The following letter by Mr. Joseph Hume appeared in the

morning

"Gentlemen—You are aw.are that this evening was fixed for bringing for- ward that important motion respecting the reform of the representation, which had been decided on after mach consideration and communication with the Re- formers of the country, as best adapted to conciliate and unite the largest amount of public opinion. "A previous motion of Lord George Bentinck's has occupied the attention of the House until after eleven o'clock ; when it appeared to myself and friends around me that it was too late to secure for the question that discussion to which it is entitled; and I have therefore been compelled to postpone the motion to the 20th June, that being the earliest vacant day on the order-book of the House. "The Prime Minister having seized this opportunity of stating, in his place, that neither the middle nor the working class of this country are favourable to the reforms of which I had given notice, the delay will afford you, the Reform era of the United Kingdom, the means of making known your opinions and wish- es in the usual constitutional manner. "I remain your obedient humble servant, JOSEPH HUME."

Sir Henry Bnlwer arrived in London, from Spain, on Wednesday morn- ing,and had a long interview with Lord Palmerston in the afternoon. The Conde de Mirasol arrived on Thursday. A Cabinet Council was held on Wednesday afternoon, at the Foreign Office; and sat three hours.

Sir Henry Pottinger arrived at Madras on the 7th April, in the ship Lady Flora.

A despatch by the Duke of Sotomayor, dated the 16th April, replying to Lord Palmerston with ability and dignity, has come to light this week for the first time. It was not given among those printed on the call of the Houses of Parliament, and appeared first in the Spanish journal, El He- raid,o of the 16th instant.

• 145 Presse contradicts rumours that the Prince de Joinville is in Paris; and takes the opportunity to keep his name before France by publishing attracts of a diary or journal, addressed by the Prince to a naval officer now in the service of the Republic, and formerly his own aide-do-camp. The first set of memoranda are dated Mtistapha, and were written on the 25th of February—the day after Louis Philippe fled from Paris. Alluding to the threatening news daily arriving from France, the Prince declares that his ambition is gone—that he "would go to live on the banks of the Illinois with as much tranquillity of mind as at Neuilly or St. Cloud." After he reached Claremont, his memoranda were made from day to day. On the 8th April he wrote—" I had at one moment the idea of going to Brest at the time of meeting of the Assembly, and to establish myself there with my wife and children. What do you think of this idea? I think that at Brest, living as a simple citizen, my presence would give offence to no one."

"11th April.—I think more than ever of going to Rome, to wait until our lot shall be decided. We should be freer there and we should live very economically. But previously I wish to accomplish my duties to the country to the end. If I can reenter France, under a Government strong enough to permit me, it is what I desire the most. If the Assembly be oppressed and placed under the terror of Bonne rascals, and if an effort be attempted to deliver it, I will be in it, however great the risk may be; and I would compromise myself and sacrifice my life for the salvation of the country, if I thought that that would be useful. If nothing of all that takes place, and if I cannot return to France, I do not abandon the idea of the 'Far West,' which pleases me more and more." "14th April.—The spring has now arrived, with its verdure' its flowers, and its sweet aspect. Alas! nothing smiles on us this year! Family, country, dreams of greatness and glory—all are lost. Where shall we go? What shall we become ? I know not, but it seems impossible tome thatthings can last thus."

• • * "I know not what measures to take for me and mine. To go to Rome is very far, and very dear. I should prefer Rotterdam." "15th April.—I am anxious to be off. Rome is too far. The journey would be fatiguing, and cost too much money. Among the neutral countries, Holland appears to me to be the most suitable. I am inundated with letters, both public and anonymous, inviting me to make a move—to raise a flag; stating that only a leader was walking. There are in fact, no more than drowning men catching at a twig. I do not think that the Utopists have as yet beer made sensible of all the miseries they may engender." _ [Arago's letter had come to him and his brother at Aigrs,,with appeals to their patriotism: having faith in their eiitintry, they yielded—their ideas were too liberal for them to oppose a Republic. But what had happened since?) -

"Disgust at what has taken place in France has excited in me a violent irrita- tion. The odious tyranny' which at this moment rules over the country awakens in me sentiments of the most energetic resistance. I imagine that I sin wanting to my country in not offering to her my contingent of courage in a struggle in which there appears to be so little of it. Every emigrant I see arriving here, de- serting his country from fear, causes me a fit of rage. I would give anything to be able to disembarrass myself of my title of prince, with the doubts and suspicions it raises against me, in order to be able to return into France and take my part in the struggle."

His mind alternated with faith in his country and projects to restore her grandeur, and with sorrow at the impotence and violence of those who governed her.

• On the 5th of May he had renounced quitting England. He again cri- ticizes the political situation of Paris.

‘'In the midst of all the faults of the Provisional Government, of the hatred and the ridicule which they excited, the Assembly has been elected—it is Re- publican and Moderate. I think that it has been clearly proved that the experi- ment'of universal suffrage is favourable to order and property."

Alluding to the dangers which the new Government would run, on the one hand in avoiding extreme measures, and on the other in escaping charges of reaction, he sketched their best course with military adroitness and decision. He presupposes that intimidation successfully may have been practised in Paris- " The best thing to be done in that case would be to select some town such as Amiens, Bourges, or Alencon, and there to call together all the Assembly that was dispersed, to collect there all the troops and all the National Guards. The members of the Assembly could there vote what they pleased, and then march on

But subsequently he says-

" I have excellent hopes of the Assembly: its preliminary sittings are a little disorderly, but that is Inevitable in so numerous a meeting. Its spirit appears to me good. I believe that it really has the intention of founding a grand and powerful republic. God grant that it may be so!" • • • "We, who know our country, are aware how strong will be an authority speaks in the name of universal suffrage: it must be allowed that it is the only authority that can save the country. The faults of the past Government did not prevent its lasting seventeen years; so that it is not so difficult to govern France." Recurring again, on the 5th instant, to his own prospects, he wrote- " Were I an unmarried man, I should naturally devote myself to my country for ever. But at present, if I foresee that I shall not be able to return to my country unless at an uncertain and distant time, I ask myself if I ought not to give up the idea at once, whatever may be my regret, whatever the chances of the future, in order to prepare for my children some certain provision ? If I wait in- definitely until my country opens to me its door, I may die and leave my children poor, without country, and invested with that title of prince which is more and more difficult to bear. If, on the contrary, I take a decisive part, I can employ

i

my remaining years of vigour and energy n forming in the United States an esta- blishment, and making a little fortune for my children. In dying, I should leave them a country to know and to love, and suitable means of existence. It is only in the Far West' that Ican throw °like al man. I should there, in 'fine be able to satisfy a part of my tastes, and have before mean object to attain, towards which all my thoughts Would tend. My projects as to the future will depend on the turn the Assembly will take. I hope to be decided before long." As to personal occupations- 8th March.—" I walk enormously. A grand fete yesterday. We took our wives on the Thames, fresh East wind and foggy. Arrival of a prodigious forest of ships. You know how much this spectacle has already struck me. I saw innumerable vessels with screw-propellers, and among others a frigate in iron with battery from end to end." 11th May.—" The weather is delightful. I take advantage of it to pass my days in the open air. Stretched on the grass, I read an immensity, whilst our wives work. They make all their own dresses, bonnets, &c.; and I can assure yen that they could earn their living. As to me, a company in London has offered in the command of a vessel destined for India; so that you see that we can battle against want. My health continues to be not very good: there is always some. thing wrong—sometimes one thing, sometimes another. Happily, my wife and my dear little ones are well. May we again behold our native land !"

An officer in the department of Stamps and Taxes having been recently dismissed for voting at the last general election, and there being reason to believe that the case referred to is not the only one in which persons hold- ing offices in the revenue departments have violated the law by voting or otherwise interfering in elections for the House of Commons, the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have, by an order dated the 9th instant, directed that the officers of Customs, he distinctly informed that their Lord_ ships are determined to carry the la* into effect as regards the dismissal of revenue-officers interfering at elections.

An intention has some time existed in certain circles to form a settle- ment in New Zealand composed of members of the Church of England, and which should aim at securing a negrer resemblance to the general so- cial aspect of the mother-country than at present exists in any colony. The Times of Tuesday announces the definitive formation of an associa- tion in London for this purpose, and explains their plans. The Arch- bishop of Dublin, the Bishops of Exeter, London, Oxford, Winchester, and St. David's, Lord Ashley, Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Henry Goulburn, M.P., the Honourable John Talbot, Mr. Augustus Stafford, M.P., and Mr. John Hutt, are leading members of the aesociation. It is proposed to send an agent to New Zealand in a few weeks to select a station, and in the mean time to diffuse information and commence the selection of colonists.

The Asiatic cholera is appearing simultaneously in Russia over a very large extent of country—at Nishni Novgorod, Alexandroff, and at Moscow. It has also again broken out in Constantinople.

A hot controversy is raging between North and South Germany on the question whether the stripes of the German flag—black, red, and yellow— should be arranged vertically or horizontally on the staff. A correspond- ent of the Daily News, gives this statement of the matter in dispute-

" The Northerns will have to succumb; for antiquity, heraldry, and authority, support the horizontal disposition, in the following order—black uppermost, red in the centre, yellow beneath. On board ships of war, the flag ought to terminate in three sharp points or tongues: for land service, the edge is straight. The ver- tical position of the colours is faulty, and French: the black, too, is next the staff; and if two thirds of the flag were shot or blown away, there would be nothing left huts funereal ensign, ominous and dispiriting."

A Danish frigate was ireen a few milea.off Tynemouth on Thursday last. She had been hi pursuit of a Prussian vessel;, which, however, was successful in reaching our harbour a few ,houri previous. The frigate remained on the coast until Monday or Tuesday last; evidently on the look-out for any German vessel which might come in sight.—Newcastle Chronick.

It is declared by a Post-office eider just issued, that "henceforward the postage upon registered letters addressed to parts abroad, and posted at those Offiees which are not restricted to the receipt of stamped and unpaid letters, may be paid either in money or by means of postage-stamps, at the option of the sender." "No exception is to be made to the rule which forbids a registered letter to be sent unpaid"; and the registration-fee must be paid in money, as heretofore,

The Hertford Mercury states that Captain Townshend, M.P. has announced to his tenants that he intends no longer to preserve game on his lands, but to give it up entirely to the tenants. The agent made this known at a recent rent-audit, and the farmers received the news with delight.

A Manchester commercial traveller has met with an unpleasant adventure at Chester. Having drank very freely, in the middle of the night, he by some means got into the cellar of Colonel Lloyd's house. The Colonel hearing a noise, rose, roused the household, and, having armed himself with a poker, entered the cellar; encountering the commercial gentleman, who gave no account of himself, Colonel Lloyd assailed him with the poker—knocking out seven teeth, and maul- ing the head sadly.

Mr. Macgregor, clerk at the Edinburgh. terminus of the North British Railway, has had a narrow escape. A train came up as he was running across the line, and the foot-board of a carriage caught the calf of his leg, jammed it against the railing of a turntable, and nipped a piece of flesh completely out. The sufferer is doing well.

A seaman has perished in the Clyde, at Glasgow, from a foolish wager. He bad been bathing; a man offered a bet that he would not swim across the river; he accepted the challenge and drank so-much whisky from his companion's bot- tle that he was drunk before he entered the stream; as soon as he got into the water he sank.

On Sunday evening, during the discharge of the fireworks in the Place de Is. Bastille' the stick of one of the rockets fell upon the head of a Lieutenant of the Eighth Legion of the National Guard, and killed him.

A younggirl has been killed on the Ulster line of railway, near Trammery, s train sevenlig her head from the body. A verdict of "Manslaughter" has been returned against the engine-driver.

A tigress in Offiey's menagerie, while passing through King's Langley, became furious, an appeared to be mad. Chloroform was thrice administered, and the animal died. Dissection showed extensive inflammation of the heart.

Total (including unspecified causes) 9119 943 The temperature of the thermometer ranged from 103.00 in therein to 290010 the shade; the mean temperature by day being warmer than the mean average temperature by 7.30. The direction of the wind for the week was variable.

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1 • 12

29

Results of the Registrar-General's return of mortality in the Metropolis for the

week ending on Saturday last- -.

Diseases Number of Spring

deameths.....averge76 • Dropsy, Cancer, and other diaeasea of uncertain or variable seat 117 .. - • 00

Tubercular Diseases. . 177 . • .. 202 Diseases of the Brain, Spinal Marrow, Nerves, and Senses. 105 .... 122 Diseases of the Mewl and Blood-vessels Diseases of the Lungs; and of the other Organs of Respiration... . 113 .... 129

Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion ... 06 ...• ea

Diseases of the Kidneys, etc

Childbirth, diseases of the Uterus, Sc. la • - • • 12

Rheumatism, diseases of the Bones, Joints, Sc. 9

Age i u101 .............. 12015

Diseases of the Skin, Cellular tissue, &c Malformations Premature Birth Atrophy Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperinme