with the same absence of authority; the only difference
being, that it has now been thought advantageous for
the Company to retain these shares. On the third
point, he says he purchased iron largely in October,
1844, when the Company was not in existence, but when
iron was low: "like any other man," he was "surely
entitled to the enhanced worth of his own iron." The
tenders for the iron were open and public; and Messrs.
Thompson and Forman, in furnishing iron partly out of
their own stock and partly out of that which they held
for him, did not in anywise affect the price. "In
conclusion," says Mr. Hudson, "I would observe, that I
am aware that transactions have occurred which are to
be regretted; but in respect to which it is some
consolation to me to reflect that the Company have in no
instance sustained pecuniary loss. Allow me to ask you
to review those transactions with some remembrance of
the excited period in which they occurred—of the
multiplicity of concerns which I had to superintend and
direct—of the brief opportunities I had for reflection—
and of the impossibility of my giving sufficient attention
to the public duties and private matters which then
claimed my attention."

Accounts of great interest have arrived from the
Pacific, in reference to the expedition in search of Sir
John Franklin. From Mazatlan, under date the 24th
of November, we learn the arrival at that port on the
13th of Her Majesty's ship Herald, Captain Kellatt, and
also that of the British yacht Nancy Dawson, Captain
Bill, with intelligence from Her Majesty's ship Plover
at Behring's Straits. We learn that the relief ship had
previously penetrated as far as 73 deg. 10 min. N. latitude,
in search of Sir J. Franklin; and in company with the
yacht named, the Plover's boats also penetrated along a
vast extent of the coast of North America, extending
from Behring's Straits to the mouth of the Mackenzie
River, the scene of Sir J. Richardson's exit into the
northern seas during the late expedition. It appears
that no traces of the missing navigators were discovered;
and it is stated that the boats of the Plover consequently
determined, in accordance with their instructions, to
winter on the spot, attempting to reach one of the nearest
traders' stations in the vicinity. The private schooner-
yacht then returned, her light draught having previously
enabled her to explore in company with the boats, and
with the Plover re-entered Behring's Straits from the
north; there the Plover took up her winter quarters,
and subsequently the Herald and Nancy Dawson
returned to Mazatlan. The commander of the Plover, it
is stated, entertained great hopes of Sir John Franklin's
safety, although we are not informed of the grounds upon
which that expectation is based. It is to be regretted
that the advices received are in a measure indefinite;
and it is still more mournful to learn that the owner of
the yacht which was so nobly conducted along the Arctic
coast from the promptings of a philanthropic spirit,
should have subsequently closed his career at Mazatlan.
It is stated that he had previously been engaged in a
tour round the world, and suddenly altered his course
to aid in the search for Franklin's ships. The yacht had
been put in charge of a sailing-master from one of Her
Majesty's ships at Mazatlan, and will be despatched
home by the British Consul. From New York we
learn also some details of interest in reference to Sir
John Franklin. Letters had been received by influential
individuals in that city from Lady Franklin, desiring
advice and information from the person to whom they
were addressed, as to the expediency of her visiting New
York to arrange an expedition, at her own expense, for
the renewal of the search for her lost husband next
spring. Lady Franklin is described as meditating the
purchase of two small vessels with that aim.

Obituary of Notable Persons

THE HON. MRS OTWAY CAVE, widow of the late Hon. Robert
Otway Cave, and eldest daughter of the late Sir Francis Burdett
Bart,, died in Dublin on the 30th ult.

M. QUATREMERE DE QUINCY, member of the Académie des
Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, perpetual honorary secretary of
the Académle des Beaux Arts, and senior member of the Institute of France, has lately died in his 95th year.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL IRVINE, C.B., of the East India
Company's service, chief director of engineering and architectural
works of the Admiralty, died on the 29th ult. at his residence,
Highgate. Colonel Irvine's career was an arduous and most
distinguished one. He served in many sieges and storms, in
which he was severely wounded, and personally led one or two
forlorn-hopes. As a military engineer his talents were highly
prized in India.

THE PRINCESS CAROLINE HENRIETTA, mother of the reigning
Prince of Reuss-Schleiz, died on the 24th ult., at the age of 89.

SIR DAVID DICKSON M.D., Inspector of Hospitals and Fleets
died on the 9th, at his residence, Durnford Street, Stonehouse, in
the 70th year of his age. He was surgeon of the Brakel in the
expedition to Egypt in 1801.

LIEUTENANT WAGHORN, R.N., the gallant pioneer of the
overland route, died at his residence. Golden Terrace, Pentonville,
on the 8th, in the 49th year of his age. Mr. Waghorn
had returned only on Christmas day from Malta, where he had
been residing a short time for the benefit of his health,
which had been considerably impaired by anxiety and harass
of mind, arising chiefly from pecuniary engagements contracted
in his prosecution of the Trieste experiments in 1846, and which
liabilities the devotion of all his means and the sacrifice of his
entire property were inadequate to liquidate. Independent of
the main incident of his history in connection with the Indian
enterprise, that has immortalised his name as one of the greatest
practical benefactors of the age, his career has been most
extraordinary, full of the strangest vicissitudes, and abounding in
evidences of character in every way worthy of enduring
commemoration. Of the pension lately awarded to him by Government
he lived to receive only one quarter's payment.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SIR JAMES MALCOLM, K.C.B., of the
Royal Marines, died on the 3rd, at his seat, Minholm, Dumfriesshire,
at the age of 82. He was second son of Mr. G. Malcolm,
of Burnfoot, and elder brother of Admiral Sir C.Malcolm. He
entered the Royal Marines at the early age of thirteen.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL NICOL, C.B., died at Clifton on the 6th.
He served with distinction throughout the Peninsular war, and
afterwards in India, in the Nepaul war, when he commanded
a division of the army under Sir David Ochterlony.

MRS BARTLEY, formerly Miss Smith, the celebrated tragedian,
died on the 14th in her 65th year.

MADAME GRASSINI, the once celebrated Italian singer, died
lately at Milan, aged 77. She was the aunt of Giulietta Grisi.

COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES.

A NEW metropolitan association for the reform of Colonial Government challenges unusual attention at
the opening of the year, from the fact that it comprises leading men of all parties not absolutely
engaged in office. Its object is to obtain for all the colonies the most ample powers of local self-government,
to secure them in such rights as the disposal of their own waste lands, and to protect them in framing
or altering at pleasure the local constitution of each colony.

Such news as meanwhile we receive from the colonies themselves appears to exhibit a somewhat large
field for the exertions of the new society. The settlers of the Cape still resist the admission of convicts, and
Western Australia has pronounced hardly less unreservedly against the proffered boon of convict labour.
The West Indies groan as loudly as usual, the Canadians are clamouring for "an independant union" of all
the British North American provinces, and New Zealand insists upon the promised constitution which its
new governor has hitherto thought it right to withhold.

The news from India is limited to a rumour of disturbances on the frontier of Peshawur, which receives
importance from the accompanying statement that a distinguished officer had been ordered with a