Her Majesty's ship the North Star, which went out to
the Arctic regions a year and a half ago, as a tender ship to the expedition of Sir James Clark Ross, in search of Sir John Franklin, unexpectedly arrived at Spithead at half past ten this morning. The Admiralty has received the following note— "No intelligence of Sir John Franklin. Captain Austin was in Lancaster Sciund. Captain Forsyth in the Prince Albert off Possession Bay on the 30th August, returning to England. Captain Forsyth had been to Port Bowen and Port Leopold. He left the Lady Franklin, Sophia, Assistance, Intrepid and Felix, in Wellin"ton Channel; all well. North Star last from Pond's Bay, 5th September. North Star succeeded this year in landing her provisions at Eastern extremity of Navy Board Inlet, just within the Easternmost Wollaston Island, having failed in doing so last year. Mr. Saunders has had no personal communication with Captain Austin, not having seen any of the squadron. Captain Forsyth may be looked for every day."
Accounts have been received at the Admiralty Office, that her Majesty's ship Enterprise arrived at the Sandwich Islands on the 24th of June last, and that the Investigator was expected in a few days.
A meeting at Glasgow on Thursday, called on the request of influen- tial parties, and presided over by the Lord Provost, passed a resolution calling on our Government to "insist upon the Slave-trade treaties which have been entered into with Spain and Brazil being carried into imme- diate effect." It was also resolved, on the motion of Mr. Alexander Heade, M.P., that the depression and distress of our West Indian Colo- nies have been increased by the non-observance of the Slave-trade treaties ; and on the motion of Mr. John M'Gregor, M.P., that the pre- sent is a proper time for agitating the question,—though Mr. M'Gregor took what occurred last session as a proof that Government is earnest in its desire to extinguish slavery.
A farewell "group-meeting" of the emigrants about to depart in the Slains Castle for Australia, under the arrangements of Mrs. Chisholm's " Family Colonization Society," was held last night in the Royal British Institution. Mrs. Chisholm was the nominal chairman of the meeting; but as she was much busied in the body of the hall among the emigrants grouped there, the chair was formally vacant. Mr. Wyndham Hard- ing, the Secretary of the Society, explained its objects. Selected emigrants are offered half their passage-money, on loan, secured under an engagenient entered into by the individual borrower and also by the members of the group of which he forms a member ; the group- ing of the emigrants for mutual acquaintance and cooperation being a particular feature of the plan. Mr. Robert Lowe, Mr. Vernon Smith, and Lord Lilford, spoke in recommendation of Mrs. Chisholm's plans. The Slains Castle is the first ship sent out' by the Family Colo- nization Society ; it is a ship originally built by Mr. Green, and has already made successful emigration voyages : when we lately inspected the progress of the fittings, the vessel appeared to us re- markably substantial in build ; it is extraordinary in loftiness between decks, and in the general arrangements for ventilation, and the proper housing of emigrants. One of the gains by the system of groups is, that single unmarried females obtain the protection of some experienced pa- rent of a family The day of departure from Gravesend is fixed for Mon- day the 30th, andyre understand that the time will be punctually kept.
A note in the Times, of the progress made in the works of the building far the Show of Industry, indicates the return of thatjournal to its ori- ginal favour of the project, now that its opposition to the site 'would be no longer practical— "At length the actual work of erecting a buildingwherein the products of the Industry of All Nations are to be collected has been commenced. Within the vast hoarding which has been put up round the site selected a busy scene presents itself. The levels and measurements of the ground necessary before commencing operations have all been completed, and the iron pillars upon which the structure is to rest are being fixed in their places. A large portion of the materials to be used are already within the enclosure ; and the working-sheds and other preparations and facilities for pushing on the great undertaking having been finished, the inhabitantsi of the Metropolis will now from day to day be able to watch the progress made.. In three months from this time an edifice con- structed entirely of iron and glass, covering more than eighteen acres. of laid, and capable of giving house-room to all that is rare and valhable human industryt is to' rise from its foundations. Within so short a period, it seems almost impossible to imagine that a work of such magnitude can, be completed ; but those who have undertaken the contract and are responsible for its performance speak confidently on the subject: In the mean time, there is nothing to be seen within the enclosure but heaps of iron, a few sheds, some cranes, two or three slender scaffoldings, and about two hundred and fifty or three hundred werkmen, all busily engaged at their appointed tasks. At the main entrance crowds of labourers are collected in the hope of employment, and where between the planks of the hoarding a glimpse of the interior can be obtained the idle and curious assemble to watch."
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