Monmouthshire Merlin

T HOUSE OF LORDS.—THURSDAY, APRIL 22. In the absence of the Lord Chancellor, Loid Redesdale took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. The Earl of Darby, in a brief address, moved the second read- ing of the St. Alban's Disfranchisement Bill, which, after a short discussion, was agreed to. Lord Redesdale then proposed that the parties should have leave to appear at the bar by counsel, according to the precedent in the Sudbury case, a petition to that effect having been previ. ously presented. This proposition was supported by Lord Campbell, on the ground that the bill was one of pains and penalties. He had no wish, however, that their lordships should hear evidence at the bar, but only that counsel should be heard upon the effect of the evidence taken before the commission. A conversation followed, in which the Earl of Derby, Earl Grey, Lord Monteagle, Lord Beaumont, the Marquess of Clanricarde, the Duke of Argyle, and the Duke of Newcastle, toolfpart, and upon a division, Lord Redesdale's motion, having been consented to by the Premier, was carried by a majority of 26, the numbers being-content, 41 non-content, 15. Their lordships then adjourned. FRIDAY. Lord Redesdale took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. -After the presentation of several petitions, Lord Broughton moved that there be laid lyfore the House, copies of the correspondence between the Court of East India Directors and the Government of India, relative to the trial 01 Jotee Pershand, and to the conduct of certain members of the Indian service connected with that proceeding. The Earl of Derby said that he would have no objection to the production of the papers. The motion was then agreed to, and their lordships adjourned. MONDAY. Lord Portman fully agreed with a petition which he presented from Kingsbridge, against callingout the militia. 'On the motion for going into committee on the St. Alban's Disfranchisement Bill, Lord Redesdale, who presided during the absence of the' Lord Chancellor, said that in accordance with a resolution agreed to on Frid ay niglt, counsel might appear Bgainst the Bill. Lord Verulam said the elfctors of St. Albans were now against taking up the time of their lordships,by offering counsel against the bill. The bill then passed through committee; and their lordships soon after adjourned. TUESDAY. There was nothing of importance done.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—THURSDAY, APRIL 22. The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock. Sir F. Keily took the oaths au4 his seat for Harwich. Petitions against the Taxes on Knowledge" were presented by Mr Sehoienet.) and Mr Muntz, from Birmingham. 11 Mr Milner Gibsoit brought under the notice of the House, the impolicy of deiiving revenue from Taxes on Knowledge, and moved resolutions to the effec: that such financial arrangements should be made as would enable parliament to dispense with duty on paper-,hat the newspaper stamp ought to be abolished —and that the tax on advertisements ought to be repealed. The hon. gentleman argued the whole case at great length and in a lucid manner, and fortified h:s position, by quoting the opinions of persons largely interested in the trades affected by the taxes in question. Mr Ewart seconded the resolutions, and especially urged the repeal of the advertisement duty. The Chancetiorof the Exchequer, viewing the question in a purely financial light, regretted his inability to support the resolutioos, which would moreover interfere with his budget, which he intended to submit to the Houseon Friday week. He did not deny the evil of the paper and advertisement duties, but did not think the repeal of the stamp would greatly benefit the newspaper press. Besides, the Customs' duties had been re- duced, the excise duties were being assailed, and a committee was now sitting on the subject of direct taxation. In this state of fioancial affairs he did not feel justified in altering the paper duties, and moreover he asked that his first budget might be brought on without the burden of a resolution like that proposed to the House that evening. On the motion of Mr Wakley, seconded by Mr Cobden, both of whom thought the request of the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer reasonable, the debate was adjourned to Wednesday week. The other orJc-rs of the day were then disposed of, and the House was adjourned at a quarter past eigtit o'clock. FRIDAY. The Speaker took tiie chair at four o'clock. v Mr Spooner fixed positively the 11th of as- the-day fo^ bringing forward his motion on the subjecMBkMaypooth, but added Uiat it would be confined {h& system of education afforded in that institutionjjn^^il^oot^JnAk&l fmt instance, have any reference-i«^mEjHgM(|KMflMjB On the motion for the second Sir Da Lacy Evans moved that it, be read that day three months. Mr F. Peel declared himself opposed to any militia whatever, and wouid therefore support the amendment. Mr Nawdesate remarked upon the in onsistencies of Mr PaeJ, cited the authority of the Duke of Wellington, as to the ne- cessity for some additional national. defence, and pointed to the present state of France, nod the principles of its ruler, as an ar- gumeni in favcurol the bill. The hon. gentle-nan concluded by expressing a hope that Lord John Resell would not follow the example set him by those who were jlately his supporters, but that he ivould bs actuated by the spirit of a statesman and aa Eagiish minister, and lend his support- to the proposition of her Majesty's government. S,r Robeft Peel would prefer an increase in the regular army, to a militia. The hon. barontt then took occasion to expiess his political sentiments, declared that he bad full eonfideocein the Ear) of Derby, and avowed himself a L beral Conservative Free trader. Colonel Chatterton supported the bill and Mr P. Howard, having voted for the Militia Bill of the late government, (ell bound to vote for this also. Sir J. S. Pakington rapidly reviewed the various arguments of the opponents of the measure, and taunted the members of the late government with suddenly changing their opinions. He then alluded to the exampie Stt by the United States on the militia question, and concluded by affirming the necessity of the proposed force. Lord Jjhn Russell said it was because he felt that the country required more detences, and that those defences should be better organized than they no,v are, that he felt himself unable to consent to the second reading of the bill. Ha believed, as a measure of defence, it would be utterly mischievous. It sought to combine two separate »_v»tesis of enrolment-one of which was insufficient, and the other oppressive. He then proceeded to contrast the present plan with that which he had proposed, showing the great hardships and mercenary character of the former, and vindicated his consiitency in now opposing propo. sitions with which he always said he could not agree. Viscount Palmerston said he had hoped that ihia measure, the necessity of which had been adurted on all sides of the hsuse, would have been discussed wiinout any party feeling, and he was greatly surprised at the line of policy which had been taken by tlte noble lord and members of his government, who had spoken upon this ques!ion. The noble lord then proceeded at some length to argue in proof of the superiority of the present to the late tneasuie. Upon the motioa of Mr Moffjlt, the debate was then ad- journed. The other business on the paper was then disposed of, and the House adjourned at ten minutes past one o'clock. MONDAY. A large number of petitions were presented against the Militia Bill; the Mayn^-oth Grant; and in favour of retaining the Crystal Palace; and Sir Hajry Inglis presented a petition from lie Church of England Lay Association, praying that no minister be appointed to a church in Wales, who is unac- quainted with the Welsh language. Sir Benjamin Hall also presented petitions against the Militia Bill, from Marylebone and Monmouth (query, Newport). Ihe Manchester and Salford Education Bill was read a Ee-. cond time, on the motion of Mr. Brotherton. Mr. Drummond wished to know whether any compensation had been made in the case of the loss of the Birkenhead steamer, as her Majesty had power of granting compensation to the amount of jESO. To illustrate his meaning the hon. mem- ber stated that an officer on the board the Birkenhead, was a son of a very poor clergyman, who had totally lost ever/thing he possessed, to the amount of £300 and it was quite impossi- ble for him and his friends to make the same good. (Hear.) The question he wished to ask the Secretary at War was, whe- ther there was any ground for hope that the Queen's Ministers would recommend to her Majesty to grant any compensation, by promotion or otherwise, to the officers who survived in the Bir- kenhead, for their heroic conduct and total loss of their property ia that miserable shipwreck 1 Major Beresford was happy to have this opportunity of giving his approbation, and that of those who acted with him, to the conduct displayed by the men and officers who were present at the loss of this unfortunate vessel, more especially as the troops on board were not old soldiers, but recent and raw levies, who were going to join their regiments; and it showed that that discipline, so effective on the field, could be acquired without a long period of drill.(Hear, hear.)As to compensation, although, in the majority of instances, the maximum\sum was restricted to E809 yet in special cases like this, the Board had power to go beyond that sum, if circumstances required it. (Hear,-hear). He could only say that any funds placed at his disposal for the purpose should be most cheerfully distributed. With regard to the question of promotion, it did not rest with the War- office, but was invested in the hands of the Commander-in- Chief. The adjourned debate on the Militia Bill was then to be brought on but Mr. Hodge said he first wished to make some explanation as to a statement which he made on Friday, and which appeared to excite some merriment. The statement waS that five hundred men deserted from a militia regiment to which he belonged and he certainly fell into a considerable error, for he had received this morning, a letter from the adjutant of the regiment, from which he learnt that the number amounted to 881. (Laughter.) After considerable debate, in which Lord Palmerston lent his aid to the government upon the measure, A division took place, and the numbers were— For the second reading 315 For the amendment IG5 I Majohtyforthesecondreading. 1-50 The announcement was received with loud cheers. The Secretary of Bankrupts' Office Abolition Bill passed through committee. The Loan Societies Bill was read a third time and passed. The Highway Rates Bill was read a second time. REFRESHMENT TO VOLERS. Sir E. Buxton moved for leave to bring in Bill to allow can- didates to give refreshment to voters at county elections, to a limited amount. Mr. Thornely opposed the motion, on the ground that such a permission would not be legitimately exercised. Sir J. Tyrell said, to his own certain knowledge, there were two lawyers canvassing in Essex, upon the strength of this bill. (Laughter.) He thought it would have been much better for the hon gentleman to have postponed this measure until they had the experience of the approaching election. Mr. Adderley supported the motion for leave to biing in this bill, because he thought it was a measure most necessary to have passed before the approaching election, with the view of drawing a legal distinction between reasonable refreshment and bribery. Mr. Aglionby said he was determined to give every stage of this measure the utmost opposition, for he believed, if carried, it would have a most demoralising effect upon the constituencies. ^Mr. Christopher said that it was most desirable for hon. members to wait until they saw the bit],before they discussed it. It was not fair that they should place the electors in a worse positionwhen they came to vote, than they were in when they were at home. The measure was one, he believed, that merely proposed to give the electors at county elections, simple refresh', ment when they travelled soma distance to the poll. Sir E. Buxton said that- the bill merely proposed that the voters at county elections should receive refreshment within the value of 2s. 6d. The Master of the Rolls declared his decided opposition to the measure, which he tbouglft was calculated to encourage a system of bribery, under the disguise of what was called reasonable refreshment. Lord Galway was understood to say that the measure, if passed at all, ought not to be confined to counties. Sir Benjamin -Hall opposed proceeding with such a discussion at that advanced hour of the night, and moved an adjournment of the debate. Mr. Anstey was opposed to the principle of the measure, which would encourage the worst practices at elections. Sir J. Pakington hoped the motion for adjournment wouLl not h be pressed to a division, seeing that when the debate came on again, they would only have a repetition of speeches upon the provision of a bill which hon. gentlemen had not seen. It was the opinion of many hon. members, whom he had consulted upon the subject, that some such measure as this would be most effective in supptessing corruption at elections. Mr. S. Wortley said that in the West Riding, refreshment tickets had been issued to voters at the elections, by the consent of both parties. He trusted the debate would not be adjourned, but that ieave would be given to bring in the bill, so that hon. members might shortly have a copy ot it in their hands, and be better enabled to forpa an opinion of its details. Mr. Mullings contended that the issue of refreshment tickets would be a saving j)f expense, and a great preventive of treating and corruption at elections. He should vote for the introduction of the bill. Mr.BeU: If treating was to be permitted at elections at all, it had better be done openly than sneakingly. So far from increasillg, he believed the bill would check, coiruption at elections. THemotion for the adjournment of the debate was then with. drawn, and the House divided on the question that leave be given to biing in the bill, when there appeared- For the motion 58 Against it 19 39 The bill was subsequently brought in. 4-

OPENING OF THE SHREWSBURY & HEREFORD RAILWAY FROM SHREWSBURY TO LUDLOW. This important line of railway was opened last week wish great rejoicings. A train started in the morning from Shrews- bijiy, amidst the ringing of bel!s and other demonstrations of the satisfaction of the inhabitants the various stations on the line were decorated with flsgs; and the whole country seemed alive with r-joicinga at the happy event. The lu^phkving been formally opened, and the train arrived at Ludlipw, the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and officials of the cwfcwwy, upon their ahghting,weie received at the station by the Mayors of, Ludlow and Hereford, and the distinguished pa*K;#ssen>bIed( and several rounds of hearly cheering were a id Quick succession, In a short time a procession was Sotted, headtfrhJqr the Ludlow band, a ban! which had Balaampaniiftr U^j^ifl.from Shrewsbury, flags with the inscrip- Success" to tf^SK*ys—SJirawsbury, Ludlow, Hereford," Bras?ty will bs -S^ tluiijiujQd years bence;" officers of the Corporations of'Ludlow and Hereford. bea:ing maces and other emblems of civic grandeur; the Mayors of LuJiow and Hereford, and Aldermen of Ludlow, wearing their r.Jbei of office; other members of t.he Luilow Town Council the Chairman and Yice-chairman or ihe Company Earl Powis and other Directors, with the ) )ng train formed by the vast assemblage. Ic this order the procession moved out of thef station-yard, and proceeded up Corvy street, through the Bull ring, the Narrows, and Cistle-sueet to the New Buildings, amid the most enthusiastic demonstrations of rejoicing. Having arrived at the New Buildings, between three and lour hundred of the elite of the company ascended to tiiecom- modious Assembly-room to partake of MR. BTLASSEY S CHAMPAGNE LUNCHEON. The liberal and spirited contractor had commissioned Miss Barnetf, the respected hostess of the Angel Hotti, to prepare a surrptuous luncheon, and she had well executed her task. The tables-which were laid for 340—weie ornamented with a variety of elegant and toftytiomr and other vases, richly gilded, from the establishment of Mr. Hambler, confectioner, of Worcester, whose French cook had for some days been actively engaged in superintending the preparation of the Inncheon. The wines were excellent, particularly the cham- pagne, of which there was an abundant supply. The following is the "bill of fare "-Six raisfd pies; 14 tongues 13 hams; 6 pieces of roast beef; 8 ditto of braized ditto; 6 rolards of veal, gelatine 12 pigeon pies 1 large boar's head, gelatine 1 large round of beef; I peacock, larded, with plumage 6 loaet turkeys 32 couples of fowls; 4 ditto Guinea fowls, larded 6 fore quarters of 1amb; 4 hind quarteis ditto; 1 roa«t neck of pork; 2 fillets of veal; 4 crabs; IS dishes of lobsters 12 dishes of prawns 8 dishes of potted lamperns 13 moulds of clear jelly 16 moulds of punch jelly 12 ditto of blanch mange 8 ditto of Charlotte a la Ilousse 12 stands of ornamental pastry 18 fruit tarts; 12 dishes of fanchonettes; 12 open tourts; 12 ornamental sponge cakes; 12 dishes of grapes 18 ditto of oranges 18 ditto mixed fruit (12 dozen of mixed cakes; 8 aspics fillets of soles; 8 lobster salads; 8 Italim salads; h,ot washed potatoes. The" boar's head," which formed a conspicuous object on the centre table. had affixed to it a neatly executed label, on which was written—"Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway, opened to Ludlow April 20th, 1852." The tout ensemble which was produced was exceedingly pleasing. The chair was taken by W. Ormsby Gore, Esq, M.P., supported 00 his right and left by the Right Hon Earl Powis, the Hon R. H. CI ire, M.P., Sir Richard Jenkins, G.C.B., Robert Clive, Eiq, Colonel Salwey, M.P., ccc, &.c.; and several ladies graced the occasion with their presence. The loyal toas's having been dispojed of with enthusiasm, The ChairrDaD rose and said: I beg tJ propose a tOHt which even common gratitude will induco you to drink in a bumper. It is the health of an individual to whum we are indebted for more beauties than one. (Hear, hear.) We have the honour this day of being that gentleman's gues's. (Prolonged applause.) Ladies and gentlemen (continued the worthy Chairman, with marked emphasis), it glads my heart to hear the manner in which Salopians answer to the call of gratitude. (Renewed applause.) It is not gratildde for the mere evanescent hospitality that we receive this day (hear): it is gratitudeN for the great advantages we have received from one of the most popular men in England. (Applause.) That man I am proud to call my friend and I have no hesita- tion in asserting that, if it had not been for him, we should be now straggling to get a railroad from the north to the south, through this county and Herefordshire. (Hear, hear.) It is now all plain sailing we go, not merely to the south of Shropshire, but down even to the most southern parts of the kingdom, where we fall into communication with the great traffio of the whole continent of Europe. (Hear, hear.) It is useless for me to enlarge upon the merits of the individual whose health I have now to propose to you you all know him he is himself as well known as-I may say, by way of tllustratlon,-the statue at Charing Cross. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He is thoroughly known throughout the whole of England. His character is publio and that character 1 wish that all my friends would emulate (applause) it is of the very first description, and would only suffer, if I were to endeavour to enlarge upon it—the brightness of it would be tarnished by the inadequacy of any words that I could use. Under these circumstances, I beg leave to give yon "the health of Mr Brassey,—may he long live, and may we always be found worthy of such an officer!" (The toast was drunk upstanding, with prolonged and enthusiastic applause.) Mr Brassey upon rising was greeted with renewed applause. As soon as silence was restored, he said It is utterly impos- sible for me to give utterance to the feelings that now prevail within my breast, teeing that I have been so undeservedly complimented by the targe and respectable assemblage that I see before me, for having performed my humble part in the completion of the railway as far as Ludlow, which we are thi| day met to celebrate. (Applause.) I feel that instead of merit—if merit it be—beiog due to the contractor, it is flat 0 all due to the shareholders. I feel with them-for I have a very deep stake in the uodertakiog-Ç hear. hear)—with regard to the progress of this line and I believe that we shall yet see brighter days than have ever dawned upon the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway. (Applause.) It is mainly this belief that -as a man of business-has filled me with courage to go on thus far; and that courage I feel certain will not fail me before we have completed the line to Hereford. (Applause ) The shareholders in this company (to whom I have not the honour of being personally known,) are very much indebted to their Directors, with whom I have the honour of being acquainted, and by whose help I have been inspired with confidence, and encouraged to go on thus far. With the continuance of that help and encouragement, I believe that we shall find our way to Hereford before long. (Applause.) If you will permit me, before I lit down, I will propose the health of our worthy and excellent Chairman, and the Directors of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway (renewed applause); and I must take the liberty of proposing this toast with three times three," which I am sure will be most heanily responded to. (Drunk with prolonged and deafening applause.) Other toasts and interesting speeches concluded the proceedings. The dinner was succeeded by a ball: and at various other places on the line, the event wa3 marked by fes-tivities of a similar nature to those recorded above. Mr Brassey, it isstated, will work the line for the first twelve months guaranteeing to the shareholders a dividend at the rate of 3j per cent.

FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION. An explosion of fire damp took p'ace in a coliierv at Pember. ton, near Wigan, on Friday evening last, by which no less than ten'lives have been sacrificed, and six other c jlliers have been placed on beds of suffering, wi'h scarcely a possibility cf re- covery. The colliery is that called Norley Hall, and is worked by the executors of the late Mr. Daglish, o; Pember- ton. The coal-bed is one of considerable extent, and belongs partly to Reece Bevan, Esq., and partly to the estate of the late Duke of Bridgwater but Mr. Daglish had power only to lake the coal to the boundaries of Mr. Bevan's estate. The coa field is worked by means of two shafts at Nodey Hall, of about 480 feet deep, the piincipal workings running north and east. Between JO and 60 men and buys had descended to weik on Friday morning, properly provided with Davy lamps, and proceeded with their work up to about three o'clock in the afternoon. Part of the colliers then left, the boys and some others employed as drawers being left to get out the loose coal. LTpwards of 30 persons thus remained, chiefly boys, and about half-past three o'clock the explosion of fire damp occurred. The cause is not known, the rules of the colliery being strict, that no one shall unlock their lamps. It is be- lieved to have ignited at workings close to the boundaries of the eastern fdoce of the coal, where the colliers having driven their levels up to the coal belonging to the Bridgwater estate, had turned back, leaving'the roof to fail in, forming, what col- liers ca'l the goaf. In these places a good deal of gas usually collects, and as this coal is of a very bituminous character, wiih cannel underneath, there is usua'ly a considerable quan. tity of it. The distance from the bottom of the down shaft was about 2,250 feet. The explosion took place with a loud report, and a cloud of dust was b'own out at the top of the shaft, which gave no'ice to the banksmen. No time was lost in rescuing as many of the poorfellows as were ab'eto find their way to the bottom of the shaft, and many of these were found to be fearfully burnt. A number of the colliers, how- ever, had been killed by the force of the explosion—one of them, a boy named Thomas Hitchen, aged 14, having his head nearly severed from the body; and o hers had been over- powered by the after-damp or sulphur, so that it was necessary to search the workings without delay. Mr. Wm. Twiss, over- looker, and Mr. Moses Cuerton, underlooker, of the mine, were fortunately at the offices near the pit, aud descended with as little delay as possible. Afler great risk and suffer- ing;, the relief parties sent forward succeeded in rescuing several persons in a s'ate of insensibility, but who were alive, from various parts of the !cve!s. They a'so removed the bodies of the dead. Bv a late hour in the evening three dead bodies had been removed from the mine of persons who had been killed, six others of the sufferers were dead on Saturday evening, and another died on Sunday morning.

Kossuth at St. Louis, America. The Ex-Governor of Hunga y made a speech at St. Louis, on the fourih anniversary of his country's revolution. Its orieutial luxuriance of language, and passionate form, re as follow I-o-Jay is the fourih anniversary oftbe revolution in Hungary. "Anniversaries of Revolutions are almost alwajs connected with the recollection of some patriots, death-fallea on that day like the Spartans at Thermopylae, martyrs of devotion to their Fatherland. Almost in every country there is some proud catafalk or some modest tombstone, adorned on such a day by a garland of ever- green, the pious offe>ing oi' patriotictecderne s. I passed last eight in a sleepless dream. And my soul wandeied, on the magnetic wing of the past, home to my beloved breeding land and 1 saw, in the dead of the night, dark veiled shapes, with the paleness of eternal grief upon their pale brows, but terrible in the tearless silence of that grief, gliding over ths churchyards of Hungary, and kneeling down to the head of the graves, and depositing the pious tribute of green and cypress upon them, and, after a short prayer, rising with clenched fists and gnashing teeth, and then stealing away, tear. less and silent as they came stealing away—because the blocd hounds of my couatiy's mur.lerer lurk from every corner on that night, and oa this day, and lead to prison those who dare to show a pious remembrance to the beloved. To-day a smiie cn the lips of a Magyar is taken for a crime of defiance to tyranny, ar,d a tear in his eye is equivalent to a revolt. And yet I have seen with the eyes of my home wandering soul, thousands per- forming the work of patriotic piety. And I saw more. When the pious officers had stolen away, I saw the honoured dead half risen from their tombs, looking to the offerings, and whis- pering—"Still a cypress, and still no flower of joy; is there still the chill of winter and the gloom of night over thee, Father- land ? Are we not yet revenged?' And the sky of the east reddened suddenly, and boiled with bloody fhmes; and from the far, far west, a lightning flashed Lke a star-spangled stripe, and within its light a ycung eagle mounted, and soared towards the bloody flames of the east, and as he drew near, upon his approaching, the boiling flames changed into a radiant morn- ing sun, and a voice from above was heard in answer to the question of the dead, Sleep yet a while; mine is the revenge. I will make the stars of the west the suas of the east; and when ye next awake, you will find the fiower of joy upon your cold bed.' He referred, in the following passage, to the Hungarian declaration of freedom, four years ago We, the elect of the nation, sat busily, but quietly, in the legislative hall of old Presburg, and pas-sed, without any flood of eloquence, in short words, on that morning, our laws-that the people shall be free; the burden of feudality cease; the peasant become free proprietor; that equality of duties, equality of rights, shall be the fundamental law and civil, political, social, and religious liberty the common property of all the people, whatever tongue it may speak, or in whatever church pray and that a national ministry shall execute these laws. and guard with its responsibility the chartered ancient independence of our Fatherland. Two days before, Austria's brave peop!e, in Vienna, had broken its yoke and summing up despots in the person of its tool, old Metternich, drove him away, and the Hapsburg, trembling in their imperial cavern of imperial crimes, trembling, but treacherous, and lying, and false, wrote, with yard-long letters, the words—'Constitution' and 'Free Press' upon Vienna's walls; and the people cheered in joy the inveterate liars, because the people knows no falseh-ood-so it none believes. On the 14th, I announced the tidings from Vienna to our parliament at Presburg. The announcement was swiftly carried by the great democrat, the steam engine, upon the billows of the Danube down to old Buda and to young Pesth and while we in the House of Representatives, passed the laws of justice and of freedom, the people of Peeth rose in peaceful, but majestic manifestation, declaring its will that the people should be free. Before this manifestation, all the barriers of freedom, raised by violence against the laws, fell by themselves. Not a drop of blood was shed. A man who sat'in priion because he dared to write a book, was carried home through the streets. The people armed itself as a National Guard, and the windows were illuminated, and bonfires burnt; add when these tidings returned back to Presburg, blended with the cheers from Vienna, they warmed the chill of the house of lords, and they readily agreed to the laws we proposed. And there was a rejoicing throughout the land. For the first time for centuries the farmer awoke with the pleasant feeling that his time was now his own, and for the first time went out to till his jieJd with the consoling thought that the ninth garb of his harvest will not be taken by the landlord, and the tenth by the bishop. Both had fully re- signed their feudal part, and the air was brightened by lustre of the freedom, and the very soil budding into a blooming paradise." Such is the memory of the 13th of March, 1848.

FARM MACHINERy.-The Portable Farm-Produce Mill, from Mr. Crosskill, of Beverley, which was announced last week to be tried at Canterbury, on Saturday last, was worked in a field near the Cattle Market, in the presence of many of the leading agriculturists in the neighbourhood. The experiment was very satisfactory it ground oats and beans, and to show what it waft capable of doing, flint stones were ground to fine powder, by putting different kinds of grinding plates in, an operation which was attested in about fifteen minutes; and from which it appears that any substance can be ground, from flint stones to bartey meal. The mill was driven by the portable steam engine belonging to Mr. Nume. of Selling, who, we are informed, has purchased the mill, and to whose spirit and enterprise, the farmers of this neighbourhood owe this opportunity of seeing the merits of this useful machine fairly attested. At a private trial at Mr Neame's farm on Friday, at Selling, the mill crushed oats at the rate of 30 bushels per hour, and split beans at the rate of 60 bushels per hour, and ground barley to fine meal at the rate of 8 bushels per hour, besides grinding bones, and crushing flint stones, bricks, etc.

THE MISERIES OF FREE TRADE. The Rev S G. Osborne has addressed a witty and sensible letter to the Times, on the question of Protection. He takes the shire of Dorset, one of the most agricultural in England, and best known to him—and analyses the condi;ion of every class in it, from the squire and the parson, down '0 the ploughman and the mechanic, under Free Trade as contrasted with the Cora Laws. He declares tiley are all more (trosperous now thao formerly. The landlords have not been obliged to reduce their rents; and the, most popular of them have given ample satis. faction, by returning on the gale day (not reducing) ten per cent. To apply another admirable test—" Within an area of twenty miles round where I now w.ite, I will venture to say more money has been expended within these six years, in baild- iog new farm premises aod improving existing buildings, than was spent in forty years previous to the repeal of the corn laws. Ten years ago I was told there was not a steam engine in Dorset- shire. Within the area I have spoken of above, I now know myself of five in connexion with farm homesteads. As to land going out of cultivation, why, sir, there will very soon scarcely be left a yard of our famed dowDS." Mr Osborne then takes the condition of the clergy into account. He says their income from tithes may be less-but they have not to wrangle for it with their parishioners there are fewer calls on their charily money goes farther than it used. The outcry of tiie tenant farmers he treats as mere grumbling. Ii That there are men unfortunate as farmers is only to be expected,—for what trade or profession is there in which all can command success? but that fewer farmers fail than any other clas. of tradesmen, I hold to be a fact as honourabie to them as a cless, as it is declaratory of the wholesome nature of the farming business. There is one curious fact relative to this figure,—the farmer,—that the chief complainers of the ruin" are just those who, for years, have cried wolf," as they chased the fox. It is consolatory to hear a p;ood humoured lot of well. mounted men talking, year by yeu, of their ruin, and yet to find that they are the first and most constant in the field. Long may they be so, for so long shall I believe their ruin is a mere market phantom,—the crafty creation of those who, for political pur- poses, like to keep up the cry." Lastly he addresses the argumentum ad Jwmilie':2 to the plough- mao. stubborn and unsot.hisiicatcd :— Now, John Styles, stand forth, honest ploughmaD, with homed hands and good-humoured red face-has cheap bread been thy ruin 1 You may well laugh you and Susan and the children never were so we l orf and you know the reason why The wages have, in some instances, fallen since 1346, but in most cases theJemand for labour, from the improved system of farming, and the amount of additional land brought under the plough, has kept them up. Where even only 65 a week is re- ceived, the labourer is still better off than I ever knew him. There is not a thingheeatsorwears he cannot get at a less price. At the boards of guardians the work is infinitely less than it used to be the rates have much decreased. Take the children at school, or the congregations at their places of worship, and who is there who will deny that, in our generation, we never knew the poor so well and respectably clad ? Tiie rent of their cot. tages, the contributions to their clubs, ere now scarcely ever in arrear. For tny own par'. I can say, after more than twenty years' active interest in their condi'ion, I never saw them so comfortable as I have known them to bs for the last five years. That which is the result of my own observation, is corroborated by their own evidence, cheerfully given me. They have no need now to purchase dirty foul tailings,' at 6s the bushel. They do not take it as a favour to buy the meat of animals which die in the field at 4d the found. They can get good cheap bread, and enough 01 it, and now they can buy a bit of real butcher's meat. I know you will be told this is all untrue that they prefir dear bread and h'gher wages, &f. 1 should He this test applied :— Let a day be appointed, on which evE\y man who is lor cheap bread shall give himself a holyday, i.e., lo?e the day s wages. I doubt whether 100 men would go to work ia Dorset oa that day."

Ireland. ESCAPE OF THOMAS MEAGHER. (From the Nation.) Thomas Meagher has escaped. TLe noblest and n.ost gifted of our confessors has broken his chains, aid is now a heeraan of the world. Thank God Thank God for this deliverance a new hope is given to liberty—a glorious sdvofa e is restored to Ireland. We have but meagre deI-lis to disclose in order to satisfy the impatience of the country to hear of this fcrtunate story. Here is the whole narrative. One of the most estimable and independent of oir citizens, (whose name we have permission to make known to Meagher's fri^ds), has communicated to us the joyful in el igence. Ha hasiTcetved a letter from his brother in-law, an assistant sur- geon in the British navy, written from Hobart Town, and bearing date the 18th of is-t January, which states that Meagher had -1 escape and that the goverment officials hid searched his house in vain. He had fled beyond capture and pursuit. The blood- hounds were after him, but had missed their prey. Here are the exact words H.M. Ship Hobart Towr, 13th January, 18.52. Meagher has made his escape from this. Some say he has broken his parole-others say not. He wrote to the police magistrate of his district, to say • hat he did not wish his ifavo extended. Some say he left before the letter was delivered others say he Lid not, but tha: he remained until a person who was sent to watch him-came to his house. He came out and asksd the imn whether he wanted him. He said" No." He then went into ihe house, and escaped through the back way. In two hours afiei, some more came to arrest him but tne bird had fiowc, and 10 the case stacde." RELEASE OF MR. S-Mtrti O'BRIEN.— Tr.e Standard quotes the following As we are going to press we learn that orders have been issued for the release of the Irish state prisoners, Smith 0 Brien, John Mitchell, and their companions; subject, however, to the condition that they are net to set foot in the United Kingdom. Particulars in our nes;—New York Truth. Teller. ROYAL Visir TO IRELAND.—We understand that tha royal intention waV to visit Ireland thIs season, and although her Majesty is moit anxious on this point, yet the excitement which" a general election invariably produces will preclude the possibility of the happy event taking place earlier than the autumn of 1853. The Earl of Dunraven has presented most costly ornaments for the Altar of Adare Roman Catholic Chapel, which his lordship is improving and enlatgirg, at a cost of X4000, The Countess Dowager Dunraven has made arrangements to enlarge acd beautify the Protestant Church at Adare, which could ill accommodate the extensive congregation on Easter Sunday. hjrRCvrD PRTOIRECTS.— 1 he people of Dublin are in high glee at the improvement which has taken place in the commercial and social appearance of that city since the appointment of the Earl of Eglinglon, as Lord Lieutenant. IRISH CHANNEL SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH.—The difficulties that have interposed to the construction of a submarine telegraph. between Great Britain and Ireland, are in a fair way to be over- come. The communication bet *een London and Dublin is ex- pected to be formed by the 20th day of May. Port Patrick and Donaghedee are the points from which it is proposed to throw the wires across the channel, as the line will then be shorter by 4ili miles than that contemplated between Kingstown and Holyhead. A novel feature o! the proposed plan, we understand, will consist in the connection of the government offices in Downing-street with the Irish metropolis, an advantage of no little importance, MOUNTAINS ON FIRE IN KERRY.—The mountains in the neighbourhood of Tralee, from Glounskeheen on to the old K tiarney road, have presented, during the last few nights, quite a volcanic appearance. Over a space of several miles, towards the summit of that mountain chain, the heather was in a blaze, representing the most beautiful spectacle we have ever seen. The Paps, in the county of Coik, and Drung Hill, in lveragh, were also in a blaze, and the ensemble from that portion of the Atlantic where the eye could take in a portion of each (for the bluze Otl the I ralee mountains was visible on the southern side alto) must have been grand in the extreme. Keelaclohane wood, near Castiemain, accidentally took fire on Thursday, and nearly twenty acres were burned before the fire was put down. All the mountains from Castiemain to Inch have been on fiie during the past week.-— Tfaiee Chronicle. The Murray Testimonial Committee in Dublin have sent back the subscription of Lord John Russell. THE MOORE TESTIMONIAL.—We hear that a committee is in progress of being formed in London to co-operate with the Dublin committee for erecting a memorial to the poet Moore. The Marquess of Lansdowne and his son, Lord Shelburne, Moore's old pupil, in conjunction with Mr. Murray and Mr. Longman, have taken the initiative of this movement in honour of the dead. The captain of a ship which arrived in Coik on Friday, reports that he met over 200 sail of merchantmen to the westward beat- ing up for a port, and that he perceived two of her Majesty's steamers going amongst them rendering assistance. The more active of the electors 01 Meath held a meeting on Friday last, at Navan, when it was unanimously resolved to re- turn Mr. Lucas, of the Tablet, as the representative of that county, on tenant right principles. This course is taken ia fulfilment of a resolution adopted at a meeting of the electors last ye\r, and it has been determined to return Mr. Lucas free of expense. The annual tide of emigration to the New World is again ill its full spring from Limerick. The streets and quays are filled with intending emigrants, with their wives and children, all of the rural population, whose condition and circumstances mani- festly surpass their predecessors in the same exodus. They are a strong, healthy class of people, well equipped and provisioned for the land of their adoption. The country for miles round presents an active scene of hus. bandry. Potatoe planting goes forward briskly. Several fields are allocated for flax. A few showers of rain that would moisten the soil and aid the germination of the seed, are eagerly looked jor.— Newry Telegraph,