Her Majesty's Government having considered that, looking to the state of the colonies, and the general aspect of affairs, the country might be relieved from the cost of 10,000 men, the number of troops borne on the rolls of the army last year being 113,847. Of the number reduced 5,000 had been ordered to India and 5,000 had been discharged. He observed that the present expenditure for the army was very little higher than that of 1835, the gross charge on the army estimates of that year being 5,905,7827., and that of

1849-50, 6,142,2117., the increase being only 235,000%. He then entered into details establishing the highly-improved sanitary condition of the army, and gave a satisfactory report of the moral and general good conduct of the troops during the past year.-Mr. Hume confessed that the condition of the army had been much ameliorated, and moved to reduce the number to 89,254. On the division the numbers were-for the amendment, 20; against it, 182. The vote was then agreed to.

FRANCE.

The popularity of the President of the French Republic advances with rapid strides. Power and position have a strange

a

creative influence. The man who but a few months since was regarded as Quixotic adventurer, reflecting little credit on France, has now suddenly developed, in the sunshine of prosperity, into a popular idol. And the homage with which he is greeted is not confined to the lower orders. The old aristocracy attend his balls and receptions, while with the new nobles and the bourgeoisie he is all in all. The army, too, show unequivocal signs of devotion to the nephew of the great Napoleon. In his public and private conduct the Premier shows himself discreet. We hear no more of disputes with his ministers, and the machinery of the state progresses in France with a regularity scarcely attained in the palmy days of Louis Philippe.

ITALY.

At Rome, on the 8th Feb. after a long discussion in the National Assembly on the future form of government, the following fundamental decree was passed by a very large majority, there being only 20 out of more than 140 members against it :"FUNDAMENTAL DECREE. Art. 1. The Pope is deposed de facto and de jure from all temporal power over the Roman States. Art. 2. The Roman Pontiff shall possess all the guarantees necessary for the independence of his spiritual powers. Art. 3. The form of government to be that of a pure democracy, and shall assume the glorious name of the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic shall have such relations with the rest of Italy as a common nationality exacts.-Rome, Feb. 9, 1849. GALLETTI, President, &c."

On the 8th Feb. the Grand Duke of Tuscany fled from his capital. A provisional Government was proclaimed, with

Montanelli, Guerazzi, and Mazzini as its chiefs. The populace then proceeded to the Chamber, and, rushing into the galleries, compelled the members assembled to acknowledge and confirm the Provisional Government. The Clubs proclaimed the deposition of the Grand Duke. The official declaration of a Re

public took place in Florence on the 18th, and in Leghorn on the 19th. A union with the Roman Republic was also proclaimed, the united community to be called the Central Italian Republic, with Rome for a capital. On the 1st March the Austrian and Modenese troops entered Tuscany, and the whole of Italy has since been rising to war. On the 13th Charles Albert left Turin, to place himself again at the head of the Piedmontese. Marshal

Radetzky, in a proclamation published at Milan, threatens to chace him back to the gates of Turin.

The King of the Two Sicilies has issued a charter granting a constitution to his subjects. This constitution is based upon the charter of 1812. By it the King reserves the exclusive control over the executive power, army, navy, and treaties of peace and commerce. He appoints a Parliament for Sicily, to be elected for four years, consisting of two houses, Peers and Commons, who are to share with the Sovereign the legislative power, and to vote, impose, and alter the taxes. The direct taxes are to be voted every year. The members of the Peers are to be named by the King for life, and their number is unlimited. The Lower House must consist of members possessing net revenues of at least 150 to 500 ounces a-year, chosen by electors, each of whom must have not less than 11 to 50 ounces per annum.

AUSTRIA.

The Emperor of Austria issued, on the 7th March, the code of a constitution for

the whole monarchy, and, upon the same day, dissolved the Assembly at Kremsier. By the various clauses of this constitutional code it is provided: that every Austrian shall enjoy full political and religious liberty. Every church and religious society recognised by law to have the right of a common public exercise of its religion. Science and scientific instruction to be free. The general education of the people to be provided for by public institutions. The State to have the supreme control over the affairs of instruction and education. Everybody to have the right of a free expression of his opinions, by words, by writing, by print, and by drawings or paintings. The press is not allowed to be put under a censorship. Repressive laws shall be published against the abuses of the press. The right of petitioning belongs to everybody. Austrian citizens to have the right to assemble and to form associations, if the end or the manner of the association are not opposed to the law or dangerous to the State. Individual liberty guaranteed. Arrests, with the exception of seizure in flagrante, shall not take place unless on the strength of a judicial warrant. The police are bound to liberate persons whom they have taken into custody within 48 hours, or to deliver them into the hands of the judge of the district. A man's domicile is inviolable. The secrecy of correspondence is not to be violated, and letters not to be seized unless in time of war, or on the strength of a judicial warrant. Serfdom and slavery are abolished. Every man may acquire landed property in Austria. The independence of the various provinces constituting the empire is guaranteed within the limits fixed by the Constitution. All tribes have an equality of rights, and each tribe has an inviolable right to preserve and foster its nationality and language. The whole of the empire forms one single area for customs and commerce. The governing power is lodged in three bodies, of which the first is the Emperor. His functions are declared hereditary in the house of Hapsburg-Lorraine, according to the Pragmatic Sanction, and the Austrian family laws. He has the supreme command of the armed power; decides in matters of peace and war, receives and sends ambassadors, and concludes treaties with foreign powers; appoints the ministers and dismisses them; confers, titles, orders, and distinctions. The administration of justice throughout the empire is carried on in his name. Coin is struck in the name of the Emperor. THE IMPERIAL DIET is to consist of two houses, an Upper House and a Lower House, to be convoked every

taxes.

year by the Emperor. The Upper House is formed partly by deputies, to be chosen by the Crown lands from the members of their respective provincial diets. Their number is one-half of the constitutional number of the Lower House. The members must have been citizens of the Austrian empire for at least five years, and they must be forty years of age. The other members of the Upper House to be elected by the Diet among citizens possessing the abovenamed qualifications, and paying at least 500 florins (447.) direct The Lower House proceeds from general and direct elections, at the rate of one deputy to 100,000 souls. A candidate must be an Austrian citizen, and not under 30 years of age. The members of the Upper House are elected for ten years; those of the Lower House for five. They may be re-elected. The consent of the Emperor and of both houses is required for each law. A bill, which has been rejected either by the Emperor or by one of the houses, cannot be brought in again in the course of the same session. The Emperor prorogues the Imperial Diet, and he may dissolve it any time. In case of a dissolution another diet must be convoked within three months. All taxes and rates for the purposes of the empire and of the provinces shall be imposed by laws. The expenditure and income of the country must annually be stated in a budget, the same to be fixed by law. The national debt is guaranteed by the empire.

HUNGARY.

A battle has taken place at Erlau, not far from Pesth, between the Austrians and Hungarians. The fighting lasted three days, commencing on the 25th Feb., and the Hungarians being forced to retreat from successive positions, were at last attacked on the 27th near Erlau and defeated. The loss was reported at 300 or 400, the Austrians taking about 1,000 prisoners, including 15 officers and a flag. On their side the loss was less considerable. Field Marshal Lieutenants Schlich and Swartzenberg commanded the Austrians.

TURKEY.

M. Titoff, the Russian minister at Constantinople, has officially demanded the passage into the Bosphorus, and out of the Dardanelles into the Mediterranean, of a Russian fleet. The Divan having consulted with the other foreign ambassadors, the demand was refused. M. Titoff then declared that Russia would take by force that passage, which she was determined to have.

INDIA.

The capture of Mooltan, on the 2nd of January, not having resulted in the surrender of the citadel, siege operations were commenced, and parallels were immediately constructed within 500 yards of the walls. Moolraj offered as stout à resistance as ever. Our batteries were opened with little apparent success. Even when a breach was established, a ditch surrounded the fort 40 feet in width, and 25 feet deep, the height of the wall from the bottom of the ditch being well nigh 50 feet. Mining was now adopted, and the mines were exploded on the 18th under the crest of the glacis, by which the counterscarp was completely blown in. Two breaches were reported practicable on the 21st, and on the morning of the 22nd our troops were formed for the assault, when Moolraj would seem to have been at length terrified at the preparations made for his destruction, and surrendered himself and the citadel, with its garrison of from 3,000 to 4,000 men, unconditionally, into our hands. Thus terminated the siege of Mooltan, which had been commenced by General Whish in the beginning of September, and cost us the lives of 11 officers, and not fewer than from 250 to 300 men, with 47 officers and some hundreds of men wounded.-A vast store of treasure is deposited in the magazines of Moolraj, and the prize-money of the conquerors is expected to amount to 1,000,000l. sterling.

On the 13th Jan. Lord Gough obtained a sanguinary and doubtful victory over the Sikhs at Chillianwallah, on the Jhelum. It had been expected that he would have awaited the fall of Mooltan, and for reinforcements from the Mooltanee division, before attacking the enemy; but, it being reported that Chuttur Singh was on his way to form a junction with his son, Shere Singh, he determined to march upon the Sikhs. The enemy were strongly posted with the Jhelum in their rear and a jungle in the front. The attack seems to have been fixed for the 14th of January, but on the 13th (the troops being then exhausted, and it being two o'clock, p.m.) a few shots from the enemy's batteries happening to fall near Lord Gough's camp, he was not to be restrained any longer, and flung himself upon the enemy. A heavy cannonade was carried on for an hour or two; and then Brigadier-General Campbell was ordered to make a flank movement, with the infantry division, and in doing so, came in the way of a concealed Sikh bat

tery, which told with terrible effect. Two of the brigades moved upon the guns, but the fire was so deadly they were obliged to retire, leaving hundreds dead upon the field. The 24th Foot lost 23 officers and 540 killed and wounded. Brigadier PenBrigadier Hoggan's nycuick fell here. brigade, including the 61st Queen's and the 36th and 46th N.I., acted with much gallantry, storming the enemy's batteries and spiking their guns; but the 14th Dragoons are said to have behaved questionably; and on the conduct of the 5th Light Cavalry (Bengal), which distinguished itself in the Affghanistan campain, there is no question at all. Night put a stop to the engagement. Lord Gough bivouacked at a little distance from the battle field; and the Sikhs retired to a distance of four miles. The enemy, who are set down at 60,000, are said to have lost 3,000 killed and 4,000 wounded. The British lost 2,500 killed and wounded, including 26 officers killed and 65 wounded. The British forces lost six of their guns, and the enemy twelve.

NORTH AMERICA.

By letters patent, dated the 13th Jan. 1849, the Hudson's Bay Company have received from Queen Victoria a grant of Vancouver's Island, to be held in free-soccage, at the yearly rent of 7s. and the Company have issued a scheme for its colonization. The island will be divided into districts of from five to ten square miles. One tenth part of each district will be set aside for the minister of religion, and another tenth part will be available for roads, the sites of church, churchyard, and schools, and other public purposes. Grants of land will be made in portions of not less than 20 acres, at the rate of 11. per acre. Purchasers of larger quantities than 20 acres to take out with them five single men, or three married couples, for every 100 acres. Minerals are to belong to the company, but owners may work coal mines, on paying a royalty of 2s. 6d. per ton. The right of fishing having been relinquished by the company, to be enjoyed by the freeholders. The governor is to be appointed by the Crown, with a council of seven members. He is authorised to call assemblies, to be elected by the freeholders, and to have the usual powers of prorogueing or dissolving such assembly. Laws will be passed by the governor, council, and assembly, and the legislature thus constituted to have full power to impose taxes and regulate the affairs of the island.

March 8. The Third Jubilee, or One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary, of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, (which we announced in our last Magazine,) was celebrated in St. Paul's Cathedral. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Lord Bishop of London, entered the cathedral by the south-west door a little before 3 o'clock. The Lord Bishop of Llandaff, Dean of St. Paul's, was prevented by illness from attending. The Bishops of St. David's, St. Asaph, Hereford, and Madras; the Archdeacon of London; Canons T. Dale, J. Endell Tyler, and the Hon. H. M. Villiers, with a large body of Prebendaries, were present. members of the choir of St. Paul's, with those of the Chapel Royal, Westminster Abbey, and Windsor, under the able direction of Mr. Goss, the organist of the cathedral, united in giving their services. The Archbishop of Canterbury, President of the Society, preached from Jer. xxxi. 34; and His Grace has been requested to give the Society permission to print the sermon. So large was the congregation, that considerable numbers, unable to find entrance into the choir, remained during the service in the north and south aisles, as well as in the nave.

The

The collection in the Cathedral amounted to 3127. 188. 6d., including a donation of 1007. from T. Holme, esq., and 521. 108. from Richard Gilbert, esq. Liberal donations from various district committees have also been received. The Bishops of Ripon, Norwich, Lichfield, Peterborough, and Chester, preached jubilee sermons in their dioceses: and Bishop Coleridge, formerly Secretary of the Society, in the cathedral of Canterbury.

Feb. 26. The remaining portion of the lodge and screen of Montagu House, Bloomsbury, was brought to the hammer, with a view to its immediate removal. The grand front of the new British Museum will now challenge the admiration of passengers.

Islington Market, which was built by the late Mr. John Perkins about fifteen years since (see our vol. V. p. 542), has been recently again opened, an Act of Parliament having been obtained, which gives the power of holding the market, of slaughtering cattle, melting the fat for tallow, manufacturing the offal, &c. The area within the walls is 15 acres, and for the sake of comparison, to enable any one

to judge of its extent, we will quote Russell-square, which contains 11 a. 1 r. to the walls of the houses, and Lincoln'sinn Fields contains 10 a. 1 r. 29 p. There is accommodation for 8,000 head of cattle and 50,000 sheep, besides layers having 3,280 feet in length of roof, or nearly two acres. The extent of freehold property, upon which there are thirty houses, is 7 acres, exclusive of the market, and 7 acres leasehold, upon which it is intended to erect abattoirs and a dead-meat market. A main public sewer passes within 300 feet of the eastern entrance, and it is 18 feet lower than the surface of the market. The East and West India Dock Railway passes to within 400 yards of this market.

The works of the Metropolitan Sewage Manure Company at Stanley-bridge, Fulham, are now completed. The company was incorporated by Act of Parliament, for the purpose of conveying the contents of the London sewers in a liquid form into the country, and distributing them over the fields and gardens which surround the metropolis. The mechanical means by which these objects are effected are very nearly the same as those by which water is carried into all our large cities, reservoirs being formed for the reception of the sewage, an engine being constructed to pump up as much of it as may be required, and pipes being laid down from the works into the districts where this species of manure is likely to be in demand. The plan has been already tried, it appears, with some success near Glasgow and Manchester. The metropolitan company have now laid down about nine miles of pipes in the parish of Fulham, and they intend to extend them without loss of time into the district of Isleworth. They calculate on supplying sewage to 30,000 acres of land; and farmers, marketgardeners, and landowners, cultivating about 68,000 acres, have by petition to Parliament expressed their interest in the success of the experiment.

The cases of Cholera in this country reported since the commencement of the infection have been, in London and vicinity, cases 1,184, deaths 609, recoveries 136; in the country, cases 1,059, deaths 463, recoveries 165; in Scotland, cases 11,907, deaths 5,167, recoveries 4,173; total, cases 14,150, deaths 6,239, recoveries 4,474. In London, the deaths from cholera have declined in succeeding weeks to 43, 40, 35, and 15, and the total weekly deaths have declined to 122 below the

usual weekly average. The cholera has recently broken out with some violence in Limerick and the neighbouring parts of Ireland.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

Feb. 24. A fire broke out in the college school, Gloucester, over the Chapterroom, and abutting upon the north transept of the cathedral. It speedily extended to the library, which, in the course of half an hour was in flames throughout, and great fears were entertained that the fire would extend into the body of the church. However, three engines were promptly on the spot, and, by the active exertions of the firemen, aided by the inhabitants of the city, the fire was confined to the school and library. Very few of the books were saved. We understand that the cathedral is insured, with all the buildings and offices pertaining to it, in a sum of 10,0007., but it is stated that no part of the damage is recoverable, on account of the terms of the policy being vitiated by the use of stoves, of which there were four in the school room.

Feb. 27. The Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol held a Visitation Court in the Chapter-room of Bristol Cathedral, to hear an appeal from the Rev. E. J. Carter, one of the minor canons, to restore the ancient mode of chanting the services; and a further appeal from three of the unsuccessful candidates in the recent election of a minor canon, that the election of the Rev. Sir C. M'Gregor might be declared null and void, as having been made contrary to the statutes. The Bishop was assisted by Dr. Phillimore, D.C.L. Chancellor of the diocese. Mr. Badeley, for Mr. Carter, argued that from the most ancient period the services of that cathedral had been performed by chanting until the 5th of December last, when an order was made by the Dean and Chapter that those portions of the service which had hitherto been chanted should hereafter be read. The Very Rev. the Dean, in reply, enumerated other cathedrals where the services were not intoned, and contended that, although he was willing to submit to his lordship as ordinary, and obey his decision, yet the Bishop could not, as visitor, allow himself to be regu lated by the statutes of Henry VIII. which would throw the church open to the worst usages of popery. Mr. Clarke addressed his lordship on the part of the three candidates for the minor canonry, contending that the election of Sir C. M'Gregor had been illegal, and ought to be annulled. The Bishop gave his decision, enjoining the Dean and Chapter for the future to

maintain the celebration of the choral services in the cathedral according to the usages and practice observed antecedently to the order of the 5th Dec. 1848; and further enjoining that henceforth any order of the Dean and Chapter which may purport to make any material change in the usages and constitutions of the cathedral shall be submitted to him for confirmation; and that in future elections of minor canons a more careful and strict attention shall be paid to the provision of the statute-De qualitate, electione, et admissione minorum canonicorum-than appears to have been given to it in the last election. In accordance with the above injunction, the practice of chanting the service was resumed on the same day. The appointment of the Rev. Sir Č. M'Gregor is not disturbed.

MIDDLESEX.

March 14. The first stone of the new church of the parish of Stanmore was laid in the presence of her Majesty the Queen Dowager, by the Earl of Aberdeen, and the sacred service for the occasion was performed by the Bishop of London. The youthful Rector of the parish, the Hon. and Rev. Douglas Gordon (son of the Earl of Aberdeen), has stepped forward in the necessary work of founding this church. The site has been the liberal offering of Colonel Tennant. It adjoins the present churchyard, which is one of the most picturesque spots in which a village church can be placed. The funds are being raised by voluntary subscription. The edifice is to contain accommodation for 800 persons, one half to be free sittings.

WALES.

Llandillo - bridge, Carmarthenshire, is completed. This bridge, which is the third largest in the kingdom, being nearly 150 feet span, is built principally of black marble, at an expense of about 18,000/. Gloucester-bridge cost 60,000l. and Chester 40,0001.

IRELAND.

Dec. 23. It is stated that Rathfarnham Castle and demesne, near Dublin, so long the seat of the Ely family, has been purchased by the Right Hon. Francis Blackburne, Chief Justice of the Irish Court of Queen's Bench, for the sum of 30,000. There are some historical recollections of an interesting kind in connection with this property. Cromwell and other of the Republican generals held their camps either on or near to it. The Lord Chief Justice is owner of extensive property in the county of Meath.