(so valuable to the subjects of this empire) a perfect
farce." It will be seen in our parliamentary narrative
that this matter was taken up by the House of Lords on
the 23rd.

A deputation of London weekly newspaper proprietors
waited on the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Postmaster-
General on the 3rd, to induce the government to rescind
the last Post Office Regulations as to Sunday Deliveries.
In reply to their representations the marquis said that
his own opinion and that of the government was, that
the arrangements in question would be inconvenient, yet
there were objections to the crown opposing the wishes of
the people, as expressed by their representatives; that
though it might be said that the vote did not really
represent the feeling of the country, yet it had not been
hastily brought forward, and there had been sufficient
time to oppose it; that, however, he believed the matter
would be again brought forward on an early day, and if
the House of Commons chose to reverse its decision, he
individually, and he took it for granted, all the other
members of the government, would agree that the
original arrangement should at once be reverted to.

The Criminal Tables for the Year 1849 have been laid
before both Houses of Parliament. The prefatory
explanation and calculations, by Mr. Redgrave, of the Home
Office, the compiler of the tables, contain much curious
and important matter. Among a number of other statements
we find the following:—Of the persons committed
for trial in the last year there were—Acquitted and
discharged, 6786; acquitted on the ground of insanity, 18;
found insane, 11; convicted, 21,001; total committed,
27,816. Of the persons convicted last year 1 in 318 was
sentenced to death; and 1 in 8 to transportation. But
the leniency of the administration of the law is forcibly
exhibited, when it is shown that embracing all the serious
offences for which persons were convicted, the sentence
of three-fourths were for periods of six months and
under; of one-half for three months and under; and
that the sentences of above one-third were for periods of
two months and under. There has been no execution
since 1841, except for murder; of 19 persons convicted
last year of this offence, 15 were executed, the crimes of
several being marked by circumstances of peculiar
atrocity. Five of these persons were females; one for the
murder and robbery of her mistress, one for the murder
of her husband by poison, who was also charged with
and confessed the murder of her two adult sons, and the
attempted murder of a third; one for the murder of her
infant by poison, suspected to have been the eighth or
ninth similar offence; another for the murder of her
husband by poison; and the fifth was (with her husband,
who was also executed) convicted of a deeply-laid plan
of murder and robbery. Of the males, one was
convicted of murder who was also charged with a second
murder, and the attempted murder of two other persons,
in furtherance of extensive forgeries and fraud; one was
convicted of the murder of four persons, and robbery;
one of the murder of his mother; one of the murder of
his child; one of the murder of a young girl, supposed
from motives of revenge; another of the murder of a
female, the motive not being made apparent; and three
of separate cases of murder in connection with burglary
and theft. In the commitments last year for murder,
the number of females equalled the number of males;
and it appears that the recent increase in the commitments
for murder is attributable solely to female crime.

A great Tenant-right Meeting of the county of Louth
took place at Dundalk on the 29th of June. The
proceedings were unanimous, and the important object of
cementing the union of the North and South, for
promoting the interests of the tenant farmers, was materially
forwarded.

There was a meeting at Reading on the 6th, got up
by Mr. Ferrand, to gain recruits for his "Wool League,"
a combination to put down the cotton manufacture by
abstaining from the use of that article. About 300
persons were present. The meeting was addressed by
Mr. Ferrand in his usual strain, and also by the Marquis
of Downshire, the character of whose speech may be
gathered from the following specimen;—"I did not
come here this day to do things by halves; no, I came
here to speak out, and to call things by their proper
names. And I now declare that I wish this agitation
to be considered as a war à l' outrance,on the part of the
farmers against the Manchester cotton manufacturers.
Now mark my words—I will stand by them—and if
there be a penalty attached to them, on my head let it
fall. I recommend you and all Englishmen to abstain
from dealing in a single ounce of their blood-stained
cotton goods." These sentiments, and the noble
marquis's recommendation that his hearers should "give
their custom only to those whom they knew to be their
friends, and who, they were sure would vote the right
way," were received with vociferous cheers.

The question of Smithfield Market is under discussion
in the Court of Common Council. The Secretary of
State having transmitted to that body the report of the
royal commission, which recommended the discontinuance
of that market and the establishment of a new
cattle market in a place without the City; and having
desire to know whether the corporation were willing to
construct the new market and undertake its supervision;
this communication was referred to the market improvement
committee. At a special court on the 11th, the
report of this committee was brought up. It objects, at
great length, to the recommendation of Her Majesty's
commissioners, and concludes as follows:—"Under all
these circumstances, therefore, and upon every consideration,
as well for the benefit of the public at large, as of
the citizens of London in particular, your committee
cannot but express their firm and unaltered opinion, that
the suggestion for the removal of Smithfield market is,
without any adequate reason, founded upon public
considerations for the present, or any certainty as to its
effect for the future." A debate ensued, which after
adjournment, was terminated on the 23rd, when the
report was agreed to.

Conciliation Hall has been finally closed. On the
15th the weekly rent was only £4 10s.; on which Mr.
John O'Connell moved that the association should
adjourn sine die, as they were in debt, and had lost all
control over the hall. The motion was carried in solemn
silence, and the meeting (a very small one) broke up.

The annual dinner of the Society for the Reform of
Colonial Government took place at Greenwich on the
17th. Lord Monteagle presided; and the principal speakers
were Sir W. Molesworth, the Bishop of Oxford, Mr.
Hume, Mr. Adderley, and Mr. Lowe, of New South
Wales.

The Royal Agricultural Society held its annual meeting
this year at Exeter. The principal day was Thursday
the 18th, when there was a great show of cattle and
other farm stock and machinery, followed by a dinner,
at which the chair was occupied by the Marquis of
Downshire, the President of the Society. Among the
numerous company were the French and American
ambassadors, who both addressed the meeting, expressing
their admiration of the state of agriculture in England.

The National Reform Association held a great meeting
on the 17th at Wymondham, in Norfolk. It was
estimated that 5000 persons were present, comprising
many belonging to the agricultural classes. The Sheriff
of Norfolk presided. The principal speakers were Sir
Joshua Walmesley, Mr. G. Thompson, Mr. A. Mackay,
and Mr. T. M'Enteer, who formed the metropolitan
deputation, and two local members. Sir Thomas Beever,
and Mr. Tillett, of Norwich.

A meeting—described as an aggregate meeting of the
clergy of the Church of England and the lay members
of her communion—was held in St. Martin's Hall, Long-
Acre, on the 23rd. Its object was to protest against the
decisions of the several courts of law in the Gorham
Case; to address the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to
take other steps to prevent the order of the Court of Arches
to induct Mr. Gorham to the vicarage of Brampford
Speke from being carried into effect. It is estimated
that about 2000 persons were present. The chair was
occupied by Mr. J. G. Hubbard; and the Bishop of
Bath and Wells, Archdeacon Wilberforce, Archdeacon
Thorpe, Archdeacon Bartholomew, Archdeacon Manning,
Viscount Feilding, Earl Nelson, Lord John Manners,
and the Rev. Dr. Pusey, were among the persons on the
platform. The meeting was addressed at great length
by the chairman, the Bishop of Bath and Wells,
Archdeacon Wilberforce, and others; and resolutions in
accordance with the objects of the meeting were