The Sun. — London, England, 1859-02-22 00:00:00

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN, under the sole Management of Miss Louisa ryne and Mr. W. Harrisoa THIS EVENING will be presented an entirely new and romantic Opera, by Mr. W. Balfe, entitled SATANELLA ; or, THE POWER OF LOVE. _ Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. To conclude with the new Pantomime of LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD; or, Harlequin and the Wolf in Granny's Cic thing. Commence at Seven, THEATRE -ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Lessee—Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING, BARNEY THE BARON. Mr. ani Mrs. Balmy Williams. Followed by THE LATEST FROM NEW YORK. Po conclude with the new pantomime, ROBIN HOOD ; or, Harlequin Friar Tuck and the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING will be presented Shakspere's Play of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. After which, a new zrand Christmas Pantomime, entitled THE RING OF THE CASTLE ; or, H ar l equ i n Prince Diamond and Princess Brighteyes. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, AN UNEQUAL MATCH. Miss Amy Bedgwick, Mr. Buckstone, After which, a new grand Comic Pantomime, entitled UNDINE; or, Harlequin and the Spirit of the Waters. Commence at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer, Re-engagement of Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, will be produced a New Drama, by J. Oxenford, Esq., entitled THE LAST HOPE. To be followed by a Grand Ballet and Scene from THE SIEGE OF TROY. Miss Rosina Wright, Miss Harriet Dalton, Miss Jenny Lauri. Mr. John Lauri, and Corps de Ballet. To conclude with THE CHILD OF THE WRECK. Madame Celeste and Mrs. Keeley. Reduced Prices—Dress Boxes, 4s. ; 'Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Pit, U. • Stalls, ss. ; Gallery, Is. Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half -past 6 to commence at 7 every evening.. NEW THEATRE - ROYAL, AD ELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. Powerful Novelty.—Crowded Houses.—Last Six Nights of MASKS AND FACES ; Triplet, Mr. B. Webster. Trium phant reception of Mr. Wright. Glorious success of the INVISIBLE PRINCE. -THIS EVENING, the performance will commence with MASKS AND FACES ; Mr. B. Webster, C. Selby, Mr. Bil lington, P. Bedford, Miss Woolgar, Miss H. Sims, Mrs. Bil lington. After which, WELCOME LITTLE STRANGER. Mr. Wright. To conclude with THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. Mr. J. L. Toole. Doors open at a quarter-past six—Commence at seven. Box Office open from 10 to 5 —no charge for booking. No fees to servants permitted. A registry kept of all articles found. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan are engaged. Due notice will e given of their appearance. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE, Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough THIS EVENING, WOOING IN JEST AND LOVING IN EARNEST. After which, the new Extravaganza, KENILWORTH ; or Ye Queene. ye Earle, and ye Maydenne. And THE BONNIE FISH WIFE. Commence at 7 o'clock. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Lessee and Manager fir. William Cooke. THE SCOTT COMMEMORATION. THIS EVENING, and during the week, the revived Ira matte Romance from Sir Walter Scott, entitled KENIL WORTH, re-produced with original effects and additional splendour. To be followed by SCENES IN THE CIRCLE, intro ducing* Mr. W. Cooke, Mr. Bridges, Mr. A. Cooke, &c. Madame Blanche, Madame Bridges, Maddlle. Fleurette, and Emily Cooke, together with the Star Riders. and Astley's unrivalled Troupe of Equestrian Artistes. To conclude with the great Operatic and Burlesque Eques trian Pantomime, entitled HARLEQUIN BARON MUN CHAUSEN, AND HIS COMICAL CREAM COB CRUISER. Baron Munchausen, Mr. W. Anson ; Harlequin, Mr. 11. Hemmings ; Pantaloon, Mr. Morley; Clown, Mr. A. F. Forrest, the Grimaldi of the day; Columbine, Miss Julia Weston. Brilliant and unsurpassable Transformation Scene, with dazzling effects of Colour and Fire. Gorgeous Scenery, and every incident in bustling reality, from Regent-street to the "New Palace for the People, at Muswell Hill." Dress Circle, 4s. ; Boxes, 35..; Pit, es, ; Gallery, ls. ; Upper Gallery, 6d. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips. • CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— Proprietor --C. MORTON. The üblic is most respectfully informed that the Firm: ARTSGALLERY, in connection with the above Hall, IS NOW OPEN DAT AND NIGHT, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 12 o'clock p.m. The New Gallery contains an extensive Collec tion oPPictures, by Ancient and Modern Masters and is also devoted to Art productions generally. Tfie Proprietor feels he may confidently assert that, viewed altogether, the exist- Ina: Music Hall, the New Fine Arts Gallery, and the recently added Ante-Hall, will present an attraction which, whether as regards the architectural beauty of the structures them selves, or the varied and hitherto unattempted combinations within, will be found to be wholly without parallel in the Kingdom. The MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT commences as usual at Seven o'clock. In addition to the usual entertainment, the SAUVLET FAMILY, of Amsterdam, Eight in number, whose varied instrumental performances have created so marked a sensa tion in the principal cities and towns of the Continent, will perform every Evening at Nine and Eleven o'clock. THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, FEB. 22. THERIIO3IETER, IN THE SHADE. 56—highest since noon yesterday. 48—lowest this morning and during the night. 52—this day at noon. BAROMETER-30'38. WIND, Westerly ; light and fine. Some rain in the morning. A glance at the Sale of Poisons Bill is of itself sufficient to encourage us in the hope that before the present session shall have elapsed the hon. member for Birmingham (Mr. SCHOLEFIELD) will have carried triumphantly through the House his promised measure for the prevention, or, at any rate, for the punishment, of adulteration. The two projects are obviously of a kindred character. First of all, however, in regard to the Sale of Poisons Bill, which was printed on Friday week—a Bill the introduction of which we ourselves have so often and so earnestly advocated. The enactment, it is in the first instance worthy of particular notice, is to come into operation on the, 31st of next December—an arrangement which will afford ample time for preparation to the ven dors of medicine generally throughout the country — chymists, druggists, and apothecaries. Another particular in reference to the bill is most especially deserving of notice—medical prescriptions are to be in no way affected by the enactment. Neither, for that matter, will wholesale dealings in poison be interfered with in consequence. The police authorities, however, will be empowered at all seasonable times to enter the shops of vendors of poison, druggists, &0., for the purpose of discovering whether or not implicit obedience has been accorded to the regulations marked out by the act of Parliament. This enact ment, after successively repealing the 14 and 15 VICTORIA, chap. 13, will require, after 31st December, 1859, that all authorised vendors of medicine shall keep their poisons in vessels (boxes, bottles, or what not), carefully and conspi cuous l y labelled with the word POISON ! That they shall never, upon any occ asion, or under any emergency whatever, supply minors with poisons ! That they shall never vend poisons to any adult customer un known to themselves, saving and excepting in the presence of some adult witness known.to the vendor, and who is himself acquainted with the purchaser ! That even then they (the vendors of poisons) shall enter a formal and explicit statement of each sale of poison in a book kept exclusively for that pur pose ! That the poisons thus sold by them shall be as carefully labelled as the vessels in the shop or wareroom containing the poisons with the warning ! The same label being also affixe d to poisonous medicines for external applica tion ! All this, under severe penalties for either neglect or disobedience—for the first offence, £5; • for the second, £2O ; for the third, £lOO ! Employers being held fully answerable for the acts of their servants and assistants, shopboys and apprentices ! Beyond this, arsenic, after the 31st of December, will have to be coloured with soot or indigo, in proportions necessitating its instant detection, the required proportions being one ounce of soot or half-an -ounce of indigo for every pound weight of the deadly mineral. It is more than simply ink_ resting—it is in the highest degree importa n t__ that we should particularise what those prepar a . time of the pharmacopoeia are which the bill • A • 24 . * ,,0. - CLU . I:4I ,' , V. ''' ....3 0, A e ',', ' • ,-, -, -- - 7 - f".13.',.. “Ie . • ' 4 < 1 =act , !..t. • _ IV-. _Alik ~ t 2" e , ~ K I : ...) -1 • 'llO, 4116 1 0 , C -- -- t - - 7 1 .7 'Mr \ lit; at t li fillt* A''' o • ( . ' 44 ' "' . .... ' o `1,... - ' , • I ,- -' , T 'll7 i''''''.. .: '' W' ' ' ./ 1 ;s", ' ''. R" ' i' "libil'A THE SUN. TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 22, 1859. specifies as poisons :—They include—the bi-chloride of mercury, otherwise commonly knoivn as corrosive sublimate (the most important ingredient in the process of kyanising); belladonna, digitalis, morphia, veratria, strychnia—in fact, all the deadly vege table alkaloids and their salts ; hydrocyanic acid, otherwise prussic acid ; the essential oil of bitter almonds ; the cyanides of potassium ; cantharides ; aconite; oxalic acid; nux vomica (the deadly source of strychnine) ; coculus indicus ; and, finally, opium in all its forms, crude, in powder, in extract, in tincture. Sufferers from tic or toothache, however, may be consoled to learn that no restrictions whatever are to be placed upon the sale of a certain quantity, amount ing, however, at the utmost, to so many grains of crude opium or extract of opium, or to a certain quantity restricted to so many minimums of the liquid tincture of laudanum. Such, rapidly ana lysed, is the bill ; such are its leading features and provisions. It affords evidence that good has come indirectly to the community at large from the terrible ills resulting from the lozenge-poisonings at Bradford, as well as from the appalling revelations by which the public were startled two or three years since upon the successive trials of Mr. WILLIAM PALMER, of Rugeley, and of Miss MADELINE SMITH, of Glasgow. The perils of the old careless system of vending poisonous drugs and minerals have of late'years indeed received toomany and too frightful illustrations to be any longer tolerated. Hence this truly admirable Sale of Poisons Bill, which we are fain to regard as but the immediate precursor of Mr. SCHOLEFEILD'S mea sure for the diminution, and, if possible, the preven tion henceforth of the high crime and misdemeanour of wholesale and retail adulteration. Although Lord STANLEY distinctly and expressly declared on Friday evening that there was a general feeling in this country that India ought, as far as possible, to supply the capital that may be required for works in India, it is still quite possible that we may be called on to render assistance which, without costing us a single farthing, may be of vital importance to the stability an d integrity:of the Angl o Empire. India is in a very different posi tion from other countries and even other colonies. It has passed under the direct rule of Queen Vie- TORIA, and is unquestionably the brightest gem in her diadem. With an existing revenue of £33,000,000 sterling, and the strong probability that it will be greatly enhanced when the public works now in progress, or which may hereafter be undertaken, shall fully develop the almost miraculous natural resources of the country, we cannot see the Indian faith with the public creditor violated— we cannot behold the most promising under takings brought to a standstill, or witness the establishments essential to the pro tection of its empire reduced below their proper proportions. It is manifest, therefore, that there may be "an indirect and contingent respon sibility lying upon this country, for if the Indian revenue proved insufficient, who is to find the necessary funds to pay the civil and military administration of that country ?" We surely feel as deep an interest in the preservation of the status quo in India as in Turkey. And yet we spent nearly one hundred millions sterling, besides the sacrifice of many valuable lives, in preventing the premature dissolution of the " sick man," and the unfair division of his assets. The loss of India would be the total destruction of British prestige, and the reduction of England to a second class nation. But all this should be braved and encoun tered, in order that the matter might be considered for ever closed, so that, under no possible circum stances, an imperial guarantee should be given for an Indian loan. There can be nothing more fallacious than the argument of the Times, that if the credi tors of India should have an indirect and con tingent right of appeal to this country in case of the revenue of India not being equal to her requirements, they will certainly congratulate themselves on the virtual possession of an imperial guarantee. This is not so. They may congratu late themselves on knowing that they have claims on a Government which will strain every nerve to satisfy their just demands, and that closely con nected with it is another of great wealth and almost boundless resources, that will use every reasonable exertion to enable it to liquidate its liabilities, there is but little prospect of their losing any portion of their dividends. This will, unquestionably, ease their minds, and render them perfectly satisfied with the security they have obtained, which, with or without a guarantee, England can never see discredited. The object of the present agitation is easily per ceptible. To any ordinary person it would seem amply sufficient to provide for a difficulty when it arose. Not so with the Times, or its friends " the • hard calculators :" they desire an an nouncement that must depreciate the funds in the market, and possibly injure the chance of obtaining the money. Neither Lord STANLEY nor his friends have discountenanced any pretensions, for the simple but all-sufficient reason that no pretensions have been put forward. There is, therefore, not the slightest call for them to put " their views on record" against the croakings ven tilated by a worn-out Whig twaddler. They will deal fairly and judiciously with each emergency as it arises ; but most unquestionably they will not transgress the well-estabiished Ministerial limits, or wander into the realms of doubtful futurity to satisfy the querulous demands of the Times—en. able "the hard calculators" to make better bargains, or render the terms on which the £7,000,000 may be obtained more unfavourable to India than would otherwise be the case. The Times was opposed to the new loan ab initio, but we could hardly conceive that it would resort to such means to gratify its vindictive and unprovoked animosity. " Rassurez vous, Messieurs, la pair ne sera pas troublee." Remembering the half-a-million bayonets backing up that assurance—do not those words sound familiarly, like an echo of the immortal line of VIRGIL--. Puat a reminder e em orare ma o to u u,pree s oflg; the truth repupp ibu,s armsarticulated It is b plainly enough years ago by the champions of the principle of arbitration. A standing army is a standing menace.. In' • agme for a moment the de lightful sense of satisfaction and security, the agreeable feelings of repose and comfort which would of course be secured to us— if our dearest friends, our m os t intimate associates never could, by any possibility, consent to hobnob with us, to causer with us, unless armed to the teeth, and carrying perpetually each in their right hand a deadly-loaded revolver—hair 'triggered and at full cock ! Austria has at this m oment under her despotic rule an array of 600,000 men, France has under her despotic rule an array of 400,000—capable of being increased at any emergency to 500,000. Russia has no less formid able an array already drawn, or ready to be drawn, from her population of 60,000,000. The European continent is no doubt at peace, but it is a peace that arrays like these render ever precarious. It is as though we were perpetually congratulating ourselves upon there being no explosion at the ' YerY time that the fire-balls of, diplomacy are being thrown to and fro—carelessly from hand to hand —by players standing in the midst of a frightful litter of bombshells and rockets, stores of detonat ing mercury and unguarded magazines of gun. powder. OUR NATIONAL AND LOCAL TAXATION. [FROM A .CORRESPONDENT.] No system of taxation can be more unjust than that existing in this country, whether we regard the local or general taxes—the former, or local, resting on a most unequal assessment of property, termed a rateable value, which value is too often imposed and varied by men of sufficient interest and petty local weight in every parish (such as vestrymen and men of retired trading interest), who . most ingeniously con t r i ve, i n paroc hi a l assess• ments, to carry very light weights themselves (aided by this convenient rateable values), whilst these gentry take care that the saddle of local taxation shall be adjusted to the full rateable value on others. These vestry or vestry worthies could not escape or evade their share of the local burden, but for this said loophole for their trading consciences, viz., the rateable value. Why not a rentable value, which would be just for all ? As one specimen of the unjust working of the rateable value, observe that in almost every parish there exists one or more plague spots in the shape of small house property paying to the owner (gene rally a vestryman or parish worthy retired from trade) enormous rents, but you will find that the owner farms the rates on this property, paying thus next to nil, although from this very property, owing to its faulty hygienic position generally, its over-crowded tenements, bad drainage, small water supply or none, bad ventilation, and accumulated filth there arises a never-ending succession of dire diseases, debasements mental and moral, degrada tion, destitution, and death. Thus, one parish worthy, paying but little towards the local rates, can maintain, for the benefit of his fellow parishioners, this centre of contagion and infection, these hotbeds of disease, crime, and pauperism, in which the mortality is also very great, pressing most severely on the rate-payers at large, whilst a few owners of this small house property not only abstract enormous rents, but absolutely en gender paupers and pauperism, fostering crime and disease in the bosom of their respective parishes. A rentable value, with power given to the assessor and medical inspector to class such property as doubly or trebly hazardous to health, and make the owners pay on a double or treble assessment or rating, would soon cure this crying evil.—As to the method of levying the national taxes, I defy any one to imagine a more unjust, ungenerous, or Un- English mode of assessment than the conscientious return method at present adopted, which weighs severely on the just and upright who make true returns ; but (as in the case of the local taxes) permits the unscrupulous to evade their share of the burden, in spite of all the efforts of an expensive and in quisitorial machinery instituted for the pur pose of making dishonest folk more honest. A well regulated assessed tax might, without difficulty, be collected by the machinery already existing (and at present not too well paid) in every parish, viz., the existing collectors of the local rates. Why should they not collect at the same time the national taxes, saving the country the enormous expense of the present collection, as also the Income tax Commissioners, with their thousands per an num ? This being premised, I offer a few propo sitions for a more just and less expensive mode of raising and collecting all taxes in this country, viz. : 1. That all taxes be raised from a levy upon a just and fairly regulated assessment, and then more correctly termed general or local assessed taxes. 2. That all such taxes shall rest on the basis of such assessment, to be declared as the true rentable and not rateable value, as heretofore. 3. That every parish in the United Kingdom shall have a collector (already existing ?) who shall receive both the local and national taxes of his parish, district, or hundred. 4. That every holder of house or land in each parish or collection district shall, under fine and penalty, if in default, make, within a specified time, a return to the collector of his district of the amount of rent (or its equivalent) paid by him as occupier of house or land in the said parish, and to whom paid as owner ; that the owner, being also occupier, .shall declare the same and submit to an assessment by the county assessor, together with the vestry (or a deputation from it). The rate of assessment shall be computed from the average value of neighbouring houses or lands ; that in all cases the assessed or declared rentable value shall be considered the value of pro perty in this land, and estimated at such de clared worth in all courts of law or justice, and may be taken at such computation by the Govern ment of the day, if positively required, either for local or national purposes; the assessment being always a guide to equivalent compensation. 4. That all owners, agents, trustees, or others concerned, shall give by plans, maps, writings, or other such descriptive means, a full specification of their respective property in each parish, free from cost. 5. That the collector in each parish shall declare the limits and boundaries of such parish or district as heretofore, in writing, and by an enlarged map or plan, to be open to the inspection of each rate payer in a hall or room public to every rate or tax payer in the said district or parish. 6. That every collector shall enter into his pro perty register book a description of each owner's property, its size, extent, and value (rentable), tenure, freehold, copy or leasehold, toge ther with the Christian and surnames of the present owner or occupier, his titles duration of ownership or occupancy, &c., &c. And no future title to house or landed property shall be valid unless proved to be registered in the said parish property-book of the collector of the district in the name of such declared owner or occupier, and that all future sales, letting, transfer, mort gage deed, of gift, subletting, or change of owner ship, or occupancy in either house or land, in the said district, shall not be considered complete or legal, unless duly testified, and properly registered in the parish property register book. 7. That correct copies of all plans, maps, draw ings, modes, &c., of all new houses, mines, canals, drains, sewers, or any sub-divisiou of ownership, or occupancy, be left with the collector and duly registered-within a space of one month from the commencement of such works or change. 8. That all transfers of, or change of ownerships, interest in or occupancy of house or landed pro perty, shall be registered by the collector before such change can be recognised as legal; and that a proper and commensurate charge shall be made for entry on certificate or abstract from the collector's parish register; also that a sworn copy of the register of each parish shall, on its completion, be sent to and deposited in trust with the sheriff of each county, and another copy to the Chancellor of the Exchequer or other Government authority, and that every six months, or oftener if required, a sworn declaration and a copy, statement, plan, or ex planation of all changes that may have occurred in ownership or occupancy since last report; as also the amount of fees received for such alteration or change in the register. Also each collector shall return the gross assessment of his district every year, showing its variation. 9. The property register books of each parish in the hands of the collectors, the sheriff of the county, and the Government, shall in future con stitute the title-deeds to all holders of property. A sworn copy from one of these three registers will give the right of ownership ; if wishing to mort gage, deposit, become security, or will away, but in all cases of absolute sale or change of occupancy, the triple registration alone shall con stitute legal possession. The vender or owner shall give to the purchaser or occupier a certificate from sell. th the parish registrar, ,asensturfiy beingieien ta m ut a n d o e ty th to eleptroer sence of the collector by the contracting parties in presence of themselves and witnesses, shall be binding and legal. 10. That every collector shall, en the first day of THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 1859. the year, or as soon after as possible, make a return of the rentable value of his parish, viz., the gross assessment on all property, to the Government, the sheriff, and the local authorities or vestry, so that the Government of the country, knowing its neces sities, may be able to estimate with precision the rate of tax required on the gross assessment ; so the Sheriff in county matters, policy, &c., and so also the local authorities, to estimate the amount re quired in local matters. 11. That all owners being occupiers of houses or land shall pay on a double assessment, also all public companies, as banks, railways, assurance, steam shipping and navigation companies, funded property, public charities, and all other associa tions, without exception, being protected and main tained securely by the laws and government of this land, shall submit to be assessed and contribute to the upholding of those laws, and that protecting machinery of the land in which they flourish. The religious, educational, charitable and bene volent institutions, as alms-houses and hos pitals, should pay on a single, instead of a double assessment. That the assessment of all public companies shall be entered by, and paid to, the collector in whose district its shares or dividends are paid to the shareholdeis. 12. That all the rates, both general and local, be paid to the collector within two months from the date of issue of the tax papers. All rates or taxes standing against owner or occupier beyond six months are to be urged without favour or lenity— the owner in all cases to be responsible when the occupier is a defaulter. The proceeds of the local assessment to be vested, as fast as collected, in the hands:of the parish autho rities or vestry. The national tax shall, as fast as collected, be handed over to the churchwardens, or rector, vicar, or curate, &c., of the parish, who shall be held responsible for its transmission to the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, if within 50 miles, or to the sheriff of their respective counties, if beyond 50 miles from the Exchequer. The sheriff to trans mit the same at his earliest occasion. 13. That the duty of the county assessor shall be to regulate alone, or with the aid of the ratepayers in the vicinity, all disputed values and assessments, re-assess or re adjust assessments when property had changed in value, and to see after and enter suits and take process against all non-payers, and to see that all the taxes were justly and fairly collected and transmitted, and to communicate between the collectors and the Exchequer. 14. That no person should hold the appointment of collector and registrar until he has given to the Government of the country a money security, which shall rest in his name or his securities, at good interest, as a national security fund. This money security shall vary in each case as the value or re sponsibility of the collector's district varies. 15. That hereafter all persons paying an assess ment of £2O to local taxes, or paying £3 in assessed taxes (as through funded or share property), and giving proof that such taxes have been paid up to the last quarter or issue of tax calls, as by stamped certificate from the collector of his district in case of county voting, which certificate or vote paper, so verified by the collector's book, shall constitute a cheque to the just right and title of every rate and tax payer in this land (to the extent) to freedom of voting. 16. That all taxes shall be paid at the office or residence of the collectors or receivers of taxes, and not collected as heretofore from house to house. MUSIC. I Loved Thee in Secret. Ballad. Written by C. M. K. Composed by Mrs. John Scott. 011ivier. An exquisite love song—replete, both in words and melody, with genuine tenderness. The grace ful poetry and the pathetic music of this charming ballad win their way without an effort through our ears to our heart ; and we accept the song at once as a welcome favourite. If only by reason of its combined sweetness and simplicity, it is deserving of what, we doubt not, it will obtain—an extended popularity. I Loved Thee in Secret will not be the less acceptable in many a boudoir and drawing room, whether of Brighton or the metropolis, from the ballad being inscribed to Madame Kuhe, the wife of the distinguished pianist. ELECTION INTELLIGENCE. MARYL - EBONE. There is every appearance of a sharp contest for the representation of this borough, the friends of both Col. Romily and Mr. Edwin James being both actively engaged in the measures to secure the success of their respective candidates. A public meeting of the supporters of Mr. James was held yesterday afternoon at Lawson's-rooms, Gower street, New-road, at which that gentleman de livered an address in explanation of his political principles, which was necessarily but an echo of the speech reported in our columns yesterday. The learned gentleman was very warmly received, and having satisfactorily .replied to questions which were put to him, a resolution accepting him as a fit representative of the borough, and pledging the meeting to give him their support, was, on the motion of Mr. Kenny, seconded by Mr. J. L. Coul ton, carried with but few dissentients. A meeting of the friends and supporters of Col. Romilly also took place in the evening in the same room, Mr. Farrer in the chair. Col. Romilly was present, and addressed the meeting amidst some confusion. A resolution pledging the meeting to his support was then moved, and an amendment was proposed favourable to Mr. James. The confusion, however, was so great that it could not be distinctly ascer tained which party had the majority. WEST RIDING. WAKEFIELD, MONDAY. The election of a representative for the West Riding, in_the room of Lord Goderich, took place here to-day. There were between two and three thousand persons present. The usual preliminaries having been gone through, the only candidate in the field, Sir John Ramsden, was then proposed by Mr. Thompson, chairman of the North Eastern Railway, as a fit and proper person to represent the borough in Parliament. This was seconded by Mr. Dunn, of Sheffield, and there being no opposi tion the High Sheriff declared Sir John Ramsden duly elected. The hon. gentleman then addressed the electors at considerable length, returning thanks for the honour conferred upon him, and explaining the principles by which he would be actuated in his proceedings in Parliament. YARMOUTH. In regard to a paragraph which has been " going the round " respecting Mr. Watkin (the origin of the fabrication being of course local), we can posi tively assure our readers that that gentleman's re cent visit was of a strictly private nature to a sick friend; and that it had not the most remote con nection with politics of any kind.—Yarmouth In dependent. THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.—We have good reason to believe that the announcement of the decease of the Duke of Buckingham which NO published yesterday -morning was incorrect. Letters from his grace, dated Saturday last, were received yesterday from the north of Scotland, and we are informed by the members of his family in town that he is recovering from his attack. We shall regret exceedingly if by publishing a report which we ac cepted in implicit confidence, because we received it through a most respectable channel, ,we have caused to any friend of the Duke of Buckingham a moment's unnecessary pain. —Daily News. THE PRINCE OF WALES.—The Berlin journals speak of a new matrimonial union calculated to strengthen the , ties which now unite the Courts of Potsdam and Windsor, namely, the marriage of the Prince of Wales with the Princess Alexandrine, daughter of Prince Albert of Prussia and the Princess Marianne of the Netherlands. The latter is separated from her husband. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, who is still residing at Frogmore Lodge, is, we are happy to say, enjoying exce ll en t h ea lth, an d during the past week has taken her favourite drives in the Great Park. The Count d'Alton Shee has returned to the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street. Viscountess Palmerston's party, intended for Thursday, is postponed to Saturday, the 26th inst. Lady Colchester will have an assembly thii even ing at her residence in Berkeley-square. Sir H. C. Montgomery and Lady Montgomery have arrived in town from the Queen's Hotel, Upper Nos wood. We understand that Miss Blanche Darner, only unmarried daughter of the late Colonel the Hon. D. Darner, and sister to Viscountess Ebrington, is about to be married to Colonel Haygarth, of the Fusilier Guards. Mr. Mortimer Ricardo and Miss Ricardo have left Claridge's Hotel for their seat, near Christchurch. Mr. Hatsell Powys has arrived at Wallace's Hotel, St. George's-place, Hyde-park-corner, LATEST NEWS. THE PENINSULAR MAIL. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY MORNING. The Tagus, steamer, Capt. Hall, has arrived with mails from Lisbon of the 17th ; Oporto, 18th ; and Vigo, 19th. She brings nine passengers, £1,455 in specie, and a cargo of fruit, wine, &c. The secret sittings of the Chamber of Deputies at Lisbon, respecting the concordat with Rome, continued to occupy the Ministry. Exchanges on London, 53i ; Hamburg, 48; Amsterdam, 42k; Paris, 532 to 530 ; Genoa, 529 to 828. Stocks advanced, with firm demand. Three per Cents. Registered, 474 D to 48 D ; Coupons, 464 to 47 ; Deferred, 311 to 34- ; Bank of Portugal Shares, 81 pm. ; Bank of Oporto, 21 to 22 pm. On the 17th, off Lisbon, the Tagus spoke the Vasco de Gama steamer, and, on the 21st, at 6 a.m., the Ceylon, with the outward India mails. The steamship Tyne, hence with the Brazilian mails, arrived at Lisbon at noon on' the 14th, and sailed at 7 a.m. on the 15th. FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY. A deputation of Italian refugees, residing in Paris, were received yesterday at the Palais Royal for the purpose of presenting their hommages and a magnificent bouquet to the Princess Clotilde. Among them were a General in the service of the Venetian Government in 1848, a Minister under the Roman Republic, and another refugee, an ardent Republican and a friend of Mazzini. The Prince thanked them in the name of the Princess, and said words to this effect—" Gentlemen, you cannot doubt of the Emperor's sympathy and my own for Italy." According to official despatches from Rome Car dinal Antonelli has informed the Cabinet of Vienna that no reception can be accorded to any represen tations from any foreign Government which may at all refer to the domestic government of the States of the Church. There seems to be no truth in the Prince of Prussia, as asserted, being about to visit Vienna. M. de Fenelon, the French Envoy at Frankfort, received to-day his last instructions from Count Walewski, and will immediately proceed to his post. According to letters from Athens, which reached Paris yesterday, the Christian population of the East contemplate a general revolt next spring. The Patrie contains the following reflections on the attitude of Prussia on the Italian question : "We believe that the Berlin Cabinet and the Prussian Chambers, by maintaining a conduct full of reserve and moderation, have done more for the security of Germany and for the peace of Europe than the promoters of German demonstrations. Placed in a higher point of view than the little German States, and charged with a responsibility the gravity of which certain journals devoted to Austria appear to ignore, Prussia has, through one of her most trustworthy organs (this allusion refers to an article in the Prussian Gazette, reproduced in the Messenger), uttered words of peace and advice which must be listened to at Vienna, if not followed. This attitude of the Prussian Cabinet appears to us to increase the chances of a satisfactory solution of the Italian question. At the same time the German popula tions will feel convinced that their interests are energetically defended by Prussia, and that an intemperate pressure attempted on the German Courts, far from advancing these interests, really augment the dangers of a general war, which at this day is happily distant." Count Cavour's speech in the Sardinian Senate is commented on in various points of view by several of our contemporaries. The Debate offers the fol lowing favourable remarks on the subject : " We need not say that Count Cavour has hit on the weak side of the Austrian position in Italy, and on the point where her adversaries may ad vance just claims. Although the military occupa tions maintained by Austria beyond her territory arc the result' of several private treaties hitherto tolerated by Europe, it is not less true that Pied mont may appear justified in complaining of the ex tension thus given to Austrian influence beyond her legitimate possessions. France even might not show herself indifferent to an extension which is opposed to her own influence in Italy, and which Piedmont believes menacing for her safety. Count Cavour, by maintaining himself on this ground, and simply claiming for the Italian populations not united by the treaties of 1815 to the Austrian Em pire the right of disposing freely of their destiny, and of coming to the best understanding with their Princes, has been better inspired than if he had shown himself disposed to provoke or sustain an insurrection in the Lombardo-Venetian territory, and to favour the expulsion of the Austrians from Upper . Italy. In this point of view his last speech is most deserving of attention. Count Cavour appears to confine himself at present to claiming the adhesion of Austria to the prin ciple of non-intervention in the affairs of certain Italian Governments too much accustomed to reckon on her assistance. Nothing can be said against this desire of Piedmont, and she will lose nothing by restricting herself to that desire ; for were the principle of non-intervention in the affairs of Central Italy generally adopted, great changes would take place in that portion of the peninsula, which would by a counter-blow modify the condi tion of the remainder." BOURSE, Feb. 20.—The market has been heavy, and prices have given way. Threes, after having been done at 67f. 60c. and 67f. 70c., receded to 67f. 45e. Mobilier varied from 760 f. to 750 f.; Austrian, 537 f. 50e. to 532 f. 50c. ; Orleans, 1,312 f. 50c. to 1,305 f. ; Lyons, 830 f. to 825 f. ; Northern, 927 f. 50c. to 922 f. 50c. ; Lombardo-Venetian, 515 f. to 507 f. 50c. The following were the last quota tions :-- 4f per Cents. 97 10 Do. end month 97 10 3 per Cents 67 651 Do. end month ; • 67 551 Credit Foneier 645 Belgian 4 Piedmonteso (5) Roman BB 25 Austrian — Bank Shares 2BBO Credit Mobilier .. 760 , Do. Account ..... 760 Spanish Threes Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans ' Northern New ditto 787 60 .. 787 50 Lyons and Mediterranean 827 60 .. 827 60 New ditto Geneva 532 50 . . 630 . . -- Southern Western 590 . . 592 60 Eastern Grand Central Sardinian 4OO . . 397 50 Austrian Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 15e: ; money, 25f. 10e. ; three months, paper, 251; ; money, 24f. 95c. THIS DAY'S SHIPPING. LONDON, Feb. 22.—Wind this day at noon S. W. ; molerate breeze and cloudy. KiNoszowN, Feb. 21.—Arrived—Europa, from Belfast, for New Orleans. QUEENSTOWN, Feb. 21.—Wind S.S.W.—Arrived— H.M.S. Magpie, from Bantry. JERSEY, Feb. 20.—Sailed—Gordon, for Pernambuco; C. J. Sutton, for Rio Janeiro: CARDIFF, Feb. 21.—Wind S.S.W.—Sailed—Eliza Caro line, for Rio Janeiro ; Messenger, for Demerara ; Fina, for Gibraltar. LIVERPOOL, Feb. 21.—Sailed—Arabia, for Melbourne. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH ) LIVERPOOL, Tuesday Morning, Wind W.N.W. Arrived, Feb. 21—Independence, from New Orleans. Arrived,, Feb. 22--Anoniono, from Monte Video; Con stitution, from New Orleans; Scottish Mail, from Rouen; Ellen, from Smyrna. • (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Tuesday Morning. Wind W.S.W. tide three-quarters' ebb, thick. Arrived. —Princess from Rouen. Sailed.—Bulfinch, for Launceston; Broadwater, for Hobart Town; Sir Edward Banks, steamer, for Calais. DEAL, Tuesday Morning. Wind W.S.W., moderate. No arrivals. Sailed.—lona, for Calcutta; Dawtona, for Sydney ; Alraora, for Bombay, ME CHARLES ET GEORGES AFFAIR. The documents relating to the seizure of the Charles et Georges were issued with the Parliamen tary papers yesterday. The main point of interest now is, of course, what part our Government took in its correspondence with Portugal and with France. The documents are of considerable length, and we select all that bear on these two questions. THE EARL OF MALMESBURY TO MR. HOWARD. Foreign-office, Oct. 15, 1858. Sir,—Her Majesty's Government have read with much concern' your despatches referring to the dispute between France and Portugal, and cannot but regret that the French Government, without first attempting to obtain their object by diplomatic means, have at once sent an imposing force to menace the port of Lisbon. As far as they are at present informed, it appears to her Majesty's Government that, on the one hand, the French captain and delegate on board the Charles et Georges vio lated the municipal laws of Portugal by anchoring at a for bidden point within Portuguese waters, and being there found with a cargo of negroes, who had all the appearance of being slaves, and a portion of whom stated themselves to have been abducted from a dependency of Portugal ; on the other hand, that the French captain and delegate had ob tained from the Sheik of Matabane a permission to engage and export labourers of his tribe; and that in a decument (which was published in The Sun of the 12th inst.) the con tract declares itself " to have been made and passed at the Court of the said Sheik." The document runs thus : " It is agreed and understood that you hire yourself for five years to go to the Isle of Bourbon, in the ship. Captain . You are hired at the rate of two piastres per month during the whole period of your engage ment. " As soon as the engagement shall be terminated, you will be free either to remain in Bourbon, or to return to your country. The present contract is made and passed at the Court of the Sheik of the Matabane tribe, in the presence of the Sheik Ali, of the agents Ali Mouro, Sidi Sidi, the inter preter of the ship, and the captain, and signed by wit nesses in the presence of the above-hired labourers, after having been read by the interpreter." You are aware that her Majesty's Government have never altered their opinion as to the analogous nature of- the French scheme for exporting negroes with that of avowed slave trade. It is not, however, with a view to support that opinion, fortified by the present case, that I address you, but in the hope that a suggestion may be accepted which may solve this question of national honour. If the above statement is correct, it appears to her Ma jesty's Government that Portugal, without any sacrifice of her dignity and rights, may admit that the French delegate and captaii, when negotiating for labourers with the Sheik of Matabane, believed him to be an independent chief, and were ignorant of his being a dependent subject of the Por tuguese Government ; for their contract speaks of him as of an independent ruler, having a court of his own. Should the Portuguese Government see the transaction in this light, it appears to her Majesty's Government to be con sistent with a wise indulgence to drop the prosecution of a case which originated in an error, and which might, if im prudently urged against France, be the cause of the gravest complications. Such a course on the part of the Portuguese Govern ment would be accompanied by a note distinctly recapitu lating the details of the municipal law of Portugal on tho Mozambique coast, and to what extent the Portuguese de pendencies are claimed to extend. You will take the earliest opportunity ,of expressing to the Portuguese Government the view which her Majesty's Go vernment takes of this case, and urge upon them the policy and wisdom of accepting the advice which I have the honour to tender through her Majesty's Minister at the Court of Lisbon. I am, &c., (Signed) MALMESBURY. [Lord Malmesbury addressed at the same time to the French Government a despatch, which is almost word for word a copy of the above. The closing words are altered to " which I had the honour to tender through her Majesty's Minister at the Court of Lisbon." But there is no other alteration.] THE MARQUIS DE LOULE TO MR. HOWARD. (Translation. Palace, Oct. 21, 1858, In the presence of the demands presented by the French Government for the release of the vessel Charles-et-Georges you will understand how great is the desire I have to hear the enlightened opinion of the representative ofyournation, our most ancient and faithful ally, on the subject. I hope that you will not hesitate to give to the explana tions which I have had the honour of hearing from you, the necessary compliment, informing me what is, in your judgment, the best decision to adopt. The good relations which have so long subsisted between the two countries make me hope that you will not hesitate to satisfy, in this respect, the wishes of the Portuguese Government.—l avail, &c., (Signed) Marquis DE LOULE. TILE EARL OF MALMESRURT TO MR. HOWARD. Foreign-office, Nov. 16, 1858. Sir,—ln the speech made by the King of Portugal on opening the session of the Cortes on the 4th inst., his most faithful Majesty is reported, in all the English newspapers, to have said, with reference to the case of the Charles-et- Georges : "14 Government, having exhausted the resources, in which the letter of treaties authorised it to have confidence, was obliged to cede to the peremptory exaction of the de livery of that vessel and the liberation of the captain." The reference thus made to the "letter of treaties," ren ders it incumbent on her Majesty's Governinent to inquire what interpretation the words in italics are intended to bear. Her Majesty's Government are not aware that any treaty has been appealed to by Portugal in this case ; and they can only suppose that Portugal referred to the protocol of Paris of the 14th of April, 1856. That protocol, however, only forms part of the proceedings consequent on the treaty of Paris of the 30th of March, 1856, and is not embodied in any treaty. You will accordingly ask, confidentially, the Marquis de Louie to favour her Majesty's Government with the exact meaning of the words in question.—l am, &0., (Signed) MA LMESBURY. [The Portuguese Government state, in reply, that the re• ference only referred to the Protocol of Paris, 1856.] The correspondence is closed with the following docu• ment : Mn. HOWARD TO THE EARL OF MALNIESBURY. (Extract) Lisbon, Nov. 22, 1858. In execution of the instructions contained in your lord ship's despatch to me of the 6th inst., received on the 14th instant, I inquired of the Marquis de Louie, why, in the official statement relative to the case of the Charles-et- Georges, published in the Diario do Governo of the sth ultimo, no mention is made of the tender of the good offices of England, and I recapitulated what had passed between his Excellency and myself on that subject. His Excellency assured me that it was not from any want of appreciation on the part of the Portuguese Government of the friendly conduct of her Majesty's Government that they had omitted to make such mention, but because they had thought it desirable to make their statement as concise as possible, and to confine themselves in it to referring to the principal points of their discussions with France. His Excellency readily confirmed the statements made in my communications to him, namely, that her Majesty's Government had offered their good offices before they had even been requested by Portugal ; that the only request for assistance which had been made by the Portuguese Govern ment of her Majesty's Government was for their geed offices, in order to bring about an amicable settlement of the ques tion, and that he had charged me to convey to your lordship the thanks of the Portuguese Government for the tender and for the employment of the good offices of her Majesty's Government, and likewise to Earl Cowley for his exertions to induce the French Government to consent to a mediation of the dispute. PUBLIC PETITIONS.—The number of petitions presented to the House of Commons up.to the llth inst. inclusive, was 241. Of these the greater number were for the repeal of duty on paper, and amounted to 107; while the total number of petitions for Parliamentary reform only amounted to 15, and for universal suffrage five. There were 29 petitions for the removal of restrictions on free and grammar schools. RAILWAY COMMUNICATION BBTWEEN GARSTON AND LIVERPOOL.—The Toxteth" Board of Health have adopted a petition against the bill which has been intro duced for the purpose of forming a line of railway, between Garston and Liverpool, and thus opening a complete rail way route, via the Great Northern, to London. The distance between Garston and Liverpool (seven miles) is at present accomplished by omnibuses. . - - REAL ESTATE INTESTACY BILL.—Mr. L. Ring's Bill " for the Better Settling" (of) "the Real Estates of Intestates" has been printed. The preamble affirms the expediency of assimilating the law of succession to real estate in cases of persons dying intestate to that of succes sion to personal estate; and it is enacted that in cases of persons dying intestate all real estate shall be included in the grant of administration. The meaning of this is simply that the law of succesion to the whole of a (real) estate by right of primogeniture is abolished, and a parity of right on the part of all the heirs established. THE ROYAL STEAM NAVY —A return, moved for by Sir C. Wood, M.P., the late First Lord of the Admi ralty, shows that since 1547 down to 1858, 354 is the grand total of steam vessels added to the navy; 21 of these were " converted" and 100 were built outright. Some were pur chased (123 in the year 1856 alone). The steam navy actually afloat on the Ist of January last consisted of 431 vessels, 319 screw and 112 paddle ; 32 screws were in pro gress of building or "conversion." The steam navy actu ally afloat is thus classified :—Ships of the line, 33 screws ; frigates, 19 screws and 9 paddles ; blockships, 9 screws ; mortar-ships, 4 screws ; corvettes and sloops, 38 screws and 35 paddles ; small vessels, 3 screws and 24 paddles; gun " vessels," 26 screws ; gun " boats," 161 screws ; floating batteries, 8 screws ; tenders, &c,; 4 screws and 38 paddles ; troop and store ships, 13 screws and 2 paddles; and yachts, 1 screw and 4 paddles. We observe that the Admiralty in clude in the grand totals the number of ships that are only being built or converted. Thus, only 33 screw liners are afloat and 28 frigates ; but the Government claim a total of 49 liners (i.e., 33 afloat and 16 in building), and 34 frigates (i.e., 28 afloat and 6 in progress of building). The total number of vessels afloat includes 319 screws and 112 pad dles, making a total of 431 afloat and 32 in progress of building or conversion, IRON SHIP-BUILDING. At the usual evening meeting at the United Service Institution, yesterday evening, Captain Fishbourne, R.N., in the chair, Mr. Robert Tayler son, of Port Glasgow, read a paper on his diagonal principle of iron ship-building. Mr. Taylerson described with great clearness the inherent weak ness of iron ships built on the vertical principle, arising from the perforations of the plates to form the rivet holes in the present mode of attaching them to the frames, which, being themselves placed in a vertical position, caused the rivet holes to run in a vertical line, as represented by the vertical lines of a sheet of postage stamps. These lines he described as lines of weakness, and attributed the loss of many of our iron steamers to the inherent weakness of structure arising from this mode of attachment. He then described his own diagonal mode of placing the frames and attaching the plates, forming their joints diagonally at the butt ends, instead of vertically, as in the common mode. He also described his hollow girder keels and keelsons, and his plan of constructing water-tight bulkheads, which, as at present made, did not fully carry out the idea conveyed, but which had done more to establish the confidence of the public in iron vessels than almost any other quality they possessed. In order to show that the pre- , sent mode of constructing iron vessels was defective, he quoted a number of the in stances of disasters to them from the public journals of the day—the uniformity of language used in describing them—the ships being generally said to " break their backs," or separate into two party, indicating, he observed, a similarity of cause, that being the inherent weakness of structure arising from :the defective principle according to which they were constructed. Mr. Smith, of the Artisan, inquired, in the course of the discussion which followed the delivery of the lecture, whether the frames, according to Mr. Taylerson's plan, being longer than in the vertical plan, did not require a greater quantity of metal, so that, though ships built on his plan were undoubtedly stronger than those built on the verti cal plan, the greater immersion, or displacement of the vessel herself did not diminish the quantity of cargo she would carry, and - whether the original cost arising from the difficulty cf laying down the lines, and adapting the metal to the form required , was not considerably more than according to the present plan. Mr. Tayl erson replied, that at first there was found a difficulty in laying down the lines, but like every other obstacle in the vial of improvement, when properly set about, that had been overcome, and in his own works at GlasgoWl the lines were laid down with the greatest accu racy, and he found no difficulty in shaping the metal to the form required. It was true that the frames being longer on his plan than on the verti cal, more material was required, and that involved an increased cost ; but he had that day given in estimates, on his diagonal plan, for large contracts not exceeding from five to seven per cent. over the cost on the vertical plan. And he was of opinion that the displacement did not materially interfere with the capacity of vessels for cargo. Captain FISHBOURNE, in proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer, expressed a strong opinion in favour of his improvements, as applicable both . to naval warfare and commercial enterprise; and he remarked that, as the regulati o n s of Lloyd 'S required a certain space between the frames, ship' builders were bound to adhere to these rule s if they wished their vessels to •be classed A 1., a mark which shipowners well under , stood, for with that character they could insure at their full value. On Mr. Taylerson's origin' plan, he conceived, these frames might be set much wider apart, and yet give greater stability to th e structure than it would have on the vertical mode at present adopted. Such a modification, if allowed by Lloyds, might produce a better class of vessels than now existed, with superior stowage capacity and a lighter draft of water. In these observation s Mr. Taylerson concurred, and after acknowledging the vote of thanks, the company separated. THE NAVY. A letter from Malta dated Feb. 16, announce ° that the only ships in Valetta Harbour were the Marlborough screw line of battle ship (bearing the, flag of Vice-Admiral A. Fanshawe, C. 8.), Hibernifst receiving ship (flagship of Rear-Admiral H. Codrington, C. 8.), Conqueror and Centurion, scree line of battle ships ; Tartarus and Medina, pada". steamers ; Recruit and Boxer, steam gunboats' and Hearty, steam-tug. Colonel Sir Henry Storks, K.C.8., the new Lord A High Commissioner f or th e l on i an I s l an d s , arriSe`; at Malta on the Bth, i n th e C ara d oe , f or C or f u , ao," left on the 14th. D ur i ng hi s stay i n Malta by frequently communicated w ith M r . Gladstone "J telegraph. • Her Majesty's steam surveying vessel Medina; Captain T. Spratt, C. 8., at present at Malta, has been lately paid off. She was recommissioned on the following day by the same officers and nit when one and all expressed a wish to serve aga'" under Captain Spratt. Her Majesty'g steel gunboat Recruit is also to be paid off at Malta, an a a fresh crew will be sent out f rom E ng l a nd, and her old crew will proceed home in the Perseveranc e ' expected with troops. Her Majesty's steam gun boat Vigilant, now on the coast of Italy, has been detained there to attend upon the P r i nce o f Wale'' should his Royal Highness require her services' The Conqueror expected sailing orders either tb r Candia or Corfu. The Grand Duke Constantine was expected at Malta about the 18th of Feb., from Sicily, with es: veral ships under his command. The s t a y of 11 , 1 : Royal Highness will only be a few days. T u f Duke has lately been on a cruise along the coast Italy. A Russian line-of-battle ship and a frigat B are looked for at Malta from Athens, bound to the Baltic. Admiralty orders have been given for two add l. ' tional line-of-battle screw steamers of heavy ton nage, to be commenced at Chatham Dockyard 'of mediately the slips are vacant by the launch 0 those vessels which have been completed. THE ARMY. A very handsome piece of brass ordnance 1 0 ., been landed at Chatha m D oc k yar d, having be,e: brought, home from China, where it was recentu captured by our forces at the storming and taking of the Bogue forts. This gun is of splendid work; manship, and from its peculiar construction a% great size was d ou btl ess pr i ze d b y t h e Chi nese . '- weighs nearly 10 tons, and iS 16 feet in length, th e d bore being 121 inches. This piece of ordnance II: landed i n sa f e ty a t th e d oc k yar d, w h ere i t h a s 0- `„ ready attracted a good d e al o f i n t eres t. The troop s employed in China also captured anoth e r g u n of same size and make, but on getting it on board the vessel to bring it to England it was unfortunately -lost overboard, and could not be recovered. Mr. W. Morris, late deputy military storekeep er of the Arsenal, Woolwich, where he has been unify terruptedly employed upwards of 44 years, being on the eve of his departure to enter on the pernny nent duties of his new appointment as military storekeeper at Chatham, was on Sat ur day p r esented with a massive silver inkstand by the masters, fore' men, and leading men of the military store depart' ment, in testimony of their appreciation and hig' esteem. • A painful circumstance has just transpired a t Brompton Barracks, Chatham, Lieut. A. Baillie, 0 ' the East India Engineers, having been detected in robbing one of his brother officers of a sum ° money. For some time p as t cons id era bl e sum s 0 f money and other property have been stolen fr 01 A ,,.. the officers' quart ers at t h e barracks, but so raYsr riously were the robberies effected that no 0 1 could be obtained as to the guilty person, seveisl a the officers' servants who were suspected having been dismissed. In consequence of a stateznen made to the authorities by Lieut. Baillie's own ser vant the p o li ce were commun i cated w i th, an d a ° watch p e t, w h en Li eut. B a il l i e was discovere d have stolen a sum of money from the rooms ocol" pied by Lieut. Manderson. The accused was jingle' diately placed under arrest, preparatory to beia brought to trial, two sentries having the charge him during the night. On Saturday evening' however, Lieut. Baillie succeeded in effecting escape from the barracks, and has not since been heard of. The accused is a very young officer. • NEW M AG ISTRATES.—By recommendation of 01° Lord Chancellor the following gentlemen have been sworn in as magistrates of the county of Surrey :—Geprge Esq., Felbridge Park, East Grinstead ; William Robinson White, Esq., Croydon ; Charles Randall, No. Bnuke street, Southwark; G. E. Rich ar d son , E sq . ; an d Thoma s Rolles Hoers, Esq., Marlow House, Kingston-on-Thames. Sir Walter Ratcliffe Ferguson Bart ; Jambs PhilliP s l ° Claremont Lodge, Brixton; John Jones, Esq., of Stall Castle, Edenbridge ; Major Alfred Robert MargellYl Churthen Park, East Grinstead; and Francis 1 1 ° 31 ' B.Ettimont, Esq., were also sworn in,