The Sun. — London, England, 1860-03-01 00:00:00

TILE WHITTP OBELI G UIV. The following letter appears in a contem porary : Sir,—The 'results of the experiments recently made with my rifled cannons at Southport have elicited notices and comments which I think re quire me to make some explanation. My rifled guns have not been made expressly with the view of obtaining great range ; that is one of the advantages they possess, but it is not obtained at the sacrifice of others. They are all adapted, not only for firing solid shot, but also for hollow shot, which may be filled with molten iron, and for every description of shell. The capacity of the shell is easily increased by add ing to its length ; and, as my guns are rifled throughout and require no chamber, shells of any length may be fired with any requisite charge of powder. The tables'of results published in the newspapers were in some instances arranged by the gentlemen oruer • outMa - numtiers pretixCd do not iiimbittU the order in which the shots were fired. This arrangement may have produced an im pression that the ranges in certain cases gradually diminished. This was not the case, in some series the longest ranges were attained by the last :shots fired, and the piece, as it was warmed by the dis charges, became clearer than it was after the first or second shot. The fact that the ordinary cast-iron service guns which I rifled as an experiment in 1858 proved too weak to be used as rifled pieces has been much d welt upon ; and it was, perhaps, an error of judg ment to apply my system experimentally to the cast-iron blocks without strengthening them. I may mention that the service cast-iron 68-pounder rifled by me, when tried at Portsmouth in 1858, propelled my flat-fronted shot through one of the 4-inch wrought iron plates, and also through the ship's side on which they were firmly bolted, the range being 450 yards. In no other instance, I believe, has a single shot been driven through the 4-inch plate. The experiment was not repeated, as the cast-iron gun burst. All the guns, however, which I have myself made are ready for any proof and any comparison that may be required. Their streiiigth is such that they can be elevated on their carriages, and be fired, if necessary, as mortars, at any angle, with , the largest charge of powder that can be consumed in them. _ _ The 3-pounder was repeatedly fired at an angle of 33 deg., and attained a range of more than five and a half miles, without doing the piece or its carriage the slightest injury. These guns being stronger than is practically necessary, there would be no gain in adding to their strength, though I coukl do It if it were requisite. The material of which the cannon is made is the same as that used for my rifled musket barrel— homogeneous iron. To obtain an extreme proof of it strength, I loaded one of the barrels with a leaden plug, so long that a full charge of powder was unable to drive it out. On firing the powder, the plug remained in the barrel, and the gases of the explosion all came through the touch-hole, leav ing the barrel uninjured- This experiment was re peated four times with a similar result. _ The brass howitzer guns which I rifled for the Government in 1856 stood every proof to which they were subjected. I could not now improve upon them as muzzle-loading guns, and feel confi dent that they are as efficient as any rifled cannon of like calibre that have been made. In fact, of the rifled cannon, as of the rifled musket, con stracted on principles which I have adopted, it may be said that, practically, they must all shoot alike —a result which necessarily follows accurate mea surement and workmanship in making them. I have had no wish to make a special gun, any more than to choose out special experimental re sults. Records of all the shots fired during our late experiments were taken by disinteresteespec tators, and have been published in several journals. The merits of the system have, I believe, been thoroughly tested, and may now be fairly judged. The practice with the smallest gun, the 3-pounder, proved all I wished to establish in point of range ; it was therefore not requisite to surpass it with the heavier cannon fired at a high elevation. Of the durability of my guns I can speak with the utmost confidence. Being made of the harder and tougher homogeneous iron, they must be more durable than forged guns, made of comparatively soft and fibrous wrought iron. From one of them upwards of 1,500 shots have been fired, iefiy an a y t, high elevations, without the gun exhibiting injury or sign of wear. The breech-loading arrangements are so simple that they are not easily injured. The guns fired at Southport had all been stand ing on the open shore exposed to the action of the sea air and drifting sands for some weeks, most of them during the whole winter. The relative merits of my own and other systems are best compared by appealing to practical results. These show that the system of construction which enables the simple hard metal projectile to be fired gives better results, and is capable of a more ex tended,application, than the construction which re quires the compound projectile and soft metal coat ing. In oilier words, the system of rifling by me chanical fit is capable of doing much more than that of rifling by the I%.ffee of the explosion. The latter is a construction of which I cannot be said to have approved, otherwise I should have adopted it. Among other objections to the use of the compound coated projectile, one of great im portance is, that it involves an arrangement which is complicated, whereas the shaped hard metal pro jectile is far more simple, and may be produced at less cost. Sithplicity of arrangement and construc tion is the special object I sought to obtain, know ing that in thi s as in all other improvements based on mechanical principles, that system is the most perfect which is reduced to its simplest elements. Tr;Lit: SUN LONDON, THURSDAY EV EPIIING, MARCH 1, 1860. IRE NAVY. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred passed his examination for midshipman on board the Euryalus the day the ship anchored at Spithead. The exami nation extended over three days. The King of Por tugal dined with the Prince and officers of the ship, on board, on the 18th inst. The" Euryalus sailed from Lisbon on the following day, and had a con trary wind until off Ushant, when it veered from N.E. to N.W. and S.W. Off Cape Finisterre she lost a man by falling from aloft overboard. She passed the Channel squadron below Plymouth, at 10 30 p.m. on Sunday, standing on a wind down r, Channel. The only foreign vessels of war in the la gus when the Euryalus sailed were a Dutch squad ron of a frigate and two corvettes under a Commo dore's pendant. The Eu r y alus is very defective, both in her hull and machinery, and is expected to go into Portsmouth Harbour to dock and refit. The screw steam frigate Mersey, 40, Capt. Cald well, C. 8., put into Plymouth Sound on Tuesday, w ith steering appara tus defective, having parted company on Monday morning at 10 o'clock, lat. 49 SO N , long. 4 25 W., with the Edgar, the Donegal, the Melpomene, the Algiers, the Trafalgar, the Aboukir, the Queen, and the Royal Albert. The flagship was ahead, out of sight. The squadron was under canvas and steam, endeavouring to beat out of the Channel against a strong N.W. wind. On Saturday at 2 o'clock in the afternoon the Mersey, which was steering W. half N., came in contact with the screw steamship Algiers, 91, Capt. G. W. D. O'Callaghan. Both were under all sail ; the wind, from S.S.W., was so light that neither ship was under full command. The Algiers lost her jib boom and flying jibboom. The Mersey was struck on the port quarter, and had two of her cutters stove in. Since then the Mersey has experienced a series of severe storms, which have at different times washed away her head, hammock berthing, &c. On Monday, about noon, wind N.W. by W., and having a force of 10, a tremendous sea carried off from tho main chains and drowned Henry Hay ward, 24, coxswain of the cutter, a native of Can terbury, and, from the head, John Summers, 18, first-class boy, belonging to Southsea. The Mersey was then under close-reefed topsails and fore stay sail. The yoke of her rudder has been bent by wear and the recent violent strainings of the sea, and this was the immediate cause of her return. The Bacchante, 51, screw, in charge of Captain G. T. Gordon, commanding the steam reserve at Portsmouth, steamed out to Spithead yesterday on her contractor's trial of machinery. On steaming out beyond the Nab Light Vessel, going at full speed, she stopped engines and went astern in 42 seconds. Again, at full speed, she stopped engines and went ahead in 23 seconds. The machinery worked most satisfactorily in every respect, with a perfect command of steam. As this was only the contractor's trial, no rues were made at the mea sured mile. Capt. Harris, her Majesty's ship Illus trious, and Commander Thorp, her Maj est y 's shi p Asia, were on board during the trial, which was superintended by Mr. J. Dinnen, Inspector Afloat to the Admiralty ; Mr. G. Murdoch, Inspector Afloat at Portsmouth ; arid Mr. Miller, Assistant Chief Engineer of her Majesty's Dockyard. The ship is fitted with a steering apparatus on Admiral Martin's plan, which will be more effectuatly tested when the ship's official trial takes place. The Immortalite, 51, screw, yesterday completed reshipping her boilers under the factory crane in the steam basin at Portsmouth. The last of her boilers, weighing nearly 27 tons, was hoisted from the jetty alongside, and suspended over the basin, clear of her bulwarks, in 2 1 ; minutes. Mr. G. F. Barr has joined this vessel as chief engineer. The Briton, old sailing frigate, was yesterday un docked from No. 1 Dock at Portsmouth, where she has had her copper stripped off her, and as many of her bolts driven out as possible, their places being filled up with trenails. She was afterwards slung with chains, and will be moored up the harbour as a target ship for the Excellent. Her Majesty's Royal screw yacht Fairy was yes terday docked at Portsmouth for the purpose of cleaning and examination. The Indiana, steam screw hired transport, arrived yesterday morning at Spithead from the Thames. At high water she steamed into Portsmouth har bour, and will this morning embark a detachment of the second battalion of the 9th Foot for Corfu, and a detachment of the Royal Artillery for Gib raltar. The whole of the hands employed in the steam factory at Portsmouth are working extra hours up to 10 30 p.m. each day, every exertion being made to fit with their machinery as quickly as possible the different large vessels recently launched at that port. A court-martial assembled yesterday on board her Majesty's ship Victory, in Portsmouth Harbour, under the presidency of Capt. the Hon. Joseph - n—sss " V on charges of desertion. The court found the charges proved, and sentenced the prisoners to 12 months' imprisonment each, with hard labour, in - Winchester Gaol. Her Majesty's steam storeship Dee, Master Com mander Pullen, on her return voyage from Ports mouth, was yesterday hauled into basin at Wool wich to reship with Etcam machinery for the west, and the iron steam vessel Harpy, after repairs, was moored alongside the coal hulk in preparation for sea. TIIE ARMY. THE STAFF COLLEGE. Horse-Guards, S.W., Feb. 25, The following regulations regarding the exami nation of officers who may be candidates for admis sion to the Staff College in February, 1861, are published for general information : " There will be vacancies for lo officers, two of whom may belong to the Corps of Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. " IfomE STATIC/NS. " Officers serving in the United Kingdom. who are desirous of entering the Staff College, will be examined in London on the 16th of July next, and following days. " Commanding officers of Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and of all regiments and depots of the Cavalry, Guards, and Lino on the ho ne station, will forward to the Adjutant-General, through the usual channel, for the consideration of the General Commanding-in-Chief, the application of such offi cers as wish to compete for admission, together with the necessary certificates. " These applications should be sent in not later than the 15th of June, after which d a t e th e o ffi cers approved by his Royall - lighnesl will be instructed to- place themselves in communication with the Council of Military Education, with the view to their receiving the rules for the examination. " FOREIGN STATIONS. "At foreign stations the following regulations will be strictly adhered to : " The examination will be held on the 16th of July and following days, or as soon after that date as the examination papers shall be received from the Council of Military Education. " A board of officers will be appointed by the general officer in command, and will consist of three officers ; one of whom to be, when prActica.ble, a Staff officer, having the rank of field officer, and the other two, if possible, not under the rank of captain. One of these officers will belong to one of the scientific corps, where any such officer can be obtained. " The examinations will be conducted by means of the same printed questions as are set for the exa mination of candidates in London, and they are to be answered in the presence of the board. "The board will give to each candidate a num ber, which he will affix to each-of his examination papers, instead of his name. He will retain the same number throughout the examination. "The board will - give to each candidate a paper of the printed examination questions on each sub ject, at the time specified for the examination in that siabject. "Tye candidates will write their answers to the questions in the presence of the board, and their papers, together" with 'the printed examination questions, will be Colleded at the hour appointed, and made up into packet, which will be sealed be fore being taken from the examination room.. "The board will, immediately on the conclusion of the examination, for Ward the papers of the can didates to the general officer commanding for trans mission to the Council of Military Education, ac companied by a, certificate that the candidates ob tained no assisttnce from books, or help of any kind in their examination. The board will at the same time forward the names of the candidates, corres ponding with their index numbers in the in examina tion, a•separatt envelope, for transmission to the Council of Military liklucat ion. " The following will be the order of the exami nation "First Day—Military drawing, 3 hours ; ditto, ,3 hours. " Second Day—Fortification, 3 hours ; ditto, 3 h t curs. . L portion, paper, Ist 'per, and o. l ti . .‘, Third Day—Mathematics—Obli rmtor 3 hours ; obligatory portion, .. I ntary portion, I st Paper, 3 hours. i- 't Foui- Day—Mathematics—voluntary portio n , th .2d Paper, 3 hours; military history, Ist Paper, 3 tout*. ' F fifth Day—Militar history, 2d Paper, 3 y hours ; ditto, 3d Paper, 3 hours. • ' Sixth Day—French, 3 hou rs ; chemistry, 3 hours. ",S t ,venth,Day—German, 3 hours geology, 3 T hours.; ,"hl Ire will be in all cases an interval of not less than one hour between the two periods of exa mination on each day. " The papers will be collected at the appointed hours by a member of the Board. Any candidate, however, who may have finished his examination paper on any subject before the hour named may deliver it into the hands of a member of the Board. " Candidates will bring their writing and draw ing materials, instruments, &c., and also the tables of logarithms they are in the habit of using. /No other books or notes of any description will be allowed to be used. " It is scarcely necessary to observe that no com munication whatever will be allowed between the candidates at the examination. " Officers commanding regiments abroad are to transmit to the general officer in command a return of the officers desirous of competing, together with a medical certificate of good health and fitness for the active duties of the Staff. Such officers will then be ordered to join at head-quarters for exa mination, or at any other places which may be se lected for the convenience of those at the more dis tant stations. " With reference to paragraph IV. of the revised regulations for the Staff College, published with the General Order, No. 743, of the 23d ult., which di rects that if the commanding officer of the regi ment, or the general officer commanding, cannot recommend the application of any candidate, the grounds of objection are to be distinctly stated,'—it is to be observed that, as there will not be time at distant foreign stations to refer to the i Adjutant- General on the subject, such officer should, n all cases, be permitted to undergo his examination, on the understanding, however , th at the objections urged against his application will still be submitted for the decision of his Royal Highness the General Commanding-in-Chief. " General officers commanding at foreign stations will place no restrictions upon officers competing, further than the exigencies of the service may ab solutely require. It will be understood that the rule by which only one officer can be spared from a battalion at a time, for the purpose of studying at the Staff College, does not apply to candidates from battalions which have officers now at the College, but whose course of study willterminate in December next. " General officers commanding at foreign stations will select the hours for the examination which aro best suited to the climate and circumstances of the country, taking care, however, to conform strictly to the number and distribution of the hours, as de tailed in the foregoing regulations. " On the completion of the examinations at their head-quarters general officers commanding should transmit the candidates' papers immediately to the Vice-President of the Council of Military Educa tion, 1, Whitehall-yard, without waiting for those of out-stations ; and in like manner they should forward, without delay, the papers from each out station as soon as received. In the event of there being no candidates, general officers commanding will notify the fact to the Vice-President of the Council without delay. " Officers serving abroad, who may be successful candidates, will be allowed the regulated passage money home on joining the Staff College. "The names and examination numbers of the can didates who are successful in the competition, as well as of those who prove themselves qualified, and the examination-numbers alone of candidates who fail, will be published immediately after the reports of the examiners have been received by the Council of Military Education, with the total number of marks gained by each candidate, and his place on the list. —By order of his Royal Highness the General Com manding-in-Chief, " G. A. WETIIEItALL, Adjutant-General." suc ztessfully it may generally be cannot be surpassed. When this is dog f my rifled musket, which considered lv ith re regard d t t t c; e h r e e c s o u s l t i has been stated to be an impediment in the way of its adoption for tht service, I may state that there would be no diffict dty in adapting the machinery , and plant already in operation at Enfleld, or any requisite portion of . it, for making rifles on my sys tem. The change w ould not cause an increase in the manufacturing e xpenses ; and, supposing the quality of the workma, nship and materials to remain the same, the advanta ;es arising from the use of my bore, and turn, and L ard-metal projectiles would double the efficiency of t, he rifle without increasing its cost. At the same time I am .of opinion that by going to a slight extra expense i n manufacturing the bar rel more carefully a better rifle may with advan tage be supplied to the service. This is what I recommended some time ago to the Government when I offered them my services, gratuitously, in aiding to adaot the Enfield esta blishment to the productirn of rifles on my system. It is true that I proposed to supply for the use of the service some rifles at a cost of £lO, but these were to be all superior weapons, well finished, and in shooting qualities equal to my other rifles. It would not, however, be fair t 3 take this sum as representing the cost of manufac turing military weapons on a large scale in a com pletely organised establishment. The offer involved considerable pecuniary sacrifice, considering that means of supplying the demand for my rifles are at present limited, and it arose from the desire which I always had, and still feel, of rendering all the assistance I can in arming our soldiers with the most efficient weapons.—l remain yours obediently, JOSEPH WHITWORTH. Manchester, Feb. 28. TILE NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL PRESS ASSOCIATION. A meeting of this association was held yesterday in Peel's coffeehouse, Fleet-street—Mr. E wart, M.P., in the chair. There were present also, among others, Mr. Robertson, M.P. for Berwickshire, Mr. Morris M.P., Mr. 1). N. Chambers, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Petter, Mr. Ireland, of the Manchester Examiner, &c. The CHAIRMAN, ou rising, after returning thanks for the honour conferred on him by his being called on to preside, paid a coinplimant to the ability of Mr. M. Gibson, the :ormer president of the associa tion, for the triumphant manner in which the asso ciation, under his direction, had proceeded step by step, towards the object they had in view—the re• peal of those taxes which pressed on the diffusion of knowledge. He next proceeded to direct attention to the special business of the meeting, and to read several requisitions from proprietors of provincial newspapers desiring that the meeting should be called, that entire co-operation should be secured in resisting the amendments on the budget of which notice had been given, to continue the paper duty, in opposition to her Majesty's Ministers. After expressing his satisfaction at meeting with those provincial friends who were pre sent, the speaker proceeded to direct attention to the great opposition they were likely to meet in endeavouring to carry out their purpose, both from avowed and from latent opponents under the name of financial reformers. But let them present a firm phalanx and stand by the Chancellor of the Exche quer until his budget was carried triumphantly. He considered the present one of the greatest eras ever opened to mankind. If supported by France a bright period was opening for the world. But, combined with commercial prosperity, the spread of education was demanded, and he hailed the time when knowledgeshould be free. He hoped that all monopolies connected with the press would now be removed. No man could look on the young press without feelings of pride. Since the removal of the taxes on advertisements he was bound to say that the cheap press had been a benefit to the country, and he believed that the removal of all impediments on the press would tend to its greater and higher usefulness. In reference to the notice of motion that had been given to oppose the movement, he trusted that a voice would be raised from the re motest end of the kingdom to support the Chancel lor of the Exchequer, and that no effectual means would be overlooked, while members of Parliament did their duty within the house, to obtain support at the same time out of doors. Aided by such sup port, he believed that a victory would be achieved which would redound to the glory of England. There might be a few newspapers opposed to the measure, but he trusted that the stream of public opinion would soon work its way among them, and that it would be found that all restrictions were removed. Mr. FRANCIS, the treasurer of the association, next proceeded to detail the progress and operations of the association since its formation 11 years ago, WlSlllen f atldburmnim - anyiNnAM'lliFn'artiOW former president, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Gladstone, Sir C. Lewis, and Lord J. Russell occupied the Treasury benches ; and that if it were supposed that they might be unsuccessful on the present occasion what would be the result ? Would the association be discomfited ? Would it cease its operations ? No; it was their firm determination to go on until the Speaker of the House of Commons pronounced, with reference to the motion—" The ayes have it." Mr. LUCAS rose and proposed the following reso lution :—" That this meeting reiterates its often• expressed conviction that the Excise duty on paper presses most severely on newspapers and literature generally, and particularly on elementary educa tional works, thereby checking the spread of politi cal and general kno wledge ; that it places a most disastrous limit on numerous branches of commerce, and restrains to a highly injurious extent inven tion, enterprise, and the welfare of a large class of the community, and, learning with surprise an op position is likely to be made in the House of Com mons to the wise and beneficial repeal of the paper duty included in Mr. Gladstone's budget, and affairs the i regarding resolution, l to of ot i e t nhxe of other r paperhl explain o motionn adopted by her Majesty's Ministers, it expresses its determination to use the most strenuous e ff or t s f or the accomplishment of the object for whi c h th e as sociation is formed." The speaker, af ter rea di ng the r utgldivystl William nletTilmh— oomonef: Miles,mti o i es n b s ci emst'There bearing,o ufallweretehr the repeal direct andr two e e noticesa o theion opposition h first was in effect that an expor t d u t y an d an Ex cise duty be levied to pl ace E ng li s h manu f ac t urers on an equal footin g w ith th ose o f F rance . Th e second motion of Si r Willi am Mil es was t o p l ace the paper tax a ga i ns t th e i ncrease d i ncome -t ax by simply mo v i ng th a t th e prev i ous rate o f 9d . should b e su b s tit u t e d f or 10d ., as i t now s t oo d i n the budget. Th e l a tt er was th e mos t d angerous motion for th e i r o bj ec t, an d even on thi s groun d the public were m ore i n t eres t e d i n th e repea l o f the paper duty th an i n th e re d uc ti on o f the income-tax. Th e s p ea k er con ti nue d t o designate Sir William Mil es as an o b s t ruc ti on i s t —one of those men who s t oo d i n th e way o f a ll progress—and declared his belief that if E ng l an d had been inhabited by Sir William Milese s in the infancy of our civilisation we should yet have re mained in a state of barbarism. He was - surprised t b Houseyth e s d i budget of ci that any member of the Liberai party should sup port the motion. In regard to the appeal of the chairman to the press, he felt certain that the press all over the country was in favour of the measure. In regard to the limes, he did not know. •He had been told that a gentleman connected with the Thnes was going about canvassing the Liberal members to oppose the repeal of the paper duty. Whether this were true _or not he did not know and he did not care, but he felt certain that the press throughout the country would support the movement. Mr. LEVY, of the Daily Telegraph, rose to second the resolution. As showing the manner in which the limes had dealt with the question, he read a quotation from a leading article in the issue of the 13th ult., referring to the decay of village paper mills, and read a second extract from a paper termed the Sussex Advertiser, written, he informed the meeting, as an attempted burlesque of the style of the Times, showing that the sheet of the ?tines on which this statement was printed carried the water-mark of " Taverham Mills," which were situated in a small country village. Mr. IRELAND, of the Manchester _Examiner, ex pressed himself in favour of the resolution. The Rev. P. ITATELY WADDELL characterised the paper duty as an imposition on written thought, vs unjust, as a gag placed in the mouth. lie sup ported the motion. Mr. FIELD expressed his belief that the duty on paper was the only impediment to the beneficial working out of the periodical penny press, in proof of which he proceeded to read' a lengthy extract from some periodical, amid numerous cries of " Chair, chair." After several appeals to the chair. man,,he was ultimately put down, after, it was un derstood, supporting the motion. Mr. Moms, M.P., expressed his belief that no Government could long occupy the Treasury benches, and withstand this movement for the re. peal of the paper duty. Mr. 13ETT, of the Society for the Repeal of Taxes on Knowledge, stated that he had been in formed, on good authority, that many members of the Liberal party were prepared to enter the lobby with Sir W;Miles. Mr. ROBERTSON, M.P., rose to state that the former speaker, in his opinion, had been misin formed. He eulogised the budget as a whole, and believed that 99 out of every 100 of the Liberal party were prepared to vote for the repeal of the paper duty. lle would rather have a free press than all the venal Acts of Parliament. He believed Sir W. Miles had no intention of pressing his mo tion. He supported most cordially the resolution read. One or two other speakers followed, when the motion was put to the meeting and carried unani mously. Mr.FRANcTs proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, after which the meeting separated. LORD T. RUSSELL'S RL'FOR2II BILL. We really believe the only thing that is utterly ineradicable from the human mind is superstition. Homer, indeed, could perceive that the one best omen was to fight for one's country, but the truth that was revealed to Homer was concealed from Greece in her civilised age, and the wise Socrates and the brave Scipic were content to steer their course in life by omens and portents. Even in this land of inductive philosophy and free investigation, how many people arc there that shrink from sitting down to a dinner party of thirteen, and who have not shaken off the coiviet.ion that Friday is an un lucky day ? The most prevalent firm, however, in which superstition exhibits herself in modern times is in the eelebratior and observation of anniver saries. In this, France, and among Frenchmen Napoleon, has the undisputed lead. There is the 10th of August, dreaded by monarchs, and the 31st of May, fatal to Republicans ; the 27th of July, that overthrew Robespierre ; the day of Friedland, the day of Austerlitz, the day of Marengo, and the day of Borodino. If men must fight, they wait till a dies fastus, the anniversary of a fortunate event ; and, if a great victory has been gained, there is no time so propitious as the anniversary of a day on w hi c h a great victory has been gained before. Now, there fore, because on the Ist cay of March, 1831, Lord John Russell introduced a Reform Bill, which, after many changes and many reverses, became the law of the land in 1832, the same Lord John Russell has con trived that, on the same day of the year 1860, he shall introduce a bill for the alteration of the for mer measure, for which he trusts, by securing the same day, to procure the same results. When Mo rier's Hadji Baba had made up his mind to make an offer of his heart and hand to a young English lady, he inquired of one of his married friends under what circumstances he had performed the same ceremony, and, finding that it was under an um brella on a rainy Sunday going to church, he made his proposition under exactly similar circumstances, and was, to his astonishment, peremptorily rejected. So far from the selection of the Ist of March as sisting Lord John Russell in the performance of his task, it only serves more distinctly to mark the dif ference, not to say the contrariety, between the state of things that existed then and the state of things that exists now. When Lord John Russell rose in li3l to propose his Reform Bill there was a feeling of intense curiosity as to the probable nature of the measure he would produce, for the interest of the revelation he was about to make was in no de gree forestalled. In 1831 there was, strange as it may appear to the generation which does not re member those eventful times, a real and heartfelt interest in the subject of Parliamentary Re form. Many hoped, and some feared, but very few were indifferent. The public mind was earnest and excited. People were deeply discon tented with the existing state of things,and desired Reform, that it might furnish them with an apt in strument for working out a complete and satisfac tory remedy. They wished for a revolution, and they made it; they desired the overthrow of a nar row and unconstitutional oligarchy and they sought that overthrow through Reform. The middle classes were determined to force their way into the fortress of the Constitution, and the working classes lent their whole combined strength to the effort. It was under these auspices that Lord John Russell, not then a member of the Cabinet, rose to expound the Ministerial plan of Parliamentary Reform. Nine-and-twenty years are past, and we have the same hour and man before us again ; but this time it is the man who fixes the hour, and not the hour that calls forth the man. Time has dealt gently with the knot of statesmen who directed the destinies of this country in that stormy period. The impetuous Secretary for Ireland, Mr. Stanley, is now the veteran leader of the Tory party. The then President of the Council has retired from active political life. The then First Lord of the Admiralty still, after his checkered career, maintains a foremost place in the House of Com mons. The then Postmaster-General, the Duke of Richmond, still occupies a seat in the House of Lords. The then Foreign Secretary is our present Prime Minister. The then Indian Minister is still among us. The then Lord Chancellor has survived his Attorney and Solicitor-General, and still adorns the House of Peers. But, though so many of the 111431711'11/9c, W. l erflnfaltliThili'Metiteralded the advent of the first Reform Bill? Who believes that any measure that is likely to be carried will have a decided effect in the improvement of our Govern ment, and who is there who would not cheerfully give up all the good he hopes on condition of being delivered from all he fears from the impending change? The first Reform Bill was sought as a means to an end for the sake of changes which it was believed it would produce. The second Reform Bill is sought for no ulterior good, except deliver ing the public from the discussion of an unwelcome topic. Lord J. Russell was the child and the crea tion of the Reform Bill of 1831; the Reform Bill of 1860 is the child and the creation of Lord J. Rus sell. The object of the first was national ; the ob ject of the second is personal. We all know why the first was proposed. We k now th e j ust cause of the public discontent ; but we also know that the second is proposed only because it has been repeat edly promised, and because, though the public has never been eager to demand a performance of the promise, the men who made it i ns i s t upon b e i ng al lowed to accomplish it. The su bj ec t h as b een played with and trifled with till it has become serious. Pledges have been made because they were never ex pected to be enforced, and the necessity that compels their performance comes from above, instead of from below. The very novelty of th e measure h as b een discounted by an indiscreet di sc l osure. All these things being considered, it is indeed very question able whether Lord John Russell has done wisely to give the contrast the utmost sharpness possible by fixing the anniversary of the first R e f orm Bill as a day of good omen for the introduction of the second. In contrasting the two peri o d s we h ave necessar i ly passed over in silence the long space that has inter vened between them ; but we must not forget that Lord John Russell has not during the se 29 year's been by any means inactive on his favourite sub ject. Possibly a retrospect critically conducted might not tend to increase our confidence in the hands into which this qu es ti on h as f a ll en. W h i le the great experiment was yet fresh—while its working could not be foreseen or predicted, Lord John Russell braved considerable obloquy in claim ing for so vast a change the s u p er h uman pr i v il ege of finality. While all men doubted, he was assured. But years passed on, the me asure b ecame b e tt er understood, many misapprehensions were removed, many fears were shown to be groundless, and if Reform did not do all the good, ne ith er did it rea li se by any means the evil that was expected from it. The minds of men became habituated to the change, and the practical English race soon re conciled itself to novelties which had at first been repulsive. Then it was that Lord John Russell announced to us that the days of finality were past, and that henceforth the orthodox j faith was to believe in the necessity of a new Re form Bill. For four years practice was allowed to lag behind theory, but in 1852 a new Reform Bill was produced, though the Ministry died in giving birth to it. The leading characteristic of the mea sure was the aggregation of boroughs, and, hap pily for the reputation of its framer, th e bill dropped before the principles of the aggregation could be minutely investigated. In 1854 Lord J. Russell introduced another bill, the main peculiari ties of which were a franchise and a clause for , the representation of minorities. The Crimean War nipped this blossom in the bud, and for five years the country contentedly acquiesced in the absence of a Reform Bill. The Tory Government attempted one last year, and perished in the attempt. And now to dey Lord Jelin Russell rises to propose a measure founded on very different principles from any of its predecessors—with what prospect of suc cess so many failures forbid us even to conjecture.— Times. LADvErarsEmENT.]--Among the numerous extraordi nary cures, without medicine, of Indigestion (Dyspepsia)„ Flatulency, Constipation. Nerious, Bilious and Li ver com plaints, Cough, Asthma, Constipation. and Debility, effected by Du Barry's delicious Health Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, the following are not the leas: rem ar k a bl e : Cure No. 47,121.—" Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of Nazing Vicarage, Waltharn-eross, Harts; a cure of extreme ner vousness, indigestion, gathering, low spirits, and nervous fancies." Cure No. 43,814.—" Miss Elizabeth Yeoman, Gateacre, near Liverpool : cure of ten year s ' dy s p e p s i a an d all the horrors of nervous irritability." Cure 3,9o6—Thir t ,gin cough, indigestion and general debility have been removed by Du Barry's excellent Revalenta Arabica Food. Athol-street, l'erth. Jenks Porter. Cure. No: 58,116, Mrs. Holze, aged 107 years, of dyspepsia. (indiges tlon), debility, irritability and nervousness which had tormented her for seventy years. Cure No. 46.814, Mr. Samuel Laxton, Leicester, of two years' diarrhoea. In tins, at Is. 6d.; Ilb., 35.; 21b., ss. 9d.; 51b., 125.; 121 b., 265. The 101 b. and 121 b. tins carriage free, on receipt of post office order. Du Barry and Co., 77, Regent-street, London Fortnum,• Mason, and Co., 182, Piccadilly ; Abbis, 60, Gracechureh-street ; 4, Chealside ; 63, and 150, Oxford street; 330 and 451, Strand • 49 and 60, Bishopsgate street ; 85, Tottenham-court-road. Also at Dublin, Bewley 'and Draper ; at Edinburgh, Raimes and Co. at Liverpool, Nixon and Thew ; at Man c h es t er , Sh arp an d Scott; at York, Raines, ;Blalkohozd j and Co.;' at Bout/a arnpton, awl Son. THE RECENT GALES. LATEST PARTICULARS. We have to add to the already large list of acci dents the following account of the casualties caused by the violence of the late gale :—Along both banks of the river the damage has been immense, there being scarcAy one of the ware houses that has not had its roof most exten sively damaged. Between Blackfriars and South wark bridges, on the Surrey side, a lightning conductor, attached by strong fastenings to a lofty shaft, was forced from its position and carried away, dragging with it a large portion of the brick work, which with a loud crash fell to the ground. In the Westminster-road a man was delivering some goods from a cart, and whilst in the vehicle the wind suddenly caught him, and he was thrown out on the roadway and snstained very severe in jury. A very alarming occurrence took place at the Addington-square Baths, Camberwell-road. It seeing that whilst the gale was at its height the inhabitants of the . locality were sudded ly alarmed by hearing a tremendous crash, when it was disco vered that the whole frontage of the baths facing the canal had been blown down, and the debris hurled into the canal, nearly stopping the naviga tion ; several persons had a very narrow escape. The extensive premises of Mr. Thomas Farmer, vitriol manufacturer, near Kennington•park, have been most extensively damaged. One of the build ings, of upwards of 150 feet in length, had the cop ing ridr carried quite off, together with a porion of the roof. A man named George Rumsell, aged 60, who lived in Lambeth-walk, was proceeding down Victoria-street, when a large chimney, blown from one of the houses, struck the poor fellow a terrible blow on the head, which hurled him to the ground. He was taken in an insensible state to Westminster Hospital. A man named William Wooton. aged 20, was struck by a piece of coping-stone blown from a house in the West minster-road, and he sustained such severe injury that he was obliged to be removed to the hospital. A woman named Mary Yaning, aged 40, whilst crossing Vauxhall-bridge-road received a tremendous blow on the head from some brick woik blown from a house. She was dread fully hurt, and was taken to 'Westminster Hospital. A serious accident happened near Westminster bridge to a man named Richard Martin ; one of the lamps being blown from its position, and falling on the poor fellow, inflicted such serious injuries that his removal to the hospital was found to be neces sary, Long before daybreak the storm had seriously damaged many of the larger-sized vessels lying-in mid-stream, and along the wharves on the Middle sex and Surrey sides of the river, and the naviga tion of the Pool at one time was considered im practicable and dangerous to human life. Many heavy crafts broke away from their powerful gear, and were drifted a considerable distance. In some instances the property destroyed was very valuable, and many large ships were unable to enter the docks at Blackwall or other similar establishments lower down the Pool. At Bromley Cut, a part well known to the Eastenders, a little boy, named George White, was playing upon the deck of a barge, when a sudden gust of wind whirled him into the water. An instant alarm was raised, and although drags were brought into requisition the body was not re covered for some minutes. He was conveyed to the nearest receptacle, but all efforts to restore ani mation were unfortunately of no avail. The body awaits in inquest. STOCKPORT.—On Tuesday, during the severe gale of wind, the Wesleyan day-schools, in Great Portland-street, Brinnington, Stockport, were par tially blown down whilst 420 children were pur suing their studies inside. About half-past eleven o'clock the wind, which was blowing from the north-west, took off a part of the roof, without, however, doing any serious damage. The school master and mistress, Mr. Joseph Farnsworth and Miss Hall, became alarmed for the safety of the children, and ordered them to quit the building. Whilst the children were leaving a terrific gust of wind came from the same quarter as before, and lifted the roof from the walls. A debris of stones, bricks, and wood fell on all sides, and a number of the children were knocked down whilst taking flight. A little boy, about four years old, named John Ashton, whose parents live in Chapel-street, Brinnington, was killed on the spot, being fright fully mangled by the fall of debris; and a number of others were severely, and in some instances, dan gerously wounded. The cause of the accident was commonly reported to be the way in which the schools were built. The architect was said to be Mr. ta l,Vite.or., 11.11-. —a iv ',tr. tlrn L uonynurst , near tanchester. The build ing was erected in 1858, which date appears on the north wall. The walls were brick, with a facing of Yorkshire stone. The style was Gothic, the side walls having buttresses about 12ft. apart. The ground floor was divided into half a dozen class rooms, in which 320 children were being taught at the time of the accident; the upper story comprised a single room, with an open timber roof of considerable steepness. The more advanced class occupied this room. It is rather a singular fact that a bell turret on the side where the wind seemed to have caught the roof was entirely uninjured. The schools stood in an open space of ground, surrounded by an iron railing. The large stones from the walls, as well as heavy pieces of wood from the roof, not only fell through the floor of the top room, penetrating to the room below, but in two parts of the building they also carried away the floor of the ground-floor rooms into the cellar beneath. The schools were under the management of a committee of gentlemen living chiefly in the neighbourhood, and their original cost was about £2,000. This is the second accident that has occurred at the schools, the roof having been blown off in a similar manner during their erection. DERBY.—The gale was severely felt at Derby on Monday. Between three and four o'clock on Mon day afternoon, the fine spire of the new parish church of St. Alkmund, Derby, was seen to wave to and fro, and directly afterwards a large portion of it fell with a tremendous crash on to the high pitched roof of the church, penetrating through, smashing the organ case, and doing considerable damage. Several hundred pounds will be rect uired to make good the damage. Almost a t the same time one of the pinnacles of St. Marie's Roman Catholic Church fell into the churchyard, but the damage was not great. The large chimney at Messrs. West's colour works, Nun-street, was blown down on the workshops beneath, but as timely warning had been given, the men had all got out of the way. Numbers of trees in every direction were torn up by the roots, and although we have heard of hair breadth escapes of men, women, and children, we are happy to say that no loss of life has occurred in the neighbourhood. The storm ceased about twelve on Monday night. MAX CHEST ilt.—The following is the only case of accident or injury of which we have heard, as re sulting from the heavy gale which commenced early on Tuesday morning, and continued till the after noon. William Boyce and James M oore, two little boys, who live in Carter-street, were passing along Corporation-street, at about noon, when one of the placard boards used by Messrs. Taylor, Garnett, Erans, and Co., was blown down, and fell upon the boys, injuring them about the head. They were removed to the Royal Infirmary, and after Boyce had been attended to he was taken home. Moore remained, but a speedy recovery is anticipated. NORWicm—Norwich and the neighbourhood was visited on Tuesday afternoon by a gale of such severity as. to amount almost to a huriicane. At Thorpe several large trees were torn from the earth, in one ease with such violence as to knock down an adjoining wall. In St. Giles-street the side of a house was blown out in a strange manner, and one of the small spirelets of St. Martin's-at-Palace church was torn down. A chimney shaft in the manufactory of Mr. Ketton was also partially blown down ; and the number of tiles and slates torn from the roofs:—in one or two cases stacks of chimneys shared the same fate—was immense. Silt ELDs.—The north-west gale, which blew with terrific violence over the Northumberland coast on Monday, subsided about midnight. It was suc ceeded by a heavy fall of snow which came on at daylight. Telegraphic communication, which was stopped on Monday night between London and Newcastle and the East of Scotland by the poles being blown down between York and Newcastle, was resumed on Tuesday morning. [AovEnTisEmENT.]—Mr. Benson. Ludgate-hill, has just published anew illustrated pamphlet on watches (free by past for two stamps). It should be read by all who are about buying . a watch, as it contains prices and important informa tion as to -What watch to buy ! where to bay it ! and how to use it! EA D VElt TlAEMEl , T.]—Notice.—ln consequence of Messrs. La wes and Aorton having just commenced 18,10 with opposi tion similar to that which they previously advanced, and wish ing to do those gentlemen every justice, Nlr. Thorley is induced to enlarge his coining pamphlet, making it (11 pages instead of 32 showing beyond doubt that their observations on the so-called "Concentrated Cattle Food," and so-culled "feeding statistics," are without foundation ; that the ltothamsted experiment was not made with his food, and consequently that this complete failure must either be through mism mage- Irma or from buying the Condiment at the wrong shop. Th o first impression of One Hundred Thousand Copies will be ready about the first day of March, and may be had post free on receipt of Three Stamps, on application to Joseph Thorley, the Inventor and sole Proprietor of " Thorley's Food for Cattle," 77, Newgate-street, London ; 21, Broadway t York, United States; Mr. J. W. Thorley, lgell,)q4r A d ; vic toria; Mr. Alfred Burt, Sydney, New South Wo esi , koci of all his ao•ents 811'0,1 1 149 . 44 t 4 WWI Ich.v'dora.—Feb. 2,1800. •• • 'R • LAW INLELLIGENCE.—Feb. 29. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT.—FEB. 29. (Before Vice-Chancellor Sir IL T. Kindersley.) MORTON V. PUZEY. This was a suit instituted by the owner of the well-known place of amusement the Canterbury hall against the owners of the adjoining property, to determine the rights of the parties with re ference to an interference with the beneficial en joyment of the last-named property by reason of the building of a projection by the plaintiff over hanging the defendant's ground. This projection formed a portion of a recent enlargement of the Canterbury-hall. The plaintiff alleged that the interference with the neighbouring property took place with the assent of its late owner (a Mr. Grey, now deceased), and that, in fact, Mr. Grey saw and approved of the plans for the alteration. The de fendants denied this statement, and set up as their case that no agreement was ever entered into. Mr. Bazalgette, Mr. Humphrey, and Mr. Morris appeared for the parties. The Vice-Chancellor said that no doubt the death of Grey had involved the case in some obscurity, and that in his absence direct evidence upon im portant points was to a great extent wanting, but upon the general circumstances of the case his Honour came to the conclusion that the assent of Mr. Grey had been given to the plan which in volved the erection of the overhanging projection, and that a decree must be made in the terms prayed by the bill. COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE. (Before Sir C. Cresswell.) BROAD V. HARRISON AND BROAD. This was a testamentary cause tried before his lordship and a common jury at the last sittings. A verdict was given against the will, on. the ground of incapacity. Dr. Spinks moved for a rule for a new trial, On the ground that the verdict was against evidence. The Court granted a rule nisi. BROAI)BENT V. HUGHES. In this case a jury had returned a verdict in favour of the will of a testator named Hughes, and probate had been granted by the Court, but time had been taken to consider the question of costs. The defendant, who opposed the will on the grounds of undue execution, incapacity, and undue influ ence, was the nephew of the deceased ; the plain tiff was the executor, and the husband of a niece of the deceased, in whose favour the will is made. Mr. Sergeant Shee, Dr. Wambey, and Mr. Fran cis were counsel for the executor; Dr. Phillimore, Q.C., and Dr. Tristram for the defendant. Sir C. Cresswell said he had been anxious to ex tract from the books some definite rules with re gard to the costs of an unsuccessful opposition to a will, but he had been unable to find any certain rules laid down on the subject. In some cases the parties opposing had been relieved from the neces sity of paying costs, because the deceased had left his papers in a state of confusion, which naturally led to dispute ; in other cases they had been relieved from that necessity in consequence of the parties in whose favour the will was made having so con ducted themselves as to excite suspicion. After looking through the correspondence and the evi dence, he had come to the conclusion that there were circumstances in this case calculated to excite the suspicion of the defendant, and therefore the Court would not condemn him in costs; but it would be very mischievous to allow wills lightly to be re sisted at the expense of the parties in whose favour they were made, and therefore the costs of the op position would not be allowed out of the estate. PRYOR V. PRYOR. The question in this case was, whether the will of the late Anthony Pryor, of Plymouth, could be admitted to probate, notwithstanding that one of the attesting witnesses had signed her husband's name instead of her own in the attestation clause by the desire of the testator, her husband not having been present at the time of the execution. Dr. Swabey, who appeared in support of the will last week, examined the two persons who had signed the will as attesting witnesses. His Lordship now said he adhered to the opinion which he had formed at the hearing of the cause, that the attestation was not valid, and pronounced. against the will. CLARK V. CLARK. Dr. Deane, Q.C., for the petitioner, moved for an order upon the respondent to submit to cross-exa mination with regard to the facts stated in his an swer to his wife's petition for alimonypendente lite. The wife charged against him an income of about £B,OOO a year, including an establishment and race horses at Epsom, a lead mine, and a large amount of money owed to him by various persons, for which he held security. In his answer he admitted that he had been in possession of this property, but said it d nu lust, utla Ile ad no income at present but an allowance of £3 a week made to him by his principal creditor. Dr. Phillimore, Q.C., for the respondent, opposed the motion. The substance of the answer was that in October last the respondent became so embar rassed in his circumstances that an execution was issued against him, and he was in d anger o f arrest ; that he could not have parted with his property except at a great sacrifice, and that he applied to a gentleman, who consented to advance £17,000 to pay up the premiums upon his policies of insurance and other pressing claims upon having as security an assignment of all his real and personal estate. He submitted that this was a sufficient answer. His Lordship said the accounts were very com plicated, and he must take time to look into them. BOYNTON V. BOYNTON. Dr. Spinks (with whom was Mr. D. Keane) moved for a rule nisi for a new trial in this case on the ground that the verdict upon the issue of cruelty was against evidence. The petition was by Laura Elizabeth Boynton, for the dissolution of her marriage with George Boynton on the ground of adultery, coupled with cruelty, and it was tried before the full court and a jury on the 27th of January last. The jury found that the allegations of cruelty as well as those of adultery had been established. The learned counsel referred to dif ferent Darts of the evidence of Mrs. Boynton, and to the letters she had written to her husband during cohabitation, for the purpose of showing that no such cruelty had been established as would hare justified the court in granting a judicial separation, and that she had never thought of making any complaint of her husband's ill-treatment until her indignation had been roused by his infidelity. His Lordship was of opinion that there was no ground for disturbing the verdict. The jury had paid great attention to the case, and no complaint was made of the summing up of the learned judge, Mr. Justice Wightman. The fact that Mrs. Boynton had allowed the ill-usage with which she charged her husband to pass without notice for a considerable time was well worthy the attention of the jury, but it was left to their consideration, and there could be no doubt that the adultery of Captain Boynton remitted Mrs. Boynton to her original position with regard to her right to com plain of that ill-usage if it had been committed. Mrs. Boynton d e p ose in positive terms to various acts of violence ; she said she had been beaten on four or five occasions, that she bad been dragged about, that she had been violently shaken, that she had received a hea v y bl o w on her head which broke her comb, and that she frequently had marks o pinches or bruises on her arm ; and some parts o. her evidence was corroborated by a female servan The letters which were addressed to her husband in 1853, when he was in the Crimea, were remarkabl e for the affectionate terms in which they were written, but the learned judge pressed them upon the consideration of the jury, and told them that they showed either that Mrs. B. oynton had no t spoken truly, or that she was of a very forgiving disposition. The jury must have adopted the latter view. The fact that she made no complaints before she discovered the adultery was consistent with that view, for she might have condoned the acts of was against j sence perpetrated. id cruelty when that last outrage 7. The case went to the jury upon her that of Capt. Boynton. It is painful t o see a hus band and wife positively contradicting one another upon oath, but it was for the jury t o come to a con; elusion as to which of them was telling the truth, and he could not say that the conclusion at which the jury had arrived was wrong, or that th ere was not sufficient eviden ce to sustain it. He should, therefore, refuse the application for a rule for a new trial. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. HOME CIRCU IT. - --HERTFORD, FEB. 29. The commission for the county of Herts was opened in this town on Tuesday, and yesterday morning both courts 'proceeded to dispose of the business, Lord Chief Justice Erle presiding on the Civil side, and Nir. Justice Wightman in the Crown Court. There are nine causes entered on the Civil side, four of which are special jury cases. On the criminal sid e th ere are 22 prisoners for trial, but none of the charges are of a serious character. - CROWN SIDE. (Before Mr. Justice Wightmaii.) Win. Dimniock, 36, and Simeon Richardson, 36, were indicted for a robbery, with violence, upon Jonas Valentine.. Mr. Bushby conducted the prosecution. The prosecutor was a farmer, residing in the neighbourhood of Essenden, near Hertford, and on the evening of October 4 6th he was at a public house at that place, called the Salisbury Crest, and left to return home about a quarter past 8 o'cleek. When he had got a short distance, a man whom he believed tube the prisoner Richardson came up to him and put some question to him, and as he was about to reply the prisoner knocked him into a ditch and struck him with a life preserver, and another man, who was stated to be the other pri soner, then came up, and the two rifled his pockets of the money and other property that was about hi 3 person. It was proved that both the prisoners were drinking at a beer-shop about the time the robbery was committed, and that they were seen following the prosecutor, and there was no reason able doubt, upon the evidence, that the prisoners were the parties by whom the offence was committed. The prisoner Dimmock, when called upon for his defence, made a very plausible statement, to the effect that he was entirely innocent of the crime of which he was accused, and he esserted that the robbery was committed by his fellow prisoner ; and he said he told him at the time that he was afraid he would get him into trouble, although he was quite innocent. The other prisoner Richardson, before he made his defence, asked the learned jadge to inform him whether the statement that had been made by his companion would be taken as evidence against him. Mr. Justice Wightman said—Certainly not, and he should tell the jury that it ought not to weigh at all against him. Richardson then made a long and elaborate state ment to the jury. He commenced by expressing his regret that he was unable to address a Court and jury in the manner they should be, by reason of his want of education, but he said he hoped to be able to satisfy them that there was no foundation for the charge that had been made against him. He said that he was a bricklayer, and having been thrown out of work by the strike in London, he came down into Hertfordshire to seek for employment, and between Hatfield and Essenden he met his fel low-prisoner Dimmock, whom he recognised as having been in confinement with him at Portland. They got into conversation,and Dimmock told him that he had been living in the neighbourhood, and that he had " wormed himself" into the good opinion of the squire and the parson, and that he intended to rob them both the first opportunity that presented itself. He then detailed several plans he had made to commit different robberies during the winter, and said that when he had got all he could he intended to leave the place, and he, wished him (Richardson) to join in these robberies, but he refused to do so. They then went to a beer shop, and Dimmock told him that there was no one in the house but an old man and woman and a girl, and he knew where they kept the money, and he proposed to secrete himself in an up-stairs room,- and to come down in the night and let him in; and he said that they could then join in the robbery. He declared that ho refused to have any concern in the matter, and Dimmock afterwards told him that he had watched an old farmer, whom he believed to be the prosecutor, and that he should have robbed him on a previous night if he had not had some one with him. The prisoner then went on to say that Dimmock and another man whom he called his mate were the persons who robbed the prosecutor, and that he now had th e t reac h ery , or rather, as he said, the " villany " to accuse him of it, in order that he, who was the really guilty party, might escape punishment. The learned judge having summed up, the jury almost immediately returned a verdict of guilty against both prisoners, and certificates were put in by which it appeared that they had been previously convicted of felony, and sentenced to four years' penal servitude. They were sentenced to be kept in penal servi tude for ten years. Lord Chief Justice Erie was engaged the greater part of the day in trying an action for slander, which did not possess the least feature of interest to the public. COUNTRY MARKETS. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE-FEE. 28. The wheat trade during the week has an•aii; be firm, but to-day the market ruled very d u ll, and the is advance realised last Saturday could scarcely be maintained. The millers were holding off in anticipation of tho a r r i va l o f th e fleet of grain vessels. LYNN—FEB. 28. To-day's ma r k e t was mo d era t e l y supp li e d with wheat, in improved condition, and all descriptions sold readily at last Tuesday's rates. Barley and beans unchanged. Old white 44s to 48s I Old red 42. to 45a New white....... 42. to 47s I New red... 39. to 45s HULL-FEB. 28. A pretty fair attendance to-day, and a moderate show of farmers' wheat, which sold at about last week's currencies. Malting and grinding barley in good request, at full rates ; clean parcels fit for seed obtained is to 2s more mons7. Oats in good demand, and is dearer, Beans, peas, &c., tY favour of sellers. Linseed and rape cake firm, without change. Wheat.... Old white.... per qr ... 46s Od to 50s Od Old red New white .. „ New red .... „ Dantzic, Konb , &c. old white 50a Od to 025 04 Dutch, Belgian, and French 4sa Od to 47s Od Baltic and Hamburg, red St. Petersburg and Riga, old 398 Od to 44s Od Barley.... English malting 36s Od to 42s Od Grinding 3os Od to 32s Od Saal and Oderbruck Holstein and Danish 34s Od to 38s Od Grinding 268 Od to 29s Od Oats English, old Archangel and Riga, per st Os 101 d to lid Friesland and Dutch oBlld to 0.114 i Swedish and Da n i s h O s lld t o 0 8 110 Beans ....English, old, per qr 468 Od to 48s Od New pigeon 4OB Od to 42s Od __ _ New tick, 39s Od to 40s Od Egyptian 37s Od to 38s 04 Peas Foreign breakers Grinding Taros .... Winter —s Od to —s 14 Indian Corn Linseed, feeding crushing Linseed cakes (Hull) £lo 10 0 to £lO 15 0 Foreign 715 oto 8 6 0 Rape cakes 415 oto 5 0 I Bones MARKET HARBOROUGH-FEB. 28. There was a tolerable supply of wheat, which met a fair demand, at about former rates. White wheat, 43s tio 465; red, 403 to 41s per 36 stone. Barley, old, 3,5 s to 41s; new, 26s to 325. Oats were a stationary, from 23s to 30. per 24 stone. Beans (old), at 38s to 41s ; new, 34. to 411$ per 38 stone. DUBLIN—FEB. 28. At our market to-day there was little doing, bat lat. currencies were fully supported. A small supply of every description of grain. s. d. s. d. N. d. N. d. Wheat, white.. 28 6t030 6 Do., new .—oto 0 Do., red 27 oto 28 6 Bere . ........ 13 oto 14 0 Do., new --0 to 0 ! Rapeseed .... 20 0 to 28 4 Barley Oats Do., black ll 6to 12 6 Indian corn .. 32 6t035 0 FOREIGN MAIL PACKET LIST. the following table E signifies that letters are despatched by evening mails from London, and M by morning mails. DESTIN ATIONS. Next Australia ai ll ----- i - i% ----- lauritius, via! Despatch Port of Malt of Mails. Despatch. due. Southampto n ;Mar. 12,M +Southamp. Mar. 11 Ditto, via Marseilles ;Mar.l9, E/ March 5 Bahamas and Havana via Newl C anad York ;Mar. 16, E Liverpool.. Mar. 15 a, &c. (by Canadn. pckt.) ! E Liverpool.. Feb. 29 Cape of Go o d Hope, Ascen-,' 1 sion, and St. H e l ena lMar. 5, ElDevenport April 1 China, Penang., and Singa pore , vi a S outhampton i Mar. 3, M;Southamp , Mar. 3 Ditto, via Mars e ill es qUar. 10, Ek Mar. 14 Gibraltar, via Southamnton.. Mar. 3 ,MiSouthamp. overdue Honduras and Blewfields .... Mar. 17, at, Southanap. Mar. 16 India (Calcutta) and Ceylo n ,) via Southamnton !Mar. :' 3 , MlSouthamp. Mar, 3 Ditto, via Marseilles Mar. 10, E , Mar. 14 India (Bombay), via South-! ampton Mar. 12, M Southamp. overdue Ditto, via Marseilles Lisbon, Brazils,Buenos Ayres, and F. Islands Mar. 9, M l Southamp. Mar. 5 Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto Mar. 7, M Southamp. Mai& I (Salta, Egypt, and Ades, via Southampton Mar. 3, M Southamp. overdue Ditto, via Marseilles Mexico and Havana Newfoundland United States and British N America (by British paeket)'Mar. 2, E Liverpool.. Mar, 7 Ditto (by U. S. packet) West Coast of Africa, Ma deira, and Teneriffe Mar, 23 If Liverpool.. Mar. 10 West India, California, Yene-' zuela, Chili, Peru, Grey town, New Granada, &c. !• iSoutkamp. BIRTHS. AsTLEr.—On the 27th ult., at Rutland-gate, the wife of Lieut.-Col. Astley, of a daughter. BLomrIELD.—On the 28th ult., at 3, Finsbury-circus, the wife of the Rev. F. G. Blomfield, of a daughter. DARE.—On the 28th ult., at Peckham, Mrs. Thos. Dare, jun., of a son. PAILEURY.—On the 28th ult., at Roupell-park, the wife of G. W. Parbury, Esq., of a son. MARRIAGES. M __WILLIAMSON.—O n th e 10 t h Jan., at Singa pore,C Macdonald, E sq., son of the late Captain A M acdonald , D N Johnk of the 91st R eg t ., to Emilie Sophia, eldest ,p E daughter of Thomas Williamson, Esq., of Savage-gar dens, Trinity-square. Titoup—Tnonr.—On the kith ult. at Trinity Church, Rainow, Sarni. Thorp, Esq., of Melbourne, Australia, to Anna, only daughter of Saml. Thorp, Esq., Tower-hill, Rainow, near Macclesfield. DEATHS. ALLEx.—On the 2Sth Feb. at the Court Lod g e, St one , near Dartford, M r. Win. Allen, aged 70. EnwAuDs.—On the 28th ult., at 31, Upper Phillimore place, Kensington, Win. Edwards, Esq., late of Crouch Oak, Surrey. lirrentN.—On the 27th ult., Mr. Win. Hitchin, of Mid dlewich, Cheshire, aged 65. KENDALL.—On the 27th ult., at his residence, 2, Park place, Gloucester-gate, Regent's-park, Mr. John Ken dall, aged 61. LONDON : Printed and Published by MORD() YOUNcy, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, is the county of Wildlofielt, Thursday, March 1, 1860. • S 1 14 ,~ _~