The Sun. — London, England, 1862-04-15 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1862. A week's later news from America is now before ns. But the week's advance is rather in the votes of Congress than at the seat, or seats, of war. Com modore FOOTE still is held in check by Island No. 10 ; and when he is likely to reduce it is not to be conjectured from the information which has yet arrived. We are told his boats were found unsuit able for the power of the stream; that the heavy guns were placed in the bows, while they were obliged to anchor with their sterns to the Island, and that the lighter artillery were not power ful enough for the work required. This, with the " yawing and wobbling about" of the boats, is to account for the long delay there about three weeks, if we remember rightly. From New Orleans, the capture of which had been the subject of rumour, the only known fact is, that PORTER'S Federal flotilla had arrived at Passe a l'Outre, one of the mouths of the Mississippi, nearly a hundred miles below the city. The Confederates have formed a new line of defence in the South. It is almost two hundred miles in length, and appears to be based on the rail road which runs east from Memphis, on the Missis sippi, to Georgia. It is described as commencing with Decatur, which is a station in the north of Alabama, a little south of Tennessee, and terminating with Island No. 10. It is said that 200,000 men have been mustered to defend it, and BEAUREGARD, who is in Alabama, is of course in chief command. As the Federals are now in great force in Tennessee, just north of this line, a battle appears to be daily expected. On the Atlantic coast the F ederals appear to be pressing hard. Fort Pulaski—which protects Savannah, the capital of Georgia, is closely invested, but the city and its ap proac bes are said- to be strongly fortified and de fended by 15,000 or 20,000 men. General BURNSIDE has occupied Beaufort, but the report of the blowing up of Fort Macon appears to be incorrect, the fort still holds out. In Congress the PRESIDENT'S proposal has at last been carried, the Senate having adopted it by a vote of 22 to 10. The Bill for the abolition of slavery in the district of Columbus, with compen sation to the slave holders, was also expected to be c arried by a large majority. Thus, so far as reso lutions go, the Congress has taken a really im portattt step. It has pronounced that slavery is such Et mischievous evil to the Republic that it is worth 'while for the States, and the Central Govern ment together, to incur the vast expense of con stituting the slave s free men, by paying their value to their owners. -1,1, e have preceded them at the cost Of twentymi llions in a similar trans- And A na e rican 8 had they been wisa, might have accom p i idled the same object, at the coast, as their PREsitmin told them, of a single year of war. It is significant of the evil effect of slavery on the masters, that th e B order States, for whose benefit these resolutions are primly passed, stoutly oppose them. Probably the mi nority of ten is from them. It is to be feared that much will annodt come of the mere offer to buy o ff the slaves, that if it be meant to operate, measures will have t o be taken to make slavery in the Border States very however, to inconvenient to masters. We wish , hope the best of the North, and shall, therefore, watch a little anxiously to see whether their Reso lutions for Emancipation are intended for business or for Eihow. action> Sir RENRY STORKS is showing himself one t,OO many for the lonian agitators. Those obdurate and and recalcitrant gentlemen, having lately, in a man ner, nailed their colours to the masthead —Sir HENRY takes a careless flying shot at it. And with such good aitn---that fragments of this graceless banner of sedition wine fluttering down about the ears of the would-be revolutionists in little rags like ribbons, The Parliament, in effect, had, with con summate coolness, intimated, in reply to the inau gural address of his Excellency the Lord High Commissioner that, after all, nothing effectual could possibly be looked for in the way of improvement for the population of the lonian Islands— saving and excepting through the preliminary of the union of those islands with the king dom of Greece. It is the old story. Mr. GLADSTONE'S Mission Extraordinary, has been altogether without effect. That ripe Homeric Scholar, Financier, Statesman, and Rhetorician, might have succeeded to admiration in his enter prise had he but had reasonable men to deal with. But there is that homely motto which tells us of the utter impossibility of contriving by any (the wildest) stretch of ingenuity to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. The right hon. gentleman, now her Majesty's Chancellor of the Exchequer — some time, as history will not fail to relate, as a blue book of portentous magnitude, has already related —Lord High Commissioner Extraordinary to the lonian Islands, in the name of her Majesty, might admirably well, as he did, argue with the leading men at Corfu upon the disloyal impropriety of their all but insurrectionary proceedings. But—demon strate this though he could, and did, as clearly as those, his words of witchery could demonstrate any. thing—he could not with all his rare abilities, aided by his exquisite adroitness both in diplomacy and in statecraft, he absolutely could not go in violation of that wholsome truth expressed in that old, old adage. And to this day the miracle of transformation remains unaccomplished. " Convince"—every one knows who!—" against his will," et cetera. And so the lonian Parliament reverts to its old rebellious no tion—by now respectfully approaching Mr. GLAD STONE'S Soldier-Successor with the assurance (in reply to his late address to them) that it is all idle to talk about a reconciliation with the English Government. That the British Protectorate must come to an end. That the lonian Islands—what ever the councils of St. James's may say to the con trary—must be united sooner or later to the kingdom of Greece. Well, and the result of this ? Is it not a delightful and even perfect justification of Sir HENRY STORKS' selection to the office of Lord High Commissioner ? While even the mas ter-hand of Mr. GLADSTONE fails, after long fum bling over the Gordian knot of that lonian difficulty, in any way at all to untie it, or even partially to disentangle it—Sir HENRY STORKS makes no more ado whatever about the matter, but coolly whips out his sword, and, in a twinkling, the Knotty Question is unloosed. "I cannot pass over," he says, "in silence the allusion made in this address to the question of the Union of these States to that sectionlof the Greek race which con stitutes the present kingdom of Greece. The Legis lative Assembly declares that it will employ all legal means to give effect to this unchangeable desire of the people. The only legal and consti tutional course to adopt, if indeed such a term can be applied to the proceeding, would be that of a petition to the Protecting Sovereign. Such a peti tion was addressed by the Legislative Assembly of the 11th Parliament to her Majesty the QUEEN, when a solemn and conclusive answer in the nega tive was given by her MAJESTY. To the declara tion contained in that answer I refer you. In accepting the Protectorate of the lonian States England has undertaken duties and acquired rights. It only remains for me to intimate to you, that while she will discharge the first with scrupulous fidelity she will maintain the last inviolate. It would be well, therefore, for the Legislative As sembly to apply itself to its true functions of useful legislation and to abstain from the further agita tion of a question which must be looked upon as having been settled by the sole authority which is competent to entertain it." Now really, than this, we take it, nothing could very well he more simple, in the way of a response, or more perfectly conclusive. The still irritated, and unconvinced, and almost revolutionary Parliament of the lonian Islands, is reminded that already all it could do towards carrying out its wishes for a Union with Greece, it has done. It is agreeably called to its remembrance how the petition articu lating its sentiments had been sometime back trans mitted to the Protecting SOVEREIGN, and how by her MAJESTY it had been returned in due course with an explicit Negative. Sir HENRY, with grave irony, after having thus acted in a sort of unoffi cial capacity, as Remembrancer to the lonian Le gislature, as well as in his official character as Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands—quietly recommends the representatives of the lonian people " to abstain from the further agitation of a question" already so thoroughly well discussed And, in lieu of that, so to shape their future course that, under the guidance of a calmer judgment, the Legislative Assembly may henceforth apply itself to its more legitimate functions of useful legislation. The advice is sound. Let us even yet hope that the lonian representatives may, upon reflection, take it in good part, and, what is more, act upon it. llt could hardly fail to strike every reader of the Premier's speech last Friday, in reply to Sir G. ( BOWYER, that he spoke on the French occupation of Rome, though with perfect friendliness to the French EMPEROR and Government in language very full of meaning. It seemed as if he could hardly have gone so far, without being aware that he bhoold not be saying what was unpleasant to a neighbouring Government. His arguments from the really best policy for France, from the incon sistency of the Roman occupation with the pro gramme of the French war of liberation, and with the principle of non-intervention, proclaimed by France as well as by England, all appeared so co gent and earnest, as to point to the supposition that the EMPEROR was not unwilling that the world should be told by a venerable personal friend, and by an allied Government that his position was no longer politically tenable. The French press has received the speech in the same light. The Moniteur is silent on it, and does not even give the speech of Lord PALMERSTON him self, though it furnishes Mr, LAYARD'S. But the other French papers, and even those of Belgium, speak of the importance of the debate, and openly commend the views of our Premier. The Lebats analyses the speech, and says—" His lordship for mally declared against the occupation of Rome, which he considers as contrary, if not to interna tional law, at least to the principle of non-inter vention proclaimed by France. The noble speaker even endeavoured to prove that French policy, by impeding by such occupation the work of Italian regeneration, is contrary to the well understood interests of France herself." But it goes on to show that, while the sympathy of England with Italy is so apparent, " whatever may be th e . Opitnon passed on the present policy of France an d on the presence atior of her army at Rome, history will judge of the difference of the services which France the ltal ian and England will have rendered to ic feeling l t i h n e g Italy ; freed and regenerated, wilt one day know holy , . to give to each her part, a nd to distinguish between the active sympathy of nOofble lord's observe- En gland. Still, Fran we think it right to declare that we fully approve 'of the general tendency 1 , 1,--' , - l 1 1 . 5 41 ' ---'„ - u ', • , ~ , ,r 3 \S • -•• • 1,1, , . ' 7 l'l. : -,., • L 4 f • ^'' ' 'r ",..., ' , 4 • T s ' 1 , i? 0' li'P' • 74.- ''3 t'S -- 4 i : lD 4 ,•1 -. 1 . /:, k 5 ^..410.1. b ./ Is; I" ' t,,,....y1i. ...,.:Z!' '-.4 THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Losqe, M. J. B. anokBtatte.... _ _ On EASTER MONDAY (the Theatre being closed this week, but for no other reason than the necessity for cleansing and repairing the house), will be performed (102 d time) OUR AMEMCAN COUSIN. Asa Trenohard, Mr. Buck stone ; Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern. After which, the renowned Spanish dancer, Senora Perea Nena, who is engaged for the summer, will appear with Senor Ricardo Moargas, and a full Corps de Ballet Commence a 7 ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Manager. —Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, 131st time of the new and original Drama entitled, PEEP O'DAY ; or, Savourneen Deelish. Messrs Walter Lacy, Hermann Vezin, Charles Selby, Edmund Fah Mrs. D. P. Bowers, Miss Clara Weston. After which, a new and original Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled LITTLE RED RIDING 1100 D ; or, The Fairies of the Rose, the Thistle, and the Shamrock. Principal charac ters by Mr. Chas. Selby, Mr. Warlow, Miss Cicely Nott, and Miss Lydia Thompson. Acting Manager—Mr. F. B. Chatterton. Prices as usual. Doors open at hall-past 6, to commence at Box-ofEce open daily trom 11 tills. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Lessee. Mr A. Harris. 1' HIS EVENING, AS YOU LIKE IT. Messrs. Shore, B. Potter, Ryder, Jordan, Meadows, Garden, Cathcart, Higgie, Widdicombe ; Misses R. and C. Leclercq, Miss Maria Harris, and Miss Henderson. Concluding with THE LITTLE TREASURE. Mr. J. G. Shore, Mr. B. Potter, Mr. Cathcart, &c. ; Miss Elsworthy, Mrs. Weston, and Miss Maria Harris. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.- Solo Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, A PRIVATE ENQUIRY. Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Billingtun, Mr. Sefton, Miss Kate Kelly, and Miss K. Bland. Followed by ONE TOUCH OF NATURE. Mr. William Penholder (his original character), Mr. B. Webster; Messrs. Billington, Eburne, C. J. Smith ; Miss H. Simms. To conclude with a new domestic drama, entitled D 0 T : Messrs. J. L. Toole, Emery, Biliington. Stephenson ; Miss Woolgar, Miss Louise Keeley, Miss H. Simms, &c. Commence at 7. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- ..4 - A_ Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty. Wonderful Performance of Mr. Bell's trained Eleptants. THIS EVENING, the Grand Eastern Spectacle of TETE 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. CI ANTERBURY HALL 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 aceomplished dansense. Admission—Hall, 6d. ; Stalls and Balcony, is. AND FINE THE OXFORD, 6, OXFORD-STREET.- HENRI and PFAU on the Flying Trapeze EVERY EVENING. The musical entertainment as usual, including Robert Burns' celebrated " JOLLY BEGGARS," with music composed ear)t essly for this establishment by Mr. George Linley. Operatic Selections by Miss Russell, Mdme. Negri, Mdme. Maria, and Mdme. Enderssohn. Full Band and Chorus.— Musical Director, Mr. F. Jonghmans. Comic—Messrs. Sam Collins, Harvey and French (the Nerves), E. Marshall, and W. Randall. Hall, 6d.; Stalls and Balcony, ls. ; Private Boxes, 10s. fid. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIg DAY.—Morning, 2h. 6m.—Afternoon, 2h. 26m. To-MORROW. -Morning, 2h. 49m.—Afternoon, 3h. 10m. NOTICE. Ail remittances are, henceforth, to be made to Mr. JOHN CHAPLIN, at The Sun office, 112, Otrant, who has been appointed, by the Lord Cbancellor, Receiver and Manager of The Sun newspaper, and the outstanding debts due in respect thereof. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 15, 1862. tions." Such remarks, however, show that French men are conscious that at the present moment they are earning rather the ill-will than the gratitude of Italians. Some of the papers seem half to believe, as was almost suspected here, that diplomatic communi cations on the evacuation of Rome have actually passed between the two Governments. Thus the Opinion .Nationale thinks that a fresh application has been made by the English Government to that of France to withdraw its troops from Rome. " We have been informed on good authority," it says, " that a note in that sense has been lately transmitted from London to Paris. We give this information for what it may be worth, hoping, if it is true, that it may have inspired the French Government with, a heroic resolution to with draw, amid the applause of Italy and of liberal France, from the issueless politico •religious posi tion in which it has placed itself through confounding the temporal power and the spiritual, the complete separation of which it would fain obtain from the Holy See.' It believes that it will not long be possible to resist the pressure of public opinion—when the Italians themselves, all the Liberals of Europe, and every Catholic capable of reading the signs of the times, are united in desiring that the occupation should cease. We hope the conjectures both of France and of England will prove correct. The EMPEROR is soon to be our guest—and it is even said that he is to be accommodated in Buckingham Palace itself. We may assure him that no offering he could bring the English people would be so welcome to them, and gain him such hearty popularity, as to have com pleted, so far as he is concerned, the liberation of Italy. When he turned back from Villafranca, we all felt grieved that he should leave his work in Venetia unfinished; still we could but own that it was for him to say whether he would spend the money and blood of France on the siege of the Quadrilateral. A darker cloud came over the Italian achievement when Savoy and Nice were de manded in payment; but even darker still have been the doings at Gaeta and Rome. We in Eng land have not liked to say all we thought of these sad affairs. Gaeta, however, is done with. Rome remains. For that there is no excuse. The occu pation has beggared the French Exchequer, and it fills Naples with blood through the POPE'S bri gands. Let the EMPEROR visit us with the friend ship's gift of—Rome emancipated, and the Italians put in possession of their own capital—and we can promise him a cordial welcome. Perhaps Lord PALMERSTON and the EMPEROR think so too. Are we to have any agitation against the revisions of the Revised Code P We could almost wish the teachers and managers should make another trial, since we should begin to hope that they would share the fate of the dog in the fable walking over the bridge with the piece of meat in his mouth. It may be seen in the alterations which we printed yesterday, that the managers and teachers have used the Commons with considerable success. They have got a handsome share of the public money for merely keeping the school in a state which, unless it were done, ought to disentitle it to grant anything. A report that the school is in decent order, and the attendance tolerably numerous, secures at once four shillings—that is, one-third of a total grant of twelve shillings per child to the school. The remainder is to be paid if the child will bear examination in the three ele ments; if not 2s. Bd. is to be deducted for failure in any one. The four shilling grant is, however, to be paid whether the child learns anything or no thing—it has only to attend, and to have a clean face and hands on the day the inspector comes. The examination by age is to be exchanged for more frequent examinations, but the master is to be allowed to classify the children for examination, not with regard to what shall require of him the greatest amount of efficiency, but so as to bring most money to the school. It is but a slight check upon his gaining a maximum of State grant for a minimum of instruction, that each child will have to pass a somewhat higher examination each time. Age is regarded in one case—the one which shall secure pay without work. Children under six will not only receive the 4s. attendance grant, they will also receive 6s. 6d. without any examination at all. It is pretended that they are too young for any examiner to judge whether they have been taught at all. We should rather say that when it is proved that the children of the poor leave at ten, it is of the highest importance that the infants should, without pressure on their minds, or unhealthy restraint, have been taught, unconsciously of effort, the elements which every mother or nursery governess has taught her children by that time. Bat why the State should pay half a guinea a head for taking care of a mother's infant, some half dozen hours a day we cannot understand. That, is what bishops and members for Universities have forced upon the Government through the wisdom of Parliament. We do not say that the Re-Revised Code is no gain to the public, but we do unhesitatingly affi rm that all the alterations, so far as we can comprehend their working, are a ;oss to it—a loss of money— and a loss of instruction for money. It is a gain that a part, two-thirds, of the pay depends on exa mination; also, that the centralised system of deal ing with so many individuals all over the country is to come to an end. But the costly and redundant training-school and pupil-teacher system is still artificially supported. As real worth is not suffi cient to maintain it, therefore the Government takes it under its protecting wing—a protection which has created so many costly "vested inte rests." One thing begins to be apparent—what Lord ELLENBOROUGH has, at least, opened his eyes to perceive—that the whole scheme is very much of a failure. It helps those who least want help, and sends the most needy empty away. It destroys charity, and with it the gratitude the poor might feel to benefactors, and substitutes a National Edu cation Rate, for which the recipients feel no grati tude, but, on the contrary, beard the Government with an angry and overpowering clamour, if they are asked to take State money for work only. It is frightful to 'think in how short a space of time self-respect has men lost, and school-teachers acquired the temper of State paupers. A reaction must occur, though we confess the treatment of the present Govern ment's plan by the House of Commons is not of a kind to prompt succeeding Governments to volun teer further reforms in the interest of the public and of education. The lesson of forty thousand edu cational paupers, increasing, too, in numbers every year, will deter from all future attempts to im prove the existing code. The Governor of Madras has recently taken a curious crotchet into his head—and a crotchet we fear it is as cruel and costly as it is certainly curious. He has with a wonderful effrontery_ for it really amounts to nothing less—suddenly set his heart upon transforming into Government offices for the accommodation of his own " fol lowing" or entourage, ose of the most salubrious, in truth we may venture to call it emphatically the most salubrious among th e few really healthy barracks in India. His Excellency, in point of fact, appears to have resolved upon setting apart for his own convenience, in this way, the noble Barracks on the Hills at Jackatalla. Resolving at the same time to build for himself, for his own separate and most luxurious enjoyment, a supple mentary Government House at Ootacamund. We are indebted to our contemporary the Examiner for having first pointed the finger of scorn and indignation at this extremely selfish, and, in some respects, totally unjustifiable proceeding. Whether the project will actually be carried out yet remains, of course, to be seen. It may so happen that Sir W. DENISON may, in obedience to the dictate of a wise after-thought, somewhat modify his wishes in this direction, and so far alter his plans in Search of the Cool as well as of the Picturesque, that the soldiers of that Presidency may not be henceforth permanently deprived of the priceless boon of those Barracks at Jackatalla. Surely the Governor of Madras may care his for own health and comfort without so deplorably jeopar dizing those of the humble privates in the QUEEN'S army ! Already they have but very few refuges, indeed, from the deadly influence of that tropic climate. Let not the best shelter of all, at any rate, be thus summarily taken from them simply to gratify the whim of his Excellency Sir W. DENISON. For him a retreat to a pleasant place in the hills during the hot season may, with out doubt, be readily enough found, without any necessity for thus harshly denying our soldiers henceforth'access to the cool and healthy retreat of their handsome barracks at Jackatalla. THE PRINCE OF WALES.—Accounts received at Malta on the 7th inst., from Alexandria to the 4th, by the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamship Mooltan, announce that the Prince of Wales's yacht Osborne had returned there, after having landed his Royal Highness and suite at Jaffa. News has since been received of the safe arrival of the party at Jerusalem, whence they pur posed proceeding by the Jordan and Sea of Tiberais to Da mascus. It was intended that the Osborne should pick up the party at Beyrout, and proceed with them by way of Rhodes, Smyrna, and Constantinople. The Earl of Derby has so far recovered as to be able to leave his bedroom. The Earl and Countess of Hard wicke are enter taining a select party at their seat, Wimpole-hall, Cam bridgeshire. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston left Cam bridge House yesterday for their seat, Broadlands, for the Easter holidays. Vicomte Jules Freilhard, Premier Secretaire de la Legation Francais a Washington, has left the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street, for the United States. Lord and Lady Colchester will leave town in a few days, on a visit to the Earl And Countess Amherst, at their seat, Montreal, Kent. _ _ _ Lord Stanley, M.P., has left St. James's-square for Highclere, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Car narvon, for the holidays. Lady Louisa Tenison has issued cards for two sotrees dansantes, on the 12th and 19th of May, at her resi dence in Grosvenor-street. Sir Alexander and Lady Arabella Bannerman have left town for Buckhurst, Sussex, on a visit to the Earl and Countess Delawarr. The Count and Countess De L'lsle, Baron Gers dorff, and Mons. Van Hayen have arrived at the Bruns wick Hotel, JermynAtreet, from Paris. MR. A. HARRIg's BENEFIT. — The performance at the Princess's Theatre on Wednesday evening will be for the benefit of the lessee, Mr. A. Harris, who for some years past has conducted the establishment with a skill, a spirit, and an enterprise which give him the strongest claims on the support of the play-going public. The entertain ments announced for the occasion are exceedingly attrac- tive, and, in addition tua variety of dramatic performances, will comprise a concert, in which Madlie. Parepa, Madame Sainton-Dolby, Mr. W. Harrison, Mr. Santley, and Mr.W. M. Balfe—all of whom have generously offered their ser vices—will take part. Notwithstanding that he has retired from his profession for the last five years, Mr. Henry Rus sull will also appear in the course of the evening, and tes tify his friendship for Mr. Harris by singing one of those descriptive songs for which Mr. Russell was once so widely and so deservedly famed. ETON COLLEGE.—On Friday last the whole school took their departure for the Easter holidays, and will return to the College on the 7th, Bth, and 9th days of May next. There were 815 students in the various forms, as follows : Upper School—Sixth form, 20 ; fifth form, upper division, 135; fifth form, middle division, 104; fifth form, lower di vision, 143 ; remove, 157 ; fourth form, 139 ; unplaced, 4. Total, 702. Lower School—Third form, 97; second form, 10; first form, 5; unplaced, 1. Total, 815. THE CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN AFRICA.—At present there dces not appear any prospect of getting any cotton from the windward districts of the Gold Coast settle ments. In the eastern districts, however, a movement of much importance has been made. The Basil Mission Society have caused gins and a press to be fixed at H wring, on the banks of the Volta ; and, as cotton is grown already in some quantities by the tribes on the opposite banks of the river, we are in hopes that there will soon be the commencement of a cotton trade in that direction, which will ultimately lead to great results, for we have confidence in the energy, perseverance, and good management of the missionaries, and we know the resources of the country. We must can didly admit that up to the present moment cotton-growing on the Gold Coast of Africa has been a failure, and yet we have here plenty of cheap labour and plenty of splendid land excellently adapted to the growth of the cotton-plant. —West African Herald. THE CANADIAN MAILS.—LIVERPOOL,Monday.— The Anglo- Saxon, which was to have sailed from Portland on the 29th ult., has not yet been reported. It is probable that the mails in their transmission from Canada by railway had been detained by the heavy snowstorms which had pre vailed. On her arrival out at Portland a flaw was dis covered in the vessel's screw shaft, and consequently her engines would not be overpressed on the homeward pas sage. The following letter was posted in the Under writers' Rooms to-day :—" Liverpool, April 14. —Dear Sir, —We think it most likely that the Anglo-Saxon would be detained for the mails, as snow was falling heavily in Canada shortly before the day of sailing. The captain wrote us from Portland that the engineer had discovered what appeared to be a slight flaw in the shaft, and he truly, home. ALLANT a would ßr H a E l B R % a A d D t o c o h 2 e , r_d i e h t e o n s t . i c o u . thought it would be prudent no t t o press th e s hi p com i ng o rt, Y E o s u q r . s t 'Underwriters' Rooms. MARKS THE B N I . T — lt i ct; iaTmßAFDeßikinA,NaDgeTialltleEmaTnßwAeDllE known in the Nottingham trade, who on several occasions has given evidence before the House of Commons respect.. ing the lace trade, has been examined by the Committee with reference to the Trade Marks Bill. Mr. Felkin's evi dence tended to show that pori ions of the Notting liade were carried on in aby no 'means creditable manner; and, such evidence not being satisfactory to many of the manu facturers, a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce has been held, at which Mr. Alderman Vickers and Mr. Alderman Heymann were appointed to represent the lace trade before the Committee of the House of Commons; and Messrs. Mundella, Ashwell, and Wells were appointed to give evidence in reference to the hosier) trade. The sitting of the Committee has been prolonged in consequence of the representations of Mr. Paget, one of the members for the borough. PRESERVATION OF HAMPSTEAD HEATH.—A pub lic meeting, convened for the purpose of taking such steps as might be deemed most expedient for preserving Hamp stead-heath from buil ing operations, was held yesterday evening in the Caxton Institute, Holly-mount, Hampstead. Mr. Donald Nicoll, J.P., of Oaklands-hall, occupied the chair, and the attendance was good. The chairman explained that the preservation of Hampstead-heath as a heath was the object of the meeting. To build upon that would be a national reproach. He wished it to be understood that he was not antagonistic to the rights of Sir T. Wilson. He would be glad if some arrangement could be arrived at by which the reasonable requirements of Sir T. Wilson would be satisfied, and the heath could be secured to the public. A lengthened discussion, in which Mr. Clowser, Mr. Worth, and other gentlemen took part, then ensued, and Mr. Gurney Hoare said he was quite willing that some concession should be made to Sir Thomas Wilson, if he (Sir Thomas) would in his turn give a written assurance that he would not build on the heath. Ultimately a resolution to the effect that if Sir Thomas Wilson should apply to Parliament for an act enabling him to build on that portion of his estate which adjoined Finchley-road, the meeting would not oppose such application, provided he gave a written promise that he would not encrcach on the heath, was put and carried una nimously. FATAL MACHINERY ACCIDENT.—On Saturday, Mr. Louis Bolton, plasterer, of Great Horton, near Brad ford, and a man in his employment, were standing on a plank, engaged in whitewashing the ceiling in a room of the works of Mr. George Hodgson, machine maker, Thorn ton-road, Bradford. One end of the plank suddenly falling, the man, who was upon it, was thrown upon the ground; while his master, Mr. Bolton, beini thrown slightly up wards by the concussion at the other end, was caught by the ends of his necktie by a revolving shaft with which he came in contact, and instantly strangled. He was shock ingly mutilated by the violence with which he was drawn round. The engine was stopped in two minutes, and the body immediately removed, but life was extinct. A great portion of his clothing pas torn from the body, and left wrapped tightly round the shaft. LATEST NEWS. MALTA, APRIL 14. THE BOMBAY MAIL. The Delta left yesterday, at 7 p.m., for South ampton, where she may be expected about the 22d instant. The Valetta leaves to-day, at 6 p.m., for Mar- seilles. THE HOMEWARD CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS. The Sultan, with the India, China, and Austra lian passengers, &c., left yesterday at noon, for Marseilles. OUTWARD CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS. The Pera (from Southampton on the 4th) sailed yesterday at 10 p.m. for Alexandria. The Vectis (from Marseilles on the 12th) leaves to-day at 11 p.m. for Alexandria. FRANCE. BOURSE, April 14.—The arrival of the English funds with an advance of I per cent., tended to give additional firmness to this market, but without producing any material improvement in prices, Threes, for the Account, remaining at from 70f 10c to 70f 15c. The Railway Share Market has been rather heavy. The following were the last quo tations : 4t per per Cents 98 10 Do. end month 93 20 3 per Cents Do. end month 7O 40 New 3 per Cents Do. end month .69 50 Credit Mobilier 832 50 Do. end month 832 50 Bank Shares 3110 Credit I oneier l6lO Belgian 4f . — Piedmontese Fives. 68 Italian Loan 67 60 Austrian Spanieh Threes 62 Home Debt RAIL' 'AYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern New ditto • -- • . Lyons and Mediterranean 1137 50 .. 1135 Geneva 3Bl 25 380 Southern BO2 50 .. 802 50 Western .. Eastern . Sardinian Austrian Lowbard 530 - .. 533 75 575 - .. 573 76 AUSTRIA. A letter, dated from Munich, 10th April, says : " The Reichsrath of Vienna is on the eve of suspending its labours, and the Second Chamber adjourns on the 9th for the Easter holidays. In the interval the report of the Committee of the Finances will be completed, printed, and distri buted, so that the discussions on the budget may commence immediately on its re-assembling on the 26th. Meantime the Deputies have put a last hand to the law on the press, having obtained some important concessions from the Government. The preliminary conferences at the hotel of the Ministry of State, to which many members of the Centre and of the Left are invited, continue to attract attention. In the meeting of the 3d of April the question of Ministerial responsibility was discussed with great animation. The discussion lasted from 7 till 11 at night. The Ministers, Schmerling and Lasser, spoke repeatedly, without any final conclusion being adopted. In fact, although every one admits that the responsibility of the Councillors of the Crown is inherent in the consti tutional mechanism, it is difficult to make a serious application of it as long as the Council of the Empire is not au complet, and remains reduced to a restricted Council. A cabinet letter, emanating from the Emperor Francis Joseph, institutes at Vienna a special committee to study the question of the navy. This committee, presided over by Count Rechberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has to give its opinion on the following points : " 1. Does Austria require a navy ? " 2. What ought to be the strength of such a navy ? " 3. Could any other means be found to repulse an attack upon her coasts ? " 4. Would a special system of coast fortifica tions suffice to protect them ? " 5. What would be the expense of either one of those measures P" ,The committee has already pronounced itself for the necessity of an Austrian fleet equal to the Italian fleet, and for the construction of iron-plated vessels. POLAND. FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) WARSAW, APRIL 6. For some days past a short printed paper has been circulated, no one knows by whom, to remind the Poles of the approaching anniversary, viz., the Bth inst., on which day last year, it will be remem bered, the Russian troops here massacred a large number of defenceless men, women, and children, to the great horror and scandal of the civilised world. The paper alluded to contained the following notice : " We call upon you, brethren, of every creed, that you should celebrate the forthcoming Bth of this month, as the first anniversary of the martyrdom of our brothers, by a funeral service in as quiet a manner as possible." There is no doubt that this patriot's injunction will be strictly performed, in spite of the exertions of the police to prevent it. If anything can prove more clearly the activity of the national life among the Poles, it is the multi- plication of the clandestine journals in this city and throughout the kingdom. Hardly has one of the editors, Alexander Zamoyski, been imprisoned and unmercifully tortured, and his paper suppressed, than a fresh journal, Prawdziwy Patryota (the true patriot), made its appearance on the 27th of last month. Its object is to give sound advice to the Poles under the present most trying circum stances; to explain the tendency of the Muscovite tyranny ; and to guide them in the perform ance of their respective duties both to wards their country and the Government de facto with becoming dignity. The rumour of the con vocation of the Municipal Council here and in other parts of Poland having been spread, the journal in question proves their labours, as long as the state of siege lasts, to be entirely useless. For however harmless and purely administrative the transactions of such a body may be, the Russians will be sure to give them a different colouring, and to turn them to their own account. Should there, in the midst of the deliberations of the Municipal Council, spring up ta useful public measure, it would at once be done away with by the chief of the unlimited martial authority, or pronounced as impossible to be carried out in presence of the stringent regulations of the state of siege, when its opponents would instantly be transported to Siberia. Fully admitting certain advantages that may result from the meetings of the Municipal Councils, " the true patriot" cannot discover them at this intricate moment of Polish affairs. On the sth inst. the Official Gazette has published he folio win g decree : 1. To remodel the organisation of the insurance societies, so as to give to the persons insured and to the shareholders a greater share in the transac tions of those societies. 2. To revise the rules and regulations of the saving banks, in order to give them a larger scope of usefulness, under the direction and influence of the district councils. 3. To hasten and to bring into full operation the intended reorganisation of the Bank of Poland, chiefly with a view to associate with ic private individuals and capital, and that its transactions should bear more upon the present state of the in dustry of the country, and grounded more on the personal than the property credit; and finally, that its general character would be rather that of a commercial institution, and free as far as practi cable from the extreme control and strictness so indispensable in an exclusively Government office. These certainly are very necessary and beneficial schemes, could they ever be effected. But it is notorious that their publication is only allowed to convince th e E uropean public of th e goo d i nters tions of the Emperor Alexander 11., Whilst their execution is totally impracticable as l ong as t h e state of siege remains the only law of th, country. Nothing can be more surprising and even amusing to us here than the constant eulogium passed by the statesmen of France and England on the benevo lence and excellent disposition of the Czar, He cQrtainly is not a monster such as was his father Nicholas, but with all deference to his other qualities, such as being a perfect gentleman and a most ac complished gallant among the ladies, he is not equal to his position. For a monarch who under takes to govern 60,000,000 of beings with a paternal care, it is a duty to call to his aid persons of un doubted integrity and power to convince him self now and then by personal inspection that his orders are well executed, and that no abuse is made in the authority with which they are invested. Whereas, acts of barbarity and atrocity are being constantly committed in Poland, in the name and with the sanction of the Emperor—acts which make humanity shudder, and which must remain an indelible stigma on the cha racter and the reign of Alexander 11. In short he is indifferent to what passes elsewhere, and only mindful of the pleasure, amusements, and the admiration of the fair sex of which he is a most faithful votary. It is quite time that the veil should be raised, and that the man should be seen in his true colours, either for the better or for worse. The Russian authorities here feel ashamed and annoyed at the exposure made in the foreign journals of the tortures inflicted upon Alexander Zamoyski. That General. Luders, Governor of Poland, has never sanctioned such an act of atrocity is currently admitted, and that he ordered a strict inquiry into this officer is also true. But though two commissions have been successively appointed, and some respectable citizens formed part of it, no conclusion has been arrived at, since neither of the members, when brought in presence of Zamoyski, can identify his person, not having known or ever seen him before. What the Government ought to do is to name persons who were acquainted with Zamoyski before his imprisonment, and who would have no difficulty in inspecting his body, so as to form a correct opinion of the case in question. AMERICA, QUEENSTOWN, APRIL 14. The royal mail steam ship America arrived off Roche's Point, at 8.30 p.m., with 56 passengers and 10,000 dols, in specie. She landed 112 sacks of mails and 2 passengers, and proceeded for Liverpool, at 8.50 p.m. ; all well. NEW YORK, APRIL 1 (Evening). (Per America by telegraph to Boston, and from Roche's Point, Queenstown.) General Burnside has occupied Beaufort without opposition. 500 Confederates retain possession of Fort Macon, but are reported to be cut off from supplies. 70,000 Confederates, under Beauregard, are supposed to be concentrated at Corinth, Alabama. It is supposed that the Confederate forces along the new line of defence from Decatur to Island No. 10 number 200,000 men, and that an exten sive battle will shortly occur in that part of the country. In Congress Mr. Sumner has made a long speech, advocating the abolition of slavery in the district of Columbia, with compensation to the slave-owners. The prize steamer Magnolia, with 1,000 bales of cotton, has arrived at New York. The House of Representatives has reported amendments to the tax bill, striking out the tax on flour, and reducing the tax on cotton one cent. per lb. Mr. Swaine has introduced. a resolution in the Confederate Congress to withdraw the commis sioners from England, and abandon further at tempts to obtain British recognition. The City of New York and the Jura have arrived out. The British gun-boat Medea has arrived at New York. The French frigate Canada has arrived from Vera Cruz. NEW YORK, APRIL 3 (Evening). The Confederates are reported to have withdrawn all their forces from the coast of Georgia, and taken all their guns to Savannah. Fort Pulaski has been entirely invested by the Federals, and all communication with Savannah cut off. The surrender of the fort is daily expected. 500 Confederates occupy Pulaski. Should they refuse to surrender General Sherman will shell the fort. Savannah and its approaches are strongly forti fied. From 20,000 to 50,000 Confederates are sup posed to occupy the town. The Senate has passed a resolution to cooperate with States desiring to emancipate slaves by a vote of 32 to 10. The resolution was strongly opposed by the lead ing members from the border States. It appears likely that the bill for the abolition of slavery in the district of Columbia will pass the House of Representatives by a large majority. Active skirmishing has commenced on the Rap pahannock. The Kangaroo has arrived out. HALIFAX, APRIL 4, The Government is stronger. The Revenue Bill has passed the house, as well as the Gold Mining Bill and the Joint Stock Com pany's Incorporation Act. The Legislature of New Brunswick is discussing the Revenue Bill. The Prince Edward's Island House of Assembly has introduced a bill confirming the Land Com missioners' award. LIVERPOOL, APRIL 14. The Glasgow, which arrived at Queenstown on Saturday, has reached this port. She brings 275.000 dols. in specie. ADELPHI THEATRE. Last night Mr. B. Webster made his reappearance, after a very lengthened absence, in the character of Mr. Pen holder, in the clever little drama " One Touch of Nature." Thepersonation of the poor theatrical copyist has always been regarded as ono of Mr. Webster's finest embodiments, and certainly he never played the part better than last even ing. Like the character of Triplet, in " Masks and Faces," it abounds with all those fine touches which none save a thorough master of his art can produce ; and although there are portions of it easily over acted, yet Mr. Webster never for an instant lost sight of the character he was de veloping, and the hearty applause the performance evoked was a worthy tribute to the judgment, taste, and pathos of the artist. The novelty of the evening, however, was the re • presentation of Mr. Boucicault's version of Dickens's " Cricket on the Hearth," which the adapter calls a domestic drama in a fairy frame, entitled " Dot." Although the introduction of a number of fairies into the piece destroy to a very great extent the reality of the story, yet it must be confessed it renders it extremely pretty, and coupled with the elaborate manner in which it has been mounted, it will, without question, prove highly attrac tive. The magical change of King Oberon's haunt in the woods to the interior of John Perrybingle's cottage was excellently managed and loudly applauded, so also was the appearance of the fairy cricket surrounded by fairies at the conclusion of the first act, Miss Louisa Keeley made her first appearance as Dot, which she looked and acted to the life. Mr. Emery's John Perrybingle is too well known to need commendation, as it was confessed on all sides that his version of it when the piece was first produced at the Lyceum, under the successful management of the Keeleys, was the living embodiment of the imag ination of the author hofigthhlye meritorious lk ou ir s s. pAelrefollromn'asncTei,llayna Slozir. T boy o w o a le s ,s an c o a th le e b r Plummer was nature its elf. Miss Simms, as Bertha, and Miss Latimer, as May Fielding, each acquitted themselves with great effect. A little compression might improve the piece ; but, taken as a whole, it is a very pretty entertainment, and one that is certain to draw crowded audiences, The applause at the fall of the curtain was enthusiaatii EXETER HALL. The National Choral Society, last evening, gave a per formance of Handel's •' Messiah," in which Miss Florence Lancia, Madame Sainton Dolby, Mr. Swift, and Mr. Sant ley, sustained the principal solo parts. It was Miss Lancia's first appearance in the hall as an exponent of sacred music, and a little nervousness was of course to be expected. The disagreeable feeling soon passed off, and the m anner in which she gav e "Rejoice greatly," and " I know that my Redeem er li vet h , " was the t h eme of general approbat ion. Maclain e Sainton-Dolby of course sang her music with all that fine appreciation for which she is so remarkable. Mr. Santley secured one of the successes of the evening by the manner in which he gave " For be hold darkness," "wh y do the nations," and "The trumpet shall sound." The choruses were all exceedingly well given, for one of which, "For unto us a child is born," an encore was at.. tempted. The oratorio was very ably conducted by Mr, Martin, IRELAND. DUBLIN, APRIL 14. The climate of the south of Ireland, as well as the soil, is favourable to the cultivation of flax, and by these who understand its management the crop can be made most profitable, an acre producing from £l6 to £2B. It is very desirable that it should be cultivated now to supply the want of cotton, the price of which has been more than doubled by the American war. The Munster Flax Society has been established for the purpose of aiding the farmers in the cultivation. At its meeting in Cork on Thursday, a letter was read from General Sir Thomas Larcom, Under Secretary, stating that Mr. Brogan, an inspector of agricultural schools, had been sent to examine the modes of proceeding in the flax growing districts, and to report the result of his observations. He found that the operations of the Munster Flax Improvement Society were confined to seven localities in three counties, and. that nothing had been effected in the counties off Limerick, Berry, • and Waterford. Three-fourths of the quantity grown are produced in the county of Cork. Although flax is a profitable crop, if mis managed or neglected it may be the reverse ; hence it requires the fostering care of a society, in order to instruct the farmers in its management, and. show them how to prepare it for the market. There are at present 11 scotching-mills in connection with the society. The growers embrace every clams in the community, from the gentleman farmer with 20 or 30 acres of this crop, to the small cottier tenants, with their fractions of au acre. The in spector recommends that the Government aid which the society has received should be continued; and the committee say that if they got £345 by the Ist of May, they would be able to carry on their opera tions. They were well pleased with the inspector's report: Colonel Beamish stating that it was the most important document ever presented to them. Flax is extensively cultivated in the north of Ire land, but the home growth is not nearly suffiCient for the home consumption. Large quantities are imported, for which money is sent out of the country that might be spent in employing our own people. It is therefore a matter of national importance that the cultivation should be encouraged by the State, till the skill of the people will enable them to make the business support itself, The Cork Reporter states that the Chatsworth was towed out of the harbour, and proceeded on her voyage for Queensland, Western Australia. She took out 451 passengers, 180 of whom, though, having embarked at Liverpool, were for the most, part Irish ; the remainder took shipping at Queenstown, and consisted principally of agri culturists and agricultural servants, male and female, of which latter class there were a good many, all carefully selected and of unexceptional moral character. The many advantages which this extensive and now rapidly rising colony afford„ are attracting to it a class of emigrants who' have resolved to avail themselves of the liberal in ducements in the way of free grants of land which the Government hold out to settlers there. Forty acres of land to each member of a family is the allotted quantity, and is given by the Colonial Government in fee simple at a mere nominal sum, the payment of which may be deferred for twoor three years, at the convenience or option of the settler.. The emigrants who go out by the Chatsworth will be received on their arrival at the city of Brisbane, More ton Bay, by a committee specially formed for the encouragement to emigration, at the head of which is an Irish Roman Catholic prelate, the Right Rev,. Dr. Quin, Bishop of Brisbane, whose brother, the Rev. Dr. Quin, of Harcourt-street, Dublin, has taken much pains in, if we may so term it, organ ising the arrangements for these emigrants, and who accompanied them on board and remained up to the moment of sailing, while the Rev. Mr. Mor ley, from the same religious house.in Dublin, goes out as the spiritual director and chaplain. The pas sengers are chiefly from the midland counties of Ireland, a large portion from King's County. THE FRENCH ACADEMY. A letter from Paris says :—" You are aware of the usage which requires that every newly-elected member of the French Academy must be presented to the Emperor by the president for the time being, The only exception ever made was in the case of M. Berryer, who declared that he would rather re nounce his seat among the envied " forty" than go to the Tuileries; and the Emperor, with a magna nimity for which he deserves credit, remembering M. Berryer's services to him as his counsel when he stood at the bar of the Chamber of Peers to answer an indictment of high treason, agreed to dispense with his attendance. On Monday last the academic regulation brought into the Emperor's presence the Count de Montalembert, who some three years ago was convicted of a libel against his Majesty's government, and was relieved from the penalty by an imperial pardon, which he publicly repudiated. This repudiation, moreover, was not a mere barren formality. The judgment of the Correctional Tribunal of the First Instance was based upon grounds which rendered M. de Mon talembert obnoxious to the law of public safety, and liable at any time to be transported for life at the Emperor's pleasure. He contended success fully before a higher tribunal that the pardon, whilst relieving him only from the specific sentence, left him still under the tremendous collateral liabi lity, did not deprive him of his right of appeal ; and on appeal the judgment was so modified as to leave him in the category of ordinary citizens, and not in that of men who may be destroyed at any moment by the Emperor's breath. A forced meeting between the Emperor and M. de Mont alembert, in which they were officially bound to be complimentary to each other, created, therefore, what the French call a difficult situation.' There was, however, no help for it. M. de Montalembert, as the Chancellor of the Academy for the year, was bound to present to the Emperor the new member, M. Octave Feuillet. The ceremony took place on Monday last, and both parties got through it with the honours of war. On the novice being presented, the Emperor said that he was highly gratified at the choice made by the Academy, and that, in fact, no election could have been more agreeable to him. He considered M. 0. Feuillet as a writer of rare merit ; he would even venture to say that there was no living author more eminent. M. de Montalembert, like Corporal Trim, made his bow. The Emperor added, M. Feuillet is devoted to my p erson an d f a mily.' NI. de Mont_ alembert bowed again. The Emperor then, ad dressing himself particularly to M. de Mentalem bert, said (referring to the death of Col. de Monta lembert), You and I sustained a great loss two years ago in the person of your broth er, one o f r o s n br i i a n ll n i the da rI gt c a v a r e r m r enye government.' e; and nht e. w t w h ah e so mosthad most d d ei before s v t o i tnegdhu tom distinguished y mo person M. de Montalembert, with that satirical and laughing accent which is peculiar to him, said, hurriedly, My brother and I now and then talked politics, but we could never agree.' The Emperor continued, With the utmost calm, These diEsi dences prove to me that the most honest men may march in opposite paths. lam very sorry, in this case, for you and I, M. de Montalembert, were made to esteem and understand each other.' M. de Montalembert ag a i n ma d e hi s b ow , an d retired without saying another word." A Parliamentary return, moved for by Mr. Greg son, has just been printed, which furnishes some important information with regard to the working of the law of limitel liability. From this it appears that in the period since the issue of the previous term—namely, from the Ist August, 1859, to the Slst December, 1861, the number of companies formed upon that principle was 901 in England. that about point three -fourths connection e 56 in Ireland, an d 41 i n S co tl a nd, and that at th e d ate o f the present return the whole of these, with the e xcep ti o n of 79 which h a d b een a b an doned, dissolved, or w ound u p, with were thestill in English operation. companies -fourths of the entire number are county or town undertakings, formed in numerous instances for purposes of local use f u l ness , only about one-fourth having had thei r origin in London. Many of these have capitals as low is a b ou t £ as f rom £l,OOO to £5,000, 20,000. ri and the average - -'-'e aggregate number of limited liability com panies started in the United King dom since the introduction of that law seems to have been 2,099, of which UP to the 31st December last 308 had ceased to exist. bitt( qanis Ditti Ditti gpanis Turkic Ditti liii;(' I ,Dittc ' etez, Ditto Italian, Di i wil 2 do n, th )3 marg e tir g it In .114 virt,s. bbul Pal ly c t2O ab 811Etr€: Joi ti a i 1 Net Otton ~ Th( I pei Arena. 'Nutt Reel Navin (. 0 „, tx,a,