England." The substance of the Resolutions was, "1. To enlarge the powers of prosecutors in challenging jurors; 2. To give instructions identically the same to the crown solicitors and counsel conducting prosecutions in the different parts of Ireland; 3. For the punishment of refractory witnesses; 4. That the executive Government, when considering any case of remitting or commuting sentence, should apply for information to the judges; 5. That the prerogative of pardoning offences is a high, indisputable, and inalienable prerogative of the Crown, and ought never to be exercised without full and deliberate inquiry into all the circumstances of each case and each individual; and that its exercise ought to depend on those circumstances, and never on the accident of the Sovereign or his representative happening to visit the place where the offender under sentence may be confined." The Marquis of Normanby replied at great length, defending his administration; after several other speakers, Lord Brougham replied. He had not complained of the law; his complaint was that the law was not executed. The House divided,-for the motion, 86; for the amendment, 52;-majority in favour of the resolutions, 34. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Aug. 7. Lord J. Russell having moved the order of the day for going into committee on the COUNTY AND DISTRICT CONSTABLES BILL, Mr. Hume proposed as an amendment that the committee be deferred until that day three months. The House divided, for the original motion, 85; for the amendment, 14; majority 71. The Bill then went through committee with amendments.-On the motion that the BIRMINGHAM POLICE (No. 2) BILL be read a second time, Mr. T. Attwood op. posed it, declaring that the town council would resist it; and moved that it be read a second time that day three months. The House divided, and the second reading was carried by 74 to 20.--The Chancellor of the Exchequer obtained leave to bring in a Bill relating to legal proceedings of certain JOINT STOCK BANKING Companies against their own members, and by such members against the companies. The Bill was read a first time.Lord J. Russell obtained leave to bring in two Bills, which were read a first time, for improving the POLICE in the boroughs of MANCHESTER and BOLTON. HOUSE OF LORDS, Aug. 12. On the motion of Lord Duncannon, the House resolved into committee on the METROPOLIS POLICE COURTS BILL. The clause regarding salaries was op posed, and though carried by a majority of one, was lost on bringing up the report the following day. That respecting summary jurisdiction was opposed by Lord Lyndhurst, on the ground that it took away trial by jury, and was negatived. Some other clauses were struck out or altered. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Lord J. Russell moved the order of the day for considering the Lords' amendments to the MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS (IRELAND) BILL; and proposed that they be taken into consideration that day three months; a proposition that was agreed to after a long harangue from Mr. O'Connell, declaring, in the name of Ireland, that his country would be satisfied with nothing less than equal laws. The SLAVE TRADE SUPPRESSION BILL was read a third time and passed; as was the POOR RATES COLLECTION BILL, by a majority of 37 to 18. HOUSE OF LORDS, Aug. 13. On the order for reading the ADMIRALTY COURT BILL a second time, Lord Lyndhurst moved that it be read a third time that day three months. The House divided For the amendment, 34; against it, 23; majority against the second reading, 11. In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Lord J. Russell moved that the BIRMINGHAM POLICE BILL be read a third time. Mr. Scholefield proposed as an amendment, that it be read a third time that day three months. The House divided-For the original motion, 38; for the amendment, 8. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. Aug. 14. Lord J. Russell said that he did not intend to press the CHURCH DISCIPLINE BILL during the present session, and he therefore moved that it be com. mitted that day three months; a proposition that was agreed to without any opposition. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the going into committee on the BANK OF IRELAND BILL. Mr. O'Connell moved the adjournment of the House, and was supported by Mr. Hume. The question for going into committee was carried by a majority of 55 to 17. Mr. O'Connell then moved the postponement of the Bill for three months, which was negatived by 57 to 19. In committee several divisions took place. HOUSE OF LORDS, Aug. 15. Lord Duncannon moved the second reading of the SALE OF SPIRITS BILL. The Duke of Richmond thought this Bill an unjust attack upon a very large and respectable body of individuals-licensed victuallers, who had the last few years been subjected to repeated interferences of this kind, unsettling their trade, and injuring their interests. The effect of this Bill would be to permit every man HANOVER. who chose to pay 57. for a license to sell small quantities of foreign spirits. He moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months; which amendment was agreed to without a division. FOREIGN NEWS. King Ernest is involved in a fresh quarrel with his subjects. The magistracy petitioned the Germanic Diet to protect their laws and liberties, and to restore the constitution of 1833. To their petition the signature of M. Rumann, chief of the magistracy, was affixed. The King immediately suspended Rumann from his office, and ordered him to be tried for his offence by the Hanoverian Privy Council. But the citizens of Hanover, on the 17th July, proceeded in a body to the palace, where they had an interview with the King and his minister Von Schele. The magistrates asserted that Rumann could only be tried by a municipal tribunal; and the King, having consulted Von Schele, was compelled to admit that such was the law, and he promised obedience to it. The The tribunal before which Rumann will be tried is composed of men guilty of the same offence as himself; therefore his acquittal is considered certain. people, however, were much exasperated; and serious riots occurred on the 19th July, which were not suppressed without bloodshed. made overtures to the Duke of Vittoria, and it is remarkable that just at the time when the latter was in full tide of victory, hostilities suddenly ceased. It was at this period that Maroto sought an interview with Lord John Hay. They met again and again. The gallant Commodore afterwards visited the head-quarters of the belligerents separately, escorted by Christino or Carlist troops, as the case might be. It may seem strange that two generals, each owing allegiance to his respective employer, should, in the absence of instructions, adopt such a course as this; but the Duke of Vittoria has long been a dictator on his side, and for Maroto it is notorious that Don Carlos has long been, and still is, a close prisoner in his custody; and he is asserted to have declared that he will, if possible, make peace in spite of his master. TURKEY. On the 30th of June the Sultan Mahmoud II. died at Constantinople (see the Obituary of our present numher); and his son, Abdul Medjid, was immediately proclaimed his successor, and was crowned in the Grand Mosque on the 10th of July. Though only in his 17th year, he has attained his majority, which was fixed at fifteen. This event, combined with the decided battle of Nezib (noticed in our last) has suspended hostilities with Egypt for the present; but to add to the weakness of Turkey, the Capitan Pacha has delivered over the whole of the Ottoman fleet to Mehemet Ali. He arrived with it at Alexandria on the 14th of July. Mehemet Ali says, that he will not restore it to the Porte until the Grand Vizier, Kosrew Pacha, shall have been removed from office, and until his own hereditary right to the countries he governs be recognized. The Egyptian army has received orders to retire behind the Euphrates. The Russian government has formally announced to that of Austria, that, as the interests of France and of Great Britain in Eastern affairs are purely commercial, whilst those of Russia are territorial as well as commercial, it cannot allow the former countries to take any part in discussions in which they have no interest; that the Russian government is bound by treaties with Turkey, and es pecially by the treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi, to defend the integrity of the Ottoman Porte, subject to certain conditions, and that these conditions will be fulfilled; that the government of St. Petersburgh requires no aid from France or England in the carrying the treaties between it and the Porte into effect; and that if those governments really desire the integrity of the Turkish empire, they have only to leave Russia to supply the aid required by the new Sultan. It is said that the whole tone of the communication is most decided. CHINA. The valuable and increasing trade of this country with China is placed in imminent peril. A large quantity of opium, belonging to British merchants, was given up in April last, on the requisition of Mr. Elliott, the Superin. tendent, and the Queen's Representative at Canton, to be destroyed by the Chinese authorities. The quantity seized was upwards of twenty thousand chests, which, at £100 per chest, is worth more than two millions. Mr. Elliott pledged the faith of the Government he represented that the merchants should receive compensation. INDIA. The British army entered Candahar on the 21st of April. The difficulties experienced with respect to provisions had vanished, and the troops were received with open arms. Shah Shooja was crowned with acclamation; all the chiefs, with the exception of the Bawkzye Brothers, having signified their adherence to him. The army was to proceed forthwith to Cabool, which it expected to reach in twenty-two days. This grati fying intelligence had been received at Peshawur with great rejoicings. The city was illuminated for three days, and preparations were made for the immediate advance of the contingent army of Runjeet Sing, accompanied by the Shahzadah Timoor and Colonel Wade, upon Cabool. DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES. The Chartists.-On the 21st of July a Chartist riot took place a Newcastle. It is stated that the mob was first collected together by a drunken fight, between twelve and one o'clock on the Saturday night. They proceeded to a pile of bricks lying near the new Corn Exchange, and they immediately commenced breaking the windows of the Union Bank. The next house that suffered was Messrs. Renwick's, drapers, Moseley-street, and they then proceeded down the street, breaking the whole of the public lamps, and panes in almost every house. In Dean-street they conducted themselves in a similar manner, until they got opposite the Tyne Mercury office, where they demolished almost every window. The police were at first unable to cope with the rioters; but, having been collected together, they went out armed, and succeeded in capturing twenty prisoners, some of whom were armed with pikes. July 30. A chest of arms, directed from Manchester to a leading Chartist named Mitchell, at Stockport, was seized by the police, in his house, and found to contain 5 fowling pieces, 3 muskets with bayonets, a brace of screw pistols, a bullet mould, and a quantity of bullets. The officers also seized a quantity of papers and correspondence, 2 daggers, and 20 pike staves about eight feet long. Mitchell was taken into custody, and in con sequence of the papers found in his pos session the police proceeded to the houses of several other Chartists, where they found various other arms. The police altogether apprehended 17 Chartists. The following day the town became excessively excited, and the mob violent. They assailed the police, the riot act was consequently read, and the military called Two notorious leaders, David Roberts, of Manchester, and Timothy Higgins, of Ashton, were captured, concealed in an inn, as well as some others; one armed with a brace of loaded pistols in his pocket. Lea, the Secretary to the Chartist Association, was afterwards apprehended. The town remained perfectly tranquil after this outburst. casualty occurred during the riot. out. No At the Warwick assizes Howell, Roberts, Jones, Aston, and Wilkes, five of the Chartist rioters concerned in the disturbances in the town of Birmingham on the 15th of July, were indicted for riotously assembling together with other evil disposed persons, and having feloniously demolished and pulled down the dwellinghouse of James and Henry Bourne, &c. They were all found guilty, except Wilkes, who was acquitted. On Monday, Aug. 5, John Collins, one of the "delegates of the "general convention" was arraigned for having written and published a certain false, scandalous, and malicious libel concerning the London police, and the administration of the law of these realms. He was found guilty. On the 6th, a similar indictment was preferred against William Lovett, Secretary to the General Convention, who was also found guilty. Several prisoners pleaded guilty to misdemeanours, and others were convicted of riot. On the 8th, Mr. Justice Littledale passed sentence upon the prisoners as follows:-Jeremiah Howell, Francis Roberts, and John Jones, to death (since commuted to transportation); John Collins and Wm. Lovett, to one year's imprisonment each in the common gaol; John Neale, and three others, convicted of misdemeanours, to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for eighteen months; and four others for shorter periods. Aug. 4. A body of Chartists, estimated at about 1,500, formed in procession, and made their way to Stockport church; and immediately on the doors being opened, took complete possession of the edifice. There was no disturbance. At Bolton, the Chartists acted in the same manner on the following Sunday, simply for the purpose of showing to the world what was already a notorious fact-viz. that the people have a right to a seat in the parish church. Having met in the New Market-place, to the number of 3,000 or 4,000, at an early hour, they proceeded at half-past nine o'clock, in processional order, six abreast, and in a few minutes completely filled the church. The curate delivered an impressive sermon from the 1st Tim. vi. 5. About 500 men in the same way came to St. Paul's cathedral. On the evening of the same day a notorious Chartist named Scott, was apprehended in the township of Hulme, near Manchester, in the act of manufacturing ball cartridges, of which a considerable number were found in his house, together with some muskets secreted in the case of a house clock. Five ringleaders were also arrested and sent to gaol. Monday, the 12th August, was appointed for the commencement of three days of idleness, as a substitute for "the sacred month." Even this, however, turned out a failure. At Manchester bands of Chartists paraded the town, and proceeded to the mills to persuade others to turn out. While threatening to break open the door of Messrs. Massey's mill, the police came up and interfered; some of the ringleaders were seized, and a policeman received a severe dagger wound in the thigh. Several mills were wholly or partially stopt, and the military were called out. At Bolton there were processions throughout the day. They separated quietly. On Tuesday at 5 o'clock, they again met; the police captured two of the leaders; they were rescued; recaptured; the police office was attacked, the Riot Act read, and the military called out. The prisoners were sent to Liverpool, and quiet restored. At Nottingham they assembled in the forest, to the number of many thousand persons. The arrival of Mr. Nixon the magistrate, and Mr. Satchell the magistrates' clerk, was a signal for a riot. Stones were thrown, the Riot Act read, and the military fetched. The people, however, quickly dispersed, and the military returned to their barracks. An attempt was made to excite the metropolis by a meeting at Kennington Common; where some very violent harangues were delivered, but the mob proved less inflanimable than in the manufacturing districts. At twelve o'clock the same night Mr. Bronterre O'Brien, one of the principal orators, was arrested on a warrant from the magistrates of Newcastle. At the Chester assizes, George Thompson, of Birmingham, gunmaker, Timothy Higgins of Ashton, James Mitchell of Stockport, beer-seller, and Charles Davies of Stockport, were put on their trial for conspiracy. The evidence went to show that they had in their possession considerable quantities of fire-arms, with the intent to aid the designs of the Chartists. The jury gave a verdict of " Guilty" against all the prisoners. The trial of Joseph Rayner Stephens, Dissenting teacher, late of Hyde, in the County of Chester," occupied the court the next day. The prosecution was conducted by the Attorney-general, Mr. Hill, Mr. Jervis, and Mr. Temple. Mr. Stephens managed his own defence without assistance. He was charged with a misdemeanour, in attending an unlawful assembly, and inciting those present to a disturbance of the public peace at night, on the 14th Nov. 1838. Mr. Stephens addressed the jury for upwards of five hours, but called no witnesses. The jury found a verdict of "guilty," and Stephens was sentenced to be imprisoned in the house of correction at Knutsford for the term of eighteen calendar months; at the end of that time, to find sureties for five years, himself in £500, and two sureties in £250 each. He has since been removed to the gaol at Chester, as a mitigation in the rigours of prison discipline. A new Hospital has been established in connection with King's College; and a convenient house has been found, ready built, in the now disused workhouse of St. Clement's parish in Portugal-street. The King's College Hospital is situate in a district which, from its extremely numerous poor population and its inconvenient distance from existing establish. ments of the same class, stood greatly in need of such an addition to its charitable institutions; and its connection with King's College will supply a want which has long been greatly felt by the medical students. The donations already advertised amount to about 50007. including one of 1051. from her Majesty, and one of 1007. from the Queen Dowager. One of the greatest obstacles to the accomplishment of the Great Western Railway has been the hill at Bor, midway between Chippenham and Bath. This hill, the highest part of which is about 400 feet above the proposed level of the railroad, could not be avoided; to make an open cutting through it was impossible, and to perforate it was thought by many equally so. Nevertheless, Mr. Brunel, with that boldness for which he is celebrated, adopted the latter plan, and accordingly it was determined that a tunnel, one mile and three quarters in length, 40 feet in height, and 30 feet in width, should be made through the hill. The extraordinary attempt of boring through this immense mass, consisting in great part of solid beds of freestone, was commenced in the summer of 1836, and will, it is hoped, be completed in 1841. The difficulties that have stood in the way of the performance of this great work, particularly that part of it on the east, or Chippenham side, have been appalling; but hitherto they have been surmounted by the perseverance, enterprise, and skill of the contractors, Mr. Lewis, of Bath, and Mr. Brewer, of Rudloe. Independent of the difficulties arising from the nature of the work, the constant flow of water from the numerous fissures in the rock has been very annoying, particularly in the rainy seasons. In Nov. 1837, the steam-pump then employed being inadequate, the water increased so fearfully, having filled the tunnel and risen to the height of 56 feet in the shaft, as to cause the total suspension of the work till the July following. Messrs. Lewis and Brewer, determined to fulfil their contract if possible, erected a second pump, worked by a steam-engine of 50-horse power, and had the satisfaction of vanquishing their enemy and resuming the work. A few months afterwards (in Nov. 1838), the works were again stopped by an influx of water, which, however, was got under in ten days, the engine discharging 32,000 Between hogsheads of water a-day. shafts No. 7 and 8 (1520 feet in length) the tunnel is finished at the roof and for six feet below it, where the base is 14 feet wide; but half way between the two shafts there still remain about 350 feet of cutting to be done, which is expected to be cleared away by the end of October. In this portion of the work Messrs. Lewis and Brewer commenced their operations at each end, working towards the centre; and when the two cuttings approximated, it was found that the junction was perfectly level, the two roofs forming an unvarying line; while at the sides, the utmost deviation from a strait line was only one inch and a quarter. This, in a cutting of 1520 feet in length, begun at opposite ends, and worked towards a common centre, is perhaps unexampled. The cutting on the Chippenham side has already extended 2000 feetthrough one solid bed of freestone uninterrupted and compact, that no masonary is required in any part of it-the stone itself forming sides and roof, and nothing being wanted but the rails on which the carriages will run. A great quantity of gunpowder is necessarily used in blasting the rock. On Messrs. Lewis and Brewer's contract alone one ton is consumed every week or ten days: it is used in charges of from two to three pounds each. Coals also are in great demand, thirty-five tons being used weekly. Export of Timber from the Highlands. -The progress of the railroads in England and Scotland has lately caused a great demand for fir wood. The sound of the axe and the saw-mill are heard in the loneliest and most remote parts of the Highlands. We have heard of one proprietor selling his fir wood for 10,0007. and another for 5,3001. A considerable amount of shipping is engaged in this trade; and the vessels that carry out the timber in the shape of railroad-sleepers,. pit props, &c. generally return with cargoes of coal, lime, and other commodities. The number of men employed in felling the trees, sawing them up, and exporting them, is also a source of advantage to the country. When the Duke of Gordon, about fifty years ago, sold his mighty forest of Glenmore for 10,000. the sum was considered unprecedented; yet the same timber would now, from superior management, as well as superior value in the market, be worth more than treble the amount. Previously to this period the Laird of Grant, it is said, sold his timber at the rate of 1s. 8d. for what one man could cut and manufacture in year! a |