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THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
[Dec. 30, - 
commonly known as the Oregon territory still remain in 
dispute. The United States would be at all times indis- 
posed to aggrandise themselves at the expense of any other 
nation ; but while they would be yestrained by principles 
of honour, which should govern the conduct of nations as 
well as that of individuals, from setting up a demand for 
territory ‘which does not belong to them, they would 
as unwillingly consent to a surrender of their rights. 
After the most rigid and as far as practicable unbiassed 
examination of the subject, the United States have 
always contended that their rights appertain to the 
entire region of country lying on the Pacific, and embraced 
within the forty-second and fifty-fourth degrees 40 m. of 
north latitude. This claim being controverted by Great 
Britain, those who have preceded the present Executive, 
actuated, no doubt, by an earnest desire to adjust the 
matter upon terms mutually satisfactory to both countries, 
have caused to be submitted to the British Government 
propositions for settlement and final adjustment, which 
however have ‘not proved heretofore acceptable to it. 
Our Minister at London has under instructions again 
brought the subject to the consideration of that Govern- 
ment, and while nothing will be done to compromise the 
rights or honour of the United States, every proper expe- 
dient will be resorted to in order to bring the negotiation 
now in the progress of resumption to a speedy and happy 
termination. In the meantime, it is proper to remark 
that many of our citizens are either already established in 
the territory or are on their way thither for the purpose 
of forming permanent settlements, while others are pre- 
paring to follow—and in view of these facts, I must 
repeat the recommendation contained in previous messages 
for the establishment of military posts, at such places on 
the line of travel as will furnish security and protection 
to our hardy adventurers against hostile tribes of Indians 
inhabiting those extensive regions. Our laws should also 
follow them, so modified as the circumstances of the case 
may seem to require. Under the influence of our free 
system of government new republics are destined to spring 
up at no distant day on the shores of the Pacific, similar 
in policy and in feeling to those existing on this side of 
the Rocky Mountains, and giving a wider and more 
extensive spread to the principles of civil and religious 
liberty.’”” With respect to the detention of American 
yessels, the President informs the House that in several 
cases of vessels detained as slavers by British cruisers off 
the coast of Africa reparation has been promised, in a few 
that fall satisfaction has been allowed. The President takes 
a threatening tone in adverting to the continued war between 
Mexico and her insurgent province of Texas. He goes 
so far as to intimate that somehow or other the war must 
cease, for that the interests of the whole continent demand 
its cessation. He counsels a revision of the tariff, to be 
conducted on the principles of moderation in scale and 
permanency and stability in legislation, but disappoints 
those who had hoped to hear him speak for a very near 
approach to free trade. He expresses warm congratula- 
tions on the general prosperity of the country and on the 
peaceful aspect of the intercourse with most foreign 
nations. He also expresses high hopes from the negotia- 
tion of a commercial treaty with the States included in 
the German Customs Union, which seems to offer terms 
most advantageous to American trade. “These, with a 
budget of local, fiscal and political matter, and the inform- 
ation that if an increase of revenue do not flow in from 
some quarter a deficit of 4,000,000 dollars may be ex- 
pected at the close of 1845, form the chief points of in- 
terest in the message. 
CITY. 
Money Market, Friday.—Consols closed at 962 for 
the opening; Three per Cents. Red., 97} to 3 ; Three- 
and-Half per Cents., 1023; New Three-and-Half per 
Cents. Red., 101% to 4; Bank Stock 1833 to 4. 
Metropolis and fts Picinitn. 
The Christmas Holidays.—Tuesday being the general 
holiday in q of Christ day falling on a 
Monday, all the exhibitions were crowded with visitors. 
At the British Museum the number of visitors was 18,377. 
They exhibited the utmost decorum notwithstanding the 
crowded state of the rooms; there was no single case of 
robbery, tio damage committed, and no person was refused 
admission on the ground of intoxication. The number of 
visitors this Boxing-day was nearly 10,000 less than last 
year, when they exceeded 28,000. The National Gallery 
was visited by about 10,000 persons. As a striking con- 
trast to these returns of free public exhibitions, the visitors 
to Westminster Abbey on Tuesday were only 300, while 
at St. Paul’s they only amounted to 25. The Chinese 
Collection on Tuesday was visited by upwards of 4000 
persons; the United Service Institution by upwards of 
100; and the Tunnel by many thousands who crowded to 
the spot by every available conveyance until evening. The 
Polytechnic Institution and the Adelaide Gallery were also 
visited by large numbers, and showed that both exhibitions 
still retain their popularity. 
New Royal Exchange.—On the 20th inst. Mr. Tite 
sent to the Gresham Committee his report on the state of 
the New Exchange. It appears from this document that 
very little now remains to be done in the decorative por- 
tion, the roof is nearly completed, and the tower is com- 
pleted to the cleaning down of the stone work, which will 
be done whilst the scaffold is removing. With regard to 
the sculpture Mr. Tite reports that every figure has been 
transferred from the model to the stone, and that a month’s 
labour will complete the work, so that it will be ready for 
hoisting within that period. When the sculpture shall 
have reached its position the finishing touches will be 
given to it by Mr. Westmacott. Judging from its pre- 
sent advanced state the architect entertains no hesitation 
in assuring the committee that if necessary it could all be 
in its place and completely finished within two months 
from this date. The dials and hands of the clock have 
been prepared, and will be placed as soon as the scaffold 
has been sufficiently removed to enable the men to place 
them with safety. The machinery of the clock is very 
nearly completed and the only thing remaining unsettled 
is the arrangement with respect to the actual tunes of the 
chimes. Upon that subject Mr. Tite had consulted Pro- 
fessor Taylor, the Gresham lecturer on music, and hoped 
that before the next meeting of the committee he should 
be prepared to report the result. The moulds for some 
of the bells have been prepared, and in the course of a 
month several of them will be cast. Mr. Tite concludes 
with congratulating the committee at the close of the third 
year of the work, on the favourable state of the seasons 
throughout the whole period. The mildness of last winter 
and the unusually fine spring which followed were greatly 
in favour of building operations, and though the early 
part of the summer was wet, yet since August up to the 
present time scarcely a day had been lost by interruption 
rom the weather. He states that he can see nothing at 
present, unless some unusually severe weather should 
occur after Christmas to prevent the realisation of his 
hopes that the contract will be completed in the time 
originally agreed upon. 
City Statues—The bronze equestrian statue of the 
Duke of Wellington, to be placed opposite the entrance 
to the new Royal Exchange, is proceeding rapidly towards 
completion under the direction of Mr. Weeks. The 
statue of William IV., from the design of Mr. Nixon, to 
be placed at the junction of Gracechurch-street and King 
William-street, will be shortly raised upon its pedestal. 
The figure is colossal, being upwards of fourteen feet in 
height. Itis executed in Devonshire granite, and will 
cost when complete 2,200/., which sum was voted by the 
corporation for that purpose. His Majesty is represented 
in the costume of ahigh admiral. Upon the round pedestal 
is sculptured a wreath of laurel, in the centre of which an 
appropriate inscription will be engraved. It is worthy of 
remark that the spot upon which this statue will be 
erected, is the exact site of the famous Boar’s Head of 
Eastcheap ; a sign rendered so memorable by Shakspeare. 
A statue by Mr. Nixon is likewise in a forward state, of 
John Carpenter, the town clerk in the reign of Henry 
VI., founder of the City of London Schools, and executor 
to the celebrated Whittington. This statue is six feet 
high, and will be executed in Rock Abbey stone, similar 
to that used for the friezes and pediments in front. of 
Buckingham Palace. It is to be placed upon the first 
landing of the staircase of the City of London schools, 
opposite the principal entrance. Mr. Nixon has also in 
preparation, a statue of Sir John Crosby, to be placed 
in Crosby Hall, Bishopsgate-street. The model exhibits 
the knight in the ‘ winged’? armour of the period, ex- 
amples of which may be met with in the Tower &c., and 
at the tomb of the knight himself in St. Helen’s church. 
St. Stephen’s, Walbrook.—Another attempt was made 
on Friday to convene a select vestry in this parish, which 
was successful in 1 aken to 
respect to the quality of the gas at present supplied, it 
was stated that if the gas companies paid proper attention 
to the illuminating power of their'gas and not to the 
greatest amount of coke they could produce, they would 
be able to increase the light twofold. This was proved by 
the fact that the gas in Edinburgh produced from Cannel 
coal, where there was no desire to obtain a large amount 
of coke, had double the illuminating power of the gas sup- 
plied by the London gas or rather the London coke com- 
panies. To show how exorbitant the charges of the gas 
companies were, Mr. Jones mentioned that one of them 
charged the proprietors of Vauxhall Gardens upwards of 
9007. for inflating the Nassau balloon fourteen times and 
a lesser one four times, whereas afterwards the pro- 
prietors, from gas made by themselves, inflated the 
balloon the same number of times at a saving of more 
than’ 700/. He thought these facts made it imperative on 
the meeting to appeal to the Legislature for interference 
with the gas monopolies, in order to secure to the public 
a fair standard of measure and quality in the matter of 
gas. Several gentlemen bore testimony to the above 
statements, and it was ultimately determined to adjourn 
the meeting to the 4th January, when a committee would 
be appointed to wait upon Sir J. Graham and on the 
directors of the different metropolitan gas companies. 
Lincoln’s Inn.—Mr. C. P. Cooper, Queen’s Counsel, 
has recently presented to the Hon. Society of Lincoln’s 
Inn his valuable collection of works on foreign and civil 
law. The Renchers in acknowledging the gift have 
expressed their intention of preserving the collection 
together, and of having it catalogued under a title com- 
memorative of the munificence of the donor. The 
collection, in addition to civil law, consists of the works 
of the most eminent jurists of France, Spain, Portugal, 
Italy, Russia, Austria, Bavaria, Poland, Prussia, Holland, 
Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and America. 
Mr. Burford’s Panorama.—A new panorama has been 
opened in Leicester-square, representing the landing of 
her Majesty at Tréport, and her reception by the King of 
the French, and the members of the French Royal Family 
present on that occasion. The town, the coast, and the 
entrance to the harbour have been faithfully depicted by 
the artist, who had the advantage of being an eye-witness 
of what he has painted, and of having taken his sketches 
on the spot at the time most propitious to obtain correct 
views. The principal group is the Royal Family, who 
have just landed from the state barge of the King’s yacht 
the Reine Amelie. The Royal party are moving towards 
the Pavilion; they consist of Queen Victoria, the Queen 
of the French, Madame Adelaide, the Queen of the Bel- 
gians, the Princess of Saxe Cobourg, the Princess de Join- 
ville, and the Duchess of Orleans, the King of the French, 
Prince Albert, the Prince of Saxe Cobourg, the Prince de 
Joinville, the Dukes de Montpensier and d’Aumale, Lord 
Aberdeen, and Lord Liverpool, &c. This part of the 
picture is perfect, and those who were not present at 
Tréport will obtain by seeing it a perfect notion of the 
event. The French troops form a conspicuous portion of 
the panorama, and together with the boats and marine 
objects help to make a very effective scene. 
‘St. Leonard’s, Shoreditch—A_ meeting of the rate- 
payers of this parish was held on Tuesday for the purpose 
of making a rate for the relief of the poor, and a stormy 
of the p 
exclude the ratepayers. ~ Roe and Forester, the Mansion- 
House officers, were stationed at the entrance of the 
church, and prevented any persons but the members of 
the select vestry from entering the building. Mr. Rock, 
one of the parishioners, determined to try the right of the 
officers to exclude him, and pushed the door as if to force 
it open, whereupon the officers immediately laid their 
hands upon Mr. Rock, who immediately went to the 
Mansion-House and stated the whole matter to the Lord 
Mayor. After hearing the circumstances, the Lord Mayor 
assured the parishioners that he had not sent the officers’ 
to exclude them. It was then stated that they had been 
sent by Alderman Humphrey, but this has since been 
denied by the Alderman himself. Upon returning to 
Walbrook more knocks were given at the church-door, 
and amongst them the churchwardens of St. Benet’s Shere- 
hog demanded admittance, but without effect. A great 
crowd remained in the street opposite to the entrance of 
the church until some time past three o’clock, when—at 
apparently a signal from within—the officers relinquished 
their post at the church-doors. It was then given out 
that the members of the select vestry had left the church 
by some back entrance; and upon hearing this the popu- 
lace quietly dispersed. It is understood that at the vestry 
Alderman Gibbs submitted his book of accounts, upon 
which the vestry resolved that they be printed and pub- 
lished. It was also resolved that a rate of ls. in the 
pound be levied for the relief of the poor for the year 
ensuing. 
The Gas Companies.—A meeting of the inhabitants 
of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, convened by the church- 
wardens, was held at the vestry-room last week, to take 
into consideration the present mode of supplying the 
public with gas, and to devise some means of establishing 
a standard of purity and of measure for the same. Mr. 
Jones said that public experiments made in the early part 
of the present year in the presence of the gas-metre 
makers themselves, proved that the metres in general use 
now, while they afford ample protection to the gas com- 
panies, register from 3, 4, and even 5 per cent. at the 
level line to 32 per cent. against the consumer. A metre 
made by one of the best makers in London was tested 
under the superintendence of the maker himself, when it 
could not by any contrivance be made to work against the 
gas companies, though it was easily worked to the amount 
i took place. A rate of 11d. in the pound was 
proposed, but it was stated that at the last vestry a nine- 
penny rate only would be demanded, and a resolution con- 
demnatory of the former rate, and of the trustees of the 
poor for proposing it was directed by the senior church- 
warden to be entered on the minute-book, but he refused 
to put it to the vote. A long discussion then took place 
on the practice adopted in the burial of paupers, the 
undertaker’s bill showing that the parish paid only 73d. 
each for the coffins of pauper children, and that Ss. 
5d. was the highest price paid for the adult poor. It was 
stated that these coffins were not fit to put a dog in, but 
the object was that the bodies should decompose quickly, 
as the pauper burial-ground was so crowded as to become 
a perfect nuisance, The Churchwarden admitted} that 
there was too much reason to complain of the interment 
of paupers. It was ultimately resolved that the subject 
be brought forward at the next vestry, and that the curate 
be requested to attend. ‘he proceedings were at length 
closed by the adoption of a rate of 8d. 
St. Pancras Workhouse.——An inquest was recently 
held on the body of a female pauper who died in this 
workhouse named Ann Humphreys, at which statements 
were made by the witnesses as to the employment of the 
female paupers in making shirts for one farthing each, 
that they stewed up each other’s tea-leaves and were com- 
pelled to sleep four in one bed. In consequence of the 
publication of these statements in the papers, the Poor 
Law Commissioners thought proper to call upon the 
Guardians for an explanation. At theflast weekly meet~ 
ing of the Board the answer of the Guardians was read, 
from which it appears that ‘ in conformity witb the Local 
Act 59 G. III. the poor in St. Pancras Workhouse are 
allowed a portion of their earnings not exceeding one- 
sixth by way of encouragement, to expend it as they think 
proper, provided they do not violate the rulesfof the house. 
The lowest price at which work is taken at the’workhouse 
is 2s. a dozen for the coarsest slop-shirts, no alteration in 
price having been made for the last twelve years. Some 
are taken at 3s. Gd. per dozen, and at intermediate rates. 
With respect to the statements as to the number of per- 
sons sleeping in one bed, the directors inform the Poor 
Law Commissioners that those statements are not correct, 
adding that they have reason to believe that no such 
statements were made, and thatno reporter was present 
at the inquest. They state that there are some extra 
of 22 per cent, to the prejudice of the consumer. With 
large beds in the women’s wards, a few of which are occu- 
ianenenin 
cent enemumen 
