The Sun. — London, England, 1869-08-27 00:00:00

F OR TOURISTS AND EXCURSIONISTS. E. MOSES and SON have made preparations, on an unusually large scale, in every depart ment of their business. For trades and ad dresses, see following advertisement. RARE CUM BINATION. The RALE COMBINATION of EXCEL: LENCE with CHEAPNESS will be fonni in every grticle sold by E. MOSES and SON. Every description of Clothing ready made, or made to measure, for all agee, and all :lasses. Commodious apartments for measuring Ind fitting in the spacious and elegant Show no'►ms, which contain a very large and diver sified stock of m•tterials. For the convenience of Ladies accompary ing their Sons there is a distinct department for Young Gentlemen's Clothing. Orders by Post are attended to with care and punctuality, and the easy and accurate system of self-measure introduced by E. _MOSES and SON enables them to g,uarantee a faultless fit. Ordk , rs trom persons who are not known to the firm should "o accompanied by a remit tance, or a London reference. Any article not worn or injured will be theerfully exchanged. or, if desired, the noney will bo returned. All Goods aro marked in Plain Figures, from which no abatement can be made. The Stock of Ilosiery and Drapery, Hats and espa. and roots and Shoes, is an-- I'qm - died for magnitude, variety, and cheap ness. Complete Outfits for all Climates, with ?very requisite for the voyage. Lists of Prices, with Rules for Self-men ;tire, Patterns, and Fashion-sheet, gratis and post-free. E. MOSES and SON'S EstablisbmontS are closed every Friday evening at sunset till Saturday evening at sunset, when business is resumed until eleven o'clock. E. MOSES and SON, Ready-made and Be eroke Tailors, Habitmakers, Wroollendrapers, Hatters, 'Hosiers, Boot and Shoe Manufac turers, and General Outfitters for all Classes. The following are the only addresses of E. MOSES tnd SON:— LONDON. CITY ESTABLISHMENT. i 55, mrl. (yams 156, 311NORIES 157, 1 1 .1 IN DRIES 81, ALDGATE 84, ALDGAT E 88. ALDGATE 84, ALDGATI 57. A L DGAT /41 88. ALDO-ATI: 39, ALDGATE OXI'ORD-STREET BRANCH. snn NEW OXFORD-STREET 'O7, NEW OXFORD-STREET *3, NEW OXFORD-STREET 1, HART-STREET 2, HART-STREET 3, HART-STREET TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD BRANCH. 137, TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD 138, TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD 183, EUSTON-ROAD. Country Branch: 19, BRIDGE-STREET, BRADFORD, YORKS. 20, BRIDGE-STREET, BRADFORD, YORKS, THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, at 7, IiELLEA OF THE KITCHEN. At 8, FORMOSA. new four-act Drama, by Dion Boucicault Messrs. Barrett, IT. Irving, David Fisher, Brittain Wright, Joh!. Rouse; Mrs Eillington, Misses M. Brennan, Macdonald, airlKatharine Rodgers. To conclude with the farce of BORROWED PLUMES. lIEATRE ROYAL, ADELPIII. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER. Directress, Mrs. Alfred Mellon. THIS EVENING, at 7, MY PRECIOUS BETSY : Mr Atkins And Miss Hiza Johnstone. At 8, TIM SERPENT ON THE HE 4 RTII: Messrs R. T.hil lips, E. Atkins. Stuart, C. U. Stephenson, \V. H Eburne, Dal !on. J. Smith, R. Romer: Sirs SI. Eburue. Mrs 1,01,4 h Murray, Missßliza Johnstone, Mr.; Stoker, fie. To conclude with DOMESTIC ECONOMY. Mr Atkins and Mrs. Leiga Murray. ItOYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining Last 2 Nights of "Acis and Galatea." THIS EVENING, at 7 o'clock, PRESUMPTIVE EVIDENCE, 2 acts, by Dion Boucicault. After which. Handers Opera of ACIS AND GALA.TEA : Cupid, bliss Summers: Acis, Mr Vernon Rigby; Eamon, Mr Montem Smith; Polyphemus, Herr Formes; Galatea, Miss Blanche Cole. Musical Conductor, Mr J. L Hatton: Concluding with the Farce of A QUIET FAMILT. Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7. Prices: Stalls, 7s: Dress Circle, es ; Upper Boxes, 4s: Pit. 2s; Gallery, Is. Private Boxes, £2l2s 6d, .£2 2s, and £1 lls 6.1. )OYAL STRAND THEATRE. 11. Sole Lessen and Manageress, Mrs Stranl:orough. TITIS EVENING, at 7.30, AMONG THE BREAKERS : Mr Chrke, Followed by TTIE TOOT/I%ES Mr Clarke. After which. JOAN OF ARO: Mesgrs Thorne. T 371103, FM' .on, Turner, Chamberlaine; "Mesdames Eufton, L. Maitland, &c. rrll E "SUN" N F. \VS PA PEIL-G. P. GLF,NIE 3r9 tho T. ATE EDITTnN it (Thelpen. - 7.40: Nilhurn. 9; Starch-green, 8; - Woolwich, 7.30; Uxbridge, 9.20; 'Watford, 9.41. QPO RTING.—J OIIN ROBERTS supplies the kj - ) LA TVS r EDITION of " THE SUN " as soon as pub i;ll,3l.-4, Eath-street, City-road, E.C. rrnE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN" T . n,)T.7,TES bet's 4 o inform his friends wail the nnVie gone ally that Le supplieg the LATEST EDITION r "THE " as soon as publisheit—No. 10, ItampsteaJ-road N.W. T HE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN" supplieil as soon as published, containing all the LATEST NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. by TI W HARRIS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blaekfriars-road, London, S. rrII E "SUN" NEWSPAPER.-G. R. G-ENIE, Sporting Library. 4, Connaught-terrace, Edgeware road, dalivers the LAT EDITION of "THE SUN "at the earliest possible moment after leaving the press. He is able to deliver Copies ir Town, the Subnrim, and in many parts of the country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by 9.45 o'clock Onlcrs by post punctually attended to Wll O'S GR AINGER? LICENSED VICTUALLERS' TOBACCONIST, SHEPHERD'S-BUSH. The SPORTING EDITION of "THE SUN " can be seen at G ft A INGER'S Establishment, as above, every evening by Eight o'clack. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GUARDIAN. It. GLEXIE, of the SP DE ORTING RARY, Cq •4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde park-. London, W., begs to inform his customers, and the Licensed Victuallers iu genera that ho has been appointed Agent to the above-named paper in addition to his n , eney for the Sporting Edition of "THE SHY," and can supply the same on Friday evening, if required, in town or country. Tt. begs to inform the Trade that he is Agent for the LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN," and can supply it earlier than any other man in London or Country the evening of publi cation. No connection with any other per:ons. Daily's, Ruff's, Wright's, and M'Call's Guides. All the Daily Papers, Magazines, and Periodicals as soon as published. Agent for the Joint-Stock Coal Company. Orders by post attended to. rrHE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " to be seen Every Evening EDITION 810 at Mr. ROBE= MEACOCK'S, BAtannia, Mensal New-town, 1111 E LATE EDITION of 46 THE SUN " at J. SMITH'S, 39, Bow-street, Covent-garden. rvirE LATE EDITION of "THE SUN" at `A W. SMITH'S "Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden town. THE LATE EDITION of " THE SUN' at JAMES SPEEDY'S, "The Wehington,"Welling,ton-street, t rand. rif HE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," giving all the SPORTING NEWS of the day, may be seen at JENIsiY NTON'S house, "The Swan and Horse Shoe," Little Britain, City, E.C. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published, Every Evening, by W AFACXANDIInt (late Brooks), Newspaper agent, No. 4, Old Cavendish street, Oxford-street. UNFURNISHED APARTMENTS TO LET, consisting of Three Rooms and Dressing Room, with use of Kitchen. Nice Harden. Four minutes' walk to 'Bus and Rail to City and West-end.--44, St. Paul's-road, Camden-square, N.V. COMPENSATION IN C 4iSE OF INJURY, AND A FIXED SUM IN CASE OF DEATH Causei by ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND, may be secured by a Policy of the - RAILWAY PASSENGERS ASSURANCE COMPANY. An Annual Payment of £3 to X 3 ss. insures £I,OOO at Death, ana an Allowance at the rate of £6 per wee: for Injury. -% ILWAY ACCIDENTS ALONE may be provided against 7,3- Insurance Tickets for Single or Double Journics. For particulars apply to the Clerks at the Railway Stations, to the Local Agents, or at the Offices, 51, COaNitiLL and 10,1 i EGENT THEET, LONDON. WILLIAM J. VIAN Secretary. I)RITANNIA FIRE ASSOCIATION i 3 Uia i OfTicNl. 429, Strand. London. The distinguishing fcnt:ires of this Association are Equitabh• Undouhti..l Security. Prompt sot tirm.mt of ci:iireq. JOHN ME SENT, Afenttger. r~ltN GOSN ELT. and CO.'S CHERRY e Town! PASTE is greatly xnperior to any tooth power: gives the teeth a pe ar l whiteness, protects the ecamel from decay, and imparts.a pleasant frturranee to the breath. Pr;ee Is. Cal.—Red Bull Wharf, 93, Upper Thamcs-street. London. NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE. GUA AMATZ ELLA restores the Human Hair to its pristine hue, no matter at. what age. 0. CiOSNELL and CO. hive at length, with the aid of ore of the most eminent Chemists, succeeded in perfect itr; this wont: "rful liquid. it is now offered to the public it a mere concentrated form, and at a lower price. Sold in bottles, 3s. each ; also as., is. Gd., and 15s. each. nrluding brush. Red Bull Wharf, Angel paamge, 93; Upper Thames street Loudon. E.C. CRYSTAL PALACE—THIS DAY. ARRA NGEMENT S.—ONE SHILLING. Palace open at ..... 10. 0 I Balloon Ascent 4. 0 Orchestral Band Palace open for admission until NOTE.—Arrangements have been made by which the earliest information on the Boat Race will be made known at the Palace. The Boats will be on view to-morrow. IL TROVATORE, at 3.0, TO-MORROW. CRYSTAL PALACE.—TO-MORROW (Satur day), OPERA and AFTERNOON PROMENADE. "Il Irovatore," under the management of Mr. George Perren. Character.; by Messrs. G. Perren, R. Temple, Dussek Corti, and Terrott ; Mesdames A. Goodall, Clin ton, and Arabella Smythe. Scenery by Mr. F. Fenton. Dresses by May. Stage Manager, Mr. T. J. Anderson. Full orchestra and chorus. Conductor, Mr. Matins. Admission half-a-crown, or by guinea season tickets. Numbered stalls, 2s. 6J., may be secured this day at the Palace. ORYSTA L PAL A CE.—Fi re workg. —N OTICE. iJ —The very successful DISPLAY of FIREWORKS and II.LIT3IINATION of FOUNTAINS, including the Arc do Triomphe, &c., of last evening, will be REPEATED, with other Fpecial device's, in compliment to the American Harvard and Oxford Universities' Boats' et ews, on MON DAY EVENING NEXT, Aug. 30, at dusk. One Shilling Day. Special trains every way. 1 EXT MONDAY. SPECIAL GRAND FIREWORKS. See above. METROPOLITAN & G WESTERN RAILWAY. GREAT BOAT I:ACE—ENGLAND AND AMERICA. Illnnnersmith Bridge the best point of view, within rive minutes walk of ILunmersmith Station. EXTRA. TRAINS from 3loorga.te-street, cal.ing at all Inter mediate Stations. METROPOLITAN and GREAT WESTERN RAILWAYS. OXFORD AND HARVARD UNIVERSITIES BOAT RACE. On FRIDAY, August 27th, the Ordinary Train Service will be suspended, and SPECIAL TRAINS will run between the hours of 12 noon and 6 p.m., to Stations on the Hammersmith Line and Kensington (Addison-road). And from 5.30 p.m. until 10 p.m, from Stations on the Hammersmith Line and Kensington (Addison-road). The following Special Fares will ba charged during these pefiods Ist Class. 2ud Class. 3rd Class. Single Journey ls. 641. _ • 3d „ .• • Eet . iirn Joarnei 2s. 6d. Sp-cial Trains will run at frequent intervals to and from the Paddington Terminus of the Great Western Railway front Hammersmith and Kensington (Addison-road). Passengers from Westminster-bridge and intermediate Stations must change at Praed-street Station. T HE UNITED LAND COMPANY (Limited). The Holders of the INTEREST WARRANTS for the INTERIM DIVIDEND at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, for the four months ending 31st July, are requested to present the same for PAYMENT forthwith, at the Offices, 33, Norfolk street, Strand, W.C. By order of the Board. CHARLES LEWIS GRUNEISEN, Secretary. EAGLE INSURANCE COMPANY, LON DON. REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS, For the Year ending 30th June, 1869, read at the Annual General Meeting of Proprietors, 13th August, 1869, WILLIAM FREDERICK DE LA RUE, EsQ., Deputy- Chairman of the Company, in the Chair. The Report which the directors have now to submit to the proprietors differs in its tenor but little save in one or twc particulars from that laid before them in 1868. The income of the year, it will be seen, amounts to £340,499 18s, and the total charge to £145,077 10s. 9d. The difference, £95,422 7s. 3d., added to the balance of the surplus fund at the commencement of the financial year, faised that item to £1,002,974 15s. 9d., its present amount. SUP.PLUS FUN I) ACCOUNT, JUNE 30, 1869. INCOME OF THE YEAR. Dn. £ s. d. £ s. d Balance of account, 30th June, 1868 Premiums on new assur- ances Ditto on old ditto 357,983 7 0 371,548 12 1 Interest from investments 120,939 12 10 492,508 4 11 Profit and loss, balance of account Total income £1,448,052 6 6 Examined and approved. THOMAS ALLEN,) Auditors. HENRY ROSE, CHARGE OF THE TEAR. Cn. £ s. d. s. d. Dividend, to proprietors B,BBO 4 0 Claims on decease of lives assured Additions to those under participating policies 24,301 G G Policies surrendtred roe-a-•surances - new Ditto old Commission Medical fees 401,5111 12 1 10, 1 ;18 1 760 18 0 Incotile tax 2,017 15 8 Expenses of management 16,238 9 10 436,187 6 9 Total charu-e Balacce of account, June 30, 1869, as per balance-sheet £1,448,052 6 6 The total of premiums received is £371,548 12s. ld., of which sum £13,560 ss. ld. is for now assurances effected in the year. Theinterest from investments is £120,959 12s. 10d., or £4 2s. per cent. on the net amount of the company's realised assets existing in June, 1868 ; and in connection with this important feature of tha company's affairs the directors have the satisfaction of reporting that the profit and lass account again exhibits a considerable profit, amounting this year within a ttifle to the sum of .£48,000. It may be remembered that a profit of nearly equal amount was announced in last year's report. Turning to the items constituting the charge of the year, it will bo noticed that the stun payable in satisfac tion of claims on decease of lives assured is larger than usual. This circumstance, however, is not very material; as was observed o.i a previous occasion, the proper quin quennial average is generally pretty sure to obtain, and the fact that the average for the past two years barely ex ceeds £30',000 tends to confirm that statement. The expenses of management aro greater by nearly £9OO than they wore last year. They would have been materially less but for the unavoidable cost of transferring the compan3's securities into the names of additional trus tees. Taken as they are, however, these expenses must be retrarded as very moderato. It will be observed that they are only three per cent. of the total income. BALANCE-SHEET, JUNE 30, 1869. DR. LIABILITIES. Interest due to proprietors Claims on decease of lives assured, and additions thereto unpaid 108,940 6 7 Sundry accounts Liability under sums assured, &c. (1867) 6,336,626 8 2 Proprietors' fund Surplus fund 1,002,974 15 9 46,75717 0 £7,675,813 0 10 Examined and approved. THOMAS ALLEN,} Auditors. HENRY ROSE, Cn ASSETS. Amount invested in fixed mortgages £1,661,699 9 2 Ditto ditto decreasing ditto 162,770 15 2 Ditto ditto Reversions 278,557 16 G Ditto ditto Funded securities 491,303 4 2 Ditto ditto Temporary secu rities 198,207 17 0 Current interest on theaboveinvestments 30,934 4 6 Cash and bills 12,256 15 10 Advanced on security of the company's policies 165,387 1 8 Agents' balances Sundry accounts Value of premiums (1867) Value of re-assurances 83,706 14 5 £7,675,813 0 10 . . The balance-sheet does not appear to call for any re mark. The assets are, of course, increased by the sum of £.95,422 7e,. 3d. already mentioned, as is shown by the augmentation to that extent in the balance of the surplus fund. The Direction of the Company is now constituted as follows : WILLIAM FREDERICK DE LA RUE, Esce.,Chairman. ROBERT ALEXANDER GRAY, Esq.., Deputy-Chairman Charles Bischoff, Esq. James Murray, Esq. Thomas Boddington, Esq. Philip Rose, Esq. Charles Chatfield, Esq. George Russell, Esq. Sir J. Buller East, Bt., D.C. L. Thomas Godfrey Sambrook°, Win. Augustus Guy, M.D., Esq. F.R.S. Admiral Tindal. CharlesThos.Holcombe,Esq. Right Hon. Sir John Young, Joshua Lockwood, Esq. Bart., K.C.B. THE 44 SINGER" SEWING MACHINES. THE " NEW FAMILY" --- SEW THE LOCK-STITCH AND THE NEW EMBROIDERY- STITCII. Work by Hand and Treadle, and in a Portable Case for Travelling. " SINGER " SEWING MACHINES ARE WORLD-RENOWNED AS THE BEST SYSTEM AND TILE MOST COMPLETE, WITII NEW IMPROVEMENTS FOR EVERY CLASS OF SEWING. The p mbar simplicity of -these Machines enables any one to .I. , •quire tip:lr perfect use in a :ew hours. Illtlstraed Price Lists post free.- THE "SINGER" MANUFACTURING COMPANY Chief Office in the United Kingdom: 147, (IEII7:ANTI - W. Branch DepCts or _Loess Agents in every Town- GENTS WANTED EVERYWHERE .t. to introduce connnodi !es valnaMe to every householder high and low. This offers at highly remunerativeCommi.,sion to Tradesmen, Travellers, Gentlemen's 6ervants, 8:c. Apply with two .',lttaps to it. MARBISON, Great OrfOrd-strect,Norwich. KEATING'S INSECT DESTROYING POWDER. BLACK BEETLES totally destroyed by KEATING'S INSECT POWDER. This Powder is quite harm less to animal life, but is unrivalled in destroying Fleas, Bngs, Flies. Cockroaches, Beetles, Gnats, Mosquitos, and every other species of Insect. Sold in Packets, 14., and Tins, 2s. 6d. and 4s. Gd. each; or ls. Packets, free by post, for 12 Postage Stamps. Also in Bottles, with Bellows, Is. Gd. and 3s. each, by THOMAS HE ITHIG, Chemist, 79, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, E.C. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUSI! 27, ICO9. THEATRE-EGYAL DM:TRY-LANE. dole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. Trns EVENMG, at 7, BELLES OF THE KITCHEN. At 8, FORMOSA : Messrs. Barrett, H. Irving, David Fisher, Brittain, Wright, John Rouse; Mrs Billington, Misses M. Brennan, Mac donald. and KAtharine Rodgers. Conclude with BORROWED PLUM P.S. ey are 'endeavOuring to console themselves by giving rise to these base and, happily as we believe, groundless rumours as to his MAJESTY being very seriously indisposed. QUEEN ELIZABETH forbade play-acting on Thurs days because it interfered with her, favourite sport of bear-beating, to which that day was dedicated. The LORD CHAMBERLAIN has not yet ordered the theatres to be closed on Saturdays, the day devoted to pigeon shooting. But if Hurlingham continues to grow in public estimation as it has grown during the last few months, we must be prepared for some sump tuary law of the kind. Certainly if the prohibition were justified in the first case it would be in the second. If WELL SHAKSPERE and BEN JoNsox had to give way to two bears, Mr. DION DOUCI CAULT and Mr. TOM TAYLOR ought to give way to 212 pigeons. If the bear-garden was a scene of cruelty and slaughter, much more is Ilurlingham Park. For it is come to this, that we in England who speak with indignation of the Spanish bull-fight, and express our wonder how women can gaze on that spectacle, do yet find sport for ourselves and for our ladies in the slaughter of hundreds of birds. The bears were fierce and combative, and made a good fight for life. The pigeons are gentle and timid, and have no chance of escaping death save through the unskilfulness of the marksman. The tauridor and the matador do run a very serious risk of being gored or ripped up, and in the bull-fight each com batant wars with his own weapon. But in the pigeon-match there is only one com batant, a dandy with a gun, who fires away as fast as he can against the defenceless birds, bewildered by their confinement in the trap, from which they are released only to be slaughtered. It was not sufficient for our "golden youth" that they should have a battue on the Ist of September, but they must have it every Saturday all the year round. It is not enough that they, the degenerate descen dants of sportsmen who walked five-and-twenty miles a day over the moors, should saunter to the nearest preserve and pop away right and left, sure that their shots must bring down something, but they must drive down in faultless equipages, attired in faultless gar ments, to display their prowess upon pigeons. They have even ceased to care about a good " bag ; " a good " book " is all that they think of. Partridges and pheasants can be sent to town friends, can be bestowed upon faithful constituents ; but pigeons are available neither as gifts nor bribes. They are useful simply as affording another opportunity for that all-consuming occupation of betting—the business of the upper classes. When the heroes of the aristocratic shambles drive back to town and com pare notes, it is not that they may dwell upon their skill as shots, but that they may enlarge upon their bets. Gold changes hands, and is bright enough to look at, but it is the price of blood. Richly wrought vases are won, yet, though decorated with the finest chasings of the graver's art, there are graven more deeply still ihe words bloodthirstiness and cruelty. They are not even content to confine this sport to Eng land; they must carry it abroad with them, and it is now announced that there is to be a great pigeon shooting match at Baden-Baden. _ But this is not all. Women have this year taken to frequent the scene of carnage. The brightte;, the fairest, the gentlest, crowd down to gaze on the spectacle of birds with broken wings and smashed legs and battered and gory heads. If there were room for courage on the part of the slayers one could almost forgive the spectators. But English ladies have not even the excuse of their Spanish sisters. There is not opportunity for the exhibition of one manly quality in this amusement. There is nothing but sheer callousness and contempt of the rights which the humblest of GOD'S creatures possess. It is upon a scene of cruelty unmitigated by a single manly, much more heroic, sentiment, that the mothers and the maidens of England flock to gaze in ever-increasing numbers. Can we wonder if the sons of these women should turn out DOMITIANS The truth is, this novel kind of sport arises from that intense craving for fresh excitement which is the result of a life wholly given up to pleasure. Where there is no proper occupation, the great object of existence is to devise some new kind of amusement. But when pleasure becomes a business it ceases to be pleasure. New modes of amusement will be devised, each containing more of the brandy and cayenne of excitement than the last, but each palling more than the last upon the jaded taste. Racing becomes irksome unless it is associated with betting, and the authorities of the sporting clubs have declared that gambling and racing are insepar ably united. Shooting becomes equally wearisome without the same stimulus. Young professional men, and men of business who work hard during eleven months of the year, find keen delight and all the excitement that they require in the Camp at Wimbledon and on the Scotch moors. But the young patrician who never works at all finds the " running deer" slow, the grouse a bore. As he cannot earn money in trade he seeks to acquire the satisfactory sensation which attends honest broad-winning by staking money on trials of skill. He cannot compete with his equals in commerce, and so he competes with them in thought less cruelty. As he is unacquainted with ledgers he grasps at - everthing which gives him the opportunity of making a book. his first remark in the morning is no longer, " Come and let us kill something," but " Let us see what we can win by killing something." His life is one long, fruitless search after the enjoy ment which he will no more obtain than he who resorts to constant stimulants will obtain health. The Turf will not give it, even with the excitement of " plunging ; " the stage will not give it, however liberal actresses may be of their legs. Even pigeon-shooting will cease to give it when, as we trust may quickly happen, our jaded patricians weary of the sight of birds butchered to make a British holiday. What will they try next ? The " Ring" is forbidden, and pigeon -shooters are not likely to turn duellists, even were it lawful to do so. Suppose they try scholarship, or science, or art, or statesmanship, or philanthropy. There is room in any of these vocations for any number of our " golden youth." They would find success in one of them give golden wings to the now leaden-footed hours. It is intended to hold an educational congress in Manchester, in November next, under the auspices of the society established a few days ago in Birmingham for the amendment and extension of the present system of national education. Similar gatherings aro afterwards to be held iu Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Aberdeen. Norwich, and Bris tol. Compulsory attendance, larger grants from the Privy Council, a liberal conscience clause, the maintenance of the present mode of school management, enforcement of sites for school buildings, and the extension of the half-time sys tem aro among the main features of the scheme. The society has been established in opposition to the movement for a national system of unsoctarian education. At the Liverpool Assizes on Wednesday an action for slander was tried against Mr. John Platt, M.P. for Old ham. Tho plaintiff was Mr. Joshua Booth, of 'Oldham, manager for Messrs. Lees, colliery proprietors, and the alleged slander was uttered in an electioneering bpeech at a place called Chaddetton. The charge was that the plaintiff with others, had altered the valuation lists of the town ship of Chaddorton so as to reduce the rateable value and the gross estimated rental of Messrs. Lees' pro perty. Mr. Platt was calls(' as a witness, and he stated that the objectionable remarks in his speech were founded on a resolution of a committee of the Board of Guardians, and that ho did not mean to accuse anyone personally of robbing the township. "What be meant," he said, " was simply that by the alteration of the books the township had been robbed,"and that the parties mentioned in the resolution were privy to the offence. The jury found that the defendant had uttered the words imputed to him, but without malice. The v3rdict was therefore for the plaintiff, with nominal damages. The National Reform Union of Afauchester is stated to bo preparing for active work during the approaching winter. A special meeting of the executive is to be held next week to consider the present position of the Liberal party, and to resolve upon the course to be adopted by the Union before the opening of the next session. The Irish land law and the ballot will receive the attention of the Union and its branches. VIE LORD-LIBUTENART AT TRALEE, The Tralee Royal Agricultural Show seems to be going off with great éclat. The presence of the Lord-Lieutenant has added to its celebrity. The banquet was riven on Thursday night, Lord Ventry presiding. The assemblage was large and influential. Responding to the toast of " Prosperity to Ireland," his Excellency the Lord- Lieutenant congratulated the society on the successful show. Speaking of the condition Of the country, he referred to the great improvement in houses and to the increased deposits in joint-stock banks, which represented twenty millions of savings made by the agricultural classes. These two points were indicative of a better state of things. There was a considerable in crease of all kinds of stock except sheep. lie referred to the Act for regulating contagious diseases among cattle, and the special clauses about pleuro-pneumonia, and strongly advocated the application of the same provisions to Ireland. The large increase of pigs this year was au evi dence of greater prosperity among the labouring classes. lie was anxious for the introduction of highly-bred stock; still lie advised his hearers not to allow the cultivation of the soil to decrease, but to extend it as much as possible. Tillage was backward in Kerry, and farmers should cultivate green crops and artificial grass. lie deprecated large fences with dykes, seen every where, es indications of bad farming. Politics are excluded, but he could not avoid a reference to a subject occupying all minds—the land question. lie knew the importance of encouraging mutual confidence between landlord and tenant, and he hoped the subject would be approached everywhere with a desire to secure fairness, impartiality, and justice. Those who wanted a satisfactory settlement of this diffi culty should confine themselves to the practicable. Ile was confident the question would be settled in a way which would afford satisfaction to all. lie congratulated them on the good harvest, and hoped it would be successfully gathered. TIIE BRIDGWATER ELECTION COMMISSION. The evidence given at Bridgwater on Thursday reveals a state of things such as rivals Totnes. The "dodges" and schemes of the, Liberals,--for as yet inquiry has been kept to the doings of that party—wimld be mbst amusing were they not startling on account of the open and bare faced illegality with which they are marked. The witness under examination is Henry Chapman Bussell, part of whose story we have already summarised. Mr. Bussell was a very " active agent." The first (1866) election he was as active in as the later ones. Being requeSted to tell what he knew of it, he made a clean breast. " Thomas Hill (he said) came into my house on the nomination night. Andrew Allen afterwards came in and gaVe me £7O, and Hill £5O. It was in gold. I knew what it was for. The next morning I went to work and spent the money in bribery. I gave several of the voters £5, and promised them £5 more and paid them, for when. I promised I always paid the money. (Laughter.) Between nine and ten o'clock Henry Lovibond sent Mr. Dymond to say I was neither to give money nor promise any. Several voters asked me what was going on, and if there was any thing to be bad. I said, No, for we have won the election.' Mr. Bagehot was then in a large majority. Several of the voters then went up the town, and were bottled at the Clarence and another house. There were thirty or forty of them. I had paid all the £7O I had received before that time. I afterwards got more money and paid it away. I paid about £2OO alto gether. I believe I got the money from Allen. There was a report that one man on the other side got the price of a cow, and that some men got as much as £5O or £6O. I have no doubt Mr. Bagehot spent about £1,400. - Mr. Bagehot was in a minority of seven at the close of the day. With respect to the Conservative side, it was reported that many of the voters received £3O or £4O apiece, and that some stuck out fur heavier amounts. The 1865 election was marked by corruption, but not so very general as the later and some of the previous ones. Sir John Shelley declared be would have pure principles rule the election, and although his requirements were not submitted to, some little regard was paid to them." Witness was next examined as to the electron of 1859, when the, candidates were Padwick, Westropp, Tynte, and Kieglake. He said the election took place on 30th April. Padwick had not been in the town ten minutes before it was known he had plenty of money. "On the day before the nomination a person named Forrester came to me and said he should have the money ready next day. I knew what he meant. 'That was my first trans action in bribery. Forrester asked me to get as many men as I could, and I did so. I knew that Padwick and Westropp had been spending money for a long time, through John Morris, who kept the Albion. I knew they were spending it freely, but Benjamin Lovibond would not believe it until he saw the iiist tally of the poll ; and when he taw the class of voters he at once said that they were spending money, and then the ' cry went out to I arricade the streets and nail all the men we could. We did so. The other side bad bought so many voters, that they were sure of winning. • We seized every Conservative voter we could, and gave them money, and then they polled for us. Within an hour after that we had picked up a greater number of the men the Conservatives bad bought at £lO apiece, and we gaVe them £lO more and tcok care to poll then► at once. 'There were forty or fifty men bought in that way. The whole sum which I paid at that election was £lOO. You see I was not much up to it then. I was going to give £lO to a man named Squibbs, but I found he had received two £lO already, in addition to what he got from the other side. I believe we spent from £3,000 to £4,000, and that the other side spent £5,000. The number of the constituency at that time was 600. It was reported that Morris had run away with some of the Conservative money. It was said he stuck to £4O or £5O. Out of 512 who then voted, not more than 250 voted without money. That would leave £9,000 or £lO,OOO to divide amongst 300 voters. I should think about £5OO was spent on each side in treating. There was no disguise about the matter. We paid the money openly in the streets. The fact was that the Con servatives had bribed so much that we got very bold, and did not care what we did." The witness was next exa mined as to the election of 1857, when the candidates were Follett, Tynte, and Kinglake. " Follett had no chance, and left the town very early in the day. From £4OO to £5OO was spent on our side in treating. Follett would not pay anything. lie had paid a good deal in 1852. There was no money•paid at the election in 1857. At the election of 1852 the Liberal candidates were Lord Henley, Colonel Tynte, and Mr. Kiuglake. It was reported that a good deal of money was spent. There was an organised system of treating." The Princess of Teck laid the foundation stone of a new church at Richmond on Thursday afternoon. THE TELEGRAPH AT FAULT.--A Eingular and ludicrous blunder occurred in a St. Louis telegram in the Times of yesterday. The telegraph operator made " steamboats'' out of the name " Samuel Bowles," so that the despatch read, "steamboats left Denver yesterday to join the Vice-President's party," instead of "Samuel Bowles," &c.—Zrezu York Times, August 8. A DESERVED REWARD.—James Hudson, for tnerly an apprentice seaman on board the Maid of Orleans, f A rdrossan, has been presented at Glasgow with the Albert medal of the second class for gallantry in saving life at sea on the 17th of March last. The Marmion, of North Shields, was stranded on the Cornish coast near Faltnoutb, and, though dissuaded from making the attempt, Hudson swam from the Maid of Orleans, then in Falmouth Harbour, to the distressed vessel, got on board with a line, and thus effected communication with the shore. Along with the medal there was handed to him a letter from Mr. Bright, President of the Board of Trade. DESERTION OF A SENTINEL AT WINDSOR CASTLE.—A very unusual occurrence in connection with the Winesor guard happened on Wednesday night. The sentinels at the various posts around the palace are relieved every two hours. At nine o'clock on Wed nesday evening Private Wilkinson was placed at his post on the terrace at the north-cast front of the Castle. and. at eleven o'clock the patrol of the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards (to which the sentinel belonged), upon visiting the spot, found tLat he had deserted, leaving his ifle bchid him. It is supposed that the deserter, who would have had some difficulty in leaving the Castle by any other way, owing to the number of sentries posted in and about the palace, made his way by the steps leading from the terrace into the park, and thus escaped. A strict inquiry will of course by made into the matter by the military authorities, the deserter's post being situated at o great distance from the private apartments of her Majesty and the Royal Family. A MAORI SONG OF WELCOME.—Our readers Ir no doubt recollect the unearthly ovation of yells, issuing from hundreds of Maori throats, which gr ee t e d t h e arr i vi of the Duke of Edinburgh's barge at the wharf, and which raised such great astonishment amongst his Highness's rew, who were somewhat surprised at the Cerberian song welcome, for such it really was—in fact, a Maori perm. i'he following is the original and translation, and will, no doubt, be interesting to our readers as a specimen of a Maori ode—a long way after Tennyson's ode of welcome to Alexandra:— " A kumea mai te waka , A toia mal te waka, Ki te urunga te waka, Ki te moenga to waka, Ki te takotoranga i takoto ai 're rake." "Now then, draw hither the canoe, now then drag up the :anon, to the place prepared for the canoe, to the sleeping Place for the canoe, to the resting•place whore the canoe &hall A MANGE INSURRECTION IN TUI?KEY. Our correspondent at Trieste, writing on the 10th inst., says: "Letters from Albania state that the Governor- General of Scutari has sent Ibrahim Pasha with two thousand five hundred men into the Mattia Hills to restore ord'vr among the population there, who have risen in insurrection in consequence of the Government having ordered a road to ho made in the district. These people, who live in some 8,000 houses scattered about the hills, are bigoted Mussulinans, with a strong warlike spirit, and have hitherto enjoyed a certain degree of independence. They are divided into four clans, which are in constant conflict with each other. The Turkish troops, are to go to Franna, a village about six hours' journey from Durazz,), and, as the tradesmen have all closed their shops, a stub born resistance is expected. In Bosnia the inhabitants of the Drobniak and Sarance districts have driven away the Turkish police and officials, and have established a civil administration of their own."—E'aztera, Budget. DESTRUCTION OF A TOWN BY FIRE. -O. The Eastern Budget contains the following account of a disastrous fire which took place at Janina, in Albania : " In the night of the oth inst. nearly the whole of Janina was burnt to the ground. The fire lasted nine hours, and the bazaar, about 1,300 shops, and 300 private houses were reduced to ashes. No lives were lost, but the destruction of property must have been enormous, for nearly all the goods and provisions which were stored in the bazaar perished. This catas trophe has given a blow to the trade of the town which will long be felt. Many of the merchants have suspended payment, and the Austrian trade espe cially will suffer, as most of the sums due for imports from that country are still outstanding. Tho loss would, per haps, not have been so great but for the scandalous con duct of the authorities. Tho Governor-General was, unfortunately absent on a visit to Thessaly, and his deputies, instead of usidg every means of preserving order, remained entirely passive. The result was that the Turkish troops took advantage of the confusion to make off with everything of value they could lay their hands on." THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI. THIS EVENING, at 7, MY PRECIOUS BETSY: Mr Atkins and Miss Johnstone. At S. THE SERPENT ON THE HEARTH: Mr R. Phillips, Mr E Atkins. Mr Stuart. Mrs M. Eburne, Mrs L. Murray, .Cc. And DOMESTIC ECONOMY: Mr Atkins and Mrs Leigh Murray. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough MIS EN - ENING. at 7.30, AMONG TtlE BREAKERS: Mr Clarke. THE TOODLES. JOAN OF ARC: Messrs. Thorne, James, Fenton; mesdames Goodall, Lydia Maitland. Bufton. To courtlude with THE CHOPS OF THE CHANNEL Mr. D. James. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining. Tins EVENING. at 7, PRESU3IPT►VE EVIDENCE. After which, AI; 1 A\ D GAL 4T.EA : Herr Formes, Dlr V. Rigby. Mr M. rr_mith, and Miss Blanche Cole. To conclude with A QUIET FAMILY. ROYAL AL II AMBR A PALACE. THREE BALLET i Promenade Concert. Band of CO. Begin at 8. le. Box-oult o o pen:from 11 to 4. ROYALTY THEATRE. Under the Management of Miss M Oliver. Ting ETENING, at 7.30, A 'ROVING COMMISSION. After which CIIECICM AV k. Followed by Tit E MILI RY BILLY TAYLOR. To conclude with IN FOR A HOLID .Y Mr Dewar, Mr. Danvers, Miss M. Oliver Miss Saunders, &c. PRINCE OF WALES'S ROYAL THEATRE. under the Management of Miss Marie Wilton Tins Tiils E vErlNf3, SC EMU : Messrs. Hare, IT. J. Montague, Addison, Glover, and Baneroft; Mrs. Buckingham White, Miss C. Addison, and Miss Marie Wilton. After which, A WINNING ELIZA RV. And A LAME EXCUSE CHRISTY MINSTRELS. St. James's Hall, Every Night, at 8 Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 3 and 8 all the year round. ZOOLOGICAL G &EDENS, Regent's-park, OPEN daily (ex cept Sundays). Ad„ fission, ls.; on Mondays, 6d. Children under twelve, &I •Ritrik - It i s 9 U -• LONDON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1869. No news is good news, according to a proverb so old and trite that it may surely be regarded as one of approvedrespectability. Familiarly acceptable though it is, however, in all other directions, it obtains no credence wbateverapparently on the Paris Bourse. The official journal contains no mention whatever of the EMPEROR'S health and, at once, there is a panic. The funds are prejudicially affected. All kinds of siniter rumours get afloat. And what is stranger still than the going down of the market, was the fact of that decline occurring in very despite of the rise of an eighth in Consols on the London Stock Ex change. Everything is attributable in this to the alarming reports prevalent in reference to the EMPEROR'S health—reports encouraged accord ing to those who go in for a fall in the funds by the fact that nothing at all is said about his Majesty's health one way or the other by the official journal. The Bears argued strongly that that silence was at once ominous and significant. They even set afloat a statement that so seriously ill was the En- PEROR that, after the EMPRESS and PRINCE IMPERIAL had gone as far as Fontainebleau, they were recalled to St. Cloud, and the intended Imperial trip to Corsica put off indefinitely. A telegram soon dissi pated into thin air this wholly unfounded declaration, announcing her MAJESTY'S arrival en route at Lyons, and her favourable reception there by the popu:ation. The EMPEROR, meanwhile, continues to take his usual walk in the Gardens at St. Cloud. He pre sides at one Cabinet Council after another. He is left, in the midst of his sufficiently laborious occupa tions, by the EMPRESS and the PRINCE IMPERIAL, while the latter speed on their way to Ajaccio for the Centenary Fetes there in honour of NAPOLEON the Great in Lis historical birthplace. The out rageous absurdity of all these sinister growlings of the Bears on the Bourse, one might fancy, must be sufficiently apparent for recognition as such by the very meanest capacity. But no— the shrug, the hum, the ha," have their evil influence—down go the funds and, for a while, there is a panic. Even the well-informed correspondent of the 7lines at Paris, is for once in a wanner be wildered. " There is no one point," he writes, "on which it is morn difficult to . get at reliable informa tion than the EMPEROR'S health. For some time past uneasiness has been felt concerning it. We have been assured that he suffered only from rheuma tism, and from a local affection painful and incon venient, but by no means of a dangerous character. It is certain that one of his medical attendants this week declared that he had got over his attack, and was, or very soon would be, in his usual state of health. But, says the distrustful public, who can believe even what thedoctors sly in such cases ? Who can tell what the mot d'ordre may be, and how far they may lie bound to represent things more favour ably than they are ? In short, there cannot well be less Lath than is here generally shown in such matters. The assurances of the semi-official papers of course go for nothing. The Emperor is well,' says to day's Constitutionnel, and has taken his usual walk.' But there are persons'-who ought to know, at least as well as the Constitutionnel, but whose tongues are less fettered, who declare that his MAJESTY has not been out for several thy; and even that he is confined to his bed, and sees no one, not even M. RounEn." Now, it seems to us, in every imaginable way, improbable that the EMPEROR should be thus invalided, and that the fact of his being so should become known thus merely through conjecture. how his MAJESTY can possibly be so ill as to be confined to his bed, and yet, when the Council meets at St. Cloud, take his place, as usual, at the head of the table, and preside over its deliberations —how he can possibly be so ill as to be confined to his bed and yet walk down to the gate of St. Cloud and meet the PRINCE IMPERIAL on his return from the Camp at Chalons—how he can possibly be so ill and yet allow the EMPRESS and the young PRINCE to wander all the way off to Ajaccio— certainly passes our comprehension ! Why the notion of his MAJESTY being thus seriously ill, and there being any doubt whatever about it appears to us in the last degree improbable. If he were really thus ill there would be no question at all upon the matter—bulletins would, as a matter of course, be issued—the EMPEROR and the Prince ImrEntaL would, equally, as a matter of course, not have taken their departure for Corsica— all Paris would be aware of the fact, and would be watching for better tidings of the EmrEnon's health with profound solicitude. As it is, the facts all go clearly to demonstrate that the evil statements set forth at the Bourse are, in their darkest aspect, happily without foundation. The circumstance of rumours of this sinister character having been set afloat im mediately after the Senatus Consultum and the De cree of Amnesty, cannot but be regarded, awl what is more, cannot but be regretted as in the last degree ungracious and ungrateful. The wish, one cannot help thinking, is father to the thought. It is all the foes of the EurEllort and the enemies of his Government have left for them to look forward to. It is all the ground be has left fur them to stand upon. In regard to everything else, he has fairly cut the ground from under their fees. lie has transformed his Devotisai into a ConE.titutia:tal Government. Ile has e,lebrated the hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Founder of his Dynasty, by au act of grace, as full and free and unconditional, as open-handed and as open-hearted in its beneficence as ever EMPEROR or KING has adventured upon. lie has made the largest concessions possible to the moderate reformers in the newly elected Corps L6gl4latif. The opponents of his reign and of his dynasty have only his death to look forward to and, therefore, by a sort of necessity THE HARVEST. Mr. Mechi, the agricultural authority, writing from Tiptree Hall, gives the following report on the harvest :-- " As harvest advances the prospect becomes more cheering under the influence of bright sunshine and a high tempera ture. The grain is so well ripened or dried that, although somewhat shrivelled as compared with that of last year, millers calculate on making good flour. The bulk of wheat straw is enormous, and stackyards begin to have the ap- pearance of being amply filled. There have been numerous threshings, and a much more hopeful view of the probable yield prevails. It is said that the laid crop never ruins the farmer,' and it appeals to be the case this year, for although the grain does not rise in proportion to the straw as it did last year, yet, out of the extraordinary number of heads, enough appears to be saved to render the crop probably an average one, especially as there is so large a breadth of wheat—many farmers, within my knowledge, having an extra percentage. This opinion of an ave rage appears to gain ground rapidly, for there was a fall of nearly Be. per qr. in wheat during last week. Reaping machines with Lack delivery are so exten sively used in this county that they not only greatly shorten the harvest, but save money as well as time, ren dering the farmer more independent of manual labour, which is now merely required for binding, carting, and stacking. It is eighteen years ago since (in 1851) I intro duced the American reapers to the agricultural public on my farm. I used one from that date, wore it out, and am now using one with the improved back delivery. How much severe labour is spared to the agricultural labourer by these machines !" THE LONDONDERRY COM: , ,fissiozr.—Before the Londonderry Commission, on Thursday, Mr. Carter, J.P., recommended a reorganisation of the police, a termination of all party displays, and the trial of party cases by resi dent magistrates. Mr. Ferguson deposed that the Ap prentice Boys determined to maintain displays. lie believed the Party Processions Act would not be tolerated anywhere except in Ireland. PETER'S PENCE—From the year 1.860 up to the present time the Pope is said t o have derived the large sum of 80,000,C00f. from the Peter's penny. The Italian Government is about to pay to the Pontifical Treasury the sum of 7,500,000 f. on account of the Pontifical debt, the amount having arrived in gold. The arrival of such a supply has acted foVourably on Pontifical Conso lid6s, and also on the Roman Bank, which had become seriously depreciated. 860,000 f. have been invested by the Roman Mont de Pict 6, the result being a rise of 7 in Consolid4s. ALARMING RAILWAY COLLISION.—On Thursday afternoon, a little after three o'clock, a Great Northern train left Castleford, and between Meth]ey and Stanley met a coal train consisting of about nine trucks. A colli sion ensued, in consequence of the trucks of the coal train breaking loose at the Lofthouse Junction. Considerable injury was done to the brake of the coal train and to the locomotive of the passenger train, the people in which were shaken. Only one girl, however, seemed to have received any external injury. Two of the coal trucks were smashed. The line was cleared in about two hours. A BICYCLE ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday two farmers, leaving Rosedale for Cleveland, one of the most lonely parts of the moor, found a gentleman lying head downwards in a ditch, and a bicycle lying upon him. From the marks on the road it would seem that the machine had become unmanageable in a deep rut, and bad run over the bank, apparently capsizing with the rider as found. The gentleman was quite unconscious, and had evidently been lying out all night. He was carried to the nearest habita tion, some miles distant, and medical aid was obtained. On Thursday it was stated that he had recovered conscious. ness, and that his main injury was a dislocated ankle. He is a Mr. M`Henry, from Glasgow, who has been " doing " Yorkshire on a bicycle. In the part of the moors where he was found he might have lain for a month in ordinaay times without being discovered. He was removed to a railway station on Thursday. Most of our readers are no doubt aware that for some years past the Astronomer Royal has sent to the principal towns in the kingdom, at one p.m. each day, au electric current from his normal clock at Greenwich, the time being corrected to the last hour's observation. This current has hitherto been used for the purpose of correct- in; highly finished "regulators," or, in some instances, there have been employed clocks having a gaining rate, and fitted with mechanism so contrived that on :the hands reaching one p.m. the clock's motion iz arrested until the receipt of the current from Green wich, when it is ngain started. Mr. Harrison's clock is a vast improvement on both these plans, being so arranged that on the receipt of the electric current, it will, whether fast or slow, be at once set to the true time, the setting of the hands being effected by the motive power of the clock. Mr. Barrison's system requires no electrica: break in a line of clocks, however numerous or distant those clocks may be; arrangements are provided for pre venting any disturbance from residuary magnetism.— Penny Mechanic. A PUBLICAN'S BRIDE.—At the general annual licensing meeting held at Stone, Richard Henry Hailes, of the Albion beerhouse, Station-road, Stone, applied for the renewal of a beer licence granted by the Excise. Mr, Crisp, superintendent of pule oppo: el the appli cation, on • the ground that the applicant, while the occupier of the Wheat Sheaf, at Oulton, was twice summoned for permitting drunkenness in his house. On the second occasion he was told that these offences would be brought against him at the next licensing day. He told the magistrates that he should not have to apply to them again. He then gave up the house at Oulton, and took the Albert beerhouse at Stone. The new Beerhouso Act, however, rendered it necessary for him to apply to the magistrates for a renewal of his licence, and to ensure the assistance of the police, he, on Saturday last, sent a barrel of ale to the superintendent of police, with a polite intimation that any assistance rendered to the sender would be " thank- fully received." The application for renewal of licence was refused. A SWINDLE.—A Berne journal relates that a certain commotion has been created at Interlacken by the following occurrence :—Last week, M. Ruchti; the pro prietor of the II Otel Victoria, received a telegram from Geneva, signed "Alexandre Dumas, Pere," announcing the desire of that author to give a literary soirle for the benefit of the victims of the Stockhorn, and requesting to know if be could have the use of the hotel for that purpose. M. Ruchti immediately replied in the affirmative. The next day the secretary of the great writer arrived and explained that M. Dumas could only come to Interlacken on condition of a certain receipt being ensured. There upon the hotel-keeper exerted his influence and succeeded in getting tickets taken, at 10f. each, to the amount of 200 f., which he handed over to the secretary, and then sent off word to Geneva that all was ready for that evening. Buthere another difficulty occurred. Another telegram came to say that M. Dumas had met with a slight accident, and could not arrive till the day after. The fête was, there fore, postponed to the morrow, but at a very early hour the discovery was made to the effect that the soi-disant secretary had decamped with all the receipts, leaving poor Ruchti a victim to his enthusiasm for literature. - The delinquent was traced as far as the pass of the 13runik but uo further. SPIRIT OF THE PtrBLIC JOURNALS. The Times considers that the native spokesmen At t ile Exeter meeting have rather overdone the case of the Dee r shire labourer. They have made their county too much 1;4 II paradise. They describe the happy man quite sure of master, and sure of sufficient pay for work not lu 3 kT ° excessive demands on his time, his sinews, or his hra w " He has a good cottage at a low rent, cheap firing in 5 climate that does not require much, cheap corn and flour, and, more than all, a cheap and pleasant drink which Pe . s. sesses extraordinary fascination for those who are born to.it. This is a world of continual change ; and even Devonshire has its past, its future, its dangers, and its drawbe e *t Its present state is not the relic of a golden age, but a very passing stage in a rapid progress within t he measurement of any middle-aged man. This is just ul: e has been forg o tt en by th e soc i a l pi c t ure p a inters. 111 . 6 subject matter is not a group of professional m odels 111 a. glass case, or in a gilt frame, but men, we lr ' eu t i and children, partaki ng o f our common nature and of our national and very changeful for tune ! . Not the least questionable feature in these P lc ; tures is the constant allegation that the hilioure' i; ": l our western counties is him se lf p er fectly r. with his lot ; most of all with the payment of a large tion of his wages in cider. It mu s t b e a d m itted that 1" is a substitute for the public-house, and that it also O r tails domestic indulgence. But if cider seldom intoxicate9' its effects are hardly less marked anti peculiar. F 43 a l routine, for any perfectly simple industry, for the see' r that can be measured by yards, linear, superfi c ial, e s. solid ; for an errand as simple as that of the bullet a l I charged from the gun, the habitual cider-drinker is as and as any other man ; but if be has to lock about hits , beware of possible dangers; if he has to mind machiner 8 avoid the edge, the strap, the bar, or the wheel; if therel9t,lo least complication, or addition, or anything to ce ll ' parliamentary language, a rider to the bill, he is sur e be floored ; so also if he has to trust to his memory' understand a paper. It is impossible to regard this 145 1 y local question. The attempt is inhuman. Th e : t ij pc parallel is to be found in the folly or wickedness ta iu legislators who used, not so very long ago, to male that the potato was the proper food of the ITish il ': l - ; ( : mendicancy his poor law, and, by parity cf r eatideng: i . it inillet his legal remedy. The British Association w h :; 00 is hoped, serve to transfer some of these local qu e° , tl to the proper place in the national arena. It is nel',l, county or another that is here concerned ; it is the svm s o country, and all its inhabitants, for every day bring s till more together. 0 0 The Standard thinks that the fact that there is % l i e s against strikes flews the elasticity of the ste " which are so obnoxious to the Congress. When we T h e the element of compulsion, we find the whole tenor of it law arrayed against the unions. It is impossible to put check upon moral compulsion, but anything li ke °I o ry intimidation or physical force comes clearly wit hill f ee. scope of the law. The truth is that unionism is ar i 'l o nistic to individ u al f ree d om . It s l ea ding is that personal liberty must be seeiii;e e %• so the common good, and hence the workman "big refuses to join the union connected w itit tl en trade is regarded as au e n e my t o be fough t fa somehow or other. lle may claim the right to w° l. he any master whom he pleases, and for any wage w ilie t is may think suflicicut, but if he exercises his judgm e ' to . proportion to the union he clues so at the peril of hi s c° t o fort, if not of his safety. We need scarcely say ti ' oo o do not charge the atrocities of the Sheffield union ises a c• the unions as a body, but there is no doubt that the p i ps tico of picketing is regard e d as perfectly legitim ete 'aieb Mr. Shorrocks said in the carefullpdrawn p ,per 1 formed the point of departure for the disc ussi l Wednesday, the answer to th ose who obj ect : s eelr picketing was that the u n i on i s t s "h a ve a righ t ' 4 . 1 , 0 13 out and claim their fellow working men." Pu t how wit following them from the shops where they work to ' . c t 9? homes, and abusing a n d m o bbi ng th e m in the st'iviot We know, and Mr. Shorrocks knows, that this is u sed picketing means; but h ow i s th e p rac tice to be disc oof if it is held out to us as part of a system of moral swsort The principle of compulsion by intimidation of sc ale t at to is at the very root of trades unionism, and it is dif ., • it, understand how the system can be worked apart fee be It is not less obvious that the Legislature can ne .o ' os go justified in strengthening the position of the M u long as that principle is upheld, f 3 bad The Telegraph observes that to make the b est 0 too bargain, is the impulse which almost invariablY Englishmen who have fallen into any tribulation, 141;0 or otherwise ; so that we may safely anticipate 3 ro ge• and attentive consideration for the scheme ofiitd nient just announced by the liquidators of the Affir:tie o f Assurance Company. The most valuable characteTicb it the report just issued is the forcible contrast viiivos points out between a policy o f angr y o b s truction 3 p j f as of sensible compromise. The li qu id a t o rs reol au rb a t 31/ the simplest means of making both e nds mee t, " t heir creditors of the company abandon so muc h ofto ao rightful claims as will reduce the total o we amount not beyond what the property aTi ~,`iris of the company may be able to inect. _ the that compromise to be effected, it is considered t:.O company, reconstructed, and managed with care; Os cretion, would be able to meet all its engsget ney .,/, ' shareholders, in return f o r this immediate saer ' offered shares in the new and remodelled corlV,P.,tove° a reversion of the profits that may follow on its to)il 11,0 business, after the claims of the policy-holders slilia been met. We should add that another fea tre scheme of reconstruction is the provision ,rese' safeguards against the evils which have led to th e e I ' o o o and constitutionliabili liabilities e so of embarrassment. An actuarial investigation °: the i etrhye third ear s c e o e m ar pa i i s ty t ' o ' —b a e " P Paarrt 'i h i y e r esit hope, which both share and policy-holders, pared w arn . _ da p events will not allow to remain a dead letter,or te in cere o pi rate into a merely formal and perfunctoryers gad We will here remark only that both sharellTe-i A llo y ; creditors will be exceedingly ill-advised if t fool th e themselves to be tempted by any consideration ins hit one urgent task before them—that is, to de te f f e etee m the evil done may be soonest remedied or m ost on on t ' w kept within manageable bounds. Their dic e ' s ' tz iey matter by no means precludes a searching ins the past. eest i°ll ' T to e q he Daily News says that quite apart fr og ' th e as to the morality or immorality of " Forra° sl4 ' ut h worth while to consider whether there is anY ttrertainreentl allegation that a better class of dramatic e a u gly P c , will not " draw." Undoubtedly there are some po t ti l l , in support of the statement. Mr. Chatterto :ere only manager who has failed to make ShakeePo ti d!: Iligh-class tragedy and comedy have late/3' . 1) of cloud, and unless we except the productio7droas Robertson, nothing is eminently successful bliest_o 7bthooge, excitement and burlesques. Purely poetic dr t " Comus," " Manfred," and "Acis and Gal e a e „ t i o n-- -° „co the last-named has music for its main attr o v ever t no great place in the popular esteem : 40 01 0 1; representation of human character, apart fro:: at pre!. 0 , and breathless incidents, seems powerless J t ; oil, l a z;' , 4 to secure any large amount of regard. A f „ attre e 4 l probable thing that as many persons would drama of rr.of to the plays of Shakspere as to an exciting . d _, Ar acte ▪ 0 / or quasi -real life ? Consider the intellectualrhetherti:lo the vast majority of the people, and then 81,l n _' vrie jge, l io possess the mental calibre, the acquired kceastatost:o., educated taste, or the gravityof disposition ne nd their _v; appreciation of works which, however profou.a the ir d e a d in our common humanity, are poetical 10013 little lopment, scholastic in their form, . 10 complex in their allusions, occasioniol.utied obsolete in their language, and no t seldom . 'L one eV: O . ideas; or - fashioned after the manners, of a rent and that D Y 6 , We repeat, that there is a public for these g derful works ; but it is a small public c onti o a r re the if t t . ' . ` oo which goes to see the " Streets of London a supe rs . i o l oo , of Leave Man." Shakspere is very In" ) hot is with the English people: He is worsrelaelosebolst a s , rantly. The million buy his plays, b ec3 ; them ;y•a supposed to be decently furnished with_ou _ mica . s . l soc i a rule they do not read them. Now, the w amused ~pere• give their shillings to a manager to be . . shas Iloucicault is found more entertaining t,33 e the. Boucicault will carry the day o ar i° t of Star, that as we have been lately reforerilee _ tions, and so far growing wiser,* itself 12°,0 o ur Os', tl It may seem, at first thought, foo "honours" has been expanding itsell that, as an administration ; but a reason probab!3'l, 1, 0 11 . 0y: 30 a ts! power of substantial jobbini, h a s clenr'.'l,„ p s i dams After __ b i o g. decorations furnish substitutes for solidgratlf/I pudul wheP slaking the thirst of patronage. disappeared empty praise is better than the toys of childhood have been thrown ," r iper Is " Scarfs, garters, gold, amuse Inan's iaintY r u°rs el And ribbons and stars are the accepted • tia tten til et grosser food. If there could be none to mi.„ few} corruption in polities, which has beforie;ut` il i t eh;s e " and pure-spirited Ministers emPow ere : v-er° Majesty for l honours, honours, and if the honour %earl Pand 11;,01.1, we might hope to keep clear of jobs m ud ~!!‘, justice. But we are now dein and departments of orders, and decorativnliliar exilept ,, o ged with oisa:etr"e'jrug)sec•iieri,;, Order of the Bath itself has bee.,ine "!, arrangel!o„ can for political uses-- to smooth Ministerial lid tliat.Y,,ioass'", and quiet angry tongues. It will bo j? ien , never dispense these honours 10 : ii „ve L' op eul, dissatisfaction, and g,runiblim.r. 6 7 0g an all? What is tlw real use of them? I". t of " ve, fsel l°•' s ing of " honeurs" as a puerile elemen t )1. littr And is not tbio the pith of the ohl „ T ot f( ... , 0 tte,.; taught pride"—" These little things , < 11 1 7„ I', this I t , th'i man?" We have been greater than N% . e long °ln gres ° . It is not so ,roli respect to frivolous nations. I cgs at the `-' lO l g Castlereagh's plain simplicity of r _ e 0 We used to pride ourselves on out ar oun- - 114ifter Vienna was admired as a relief to the tl I' h bedizenment of continental ambassadors litica l amuse Po the orpvots creation of orders of honour may . or serve t od, who think such work statesmanship., do not of political tricksters ; but such . things producing e . I d ettri good progress, nor do they supertori.-Yee jr,o7i 1 1 std reforms of effects designed and desired in our laturel r