Julv 6,] 



Hence of a Jarge number of the friends and patrons of the 

 Institution, amongst whom were the Bishop of Lichfield, 

 Lord Radstock, Mr. Justice Coleridge, Sir R. H. Inglis, 

 Bart., Archdeacon Sinclair, Mr. H. Pownall, Rev. Dr. 

 D'Oyly, Rev. Dr. Jarvis, President Baron von Gesbach, 

 Colonel Coryton, the Dean of Westminster, &c The 

 proceedings were opened in a brief address by the Prin- 

 cipal, Dr. Jelf, describing the principles upon which the 

 college was founded, and the general good conduct of 

 the students. The prizes, consisting of handsomely 

 bound standard works in literature and science, were then 

 delivered by the archbishop, upon the recommendation 

 of the professors of the respective classes. At the close 

 of the proceedings, the Dean of Westminster moved, and 

 Mr. Justice Coleridge seconded, a vote of thanks to the 

 Archbishop, who acknowledged the mark of respect, and 

 in a general commendatory address did justice to pre- 

 ceptors and pupils, and incited the latter to renewed 

 diligence by the hope of acquiring honours for themselves, 

 fame for the institution in which they were reared, and 

 advancing the well-being of the community at large. 



Royal Geographical Society.— At the meeting of this 

 Society last week, just as the reading of papers was about 

 to commence, the meeting was surprised by the sudden 

 appearance of Mr. Schomburgh, the celebrated traveller. 

 He was enthusiastically greeted by the meeting, and cor- 

 dially welcomed from the chair, on his safe return from 

 his arduous and important explorations in British 

 •Guaiana. After returning thanks for his reception, 

 Mr. Schomburgh gave the meeting some interesting de- 

 tails respecting the Indian tribes he had met with. 



The Polish Ball.— Many reports having been circu- 

 lated respecting this ball, the Morning Chronicle has 

 published a statement, from which it appears that the 

 ladies patronesses did not offer to put off the ball if de- 

 sired by the Emperor of Russia, and that the Emperor 

 did not offer 500/. as a contribution to the funds, as 

 stated by some of the papers. It appears that the 

 Duchess of Somerset, on his Majesty's arrival, conveyed 

 to Baron Brunnow her anxiety that the Emperor should 

 be made aware that the Polish ball was one which had 

 taken place in former years ; that it had been arranged 

 this year before his Imperial Majesty's visit was ex- 

 pected, and that no mark of disrespect was intended to 

 his Majesty by those concerned in its management. The 

 message produced an answer from Baron Brunnow to 

 the effect, that his Imperial Majesty could feel no objec- 

 tion to the ball, and that Baron Brunnow had received 

 his Majesty's authority to contribute towards it any sum 

 her grace might name. Her grace (having in the interim 

 oeen made aware that the idea of accepting money from 

 *he Emperor would not be tolerated by the Poles), in 

 acknowledging the offer did not name any sum ; and 

 none was sent. Baron Brunnow, however, on the day 

 of the ball, having obtained twelve vouchers from some 

 of the ladies patronesses, sent them to the office, where 

 they were exchanged and paid for at the usual price ; and 

 thus the cost of twelve tickets constituted the whole of 

 the contribution maJe by the Emperor or his representa- 

 tive to the funds. It is said that the clear profits of the 

 ball, after paying all expenses, exceeded 3000/. Last 

 year's ball produced about G00/. only. j 



The N<lson Testimonial. — The following is a transla- 

 tion of the letter which accompanied the Emperor of 

 Russia's munificent contribution to the funds for erecting 

 the Nelson Testimonial: — "London, June 7, 1844. 

 My Lord Duke, — His Majesty, desiring to contribute to 

 the erection of a monument which the national gratitude 

 is now raising to the glory of Admiral Nelson, has 

 charged me to request your obliging intervention to add 

 in his name to the subscription already open the sum of 

 500/. The Emperor has judged that, to accomplish his 

 purpose, he cannot do better than address himself to one 

 whose name is inseparable from the most glorious recol- 

 lections of England. Have the goodness to accept, my 

 Lord Duke, the reiterated assurance of my highest con- 

 sideration. (Signed) Count Orloff. To his Grace 

 the Duke of Wellington, &c." Upon the receipt of the 

 above, the Duke of Wellington immediately acknowledged 

 it in a closely-written letter, occupying three sides of a 



*heet of writing-paper. 



The Loss of the Manchester. — The accounts received 

 this week confirm the statement in our last that not a 

 soul has been spared to tell the tale of this melancholy 

 wreck. At Cuxhaven hopes were entertained that some 

 might have escaped by being washed ashore in the boats 

 south of the Elbe, it being known that the vessel carried 

 two boats, each capable of holding 20 persons ; but that 

 conjecture wa* soon set at rest by the bow of one and 

 fragments of the other being picked up by the Victoria 

 steamer. The Hamburgh steam ship had also conveyed 

 to Hamburgh a portion of the wreck ; but most parts 

 of it were in small pieces from being dashed about by the 

 breakers. Large quantities of cargo have been found, 

 and some ladies' clothes, linen, dresses, collars, and 

 stockings, the latter marked M. H. S., no doubt belong- 

 ing to Mrs. Smith or her daughter, who were the only 

 female passengers on board. Down the coast at Busum, 

 and at Hedeibigenkoog, a quantity of manufactured goods 

 have been cast ashore, and about 2000 bundles of twist. 

 As the John Bull steamer came out of the Elbe on Wed- 

 nesday week,a pilot was spoken for the purpose of ascertain- 

 ing the latest information. The officers were informed that 

 the wreck had been discovered, sunk in 12 feet of water, 

 in the neighbourhood of the Reissen Sand, but the exact 

 part could not be ascertained. Another party on board 

 stated that the masts could be seen protruding through 

 the bottom, but this assertion is considered as impro- 

 bable. The Reissen Sand is situated about eight miles 

 to- the northward of the Vogel Sand, and separates the 



THE. NEWSPAPER. 



[1844 



latter from the Marl Bank, the spot where it was at first 

 supposed the vessel had been wrecked. None of the 

 bodies have yet been recovered, but the friends of some 

 of the passengers are at Cuxhaven, for the purpose of 

 identifying them as soon as they are washed ashore. 

 From the fact of a cabin clock and a watch being picked 

 up, showing the same time, half-past one, there is no 

 doubt that she was lost at that time on Sunday morning. 

 The crew consisted of the captain, two mates, steward 

 and stewardess, two engineers, and 15 others. The pas- 

 sengers were Mrs. Smith, aged 49 ; Miss Emily Smith, 

 her daughter, aged 21 ; Mr. St. George Smith, her son, 

 aged 26 ; Mr. Rothery, wool merchant, of Leeds ; Mr. 

 Frons, of Manchester ; and another gentleman, whose 

 name at present is unknown. The Manchester had two 

 letter-bags on board, both of which were, of course, lost. 

 Colonial Bank.— On Monday the half-yearly meeting 

 of the proprietors of this bank was held, Mr. John Irvine 

 in the chair. No dividend was declared, the directors 

 having recommended that the available balance of 8212/. 

 be carried to the reserved fund. Although the hope was 

 held out that improvement will eventually take place in 

 the affairs of the Company, many of the shareholders 

 seemed inclined to propose a dissolution as the readiest 

 way of getting rid of an unprofitable concern. The re- 

 port however was ultimately adopted without opposition. 

 Library of the late Duke of Sussex.— On Monday 

 the sale of the first part of the extensive library of the 

 late Duke of Sussex commenced at Evans's rooms. 

 All the works in this sale, which will last 24 days, are 

 classed under the head "Theology." There was a 

 remarkably full attendance, and the prices realised were 



generally high. 



The Irish Trials.— A public meeting of the inha- 

 bitant householders of the city of Westminster, con- 

 vened pursuant to a requisition to that effect, by the high 

 bailiff, was held on Monday in front of the portico of St. 

 Paul's, Covent-garden, to take into consideration the 

 proceedings of the Government for the subjugation of 

 Ireland, and the persecution of O'Connell and others for 

 their support of the rights of Irishmen, and to petition 

 Parliament for the immediate release of the State 

 prisoners. The High Bailiff presided, and was supported 

 by Mr. T. S. Duncombe, M.P., Colonel Rawdon, M.P., 

 Sir R. Bulkely, M.P., Mr. S. Harford, late candidate for 

 Brighton ; Mr. Feargus O'Connor, Mr. E. D. Daven- 

 port, Mr. Coppock, &c. Mr. F. O'Connor was as usual 

 attended by a body of Chartists. Mr. Duncombe, Mr. 

 Harford, Col. Rawdon, Rev. Dr. Wade, Mr. F. O'Con- 

 nor, and other gentlemen, addressed the meeting, and 

 resolutions condemning the recent trials as unconstitu- 

 tional and illegal, were unanimously carried. Petitions 

 to both Houses of Parliament founded upon the resolu- 

 tions, and an address to Mr. O'Connell were also 

 adopted. The number of persons present was about 7000. 

 The Convicts Barber and Fletcher. — The subjoined 

 document, forming a declaration of the innocence of 

 Barber by his fellow convict Fletcher, has been published 

 by the solicitor on behalf of Barber in the late trials. 

 Barber and Fletcher are now both on board the convict 

 ship Agincourt, lying off Woolwich, and will sail in a 

 few days for their destination. The witness whose name 

 is appended to the paper is an officer of the convict 

 vessel : — " June 28. I solemnly declare that, to the best 

 of my knowledge and belief, William Henry Barber had 

 no guilty knowledge that the will of Anne Slack was a 

 forgery, or that it was otherwise than a legitimate and 

 proper matter of business. As such it was introduced 

 by me to him, as stated in my first examination at the 

 Mansion-house. And I further declare, that to my 

 knowledge and belief he had no guilty knowledge of 

 either of the cases which have recently formed the sub- 

 ject of indictment. I make this declaration with no 

 other motive than to do an act of justice to Mr. Barber 

 as far as lies in my power. — Joshua Fletcher. (Wit- 

 ness) Matthew Hall Cuttriss" Another and still stronger 

 declaration has since been published by Fletcher. 



The Convict Dalmas. — In consequence of communi- 

 cations made to government, a respite for one week was 

 granted to this convict on Saturday, in order to give 

 time for the investigation of various circumstances 

 which were left doubttul by the evidence of some of the 

 witnesses. The convict had already taken leave of his 

 daughters when he received the respite, which came upon 

 him quite unexpectedly. On Tuesday and Thursday Drs. 

 Sutherland and Monro, proceeded to Horsemonger-lane 

 Gaol, by the authority of the Home Secretary, in order 

 to examine his state of mind, the friends of Dalmas 

 having repeatedly urged upon the attention of Sir 

 J. Graham that during the last two years he has been 

 subject to fits of mental aberration, brought on by inces- 

 sant and severe study in conjunction with his chemical 

 experiments. On Thursday evening, a reprieve during 

 her Majesty's pleasure was received from the Home 

 Office, at Horsemonger-lane gaol. Drs. Sutherland and 

 Monro had previously had an interview with Sir J. 

 Graham, relative to the convict's state of mind, and laid 

 before him a report of their opinion, and the conclu- 

 sion they had arrived at after the two recent visits they 

 had paid to the convict. Sir J. Graham then carefully 

 revised the whole of the evidence. The nature of the 

 report of Drs. Sutherland and Monro is at present un- 

 known, but it is conjectured that the conclusion they 

 arrived at was that the mind of the convict was affected. 

 After careful investigation, Sir J. Graham felt himself 

 warranted in recommending Dalmas as a fit object of the 

 Royal clemency, and a reprieve was accordingly for- 

 warded to the prison on Thursday evening. It is not 

 yet decided whether the prisoner will be transported for 

 life, or confined during her Majesty's pleasure. 



Anti- Corn- Law League — The usual meeting of the 

 League was held on Wednesday evening in Covent- 

 Garden Theatre. Mr. G. Wilson presided, and opened 

 the business of the evening in a short speech. The Hon. 

 C. P. Villiers then addressed the meeting, and was fol- 

 lowed by Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright. At the close of 

 the proceedings the chairman announced that the League 

 would not meet again until Wednesday, the 7th August, 

 which would be the last night of their re-assembling for 

 the present season. Before breaking up he called on 

 them to give three cheers for Mr. "Villiers, Mr. Cobden, 

 Lord Ducie, Lord Howick, and the other noblemen and 

 gentlemen who had taken a part in their proceedings. 

 The call was loudly responded to. 



Proposed Modification of the Window Duties. — The 

 following is the substance of a report on the proposed 

 modification of the window duties for the purpose of in- 

 suring a better mode of ventilation in the houses of the 

 metropolis, more particularly in the poorer districts, 

 which has just been published by the Metropolitan Im- 

 provement Society. On the 27th April an application 

 was made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, by a 

 deputation from the Metropolitan Improvement Society, 

 and a deputation from the Master Carpenters' Society, 

 for a modification of the window duties. The object was, 

 that the healthfulness and comfort of dwelling-houses 

 might be improved without increasing the present burthen 

 of the assessed taxes. Dr. Southwood Smith and Mr. 

 Toynbee, surgeon of George's Dispensary, accompanied 

 the deputation, and stated as the result of their profes- 

 sional observations, that the present system operated as 

 a discouragement to light and ventilation, and had a 

 tendency to promote disease. In reply they were told 

 by Mr. Wickham, Chairman of Stamps and Taxes, who 

 was present during the interview, that houses might be 

 properly ventilated without being thereby rendered liable 

 to the window duties, by means of perforated plates of 

 zinc placed in external walls. It now appears that Mr. 

 Wickham was in error, that gentleman not having re- 

 flected at the moment that any aperture in an external 

 wall that admits air will also admit light, and therefore 

 would come within the legal definition of " windows or 

 lights," chargeable by the existing Act. Mr. Pressley, 

 Secretary of Stamps and Taxes, in an official communi- 

 cation subsequently received, explains distinctly that every 

 aperture admitting light, however made, and through 

 whatever material, whether in a cellar, water-closet, 

 &c, of a house, is liable to the window duties, adding 

 that the onlv answer that can be given to the question 

 submitted by the society is, that perforated plates of zinc 

 or any other material, if so perforated as to afford light, 

 are chargeable, but not if so as to serve the purpose of 

 ventilation only, and not that of giving light. I bus it 

 appeared even doubtful, whether the air bricks sometimes 

 placed in the space between the floor and ceiling of a 

 room would not be chargeable to the window duties if the 

 law were strictly enforced. The members of the two de- 

 putations were, therefore, desirous of submitting the fact 

 (one of serious practical moment) to the Chancellor ot 

 the Exchequer, and they accordingly solicited an answer 

 to the following questions :-l. Whether fove™ 

 will introduce any measure corresponding m P" ncl P. 1 * 

 with the draft of the Bill left with the Chancellor of the 

 Exchequer on the 27th April, for filing a »" 1 ™" * 

 the existing window duties, beyond which new openmg 

 might be made for light and ventilation, without ^subject 

 ing the occupants to additional charges? And should the 

 Chancellor of the Exchequer not be P re P ared jf^J 

 such measure, whether, 2. Government will pas i a score 

 Bill to exempt from taxation, upon ™atory grounds, an 

 unglazed openings in casement stories and closets o 

 every description, that the evils complained of may >m 

 some degree be palliated, if not wholly remov ed .*. * 

 measure°might be so framed as to be attended with h * 

 or no loss to the revenue, and the former, especiauy, 

 would be gratefully received by the public as a» 

 valuable boon. In reply to this, Mr. Goulburn declm- 



valuaole Doon. in repiy iu mia, *•-• ~-. , ^ w 



to sanction either of the proposed alterations oftM » 

 it being evident, he says, that either of them, if acce . 

 to, would enable parties to have windows without the p£ 

 ment of the tax. Mr. Goulburn also says, There n 

 been no mistake, as the parties suppose, on ^V^ 

 Mr. Wickham, in stating that openings forjnw 

 might be made which would not be chargeable as 

 dows, ana I cannot think it at all inconsistent with juc 

 a statement to decline expressing beforehand a gen^ 

 opinion as to whether certain openings when m^ 

 or would not be considered as windows, and as sucn 



*$%£*>'., JValbrook-Jt™ understood in ^ 

 courts of law on Wednesday that : a motion wa <° 

 made in Chancery in the course of the day, for the^ 



pointmentof a receiver of ^ nn ^i?^\^o^ 

 of this parish. It is said however that before theft 

 appointed for the hearing of the cause the cou^ 

 either side entered into an arrangement by which m 



expensive litigation will be *™***'™**Zitot, 

 points of this arrangement are said to be , the. u * 



hat Alderman Gibbs shall immediately pay over i 

 present churchwardens all the rents and mo nej^J 

 have received since the date of his P»W»^ e n d "^ all 

 thit is to say during the present year ; secondly, tna 



ucnmo°n^ shall oe applied to the current ezpense^ 

 the parish ; thirdly, that an action at : co»»o» law ^ 

 be tried for the purpose of deciding who are ,eg y ^ 

 churchwardens in the parish ; ™*™% ^r£ d state- 

 accounts embodied in A derman Gibbs - pub »» g 



ment and which, it will be recollected, extenu 

 ^d of 18 years shall be sent *^»J&£*, 

 ers, to the office of the Accountant-General m ^ 



