The Sun. — London, England, 1860-07-24 00:00:00

THEA TR E.ROYAL, NAYS ARKET.' Levae, ar..l. B. Bu2kstonp. THIS EVENING the 'performances will cornrceree with THE OVERLAND ROUTE. Messrs. Charles Mathews, Buckstone, Compton, Chippendale, Rogers, Mrs. Charles Mathews, Miss Weekes, and Mrs. Wilkins. 1 " Alter which, the new comedietta, HIS EXCELLENCY, in which Mr. and Mrs. C. Mathews will appear. And TILE BOARDING SCHOOL. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCE SS'S THEATRE.- Lessee, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, will be performed lIOME TRUTHS. ET After which, the Frcnch vaudeville, MILITAIRE PENSIONAIRE. Characters by the Zouaves. Followed by BOWLED OUT. And LA CORDE SENSIBLE. To conclude with AN AMBUSCADE AT INKERMAN. Commence at 7. A DELPHI', NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. rx, Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. Mr. B. Webster will make his first appearance (since his re turn from hia provincial tour) in the course of the present month, at his Annual Benefit, particulars of which will be duly announced. I?th week of the favourite American Actress, Miss Julia Daly T r:VE'NING, THE HARVES V HOME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, D. Fisher, Billington, Stuart, Eburne, C. J. Smith, Powell, Romer ; Miss Woolp - ar, Miss ii. Simms, Miss K. Kelly, and Miss Laidlaw. After which, THE FOOL OF THE FAMILY. Mr. Paul Bedford and Miss Julia Daly. To conclude with OUR GAL. Miss Julia Daly, Messrs. Eburne, Ward, and Romer. Commence a' 7. Box-office open from 10 till 5. Private boxes, £2 28.; Family Boxes, £l. Orchestra Stalls, ss. ; Balcony, 4s. ; Front Circle Stalls, as. • Pit Stalls, 25.; Pit, ls. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, is ; Gall er y , 6d: Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. J"RENCH PLAYS-ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Directeur, M. Talexy.—Lessee, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. EVERY EVENING. Positively the last Night but Five of the season, and last night but two of Madlle. Delphine Fix. TO -N IGHT, CHEZ UNE PETITE DAME. And LES DEMOISELLES DE ST. CYR. Madlle. Delphine Fix. Orchestra Stalls, 7s. 6d. ; Balcony Stalls, ss. ; Pit, 28. ; Gallery, is. Private Boxes, from Two Guineas. Commence at 8. Box-office open daily from 11 till 5 M. Talexy has the honour to announce that his Benefit wiY take place To-morrow (Wednesday), on which occasion Mdle Roche will make her first and only appearance this season also Mdle. Fix, M. Paid Devanx, M. Gravier, Mdle. Borp.:hi- Mdle. Brunetti, M. Belart, M. Gassier, Ciampi, and Mdle. Ferraris. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- Proprietor and Manager, Mr. WM. BATTY. An Extra Grand MID-DAY PERFORMANCE will take place on SATURDAY next, July 28, commencing at Two o'clock. This Evening, the Vistorical Spectacle, entitled FAIR ROSAMOND, or the AMAZON CRUSADERS. To be followed by Scenes in the Arena. To conduce with TILE SPOILED CHILD. Little Pickle, Miss Amelia Smith. Doors open at half-past 6, performance commence at 7. Box-office open daily from 11 till 4. Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST. Director of the Arena—M. Felix Revolti. CONCERTS.- CA NTERBUR Y' HALL THIS EVENING. C. H. GOUNOD'S OPERA. FAUST. First Time in this Country. Faust Mr. Henry Herbert. Mephistopheles Mr. C. Bernard. Siobel Mrs. Anderson. Marguerite Conductor Mr. Jonghmans. And selections from Dinorah, Trovatore, Macbeth, and numerous other Entertainments. Balcony, ls , Hall. lid. Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come , dian and Mimic), and C. Marshall. The ET EI 10 I' I ANS, consisting of 17 performers (organised expressly for this Establishment). for the performance of Vocal and Instrumental Music, Comic and Sentimental, with Negro delineations, anecdotes, &c., in addition to the usual entertainments. The gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening. fIIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tara DAY.—=Morning, sh. 50m.—Afternoon, 6h. 13m, To-mORROw.-111orning, 6h. 36m.—Afternoon, 7h. lm. rw j , 4r . -4 -A „ F 6 6 . . • THE SUN. LOIVDON, TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1860, The question ofourNational Defences was brought forward last night by Lord PAL3IERSTON, in a speech worthy of his best days. He did not mince the matter a bit—that our nearest neighbour is our nearest enemy. - Whatever LOUIS NAPOLEON may say—avow—or even take his solemn oath to is all mere moonshine. A man, be he sovereign or burglar, who breaks his word as he breaks into Men's houses, cannot expect to be believed in Heaven above or in hell below, however much he may preach about his altered conduct, and all that sort of " bash." You have deceived not once, but often, and if you "take me in" once more "the consequence be on my head, not on yours." That is but the true aspect of our position with respect to the mock professions of the present Emperor of the FRENCH—our most august, but little trusted " Ally." Lord PALMERSTON, in his speech, plain and patriotic, seems to imply much more than meets the ear. We rather suspect that his Lordship's private opinion of his Imperial Majesty does not altogether accord with the fascinations practised upon him some time ago at Compeigne. No. Events have opened his eyes, as well as those of other people who were fain to believe more than they hoped. And time, the great Reformer, has opened their eyes, even to bitter disappointment. They have found that there is no faith in princes, but where it is to their own advantage—no matter who suffers. The statement of Lord PALMERSTON amounts to this—a summary of which we extract : "lie observed that, after the conclusion of the great war, in which our supremacy at sea had been established, a long continuance of peace was calculated upon, and the Government had thought it unnecessary to call upon the country to secure our dockyards against the distant con tingency of a war, and as long as our fleet depended upon the wind and the weather alone we did right to rest upon the strength we possessed. Gradually, however, steam became the moving power, which altered the cha racter of naval warfare and impaired the advantages of our insular position by bridging the Channel. Referring to the well-known warning given by Sir JOHN BuEGOYNE in his letter to the Duke of WELLINGTON, he observed that this appeal fell upon deaf ears; but when Lord DERBY came into power his Government took an important step to repair our means of defence, and that was followed up by the succeeding Government, though some of our most important establishments still remained imperfectly defended.. A commission was at length appointed to in quire into the facts, and the results had been laid upon the table of the house. The commissioners' recommendations would require a total outlay of £11,000,000, including about £1,500,000 for armaments ; ann be proposed, for the safet, , of the country, that these recommendations should subs tantially be carried out. To supply the funds two cov.rses were available, either to vote annually such por ticos of the sum as the country would liko to spend upon Cris object, or, as he felt it his duty to recommend, to endeavour to complete the works at the earliest possible period, without laying on the country a larger burden than was absolutely necessary, by raising by means of terminable annuities a sum sufficient t 9 effect the object in three or four years. His opinion was that, if these works were no cessary, they were necessary as soon as they could be got. The course he proposed was a departure from principle ; ; but Parliament had encouraged the raising of money 1 w loan for the improvement of landed estates, and that policy which was good for individuals could not be unwise for the country. By raising the money by means of term inable annuities there would not be a permanent burden, upon the country. It was impossible for any olio 'to say that the future, charged as the horizon was wigs cl onds, was free from danger. We bad recently eon • tiv.eted with our immediate neighbour across the Channel l oonint ercial treaty, and experience had proved that com - Z ial intercourse between nations contributed to the treajy4 Lion of peace, and he hoped much from this But the treaty alone would be frail secu r ity for a great eat ion like this, so open to attack. France had an army at 800 ,000 men, 400,000 actually in arms, a far greater fol. t e ti, He didanFrance required for the purpose of defence. nog, ruaa , tA el plirp,„e )gay that her army was raised for the upon the t ~r lmainc , , , f e : ggression, but we ought not to rely strengtheniii. 1 , g -emu of any Power, and France was not land alone; the utmost exer tions' had be en m a d e a l :1 1 7 w ale making to create a navy al most equal t) our ow n , urn oould not be required for the f . defence of Prance, but which hed th e means o f tran sporting in a few hours a large military shores. He pointed out the dan gers to which hi force t° our ° utt.ttry would be expos ed by such an at tem pt; large oontri e b levied upon the metro p olis, or a sudd en atta c k s by might be sea and land upon our nav al arsenals might destr oy the ve of our naval power, and the operation most li kelyZ e b r e ad l t e at tempted would be the landing of a considerabl e f ore , for the destruction of our dockyards. If London should be in danger, what would be wanted was the means of fighting a battle with the greatest possible amount of military , force ; - for this purpose we must provide such arrange ments as would make the smallest number of troops neces sary to defend the dockyards, and the effect of these forti fications would be to set free a larger amount of force in the field for the defence of London. M an y thought that the sum estimated by the commissioners excessive for the purpose, but their estimates included armaments, which would come out of the annual votes. The Government were of opinion that £9,000,000 would be sufficient for the purpe ; ut of this about £1,850,000 would be for the purchas os e of la o nd, a considerable portion of which would be profitably let, reduc ing the actual sum for the works to £7,150,000. lie com pared this sum with the large expenditure of France and other continental States for the same object, suggesting that, with such examples, it would be criminal in this country to neglect its defence, and that, when the proposed works should be completed, the country would be placed in a condition, humanly speaking, of comparative safety. He then read the resolution he intended to move, granting for constructing the works £2,000,000 for the present year, charged upon the Consolidated Fund, and autho rizing the Commissioners of the Treasury to raise this sum by annuities for the term of 30 years, to be charged upon the fund. The Government, he observed, did not ask the whole sum at once, but pro posed to spread it over three or four years, and £2,000,000 was as much as could be advantageously spent between the present month and the same time next year. Application would be made annually for such portions of the £9,000,000 as they were required. He reminded the House, in conclu sion, that annuities to the amount of £580,000 would expire n the year 1861, which would more than cover the interest upon this loan." As to the question of defending the metropolis Lord PALMERSTON did not enter seriously into that for the best of all reasons—that it is quite enough to do one thing at a time : and, further, that the fortification of our frontiers was the second line of our defences—the sea bein; the first ; for when we lose the command of that we may say " good bye" to our glory—nay, to our very existence as a nation. Our dockyards and prominent points of defence, such as Dover, are but the outworks of our citadel of London. IV hen these are forced and carried, London must look to itself in real earnest. But not until then, nor even then, need London despair. We have many other lines of defence, besides the hearty combination of our people, and still more our now chivalrous and patriotic volunteers. There is no reason for alarm but much for preventive caution. England abounds in lines of natural defence—her hedgerows and her eircumvalating hills afford many strongholds for a brave people resolved to be free. Much has been said about the invading enemy making a rapid and grand dash for the metropolis, even if they failed in their bold adventure. And as our sense of the possible, if not probable, danger now quickens our apprehension, many plans have been suggested to meet the emergency. Among others, there is one entitled " London's true line of defence," which we copy. It is by a staff officer, but is no more than the application nearer home of one suggested by ourselves in this ; journal some time ago for the more effectual defence of the coasts—namely, to have railway batteries traversing along the sea board with proper places of position wherever an enemy could land. Nov, the Staff officer just adopts our plan or suggestion by bringing it within some 15 miles of London, so as to encircle the metropolis. To this we fully assent, believing that some such plan would be very effectual, and be economical withal. It would, besides, give great confidence to the peOple, and afford ample scope for individual and combined exertion in the common defence of our homes and liberties. The one great purpose of security is to enure the people to a confidence in themselves, for men are but men after all, be they friends or enemies, or anything you please. If the enemy invade we must beat them off, and perhaps pay them off in the same sort, with a con sciousness of wrong to inspirit our revenge. That we are feared and even hated, for fear always be gets hate, we know. Let us therefore trust to our• selves as the only true friend, and our enemies will respect, because they fear and hate, us the more. Mr. BRIGHT, as usual, like Mr. MKT of Lottery renown, would make the House believe that the expense of these fortifications would cost double the amount proposed—even twenty-four 2111 . 111011,9 —and therefore the money would be lost. Suppose it were, would not Mr. BRIGHT prefer to lose an arm or a leg than his own pre cious head ? The expense of the life annuities proposed fur 30 years, spreading it over time, is merely that of a ground-rent for a mansion of almost perpetual comfort and security. We cannot close cur hasty notice of this momentous question without paying our best thanks to Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT for his lucid and manly statement in explanation of the plans proposed. Whoever wishes well to his country must wish a speedy success to the completion of our National Defences. There are proverbially two sides to a story, as there are many to a character. But it must have greatly astonished the majority of our readers on Saturday to learn that so much could be said, if not in defence of the recent conduct of the Druses of the Lebanon, at least in its extenuation. From the anonymous communication given by us in our impression of that evening, it will have been re marked that the recent butcheries in Syria are openly declared to have been provoked by the law less proceedings of the Maronites themselves. The European whose correspondence, unauthenti cated by any published signature, sets forth this somewhat startling accusation, appears to have been resident for the last 20 years in the country lying between the Lebanon and the Mediterranean. He may be presumed to have acquired, during that period, a certain degree of familiarity with the state of things among the native population. And certainly, in advancing this formal charge against the Christian part of that population as the ag gressors in the 'present instance, he must be allowed to have done so in a manner sufficiently explicit and categorical. In his statement of the war he begins from the beginning. " You will remember," he writes, " that last year there was a. Druse and Christian quarrel at a village called Beyt Mary ;" adding—" That quarrel was settled by a compact between the Christian Emir and the Druse chiefs to maintain peace, the Druses paying 30,000 piastres as indemnity for Christian property de stroyed." Then follows the extraordinary part of his declaration. " However," he writes—" As the Christians found to their surprise that they had killed more Druses than were slain of them selves, it appears that it either entered or was put into their heads that matters were now altered, and as the Christians were by far the most numerous, they could now overpower the Druses." The assertion appears hardly credible; but, such as it is, we have given it. "Be that as it may," writes the correspondent in this amazing communication, "it is now positive that a society was formed . . . for the very Christian pur- pose of exterminating the Muses of the Lebanon." Nay, the writer goes on to catalogue by name the leading members of the executive committee " com posed of NAIDIKICANO; ASSAD, son of ISAAC TABET; MICHAEL FARGALLA, native merchants and bankers of Beyrout ; and it is said that AYOUB TItABILSY, a merchant of Deir-el-Kamar, was attached to them. Not only are the names of the reputed chiefs of this executive committee thus enumerated, but the writer goes on to specify the nature of the par ticular duty entrusted to it--viz•, to furnish arms, ammunition, and money to the Christian popu- Llltion. He even goes so far as to add—" It is asserted that upwards of 14,000 muskets and a pro- ' portionate quantity of ammunition were in this way delivered to the peasantry." It is remarkable that the very next sentence in this singular com munication tends rather seriously to invalidate its statements ; the writer frankly ackowledging—" I will not vouch for my correctness in the names of the individuals of the committee, but they are those given by public report, and what seems to confirm the report is that, with the exception of one (M. FARGIALLA), they fled as soon as it was seen that the Druses could not be conquered so easily." The upshot of it all is manifestly, therefore, that the writer, though. a twenty years' resi dent in Syria, has been putting forward those very positive accusations (anonymously) upon the merest hearsay, upon flying rumours, and popular conjectures. What certainly helps him out so far in this direction is the consideration that France and Russia have almost equally positive inducements to secure to themselves, either separately or toge ther, some specious plea for interposition between the Druses and the Maronites, between the Chris tian and non-Christian part of the population own ing allegiance to the rule of the effete Turkish Government. Inasmuch were these the most ob vious probabilities that the news of the late civil war in Syria had hardly arrived in Western Europe before suspicions began to be aroused as to whether the deadly quarrel there had not been secretly fomented by the connivance of the French and Russian autocratic Governments. The different plight of the sick man is at any rate brought once more pointedly enough under the consideration of the European Sovereignties. Before any conclusion be arrived at by those Powers in regard to the treatment of the political invalid of Constantinople, it certainly does behove us to inquire searchingly into the causes of the recent outbreak in Syria—to decide, at least, whether Druses or the Maronites have been in this last instance the aggressors—and to ensure those unhappy regions thereupon, as best we may, from the recurrence of these periodi cal and infernal massacres. TEE SUN, LONNYN, TUESDAY EVENING. JULY 24, if 366. AND MONEY DEALERS. LONDONDERRY, JULY 24. The Montreal Ocean Company's steamer Anglo- Saxon, Captain Ballantine, from Quebec on the 14th, has arrived. She landed all mails except those for Liverpool and Manchester. The Glasgow had arrived out. WASHINGTON, JULY 12. Advices from Peru to the 12th ult. state that the relations of the United States with that Republic were approaching a crisis. The Peruvian Minister here has been notified that unless his Government accepts the American ultimatum, passports will be furnished him. The sloop of war Wyantoon had arrived in Peru. _ Despatches had been sent to Callao, instructing the American Minister to demand a settlement of the claim arising out of the seizure of the Lizzie Thompson and Georgian, and in case of non-com pliance to close the Legation. The election at Oregon had resulted in the suc cess of Logon, the Republican candidate. SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY. The North Atlantic Company's steamship Adri atic, Capt. Comstock, with New York mails and dates to the 14th inst., has arrived here. The news from Havannah was unimportant. Sugars were firm. Freights declining. Exchange firm, on London, 121 to 131. The Adriatic brings 315 passengers and 1,122,556 dols. in specie, of which 250,000 dols. are for England. She spoke the Vanderbilt 50 miles from New York, and on the 20th inst., at 11 p.m. passed afleet in close order, supposed to be the convoyof H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. News received from Mexico states that General. Ortega had defeated the forces of Ramire, and taken a number of prisoners as well as artillery and war materials. Miramon had retreated to Guadlajara, and was followed by the Liberals.__ _ . NEW YORK, JULY 14. Stocks better, and active. Flour firm and quiet. Wheat firm—demand fair. Pork firm. Sales small. EVILS OF THE COMPETITIOY AMONG BiLITES (From the Money Market Review.) More than one useful moral is to be drawn from the history of the great failures is the hide and leather trade. The public faith in the soundness of the general business of the country, though it has sustained a shock from the evidence of rotten- ness in a large section of this particular branch of trade, and from the low estimates of the probable dividends fr'om the estates of the failed firms, is reviving, now that the area of the evil is distinctly defined. But the point upon which the immediate dis cussions chiefly turn, is the extreme facilities of credit which Messrs. Streatfeild and Co., and the associated houses, were enabled to command. With out these facilities the whole system would have come to the ground long before it attained the pro portions by which the public have been so much startled. The question—how happens it that the two or three millions of unsafe paper were kept afloat so long ?—is one of deep importance to the commercial community at large, and to the share holders in our flourishing banks in particular. To placard the names of the banks and other moneyed establishments which are holders of the bills of the failed houses in the leather trade, together with the amounts held, would be so in vidious, that the press has, by a sort of tacit consent, avoided this portion of the subject, leav ing the details to transpire at the general meet ings of the banks, or at the meetings of creditors convened at the invitation of the professional accountants. It is not our intention to break through this reserve. There is the less need to publish the list now, because any person who really cares to know the extent of the involvments of each establishment may readily ascertain it by inquiry of his neighbour. It will suffice for our purpose to point to the notorious fact that a dozen of the prin cipal establishments in the city of London are more or less " hit," despite the character for caution which many of them have deservedly acquired. Now, how has this happened ? We have no hesitation in declaring our convic tion that the cause lies in the too keen competition of the banks and other establishments. Their com petition has of late years attained a height, of which the outside public have no conception. Various new banks have been formed; discount companies have been introduced ; and, although we do not say that the forcing system alluded to has originated with such establishments, it is per fectly clear that by these and similar means the channels for obtaining monetary " facilities" have been greatly enlarged, and the general rivalry of the moneyed class stimulated. There is, consequently, a vast deal of what may almost be termed " tout ing" for custom; and, in many instances, from the very trifling extent of the margin of profit, as be tween the price at which the money dealer takes money, and that at which he lends it, it would almost appear as if he were willing to work for nothing save the pleasure of keeping his connection together. We abstain from particularising in stances, in even the remotest degree, but we appeal to persons of practical experience to say if these remarks are not true. Assuming their truth, a blot in our monetary arrangements is hit. The factitious and unsound development ac quired by the operations of the insolvent houses in the leather trade, constitutes a flagrant instance of abuse of those universally-abused commercial in struments—bills of exchange ; and if, as appears-to be the case, the development complained of has been promoted by the extreme competition of bankers and other discounters, the sooner we look narrowly into the motives of their conduct, the bet ter for the health of the body commercial. It is not necessary to search far for the motives. The rivalry referred to has two aspects. In the first place it causes the money dealer to bid the highest possible price for money, and, in the next place, it causes him to lend it out again at the lowest possible price, consistent with profit, or, it may almost be said, consistent with the avoidance of certain loss. If he had not to pay so high a rate for the commodity in which he trades, he would not be obliged to look about so hastily for a chan nel wherein to employ it. But if he give, say 4 per cent. for money, when the current rate of discount for the best bills is only 44 or 41, it stands to reason that if he hold the money idle for a week, his margin of profit may be completely eaten up. Ile must employ it swiftly, and as he scours the market, if some of Messrs. Streatfeild's paper offers, he catches it up readily. But if he paid only 3 per cent. instead of 4 for money, the rate of discount for safe bills remaining at 4, be would not be in the:same hurry, and would scrutinise more narrowly the securities offered to him. The plan pursued by the discount establishments differs little from that pursued by many of the banks. The evils of the keen competition now witnessed are felt by all. A remedy would be applied by a common ac cord amongst the banks and discount establish ments not to allow more than a certain rate of interest for deposits. To the organisation of such an agreement there is no poSsible obstacle, ex cept that involved in the trade jealousy which mutually prevails. The rate of allowance on deposits might be governed absolutely by the minimum rate of discount of the Bank of England, and should in all instances be lower than that now accorded. There would naturally be one scale for deposits for long periods, and another for those at a few days' notice. As regards money "at call," we say that the sooner the practice of allowing interest upon it is abolished entirely, the better. This practice unquestionably causes the immediate reserves of bankers and others to be used up far too closely, and when a pinch comes, and these reserves are drawn back, a tendency to general confusion is occasioned. To recapitulate, then : We claim to have shown —l, that there is too much competition in the money business of the country; 2, that it has con tributed to an unsound development in the hide and leather trade, and to a wide-spread disturb ance, otherwise, to a great extent, avoidable ; 3, that one of the primary causes of the competition consists in the unduly high rates allowed by bankers and discounters for deposits, particularly for money " at call ;" and 4, that nothing would be more simple than for the whole of the esta blishments referred to to come to a common under standing, compatible with their individual interests, and highly conducive to those of the public. ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY. —On the arrival of the 8.40 a.m. train from St. Albans at the B arrow station yesterday a passenger named Patrick Leven, from Mayo, Ireland, imprudently leaped from the carriage while the train was in motion and fell between the wheels and the platform. When extricated from his perilous position it was found the unfortunate man had received extensive lacerations of the lower extremities, and on being conveyed to the University Hospital amputa tion of the leg was deemed absolutely necessary, and he re mains in a verfprecarious condition. SINGULAR ACCIDENT TN KENT.—On Saturday morning a ploughman. at Chilham was at work with a team of four horses on a farm in the occupation of Mr. Bay, when, passing too near the edge of a chalkpit, the ground under the wheel-horse gave way. Observing this, the driver struck the front horses with a view to save the others from going over, but unfortunately the chains broke. The two last horses were consequently precipitated into the pit, drag ging the plough after them. One was killed upon the spot, and the other only lived a short time after the accident. The two horses were said to be worth nearly £loo.—Araid' stone Journal. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. The Zouave company of comedians who, during the siege of Sebastopol, exerted themselves so zealously to sustain the spirits of the French army by their excellent performance of laughable little vaudevilles, in a temporary theatre of their own construction, have been engaged by Mr. Harris, for a limited number of nights, and were received with tumultuous applause on making their first appearance yes terday evening. The battles in which they were engaged were those of Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, the Malakoff, and Sebastopol ; in fact, all .the great conflicts of the Crimean campaign ; so that they come here wreathed with the laurels as well of Mars as of Apollo. Two lively vaudevilles were performed last night, the first entitled " Militaire et Pensionnaire," the second " La Conic Sensible," and both passed off with equal eclat, and diffused hearty merriment throughout the house. The female characters in each were excellently sustained. The entertainments concluded with " An Ambuscade at In korman," being a laughable representation ef the adventures which one night befel the Zouave artists, who during a dramatic entertainment were surprised by the enemy, and i had to take to their arms. We can conscientiously certify to the hearty enjoyment to be derived from a contemplation of their novel and curious performances. Frances Anne Marchiones3 of Londonderry has left Holderness House for Wynyard Park, Stockton-on- Tees. _ The Earl Granville returned to London yesterday morning from Osborne. The E•trl and Countess of Fife and family have left Grosvenor •crescent for Scotland. The Earl and Countess of Warwick have left town for Kingston-on-Thames, where the noble earl has taken a kouse for a few months. The Hon. Spencer and Lady Harriet Cowper have loft Farrance's Hotel for Sandringham Hall, Norfolk. Lady Charlotte Watson-Taylor was safely de livered of a daughter on Saturday, at her residence in Gros• venor•.square. Mr. R. S. Holford, M.P., and Mrs. Holford have left Park-lane for their seat, Westonbirt, Gloucestershire. LORD CLYDE.—The inembers of the United Ser vice Club intend to give a dinner to Lord Clyde on the oc casion of his return from India. Tuesday, the 31st inst., will probably be the day, and his Royal highness the Duke of Cambridge will preside on the occasion. LYCEUM THEATRE.—There was an amateur per formance at this house yesterday evening, when the enter tainments consisted of " The Rough Diamond," " The Corsican Brothers," and " Twice Killed." The actors were members of the South Middlesex Volunteer Rifles and their friends, and the orchestra, composed of amateurs, was under the direction of Mr. Seymour Egerton. BRASENOSE COLLEGE.—Mr. Wm. Stonhouse, scholar of this college, who obtained a first-class at the re cent moderation examination in the classical school, has been nominated an exhibitioner on Mr. Holmes's founda- PEMBROKE COLLEGE.—A vacancy has occurred in this college by the lamented death of the Rev. Thomas Frederick Henney, M.A., vicegerent, fellow and tutor, examining chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Lincoln, and ?rebendary of Lincoln Cathedral. EARLY CLOSING.—The principal tradesmen of the West-end have, we are informed, come to the determi nation of closing their establishments at four o'clock in the afternoon on Saturdays, commencing on the Ist of Septem ber next. THE EASTERN FISHERIES.—The herring and mackerel fisheries have virtually closed off the east coast. On the whole the season has been a gloomy and unprofit able one to those concerned. The amount subscribed on behalf of the widows and orphans of the poor fellows lost in the May gale has reached the handsome sum of £7,500. VOLUNTEER REVIEWS.—It is announced on authority that a review of the volunteers of Gloucestershire and the neighbouring counties will take place in the middle of September, on the spacious meadows near Gloucester. A review by her Majesty of the Scottish Volunteers at Edinburgh has been fixed fur the 7th of August. It is stated that Sir Fitzroy Kelly, in addition to his retainer, refreshers, and consultation fees, received threelhundre4 guineas in each of the four Wakefield bri bery prosecution cases upon which the records have been withdrawn. If this is true, the cost of the defence, without the trial, in these cases, cannot be much under £2,000. — Leeds Mercury. The Atlantic Royal Mail Steam Navigation Com pany's steam-ship Prince Albert sails from Galway this day (Tuesday), with her Majesty's mails for Newfoundland and New York. Messages will be received by the British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company up to 2.50 p.m., for America, via St. John's, Newfoundland. The Mediterranean Extension Telegraph Com pany are about to lay a new cable between Corfu. and Otranto, on the eastern coast of Italy, a distance of between 70 and 80 miles, thereby rendering telegraphic communica tion completefrom the former place to Malta. The old line between Corfu and Malta ceased working about twelve months ago, but attempts will now be made to repair it, although doubts prevail as to whether they will be success ful. VERDICT AGAINST A RAILWAY COMPANY.—A verdict for £1,300 damages, against the County Down Railway Company, was obtained on Saturday, at the An trim Assizes, by Mr. Duffield, a provision merchant of Bel • fast, for injuries suffered in an accident caused by the negli gence of the defendants' servants. Another gentleman, also a sufferer by the occurrence, it will be remembered, was awarded £2,100 against the same company, upon a similar acti' n, tried on the previous day. MR. COBDEN AND HIS COVENTRY DUPES.—The Rochdale Pilot, for which town Mr. Cobden is member, says :—" The first fruits of the French Commercial Treaty are being reaped at Coventryoi here the ribbon trade appears to be utterly ruined. We would suggest that Mr. Cobden be immediately sent for heme to inform these Coventry weavers what they aro to do to earn a living. Great commercial changes always inflict injury, temporary or permanent, upon some people, but surely Mr. Cobden has not made such a one-sided bargain but that he can show some trades benefited as well as some injured • he can undoubtedly tell the poor weavers of Coventry what they had better do in this emergency; therefore, let him be sent for immediately, and surely there is no necessity for Mr. Cobden to come home to do this." It might be well, however, to confront his dupes ; and if he were sent to Coventry altogether, it would be a fitting punishment. TESTIMONIAL TO CAPTAIN J. P. CORBIN.—Some few weeks since we referred to a splendid painting that had been presented to Captain J. P. Corbin, of the General Steam Navigation Company's steam-ship John Bull, by the underwriters of Hamburg, and we have now to record an other offering on the part of the merchants and shipbrokers of the same city, in the shape of a magnificent timepiece and a massive silver tray bearing a suitable inscription. The deputation, on presenting the seine, referred to the number of years C a p tain Corbin had traded in the com pany's servicelo that port, and the very great pleasure that body had felt in recording the appreciation of the care and attention he had always bestowed, and hoped he would live many years to enjoy their confidence. During the address, Captain Corbin was sensibly affected, but he briefly but sincerelynhim. thanked them for the honou r the y had conferred u )o PROPORTION OF THE SEXES IN VICTORIA.— The disparity of the sexes in the crudely-formed colony of Victoria appears to be greater than in any other part of Australia. The last census of the population of the colony showed 88,355 unmarried men, of 20 years and upwards, to but 12,545 unmarried women of corres p onding ages. The proportion of unmarried men on the gold fields was still greater, the bachelors being to the spinsters in the propor tion of upwards of 20 to 1. Could not the Employment of Women Society take this matter in hand with advantage, instead of endeavouring to block up dill more the home labour market ? LATEST NE NV S. The fol lowing telegrams have been received at Mr. Rent er's office : THE PRINCESS FREDERICK WILLIAM OF PRUSSIA. BERLIN, 10.2 A.M. Her Royal Highness the Princess Frederick William ht , s just been happily delivered of a daughter. Her Royal Highness and the Royal infzut are doing well. PARIS, JULY 24. The Constitutionnel of today publishes an article expressing doubts on the exactitude of the news of an armistice having been concluded between the Druses and the Maronites, and hoping• that Europe will not thus allow a sponge :to be passed over the blood of Christians, and sutler all that has passed to be thus hushed up. NAPLES, JULY 23. Neraux, Dagostine, Nuntziante, Debre) and Scoletta have been sent away from Naples. Messina, Milazzo, and Syracuse have been eva cuated by the troops, who are being transported to Naples in steamers. VIENNA, JULY 23. The evening edition of the official - Wiener Zeitteng publishes the following telegram, dated Pesth, July 21 : " Last evening a large crowd gathered before the Zrinig Coffee-house. . " After the conclusion of the performance in the Hungarian theatres, a man addressed the public in the Hatvaner Gasse. Several seditious cries were heard. " Order was re-established at midnight. Ten individuals of the working class were arrested." NAPLES, JULY 22. After a conference with Count Cavour it was decided that the King of Sardinia should send an adjutant with an autograph letter to Garibaldi, re questing him not to attack the mainland. PARIS, JULY 23. The Patrie says :—" According to the latest news from Syria the state of things continued to be serious. Three French steamers were off Lata kia, Saida, and Acre, in order to restrain the in habitants, who continued to display very hostile dispositions. IVARSEILLES, JULY 23. Orders have been given for the simultaneous embarcation of troops at Marseilles, Toulon, and Algiers with the shortest possible delay. Two regiments from Chalons have just arrived at Toulon. The reserve squadron will be armed, the motives for which are stated to be the fresh exigencies of ,he service. FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAINE, JULY 23. It is asserted that the Kings of Saxony and Bavaria will not take part in the interview be tween the Emperor of Austria and the Prince Regent of Prussia at Toplitz. The Prince Regent passed through this place this morning. He proceeds to Toplitz via Dresden. The Preussi.sehe Zeitung publishes the following : " For some time past the relations between the Cabinets of Vienna and Berlin have been much more friendly, and now a further step has been taken. In an autograph letter his Majesty the Emperor Francis Joseph has expressed his eager desire to have a personal interview with the Prince Regent of Prussia. The Emperor left it to the Prince to appoint the place for a meeting. We hope that the personal interview about to take place between the two rulers on the 26th inst., at Toplitz, will turn out favourably to the best inte rests of Germany." A letter from Berlin dated the 20th inst. says : "In liberal circles the interview between the Em peror of Austria and the Prince Regent of Prussia is looked forward to with same anxiety. The Prince Regent declared at Baden-Baden that, under all circumstances, Prussia would stand up with all her power for the integrity of Germany, thus, doubtless, also for the integrity of German Austria ; and this the Prussian people fully approve. But they do not want to see the fate of Prussia connected with the fallen mixed provinces of the Austrian Empire." The National Zeitung says :—" As matters stand, as little good is expected from the interview be tween the Emperor Francis Joseph and the Prince Regent as arose from the interview with the Em peror of the French. At Vienna as at Paris the object aimed at is to shackle the independent ae _ tion of Prussia." It is nevertheless. a fact that an approximation has taken place between the two great German Courts. FRANCE. A letter from the camp of Chalons, dated Satur day, says :—" An important piece of news has this moment arrived here; it is spreading through the camp like lightning, and is electrifying the sol diers. The 15th and 13th Regiments of infantry have received orders to leave for Syria, and they are already preparing to depart. They are to pro ceed direct to Marseilles, travelling as rapidly as possible, so as to embark on the 23d. In order to complete on a war footing the companies of the two regiments, volunteers have been called for from the other corps in the camp, and on an average up wards of 20 men per company of each of the regi ment of the three divisions have already presented themselves. This is ten times the number required. As, in fact, the five brigades of infantry remaining in the camp consist of 20 battalions, each of eight companies, it follows that upwards of 3,000 men have volunteered, though only . a few hundreds were wanted." BOURSE, July 23.—The market opened with some little show of buoyancy at 68f 50e ; but the improvement was not long maintained, and Threes, for the account, are now at 68f 25c; Mobilier, 680 f; Orleans, 1,360 f; Lyons, 881 f 25c. The following are the last quotations : ft per per Cents ... 97 15 Credit Foncier BBO Do end month.... Belgian 4i — 3 per Cents Do. end month 6B 25 , Roman Bank Shares 2820 —1 Austrian 81 Credit Mobilier.... 680 Spanish Threes 47 50 Do. Account 682 50 ` Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans 1365 .. 1363 75 Northern New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 886 25 .. 885 Geneva 367 50 .. 367 60 Southern 503 25 .. 505 Western . - Eastern Sardinian Anstrian ......... . Lombard SYRIA. The Tndependance Beige reports from Paris that the French Government will give a high military command in Syria to Abd-el-Kader, and employ his influence over the Mahomcclan population in favour of the Christians. For the exertions he made to protect them, in the late outbreak of fanati cism, it is stated that the Arab chief is to receive the Cross of the Legion of Honour. EUROPEAN TROOPS IN INDIA.—We learn from a return issued yesterday that the total number of men be longing to the European troops in India who have taken their discharge since 1858, in consequence of being refused bounty, and who were sent to the United Kingdom, was 10,116. The total number of such men re-enlisted since their return to Envland is 2,809, of whom 1,180 were re enlisted in London, 680 in York, and 399 in Liverpool. THE Dl2 USES IN SYRIA. That the Syrian Christians ever became subject to the Turkish rule, or that they are now being massacred wholesale by fanatics, they owe to their internecine contentions. For the Christian popula tion of Syria exceed that of the Islahomedan ten to one. From the following remarks, taken from Mr. J. Lewis Farley's interesting narrative of " Two Years in Syria," some idea of the want of unity which exists among the various sects of Christians m - ty be gathered : The fatal weakness which has made this beautiful coun try a manacled slave at the feet of its Mohammedan mas ters, has been, and still continues to be, sectarianism. Were the people united, the Turks could not hold the country for an hour, as they form but a tenth of the population. But the internecine feuds of the different sects have enabled the Turks to carry out the policy of most conquerors—"divide and govern." The Jew detests the Samaritan ; the Greek hates the Latin ; and the Maronite condemns both. We have amongst our clerks in the bank a Greek Catholic and a Maronite. The latter one day said to me, in allusion to the former, "Do not place any dependence, sir, on —; he does not know what truth or honour is." The other on a subsequent occasion said, "You appear, sir, to place con fidence in —; but you will be deceived, as he is scarcely a Christian." Besides the various Mohammedan sects, there are n ine sects of Christians :—G reeks, Greek Catholics, Latins, Maronites, Syrians or Jacobites, Syrian Catholics, Armenians, Armenian Catholics, and, of late years, Pro- .estants. In the bazaars, even, this difference of opinion is ap parent ; for you never in any one day see all the shops open, nor arc they st any one time all shut. The shops of the Moslem are shut on, Friday, their Sabbath; the Jews close on Saturday, and the Christians on Sunday. Each day in the week is a holiday, either for the Greek, the Maronite, or some other of these numerous sects ; and it is quite a usual occurrence for a man's bill to be unpaid be. cause he is making kay, awl absent from his office, it being one of his saints' days. This is considered quite legitimate; and it is not lawful to protest a bill until twenty-four hours after it is due. The Druses were formerly the most powerful, and are still the most remarkable of all the tribes of Lebanon. Their origin is a subject of controversy. Some say they sprang from a remnant of French crusaders, who, unable to return to their native land, settled in Lebanon under the chieftainship of a Comte de Dreux, whence their name of Druse. The celebrated Druex, Fakhr-ed-Din, who was fourth emir, and in whose family the supreme rule was vested, previously to the accession of the Shehab family to power, took care to spread this report of the origin of his people when he visited Italy in the early part of the seven teenth century, in order to solicit aid against the Ottoman Government. This prince introduced a great amount of civilisa tion among the tribes of the mountains, " But most historians make the Caliph Hakam Bi—Amr Allah, the founder of the Druse religion. When quite a boy he attained the Caliphate of Cairo in the year of the Hej ira 386 or AD,996, and his reign was marked by the absurdities of a madman, and the cruelties of a monster. He caused himself to be proclaimed a divinity and the founder of a new religion which was entirely to set aside that of Mahommed. Fear of his barbarity made some sixteen thousand people acknowledge his divinity, which, however, assisted him nothing as his mortality was very emphatically established by his being murdered by his Vizier llanzsi." Subsequent Caliphs persecuted the fol lowers of the Hakem religion, and in this, as in almost all such cases, persecution but served to sti mulate zeal and provoke resistance. Some, how ever, fled to Syria, where the somewhat similar doctrines of Hakem Burka, the veiled prophet of Rhorasson had been disseminated, and they soon became a powerful people. The southern portion of Lebanon is inhabited by the Druses. Their religious doctrines are very little known out of their own tribe ; but their code of morals, and the good faith that prevails in their dealings, might afford a good example to those sects who are supposed to take the precepts of Christianity for their guide. Their word is as binding with them as a legal contract with others, and their hospitality is unbounded. When once bread is broken with a guest, the ties and obligations of hospitality become sacred ; and many instances aro upon record where a Druse has suffered serious loss of property rather than be tray those who had thus become entitled to the shelter of his roof. People when excited by religious fanaticism will go to extreme lengths and commit great enormities, but it is only a few and those in general mad beyond all control of reason, who will rush upon certain destruction. Were the Christians at all united there would be little fear of molestation from the Druses, but the perpetual petty contests going on amongst them gives strength and confidence to their enemies. Public feeling is naturally exasperated against the barbarity of the conquerors, and the cowardice and treachery of the Turks. But w e have as yet but one version of the story. Certain letters from Syria state that the Christians were the aggressors, that they had sown the whirlwind and are now reaping the storm. Be this as it may we opine that both parties are to blame, but most of all the Ottoman Government. Indolence and intrigue are fast completing what weakness and neglect have commenced. At the present time the Ottoman empire is too extensive, and composed of too many barbarous tribes, antagonistic in nearly every respect, both civil and religious, to be go verned peaceably by the corrupt and imbecile court of Constantinople. Without giving prepon derance to any European power, these states might be placed under a separate rule. Why should not Syria and part of the adjacent count; be united to Egypt, since annexa tion is the order of the day, and Egypt so enlarged be constituted an independent State, As civilisa tion now exists wholsale murder and rapine are not to be tolerated. Crusades against infidels, whether conducted by Christians, Mahomedans, or Druses, might have been all very well in the 12th century, when ignorant and superstitious zealots were the dupes of designing priests and would-be prophets ; but now-a-days religion is not be forced down peoples' throats at the point of the bayonet. Toleration is now the order of the day ; every man should have liberty to go to heaven or elsewhere his own road, but at the same time be prevented, by stringent laws strictly enforced, from interfering with the religious opinions and forms of worship of his neighbours. If the Turkish Government do bestir itself in this matter, let it do so with a deter mination to do justice. Let it not wreak its ven geance on the unthinking and misguided multi tude, but search out the real responsible parties in high places, the first instigators of these de plorable occurrences, and visit with condign punishment its own representatives, who, not content to look on and see murder done before their eyes without interference, basely persuaded a foolishly confiding crowd of Christians to surrender their arms, guaranteeing their security, and then treacherously betrayed them to those thirsting for their blood. Only by a bold, fearless, and straightforward course, resulting in the punishment of the guilty, can the Govern ment at the Porte hope to palliate its reprehen sible conduct in neglecting to guard its subjects against the machinations of knaves and fanatics. LONDON'S TRUE LINE OF DEFEII'CE, A Staff Officer, in a letter to a contemporary, says:-- The most effective and economical line of defence which London could possess would be a circular railway, forming a complete cordon round it at an average distance of 15 miles from its centre ; and having for its interior lines of operation the nume rous railways which already intersect the space in dicated, anct which would form radii and chords to the proposed circle. First, during war such a railway; with its electric telegraph, would permit of an overwhelming num ber of men and guns being concentrated at any given point in an incredible short space of time ; and, as the whole science of war may be briefly summed up as consisting in " the art of placing in the right position at the right time, a mass of troops greater than the enemy can there oppose to you," —arguing upon such premises, which, according to all past history are sound, it follows that, by the adoption of this scheme, a successful defence of Lon don would be rendered a certainty, and placed so far beyond the shadow of a doubt that— " Came the three corners of the world in arms, And we shall shoCk them." To adapt this railway to the special purpose it is intended to serve, it would only be necessary to carry a parapet along the entire length of its outer edge, to have numerous " sidings" and " switch in.'s" at regular distances—to have Armstrong and Whitworth ordnance mounted upon large iron plated trucks, in the manner suggested some time since by Mr. W. Bridges Adams, in an able article contributed to Once a Week,—and to have those trucks fitted with traversing platforms and shot proof shields of the kind recently described in public by Captain Coles, R.N. :—" The great economy of this scheme is worthy of remark. One gun transportable would do the work of 20 which are fixtures in forts, and there would be no men to take prisoners, for no forts would be captured." It must in truth be admitted that in these days of steam locomotion stationary forts and batteries, which can only act with their guns in one direction or locality, are obsolete anachronisms and an utter waste of power. Second.—During peace such a railway would be available for purposes of traffic and passenger loco motion, and so yield, at least, some return for the Woolwich,lord, ou capital sunk in its formation. Moreover, by thus uniting thesuburbanlndistricts of f on toi and I Bromley, Norwood, Wi mbledon, Chiswick, Aefon, Hendon, Finchley, r metropolitan thoroughfares would be rel ieve d f rom a very considerab le portion of that prodigious car riage-work by which they are at present oppressed. The more this system is thought of, the more the conviction will grow that it is the simplest mode of rendering London and its suburbs impenetrable to i n vaders at a trustthat you w comparativelytriflingillgive my cost. i therefore idea" publicity, if only with the hope of its meeting the eye of some one more qualified than myself to elabo rate it and bring the subject to a practical issue. WORCESTER RACES.—(This Day.) [WY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. CRAVEN STAKES. Crater Gaspard Bel Esperanza, LATEST BETTING. STEWARD'S CUP. 100 to 15 agst Maggiore (taken) 100 to 8 agst Rover (taken) 100 to 7 agst Montebello (taken) 100 to 6 agst Enfield (taken) 20 to 1 agst Seclusion (taken) IMPERIAL PA fi LIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(Tins DAY.) The SPEAKER took the chair at 20 minutes after 12 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Lords' amendments to the following bills were con sidered and agreed to :—Hay Railway, Horsham and Guildford Direct Railway, and Macclesfield Gas Bills. POOR LAW BOARD CONTINUANCE BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. On clause 1, Mr. BAILEY moved an amendment to the effect that this bill should be continued for only 12 months. He said that, in bringing forward this motion, he did not for a mo ment impugn the efficiency of the heads of the Poor Law Board, nor their immediate predecessors, for both had done much to administer the powers entrusted to them in a • manner that divested them of much that was disagreeable. The act was peculiarly objectionable from its interfering with the privileges of the House of Commons, which had delegated the power, not only of levying rates, but of nominating officers. But there was one power more objectionable than another possessed by the Poor Law Board, namely, the power to make regu lations which had the effect of law throughout the kingdom. He complained also of the mode in which the money collected for the poor was dealt with by the guardians, who too frequently consulted their interests in stead of those which were entrusted to them. The manner in which relief was administered was in some cases very de fective, particularly in regard to the Irish who were cruelly ex pelled from the country where they expended their strength and energies. He repeated that there were constitutional objections to the bill, and he thought it would be most de sirable to consider the matter carefully, in order that next year they might be in a position to legislate in a satisfac tory manner on this important subject. Mr. S. ESTCOURT said that he agreed in some of the remarks of the hon. member (Mr. Bazley), but he objected to the limitation which he proposed. He did not think it necessary to restrict the continuance of this bill to one year in order to remedy the evils which were admitted, for though its continuance were extended to five years the Government could institute inquiries into the operation of the system and bring forward measures for its improvement. In any attempt to ameliorate the existing system, the house would not only be willing but eager to legislate on the matter. He thought that inquiries should be made with regard to the different workhouses in the kingdom, in order to ascertain if improvements could not be intro duced, and also whether a central board could be dispensed with, to thebenefit of the administration of the Poor Law. If the committee, to whom this inquiry was confided, were of opinion that the board should be abolished, or that any other alterations should be introduced, or made any report, the house would then be in a position to legislate, but he considered no advantage would result from the adoption of the motion of the honourable member (kr. Bazley). He hoped that the right hon. mem ber (Sir E. Lewis) would accept the continuance of this bill for five years, with the understanding that he would intr•- duce a measure on the subject next session, or that, at all events, the Government would not offer any impediment to any other hon. member who might be desirous of bringing in a measure with a view to the improvement of the exist ing system. He concluded by supporting the clause. Mr. PIGOTT agreed with the last speaker, that thebest mode of dealing with the question would be the appoint ment of a committee of inquiry. Mr. DEEDES considered that the continuance of the bill only for the year would not be desirable, but at the same time he thought five years was too long a period for such continuance, as the latter might have the effect of shelving any satisfactory settlement of the question for some years. He suggested as a middle course that the bill should be continued for three years. Lord FERMOY said that unless the right hon. gentle man (Sir G. Lewis) gave a distinct pledge that there should be a committee of inquiry next session he should support the amendment. There was dissatisfaction with the work ing of the system, which was ascribed to the Central Board, and it was necessay that there should be an enquiry. Mr. B. OSBORNE said that there was already sufficient information on this subject without the inquiry in question being instituted. He alluded to the elaborate report as to the working of the Board from 1854, and there was an ad mirable synopsis on this subject recently published, which gave a full account of the working of the system since the Poor Law Board was established. He denied that the central board had given general dissatisfaction, for out of 640 Unions under 100 had petitioned against this board, of which 40 were merely directed to modifications. These petitions were chiefly got up in London, and were of a sectarian character, arising from the admission of Roman Catholic chaplains into workhouses. The Poor Law Board had given security to the landed pro perty of this country by its admirable administration, against the heads of which, no matter what party had been in power, no complaint had been preferred. (Hear, hear.) It had also effected a saving in the expenditure during the last twenty years of £30,000,000, besides an additional sav ing in regard to litigation of no less than £150,000 a-year. Mr. DUNCOMBE denied that there was any sectarian feeling involved in the presentation of the petition against the continuance of this bill beyond one year, in illustration of which he referred to some of the large families in Fins bury who had presented such petitions. He considered that inquiry was necessary and should not be delayed. Mr. DEEDES defended and eulogised the Poor Law Board, and opposed the amendment. Mr. ADDERLY supported the clause but advocated an inquiry. Sir W. MILES said he thought the time had arrived when their should be a full and fairinquiry into the opera tion of the poor-law and the board. If that were conceded to he thought it would satisfy all parties. [LEFT SPEAKING.] THIS DAY'S MARKETS. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.-IVloadow hay, £3 Os to £5 Os Od ; new do., £2 lOs to £4 Os; old cloyur, £4 Os to £6 Os Od ; new do., £3 lOs to £4 18s ; and straw, £1 15s t o £2 54 per load. Trade dull. CUMBERLAND.--Old Meadow hay, £3 t o £5 2s 6d; new do., £2 15s to £4 Os; old clover, £4 Os to £6 Os Od ; new do., £3 lOs to £4 18s; and straw, £1 166 to £2 5s per load. A slow demand. WHITECHAPEL.—OId meadow hay, £3 Os to £5 Os Od; new do., £2 lOs to £4 Os ; old cloven, £4 Os to £6 Os Od ; new do., £3 10s to £4 13s ; and straw, £1 14s to £2 2s per load. Trade dull. COLONIAL. TEA.—The market continues very dull, only a limited amount of business having been effected at late quotations• SUGAR.—No public sales of importance have been held, and in the private market the dealings have been only for immediate wants, at about former rates. In the Refined market prices have shown a downward tendency. COFFEE.—OnIy a moderate business has been recorded, but prices are firm for the better qualities of Plantation Ceylon. RlCE.—Moderato inquiries have been experienced for East India descriptions, and a steady business done at about late rates. Rum.—No sales of importance have taken place, and prices are unaltered. _ SALTPETRE.—The market is very quiet, and quotations generally are unaltered. INDIGO.—The public sales were brought to a conclusion yesterday, and the average decline in prices, compared with the previous sales, may be quoted at 6d. to Bd. per lb. TALLOW.—The market is steady, and a fair business hail been done for immediate consumption. P.Y.O , o n the spot, 535. ; last three months, 52 5 . 6d . to 5 25. 9d. 'per cwt. COAL MARK Wrioes of Coal per Ton at .ET—JULY 23. the close of the market.) Walls End. s. d. West Hartley 16 3 Davison's West Hart- s. ( 1 ' South Hartlepool l7 :.' Acorn Close ..17 7, Helton.... Cassop lB 0 Harton Thorpe Keiper Grange ........18 " Russell's Hetton 18 0 Walls End. Brsddyll's Hetton 18 Eden 17 6 Stewart's' 19 9 Haswell .... l9 01Franwellgate 17 6 Tunstall Hartlepool. lB 9 South Durham .....• . . :• . . ..... ~,uO 4 Heugh Hall 17 6 ' Belmont . l7 v, North Hartlepool.-- 15 6 Shincliffe l7 " South Hetton.. 19 0 Riddell . l7 ! Whitworth l6 0 ' South Kelloe ........18 v Ships at market, 71—Sold, 64. ley l6 Hastings Hartley ....16 Wylam - 16 Tanfield Moor 13 Tiulfield Moor Butes 13 Holywell 15 Co UNTB r_ 2l1 - 41 a ET'S. COLCHESTEIt —J UT 7 21. There was a rather small supply of wheat, and busines° was firm at is to 2s advance. Sprint coin quiet, at bare l y Wheat, white.. • • 603 to 63s 1 B eans, Mazagan 37s to 401 red ...... 54s to 58 s I Middle & small 40 s to 4 40 Barley .......... 36s to 503 1 White peas 3Bs to 400 .. 20s to Oats .......... 28 s Grey, . 385 to 40° late rates. CHELMSFORD --JULY 20. A fair supply of wheat ; the trade ruled slow, at the cures reneies of last week, but best sorts had a tendency to ad' f va nce. Very little dying in spring corn, with prices as °f late. Wheat! white....4ls to 61s J roas, Partridge 42s to 4 3 , ° , Gltrinding,' red ...... 41 s to 55s White 42s to 4 0 42s to 4 06 Barley .......... 38 s t o 48 s i B o ili ng Q 7, to 40 4 • • Chevalier 428 to 52s Dun 61s to 67s Harrow Ticks 39s to 4; Mazagan 37s to 4 0 32s to 37s I Beam, Tick s to q , 4 , Ma Chevalier ....64s to 69s I Oats 32s to 41s YORK— JULY 21. A meagre supply of wheat from the farmers, which Of, a fair demand, at is to 2s over the last week's ptices, ° 9 ' et 11 scarce, with a firm trade, Beans were in small supply, a'''d a shade higher. No malting barley shown to day, grinding coded full rate. Wheat, red mman .56s to 68s i s Oats.... 3os ...... to 3° 0 White do .60s to 64s i Beans 48s to Barle Malt, as qr .32s to 35s ; r 1 P s to • — " P •• • • sto 70s per . ye, eas 40s per qr. ; flour, 42- to 44s per sack. • KIRK ALDY—JULY 21. We had very snnll supplies of grain to-day, and Pr ices in favour of scalers. Sales ready. Wheat Barley Oats First.... 50s Od 34s Od 28s Od Second .. 58s Od —s Od 31s Od Third .. 69s Od .---s Od, --s Od I