be Vrobinces.

The first of a series of "great aggregate meetings" was held in the new Free-trade Hall, in Peter's Street, Manchester, on Monday evening. The capacious building had been erected on purpose for the great meetings of the week, and to facilitate generally the business of the Anti-Corn-law League. There were present from 7,000 to 10,000 persons; a few seats having been reserved for ladies. The meeting was limited to registered members of the League and deputations from distant towns. Among the company on the platform, were—Mr. Mark Philips, M.P., Mr. Milner Gibson, M.P., Dr. Bowring, M.P., Mr. Joseph Brotherton, M.P., Mr. Robert Hyde Gregg, Colonel Thompson, Mr. John Bright, Mr. John Brooks, Mr. Henry Ashworth, Mr. Lawrence Hey worth, Mr. Charles J. S. Walker, and Mr. Elkanah Armitage. Mr. Cobden was kept away by the loss of a child. Mr. Mark Philips was called to the chair. The interest of the meeting lay less in the speeches than in the actual business transacted. Mr. George Wilson read a long list of towns from which subscriptions had been sent, amounting in all to 3,9491., but the amount was swelled by sub- scriptions afterwards delivered in to 42,000/. The list did not include the Manchester subscription, which is stated at 7,000/., nor any sub- scription from London. Mr. Brooks said the Manchester subscription would have been more, but that the collectors had not been sufficiently diligent ; and more work remained to be done. Mr. Taylor explained why there was no subscription from London. Before he left town, he heard rumours that nearly 3,000/. had been collected: the local asso- ciations are making continued exertions; and be trusted that when the League came to London the subscription would prove that the question was as strongly felt in the Metropolis as in the provincial towns. Mr. John Bright remarked that Ireland had sent some contributions to the fund, though there had as yet been very little correspondence with that country. Speaking of the growing information on the subject, as making it impossible that the Corn-laws could stand much longer, Mr. Bright mentioned a fact in the statistics of publishing which showed the superior intelligence of the Manchester district- " I was the other day in Edinburgh, and bad the opportunity of going through the establishment of those excellent and meritorious men William and Robert Chambers, the publishers of Chambers's Journal; and William Chambers told us that they sold 60,000 copies per week of that circular ; and that for 59,000 they found customers in the manufacturing districts, not more than 1,000 being sold in the agricultural districts of Great Britain and Ire- land; and that in the districts around Liverpool and Manchester more than half those 59,000 copies were consumed. He said that Manchester itself read more of Chambers's Journal than the whole of the population of Ireland."

Towards the close of the evening, all the gas-lights suddenly went out, leaving the large assemblage in complete darkness. With great promptitude the chairman induced the people to sit still. Mr. Bright attributed the accident to the malice of the enemies of the League, and to some neglect of the man at the meter ; and he mentioned a fact to show that his suspicions were not without ground, speaking all the while in darkness-

" I have received a letter this afternoon, through the post, from a party who says he knows it to be true, and can prove it to be true, that on the evening of the banquet, on Wednesday evening, some man will be in this room, who at some moment will give an alarm that the galleries are falling ; in order—I do not say merely with the intention of destroying the effect of the meeting— hut the infernal villany of some party or other would not hesitate to sacrifice the lives of those present. There is some one, I say, whose infernal villany- for I shall call it by no milder name—would not scruple to sacrifice a score of lives at the meeting, in the crush, and confusion, and panic, which such a devilish announcement might create."

In a few minutes the gas was relighted, without the occurrence of the slightest confusion; and shortly afterwards the meeting adjourned.

On Tuesday, there was a meeting of Deputies "to consider the Corn- laws as affecting the agricultural classes." Mr. R. N. Greg was the Chairman ; and he delivered a long address, in which he contrasted the English and Scotch modes of agriculture ; imputing the badness of the English methods to implicit reliance on protection, the better methods of the Scotch to superior information and the necessity for greater ex- ertion under a more rigorous climate. Mr. Milner Gibson alluded to some proceedings at a recent agricultural meeting in Norfolk, at which Lord Wodehouse, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, presided ; and the speakers severally urged the necessity of agricultural improve- ments. They said, too, that they intended "to embark in a new ship": would they give up the old ship ?—

One of the speakers had talked of the growth of flax : Mr. Gibson would ask the meeting could they eat flax? These gentlemen had pledged them- selves to restrict the trade in corn at the time that they were occupying their laud in the cultivation of flax. It was rather too bad, having prevented the merchant and manufacturers from supplying the people with food. that the farmers should find out that it would not be profitable for them to supply food, but that it would answer their purpose better to grow flax. It struck him as a very remarkable thing, inasmuch as there was already an almost free trade in flax, the duty on that article being only Id. per hundredweight : it was singular enough that these gentlemen, who relied upon protection for agriculture, should have recourse to the production of an article in which there was a free trade. Resolutions were passed, imputing the backward state of Eiglish agriculture principally to the protection professed to be held out by the Corn-laws; asserting that the repeal of the Corn-laws would not only be an act of imperative justice to the community at large, but advan- tageous to agricultural interests, by promoting independent exertions ; and recommending immediate repeal, as hastening the improvement of trade and facilitating new arrangements between landlord and tenant.

Mr. Feargus O'Connor had issued a placard in Manchester chal- lenging the League to discussion in several neighbouring towns.

The Anti-Bread-tar Circular publishes a curious correspondence. It seems that the Council of the Anti-Corn-law League sent invitations to all kinds of prominent public men, including even the Foreign Ministers in this country ; it being explained that no expression of opinion was expected from the guests so invited. The Circular publishes the replies ; which are in various styles, from the coldI3 - laconic to the cordially- diffuse, but mostly, and especially those of the Foreign Ministers, marked by great courtesy. Prince Castelcicala regrets that he has "given rendezvous on business in quite a different part of the kingdom, very distant front Manchester." The Turkish Ambassador, and Baron de Cetto, the Bavarian Envoy Extraordinary, think that the preseoce of foreigners would be liable to interpretations that they would rather avoid. M. Reventlow, the Danish Minister, is prevented by the duties of his position from leaving his post. The Mexican Mtniste., Baron da Torre Moncorvo, the Portuguese Envoy Extraordinary, Lord Derby, and Lord Carlisle, are kept away by the state of their health. Lord John Russell is obliged by the invitation ; but "with his opinions it is impossible for him to avail himself of this invitation." The Earl of Clarendon is prevented from coming by engagements which it is impos- sible to alter ; but he praises Mr. Greg's Prize Essay, as "the cleverest and most complete exposition of the Cora-laws that has hitherto been presented to the public." Mr. Edward Everett, the American Minister, abstains from being present, "as it is the duty of a Foreign Minister to avoid even the appearance of interfering in the domestic controversies of the country in which he is accredited." Lord Campbell curtly says that he is sorry that he cannot be present. Lord Kinnaird is kept away by distance, but sends a long Free-trade letter. Dord Dude is much reduced by illness, and has become such a skeleton that he is more fit to represent the Corn-laws than to join the League in their opposition to them. Lord Auglesea regrets that he cannot attend. Lord West- minster cannot attend, but wishes the League amplc success. Lord Listowel is detained by business, hut as a landowner looks forward to the repeal of the Corn-laws. Count Pollon, the Sardinian Minister, is sorry that he is prevented from attending. Count Kielmansegge, the Hanoverian Minister, the shortest of the diplomatic note-writers, cannot avail himself of the invitation.

The Standard adds two more letters of' the same set : one, signed E. H. Gibbon, states that the Doke of Norfolk" begs to decline the in- vitation" of the League: another, from Lord Melbourne, says that his health would render it impossible to be in Manchester on the 1st ; but besides, he does not altogether concur in the object of the League, and still less approves of their means to its attainment.

The Anti-Monopoly Association of Liverpool gave a banquet in the Royal Amphitheatre, on Tuesday, to some of the leading advocates of Free Trade in the House of Commons. The Amphitheatre was splendidly fitted up for the occasion with transparencies and other deco- rations. Mr. Thornely, M.P., was the Chairman: among the guests were Mr. Charles Villiers, M.P., Mr. O'Connell, M.P., Mr. Sharman Crawford, M.P., Dr. Bowring, M.P., Mr. Charles 'Hadley, M.P., Sir De Lacy Evans, Mr. John Bright, Colonel Thompson, Mr. James Wilson, Mr. Peter Taylor, and several gentlemen of local Lfluence. Excuses for absence were sent by several Peers and Members. Mr. Villiers spoke at considerable length, touching on some points of no- velty. Ile stated that it had been so difficult to form a quorum on the Import-duties Committee, that but for Mr. Thoruely, Mr. Ewart, and himself, the inquiry could not have been conducted, and the evidence of Mr. Deacon Hume would have been lost. He vindicated the exist- ence and agitation of the League, as called for by the circumstances of the country ; every attempt having been made in vain to induce the attention of the Legislature to the subject of the Corn-laws. How- ever, the House of Commons need no information on the matter, but only wait for a sign that others are as well informed as themselves. After alluding to the Queen's "comprehension of the mighty affairs submitted to her" as a "matter of notoriety," Mr. Villiers remarked that the choice of the Duke of Cleveland and Mr. Miles, to move the Address in the House of Lords and second it in the House of Com- mons, indicated that there was to be " no surrender" of the exiting system ; and so he was not astonished that the Queen herself would not open Parliament. The speakers at this dinner made the use of Dr. Marsham's speech, at Aylesbury, which its involuntary admissions invited.

On Wednesday week, the League had a great demonstration at Bristol ; where their deputatiou, consistiag of Mr. Cobden, M.P., and Colonel Thompson, were received at a soiree in the Public Rooms at Broadmead. The issue of the tickets was necessarily limited to One thousand, from the want of a building sufficiently capacious. Letters of excuse were read from Lord Ducie, who was kept away by his illness, and from the Honourable Francis Henry Fitzhardinge Berkeley, who had the looping cough. Colonel Thompson delivered a speech in his usual manner, and it seems to have told well with the Bristol authentic.. Mr. Cobden also made one of his effective speeches ; appealing to the local feelings of his hearers.

The recently issued report of the Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Farmeis' Association, quoted by the Ipswich Express, denounces the policy of Sir Robert Peel as destructive to agricultural interests; the

Association preferring entirely free trade to the uncertainty which his measures have induced-

" The Committee should grossly deceive their brother farmers if they said that they either expected or even desired the finality of the recent measures. *• Rather than it should be so, they would prefer to see an universal system of free trade adopted. The necessity for a totally opposite policy will never be felt or understood till it is ; and dearly though the lesson would be purchased, they are more and more convinced that there never will be a final settlement of the question till it has been tried."

The Manchester and Salford Advertiser of Saturday last reports a visit paid by Mr. John Fielden and General Johnson to their consti- tuents at Oldham, on the previous Monday. Mr. Fielden related what passed at an interview which he had with Sir Robert Peel some time back, in which he made a statement to the Premier of his views as to the causes of the distress and the remedies ; without waiting for a reply, out of consideration for the preoccupation of the Minister's time. Sir Robert Peel received him with great courtesy and good feeling; evi- dently felt the force of his observations ; and said, he was sure that they were both working to the same end. Mr. Fielden told an anecdote of the late Premier to prove his position, that although the late Adminis- tration were aware of the condition of the people, no remedy could they adopt— He would tell them what Lord Melbourne said when asked what could be done to better the condition of the people ; he replied, "He'd be d—d if he could tell." (A coke cried out "He was honest.") Yes, said Mr. Fielden, but very indifferent; and be rejoiced that Le and his gallant colleague had done their best, and at last successfully, to kick the Whigs out of office, and also, he might say, thereby assisted the Tories to power.

General Johnson having addressed the electors, and both Members having answered some questions, they received the thanks of the meeting. Mr. Peter Ainsworth has refused to meet his constituents of Bolton on the Corn question ; and a meeting was held on Friday to take his conduct into consideration, and the consequent measures. A letter was read from the recusant Member, in which he explained the process of his change of opinion-

" When I pledged myself, at the Little Bolton Town-hall, in 1841, to vote for a total and immediate repeal of the Corn-law, should a motion to that effect be brought forward in the ensuing session of Parliament, it was with the distinct understanding with the meeting, that in case the motion failed I should be at liberty to make the best terms I was title for the interests of my constituents, to the extent of voting for a moderate fixed duty on the import of corn. I redeemed my pledge, and voted for Mr. Villiers's motion. That motion signally failed ; and I have considered that I was justified in giving my support to the new Tariff, embodying the principle of a fixed protection to the manufacturing, (especially silk, gloves, leather, and glass,) the mining, and the agricultural interests of the country. Having done so, I feel myself pre- vented by a sense of justice from excluding the borne growers of corn alone from the advantages enjoyed by every class of producers in the United Empire. In addition to this, the duties levied on the import of all articles of consump- tion, whilst they protect the home trade, contribute largely towards the revenue of the country ; and I can see no valid reason why foreign grain, admitted at a moderate fixed duty, should not furnish its proportion towards the necessaries of the State, especially at this moment, when the financial condition of the country is such as to require every effort for the maintenance of the public credit.

"I have always been opposed to the principle of a sliding-scale, as decidedly injurious to the interest ot trade ; but I think that a moderate fixed duty on the import of corn, whilst it materially benefits the revenue, will give to the !manufacturer and the merchant the advantages of greater freedom and stability an their commercial pursuits."

A resolution was passed, declaring that Mr. Ainsworth had forfeited the confidence of his supporters by his recent declaration on the Corn- Jaws; and the meeting pledged themselves to remove him from the re- presentation as soon as possible.

A dinner was given to Mr. Emerson Tennent, M.P., at the Albion Hotel in Manchester, on Friday, to present him with a service of plate, in testimony of the gratitude of the calico-printers of the kingdom for his exertions in passing the Copyright of Designs Bill. There were 106 pieces of plate, weighing 3,000 ounces. The tureens, &T., were of the pattern of the Warwick vase, and thus corresponded with two large ice-pails of the same pattern that had been presented to Mr. Tenneut by some gentlemen in Ireland. The set comprised every article neces- sary for a dinner and breakfast service. The subscription to purchase it had amounted to 1,850/. Mr. Tennenes hosts on the occasion were assembled without regard to polities ; and the majority appear to have been of the opposite party to his own. Mr. W. Neild of Manchester presided. In returning thanks for the plate, and for the complimentary speech with which it was presented by Mr. Neild, Mr. Tennent acknow- ledged the assistance which he had received from Members on both sides of the House, and from gentlemen without, especially Mr. Henry of Dublin, who had suggested the bill, Mr. Neild and Mr. Thomson of Clitheroe, who had supplied "prompt suggestions and boundless infor- mation." Within the five months since the passing of the bill, the numbers who had availed themselves of its protection had been quite remarkable— "Thus, whilst during the five months which preceded its enactment, the number of patterns of all kinds for carpets, silks, shawls, and paper-hangings, —.mounted to but 53, the number of the same description of designs regis- tered in the five months since had been no less than 425. But, in addition to goods of this class, printed designs upon cotton had now for the first time been admitted to register; and of these alone there had been deposited since the passing of the Act no fewer than 2,356. Its success, however, was still more apparent in the remarkable fact, that whilst during the three years' existence of the former law, there were registered of every description of articles, metals included, but 1,421 designs, there had already been registered, within four months and three weeks since the passing of the measure, no fewer than 2,934 under the system which be had had the honour to introduce. And he was in- formed by the officer who superintended the department, that scarcely a day passed in which some manufacturer did ,not make his appearance for the first time, to state that he had but just learned the advantages which it presented, and that it was his intention most fully to avail himself of them in future. A. plan which he had suggested was already in operation, and designs were daily registered by inventors upon the deposit of the original drawing. Another tes- timony to the value of the measure was the fact that some of its warmest op- ponents bad become its practical approvers.

Among the toasts was the health of Mr. W. E. Gladstone, who, during Mr. Tennenes temporary exclusion from the House, had taken charge of the bill. Another was the health of Mr. Wilson Patten and the other Members who bad supported the Copyright of Designs Bill. Mr. Patten, who w as present, returned thanks.

The coal districts of Monmouthshire and South Wales are again in an unsettled state ; the miners at several large collieries remaining away from their work, in consequence of a dispute with their masters about terms. Several meetings have been held by the discontented workmen, to recruit their own ranks and overawe those who remain at work : the places at which such meetings have occurred are, among others, A berdure, Pen Twyn, Black wood, liellygaer, Nelson Collieries, Duffryn Collieries, Cross Penmain, Llantressent. The authorities are on the alert ; and several ringleaders have been arrested and committed to prison for breach of contract in leaving their work.

According to present appearances, a murder similar to the late Roe- hampton murder has been committed near Leeds. The headless body of a young female, without limbs, much mutilated and burnt, was found in the river Aire, near Knostrop Rock, on Sunday. Even the pelvis was absent. An inquest was held upon the body on Monday, and adjourned for a week.

A curious discovery has been made at Windsor Castle, which is sup- posed to be connected with the robbery of some valuable stores in March 1841, the robber of which was not discovered. On Friday last, the cap of a workman engaged in the stores under Winchester Tower, a detached building, was set on fire ; and afterwards William Gaw, a porter in the Lord Chamberlain's department, was left to guard against fire from some spark which might possibly have escaped extinction. About half-past five o'clock in the morning, he heard some one getting over the gate of a small yard in front of the store-rooms ; presently the door of the room was opened ; and one Samuel Prentice, for some years the working bellbanger at the Castle, walked in. He seemed very much confused, and was about to retire, when Gaw caul him back, and asked him what he wanted ? He said that he came for a chisel and hammer ; which he then took from an inner room and went away ; adding that he had had the key from Townsend, a porter. In about an hoar he returned, and told Gaw that that was a lie: he had made the key, which was a skeleton one, to get into a shop where he worked, and he came for a dry brush, not the hammer and chisel. Prentice was examined before two County Magistrates on Monday and Tuesday. 31r. R. Ledger repeated the account given by Gaw, with the important addition that Prentice said he had destroyed the skeleton key. Prentice e as committed fbr trial at the next Berkshire Assizes, on a charge of having entered the stores by means of a picklock key and being found in the stores for improper purposes at half-past five o'clock in the morning. He was released on bail, on giving security himself in a penalty of 501., with two sureties of 30/. each.

The yacht Arundel, lately one of the Royal Yacht Squadron, struck on the Winchelsea track on her way to Hong-kong, at half-past one o'clock on Sunday morning ; the tide ebbing at the time, and the sea running very high. Blue lights were burnt ; and Lieutenant Ralph, with a boat's crew, put off from Rye in the life-boat. He was joyfully permitted to take the passengers, Mr. Vince Paris and Mr. Cairns, with Mr. Guildford Richardson and Mr. Emsworth, friends who were ac- companying Captain Richardson down the Channel. The Captain and his crew resolved to stand by the wreck till the last ; and within five minutes after they had taken to their own boats, Captain Richardson being the last to leave the vessel, the sea was breaking over her decks. The boats reached Rye in safety ; the men having throughout observed the most admirable discipline. The Arundel was under charge of Mr. Davison, senior pilot to the Queen : it is supposed that he counted a little too strongly on her fine sailing qualities in allowing her to run too close to the shore.