BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.

H. C. Sturt, Esq. has lately adopted (in Sutton Waldron and his manors) the plan of allotting half an acre of land to each poor family for a garden. The first year, seed was given them to crop it, and a pig; and, to complete the scheme, Lady C. Sturt presents to each family an annual Christmas present of suitable articles of clothing. The good sense and feeling displayed by Mr. Sturt, in thus ameliorating the condition of the poor on his estates, do equal credit to his heart and head, and there is little doubt that, in a mere pecuniary sense, he will be a gainer. The Earl of Beverley, Lord Carrington, Sir John Swinburne, Lord Stanhope --we could name many others have adopted this means of improving the condition of their labourers; and disappointment has rarely, if ever, attended the experiment. Their rents have been punctually paid; their conduct respectful and orderly; their industry unremitting; no allowance from the parish on account of children, or of time lost for want of work. Even in the most trying years, times of agricultural distress, very few of the labourers enjoying these advantages have been found to apply for parochial relief!

CAMBRIDGESHIRE.

Cambridge, Feb. 5.-The late Dr. Smith's annual prizes of 251. each, to the two best proficients in mathematics and natural philosophy among the commencing Bachelors of Arts, were on Friday last adjudged to Mr. Stevenson, of Corpus Christi College, and Mr. Heaviside, of Sidney Sussex College, the second and third wranglers.-The Norrisian prize for the year 1829, was on Monday last adjudged to W. Selwyn, Esq. Fellow of St. John's college, for his essay on the following subject:— "The doctrine of types, and its influence on the interpretation of the New Testament."

The Hulsean prize at Cambridge has been adjudged to Thomas Myers, scholar of Trinity College, for his essay on the following subject:"What was the extent of the knowledge which the Jews had of a future state at the time of our Saviour's appearance?" The following is the subject of the Hulsean prize-dissertation for the present year "On the futility of attempts to represent the miracles recorded in Scripture as effects produced in the ordinary course of nature."

The subject of the Seatonian prize poem, for the present year is-" The ascent of Elijah.”

CHESHIRE.

A meeting of the proprietors of the Stockport Junction railway, to connect the High Peak railway at Whaley Bridge with that of Liverpool and Manchester by way of Stockport, was lately held, when it was decided not to proceed any farther, at present, than Stockport (from Manchester), leaving the continuation of their design for some fatare consideration.

CORNWALL.

The annual meeting of the Liskeard and Looe Canal Company was lately held at the Guildhall, Liskeard, pursuant to act of parliament. William

Glencross, Esq. being called to the chair, the accounts audited, &c. the business of this beneficial adventure was declared to be in a prosperous state, so much so as to enable the meeting to declare a dividend of a shilling in the pound on all shares, to be paid to the subscribers, over and above the great expense recently incurred in the formation of a road from the town of Liskeard to the canal quay, whence coal, lime, and merchandise may be conveyed on level ground, and also communicating with the turnpike-road westward beyond Moors-water, whereby the steep hill in the old turnpike over Lady Park Wood, &c. may be avoided.

CUMBERLAND.

A communication made to the editor of a northcountry paper, from the Carlisle Museum, gives an account of the discovery of several coins, urns, and other vestigia, of what appears to have been a Roman cemetery of some extent. These interesting remains have been laid open in the course of excavations now in progress, for the purpose of improving the London road, at a place called Gallows Hill, about half a mile from the town of Carlisle. A small urn, containing sundry coins in fine preservation, is also mentioned. Among them are some of Faustina, very beautiful. The writer adds: "The bottom of the urn, in which were the silver coins, bears testimony to a very remarkable chemical operation of nature. It exhibits a fine green glaze deposit, evidently the precipitation of the alloy of the silver; and in consequence the silver appears fresh and free from alloy, the coins having on their surface but little appearance of metallic oxide. This fine, silent, and secret operation of nature has never hitherto been a subject of speculation. No doubt it merits the best attention of the chemist, the naturalist, and the antiquary.

DERBYSHIRE.

Cromford and High Peak Railway. This great work, which crosses the hills of Derbyshire, and will make a communication between Manchester and the districts of Nottingham, Derby, and Leicester, is 33 miles long, has 32 bridges and archways, and two tunnels, and has been carried over an elevation of 1270 feet above the level of the sea. It has cost 100,0007, including engines and machinery, and will be opened for general trade

next summer.

DEVONSHIRE.

Rev. Dr. Pakner moved, "That it is expedient At the last county sessions held at Exeter, the that a County Lunatic Asylum, or house for the reception of insane persons, in and for the county

of Devon, be erected. And that a committee be appointed to take the subject into consideration; and, at the next Midsummer sessions, to report thereon, and also on the probable expense attending the same."-Lord Rolle remarked that he was perfectly ready to come forward with his subscription to effect so praiseworthy an object; but he thought the Rev. mover was unadvised in bringing forward a motion that would be effected

1830.

by a levy upon the funds of the county, at a time when taxation was so grievously felt, and distress so universal. For his own part, he wished the burthen were borne generally by those who were best able to support it, and that a property-tax might be instituted to remove the pressure from bearing in an undue proportion upon the middle and lower orders.-After some discussion, the committee was determined on.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

A numerous and respectable meeting of the subscribers to the intended railway between Bath and Bristol was lately held, at the assembly-rooms at the former city, when it was resolved that application for a bill should be made to Parliament. The report of the provisional committee was received with great applause, and the whole proceedings went off with an unanimity and cordiality which augur much for the final accomplishment of this admirable undertaking.

HAMPSHIRE.

The committee of the Hampshire Agricultural Society met last month, to revise the rules, audit the accounts, and arrange the premiums for 1830. The premiums are nearly the same as were offered last year, in aid of which the President, Sir T. Baring, judiciously tendered the sum of twenty guineas, and the Vice-president, S. R. Jarvis, Esq. ten guineas. The very liberal rewards offered by Sir William Heathcote, Bart. and John Fleming, Esq. are to be continued; in which are included three sums of 51. 31. and 21. to the wives of three agricultural labourers, who have earned the largest sams towards the maintenance of their families during the year ending the 1st of June, 1830, by farm labour, spinning, knitting, or straw plait work. A meeting of several gentlemen, deeply interested in agriculture, afterwards took place, by whom the propriety and necessity of an appeal to Parliament was strongly urged, in consequence of the unprecedented distress which is admitted to prevail, not only amongst the yeomanry of the kingdom, but in the whole of the labouring and industrious classes. A petition to the House of Commons was ultimately agreed to, which is to be circulated throughout the several parishes in the county. The petitioners commence by assuring the Hon. House that they are actuated by feelings of the most acute distress, and not by any idle complaint. They then proceed to state"That the unexampled difficulties of the agricultural interest are become so great, that it will be impossible for the occupiers of land to continue to cultivate the same under the existing distress; and, unless some speedy relief be afforded, not only the yeomanry of the kingdom, but also the whole of the labouring and industrious classes, dependent on them for employment and support, must be reduced to utter ruin."

KENT.

It The population of Kent is 429,016 persons. contains 548 parishes, under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Rochester; the former of whom has 350 Episcopal churches and chapels under his control. The annual rental of dividends of endowed public charities in the county is 203,4391. 18s. 9d. Of 395 livings, there are in the gift of the Government, 27; of the Church, 229; of the Universities, 12; of public bodies, 5; of the nobility and gentry, 120; of the inhabitants, 2! In the National

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Schools, there are now in the course of education 9911 children; in the British, 1586; in Sundayschools, 17,543. Of congregations dissenting from the Church, as by law established, there are-of Roman Catholics, 8; of Presbyterians, 4; of Quakers, 9; of Independents, 44; of Particular Baptists, 32; of General Baptists, 4; of Wesleyan Methodists, 90; of Calvinistic Methodists, 15; Home Missionary Stations, 6. During the last year, there was contributed to charitable institutions entirely supported by the Church, 12617. 3s. 10d.; to those supported by Churchmen and Dissenters conjointly, 26677. 12s. 9d.; and to those supported by Dissenters, 24337. 4s. 7d.

LANCASHIRE.

The practicability of conveying passengers, as well as goods, at the rate of twenty or twentyfive miles an hour, has now been established beyond doubt by the numerous experiments which have been made on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, in consequence of the premium offered by the proprietors of that undertaking. Most persons are aware, that a trial of the comparative merits of several locomotive steam-carriages took place last autumn, when the prize of 5007, was awarded to the Rocket, constructed by Messrs. Stephenson, of Newcastle. Since that decision, however, the experiments have been resumed on the railway, and have not only confirmed the anticipations formed at the time of the safety and velocity of these carriages, but have even exceeded them. It appears, that, in some of the recent experiments, the Novelty, constructed by Messrs. Braithwaite and Ericsson, travelled a whole day, sometimes with, sometimes without passengers, and at various speeds, generally from twentyfive to thirty-two miles per hour: in several turns the rate of going averaged forty miles per hour!" When loaded, the carriage drew for several hours a gross weight of thirty-five tons, that is, at least ten times its own weight, at the rate of twelve miles per hour. From this last experiment, the superiority of the "blast principle," a recent invention of Messrs. Braithwaite and Ericssonis now considered as established beyond all doubt. In connexion with this subject, a number of very important experiments have lately been made on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, under the direction of Messrs. Hartley and Rastrick, engineers, on the friction of wheel carriages, with a view of determining the comparative merits of various patent wheels and axles for railway waggons, and also the actual degree of friction in each. The report of the engineers has not yet been published.

LINCOLNSHIRE.

After

A meeting lately took place at Lincoln to petition for the repeal of the Malt and Beer Tax. H. Handley, Esq. was called to the chair, and, in a short speech, opened the business of the day. Sir R. Heron then addressed the meeting. animadverting in severe terms on the conduct of the High Sheriff, in refusing to accede to the wishes of a large body of freeholders in calling a meeting, he concluded by proposing a resolution to that effect. Sir E. F. Brombead approved of the general tenor of the resolution, yet he did not think the conduct of the High Sheriff merited the term "unwarrantable contempt;" he therefore hoped the meeting would refuse to adopt that portion of the resolution. Sir R. Heron said, that

if the meeting supported him, he could not think of adopting the suggestion of the last speaker. Colonel Sibthorpe followed in support of the resolution. Sir E. F. Bromhead declined dividing the meeting. The chairman put the resolution to the meeting, and it was carried unanimously. Colonel Johnson then rose to submit the petition, which being read, was seconded by Major Handley. C. Chaplin, Esq. (county member,) said, that it was the whole system that wanted a revision, and not the taking off of two particular taxes. J. C. Calcraft, Esq. supported the petition. Colonel Sibthorpe followed on the same side. Sir E. F. Bromhead said, that although he supported the petition, he deprecated any financial arrangement which might lead to the introduction of an income tax in a time of peace, and concluded by moving an amendment to that effect, which was seconded by E. Wright, Esq. of Brattleby. Colonel Johnson, in reply, said, that if the Chancellor of the Exchequer would take him into his service, he would at once reduce the taxes thirty millions. He would bring forward all the public properties, and compound with the national creditor in the best manner possible, letting every one suffer equally and alike.-Sir Wm. Ingleby, Bart. observed, that the reduction of the malt and beer duties was merely a preliminary step to other measures, which must be necessarily adopted for the relief of the country. The ecclesiastic, the fundholder, and the landowner, must all contribute to their country. He would, therefore, submit another petition to the meeting, although he would not press its adoption. His only object was to show that he was not altogether inattentive to the interests and relief of his constituents. The Hon. Baronet then read the petition. It prayed for the abolition of the tax upon malt, soap, hops, leather, and candles.-J. Cholmeley, Esq. said, that although the reduction of the malt and beer duties would materially relieve the agriculturists, yet it was to the currency question they would be eventually compelled to look for permanent relief.

Ely, Esq. supported the original petition. Mr. Smith spoke, amidst lond calls of "question," on the subject of a reform in parliament. The chairman then put the amendment, and afterwards the original petition; the latter of which was carried with loud acclamations.

YORKSHIRE.

cretary R.S. Edinburgh, the Rev. W. Turner, Secretary of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle, and John Dunn, Esq. Secretary of the Scarborough Philosophical Society, were elected honorary members of the Institution. The following officers were elected for the current year : President, the Rev. W. V. Vernon, F.R.S. &c. re-elected. Vice-Presidents (re-elected,) Rev. D. R. Currer, William Danby, Esq. H. Preston, Esq. Hon. and Rev. H. Howard, Hon. W. S. Lascelles, William Salmond, Esq. F. G. S. New Vice-Presidents, Hon. E. Petre, Joshua Crompton, Esq. Rev. C. Sykes, P. B. Thompson, Esq. M.P. Mr. Alderman Wilson, W. Worsley, Esq. New Members of the Council, James Atkinson, Esq. Barnard Hague, Esq. Rev. W. Lund, J. P. Pritchett, Esq. Treasurer, Jona. Gray, Esq. re-elected; Secretaries, George Goldie, M.D. W. Gray, Jun. Esq. re-elected; John Phillips, F.G.S. (in the room of W. Wright, Esq. resigned.) The front of the building extends one hundred and two feet, and was designed by W. Wilkins, Esq. R.A. In the centre is a portico of four Grecian Doric columns, 3 feet six inches diameter, and twentyone feet six inches high, extending thirty-five feet, and projecting ten feet, with bold steps all round it. The space on each side of the portico (which is terminated by an antæ pilaster) has three windows ornamented with suitable architraves. A bold massive Grecian pediment is supported by the columns, and the entablature continues the whole length of the front, and returns round the ends of this building, which is about twenty-four feet wide, These ends are quite plain, and have an antæ pilaster at each angle, supporting pedestals, between which a parapet, resembling steps, forms a termination for the roof. The whole of the building is faced with stone, from Hackness, and also the sides of the back buildings, which are lower than the front. From the portico the entrance into the building is through spacious folding doors, in imitation of bronze, with a light over them, resembling that over the door of the Pantheon at Rome. The internal arrangements were principally designed by Mr. Sharp. The hall is twenty-nine feet six inches by eighteen feet six inches. The floor is formed of plaster, by Mr. Ellison, in imitation of porphyry marble; the walls resemble stone, and the ceiling is divided into bold panels, the whole has a very massive and suitable effect; on the right of the hall is the library, thirty-one feet nine inches by eighteen feet six inches; on the left a staircase and council-room; directly opposite the front door, corresponding folding-doors lead into the lecture-room, thirty five feet by forty-four feet. This beautiful room is ornamented by six Corinthian columns and four pilasters, supporting beams enriched by Guilloche ornaments, dividing the ceiling into four principal compartments, in each of which are two rows of deep Cassons, through the two middle divisions of which the room is lighted. By a simple but ingenious contrivance, these lights can be instantly obscured by shutters, at the command of the lecturer, whenever any experiments require to be performed in the dark. The seats for the spectators gradually descend towards the table of the lecturer, which is situated opposite the entrance, and nearly on a level with the basement floor. The lower part of the lectureroom is rusticated, and the whole of the walls and part of the floor resembles stone. On the right and left of the lecture-room, and communicating

the complexion of the committee formed by Mr. Peel, that Ministers will show themselves more favourable to the wishes of the East India monopolists than to those of the clamorous papirocracy. The most energetic measures should therefore be adopted throughout the country, without loss of time, to defeat any sinister intentions on this most important subject. Some indication of the Ministerial views in regard to the preservation of the East India monopoly is to be gathered from the following fact. Some time ago, about ten chests of tea were imported into Liverpool from New York, by order of the Government, to serve as a test of comparison with the Company's teas. These ten chests have remained unopened, and untouched, up to the 20th of February. This would, at all events, imply, that, with regard to the China trade, Ministers have already made up their minds to leave the system as it now exists. It can only be by a unanimous expression of feeling on the part of the great majority of the nation, that their undoubted right to an equal and unrestricted participation in those Commercial benefits, which have till now been reserved only for a few, can be made good. It is really amusing to hear and read the arguments of the monopolists in favour of exclusion. According to them all, the trading interests with India must undergo infallible destruction if they cease to be directed by the fostering care of a few hands. So the Turkey merchants maintained before the Turkey trade was laid open; but it has happened, since that most judicious measure was recommended by government, that the amount of this country's trade with Turkey has increased almost tenfold! That it is the right of every Englishman to participate in the trade of Colonies belonging to the British crown, no one, we should presume, will attempt to deny. If, then, the freedom of the trade with India had not other considerations in its favour, none could be brought forward of a more undoubted and urgent kind.

The sales of British plantation Sugar have not been very considerable during the last month, nor has the supply on market been abundant. But a good deal was expected to arrive during the last week of February. In other descriptions of sugar the transactions have also been limited.

A steady business has been doing in plantation Coffee for the home trade at full prices. The largest descriptions sold have been of the Jamaica growth.

The Cotton market experienced some activity during the latter part of the month, in consequence of a briskness manifested by that of Liverpool, where the demand has been principally directed to Boweds of the new crop. This description has felt the benefit of an advance of 1s. 8d. per lb. in the prices, while those of Brazil and other kinds have rather declined. The sales have been to a considerable amount during the three first weeks. in February, in London and Liverpool, and the arrivals equivalent.

The Corn Market has been very tranquil, and the averages have hardly varied. Those of wheat have remained steady at the preceding month's quotations. We left the last week's average price at 57s. 2d; the aggregate six weeks, which regulates duty at 56s. 5d; and the consequent duty on foreign wheat at 30s. 6d. Latterly the navigation having become completely clear, the arrivals of wheat and barley have been abundant. A fair extent of business has been done.

We find it stated from Liverpool as a sign of great trade, that the receiver of Customs' duties passed, on the 17th of February, not fewer than two hundred and forty entries for goods inwards, being the greatest number of any day passed by the same individual during forty-five years that he has been in the Custom-house of that City. Two days before, the export Excise surveyor cleared a greater quantity of excise debenture goods outwards than was ever before cleared at Liverpool.

From the provincial accounts on the state of trade, we gather that since the breaking up of the frost, there has generally been a marked improvement. At Manchester power-loom fustians, which had suffered great depression, owing chiefly to an immense increase in the manufacture of them, have been greatly in request from about the middle of February, and the market was in a short time almost cleared of them. Shirtings and printing cloths have also been in demand, as well as low descriptions of hand-woven calicoes. At Huddersfield the cloth trade has been very brisk, and the sales have reduced the stock considerably. There has been much demand for goods at Bolton, as well as for fustians, which have risen in price. The manufacturers of this latter place calculate on a tolerable spring trade, though no great advance in the prices was expected to take place. In some places an advance of wages to the weavers has been found necessary. This has been particularly the case at Burnley, Colne, Blackburne, Chorley, and Preston, where the advance has been from three-halfpence to threepence per piece, according to the quality of the work. Although the advance had not yet been allowed by all manufacturers, there was every probability that before the entire close of the month, the measure will have been universally adopted in that part of the country. The calico printers are said to be giving out to the engravers a much larger number of patterns than they did last season.

On the 224, the East India Company's quarterly sale of raw Silk commenced at the India House. It was fully attended by the trade. The quantity of Bengal silks declared by the Company was 2400 bales; of private trade silks, 700 bales of Bengal, and 1700 of privileged China were to be offered. Although the silk trade has been dull for some time, it was expected that prices equal to those of the last sale would be obtained. The quantity of goods now offered is the same as previously. Several bales were withdrawn on the first day.

success.

The transactions in the English Stock Exchange have been far less extensive than in the previous month; but they have been of an important character, inasmuch as they have afforded evidence that the great scheme of the "Hebrew Coalition" is not quite so easily attainable as that party and others had once imagined, notwithstanding the means in their power, which seemed to ensure The said Hebrew Coalition" have, on another hand, been somewhat diverted from their plan of raising Consols to a par, by the new prospects opened to them by the last French loan; and Consols, instead of retaining the high quotations to which they had been raised by the extreme exertions of their Hebraic supporters, have assumed a rather decided tendency to a decline. Their price opened with the month at 92 and a quarter, and continued rather wavering for several days. It went down occasionally as low as 91 five eighths,