The Chester Courant announces that the Right Reverend John Bird

Sumner, Bishop of Chester, is appointed to succeed the late Dr. Howley as Archbishop of Canterbury. "This promotion of the pious and learned Dr. Sumner to the Primacy will be hailed with lively satisfaction by nu- merous and influential parties in the Church. The Right Reverend Pre- late left Chester for London on Tuesday evening, in compliance with a Royal message, requiring his attendance in the Metropolii."

The leaders of "the Country party" have been appointed by a large Assembly of that party to present an address to Lord George Bentinck, in terms of compliment, on the occasion of his having retired from the leader- ship of their body in the House of Commons.

We are authorized to state that Lord Granby has declined the honour of succeeding to the post of leader of the Conservative party in the House of Commons, become vacant by the retirement of Lord George Bentinck. His Lordship, from a sense of modesty which it is impossible not to appre- ciate and respect, however mistaken it may be, has signified his readiness to cooperate for the general welfare, but not to assume the foremost place.— Morning Herald.

Copies of four despatches interchanged by Prince Metternich and Lord Palmerston, in autumn last, on the then rising fermentations of the Italian States, have been published this week. The first is addressed by the Austrian Minister to his Ambassador at this Court, Count Dietrichstein : it is dated the 2d and was communicated to Lord Palmerston on the 11th of August. The writer presumes that the position of the Central States of Italy had already engaged the attention of the Court of London, and entertains no doubt.of the accord of that Court with the Austrian Cabinet on the subject. He then says-

" The Emperor wishes to explain his sentiments on this occasion with the frankness with which he has been accustomed to address the Government of Great Britain, and desires to know the determination of that Government on the state of things which his Imperial Majesty considers a proper basis for the future. " Italy is a geographical expression. The Italian peninsula is composed of sovereign states, mutually independent. The existence and the territorial limits of these state, are founded upon principles of public general right, and guaranteed by political acts of undoubted, authority. The Ertuktor, for his part, is resolved to respect those rights, and to contribute, all in his power to ail& maintenance.

" You will communicate, M. le Comte, this _despatch to the Chief Secretary of State, sod beg of him to explain the viewe of the Court of London respecting the nature of those guarantees under which the positions of the Sovereigns who reign in Italy are placed."

The second despatch was accompanied by another of the same date, addresied also to the Austrian Ambassador, amplifying the first. It states that Italy is delivered up to a revolutionary movement under the guidance of political sects that have for years threatened the states— "These sects," it continues, "require a single political bead, or at least a federa- tion of states placed under the control of a central supreme power. An Italian monarchy does not enter into their plans. An abstraction of Utopian Radicalism is the advance which they contemplate. No possible king of such a monarchy exists on either side of the Alps. It is towards the creation of a federative republic, after the model of North America or of Switzerland, that their hopes are led.

" The Emperor our august master does not pretend to be an Italian power. He contents himself with being the chief of his own empire. Some parts of his empire extend beyond the Alps. He desires to maintain them. Beyond them he demands no actual possession; he but wishes to defend his own. Such, M. rAm- bassadeur, are the views of his Imperial Majesty: they ought to be the views of any. Government that wishes to maintain its rights and respect its duties.

"We place a great question of the day on the broadest political basis. We wish to know if the great guardians of political peace partake our views. We pretend to no social or governmental polemics; but we speak of that which is equally valuable to kings and to people, and which must before long decide the peace of Europe."

The third despatch is from Lord Palmerston in reply to these two, and is addressed to Viscount Ponsonby.

" Foreign Office, 12th August 1847. "My Lord—Count Dietrichstein read to one yesterday two despatches ad- dressed to him by Prince Metternich about the affairs of-Italy. "The first of these despatches expresses the wish of the Austrian Government to know whether her Majesty's Government admit the principle that the state of possessiOn established in Italy by the treaty of Vienna ought to be maintained; and it also declares the determination of the Emperor of Austria to defend his Italian territories against any attack. The second despatch relates to a scheme which the Cabinet of Vienna supposes to be entertained by some parties in Italy to unite the greater part of Italy in one federal republic; and the despatch at the sane time explains reasons—social, political, and geographical—which, in the opinion of the Austrian Government, must render such a scheme impracticable.

'' I have now to instruct your Excellency, in reply to the inquiry contained in the first of the above-mentioned despatches, to assure Prince Metternich, that her Mffesty's Government are of opinion that the stipulations and engagements of the treaty of Vienna ought to be adhered to in Italy, as well as in all other parts of Emma to which they apply; and that no change can properly be made in the ter- ritorial arrangements which were established by that treaty without the consent and concurrence of all the powers who were parties to it. fhis opinion her Ma-

Vsty's Government have had occasion not along ago to express to the Cabinet of Vienna, end this opinion her Majesty's Government still entertain. " But her Majesty's Government are g.lad to think that it does not at present appear to be likely that any events will happen in Italy to which the principle in- volved in that opinion would practically apply; for her Majesty's Government are not aware that any European power or state meditates any attack un or in- vasion of the territories of any Italian state; and therefore her Majesty'spo Govern- ment, fully sharing that legitimate sense of the right of possession which leads the Government of Austria to declare its determination to defend the Emperor's Italian possessions, yet hope and trust that no event is at present impending which would render it necessary that this determination should be carried into practical execution. " With reference, however, to the posture of things in Italy, her Majesty's Government would wish to observe that there is another right besides that of self-defence and self-maintenance which is inherent in independent sovereignty; and that is the right which belongs to the sovereign power in every state to make such reforms and internal improvements as may be judged by such sovereign power proper to be made, and conducive to the wellbeing of the people whout it governs.

" That right it appears that some of the Sovereigns of Italy are now willing and prepared to exercise; and her Majesty's Government would hope that the Govern- ment of Austria may think fit to employ that great political influence which Austria legitimately possesses in Italy with a view to encourage and supped those Sovereigns in such laudable undertakings.

"Her Majesty's Government have received no information as to the existence of any such scheme as that which Prince Metternich mentions in his second despatch, as being planned for the purpose of uniting the now separate states of Italy in one federal republic; and her Majesty's Government entirely agree with his High- ness in thinking, for the reasons which he assigns, that such a scheme could not be accomplished. But, on the other hand, her Majesty's Government have been convinced, by information which has reached them from a great variety of quarters, that deep, widely-spread, and well-founded discontent, exists in a large. portion of Italy; and when it is considered how full of defects and how teeming with abuses of all kinds the present system of government in several of those states, and more especially in the Roman States and in the kingdom of Naples, is known to be, it cannot be surprising that such crying evils should generate the strongest discontent; and it is very possible that men who feel the full intensity of the grievances under whiCh they now are and have for a long series of years been suffering, and who see no hope of redress from their present rulers, should take up any scheme, however wild, from which they may fancy they could derive a

chance of relief. .

" This observation does not indeed apply with fall force to the Roman States, because the present Pope has shown a desire to adopt many of those much-needed reforms and improvements which, in 1832, Austria in conjunction with Great Britain, France, Russia, and Prussia, urgently advised the late Pope to carry into execution; and, it may be hoped, that if the Popo is encouraged and assisted by Austria and the other four Powers in removing the grievances of which his sub- jects have long complained, the discontent which those grievances havo created will soon die away. " But there are other states in Italy, and more especially the kingdom of Napier, where reforms and improvements are required almost as much as in the Roman territory; and her Majesty's Government would hope that, as no European power is more interested than Austria in preserving the internal tranquillity of Italy, so will the great and well-known influence of Austria in Naples be beneficially exer- cised in encouraging those reforms and improvemeuts which will tend to remove the discontent from which alone would spring any dangers by which that tran- quillity is likely to be threatened. " Your Excellency will read this despatch to Prince Metternich, and will give his Highness a copy of it. " I am, &c. PALMERSTON."

This despatch was followed, on the 11th of September, by the fourth now published, addressed to Lord Ponsonby; in which Lord Palrnerstem writes- " Whatever reports may have reached her Majesty's Government as to the late transactions and recent diplomatic communications in Italy, they are persuaded that the Government of Austria cannot contemplate or have authorized any pro- ceedings at variance with tire principles above mentioned; and that neither with regard to the King of Sardinia-M:11,1th regard to the Pepe can the Austrian Go- vernment have any intention of converting any measures of internal legislatien or adininistrative reform which those Sovereigns may think fit to adopt in their respective dominions into an occasion for any aggression whatever upon their territories or rights. Her Majesty's Government, indeed, would deeply regret the occurrence of events which it would be impossible for Great Britain to view with indifference.

"The Crowns of Great Britain and of Sardinia have long been bound together by the ties of faithful and intimate alliance; and Great Britain can never forget or repudiate claims founded upon such honourable grounds. "The integrity of the Roman state may be considered as an essential eleMent of the political independence of the Italian peninsula; and no invasion of the ter- ritory of that state could take place without leading to consequences of great gravity and importance."

In 1815, Lord Holland, with two other English gentlemen, was presented to King Joachim of Naples. The King mentioned that the Emperor of Russia, who had no constitution at home, was for giving new ones to every King in Europe; and he asked what the Englishmen thought of that circumstance. Lord Holland replied, without reflection, "Constitutions, Sire, cannot be given—they must be the growth of time." This careless remark was afterwards quoted by King Joe: chin as an authority for refusing a constitution; and on learning that fact, Lord Holland addressed a letter to the Duca di Gallo, setting forth his deliberate views. That letter is now published by Mr. Ridgway, as a pamphlet; interesting for its bearing on passing events in Italy. It is a very able sketch of a constitution, to be established at once, with a programme for the first King's speech—all ex- pressed in animated and excellent English.

The Speaker of the House of Commons gave his first grand Parliamentary en- tertainment on Saturday last, at his residence in Eaton Square. The guests comprised the principal members of the existing Administration.

The Queen has been pleased to constitute and appoint the Right Honourable

Richard Later Shell, Mister of the Mint, William Cotton, Esq., Comm' - General Sir Edward Pine Coffin, and Colonel William Hearne Forbes, H.E.I. . Bengal Engineers, to be Commissioners to conduct an inquiry into the Royal Mint; and has empowered and commanded them to inquire into and report upon the constitution, management, and expense of the Royal Mint, and to suggest such alterations as may appear to them to be required to insure the economical and satisfactory execution of the duties belonging to that establishment.—Timer. Mr.-Ralph W. Grey Member for Tynemouth, has resigned his situation as private secretary to Lord John Russell.—Sunderland Herald. Mr. Henry Ellis, formerly Ambassador to Persia, and Mr. Pakenham, who ne- gotiated the Oregon treaty, are about to be created Knights-Commander of the Bath. This rank of the order has been hitherto confined to the Army and Navy ; but we understand twenty:five Civil Knights-Commander are to be made very shortly.—Morning Chronicle.

A paragraph has been published in several of the papers, which would seem to intimate that political considerations had some influence upon the intention of the Austrian Ambassador to avail himself of a short leave of absence in the ensuing spring. His Excellency has not been absent from his post for the three years during which he has been accredited to this country, and we are informed that he will return immediately upon the conclusion of some family affairs which require his presence in the Austrian capital.—Times.

Mehemet All has sustained a great constitutional shock from an attack of dysentery, which at one time threatened to be fatal. The aged chief has rallied; but his appearance is greatly altered: " hie eyes have lost that quick and intelli- gent look for which they were so remarkable; his cheeks are shrunk; and his voice is quite feeble, as if it were an exertion to him to speak." Del Carretto, lately Police Minister of Naples, has arrived at Marseilles. On hill arrival, groups of Sicilians and Neapolitans, some of whom had been victims of the rigours of the ex-Minister, assembled on the heights near Fort St. Jean, near which his ship the Nettnno was at anchor, and barks filled with Italians surrounded the vessel hooting and hissing. That Del Carretto might be placed beyond reach of annoyance, he was conveyed to the Lazaretto to complete his quarantine. The Florentine Patria publishes a sentence said to have been written by the Duke of Modena himself on some prisoners in the late disturbances. " As it appears that-1st, Dr. Menozzi is a man of talent and acquirements, we condemn bun to imprisonment for eight months; 2d, that Surgeon Ciro Berselli has less talent and fewer acquirements, we condemn him to be imprisoned for four months; fid, that Campana has still less talent and still fewer acquirements, we condemn him to be imprisoned for two months."

Frosts have lately had a very destructive effect on the rails of many of the Belgian railways. On the Charleroy to Namur line, upwards of 1,000 rails snap- ped in two in the course of a few days. Accounts from the Rhine state that the ice in that river has been for some days in full and rapid motion, and there is every prospect that the navigation will recommence within a week. The drift of the ice had fortunately not yet caused any considerable damage, and the water is not higher than from ten to twelve feet above low-water-mark; an extraordinary circumstance for this season of the year. Similar accounts have arrived from the Maine, the Moselle, and the Elbe; but very heavy falls of snow—so heavy that in many places even railway com- munication is stopped—are mentioned from most places East of the Rhine, and from some parts of Belgium. A part of the vessels destined for Hamburg went into Hull and wintered there; Cuxhaven not being a sufficiently safe harbour during a severe season. The consumption of horse-flesh as human food is increasing rapidly in Berlin: in January,147 horses were killed for the purpose, producing about 61,000 pounds of meat. The horses are old worn-out animals.

Such is the extent to which vineyards have been planted in New South Wales, that a single landowner, Mr. M'Arthur, has made in one year 17,000 gallons of wine, some of which when bottled has been sold for 20s. a dozen at Sydney.

The celebrated Jesuit Padre Ityllo has been murdered, along with six corn panions, by the natives of Nubia, near the frontiers of Abyssinia.

A shocking incident has happened at Lerida. Vicente Porta, a native of Al- carms, and Thomas Balague, of Menasques, had been tried by the Military Com- mission of the place, as authors of a certain robbery, and condemned to be shot. They were led out, and received the volley; and it having appeared that Thomas BalagoS. was still breathing, the commanding-officer ordered two discharges to finish him. Vicente Porta was buried; but., as Balague was about to be laid in the grave, a spectator heard a smothered groan from the coffin. The cover was removed; the man was still living, and, in agony from his many wounds. Inform- ation was given to the Commandant-General, Senor Castellan, and he sent orders to the Town Major to put him to death. But the Alcalde, Don Ramon Pair, in- terfered and prevented this. The wounded man remained bleeding in his coffin, breathing heavily and showing signs of consciousness, for three hours; eventually he died from loss of blood, just as an order came to remove him to the military hospital. His companion was married in the capilla on the morning of his death, to satisfy an engagement.

The Committee who made np the sum for the purchase of Shakspere's house are far from being reimbursed. They announce a "character ball" in aid of their funds, to be held in Willis's Rooms on the 29th of May; and are endeavour- ing to obtain the patronage of ladies of power and distinction.

It is stated that farmers in Gloucestershire are purchasing moles by hundreds, and turning them out on their arable lands Scores of the destructive wire-worm have been found in the stomach of a dissected mole.

The Journal de Reims says that the other day a gentleman captured a raven, round the neck of which was a silver plate, with an inscription in English—" This raven, caught by Captain Duncan, of the Scotch Guards, in garrison at Rheims, was set at liberty January 7, 1643."

As the story goes, a Bristol bird-fancier has taught a parrot to speak to some purpose. The bird was a fine one, and talked well; so the owner sent it to the Queen as a present. When her Majesty entered into conversation, the parrot was at first rather shy, but, getting bolder, she at last exclaimed, "If you don't send twenty pounds, 1'11 go back 1 " The amount was sent to the wily bird-fancier; at least so says Felix Farkys Bristol Journal.

A sewing-machine has been exhibited at the Royal Institution; the ingenious invention of Messrs. Thimounier and Magnin, of Villefranche. It is said that " three hundred stitches a minute can be made with ease, and their size increased or diminished on the instant by turning a screw. It is impossible that human labour can approach to the nicety and precision of this machine, which will sew, stitch, and make edgings, with the same movement."

A court-martial assembled on the 31st of January, on board the Trafalgar, to try Lieutenant Rooke and the survivors of the Avenger, for her loss on the Sorelle Bock& The Court has not found sufficient evidence to account for the accident. The conduct of Lieutenant Rooke in lying off the ship to save the lives of any who might seek safety, and his perseverance in returning to the vessel from Tunis, is pronounced to be "most praiseworthy and humane." The Court express very considerable doubts whether the Avenger had Mediterranean charts on board.

Captain Superintendent Nicolas, of the Plymouth Victualling Yard and Hos- pital, has given directions that the widows of the crew of the lost Avenger, resi- dent in this neighbourhood, shall be preferred as nurses, or for other employment in the hospital, as vacancies occnr.—Plymouth Journal.

On the arrival at Cork of the barque Swan from New York, the authorities learned that one of the crew, John Preston, was lying dangerously it from a beating inflicted by the mate of the ship. The sailor was taken to the Infirmary, and the mate was arrested. The Mayor took the informations of Preston at the Infirmary; and in the course of his statement the man made a charge against the captain, John Sterling. " On the 17th of January, while the vessel was on her voyage, a Dutch sailor, named Richtart Heltt, being ordered up to unfurl a sail, in attempting, upon two occasions, to execute the command, was obliged to come down upon the yard-arm; his inability arising from lameness, the effect of a wound received while in the American service. The captain went down to the cabin, brought up a six-barrelled revolvingpistol, loaded, and presenting it at the unfortunate man, threatened to shoot him if he did not go up and unfurl the sail; saying, while he directed the pistol towards him, ' Will you go?—once: will you go?—twice: Unable to obey the command, and fearful of the immediate execu- tion of the threat, the man jumped into the sea, and was drowned." Other evi- dence corroborated Preston's; and of course Sterling will be brought to trial.

Harriett Parker, the woman who was convicted of murdering the two children in Golden Lane, has, in the full expectation of death for her crime, written a pathetic letter to her paramour, full of penitence and good counsel. The Jury who tried her recommended her to mercy, " on account of the great provocation she had received"; but Sir George Grey does not perceive any ground on which ha can recommend the woman to the mercy of the Crown; so she is to be hanged,

The two men, Rosseel and Vaudenplas, accused of the triple murder at Brussels, have been tried for the crime, convicted, and sentenced to death. They have confessed their guilt.

William Allnntt, the boy who poisoned his grandfather, has been sent to the prison for juvenile criminals at Parkhurst in the Isle of Wight.

The expense of the Metropolitan Police during the year 1847 amounted to 22,2081.

Barber, the solicitor who was found guilty of complicity in the notorious was forgeries, has arrived in France from New South Wales: his conditional pardon was mentioned some time ago. Barber is not permitted to enter the United Kingdom. He has been enabled to reach Europe by means of a public sub- scription in Sydney. A young man at Aberdeen has died of choloform. He was employed at a wholesale druggist's, and from inhaling the vapour of choloform whenever he supplied the article, he had acquired a habit of inducing a kind of intoxication by smelling some of the fluid placed on his handkerchief. He had been warned that he was destroying his nervous system by the indulgence; • but in vain. At last he inhaled the vapour so largely that he dropped quite senseless on a counter, and when raised some time after he was dead.

Some eighteen months ago, several robberies were committed at banks in the City by thieves who mingled with the customers at the counters: last week the plan was resumed, and too successfully; 6001. in notes was abstracted from a bank-clerk's pocket-book, while his attention was momentarily engaged. Twenty-three years ago, a youth belonging to Sunderland jumped overboard from a ship at Aldborough, on the Thames, while lying at anchor, and was supposed to be drowned. It appears, however, that he had swam ashore, and made his way to Bridgewater; where he found a home, :and was apprenticed by his foster-father to the ship-carpenter business. From that time his parents never heard from him. He was eleven years on board of a man-of-war after his apprenticeship was served; and last week he came home to see his parents, of whom his mother only remains. A brother, born after his supposed loss and named after hint, and also a sister, were alive to greet him. We have heard of no reason assigned by him for so long keeping his existence a secret.—Suader- land Ilerald.

Results of the Registrar-General's return of mortality in the Metropolis for the week ending on Saturday last—

Zymotic Diseases Dropsy, Cancer, and other diseases of uncertain or . .riable seat Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and senses Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels Diseases of the Lungs, and of the other Organs of Respiration Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion Diseases of the Kidneys, ac.

Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, inc.

Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, Re.

Diseases of the Skin, Cellular Tissue, Re.

Malformations Premature Birth Atrophy Old Age Sudden Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance Total (including unspecified causes) 1525 1107

The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 60.8° in the sun te'26.0° in the shade; the mean temperature by day being warmer than the average mean temperature by 6.1°. The general direction of the wind for the week was South- south-west.

Winter av184erage.

59 198 138 39 225 62 9 13

a

16 25

79 Is

31

2

7 1 26 Number of deaths. 31 4 208 15 31 7 1