The Sun. — London, England, 1862-01-29 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR 111 , AIIERICA. (From the Special Correspondent of the Times.) NEW YORK, JAN. 14. It is not because New York is a good place to learn the news or to hear the truth that I date my letter from the commercial metropolis of the United states. In effect Washington is for the moment the heart of the moneyed interest, and it is there the war is to be decided, not by the shock of armies, but by the contests of the people who have money with those who have it not and want to get it. I am, may I be permitted to say, by no means a be liever in the omnipotence of gold or credit in war. The sinews of war cannot be of much avail unless there is heart, brain, and bone to give them force, direction, and leverage. France has proved it, old Fritz demonstrated it long ago, England in the midst of her millionaire extravagance showed it, the history of all nations fighting for honour, liberty, and life has recorded it. But there is a time when the saying is true, and a case wherein the words are applicable, and that time may come, and that case may arrive when the love of gain is greater than the love of country, and when the only army that lives and moves and has its being in the field when the country calls for help is the noble army of contractors. Here is the great heart, the active brain, the strong bone of this big American people so wearied, so feeble, so broken that the question, in which they have only looked to one side, and on which they have only heard one argument, seems as though it were to be carried into regions where neither capitalists nor statesmen, nor the Grocculi esurientes of the political world can follow it. The negro Victor Emmanuel has thrust his head in be tween the combatants at the American Solferino and the peacemakers of Villafranca. It would ill be come me to say that the retirement of Mr. Cameron from the Cabinet into the frigid seclusion of St. Petersburg was in any way foreshadowed in the vaticinations which have been so much resented by the American press, but assuredly it looks as if the dissolution of Mr. Lincoln's Government is but inau gurated by the deposition of the Minister of War, and the quarrel between the Republicans and Con servative masses,which lie between nerolatry or rug ger-worship and Secession, is finding its first fruits and its early development in the act which stops up the bunghole of a brigadier's command with Cassius Clay, and fills the North American Embassy at St. Petersburg with Mr. Cameron. It is weeks since I ventured to say what was coming, and the ,jeers with which the prediction was received here did not subside before it was verified. Heaven knows it was in no spirit of exultant prophecy that the words were written, but, if men will set file to a magazine with a short fuse, it requires little knowledge of gunpowder to affirm as they light the match that some of them will be blown up. With Mr. Cameron others must go. The President is putting his foot down with a vengeance, and, if it comes to a struggle between Mr. Seward and Mr. Stanton, no one can predict what sacrifices of men and measures may not be made ere the factions take up the issues. It is proved, indeed, that in international questions the North American Demos is as mild a creature as ever felt the dominant knee and spur of the con queror. There is scarce a man in broad America who can in his heart and of his word support as an abstract act of right the surrender of the unhappy Southern Commissioners and their secretaries. Un fortunately, in the abstract public opinion has been against it since it took place, just as it menaced unheard of wars before it, in case Great Britain asked for the surrender. The menaces are now in vau/o postfuturuin. I am sure Ido no injustice to the popular sentiment from as very high up to as very low down as can be found in a Republic, when I assert that the general feeling with regard to Eng land in the matter of Slidell and Mason is, that she took an opportunity to make a demand which would have been resisted had America been strong, and that, right or wrong, the United States mean to be avenged for the concession forced upon them, not by a sense of justice, but by a consciousness of their own weakness, whenever and if ever they have the chance. If there be injustice done to them in that expression, their own words, written and spoken, are alone to blame. But, at least, let us admit that Demos feels the reins and bows his neck to the yoke. Mr. Lincoln is willing to enter for the prize of facile submission to necessity. Bat can Mr. Welles stay if Mr. Cameron goes on his watery way ? Is the majority of the Congress, which is rapidly becoming an Opposition, to gain its posi tion by the sacrifice of its principles ? And, in pro portion as the acts of Congress savour of black re- publicanism, is the President to leaven his Cabinet with the barm of the old democracy ? There are 100,000 men at the south side of the Potomac, but there are also 30,000 around the capital, and if you embarrass the Government and annoy the generals, and insult the army, you may be made to feel that the Frankenstein you ha're created is strong enough to be your master, if not your destroyer. In all such times there arises, or is developed, for the mere pur pose of being exterminated, as it were, a Girondin school, who say that " black's not so black nor white so very white." They end in feeding the hopper, and are ground out between the upper and nether millstones. The President, who had no particular wish for such a fate, is evidently seeking to strengthen himself by attempts to conciliate the Democratic party, and they are all pleased at the selection of Mr. Stanton as War Minister, not BO much on account of his political views as because of his well known integrity. lhe charges of pecula tion, corruption, and venality which have been made against the heads of the army and navy administra tions have touched the public mind and have been denounced in the Congress. No Government in Eu rope could stand against such imputations ; but here they are made so generally against all sorts and con ditions of men that either the foundations of society are rotten or the moral sense is wanting. Americans complain loudly that they are misrepresented by fo reigners. They, in fact, depict themselves in blacker colours than any stranger could venture to use; but they lay them on thick and deep in the fulness of their knowledge. It is only this week that a New York alderman delared he had bought up the whole State Legislature at Albany on a particular question with 8,000 dols. This statement in the council was greeted with laughter. And a paper with a large cir culation in the same city within a few days,observed that such words as "liar" should be reserved for the exclusive use of the rowdies of the back slums and of members of Congress. As to corruption in high places, I have heard nothing else for months back ; not that all are venal, but that men in high office, and with peculiar means of making fortunes for themselves and their friends by corruption, have done so notoriously. But it was not on account of any such statements as these that Mr. Cameron was nquested to resign ; it was because he took ground in reference to the slavery question which rendered unity of action with the President and with Gen. M . Clelld.n impossible. His sentiments strengthened and encouraged the Abolition Opposition in Con gress, and the demand made on the President by the people of his own State—Kentucky—to remove him, was a welcome pretext, and gave an excuse for Mr. Cameron's dismissal. MONDAY, Jan. 13.—Th e New York 7inzes this morning suggests that the English public should be mane acquainted with the views really entertained by Mr. Seward in reference to Canada, and asserts that the general belief—which your correspondent is said to have done so much to confirm —in reference to Mr. Seward's hostile designs on thatgreatdepen dency, has already very seriously impaired the friendly relations of England and the United Stases. There is nothing which could afford the person appealed to greater satisfaction than the corrobora tion of those feelings between the two empires, and between kindred races which are pursuing a common object by different but not opposite paths, and he would gladly indeed aid in dispelling any erroneous impression at home regarding th_e_viewsofArnerican s tatesmen. Mr. Seward in 180 wrote a series of letters to the AMany Evening Journal, describing the incidents of a tour made through Canada and along the coast of Labrador in search of health and fishing, and in one of these he says that , having pre viously entertained the idea that Canada was soon to be taken in by the Federal Union, he had (Aug. 22, 1857) dropped the opinion as a national conceit, Y~l and had arrived at the conclusion that British Ame- rica could neither be con queredby the United States nor permanently held by England. He i dicates his belief to be that British America witl become a sort of Protestant and civilised Russia, and calls on the United States " to propitiate and secure the allegiance of Canada while it is yet young and incurious of its future." It is but fair to give Mr. Seward's precise terms. As the impression referred to does certainly exist, it would be worth while to I inquire how it originated, and it will be found, in all likelihood, that it has been mainly created by the language and windy menaces of certain journals which declare themselves to the world as Mr. Seward's organs and the exponents of his policy. That Mr. Seward, into pictore, has a respect and ad miration for England, which does not extend, how ever, either to the Government or the social sys tem of the country, I have reason to believe. His sympathies, probably, are rather with the England of Cromwell and Milton than with the later England of George 111. and Lord North ; and, although he has not unsuccessfully courted the Irish and Catholic element in the United States, he is rather of the Protestant and Puritan type, and would, at the Battle of the Boyne, have been assuredly found wading after King William. The spirit unmistakably shown by all classes of the people of Canada recently has created respect for them, instead of irritation against them, and we see and hear no more of the threats which were rife in the more violent papers here a short time ago. Meanwhile, Mr. Seward has, it is said, telegraphed instructions to the United States autho rities to permit the British troops to proceed into Canada by Portland if it is so desired—a strange act, which is certainly more than courteous, and is of excessive civility. Mr. Seward is said to have de clared that the United States would not permit them selves to be forced into a war with Great Britain, no matter what happened; it looks as if he were resolved to inaugurate a contest of compliments. The Ameri can press, so far as I have read, passes over the in telligence in silence, or with brief and ambiguous comments, but the New York. Times grumbles audibly at the order, and deprecates the idea of lightening the next English Budget. By the last accounts, the troops at Halifax were by no means comfortably situated. Some were still on board the ships, and the weather was not at all agreeable. The apprehension or uncertainty respecting the Rinaldo must exist till there is decisive intelligence that she has reached Bermuda, St. Thomas's, or England. Capt. Hewett had an excellent master on board, and if, as is likely, he could not run for Halifax in the wind and sea which prevailed, he might have yielded to the wishes of the Commissioners, and have borne away for Europe; but he was short of coal, and not well off for provisions. Mr. Slidell would in all probability press him to make for a British port, and if the Rinaldo ran south of the Georgia shoals (which have only 15 feet of water in parts ; and would bring her up in such a sea as was run ning), she might have some difficulty in hitting on Bermuda. If blown off the coast, it would be no easy work to make Halifax against the westerly and south-westerly breezes which have been lately blowing. I understand the Rinaldo proved very uncomfortable in a breeze of wind off the coast of Georgia some time ago, and that the crew were all standing by, axe in hand, to cut the masts at one moment till the gale abated. I confess it will be very agreeable to hear that she is in safety. The Pensacola has at last moved, and she ran the fire of the batteries before daybreak on Sunday morning without being hit, having dodged down very judi ciously the night before, so as to make her start when the Confederate gunners least expected her. They have proved wretched gunners, notwithstand ing all their practice, and even sailing vessels have run the gauntlet with impunity. The Pensacola will prove a very formidable addition to the flotilla at Fortress Monroe, where the expedition under General Burnside has at last arrived. There will be some delay before it proceeds on its final desti nation. I doubt if the exact place to be attacked is yet determined, but it is plain, from the character of the vessels and the nature of the stores and victualling, that some position not very far from Fortress Monroe is to be attempted ; and in all probability the land forces will disembark on the banks of some of the rivers in the rear of the right flank of the Confederates, and menace Richmond by the great watercourses which run up towards it. The town of Suffolk, which is in rear of Norfolk, and holds an important position on the railway communications, might be seized, if the Federalists defeated the Confederates under Huger at Norfolk. The expedition is not at all suited for a demonstration against any strong sea•coast city ; it could not reach New Orleans, Mobile, or Savannah. It is too small to attempt Richmond directly, but is large enough to make its mark on Wilmington, Brunswick, Beaufort, or Fernandina. The latter is too far for its reach. Beaufort is defended by the formidable works of Fort Macon, and Wilming ton is said to be well covered by batteries up the Cape Fear River. The North is hungering for something to be done. By this time you are aware, that dangerous as it is to essay prophecy, I was not very much in error when I stated that before filo year closed a tre mendous financial crisis would come upon the United States. The Bank committees from New York, Boston, and Philadelphia are sitting in conclave with Mr. Chase and the Finance Com mittees of both houses of Congress, but their proposals are by no means palatable to the Go vernment, and as the latter are all-powerful now the banks will run the risk of defeat and over throw if they enter the field against the Secre tary of the Treasury. There are doubts whether Congress has a right to make notes of the proposed issue of 150,000,000 dols. a legal tender ; but the Attorney-General and o th er l awyers o f repu t e h ave given their opinion in support of the power, and, as the country will sanction the course which will open the most facile mode of escaping from their difficulties, the banks will scarcely be able to resist such a measure if once adopted. A national cur rency is distateful to the banks, which are at the same time anxious to do all the banking business of the Government and to do away with the sub-Trea sury. Tomorrow will enable us to know more about the matter, which is only one phase of the embar rassments and difficulties which settle down on the Government every day. Nothwithstanding the denials which appear in the Ministerial organs there can be no doubt that a large and increasing phalanx in both Houses of Congress view the policy of the Government and of the Commander-in-Chief with dislike, which is not suppressed in private, and finds such external outlets new and then as the speech of Mr. Roscoe Conkling, Mr. Hale, or Mr. Thomas, or the hints and innuendos of the Tribune. The cla mour for an advance is only kept down by the fear of failure, and of the subsequent consequences to 1 the criers. A bad state of feeling is growing up between the Congress and the military authorities, and I am given to understand that within the last few days an altercatim occurred between Senator and Colonel Wi!son, Chairman of the Mili tary Committee of the Senate and Aide-de-Camp to the Commander-in-Chief, and the latter, in the presence of the President, which led to the re signation of the former. The Senator censured the inaction of the army in terms which General 111‘Clellan resented, and the President took the oc casion to repeat the assurances of his confidence in the General, and of bis submission to his judgment in matters relating to the conduct of the war. TUESDAY, Jan. 14.—The Burnside expedition has sailed from Fortress Monroe, and all the newspapers affect to know a great deal about it, and to suppress their knowledge on public grounds. The secret has been well kept, but I venture to anticipate some expression of dissatisfaction at the result. Already one regiment is taken from the force of tLe expe dition by the grounding of the vessel on which they were embark e d, an d t h e w i n d to -d ay i s no t very tavourable or kindly. The vessels steered out to sea, so that any operations up the rivers close to Fortress Monroe, as at one time supposed, are not likely at present. The force is too small to effect any great object. If any political economist or financial re former desires to see how money g oes in the United States and produc es the minimum of results, let him study the list of appropriations or estimates for the army, and be happy. The Government is not going to permit its cur- THE SUN, LONDON ) WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 29, 1862. rency to be trifled with. The military are enforcing a correct standard of value. " On Friday last Mr. W. W. Harper, of Alexan dria, member of the dry goods house of Harper and Brothers, was arrested, charged with 'refusing to sell goods and give specie change for United States' Treasury Notes at less discount than 5 per cent.' He made the refusal to a negro boy who had bought some calico. He was arrested at the instance of a United States' officer, and taken before the Provost- Marshal, who referred the case to the Military Go vernor, General Montgomery. General Montgomery has decided that all persons are liable to arrest and punishment who depreciate United States' Treasury notes or embarrass their circulation. An enlarge ment of military prisons under this rule will imme diately be called for." At the same time the exchange of notes for gold, which was promised at the Sub-Treasurer's, has ceased. The sutlers have raised the rate of discount of the notes in camp to 10 or 12 per cent. in some instances. CANADA, (From the Correspondent of the Times.) MONTREAL, JAN. 13. The past week has been quiet, and devoid of in cident. The military preparations continue ; and the Volunteer movement daily assumes larger pro portions. Canada West has been divided into three military districts; fortifications, consisting of earth works and palisades, have been commenced at seve ral points on the Welland Canal ; the new batteries at Toronto nave been completed, and the guns mounted. Ile aux Noix, in Lake Champlain, which has been recently used as a reformatory prison, has been again surrendered to the military authorities, and is now garrisoned by a company of the 47th, under Major Villiers, and a detachment of artillery, who are mounting the guns, and placing the works in a better state of defence; and a guard has been placed over the Victoria-bridge. The barracks for the troops expected from Halifax and St. John's are ready to receive them, and a considerable num ber are expected to arrive this week. We have had a series of distressing rumours of the loss of troop steamers, arising from a foolish act on board the Australasian. When off the coast of New Bruns wick warm clothing, Canadian boots, and similar articles were served out to the men, and the empty packing-cases thrown into the sea. Thes© drifted ashore at several places, with part of the cargo of the North Briton and portions of wreck from other vessels, and thus kegs of butter, boxes of cheese, and packing-cases marked " Rifles, Australasian," produced the belief that the Australasian had been lost. When this steamer arrived safe, it was re ported that the Parana had on board part of the freight intended for the Australasian, and it was the Parana that was lost. The Parana has, however, arrived, and the officers of the Australasian fur nished the explanation of the drift packages. Much painful excitement was created for a time, and the American operators on the telegraph lines in New Brunswick and the United States added to it by exaggeration. From the quantity of the North Briton's cargo adrift from Gaspe downwards, it is evident that she has broken up. On Wednesday last Mr. Shaver, of Belleville, Canada West, a Canadian gentleman, who has been imprisoned in Forts Lafayette and 'Warren since the 15th of October, returned to Canada, having obtained his release through the exertions of Lord Lyons. Mr. Shaver was a passenger agent for the Grand Trunk Railway between Detroit and Louis ville, Kentucky. He was arrested on the cars at Detroit, on a telegraphic order from Secretary Seward, on a charge of carrying aims and despatches to the Confederates. After hie arrest he was stripped naked and searched, the lining of his clothes cut out in quest of concealed papers, the soles of his boots cut off and torn to pieces ; and, although nothing was found to criminate him, he was confined in a filthy cell with negroes, thieves, and the other wretched characters that form the prison staple of a large city. Thence he was removed to New York, and examined before the Chief of Police, Mr. Kennedy, who told him his arrest was a mistake, and that he would be liberated in a few days. In the meantime he was sent to Fort Lafayette, where he was one of 49 prisoners in an unventilated stone casemate, with no provision for cleanliness or decency, and only allowed to escape for two hours a day from the pestiferous at mosphere of a cell swarming with vermin and. reek ing with ordure. After he had been here a few days can trade it out at their leisure. These tickets are of as low a denomination as 10c., and the following is a specimen of the camp cur rency " Macombe Itegiment.—Good for 10c. in goods at sutler's store.—(Signed) Lot Chamber- fin." The situation of sutler is e msidered worth 25,000 dols. a-year properly improved ; and, unlike other traders, he makes no bad debts. When pay-day comes he sits at the table with the pay master, and the amount of his account is deducted from each man's pay. The office is much sought after, and is frequently filled by very pretentious personages. The idle life of the camp developes the worst features of this evil system, and the crav ing of the American appetite for such rubbish as sweet pies, nutcakes, sugarsticks, and the miscel laneous trash which in England boys throw aside with their tops and marvels is increased by inac tion and example—men acquire a distaste for their simple but excellent rations, suffer rapidly in health, and become incapable of enduring the fatigue and privations of a campaign. The quantity of sugarsticks consumed by a single American re giment in a day is past ,belief, to say nothing of cakes, pies, sardines, peanuts, popped corn, pickles, apple-sauce, smoked herrings, and the inevitable tobacco and whisky, when not strictly excluded. The men would need the stomachs of ostriches to preserve their health under such an infliction. Their liberal pay—nearly 2s. sterling per day, ex clusive of rations—is frittered away before it is received, and their families, when they have any, are thrown on public charity for support. The new allotment system, by which the soldier can set apart a stated portion of his pay for his family, and thus place it beyond the reach of the sutler's cupi dity and his own folly, will be a great advantage to the men and to the service; but to reach the root of the evil the sutlers should be got rid of altogether, and the men should be paid monthly. The weather continues mild and open, and in this vicinity there are not six inches of snow on the ground. Kingston harbour was quite open last week, and the ferry steamer renewed its trips to Cape Vincent, on the opposite side of the lake. So far the winter has been much like that of 1837-38. The high tariff in the United States is beginning ,o have a favourable effect on Canadian trade. During the past week large quantities of cotton goods have been purchased here for the American trade; some of these were bought in bond, and will pay duty on entry into the United States, but more were purchased duty paid, and will be smuggled. Cotton goods are uow fully 30 per cent. dearer on the American than on the Canadian side of the frontier line. 7'IIE DREADFUL COLLIRRY A CCIDENT lisr aO.II7IIUMBERLAND. NEWCASTLE, MONDAY NIGHT. The strong feeling which has been excited here during the past ten days by the heartrending inci dents of this great calamity appears likely to resolve itself into an agitation for a:compulsory double-shaft system, and Parliament will probably be asked in the next session for an act to prohibit, for the future, the " winning" of coals in any mine until two shafts have been sunk. The proposition is by no means a new one ; it has been advocated for years past by the miners themselves and by their friends; but, either because the influence of the coalowners has been too strong, or because public attention has not before been so forcibly directed to the subject, it has never yet been put into so tangible a shape as it is likely now to assume. Nobody has denied that it would be a beneficial reform, but hitherto its advo cacy has been confined to a few enthusiasts, whose general views with regard to mining operations practical men would pronounce Utopian. No doubt, the subject is attended with some difficulties. Par liament is generally slow to lay down rules for the regulation of any trade without a paramount neces sity proved, and in this case an attempt will very probably be made to show that such an interference would so seriously affect the prefits of the coal trade as to amount to a virtual prohibition of the work ing of many pits. The colliers may be threatened with a reduction of wages ; the public with the alternative of a strike, or an increase in the price of coal. It is hoped, however, that the coalowners will not oppose to the general feeling such argu- ments as these, which, even if they were well founded, could have little weight in comparison with the safety of the men whose industry and en durance have so large a share in the material pros perity of the country. Single-shafted pits—though there are too many of them—are fortunately the exceptions, and I have not heard that the coal won from them costs consumers any less than that which is got by a double shaft. In the case of some pits, where the seam is pretty well worked out and very little coal remains to be got, it is probable that to require another shaft to be sunk might stop the work altogether ; but the number of these pits is not very large, and it is 'just such collieries where there is a large ex tent of old workings or " goaves" which require the strictest regulation, particularly if fire-damp be generated in them. If the question is discussed while the memory of the recent disaster is fresh, profit and loss are not likely to have any great weight in its settlement, though I believe it would not be difficult to show that the double-shaft system is not only the safest but the cheapest and most advantageous method of mining. The best managed pits aro always the most remunerative in the long run, if coal owners would only be convinced of it. It is no doubt a great temptation to a lessee, when he has made his first shaft, to set to work to draw ing up coal at once to repay himself for his outlay; but generally, in the end, he has either to leave a large percentage of the coal, or to go to the expense of the second shaft from which he shrank at the outset. Hand to mouth mining is a very poor busi ness, but where no expense is spared to lay out a pit on scientific principles there is always a return in the shape of an increased yield of coals at a cheaper rate. None of the scientific or professional men who have been examined before Parliamentary com mittees have ever had a word to say for single shafts ; in fact, the strongest condemnation of the system might be quoted from the evidence of some of the most eminent of them, even so far back as the time of George Stephenson, who was a strong advocate for the substitution of several pits, though of smaller area, in the place of one large one, brat ticed off into two or more compartments. I am sure the viewers and others, on whose shoulders the responsibility of the practical working of collieries rests, would rejoice if an Act of Par liament abolished the single-shaft system to-mor row. The expense of sinking a shaft varies so much according to the strata that it is difficult to fix an average, but to put it at from £lO to £l5 a yard is to allow a very fair margin. The second shaft generally costs less than the fist, for, as the water is drained off by the first sinking, if the two be within a reasonable distance there is none of the expense of tubbing, &c. At Hartley. it is said, a new shaft to the depth of the old one might have been sunk for £2,000. But whatever might be the first outlay, it is contended that it might be saved in a very few years. As the workings of a pit extend a very large item in the price of the coal is the cost of bringing it up from a distant gallery to the bottom of the shaft. In the course of time the saving of the ex pense thus incurred in tramways, labour, and time would go a long way to pay for the sinking of a now shaft. Again, the bratticing, or wooden parti tion, by which the single shaft is divided into two parts, is continually requiring repair or renewal. Either it gets rotted or a part of it gets knocked out by some of the small accidents which are perpe tually happening in shafts, or there is a leakage which weakens the ventilation ; but it is always re quiring tinkering of some kind. I have seen £1,500 a year put down as the cost of keeping the brattic ing at one pit in order, though I should be inclined to think that that was a case which stood pretty nearly alone. But that it is ordinarily a perpetual source of expense,ainounting before the pit is worked out to much more than a second shaft would have cost, there cannot be a dispute. To the other econo mical advantages of the double-shaft system may be added the assurance it offers against loss by acci dents such as this. It is generally believed that the Hartley Pit will never be worked agaiu_certainly not by the present owners—so that for the saving of some £2,000 all the coal remaining unworked will have to be abandoned, or to get at it again an enor- mous expense will have to be incurred in pumping up the 1,000 gallons of water per minute which have been rushing in ever since the beam broke. It is almost a wonder that lessors, who in most cases get a royalty on the coal raised, do not for their own interests stipulate in each lease that two shafts shall be sunk ; and if Parliament should interfere to remedy their shortsightedness, neither they nor their lessees can have a reasonable ground of com- plaint at having a mode of work forced upon them which is not only cheapest in the long run, but best calculated to extract the fullest value from the property itself. Passsing from economical con siderations, as a security against accidents and loss of life, the argument for Legislative interference of some sort becomes almost unanswerable. The importance of having a front door and a back door to every mine is so obvious, that when the news of this accident was first spread people unacquainted with colliery operations could scarcely comprehend how it had happened. It seemed so absurd that men should be so fool-hardy as to trust themselves in the bowels of the earth with only one means of exit, that it was with difficulty that the exact position of the miserable captives was realised. Unfortunately it is not necessary to wait until another great cast ing breaks in a similar manner for this terrible catastrophe to be repeated. Where there is furnace ventilation, and that is the mode generally adopted here, to obtain a good current of air through a bratticed shaft against the obstructions it meets with, it is necessary to drive the furnace so hard that there is always risk of the brattice catching fire, in which case the whole ventilation:ot;the pit is destroyed, the communication with the bank is cut off as completely as in the Hartley case, and before fresh cages can be rigged and the ventilation restored those of the men who have escaped the fire perish by the insidious after-damp. When an explosion takes place some part of the brattice is nearly cer tain to go, and the same fate awaits the men. This was the case at an explosion at Killingworth when it was 23 or 24 hours before the bottom of the pit could be reached. At an explosion at the Wall's end Colliery, in 1835, 60 yards of the brattice were blown out, and of the 102 lives lost there it was ad mitted by no less an authority than Mr. Buddle that 50 might have been saved had there been a second pit. At Heaton, near here, years back, 75 men and boys were starved to death in an upper seam, where they had been driven by an irruption of water. There was no communication from the surface with that seam just as in this case, and after subsisting some time on their candles and the car cases of the horses, they perished by the lingering pangs of hunger. At the accident at Burradon, which is not yet two years old, had there been a second communication with the seam, at least two-thirds of the sufferers might have been saved. I might give other instances ;in fact, when one comes to read down the long list of lives which have been sacrificed for the want of this simple and obvious precaution, one is tempted, in the first glow of indignation, to pass a stronger condemnation on the blind obstinacy of those who persist in the single shaft system alter so many fearful warnings than perhaps would be altogether justifiable. But apart from the necessity of providing a second passage from the workings, as a means of ventilation the double shaft is a matter of most vital importance. In all cases the bratticed shaft is a bungling ineffi cient expedient for ventilation purposes, but where the miner's terrible enemy, the carburetted hydro gen, is generated it amounts to almost a crime to trust the safety of the men to it. The passage of the cages up and down and the working of the pumps detract so much from the sectional area of the upcast and downcast that it may be said to be almost im possible to drive air enough down a single bratticed shaft to sweep the faces of the workings clear of the noxious gas. Looked at in this light, it is not merely a second shaft, but several shafts which in many cases might be insisted on. More shafts, more air, are synonymous terms. Without an adequate number of shafts it is impossible in fiery mines of any extent to obtain that amount of ventilation which is necessary for the safety of the miner; and the majority of explo sions might very easily be traced to a neglect of this principle. With a powerful furnace, or fan, or pump, it is easy enough to get the anemometer to register 60,000 or 100,000 cubic feet of air passing in and out of a mine ; but how much of that passes round the workings, and at what rate, are the material points. Since the days when Mr. Buddle introduced " split ting," we certainly do not hear of the air being coursed 30 miles round a mine ; but there is no doubt that in many cases the currents are far too long and languid to do the work of clearance effec tually. The true security against fire-damp explo sions is to be sought, not in safety-lamps, which too often lead men into danger, but in perfect ven tilation, and this can only be obtained by additional shafts, according tothe area of the workings. Th ere are many mines in the neighbourhood which could not be considered safe with two shafts, much less with one. Some enthusiastic advocates of this prin ciple have gone so far as to lay it down that a shaft ought to be sunk for every 40 acres of working, and no gallery should be carried more than 300 yard s from the bottom of a shaft ; but the circumstances of mines differ so much that it would be impossible to lay down any general rule. Parliament probably will not be moved to go further than to require a second shaft in all cases ; but if it were inclined to carry a reform more extensive than that simply which the late accident has demonstrated to 'be ne cessary, there would not be much difficulty in em• powering the Inspector, with proper securities for the interests of the coalowners, to fix the number of shafts in each case. The area is not so important as the number, and in many instances it would not cost more to sink two or three narrow shafts than a single one of larger diameter. An additional ad vantage of this arrangement would be the complete isolation of each district of a mine, so that when an accident happened its effects would be confined en tirely to one district, and the ventilation of thereat of the mine would remain uninjured. All further search for bodies has been abandoned, and I am glad to say that there is good reason to conclude that the number of bodies which has been recovered-199—(with the five killed in the shaft) represents the whole extent of the calamity. It was conjectured that some eight or ten had been cut off by the falling beam and drowned in the lower workings. Every inquiry, however, has been made at the surrounding villages, and as far as can be ascertained, there are none nowjmissing. The number of lives lost may therefore be put down at 204. Large numbers of people still continue to hang about the pit, and about £4O has been got for the benefit of the relatives by charging 6d. a head for admission to the pit heap. Yesterday a large collection of the tin flasks, candle boxes, and other articles which miners use, was brought up, and all day long the heap was wistfully turned over by the poor widows and or phans, each anxious to discover some memorial of their lost relatives. On one of the tin flasks was found, scratched in rude characters—probably just at the moment when the writer had discovered the full horrors of his situation—" Mercy, oh God !" On another were scratched the words, "Friday afternoon. My dear Sarah,—l leave you,"—as though the poor fellow had succumbed in the act of taking an affectionate farewell of his wife. The inquest is not to commence before Monday next. BENSON'S WATCHES AND CLOCKS.- —" Perfection of mechanism."—Morning Post. Gold watches, sto IGoguineas; silver watches, 2 to 50 guineas. Benson's new Illustrated Pamphla, free for two stamps, descriptive of every construc tion of watch, enables persons in any part of the world to select with the greatest certainty the watch best adapted to their use. Watches sent free and safe by post on receipt of a remittance. —J. W. Benson, 33 and 34, Ludgate-hill, 46 and 47, Cornhill, London, E.C.—Established 1749. • - . 7 • • [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Ointment and Pills.— Influenza.—This disease, now so prevalent and often fatal, is an epidemic form of fever, attended by irritation of the windpipe, inflammation of the throat, and constant cough. When erroneously treated by the ordinary medicines adapted for colds, the most serious consequences ensue, and too often the mistake is mortal. This mischance can never happen when reliance is placed on Holloway's medicines, for, whether the symptoms arise from inflammation, colds, or irritation (influenza), these remedies relieve in the first, by lowering the circulation ; in the latter, by soothing the excited nerves. At this season no family is safe without Holloway's preparations, which do not contain tt grain of noxious ingredients to injure the constitution. F.ROIII TILE GAZETTE OF LAST NIGHT. WAR OFFICE, JAN. 28. The Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments to the Most Honourable Order of the Bath : To be an Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the Second Class, or Knights Commanders ; viz.: — Major-General Stuart Corbett, C. 8., Bengal Infantry. To be Ordinary Members of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companions ; viz.:— Major-General Francis Wheler, Bengal Cavalry. Colonel John Mae Duff, 74th Regiment. Lieutenant- Colonel John Neptune Sargent,3d Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Augustus William Murray, Ist West India Regiment. INDIA-OFFICE, JAN. 21. Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint the Right Hon. the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, K.T., G.C.8., to be her Majesty's Viceroy and Governor-General of India. FOREIGN OFFICE, DEC. 20. The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint W. IL Pedder, Esq., to be berMajcsty's Consul at Amoy. DO WNING -ST REET, JAN. 25. The Queen has been pleased to appoint William Murray, Esq., to bc a Member of the Executive Council of the Island of Barbadoes ; and Howard Lloyd, Esq., to be a Member of the Council of the Island of Dominica. WHITEHALL, JAN. 27. The Queen has been pleased to nominate the Rev. R. E. Warner, M.A to the Perpetual Curacy of Snitterby , in the county and diocese of Lincoln, void by the death of the Rev. Richard Morey; WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, JAN. 28. 2d Regiment of Life Guards—Cornet and Sub-Lieutenant Frederick Trench Townsend to be Lieutenant, by pur chase, vice Thos. Leyland, who retires. 6th Dragoon Guards—Cornet George Selwyn Marryat to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Weatherley, promoted in 6th Dragoons. 6th Dragoons—Capt. George Lake Hedley, from 25th Foot, to be Captain, vice Thos. E. Anderson, who exchanges ; Lieutenant Frederick Augustus Weatherley, from 61h Dragoon Guards, to be Captain, by purchase, vice Thos. Ed ward Gordon, who retires ; Albert Frooro, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Stevenson, promoted. Royal Artillery—Surgeon George Pain, from 53d Foot, to be Surgeon, vice Bent, promoted on Staff; Staff-Asses • tant-Surgeon Augustus Patrick Meyers Corbett, M.D., to be Assistant-Surgeon, vice Wright, promoted on Staff. v , 6th Regiment of Foot —Major John Forster, from half-pay unattached, to be major, vice Major and Brevet-Colonel the Hon. Francis Colborne, C. 8., who retires on half pay ; Capt. Robert Unwin to be major, by purchase, vice Forster, who retires ; Lieut. David Garrick Protheroe to be captain, by purchase, vice Unwin; Ensign Thomas Kent Neild to be hew enant, by purchase, vice Protheroe ; David Michael Francis Brady, gent., to be ensign, by purchase, vice Neild. Bth Foot—Nash Short, gent., to be ensign, by purchase, vice Robert Handcock, who retires. 9th Foot—The transfer of Captain Edward Jervis from the Military Train, which appeared in the Gazette of Dec. 13, 1861, has been cancelled. 10th Foot—Gentleman Cadet George Coop, Helme, from. the Royal Military College, to be ensign, without pur chase, vice John Bates Marston, appointed to the Com- missariat Department. 11th Foot—Gentleman Cadet Charles Whitworth Lloyd, from the Royal Military College, to be ensign, without purchase, vice Charles John Wix, deceased, 13th Foot—Major Peter Macdonald, from a depot batta lion, to be major, vice Wm. Henry Kerr, who exchanges. 14th Foot—Lieutenant Henry Augustus Burton to be adjutant, vice Charles Costin, who resigns that appoint ment. 15th Foot—John James Osborne, gent., to be ensign, by purchase, vice Alexander Herbert Arthur Smith, who retires ; Staff Assistant-Surgeon Charles Moore Jessop to be assistant-surgeon. 16th Foot—Staff Assistant-Surgeon RichardWestrop Saun ders, M.D., to be assistant-surgeon. 17th Foot—Ensign Edmund Sandilands Savage to be lieu tenant, without purchase, vice Wm. Frederick Augustus Edward Presgrave, deceased; Staff Assistant-Surgeon John Walters, M. 8., to be assistant-surgeon. 19th Foot—Ensign Agathus Henry Elster, from 20th Foot, to be ensign, vice Lilwall Scott Powell, whose appoint ment, as stated in the Gazette of Nev. 5, 1861, has been cancelled. 20th Foot—Gentleman Cadet David O'Neill Power, from the Royal Military College, to be ensign, without pur chase, vice Elster, appointed to 19th Foot. 24th Foot—Captain Thomas E. Anderson, from 6th Dragoons, to be captain, vice George Lake Hed ley, who exchanges; Captain John Henry Chads, from paymaster 60th Foot, to be paymaster, vice Streatfeild, transferred to 60th Foot. 25th Foot—Ensign Westropp Thomas Morgan to be lieu tenant, by purchase, vice John Price Mackinnon, who retires; John Frederick Curtis Hayward, gent., to be ensign, by purchase, vice Morgan. 26th Foot Lieutenant George Walton Appleby to be cap tain, by purchase, vice Robert Creighton Granville, who retires ; Ensign George Douthwaite to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice Appleby; George Gosling, gent., to be en sign, by purchase, vice Douthwaite. 42d Foot—Ensign Andrew Michael Creagh to be instructor of musketry, vice Lieutenant E. A. Elgin, deceased. 44th Foot—Staff Assistant- Surgeon John Kina.han, M.D., to be assistant, vice Charles James Kinahan, appointed to the staff. 53d Foot—Staff Surgeon-Major George Thomas Galbraith, M.D., to be surgeon, vice Pain, appointed to the Royal At finery. 57th Foot—Staff-Surgeon Major James Carroll Dempster, M.D., to be surgeon, vice W. M'Andrew, M.D., deceased. 60th Foot—Lieutenant Robert Champion Streatfeild, from paymaster 24th Foot, to be paymaster, vice Chads, trans ferred to the 14th Foot. 63d Foot—Captain Vere Hunt Bowles to be major, without purchase, vice Falkland Townshend Logan Paterson, de ceased ; Lieutenant Stewart Harvey Bruce to be captain, without purchase, vice Bowles ; Ensign Charles Ellison Terrot to be lieutenant, without purchase, vice Bruce. 65th Foot—Ensign Windle Hill St. Hill, to be lieutenant, by purchase, vice Edward Vernon White, who retires ; Ensign Kenneth Douglas, from the 87th Foot, to be en sign, vice St. Hill. 77th Foot—Ensign Cecil Percival Stone to be lieutenant, without purchase, vice Aubrey Thomas Butts, deceased. 78th Foot—Lieutenant Thomas Owen Silves' er Davies to be instructor of musketry, vice Lieutenant Thomas Mae Thompson, who resigns that appointment. 81st Foot—Ensign Thomas Rogers to be quartermaster, vice Charles Correll, who retires upon half-pay. 87th Foot—William Nutter, gent,, to be ensign, by pur chase, vice Kenneth Douglas, appointed to 65th Foot. 33d Foot—Captain John Brown, from the 37th Foot, to be captain, vice Wm. Henry Parry, who exchanges. 37th Foot—Captain Wm. Henry Parry, from the 33d Foot, to be captain, vice John Brown, who exchanges. 93d Foot—Staff-Assistant -Surgeon Samuel Hope to be assistant-surgeon, vice James Nicholas Bell, M.D., pro moted on the staff. 96th Foot--Staff-Assistant Surgeon Caleb Shera Wills to be assistant-surgeon. 97th Foot—Ensign George Moore Picken to be instructor of musketry, vice CaptainW. R. Annesley, who resigned the appointment in March, 1860. Ist West India Regiment—Thomas Carr Foster, Gent., late lieutenant, Royal Sussex Light Infantry Militia, to be ensign, by purchase, vice Smethwick, promoted. DEPOT BATTALION. Major William Henry Kerr, from the 13th Foot, to major, vice Peter Macdonald, who exchanges.j STAFF. Major and Brevet-Colonel the Hon. Francis Colborne, C. 8., half-pay, late Gth Foot, to be deputy quartermaster general at the Mauritius ; vice Major and Brevet-Colonel Sir Henry F. F. Johnson, Bart., half-pay, sth Foot, whose period of service on the staff has expired. UNATTACHED. Captain and Brevet Major Frederick Montagu Alison, from 19th Foot, to bo major, by purchase; Lieutenant Charles Edward Gore Browne, from 25th Foot, to be cap tain by purchase. MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals Arthur Ander son, M.D.. to be inspector-general. To be Deputy Inspector-Generals of Hospitals—Staff- Surgeon Major Joseph Samuel Prendergast, M.D. ; Staff- Surgeon-Major Wm. Home, M.D. ; Staff-Surgeon-Major James M`Gregor ; Surgeon-Major John Bent, from the Royal Artillery. To be Staff Surgeons—Staff Surgeon John Grogan, M. 8., from half-pay, vice Prendergast, promoted ; Staff Assistant - Surgeon Wm. Alex. Mackinnon, vice Home, promoted; Assistant-Surgeon Wm. Tydd Harding, from 25th Foot, vice M‘Gregor •' Assistant-Surgeon Wm. Beale Wallis, from the Royal Artillery, vice Galbraith, appointed to the 53d Foot; Staff Assistant-Surgeon Digby Wm. Lawlor, vice James Carroll Dempster, M.D., appointed to the 57th Foot. To be Staff Assistant- Surgeons—Assistant- Surgeon Chas, James Kinahan, from the 44th Foot, vice John Kinahan, appointed to the 44th Foot ; Assistant-Surgeon Isaac Hoy ated, from the 37th Foot, vice Whylock, promoted on the staff ' • Assistant-Surgeon Horatio Scott, from the 40th Foot, vice Speedy, promoted on the staff; Staff Assistant- Surgeon Henry Walker, from half-pay, vice Mackinnon, promoted; Assistant-Surgeon Robert Waters, M.D., from the 21st Foot, vice Ferguson, promoted on the staff; Assis tant-Surgeon Wm. Cherry, from the 45th Fo3t, vise Hope, appointed to the 93d Foot; Staff Assistant-Surgeon Thus. Young Baker, from half. pay, vice Corbett, appointed to the Royal Artillery; Staff Assistant-Surgeon John Henry N. Bracken, from half pay, vice 'Turner, appointed to the Royal Artillery; Staff Assistant:Surgeon Frank Pout, from half-pay, vice Digby Wm. Lawlor, promoted. Staff Assistant-Surgeon Robert Hogarth Clay, M.D., on half -pay, has been permitted to resign his commission. BREVET. . _ To be Lieutenant-Colonels in the Army—Captain and Brevet Major James Farrell Pennycuick, Royal Artillery ; Major Thomas L. K. Nelson, 40th Foot; Major William James Hutchins, 12th Foot. To be Majors in the Army—Second Captain Henry John Foquett Ellis Hickes, Royal Artillery; Captain James Paul, 65th Foot ; Captain George Owen Bowdler, 40th Foot; Second Captain Henry Strover, Royal Arti lory ; Captain Henry Ferdinand Turner, 65th Foot. Lieuteaant, with the honorary rank of captain, Frederick Blanco Forster, paymaster sth Foot, to have the honorary rank of major under the royal warrant of Jan. 27, 1860. Quartermaster Charles Correll, half-pay 81st Foot, to have the honorary rank of captain. MEMORANDUM. The undermentioned officer upon half-pay has been per mitted to retire from the service by the sale of his commis sion, under the conditions of the Horse Guards Circular Memorandum of the 15th Feb., 1861 :—Second Captain Ralph Norman, half-pay, late Land Transport Corps. BANKRUPTS. James Malpass, stockbroker, Throgmorton-street "William Hunt, greengrocer, Lisson-grove George Hammond, builder, Walworth Arthur Haxworth, Suffolk Coffeehouse, Holborn Joseph West, carpenter, Aldersgate-street Henry Paine, tailor, Strand Joseph Bright, porter, Boston, Lincolnshire Daniel Barfield, shoemaker, Northampton Nathaniel Dear, carpenter, College-grove, Camden-town Charles Bishop, plumber, Bitterne, Hants I J t e o h b n er lV c a . ll i i , s h , Pe plu n u l i b b e e r r 7 B , K ro e m n i t ey William Reynolds, liquid carmine manufacturer, South Hackney, Middlesex Thomas Cornelius Hayter, .00ach builder, Shaftesbury, Dorsetshire Philip B. Rackstraw, fish salesman, Old Kent-road, John Davies, butcher, Homerton John Mogg , grocer, Lower-street, Islington H en ry Nash, grocer, Kent-street, Southwark George Tinson, Hackney-road Wm. Beard, tailor, Dover -road Wrightson Robert Bryant, Selwood-place, Brompton William Cobbett, Battersea-park, Surrey William Lawrence COkiwell, baker, Somers•town -- John Menne, merchant, Bucklersbury John Thos. Glasscock, corn dealer, Mile-en Thomas Garner, jun., baker, John-st, Blaclc.ft fate-road Caleb Soul, perfumer, Queen's-street, Cheap..ide Nicholas Mould, licensed victualler , Print less street, Plaistow Marsh Edwin Heaven, builder, Old B o swell-court, Stvand Thomas Wright, bricklayer, Sloane - square James William Beecher, tailor, Bric;."-lane, Spita.'fields Catherine Harman and Wm. Hurlstone, s urgical instru ment makers, Robert-street, Waterloo-road Alfred Mundy, dairyman, Goswell-street Vincent Morris, riding master, Hammersmith Gate' Samuel Dennis, carpenter, Rayleigh, Essex John Drew, stationer, Chancery-lane James Chapman, blacksmith, Brentwood, Essex James Wallis Pycroft, Queen's Prison Charles Hennell Wilkinson, Pelham-villas, Brompton James Oliver, jun., plumber, 14, High-street, St. John's Wood, Middlesex John Godfrey Maundy and Henry Harris Chaundy, cattle dealers, Muswell-hill, Boarstall, Buckingham Aaron Brown, baker, West Shefford, Berks John Arkill, green grocer, Old Fish-street, Doctors' Commons, City Joseph. F. Hophins, schoolmaster, Chigwell, Essex James Adlard, working lithographer, Clapton Geo. Williams, innkeeper, Pembroke Wm. Sproston, fishmonger, Eastcheap SCOTCH BANKRUPTS Thomas Meggat, grocer, Auchinleck, Ayrshire John Robertson, merchant, Perth John M'Gregor, horse dealer, Bridgend of Perth an order was received from Secretary Seward to dis charge him on taking the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government. Mr. Shaver, being a British subject, and the grandson of a United Empire Loyalist, one of the earliest settlers of Upper Ca nada, refused to take the oath ; and although typhus fever had broken out in the prison and was carry ing off numbers every day, resolutely resisted every attempt to make him deny his nationality. Public outcry against the condition of Fort Lafayette com pelled the Federal Government to remove the pri soners to Fort Warren, in Boston harbour, where, through the contributions of the benevolent and the kindness of the Governor, Col. Demmick, their position was greatly improved. In the meantime Lord Lyons pressed the Federal Government to bring Mr. Shaver to trial if they had any charge against him, or to discharge him from custody if they had none; and he also represented the case to the Imperial Government. Towards the close of December Secretary Seward ordered Mr. Shaver's discharge on his engaging upon oath not to travel into any insurrectionary State, and to hold no com munication, either in the United States or else where, with persons disloyal to the Federal Govern ment. Mr. Shaver very properly refused these con ditions also ; he recognized the right of the Federal Government to try and punish him if guilty of any offence against the laws of the United States ; but if they acknowledged his innocence by refusing to bring him to trial, he would accept nothing but the unconditional discharge which was his right. At last, on the 6th of January, he was discharged un conditionally, having been in confinement a little less than 12 weeks. Every communication which he received from Lord Lyons during his imprison ment, although bearing the Ambassador's signature on the envelope and the seal of the legation, was opened and read before it was handed to him ; and his letters to Lord Lyons had to be sent unsealed. Many British subjects who were arrested on as fri volous grounds as Mr. Shaver, unable to endure the horrors of the worse than Austrian dungeons at Fort Lafayette, have been glad to escape by taking the oath of allegiance, or by signing somepaper by which they deprived themselves of their claim for compensa tion,and they were systematically worse treated than the other prisoners to induce them to accept liberty on any terms. Of all the thousands of prisoners in Forts Henry, Warren, and Lafayette not one has been brought to trial, with the exception of the officers and crews of the captured privateers. Mr. Shaver's case is one that calls for a strong re monstrance from the British Government, and for a demand for adequate compensation. The " On to Canada" movement is receiving a new development; the frontier is swarming with deserters from the Federal army, chiefly British subjects who enlisted from want of occupation, and have got tired of soldiering. They complain bitterly of their sufferings, the brutality of their officers, - and of their want of pay. Many regiments have received no pay for three months, except such as they have got from the sutlers. This sutler system is the greatest abomination in the American service. Each regiment has one attached to it, who is usually in partnership with the Colonel ; he keeps a store, in which are sold pies, cakes, candy, oysters, sardines, liquor, and everything which is likely to tempt the soldier's appetite or vanity. This store is the com mon loafing place of the men when off duty, and' they are not only induced to spend their pay on trash, but it is perfectly well understood that the man who does Lot stand well with the sutler is sure to stand ill with his officers. The men having no money cannot purchase at other places, where prices are moderate, and where they might procure articles that they need; and thus, when the long•defcrred pay-day arrives, the sutler has a preferential claim on the greater part of their pay. In order to facili tate their getting into debt, and to avoid the labour of the details of a multiplicity of accounts, the sol diers are furnished by the sutler with printed tickets, receivable for goods at his store, to the amount of several dollars at a time ; the whole amount being charged to them at once as cash, they HEALTH OF LONDON LURING THE WEEK (From the Registrar-General's Weekly Return.) The returns, issued bfauthority of the Registrar- General, for last week :exhibit a very high mor tality. In the week that ended January 11, the deaths in London Jose to 1,561; in that which fol lowed they fell to 1.391; and in the week that ended last Saturday they again rose to 1,569. The mean temperatures of the air in the last four weeks have been 34.1 deg., 42.9 dg., 35 dg., and 36.1 deg. The average number of deaths in the correspond ing weeks of ten previous years, corrected for in crease of population is 1,421. The mortality of last week is in excess of the estimated amount by 148 deaths. The deaths from bronchitis were 188, the cor rected average being 191; those from pneumonia 98, the average being 101 ; from asthma 25 against 28. The estimated and the actual results under these several heads coincide very closely; and the excess of deaths from all causes is not due to the unusual predominance of these complaints. Phthisis (or consumption) was fatal last week in 177 cases, the average being 158 ; diseases of the heart in 88 cases against an average of 61; diseases of the ner vous system in 156 against 150. The excess of mortality in the pre sent return over the average must be referred in a considerable degree to typhus and typhoid fever, which rose last week to 94 deaths, and show a very decided increase on the numbers under that head in previous weeks- The 94 deaths stand against an average of 45. The sub-district of Mile-end New-town returned 6 deaths from typhus, that of St. Peter, Walworth, 4 ; the Dreadnought Hospital ship, 4. Amongst zy motic diseases whooping-cough was fatal in the next degree, and it rose to 86 deaths, the average b ein g 66. There were also 19 from croup. Scarlatina was fatal in 60 cases, 4 of which occurred in the sub-district of St. Paul, Deptford. Fourteen nonagenarians died last week. The two oldest were respectively 97 and 99 years. An infant died at Crawford-passage, Marylebone, from "want of sufficient nourishment, caused by the poverty of its parents." A butcher's journeyman, aged 50 years, died in Featherstone-street, Finsbury, from " exposure and want." A man unknown, who was carried to St. Bar tholomew's Hospital, but found dead on arriving there, is stated to have died from "cold and starva tion, with consumption and fatty liver." A woman, aged 67 years, the wife of a chair maker, died at 73, Pearson-street, Kingsland-road, from "exhaustion from old age and extreme poverty." Last week the births of 900 boys and 901 girls, ' in all 1,801 children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1852-61 the average number (corrected) was 1,973. COUNTRY M.dILKL 2S. .4` MARKET HARBOROUGH-JAN. 28. At this market to-day there was less activity, but we had an average show of wheat. For inferior sorts prices were is lower—old, 48s to 60s ; new, 59s to 64s per 36 stone. Barley at barely the rates of the week previous, malting selling at 348 to 38s per qr.. grinding 31s to 33s per 30 st. Oats, 23s to 32s per 24 at. ; beans, 4la to 465; new, 38s to 46s per qr. SHEFFIELD-JAL 28. At this market to-day there was a larger supply of wheat, which met a dull demand ; and prices were at 3d to 6d per load less money. Of barley the show was not very large, and late rates declined is to 2s per qr. Flour and other articles unaltered. Red wheat, per lead of 3 imperial bushels...2os Od to 22s Od White 21 12 ...22s 6d to 23s Od New red ...22s Od to 23s 6d . New white „ ff ...24s Od to 26s Od Beans fl If ...18s Od to 19s Od Peas, per qr Grinding barley, per qr 32s Od to 36s Od Malting ditto, „ 3Bs Od to 40s Od Oats ff •• • Millers' prices for flour-2s 2d, 2s 4d, and 2s 6d per 141 b. LEEDS-JAN. 28. We have a moderate show of grain to-day. There is a slow business doing in the wheat trade, and millers were compelled to submit to is under last Tuesday. In barley little doing, and prices had a downward tendency. Beaus at former rates, and oats rather lower. MELTON MOWBRAY-JAN. 28. There was a tolerable show of wheat to-day, and, with an inactive trade, prices very little changed. Barley was still a steady sale, at downward prices. White wheat, 59a Od to 66s Od ; red, 55s Od to 62s per 36,,,5t0ne ; beans slow, at 44s to 508 for old ; new sorts, —s per 38 st. ; barley, 34s to 39s for malting, and 29s to 31s per qr. for grinding; oats, 22s to 32s Od per 24 stone. NEWCASTLE-UNDER LYNE-JAN. 27. At to-day's market business wai dull, with a tolerable show of wheat. Late rates were about supported. White made 58s to 695; red, 54s to 65s per 36 stone. Barley a small show, at late rates. For other articles the demand was quiet. FOREIGN MAIL PACKET LIST. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. Feb. 18. via Marseilles Feb. 13. Brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. Feb. 3. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena March 3. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Feb. 1. via Marseilles Feb. 13. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton .... Feb. 1. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Feb. 1. via Marseilles Feb. 13. India (Bombay), via Southampton Feb. 10. via Marseilles Feb. 4. Lisbon Feb. 1. Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Feb. 1. via Marseilles Feb. 4. Newfoundland ... . Oporto and Vigo . Feb. 1. U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... Feb. 5. _ . 'by U.S. packet by Canadian packet Jan. 29. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe Feb. 10. Bahamas, via New York Feb. 13. Mexico ....Jan. 28. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, California, and British Columbia. Advises from Canada state that at the meeting of the Great Western of Canada Railway the whole of the retiring directors were re elected. Mr. Gil), the chairman in London, yesterday resigned the chairmanship, but will continue at the board. BIRTHS. HOWMAN.—On the 25th inst., at the Vicarage, Exhall, the wife of the Rev. E. J. Howman, of a daughter. LOVETT.—On the 27th inst., at Windsor, the wife of Capt. Lovett, 2d Life Guards, of a son. NisßET.—On the 28th inst., at East Sheen, Surrey, the wife of Harry C. Nisbet, Esq., of a daughter. TOWER,—On the 27th inst., at 41, Queen's-g a t e -t errace , South Kensington, the wife of Thomas Tower, Esq., of a daughter. MARRIAGES. CALTHORPE—CREWE.—On the 28th inst., at St. George's, Hanover-square, the Hon Somerset J. Gough Calthorpe z Lieut.-Col. sth Dragoon Guards, third son of Lord anu Lady Calthorpe, to Mrs. Frederick Crewe, only child of Captain Chamier, R.N., and Mrs. Frederic Chamier. CUMMING—SmA.LE.--On the 28th inst., at St. George's, Hanover-square, Simon Fraser Cumming, Esq., of Sin gapore, to Elizabeth Chambers, daughter of Hy. Smale, Esq., of Fitzroy-square and of Paris. DEATHS. AURER,—On th622d inst., at Hoddesdon, Heal, Mrs. H. Auber, aged 89. COSTER.—On the 26th inst., at Crowhurst, Sussex, John Webb Coster, aged 61. CROW.—On the 28th inst., at Dulwich road, Brixton, Mr. i t t aged , at 74. Wm. Crow, age 71. DODSON.—On the 25th inst., Mary Hannah, wife of Josh. Dodson, Esq., Tottenham, aged 61 . HAWKINS.—On the 27th inst., at 5, Leonard-place, Worthing,Ken the Rev. H. C. Heilbronn, 8.A., aged 32 . lln si rl g n t n on oN , N W .: l O ia n w t k h i e n 2 B, 6t E h s HODGSON —On the 27th inst., at bis brother's house, in Dean's-yard, Westminster, the Rev. Hugh Hodgson, il a t t s. Dudley Villas, Clapham- Hullit.sAT..,—voicaar LI d 2 m Bt i h sto i n n , st l . l: Clapham road, John Hurst, aged 71. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG. of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TnE SUN OfEce, N. 112,Stran d, in the Precinct of the Savoy hi the County of Middlesex, Wednesday, January 29, 1862. ' ,„,