The Sun. — London, England, 1859-04-16 00:00:00

ROYAL rRINCESS'S THEATRE. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING. will be produced Shakspeare's historical play of KING HE'SIi.Y V. King Henry V, , Mr. C. Bean; Chorus, Mrs. C. Kean. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Li2ssee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENOIG, will be produced a new Comedy, en 4itled EVERYBODY'S FRIEND. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews. With NOTHING TO WEAR. Mr. and Mrs. C. Mathews. Eollowed by PATTER V. CLATTER. To conclude with JACK'S RETURN FROM CANTON. Commence at 7. NEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. MASKS AND FACES ; Triplet, Mr. B. Webster ; Quin, Mr P. Bedford ; Sir Charles, Mr. C Selby ; Ernest, Mr. ; Peg Wo ffi ington, Miss Wool g ar; Mabel, Miss H. Simms. r After which, THE PRETTY GIRLS OF STILBERG. Mr. B. Webster, 13illington, Eburne, Misses Woolgar, Keeley, and Arden. To be followed by THE MILLINER'S HOLIDAY. Mr J. L. Toole, C. Selby, Billington, Misses Woolgar, Keeley and K. Kelly. oActing atanager—Mr. Win. Smith Doors open at a quarter-past six—Commence at seven. Box Office open from 10 to 5 —no charge for booking. No fees to servants permitted. A registry kept of all articles found. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer, THIS EVENING will be presented THE KING'S GAR DENER. Followed by BEAU BRUMMELL. Mr. Emery. After which, an original Petite Piece de Circonstance, ROUSEHOLD WORDS ALL THE YEAR ROUND. And FORTUNE'S FROLIC. Reduced Prices—Drsa Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3c ; Pit, 25.; Stalls, ss. ; Gallery, ls. Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors:open at half -past 6 to commence at 7 every evening. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough THIS EVENING, VANDYKE BROWN. Mr. J. Clark, and Miss M. Ternan. After which, the new Extravaganza, KENILWORTH ; or Ye Queene. ye Earle, and ye Maydenne To be followed by I'LL WRITE TO THE TIMES. Commence at 7o'clock. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Lessee and Manager.. ...... Mr. William Cooke. THIS EVENING the performances win commence with a new gra n d D rama, entitled THE THREE MUSKE TEERS, in which Mr. R. Phillips and the company will ap pear. After which, the matchless and unrivalled SCENES IN THE CIRCLE, introducing' the great Star Riders and Miss Emily Cooke, Madame Blanche, Madame Bridges, Madlle. Fleurette, and Madame Franci sco , b e i ng th e grea test amount of female equestrian talent ever seen in one night in any theatre. Grotesques—Messrs. Hemming and Thorne. To conclude with A THUMPING LEGACY, Miss M. Jackson. The splendid romance of IVANHOE ; cr, The Knights Templars, is in active preparation, and will be revived with extraordinary magnificence. Dress Circle, 4s. ; Boxes, Is, ; Upper Gallery, la. ; Gallery, 6d. 2 . 5, ; Private Boxes, .£4 4s, £2 2s, and £1 ls. Commence at Seven : Carriages at 11. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.-- Proprietor —C. MORTON. _ The public is most respectfully informed that the F INE ARTS GALLERY, in connection with the above Hall, IS NOW O,PN DAT AND N IGHT, from 11 o ' clock a.m. until 12 3 clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec :ion of Pictures, by Ancient and Modern Masters .and is also devoted to Art productions generally. The Proprietor feels Pe may confidently assert that viewed altogether, the exist- AZ Music Hall, the New Fine'Arts Gallery, and the recently ad ded Ante-Hall, w ill present an attraction which, whether as retards the architectural beauty of the structures them selves, or the varied and hitherto unattempted combinations within, will be found to be wholly without parallel in the Kingdom. The bIuSICAL ENTERTAINMENT commences as usual at Seven o'clock. w in addition t o th e usual enterta i nmen t , the SAUVLET AMI LY , of Amsterdam .Eight in number, whose varied instrumental performances have created so marked a sensa don in the principal cities and towns of the Continent, wit , oertorin every Evening at Nine and Eleven o'clock. THE WEATHER.—Sux OFFICE, APRIL 16. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 50 —highest since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 4 4—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29 62. WIND, Variable, from Northerly to North-westerly; fresh and squally, with showers of snow and sunshine Intervening. Lord JOHN RUSSELL has put forward his address to the citizens of London, stating the grounds on Which he asks for a renewal of their confidence, and to be again honoured with a seat for the British Metropoli s . We cannot, however, recognise perfect _ _ _ - candour in his appeal to the electors of the City o London. If he consented, as he said, to rescue the Governme n t f rom d rown i ng l as t year , it was simply because he had not patched up his little differences with Lord PALMERSTON, and could not hope to have personally profited by their ejection from office. W hen, however, a satisfactory agreement was con :, elu ded, he willi ng l y a b an d one d "the p o l e an d hook," and, by a most factious and unjustifiable resolution, a ttempted to throw out the Ministry who had done mor e for the nation than any of their predecessors fora series of years. The resolution was artfully contrived, and, unfortunately, it answered the intended purpose, by capturing stray votes, and thus shelving the question of Reform for the present year. Con sidering that Lord JOHN was the advocate of finality for a score of years, and that he cer tainly manifested neither zeal nor energy I n Pressing forward the stinted measure whic h he w as compelled to bring forward, we must, while giving him credit for former e h x l.s ertions, decline to r e p ose un li m i te d con fid ence i n futu re i ntentions, and more so inasmuch as he has declined to give , views save any indication respecting his T BALL O is,'as ever, o pposed to E ) the that he THE the Alpha and Omega in every true Reformer's heart. On this Point strov e to play he was p ecu li ar l y vague. H e s uccess by his bro °lf t he dodge p rac ti se d w ith so muc h there on the last election. Let it be discussed, and course it will b e the t rut h will prevail. Of Ti discussed, w hil e H ENRY TZHARDING E and BERK ELEY and hi s cons i s t en t honest representative disciples retain seats in the and so lo n branch o f - the Legislature, strop the p eop l e g as of this c oun t ry are so gly interested in obtaining protection for the humble voter against eve great ry c orrupt and debasing principle is influence. A at stake, and the citizens of London should not, by their votes, re turn one, however eminent in other respects, who has ever been; and will still continue to be, one of the most formidable opponents of the privilege of secret voting. LOTCSTANLEY is not thus disposed. Ile 0 has len. , bee n in favour of THE BALLOT, an d so longs con tinues a C a bi net Minister the prospectgas of it s ay ad adopti on will be materiadvanced. Sh ou l d he be chosen by the peopl e of London, the Liberal cause in the C abinet, i n will P arliament, and in th e country be greatly promoted, Every since re Lib eral has regard e d the course of that talented young nobleman with d eep interest ; and we b e li eve that there are few constituencies th roughout the l engt h and breadth of the landwhieh v i r id ou not feel honoured retur n him by a by his becoming a candidate, a n d commercial decided majority. Liverpool —the metropolis of England—has invited him as well as London, and there are many -which would act in a similar manner if there was any chance of the requisition being accepted. Lord JOAN RUSSELL asks the electors of Lond on "not to proscribe men who are opposed to TILEI BALLOT". But it is one thing to proscribe and a n . other to give confidence, and elect as representative a man who totally differs from a large proportion of the citizens, on what they believe to be a matter of vital importance. It was not by such lukewarm indifference that the repeal of the bread tag c—,--the abolition of the monster monopoly that para lysed the energies of the industrial po- •zs. ex , . • •: 2, ~ ~-r, ~,! .!..". , , ,:,,,ci.o f . : M. 1,4.; ,---0 , ~,, :, ; ,,, n , .;;' .-47,-,.-i-5,._--s„ -4*,. • • A ; • .., a., , It t. ;,,,, -alw 7.,-,• ; , - ttv ~,,, . ~,, ,, ,i iiiir, c/2&.---,,...- •51 N ,,., ~, id , 4,p... ',...... 4 ,,,„ ~, 11.,, ,... .1? OIT ~,, ~,,.. THE SUN. SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 1839. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 16, 1859. ..e...........m00.....,......., pulation of the country was obtained is building an immense navy w holl y u nne ce s sary \ Then, every thing was earnestness and de e xce p t a g ainst us ; and wholly unnecessary, con termination. No person halting between two sidering our peaceful conduct towards France ever opinions would have been tolerated, and the request since she ceased to aim at the control of Europe. to await discussion would have been treated with the ridicule which it deserved. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Susan Melville and Sir George Couper, left Clarence House, St. James's, yesterday, for her resi dence, Frog-more. Their Royal Highnesses the Reigning Duke and Duchess of Saxe .Coburg are expected to arrive on a visit to her Majesty and his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, next week, at Windsor Castle, The duke and duchess are expected to remain about a fortnight in this country. Lord and Lady Lyndhurst received a select party at dinner, last evening, at the family residence in George street, Hanover-square. Lady Dover, who has lately been indisposed at her residence in Whitehall, has much improved in health within the last few days. Lord Howard, the son of the Earl of Effingham, Mr. Douglas Pennant, son of Colonel Douglas Pennant, M.P., and a party, leave at the end of the present month for New York, with the intention of making a tour through the 'United States and Canada. Lord and Lady Greenock and family have arrived at Maurigy's Hotel, from Thirsk, Yorkshire. Mr. D. R. Scratton and Mrs. Scratton have . arrived at Fenton's Hotel, from Essex. The noble lord has stated that he has no distrust of Lord MAIMESEURY." If his position is difficult, it is rendered more so by the difficulties of the Ministry than by his own want either of inclination or ability." This is a just and honourable tribute to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. But we would ask Lord JOHN, who was the man who occasioned the Ministerial difficulty at so critical a period ? Was it not he himself who enkindled the torch and created the conflagration ? He might truly have said, " adsum qui feel," and he ought to repent in sackcloth and ashes the mis chief he has occasioned, which may destroy the peace and tranquillity of Europe. The Government deserves all credit for the Report on the Navy Estimates presented to us last week. It is an honest document. We have ex amined it carefully, and so far as it can be judged by those who have not the vouchers before them, we should say a more trustworthy and carefully drawn paper has rarely been furnished to the public. Nothing appears to be intentionally omitted—no thing introduced for a purpose merely. The great increase in our naval estimates suggested the appointment of a committee to trace the causes of it, also to ascertain whether the character and power of the British navy (dockyards and stores included) correspond to the greatly increased expenditure ; and lastly, to compare the progress of the French with that of the English navy. These are inquiries, indeed, of national interest. That we should be paying threepence in the pound out of our income tax for additional naval charges since .1852, is enough to make us unfortunate con tributors under schedule D bethink ourselves. Yet such is the fact. For, in round numbers, the naval estimates of 1852 were five million eight hundred thousand pounds, and for last yew. , somewhat above three millions more! And, col paring the expenditure on the French navy with that on our own, during the same seven years, it turns out that we have expended sixty-one millions and a half, and they but forty-two millions and a half. That is, we have expended between eighteen and nineteen millions more than our neighbours, with the result that, in the most important arm of our naval force, we and they are nearly on an equality. No one can over look the gravity of such facts. Perhaps few also will fail to notice that the inquiry commences at `,he time when our distinguished ally" constituted himself the sole Ruler of France, so that, whatever cost we are put to guard against the extremities to which French absolutism may be driven, seems to be due to the events which have made so memo rable the 2d of December. As to the first part of the inquiry, the greater portion of the increased expenditure is due to a few heads. The Coast-guard and Naval Coast Volun teers, which are now included in the naval esti mates, and figure for £178,592, together with these six heads, make nearly the three millions to be accounted for. Two of these votes, sea wages in excess of 18.52 and victuals, which, of course, de pend on the number of men and their price for the year, amount to £1,341,424; artificers, stores, and new works, to £1,127,961, and the transport of troops, not exactly a naval service, to £282,900. The increased amount of seamen's wages is caused partly by an increase of pay in all ranks, and partly by an increase in the number of men. Alto gether we have 14,739 men more than we had in 1852. The increase, also, under the head of new works and stores appears to be pretty fairly ac counted for by the changes requisite in consequence of the introduction of steam and increasing the size of the ships. An illustration of the difference of charge in wages between a first-rate steam and sailing vessel is given, and it is upwards of £8,500 ; between two frigates the difference was /4,700. The introduction of steam has increased, indeed, in every way the cost of a navy. Not only is there the fist cost of the engines, and of the greater tonnage requisite to find room for them and for the requisite fuel, so far as to enable the ship to retain the same force, much greater, but the charge of wages, as we have seen, is increased con siderably; and also that of the " annual maintain ing rate." A first-rate, like that of the Duke of Wellington, costs £171,735, of which £106,291 is for labour and materials for her hull, the rest for masts, rigging, engines, stores, &c., exclusive, we presume, as they are not mentioned, of guns. But we have not done with our costly wooden walls yet. Such a vessel costs £14,325 per annum merely to keep all things in floating and working order; at the end of fifteen years she will need a complete and expensive repair of her hull, and at thirty years of age she will be transferred to Lord PAGET'S " better world," for she will have done her work in this ! Our actual increase in naval steam power since 1852 is considerable. We had then but four first rates and twelve second rates; altogether 135 vessels of 166,357 tonnage, carrying 3,072 guns, and of 39,764 horse power. Last year there were 29 first-rates completed, and, including those build ing and converting into steam ships of the line, 50. And a total of 402 steam ships, of all classes, with a tonnage of 420,159, carrying 8,202 guns, and with 95,428 horse power. But how do we stand In comparison with our neighbour, who may any day become our antago nist ? The important point of comparison now is our relative steam force; it is on this that the power of invasion depends, and on this, too, that we must rely for our defence. It is singular that last year our number :of steam ships of the line and that of France were the same—twenty-nine. But when both of us have completed what we are now build ing and converting, we shall have 50, and they 40. But to set against this they will have 12 more frigates than we, and four iron-plated ships— which they hold to be invincibles, and to be such " a success," that they have _stayed building other first-rates till they have completed these. The comparison of English and French line-of-battle ships and frigates afloat, building, &c., gives Eng land 84 ships, 5,974 guns, tonnago 47,740. France 86 ships, 5,294 guns, tonnage 46,890. In sailing vessels we have 296 against 136 French ; and so far do we surpass France in the smaller class of steam vessels, gunboats, corvettes, sloops, &c., that, every thing included, we have 464 steam ships against 264 of theirs. Our superiority at present must he held to con sist in sailing vessels and the smaller class of steam v essels, to which must be added the immense re sources of our commercial marine—more than four t imes greater than that of France, our vessels being also between two and three the size of hers. Also °lr im mense mechani c al r esources for the produc tion h and, can, ° I ships a n d nava l stores. F ra nce, on th e other by her conscr iption, arbitrarily man her fleet at almost a day's notice, and can thus for the moment be apparently stronger than we. It is for the public to judge of the cost they desire to incur to be prepared to meet any day the ally who The marriage of Mary Elizabeth, daughter o, the Rev. W. Atkinson, M.A., rector of Gateshead Fell, with Mr. George Dundas, of Dundas Castle, Linlithgow-- shire, took place yesterday, at St. James's Church, Picca dilly. After the ceremony an elegant breakfast was given at Everett's Hotel, in Albemarle-street, to a numerous circle of relatives and friends of both families. Later in the day the happy couple left town for the seat of the Hon. Mr. Coventry, at Melton Mowbray. ADELPIII THEATRE.—The revival of the capital petite drama, the "Pretty Girls of Stilberg," has proved quite a hit, and the career that it bids fair to run on this occasion will far exceed that when it was first produced at the Haymarket, some years ago. It is in this piece that Mr. Webster gives his celebrated imitation of Napoleon 1., which has been pronounced to be one of t he most extraor dinary performances ever witnessed. All the peculiarities of le petit corporal are so vividly portrayed that the audi ence seem completely lost in surprise for a few minutes ; after which they give vent to their admiration by unbounded applause. The new theatre during the week has been very fully and fashionably attended. THE NEAPOLITAN EXILES.—Last evening . a public meetingwas held at St. Martin's-hall, Long• acre, for the purpose of giving an expression of welcome to the Nea politan exiles now in England, and to consider what is now called the " Italian question." The meeting was presided over by Mr. P. A. Taylor, supported by Mr. Sergeant Parry, Dr. Epps, Mr. Sheen, M.A., &c. The following were the exiles who were present :—Signori. Pellegrini, Maffei, Merganti, Gerai, Antaglietra, Petrudilli, Ventri, A g resti, Frdncitano, Morelli, and Lamenza. Addresses were delivered by the chairman, Mr. Sheen, Mr. Sergeant Parry, Mr. Slack, and Mr. Mantel, expressive of the sym pathy of the British people for the sufferings of the exiles, to which signor Agresti replied in Italian. An address embodying the sentiments of the speaker was adopted. DREADFUL ACCIDENT IN A SUGAR REFINERY. — John Jones, a workman in Macfie's sugar refinery, Bache lor-street, Liverpool, was killed by being caught in some machinery;in motion. His legs were amputated below the knees, and his shoulder bones ad some of his ribs crushed. The poor fellow, who has eft a n wife and family in a sadly destitute condition, died immediately afterwards. SUICIDE IN BLENHEIM PARK, OXON.—On Thursday, the 14th instant, a gentleman, said to be the Spanish Compel for Australia, committed suicide, by shooting himself near the Home Farm, in Blenheim Park. It appears that his name is Don Antonio Arom de Ayala. On i e eis person were found three letters, one addressed by him to the landlady of the Bear Hotel, Woodstock, where he has been. staying since Tuesday l, last, and another addressed to the Duke of Marlborough. The other letter is evidently addressed to himself. The address on this letter is, " Don Antonio Arom de Ayala, Spanish Consul for Australia, Tavistock Hotel, Covent-garden." In his letter to the Duke of Marlborough, he begs that his Grace will pardon him for selecting his park for a place in which to end his life ; and he observes that he has a feeling, which may be a childish one, that objects that he should die in cultivated fields where cottages are, and rail roads cross, and signs of life exist ; therefore, he has selected Blenheim Park for this purpose, and he prays that the duke will cause a cross to be put up to note u the place ac cording to the Spanish custom. He states frther, his letter, that he went yesterday (Wednesday) to see Blenheim Palace, hoping that a sight of the noble paintings would do him good, but that the sight was of no avail. To the landlady of the Bear Hotel he gives directions as to things of his in her custody, ordering so me to be sent to his wife in Spain, and he thanks the landlady for her kind accommca2ation. He went out from the Bear Hotel in the morning, &titer giving directions for his dinner at six o 'clock in the evening, and he posted a letter in the Woodstock post-office at 12 o'clock at noon, which, as stated, is addressed to Mr. Albert Bottman, 26, Duncan-terrace, Islington, London. It appears that a pistol was purchased by him in London on the 11th of this month, and it is stated that he came by a down train on the Great Western line to the Woodstock-road Stati body is now lying at the Woodstock Lodge, in Blenheim Park, awaiting the coroner's inquest. DEATH OF MACKAY, THE CELEI3RATED PIPER. — Mr. Angus Mackay, formerly piper to her Majesty, has been accidentally drowned in the river Nith; Dumfriesshire. Mackay was of a race of hereditary pipers, who obtained their instruction at the once celebrated college of the Mac- Cruimins, in the Isle of Skye, which has been swept away in the changes produced by the altered state of Gaelic society. He was not simply a performer, able to read and note down music, which many of his profession can scarcely do, but he was a composer of singular ability, and his style of exe cution so superior that even the ears of her Majesty were pleased with an instrument which in less able hands would have been discordant. He published a collection of upwards of 60 of those ancient and peculiar pieces of music called " Piobreach," with historical and biographical letter-press, which is a standard work among the military and private professors of the national instrument. He subsequently published a volume of " Reels and Strathspeys," with their respective names both in Gaelic and English, and had a considerable collection of his own compositions. He was besides no contemptible versifier of poems from his native tongue. The Gaelic orthography of his name is MacAodh. —Edinburgh Courant. THE FIRST DRINKING FOUNTAIN IN THE ME TROVOLIS.—On Thursday the workmen in the employ of the New River Company completed the laying on of the water supply from their reservoir at Claremont-square to the newly constructed drinking fountain at the south-east corner of St. Sepulchre's Churchyard, in Skinner-street, Old Bailey. The fountain is neatly executed, and the de sign is both simple and serviceable, and a touch of orna ment about it most gratifying to the eye. In a recess hewn out of the churchyard wall two small pillars are fixed, from the top of which springs a semi-circular arch, neatly moulded : the sides of the recess with the arch itself are of polished Aberdeen granite. In the centre is a tastefully wrought marble shell, through an orifice in which the water will flow into a bowl of white marble, also highly polished. The setting is finished with cement coating ornamentally executed in relief, materially heightening the effect of the diminutive work it encloses. Deeply cut in the cement of the major arch is the inscription,—" The First Drinking Fountain," and in the granite curve underneath—" The Gift of Samuel Gurney, M.P." These letters are trebly gilt. 'Upon the plinth immediately below the b the baseasin i s thes en graved, Replace the cup," and upon li words, "Filtered water from the New River Company." The cost of the water supply will be made a charge upon the consolidated rate, and will of necessity be so small as not to be felt by even the most needy of the ratepayers. It is ex pected that the fountain will be opened in a few days. INDIAN FINANCE.—The total estimated receipts of the Home Treasury of the Government of India, from the Ist of May, 1858, to the 30th of April, 18.59, amount to £14,419,720, and the total disbursements to £14,389,651. 'The receipts include sundry balances of cash. The esti mated balance of cash deficient on the 30th inst. is fixed at £259,086. The charges in the revenue of India include £631,486 for dividends to the holders of India Stock, £46,074 for interest and temporary loans, £159,179 for in terest on the Home Bond debt, £205,522 for interest on the Home Debenture loan, £2,015,127 for military and other stores expended and to be expended, and £2,567,036 for pay-office demands on account of troops serving in India and for stores. In the estimates for the ensuing year, 1859-60, the balance of cash deficient on the 30th of April, 1860, figures for the enormous amount of £5,715,866. The present amount of the guaranteed fund of the East India Company is £1,917,035 stock, cost £4,496,863; the estimated oenount next year is £5,079,678 stock, cost £4,645,534, and front this amount it will gradually rise until March, 1889 (30 years hence), when it is estimated that it will be £13,052,529 stock, cost £11,935,865. The interest payable in England on debt incurred since the Ist of May, 1857, is £457 664 ; the amount payable in India o n debt incurred there since the Ist of May, 1857, £527,257, and the balance in the Home Treasury on the lstof March, 1859, £1,101,361. The cash balances in the Indian Treasuries on the Ist of May, 1858, were £14,404,964 (the latest account received). THE FEVER IN TRINIDAD.—Some official corre spondence on this subject has been published by order of the House of Commons on the motion of Sir Do Lacy Evans, M.P. The yellow fever was first reported in the island last September, and three ()blurs, with 25 men, Women, and children, were reported as dead on the Ist of November. On the Ist of December the monthly return reported that " at Trinidad"—(this grammatical blunder is certainly re peated in the official papers, in defiance of the simple rule of Lindley Murray)—" yellow fever had disa pp eared ;" but on the Ist of January, 1859, its re-appearance in the 41st Regi ment was reported. At the end of the month, however, an improvement in the health of the troops was reported. The disease is ascribed to the unhealthiness of the barracks. The Army Medical Department wrote to the principal medical officer at Barbadoes on the 25th of November trusting that every sanitary measure would be taken to im prove the state of the barracks and hospitals. The depmart ment afterwards (18th of February) approved a recomen dation of Surgeon-Major Stone, that the troops should again be encamped on the Savana. Only one case of yellow fever appears to have occurred since the 25th of January ; there were a few mild cases of remittent fever, and the en campneent was very healthy. IMPTCOVED PRINTING SURFACE.—Mr. Henry Bradbury, of the well-known printing firm of Bradbury and Evans —a gentleman whose beautiful system of " nature printing" has charmed us all—has d introduced a ne w method of producing p rintin g surfaces from engrave plates. He describes it thus :—A composition is spread over an engraved plate in order to get a cast, and from such cast an electrotype plate is obtoined. The composition consists of gutta peicha. and animal grease, or oil, r o vegetable oil (by preference hard or olive oil is used). The gutta percha is combined with the grease or oil by means of heat. The cotopoeition is kncadod. and washed in warm water, and thou the water is teem pletely pressed out. The compositisn is laid on a plate, and heat is applied to the under or baele surface of the engraved plate,so that by meltin g the composition the whole of the engr ave d parts may beolled. The coating of cookirsition thus applied is, when dry %%get, to be removed, and tom it an electrotype plate is to be predoced, as is well understee4o but in place of resorting to the ordinaele means of preparing the surface of the cast taken ti'One the engrefl plate, it is prefered to ,cash the surface at 11,P c9rn,po§itiop cast over with the eetution of the nitrate of eiiOVIO ncp :tc% subject the same to the vapours or fumes rif,dv.ccid from phosphorous and caustic potasla.—X-echailics Alizgccra. LATEST NEWS. PROSPECTS OF PEACE. The Paris correspondent of :he Times (second edition) says " We were yesterday, I believe, within a few hours of a declaration of war on the part of Austria, and I regret to say that it is attributable to the prevarications of the Imperial Government of France. When the question of a disarmament was at first proposed - the popular opinion was against Austria, because she, a great Power, with vast armies, required, as the condition to her enter- ing the Congress, that Piedmont should first dis- arm. This was a fault, but Austria retrieved it by the more reasonable demand of a general disarma- merit. "The French Government, whose only object was !o gain time, started a new objection :—France had not armed, and she could not be asked to disarm. Austria demanded that the general disarmament should take place previous to the meeting of the Congress, and England urged the same. The French Government, whose equivocal policy M. Cavour's Piedmontese friends declare so much reassured them, wanted that the question of the disarmament should be submitted to the Congress and be decided by it. The object, of course, was to have sufficient time to complete its preparations, and, when completed, to break off, on one pretext or another, all further ne gotiations, and take the field with its ally, Piedmont. The English Government were aware of this credit able conduct ; so, of course, was Austria. Austria, to whom eery day, nay, every hour, is of immense consequence, made up her mind for the worst ; England asked for a categorical answer to the de mand for immediate and general disarmament, and the French Government was called on to exercise its influence with Sardinia to enforce compliance. It had the effrontery to plead that it could not compel Sardinia to do anything of the kind. Of course we then saw that our friends were dis- posed to play us false, and Austria intimated that if a categorical answer was not given within a certain time, as to the disarmament, she would consider it as equivalent to a declaration of war ; would act instantly ; and would probably be at Turin in 10 days. Austria may be accused of precipitating matters, buther situation is one of the most critical; the expenses of her army are strain ing her resources to the utmost, and her only chance of safety was to renounce all hope of peace, and act at once. It was the necessity of her condition. When people blame her, they ought to remember that, in point of fact, she has been menaced since the Ist of January last. From that date she has, beyond all doubt, seen through the plan contrived against her by M. Cavour and his great friend, and set herself to pre pare accordingly. She knew that she was to be duped, and, as she had no faith inthe fair promises and pious aspirations of the Moniteur, she resolvQd to be ready against all emergencies. It is difficult to see how she could act otherwise than she has done, and it has proved her best means of salvation. "As I have told you, matters reached yesterday the extreme point. The French Government were informed that the responsibility of so terrible a calamity as a general war would fall upon them alone. In spite of the civilities, courtesies, and coquetting going on for some time past between St. Petersburg and Paris, it was shown that when the critical moment came the French Government would not have the support or sympathy of any one Government in Europe, except, I suppose, Piedmont ; and Russia, notwithstanding her re• sentment against Austria, showed symptoms (as I am assured), of a wish to stand well with old dynasties and old friends, and little real inclination towards a war which sooner or later must become revolutionary. " But the scene, it appears, has changed, and hope smiles once more. The French Government are said to have seen the dangerous course they were hastening on. But, whatever be the cause— whether the prospect of the unanimous condemna tion of all Europe, the certainty of the condemna tion of France, the soundness of the reasons and arguments of her allies, or all these things to gether, I am given to understand that we have at last got into smooth water. I presume that the French Government have agreed to a general disarmament, including, of course, that of Pied mont, previous to the Congress; as I am told that the Congress will meet about the time already mentioned, and that the Moniteur will soon announce the fact. No one will rejoice more heartily at this than the French people themselves; and M. Wa lewski and one or two of his colleagues will exult as much as any one. " I hope it is not the invention of some rash opti mist, but I also hear that M. Walewski this morn ing made inquiries about a house at Baden-Baden, with a view to the Congress. Prince Gortschakoff has already done so." FRANCE. PARIS, FRIDAY. Count de Persigny has left Paris for London, it is believed on a confidential mission relating to the present negotiations. The Journal de Cherbourg announces that the maritime Prefect at that port has received orders to arm as quickly as possible the following nine gunboats :—Aigrette, Fulmin ante, Arquebu se, Lance, Poudre, Redoute, Sainte-Barbe, Salve, and Tempete. After being armed they are to be de spatched to Toulon with a reduced complement of seamen. They are to form a flotilla under the name of First Division of Gunboats. It is stated that the construction of 10 new gun boats has been commenced in the ports of the Mediterranean. The plan was made by M. Dupuy de l'Orne, naval architect and director of material at the Ministry of Marine, and approved by the Emperor. It is announced that M. Fleury, brother of Gene ral Fleury, who is French Consul at Liverpool, has been appointed Consul at Palermo. M. de Chasseloup-Laubat, Minister of Algeria, will seize the opportunity of his journey to Algiers to visit several other places on the coast of Bar bary, and particularly Tunis. The Manikin- publishes the returns of the in direct revenues for the first quarter of the present year. The whole amount is 259,604,000 fr., being a diminution of 1,582,000 fr. as compared with the corresponding period of 185 S, and an augmentation as compared with 18E7. The principal items of increase have been potable liquors, 4,556,000 fr. ; tobacco, 1,557,000:7r. ; miscellaneous customs dues, 515,000 fr.; corn, 537,000 fr.; export duties, 336,0001 r.; foreign sugar, 328,000 fr.; salt, 318,000 fr. ; and Post office, 212,000 fr. ; the principal ones of diminution registration dues, 5,970,000 fr. ; beetroot sugar, 4,004,000 fr. ; stamps, 730,000 fr. ; gunpowder, • 269,000 fr. ; and French colonial sugar, 269,000 fr. The official journal also publishes a short statement of the receipts of the direct taxes for the past quarter. The whole sum received has amounted to 106,020,000 f., being 27,822,000 f. more than was due for that period. In 1858, the sum so paid in advance was only 24,999,000 f. BOURSE, April 15, Two o'clock.—The market has been dull, with little doing. There is a great uneasiness about the political situation, and the adjournment of explanations in the English Parliament till Monday did not alleviate the appre hetisiv,s, Threes were done at 67f. 35c., then 67f. 35c. declined to 6i f. 20e., and rallied aga in to .Nobilier varied from t4iof. 6SOf. ; Austrian, 516 f. Orleans, 1,2&5k. to 4,4._9f,i. T,/vons, 820 f. to 825 f.; Northern, 900 f. to 902 f. 50c. The following were the last quotations : 4f per Cents. 95 Credit Fonder Do. end month 77: Belgian 4f 3 per Cents. 67 60 Pieamontese (5) — Do. end month.— 67 65 Roman B4 Bank Shares. 2760 Austrian Credit Mobilier .. 675 Spanish Threes Do. Account ..... 685 Home Debt 4O 38 RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern New. ditto 7BO .. 777 50 Lyons and gediterranean 827 50 .. 830 Now ditto • Geneva Midi . Southern Western 530 .. 533 75 Eastern Grand Central Sardinian Austrian Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. Tic. ; money 25f.21c. ; three months, paper, 24f. 95c.; money, 24f. 90c. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, April 13.—1 t is not yet certain that the Congress will meet, but it will be Qntirelythe fault of the Emperor of the French if it does not. The Austrian Government no longer insists on a general disarmament before the • Congress as sembles, but it will be satisfied if the Moniteur will inform the world that the first step taken by the Congress will be to make arrangements for placing the armies of Sardinia, Austria, and France on the usual peace footing. In fact, Austria requests nothing but the abovementioned indirect proof that the real object of France in insisting on a Congress is the maintenance of the peace of Europe. PRUSSIA. A Berlin letter of the 13th says :—" The great event of the day is the arrival of the Archduke Albert of Austria, Governor General of Hungary. The visit took place so suddenly that the Minis ter of Austria, Baron de Koller, had barely time to go as far as Breslaw to meet him. H.I.H. arrived yesterday morning, and Prince Frederick William and the other Princes of the Royal family were waiting for him at the railway station, as were also the principal military authorities. The Prince Regent paid him a visit in the course of the day, and a grand dinner was given at court in his honour the same evening. It is not doubtful that he is charged with a political mission, and it is thought probable that its object is to gain over Prussia to the policy of Austria. But we may hope, from the prudence of our Government, that it will not allow itself to be turned aside from the path which it has hitherto seen to be the only true one—that of neutrality." The reigning Duke of Saxe Coburg-Gotha has arrived at Berlin, and leaves at the end of this week for London, to be present at the confirmation of the Princess Alice. The Cologne Gazette announces that M. de Neu mayer has been appointed Minister of the Interior at Munich, and General Luder Minister of War. The names of the Ministers of Justice and Finance are still unknown. SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 11th have ar rived. In the Chamber of Deputies a debate had taken place as to whether certain mea sures taken by the Constituent Cortes in 1856 were to be considered valid, though not sanc tioned by the Queen. M. Olozaga and M. Calvo Asensio maintained that under the circumstances, and from what took place in 1842, they ought to be, but the President of the Council and the Minister of the Interior insisted that no act of the Legislature was valid without the Royal sanction. No formal decision was come to on the matter. What occasioned the discussion was the presenta tion of a petition praying that a pension accorded by the Cortes in 1856 to the family of a captain shot in 1847 for political causes should be paid; and the petition was referred to the Minister of War. An official return shows that the number of letters which passed through the Spanish Post office last year was 39,928,455 ; in 1857, it was 36,163,871; and in 1855, only 28,838,032. NAVAL MEDICAL OFFICERS, Six weeks ago Sir John Pakington, in the House of Commons, pronounced a high eulogium upon the medical officers of the Royal Navy, and declared it to be his intention to concede to them, in spirit and in substance, the advantages which they claimed. At the time we readily absolved the First Lord from the imputation of hesitation and doubt in deal ing with the question of the extension of the army medical warrant to the naval service. But we took leave to warn him of the evil consequences of delay in carrying his good intentions into execution. The event proves this warning was not unnecessary. Week after week has passed without any further indication of the long-expected and much-desired " warrant" than a repetition by the First Lord of his assurance that the subject is still under consi deration. Meanwhile the prospect of recruiting the naval medical department, so as to maintain it in effici ency, becomes every day more remote. The army and the Indian service have, since the army war rant of Oetober 1, 1858, was issued, respectively admitted 100, and 39 assistant-surgeons, whose at tainments may be estimated by the high standard of examination which in each case they have passed. In the navy, during the same period, three officers only of this class have been added to the list. Nor can it be said that this scant accession to the medi cal staff of the navy is due to a less urgent demand for medical men in that service, for upon the most certain information we know the very reverse to be the fact. We find, moreover, in the Navy List, just published—what we believe to be anomalous and al , ogether wrong in principle—that in several ships of the line and frigates surgeons ha ve been appointed to do the subordinate duty of assistant-surgeons, evi dently from inability on the part of Sir John Liddell to provide the latter class of officers in sufficient num ber to meet the fair requiremen ts of the service. In the medical schools, too, there still exists a firm deter mination to keep aloof from the naval service, until the condition of its medical officers becomes assimi lated to that of the medical department of the army The medical officers of the navy have hitherto abstained from any manifestation of impatience or discontent. They have calmly waited for the fulfil ment of the promises made by the Government. But nothing could be more erroneous than to suppose that dissatisfaction and discontent do not exist among the officers of the department. To allow such a state of things to continue is obviously pre judicial to the public service, as well as unjust and cruel to the class immediately concerned. The case of the medical officers of the navy, and the questions connected with it, are said to have more or less occupied the attention of the Admiralty for upwards of six months. Sir John Pakington and those of the other Admiralty Lords who aspire to seats in Parliament may, in the ensuing election, seek the support of constituencies upon the ground of fleets equipped, of ships put upon the stocks, of ships built, and of committees appointed with a view to the improvement of the navy. Something also may be urged for the zeal manifested by the First Lord that the Board should be adequately represented in Parliament. But we should ear nestly„ advise him and his colleagues, in the event of their being called upon to vindicate their capacity for " despatch of business," carefully to avoid the most distant allusion likely to provoke inquiry into the cause of the tortoise-like progress of the " war rant" for the reconstruction of the Medical Depart ment of the Navy.—Daily News. RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—An accident of a very serious nature incurred on the Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway on Friday morning. A man named Robt. Moody was driving an engine to which were attached trucks laden with iron rails. There is a caution-board erected at place called " The Summit," 2i miles from Ponty pool-road, instructing drivers of goods trains to stop they pool-road, and apply their breaks to each truck ; but disregarding this injunction, Moody went over the Summit without stopping. The impetus gained was uncontrollable ; the train rolled OR with fearful speed, and at last the en ran off the line and tumbled over, seriously injuring its m echanism, smashing a number of rucks into small fragments, and bending up the iron rails like willow wands. The traffic was stopped for several hours, but fortunately no one was hurt. Th e loss to the company will amount to several hundred pounds. Moody, the eng,ine-driver, has absconded, but a warrant has been issued for his a pprehension. ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.—On Thurs day a man named Francis Hopwood, who was forme e rl , y an an d engine driver, was taken before the borough magistrateslf at Ludlow, c harged with attemp tin g to murder his was committed to the next Shropshire Assizes on the capital charge. It appeaYs that about eight o'clock on Sunday mormnir cries of murder were heard proceeding from a back l an e in Lower Broad-street. On a man named John Lewis proceeding to the spot he saw Hopwood stabbing his wife in the throat. On being pursued, Hopwood ran into his house and inflicted a dreadful gash on his own throat. He then ran, all bleeding as he was, to the bank of the river, into which he jumped, and from which he was with diffi culty. rescued. He still lies in a very dangerous state ; but the woman's wounds are not end, serious. It appears that the pair frequently foil out about the amount of money , on this occasion, crrelled baud brought home ou theiir o gious 2B. 2l% l ll .) t. wil-311 r b u s" The following are the principal dimensions of the Revenge, screw steamship of the line, pierced for 91 guns, ordered to be launched at Pembroke Dock yard, viz. :—Length between perpendiculars, 234 feet 3 inches ; length of keel for tonnage, 199 feet 11 inches ; extreme breadth, 55 feet 4 inches ; depth of hold, 24 feet 5 inches ; burden in tons, 3,146 1-3 d. The Revenge is a good specimen of the new class of 91's, and appears likely to prove an efficient man-of-war. On Thursday evening the French screw steam vessel of war the Lavergne, commanded by Vis count Lavaissiere, arrived at Sheerness from Dun kirk. Capt. Sir G. N. Broke has arrived at Sheerness, taken up his commission, joined the Hero, and has proceeded on Admiralty leave for 14 days. The new screw line-of-battle-ship Edgar, 91 guns, in the fitting basin at Sheerness, has completed the setting up of her engines, so as to be ready for a trial of her machinery. The Comet, paddlewieel steamer, at Portsmouth, was yesterday moved out of No. 2 Dock and placed in the fitting basin, where she will complete her repairs. The Sealark, 8 (exercising brig), Lieu tenant Commander M. Lowther; was afterwards taken into the same dock to clean her bottom, &c. The Pioneer, screw steam despatch vessel, went out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday to try her machinery, in charge of Captain Gordon, command ing Steam Reserve. Mr. Murdoch, inspector of machinery afloat, was on board. Every part worked in a satisfactory manner. The Assurance, 4, screw steam despatch vessel, Commander C. Aynsley, was yesterday warped from alongside the Sheer Jetty at Portsmouth dockyard into the fitting basin, ready to go into dock. The following is an extract of a letter from her Majesty's steamer Vixen, dated Panama, March 25 : " We have discovered now that our after-spon sonbeam is broken and otherwise defective. The hull is rotten in several place near the waterline, and our stern has fallen three inches, and, in fact, we are altogether unfit to face anything of a breeze. The Ganges arrived at Valparaiso from Vancouver in 71 days. The Tribune arrived at Vancouver from. India on the 13th of February, and the Pylades on the following day. The Calypso is at Sandwich Islands. The Amethyst is expected to arrive on the tion daily, and we expect the Alert here with 700,000 dols. on board. This will give a nice little bonus to her captain." The Vulcan, screw steam troopship was moved yesterday from the steam basin at Portsmouth into No. 8 dock. Lieut. Francis Osburn was yesterday appointed to the Arrogant. THE ARMY. The Under Secretary for War, Sir Benjamin Hawes, K.C.8., has issued the annexed circular re specting remittances from India on account of in valids, addressed to Paymasters of her Majesty's regiments and corps and officers commanding troops and companies of Royal Artillery and Royal Engi neers in India : • " With a view to establish aliniform system of remitting balances, &c., due to invalids and others returning to this country, all such sums, instead of being reported, as at pre sent, in the Quarterly Remittance Returns, or separate re turns, should in future be stated against the names of the men in the monthly casualty returns in which they may be ' reported non-effective ; or in the earliest possible succeed ing return. The names of invalids should follow, and be kept distinct from those of deceased men, and the requisite separate receipt of the treasurer for the sums should be an nexed to the return. "It is at the same time strictly enjoined that all claims of invalids quitting their corps in India should, if practica ble, be settled before they embark, to obviate the serious in convenience which frequently results from the men having quitted the service before the intimation of the sum due to them is received in this country." It is understood that an increase will shortly be made in the force of Royal Engineers now serving in the Mediterranean, the authorities at the War Department having it in contemplation to station an additional company at Corfu, and also one at Malta. The companies of Royal Engineers already stationed at Malta, Gibraltar, and Corfu having fallen considerably below their required strength by promotions to home companies and other casual ties, orders have been issued for the companies at those stations to be raised to 100 men each. The corps of Royal Engineers has now been recruited up to its establishment. Detachments from the several battalions of the Brigade of Guards will leave their different bar racks on Monday next for Aldershot, to commence ball practice for the season. The important disclosures which have recently been made public relative to the alleged defects in the Enfield rifle used by the Britishtroops in India have been the means of directing the attention of the authorities to the vast superiority, as a weapon in the hands of troops, of the Lancaster rifled car bines, with which the corps of Royal Engineers is now armed. From the reports which have recently been received by the authorities at the Horse Guards from the officers now serving with the Royal Engi neers in India, there can be no doubt that the Lan caster rifle is in every respect superior to any small arm in the service, repeated proofs of which were given during the conflicts with the mutineers in India. Four companies of the Royal Engineers have been employed in India during the rebellion, all armed with the Lancaster carbine, and the same tests which applied to the Enfield rifle, proving it to be defective, have resulted in the Lancaster rifle maintaining its efficacy. The officers report that there has not been a single complaint of fouling, difficulty of loading, or want of accuracy and power, brought against it ; but, on the contrary, it has proved in every respect superior to the Enfield riff; During the frequent conflicts with the mutineers in which the men of the Royal Engineers and the troops of the line have been engaged together, with the same amount of ammunition issued to all the troops engaged, the men of the line regiments have been compelled to cease firing for the purpose of wipinc , out the barrels of their E nfield rifles after firinF c from 10 to 20 rounds, whereas the Royal Engineers, with the Lancaster rifle, have continued their fire, loading their carbines with perfect ease. On the 21st February, in last year, the 4th com pany of Royal Engineers, consisting of about 100 non-commissioned officers and men, was stationed at Fort Sellalabad, before Lucknow. The enemy attacked the fort in great numbers, and went close to the walls. They were, however, repulsed by the Royal Engineers with great loss, no less than 90 men being left dead on the ground, the whole being killed by the Lancaster rifl es . N o id ea cou ld b e formed of the number of killed and wounded carried off, but no doubt it was considerable. The Royal Engineers sustained no loss ; not a man was even wounded. This fact is most important, not so much as showing the accuracy of the arm, but from the circumstance that during the six hours the Royal Engineers were engaged with the rebels until relieved by Sir J. Outrara's force each man fired on an average at least 60 rounds, and yet not the least difficulty was experienced during the whole of that time in loading the car bines. The only thing observable was that with some the bullet became a little tighter than usual as it approached the breech when rammed down the barrel, and with others that there was an in creased recoil. If the defects pointed out in the Enfield rifle and the difficulty with which it is loaded after several rounds have been fired from it resulted from the expa:nsive action of the barrel against the bands, or against the bayonet socket and its ring, causing an indentation of its outer surface, and consequent contraction of the bore at those places, the defect would be permanent, and nothing but a mandril or cutting tool forced into the barrel could remove it. It is, however, well known that after an Enfield rifle has been wiped out with a wet or greasy rag it loads as easily and fires as well as when first used, thus provingtphaantsitohne, defect alluded to is not a p ermanent on e pro duced in the meta l of the barrel b y expansion, but a temporary one resulting from the pecu liarity of bore retaining the maximum amount of deposit from the powder charge. On the other hand, the peculiarity of the Lancaster bore, judging from its performance under the same cir cumstances, and with the same mm ap pears to be such that it retain s on a lyth utin e ni minimum amount of deposit, while at the same time its range and accuracy are greater. In the last-mentioned qualities it has been frequently proved to excel the Enfield rifle in England as well as in India. Both rifles may now be considered to have had a fair trial in the very best school for testing their re spective merits--namely, actual warfare, and from the unanimous testimony of officers and men, both in India and elsewhere, there can be no doubt that as a weap on i n t h e hands of troops engaged in war the .Lancaster is in every respect superior to the Enfield rifle. THE CIVIL SEILVICE. — East India Department.— Mr. E. Frankland has been appointed lecturer on chemistry at the Royal Military College. The Board of Trade.—Mr. Robt. Laws has been promoted to be a senior supplementary clerk ; Mr. J. M. Reed has been appointed a junior supple mentary clerk ; Mr. Edward Roscoe has also been appointed a junior supplementary clerk. War-office.—There are several vacancies for junior clerks, commencing salary,£loo per annum. There are vacancies for eight second-class clerks to military storekeepers. Commencing salary, £BO per annum. The Dockyards.—There is a vacancy for a temporary clerk at Pembroke yard. Mr. John Fenton Taylor has been appointed to a clerkship in Sheerness yard, after a competitive examination. Custapas._—Mr. N. E. Browne, Comptroller at Bristol h a s been promoted to, be collector at Plymouth, in the rem of Mr. Robert Dim, retired on superannuaticill, after a lengthened service. The of Controller at Bristol is to be abolished,--Civil Serves aeza(r, THE REWARD OF A MILITARY INVENTOR. (From the Mechanics' Magazine.) We sit down to write this article with peculiar 'eelings, having just returned from one of those philanthropic Meetings at which the bright par ticular stars of our aristocracy are now wont to display their splendours. The voices of the Earl of Carlise, the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Earl of Albemarle, Lord Radstock, and, above all (for the moment, at least), of Lord John Russell, still linger in our ears, and with them the " clink of compliment"—compliment to the working classes, of course ! The aim of their persuasive eloquence was a very honourable one most assuredly, for it was that of establishing free drinking fountains for the masses throughout the metropolis, to the extent of 400 or more. Suc cess to so sensible and serviceable a work ! But it certainly seems a remarkable fact that while our governing classes have hearts so accessible to charit able emotions, and find so much time for " labours of love," they should be so sadly insensible to that which, in our plain way, we prefer to charity, viz., justice and right ! We say—with as much con fidence as sorrow—that there is no civilised coun try under the sun in which the public admini strators are more callous, more dead to common honour, not to say common honesty, than they are in England. Especially is this true in respect to their conduct towards that class of men to whom this country owes far more of its material greatness and security than to any other —the inventors and improvers of our mechanical arts. We verily believe it would be no exaggera tion to say that we kill more men of this stamp than we reward. This is, however, too large a subject to be treated here in any general way ; we must, therefore, con fine ourselves to the one case of improvements in military weapons, and to the one improver of them whom we had in our minds when we sat down to pen these lines, viz., the gallant and veteran Capt. Norton. In the history of this officer's career, up to the present point, we have a succession of facts which rise up into a towering monument of dishonour—dishonour not only to the successive civil and professional chiefs of the military class, but also, we fear, indirectly to the profession itself. We could substantiate this statement by abundant evidence, gathered from sources which are not to be doubted ; but in order to confine our remarks to the narrowest limits possible, let us name only it few of the more important of the gallant officer's inventions. To him we owe the so-called Mini(' bullet in its best form—the concussion fuse—the liquid-fire shell—and lead•coated projectiles—four things which have no parallels, in so far as their value to military science is concerned. We do not say we have openly received ell these from Captain Norton. On the contrail , one great ground of our complaint is, that We have obstinately rejected his offers of them, only to receive them (or most of them) later from the hands of others. A letter written by Lieut. Col. Beamish, in 1852, and published in the Unites Service Magazine for August of that year, sets forth the facts of the case, so far as they had then proceeded, in a very clear manner ; and to this We 'must refer our readers. Besides this, the 'former and present volumes of our own Magazine bear ample evidence of the magnitude and success of the, gallant officer's improvements. The Journal of the United Service Institution for November las. , likewise contains a resume and description of mall of them. Here, then, we have a man of great and admittea merit as an inventor of military weapons, and one who still, in the advanced stages of his life, . 11 ,1 affording renewed evidences of his zeal and skil l daily, as the military columns of the Times bare lately shown withmuch prominence —a man, there" fore, who is lifted out of the category of those Will by happy chances do us service, and ranks With' those who benefit us by the life-long d ev otion extraordinary faculties. And, more than this ; Captain Norton earned honours as a militia; officer in the six Peninsular campaigns, and share d the perils even of the " bloody Albuera," before he began his work as an inventor. And if even mart be needed—to satisfy the p re dil ec ti ons o f th e upper ten thousand— more may y e t b e saki' for, upon the auth or ity o f C o l one l Beamlr e we may state that Captain Norton is tP a lineal descendant of Parrice de Rynville, secon d brother of Thibault (Theobald) de Rynville, Cow_ stable of Normandy, in the time of William the, Conqueror. Parrice married the sole heiress eh the Baron of King's-Norton, in Worcestershire' and took the name of Norton, according to the cull,' torn of the time. Captain orton is, therefore, 0! representative of the Barons of King's-Norton, in the female line. (See " Burke's Heraldry.") the family records, nearly 300 years old, are IS following Latin lines, which may have had influence upon the professional choice and laboal of the gallant inventor : "Est aliquid clams magnorum splendor avorum, Illud posteritas emula calcar habet." Here the Government may surely discover allw o cient claims to recompense and distinction. 14 °. $ is it, then, that such a man as this still moves abou, neglected amid the most generous people on eart l3 .,.. How is it that of all the millions granted annu ally by this nation for military services, not a frac 1 .7 ? is spared for the reward of such services as Dw,,, f Is it because we are ruled by a class out of mos t whom all true honour has departed, and who elf t do nothing but clutch at place, and power, ag: perquisites for themselves—who have not even • N blush left in them for deeds wich Because,v° would make tmbaek eSc',cheeks of poor men flame is high time that a hearty hatred and contempt, that class were engen dered, and its place supp ou ' , iby men of nobler spirit. (e. THIS DAY'S MARKETS. COVENT GARDEN. Compared with last w ee k, very li ttle change h a s tak o f elt place in the value of any kind of produce, the supP"%de which have been s easona bl y good. On the whole t he tr has ruled steady, as follows : . a. Pine apples, per lb 0 0 d d. to 10 0 Colonial do., each 0 oto 0 0 (rapes, per 1b 25 oto3o 0 Foreign do 2 oto 4 0 Melons, each Peaches, per doz • Nectarines, per dz 0 oto 0 0 Apples, per bush. 5 oto 10 0 Pears, per don Oranges, per 100 5 oto 10 0 Lemons, per 100 3 6to 7 0 Apricots, per doz 0 oto 0 0 VEGET. Greens, dz bunch 2 0 to 2 6 Cabbages, pr do. 0 9 to 1 3 Savoy do., pr do. 1 0 to 1 3 Cauliflowers. p dz 1 0 to 3 0 Brown, per bh 8 to 1 0 Old potatoes,p tonBo 0 to 100 0 New ditto, per punl 0 to 1 3 Peas, per A sieve 0 0 to 0 0 Turnips, az bunch 3 6 to 4 6 Carrots, pr do 4 6 to 5 6 Cucturtbers Garlic, per 313 Sorrel, per s'eve 0 0 to 0 0 Spinach, hf.-sv 0 6 to 1 0 Brut). sprouts, h.s. 1 3 to 1 6 Old onions, dz bun 1 0 to 1 6 New do., doz bun 0 9 to 1 6 French beans, h.s. 0 0 to 0 0 Leeks, per bunch 0 2 to 0 3 /3 s 0 . d. ' 0 Cherries, per lb.. oto 0 g Filberts, per lb .. 0 6to 0 0 Cobnuts, per lb 010 to 1 o Almonds, per bus 0 oto 0 A Walnuts, per 100 0 oto 0 Figs, per d0z.... . 0 oto , 0 Strawberries proz 0 oto 1 0 Gooseberries, sv. 0 oto 0 0 Currants, per do. 0 oto 0 • Plums, per do. .. 0 oto , 4) , 0 Greengages, pr do. 0 o to 0 Raspberiies, pr 0 oto " IBLES. 8 Shallots, per lb 0 6to 0 0 Horseradish, pbn 1 oto 2 Parsley, per ditto 0 2to Celery, per ditto 0 Bt o 0 Beet, per doz. 1 6to 2 0 Parsnips, per do. 0 oto 0 s Small salad, p. pn, 0 2to 0 s 1 Mushrooms,p pot! 0 9t° A 0 Artichokes, pr dz 3 oto n " 0 Cabbage letis,p sc 0 oto ," 6 Endive, per score 1 oto 0' 6 Radishes, dz hnds 0 4to „ 0 Tomatoes, pr 11 sv 0 oto n " 0 Walnuts, per 100 0 to v 0 Chillies, per ditto 0 oto 0 0 Capsicums, per do 0 oto 0 • Rhubarb, per bun 0 2 to 0 0 Asparagus, pr do. 3 6to 7 s Sea kail, per pun. 0 9 to 1 NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. Turkeys, 6s Od to 8s Od • poults, Os Od to Os Od each; geese, 48 Od to 6s Od ; goslings Os Od to 8s Od ; duckling B l 3s Od to 4s Od; rabbits, is Oeto 2s Od each; wild do., , to is 2d ; pigeons, 8d to Os 10d each • large Surrey fear o7 6s Od to 108 Od ; chickens, 5s Od to 8s Od ; barn-door fowl s ; 4s Od to 6s Od ; capons, 4s 6d; hares, 2s Od to 2s 6 ". grouse, Os Od to Os Od each t • p h e asants, Os Od to Os Ptarmigan, 2s 6d to 3s6d •, woodcocks, 3s to4s 6d ; snipes, Od to is 3d teal, is Od to is 3 d; wild ducks, 2s 6d to 3s 0 widgeons, is Od to is 6d ; plovers, Os 10d to Os is 3d cacl,li guinea fowls, 4s Od to 6 s Od ; roastin g p i gs , 4 s Od to 78 ,1 each; Ostend fresh butter, lid to is 2 d; English, is to is 5d per lb ; English eggs, 6s Od to 68 6d ; French do' , 69 9d to Os Od per 120 ; leverets, 2s Od to 2s 6cl each. BILLINGSGATE. Salmon, is Gd to 2s Gd; trout, Os oa to 08 • ee ls, Sd _,to 19 p rawn s, 3sod to 4 s; pike , skate, sturgeon, andhalibut, Oa, Od lb. Turbots , 2s 6d to Ns ; cod, 2s Od t o 5 s Od ; brills, 19 a ; to 7s Od ; dorey s, Is Od to lOs Od ; mullets, 6d to 29 won t lobsters, Gd to 3s Od ; crabs, 6d t o 2 s 6d ; pl a i ce and guril -4d to is Od each; soles, 4d •to 2s 6d per pair; conoo o ysters, 16s to 20s ; natives, 42s to —s per bushel ;whi till 6 g d s ; ' 3s Od to . lOs Od ; haddocks, 4s to 20s Od ; smelts, 2 1 0. flounders, is Od to is 6d per dozen; mackerel, 45s ; fi tte ' herrings, 6s; bloate rs , 8 s t o O s p er 100; carp and te is to 3s per brace. NEWPORT. Beef, from 3s Od to 4s 4d ; mutton, 3s 2d to 4% saj lamb, 4s 8d to 5s 6d; veal, 38 10d to 4s Od ; an d pork, 35 o to 4s Od per 81bs WHITECHAPEL. sa Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 4d; mutton, 3s 2d to 4.0 34 lamb, 4s 8d to 5s 6d ; veal, 3 s 10 d to 5 s 0 d ; and pork' Od to 4s Od per 81b., by the carcase. , BEAD. ,_ The prices of wheaten bead tu fr in tho metropolis . 0 6d to 7d ; of household do., 4.id to 6d per 41b loaf. HIDES AND SKINS. 4cl Market hides, 561 b to 641 b, Zlid to 4d ; 641 b to 7 21 b, ; 721 b to 801 b, 4 id to 5d ; 801 b to 2 81 b, od too'e° Btllb to 961 b, 51d to 6d; 961 b to 1041 b, 6d to 61d. hides, Bsod to lOs Od ; calf skins, light, 2s 6d to 4 s 6s 6d to 75 Od ; polled sheep, 88 6d to 10 8 6 d ; half -I L to 8s Od to lOs Od; Downs, 6s Od to 8s Od; lambs , 26 3s 10d; shearlings, is 4d to Os Od. ;t' briar HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £2 lOs to £4 108 ; dolol dl: do., £4 Os to £5 ss; and straw, £ 1 4 s to £ 1 8s p er Both hay and straw moved of steadily at late rates. : v y c CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay , £ 3 Os to £ 4 108; l°o4 • • 10., £4 Os to £5 5s ; and straw, £ 1 4 s to £ 1 lOs per i A. fair demand. Tavel' WHITEclurEn.,-.—Meadow hay, £2 108 to £4 Vs ; c - ,,d. do., £ 4 Os: to £F 6s ; and straw, £ 1 3 s to aB O per Av NV* nteclepte and trade steady, . FRUIT.