diminution in the causes of mortality.-80,014 persons were Married in the quarter ending June 30, 1852; and thus 40,007 new families were established, or 5286 more than were established in the corresponding quarter of 1848. The increase in the marriages appears to be general; but it is the greatest in London, where the marriages in the quarter were 6713, or 1304 more than in the corresponding quarter of 1848. In Hampshire, Devonshire, Somersetshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Durham, Cumberland, and South Wales, and generally in the ports from which emigrants sail, an unusual number of marriages was celebrated.-151,193 Births were registered in the quarter ending September 30, 1852. The number slightly exceeds the high number registered in the corresponding quarter of 1851, and is greater by 31,371 than the number registered in 1840, when, it is believed, the registration was more imperfect than it is now. Within the last 12 months 621,260 children have been enrolled on the national registers. The rate of births in England is influeneed by the seasons; it is higher in the first than it is in the last two quarters of the year, in the proportion of 34 to 31; thus, taking one year with another, the annual rate of births per cent. in the spring quarter is 3.411; in the summer quarter 3.147; the rates in 1852 were 3.516 and 3.294.-100,497 Deaths were registered in the quarter ending September 30. This number greatly exceeds the number of deaths in any of the corresponding quarters of previous years, except 1846 and 1849, when 101,663 deaths and 135,235 deaths respectively were registered. The excessive mortality in the summer of 1846 was the result of an extensive epidemic of summer cholera and diarrhea; Asiatic cholera was epidemic in the summer of 1849; and in the present quarter the chief causes of the increase of deaths were the same as were in operation in 1846. The temperature of summer in 1846 was high, and the summer of 1852 exhibited great variations; on July 5th the temperature exceeded 90°, and through the month of July was 5° above the average; heavy thunderstorms were observed. The two subsequent months were warmer or colder than the average of the season. The annual rate of mortality in the 117 London and other chief town districts for the summer quarters 1849-51 was 2-536 per cent. ; for the summer quarter of 1852 it was 2.590. The annual rate of mortality in the other 507 districts of the kingdom was 1.826 and 1-908. The increase was rather less in the town than it was in the country districts:-As 151,193 births and 100,497 deaths have been registered in the quarter, the natural Increase of Population is 50,696, which is at the rate of 3899 weekly, and 557 daily. The natural increase is less than it has hitherto usually been, not through any diminution in the number of births, but by the increase of deaths from epidemic causes. Emigration has proceeded with increased activity. The emigration from the United Kingdom went on through the summer at a rate which, if it continue the same, will sensibly reduce the population. 109,236 persons left the ports at which there are Government emigration officers; 62,579 sailed for the United States, 7116 for British North America, 38,601 for the Australian colonies, and 940 for other places. 8335 emigrants sailed from Irish, 5976 from Scotch ports. 94,925 sailed from English ports; namely, 70,012 from Liverpool, 3125 from Plymouth. and 21,788 from London. The destination of 14,956 of the emigrants from London was Australia. It is well known that a large proportion of the emigrants that sail from Liverpool are of Irish birth.

A plan, proposed by Mr. Charles Pearson, for Making a City Railway Terminus, communicating with the railways north of the Thames, by means of four under ground lines, and for constructing large markets, warehouses, and shops along them, has given occasion to a public meeting at the London Tavern on the 1st instant. Mr. Pearson gave a full description of his scheme, and its anticipated advantages; and announced that the directors of the Great Northern Railway had considered and approved of the scheme, and had resolved to negotiate with a company, if one were formed, on a fair and liberal basis. In order to secure a fair beginning, Mr. Pearson undertakes to advance all the cost of giving the requisite notices, and making the necessary prepara tions for Parliament, without looking for repayment

should the company not proceed. He proposed that the deposits of the capital subscribed should be paid into the Bank of England to the account of trustees (probably the three commercial representatives of the City); and if three-fourths of the capital required is not subscribed by the 7th January next, each shareholder shall receive back his deposit without deduction. The practical result of the meeting was, that resolutions approving of the scheme, and agreeing to these conditions, were passed; and a committee was appointed, including Sir James Duke, Mr. Raikes Currie, Mr. William Williams, and Mr. Sheriff Croll, to take steps to effect the required object.

The Direct Communication between London and Paris by Submarine Telegraph was opened on the 1st inst. A numerous company assembled at the office of the company in Cornhill, to witness the experiments. Among them were Lord De Mauley, the Earl of Cadogan, Mr. Masterman, M.P., Mr. Laing, M.P., Count Flahault, M. Ernest Bunsen, Mr. Samuel Gurney, Sir J. W. Hogg, Mr. Airey, the astronomer, and many other gentlemen known in commerce, diplomacy, and science. The most striking message, except the last, was sent to Paris at ten minutes past two-"What time is it?" AnswerAnswer-"2.10 p.m." The last message was as follows:—

"The Directors of the Submarine Telegraph Company beg leave to approach his Highness the Prince President with the expression of their best thanks for the assistance which he has uniformly given towards the establishment of this instantaneous means of communication between France and Great Bripromote the peace and prosperity of the world! tain. May this wonderful invention serve, under the Empire, to

"Dated Nov. 1, 1852, 30, Cornhill, London."

The Treatment of Patients in Bethlehem Hospital became a subject of discussion in the Court of Aldermen on the 2nd inst., in consequence of the official report on the subject, which has recently been published in the Daily News. Mr. Alderman Copeland asked whether the Lord Mayor had received a copy of the report, or evidence, or whatever it might be, which had emanated from the committee of inquiry? The Lord Mayor replied, that he had not received a copy; and he referred the matter to Sir Peter Laurie. Sir Peter said, that the authorities of Bethlehem had been prevented by the. Secretary of State from sending copies to the governors of the hospital. The committee had in the first instance, last February, directed the report to be printed for the use of its own members; but they were restrained by the influence which the Commissioners in Lunacy brought to bear on Mr. Walpole; and it was not until April that the Secretary of State permitted them to continue the printing, on condition that the report "should be transmitted in the strictest confidence to the members of the committee." Mr. Walpole did not authorise the committee to send copies to the medical officers until the 25th of June, and these were only to be used for the purpose of preparing answers. Sir Peter could not enter into any particulars, as that would be anticipating the answer in preparation. But he must complain of the manner in which the commissioners conducted the inquiry. They had not informed the governors, or the witnesses, of the charges brought forward; nor, when the report had been prepared upon an "ex-parte inquisition," had any one been heard in defence. Changes had taken place in the staff of the hospital; a resident physician, apothecary, and matron, had been appointed: but these changes were made irrespectively of any complaint. He believed that in less than a fortnight "the charges would be met by a perfect refutation.' Alderman Sidney thought Sir Peter Laurie would commit no breach of honour if he were to contradict the worst charges. Sir Peter declined to contradict anything explicitly; and contented himself by saying "that the report of the commissioners Some other remarks were had been greatly coloured." made, but nothing more was elicited; and the subject dropped.

Various schemes of Amalgamation of Railway Companies are now in agitation. At meetings held by London and North-Western, and the Midland Companies, it has been resolved to effect an amalgamation between them on the following terms:

"That the relative values of the two undertakings be ascer- reversed. Around the catafalque the Yeomen of the tained and fixed by three referees of high standing; that their Guard were stationed, and nine mourners, one half decision be given after the passing of the Act of Amalgama- military, the other from the Lord Chamberlain's detion; but in case the first application to parliament fails, further application shall be made in the following and ensuing session.partment, were seated. The chair of the chief mourner It shall, however, be competent for either company to call upon was placed at the head of the coffin, and concealed the referees to fix the relative value of the two undertakings, from view. After the royal visit had terminated, the such values not to be in any case fixed until after the 31st of pensioners of the Hospital were permitted to see the December, 1853." hall, and it was a curious and interesting spectacle to behold those old veterans, many of them apparently on the verge of the grave themselves, hobbling up to the coffin of their great commander, and staring at the glittering honours suspended on his bier. To them succeeded parties of the Life Guards and Grenadiers. There were also a few private parties admitted, including ladies, and among the rest crept in a little girls' school and the boys of the Duke of York's school, attached to the Hospital.

The York and North Midland, the Leeds Northern, and the York, Newcastle, and Berwick, have also resolved to amalgamate; and they have severally agreed to the following terms:

"The receipts of the three companies to be thrown into a common purse, and, after payment of working expenses, the neat proceeds to be divided in proportion of 60 per cent. to the York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 33 per cent. to the York and North Midland, and 7 per cent. to the Leeds Northern, in the first year. During each of the six following years, the proportion to be paid to the Leeds Northern to be uniformly increased, until in the seventh year it will reach 9 1-3 per cent. at which it is to continue. The debenture debt of the three companies to be guaranteed by the amalgamated company, but each company to be chargeable with the interest payable on the amount of debt for which it is individually liable. The neat balance allotted to each company, in conformity with the foregoing articles of agreement, to be divided among the various classes of shareholders, in strict accordance with the financial arrangements by which the three companies are respectively bound at the time of amalgamation; any alterations of those financial arrangements to be made at the risk of the company making them."

On Friday the 12th many persons were admitted by tickets; and on Saturday admission was given to the public. Unfortunately, owing to the enormous press of visitors, and the want of a sufficient police, dreadful confusion took place, two poor women were crushed to death, and many persons were seriously hurt. "The tide of scene is thus described by the Times: people set in like an inundation, and before the small force of men at the Hospital knew what they were about, the entire approaches were blocked up. Then ensued scenes of confusion and struggles for bare life, A striking instance of the Rapid Transmission of frightful shrieks and exclamations of agony, such as Intelligence has occurred in the case of the Queen's will not readily be forgotten by those who were prespeech on the opening of parliament. It was read by sent. Women were knocked down or fainted away; her Majesty in the House of Lords at a quarter-past two; children were held aloft to escape suffocation; strong and was transmitted so rapidly by the wires of the Sub-men were seen with the perspiration, notwithstanding marine Telegraph-being at the rate of forty words a the coldness of the weather, falling in great drops from minute-that its receipt was acknowledged by a return their faces; and fathers and brothers strove in vain to message from France at five minutes past three, and a recover their relatives torn from them in the crowd. summary of it was posted at the Borsen Hall Exchange- The multitude actually smoked like a heated haystack, rooms in Hamburg early in the afternoon. from the pressure and strain upon individuals. It was necessary (the precautions to secure order having been neglected at the outset) that steps should be taken to restore it, that the carriage-way in front of the Hospital should be cleared, the people confined to the causeway, and a sufficient force obtained to form barriers. Most fortunately, Superintendent Pearce, who had the charge of the police arrangements at the Exhibition, came on duty in the morning, and by his exertions a far greater sacrifice of life than what actually took place was, in all probability, prevented. He sent at once for more men, and, with the aid of the military, had barriers constructed at the points where they were required. So urgent, however, was the need of them, that cabs had to be used for the purpose. It was nearly three o'clock in the afternoon before order was re-established, and the safety of the public adequately provided for. After that time the circulation of the streets was restored, and matters went smoothly enough." Inside the halĺ throughout the day the most perfect order and decorum prevailed, and 46,834 persons passed through between nine and five o'clock.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.

THE Remains of the Duke of Wellington were brought on the 10th inst. from Walmer Castle to Chelsea Hospital. The preparations for the Lying in State were completed on the following day; and the Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by several of the royal children, paid a visit to the hall in the afternoon. The arrangements were solemn and impressive. The spacious and lofty hall was entirely hung with black. On the side walls were placed escutcheons of the Wellington family. The raised dais at the top of the hall, on which the remains of the deceased rested, was covered in the centre with a cloth of gold carpet, the bier being formed of black velvet, and surmounted by the coffin, richly decorated with gilding and crimson velvet. On the end of the bier was suspended a display of stars and orders, in number and importance far surpassing anything of the kind ever possessed by a single individual. The whole bier was surrounded by a magnificent silver balustrade adorned with heraldic devices, from which projected ten pedestals, eight of which bore, upon black velvet cushions, the Marshal's batons and orders of the eight following countries:Great Britain, Hanover, Austria, the Netherlands, Portugal, Prussia, Russia, and Spain. The ninth and tenth pedestals bore the Duke's standard and guidon, and attached to all were lion supporters in gold more than two feet high, bearing the shields and banners of the nations enumerated. At the back of the bier was her Majesty's escutcheon. The visitors entered through Thursday the 18th was the day of the Public Funeral. a long darkened corridor into the vestibule, which was Before daybreak the troops appointed to take part in only partially illumined, and in the chapel, also, a few the procession mustered in the Mall and the parade tapers were kept burning, which hardly dispelled the ground beside the Horse Guards. They consisted of gloom. In the hall four long rows of colossal silver the 2nd battalion of the Rifles, the 1st battalion Royal candelabra were distributed, at regular intervals, on Marines, the 33rd regiment, the regiments of Horse and either side, and extending to the foot of the dais. The Foot Guards, the 17th Lancers, the 13th Light Draeffect of this species of illumination surpassed anything goons, and the Scots Greys. As the morning advanced of the kind that has ever been attempted in Catholic a brilliant muster of officers gathered near the gateway cathedrals. A low platform ran along the side walls of of the Horse Guards. Lord Hardinge appeared at the halls, and upon this picked soldiers of the Grenadier half-past seven o'clock, and his presence greatly acceGuards stood like statues, resting on their arms lerated the preparations. The coffin was removed from

On the 15th (Monday) the police arrangements were so much improved, that 80,000 people were enabled to pass through without confusion or accident. On Tuesday and Wednesday the visitors amounted to 100,000 persons. In the evening of that day, the present Duke of Wellington, accompanied by many friends of the family, passed some time uninterrupted in the hall. The household were also admitted to take a last farewell of their illustrious master's remains. At a late hour the coffin was removed to the Horse Guards, the largest apartment in which (the Audience Chamber) had been prepared for its reception.

the chamber in which it had rested during the night, The car arrived at the entrance of the Cathedral at and by the aid of machinery was raised to its position ten minutes after twelve. Under the dome, on either on the lofty summit of the car. At eight o'clock the side of the area, rose two segments of an amphitheatre. hangings of the tent, which concealed it from the view, Here were allotted out the seats of the two Houses of were suddenly furled. The first minute-gun was fired, Parliament on either side of the amphitheatre, the the troops presented arms and saluted the body, upon foremost seats being occupied by the ministry, the which the roll of the muffled drum, followed by the judges, and the high functionaries of state. In a small music of the "Dead March" in Saul, announced that space close to the nave sat the Oxford deputation; in a the procession had commenced. The order of procession large space to the east were an array of officers of both may be thus generally described. Six battalions of services, forming tolerably broad belts of colour, blue infantry marched in front, followed by the cavalry, and red, bespangled with orders; and on the other side artillery, a body of Chelsea Pensioners, and several men sat the ministers from foreign countries. Above the belonging to the different arms of the East India Com-Lords and Commons towered two huge galleries fifty pany's service. Then followed the standard, or pennon; feet high. In the nave, south and north, were seated the Duke's servants, and the Lieutenant and Deputy-a dense body of citizens, fringed at the lower edges Lieutenant of the Tower, in coaches; deputations from with military. In the gallery beneath the organ, depublic bodies, Merchant Taylors' Company, the Trinity voted to Peeresses, were the Duchess of Cambridge and House, and others; officers of the Duke's household; the Princess Mary. The Duchess of Wellington sat military chaplains; the High-Sheriff of Southampton, alone. In the gallery overlooking Ludgate Hill sat and Sheriffs of London; the Aldermen and Recorder of Lord John Russell and the private friends of the Dean. London; members of the Order of the Bath; the In the centre of the area was a platform, with an banner of Wellesley carried by General Lord Saltoun; opening into the crypt; and ranged round this were captains in the army on horseback; the judges; the seats for the chief participants. When all was ready, Secretary at War, Paymaster-General, Judge Advocate- the funeral service began. The choristers sang the General, Master-General of the Ordnance, and first opening sentences of the burial office in magnificent Lord of the Admiralty; her Majesty's ministers; intonation; and as they slowly moved in procession Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chancellor along the nave, they chanted the 39th and 90th Psalms, representing the House of Lords; the Archbishop of to music familiarly known as the composition of the Canterbury, the Lord Mayor; the Duke's aides-de- Earl of Mornington, the father of the Duke of Welcamp; Prince Albert's carriage drawn by six horses, lington. After them came groups of soldiers, and the with officers of his Royal Highness's household; his foreign marshals, carrying the Duke's several batons; Royal Highness himself in a carriage drawn by six after these Prince Albert, with the sword of state borne horses, attended by his Lord Chamberlain and Groom before him, and a group of officers following. The of the Stole: the Serjeant Trumpeter and heralds; the coffin was conveyed upon a wheeled bier, the pall flung batons of Spain, Russia, Prussia, Portugal, the Nether- back, and the white feathers of the Duke's hat waving The car upon lands, Hanover, borne by military officers of the in the wind which swept up the nave. respective powers, and the baton of England borne by which the coffin lay was partially propelled by the Marquis of Anglesey; the Duke's coronet, borne on a persons in charge of the mechanical arrangements, and black cushion by the Clarenceux King at Arms; the partly by the private soldiers, gracefully placed side by pall-bearers, eight general officers in two mourning side with the generals who bore the pall. Among them coaches; the corpse, covered with a black velvet pall, were Lord Combermere, Lord Hardinge, the Marquis adorned with escutcheons, upon a funeral car drawn by of Londonderry, Viscount Gough, Sir Charles Napier, twelve horses, decorated with trophies and heraldic and Sir George Pollock. Close to the coffin walked, as achievements; the Chief Mourner, in a long mourning chief mourner, the Duke of Wellington, supported by cloak, accompanied by the Hon. and Rev. Gerald the Marquis of Salisbury and the Marquis of TweedWellesley and the Hon. W. Wellesley, in a mourning dale; each with the collar of an order placed round the coach; a number of mourning coaches containing dark cloak in which all the mourners were costumed. friends of the Duke; officers and men from every regi- A group of these followed; and then a confused mass ment in the service; the carriages of the Queen, the of servants, soldiers, and the general public. The proDuchesses of Gloucester, Kent, and Cambridge; and cession took a considerable time to defile up the nave, other private carriages closed the procession. As each stopping every now and then to give the choristers regiment or body of troops filed off in the appointed time; but at length, and after some delay, the coffin order, its band led the way, playing the "Dead March" was slipped from the wheeled bier to the platform, and in Saul, or other appropriate pieces, accompanied at the mourners and pall-bearers ranged themselves around intervals by the roll of the muffled drums. The men it. The eldest son of the late Duke stood at his father's carried their arms reversed. To the troops the mourn-head; the generals, his father's old companions in ing coaches and carriages, properly marshalled, suc- arms, on either side of the coffin, and the foreign ceeded; and the length of the procession may be marshals at the foot. Prince Albert, in a field marshal's imagined when it is stated that though the Rifles led uniform, stood in the centre of the south side. As the way at eight o'clock, it was twenty-five minutes soon as the coffin was placed upon the platform on past nine before the car started, and half an hour later which it was to descend, the Duke's hat and sword before the extreme rear was in motion. Along the were taken away, and a cushion and his coronet subline of the procession the people were assembled in stituted. Dean Milman then read the remainder of the countless multitudes, and it is computed that a million service in a clear and sonorous voice; and the choirand a half of persons beheld and shared in the cere- which, although it might have been stronger, contained monial. Englishmen had come from all parts of the many of the best voices in London-sang the "Nunc world, and foreigners from every corner of Europe. dimittis" to a chant adapted from Beethoven, and a From Ireland and from Scotland, and from the pro- dirge by Mr. Goss, the organist of St. Paul's, containing vinces of England, the wealthy, the curious, and the striking trumpet passages, leading to the very solemn in Saul: in the midst of mourning, had come in thousands for the one purpose, and effective "Dead March " and for no other; and "cheap trains" had poured for which the coffin slowly sank away from the gaze of several days the humbler classes from the least distant thousands of eyes fixed upon it into the darkness of the The disappearance was very striking. The country towns into our streets. And this vast multi- tomb. tude of men and women had to concentre themselves on platform with the body stood for one moment as firm ground not more than three miles in length, and not in appearance as the floor; the next-both were gone. more, at any point, than two hundred yards in breadth, Dean Milman resumed the part of the burial service half of that breadth being taken from the public and spoken when the body is in ground. At its conclusion, kept clear for the procession. Yet this mass, without Garter King of Arms, proclaimed the style of the orders, without concert, took up their ground, kept it, deceased in the usual form, reciting the brilliant cataand dispersed themselves within fifteen hours, in per-logue of the titles and offices of trust and honour held fect order, peacefully and contentedly. Two thousand policemen were sufficient to preserve undisturbed peace in this mighty multitude.

by the deceased; a wand was broken, and the fragments flung down upon the coffin. Then the benediction was pronounced by the Bishop of London; Mendelssohn's

COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES.

NARRATIVE OF FOREIGN EVENTS.

On the same day a decree was issued, calling upon the French people to "accept or reject" the above Senatûs-Consultum on the 21st and 22nd inst.; and the Legislative body at the same time was convoked for the 25th inst., "to certify the regularity of the votes, cast them up, and declare the result." The vote by ballot was accordingly taken, in the metropolis and throughout France, on Sunday and Monday, the 21st and 22nd. The declaration of the result has not yet been received; but the majority appears to be even greater than that of the 20th of December.

A political refugee, named Barral, from Avenières (Ain), was arrested at Chamborg on the 17th under curious circumstances. He arrived, as a traveller, at the Hotel du Petit Marseille, and having engaged a room, desired that great care might be taken to keep the door closed while he went out for a short time. He expected, he said, a person to ask for him, and would pay for whatever refreshments might be served to his friend. As he was about to leave the house a police commissioner, attended by several carabineers, arrested him. His room was searched, and 200 copies of "Napoleon the Little," and five packets of gunpowder were found.

Complete tranquillity prevails in every part of France.

the exhortations of the priests. When it was found that the other eight were hopelessly recusant, they were allowed to intoxicate themselves with rum. The shooting of them was entrusted to a detachment of Roman artillerymen, armed with short carbines, oldfashioned weapons, many of which missed fire, so that at the first discharge some of the prisoners did not fall, but ran off, with the soldiers pursuing and firing at them repeatedly; others crawled about, and one wretch, after being considered dead, made a violent exertion to get up, rendering a final coup de grace necessary.

The two chambers of the Sardinian Parliament ̈met on the 19th inst. The Senate, after organising its. standing committees, heard the report on the sanitary international convention, which is to be discussed on the 25th. The Chamber of Deputies discussed and adopted a project of law relative to the sale of national property in Sardinia, but, the number of members present at the close not being sufficient to validate the vote, the ballot was postponed to the next day. M. Massimo d'Azeglio had taken his seat in the centre, the benches of which were nearly all occupied. The members of the right were at their posts, but many of the left and left centre oppositions were absent.

There are advices from New York to the 13th inst.

The only important articles of intelligence are the death of
the celebrated statesman Danicl Webster, and the election
of General Franklin Pierce, the democratic candidate,
to the Presidency. Mr. Webster died at his house at
Marshfield on the 24th of October. He was buried on
the 29th in the private grounds of Marshfield. His
friends in great numbers attended the funeral.
the body was carried to the grave, it was placed in an

Before

The Grand Duke of Tuscany has expelled from his dominions all the Lombard, Roman, and Neapolitan refugees. About one thousand individuals, but slightly, if at all, compromised in the political troubles of their own states, or they would not have been permitted by Austria to remain here from 1849 to the present time, have received an order to quit Tuscany within five days. Some among them are men of rank and fortune, whose expenditure, added to that of their fellow-countrymen, has been of late the chief support of the rapidly de-open coffin, on a bier beneath one of the large poplar trees on the lawn; and thousands pressed around to caying trade of Florence. take a last look at the face of the departed, Two garlands of oak leaves and acorns, and two bunches of flowers, were laid upon the coffin. It was closed, and borne to the grave; the burial service was read by the village pastor, and at half-past two the earth covered the remains. Ten thousand persons attended the funeral. Among them were General Franklin Pierce, Governor Marcy of New York, Mr. Edward Everett,

The Earl of Roden, the head of the deputation to the Grand Duke of Tuscany to intercede for the release of the Madiais, has communicated to Lord Shaftesbury, in a letter dated the 26th ult., the failure of the mission. Having addressed a letter to the Duke of Castigliano, the Tuscan Minister for Foreign Affairs, praying to be admitted to an audience by the Grand Duke, the deputation received the following negative reply :

"His Imperial and Royal Highness, while appreciating the course you have adopted in this matter, would certainly have repelled any political pressure whatever, and the honourable diplomatic agents resident at this Court would have been careful to avoid it. The Madiais (man and wife), Tuscan subjects, to whom you refer, have been condemned to five years imprisonment by the ordinary tribunals for the crime of propagating Protestantism, which is proscribed by our laws as an attack

upon the religion of the State. Their punishment is the application of these laws, and their appeal for a reversal of their sentence has been rejected by the Court of Cassation. His Imperial and Royal Highness, in reserving to himself the exercise of his high prerogative in such cases and at such times as he may judge right, cannot admit any interposition in a case which concerns the administration of justice in his States and his acts towards his own subjects. My august Sovereign, recognising the benevolent sentiments by which you have been actuated, but not considering it necessary to listen to any kind of intervention on this subject, commands me to inform you, my lord, that he regrets being unable to grant the audience solicited by you and the other gentlemen who have signed the letter which has been addressed to me."

Lord Roden, in communicating this answer to Lord Shaftesbury, says :

We feel that the substance of this answer is such as to induce us to hope that although our immediate request has been denied, yet that it is the intention of his Imperial and Royal Highness to extend his pardon to the Madiais at no distant period. We therefore think it would be imprudent in us to take any further step at the present time, except to send to the Duke of Castigliano a copy of our intended address to his Imperial and Royal Highness, had he favoured us with an audience. It is our intention to ask the leave of the Tuscan Government to visit the prisoners at Volterra and at Lucca, and I hope, on our return to England, we shall be able to give you, and those whose delegates we are, every information with respect to the circumstances in which the Madinis are placed, and the hopes which we entertain for their speedy release."

The executions at Ancona, on the 25th ult., may be reckoned amongst the most appalling ever witnessed. Only one of the culprits out of the nine would listen to

Mr. Abbott Lawrence, Governor Boutwell of Massachusetts, Mr. Secretary Conrad (alone of the Fillmore Cabinet), and Judge Sprague. Funeral commemorations have taken place throughout the States of the Union. The Presidential election took place on the 2nd instant and at the same time the Hon. W. H. King was elected Vice-President. Mr. Everett, formerly ambassador to England, has been appointed Secretary of State.

From New Orleans information has been received that 600 of the National Guard at Matamoras recently revolted and fled to the American side. After organising they returned and gave battle to 1500 of the Mexican troops under General Avalos, whom they defeated, and compelled to beat a hasty retreat to Matamoras.

There are accounts from California to the 20th ult. Gold in immense quantities still continues to flow into San Francisco, as the great shipments from that place to the Atlantic seem to indicate. The steamer Oregon, which sailed on the 16th of October, had as freight the enormous amount of 2,406,712 dols. in gold dust, being the largest shipment which ever left San Francisco in one vessel. The Illinois brought nearly 2,000,000 dols.

The latest advices from Mexico describe that country as being in a convulsed state. Revolutionary schemes were in progress in all directions; the government was trembling in the terrible excitement of the people, and what was worse than all, a French squadron was daily expected at Vera Cruz to support the demand for payment of the French creditors, and a Spanish man-of-war was also looked for at San Francisco to enforce the paymert of the debts due to the government of her Catholic Majesty. Everything seems to indicate that the Mexican States are about dropping to pieces, and that the United States should be ready to receive them, one by one, as they become detached from the main stem.