The Sun. — London, England, 1859-07-01 00:00:00

ONCE A WEEK. No. 1., price 3d. London : Bradbury and Evans,ll, Bouverie-street. .--------=------ - ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. - tinder the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING will be presented Shakspeare's historical play of KING HENRY V. Icing Henry v., Mr. C. Kean ; Chorus, Mrs. C. Kean. After which, IF THE CAP FITS. T HEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. TITIA -EVENING the performances will commence with A new Comedy, entitled THE CONTESTED ELECTION, in Which Mr. and Mrs. C. Mathews will appear, A.fter which, NOTHING TO WEAR. To conclude with THE mm TER WITCHES. Coe at 7. ISTEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. THIS EVENING, ICI ON PARLE FRANCAIS. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Chas Selby, Billington ; Misses Keeley, Arden, and Laidlaw. and Mrs. Billing,ton. Followed by THE HOUSE ? or, THE HOME ? Mr. A. Wigan, C, Selby, Billington ; Mrs. Alfred Wigan, Miss Simms. Miss Laidlaw. 'And (by desire) THE FIRST NIGHT. Mr. Alfred Wigan, Mr. Billington, Miss M. Keeley. After which, THE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS. Messrs. C. Selby and Moreland ; Misses Woolgar and K. Kelly. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. 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. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough THIS EVENING, VANDYKE BROWN. Mr. J. Clark, Miss A. Burditt. After which, CAUGHT BY THE EARS. Mr. J. Rogers and Miss F. Hughes. To conclude with KENILWORTH'. Commence at 7 o'clock. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE —This Evening Shakspeare's Tragedy of RICHAII. Dukeharles of Gloster, Mr. Hermann Vezin ; supported b R y D M I ssrs. C Calvert, B. Potter, C. Cooper, Voltaire, J. Neville, Miss Agnes liemble, Mrs. Atkins, Mrs. Charles Calvert, Miss Ferguson, Miss Yokes. After which, the new comedy, entitled THE VISCOUNT LETORIERES. Mrs. Hermann Vezin. ro conclude with OUR RIFLE VOLUNTEERS. CIANTERBURY HALL AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. Westminster-road. —Open at Seven. EVERY.EVENING during the week will appear THE DELEPIERRE FAMILY, - - Consisting of three Juvenile Violinists, viz., Jules, Juliette, and Julia Delepierre, aged, respectively, FOUR, SIX, and EIGHT years. The perfect execution by these Lilliputian Artistes of some of the most difficult and brilliant Solos, Duets, and Trios eve: written for the violin, has excited mingled wonder and admi ration in Continental Musical Circles, and drawn forth enthu siastic tributes of praise from the Public Journals of France and Belgium. They will perform EVERY EVENING, at NINE and ELEVEN o'clock, in addition to the usual Entertainments. ITlth WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, JULY 1. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 72—highest since noon yesterday. 59—lowest this morning and during the night. 64—this day at noon. BAROMETER.-30 18. WIND, North-Easterly ; light, with dull mtather, but fine. The Ministerial leaders n both Houses have, according to promise, given us their Explanations. Viscount PALMERSTON, as First Minister of the Crown, has spoken in the Commons—Earl GRAN VILLE, as Lord President of the Council, has spoken in the Lords ; and the nation can now fully appre ciate the exact position and the precise intentions of her MAJESTY'S Government. And what, let us ask now, in the name of com mon sense, what is the real amount of the gain secured either to national or to European interests by way of compensation for this late extraordinary political bouleversement ? What may be the nature, what the tendency, what the dimensions of those immense advantages which must, of course, be accruing to the British empire from this abrupt transformation of a Government into an Opposition, and of an Opposition into a Government ? The transformation, remember, took place at a period when, after nearly a dozen years of more or less earnest agitation of the great problem of Parlia mentary reform, there was at length actually sub mitted to the consideration of the Legislature a substantial Reform Bill, such as might have been moulded in committee to any shape the popular representatives might have been pleased to impart to it. Recollect, moreover, that this sudden change of Ministries took place in the very midst of the raging of a great war between the two most powerful military despo tisms of Christendom. A compulsory removal of one Administration and substitution of another —occurring at a crisis in every respect so re markable both as regards our foreign and our domestic situation—must surely imply some im mense concomitant advantages ! But—where are those advantages ? What are they ? In which department of the Administration are they dis coverable ? Let us see. While war is actually raging in Lombardy be tween the gigantic armies of France and Austria, Perhaps our first inquiries ought in reason to have reference to the present and prospective character of our foreign relations. What, then, let us ask at once, has been the amount of gain in regard to our foreign policy resulting from the recent change of Administrations ? Why, the Prime Minister frankly avows—now that he The course which we intend to pursue," says his lordship, "is that which has been chalked out by those who have preceded us." So that in this department—the Foreign Administration of the public service—there is, according to Lord PAL xERBTON's acknowledgment, no affectation even of any gain, or advance, 6r advantage whatso ever ! The Coalition Government simply under takes to persevere in carrying out the same neutral policy which had been inaugurated by the Derbyite Governme nt. No new effort at mediation between the belli gerents is to be attempted yet awhile—we are simply to wait for eventualities. Exactly to the very T what was being done by the late reviled and ousted Administration ! Where, then, ;was the necessity—in rega r d to our foreign policy—of any change at all in h er Iy.LAJESTY ' S Government ? But the advantages which ought certainly to be found somewhere as the happy fruits of the late transportation of Derbyites and Palmerstonian s _ pos4bly these advantages affect in some obvious and instant manner the hopes of the nation in re gard to the reform of Parliament, in regard to the remodelling of the whole system of the popular representation. No—not a bit of it. Even here We are baffled in our inquiries. We are to have no liteforna Bill yet awhile—but, quoth that very won derful Reformer, Lord PALMERSTON, " that it will lie our endeavour aid determination to avail our solves-of the earliest moment of the next session •of Parliament to prepare and produce a bill, I can give the assurance of myself and my colleagues." Why, we, have had all these kind of assur ances over and over again before now, not simply from the ,lips of Lord PALXCERSTON, but from those of a more august personage—we have had promises of this kind held out to the country in the Royal Speeillies delivered from the throne by the silvery acceints of tbe SOVERET.GN. Surely it can not be pre tended for one single instant that the gain res 4 thing from the change of Ministers—if discoverable anywhere—is discoverable in regard to the prospciets of Parliamentary Reform ! Iden tically the sal ne prospects—to say the very least of it—were befoi .e us in the perspective of the next session had Lo rd DERBY still held within his grasp the reins of Gc rvernment. Perhaps the invisible advantages Accrzing to the , - ~Si.k.. .. 1,1 . , ...tth , ~ 4 ) $ ,.. 4 , ~ 0 „..., ~ --, i . ,„, .-, , ,*--.:- t' '', --Av it7-.4 ',- - .7;4- ~ :7 ‘ 10 :-p• %::, '-- . ... ,^ „,l, . •'.42l,i ii r: l' 4q,.'l,',V'-...?!?? eibtl.... 41111111kib . ' t. THE SUN. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1859. nation from the change of Ministries may be of a purely financial character. Well, let us see whether we have at last hit upon the right con jecture. In what consists these presumeable financial advantages ? In the reimposition of the detestable Income Tax—or the substitution of some other tax almost as objectionable ? With this agreeable alternative before us, the gain is obviously not in the department presided over by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Possibly the yet undiscovered advantages relate to the Colonial Administration ? Yet the notion becomes preposterous to the meanest capacity upon the instant—when it is borne in mind that by the substitution of the Coalition for the DERBY Minis try, we run an imminent risk at the moment we were preparing to witness the extinction of the Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly, of seeing the expiring charter of that Company renewed, and the monstrous monopoly resulting from it thus perpetuated ! Can the inscrutable gain relate to the still further strengthening of our military and maritime arma ments ? Hardly—when. General PEEL, being re placed at the War-office by Mr. HERBERT, and Sir Sows PAKINGTON at the Admiralty by the Duke of SOMERSET, his Grace and the Right Hon. Gentleman the Member for South Wilts are to num ber among their colleagues the ultra-economic peace. at-any-price believers in the efficacy, under all cir cumstances, of pure and simple and unarmed arbitra tion, the member for Rochdale and the member for A shton-un der-Lyn e ! The advantage, therefore, is clearly one not of measures but of men. The national gains are these —that we have Mr. LowE as Vice-President of the Privy Council for Education ; that we have Mr. WILSON as Vice-President of the Board of Trade ; that we have Mr. CARDWELL in lieu of Lord NAAS as Secretary for Ireland—that the Duke of ARGYLL is Lord Privy Seal in place of the Earl of HARDWICKE—that Sir CHARLES WOOD is now ruler of India instead of Lord STANLEY—that Sir GEORGE C. LEWIS occupies at the Home-Office the post filled successively of late by Mr. SPENCER WALPOLE and Mr. SOTHERON ESTCOURT. Eureka ! The problem is solved—the salvation of the country depends in some mysterious manner once more upon the country swallowing without a qualm, and, as a panacea for all kinds of political evils, the olla podrida of a new Coalition Govern ment The Quarter's Revenue for the quarter and year ended yesterday has been published this morning in the usual official form, and exhibits a very satis factory statement. There has been an increase on Customs of Excise Taxes 000 Post-office Crown Lands 5OO 161,680 Miscellaneous Stamps .... Income Tax DECREASE. . £123,788 . 417,481 £753,559 Net increase on the quarter . 541,269 £212,200 This is highly satisfactory in the present state of political affairs, and augurs well for our industrial proficiency, evidencing beyond all doubt the won derful elasticity of our national resources. The return for the year is equally manifest as to its improvement, there being only a deficiency of £1,190,143, notwithstanding that in the Pro perty-tax alone, the decrease amounts to £4,064,056, so that the real increase on the year amounts to £2,873,913, independently of other items. Now, this clearly proves that with proper management we can do very well without a renewal of the odious Income-tax. A tax on realised property is quite another thing. But we see sinister hints given out in certain interested quarters about the necessity of the Income-tax, with villainous abuse of the woeful condition of our financial deficiency, owing to the mal-administration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The accusation is so totally at vari ance with truth that we shall not condescend to waste another word upon it. We well remember that on the breaking out of the Russian war, now so memorable for its digrace ful beginning, stinted progress, and still more dis graceful termination, some of our then, and now our present Ministers, wished us to pay not only the In come Tax, but also the current expences of the war. In fact one of them; the present redoubtable Secretary for . Foreign Affairs, went so far as to say, by way of encouragement to the enemy, that England was so highminded—so purely disinterested that she would not take even so much as an acre of terri tory from the aggressive Russians ! What then did we go to war for ? To protect Turkey, and yet do no harm to her invading and unprincipled op pressor. The thing sounds so monstrous that the Minister who could utter so base a statement ought to have been impeached as an accessory in the In vasion of the Principalities. Now as to the " blazoned" deficiency in our finances it is " all moonshine !"—only paraded be fore the public gaze in order to familiarize it to a renewal of the accursed Income Tax. No ! If Mr. GLADSTONE wants to make up any assumed defi ciency let him get a loan in the present very favourable condition of the money market. The interest of that loan will be a mere trifle, and the improving state of the country will soon repay, not only the principal of that loan but serve to pay off other incumbrances also. What we want, above all things, is a stricter management of our revenue Is ith a large diminu tion of our dead weight, such as pensions and other wasteful extravagancies, in every department. Now we have somewhere about three Generals for every Regiment, and ten Admirals for ever ship of the line in commission ! This reckless squander ing of the . public money, wrung from the poor taxpayers, is a national abomination. We do not begrudge our brave soldiers and sailors their due reward, and even more when fairly won; but we do object to that indiscriminate Promotion of lordlings, through corrupt influence, in order that, come what will, they may be provided for at the national expense. Let an officer but get on the list of Generals and he is provided for life * On the same principle, let a naval officer be pushed on till he be posted and he may slee p for the rest of his easy life ; for his promotion is all safe. If he be a man of merit all the better for his p rid e , his natural ambition will stimulate to deeds of daring, and make the nation proud of his renown. But he can do without these, if he be only able to sign his quarterly re ceipt. And should such things be tolerated much longer P Let Lords PALMERSTON and RUSSELL look to it. The nation is up and stirring. Let our Rulers see that the Cup of ; I n a —gnation be not suf fered to overflow —for in that case, so me people may have to drain the very dregs. Our readers will perceive from to-day' s s et , that a courteous correspondence has passed between Lord JOHN RUSSELL and some staunch Liberals of the City of London respecting the Ballot. Very reasonably they thought his appeal for re-election on taking office a suitable time to ascertain defi nitely the noble lord's position in regard to the most important of all reforms—the one which would create really independendent constituencies THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 1, 1859, •—hence t , appeal. Every precaution seems to have beerit taken to place the subject before him in the least objectionable way. Noble lords don't like Ballo t Societies and Registration Associa tions with whom they have had inconvenient cor respondence before ; some gentlemen were there fore select ed to represent the wishes of the larger part of the Liberal electors to his lordship, inde pendently of these societies, and that honest, liberal, and h ighly-respectable citizen, Mr. SAMUEL MORLEY, waa ; made the organ of the committee. All, howevt was; of but little avail, or rather worse, for hi's lordship now seemed quite em boldened by tli e prospect of no opposition. At the late electio he did not think quite so badly of the Ballot asl 'te had before ; and at the election previous, his bro ther CHARLES was employed at a ward meeting to disseminate the notion that, after all, Lord JOHN was not so much opposed to it as might be thou ght ; but then, " a young man from Northamptoi i " threatened his flank ; it was best to be pruden t--to abide by ambiguities and suggestions, if ha had nothing better to offer. On this occasion ho had no opponent, felt quite secure, and he cared neither for electors nor elec tors' arguments. Ile and PALMERSTON meant to be decided a i that question. Two thirds, or more, of their Parliamentary sup porters had voted for it, and two of those whom he has felt compelled to ask to join his Ministry are out and out friends to it, but the two Lords are as determined against the Ballot us they once were against Church-rates, and will no doubt have to change th sir determination on the former subject, as Lord JOHN has been com pelled to do so openly on the latter. The truth is, that plain common-senso matters like Church-rate Abolition and the Ballot are understood but too well by our governors ; they know that the people have seen through them also long ago ; but they will trade on evasion and on political accidents as long as they can—indeed, they will do it till the common sense out of the House will bear it no longer, and sends up such majorities as they can no longer resist. Mr. MORLEY and his friends appeal to the flagrant instances of bribery and corruption at the last election, to the unquestioned case of a Peer ordering his numerous tenantry to turn round in South Durham, and their utter inability to resist the order ; and—most conclusive of all, the argu ment from the lips of Lord JOHN himself—he had distinctly stated on the hustings at the Hunting donshire election, that he wished for nothing more than the unbiased decision of the electors in re gard to the Liberal candidate whom he proposed, Mr. HEATHCOTE ; but that " the opinions of electors being one way, foreign dictation had been introduced to induce them to vote the other." This was precisely the case which he had declared when ejected from South Devon, would induce him to propose the Ballot again, as he be fore proposed it to the Cabinet of Lord GREY. As Lord JOIIN could not repudiate the testimony of his own speech, and would not be inclined to deny that the diminished Liberal majority at the last election was caused by undue influences of all kinds, honest Mr. MORLEY thought he had him now fairly in his logical clutches. But lords will bolt when they cannot argue. The question was a very modest one—" Whether the apprehended evilswhich hitherto, in your opinion, have overbalanced the advantages of the Ballot, are great enough to prevent an experiment being made whether the Ballot will act as a preventive against the enormous moral evils with which the late elec tions were attended." To this rather long and gently phrased question, Lord JOHN returns an answer—not himself, but through a subordinate who " is directed to acknow ledge, &c., and that his lordship continues to be of opinion that the evils of the Ballot would prove greater than those which now exist." We are sure of two things—one that his lordship sin cerely thinks, as he says—the evils of tenants voting, independently of their landlords, and of rich men not being able to purchase Mary lebones on the one hand, and smaller boroughs on the other, would, in the view of a Duke's son, be tremendous evils. He might wish Mr. HEATH COTE to get in for Huntingdon, but he would rather accept, as he was obliged to do, his failure, than deprive all the Dukes throughout the country of their power to coerce their tenants. The second thing of which we are sure is, that Lord JOHN believes that the Ballot would unhorse the Dukes, and all others who ride into power on the backs of coerced electors, and our reason is this—Mr. MORLEY'S letter asks for an experiment of the Ballot, not for its universal adoption. This Lord JOHN evades. Why so ? Why just because one experiment would be the refutation of all his imaginary evils. in com mon with others, while we demand the Ballot universally, we have yet often said give us at least a few trials—make them where you like,—select places like Harwich, Norwich, Cambridge, Notting ham, or any other where bribery is said to be in curable ; give us one or two divisions of some county where there is most complaint of coercion, or say Huntingdonshire itself, and let us try how the Ballot will work amidst both bribery and coer cion. The evasion of this fair and honest demand we must always hold to be a proof of the dishonesty of the person who is guilty of it. It shows that he believes the arugments of the friends of the Ballot, and disbelieves those by which he would justify his opposition. Lord JOHN believes that the Bal lot would repress bribery and intimidation ; but for that very reason he believes that it would inter fere with the reign of his order. And this is the Reform Bill Maker for whom we have turned out men who could have got for us a ten-pound county and a six-pound borough franchise ! COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen held an Investiture of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath yesterday afternoon. At three o'clock the Knights Grand Cross passed into the saloon, where they were called over by Bath King of Arms, when the following answered, viz.:—General the Duke of Cambridge, Field-Marshal Viscount Combennere, General Viscount Gough, General Sir George Pollock, the Earl of Ellenborough, Lieut.-General Sir Harry Smith, Bart., General the Earl of Westmoreland, Right Hon. Sir H. Seymour, General Sir Alexander Woodford, General Sir John Fox Burgoyne, Bart., General Sir George Brown, Lieut.-General Sir Richard England, General Sir Hew Dalrymple Ross, Lord Panmure, the Earl of St. Germans, the Right Hon. Sir John Laird Mair Lawrence, Bart., and Earl Howden. The Queen, the Sovereign of the Bath, and the Prince Consort, Great Master of the Order ; were conducted by the Officers of State to the White Drawing-room. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness both wore the Mantle and the Collar of the Bath. The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine was introduced, pre ceded by Bath King of Arms and the Gentleman Usher of the Order, when her Majesty, assisted by the Prince Con sort, invested his Lordship with the Riband, Badge, and Star of a Knight Grand Cross.(Civil Division) of the Bath. Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour was introduced, re ceived the honour of knighthood from the Queen with the sword of state, and was invested by her Majesty with the Riband and Badge, and also the Star of a Knight Grand Cross. The Earl of Malmesbury was introduced, had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him by the Sovereign with the sword of state, and was invested by the Queen, assisted by the Prince Consort, with the Riband, Badge, and Star of a Knight Grand Cross (Civil Division). The Right Honourable Sir John Somerset Pakington, Bart., was introduced, received the honour of knighthood from her Majesty with the sword of state, and was invested with the Riband, Badge, and Star of a Knight Grand Cross (Civil Division). General Sir Thomas M'Mahon, Bart., General Sir William Maynard Gomm, and General Sir Robert William Gardiner, were introduced, and were severally invested by her Majesty, assisted by the Prince Consort, with the Riband, Badge, and star of the First Class of the Order. The following Knights Commanders, viz., Colonel John Douglas, 79th Regiment ; Major-General Henry George Roberts, Inspector-General cf Hospitals, Dr. John Macandrew, General Henry Wyndham, and Lieutenant- General John Aitchison, were severally introduced, received from the Sovereign the honour of Knighthood, and were in vested by her Majesty with the Insignia of the Military Division of the Second Class of the Order. The following Companions of the Bath were severally in troduced, and received from the Queen their respective deco rations in the Military:and Civil Divisions of the Third Class of the Bath, viz.:—Captain Edward Southwell Sotheby, R.N. ; Colonel Charles Hagart, unattached, late 7th Hus sars ; Lieutenant-Colonel William Alexander Middleton, Royal Artillery ; Colonel Henry Richmond Jones, 6th Dragoon Guards; Colonel Michael William Smith, 3d Dra goon Guards; Lieutenant-Colonel J. Dodington Carmichael, 32d Regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Lothian Nicholson, Royal Engineers ; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Russell, Bart., 7th Hussars ; Lieutenant- Colonel Thomas Lightfoot, 84th Regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Gascoig,ne Bulwer, 23d Regiment ; Captain the Hon. Keith Stewart, ; Captain Sir Frederick 'William Erskine Nicolson, Bart., R.N. ; Lieutenant- Colonel Arthur Sandys Stowell Walsh, Royal Marines ; Captain Edmund Gardiner Fish bourne, R.N. ; Paymaster-in-Chief David James Simpson, R.N. (Civil) ; Paymaster William David Jeans, R.N. (Civil) Secretary to Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour ; and Mr. John Edye, F.R. S., late Assistant-Surveyor of the Navy (Civil). Before the investiture Viscount Bury had an audience of _ _ the Queen, kissed hands upon his appointment as Treasurer of her Majesty's Household, and received from the Queen his wand of office. I'HE PRINCE OF WALES AT HARROW The Harrow Speech-day for 1859 was honoured by the presence of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Though the announcement of his visit was only made a few hours beforehand, great zeal was manifested by the School and by the inhabi tants of the quiet village of Harrow in making such preparations as time alowed for the due reception of the illustrious guest. The weather was most propitious, and nothing was wanting to render the festival complete. The Prince of Wales arrived at the gates of the school at 1 o'clock, and was re ceived there by the Head Master, who conducted his Royal Highness to the Speech-room, where a numerous company awaited his arrival. Among the guests were his Excellency the Swedish Minister, the Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn and the Ladies Hamilton, the Earl and Countess of Claren don and Lady Constance Villiers, the Earl and Coun tess of Gosford, the Earl and Countess Spencer, the Earl and Countess Stanhope and Lady Mary Stanhope, the Countess Dowager Spencer and Lady Sarah Spencer, the Earl and Countess of Galloway and Lady Helen Stewart, the Earl and Countess of Mayo and Lady Margaret Bourke, Viscount New port and Lady Mary Clive, Viscount Somerton, Viscount Strangford, Viscount Campden, Viscount Valletort and Lady Katharine Valletort, the Bishop of Durham and Miss Longley, the Bishop of Lich field and Miss Lonsdale, the Bishop of Oxford, the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, Lord and Lady Robert Cecil, Lord Lyttelton, Lord and Lady Wensleydale, Lord Glenelg, Lord Henniker, Lord and Lady Hatherton, Lady Radstock and the Hon. Miss Waldegrave, Lord Radstock, Lord Ebury, Count Strzlecki, the Right Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., Right Hon. Sotheron Estcourt, M.P., Right Hon. H. U. Addington Right Hon. Sir W. Somerville, M.P., Sir M. Miley, M.P., the Governor of Bar badoes, Miss Burdett Coutts, the Dean of St. Pauls and Mrs. Milman, the Dean of Wells, Sir J. Paxton, M.P., Sir J. Lacaita, Lady Hislop, General Sir T. Franks, General Tremenheere, General Scott, Sir H. Rawlinson, Lady Havelock and the Misses Havelock, the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge and Mrs. Bateson, Sir John and Lady Catherine Boileau, Mr. W. M. Thackeray, the Hon. Colonel Wrottesley and the Hon. Miss Wrottesley, the Hon. C. Howard, Mr. A. J. Beresford Hope, Colonel Tombs, Sir Morton Peto, M.P., Mr. Tom Taylor, &c. The following was the order of the speeches and prize recitations : Pretor. LATIN ALCAICS. _ . . - - —_. "Cyrus Babylonem ingreditur." Hardcastle ( Rosalind. Steel t Orlando Shakspeare. Bosanquet De Corana Demosthenes. Burnett tin Commissaire Currey .. llarprgon I Moliere. Mr. Stanhope.... Maitre Jaques .) LATIN ESSAY FOR THE PEEL MEDAL. " Arminius post cladem Varianam suos alloquitur." Stow i Brackenbury Shakspeare. Hensley.... j Clarence Gillespie M. Catilinam Cicero. Ridley. ENGLISH I'oF.M. " The Fairies." Cruikshank Neptune.. . 5t0w...... reisthetwrits Aristophanes. Hensley Triballus Ridley Hercules Cruikshank. ENGLISH ESSAY. . __. ...._ LATEST NEWS. VOCAL ASSOCIATION. On Wednesday . evening the last concert of the season was given in St. James's Hall by the Vocal Association. The proceeds were devoted to the funds of the new Handel College, now in contem plation. Thus combinino . the 'recommendation of a laudable purpose with the usual musical attractions, it was not surprising , that the hall was filled. The members of the association sang several part songs, and especially distinguished themselves in Bishop's beautiful "Sleep, gentle lady." They also sarK; Haydn's hymn, "To Thee, 0 Lord." Prominent among the solo performers was Mdlle Artot, whose singing we have before had occasion to notice. With a fine voice, and great natural ability, the effect of her "performance is much impaired by the affectation and extravagance of her style. She sang Rossini's famous " Una voce," and also another of the same master's grand scenas, in which she accompanied herself on the piano. Madame Lem mens Sherrington, whose clear voice and careful singing are rapidly increasing her reputation, sang an air from Meyerbeer's new opera, Le Pardon ( 7 e Ploermel, replete with brilliant and florid passages. She also gave the air and variations, " Sul margine d'un rio." Miss Messent, always a popular favourite, delighted the audience by her perform ance of Handers " Farewell, ye limpid springs." Madame Enderssohn and Miss Stabbach acquitted themselves with their usual success. The instru mental performers were Herr Joachim and M. Mortier de Fontaine. Herr Joachim played selec tions from Beethoven and Bach, and proved him self to be a worthy exponent of those great mas ters. His reception was, as usual, enthusiastic. M. Mortier de Fontaine, who is a pianist of some celebrity abroad, made his first appearance in this country. We do not anticipate that he will eclipse tho se performers we are already acquainted with, though.. r his execution is b rilliant and ener g etic. Many attractive pieces were included in the pro gramme, and the concert went off with brilliancy and success. "The Characters of Virg:l." Childe Harold Byron AUSTRALIA. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) PLYMOUTH, FRIDAY MORNING. The Frances Henty, Captain Cairncross, 87 days from Melbourne, was off the port last night. She has seven or eight passengers, and a cargo of wool. THE WAR IN ITALY. The following telegrams have been received at Mr. Reuter's office : TURIN, JULY 1. The Sardinian army has invested Peschiera from he Lago di Garda to the Mincio. BERNE, JUNE 30. The Federal Council, in concert with the belli gerent Powers, has decided that any corps d'armee or soldiers taking refuge on Swiss territory should be sent back to the side to which they may belong, the different Governments undertaking not to em ploy them again in the present war. Arms and ammunition are to be given up at tb e end of the war, and the cost of keeping them to be repaid to the Swiss Government. In consequence of this convention the garrison of Laveno and the soldiers of General Garibaldi's corps d'armee will be returned. The steamers on the Lago Maggiore, which had been captured, are to be given up for mercantile service, upon condition that they are not to be used again for the war. The Austrians occupy the Stelvio pass on the side next the Tyrol, with a force of 13 companies of infantry and two companies of carbineers. The positions they hold on the pass lie between Glurno and Trafel, and a battery has been planted on a spot which commands the Stelvio route. Barricades have also been erected, and great fear is entertained of a descent of Garibaldi's men. The last news from the seat of war has been confirmed. Forty Austrian medical officers dismissed from the Milan hospitals have arrived at Lugano, and will be sent be sent back to their country. MARSEILLES, JUNE 30. Advices have been received from Constanstinople to the 22d inst. The news of the battle of Magenta has produced a lively impression. The Divan has simply acquiesced in the Paris protocol concerning the Principalities, and granted also the berats of inves titure. TURIN, JUNE 30. The Imperial head-quarters are at Volta. The passage of the Mincio by our troops continues. The Emperor visited the left bank of the river. The position of Vallegion has been occupied by the French. His Majesty has also had bridges thrown across the Mincio to replace those destroyed by the Austrians in their retreat. BERNE, JUNE 30, Messages from Turin confirm the intelligence that General Garibaldi has received orders to occupy the Upper Valteline. Garibaldi is expected at Tirano with 3,000 men, where 500 Piedmontese regular infantry have already arrived. Skirmishes have taken place near Bormio between the franc corps of the Valteline, and the Austrians who are guarding the Stelvio pass. The Moniteur says :—" Two detachmennts sent from the depots of their regiments having arrived at the army of Italy without the necessary effects and utensils for encamping, the Minister of War has punished with a fortnight's arrest the superior officers who organised their departure, and he has blamed the generals who did not duly see to the execution of his repeated orders." Several journals have stated that the Austrians liad sunk at Venice a vessel of the line, three fri gates, and three of Lloyd's steamers at the entrance of the Malamocco passage. This statement is but partially true, as recent letters from that city assert that only the Lloyd's steamers have been sunk, while the war vessels, lightened of their guns, have been towed further in, where they will be less exposed to a fire from the enemy, but can be of no use in case of an attack. Rear-Admiral Bouet-Willau mez, with his steam frigates and floating batteries, arrived at Antivari on the 23d, on the Montenegro coast, a few miles south of Cattaro, where it is supposed he will await the arrival of Vice-Admiral Romain Desfosses, before he advances farther into the Adriatic. The Paris correspondent of the Independance of Brussels states that the new English Ministry has addressed counsels of moderation to the German States, cautioning them, in language alike serious and firm, against the dangers of encouraging a policy which might lend to a general war. A letter has been lately published at Florence, addressed to Lord Cowley by an Italian writer, M. Matteucci, in which ho appeals to England to throw the whole weight of her authority into the European councils when the future consti tution of Italy shall be brought under consideration. In the opinion of the writer the wishes of the Italians and the interests of Europe would be best satisfied by the formation of a great State, composed of the whole of Northern and a great part of Central Italy ; but he adds that the United Kingdom of Italy must not do away with provincial individuali ties, which, in his opinion, it would be important to respect. A letter from Solferino of the 25th says : " Solferino is a village like any other Lombard or Piedmontese one, like Montebello, or Buffalora, for Magenta, or Malegnano. In a military point of view, however, it is something more than a lot of houses placed in an agreeable plain covered with trees and crops ; the enemy made of it an important strategical position, and the corps of Marshal Baragnay d'Hilliers was charged to attack it at dawn of day. Before• five o'clock, the two divisions of that corp rushed on the village, and on the little hills which surround it ; and then commenced a conflict so fierce that no one who figured in it could give me an account of what took place. ' Mix up blood, smoke, dust, the firing of muskets, the clatter ing of arms, the cries of soldiers, the beating of drums —make a ragout of all that, and you have the taking of Solferino !' said a soldier to me. After that operation, which lasted two hours, the Ist corps, instead of reposing, was ordered to take the direc tion of Pozzolengo, to carry all the positions on its way, and to join the Sardinian army, which was fighting against forces double its own. The march was rapidly and brilliantly effected. All the positions were carried, and the enemy was dislodged without being able to make head for a moment. Whilst the corps of Baraguay d'Hilliers was thus executing the orders of the Emperor, to whom belongs the honour of having directed the attack extending over from four to five leagues, the corps of Marshal de MacMahon was in the plain to the right, in sight of San Cassiano. This also is a village which was unknown yesterday, and is now celebrated. The order to the 2d corps was to extend to the right so as to unite with the 4th corps, that of Gen. Niel which was marching with giant steps towards Medola. Whilst these movements were being effected, the Guard—in fantry, artillery, and cavalry—entered in line. There were two solutions of continuity in our front, which it was necessary to fill up—one near San Cassiano, between the Ist and 2d corps, the other to the right of the 2d corps whilst waiting for the arrival of the corps of General Niel. The first void was filled up by all the infantry of the Guard—grenadiers, light infantry, riflemen, and Zouaves, supported by several batteries of artillery of the Guard, of which the Emperor intended per sonally to direct the attack. The second void was afterwards filled up by the light dragoons, cuirassiers, and dragoons of the Guard, rein inforced by hussars and chasseurs d'Afrique, taken from the two corps of Baraguay d'Hilliers and MacMahon. These two operations displayed great knowledge of the science of war. The enemy in the end became of that opinion ; and ~when an attack was commenced on the three points, Cassiano, Cavriana, and Medola, the encounter was terrible. After a while the enemy made a forward movement, reckoning on the space between the 2d corps and Niel's corps being unoccupied. But the void there no longer existed. Not only had all the cavalry of the Guard, together with two divisions of cavalry taken from MacMachon and Baraguay d'Hilliers, been collected there, but the corps of General Niel had arrived. The promptitude with which this corps entered on action excited the admiration of all who saw it. General Niel handled his soldiers as the most distinguished tactician would have done. 'We could almost believe we were manoeuvring on the Champ de Mars !' said a soldier. The attack which ensued was crowned with complete success." A letter from Cavriana of the 27th says :—" The Emperor has prolonged his stay at this place, pro bably in order to give the troops the repose of which they stood in great need. The spirit of the army is excellent ; as to the health of the Emperor it was never better. On the day of the battle, Com mandant Verly of the Cent Gardes, who was at a few paces behind the Emperor, received a ball on his cuirass, which glanced off from him and struck the cuirass of a captain who was near him. The horse of Capt. Brady, orderly officer to his Majesty, was wounded. In the great attack on the centre it was General Maneque that led the first brigade of Voltigeurs against the formidable entrenchments. All the sides of the hill were covered by the fallen French, but at length the field was theirs. A gray mass of Austrians slowly then retreated under the fire of the French artillery. Three times the Austrian officers, anxious to show their devotedness to the Emperor, halted their men and made an attempt to retake the positions. Vain efforts ! They had been already occupied by the Ist and 2d regiments of the Voltigeurs of the Guard. General Maneque has been named General of Division. Towards the centre of the line of battle in the direction from Castiglione to Solferino and Volta, was Marshal MacMahon with the whole of the 2d corps d'arnzee. All the Imperial Guard was massed behind the 2d corps, and formed the reserve ; it was so stationed as to be able to supl port any corps, where it might be required. Some extraordinary acts of daring are mentioned as having taken place during the day. A captain of the foot chasseurs, in turning a rising ground fell suddenly on some Austrian artillery, and with his company captured seven pieces of cannon. The Emperor, it is said, during the whole day, had nothing to eat but a small piece of chocolate. Even water was a very scarce article, and Generals and even Marshals were happy to get a mouthful of water or wine from the canteen of the soldiers. The valour of the Sardinian army has cost them dear. Several superior offices have been killed, among whom are mentioned General Mollard, General Perrier, commanding the brigade of Savoy; General Arnaldi, commanding the guards; Colonel Beretta, of the regiment of Coni ; Colonel Pernot, of that of Savoy; and Captain Pallavieini, of the Bersaglieri. The division of General Fante has covered itself with glory. When the loss of the battle seemed confirmed, the Emperor of Austria, followed by his escort, retired by the village of Volta in the midst of the confusion caused by the retreating movement of his army. It appears that his escort had some trouble to force a passage." The following is the text of the telegraphic de spatch, published by the Vienna Gazette, of which a summary has been already given : " VERONA, 25th.—The Austrian army passed the Mincio on the night of the 23d, at four different points. The right wing occupied Pozzolengo, Sol ferino, and Cavriana; the left wing advanced on the 24th to Guidizzolo and Castelgaffredo, and forced back on every point the enemy who opposed it. Whilst the Austrian army was continuing its forward movement towards the Chiesa, the enemy, who had in their turn assumed the offensive with all their forces, brought so considerable a number of troops that at about ten in the morning the two principal armies came into collision. The 2d Austrian corps, forming the right wing under the command of General Count Schlick, defended vigorously until two o'clock the points occupied on the principal line; and the Ist corps, commanded by General Count Wimpffen, gained ground con tinually on the left, towards the Chiesa. About three o'clock the French directed their principal attack against Solferino, and after a combat of several hours seized that position, although herio cally defended by the sth corps d'arinee. " Immediately after the French advanced again and attacked Cavriana, which was also valiantly defended until evening by the first corps, sup ported by the 7th ; but eventually it was neces sary to abandon that point tor the French. Whilst the engagements were going on for the possession of Solferino and Cavriana, the Bth corps advanced from Pozzolengo on the extremity of the right wing and forced back the Piedmontese troops, which it found before it; but that movement could not contribute in a decisive manner to enable us to regain the position which we had lost in the centre. " On the left wing the 3d and 9th corps w ere fighting firmly, supported by the 11th. The ca valry of reserve, collected on this wing, e x e cu t e d several charges with great bravery, but exceed ingly heavy losses, and the circumstance that on the left wing the Ist army, in consequence of an enormous display of French troops, had been stopped in its attack against the left wing of the allies, who with the bulk of their forces were advancing on the centre from the neighbourhood of Volta, forced the Austrian army to retreat, which move ment commenced at an advanced hour of the even ing, in the midst of a tremendous storm. Yester day, during the night, Pozzolengo, Mozambano, Volta, and Goito were still occupied by the Aus trian troops. " General Urban, who, both in the Hungarian campaign and in these latter times, distinguished himself as a leader of flying corps, having been appointed to the command of the fortress of Verona, has already entered on his functions." Steel lidley. '' " 0 imitat9res, servum peens ! ut mild svepc " Bilem, smpejocum, vestri movere tumultus !" Cruikshank...... Mr. Oldbuck Mr. Stanhope.— Sir Arthur Wardour Scott. Lang . Mr. Lovell Stow. GuI:"EK PTOSE FOR THE HOPE PRIZE. Translation from Berkeley's "Minute Philosopher." Pretor Belshazzar's Feast __ Arnold. ['rotor. LATIN HEXAMETERS, .... Currey. LATIN PROSE FOR TUE GREGORY MEDAL. Translation from Macaulay's " History of England." Eyre Defence of Stockdale Erskine. Pretor. GREER lAMBIC VERSE. Translation from " The Merchant of Venice." Lang. To the Electors of Plymouth Cann in ;. Boyle. ENGLISH PoEM. "The Fairies." Burnett Currey 1 Sir A. Absolute " Sheridan. Mr. Stanhope. Neeld Medal for Mathematics. Gillespie. Second Prize for Mathematics. Craig. Prizefor Euclid. . Bolitho. Prize Tor Arithmetic. . - Graham. Botfield Medal for Modern Languages.' -------- Clive, sen. Prize for Modern Liingtiag - es, Ebrington I._Rogers. , 2. Bray. 1 i Piing for Proficiency in Natural Science Argles, sen ) c l . 1. Argles, jun. 1 FF'th Form Prizes for Latin Prose. 2. Devas. After the speeches the Prince of Wales was con ducted to the School Chapel, newly completed and fitted with windows of stained glass, by M. Lusson (of Paris), Mr. Wailes, and other eminent artists, partly in commemoration of the Harrow officers who fell in the Crimea and in India. After in specting the chapel the Prince returned to the Head Master's house, where he was entertained at luncheon in the school dining-hall. At an early hour in the afternoon his Royal Highness quitted Harrow on his return to Buckingham Palace, amidst the cheers of the school, who had assem bled to witness his departure. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—At Covent Garden, last evening, Mozart's magnificent opera, "Don Giovanni," was performed, being the last time but one that Mr. Gye's arrangements will admit of its being represented during the present season. Madame Grisi was the Donna Anna, Madame Penco, Zerlina ; Mario, the Don ; Ronconi, Leporello • and Tamberlk, Don Ottavio. The .singing of all the talented artistes, in this opera, is so well known, that all we can say is, that it was as splendidly given as on former occasions. At Drury . Lane, also, Mozart's chef d'cettere wis represented last night with very great success. The cast was as follows:—Donna Anna, Mdlle Titiens ; Donna Elvira, Madlle. Vaneira • Zerlina, Mdlle. Pieco lomina ; Don Giovanni, Signor Ba'diali; Leporello, Signor Marini ; Il Comrnendatore, Signor Lanzoni; Masette, Signor Castelli ; and Don Ottavio, Signor Giuglini. Both per:orrnances attracted very brilliant and fashionable audiences. This evening the fascinating Piceolomini a ppears as Violetta 7 in Verdi's `.Traviata." E. T. Smith's benefit we see is announced for the 6th of July. The nove lty at Covent Garden, to - morrow evening, will be the production for the first time these two years of Bellini's " I Puritani," in which Madame Penco will sustain, for the first time in England, the part of Elvira. The revival cannot fail to prove highly attractive. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI.—Her Majesty, the Prince Consort, the King of the Belgians, Count de Flan dres, Viscountess Jocelyn, the Hon. Miss Kerr, Lord Camoys, Major Burnell, Lord Colville, and the Hon. Cap;. De Ros, .honoure3 this theatre with their presence last last evening. FRANCE. PARIS BOURSE, June 30.—The market has been very bouyant, and the prices have have an upward tendency, on a report that the Germanic Diet had postponed for a fortnight its decision about the formation of a,n army on the frontier. Threes, after having. been done at 62f. 50c., improved to 62f. 70c. Mobilier varied from 645 f. to 650 f. ; Austrian, 440 f. to 445 f. ; Orleans, 1,227 f. 50c. to 1,232 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 827 f. 50c.t0 835 f. ; Northern, 932 f. 50c. to 935 f. ; Southern, 480 f. to 485 f. ; Eastern, 60f5. to 612 f. 50c. ; Lombardo-Venetian, 472 f. 50c. to 477 f. 50c. The prices continued to improve until the close, owing to the purchases which the jobbers of the coulisse were obliged to effect in order to wind up their operations. The following were the last quotations : 4% per Cents. 92 60 Do. end month 3 per Cents. 63 Do. end month 63 Bank Shares 2720 Mobilier Do. Account Credit Fonder 635 Belgian 41 — Piedmonteso (5) Roman B2 Austrian — Spanish Threes IHome Debt - - RAILWAYS. _ Cash. Account. Orleans Northern 935 937 50 New ditto 795 Lyons and Mediterranean B3O .. 832 50 Geneva 490 490 Southern • 4BO 485 Western 5lO --515 Eastern Sardinian' 375 .. 375 Austrian : 447 50 447 50 Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 121 c. ; money, 25f 9c. ; three months, paper, 24f. 971 c.; money, 24f. 95c. INAUGURATION OF TIIE GLASGOW STATUE IN HONOUR OF SIR ROBERT PEEL.—The statue in honour of Sir Robert Peel, erected in George -square, was inaugurtzted on Tuesday afterncon. The Lord Provost, magistrates, and members of town council, were present. CONSCIENCE MONEY.—From a document yester day issued by order of Parliament, it appears that in the year ending the 31st of March last, the sums remitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as " conscience woney" amounted to X 3,015 9s, THE NA VY. The screw line-of-battle ship Agamemnon, 91, Capt. Thomas Hope, arrived at Portland on Tues day afternoon from Spithead. Her Majesty's vessels now at anchor in that harbour are the Royal Albert, 121 ; Hero, 91 ; James Watt, 91; Agamemnon, 91 ; Algiers, 91 ; Emerald, 51 ; Mersey, 40 ; Curacoa, 31 ; Blenheim, 60 ; Pioneer, 6 ; Flying Fish, 6 ; and the Biter, 2. The new screw steamship Mars, 80' guns, has arrived from the upper division in the river Med way, and been taken into the fitting basin at Sheer ness. Captain Charles C. Dawkins (24th of Sep tember, 1857) took up his commission yesterday and joined to take command. She is to be brought forward with all possible despatch. Mr. George P. Heather, master, took up his com mission yesterday at Sheerness, and joined the new screw' steam-corvette Clio, of 21 guns and 400 horse-power (nominal.) The new screw-steamship Edgar, 91 guns and 600 horse-power (nominal), has had her final trial trip for speed off Sheerness. She went the measured mile with and against tide for eight hours. Her speed was 11.5 knots, with a pressure of 201 b steam and 261 vacuum, with which her average re volutions were 55 per minute. The engines, by Maudslay, Field, and Co., gave the highest satis faction to the authorities who superintended the trial. She returned to her moorings at 7.30 p.m., and will shortly be ready for sea. The Cossack, 20 guns, screw steam-corvette, of 250 horse-power, is taken into No. 3 dry dock, at Sheerness, for the purpose of examining her steam feeding valves, propeller, &c. The Sea Breeze and Jessie yesterday commenced shipping guns at Woolwich from her Majesty's screw steamship Howe, 121, fitting out at Devon port. The steam transport Peninsula yesterday arrived at Woolwich, and commenced filing her magazines with powder. The Imperieuse, 51, screw, Capt. R. B. Maguire, has been brought down Portsmouth harbour, and placed alongside the Malabar, coal depot, for the purpose of coaling. The Neptune, 91, screw, Capt. Sir W. Hoste, has crossed lower and topsail yards and placed battens on her rigging, in readiness for rattling down. She has hauled off from alongside the sheer jetty to alongside the Prince Regent hulk, in Portsmouth harbour. The Sidon, 22, paddle, Capt. It. B. Crawford, is coaling alongside the north quay of the fitting basin. The Dauntless, 34, screw, Capt. W. Edmonstone, in the steam basin at Portsmouth, has commenced crossing her lower and topsailyards. The Sphinx, 6, paddle, and the Beagle, 6, screw, have both been brought down Portsmouth harbour, and placed in the steam basin, to be advanced to the first-class steam reserve. The screw frigate Amphion, 36, has been com missioned at Chatham by Capt. T. Cochran. She is ordered to proceed to Sheerness, where she will take in a sufficient quantity of coals to make her trial trip, in order to test the efficiency of her en gines and screw since the alterations she has under gone. The masts and gear of the Amphion being all at Sheerness, it is not expected that she will return to Chatham after the trial trip, but will finish fitting for sea at that port. The paddle-wheel steam frigate Virago, 6, Cora mender M. Dunn, with the brig Ranger in tow, left Plymouth Sound on Wednesday for Ireland. The screw steam frigate Topaze, M, Capt. the Hon. John W. S. Spencer, was towed on Wednes day from her moorings to the sheer hulk, to have her fan exchanged. The screw steamship Aboukir, 90, Capt. Schoen berg, got up steam in Hamoaze on Wednesday, and went outside the Breakwater, and then returned into the Sound. The screw steam troopship Himalaya, Comman der John Seccombe, was removed on Wednesday from Keyham-basin into Plymouth Sound. Yes terday (Thursday) morning she made an experi mental trip outside the Breakwater. It is staled that a portion of the armament of the screw steam frigate Orlando, 50, will consist of Sir William Armstrong's guns. The screw steam frigate Liffey, 51, Capt. George W. Preedy, from Liverpool, arrived in Plymouth Sound on Wednesday morning. The following appointments were made yester day at the Admiralty : Lieut. H. H. Washington, to the Imperieuse ; Lieut. Henry Rogers, to the Brunswick ; Lieut. W. N. Tufnell, to the Terrible; Lieut. Robt. Mansel, to the Nile ; Jas. Mitchell, surgeon, to the Vulcan ; and Robt. Fulton, surgeon, to the Topaz. THE ARMY. The depot brigade of Royal Artillery was yes terday mustered on the barrack field, Woolwich, in command of Lieut.-Col. and Brevet Col. G. R. H. Kennedy, in heavy marching order, for the pur pose of putting into effect the thorough equalisation of batteries composing the brigade, destined from the present date (July 1) to constitute the nursery of the entire corps. The brigade is composed of 3,000 picked men, and as they appeared yesterday for inspection, each man equipped with his com plete accoutrements and travelling kit, ready to be transferred to new quarters, it was remarked that a more soldierly body of men could not bemet with. in her Majesty's service. _ _ Yesterday Morning Major-General S. R. Wesley, the DeputyAdjutant-General, resumed his inspec tion of the Chatham division of Royal Marine Light Infantry, commencing the day's proceedings by witnessing detachments from each of the companies go through the gun drill, in which exercise all the officers and men of the Royal Marines are in structed, in order that they may assist in working guns on board ship. The ease and quickness with which the marines moved about the heavy guns and went through their exercise was exceedingly satisfactory, and left no doubt that in action the working of the ship's guns might safely be left t the Royal Marines. Owing to the great deman there has been for Marines to join the new ships which have recently been commissioned, the num ber of duty-men now at head-quartrrs does not ex ceed 300, consequently the companies yesterday presented a very meagre appearance. A sample carriage, destined for Sir William Arm strong's 40-pounder siege gun, constructed from a design of Col. Tulloh, Superintendent of the Royal Carriage Department, Woolwich, - was yesterday tested in the Arsenal Marsh, and proved extremely applicable and available, even beyond the anticipa tions of the committee. THE STEAM IA2IL TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. SIR,—I have latterly avoided bringing my name before the public in connection with the question of the steam ram, hoping that the plan would be car ried out according to the principles I had submitted during the Russian war, and subsequently repeated. at various times to the Admiralty ; but your ar ticle of to-day on the subject obliges me to disclaim any participation in or knowledge of the manifest incongruities and absurdities there particularised. I shall slightly touch on the details of my plan as you have already published them in your paper, but must observe that they have been somewhat modified to meet the superior power of Armstrong's guns. I perfectly agr ee w i t h you that the certainty of her screw being fouled by the wreck of her mast and rigging is ose insuperable objection to the ram. you describe. The inconceivable absurdity of a telescope or any moveable bowsprit for a vessel of 6,000 or 7,000 tons, to be rigged in and out accord ing to the rapid exigencies of a battle—these and. other simil ar a b sur ities are so gross that I can scarcely believe you are correctly informed in the details you have given. I quite agree in your opinion as to the incalculable efficiency of a well constructed steam ram. It is self-evident that a vessel combining incombustibility, comparative invulnerability, power to:destroy by collision, with quickness of movement and speed beyond all the lame vessels of the day, armed with a few heavy guns, adaptaa both f or i ncend i ary projectiles, such as shells loaded with molten iron, liquid fire, &c., and solid shot, must be superior to ships deficient in all these qualities. I allude more particularly • to all our large screw timber-built vessels of war. My idea is, that the vessel I describe should for general service have a rudder and screw at each end ; masts and sails (if she carries them) made to lower down and house when preparing for action, and that for our home seas she should have no masts or sails, but paddles, besides th e two screws, the paddl es constructed to fit into two hollows, so that the protective bulwarks should enclose them, and the strongest shot-proof parts sp ,h o e u m ld an bei force e he o t f ‘ h vo er eanrdtlley shoulds i aa r d not in. t e h s e o c p e l n a t e r e e d . that when she attacks by collision her fire will act in the same direction as the blow , and w ith this the manifest adva n t age t h at her enemy's shot can only hit her obli que l y. The opinions of some of the most eminent sc i ent ifi c and practical men in our country concur as to the perfect feasibility of the above plan. It is self-evident that no number of line-of-battle ships could be a match for even one vessel so co ns t ructed. With half a dozen such vessels an inv as i on o f our shores is impossible.— Believe me, sir, y our obedient servant, G. R. SArrourtis, Vice-Admiral. London, June 30. P.S.—I forgot to mention that the false bow or cutwater will be crushed in it will then h ang on in a cross di rect i on, an d most seriously emb arrass all the su b sequen t movements of the ship, by the first collision ; M dur buo a sl ina( nes the ave fort 8,0( wit the bull ter( Ind Tre of .1 Lai rec( tax bus cati son tior be( of ha ar , 1.,.1 In