filizttllantous.

Her Majesty has just presented the liberal donation of five hundred pounds towards the funds now being raised by subscription among old Etonians and others who feel an interest in the institution, for effecting several projected improvements at Eton College. His Royal Highness Prince Albert has also just presented to the Committee the sum of one hundred pounds. The sum now subscribed amounts to very little short of ten thousand pounds.—Morning Post, Nov. 13.

The Houses of Lords and Commons assembled on Thursday after- noon pro forma, for the purpose of further proroguing Parliament by Royal Commission, from that day until Thursday 21st December. The Lords Commissioners were, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Buckingham, and Lord Wharneliffe. The Commons were represented at their Lordships' bar by Mr. Lee, the Clerk of the House of Commons. No Members of either House were present except the Commissioners.

The Times of Monday made an important announcement-

" Two Commissions of inquiry are about to be appointed by her Majesty's Government; the one at the suggestion of the First Lord of the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the other at the suggestion of the Lord Chancellor.

"The object of the first of these Commissions will be to inquire into the charge of collecting the public revenue, and of considering whether it will be possible to effect any reduction in that charge, either by the consolidation of offices or by the suppression of them, or by new arrangements for the receipt and transmission of the revenue. This Commission trill also inquire whether any additional facilities can be given for carrying on the commerce and manu- factures of the country without loss or risk to the revenue. We understand that Lord Granville Somerset, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Bingham Baring, Mr. Manes Gaskell, and Mr. Pringle, have undertaken to conduct the inquiries above referred to. Lord Granville Somerset, who will preside over the Com- mission, took a leading part in the investigations on which the reductions made by the Duke of Wellington's Government in 1828, 1829, and 1830 were con- sequent. It is probable that the Commissioners will visit sonic of the prin- cipal outports, for the purpose of examining personally into the mode of con- ducting business.

"The object of the second Commission, which the Lord Chancellor proposes to institute, will be to examine into the forms and modes of proceeding in the Courts of Equity, with a view of rendering the system less cumbrous, and the progress of a suit less tedious and expensive. We have reason to believe that Lord Langdale, Mr. Pemberton, and Mr. Wi,grann, who has been recently appointed Vice-Chancellor, have undertaken to lend their invaluable services for the conduct of this investigation; which, like the other, will he carried on without any charge to the public."

Tuesday's Gazette formally announced the appointment of Lord Granville Somerset, Mr. William Gladstone, Mr. Bingham Baring, Mr Milnes Gaskell, and Mr. Pringle, to be the Queen's Comrnmissioners

" For conducting an inquiry into the details of the establishments of the several departments of Customs, Excise, and Stamps and Taxes, with a view of ascertaining whether the existing establishments arc more than adequate to the efficient discharge of their several duties; and whether arrangements can bs safely made, consistently with the due collection of the revenue, for diminish- ing the expense of them, Mr facilitating the despatch of business, and to re- lieve the trade and commerce of the country from any inconvenient delay."

A provincial paper states, on "highly-respectable authority," that communication has been received in Birmingham from Sir James Graham, announcing the intention of Government to propose a mea- sure, soon after the assembling of Parliament, respecting church- rates. The measure, we are assured, is similar to that introduced by Earl Spencer, when the noble Earl, as Lord Althorp, was Chancellor of the Exchequer.—Brighton Gazette.

Lord Stanley, in answer to a deputation from Scotland, assured the gentlemen who waited on him that the subject of emigration was under the serious consideration of her Majesty's Ministers.—Morning Post, Nov. 12.

On dit that a solemn league and covenant, signed by thirteen Peers and a great number of Commoners, has been entered into for the uncon- ditional support of the present Corn-laws without modification or alter- ation. This document, it is understood, contains a pledge that no change of any kind in the existing system will be suffered without the most strenuous and uncompromising opposition. Rumour further says that the names of several influential Whigs are attached to the docu- ment, and that it is also signed by three Dukes, of whom one is a Cabi- net Minister. Can the Duke of Buckingham enlighten us on this subject.—Morning Chronicle.

Kord Kinnaird has written a letter to the Secretary of the Metro- litan Anti-Corn-law Association, to confirm with his experience Earl Fitzwilliam's statement respecting the failure of the crops-

" A short report of the crops in Perthshire and Forfarshire may be of use in corroborating the facts stated in Lord Fitzwilliam's letter. There has not been a great deal of wheat thrashed out in this district, owing principally to its not being in fit condition ; but the wheat which was well got in proves, on thrashing out, to be an inferior sample, and will of cours.e only be fit to mix with the foreign corn, or, if not good enough for that, will be used for malting, thus keeping the averages down while the price of bread will continue high. " In Scotland the people prefer oatmeal, and complained when a few years ago they were forced to substitute bread for their oatmeal porridge; but what they are to do this year I know not, with the short crops of oats and potatoes. The deficiency in these crops, the natural food of the people, will keep up the price of bread far, I fear, beyond the reach of many, as it is indeed at pre- sent. That there will be a great deficiency in oats and potatoes, the following facts will show. Half the crops in the hill district of Perthshire and in Strath- more are still out, and, in consequence, of little value. The laud is so wet that the farmers are obliged to dig up all the potatoes instead of using the plough; and thus adding considerably not only to the expense of gathering the crop, but to the danger, in consequence of this slow process, of the crop being sensibly damaged by the frost, which has already taken place to a great extent. The crops of oats, even had the weather for harvesting been good, would have been greatly deficient. I was fortunate enough to secure the whole crop of a farm which I hold in my own bands before the wet weather set in ; but I find the quantity in the stack-yard deficient by one-third, the great falling-off being in oats. It is true that the yield cannot be exactly ascertained till the gram is thrashed out ; but as there is no deficiency of straw, it may be taken as a good criterion."

Lord Eilenborough, the Governor-General of India, and an exten- sive suite, left Grosvenor Place on Saturday, for Devonport, to embark on board the Queen's ship Cambrian, Captain Chads, for India. Mr, William Peel, son of Sir Robert Peel,joiued that vessel last week. The Cambrian sailed on Monday. tin) in the Court of Exchequer ; three gentlemen being nominated for each county for the ensuing year.

It was notified in Tuesday's Gazette, that the Queen had appointed Mr. Albert William Woods, Norfolk Herald Extraordinary and Port- cullis Pursuivant of Arms, to the office of Lancaster Herald, vacant by the death of Mr. George Frederick Belts; and Mr. George William Collen, to be Portcullis Pursuivaot of Arms.

Captain Boldero, Clerk of the Ordnance, says a correspondent of the Times, accompanied by Mr. Lovell, Inspector of Small-arms, has visited Birmingham for the purpose of entering into contracts with the manu- facturers to supply the loss lately sustained by the conflagration of the Armoury. The contracts are confined exclusively to percussion- muskets, three times the value of those destroyed.

Sir Robert Stopford has received a new instalment of honours : in a letter dated 2d October, Mohammed Jadish Rifaat, the Foreign Minister at Constantinople, transmits " an Imperial Nishan of Honour and Merit, and a sword with its handle studded with diamonds," from the Sultan, " to his Excellency, the intelligent and sage, the highly-ranked and esteemed, our intimate friend Admiral Stopford, Commander of the British fleet in the White Sea" (Mediterranean.) Colonel Fox has sent a letter to the Globe, dated Little Holland House, November 11th, saying—" I have this evening received a letter from my brother, Lord Holland, at Florence, requesting me to state that there is no truth whatever in the report that went the round of the newspapers some weeks ago to the effect that Lady Holland and himself had become Roman Catholics."

Lord and Lady Stanley departed from St. James's Square yesterday, for Knowsley Park ; where they are expected to remain for some time.

Baron Brunow, the Russian Ambassador, has sent 501. to the dis- tressed operatives at Paisley.

It is reported that the French Cabinet intend to admit professional men to the political franchise. Such a measure would add some 20,000 electors to the present number of 180,000. In discussing the probable tactics of the Opposition, the Journal des Dtlbats of Wednesday asks what is the use of discussions on theories of government and party coalitions, when the real danger to the country arises, not from political, but from social evils, and the workings of secret societies intent upon a division of all property.

A letter from Toulon, in the journals of Wednesday, gives the answer of the French Government to the accusations directed against it for disarming the fleet. Government, it says, has merely given six months' leave, with permission to serve on board commercial vessels, to such sailors as have served between three and four years. The Ministerial letter adds, that no sailor shall leave his ship till another of the class of 1840 arrives to replace him.

The Morning Chronicle has bestowed some pains lately to make an impression that M. Guizot's show of friendship towards England is in- sincere, and that England must count upon the inveterate hostility of all parties in France. The Liberal Whig journal, the organ of the party professing to be moved by the spirit of Fox, spoke thus yester- day— " We have a great many causes of quarrel with M. Guizot, in Spain, in Syria, at Constantinople, in Greece. Nay, in France we consider his disarma- ment quite as hostile as M. Thiers's armament ; for the latter were merely playthings to amuse the Liberals and the brawling portion of the public. In M. Guizot we see the rival, not the foe of England. We see no puerile hate, no vindictiveness in him, no petty journalist passions misdirecting the great aims of the statesman. We feel perfectly convinced, that if a quarrel were to arise tomorrow in Europe, and Russia were seriously at variance with England, M. Guizot would be as ready as M. Thieve, or any other French Minister, to seize the left bank of the Rhine, pocket Antwerp, and turn King Leopold adrift. We know what we have to expect from the French ; and we know, too, that the most malignant enemies we have are precisely those who affected exclusive love of England. Heaven defend us from ever having such political friends again. Although, indeed, friend or foe in a French Minister is pretty much alike; knowing, as we do, that both must implicitly obey the dominant feeling of jealous hate which pervades the noisy portion of Frenchmen."

The French Court of Peers is to meet on Monday next, to hear the report of the preliminary inquiry on the attempt against the lives of the Duke of Orleans and his two brothers. Between thirty and forty per- sons have been arrested in consequence of information given by Qui:- 'Asset ; but it was not expected that more than eight will be placed with him on triaL Among these would figure the individuals who were to have fired with Quenisset on the Princes, and, it was believed, M. Dupotz, the editor of the Journal du Pcuple. There exists no well- grounded charge against the last: the criminating document brought against him is a letter written to him by one of the principal parties accused, containing these words, " Quenisset has ruined us," and then entreating M. Dupotz to take up their cause warmly in his paper, and to request the writers of the National to do the same.

Espartero has struck a formidable blow at the instigator of the late revolt: the Madrid Gazette of November 3d contains the annexed decree, dated Vittoria, the 2Gth October-

" Whereas there exist just political reasons, causes, and considerations for public propriety, which call upon me as Regent of the kingdom during the minority of her Majesty Queen Isabel the Second, to decree—and in accord with the Council of Ministers I have issued the following decree- " The payment of the pension assigned by law to her Majesty the Queen- Mother, Donna Maria Christina de Bourbon, shall be suspended for the present, and until some new legal provision shall have been adopted in that respect.

"The Duke of VICTORY. GONZALES, President of the Council."

A great mystery enveloped the resolutions of the Regent towards Catalonia. The Espectador, a Ministerial paper, pablished on the 2d a long article on the recent occurrences in Barcelona, which it concluded by announcing, that the Government had adopted measures commanded by circumstances ; without, however, mentioning what they were. It is now understood that the citizens of Barcelona had no intention of demolishing the outer wall of their citadel : they merely desired to remove that wall which faced the town and public promenade.

General Quiroga y Fries, one of the insurgent assailants of the Pa-

lace, was shot at Madrid on the 3d, outside the gate at Bilbao, according to the sentence of the military commission.

It was reported in Madrid that the British Ambassador had presented to Queen Isabella an autograph letter from Queen Victoria, congratu- lating her on having so fortunately escaped falling a victim to her enemies.

The Cortes would, it was thought, be convoked for the month of December.

The Gazette of the 30th contained a decree, issued by the Regent at Vittoria on the 27th, suppressing the Juntas of vigilance, defence, armament, and the like, created in the provinces during the late revolt. The Regent bad likewise issued a decree reorganizing the government of the Basque Provinces, finally suppressing the Fueros, and removing the customhouse to the frontier.

King Leopold opened the session of the Belgian Senate on Friday. A multitude assembled to see him pass from the Palace to the Cham- ber; and they received him silently, but upon the whole favourably. He began his speech by saying—" Notwithstanding certain foolish and odious attempts, we may congratulate ourselves on the circumstances under which we open the session "; and that was all the allusion which he made to the late conspiracy. He referred with satisfaction to the good understanding reestablished among Foreign Powers ; the " benevolent confidence" with which Foreign Cabinets continue to assure the position of Belgium ; the increase in the products of the national industry ; and the progress of commercial negotiations to extend the markets of that industry abroad. The remainder of rather a long address is devoted to minor subjects of internal administration and improvement.

We learn from Germany, say the Times, that both Hanover and the Dutch), of Oldenburg have at length joined the Customs Union. It appears from the Augsburg Gazette of the 5th instant, that from the 1st January next the Dutchy of Brunswick would be incorporated with the same Confederation, a treaty to that effect having been concluded at Berlin. This, observes the Morning Chronicle, would make the whole of Germany included in the Customs Union, except Mecklenburg ; which is, however, negotiating for the purpose. The League will com- prise a population of 32,000,000.

The Morning Post observed yesterday, that certain Radical writers had publicly excited the people to resist the law which imposes a gra- duated scale of duties on the import of foreign corn ; and remarked that if the Government does its duty it will put the law in force in order to punish " those who print and publish that the law ought to be re- sisted." The Globe takes fire at this newspaper threat of despotic con- duct ; advises Sir Robert Peel to look before be leaps; tells the Post to quote the publications to which it alludes ; and calls to mind that, not many years back, there were counsels to the people to resist the law and take up arms, but they did not emanate from the Anti-Corn-law League —alluding to the furious Anti-Poor-law agitation to which the Tories gave indirect sanction.

The Globe also had a brash with the Times yesterday. The latter con- tended with its accustomed vigour, that Captain Elliot's proved incapa- city should make him a stern exception to the general rule by which a Ministry confirms the Consular appointments made by its predeces- sors, and that he should not be intrusted with the representation of Great Britain in Texas- " By the universal acknowledgment of the entire British press, irrespective of party differences on other points, Captain Elliot's conduct in China is almost without a parallel in the annals of official incapacity. The discarded officer (discarded by the very Whigs who had appointed him) comes home among us with the advantage of being thoroughly known as a tried man. If any retiring fruitseller were now proposing to intrust him with the manage- ment of a respectable apple-stall, the suggestion, as far as concerns the judi- ciousness requisite for such an onerous occupation, would be scouted by the humblest street-hawkers in the kingdom." " If fury and force were synonymous," exclaims the Globe, "the at- tack upon Captain Elliot in the Times of this morning would be irre- sistible ' ; and then it proceeds to a laboured defence of the Chinese Plenipotentiary. In the first place, the entire press had not condemned him ; for the Globe had claimed a bearing for him, and the Morning Chronicle had actually engaged in his defence. Then, says the Globe, in the first instance the " dispute" with China was not regarded by this Government as more serious than many previous disputes ; and Captain Elliot's policy, in accordance with that view, was conciliatory and cau- tious, seeking an amicable adjustment. In that policy Admiral Elliot concurred, acting upon the defensive rather than the offensive ; and striving to contrast before the Chinese people the magnanimous for- bearance of the British with the impotent rage of their own Govern- ment. And how inconsistent in the Times now to object to that con- ciliatory policy, when it formerly joined in condemning the Opium War 1 As to Captain Elliot's recal, it was shared by Sir Gordon Bremer, upon whom there was no imputation : was it not fair, there- fore, to infer that Government, finding it necessary to reverse its policy in China, had thought it advisable to change the instruments of the o met policy, and to use functionaries with a different class of mind?

The Colonial Gazette, taking the hint from the practical reforms in Revenue-collection and Equity-law contemplated by the Government, suggests some similar work for another department, the Colonial- " The Colonies, with colonization as a means of relief to the United King- dom from the evils of excessive competition, present the widest and moat fertile field of ' practical reform.' This seems a fit occasion for noticing the more prominent of the Colonial subjects which require wise and vigorous handling. " 1. As to the West Indies, Lord Stanley's own measure of Negro Emancipa- tion suffers grievously in public esteem from the want of concomitant measures for affording a sufficient supply of free labour. The means of such a supply are not wanting, if we had but a Government that knew how to use them. Every one of the West India Colonies would readily furnish an immigration- fund corresponding to its wants, while in Trinidad and British Guiana a pro- per arrangement of the waste lands of the Crown would alone provide ample funds for immigration. In order to bring the vast land-selling power of im- migration into full effect, it is only requisite to put a high price upon new land, with every possible facility of appropriation at that price, and to authorize the colonies having waste land at their disposal to raise money on loan for immigration on the security of future sales. Emigration from Africa

to the West Indies has commenced, with every prospect of increase and the most happy results,—provided, that is, the Government undertake to regulate the process, and subject it to the checks and conditions which shall prevent it from becoming a sort of slave-trade through the rivality and greediness of individuals competing with each other. At present this is only a tolerated, not a recognized, and still less a regulated pursuit. Why should it not be placed on the same footing of surveillance by the Government as the commercial business of emigration from this country to the Southern Colonies ? The only reason why it should be left to the chances of the chapter of acci-

dents, is that the new Ministry may be as careless about the fate of the West Indies as their predecessors were, and as willing to think that all will go well if

the Colonial Minister do but put his name to plenty of didactic despatches. This didactic despatch-writing, by way of a show of knowledge and good in- tentions, has been the principal business of the Colonial Office ever since it

became impossible to go on in the old routine of neglect and insolent opposi- tion to all improvement. It will soon be seen whether the new invention is a sufficient substitute for the measures which public opinion requires : it will soon be seen whether Lord Stanley is a statesman or only a first-rate debater.

"2. Without reverting to the whole case of Canada, on which we have frequently dwelt of late, it may just be observed here, that Lord Stanley's views of Canadian policy will be manifested by the first appointments which Sir Charles Begot shall make on taking possession of his office. It happens that the legislation of the first Parliament of United Canada had created a

great number of places, which Lord Sydenham's death prevented him from filling up. The new Governor-General has all these vacancies at his disposal. They must be filled up soon after his arrival at Kingston. Precisely as is the case in this country, the character and policy of the Government will be es- timated according to its selection of persons to fill these offices. • a•

"3. There is South Africa, which requires nothing but the rigorous handling of a ' practical reformer' in power, in order to recover from the beggarly

state in which it has been placed by a long course of the very grossest neglect and mismanagement. Here the late Government did absolutaly nothing—

save only giviug its name to didactic despatches. • • • "4. There are the colonies of the South praying for that Englishman's birth- right which it was the boast of our ancestors to bestow, and is our own uni- form practice to withhold from British emigrants settling in a new country. These people are not in love with a theory : they want practical good govern- ment, which, if the British constitution is not a mere pretence, it is utterly impossible they should obtain without some control over the management of their own affairs. As it is, they are ruled by a power wholly irresponsible to them, and residing sixteen thousand miles off.

" And lastly, will Lord Stanley be content to potter after the fashion of Lord John Russell with the great J.:). ower of emigration contained in the land-selling

principle ? Not in any one instance has that principle been fairly tried. In every case hitherto, the Colonial Office and Colonial Governors have been scared by its novelty and curious properties from carrying it fully into effect, or have been led by a spirit of jealousy to meddle over-much in the application of it. Without a high price for land, the devotion of the whole fund to emigra- tion, and the anticipation of sales by means of loans for emigration, the prin-

ciple cannot be fairly tried ; while. on the other hand, when the Government

undertakes the functions of individuals or private companies, by selling at auction with a view to competition and the maximum of price as to particular spots, it mischievously stimulates speculation—as recently in New South Wales—and brings discredit on the whole system. The subject, in a word, has not yet been fully undgrstood by any man in power. Lord Howick has got the nearest to a perfect knowledge of it. Lord John Russell meant as well as possible with respect to it, but left the working out to others who were either Imbecile or only skilful at didactic despatch -wnting. We shall soon see whe- ther Lord Stanley can belie a bad part of his reputation, and master this great power by means of patiently investigating its qualities and capacities. Sir Robert Peel would do so without fail if he were at the head of the Colonial Office."

The Morning Chronicle quoted some portion of the article from which these extracts are made, with a sneer ; as if, afraid that Lord Stanley should deviate into popular courses, it wished to alarm his pride at the idea of accepting the suggestions of a newspaper.