Iflistellancous.

The Morning Chronicle contradicts the story, which originated in Brussels, about Queen Victoria's visiting Waterloo incognita- " We have learned, from undoubted authority, that neither Larr Majesty nor Prince Albert visited the field of Waterloo during their late short visit to Belgium. The mistake most probably arose from the fact that the Earl of Aberdeen went there to visit the grave of his gallant brother, Sir Alexander Gordon ; who fell upon that occasion, fighting gloriously the battle of his country, and the account of whose death is so feelingly recorded by the Duke of Wellington in a despatch written to his family from the battle-field."

Several papers report that Earl Grey's health has grown worse since his removal to Howiek Hall, in Northumberland ; and the Post states that he has lost the use of his limbs. The Earl is in his eightieth year.

The death of Mr. Stuart Mackenzie (at Southampton, on Sunday last) removes one who had risen to a high station in the official world. He was the eldest son of Admiral the Honourable Keith Stuart, second BOR of the sixth Earl of Galloway ; and he married, in 1818, the relict of Ad- miral Sir Samuel Hood, eldest daughter and co-heiress of the last Lord Seaforth, whose surname he assumed by sign-manuel. He was Commis- sioner of the India Board from 1832 to 1834; represented Cromarty from 1831 to 1837; when he was appointed Governor of Ceylon. In December 1840, he became Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands.

Alderman Sir Mathew Wood died at Gloucester on Monday, after a long and severe illness, in his seventy-sixth year. The great City paper, the Times, gives an extended and interesting sketch of the popular Alderman's life- " The subject of this notice was the son of a tradesman, who resided at Tiver- ton, in Devonshire. His father had a very numerous family, of whom he was the eldest. It is understood that his parents were in humble life, and their means limited ; yet, to their honour be it recorded, they gave their children the benefits of a useful and practical education, thus laying a better basis for their future success and advancement in life than is usually derived either from capital or connexions. William Wood, the father of Sir Matthew, was born at Exeter, on the 28th September 1738, and on the 6th December 1766 he married Catherine Close. Nine children, who attained to a mature age, were among the issue of this marriage Mathew, the eldest, of whom it is now pro- posed to give some account, was born on the 21 June 1768, and began life as a commercial traveller. Druggists were the class of traders tor whom he princi- pally travelled ; and be probably then formed that sort of acquaintance with the trade of a brewer, and that sort of connexion among those who supply the world with the most popular of British beverages, as enabled him afterwards to drive a very lucrative traffic in the line of business called a brewer's druggist— a department of trade which enjoys quite as steady a demand for its commo- dities as does that of the hop-merchant. Mr. Wood united both, for he net only supplied the manufacturer of ale and porter with one of his acknowledged materials, which he is supposed to use ih moderate quantities, but also with those more economical foreign substances in the use of which he is generally considered to be far more liberal. "The foundation of that fortune to wh7c't Mr. Wood ultimately attained

woe not laid very rapidly. Re continued severalyean to go through the routine of commerciiil travelling; a course of life for which he possessed many requi- sites—such as zeal, ardour, volubility of speech, and a reasonable modicum of

What his friends would call modest assurance. His natural energy of charac- ter was not, however, to be always confined to so humble and so unprofitable a sphere of action. The knowledge of trade which he had acquired, combined

with his indomitable activity and perseverance, recommended him to the notice of Mr. Wigan, a person of considerable property, who was himself already en- gaged in the drug-trade. With this gentleman Mr. Wood entered into part- nership : they had their counting-house in Falcon Square, and for many years they carried on as thriving a trade as any other in the city of London. '" Soon after forming this partnership in business, be formed a matrimonial partnership by uniting himself in wedlock to Miss Sarah Page, the daughter

of Samuel Page, of Woodbridge, in the county of Suffolk. The issue of this marriage was three sons and two daughters, all of whom are now living. His eldest son is a clergyman, his second a barrister, and his third a merchant; both his daughters are married.

"It has often been observed that many men are ruined by speculating in hops, and a still greater number by being concerned in mining transactions. Mr. Wood engaged in both, not only without loss, but with considerable ad- vantage; for very soon after having established himself in the city of London as a wholesale druggist, he widened the field of his operations by becoming a hop- merchant in the borough of Southwark, and more recently in the working of copper-mines in Cornwall. In these pursuits his brothers at all times very efficiently assisted him ; so that, like many men who have created for themselves considerable fortunes, he has been distinguished as much by the choice of useful deputies as by any other instrument of worldly success. Mr. Wood, like other traders, bad his losses ; but upon the whole he rose to eminence among the traders of London ; and as wealth increased he became ambitious of City honours. In the year 1804, he was chosen Common Councilman of the ward of Cripplegate, in which his counting-house was situated ; where after- wards he became Mr. Deputy Wood, Sir William Staines being then the Alderman of that ward. The popularity which obtained for him these distinc- tions continued to augment. Though the range of his general knowledge was

very circumscribed, he did not lack a knowledge of the arts by which the good- will of cooperators may be acquired ; and thus we find him spoken of as a can- didate for the Shrievalty as far back as the year 1807. Thirty-five years have raway since, Sir William Staines being gathered unto his fathers, Mr. atladew Wood was elected Alderman of the ward of Cripplegate. In the year 1809-10 he served the office of Sheriff of London ; displaying,' as some of his

admirers said,' in the discharge of its rations duties his usual zeal and ability.' He certainly laboured bard to win the approbation of what was called the Po- pular party among his fellow corporators ; and it would be strange icdeed if such nothing assiduity and such unqualified devotion to their wishes as be displayed should go altogether without its reward.

"In conformity with the customary rotation, he rose to the civic sovereignty, in the year 1817. But the friends and admirers of Alderman Wood did not deem this a sufficient distinction--they contended that he must be reelected : and reelected he was : the aldermen following him in rotation being obliged to wait till all the honours which the Corporation of London could bestow should have been lavished upon him, the most popular of their Magistrates. During the second year of his Mayoralty, he was returned to Parliament for the City of London : and even the enjoyment of that honour, which is one that far more eminent men than Alderman Wood have coveted, did not fill the measure of his distinctions or limit the extent of his popularity. He has just ceased to be one of those who move on the busy stage of human existence, and it would be an ungrateful task to pare down his reputation and his pretensions to the exact standard of his performances; but it is impossible to avoid saying, that the cha- racter and career of Alderman Wood present a striking exemplification of the well-known truth, that very moderate talents and a very slender stock of know- ledge suffice for all the purposes of temporary popularity, and carry a man through all the scenes of mob distinctions and honours, as the phrase is, with credit to himself and advantage to his country.' "In the excitement occasioned by the charges brought against Queen Caro- fine, Alderman Wood largely participated. He professed, and no doubt felt, the utmost indignation at the treatment which she had experienced. Looking, however, at the disfavoarwith which the King and the Ministers were regarded in the:City, as well as the partiality entertained towards the Queen, he must have per- ceived that the occasion was one which he might turn to good account in augment- ing his own influence and in advancing the interest of the political party to which he had attached himself. It being understood that the Queen was on her way to England, Alderman Wood went to St. Omer to meet her; and conducted her, among the plaudits of multitudes, to his own residence, at which for some time she took up her abode. It is of course not forgotten, that Lords Brougham and Denman were the Attorney and Solicitor-General of this un- fortunate Princess ; but Alderman Wood formed part of what might be con- sidered her council, and in some smaller matters she was occasionally governed by his advice; in reference to which Mr. (now Lord) Brougham once said in the Home of Commons, that her Majesty had not been in those instances guided by the dictates of absolute wisdom,'—an observation which excited some merriment, and which had the effect of affixing for some years upon Alderman Wood the sobriquet of Absolute Wisdom '; for he it was who had been suspected of giving that advice to Queen Caroline at which, in his usual way, Lord Brougham thought proper to sneer. There was, however, no effort which zeal or devotion could adopt that Alderman Wood neglected to promote the interests or protect the rights of the illustrious personage whose cause he had so warmly espoused: but, as is well remembered, her own exertions and those of her friends were alike unavailing. Still, with unbroken constancy, Alderman Wood adhered to her cause, supporting it with his influence, his

al exertions, and it is said even with his purse. He was unceasing in personal exertions, upon the Queen to the latest moment of her existence; and even after death manifested his respect for her memory, by attending her funeral, accompanying her remains to the Continent, and witnessing their interment.

" Queen Caroline sank under the pressure by which she was assailed ; but the popularity of the partisan who stood by her in adversity rose to its highest point, and be now held his seat in Parliament by a tenure so secure that neither secret management nor open hostility could dispossess him. It was in the year 1818 that he first came in for the City of London, defeating Sir W. Curtis and Alderman Atkins. In 182d he was at the head of the poll, Messrs. -Waithman and Thorp being the unsuccessful candidates. At the general election of 1826, however, Liberal principles were less in the ascendant, and Alderman Wood, though returned, had a smaller number of votes than any other of the successful candidates. The elections of 1830 and 1831 passed over without contest. In that of 1832 he was second on the poll ; but in the year 1835 he was once more at the head, and again in 1837 he filled the same distinguiehed position. At the last general election, in 1841, Mr. Masterman was at the head of the poll ; burAlderman Wood was second. It will thus be seen, that he rat for the city of London in nine successive Parliaments, and that the time during which he was its representative extended over a period of not less than a quarter of a century. In his political opinions the subject of this notice was what is called a Liberal ; professing himself a Radical Reformer, in favour of the most unlimited free trade, the vote by ballot, and a repeal of the assessed taxes. He supported almost all the measures proposed by the Govern- ments of Lord Grey and Lord Melbourne ; uniformly opposing those of Lord Li- verpool, the Duke of Wellington, dud Sir Robert Peel. He was a man wheat- tended his Parliamentary duties with considerable regularity, and occasionally took part in discussions relating to matters connected with the City of London, us well as in those relatino' to subjects of a more general interest ; but with very little distinction or effect. Shortly after he obtained a seat in the House of Com- mons, lie moved for a Select Committee to inquire into the state of the Metro- politan Prisons. He was an earnest opponent of what were called blood-money rewards; and equally warm in his opposition to state lotteries,—though he brought in a bill to enable the Duke of Kent to dispose of certain property which belonged to that illustrious personage, by way of lottery. He opposed the grant for enabling emigrants to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope ; and in the year 1820 he moved for a Secret Committee to inquire into the conduct of a man of the name of Edwards, who was accused of being a spy for political purposes. In the year 1828, he stood forth as a warm supporter of University College, London, then called the University of London ; and, with character- istic consistency, he opposed the grant for building additional churches. He likewise introduced one or two bills for regulating hackney-coaches, for dimi- nishing canine madness, and other objects of a minute legislation but as a Parliamentary speaker he never attained to any eminence, and it was not often that Le could even obtain a patient healing, though sent into the House or Commons by the greatest constituency in England. "To bestow upon Alderman Wood a Baronetcy was one of the earliest exer- cises of the Royal prerogative by her present Majesty. Whether that, how- ever, was conferred upon Sir Mathew at the immediate recommendation of the Minister, in consideration of political services, or whether, according to rumours current at the time, it was conferred on account of services rendered long before her present Majesty ascended the throne, certain it is that no time was lost in raising him to the rank which he enjoyed for six years previous to the period of his death ; though many political friends of the Ministry, even- tually raised to the same rank, were obliged to wait for their Baronetcies till the Coronation.

"It must be fresh in the recollection of the public, that the late James Wood of Gloucester, the well-known miser, made a will, which gave rise to much litigation, in which Sir Mathew Wood was a party deeply Interested. How far the anxieties consequent upon so important a suit may have injured a con- stitution already borne down by the weight of years, it is not now very material to inquire. Sir Matthew is no more; and his eldest son, the Reverend Sir John Page Wood, has succeeded to the title. The present Baronet WRB born in the year 1796; and married a daughter of Admiral Mitchell, of the Portuguese service. He holds the rectory of St. Peter, Cornhill, and the vicarage of Cressing, Essex."

To Lord Ranelagh's letters, containing reiterated attacks about the. execution of Cabrera's mother, General Nogueras rejoins thus ; writing from a sick bed- " As far as the truth or falsehood of their contents is concerned, I will only make two observations,—first, that, as I informed the public in my letter of the 6th instant, Iliad not the least interference in the affair; secondly, that

the hest proof of my not having lost the affections of my countrymen, and the good-will and consideration of Government, as is pretended, is the fact that I

have since been elected Deputy and Senator on several occasions; having also been appointed Captain-General of several districts, General-in-Chief of the Army of the Centre, Minister of War; and that at this very moment the inhabitants of Saragossa have presented me as one of their candidates in the- election of Deputies which has just begun. " Satisfied with these repeated public demonstration. of the affections of my countrymen, and resting on the testimony of a pare conscience, I will not trouble the public of this country any more on a subject to which it cam attach but little interest."

Lord Ranelagh sticks to his charge, citing further authorities. He seems to have the best of it in his invidious assault.

The English Churchman reports that the Reverend Mr. Newman has resigned the Vicarage of St. Mary's at Oxford ; to which is attached

the chapel of Littlemore, built by Mr. Newman himself. The cause is said to he, that the Heads of Houses "have resorted to every possible means of preventing young men from attending his sermons.'

Some sensation has been created by the disappearance of Mr. Dyce Sombre, son-in-law to the Earl of St. Vincent, who had recently been

pronounced to be of insane mind. He was living at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool, intending to take pleasure-trips on the Mersey,. with a view to his health ; and he walked privately out of the hotel_ about four o'clock on the morning of the 21st, and has not since been heard of.

Lablache has undergone a favourable operation on his jaw-bone,. at Paris, and is about to proceed to Naples.

Prince Pilekler-Muskau has sold his estate of Mnskau, in Prussian Silesia, to the Count de Redern, Intendant-General of the Privy Purse to King Frederick William. The Prince intends to reside in Italy for the rest of his life.

Evidences of an improved state of trade multiply in all quarters_ The Manchester Advertiser of Saturday, confirmed by the Manchester Times, reports thus- " Our cloth-market still continues to improve; and the stocks are so light in all widths of printing-cloth, that many of the manufacturers are engaged for alt they can make for the next month. It is difficult for any printer to meet with a large lot of cloth anywhere, even at the high rates asked. Several large manufacturers are reluctant to sell until the arrival of the overland mail ; foe should it (and we have every reason to believe that it will) bring good commer- cial news, we may anticipate that, in consequence of the market being low of goods, and receiving at once two months' orders from the East, goods will ad- vance seriously. The printers also continue extremely busy; aud many of the job-printers have advanced the price of printing materially, in consequence of the advance in madder and other things used for printing. Upon the elude, trade is more healthy in this district than we have known it for several years ; and it is the general opinion that it is likely to improve, and that goods will range even higher in price in a short time than they do now. Domestic cloth is also better to sell, and at improved prices; and one manufacturer of this article assured us, that he was engaged for all he could make for the next month, and at a satisfactory price. Mousseline-de-laines still continue in good request, and the printers of this article cannot get them round sufficiently fast to meet the demand."

Similar accounts are given from Oldham; from the woollen-markets of Yorkshire ; at Leicester the hosiery trade is "in the same brisk state that it has been for several weeks past"; while in " the fancy branch, most of the hands are employed "—

" The drawer and pantaloon branch, though yet in a state of contention as to wages, has somewhat improved within the last fortnight, and several con- siderable orders have been given out by some houses. There is certainly some hope of amendment in the hosiery manufactures, as the price of hosiery yarns has advanced this week—an occurrence which has generally been considered a certain indication of improvement. We believe cotton-spinningie now brisict but at the same time it must be observed, that one vessel, at Hull, last week, took out thirty tons of machinery."

The cotton and silk glove trade is bad ; but that is accounted for by the bad quality of the manufactures. The silk trade in the towns near Manchester is brisk ; but the workmen complain loudly of "abate- meats" in their wages,—a kind of arbitrary fine for any fault in the work, or even for not completing it in a stipulated time. At Liverpool, raw cotton is in extensive demand.

An article in the Morning Chronicle has attracted a great deal of at- tention, from its confession that the "crisis" (from which the Anti- Corn-law agitation has derived such an impulse, and upon which much of the Chronicle's own complaints against the present Ministry rested) is passed-

' " Notwithstanding insurrection in Wales and agitation in Ireland, there are various circumstances in the present aspect of our national affairs of an en- couraging and cheering nature. They are calculated to make us look back upon the past as the most powerful incentive to present action in preparing fur future improvement : they renew confidence in prinples, and inspire with hope; and if the breathing-time,' which is doubtless about to be afforded us, were but well and wisely employed, there can be no risk in affirming that this country might maintain unquestioned its proud position, and be as free from internal danger as from foreign insult.

"The first and most obvious thing which strikes an observer is the un- doubted general revival of trade and commerce. Every thing seems to indi- cate that the morning is breaking; that the dreary night of disaster and suffer- ing, through which all our material interests have been passing since 1836, is now well nigh over. The hum of busy industry is once more heard through- out our manufacturing districts; our sea-ports begin once more to stir with busi- ness; merchants on 'change have smiling faces; and the labouring population are once more finding employment easier of access, and wages are gently, slowly rising. This has not come upon us suddenly ; it has hen in operation since the end of last year : but so terrible was the depression, so gradual the im- provement, that the effects of the revival could not be perceptiole till within a recent period. Our exports of cotton and wool during the present year very considerably exceed those of a similar period in the preceding; and though there might be increase of export without increase of profit, the simple fact that the districts of our great manufacturing staples are now more active and busy than they have been for a very considerable period, coupled with the ap- parently well-founded belief that this increased activity is produced not by speculative but genuine demand, are indications of the most pleasing and gra- tifying kind to all who are in the least concerned about the prosperity of the country. In addition to the improvement manifested in our staple articles of industry, other important interests are showing symptoms of decided improve- ment; even the iron-trade has got over its crisis '; and though we are very far indeed from having attained to a condition of prosperity, the steady though slow, revival of every branch of industry is a proof that the cause of the im- provement must be a general one, operating universally. " We need not go far in search of that cause ; which is neither recondite nor subtle, but lies on the very surface. We have had two harvests in succes- sion, not over-abundant, but plentiful; and, in addition, we had last years large quantity of foreign grain thrown upon the market, under circumstances disastrous to the individual holders, but ultimately beneficial to the public. Prices have, therefore, for upwards of a year been comparatively low; and for a considerable portion of that year tolerably steady. The harvest of this year being now almost all secured, a large portion in good condition, the prospect of a continuance of prices at a rate steady and low gives increased confidence. Capital is disengaged ; the condition of the vast mass of consumers is im- Froved ; demand springs up within what is so.newhat absurdly called the home market ; and the genial influence is felt in every department of industry, which quickens into life at the call of abundance. " We have no wish to exaggerate, and feel that it is yet somewhat premature to talk of the actual results of our present harvest. There can be no doubt that in many instances the yield has proved deficient ; and that when we speak of the harvest as being a good one, we must look to quantity as well as to quality. Still, we know enough to justify the assertion that the harvest is really abundant ; and the state of the foreign grain-market is such as to justify some incredulity as the extent of the deficiency of the yield. It would almost be cruelty to blame the speculators in resorting to every means of propagating the idea that the produce of the harvest will be universally deficient iu quality. The present year, like last year, has been what Mr. Gladstone termed ' very peculiar,' and such as to justify the expectation that the harvest might be defi- cient. Already, the speculators have submitted to a loss of from five to ten Shilliogs, in taking out the six or seven hundred thousand quarters which have just come out of bond; and it is scarcely to be marvelled at that efforts should be made to stay the downward progress of prices. Blame the law, if you will— that cruel law which makes merchants gamblers, and trade a hazard-table; but you can hardly, with any justice, censure men who carry on operations under the moving piston of a sliding scale, beneath which they are as liable to be crushed as to make a fortune.

"Passing from our economical to our social and political condition, we may remark, that with improvement of trade there is a very considerable improve-

ment in the feeling of the bulk of the working-classes. We all know how, in

the midst of their distresses, they stood aloof from the efforts of the middle-classes, and scowled on all above and all around them. They had no faith in any

thing but their own nostrum—no confidence in any man who did not demand

the Charter and nothing but the Charter ; and refused to accept any thing short of the possession of unlimited political power. This was a very unhappy and very dangerous condition of things. It was as fearful as it was painful to

witness the alienation of the labouring community from all above them in

station and position ; to see the avidity with which they swallowed errors at once ludicrous and dangerous—errors which, like a two-edged sword, cut at once the bonds of capital and labour, and which, if attempted to be carried into practice, would destroy the rights of private property, overthrow our commerce, and subvert our entire political fabric. Were these errors merely maintained as speculative opinions, they would be comparatively harmless ; but when they were coupled with distrust and hatred, and urged with an almost fanatical earnestness, which would brook no denial and no controversy, then they be- came alarming, and were justly calculated to excite the fears of those who had no confidence in the working-classes, and to excite pain and sorrow in the minds of all who sought their welfare. "The spirit of the working-classes is now, however, very different from what It was even only a year ago. They have found out the hollow-heartedness of Some of the noisy demagogues who abused their confidence and poisoned their minds; and they have learned the painful truth, that in their own ranks there may be more dangerous and bitter enemies of their true welfare, prosperity,

and happiness, than the most selfish millowner or the hardest-hearted capitalist

of the middle ranks of society. The natural consequence has followed. The spirit of Chartism has fallen from fever-heat almost to the freezing.poiut ; its

organ mourns over the decay of the cause, and itinerants confess that it is Almost hopeless to think of reviving it ; while the chief demagogue has made the appalling threat, that if all efforts to reorganize Chartism prove ineffectual,

he will retire into private life.' There is now among the bulk of the working community a disposition to listen to economical truths, an avidity to compre- bend principles, an absence of bitterness of spirit—at least it.lit*al piedificat,ion. of that which rankled in their minds some time ago, and an inclination, whirSh.,' requires only to be met in a cordial way, to cooperate with the middle-classes in effecting those great changes which will operate as beneficially for them as for any other class in the community. "Cheering as is the general aspect of affairs, gratifying as is the improvement manifesting in our material and social condition, it is mortifying to think that all may pass away as it came, unimproved, without benefit from the experience of the past, without preparation for the condition of the future. A great field" lies before us ; and the time to cultivate it is when we are in a prosperous condition. We have our towns to improve ; a great population to educate; social anomalies to remove; blots on our civilization to efface; and new markets to provide fur a people over rising beyond their means of supply. Now is the time to begin to effect all. It is not when we are groping about in blindness and despair for employment that great commercial. changes should be effected. It is not when people are starving that we should set about improving their habitations. It is not when labourers are standing idle on the market-place that we should talk to them about education. It is when we are prosperous that we should get rid of the sliding-scale ; when we are prosperous, that we should commence great measures of social improve- ment, such as general drainage ; when we are prosperous, that we should pro- mote general education. And yet, if we are now entering on a prosperous cycle, it may pass away without tin effort worthy the great occasion; and when a set of deficient harvests return again our population may possibly be found as before, living in cellars, in undmined streets, in miserable hovels, de- pending for subsistence on the operation of unwise legislation, and as ready as ever to break out in fits of insane fury against whatever is most precious in our constitution and society. England—Ireland—Wales, alike ask' at the pre- sent moment, fur a Government based on principle, and composed of statesmen possessed of clear heads and firm hearts."

The Conservative papers, especially the Ministerial Standard, exult in the admission conveyed in the foregoing paper. The Post at first joined in the chuckling ; but then it turned graver, and fell to chal- lenging the views of the Whig journal, with a prophecy- " The increase of manufacturing activity with which we are now threatened will assuredly prove, to a great extent, only the precursor of another 'commer- cial crisis.' A few words may suffice to establish the truth of our position. Our manufacturing system totters to its fall; and not all the energy of a thousand. Cobdens and a thousand Brights will avail to avert the crash. True, these men, unchecked as they are in their career of mischief, bid fair, before the system of which they form part shall be annihilated, to pull down all that re- mains of the fabric of our old industrial policy. Nothing, however, can long save from destruction that hideous scheme of manufactur- ing production which has pauperized and debased the labouring po- pulation of England—which has outraged all the holiest instincts of humanity—which has converted large classes of manufacturing capitalists into gamblers and sharks—and which has turned the commercial reputation of England iuto a hissing and a reproach in the mouths of foreigners. The SYSTEM is DOOMED; and of that great truth none are more keenly sensible than the leaders of the League. Tiey know the inevitable and not very re- mote consequences of Mr. Gladstoue's bill for legalizing the exportation of English machinery. They know that their monopoly ' has been utterly abandoned—abandoned, it is true, with their own consent, and in the hope of securing to themselves greater ultimate advantages—yet stia abandoned, and for ever. America produces the raw material. America produces to a boundlessj extent the cheapest form of moving-power. America will, here- after, enjoy on the cheapest terms the benefit of the best English machinery. America, therefore, is destined, within fire years, to become the great centre of the cotton-trade."

Mr. Sharman Crawford has addressed a long letter to Mr. Joseph Sturge, as President of the National Complete Suffrage Association, commenting on the treatment of his endeavours to fulfil the behests of the Association in the House of Commons, and indicating the future

course which, as he thinks, ought to be pursued. The foundation on which the principles of the Society are based is—" that no man ought

to be taxed, even for the defence of the realm or support of the Govern- ment, except by his own consent or that of his representative freely chosen." Connected with that principle is another—" that the griev-

ances of the people should be investigated and redressed before the Supplies are granted" Mr. Crawford alludes to the intpediments in the House, which prevented his bringing forward his motion on the Suffrage

question until the 18th of May, and his motion to repeal the Septennial Act until the 20th of June; the only two measures connected with Parliamentary Reform that were brought forward last session : yet before they could be introduced the session had arrived at a period which. ought to have witnessed its close-

" The great body of the Estimates and the Supplies had been voted before Easter—before any progress had been made even with the ameliorating bills

promised by the Government on various subjects, with the exception of the

Registration Bill. The consequence was, those bills were abandoned; whereas, if the Supplies had been withheld, concessions must have been yielded : but, the Supplies having having been voted, any after-effort was powerless in its operation; any Government having got the money of the people can then venture to spurn their complaints and reject their prayers."

A new impediment to the useful reiteration of the People's demands in the House of Commons has grown up, in the shape of the order adopted since the Reform Act that there shall be no discussion on the presentation of petitions ; that time which it is thus professed to save being wasted in extravagantly-prolonged debates on mere party

motions. Proceeding to consider the method of conquering these obstructive difficulties, Mr. Crawford argues, that the very regulations which admit the moving of amendments on any subjects on going into- Committee of Supply prove that the design was "to enable a minority to protect the People's rights against the power of a Ministerial ma- jority ": hence his plan of future action ; which is, in the first place, to use that means of forcing concessions from the Government. It would be unavailing, however, unless supported by public opinion- " Let the constituencies who are represented by Members in whom they con- fide, (in case they desire to adopt a system of the kind I have proposed,) com- municate with their Representatives, and ascertain whether or not they con- cur. Ifs sufficient number of Members agree to the system of demanding the redress of grievances before the Supplies be granted, I would propose the follow- ing course for next session. "I conceive that the proceedings should commence by an amendment on the Address, declaring to her Majesty the grievances which the People com- plain of, and that the House of Commons would be bound to consider those grievances before any Supply should be granted. The Members who vote for such a proposition should then carry out the principle practically, by each bringing forward some specific grievance and remedy, as an amendment .on Supply motions ; and as the present rules of the House preclude any discussion or explanation of opinions on the presentation of petitions, the Members who have presented petitions on any subject of grievance would take that time and mode of bringing the prayer and allegations of their petitions under the consi- deration of the House • and thus this unconstitutional restriction would be defeated. By this mode of opposition, no progress could be made with the voting of the Estimates until the demands and grievances of the People had been first heard, and the decision of the House taken on the various proposi- tions for their redress.

“ lino concessions could be obtained, it would then remain for the Mem- bers who had taken this course to be guided by the manifestation of public opinion, whether or not it would be expedient for them to avail themselves of the forms of the House in giving further opposition to the passing of the Sup- plies; as no such course could be adopted with any useful effect unless sup- ported by the decided expression of the public voice in its favour. But at any rate, by the plan I propose, an opportunity would be afforded for the early discussion of grievances, and the full vindication of the public mind on the conduct and proceedings of the Legislature and the Government, before the passing of the Supplies had virtually closed the door of the House

of Commons against the remonstrances of the Nation. * *

"You will observe, that every effort will be made by the declared Anti-Re- formists and the lukewarm Reformers to hunt down the Representatives who would take this course. They must have the moral courage to persevere in spite of obloquy and reproach. It would appear to me, therefore, that they should be armed with memorials or petitions stating grievances, &c.' from the constituent bodies, in case the people desire that this service should be per- formed."

A verbal objection will be raised, that a "factious opposition" is sug- gested; but Mr. Crawford contends that, as the opposition is not for the sake of a party but the nation, it is not factious but national.

The Jewish New Year, 5604, began on Monday evening, with the usual observances-

" This feast does not commence on the first day of the first month, (Nisan,) but at the commencement of the seventh month (Tizri) inthe Mosaic calendar : it is kept two days, during which time all servile work is forbidden, and the presence of all is required at their respective places of worship. It is one of several institutions which have been held sacred by the Jews, and are solemnly and sacredly observed among them to this day. The High Priests and Rabbins, on this festival, enrobe themselves in what might be termed their shrouds; wearing a long white robe and cap, in which, at their demise, they are buried. At the synagogues, the horns are sounded ; until which time the congregation fast. Invalids and persons who cannot attend, generally make arrangements with a person to sound the hour at their residences. As this is the time for the general expiation for all the sin and defilement of the preceding year, the usual places of worship are found insufficient for the accommodation of all who wish to attend, and temporary synagogues are fitted up for the purpose at the free schools and other large places. The seceders, or British Jews, observe the festivity, but only on one day instead of two, devoting the other to business."

The Committee of the Stoddart and Conolly Fund had an interview with Lord Aberdeen on Saturday, at the Foreign Office ; when his Lordship kindly offered to render every assistance in his power to Dr. Wolff, for the purpose of prosecuting his researches for obtaining in- formation as to the fate of Colonel Stoddart and Captain Conolly ; and his Lordship stated that the mission of Dr. Wolff would not in any way interfere with the instructions he had already given to Colonel Sheil.—Morning Post.

Meetings to petition for acceleration of the overland Indian mails have been held at Glasgow and Liverpool.

The Dublin Monitor says that the story of Lord Cardigan's martinet perverseness, recently recanted by the Mercantile Advertiser, was sub- stantially correct, although some of the particulars were incorrect. When the soldiers were told to " dismount, ' in the Royal Barrack square, on return from parade, two officers sent their horses away ; and when the unexpected order was given to "mount," the two officers were left standing in the square- " Seeing them without their horses, Lord Cardigan approached the senior of the two, and inquired from Captain — why he was not mounted I The answer was, that his horse had been sent to the stable, but that be had sent for him. Lord Cardigan replied, Go for him yourself, Sir.' This mandate was immediately obeyed. The same scene occurred with Lieutenant H—; the second officer in question ; who also obeyed, but with evident reluctance. "The whole matter was then supposed to be at rest ; but it is understood Lieutenant H— sought in the legitimate mode, through the Adjutant, an interview with Lord Cardigan ; which being granted, he told his Lordship that he bad that day: given him an order in the presence of the regiment which was calculated to bring him into contempt, and that, if ever repeated, he would nat obey it. Lord Cardigan coolly advised him to reconsider his language : the reply was, that he adhered to his language; whereupon Lord Cardigan placed him under arrest. On retiring, Lieutenant H— consulted over the matter with some friends ; and the result was, that he was induced to consider his conduct, in a strictly military point of view, as rendering him amenable for a breach of military discipline. He therefore communicated to Lord Car- digan his regret, &c. ; which was accepted, and thus ended the matter."

From the latest intelligence it is ascertained that the pleasure-yacht of Mr. E. M. Gawne, of Kentraugh, which was taken from Port St. Mary by the criminals who lately escaped from Castle Rushen Gaol, was scuttled by the miscreants off Bangor, North Wales.--Manx Sun.

A letter from Berlin, of the 13th instant, in the Courrier Francais, announces that Rick and Co. of Iserlohn, in Westphalia one of the most extensive manufacturing firms in Europe, had failed for a sum of 4,000,000 thalers (600,000/.) It is added that the calamity will be severely felt throughout Germany, but particularly at Berlin and Ham- burg.