An emigrant ship, the Edmond, of London, was Lost During the Storm which raged on the Irish coast on the night of the 19th. She had sailed that evening from Limerick, and went ashore on a dangerous point called Kilkee, near Kilrush. She soon went to pieces; and, of the two hundred and sixteen persons on board, six perished.

was considerable. It was still greater in Leeds; Halifax and Sheffield shared in the general advance. Hull, Wolverhampton, and Salisbury-where cholera was exceedingly fatal in 1819-have little more than the average marriages. Of births, 146,970 were registered. ninety-"The births are invariably more numerous in the first and second than in the third and fourth quarters of the year; and they are in the last fewer by 8,757 than in the previous June quarter: the number and the proportion

SOCIAL, SANITARY, AND MUNICIPAL to the population are, however, greater in this than in

PROGRESS.

any of the corresponding quarters since 1839. The increase of births is greatest in London, in the West Midland Counties, and in the North Western Counties, Cheshire, and Lancashire." The bearing of these details on the statistics of our population, is thus shown quarter was 60,926; which, if all the births were registered, would be the natural increase of the population. In the same time, 53,703 emigrants sailed from three ports of England; 1394 from Plymouth, 7684 from London, and 44,625 from Liverpool. This leaves a narrow margin for the increase of population; but many of the emigrants entered at the English ports are from Ireland, which has been for many years diffusing a stream of natives over England as well as America. The progress of the whole fixed and moving population of the country can only be determined accurately from a comparison of the returns of births and deaths, of emigrants and immigrants, with periodical enumerations."

The Lancashire Public Schools Association held a conference at Manchester on the 27th ult. Mr. Alexander Henry, M.P., presided; Mr. Cobden, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. J. B. Smith, and most of the prominent friends of the movement in London, Liverpool, and Leeds, and in Scotland and Ireland, together with the Rev. Dr. Bacon, a gentleman of learning and personal weight from Newhaven, in the American State of Connecticut, were present. Letters of regretful excuse were read from Mr. C. P. Villiers, Mr. Hume, Mr. Ewart, Colonel Thompson, and some other members of Parliament, and from the Archbishop of Dublin, Mr. John Stuart Mill, Mr. Carlyle, and the Messrs. Chambers of Edinburgh, and other friends of the movement. The principal speakers were Mr. Samuel Lucas, of London, Mr. Absalon Watkin, the Rev. Mr. Thorp, rector of Burton Overy in Leicestershire, and Mr. Cobden. A change in the title was suggested by Mr. Cobden-from Secular Schools to Public Schools Association; on the ground (he said) that Dr. Samuel Johnson defines "secular" to be not merely non-sectarian, but a great deal more-"not spiritualrelating to the affairs of the present world-not holy

THE Registrar-General's Quarterly Returns of the births and deaths, and of the marriages, in England and Wales, are favourable in a high degree. The return of the births and deaths extends to the 30th September;" The excess of births registered over deaths in the that of the marriages to the 30th June last. The deaths were but 86,044; whereas the deaths in the same quarter of 1849 were 135,358. The last number is of course swelled by the mortality from the cholera; but the provincial returns generally concur in declaring that sanatory measures have increased the chance of life throughout the kingdom. The Registrar thus sums up the results of his tables:-"The mortality is much below the average, and the public health has never been so good since 1845 as in the present quarter. The rate of mortality is 1.901 per cent. per annum. At this rate one in 211 persons living died in three months. The chances of living through this quarter were 210 to 1; the average chances of living through three summer months (1840, 50) for persons of all ages, being 192 to 1. The rate of mortality in 506 districts, comprising chiefly small towns and country parishes, was 1-693 per cent. per annum in the quarter; the average summer rate (1840, 50), being 1-832 per cent. The rate of mortality in 117 districts, comprising the large towns, was 2.206 per cent. per annum; the average rate (1840, 50) being 2.517 per cent. The juxtaposition of the figures in the table suggests the melancholy reflection that more than seven millions of people, inhabiting the Metropolis and all the cities and great centres of industry, are still exposed to a mortality which is not inherent in their nature, but is due to the artificial circumstances in which they are placed. The waters, the sewers, the soils, the churchyards, the houses, emit poisons. To every 10 natural deaths, 4 violent deaths-deaths from these poisonous exhalations-are superadded."-The marriages are returned by more than 12,000 churches or chapels, 2869 registered places of worship connected with the Established Church, and 623 superintendent registrars' offices. The results are given collectively, and in groups, showing the special movement of particular districts. It is, that the average increase of mar-worldly." Now he did not think that this School Assoriages invariably accompanies prosperity, and the average decrease attends a reverse of prosperity in manufacturing and commercial pursuits: the remarkable exception of agricultural Lincolnshire may be held to prove the general rule:-"The marriages in all England in the quarter ending June 30, 1850, were 39,018. The numbers in the spring quarter declined rapidly from 1846 to 1848, and rose still more rapidly up to 1850; thus following and pourtraying the state of the country. London, Cheshire, Lancashire, the West Riding of Yorkshire, and South Wales, presented the greatest fluctuations, and the greatest increase of marriages in the June quarter 1850. The marriages increased in The annual election of children to the Asylum for Middlesex, Hertford, and Buckingham; in Essex and Idiots took place on the 31st ult., when 15 of this unSuffolk the marriages declined, as they did also in happy class were elected out of no fewer than 170 Devon and Cornwall; in Shropshire, Staffordshire, eligible candidates. Previous to the election, a general Worcestershire, and Warwickshire-the coal and iron meeting of the subscribers was held, at which Alderman regions the marriages increased; they increased also Sir George Carroll presided. In advocating the claims in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire of the charity, he observed that two great fundamental the seats of the thread, lace, and other manufactures. objections had met them at the very threshold of their In the great agricultural county of Lincoln the fluctua- undertaking one was, that they could do nothing tion was in an opposite direction; the marriages rose for the idiot; and the other was, that there were comfrom June 1846 to June 1848, and then declined. In paratively no idiots. The first objection had been fully the East and North Ridings, Durham, Northumber- answered by the patient efforts of the last two years, for land and Cumberland, and Westmoreland, in Mon- though they were unable to point to any positive inmouthshire, and North Wales, the marriages increased stance of a perfect cure, there were at this moment many in 1850. The marriages in Portsmouth and Plymouth cases exhibiting a considerable state of improvement declined; in Bristol and Cheltenham they increased; A poor laundress, whose child had been at the asylum, in Stoke-upon-Trent (the Potteries), in Coventry, and was so struck with the great improvement that had in Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester, the increase taken place in him, that with tears in her eyes she had

ciation was unspiritual; he did not think it deserved the name of irreligious. There was no greater foe to religion than vice, and no greater support to vice than ignorance. In fact, ignorance was the great parent of vice. The association sought to promote knowledge. They were promoting religion by promoting knowledge in its highest form, and that form of religion, too, which when understood must have the support of all classes. The suggestion caused a good deal of verbal criticism; but in the end Mr. Cobden's suggestion was adopted, and the title of the new organisation will be the National Public School Association.

256

recently called upon the secretary, and had insisted upon his accepting half a guinea as a mark of her gratitude. As regarded the second objection, it was not at that time, perhaps, known that a multitude of these cases were hidden, from shame or sorrow, not only from the eye of the world, but from the observation of social intercourse; for it was now ascertained from correct statistics that the number of idiots exceeded that of lunatics. The report stated that the board had taken two houses of great capacity-one at Highgate, and the other at Colchester. Those establishments at present contained 129 inmates, which, with the 15 elected on the 31st, made a total of 144. There was ample accommodation for additional inmates, but though the receipts of the past year had amounted to beween 40007. and 50007., additional support was necessary to enable the board to extend to any sensible degree the benefits of the institution.

The principle of Singing Classes is beginning to be introduced into the army. The United Service Gazette says We observe that singing classes have been introduced into the 76th Foot. officer commanding the Portsmouth district intends inWe learn that the general viting Mr. Hullah to the garrison for the purpose of inoculating the troops with his admirable system; and we hear from a corps in Ireland that not only are the men encouraged to glee and part singing, but are now in the habit of chaunting the whole of the service in the parish church of the town in which they are quartered. We hope to hear of the extension of the rational and harmonious pastime. Not only should singing classes be instituted, but music might be taught and facilities afforded for its cultivation at a very moderate expense. The Common Law Commissioners are prosecuting their labours with great diligence. It is believed that their report will be ready before the meeting of Parliament, and that it will contain some valuable recommendations. The attention of the Commissioners has been especially directed to the effects of the County Courts Extension Act upon the business of the Courts at Westminster Hall. It is apprehended, not without great reason, that, in addition to the inducements of a cheap tribunal and a speedy administration of justice in the local courts, the existing costly and complex mode of proceeding by action in all courts of common law will continue still further to crowd and increase the popularity of the inferior tribunals. To remedy this evil, it is expected that the report will enforce the necessity of the utmost simplification, economy, and despatch, in all future proceedings in the common law courts, and the abolition of all technicalities which impede a speedy trial on the merits.

An association for Improving the Social and Moral Condition of Labourers and others residing in the Parishes of Windsor, Eton, and the neighbouring districts, has just been formed at Windsor, under the immediate auspices and patronage of the Queen and the Prince Consort. The Duchess of Kent has consented to become the lady patroness, and Prince Albert to be president of the society. Major-General Wemyss, Sir George Couper, the Dean The vice-presidents include and Canons of Windsor, the Mayor of Windsor, and many of the most influential residents of the vicinity. The Hon. Colonel Phipps, the Hon. Colonel Grey, the Hon. and Rev. Gerard Wellesley, and the neighbouring clergy, are members of the provisional committee. The design of the association is to encourage among labourers and their families, and domestic and other servants, habits of morality, good order, providence, and industry, by the annual distribution of rewards in money and appropriate medals. Medals will also be presented by the royal president in special cases to the most deserving.

The Manchester Chamber of Commerce has resolved to send a commissioner to India, at its own cost, to inquire into the obstacles which prevent an increased Growth of Cotton in that Country. Mackay, author of "The Western World," is the gentleMr. Alexander man selected for the duty.

The Commissioners of Woods and Forests have completed the arrangements for carrying into effect the projected Park in Battersea Fields. They have purchased, for the sum of 11,000l., the shooting-grounds and

[NOVEMBER.

pleasure-gardens of the famed Red House, on the riverbank; and will commence without delay the erection of the iron suspension-bridge which is to cross the Thames immediately below Chelsea Hospital.

unanimously decided to award One Thousand Pounds At a court held on the 12th, the Goldsmiths' Company for Prizes to be given to those artists of the craft, of the United Kingdom, who can produce works of the highest design and merit in gold and sliver plate, for the Exhi bition of 1851. The sum of 10007. is to be divided into prizes varying in amount from 3007. to 207. and 101. for works of the most costly description, which it is more than probable will be eventually purchased by the Company. There will be services, candelabra, church plate, and smaller objects, even to a salt-cellar; so that the most humble artisan in the craft shall receive his. impulse, to encourage him in honourable exertion, as The various works for competition are to be forwarded to the Goldsmiths' Hall without the name of the owner; much in proportion as the first goldsmith in the land. when each piece will be rigidly scrutinised, and those and workmanship will be accepted and forwarded to the possessing the highest standard of merit in both design Exhibition of 1851, and take their stand in competition against the whole world.

ham, on the 12th. An announcement that Mr. CobA meeting of the Peace Society was held at Wrexden was to be present had doubtless the effect of increasing the attendance. About 2000 persons were present, though the admission was by ticket at one shilling and sixpence each. Townsend Mainwaring, Esq., formerly member for Denbigh, was in the chair. Mr. Sturge Wheeler, and himself, to put a stop to the war between gave a detail of the recent endeavours of Messrs. Burrett, Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein. Mr. Cobden entered fully into the objects and history of the Peace Society; and, in the course of his speech, adverted to the fact that in 1841 Sir R. Peel was the very first to recommend that agitation in which the peace party and himself were engaged. That statesman spoke of the enormous standing armaments, and of the dangers of the governments of Europe, and he showed that the English government ought to endeavour to come to some terms by which they might effect a mutual reduction of armaments. They could therefore claim for their movement the sanction and approbation of the most practical statesman that had lived in our age. Mr. Cobden then briefly adverted to the Peace Congress doctrine; and said that the society wished, if possible, to prevent the people from lending their money to bankrupt governments, and those governments keeping upgreat military them that they were enthusiasts or Utopians, let people establishments. With reference to the scorn cast upon not think that he was dreaming of the Millennium, but let them think that he entered upon this work with the impression that he would never see the Millennium, but that the sword would continue to be drawn and war waged long after his time. He did not believe that they were going to bring about any sudden and instantaneous that they were engaged in a work in which conscience change in the policy of states, but he firmly believed and holy Heaven would find cause of approbation. Mr. Williams, M.P. for Macclesfield, moved a resolution to the effect that this meeting, having heard the explanations of the objects of the Peace Congress, was of opinion that every effort should be made to induce the government to substitute reason for physical force in deciding international disputes, and that it is the duty of Great Britain to set an example to the civilised world by greatly reducing its present extensive armament. Mr. T. Edgeworth, of Wrexham, seconded the resolution, which was carried.

of patents, and the injurious costliness of obtaining that protection, have lately led to the formation of a PatentThe imperfect protection afforded by the existing law law Reform League. On the 13th, a deputation from George Grey and Mr. Labouchere, at the Home Office. this body had an interview, by appointment, with Sir guarded himself, and also warned Mr. Labouchere, when he entered the room, against expressing any The deputation having reporters with it, Sir George Grey opinion. He remarked that the society had presented a memorial to the Queen, and asked had they any state

parents and guardians of the boys) and the MasterGeneral of the Ordnance. Mr. Leveson Gower urges Lord Anglesey, amongst other points, to revoke the sentence passed upon the boys, and re-investigate the case, which the Master-General declines to do on various grounds-one of the most cogent being, that to do so would involve a publication of the whole evidence; which Lord Anglesey not only deprecates, but warns the parents and guardians against having recourse to. Lord Anglesey further denies that his circular ordering the removal of the boys can justify the assertion that it tended to impute the worst of crimes to a single individual implicated. Mr. Leveson Gower closes the correspondence by stating that such further measures in the conduct of the case will be adopted, as upon consideration may be deemed to be expedient.

ments to add to that memorial: or had they any suggestions to make beyond those contained in the report of the committee on the Privy Seal and Signet Office. Mr. Campin replied, that "the suggestions of the committee's report are good, but they do not go far enough: the main object is to have an immediate reduction of the cost of the patent from its present prohibitive amount of 100%. for each of the three United Kingdoms, and to have preliminary registration at no cost. In America the cost of a patent is about 67. or 77. to a citizen; to an Englishman it is 500 dollars, because we charge so much in our country." Mr. Price stated that he had been secretary to a society formed to assist poor inventors; but the society fell to the ground, from inability to meet the immense charges of the Patent Office; if a society was so beaten, how fatally must the poor inventors themselves be repressed? Mr. Campin, Mr. Waller, and The Admiralty have determined to put an end to the Mr. Townley said, that if something be not done im- practice of having "Mess-men" in the Navy. No mediately, a number of persons intending to prepare person is in future to be entered on board her Majesty's models for the exhibition next year must hold back. ships, or to be employed in the service, as a 66 mess-man," Mr. Labouchere observed, that what the applicants whether in the gun-room mess or the ward-room mess; wanted seemed to be not so much a general measure of it having been found that most of the extravagance, and Patent-law as an immediate measure to reduce the ex-nearly all the intemperance, with their concomitantspenses. Mr. Campin assented; and Mr. Labouchere ruin, disgrace, degradation, and loss of position in the expressed his wish to receive a written communication service, and society-are attributable to the practice of stating how it was proposed to accomplish this object. the gun-room mess of large ships appointing a regular At the yearly meeting of the Burton-on-Trent "messman," from whom any quantity of spirits or Farmers' Club, on the 14th, Mr. Adderley, M.P., Mr. wine could be procured by paying for it. Evans, M.P., and Mr. W. Gisborne, gave expression to their views on the difficult position of the agricultural interest. Mr. Adderley urged on proprietors the necessity for meeting, in a temporary manner, the depression of the present transition state. Mr. Evans acknowledged that if prices continue as they are, there can be no doubt that the relations of landlord and tenant must undergo considerable alteration. Mr. Gisborne declared his opinion, after giving the whole subject his most impartial consideration, that the landed interest is unequally and unfairly burdened in respect of local taxation: nevertheless, with respect to burdens, he was little sanguine of a reduction; he did not blame members of parliament, nor the ministry, on this subject; for the real fact was, the constituencies themselves cared nothing at all about economy. He ascribed the fall of prices to the fact that commodities have for many years increased faster than gold; larger supplies of gold, especially those from recently-discovered sources, would check this. And on the whole his opinion was, that the lowest point was passed, and that there were signs of improvement.

At a meeting of the Law Amendment Society, on the 18th, Mr. Dudley Field, one of the Commissioners who prepared the Amended Code for the State of New York, was introduced, and gave an account of the improvements made by that code in the system of legal procedure. He stated, in the first place, that the courts of justice in the State of New York were originally mo. delled on the old system of England. They had a Chancellor and a Vice-Chancellor, whose jurisdiction was modelled on the English Courts of Equity; they had a Supreme Court, like the Court of Queen's Bench; they had a Court of Appeal, consisting of the Senate, answering to the House of Lords; and when an appeal came from the Court of Chancery, the Judges of the Supreme Court sat with the Senate; when, on the other hand, the appeal came from the Supreme Court, the Judges of the Court of Chancery sat in the Senate. Thus they had two systems-that of Common Law, and that of Equity; and suitors were bandied about between both till their patience or their purse was exhausted. They had also different forms of procedure in actions at common law, which added to the difficulty and uncertainty of obtaining justice. Such were the intolerable evils of the system, that the first thing the Convention did was to abolish the Court of Chancery in toto, and to create one supreme tribunal, which should administer all the laws of the land, whether in law or in equity; and that testimony should be taken, whenever the witnesses were within the State, viva voce. This was in 1847, and three commissioners were appointed to carry their recommendation into effect. The commissioners reported from time to time; their first report being made in February 1848, and their recommendations passed into a law on the 1st of July in the same year. In the next year some additional portions of the code were prepared, which were passed into a law in the course of last session; and on the last day of last year the whole code, civil and criminal, was given in by the commissioners, but that had not yet been passed into a law. What had been made law comprised nearly all the provisions relating to civil actions, by which all the previously existing rules of pleading were abolished, and one uniform course of procedure for all kinds of actions was established. They had adopted such a system of pleading as parties would naturally adopt in a case of private arbitration. The plaintiff, in his first pleading, stated in plain and ordinary but precise language what was the nature of his complaint, and what the ground of his remedy. Then the defendant put forth his answer, specifically denying those portions of the plaintiff's allegation which he meant to controvert, and admitting those which he did not, besides stating any A correspondence, respecting the Boys who were ex-new matter on which he might rely. To that new pelled from Woolwich and Carshalton, has taken place matter the plaintiff was allowed to reply, and then the between Mr. J. Leveson Gower (on the part of the proceedings closed and the cause was ready for trial.

The Board of Health has published a report by the Honourable William Napier on the gathering-grounds of the proposed Water-supply to the Metropolis. Mr. Napier had been commissioned to gauge the streams and make a careful re-examination of the capabilities of the country for the purpose intended. He states that, at first view, he rather feared he should not find sources that would yield as much as the present supply-equal to a canal nine feet wide and three feet deep, flowing two miles an hour throughout the day and night; but a month's search has produced the result. He gives a table of forty springs which yield at their source nearly forty millions of gallons per day, of a quality at and under one degree of hardness, equivalent to the supply of more than half a million houses, at the rate of seventyfive gallons for each house per day; and he can answer for at least ten more millions of gallons per day at and under two degrees of hardness. He gives the names of these springs, in a table showing the yield and hardness of each. Mr. Napier's researches, however, have thrown so much doubt into his mind in reference to the plan of gigantic reservoirs for storing the supply for months, that he proposes a plan of tile-drains which shall catch the waters as they issue from the earth, and lead them to a main trunk that shall flow into a covered reservoir on Wimbledon Common, large enough to contain two days' supply against any emergency, and throwing its waste into the Thames. He promises in a future report to give the details, and estimate the cost of his proposed plan.

This was the whole system; and it was found completely to obviate the whole difficulties that might be expected to arise in fusing the legal and equitable proceedings. With regard to the practical results of the system, he might state that he had not found the slightest difficulty in the world, and he did not know of a single person at the bar of New York who asserted that the union of the two practices was attended with any difficulty. Of course there was great clamour at first, and many prophecies of failure; but in practice no difficulty had been found. The code had been copied, in whole or in part, by the States of Missouri, California, and Mississippi; and conventions for adopting it were about to be held in Kentucky, Iowa, Tenessee, and Massachusetts.

In answer to questions put to Mr. Field respecting the working of the new system in New York, he said, that the parties in a cause are sworn to the truth of their statements according to their knowledge and belief; with this exception, that if the plaintiff dispenses with the oath of the defendant, he is not called upon to give his own. They may also be brought before the jury. One effect of this rule is, that a plaintiff sometimes at once proves his case without the expense of other witnesses, and at other times he learns immediately that which shows him that he cannot prove his case at all. As to costs, between the lawyer and client, the old fee-table has been abolished: the law does not interfere with bargains for remuneration between the lawyers and client; and if no specific bargain is made, the court decides according to the custom of the profession-as it does on the fees of doctors, and of gentlemen in other professions. Between party and party, the scale of costs is regulated by stages of the proceeding-so much up to preparation for trial, so much more for the next stage, and so on. Any cause may be got ready for trial in forty days-an ordinary one in twenty days; and, when the heavy arrears of the old system shall have been cleared off, it will be possible to carry a case wholly through in a single year, including a first appeal before three or four judges, and a second appeal before eight judges. The meeting cordially thanked Mr. Field for the valuable information he had given.

the ship Burhampooter, with emigrants from London for New South Wales, was, a few hours after leaving the Thames, utterly wrecked near Margate, on which occasion the people on board had a hair-breadth escape with their lives, losing all the property they had. The loss of the Amphitrite is also too recent to be forgotten; she was riding at anchor in the Downs, was driven out by violent weather, and totally wrecked near Boulogne; she had on board nearly 200 female convicts, bound to Australia, all of whom, with the whole of the crew, were drowned, and the vessel scattered in fragments on the shore. During the first six months of 1850 it appears that no less than eight vesssels have been lost between London and the Wight, with all on board; and the number of lives so sacrificed is estimated as little short of 500.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.

THE Queen and the Royal Family returned from Osborne to Windsor Castle on the 1st instant. Her Majesty's private band, which had not played before the Court since the death of Sir Robert Peel, resumed its rehearsals on the day before her Majesty's arrival.

Mr. George Arbuthnot has been appointed Auditor of the Civil List, one of the most important offices in the Treasury. Mr. Stephenson succeeds Mr. Arbuthnot as private secretary to Sir Charles Wood.

At a Court of Directors, held in the East India House on the 13th, Lieutenant-General Sir John Grey, K.C.B., was sworn in Commander-in-Chief of the Company's forces, and second member of Council on the Bombay Establishment.

The Right Honourable Richard Lalor Sheil has been appointed her Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary at Florence, in the place of the late Sir George Hamilton.

It is understood that Sir John Herschel will succeed Mr. Sheil as Master of the Mint. This appointment will no longer be held by a member of parliament, and the salary will be reduced to 15007. a year.

The Gazette of the 5th announces that the Queen has granted to Sir Robert Monsey Rolfe, late Baron of the Exchequer, the office of a Vice-Chancellor of the Court of Chancery in England.

The

The Queen has granted a Pension of 1007. a year to Mr. John Payne Collier, the editor of " Shakspere," and author of the "History of the English Stage." warrant expressly mentions that the pension is given "in consideration of his literary merits.'

Mr. (now Sir Charles) Eastlake has been elected President of the Royal Academy, and has received from the Queen the honour of knighthood.

Obituary of Notable Persons.

folk, on the 27th ult.
The Dowager Lady SUFFIELD died at Blickling Hall, in Nor-

Dr. INGLIS, Bishop of Nova Scotia, died in Curzon Street,
May Fair, on the 27th ult., in the 73rd year of his age.

Sir DONALD CAMPBELL, Bart., Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward's Island, died at the Government House, Charlottetown, on the 18th ult., aged 50.

The Dangers of the Navigation of the Channel are strikingly exhibited by an important document just published, compiled by Mr. J. Young, of the Underwriters' room at Lloyd's, giving a list of the wrecks and casualties to shipping which have been officially reported to have occurred between Dungeness and London during a period of eighteen months, from January, 1849, to June, 1850, inclusive. To each casualty is affixed the extent of damage sustained, estimated as nearly as could be ascertained. The result is, that during the eighteen months in question the amount of property destroyed by known wrecks and casualties, is between 400,0007. and 500,0007., besides the sacrifice of a great number of lives. The object of the compiler is to show the enormous annual destruction of property occasioned by the dangers of navigation between the Isle of Wight and the Thames, which would be avoided by homewardbound ships discharging in the Southampton docks, besides the saving that would be effected in the rate of insurance, time occupied between the island and London, and the extra cost of wages, provisions, and incidental expenses. It is a remarkable fact that few wrecks ever take place in that part of the British Channel to the westward of the Wight, but that the real dangers commence after passing the back of the island to proceed to the Thames. To this document is subjoined an abstract of the loss of shipping and life, between the Isle of Wight and London, for the seven years from 1837 to 1843 inclusive, by which it appears that during that period 499 vessels lost anchors and cables, were partially dismasted by bad weather or being run foul of, or sustained other damage; 560 vessels took the ground, but were got off again; 260 vessels entirely wrecked or foundered, of which the crews and passengers were saved; 56 vessels were totally lost, with all or several of the crews or passengers; the total number of casualties being 1375. Amongst the ships lost in 1842 and 1843 were those splendid Indiamen, the Reliance and the Conque-exertions to discourage the "Young Ireland" movement during ror, nearly every soul on board of which, amounting The Right Hon. Lord NUGENT, M.P. for the borough of to little short of 200, perished. In the latter year Aylesbury, at his seat, Lillies, on the 26th.

Mr. Commissioner HARRIS, of the Insolvent Debtors' Court, died at his residence in Chester-place, on the 25th ult., in his 77th year. He had been a commissioner of that court for nearly thirty years.

Lord RANCLIFFE died on the 1st inst., at Bunney Hall, near
Nottingham. He was in his 65th year; the title is extinct.
ANNE LANCEY, widow of the late Thomas Lancey, Esq., died
on the 9th, at Greenwich, in her 101st year.

The Countess of CRAWFORD and BALCARRES died at Haigh
Hall, Lancashire, on the 16th, in her 67th year.

ALEXANDER RAPHAEL, Esq., M.P., died at Surbiton, on the 17th, in his 75th year.

The Right Rev. Dr. KENNEDY, Roman Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, died at Parsonstown, King's County, after a protended the synod at Thurles, where he had taken an active part tracted illness, in his sixty-third year. Dr. Kennedy had atin opposing the condemnation of the Queen's Colleges; and he was one of the thirteen prelates who subsequently signed a memorial to the Pope, with respect to those institutions. The deceased prelate had been most earnest and successful in his excitement of 1848.

COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES.

THE intelligence from India contains no item so interesting as the commencement of the Bombay railway. From the Australian Colonies there is as great a void of political news; but we have tidings, which to many will be extremely welcome, of the landing of the first batch of female emigrants sent out by Mr. Sidney Herbert's Committee. Thirty-eight had been landed at Port Philip; sixty-five at Adelaide; and all had been placed in excellent situations within a few days after landing. The Sidney paper tells us much of Doctor Lang, and the doctor adds a little from himself. He has fulminated a sort of bull or allocution against the new constitution, and has given formal notice of a motion in the Council Chamber which is to do nothing less than annihilate Lord Grey. We shall see.

The Overland Mail bring dates from Bombay to the 17th ult. British India was quite tranquil. The civil war in the Nizam's territories still lingers on, and another affair has taken place in the neighbourhood of Elichpoor between the troops of its Newab and those of the Nizam, in which the latter were defeated, and lost two guns, but no particulars have yet transpired.

The Governor-General was expected at Simla on the 5th or 6th instant. His party were all in excellent health. Lord Falkland was at the Mahableshwur hills; he had had another severe attack since the departure of the last mail, but was better. His state of health, however, continued to occasion serious apprehensions of his being ultimately obliged to resign his post for the same cause as his two predecessors, Sir G. Arthur and Sir G. Clerk. The works of the Bombay Railway had commenced.

The accounts from Hong Kong are to the 29th of September. There had been a very great improvement in the health of the men belonging to the 59th Regiment. The fever had greatly abated. There were still many in the hospital, but the deaths latterly had only averaged about three a week. The insurrection in one of the adjoining provinces to Canton had become of such magnitude, that a body of Government troops had been defeated, and the rebels were said to be already in the Canton province. The authorities there were preparing all the force they could muster to march against the rebels. The movement is said to be directed against the Tartar dynasty, but it is impossible to obtain correct information. The alarming state of the country occasioned much uneasiness to the Chinese population in Canton.

A Piratical Mutiny had taken place on board the ship Kelso, which arrived at Hong Kong on the 14th of September from San Francisco. About three weeks before the vessel's arrival Captain Innes was informed by two of his crew that a mutinous feeling prevailed among part of the ship's company, who had determined to murder him, the steward, and carpenter, and seize upon the vessel, in which they expected to find a large amount of treasure. Captain Innes, with the energy and coolness which mark the true sailor, adopted the requisite means to insure the safety of the ship. The plot had been hatched by some sailors shipped in San Francisco to replace men who had left the vessel after her outward voyage. On the evening on which the piracy was attempted, Captain Innes, having previously had information of the intention of the ringleaders, retired not to the cabin he was accustomed to use, but to an adjoining one-the steward also, by his orders, changing his sleeping place. Under the dread of momentary attack sleepless vigilance was called for. The night progressed, the mutineers broke open the arms' chest and possessed themselves of its contents; but, fortunately, it contained no powder. One of the mutineers crawling on his hands and knees into the cabin which had been vacated, gave intimation to Captain Innes that the moment for action had come. He fired at the ruffian and shot him dead. He then made his way through the skylight to the poop, where he found the mutineers all armed. Calling upon them to lay down their arms, his order was obeyed by all but one, who endeavoured still to intimidate and approach him. Captain Innes told the man he would call upon him three several times to lay down his weapon and go forward; and that, failing his doing so, he would shoot him. He persisted. The captain fired, mortally wounding him, when the mutiny was quelied. The man, at the date of the account, was

lying at the point of death in the Hong Kong hospital, and his fellow-criminals were under examination before the police magistrates.

The accounts from Jamaica are highly important. The cholera was raging fearfully in Kingston, Port Royal, and St. Catherine's; and, up to the time of the packet's departure, the deaths in Kingston averaged at least 30 a day. The latest official accounts published up to the morning of the 27th of October showed a total of 266 deaths in Kingston alone. In Port Royal and St. Catherine's the actual numbers were less; but, compared to the population of Kingston, the mortality has been far greater, particularly in Port Royal, where about an eighth of the population has been cut off. The deaths in all parts, with two or three exceptions, occurred among the lower orders of the black people, some of whom resided in miserable hovels and damp localities. An order has been issued by the Governor in Council forbidding communication coastwise between Port Royal` and Kingston, and the uninfected ports, under certain restrictions. In all districts the want of medical men was much felt. Kingston, with a population of some 40,000 inhabitants, contains only ten doctors, who, in addition to their private business, have in various instances to attend the public prisons and institutions. Spanish Town contains but three doctors, and Port Royal none at all. At the latter place the services of the surgeons attached to the Royal army were secured through the influence of the Kingston authorities. The House of Assembly met on the 22d of October, and passed a short act, appointing local boards of health in the different parishes, and authorising the issue of 50007., or less, in island notes, to put such boards in funds to carry out the sanatory regulations. After the enactment of this law, the Legislature, with the sanction of the Governor, adjourned until the 19th of November. Commercial matters were quite unsettled; indeed, a general gloom was spread over all interests and all classes. The Governor had issued a proclamation, ordering that a day of general prayer and humiliation should take place on the 1st of November.

From the other West India Colonies the news is not

important. In Trinidad, Barbadoes, and Antigua the weather is described as remarkably fine, and the crops extremely promising.

The city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, was desolated by a dreadful fire on the 11th instant. Upwards of one-half of the city, it is stated, is burnt, and above 3000 people rendered houseless. Few particulars have as yet been given.

The intelligence from the Cape of Good Hope is to the 26th of September. The arrival of the Queen's letters patent for constituting a Local Government had excited much dissension.

The Legislative Council was opened on the 6th September. Sir Andries Stockenstrom, Mr. Brand, Mr. E. W. Reitz, Mr. Fairbairn, and Mr. Godlonton took their seats as five of the six members nominated in conformity with the votes of the municipalities and the divisional road boards of the colony. Mr. Cocks took his seat as the Governor's nominee. The election qualification of the members of the Council afforded the first point for discussion. The officials proposed a property qualification of 2000l. above all encumbrances; the popular members rejected any property qualifica