hoping to escape, till he is overtaken by the fear or avarice of the tyrant.

The style of Colonel King, at once rhetorical and gossipy, is not well adapted to quotation, from its looseness; but we will take a few of the more separable passages.

TREATMENT OF PRISONERS BY ROSAS.

save his drawers, which were rolled up, and fast-
ened about his thighs. Both he and his horse were
covered with blood; and altogether they presented
an appearance that could be compared to nothing
human. Goaded with the prospect of defeat, he
dashed from place to place, cutting down with his
own sword such of his troops as quailed or turned
hottest of the fight.
for their lives, and leading detachments into the
Naked as he was, and

streaming with the gore that had spirted from his
victims upon him, he seemed a very devil presiding
their flight, and were rushing in small bands from
over carnage. His troops had already commenced

NATURAL CHASM.

"Near his encampment were two or three country mansions; one of which, not more than three hundred yards from the scene, was occupied by Don whose lady chanced to be on the assote when three prisoners were brought into the camp. The natural sympathies of a woman's heart were at once excited in their behalf, and she watched the battle in every direction; some halting, and at with great anxiety the course pursued toward an auspicious moment dashing again into the fray; them. Each having been divested of his coat, some resting, and others again flying for their vest, and hat, was brought out upon the plain and lives. In this manner our little party of neutrals placed in what is called stac; that is to say, they became entangled in the mass of moving detachwere placed upon their backs on the ground, their ments; and at one time we were compelled to fight our own way out. But at sunset the battle was arms extended and secured in that position by thongs tied about the wrists, and fastened to stakes decided: Paz was victorious; and Quiroga, at driven in the ground for that purpose, with their length finding all efforts hopeless, turned, and, feet in the same manner; and the poor fellows without a signal for retreat, fled from the spot." were thus left in the sun, with their faces upward. When the lady saw this, she hastened to inform her husband, and entreated of him to intercede for their liberation; but he answered, that to interfere with a decree of Rosas, would be to endanger his own life without the possibility of saving the victims. The lady's anxiety increased. Again and again during the day would she go to the housetop in hopes of finding that they had been removed; but as often did she see them in their helpless position broiling in the sun! As the shades of night came on and found them still there, she became almost frantic: in vain had her husband urged and entreated her to remain below-there was a horrible infatuation that drew her, spite of her will, to look upon the scene until it had unfitted her for every other thought. At night she could not sleep; the vision of those miserable men was constantly before her eyes, and at the earliest dawn she was again at the house-top. They were still in view, stretched out as she had last seen them, and where they had now remained during the space of at least twenty hours.

"For a long time Paz's reserve remained immova'ble, but at last we saw them dash into the conflict. It was a moment of intense excitement with us all; shouts and cheers ascended from the house-tops in every quarter, as though our fighting friends could hear their encouraging tones. None could form the slightest opinion upon the chances of success; and, unable at last to bear the excitement and suspense, about twenty of us determined to go to the scene of action, yet without any direct object, except it was to quell the burning fever of anxiety. Passing hastily from the town, we ran towards the tablada; the roar of the battle growing louder and louder as we approached. Both armies had broken into detachments; and the men were fighting on all hands like bloodhounds. We saw Quiroga: he had thrown off every vestige of his clothing

"On the following morning, accompanied by two soldiers as attendants or servants, I crossed the river Jujuy, and commenced my journey; which, after a ride of about six leagues, lay through the wonderful ravine known as the Cavrado de Humaguaca. This cavrado or chasm, which was formed by a convulsion of the earth, extends a distance of about ten leagues, varying in width from a space of one hundred yards to that of a quarter of a mile, and presenting one of the most wild and singular curiosities of nature. The opening of the earth has left a ravine walled on either side with immense and lofty palisadoes of jagged rock, broken here and there with gaping chasms, through which the mountain-streams dash and foam, on their downward course, into what might be aptly termed the regions of Erebus, since all below is impenetrable darkness; and how far into the bowels of the earth these streams may dash and fret in their downward passage, is beyond the estimate of man.

"Strange as it may seem, man has set his foot and built his habitation within this pass of gloom; and the occasional spots of earth, occupied and cultivated by Peruvian mametas and tatetas, formed a singular contrast to the natural wildness of everything about them."

CAMP EQUIPAGE.

Colonel Roues, who owned and occupied a farm "At this place we were visited by Lieutenantnot far from us. He was a native of the province, and a sincere patriot at heart, but at that time living in retirement. Perceiving that we were in a suffering condition, this gentleman immediately sent us provisions of sheep, &c, from his own farm; which our people paid their respects to without ceremony. Dishes were unknown in our camp, knives and forks we were not encumbered with, and camp-kettles were a thing unknown. Our mode of cooking our mutton was by forcing lengthwise through the whole side of a sheep, a stick about four feet long, of which we made a skewer, and driving the end of it into the ground near the fire. As the meat was turned and gradu ally roasted, cach man helped himself, by cutting, with his sword or clasp-knife, a long slice from the part most cooked, eating it from his hand; and thus the process was continued until the meat was all gone. In this way, washing down our meat with water from the bold and clear stream beside

WHIG TREMORS ON RETURN TO OFFICE.

the malignant oratory of the literary Disraeli; but the approving smiles and unsuppressed chuckle of whig statesmen and liberal Edinburgh Reviewers, and the exulting halloo of the whole opposition herd.

Yet we believe the more intelligent whigs, when they say that accession to office just now, quite apart from the corn question, is not for the interest of their party. Men often desire to eat their cake and have it; the whigs wish Sir Robort Peel out, and they wish him in; they long for their own readmission to power, and they fear it: and there are reasons both for the wish and the fear. Hint the possible event, that after all “Peel may not go out," and watch their looks of dismay! "Oh!" they cry, "he must go out." Very true. "But you cannot say that we did it." Then why not leave him alone? "Oh! we must be in." Well, go in, then, and do your best. "Ah! it is easy to say do your best; but it is not our interest to be in." Why, that is true again; so stay out. "Oh, shocking! you are growing factious."

THE expectant whig ministers and their friends appear to be in a curious state of mind; they are eagerly anticipating the return to office, yet they behave as if they dreaded it; they do their best to make Sir Robert Peel's further occupancy impossible, yet disclaim the notion that they are striving to oust him, and seem to be really afraid of their own success. Their leading organ in the press especially deprecates our presumption that the object is to unseat the premier, and avers that there is no such wish or intent. Why, then, that great meeting at Lord John Russell's house, to concert with Mr. O'Connell measures of opposition? Why that ostentatious advertisement of whig movement, as if to invite consentaneous protectionist movement in the same direction? Says the Morning Chronicle, a totally new view of coercion in Ireland has sprung up since the coercion bill was so readily passed by the Lords; people have learned to see that the causes of Irish agrarian crime must be explored; and no other course was possible to the whig leaders but that which they Natural that they should wish to be in, of course have taken. It may be so; we will not dispute it is; natural also that they should fear it. They the possibility of sudden conversions, though not know that their success is doubtful. Their friends brought about by any change of circumstances, but know it better. They have put forth no sign of simply by the internal working of the convert's enlarged purpose or renovated vigor. What have mind; we will not insist on the remarkable coinci- they done in opposition? Nothing to entitle them dence that Lord John Russell should first conceive to office. They are about to enter, not by their this bright idea, not when he was himself consid-own force, but because place is vacant and usage ering the occasion and structure of a coercion bill, but when Sir Robert Peel is engaged upon it.

Say, then, that the coercion bill was a subject which could not be avoided; but what pressing necessity was there for taking up the sugar dispute, before its time? Could not the national teacup wait another year, that Lord John must interpose the sugar duties before Sir Robert Peel has done dealing with the loaf?

Granting the possibility of that pressing necessity also, there is something in the demeanor of the whigs that can scarcely be reconciled to the notion that they would willingly leave Sir Robert Peel undisturbed. They industriously seize opportunities for attacking him and his ministry on old scores the long past and the irretrievable. No matter what the occasion, what the subject in hand, no opportunity goes by without their raking up past misdoings. Lord John Russell, in particular, never makes a speech without insinuating or directly asserting disparagement. In his speech on Monday, the subject being coercion, he had something to say about Sir Robert Peel's borrowing measures-a most gratuitous pertinancy of taunting, after Sir Robert's ample acknowledgments on that score and some old indiscretions of Sir James Graham on the subject of education were dragged out right gleefully. Those ancient conservative offences may have been very bad; the whigs may feel conscientiously bound to expose them; but their selecting the present time for it is not quite reconcilable with the idea that they do not wish to promote the premier's ejectment.

Still less so is their encouragement of protectionist attacks on their great rival. They talk of political "consistency," while they applaud the bitter enemies of the policy which they profess to advocate, in assailing its ablest and heartiest promoter. It is not in the countenance of the tory party that the sporting Lord George has found his chief support; it is not the shout of the rustic country party that has supplied the stimulus for

66

66

invites them to walk in. Sir Robert Peel goes
out, because he cannot work with the means at his
command: he is no more turned out by the whigs
than he is by the tories. They do their utmost,
indeed, to spoil his tenancy, on the principle that
every little helps; but, truly, we cannot reproach
them for having done it. They are not
big with
glorious great intent"-some mighty policy which
it is their vocation to carry out, and on the strength
of which they are borne to power. Their antago
nist retreats, but they do not drive him. They
have the march of victory without the exploits :
those awkward tests of triumph are to come after-
wards-they gain the citadel, and then they will
have to fight for it: is it surprising that with the
victory their profounder anxieties begin?

What are their resources, to sustain the angry siege which is to follow their triumph? What measures have they in store? Who knows? They have ventured on few boasts, and those not large ones; old measures all, and not first-rate. The Morning Chronicle tries to show that it is against the interest of the whigs to come in on an Irish question. Why so? Is not Ireland their favorite ground? Are they not sure even there? It seems that Lord John has some Irish measures in view, such as they are: he will have no coercion bill-for that is not "constitutional," as it is called, not ameliorating"--but he prefers military occupation of disturbed districts: the state of Ireland should be altered by something better than the landlord and tenant bills; he will not, however, have a real poor-law-he is afraid of that; but he will have that great measure the reclamation of waste lands"! Moreover, he will conciliate.

66

What are his English measures, to reconcile this country to whig government? Modified sugar-duties are advertised; nothing else, that we remember.

Setting aside special measures, what is to be the whig policy, in Ireland or England? In Ireland,

ROWLAND HILL.

it may be inferred that they will soothe by words | ment, the committee believe that the surplus rev-
301
and niggle at minor remedies; in England, their enue would by this time have been nearly brought
policy is to be to supply omissions in Sir Robert up to the old level, and that the administration of
Peel's tariff-" no further harm."
What is to be their foreign policy? Irritation, repute with the public.
the post-office would have been in much greater
after the old fashion? reciprocity, their old hag-
gling or imitation of Sir Robert Peel-setting" Mr. Rowland Hill, the author of Penny Post-
Mr. Warburton, in proposing the health of
the example in commercial freedom, and trusting to age," made some interesting statements-
that example, for its beneficial and peaceful
results?

The public subscription had been a liberal one, admiration which Mr. Hill's services had excited but it was a most inadequate expression of the in the public mind. Sir Robert Peel's government had unwisely determined to dismiss Mr. Hill from his employment at the treasury in organizing the among the subscribers to the testimonial was Sir new methods; but it must not be forgotten that Robert Peel himself. Mr. Warburton trusted that, under the present or some future government, Mr. Hill would be installed in office, not in a subordinate capacity, but in a commanding position, from which he could superintend the details of postoffice administration.

What man is to lead them? Let us know that, because even from his character we may guess whether they will strike out a new policy, vindicate their unearned position, and make their government worthy of the country. Grey, prepared to act on large principles? Lord Will it be Lord Clarendon, preferring national to party interests? Lord Morpeth, able to act on a sentiment and a faith Lord Palmerston even, an active and efficient statesman? No; it seems that Lord John Russell is to keep his old post. Is he a man to outrun expectation? Will he forget his self-references-his fear of being morally answerable for contingencies-his punctilious dread of doing any-the medium of fresh instruction as well as of gratiMr. Rowland Hill made his speech of thanks thing beneath the house of Bedford" by vulgar fying retrospect. heartiness of liberalism-his growing alarm lest was a generous recognition of the services of othhe should be convicted in any way of "playing ers; among whom he enumeratedOne of his prominent topics second fiddle" to Sir Robert! We have no hostility to Lord John; we shall be pleased if he sur-parliamentary committee of 1833; Mr. Warburton, Mr. Wallace, the indefatigable chairman of the pass expectations founded on experience of the who drew up the report, the ablest document of past but as it is, we augur little advancement for its kind ever issued; Mr. Ashurst, the agent of the liberal party, because he is not liberal enough the London Mercantile Committee. In the house to lead that party; we anticipate little success for of peers the cause found able advocates in Lord a ministry that must depend on progressive reform, Ashburton, Lord Brougham, Lord Radnor, and because he cannot unsay those things which be- the Duke of Richmond. trayed his doctrine of " finality." With all respect also due to Mr. Baring, late Chancellor of the for 1831, we have no wish to restore that year fif- Exchequer, for the manner in which he exercised An acknowledgment was teen stages after its legitimate position in the cal- the powers conferred by the act of parliament. endar. gentleman, for the confidence and friendship with Personally, Mr. Rowland Hill felt indebted to that which he was honored during the two years he acted under him.

ROWLAND HILL.

From the Spectator.

The whigs claim credit for supporting Sir Robert Peel, and the Chronicle quotes a testimonial from the premier to that effect. No doubt, they are investing as much support as they can, consistently with their party views, in the expectation under the old system with the results of the new. He contrasted the anomalies which existed that it will be repaid in kind. Will their measures In considering these results, it should be borne in deserve support on other grounds; will they com- mind that the execution of the plan, in some of its pel it by the greatness and boldness of their de-essential parts, is still very incomplete. On the meanor? That is what some of their best friends subject of revenue he made the following statedoubt, wishing that they were not put to trial just ment. yet; and the timorous doubt evidently infects the parliamentary committee as the standard of com The year 1837, which was adopted by the whig leaders.-Spectator, 20th June. parison, gave a gross revenue of 2,340,000l., and a net revenue of 1,641,000l. He had estimated that under the new system the same gross revenue would be obtained, but that the net revenue would be reduced by about 300,000l. Last year, the or full four fifths of the estimated amount; and the gross revenue actually obtained was 1,902,000Z., net revenue was 776,000l., or nearly three fifths which showed this result had scarcely been issued of the estimated amount. before it was followed by another, stating that the The return, however, This amount would have been larger had not On which discrepancy Mr. Hill observed-" As 1 "real net receipt of post-office revenue" is 47,5821. the maximum rate of subscription been restricted am very desirous of avoiding all points of controto 107. 10s. Regret was expressed by some of versy on this happy occasion, I shall not notice the the subscribers that the execution of Mr. Hill's return further than to state that it is a repetition plan, instead of being intrusted to himself, had of the fallacy the attempt to establish which so been transferred to the post-office authorities, the notably failed three years ago, and that any calcu undisguised and constant opponents of that plan.lation of net revenue which shall accurately adjust Others expressed a hope that Mr. Hill may soon both sides of the account, by charging on the be afforded an opportunity of perfecting his plans; one hand a fair share of the packet-service, and by and in that hope the committee sympathize. Had giving credit on the other hand for the cost of disMr. Hill's services been retained by the govern- tributing newspapers, will show a net revenue

THE formal presentation of the National Testimonial to Mr. Rowland Hill, the postage reformer, took place at a public dinner on 17th June.

The gross amount of subscriptions was 15,7251. 4s. 8d., and the expenses 2,3641. 5s. 34d.; leaving a net balance of 13,360l. 19s. 5d.

larger even than that exhibited by the accounts monial; but had Sir Robert yielded to his entreatmade out in the ordinary manner. In short, the real net revenue, instead of being under 50,000l., is above 800,000.

"The number of chargeable letters delivered in the United Kingdom, in 1838, was ascertained to be about 75,000,000; the number in 1845 was 271,000,000. And in January of the present year, the latest period to which the returns apply, the number was at the rate of 303,000,000 per annum, or four times the number in 1838. The increase of letters necessary to sustain the gross revenue, I estimated at fivefold. This estimate was attacked at the time as much too low; but it is now indisputable that the gross revenue will be made up when the increase of letters amounts to four-and-a-half fold. In the London District Post, (the old Twopenny Post,) the increase has been from thirteen millions in 1838 to thirty-one millions in 1845, or much more than twofold. The gross revenue of this department is larger now than at any former period. This fact appears to be conclusive as against a general twopenny rate. As to the increase of letters generally, it may be stated thus-there are now as many letters delivered in the London District, that is to say within twelve miles of the post-office in St. Martin's-le-Grand, as there were under the old system in the whole United Kingdom." But this increase, vast as it is, amounts to less for every man, woman, and child in the United Kingdom, than a letter per month.

He quoted the opinion of the chanceller of the exchequer as expressed in his last budget speech, to show the good hopes of increased revenue which that gentleman entertains from the post-office.

ies, and allowed him, at any pecuniary sacrifice, to work out his plan-as he did offer to work it without cost to the public-his gratitude would have been unbounded. Still, even at that moment of disappointment, he could say that he felt no regret at having embarked in the great work of post-office improvement. By the aid of Sir Thomas Wilde, Mr. Baring, and some other friends, he was enabled to fulfil the only duty which remained, and that was to place the facts on record. The National Testimonial was then proposed; and the progress it made was such that all anxiety on his part as to pecuniary resources for the future was soon at an end. Nearly the whole fund has been safely and advantageously invested; and this investment, added to his own small property, is, with his frugal habits, amply sufficient to relieve his mind from anxiety with regard to a permanent provision for his family.

POST-OFFICE REFORM: THE NATIONAL TESTI

MONIAL.

THE tribute paid to Mr. Rowland Hill this week might be made, and ought to be made, the fulcrum of a new effort to remodel our post-office system thoroughly. The penny postage-the money orders-the increased frequency of mails-all these are important parts of Mr. Hill's system, but they are only parts of it. Their entire efficacy presupposes an extensive reconstruction of the internal machinery of the office. Until this be effected, they are inadequately worked, and do not produce their full amount of benefit; the expectations of the public are constantly suffering disappointment

business combinations frustrated, which would not have been attempted but for reliance upon them, or would have been attempted by some other means.

He should not go into the question of deficiencies in post-office management. A long list of them, with the remedies, appears in the report of the committee of 1843; and he was sorry to say that the last three years had done but little to reduce the number. He would mention one or Under all the disadvantages of having been two instances of improvement. Two years ago, worked by inadequate machinery and hostile workthe post-office very reluctantly made an approach men, Mr. Hill's system, as far as it has been tried, towards the hourly deliveries in the London district, has been successful beyond what the most sanwhich formed part of his original plan; and al-guine had reason to expect in so short a time. In though only three deliveries were added, instead 1838 the number of chargeable letters delivered in of six, the effect was immediately to advance the the United Kingdom was seventy-five millions; in annual rate of increase in the London district post-1845 it was two hundred and seventy-one millions. letters from 1,800,000 to nearly 2,700,000, or 50 Mr. Hill estimated that the former gross revenue per cent. By the adoption of two other suggestions, would be sustained when the letters delivered had which at the time he proposed them were deemed increased fivefold: it is now obvious that it will be impracticable, 11,000l. a year had been saved. He sustained as soon as their number becomes four was justified in assuming, that but for the interrup- and a half times what it was; and already it is about tion in the progress of the measure which took three and a half times the sum. Mr. Dillon stated place on the retirement of the late government, all that the correspondence of his firm had increased his expectations would have been realized. Other since the cheap postage was adopted to four times countries had participated in the advantage: re-its former amount, but that the private corresponductions in the rates of postage had taken place in Russia, Prussia, Austria, Spain, and the United States of America, in consequence of the good example set by the English parliament

dence of persons employed by them had increased tenfold. Parties who enjoy opportunities of narrowly observing the habits of the poorer classes state, that the communication by letter among He had been more fortunate than many other re- friends and families, has increased among them in formers; for he had seen his plan brought into prac-a still more encouraging ratio. The money-orders, tice, imperfectly as it might be. There was, how-too, have materially economized the circulating ever, one period of his course to which he could not medium in the case of extensive traders, who allude without pain. It was that when, with health receive large amounts in many small payments; impaired, after six years of incessant labor and and-what is of far more consequence-have done anxiety, he was dismissed from the Treasury, and much to facilitate the acquirement of habits of left to seek afresh the means of supporting his forethought and economy, and the maintenance of family. He had expressed his thanks on a former a kindly family feeling, among the poor. Morally occasion to Sir Robert Peel for the manner in and economically, the cheap postage has already which he had spoken of his labors; he now placed society in this country in advance of what it thanked him for contributing to the national testi-was seven years ago; and when the machinery is