where the following address was read by his worship the mayor : "To Major-General Sir Harry Smith, K.C.B. "Sir,-We, the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of the town of Southampton, in council assembled, beg to offer to you our most cordial welcome on your return to England, and to express our high admiration of your distinguished achievements during a period of many years in the service of your country. We desire especially to express, in the most unqualified terms, the high estimation which we, in common with every subject of her most gracious Majesty, hold you as the conqueror of Aliwal, at which memorable spot you and your gallant companions-in-arms obtained a victory which will entitle your name to be recorded amongst those of the illustrious warriors of our common country. We beg you to accept this imperfect expression of our congratulations, and we ardently desire you may enjoy for many years the honours you have no nobly won. "Given under our common seal, at the Audit-house, the 26th of April, 1847." To which Sir Harry replied as follows: "Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,-The happiness and honour of being thus enthusiastically received, after forty-two years' absence, will never be effaced from my memory. Whatever service I have rendered to my country should be attributable to the army I have commanded. I thank you, Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, and you also, my fellow-countrymen, for it is of such materials as yourselves that the British soldier is made. I never called on the British soldier to follow me, but he in his turn led me to victory. I have confidence in him, and he has returned that confidence by upholding his general and gaining victory for his country." -Post. RAILWAY PROCEEDINGS. EAST INDIAN RAILWAY. The first general meeting of this company was held at the London Tavern, on the 12th April. The CHAIRMAN (Sir G. Larpent, Bart.) read the report of the directors. It adverted to an application made in May, 1845, to the East-India Company, respecting their proposed railway, when the latter sent out Mr. Simms to India, and by the same mail the directors of this Company sent out their managing director (Mr. Macdonald Stephenson) and three engineers to Bengal, who surveyed the whole line from Calcutta to Delhi, and completed the surveys by April, 1846. In consequence of their reports, and of the favourable information received from the managing director of the Company and his staff of engineers, no time was lost in proposing terms to the East-India Company to construct the railroad selected by them. It was not until January, 1847, that a reply was received from the East-India Company, when the terms and conditions upon which support would be extended were communicated. In reply to these conditions the directors submitted various modifications, but to which the East-India Company declined to accede. From the statistical information obtained in India by the managing director, it appeared that the maximum cost for a double line of railway from Calcutta to Delhi would not exceed an average of 15,000l. per mile; although the traffic estimates were computed for a traffic considerably less than that actually existing, yet they showed that without an increase of the existing traffic a large dividend might be expected. This estimate did not include any charge for the transport of the Government mails, troops, &c. The directors submitted, therefore, that the proprietors should proceed at once to constitute the Company by deed of settlement, in the usual manner, and place the Company in a position to avail itself of the terms proposed by the East-India Company, or such favourable modifications thereof as might ultimately be obtained. A sum of 5s. per share had been subscribed to meet the expenses necessary to ascertain the practicability of introducing railroads into India. 900 miles of country had been surveyed by engineers sent specially to India for that purpose; sections, maps, and plans of the whole line provided; all preliminary, legal, and other expenses defrayed; and the gross sum expended amounted only to 22,4247. The directors recommended an amalgamation with the Great Western of Bengal Railway Company (Calcutta to Rajmahul) on equal terms, the relative expenses of the two companies to be equitably adjusted, three directors of the Great Western of Bengal Company to join the consolidated board. Should the terms and conditions of the East India Company be acceded to, they proposed to extend the calls that might be required over as long a period of that time as might be practicable, and to construct, in the first instance, only two sections of the line, strictly limiting the outlay to the sum of 3,000,000%. on which the interest of 4 per cent. was guaranteed. The cash received on 167,240 shares amounted to 47,5447.; sundries, 251.; total, 47,5791.; expenditure, 22,4241.; cash in hand, 24,1371.; sundries, valued at 1,017.; total assets, 25,1547. The total cost for a double line from Calcutta to Delhi might be safely taken at from 15,000,000l. to 15,500,000l. The average cost, will therefore be, including working stock, at the rate of 17,000l. per mile. In estimating the cost of construction, the engineers have divided the line into five sections, viz., from Calcutta to Hooghly, 30 miles, estimated cost, 510,000l.; from Hooghly to a distance of 270 miles, 5,530,000l.; thence to Allahabad, 175 miles, 2,150,000l.; thence to Cawnpore, 125 miles, 1,875,000l.; thence to Delhi, 270 miles, 3,780,000l., including 30 miles of deviations,450,000l.; total, 900 miles, costing 15,295,000l. Out of the 900 miles 500 miles are stated to present but few engineering difficulties, 200 miles present works of an ordinary class, and 200 miles more contain considerable earthworks and tunnels. For 700 miles the line is stated to be nearly level; on the remaining 200 miles the country is hilly and much broken, requiring gradients of 1 in 200, and 1 in 100, and in one case a succession of inclined planes of 1 in 60 for seven miles; but it is expected that the severity of the latter gradients may be greatly modified by making deviations. It is stated, that when the line is completed it will pass near coal fields, which will be of considerable importance. From the traffic estimates it appears that the existing goods traffic between Calcutta and Mirzapore is 2,226,359 tons, the estimated traffic of which for the railway is 1,500,000 tons; between Mirzapore and Delhi, existing traffic, 1,051,881 tons; estimated, 750,000 tons; for passengers between the former places, 570,000; estimated, 250,000; between the latter places, existing traffic, 446,851 passengers, while the number of passengers estimated to travel on the railway is but 200,000. The estimated revenue on the "through line" from Calcutta to Delhi is, for goods, at the rate of 1d. per ton per mile, 5,625,000; for passengers, at d. per mile each, 468,750. The working expenses are estimated at 3,221,210.; and the profit at 18 per cent. For the portion of the line between Calcutta and Mirzapore the profit is estimated at 12 per cent., and for that portion between Mirzapore and Delhi at 11 per cent. The chairman observed, that the preliminary expenses did not exceed 2s. 8d. per share, for which he thought they deserved credit. He spoke in the highest terms of the liberality and statesmanlike manner in which the East-India Directors discussed the advantages of the proposed undertaking, and said they seemed to be fully aware of the value of railway communication in India. Resolutions were passed adopting the report, and expressing the highest approbation of the proceedings of the directors, and the fullest confidence in their future management. GREAT WESTERN OF BENGAL RAILWAY. A general meeting of the shareholders was held on the 14th April, at the London Tavern. The Chairman (Major-general M'Leod) read the report, which gave a brief history of the company, and stated that the line was intended to connect Calcutta with the deep water of the Ganges at Rajmabal, and that an amalgamation on equitable terms with the East-India Railway Company had been agreed to with a view to consolidate the interests of the shareholders, the East-India Company and the Board of Control having resolved to give the concession to only one company. The accounts showed the receipts to have been on 44,708 shares, 11,3211.; the expenditure to be 7,044.; and the balance in hand, 4,2771. He stated, that the shortest line of the four routes surveyed was 180 miles in length, and the gradients on it very trifling, and said, that he had nothing to add to the statements made by Sir George Larpent at the East-India Railway meeting held on Monday. He then moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr. Kennedy, the deputy chairman. The report was adopted, and a resolution passed approving of the amalgamation, on the terms proposed, with the East-India Railway Company. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. APRIL 15-IN THE BANKRUPTCY OF MACKAY AND HOLT.These bankrupts, who had been large East India merchants, carrying on business in St. Helen's place, Bishopsgate, applied for their certificates; which were opposed by Mr. Cooke for the assignees, and were supported by Mr. James and Mr. Hawkins. Mr. COOKE said, he had to complain of the misappropriation by the bankrupts of a large sum of money out of the funds of the business for a fraudulent purpose. There were two houses, one at Calcutta, J. Mackay and Co., and one in London, Mackay, Holt, and Co. The house in Calcutta was established in 1831, and was prosperous to a certain extent, when, unfortunately, the founder, Mr. J. Mackay, was lost on his voyage to China, on board the ship Fifeshire, leaving his brother executor to his will. About 1840 the bankrupt, Alexander A. Mackay, entered into partnership in London with his brother J. H. Mackay, and N. J. W. Holt. This firm acted as agents in England for the house in India, as well as for other firms; and about the middle of 1846, in addition to a large sum due from the India-house, the present bankrupts had become liable for the latter to the extent of more than 31,000. on bills drawn for the accommodation of the firm abroad, while the goods in their hands on account did not exceed 8,0007. or 10,000l. At the same time the house in England were complaining of the remittances from India not being made so regularly as they desired. Mr. Mackey, the present bankrupt, as acting executor under his brother John Mackey's will, was directed to invest 20,000 rupees for the benefit of the infant children of Henry J. Mackey, and the remainder of the property to be applied for the benefit of the testator's own three children. The two sons of H. J. Mackey are not yet of age, and one of the testator's sons is also a minor, and the complaint against the bankrupt was, that he had withdrawn property belonging to the estate to secure these infants from loss. On June 27th, 1846, the bankrupt Mackey drew three bills on his brother, D. C. Mackey, in Calcutta, who acted as attorney for the trust property, amounting to 6,5007., in order to invest it in British funds. The bankrupt stated, that he believed the money was already invested in India, and yet without waiting to see whether the bills would be honoured, he got them discounted on July 2, not by any other house, or by taking them into the market, but by his own firm of Mackey, Holt, and Co. Those bills in fact had never been honoured, the amount having been put to the credit of the bankrupts in account, and thus the creditors in England had suffered the loss of the withdrawal of the total sum of 9,000l. from their funds. The bankrupt, Mackey, had stated that his reason for drawing these bills was, that in case of no remittances arriving from India, he knew the house must stop, and then what would become of the legatees? This transaction occurred on July 2, on which day the India mail, via Southampton, was made up; and on the 3rd the mail arrived from India, and bringing no remittances the bankrupts stopped payment on that day. By a postal arrangement, a mail is made up on the 7th, via Marseilles, which reaches Malta, together with that from Southampton, on the 2nd; and the bankrupts had the opportunity of sending out the information of their stoppage to arrive coincidentally with their previous letters of the 2nd. Another complaint was that on July 3, the bankrupts had paid to the London and Westminster Bank 5,000l. for a loan made in March, 1844, and redeemed certain bills belonging to the Phoenix Marine Insurance Company, at Calcutta, for whom they were agents, and which they had no right to pledge, having, by so doing, been guilty of a fraudulent act towards their principals. When these bills were redeemed, the company, of course, claimed them, and the creditors consequently suffered the loss of 5,000l. On July 2, the bankrupts also paid 2,000. to Dysten and Nalder, to redeem a cargo of hides, belonging to a Mr. Hasmar. The bankrupts in this transaction had nearly brought themselves within the provisions of the Factors Act, 5 and 6 Victoria, chapter 39, sec. 6, by which any factor or agent pledging property without the consent of his principal is liable to fourteen years' transportation. The assets in the case were certainly considerable, but had it not been for the conduct of the bankrupts the dividend would have been very much larger. The bona fide debts are 25,000 and the liabilities on account of the India House upwards of 31,000l.; the assets are 18,500l., and a dividend of 10s. in the pound is expected from the debt due from the Calcutta house. Mr. JAMES said, the conduct of the bankrupts had undoubtedly been wrong, but if anything could excuse a misappropriation it was a case of this kind, when the bankrupts had sought to replace money entrusted to them for the support of infants. A majority of the creditors, including the first names of the city, had, knowing all the facts stated to-day, consented to allow them to retain their furniture. Mr. Commissioner SHEPHERD said, it was admitted on all hands that the bankrupts' conduct was wrong, and the only question was the extent. He could not help thinking, and he was sorry to be obliged to do so, that when these bills were drawn on the India House the bankrupts contemplated the possibility of being compelled to stop payment. He should, therefore, suspend the certificates for eighteen months, with protection for a month. BAIL COURT. APRIL 26.-MORGAN U. SOMES AND ANOTHER.-This was an action brought to recover the sum of 21. 3s. for wages which the plaintiff alleged to be due to him as steward on board a vessel called the Adelaide, on a voyage from Hong Kong and back. The plaintiff had been hired as captain's steward of the vessel, and it was his duty to wait in the cuddy, and he had the charge of the stores of the ship. The vessel sailed in May, 1845, taking out troops and officers, and some of their wives. The voyage was performed, and the ship arrived at Hong Kong in October. On the 12th of November the captain said he should discharge the plaintiff from his situation, and he did not do any thing, although he remained on board, till the 26th of December. On that day the captain was to sail on the homeward voyage, and the captain told the plaintiff that he would not take him as steward, that he must do some duty, and the plaintiff then acted as a seaman, and he performed that service up to the 2nd of April. A dispute then arose, the captain having charged the plaintiff with having put his dog's nose into a tar-bucket. The plaintiff denied having done so, and the captain then gave him a dozen lashes, for which the plaintiff afterwards brought an action against the captain, who compromised, and paid 51. damages and 57. costs. After the 2nd of April the plaintiff did not do any active service, but was treated as a prisoner. In the ship's account rendered by the defendants they charged the plaintiff with the payment of 11s. 8d. to the Seamen's Hospital on his account, which would be upon the understanding that he had served during the whole time the vessel was out, and would be entitled to his wages. Upon the ship's arrival in England the plaintiff claimed his wages as ship's steward for the entire voyage. The defendants, however, offered him 6s. 8d.; but when the present action was brought, they paid 107. into court. The defence was, that the plaintiff had not given satisfaction to the passengers; and the examination of the captain, taken before a commissioner, who, however, had not permitted a cross-examination, was read, in which he stated that the plaintiff was dirty and wasteful, negligent, and impertinent, and on that account he had discharged him. This was in some respects confirmed by the chief mate. Mr. Justice COLERIDGE summed up, and the jury returned a verdict for the full amount claimed. MISCELLANEOUS. THE LATE MAJOR FITZROY SOMERSET.-The officers composing the brigade of Foot Guards have just erected a monument in the military chapel, Birdcage-walk, to the memory of their gallant companion in arms, the late Major Fitzroy Somerset, who, it will be remembered, fell at the battle of Ferozeshah, on the 21st of December, 1845, while acting as military secretary to the Governor-General of India. The memorial, with the consent of the Master-General of the Ordnance, has been placed in the chancel of the sacred edifice referred to. It con sists of a slab of white Carrara marble, supported on a groundwork of black Galway marble. The table is surmounted by military emblems, and beneath are the armorial bearings of the deceased officer's family. The memorial bears the following in-. scription: "Sacred to the memory of Brevet-Major William Fitzroy Somerset, Eldest son of Lieutenant-General Lord Fitzroy Somerset, K.C.B., Lieutenant and Captain in the Grenadier Guards, And Military Secretary to the Governor-General of India, Who died of his wounds, at Ferozepore, On the 28th of December, 1845, in the 30th year of his age. His military career, though short, was eminently distinguished. The official despatches of the Commander-in-Chief attest his individual heroism during the campaign of 1843 in Gwalior. The same records exist of his zealous exertions at the brilliant victory of Moodkee, on the 18th of December, 1845, and at Ferozeshab, on the 21st of December, 1845. He fell, covered with wounds, while cheering the British troops to an attack upon the formidable batteries of the enemy. His brother officers of the brigade of Guards, earnestly desirous of marking their admiration of his valour and their regard for his memory, have caused this monument to be erected." The deceased officer in early life was one of the pages to his Majesty George IV. When only 17 years of age he was gazetted to a lieutenancy in the Grenadier Guards, and subsequently served on the staff in Ireland, where his memory will be long cherished by all parties for his courtesy while acting as aidede-camp to the Commander of the Forces. He first departed on foreign service on the occasion of Lord Saltoun proceeding to China, and while under that nobleman he received some severe wounds. He next proceeded to the continent of India as military secretary to Lord Ellenborough. He was present at the desperate battle of Maharajpore, and in subsequent operations terminating at Gwalior. He there received four severe wounds in a sharp rencontre, having made a desperate but unsuccessful effect to save Major-general Churchill, in attempting which he slew two of his antagonists and disarmed a third. ISLE OF LABUAN.-From a letter received from a gentleman at Labuan, we learn that that island was taken possession of by Capt. Mudey, in the name of the Queen, on the 24th December last. An expedition against the pirates was anticipated to take place in March or April. COTTON IN INDIA.- From a return recently published by order of the House of Commons, it appears that the gross total quantity of cotton shipped at the port of Calcutta to all parts of the world beyond the presidency of Fort William, amounted, in 1844-45, to 201,873 maunds (value, 20,18,736 rupees). The quantity shipped at Madras amounted, in 1843-44, to 341,900 cwts. (value, 54,22,282 rupees). The quantity shipped at Bombay amounted, in 1845-46, to 109,006,628 lbs. (value, 1,11,48,357 rupees). TRADE AT SINGAPORE.- From some statistics on this subject, recently published, it appears that the import trade for the six years ending 1846 was valued at 30,473,296 Co.'s rupees, against an export trade valued at 30,684,699 Co.'s rupees. In the one case, merchandize represented 21,344,415 Co.'s rupees, and treasure and bullion 9,128,811 Co.'s rupees; and in the other, merchandize represented 25,372,732 Co.'s rupees, and treasure and bullion 5,311,967 Co.'s rupees. HISTORICAL PARALLEL.-If we would find a precedent for the spoliation of the Amirs [of Scinde] we must go back to the times of Warren Hastings; and to the injuries inflicted on Cheyte Singh by that able but unscrupulous statesman. In the revolution of Benares, as in the revolution of Scinde, the paramount authority imposed unjust and exorbitant demands (pecuniary in one case, territorial in the other) on its tributary alliesanswered respectful remonstrances by insolent menaces and hostile inroads-treated defensive preparations as acts of aggressive hostility-rejected all overtures for amicable negociationgoaded them to resistance in defence of their sovereign rightsdefeated them in battle-confiscated their territories-and finally drove them into exile. While there was this general resemblance, however, between the atrocities committed on the banks of the Ganges in 1781, and those enacted in the valley of the Indus in 1843, the impelling motives and the ultimate results of the policy pursued by the two Indian rulers were widely different. In the one case, there was an exaction of money demanded, on the urgent plea of state necessity, to relieve the pressing financial embarrassments of the Government; in the other, there was a spoliation of territory, originating in a whimsical solicitude to enrich a favourite ally, who had no claims whatever upon our bounty:-the one governor general, by his unjust policy, acquired a district yielding a considerable addition to the permanent revenues of the state-the other, by a similar course of injustice, bequeathed to his country a province burdened with what has hitherto proved a ruinous, and may prove a permanently ruinous annual expenditure to the state.-Calcutta Review. DEATH OF LORD COWLEY.-We regret to have to announce the decease of this respected nobleman, which event took place at Paris a few days since. Lord Cowley was for many years in India with his brother, the Marquis of Wellesley, and since his return from that country has filled several diplomatic offices of the highest importance, the last being that of ambassador at Paris. His lordship was in his seventy-fourth year, and is succeeded in his title and estate by his eldest son. Mr. JAMES CALVERT has resigned the situation which he held, as agent to the East India Company at Malta, and Mr. R. J. BOUCHIER has been appointed te succeed him. SHIPPING. ARRIVALS. APRIL 23.-Lady M'Naughten, Hibbert, Madras and Demerara. -24. Glenmore, Barnet, Hong Kong.-26. Samarang, Buckle, Mauritius; Matilda, Bunting, Cape; Malabar, Pare, Bombay; Nile, Miller, Mauritius; Hannibal, Cordiner, Bombay; Carena, Woodmass, Mauritius; Orissa, Smith, Bombay; Sunda, Brown, Manila and Singapore.-27. Bucephalus, Bell, Bengal; Dartmouth, Stewart, Hong Kong; Haidee, Marshall, New Zealand; Sir Robert Sale, Loader, Hong-Kong; Herefordshire, Richardson, Halifax; Alexandrina, Mowbray, Bengal; Anna Henderson, Coull, Bengal; Robin Gray, Pattulo, Singapore; Rosalind, Connell, Van Dieman's Land.-28. Despatch, Elsdon, Swan River; Jannet, Chalmers, Mauritius; Kilblain, Shaw, Manila; Duke of Wellington, Marman, Ceylon; Captain, James, Shanghae; Arabella, Jackson, Ceylon; Golden Spring, Poole, New South Wales; Renown, Murray, Port Phillip; H.M.S. Hazard, Egerton, East Indies; Arachne, Moxey, Mauritius; Sandersons, Robinson, Hong-Kong; Panama, M'Leod, Manila; Waverley, Morgan, Samarang; Conway Castle, Kerr, Mauritius.-29. Eleanor Lancaster, Lodge, Madras; Whitby, Richardson, Ceylon; Westminster, Michie, Mauritius; Anna, Player, Mauritius; Nabob, M'Nutty, China and Mitins; Chartley Castle, Newby, Singapore; John Line, Arnold, Madras and Trini dad; Perurian, Boyd, Mauritius; Gondola, Warnock, Mauritius; Tigress, Scott, South Australia; Montrose, Ferguson, China.-30. Queen of England, Pearson, Hong-Kong; Psyche, Irving, Hobart Town; Matthew Plummer, Young, Singapore; Eliza Shairp, Darling, Singapore; Albyn, Walker, Mauritius; Amelia Hill, Hill, Bengal; H.M.S. Wolverine, Hay, East Indies; Harby, Symons, Mauritius; Leipsic, Cappan, Maulmain; Gitana, Ligert wood, Singapore. MAY 1. B. B. Green, Lane, Mauritius, Cape, and Brazils; Sarah Louisa, Oldham, Mauritius; Mary Ridley, Laing, Singapore; Ocean Queen, Sutherland, Singapore; Ellen, Irving, Maulmain. Monarch, Walker; Diana, Vincent; and Clifton, Cot, Bengal; Lady Sandys, Pentreath, Stranghae; Antilla, Barnett, Hong-Kong; Gunga, Bowman, Adelaide; Nepaul, Ewing, Bengal; Wild Irish Girl, Graham, Bombay; Blorenge, Banks, Bengal; Hong-Kong, Smit, China; Schelde, Clayes, Manila.-4. Champion, Steele, Ceylon; India, Sutherland, Hong-Kong; Mozambique, Bowman, Batavia; Harbinger, Candlish, Bengal.-5. Isabella, Henton, Bussorah. DEPARTURES. -3. From the DowNS.-APRIL 22. Columbia, Ramsey (from Shields), Aden.-MAY 2. Duchess of Leinster, Renfree, Penang and Singapore; William Shand, Cleland, Calcutta ; Brightman, Cowley, New South Wales; Poictiers, Molison, and Kent, Terry, Madras. From LIVERPOOL.-APRIL 22. Hermes, Donough, Hong-Kong and Shanghae; John Dugdale, Kellock, Singapore. 23. New Margaret, Ager, Hong-Kong.-MAY 1. Martin Luther, Hutton, and Bella Marina, Wood, Calcutta. From BRISTOL.-APRIL 22. Neptune, Le Morgnon, Calcutta. From the CLYDE.-APRIL 21. British Tar, Gardner, Marseilles and Mauritius.-29. Ann Martin, Martin, Bombay. From HARTLEPOOL. APRIL 29. Royal Saxon, Thompson, Ceylon. From PORTSMOUTH.-APRIL 30. Esperance, Duff, Bordeaux and Mauritius. - MAY 2. Seringapatam, Furnell, Madras and Calcutta. From the DoWNS.-APRIL 30. Sea Gull, Langley, Marseilles and Mauritius.-May 2. Nautilus, Surflen, Falkland Islands. From SHIELDS.-MAY 1. Islander, Howlett, Calcutta. From NEWPORT.-APRIL 30. Marmion, Bell, Ceylon. PASSENGERS DEPARTED. Per steamer Achilles, from Southampton, May 3, to proceed per steamer Ariel from Malta. For MALTA.-Asst. surg. Smith, Mr. G. H. Reade, Mr. Reade, jun. Capt. Skurray. For ALEXANDRIA.-Mr. and Mrs. Rimington, Miss Boileau and servant, Capt. H. Rolland, Mr. R. L. Bingham, Mr. Waddington, Lieut. J. C. Thackwell, Mrs. Thack well, child, and native servant; Lieut. Hoare, Mrs. Hoare and child, Dr. Ryan, Capt. Arbuthnot. For CONSTANTINOPLE. - Mrs. Duckworth and two children, Mr. N. Levy, Mr. Murray. VESSELS SPOKEN WITH. Euphrates, Monro, London to Sydney, Dec. 24; lat. 26 deg. S.; long. 24 deg. W.-Fifeshire, Punchard, London to Sydney.-Essex, April 8; lat. 43 deg. N.; long. 12 deg. W.-John Christian, Churchward, Liverpool to China, Jan. 30; lat. 40 deg. S.; long. 40 deg. E. -Somnauth, Skinner, London to Bombay, April 15; lat. 48 deg. N.; long. 7 deg. W.-Sutlej, Corkhill, Liverpool to Calcutta, April 8; lat. 40 deg. N.; long. 15 deg. W.-Hope, Underhill, London to New Zealand, Oct. 26; lat. 39 deg. S.; long. 40 deg. E.-British Sovereign, Cow, London to Adelaide, April 16; lat. 44 deg. N.; long. 12 deg. W.-Dewdrop, Jones, Guernsey to Adelaide, March 29; lat. 1 deg. N.; long. 20 deg. W.-Queen, Hutton, London to China, Feb. 28, at Anjer.-William Wise, Lowe, London to Cape and Swan River, Feb. 25; lat. 11 deg. S.; long. 31 deg. W.-Ganges, Walker, Bombay to London, off the Cape, Feb. 25.-Maidstone, Nash, Calcutta to London, Feb. 19; lat. 18 deg. S.; long. 78 deg. E.-Ann, Stevenson, London to Madras, Feb. 20; lat. 4 deg. N.; long. 23 deg. W.-Thetis, Cass, London to Calcutta, Feb. 7; lat. 15 deg. S.; long. 83 deg. E.-Lord Stanley, Peters, London to Aden, Feb. 27, off L'Agullas.-Thomas Arbuthnot, Thomson, London to Port Phillip, Jan. 27, off Madeira. DEATHS. Jan. 22. Brev. lieut. col. Robert Codrington, 49th Bengal N.I. asst. qr. mr. gen. on board the ship Wellesley, from the effects of a wound received at the battle of Moodkee, Dec. 18, 1845, aged 41. 20. Letitia, relict of Capt. Edward Coxwell, of the Hon. EastIndia Co.'s service, at Worthing, aged 97. 21. The Hon. Mrs. Fane, in Wimpole-street. 22. William Edward, son of Major Brooke, of H.M.'s 32nd regt. at Cheltenham, aged 5. 24. Col. G. B. Bell, Bengal N.I. in Cloudesley-square, aged 61. Frances, widow of the late Dr. Henry Atkinson, of the Madras medical service, at Orchard-hill-house, near Bideford, North Devon. 28. John Barnes, Esq. late of the Bengal medical establishment, at Byfleet. Mary, relict of the late John Chinnery, Esq. of the Madras civil service, at No. 11, Regent-street, Cheltenham, aged 76. May 2. Capt. Thomas Lynn, late of the Hon. East-India Co.'s service, at Dover, aged 73. 3. Peter Yzarn, Esq. of Herne-hill, Surrey, aged 83. Ens. Edwin Fletcher Foster, from 70th foot, to be ens., v. Faircloth. Dated 30th April, 1847. 94th Foot.-Maj. James Paterson, from 26th foot, to be maj., v. Davenport, who exchanges. Dated 30th April, 1847. Bombay, 8th Foot.-Lieut. Charles Covell Neame, from 7th foot. to be lieut., v. Capudose, promoted. Dated 30th April, 1847. EMBARKATION OF TROOPS FOR INDIA. Per Kent, from Gravesend, April 30, 214 troops; officers, Capt. E. T. Cox, 5th M.N.I.; Lieuts. G. E. Cotton. 50th M.N.I.; and J. M. Baird, 2nd M.E.L. I.; and Assist. surg. James Peterkin, M. D., Madras establishment. Per Poictiers, from Gravesend, April 30, 189 troops; officers, Capt. Radcliff, 84th foot; Lieut. Drought, 51st foot; Ens. Barwell, Kenman, and Saunders, 84th foot; and Bell, and Lewis, 94th foot; and Assist. surg. Westall. EAST-INDIA HOUSE. ARRIVALS REPORTED IN ENGLAND. Bengal Estab.-Lieut. col. John B. Hearsey, 6th It, cav. Madras Estab.-Lieut. col. Richard Budd, 2nd Europ. reg. L.I. Capt. Alexander R Dallas, 1st N. I. Maj. George Dunsmure, invalids, late 8th cav. Bombay Estab.-Maj. George Yeadell, artillery. PERMITTED TO RETURN TO THEIR DUTY. CIVIL. Madras Estab.-Mr. Edmund Story, overland. MILITARY. Bombay Estab.-Lieut. John L. P. Hoare, 13th N.I., overland, 3rd May. Surg. James Ryan, ditto. CHANGES AND PROMOTIONS IN H.M.'S REGIMENTS SERVING IN INDIA. WAR OFFICE, 23RD APRIL, 1847. Bengal, 14th Lt. Drags.-Lieut. Charles Tindal Griffis to be capt. without purch., v. Brev. maj. Weston, dec. Dated 23rd April, 1847. Cornet William English to be lieut., v. Griffis. Dated The Hon. Richard Walter Chetwynd to be cornet, v. 24th Foot.-Capt. Humphrey Woodward Coultman, from 62nd Foot.-Lieut. Robert Douglas, from 3rd foot, to be lieut., v. Ambrose, who exchanges. Dated 23rd April, 1847. Madras, 63rd Foot.-Capt. Edward James Ingleby Fleming, from 24th foot, to be capt., v. Coultmand, who exchanges. Dated 30th Jan. 1847. Bombay, 17th Foot.-Maj. Freeman Murray, from 60th foot, to be maj., v. Gordon, who exchanges. Dated 30th Jan. 1847. Lieut. Marcus Wylly De la Poer Beresford, from 86th foot, to be lieut., v. Ellison, who exchanges. Dated 30th Jan. 1847. 60th Foot.-Maj. John Gordon, from 17th foot, to be maj., v. Murray, who exchanges. Dated 30th Jan. 1847. 86th Foot.-Lieut. William Henry Howard Ellison, from 17th foot, to be lieut., v. Beresford, who exchanges. Dated 30th Jan. 1847. LITERARY NOTICES. Desultory Notes on the Government and People of China, and on the Chinese Language; illustrated with a Sketch of the Province of Kwang-Tung, shewing its Division into Departments and Districts. By THOMAS TAYLOR MEADOWS, Interpreter to her Britannic Majesty's Consulate at Canton. London, 1817. Wm. H. Allen and Co. As a book with a modest title has, perhaps, little more chance than a man of modest pretensions and deportment of making way in this world, which impudence seems to have marked, and not unsuccessfully, for its own, it may be well to apprise the reader that Mr. Meadows's book is much more than it pretends to be, and that the title, "Desultory Notes," is a somewhat needless depreciation of its value. These Notes are the result of actual observations by an acute and intelligent man, made during several years, under very favourable circumstances. The writer is practically acquainted with the Chinese language, having not only studied it grammatically, but having been long in the habit of reading and translating voluminous papers written therein, of framing official documents in the language, and of conversing freely with those who can speak no other. He has obviously made the best use of his advantages; and if the public do not imitate his example, and avail themselves as freely of the opportunities of information which he affords, the blame and the loss will be alike theirs. One especial recommendation of the book is, that it is altogether new; there is not an atom of information begged, borrowed, or stolen from any previous writer, and the inqurer may be encouraged to venture upon a perusal by being assured that he will meet with nothing which he ever read before. The author's views as to the importance of an acquaintance with the language of a people, to the purpose of understanding their character, are so much in accordance with those we lately avowed, that we cannot forbear quoting them : "I have troubled the reader with these details because I do not conceive that any man is entitled to write on a foreign people unless he possess a practical knowledge of their language. Without this knowledge it is next to impossible that he should write any thing original about them. He may collect information from those that do know the language, and he may adopt their opinions, but be cannot form them for himself; or if he does risk it, they can scarcely have other foundation than his own imaginations." We might extract many amusing passages, but want of space compels us to request that the reader will find them for himself in the original pages. One or two, however, we must attach. Does the reader wish to know the state of the administration of justice in China? Here is a report : "The people, knowing that the mandarins cannot possibly live on their salaries, excuse and acquiesce in what I term illegal fees,' i. e. certain tolerably well ascertained sums, which every one who applies to a yamun must pay; and then as a natural consequence, the mandarins take advantage of a system thus endured as a necessary evil, to enforce arbitrary extortions, and oblige people to offer bribes. Hence in the whole country corruption and injustice abound. I believe, in fact, that all mandarins take money exclusive of their salary and anti-extortion allowance, and that the grand difference between what the Chinese call the 'good' and the 'bad' mandarin is, that while the former makes people pay for justice,* the latter sells injustice to the highest bidder." As we do in England. Chinese humanity is illustrated thus: "When once speaking to a Chinese of the remunerations for pilots in England being fixed by government, he gave me a descrip.. tion of the wreck of a junk, in consequence of the exorbitant demands of the pilots, who, seeing signs of a coming typhoon, de. manded more than the master of the vessel could make up his mind to give. It being at the time nearly dark, the latter, hoping the typhoon would not come on before the ensuing day, anchored, with the intention of sounding his way into the river he wished to enter, as soon as it was light again. The next morning, however, he was caught in the storm; the junk struck on a hidden rock, was driven off again, and began rapidly to fill. The sailors nearly all took to the water-butt, which, loosened from the vessel, is the usual refuge in such cases. The master proposed saving himself on the large sailwhich, being composed of matting, extended on and supported by a number of bamboos running across it, is very buoyant-and for this purpose cut away, as he supposed, all the ropes which attached it to the vessel. Unfortunately, however, he had not done so completely, and when the junk went down, he was gradually drawn down with the sail and drowned. The water-butt went down also soon after, so that only two or three men saved themselves by clinging to loose pieces of timber. Now, most Englishmen, on telling this story, would feel a little commiseration for the sufferers, and few, if any, would be excited to laughter by it; but the Chinese narrator no sooner came to speak of the drowning, than he began to laugh, and he was so particularly tickled by the manner in which the master met his death, that the tears ran from his eyes from excess of merriment, and he could scarcely get on with the tale." The following is a refinement upon the system of mendicancy existing in Europe: "The practice of mutilating children, and constraining them to act as beggars, in order to gain a livelihood, by taking from them the gif's their forced pertinacity or disgusting appearance extorts from the public, exists to a great degree in Canton. All the blind people who are seen in the neighbourhood of the factories are, I am told, victims of a system that constitutes a strong proof of cruelty in a people who suffer its existence among them." And with these specimens we commend the book to general circulation. The Westminster and Foreign Quarterly Review. No. XCII. and No. LXXVII. April, 1847. London, G. Luxford. THE first article in the present number of The Wesiminster and Foreign Quarterly Review, bears the names of Bulwar and Dickens, the popularity of which will, no doubt, secure attention to the paper. The second, on the Speculative Philosophy of the Nineteenth Century, gives the Mystics and Mystifiers a hearty squeeze, not undeserved. The third, devoted to North Wales and the Lakes, of course affords pleasant reading. The next, the object of which is to determine Shakspear's share in the play of "The Two Noble Kinsmen," evinces some scholarship and acuteness. An architectural article follows-one of that description which we are always glad to see in this publication, for whether right or wrong these articles are never without interest. The theories of population recently submitted by Mr. Doubleday and Mr. William Thornton are discussed in the succeeding article, and this is followed by a chapter on Lighthouses, and the Brethren, Elder and Younger, of the Trinity House. We could wish that the number ended here. Unhappily it does not, but the reader is led on to a laudatory article on the atrocious blasphemies of Strauss-blasphemies at once awful and puerile, disgusting and silly. Not content with this, the reviewer rakes up all the old infidel rubbish of bygone days, of Chubb, Morgan, Collins, Volney, and the rest of the gang of miscreants who sought at once to destroy the happiness of man in this life, and deprive him of the consolation derived from hope in another-a nd here, under a feeling of ineffable loathing, we close the book. The History of Painting in Italy, from the Period of the Revival of the Fine Arts to the End of the Eighteenth Century. Translated from the Italian of the Abate Luigi Lanzi. BY THOMAS ROSCOE. Vol. II. Containing the Schools of Naples, Venice, Lombardy, Mantua, Modena, Parma, Cremona, and Milan. London, 1847. H. G. Bohn. THE second volume of Mr. Bohn's incomparable edition of this work, in every respect equal to its predecessor, is perhaps more interesting as containing notices of painters with whose styles and works most people are acquainted, and whose names are household words, such, for instance, as Titian, L. De Vinci, Correggio, &c. At the present time, when the annual exhibition of English art is taking place, these volumes will prove more than ever acceptable to the student of painting, which phrase we do not limit to those alone who follow the art as a profession, but apply it to all who can appreciate a good picture, and feel delight in its examination. The price and convenient size of this work renders it a fitting manual for the visitors to Wilkins' cruet-stand in Trafalgar-square. We cannot resist the temptation to extract the following anecdote illustrative of the cordiality subsisting between artists in the 16th century. "Bellisario, in order to maintain himself in his assumed authority, endeavoured to exclude all strangers who painted rather in fresco than in oil. Annibale arrived there** in 1609, and was engaged to ornament the churches of Spirito Santo and Gesù Nuovo, for which, as a specimen of his style, he painted a small picture. The Greek (Ballisario) and his adherents being required to give their opinion on this exquisite production, declared it to be tasteless, and decided that the painter of it did not possess a talent for large compositions. This divine artist in consequence took his departure under a burning sun for Rome, where he soon afterwards died. But the work in which strangers were the most opposed was the chapel of S. Gennaro, which a committee had assigned to the Cav. d'Arpino, as soon as he should finish painting the choir of the Certosa. Bellisario leaguing with Spagnoletto (like himself a fierce and ungovernable man) and with Caracciolo, who aspired to this commission, persecuted Cesari in such a manner, that before he had finished the choir he fled to Monte Cassino, and from thence returned to Rome. The work was then given to Guido, but after a short time, two unknown persons assaulted the servant of that artist, and at the same time desired him to inform his master that he must prepare himself for death, or instantly quit Naples, with which latter mandate Guido immediately complied. Gessi, the scholar of Guido, was not however intimidated by this event, but applied for and obtained the honourable commission, and came to Naples with two assistants, Gio. Batista Ruggieri and Lorenzo Menini. But these artists were scarcely arrived, when they were treacherously invited on board a galley, which immediately weighed anchor and carried them off, to the great dismay of their master, who, although he made the most diligent inquiries both at Rome and Naples, could never procure any tidings of them. Gessi also in consequence taking his departure, the committee lost all hope of succeeding in their task, and were in the act of yielding to the reigning cabal, assigning the fresco work to Corenzio and Caracciolo, and promising the pictures to Spagnoletto, when suddenly repenting of their resolution, they effaced all that was painted of the two frescos, and intrusted the decoration of the chapel entirely to Domenichino. It ought to be mentioned to the honour of these munificent persons, that they engaged to pay for every entire figure 100 ducats, for each half-figure 50 ducats, and for each head 25 ducats. They took precautions also against any interruption to the artist, threatening the viceroy's high displeasure if he were in any way molested. But this was only matter of derision to the junta. They began immediately to cry him down as a cold and insipid painter, and to discredit him with those, the most numerous class in every place, who see only with the eyes of others. They harassed him by calumnies, by anonymous letters, by displacing his pictures, by mixing injurious ingredients with his colours, and by the most insidious malice they procured some of his pictures to be sent by the viceroy to the court of Madrid; and these, when little more than sketched, were taken from his studio and carried to the court, where Spagnoletto ordered them to be retouched, and, without giving him time to finish them, hurried them to their destination. This malicious fraud of his rival, the complaints of the committee, who always met with some fresh obstacle to the completion of the work, and the suspicion of some evil design, at last determined Domenichino to depart secretly to Rome. As soon, however, as the news of his flight transpired, he was recalled, and fresh measures taken for his protection; when he resumed his labours, and decorated the walls and base of the cupola, and made considerable progress in the painting of his pictures." That the same violent measures are resorted to now-a-days to get rid of a troublesome competitor we do not affirm, nor is it probable that Mr. Dyce or his fellow fresco-painters at Westminster will ever find themselves treated after the manner of the unfortunate Ruggieri and Minini, and shipped off from the palace in the Bee or Waterman no one knows whither, but that there is a whit more amity, or even absence of envy, among modern painters, is not a "fallacy of hope," as Turner says, furnishing an apt illustration of its title in the publication of his poem,-but it certainly is a fallacy of imagination, and it is undeniable that the intrigues and cabals by which mediocrity is upheld and genius stifled, were never more openly practised than at the present day. We think it is Mr. Disraeli who says that jealousy is one of the characteristics of true genius. It may be so, and this may be the reason of the envy existing among brothers of the brush; but it is certainly the only attribute of genius that many of them possess, though occupying high stations, and receiving great prices for their works. A splendid engraving of Titian's portrait of himself prefaces this volume. * Naples. |