4 with white silk. The workthe arms of the noble families ble-cloths and napkins has also employed a great many hands. ns made of half silk are, how. of doubtful value, though very eighteen different colours are into one. This mixture of cois not only very dear in conse e of the great quantity of work, is also soon destroyed by wash

$

BERFELD, May 19.-The RheVest India Company has received greeable intelligence, that the any's consignment of goods, ind for Mexico, has safely arrived ra Cruz.

us the first ship, laden exclusiveth German goods, and fitted out a German port, which has reache new empire of Mexico, belongs e Rhenish West India Company.

MEXICAN MINES.

new employment for capital has proposed to the public by the ation of a company for work. the Mexican mines, in which the n of interest between the natives at country and Europe is accomed, with a view to render producthose extensive sources of national individual wealth, the gold and r mines of Mexico. The follow. are the principal articles and con

The company is in the joint names he managing founders, at the head whom is Mr Alaman, proprietor of d and silver mines, and minister of e of the interior and foreign affairs Mexico; but it is a joint-stock com. iy, on shares to bearer, with respect the share-holders. The term of the company is fixed fifty years, and the joint-stock caal at one million two hundred thouid Mexican dollars, divided into 6000

shares of 200 dollars each for Mexico, 401. sterling for England.

The interest on the capital is fixed at five per cent. per annum, payable half-yearly, by the respective agents, on the first of March and first of September. The dividends, being the division of the yearly profits, are to be declared and paid in the month of December, and the first payment will take place in December, 1824.

The shares are printed in the Spanish, English, and French languages, with yearly dividend warrants, and half-yearly interest warrants, attached thereto.

The payment of the shares in London is to be made into the hands of Messrs Hullett Brothers and Co. viz. one-third down, against provisional receipts, to be exchanged upon the payment of the remaining two-thirds, on or before the 15th of January next, against the shares.

A reserved fund shall be made, from the profits of the company, to secure the payment of interest on the shares

to provide for unforeseen works and contingencies-and to form a fund for the repayment of the capital of the company at the time of its final liquidation. This reserved fund is to be raised by retaining 10 per cent. out of the yearly profits of the share-holders,

The managing founders, as a greater security for their good administration, shall pay 20 per cent. on their shares of the profits, until a capital is completed equal to that of the company.

Both these funds shall be invested in public securities, in England and France, in proportion to the respective number of shares held in each country.

A committee, composed of shareholders, and two deputies or counsellors of the supreme council of mines in Mexico, shall be formed there, to assist the managers, audit the accounts, and give its advice on the affairs of the company; power being reserved for

the agents in England and France each to appoint a delegate as a member of this committee.

The books of the company shall be kept by double entry; and every year a statement of the affairs of the company shall be transmitted to England and France, for the information of the share-holders. Gold and silver, in bars and coin, will be consigned to both countries, for the payment of the respective interests and dividends.

At the expiration of the term of fifty years, the concerns of the company will be liquidated in the accustomed form, upon the general and final inventory, comprising all the assets which may then belong to it.

BANK STOCK.

March 20.-A meeting at the Bank of England took place, when a proposition by the directors, quite unexpected by the public, for reducing the half-yearly dividend from five to four per cent., gave rise to a lengthened discussion. On a division for the old rate, the numbers were 43; for the proposition of the directors, reducing the interest from five to four per cent. 62. The effect upon the Bank of England stock was excessive, falling from 236 to 210. Another amendment for making the half-yearly dividend 4 per cent. was also negatived. The half-yearly dividend is, therefore, reduced from five to four per cent. Bank stock again advanced from 210 to 215.

THE STREETS OF LONDON. Some curiosity having been excited by Mr M'Adam's plan, for converting the pavement of streets into a smooth surface, we have extracted from the Minutes of Evidence, taken before a Committee of the House of Commons, those passages tending to show how far the plan has been acted on, and in what degree it is practicable.

Mr James M'Adam examined. Has any suggestion been made you, of converting the pavement of any part of the streets of London ista y road?—I have been ordered by the Parliamentary Commissioners having 1 charge of Westminster-bridge, to pr pare an estimate and report, with a view to convert that pavement into a broken stone road, which documents I have furnished; and I have reass to believe that the same will be imme diately carried into effect. I have been also directed by the trustees and preprietors of St James's-square, to prepare (which I have done) the same documents, with a view to substitute a broken stone road in St James'ssquare, in lieu of the present pave

ment.

What is your opinion of the effect that would be found from its being carried into execution in all the streets of London, as to the reduction of expense, and benefit generally to the public?-I consider that the expenses would be most materially reduced; the convenience of passing over the surface, there could be no doubt, would be generally facilitated, and made more convenient, particularly in the great leading streets, such as Piccadilly, Pail mall, Parliament-street, and Whitehall, and others of that de scription; the expenses of the same weight of stone now put upon those streets, as pavement would be obtain ed at infinite less expense, in a differ ent form, for the purpose of road-making.

Is it your plan to raise the present pavement, and convert that pavement into materials for making the road, or to bring new materials, and dispose of the pavement ?-For Westmins.erbridge I recommended to the trustees to sell the pavement, because, as long as pavements continue to be generally used, stone in that shape and size w always be valuable, and the same weigh:

f granite I could obtain for the fornation of the road over the bridge at Os. 6d. per ton, the present pavement eing worth a guinea per ton; but vere the streets of London generally aken up, pavement would of course ecome of less value, and it might be roken for the formation of the roads. Is that pavement of a quality calcuated to make good roads? The best naterial in the kingdom.

What proportion would the pavenent now used in the streets of Lonlon, bear to the materials necessary to the formation of the roads?-There would be sufficient for the formation of a strong durable road in the first instance; and I estimate that a supply of materials for the future care of the road, for a considerable time, would be left.

Would that answer in all the small streets of the metropolis, as well as for the large and open streets?—I think not so well in the narrow streets, which are liable to water, and where, from the width of the street, the thoroughfare must necessarily be upon one given spot. I beg, however, to ob. serve, that the thoroughfare in those streets is extremely small.

Would the dust be increased or diminished by this alteration ?—I consider, that upon a well-made stone road, with the same care of cleansing and watering that is given to the streets, the annoyance from dust would be infinitely less; and a road is more susceptible of retaining the water than pavement.

What would be the proportion of the annual expense between the paved street and the road?-Taking seven years, during which time I calculate that the pavement gets worn out, I should think that the annual expense of the road would not be one-fifth part, because in that seven years the whole value of the pavement is nearly lost.

What would be the effect produced

upon the necessity of raising the road, for the purpose of alteration of the pipes, and other works under the streets?-At present, when this operation is necessary, a pavier, whose wages are from five to six shillings aday, is required. Were the streets converted into stone roads, a labourer at eighteenpence a-day would perform the same service; and by due care in laying the materials on one side, and the earth on the other, the injury to the road would be extremely small, and the spot would very soon become obliterated; whereas, in raising a part of a paved street, it is quite impossible ever to unite the piece so raised with the rest of the pavement.

Supposing the pavement to be converted into a road, in that case would it be necessary, when any pipe was repairing, to stop up the way to prevent carriages and horses passing?— Certainly not more so than at present, as that circumstance must always depend upon the width of the street. In very narrow streets, where the pipe lies in the centre, a large opening is necessary; it would follow as a matter, of course, that the street be stop. ped; but upon large streets, one side would be left free.

Would not a repair be more rapidly executed, supposing the way to be a road instead of a street?-Were the streets converted into roads, the repair of the roads would be almost unknown to the public, and no stoppage whatever take place; the repair of such roads would be limited to a one-inch coat at a time, which would scarcely be known to persons passing in carriages, and the great inconvenience at present constantly felt in every part of this large metropolis, by the necessity of repaving the streets, would cease.

You assume that the roads for the streets in London must be made with granite-Most assuredly, I should never recommend any other material

town.

EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW UNION

CANAL.

A project is now in agitation, which, in course of time, may create a little town at the other end of this canal. The company, from the difficulty of getting a part of Glenfuir grounds, which lie at the junction of the Union Canal with the Forth and Clyde, were obliged to purchase the small estate altogether. That part which they have not occasion for being divided by the canal, and cut by several roads, lessens the inducement to any person to purchase it in a single lot. It is therefore proposed, after setting aside the necessary portion for wharfs, keys, officers' lodges, and inns for the ac commodation of passengers, to sell or feu the rest in lots for building. Works erected here would be in the immediate neighbourhood of inexhaustible mines of coal, lime, and iron stone, while the rich district of the Carse would afford them corn with very lit tle expense of carriage. Placed at the junction of three great lines of water communication, they could command the markets of Glasgow, Greenock, Edinburgh, Stirling, with all the towns on the Forth and the Clyde, and pro cure on the easiest terms all the products of the Baltic, America, and the West Indies. A great impulse seems to have been given lately in building, both dwelling-houses and warehouses, in the vicinity of the canal basin. A fine large building for the luggageboat companies is now getting up at the basin, upon the projecting square used as a landing-place for passengers; and several offices for the coal companies have just been completed. The greatest activity is employed in raising houses of the usual height of five stories, in the adjoining streets and roads, the stone for which is brought from Redhall quarry, three miles to the

It may not be uninteresting to lean, that several boats from this quarry constantly employed-each carrying between forty and fifty tons, and me king generally three trips in a day. The stone is conveyed from the extre mity of the quarry in low carts, on 1 rail-way along a scaffold, erected close to the side of a perpendicular rock, and brought by machinery up a con siderable acclivity to the wharf, where a boy or lad transfers the load into a boat. The cart being then allowed to go back, passes to one side, when i reaches the bottom of the descent, and thus makes way for another loaded cart, which is discharged in like manner. A steam engine, of about four horse power, is employed in these admirable contrivances, to supersede the use of animal labour.

The traffic on the Kennett and Avon canal, from Bristol to London, has been greater the last month than has ever been known since that com munication has been open; the ton nage for that time exceeding any former month, by upwards of 1000 tons.

An act has passed for the erection of a bridge over the river Severn, near the town of Tewksbury. The bridge will be composed of three iron arches of 65 feet span each, and the centre arch will be so high as to render the navigation at all times free from obstruction.

We have the satisfaction to state, that the concerns of the Regent's Ca nal continue to improve in a degree that must be highly gratifying to its proprietors; the tonnage for the past year amounting to upwards of 266,000 tons, being an increase of nearly 110,000 tons beyond the tonnage of the year preceding.

Property to the amount of 90,000! is said to have been embarked by settlers in Van Diemen's Land, and this only including sums above 500l.

November 17.-The weather this tumn seems to have been of the same eneral character in every part of the land, cold, wet, and unsteady in an ausual degree for the season, though s effects are different upon different ops, and vary according to the earness or lateness of the several parts f the country. Yet all have suffered om it more or less; and in high siaations, and among the hills in the orth, the failure of the crops, partial 1 other quarters, has been quite geeral.

Of the corn crops, wheat has cerainly suffered the most, and must be elow an average by 20 or 25 per ent., as far as it is yet possible to asertain the deficiency. Barley aproaches nearer a full crop, if it does not reach it, in respect to quantity; out the quality, with some exceptions, s not equal to that of ordinary seaons. Some difference of opinion prerailed on this point before the crop was cut; but that its quality is generally inferior, as was to be expected from the state of the weather, seems to be no longer doubtful. Oats exhibit every variety, both in produce and quality, from the abundant and wellripened grain of the lowlands, to the scanty and immature returns of the moors and other high grounds, where, in the worst cases, the crop will scarcely be worth the gathering, if it were not for the straw. As almost all this kind of grain in these last situations, and much of the barley or bear, were exposed to frosts while yet in a soft and milky state, and the straw quite

green, the failure is found to be greater when made into meal, than it appears to be on the barn floor; and for seed it is entirely ruined. Taking in all Scotland, however, the oats will not probably fall short of an average,

A good deal of injury has been sustained in many places, after the crops were cut, both on the field and in the stackyard, particularly in the latter. There are few complaints of growing in the sheaf, except in the south of England, the weather, at so late a period of the autumn, being too cold; nor has there been much loss by shaking; but a great deal having been put into the stack in a damp state, heated and had to be taken down, and, in some instances, carted out again to the field to dry. We do not recollect any season in which so much of this unplea sant work has been reported.

Of the other kinds of produce, the accounts are more various. Beans and pease, of which one would have prognosticated the total failure in such a season, have in some instances been found tolerably productive, or even full crops. But neither of them is likely to make a good return in general; in many parts there being very little corn, though plenty of straw. Turnips are good only upon good dry soils, and worth little or nothing upon soft and strong lands; and yet this is more than can be said of potatoes, of which, for every acre that yields an average produce, there are probably three acres deficient by a fourth or a third, and the quality by no means good.