are supported. Duty has been
paid on nearly the whole of the bonded stock, and the rate is now on the
advance.

* * * * *

The papers of this morning do not contain any intelligence of the
slightest novelty or interest. Her Majesty and Prince Albert are
enjoying themselves at Ostend in the society of their august relatives,
the King and Queen of the Belgians. To-day (Saturday) the Royal party go
to Bruges; on Monday to Brussels; on Tuesday to Antwerp; and on
Wednesday return to England.

Barcelona is still in a state of insurrection; and though Madrid is
tranquil, the state of Spain, as the _Times_ remarks, is one of "simple
confusion."

The Malta correspondent of the _Morning Chronicle_ says that a report
had been current at Bombay that it was the intention to order the next
steamer for the overland mail to keep her direct course, in spite of the
monsoon. The monsoon had, no doubt, driven her back.

Wales continues in a distracted state, and acts of incendiarism are
common. The extraordinary verdict given by the inquest jury on the body
of the unfortunate old woman who was shot, is the subject of general
remark, as strikingly evincing the terrorism which prevails. There is
even talk of the necessity of putting the country under martial law!

The very remarkable meeting held by Messrs Cobden and Bright, at Oxford,
on Wednesday last, is the theme of general conversation in society. It
is, indeed, a very striking evidence of the progress of free-trade
principles amongst the agriculturists.

The _Leeds Mercury_ of this morning, and other provincial organs of
public opinion, in the great seats of our commerce and manufactures, all
speak in cheerful terms of the decidly-improving prospects of trade.

THE LATEST FROM THE AMERICAN PRESS ON FREE TRADE--AUG. 24TH.

THE CORN-LAW CONTROVERSY.--A friend has placed in our hands numbers of
the tracts which the corn-law reformers of England circulate among the
people. They are about the size and length of the religious tracts of
this country, and are put up in an envelope, which is stamped with neat
and appropriate devices. These little publications comprise essays on
all the topics involved in the corn-law controversy, sometimes in the
form of dialogues, sometimes of tales, and sometimes of extracts from
famous books and speeches. The arguments are arranged so as to be easily
comprehended by the meanest capacities.

The friend to wh