ililiscellaneous.

Tuesday's Gazette formally notified the appointment of the Right Ho- nourable Sir Francis Thornhill Baring, Baronet, to be First Lord of the Admiralty. The members of the patent Commission for executing the office of High Admiral of the United Kingdom and its dominions, islands, and territories, now stand thus—First Lord, Sir Francis Baring; Junior Lords, Rear-Admiral James Whitley Deans Dandas, C.B.; Captain Mau- rice Frederick Fitzhardinge Berkeley, C.B.; Captain Lord John Hay, C.B.; the Honourable William Francis Cowper; and Captain Alexander Milne.

Some negotiations are reported to have occurred between the Premier and a leading member of the last Ministry. The Times narrated the steps of these negotiations as early as Monday last, and we have not since seen any statement more explicit or authoritative. We are told that the filling up of the First Lordship was delayed by "a laudable attempt" on the part

of' Lord John Russell to strengthen his Administration by offering the de- partment of the Admiralty to Sr James Graham.

"The offer was made," says the Times, "in a spirit of frankness and good feel- ing, with a sincere desire to bury in oblivion all past differences which may have interrupted the harmony of men now holding the same opinions and which are prejudicial to the permanent interests of the country. On the Part of Sir James Graham the offer was received with a perfect acknowledgment of the public mo- tives which had suggested the proposal, although after some consideration he de- clined to accept it. Had that offer been accepted, it would naturally have led to some further modifications of the Cabinet, with a view to extend the basis of the Government; but under the existing circumstances we believe no farther changes are likely to occur." In commenting on these steps, the Times observes that they "rebut the charge of domestic influence and family connexion sometimes urged to ex- cess against the Whig Government "• a thing the more pleasing to the jour- nalist, as he had "protested, with what has turned out to have been unne- cessary promptitude, against the return of Lord Minto to the Admiralty." "No such appointment was contemplated by the Government; and Lord Minto himself had at once declared, not only that he put forward no claim whatever to the office which he bad formerly filled at the Admiralty, but that be held his pre- sent office of the Privy Seal entirely at the disposal of the Prime Minister, if it could be the means of facilitating the projected arrangement with the remnant of the moderate Conservative party."

The address in the House of Commons will be moved by Lord Harty Vane, and seconded by Mr. Banbury. Her Majesty will open Parliament in person.—Times.

Mr. Samuel Gaskell, lately superintendent of the Lancaster County Lu- natic Asylum has been appointed to be a Commissioner of Lunacy, in the

room of Dr. Asylum, Cowles Prichard, deceased; and the Gazette announces that he took his seat at the Board on Tuesday last.

We have already mentioned that M. Thayer, Postmaster-General in France, and M. Lafitte, chairman of the Boulogne and Amiens Railway, had arrived to negotiate for the continuance of the mail service as at pre- sent performed from Dover to Boulogne; and we are happy to announce, as the first fruits of their mission, that it has been arranged by Lord Clan- ricarde that the present arrangements, which were to have been changed on the 15th instant, will be continued to the 1st of February, which give time for further consideration.—Times.

We hear that the important question of East Indian Railways, which has for some time past occupied the attention of the Court of Directors of the East India Company and of the Government, is likely to be brought to an immediate and it is believed satisfactory termination. There will, in this case, be no occasion for the Parliamentary inquiry which it is under- stood to have been the intention of some of the Members to bring before the House of Commons this session.—Morning Chronicle.

Baron d'Andrian, Ambassador Extraordinary from the Germanic Con- federation, left Mivart's Hotel on Saturday for Paris, en route for Frank- fort.

The United States Commodore Parker has arrived at Berlin on his way to Frankfort, there to join the Austrian Commodore Kondriowski in the task of organizing a German fleet M. de Koudriowski commanded an Austrian corvette, long stationed in the Bosphorus.

It is stated that Mr. Robert Stephenson is now in Egypt, at the instance of the British Government, to survey and report upon the practicability of making a railway across the Isthmus of Suez.

Letters from Constantinople announce the death of Mr. Ashburnham, first Secretary to the English Embassy, at his residence in Pera, on De- cember the 22d.. His illness was only of a few hours' duration; the symp- toms were those usually attendant on cholera.

A new interest has been given to the subject of the poisoned water at Claremont palace. Dr. Thomson, of Stratford-on-Avon, reports to the Medical Times, that on analyzing one pint of the water from the reservoir whictli supplied the palace, that quantity yielded one-tenth of a grain of sulphuret of lead. In other respects the water is good and pure. Dr. Thomson concludes his letter with an interesting historic doubt—.

"How long this insidious source of disease and suffering has existed, and who and bow many of those who have inhabited this royal residence have been the vie-, time of it, are questions of deep interest, and calculated to awaken suspicions with reference to one whose memory is associated with the name of Claremont, and the immediate cause of whose premature death neither the symptoms preceding it nor the post-mortem appearances seemed sufficiently to account for."

The recent inquiry in the Royal Naval Hospital at Stonehonse, concern- ing certain charges and recriminations brought against Dr. Armstrong and Mr. Dalton the chief clerk, has ended in the Admiralty recommending them both to retire; which, of course, amounts to a dismissal. Two offi- ces in the Naval Hospital have thus become vacant; the salary of the one amounting to 602/. 5s., and that of the other to 153/. per annum.—Globe.

A court-martial is ordered to be held at Devonport, for the trial of Cap. rain Sprigg, late of her Majesty's brig Ferret, on charges, founded on the depositions of the master of a Brazilian slaver, forwarded to the Govern- ment through the Governor of St. Helena and the Commodore of the Afri- can cruising squadron, alleging cruelty and ill-treatment of himself and crew at the hands of Captain Sprigg.—Morning Chronicle.

Through the Morning Chronicle, Mr. William Ray Smee publishes a friendly criticism on Mr. Cobden's proposed budget, with a counter-propo- sition, the results of which are set forth in the following table, for Mr. Cob- den's consideration; Mr. Smee naturally giving the preference to his own plan— REVENUE EMBED. Per annum.

1 per cent increased Income-tax on all freehold property, in lieu of Legacy and Probate duty, will produce about £1,000,000 Income-tax extended to every description of property, and to

all Incomes down to 501. per annum 5,177,000

X6,177,000

REVENUE DININISRED. Per annum.

Wiudow-duties, abolished £1,650,000 Assessed Taxes, ditto 1,700,000 Bricks, ditto 650,000 Pre Insurance, ditto 1,100,000 Stage and Hackney Carriages, ditto 450,000 French Wines, ditto 120 000 Loss on Tea-duties reduced 500,000 £6,170,000

1$

It is understood that the Navy Estimates for 1849, already in course of reparation fbr Parliament, will be on a considerably reduced scale, so as to save a million on that branch of the public expenditure as compared with the last year.—Morning Post.

A letter on "the prospects of London artisans," by "A Mechanic," which appeared in the Times of Friday last, has excited a good deal of at- tention. The writer is a window-blind-maker, and he complains that for the last two years his trade has been much depressed. In general those employed in it have too much to do in the summer, but prepare stock in the winter, which helps to equalize work and wages: for two summers there has hem no excessive demand- " The state of our trade is a fair criterion of the condition of many others' such as builders, carpenters, cabinet-makers, upholsterers, painters, &c., through all of whom the best part of our work comes; so that when they are slack so are we. Now, Sir, I have been employed at one shop at the West-end for upwards of five years: when there is work I have it in preference to any one: so the suffer- ings of others must be enormous when compared with mine, and yet my own will be past all endurance much longer. I live in a famished room, (having lost my own goods twice daring my short career,) the rent for which is 48. per week; for which, within a period of eighteen months, I have got into debt to the amount of upwards of Si. Whenever I am able I pay to the utmost of my power, and leave myself with barely sufficient to keep us. My wife is too delicate to work, even if it were obtainable; but continued ill-health is her lot, I fear. My landlord has great confidence in my integrity; and by my strenuous exertions I will endeavour to prove that I am deserving his good opinion, for without this rare act of kind- ness I should have been lost. What is the condition of thousands of better men than myself? If the possessors of wealth could see beneath the surface of a poor man's life, or obtain a secret view of his home, they would, I feel sure, do their utmost to alleviate the condition of respectable but poor mechanics,—men who, like your humble servant, would submit to anything rather than go among a set of filthy-minded drunken men and women, who make a practice of going to the workhouse for assistance, and who are quite expert at the calling,—for so it is ; the way to obtain relief is by having an unwashed face, &c. But the truly de- serving pine in secret; they never make their case known, because they will not submit, though poor, to be insulted, but prefer going with a hungry belly. How- ever, half a loaf is better than none. There are many deserving who go without ; their minds become sour, and they think evil things."

' The Edinburgh News relates an instance of the magnificent generosity of Miss Burdett Coutts. Many years ago, Sir Francis Burdett allowed a sergeant of ar- tillery in London to name a child after him; telling the sergeant to remind him of the matter at a future period, and he might do something for the boy. The child has grown to a man, and become mate of a merchant-vessel ; the father is dead. Recently, the young man wanted to raise money to purchase half a vessel on his own account; and a brother suggested that Miss Coutts should be reminded of her father's promise. This was done; and Miss Coutts sent the young man a check for a thousand pounds.

Miss Smith, plaintiff in the notorious case of breach of promise against the i

Earl Ferrers, s about to appear before the public as the authoress of a poem in the Spenserian stanza, entitled "Moses Lamberti."—Morning Post.

We have recorded the death of Mrs. John Bannister, relict of the late John Bannister the comedian, who died in 1836, aged seventy-seven. Mrs. Bannister (then Miss Harper) made her debht as Rosetta, in Love in a Village, at the Haymarket Theatre, in 1776; and remained on the stage for sixteen years, sustain- ing the principal soprano part in operas, &o. In 1792 she retired from the stage altogether ; and has resided for many years in Gower Street, highly esteemed and respected by a numerous circle of friends. She was born at Bath, in June 1757; consequently, she was in her ninety-second year. Until very recently she retained all her faculties, and enjoyed good health. She used to recount the theatrical doings of former days with great gusto, and was full of amusing anecdotes, which she used to relate with a vast deal of humour.—Morning Post.

Mr. Henry Collins, who has married people at Lamberton Toll, on the Scottish Border, for twenty years, died last week. On an average he coupled 300 a year; last year, 330.

M. Duchatel will arrive in Paris, it is asserted, next month; and it is added that one of his first steps will be to apply to the tribunals for the means of ob- .ng a sum of 100,000 francs the estimated value of the wine which was in the cellars of the Ministry of the Interior before the 24th of February, but which is no longer there. This wine, it appears, was the private property of M. DuchateL—La Patric.

The Imperial Austrian Government have presented to the United Service Insti- tution in London a selection of their military maps, exhibiting nearly the whole of that great empire, in thirty sheets. The execution of these maps is of the highest order, and to a soldier they exhibit the whole varied face of the country with unusual perspicuity; and although crowded with names of towns and villages all are most distinct and visible. The maps were presented through Baron Koller, Austrian Chargé d'Affaires.—Times.

A statement has just been laid before the Municipal Corporation of the city of Paris, which shows the enormous extent of the gaspillage which took place after the revolution of February. The expenditure of the city of Paris alone shows a deficiency of eighteen millions of francs or 720,0001. sterling. Of this amount vouchers are produced to show how fifteen millions have been expended, or rather wasted; but of the other three millions there is not a single trace. It has vanished from the coffers of the city, and that is all that can be said.— Chrotricle Correspondent.

The Railway Commissioners have approved of the proposal of Mr. W. Harding, Secretary to the London and South-western, consisting of a series of foot-boards and holdfasts along the extent of atrain,by means of which, in the event of acci- dent, the guards may communicate with either engine-drivers or passengers.— Railway Chronicle.

It is stated that Captain Huish has projected a plan of a gigantic circulating library for the use of passengers on the North-western Railway. Book-stalls are to be established at the principal stations, where each passenger, on making a deposit of the value, may borrow books, which he will return with a small pay- ment at the end of his journey.

An important invention in the manufacture of lace is, we understand, just about to be introduced to the trade, by which colours can be thrown into the fabric, and all the small beams dispensed with, now applied to the machines, as well as the pieces being extended to three or four times their present length.— Nottingham. Mercury. The removal of the cofferdam at Westminster Palace was begun on Thursday. It has stood fifteen years, and the timbers have become so firmly imbedded in the sand and soil that it is difficult to extract them.

There are at present in England ninety-four packs of fox-hounds, twenty of harriers, and four of stag-hounds.

Rebecca Kaye, a married woman of Wigan, was found hanged, on the let in- stant, in her own house. It was supposed that she had committed suicide- but facts gradually came to light that fixed a charge of murder on the husband. Screams had been heard, and angry words; and other suspicious circumstances were noted. Kaye was arrested. He was locked up in a cell with a strange man; and to this fellow prisoner, as the man alleges, he confessed that he pushed his wife down stairs, and then hanged her. The Coroner's inquest is still proceedirg.

At Northwich, a gentleman of the name of Green, late in the employ of the Anderton Carrying Company, and who had, it was supposed, nearly recovered from a mental affection, pat an end to his existence in an extraordinary manner. On Wednesday evening last he rose, and was about to dress for the purpose of attending a party. His wife having left the room for a short time, he started off, i

almost n a state of nudity, direct to a rock salt-mine in the neighbourhood, and precipitated himself down the shaft. The men had just before descended the shaft, and had got down about forty yards, when the unfortunate man fell upon them. One of them was severely hurt, and Mr. Green was so severely injured that he died in a few hours.—Chester Courant.

Mr. W. T. Dugdale, formerly Member for North Warwickshire, has met with serious accident while shooting with his son, at Merrivale, his seat near Ather- stone: the son discharged his gun from behind a hedge, and the contents lodged in Mr. Dugdale's face and head.

Mr. Runless, a farmer of Bessingby in Yorkshire, has lost his life through a wound inflicted by a spring-gun. Just as he had set the murderous trap in a plantation, his feet touched one of the wires.

The stormy weather last week was not only productive of much damage to pro- perty, but attended with great loss of life. The North-east coast of Scotland suf- fered most. At Peterhead there were many wrecks, and some of the mariners were drowned. A portion of the wall of the North Harbour was washed down, and buildings and their contents destroyed. While a number of men were en- gaged in endeavouring to save a portion of the property, a tremendous wave broke across the quay, and the people were swept into the water: no fewer than sixteen perished. At Aberdeen some ships struck, and three seamen were drowned. A man who walked on to the North pier was carried away by a wave, and perished. From many other parts of the coast the news is of a similar disastrous character. The shipping at Liverpool suffered considerably, and the crews of three vessels appear to have been lost. A Broadstairs lugger, while on the look-out for vessels requiring assistance, near Kingsgate Bay, was struck by a heavy sea, and immediately foundered. One of the crew swam for a time, and was picked up; but eight men were drowned.

Upon the Thames, off Erith, during a storm of wind early on Friday morning, a light brig, name at present unknown, ran foul of a barge, and so damaged her that she sank in a few minutes. On board the barge were the master and his wife with an infant, and they were asleep when the collision occurred; they got on to the deck just as the water rose above it, and were immediately after car- ried away by the stream. The captain caught hold of the rigging, but the mo- ther was hurried past him, screaming and holding her child aloft. By the moon- light he saw her carried down some distance before she sank, and could give nil help, for he could not swim. The brig's crew must have seen all that happened, but they steered on their course, and it is unknown who they were. The captahr was saved by a boat from the shore.

Three men, engaged in blasting rock on the Waterford and Wicklow Railway, exploded some charges, and then returned to the spot: one charge had not ex- ploded, and as they approached, the rock was rent asunder; one of the men was blown a long distance, over a cliff to the brink of the sea; and his case is hopeless

John Edwards, a voting man employed as a miner at the Plymouth Works in Merthyr Tydvil, missed his way in coming out of the level on Tuesday sen- night, and was not heard of until Wednesday morning in the following week, when a party of his fellow workmen went in search of him. They found bine in some old workings. His feet were blistered by walking to and fro in the en- deavour to find his way out: and he was in that dreary and unwholesome plane without having anything to eat or drink for the whole period. He lost his light, and had no matches with him. He is now in a fair way of recovery.

A curious accident has happened at Kempsey. A boy fell off the top of a high ladder, but alighted on his feet. He sprang up with a rebound which carried hint backwards, and he tumbled into a deep well. He was given up for lost, but was presently heard moving in the water: he had clung to the rough walls, and wag ultimately got out quite unhurt by either fall!

A correspondent of the Cumberland Pacguet says that "a man named George Wilkinson, in the service of Mr. Graham of Wythop Mill, vomited an animal sir inches in length, its body resembling that of an eel, with a fish's head. Wilkin- son had for six months past suffered from a pain in the stomach, especially in the' morning; but he has been much better since he parted with his unnatural com- panion. It is conjectured that Wilkinson had swallowed the creature when yel7 small, whilst drinking water, and that it had attained its present size in his stomach."

The cholera returns give these results for the past week. London—cases, 47'; deaths, 30. The Provinces—cases, 104; deaths, 29. Scotland—cases, 611; deaths, 304.

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

ZymotIc Diseases Dropsy, Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or variable seat Tubercular Diseases

Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses.

Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration... .... Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion 63 • • • • Diseases of the Kidneys, dic 15 .... Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, &c. 12 • • • • Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, &c 7 • • • • Bi$eases of the Skin, Cellular Tisane, &c 3 • • • • Malformations 7 Premature Birth 19 ........

Atrophy 24 • • • •

Age 70 . • • •

Sudden 3 • • • • Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 26 • • • • — --,

'Mal (including unspecified causes) 1448 1137.

The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 53.3° in the sun to 25.0° in the shade; the mean temperature by day being warmer than the mean average temperature by 3.8°. The mean direction of the wind for the week Was South-west.

Number of Winter Deaths. Average.

407 .... 22i St 210 .... 203 150 .... 145 325 243 13 3 23 Is 73