three repetitions, it was supposed that the vessel making them had got off. It was afterwards surmised that the steamer was filled too rapidly with water to fire off more signals. There was a tremendous sea running at the time, which tore away great pieces of the vessel. From the state of the weather, no boat could reach the wreck till Monday, when a few articles were brought away from it, but nothing of material importance; and soon after, the wreck was almost washed away. The vessel was between 400 and 500 tons burden, and was commanded by Captain John Batty, of Cork, who had been above 20 years in the service of the Company. The passengers who left Cork were 144 adults and 23 children; those from Plymouth, 14 adults; and the crew consisted of 24 men and one boy, so that 206 lives were lost.-During the following week several distressing scenes took place in the Company's office in Leadenhall Street, and at their wharf in Lower East Smithfield, by relatives of the unhappy sufferers, inquiring after their probable fate.-Many bodies were picked up by the wreckers, who flocked round the vicinity of the Tongue Sands, and, having stripped them, they were re-committed to the deep. Naked bodies of men and women were passed in the Channel by different ships which arrived in the river. Two or three vessels were seized, having property concealed on board evidently, plundered from the wreck of the Royal Adelaide. A subscription has been opened at several banking-houses in the City for the relief of the families of the sufferers. Among other disasters, a Liverpool ship, called the Teresa Jane, bound to Maranham, with a cargo valued at 30,0007., was wrecked on the Copeland Isles, near Belfast. The master and seven men perished, but a part of the vessel having remained on the rocks on which she struck, the rest of the crew, eight in number, were saved. The Emma, bound from Dundee to Montreal, was also wrecked on the morning of the 1st. At daybreak, amidst the fury of the gale, the ship was discovered adrift, off St. Margaret's, Orkneys. Those on board managed to make sail on her, and she stood to the eastward; then tacked and stood to the north, when she drove and struck on the point of the rocks with terrible force. It was utterly impossible to render any assistance to the crew from the shore. They took to the rigging, and their cries and gestures for help were truly heart-rending. Their sufferings were of but short duration; for within half-an-hour the masts were carried away, and with it the unfortunate men, every one of whom perished. The hull of the ship was shortly broken up into a thousand pieces. The Howard, of nearly a 1000 tons burden, was lost near Liverpool, having struck on a ledge of sand-banks at the mouth of the Ribble. The crew were seen at daybreak on Sunday morning (31st of March) clinging to the rigging, and were brought ashore by the Southport life-boat. One of them, John Smith, died; the rest recovered, though quite exhausted. Along the Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Northumbrian coasts, there were innumerable casualties. Between thirty and forty coasting-vessels were driven ashore, and the bulk of them became wrecks. There were similar disasters on the Welsh coast. Nearly all the vessels in Beaumaris Harbour were driven ashore, and more or less injured. The smack Brothers, of Liverpool, was wrecked near Penmon, and Captain Barnet, the master, his wife, and one of the men, were drowned. The bodies were on the beach, the captain and his wife clasped in each other's arms. On the 5th a pilot-boat brought into Cowes the master of the Lincoln, sailing from Boston for California. He had reached the latitude of 4° N. and longitude 25° W., and when at 10° 30 p.m. of March 2, during a heavy shower of rain, and without any menacing appearance in the air, the ship was Struck with Lightning, which shivered the mainmast, and darted into the hold. On opening the scuttle, volumes of smoke were emitted, and finding it impossible to extinguish the fire, the crew endeavoured to stifle it by closing every aperture. In this state they remained for nearly four days, with the fire burning in the hold, when they were relieved from their perilous situation by the providential appearance of the Maria Christina, and taken on board. Previous to leaving the ill-fated brig, the hatches were opened, when the flames burst forth, and in thirty minutes afterwards the mainmast fell over the side. The unfortunate crew were most kindly treated by Captain Voss, the master of the Maria Christina, who did everything in his power for their relief. Two deaths on the Railway have to be recorded. On the 2nd, as the up-train on the South Western Railway was proceeding from Windsor to London, at forty miles per hour, the engine-driver perceived to his horror a man lying on the rails, who made no attempt to get off until the train had approached within a few yards of him, when he threw himself down on the permanent way. The whistle was sounded, brakes promptly applied, and the engine escaped striking him, but the steps of the first carriage dashed his brains out. His left leg and arm were also severed from the body. As soon as possible the train was brought to a stand-still, but it is needless to state that life was totally extinct. The unfortunate man was a farmer's servant who resided at Datchet, and had married only a few months ago one of the station clerk's servants. Some thought his object was suicide, whilst his friends believe that he was only crossing the line to get to his own home, when, hearing the sound of the whistle, he became paralysed with fear, and unable to move. On the 5th another tragedy occurred on the Eastern Counties Railway. Mr. William Newall, manager of the Norfolk division, in company with some other gentlemen, left the Norwich terminus for the purpose of inspecting a bridge, near the Haddiscoe station. Having viewed it, the engine returned to the Reedsham swingbridge, where a goods train was waiting on the line, about eighty yards distant, for the engine to pass. The unfortunate gentleman, recollecting that he had not telegraphed their approach from Haddiscoe to Reedham, and thinking the goods train was in motion, dreaded a collision, and jumped off. His boot caught the ledge of the car, and before there was a possibility of arresting his fate the engine travelled over him. The body was found doubled up, and a macintosh which he wore had been pulled over his head. A Miss Downie met, on the 4th, with an Extraordinary Death at Traquair-on-the-Tweed. She had suffered, since childhood, from severe pains in the head and deafness; her health had been gradually declining for the last three years, and in August last she was seized with most painful inflammation in the left ear, accompanied by occasional bleedings also from the ear. On the 20th of March an ordinary-sized metallic pin was extracted from the left ear, which was enveloped in a firm substance with numerous fibres attached to it; several hard bodies, in shape resembling the grains of buck-wheat, but of various colours, were also taken out of the right ear. The poor girl endured the most intense pain, which she bore with Christian fortitude till death terminated her sufferings. believed the pin must have lodged in the head for nearly twenty years, as she never recollected of having put one in her ear, but she had a distinct remembrance of having, when a child, had a pin in her mouth, which she thought she had swallowed. It is An Explosion of Fire-damp occurred on the 12th in a coal-mine at Marsden. It has not been ascertained how the accident originated, as all the persons on the spot, five in number, were killed; their bodies were found by persons attracted from another part of the mine by the explosion. It probably arose, as usual, from carelessness. Each collier carries a safety lamp, but some of them are in the habit of taking off the top to light their pipes or for other purposes; and the lamp of one of these men was found near his dead body with the top taken off. A Waterspout, a phenomenon seldom seen in these latitudes, happened on the 13th in the Bristol Channel. As the Fanny and Jane brig from London to Bristol was proceeding up channel, she had her masts, bowsprit, and everything above deck carried away by a waterspout. She was taken in tow by the Alert of Bridport, and brought into Bristol Harbour. Vessels distant from the brig at the time of the occurrence only half a mile escaped uninjured. A Terrible Storm passed over Dublin on the afternoon said, "for the statistics with which the opponents of of the 18th. The day had been unusually fine; but national education so profusely treat us. When I see about three o'clock an extraordinary fall of the mercury figures piled upon figures, I am forcibly reminded of was observed. At a few minutes before four the storm the manoeuvres of a fish called the cuttle-fish, which, commenced; the peals of thunder, accompanied by when closely pursued by its focs, discharges an inky lightning, followed cach other with scarcely any inter- sort of fluid, which muddles the water, and enables ruption, and breaking with a tremendous crash over the it to escape."-Dr. SMILES drew a strong picture of city. The wind veered round fully half the compass, the lamentable ignorance prevalent among the working came with the force of a hurricane from the north, and classes. About one-half of our poor, he said, can neither drove the hailstones with such violence as to shatter read nor write. The test of signing the name at maralmost all the windows in the line exposed to its fury. riage is a very imperfect absolute test of education, but Trees were torn up by the roots in the College Park, is a very good relative one: taking that test, how stands and other places in the vicinity of the city. Some houses Leeds itself in the Registrar-General's return? Thus, in the south suburbs were unroofed, and almost all the in 1846, of 1,850 marriages, 508 of the men and 1,020 glass was shivered in the galleries of the Dublin Society, of the women, or considerably more than one-half of the the Round Room of the Mansion-house, the Rotunda, latter, signed their names with marks; of 47 men emthe conservatories of the public gardens, and other ployed upon a railway in the immediate neighbourplaces similarly exposed. The hailstones were of enor- hood, only 14 men can sign their names in the receipt mous size, as large as grapes, and some others much of their wages; and this not because of any diffidence larger. Indeed the storm presented, on the whole, all on their part, but positively because they cannot write. the characteristics of such a phenomenon in the tropics. And lately, of 12 witnesses, "all of respectable appearDuring the storm the Lord-Lieutenant and Vice-regal ance," examined before the Mayor of Bradford at the party had to fly for shelter from the flower exhibition of Court-house there, only one man could sign his name and the Horticultural Society to the Round Room of the that indifferently. "I have seen it stated," said the Rotunda; and at the same time the storm was com- doctor, "that a woman for some time had to officiate as mitting great ravages among the sheds of the Royal clerk in a church in Norfolk, there being no adult male in Dublin Society's Cattle Show, where Lord Clements the parish able to read and write. For a population of and a party of his friends were observed exerting them- 17,000,000 we have but twelve normal schools; while selves to rescue some persons from beneath the fallen in Massachussets they have three such schools for only structures. Happily no lives were lost, but the sacrifice 800,000 of population. Every broken tradesman in this of property was immense. The police of the city made country thinks himself, and is thought by others, good a return which shows that the loss suffered by all classes enough to set up for a teacher. The Sunday School from a storm the duration of which was only to be machinery, excellent in its kind, is valueless to impart measured by minutes, approached in the aggregate to secular education; and it is inefficient in its special 27,000/. religious aims in strict proportion; for it is a notorious fact that the great obstacle which a Sunday School rudimentary secular knowledge.-He argued with great force and eloquence, that, in these days, the diffusion of wholesome knowledge among the people was essential to the very safety of the state: "Of all the signs of the present times this seems to me among the clearest-the steady advance of the democratic element in society(cheers). It is absolutely inevitable; and the fact is universally admitted-by some with joy and exultation, by others with profound sorrow and alarm. It is only a question of time, or perhaps of opportunity. The next great revolutionary wave which rolls across Europe may bring the suffrage within the reach of the whole adult people of England, as it has already placed it within the possession of those of Germany and France, who a little more than two years ago seemed far farther from it than we were- (hear). To the already enfranchised classes I would say, educate the people in time, that you may have an intelligent and reasonable people to deal with instead of a blind, ignorant, and exasperated one; and to them not enfranchised I would say, get education, that you may obtain the means of employing your new power to the greatest possible advantage, and for the common benefit of all (loud cheers). While the education of the rest of Europe is advancing with such rapid strides, and giving new life to the productive activities of the Continental states, it seems clear to me that if England does not educate ahead of them, she must inevitably lose her present supremacy among the nations." SOCIAL, SANITARY, AND MUNICIPAL teacher meets is the dense ignorance of the child in PROGRESS. Education, Religious or Secular, is a question which Mr. Fox's bill appears to have brought into active discussion, especially in the manufacturing districts. On Easter Monday, the Lancashire Public School Association held a great meeting at Manchester. The MAYOR was in the chair; and several members of the Corporation, and a number of the clergy of the town and neighbourhood, were on the platform. A petition to parliament was adopted, praying for the establishment of "a system of education, excluding all theological doctrines and sectarian influences, supported by local rates assessed on the basis of the poor's-rate, and managed by local authorities especially elected for that purpose by the ratepayers, so as to afford to all, especially to the untaught and neglected, opportunities free of charge for a thorough training in useful knowledge, good principles, and virtuous habits."-The Rev. Hugh STOWELL, who is a Canon of Chester, affirmed that education, to be advantageous to the people, must be "a Christian education." In the course of a vehement speech the Rev. gentleman cited the case of "infidel France," as an illustration of the fatal effects of the want of a religious education.-A long, a stormy debate ensued, in the course of which Dr. John WATTS reminded Mr. Stowell that the National education of France was entirely in the hands of the priesthood, up to the time of the great Revolution.-A number of Irishmen, who had early obtained admission, and formed a body close to the platform, created much disturbance by trying to hoot down the supporters of the motion; but the firmness of the mayor succeeded in preserving tolerable order. Three important meetings have been held at Leeds during the present month. The first was summoned by the working men of Leeds, to consider the subject of public non-sectarian education; the second was called on a memorial signed by Dr. Hook, among others, to consider the extension of Education on some basis of impartiality towards all sects; the third was demanded by Mr. Edward Baines and the advocates of Voluntary education, to consider the objections againstState interference. At the first of these meetings, on the 11th instant, Mr. Hamer STANFIELD denied the dictum, that religion is a bar to the progress of education; such an assertion is injurious to the cause of religion. "I care little," he At the meeting called by Mr. Baines he proposed a resolution against Mr. Fox's bill; but an amendment, moved by Mr. Hamer Stanfield, was carried by a considerable majority, and afterwards a resolution in favour of secular education, founded on local management and taxation, and under local control, was passed almost unanimously. There were also meetings at Hull and Derby, with similar results. The Mayor of Manchester has established a Fund for a Public Library and Reading Room for the Working Classes of that town. Sixteen, eighteen, or more firms have subscribed each 1007. towards this excellent design; and, altogether, the funds promised will be little less than 30007. The Hall of Science in Camp-field, originally built (not many years ago) for the Socialists, is designed to be the depository of the library; and Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart. (till recently the lord of the manor of Manchester), being the owner of the building as well as the land, is prepared to sell them for the purpose. A plan is in contemplation to form 2 New Park at Islington, for the accommodation of the people of that vicinity. At a Vestry meeting on the 22nd, Mr. Lloyd, the projector of the park, gave a statement of its locality and probable cost. He said the area would cover 500 acres ; the cost would be about 150,000l. to 200,0007., and that the project had already received the countenance of His Royal Highness Prince Albert, Lord Robert Grosvenor, Lord Ashley, Lord Carlisle, and other eminent personages. Mr. Tyler, the chairman of the Islington committee, said that they had refrained from drawing up a petition until they could take the sense and obtain the co-operation of the whole 15 parishes of the borough: he urged active measures in favour of the proposed park, as he said the present open space, unless at once secured, would be covered with buildings in less than twelve months. Other members having discussed the question, a resolution approving of the proposed park was unanimously carried, and a public meeting of the borough was determined to be held forthwith. At the aniversary dinner of the Governesses' Benevolent Institution on the 17th, the Duke of Cambridge, who filled the chair, gave a very pleasing account of the successful labours of the Institution. During the last seven years, the period of its existence, the ladies' committee have investigated 775 individual cases; they have received 3,150 applications from these distressed ladies, and have given aid 1,620 times, with an amount of 3,9801. 18s. 6d.; the annuities to the aged have also been steadily increased. There were now 35 ladies receiving regularly a small but certain income. The provident fund amounts to 58,2867., the savings of 553 ladies, invested in Government security, to form a provision for their old age; whilst no less than 5,552 ladies have availed themselves of the registration, free of expense, of whom no less than 3,009 have been provided with situations. Fifty-one committees, in furtherance of the Exhibition of Industry of 1851, have made a return of their first subscription lists to the Royal Commissioners. The amount of the sums announced is 43,619. In addition to these returns, it was announced that the Royal Academy had voted 5007., and the Mercers' Company 1007., making the sum total up to this date 44,2191. Nor is the movement confined to this country. The French Minister of Commerce has addressed a circular to the different Chambers of Commerce and Manufactures, calling their attention to the exhibition which is to take place in 1851 in London, and urging on them the necessity of using their utmost efforts among the manufacturers in their respective districts, in order that the products of French industry sent to England may be such as to keep up the character of the country for ingenuity and skill in workmanship. The circular also explains that the exhibition will include agricultural productions, and calls the attention of those connected with those pursuits to the benefit which may result from their taking part in it. A pleasing Re-union of Employers and Work-people, so beneficial to both classes, took place on the 20th at Moltram, near Manchester. In the beautiful vale of the river Goit are situated the extensive calico and muslin print works of Mr. Matley. This was the fiftieth anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Matley's wedding-day, and they determined to celebrate it by a feast to their workpeople. A spacious marquee was erected, and covers were laid for between 600 and 700 guests, who, after a procession headed by a band of music, sat down to a plentiful repast at 2 o'clock. A handsome piece of plate, subscribed by the workmen, was presented to Mr. Matley; and the fête terminated with music and dancing. The Cholera Nursery is a name which has been given to the churchyard of St. Clement's Danes. It is crammed with human remains, yet augmentations of corpses and of noxious vapours are daily made. The inhabitants of the neighbourhood are continually complaining in the newspapers of the disgusting scenes that take place, and of the aerial poison which rises out of the graves; but no power seems strong enough to abate the nuisance. PERSONAL NARRATIVE. THE QUEEN, Prince Albert, and the Royal family spent the Easter holidays at Windsor Castle. On the 5th Her Majesty visited the cavalry barracks at Spittal to witness the conclusion of Rustic Sports, which have been going on during the week among the corporals and privates of the 1st Life Guards. These consisted of wrestling, a hurdle race-in which ten men ran about three quarters of a mile, taking fourteen leaps over hurdles,-jingling, and a broadsword combat between two corporals. The most extraordinary feat was that of cutting a sheep in two at one stroke of the broadsword. The carcass having been suspended on a tree immediately in front of the carriage in which Her Majesty and the Prince were seated, Corporal Newton took the sword-which had been handed to Her Majesty and the Prince by Colonel Hall for inspection-and with one blow severed the carcass in the middle. The Royal family returned to Buckingham Palace on the 6th. On the 19th Prince Albert had a visit from the heirs presumptive to the throne of the Sandwich Islands. The lord in waiting must have had some difficulty in announcing them correctly; they are the Princes Kamehameha and Liholiho. As embryo foreign potentates they were introduced by Lord Palmerston. Lord John Russell Took a trip to Manchester during the Easter week, where he was pleasantly received, and added to his popularity by the interest he manifested in the prosperity of that great seat of industry. He left London on the 2nd, with his lady, on a visit to Sir Benjamin Heywood. In the course of the two following days he inspected some of the principal manufactories, particularly the premises of Messrs. Nasmyth and Gaskell, the engineers and machine-makers; and the great Mayfield print-works belonging to Alderman Neild, where female artisans are employed in engraving patterns on the cylinders; a novelty which appeared to give much pleasure to the visitors. Lord John received complimentary addresses from the corporation of Manchester and Salford, and much good-feeling towards the Premier was everywhere manifested. The Oriental Club gave a banquet to Lord Gough on the 9th at their mansion in Hanover Square. MajorGeneral Sir James Law Lushington presided: Lord Hardinge and Major Edwardes were among the guests, about a hundred in number. The Junior United Service Club gave an entertainment to his lordship in the following week. Dr. Tait bade Farewell to the Rugby School on the 11th, and the event was celebrated by the formal presentation of addresses and gifts, testifying the affectionate respect entertained for him by all the masters and scholars. A large body of "old Rugbeans" were present, and took part both in the ceremonies of presentation and speechmaking. Dr. Tait returned acknowledgments with affectionate earnestness: he avowed his belief, that in taking part in the great and noble system of the school, he had learnt far more than he had taught. Lieut. Graham, who with Mr. Elliot was tried by court-martial for having Deserted the Childers in consequence of the tyranny of the commander, Pitman, and sentenced to imprisonment, has been discharged; apparently from the presentation of the affidavit of Matthew Speary, armourer, and George Brown, seaman, before Mr. Justice Coleridge, of the cruelties they had witnessed on board that vessel. Mr. Elliot has been allowed to suffer the whole term of imprisonment. Obituary of Notable Persons. The Earl of MACCLESFIELD died on the 31st March, at Ensham Hall, near Tetsworth, Oxfordshire, aged 87. He was son of the His lordship was twice married, and had issue by both marthird Earl, by the daughter of Sir William Heathcote, Bart. riages. Viscount Parker succeeds to the title and estates. The deceased was deputy-lieutenant of Oxfordshire. Captain T. R. EDEN, R.N., commander of the Amphitrite, died in Valparaiso recently, after a few days' illness, when he was getting ready to return to this country with a freight which would have realised to him about 6000. He entered the navy in 1824, and attained his captain's rank in 1844. The Very Rev. J. MEREWETHER, Dean of Hereford, who opposed with great energy the appointment of Dr. Hampden to the Bishopric of Hereford, died on the 4th at the Vicarage, Madley. He was about 54 years of age. Sir Archibald GALLOWAY, Chairman of the Hon. East India Company, died on the 6th, in Upper Harley Street, aged 74, after a few hours' illness. He transacted business at the India House on the 4th, and presided at the banquet recently given by the directors of the East India Company to Lord Gough. His chairmanship would have expired on the 12th. Madame GRANDIN, the widow of M. Victor Grandin, representative of the Seine Inférieure, who died about seven or eight months since, met with a melancholy end on the 6th, at her residence at Elbeuf. She was confined to her bed from illness, and the women, who had been watching by her during the night, had left her but a short time, when the most piercing shrieks were heard to proceed from her room. Her brother ran in alarm to her assistance, but unfortunately he was too late, the poor lady had expired, having been burnt in her bed. It is supposed that in reaching to take something from the table, her nightdress came in contact with the lamp, and thus communicated to the bed. Rear-Admiral HILLS died on the Sth, at his seat, Askerhill, Essex, aged 73. He became a lieutenant in 1798, and a post-captain in 1814. The deceased was a midshipman of the Eclair at the occupation of Toulon, and was lieutenant of the Amethyst at the capture of various prizes during the late war. Dr. PROUT, F.R.S., expired in Sackville-street, Piccadilly, on the 9th, at an advanced age. He was till lately in extensive practice as a physician, besides being a successful anthor. The Rev. William Lisle BoWLES, canon of Salisbury, and rector of Bremhill, Wilts, died in the Close, Salisbury, on the 7th, at the age of 89. He once enjoyed a high reputation as a poet and a critic; in the former capacity he is best known by his sonnets, in the latter by a controversy with Lord Byron. He was the intimate friend of Moore, Rogers, Crabbe, and Southey. Captain SMITH, R.N., the Admiralty superintendent of packets at Southampton, died on the 8th unexpectedly. He was distinguished as the inventor of paddle-box boats for steamers, and of the movable target for practising naval gunnery. He entered the navy in 1808, and saw a good deal of service till the close of the war. Madame TUSSAUD, the well-known exhibitor of wax figures, died on the 10th, in her 90th year. She was a native of Berne, but left Switzerland when but six years old for Paris, where she became a pupil of her uncle, M. Curtius, "artiste to Louis XVI., by whom she was instructed in the fine arts, of which he was an [APRIL. eminent professor. Madame Tussaud prided herself upon the fact of having instructed Madame Elizabeth to draw and model, and she continued to be employed by that princess until October, 1789. She passed unharmed through the horrors of the Revolution, perhaps by reason of her peculiar ability as a modeller; for she was employed to take heads of most of the Revolutionary leaders. She came to England in 1802, and has from that time been occupied in gathering the popular exhibition now exhibiting in Baker-street. She has left a large family of children and grand-children in this her adopted country. Lieut.-General Sir James BATHURST, K.C.B., died at Kibworth Rectory, Leicestershire, on the 13th, in his 68th year. When he entered the army in 1794, if his age be correctly stated, he could have been only twelve years of age. He served at Gibraltar and in the West Indies, the capture of Surinam, the campaign in Egypt of 1801, in the expedition to Hanover, and in the actions fought for the relief of Dantzic, as well as in those of Lomitten, Deppen, Gutstadt, Heilsberg, and Friedland. Subsequently he served at Rugen and at the siege of Copenhagen. In 1808 and 1809 he served with the army in Portugal and Spain as assistant quartermaster-general, and as military secretary to the Duke of Wellington. The appointment of governor of Berwick, of the annual value of 568, which he held, will not be filled up. Madame DULCKEN died on the 13th, in Harley-street, aged 38. She was the sister of the celebrated violinist, David, and had been for many years resident in this country, where she held a conspicuous position among the most eminent professors of the pianoforte. The Duchess of MARLBOROUGH was confined with a still-born infant some five weeks ago, and was considered to be rapidly progressing to recovery. A severe mental shock, however, which she unfortunately experienced about a fortnight ago, took such a powerful hold of the nervous system, that her Grace never rallied, and finally sank under its baneful influence at an early hour on the 20th. The Duchess, it will be remembered, had a taste for the sports of the field-was a bold and graceful horsewoman, and a good shot. William WORDSWORTH died at his residence of Rydal Mount, Windermere, on the 23rd inst., in his eightieth year, having been born at Cockermouth in 1770. He was distributor of stamps for Westmoreland and Cumberland; and appointed Poet Laureate on the death of Southey. As the author of the "Lyrical Ballads" and "The Excursion," his name will descend to posterity as one of the best English Poets. COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES. THE Foreign possessions of Great Britain have furnished no startling items of intelligence this montha circumstance to be regarded as of excellent augury. The adage that "no news is good news," has an especial application to our Asiatic possessions, for there it means peace; and peace implies, in these days of commercial enterprise, prosperity. The East Indies furnish accounts of a small exception to the general tranquillity; some of our troops having had an unsuccessful encounter with a wild tribe in the Kohat hills. From the West Indies, little is to be learned; but that little appears cheering. Jamaica promises to rise out of her ruin by the help of cotton; the experiment of cultivating that plant having succeeded in some instances beyond expectation. The Australian Colonies (our pen-and-ink journies are more rapid than Puck's, for we "put a girdle round the earth" in less than "forty minutes") are alive with excitement about the new Bill, now in discussion at Westminster for their better government.-There is great rejoicing at the Cape of Good Hope. Cape Town is blazing with illuminations, and wildly letting off its joy in fireworks, after successfully resisting the Colonial Office in its design of sending convicts thither. In this case, as in many others, we are naturally visited with the consequences of old misconduct. We cannot reasonably wonder, knowing what we have done in New South Wales, that our colonists elsewhere should have a horror of convict contributions from the mother country. The two Overland Mails from India which arrived during this month brought dates from Bombay up to March 16, Calcutta, March 7, and Madras, March 13. There had been some fighting in the newly acquired territories. On the 2nd of February a body of Affredies, inhabitants of the Kohat hills, about a thousand strong, attacked the camp of a party of our sappers, employed in making a road in a pass between Peshawur and Kohat. Twelve of our men were killed, six wounded, and the camp was plundered. To avenge this massacre a strong force under Colonel Bradshaw, Sir Charles Napier himself, with Sir John Campbell accompanying him, marched from Peshawur on the 9th. The mountaineers made a stand in every pass and defile; but although our troops destroyed six villages and killed a great number of the enemy, they were obliged to return to Peshawur on the 11th without having accomplished their object. On the 14th February another force was sent to regain the passes and to keep them open for a larger armament. A letter from an officer in the 60th Rifles gives details of the expedition; here are some extracts:-We had to march to a large village, by name Kohat, about 40 miles away to the hills, by forced marchs. When we arrived there, we found that the robbers had betaken themselves to the hills, with all their property and families, while they were shooting at our party and attacking our pickets, who crowned the hills, without our being able to molest them in return. We burned all their villages, spoiled their crops, destroyed their water, and did all the harm we could. But the day we left, we and the 31st Bengal Native Infantry regiment were descending the hills when the robbers came to the heights and killed and wounded a hundred of us. Poor Lieutenant Sitwell, of the 31st Regiment, was, before we could come to his rescue, cut to pieces before our eyes. He was a most dear friend of mine, and a very handsome fellow. Lieutenant Hilliard, of 23rd Regiment, was shot through the lungs; many native officers were killed, The pass we had to go through was a very difficult and dangerous one, and Sir Charles Napier himself had some most providential escapes, as also myself, for my horse was shot under me by a matchlock ball. Several artillery men were cut to pieces before we could come to help them, from their guns being upset. Never did I feel so much the horrors of death as I did at that moment. Poor Sitwell had passed through the bloodiest battle ever fought in India-viz., Chillianwallah, and then to be killed in a skrimmage like this, where there was no glory or honour, except that he was nobly doing his duty! Hilliard was only married the day before he went out on the expedition. We had got up a very large ball at this station to be given to the Commanderin-Chief, but it is needless to say it has not come off. The doctors have so fully shown to Sir Charles Napier the unhealthiness of Peshawur, that we are ordered to march next week to Subacto, a two months' march, at the bottom of the hills, near Simla, and, I hear, a pleasant cool station.” The Court of Inquiry into the mutiny in the 66th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry had closed its proceedings on the 7th of March. 60 privates were dismissed from the service, 30 sentenced to imprisonment for six months, 21 to imprisonment for seven years, and 5 were condemned to fourteen years' labour on the roads. This sentence being regarded by the Commander in-Chief to be too lenient, he directed its revisal, and the five greatest criminals were condemned to death; but the Commander-in-Chief commuted this sentence to transportation for life. To make the example more impressive, Sir Charles Napier resolved to disband the regiment. An uneasy feeling is represented as still prevalent in the Punjaub. At Lahore further conspiracies of the Sikhs were apprehended. The operation of razing the walls of that city was begun on the 1st of February. The Governor-General arrived at Point-de-Galle, in Ceylon, on the 7th of February, and left that place on the 9th for Singapore. There are advices from Hong-kong to the 27th of February, but they contain no intelligence of public interest. Trade is stated to be pretty brisk. The coasting trade between Hong-kong and Shanghai is about to be taken up by the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers, Canton and Lady Mary Wood; so that the intercourse of Hong-kong with the northern ports will be more regular than it has been. M. Reynvan, the French Consul at Canton, had been nearly murdered by one of his domestics, a Chinese. While he was reading a newspaper, the man, stealthily coming behind him, attempted to cleave his skull with a chopper, inflicting a serious though not a fatal wound. The assailant was quickly pursued, but managed to escape. Plunder is supposed to have been his object. Great excitement has been caused at Malta by the recent proceedings of the Council, declaring that the Roman Catholic religion is the dominant religion of the island, and that all others are only tolerated. Besides a protest from Bishop Tomlinson, officially lodged with the Governor, petitions were pouring in from all sects addressed to Earl Grey, beseeching him to intercede with Her Majesty to withhold her sanction to these proceedings. It must here be noted, that in the House of Commons Mr. Hawes declared that no such discrimination between any religions would be sanctioned. The The West India mail arrived on the 22nd. weather was generally favourable, and the islands healthy. The Cultivation of Cotton in Jamaica was attracting increased attention; some very superior specimens had been grown, and it was deemed probable that this article might become one of the principal staple products of the island. At a Court of Admiralty Sessions recently held in Spanish-town a case was tried which excited a good deal of interest. An aged woman named Klaber was charged with taking to Cuba with her, upwards of twenty-five years ago, and Selling a Black Woman as a Slave. The charge was fully substantiated, and the prisoner sentenced to three years' imprisonment in the Penitentiary. A quick Succession of Fires in Barbados, amongst the sugar estates, had excited much uneasiness. Some of these were said to be occasioned by incendiaries; others by the long drought which had prevailed. These fires continued of frequent occurrence up to the sailing of the packet. With reference to the Crop of this island it is stated that hitherto the yield of the canes had exceeded expectations, and although in one or two districts they suffered from drought last year, yet there was reason to expect that the present year's crop will not fall far short of that of 1849, which amounted to 33,000 hhds. At St. Thomas a desperate act of piracy had been committed. The American schooner J. B. Lindsey left Port of Spain, Trinidad, on or about the 1st of February. While yet in sight of that place, at night, the mate and a passenger were murdered and thrown overboard by the crew. The captain was severely wounded, but con trived to secure the cabin-door against the murderers, and for some days kept them at bay. After ransacking the vessel for money, the miscreants took to the schooner's boat, and with an axe attempted to scuttle the vessel, but their design was defeated by the cook, who cut the boat's painter and set them adrift. The captain then managed to crawl upon deck, and by threatening to fire on the boat prevented the murderers from returning on board. The boat then made for the Spanish Main, and the captain managed to reach St. Thomas in the schooner, where he was taken care of by the American Consul, who has circulated handbills throughout the West Indies, offering a reward of 200 dollars for the capture of the murderers. A Tornado of terrific violence passed over the town and harbour of Nassau (Bahamas) on the 30th March. About fifty houses were destroyed, many of them being actually smashed to atoms; trees of immense size were torn up by the roots; several small vessels in the harbour were sunk, and others dismasted. The squall in its course passed over a ship yard, and a large schooner on the stocks was blown over. Eight persons were killed, and several badly wounded. The tornado lasted not more than one minute. It happened about noon. A fire took place in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on the 7th ult., which destroyed property to the amount of 12,000. sterling. The lower orders behaved nobly in rendering assistance; even women were seen working like the men. Many of those engaged in the Trinidad riots, six months ago, were seen labouring disinterestedly in removing and guarding furniture and stores, and though they had an opportunity of purloining to an immense amount, nothing was lost. The Australian intelligence that has arrived during the month relates chiefly to the sensation produced by the Colonies Bill now under discussion in the Imperial Parliament. A The Sydney papers, which brought dates to the 20th December, mention a public meeting on the subject of the proposed New Constitution for the Colonies, which had separated without passing any resolution University is to be established at Sydney, and a 30,0007. has been voted for the building, and 5,0001. for its fittings-up. It will contain at first chairs of the Classical Languages, Mathematics, Chemistry, Natural History, Natural Philosophy, Mechanics, Physiology, and the Medical Sciences; and professorships of History, Philosophy, and Political Economy, are to be hereafter added. There is to be no faculty of Theology, and, apparently, no religious tests. The Professor of Classics will be Rector of the University, with an endowment of 8007. a-year. The appointments of the other professors will range from 300l. to 4007. a-year; and to each will be given 1007. a-year for lodgings until rooms shall be ready for his residence in the projected building. Professors coming from Europe will have 1007. each towards the expenses of the voyage. In the Adelaide papers is printed a remarkable document, and which has been taken notice of in parliament. It is a draft of resolutions to be submitted to the legislative council, by a member of it, Mr. John Morphet. The document was published by order of Sir Henry Young, the governor of South Australia, and was sent home, it appears, by him, to the Colonial Office, as an official paper. The resolutions declare it to be the opinion of the council, that a constitution for South Australia should be based on the principle of municipal government, after the model of Great Britain; that affairs of local concern should be left to local jurisdiction; that the legislature |