The Express. — London, England, 1864-03-15 00:00:00

:_ 2 fIANDLEI3.—PRIZE MEDAL. l'AlLLTOlNL—adagdad by YR Ma*Ws Govarsaidat ka Or Mika italkas. J. C. sad J. FIELD, the original nuunfacturers end holden et the ISO ?nu Medal, it the public against any spurious imitations. Their label ts assll packets sad Wet Sad by all dealers throughout the =ltWholesale exportation at the Works, UPPIII. LA iIgTH. LONDON. 8., where abo nay be obtained their adisleadid Vaned asewboo leap Tablets. HOW COLD IT HAS BEEN.—NICGRETTI and WIBRAII celebrated nommomsnots will on , Wily nester the lowest temperature. Price Is. et —I, Hatton -66. Combat ; 163. Fiest4trest ; and 123, Bament-etred ; =Ol wanted. THE DEPOTS ATJTHENTIQUES for SALE of the SN UM, Tobaccos, and agars, manufactured or lin by HE 00VBRNB224T TOBACCO ADMINISTRATION, are a 4 20L PICCADILLY, W. ; IS, ICING WILLIAM4ITEKET, CITY. W EST ER TO N'S LIBRARY, KNIGHTSURLDGE gfie erpreOlS. TO ooissaroxparns. Atlvertlaarants latZdaT far " The lqwww" Loudon Wadi, Paper, most b. at tho oaks, 10, Booveria•atrost. by Two o'clock on the day of publication. V °VENT-GARDEN. Tins IM MO, 113;aTreThi'i Open SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Mews. .H. Weiss, H. Cowl, 0. Perron, and W. Harrison . Misses 1.. Pyne and A Hiles.—Condostor, Mr. A Mellon —And FAN CH HITE. 9AYYABLXf_ THIS Cognise', LITTLILAIIY.-11VNICUM MULLER. Mr. Sothern —OFR AMERICAN COUSIN, Mews. Sotbern, Buck stone and Chlppend•te : Mesdames Angel. Snowdon, and Harrls—And AN UNLUCKY MORTAL. Wm Harris. IT.INcEB3'S. Tare Emma. itillUßN7 Mears. Vining, Nelson. Fisher. Mesdames Marston and Kate SayWe.—THE COMEDY OF ERROR-A. Mews. Wining, Nelson, and the hirothers Webb. —And JACK% ARRIVAL FROM CANTON. THIS Evspara, THE Liat — i — elllLD. Mr. Wlddlocann sad Mies P. Leelereq —BKL Dinromo. a Lore Story. Mews. planter, Brougham, Emery, Charles. and Jordan ; Waal Kate Terry, harems, and Haworth", and Mn. Lee. BPJTANNLL THIS EWAN°. EVIL HANDS AND HONEST HEARTS. Mews. Reynolds. Cranford. Blgwood : Mrs. Lane.—Dancing by Mate. Stephan—And BARRINGTON. THE PICK lOCK Miss S. Mlles and the Company.—Commence at half.past 6. HIGH WATIA AT LONDON BILIDOI. THIS DAY Morning. ob. 53m.. . 71L 17m. T041040W Monling, 7b. 47m .. ah. - - LONDON, TUESDAY, M. 4 RCS 15. Tins evening the Honourable Member for Dudley is to ask the House of Commons to assent to the introduction of a Bill to reduce the duty on Fire Insurances. The subject has often been brought before the House, which last year passed a resolution declaring the duty excessive and per and one which ought to be repealed at the earliest opportunity. Mr. GLADSTONE on that occasion resisted, and, it may be said, resented the motion as an invasion of his appropriate province, and he intends to meet Mr. SttEritt , AN's Bill this evening with a motion which condemns not only the proposal to reduce the duty on Fire Insurances, but the whole class of proposals to which it belongs. He will ask the House to affirm the principle for which he contended in his speech last July—that no motion for the repeal or reduc tion of particular taxes should be entertained before the production of the Budget. Of course there is a great deal to be said in favour of Mr. GLaDsroNt's proposition. In the abstract, we might be inclined to agree with the CHANCELIAM that the proper course to be pursued by private members who have undertaken to represent in the House the grievances which the community suffer from oppressive taxes, is to rise after one of Mr. GLAIn,TONE'S elaborate financial statements, and match their eloquence and influence against that of the Chancellor, who has just squared the accounts of an Empire, and left an admiring and helpless House no duty to perform but that of answering yes or no to his proposals. Practically, however, we all know that the merits or defects of a particular tax have no chance of being delibe rately considered under such circumstances. The introduction of the Budget is the one great periodical crisis of the session. As soon as the Minister's financial statement has been made the Opposition examine it to find whether it offers them any strategic advantage, any means of inflict ing a telling blow on the Government. If opposi tion to the Budget happens to serve the temporary purpose of a powerful party out of office, there is a chance that a bad tax may be reformed by the action of the House without the concurrence of the Government, otherwise the Budget will remain without substantial amendment. Of course every Chancellor of the Exchequer believes that the means by which he proposes to raise the revenue of the year is the best that can be adopted under the circumstances. But if motions like that of Mr. SHERIDAN had been precluded either by the rules or the temper of the House, the parliamentary discussions which led to the repeal of the Corn Laws could not have taken place. The House of Commons will do wisely to guard the rights of individual members to bring before it particular branches of taxation which for any reason may be obnoxious to the subject, and to do so in the form and at the time most likely to secure a full con sideration of their character and effects. The tax on Fire Insurances is both bad in prin ciple and excessive in amount. It is really, as has often been said, a tax upon prudence in a sense which can be predicated of no other impost. Many taxes, as the Income Tax for instance, are paid out of the produce of prudence, but this tax strikes prudence itself in the very act. It is this con sideration, even more than the exorbitant rate of the duty, which has arrayed against the tax the Chambers of Commerce and so many other mer cantile associations which have petitioned Parlia ment on the subject. In a memorial which was forwarded to the CIi•NCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER last week, and which was signed by sixty of the greatest banking and mercantile firms of the City of London, while the opinion was expressed that "the object of the Government should " be to encourage every prudential act that may " tend to promote the welfare of the people," it was affirmed that "in consequence of the excessive " duty a large proportion of the insurable pro " pert) , of the country is unprotected from loss " by fire." It would be wise to get rid altogether of a tax which by its very nature discourages prudential acts. But of this there is at present no hope. The duty on Fire Insurances yields • revenue of 1,600,0001. per annum, and at the rate at which the nation is living that small sum is more than can be spared. Accordingly it is proposed only to ask Parliament to reduce the existing rates. The duty at present levied on Fire Insurances is 3s. per cent. per annum. In many instances this amounts to 200 per cent. on the premium. A tradesman or householder insures his stock or furniture for 2,0001. : the annual premium is' 305., and the duty upon the premium 31. ; a monstrous proportion. There can be no doubt as l to the praeticol effect of rates so oppressive. In the City Memorial before mentioned the charge is declared to operate to prevent insurances in many cases altogether, while in other instances insurances are effected only on the minimum in stead of on the maximum value of the property. Were moderate rates to be substituted for those at present charged, there can be no doubt that an increase in the gross amount of insurances would THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH in a great measure componente the taol 17,stian of the EXCHNITIZ for the fist swaged lout Thom who now insure their property for only half or two-thirds of its value, would be enoouraged to take stronger guarantees against accident and diameter by insuring more freely than at present These considerations furnish a justification of I the coarse pursued in sucoessive sessions by the opponents of the tax in bringing it separately and prominently before Parliament. It is the only way in which the faults of • bad tax can be brought to light. It is, of course, desirable that remissions of taxation should be made oat of an available surplus revenue. But even were the prospect of such a surplus to disappear altogether, it might be wise to bring particular taxes before Parliament for judgment, and possibly for con demnation. When the highest commercial autho rities in the kingdom declare • tax not only to be oppressive, but to discourage seta which • wise economy suggests, it is impossible for Parliament to refuse to consider its bearings. And perhaps the facts which a debate may be expected to elicit will lead some honourable members to consider the propriety of voting for ornamental purposes, in the Civil and Military Estimates, large sums raised by a tax of 200 per cent on acts of prudence. The ratifications of a reciprocal treaty of com merce and amity between Belgium and the Hawaiian Islands have been exchanged in London by the respective plenipotentiaries, his Excellency M. Van de Weyer and Sir John Bowring. The treaty con tains an article by which it is agreed that in case of any difference between the two countries which cannot be settled by friendly diplomatic correspondence, the question shall be referred to the arbitration of a third power, in order to prevent the calamities of war. A similar article is found in the treaties with Spain and Italy. ebt Coun. WINDSOR CASTLE, IfLeal IL The Queen, accompanied by Prince Alfred and Princess Helena, went to London this morning. In attend ance were Lady Churchill, Lord Charles Fitzroy, and Lieu• tenant-G*o*Tel Hon. C. Grey. Her Majesty drove to South Kensington and inspected the Muheady collection of pic tures. Her Majesty then visited the Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborougb•bons, and remained to luncheon. After luncheon her Majesty drove to Buckingham Palace, and there received the Archduke Maximilian of Austria and the Archduchess Charlotte. The Queen, accompanied by Princes Helena, afterwards returned to Windsor Castle. Prince Alfred remained in London, and leaves to-night for Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, attended by Major Cowell The Arcbduke and Archduchess Maximilian of Austria, visited the Prince and Prioccas of Wales, at Marlborough house, yesterday morning. The Queen, accompanied by Princess Helena and Prince Alfred, arrived from Windsor, and took luncheon with the Prince and Princess of Wales, et Marlborough-house. Her Majesty was attended by Lady Churchill, Lord Charles Fitzroy, and Lieutenant-General Hon. C. Grey. The King of the Belgians also visited the Prince and Princess of Wales, sad lunched with them. The Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary visited the Prince and Princess of Wales in the afternoon. The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive, atteoded by Counties de Grey. The Prince of Wales rode on horseback, accompanied by Prince Alfred, and attended by Lieutenant• Colonel Koppel, and visited the Archduke and Archduchess Maximilian, at the Clarendon Hotel. The Prince and Prince's of Wales, socompanted by Prince John of Glocksburg, went to the Prieeees's Theatre in the evening, attended by emotes' de Grey, Lientenant-Colonel Koppel, and Baron Guldencrooe. A deputation, repreeentiog the Steam Trade, had an iv. ternew yesterday with the President and Vice-President of the Board of Trade, at the office of the Board of Trede, Whitehall, respecting the Mersey Docks and Harbour Bill, now before parliament. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-ogee from the Governors of New Zealand and South Australi►, and from the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands. VLSFT OF THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALLS TO WOOLIIICH.—(Tats DAY.)—A telegraphic communica tion was yesterday received by the authorities at Wool wich Arsenal, to the effect that their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Welts and suite will arrive at Woolwich at 1 o'clock to-day, and immediately embark from the Royal Anew! Pier on baud the splendid paddle-wheel steam yacht, built by Messrs. &muds, of Poplar, for the Praha of Egypt, which will proceed down the river to the Msplin Sands, on • trial trip, under the charge of her commander, C►ptain Cummings, and a Trinity House pilot. Several workmen were yesterday employed in decorating the pier, &c., but • subsequent intimation having been received to the effect that it was the wish of their royal highnesses to embark in • strictly private manner, the pier was restored to its original condition before the embarkation. In a ,ordanos with orders issued last evening, the whole of the workmen will leave the eatablishment, and the factories will be closed at half-past 12 o'clook. Their royal highnesses and suite proossel to Woolwich through Greenwich and New Charlton. in private carriages, but will not be received by the usual guard of honour, or royal salute. The Prince and Princess of Wales intend to honour his Eroelleney the Turkish Amb•mador and Madame Masan. with their presence at a d,jramer on board. From the trials hitherto taken place this is the fastest steamer afloat, •od its principal cabins and .•loons are fitted up in a luxurious style of comfort. THE D se OF THE ARCHDCHE AND ARCH DUCHIM DAY.l—This morning the Archduke and Archduchess Maximilian left the Clareadou Hotel, and proceeded to the Pimlico Railway station, and travelled by the Chatham and Dover Railway cis route for the Continent. VISIT OF KING LEOPOLD TO THE PRINCE OF WALE9.—(TRI9 DAT.)—This morning his Majesty the King of the Belgians left Buckingham Palace, and paid • visit to their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, and again returned to Buckingham Palace. Laat eveniug the Archduke Maximilian and archduchess dined at Buckingham Palace, by invitation of her Majesty the Queen to meet the King of the Belgians. A great many diatinguished personages paid their respects to the archduke and archduchess during yesterday. The Duke de Nemours, the Prince de Joinvilla, the Duke d'Aumale, the Duchess Augustus of Base Coburg, aad the Duke de Chartres waited upon their imperial relatives early io the day. Her Majesty the Queen forwarded yesterday, through Sir C. Phipps, her usual annual subscription of W. to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The annual meeting of the inetitution i. to be held to-day at two o'clock at the London Tavern, when Sir John Pakingtom, Bart., M.P., is to take the chair. The Court will go into mourning for three weeks, coaltneociog oe Sander pelt the 20th inst., for his bite Majesty the Hip` of Ramis. The Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince John of Glockeburg. attended by Ledy de Grey and Lieut.- C,olooel Keppel, again bovoared the Princess's Theatre with their presence last evening. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam bridge, the Grand Duchess of Mocklenburg-Strelitz, and the Princess Mary honoured the Msrchionees of Ely with their company at dinner last evening at her ladyship's residence at Prince's-gate, Hyde-park. The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury leave town at the ead of this or early in the ensuing week, to pain the parliamentary MOM with the Earl and Counter Dela. war", at Baal:unit Park. The Lord Lieutenant has ordered the visitors to the Cork Queen's College to bold an inquiry lase the matters at issue between Sir Robert Rase and Dr. Sidles. _ _ EARL RUSIALL.—It will be been by our parliamen tary report that Earl Russell was absent lastevening tram the Romeo( Lords. This arose from a rheumatic attack which congaed him to the home for the day. In all probability his lordship will be able to resume his pleas in that assembly before the adjournment of the Easter morn THE WZBT INDIL ♦ND PACIFIC M. SOUTHAMPTON, NMI= li. The Royal Mail steamship La Plata, with the above mails, has arrived here. She brings 105 passengers, 5,194,690 dole. in specie, and 1,819 packages of cargo. The La Plata left St. Thomas on the 29th ult.; and on the Ist inst. spoke the English barque Northern Light ; on the 10th, the barque Harvey ; on the 12th, the ship Avalanche, homeward bound ; and on the 14th, off the Lizard, the ship Devon shire from Calcutta. (corn's wassa.) THE ATTACK UPON DIIPPEEL HAMBURG, MAWR 13, Emma. It is believed here that the attack upon Thippel will commence on Wednesday. The Prussians in tend to deliver the assault upon the 22nd, the birthday of the King of Prussia. I 0. :6. D. - I Nairn 90.64 33 1 Aberdees :20.47:46 4 Leith 10.67 44) 4 ArtDoman :t9.6141 Grveucastie :29.744v 3 Galway ..... 160.6 4 142 0 Valenti& 19.81,5 0: 0 Cape Clear '24 3350 0 Queenstown :50691&t Liverpool '29.7C.42 Holyhead 12377;48' Pembroke 19.87148 Peessupt '30.00!49 4n 4 130.000 L'Orlent . . iteehefort 40.12:41 1 Plymouth 51.97:42 0 Weymouth Air? 2 Portemetath 29.116 1 Condos :.44:47 1 Dover 49.01 47 0 Yarmouth ..• ' Y 4 72.44 2 lcerborough 1 : N.62 1 43 3 IOW& 20.03142 4 Heligoland ... •29 5043 2 N. W. W. N. W. N. W. N. N. N. E. B.S.L W.S.W. 8. W. S. W. W. N. W. W.S. W. E.W. S. W. E. W. s. W. W.E. W. W. W.B. W. W. N. W. N. W. W.B. W. P 101•31.2. , ao 0.31 1 ac ' 0331 rc : 0.36. rb • 0.20 rc '0.70' or 0.50; f o.ls. of 0.13' o or O.OS or iO.2S , o 0.16 _ o . 0.30 cm 0.49 0 co WZDNISDAT. 111CMDLY. W. to N. and N.E., On NonniSsa N.L toN.W. and 8. W., strong to moderate, 00/211. fresh, with showers. some rain or wow. W.S. W. to N. N. w., warm. S.W. to N.E. and back. Wong to moderate, fresh, some rain in some rain. places. As next above, and to SoIITHIII. As next above. &nes to N.L. BW. to N.W. and NIL, ISsmu. N.E. to N. W. and R. W., strung to moderate, fresh to moderate. some rain. Narthern=Scotlaud. Western= Ireland. Wales, and ad jacent:lea 9.lthern=linglish Channel and filacag Day. Eastern erEsetward England and ilellgoland. 8.-Barometer corrected and reduced to SL" at half tide leveL Each ten feet, o; vertical elevation, rausinx about one hundredth of an inch DIMINCTION : and each ten degrees, above Er, CAM tog nearly three hundredths D.:Cereal. -Exposed thermo meter in shade. D.-Difference of wet bulb for evaporatlor. and dew point). W.-Wind. direction of (vacs-two points tirr of magnetic). F.-Force (1 to It -estimated). X.-Extreme force since last report. Q.-Quarter whence EXTIMIIi force 'NNE.=?., to 32=N). I.- Initials : b.-blue sky c.-clonds (detached): f.-fog; h.-hall: L -lightning (Easy.. 0.-oravest :dull, r -rain . s.-snow t.-thunder. snow or Z-Chail ;melted:, since loot report. 8.-Bea disturbance (1 to 11). THE New Wert Nola LING—The following is the fleet of the New West India Steamship Company via.: Comedian, /doziest", Darien, Crusader Askalon, Talisman, Plantagenet, and &lathe ; Columbian sod Cuban beading. QUEENSLAND EMIGRATION.—The ship Legion of Hosonr, 1,218 tam bards., belaeging to Moen. T. M. Mackay sad Co., sailed as the 12th iaaß front Gravesend to Quenelsed, Captain Grimmer, ociannander. The Legion of Roemer is the thirty : eighth easel that hen mailed oe the land order system of emigration, ender the immediate direo tion of the Queetudand government. Stu ..stifle 327 souls, divided into pulite, seated, and free and consisting of 112 members of families, 153 efir e gle cler 'm•t g i , lied 52 lisle [maim LATEST INTBLLIGIRICIL IMPORTANT DESPATCH OF AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA TO THE OTHER SIGNERS OF THE TREATY OF 1862. The indipandesbee of yesterday evening states that the following note, dated the 7th instant, has been addressed by the two peat German powers to the other signers of the treaty of London : "The - government had hoped that the Danish government would show more conciliatory dispositions. In that case, the two great Ger man powers would have engaged to suspend their military action and to enter into negotiations. But we learn with regret that our hopes have been deceived. The attitude of the court of Copen hagen, and its refusal to take part in the confer enoes proposed by England, impose on us the duty of maintaining the coercive measures to which we have had recourse. Important strategic considera tions have justified the authorisation given to the Commander-in-Chief of the Austro-Prussian troops to enter Jutland, in order to cover the position of his troops, and to hold in check the Danes as sembled at Fredericia, by preventing them from threatening the flanks of the army, or devoting all their forces to the defence of the lines of Duppel. The two powers have the less hesitated to permit this strategic movement., inasmuch as they were justified in using reprisals towards the Danish government, which has given the order to capture vessels at sea belonging to the belligerent states, and those of all the other states of the Confederation. Nevertheless, the extension of the military operations changes nothing in the previous declarations of the - government as to its attitude in the present conflict. To prove, farther, that its conciliatory dispositions are sincere, and that its intentions are the same, the - government declares itself ready to conclude an armistice with Denmark, either upon the basis of the evacuation of the positions of Dnppel and Alsen and of Jutland by the Auer°. Prussian army, or upon the basis of the military utipossidetis. But in either case the - govern ment lays down the condition that the cessation of hostilities at sea shall be comprised in the armis tice, that the reciprocal captures shall be restored, and that the embargo put upon vessels in the ports shall be raised. The - government at the same time declares itself ready to enter into con ferences with the powers interested, to discuss the fit means of restoring peace." THE SLESWIG INVASION. General de Gerlach, the new Commander-in- Chief of the Danish forces, is now in the active exercise of his functions. The Danes are con tinuing their defensive works at Duppel, and have now completed the construction of their batteries from the church of Sonderburg to point of Arnkil's Ore. A new battery has also been constructed in the centre of the village of Kjoer, to play on that raised by the Prussians on the opposite side at Barup. Experiments were being made with elec tric light, in order the better to obberve the move ments of the Prussians. Letters from Hadersleben, Holding, and Veile state that on several points bands of peasants have assembled, who attack the German patrols and seize on men who happen to be isolated. They have already surprised a certain number of the Prussian soldiers, whom they have made prisoners and delivered into the hands of the Danish autho rities. A letter from Copenhagen says that, by a recent order of the day, the King has authorised the Prince Royal to proceed to the army, and join the staff of General Hagerman Lindeukrone, who com mand% part of the fourth division. A Hamburg letter states that one of the chief pre occupations of Marshal Wrangel is to prevent jour nals from obtaining any intelligence from the theatre of war. With this view he not only keeps all newspaper correspondents from the camp, but has also published an order of the day recommend ing his soldiers to prevent the letters which they write to their relatives or friends from being pub lished in the journals. It is whispered that the object of the marshal in taking these minute pre cautions is to keep the public in ignorance of the differences which exist between him and the Austrian commander. A letter from Hadersleben in the Hamburg Net's mentions, as an instance of the audacity of the Danish spies, tLat during the night of the 7th March some one carried off the blue Holstein flag planted ou the church tower. On the following morning the population were astonished at seeing the Danish colours in the place of the others. It was at first thought that the Danee had retaken the town. General de Gablenz hart ordered all the fishing boats of the Little Belt to be seized, thus putting a stop to the fishing in these waters. This is apparently a measure adopted to prevent espionage. SWEDEN. Letters from Stockholm describe the agitation which prevailed in that capital on the day of the public meeting in favour of Denmark. Among the resolutions voted on that occasion was one to the effect that " Sweden ought not to shrink from any sacrifice required to aid Denmark, and save her Scandinavian brothers from German oppression." When the meeting separated, the people collected in crowds before the Royal Palace and under the windows of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Cries of " Denmark for ever were mingled with threats against M. Manderstroem, and several persona were arrested by the police. Public opinion is unanimous in favour of the Danish cause, espe cially out of hatred for Prussia and Austria. ILLNESS OF THE POPE. The /tithe of Turin says :—" The Pope has been positively ill for some days. He went to St. Peter's, and immediately on returning to his apart ments was attacked with fever. During the follow ing day it abated, but in the evening again returned with so much violence that M. Viale-Prela, the Pope's medical attendant, was sent for in all haste in the middle of the night." (accTra's mature.) THE SUEZ CANAL DIFFICULTY. PARIS. MAnce 15. The 3funiteur of to-day says:—" The Enirwro r had charged the Duke de Moray to make a report upon the questions at issue relative to the Suez Canal. This report stated the basis of a com promise which appeared equitable to the Emperor, and its conclusions were communicated to the Viceroy, whu requested the Emperor to settle the difficulty between the two parties. "The Emperor, accepting the arbitration, has formed a committee to examine the questions at issue." SPAIN. MADRID, Masai 14. Some Madrid journals uk what Would be the course of the government if a European war were to break out in Italy. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. EXTRAORDINARY INSULT BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO A CANDI DATE FOR PARIS. (nom OM own! cow:arm:oar.) PARIS, MONDAY Evwico. One of those acts of brutal and unreasoning violence which from time to time drive to despair honest citizens who are sincerely desirous of living on good terms with the Empire, and working with it for the public good, has just been committed by the government. M. Gamier Pages' private resi dence, No. 45, Rue St. Roch, was invaded by the police last night, and his friends, with whom Le was discussing the prospects of his election on this day week, were turned out of doors. In order that you may not suppose that the meeting thus dis persed was a very large one, it is necessary to state that M. Gamier Pages lives in an humble set of apartments on one floor—a flat, as it would be called in Edinburgh. The minister who ordered this invasion of his domicile, like all the great statesmen who have the luck to serve the Empire, inhabits a palace, and keeps carriages, horses, and troops of menials. M. Gamier Pages, the Finance Minister of 1848, left office with clean hands, and like all his colleagues of that time, lives in honest poverty. The few friends, therefore, that M. Gamier Pages' modest drawing-room held could not have imperilled the public peace ; and yet they were numerous enough to be free from the reproach that they formed • secret meeting. The Prefect of the Police had intimated to the candidates for Paris that they were at liberty to assemble their friends provided they did ae by personal letters of invitation. In M. Gamier Pages' case I foresee, though I do not know the fact, that a quibble will be raised on the the ground that the letters were signed, not by himself, but by his son-in-law, M. Dreo, who lives in the same building. At all events it was a meet ing of private friends held without noisy demon stration, in a small private house, and for the legi timate purpose of organising a lawful canvass for a seat in the legislature. It is positively infamous that it should have been interfered with. In these days, when there is so much disposition to dictate to other countries on the pretext of progress, nationalities, and what not, it is right that public opinion in Europe should speak out and say what it thinks of this wanton aggression upon the plainest rights of peaceful citizens. There is a rumour which I have not been able to verify, but which I have heard in several quarters, that M. Garnier Pages' papers were overhauled by the police with a view of getting possession of a letter written by M. Fould in 1848, in which he recommended national bankruptcy. The text of this letter is published in M. Gander Pages' "History of the Revolution of 1848." The original letter is not in his house now, but has been deposited in a place of safety. If there were any doubt of M. Gamier Pages' election before, there is none now. The electors of Paris will certainly reply to this monstrous in sult to him by au overwhelming majority in his favour. Rossini's new mass, which has been so long spoken of, was performed for the first time yester day at M. Pellet Wilk's. Meyerboer was present, and added Lis enthusiastic plaudits to those of the general company. The illustrious chemist Liebig Las just expressed, ou the subject of the oidium in vines and the potato disease, an opinion which is worthy of mention. The cause, he says, is not in the atmo sphere, as many people suppose, but in a want of vigour and an exhaustion of the soil, which defect may be remedied by the use of bone powder and ashes. WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.) TiirSDAI", ![Alta U. 8 L.Y. W. F. 1., I. r 15, 1964. MR. GLADSTONE AND THE GOVERNMENT ANNurnis BILL. The Chanoellor of the Exchequer, in oommittee ea Gemeemeet Aasaiiies Bill, intends to mo►e the follow ing dawn after Clime 7 (Life Mistake) : " The Postmaster-General, with the ooneest of the Own- =Wooers of her /faJeety's Treasury, easy, if he shall think fit, authorise sad direat mob of his akin as ha may select to naive each monies as rosy become payable upon ma trade entered iato nadir this act for remittance to the Com missioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, ad to pay on behalf of the said oammissioosts ail such monism as may become due and payable under such contneta. "'The Postmaster-General, with the ooneent of the Coin mbsioners of her Majesty's Treasury, may make all regale. does for carrying oat the provisions of this act, in so fazes his department is ooseerned ; and regulations so made shall be bindle' on the parties interested in the subject matter thereof, to the Name azimut es if each regulations formed part of this act ; and copies of all regulations imned under the authority of this act shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament. "The annual accounts of the Postmaster-General and of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt to the 31st day of December in each year, in respect to all MOWce received or invested under the authority of this act, shall annually, prior to the 31st day of March is each year, be submitted to the said Postmaster-Gemeral and by the said commissioners for examinetion and audit to the comminionets for auditing public accounts.* Mr. Hankey intends on Thursday to ask Yr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his proposed insurance of lives in 000nezion with the savings banks, to state what is the amount of a single premium proposed to be charged on the insurance of 1001. oa lives of the following ages— • , 20, 30, 40, 50 ; and also the 'alma premium to be charged for insurance of 1001. on lives of the awn ages ; and whether he will lay upon the table of the house a paper giving the above information. SPECIAL SUPERANNUATION ALLOWANCE TO SIR ROWLAND HILL. The following is a copy of a Treasury minute granting a special superannuation allowaaos to Sir Rowlead Hill, H.C.8., secretary to the Goners' Poet-office. " TILIAIORT MINIM, DATZD )(ARCH 11, 1861. "Read letter from Sir Rowland Hill, 1C.0.8., dated the 29th February, stating that six months' Avoca having alai:wed without any satisfactory results es regards the state of his health, he has now so mazes loft bat to resign his appointment as secretary to the Post-office. " Read also letter from the Postmaster-Clues:al of the instant, stating that Sir Rowland Hill has in come quince of the state of his health been compelled to retire from the public service, and bearing his testimony to the eminent services which Sr Rowland Hill has rendered. '• The retirement of Sir Rowland Hill from the office of secretary to the Post-office would, if treated under the ordinary machinery of the Superannuation AM, afford to my lords the power of granting him no more than a papal= of 5661. 13s. 44., or at the utmost 6681. 13.. 4d., but it supplies, in the judgment of my lords, an occasion of pecu liar fitness for calling into action the 9th or special clause of the Superannuation Act, and thus, by a proceeding which marks their moss of his services, of drawing to those services the attention of parliament. " The period during which Sir Rowland Hill has held office, either by a temporary or a permanent appointment, is but little in excess of twenty years ; yet my lords have to regret that while he remains full as ever of ability, energy, and resources, and of disposition to expend them for the public good, the state of his health, due without doubt in great part to hie indefatigable labours, compels him to solicit a retirement. " It is not, however, by length of service that the merits and claims of such a man are to be measured. It is not even by any ►cknowledgment or reward which the executive government, in the exercise of the powers confided to it, can confer. " The postal system, one of the most powerful organs which modern civilisation has placed at the command of government, has, mainly under the auspices and by the agency of Sir Rowland Hill, been, within the last quarter of a century, not merely improved, but transformed. The letters transmitted have increased nearly nine -fold, and have been carried at what may be estimated as little more than one•ninth of the former charge. In numerous re sports convenience has been consult/3 and provided for even more than cheapness. " Upon the machinery for the transmission of letters there have been grafted other schemes, which, at a former period, would justly have been deemed visionary, for the transmission of books with other printed matter, and of money, and for receiving and storing the savings of the people. " While these arduous duties have been undertaken, the condition of the persons employed in this vest depart ment has been improved, and, ooald attention be adequately drawn to what lies beneath the surface, my lords are per suaded that the methods of communication by letter which are now in action have prodtmed for the maw of the popu lation social and moral benefits which might well have thrown even these brilliant results into the shade. "As respects purely fiscal interests, advantages no great as those which have been recited were, of course, not to be obtained without some effort or sacrifice. But the receipts on account of postal service, which on the first adoption of the change were reduced by above a minim sterling, have Dow more than recovered themselves, sad if computed on the same basis as under the old system, the grow sum realised is about 3,870,0011/. instead of 2,346,000/., and the net about 1,790,0001. in lieu of 1,660,0001.; at the same time contnbaod in letters may be stated to have ceased, and instead of a stationary revenue, such as that derived from letters between 1815 and 1835, the state has one which is steadily and even rapidly programers*. " My lords do not forget that it has been by the power ful agency of the railway system that them results bare been rendered practicable. Neither do they enter into the question, as foreign to the occasion, what bower may be due to those who, before the development of the plans of Sir Rowland Hill, urged tho adoption of the uniform poesy postage. Nor are they insensible to the fact that the co. operation of many able public serrants has been essential to the work performed. Hot after all justice has been done to others, Sir Rowland HrU is beyond doubt the person to whom it was given to surmount every kind of obstacle, and to bring what had been theretofore matter of speculation into the world of practice, without whom the country would not have enjoyed the booe, or would only have enjoyed it at a later date, and to whom, accordingly, its enjoyment may justly be deemed due. " Nor is it in this country alone that are to be perceived the happy fruits of his labours ; the recognition of hie plans has spread with a rapidity to be amounted for °sly by their excellence from lend to lard. and truly may now be said so have met with acceptance throughout the civilised world. " Under these circumstances it may justly be averred i i that my lords are dealing oo the present occasion with the case not merely of a meritorious public servant, but of a beoefactor of his race ; and that hie fitting reward is to be towed not in this or that amount of pension, but in the grateful recollection of his cometry. ' But my lords discharge the portion of duty which belongs to them with oordial setisfaetiou, is awarding to Sir Rowland Hill foe life, his full 'story of 2,0001, per annum. " Lai a copy of this minute be laid before parliament. " Transmit copy to the Postmaster-General, with a request that it may be communicated to Sir Rowland Hill." THE NSW EDUCATION MINUTE. The following minute, dated March 11, 1864, by the Committee of Council os Education, has beam pre. seated to both houses of parliament : " Read—The following extract from Article 52 In the Code of Minutes and Regulauone dated the 30th of January, 1864 : rant is reduced (e.) By its excess above, l. The amount of school fees and subs:rip io the tim ear e ; or • deassiby 2. The rate of 15e. per scholar accord i ng Ankh , 17. t to the average Lumber In attendance, (a.) By the amount of any annual endowment.' " Resolved—That so much of Article 52 as declares that the grant shall be reduced by the amount of any annual mt. dowment should not apply to small rural schools (Article 133)tt, but that in such schools the great and the widow meat together must not snored the rate of its. per scholar, secordiog to the average number of madams in attendance, throughout the year (Article 17)V." " t 17. The year is reckoned as ending with the but day (inclusive) of the month preceding that died for the impac tor's nonnel visit. "ti 133. Must not ecataie man than 1,200 square feet of superficial area in the whole of the schoolrooms and elms-rooms, cc they must be certified as not seeding, we likely to be attended by name than 100 scholar." THE CIVIL SEIVICE ENTIBIATEB.—.This morning was issued No. 8 of them setiontes—being superaenuatiou and retired allowances, mid gratuities for charitable and other purposes. The Wel sum required for 1984-5 it 347,4794, which is ae menses mespered with 1983-4 of 19,8384 The iItEEMINO mean I. as additiomil vele of 14.0004 for the relief of distressed British mareem. and 8,8184 in the rote for supereameatioe sad reified allow ances. One item, Merehaat fireman's Pend Pensiess, is diminished by 1,0001. IMPORTANT REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. UNITY BANK.-(THIS D 4 Y.) This day the adjourned extraordinary meeting of shareholders was held at the London Tavern, for the ;won of receiving the accounts es audited by the com mittee appointed at the Let meeting ; Mr. Alderman Nam is the chair. Dr. Coon, the chairman of the audit committee, read th e following rtipict of the committee.... • " Wohthi;aaeleveigned, your audit committee, appointed by the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on the 9th of Febtuarylasit, to examiner the accounts of the bank, audit the °Metal balance-sheet then presented, and report thereon, do report as follows:—let. That the duty of the committee proved to be at. exceedingly oae roue one ; sad was rendered much more so by the careless and inaccurate manner in which they found many of the books had been kept. 2nd. flat your committee deemed it to be their first duty to ascertain the accuracy, or otherwise, of the balancrealteet of the 30th of Jane, 1862, the last published prior to the closing of the bank on the 31st August following, it being the basis ra l which the directors founded their recommendations to transfer the business to and amalgamate with a new bank and from which the shareholders formed their lodgment se to the 'modems of such advice. 3nl. That your committee soot found that important discre• pennies *aided, and that the best means of placing the matter in an intelligible form would be to prepare a new balance sheet from the facts manifested by the book, and vouchers laid before them. This they have done, • tencomparing the two, the shareholder o • the discrepancies above alluded to. 4th. That, amoopt others, your committee beg to direct at. titration to the following :—ln the official balance-sheet the amount doe to customers on current and other amount., including the reserve fund, is stated to be 159,392/. ne. Id., whereas the amount really doe at that time was 173,039 , . 3d., or 13,647/. is. 2d. more than stator!. the amount being a bond fide liability of the bank, and also involving the fact that tie difference in question was the amount overdrawn at the chief office as current accounts, a dubious asset, as proved by the fact that 9,5031. 10s. Id. of the sum had not base reps, and are a total loss. Again, credit ' a taken in the oe-sheet for profit to date 6:193f. 4s. whereas losses considerably over that amount actually exis ted at the time. The next item to which attention is directed is 207,6681. 14s. 10d., represented ea a good &east, under the term,' Billadiacrounted.loms to ccuitomers.kc.' Of tit is amount 38,5011. 15e. 9d. are comprised of unpaid loans, !caged and dishonoured bill', many of very old date and desperate cha racter, and overdrawn accounts at the West Branch, all of which amount (except 1.5601. 175.) is written off as bad in ' the last balance-sheet. The last item in the June balance-eheet is • crab in hand, .. , ,713/. Os. ld.' Your committee's balance-sheet shows that the cash really in band was but *....1.6a0!. 4.. the rest of the amount oonsistisg of uncleared cheque, 6,2451. 17a lid.; totally worthless paper (enumerated es cash articles), 2,738/. Be.; and an actual deficiency of 501. 10a.; thus making up the sum stated, 38,715/. Os. U. sth. That the number of shares held in the bank being 2,880, it will be found that the amount deemed good assets in the officialbalasosasheet shows about 34/. per share divisible mooed the shareholders. This estimate does notinclude 10,0001. which the directors anticipated receiving from the Loudon and Middlesex for the goodwill of the Unity busi• sees, and reckons the value of the bank premises at 10,00/. instead of 24,5901., es stated in the balance-sheet. Vont committee's balan ce-sheet, however, shows that under the most favourable realisation not more than 15/. or 16/. per share could then have been expected .• subsequent events, however, have proved that no inconsiderable por tioa of the amount fairly deemed good at the time by the bank books has proved all but worthless, in part consisting of debts due to the bank, on paper discounted for parties already defaulters to a considerable amount, and of whom the directors affirm, and the manager confessed that the knowledge that they owed the beak a single penny was wil fullycoocrealed from them,till the (ley before the last meeting. 6th. That the balmoe-sheet laid before the last meeting to the 31st December, 1863. being full of imocuracies, your committee have prepared a statement compiled from the books laid before them, bat from the loose and irregular manner in which the books have been kept it is far from being an accurate statement of the real position of affairs. 7th. That your committee cannot conclude without express hag their deep regret at the unjustifiable management of the bank, which has resulted in its capital being lost in loam and discounts to parties whom the commercial world gene rally deemed totally unworthy of credit ; more especially as these parties, in very many cases, motioned to re ceive fresh accommodation after having repeatedly dishonoured their acceptances, and whilst they continued largely indebted to the bank. Bth. That your committee tfd=rxprees their conviction that even now, if the she:s will strengthen the liquidators by adding to their number from amongst themselves a few earnest, able. and energetic men, the affairs of the bank may still finally be wound up, with results rather more favourable than those indicated by any statements derived from the bank books. Lastly. That your committee beg distinctly to disclaim by this report, is my way to home the personal honour or commercial integrity of the court of directors. All which is respectfully submitted for your consideration. JOBS HENRY COOK (chairman), ROBERT PROCTER (deputy-chairman), THOMAS GORING, JOUR WALKER KENCH, HENRY THOBAS LAMBERT, THOMAS SHEFFIELD." It appeared from the balance-sheet of the committee that the deficiency on the 30th of June, 1862, was 133,4361. Ide. ; the balance of capital left contingent on the realisation of the assets, 45,7.70. ; paid-up capital, 179,195/. Dr. COOK then moved the adoption of the report, which was not much different in its results from that presented by the directors, although the mode in which those results had been arrived at was somewhat different. The committee which he represented came to the conclu sion that the balanc►sheet of the 30th of June, 1862, was incorrect, and ought never to have been presented. (Hear, bear.) It was quite evident that the dividend of 12s. 6d. win not paid out of profits, but out of capitaL He com pl►ined that the luscious but untruthful balanoe.abeet of June had been put forward, on the faith of which be and others bad been induced to enter into another establishment. He should say that Mr. Alderman Meehi bad given instructions that a truthful balance-sheet should be prepared. I Hear, beer.) But some one wee re. spoosible, and he regretted to say that some of the parties who bad placed them in this position had been transferred to another establishment when they committed greater enormities. The result of the whole was that instead of getting back 341. or 301. as they expected they would not get more than 13/. or 121. The system pursued by the bank in granting scoommodatioa was most reckless, whilst, when an asset bad to be pre sented to the shareholders, the most worthless rubbish,dis bosomed bills, and forged cheques were swept together is order to make it up. One person, a jouroey man tailor—who occupied a siogle rooorn—got acierennio datios to the tune of hundreds. And another, who actually lived in a rookery, was also accommodated. (mime, shame.) He had seen a great many insides in his time, bat be had never seen one so foal as th►t of the Unity Bank. (Cheers.) Mr. Paocrtia, the deputy-chairman, seconded the motion, and characterised the helancosheet of Juin, 1862, as false and fraudulent—a mockery, a delusion, and a snare. (Bur.) The Cnuarax, in reply, defended the board, and said that any frauds or irregularities which had taken place were doss entirely without their knowledge. nor were they aware of them till they were discovered by the committee. He also stated that the system of weekly examination carried oa by the directors was that which existed in all the old joint stock banks is the City. A number of searching questions were then put to the Chairman,and *lowered apparently to the satisfaction of Use welting. esPeciallylas many of the answers were coo firmed by Mr. Howell, a clerk of the London and Middlesex Bank, who had been the chief assistant of the committee of share holden. The motion of Dr. COOK wan then adopted unanimously. GENERAL OMNIBUS COMPANY.-(THIS DAY.) This afternoon the ordinary general meeting of shareholders was held at the London Tavern ; Mr. Laws in the chair. The report, which boa already been published, having been read, The CHAIRMAN, In moving its adoption, congratulated the meeting on the successful working of the company dunes the past half year. The result of their operatics. during the past half year exhibited an increase of profits to the amount of 10,000/.. and • diminution of expenses to the amount of 12,0001. They were, therefore, enabled to offer the proprietors • dividend of 5 per cent., and to carry 7,0001. to the reserve fund. It was natter the con sicleratioe of the directors whether it would not be better to increase the dividend, but they came to the oonolnitioa that it was both safer and better not to extend the dividend at present, but to increase the amount of rmerve. The mileage duty pressed heavily and unfairly on the proprietors of omnibeess. They actually paid 9per cent on their receipts, whilst the railways paid but IS per met. and the steam-boate nothing at all. No less than 34 memorials would be pro moted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this subject. The pm of the railwayslied notiojured than. The receipts pm omnibus on the New-road route increased from 181. 15e. to 201.175. fed., although there was railway com petition the whole way. (Hear.) The competition of the °haring-cross Railway was not found to injure the profits of the compiney's omnibuses on the Strand. The feet was the mare the number of persons brought into Loedon by the railways the hatter for the ountibudes. After some eosverestioe the report was adopted, a dial. deed of Sh. per share, free of income tax, was declared, and the 'Wain directors were rwalected. Boum Kixouroyow Muszum. —During the week wan Mara 12 tho visite', have bees as follows On Mesday. Tuesday. sad Saturday. free demo. or* from 10 a.a. to 10 p.us., 9,717 ; as Wedseeday, Thanula. awl Friday, Mules& days (admiesies to tbe public 6d. ), open free 10 a.m. till 5 p.n., 2.606; total, 12,323. From the epode( et the wwiesers, 4.463,150. ROYAL Fits 110111.1TAL, Oway's-Wes-soaw.—The sambas of satiate relieved at this barite.' &win tke west sedum March 12, was 3,210, of which 1,036 were Dew cases. r es Qum Thar I Is re!" tistrwm bare W to tho d bold of DWI struck k Lobo, the back When B pat feet. T 1 th thr ...re yhr.a..o., ~Loa~s of v i awor The Al 4 . 1 - 6 ,tea JoA* di the Polio* messiest oat of hi times, tu Mr. B he wom Heinr dr. Ng Fobn Br Mr. Pi 10 Loni ad in ti as only ben ea :air u t Ight a ight o Irian uracte ipp.o.sod The s sought gaiust I ELI a the a sport la Ma. .......... e l y 4• ot—of sir 4 e gen fused Ie tos tal isms Wt ; tovoli; la old liebod I it In lye se Made Pillc be her tat d a lloto i , krds pen Ida,* nou s , that