The Sun. — London, England, 1859-10-21 00:00:00

ME SUR, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 21, 18139 _ On Wednesday night a grand banquet was given by the chairman and directors of the London and North-Western Railway Company to testify their admiration of . the splendid monument of the en gineering genius of the lamented Brunel, now floating in the waters of Holyhead, and also to evince their goodwill and best wishes towards the owners and managers of this colossal ship. The dinner took place in the grounds of the Royal Ifotel at Holyhead, where a spacious and elegant pavilion, specially fitted up and decorated for the occasion, had been erected by Messrs. Doveston, Bird, and Hull, of Manchester. The company pre sent, which included several distinguished members of the House of Commons, as well as many . eminent persons connected with railway and _engineering enterprise, together, of course, with most of the directors and principal officers of the big ship, ar rived at Holyhead by early trains, and spent the first part of the day in a personal inspection of the Great Eastern. Those invited guests to the dinner who had taken the precaution to reach the scene a day beforehand to prevent all accidents were cer tainly not rewarded for their toil and pains. Everything like hotel accommodation which the town affords had been hired for days in advance, and beds or refreshments were not to be had for love or money. Holyhead may be able to boast of the presence of the big ship, but it certainly makes DO pretensions to catering fur the comfort of the concourse of visitors who are drawn to see it. In deed, its sleepy inhabitants have evidently no taste for this invasion of escurient strangers, and seem to regard the living influx as intruders who ought to be sternly discouraged. A steamer belonging to the London and North- Western Railway Company was set apart for the conveyance of the Marquis of Chandos, his brother directors, and their friends, and the party left the quay to repair on board the gigantic vessel at 11 in the forenoon. Here, however, they found them selves anticipated by crowds of eager sight-seers from far and near, whose numbers gradually swelled. as the day wore on, making the huge upper and lower decks, capacious as they are, swarm with life and bustle. Throughout the day the streets of Holyhead were thronged like a fair, consequent on the arrival of trains from various parts of England in quick Succession, pouring in constant streams of visitors, avho were seen hastening in all directions to wards the tiny craft which were inc essantl y engaged in carrying fresh reinforcements to the centre of at traction lying in the roadstead. 'The Great East ern's bandplayed Great Eastern music; picturesque groups of spectatorswere made the subject of Great Eastern stereoscopic views by . enterprising Great Eastern artists ; and the day being beautifully fine, the scene on board the monster vessel was altoge ther one of a very animated and exciting character. But while we leave the promiscuous and ever increasing concourse freely to indulge its greedy curiosity in ransacking every nook and corner of the stupendous ship, we must not forget the select few who are privileged with the entree to the din ner at the Royal Hotel Pavilion. The guests, to the number of from 150 to 200, as sembled at half-past 5 o'clock. Among them were The Marquis of Chandos (in the chair), Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Bishop of Bangor, Sir J. Pakington, Lord C. Paget, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Sir R. Bulkeley, Hon f Ross (Canada). Mr. G. C. Glyn, M.P., Sir W. W. Wynn, Hon. W. 0. Stan ley, Mr. T. Bazley, M.P., Lord Stafford, Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P., Mr. J. Chapman, Sir E. M'Don nell, Hon. A. F. Egerton, M.P., Hon. C. S. Cle ments, Sir A. Hoare, Col. Biddulph, Mr. S. Beale, M.P., Sir IL M. Bromley, Sir E. K. James, Capt. Galton, Mr. J. J. R. Campbell (chairman of the Great Ship Company), and a number of directors of the Great Ship Company ; also Capt. Huish, Mr. H. Booth, Capt. Harrison, Mr. C. E. Stewart, Mr. Cawkweil, and other officers of the North-Western Railway and the Great Ship Company; Mr. E. B. Denison, chairman of the Great Northern Railway Company ; Mr. S. Clarke, Sir C. Roney, Captain Walker (Board of Trade), Mr. W. Dargan, Mr. S. Parry, Col. Hogg, Capt. Mends, and Capt. Priest. Grace having been said, the usual loyal and pa triotis toasts were given from the chair, and duly honoured by the company. The noble CHAIRMAN then rose to propose the toast of the evening. He said :—Few travellers Visiting that corner of our island could have failed to remark the many works of engineering skill scat tered over the 80 or 100 miles of railway between that port and the city of Chester, and in which the ingenuity and perseverance of man had triumphed over the difficulties interposed by nature. Al; con nected with the London and North-Western Rail way could not on such an occasion help reverting to what had befallen since the invitations to that dinner had been issued, or could not fail to remark that they had, alas no longer a Stephenson among them. (Hear, hear.) It was that marvellous roan's genius which had devised the means of passing the rugged straits of Menai, and of elrrying gal!elies through those rocks and shores of Wales which had long de fied, until the days of Telford, the engineering skill of this country. Those who had known Robert -Stephenson had lost a dear frieirl, while England had lost one of her children who had raised the name of a humble family to a position not only of British, but of European reputation. (Cheers.) But they had also to mourn the untimely end of another son of genius, whose fame was equally dif fused throughout the Continent, and the completion of whose magnificent conception they had then met to celebrate. Did not every Englishman feel it as it were a part of the national honour that that noble ship should succeed, and was it not a source of grief in every household throughout the land when her first trip from the river was attended with an unfor tunate mishap ? Sometimes the schemes of our great engineers appeared to be in advance of their age; but it should be remembered that locomotives were now careering over the land at a speed which in the memory of many living men was regarded as fabu lous. He could not but think that the step taken by the Great Eastern Company would before long ho crowned with success, and would place Eng land in the first rank among nations in ship building as she was in every other art. The bonds of commerce and mutual interest were the strongest securities for peace between different countries; and what more potent auxiliary for developing our intercourse with our own colonies, as well as with foreign lands, could be found than the employment of the best, the largest, and swiftest of vessels ? The time was not remote when it was thought a visionary scheme to send out the Sirius, the Great Western, and the Great Britain,and the other large steamers which now performed the transatlantic passage almost with the certainty and regularity of a railway journey. 'Why should not the Great Eastern supplant the smaller class of ocean steamers as railways had supplanted other modes of commu nication on land ? The Great Eastern Company had already solved a great part of their problem— their ship had moved, she had undergone the ordeal of dangerous inland navigation, she had encoun tered the troubled seas of that coast, and he under stood that experienced officers had pronounced her certainly as handy a ship as had floated on any sea. (Hear, hear.) He was convinced there was not an Englishman who did not heartily wish to see the Great Eastern prove a perfect commercial success to her owners, while she also showed to surround ing nations that England claimed the same rank in naval architecture as she undoubtedly held in com mercial enterprise. (Cheers ) The noble marquiS concluded by giving " Success to the Great Eastern." The toast was received with much enthusiasm. Mr. CAMPBELL said that on his own behalf and on that of his colleagues and fellow shareholders — which now meant the people of this country, as the vessel was really the people's ship, her proprietors being upwards of 3,500 in number, who from that feeling of national pride and patriotism which was common to Englishmen had rallied round the teat Eastern in all its difficulties—he begged to return their most grateful thanks for the handso:ne man eeornisli which the toast was proposed and received. u perio i d de o r f ab th le e misapprehension had existed from the company's. Easte formation as to the design of the Great , h r o, , v h e, e .e r , purpose, and object. No misgivings had, inra, au engineeringbeen entertained by those who, whetherer a coin . mereial point of view, had associated themselves le with the enterprise. They saw before ti successful company in operation on the m ov a er l l n a os d t route, with all the difficulties of tranship gent a n d landing, and with the possibility under which that n company laboured, owing to the smallness of i their shins, clever becoming the carriers of merchandise. They saw that the greatest want of the age in re fe.rence to our distant possessions in India, China, and Australia was the combination of carrying power and speed. They saw that the annual in crease in the carrying trade of Indio, China, and Australia, representing a population of 600,000,000, or nearly one-half the human race, involved re quirements which, were very inadequately met by the existing service. They saw also that, whereas at the comnitnencement of their undertaking only a monthly communication was • carried on with India, at the present moment th'tt communi at-ion had become weekly. They were fortified by the opinions of the most practical merchants of this country, who said that if they could insure the delivery, of the goods simultaneously with the commercial intelligence they could secure the mar kets. This fact had indeed been conclusively esta blished, that since the introduction of the overland route all the calculations of the merchant had been baffled. He ordered his goods to-day; but four mouths !afterwards 50 times the quantity he had ordered was represented in the mark et b y means of advices. So that all such fluctuations in the market were anticipated by that intelligence which in these days was equal to the actual presence of the goods. (Hear, hear.) Now, the aim of the Great Ship Company was to do for India, China, and Aus tralia what their lamented friend the late Mr. Brunel did for America 20 years ago. He first connected America with this country by steam navigation without stoppage over a distance of 9,800 miles, and at a speed o f nine knots an hour. Now, too, India, China, and Australia were to be connected with this country, over a distance of 12,000 miles, at a speed which, it was hoped, would average more than 13 knots, or 40 per cent. quicker than the previous rate. To prove the soundness of their views they now found that, while ships like the Great Western were only 1,500 tons burden, there were ships. now trading with America of from 3,500 to 4,000 tons, which bore the same relative proportion to the Atlantic voyage that 20,000 tons bore to the Indian voyage. They had been told by the Times that vessels of 3,500 tons could perform the passage to Australia in nearly the same time as the Great Eastern. But, inasmuch as a vessel of 3,500 tons represented only one-sixth of her tonnage, and consumed 150 tons of coal per day, while the big ship with six times their tonnage would consume only 300 tons, the latter could accomplish the journey to Australia in 36 days with 24,000 tons less fuel than six of the smaller vessels. This, too, sho would achieve with no stoppage on the way, and, moreover, she would land 10,000 tons of goods; whereas he defied the 3,500 ton vessels to land a single ton of goods and carry their coal more than half the way. Indeed, unaided by Government subsidies, all the existing steam navigation for ocean voyages had hitherto proved a failure, and must continue to do so with the introduction of a combination of speed and carrying power. Now, if the Government were alive to their own interests , a million per annum might easily be saved to the taxpayers iii the shape of these subsidies. (Hear, hear.) That company hoped to be able to do for the British public what successive Chancellors of the Exchequer had failed to do. (A laugh.) The result of the subsidising system had been that after they had existed for many years the average rate of speed by the over land route was only ten knots an hour, while cap tain 3 had actually been fined for exceeding the re gulated speed upon the subsidised passages. (A laugh.) The object of the Great Eastern Company was to secure for the Government st monthly ocean communication by means of three vessels, of which the monster ship now at Holyhead was the first, thus providing a trunk line to India, China, and Australia which would deliver at the Cape to a feeding steamer for Australia passen gem and goods destined for that colony ; then, proceeding to Trincomalee —one of the finest ports we possessed in India—it would be met in turn there by feeding steamers from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Calcutta, Madras, and Bom bay. They would thus supply all the requirements of 600,000,000 of the human race, taking in ex change for the commoditie s we ex p orted the most valuable raw productions in the world, which could afford to pay almost any freight, and which were now paying £2O per ton. The calculation made as to freight several years ago for that route was that the exports from this country to those markets amounted to 50,000 tons per month. They had now risen to 100,000 tons, the gradual increase being equal to 12 per cent. per annum. So that three such ships as the Great Eastern would, after all, only meet the natural increase upon the exist ing trade, although they could always rely on having the pick of the more valuable portion of the 100,000 tens, on the principle that a clipper which could only give a probable saving of from 5 to 10 per cent. on the voyage now commanded the pre ference for all the freight offering on the day she was loading. (Hear, hear.) Such, then, had been the object and origin of the Great Eastern. Mis conceptions had prevailed as to their ever being able to construct her. Then, when constructed, it was said she would never be launched, and when launched in the river it was said she would never leave it. (A laugh.) Well, they had launched her, and had sailed her. (Cheers.) But they were now told that she was " a mere show ship." Now, they were on a commercial cruise ; they had met with an accident, it was true ; and they were look ing out for a good port. Holyhead was a very fair port, and they hoped that next time they visited it it would be still better. Considering the very hos pitable reception they had met with from the chair man and directors of the London and North-Wes , tern Railway Company, he had no doubt they would do all in their power to make that the best port in England. Politically speaking, the use of the Great Eastern might he thus exemplified:—We had 450,000 troops maintained in our various colonies and dependencies •, and we knew that Indian mutinies were possible. (Hear, hear.) Now, a fleet of such ships, if they were left to stand merely on their commercial merits, as he trusted they would be, without the assistance of Govern ment subsidies, would be prepared to run a fair race with all existing lines. As long as subsidies did exist, however, that company would claim its share; but, if the Government were to cancel them all, the Great Eastern would be in a position to make a fair start, and he maintained that the late Indian mutiny, by which an empire was nearly lost, might have been spared to this country if we had been in possession of such powerful ships, which might have taken out masses of troops in less than 40 days. (Cheers.) In conclusion, Mr. Campbell gave " The Health of the Chairman and Directors of the London and North-Western Rail way—the pioneers of the most gigantic railway enterprise in England, as the Great Eastern Com pany were of steam navigation on a scale of equal magnitude." (Cheers,) The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks, and next proposed " The House of Commons," which was drunk with the usual honours. Sir J. PAKINGTON rose and said,—l esteem it a great honour to be called upon to respond in the name of the great assembly comprised in your toast, on an occasion so interesting as the present, when I am surrounded by men of the highest intelligence, almost all of whom are connected with the highest and most important :nterests of England, and who have met to celebrate—or perhaps I ought rather to say to inaugurate—one of the greatest experi ments that has ever resulted from the energy and enterprise, the liberality and scientific skill of this progressive age. I am well aware that I speak now as the representative of men of almost every po litical section in the House of Commons, and I trust that no word will fall from me to which any one of those gentlemen can take exception. Indeed, I believe that I shall be only uttering their senti ments if I give some expression to deep convictions which I cannot repress when I am of necessity re quired to advert to the House of Commons. The character and honour of that body are dear to every man in this country who values our institutions. I feel confident that I say no more than men of all parties will assent to when I express a hope th it the day is not distant when they will combine to adopt such measures as may be necessary, however stringent, to put an end to that system of electoral bribery and corruption with which the columns of every newspaper are now teeming, and which, if I mistake not, the British public will still be reading for weeks and months to come. (Hear.) lam sure that all will agree with me in saying that this vile system is demoralising to the people, discreditable to our whole representative institutions, and ren ders an appeal to the people not a test of enligh tened opinion on any matter of public policy, but a mere question of who may have the largest purse or the most unscrupulous partisans. (Cheers.) Hoping that you will forgive me for touching, in connection with this toast, on a subject which must have struck deep into the feelings of tha country, I will now pass to a topic more gcrmane to the object for which we are assembled. It is impossible for any reflecting man to have seen the works which we have this day had au opportunity of inspecting without being impressed with the endless variety and importance of the functions devolving on mem bers of the House of Commons. No doubt the House of Commons, as my noble friend in the chair, speaking feelingly, has hinted, does from time to time deal with railway companies in a manner which the directors do not quite like. (A laugh.) Yet, as a disinterested person, never myself having had a railway share in my life, I am disposed on the whole to think that that assembly treats those bodies in a spirit of justice, liberality, and propriety. (" Hear, hear," and some expressions of dissent.) B 7;1 ts.ojussn assembly msut other subjects besides those relating to railways are forced upon our attention. We cannot come to 10l look upon N,o its great and noble liar h etalli:auntd thegrants recollecting tea th b a y t th th e a i t io h u a s r e bo o u f r c l o s t a n s_ ; bl a y " will baendwatnrtuing I hope stth i a n t t t lat g l r e e g a is t la d t n iN t ' y e which devolves upon them at this moment, of pro. Vding harbo urs f or England. (Cheers.) Ido not elieve that any more important steps could be taken for promoting the naval strength, the na tional defence, and the commercial prosperity of England than the erection of those two noble Harbours of Portland and Holyhead. (Cheers.) It was my duty to visit this port a year ago ofilc : ally. I was then in a different position from that which I now occupv-(a laugh)—but I was delighted to hear that it, often happens during the gales of winter that from 200 to 300 vessels, which would otherwise be baffetcd about at great risk to life and property in St. George's Channel, find shelter at one time within the harbour of Holy head. I trust, then, that the liberality of the House of Commons will not be restricted in this great item of public expenditure ; and I cannot help appealing not only to my brother membc rs in general, but to my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exche quer in particular, if it is not unfair to (I) so, on the subject or the report not long since presented to Parliament and the public by the Commission on Harbours of Refuge. I had the honour of appoint ing Admiral Hope to preside over that commission, and I did so because I believed then, as I believe now, that he was a man not only of distinguished gallantry, but of professional Fkill and ability. The report presented justifies that opinion. It recom mends an extension of the system of harbours of re fuge ; and I now repeat my hope that the House of Commons will deal liberally with that subject. (Hear, hear.) I believe I also speak the sentiments of every member of the House of Commons when, from the bottom of my heart, I wish success to the Great Eastern. (Cheers.) I have watched this ex periment from its commencement with the deepest interest, and have never despaired of its success. We hear many reasons given why it cannot succeed. We are told, for example, that the speed attained is not what it ought to be. My own belief has been that the great principles of naval architecture have no other limit in their application except that of convenience. I do not see why those principles are not as applicable to a vessel of 20,000 tons as to one of 500. I have no doubt whatever, therefore, on the score of its nautical su ccess. Its commercial success may indeed be less certain, but of this I am sure, that the Great Eastern is one of the most magnificent conceptions of thi; age ; one of the noblest applica tions of that great power, steam, which has worked such a revolution in the affairs of the world, and, like all other eximples of material progress, eminently deserves to prosper. (Hear.) I was glad to hear the just tribute so feelinglypaid by my noble friend to the memory of those great men, Stephenson and Brunel ; and it is painful to reflect that poor Brunel was not spared to witness what I trust is the certain success of this splendid example of his genius. (Cheers.) In a national point of view is there not reason to believe that the day may not be distant when we shall be thankful to have a Great Eastern by which to transport our troops ? (Hear) I have heard it said, indeed, in answer to this opinion, that no prudent Government would ever place so many eggs in one basket. (A laugh.) But, if I am not greatly mistaken, in the months of August and September, 1857, when the mutiny was raging in India, and there was too much reason for us in England to be appreherisive of the issue, the Government of that day would have been only too glad to have had such a basket to put as many eggs in as they could get. (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN said they were honoured with the presence of a man who held one of the most im portant offices in the State, and had an European reputation for his talents and his eloquence. In his right hon. friend's hands the fortunes of political parties and the choice of Parliament had placed the conduct of the national finances; and every true- hearted Englishman, whatever his political creed, must heartily wish that success might attend the exertions of the Government of the day, whether they were composed of Liberals or of Conservatives. (Hear, hear.) The chairman then gave the health of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, which was drunk with great cordiality. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER rose and said—Gentlemen, you have been pleased to receive the proposal of my health in a manner which com mands my warmest gratitude; but, at the same time, I am quite aware that the office I am called upon to hold is one of the deepest interest to you, for upon the mode in which its duties are discharged depends much that belongs to your prosperity, happiness, and comfort. Let me, however, on this, as on every occasion, remind" a company of Eng lishmen that the manner in which the duties of that office are to be discharged itself depends not so much upon the individual whe fills it as upon the sentiments which animate the mass of the people. (Cheers.) If the mass of the people are disposed to adhere to the principles of thrift and economy in the administration of finance, then it is alike the duty and the pleasure of the Finance Minister to become their instrument and organ in giving effect to those principles ; but if, on the other hand, whether through an increase of wealth, a long continuance of prosperity, an apprehension of dan ger, or from whatever other cause, a change passes over the temper of the public mind, and we find at every turn a prevalence, not of the sentiments which governed the successive Administrations of the Duke of Wellington, Lord Grey, Sir R. Peel, and Lord Melbourne, but a disposition to recom mend right and left the large effusion of public money for every object of utility, then I must tell you, and tell the English public, that it is vain to look to a Chancellor of the Exchequer to stem such a tide of feeling. Ho may indeed do what he can to control it; yet this is a country of which it is in some respects the danger, but upon the whole the safety and the glory, that it is governed by its own convictions, and that the manner in which its affairs are conducted depends, not upon the inclinations or abilities of any individual, but upon the tendencies and feelings of the people of Engla nd themselves. (Cheers.) 'Therefore the person who may fill the office which I have now the honour to hold is alto gether an insignificant item in the public adminis tration. That which truly determines his course and conduct is what is felt by the mass of the com munity, and especially by those intelligent and really governing classes of whom we have here an important portion. Let me say in very few words that, in my opinion, the position of a public man in England, although it may be in many respects one of care and difficulty—for we have a vast, perhaps too vast, an empire to administer—it yet in many other respects is a position of 'ingular felicity. For we serve a Sovereign-whom it is a delight to serve (cheer); and if in her we have a noble mistress, we have likewise a noble master in the British nation. (Renewed cheers.) I have ever felt, under whatever vicissitudes of public affairs, that we live in a coun try where no sincere and honest efforts of a Minister to perform his public duty in the long run fail to meet with adequate and ample justice •, and that it is far more likely that his errors will be overlooked and unperceived than that they will ever be visited with an undue severity. (Cheers.) Passing from the subject of the toast which you, my lord, have proposed in terms of such peculiar kindness, I avail myself of the permission I have obtained from you to submit a toast which has little connexion with my own personal existence. I have to suggest that you should drink " Prosperity to the Trading and Manufacturing Interests of this Connery." (Cheers.) That prosperity has, as I have said, little to do with my personal existence, but it has a great deal to do with my official existence. (" Hear," and a laugh.) And the comfort of that official existence —I have lived long enough to know very well — depends mainly upon the condition of these inte rests. I venture to tell you that the last quarter's revenue presents a return the most satisfactory that we have witnessed for several years past; and if you ask me why, I apprehend it was in a very great degree owing to the activity of trade, that activity of trade being in turn in a great measure founded on the very great moderation of the prices at which the people are procuring their provisions. (Hear, hear.) We have lived in times of a diversi fied character—times in which much has occurred that may be of a doubtful complexion, but which on that very account the mind rests with the greater comfort and satisfaction on all that betokens real progress in what concerns the interest of mankind. I do believe that in the whole history of the world an instance can be found..either of an age or a na tion in which it has been graciously conceded to a Legislature to do so much for the benefit of the people committed to its charge as it has been given the British Parliament t do in the present era by the changes which it has circumspectly and wisely, but baldly and effectually, introduced into the whole of our commercial policy. (Cheers.) Per. 1 mit me to quote a few lines written a century and a-half ago, in a spirit truly prophetic, by one of our distinguished national poets—l allude to Pope. In an early work of his termed "Wind sor Forest," he penned words which might well be taken as indicating his prescience of the repeal and fundamental reconstruction of our navigation system. Ho says : " The time shall nine when free as waves or wind, Unbounded Thames shall flow for all mankind — Whole nations enter on each swelling tide, And seas but join the regions they divide ; Earth's distant ends our glory shall behold, And the New World launch forth to seek the Old!" (Cheers.) That which the 'poet thus predicted we have seen completely realised ; and of that change in the commercial system of the country, so far as its laws were concerned, we have beheld this day in the harbonr of Holyhead the most remarkable and conspicuous result. (Hear.) No doubt before these changes were made it was open to both honourable and intelligent men to questson what their precise effect might be. But now that they have been con summated it is, at all event, beyond all dispute that since their introduction your commercial marine has made a progress far more extended and far m ore daring thanhs d ever before been dreamt of. (Cheers.) Itpelot haschange assumed a novel character, and it is hardly e l : c h r a i bse as taken a mere place i change n t h in e degree whole the scale and construction of shipbuilding, and in the manxer in which our maritime service is conductzd. I am old enough to recollect when the largest ship that sailed out of the port Liverpool for a long sea 1 voyage over the Atlantic was only about one-I'urtieth part of the siv: of the Great Eastern now floating on your waters. (Cheers.) I trust that those who have with such noble and lofty enterprise entered upon this great undertaking will receive the reward of their labours in an adequate commercial success. But of this I am quite certain, that they will feel that their daring has been beyond the measure of all ordinary daring, and in that very fact they have at once borne testimony to the character of our national spirit, and have themselves deliberately chosen to become one of its most striking illustra tions on record. (Hear, hear.) It has been said that " the age of chivalry is gone," but there is ------- something even of chivalry in the manly resolu tion with which the proj ectors of this great scheme determined to confront all risk and difficulty, and to see whether they could not achieve something not only greater but far_greater than has yet been conceived in natal architecture, on behalf of their country and of mankind. (Cheers.) For there can not be a doubt that if success is to attend their en terprise much will have been accomplished both for their country and for mankind ; as, on the other hand, there can be as little doubt that if success is to be withheld or delayed, even failure in such an undertaking can entail no discredit. (Hear, hear.) The prosperity of the trading and manufacturing interests of this country is indeed much too vast a subject to he handled in detail, even with all the latitude that your patience and indulgence might accord. But I feel it is a high honour to be called upon to touch on such a theme in connection with the stage at which the enterprise of the Great Eastern has arrived, and the hopeful prospect ; which I trust we may say it presents, as well as in connection with the fact that we are assembled as the guests of the first railway company in the world, and under the presidency of a man who enjoys the con fidence of that body, and is an honour to the order to which he belongs. (Hear.) Comment has been made on the treatment of railway companies by the House of Commons, and no doubt that is a subject which the historian will hereafter have to discuss. (A laugh.) Some people say that the House of Commons is in fault; some that the railway com panies themselves are in fault. I, for my part — especially at a moment like this, consecrated to festivity and good humour—should be exceedingly sorry to imply that anybody had been in fault. (Laughter.) But, be that as it may, there are certain facts upon record, and among them this one, that in this country from £300,000,000 to £400,000,000 have been laid out in railway enterprise ; that the outlay of this vast sum has produced enormous benefit to every interest, i without exception, n the kingdom. That bene fit is not confined within the bounds of these kingdoms, but has, on hehalf of every country in the world, solved the w hole p roblem of its internal communication, and shown it the way in which it ought to walk. (Cheers.) So that we have, in point of fact, paid the cost of all the errors and blunders which other nations must have committed in their endeavours to gain experience 'for them selves. (Hear.) As much as that is undeniable, and I confess I think it matter of regret that that being the case, the average return on railway capi tal up to the present moment has been so low. I lay no blame upon anybody. But lam firmly con vinced that in an enterprise of this kind, novel, and therefore, in one of its aspects, necessarily speculative, it would have been much better, not only for the shareholders, but for the country at large, if a more liberal profit had been realised on the money thus invested than it had been the good or bad fortune of their proprietors to re ceive. Dr. Johnson says—and I have great respect for all that fell from that authority—that what ever induces a man to live more in the future and less in the present, exalts him in the scale of crea tion. (A laugh.) Well, if that be so—and lam in clined to believe that it is—then the position of the railway shareholder is an exalted one. (Laughter.) The past, undoubtedly, has not smiled upon him ; the present has no very extravagant attractions; and if he really expects any very great things they must lie in the future. It is an additional comfort, therefore, to him to know that in looking forward he is by that very fact elevated in the scale of being. (Renewed laughter.) I regret, on another ground, the comparative slenderness of the interest payable on railway property. It is a fact of curious signi ficance, the like of which I believe does not stand on record, that the great social, commercial, and economical change brought about by railways was introduced into the world by private enterprise, with out the advantage of any very .great and immediate premiums being held out to their projectors. And as one who is not ashamed to own that he feels a strong interest in the economical administration of the public resources, r am sorry to say that in my offi cial capacity I have reason to believe that this in adequate return upon railway investments has had no small effect in producing a tendency in the public mind which in this country is in a great degree novel—and I am bound to add, it is also in my opinion in a g-eat degree mischievous—the tendency, I mean, when a great enterprise is about to be undertaken to effect some useful object, for its 1 originators immediately t i resort to an assault upon the public purse. (" Hear," and a laugh.) I know not in what measure I am entitled to ask for your sympathy,in this matter; but I believe the prin ciple on which we have long acted in England, al though it has been greatly departed from of late years,—viz , that the assistance of the Govern ment should never be extended to, private enterprise unless under circumstances of rigid and extreme necessity was a principle sound alike with regard to finance, with regard to the security of 'your insitu tions, with regard to the purity of the public cha racter, and with regard to the maintenance of that spirit of bold and, I will say, daring enterprise, which at all times, whether of peace or war, has been a leading characteristic of Englishmen. (Cheers.) Under these circumstances Ido not feel myself peepared to make any distinct answer what ever to the appeal addressed to me in so winning, I might almost say so cajoling a manner—by my right hon. friend the late First Lord of the Ad miralty—(a laugh)—on the subject of the liberality of the House of Commons in the expenditure upon refuge harbours. Harbours are, no doubt, most admirable things, and serve the most useful of pur poses ; but as to the sources from which the funds are to proceed whence their construction 'all round your coasts is to he provided for, on that point I must pray your permission to maintain a judicious silence on these occasions. (" Hear." and a laugh.) No doubt it is the effect of convivial assemblies to open the heart and set free the tongue ; and certainly at such a board, at so interesting a gathering, and before such incomparable company, it is to me painful beyond measure to feel obliged to plead for myself and claim the benefit of this general rule. (Laugh ter.) Nevertheless, I throw myself on your indul gence; and believing, as I do, thit a too ready re sort to the public purse in matters with respect to which it is often subsequently found that the use of that purse has been mischievous, and has ope rated as an absolute discouragement to enterprise, is a great public evil, I say it is one—and a conspi cuous one —among the various merits of the pro moters of this great undertaking, that when they were attempting something entirely without prece dent and out of the common course, both as to its extent and its cost, they nevertheless chose to rely on their private resources. That, ii I understood my right hon. friend the Chairman of the Great Ship Company, is the principle to which he gives his sanction. (Hear.) I venture, gentle:net, humbly but sincerely, to as sure you that I have at least this qualification for asking you to drink to the prosperity of our trade and manufactures, that my own life and exertions are cordially devoted to that object; that, amid all the difficulties of politics, amid all the vicissitudes and disappointments of life, amid the uncertainty which attends all our speculations, I find a comfort and satisfaction in thinking that it is in our power, if we will sedulously set ourselves about it, by a judicious economy and an enlightened legislation, to do something, at least towards raising the condi tion of the masses of our fellow.countrymen and providing that there shall be some lightening of the burden which human life entails on the noble minded artisans and peasantry of England. (Cheers.) That, in my opinion, is a solid ground of satisfaction ; for that I think it an honour and a delight to labour. And, confident in your sym pathies, I ask you heartily to unite with me in good wishes and earnest anxiety fur that exten sion of enterprise and that remuneration of capital in the trade and manufactures of this country, of which we know that a main part of the fruit and the profit will redound to the advantage of the . labourers whom they employ. (Loud cheers.) The right hon. gentleman then proposed "Prosperity to our Trading and Manufacturing Classes." Mr. T. Bazley, M.P. for Manchester, Mr. Bushell, of Liverpool, Mr. Akroyd, of Yorkshire, and Mr. Muntz, of Birmingham, severally acknowledged the toast. Sir J. PAKINGTON rose to propose a toast which at all times and under all circumstances commanded the sympathy of Englishmen, but which was never more appropriate than in that assembly. He meant " Our Colonial Empire." (Hear, hear.) He wholly dissented front the opinion en tertained by some that that empire was of . no value to us, but migh t be an y da y reltn qu'shed without diminishing our prosperity. Never was there a moment when the attachment of the colonies to the mother country was stronger than at present, as was evidenced by the manner in which the former had offered to contribute, not money merely, but men also to meet the exigencies of the parent State. Canada had nobl y raised a regiment for service in Isidia. Every improvement in nautical science tended to draw closer the bonds which united the colonies and the mother country, and the hap it)ii.easltiarte.is.ounlit s Go rn a i: y li s t — be augured from the day when the Great Eastern would reduce the passage to Aus lsateceaisexsoilspdnlao:tl rrNhitihlaoeaoennfss experience, 3 e t O : 3 . a appalAsll n o h leis itoosiusiPbegi doubt c t i t s ot e h l: :i a, o t iti ( n l oa , L 1 friend n i l r s a o t i i t os had truly t t laNr t v.nao l n e .f. in ft: a toe g m n E i t t ix u ne c i etogofutteihii.ne:Nß, when intrusted;ieintieilieo suchlednaluetdtthiteins:i•iaiainsssceilsahoi another department, proved that the task of con ducting the affairg of our Colonial-office was (rreatlY facilitated and lightened by the talents Lind the ratriOtisil of the distinguished men who took a whl leading part in the provincial Governments of our colonies. (Hear, hear.) The right hon. baronet concluded by giving "Prosperity to our Colonies," was drunk with much cordiality. HiNcKs, Governor of Barbadoes, and Mr. Ross President of the Executive Council of Canada, briefly responded to the toast. "The Shipping Interest of England" was next given by the latter gentleman, and suitably acknowledged by Mr. M'lvon and Mr. MACKIE. The health of Captain Harrison, commander of the Great Eastern, and that of Mr. 0. Stanley, M.P., were next drunk amid much applause, and also duly acknowledged. Mr. STANLEY took occasion, in the course of his remarks, to complain of the niggardliness of the House of Commons in regard to the works at Holyhead. The CHAIRMAN gave the health of Lord C. Paget, Secretary to the Admiralty, for which Lord C. PAGET returned thanks. As financial officer of the Admiralty, he said he felt grateful for the many excellent suggestions which had been made that night. He had recently come from in specting Portland, where a very strong representa tion had been made to him that the works of that harbour should be enlarged. Other gentlemen had urged on him the necessity of increasing the sub sidies to the steam-packets. Now, he looked with considerable jealousy on the heavy expenditure in curred on objects of that kind, however important in themselves ; and he honoured the sentiment that night expressed, that undertakings such as the one they were met to celebrate should be carried out from private resources. (A laugh.) While admit ting that there were many faults of construction in the works at Holyhead, he believed that whenever a good case was fairly and boldly stated to the House of Commons that assembly was not back ward in voting the requisite supplies to meet it. Proper confidence had not been reposed in the House of Commons by persons who went before it to ask for a small grant at first, in order to get the votes increased afterwards, instead of honestly making known from the beginning the entire sum which would be necessary to complete the works. It was with pride as an English sailor that he had seen the noble vessel then in that harbour, and a debt of national gratitude was due to the chairman and directors for the bold manner in which they had overcome all difficulties and put the ship to sea. A high meed of praise was also due to Capt. Harri son for the great coolness and presence of mind he displayed on the occurrence of the recent lamentable accident. Several other toasts of a purely complimentary character followed, and the party broke up at mid ht. TILE STATE OF NAPLES: A letter from Naples, dated Oct. 15, says :—ln answer to those who deplore the system of centra lisation and of absolutism which is adopted here, I have often heard the municipal institutions of the country brought forward to prove that the people are in the'enjoyment of a certain amount of liberty. The assertion, of course, is by many readily re ceived, for the very word " municipal" is expres sive of liberty. It is well, therefore, to state what is the law of the case, and the observer of current and past events can readily imagine how even that law has been narrowed in its action. It dates from 12th December, 1816, and ordains that lists of those who are eligible for civil offices shall be made out in every commune, such eligibility to depend on the amount of land-tax paid by each individual. Out of these lists the Intendenti choose three, whose names are presented to the King by means of his Minister of the Interior, and, receiving the approval of his Majesty, are named the Decurionati of the commune. Again, the Decurionato of each commune out of the same lists of " eligible" parsons selects the names of three to fill the office of Syndic. These names are given to the Intendente, who passes them on to the Minister of the Interior, by whom again they arc laid before the King for the nomination of one. So far, therefore, from the Syndic being elected by the people of the Two Sicilies, and the power of the Crown being limited, every civil, as well as every military and political office, emanates from the head of the State, and the Government of this country is a pure absolutism. Among the precautions which the law allows for the choice of good.imen and true, the Inteudente may refuse to accept the list drawn up by the Decurionato, and require new lists two several times. And, even then, if not satisfied, they may, after the opinion of his Council of Intendenza, and with the approbation of the Minister of the Interior, form a new list themselves and present it as before stated. In order to ascertain the charac ters of those who are suited to his purpose the In tendente comes to the Giudice Regio, to the parish priest, to military authorities, if there be any, for information, and thus every one whose name is set before the King hcts been sifted over and over again, and ascertained to be of the same political colour with the government of the day. I repeat, therefore, that the political institutions of the Two Sicilies, so far from being popular insti tutions, are part and parcel of a system of centrali sation and absolutism, and, so far from conferring , or gi.aranteeing liberty, are a most effective machi nery in the hands of the Government for working out its will. During the last few years, when a great portion of the respectable classes of the kingdom have been among the attendibili, or suspects, all kinds of tag-rag and bob-tail have been introduced into the municipalities of the kingdom. Common sailors have been converted into mayors, and, as if to save the dignity of the office, the appointment has been called iwovisorio. In fact, such is at pre sent the state of most of these institutions. The ignorant and the worthless have come upwards, and by them the Government is and has been ser vilely obeyed and the people kept down. • The sketch -which I send you may be of some in terest at a time when not merely current events in Italy are attracting attention, but when political institutions are being canvassed in their character and results, and in their adaptation to the wants of a people. That which is most interesting to the Neapolitans at the present moment is the movement of tneir own troops, and, so great is the anxiety with which they regard the possibility of any collision between them and the forces of the Liberals of Central Italy, that we are here deluged at times with reports, one half of which may be set down as false. Thus, the "ewe publica," that shameless exaggerator, has already sent the Neapolitan troops over the border—they were to have crossed on the sth, we were told ; then we heard of a conflict, and of deserters, and I know not what else. All that I can assure you is, that troops are being constantly sent to the frontiers, and there seems to be no suffi cient reason for such an expedition, unless it is re solved, as is more strongly reported this week, that they shall occupy the Marches and Umbria, in order to back up his Holiness. In military circles it is stated, also, that a considerable park of artillery will be sent to the frontiers. I think that such a move, whatever may be the very serious objections to it, is not at all unlikely to meet with the hearty approbation of the King, for two reasons. In the first place, like his father, he is a devoted son of the Church, and would consider it a high religious duty to defend the patrimony of St. Peter, with whose descendant, moreover, he has had so many friendly relations. Secondly, he is persuaded, as must be all men of the slightest degree of discernment, that the greatest danger to the present system of this country is threatened from the north. As to the great body of the army, both officers and men, there can be no doubt that, like most of their priest-rid den nation, they are much under the domination of superstition, and, to a certain extent, would sympa thise with their Sovereign, though the fear of Gari baldi, the infection of political liberty, and discontent with the state of their country would produce terrible effects on their loyalty and piety. The Neapolitans pray fur a collision, and would await the event with confidence. On Tuesday last were sent off rat the latest reinforcements to the front ier, and a g deal of despatch was used in getting them off. A perfect calm, to all appearance, has succeeded the agitation which lately exist ed in the city ; a calm which indicates, as the Neapolitans say, that the country has fallen back upon itself to resolve on the attitude which is to be observed during events which are likely to follow. 'These agitations, however, appear to me very like storms in a basin of water—as easily lulled as they are got up, and leaving no effects behind. As usual, there is great talk here, but no results. The Tolcd ) is full of policemen in undress, and great vexations are prac tised towards the lower classes, as if with a view to create tumult, and thus to divert the public at tention from other objects. Provisions are very dear, and it is the opinion of well-informed persons that they will rise to famine prices—a bad prospect for the Government at this political crisis. To meet the difficulty it has, as it is reported, bought 500,000 tomoli of grain in the Black Sea, with the inttntior of selling it at a less in this country in order to provide the poor with cheap bread. It is unnecessary for me to point out how such a system as this must paralyze the ope rations of individuals, and increase th very evils which it is int eaded to remove. Were the trade free, merchants would buy in all parts of the world, and the supply be always equal to the demand. As it is, Government turns merchant at a loss, and pays heavily for a state of things which false com mercial principles have produced. Thefof the army, msery which is the consequence of dearness provisions h a driven many hundreds into the ranks where bread alone is sought , f o rt as to glory, that is, of course, never dreamt of in the Neapolitan arm y ; and, as for patriotism , it w ou ld sen d them u in any other direction. the last batch of those who were cith2r menaced or arrested, the advocates BANQUET TO THE DIRECTORS 0 THE GREAT EASTERN. de Filippis and de Simone are still in concealment. The proces agairst the Baron Giordano and his brother is being formed, and they have been exa mined by the Secretary-General Silvestri. So con fident do they appear to be that their imprison ment will be a long one, that they have furnished their rooms in the prison with every comfort. Every one who knows anything of the police of Naples must be well aware that they are in the habit of enriching themselves through the suffer ings of all who come within their power. Huw far Government is to blame for this you may readily imagine when I tell you that this body is divided into three classes, who are paid respectively four, six, and eight ducats monthly, or in English money sfl. 6dr ' and 10d. a day. The new Minister of Police, Ajossa, has raised their salaries to six, eight, and 12 ducats a month, in the proportion of one-third a day each. If, therefore, long corruption has left any germ of honesty in them, it may be developed now—at all events, the system of higher remuneration is a right and prudent one. Great facilities have been granted to industry and commerce by a decree which was published last Saturday. It was first published, indeed, in 1843, but was put out of existence in 1848 to the great embarrassment of commerce. As I understand it, it authorises from the Ist of June, 1860, all the banks of the Two Sicilies to receive in payment and change into cash all such Government or pri vate bills as shall be presented to them. Moreover, the Discount Banks of Naples and Bani are autho rised to receive and discount the effects of commerce payable in Palermo and Messina, and vice versa, according to the regulations set forth, which it is unnecessary to send you. The Regents, Presidents, or Directors of the various banks have the privi lege of free postage and the free use of the telegraph for all matters connected with the execution of this decree. Hitherto all such commercial operations as those noted above have been managed by mer chants at a certain per tentage. There have been frequent Councils of State held recently and financial - matters are said to have engaged the anxious attention of the Government. A loan of six millions has been talked about. On Wednesday night last, at about 7 o'clock, a rare phenomenon in these latitudes was observed. A splendid aurora borealis was seen in the N.W. ; the whole sky from the horizon to the zenith, nearly, being irradiated with a rich purple tint. It was of short duration, and was much obscured by heavy dark clouds rising up from the W.S.W., fron which direction the wind blew. The weather seemed to freshen much after it, though at the time of the occurrence it was comparatively calm. P.S. There are rumours in town that disturbances have taken place in Palermo, but in spite of every effort I am unable to ascertain any details. The report is that there was a rise, which was put down by the musket and the cannon. I communicate it, however, with great reserve, but it is certain that the police appeared again in great force. The advocate, Dr. Filippis, has presented himself to the police authorities, and, after an admonition from the director, was dismissed. The only one of the distinguithed party, there fore, threatened with arrest, who is " out," is the advocate De Simone. POLICE INTELLIGENCE, Oct. 20. MANSION HOUSE.—Thos. Crawford, a re spectably-dressed middle-aged man, was charged with stealing a silk umbrella, value 18s., the pro perty of his employer, Mr. C. Lawman, of 64, Bishopsgate•street Without, under the following circumstances : Bull, 151, said—On Wednesday afternoon I won to a coffee-shop in Sun-street, and saw the umbrella produced hanging on a hook behind the door. I ascertained that it had been left there by a gentle man shortly before, and after I had waited a Mlle time the prisoner came in, and after speaking to the landlady, he went away with it. For certain rea sons that I had I followed him into the street, and asked how he had become possessed of the umbrella. He asked what I wanted to know for, to which I replied that I was a detective, and I did want to know. He then said, " Well, then, I brought it a .vay from my employer's shop, but pray have mercy on me and let me go." 1 told him I could not do that, and I took him into custody. At the station I searched him, but found nothing on him relating to this charge. I then said to him, " I am about to ask you a question, but you need not answer it unless you choose to do so, so be careful. You have taken several other umbrellas to that coffee-shop ; have you any objection to say what has become of them ?" After hesitating a moment or two, he replied, " I pawned them, and tore up the tickets." Mr. Lanman said—The prisoner has been in my service as shopman for six or seven weeks, and within that time I have missed a large amount of property. As no one else had access to the stock but the prisoner, my suspicion fell upon him, and I caused him to be watched. I had no character with him, as I was too ill at the time to make inquiry, but I had known him for years as shopman to cus tomers of mine, and I believed his character to be unimpeachable. The prisoner—who pleaded guilty, adding, I took this umbrella and some few others—was re manded in order to be dealt with summarily in petty sessions. Edward Moody, 27, described as an engineer, of Winchester, was charged with forginc , and uttering two ci:eques purporting to be signed by Thomas Moody, with intent to defraud Messrs. Robartsand Co., bankers, Lombard-street, and also with forging and uttering a third cheque, at Brighton, with the same intent. , Mr. Mullens, solicitor to the Bankers' Protection Society, attended for the prosecution. Mr. E. Powell, clerk to Messrs. Robarts and Co., said—Mr. Thomas Moody keeps an account at Stuckey's Bank, Winchester, and has authority to draw on our house. I am in the country depart ment. The two checks produced, dated the 12th September, 1859, for £8 155., and the 16th Sep tember, for £5 75., were presented to me for pay ment. They were paid, but I cannot say whether the prisoner is the man who presented them. They were afterwards sent by me to Stuckey's Bank, and were returned to me as forgeries. Mr. Charles Bridger, 50, Russell-square, Brighton—On the 6th of September a person came to me, who said he was a waiter at the Bedford Hotel, and that he came from a gentleman named Moody, who was staying there. He brought me a letter, and said he was to wait for an answer. The letter contained a cheque for £8 155., which pur ported to be signed by Mr. Moody. I gave him a message, in consequence of which the prisoner called upon me. I knew the prisoner's family, and had seen him before, but I had U 9 personal acquain tance with him. I gave him the cheque which 1 had taken from the letter, and - went with him to my banker's to get it cashed. I have since received information which leads me to believe the cheque is forged. The letter sent by the prisoner from the Bedford Hotel to Mr. Bridger was here put in and read. It stated that the prisoner's father had sent him a cheque on a London banker, and that he should be obliged if Mr. Bridger would cash it or get it cashed for him. Henry Calcutt, police-constable of the City of Bristol, deposed that the prisoner had been taken into custody by Mr. Superintendent Hancock, and handed over to him to bring up to London, and that on their way to town the prisoner said he had com mitted the forgeries, and asked what he should say to the questions that would be put to him. He also said he expected his father would settle the affair before he got to London, or that he would do so if he heard of it. He did not say that he had forged the cheques, but that he had put his father's name to them. Mr. Mullens said the prisoner had been carrying on the same game for some time at different country hotels, bothg finally detected at Bristol. The at tendance of father was necessary to prove the forgery, and therefore a remand was necessary. The prisoner was then remanded. LAMBETH. Elizabeth Allen, a married female, with an infant in her arms, was brought up for final examination on a charge of passing coun terfeit florins. A clerk from the Mint-office attended for the prosecution, and from the evidence it appeared that on the 11th inst., the prisoner, who gave her ad dress at 32, St. George's-road, had first offered a florin in payment of some trifling articles purchased at the shop of a draper in High-street, Camberwell, but its baseness was discovered, and it was bent nearly in two, and she was allowed to go about her business. Soon after she succeeded in passing another florin for a few staylaces, but fortunately the poor woman whom , she attempted to defraud .discovered that the florin was counterfeit, and the prisoner was apprehended. The ease was clearly proved, and the prisoner was fully committed for trial. WORSHIP-STREET.—Henry Braithwaite, a man of extremely powerful frame, and at least six feet in height, was charged before Mr. Corrie with a desperate assault in a theatre. Sergeant Heath, 2 N, stated that the defendant was turned out of the Britannia Theatre on Wed. nesday evening for creating a disturbance; among other violent acts he attempted to hurl a tiower•pot and its contents, which he had taken from the con servatory, at a person with whom he was quarrel ling. How he gained readmission was unknown, but at the conclusion of the performance he was found, with another man, as big as himself, in one of-the stage-boxes, both being fast asleep. Directly they were aroused defendant sprang upon witness, threw him down, seized him with one hand, by the hair, and with the other got him so securely by the uniform stock that he must certainly have throttled him but for the aid afforded by others. Witness was quite overpowered, and could not even accom pany the charge to the station. Mr. Corrie—llow came defendant by those dread ful ►black eyes ? The Sergeant—l believe,- that he was taken down a stone sttarease by at least six men, fighting and. kicking most furiously. It is not all surprising that he has some hurts. lam sore all over. I be lieve that he was formerly employed in the theatre, but is now a cab proprietor in Shepperton-street, Islington. Defendant, who appeared scarcely able to see, here observed—That is quite true, but I have been much ill-used. Mr. Corrie—l'm not surprised at the sight you present after the violence you exercised. Fined 205., or fourteen days. SOUTHWARK.—CorneIius Mahoney, a dealer in coke, was brought up, in custody of William Francis, an officer of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, charged with acting with great cruelty to his donkey. Francis informed his worship that on the pre vious afternoon he met the prisoner in the Borough, driving a dcnkey and cart laden heavily with sacks of coke. He perceived that the poor animal trem bled very much, and could hardly get one foot be fore another; consequently he stopped it, and on lifting the saddle he found a large r iw wound very much irritated by being rubbed against. There were also flesh wounds on the shoulders bleeding, and in fact the poor donkey was in a very bad state, which his worship would see, as he had brought it into the yard at the rear of the court for his inspection. The prisoner declared that there was nothing the matter with the donkey. It was true the sad dle had rubbed its back a little, and the shoulders were a little sore, but they would soon heal up. The magistrate proceeded to the yard, and looked at the animal, and on his return into court ex pressed his surprise at the brutal conduct of the prisoner in working the animal while in such a frightful state. It ought to be put out of its misery at once by being slaughtered. The prisoner said he should not have his donkey slaughtered; he could not afford that. Magistrate—You are committed for one month, ' with hard labour. COUNTRY MARP.7.ETS. MANCHESTER—Our. 20. Our market was pretty well attended this morning, and there was a firm demand for choice English wheat, at late rates ; but secondary sorts were is lower. Foreign also is to 2s lower. Trade dull. Little business was done in flour. Oats and oatmeal steady. Beans, English, un altered; Egyptians, 6d to is dearer. Indian corn firm. BIRMINGHAM—OcT. 20. There was a fair supply of wheat to-day, and the attendance was moderate. An inactive business doing, and quotations maintained. Malting barley in demand, grinding 6d dearer. Oats unaltered. Beans and peas were more inquired for. LOUTII-0 CT. 19. A fair amount of business was dons to-day, but the prices were at no advance on last week, viz., wheat, red and mixed, old and new, 41s to 44s per qr. ; white, 495. Oats, 21s to 245; beans, 42s to 465; barley, 38s to 41s. PLYMOUTH—Ocr. 18. - - This market rather inactive, with more wheat offering at the late advance. Oats in fair demand. Grinding bar ley in good sale. Flour the turn dearer. English white wheat, 46s to 48s; red, 44s to 46s per qr ; French do., 43s to 45s ; grinding barley, 26s to 28s; oats, 20s to 24 s ; anl flour, fine, 33s to 345; seconds,'3lS to 325. MARKET HARBOROUGH—Our. 13. There was a fair supply of wheat, which met a rather active demand, at former rates. White wheat, old, 40s to 47s ; new, 38s to 44s per 36 stone. Barley in limited quan tities at a slight advance on former terms—old, 36e to 40s ; new, 25s to 335. Oats were a fair show, from '26s to 3s per 24 stone. Beans (old), at 45s to 50s ; new 33s to 40s per 38 stone. MELTON MOWBRAY—Oer. 18. There was a fair show of wheat to-day, with a steady business at the annexed prices :—White wheat, new, 383 Od to 44s Od; old, 44s Od to 46s per 36 stone; barley In good supply, at 34s to 40s for old, and 30s to 42s Od per qr. for new ; oats, 23s to 36s Od per 24 stone ; beans, 50s to 52s for old ; new, 42s to 44s per 38 st. EDINBURGH GRAIN—OCT. 19. Wheat on the top 4s Od up.. Barley on the top Os 6d down average is Od:up. Oats on the top Os 9d up . ... average is Od up. Beans on the top is down.... average Os ld up. Averhges per Imperial quarter. Wheat.... Barley Oats -12ths Beans -12ths Total Supply and Sales. Wheat .1197 qrs Sold 801 qrs Barley... ' 1849 qrs Sold 1587 qrs Oats .1452 qrs Sold 1086 qrs Beans 64 qrs Sold 31 qrs DERBY SMITHFIELD—OcT. 18. A full average supply of fat stock to-day, with a fair attendance of buyers ; high prices were asked for the best quality, but a few of the middling sort were left unsold. Sheep were in good supply, with a rather flat demand. Fat calves scarce. A Ins supply of pigs. Beef Mutton .. Lamb Od to Od Rough fat, 58 ed per stone' Hides, nd to 51d ; calf skins, 6d to Gad. FOREIGN MAIL PACKET LIST. :n the following table E signifies that letters are despatche l by eyening, mails from London, and II by morning - mails. Next DESTINATIONS. Despatch Port of Mail of Mails. Despatch. due. Australia and Mauritius, via 10 South am pt on N0v.12, M Southamp. Nov- Ditto, via Marseilles Bahamas and Havana via New York Canada, &c. (by Canadn. pckt ) Oct. Oet. 28 25, B E Liverpool.. LlverP Cape of Good Hope, Ascen- . 1 sion, and St. Helena Nov 5, E Devonport NO. China, Penang . , and Singa pore,ie via Southampton Ditto, via Marseilles , Gibraltar, via Southampton.. Oct. —, M Southamp. overdue du A 00l clOcett.. 2119 Honduras and Blewftelds .... N0v.17, AI Southamp. Nov. 1 " India (Calcutta) and Ceylon, via Southampton du Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via South- _ ampton Oct. Oet. 2 - 6, 3EI Southamp. o o v c e t r . V ° Ditto, via Marseilles Lisbon, Brazils,Buenos Ayres, ONcots,.273,,3EliSouthamp. Oct. 2 1 5 , , Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto 0 N C 0 t v..2 7 9, and P. Islands Halts, Egypt, and Ader', via Southampton Oct. —, 31 Southamp. overdue, 3 3.1 1 Southamp.soutmp Oct oveL" u Ditto, via Marseilles Mexico and Havana Newfoundland Oct. 21, E Galway.... . --- United States and British N America (by British packet) Oct. 21, E Liverpool.. Oct. 2 7 Ditto (by U. S. packet) West Coast of Africa, Ma deira, and Tenerife Oct. 24, E Liverpool.. NO' 9 West India, California, Vene zuela, Chili, Peru, Grey , 1 town, New Granada, &c. - [ADVERTISEMENT.]—Erres cllomcoop at hi c Chemist) COCOA.—This estee me d preparation is sold by the cipal grocers at ls. 6d. per lb., in 11b., f lb., and 1l b. packets. Each packet is labelled " James Epps, Homo° . pathic chemist, London." [ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Pills and Ointment.; Colds, Fever, Influe . za.—The uncertain weather is producing these complaints, which demand immediate tte tention, or serious consequences m a y ensue . A s curatli, agents nothing equals Holloway's re me di es . The eil 3 t d meat should bnwell rubbed twice a day on the back 0 , 11 chest, at the same time that the pill s are tal - ch internal l y' diseases weekly endanger th e li ves o f th o usand who would have been speedily restored to health by th es d grand preservatives, which must in every case do go o : and never harm. They purify the blood and arrest fee b le The palpitations of the heart, shortness of breath, and s ea !, of oppression are a t once removed. The feeble and 0.4 haunted frame re ga i n i ng v i gour test ifi es t o th e v irtues Holloway's preparations. BIRTHS. CIII3IBERS.—On the 20th inst., at 71, Park-street, arT venor-square, the wife of R. Harcourt Chambers, Esti"' of a daughter. JENNINGS.—On the 20th inst., at Thames Ditton, William Taylor Jennings, of a son. PARAVICINL—On the 20th inst., at 30, Gloucester -terrace/ Hyde-park, the wife of J. P. do Paravicini, of a son. RIDGWAY.—Ou the 20th inst., at 34, Fitzroy-square, g ill ; Ann Ridgway, the wife of Captain Ridgway, of s° and dawbtei . - . _ _ WEBB.—On the 23th inst., at West Lodge, Mortlake, S• llr '' Mrs. Wm. Webb, of a son. MARRIAGES.I COSBY—POCOCK.— On the 18th inst., at StradballyChle f Robert A. G. Cosby, Esq., of Stradbally Hall, late 1, niskilling Dragoons, to Alice S. Elizabeth, only da li F t , ter of Sir George Pocock, Bart., of the Priory, CliJ . . _ church, Hants. - CUNDALL-3IAILTTN.—On the 18th inst., at St. Georg the• Martyr, Southwark, Edmund, fifth son of Thew r Cundall, Esq., of Camberwell, to Louisa, third daug hte of Thomas Martin, Esq., of Walworth. DEATHS. BECXLEY.—On the 19th inst., Mrs. Jane Beckley', Woodstock, aged aged OS. rt DYKT . :S.-9n the 17th inst., at Torquay, Robert Stoo- Dykes, Esq., aged 27. - _ GooD.-9n the 14th inst., at Paris, W. C. Good, Esq./ Copenhagen, K.Th, aged 81. y, JONES.—On the 10th inst., at Dalton House, St, lOW' Samuel Jones, Esq., aged 90. , cot, LONG MORE.—On the 16th inst., at 13, lled-li4n-s0 Holborn, John Longmore, aged 50. gr ° WIIITE.—On the ISth inst., at Loekeridge, Wilts, Ge° White, Esq., fermerly of Manton, WYMAN.—On the 18thinst., at Kettering, W. 5.1 7 ‘5 3°1114 Esq., aged 53. ___..------ -- ITN () L O NDON : Printed and Published by MURDO - 10 , of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The &n Office, NO' 1 o f Strand, in iks Precinct of the Savoy, i e the count)" Middlesex ; Friday, October 21, 1859, *-... ~ X; . _