sions. The authors of works of literature or of art, to whom the laws of either of the two countries do now, or may hereafter, give the right of property or copyright, shall be entitled to exercise that right in the territories of the other country for the same term and to the same extent as the authors of works of the same nation if published in the other country would therein be entitled to exercise such right. The representatives and assigns of authors, &c., are to enjoy the same rights as the authors, &c., themselves. And the protection granted to original works is extended to translations. The author of any work published in either of the two countries who may choose to reserve the right of translating it, shall, until the expiration of five years from the date of the first publication of his translation, be entitled to protection from the publication in the other country of any translation of such work not authorised by him, if the original work shall have been registered and deposited in the one country within three months after its first publication in the other, and if the author has notified on the title-page of his work his intention to reserve the right of translating it, provided a part at least of the translation shall have appeared within a year after the registration and deposit, and the whole within three years after the date of the deposit. As to works published in parts, the right is to be reserved in the first part; but as to the period of five years for the exercise of the exclusive right, each part is to be treated as a separate work. All the foregoing stipulations are to be applicable to the representation of dramatic works, and the performance of musical compositions. Articles extracted from newspapers or periodicals of either country may be republished or translated in the newspapers or periodicals of the other, provided the source whence the same are taken be acknowledged, unless the authors thereof shall have notified in the journal or periodical that they forbid the republication. The importation into, and the sale in either of the two countries of piratical copies of works protected from piracy, are prohibited; and in the event of an infraction of the foregoing stipulations, the pirated works or articles shall be seized and destroyed, and the infringers shall be liable to the penalties prescribed for such offence committed in respect of a work or production of home origin. If the work be one that has first appeared in France, it must be registered at Stationers' hall, in London; if in the dominions of Her Majesty, then at the Bureau de la Librarie of the Minister of the Interior, at Paris. And with respect to the duties payable on importation, it is understood that all works published in France, of which any part may have been originally produced in the United Kingdom, shall be considered as works originally produced in the United Kingdom and republished in France, unless such original matter shall be equal at least in bulk to the part of the work originally produced in the United Kingdom. Boston, in the United States, is about to have the advantage of an Alarm Electric Telegraph, by means of which immediate notice of any fire can be given to all the fire-engine stations in the city. Forty-nine miles of wire have been stretched over the city and across an arm of the sea. There will be forty signal-boxes where an alarm can be given. duty-threepence per pound-at 300,000,000 pounds, the Governments of Europe derive from coffee a revenue of 3,700,000%., and the consumers pay nearly twenty millions sterling. The consumption in England in 1850 amounted to 31,226,840 pounds, or 1.33 pounds per head of the population-less than one-half the consumption of tea: the consumption of coffee in America is four times that of tea. A public meeting of the inhabitants of St. Giles's in the Fields and St. George's Bloomsbury, on the subject of the Metropolitan Interment Act, was held at the Store Street rooms on the 20th. It was convened by the parochial asssociation in consequence of its having been stated by Lord John Russell and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in answer to the deputation headed by the Bishop of London, that the Board of Health was not in a position to carry out the Metropolitan Interment Act, by reason of its being unable to borrow a sufficient sum of money without applying to parliament for further powers. Mr. Moore proposed a resolution, "That the continuance of burials in the already overcrowded grave-yards of the metropolis was a source of great danger to the public health; and the Board of Health, being unable to carry into effect the act of parliament intended to remove the evil, it was the duty of the metropolitan parishes to secure the benefit of efficient and economical extramural interment, and to oppose the extortionate demands of incumbents in respect of burial fees as compensation for the same. Mr. J. Rogers seconded the resolution, which was supported by several gentlemen interested in sanitary measures, and was ultimately agreed to. Mr. Fowler then entered into a long statement of the plan proposed by the London Necropolis and National Mausoleum Company, and a resolution was passed to the effect that the meeting considered the proposed plan highly deserving the support of these and all the metropolitan parishes. The sixty-third annual meeting of the subscribers to the City Dispensary was held on the 21st at the board room of the institution. It appeared from the report that during the past year 9648 patients had been cured or relieved, 54 died, 32 discharged for irregularity, and 1050 remained under treatment, making a total of 10,784 poor persons who had received medical aid from the institution during the past year; and since the year 1789 the number of 316,227 patients had been cured or relieved, and upwards. of 90,000 visits paid to patients at their own houses. The committee, in their report, expressed their belief that much of the improved state of the public health of the metropolis is owing to the facility afforded by dispensaries of checking incipient sickness. A return just published prepared from official documents, shows the rapid Progress of the Port of Bristol. It appears that the increase on the customs' revenue for the year ending 5th January, 1852, over that for the previous year, amounts to 48,804, which is equal to onethird of the total general average of the customs' revenue for the same period. The increase of direct importation for the year is 62,2417., and the tonnage return of shipping shows a remarkable increase. The following is the return :-Bristol customs' revenue for the years ending 5th January, 1851-1852:-1850-1, direct importation, 883,1167.; indirect (or brought coastwise under bond), 218,7757.; total, 1,051,8917. 1851-2, direct importation, 895,3571.; indirect, 205,3387.; total 1,100,6951. gives the increase as above 48,8047. The total increase of the general customs' revenue amounts for the year to 146,1897. The increase upon shipping with foreign cargoes of 1851 over the return for 1850 was 2339 tons; while the increase upon the tonnage of vessels with cargoes to foreign ports, was for the same period, 11,877 tons. This return is considered highly satisfactory, the improvement of the port having for some years been progressing. This The following statistics have been published respecting Coffee. Coffee was originally grown in Abyssinia, and not introduced into Arabia until about the year 1450; from whence it was brought into this country about two centuries later by a Turkey merchant, named Edwards. From Arabia the cultivation of the plant spread into the various countries in which it is now grown; and in those countries the produce has now reached the enormous quantity of 476,000,000 pounds yearly. Of this quantity Brazil produces 176,000,000 pounds; Java, 124,000,000 pounds; Cuba and Porto Rico, 30,000,000 pounds; St. Domingo, 35,000,000 pounds; La Guayra, &c., 35,000,000 pounds; British West Indies, 8,000,000 pounds; Ceylon, 40,000,000 pounds; Malabar and The Commissioners for the Sale of Encumbered Mysore, 5,000,000 pounds; French and Dutch West Etsates in Ireland sat on the 24th instant for the disIndies, 2,000,000 pounds; Phillippines, 3,000,000 pounds; posal of five properties. The attendance of speculators Sumatra, 5,000,000 pounds; Celebes, 1,000,000 pounds; was very numerous, and the competition for the different Costa Rica, 9,000,000 pounds; Arabia, 3,000,000 pounds; lots unusually brisk. An estate in Roscommon, yielding total, 476,000,000 pounds. Valued at 50s. per hundred- a yearly rental of 4741. subject to an annuity of 701., weight, and estimating the quantity which pays European realised 43757. The Cavan estates of Mr. H. Martyn produced 2,2907. on a profit rental of 2007. per annum. The extensive estates of Mr. J. Colpoys Bloomfield, lying in the county of Tipperary, were disposed of in three lots, the gross annual value of which was estimated at 9047., and which sold together for 12,3507. The Galway estates of Mr. Blake Foster, valued by the Court's own valuator at 9607. per annum, 4501. of which was apportioned to jointures chargeable upon the property, produced 6,1307. A small estate in Donegal, with a rental of 1557., charged with two annuities of 301. each, brought the sum of 13501. The gross amount of the day's sale was 26,4957. [JANUARY. the eminent firms in the Manchester district; they employ directly in their own shops 10,000 hands; and the multitude of small subsidiary firms who supply them with particular portions of machinery exclusively, will swell the number of hands who depend on them to 30,000. On the 24th of December a numerous meeting of masters engaged in practical engineering, machinemaking, &c., was held at the London Coffee-house, Mr. Field, of the firm of Maudslay & Co., being in the chair. Resolutions were passed expressive of the determination of the masters promptly and peremptorily to resist the threats of dictation conThe following authentic Railway Statistics show veyed in the manifesto of the Amalgamated society, the progress of railway communication, the amount of and the first steps were taken for forming a Central capital expended, and the rate of profits, for the last ten Association of Employers of Operative Engineers, years:-At the end of the year 1845, the length of rail- for the purpose of carrying those resolutions into effect. way opened in the United Kingdom was 2023 miles. On Tuesday evening the 30th of December, the "AmalThe total expenditure on railways at that date was gamated Society of Engineers," &c., held a crowded 71,647,000%.—about 35,0707. per mile; and the gross meeting in the Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle Street, traffic receipts from the railways for that year were called by public advertisement "to discuss the present 6,669,2307.—about 34697. per mile per annum. At the state of the iron-trades, and the position of the society end of the year 1851, the length of railway opened in in relation thereto;" or, as was indicated in another the United Kingdom had increased to 6928 miles. The handbill, The handbill, publicly to contradict certain assertions put total expenditure on railways had swelled to 236,841,4207. forward by the employers, and set the society right with -about 35,0587. per mile; and the gross receipts of the the public. Mr. Musto, chairman of the Executive year were 14,987,3107-not more than 22817. per mile Committee, presided, and Mr. Newton gave explanaper annum. In 1842, the average cost per mile of the tions respecting the society. He said that the society railways in existence had been 34,6907.; in 1845 it had had been represented as insisting-(1) upon the abolibeen 35,0707.; in 1848 it had been 34,2347.; and in tion of systematic "overtime," and (2) the discontinu1851 it was again 35,0587. So that the practical cost ance of "piece-work;" (3) with claiming that the per mile had increased, instead of diminished with the masters should discharge the class of persons engaged in, cost of material and the increase of skill. The gross and long trained to the working of self-acting machines, traffic receipts per mile since 1842 have been-In 1842, and employ in their stead mechanics, members of the 31137., or 8-291. per cent. on the capital then expended; union; and further (4) with advocating an equalisation of in '43, 30837., or 8.821. per cent. on the capital; in '44, the rate of wages. Now, the first two of these proposi32787., or 8.847. per cent.; in '45, 34697., or 9.307. per tions were the propositions of the society. The third cent.; in '46, 33051., or 9.257. per cent. ; in '47, 2870l., was never made by them, and the intention attributed or 8.207. per cent.; in '48, 25567., or 6.787. per cent.; in to them of equalising wages was as foreign to their '49, 23027., or 6.137. per cent.; in '50, 22271., or 5.801. objects and general opinions as anything could be. per cent.; in '51, 22817., or 6.357. per cent. Therefore (Hear.) Therefore (Hear.) They disavowed all intention of removing any the increased receipts fell behind their due proportion persons at present in employment (hear, hear); there to the increased length opened, every year since 1842 was nothing in the present proceedings of the council down to 1850; and only last year, when the increased that expressed or implied any such intention; they had length opened fell below the increased length opened in never asked for the removal of a man from a machine, the preceding year by more than half (from about 590 who was working at it, who had earned a title to work additional miles to about 240 additional miles), showed at it by the time he had been employed at it; and so signs of a healthy reaction. far from the opinions of their members being against those men, they had fostered and encouraged them. He further denied that the men contemplated any strike on the 1st of January. The following resolutions were then moved and adopted : The numerous body of workmen, consisting of mechanics, millwrights, and engineers, principally employed in the construction of machinery, have entered into an Extensive Combination, the objects of which have been set forth in an address, purporting to be from "the members of the Amalgamated society of Engineers, Machinists, &c., to their Employers." In that address, the workmen are represented as demanding that, for the future, no men shall work overtime, except in cases of accident, and then to be paid double wages; and that piece-work shall be entirely discontinued. A notice was also given to Messrs. Hibbert, Platt & Sons, of Oldham, that the workmen in their large establishment would leave their employment on the 31st of December, unless certain demands were complied with. In consequence of these proceedings, an announcement appeared in the newspapers, signed by the partners in thirty-four of the leading engineering and machinemaking firms of Manchester, stating that the Amalgamated society of Engineers, Machinists, Millwrights, Smiths, and Pattern-makers, had made demands upon several firms in the Manchester district, which were totally inconsistent with the rights of the employers of labour, and that the same body had given further notice, that unless their demands were at once conceded, the workmen would strike on the 31st instant. Under these circumstances, the advertisers gave notice, that if the threatened turn-out should be made in any one of their workshops on the 31st, or on any subsequent day, the whole of them would close their establishments altogether, as a purely defensive step against the interference and dictation of a small but mischievous class of agitators, who were trying to force the well-disposed workmen into opposition with their employers. The thirty-four firms signing the advertisement include all "That having heard the statement made upon the part of the council of the Amalgamated society, this meeting is perfectly satisfied that the acts and intentions of the council have been publicly misrepresented, and that it has never demanded of the kind, or the discharge of the workmen employed at machines." employers either discontinuance of the use of machinery of any "That this meeting is fully convinced that neither the Executive Council nor the members of the Amalgamated society of Engineers, &c., contemplated a strike on the 1st of January, 1852; and that the assertions put forward to that effect are entirely untrue." generally to discontinue the practice of systematic overtime and piece-work after the 31st December, 1851, and in those cases where overtime is really necessary, in cases of break-downs or other accidents, all time so worked over to be charged and paid for at the rate of double time." "The Executive Council have decided to advise the trade The Lancashire Employers of Operative Engineers, &c., had a meeting at Manchester on the same day (the 30th of December), when they decided on joining and becoming a portion of the Central Association in London. The meeting was attended by the representatives of more than fifty firms, and presided over by Mr. T. B. Sharp, of the firm of Sharp Brothers and Co., Manchester. The meeting appeared to be unanimous in their determination to resist every attempt at dictation on the part of the men as alike injurious to employer and employed. At another meeting, held on the 2nd instant, the Manchester employers resolved to give notice of closing their workshops on Saturday, the 10th, unless in the meantime the demands of the men were withdrawn.In consequence, accordingly, of the determinations adopted by the employers, a number of the principal workshops in London, giving employment to above 3000 hands, were closed on the 10th; and a number of workshops in Manchester were closed on the same day. On the night of the 10th, a meeting of the Executive Council of the "Amalgamated Society" was held, when the council resolved to submit the following resolutions to the members, requesting that branch meetings might be called as soon as possible to take them into consideration : "1. That 10,000%. of the funds of the Amalgamated Society shall be paid over to such number of trustees (the trustees to be men in whom public confidence would be placed in consequence of their position in society), not less than six, as are selected by the executive, on trust, to advance the same from time to time to managers appointed by the executive, whose appointments will be afterwards confirmed by the society, for the purpose of carrying on the business of engineers, machinists, &c. "2. These advances, as well as those which the trustees may obtain from other sources, shall be secured by a mortgage of all the plant and stock in trade employed in such business to the said trustees, who shall have a power to give preference security to any other advances over sums advanced out of the funds of the Amalgamated Society. "3. The conditions of work under which such business is carried on shall be such as are approved of by the executive of the Amalgamated Society from time to time, with the view of giving employment to the greatest possible number of members of the trade out of employment for the time being, consistently with the stability of the business and the welfare of the workmen employed." me, but in truth I can think of none. I only heartily hope that the men will not take a step so very injurious to themselves as that which the aspect of affairs seems to threaten. This letter has been extensively printed, placarded, and distributed by the Manchester employers. The Amalgamated society, on the other hand, have published the following letter, addressed to the Executive of the society, by Viscount Goderich, Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Vansittart, dated the 17th inst. ; "Gentlemen,-Lord Cranworth's letter to Lord Ashburton, published in the 'Times' of to-day, may do your cause some harm, as it is grounded on a misapprehension of the facts of the case. "As we were the persons whom you trusted to lay the question of arbitration before Lords Ashburton and Cranworth, it was our duty to take care that they understood clearly the points at issue and what you really did ask. "Now, Lord Cranworth says, 'The men insist that the masters shall not employ unskilled labourers. We can only say, that when we made the application to Lord Ashburton we knew perfectly well that you made no such demand as this. "Again, we knew perfectly well that you dul not ask for a law compelling masters and men to submit to any arbitration whatsoever. What you did ask for was, the formation of such a board as exists in France, under the title of Conseil de Prud'hommes, to which any masters and men who choose to submit voluntarily to its jurisdiction, and bind themselves to abide by its decisions, can refer all disputes between them; and you told us you felt sure that all masters and men who wished for fair play and nothing more would be glad to submit voluntarily to such a tribunal as this. "As your case, through our means, has been put on false use you please of it." statement from us, and shall leave it with you to make what An interesting letter, on the differences between the engineer workmen and their masters, by Lord Cran-merits before the public, we think that you are entitled to this worth, has appeared in the "Times." Lord Ashburton had been asked to be an arbiter between the men and their masters: on receiving a second letter of invitation, he hastened to London to consult Lord Cranworth, whom he was told "the operatives desired to place at the head of a council of arbitration for the decision of the questions now unfortunately at issue." The result was a letter addressed to Lord Ashburton. Its substance is contained in the following passages: "I feel most deeply for the men; for I believe in my conscience that many, perhaps all, not only are most fully persuaded they are in the right, but they would scout the notion of offering or encouraging those who should offer violence either to master or man. But, however pure and peaceable may be their intentions, I know from experience what is the unavoidable result. It has been my painful duty to try and punish for outrages such as I have adverted to, many men who, I have no doubt, when they entered into these trade combinations, would have been indignant with any one who should have suggested that what they were engaging in could ever lead to a violation of the law. So, however, it invariably is. I cannot wonder that the masters refuse to agree to any arbitration that is to impose on them any restriction whatever as to the terms on which they are to contract with their men. No one ought to presume to define such terms, any more than to bind the men as to the terms which they ought to submit to iu favour of their masters. The obvious duty and interest of the men is to treat the matter as a mere question of bargain. If once they do that,-if once they allow that the master is at liberty to propose his own terms, and the workman to accept or reject them, I should think the masters would— I am sure they ought-to be quite ready to listen to any suggestions of the men, as to any modifications of the system which should be more agreeable to them, without infringing on the free agency of their employers. I fear, from what has passed, that there is too much heat now to expect that any temperate advice will be attended to. Sure I am that a time will come when the workmen will deeply regret the steps they have taken, if they really are endeavouring by combination to deprive the masters of their natural right of managing their own business in their own way. I deeply feel for the men, and I should have been very glad if we could have seen our way to suggest any sort of arbitration which could solve the difficulty; but I really cannot. In the meantime, the position of the contending parties remains unaltered. The men connected with some of the London branches received their first week's strike allowance on Monday, the 19th, and the remaining branches on Tuesday. On Sunday night, the 18th, a crowded meeting of the the Phoenix tavern, Stepney; the object being mainly workmen connected with the iron trades took place at to hear a report from Mr. Newton upon the state of the movement in Lancashire. He described the allengrossing subject of attention to be the co-operative shop in Lancashire, which he assured them would be capable of employing 1000 men. His visit, altogether, according to his account, was most satisfactory, the men being animated by the utmost enthusiasm, and expressing the most perfect confidence in the Amalgamated society. On Monday, the 19th, a meeting of the non-society men and unskilled labourers was held at the People's Institute, Heyrod-street, Manchester, to consider the propriety of an appeal to the public on their own behalf. In the course of the proceedings, the Amalgamated society was severely reflected upon for having forced the masters to take the steps they did, and thus caused so much distress among their fellow-workmen who were non-society men. The meeting ultimately nominated a committee to collect funds and distribute them among the non-society men. The masters have issued a document explanatory and defensive of their conduct, in which they say, want is to be let alone. "All we With less than that we shall not be satisfied. Until we accomplish that, we shall not re-open our establishments. With every respect for noble and distinguished referees, whose arbitration has been tendered to us, and with no reason to doubt that their award would be honest, intelligent, and satisfactory, we must take leave to say that we alone are the competent judges of our own business; that we are respectively the masters of our own establishments; and that it is our firm determination to remain so. To this principle we recognise no exceptions." "I recollect you said the men think there ought to be some tribunal which should decide this question between them and their employers, and that such is the case in France. I cannot say what may be the state of the law there, but I can hardly think it possible that there can be a law regulating what contract a master shall enter into with his men: that is not a fit subject for a tribunal or an arbitration, and for this obvious reason-the master, after the decision given, has only to say, 'I will not enter into such a contract,' no one can force him to do so. When, indeed, the employed is not a free agent, not therefore an equal with the employer,-as, for instance, a child or a woman-there we know the Legislature has reasonably enough interfered; but I should be sorry indeed to think that the adult workmen of this country should claim protection on any such ground as that which has led to the legislative protection of women and children in their dealings with their employers. I wish I could have written more satisfactorily. seek the cheapest markets, and spend the money to the I promised you to make any suggestions which might occur to best advantage. The principal ironfounders of Glasgow have made a great improvement in the Manner of Paying their Workmen. Instead of Saturday evening, they are now paid on Wednesday, at 2 o'clock; and the effect has more than realised the expectations of the humane masters. The workmen return after dinner almost in their families, who have now leisure and daylight to every instance, leaving their wages behind them with PERSONAL NARRATIVE. ON New Year's Day, by the Queen's order and in her ON New Year's Day, by the Queen's order and in her Majesty's presence, there was a liberal distribution of food and fuel to upwards of five hundred poor people of good character. Prince Albert has intimated to the Government School of Mines the intention of the Prince of Wales to grant two annual exhibitions, (to be named the "Duke of Cornwall's Exhibitions,") the amount of each being sufficient to defray the expenses of the course of instruction at that institution. Lady Augusta Gordon Lennox, daughter of the Duke of Richmond, and married to Prince William of Saxe-Weimar, has been created Countess of Dornburg, by the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar. Major-General the Hon. George Cathcart is appointed Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, in the room of Sir Harry Smith. The Hon. Richard Bingham, now Secretary of Legation at Turin, has been appointed to that post at Lisbon, and the Hon. E. M. Erskine, now Paid Attaché to the Legation at Brussels, has been appointed Secretary of Legation at Turin. Lord Normanby, the British Ambassador to France, has arrived in London. M. Thiers arrived in London on the 12th inst. His mother has just died at the Batignolles in Paris, where she has long resided on a pension from her son. von Madame Schroeder-Devrient, now Baroness Bock, the celebrated prima donna of the Dresden opera, who was charged with being implicated in the last insurrection in that city, has been pardoned by the King of Saxony, on condition of her paying the costs of the proceedings commenced against her. M. Eugéne Sue has left Paris for the Lake of Geneva, where he will continue his literary labours. MM. Victor Hugo and Alexander Dumas have written to their friends to say that should they be expelled from Belgium they will reside at Homburg. A few days ago, the Duke of Wellington being on a visit to the Queen at Windsor Castle, took a stroll through the streets of Windsor, intending to visit the Sheetstreet barracks, where the 2nd battalion of Grenadier Guards are quartered, his grace being colonel of that regiment. Mr. Cantrell, an old English farmer, who had recently come to reside in the town, having retired in comfortable circumstances, was also taking a stroll, and seeing the Duke making inquiries as a "the old stranger, went up to him and politely gave gentleman" his arm, offering to conduct him whither he wished to go, and the duke and the old English farmer walked through the streets arm in arm together to the barracks engaged in cheerful conversation. Merit upon Professor Richard Owen, of the Royal The King of Prussia has conferred the order of College of Surgeons, London, in consideration of the eminent services rendered by that gentleman to natural science. Obituary of Notable Persons. ADMIRAL GEORGE BAKER, on the reserved list, died on the 25th ult., at Spring Vale, Isle of Wight, in the 92nd year of his age. BARON KEMENY, who was appointed by Kossuth as Chief to the Hungarian Committee in this country, died suddenly on the 5th inst., at his residence in Foley Place, while the secretary to the committee was reading to him a letter in a daily paper, concerning the Hungarian refugees. He was 63 years of age, and was one of the most celebrated officers during the Hungarian war of independence. CHIEF-JUSTICE CHIPMAN, of New Brunswick, died lately, having ably filled the highest post in the judiciary of his and left by his will 40007. to St. John's Church, 10,000l. to the province for many years. He was possessed of immense wealth, Diocesan Church Society, and 4000l. to the Madras School. THE HON. JOEL R. POINSETT, formerly Secretary of War in the United States, under the Presidency of Mr. Van Buren, and at an earlier period Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico during the administration of Mr. John Quincy Adams, died in Statesburgh, South Carolina, on the 12th ult., at the age of 73. GENERAL SIR FREDERICK PHILIPSE ROBINSON, G.C.B., Colonel of the 39th regiment, died at Brighton on the 1st inst., in his 88th year. He was the oldest soldier in the British army, having been within a month of seventy-five years in the service. SIR DAVID BAIRD, of Newbyth, in Berwickshire, died on the 9th inst., in consequence of an accident while hunting. He was in his 57th year. MR. T. HUDSON TURNER, one of the ablest of British archæo logists, died of consumption on the 14th inst., at the age of 37. ADMIRAL GEORGE M'KINLEY died very suddenly on the 18th inst., at his residence, Anglesea, Gosport, aged 85. He was the oldest officer in the navy excepting one, having entered the service in 1773. Place, Russell Square, on the 21st inst., in the 74th year of his age. MR. SERGEANT HEATH died at his residence in Montague MR. G. H. RODWELL, the composer, died on the 22nd inst., after suffering acutely for some months from rheumatic gout. Mr. Rodwell, who was well known in the musical world for his many song and ballad compositions, was also a dramatic and literary writer. INNELL WILLIAM CLEMENT, Esq., proprietor of the Observer and Bell's Life in London, Newspapers, died suddenly on the 24th instant, aged 72. COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES. An THE news from India is of a warlike aspect. expedition set out from Calcutta on the 19th of Nov., to enforce reparation from the Burmese of some grievances which have not been clearly explained. The force consisted of her Majesty's ships Fox (42), Serpent (12), and the Company's war-steamers Tenasserim and Proserpine, all under the command of Commodore Lambert, of the Queen's service. The first efforts to obtain reparation (it is stated) will probably be made at Rangoon; and should our demands not be instantly complied with, that place will be held in pledge till they are satisfied. At Bombay, there had been a renewed outbreak of the religious feud between the Mahometans and the Parsees. There were serious riots on the 22nd and 23rd November, and the military were again called into action. A Parsee was killed in the riots. Since the commotion, 100 soldiers had been quartered in Sir Jamsetjee Jejeeboy's meeting-house, to protect it. Sir Erskine Perry, Mr. Lumsden, and other European gentlemen, had mediated between the principal men of the Parsees and Mahometans, and peace was at length restored. It is now stated that "the Nizam has not after all paid the remainder of his debt to our Government." Part of what he handed over to us was jewels, which he estimated at 250,0007.; but on the jewels being put up for sale, the highest bid made for them did not exceed half that sum; so the jewels were returned. Some undescribed cause of military movements has occurred in Upper Scinde. It is said that our former ally, Meer Ali Moorad, has been detected forging documents of title to some of the land he claims to hold. Troops are in movement, perhaps to depose him altogether. On the 7th of September, a small vessel, the Dolphin of Singapore, while on a trading voyage to the northeast coast of Borneo, was Captured by Pirates. Mr. Robertson, the master, Mr. Burns, the super-cargo, and several of the Malay crew, were murdered with spears and krisses, and a native woman on board was nearly cut in two and thrown into the sea. vessel was carried into the Benguin River, but was afterwards given up by the native chief to Mr. Hodge of the Pluto. The for the purpose of expelling them. The troops advanced in three columns, under General Somerset and Lieut.Colonels Fordyce, of the 74th, and Michel, of the 6th Regiment. Colonel Fordyce's brigade was first engaged. A body of the enemy was found posted in a very strong position, behind the rocks at the head of the Waterkloof ravine. From this position a deadly fire was opened upon the troops as they advanced, and with disastrous effect. Colonel Fordyce and several men of the 74th Regiment were struck down by the first volley. This brave and intelligent officer was idolised by the troops under his command, and had gained the esteem and confidence of the colonists in a remarkable degree during the last few months of service on the frontier. He died on the field a few minutes after receiving the wound, his last words being "Take care of my regiment!" The enemy was afterwards partially driven from his position; but, unfortunately, not without several more casualties among the troops. Lieut. Carey, of the 74th, two serjeants, and two rank and file, were killed, and Lieut. Gordon (since dead), and eight men -all of the 74th Regiment—wounded. The following day the operations were resumed, and the enemy was driven from various positions in the ravines and dense forests, with considerable loss. On our side, one officer, Captain Devenish, of the Beaufort West Levy, was mortally wounded; three men of the 91st, and four of the levies were also wounded. On the 8th, the weather proving extremely inclement, Major-General Somerset withdrew his troops to the camp in the Blinkwater. It was understood that no further movements against the enemy in that quarter were contemplated at present. Marauding parties continue to infest the frontier districts, and to commit depredations on the few remaining flocks and herds of the farmers. Several skirmishes have taken place between these plunderers and small parties of the colonists, with some loss of life on both sides-the enemy, however, suffering the most severely. The Orange River Sovereignty, at the last accounts (Nov. 17), was still in a very unsettled state. Open hostilities, however, had not been recommenced. The draft ordinances, embodying the new colonial constitution, arrived on the 31st of October; they were subsequently forwarded to King William's Town for the Governor's perusal, and, when returned by him, were published, on the 27th of November, in the "Government Gazette." On the 28th of November they were read a first time in the Council, and their second reading was postponed for two months. The constitution embodied in these ordinances had given great satisfaction to the colonists, and this uncalled-for and unexpected postponement had caused extreme indignation. The latest accounts from Australia announce great discoveries of gold at Port Phillip. Deposits had been met with at Buninyong, about eighty miles from Melbourne, and fifty from Geelong, apparently far exceeding in value any that have yet been found within a similar space either at Sydney or in California. The whole population were moving towards the district, and it had already been ascertained that the creeks and rivers for many surrounding miles were likewise rich. The great production, however, had been at one particular spot of limited extent, where the supply was such that the space of eight square feet to each man was considered by the Government Commissioner a sufficient allotment. The number of persons already at the place was upwards of 2000, and careful calculation seemed to show that the average to each man was at least an ounce a day. Many cases of individual success were most remarkable. One man had obtained 15007. in a week; and another, a blacksmith, had got 10007. A party of three men found twenty pounds weight in one day, while another before breakfast raised thirteen pounds weight, the consequence was a far greater desertion from all ordinary occupations than had been witnessed at Sydney. Hundreds of all classes were leaving daily, including labourers, mechanics, clerks, shopkeepers, merchants, and professional men. The parliament of the Ionian Islands was dissolved on the 20th of December, by decree of her Majesty and the Lord High Commissioner issued a proclamation, explaining that the object of the dissolution of parliament is a modification of the existing Ionian constitution; and setting forth the conditions on which that modification is vouchsafed, with details of the concessions. The modifications proposed are-1. The substitution of an annual for a biennial session, in order to put an end to the dissensions between the Senate and the Assembly concerning the constitutional right of the Senate to make regulations having the force of law during the recess with the consent of the Lord High Commissioner. 2. The modification of those articles which regulate the present organisation of the Senate, in order to increase the responsibility of its members, and to regulate its duties. 3. The addition of a fifth judge to the Supreme Council of Justice, in order to enable that body to decide all cases by an absolute majority, instead of by the casting-vote of the President of the Senate and the Lord High Commissioner. 4. The permission to introduce a bill for the better regulation of the powers of the local government. 5. The substitution of powers defined by an Act of Parliament for those now exercised under the name of the high police, in virtue of Article 4, Section 2, Chapter 7 of the Constitution; which the Lord High Commissioner will recommend her Majesty to abrogate, provided the Ionian Parliament be disposed to join with him in the adoption of measures "which the experience of the last two years has proved to be indispensable.” PROGRESS OF EMIGRATION AND COLONISATION. The twenty-third detachment of colonists sent to New Zealand by the Canterbury Association (since October 1850) departed from Gravesend on the 4th inst., in the ship Stag; a fine vessel of between 600 and 700 tons burden, built by Mr. Green for the India passenger trade. The detachment consisted of about 120 cabinpassengers and labourers. A number of ladies and gentlemen, intending to proceed shortly as colonists to the Canterbury Settlement in New Zealand, assembled at the rooms of the society in the Adelphi, on the 31st of December. Mr. Self stated that the latest advices, extending to the 1st of September, show a steady and hopeful progress at the settlement. Lord Lyttelton referred to the near approach of the time when Parliament will again have legislate on the affairs of New Zealand. The Society, he said, will exert itself to secure legislation which shall as much as possible throw the weight of government upon the local management on the spot. He presumed the Government plans would tend to that end, but he feared they would not go far enough. Despatches were read from Mr. Godley, which communicated that Sir George Grey had expressed willingness to concur in the wish of the Canterbury colonists, if properly expressed, for erection into a separate government. The voyage and reception of the first party of female emigrants sent to Van Diemen's Land by the Tasmanian Female Emigration Society are described in a letter addressed to the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert by Mr. Arthur Perry, the Honorary Secretary of the Association. It is dated from Hobart Town on the 11th of October, and has been printed for the use of the committee. The following extract contains interesting details :-"I am happy to be able to report to you that the Australasia arrived at this port on the 2nd of Oct., after a fine passage of 91 days. The port officer and emigration officer at this port boarded the vessel with myself, about nine miles down the river, and we were glad to find that all the emigrants, with one exception, were in good health. We mustered them, and asked them, collectively and individually, if they had any complaints to make, either against the parties in charge of them,-the captain, officers, and men belonging to the ship,-or of the provisions, or anything else. I am glad to say that they all answered that they had none, and expressed themselves as very grateful for the attention and kindness that had been shown them during the voyage. On enquiring into their conduct during the voyage, I found that some (particularly some of the Irish Roman Catholics) had been noisy and rather troublesome during the first part of the voyage, but that they |