The Sun. — London, England, 1860-05-14 00:00:00

Vice-Admiral of the Blue IVilliam Fanshawe Martin hoisted his flag on Saturday on board the Melpomene, 51, screw, at Spithead, the frigate ex changing the usual honorary salutes with the Vic tory in Portsmouth harbour, flagship of the Com mander-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral H. W. Bruce. The Melpomene sailed for Malta at 6 30 p.m., but put into Plymouth Sound yesterday afternoon. The iron-cased steam floating battery Trusty, 14, 200-horse power, has been towed from Chatham to the Nore in order to be in readiness for the experi ments the Government have directed to made upon her with the newly-invented long-range Whit worth gun, under the direction of Col. J. W. Mit- chell, R.A., and the Ordnance Select Committee, comprising Col. J. St. George, C. 8., president ; Capt. Sir W. S. Wiseman, R.N.; Col. W. Robin son, R.E. ; Col. E. H. Greathead, D.C.L., ; and Col. W. J. Smythe, R.A. The Whit worth gun is to be placed on board one of the gun boats belonging to the Cumberland, 70. On the occasion of the last experiments on the Trusty with the Armstrong gun the injuries inflicted on that floating battery were of the severest character, the wrought-iron plates, which are several inches in thickness, being in many places completely riddled by the shot, some of which passed completely through the vessel, and all striking her with the most telling effect. The following is an extract of a letter dated from her Majesty's screw troopship Simoom, Hongkong, March 27: _ "On the 3d of this month we steamed out of Sin gapore with three transports in tow (Walmer Castle, Octavia, and Mars), -having on board the 99th Regiment. We tow e d th em 1,250 miles, and then cast them off, as we required calling at Ma nilla to procure coals, which we found much diffi culty in obtaining, but at length succeeded in get ting 300 tons. We sailed again for this place on the 21st, and arrived here, a distance of 700 miles, in 68 hours, and a few hours after anchoring had the satisfaction of seeing our three transports, whom we had cast off nine days previously off Ma nilla, come into port. " The 99th go North immediately, and the ad miral has ordered us to tow one of the transports up as far as Breaker Point, about 170 miles north, and then return to Singapore and bring up more transports. The steam frigate Assaye arrived on the 25th with the transport Earl of Clare in tow, having on board the left wing of the 31st Regi ment, from Bombay. The head-quarters are ex pected hourly. The Military Train are on board the Princess Charlotte receiving ship. The Pearl, 20, screw, is preparing to go North. The squadron of small gunboats have not yet arrived, but are ex• pected hourly, and are all expected to move north wards about the middle of May. It is, however, considered here that we shall have no war after all. The admiral is a hard worker, and gets through lots of pen and ink .work. The steam transport Thunder, from the Thames, has made a wonderful passage out here, having accomplished the dis tance in 75 days !" Her Majesty's gunboat Carnation, of 60-horse Tower, Lieut G. Taylor in command, tender to the guardship of steam ordinary at Sheerness, steamed up to Woolwich Arsenal on Saturday to exchange her armament, and also the experimentalWhitworth gun about to be submitted to competition off the coast of S hoeburyn ess. An appropriate gun-carriage, ordered to be constructed in the carriage depart ment of the Arsenal to facilitate the experiments, will be ready for mounting to-morrow. The Bombay, 84, line-of-battle two-decker, hag arrived at Chatham from Devonport, in tow of the African and Adder steamers, to be decked and con verted to a screw steamer. The Bombay is a sub stantially built East India teak ship, and was con structed at Bombay for the Government some years since. She will go into dock next spring tides. The screw gun-vessel Cormorant, 4, 200 horse power, first built by contract at the establishment of Messrs. Wigram and Co., Blackwall, has been taken into No. 4 dock at Chatham, in order to be thoroughly surveyed. In consequence of the disclo sures which have recently taken place with respect to the condition of the contract-built gun and mor tar vessels, instructions have been given for the sur vey to be of the most searching character, in order that any faulty materials or inferior workman ship may be detected. The survey will be made under the immediate sul)erintendence of Mr. Lang, the master shipwright at Chatham, and his assistants, an agent of the contractors being also present. The Cormorant has been built to replace the sere w .J.. 1.14.. AA 4.4 \LI,/ in the attack on the Peiho forts, in China. The Algiers, 91, screw, Capt. G. D. O'Callaghan, steamed out of Portsmouth harbour on Saturday, and anchored in her old position with the port division of the Channel fleet at Spithead, The Argus, screw, coastguard steamer, arrived at Portsmouth on Saturday from the westward, with a Commodore's broad pendant at the main. Several of the members of the Board of Admiralty landed from her and proceeded by rail to London. The Ranger, 5, screw steam schooner, is expected to call at Spithead on her way down Channel from the eastward. The indicated horse-power of the Victoria, 121, screw three-decker, when under steam on the 6th inst., at the measured mile in Stoke's Bay, amounted to 4,290 horse. The screw steamship Royal Albert, 121, flag of Sir C. H. Fremantle, K.C.8., in the basin at Key ham, is receiving her coal. The topmast rigging has been carried over the masthead of the screw steamship Desperate, 8, at Devonport. The lower masts of the screw steam gun-vessel Espoir, 8, are clothed; and the screw steam gun-vessel Penguin, 5, is ceppered. The gunboat Biter, tender to the Blenheim, 60, at Portland, has been thoroughly repaired at Devon port. Steam will probably be got up on board her to-day (Monday). Steam will be got up to-day on board the paddle wheel steam surveying -vessel Bann, Master James Wells,sat Devonport, to try her machinery. The paddlewheel steam vessel Pluto, Lieut. and Commander C. H.-Simpson, from the West Coast of Africa, was on Saturday paid off at Woolwich. The steam store transport Dee, Master T. Pullen commanding, was on Saturday taken into the fitting basin at Woolwich to undergo some necessary re pairs, and the crews, having been paid, were granted alternate leave of absence. The shipwrights at Chatham dockyard are ex pected to complete the breaking up of two of the defective mortar vessels, numbered 30 and 32, by to-morrow, the work being accomplished with com paratively little difficulty, owing to the exceedingly slight way in which the framing and other parts have been put together, and the very inseeure state of the bolts and fastenings, particularly in the lower parts of the vessels. It is worthy of remark that neither of the mortar vessels which are now in course of being destroyed ever saw an hour's ser vice, and this is undoubtedly a subject for congra tulation ; for the most experienced shipbuilders who have inspected them state unhesitatingly that had they been called upon to sustain the shock and rebound of their heavy mortars, they would have gone to the bottom before they had fired a dozen shells. The Russian corvette Medved anchored at the Motherbank during the night of Saturday, and yes terday morning saluted the garrison and the flag of the Co mmander-in -Chief, which compliments were returned to the Russian flag by her Majesty's ship Victory and the saluting battery on the King's Bastion. The Medved is from the Mediterranean and bound to Cronstadt. It is stated that the tremendous recoil from the Armstrong gun experi enced during recent trials on board the Redwing gunboat renders it imperatively necessary that some other form of carriage should be substituted for the one at present in use, should the smaller class of gunboats be armed with these weapons. The greased wad that was introduced for the purpose of cleansing the gun when fired i s said to have rem e di e d th e ma tt er t o a certain extent, but the fouling of the gun is still very great. The following appointments have been made at the Admiralty :—Robert Beith, surgeon, to the Majestic ; Win. H. Bell, acting assistant-surgeon, to the Victory, for Hasler Hospital ; Neil Brodie, second-class ass istant-engineer, to the Cumberland, for charge of the mac hi nery of the Mayflower; Thomas Smith, third-class assistant-engineer, to the Cumberland, as supernumerary ; George H. Beaton, first-class assistant-engineer, to the Fisgard, for ser- , vice in the Racehorse ; Jonathan Gee, first- class assistant-engineer, to the Fisgard, for service in the Cormorant ; Robert Evans, first-class assistant engineer, to the Bacchante ; W. Stace-, acting first-class assistant-engineer, for temporii y service to the Ajax, for service in the Rainbow; John Moy• sey, second-class assistant-engineer, to the Asia, for service in the Blazer; James Hook, acting third class assistant-engineer, to the Bacchante ; James M'Garahan, acting third-class assistant-engineer, to the Melpomone ; Alfred L. Eversfield, assistant paymaster, to the Mersey; Hameline T. Seale, clerk, to the Victory, for secretary's office ; and John J. Hoar, assistant-clerk, to the Excellent. THE ARMY. The hired transport Lady Macdonald, Captain Brumell, arrived at Southampton yesterday from Hong Kong, with naval invalids. Her dates are— Hong Kong, Dec. 24, 1859 ; Singapore, Jan. 7, 1860 ; Cape of Good Hope, March 13. She has experienced fine weather the whole passage home. On the 4th of May, in lat. 39 40 N., long. 32 22 IV:, she spoke the Lady Eyre, from Bombay for Liverpool, The naval invalids embarked on board the Lady Macdonald in Hong Kong, amounting to 131, were all dysentery cases, and many of them of a serious character, reqiairing to be hoisted on board in cots ; 30 other invalids were received on board at the Cape; 20 deaths occurred on the pas sage home, which may be considered a small per centage from the number of severe cases on board. Acting Lieut. Blount, R.N., is the appointed Ad miralty agent on board. Surg. Ramsay and Assist.- Surg. Haig have had medical charge of the invalids during the voyage. The following gentlemen have also arrived home as passengers by the ship :—Mr. Burniston, R.N., Mr. Barratt, R.N., Mr. Thompson, R.N., and Capt. P. M. C. Croker, from the Royal Marine Brigade. The invalids were landed last evening by Government steam tug, and sen c on board H.M.S. Victory, the most severe cases being sent to Haslar Hospital. The tents for the East India troops belonging to the 3d depot battalion at Chatham have been pitched at the rear of the hut barracks, near Prince Edward's bastion,—a site well chosen for the en campment. The number of men belonging to that battalion, who will be put under canvass in the first instance is 350, and tents to accommodate that number have been erected. Each tent is commo dious, well ventilated, and made as comfortable for the troops as possible. The troops are to be under canvass on Tuesday next. The Ist and 2d batta lion will be encamped within the Spur-battery. The hired transport Lady Ann, Capt. Sinclair, belonging to Messrs. Dunbar, of London, which left Saugor on the 22d of March, with 100 Sikhs and 60 horses for China, arrived at Singapore on the 3d of April, in tow of the steamer , Sydney, Captain Neblett. The united force of Artillery and Rifle Volun teers formed at Woolwich, for the protection of the Arsenal, exceeding 1,500 men, being now fully equipped, assembled on Saturday fcr the first time in command of their respective officers, Col. Fullom, Col. Anderson, and Col- Parkyn. Each battalion, accompanied by their own band of 14 instruments, mustered in front of the department to which they .belong, and having performed a few preliminary movements, they proceeded towards the Dial-square, and marched past for the Colonel's Commandant's inspection of the clothing and equipment. The 7th Lancashire Rifles Militia were inspected at Bury on Saturday by Major-General Douglas, who expressed his satisfaction at their efficiency. The regiment assembled on the 23d ult. for 27 days' training-, and since then the recruiting has gone on sati-fa.ctorily. The 21 Royal Lanark Militia, at Aldershott, will proceed this week to Glitz-go w Bai racks, and are to be disembodied between the Bth and 15th of June. The Royal Sherwood Foresters (Nottingham Militia), under the command of Colonel Mellish, will assemble at Newark for 28 days' training on Wednesday next. • The 4th West York Regiment of Militia, under the command of Capt. Pollard, will assemble at Leeds on the 4th of Jun© for 27 days' training. The 6th West Yurk Regiment of Militia will assemble at Halifax on the 4th of June for 27 days' training. The Worcestershire Regiment have now under gone a tornigtic thin Worcester, and have much improved in their exercise. The full corn plemelit of men on the books of the regiment is 830, and of these only 38 are absent, except men whose absence Ls accounted for by sickness or other satisfactory reason. THE 62'8J31 RESERVE FLEET. A writer in a contemporary says :—Tho nation has now found out all about its gunboats. It might have known everything more than a year ago, and have had all that time in which to build new ones; for this rottenness, the disgraceful character of the work, the shortness of the bolts, all these things were common topics among naval men, and indeed the removal at that time of large portions of their planking gave ample opportunity to any ordinarily competent observer to convince himself of the truth of what was said. I walked through the sheds at Haslar myself, and it is no exaggeration to say that of the majority of them large masses could be crumbled between the fingers. But nothing of all this came out, simply because those who are behind the scenes either dare not write to you for fear of bringing suspicion upon themselves, or will not give themselves the trouble, because they know that, however great the evil, some well-primed official is sure to get up in the house and say it is all right. There are evils rampant now of a charac ter to the full as dangerous to the country as this of the gunboats of which the country knows nothing, but which are notorious among naval men ; and in all probability the country will know nothing about them until they transpire in the midst of some dis aster in which British pluck will be beaten, not in fair fight against any odds, but because it has been strangled by British red tape, and burked by Ad miralty plasters. If you wish to prove the truth of what I say, get up an inquiry into the condition of our steam re serve fleet with a view to ascertaining in how many hours the vessels comprising it could be got ready for sea. The theory of this fleet is, that every ves sel composing it shall be ready for sea within a cer tain number of hours (I think 24) from the time it is commissioned. Let me select one instance of the practical working of this principle. The —, a screw corvette of 21 guns , b e l ong i ng to the reserve, was commissioned about two years ago, and when they began to get her ready for sea she was found se rotten that, to use the first lieutenant's own words to me, she had to be nearly rebuilt, and was three if not four months before she was reported ready for sea. Even then, having gone from one dockyard to another, she was detained a consider able time longer through further necessary repairs. I say nothing about her engines, which were so bad that a turn astern could not be got out of them. That this is an example of a large class of cases— that vessels of this fleet go to sea, and have con stantly to com e b ac k an d rema i n in dock for weeks, and even months, owing to their defective and rot ten state, hundreds of naval men could tell you ; but they dare not, because those who have the boat op portunities of knowing, know too that to call attention to Admiralty and dockyard blundering, and to expose the defenceless condition of their country, is much more dangerous to them than a shower of the enemy's bullets. I have had my self notes of numerous cases given to me with the earnest desire that, in some way or other, they might be brought before the world; but [ destroyed them in sheer despair of ever being able to effect any good. Examine these things yourself. At all events, these are not times in which to lose sight of the principle. GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION FOR BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION AT WA KEPIELD. — Wakefield was on Thurs day thrown into a state of great excitement, in consequence of the arrival of a number of writs, for the prosecution of the parties charged with bribery and corruption at the late election. Of coarse the two candidates are included in the charge, as well as several persons of influence in the borough. [ADvERTISMIENT.]—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills.— Changes of season are always trying to mankind from the variability of temperature, now increasing, then depressing the Circulation. Hence the prevalence of throat affections, chest complaints, and disordered digestion at this season. For all this catalogue of ailments Holloway's ointment rubbed thoroughly twice a day over the parts affected will be found universally serviceable in preventing, checking,or curing e ac h and all, however severe the attack. Itis re markably curative in cases of relaxed, inflamed, or ulcer ated throat, while for glandular enlargements it is a spe cific. For cough s , colds, asthma, and bronchitis Holloway's pills should be taken simultaneously with the friction of the ointment over the chest. Ease will soon follow went, and will mum, this treat.. COTTON The annual meeting of the association was held on Friday in the Manchester Town-hall, and was very numerously attended. Mr. J. Cheatham, the president, took the chair, and there were present Lord A. Churchill, M.P., the Hon. A. Egerton, M.P., Mr. T. G. Baring, M.P., Prince Hyder Jung Bahadoor, of the Carnatic, Mr. Bazley, M.P., and many gentlemen of great local influence. A letter had been received from Lord Stanley, M.P., re gretting that his Parliamentary engagements pre vented him from being present. The CHAIRMAN remarked that nothing had oc curred since the establishment of this association, three years ago, to warrant any diminution of effort in behalf of its object or to throw a doubt on the wisdom of its formation. (Hear, hear.) As by the abolition of the corn laws we availed ourselves of every possible source for the supply of grain from abroad, instead of relying altogether on our own production, so it was now sought to open every possible source for the supply of cotton, instead of being almost exclusively dependent on the United States. The experience of past fluctuations in the supply was a sufficient warning against relying too much on the recent great increase of the American crop. (Hear.) The interest that had been created in every part of the world by the proceedings of the association, and the wide•spread desire for their success on grounds of humanity, were a strong ar gument for perse verance i n th e i r exertions. Their correspondence was continually increasing, and they had communications from nearly every part of the globe, but the council of the asso ciation had become desirous of concentrating at tention more especially on the capabilities of Western Africa and the East Indies. Although something had been done in Africa, great diffi culties were encountered there, and some of their agents and friends had been removed by the un healthiness of the climate. They had made fresh connexions there, and he hoped for beneficial re sults, as there was no doubt that a sufficient supply of cotton could be obtained thence, and that the population were willing to labour. But in India we had those first elements of success which were wanting in many countries. There was cheap and abundant labour, cotton was grown there already to a very considerable extent, and its export in the last 12 months was not less than 600,000 bales to Europe and 200,000 to China. The exports of the succeeding 12 months would probably be 1,000,000 bales. But our hopes of sufficient supply from that country depended on the abandonment of those an tiquated and absurd principles which formerly had actuated the Government of India, and we must aim at the advancement of its population rather than additions to its territory. (Cheers.) One of the measures that had been especially urged on the Government was the opening of the Godavery, which might perhaps be effected at an expense of less than half a million, so that from the heart of the country where cotton was grown not less than 1,000,000 bales per annum might be sent down that river, at a cost not greater than the American planter incurred on the Mississippi. The associa tion were very desirous of seeing the establishment of European agents in direct communication with the ryots, and had already done their best to dis tribute improved machinery and information among the native cultivators. At present the supply was greatly impeded and injured by the intervention of the middle-men. lle had no doubt, from the result of the experiments which had been made, that In dia was capable of growing cotton of the improved quality required, as well as in sufficient quantity, or his hopes of relief from that country would ba few indeed. (Hear, hear.) Mr. E. AMIWORTH moved the adoption of the annual report. It appeared that the last year's ex penditure had been £7,200, of which rather more than £4,000 was for distribution of seeds and ma chinery in various parts of the world. Of the remainder the largest item was the cost of publish ing the fortnightly journal of the association. Mr. BAZLEY, M.P., seconded the motion. He believed that the establishment of the association had been a benefit even in the United States, where the growth of cotton had been stimulated. (Hear, hear.) It was most encouraging to reflect that in the three years of its existence there had been an increase of cotton supply from new sources equal in amount to that obtained from the United States in the first seven years of cotton cultivation in that country. He must do the Americans the justice of saying that where cotton could be grown in the Southern States by free labour the cultiva tion was rapidly extending, and that the cotton produced was of very suprior quality. (Hear.) In America neither the cotton itself nor the popu lation who produced it in such great quantity were indigenous. Why, then, should we despair of suc cess in the cultivation of cotton in our own colonial possessions ? In India we possessed tracts of coun try beyond our calculation adapted for its growth ; yet a piece of land the size of Yorkshire with suit able soil and climate would be large enough to supply us with more than was needed for the manu factures of Great Britain, and he saw no reason why British enterprise and capital should not be as well employed in this direction as it was in foreign railways, and so many other investments abroad. (Cheers.) The resolution was unanimously agreed to. Lord ALFRED CHURCHILL, M.P., moved the second resolution : "That, as the opening up of new sources for the supply of cotton has become a question of great national interest, it is incumbent upon all classes of the community to sup port the movement now in progress for promoting the growth of cotton in Africa, Australia, South America, the West Indies, and other countries ; that, as the development of the resources of India is of vast importance to this coun try, it is the bounden duty of her Majesty's Government to give every encouragement to the unfettered action of private enterprise and public companies, whether for the cultivation of cotton, the opening of river navigation, the construction of canals, or other public works calculated to facilitate European intercourse with the natives, or increase the productive powers of our eastern empire. And this meeting especially urges upon the spinners and manufac turers, as well as upon all other interests directly or indi rectly concerned in the cotton trade, to assist in the work of creating that healthy competition among many mar kets which alone can obviate the evils arising from our pre sent position of dependence upon one main source of sup ply." Ile expressed the gratification it had given him to receive an invitation to be present on this occasion. In reading the annual report of the association, he had been exceedingly struck by the range of its operations. There were about 30 different parts of the world with which they had correspondence, arid there was hardly a single climate or latitude capable of yielding cotton that had not received attention. (Hear, hear.) Ther e were t wo or th ree o f t h ese on which he might have a few words to say. As to Turkey, for example, he had received from a friend of his, the secretary of the Ottoman Railway, the annual report of that undertaking, in which its chairman remarked that it was inconceivable hour the want of communication should have so long de layed our access to an unlimited supply of fine cot ton, within 20 days' steaming of Manchester, that might be obtai ne d f rom the district which' this railway would open out. That line was from. Smyrna to Aden, a distance of 30 to 40 miles, and would probably be opened a few months hence.. (Hear, hear.) Some gentlemen had great hopes of a. supply from Australia. During the Crimean war he (Lord A. Churchill) made a tour through our colonies in Australia, and could add his testimony to its value as a cotton-producing country. The growth of cotton had not at that time acquired so much public attention as it now attracted, but that country was admirably adapted for every species. of tropical production, as well as for cereals, for which a temperate climate was more suitable. We might expect from Australia in a short time a large: and abundant supply of cotton, if we only gave suf ficient inducement, and exerted sufficient pressure on the Government to lead them to encourage it,, by the introduction of labour in that colony. The. question of labour, in that and all other colonies,, was of vital interest. In 1858 the consumption of cotton manufactures in Australia was £726,000 worth, which gave nearly 15s. per head of the im migrant population. In this country the proportion was about 18s. or 19s. per head. This showed very clearly that it was our interest to promote coloni sation, and repay them in the manufactured article for the raw material they produced. His lordship also spoke favourably of the proposed annexation of the Feejee Islands, and the expected supply of cotton from them, believing this to be a fair excep tion to the generally acceptable rule that our colo nial empire was already sufficiently extended. (Applause.) Mr. T. G. BARING, M.P. (Under Secretary of State for India), tseconded the resolution. He said the question of cot ton supply was one to which the Indian Govern mont were paying very careful and constant attenti on . It was ready to give every pro per support that c ould be given to the objects of this association. (Applause.) It might be of some interest that he si iould state his belief that, accord ing to the best cal culation that had been made, no less than 24,000,1)00 acres were now under cotton cultivation in I r Ldia, and that the production was now something like 2,400,000,0001 b. of cotton. The mass of it, of course, was consumed in the rough native manufactures, and the ex port amounted only to about one-tenth. The native cultivator s had shown themselves tolerably wide awake to t heir own interests, and it would be found that there had been an increase or decrease of export in propc mtion to the rise or fall of price in this country. l 3e quite agreed in the recommenda tion of Eu ro p e an agents settling in Ind i a i n order to direct thi s p. toductive povar in relief of our ne cessities. Re s , petting a point to which rather too much impo r t a ace appeared to have been given, the facilities affor land i 1114 :1 bell that that country ded to Europeans for the purchase of TEE SUN, LONDON; MONDAY EVENING, MAY 14, 1860. any gentleman wishing to take part in such a specu lation would no longer find any difficulty in obtain ing such land as he might desire, though he would recommend great caution in ascertaining whether it could be cultivated to advantage. The navigation of the Godavery was already open in some degree, and the removal of the first barrier was now in course of negotiation with the Nizam. (Applause.) He quite concurred in the opinion that it was the duty of Government to give all reasonable aid to the ex tension of communications in India, and he thought the attention given to this matter of the Godavery navigation, and the encouragement of rail ways, were evidences of an improved policy in that respect. (Hear, hear.) The resolution was passed, and the meeting was briefly addressed by the Hon. A. Egerton, M.P., the Rev. Mr. Pritchard, Mr. Lyons M'Leod, Mr. Hickey, (late resident in Australia), and other gen tlemen. most important benefit to India, but they accom-1 pany their boon by the introduction of the princi ples of Peel's iniquitous Bills, which principles will do nothing but harm. These principles will operate in India as they do in England. The Paper Currency, with all the enormous amount of Bills, Cheques, and Hoondies (the bills issued by the native money-changers, or shroffs), will be based on silver—as in England our Paper. Currency and Paper Credit is based on Gold. Whenever this Silver is withdrawn for hoarding or exportation, the paper currency will be contracted, the paper credit system will collapse, and there will be a Monetary Crisis. A monetary crisis in India means the reign of famine, starvation, and death among 200 millions of natives. A Paper Currency similar to that of William Pitt would make India a mine of inexhaustible wealth to Great Britain. If we cannot give up the reactionary and barbaric metallic system which Robert Peel inflicted on the country, let us give up British India, before we bring down on our heads the bitter curses of the unoffending millions of our Eastern Possessions. THE WINE LICENCES BILL. The agitation against the Wine Licences Bill has suffered a signal defeat. All the efforts of the pub licans, combined for this occasion, not with sinners, but with saints, have been exerted in vain, and the measure has passed its second reading by a consi derable majority. This, indeed, was the natural conclusion of Monday's debate ; for, though the op ponents of the bill showed no lack of energy, their arguments either contradicted each other or fell short of the point at which they were aimed. Neither Mr. Henley nor Mr. Buxton, for instance, attempted to• deny that a bill for the free sale of wine was the necessary corollary of the French Treaty. If the wines of France are to be introduced into this country on such a footing as will open them to common consumption—if they are to be natu ralized among us as ordinary beverages, it is per fectly indispensable that the conditions now affixed to the trade in spirituous liquors should be changed. One part of the transaction is the natural sequel to the other. If the Treaty means anything, it means that the people of these islands are to have free ac cess to the produce of French vineyards, and this access they could never have obtained if wine wore to be procurable in futurts on the same terms only as regulate its sale at present. Turn the question the other way, and see how it would look. Sup pose coals and•cutlery had hitherto been saleable in France only under the restrictions of a close mono poly, would there be a fair chance either for Eng lish producers or French consumers sinless this mo nopoly were removed ? Of the arguments levelled against the vice of intoxication we may also say that they should have -been directed against the Treaty itself. If the free introduction of French wines will tend to the in crease of drunkenness, that is a good reason for ex cluding them deliberately from our markets, either by Customs' duties or any other effectual barrier. Once, however, admit them as eligible articles of commerce, and it follows as a matte r of co ur se, unless the proceeding is to becomaan absurdity, that facili ties should be provided for their sale. In point of fact, it has been assumed throughout, until the interests of a monopoly were touched, that it would be a decided advantage to the public if these wines could be brought freely into use on this side of the Channel. Mutual advantages was the great principle of the Treaty. It was held that if Frenchmen could but get English manufactures, and Englishmen could but get Frendh wines, both nations would feel the benefits of the exchange so deeply that they would be very unlikely to quarrel-afterwards. That the wines of Bordeaux would be beneficial, and not detrimental articles of consumption, was as much taken for granted a s that Sheffield table-knives or Staffordshire plates would be commodities useful and not noxious, to our neighbours. The true question, therefore, is not whether French wines should be sold—for that follows necessarily on the adoption of the treaty — but what persons should be allowed to sell them. On this point we need do no more than cite the evidence of Mr. Buxton himself. "They need not dream," he told the house, " of placing the sale of those wines under the restrictions of the existing licensing system, with its close and monopolising character." There is no denying, however, that the bill has been regarded in some quarters with sincere appre hension, as menacing the country with an increase of intemperance. Mr. Gladstone said, truly enough, that this " was the real case "—would the free sale of French wines promote the practice of drunken ness or not ? We think that no bad consequences need be feared, but that many good results may be hoped. Omitting, for the moment, the manifest hypocrisy of this argument in tile mouths of those who already live by the sale of intoxicating liquors, we might easily show that, if any mis chief is to be apprehended from the pending mea sure, it would certainly not be remedied by allow ing the publicans to have their own way. It is one of their arguments that, even on the principle of pushing these wines into use, the business should be left with them. Forgetting, for the time, their original objections to the thing itself, they declare that they are the very people to do it. Mr. Ayrton even reproduced this part of their case, and with evident approval. The beersellers, he observed, " argued fairly in their memorial that their houses were better calculated to bring wine into consumption among the working classes than establishments opened for the purpose." If there fore the anticipated consumption of this article is to be attended with any increase of inebriety, the re sult, according to the publican's own argument, will be rather diminished than promoted by opening new establishments for its sale, inasmuch as these fresh corners can never drive such a trade as the old houses would have driven. However, we need not dissect such pleas as these. The true question, so far as it is a question at 'all, lies in the probable effect of making wine saleable at a great many more houses than at present, and we see no reason for appre hending that this effect will make itself felt in any increase of drunkenness. Of course, if we accepted Mr. Ayrton's postulate that " the intemperance of the people was precisely in proportion to the opportunities given for drink ing and the number of drinking houses established," we should also perceive the danger of opening an additional number of drinking houses for public use; though even here there is a flaw in the argu ment, for the establishments in question are so nu merous already that very few persons, we fear, are kept sober from sheer lack of a place in which to get drunk. Mr. Ayrton, to give validity to this reason ing, should show that at present the opportunities of drinking were so limited as to exclude a great number of people from the chance of intoxicating themselves ; and that, in short, " the whole popula tion of England," as Mr. Gladstone put the hypo thesis, " were in a state of earnest and intense anxiety to become drunkards, and that the only rea son why they had not fallen into that condition was that the public houses were too full to hold them." If this were really the state of things, no doubt every new wine-shop would inerease the proportion of drunkards in a ratio corresponding with the dimen sions and capital of the establishment ; but does Mr. Ayrton know of any place where a man with money in his pocket and the propensity to drink has the smallest difficulty in getting as drunk as he pleases? Is not the trade in liquors, though close enough to affect price and quality, open enough to give un limited facilities for intoxication. But there is another fallacy in the argument, and it lies in the confusion of " drinks" and " drinking houses," as if all drinks and all houses where they might be hought were necessarily of one and the same character. Now, Mr. Gladstone's bill aims especially at substituting one kind of drink for another kind of drink in the national taste. It aims at familiarising tie people of this country with a species of liquor which, though generous enough to gladden the heart of man, is less calculated to pro duce intoxication than any liquor now in ;common use among us. Those who oppose the bill on ac count of its immoral tendency assume that, over and above all those who now get drunk upon gin, there will be an additional number getting drunk upon claret ; that the statistics of intoxication will be augmented by a second table ; and that the drunkards of the new wine-shops will have to be added to the drunkards of the old publichouses. But is this a reasonable supposition ? Is it not more natural to, presume that a wholesome and yet exhi larating beverage may wean a man from the use of a more violent and noxious stimulant ? May not the new wine-shop prove rather an enemy to the old tavern, by offering a place of resort where in toxication, to say the least, is not so likely to be common ? Beyond all question, a man in going into one of the new establishments would find in the house a place where excessive drinking would be leas frequent, and in the beverage supplied a liquor in which intoxicating qualities were less likely to lurk. Neither the idea nor the practice of drunken ness would be _so much connected with the new houses as the old Ones. Of course, a man may easily get drunk upon French wine. Mr. Ayrton was right enough there • but, as a matter of probability, he would not be likely to select that liquor if drunken- ness were his object, nor would he run such a risk of being unexpectedly overtaken as would be the case if he were drinking gin. There is little chance of mischief, therefore, in the measure, and there is a fair chance of good. We cannot well be providing people with greater facilities for intoxi- cation, seeing that these are practically boundless already, but we may probably, by the free intro duction of an innocuous and yet palatable beverage do something to supersede liquors of a more dan gerous kiml,—Tfincs. CIATION. PAPER :CURRE .2V CY IN INDIA. (From the Derbyshire Courier.) A subject of grave importance must soon occupy the attention of Parliament. We mean the project of Mr. Wilson for a paper currency for British India. Never is the world's history has a pro posal affecting so directly the social condition of such a large portion of the human family been laid before a legislative body. A heavy responsi bility rests on this country to give good laws to our immense possessions in the East. We have al ready suffered severely for our selfish neglect in not attempting, to the best of our ability, to educate and christianise the natives. Having escaped for the time the Government appears inclined to re lapse into indifference to its duties in this respect. But if we do little for the Hindoos, we wish them to do much for us. A new system of taxation is now propounded, and in connection with this a new monetary system also. Now the laws relative to taxation, the holAing of land, and indigo plant ing, are important, but there can be no question that all these together are of small account com pared with the proposal which is made for a new monetary system. No financial transaction between the Government and the people, no interchange of commodities between the traders, no interest of the richest native prince and the poorest na tive pariah, will remain unaffected by this mea sure. The importance of the proposed step is in deed fully admitted by the Government authorities, both at home and in India. From the Minute of Correspondence on the Paper Currency recently printed by order of the House of Commons, it ap pears that Mr. Wilson has duly elaborated his plan, and that Sir C. Wood has duly considered, and re vised, and corrected it. All parties seem to know that they arc gliding over a surface marked out as " Dangerous." We do not complain of the caution exhibited by them as they proceed. But none of them are, we think, aware of the extent of the danger. We will endeavour to explain, in a few plain words, the present state of the monetary system in India, and the proposed plan for a Paper Currency. India has what is called a Silver Standard. With the exception of a few millions of notes issued by joint-stoc.c banks, the whole circulating medium of India is composed of silver rupees, or two-shil ling pieces. India is blessed with a "purely me tallic currency." It possesses the kind of money, therefore, to which it has been the grand object of Peel and Overstone to assimilate the circulating medium of England. For the pro fessed design of Peel's bills of 1819 and 1844 was to make onr mixed currency of paper and metal fluctuate "exactly as a purely metallic currency would do." The bullionists have, however, dis covered that their theoretically perfect currency is a very bad one in practice. It is found that the resources of the country cannot be developed, nor commerce successfully carried on, nor, above all, an adequate amount of taxation raised in India, with this " purely metallic currency." It is, there fore, proposed to give India a paper currency, which Mr. Wilson thinks can be best effected by a plan of Mr. Tooke, and Sir C. Wood thinks should be done by the plan laid .down by Peel's Bills. Both agree in the necessity of making this paper currency fluctuate as " a purely metallic currency would do." Now we in England have had a good deal of practical experience on this point. Since 18t9 bullionism has been the Pandora's box of the country, out of which has issued innumerable evils. The only hope remaining at the bottom is, that the principle upon which Peel's Bills were founded may before long be shivered to atoms. In the insane attempt to make our mixed paper and metallic cur rency fluctuate as a metallic currency would do, we had, at the termination of the French war, dis tress (according to Mr. Tierney's statement) "greater than had been known in this country since the Norman conquest." The bill of 1819 drove the much-enduring working classes to what was little short of open rebellion. Then came 18 ?,5 with ruin and misery to millions; when Mr. Husliisson suggested that a paper should be placed on the Bank of England doors stating " that they had not gold to pay with, but might expect to recommence payment in a short period." The virtual abroga tion of Peel's " convertibility" took place at this time, by the issue of an old boxful of £1 notes, which, the Governor of the Bank said, " saved the credit of the country." Passing over various periods of serious financial disarrangement, we had the panic of 1847, proving that the bill of 1844 was as contemptible a failure as that of 1819. Convertibility was again demonstrated to be a sham and a delusion. Then came 1857 with a panic which even the tons of gold from Australia and California could not starve off. For the third time convertibility was thrown to the winds, and the Peel bills shown to be miserable and disgraceful failures, both in principle and prac tice. To all these evils the people of England have submitted, because they will not think for them selves on the currency question, and the conse quence is that the bullionists are emboldened, in the face of the signal failures of their system, to pro pose to engraft their pernicious and mischievous monetary crotchets on British India. And yet the bullionists themselves are forced to admit the advantages of paper credit and paper cur rency. In his despatch of 25th December, 1853, Mr. Wilson writes, " Inasmuch as the coin required for circulation is a real abstraction from the avail able active capital of the country, it follows that any method that can be adopted by which the quan tity of coin required for the transactions of the country may be reduced, with perfect security to the maintenance of the standard, to that extent so much capital will be released from an unprofitable employment, and returned into the channel of re productive uses." And he then goes on to com mend (as if he had made a discovery) the use of "cheques or orders," " drafts, bills of exchange, or hoondies," for remittances; "but the great means of economising coins," be says, "is by the issue of bank notes payable to bearer for small sums, uni form in amount, and suited to the daily wants of a population in relation to the character of their dealings, and bearing so high a credit that they are received from hand to hand without hesitation as money." And he goes on to observe, with perfect truth, that " what cheques and drafts for large amounts are to the trading and rich classes, in large transactions, bank notes are to the community at large in the transactions of every day life." But Mr. Wilson has other arguments in favour of a paper currency. It not only,the-says,-" eco nomises capital," but (1) its reduces the expense of the mint, (2) it saves the wear and - tear of coin, (3) it affords greater facilities for the public, es pecially in its transmission from place to place, and (4) " these advantages are experienced to the greatest extent when coin, as in India, is nearly exclusively of silver, a,nd therefore of great bulk in proportino to its value." The practical conclusion to which Mr. Wilson arrives is to recommend the issue of bank notes for ten shillings, one pound, two pounds, five pounds, ten pounds, and fifty pounds. Sir C. Wood approves of this suggestion. Observe how completely the bullionist party in this recommendation falsity their own principles. Pitt sanctioned the issue of small notes, for £1 and £2, in Great Britain. Peel and Overstone con spired to deprive England of these small notes, and tried, unsuccessfully, to deprive Scotland also of them. But Mr. Wilson and Sir C. Wood, as they want to develope the resources of India, and to raise taxes, recommend small notes of ten shillings and upwards. They are quite right in advocating a paper cur rency for India. Quite right in advocating a small note circulation. They ought, indeed, if they wish to "economise coin," and give the other advantages on which Mr. Wilson dilates, to recommend notes of one rupee, which would be pre-eminently "suited to the daily wants" of tha Indian popula tion, among many of whom a rupee is a week's wages. But they are quite wrong, and we trust the country and Parliament will let them know that they are quite wrong, in proposing to introduce _panics, as well as paper currency, into India. Paper currency in Pitt's time wrought wonders -in England. Never since the gold discoveries in Elizabeth's time did this country make such gigan -tic strides in civilisation, commerce, and wealth; and that in time of a most expensive and disastrous - war. Peel was unable to destroy Pitt's system of p aper currency, any more than he was able to de prive the people of Scotland of their £1 notes, but he did all he could by ignorant and unjust legis '►ation, to make paper currency a curse, instead of a blessing, to England. This is exactly what 11r. Wilson and Sir C. Wood are going to do in India. They wish to in troduce paper currency, which ought to be a THE PAPER DUTY. (From the Economist.) The resistance which Lord Derby has announced to the repeal of the e xc i se d u t y on paper raises one of the most difficult financial and political questions which we have had in this country for Many years. In the first 'place the proposal to repeal this duty was the weak point of Mr. Gladstone's budget. It was separable ,from all the other parts of it. We were engaged in a vast undertaking ; we were abo lishing the remnant of protective duties ; we were simplifying our tariff; we were paying the cast of the French treaty. Fvery one must feel that these three operations were enough for one year. There, was no occasion now to trouble ourselves with any thing further. Secondly, the argument which Mr. Gladstone deduces from the cessation of the Long Annuities is not tenable. We have undoubtedly £2,000,000 in a mercantile sense "to the good" from that source, but it does not follow that we can afford to give up that portion of our national income. Unfortunately our expenditure has increased, and we are not so rich as we hoped to be. We cannot, therefore, af ford to remit taxes as we otherwise might do. In deed, Mr. Gladstone does not remit taxes ; he sub stitutes the income tax fo r th e p aper d u ty ; he changes the incidence of th e b ur d en , b u t h e d o es not diminish the pressure on the nation. Nor do we attach conclusive weight to the report of the Inland Revenue department. No doubt, their objections to the tax are very true. Everything nearly which can be objected to a tax may be objected to this one. Still, when our finances have other claims on them, we must often for a time endure a very imperfect tax ; we must " rub on" with it, so to say, till our difficulties are less. Thirdly, there is no doubt that the provision for the finances of the year is not a very satisfac tory one. The incipient war with China will, we fear, cost much, and there is no margin even now for extra charges. As we remarked three months ago," very considerable credit is taken for an increased consumption which must be hypothetical, for tie yield of taxes of which the very existence is problematical, and for savings in departmental expenditure which have not yet been made." Many of the small taxes on trade will never pass; indeed, their nature has been much changed since the remarks just quoted were written. We cannot calculate the yield of those which may pass exactly; nor eau we rely with perfect confidence on the in creased consumption of articles affected by the French treaty. We are, indeed, disposed to think that a cheap and light wine will be drunk much more extensively in this country than it ever has been, but we do not like to speculate on a revenue from such a source. It may be substituted for other duty-paying stimulants, and then our revenue might not be improved. _ _ _ All these reasons seem to be in favour of Lord Derby's resistance to the repeal of the paper duty ; and we think they undoubtedly show that Mr. Gladstone should not have proposed to repeal it. We regret that he has burdened our finances this year with an additional difficulty. But these con siderations by no means exhaust the question, First, we must bear in mind that it is hardly right to keep an important trade in a state of suspense. After what has occurred, no one will ever believe that the paper duty will be perma net. If we postpone the repeal of it till next year or the year after we expose a large branch of industry to the paralysing effect of uncertainty. Much business has now been transacted, many contracts made in the expectation that the repeal would be immediate. No duty can be in a more unstable position. It has been condemned by a resolution of the House of Commons, by the depart ment which has to levy it, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, by a Cabinet, by a bill sent up to the House of Lords. We have hardly a right to keep any great trade in this state. One of the first rules of indirect taiation is that it should be steady, con sistent, and calculable. The Excise duty on paper can no longer be so. Secondly - , it is not constitutionally expedient to thrust money on the Executive Government. It is for the Cabinet to calculate what it requires ; if it makes an inefficient provision it does so at its peril. The reputation of financiers depends on the accu racy of their calculations. Public opinion will visit them with severe condemnation if they indulge in sanguine calculations unverified by the event. It is scarcely for the House of Commons to give them more than they ask for; still less is it for the HOUS3 of Lords to give what neither the House of Commons nor the Government deem necessary. We admit that extreme cases may justify such a course, though it must always be anomalous. But we doubt its expediency to preserve a condemned duty, which we cannot now regard as a permanent source of revenue. It may often be the duty of Parliament to reject a budget—occasionally it may be their duty to alter a budget—to refuse to sanc tion the abandonment of permanent taxes which the Government would surrender. But this power must always be an exceptional power. It should only be used on extreme occasions. We doubt whether it is wise to use it to preserve a duty which cannot last, which was bad when we thought it durable, and is worse now that we know it to be temporary. Thirdly, we must take into consideration a source of revenue which is not enough regarded. We have said that we doubt the calculations of in creased revenue which are deduced from the in creased consumption of articles affected by the pre sent budget. We do not say we disbelieve them, but we doubt them. On the other hand, however, the indirect revenue derived from all the principal ar• tides on which it is levied is largely increasing, and while the country continues to be prosperous it wii I go on increasing. We would rather not speculate on this increase until it is realised, but nevertheless it may be borne in mind. The House of Lords is now asked to interfere because our finances are in extreme peril. In estimating the amount of that peril, it is proper to remember that our ordinary revenue is singularly elastic ; that it increases year by year with rapidity; that it will enable us to re cover the amount we must lose by the repeal of the paper duty within a moderate space of time. On the whole, therefore, though we regret that the repeal of the paper duty was• proposed this year, though we feel that our financial calculations are more speculative and less cautious than we could wish them to be, we cannot recommend the course which Lord Derby would have us take. There are a few singular cases in which so extreme a step would bojustifiable, but this is scarcely one of them., ANOTHER GERMAN-JOB! (From the Times.) Immense exertions, exertions which weigh heavily on every household in the land, are being made 0 place and keep this country in a state of defence. Every recruit who can be collected from the villages of our agricultural counties,—who can be enticed from his lounge on the London pave• ment,—who can be persuaded to give up the mono tonous labour of the factory or the dreary existence of the mine,—is enlisted in the service. Measure after measure has been introduced to insure a supply of able seamen ; one device after another has been tried to make the comparatively small army at our command efficient as a protection. The militia has been reorganised, and is kept up at a lavish expense, the authorities being forced to put up with deser tion and imposition of every kind, since even a force with many deficiencies is better than no force at all. The state of Europe is just now so uncertain, the elements of disquiet are so many, that the nation with one accord has called out for the strengthening of the national armaments, and by a noble effort of patriotism has provided for the public security by a Volunteer levy. All this, however, has not been done without a serious addition to the burdens of the State ; financial embarrassment stares us in the face, and the wisest economists are beginning to cry out against any further remission of taxes, since all may be necessary to enable the country to pay its way. Yet we are all in earnest in this matter,--that there shall be a good army, which shall make up by the excellence of its quality for the deficiency of its numbers. With the full assent, and, indeed, under the impulse of the public, every means has been used during the last few years to encourage a higher and more professional spirit in our land forces. Since the evil days of Seb as t opo l we are glad to think that things have changed much for the better. An officer dreads the reputation of being a mere carpet knight. The regim en t s w hi c h h ave little opportunity of seeing service, and which were entered heretofore by young m en pr i nc i pa ll y f or t h e pleasure of wearing a fine uniform, have fallen into something like discredit. Cornets are with diffi culty found for the household cavalry, and even the heavy dragoons are at a discount. In the meantime the corps where there is the greatest scope for merit are attracting a more earnest and hard-working class of men. The Engineers and Artillery will in a few years b6l equal, if not superior, to any in the world. The Line, in spite of its certain banish ment for years to unhealthy colonies or remote In dian stations, is popular with the flower of our youth, who compete f o r commissions with as much eagerness as if the pay were a real maintenance, and the work merely a light, pleasant occupation. The rehabilitation of the British army has been mainly the work of the nation itself, speaking through the Press. There, has, we admit, b een little cause of complaint of late. The authorities seem to have seen the rottenness of " the system," and to have been converted to the opinions which were at first so unpopular with the military world. But we must not expect to advance too quickly. The "old Adam" of favouritism and jobbery has evidently not yet been entirely put off, and we have to animadvert on a backsliding which de serves a temperate but firm admonition. The regenerate Horse Guards has fallen back into its old practices. ' Nothing that was done in the bad days beibre 1854 could be more reprehensible than the appointment of Major- General Grey to the command of a regiment. In commenting on these cases we know that we must necessarily excite a great deal of bitterness and animosity. Among those who abuse the Times probably not one in a hundred owes his prejudice to any conduct of ours on a public que,stion. As a congregation cares little about being called. "miserable sinners" in a general way, so we might write against Conservative tactics without alien ating a single follower of Lord Derby, and might argue against the indiscriminate remission of taxa tion without disgusting a single Freetrader. But remarks on a private individual, however fair, however much within the scope of legitimate criti cism, however strictly confined to public matters, are never forgiven by him, his family, his depen dents, and his friends. Yet we shall never shrink from remarking on improper appointments, for it is our duty to write what men of sense are everywhere saying in conversation, and little good would be done by mere abstract denunciation of favouritism if conspicuous instances of this political vice were passed over from any feeling of delicacy. We may say, then, that to appoint to the com mand of a regiment a gentleman who for many years past has been a mere nominal soldier is a. gross injustice to deserving officers, and an injury to the profession. A while ago the same Gazette which announced that the Order o(the Bath had been conferred upon Sir H. Havelock for his heroic services announced also that the same honour had been conferred on Colonel Phipps, a gentleman known only as holding a subordinate office in the Royal Household. Now we have Sir John Inglis, the undaunted defender of iucknow, bracketed with Major-General Grey, private secretary to Prince Albert—the man who has risked his life under a tropical climate and against ferocious and implacable foes coupled with a gentleman who in the case of English palaces has wielded no weapon more formidable than the pen. The contrast affords scope for disparaging remarks as respects General Grey, not because the General's services are unim portant or his position other than honourable, but because he has been unwittingly, and, as we think, unjustly, rewarded. It is quite right that the Prince Consort should have a secretary to conduct the large correspondence which necessarily falls upon him, nor do we deny that the secretary may be properly appointed to any civil office which he is capable of filling. But military emoluments should be reserved for those who are actually soldiers. It cannot be admitted that a man, because he has been at one time in active service, and has by the custom of the army attained a certain rank, should step in and grasp the few prizes which of right belong to those who have borne the burden and heat of war. The pay of £6OO a year which General Grey will receive as honorary Colonel of the Buffs would compensate many a Crimean or Indian officer for fatigue, wounds, sickness, long separation from friends, and all th e other hardships of a soldier's life. A colonelcy is a military sinecare, and the only ground for retaining such appointments is that which has been often urged—that they form the best means of conferring a justly earned pension on distinguished officers. Those who by devoting the flower of their age to the service of the country in every part of the globe have attained to the rank of Major-General have a claim to the colonel cies, and it is an abuse of the powers belonging to the Horse Guards when these appointments are made to reward civil or courtly services.• We cannot hope that General Grey's appointment will be cancelled, but we trust such a proceeding will not be repeated: If the present Act of the Horse Guards be drawn into a precedent, we feel sure that Parliament will not be easily restrained from interference. COUNTRY MARKETS. YORK-31A.Y 12. A limited show to-day, and, farmers again unwilling to submit to any decline, only a small business was done at about late rates. Wheat, red .50s to 54s I Oats.... 27s to 30s White do .56s to 60 s Beans 44s to 488 Barley .32s to 44s Peas ....—s to —s Malt, 68s to 70s per qr. ; rye, 36s per qr. ; flour, 394 - to 41s per sack. CAMBRIDGE—MAT 12. There was a fair supply of wheat, and, with a rather heavy demand in the trade, white moved off at 52s to 565, red, 46s to 52a per 36 stone. There was a small show of barley to-day; malting, 34s to 375; grinding, 32s to 34s per 30 stone. Oats at 24s to 30s for new ; old oats, —s to —s. Beans in limited supply, and a steady sale —new, 40s to 48s ; old, —s to —s per 38 stone; peas, 40s to —a per 36 stone. White cloverseed, 86s to 89s; red, 46s to iOs per quarter. STAMFORD—MAY 12. Yesterday there was a slow sale of wheat, with a tolerable supply, at rather under the rates of last week. The quan tity of barley was limited. Oats scarce and dear. Wheat 52s to 55s [ Oats.. 24s to 314 White do 56s to 58s I Beans 42s to 45s Barley .. ..40s to 45s I Ditto, old ........46s to 48s NORWICH—MAY 12. A moderate supply, and the wheat trade rather dull„ but prices is higher. White wheat 53s to 54s I Red wheat 50s t• 52e Malting barley....42s to 46s I Chevalier barley 34s to 4011 Distilling d0......25s to 278 J Oats.. 24s to 28, Flour, 35s to 35s 6d per sack from the miller. LEICESTER—MAv 12. There was a tolerable supply of wheat to-day, in fair condition, and trade steady. White wheat, 48s to 51m —red, 45s to 48s per 36 stone; a very fair inquiry for fine barley, grinding, 30s to 33s ; malting, 38s to 44s per qr. ; oats, 28s to 34s per 24 stone. Beans—old, 52s to new 42s to 46s per 38 stone. Fine flour, 33s I Seconds, 31s Thirds, 29s per 20 stone. NORTHAMPTON—MAY 12. At this corn-market wheat was in pretty fair supply, with a [healthy sale, at rather over the rates of this day sen night, prices ranging from 53s to 56s for white, and 52s to 54s for red. There was a fair business passing in. barley, malting 38s to 445, grinding 35s to 37s per qr. Oats is fair sale, the turn in seller's favour, quoted at 3016 to 34s per 24 stone. Beans,! old, 48s. to 508 ; peas, 40s to 46a. Rye ' 38s to 40s; malt, 68s t o 72 s ; flour, 33s to 374 per sack. CORK-MAY 12. The following were the quotations this morning :—R e d wheat, 26s Od to 20s Od ; white, 268 6d to 27s 6d; barley 168 Od to 20s Od ; oats, 12s 4d to 14s Od. DUBLIN• With a dull trade to-day, 1 reduction on late rates : —MAY 12. )usiness was done at & Might s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Wheat, white.. 33 0t035 0 Do., new .--oto 0 Do., red 3l 0t033 0 Bere Do., new .... —oto 0 I Rapeseed Barley ...... 18 oto 24.0 1 Oatmeal l5 otol7 0 OatS . . _. .... 16 0t 0 37 0 Bakers' flour Do., black.... l5 otols 6 Indian corn THE MAILS. MAILS DUE. Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South ampton) • • .• Sum. 10. Do. (via Marseilles) June 4. Bahamas and Havana (via New York) .. .. June 7. Canada, &c. (via Cork) • .. May 16. Cape of Good Hope, &c. . • .. .. June 1. China, Penang, and Singapore (via S'ampton) May 19. Do. (via Marseilles) May 13. Gibraltar (via Southampton) .. May 19. ay India (Calcutta), Ceylon, & c . ( v i a Southampton) Ml 9. .Do. (via Marseilles) May 13. India (Bombay), (via Southampton) May 25. Do. (via Marseilles) May 19. Lisbon, Brazils, Buenos Ayre s , & a . Juane 6. Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto • • ty 11. Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southa m pt on ) .. May 19. Do. (via Marseilles) .. May 13. United States, California, &c. ( t i a C or k) .. May 16. Western Coast of Africa, Madeira, Teneriffe May 10 West Indies and Pacific, Carthgena, Cuba, &c. May 14. BIRTHS. BLow.—On the 7th inst., at the Rectory, Layer /Ireton,' Essex, the wife of tho Rev. William filow,jun,, 31. A., of a son. SMITH.—On the 9th inst., at F, West -parade, Bristol.. road, Birmingham, the wife of Mr. Richard C. Smith, of a daughter. TAPLING.—On the 7th inst., at Norwood, Surrey, the wife of Mr. Thomas Tapling, of Ciresham-street, City, of a son. WYNNIATT.—On"the sth inst., at Wareham, Norfolk, the wife of J. J. Wyuniatt, Esq., late 10th Royal Hussars, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. MASTER.—ANLET.--On the 10th inst., at Christ Church, Highbury, Franci s M aster, Esq., Knightsbridge, to Elise, daughter of P. Anley, Esq., builder, Alma House, Islington. STARK.—SCHMID.—On the 7th inst., at Turin, William son of the late Robert Stark, of Torquay, to Anna Eliza beth Wilhelmina, daughter of Charles Schmid, Esq., of Aix-la-Chapelle. DEATHS. LINNINGTON.—On the 17th March, at Melbourne, Aus tralia, Robert Joseph, last surviving son of the late Mr. Samuel Linnington, of Liverpool, aged 35. MAVERLY.—On the 3d inst., Mr. J, H. Maverly, for 50 ycars the Astronomical Observer, at the Royal Academy, Gosport, aged 76. MASON.—On the 11th inst., at 36, Upper Berkeley•st ree t, Portman-square, Joseph Edward Mason, Esq., late of Exeter, aged 71. POLAND.—On the 10th inst., Mr. George Poland, of No. 90, Oxford-street, aged 6L STAINFORTII.—On the 27th April, at Nivelles, in Belgium, George Stainforth, Esq., late of Hutron, Yorkshire, and formerly of the 23d Fusiliers, with which regiment he served the Waterloo Campaign, aged 65. LONDON: Printed and Published by ik.IURDO YO of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at 27te AY !in Office, No. 111, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county of Xiddlosox, INl9uclay, Nay 14 ) 1660. .k