The Express. — London, England, 1861-02-13 00:00:00

QECoND-lIAND PIANOFORTES. cit A NiK. IN. U.K. an.l Ce= \Ave • Larbre a..ortgarllt el orcuoul r, by We atu,l eltromea waken, at greatly n,1ut...1 pncvs, itesrakt amt. get erpreogi. TO cng IIG• PON DLYTS. lienseibires.nt. iateadni " London Woman Paper. testi, to. .ay of as t publication oinoo. n. 10. Bouveri•-atreet. by Two garb 1 4 Y A*Krt 7 , Volta .w Erf3llNO. A 1.1 .• Briabeham, 111..... 4 /el pp. n•la d Itieclvdosr .11 les Y. %Orlin. And QUEE LAI.VbI kilo IS HMI 4111 LDIEN Illarkivils and se bite. lien fkoLiclerogi. UM I. Wright. lON &Wickes. PIIPICIAAS. w KrrATAG. IA PA C A 4 4R D 6 BAZA N. Messrs Lot kr tit. Mk. M. Ilan* Idn.Waslea.—Aad lONINAOS curt ob. or . 11.kriv•ima Irriday. mid The Kim of the Canibbee laaba. %I•Peu. biptaoss S 114lla. M. Dimilake, W. A. Forest. JAISIBII. Moak ar R 7,71110. NT WHIMS JOVIINA L —THE MIX 1,11 rktserz liares.A.wriaa ad Mr,. n White. ..- %DJ K • isy la DIN %ISOM C. Young lad Relet. Mists M. Cart, Herbal, and tom.—Casomence al liallipet 7. 111011 WATITS AT LMIDWIr =IDOL TO Dar —MAIAAA 4b 1456.. Attorass6 4k Ms. .401110/mi—Xandes, 46 um—. Mono" 41 Cass. LONDON, ll' EDNIXDAF, FEB. 13. lv is not unreasonable that, after five-and twenty years' experience of the working of the system of poor relief authorised and limited by the law of 1834, the community in general should entertain a wish to reconsider the subject, with a view to ascertaining how far the means employed answer the purpose proposed, and how far im provement in administration is possible. There has never been a period, perhaps, in which the public were altogether contented with what was done in this way, or how it was done. From time to time the press has been made the vehicle of rebuke and complaint on every variety of topic connected with the dispensation of national charity. But as the casual aggravation of hardship of one kind or other has been mitigated by a change in the weather, a change in the labour market, or a change in the oflicial humour of Gwydyr House, the voice of remonstrance has died away, and the current of things has relapsed into its former channel. Slowly and steadily, though of late almost imperceptibly, the stream of bureaucratic dictation has widened in its course, gradually over hearing the obstinate but isolated obstacles that for a season resisted its force, and silently sweeping over the local ways and bounds that distinguished many localities from one another. It was avowedly the hope of the New Poor Law doctrinaires of five and-twenty years ago that the whole of the land would be washed clean of illogical charity by this assimilating flood, and that by degrees the English people would come to renounce all individual discretion in the matter of public almsgiving, and all local liberty as to its method. The average wants of men, women, and children, in certain defined stages of distress, being ascer tained and declared by the inexorables of central authority, sitting apart and impassive in their ministerial palace in London, everything else was mere matter of routine, obedience, and tape. At first and for a good while the inexorables held it fur settled law that indoor relief was alone lawful, and that all else was jobbery or robbery. Fierce was the warfare waged for some twelve years or more to assert this so-called principle : and in finite was the suffering and misery caused thereby, of which we shall hear no more in this world. At the end of that time a man was placed at the head of the department, in whom the teachings of mamlon worship and of utilitarian eco nomy had not stifled the higher wisdom of human sympathy, or destroyed what the Scrip ture calls " bowels of mercy." CHARLES 1111.7LL6R did not live long enough to impress permanently upon the system the humanising traces of his own enlightened spirit ; but ho was the first who made a truce between the indiscriminate rigour of cen tralism and the wayward and sometimes wasteful generosity of parochialism. Other men have since presided at the Poor-law Commission, but we be lieve that in the main things continuo pretty much as they were left by the distinguished statesman we have named. In very many places large unions have been established and large workhouses built, the independence of local discretion has been very much reduced, and relief has come to be administered by inflexible rule. In very many districts, on the other hand, nothing of the kinil has ever been introduced ; and with certain modifications the old way of dealing with the wants of the poor has been per severed in. The result is that we still pay be tween six and seven millions a year in Poor Rates; and far from finding that sum adequate to meet the dementia of any sudden access of distress, we have every now and then to organize vast schemes of non-legal or extra-legal benevolence, which Mr. C11•111.1JDI ViLtieas, and we suppose every true doctrinaire, considers fit only to be sneered and laughed at. The public were never less inclined, however, a e believe, to give up their local and individual consciences, for bell-metal substitutes, on which the inn& hammer of oflkial whim loves to play its monotonous chime. The fact is that there are few things the people of England are less dis posed to adopt or submit to, than uniformity in any of the great affairs of life ; and in this the national instinct is assuredly sound, for there never was a community to whose circumstances and wants that most sterile of pedantic conceits wu lens suitable. And yet we are in the midst of a movement in favour of a certain sort of uniformity. There is a cry for assimilation of the bows on which paro chial rating is founded ; and these is a clamour for elualizstion of rates. Great injustice arises for want of the former, and great cnielty as well us injustice for want of the latter. But there is really nothing necessarily inconsistent in a desire for ► uniform standard of valuation for the purposes of assessment, and • uniform tax upon property for the relief of poverty—with a sturdy and conscientious resolution to see and judge for ourselves in each locality whether the poor are faithfully looked after, and an honest de termination not to allow them to be handed over to be dealt with by departmental viej,biqs, accord ing to their absolute will. We freely own that we do not believe the public mind fully appreciates as yet the practical difficulty it seems bent on being allowed to try. Uniformity of rating it is certain to obtain, the ques tion of how to secure it being one of legislative mechanism ; and equalization of rates, to a greater or less extent, in part or in whole, is, we believe, inevitable—the question being only one of time. But how to reconcile the retention of local discre tion with the need of impartial superintendence, and how to preserve habits of frugality in the administration of relief after the check of self interest on the part of poor-law guardians is taken away, is a matter worthy of the deepest and most patient consideration. As far as the poor are con cerned, the change would be an unmixed good, for it implies an obliteration at once and for ever of the whole system of inhumanity, impolicy, and injustice of which the Law of Settlement is the root. To the small THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 13, 1861. householder and struggling trader throughout the kingdom, the enactment of a law which would vir tually secure him against being called upon to pay more than a shilling or fifteen pence in the pound in any given year for poor rates would be an undoubted boon. We must not blind ourselves, however, to the con.setpiences that would flow front so essential a change. At present, a curb is kept upon parochial prodigality by the presence in the board of guardians of men the letting value of whose property must be depreciated thereby. We are well aware, indeed, of tho numerous instances that may be cited where this motive fails to keep down the rates ; and we are very far from asserting that it is the only effectual one. Nevertheless, we cannot afford to part with it as an element of local economy, without seeing clearly what may be substituted in its stead, if anything can. To tempt the unchecked gene rosity of every parish in the kingdom to play the munificent at the common expense would be simply suicidal. It would be as bad for the per-' manent comfort of the poor as for the temporary ease of the rich ; for after a brief season of "easy " come easy go," the amount of equalized rates would begin to weU up universally, threatening to drown all industry and enterprise, and submerge property in one general ruin. We must take care that adequate guarantees are provided against even the menace of such danger; and wo must seek thorn in some less odious and obnoxious source than the absolute control of centralized authority. He who will show us the safe path be tween the two will be, indeed, a benefactor. INDIA. cALcurrA. Jas. 16. (By telegraph to Point do Oalle.) Government paper Five-and-a-Half per Cent., 1011, 1011. Money easy. Exchange on London, 21. Freights have improved two shillings and sixpence, closing firm. Skirtings, a very dull market with few buyers and drooping prices. Yarn inactive, small sales. Metal market very quiet. The little business done has been at late prices. Indigo is more quiet, but prime steady. In sugar there is nothing doing but prices are maintained. Shipments consider able. Slap:Are—About 500 tons have been sold for shipment and speculation at late prices. Lin seed is unaltered. Shipments comparatively small. Silk—A little doing in native. Jute maintained. Export usual to the season. Hides—More doing and prices lower. Shellac lower. INDIA. By the arrival of the Overland Mail we receive winces from Calcutta to January 8, and Madras, January 14. Very little of public importance had occurred since the departure of the ptevtous mail. The disastrous effects of the famine in the north west appeared to increaBe. It was expected that Lord Canning would visit Jubbulpore on the 12th ultimo. The friend of hvfie says : As his camp through districts where famine has either commenced ors threatening, he sees the misery . of the people. Care is taken to avoid oppression in procuring supplies for the camp. The famine which so long threatened the north-west is now a sad reality. It is meat severely felt in the districts around Meerut and Agra. Go vernment are making every effort to relieve the people by affording labour to those able to work, and direct assistance to the aged and helpless. Ever mindful of the hearty re sponse which followed the appeal in behalf of the sufferers by the mutiny in 1857, the Europeans in India have now an opportunity of showing their own readiness to afford aid to those who are now undergoing similar trials. The following is from Darjeeling, dated 2nd January : It is expected that a force of about 1,500 men will leave here under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Gawler, in ten or twelve dais hence. Officers as well as men will have to rough it, as they will get but few coolies to accompany the force. Another detachment of H.M.'s 6th Regiment has arrived at Punkabarne. The invalids and a few other men left here yesterday for Calcutta . under command of Lieutenant Evans, of H.M.'s 16th epment, Dr. Maclean in medical charge. One of the 73 rd Regiment N.I. broke open the commissariat chest a few nights since, and walked off with more than 2,000 is, A circular letter was sent round the station addressed to Mr. Grant to ask him to push on our cart-road from Punkabarrie to the station, as the Municipal Commissioners are willing to give as much as 10,000 n. out of the funds towards the same. I call it a circular letter, for many reasons. It is a shame for as to swat a thankless and useless government with funds to snake a road for their benefit when we are so highly taxed. Mr. Grant ought to look after the Ganges and Darjeeling road, littl and rub up the officer in charge, and make him • e sharper. A Syrian relief committee has been formed, of which the Governor-General is president. The court-martial on the officers implicated in the Cairo affair in April last, had been sitting during the past fortnight. The Friend of India says : The evidence so far brings to light no offences of an aggravated diameter, sod confirms the belief that the reporto spread about what occurred were greatly exag gerated. gDe from The Prince Consort rode on horseback yesterday morning, attended by Lieutenant-Cubniel the Hew D. de Roe. The Queen's dinner party last evening included her Royal Highness the Princess Alice, the Austrian Ambas sada. and Count. as Apponyi, the F.arl and Countess of Derby, Viecocut Eversley, Lord and Lady Herbert, Rear. Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, Bart., and Mr. T. Baring, .M. P. Lady Churchill bas succeeded the Viscountess Jocelyn as the Lady in Waiting to the Queen. A deputation of Lancashire magistrates, eonsisting of Lord Stanley. Chairman ; the Marquis of Hartingtoo, the HOG. Algernon Egerton, M.P., Colonel Wilson Patten, M.P., Mr. T. B. Mondial. M.P., Mr. T. A. Turner, M.P., Mr. W. J. Garnet, M.P., Captain Grey, M.P., Mr. Ovens, Mr. Shepherd Ilkley, Mr. Edmund Ashworth, and Mr. W. R. Wood, bad an interview with Sir G. C. Lewis, at the Home office yesterday, on the subject of the expenses of criminal prosecutions and tho scale of allowances to vitamins at sessions and assizes, and on the effects of the inade quacy of such allowances in aiding the mope of criminals and checking the prevention of crime. Mr. Massey, Mr. Barley, M.P., and Sir J. P. K. Shuttlewoeth, Bart., were also present. The Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1862 met at the Cooncil.office yesterday. Present Earl Granville, the Marquis of Chandos, Mr. T. Baring, M.P., Mr. C. W. Dilke, and Mr. Thomas Fairbairn. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yester day. An appeal was heard from Madras, " Chetty colum Coomara Ventalachella Reddyar r. Rangasiuny .Iyengar Itakoloor." The Lonls presout were Lord Kingstown, Sir L. Peel, the Right Hon. Dr. Loshingtoo, Sir E. Ryan, and Sir J. Cottle. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(THIS DAY.) it beim Ash-Wednesday, the Speaker did not take the chlir till 2 o'clock. The following was the business set down in the notice oRDErt,4 OF THE DAY. Trugeri of II t I:set;dbi NOTICEN OF MOTIONS, . _ . Gerd R4.151:11T India 7TioVerntutott Loam —Address for return of the ternrr., 11141 th :is regards interest and price, on which all Moos rabid for the ',imposes of the Indian govennueut, either In bliglanil or bolls. have been negotiated. Mr. Iltsr —Lunatic. ,Isyltims—Return. Mr. it81,1 , ,W —church Rate Bills—Return of the several MIL Introduced into tide I se and the Moose of Innis. In relation 4. church Lite... during the last twenty years, together with the names of the is•roins Introducing such lithe. Mr. Fetavo.alb seco n d ITIA4iiIIZ of Trusters of (nitrifies hill, to move •• That It be read a second tone upon this day alt months." A letter from Berlin atatel that the Queen of I Prumia, accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Prussia, will visit the (Seen of England in May. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has been graciously pleased to present 100/. as a prize to be shut for at the meeting of the Natioual Rate The Earl and Collates,' of Laneiborough have arrived at their resillroce in Great Stanliope.str,:et, from :iwithluzsl MA Leicestershire. The ka' irl of Dudley it entertaining a large party at Wltley Court, near Worcester. The Earl of Selkirk has arrived at the Burlington Hotel, Cort-streat. Lady Harry Vano Ilan arrived in town from Battle Abbey. Ilia lordship comas to town on Saturday. Baron and Baroness Lionel de nothechtld enter tained • select party at diaper last evening at Kiwi= Houma. Lady Molonworth entertainea at dinner last even ieg the Earl and Counter of Donoughmore, the Ferl of Lovelace, the Countess of Kinooull, Viscount and Via. countess Holden, Viaoount and Viscountess Torrington, the Bishop of (hfurd, Lord and Lady Lyvedea, thu Right Hon. Sir Hamilton Seymour, the MD. Captain Vivian, and Mr. on Friday Mr. Liddell will ask whether the government have prepared any measure fur encouraging or assisting the construction of harbours of refuge on the coasts of the United Kingdom ; and whether it is their intention to bring the question before parliament during the present session, in accordance with a statement to that effect made by the First Lord of the Treasury on the 19th of June last. A parliamentary return issual this morning shows that the total amount of registration fees paid by the registrar of tlesigns to the consolidated fund during the period of five years ending the 30th of June wan, for orna mental designs, 8, kW. 9e. ; fur useful or non-ornamental designs, 5,7141. lfin. A parliamentary return s issued this morning, specifies the augmentations and reductions in the relative strength of the army during the three yc.irs, from 1857.8 to 18.59-60. The general results show that the proportion of ['cruise to strength for the three years was 8316 per cent., or 27.72 per cent. annum ; and the proportion of de crease to strength during the =MC period, 45.74 per cent., or 15.25 per cent. per annum. The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill, which is now printed, contains 2301 clauses, and occupies, with schedules, 77 foolscap pars. It is proposed that the bill, if passed, shall take effect from and after the 11th of (kW her nest. We learn that Captain Boyd, R.N., who was so unfortunately drowned at Kingstown, on Saturday last, is the brother of the Rer. Archibald Boyd, M.A., incumbent of the mother Oturch of Paddinzton. Yesterlay the Loril Mayor received a numerous deputation of the council and others of the Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arta, attended by their honorary eacretary, to whom ho kindly granted the we of the Eeptien•hall, in the Mansion-house, for one of the nun- r•rsa:ioaes, accompanied by an exhibition of works of art, to take place on the of May. His lordship also &c -c ited the invitation of the council to beconio one of the vice-presidents of the society. Leith JOHN Reuss:Lk—His lordship yesterday honoured the London Stereoscopic Company with a sitting et Chesharroplsee. and some very fine pictures of his lord ship were secure.' by the artists of the company. Fonmex-omen, Fen. 12.—The Queen bus been pleased to approve ell Mr. Johann Philipp Schneider as con sul at Calcutta for the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. The Queen has also been pleased to approve of M. Ed uar d o Gi o . vaned LeVIAOI2 as consul at Penang fur his Majesty the King of Sardinia. DEATH OT THE COEHTEME (Mast*) of HADDING TON. —We regret to announce the death. after • mity Wet illness, of Maria Couetess of theldintoe,widow of Thomas, ninth Eel of Haddington, formerly Lord•Lhuteeant of Ireland, First Lord of the Admiralty, ke., who expired on Monday night at her resklence in Rerkeleyxquare. The late countarso, who waa only daughter of George Parker, fourth Earl of Maccles fi eld, by Mary Frances, Second daughter sod co-heir of the Rev. Thomas Drake, D.D., was burn 7.1eil of January, 1781, an that she had recently mitered on her Slat year. Her late ladyship married, 13th of November, 1402, the late Earl of Haddiogton, who died ht of December, 18514 by whom she had no tam. LATEST INTELLIGENCE (urcris's Trizoxime.) GAETA. PROPOSALS OF SURRENDER. NOLA DI GAETA, Yes. 12. General Cialdiui and the commandant of Gaeta have appointed a mixed commission for the discus sion of and drawing up the capitulation of the fort rewei of Gaeta. The tiring has not, however, been suspended, but ha% only slackened until the conditions of surrender shall have been arranged. NAPLES, Fits. 12, 4.40 p.x. The firing from Gaeta continues, and is replied to by the Sardinians. M. Depennes, attache to the French embassy at Rome, has demanded permission of General Cialdini to convey a letter from the Empress of the French to the young Queen at Gaeta. This permission has been granted. The French steamer Mucttc is said to have received orders to be in readiness to receive the family of Francis 11. at Gaeta. The surrender of the place cannot be delayed much longer. TURIN, Bee. 12. The garrison of Gaeta has demanded en armis tice of 15 days in order to negotiate for the sur render of the place. The demand has been rejected by General Cialdini, who has however declared himself ready to enter into negotiations. During the last two days the Sardinian batteries have caused great devastation. MARSEILLES, Fu. 12. Letters front Naples to the 9th inst. state that there were 100 dead iu Gaeta. The Sardinian fleet bombarded the place with good effect on the night of the Bth inst. The frigate Mouurca, however, suffered some damage. The mail from Calabria had not arrived. Troops had been sent to suppress a reactionary movement which had broken out at Reggio. The Minister Liborio Romano had ordered the drawing of lots for the mobilisation of the national 'guard and for the office of captains. Letters from Rome to the 9th inst, state that the insurgents bad withdrawn from Aseoli into the kingdom of Naples. A correspondent of La Prase writes as follows, under date of Castellon, Feb. 7 : Already the other day a powder magazine burst at the south extremity of the Philippstadt Battery, causing con siderable loss to the enemy ; but I have now to record a far more terrible explosion. Yesterday, about ii o'clock in the afternoon, a shell from the Ficdniontese lines on the right penetrated into one of the powder magazines, which blew up and set fire to the great reserve store of projectiles, which blew up likewise. The explosion was so terrible that the re port was re-echoed from the most distant valleys for a long time. A French vessel, although six miles from Gaeta, felt the shook. 1 had left the village about 4 o'clock to take a stroll through the mountains leading to Castello Onorato, when, reaching the summit of a small bill which commands a view of the gulf and the whole neighbourhood, I was almost thrown to the ground by the effect of the explosion which bad just taken place to my left. I turned my gaze towards Gaeta, and was horrified at the immense masses of ruin, some pieces high in the air, amidst a black smoke and tongues of flame which lighted up the spires of the town. It was something horrible, and reminded me of Pliny the Younger's description of au eruption of Mount Vesuvius in a letter to Tacitus, narrating the destruc tion of Herculaneum and Pompeii. I hastily do scended into the valley, and on reaching Can. tellone I was informed that the explosion had not only caused the death of some hundred Neapolitan soldiers, but that also a considerable number of living beings were still under the ruins. During the stillness of the night we could discern the stifled cries of those unfortunate men, as General Cialdini had humanely ordered all firing to cease. A Neapolitan messenger arrived requesting an armistice of 48 hours. He asked for it in the name of humanity, for, he said, it was impossible to ascertain the number of victims buried is the ruins mused by the explosion. You will easily agree with me that cool reason of interest might have advised Cialdini to refuse the request of the military governor of (:aeta. For a bold and daring general like Cialdini it was an admirable opportunity to attempt a coup-di-main, which probably wuuld hare succeeded. Not listening to the voice of interest, the Piedmontese General did not hesitate for a moment to grant a suspension of hostilities, on the sole condition that the besieged should not work at repairing the breach made recently by the Piedmonteac. We shall thus have an armistice, which will terminate to-morrow morning, and in 48 hours I may have great results to record. I donut believe, as is reported hero, that Francis 11. has made proposals for a capitulation, which must follow sooner or later. The battery on the seaside has been much damaged by the fire from the Sardinian frigate Garibaldi. Her daring captain took up a position only 1,000 metres from the curtain, and kept up a continual fire for an hour-and-a-half. FRANCE. PARIS. WED OAT MORNING. The Motiter says :—" M. de Quelen, orderly officer of the Emperor, wont to Rome solely on ac count of his private affairs and has not brought back any autograph letter for the Emperor." HUNGARY. PESTII, Fra. 13. . - The assembly of the Comitat of Pesth has unanimously voted an address to the King which says :—The royal reecript has destroyed the confi dence which had been created by the imperial diploma of October last. The law prohibits the payment of taxes until they have been voted by the diet. Force alone could remove the citizens from the lawful ground they have taken up. An unreserved return to consti tutional life alone can save the King and the country. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, WZDNISDAT. It is stated that the anbeeriptions to the new loan amount altogether to 30,091,400 florins. VIENNA, TUESDAY. The Otattrreichische Zeitettig announces that the statutes concerning the organisation of the empire and the Imperial Diet were adopted by the council of ministers, on Sunday last, and have since been submitted to the Emperor for his sanction. SWITZERLAND AND THE UNITED STATES. BERNE % Fan. 13. It was through the medium of the Swiss consul at Algiers that Mr. Richard Cobden proposed that the Federal Council should mediate between the contending states of America. The Federal Council declined the proposition, on the ground that it was not qualified for such an office, but at the same time expressed its thanks to Mr. Cobden. SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN. OOPENHAGEN, Fn. 12. Thirty-nine students from Schleswig have re sented an address to the Minister of War, stating that they place themselves at his disposal in the event of war breaking out. The minister, in expressing his thanks, said : "It is possible that an occupation of Holstein by the federal troops would cause war with Germany, and might perhaps involve all Europe in war." AMERICAN MAIL LIVERPOOL WZDNICIMAT. The Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphia Company's steamer Edinburgh, which sailed to day for New York, took about 44,000/. in specie, EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (nos oui OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Tuzsokr Evextria. According to a despatch received here, and which is considered authentic, Gaeta must be at the last extremity. Francis H. has asked for an armistice of a fortnight to treat of the terms of a surrender. General Cialdini, remembering the treacherous use made of his last concession, has refused the armis tice, but is ready to treat. There is now every rea son to hope that the Sardinian flag will float on the ruins of Gaeta before the. opening of the Italian parliament. The news that Mgr. de Merode has armed 470 Bourbonists and sent them across the Neapolitan frontier is treated by the Pattie as a piece of folly on the part of the Pope's ministers, which may provoke a crisis extremely dangerous forhis holiness. The P ruse finds it "difficult to understand how under the eyes of the French army, that natural guardian of non-intervention, the pontifical govern ment can so openly intervene as to arm and or ganise troops to fight against Victor Emmanuel in behalf of Francis 11." It is certain that these pro ceedings give the Emperor an opportunity to tell the Pope that the continuance of the French occu pation of Rome " gives rise to misconstruction." The Patric pretends to know that Prussia and Austria are prepared to vote with France and Russia for a prolongation of the French occupation of Syria, and, in the face of such a coalition, it presumes that England will make no opposition in the conference now about to be held in Paris. The semi-official pamphlet of which I spoke yesterday, and which Bedlier's Convitpundmice says " is doubtless destined to direct opinion during the coming debate in the Corps Legialatif," will not be out till to-morrow. Mardi Gras has been favoured by a fine day. The procession, which, by the way, was poor as compared with that of former years, paid the usual visit to the Tuileries, and, as is also customary, the little child dressed as Cupid, and its mother, had the honour of being received by the Empress. A photographic apparatus, which followed the pro cession, was put in requisition to make a group of portraits of the Emperor, the Empress, the Im perial Prince, and their suite as they appeared in the balcony of the Pavillon d'Horloge. The Bourse recovered from the fall of yesterday and left off rather firm, but the amount of business done was small. The Rente rose 20c. for cash and 10e. for account, closing at 68fr. 55fr. in each case. Mobilier rose 2fr. 50c. The Western Railway rose sfr., and most of the other lines were lfr. 25c. higher, but Southern fell 21r. 50c. There has been an upward movement in Spanish Passive, which was long stagnant at 17fr. and is now quoted at lDfr. A letter from Marseilles states that the intelli gence of the new corn bill to definitively suppress the sliding scale, and replace it by a fixed duty, has produced the best effect. The persons engaged iu the corn trade expect that if the bill be adopted it will give rise to a considerable extension of business. The erin.st des motifs on the bill for the modi fication of the law of limit for debt proposes that, on account of the great iucrease in the price of provisions, the monthly sums which the creditor is obliged to allow his debtor for subsistence shall be increired from the present amounts of 30fr. for Paris and 25fr fur the departments to 451 r. and 40fr. The Emperor is said to have suggested that before any decision is come to with respect to the projected new opera-house, models in boards shall be made, at the cost of the state, of the three plans which, out of the HO sent in, the judges way think the beat, and that these models shall be erected in the Champs Elysies for public inspec tion. This is a very good idea. It would be dan gerous to give an order to an architect merely on the strength of a good drawing. At the Tuileries guard mounting yesterday, the usual parade was for the first time commanded by one of the Sardinian officers who consented to be " annexed" to France, together with Savoy and Nice. The name of this officer is General Mollard. He has been appointed aide-de-camp to the Emperor. GARIBALDI AND THE TrZNATIANS. The following letters show that Garibaldi has not lost sight of the emancipation of Venetia : "To the Count Correr, President of the Committee of Venetian Emigration at Milan. " Charged, as you are aware, by many inhabitants of various towns of Venetia to ask the illustrious General Garibaldi if he would accept the offer of a marble bust of his deceased wife, the noble Anita, executed by • Venetian sculptor in a Venetian town, I have received the following answer, which I transmit to you, persuaded that its publica tion will cause our brethren beyond the Mincio to persevere in the constancy of their sacrifice, since all the thoughts and all the wishes of the Italians tend to abridge its dura tion, and since the powerful word of Garibaldi keeps these aspinttions still alive. " PIM= CasnoLenss. ' Milan, Feb. 5." " To Signor Pierre Castiglione, Milan. " While I recognise the pledge of affection which the citizens of Venetia would give me, in their offer of a bust of my deceased and beloved wife, I beg you to devote the sum designed for that object to the liberation of that dear part of lady. "G. GARIBALDI. " Cuprera, Jan. 26." The Paris correspondent of the Brussels Inde pendanre states that an interview has taken place within the last few days between the Emperor and the young Bonaparte, grandson of Prince Jerome by his first wife, Miss Paterson, and whose father is the plaintiff in the action which lies occupied so much public attention. This interview has led to the supposition that before the de cision of tho court is pronounced some friendly arrange ment will be effected. There is to he secretly propagated at Rome a weekly journal advocating the unity and iudependeme of Italy. This journal will have as its motto, "We wish to make of this eternal city, in which twenty-five centurise have deposited their monuments of glory, the splendid capital of the new Italian kingdom." ((Amour : Speech to the National Parliament, Oct. 11, 1840.) BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, FEB. 12.—The Bight Ron. the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade have received from the Secretary of Slate for Foreign Affairs • copy of a despatch from her Majesty's Consul-General at Constantinople, reporting that the Turkish quarantine laws require all masters of vessels enter ing the Sea of Marmon from the Archipelago to exhibit their vessels' bills of health at either of the lowing places on the Dardenetlea :—Town of Dardanelles, St. Obebruez or White Cliffs, Oallipoli, Lompsacus,• Sitil Bahr. Masters of vessels not complying with the shover regulation are liable to five days quarantine, or to • fine varying from 21. to 12i.—Gaattte. CHINA. From Hong Kong we have news to Dec. 31, and from Shanghai to Dec. 23. The following is from the summary of the China Mail: The troops at Ilen-tain are frozen up for the winter, and we are glad to be able to say that the latest news from that quarter have refuted the unwarrantable rumours which we alluded to in our last issue, of Mr. Adkins having been assassinated at Peking. From the consular notifications it is seen that the treaty of Tien-tsin has already come into operation, though neither the treaty nor the convention are believed by the Chinese in the south to be authentic documents, and they have not been published in the usual manner by the Governor- General of Kwaug-tung. His Excellency the Earl of Elgin was still at Shanghai when the latest *deices left. We understand thst an expe dition will be sent up the Yangtaze early in the spring, with the view of opening up that river. General Grunt and staff and all who were not to pass the winter there left Tien-twin in the beginning of November, and embarked at Takn. The ••arrison it uuw settling down into comfortable quarters. The filet were located inside the south gate, the 60th inside the east and the artillery and military train in different yamuns all along the street, which runs from the east to the west gates. The 67th were stationed on the south bank of the grand canal, just outside the north east part of the city wall c and Fane's berme were in the south east suburb. The French and British embassies were in two of the best places in Tientsin, on the west site of the liver, and but a short distance from the city wall. The French troops had taken up their quarters on the east side of the Peiho and the north of the grand canal. Besides the departure of the generals, the only circum stance worthy of note was the arrival and delivery over of two instalments of the indemnity money. The first was 200,000 teals, and the second 300,000 teals; and similar smounte were paid over to the French. Horne iuformation has just been received which tends to the belief that thelate collision in Jujitsu between the native and the foreign authorities is continuing to look serious. A despatch from Yakohama was brought to the Admiral while lying at the mouth of the Pe rk o, in consequence of which he departed immediately to Japan. AUSTRALIA. We have received papers from Melbourne to Dec. 24. Sydney, Dec. 21, and intelligence from Adelaide to Dec. 28. The following is the list of the new ministry at Melbourne :—Chief Secretary, Mr. Reales ; Preai dent of Board of Lands and Survey , Mr. Brooke ; Treasurer, Mr. Verdun ; Commissioner of Public Works, Mr. J. S. Johnston ; Commissioner of Cus toms, Mr. Anderson ; Commissioner of Railways, Mr. Loader ; Minister of Mining Affairs, Mr. Ilmulfray ; Attorney-General, Mr. Ireland ; Post master-General, The Melbourne Argyll mays : We are now very near the termination of the year, and still without that improvement or increase in the yield of gold which was some time back so confidently looked for. A new gold-field has been reported by Mr. Hewitt, the leader of one of the government prospecting parties, in North Cipps Laud ; and a rush on an unusually large silo has taken place to a locality in the Maryborough district, known as " Mackinnon's Station." Some twelve thousand people have congregated there within two or three weeks, and the reports at present are favourable. Another gold field iu the direction of the Ovens has been reported by the leader of the government party. His representations of the character of the discovery are high, and are at present underexamination. A fourth new field is announced—in this instance in Kilmore district—and extended claims are asked for by the proprietor. Quartz-crushing, however, is rapidly taking the place of alluvial mining, end is extend. lug over all the mining districts. The 3frlbourne Herald says : The commercial features of the past month may be stated in a few word+. In connexion with great quietude, amount ing ut times to dulness, there has been a growing firmness on the part of holden, notwithstanding the lack of eager and large purchaser', sellers have been steadily advancing their demands, and in several articles rates mole profitable to the importer have already been established. The e b seuce of activity in the markets has been owing to temporary and lenl causes, among which the chief have been numerous holidays and heavy floods. From Sydney the news is unimportant. The Herald observes respecting the goldfields : At no period has our great gold interest been in a more healthy state than it is just now. Capital is being lave: red in machinery to work claims in a scientific manner, and as our diggers extend themselves over the country, we may expect to hear of new fields and new treasures. Kiandra, perhaps, has not fulfilled expectation, but the weekly escorts prove satisfactorily that the average yield is two entices per man per week. The last weekly returns per escort for the Western and Southern goldfields amounted to 5,000 and this is considerably under the yield, for much gold finds its way to Sydney through private hands, concerning which we have no account. In our next sum mary we hope to be able to place before our readers the quantity of gold received at the mint during the year now just passing away. The same paper bas the following in reference to flu) New Zealand disturbances : Since the battle of Mabee!'hi, no aggresaive movements on the part of our troops has been attempted, in come. queues of the force at the dispoxil of Majordhmend Pratt being divided, after that event, between Auckland and New Plymouth. All, therefore, that could bo done wit+ to act on thoddenaive. This has been accomplished so judiciously that few casualties of a serious nature have taken place, and the troops, although constantly on the alert, appear to have been, to a considerable extent at least, freed from that state of harassing anxiety that prevailed prior to the engagement of the Gth ult. AFRICA. THE KIND OF DAIIOMEY AGAIN. ...... The Royal Mail steamship Ethtope, with the mails from the West Coast of Africa, Teneriffe, and Madeira, arrived in the Mersey at a lute hour on Monday night. A telegraphic summary other news has been publi s h e d. Another barbarous affair hail taken place at Dahomey. The IVe4 Af einem Herald publishes statements from eye witnesses of the barbaric " custom " just perpetrated at Dahomey. In thin fearful narrative we learn that the recent " grand custom "of Barlahuug, King of Dahomey, was one of the most revolting which had ever taken place. Several persons agree in stating that the number of "anions slain on the occasion was estimated at 2,000, but another ow respondent gives the number at 7,000. He says he was pre sent by compulsion, and that the blood swept past him hke flood into alarm reservoir. Another gentleman, referring to these inhuman butcheries, says :—" I assure you it made me quite sick, and at the same time I felt stunned. The poor wretches met death with perfect indifference." The Herald, which gave government notice through its columns many months since of the intention of the Kluge( Dahomey I to hold an unusual " grand custom," in remembrance of the death of the late King, concludes the recital of these butcheries by stating that "Consul Foote has come out with full 'lowers to ' treat' with the King of Dahomey as to We abolition of these human sacrifices." GREAT CONFERENCE OP CHURG'II RATE ABOLITIONISTS. Yesterday a very numerous conference, convened at the instance of the representatives of almost all the Dis senting Denominations, was held at the Freemasons' Hall, for the purpose of Viking steps to ensure the parsing of the Church Rate Abolition Bill by decisive majorities. Several hundreds were present, and all the principal towns sod many of the rural parishes were represented. Among those who were present were Mr. Baines, M.P., Lord Henley, M.P., Mr. Scholefield, M.P., Sir C. Douglas, M.P., Sir J. Shelley, M.P., 2dr..T. Harkey, M.P., Mr. Whalley, M.P., Mr. Pilkington, M.P., Mr. Dunlop, M.P., Mr. Clifford, M.P., Colonel Tyote, M.P., Mr. Bristow, M.P., Mr. Stens feld, M.P., Mr. Hardcastle, M.P., Mr. Einglake, M.P., Rev. T. Binney, Rev. Dr. Steane, Rev. W. Brock, JAS. Heywood, Fiq. , Rev. R. B. Aspland, Mr. Morley, Mr. JOS. Pease, and Mr. Chas. Curling. On the motion of N. Buckley, L'sq., of Ashton, and H. O. Wills. Esq., of Bristol, Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, M.P., took the chair amid loud cheers, and called on the secretary to read letters from Mr. Dillwyn, M.l'., Mr. Pease, MP., the Rev. Newman Hall, and others, unable to be present. The Rev. BASIL COOPER, B.A. then read a carefully_ pre. pared pa per on '• The Parliament a ry History of the Church Rate Qu estion." Sir . SHELLEY, Bart., M.P., rose to move the following resolution:—"That, in reviewing the parliamentary struggle for the abolition of church rates, this conference finds that, during a period of nearly thirty years, there has been con tinuous and growing hostility to the exaction, as violating the priociples of justice, as being repugnant to conscientious convictions, and as occasioning the bitterest social feeling. That successive governments have admitted the ()relent law to be indefensible, and that successive jerliaments have affirmed the principle of entire abolition, as the only prat. ticable mode of settling the question. That the up holders of the impost have never been, and are not at this hour, agreed upon any measure by which the law may be amended, with any prospect of overcoming the strong antipathy with which it is regarded. Meanwhile, opposi tion to church rates is constantly extending over a wider area, and is diminishing the revenue which is the object of contention, while the steadily increasing liberality of Epi scopalians is supply ing the funds required for the mainte mince of their religious edifices and worship. That, in view of these facts, the members of this conference, in the inte. rests of peace of justice, andof religion, pledge themselves resolutely to ;Where to the demand for the total extinction of church rates, and appeal to abolitionists of every class to press that demand - with a determination which will convince the legislature of the absolute neces sity for passing Sir John Trelawny's bill." Sir CHARLES DOUGLAS, M.P. (Banbury), seconded the resolution, which was supported by Mr. SIDEIIOITO/1, of Manchester, and unanimously adopted. Mr. E. Gatimaos (Mayor of Ipswich) moved the next resolution :—" That, it being the declared purpose of the leader of the conservative party in the House of Commons, to defeat the bill for abolition, in order to carry a measure by which church rates will not only be perpetuated, but be levied for the support of numerous additional churches, and be also removed from popular coutrol, this conference spa. cially urges upon electors the paramount importance of frustrating this retrograde policy, by making such repre sentations to their members as will secure their votes for.the bill on every division." Mr. JAMES HEYWOOD seconded the resolution. Mr. HANDCLL CosILSM (of Bristol) and the Rev. H. Hevrow, having spoken, The Rev. T. Binnnr (who was loudly called for) said on this question he had been willing to accept of something which they might call a compromise ; not upon the prin. ciple laid down by Mr. Disraeli, nor upon the principle laid down by the Bishop of Exeter—(" hear," and laughter),— that to get a church rate, however small, is to preserve and embody the principle of the connexion of church and state, but to assert the principle that the churches were the pro perty of the whole nation, including dissenters. He hod strong feelings as a nonconformist in respect of that church, but wished to prevent its saying the buildings are ours. It would be a great fallacy—(hear);—for if the rate were abolished the nation would be letting them the buildings without rent. By abolishing tho rate they would not destroy the ownership of the property, but only change the terms of occupation. lie believed the time would come when the nation, and not a meet mere►y, would have the use of them. Lord HENLET, M.P., had been much gratified with the unanimity displayed and the good-will exhibited towards the church of England. The great difficulty was to carry their bill through the House of Lords, and to get their thip over that bar they ought to lighten it of some ballast. He referred to the question of the separation of church and state. Let them declare that their present object was 'im ply to object to an unjust imprint. Mr. Mrtm. rose to put the noble lord and others right in respect to a matter of fact. It was not those who sailed the ship Church Hates who hal put into it the heavy bal last of separation of church and state. They had that in another wharf at the present moment. (Laughter and cheers.) It was their property, and sonic day they hoped to use it ; but it was the committee of the House of Lords who bad taken some of that ballast and put it into the ship with • view to sink it. It was not the Liberation Society which had connected the two questions. They took up church rates bemuse the question was a practical one which lay in their way, Mt they had not identified it with a wider question. Their sentiment' hail been quoted in both houses of parliament before the sitting of the Lords' committee, unit Dr. Fester and Mr. Morley would have been dishonest if they had said the abolition of church rates would satisfy dissenters. The settlement of this question, prolohly, would not fecal. tate their action with regard to the larger one ; auil, in rte spect to their ulterior purpose, it would perli ills he better to leave it where it was. (Hear.) Let the rumbas pre sent mark the moral power displayed in that assembly ; let them contrast it with the political apathy displayed on all other questions. Should that queatien to left unsettled, and Sir .1. Trelawny's bill be rejected by the Commons, the whole of that power, and agreat died more, would be turned hi the direction of the larger subject. But it was a question of truth, of right, of honesty, and of ascendancy. (Loud cheers.) For the one great motive animating their op poneuts was to maintain a position in the eye of the law superior to that of diasenters. (Hear, bear.) They wished to remove the argument on their principles from the vestries to the serener atmosphere of parliament, where there was less of feeling than would be expected in Iwo du el assemblies. If the House of Commons were wise, it would settle this question out of hand. (Hear, hear.) He did Dot know what the Liberation Society would do with out, but they must take their chance. (Laughter.) But let the bill be rejected, and depend upon it the ulterior ques tion would then be placed in a position of advantage each cs it had never enjoyed before—(cheend—for they would then be supported ty the eutlusionu of the whole dissent- Mg bodies. (Loud cheers.) The resolution having been curried, Mr. BAINFA M.P., moved a resolution appointing an in fluential committee. Mr. J. COLMAN, of Norwich, seconded the resolution. Ito described the proceedings of the Norfolk di►senters, who were determined not to be trilled with by their members, sad made 3111»C suggestbms to induce others to assume the &true determined attitude. . . —..... --..--. Mr. BRISTOW, M.P., thought that a new duty now dr volved on Lord Palmerston and Load J. Russell, who had made such pro-grew in 1859. They ought to make the bill a government bill, and so earn , it over the bur of the House of Lords. (Cheers.) He hail no fear of its success in the Commons, though the majorities might be smaller than hitherto. As a churchman lie assured them they hail the ryinpathies of large numbers in his own body. (Hear.) Colonel TYNTE, said he looked with delight ou that day's conference. Whether the ship carried little ballast or much, let every sail be hoisted, and the ship would he safely hosted through parliament. (Cheers.) The resolution having been carried, Mr. Ht:utt MABON, of Ashton, moved :—" That to meet the expenditure involved in the special efforts already made, and which may be requited to pass the Church-rate Abolition Bill into law, a fund of 3,000/. be raised and placed at the disposal of the committee now appointed." Ho thought the request a modest one, and wooden-it ~ much had already been dono with such mall r c .oalees. His district would ale its duty in the matter. Mr. RUINET, of Manchester, seconded the motion. They must show themselves to be in earnest. At Manchester they had agreed to raise 500/. (Cheers.) Mr. MORIZY bad promised 50/., and would it if needful—(eheers) —for they bad plenty of work before diem. He deprecated all idea of compromise. The resolution having been jassed,slips of paper were seat retinal the room, and with surprising alacrity were tilled up. and the amounts of the promised contributions read. Among the sums were—Friends at Ashton, lhol. ; anal at Rochdale, co.r. ; G. Hadfield, Esq., M.P., h 01.; J. etialelottim, Esq.. 50/. ; W. Edwards, Esq., nor. ; .1. Leese, Esq.. rum, MM. ; S. Morle, Esq., 50f. ; Sir J. Watts, 25/. ; J. Spectre!, Esq., Manchester. 25/. ; W. Hinman, Esq.. 25/. Nt • Armitage, Esq., 201. ; It. Romney, Lai., 20/. ;J. Side. bottom, Esq., jun., 20/.; A. Howarth, Esq., tMat Joseph Pease, Esq., 101. ; 11. J. Cockerell, Esq., 101. IW. the Hon. Mm. Thompson, IW. ; Henry Lee, }:sq., 10/.1 Mr. Seholefield, M.P., IW. ; Heywood, Esq., 2:4 The whole amounting to upwards of 1,100/. Rev. N. T. Latuattomt then presented an important claration condemnatory of thumb nate, signed lay ineinhcri of the Methodist bodies. It bad taut just teen COMM/ 41 , 04 hart it had already received upwards of 10,000 signature , . (Great cheering.) This was followed 1w a resolution pin pesod by the Rev. G. Grundy, and the 11ev. W. Griliithi loth Methodists, expressing the pleasure of the conferroie at the receipt of the declaration, and urging other Meth , diets to sign. -•• • - The Rev. Metwrs. Ashbvand Griffiths (of Angleetn) having spoken Dr. Ackworth ( ol Ilnlford) moved, and D r . St e .,oe seeouded a vote of thanks to the chairman, which sw , supported by the Rev. C. Short, of Swansea, who said that several delegates had come from that distant place. The vote having been carried by acclamation Wag v* knowledged by the chairman, and the proci.vding , eloml about three o'clock. CALZDONIAN RAILWAY.—It la stated that the direeton of this cowpony intent to declare • dividend fur the past half-year ou the onlinary stork of thix comp...ly st tho rate of 51 per cent. per amain, carrying over a balaues of 10,000/. In this respondent request. The Sol issue. Sir C. ( In this to move f Sir C. C fore the t already b motion. Miss Sb that, alb to such a Perfectly The ape The be street. 1 rupt on anangemt aatiefacto; commend' secured ; ceicable ; 13,0001., i good debt ID( coo~iBa ; discount. tonal ditto Mr. Pm three fare there had be a fair ;1 had been] declared. Mr. A. factory to bankrupt might be Mr. Re the oourt to become seta of re the bank Pour._ His Ho cage of Sel at the I they ou to say counts, w right at th consenting served. The eel March. The ban applied fo about 5001 assignee, t books had Mr. Pee there hem Mr. Ites for large 13 ehanies. destructiol taken larg eases for rattnv ever Hie Hon six monthl The ban Tavern an the exatnit Mr. Ben of a rnonti by illness carrying or yield 1.1.,11 I Dlr..Ne nicht, whit Georg,. I sotinal An offi; narrow bill Pa/WY UllOl Colonel Officer— there were Colonel for? Officer— allowed, w Colonel The man I am onl been am. 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