faistellantous.

On Sunday night, a special messenger arrived at the residence of Sir Robert Peel, in Whitehall Gardens, to require his attendance at Wind- sor Castle on the following day. Sir Robert left Whitehall Gardens at half-past twelve o'clock on Monday, in an open carriage and four. He had an interview with the Queen at four ; left Windsor again at five ; and reached town about seven o'clock. On his way to Windsor he called on the Duke of Wellington, at Apsley House. From an early hour on Monday morning Sir Robert Peel's door was besieged by his future colleagues, and probably by others who expected to be so. The Ministers elect continued to drop into town from day to day. There was a meeting at Sir Robert Peel's on Monday night, which did not break up till near one o'clock next morning. On Tues- day, the Duke of Wellington received the chief members of the future Administration to dinner at Apsley House. The party was select, including only Sir Robert Peel, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Ripon, Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Stanley, Lord Ellenborough, Sir James Graham, and Mr. Arbuthnot. On retiring from the dinner-table, the Duke and his colleagues held a conference which lasted several hours.

Sir Robert, accompanied, it seems, by his second son as cornpagnon de voyage, went to Windsor on Wednesday, and submitted to the Queen the list of the statesmen who had agreed to join his Cabinet. He ar- rived a little before twelve o'clockand, intending to return to town

o'

by the two clock train from Slough, he ordered his carriage to be ready at the Castle at a quarter past one. He did not leave the Castle, however, till twenty minutes past two. As he passed through the town on his return, he courteously returned the salutations with which he was greeted. It is remarked that he looked well, and satisfied. If the correspondent of the Times, like Crack in the farce, is " not in the confidence of the horses," he seems to be in the confidence of Sir Ro- bert's coachman : he supplies the following intimate account of the Baronet's phases of thought on the journey home, with a touch of the magnanimous worthy of the ruler of a great empire- " As the right honourable baronet quitted the town, he became more thoughtful, until aroused from his reflections by observing, as he came within view of the Slough station, and within one minute's drive of it, that the train by which be was desirous of returning was in motion. It is said that great minds are often affected by trifling circumstances ; but, whatever Sir Robert may have felt at the disappointment, (and such it must have been,) he be- trayed not the slightest irritation ; but, coolly descending from his carriage, supplied himself with tickets for the next train, (which was due at four mi- nutes to three o'clock,) and walked about, still accompanied by his son. In about half an hour after, he was met on the road from Windsor by Lord Ellenborough, with whom he remained in close conversation until near the appointed hour of departure. The train, however, did not come up until twenty minutes past three o'clock ; when the right honourable gentleman, his son, and the noble lord, seated themselves in Sir Robert's carriage, and quickly disappeared."

Sir Robert reached Whitehall Gardens about half-past four, and was joined about five minutes after by the Duke of Wellington. There seems this time to be no difficulty about the Ladies of the Court: the Dutchess of Sutherland was the first known to have ten- dered her resignation ; and that of the Dutchess of Bedford and the Marchioness of Normanby, Ladies in Waiting, has since been an- nounced. The resignations were accepted. On Thursday evening, Sir Robert Peel gave his first Cabinet dinner, as Premier, at his private residence in Whitehall Gardens. The Duke of Wellington, Duke of Buckingham, Earl of Aberdeen, Earl of Ripon, Earl of Haddington, Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Ellenborough, Lord Wharn- cliffe, Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, Sir Edward Knatchbull, Sir Henry Hardinge, and Mr. Goulburn, constituted the circle.

The Marquis of Lansdowne, as Lord President of the Council, gave a farewell entertainment to the members of the Cabinet, on Saturday evening, at Lansdowne House. Lord Melbourne was prevented from joining his colleagues by his departure early in the evening for Wind- sor Castle.

A farewell dinner was given on Saturday evening, at Woolwich, to Lord Vivian, as Master-General of the Ordnance, by the officers of that department. Lord Blomfield, the Commandant of the garrison, presided. More than one hundred and sixty officers, all of the Ord- nance Corps, were present.

We believe we may state with certainty, that the " new writs" will be moved in the House of Commons on Monday next ; and that both Houses, at their rising on that evening, will adjourn until Monday fort- night the 20th instant.—Standard, September 3.

The Lord Chancellor, on Monday night, just before the House of Peers adjourned, presented a bill to relieve " a noble lord" (the name was not mentioned at the time) from the disabilities and penalties he had incurred in consequence of having taken his seat and voted before taking the oaths and going through the other prescribed and requisite forms. It now appears that the noble lord was the Earl of Scarborough. The standing orders are to be taken into consideration on Monday next, with a view to the bill going through all its stages on that day ; and the Lords have been summoned to attend for the occasion. The disabilities incurred (according to the 30th Charles IL, scat. 2, cap. 1) are very numerous and serious ; and the accidental omission to comply with that statute in the present case.bas brought the noble earl into a curious position in relation to the severe enactments of that act.— Standard.

We rejoice sincerely in the opportunity which the outgoing Govern- ment has given us, to state that two gentlemen, every way unexcep- tionable, have obtained pensions—small ones, we believe, [1501.] for the Pension-list has been sadly cut down—but still sufficient to mark the feelings of the Queen in regard to the individuals in question— both poets—one, our fellow-citizen, Dr. Anster, who has given us the best translation of the " Faust " of Goethe ; and the other, Mr. Carey, the best of Dante.—Dublin Evening Post.

Tuesday's Gazette announces that the Queen has appointed Mr. Beverley Newcommer to be Consul at Paraiba : and that Mr. Henry Kendall's appointment as Consul for the Peruvian Republic is ap- proved.

The Queen, it is announced in the same Gazette, has conferred the honour of Knighthood on Captain George Rose Sartorius, R.N., Lieu- tenant Richmond Campbell Shakespear, Bengal Artillery, and Mr. Richard La Saussaye.

The ladies of Doncaster have lately presented Lord Morpeth with a valuable diamond ring, inscribed "To Lord Morpeth, from the Ladies of Doncaster, July 16, 1841. A testimony to moral worth."

A fancy-fair for charitable purposes was held last week, at Cross- deep; between Twickenham and Teddington, by some of the ladies resident in that neighbourhood. The Duke of Wellington having been present, had gone away, leaving his umbrella behind him ; whereupon Lady P— immediately said, " Who will give twenty guineas for the Duke's umbrella?" In one moment a purchaser was found; and on his Grace's retu. n the fact was communicated to him ; when he good- naturedly remarked, " I'll soon supply you with umbrellas if you sell them so much to the advantage of the charity."—Standard.

Lord Beresford, who was so dangerously ill last week, is getting better.

The scientific world will deeply sympathize in the temporary with- drawal from the Royal Institution of all the public services of Dr. Farraday, who has been for many years its chief ornament. Serious. affliction from his incessant labours in the cause of science is unhappily the cause of this secession.—Correspondent of the Morning Papers.

The prospects of the crops, like the weather itself, continue to be irr the highest degree variable ; but upon the whole, as far as can be ga- thered from the most conflicting accounts, comparatively favourable. The operations of the harvest have been interrupted in all the Three Kingdoms by frequent but seemingly not general rains ; and although great complaints are made here and there, the most is made of the fine weather, and the farmer is gradually getting in his crop. The extent of the injury done by the deplorable weather in midsummer it is im- possible, from the scattered and contradictory accounts, to estimate ; but there appears little doubt that it is considerable. The spring promised. an unsually abundant crop : the autumn will be thought propitious if it return something near an average. The average price of wheat is now 71s. 4d. : the duty on foreign wheat is 6s. 8d.

The crops are said to be so abundant in Spain, that that country will be able to export from half a million to seven hundred thousand quarters.

The Giornale dells Due Sicilie states that the crops in Sicily are most promising, and that the harvest is likely to surpass the good one of last year.

At Manchester there have been three considerable failures of parties engaged in manufacturing business, whose credits have been sus- pended by the embarrassments of some of the banks there upon which they bad been in the habit of depending. At Liverpool there are also three failures upon a large scale, but it is believed that none of them will turn out to be very ruinous in their final liquidation. All this mischief will tend to increase the distress of the operatives, by reducing still further the means of employment, as well as the rate of wages.— Globe.

The following protest against the amendment to the Address in the House of Lords was drawn up by the Duke of Sussex-

" 1. Because we are adverse in principle to all restraints upon commerce. We consider that public prosperity is best promoted by leaving the national industry to flow in its natural free current; and we think that practical mea- sures should be adopted to bring our commercial legislation back to a straight and simple course of wisdom, instead of continuing a system of artificial and injurious restriction. " 2. Because we think that the great principle of leaving commerce unfettered applies more peculiarly, and on the highest ground of justice, to the trade in those articles which constitute the sustenance of the people. The experience of a quarter of a century has proved that the Corn-laws passed subsequently to the year 1815 have neither produced the plenty, the cheapness, the steadiness of price, nor any of the other benefits anticipated by the advocates of those laws; while, on the other hand, all the evil consequences predicted at the time by those opposed to monopoly have been realized. " 3. Because the practical effect of the variable scale of duties has been to introduce a system of speculative jobbing and of fictitious sales, for the pur- pose of raising the averages in order to enter corn at the minimum duties. It is impossible, under this system, to ascertain whether sales are real or fictitious; and it is well known that during the last two years the averages have been raised by bringing for sale, into the principal markets of the kingdom, only the best qualities of corn, and that the inferior grain has been withheld firom those markets until the high average price reduced the duties to minimum rates. " 4. Because the inevitable effect of a system which prevents a regular trade in corn is to derange the course of commerce, whenever the accidents of the seasons occasion a deficiency in the harvest. The fall of the foreign exchanges and exports of bullion, consequent on a sudden demand for large quantities of corn from countries with whom our restrictive laws preclude interchange in ordinary years, have already, on more than one occasion, brought the banking institutions of country to the verge of bankruptcy, and occasioned general commercial distress.

"5. Because the prosperity of a great manufacturing and commercial nation depends in a great measure upon foreign trade and access to foreign markets. The multitude of restrictions and prohibitions with which our tariff is encum- bered throw great obstacles in the way of trade, without any corresponding advantage to the revenue; and the system of excluding foreign produce has al- ready had a most prejudicial effect in inducing those countries to encourage native manufactures, and to retaliate by corresponding restrictions upon British merchandise. In the present state of our relations with other powers, it ap- pears impossible to persist longer in this restrictive system without imminent danger of losing some of our best markets.

" Lastly, Because we think it one of the first duties of a government to im- pose no unnecessary burdens upon the industrious classes. A system which. excludes, or imposes high duties on foreign produce, for the sake of protecting particular interests, violates this obligation, on the one hand by impeding the free course of industry, and on the other by enhancing artificially the cost of subsistence.

" Under present circumstances, the maintenance of this system involves, in addition to those indirect burdens, the necessity of imposing a large amount of direct taxes to make good a deficiency in the revenue which would not exist if all articles of consumption and merchandise were admitted into our ports at moderate duties."

This protest was signed by the following Peers—Augustus Frederick, (the Duke of Sussex,) Scarborough, Zetland, Charlemont, De Manley, Montford, Clements, Foley ; and Radnor, Hatherton, and Gosford, for the first, second, third, and last reasons. •

An announcement in the Colonial Gazette of Wednesday last, of con- siderable moment to one of the most important British colonies, has been much perverted by the Whig journals The habits of faction prompt a continuance of trickery even when its most questionable uses seem gone. In the present case the worst mischief might have been done by a garbled quotation. Under the head of " Canadian Policy of the Peel Government," the Morning Chronicle of Thursday quoted the subjoined extract from the Colonial Gazette- " A leading article of yesterday's Times contains the following passage- ' Passing from Foreign to Colonial affairs, Lord John Russell takes credit to himself for having "restored free institutions to Canada," without confessing to any culpability in the transactions which made it necessary to take those- institutions away. By coquetting with treasonable practices at home and abroad, these men educated the spirit of rebellion in Canada, and afterwards, by their vacillating incapacity, encouraged it to make head and break out into overt acts. The flame of civil war, once kindled, was quenched by no wisdom of theirs, but by the gallant British troops and the loyal British settlers. How have those settlers been since treated by this Government, which claims praise for restoring free institutions to Canada ? In inch a manner as may probably teach those whose patriotism is not proof against temptation, to seek their own interest on the next similar occasion by taking part with the insurgents instead of putting them down. And if the course of Whig administration had not been arrested, there is too much reason to apprehend that such an op- portunity might have been speedily found.'—All this, being interpreted, means that the recent Government of Canada has been mischievously popular, and that it behoves Sir Robert Peel and Lord Stanley to restore the dominion of the old Family Compacts. It will be read thus in Canada. If it were also read there as an expression of the views of the Peel Government, it would almost suffice to produce that third rebellion, which the writer in the Times, in utter ignorance of the state of Canada, thinks would have happened if the course of Whig administration had not been arrested." So far the quotation in the Chronicle; which thus seems to hold out, on the authority of the Colonial Gazette, an implied threat that Lord Stanley is to assume his government in the worst and most dangerous spirit. The reckless dishonesty of the qu3tation will be best seen by what followed in the original- " But it shall not be so read in Canada : why not, will appear below. In the first place, the passage in question occurs in the midst of an article on the cha- racter of the late Government, containing a great deal of truth, but obviously written without any special view to Canadian affairs, and therefore probably by a person as thoroughly unacquainted with them as be appears to be. Such a writer, it may be presumed, knows nothing of the opinions of Lord Stanley or Sir Robert Peel with respect to Canada. if the paragraph which we have extracted had stood by itself, or if it had formed part of an article on Canadian affairs, it might have been supposed to speak the sentiments of the new Go- vernment : appearing where it does, it may be taken as merely telling the no- tions of an individual, which have been laid before the public by oversight of the conductors of the Times. But, secondly, we have reason to believe that both Lord Stanley and Sir Robert Peel hold opinions, with respect to the future government of Canada, totally at variance with those of the writer of this paragraph. We can only express our own firm convictions as to the views and purposes of the new Administration. These are, that the Compacts have nothing agreeable to expect from the change at home; that there is not the slightest.chance of their restoration to power; that the wishes of the Canadian people as expressed by their representatives will be consulted by the Executive ; that the Reformers of the English race will not be despised, but treated with the consideration which is due to them as the great majority of their blood ; that the Canadians of French origin may confidently look forward, so far as the Executive is concerned, to a rule of justice and kindness; and that it will be a leading object of the new Government of Canada to mend every man's fortune by means of the great public improvements which are indispensable to thb prosperity of the colony. It is not mere hope that we express, but confident expectations. We are aware that in thus stating them we incur a heavy responsibility ; for that which we assert as our sure belief will be believed in Canada ; and it is of course possible, therefore, that those who confide in us may be bitterly disappointed. It is possible, but most improbable. Although we should willingly have kept silence on this subject until the appointment of Lord Sydenham's successor had publicly indicated the Canadian policy of the Peel Government, yet the statement which we have been induced to make by way of antidote to the poisonous passage in the Times rests on no vague rumour, and proceeds neither from guess-work nor from general reasoning on the necessities or expediences of the case. We speak with the same certainty as if we had been authorized to mention facts. The packet of the 4th instant will take this announcement, if so it may be termed, to Canada. To at least nine-tenths of the colonists it is a message of hope and patience."

So far as the Chronicle, aided by other Whig journals that borrowed the garbled extract, could manage it, the packet of the 4th would have carried din the Tbry paper's provocative to the third rebellion, aggra- vated by the seeming concurrence of other parties in the message of .despair.

The publication of a long list of new rules and regulations, which Lord Cottenham has bequeathed to the Court of Chancery as his legacy on quitting the woolsack, has given the Times occasion to draw the following character of the Whig Chancellor ; a description which, we believe, will meet with general concurrence- " It has been the peculiar good fortune or rather merit of Lord Cottenham, to have sustained with universal applause an elevation for which his qualifica- tions were not, at the beginning, appreciated by the public. To a perfect fa- miliarity with the practice and acquaintance with the recorded decisions of those courts, he brought an enlarged common sense, and a mind disposed to recur to the fundamental principles of equitable jurisdiction. Few Judges 'have approached more closely to the true medium between a slavish adherence to forms and precedents, and a carelessness about tampering with established -principles of action. There has been nothing technical in Lord Cottenham's judgments; and yet he has never departed from the settled artificial system of his court, but has left it developed in clearer, more consistent, and more legi- gimate proportions than when it began to receive modification under his hands. Be has always appeared to feel the importance of checking undue litigation, and not by delays and harassing costs, which render justice in- accessible, but by throwing a steady light upon the principles of the law, and marking out as clearly as possible the rules which ought to govern the practical intercourse of mankind. Great industry, and an intellect appre- hensive of principles, and quick to detect and discard secondary and irrelevant matter, have enabled him to despatch the business of his court with compara- tive speed, without withholding from the most trifling case that full attention and consideration which was its due. His decisions have given an unusual de- -gree of general satisfaction ; and it has been a remarkable merit, that instead of shrinking from making precedents, and endeavouring cas Lord Eldon was apt to do) to confine the principle, and therefore the public utility, as well as the personal responsibility of his judgments, within the narrowest possible limits, he has always manifested a desire to exhaust, as far as possible, the questions at issue between parties, and to take every fair opportunity of settling the future law of the court. Lord Cottenham's demeanour towards counsel, and all other parties concerned before him, has been uniformly, and without -exception, and in an equal degree to all, courteous and attentive. No judge was ever more free from the weakness of lending his ear with an undue bias to particular individuals. The youngest member of the bar, when arguing before 'him, was under no apprehension that the effect of his case or of his arguments 'would suffer on account of his personal obscurity, or the eminence of those who might be retained on the opposite side. Lord Cottenham was in every respect the master of his own court. The services of Lord Cottenham to the country have not been confined to his excellent administration of justice. He has in • troduced several useful measures into Parliament for the purpose of facilitating justice; and, had he met with the. support which was due both to his character and to his measures themselves from his colleagues in the late Government, the public would ere this have had the benefit of the chief of those improvements. • * • As a politician, we have differed from Lord Cottenham. We believe him to be a very decided Whig partisan, and to have exhibited that partisan- -*hip in the use of the influence and patronage of his office. It may fairly, how- ever, be inferred from the circumstance that his official conduct has never been impeached with success in any point of detail, that it has not been possible to lay to his charge, as a Minister of the Crown, any action unworthy of his high character as a judge and as a private gentleman.'

It is one of the greatest blots in the history of the late Cabinet, that it neglected that most desirable improvement in the administration of the law, which, by separating the political and judicial functions of the Lord Chancellor, would have secured to the country the services of such a man under all passing changes in the political world. Indeed the whole system of law presents masses of abuse which oppress the individual subject far more severely than many political abuses about which so much noise is made : upon these the "Reform Government" has not bestowed a thought worth remembrance.

The professional advisers of Sir Wolstan Dixie and Mr. Bell of Thirsk have written a letter in answer to that lately published by Mr. Folliot Duff on behalf of his imprisoned brother, seeking to remove any impression that Captain Duff is now suffering for others' con- duct. They observe, that Captain Duff pleaded Guilty to the charge on which he was arraigned ; and it is not to be supposed that Sir Frederick Pollock, who conducted his case, is to be accused of carelessness or mismanagement. They state that the facts which have now been set forth in the petition to the Queen were embodied fully in the affidavit in mitigation of sentence which was laid before the Court of Queen's Bench ; and they quote the explicit allusion made in the judgment of the Court to the facts of that petition, to show that Mr. Daff's punish- ment has been proportioned to his merits upon his own statement of facts. They would remove all imputation from their clients on the ground of not coming forward " to take upon themselves the con- sequences " and " clear Captain Duff's character " from the odium of their guilt, by stating, that indeed all the gentlemen concerned did so far come forward as to volunteer their support in the conduct of the defence and in the payment of all the expenses which should be in- curred. Sir W. Dixie and Mr. Bell, in fact, came up from remote parts of the country on the eve of the trial to give evidence ; but were told by Captain Duff's solicitor, at a meeting held before the trial, that " it was all settled," and they would not be further required. Their share of the expenses was paid, and they were discharged from their sub- poenas ; no doubt, it is added, under a belief that the Court would allow the matter to be compromised. That such an arrangement had not been allowed by the Court, was not, however, the fault of Sir W. Dixie or Mr. BelL That their compliance with the request in Mr. Folliot Duff's letter, written after the sentence was passed, would have benefited Mr. Duff in any way, is rendered improbable by the refusal of the Crown to grant the prayer of the petition, founded on similar facts, which had been lately presented for a mitigation of the punishment.

The Paris papers of the week have been much occupied with the change of Ministry in England, and especially with Sir Robert Peel's speech on Friday. The Journal des Mats acknowledges the po- liteness of the adieu" to France made by the outgoing Ministry in the Queen's Speech ; but attaches "at least equal importance to the lan- guage of those who are virtually in possession of power "; comparing Sir Robert's speech with " the inexcusable language held at Tiverton by Lord Palmerston during the general election. The Dilate adds- " Such declarations, received as they were with the unanimous applause of the representatives of a great nation, are true services rendered to humanity. It is easy to predict the sort of success which M. Guizot will derive in certain re- gions from the brilliant testimony of respect and admiration paid to him in a foreign Parliament. For us, thinking as we do that it is possible to reconcile patriotism with the esteem of one's allies, we do not hesitate to congratulate the Minister for Foreign Affairs in being able to oppose to the insensate clamours of the street, the glorious suffrage of all enlightened and first-rate minds both at home and abroad."

The National quizzes the interchange of compliments between "the' victors of Waterloo and the man of 1815 " ; and recalls to mind that Sir Robert Peel called the Revolution of July 1830 "a brutal event" (un fait brutal)- " On another occasion, we ourselves heard him, in the House of Commons, declare that this revolution, although praiseworthy as regarded the generosity of the people, was not the less a detestable fact in Europe—a very dangerous example for the nations of Europe, and always a cause of uneasiness.' At another time and in the course of a serious debate, he said' that the popular victory of July was an event which was certainly to be regretted, but to which was not to be assigned the character and authority of right.' Such are the true principles of Sir Robert Peel : they are in harmony with his life, with his opinions, and with the dogmas of his party. He now sets up a theory of universal disarming, and preaches the universal peace of the Abbe St. Pierre, or, to use the words of M. Guizot, ' peace for ever and everywhere.' France may dislocate her army ; she may again allow herself to be surprised by some arrangement a padre ; she may dismast her ships : but before she does so, let her ask England if she will also consent not to keep up a fleet ? "

The Conservative Presse, though not a partisan of the English alli- ance, admits that " peace is the first, the greatest interest of Europe." Generally speaking, Sir Robert's pacific overtures are well received.

A portion of the French army, which would have completed its term of service on the 31st December next, was actually discharged on Mon- day. It is reported also that the soldiers whose term of service would expire on the 31st December next year, will be provisionally discharged the moment when the conscripts of the present year shall have passed through their first drills. Each of those contingents may be estimated at 60,000 men.

The resistance to the resurvey of taxes appears at present to be sub- siding. Out of twenty Councils-General of Departments, nineteen had declared in favour of the legality of the survey, and the twentieth de- livered a doubtful opinion. The Courrier Francais, however, observes that sixty-six more have yet to give in their opinion ; and it asserts that five of those, the Councils of Aisne, Vienne, Vendee, Manche, and the Cotes du Nord, will deliver an adverse decision. At all events, adds the Courrier, a survey executed in the streets, with closed doors, can give no accurate results ; and a second survey will be necessary.

Three Belgian Commissioners for conducting commercial negotiations between France and Belgium have assembled in Paris.

Madrid papers of the 25th have been received. It is said that Queen Christina has sent M. Emile de Girardin to the German Courts to ob- taro her recognition as Regent of Spain and tutor of the young Queen. Government had marched troops to the Basque Provinces, in order to suppress any counter-revolutionary attempt on the part of the friends of Queen Christina. General Leon, who was represented as plotting in favour of Queen Christina, has denied all participation in her schemes.

The Infant Don Francisco has been named Senator for one of the provinces. The Government has found it impossible to oppose the popular dis- like to the cession of the islands of Annobon and Fernando Po to Eng- land ; and has therefore resolved to pay two years interest on the In- demnity Bonds, (60,0001.,) which equals the price that England was to have paid for the islands: the account was to have been squared without the passing of any cash between the two countries, the English Govern- ment handing over the price for the islands to the English Bondholders.

The affairs of Greece begin to cause some uneasiness to the Powers friendly to that country, if we may credit a document purporting to be addressed by the French Government to its representatives in the Courts of the European Powers, on the subject. The writer alludes to "unpleasant facts, which, though not attributable to the Government of Greece, would excite a fear that the Government is not strong enough to keep its employes within the bounds of a just, regular, and humane administration"—

" This is the more to be regretted, as the state of the kingdom created by France, England, and Russia, seems to evince, that the Powers were not go- verned by a mere illusion in making such sacrifices to regenerate and render independent that country. The population has increased, agriculture has im- proved, and the revenue has been enabled to meet the expenditure : there are symptoms of vitality and force, which, however, may be paralyzed or compro- mised by the weakness or negligence of the Administration. King Otho, it is true, has exclusively the right of applying the remedy to these evils, which, though exaggerated, exist. To impose any measure on the King of Greece, would be to deprive it of its effect ; and none of the Powers would wish to call in question his Majesty's independence. But all the Powers are interested in offering such counsels to the Greek Cabinet as may avert the catastrophe which threatens the interests of Greece. But such counsels, in order to be effectual, should be unanimous, and should not emanate from rival influences. They should also be maturely considered, and couched so as to offend neither King nor country whilst exercising that moral authority requisite to serve that country. The greatest of these evils, and the cause of all others, is the weak- ness and inertness of the Government, unceasingly harassed by the rival pre- tensions of parties and individuals ; and taking refuge therefrom in an isolation which removes it from the popular feeling, and places it in a position where it can neither know nor direct that feeling, it becomes alarmed, it stops short, puts off resolve, and appears as if it would fall into nullity, for want of sup- port anywhere. The most crying abuses and the greatest perils have been the result."

The writer doubts whether the habits of the people or the anterior organization of the country would supply the conditions requisite to the success of what is called a " constitutional government' ; but he suggests a revival and extension of the system of municipal institutions, with which the people were not unacquainted under the Turkish rule, as an auxiliary to government by a Council of State. This suggestion is thrown out by the French Government, not to obtain the immediate adoption of its views, but to invite the Allied Courts to take the subject into consideration and give counsel upon it.

Rear-Admiral Lasasse anchored before Athens on the 20th August, with the Inflexible and the Santi Petri.

The mail-steamer Caledonia, which left Halifax on the evening o the 18th August, arrived at Liverpool at three o'clock on the evening of Saturday the 28th. The Columbia, which left Liverpool on the 4th August, was met by the Acadia about six hours' steaming from Halifax. She had encountered a severe storm, and lost bowsprit and topmast.

The latest date from Quebec is from Montreal the 12th August. Lord Sydenham, it is now affirmed, will leave Canada next month ; to return, it is added, in the spring.

In the Legislature, the most prominent subject was a bill for esta- blishing district councils in Upper Canada ; which had been discussed in the House of Assembly for several nights, without any final deter- mination being come to. Another topic which had engaged the attention of the Assembly was the feudal or seigneurial tenures : resolutions for abolishing that species of tenure were passed in a Committee of the -whole House : about forty-six members were present, and only three, Dlr. D. B. Viger, Mr. Berthelot, and Mr. Neilson, opposed the resolutions. A Currency Bill passed the second reading on the 4th August. It gives to British money and to coins which pass current in the United States nearly the same value that they would have in Great Britain and the United States respectively. Resolutions, moved by Mr. Neilson, against the alteration of the Timber-duties, proposed by the late Minis- try, had been agreed to, and petitions founded upon them to the Queen and the two Houses of Parliament had been adopted.

The Caledonia brings papers from New York to the 15th August. They contain but little news. The National Bank Bill had passed the House of Representatives in the same state as when it passed the Senate. The intention of the President respecting it was unknown. Publicus, the correspondent of the Morning Chronicle, quoting letters of others, gives the following as the current anticipations on the subject-

" 1. The Bank Bill will be vetoed.

" 2. The present Cabinet will be broken up and remodelled.

" 3. All the present Cabinet members are likely to withdraw, except Mr. Badger, though it is possible that Mr. Webster may remain. " 4. The veto will be so far qualified as to admit the possibility of a bank -under different and very modified provisions. " Now, it is just possible that the writers of the letters above alluded to may be all in the wrong; but I have every reason to believe that the last- mentioned course will be adopted."

The Loan, Sub-Treasury Repeal, Land, and Revenue Bills, were advancing through Congress; and the prospect of their passing into laws had, it is said, inspired confidence among business men. The trade of New York had revived considerably, and the prospect of a lair full business was good. The money-market continued abundantly supplied. There was, however, a great want of mercantile paper, the consequence of the limited business which had for some time been transacted. The exchange on England remained without alteration, ranging from si to 81 premium. In the Stock-market generally prices were improving. A slight advance had occurred in the Shares m the Bank of the United States, which were quoted at 15 to 15f.

America maintains her preeminence in steam disasters. The Lake Erie, a steamer plying between Buffalo and Lake Chicago, on Lake Erie itself, was destroyed by fire on the 9th August ; when no fewer than one hundred and seventy persons were either burned to death or drowned. The Erie was crowded with Swiss families emigrating to the West. The flames are thought to have begun with some pots of paint and turpentine placed in contact with the heated iron case round the foot of the funnel : these were upset and set on fire ; and from this centre, the vessel having been recently varnished, the flames spread so rapidly that the only hope of escape was through the boats. But the boats, on being brought alongside, were every one swamped:by the multitudes who in their panic and terror leaped into them. In a little time, the flames had driven every one over the sides of the vessel into the waves, each catch- ing what floating thing he could, to save his life. Here one Parmelee behaved very nobly : he several times gave up planks and forms and such helps to safety, in favour of others who were drowning around him, and trusted to his powers of swimming till the yet distant help should arrive. Two hours after the desertion of the Erie, the Clin- ton came up and rescued all those still alive ; Parmelee was one of them. Another was a Swiss boy, who is said to have behaved with romantic firmness in the escape : he lowered himself by the chain-rigging in the stern on to the rudder, not flinching with his bare hands to the iron, although he left a flake of flesh on the scorching metal with every hold he took. The Erie's cargo, which was very valuable, is of course totally lost : the vessel itself could not be towed aground by the Clinton; she sunk in deep water, about four miles from shore.