The Sun. — London, England, 1862-04-21 00:00:00

THEATRE-R 0 Y Ai., HAYMARKET. Leese Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, JOHN JONES. Alter which, at half-past 7, will be performed (102 d time) OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck stone ; Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern. Followed by the Spanish Ballet entitled THE STAR OF ANDALUSIA. Senora Peres Nena, Senor Ricardo, and the Corps de Ballet. To conclude with hIY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Commence a 7 ()YAL LYCEUM THE A Titil lA , Sole Lessee and Manager—Mr. Edmund Falconer. 135th Night of the continuous run of "Peep o'Day." THIS EVENING, the performances will commence with THE BLUE DEVILS. Messrs, Walter Lacy, Chas. Selby, Warlow, and Miss L. Laidlaw. To be followed byPEEP O'DAY ; or, Savourneen Deelish. Messrs. Waiter Lacy, Addison, Charles Selby, Geo. Melville, and Edmund Falconer Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara Weston, and Miss M. Hudson. After which, a new musical, pictorial, poetical, and ballet interlude, entitled KILLARNEY. Miss Anna Whitty and Miss Lydia Thomson. To conclude with the new farce entitled I COULDN'T HELP IT. Characters by Mr. Addison, Mr. Warlow, and Miss Lydia Thompson. Acting Manager—Mr. F. B. Chatterton. Prices as usual. DoorB open at half-past 6, to commence at Box-office open daily from 11 11115. • 110YAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Lessee, Mr A. Harris. TILTS EVENING, CASH V. CUPID. To be followed by, at a quarter to Eight o'clock, a new and original drama, in five acts, entitled THE GOLDEN DAGGERS. Principal characters by Mr. Fechtcr (his first appearance since his severe indisposition), Mr. H. Widdi comb, Mr. G. Jordan, Mr. Potter, Mr. J. G. Shore, ).r. Cath cart, Mr. Moreland; Mesdames Elsworthy and Carlotta Le clercq. Mr. A. Harris is happy to state that he has succeeded in Indu^ing that eminent artist, Mr. W. Telbin, to give the aid of his unrivalled talent in the concluding tableau of the drama. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHL— soIe Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, A PRIVATE ENQUIRY. Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Billington, Mr. Sefton, Miss Kate Kelly, and Miss K. Bland After which (let time), THE PHANTOM. Ruthven, Mr. Dion Boucicault. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Emery, Billington, Paul Bedford, Stephenson, Sefton Misses H. Simms, K. Kelly, K. Bland, Laidlaw, and Mrs. Billington. To conclude with a new domestic drama, entitled DOT : Messrs. J. L. Toole, Emery, Billinzton, Stephenson; Miss Woolgar, Miss Louise Keeley, Miss H. Simms, &c. Commence at 7. AS TLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. Wonderful Performance of Mr. Be ll's trained Elephants. THIS EVENING, the Grand Eastern Spectacle of THE RAJAH OF NAGPORE, introducing two colossal Asiatic Elephants, pronounced by all to be the cleverest animals ever exhibited. To be followed by brilliant and daring feats by the un rivalled Troupe of Equestrians. Concluding with a laughable Farce. Stage Manager, Mr. W. Searle. CANTERBURY HALL AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. The miraculous STECKEL, from the Cirque Napoleon, Paris, EVERY EVENING, at a quarter to ten. Grand Selections from "La Traviata," by Miss Russell, With Band and full Chorus, conducted by Mr. Jonghmans. The Comic by Mr. Randall, Mr. J. G. Forde, Mr. Hollings worth, Messrs. Hildebrandt and Ormond, and Miss Caroline Parkes, the accomplished danseuse. Admission—Hall, 6d. ; Stalls and Balcony, is. THE OXFORD, 6, OXFORD-STREET.- Extra and Important Attractions for the Easter Holidays, RUMSEY and NEWCOMB'S MINSTRELS (IS in number), In their original burlesque, serio-comic, instrumental, and .Terpsichorean Entertainment, THE OLIO OF ETHIOPIAN ODDITIES. Burns' celebrated "Jolly Beggars," with characteristic Music by George Linley. Operatic Selections by Miss Russell and the entire Com pany. Full Band and Chorus.—Conductor, Mr. F. Jongh mans. A host of comic talent, including W. Randall and Harvey and French (the Nerves). Ballads, Duets, Azc., Sze. ; and, at 11 o'clock, HENRI and PFAU appear in New and Extraordinary Double Feats on the Flying Trapeze. Notice.— Commence at Six o'clock on Easter Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, in consequence of the length of the programme. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 6h. 52m.—Afternoon, 7h. 23m. To -MORROW. -Morning, Bh. Om.—Afternoon, Bh. 40m. NOTICE. Ail remittances are, henceforth, to be made to Mr. JOHN CHAPLIN, at The Sun office, 112, Strand, who has been appointed, by the Lord Chancellor, Receiver and Manager of The Sun newspaper, and the outstanding debts due in respect thereof. 'r te a , 4 1 1,P Ty , ~T.:.vi.,:4 . ; _ ......,; __,, ,„ f 1 ,...,.7 4 . , :v i t,,: . y . ;• 4 4 . , i ,„,..---e,,..,:•-i - {_::;;-II . ..:-,:::--;:,,,, :::V;r l "\ _„) vi.:-.7 ri. - '-• T , „:4: , - - --,: \ t, , ,,,, , r-_,.-t• .- •(` - '."-.4,t ", - cs' - ----, ---,.:::: a, , , ~, , ,-11- - ..,_;,*,, ~..t., •-,, ..., ;: - '7..t , ;-):;, -- ,t - ,t', *l-, ) .7 ? ~',..-:,..:, ~..-11:.:L2=4;;"0 /4 ,,NIZ: - . ) , \ •,, _e . :•, - -.......4...kty...-20, -- ',,, 1 .../.___.• 3 , ` ~_......../1, " ' ' , fib' "......._-,-„,;,- -7. THE SUN. LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1862. In a recent number of the lndependanee Beige, under the vague and generalised heading of "News from the East," there appeared an argument so curi ous in its way, as throwing at least some small pro portion of light upon the influence beginning to be exercised by modern civilisation upon the Govern ment of Tunis—that we are tempted here, very briefly, to refer to it. The argument in question, it may be briefly stated, at once originated in the manner following. A correspondence had be en published in the columns of the Independance about a month previously—a correspondence from Tunis illustrative in some measure of the results flowing from the original publication and vigorous inaugu ration of the Tunisian Constitution. Apropos to to the purport of those month-old communications, the Belgian organ to which we are now referring has received very recently, also from Tunis, a cor respondence (if we may strictly call it so) of a very different character. Certain European resi dents at Tunis, manifestly, from their names, Frenchmen and Italians for the most part, 'with a sprinkling of Germans and Dutchmen, have, in point of fact, transmitted to the Independ ance a round robin, setting forth their own peculiar notions as to the probabilities of justice being awarded to European litigants in the regular tri bunals of the country, on the one hand, or through the exceptional and irregular jurisdiction of the respective Consuls of those said Europeans ! Differ ing altogether from the conclusions arrived at by their correspondents—all of whom are as a matter of course more or less engaged in mercantile avoca tions—the Belgian newspaper frankly gives the benefit of its circulation, nevertheless, to the opinions expressed in the document; publishing the latter in its entirety verbatim et literatim. Yet, even before g ivin g the argumentative Protest of its correspon dents, the j ndependance warns its readers generally that it iik lnlY to be regarded as a new and signal evidence, of how time and habit, in the eyes of the greater ember, readily enough give a varnish of legitimacy a- uses which in themselves are directly counter to the most simple and the most universall.ly admitted P r inciples of Public Right. In effect, argues the " dire et „ r „ or " redacteur" of the Inderendanee, in the cou rse of his prefatory observations, the perso ns who have subscribed this protest reduce us absolutely to th e necessity of • remarking in their regard, that if the capitulations to which they bind themselves down to day with such a very singular determination could Emu be 1 in any way advantageous—indisp ensable ev en though they undoubtedly may hove been at another epoch—they cannot possibly be regarded as such any longer, pa r ti cu l a rly nowadays, 'ore especially in a country endowed, like the Kingdom of Tunis, with institutions Nvhich might be envied by' more than one Euro pean State ! Nay, further than this, the lnde nendance goes on to remark (certainly with some truth) that those guarantees, that it was formerly conceived to be necessary to find in solemn conven tions, i mposed upon the powers of the Levant, as it were, by ma i n force, and in violation of their indisputable rights of sovereignty, can now be more effectually secured--through the simple influence THE 8 ErN, 'LONDON, MONDAY EVE NI ISTG, 'APRIL 21, 1.862. exercised by the spread of civilisation in the East as well as in the West, through the greater facility and the increasing promptitude of communi cations generally, through the good under standing (les bons rapports) established between the Oriental Governments and the Powers of the West, in fine, through the incontes tible influence often, even, it must be admitted, the excessive influence exercised by this one upon that! Further even, our Belgian contemporary asks very pointedly in reference to the complaints that are sometimes made in regard to the disorder and anarchy occasionallyaffording still such afflicting spectacles in certain parts of the East, if they ought not perhaps to be attributed in a very great measure at least to the incessant and, always at these times, imperious intervention of certain great Powers of Europe in the affairs and in the internal administra tion of the countries of the Levant? An intervention— continues this outspoken journalist—which, accord ing to our notion, in a manner the most unjustifiable and lamentable, finds its formula as it were pre cisely in these Capitulations, confiscating (without any other right or reason than such as is derived from ancient usage) a part of the sovereignty of the Oriental Governments, and doing this all the more effectually by partially despoiling them of the right of administering justice! The Independance might here even have said—despoil ing them partially of what we Europeans one and all regard as the inalienable right of administering justice! Having spoken out thus thoroughly and man fully upon the opposite side, in vindication, that is to certain of the new institutions secured to foreigners and natives alike at Tunis by the re cently inaugurated Tunisian Constitution—the In dependance, therefore, quite as manfully publishes, without garbling it in the least, publishes at full length, names and all, the counter-protest already referred to as having been transmitted lately from Tunis in the shape of what we have called a round-robin on the part of certain European mer chants resident in that city. We are certainly not going to transcribe long passages from the argu ment put forward in this rather elaborate document. We are not going even to annoy our readers with a minute analysis of its contents. The reasoning throughout it—from what has already been here remarked—may be easily enough imagined. From the cameo—the intaglio can be at once conjectured. Every line, and turn, and twist in the convexity is suggestive of the counterpart traced out in the convexity from which it is taken from the opposite side—as a seal is taken from a die, as a cast from a matrix. There is one sentence, however, inciden tally occurring in the course of this argument, on the part of the European residents at Turin, which, as it happens to be not only a very brief but a very brilliant and epigrammatic sentence, we are irre sistibly tempted to particularise. It occurs where the protesting correspondents are insisting upon what they manifestly regard as the rasiness (to say the very least of it!) of counting upon the Tunisian Constitution as already complete, full-grown, so to speak, and perfectly reli able both in itself and in its working. " Civilisa tion," they observe as tersely as wittily, " does not improvise itself by decree : it is necessary that it should penetrate little by little into the character of the masses"—La civilisation ne s'improvise pas par decret, it faut qu'elle penetre peu a peu dans le caractere des masses. It is in words equally epigra matic that the subscribers of this Document remark sarcastically towards the close of it—and as the significant pendant to the whole argument preceding it—" We will leave, then, to our happier successors the responsibility of applauding Tunisian equity and of submitting themselves without risk to the jurisdiction of the Tribunals instituted by the Constitution." Nous laisserons alors I. nos suc cesseurs plus heureux le soin d'acclamer l'equite tunisienne, et de se soumettre sans peril a la juri diction des tribunaux institues par la Constitution." In effect, the Independance Belge is for the com plete and implicit reliance of all parties alike, na tives and foreigners without distinction, upon the well-working of the regular courts of justice estab lished in Tunis by the new Constitution. Whereas the European residents who have thus formally protested against the notion of their doing any thing of the kind—are as decidedly in favour of maintaining still in force at Tunis the ex ceptional and irregular jurisdiction hitherto exercised in regard to their respective fellow-coun trymen, there, by the different European Consuls. As elsewhere—here again we cannot but think that the right path to be chosen lies as nearly as possible midway between the two extremes. The trail of common sense_ guides us here once more, we cannot but think, in a very straightforward direction— right onward, to the juste milieu ! Let the new courts, if you will, be resorted to frankly even by foreigners—but, remembering that they are new, let the consuls keep them always within the range of their vigilant supervision. I Whea Parliament reassembles the recent expe riments at Shoeburyness must engross almost, if not quite as much attention, as the experiment made for us by the Monitor and the Merrimac in American waters. Those experiments have pro bably been carried to the farthest which the new I gun and the present quality of powder admit of. We have seen no statement by Sir WILLIAM ARM STRONG as to the explosive foree which his new and immense gun will bear. It is supposed that the fifty pounds of powder now used may not all be burnt in the gun, and that though it produces conspicuously greater effects than forty pounds, yet it might produce greater still if all the powder ignited. Perhaps powder may be rendered by me chanical arrangements for its ignition, or by more careful chemical preparation more rapidly and com pletely combustible than it now is, and the charge which has been tried may produce yet more de structive results. The last experiments, however, only confirm the importance of the suggestion we made a few days ago. It shows even more strongly than the smash ing of the Warrior target did, that we ought not to spend a million more than is absolutely necessary on the faith of each last experiment being the last. We have had three now in quick succession, all antiquating what we might hav3 done on the faith of those which preceded. 'lndeed, we might go farther back—Sir SOHN PAKINOTON —the Tories being in want of a card—began recon structing our navy of wood, and praising himself most abundantly, and being praised abundantly by the other Tories for it. But even he had hardly completed his short course ere he found himself compelled to commence with iron-plated ships, and Practically to c o nf ess th a t hi s va s t outlay of the nation's money h a d b een t o littl e p ur p ose . I r on plating then went on at an easy pace, and cupola ships 'wer e neglected. Meanwhile the Merrimac and the . :Monitor experiment occurred—immediately iron-plating of was everything for def ence , an d the ua h p a t v a e m set CoLE s earnestly for in the and p work we A second exPerirn to e. ne w line. ent is, however, no w performed at horne-- the Warrior's side, ainnaewtagrguent;foarnmd what then is to become , is fairly pi erced and smashed by f our War riors ? One such gun working in a cup o l a would sink them. Forts are therefore at a premium again, though with no small misgivings about securing one or more effective shots at the passing vessel. But hardly had we made this last change when another experiment confounds everything. Not five inches only, but fifteen inches of iron plating securely plated together, give way before the monster smooth bored gun, and a whisper comes from Paris that a new rifled gun there has pierced more than twelve inehes of iron ! Now, where is all this to end P We believe no mortal can yet conjecture. Two things are indu bitably plain. One that no ship can swim with the weight of iron plating which would resist the new artillery—the other, that the idea of plating stone forts with iron thick enough to resist such guns, must be abandoned. The expense, and all incurred for the chance of getting a single shot at a passing ship, would be beyond what even a PALMERSTON would advise. There is one further consideration ; all the probability is that a shell will be perfected which will explode under water, and destroy the wooden bottoms of our iron-plated ships. In such a state of things it is prudence, not i indolence, for the naval department not to be too hasty. It must keep our naval power, according to the testimony of the last experiment, ahead of other powers, but to go beyond the minimum of what safety requires, may be only to throw millions more away after those luckless millions, for which we have already paid a crushing income tax, to the glory of Sir JOHN PARINGTON—and to find our selves with a vast fleet which could not face the Merrimac and the Monitor, while those ships which could face them would go to the bottom, before a gunboat carrying the gun which has just been tried at Shoeburyness. Our attention has been called to a precious speci men of ecclesiastical Toryism, which it seems has been forwarded to " all the clergy of England and Wales, and the churchwardens of all large towns." It is termed an " Easter Address to Churchmen," and professes to be issued by the " Council of the Church Institution." The Council boasts of the names so honoured in the annals of Religious Tory ism—of Lord INGESTRE, M.P., Lord ROBERT MON TAGU, M.P., the Earl of VERULAM, Earl NELSON, Mr. PACKE, M.P., Mr. C. J. SELWYN, M.P., Mr. BERESFORD HOPE (not now M.P.), and others less known, but doubtless of similar quality. This distinguished body has issued a circular ad dressed as above, of which the following are the principal points : 1. Congratulation on the "improved feeling of the country in regard to Church questions. 2. Exultation in beating the Church Rate Aboli tion Party last year by the Speaker's casting vote. 3. Laudation of Church-rates, and the parochial system. 4. Thanks to GOD for having been able to resist successfully every measure for conferring equal re ligious liberty on all worshippers of GOD. 5. As the practical result of the whole, an exhor tation to do battle for Church-rates at the coming Easter vestries. Such the authors, noble or not noble, of the circular will not deny is a fair sum mary of their circular. Now let us compare with this circular, which English Tories are not ashamed to issue, with another—if so we may call it—we mean the proposals placed by the Austrian Government before its Reichsrath or council of the empire, in regard to Religious Liberty—they are briefly as follows : " I.—To all churches and religious societies is granted an equal position before the law. The State does not con fer special privileges upon any religion. "2.—The special protection hitherto afforded to one par ticular religion by the law shall cease. " 3.—Legislation respecting marriage belongs exclusively to the State, so far as the validity and civil effects of those contracts are concerned. The matrimonial jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical tribunals will be transferred to the secular courts. " 4.—ln no case can the members of one church or reli• gious society contribute to the expenses of the worship of another. " Lastly.—Tithes and other payments to which the mi nisters of a particular church now have a legal right, and which form a charge on landed property, shall be abo lished, an indemnity being provided." We do not think it unlikely that, taught by ad versity, the Government which, not many years ago, consented to a very servile concordat with the POPE, really makes these proposals in perfect good faith. It sees that the hearty support of all sects and creeds can be purchased only by the Government becomsng the hearty and equal patron or protector of all. But even were these terms not offered as sincerely as, from political motives, we believe they are, they yet show to what a perception of right, in regard to religious liberty, even Austrian statesmen have arrived. We put it to the clique of Lords and M.P.'s, who appear as the aristocratical stars of the English Council, whether they can read this Aus trian Religious Liberty programme, and compare it with their own, without a blush. We, at least, should blush for them at Vienna if we saw the Viennese reading a translation of their document. We should expect that Baron SCBMERLINO himself would hold up his hands in utter astonishment, and ask our Ambassador whether English Lords did not need to come to school to Austrian Ministers. The whole of the English circular is intended to arouse those who belong to the Parliamentary Church of the TUDORS, as last burnished up by CHAS. 11. and the Cavaliers, to fight tooth and nail for every vestige of their present supremacy and privilege, as compared with the larger half of the the nation which uses modes of public worship not prescribed by Act of Parliament. It is a circular to stimulate the love of Ecclesiastical domination and special privilege. The Austrian document starts with denying " special privileges to any reli gion." The English Lords lay special stress on preserving intact the power of the Church of Eng land to tax all other communities of Christians, by levying church rates. The Austrian Ministers say emphatically that " in no case can the members of one church or religious society contribute to the expenses of the worship of another." The English legislators make it a charge against Dissenters, that they will not rest till, as it is acknowledged, " after an equitable satisfaction of existing inte rests," they see tithe property applied as national property to secular purposes. The Austrian legisla tors declare that tithes now given to a " particular church" shall be abolished, after an equitable ar rangement with existing interests bas been made. The English Lords condescend to what we must term ignorant or superstitious cant about the antiquity of the unequal, and therefore unjust, pe cuniary advantages conferred on their own sect, as if injustice grew into justice by years; the Aus trian Ministers pay no attention to the hoary headedness of the injustice which conflicts with the fundamental principle they start from, that to " all churches and religious societies is granted an equal position before the law." Probably Austrian statesmen will little compre hend the nature of the measures specified in this circular,eatieg, which Eccl es i ast i ca l T ory i sm g l or i e d i n defeating, on Parliame n t ary W e d nes d a y s la s t year. fe They would be astonished to find that the first was to provide what the fourth article in the above tio v e idefor, that no sect should be forced era to pay expenses of an o th er 's worship. enumeration pe th° That a second bill was to provide that in the parish burying ground, maintained at the cost of the pa rish, the relatives of a deceased person might inter him with the funeral rites most consolatory to themselves, because most in accordance with their own views and those of the deceased. That a third Bill was to do away with the bigoted interpreta tion of the word " religion" in trust deeds, by which the courts of law held that religion, in a deed, can only mean that of the Prayer book and the Thirty-nine Articles, and that all other worships and creeds are not to be known as religion at all—an interpretation by which all who do not accept the Parliamentary Liturgy and Creeds are excluded from all school and charity trusts, however respectable persons they may be. Such is the class of bills which men brought up in a country which boasts of its true religious liberty plume themselves on defeating ! The best that can be said for them is, that party politics have blinded their eyes. We cannot conceive a more ignominious position than the one into which that arch political sharper, Mr. DISRAELI, has led his party. Even Austria will laugh at thm, and history will consign them to contempt. It will record this public fact, that a clever Hebrew, a "Bedoueen Arab,"we should remem ber he calls himself, became in his way a Church man—that having been driven into a most ignomi nious minority on commercial protection, he re solved to beat up on behalf of religious protection. That he went down into HAMPDEN'S county, and there in a notable manifesto told the clergy " If you get us Tory votes, we'll keep church rates and all the good things of the State for you." And his tory will record that the poor elergy took the bait of the bankrupt politician, and crowded to his sup port. At present all looks like a great success— but in truth it is one like that which elected a Par liament to maintain the Corn Laws, though it ended in abolishing them ; or like that which placed Lord DERBY in power in 1852 to make .the last fight for protection, but which ended in his first burying protection under the resolution of the Opposition, and then interring Toryism itself on the left hand of the Speaker. With regard to the special object of the circular —to arouse our clergy and churchwardens to an Easter strife with Dissenters on the subject of church rates—we only hope that these provokers of ecclessiastical war will have their fill of it. We doubt not it appears to them as worthy a commemo ration of Easter as religious processions and jubila tions did to the Archishop of TOULOUSE, in comme moration of the great massacre of the Protestants in his episcopal city. The spirit is the same—softened in action it is true, by the secular spirit of an age whose social sentiments are more benevolent than hereditary and selfish ecclesiastical zeal. Eccle siastical bigotry and assumption are as bitter and proud as ever, but they are cowed by the better sentiments of the great majority of the laity. They would like the Star Chamber, but are com pelled to be satisfied with seizing, ex-officio, the chairmanship of parish meetings, and using it as best they can to defeat rates by unjust management of a vestry meeting. Let the friends of liberty and the haters of ecclesiastical sectarian domination, how ever, but do their part ; let them fight locally, suc cessful or unsuccessful, and they will all be con tributing to the grand result. The time must be approaching when England will come up to Austria and will actually proclaim that " The State does not confer special privileges upon any religion." IR_RIGA2ION WORKS IN ITALY. (From the Money .Market Review.) Not the least interesting of the projects which have lately been introduced upon the market is one for establishing a system of irrigation, by means of canals, in a certain rich district of Northern Italy. Irrigation works constitute a form of enterprise of the highest value and interest, and have as yet attracted not a tithe of the attention which their importance demands, either in India or elsewhere. Yet in in all those instances where well planned irrigation works, whether on a small or large scale, have been constructed in India, the profits and advantages have been extremely large. The notice of the Indian Government will be more earnestly directed to these works as soon as the great task of railway , making shall have been carried nearer to com pletion. It would, of course, be beginning at the wrong end to stimulate the production of the soil until means shall have been provided for bringing the produce to a market, or shipping port. It can afford neither satisfaction nor profit to grow wheat in order to let it rot on the ground, as is the case now in parts of the province of Scinde and else where. But in Italy the drawback involved in deficient communication is not presented in anything like the same degree, and such deficiency as exists is being rapidly re medied by the energetic and enlightened action of the Go vernment. Italy is ripe for works of irrigation, and atten- tion is naturally directed to those districts in which there is a lack of these facilities. Northern Italy has long been known as one of the gardens of Europe. With a soil of wonderful fertility, and a climate unsurpassed by any in the world, the richness and variety of its productions have been celebrated from the most ancient times. Many parts are as well watered as any in our own island, but in many others there is a great want of the means of irrigation, and it is in one of the most important of these that operations are to be commenced by the company lately formed. The serious light in which the Government regards the under taking is shown by the fact that it has given a six per cent. guarantee, besides providing for a sinking fund. It is true that Italian Government guarantees have latterly become somewhat plentiful in the mar • ket, as is natural when we consider the magni tude of the work of re-organisation just cast upon the Turin Cabinet, bearing in mind, too, that re-organisation means expense. But the new kingdom of Italy is playing its part bravely, and, if Government is compelled for the time to make new securities faster than a strict attention to the Position of its credit in the market would suggest, it will have its compensation hereafter, when the vast resources of that fertile region will have fair play, and when the public expenditure will be found susceptible of a very important reduction. The guarantee on the capital of the irrigation works forms, at least, something substantial to go upon ; and, besides being an earnest of the hearty support of the authorities, ensures a very acceptable minimum return to the shareholders. But there seems to be every ground for reliance that the profits of the undertaking will be of a much more important kind than any indicated in the rate of the guarantee. According to the custom of the country, the company will have the right to take payment in kind out of the increased revenue obtained through the irriga tion. The payment in this form varies from 25 to 30 per cent. of the produce, and estimates prepared with great care, and verified by the local authorities, show a profit on the share capital of no less than 18 per cent. in addition to the guaranteed interest of 6 per cent. It appears, more over, that substantial parties are always ready to farm these payments in kind. • By operations of this nature, the Irrigation Company completely links itself with the agricultural progress of the coun ry, and establishes an identity of interest which affords the best security for success and for a permanent entension of Government support. It is another satisfactory feature, in the present instance, that the English market is not ex. elusively resorted to for the capital required. Native capi tal is likewise , being largely embarked in the project. We h ave a l wa ys thought that this point has not been adequately attended to in the foreign undertakings which are brought forward here. If a French or Italian concern be intro duced on our market, and it be found that the French or Italians do not take part in it, there is, prima facie, ground foi distrusting the representations made. But of the share capital of the present scheme nearly one-half was reserved for subset iption in Turin, where the amount was fully taken in less than three days. It would seem that our capitalists may safely embark in it in company with the Italians, who have the advantage of complete acquaintance with the pro posed scene of operations. A special meeting of the Brighton Railway Com pany is called for the 29th inst. for a similar purpose, and a special meeting of the Great Northern for the 6th May. Everything will be in readiness for the Queen's arrival at Windsor Castle on the 26th inst., though it is not positively fixed that her Majesty will leave Osborne on that day. At present the departure of the Court from the Isle of Wight stands for the 28th. Her Majesty will re main at Windsor Castle until the 30th, and perhaps not leave for Balmoral until the let of May. Her Majesty will travel to the Highlands by an entirely different route from that which she has been accustomed to take, The route will be by the Lancaster and Carlisle and Caledonian Rail ways, and if it is possible to do so conveniently, the Queen will make the journey without stopping. It is expected that her Majesty will remain at Balmoral for about a month —certainly till after her birthday (the 24th of May) has passed.—Court Circular. The Cabinet of the Hague has proposed to that of Brussels to postpone, until the first of August next, the period fixed for the exchange of the ratification of the treaty on the navigation of the Meuse. Mr. Maltby, the English Vice-Consul at Brussels, has published a notice that 1,500 forged one-pound notes of the National Bank of Scotland are now in circulation on the continent. A special meeting of the Midland Railway Com pany is called for the 6th of May, at Derby, to approve of several bills now before Parliament. A special meeting of the London and North Western Railway Company is called for the 2d of May, to approve of various bills affecting the company, and now pending in Parliament. Only two of these are promoted directly by the London and North Western ; six are pro moted by it jointly with other companies ; and eight are bills of other companies requiring the approval of the London and North Western. The Duke of Cambridge has given orders for the redecoration of Gloucester House in anticipation of the hos pitalities which will be consequent on the influx of distin guished visitors during the International Exhibition. Though the royal duke came to town on Saturday, he leaves London to-day.—Court Circular. DEATH OF LADY ELIZABETH REPTON.—The Lady Elizabeth Repton, eldest daughter of the distin guished statesman ,and lawyer, the Earl of Eldon, died on Wednesday last, after a long illness. Her ladyship was born November 1, 1783, and married, November 27, 1817, Mr. Geo. Stanley Repton. THE BISHOP OF LONDON.—We regret to an nounce the continued illness of the Bishop of London. His lordship was to have preached at the special service at Westminster Abbey last night, but was prevented by his serious indisposition. His place was supplied by the Rev. Daniel Moore, ➢I.A., incumbent of Cambden Church, Cam berwell. A good illustration of Mr. Smiles's popularity is afforded in the fact that Messrs. Tinsley Brothers had an order the other day for 200 copies of Self Belp for the work men of Mr. John Hick, of the Iron Works, Bolton. LIVERPOOL, MONDAY MORNING.—The Emily St. Pierre, which was captured off Charleston by a Federal cruiser, has arrived here, having been recaptured by her crew. Two days ago the Moldo-Wallachian Govern ment granted a concession to an Austro-English com pany for a railroad from Czernowitz, in the Bukovina, to Galatz and Jassy. A few Ways since Captain Blakely, of the Royal Artillery, passed through Vienna on his way to Constantinople, where he is likely to get a large order for rifled guns. Mr. Orell Lever is again at Vienna, but I have not yet heard what is his business there. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE.—We understand that the corporation of the City of London have granted the use of Guildhall, with the courts and offices adjoining, for the purposes of the sixth annual meeting of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, to be held in London from the sth to the 14th of June next. A strong feeling is exhibited in the City in support of the meeting, and the Fishmongers' Company, with their accustomed liberality, have given 50 guineas to the fund that is being raised to defray the local expenses. GREENWICH HOSPITAL.—We understand that Rear-Admiral Horatio T. Austin, C. 8., has been nominated to fill the vacant post of lieutenant• governor of Greenwich Hospital, vice Sir William Carroll, K.C.8., deceased. It is not known whether there will be any re-arrangement of the duties consequent upon the recommendation of the royal commission; but it is rumoured that Rear-Admiral Austin will be appointed rear-admiral superintendent for a term of five years.— United Service Gazette. CHELSEA SAVINGS-BANK.—The trustees of this institution have issued their 42d annual report, from which it appears that during the last year there were 10,166 con tributors to the bank, including 62 charitable institutions and 29 friendly societies. The total balance due at the time the accounts were made up was £171,234 3s. Bd. against £170,786 6s. 10d. due, including interest, for the correspond ing period of the previous year. The sums received from depositors within the year amounted to £50,101 ss, 10d., and the amount repaid during tne same time, including in terest, was £53,251 Os. 2d. The total cost of management amounted to £7BO 6s. 4d., and, after providing for the pay ment of every depositor in full, there remained a surplus of £787 16s. Bd., which was carried forward to meet the cur rent expenses of the present year. The directors have made arrangements to pay in future all small sums without the usual week's notice. HOLYHEAD ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE.—A largely attended publi3 meeting has been held at Holyhead to ex plain to seamen the object of the Naval Reserve, and the advantages held out to them by joining the force. The chair was taken by the Hon. W. 0. Stanley, M.P., and among those present were Captain Inglefield, of her Majesty's ship Majestic; Captain Pechell, R.N., Commander Priest, R.N. and a number of other naval officers. Captain Inglefield, in an able and concise speech, explained the primary object of the. Naval Reserve to be that England should not be bur dened with heavy taxation by keeping a large standing navy. Nothing short of invasion could possibly call out the Naval Reserve, and in such an event doubtless the seamen would all come forward ; but the whole gist of the matter was to teach them to work the guns properly. In Holyhead every facility for drill would be afforded them, as the Majestic would be there long enough to enable all to have their 28 days' drill. Only able seamen and the best men would be taken. Men of 30 years of age, who had joined for 15 years, would be entitled to a pension of not less than £l2, to the benefit of Greenwich Hospital, and wound pensions, the same as naval men. In North Shields 1,200 had already joined ; in South Shields 370, 400 in Liverpool, 500 in Mary port, and 27 picked men in Carnarvon. Captain Tully said that as far as the seamen belonging to the City of Dublin Company were concerned, they would have every facility to go through their drill, and Captain Warren expressed himself to the same effect on behalf of the railway company. The chairman, in some closing remarks, observed that in a short time it would be a mark of distinction to belong to this force, and in offering his services to a shipping master a sea man would find he would be preferred to those who had not joined. The proceedings closed with the usual votes of thanks. THE CASE OF CAPTAIN ROBERTSON.—We be lieve that the decision of the authorities with reference to the late court-martial in the 4th Dragoon Guards now requires but the requirement of a formality be fore it is promulgated for public information. Offi cial secrecy is most properly observed in these matters, and we do not profess to tell our readers the actual result; but a secret which is known to some 30 cr 40 persons almost ceases to be a secret, and we have some reason for believing that the public anticipation of Captain Robertson's acquittal will be very nearly justified by the event, and that that offi. cer will be ordered to return to his duty. With the nature of the changes that may be expected to follow we are unac quainted, but rumour associates the names of several officers, notably those of Colonel Shute and Lieutenant-Colonel Cureton, with the proximate command of the 4th Dragoon Guards.—Army and Navy Gazette. DEATH BY FIRE IN A MODEL LODGING wousE.—On Saturday Mr. H. Raffles Walthew, the de puty-coroner for Middlesex, held an inquest at the London Hospital, on the body of Mary Gross, aged eight years, who lost her life by ffre at the New Model Lodging-house, St. John-street, Brick-lane, Bethnal-green, under the fol lowing shocking circumstances :—lt appeared from the evidence that the parents of the deceased were weavers, and occupied one of the upper rooms of the new building, and on Saturday night week, about nine o'clock, the mother and father were absent to take home some work. The deceased had the care of other children and while standing in front of the fire her dress (which was extended by crinoline) touched the bars of the grate and ignited. Her screams brought one of the lodgers named Edmond son, to her aid, who found her running about the room enveloped in a mass of flame, He rolled her up in a piece of carpet, and with other assistance the flames were extin guished. She was removed to the above-named institution, where she was found to be shockingly burned about the arms, legs, and body. The deceased lingered in great agony until Thursday, when she expired from the mortal effects of the burns. The deputy-coroner remarked on the distressing nature of the case, when the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death." THE GREENLAND FISHERIES.—HULL, April 17. :—Messrs. Brown, Atkinson, and Co., the directors of the Hull Whale and Seal Fishing Company, have received the following news from the Greenland fisheries :—The steamer Lady Seale, of Hull, Capt. Silvey, which left this port about the middle of February, returned to Lerwick on the 13th instant, having had to bear up from the ice on the 10th. The Lady Seale had experienced very heavy weather, with a continuation o f N . E . ga l es , an d very heavy ice. Capt a i n Silvey report s h aving seen t h e s t e amer Diana, of Hull, Capt. Simpson, about the time he made the ice. The Diana had got into the ice, but Capt. Silvey, seeing no prospect of making a successful fishery at Greenland, considered it pru dent to return to Lerwick, where he would replenish his stock of coals, and proceed without loss of time to Davis's Straits. No other ships were seen during the voyage. Capt Gravell, late of this port, who took command of the steamer Polyhymnia, of Dundee, for the purpose of proceeding to the N ewfoundland fishery, had put into Bull's Bay with screw damaged. No seals had been taken. The Newfound land seal fishery has proved an entire failure. More news may be expected in a few days, LATEST NEWS. TURIN, APRIL 20. The clergy of Lecco have sent an address to the Pope, praying his Holiness to renounce the tem poral power and to bless Italy. The address bears 700 signatures. FLORENCE, APRIL 20. A collision has taken place between two trains on the railway to Sienna. One of the trains containing infantry soldiers was damaged. There are about 100 dead and wounded, BERLIN, APRIL 21. Advices from Munich announce the betrothal of the Grand Duke Ferdinand to the sister of Francis 11. The marriage ceremony is to take place on the 12th May, after which they will reside at Lindau. ROME, APRIL 20. The Pope gave a solemn benediction (urbi et orbi) in the Vatican to-day. The whole of the French and Pontifical troops were present. An immense crowd assembled, and shouts were raised of " Viva it Papa." ST. PETERSBURG, APRIL 20. The Journal de St. Petersbourg of to-day contains an Imperial decree, ordering that in future the birthdays and namedays of the Grand Dukes shall always be celebrated on the Sunday following the dafon which they fall. The celebration of the anni versaries of national victories is abolished, except in the case of the anniversary of the battle of Pultowa. The Borsen Zeitung of to-day publishes an Im perial decree, according to which parcels forwarded through the post to foreign countries will no longer be subject to the control of the Custom-house autho rities. INDIA. (BY TELEGRAPH TO POINT DE GALLE.) CALCUTTA, MARCH 31. Shirtings unchanged. Mule twist, 40's, active and advancing. Indigo unchanged. Copper firm, but little doing. Saltpetre quiet. Linseed firm, but little doing. Exchange.—Baring's credits, 2s. Old. Government Securities.—Four per Cents., 1 discount ; Five per Cents., 1011. Freights quiet. CHINA. CANTON, MARCH 15. It is rumoured that the rebels intend to attack Foo-chow-Foo. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Grey shirtings unchanged. Water twist advanc ing. Tea active and advancing. Total export, 83,061,0001 b. Exchange on London, 4s. Gad. SHANGHAI, MARCH 7. Grey shirtings advancing. Tea dull. Silk active and advancing. No. 3 Tsatlee, 370 to 380. Settle ments in fortnight, 4,000 bales ; export to date, 53,800. Exchange on London, 6s. 1-td.; on India, 296 r. Freights fox tea, 100 s. ; for silk, 140 s. QUEENSTOWN, APRIL 21. The Royal Mail steamer America arrived off the harbour at 12 o'clock last night. She embarked mails, passengers, and latest tele grams, and proceeded immediately for Halifax and Boston. All well. The Amrrica had been detained by fog. FRANCE. A letter from Toulon of the 16th inst. an nounces the speedy promotion of several officers in the naval commissariat. It is further stated that the Government is taking into consideration the expediency of laying up six ships of the line at Toulon. The reason assigned is that the time for wooden ships has passed away. As a proof that such a feeling is prevalent in the French navy, it appears that a naval officer holding a high command has tendered his resignation in order to devote himself to the completion ofa new fulminating spur which he has invented for iron-cased ships, which will not only drive in the side of any ship, but will lodge in its interior explosive shell of the most dangerous character. The Pasha of Egypt will be in Paris early next month on his way to the great Exhibition in Lon don. Private letters from Alexandria mention that his Highness would probably pay a visit to Constan tinople or to Venice, but it was uncertain to which he would give the preference. He will be accom panied by a numerous suite, and will bring with him all his jewels of price, and about 3,000,000 f. —I suppose for travelling expenses. His stay in London will not be short, as he is most anxious to see all that is worth seeing besides the Exhibition. It is not said what time he means to devote to Paris. The Courrier de Lorient contains the following remarks - on the new iron-plated frigate the Cou ronne:—This terrific engine of war, ofsuperior speed has no rival on the seas. Iron-plated all over, she can strike a vessel with a speed of 14 knots a n hour. Her 40 rifled guns can be fired during the worst weather. She answers her helm admirably, and rises on the waves like the lightest wooden ship. In a word, the Couronne combines all the qualities req aired to constitute a formidable ship of war, as well as those of a fast-sailing packet for the Trans atlantic service. BOURSE, April 19.—Threes, for the Account, opened firm at 70fr. 46c., the closing rate of the previous day, and buyers having come forward ra ther eagerly, the price improved to 70fr. 60c. The Railway Share Market inanimate, but the variation in prices has not been very material. The follow ing were the last quotations : 4t per per Cents ... 98 40 Bank Shares 3100 Do. end month.... 98 55 Credit koncier 1505 3 per Cents Do. end month.... 70 60 Piedmontese Fives 69 05 New 3 per Cents .. 69 65 Italian Loan 6B 65 Do. end month.... 69 60 Austrian .. 77 Credit Mobilier.... 832 50 Spanish Threes 52 25 Do. end month.... 835 Home Debt RAILWAYS, --- — -.., Cash. Account. Orleans 1287 50 .. 1287 50 Northern New ditto . 985 • • Lyons and Mediterranean 1135 .. 1135 Geneva Southern Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Loirbard 575 .. 575 -- AUSTRIA. Baron Werther, the Minister of Prussia at the Court of Vienna, has left that city for Berlin. The commercial treaty concluded between France and Prussia, in the name of the different States of the Zollyerein, has affected some of the rights secured to Austria by the treaty of 1863 that was nego tiated by Baron Bruck and M. Manteuffel. It is to arrange the questions thus raised by the new treaty that Baron Werther has left Vienna. REPAIRING THE ROADWAY OF LONDON-BRIDGE. —During the week workmen have been engaged in repair ing the roadway over London-bridge. It is divided for the purpose into three separate lengths or sections, that upon the side nearest So uthwark-badge being now nearly corn pleted, and the traffic upon the other being regulated by the City police, so thatno inconvenience or stoppage whatever is occasioned. The work is expected to be completed before the opening of the great Exhibition. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. On Saturday evening a melodrama, thoroughly French in its construction, entitled " The Golden Daggers," was performed here with perfect success. The authors or adapters of the piece in question are Mr. Charles Pechter and Mr. E. Yates, and it must be admitted that they have succeeded in " creating" a piece that will prove hi t rhly attractive. The (17 ama, as our neighbours on the other side of the Channel designate such productions, consists rather in a series of highly wrought tableaux than a con nected story—the principal part being one George Lester, who, during his travels in California has been within an ace of being treacherously murdered by the chief of a band of robbers —called the Golden Daggers—whom we now find located in London under the title of Sir Percival Cunyngham, and in the enjoyment of immense wealth. At the opening of the play, George Lester re lates his adventures to the assembled company, amongst whom is Sir Percival Lester, works strongly upon the conscience of the supposed baronet, and at last Conyng ham is informed that the man whom he so nearly mur dered is in England, with the sole object of taking dreadful vengeance for his wrongs. S.r Percival seeks the aid of some London desperados to foil Lester's intentions, and this circumstance brings us into the company of the rogues of London. At a masked ball Lester discovers that his enemy is bent upon marrying a certain lady, who has confessed her preference far him, and he therefore chal lenges Sir Percival to a duel to the death, which takes place, and, of course, the villain is slain, and Lester, we suppose, marries the lady whom he has saved from the meshes of so bad a man. There is a very good underplot, in which Mr. Widdicombe has a capital part. Mr. Pechter sustained the part of George Lester with great effect. It is a character that brings out all his talents, and one that must become entirely his own. Mr. George Jordan's Sir Percival is the best thing he has done. The other parts were all excellently supported. The piece has been put upon the stage with the greatest taste and minuteness, and it is impossible to speak in too high terms of praise of the beauty cf the scene-painting. At the fall of the curtain the applause was enthusiastic, and the whole of the performers received the usual honours. The house was crowded in every part. EASTER AMUSEMENTS. The following list of the principal Easter am use mehts may be found acceptable to holiday-makers : Her Majesty's Theatre will open for the season on Fatur day, the 26th inst., under the direction of Mr. J. H. Maple son. Verdi's opera of "Un Ballo in Maschera" will be produced for the first time at this theatre, and Signor Giuglini and Madlle. Titiens will sustain the leading parts, supported by Madlle. Dario, Madame Lemaire, Signor Giraldoni, Signor Gassier, and Signor Rossi. At the Royal Italian Opera Rossini's grand opera of " Guglielmo Tell" will be given on Monday, and repeated later in the week. The Haymarket prolongs the successful career of " Our American Cousin," in which Mr. Sothern's Lord Dun dreary will minister to the mirthful requirements of the season, and the ballet of " The Star of Andalusia" will then re-introduce the favourite danseuse, the Senora Perea Nena, who is engaged for the summer season. The far ces of " John Jones" and " My Husband's Ghost" will commence and conclude the evening. The Princess's will present for Easter the new five-act drama, written conjointly by Messrs. Fechter and Edmund Yates, called " I he Golden Daggers," and in which Mr. Fechter will represent the principal part. The Lyceum, whilst continuing the run of the drama of "Peep o'Day," has the new farce, by Mr. John Oxen ford, called " I Couldn't Help It," and a pictorial and poetic in terlude entitled " Killarney," introducing a new ballad, written by Mr. Edmund Falconer, composed by Mr. Balfe, and sung by Miss Whitty, expressly engaged for the pur pose. Mr. Oscar Byrne has arranged some characteristic dances, and Mr. Telbin's famous Panorama of the Lakes will receive some important additions and embellishments from the hand of the same artist, The Adelphi produces a new romantic drama by Mr. Dion Boucicault, with two scenes by Alexander Dumas, called " The Phantom," and founded on the story of the Vampire. With this will be associated the domestic drama in a fairy frame, called " Dot." The Olympic has a new extravaganza by Mr. F. C. Bur hand, founded on the story of " Fair Rosamond," and in which Mr. Robson will represent the leading character. The Strand is supplied by Mr. Leicester Buckingham with a new burlesque extravaganza, entitled " Pizarro; or, the Leotard of Peru." Miss Charlotte Saunders is Rolla; bliss Ada Swanborough, Alonzo; Mr. J. Clarke, Pizarro; and Mr. James Rogers, Cora. Some unusually extensive effects have been introduced, the scenic artists being Mr. William Callcott and Mr. Albert Callcott. The St. James's will be contented with the repetition of the new comedy, "Friends or Foes ?" in which Miss Her bert will resume her part of Mrs. Union, having recovered from her recent indisposition. " Under the Rose," and " The Boarding School" will be the other entertainments. The Surrey, in addition to the drama of " The Four Stages of Life," brings forward a new burlesque called " Orson the Great and Valentine the Small," Master Percy Roselle, tho young Roscius, embodying the latter personage. Sadler's Wells will open under the management of Miss Catherine Lucette with a new comedietta, an operetta, and a protean comedietta, the stage arrangements being con fided to Mr. West, and the musical direction to Mr. J. H. Tully. At the City of London, Astley's Marylebone, Grecian, Britannia, Pavilion, and Effingham, entertainments will be presented peculiarly calculated to gratify the taste of tho holiday makers. The concert halls will infuse fresh variety into their programmes, and with M. Steckel at the Canterbury, Henri and Pfau at the Oxford, Leotard for his last week at the Alhambra, and M. La Pierre at the South London Music Hall, the trapeze will be in all its glory. The great attrac tions of Weston's will be further increased, though the new cantata, with the comic strength of Mackney, J. H. Stead, and Frank Hall, would hardly seem to require anyththg beyond. Wilton's, Frampton's, the Islington Philharmonic, Deacon's, the Knightsbridge, Marylebone, Middlesex, the L radon Pavilion, Lansdowne, and the Spread Eagle at Kingsland, which furnish, with the others, a complete round of entertainments for the metropolitan and suburban dis tricts, will be sure to have a large accession of visitors. The entertainers of various kinds are in full play. Mr. and Mrs. German Reed will be at their elegant home, the Gallery of Illustration, in conjunction with Mr. John Parry, and " The Family Legend" in the bloom of its novelty will afford the materials for passing a delightful evening. Mr. Charles Dickens will read extracts from his "Nicho las Nickleby" and the Trial from "Pickwick," at St. James's Hall, on Thursday. ^ H Herr Wiljalba Frikell reappears at the St. James's Hall, with a new series of illusions performed without apparatus. M. Robin, the French Wizard, is at the Egyptian Hall, with an addition to his cabalistic wonders under the title of " The Problem of Archimedes." Miss Grace Egerton is also at the Egyptian Hall, in the Dudley Gallery, with her " Sketches of Old People." The Christy's Minstrels are at the Polygraphic Hall with the delineations of negro mirth and music. The Polytechnic appeals to its multitude of patrons with a stock of additions to its already well-supplied programme. THE COLOSSEUM.—This instructive place of amusement will compete for a fair share of holiday patronage. The programme being unusually attractive comprises a new series of dissolving views, entitled "All Round the World," a comic monologe, by Mr. Righton ; "Secrets of Spirit- Rapping," by Mr. Taylor, &c., and the superb view of the metropolis, besides the general objects of interest in the building, which form an abundant source of recreation to the visitors. The Crystal Palace has a variety of attractions, with Blondin amongst them as the chief. GARDENS.—As the summer approaches these suburban retreats begin to put forth their charms. Cremorne will not open till the Ist of May. Ilighbury Barn will be in all its glory on Easter Monday. The Zoological Gardens, Regent's-park, will be open on Easter Monday and four following days at 6d. The Pavilion Gardens, North Wool wich, open for three grand galas. THE 2D LIFE GUARDS.--The inquiry into the condition of the 2d Life Guards terminated last week. The proceedings were private, but doubtless before long we shall see some public indication of the tendency of the evidence adduced before the three distinguished officers intrusted with the task of informing the General Commanding-in- Chief upon the points to which his attention was directed. Army and Navy Gazette. THE BURKE EXPLORING EXPEDITION.—The re port of the commissioners to inquire into "the circum stances connected with the sufferings and death of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, the - Victorian explorers," has been issued. The commissioners are liberal in their censures. Burke is blamed for dividing the ex pedition at Minindie, for the appointment of Mr. Wright, for not having established a permanent depot at Cooper's Creek, and for failing to keep a regular journal, or give written instructions to his officers. Wright's conduct ap pears to the commissioners " to have been reprehensible in the highest degree." The exploration committee " committed errors of a serious nature ;" and Mr. Brahe " may be deserv ing of considerable censure," but the commissioners " are of opinion that a responsibility far beyond his expectations develv upon him; and although the commissioners con sider his decision to retire from his post most unfortunate," they " believe he acted from a conscientious desire to dis charge his duty," and " are confident that the painful re flection" as to the result of the course he a dopted "must be he might think himself undeserving of. Finally, of itself an agonising thought, without the addition of cen surethe colony," they desire to undertaken at so great a cost to llantr and record their " feelings of deep while they " deeply deplore the result f express their admiration of th e .g a fidelity of his brave leader, " as well as of the coadjutor, fortunate and Mr. Wills, and their moreenduring associate y. a d n ar e in x g pe o d f iti t o h n e theywould d e plorable Mr King ;" and sympathy with the sufferings and untimely death of Mr. Burke and his fallen con arades."--Australian- and New Zealand Gazette. Itali an, c oliPols bit ir °l3 zbc 141 'wic ` B th I ..teuto: , sq. /1 :. 110 rer I° n, Wi °4 and . B art. 1 11 ° 11 nced legatee `hest i it ,Razies 61r Her 2 . . 4 q. ba 1829 t he bare Use. Al of E 0] becoi LORE TL ante, the c Thent tions the , Who town %:Per ,4 s' Per N ew India° 4Ditt,