iirtistEllantous.

Papers have been laid before Parliament containing the official correspondence on the subject of the demand made by Spain for the admission of sugars from Porto Rico and Cuba into this country on the Same terms as sugars from Vene- zuela and the United States. The correspondence comprises two letters,--one from the Duke of Sotomayor, the Spanish Minister-Plenipotentiary; and the Earl of Aberdeen's reply. The Duke's letter is dated on the 5th of May. He bases the claim on the oft-quoted treaty signed at Utrecht in 1713 ; which continued privi- leges conveyed by the treaty between Spain and England of 1667, and was in turn continued by subsequent treaties coming down to 1814. The chief point to the present purpose in the treaty of Utrecht is the stipulation that "the subjects of their Majesties, trading respectively in the dominions of their said Majesties, shall not be bound to pay greater duties or other imposts whatsoever for their imports and exports, than shall be exacted of and paid by the subjects of the most favoured nation; and if it shall happen in time to come, that any diminution of duties or other advantages shall be granted by either side to any foreign nation, the subjects of each Crown shall reciprocally and fully enjoy the same." In 1814, Great Britain demanded to be permitted to trade with Spanish America on the terms of the most favoured nation; an arrangement carried out in 1824, when the commerce with Spanish possessions beyond the seas was thrown open to fo- reigners; the arrangement virtually admitting those colonies to the advantages of the provision in the treaty of 1713. The Duke construes the admission of sugar from the Philippine Islands to be a recognition of such a right by Great Britain. Lord Aberdeen's reply involves two arguments. The first is, that the stipulations of the treaty of 1667 and of those based upon it related only to Spam; but that the West Indian colonies of both countries were ex- pressly excluded, by one of the series of treaties, signed In 1670: the conces- sion made by Spain in 1824 was quite independent of those treaties; and was made under the fear that the independence of her American colonies would be recognized in Europe. In like manner, the admission of sugar from the Philippine Islands at a reduced duty was an entirely independent arrange- ment, and was a gratuitous concession on the part of Great Britain. The second argument advanced by the Earl is, that the stipulation in the treaty of 1713 related strictly to the subjects, and not to the produce of either country. "It does no more than provide that no other or higher duties shall be levied on goods when imported by the subjects of Spain, than are levied on the same goods when : imported by the subjects of any other nation; and that no greater impost shall be charged on a cargo of sugars when imported by a subject of Spain, than on the same cargo of sugar imported by a subject of the United States: but there is nothing whatever in the article to prevent a higher duty being charged on the sugar itself the produce of the Spanish dominions, than on sugar the produce of the United States. The obligation which is imposed is, to treat as the subjects of the most favoured nation the subjects of Spain; but there is no obligation to treat the produce of Spain as Great Britain is used to treat the produce of the most favoured nation. And here the undersigned must remind the Duke of Soto- mayor, that in the case of the United States as well as in that of Venezuela, the obligation to admit the sugars of those countries at the low duty rests upon sti- pulations of an entirely Merton character from them which are contained in the treaties with Spain. For the articles in the treaties with those countries, instead of being limited to the privileges or liabilities of the subjects of each state, ex-

pressly confer privileges on goods being the growth, produce, or manufacture of the respective countries."

The long-expected death of Sir William Follett, the Attorney-General, took place at three o'clock on Saturday afternoon. The journals of all shades have vied with each other in tributary notices of the deceased. William Webb Follett was the son of Mr. Benjamin Follett, timber-merchant at Topsham, in Devon- shire; who had once been in the Army; and had married the only daughter of Mr. J. Webb of Kinsale. Both towns claim to be the birth-place of the late Attorney- General; but he was most probably born at Topsham, in December 1798. In his youth he was suspected of dulness,- and he very early showed a predisposi- tion to that disease of the spine which terminated fatally. In his sixteenth year he went to Trinity College, Cambridge; passed his college life without distinc- tion; in 1814 became a member of the Inner Temple; in 1821 began practice as a special pleader; and in 1825 joined the Western Circuit. From this point his rise was rapid. In 1835 he accepted office as Solicitor-General, and was knighted, during Sir Robert Peel's short administration; and in that year he obtained the seat for Exeter in the House of Commons which he filled to the time of his death. In 1841 he again became Solicitor-General, under Sir Robert Peel; and in 1844 he succeeded Sir Frederick Polleck as Attorney-General. In 1830, Sir William married the eldest daughter of the late Sir Harding Gifford, Chief Justice of Ceylon; by whom he had children, who, with his widow, survive. Few men ever enjoyed such unbroken professional success as the late Attorney-Ge- neral. " Life," says the Morning Chronicle,in a well-written and just estimate was indeed to Sir William Follett one almost uninterrupted success. With no adven- titious aid from birth, or wealth, or connexion, he yet seemed to enter on his career as if at once marked out by nature itself for the certain attainment of the highest honours of his profession. The early promise never for a moment was clouded by disappointment. There never, except during one short period of ill-health, appeared to be a chance of failure; never a pause, during which you might imagine that he had reached the highest point allotted to him to attain. Every step which he advanced only made it more certain that the next was to follow; and nothing but an old man's infirm tenure of the seals remained between Sir William Follett and the Chancellorship at the age of forty-seven, when

' Came the blind Fury with abhorred shears, And slit the thin-spun life.' "

The first great element of his unenvied easy success was the eminent courtesy, and kindness of his nature." " He possessed to perfection the art of clear narra- tive and lucid exposition of argument. He never failed to detect the weak points of his own case; and perhaps his greatest skill consisted in his mode of keeping these out of sight, and building up a consistent and apparently satisfactory view of the entire matter, out of which he would contrive to exclude the most import- ant elements of consideration that happened to be adverse to his client. To these merits he added a singular combination of all the physical requisites for speaking to a calm and reflective audience. His countenance won you by its can- dour and kindness, and yet imposed on you by its sedate thoughtfulness; his gestures and manner were most graceful, and he had a voice to the low clear melody of which it was a positive pleasure to listen. Without being what is called an orator, without in fact possessing the various powers necessary for moving different kinds of audiences, Sir William Follett possessed in a greater degree than any advocate of our time that great quality which may be called the power of persuasive reasoning." His very success had its inconveniences: all parties were eager to have bins as an advocate, that lie might at least not be against them; and consequently, his engagements in all kinds of causes and courts were innumerable, often causing disappointment at his non-appearance. His first speech in Parliament established his high rank as a debater, second to none in the polish and persuasiveness of his manner.

The subjoined letter from Mr. Smith O'Brien, to the Chairman of the Com- mittee of Selection, speaks for itself—

Oxford and Cambridge Club. Pall Mall, 30th Jane.

" Sir—I had the honour of receiving, on Saturday afternoon, a letter dated 28th of June, and signed • Henry Creed,' to the following effect—' I am directed by the Com- mittee of Selection to inform yon, that your name is on the list from which Members will be selected to serve on Railway Committees, which will commence their sittings in the week beginning Monday the 14th of July ; during which week it will be necessary for you to be In attendance for the purpose of serving, if requested, on a Railway Com- mittee.'

" I trust that the Committee of Selection will not think that I am prompted by any feeling of disrespect towards them, or towards the House of Commons, when I inform them that it is my intention not to serve on any Committees except such as may be appointed with reference to the affairs of Ireland. • I accepted a seat in the House of Commons in the hope of being thereby enabled to assist In improving the condition of the land of my birth. So long as I continued to believe that I could serve Ireland effectually In the House of Commons, I shrank from none of the labours which are connected with the varied functions of that assembly. During twelve years I attended Parliament with an assiduity of which I might feel dis- posed to boast, if the time so consumed by the House, amid by myself, had been pro- ductive of results useful to my native country.

" Experience and observation at length forced upon my mind the conviction, that the British Parliament Is incompetent, through want of knowledge, if not through want of inclination, tolegislate wisely for Ireland ; and that our national interests can be pro- tected and fostered only through the instrumentality of an Irish Legislature.

" Since this conviction has established Itself in my mind, I have felt persuaded that the labours of the Irish Members, though of little avail in the British Parliament, might, if applied in Ireland with prudence and energy, be effectual in obtaining for the Irish people their national rights.

" I have reason to believe that in this opinion a very large majority of my con- stituents concur. To them alone I hold myself responsible for the performance of my Parliamentary duty. If they had disapproved of my continued absence from the House of Commons, I should have felt it my duty to have withdrawn from the representation of the county of Limerick : but I have the satisfaction of thinking that I not only con- sult the interests, but also comply with the wishes of my constituents, in declining to engage in the struggles of English party, Er to involve myself in the details of English legislation.

" While such have been the general impressions under which I have absented myself dining nearly two years from the House of Commons, I yet do not feel myself at liberty to forego whatever power of resistance to the progress of pernicious legislation my office of Representative may confer upon me. Upon the present occasion, I have come to London for the purpose of endeavouring to Induce the House of Commons, or rather the Government, who appear to command the opinions of a large majority of the House, to modify some of the Irish measures now before Parliament in such a manner as to render them beneficial instead of injurious to Ireland.

" Desiring that none but the Representatives of the Irish nation should legislate for Ireland, we have no wish to Intermeddle with the affairs of England or Scotland, except in so far as they may be connected with the interests of Ireland, or with the general policy of the empire.

" In obedience to this principle, I have abstained from voting on English and Scotch questions of a local nature; and the same motive now induces me to decline attendance on Committees on any private bills except such as relate to Ireland. " I am prepared to abide with cheerfulness the personal consequences which may result from the course of conduct which I feel it my duty to adopt.

" I speak with great diffidence upon any question of a legal kind, but I am supported by very high professional authority when I suggest to the Committee, that no power was delegated to the House of Commons by the Act of Union, or by subsequent statutes, to compel the attendance of Irish Members on the deliberations of the British Par- liament.

" Neither do I find that any authority has been given by statutory enactment to the House (except In the case of Election Petitions) to enforce the attendance of Members upon Committees.

• I refrain, however, from arguing legal questions, which may be raised before ano- ther tribunal, in case it should become necessary and advisable to appeal from the de- cision of the House of Commons to the courts of judicature ; and conclude by assuring the Committee, that I take the course which I propose to adopt, not from any desire to

defy the just authority of the House of Commons, but in obedience to my sense of the duty which I owe to my constituents and to my country. " I have the honour to be, your obedient servant, WiLUAR S. O'Barsw." " To the Chairman of the Committee of Selection, eke."

Mr. John O'Connell, in a letter much briefer and less modest, says that he will not suffer his constituents to be "mocked and derided" in his person, and ha "absolutely declines attending." Commenting on this correspondence and the powers of Parliament, the Times- discovers that something is n ry to complete those powers where compulsion

will not serve; and it makes a brilliant suggestion. "When Peel directed the ambition of youthful Members towards Railway preeminence, and hinted at his own incessant toils, he ought to have remembered how these toils are sweetened in his case. Could not his ingenuity have suggested some honest bait to quicken the industry of common mortals? The rod is obsolete. Why should there not be prizes to the most industrious Committees, or to the best report? The Com- mittee on the Northern line, for example, deserves something very handsome. It is quite shocking to hear of 200,0001. being thrown away, and the gentlemen who have given most time and trouble to the dispute getting none of the pick- ings. For the first sessional prize we beg to suggest an appropriate device- s golden locomotive, tender, and carriage, with a length of rail enough fer- tile largest dinner-table; a handsome station at the top and the bottom, and first- class carriages for half-a-dozen bottles. The second prize might be the same in silver. Models of bridges and viaducts, in the same material, might encourage those who despair of the highest place. Another form of reward will recommend itself very intelligibly: why should not the Chairman be presented, as a matter of course, with a hundred shares in the railroad in favour of which he had de- cided, and the rest of the Committee with fifty a piece? This would be giving them an interest in the decision. The same rule which requires that they shall- not have a pecuniary interest in any one of the competing lines, suggests that they- should have it in the successful one, whatever that may happen to be. Or, again, let the names of particularly successful or particularly diligent Railway Com- mittees be recommended to the notice of her Majesty by an address of the House.

Up to the present time, says the Globe of Thursday, no steps have been taken on the part of the solicitor for Sir William Gossett, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the- House of Commons, to obtain the writ of error for the reversal of the judgment of the Queen's Bench upon the demurrer. It appears, some doubt exists whether, notwithstanding the resolution of the House, the writ can be available, in conse- quence of the proceedings after the judgment on demurrer having been allowed to go on to judgment and execution: at all events, if the writ issue, a reversal of the. Judgment only could be obtained on record, the plaintiff quietly keeping the amount of the verdict and costs in his pocket.

We believe that the only instance of the views of the Board of Trade having been adopted by the House of Commons' Committees is that of the Leeds and West Riding [Railway.] Curious to relate, the latter was rejected by a Committee of. the House of Lords. It is currently reported, and generally believed, that in. future all new railway companies intend to bribe the Board of Trade to report against them. They will have then some chance of getting their bill through the Committees.—Morning Post.

The Peers insist on having their House ready for occupation in February next, and the greatest efforts are consequently being made. Al] the walls and the ceiling are to be covered with carved wood-work of the most elaborate character; and this is being forced on by 150 additional workmen much more rapidly thals is desirable. It will probably be ready for fixing about October; and, instead of remaining, as it should do, in the drying-rooms during the winter, ready for fixing in the summer, will be taken into the new building in the bad weather, asd pro- bably be irreparably injured.—Bui/der. The estimate of expense for railways, navigations and canals, water-works, fer- ries and docks, piers and harbours, bridges and roads, on account of which acts of Parliament have been applied for this session, amounts to 95,748,5291.!

The Queen has been pleased to appoint the Honourable Caroline Margaret Daw- son to be one of the Maids of Honour in Ordinary to her Majesty, in the room of the Honourable Clementine Hamilton, resigned.—London Gazette, July 1. On Tuesday, the Morning Chronicle said—" It is positively stated in the higher circles of society, that Sir Thomas Wilde is about to conduct to the hy- meneal altar Mademoiselle D'Este, daughter of his late Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex." On Thursday, this paragraph was contradicted by the Chronicle. Dr. Wolff has been suffering from painful swellings in his feet, produced by the rishta, a long thread-like worm of Bokhara, which insinuates itself into the flesh. One was extracted from the wrist by Sir Benjamin Brodie; who succeeded in wind ing it round a piece of paper.

The Presse announces the death of M. Constant Wairy, chief valet of the Emperor Napoleon, better known under the title of "Constant," at Breteuil, Euro, on Saturday last, in his sixty-seventh year.

At one of the late meetings of the British Association, Professor Faraday related. a remarkable instance of that recklessness among miners which is so fruitful a cause of accidents. Having gone down to inspect the Haswell colliery, in order to ascertain the causes of the terrible explosion there, he was watching some miners make their preparations for blasting the coal, holding at the time an un- protected candle in his hand : when the boring was completed, be asked the men where the gunpowder was? on which one of them coolly answered, " You are sitting upon it, Sir."

The Times has continued to admit letters in controversy in assault on the Vestiges of the Natural History of the Creation, or in defence of it. Among others, one " Anti-Megatherium " has, with self-damaging contempt, spoken of the geologists as idle theorists. Lord Thurlow has come out with a second letter in defence of the Vestiges, against the Dean of York: Lord Thurlow disclaims,. however, all knowledge of the author. But perhaps the most remarkable letter in the correspondence is the following; and its finding a place in the Leading Journal is no less remarkable a " sign of the times" and of the boldness with which freedom of opinion begins to be asserted-

" London, 26th June.

" Sir—The gallantry and love of fair play evinced by your publication of a few letters referring to the important subject of geology have inspired me with the hope that the very few remarks I shall presume to make may meet with the same favour.

" In the letter of your correspondent of yesterday, • J. H. B.,' allusion is made to' the probability of the young men of the present day having their minds attracted to the subject by such works as the Vestiges of Creation and the Bridgewater Treatises; and, as one of that class, I confess I feel an intense anxiety as to the issue of what soon must be a contest—the revelations of science and those of the inspired narrative being In my mind in perfect antagonism. I am sure it will be regarded by all unprejudiced minds that it must be a great hardship—a great mental bondage—to be required to own an implicit belief In any system which labours under the disadvantage of being contra- dicted by every discovery brought to light by men of science, and on the most incon- testable data. Verily, there are ' sermons in stones.'

" I am, Sir, with great respect, Iiitsgs."

The Queen's river-yacht Fairy was inspected by the Lords of the Admiralty on Tuesday. The vessel, which is rigged as a three-masted schooner, is built of iron; without the disfigurement of paddle-boxes, being worked by the screw- propeller. The powers of the Fairy appear equal to her symmetry and elegance, while the accommodations in the interior of the vessel are fitted up in the most tasteful and luxurious style.

" The flag that braved a thousand years," &c., hasbeen undermined by the breeze: the standard at Buckingham Palace was demolished by the wind on Tuesday, afternoon, and the bunting itself was torn to ribands. A letter from the master of a vessel loading guano at Saldanha Bay, recently received at Sunderland, represents the manure obtained there as of greater strength than that of Icheboe. Its pungency is overpowering. Among the peo- ple employed on shore, anarchy and riot prevail; but a war-steamer was expected to arrive soon, though not before its presence was urgently needed. A death from a very strange cause occurred in Guy's Hospital on Tuesday. James Vials, a groom aged twenty-five years, entered the hospital about a fort- night previously, with a bad wound arising from a kick inflicted by a horse. Leeches had been applied on the spot: they were four in number, and one was lost. He was then carried to the hospital. The arm swelled unacoountably; the wound was more closely examined, and the missing leech was found, quite dead, within the flesh. The arm seemed to go on well for a week; but inflammation supervened, and the case terminated fatally.