The Sun. — London, England, 1869-03-19 00:00:00

• BANK OF ENGLAND, 18TH MARCH, 1869. TIE GOVERNOR and COMPANY of the BANK of ENGLAND give notice— That the GENERAL COURT held at the BANK this day is Adjourned till TUESDAY next, the 23d instant, at 11 o'clock in the Forenoon, for the purpose of taking the determination by Note, in print or writing, of the Question on the following Resolution proposed at the Court for a Dividend, viz. : That a Half-Year's Dividend of Interest and Profits be made on the sth April next, of £-t ss. per Cent., without deduction on 'account of Income Tar. The Voting will commence at 11 o'clock, and terminate at 4. HAMMOND CHUBB, Secretary. AT a GENERAL COURT of PROPRIETORS held at the BANK of ENGLAND, on Thursday, the 18th March, 1869 : RESOLVED, — That the best thanks of this Court be given to the GOVERNOR, D PaI:TY-GOVERNOR, and COURT of DILECTORS of the BANK of ENGLAND, for their able management of the affairs of the Corporation during the past half-year. ORDERED, — 'I hat the foregoing Resolution ho adverrsed. HAMMOND CHUBB, Secret/L.5. STEW ORLEANS, JACKSON, and GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY. SECOND MORTGAGE CONSTRUCTION BONDS endorsed PAYABLE in Sterling in LONDON. The HALF-YEARLY INTEREST on the above BONDS,due on theist April next,will be PAID on thatday, and any succeeding day, at the Counting-house of Messrs. J. Henry Schroder and Co., 145, Leadenhall-street, be tween the hours of 11 and 2 o'clock. The Coupons must be left for examination two clear days before applying for payment.' London, March 18, 1869. CONTRACTS FOR COAL BASKETS, LAMP OIL, etc. Contract Derartment, Admiralty, Somerset House, 16th March, 1869. TENDERS will be received on THURSDAY, the Bth of April next, for Coal Baskets, Knives and Forks, and Button Brushes fcr the use of the Royal Marines ; and Lamp Oil, Cotton, and Tow-for the Royal Marine Barracks at Eastney and Fort Cumberland. To be supplied under Contracts for Twelve months certain and Three months' warning. The Conditions of Contract and all particulars may be ascertained at this Office. By order, ANTONIO BRADY, Registrar of Contracts. B RITON MEDICAL AND GENERAL LIFE ASSOCIATION. Chief Offices-429, Strand, London. TRUSTEE.. Lieut.-General Sir J. E. I R. Partridge, Esq., F.R.S. Dupuis, R.C.B. Francis Webb, Esq. Sir James Duke, Bart. W. Tyler Smith, M.D. Sir W. Fergusson, Bart., Millis Coventry, a.,q. F.R.S. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD —FR &NCIS WEBB, Esq. _DEPUTY CHAIRMAN -W. TYLER SMITII, Esq. EXTRACTS from the FIFTEENTH ANNUAL RE PORT, read at the Annual General Meeting held at the Society's House on Thursday, 18th March, FRANCIS WEBB, Esq., in the chair. The directors have received 3,212 proposals for assur ing the sum of £972,866 18s. 9d. 2,472 policies were issued, assuring £703,451 4s. and producing in annual premiums the sum of £25,227 Bd. The following tabulated returns exhibit the new busi ness transactions during the three quinquennial periods : 7:1 :ii g O .14 1 R. z .... 6 g Amount „: . Amount Annual w 2 . 5 4 :o: Proposed. 2.. b) Assured. Premiums. r..• .-1 P.. 7 -s o'4 P 4 -- £ s. d. £ s. d. £ P . d. 18.58 4,802 1.023.140 0 0 3.318 654.140 0 0 21,347 16 5 1863 13,244 2,779,666 0 0 9,746, 2,037,383 0 0 63,507 19 10 1868 17,466 1,861,303 5 9 13,699; 3,752,967 4 8 122,257 17 6 - -- I — Total.. 35,512, 8,664,109 5 9 26,763. 6,444,490 4 8 207,113 13 9 The net premium income has increased to m, the sum of £216,704 1 7 • The net pre the sum of The interest on investmen of receipt yield s and other items ... 21,276 18 1 Making a total income of £237.980 19 8 IF The claims were 335, amounting to the sum of £127,886 12s. Id. The balance of the year's income was £68,026 9s. 4d. The assets of the association at the close of the year amounted to £667,493 Bs. sd. Tho directors draw special attention to the fact that the next bonus valuation will take place at the end of the year 1872, and that all polices effected on the profit scales prior to the 31st December, 1869, will be entitled to participate in the same The directors also draw atten.ion to the successful esta blishment during the past year of the Britannia Fire Association, under the auspices of the Briton. The direc tors believe that the establishment of a Fire Company, to work in active co-operation with the Life, will tend much to the advantage and profit of both institutions. It is scarcely necessary to remark that the capital funds and constitution of each office are quite separate and distinct. By order of the Board, - JOHN MESSENT, Actuary and secretary. London, March 18, 1869. BRITANNIA FIRE ASSOCIATION llead Offices, 429, Strand, London. The distinguishing features of this Association are Equitable Rates, Undoubted Security,. Prompt settlement of eloimg. JOHN MESSENT, Manager. TOHN GOSNELL and CO.'S CHERRY TOOTH PASTE is greatly superior to any tooth powder; gives the teeth a pearl whiteness, protects the enamel from dpciy, and imparts a pleasant fragrance to the breath. Price ls. 6d.—Red Bull Wharf, 03, Upper Themes-street, London. NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE. AGUA. AMARELLA restores the Human flair to its pristine hue, no matter at what age. JNO. GOSNELL and CO. have at length, with the aid of one of the most eminent Chemists, succeeded in perfect ing this wonderful liquid. It is now offered to the public in a more concentrated form, and at a lower price. Sold in bottle; Bs..each ; also 55., 7s. 6d., and 15s. each. including brush. _ Red tnll Wharf, Angel-passage, 93, Upper Thames. street London. E.C. TROUITILLE STIR MER (NORMANDY) LOAN of £400,000, SECURED by MORTGAGE D ti BEN TITRE3 of the TICOUVILLE ASSOCIATION (Limited).— Issue of 90,000 Mortgage Debentures to Bearer of £lO each. Annual interest 7 per cent., payable halt-yearly, in London and Paris. These Debentures will be redeemable by annual drawings to begin after the third year at £l2, thus giving a bonus of 20 per cent. Applications for Debentures, accompanied by a deposit of £? per Debenture, will be received in London by Messrs. Herries, Farquhar, and Co., Bankers, St. James's-street, London; Messrs. Robarts, Lubbock, and Co., Bankers, Lombard-street, London. And in Paris, at the offices of the Association, 51, Rue de Cardi nal Peach. The affairs of the Association are under the direction of The Right Hon. Viscount Bury. M.P., Director of the London and South-Western Railway, 65, Prince's-gate, London, Presi dent. The Hon. William Ashley, Stable-yard, St. James's Palace, Lon don. Monsieur Jacques Adolphe Cordier, Ancien Depute, 124, Boule vart Haussman, Paris, and Chalet Cordier, Trouville, Nor mandy. Algernon W. B. Greville, Esq., 45, Sussex-gardens, London. Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Charles H. Lindsay, M.P., Winch field, Rants. Monsieur Dumond de Montcelz, Administrateur des Mines de Zinc de la Silesie, 44, Rue de Luxembourg, Paris. Sathpson Lucas Sanville, Esq. (Messrs. S. Oppenheim and Sons), 18, Old Broad-street, London. • Debentures, £lO each. The Subscription is payable, £2 on ap plication, £2 on allotment, £2 on the lst of May, £2 on the 15th June, and £2 on the Ist August. Or the whole £lO may be paid up at once. in which case dis count at the rate of 7 per cent. will be allowed. BANKERS. Messrs. Herries, Farquhar, and Co., St. James's-street, London. . _ BROKERS. Messrs. Seymour and Elwyn, 38, Throgmorton-street, London. ABRIDGED STATEMENT. ADVANTAGES OF THE DEBENTURES. Mortgage taken in the Joint names of Trustees on behalf of the Debenture-holders. , . Each a 1 , ) Delbenture: - Will be secured upon Freehold Land, by 'mortgage or hypothe cation. Will be redeemable at £l2 per bond (thus giving a bonus of 20 per cent.), by annual drawings, after the third year. Will have coupons for interest, payable half-yearly, at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum attached, and— Will be accompanied by a warrant certificate, entitling the holder (in addition to the above bonus) to a distributive share in halt of the surplus profit arising from the ultimate realisation of the entire property comprised in the mortgage. Applications for fully paid-up Debentures will be entitled to priority of allotment. • Ii no all otment y be made the whole of the deposit will be• re turned without deduction. If the whole amount applied for be not allotted the excess of deposit will be applied to the future payments due upon such number as may be allotted, but interest at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum will be allowed and paid as above thereon. An opinion of the soundness of this security, and of the value of the distributive share of surplus profit offered to the Dlben ture-holders, may be formed from reports annexed to the printed particulars, and the consideration that Trouville is one of the choicest marine resorts in France, where the noblesse spend their summer. It lies on the coast of Normandy, opposite to Havre, directly south of the Isle of Wight, and possesses one of the largest and most comfortable hotels in France, public rooms, gardens, walks, slopes green to the water's edge, and sands superior to those of Scarborough or Ramagate. Prom London Trouville may be reached via Dover and Calais, or Folkestone and Boulogne, or via o'sthampton and Havre. From Paris it is only five hours and a half distant by railway. Plans of the properties and reports of architects and sur veyors may bo obtained at the Offices, or will be forwarded by post. Full printed particulars of the Loan and forms of subscription may be obtained of the Bankers, Brokers, and at th e Offic es of the Association, namel y :-26, Oldr Broad-street, RC.; 6, Whitehall. Westminste r , L ondon; and Paris,fl, lne de Car dinal Fetch. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Solo Lessee and Manager, Mr. F.B. Chatt.rton. Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7. Box-office open from let till 5 daily. t THIS EVENL.NG, at 7, THE GIRLS OF THE PERIOD; a 3lusical Folly. Follo~c3 b, at 7.45, OTHELLO. Mr. Phelps, M r. Dil lon, Miss Heath, and Miss Fanny Huddart. To conclude with a Grand Ballet of Action entitled BEDA. THEATRE ROYAL, HA YMARKET. Sole Lessee. Mr. Bnekstone, THIS EVENING, ..RAISLNG TLIE WIND: Messrs. Ken dal, Clark, Rogers, Bnekstone, jun., and Mesdames Laws, Dal ton, etc. After which, HOME: Messrs. Sothern, Chippendale, Comp ton. A stley, ,te,: Mesdames Cavendish, Burke, Htli, &c. With (by desire) BOX ANT) COX: Messrs. Buckstone and Campton. _ Concluding with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Box-office open daily. Comziettee at Soyen. PORTING.--JOIIN ROBERTS supplies the k 7 LATES EDITION of "TIRE SUN "as soon as pub lished.--4, Bath-street, City-road, E.C. WH O'S GRAINGER? LICENSED VICTUALLERS' TOBACCONIST. STIEPTIERD'S-RUSH. 't he SPOT:TT , i EDI Ho of "THE SUN " can be seen at :It , l N ell•.R'S Establishment, as above, every evening by F.lghl J'el )(t. THE SUN" NEWSPAPF,R.-G. R. GLENIE deliN ars the L \TE EDITION at Chelsea. 7.40; Kilburn. S.; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30; Uxbridge, 9.20; Watford. 9.45. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " It supplied, as soon as published, Every Evening, by W. A LEXA D (late Brooks), Newspaper Agent, No. 4, Old Cavendish street, Oxford-street R OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining THIS EVENING, at a quarter to 8, anew Drama, in four acts, entitled MARIE ANTOINETTE : Louis XVI., Mr. William Rignold ; Count Fersen, Mr. J. G. Shore ; The Dauphin (five years old), Miss Lydia Howard; Marie Antoinette, Mdlle. Bea trice; Messrs. Dominick Murray, D. Leeson. New Scenery by Mr. F. Lloyds, Mr. Dayes, and Mr. Matt. Mogan. New Dresses, new Properties. Preceded by THE SECRET. Co conclude with a new Comedietta, entitled A CUP OF TEA. Mdlle. P,ea trice. )oors open at half-past C, commence at 7. Box-office open daily from 10 till 5. D STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee awl Manageress, Mrs Fwanhorough. THIS EVENING, at 7.10, THE V - IDOW MINT. Messrs '2l trice. Belford, Joyce: Mesdames Big .an and Maitland. After which. THE FIELD OF' I'L CLOTH OF' GOLD. Messrs. Thorne, James. and Robson Mesdames 11 Long more, F. Hughes. L. Maitland. &e. To conclude "nth HUE AND DYE. ROTAL AMPHITHEA [RE AND CIRCUS, HOLBORN ONRA, the world-renowned, in his original and unapproach able evolutions on the FLYING TRAP FZE. every Evening. His double somersaults and perouettes from the flying bar are incredible. The matchless SCENES in the ARENA, 'including OSCAR CA RRE and his magnificent Stud of Performing Horses. New A cts, Fresh Novelties, and a host of attractions. Doors open at Seven, commence at half past. Morning Per formances Wednesday and Saturday, commencing at Balt-past Two. 1 - 1 1, 0YAL AH PI ['THEATRE, Holborn.— GOOD FRIDAY EVENING, March 26.—GRAND PER FORMANCE of Handel's Oratorio, "T H E ESSIA.II ."—Full Orchestra and chorus, numbering nearly 2.50 persons. A rtistes: Iliille. Rose Hersee (of Her Majesty's Operaj, Miss Palmer, Mr. Reed Larwill, Mr. Mavbrick, and the celebrated basso Perr Karl Formes. The St. Cecilia Choral Society WO Voices). The Orchestra will include th. most eminent Performers from both Opera Houses, the Sacred Harmonic Society, &c. Leader, Mr. Carrodus. Solo Trumpet, Mr T. Harper. Conductor, Mr. C. J flargitt. The management would specially refer to the fact that, this will he the first appearance in Oratorio for many years of the renowned bass., Herr FORMES, and his Farewell Performance, previous to retirement from the Lyric boards. Tickets may now be had at all the Libraries. p.LOBE THEATRE-ROYAL. N-A Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Sefton Parry. At 7. A HAPPY FAMILY. 7.39, CYRIL'S SUCCESS. 9.'0, BROWN AND THE BRAHMINS: Messrs. Marshall, Warner, David fisher, Andrews, Huriston, and J. Clarke; Mesdames C. Thorne, L. Morgan, Brennan, Fountain. Arnol3, Henrade, Be rend, Hughes, and Stephens. ST. GEOR GE 'S HALL, Regent-street. FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE 1862. Great and triumphant success. Never in the annals of Ethiopian minstrelsy has a company made such a decided hit. New and beautiful Songs, Dances, Burlesque Sketches, &c., and the highly successful burlesque THE VERY GRAND DUTCH —S OF LONDON, EVERY EVENING. ROYAL ORIGINAL CHRISTY MINSTRELS (Proprietors, Messrs WILSOM and MONTAGUE) The Only Company of Christy's who have had the honour to appear, by special command, before THE QUEEN AND COURT. NEARLY ONE lIITNDRED PERFORMERS. EVERY EVENING at EIGHT. WEDNESDAYS and SATURDAYS at THREE and EIGHT. Special Grand Performance for the People every Satur day night at eight. Admission, One Shilling. Private boxes and places may be secured at Mr. Mit :hell's Royal Library, at the musicsellers, and at the ball. Acting-manager, Mr. ANDREW NIMMO. THE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.-G. R. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4. Connaught-terrace, Edgeware-road. felivers the LATH' vDITION of "THE SUN" at the earliest ossible moment after leaving the press. He is able to d e li ver _ _ copies in Town, the Su nu- s, and in many parts of the country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by 9.45 o'clock _ Orders by post punctually attended to THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," giving all the SPORTING NEWS of the day, may he seen st .TEM NTO‘ 'S house, "The Swan and Horse Shoe," Little Britain, City, E.C. r im LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " to be seen Every Evening by 8 10 at Mr. ROBERT MEACOCK'S, Britannia, Mensal New-town, THE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN.' J. HJLIVIES begs to inform his friends and the public ren(rally that he supplies the LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN " as soon as published.—No. 10, Hampstead-road N.W. T HE LATES I EDITION of " THE SUN' 11 supplied Rs soon as published. containing all the LATEST JEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by II W HARRIS, qewspaper Agent, 4, Blackfriars-road, London, S. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' G UADDIAN. R. GLENIE , of the SPORTING L IBRARY, G• 4, Connaught-terrAce, Hyde-park. London, IV., begs to inform his customers, and the Licensed Victuallefs in general, that he has been appointed Agent to the above-named paper in addition to his agency for the Sporting Edition of " THE Sus," and can supply the same on Friday evening, if requited, in town or count. G. R. (1:' begs to infirm the Trade that he is Agent for the EDITION f • THE SUN," and can supply it carlicr then any other m an i n L on d on or Country the even i ng of publi cation. No connection with any other persons. Baily's, Ruff's, and M'Call ' s G u id es. All the Daily Papers, Magazi and Periodicals as soo n as pu bli s h ed. Agent for t h e Joint-Stock Coal Company. Orders by p ost attended to. nes, riE LATE EDITION of "THE SUN " at J. SMITH'S, I. Bow-street, Covent-garden. riIHE LATE EDITION of "THE SUN" at 11 W. SMITH'S "Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden town. r rHE LATE EDITION o f " THE SUN' at It. JAMES SPEEDY'S, "The Wellington," Wellington-street, Strand. THEATRE -ROYAL DRURY- L A NE. dole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chattcrton. THIS EVENING, at 7. GIRLS OF THE PF,RIGD. Followed by OTHELLO: Mr Phelps, Mr Charles Dillon. Concluding with BEDA. THEATRE-ROYAL. HAYMARKET. Tins EVENING, RAI- ING THE WIND: Messrs. Kendal Buckstone. jun., Mis 4 Laws, &c. Afier which, HOME: Sothern. Chippendale. &c. ; Mesdames Cavendish. Burke. &c Followed by BOX AND COX. Concluding with MY HUSBAND'S G uOST. Corarnenef, at 7. PRINCESS,S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manto , er, Mr. Vininct. TFITSEVENINCI. at 7, to commence'with THE SECRET. At a quarter to 8, MARIE ANTOINETTE: Mr W. Rignold, Mr. G. Shore, Mr. Dominick Murrt.y; Mdlle. Beatrice. Conclud ing with A CUP OP TI'A: M dile. Beatrice THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHT. Tills EVENING, at 7, A DAY'S FISHING. Mr. G. l3elmore, Mr Stephenson. Mrs. L. Murray and Miss Lennox ~Grey. At 15 to 3, THE DEAD HEART. Aiessrs. Ben. Webster, A. Stirling, G. Belrnore, R. Phillips, Ashley, Stuart; Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Miss Lennox Grey, &e. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress. Mrs. Swanborough. IIITS EVENING.at 7.30, THE WID( , W HUNT. Messrs. Bel ford, Clarke : Miss Buft , n. TtiE FIELD 0 F THE C LOTH OF GOLD : Messrs. Thorne, James, Fenton; v'esdames Maria Longmore, B. Goodall, I ydia Maitland, Claire, and Hughes. To conclude with HUE AND DYE GLOBE THEATRE -ROYAL. Trn EVENLY(, at 7. A HAPPY FAMILY. 7.30, CYRIL'S SUCCESS. 9.40, BROWN AND THE BRAHMINS: Messrs. Marshall,Warner, David Fisher, Andrews, ITurlstone, J. Clarke; Nlesdarnes Tienrade, C: Thorne, Brennen, Berend, Hughes, Ar sold, and Stephens QUEEN'S THEATRE, LONG-ACRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Liston. TFITS EVENING. A RACE FOR A DINNER. After which, NOT GUILTY: Messrs. J. L. Toole, Lionel Br ong h , H. Irving , S. Fmery. Miss Hodson. &c. Concluding with THE BI RTH- P k LACE OF PODGERS: Mr. Toole. THEATRE-ROYAL, HOLBORN. Ting EVFNINU, BLOW FOR BLOW: Messrs. Cowper, re Parselle, and George Honey; Mesdames -Lydia Foote, Ar,c, After which, LUCRETIA BORGIA, M.D.: Miss Fanny Josephs, and George Honey. To conclude with AUNT CHARLOTT's MAI U. Mesdames Larkin, Weathersby. ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE AND CIRCUS, HOLBORN. Tuts EVENING, the Great Carre Troupe and magnificent Stud f5O Horses; also Onra, Alfred Bradbury, A. Carre, cite THEATRE-ROYAL, OLYMPIC. THIS EVENING, at 7, PAPER WINGS : Messrs. H. Wigan , H.Ne'ille, E. Atkins, H. Vaughan, H. Cooper, and Smithson: Masdamag Furtado, Sehavey, N.• Harris. and St. Henry. Atter which, TH NI YELLOW PASSPORT. Messrs Neville, H. Neville. Atkins. Tayl, r, l'aughan, G. Vincent, tte.; Miss Fur ado and Mrs Caulfield. ROYALTY THEATRE. Tinder the Management of Miss M Oliver. THTs Eratrint, at 7.r0, A LOVIM: CUP. Mr. Dewar, Miss M. Oliver. To ho Potion-ea by CLAUDE DUVAL; Mr. Dewar, &c. To conclude with FAMILY JARS. PRINCE OF WALES'S ROYAL THEATRE. Under the Minagement of Miss Marie Wilton 'f HIS LVENING, SCHOOL: Messrs. Hare, H. J. Montagne, Addison, Glover, and Ram - Taft; Mrs. Euelcingluim White. Miss C. Addison, and Miss Mario Wilton. After which, A WINNING HAZARD. And INTRIGUE. ST. GEORGE'S THEATRE, REGENT STREET. Tins EYENTNG, at 8, THE ROYAL ORIGINAL CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS' Ethiopian Entertainment: and the Burlesque Extravaganza, THE VERY GRAND HUTS-lll —n-8 CEIRISTY MINSTRELS, St. James's Eallalrery Night, at 3 Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 3 ands all thelear round. OYAL ALHAMBRA PALACE.— Pronaktade Concert. Band 0 CO. ,Beiinl,CB. 41. Izio-c , filck open from 11 to 1, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 19, 1869. ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, Regent's-park, OPEN daily (ex cept Sundays). Admission, Is.; on Mondays, 6d.; Children under twelve, 6d. h e71,1g, Ann. change here by ordaining the appointment of a judge, who must be an experienced barrister. He will occupy a position subordinate to the Arch bishop, who, as in the case of the Bishop and his chancellor, will be the chief judge. Lastly, there is a final right of appeal from the the judg ment of the Archbishop's court to the Privy Council. The constitution of this tribunal is not to be altered, and, in this respect, it will be generally admitted that Lord SHAFTESBURY has acted with great judgment. Whether the Privy Council is or is not a satisfactory tribunal, whether the lay element does not preponderate too greatly for the just decision of clerical cases, is a vexed question. But it is not likely that the originator of this measure, as a prominent supporter of one of the antagonistic parties, could have devised any settlement which would have met with general acceptance. Such is the proposed constitution of the eccle siastical courts. But by far the most momentous change is made in the method of procedure against offences committed by clergymen. This is much the most important branch of eccle siastical jurisdiction. The power to decide tithe disputes, cases of spoliation, and dilapidation are of comparatively rare occurrence,the first-named extremely so. Breaches of the laws of discipline are, however, not only frequent, but the mode of pro cedure in such cases is, under the existing law, very unsatisfactory. The existing system is not sufficiently simple. Aggrieved parishioners cannot obtain the reform of abuses without a roundabout. preliminary in the shapp of obtaining permission from the Bishop to institute proceedings. This complexity frequently delays, often defeats, the ends of justice. - In. matters of this kind, where the offence is = general, and affects no individual in particular, the mode of redress must be simple and direct, or only the most flagrant offences will be noticed. The bill promises to supply this want. It stipulates that no charge against clergy men, nor any suits involving questions of doctrine, can be brought in any courts save those pre sided over by the Bishops. But it enables three members of a church to institute proceedings in the diocesan court against breaches of the eccle siastical laws. The court will have power to suspend or depose any minister, provided that the sentence be not greater than is now provided by the existing law. Issues of fact, with the consent of the court, may be submitted to a jury composed of three beneficed cler gymen and justifies of the peace. Besides these three, there are minor regulations for the saving of time and expense, the most noteworthy of which is that surplus fees are to be applied by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who will have charge of financial arrangements, to the augmentation of poor livings. Costs may be enforced against either party bringing a friv'olous charge or defence. Nothing of importance has been overlooked in the composition of this measure, which forms a thoroughly complete whole. The changes it is designed to effect have long been felt necessary, to remedy the most vague and unsatisfactory b ranc h of our jud i c i a l system. There ought to be no diffi culty in pass i ng th e bi ll into a law. The chief complaint which will be brought against it—that of not dealing with the constitution of the Privy Council—is not likely to become a serious obstacle to its success. THE election p e titi ons are re l aps i ng i n t o a round of monotonous' un if or M ity, but here and there a fresh variety of demoralisation turns up to cast a new light upon our electoral system. Blackburn is a case in point. The hearing of the petition which has unseated the two Conservative members furnishes some of the most noteworthy revelations which have yet been made. The election was characterised by the most disgraceful rioting in the United Kingdom, and , votes were secured by the wholesale application . of an illegal influence; but the honest class of electorS may satisfactorily reflect that their unpleasant experience has not been in vain. The last election in general has furnished a strong argument 'in favour of the Ballot ; but of all the individual constituencies Black burn must be held to contribute most largely to this result. The remarkably lively election in the Lancashire borough was not decided by bribery, Both parties had recourse to the far cheaper, and, as it seems, not less efficacious, influence of the "screw." Conservative employers intimidated their workmen, Conservative workmen intimidated their colleagues, and Messrs. lIonNnY and FIELDEN were returned. As usual, the two innocent ex - members knew nothin g tohfetir agents means availed themselves S s employedto secure th e i r re t urn, b ut extensively of the most discreditable influence by which the fate of a contest can be decided. The Con servative committee addressed a circular to the Conservative employers of labour asking them to secure the votes of those dependent upon them. The committee found a Christian circu m l ocu ti on for the agency which is barbarou s ly, b u t w ith decided force, denominated the " screw." Th e com mittee were of opinion that managers, mill owners , overlookers, and others possessing influence knew better than other people how to app rec i a t e th e " blessings, temporal and religious, secured by the Constitution, which is now threateried by unscrupu lous politicians." They were therefore implored to exert their influence to secure the return of candidates who would shield the Constitution from these dangers—who would prevent " Christian England " from being made a " godless nation." Those in possession of influence took the hint. Their workpeople were enlisted in the cause of righteous ness by a clear intimation that if they refused to fight the good fight they might be cast out utterly. The effect was decisive. Many operatives, who would have voted with the Liberals, decided to preserve England from becoming a godless nation rather than incur dismissal. Those who maintained their independence lost their- places. The Conservatives won their election by the votes of Liberal artisans, and when the contes,t was over there was a general settling up , and old servants who had been unfaithful politicians were merci lessly turned away.. Intimidation was em ployed by operatives as well as by masters ; in fact, the election clearly shews that the danger of workmen intimidating Their fellows is by no means chimerical. Operativis who were a grade above the ranks, overlookega • and others, applisd the ci screw " as unblustiliglY as their masters, and though in this - case it was employed for the benefit of , the Conservatives, there is no reason to believe that the danger does not exist equally for both, 'parties. The tendency of these disclosures is palp a b le.. It might have occurred to the Conservative committee and those whom they addressed that the Constitution will hardly be upheld by the degradation of a principle which the Conservatives themselves claim to have conferred. The - idea might have suggested itself that the godliness of Christian England will hardly be promoted by pitting a working man's con science against his daily bread. But these consider& tions never do influence elections, and never will. Pre• vention is certainly better than cure ; but the neces sity of a cure.is becoming more and more apparent. It is said that at the forthcoming meeting of the Hudson's Bay Company, a number of the share holders propose to move that the offer lately pro posed by the Colonial -office be rejected, and that negotiations be opened for the sale of the com pany's territory to the Americans. Whether this suggestion which appears to be dictated by a bitter feeling at the disappointment sustained by the shareholders, is meant seriously or not, remains to be seen. At a meeting of the Irrigation Company of France (Limited) the directors' report was adopted. It referred to the present critical position of the affairs of the undertaking, but expressed a hope that all obstacles to the full and active resumption of the whole of the unfinished works may be re moved without much further delay. The works have been inspected by two engineers, .who regard them as wise in conception, economically con structed (with certain exceptions), and likely to become remuneyetiye. SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS ON SUNDAY. On Thursday a deputation from the Central Associa• tion for Stopping the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on , Sunday waited upon the Home Secretary, the Right Hon. 1-I. A. Bruce. Amongst those present were Archbishop Manning, Mr. Bazley, M.P., the Rev. J. A. Stowell, Manchester ; Mr. B. Whitworth, Mr. Jacob Bright, M.P., Mr. Thomas Barlow, Bolton ; Mr. H. B. Roberts, Mr. J. Hawking; secretary Claremont Sunday Schools, Islington ; the Rev. F. W. Brown, New castle ; Rev. J. Reid, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in England ; Mr. G. Blakly, United Kingdom Baud of Hope Union ; Rev. J. C. Patterson, Man ohester ; Rev. J. M. Ross, Manchester ; Mr. J. O'Cullahan, Rev. Dr. Fisher, Rev. Dawson Burns, Mr. W. Hoyle, Mr.. W. Hitchcock, Dr. Martin War rington, Rev. G. 1 1 / . .. Macree, Mr. W. I'. Palmer, Mr. llowmond, Mr. G. Dibley, Mr. J. Andrews, and the Rev. J. G. Murray. The members of the deptuation assembled at the Westminster Palace Hotel prior to rroe—fling to the Hoi. )11ice. A letter was read from Mr. . M.P., which stated that the writer regretted that he could not attend the deputation in the objects sought to be ob tained but in which he believed he concurred. A letter from Mr. Cawley, M.P., to the same effect, was also read. At this preliminary meeting a me morial to the Home Secretary was adopted. This document asserted - that the stopping of the'.sale of intoxicating liquors on the Lord's Day would• be in accordance with the wishes of a great majority, of the people of this country. Their feeling on this point had been tested not only in large public meetings (such as those in the Guildhall, held under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, and in the Manchester Town Hall,nnder the presidency of the Mayor), held in twenty or thirty of the chief cities and towns in the kingdom ; but also by a very general canvass instituted from hOuse to house in more than 200 towns and Rillages in various parts - of the country —the grcss result ofqvhich was as follows In favour of closing on Sunday. Against. Neutral. England 291,643 N. Wales - - 31 , 96 4 S. Wales 23 267 - , 899 , 96 Total 346,874 - 37,483 A separate canvass of employers of labour and of work shops gave s!roilar results. It was, therefore, prayed that the Government would introduce a bill into Parliament, prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors (except to travellers) during the twenty-four hours of the Lord's Day. Mr. BAILEY, M.P., introduced the deputation, and called upon Mr. Robert 'Whitworth to present the memo rial referred to above. The Rev. Mr. STOWELL intimated that the only object the deputation had in view was to stop the sale of liquors on Sunday. Many of those present were not connected with temperance societies, but they all felt that' it was not necessary that public-houses should be open on Sunday except for the convenience of travellers. If the working classes required beer on Sundays, they could obtain it on the Saturday. The fact was, that to a large extent the proposed alteration in the law had the approval of the working classes. Archbishop MANNING contended that the efforts made to prevent drunkenness by moral persuasion would be much more successful if the traffic in drink on Sunday was not legalised. What had been done with perfect success in Scotland was an evidence that the will of the people would be with the promoters of the present move ment ; the mass of the working men and their wives desired that the temptation to drink on the Sabbath should be withdrawn. Publicans, too, desired to have one day's rest in the week. The disease of drunkenness was On the increase, and a terrible harvest would be reaped.if steps we taken to prevent it. If impossible to obtain Obligatory Act, let the will of the people be tested by the passing of a Permissive Act for large towns. • Dr. ' MARTIN, ate a medical man, had come to the conclu sion that unless something could be done to stem the tide of drunkenness, but little good could be effected in the direction of Sunday improvement. Nothing would tend so much to the preservation of the health of the working classes as the closing of the public-houses from twelve o'clock on Saturday night until eight o'clock on Monday morning. After a few remarks on the prevalence of drunkenness amongst juveniles from the Rev. G. W. MACRE; The lloatF. SECRETARY replied, expressing his gratifica tion at having heard the remarks advanced by the mem bers of the deputation. He trusted that if his answer was not entirely satisfactory they would not understand that he intended for a single moment to throw s doubt upon the statement that drunkenness was a great eril, and was the cause of very many crimes. This however, did not settle the question. 'there were those in the country who thought that if it could be proved that a great evil existed, and was productive of disastrous consequences, it ought to be crushed by the strong hand of the law. Public-houses, it was contended, were the sources of such !unmitigated and widespread evil that Parliament ought to be called upon to inter fere and put an end to them. But, he would ask, if such a state of things were possible in the present state of opinion in this country. It was time that the deputation asked not that the public houses should be entirely done away with, but only that they should be compelled to close on Sundays. The principle, however, was the same in both cases. It could not be denied that it was the duty of a Christian Legislature to see that as far as possible the Sabbath should be properly observed, and they would admit that much had.been done in this direction ; and that as regarded public-houses there was a great difference between Sunday and other Says. The matter now brought forward had been referred ;c1 a select committee, and a report had been adopted by them which was opposed to the views of the deputation. Mr. Bruce continued that though it would be impossible for him to promise that anything could be done inParliamentthis year he:might assure them that if it was at all consistent with the concurrent claims of other subjects, the question of licensing generally would be dealt with by her Majesty's Ministers, and if they could not see their way to pass entirely preventive measures, 'lley would do what they could to regulate that system and make the best efforts to guard against its abuse. Admitting that the evils of drunkenness were vreat, he (the Home Secretary) was not prepared to admit all the consequences which were stated to follow from it. flee of the speakers (Dr. Martin) had referred :o the Forbes Mackenzie Act in Scotland. No doubt it had worked well in many respects, but still the fact remained that last year the number of deaths in Glasgow was at a higher rate than in Birmingham. He -was himself inclined to doubt if there was apparent in Scotland any greater improvement than that which pro -ceded from the general improvement of the people throughout the country. Nor did he believe that drun kenness had increased, in proof of which he invited a comparison of the aspect of the streets a the present day with that which they presented sorty or fifty years ago. Much of the crime which still was prevalent was due to other causes than drunkenness. The Home Secretary concluded by saying that the only legislation that would be possible would be such as was supported by Parliament and the desire of the people. That desire was in favour of the suppression of drunkenness, but he was doubtful if it went further. He would also remind them that public-houses were the only resorts of large numbers of the working classes who lived in lodgings, and had no comfortable homes. If public-houses were to be clotted; ther'ensust go band in hand with the movement another for prOviding suitable places of resort fox the working man. All these were matters which would have to be well Weighed, and he could do no more than say that the members of the Cabi- net would be quite ready to attempt anything that could be reasonably done to prevent drunkenness. A Cabinet Council will be held at the official resi dence of the First Lorl of the Treasury, Downing-street, on Saturday. The Church Estates Commissioners hairc issued their .nnual report.. They have, 'ender the provisions of The 6th and 7th sections of the Act, transfet4ettio the Eccle siastical Cornmisaioners for England during the pitstyear a sum of £70,000 in respect of the surplus proceeds of enfranchise ments completed. The aggregate amount which has been paid over or transferred to the account of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners is now £1,400,207 2s. 2d., in addition to £170,000 in respect of interest which has accrued on the surplus. An account of the receipts and disbursements of ;ho Duchy of Lancaster in the year ended 21st December, 1868 ; also a separate account of the capital of the said duchy, to the same date, has just been issued. The re ceipts wero £46,785, and there was cash at bankers' on 21st December last, amounting to £3,695. The payments in_ elude £28,500 for her Majesty's use, rad £13,737 ordinary charges, salaries, improvements, ezc. The capital account shows— stock, £31,350, and cash £2,040. A sum of £857 has been outlaid on the estates. The Lords Justices bad before them on Thursday the case of the Credit Fonder and Mobilier of England v. the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company, in which an appeal was made against the refusal of Vice-Chancellor Stuart to give leave to the Credit Fonder and Mobilier of England to file a bill against the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company to recover' X 200,000 which the former company had given for debentures issued by the latter company on the security of theeastern section undertaking. Their lordships granted leave to file a bill, on the Credit Foncier undertaking not to proceed against the company under any decree they might obtain in the pro posed suit, and not to issue any execution ageing t)49s9ra *QV thi tact. , - SPIRIT DE' THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, The Times affirms that flimsiness relieved with spangles —the difinition of .a Columbine's skirt—is a too apt description of Mr. Disraeli's speech on Thursday night. It was a great occasion. He began by reminding the House of Commons that the First Minister of the Crown had himself declared, in introducing the Irish Church Bill, that no more gigantic issue had ever been presented to the deliberation of a free Parliament. But how did Mr. Disraeli rise to the altitude of the occasion? He diverged at the outset into philosophy; and while we freely acknowledge that Mr. Disraeli's fun is exquisite, his philosophy is simply detestable. English Tory members, and still more the excellent Protestants of Ireland, were simply puzzled and indignant at the use of arguments which appeared to them to abandon all their strong positions, and to rest the case they rely upon as sacred upon pleas' which they themselves feel tc he merely fantastical. What they wanted were good rousing denunciations of Papists and the Ministry, oppor. tunities for outbursts of Kentish fire ; and Nvliat did they get? Mr. Disraeli was laboriously cii it to the Roman Catholics. He was deferential to the forthcoming (Ecumenical Council. In a word, he was, though some• what dull and laboured on the whole, yet to a perfectly unconcerned auditor occasionally vivacious; but to the men at his back, whose life and soul were in the matter in hand, wholly incomprehensible and disappointing. Mr. Disraeli's speech was entirely _ consistent with the avoidance of a division on a second reading. Of some of his most prominent friends and allies it may be said that they cannot with any consistency support a direct negative to the bill. They have acknowledged the necessity of change. They have confessed that the change must divest the Irish I . :stablishment of a, sensible portion of its property. In a word, they have admitted the principle of the Ministerial bill. It is to little purpose to discuss minutely a course of action which must be fully determined on Tuesday, but one thing might be deduced with toler able certainty from the argument of Mr. Disraeli on . Thur sday, that in his opinion the issue is already decided. The Daily News declares that Mr. Disraeli's speech on Thursday evening was made under very dispiriting cir cumstances, And was itself practically a confession of defeat. Like Falstaff, the leader of the Opposition has "led his rigamuffins where they will be peppered," and he is conscious that lie and they are, intellectually, only food for powder. The spectacle of a good man strug gling with adversity is said to have been the sight of all others most grateful to the gods. The spectacle pre sented on Thursday night of a party leader contending gallantly against overwhelming numbers and yet more overwhelming arguments has an interest and a pathos of its own which makes the beholder forget for the Moment that Mr. Disraeli has with his own hands dug the pit in which he is now floundering, and has himself woven the net in which he is immeshed. The leader of the Oppo sition commenced his speech on Thursday evening with a dignified moderation of tone which suited the situation. He appealed to the House of Commons to display the self-control and the forbearance which fitted the gigantic issue which was brought before it. The reference he made to the other gigantic issue, which was decided in a different temper two centuries ago, was, perhaps, conceived in that vein of exaggeration and of strained historic analogy to which he is prone, and of which his allusion a year ago to the Dutch conquest of England was an example. Mr. Disraeli was, however, in the main, true to his word ; and he creditably abstained from those coarse incentives tc sectarian fanaticism to which, twelve months ago, he made a frantic, but happily a vain, appeal. As to Mr. Disraeli's alarms for the Church Established in England, and for the security of private property, if the present bill should become law, they are the commonplaces of alarmist eloquence. No one would be more amused than he at the, simplicity which should take his rhetoric for logic. The Standard considers that Mr. Disraeli's speech on Thursday night is likely to exercise an important influence, on the future course of the debates on the Church Spolia tion Bill. Its studied moderation will do much to avert what we have always considered as one of the most serious of the incidental dangers attending the discussion of a measure appealing so forcibly to the worst passions of one part of the community, snd involving so deeply the strongest feelings and highest interests of all. No one questions Mr. Disraeli's possession of all the qualities of a great orator; and no great orator could fail to discern the opportunities which the occasion afforded for those bursts of fervid eloquence and concentrated passion which the subject appeared almost to deniand. If he abstained from these, it was 'because the responsibilities of the statesman outweighed the instincts of the orator, and warned him to sacrifice to permanent and public interests the opportunity of a great personal and party triumph. If, hereafter, the discus. sion be restrained within the bounds of parliamentary decorum and constitutional safety, .the . restraint will be chiefly due to the self-denial of the Conservative leader. No speech yet made has contributed more to the clear and distinct apprehension of the nature and merits •of the issue or of the character and conse quences of the bill. The Post observes that a debate has commenced in the. House of Commons which, considering the magnitude of the issue involved, will be second in importance to none that have taken place in Parliament for many years past. The result may possibly be predicted with no little cer tainty, but this, which under ordinary circumstances diminishes the interest felt in a contest, rather enhances that which attaches to the pending contest over the Irish Church. Party feeling, however intense it may be, seldom equals the feeling of antagonism between two rival sects of Christians, and in the issue now raised it so happens that there are at present all the elementsboth of political and religious strife. Pursuant to notice, the leader of the Oppo sition moved what, according to the rules.of parliamentary procedure, amounted to the rejection of the bill. The task was one which by right devolved on him, and perhaps it is needless to say that it was discharged with ability. But, having said this, we fear we can add nothing more in praise of Mr. Disraeli's speech against the second reading of the Irish Church Bill. In his exordium he recognised the magnitude of the issue, and he deprecated any censure at the hands of those who differed from him in creed if, in the heat of debate, he should say anything to wound their' religious susceptibilities. A good many years ago Mr. Disraeli addressed to the House of Commons, on an analogous subject, a speech which w ill b e reco l lected and quoted years after that of Thursday night is forgotten, and as we listened to him we could not help thinking that he was looking back with regret on that happier time when, unfettered by official trammels or party bonds, he was enabled t. , give free utterance to his thoughts on the trrievances of the Irish people. The Star thinks that Mr. Disraeli deserves credit for sticking to his text, and his fidelity is the more honourable to him. because his text is so empty and absurd. On Thursday night the House of Commons lis tened with great attention while the leader of the expatiatedOpposi on th e b eaut i es of his State Church onceu rcht again heory,and perhaps the occasion gained in general interest because many heard for the first time some of those wonderful utterances which in the solemn guise of type are apt to seem nearly incredible. The old common places were solemnly trotted out. The House was told how the State derived its highest sanctions from religiOn, and how the Church undertook some of the highest functions of th e St ate. The country Was invite to enjoy a retrospect in which our forefathers won regulated freedom and set the fashion of temperate reli gion. Complete political liberty combined with order, complete religious liberty united with a national faith— these are the myths of Mr. Disraeli's worship. T 1 familiar State-Church argument may be said to have coin, posed the solid p u ddi ng o f M r. D israeli ' s discourse ; but there were several plums in it, and, on the whole, hi s • - !ookery was much more successful and appetising than on some recent occasions of like importance. Amongst these we must reckon the delicate distinction which this acute critic of vituperative diction established between spoliation and confiscation. It is reassuring to hear Mr. Gladstone acquitted on such authority of spoliation. The Herald asserts that Mr. Disraeli's speech, which created in Mr. Chichester Fortescue's bosom a mingled feeling of admiration and regret, was not merely one of the finest oratorical performances upon that noblest of all theatres the English House of Commons, it was a great argument for English liberties, and a keen, and, as we venture to think, an unanswerable criti c i sm o f th e pro visions of th e Government measure. The perfect art of the speech, looked at apart from the question of agreement or opposition to the right hon. gentleman's views, will be umversally admitted. The attention of the House never flagged as th e l ea d er o f the Opposition passed from passages of vigorous eloquence to the most laughter-pro voking sallies and th e closest argument. The compositio n of the speech was admirable. rihere was no sluvenlines% about the work, everything was done ad unguem. The balance of each sen t ence, t h e happiness of each epigram, the rich humour of each stroke of satire—every one pF them; it must be noted, most carefully divested of any. thing like personal or more pa r ty f ee li ng , an d the loftin ess and force of the peroration, make it on e o f the very S oo t orat i ons ever addressed 'to the House of Commons. The Telegraph says that Mr. Disraeli, defending the Irish Church, was in a position essentially dramatic. It is now a quarter of a century—the phrase smacks of the stage —since the not then distinguished gentleman addressed the House of Commons on the same questior. It was in the year 1844, and the speaker was still a member of the Conservative party, still a nominal follower of S,r Robert Peel. He has since that date referred to his speec as containing in parts some " heedless rhetoric ." but we would not hear hi s enem y say so, nor shall we do our ears such violence to make them trusters of his ow ., report against himself." The speech was not heedless ; it was statesmanlike and unimpassioned, pointing out the evils of Irish society in phrases fitting, forcible, and. just. Not that we mean to underrate the ability o.! Mr. Disraeli's work. Whatever we may say of the argu ments themselves, their arrangement and delivery wet.• distinguished by an amount of vigour, tact, and courage which will render the speech remarkable even among th., most successful essays of the right honourable gentleman. It put some of his peculiar views on Church and State with great felicity and force, and there were touches o! humour that would have redeemed even a dull oratory. But we fancy that any true Churchman who was present must have exclaimed Save us from our friends i" as he heard the-Protestant leader declare that the future danger was lest "religion" shotdd be too " s t rong ;" f or, if th e State and religion came hereafter into conflict, religion was likely to be " wrong." Therefore the sphere of religion is to be " contracted ,• ' therefore the clergy are t o b e k e pt in relation to the • State, otherwise they will be k 444 witgaititilwato. • ~ ' , _i 03 1 r4:l A iMt AIL ,2,/:1/4 LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1869. The oddest effect was produced last night in the House of Commons, by the (in many respects) bril liant and effective speech in which the Second Read ing of the Irish Church Bill was opposed by the ex- Premier as Leader of her MAJESTY'S Opposition. It was in many respects, as we have said, bril'iant, and it was often very effective. Bat--it was inappro priate to the occasion. As a piece of radiant and even riaa4 " persiflage," it was repeatedly delightful. It was never once—during the two hours and ten minutes occupied by its delivery—dull. It was throughout exhilara - Cng— frequently exciting laughter (not against the speaker, observe, although he was all along speaking in such a peculiarly false position not against him but with him) now and then, even. producing roars of laughter from both sides of the House. - But in that fact was observable, of course, its extraordinary incongruity. A facetious speech—to oppose so great a measure ! speech, repeatedly of the drollest character, with which withstand what Mr. DISRAELI is denouncing all the while as an act of flagrant confiscation ! It was certainly carrying off the grievance with a cool hand. It was most assuredly making light of what so many of his supporters regard, and denounce, asa monstrous wrong. It was putting the best face upon it—jesting;thus, rather than dancing over an earth quake. Nevertheless, in spite of its inappropriate character, in spite of its incongruity—it was, per haps, after all, the only way in which Mr. DISRAELI could have been reasonably expected to deal with the matter at all under the circumstances. To Mr. GATIIORNE HARDY must be left more fittingly the denunciation—with impassioned fervour, and in the 1 tnguage of sternly virtuous in- diguation—of what he, and Conservative members who think with him, conscientiously believe in their in nermost heart and soul, to be a proposal of the most revolutionary character to despoil the Irish Church of its property,;to the end of appropriating the surplus funds derivable from their sale to what the member for Oxford University with others who think like him, regard as secular uses. As for Mr. DISRAELI himself—the Opposition to the Government Bill had, as a matter of course, to be led by him—because of the simple fact of his being the Leader of the Opposition. As ex-Premier, as Chief of the Party, he could do no otherwise. But, while constrained thus to stand forth as the principal champion of those who are earnestly and resolutely in favour of the maintenance intact of the union of Church and State, Mr. DISRAELI could not but speak within his own vivid recollection, and within the vivid recollection also o: very many of those who beard him last evening, of having himself, just _one quarter of a century ago, spoken exactly on the opposite side—namely as the independent and almost isolated de nouncer of that very Irish Church which he was then and there, yesterday, eulogizing as an institution that ought to be preserved. His words of five-and-twenty years ago he referred to but a few months since—it was in the course of last session—as so much "heedless rhetoric." He spoke then, in 1844, from below the gangway. He was a nominal supporter at the time of Sir ROBERT PEEL, but a supporter of that great statesman, in the fullest sense of the term (as Sir ROBERT himself found out soon afterwards) thoroughly independent. Nobody seemed then to listen to him-- as he himself remarked only last year when referring to the subject. Fveryhody listened , to him last evening in a densely crowded h ou s e ' as he stood there—not as he stood twenty five years ago as a comparative obscure member, certainly an unheeded member, as he has himself said,speaking from below the gangway, but— addressing himself to the House of Commons as one who had thrice led it, as one who had been for ten months himself the First Minister of the Crown, as one still occupying only the second place in that august assembly by right of bis recognized position as ex-Prime Minister of England and as Leader of the Conservative or Constitutional Oppo sition. So ad lressing himself to the House last night, Mr. DISRAELI relieved himself from the awk wardness of the position he so very conspicuously occupied, as the vindicator and upholder of the very institution he bad formerly denounced, by comment ing upon the Bill and its probable consequences in as humorous a speech as he has ever yet delivered. It was a speech not full of irony, like so many other of his celebrated orations in Parliament, but running over with the richest and raciest humour. It was impossible to help laughing at him, or rather with him, as he delineated that most delightful companion in the world, the Irish gentleman with out any property. Listening to him as he touched off the portraiture with the merest inflexions of his voice, with the merest movement of his eyebrows, his shoulders, his hands, people chuckled, shook their sides, suppressed their laughter, so that they might not lose a word, and then, at the close of it, fairly roared with merriment. Time and again Mr DISRAELI appealed thus to the risibility of his audience, who for the life of them, nevertheless, could not help, each time, on recovering from their fits of laughter, asking heruselves—Was this the vindication of the main enance intact of the union of Church and State ? Vas this the denunciation of the Irish Church Bill as a gigantic attack upon one of the great fundamental principles lying at the very root of the Constitution? Such as it was, however—that speech of Mr..DtsßAELl's—it was inimitable. It was lis- ,ened to throughout with breathless attention, and will long be remembered as among his oratorical masterpieces. But it affects the cause at issue in no way whatever. It leaves the measure now before the House—untouched—unflawed—scatbless. LORD SHAFTESBURY'S bill for the regulation of ecclesiastical law procedures is a comprehensive but moderate measure, and is likely to form part of the successful legislation of the year. It embodies all that is necessary to place the laws affecting the discipline of the clergy on a better footing, and yet the task undertaken is chiefly one of con solidation. The changes made are comparatively few, and only such as have been found absolutely ne cessary. The ecclesiastical tribunals will remain substantially the same as at present, and will preserve jurisdiction over the same class of offences. The diocesan courts are to be presided over by the bishop, and, subordinately, his chancellor —the law officer appointed by an Act of HENRY reign to assist the bishop in questions of ecclesiastical law. These dio cesan courts will retain the same jurisdiction as at present. They will retain their power of deciding matter-of-fact questions affecting tithes, the payment of ecclesiastical du es to the clergy, spoliation—unjustly taking the benefice of one incumbent and conferring it upon another, dilapidation of church buildings, and all charges against clergymen of immorality or other breaches of the ecclesiastical law. Besides them dio cesan tribunals, there are the courts of the Provinces of Canterbury and York, to which appeal can be made on the request of the bishop. The provincial courts will have full jurisdiction to revise the deci sions of the diocesan tribunals, and they will be pre sided over by the Archbishops ; but the Act ma k es a TILE CATASTROPHE AT TAIUA Later particulars of the explosion at the Sorbonne sheit that it was caused by a new powder, which M. Fontainp, one of the proprietors of the manufactory, had invented for marine torpillos. A barrel containing bichrate of potassium, which is one of the component parts of the newly-discovered powder, had been that morning deposited at the manufactory, to be for• warded by Tuesday night's train to Toulon. One of the workmen, wishing to carry home a specimen of this bichrate of potassium, took a small portion out of the barrel; and let a few particles of it fall 0 11 the ground, and by accidentally treading on it set fire, not to the fallen particles alone, but to the whole barrel. The explosion was frightful. The earth shook, the neighbouring houses tottered, the foot passengers were thrown on their faces, and on the Place de Is. Sorbonne alone 5,000 panes were shivered to powder. The first and second floors of M. Fontaine's house were torn open, and men and women, inhabitants of these floors, were precipitated into the flames. The staircase caught fire, and a stifling stench prevented all access to the incandescent volcano. Trunks of human bodies, arms and legs, and fragments of smoking flesh were found 290 yards distant. A washerwoman was lite rally reduced to powder ; the concierge was flattened against the wall. SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT SUDBURY• An inquest has been held at Sudbury on the bodies of Mary Ready, aged 70, and of her daughter Mary Ann Ready, aged 34 It appears that the deceased women lived at No. 56, Cross-street, Sudbury, and that they were discovered dead in their residence on Tuesday morning. The mother and daughter were known to be eccentric, and according to the medical testimony the younger woman was not of sound mind. Owing to want of work as staymakers and milliners, they had been in a state of great poverty for a considerable period' but would not apply to the parish for relief. Nothing had been seen of the mother for some three weeks or a month past, and very little of the daughter. Between nine and ten o'clock on Tuesday morning the attention of a police' man was called to the _cottage by seeing a crowd of people against it, and he was told that there was a woman lying inside the house naked. He entered the cottage' and found the bodies of the two deceased women, one in lower apartment, the other in an upper room of the cottage. The place was in a wretched and dilapidated •:ondition, destitute of furniture and of all traces of food ar fuel. The body of the mother presented the apPer . ance of a skeleton merely covered with skin. It lay naked on the floor of the upper room, with a sort of coverlid thrown over it, and had apparently been " laid out" aft er leath. The postman had delivered a letter at the house on Friday morning, and it was taken in by th e younger woman, who partly opened the door for the Pur pose. Mr. Mason, surgeon, deposed that there were n° narks of violence on the bodies, that they were very emaciated, that the elder female had probably been dead eight or ten days and the younger one from twenty-four to forty-eight hours, and that death appeared to have resulted from starvation. The inquest was adjourned to e nable a post-mortem examination of the bodies to be made. THE STAFFORDSHIRE COLLIERY ACCIDENT, ._ _ The details which have reached us respecting the dig' estrous, accident at the Lock's Lane pit, Brierley-bil l, confirm the news already received. The pit in question ill :onsiderecl one of the finest on all Lord Dudley's estate. Th e machinery used in it is of the best and most costly kin d : and all the newest appliances for ensuring the safety °` the men are in operation. It was generally supposeds therefore, that the risk of accident was very small. l ivi° years ago the pit was flooded, but the water was pumped out, and every precaution taken to prevent the recurrence of danger. Whence the water came from on WednesdaYis nA known, and the facts of th e i nun d a ti on are as y e t i m perfect' , understood. On Tuesday night ten men and three MI descended the pit for the night work, and nothing par ts* eular took place till ab ou t t wo or th ree o ' c l oc k on Wet • uesday morning, when the engineer in charge of 0 0 pumping engine noticed a quantity of smoke issuing fr °l32 'he pit. At first it was thought that the pit had ta ke° are, but steam was mingled with the smokeand it was therefore se en th a t wa t er h a d burst i n to the workings, extinguishing the fires in the furnace fi ' rhe great pumping•engine, which can throw out 170 t° ll% , an hour, was set to work, and othe r means adopted wit" ill possible promptitude to get rid of the water. l l ° greatest apprehensions were entertained from the ° 5 " respecting the men and boys in the pit, As the water had destroyed the ventilation of the workings' There was, it was said, a slight chance that the Pi* c° , where they were might be fre e f rom c h o k e d am p, so Om' they might keep alive until the wa t er was re d uc ed enoug ll to render access to them possible. On Wednesday afternoon the underground manager, accompanied VI Iwo others, descended the downcast shaft, 511 : `ound the water was more than twenty feet in dePtl )r about eight feet above the inset. It was being red ac t at the rate of eight inches per hour. The Govern or / :.nspector, Mr. Baker, was soon on the spot, and the Nl° , )f the pit was thronged with the f r iends and relative: the unfortunate men. Eight of them are relir ri w e he and the anxiety felt in th e n e i g hb our h oo d is intense- work proceeds but slowly, although every exer tion : made, and it is feared that the water is still flowing in the pit. There is too much reason to apprehend th; thirteen lives have b een l os t by th e acc id e nt, whic h also destroyed six horses and greatly damaged the Some planters in Georgia, Alabama, and Soutill Tennessee have ploughed up mag n ifi cen t fields of °he* for the purpose of putting the ground in cotton. R Thursday was the 21st birthday of ix.' y Princess Lou's; and it was recognised in the u sual by the Royal family at Windsor. ' Bl7 The Oxford and Cambridge boat race has a lehji melancholy end this year. Mr. Mellor, the original 14 f 7f s of the Cambridge crew, died on Thursday morning' 12 death will cause a deep feeling of sorrow arn° ri g b.t numerous friends. At the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Yellter:i day, the home trade committee recommended the coup. d or to petition Parliament in favour of the compulsory a tion of the metric system of weights and measures afterto certain time to be decided upon by Parliament, Whi ch vr agreed to. WOODEN PAPER. —An agent of an American wo oor paper-mill has been in New Bunswick pu rchasing " to be shipped to Philadelphia. r The St. John's Tdegra'of says the agent has already contracted for 3,00 ° rag got C 4it rf o r white birch and spruce wo o d, w hi c h is being the Bay of Fundy shore, m ore p ar ticularly in W r e ilt t land. Samples of excell en t p a p er ma de from 1"1:1141 gl -11 0 „ ,0 11 be seen at that office. Th e N ew B r unswick sr" „a nr• into the States fre e o f d u ty, b e i ng f or manufacturing .3 poses. among o a E XTRAORDINARYfortnight past a remarkable work has been Pi ng ° lg RELIGIOUS MANIFESTATI the fishers of Aberdeen. During the last W e e e d ,nd numbers of strong men, young and old, have been prostrat. • have declared they saw visions —they, inearities' Lry l ing out to the Lord to have mercy upon them- so m e cried out they see departed relative° hos e ilea ' ve . n, and reply to the beckonings t° , t ch if relatives that they are coming. Their eyes are fil Eeu ' , ._: e eit lips quiver, and they lie on the mound, their limbs P°` q v u er it t e ed rig fi i s d h a e n rin d e m n ot t i o on b le e ss t . he Tuhenisuiinsedwecolialcreodf bY til ,., l i t: The revival work still continues. The fisherraetnile;,:ii-sW-1 s h e a a ve th n e o fi t ra b t time on Tuesday for a fortnight Pas t ' - day evenin e g en th e e a E tin ar g l o o r f sleeping sh with regularity'. la d ritY• nr a 11;01:8 OPENING OF MUSEUMS ON SUNDAY.-- C L ~e g at Exeter Hall, convened iab meetin A wo- ; movement for opening museums on Sundays. riec n e was moved by Mr. T. Chambers, m.r., afro u L' ‘ ,„ of the ssity for a day of rest, and declaring the oPu" — i meeting to be averse to the views and Prin ni P ie t ; the Sunday League. This having been uryipnreospidpoe si o ti v o e u tn._ tial: ca xried, r : C. Reed, M.P., moved a resolution recognising the g relb , success of the Saturday half -holiday and of the 01 '1_ closing movement as affording ample opportunities li; working classes to visit the British Museum and and 3 institutions on week-days. This also was adopted, ..,.„ 1 e was agreed that a deputation should wait upon the AO% Secretary to urge the opening of the national collecti°ll' on week-day evenings. The Guardian says at a recent auction o f literary , property there was offered for sale the copyrigh f that t of ' P Church News, started by Dr. F. G. Lee , the vines O '1` .,0 w paper, as the organ of the Disraelite Ritualists, ._ actual sale of which was stated by the auctioneer . have been between four thousand and five thous weekly. This valuable property, w ith fifty COW of t i l title d back numbers, elicited a - bid of £ 5 . A smart coraPe then began between, as we understand , Mr. Boswertb AEl tto an agent of the Church Press CompanY, but A c e eloquence of the auctioneer could not raise the'P'• offered beyond £3O, at which it WAS knocked de9/11/‘ to the company. The copyright, and blocks of D r. e9/1 edition of the " Directorium Anglicanuro," toget her w i l t - of impression of the book, fetched £4 7 . A great ti n ' 0. copies of the Altar Service-books edit ed by Dr. •E•Aif Lee were sold at various prices. One set, Pil a us bound in antique morocco, fetched £4; bui thirty - - itic tionseg the small-paper edition went for 45., though the S =grated that by omitting the Preface the or 121/ inaitaltaalithroo7 .1110/LiMllll6 ~ ... Th well s tions Mum Cot count, New £l,OOl 4 per ditto Cent., Cent., 10 18 The ing Greek Per C Russia The follow; ; Gri 8i ; di politar Midlat Bright, and N (Berwi Londo: The] Wolver assets s in sever The l dividers dividen Vice- Mr. Jol Masonic The Mauriti when a The Land G inst., wl With followin Stock E pany for the pref Monkla' extent o and Glal ment of warrantE At th Medical • the folio miums, i year, am raiunas tc admitted balance-1 in hand, to £667,. of 8 per , associatii equivalei per char( tannia FJ the ausp ferred to source of the two regard to in co-ope tain exte The re Week end results w Rest PuLlie del Other dep On the o Goverarne ties other sec Notes une amoi being a bullion in an increa preeediN Subjoii of the Ba and Fren last year Bullion Reserve Notes in Rte of t Consols French • G OTEI • Ditto Cent Ditto fox 3 per Cent X•w 3 poi New 2i pe Do. 5 p ( Atauuities, Do. for Z.' Do (Red Exelioquat Do Do. Bank of Ei DR. acco Canada 4 inter-Colo • INDIA) In lia Stocl Do. Opel Da. 5 pw Do. 4 peg Do. (Jert Do. Enfs Do. 5 pe Do. 5} p Da 5 pel Do Do. DJ. Deb Do. Bono Do. uadi ro Argentine Do., Scr Austrian E D Brazilian b Oa. 4} p Do. Do. Do. ( Do. 5 pe Uo Acco .enos A 3 Do 2 pei Calm, 6 pe C•ultan 6 t 'in. 4,p p Do. 3 po Do. 6 poi Do. 7 pe lo ebiao Daman 3 i Dan t,ian Do 8 pet • iequatior ESyptiao, , Ito See( Do. #5Ol Do..Zloi Do, Do, Do. £5O Do. £lOl English Do Govern] Greek spe Do• 'lea ViIEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII . Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER. Directress. Mrs. Alfred Mellon. THIS EVENING, a new farce, entitled & DAY'S FISHING. Mr. G. T3elmore, Mr. C. H. Stephenson. Mrs. L. Murray, and Miss Lennox Grey. A.t 15 to 8, THE DEAD HEART: Mr. Benjamin Webster; Mr Arthur Stirling, Mr. CI Belmore; Mr. R. Phillips, Mr. Ash ley, Mr. Stuart, Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Miss Lennox Grey, &c. Commence at Seven.