The Sun. — London, England, 1860-05-01 00:00:00

BENSON'S WATCHES. " Perfection of mechanism." —Morning Post. Gold, Silver 2to 50 guineas. Bend 2 stamps for Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet, descr'p tive of every construction of watch now made, with their prices. Watches sent to all parts of the kingdom fres by post, or to India and the Colonies for ss. extra. 33 and 34, Ludgate-hill, London, E.C. Established 1749. T HEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buskstone. THIS EVENING, will be performed VICTIMS. Messrs. Buckstone, Farren, Cullenford, Sze. ; Mrs. B. White, Miss M. Ternan, Mrs. Griffiths, &c. And BOX AND COX. After which, a new fairy romance, THE PILGRIM OF L OVE. JO YAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Lessee, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, to commence with MY WIFE'S OUT. Mr. Widdicomb and Miss L. Keeley. Followed by THE FOOL'S REVENGE. Bertucelo, a Jester, Mr. Phelps. To conclude with the extravaganza of THE SYLPHIDE. Miss C. Leclercq, Miss Louise Keeley, Miss Helen Howard, Miss Rose Leclercq, Mr. Shore, Mr. Baker, and Mr. Frank Matthews, Commence at 7. ADELPHI, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. Sole froprietor and Manager. Mr. Benj. Webster . Engagement of the celebrated American Actress, Miss JULIA DALY, and Mr. LEIGH MURRAY. THIS EVENING, TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. Mr. Leigh Murray, J. L. Toole, C. Selby, Romer; Miss H. Simms, K. Kelly, Laidlaw. and Mrs. Chatterley. After which, OUR FEMALE AMERICAN COUSIN. Messrs. Stuart, C. Selby, Billington, Eburne, Miss Julia Daly: - K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and Mrs. Chatterley. To conclude with the Fairy Extravaganza, THE FAIR ONE WITH THE GOLDEN LOCKS. King Lachrymoso, Mr. J. L. Toole ; Count Pleniposo, Mr. P. Bedford ; Viscount Veryaoso, Mr. C. J. smith ; Graceful, Miss Woolgar ; Queen Lucidora, Miss Emily Thorne ; Mollmopsa, Miss K. Kelly. Box-office open from 10 till 5. Private boxes, £2 21. ; Family Boxes, £l. Orchestra Stalls, ss. ; Balcony, 45.: Front Circle Stalls, 3s. • Pit Stalls, 2e.; Pit, is. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, Is ; Gallery, 6d. A.oting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. R OY AL LYCEUM THEATRE.- Under the management of Mr. Wm Brourrh. THIS EVENING, a new comic drama entitled NEXT OF KIN. Messrs. Emery, S. Calhaem, Tilbury, &c. ; Mesdames E. Travers and K. Saxon. After which, the burlesque of THE FORTY THIEVES. Miss Lyd!a Thompson, Rise Clara St. Casse, Miss E.Travers, Miss K. Saxon, Mrs. Wallis ; Messrs. Emery, Tilbury, ; and a numerous Corps de Ballet. Followed by WHITEBAIT AT GREENWICH. Sir W. Don. To conclude with THE MIDDY ASHORE. Miss Lydia Thompson. Gmmence at 7. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, King-street, St. James's. Lessee, Mr. T. B. Chatter ton. Directress, Miss Wyndham. The nearest Theatre to Chelsea, Pimlioo, and Westminster, the Park being open to carriages and foot passengers all hours of the night. THIS EVENING the performance, will nommenee with a new and original comedy, entitled A FRIEND IN NEED. F Robinson, C. Young, &c. After which, A LADY AND GENTLEMAN IN A PE CULIAR PERPLEXING PREDICAMENT. Mr. Charles Toung and Miss Wyndham. Followed by a new burlesque, LITCREZIA BORGIA AT HOME AND ALL ABROAD. Mesdames Wyndham, E. Scott, Cecilia Ranoe, Miss Clara Morgan, and the Corps de Ballet. ---- Reduced Prices—Gallery, 6d ; Pit, is. The Box-offloe open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half-past six ; perform ance commences at 7. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- Proprietor, Mr. Wm. BATTY. Manager, Mr. EDWIN HUGHES. First Appearanee of Little MONONI and the celebrated Delevant' Troupe, who are engaged at a great expense. Great and unprecedented success of the NEW GRAND MILITARY SPECTACLE, universally pronounced to be the most perfect and magnificent production ever witnessed in this Theatre. The enthusiastic approbation bestowed upon the novel and varied Scenes in the Cirque is the best assurance of the unequalled talent of the eminent Equestrian Artistes who nightly appear. THIS EVENING, and during the Week, To commence with the Great Military Spectacle, in Four Acts, called "Tnx HISTORY OF A FLAG,' succeeded by an incomparable programme of Scenes in the Arena, supported by the most renowned and talented Equestrian and Gymnas tic Artistes in Europe. The magnificent Chan•'eliers are manufactured expressly by Messrs. Defies and Son, of Houndsditch. Doors open at half-past 6 o'clock, performance commence at 7. Box-office open daily from 11 till 4. Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST. CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS.- THIS EVENING. C. H. GOUNOD'S OPERA, FAUST: First Time in this Country. Faust Mr. Henry Herbert Mephistopheles Mr. C. Bernard. Siobel Mrs. Anderson. Marguerite Conductor Mr. Jonghmans. And selections from Dinorah, Trovatore, Macbeth, and numerous other Entertainments. Balcony, is, Hall, ed. Combo Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come dian and Mimic), and W. T. Critbhfield. Pinfitroa arr. added to the Fine Arts Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant sights of the metropolis. The gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening. THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, MAY 1, 1360. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 62—highest since noon yesterday. 44 —lowest this morning and during the night. 62 —this day at noon. MtROMETER-30.38 ; falling. WIND, Easterly; fresh, with fine weather. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 10h. 12m.—Afternoon, 10h. 48m. To-Moaßow.-Morning, 11h. 21m.—Afternoon, 11h. 49m. A , _ % .. ;t t'` THE SUN. LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1860. For what earthly purpose is the business of the country suspended for mere speech-making ? II it be agreed that the bill of the Government is to be read a second time, why do second-rate speakers thus waste time in the merest iteration ? Not a single new idea relieves the irksomeness of a whole evening's discussion, and yet members are doomed to listen and newspapers to print what is to hare no practical result whatever. The House of Com mons prides itself on being the most businesslike assembly in the world; but we certainly see nothing very businesslike in occupying the public time with some threescore speeches when what is to be done has been already settled. To us this looks much more like the conversation or gossip of a tea party than the proceedings of a businesslike legislative assembly. Some " dodge," some " cunning tactics," are na turally suspected. They were pretty successful on the Church•rate Abolition Bill; it is naturally supposed that they may be resorted to again. Rumours of all kinds begin to circulate. A morn ing contemporary, never behind hand with " assur ances on the best authority," has such an assurance that Lord JOIN RUSSELL'S franchise is to collapse into a £l6 one for the counties and an £8 one for the boroughs. Another rumour furnished to our selves by a very good authority--we will not say an infallible one is, that it is determined to delay the passing of the bill till the registration in force under the existing Act has been completed. It is considered that by this means Parliament cannot be dissolved at the end of this session, as the old registration would be the one in force, and it would be absurd to elect a Parliament by the old constituency while a more limited one was still on the registers. If anything like this be the real meaning of the inexcusable waste of time to which the public business is now subjected, better far to announce at once that the passing of the bill should not be followed by an immediate dissolu tion. The whole country knows that this would be a concession most agreeable to members, who have so recently incurred expense more or less heavy for their• seats. Nor would it be so very objectionable. If it did but secure the passing of the bill, the pre sent members would feel the full effect immediately of the enlarged number of constituents to whom they must appeal next time. It could not be long befor e they rrnist do so, and we can sce no great harm likely to result to the Liberal cause from the present memb, ers having a year's grace before they gave an account of their stewardship before the new as well as the old auditors. One of the naost common grounds on which the Government Rill is assailed is that, if any predomi nance of one class over another is permitted, our representation is gone. Sir E. B. LYTTON set forth the objection with all the grace of his oratory, and humbler speakers of all grades have brought it up again and again. But now, looking at the whole representation of the country in the Legisla ture—including, as it does, Queen,. Lords, -and Commons—has no class hitherto enjoyed an un questionable ascendancy ? If so, what class ? Will it for a moment be denied that it is the very class which uses this argument P Aristocracy says —Let no class predominate. Then the reply is— Give us an elective House of Peers, freely chosen by appropriate constituencies of the whole people. It is surely the height of absurdity for Ray mem ber of the privileged classes to hold such language as this. Mr. BRIGHT was taken to task last night for saying out of the house respecting the aristocracy what he does not say in the house. We leave him to assign what reason he thinks best for his silence in one place, but we do not see how those who denounce class predominance can defend a House of Lords composed of the great territorial landlords of the country. We are not attacking such an institution, but we do assert that those who defend it had better not generalise their argument against the predominance of a class in the Legis lature. The statistics of the Government were, of course, attacked forthe twentieth time, no doubt from kind ness to members who wished to take a few minutes' nap. The subject must remain where it was; it is plain that the Government returns were carefully and honestly prepared, and no private information will be relied on so much by the public generally. But it is not a question of numbers—it is a ques tion how far householders ought to be entrusted with the franchise. Now, in the times of Chartism, an advanced Liberal was thought very moderate who went no further than household suffrage; and what proportion of house holders do the public suppose will be enfranchised by the bill ?—as nearly as may be, just one in four. The inhabited houses of the kingdom amounting to 4,800,000, the proposed constituency to 1,200,000, surely one in four of the householders of the coun try, and one in six or seven of the adult males, need alarm no reasonable man with the fear of a flood of democracy. We heard again last night, as we have heard before, of the extension being chiefly amongst the most corruptible class. We are by no means sure of that. The class which works for wages is not at all more venal than that of small tradesmen—we should say less so. They are less frequently per haps in difficulty and debt, accustomed to live on their week's wages, and to know no care beyond ; they are perhaps less accessible to purely sordid considerations than the class which must depend for its livelihood on adroit bargaining with the wholesale dealer and with customers. But, be that as it may, what shall we say to this indictment of the House of Com mons by itself. It is but saying in other words—we —we, the uppermost classes, are uppermost in cor ruption also. There is such a deep taint on us, that if you enlarge the constituencies you will en large also the circle to which our corruption will extend. Now, the infection is limited—do not ex pose more to the moral contamination of our im morality. The reply to all which arguments ought to be the stern one—" Then, gentlemen, put down bribery." The House of Commons, it has been said again and again by its own members, is not honest in his attempts to put down bribery. It can do it and won't. The whole country knows it. But of all the self•condemning impertinence we ever heard of, nothing exceeds this—to look work lug menu iu the faun anti assign as a reason for refusing them the franchise—" WE are so utterly corrupt that if we grant you a vote we shall soon corrupt you." Surely the working men would reply—" Then, gentlemen, cease yourselves from corruption, and don't deprive us of our rights because of your depravity." A pertinent inquiry was addressed last evening in the House of Peers to her MAJESTY'S Govern ment, by Lord EBURY, with a view to the dis covery, if possible, of the future use designed for what was formerly Smithfield Market—now like many another vacated site in this great metropolis —like the waste land on which erstwhile stood the Fleet Prison—like the forlorn south-west corner of Downing-street—a howling wilderness ! Year after year we are talking about metropolitan im provements. Nay, for that matter we are session after session voting large sums of money for carry ing them out. Yet still we seem only in many instances to get just so far in that direction as the pulling dowa of some doomed edifice—as the girdling of the plot of ground on which it formerly stood, with a barrier of hideous timber called " hoarding," the very paradise of the bill-stickers ! Even in some instances we are actually so far advanced towards the realisation of our proposed metropolitan im provements as to have erected within the hoarding an unsightly puzzle of ropes and poles in the shape of a scaffolding. So far in a few exceptional in stances we have advanced—but no further. There is the Guards' Testimonial, for example, at the junc tion of Waterloo place and Pall-mall—for months past a very enigma of a pedestal to the thoughtful foreigner ! A granite pile carefully caged inside the customary scaffolding and the inevitable hoards —that variegated chaos of advertisements, among which we occasionally recognise the Sydenham Trousers, either standing-at-ease, or sitting cross legged, or foot in stirrup going out for a canter- Where again we behold the effigies, let us say, of a group of exceedingly cadaverous men in a cellar smacking their lips over glasses of very pale Cape that would be about as palateable to the connoiseur in vintages as the distillation of verjuice or the squeezings of a gooseberry. Or where, in a more generous mood of illustra tion, we have revealed to us the likeness of a full-bodied elderly gentleman, sipping a bum per of fine fruity port, at 245. the dozen, with an eye for the ruby and the beeswing, like a vignette to the loyal song of the late Mr. BRAIIAM—a song once so popular, now almost forgotten, " Here's a health to the King, GOD bless him !" With the exception of the advantages (sufficiently question able in themselves) thus gained in the shape of in formation from these familiar "posters"—there to this day stands without use or ornament, on the contrary, a very eyesore to the passerby—the Guards' Memorial. Something, we were assured the other day in the House of Commons, is really going to be put there—one of these days ! That is our only conso lation. And in the same way we have been pro mised ♦aguely for many years (we can scarcely recollect how many) those four granite lions at the base of the NELSON column in Trafalgar-square— that are still, so far as we can learn, no more sub stantial than S 3 many " baseless visions" in Sir EDWIN LANDSEER'S zoology-crowded imagination. The good time is coming, of course, when we shall have the Lions—when we shall have the Guards Testimonial—when the site of the Fleet Prison will again be filed up, say, by a Grand Central Rail way Terminus—when the vast area, once known as Smithfield Market will have been turned to some use again as a dead meat market, or in some other way rendered really conspicuous as one of our veritable metropolitan improvements. While we are yet waiting " a little longer" for the good time that is to bring us these good things among many others—that good time that is always coming but never does come after all—let us at any rate avail ourselves of the present opportunity. to put for our own part just one little additional query to the Right Hon. Gentleman the Minister of Public Works, or whatever his official title may really be —head of the Woods and Forests, Chief Commis sioner of Parks and Palaces. We ask Mr. COWPER then very earnestly, very eagerly, ♦ery anxiously How much longer is the northern extremity of the Serpentine, or as we believe that part of it is called, the Long Water in Kensington Gardens—How much longer is that beautiful corner of Kensington Gardens, how much longer is that hitherto charming margin of .the Serpentine to be disfigured by the chaos of rubbish littered together there by Mr. HAWKSLEY for the purpose of carrying out his now solemnly tabooed scheme of filtration ? We " pause for a reply." The Committee of Inquiry in regard to Mr. HAWKSLEY's scheme has sat and has reported. Its decision is happily conclusive. It sets aside the absurd project as worse than valueless. It puts a stop to the further waste of those £17,000 voted last session by the House of Commons in a moment of inexpli cable hallucination. The filter-beds, the force pumps, the drain-pipes, the gravel and the cements, the urns and the statuary, bricks, and mortar, and cement, and plaister of paris, and all the rest of that trumpery—are now of no further use whatever. When r again we ask, is all this rub bish to be carted away ? We want to see a good riddance of it. We want a total clearance without any more frivolous procrastination. We want again to see there the green sward under the trees, the water lapping upon the gravelled margin, the rus in urbe, the sylvan solitude even within sight and sound of the highway-traffic dividing Ken sington-gardens from Bayswater. Is the Green Isle a part of the United Kingdom or of the States of the Church ? Or is it preparing itself to become a compensation to his Holiness for the loss of the Romagna ? We do not remember more than one MORTARA case in the POPE'S domi nions, though we may have overlooked others, and still more may not have come before the eyes of all Europe. But in Ireland not less than five Catholic kidnappings have just occurred, and the strong arm of the law and the ingenuity of detectives have as yet failed to discover any clue to the whereabouts of the children, or even of their captors. It seems incredible, yet it must be true, as the facts have come before the Court of Queen's Bench in Ireland, and the judges have authorised the necessary legal means to recover possession of the children. In the first case, no fewer than four children were carried off in the light of day, and from a railway station ; and it seems to us unaccountable that the railway officials should permit it, and, if they did, that they can be held innocent. The mother, a widow, whose husband, at least, was a member of the Established Church, had sent the children by railway to the care of the matron of a " Protestant Orphanage." They were furnished with tickets, and plaeed in charge of the guard. Now, surely, the guard was either bound to see them safely into Mrs. HARNETT'S (the matron) care, or to tell the mother that he could not undertake the care of them. Having arrived at the station, they were, however, met by the matron, but against her will and con sent they were forced away from her into a covered car—the railway servants, we presume, witnessing the whole—and from that time to the present have been detained by their captors. The principal actor in this kidnapping case was aiL attorney's clerk named M. ROBINS. He took the children to a house in Galway, nine miles off. On the 20th of March, Judge HAYES, then on circuit there, ordered Mr. ROBINS to produce the children. Instead of obey ing, the attorney's clerk, two days after took took them to Dublin, and since then all clue to them has been lost. Two men named O'CONNOR aided in the business, and one of them has been captured ; but ROBINS and the other O'CONNOR still elude the search of the officers. In the other case a Miss AYLWARD, " matroness of a religious establishment," is the kidnapper. She will also have to answer interrogatories, but declares she will abide the consequences rather than produce the child. We hope the consequences will be confinement, and pretty rigorous confinement too, till the child is re• stored to its proper guardians. We know that religious party feeling is sadly strong in Ireland yet, and while Orangemen, and CULLENS, and MACHALES last, it is not likely to be otherwise. If, however, either of the sects can not even refrain from such breaches of the peace as abducting innocent children to train them up in its dogmas, the law ought to deal with them more severely even than with a PULLINGER himself. Bad enough to steal money, but child stealing, of all things in the world, can never be endured in a free country. Laws cannot touch superstition, and bigotry, but laws can surely prevent bigots from stealing our bodies to save our souls. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, as General Commanding in Chief, held a levee yesterday, at the Horse Guards, at which there was a full attendance of officers. The duke is still suffering from gout. The Duchess of Hamilton visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent yesterday at Buckingham Palace. DEATH OF THE DOWAGER LADY LANGFORD.— Frances Dowager Lady Langford died at her 'residence in Berkeley-square yesterday morning. Her ladyship was the only daughter and heir of the Hon. Clotworthy Rowley, brother of Hercules, Ist Viscount Langford. Her ladyship married, in 1791, Clotworthy, first Baron Langford, great grandfather of the present peer. Lady Langford was mother of Colonel the Hon. R. Rowley, M.P., and of the Hon. Mrs. Ferguson of Pitfour. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.— We are sorry to state that the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone has been unable since Thursday to attend to his parliamentary duties in consequence of a severe cold. The right hon. gentleman was somewhat better last evening. ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.—The anni versary meeting of this society, for the election of council and officers for the ensuing year, was held at their house in Hanover-square yesterday—Professor Owen in the chair. Reports from the council and auditors were read, detailing the proceedings of the society since the lasi anniversary. CURRENCY OF INDIA.—The official correspondence upon this subject has been laid before Parliament. It com prises the two Minutes of Mr. James Wilson—the one on the establishment of a paper currency, and the other on the pro posal to introduce a gold currency; which proposal Mr. Wilson rejects. The former paper discusses at length the subject of paper currency, and sketches a plan for its intro duction into India. The correspondence closes with Sir C. Wood's despatch of the 26th of March last, expre'Ssing the general concurrence of the Home Government in the out line of Mr. Wilson's plan, but reserving questions of detail for further consideration. Especially Sir C. Wood stipu lates that the circulation of Government paper is to be kept entirely distinct from any banking operations, the Govern ment establishment merely exchanging bullion for notes, and the converse; and that the amount of notes issued on Government securities must be confined to the limit (a fixed, not a variable limit) which shall be found, on experience, to be the smallest amount of notes necessary for the monetary transactions of the country, all issues beyond to be upon bullion in the bank. He observes that, as provision will probably be made by arrangement with the Bank of Bengal for the withdrawal of their notes from circulation, it migt be safe to assume the amount of their issues as the minimum circulation for Calcutta and the neighbouring. districts. He considers that the notes had better be manufactured here, and says that measures have been taken for forwarding a supply to Calcutta early in the autumn ; the notes to be for 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 rupees. He gives a characteristic suggestion that all the arrangements be devised with regard to strict economy. This plan is to be adopted gradually, beginning with Calcutta. THE GROWING CROPS.—The young wheats are considered to present, on the whole, a satisfactory appear ance in Norfolk, although__ the plant is backward and thin in some plat s. Barley sowing has not yet been quite com pleted, but great progress has been made. The harvest will probably, in consequence of the long continuance of the winter and the backwardness of the spring, be rather later than last year, but with fine weather and seasonable showers vegetation will make rapid progress. A favour able change took place on Saturday, which was a bright, mild day. A \ar . ~)- ~ ~ ,,5,_, 4' ? l ot.O.Jl•mA t . q. 47' ez# • 31 tl 1; O l' '::TILEVSUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 1, 1860. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE-PICCO- LO2ll.lM' S FAREWELL. The retirement from the stage-of her triumphs of the most' fascinating and popular, if not the most finished and gifted, of prime donne, was an event which might well be expected to crowd the " tryst ing place" where first the hand of the public was given in ratification of the acceptance of the Picco lomini as a favourite. The fewell of last evening was such as might be expected. Calls, encores, bouquets, and an applause, rather to the singers than the composers, were the order of the night. " Almina" was the opera, and the composition of Signor Campana was subjected to the all-absorbing attention devoted to the heroine. At the end of every important scene Mademoiselle Piccolomini was loudly applauded ; after the first act she was once, and after the second act twice recalled—a similar compliment being paid her with, if possible, even greater heartiness and unanimity, at the ter mination of the duet from the " Martini," the last movement of which was redemanded and repeated. Probably so many bouquets and " testimonials" have not been thrown at the feet of any songstress since the first night of the " Traviata" (1856), also, by the way, the first night of Mademoiselle Picco lomini. The fascinating and youthful Madlle. Brunette has just arrived, and will shortly make her debut. Report speaks most highly of her vocal and dramatic powers. LYCEUM THEATRE. The present season and management ends on Saturday next, when there will be an unusual col,- lection of attractions, for the benefit of Mr. William Brough, the manager, who in every way deserves well of the public, and a large circle of friends and admirers. ADELPIII THEATRE. The re-appearance of Mr. Leigh Murray, and the first appearance of Miss Julia Daly, an American actress, who was for a brief period, some months since, at Drury-lane, took place last evening. The popular drama of " To Parents and Guar dians " was selected for the occasion, Mr. Murray playing the part of the poor French usher, Mon sieur Tourbilon, aad he was perfectly successful in rendering the broken English and the distracted emotions of the unhappy foreigner. The old school master was performed by Mr. Selby, Master Nettles by Miss Kate Kelly, and Master Waddilove by Mr. J. L. Toole, both of whom imparted much humour to the eccentric youths. Miss Henrietta Sims was an interesting Virginie, and Mrs. Chatterley a mag nificent Lady Nettles. An American farce entitled " Our Female Ame rican Cousin," introduced Miss Daly. It is of the flimsiest materials, and is entirely subservient to the affording the young American of an opportu nity of appearing in the part a a vulgar Yankee girl and of a well-bred American young lady. The acting of Miss Daly has something pleasant and fresh in it, and she sings with point and effect, dances with grotesque vigour, and has a good deal of that ready and general kind of talent which Mrs. Barney Williams has made familiar to our stage. We have pretty well had enough of Yankee girls and American vulgarities, but Miss Daly seems capable of giving us other phases of American manners, and we hope she will do so. She was en cored in her song and much applauded. Planche's pretty extravaganza of " The Fair One with the Golden Locks," still holds its place in the bills. THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL. We understand that for the present the Duke of Argyll, Lord Privy Seal, will take the duties of the Post-office in the absence of the Earl of Elgin. This temporary arrangement is made in consequence of an uncertainty as to the duration of the noble earl's absence. The most recent advices from China bring the intelligence that an ultimatum has been sent in by the English and French representatives on the spot, to the Emperor, giving the Court of Pekin thirty days to determine whether it will accept and execute the treaty in its entirety, and comply with such other conditions arising out of the late outrage as the allies judge fitting. If the news of the ac ceptance of our terms meets Lord Elgin on his road, he will return to England to resume his office. If, on the contrary, our demands should not be complied with, his lordship will proceed to China, on his arduous mission, and a successor will be ap pointed to the office, which the public convenience will require to be provided for.—Post. The latest letters received from the army of Italy con tain details respecting the approaching departure of the gendarmerie, mounted and on foot, which are attached as a police force to the several divisions of the army. The bri gade attached to the 4th division have received orders which fix their departure from the 28th ofApril to the 6th of May. This brigade will embark for Genoa for Marseilles. The brigade of gendarmerie attached to the sth division will re place for the present the brigade of the 4th division at Pia cenza, and will subsequently embark at Genoa for France. THE PROPOSED NEW PARLIAMENTARY FRAN cuisz.—The select committee appointed by the House of Lords to inquire into the parliamentary franchise in coun ties and boroughs, met for the first time at one o'clock yes terday, but the public are not admitted to its sittings, and no report can therefore be given of its proceedings. In the absence of demand for the Continent, £85,000 of the gold by the Copenhagen was yesterday sent into the Bank. The amount of gold remaining to be dis posed of within the next few days is £546,000, the bulk of which is expected to remain here. Only two gold ships are known to be still at sea from Melbourne—viz., the Norwood and Montmorency, the former with £38,000, and the latter with £36,000. The coming Australian mail, however—neWs of which is now due—will doubtless report fresh remittances. The excitement occasioned by the Union Bank frauds is subsiding. Pullinger and Lyttleton will be brought up at the Mansion-house on Friday. The directors are en deavouring to trace the notes which Pullinger misappro priated, instead of paying them into the Bank of England. Meanwhile they have not made any response to the request for information preferred by the Committee of the Stock Exchange. OFFICERS IN THE ROYAL NATY.—A return was printed on Saturday, by which it appears that the total number of officers employed in the navy on the Ist of March last was 1,118, and unemployed 2,466. Of the em ployed five were vice -admirals, 16 rear-admirals, 113 cap tains, 203 commanders, and 781 lieutenants. Among the unemployed were one admiral of the fleet, 21 admirals, 22 vice -admirals, 35 rear-admirals, 35 captains, 241 comman ders, 288 lieutenants, 303 reserved flag-officers, 98 retired captains, 217 reserved commanders, 109 retired commanders, 359 reserved lieutenants, 487 retired lieutenants. The per tentage of employed officers is stated to be 31k, and of un employed 68k. THE BRITISII MUSEUM.—Yesterday the reading room, libraries, and galleries of the British Museum were closed for the annual spring vacation, and during the re cess no person can be admitted under any pretence what ever. On Tuesday, the Bth inst., the reading-room and library will be reopened, and on 9th inst. the galleries will be opened to the public, and continue open every y Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from ten till six o'clock; and during the months of May, June, July, and August, the public will also be admitted to the Museum every Satur day afternoon from twelve till six o'clock, commencing on the 12th insts SWIFTNESS OF BIRDS.—A German ornithologist says :—The vulture can fly at the rate of 150 miles an hour. Observations made on the coast of Labrador convince Major Cartwright that the wild goose can travel at the rate of 90 miles an hour. The common crow can fly 25 miles ; swal lows, according to Spallagin, 92 miles an hour. It is said that a falcan was discovered at Malta 24 hours after the de parture of Henry IV. from Fontainebleau. If true, this bird must have flown 15 hours at the rate of 57 miles, not allowing him to rest a moment during the whole time.-- Anzerican Agriculturist. TOM SAYERS IN LIVERPOOL—LIVERPOOL, Mon day.—The announcement in the local papers of Saturday that the Champion would pay a visit to Liverpool this after noon, drew together, at and around the Lime-street rail way station, an immense concourse of persons, all eager to get a look at a man who had become their admiration for the courage he displayed in the late fight. On the arrival of Sayers he was vociferously received, and to such a height did the enthusiasm arise, and the excitement impel his more ardent admirers, that they took the horses from the car and drew it in triumph to the Talbot Hotel, which is to be his head-quarters while in Liver pool. There he had to show himself at the window, in answer to deafening cheers from the crowd outside At four p.m. Sayers appeared on 'Change. He had been expected there, and for more than an hour previous the excited commotion in the rooms, on the " flags," and around the neighbourhood was very great. By the time of the Champion's arrival the great square and the streets lending to it were choked. Cheer after cheer rent the air, when he approached. He was conducted into the rooms, and way with difficulty made for his progress to the upper end. There was no attempt ut making a speech by Tom ; indeed, however good he might be as an orator, the con tinuous broadsides of cheers would have caused a failure. All he did say was, " Gentlemen, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the kind manner in which you have received me. He then retired. The whole reception was a genuine ovation. - FOURTEEN MEN DROWNED.—We deeply regret to state that the fears which were entertained for the safety of the Stornoway fishing crews have been confirmed. The boat recently picked up in the Pentland Firth and landed at Thurso turns out to be one of those amissing. There is therefore no room to hope that any of the unfortunate crews have been saved. Fourteen men, chiefly promising lads, and steady and active fishermen, most of them well-known here, have thus suffered by this sad ealatuity.—Xorthern Ensign. LATEs r t : E The following telegrams were received at Mr Reuter's office : TURIN, APRIL 30. King Victor Emmanuel will arrive to-day at Pistoja. To-morrow his Majesty will proceed to Lucca and Bologna. GENEVA, APRIL 30. 2,000 men of the Federal troops occupying. Geneva will be disbanded on the 10th of May next, but will be replaced immediately. The Federal Council has resolved on the in structions referring to the Conference to be senl to Dr. Kern. PESTH, APRIL 30, NOON. The requiem of the late Count Stephen Sze ehenyi has been concluded without any disturb ances having taken place. Great numbers of the inhabitants wero present at the ceremony. The vault has been closed. NAPLES, APRIL 27 (via GENOA). After the destruction of the town of Carini the Royal troops returned by steamer to Palermo. A fight between the insurgents and the soldiers has taken place at Akan°. More ambulances have been despatched to Sicily. THE BRAZILS. LISBON, APRIL 30. The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's ship Magdalena has arrived with dates from Rio Janiero to the 7th April. No political news of importance. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Exchange on London firm at 258 ; on Paris, 382 to 384 ; on Hamburg, 730 to 735, on which places the Magdalena brings drafts amounting respec tively to £490,000, 3,200,000 francs, and 200,000 mares. Coffee, good first, 6,450 to 6,600 reis ; stock, 100,000 bags. The exports of coffee since the de parture of the last mails amount to 104,274 bags, which is made up as follows : United States.. Channel Havre Marseilles . 18,750 „ 16,014 „ Mediterranean Freight was quoted at 30s. G,257 „ FRANCE. A letter from Marseilles says :—" The journey of their Majesties to Savoy will be undertaken sooner than was at first expected. Orders have been given to the Mediterranean Railway Company to prepare the Imperial train. The Emperor had at first intended to embark at Toulon, but it is now said that their Majesties will embark here on board the Aigle yacht, which will carry them direct to Nice, where preparations have been already made for their reception. From Nice the Court will pro ceed to Puget-Theniers and Guillaume. The en trance into Savoy will be by Modena or Lansle bourg, after which the Court will proceed to Saint Jean de Maurienne, Aiguebelle, Albertville, and Moutiers, and return to Chambery, Aix-les-Bains, Annecy, and perhaps Bonneville and Thonon. I however think that the Emperor will not go beyond Annecy, and the return of their Majesties will be by Lyons. This journey will be made with a cer tain degree of pomp ; several packets with nume rous invited guests on board will accompany the Imperial yacht from Marseilles, and escort her as far as Nice." BOURSE, April 30.—The market is exceedingly firm, owing to the situation of the speculators for a fall, who have large purchases to make for the im pending liquidation. The option (reponse des primes was declared at 70f. 70c., and Threes im proved to 70f. 90c. Northern shares in request at 985 f. and 987 f. 50c. ; Mobilier, 745 f. to 755 f. ; Lyons, 940 f, to 942 f. 50c. ; Orleans, 1,358 f. 75c. to 1,362 f. 50c. The following are the last quotations -41 per Cents. .... 96 50 Credit Foncier 800 Do. end month .. 96 40 Belgian 4i 3 per Cents 7O 90 Piedmonteso (5) .. 84 53 Do. end month 7O 90 Roman B5 Bank Shares. 2840 Austrian — Credit Msbilier .. 742 50 Spanish Threes Do. Account ..... 748 75 Home Debt 46 50 RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern 992 50 .. 990 New ditto B9O .. 895 Lyons and Mediterranean 942 50 .. 941 25 Geneva 425 -- .. 422 60 Southern Western 575 .. 575 Eastern Sardinian 413 75 .. 415 Austrian Lombard Exchangeon London, at sight, paper, 25f. 18c. ; money, 25f. 170.; three months, paper, 24f. 872 c.; money, 24f 86c. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, April 28.--Feldzeugmeister von Bene dek, the Commanding-General in Hungary, yester day issued a proclamation, which in substance is as follows :—" As a faithful veteran, and as a native of Hungary, I will conscientiously carry out the benevolent intentions of the Emperor. Con fidence is necessary to the successful development of the organisation of Hungary, and I will therefore, in the interest of the country, oppose with firmness and decision any attempt to disturb the minds of the people by means of demonstra tions. I count on the co-operation of every man of honour in my efforts to serve and benefit my dear native country and the empire at large." The ap pointment of a military man—Lieut.-Gen. Count Louis Crenneville—to be Adlatus to General von Benedek, and the somewhat menacing procla mation of the latter, have given rise to a re port that Hungary will be placed under martial law should the resistance of its inhabitants to the will of the Imperial Government be continued. On Monday, the 30th inst., there will be a grand reli gious ceremony in honour of the late Count Stephen Szechenyi in the principal church of the city of Pesth, and it is thought probable that some distur bance may occur, as the Hungarian students are in an exceedingly ill-humour because the police would not allow them to come to this city on Thurs day last. A fortnight ago there was a conflict be tweeen the troops and the inhabitants of a village called Szucsag, near Clausenberg, but it is only now that we have received detailed information on the sub ject. The peasants in the neighbourhood of Szucsag baying offered resistance to the Government officials who were occupied with the new division of the land, the authorities resolved to arrest the ringleaders, and to that end sent 29 horse and 36 foot soldiers, under the command of a lieutenant of gendarmes, to the village. The men sought were found and taken into custody, but their arrest so exasperated their friends that they sounded the tocsin. The "ding dong" of the church bell soon brought a great many peasants to the scene of action, and they, one and all, imperiously demanded the re lease of the prisoners. The lieutenant three times summoned the crowd to disperse, but as no atten tion was paid to what he said, he ordered the in fantry to fire " high." The soldiers did as they were bid, and the peasants, seeing that no one was hurt, laughed and cried out that the troops had received orders not to injure the people. Emboldened by their own shouts and cheers, the tillers of the soil then advanced, and attempted to rescue the prisoners, but they were received with a volley which killed one man outright and wounded several more or less severely. Although the peasants had no arms they did not disperse until they had been more than once charged by the cavalry. When the appointment of General von Benedek to be Commander in Hungary was first mooted it was very generally said that his enemies had advised the Emperor to send him there, as they foresaw that he would lose his popularity, and speedily be " used up." A general officer, however, who has known Benedek intimately for many years, has informed me that the Feldzeugmeister is a man of great strength of cha racter and energy, " who well knows what he is about." On inquiring what was meant by the words quoted, the reply received was :—" Benedek is aware that the system of ultra-centralisation can not possibly be maintained in Austria, and you may therefore be sure that he made conditions before he consented to go to Hungary. He will insist on the promises which have been made to the Hungarians being kept, but he will also insist on more respect being paid to the law of the land than has recently been the case." RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. CORK AND YOUGHAL. A special meeting of this company was held yes terday at the office, Gresham-house, Old Broad street, Sir C. P. Roney in the chair. The Secretary read the notice convening the meeting. On the motion of the CHAIRMAN a formal resolu tion, confirming the forfeiture of 2,525 shares, and authorising the directors to dispose of the same, was passed unanimously. It was stated that the works were progressing satisfactorily, and the meeting separated. DEMERARA. The annual meeting of this company was held on Saturday at Liverpool; Mr. J. Crosthwaite in the chair. Mr. J. P. GARNETT, the secretary, read the re - port, which stated that the ordinance which was submitted to the shareholders on the 22d of Decem ber last having been duly confirmed by her Majesty, was promulgated in the colony as law on the 25th of February. By the terms of this ordinance the company is virtually relieved from all obligation in respect of the mortgage held by the colony so long as the railway is maintained in good order and con ducted to the satisfaction of the colonial authorities and is not brought to execution sale by any other creditor. Provision is further made for the absolute cancelment of the mortgage in the event of at least £30,000 being hereafter expended on the railway, including its extension and completion to such a point at Mahaica, and upon such a line as shall be approved by the Colonial Legislature. The traffic receipts during the six months ending 31st Decem ber last amount to £11,365 (namely,. £6,397 for goods, and £4,968 for passengers, &c.), being a de crease of £573 as compared with the half-year end ing 26th February, 1859 ; but a comparison of the revenue for the whole of each of the two last years exhibits a balance of £1,529 in favour of 1859. The falling off in the receipts for the past half-year may be in some measure attributable to a short sugar crop. The traffic of several important sugar estates on the line has been very recently with drawn from the railway, and their produce and supplies are now conveyed by water. The local committee has transmitted a very urgent requisi tion for a couple of light locomotives, the company's present engines being found much too heavy for the economical working of the line, especially the pas senger trains. The report was adopted and the retiring directors were re-elected, Mr. Steel being again appointed auditor, after which the meeting was adjourned to the 20th of June. CEYLON. A meeting of this company was held yesterday at the office, Broad-street-buildings, Mr. Anstruther in the chair. The CHAIRMAN stated that they had no report to present to the proprietors, although when they issued the notice convening the meeting the direc tors hoped to be in a position to present a full re port, comprising the result of the investigation by Mr. Hawkshaw, C.E., on the part of the Govern ment, into the estimates of the company's late chief resident engineer, together with tenders from con tractors willing to compete for the construction of the line. The length to which the examination into Mr. Doyne's estimates had extended, and the recent return of the last of the contractors' agents from the examination of the country, had precluded the pos sibility of attaining the desired results in time to be laid before the shareholders that day. They had no doubt, however, that the tenders would be in the hands of the Government engineer and of the directors within a very short time. The business could only be of a formal character, and he would move the adjourn ment of the meeting to some day next month. He did not see that any inconvenience could arise to the shareholders from the delay, because the in terest on their shares was regularly paid by the Government. He believed that the delay in pro. ceeding with the works would be attended with great benefit to all parties. They had been, in fact, too precipitate in the first instance, and if they had been less anxious to proceed with the undertaking they would have had more moderate estimates. It was suggested by some of the agents that deviations from the proposed line might be made by which a considerable saving in cost of construction could be effected. One deviation alone would save £140,000. They had reason to know that the contractors con sidered the locality perfectly practicable for loco motive power, and the directors had been informed by Mr. Moseley that the inclined plane originally proposed to be made was quite unnecessary, because gradients could be obtained sufficiently good for locomotive power. A careful examination of the whole subject would show that the ultimate saving to all parties by the delay that had occurred must be very great indeed. He concluded by moving that the meeting be adjourned to the 31st of May, or, if necessary, to an earlier day, to be fixed by the directors. Mr. COULSON seconded the motion. In reply to questions, it was stated that the earthworks had been partially made on 11 miles of the intended railway, and it was proposed by the local authorities to increase the number employed on the works to about 2,000 men, for the pur pose of increasing some embankments as soon as possible in a district usually flooded at a cer tain time of the year. There were now about 600 or 700 men employed on the works. When the Duke of Newcastle received Mr. Hawkshaw's report it was probable that he would make some proposition to the company either respecting a part or the whole of the works. The matter was very simple. The Government had to pay the guarantee and the compamy had to make the railway. The resolution for adjournment was adopted, and the meeting separated. PUNJAB. It appears that from the Ist of January, 1860, up to this date the sum of £61,865 has been paid in anticipation of calls on account of the Punjab Railway. INVERNESS AND NAIRN. The report of the directors states that the revenue for the half-year ending the 29th of February last amounted to £5,974, the expenditure to £3,056, and interest on debentures, preference stock, &c., to £1,370, leaving with the £5B from the preceding account, a balance of £1,606. The traffic on the line continued to increase. The balance available for dividend on the original stock, under working agreement with the Inverness and Aberdeen Junc tion Company, after providing for the interest on debentures and 5 per cent. on the preference stock, was £1,606, out of which the directors proposed to declare a dividend on the original stock at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, leaving a balance of £129 for next account. MADRAS IRRIGATION AND CANAL COMPANY. The sum of £15,498 was yesterday paid into the Indian Treasury to the credit of this company in advance of calls, making, with other payments of a like nature since the 27th of February, 1859, a total of £505,956 deposited with the Secretary of State for India in Council on account of capital; £1 per share only, or £50,000, having been called up, leaving the remainder, £455,956, paid in advance of calls. 7111 S DAY'S MARKETS. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £5 Os Od ; clover, £4 Os to £5 17s 6d ; and straw, £1 7s to £1 14s per load. Trade rather slow, owing to increased supply, yet prices continue firm. CUMBERLAND.—Mendow hay, £3 Os to £5 Os ; clover, £4 Os to £6 Os Od ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 16s per lwad A fair demand. WIIITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £5 Os Od ; elovei lOs to £6 Os ; and straw, £1 6s to £1 12s per load. Trade firm. COLONIAL. TEA.—A moderate amount of business has been done, and late prices are well maintained. SUGAR —The demand for home consumption has been steady, and values are well supported. In the railed market the small supply of dried goods on offer has teaded to adVance prices, inferior qualities realise 51s 6d to 525, and wet lumps 49s Gd to 50s per cwt. COFFEE.—The inquiries for plantation Ceylon have been active, full prices being current for the better descriptions. The stock on hand, compared with those of the same period of last year, show an augmentation of about 300 tons. RICE.—The market has been extremely quiet, and no alteration can be recorded in quotations. SALTPETRE.—A very limited business has been done in the private market, and no public sales have taken place during the last fe* days. TALLOW.—For home consumption there has been a fair inquiry, but only a limited speculative business has been done, prices showing a downward tendency. P.Y.C., on the spot, is quoted 555. Gd. to 555. 9d. ; May and June delivery, 545. 3d. to 545. 6d. ; and last three months, 51s. 9d. per cwt. VISIT OF PRINCE ,4LFRED TO If 00L- IVICH AND BLACKWALL. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, accompanied by Lieut.-Colonel F. Cavendish, arrived at Wool wich by the North Kent Railway, at two o'clock yesterday afternoon, and immediately proceeded to the Dockyard, where he was received by Commo dore Superintendent the Hon. J. K Drummond, C.B. After taking refreshment at the Commodore's residence, his Royal Highness proceeded to the steam factory department, for the purpose of in.. specting a vertical boiler, made at Birmingham, from a design of the Earl of Dundonald, and for warded to Woolwich for experimental purposes. After visiting the numerous factories and inspect ing the ponderous machinery of the department, the improvements in which were pointed out by Mr. Atherton, chief engineer, his Royal Highness proceeded to the basin, for the purpose of viewing the Ranger, the first of a new class of gunboats now completed, and other vessels in a forward state. Having expressed his intention to visit the pri vate shipbuilding yards at Blackwall, the Bustler steam vessel was manned by the crew of the Admi ralty steam yacht Black Eagle, Commander Petley, and at half past three o'clock his Royal Highness, attended by Col. Cavendish, Commodore Drum mond, Mr. Macdonald, master-attendant of the Fisgard flagship, &c., embarked on board, and sub sequently landed at the Blackwell Pier, from whence the party proceeded to the works of the Thames Iron Shipbuilding Company, and his Royal Highness was much interested in minutely inspect ing the enormous steam-ram vessels now building for the Government at Bow-creek. His Royal Highness and party also visited Messrs. Green's and other establishments, where several gun vessels for the Admiralty are now being constructed. He then visited the East India Docks, in order to in spect the diagonal principle of shipbuilding, as exhibited in Mr. Robert Taylerson's iron clipper ship, Fanny Maud. Mr. Taylerson, together with two or three of his friends, received the Prince on board, and then the royal guest and visitors having gone below and inspected the sides of the vessel, assembled on deck to hear Mr. Taylerson's very interesting explana tion of his new mode of shipbuilding. Mr. Tayler son commenced by saying, that it was. in conse quence of the great sacrifice of life by the breaking up of ships on rocks, shoals, ashore, or by collision, that his attention was first directed to a mode by which vessels could be immensely strengthened with very little increase of expense. Curiously enough, the very ship they were in, built lately at Port Glasgow, had sustained a very severe collision in coming round, and had received scarcely any injury at all. She had actually been run down by a large vessel, which struck her nearly amidships, and beyond some injury to the deck bul warks, she was perfectly scathless, the iron plates not having been driven in at all. But for her novel construction she would most probably have been sunk from that collision. Mr. Taylerson then pointed out the mode of building by models, old and new. He gave a happy illustration of the way in which our ships, built vertically in the old fashion, are liable to be torn asunder like postage stamps. Tha Fanny Maud is 2,000 tons burden. By the new system all must go or nothing. It is a combination of strength. It may not be generally known that on board eight of the vessels which are mentioned as having lately gone to pieces, up wards of 1,600 lives were lost, These eight include the Birkenhead, the Tayleur, the Hungarian, and the Royal Charter. It was the loss of the Birken dead, when the troops displayed such fortitude, that first induced Mr. Taylerson's experiments. When we saw his plan of shipbuilding, the only feeling was one of surprise that it had not been thought of before. His Royal Highness was ex tremely attentive to Mr. Taylerson's explanations, and won golden opinions of all present by his ear nest, urbane, and ingenuous manners. After par taking of some slight refreshment he left, amidst the warm cheering of the few accidental passers by who had gathered near the ship, and took boat at Blackwell with his military and naval attendants. A _MODERN JACK ~S'HEPPABD. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, MONDAY. Walter Scott Douglas, a notorious housebreaker, has made a second escape from the town gaol. Last autumn Douglas with two other persons since tran sported, committed several extensive jewel rob beries, and he and they were captured and lodged in Newcastle Gaol. Under his leadership they all escaped from the gaol. His two companions were recaptured, but Douglas did not fall into the hands of the police until about a fortnight ago, when two detectives captured him at the " hopping," and had a narrow escape from being shot, as he had two loaded pistols on him. Douglas was brought before the magistrates, and remanded to gaol, with what results the undermentioned narrative will disclose. Douglas was confined in a cell in a department of the prison on the right of the entrance, and at ten minutes past seven yesterday morning he was, according to custom, allowed to pass from his sleeping cell, where he had passed the night, into a larger apartment, called the day-room. This room contained a four•legged table, about four feet long, and three benches of the same length: The door of this room opens into a court-yard, the entrance to which, from the Governor's house, is by an iron gate through rail ings of iron, strongly spiked. In the day-room Douglas was supplied with breakfast at the usual hour on Sunday morning, and at 25 minutes before 9 o'clock an officer of the prison named Porter went into this room and brought out the tin on which the prisoner had had breakfast. He shut the door after him, but it is not quite clear whether he had turned the key, by which the door would have been more securely fastened. The padlock on the out side of the door was not fastened, it being the cus tom to leave it unfastened during the day. When the officer left, Douglas was left alone in the day room, and about this time the other prisoners and the officers of the gaol all proceeded to the chapel in the Governor's house to engage in Divine wor ship. Douglas must now have commenced his ope rations, and his first act was to force back the sin gle bolt of the door of his prison. This he seems to have effected by the use of two pieces of iron—one a hooped piece about eight inches long, and the other shorter and stronger, both of which he left in the day-room. The door being th us opene d , h e would find himself in the prison-yard, barred at the north end by the gate and high iron rails already mentioned, and at the other by a strong wall not less than 15 feet high, while the other two sides were the walls of the prison. At the south end of the yard, however, and about a yard and a half from the wall, is the water-cfoset, a small square building roofed with slate, and stand ing about half the height of the wall. To this place the prisoner seems to have directed his atten tion ; but it was impossible to gain the top of the wall from the top of this building without having something to span the space between. For this purpose Douglas availed himself of the tables and forms in the day-room. These he brought out, and placing one of the forms on the top of the other would thus be able, by making extraordinary exer tions, to fix the table with one end on the top of the water-closet, and to place the feet at the other end on the side of the wall, within reach of the top. By crawling up to the end of the table as it was now placed, Douglas could easily reach the top of the wall, and could drop down thence into the outer court yard beneath, being a distance of about 15 feet. By far the most insurmountable obstacle to the prisoner's escape here presented itself, viz., the outer wall of the prison, about 30 feet high. To scale this would seem to be practically impossible, but Douglas finding a pole of sufficient length, which had been used by the masons, he must have reared it against the wall, and fixed it firmly at a part of the wall opposite the Church Jubilee Charity School, which stands in a small quiet lane at the back of the gaol. At this point the w a ll r i ses higher, not only gradually with the rising ground, but a cornice rises abruptly on the top about a foot in height. This corner or end the prisoner would be able to reach by climbing up the pole just men tioned; but of course the chief difficulty would now be to get down into the back lane. How the means for effecting this object were attained will probably be a matter of inquiry. As soon as he reached the bottom he ran up a lane, and turning into an alley on the right hurried down into Pandon Dene, where he was lost to view. Imme diately on seeing him one of the little girls belong ing to the school had run to the porter of the gates of the gaol and informed him of the man's escape. The porter at once communicated the intelligence to Mr. Wood, the Governor of that part of the gaol, who was then in chapel ; information was given to the police, and the pursuit of the prisoner was im mediately commenced. Parties were started in different directions, and all yesterday and last night the police were scouring the country in search of him, but so far he has eluded them. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Thursday afternoon last, as a detachment of the 29th regiment of foot, which is at present stationed at Sunderland, was returning along the line of the Seahain Railway from the beach towards Ry hope, where the men had been for ball practice, a coal train was observed approaching them, and they immediately stepped out of the way. Unfortunately, at the same mo ment there happened to be a passenger train coming in an opposite direction on the other line, and one of the officers, Ensign Everard, not observing this, stepped on to it, and did not percei% a his danger until too late. He was knocked down by the buffer, and when picked up was quite insen sible. He afterwards partially recovered, and was removed to the barracks, at Sunderland, where he died on the fol lowing morning. This melancholy event has cast a gloom over the town,