The Sun. — London, England, 1869-01-28 00:00:00

THE RIGHT HON. C. P. VILLIERS ON COMPOUNDING. The Right Hon. C. P. Villiers, M.P., speaking at a meeting at Cosely, near Wolverhampton, on Tuesday, after referring at some length to the matter of local govern ment boards, advocating their formation to a larger extent, he remarked that one very important question now was how to prevent pauperism. Some reference had been made to the system of compounding for the rates. His opinion was that the system of compound. ing was not at the time the bill was passed properly understood in the House. Since the passing of the recent bill there was great overcrowding in poor parishes, several families living in one house, which had caused many houses at the present time in Sedgley to be void. He also learnt that there was extreme difficulty in recovering rates since the abolition of the compounding, and he strongly advocated a restoration to composition, which had proved to he, particularly in Sedgley, most valuable and facile mode of collecting rates. The system of compounding seemed to him to be an advantage to the owner, the occupier, and the parish at large. He was very glad to find that Mr. Gladstone, in a recent speech, had stated that the compounding system was a subject which must engage the earliest attention of the House of Commons. He con• eluded by assuring them that he should continue to dis charge to the utmost of his ability those claims his con stituents had upon him. Mr. 'l'. M. Weguelin, M.P., also thanked his constituents then present for the honour they had done him. He expressed his disappointment in not seeing his right hon. colleague a member of the newly formed Cabinet. He said they had a Government from which they expected a great deal. They would anxiously look forward for two things especially, viz., retrenchment and economy ; and he felt sure that the present Govern ment would do its best to satisfy the wishes of the country thereon. EARL GRANVILLE ON NEW ZEALAND. A committee of the colonists and others interested in New Zealand gave a dinner in St. James's Hall on Wed nesday night to the Hon. W. Fitzherbert, Colonial Treasurer of the colony which has recently been the scene of such melancholy events. Sir George Grey, late Governor of New Zealand, presided, and at the cross table there were Earl Granville, the Eight Hon. Mr. Monsell, Mr, Wentworth Dilke, M.P., Sir C. Clifford, Mr. Vanderbyl, M.P., &c. During the proceedings a silver service was presented to Mr. Fitzherbert as a testimonial. In proposing the toast of the evening, coupled with the name of the Hon. Mr. Fitzherbert, the CHAIR MAN observed that certain financial measures became the law of New Zealand, and Mr. Fitzherbert had most faithfully fulfilled the trust imposed upon him respecting it. Every one must admit that he per formed the trust with fidelity, diligence, and faithfulness, and therefore with the most perfect success. In doing this he relieved the revenues of New Zealand of about £30,000, to say nothing of the gains he had achieved for the use of the colonies. Mr. Fitzherbert had devoted the best part of his life to promoting the true welfare and prosperity of New Zealand, but in doing FS) he had not sought or received any reward except the avowed approbation and best wishes of the greatest portion of his fellow colonists. The toast of "Her Majesty's Ministers" was, of course, responded to by Earl G RANVILLE. Taking as an omen the length of time the Government of which the honoured guest of the evening was a member had lasted, by an infu sion of blood—two and a half years— he (the noble earl) hoped during the time the present Ministers were in office they would do nothing contrary to the honour and interest of all parts of the great empire, which, as had been said ranged all over the globe. The day after the Government was formal the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a speech in which he declared that her Majesty's Government was perfect, and that they had done nothing absolutely wrong whatever. He was afraid after six weeks of office it would be a bold thing to state so much as that. But at all events they had not been found out. Whether Mr. Gladstone had dealt a secret blow at emigration nobody knew ; whether Mr. Bright had forged any fetters of free trade for the colonies could not be said ; whether Lord Clarendon lad embroiled us in a new war with the Continent could not be avowed positively ; and he believed nobody knew whether Mr. Monsell and himself had inaugurated a retrograde policy with regard to colonial affairs. The question was whether a small office in Downing-street was to think itself competent to protect, guide, and interfere in the local affairs of a race of men as well able as ourselves to take care of them selves. Upon coming there he did feel there was a dark cloud hanging over the affairs of the New Zealand colony. Events had occurred there which had alarmed the English friends of the settlers. Yet we need not look to the future with despair, and without divulging Cabinet secrets, he might state that during the afternoon he had received a telegram in the following terms from the Governor of New Zealand :—" The rebels on the east coast of the island who perpetrated the massacre at Poverty Bay have been defeated in two engagements with severe loss. It is now intended, as soon as possible, to concentrate the greater part of the colonial forces on the west coast, with the object of putting down the rebellion in that quarter. The so-called Maori king is still quiet, and there has been no fresh outbreak hitherto in any part of the colony." During the evening the sympathy of this country had been called for. New Zealand had our sympathy to the greatest extent, and we should all feel not only the greatest sympathy with the misfortunes that had taken place, but admiration for the self-reliant action exhibited by the colonists themselves, crownel as it had been with so much success. LAW AND POLICE. THE SALE OF EsTms.—ln the Court of Chancery an appeal was beard from the Master of the Rolls which raised a question of some general importance. By a section of the Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Act, the Court of Chancery is em. powered to authorise a sale of the whole or of any parts of settled estates. By another section it is provided that after the completion of any sale under the authority of the court it shall not be invalidated on the ground that the court was not authorised to order it, except that no such rule shall have any effect against anyperson whose concurrence was not obtained. It was on the ground of this condition that the action of Beioley v. Carter was brought, the plaintiff contending that the interests of some remote heirs were not consulted in a sale of property. The Master of the Rolls gave his decision for the plaintiff ; hence the present appeal. The Lords Justices reversed the decision of the lower court, holding that as the objection did not refer to any existing person with a beneficial interest in the property, but only to the case of a possible and ultimate interest, such a construction would unduly narrow the Act and defeat its object. THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORICS.—Mr. Hughes, late chief accountant to the Metropolitan Board of Works, has again been brought up on a charge of having embezzled £2,000, the moneys of the ratepayers. The defendant, who simply denied the charge, was com mitted for trial at the March sessions of the Central Criminal Court. WISBECH ELECTION RroTs.—At the Wisbech County Court, the case of Peacock v. Young and another came on for trial. The plaintiff, a cabinet-maker sought to recover £lO, the value of some windows and looking. glasses broken during the riots. Mr. Richard Young, the defendant, is one of the late members for Cambridgeshire, and a director of the Great Eastern Railway. The plaintiff gave his version of the riots, saying that when Mr. Young's carriage was dragged by the crowd past the shop, Mr. Young pointed to the pink and white flags, when stones and missiles were thrown, smashing windows and glasses, Mr. Young meanwhile encouraging the rioters. Mr. Young, Mr. Brand, M.P., and Mr. Alderman Boys were then examined, and posi tively swore that though Mr. Young and Mr. Brand acknowledged the cheering, they tried to restrain the rioters. The judge said he quite exonerated Mr. Young from any participation in the outrageous conduct of the mob, but the question involved was whether his remain. ing in the carriage did not fix him with a share of the responsibility. He would not decide the case that day, and he hoped that, whatever his decision might be, the party against whom it went would appeal, so that a decision of the superior courts might be obtained. INTERNATIONAL COINAGE. —The Liverpool Cham ier of Commerce has unanimously adopted a motion to the effect that the present Government should be memo lised with the view of reducing the value of the English sovereign, so that it may be equal to the American $5; and that a coin of the value of 10fr. be adopted as a universal unit. VISIT OF THE QUEEN TO THE CONTENT AT CARISBROOKE.—The Roman Catholic establishment at Carisbrooke, known as the Convent, or Nunnery, was visited by the Queen on Wednesday last. Her Majesty was attended by Lady Churchill, and inspected every part of the establishment, accompanied by Laxly Clare, the foundress of the institution. — Hants Independent. EMIGRATION TO TEXAS. -- Messrs. Patton, Vielzerfi, and Co., of Liverpool, the agents of the Pioneer line of steamers to Texas (U.S.), have received a cable despatch from Galveston, announcing that the State Legislature of Texas have made a grant to the " Pioneer line" of 500,000 acres of public land (reserved exclu sively to the State on admission into the union), with other epliatgal jpueuts, .fFT encourazing and ; 0 44 4 iniiaratiew:; NEW LAW ON PETROLEUM. On Monday nen, the Ist of February, the new law as tc the safe keeping of petroleum and other substances of a like nature, passed in July last, will in several enactments take effect. The statute is to be construed with the 25t1 and 26th Victoria, cap. 66. From and after the Ist proximo no petroleum is to be kept, otherwise than for private use within fifty yards of a dwelling-house or of a building in which goods are stored, except in pursuance of s license given in accordance with the Petroleum Act, 1862. There may be annexed to any such license such conditions as to the mode of storage, as to the nature of the goods with which petroleum may be stored, as tc the testing of such petroleum from time to time, anc generally as to the keeping of petroleum as may seem ex• pedient to the local authority. Any petroleum kept in contravention of the provision is to be forfeited, and in addition the occupier of the place is to be liable to a penalty not exceeding £2O for each day during which it is kept in contravention of the Acts of 1862 and 1868. There is a section as to the sale of petroleum for the purpose of illumination. "No person shall sell or expose for sale or use within the United Kingdom any petroleum from and after the Ist of February, 1369, which gives off an inflammable vapour at a temperature of lc s than 100 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer, unless the bottle or vessel containing such petroleum have attached thereto a label in legible characters, stating as follows : `Great care must be taken in bringing a - ly light near to the contents of this vessel, as they give off an inflammable vapour at a temperature of less than 100 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermometer.' Any person acting in con travention of this section shall for each offence be subjected to a penalty not exceeding £5," Inspectors of weights and measures are empowered to test petroleum, and offences are to be tried by magistrates and penalties enforced. The mode of testing is set forth in the sche dule of the Act. A definition is given of petroleum, of any bituminous substance as fires off an inflammable vapour at a temperature of less than 100 degrees of Fah renheit's thermometer. GOLD DIGGING IN SUTHERLAND. The Times has sent a special correspondent to Helms dale to see what has been going on in the matter of gold finding. The goldfield is inland, and at a distance of ten miles to the west of the village of Helmsdale, which is on the north-east coast. The winters in this high latitude are usually very severe, and though the present season has so far been rather erteptional, the frost for the last few nights has been intense. The aura sacra fames is a universal passion ; but men who have gone through years of '" roughing it" in Australia declare that nothing but Scotch perseverance, combined with the love of gold, could have proved sufficiently powerful to induce the native diggers to endure what they have borne in the Kildonian Strath during the past week. From morning till night all the diggers are wet to the knees. Little boys and women are undergoing this hard ship; but such is their eagerness in gold-searching that they seem to be insensible to cold, wet, and even hunger. Up to this there has been no boring, blasting, or shaft sinking. The operations have been confined to mere surface digging on the banks of the burn. All the gold brought to light has been found in the alluvial deposits washed by the stream into the crevices of the rocks. The diggers break up the deposit with pickaxes and crowbars, and throw it into basins, dish-covers, frying-pans, shallow tubs, or any other such article as they may have been able to procure. They carry the filled vessels into the river, and holding them against the stream, " dodge " them in such a manner that the earth and sand are gradually washed out, while the gold, if there be any in the " stuff," is supposed to remain behind. All the gold that has yet been brought to the local market has been obtained in this way ; but as most of this is in minute flakes, resembling nothing more than broken spangles, there can be no doubt that much of what is dug up is lost in the rude process of washing the alluvial deposit. But few nuggets have been dug up, and the largest of these weighs only five penny weights. It has been purchased by Mr. Peacock, the Duke of Sutherland's factor, and sent to the Duchess. Very exaggerated accounts are in circulation as to the gains of the diggers, and these rumours have had the mischievous effect of bringing poor people from great dis tances to join in the search. For instance, it was stated in print that the Helmsdale branch bank of the British Linen Company had purchased gold from the diggers to the amount of £3OO. This bank had not purchased one grain. Again, it was reported that the value of all the gold found up to Thursday last was not short of £BOO. From all I can learn I believe that not more than £lOO worth, if so much, has been discovered. Mr. P. G. Wilson, the Court goldsmith and jeweller at Inverness, has arrived among them, and offered £4 an ounce for all the gold that anyone could bring him, the present market price being £3 Us. Gd. Some of the gold had previously left the locality, but he believes that most of what was in the hands of the diggers then and up to last night has been brought to him. The largest of the nuggets weighed only from two to three pennyweights. The highest amount paid by Mr. 'Wilson to any one digger or party of diggers was £3 4s. This payment was made to a party of three diggers. They had spent eleven days at the diggings, but they stated that they had dug up the gold in four or five days. The sums paid by Mr. Wilson ranged from Bd. up to the highest sum I have named. In one instance, a tradesman, who when at his ordi nary work earns about 30s. a week, succeeded in making 2s. 4d. in a week at the diggings. He dug for several hours, and walked twenty miles each day in going to and returning from the scene of his gold-seeking. It is pretty evident, therefore, that goldfinding at the new diggings is anything but a paying speculation conducted as it is at present ; but all the old hands—the profes sional diggers, if I may so term them—who have been in the strath, have the best opinion of the prospects. After a trial of several days, they are convinced that there is nothing to be made of merely gathering up the surface deposits ; but they say they would he prepared to make experiments on a large scale if they could get some of the hill land for themselves. It is admitted on all hands that the gold is of excellent quality. In colour it is like the Australian gold, and it works up admirably. It is very clean when merely washed from the sand. The foreign particles which remain are, the Australian men say, " emery," and these arc easily drawn out of the gold dust by means of a magnet. The Irish Law Times understands that the Government are taking steps to have a return made of all advowsons sold by the Landed Estates Court. THE PUBLIC HEALTH. —Last week the rate of mortality in London and in thirteen other large towns of the - United Kingdom was 27 per 1,000. In the metropolis the rate was 26. Birmingham chewed the lowest rate, with 21, and Edinburgh and Glasgow were the highest, each with a death rate of 33. The deaths regis tered in London were 1,573 ; these were 195 less than the estimated mortality for the third week of the year, but exceeded by 88 the number recorded in the pre vious seven days. Of the 1,578 deaths, 631 were those of children under five years of age. The mean temperature of the week was 36.6, or 0.5 below the average. The entire range of temperature during the week was 22.4 degrees. ANECDOTE OF NAPOLEON L —The Paris corre .'pondent of the Telegraph relates the following anecdote : " On the sth of January, 1791, several young pupils from the Ecole Militaire were skating on the deep moat that ran along by the Fort of Auxonne. As it struck five one of the party proceeded to take off his skates. Don't go —one more round !' cried his companions. 'No, no ; I have had enough of it ; besides, I am hungry, and want my dinner.' After the departure of their comrade the rest continued to skate, when suddenly the ice broke, and one and all fell into the water and perished. The young man who so miraculously escaped by going off a few minutes before was no other than young Bonaparte ! THE DINNER TO MESSRS. LLOYD AND EVANS. —The following noblemen and gentlemen have already accepted invitations to be present at the dinner to be given on the Bth proximo, in recognition of the services of Mr. S.S. Lloyd and Dr. Sebastian Evans in the late election :—The Earl of ShrewsburyandTalbot, Right lion. C.B.Adderley, M.P., Messrs. R. P. A mphlett, M.P., C. N. Newdegate, M.P., J. Hardy, M.P., E. Greaves, M.P., Bromley-Daven port, M.P., and Colonel Dyott, M.P. ; Earl Howe, Earl Dartmouth, Sir John Pakington, M.P., Sir Smith Child, M.P., Mr. Meynell Ingram, M.P., and Mr. c. Caldecott, have declined. Invitations have been issued to Lord Cairns and Mr. Gatlorne Hardy, and it is hoped they will be able to attend. BROTHER IGNATIUS AND HIS MONASTERY. Brother Ignatius, accompanied by two gentlemen, visited Norwich on Monday evening, for the purpose of asserting his rights to his socalled monastery in that city. A par tially finished chapel in the rear of the monastery has, it appears, been let to a Miss Robinson, who has for some time held religious services in Norwich. Miss Robinson hired the property from a Mr. Robert Liddlelow, the agent of the mortgagee ; but Brother Ignatius claims to be law. ful owner and purchaser, and as such has authorised Mr. C. Lamb to use the old chapel for the religious meetings of the third order of Benedictines in Norwich, on payment to himself of the sum of ls. Gil. per week. On Monday evening Brother Ignatius forced an entrance to. the chapel, where he was confronted by Mr. Liddlelow, who told him that he had no business there, as the chapel had been let to Miss Robinson. To this Brother Ignatius replied that he had a right to be there, as it was his property ; that he had brought his lawyers with him, and that he intended to remain there all night. Mr. Liddlelow has telegraphed to his principal for further instructions. Meanwhile Brother Julius remains in possession. THE SUN, LONDON, TiIUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 28, 1869. JAMES FISK (Jun.) v. THE "SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN." (From the Anglo-American Times.) The libel case of Mr James Fisk, jun., against the Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican excites in terest in the United States, as it involves the press in the story of the struggle of the speculators in Wall-street. Indeed, the facts transpiring would quickly fill more than a three-volume sensational ro mance, and we recommend them to Miss Braddon and other writers of that class. How many of the lame ducks" committed suicide they might ascer tai❑ on inquiry in the United States, as well as the number that turned burglars or adopted other des perate measures to retrieve their ruined fortunes. The struggle itself was a grand episode in Wall stre?,t, actually shaking the whole commercial fabric of the United States, and bringing forward men hitherto obscure into the light of a great publicity. The most prominent of these was Mr. Fisk, whose biography was given by the Republican, Nov. 22. As a public man we may be permitted to reproduce this record excluding that portion to which he objects, and as it relates to a member of his family, and not to himself, it ought perhaps never to have been written. But our main reason is that on this publication is grounded the action for libel. " THE NEW HERO OF WALL-STREET. "It is time the biographers began to deal with Mr. James Fisk, jun., the new ‘Vall-street hero. His connection with the Erie Railroad's history for a year has made him notorious through the country, has placed him, in fact, in a niche above Robert Schuyler, Daniel Drew, Cornelius Vanderbilt, pos sibly Morton Peto. He has improved on all their inventions in stock gambling, and, by hold and reckless daring in manipulating the affairs of a gigantic corporation and the finances of Wall street, entitled himself to a place in the gallery of noted lives. The appellation of " fat fair and forty," so often given to well-preserved women, belongs peculiarly to him ; he is almost as broad as he is high, and so round that he rolls rather than walks. But his nervous energy is sti mulated rather than deadened by his fat, which gives a momentum to his mental movement and his personal influence. Yankee of course, and Ver mont at that, and a peddler to hoot—do we not thus tell the whole secret of his life and character ? Brattleboro' was his home, and his father, James Fisk, sen., a hale, hearty, successful peddlar of dry goods among the country towns of Vermont and .New Hampshire. The son joined his energy to the business, which grew into an amount and obtained a character unprecedented in the history of peddling. They devoted themselves to choice dry goods for the ladies -silks, velve•s, ribbons, poplins, &c. ; drove elegant four horse teams ; made their regular rounds through 'Western Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Eastern New York, esta blished a settled first-class trade, and furnished their customers, the best ladies of all the country towns, with a higher quality of goods and at fairer prices than they could get without going to New York or Boston. There was a great titillation among the village belles and mesdames when the Fisks came to town with their elegant turnout and their magnificent goods. Their sales were measured by the hundred thousand yearly, and they were larger customers of the city jobbers than a dozen ordinary country merchants. Such quality could not long be confined to selling silks by the yard, and young Fisk's acquaintance with the houses he bought goods of in Boston some five or six years ago took him to that city as a member of the firm of Jordan, Marsh, and Co. To their operations he at once gave new breath ; it soon became the first wholesale and retail house in Boston ; controlling the markets ; running mills—making money. But this did not long satisfy ; ambition and audacity grew by what they fed on ; and Mr. Fisk left the Boston firm with a $200,000 fortune, and en tered upon cotton and other speculations in the South and in New York. Losing and winning, two or more years da ifted away, when we find him in the beginning of the career now culminating. With other Bostonians, .John S. Eldredge, Josiah Bardwell, and General Whitney among others, he surprised New York on a fine morning of 1867 by capturing the Erie Railroad. Two objects were in view, a grand stock speculation, and a loan of its credit to the Hartford and Erie Railroad, in which Eldredge and other Bostonians were greatly inte rested—these accomplished, after the fight with Vanderbilt, most of the Boston party went out, though Eldredge is supposed to have had large in terests with Fisk in his recent operations. But Fisk remained, and with Mr. Drew, the old Erie manager, has been making a series of grand " cor ners" in Erie stock and in the money market dur ing the past season. Their audacious schemes and operations have been at the bottom of most of the Wall-street disturbances for nearly a year. Drew and Fisk have now quarrelled ; the young worldling has learned all the tricks of the old Methodist, and invented some new ones, and no longer needs either his counsel or his credit. The principal means for their speculations have been the issue of new stock of the Erie Railroad, and locking up currency ; English capitalists have been in league with them in one or both of these performances ; and twice, thrice, half a dozen times, perhaps, they have thus controlled and swept the market,• ruining all who were bold enough or weak enough to stand in their way, and putting fabulous profits into their own pockets. [But Fisk has probably destroyed the credit of the railroad, while piling up a fortune for himself. The multiplication of its stock has been fearful ; from 30 millions of nominal capital a year ago, it has now been raised to 60 or 70 millions ; and what there is to show for the difference, beyond some worthless securities of the Hartford and Erie Road, and a million or two of real estate, it is now impos sible to say. The issue of new shares seems to have been wanton, and with no purpose, in great part, but to gamble in Wall -street with. Nothing so audaciou4, nothing more gigantic in the way of real swindling has ever been perpetrated in this country; and yet it may be that Mr. Fisk and his associates have done nothing that they cannot legally justify, at least in the New York courts, several of whi c h th ey seem wholly to own. Fisk's operations are said to be under the legal guidance of both David Dudley Field and Charles O'Connor, and now both Judge Barnard of the State, and Judge Blatcllford of the United States Court, back up and help on his proceedings.] Mr. Fi-1 married a handsome Springfield girl, Miss Lucy D. Moore, 12 or 15 years ago, and has a fine residence in Franklin-square, Boston. But he also owns houses and a theatre in New York, and deals with life everywhere on a magnificent scale. What will become of him and his operations remains to be seen. The Erie Railroad complication must appa rently have an early issue. As an instrument of travel and commerce it cannot for ever remain the foot-ball of gamblers, the prey of speculators. The value of its shares is probably gone • but its rails, certainly its bed, must b e of value and of use. Its hero of the hour stands in a precarious position ; he has great capacity, now great wealth, certainly great notoriety ; all these he can make most useful to himself and to his country ; it is a pity they should he wasted in destruction, alike of character and of values, when the country needs them all, and will re war I them all so generously in measures of construc tion." The animus between the Republican and Mr. Fisk was increased by the episode which followed the late visit of Mr. Bowles, the editor, to New York, which must b 3 too fresh in the recollection of our readers to be reproduced here. The Republican, however, says that Mr. Ben. F. Butler, who is irate with the paper for its opposition to his re-election to Congress, had been retained as counsel against it. It alleges that Judge M'Cunn held a special evening session to accommodate the conspiracy that Sheriff O'Brien and Mr. Fisk were.in attend ance at the Fifth Avenue Hotel to see the arrest made; that Mr. George Butler, a nephew of Gen. B. F. Butler, engaged to decoy Mr. Bowles into a convenient place for sudden andsecret arrest. It adds that Geo. Butler is connected with the Spirit of the Times, and it certainly is true that the Spirit is a rare exception among the press in the view it takes. Mr. Fisk has written to the Boston Gazette to give his version, and his letter is fair. Ile picks to pieces the biography we have given above, which he terms " a bitter, abusive, untruthful, and unpro voked attack on my origin, vocation, habits, perso nal appearance, and family afflictions. As for the sympathy of the sycophantic horde of office seekers and small beer editors, who clamoured around the gaol gates for their comrade's release, their abuse I expected and am indifferent to. Mr. Bowes pro posed the game himself, and I bowled him over the first innings. I think it will be generally conceded that I have as much right to defend my personal charactir as any newspaper has to attack it." Mr. Fisk never loses an opportunity of making a pun or playing upon words. He replied to the charge of " stealing" by stating that the only stealing on the Erie was the steel rails be bad laid down. The attack on him was unfairly personal, and we will watch with interest the further development of this quarrel. 7HE CHARI7IES OF LONDON. That families starve in London is as certain as that families feast iu London, and when a case of peculiar horror gets into the papers, and goes the rounds, her Majesty's subjects ask, "How can such things be? I, even I, poor as I am, would have done something to relieve this distress had I been aware of its existence." We may be sure that, had the starving family known to whom to apply for relief, that there they would have applied, so it is from ignorance, both on the side of the want and on the side of the plenty that a result so shocking eventuates. An interesting book on the charitable agencies and wants of London, by Charles B. P. Bosanquet, was lately published by Messrs. Hatchard and Co., 187, Flee Willy, wherein a chapter is de voted to suggestions to laymen. He notices how won derfullylittle the poorsometimes know of the arrange ments made for their relief. "It is no smallpleasurc," he says, "to put some poor fellow who is suffering tortures from a broken tooth into communication with the Dental Hospital, Soho-square, where you know he will get as good assistance as you can get yourself. There is a society, 32, Sackville-street, for the relief of distressed widows, the object being to assist any of those of good character who apply within a month of their husbands' death with sums of from £1 to £2, termed the Widow's Gift, to enable them to make a fresh start." How to get into a dispensary or some neighbouring hospital ; where to go for advice or for the aid expressly provided for such cases, is information often of vital import ance to those the charity was instituted to benefit. While the poor then are frequently ignorant on these points, those who have money to give and a wish so to give that it may reach the per sons they desire to aid, seldom know the proper channel. It is, therefore, important that every means of publicity should be given to the best channels for relieving the wants of the extremely poor, and we must say for the Standard that there is no other paper in England which has lent itself so generously to this work. If its politica lead it into rreaching the doctrine of the poor keep ing their places, it does at least seek to know where tho-e places are, and to direct there things of more material value than the windy sayings of Mr. Finlen. Mr. Bosanquet says, after enumerating the great charities of London, " There are still three societies about which a new comer may espe cially wish for information. The Society for the Suppres6ion of Mendicity (13, Red Lion-square) was founded in 1818. It furnishes its subscribers with tickets for persons begging in the streets ; its officers inquire into the cases of persons presenting these tickets, and members of the committee take it in turn to be present at the office part of every forenoon to hear the result, and to decide what assistance shall be given. Work is offered in some cases, and in winter bread and soup are given to almost every person bringing a ticket. It employs constables to arrest professional beggars and to pro secute them. Any subscriber of two guineas a year may send them applications from begging letter writers to investigate. The Metropolitan Visiting and Relief Association (21, Regent-street) was established after a meeting held at London II ouse during December, 1843. Its object is to distri bute the contributions of charitable persons in such parts of the town as most need them by means of the clergy and their district visitors, but with the condition that relief is to be given without regard to the religious belief of those who are in want. It distributed nearly £lO,OOO to 150 districts in the winter of 1866-7, besides a considerable special effort luring the cholera. The Society for the Relief of Dis tress (28, King-street, St. James') was founded during the winter of 1860. Its distinctive features are (1) that a committee guarantee the expense of management, so that all the money entrusted to them by the public goes directly to the poor; (2) that the society's almone rs , as a genera l rule, themselves take the relief, whi c h i s given in the form of orders on tradesmen to th-3poor; and (3), that it is abso lutely undenominational. Iu 1866-7 this society dis tributed more than £7,000 through 120 almoners. This society will investigate cases of distress in any part of London for a subscriber. There is a very interesting little charity estab lished by Mi-s Sophie Moody, Glen Fern, Bourne mouth, in aid of the children-workers in Bethnal green. Not long a4o much interest was excited by the story of some little infant girl whose life was used up in lucifer match-box making, and immediately a flood of charity was poured on the head of die little sufferer. But there are thousands, and it is unfair to m a k e s e l ec ti ons where whole classes are in like distress. The Rev. Isaac Taylor, in describing the scene of this distress, says, " into a space some 400 yards in length by 200 in breadth between six and seven thousand human beings are crowded in poverty and squalor. This portion of Bethnal-green is the bead-quarters of the Spitalfields silk trade. The silk weavers, by whom the parish of St. Matthias is mainly populated, are descendants of those Huguenot exiles who, for the cause of God and truth, and liberty and life, fled from the sunny plains of their native France in the years which succeeded the massacre of St. Bartholo mew, The descendants of these emigrants con tinue to inhabit the district; many of them still cherish proud traditions of t heir ancestry, many of them,r) e 3 perhapsof only clad in rags , b ear the old thoughtor France—names of dis tinguished generals an d s t atesmen and poets hisirlA and historians. The parents frequently find it quite impossible to send their children to school, even when they have clothes and shoes in which to go. The poor little creatures have to be retained at home to earn a few miserable pence by means of some of the numerous " children's trades" which un happily flourish in Bethnal-green. Among these trades, the foremost, perhaps, is the manufacture of lucifer boxes. For this work the payment is two-pence farthing per gross, or 32 boxes for one halfpenny, out of which sum the little labourers have to find their own p as t e. T he other day I took upon my knees a little girl who is employed in this manner. She told me she was four years old ; her mother said the child had earned her own living ever since she was three years of age. This infant now makes several hundred boxes every day of her life, and her earnings suffice to pay the rent of the miserable room which the family inhabits. The poor little woman, as might be expected, is grav e and sad beyond her years; she has none of a child's vivacity ; she does not seem to know what play means ; her whole thoughts are centred in the eternal round of lucifer-box making, in which her whole life is passed. She has never been beyond the dingy street is which she was born ; she has never so much as seen a tree or a daisy or a blade of grass. A poor sickly little thing, and yet a sweet, obedient child—the deadly pallor of her face proclaiming unmistakeably that she will soon be mercifully taken away to a better world, where at last the little weary fingers shall be at rest. This is only one case out of scores and hundreds. The mortality among young children is something fright ful. It is a common thing for a mother to say that she has buried six or eight, and reared one or two." Mr. Taylor, to re li eve th i s di stress , has e s t a bli s h e d an industrial s c h oo l , where i n t h e earn i ngs o f t h e children are aided by contributions from the public. Two hours a day are devoted to schooling, the work being limited to four. About sixty infants attend, and they average 37,000 boxes each week, with 1,000 bundles of fire-wood, the wages distributed amounting to £3 or £4 a week. They get their meals at the school, the daily dinner consisting either of good pea-soup and bread, or of currant dumplings, at a cost, for each child of five farthings a day. Their Christmas dinner was roast beef and plum pudding, untasted luxuries before to them. Clothes are given as rewards for good conduct, and bare toes and rag ge d f roc k s are now rather the exception than the rule. We trust Miss Moody will be emi nently successful in her efforts to aid the work of the Rev. Isaac Taylor, and we gladly give her the publicity our columns afford, although we know no thing of her further than what a little scrap of a pamphlet tells, and the interest in the movement taken by a frieud.—Anylo-American Times. DUNVILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re commended by the medical profession in preference to French Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exporta tion. Quotations on application to Messrs. Danville and Co., Bolfect; cc 4, Beaufort-buildings, Strand, Loudon W.Q.—[Ad Tertisement.] FOREIGN NOTES. TURKEY AND GREECE. The prophets of the day are prophets of evil. The French official journals have kept assuring the world that Greece will return a favourable answer; but they were equally sanguine that the Conference would go on smoothly, and yet Greece would have nothing to do with it. The Liberte has been informed that the answer of Greece will be a pure and simple negative. The state of public opinion in the little king dom renders any other solution a practical impossi bility. To accept the declaration would cost King George his crown, and he and his Ministry are fully aware of this. They are carrying on the work of arming with the utmost rapidity. Soon a force of 60,000 men, including the National Guard, will be ready to oppose the army of Omer Paella, and in the meantime negotiations are going on with the United States for the purchase of arms and ammunition. Cassintali is now at Paris on a secret mission to the Cabinet of Washington. The Liberte thinks it right that conferences should precede war instead of following it ; but this is all the consolation it can find in the present aspect of affairs. The Times Berlin correspondent telegraphs that Greece is expected to return an answer favourable in the main, but clogged with so many reservations as to occasion fresh negotiations. As to the decisive assertion of the Liberte, it must not be forgotten that this journal alone contained a report of the strange proceedings at the first meeting of the Conference, and has received special and correct information since that event. And if the Greek Government did not apprehend the worst, why should it force bankers to lend money and plunge into preparations of the most ruinous cost? Letters from Thessaly to the Vienna journals say that Turkey is making prodigious efforts to muster an efficient army on the Greek frontier; but the success hitherto achieved is not proportionate to the magnitude of the Porte's exertions. Troops poured into the disaffected Turkish provinces like water in a sieve. Omar Pacha is unable to advance a step without leaving strong garrisons at every point of importance. If the commander•in•chief musters 100,000 men, he will reach the utmost limit of possi bility. Greece intrigues unceasingly to bring about an insur rection. The Patric, a French semi- offi clad paper, publishes similar intelligence. It believes also that war or deposi tion is the only choice which offers itself to King George. The war party has endeavoured to excite the people, and has succeeded. Flags, bearing the word "War," and others actually inscribed " War or Abdication," are carried about the streets of Athens. The brother of the Princess of Wales has made all ready, and has resolved to lead the army in the campaign which has already been planned. Other information, less warlike, is to the effect that though preparations are incontestably being made, yet Greece may listen to reason when she finds that no help is to be had from without. The Pre3se and Debatte, both Vienna journals, believe that Greece will return a conciliatory answer, a measure which will be followed by the resignation of the Bulgaria Cabinet AUSTRIA. The prospects of the Anglo-Austrian Treaty of Com merce are not promising. There is too much reason to believe that the Supplementary Convention will not be sanctioned by the Reichsrath : the Austrian manufacturers possess an influence in the Lower House which all the advocates of progress will not be able to counteract. A cor respondent of the Telegraph—apparently of the same stand ing as his Parisian broth er—h as gathered, " in conversations with several Ministers," the impression that the Oppo sition will be both violent and invincible. He supposes the matter will end by the English Government giving up the Convention. The new batch of peers, twenty in number, includes at least three representatives of trade and commerce. The old nobility will not be greatly pleased at this wholesale introduction of novi hontines ; but they must be absolutely furious over the nomination of one trader of the Hebrew persuasion —an act which further illustrates the inten tion of the Emperor to carry out the principle of the new laws. GERMANY. An amusing trial has just been finished at Berlin. A Dr. Loweistein was charged with insulting the Govern. ment, and especially the Minister of Finance, by a carica ture representing the latter functionary in rags, standing at the door of the Chamh-r of Deputies, and begging for money to cover the deficit. The tribunal acquitted the facetious doctor on the ground that there was no law for bidding a Minister to have a hole in his coat, and that the defendant could not be ridiculing the measures of the Government because he ridiculed the deficit. Was that Government measure? Wtr..u.a 1L noz vo pozrzzle r,o clerks and writers who are not wanted in one place to the vacancies. Certainly those who have worked well are more entitled to consideration than those of whom nothing more is known than that they have passed a competitive examination, provided always that the transferred is qualified for the duties of the new office. Under our system of divided departments such an arrangement would perhaps be difficult, but hardly impossible. The victualling-yards are next to be attacked. Lord Camperdown is now making inquiries into their administration, out of which some important action is expected. The Post announces that the appoint ment of Captain George Wodehouse, to be superin tendent of Haslar Hospital, is not one to be held for five years, as has formerly been the case. In this instance Captain Wodehouse has vacated an appoint ment which has been done away with,to take one which, in all prob a bility,w ill not bein ex isten ce two years hence. The rumoured reduction of the number of depot battalions is to be carried out in all likelihood. An order was on Monday received at Chatham which seems to imply that the Government intends to reduce the number of depot battalions, the instruc tions being to provide quarters at the garrison for the officers and men of the depots of the Nth and 103 th Regiments, now at Gosport. It is supposed that the battalion at that station is to be abolished. The two depots will arrive at Chatham on Saturday next. THE MAURITIUS. According to a private letter, three years of misfortune have reduced the inhabitants of the Mauritius to the last extremity of misery. In 1866 food was twice the ordi nary price ; in 1867 fever carried off one-sixth of the popu lation; in 1868 a hurricane of exceptional violence laid waste the whole island. A famine is the next danger to be apprehended. There is a great want of money amongst the colonists, nine-tenths of the land is heavily mortgaged, and a large proportion of the food consumed is imported. An outbreak amongst the Indians, who form the majority of the population, is not improbable. AIfERICA. The results of the civil war are fully investigated in Mr. Wells's third annual report, and some remarkable facts are disclosed. The struggle left the county with unimpaired resources and actually increased products, but it enormously increased the expense of manufacture. There is scarcely a single domestic article or agricultural product which cannot be produced at a less cost in some other country. Even for oil paintings, rough building s t o ne, Indian corn, Bibles, ice, and firewood, more pro tection is being demanded. The inconvertible paper currency, heavy taxation, and the want of skilled labour, are the causes of this unsatisfactory result. The Hercules, screw (armoured, iron) frigate, Captain Lord Gilford, will go out of Portsmouth harbour, for Spithead, on the 2d proximo, and will make her six hours' sea trial under steam, south of the Isle of Wight, about the 4th proximo. After she has made her six hours' trial it is expected she will be sent to Lisbon. A Denver paper says that an agreement has been made by the presidents of the Unioa Pacific Rail way Eastern Division, and of the Denver Pacific Com pany, by the terms of which the said Eastern Division Company assigns to the Denver Pacific Company its right of way, lands, ere., north and westerly of Denver. It also agrees to connect its road with the Denver Pacific Road at Denver City. And it is agreed that the Denver Pacific Railway shall be operated so as to form a through connection with the Eastern Divi sion Road at Cheyenne, it being taken in lieu of that part of the Eastern Division Railroad. The Union Pacific Rail road is completed to Evanston, 957 miles west of Omaha, and it is probable that this station will be the terminus of the road (luring the winter, as it is with great difficulty that grading can be done when the ground is frozen. The stages will start from Bryan, 97 miles farther east, but will probably make connections with the railroad at Evanston in a few days. This place is about 100 miles cast of Salt Lake. The company has already notified the Post-office Department is ready to carry mails to Evans ton, 957 miles west of Omaha. The newspapers in the interests of the railroads soliciting subsidies from the Go vernment to further their speculations are already out with considerable severity on President Grant for his re ported language against any further money subsidies. No matter for their censure; the taxpayers of the country will be sure to stand by the declarations imputed to the President. Let him adhere to them. MISCEL LANEO US 1V EWS. TILE C 11.111:. _ There is go o d news f or th e " West-end tradesmen.' The Queen does not intend to spend all "the season' in the Highlands. She is "coming out" again, and there is every indication that her Court will resume something of its old splendour. It is announced on authority that her Majesty will hold a Court at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, the 2nd of March, to receive the Corps Diplomatique, her Majesty's Ministers and other official personages, with the ladies of their families, who will re ceive notifications of her Majesty's gracious intention through the Lord Chamberlain. The Queen will also hold a levee at the same palace on Friday, the sth of March a drawing-room on Wednesday, th e 10th of March; and more drawing rooms later in the season, the dates of which will be hereafter announced. Levees will be held at St. James's Palace by his Royal Highness Prince Arthur, on her Majesty's behalf, on Friday, the 12th of March, and on Friday, the 19th of March. So that the coming spring promises to be a lively one for the fashionable world. THE REFORM OF TIIE SERVICES. There is a suppressed grumbling in the Conserva tive papers at the action of the Government in the matter of the Civil Service Reforms. But, as a whole, there seems to be a general acquiescence in the policy cf reduction. The question has been too well ventilated, too often taken up by Conservatives against a Liberal Government, to excite any well defined opposition. There is a matter pointed out, however, by the Herald which really seems to require investigation. Many clerks are just now being dis missed in the various departments, and more are likely to be. But the Civil Service Ga:ette of Saturday last contains the appointments of two new men as clerks to the Admiralty (these have since been contradicted), two to the Office of Works, two to the Inland Revenue, and twenty to the Post-office Savings Bank—twenty-six new al- 31 -401.4traentajnjimfamtp_f the threatened reductions THE RADNOR ELECTION. --- We wronged Mr. Green-Price in supposing that his retirement in favour of the Marquis of Harting ton was the result of a negotiation between the Reform Club and the retiring member, and that Mr. Price would hereafter have his reward in the shape of a baronetcy. He has his reward now, in the shape of public approbation, for a very disinterested and patriotic step. Spontaneously he inquired of Mr. Glyn if a seat had been found for the Marquis, and hearing that it had not, he offered his own seat; the sole conditions being that the step should have the approval of his constituents, and that he should not be offered any remuneration in the shape of money or honours. There seems no reason to doubt that the Marquis will reap the benefit of Mr. Green-Price's self-abnegation. I3AIION MARTIN. Some of the papers are grumbling at the judges' decisions in the bribery cases. A special cause of complaint is the severe measure dealt to Sir Henry Stracey for conduct that seems not very much worse than Messrs. Gavin and Russell's at Limerick. It is certain that Baron Martin has done an indiscreet thing in writing a private letter to Sir Henry Stracey. Having unseated him formally, it was exceedingly injudicious to whitewash him infor mally. It is reasonably asked would his lord ship have ventured to write in like terms or at all to a prisoner whom he had sentenced ? It would really seem as if our judges, no less than the public gene rally, were infected with the prevalent notion that electioneering malpractices are very gentlemanly offences, which reflect no discredit upon anyone. Yet it was to remove this impression that the trial of these offences was transferred to the i udges. MR. WARNER. It has been stated that Mr. Edward Warner is a Liberal candidate for the seat at Norwich, vacant through the unseating of Sir Henry Stracey. Mr. Warner represented the borough in the last Parlia ment. It was supposed that the reason why he did not come forward at the recent general election was that he had been one of the directors in the Credit Foncier, and in that capacity had been a party to transactions of a not altogether satisfactory character. It was remarked that Mr. Warner and Mr. Grant, in retiring from Norwich and Kidderminster, shewed more modesty than Mr. Lane and Mr. White in standing for Plymouth and Brighton. It would appear, how ever, that we attributed to the first mentioned gen tleman a virtue which he did not possess, or which at the most was of a very transitory nature. THE BALLOT, It is daily becoming more evident that the Con servative party will not as a body oppose the Ballot. The Conservative journals, having learnt to praise Household Suffrage, are wisely refusing to be carried away any longer by traditional cries, and are learning to consider all questions upon their true merits, that is, they test them by the effect they have upon the party. The Conservatives are now, therefore, being warned against the cry that the Ballot is " un-English," and are told that it is a Conservative measure ; in other words, that it would aid Conservative candidates in the boroughs. The secretary of the Ballot Society, Mr. Bontems, no doubt thinks that the good time coming is come at last. IRISH RAILWAYS. Lord Clanricarde returns, in a letter to the Times, to the subject of Irish railways. His lordship de clares that in asking for a " plan " to be produced for the alteration in the present system, he did not necessarily call for the purchase of the lines. It is but very recently that he has come to the conclusion that buying them up was best. But that something must be done he had taken a s generally admitted, seeing that the present system is ruinous both to the share holders and to the public. Lending money he thinl, - s to be only bolstering up a bad system ; and seeing that Parliament imposed the present system on the country, he calls upon it to put things straight now that the system has failed. TIIE FENIAN PRISONERS. The meeting for the release of the Fenian prisoners, if it were not illegal, "toppled on the very verge." Resolutions were adopted, declaring that the prisoners had suffered enough, and therefore ought to be released. "The sentiments expressed were that the crime of the' prisoners was venal. They had allowed their duty to their country to triumph over their loyalty to the Crown. Their punishment had had been sufficient; anything further would be rather vengeance than justice. If the petitioners could not obtain their release from the Government, they would appeal from the Government to Heaven. How this latter pieco of legal business is to be done was not stated. THE IRISH BISHOPS. According to the Conservative papers, the opinion is becoming strong that the archbishops in Ireland ought to convene without delay a synod of the Irish Church. A memorial to Archbishops Beresford and Trench is in course of signature, having that object in view, and it is stated that the bishops have been in constant communication with each other for some time past. A meeting of the Defence Association is to be held next month. The Irish Law Times statcs that a return has been ordered of all advowsons sold in the Landed Estates Court. TIM COST OF WAR. If we ever go to war again it would be well for us to study the Prussian balance-sheet for the war of 1866. An expenditure of £22,624,000 su ffi ce d to raise Prussia from a position of comparative infe riority to that of the foremost nation in Europe. We spent more than £100,000,000 in 1854 and 1856, with no other result than to chew that we cannot fight without an ally. The Prussian bill is, however, a heavy one for a " six days' war," a s it has been called. Were that definition strictly accurate, it would imply an expenditure . of over 3-1 millions a day. But though the actual fighting was confined to a week, the real cost of the wa r was spread over a much longer period. It lasted from the time that the first cops d'annee was mobilised till the Treaty of Vienna a period of some five months. THE PROPOSED CESSION OF GIBRALTAR. A correspondent of the Times, writing on this well worn subject, declares that in its present state Ceuta is thoroughly useless, either as port or fortress, and it would take an,enormous sum to convert it into a safe harbour of refuge. He admits that the Spaniards feel great annoyance at the English possession of Gibraltar, but he contends that we must not hope for Spanish gratitude if we surrender it. If we give up Gibraltar he advises that we should take care to have a good treaty of commerce or some other equivalent before we move a regiment, as there will be little thanks when we have once left. The Spaniards still claim almost the whole merit of the Peninsular War, and both in theirconversations and their written narratives attribute the expulsion of the French to their own countrymen, though allusions to the expense in flicted on the country by the English troops may be met with. This writer declares that foreigners would look upon the proposed cession as an act of downright folly, at which those who most profited by it would be the first to laugh. He considers Admiral Ommanney's arguments conclusive. The gallant admiral, in his letter of the 23rd, replied in detail to the statements of Admiral - Sullivan, and as ho claims many years' experience both in charge of the naval station at Gibraltar and in command of ships stationed in the Straits, his advice to " let well alone " is given with some authority. LORD ELCIIO ON THE VOLUNTEERS. Lord Elcho writes to the Times on the question of the capitation grant, and declares that the discussion on this point brings the position of the volunteer force under consideration. The unexpected success which attended the movement seemed at one time to occasion an over-estimate of its services, but at pre sent we may apprehend a different kind of danger. The volunteers have never professed to do more than become useful auxiliaries to the army and militia, should their services be required; and it is not fair to judge them by an army or militia standard. Lord Elcho denies the justice of • the remarks that have been so freely made as to the inefficiency of the volunteer force generally, and declares that the in creased grant, if given, would be a favour conferred by the nation on itself. If the Government, through mistaken parsimony, allow the volunteer army to slip from their grasp, they will hereafter regret its loss, for it diminishes the expenditure on the army and navy. A better military organisation, which would improve the_ remilar army, the iti4itias_the Yeomanly, and Volunteeri, might effect importan; changes for the benefit of the nation, and enable the various forces to be organised for combined action. A statement has been made to the effect that the officers of the 4th Lancashire Artillery Volunteers will continue their services until others have been found to take commissions. It is added that other reasons beside the refusal of the pecuniary aid from Government have induced these gentlemen to tender their resignations. STAGNATION IN THE CITY. The Daily News says that the disclosures in the Overend and Gurney case are preventing the already too long delayed return of confidence in the City. The effect is natural perhaps. Such astounding dis closures cannot but destroy confidence. Our con temporary, however, thinks that the now universally prevalent suspicion is exaggerated, and dreads a violent reaction and flood of speculation. "In these days," adds the Daily -Yews, " people cannot live for any lengthened period upon 2 per cent. interest; and past experience warns us that when the revulsion comes it will seize the whole body of the capitalist public, and plunge them into excesses which might be altogether avoided had not the flow of money been so long dammed up. Considering the vast benefits which joint-stock enter prisc ....as conferred upon this country in the shape of railways, steam and telegraph lines, ban's, mining ventures, &c., it is lamentable to see its beneficent action thus practically arrested, merely because in isolated instances money has been lost through bad speculations and dishonest management." True enough ; but this is a part of the punishment of our sins. A WARNING TO CLERKS. in the London Bankruptcy Court, Commissioner Winslow has suspended for twelve months the order of discharge for a bankrupt clerk to some bankrupt stockbrokers. It appears that the clerk used to allow shares to be transferred to his name by his employers, the consequence being that the nominal amount of his indebtedness is between £12,000 and 813,000, while his assets are nil. The Commissioner expressed his disapproval of a system by which persons without means undertook large responsibilities) and marked that disapproval in the manner above stated. FATHER IciNATIITS. Father Ignatius having read that the kingdom Heaven suffereth violence, and that the violent take it by force, has been playing that part in nis IN orwien monastery. We mentioned some days ago that it had been handed over to a female preacher of one of the 099 sects which are the pride and glory of this free country. The Father did not see it, and he has now been down to Norwich, has forced his wary into the chapel with his lawyers, and declared it his intention to remain there all night. It does not appear if the lawyers followed his example. Should they have done so they will be entitled to something more than 6s. Bd. for their fee. Meanwhile the telegraph has been set to work, and the female preacher is prepar ing a grand discourse. THE CLIMATE OF SOUTHERN INDIA. At the recent meeting of the Royal Geographical Society an interesting paper was read on the Effects on Climate of Forest Destruction in Coorg, Southern India," by Dr. George Bidie. Coorg lies near the centre of the western Ghats, at an elevation of about 3,000 ft. above the sea ; gradually subsiding into the tableland of Mysore. It was formerly covered with forest, but the lower slopes are now nearly denuded, and the rainfall is found to decrease with the decrease of arboreal vegetation. The elevated crests of the Ghats are not affected, but the water supplY and the fertility of the lower slopes and plains are seriously diminished. The area of forest cleared in Coorg during the last few years for coffee cultiva tion amounts to 20,000 acres. Dr. Bidie, a fter after an official tour in Coorg and Mysore, arrived at the conclusion that tropical forest is the alma miler of springs and streams. Dr. Cleghorn, Conser vator of Forests in India, joined in the subsequent discussion, and attached great importance to the influence of clearing on the drainage , Other gentlemen objected to any check being put upon the cultivation, and proposed the construction of tanks. Later in the evening a paper was read by Captain Hall, on the Island of Rapa, iii the South Pacific. This island is situated in the track of the steamers from Panama to New Zealand, and has a good harbour. Captain Hall greatly regret s the remissness of the English Government in allow' inz the French to assume the protectorate. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Mietralla and New Zealand, via Southampton... „Jan. 30. Ditto, via ............ Ditto, via NI sma Brazil, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video Feb. 3. Ditto, by French packet . • Feb. ' 2 . Cape Verds. by Brazil packet Feb. 3 Cape of Good Elope. Ascension. and St. Helena. Jan. 27. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Jan. 30. Gibraltar, via Southampton Jan 20. India, via Southampton uitto, via Marseil es Malta, Egypt, &c. Jan 30 Ditto, Marseilles... Jan. 27 ltaLritius, Cape of Good live, and Natal, via Scuthatnlton Ditto. Marseilles Feb. 1 0 Newfoundland..,.,. ........... Fcb t 0 Portugal United States, anada, California, &c., by British packet • . Jan 3) Ditto, by Canadian packet •• •• Ditto, by L tilted States packet Jan 27 Ditto dittc (Baltimore) West Coast of Africa. Madeira, and Teneriffc Feb. 3 . West Indies and ra3ifio (except Mexico and Baha mas) Jan 2 3 Fatkland Islands ... Feb 3 • Cuba and Mexico .... ... ....Jan. 28. Bermuda, via Halifax...... ••• .. Bahamas, via New York The Governor of Alabama has appointed three Commissioners to negotiate for the annexation of Western Florida to Alabama. General Sanford, United States' Minister at the Court of Brussels, gave, three days back, a grand dinner to 24 guests at the Legation, in the Avenue de la Poisson d'Or. This banquet was remarkable from the fact that the service was entirely composed of American produe vtieognest,aabs, cheese,n le dcomprised oysters, meats, game, poultry, fruit" &c., all of which had been sent ex pressly from New York ; even the French wines drunk had performed a voyage across the Atlantic and back, an d had returned accompanied by American champagne. LADTERTISEMENT.]-11olloway's Ointment and Pills.-- Misapplication Impassible.—lt is quite possible, and very probable, that mistakes may occur in selecting the right drug from the pharmacopoeia ; but Holloway's medica ments must be beneficial in all diseases by reason of their purifying, invigorating, soothing, and healing powers. The Ointment is as well adapted for internal maladies as for external ailments. When rubbed upon the skin it Pe netrates to the underlying organs,.over which it exercises the most salutary control, by moderating or increasing activity as circumstances may require. Nothing can be more certain in repressing the long list of terrible disease; arising from "catching cold," against which most persona , however cautious, are at times powerless to guard. !ADVERTISEMENT Consumption, and all bilious, nervougl stomach,and liver complaints in every stage are only aggravated and accelerated by drugs of every de scr i pt i on, b u t perfectly curable by Du Barry's health-restoring R eva l enta A ra bi c a Food, as proved by thousands of cases which h a d b een con sidered hopeless; such as indigestion (dysp e p s i a ) , coug h , ast h m a, non sumption, habitual constipation, di arr h oea, a ll gastr i c derange ments, haemorrhoids, liver complaints, flatulency, nervousnes s, biliousness, fevers, sore throats, diphtheria, catarrhg, colds, in fluenza, noises in the head and ears, rheumatism, gout, iltkPn . rities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness acidity, palpitation, heartburn, headache, debility, dropsY , cramps, spasms, nausea and sickness, even in pregnancy or at sea, sinking fits, bronchitis, scrofula, tightness of the chest, pains at the pit of the stomach, and between the shoulders, &? We quote a few.—The Pope's health restor e d by Du Barry 'e Cure No 68,413.—" Rome, July 21, 1866.—The health of the Holy Father is excellent, especially since, abandoninga ll other remedies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry a. Revalenta Arabica Food, of which he consumes a latefu; at every meal. It has pro laced a surprisingly beneficial effect on his health, and his Holiness cannot p ra i s e thi n excellent food too highly." From the "Gazette d u Midi. July 25. Cure No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, timber mer chant, of Frimley, Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lung , spitting of blood, liver derangement, and partial deafness. --- , Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieutenant 0, Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 49,832. " Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousnes s i asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness a n" vomiting.—MariaJoly." Important Caution.—Beware of the many unsavoury and more than sl o p py i m i tations to which, witho ut authority, Baron Liebig's name is most audaciously attached. In tins, at Is. lid.; 1 lb. 2s. 9d. ; 2 lbs. 4s. 6d.; lbs, 11s. ; 121b 5 . 2''2s.; 24 lbs., 40s.—Also Du BARRY'S REYALENTA ARIBICA LATE Powusa is packed in tin canisters ; for 12 cups at 25., for 24 cups at 3s. 6d., for 48 cups at tis., for 288 cups at 305., for 576 cups at Ms.—being about one penny per cup. The 30s. and 555 dug are sent free of carriage in England on receipt of Post Offing order.—BAßßY DU BARRY and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, Len don; and all Grocers and Chemists. Births. COOPER —On the 25th inst., at Thornby Hall, Northamp tonshire, the wife of Captain R. Cooper, late Scots Fusl" Her Guards, of a son. GO SCHEN —On the 26th inst., at 8, Sussex-square, the wife of Charles Ti. Goschen, Esq., of a daughter. Marriages. JEVENS—KOLKHORST On the26th inst., at Da!sten, Franz Jevons, Esq., of 35, Bread-street, city, to Selina A. Kolkhorst, of Berlin. NIELL— SPICER—On the 26th inst., at Croydon, J Ol l ' Niell, M.D., to Martha Wilson, youngest daughter 0,, the late John Edward Spicer, Esq., of Clapham, an New Bridge-street. Deaths. DolmaAs—On !the 25th inst., at Beulah-hill, Norwood, Charles Douglas, Esq. FREETII—On the 26th inst., at EL John's-wood, Cl'a ri° Freoth, Esq., aged 72. GREEN— On the 24th inst., at 5, Kensington-palace-gar dens, Bovis E. Green, Esq., aged 75. KNIGHT - On the 26th inst., at Grosvenor-park, Camb er. well, George Knight, Esq., aged 76. London : Printed and P a bli a h e d b y WET:ULM ANDIM WS , of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tau SUN CORN NO 1 f Strand, in the Precinct of t h e Savoy , to the 041112t7 - 14144106exe—Thundoy, o AUILIVeri 2 8 , MP. This Prize ME It p Sold i the Age, - 8 °beer h all's LI Mu 14, g &DVA.N hold or %ble we , Forms f: AT' GE ''F,,n under to a.rri. till ------- It° Evers, ,anet se'a V c Da.,: F l inVon Mad a iac Ray- • ,MT, • G. .tinßtrp' ARi R ooms and Co. an attrn Dance 1, A s , "r3r Fii Old Cruf Shipp; SParklit 'erg., Q 884 41 bottles _on s r gn , oelebrat4 torde a , Whiskiebe a lso Ownber of ()then. For Li Annus' rou n d, Th e and full „ e found aPplican ale, R e , - ---____ THE v.., The ire R e , he mo Bonus fi valu e a lender .e ava is thirty d SEAS , off asi cn , The r; 487 9 les Willi am the Seer street, Quali Go !ferric ESL The / fessional 17 eekly Lined w. establist This ( raised a nd it L ady I Carlinc 4.. , All i i 'on or p, Subse Treasur trader th 4 ° laei B r th e k ba r g` li The ea ob ' l nd la n % , llit Wiß e Pro T he Cc entirely Omi„ . 11 R1 sh Patr -ror destitute a nd of , ' rl3 ,BPerc "no b etitution Incr et eodo we( tasistanl Bobsc B titUti pPCuI e eret a; h e 1, mice , ta t ,k, mi te • tr ALTE b ij 1 al Offi c Politic