Monmouthshire Merlin

J,iston, the comedian, whose health has, for a length of time, been in a very precarious state, is, we are informed, completely recovered. Mrs. Liston and be are still residing at the village of Pen, in Buckinghamshire they purpose returning to Lon- don in January for about a month or six weeks, when they will again depart for another pal t of the country. Liston has left the stage for ever, and, we rejoice to ndd, in the possession of an ample fortune, the result of a successful theatrical career and great prudence into the bargain.

I CANADA. By the American ship f lH.'f:peIlc!er'cB, which pjrivijd at Liver- pool on Monday-, advices have been received from Lower Ca. nada to the 1st instant. Previous accounts had been contradic- tory, and had led to some doubt on the subject. The following extracts are conclusive as to the complete victory obtaiiiedover the insurgents at St. Charles:— It now seems certain that the regular troop,- imdcr Cc^ciiel W etherall were completely successful in the attack on St. I Charie", anu that with comparatively little or no loss, while great destruction was made among the revolted Canadians. An Extra from the Burlington Free Press of Friday, the 1st of December, gives this decided statement, for which, bv the bye, we are indebted to an Extra from the Albamii DaiUi Aarer. tiset- of Saturday afternoon LATEST FKOM CAXAOA.—Burlington, Friday, Dec. t. Charles taken—the Patriots dispersed!—Such is the intelli 0 I geiicc by the boats from St. John's last night. Colonel Wethe- rell passed through St. John's yesterday, with his troops on t eir return to Montreal. According to present information t e attack commenced at t;,veive o'clock on Saturday, and the \vit^W8S en*f'ref' the point of the bayonet at half-past four, -« tne loss of only four men on the part of the Loyalists. The Patriot loss about 200 killed, and 30 taken prisoners. Brown and his men fled in the direction of St. Denis. A postscript in the Burlington Sentinel of Friday, is to this effect "Thursday, 11 o'clock, p.m.—Not much reliance can be placed upon the estimates made of numbers engaged on either side at the battle of St. Defiis and St. Charles. The reports arc various and conflicting. The retaking of St. Charles by the Patriots is wholly incompatible with the statement that from 300 to f)00 regular troops were at St. John's on Wednes- day, on their return to Montreal they were doubtlessly re- turning as victors," In the same paper we find this paragraph of beggary in the sacred cause of Liberty :— "LIHF.RTY—LOWKR CAVADV.—The inhabitants of Burling- ton and vicinity are informed that Philo Weeks is an accredited ngent for the Patriot cause of Lower Canada, and that he will receive thankfully, at 1). Lyman's Hotel, any donations that any persons may think proper to bestow, in order to forward the sacred cause of Liberty." The theatre of these hostilities is on the right bank of the St. Lawrence, and embraces the territory between that river and the river Sorel, or Richelieu, or Chambly—for by all these names it is known,—which forms the outlet of Lake Champ- lain, and after running nearly parallel with the Ht. Lawrence at a distance of some 36 miles, and gradually verging towards it, finally discharges itself into that river. We cannot think there is any deep root to this revolt, for there has been no such intolerable oppression of the Canadians as either to justify civil war, or render it enduring under disaster. Since the above was in type, we have an extra from the Al- bany Argus, of four o'clock yesterday, which assumes as posi- tive, upon the faith of the extra from the Burlington Free Press, of 29th of November, which was in our Saturday's paper, and that of the 1st of December from the Burlington Sentinel, which is given above, that the revolted colonists had repossessed themselves of St. Charles, notwithstanding the previous success of Colonel Wetherall. It is quite possible the insurgents may be in possession of the ruins of St. Charles, which was de- of Colonel Wetherall. It is quite possible the insurgents may be in possession of the ruins of St. Charles, which was de- stroyed by the regular troops and in so far as they remain 011 the field, and the regulars have retired, there may be some o-round for claiming that the route was not complete, but they were certainly beaten. (From the Montreal Courier of Dec. 1.) RETURN OF TTIF. Tnooi's TO MONTUEAI..—The return of Col. Wetherall and his gallant troops from Chambly yesterday was an interesting sight to the hundreds who crowded on the wharf to witness it. The cavalry landed first, two of them carrying the liberty pole and cap erected at St. Charles, at the meeting of the six counties, with its wooden tablet bearing the inscrip- tion, A Papineau par scs consitoyensreconnaissans," the former fragmelit of the spoils looking sadly like a fool's-cap on a bar- ber's pole. The artillery followed with the two little guns taken at St. Oliviere, in addition to their proper armament. A l'ter them rode the commanding officer, followed by the band of the Royals and the Infantry,—the first company of whom escorted the prisoners, 32 in number. From information we have been able to collect from those who accompanied the expedition, we are enabled to re-assert the general accuracy of the account we have already given of its proceedings. The length of the action was perhaps some- what greater than was reported, and the prisoners actually taken after it was over were only 25, instead of being 60, or more, as oral report had made it. The stockade did not in- clude much of the village, but only a space of a few acres round Mr. Debartzch's house. After the action the troops spent the night in that part of the village to the north of it, They found the village deserted. The next morning the priest returned, and received his orders to attend to the burial of the. dead. I Among those who are positively stated to have been in Mr. Debartzch's house at the time of the attack, were C. Drolet, R. Desrivieres, and Dr. Beaubien. Papineau is declared to have crossed the river to St. Marc just as the troops came up. T. S. Brown, according to the prisoners, rode oft' at the very first of the fire, telling the poor fellows posted in the entrench- ments that he was going to bring up a reinforcement he pre- tended to have got at a little distanco, but was not seen or heard of afterwards. The report of his previous misconduct appears to be confirmed. Among the prisoners, three are of some note: Duvcrt, the iiotary Durocher, a merchant with some pro- perty and Leinaire, his clerk, all of St. Charles. The sol- diers wounded in the action were left at St. Iiilaire, with a guard, in charge of Dr. Sewall. We are informed that two twenty-pounders had been mounted within the entrenchment on the south side, where the attack was made. They were spiked and committed to the safe keeping of the river Richelieu. A hundred stand of arm*, or more, were also taken and destroyed. The fort was well provisioned. The oral report first brought of the quarter in which the attack was made, was incorrect. The defenders of the fort, we under- stand, were about 1500 in number at the first, and most of them fought with a spirit worthy of better leaders, and a better cause. The survivors, we hope, have learnt a lesson which they will not soon require to have repeated. (From the supplement of Tuesday's LondoM Gazette.) Colonial-office, Downing-Street, Dec. 26, 1837. A dispatch has been received from Lieutenant-General Sir John Colborne, K.C.B., Commander of the Forces in Canada, dated 20th November, 1837, of which, and of its inclosures, the following are copies :— Head Quarters, Montreal, Nov. 29, 1837. MY LOUD,—I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of the General Commanding in Chief, that, since my dispatch of the 20th instant, the revolt has been rapidly extending, and that the law officers of the Crown, and the magistrates of Montreal, having applied to me for military force to assist the civil power in apprehending Mr. Papineau, and other traitors who were supposed to be at the villages of Saint Denis, and Saint Charles, I ordered strong detachments to support the civil authorities in the execution of their duty. Saint Denis is seven miles to the northward of Saint Charles, on the right bank of the river Richelieu the former sixteen miles from Sorel, the latter about seventeen from the feiry of Chambly, opposite Pointe Oliviere. "Colonel Gore and Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, with five companies and an howitzer, were ordered to proceed from Sorel to Saint Denis, and five companies and two guns to move from Chambly on Saint Charles, under the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Wetherall, of the Royal Regiment, accompanied by two magistrates, to execute the warrants against those in- dividuals charged with high treason and it appeared probable that the sudden appearance of the troops at these points, and entering the villages nearly at the same time, would afford an opportunity of taking into custody the leaders of the revolt. "The Sorel detachment, under the superintendence of Colonel Gore, marched at ten o'clock on the night of the 22d, by a back concession road, to avoid the village of St. Ours, occupied by the rebels, which increased the distance of the march. The incessant rain and almost impassable roads so impeded the progress of the detachment, that lie did not reach St. Denis until half-past nine on the morning of the 23d; the rebels, on the approach of her Majesty's troops, commenced a heavy fire on them from all the houses on the north side of the village some of these were immediately taken by the light company of the 32d regiment, commanded by Captain Markham, but the fire from the howitzer having made little impression for several hours on a large stone building, strongly occupied, and the whole of the companies of the detachment being much exhausted, from the very long and difficult march of the previous night, Colonel Gore considered it necessary to return to Sorel, Colonel Wetherall, with four companies of the Royal Regiment and a detatchment of the 66th regiment, and two 6-poundrs, passed the Richelieu by the Uppor Ferry, at Cham- bly the bad state of the roads, however, impeded his march, and prevented him proceeding farther than Saint Hilaire, at which place he halted till another company of the Royals joined him he then advanced on St. Charles, attacked tiie rebels, carried an enclosed work defended by fifteen hundred men, and Completely dispersed them. The advanced period of the season, and the constant ex- pectation of the navigation becoming impracticable, the passage of the river being interrupted, it became necessary to use the utmost exertion, with a view of restoring order in the revolted district. The tronns which have been called to act in the disturbed districts, and to put down this sudden and extensively combined revolt, have had to contend with great difficulties; their com- munications with head-quarters having been completely inter- rupted by the armed peasantry assembled on the line of march. Many of the deluded inhabitants are returning to their homes, and I trust that the affairs which have taken place may be the means of quickly restoring tranquillity to the country. I am much indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel Wetherall, for his active zeal and judicious conduct on many occasions in which he has been employed at this critical period. I forward the reports of Colonel Gore and Lieutenant- Colonel Wetherall, which will afford the General Commanding in Chief filII information of the proceedings of the detachments under their command, and returns of killed and wounded. Captain Markham, an intelligent and zealous officer, has received several severe wounds. I cannot close my dispatch without mentioning the exer- tions of'Captain David and the Montreal Volunteer Corps of Cavalry, who accomganied the troops on the service in which they have been engaged. I have the honour to be, &cc., J. COLBORNE, Lieut.-Gen. Major-Gcneral the Right Hon. Lord Fitzroy Somerset, &c. &c. &c." Then follow the detailed reports of Colonel Wetherall and Colonel Gore, on which the foregoing dispatch is founded.

11npetial 13arttaittient. HOUSE OF LORDS. t RIDA1, DKC. 22.— Lord Brougham, in presenting a peti- tion, took occasion to ask if Government had received official intimation of late events in Lower Canada. He put the ques- twn on account of the alarming intelligence which had reached Liverpool of the state of that province through private sources. Lord Glenelg said that Government had not received official information of the occurrences to which the noble and learned lord alluded. L<yrd Melbourne said that although the reports alluded might be exaggerated or of a contradictory character, yet he feared there was too much ground for concluding that Lower Canada was in a state of insurrection and open rebellion. He would, on the next day, lay all the papers connected with the subject on the table of their lordship's house and he would move that the house should adjourn to the 16th January instead of the longer period to which it was intended to extend the adjourn- ment. CIVIL LIST BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed.—Adj. SATURDAY, DEC. 23.—This being the day appointed by the Queen to thank her Parliament for the grants in the Civil List Bill, and to give to it the royal consent, and it being gene- rally understood that her Majesty would come down an hour earlier than usual, shortly after eleven o'clock, at which'time the strangers' gallery of the House of Lords was opened, it was netrly filled with ladies, for whose reception it was set apart, with the exception of those seats reserved for the press. In half an hour afterwards it was thoroughly crowded. Ali the seats in the body of the house and the side galleries, which were appropriated to peeresses, were at this time also occupied. At one o'clock a flourish of trumpets announced the arrival of her Majesty at the entrance, from which she in a few mo- ments proceeded towards the robing room. Her demeanour during the whole of the long procession from the entrance out- side to the door of the House of Lords blended dignity and modesty in a remarkable manner, with which many ladies were affected even to tears. In about five minutes after her arrival at the robing room another flourish of trumpets announced her approach through the royal gallery and almost immediately following thU the heralds, forming the foremost rank of the roval procession, entered the house these were succeeded by » !°OOunt Duncannon, the lord privy seal the Marquess of j Lansdowne, lord president of the council; Sir August Clifford, usher of the black rod the Duke of Somerset, bearing the crown; the Earl of Shaftesbury, bearing the cap of mainten- ance and Lord Melbourne, the sword of state. Her Majesty then entered the house, having on her right and left the Duchess of Sutherland and the Countess of Mulgrave. Her Majesty looked remarkably well. Her dress was yellow and white satin, with a crimson velvet train. On her entrance all pre- sent arose, and her Majesty having taken her seat in the house commended them to be seated. Sir Augustus Clifford then summoned the members of the House of Commons, and shortly afterwards the Speaker ap- peared at the bar of the house, attended by a number of mem- bers of the lower house, and having on his right Sir Augustus Clifford, and on his left Sir William Gossett, the sergeant- at-arms. The Speaker then addressed her Majesty to the following effect:—"Most Gracious Sovereign—We, your Majesty's faithful Commons, approach your Majesty with dutiful respect. In making provision for the support of the dignity and honour of the Crown we have acted in a liberal and confiding spirit, trusting that that which has been freely granted will be so ad- ministered as to conciliate the favour and command the respect of your Majesty's people. I now beg leave to tender to your Majesty a bill, entitled An Act for the support of her Ma- jesty's Household, and of the honour and dignity of the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,' to which we humbly pray your Majesty will be pleased to give your royal assent." The royal assent was then given to the bill in the usual form, and also to the Slave Compensation Bill the Juries at Sessions Bill the Houses of Parliament Bill; the Municipal Declara- tion Bill the Prisoners' Conveyance (Ireland) Bill; and se- veral neutralization bills. A laugh, somewhat louder and more general than etiquette might have warranted, was excited by the clerk of the house, who, when making proclamation of the assent of her Majesty to the Slave Compensation Bill, used the words le Roi," instead of la Heine." This, as we have stated, created a loud hurst of merriment, in which her Majesty joined. After the ceremony of giving the answer to these bills had been con- cluded, her Majesty left the 4ouse with the same forms as she had entered it. Shortly afterwards the peers who had accompanied her Ma- jesty returned; and the Lord Chancellor again took his seat on the woolsack. DVCHESS OF KEN-T S ANNUITY BILL. Mr. Bernal and other members of the House of Commons brought up this bill, which, on the motion of Viscount Melbourne, was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for the 18th of January. IKISH TITHF.S. The Marquess of Lansdowne presented petitions from several parishes in the county of Meath, praying for the abolition of tithes. ADJOURNMENT or THE IIOVSE. Viscount Melbourne moved that the house should then adjourn to Tuesday, the 16th January.—Adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. FRIDAY, DEC. 22.—HARBOUR OF FISIIKUAHD.—Mr. P. Thompson, in reply to a question put by Mr. Young, stated that it was his intention to bring in a bill to repeal that clause in the f XIGU.UA TIA.ITWI ,„iu „pnn ,|| vessels passing up or down the Irish Channel. It was mon- strous to admit the definition which was given in the bill of Fishguard harbour, the boundaries of which extended on one side to the coast of Wexford, in Ireland, and on the other to the Welsh coast, thus comprehending the whole breadth of the Irish Channel, and imposing on all vessels passing through it, the necessity of paying toll. .1 f,'1;4. TOe. A1.' J"r.. Ill. 'n.&I\v VI' 'n.ljl\U. Lord J. Russell, in rising to move the order of the day for a committee of supply, said he would allude to the affairs of Lower Canada, for the purpose of allowing the hon. member for Westminster (Mr. Leader) an opportunity of submitting to the house any observations he might think expedient on the present state of affairs. The noble lord then stated that it was his in- tention to move the adjournment of the house to the 16th Janu- ary, instead of the 1st February as originally intended. The present state of affairs in Canada he would endeavour to ex- plain to the house in as small a compass as possible. The As- sembly of the province having been convened to consider the resolutions passed last session by this house, was necessarily ad- journed in consequence of its refusal to entertain the question. Since that time it became evident from the despatches and letters received from Lord Gosford, that the intention was no longer to seek redress by means of the Assembly, but have re- course to arms, and to oppose by force the authority of her Ma- jesty. (Hear, hear.) I have already stated to the house that according to the wish which Lord Gosford had expressed, al- though his lordship declared his willingness to remain in Ca- nada as long as the necessities of the government required it, yet it was his lordship's wish to resign his government when he found that there was no longer a prospect of a conciliation being effected. (Hear, hear.) According to that wish I I have in- formed the house that the government immediately relieved Lord Gosford from his duty, and committed the temporary go- vernment of Lower Canada to Sir John Colborne. But, sir, as to the communications of Lord Gosford. Accounts were re- ceived which showed evidently a disposition to resist by force the execution of the law, and to compel those who are well-dis- posed and well-principled to join the ranks of the disaffected. And, sir, I am rather under-stating the reports of Lord Gosford when I say, that they were of such a nature as to convince the government of the necessity of decisive measures. But we thought it necessary, without going to extremes, to communi- cate to Sir John Colborne—when we entrusted him with the temporary government of the colony-that we had the greatest confidence in his steadiness and forbearance and that whilst we trusted he should carefully avoid resorting, except in the last ex- tremity, to the strongest measures, yet, in the event of the ab- solote necessity arising, to proclaim martiai law, her Majesty's government would take on itself the responsiblity (loud cheering)-and that wo should give him all the support which her Majesty could afford, in enforcing and maintaining the obedience of the province to her Majesty. (Checis.) Such was, in the opinion of her Majesty's minsters, our duty to her Majesty and to this country. The effect of that order was, from the accounts which we have since received, to create a greater disposition to oppose the laws than had hitherto been observed. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the accounts which the news- papers of this day profess to have received, I am unable to speak with certainty, as no official account has yet been received by her Majesty's government; but from the manner in which the information seems to have come, and from our previous knowledge of circumstances in the colony, I have no doubt that a collision has taken place between the troops of her Majesty and an armed body assembled for the treasonable purpose of overturning the authority of her Majesty in Lower Canada.— Such being the state of things, although 1 do not believe that any remedy which might be applied by Parliament would give a greater security than has already been entrusted to Sir J. Col- borne, yet I do say that I think we should not bs jusiined, when we have means of assembling Parliament in considerable numbers, to delay that assembling of Parliament for any long period—that we ought to biing Parliament together as soon as it can be done in any considerable number, in order that on the course to he pursued, either in respect to what has lately taken place, or upon what may be the intelligence between cfljs jj and the re-assembling of the house—the „rl r i-1 ment may be consulted. (" Hear of 1 arl,a" t '<ear. ) Mr. Leader said as thin- and liberties of Can,.I -It' rsr-nt existed, the interests were in immin* ■ tRe honour and Peace of England, the repre*- Such being the case, he now asked co"' of the people, and in doing so the noble lord -«d ftet Consider his question ill-timed, how it was that a co- | 'Oily like Lower Canada had been driven into rebellion, by what means the evils might be mitigated, and in what manner a general war might be prevented throughout Europe? It might be advisable, in the first instance, to give a brief sketch of the state of Canada, and the cause of it. (Hear, hear.) 1 he Canadians were a weak people, contending against a most gigantic power. For many years past the Canadians had been complaining of many grievances they had, year after year, petitioned the Coionial-cffice, and lastly Parliament, for re- dress. (Hear, hear,) Hut although every complaint that they had made was acknowledged to be well founded, their prayers had been neglected. It had been felt that they were too weak to enforce redress, and therefore, their prayers had been un- heeded. Finding at last that their petitions were in vain, and that they could expect no justice from the Colonial-office or :he British Parliament, they had recourse to the legal right which their constitution gave them, and they refused to grant any money to the government that had positively refused to grant them any redress. This, in his (Mr. Leader's) opinion, was a just, wise, and constitutional course-they had a right to stop the supplies and in exercising that right, they only exercised that which they had a constitutional power to do, which con- stitutional power, it was to be remembered, had been given them by the government of this country. In a long speech he proceeded to blame the conduct of Ministers, and indirectly justify the rebellious proceedings of the Canadians. Mr. C. Lushington said, that although he did not intend to enter at large into the affairs of Canada, after what the noble lord had stated, he could not quietly sit down and hear the lan- guage which had been used by the hon. member for Westmin- ster without expressing his utmost indignation. The honour- able member seemed to revel in the idea that the course of jus- lice had been suspended, and preferred the law of a party of insurgents to the law of the land. Mr. Hume stated his concurrence in the sentiments expressed by Mr. Leader. Mr. Gladstone hoped justice would be awarded to Canadi, but that violence would be repressed. Sir William Molesworth spoke ably in support of the views stated by Mr. Leader. A long discussion ensued, in which Sir C. Grey, Messrs. Warburton, Young, Grote, Pechell, Maclean, and others, slated their sentiments, and Lord J. Russell ably replied. He said if Ministers were to assume a timid and pusillanimous tone—if they were to refuse to listen to those who looked to them for protection—if they relinquished her Majesty's loyal subjects in j those colonies, and withdrew the troops—if they acted a part so pusillanimous, and weak, and cowardly, they must, in that case, expect not peace but aggressive force, and even the scorn and contempt of other powers. (Cheers.)—Adjourned. SATURDAY, DEC. 23.—DUCHESS OF KEn's ANNUITY BILL.—On the order of the day fof the third reading of this bill being read, Sir George Sinclair said he felt bound as a public man to opppose the bill. He did not see any just ground for increasing the allowance to her Royal Highness £8,000 per annum. He participated in the gratitude expressed by severable honourable members to the Duchess of Kent for the manner in which she had educated their beloved monarch, although he considered that mothers in an humble sphere manifested just as much solicitude in the education of their daughters. It was too much the custom in that house when alluding to royal personages to adopt towards them terms of exaggerated panegyric, if they might not be designated fulsome adulation. He would content himself with entering his pro- test against the bill. Sir R. Inglis most cheerfully concurred in the third reading. The bill was then read a third time. Col. Sib thorp moved the insertion of two clauses to the effect that the whole of the annuity shall be inalienable, and that if her Royal Highness shall marry without the consent of Parliament, or shall go to reside permanently abroad, one half of the annuity shal) cease to be paid. Lord John Russell opposed the clauses, on the ground that an annuity of J:100,000 had been granted to the Queen Dowager without restrictions, similar to those contained in the clauses that previous grants had been made by Parliament to her Royal Highness without the imposition of such restrictions, and that the introduction of them now would be regarded as ilerogatory to the merits of her Roynl Higoess. After a few words from Col. Sibthorp, the clauses were negatived without a division. ADJOURNMENT OF TIIE HOUSE. Lord John Russell moved that the house, at the rising, be adjourned to Tuesday, the 16th of January. i Lord George Benturck proposed that the adjournment should be until Tuesday next, on the ground that, in the present state of affairs in Lower Canada, Parliament might, by the ready grant of men and money, crush the rebellion there at the first moment. The house then divided, when the amendment was negatived. After a somewhat lengthened conversation respecting tho ventilation of the house, an adjournment took place until the 16th January.

CULTIVATION OF TEA IN INDIA. The December number of the Asiatic Journal contains two interesting notices of the cultivation of tea in Assam and Cochin China, a subject which we have previously brought to notice from the proceedings of the Society of Arts, and the Royal Asiatic Society. Both in an agricultural and commercial point of view, they are equally important, particularly as while de- veloping the resources of an important part of the British colo- nial possessions, to a greater extent than they had hitherto been considered capable of; and in affording the chance of rendering our merchants more independent of the supply of this extensive article of domestic luxury and comfort, than through the ca- price of the Chinese. At a recent meeting of the Agricultural Society at Calcutta, a copy of the report of Dr. M'Clelland, on the tea plantations in the former place, was read. The writer visited five planta- tions in Assam the first was that of Cuju, twelve miles from the banks of the Noa Dihing river, and twenty miles south of Sudiya, in the midst of an extensive forest. The whole plan- tation appears to be comprised within a circular space of 300 yards in diameter. The plants were found to be smaller in size, in proportion to their distance from the boundary line of the plantation. The second colony of plants was found at Nogroo, in a southerly direction from Cuju.— Dr. McClelland thus describes his discoveries at this plantation Approach- ing the spot from the river, we crossed a zone of almost pure sand, overgrown with weeds, and in the course of a few paces, reached a sandy clayey soil, in which we found a few small tea plants; a few steps farther introduced us to a drier and less consistent soil, in which the plants were found larger and more numerous. Surrounded by tea plants, we ascended the mound, the soil of which is light, fine, and of yellow colour, having no sandy character. Here the plants were found still more numerous than in the lower ground." The third plantation was near the village of Noudwar, in the centre of Upper Assam, twenty or thirty miles from the Burhampootra. It is about fifty yards in length, and 20 in breadth but there is reason to believe that the plantation was formerly much more extended than it is at present. The fourth grove of tea was found in Tuigrai, where the plant does not thrive more than about thirty yards from the margin of a small stream. Here a number of young plants were found, which gave an encou- raging instance of the disposition of the plant to accommodate itself to any soil; though the plants were found to increase in size and number, as the travellers approached the light sandy soil, and disappeared again in a dark rich moist soil.—The fifth colony of tea plants visited was at Gubu Purbut, three JetJ" journey .F.c'. J;. of rnrpVinnt. The extent of ground covered by this group of plants was about sixty yards in diameter, and of circular shape.—" From the foregoing in- quiries," says Dr. M., it appears that the tea plant grows spontaneously under slightly different circumstances, as fol- lows :—1. In the level plain. 2. On embankments or mounds somewhat raised above the plain. Cuju, Noadwar, and Tui- sari, are examples of the first: Nigroo, and Guhru Purbllt. of the second. A late examination of the country has also proved, that the tea plant grows in great abundance in Cochin China, between the 10th and lfith degrees of north latitude. There is no pecu- liarity in the soil required fur it, except that it be above the reach of annual inundation. Upon soil slightly elevated, it grows with great ease but the best tea plaJltation is that situ- ated upon a hill called Baitroi, near Hue, and in the province of Quangnam. It requires little care or cultivation beyond that of weeding, and easily attains the growth of a vigorous plant. The tea grown in Cochin China, serves for the cou- sumption of the lower orders of society, but the Mandarins prefer the inferior tea which is imported from China. The in- ferior estimation in which the indigenous tea is held, arises, apparently, not from any real inferiority in the plant, but from the ignorance of the Cochin Chinese of the art of manipulation, on which almost everything depends. As a proof of this, we may adduce the fact that the Chinese, who both import the article from their own country, and are the chief manufacturers of the indigenous tea, frequently mix that of the country pre- pared by themselves, with the best qualities of imported tea. In the gardens of the Cochin Chinese Mission in which the bishop resided, to whom we are indebted for this information, a considerable quantity of land was devoted to a tea plantation. It supplied all the residents in the house with the article, and the rest of the plant was farmed out annually to the Chinese, who derived no inconsiderable profit from it. The Chinese are very careful in the selection of the leaves: reserving those which arc tender, for the best qualities; and making up the older and coarser leaves into ordinary tea. The leaves are warmed upon a copper plate until they curl up, but this is not supposed to impart any of the qualities of verdigris to them. The old leaves form the black the younger, the green tea and the two kinds arc not the product of different plants. From these data, we should be inclined to suppose that there is no- thing in the soil of certain parts of India, to prevent the free growth of the plant.

DKATII OF AX EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER.—A few days ago a Mrs, Jones, an elderly woman, died, who far exceeded any of Morison's customers in her powers of swallowing strong doses of medicine. About twenty years ago she was attended by a medical gentleman, who, finding that a slight dose of calomel had no effect on her, increased it until it reached ten grains. As he feared to give her a larger quantity, she in- creased the dose herself until she acquired a wonderful power of swallowing as much as 124 grains at a time. Through mistake, about two years since, she took 110 grains of tartar emetic, which made her very unwell, but she recovered from its effects in a few days. One day she took 60 grains of jalap, for she did not confine herself to calomel-igdeed, she drank Epsom salts in such enormous doses that she purchased that medicine by a quarter of a stone at the time, and took it in solution by basiusfull. The above facts are well known to many medical gentlemen who visited the deceased.-Leicester Chronicle.

AMERICAN PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Th*! message of the President to Congress arrived by the 3amc conveyaucc vVhich the. official intelligence from Canada. The subjects discussed in the message prtt1!!o:,) more of national and American than of general interest, and therefore our quotations will be shorter than if it were of the formfer cha-, racter,, tri the conituericcment of the message the as- sures Congress that the industry and prudescfc our cititens are gradually relieving them fiom the pecuniary embarrassments under which portions of them have laboured. Judicious legis- lation and the natural and boundless recources of the country have afforded wise and timely aid to private enterprise, and the activity always characteristic of our people has already, in a great degree resumed its usual and profitable channels." He then proceeds to discuss the resolutions of the union with foreign powers, and informs them that they are all satisfactory with the exception of Mexico. He then calls the attention of the legislature to domestic concerns, and first he gives the state of the public treasury :—"The balance in the treasury on the 1st day of fanuary, 1837, was 45,968,523 dollars. The re- ceipts during the present year from all sources, including the amount of treasury notes issued are estimated at 23,499,981 dollars, constituting an aggregate of 69,468,504 dollars. Of this amount about 35,281,361 have been expended at the end of the year on appropriations made by Congress, and the resi- due, amounting to 34,187,143 dollars will be the nominal ba- lance in the treasury on the first of January next. But of that sum only 1,085,498 dollars is considered as immediately avail- able for, and applicable to, public purposes. Those portions of it which will be for some time unavailable, consist chiefly of sums deposited with the States, and due from the former des- potic banks." We find the following gratifying passage with respect to the late commercial embarrassments ;— "Notwithstanding the great embarrassments which have re- cently occurred in commercial affairs, and the liberal indul- gence which, in consequence of those embarrassments, has been extended to both the merchants and the banks, it is gratifying to be able to anticipate that the Treasury notes which have been issued during the present year will be redeemed, and that the resources of the Treasury, without any resort to loans or in- creased taxes, will prove ample for defraying all charges im- posed on it during 1838." With respect to the banking system, he says—" Your atten- tion was, at the last session, invited to the necessity of addi- tional legislative provisions in respect to the collection, safe keeping, and transfer of the public money. No law having been then matured, and iiut unJarcUnJing th" proceedings of Congress as intended to be final, it becomes my duty again to bring the subject to your notice. On that occasion three modes of performing this branch of the public service were presented for consideration. These were the creation of a national bank the revival, with modifications, of the deposit system established by the act of the 23d of June, 1836, permitting the use of the public monies by the banks, and the discontinuance of the use of such institutions for the purposes referred to, with suitable provisions for their accomplishment, through the agency of pub- lic officers. Considering the opinions of both houses of Con- gress on the two first propositions as expressed in the negative, in which I entirely concur, it is unnecessary for me again to recur to them." He then refers the decision of the matter to the national re- presentatives, who will bring to the consideration of so import- ant a matter the experience they will have derived from their constituents during the recess. His own opinion he thus frankly states—" I have found no reason to change my own opinion as to the expedience of adopting the system proposed." —(that is of public officers )-being perfectly satisfied that there will he neither stability or safety, either in the fiscal affairs of the Government, or in the pecuniary transactions of individuals and corporations, so long as a connection exists between them, which, like the past, offers such strong inducements to make them the subjects of political agitation. Indeed, I am more than ever convinced of the dangers to which the free and un- biassed exercise of political opinion—the only sure foundation and safeguard of republican government-would be exposed by any further increase of the already overgrown influence of cor- porate authorities. I cannot, therefore, consistently with my view of duty, advise a renewal of a connection which circum- stances have dissolved. The discontinuance of the use of State Banks for fiscal pur- poses ought not to be regarded as a measure of hostility towards those institutions. Banks properly established and conducted, are highly useful to the business of the country, and will doubtless continue to exist in the States, so long as they con- form to their laws, and are found to be safe and beneficial. How they should be created, what privileges they should enjoy, undpr what responsibilities they shouid act, and to what re- strictions they should be subject, are questions which, as 1 observed on a previous occasion, belong to the Stales to decide. Upon their rights, or the exercise of them, the General Govern- ment can have no motive to encroach. Its duty towards them is well performed when it refrains from legislating for their .special benefit, because such legislation would violate the spirit of the Constitution, and be unjust to other interests; when it takes no steps to impair their usefulness, but so manages its own affairs as to make it the interest of those institutions to strengthen and improve their condition for the security and welfare of the community at large. They have no right to insist on a connection with the Federal Government, nor on the use of the public money for their own benefit. The object of the measure under consideration is, to avoid for the future a compulsory connection of this kind. It proposes to place the General Government, in regard to the essential points of the collection, safe keeping, and transfer of the public money, in a situation which shall relieve it from all dependence on the will of irresponsible individuals or corporations to withdraw those moneys from the uses of private trade, and confide them to agents constitutionally selected and controlled by law to abstain from improper interference with tho luduoiry of tho people, and withhold inducements to improvident dealings on the part of individuals to give stability to the concerns of the Tre»»uty to preserve the measures of the Government from the unavoidable reproaches that flow from such a connection, and the banks themselves from the injurious effects of a sup- posed paiticipation in the political conflicts of the day, from which they will otherwise find it difficult to escape. The message then proceeds to discuss the subject, disposition, and management, of public lands, suggesting my alterations in it. In reference to the removal of the aboriginal tribes of In dians to lands far westward beyond the Missisippi, consequent upon the advance of civilisation and the increase of states, we find the following passage in reference to the beneficial change which has been effected in the habits of those oppressed and in- teresting people :— "It will be seen by referring to the report of the Commis- sioners of Indian Affairs, that the most sanguine expectations of the friends and promoters of this system have been realized. The Choctaws, Cherokees, and other tribes that first emigrated beyond the Mississippi, have, for the most part, abandoned the hunter state, and become cultivators of the soil. The improve- ment in their condition has been rapid, and it is believed that they are now fitted to enjoy the advantages of a simple form of government, which has been submitted to them and received their sanction, and I cannot too strongly urge this subject upon the attention of Congress." With respect to the navy, the message states that—" Con- siderable additions have been made to the number of captains, commanders, lieutenants, surgeons, and assistant surgeons in the navy. These additions were rendered necessary by the in- creased number of vessels put in commission to answer the exi- gencies of our growing commerce." The state of the Post-office department is then exhibited :— The mail routes of the United States cover an extent of about one hundred and forty-two thousand eight hundred and seventy- seven miles, having been increased about thirty-seven thousand one hundred and three miles, within the last two years. The annual mail transportation on these routes is about thirty-six millions two hundred and twenty-eight thousand nine hundred and sixty-two miles, having been increased about ten millions three hundred and fifty-nine thousand four hundred and seventy- six miles within the same period. The revenue of the depart- ment within the year ending on the 30th of June last, was four millions one hundred and thirty-seven thousand and fifty-six dollars and fifty-nine cents.; and its liabilities accruing within the same time were three millions three hundred and eighty thousand eight hundred and forty-seven dollars and seventy- five cents. The increase of revenue over that of the preceding year, was seven hundied and eight thousand one hundred and sixty-six dollars and forty-one cents." The President then calls the attention of Congress to the district of Columbia, and concludes by recommending a careful revision of its local government.

TITHE COMMUTATION ACT.-The tithe commissioners report to Lord John Russell that the whole number of agreements for the commutation of tithes received up to the 1st of November in this year, is 652. Of these agreements 358 have been con- firmed, 16 rejected or objected to, and the remainder on the first of this month either waiting for observations of bishops, or for reports of assistant-commissioners, or were under the consider- ation of the board. The total number of notices calling paro- chial meetings of which this board is cognisant, was, on the first of this month, 2707. Only twenty-four apportionments have been received and three confirmed. CAUTION.—To Parish Clerks, Overseers, Surveyors of High- ways, &c.-By an Act of Parliament of her present Majesty, passed on the 12th of last July, entitled 11 An Act to alter the mode of giving notices for holding of vestries, of making Pro- clamations in cases of outlawry, and of giving notices on Sun- days with respect to various matters," it will be unlawful from and after the 1st day of January next to make or give any pro- clamation or other notice for a vestry meeting or any other matter, in any church or chapel, during or after divine service, or at the door of any church or chapel, at the conclusion of divine service but all such notices, from and after the said 1st of January next, are to he fixed on or near to the doors of all churches and chapels within the parish or place for which such notices may be required. Every person offending against the Act will be subject to an indictment for a misdemeanour. HIGHWAY ItA-rES' Bti,t.Tiiis bill, which was read a second time, and referred to a select committee on Thursday se'nnight, has for its object to authorise the application of a portion of the highway rates to turnpike roads in certain cases. The preamble recites, that it is expedient that doubts should be removed as to whether the provisions of the new Highway Act (5th and 6th William IV., cap. 50,) are of force sufficient to take away the obligation to do statute labour upon turnpike roads and the first clause enacts, "That no person is liable to perform any statute labour upon any turnpike-road in England, or to pay any compensation in money instead thereof." The second clause authorises the justices, at any special session for high- ways, to inquire into the revenues and condition of the repairs of turnpike roads, and, if necessary, to apportion a part of the highway rate to the trustees of the turnpike-road, such money to be wholly laid out in the actual repair of such part of such turnpike-road as lies within the parish from which it was re- ceived." The third clause enacts, that if the surveyor refuse to pay the rate or assessment ordered by the justice, the same shall be levied on his goods and chattels. The fourth gives power of appeal the fifth extends (limits) the Act to England the sixth gives power to amend it during the session; and the seventh enacts, that it shall continue for two years. The time of cousre will be fixed in committee. A foreign diplomatist, formerly attached to an embassy in America relates that at a dinner given by one of the Secretaries of State, the members of the Government not merely took pre- cedence of the foreign ministers without hesitation, but fairly got jammed in the passage from the excessive eagerness to get the start of one another. British desetot is not unfrequently appealed to in default of other titles..An officer of high stand- ing in the English Navy assures us that he once saw a Miss Malcolm rush before a Miss Lenox, a nd exclaim-" Miss Lt-. nox, I wonder at you the Malcolm are of the blood-royal of 1 Scotland." I

■ SI0FFTE$TTC The Lord Chancellor's Imprisonment for Debt Bill i, said to have made little or no progfess iti the select com- mittse of the Lords, to which it was referred, the complex nature of iti machinery being such as to all tbeslk-ill and learning which has been applied to its corttfderation. Vie tJtidSrttand Lord John Russell has directed circu- lars to be ttai).-Miiit'd to the different Clerks of the 1 eafcey with instructions from his lordship that in future they shall not, by themselves or parttiersjatct as political agents -placing them in this respect on the same footing as Shi*" riff Clerks and Procurators Fiscal.- Caledoniati Mercury» MAKSIIALSES PRISON.—His Grace the Duke of Argyll, as lord steward of her Majesty's household, haviog been kindly pleased to forward to J. Rutland, Esq., the deputy marshal, his usual munificent- CIiristnilas donation, the same was distributed on Monday mofrti'rtgy 6ach debtor receiving a plentiful supply of beet, bread, and pOrtefyWith one shilling in money. His grace's bounty iras most thankfully recei?ed and very gratefully acknowledgsd by all.Lo,-ido-,t Papers CHRISTMAS DAY.—It would appear that the London thieves were not idle on the evening of that day, the papers announcing an unusual number of house robberies effected, while the inmates were engaged in enjoying the usual festivities. A vast deal of property was carried off. SHOCKING ACCIDENT ON THE LIVERPOOI RAILWAY.- On Saturday evening last, George Leigh, one of the por- ters of the Railway Company, got on the half-past five o'clock train without the knowledge of the guard. Just as the train arrived at Rainhill, and immediately before it stopped, he fell off, and the carriages passed over both i.s legs. Thomas Farrington, the gate-keeper at Rainhill, went up to him, and he exclaimed, "Oh, dear! both my poor legs are gone." He was taken up, and, at his own request, sent back to Liverpool by another train. He was conveyed to the Infirmary, where every attention was paid him; but his case was hopeless, amputation being out of the question. He died at six o'clock on Sunday morning. DISTRESSING AND FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Monday last, about four o'clock, an accident of a most distressing nature took place in Coleshill-street, Birmingham. Two men in the employment,of Mr. Godfrey, pump sinker, of Chapel- street, were engaged repairing a well at the rear of the Green Man public-house and while at work about half- past four, a piercing; CJXW38 heard by the man at the wheel to wind up." Not an instant was lost in doing so, but while the bucket containing the poor fellows was being ra- pidly drawn up, the brick work and sand suddenly gave way,jamming them within, while yet fourteen yards from the top. An alarm was instantly raised, and hundreds of persons rushed to the spotta render assistance; as soon as the crowd could be cleared away, a number of experienced hands instantly set about excavating the soil in the hope of saving the lives of the unfortunate men; but from the great depth at which they were whettthe accident occurred, and the difficulties encoontered in removing the sand, the pro- gress of the work was necessarily slow. The men, how- ever, continued their labours day and night without inter- mission, until Wednesday morning, about half-past two o'clock, when they reached the spot at which the bucket was caught by the falling in of the brickwork above. The poor fellows were both lifeless when taken out, and the medical gentlemen who examined the bodies, gave it as their opinion that their death must have been instantane- ous. The names of the unhappy sufferers were Jamss Ad- kins, aged about twenty-five years, who has left a wife and child, and James Dewell, aged about forty, who, we re- gret to add, has also left a wife and six children to lament his loss. We understand that a subscription has been set on foot for the relief of the widows and orphans of the de* ceased. About one o'clock on Tuesday morning a cry of murder was heard to proceed from the premises of Messrs. Hol^ Moorside and Bury the place was immediately examined to see what was the cause, when a man was found in one of the ash-holes of the dye-house. He appeared like a negro, and was supposed to be one, until they pulled his neckerchief off, when, horrid to relate, the skin of his neck and part of his flesh came away, and he was found to be a white. As soon as the man could speak for agony, he told them his name was Openshaw, and he was then recog- nised as a block cutter working on the premises. From what was subsequently gathered, it appeared that the poor fellow had left home that morning, and had spent the day at the public-house. His wife had come from Tottington to seek him at eleven o'clock at night, and was near the place where he was found. Afterwards he got into the yard, and from thence into the dye-house, where he in- tended to spend the night, but fell into some boiling colour, and in the sudden agony threw himself from thence into the ashes. He was placed on a shutter and carried home to Tottington, where his misfortune plunged his poor wife and five young children into distress which words cannot describe. He was mercifully released from his suffering about nine o'clock on Tuesday morn ing.-She#ield Iris. ACCIDENT TO THE LONDON AND LIVERPOOL MAIL. --On Sunday morning a rather serii v to the Liverpool mail, at the ra:!w;ùû. By lU: arrangement the London to th,. pany's offices, to deliver the letter. r).mc stiirting of the first tr-). a,d oil guard and coachman had got off for tins .purpose, wneri the engine about to) be attached tQ the carriages was ob- served to be coming up. As it passed the spot where the coach was stationed, the engineer sounded the alarm whistle, a practice necessary in order to give notice of its approach, and prevent accidents. All who recollect their sensations on hearing its shrill cry for the first time will not be much surprised that the horses, which were left for a few moments to themselves, should take fright. Such was the case the high-spirited animals started off towards the gate at full speed, on passing which the fore- wheels came in contact with the stone-work, and the traces broke. The violence of the shock urged the animals forward with increased speed, and they proceeded along Prospect-row, fortunately without accident or interruption* until within a short distance of the new market-house, when one of the horses fell down. This ultimately ,i checked the course of the others, but not before they had oil dragged the poor animal a considerable distance, and we understand it has since died of the injuries it received. There were two ladies inside the mail at the time the j horses set off, but we believe they have received no greater injury than the fright which the accident occasioned.- Birmingham Philanthropist. THE FREDERICK-STREET MURI)ER.-A considerable de- gree of excitement prevailed yesterday evening in the vicinity of the Regent's Park, in consequence of a report which had been freely circulated to the effect that on the previous morning a young man named Lascarti, an Italian, had been taken into custody at Devizes, on suspicion of having been the murderer of Eliza Davies, late barmaid to Mr. Wadley, of the King's Arms, Frederick-street, Regent's Park. Between 600 and 700 persoris assembled in ihe neighbourhood of Mr. Wadlfty's house between six and seven o'clock, and it was not until the arrival of a man who had been dispatched to the White Horse Cellar, Pic- cadilly, had arrived, that the assembled multitude dis- persed. From inquiries made it appears that on Friday evening last a man, having the appearance of an Italian, got off the Bath coach at the Liverpool Inn, Devizes, and set himself down in the parlour, where he called for a rump steak and potatoes, which were brought to him. While partaking of the repast the conversation turned upon the subject of the Frederick-street murder, when the stranger suddenly left the inn, and has not since been heard of. He left behind him a hat in a box, marked Perring, Strand," and a handkerchief with the initials I. H." Two active policemen are on the look-out for the fugitive, whose description answers that of the supposed murderer. EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF IIOMICIDE.-Considerabi.e excitement has prevailed in the hamlet of Tottenham, it being rumoured that a murder had been perpetrated in the marshes near that place, by a man of the name of Scott, who was in custody. It appears that on Sunday eveningt about seven o'clock a Mr. Tidmass, with Scott, came to the constable's house, the latter in a very agitated state, to speak regarding an encounter which he (Scott) had had with a man in the marshes near the High-bridge, Iklmon- toti, which they were fearful had terminated fatally. Scott then related the affair, and stated that he left his home, at Abbot Rowths, Essex, on Sunday morning, to proceed to Tottenham, to spend his Christmas-day with his brother- j in-law (Tidmas), and when he had got as far as Edmonton, | he stopped to take some porter at Wick's Ferry-hoise, ■ where he fell in conversation with a man who said he kre«*^|V his (Scott's) relatives well, and as he was retuming the ft same way, he would feel pleasure in accompanying hin 00 J the road. After partaking of more beer they left in om- pany about five o'clock in the afternoon. When theyhad i proceeded along the towing-path by the side of the iver Lee some distance, and were about entering the maishes, in the parish of Tottenham, the man made a dead sand, and demanded Scott's money or his life. Scott thought it merely a joke, he carrying in his hand a large asbstick about three feet long, and nearly four inches rotud at t1 the head, and said he had no money. The man thet said V he knew he had, and he would have it. Scott rej)ined, Well, I have a few halfpence, which I'll give you.' This f done, the man again said, "This won't do; I kno* you$ have more; your money or your life 1" accompanyi»g the the head, and said he had no money. The man thet said he knew he had, and he would have it. Scott repined, 11 Well, I have a few halfpence, which I'll give you.' This done, the man again said, "This won't do; I knov you have more; your money or your life!" accompanyilg the expression with a menace, and then seizing him )y the ;■ collar. Scott at this was terrified, and endeavou:ed lol: wrest himself from the grasp of his assailant, but in he at- tempt they fell to the ground. The man then tiied to wrench the stick from Scott, but could not, and aftei a few further struggles Scott regained his footing, and strick his opponent with the intent to disable him. Scott iomedi* ately hastened from the scene, not beingaware that -Be had killed his antagonist, to the residence of his friends. They advised him to see the constable on the subject, ind hef, had therefore taken the step tcr allow the proceeding to bet investigated. Forster, the constable,having been instiuctedf at what place the person had been left, repaired there witlf a horse and -cart, accompanied by assistance, and lounn the man a corpse. They put him in a vehicle and coaveyect him to the Bell and Hare, Tottenham, when it vvj^dentij fied to be the body of John Hill, a dissolute otfSracier, ret siding in the neighbourhood, who has more than onCe bee* in custody on charges of robbery. Yesterday an inquet was held on the corpse, before Mr. Baker, at the Bell an Hare in Tottenlufm, when the above statement was born the evidence, atid the jury returned a verdict < "Ju«tifiil>le lioniicide.Tlie surgeon stated that the ca of death was a compound fracture of the froaial Iwae,