inisttllaneous.

A Cabinet Council, which sat three hours and a half; was held on Satur- day last, at the Foreign Office. All the Ministers in town attended.

Another Council was held on Monday afternoon, at the Foreign Office; and sat two hours and a half.

Parliament met in its skeleton shape, pro formd, on Wednesday; and was further prorogued, by commission, to the 12th January 1847.

A deputation, consisting of Mr. Charles Cochrane, Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Jones, and other gentlemen, waited upon Lord John Russell on Tuesday, to present a memorial to the Lords of the Treasury for the opening of the ports. The following is the substance of what took place at the inter- view—

Mr. Cochrane reed the memorial, which had been unanimously adopted at a crowded meeting recently held in Castle Street, Oxford Street. He remarked, that the measure was universally desired by the people of this country; and was looked for at his Lordship's hands, in consequence of the letter published by him last year to the electors of the City of London. Sir Robert Peel had de- termined to open the ports last November if his colleagues had permitted him, although bread was cheaper then than now. Lord John Russell replied, that he did not consider it necessary to make any remarks on the memorial. He would observe that there was now no prohibitory duty on foreign corn. In consequence of Sir Robert Peel's measure, 8,000,000 of quarters had come in, and much more was expected. He had accepted and sup- ported that measure, feeling with Sir Robert Peel that a total and immediate repeal could not be carried. Circumstances were therefore materially altered since last year.

Mr. Cochrane urged, that it was true that a very material reduction had taken place in the amount of the duty by Sir Robert Peers measure, but it was still comparatively prohibitory, and led to a great deal of gambling at the people's ex- pense. Dealers abroad were afraid to make shipments of corn to this country,

,ause they did not know whether the duty on its arrival would be 10s. or 4s. He hoped, therefore, that his Lordship would reconsider the question, and yet advise his colleagues to open the ports to the free admission for foreign corn. Mr. Cochrane added—" I am to address several large meetings in a few days, in dif- ferent parts of the Metropolis, and would be glad if your Lordship would enable me to say to them that your Lordship will open the porta.

Lord John Russell said, he could not do that, unless he saw a necessity for the measure. If he found it necessary, he would consult with his colleagues as to the propriety of the step. Mr. Cochrane—" I can inform your Lordship that arrangements are now making for a vigorous agitation in the Metropolis on the subject. Perhaps an energetic agitation will have the effect of prevailing on your Lordship to listen to the prayer of the memorial which I have the honour to present to your Lordship."

Lord John Russell—Csmiling)—" No, that would not induce me to take the step you suggest. But if I deem the measure necessary, if I see a probability that prices are about to rise, I will not in that case hesitate to advise my col- leagues to order the immediate opening of the ports." The deputation then withdrew, thanking Lord John for the courtesy with which he had received them.

The Mauritius Association, comprising many of the most eminent firms in the City, has addressed a memorial to the Privy Council, praying that the use of sugar and molasses may be permitted in breweries.

The-winter's supply of food still furnishes a topic for discussion. The Mark Lane Express—writing, it must be remembered, in the interest of the corn-dealers—doubts whether the prices of grain have reached their maximum. It continues to treat the talk about millions of quarters coming in from the United. States as "perfect nonsense." On the other hand, the Commercial Daily List, on the side of general trade, considers that an " important fall " will soon take place in the price of corn. It anticipates shipments from America, of flour, wheat, and Indian corn, to an unpre- cedented extent; the supply of Indian corn being estimated at 10,000,000 quarters. The Farmer's Magazine inclines to this latter view, of very large supplies from America: speaking for the farmers, it hopes that price* will not be enhanced; " but," adds the writer, " that present prices are safe, not a doubt can be entertained."

In the early part of last month many fears were expressed as to the fate of the turnip and carrot crop; but we have very great pleasure in stating, that, with some few exceptions, it has gone on extremely well, and very few losses have been sustained: indeed, from personal observation we may state, that we are likely to have most abundant and extremely good sup- plies offer for some time to come. This is a very important circumstance, as it cannot fail to alleviate the pressure that must be caused by the fall ing off in potatoes.—Farmers' Journal.

Mr. John Hannam, dating from Wetherby in Yorkshire, on the 31st October, writes to the Times, that the progress-of the potato disease has decidedly been arrested in central Yorkshire.

•••

According to the accounts received from Pesth to the 22d of last month, the Archduke Palatine was not dead. Rumours of his decease were rife in London during the early part of the week, and obituary notices appeared simultaneously in the Times and Morning Chronicle. There is reason to hope for a favourable termination of his Illness.

The Princess of Altenburg, who is to marry the Grand Duke Constan- tine, the Emperor Nicholas's son, is the Dutchess of Orleans's cousin. This circumstance will tend -to promote an alliance between the French and Russian Courts, which is highly important in a political point of view. —FranVort Post, Oct. 31.

Marshal Bourmont died at his chateau in Anjou on the 28th October, in the seventy-third year of his age.

General Prim Count de Reus arrived in London on Thursday evening, from Spain.

A paragraph going the round of the papers states that Sir Robert Peel has been suffering from an attack of the gout, at Drayton Manor; but that he was considerably better. We understand that Sir Robert has never been in better health and spirits than he has enjoyed for some time past.

The illness under which Mr. P. M. Stewart, M.P. for Renfrewshire, has been suffering for some weeks, terminated fatally on the 30th October. Mr. Stewart was an active member of the Legislature; and by his death many public companies and institutions will suffer the loss of an efficient head. He was a man of considerable talent as well as pleasant address, and made himself acceptable to men of all ranks and of every shade of political opinion. Mr. Stewart's age was forty-eight; and he died unmarried.

The Royal Academicians have elected Mr. Edward Matthew Ward an Associate. His principal competitor was Mr. Frost. Only one Associate is elected this year, instead of four; because, it is said, some officer of the Academy has neglected to obtain the Royal signature to the diplomas of the Royal Academicians Elect; and therefore only one vacancy was made.

Tuesday's Gazette announces the appointment of Lord Harris, Lieute- nant-Governor of Trinidad, to be Governor and Commander-in-chief of that island.

On Wednesday, Mr. Hogg, the Chairman, announced to the Directors of the East India Company his intention to propose at the next Court (on the Ilth instant) the appointment of Mr. George Clerk to the Governor- ship of Bombay. The consent of the Board of Control has been already given to the appointment. Mr. Clerk is considered a very able and efficient man, and has been the official Resident in the North-west Pro- vinces.—Standard.

Mr. Wyon, of the Royal Mint, has received an order from the East India Company for the execution of 30,000 medals, to commemorate the victories of Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, and Sobraon, to be presented to the offi- cers, non-commmissioned officers, and privates of the Company's and the home troops which took part in the same.

The Admiralty has received tenders for six steam-vessels of 650 tons and 350 horse power, intended for the packet-service between Holyhead and Kingstown. It is understood that these packets will prove the fastest vessels ever built in the United Kingdom.

The Municipal elections were gone through in England and Scotland on Monday; but they present not a single feature of interest. The political distinctions kept up in the returns are a shadow ; and, except in a few places, even the local interest seems to have ceased.

A step has at length been taken towards bringing into operation the provisions of the Small Debts Act of last session. The Lord Chancellor has commissioned Mr. J. E. D. Bethune to set on foot certain preliminary inquiries, with a view to the division of the country into convenient dis- tricts. Mr. Bethune commences his task by forwarding a circular list of districts founded on the division of the country under the Registration Act; be also sends a map of the district, and these lists and maps are to be returned to him with suggestions: when corrected by him, the maps will be sent to each bench of Magistrates in the different counties, for further suggestions: and thus a perfect list is hoped to be obtained. London is not within the scope of the act.

In giving insertion to the remainder of the " Confessions of a Protectionist M.P.," mentioned in our latest edition last Saturday, the Globe admits that the writer of the communication possesses no right to the title he has as- sumed; which destroys the special value of his manifesto.

The Morning Prat impugns the conduct of Sir Robert Wilson, the Governor of Gibraltar, in a matter of good taste and feeling. Viscount Allen died a few weeks ago, at Gibraltar. When the immediate probability of that event was mentioned to the Governor, but before it actually took place, he gave orders, that " as soon as Lord Allen expired the body was to be placed in a coffin and carried to the undertaker's, from whence the funeral was to proceed the following morning. The reply to this command was, ' that decency forbade such a thing.' However, on being applied to for permission to inter the remains within the walls of the garrison, where per- sons of Lord Allen's standing and position ought properly to be buried, he [Sir Robert] refused; and the body was consequently deposited in the common burying-ground."

A gentleman, who will not permit his name to be announced, proposes to appropriate 10,0001. towards the building of a church in Leeds; and in all probability, before he has completed the parsonage and the school, and provided for the endowment, he will spend 20,0001.; but he has pledged himself to the expenditure of 10,0001.—Yorkshire Gazette.

The late Bishop Luscombe, of Paris, bequeathed by will the principal portion of his property for the endowment of two Divinity scholarships in the College at Perth, in Scotland (Trinity College, Glenalmond); and ap- pointed Archdeacon Keating a trustee for the purpose of carrying his in- tentions into effect.—Morning Post.

It is understood that the statement of a contract having been entered into with Mr. Mackintosh for the removal of the Great Britain is incor- rect. She is in no respect worse situated than heretofore; and the general opinion is, that the best thing that can be done is to protect her where she is till the tides and weather are more favourable for getting her off.

To run their vessels on shore seems to be a favourite amusement just now with those in command of steamers. On Sunday last about nine in the morning, the steam-ship Pottinger, homeward-bound from Alexandria, was stranded near Cowes; and shortly afterwards, the steam-frigate Cyclops, which had left Ports- mouth for Portugal on the same morning, got on shore about half a mile from the Pottinger. A remarkable coincidence is noted—that the captains of these two vessels were brothers-in.law, Both vessels escaped without damage. The Cyclops got off the following tide, and proceeded on her voyage. The Pottinger was less fortunate, having to lighten by discharging sixty tons of dead weight; which, however, did not release her from her dangerous position until the next tide after the Cyclops floated; she consequently remained aground the whole of the night, and did not get off until about nine the following morning.

The spot where both these vessels went ashore is called Garnet Ledge; a dan- gerous reef of hidden rocks about three miles to the Westward of Cowes, on the island side between Thorny. Bay and Newtown. Both vessels having grounded' so near each other, and under the same circumstances, leads to the belief that a strong ebb from the Southampton water operates powerfully against vessels taking the Needles passage.

To the foregoing disasters is to be added the grounding of the Prussian Eagle,. a large steamer trading between Southampton and Cork; which took place on Sa- turday morning, off St. Alban's Head. These accidents are all attributed to- the fug.

News has been received of the fate of the Cape Packet whaler, a vessel that has been missing for two years. She last sailed from Sydney, with a crew of twenty-eight. The bark Elizabeth, which arrived at Sydney from the New He- brides on the 9th June, brought intelligence of the destruction of the vessel and the massacre of the crew by the Natives of those islands. The Elizabeth touched at the Sandwich Islands—the master intending to procure seine sandal-wood, vegetables, &c.—and finding the Natives to all appearance friendly, cast anchor close to land. Several Natives were allowed to remain all night on board. Among them was a New Zealander, who was recognized by one of the Elizabeth's crew as belonging to the party that sailed in the whaler. The pilot taxed him with it; and, after a deal of hesitation, he admitted the fact. He gave this account of the Cape Packet and its fate. Two or three days after the vessel's arrival at the New Hebrides, three boats were sent off to the shore for water: while the crews were- so employed the Natives attacked them, and every one was killed. The canoes. then pushed off to the ship, on board of which were the commander, Mr. Powell, ten English, and four Coloured men. They were permitted to come upon deck; Mr. Powell being unconscious of the fate of those when he had sent ashore. For a few minutes they behaved themselves in their usual friendly manner; but, having surrounded their victims, the signal was given, and the slaughter coms menced. The attack was so sudden, that not the least resistance could be made; the master and the whole of the crew were killed. The four Coloured men were not molested. The bodies of the murdered crew were taken ashore and devoured: The ship was ransacked and pillaged of everything of value. She had seven hun- dred barrels of sperm-oil on board; the casks were broken up for the purpose of getting the iron hoop; and after stripping the ship, securing the fire-arms, pow- der, &c., she was set on fire and totally consumed. Three of the men whose livers had been spared by the Natives had managed to escape from the island in a canoe,. and had been taken on board of a French vessel. 'fhe New Zealander was ta- ken to Sydney by the Elizabeth. The master of the latter vessel is of opinion that an attempt would have been made to take his ship, but for the timely notice given by the survivor of the Cape Packet.

Captain Hosken has written an angry letter to the Times, impugning the justice of some editorial comments made on his published statement to the Three- tors of the Great Western Steam-ship Company. He is very bitter against "land, lubbers," but does not contribute any distinct evidence to improve his case.

The new Clyde ship Deoganm has made three most extraordinary voyages. It sailed -from Greenock the 22d September 1845.; arrived at Calcutta in ninety

days; sailed again the 28th January, and arrived at Greenock the 19th May; left Greenock again the 13th June, and was out at Calcutta on the 12th Septem- ber; thus making the three passages, including the time in port, in 355 days.

The services of the electric telegraph between Norwich and Shoreditch were put into requisition on Thursday in a novel manner, being made the means of communication between a physician in London and his patient in the formes

place. On Wednesday, Dr. 1.--, a celebrated obstetric physician, was sent for from London to attend a lady, lying there in a dangerous state: on his return to

town, he left instructions to the medical attendant to convey information, of the

state of the patient the next morning by means• of the telegraph. This tra- promptly done on Thursday morning, and the prescription was as promptly re: turned. This, it would appear, was repeated more than once; the services of the telegraph being continued for four hours. Unhappily, the telegraph completed. its communications by announcing the death of the lady.—Essex Herald

It is stated that the Directors of several railway companies contemplate imita-r ting the French in providing for the comforts of second-class travellers, by lining padding, and supplying with cushioned seats, glass windows, and lamps, the second-class carriages.—Globs.

The Eastern Counties Railway have, it is said, intimated their intention of carrying out an important extension of their electric telegraph to the Royal Ea.- change and Lloyd's, for the accommodation of the merchants and underwriters, by which instantaneous communication will be obtained with LiverpooL The Com- pany's engineers are now engaged completing the electric wires along the Eastern. Counties branch lines, from. Ely, Peterborough, Stamford, Syston, to Derby; hence along the present Derby, Birmingham, and Manchester lines to Liverpool. The wires will be conducted to the Royal Exchange from the Shoreditch station in lead and iron piping, similar to the present gaslipes; proofing-posts being erected at certain distances, in order to keep the wires in proper working con- dition.

The Norfolk Railway Company have presented the handsome contribution of 3,0001. towards the erection of the Thorpe Hamlet new church, in Norfolk.

At the first meeting of the Royal Institute of British Architects for this season, a letter was read from Mr. Lagard, who has for some time been engaged in re- searches among the antiquities at Mosul, Nimrond, and Al Rather on the Tigris. Mr. Lagard stated his belief, that by excavating the unexplored ruins of ancient. cities in Asia, there was still an immense amount of information to be obtaine relative to the early nations of antiquity. It was mentioned that Government had purchased Mr. Lagard'a collection, and had consented to bear the cost of continuing the excavations for a twelvemonth.

A Supplement Extraordinary of the Swan River News, published in London, mentions the discovery of coal and of a new port in Western Australia. The• coal is stated to have been found within a short distance of Murray River, and thirty-five miles South of Fremantle; though it appeals, from the description of the strata, that the extent of the discovery is merely that there are indications of coal. The new port is stated to be in Mangles Bay, at the South extremity of Cockburn Sound. There is said to be a depth of water of five or six fathoms at one hundred yards from the beach.

On Thursday evening, one of the most extraordinary feats we ever witnessed was performed by a man named Irvine. A rope was stretched from the lamp at Stonehouse Bridge to a pole on the opposite side, a distance of about four hun- dred feet; the rope was about eighty feet from the water, and he engaged to walk across it; which task he executed, amidst the cheers of at least two thousand. spectators.—Devonport Telegraph.

An incident which attracted a good deal of notice, and caused much conver- sation, occurred this week in the Court of Queen's Bench. When the new bar- rister; were requested to stand up to be sworn before Mr. Justice Perrin, Mr. Peet, one of the members, said he was a Quaker, and could not swear, but would affirm. Mr. Doff then administered the affirmation; which was taken and subs scribed by Mr. Peet. This is the second Quaker who has been called to the Irish bar.—Dublin Freeman.

At the recent Carmarthenshire Quarter-Sessions, Thomas Phillips was con- victed by mistake. The Jury, with one exception, being almost entirely ignorant of the English language, the foreman was understood to say "Guilty," when the Jury (all Welsh) meant " Not guilty"!

A female servant was killed in Chiswell Street, on Thursday, by an extraordi,- nary accident. As she was carrying a pie she slipped down; the dish having, been broken by the fall, her throat was cut by a piece of the crockery, so deeply" that the carotid artery and the jugular vein were severed, and she died in a few minutes.

Mr. James Marsh, the celebrated chemist, whose well-known test for the de- tection of arsenic is so extensively used in medical jurisprudence, died some short time since, leaving a widow and family in very needy circumstances. Mr. Marsh for about forty years held appointments in the Royal Arsenal, in his latter years as snrgeryman.; and though he was frequently deputed by the Government to inquire into scientific matters, the salary he received amounted to only 30s. a week, his rating being that of a foreman. On his death, his widow memorialized the Board of Ordnance for a pension. The Board in reply, have just sent her the donation of 201.!—Times.

There died last week, at Tullyrone, near Loughgall, in Armagh county, a man named John Heron, who had attained the age of a hundred and fifteen. He was a pensioner, and for upwards of eighty years received the pay of Govern- ment.—Armagh Guardian.

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

Number of Autumn Annual deaths. average. avenge.

164 5

95

• • • ..• 206 ...

104 ...

188 104 156 298

4

• • • • • • .•. 151 ...

313 ... 157 294

29 ... 27 8t • • • 70 ... 79 13 • • •

92 • • • 11 ... 10 11 • • • 6 ...

7

3 • • •

49 • • • 66 ... 67 31 • . •

—

— — 977 ... 1,000 ... 968

The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 52.5° in the sun to 35.9° in the shade; the mean temperature by day being colder than the average mean temperature by 3.7°. The air has been generally calm throughout the week.

Deaths in the Metropolis from all causes (exclusive of violent and sudden deaths), and from diarrhoea, dysentery, and cholera, in the thirteen weeks of the

1845. 1846.

Deaths from all causes, exclusive of violent and sudden deaths le,409 ... 11,943 Deaths from Diarrhoea, Dysentery, andCholera 518 ... 1,821

/dean Temperature 571 ... 63.1

The relative salubrity of the hottest season of the last two years is displayed in the anuexed table of mortality for the whole of the 115 distncts of England-

1845.

1846.

Deaths registered in the September quarters 36,008 ... 51,239 Deaths which would have been registered if the mortality had been uniform, and the numbers had increased from 1638 at the rate of 115 per cent annually 40,664 ... 41,580 Difference above the calculated number — • • . 9,655 Difference below the calculated number 4,856 ... —

Zymotie (or Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagions) Diseases .... Dropsy, Cancer,and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses .... Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration

Diseases of the Heart and Blood vessels Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion Diseases of the Kidneys, iike ..

Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, &c

Rheumatism, disesses of the Bones, Joints, &e.

Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, Sc Old Age Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance Total (including unspecified causes) .,

Summer quarters 1845 and 1816.