The Sun. — London, England, 1858-03-15 00:00:00

ER jE mA Y' S THEATRE. EL In consequence of the trumphant aucceas of the closing representations, and in order to accommodate the anmbers who have been unable to obtain places, THREE CONCLUDING PERFORMANCES will be given on TUES DAY, March 16 ; THURSDAY, March 15; FRIDAY, March 19 ; and SATURDAY, March 20. TO-MORROW (Tuesday, March 16), LA TRAVIATA Violetta, Piccolomini ; Alfredo, Giuglini. Thiirsday, March 18, IL TROVATORE: Leonora, Spezia; Ikzucena, Sannier ; Manrico ' Giuglini. Friday, March 19, LA ZINGARI ("The Bohemian Girl"), for the last time, being for the Benefit of Signor Giuglini. Saturday, March 20, LA FIGLIA DEL REGGIMENTO : Piccolomini. Last Scene of I MARTIRI, comprising tae celebrated duo by Madlle. Piccolomini and Signor Ging .ini. • Applications to be made at the Box-office at the Theatre. Prices :—Pit Stalls, 124 6d; boxes (to hold four persons), pit aad Gas pair, 2/. 2s; grand tier, 3/. 3s ; two pair, 11, 55.; Cares pair, 15s ; gallery boxes, lOs ; gallery stalls, 3s ed ; pit, 3s 6d; gallery, 2s. HE R MAJESTY'S THEATRE. — SIGNOR GITTGLINI'S BENEFIT. LA ZINGARI (" The Bohemian Girl.") The very numerous demands for the repetition of this favourite Opera have induced the Direction to repeat it in the farewell week and LA ZINGARI will be presented for the last time on FRIDAY, March 19, being for the Benefit of /Signor Giuglini. Applications to be made at the Box-office at the Theatre. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock, with Sheridan Knowles' comedy of THE LOVE CHASE. Con stance, Miss A. Sedgwick ; Widow Green, Mrs. Wilkins. After which, JACK'S RETURN FROM CANTON. Followed by PRESENTED AT COURT. Misses Swan borough, Fitzwilliam, and Mr. Buekstone. To conclude with THE GALICIAN FETE. Orchestra Stalls (which may he retained the whole of the 6s. each. (No charge for booking.) First Price. a. d. Second price. e, d Dross Boxes 5 0 Drees Boxes Upper Bores .............•. 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0 Pit Gallery ROYAL, PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING, will be presented THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. After which, a new grand eomie Christmas Pantomime entitled HARLEQUIN WHITE CAT; or, The Princess Blanche Flower and her Fairy Godmothers. The Princess Blanche (White Cat), Miss Kate Terry ; Harlequin, Mr. Cor rnack; Clown, Mr. Huline; Pantaloon, Mr. Paula; and Columbine, Miss C. Adams. TREA. SR E-R OYA L, DRURY-LANE. Leasee, Mr. E. T. Smith. THIS EVENING) Monday, March 15, tke new and original Comedy THE LOVE KNOT. Mr. and Mrs, Leigh Murray, 4c. Followed by A LUCKY HIT. After which, A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER. To conclude with a Ballet Divertissement. Commence at 7. T HEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Lessee-44r. am. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed RORY O'3AORE, Mr. Barmy Williams. After which, AN HOUR IN SEVILLE. To conclude with THE IRISH TUTOR. Commence at Seven. ROYAL LYCEUM THEA.TRE.—SoIe Lessee and Manager, Mr. C. Dillon. THIS EVENING, a domestic tale. by Westland Marston, entitled A HARD STRUGGLE. . Reuben, Mr. C. Dillon. Attar which, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Beatrice, Miss Faucit ; Bonedick, Mr. C. Dillon. '• Followed by the new farce of DOUBLE DUMMY. Mrs. Mellon and Mr. J. L. Toole. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7. Itoz•office open from 11 to 5 daily. ROYAL SURREY THEATRE. Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswiek. THIS EVENING, Shakesperi's Tragedy of MACBETH, Lady Macbeth, Miss Goddard ; Macbeth, Mr. Creswick. Followed by THE TWO POLTS. Concluding with THE ORPHAN OF GLENCOE. CANTERBIJRY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing oomps.ny of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of S)leetions from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, CLEFS, DUETS, &c., viz. :—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badzey, Mad.lle. Marietta, Miss Brunell, Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti, Miss Montague, and Madame Marietta ; Herr F. Jonghmans, Mr. Heushaw, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L. Hime, Mr. Badgey, difr. Edwards, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Bernard; Messrs. T. Maelagan. W. T. Critchfield and E. .hackney. Piano. forte, Mr. Cecil Hicks ; harmonium, Master Williams ; Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at Seven o'clock precisely. Suppers, dos., until twelve o'clock. , . - ------ Mr. AUGI:3B - T lIS BRAHAM will appear every Evening. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS D/►T—Thorn., 2 rain. aft. 2—Even.. IS min aft. To-Mom/ow—Morn., 34 rain. aft. 2—Even., 50 rain. aft. 2 THE WEATHER—SUN ONTIOE, MAROI3 14. 7117171310 METER, IN TES SHADE. 53—highest since noon yesterday. 42—lowest this morning and during the night, 50—this day at noon. BAROMETER, 29.61. WIND, W.N.W. to W. ; very fresh, with dull weather, and partial rain; Sunshine in the morning. There was a terrific squall, with heavy rain, for about five minutes, at six o'clock. MARCH 15. 51—highest sines noon yesterday. 44—lowest this morning and during the night. 53 —this day at noon. BABourrina. 20.92. WIND, W.N.W. ; fresh, with dull weather, preceding the eclipse. The eclipse in London has been what may be termed " a total failure." The lower limb of the sun exhibited a sort of new•moon curve for a glimpse or so, and the dark body of the moon was distinctly visible thereon ; but the thick passing clouds obscured the horizon, and seemed to envelope that part where the eclipse was expected to be visible. Altogether it was a dense disappointment. We hope the "learned" travellers by railway may have had ioetter luck—if not now, on the " next appearance !" %, •4. lei fe y • LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1858. The Emperor of the FRENCH very recently appealed to public opinion, through the agency of M. DE LA GUERRONIERE. He alleged that there were certain deficiencies in the English laws that required legislation—alleging that France refused to believe that they were " sufficiently effi cacious," and that the people were "disquieted and irritated at it." Public opinion may now, there fore, answer the appeal. It may candidly and impartially point out the errors into which the EMERROR has permitted himself to lae betrayed, and which have occasioned feelings of uneasiness, net merely) in England, but throughout the whole of Europe, and cast doubts upon the stability of a Government which has felt itself compelled to resort to such extraordinary measures of precau tion and coercion. This appeal might fairly be made, although neither England nor the English were in any degree concerned in the administration of affairs in France. But in truth we are deeply interested in all things affecting the welfare, happiness, and prosperity of c T z neighbours, w ith w h om we h ave ma i n t a i ne d the moat amicable relations for many years. Not only are there important commercial matters to be settled, requiring every possible facility of intercourse, but there are many British subjects permanently domiciled in France, for business, pleasure, or economy, and thousands, aye, tens of thousands more pay flying visits, in order to enjoy the brief holidays which they can afford. Englishmen are, indeed, interested, and that in no trifling degree, in the French erdera of Government. We may, therefore, tim P e 'rately, but firmly explain the causesof irri tation oh thioste(t)luntry manifests, trusting to the good asses give satisfaction einirtrench Government " to ice, to morality, to the interests of society, to There are, the n , many groZinaal rights;' attention of the EMPEROR ma y o whi c h th e Vroperl7 di r ected. The passport syste m , more e esFacially since the recent regulation, is an intoleraa3le nuisance. It is not merely the .‘„. p e nce and loss of time in obtaining the magical document, the " open sesame" that will give admission to the Eng lish visi tor. But he will naturally dislike appealing to respectable friends for a certificate of character. Ee feels that he should not be looked on as a criminal until something tangible can be alleged against him. And he is to waste a portion of the leisure time, that should be devoted to amuse ment in dancing attendance on magistrates for the necessary certificate, or at the Foreign-office for the passport:which, after twenty-four hours delay, may be granted, if the French Ambassador, or Consul, says nothing to the contrary during the intermediate period. But the difficulty has, by nu means, t erm inated, when the preliminary obstacle is surmounted, Admission may be obtained, but what will the visitor, albeit with his " ticket of leave" in his pocket, obtain ? He must, for the time being, suppress every British instinct, and remember that he is living in an atmosphere of suspicion. Woe to him if at any period of his life he has suffered his children to be instructed by a refugee teacher of languages, or formed an ac quaintanceship with a foreign gentleman. It will not be sufficient to pry into all the anteeedents of such persons ; their con duct might have been unimpeachable, but should any future accusations be preferred on other grounds, all their friends will be regarded with doubt and distrust. In France itself no degree of precaution will suffice. A man must answer not merely for his own discretion, but for that of all his friends and correspondents. Not merely an intempe rate, but a doubtful expression, which could by any possibility convey a concealed meaning, would be taken advantage of as he would find to his cost. His correspondence which might be dis covered, being all right, he would be subjected to other temptations. His habits would be ascer tained. The cafés that he frequented, the tone in which he Indulged ; intelligent strangers would cultivate his acquaintance, desirous of discovering his opinions "de omnibus rebus, et quibusdam aliis." But should he hazard a senti ment on political matters, he may be certain that they will, if unpalatable, be conveyed to the nearest police-office, and that he may bitterly expiate, the licence accorded to the " unruly member." He must distrust all— from " the baron all covered with jewels and gold" to the bloused mechanic, nay, to the very servant that attends to his domestic comfbrts, who blacks his boots, brushes his clothes, light his fire, or supplies the toilet requisites. If all this be intolerable to casual visitors, how much more so must it be to permanent residents, whether French or English? The drawn sword is always suspended over their devoted heads, and the most trivial accident may cause it to fall. Lours NA POLEON formerly declared with just pride, L'Empire e ' est la paix. Now all that is changed, and it can only be said, " L'empire c'est 1' espionnage." Every straager must be regarded as a mouchard, eagerly looking for an opportunity to betray. Even the members of a family cannot be trusted, and each house _ will be practically divided against itself. NATOLEON 111. was once a sagacious man and a courageous one. His sagacity should teach him the utter inutility of such persecutions, even if his tried courage did not lead him to despise them. We may again repeat what we have already stated, if the EMPEROR wishes to disarm the assassin let him seek the love of his people by removing all just causes of complaint, and giving liberty to every subject unconvicted of crime. Then, indeed, the attempts, indefensible under any cir cumstances, would be still more deeply execrated, and there would be neither hope of escape or of sympathy for the delinquent. Let him consider these things closely, and once more act on his own convictions rather than on the ill-judged advice of injudicious councillors. Conspicuous among the improvements to be introduced in Hindostan simultaneously with the abolition of the old ricketty system of the double Government, will be, we earnestly trust, the more comprehensive and strenuous encouragement of the cotton-growth of the vast Indian peninsula. Hitherto this has been a source of wealth to the empire scarcely regarded in any way seriously either by the Company itself or by the most ener getic and experimentalising of preceding Adminis trations. Whatever interest h9.s been taken in the matter either among the magnates of Leaden hall-street or at the Board of Control in West minster, has been merely partial and cur sory. At intervals a side glance was allowed to the subject now in London, now in Calcutta. Occasionally the pet scheme of some adventurous day-dreamer has been put to the test somewhere or other upon the Asiatic soil within the gigantic boundaries of our Eastern dominion. But, con sidering the geographical dimensions of that dominion, and considering, moreover, that we have been now lords of the soil there for upwards of an entire century—it may safely and distinctly be asserted that the trials actually adventured upon hitherto have been most sparsely distributed over the lapse of the last hundred years, and over the giant area of the three Presidencies. It is surely obvious beyond even one momentary doubt that a cotton supply from India would to the imperial interests of Eagland be " doubly" advantageous. It would be productive of mate rial advantage, at one and the same time, to the importers of raw cotton in these islands, and to the exporters of raw cotton in those our own remote possessions. It would render ui henceforth independent of America, from the market of which continent our cotton supply has heretofore been almost exclusively derived. And let it be remembered that in regard to the mere possibility of cultivating the cotton plant profitably in Hindostan, we are not arguing as mere idle discoveries. We are placing before our imagination a future that may be realized— if we so pla.ca it. We are talking, as the phrase is, "by the book "—if you like it—by the trea- .ise on the Cultivation and Commerce of Cotton in India, by Doctor FORBES ROYLE. We are in sisting upon the feasibility of projects based upon solid statistics, rather than upon mere gossamer ipeculations. What are the facts of the case in regard to the growth of cotton in Hindostan ? They are briefly these :—That there is at present grown, more or less abundantly, all over India, a cotton plant, called by different botanical writers, Gossyriunt Indicurn, and Clossypizon ilerbacium, a plant having, of course, many varieties, such, for ex ample, as that of the Gossypium Harborium. That this plant, we will call it the G. Indicum, flourishes in any situation throughout the whole limit of the Indian peninsula, growing in the hottest soils, and the moistest soils, and the dryess soils alike. That—while its produce is shorter in staple than that of the American and West Indian plant, called the G. Barbadeuse, or those \ e t ; tea e i n : t b h yl a ea t rt a s r o e f gathered Atilcrica from k the pods of the cot plant cultivated in Peru and Brazils, and p enwianoutulta:its: odf thoroughly y, go a o u d d oo m lo a u y r, b i e s spun into ya ms forratib:eix. producinga . nd a i expanding under the process of bee,a,6746ty fabrics of a very closetexturetaluthdereby moreover (if delicacy be the r that chief among them, for years and years past, have been the exquisite muslins o f the Dacca manufacture, Such arc among the ele- THE SUN, LONDON MONDAY EVENING, MARCEI Ib , igNs. mentary data long notorious in regard to the cotton plant indigenous in Hindostan. Beyond which it is especially worthy of consideration that, in reference to strength and durability it is considered adapted in every way for all yarns under number twenty, in other, less technical words, for about one-half of the cotton textile manufactures of this country. Recollect, too, that already now-a-days, and for some time past, India cotton as at present transmitted to this country is sold with a profit at 31d. per lb. in the market at Liverpool. This, observe, being the case actually when the ryots toil there after their old slovenly fashion—looked after by careless and incompetent chettys and wakaries, in lieu of in telligent and active overseers, American or European. I❑ reality, the culture of the native cotton plant of India being now literally in every essential particular identical with that in vogue— " . . . . Three thousand years ago When the Memnoniam was in all its glory, And time had not begun to overthrow Those temples, palaces, and piles stupendous, Of which the very ruins are tremendous." That long stagnation of three thousand years might surely with advantage be broken under the guidance of the new Indian Government. An achievement to be accomplished by better advised experiments than those commenced in 1829, at Apra, near Calcutta, or than those larger ones attempted in 1840 at Bundelcund, or in the Jumno-Gangetic-Doab—even, be it said, than those carried out with less signal failure at Guzerat and Tinnevelly. That this achieve ment away be accomplished—that sooner or later it will be accomplished, we rest perfectly assured. It is an exploit upon which among others the new Governor-General may be well proud of adventuring, be he Lard STANLEY or Sir JOHN LAWRENCE, or the Earl of ELLHNBOROUGH. We earnestly invite attention to a letter which that consistent and indefatigable monetary re former, Mr. HAMER STANSFELD, has addressed to the Editor of the Economist, and which will be found in another part of our impression. It is needless to say that whatever Mr. STANSFELD does is well done. He thoroughly understands his subject, and, :with a perfect knowledge of facts, he possesses an enlightened mind that turns his knowledge to the best possible account. In his present letter Mr. STANSFELD refers to the prevailing confusion between " money" and " capital," " interest " and "discount." As we have repeatedly 'pointed out,l they are very dif ferent things. " Capital " is actual value, " money " merely its measure and repre sentative ! " Capital " may be compared to the cloth in the mercer's shop. " Money " to the yard, by which its length is ascertained, but if that yard be rendered variable, if at one time it is three-fold longer than another, it is obvious that there must be great confusion, and that irreparable mischief may be frequently anticipated. We trust that the Editor of the Economist, now that he is undisturbed by affairs of State, may respond to Mr. STANSFELD'S request, and give further expla. nation of the terms " money" and " capital," "interest" and "discount," clearly explaining the real distinctions between what are generally supposed to be synonymous expressions. 'His Excellency Baron Brunow, once more accredited to the Court of St. James, as representative of the Em peror of Russia, will arrive in London to-morrow, to re-assume his diplomatic functions. The Baroness will continue her residence abroad for the present. FRINOEI PASSTORTS.—From and after Saturday last, the 13th inst., no person will be allowed to land at Bou logne, or any other French port in the Channel, without a passport. This rule has not hitherto been acted on, but it is now in full force. HER MAJESTY'S TRZATRE.—There will be four per formances of opera at reduced prices which recently prevailed, in the course of next week, at Her Majesty's Theatre. Oa the Tuesday will be executed "La Tra -1 elate," for which every neat in th e h ouse i n sa id to h ave been several days engaged ; on Thursday " II Trova- tore ; " on Friday , Balfe's opera "La Zingara " (the "Bohemian Girl ") ; and, on Saturday, "La Figlia del Reggimento." The performance on Friday night will be for the benefit of that great artiste Signor Giuglini ; and the public have already so eagerly re sponded to the call, that it is expected the theatre will be crowded to the ceiling. And well it might, for such a treat will not have been afforded to the lovers of music, at such a price, since Italian opera was first established in this country. MISS GODDARD.—This accomplished tragic actress, who has been playing with marked success at the Surrey Theatre in the characters of "Isabella (" Fatal Mar riage"), Lucretia Borgia, in the tragedy so called, and Mrs. Haller ("The Stranger"). appears this evening as Lady Macbeth, and Tuesday as Romeo, to the Juliet of Miss M. Eburne. Miss M. Oliver, who is a universal favourite, takes her benefit at Drury-lane on Saturday next, when Coyne's " Love Knot" will be appropriately followed by " A Roland for an Oliver." There is no truth whatever in the report that Mr. Alfred Wigan has taken, or is about to take, the St. James's Theatre. Mr. Wigan is still recruiting his health at Scarborough. STRAND THEATRE.—As we last week stated, this pretty little and comfortable theatre is to re-open on Eater Monday, under the management of Miss Swan borough, assisted by Miss Oliver, Mr. and Mrs. Leigh Murray, Mrs. Selby, and Mr. Young, all from Drury liane. In consequenee of the excitement brought on by the emotion of Orsini's trial Jules Fevre was attacked on Sunday night, by an obstruction in the circulation of the blood. Doctor Dumez, his physician, by timely bleeding and stimulants, succeeded in recalling the patient to life, but he still lies in a precarious state. The popularity of the great advocate is clearly demonstrated by the num bell as inquiries made at his door by all classes of Society.— Court Journal. The Bank of England have just determined upon some modifications of the practice which has prevailed in respect of transactions between themselves and the discount houses. Hitherto it has been competent for the latter, if they were in want of money, to carry birn to the Bank, and get them re-discounted. To say truth, this is a practice of which [the leading establishments ha►e thought it unadvisable to avail themselves, with the exception, perhaps, of periods of extreme pressure ; but there is room to believe that the less important firma have very frequently sent in batches of bills for re discount'at the Bank. The Bank are apparently of opinion that the operation of this system is less to their Own advantage than to that of the discount houses ; and they have just notified, that henceforward they will de cline to re-discount the bills of these parties, although they will continue, when applied to, to make shirt loans or advances upon such securities. The Bank doubtless wish to render their own position as independent as possible of the transactions of other dealers in money. The effect of the decision now adopted will be to render the discount firms, especially those possessing but little capital, ,more cautious in proportion as the facilities placed at their disposal by the Bank are circumscribed. it is not by any means clear, however, that the pubic will be the gainers if these houses are discouraged from granting accommodation freely, especially in anxious times. In a crisis like that just experienced, the effect would probably be to stimulate the rush of borrowers at the Bank, whose resources, as defined by statute, might thus be exhausted with even greater rapidity than in November last. The step now announced has also a tendency to discourage the competition, by diminishing the resources of the minor houses, and, in this respec , , may prove advantageous to the great discount establish ment in Lombard-street, which, having a very large capital at its back, is the least dependent upon extra neous resources, and the beat able, if need b ~ to keep large funds in reserve. The Bank have a perfect right to protect themselves, and to endeavour to obtain the greatest possible degree of advantage from their eminent position ; but whether the measure now decided upon will tend to the greater accommodation of the public at periods when that accommodation is most needed is open to question. THE DRAMATIC COLLEGE.—" A home for aged and retiring actors and actresses from public servitude," is now in course of formation,.and will shortly be prepared to lay its prospectus before the profe-mion and the public, from which quarters it is promised extensive support. The object is to provide residences and pen sions for those whom fortune has not provided with suffi cient means to soothe the infirmities of age and sick ness. The merit of originating this laudable institution rests with Mr. Jer wood, who, after hii strenuous and successful exertions on behalf of the General Theatrical Fund, may justly be sty:ed " the actor's friend." This gentleman has, on the present occasion, not only offered his gratuitous serviees to "the Dramatic College" as so licitor and treasurer, but has headed the subscription list with the noble sum of 5001., whiah noble example Mr. E. T. Smith, with his usual liberality, has equalled, by putting his name down for another 501. Acts such as these deserve publicity. Among the gentlemen who have already consented to act upon the committee, we may mention the following names :—Mr Frank Matthews, acri Mr Keeley, Mr. Buckatone, Mr. Alfred Wigan, Mr. 1 published. Mayh ew , an d Mr. E. T. S m ith. Mr. B. Web tter, it is h o ped, \ will act as chairman, but at present he I:°,=, ,ot is London. Designs f or th e buildi ngs are in ptio treparation, an d numerous d onat i ons an d sub Is are already p rom i se d, an d w ill b e shortly WILL THE LOW RATE OF INTEREST LAST? --+- TO THE EDITOR OF THE ECONOMIST. Sir,—ln discussing this question in your im pression of the 30th January, there is an absence of that perspicuity for which you r ar ti c l es are gene rally to be lysodliosotiknegrusphetdo by the commercial commn , and. which j us tly en titl es nity as a guide on the subject of money. Provin cial editors in general, with some rare exceptions, are dumbfounded on the subject ; and it becomes, therefore, the more desirable and necessary that light should be thrown upon it from the metro polis, the centre of the monetary world. I may be mistaken, but the article conveys to my mind the impression that the writer uses the terms money and capital, and also interest and dis count, as synonymous. If wrong in this inference I shall be glad to be set right ; and if the following definition of those terms be unsound, to be cor rected. I understand Capital—to be services and commodities used in production. Money—to be the measure of value, the medium of exchange, and the universal equivalent ; but, more practically, the means of obtaining capital, and the only means of paying for capital previously obtained on credit to be virtually a security for ob• taining its equivalent value in capital. As an illustration of the difference between money and capital, if two persons enter into part nership in the cloth trade, engaging to provide each 2,0001. capital, and the one brings in that value in wool, he brings in so much boßa fide capital, and should the other bring in the same nominal value in bills and bank-notes, he would bring in money —the means of obtaining capital ; but should the bills and banknotes turn out to be bad he would neither have brought in capital nor the means of obtaining if. Commerce is the exchange of capital for capital through the medium of money, and the contract being fur the medium—money alone can satisfy the contract and discharge the debt. In selling, one kind of capital is disposed of for a security (money) for obtaining its equivalent value in any kind of capital. I understand interest to be th• consideration given for the loan of money. If the money be borrowed for the purpose of procuring capital, then the consideration given is a remuneration for the use of the capital (raw materials, labour, merchandise, &c.) which it obtains. If borrowed for the purpose of discharging a debt, fcr paying for capital previously obtained and used, contracted to be paid for in money, then the consideration given is for the use of money itself, and in this respect interest and discount are similar. I understand discount to be solely the remu neration for the use of money itself, for con verting credit money into ready money. A good bill gives the same command over capital as batik notes, minus the charge for discount ; and. bills are discounted for the purpose of obtaining money of a Blare convenient denomination for wages and small cash payments, or to meet larger engage ments falling due ; and also for the advantage to be gained when ready money can be had by dis counting at a lower rate than 5 per cent.—the usual allowance made for cash. The main object, however, in discounting is to obtain legal tender money, absolutely necessary to discharge money contracts coming due, and this supports the position I have long taken, that the rate of discount in this country depends fundamen tally upon the demand and supply of legal tender money, and the supply being restricted by the Bank Charter Act of 1844, that the unusual and unnatu ral high rate of 5 per cent is to be attributed to the operation of that act. Entertaining these views of the meaning of the terms money and capital, interest and discount, the object of the inquiry seems to me to involve two questions instead of one :- Ist. Will the low rate of interest last ? The an swer to this will mainly depend on the supply and demand of capital, and as the supply of capital, other than services, depends chiefly on good or bad harvests—upon large or small crops of pro duce • and as the last harvest throughout the world was good and crops abundant (exhibiting the coincidence of a plethora and a low price of capital with a dearth and high value of money, manifesting clearly their difference) a low rate of interest may be expected until the result of the next harvest can be estimated. 2d. Will the low rate of discount last ? The answer to this question will depend upon the sup ply and demand of money, and iu making an estimate we must take into consideration, not only the circumstances affecting more particularly our own country, but also those bearing upon the demand and supply of money throughout the world ; and when we consider the following causes in operation we are disposed to answer the ques tion in the affirmative. That the reduced price of services and commodi ties (capital) will require less money to circulate them. That trade being prostrated, will, so long as the stagnation lasts, absorb less money. That the money of the world has increased, is increasing, and will increase ; and though self interest will lead to its employment in the circulation of capital, sooner or later, in one way or another, yet after such a panic and prostration of trade, it will be some time before the great wheel for circulating capital can be in full work again. The quantity of money has been increased by the gold discoveries in Cali fornia and Australia, the greater portion of which has been converted into coin ; and the quantity of gold, the basis of our money, will probably con tinue to increase at the rate of 30,000,0001. a-year. The quantity of money has also been increased by the United States issuing paper money to the amount of 4,000,0001., and by the Bank of France being permitted to issue notes of as low a denomination as two and four pounds. Further, as the substitution in France of gold fcr silver in the coinage (which has been the principal means, hitherto, of 'absorbing the new discoveries of gold) must b e approaching its comple tion, particularly as less coinage will lee wanted for a stagnant trade and reduced prices, we may ex pect, ere long, than our fixed prices of 31. 17s. 101 d. an ounce will attract the gold here. We come, then, to the conclusion that the low rate of discount, other circumstances remaining the same, will continue for some years. And should the restrictive clauses of the Act of 1844, on the issuing of convertible bank notes, of bona Ale money, be repealed, and provision be made for sueli a surplus stock of gold as will counteract the evil of its export as a commodity, the rate of discount need never exceed 5 per cent. under any pressure, and a panic from an apprehension of a deficiency of legal tender money could never occur. A close resem blance exists between the rate of freight and the rate of money ; for although the market value of all things is determined by deinaud and supply, yet the analogy between these rates is more espe cially strong from both being equally a means for the transfer of capital. The rate of freight depends upon the proportion of goods seeking ships to trans port them, and the number of ships wanting freights ; and the rate of money on the quantity of capital seeking to be exchanged, and the amount of money wanting to be employed. Would it not be, then, as unwise to limit the number of ships to be built, and consequently to raise the rate of freight, and give a monnpoly to the present ship owners, as to restrict the supply of good money, raise its value, and give a monopoly to the present money-holders t As a constant reader of the Econo mist from the first, I shall value your further ex planation of the terms money and capital—interest and discount, and am, sir, your obedient servant, HAMER STANSFELD. The Grange, Burley, near Otley, Feb. 22, 1858. P. S. If the rate of interest, it may be asked, de pends mainly on the demand and supply of capi tal, and the rate of discount entirely on the supply and demand of money—two very different things—how comes it that the terms interest and discount, and also capital and money, are so inti mately connected in the public mind as to be con sidered respectively the same thing ? Is it not that capital is generally the foundation of constituting the great bulk of the monies used in the wholesale trade ? Alinost every sale of capital on credit gives rise to a bill of equal value, and frequently the same transaction to many bills, so that in ordinary times of cre dit the value of capital in circulation on credit and bill-money is wady the same. Aft-r goad harvests capital is plentiful, credit is generally good, money abundant and cheap. After bad harvests the reverse is the case ; and sometimes, as in the late panic, a collapse of credit tales place in spite of good harvest, when, coincident wills a pletin ra and low price of capital, there exists a dearth and a high value of money. Does not the intimate .connection existing between money and capital, and also between interest and discount, through the mystical influence of credit, lead to the erroneous impression that these are respectively the same things _ . THE ARMY AND NAVY CLUB AND THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.—The Moniker of Saturday says :—" We record with pleasure a fact which shows the hot ou able sentiments by which the officers are animated is Eng land who stood side by side with our own officers in the Crimean war. The committee of the Army and Na • o Club in Lot don, being informed that som bo 'y b i d sent to officers of the French army a caricature, be neath which were printed some offensive word , , with a pretended message from the club, has offer,d a reward of 501. to any one who will make known the author of this deed thus showing how indignat t t members of the club were at the perpetration of such an unworthy insult." COUNT I) ALEW SKI'S D.ESPATCH. - Her Majesty's Government has received a de spatch from the French Ambassador, sent to him by Count Walewski, the French Minister for Foreign affairs,in reply to a despatch forwarded to the French Government by her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in reply to Count Walewski's despatch of the 20th of January. This despatch is couched in very conciliatory language. It commences by expressing " the satisfaction" felt by the French Government that the now Ministry, following in the steps of Lord Palmer ston, shows a willingness to cultivate cordial rela tions with France. The despatch then expresses the regret felt by the Imperial Government that the tenor of the de spatch of the 20th of January should have been misinterpreted, and it appeals to the line of conduct followed by the Emperor Napoleon 111. during the last six years as a proof of the impossibility that his Majesty should have asked anything which it would have been inconsistent with the honour of England to grant. The Imperial Government (says the despatch) never meant to imply that England favoured the men who elevate assassination to a doctrine, but simply that such persons were allowed to dwell in England. The Emperor (continues the despatch) was not induced to call the attention of the English Govern inept to the above fact through any fear for his own life, but simply on account of the strong feeling which the attempt of the 14th of January had ex cited in the population of France, and which was of a nature to require that the EngliEl, Government should be requested to take some stronger measures as regards refugees. The request was made by the Emperor in the interest of the allianc 3 which exists between the two countries. The French Government withdraws from the con troversy, and declares that it makes no demands ; it places implicit confidence in the good feeling of the English people (il s'enrapporte a /a loyaute du people A nglais.) Both this despatch and that from Lord Malmes bury to Lord Cowley, to which that of Count Walewski is an answer, will be laid upon the table of both houses this evening. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. CA LEDONIAN. The half-yearly meeting of this cum - pany was held on Friday at Glasgow Mr. W. Johnstone in the chair. The report, an abst►act of which has appeared in The Sun, was held as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the re port, stated that it had been found that some of the bridges along the line had been got up in such a tempo rary fashion that they we obliged to build new founda tions and arches. There were still some bridges to attend to in this way, which would still further re duce the contingent fend. In regard to the revenue, it had considerably increased during the last half-year, while the expenditure was considerably reduced, enabling the directors to offer what they comidercd was a very fair dividend at such a time. (Cheers.) Another ground for satisfaction was that, though they had a large sum to borrow at Martinmas last, when the rate of interest was so high, yet, notwithstanding the stringency of the money-market three-fourths of that was obtained at 4.1 per cent. for periods of three years, and the remainder at 41 ; the result being that the a rerage rate of interest on debentures had been reduced a few pence during the half year. As to the Symington and Biggar branch, described in the report, it would be a gold feeder of the main line, and encourage further traffic in minerals and farm produce. As to the Carlisle, Langholm, and Hawick line, which was b,iug opposed by the North British Company, he hoped it would be sanctioned by Parliament. He was glad to state that the arrangement between the Caledonian, the Edinburgh and Glasgow, and Scottish Central companies was going on satisfactorily. If the agreement, however, did not continue to work well it could be readjusted by the arbiter in September. The branch to Grantors from Edinburgh was going on well, the contractor promising that it would be open for traffic in eight months at the furthest. He was aware that a good deal had been said on the capital account. They all knew that prior to 1851 the affairs of the Caledoeial Railway were in a state of chaos, nobody knowing what it was in a pecuniary point of view, while it owed a sum of 400,0001. for plant, furnishings, &c. Then the plant was not nearly adequate and the line was in every respect incomplete the traffic in consequence being only T,OOO/. a week, instead of 13,0001., as at present. The state of matters was Vie :—At Carlisle neither passengers nor goods stations were completed, and new ones had to be made. At Moffat a great number of workmen's and stationmasters' houses required to be built instead of the wooden erec tions originally there. At Motherwell a bridge that everybody was terrified to cross required to be super seded. A tunnel on the Wisbaw and Coltness line was in a most defective state. The Gartoosh branch was only partly completed. At Glasgow the goods station was not completed. At Edinburgh there were only wooden houses and but few sidings on any part of the line. The Clydesdale line then was far from complete, there being a want of stations at Hamilton and along the line. Then, as to the Greenock line, an arrangement was entered into with that company for the purchase of the line, but owing to the financial position of the Caledonian Company they refused to hand it over, and continued working the line for a time in the cheapest way, letting the plant go down, as it was not their interest to maintain it. That line, moreover, was not suited at first for the additional traffic exae ed from it. The Barrhead Branch Company acted in a similar spirit when the lint was first taken over, that railway, moreover, having scarcely a station on it complete. With such defects the present directors when they came into office found it absolutely necessary to take steps to develop their resources, and accordingly applied to Parliament in 1853 for an act authorising them to raise 50,1:100/. In 1854 they again went to Parliament, and proved to its satisfaction that further borrowing powers were necessary, and accordingly they got power to raise 500,0001. This suns they had been content to expend, not all at once, but year by year as they saw they needed it, thereby raising the income and diminishing the working expenses of the company. They were not done with spending this money yet. A completed station in Buchanan-street was neces sary, and they were getting in plans for it—a similar necessity existed at Edinburgh. It was impossible to shut the capital account, a gradual and judicious ex penditure being far preferable to laying out all at once —a course which would probably involve many errors arising from inexperience. He then adverted to the additions to capital made during the last half-year. For instance, Mr. Graham of Craigallion had received 11,0001. for land ; 4,3001. on workmen's houses at Car stairs (the rent from these making the money laid out an excellent investment) ; while sums had also been ex pended on new works at various stages along the line, One result of the improvements was that, while in July, 1855, 4,2761. was paid for the use of plant, this half-year the plant was so complete, that instead of paying they got 5001. back. (Cheers.) Of the capital raised by Act of Parliament they had still 300,6001, which they could raise whenever it was required. The Secretary then read the resolution approving the report, and declared a dividend at th e ra t e o f 5 per cent. per annuli on the original stock of the company. Mr. SALKELD seconded the resolution. Mr. CoLQUHOUN submittei, as an amenc'ment, that the words, "That the servants of the company be not required to perform unnecessary work on Sabbath," be added to the report. Mr. N. STEVENSON seconded the amendment. A show of hands being taken the original motion was carried by a large majority. The other formal resolutions were passed unanimously, and a vote of thanks having been given to the chairman the proceedings terminated. LATEST NEWS. INDIA. The following telegram from her Majesty's Act ing Consul General in Egypt was received at the Foreign-office, March 15, 5.20 a.m. ALEXANDRIA, MARCH 11, 1858. The steamer Madras from Bombay arrived at Suez yesterday. She brings no intelligence of the Calcutta steamer, due at Suez on 6th inst. Sir Colin Campbell arrived at Cawnpore on the 4th Feb. ; visited the Governor-General at Alla habad on the Bth ; and on the 13th at Cawnpore, awaiting the Siege Train from Agra. A part of the army has crossed into Onde, and is advancing towards Alumbagh. The Comman der-in-Chief is not expected to follow till 20th. The of about 20,000 men and 100 force, guns, be ins u ffi c i en t t o i nves t Luck now. is consistingsad to The bombardment expected to commence i on Feb. 25 ; the advance column under Major Raines, of the Rajpootana Field Force under General Roberts, passed Nusserabad, on Feb. 14, on its way to Kotab. Enemy, said to be 7,000 strong with 100 guns, but expected to fly on our approach. Central India Field force, under Sir IL Rose, continued at Saugor on the 17th February, await lug the Field Brigade, under Colonel Stewart, from Indere ; expected to march on Jansi about the 20th, and from thence to Calpee, on the Ganges. The Madras Force under General Whitlock reached Jubbulpore on the 7th February, and on the 11th the 4th and the Madras Cavalry pushed on to join the troops invading Oude. Shorapore, a fort in the Nizam's dominions, captured on the Bth, and the Rajah seized at Hyderabad on the 12th. The King of Delhi found guilty and banished for life to the Adamant!. Cantonments for 18,000 Europeans, with horses for throe regiments of cavalry, have been prepared in the Punjatib by Sir M, Lawrence. This telegram arrived at Malta from Alexandria by the contract steam packet Vectis, at 8 o'clock p.m., on the 14th of March. LYONS, Admiral. The following telegram has been received at the East India Manse : To Sir James Melvill, East India House MALTA, MARCH 14. The Vectis has arrived from Malta. The Born. bay mails were telegraphed from Suez on the even. ing of the 10th inst The Calcutta mails had not reached Aden. T. MONTANARO. THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, MONDAY MORNING. The Te►iot, steamer, from Alexandria, passed Hurst at 9.50 a.m. She will be here about noon. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.) LONDON, March 15.—Wind this day at noon, N. ; moderate breeze and cloudy. PORTSMOUTN, March 14.—Wind N.W.—Arrivod— Roßalind, from Sunderland for Grimacha. _ SOUTHAMPTON, March 13.—Arrivad—Ripon (a), from Alexandria. - -- - DOVER, March 13.—Arrived—C4alida, from OFF Bilboa. RAMSGATE, March 14.—Wind N.W.—Arrived—Cata lina, from Bilboa. for Christiansund, assisted in with damage to hull, and master seriously injured (since dead), haring been in collision. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTIIAMPrON, Monday Morning. Wind N.W. ; fine. Arrived—Carolinda , and L Mermaid, Lively, and Hero, N ewport ; Havro, s., Havre; La Poule, from Che r b ourg ; Isabella London ; Argyll, s., Carontan. sa ed _ C_r L o a l 1 , p s o . u , LIVEReOOL; Monday Morning. le, for Cherbourg. Wind W.N.W. Arrived, March 14—Matilda, from Ceara ; Cordelia, Demerara ; Lydia, Antigua ; Alice, Now Orleans ; Alcy- Ebla, Norw a y ; R over, Barmouth, with e Twr ec ked S ava nnahhe sc gh ; (o,ooiir jr. W ds e ,x ua Al b !II:moon, from liuolva, was run into by the steamer Leopard, and lost port-cathead, and hail 18 inches water in her hold. Arrived, March 15— Rochestor, and Avon, from Now Orleans ; Harmony, Savannah ; Prreole, (s). Nantes ; Sir C. Napier, Samieford ; Caroline, Dunkirk ; Ban Coolen, Bombay. OSY —Coronilla. ( BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH , Mornng. Wind W ea t er l y ; tide one GRAVESEND houra' goo ond ay d ; weather s fresh and fine. Arrived, March 15.—East Anglian, from Malmo. Sailed, March 14.—Seine, steamer, for Bonlogno; C. F. Leasing, Demerara. DEAL, Monday Morning. Wind N. W. by N., frosh. No arrivals. Bailed. —li ar Majogty, for Bombay; Castle Lachlan, London. TRE AMERICAN MAIL—On Saturday the Royal Mail steamship Niagara, took her dep ar t ure f or Boston, from Live r p oo l, w it h the mails, a good cargo, and about nineiy passengers. 0 . n Wedn e sd a y next the screw steamer Alp s (belonging to Messrs M'lver) and the screw steamer Kangaroo (belonging to the Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphia Company), take their departure for New York with passengers and goods. FRANCE. PARIS, SUN. 'DAY. the effect produced by the execution of Orsini and Pierri has not yet entirely subsided in the mind of the public. It is still a topic of conver sation and comment in every circle, but will disappear in a day or two. All concur in describing the demeanour of Orsini throughout the whole of the terrible scene as contrasting strongly with that of his fellow sufferer. He maintained both in his cell and on the scaffold the same calmness while his companion evinced the most nervous and feverish impatience. The one went to his doom with a tranquil determination that would have been ad mired in a cause other than the execrable crime for which he died. The other affected to joke and gibe, though he offered no outrage to any o ne . H e did his utmost to work himself into a sort of wild ex citement, perhaps to prevent his thou g ht s d we lli ng on the fate from which there w as no escape. Ors i ni, it is said, declined accepti ng re f reshment on the morning of his execution ; Pierri drank strong coffee, and partook of spirits. In p resence o f th e . instrument of death was the sa t i r e. O rs i n i was still collected. Pierri's singing was cut short only i by the guillotine tself. P ierr i i s sa i d to have writ ten a great deal in the interval which elapsed be tween his condemnation and his death. What these writings were about is not known at pre sent. Orsini is said to have written a respectful letter to the Procureur-General, acknowledging the equitable and honourable co n d uc t o f t h e C ourt t h at tried him, and of the jury that found him guilty; as well as tolie perfect liberty accorded to his c o unsel. We are told that he said he should regret the quash ing of the judgment of the A.ssiza Court by the Court of Cassation, as in that case ho would have to be tried again—and he was certain the result would be the same. If he had entered an appeal it was with a view to have a few days more at his disposal to settle his affairs t rathor than from a hope of escap ing. He wrote to his family two or three days after his condemnation and while the appeal was still pending, but he wrote with the conviction of a man whose ac count with this world was cl ose d . He asked that h i s remains should be interred in a d ecen t co ffi n , an d the prayer is said to be complied with. He left a will, but in it there is nothing of a political charac ter. What passed between the tw o m i sera bl e men and the chaplai of the prison when loft alone in their cells no one knows but the ministers of religion. Horror of the crime is not of course di minished, but the absence of bravado in Orsini at such a moment makes him to be considered less un favourably than the petulant excitement of his com panion. In his last will it i s sa id th at Orsin i requests that his remains shall be claimed by his family. It is expected that on the I.6th inst., the anni versary of the birth of the P r i nce I mper i a l numero us promotions will be made in the army, and in the fleet now under the command of Admiral B,igault de Genouilly. A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at the official r esidence of th e C hancellor of the Exchequer in Downing-street. The Ministers present were—the Earl of Derby, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Salis bury, the Earl of Hardwi c k, tee Chancellor of the Exche quer, the Right Hon, Spencer Walpole, the Earl of Malraesbur7, Lord Stanley, General Peel, Sir John Pakington, the E ar l of Elleoborough, the Right Hon. J. W. Henley, and Lord John Manners. DEATH OF LORD 13RAYBROOKE.—We regret to an nounce the death of Lord Braybrooke, who expired on Saturday morning, at Audley End, the family seat in E-sex, after a protracted illness. The deceased, Richd. Griffin, Baron Braybrooke, of Braybrooke, county Northampton, in the peerage of Eugland, was eldest eon of Richard, second Baton Braybrooke, by Catherine, youngest dau g ht er of the Right Hon. George Grenville, and ei,ter of G eorge, the first Marquis of Buckingham. He was born 26;h Sept., 1783, and married 13th May, 1819, Lady J ane, eldest daughter of Charles, second Marquis Cornwallis, by whom (who died in 1856) I le had a numerous family. Two of his lordship's eons n the Guards fell during the Crimean war. The late psi r assumed the name of " Griffin," in lieu c f his patrony mic "Neville," to mark his descent from the extinct Lords Griffi n , B raybrooke Castle. The late peer was educated at M agdalen College, Cambridge, of which university h e was a LL. D. F. and where he graduated S.A., and was for a long series cf yea rs P resident of the Camden Society, and M.A. in 1811 . H e was has publish e d " T he Private Correspondence of Jane Lady Corn wa lli s, 1 613-1644," and has edited most ably "The Diary o f Samuel Pepys. " The lamented lord was hereditary Vi s it or of Magdalen College, Cambridge ; high steward of Wokingharn, Berke ; and recorder of Saffron Walden, Essex. The late peer supported Con servative principles in the House of Lords, but he de voted most of his leisure to literary pursuits rather than to politics. The deceased lord is succeeded in the family honours and estates by his son, the Hon. Richard Corn wallis, born in 1320, and married in 1852 to Lady Char lotte Sarah, fifth daughter of the late Earl of. Norbury. The present pe e r was former l y i u th e Grenadier . Guards. M. Garnier, m a y or o f St. Romati sous-Tevsigny (Saone-et-Loire), a n d t h e e ld es t municipal functionary in France, has just died at the age of 100 years and 5 months. " DLSOUSSIOIV FORUM." There is no doubt that many a man who fancied himself tolerably familiar with the " lions" of the metropolis felt his knowledge unexpectedly en larged when ho read in the pamphlet " L'Empereur Napoleon 111. et l'Angleterre' the alarming fad that there is a coffee-house near Temple-bar called " Discussion Forum," whore people eat and drink, and at the same time talk politics, the debates being directed by a man paid by the proprietor. Still more terrible is the further fact that in the month of November the question was discussed, "Is regicide permitted under certain circum stances ?" We may remind our readers tkat these are alleged as proofs that direct provocatives pre ceded the bombs of the 14th of January. The broad statement that there is a place where people, eat, drinii, and talk politice, will probably not appear extraordinary to any inhabitant of Lon don—nay, the genuine Cockney would be rather more surprised if he heard that there was a public house at which such things did not take place. Even the hypothesis that the functions of a chair man, who by his very presence attracts consumers of edibles and potables, are secured by a valuable consideration is not so utterly astounding that the more imaginative Londoner might not conceive its possibility. The extraordinary part of the busi ness is the mention of such an ordinary sort of place as " Discussion Forum" in the quasi-official pamphlet. _ _ We are afraid that the halo of importance thus suddenly cast upon " Discussion Forum" will not stand the test of personal investigation. The word " Forum" sounds large, and the mind, to supply it with an adequate image, is forced to take a sweep to which the dimensions of the Fleet-street establishment by no means corresponds. A ♦ary small room at the back of a public-house, with its floor chiefly occupied by tables, set out, not for the composition of seditious manifestoes, but for plates, dishes,. and tumblers—this is the Forum in which discussions take place that we are informed on such high authority fling terror across the British Chan nel. Whether they have been equally successful in awakening curiosity in the next street may be reasonably doubted. "Discussion Forum" by no means courts obscu rity. A conspicuous lamp is inscribed with its dig nified name, and in the window of the public-house is a slip of paper on which the subject of discussion is formally announced—that is to say, if the day be Thursday or Saturday, for on the evenings of those days does the discussion take place. The subject is couched in the most abstract terms, and the heed less passenger who glanced at the paper might pos sibly hurry past the door, fancying that if he entered the precincts of " discussion" he would have to encounter, not something terrible, but something exceedingly "slow." Let us add, that his supposition would be wrong. " Discussion Forum" is a most amusing place, a debating room of the thorough old English school, in which public questions are discussed sometimes cleverly, sometimes bombastically, sometimes non sically, but for the most part iu a manner that, from some cause or other, is highly entertaining. Two or three foreigners may perchance drop ix to pass away an idle hour, but they must soon feel themselves lost in a place so utterly English in its patrons and its usage. " Discussion Form" is in fact, a concentrated essence of Londondom, with $ due quantum of Caledonian and Hibernian ele ments. Thoroughly British is the portrait of the founder, which holds the post of honour assigned in the Roman Capitol to the statue of the wolf, Thoroughly British is the chairman, who with mild benignity rules the storm of debate. Thoroughly British are the glasses of stout and grog, the chop, the Welsh rabbit, and the " long clay." Tho roughly British is the good humour that, even more than the authority of the chairman, prevents the feast of reason from being too highly seasoned. The speakers and their auditors, who a re all mixed together, so that any ambitious auditor maY become an orator if he pleases without stirring from his place, belong more or less to the middle class. To a Chartist meeting the assemblage does not bear the slightest resemblance, and, though the tend ency of the debate is naturally democratic, the de mocracy is not of a kind that would greatly shook even a Conservative old lady. It is of the kind, in short, that belongs to people who have something to lose, assalsi and o atio n would be s. the last Indeed, tiiem i o n st th e e world xquisite to plot enjoy ment seems to arise when the speaker, deviating from a denunciation of despots and tyrants artfully contrives to burl a successful bit of " chaff" at the head of his " forensic" adversary. The triumph of the orator is, we should say, a more important matter than the triumph of the doctrine enunciated. At present the Forum is a little indignant at the manner in which it is mentioned in the Imperial pamphlets though the indignation is probably quail fled internally by the pleasure that everybody feels on becoming unexpectedly important. The orators complain that their proceedings are watched; they are convinced that every word they utter will find its way to France by electric telegraph ; they accuse intrusive Napoleonista of venality ; they wrathfully repel the assertion that their own chair man is paid by the proprietor, or by any one else ; they ask if the subjects for discussion are to be dictated by a foreign Power. We are not sure that two or three dreamy enthusiasts do not ap prehend the arrival of some dreadful day, when the little slip of paper that invites the Fleet-street pas senger will be supplied by the Government of France. But beneath all this virtuous indignation there is a solid substratum of chuckle. Even the anthud siastic defier of prisons speaks in the full conviction that he has no more chance of being incarcerated than of being broken on the wheel, while the gene ral tendency of the assembly is to take the side of common sense, and to laugh down bombast of every description, the cool sarcastic speaker always sem• ing the victory over the vociferous rhetorician. "Discussion Forum" is, in short, a place of mere amusement, supported by people who love to hear themselves talk, just as other people love to hear themselves sing. If we call it a political " free and-easy," we shall give it a name very intelligible to a large class of the community. There is no doubt that there are a hundred places in London to which our description would Apply quite as well as to "Discussion Forum." However, let it enjoy the proud distinction which has been conferred upon it by the French pamphlet, and let it show that it is in some way worthy its pre. eminence by improving its ventilation.—Titnes. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.— (This Day.) MARLBOROUGH-STREET. WILEULLY BREAKING CEIURQH WINDOWS.--Dlg• TUBBING A CONGREGATION.—A young man, who gm th 9 name of Thomas Johnson, a pianoforte tuner, wau charged before Mr. Beadon, with wilfully breaking soma panes of glass in the window of St Patrick's Church, Sutton-street, Soho. Mr. John Joseph Laidler, of 2, London•street o Fitzroy-square, said he was in the church on Saturday night, there being a private entrance, when he ob- served the prisoner, who was about two yards. in advance of him, get over some palings, and break some panel of glass with a poker, which he took from under hi coat. He did it purposely, and as soon as he bad don• so ran to the upper part of the church, and hid himself in a paw. The principal clergyman asked him why he did it, he denied it. Witness then asked him why ke had done it, or whether he bad any reason for doing.so, The prisoner said, " Oh, I'll pay the damage." A. person went and looked in the pew, and there found a poker with marks on it. The prisoner was a stranger to all parties connected with the church. On his way to the station the prisoner told the witness, "It was au old score he intended to pay off, but it was not so much as he intended to do." The congregation was much dis turbed by prisoner's conduct. The prisoner, in answer to Mr. Beadon, said he never had a poker. Mr. Beadon said the prisoner had gone to the church, and besides breaking the windows, had disturbed the congregation. He should order him to pay the damage, or he should commit him to prison for two months. SHOPLIFTING.—Two showily-dressed females, named Mary Ann Daley and Eliza Nicholls, were charged with coaling a mantle, valued at ss. 6d,, the property of Mr• Steele, linendraper, Oxford -street. , . . From the evidence of the witnesses, it appeared that the prisoners went into the shop of the prosecutor And asked to look at some goods, and while the prisoner Nicholls was examining them the other prisoner will observed secreting something under her clothes. 011 being taxed with the th ft she dropped a mantle. Sit• was then given into custody. The prisoners were remanded till Friday. Tin GREAT GLOM—The ordinary attractions of this popular place of entertainment and instruction are being reinfoiced by a fine panoramic view of China, or, at least, of the chief cities of that e mpire known to Euro. pearls. The great picture is of course that of Canton, which is done with excellent taste and good effect, show• in out prominently the different b o ngs , its batt eries, pagodas, and towers. Here is the "Gate of Eternal Purity" amid close streets and noisome lanes, while , still less brilliant portal is the "Gate of Eternal Joy, which is close to the long thoroughfare known as the street of "Benevolence and Love." The five-storied pagoda is a conspicuous object here, as is also the yamua or the renowned Commissioner Yeh, and other build- jugs with which the graphic letters of our special cor onuent io that part of the world havel ately mad. us so familiar, The extraordinary medley of b oa t s of a ll leinds which contain the floating population of this river is well depicted, the chief points of inter• st in the work being clearly explained in a brief and comprehen rive lector(' Which is delivered by Mr. LiTiogstone--. 1 ; t1, ii . ( 4 k1.4 144