The Express. — London, England, 1867-04-09 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE. (THIS DAY.) COl RT OF BANKRUPTCY. (I.t. rule Mr. tunitui, , ioner Is la : 11.111 InTll. .1111rvvrt.,N rott RELEASE. •i„ .10151, Howarth, was arailway engine. r , or Manstiel.l-stivet, Krntish.town.rraul. He •i hi. r,le.s fioin ru , tody. The debt, are .4 whirl, I din• to the detaining creditor, .:1 . 4%, for th, co , t, of an action which the bank : .I,tiookot faim for injury cooked by wilful a...i in which he 15.1,1 liern un , ucce,sful. The . bad fallen and dislocated his • !!.1 tii .s ti etteli which we< dug in the street. ..1.:•;i,-..t t..r. Honour directed it to • i .•.-r till .it-, - 1 dokoik.o. of :ovoignee4. Vl`t. 1 :11, MA , .ellt•ttc.l r.ppliC:ltiun for reform. The debtor .o: win. I. AY 3 gelltleTTlOn of Lower nat . .) •o at torney's clerk. who lia.l engaged • ~'y •.• ...peculation.. List month he executed t0r..1!;!.. showing .lebts of upwards of 00u fur iip,,,nts of ::7,1100/. bud : t ,t• Inn tlo• .11.1aor havito; heels arresteil iwfore the of the he wan obliged to lwfore the ti .tipporte,l the application. opp—. I. mei took sever.il objections to the ',•,e, or th, deal, and of the a.sent4 : •but Ibeiour bell th a t th e y egothl not be stmtained ax •!11 OW application for t e h a s e . and 111.1.41 V 1611 CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (Tills DAY.) (I:efore the Iteceatter.) I.:, who bad pleaded guilty to a ~;••• of pi jury. t'.,s r‘, II .e ,he otferril being that she tho• a!, , i; the oath was administered • a.,, ' l . for Judgment. 1:r. r ti., the defendant had committed a , Mos iftrin • dirt of giving Lam: testimony in a . 1 of pi ; t At' epla,le,l to have borne a very her object ..-etned to have been to • I, a y,nut, nephi,v, an. I Nhe had acted under a sudden I I.•r t iiiiiiitatices, the sentence on her . • he Ohl' of nova isotiment with hard labour for four V.. WIT!I INTENT TO MURIWR. If. a". Iran ..1ict...1 for lotto% fully, ovaivimisly. and felonionaly at to .11..c10..rge a 100t.h..41 pistol at one /Award Edward.. %lib to murder him. Mr. Platt corebeet-d the prosecution ; and Mr. Montagu w Miami.. defended the prisoner. Th.• f.iets of the caw" were sincular an.l peculiar, ad from the evidence .disclosed appeared to be these - The prisoner is the grandson of a gentleman named residing at Mortlake, and on the evening .f Sunday. the 2 Ith ultimo, about 7 o'clock, ti.. pm i•oto.r knialsed at the draw of his grandfather's :mil was :inswereil by the servant girl, named Evans, from whom he inquired whether Mr. adde was at home. and being replied to in the negative ..id be would uait for his return, and entered the pirloar. and after a few seconds asked to be shown Mr. hedrouni. The servant girl refused, he turned n.nnd : red placed on his face a green leather mask, and :old her if she resisted he had persons outside who would lle than went upstairs, and the girl ran out :. ;severe the assistance of a neighbour, Mr. Edward Ed sank. who returned with her to the holie, when it was 'newt that the prisoner had left, and was running sway across the fields. Edwards, joined with some alters, west in pursuit, calling out to the iwi• toner to stop. He turned round and pulled the nigger of a pistol, which he pre sen t e d a t th e f ate o f Edwards. The trigger was heard to snap, but no discharge mot place. After a struggle the pistol was secured, and the prisoner taken into custody. On euunination of the reni..a , it MAY found that the heilruom of the grandfather Lel Is ,a ransacked, and the pistol now produced had been itelen. On examining the pistol (an olil.fashioned one), it VAS found to be loaded with a common charge of gun. loader and No. 4 shot, but the witnesses could not say sliether it bail been primed. Mr. Montagu Williams submitted that in failure of 'Tod ;hat the pistol was primed, the indictment could not I-. The Reconler concurred that such was the law sa decided by the judges in several cases, and by that deci eßon be (the ecorder) was bound. The jury must, there. fere, ,icquit the prisoner. The jury. umkr this direction from the court, returned vrnlict of Ns t Th. , prisoner was t h en given in charge to the jury on an indictment for stealing the pistol under the circumstances already stated, and the evidence was repeated. Mhmctagn Williams contended that there was no proof that the prisoner, when be took the pistol, had any felon pions intent. Several respectal.le witnesses gavo gave the prisoner a foal elurtcter, ano.l Tb. Om% aft, ofeliborating for some time, said they did h,t thinicthe pr isoner h.ui any felonious intent when he Wok the pibtul, and therefore Argo/trot him. THE POLICE COURTS. (THIS DAY.) GUILDHALL. BREAKING A LARUE PANE OF et-Aftm. Etb ,, te , i I ~, n niaann, Was placed at the bar before Alderman Sidney, charged with being drunk and disor derly. and breaking a plate-glace window, value :1/.:b., in the 111.1 King's .tuna public-house, IW, Holborn.hill. It appeared from the evidence of young Mr. Omar, whose father keeps the house, that about half-past 11 o'clock on Satunloy night the defendant went in there drink end fell on the door. The landlord ordered the potnuan to turn him out and he was consequently ejected. He then ennimeneeil kicking at the door, but it was not ~ pene d to hint. He next went to the other side of the road, took up a stone. threw it at the window, and broke a pane of glass value :11. The prisoner expreaned him regret for what he had done, but bad no recollection of it. lie was a mason in full work, and earning :17a. ttd. per week. Alderman Sidney fined him 10a. for being drunk and three pineal% damage to the window, or 28 days' imprison. meat with bard labour. Em HE/item ENT. Mirhad Clifford, aged 21. of 9, Chapel-Place, Little vorsm-street. was charged on his own confession with embezzling several sums of money received by him for and on account of his employer, Mr. F. Dolan, of 64, Gray's ion•road. The - prisoner had been in the employ of the prosecutor, sad his duty was to take out goods, sell them on commis mon, and pay in all monies he received every night. A few weeks since the prisoner left his employ, and it was then discovered that he had embezzled several sums of moiler. A remand was asked for to enable the prosecu tor to go through his books, in order to ascertain the extent of the prisoner's defahations. The prisoner, who said be had no defence to make, was remanded for a week. M A It LI:0110IT H.STREET. ' , TEA LING CI,: A RETTEM. Pd , r 21/, per, cigar dealer, of No. 2ti, New North-road, blington. was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with stealing eigarettes, the property of Messrs. Theodoridi and tobacconists, No. Leicester-square. . 1 11a1C3 Conway, clerk to Messrs. Gabriel Theodoridi co., said that on the previous day the prisoner called ordered 3,000 cigarettes to be sent as he wished to all a gentleman in Itegent-street, and the money for would be sent back by the boy who was sent with him. 'le sent the cigarettes ht the errand boy and also went him. • :% and when they art 11,P41 at a cafe, N 0.68, Regent-street, prisoner took the cigarettes from the boy, stating t be was going in to see the gentleman, and as the pri -7...er did not conic out, he sent the boy round to see if r e was any other entrance to the cafe, and the boy ao.! the prisoner in the act of leaving with the cigarettes. Ilayfollowed the prisoner. and saw him engage two ..•‘teg.s.eeper boys in the Haymarket to carry the cigars - and he afterwards caused the prisoner to be taken niu custody. .newerht to Mr. Tyrwbitt, the witness stated that the 1..n..r was out of his sight while he was in the cafe. Harvey, errand boy to the prosecutors, gave evidence to that of the last witness, and said that • , ring.croas he spoke to a constable, who followed the • •-'err into where the prisonerleft thecigarettes Public house, and then came out. On his taxing !.ri.oner with stealing the cigarettes, he said that he , er seen any. .cow.table Lynch, 100 F, said that on being spoken by I I last sit Ilesg, he followed the prisoner, who was • ~Jl.eetd by t wo cross i ng sweepers, each carrying a box, rail mall, and s tw him go into two public-houses with • , e ci4.trette.. tln his coming out he asked the prisoner he had done with the cigarettes, and he said be any. lie then took him into custody, I if:, rwanls went back and received the cigarettes ai 11, landlord of a public-house, who said the prisoner left thent tl he called for. he prisoner asked the first witness if he had not bought '•t. s :it the slop before, and the witness said he 41,t .;nn o o s itiirday. ... int Appleton a,ked for a remand, stating that there • , e ..bout twenty other cases against the prisoner. WORSHIP-STREET. A nrre:tr cA.4}: Dlsrltr.ns.—CHAßlTY. Ah...it a week since a man and his wife, named George irriet Slaughter, were charged with robbing their I .lgings ; they had not any family, but the tto.ntbsnmet have told fearfully with them, 1 , 1 " Y 1..1 pledged even blankets to obt a i n f oo d, I ...‘ertheless WU so Pant in quantity that 4 , ..erted he had had but one Sunday's dinner and altogether an insufficiency for '• • ..h.l wife at any time. Mr. Newton dealt very u it h the husband, and discharged the wife ; and he THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 9, 1867. nitersanh directed inquiries to be made. The eitAtni were duly reported, and, as usual in such easel., small sums of money were forwarded to the magistrate for the help .4 the miserable couple. Ikvitt, one of the warrant otlig en, of this court, now brought them before Mr. :Cc* ton, and stated that he had every reason to be heve the tale told to his worship was a comet one ; in deed. if anything, it was short of the must dis tressing features. The man had been formerly, and was now, a workman in the employ of an es t,•w,ive manufacturer of hoots and shoes, named Bateman, living in Goldarnithl-row, Hackney-road, but from weakness consequent on insufficiency of victuals he could not sit long enough at it to realise enough money for support, and occasionally was :iltrgether unable to do a stitch. They appeared to have a great many things in pawn of their own. _ Mr. Newton ex p ressed his gratification at hearing that in this instance no deception had been practised, and handed from the following amounts rec e iv e d I/. for Mime. diate assistance, which was received apparently with heart. felt gratitude:—t;. P. Brown, 1/. ; Anonymous. 1/. ; Pall. mall, Ills. ; 11. S. Southee, 10s. ; per Mr. Hurlntone (chief clerk). Ills.; A. B. Cochrane, 10s. ; stamps, 45.; L. 8., :o.; W. 8., 21. ; and A Mother, Is. :11. 1 :1x.t7 NORTHERN RAILWAY.-(THIS DA E) An extraordinary general meeting of the share holder* was held at I I o'clock at King's-cross Terminus, Col. Pxcxr., M.P., in the chair, for the purpose of con sidering, under the Wharnclide orders, the following bills now before parliament : I.A bill to transfer to the Great Northern Company the midertakinga of the Edgware, Highgate, and London, and the Watford and Edgware Junction Railway Companies. to extend the time for the construction of the last-named railway, and for other purposes with respect to the same companies. 2. A bill to confirm certain agreements between the Midland Railway Company and the Great Northern Railway Company on the one hand, and the Midland and Eastern, Norwich, and Spalding, and the Stamford and Essentline Railway Companies on the other hand, and for other purposes connected with the under takings of those companies. 3. A bill to repeal the " West Itioling end lrinesby Railway (Extension) Act, 1e6.1," end to make further provision with respect to the station at Arwhefield. 4. A bill for incorporating the Cheshire Lines Committee, and for authorising that committee to make and execute certain new railways and works, and for cm rwnenll t he three comp:tales represented in the Cheshire .rig Committee to raise sublitional capital, and for other purposes. 5. A bill to cn.blo the Halifax and Ovenden Junction Railway Company to vary the line of their rail way, to increase their capital, and for other purposes. The CHAIRMAN, referring to the first hill, observed that an agreement had been made with Messrs. Elliott and Co. to carry 100,000 tons of coal per annum from the north to supply gas works for a term of five yearn, and it was neces sary to construct a bridge for the purpuse of landing coal at the works ; adding that Messrs. Elliott and Co. would pay a certain toll which would cover the expeuse before the term mentioned had expired. In reply to a question front Mr. HuchiEs, whether any proxies had been sent in , The Scram - tat(Mr. ()Ilkley) alibi proxies had been sent in favour of Alr. Hughes's opposition. representing 5,361.1 f. stock, and proxies in favour of the bills to the extent of :ail ASV& stuck. The CHAIRMAN having then moved a resolution approv ing of the first hill, Mr. Hut:itt4 moved an amendment to the effect that the bill he not assented to, and contended that the present proposals were a continuance of the fatal system of eaten oiono from which railway property had suffered so much. Mr. VII. tEro a I , )tEr supported the amendment. Mr. JARIUXE said railway property had now arrived at ouch a position that it was absolute ly necessary that ex tensions should be stopped ; an additional reason for it laming that the national prosperity had received a serious check, which he hvlieveal was likely to continue. on a show of hands, hands were held up for the amendment and eight against it. Mr. Recces, having called attention to the fact that nearly all the proprietors not on the directors' aide of the table had supported his amendment, The SoLierrort (Mr. Leech) said that the whole meeting, exclusive of directors, represented only :4,507/. stock, while the directors bold 139,992 I. without reckoning the proxies in their hands ; so that the bill must be approved of if the meeting went to a poll. A poll then took place, the result being a very large majority in favour of the proposal of the chairman. The CitAratrian then moved the confirmation of the bill. Eleven hands were held up in favour of anal 16 against it, whereupon a poll was demanded on behalf of the directors. The other bills were then severally submitted, and re ferred to the decision of a poll, which was demanded in each case. LONDON RANK OP MEXICO AND SOUTH AMERICA.-(THIS DA K) This day the third ordinary general annual meeting was held at the London Tavern, Mr. F. W. Rusaltd., M.P., in the chair. The report having been taken as read, The CHAIRMAN, in proposing its adoption, said he was not surprised at the anxiety with which the shareholders looked forward to the present meeting. The fall in the price of their shares was sufficient to account for that anxiety—they having been depreciated to the extent of something like 200,000/. It was not surprising that the company should participate in the general de pression which prevailed in the share market ; but there was nothing whatever to justify the fall in value of their shares. The gross profits for the year were 78,000/. ; the dividend, 25,0001., which was at the rate of 71 per cent. ; the charges, 28,000/. ; preliminary expenses, I,OOW. ; and the provision for bad debts was 24,000/. Taking all things into consideration, this was not a very bad position. It was not to be sup. posed that the bad debts would continuo at the high figure of 24,00 W. ; and when the times got more tranquil, they would have an increased business with less chance of loss. The past bills due amounted to 38,0001. ; but they were not toooncludethat this amount was lost, for no doubt many of these bills would be paid, and they had besides collateral security. Having detailed the state of affairs in the branch banks of Callao, Lima, and Bogota, the Chairman said that the bank in Mexico was moat satisfactorily managed. Mexico could not always exist in a state of anarchy. It was not likely that if Maxi milian could not hold his ground with the assistance of the French army, he would be able to do so alone. If the French Emperor had put Juarez at the head of affairs be believed that things would have taken a better turn. If even the United States entered Mexico it could only affect their position favourably. Mexico was extremely wealthy in mineral produce, and to more quiet tunes he hail no doubt they would get a good return for the capital invested in that country. (Hear.) Mr. HART seconded the motion. After a short discussion the report was adopted. Archbishop Manning has addressed a pastoral letter to the faithful of the diocese of Westminster upon the Fenian conspiracy and its attempts in Ireland and elsewhere. The past, he says, is past, and cannot be recalled. Spain was once many peoples and dynas ties ; so was France ; au were England, Scotland, and Ireland. These three are now one indivisible realm. " The wheat in the ear cannot go back into the stalk, nor the stalk into the blade." The world moves on ward, and ever tends to further unity. Hence there arise new powers that must he obeyed, inasmuch as they are the means of order and peace and ordinances of heaven. Taking the lowest ground, the archbishop compares the British empire to the heathen em pire of Rome, to which the apostles taught obedience. But the church and faith of the Irish people must be the church and faith of Ireland, and Ireland and the world already recognise nothing else. Without law and without king, the archbishop sees that Fenianiam is equally without faith. It has advocates, able men and philosophers in their way, and they openly denounce the moral law of the church and the ethical doctrines of the priest. When it comes to action they say the church is to sit by and hold its tongue. The Liberty Cattolira publishes the names of the priests who, in Italy, have contracted marriage under the new civil code. The number of them is eighteen. A letter from Baden states that the King of Prussia has conferred on Madame \lanlot-Garcia the Fine Arts' gold medal of Prussia ; and that this distinction, which is only given to eminent artists, was accompanied by a most flattering autograph letter from his Majesty. Letters from Italy state that Garibaldi is con fined to his bed at Calanio with the gout. LORD BROUCIHAM ON HOUSEHOLD SUFFRAGE.— Lord Brougham writes from Cannes to the Times —" I trouble you with a few lines on the important question of household suffrage. It ought to be granted fairly and frankly, and not loaded with conditions and exceptions which render it unavailing. The only condition that I sea is an absolutely essential one, that the house should have been owned or occupied by tenants or lodgers for two years. I should not much object to a rating of a certain amount, but I think that immaterial, as my reliance is upon the two years, for owners, or tenants, or lodger., but I would punish with the treadmill all who receive or offer bribes. When the slave trade existed its profits were such that men nut the risk of capture and forfeiture, but when my act intuits it punishable by transportation, no one chose to run the risk, and the abominable traffic was entirely extirpated. I believe the same result would happen with bribery.-11Kommati." ILEFORMATORY AND HEFUGE UNlON.—Exeter hall was crammed last evening with the friends of this admirable institution. A choir of 700 boys and girls from the various refuges and homes of Loudon, previous to the speeches, sang a selection of suitable pieces, tinder the direction of Mr. .1. Prouditian. The healthy, cleanly, and happy appearance of the interesting choristers, and the effective manner in which they sang, must have been ex tremely gratifying and touching to those who are concerned in the rescuing of children from the depths of destitution and danger. The most prominent piece was a hymn in memory of the late Mr. Hanbury, who was the hon. secretary, and one of she wannest supporters of the union. Its burden was the text inscribed upon the breastplate of the deceased's cotfin—" For ever with the Loral." The Dead March in San/ was also played. The appearance in the chair of Lord Shaftesbury was the signal for much cheering, and the proceedings throughout were moat enthusiastic. It appeared from various statements that the union was formed in Dral to assist institutions estab lished throughout the country for the benefit of criminals and juvenile delinquents, vagrant and destitute children, and the outcast and homeless poor. There are 280 institutions in the union, which accommodates 21,700 inmates, and makes grants to the extent of 9,730/.. The income for last year was 5,310/. The speakers were the Chairman, the Ven. Archdeacon Hunter, Mr. C. R. Ford, the secretary, Mr. .1. Mac gregor (of " Rob Roy " canoe fame), Rev. Dr. Miller, of Greenw , ch, and the Rev. F. Tucker. The Ices the union had sustained in Mr. Hanbury was feelingly referred to by all the speakers. A hearty rote of thanks to Lord Shaftesbury and the National Anthem c oncluded the pro. moldings. LATEST SPORTING INTELLIGENCE (sr rimununi.) NINMARKET MEETING.—(THIS DAY.) MATCH. Land Tax off. PLATE OF 301. Leonie Vox 12 ran. LATEST BETTING. BIENNIAL 7 to 4 apt D'Estournel (t) 2to I Vauban (t) •5 to I Wroughton (t) SWEEPSTAKES OF lON. D.M. The Duchess, I'uuy, LLndlla. and Rupee f. Al ale here. MWEEPSTAKE4 OF 50/. D.K. lii.marek, - iie7iiali;:iiipTia;;naTirat7iiief are hoe. NINTH NEWMARKET BIENNIAL R.M. Eglaniour, Vauban, Taraban, Wioughton, The Hermit, Redbourne, Lord Hastings, Debut, Nunquam Donnie", Lord Brownlow, Silenus, Sweet Home, Airel, Catherine, Breach of Promise, Sunflower f, Littleport, The Rake, Pussy, Will Scarlett, Ravioli, D'F.stournel, Moleskin, Sir Oliver. Siiankos, Kidderminster, Vedette c, Wild Dayrell f, Land Tax, and Foresight are here. Pan. Fonrger.—Newniinster f, Caucasus, Coldstream, Julius, Tempest, La Puce, Silence, Antipodes, Ruth. ven, Fakir, Cauthleen, La Dauphine, Stradbroke, Scipio, Beauclerk, Rus in Urbe, and Thormiusby e. NINTH SALE STAKES. A.F. Midwife, Colima, New Guinea, General, Golden Bloom, The Pieman, and Sneer f are here. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. One mile and three quarters. Tormentor, Gomera, Christmas Carol, Apiary. hada. Pintos, Lizard, Foresight, Claverhouse, Wild Briar, Pirate Chief, Othello, Blinkhoolie, Janne, Seringapatarn, Prim rose, Leap Year, Real Shoes, Whirligig, and Nuina Pompi- Bus are here. PAID FutlVElT.—Oreesilmek, Brown Tommy, Rore Cheri, l'aurper, Brown Bread, Sydmonton, Scipio, Whalebone, and Stokeley. BEACON STAKES. Last half mile B.C. The Morning Star, Drake 'e dam e, Aspicel L, element*. Enu de Vie, Urimatun, Nyanza, and Sedella are here. OXFWID AND CA.VDRIDGE BOAT•RACE. PUTNEY, TriNtJ.ty, 1 o'Ci. , ,cs. At a quarter to 11 the Calitabs went out and paddled to Mortlake, occupying k 7. minutes. They rested nearly half an hour, and then Paddled up to Larker's mils and down to the Ship, whence they started with a good side wind for Putney, doing :Pt strokes per minute. They finished at 3..1 and 40, distressed, having accomplished the distance in 21 minutes 23 seconds. The Oxonians are expected every minute from Mortlake. GE THE fits iiiii or I{olll ESTER. —WO have to announce the death of the Bishop of :tochester, who expired suddenly at 10 o'clock on Satunley night. The light reverend prelate was to have preached at the Chapel Royal, St. Jallities, on Sunday g, and his place was taken by the Bi s h o p o f Ely. Hi s l or dship died, it is ,tatisl, while preparing his sermon for that occasion. The late Right Rev..luseph Cotton Wigram Lord Bishop of Rochester, was son of th e l a t e Si r Robert Wigram, first baronet, by his second wife, the youngest daughter of Mr..l. Watts. The right rev. prolate was born in 1795, and married, in PM, the daughter of Mr. Peter Ark• weight, of Willersley, Matlock. He went to Trinity Calk, c, Cambridge, where he obtained a scholarship. He was ,i‘th wrangler, and graduated B.A. in Is2o. In 1522 he was ordained, and priested by the Bishop of London the following year. hi Is'a he was appointed secretary to the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor, and in the same year appointed preacher assistant at St. James's, Westminster. In Istil he was presented to the rectory of East Tisted, Hants, and in 1•17 male Arch deacon of Winchester, which position he held till hie ap pointment to the s e e of R oc h es t er . F rom DCA up to 8460 he was rector of St. Mary's, Southampton. The right rev. divine had published a large collection of sermons and several of his charges in the archdeaconry. lie was conse crated bishop in 1860, and was the Mith Bishop of Rochester, the see—one of the oldest in England—having been founded in 604. The episcopal jurisdiction include', the city and deanery of Rochester, the counties of Hertford and Essex, excepting 10 parishes in the latter county, and in addition to the arcleleaconries be was patron of sixty livings. The death of the Bishop of Rochester places i.t Lord Derby's disposal the first bishopric be has had to fill up during his present premiership. On the last occasion of his lonlahip being in power the only see to which he had to appoint was that of Bangor. FUNERAL or Ma. C. H. BENNerr—Yesterday the remains of the lamented artist Mr. Charles H. Ben nett were interred at Hampton Cemetery, a large number of his friends and colleague■ attending the funeral. MeLaStelioLv OCCURRENCE. —On Friday after noon • student of divinity, named dames Finlay, who resided with his mother in Garnethill, Glasgow, lost his life under the following painful circumstances :—A double barrelled rifle, lent for some time to • friend, had just been returned, and ou Fr.day morning Mr. Finlay was ohserved cleaning the weapon. In the forenoon he went out with his mother, and accompanied her in certain calla, but subsequently parted from her in the street, as she had some other appointment to keep. On reaching home he went to his own room , and in about ten minutes the report of a rifle was heard. The room was shortly afterwards ertcred, and Mr. Finlay's body was found lying on the floor, with one aide of the face and head almost completely blown away. The rifle was also lying on the floor, broken across at the junction of the stock and barrel. On the un discharged barrel there was a cap. The person to whom the rifle had been lent says that it was not safe, having a tendency to go off at half-cock. On thin point, however, some persons who have seen the weapon would seem to boll a different opinion. THE ALLEGED PLUNDER HY WREt•K ERS. Yesterday Mr. Montagu Bore opened at hover an inquiry, ordered by the Board of Trade, into the alleged plundering of the ship North, which was wrecked upon the Goodwin Sands on the 30th of August last. The inquiry was ordered in consequence of representations by the Salvage Commissioners of Lloyd's, contained prime'. pally in a pamphlet written by Mr. Harper, secretary to the Selvage Commissioners, to the effect that shortly after the ship was ',reeked she was surrounded by Deal boats, and her cordage, copper, and fittings plundered to the extent of 1,500 i. The case has been repeatedly before the public, and has excited considerable attention in shipping and commercial ciroles. A number of witnesses were examined, and the inquiry will be pro- I cooled with to-day. CRUELTY TO AN IMBECILE DAM:INTEL—At the Nottingham Police-court, yesterday, Mr. J. Harlow, a master-smith, and his wife, Elizabeth Harlow, were charged before the sitting magistrates with cruelly ill treating their daughter, Mary Harlow, a person of weak intellect. The case occupied four hours. It appeared from the evidence that the young woman, who is 27 years of age, hail at times been locked up for several days in an attic without food, and upon one occasion she was kept four days without sustenance. She had also been beaten frequently with great violence by the female prisoner, ' who washer mother-in-law. The mayor, in conquinywith Mr. Richards, went to the prisoners' house and saw the poor woman, who was in a most wretched condition. The little clothes she had on were in a most filthy state, awl her hair was matted, presenting on the whole a most re volting spectacle. She was immediately removed to the imbecile ward at the workhouse, by order of his worship. The bench committed both the prisoners for trial at the Midsummer Assizes. SINGULAR ConteTozwee.—At the Liverpool coroner's court yesterday an inquest was held on the body of a woman named Elizabeth Fleming, who on Friday morning last was carrying her grandchild down, when her foot slipped, and she fell heavily to the bottom of the stairs. Although the child escaped any serious injury, the poor woman was so injured that she died the same evening. One singular feature in connexion with this case is this. In the early part of last week an inquest was held on the body of another woman, named Minavql Fleming, who resided in a ditfcrent part of the town. On Friday week she, too, was carrying her grandchild down stain, when she stumbled and fell down to the bot tom of the flight. In this ease the child also escaped any serious hurt, but the woman died in the evening of the day when the accident took place. A verdict of accidental death was returned in each cave. ENG its] TRAVELLERS IN .4 si ERICA. —The British traveller who comes out to see the United States, over flowing with a sense of his country's greatness and American inferiority, sows the seeds of more national prejudice than even Lord Russell contrived to do. And he is very common, especially of late. He abounds in the hotels, walking in among ladies with his hat on, calling out for his beer in tones of great grandeur, intending thereby to strike awe into the minds of the bystanders, and looking upon the natives as poor creatures very much to be pitied for not having been born in England. Unhappily, these are the men who are taken as representatives of the national character. Let two Englishmen enter any quiet hotel and you see the difference they make in a few minutes. They have grumbled at everything, abused the waiters, scolded the chambermaids, and mole everybody uncomfortable. There is a ready sneer on their lips for all that they are shown or told. "We asked an English man here to dine with us the other evening," said a lady to inc a few days ago, " and be did not nothing but snub us from the time lie entered the door till the time he left." " And why did you submit to it?" I asked. " Ah, you know, he was our guest—and an Englishman," added she, slyly. We all suffer by the behaviour of these sturdy " Ushers." Would that you could keep them at home! Luckily we sometimes see travellers of • very different kind, who make warm and cordial (Wends wherever they go, and leave nothing but good to be mid of them. I have heard such men spoken of with pride and affection. But the com mon tourist--the man who comes out here to laugh at everything—ought to be put an end to in some way. I see a great deal of my dear countrymen from time to time in New Ycrk, and my love for them is not what it once was. I think it is possible for a man to be English and yet have objectionable pectins' ides of manner. There is no country in the world where the man who is going about honestly desiring to gain information receives so much help, and is treated with so much generosity and hospitality as this. I have never known the - kindness of the people to fail. Even after they have been ill-used,they will still open their doors to the stranger and give him a hearty welcome, hoping better things from him than they received front their last guest. ne nitravel A start may thousands of miles, as I have and with only one letter of introduction. He will be passed on from town to town and house to house with a readiness which at once destroys the thought that he is in a land distant from his home. If he is only a decent man, he will soon find himself surrounded by " troops of friends," such as no one could bhi adieu to without sincere reluctance and pain. But, instead of profiting by . these opportunities, the tourist conies here with his nose in the air, and "I am an Englishman" tone in every word he says. Mr. Banks may say foolish things in Congress, hut I wish foolish speaking was confined to American peal cians.—New York Corrapoodent of flee Times. COMMERCIAL AND MARKETS LIVERPOOL COTTON AND CORN MARKETS. (BY TELEGRAPH.) (raw/ oua Own Conagsporrnarr.) ('orrox.—The general tone of the market quiet. Sales prohabebly about 8,000 or 10,000 balm coßx.—The market well attended. Wheat, very good businees, at 3d. to 4.1. per cental ad ance. Flour in better request, at fully M. per each dearer. Beans firm. Barley 2d. per bushel advance, with a good haloes'. Oats unchanged. l hituteal yid. per load dearer. Indian corn steady, at 425. GIL for mixed. MINCING-LANE.-(THIS DAY.) SUGAR—The market has opened quietly, but'steadily, at last week's prices. Refined—dried goods are rather dearer, owing to a moderate supply; pieces sell at the previous value. Correc.—The market, privately, is inactive, owing to large parcels being declared for public sale during the week. TEA.—There is little or nothing doing in the market by private contract. At the public sales of Indian teas 2,920 packages will be offered. of which 467 packages are of the Assam Company's growth. Rice.—The market is firm, but no sales are reported. Annowitoor-100 tine of St. Vincent A G sold at 41d. Reit.—A small parcel of Leeward. , old at Is. 'ld. proof. SALTPLTRZ.-300 bags of Bengal sold at 18e. 1 jd. caah, refraction 7. Corrox.—Tbe demand has become quite inactive, s]• though lower prices would be submitted to. JUTE. —A small parcel sold at the previous value. TALLOW MAAKET.-CTAI DAY.) The market is quiet. Town tallow is quoted 445.; Petersbun; Y.C. on the spot, 445. 6d.; April to June, 465. 6d.; October to December, 44a. 9d. to 4.55. SMITHFIELD HAY MARKET.—(THIS DAY.) Mr. Charles James Easton reports trade at the fol. lowing prices, viz. :—Prime clover, from 100 s. to 110 s. ; inferior ditto, 80s. to 9.15. ; prime second eat clover, 90a. to Ms. ; inferior ditto, 50s. to 70s. ; hest green hay, 84s. to 90s. ; interim' ditto, 50s. to 70s. ; thaw, 40a. to 495. MONEY MARKET.-(THIS DAY.) 013 olhooz. The markets for public securities opened this morning at an improvement, and, although a re action has since taken place, prices in many cases are better than yesterday. The speech of the l French Minister for Foreign Affairs with reference to the Luxemburg question is regarded as satis factory, while the withdrawal of the "instruction" has led to a hope that a Reform Bill may be passed this session. The amount of business is considerable, and transactions are freely entered into at close quotations. In fact, the excessive depression, which was observable yesterday, amounting to a panic in several of the departments, may be said to have almost entirely disappeared. Little attention is directed to the Spanish difficulty. Some of the dealers are engaged in preparing f.•r the settlement to-morrow in the funds. The rate for continuing operations to the next monthly account is about 2 per cent. per annum. Consols have improved per cent., while the Three per Cents. Reduced and New Three per Cents. are g better. The advance in some of the railways and foreign bonds amounts to 4 to h. Banking and financial shares show no movement of importance. The supply of money in the discount marl:et has largely increased to-day, owing to the payment of a portion of the dividends, and good three months bills have been taken in some cases at 2A per cent., though the more general rate is 2f. Short advances on English government securities are offe,ed in the Stock Exchange at 1 to 11 per cent. Consols are now quoted 901 to 1 both for money and to-morrow's settlement, and 9oi to for the May account. The Three per Cents. Reduced and New Three per Cents. are called 88, 3 to 1, cx div. The foreign stock market is firmer. Ruin= scrip is in good demand, and has improved 2 per cent. Chili= Scrip has advanced i ; Turkish Bonds of 1866, 1 ; and Mexican, 1. Turkish of 1885 are quoted 27 to 1 ; Greek, 131 to 14 ; Spanish Passive, 201 to 1 ; ditto Certificates, 121 to f ; Italian of 1861, 49 to 1 ; Mexican, 15 to ; Russian Scrip, to 1 prem. ; Chilian Scrip, 4 to 3 dis. ; and Danu bian Scrip, 6 to 4 dis. United States 5-20 Bonds are per cent. better, at 74 to 1 ; but Erie and Illinois Central railway shares have declined 1, viz., to 36 to 37 and 76 to 77, respectively. Anglo-American Telegraph shares arequoted 171 to 2, and Atlantic Telegraph Eight per Cent. Pre ference 31 to 41, showing no change. International Financial shares are quoted 24 to f dim. ; London Financial, 19 to 114 dia. ; General Credit, 34 to dis. ; Credit Foncier, 64 to dis. ; National Discount, 64 to 74 prem. ; and Hudson's Bay, 151 to 161. A meeting of the shareholders of the Bank ~f British Columbia will be held on the 16th inst., when the accounts to the 31st of December last will be submitted. An extraordinary meeting of the Hop and Malt Exchange and Warehouse Company (Limited) is convened fur the 16th inst., " for the purpose of authorising the directors to deal with those shares that have been or may become forfeited, and con sidering the issue of the unallotted 4,000 shares of the company." The Royal Standard has arrived from Port Phillip with 38,0001. in gold. QUARTZR TO Two O'CLOCK. At Paris this morning the Three per Cent. Retain opened at 66fr. 80c., showing a decline of !, per cent. The Bourse is described as "very fist." Yesterday's excitement was very great, and according to the experience of a number of the brokers and dealers, it is many months since they have transacted so much business in one day. Of the stales a large proportion were on foreign ac count, and many more on behalf of speculators for a fall ; but it would also appear that many bona fide holders have been frightened into puling with their stock now that the fear of war is added to the distrust which has so long prevailed. It is difficult to see, however, how persons who part with their securities at the present reduced prices can find any employment for the money. As soon as the loans obtained from the Bank of England during the last few weeks shall have been repaid to it, which will take place in the course of a week or so, a great glut of money is looked for, more especially as trade cannot fail to be seriously checked by the threaten ings on the Continent. Should the English market absorb to any important extent the securities which continental holders are desirous of selling in their present anxiety, the exchanges may be turned against us, and gold may be exported from this side ; but the collapse which took place yester day in the London market for foreign stocks, and the continued apathy of the public towards all classes of investment, seem to render any im portluit movement of this kind improbable. A considerable amount of Indian bills fell due yes terday, but had been well provided for. A French consular notice has been published at Vera Cruz, from which it appears that the conven tion signed at Mexico on the 30th July last between the French and Mexican governments is " petled," or, in other words, abrogated. From the Ist of March, 1807, the French agents have handed over the administration of the Custom-house of Vera Crux to the Mexican government, which, on its part, is to pay monthly a sum of 50,000 dollars, or 10,0001. sterling, in specie, into the hands of the French consul or some other French agent. This j arrangement is agreed upon pending the tinal ad- Mstment of accounts between the French and I exican governments, which perhaps may take j place at the Greek Kalends. Its effect we believe; to be that the French government will receive ' about one-eighth of the customs revenues of Vera Cruz. instead of one-half, as hitherto. In the in terest of the English bondholders, this agreement would appear to be satisfactory, as leaving a greater , scope for action, and larger resources to the Mexi can government. The Lincolnshire has arrived from Melbourne with 22,5001. in gold, and the Africa, from Boston, with 2,120/. The Shannon, for Brazil, will take to-day 7,500/. in silver and 1,000/. in gold. The bar silver by the Mexican packet was sold yesterday for Bombay at ss. hi. per ounce, showing no change, compared with the recent quotation. The Mexican dollars have been disposed of at 4s. 11h11., being likewise without alteration. At Lloyd's yesterday, against the risk of Spanish capture 10s. per cent. was paid on English ships bound to Havannah and Manilla, but there ap peared to be no great idea of war with Spain, and tew transactions took place. Mr. Sebastian Lelia, merchant, of Telegraph street, has been compelled to suspend payment, in consequence of losses sustained during the late crisis, and the heavy fall which took place yester day in Italian stock. His direct liabilities are estimated at about 30,0001. He is also liable on endorsements for about 50,000/., in respect of which it is not expected that any claim will arise. The assets are computed at from 12,0001. to 15,0001. The books hare been placed in the hands of Messrs. Coleman, Turquand, lounge, and Co., the accoun tants. A meeting of tho shareholders of the I Mobilier of France was held in Paris on Saturday, but neither interest Ler dividend was paid, nor any of the arrears. Most of the railway traffic returns compare this week with Easter week of 1866. The South Eastern shows a decrease of and the London. Brigh ton, and South C.ast a decrease of 6,8201. The receipts of the latter company were greatly in creamed in Easter week last year by the volunteer review at Brightg.n. The traffic return of the Great Western Railway of Canada for the wee,: ending March 22 shows an increase of 1,67:;/. over last year. In consequence of the legal number of shares not having been represented on the 30th ult., the ge neral meeting 1 .1 ... e Belgian •Eastern Junction Railway CouipaLy has been adjourned till the 30th inst. at Brussel4. l't o!iniinary to this, a meeting a ill be held in L.:M.ll.in the 26th. A petition for the winding-up of the Peruvian Railways Company a Limited) is to be he before Vice-Cluineellor .741alnua on the 26th inst. An estnu.rdinary vueral meeting of the Liao beris Slate Company (Limited) is called for the 15th inst., to an , horise the directors to issue ile- I bentures. The subjoined remarks on the hide and leather trade are from the circular issued yesterday by M.essrs. CinverA,lL Br o. ks, and Co. : 'There is no alr,rati...h oi moment to report in the halo no.. tee since our einnalar of the Nth ult., a fair dentanal havii.g been experienced, wish scarcely any change to notice in quotations. Hide...—Salted Os and Cow.— South American have realise i late rates. Australian light and sect" .1 class hides continue to sell freely, at full to ince iniprove.l rates ; while heavy keep dull of sale. Cape have brutra!‘.. former quotation!. Horse Hides.- Is :4,, Jovence of any stuck on the market, there is no change to report. East India Kips have been in good demand, chiefly for expert, and a; the last sales (on the 214th Mari) extreme, to advanced rates, were realised. English market Utica have been in fair request, at full pri. es. The lea::.er in..rizet is reported as steady, with a imalerate 1111101111: Of business, at about previa.* quobv riei,s. Kurth au 1 south Aiii,lican Furs and akin.—The usual series of la in; fur sales commenced with that of ours on the 44.1.. and finished un the 22nd March. The supplies (except otter. marten, bear, and wolf) were of most descriptions considerably more than at the last spring sales ; prices for 1.01; sort, were low, which caused buyers to perohaue freeiy. so that stocks were in general cleared. Dm R. tine fisher realised higher rates, also similar quality of fox. silver; but the average prices obtained for the pr:•r.•;pal sorts were below those of la-t season. Fur—Real continued in request, and higher rates were realised, par tical.,l4 fur the lard...sizes. MONDAY EVENING. Console .? which closed on Saturday at 90Z. " both fur money and next Wednesday's settlement, opened this morning at 90g to 4, and were quoted at 4 o'clock 90 to 1, the price for the Mar settlement being at the same time tool to 1. At half-past 4, however, on receipt of the later Paris telegrams. a recovery took place, the final Tatations being tint to g for money and the present settlement, and 904 to I for May. The Three per Cents. Reduced and New Three per Cents. left off at a fall of per cunt., viz., at $8 to 1, ex div. The official buntline report is as follows :—Three per Cent. Consols, for money, 941, 4, I, 891, 90: ; ditto, for account, 901, 1, 891; three per Cents. Red uced, 88g, 4, 4, 1,8, 1, ex div.; New Three per Cents., 88g, ' 3, , 8,1, 8, ex div. : Bank stock. 252, 3,1, 3, ex div. ; India Stock, 219 ; ditto Five per Cent., 1091, .1, l ; ditto Four per Cent •• enfamd" rupee paper, 85. The India Five per Cent. Stock was rather more offered, but was little affected in price. ' Exchequer Ells were a trifle weaker at 15s. to 20s. prem. The disquieting aspect of continental pelities caused quite a panic in foreign stocks, and the reduction in pri,:es was more important and general than for a long time past. The amount of business was large, and iucluded many sales on orders from the Continent. It would probably have been still more extensive but for the disinclination of many of the dealers to enter into fresh operations. Towards the close a partial recovery took place, owing to an improvement in the French f Is ; yet, comparing the dnal quotations with those of Hattie , day, Turkish Bonds of 1868, 1862, 1863, and 1666 (Six per Cents.), show a fall of 4 per cent. ' • ditto 1863 (Five per Cents.), 1/ • ditto 1854, and Gua ranteed, 1 ; Italian of 1861 'and 1866, 3 ; Danubian 24 • Russian and Egyptian, 1 to 2 ; Danubian Scs:ip, 11 • Portuguese Mexican of 1864, and Peruvian of 18115, 1 ; &Wan Scrip, 11 ; Alexiaux and Spanish Passive, 11, • Brazilian of 1866, Chilian B, New Grim:mil:in Three per Cents. Peru ! vian of 1862. Sardinian, Venezuelan of 18 64, and Spanish Deferred, 1 ; Spanish Certificates, • !Greek Bonds and Coupons, and Spanish Old Thom; per Cents., A. ; and New Grenadian "ex all," and Deferred, 1: Moorish Bonds were exceptionally firm and rose 1 per cent. Bank shares participated in the general depres sion, and gave way in numerous cases. Austral asia, Chartered Mercantile of India, London and River Plate, and Union of London fell It. ; ln s! perial Ottoman,lsl. ; Alliance, Chartered of I ndia, Australia, and China, City, London and County, London Joint Stock, and Oriental, 10a. ; Land Mortgage of India, se. • and Consolidated, 2s. 6d. In the market for financial shares Credit Foncier fell 7s. Ikl. ; International, ss. ; and General Credit, 1-16. London Financial showed no change. Prices closed as follows :—lnternational Financial, 2 3 4 to I die.: General Credit, 3g to 1 dis.• London Financial, 191 to 181 dia.; and Credit ioncier of England, ft! to 1 dis. Atlantic - Cabre shares closed at a reduction al 2s. 6d. to Ss. Anglo-American were last quoted 17 to 4 ; Atlantic Telegraph 8 per cent, preference, 3 1 to 4: and Telegraph Construction, 21 to 2 din Hudson's Bay shares were last quoted 151 to 16, being 7s. ld. lower; National Discount, 61 to 71 prem., ..ilowing a reduction of 15s. ; and General Ottoman, par to l a c. The amount et business in laissadlancous was limited, butt the few varlitiemi which occurred were unfavour able. Royal Mail Steam declined 1!. 10a. ; Ceylon (A) and Fast India Land, 10s. ; and City Discount and Natal Land, Si. Colonial government securities were little affected by the depressem prevailing in the other departments of the Stock Exchange. and the only change was a reduction of 1 per wilt. i!t New South W a l es zo 1:493) and Viet, ria.a. If IVES.--(TRIS DAY.) this o'CLocx There is ar i:.ereased amount a basiness to-aty in British mining shares, and the tone of the market is Some of the present quotations are as fo!..v.s - West Chivertim, 70 to ; Chiverton. 1:!. to 7 ; Chiverton Moor, 5g to West Seaton. to 140; Prince of Wales, 535. to 555. Ea4t to ; Wheal (Iriaiville, 20s. to 225. ; Wheal Basset, 04 tont . ; ; Okel Tor, 20s. to 225. ; Crotty, 41 to 5 ; East Basset, 19 to 20; 1;r it Iletallack, 21 to ; Great Vor, 17 to 18 ; am' Tinen;it, 131 to 14. The Stalin tri,s Court has ordered the Penhale and Lomax Consolidated Silver Lead Mining Com pany (Limi!ed! to be wound up. RAIL WA YS.-(THIS DAY.) Ows o'Ciomc. The rails iv: market is firmer to-day, and a rise of Ito per has occurred in several of the leadiugline.4 Ls•iidon and North Western and Midland are in chief re guest. North British, how ever, has declined 1. Metropolitan stuck is now quoted 113 ii to I ; Great Western, Ms, to 0; London and North- Western, 1141 to • Midland, 1104 to I; Iwn eashire and forkshire, 120 a to ; Caledonian, 1031 to liai4 ; South Eastern, 641 to OM Great Eastern, 2G: to 1; Great Northern 111 to 113 • ditto A, 1171 to 118 ; London, Chat h am, Dover. 111 to 16 ; North Britis h, 32 to 33 ; and Brighton, Gi to 65. [For to-day's Share List see page 4.] ALLEGEn FRO: n , .—At the Leeds Assizes, yes terday, Broster Kitching, a sharebroker, was indicted for having fraudulently converted securities entrusted to him by customers. on the direction of Mr. Justice Lush the jury acquitted the prisoner. His lordship observed, that when the shares were lent on a ten per cent. interest the prisoner did not convert them to his own use without authority, and that the indictment against him was a pro 'Deeding inatit.ted to reeJver a debt by criminal process. PROVINCIAL SHARE MARKETS. LlTffinoot, AffitTL &-flidea today: Urea Beaten, 201 1 , / I 1 1 1 1 1 1-Great Weetern, 361 / 40 391 }-Latrastdre and York sine 1211 i 1 ROI 20-London and North Ai eaten, 1141 3 1 14 1 14 ah ;4 1 1 4 1 . 41 ; 3 1 3 ;1 4 1 'll-Mancheste r, I g 4r l l: l l 4 l , 2l an tL i Midland. 1091-Notrth &MIA 324 1-South Eastern, 651 15 511 1 41 1 5 41 1 4 1 -Grand Tr6nk of Canada, 16-Great Western of Canada, 134 his 371-1111n0is Central, 771-United States 5-20 Bonds, 1462, 744 14-Dutch Rhenish, 211 p.-Oreat Luxembourg shares, 91.1 G 8 15-16--Sanibre and Memo, 61 sd.-Intrrnaaoual Finan cial Company Limited, 21.1 -National Steam , Limited. 167 .1. ARCRIIIIVIL Argo. E.-The market was depressed from the commencement of business, and prices declined still further about noon, closing about the lowest. A good deal of business was done in the leading railway stocks. Flinr Vale Company (Limited , 151 d.-(]nut Eastern, 27 1 7 63 7 63-Great Luzern bourn, 8 lb-In--Great Northern A, 117 1 17 161 1 -Grand Trunk of Canada, 181 18-Oreat Western of Canada, 131-Great West era, 193 1 1 1 I 11-Lancashire Insurance,) p.- lancashire and Yorkshire, 1211 1 201 1 1 20 1 ditto East Lancashire 5 per cent ].ref , 104-Land's and North Wester, 114) 1 14 5 14 1 14 131 1 1 1 1-Manchester, Sheffield, and Uneetnaldre, 44 414444434444-11etropnlitan. 1123 1 13 121 13 If 13 123 1 1-Midland, 110 1 10 97 1-North British, 321 45 South Swami, 04 } 11 1 1 t 1 5 4 11113 54 3111 1 4 1-Thames and Money Marine Insurance Limited, 2 15-16 D . -United States 5-99 Years Donis, 741 4 3 4-Loodou, Chat ham and Dover, 163-)Manchester Fire Assurance, 11 :1.-Vir gin's:ll per cent., 45. Bustunonen, APRIL 8. -The transactions to-day were in Birmingham Banking Company shares, at I 11-16 prem.-Bir mingham Wagon shares 'Limited:. second issue. at 1 prem. - Birmingham Waterworks shares, at 301-Mouth Staffordshire Waters:trim at 6-Midland Controct shares, at 41 dia. Closing prices:- Great Western Birmingham Guaranteed Three and-a- Balt per Gent , sellers. at 64-Blrmlngham Joint Stock Bank, at 30 to 304-84affortishire Joint Stock Bank at 14 to 21 prem.- Stourbridge and Kidderminster hank, at 141 to 14t -and Wolver hsninton aml iltafroulshire Hank. at 9 to 94 per share. DI7IILIX. APRIL a-Three per Cent. Con:sits, 90 011-New Three per Cent. Stock, SO gni-Ditto, fee account, 10th April 88-Ditto, tor lies account. 9th May, :co} -India Fire per Cent. Stack (transferable at the Bank of Ireland, 1084-National Bank ;430 paid 631 164-Royal Bank 1610 paid), 32-Ditto, for account, Irt -Union Bank i Limited) 'gni paid , 1 33 -Dublin and Belfast Junction• ClOO Wicklow, and Werford .7100 =40 -Great Southern and Weston (4100 paid. SO 001- d Greet Western '4lOO paid ,uxonnt), 86---Dublin, Wick- , low, Ina Wolurtl. 5 per cent. .1•00; redeem. Dia all paid, 47. THE NORTH-EASTERN ENt.INE-DRIVERS AND FIREMEN.—Oa Sunday afternoon a meeting of the engine drivers and firemen of the North-Eastern Railway was held in the Friendly Societies' Hall. York, at which at least 300 persons were present, including delegates from various sections of the line, and id., others representing the Gloat Northern and the London and North-Western systems, as well as Mr. Thompson, chairman of the central committee. and Mr. Putley, the general secretary. The object of the meeting was to ascertain the result of the various interviews which the deputations representing the i men have held with the North-Eastern hoard of directors and Mr. Fletcher (the locomotive manager) respecting their work. This to the meeting appeared most unsatisfactory. It WWI stated, however, that Mr. Fletcher had promised as soon as other companies improved the terms main which their men were working to place the men of the North Eastern system on the suave footing. The meeting ulti• mutely resolved again to memorialise the board, and on the points that ten hours should constitute a day's work. and two hours a quarter of a day, and that Sunday work should he paid as ordinary time and a half, the meeting WAS exceedingly firm. A iliscus,ion took place as to the scale of wages, and it being found that some differences should be made in the various sections of the line, in ac cordance with certain local circumstances, such as the cheapness of living in one part as compared with another, it was agreed to leave this question in the hands of the various sectional eon- mittees. The central committee, in conclusion, pledged themselves to see the wishes of the meeting carried out. The proceedings lasted over three hours. Pohrneai CONVERAIONS. —Formerly, it was held to be dishonourable for a man who bad taken a side to de sert his friends even at the bidding of conviction ; now, tle custom is to have a valid excuse ready for the change which, when it has become inevitable, may be made with out disgrace. We do not quarrel with the practice of sacrificing consistency by abandoning prejudices. We agree with Charles Fos in thinking that " the circum stAnoes of the world are so variable that an irrevocable re solution is almost a synonymous term for a foolish one." So long, then, as inconsistent conduct is a characteristic of progress, adindicates an advance of the duller or more inert section of our countrymen in the pathway of im provement, we cannot but welcome it as one of the most hopeful signs of the times. Nevertheless the oonvenions which we have witnessed during the past few mouths are startling, on amount both of their numbers and their thoroughness. We are reminded by them of the statements in the monkish chroniclers about the marvel lous rapidity with which the saints of the early church converted the heathen. After a short discussion, or a brief contest, multitudes are raid to have renounced idol atry and begged to be baptised, and, not unfrequeutly, the converts are reported to have desired to be led without delay against those who were both their temporal and spiritual foes, in order that they might first smite many with the sword, and then compel the survivors to become Christiana. The old enemies of reform are now displaying the like enthusiasm, after a conversion equally extraordi nary.— Waltatifuter &Title, April number.