7,600 boxes of cheese, 1,400 barrels of beef and pork, 1,500 barrels of apples, 1,420 barrels of lard, 3,200 kegs of lard, 200 barrels of biscuits, BOO casks of butter. Of the above quantities, the ship Henry Clay brought nearly 3,000 barrels of flour, 21,000 bushels of wheat, and 3,000 boxes of cheese, be- sides a great deal of miscellaneous merchandise. Taking the flour and wheat to- gether of these several vessels, the one day's entry is equal to seventy-five thou- sand bushels of wheat. This is only the commencement of American corn im- ports."

In the Irish markets, the prices of grain, particularly oats, barley, and Indian corn, are advancing. In France, the stock of grain is ascertained to be larger than people's fears led them to believe: prices have in consequence receded. The arri- vals from abroad had also been considerable.

The harvest in Holland has been productive: but as Holland never pro- duces enough for her own consumption, she will still feel the European Scarcity.

Letters from the Feroe Islands state that all the crops have failed this year; and that the potatoes, which usually constitute the third of the food of the whole population, have all rotted in the ground, so, that if the vessels sent from Denmark should unfortunately be delayed in their course, the inhabitants would be exposed to all the horrors of famine.

The Vladika (Bishop-Governor) of the Montenegrins has caused to be sold at Trieste several precious articles, among others a very valuable dia- mond cross, to purchase food for the inhabitants of his little country, who suffer much from want.

It is said that 230,000 florins (about 25,8001.)have been offered to Prince Metternich for this year's produce of the vineyards of his estate of Johannis berg, but refused as inadequate.

By the Pacific, which has arrived at Aberdeen from Davis's Straits, more favourable accounts have been received of the progress of the fishery in that quarter. The Pacific had seven fish; the Horn of Dundee eight fish; the Lady Jane of Newcastle six fish; and several others from four to five fish.

An association of merchants and shipowners is forming in Liverpool, having for its object the reduction of the present exorbitant duties mites.

It is reported that an agreement has been concluded with the Di- rectors of the Western Steam Navigation Company to get off the Great Britain. The gentleman whose plans have been approved of is named Mackintosh, and is an American, born of Scotch parents. He has dis- tinguished himself by several ingenious inventions, and is the patentee of many of the applications of caoutchouc or Indian rubber. The parties will proceed on Monday for Dundrnm Bay, to commence the preliniinary operations.

The Limerick Chronicle states that "an unauthorized issue of scrip of the Wexford, Waterford, and Valentia Railway Company, has been discovered, to the extent of 17,0001., for which sum no credit has been given to the Company. The Directors intend, it is said, to make up the deficiency among themselves, and not to make the matter one of public inquiry. Captain Richardson, who recently figured so unpleasantly at the London Mansionhouse, was Deputy-Chairman of this Company."

A monster chimney has lately been erected for a chemical manufactory at Wi- gan: it is 420 feet high, and contains 3,000,000 bricks.

The Trebizonde correspondent of the Times, writing on the 26th of Sep- tember, reports the advance of the Asiatic scourge so long expected- " The cholera has passed the line of the Russian quarantine on the borders of the Caspian Sea, and is raging throughout all the Tartar villages of the districts of Salgau and of Lenkeran. A considerable number of Cossacks, forming the cordon on the Persian frontier, have likewise been attacked."

A most disastrous storm occurred on Thursday and Friday last week. It raged with fury on the South-western coasts, and occasioned a great destruction of life and property. At Fishgnard there were many wrecks: in some cases the crews escaped or were rescued, in others they were less fortunate. The master and mate of the Martha of Yarmouth were drowned: all the crew of a schooner bound to Southampton, seven in number, perished. The beach for miles was strewed with wreck. Many disasters occurred about Aberystwith. Two vessels went ashore at the mouth of the Dovey, it is feared with the loss of the crews. At Milford there were several wrecks. On the Cornwall coast the storm was very violent. To the Westward of Padstow a brigantine bound for Constantinople went ashore: eight people lost. Wrecks and damage to vessels are reported in many other places on the West coast.

Many disasters have occurred on the Irish coasts. The Clare Chronicle states that pieces of wreck, timber, and salted provisions, have been washed ashore be- tween Portrush and the month of the Bann : it is supposed that an American. vessel has gone to pieces, with the loss of all the crew. At Limerick much in- jury was done. At Dingle Bay a brig stranded; three bodies have been washed ashore.

Five vessels were lost at Boulogne during the hurricane.

It was reported early in the week, that the Loch Ryan, belonging to the Nether- lands Steam Navigation Company, foundered in the great storm about three weeks since. She left Masslandsluys, on the North side of the river Maas, on the 7th instant; the weather being boisterous, the master put into Helvcetsluys; on the 9th he put to sea, under the belief that the storm had subsided; but it was re- newed, and the vessel was suppreed to have gone to pieces, nothing having been heard of her. When the Loch Ryan left Holland, she had about twenty people on board, with a hundred head of cattle. A number of dead cattle have been seen floating in the track she must have taken from Helvretsluys.

All doubt as to the fate of the vessel was set at rest on thursday morning, by the arrival of the master and three of the crew in the Antwerpen steamer. The Loch Ryan perished at sea; but all on board, except one seaman, were taken of the wreck, while in a sinking state, by a Norwegian brig, homeward bound. The master of the brig, fearing his provisions would run short, put the four persona who have come to Loudon on board a Swedish ship with which be fell in, from- which they were landed at Flushing, and thence conveyed to London by the Antwerpen.

A French vessel was wrecked, on Wednesday week, at the back of the East pier-head, Ramsgate; and three out of the crew of Sve were drowned. The bodies were interred in the burial-ground of the Catholic church of St. Augustine, which is now erecting, according to the Roman Catholic ritual; the first instance of the- kind at Ramsgate since the Reformation.

Accounts from Munich report, that on the 16th, about four o'clock in the after- noon, a dreadful hurricane burst over the fine village of Schlehdorff, situate within three leagues of that city, and in less than two hours utterly destroyed it. " The roofs of the houses were carried off, the church and the houses razed to their foundations. A panic seized the inhabitants, who sought refuge in the cellars; when suddenly a fire broke out in every part of the village, and in a short time there was not a single house or even a cottage that was not consumed." The- flames from the buildings spread to the surrounding forest, which was still burn- ing on the 20th instant.

A correspondent at Lyme Regis, Mr. George Waring, points out an old record which shows that gun-cotton is not altogether a new invention. " None of those chemists- who profess to be discoverers of the gun-cotton have acted ingenuously if they have stated that the method of preparing it has originated entirely with them. When I found in the method given in your paper that nitric acid was the agent employed,. 1 remembered having read of a similar process and result; and, referring to a che- mical memoranda-book, I found the following entry made six or seven years ago.

" 'Arti Mal Bitter (prepared by digesting Indigo, silk, &c., in nitric acid), is crystallizable, burns like gunpowder, and detonates when struck with a harniner.—Brande, p. 925.' "

In a shooting-party on the Blenheim domain, the Dutchess of Marlborough this week brought down eight head of game with her own gun.

Mr. Jay, the great Dissenting preacher of ;Bath, at the age of seventy-seven, has just led to the hymeneal altar a lady with a fortune of 30,0001.—Banbury Guardian.

Mr. John Scott, the father of William and John Scott, the celebrated trainers and jockies, died at Brighton on Thursday last, at the advanced age of ninety-six. Mr. Scott was formerly a jockey himself.—Brighton Gazette.

Thomas Adamson, "the patriarch of Pittenweem," recently died in his native place, upwards of a hundred years of age. He retained his senses almost to his last hour. Results of the Registrar-General's return of mortal* in the Metropolis for the week ending on Saturday last—

Number of Aatnnut Annual deaths. average. average.

• .. 144 .. • DM 197 291 27 72 7 10 7

..... 2 67 24 — ... SO The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 66.4° in the sun to 87.4° in the shade; the. mean temperature by day being colder than the average mean temperature by 1.1°. The direction of the wind for the week was South-west.

Erased@ (or Epidemic, Endemic. and Contagions) Diseases . ... 182 ... 206

Dropsy, Cancer' and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat

92 ... 101 Diseases of thel3rain, Spinal Marrow. Nerves, and Sews .... 124 ... III Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration 261 ... 313 Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels

Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 61 ... 70 Diseases of the Kidneys, de 19 ... I Childbirth, disease, of the Uterus, de 23 ... 11 Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, Se. 10 ...

Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, 6C. 6 ... 2 Old Age 47 ... 66 Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 22 ... 97

— — Total (including unspecified causes) 682 ... 1,000