The Sun. — London, England, 1869-03-30 00:00:00

`SPIRIT Or TEE PUBLIC JOURNALS. The Times asks what will the historian writing a genera tion hence say of Lord Stanley's inaction ? The Opposition policy must be sought for from three men. Mr. Disraeli evades the exigencies of the occasionwith paradoxes which reveal nothing and conceal nothing. Mr. Hardy clamorously contends for mere resistance till the end comes and he and his party sink overmastered. Lord Stanley is the third man of the Opposition, and from him we get— silence. England cannot afford to lose Lord Stanley, and the danger of becoming tied and bound in the chains of a hopeless position would seem to be never so great as now. There is no man in the House of Commons whose judgment is more sound, more honestly formed, more impartial—no man more free from the mists of prejudice and the heat of passion. Lord Stanley's earlier career, however, was conspicuous by nothing so much as by its evident proofs of political courage. One of his first acts in Parliament was to speak and vote for the total abolition 'of church rates when the maintenance of church rates was the distinctive feature of Conservatism. We shall not willingly believe that this courage has wholly dis ,pppeared, although we are being reluctantly dragged to &is conclusion. The vote of Wednesday morning was another circumstance binding Lord Stanley to an associa tionaltogether unworthy of him ; and, unless the false act be quickly undone, it must leave him hopelessly enthralled. We deceive ourselves in thinking we may always regain our freedom at a wish after we have consented to years of bondage. Lord Stanley has but to look at the leader of the party among whom he is ranked to be convinced of that error. There he will see great genius doomed to ste rility, the most vivid powers of perception and intelligence resulting in inaction, a will all but indemitable curbed and Powerless by a series of concessions to the temptations of circumstance. • The Post observes that although we have no carnival in this country, we contrive to amine ourselves after the fashion of Englishmen at Easter. It is in the eyes of foreigners a curious fashion. We are, perhaps, slow at receiving ideas of pleasure, our laughter may be out of time, and the tendency of our excitement may be to bru tality. The' truth is, however, that in the countries where holidays are enjoyed with temperate equanimity, and where there is none of the drunkenness and boisterous mirth through which they have come to be regarded almost as evils in this country, every Sunday is a holiday : and in that sense, and in that sense only, can the question of religion, which is commonly interpolated, be considered as not irrelevant. Since holidays are connect ed with holy days, with the festivals of the Church and the events they commemorate, is inferred that our dulnws arises from living, as we are supposed to do, under the Ahade of an unsentimental reli gion ; and although the inference is far-fetched and absurd, ,it is indisputable that where the Church permits and the Government encourages recreation on the day of rest, public decorum Is better respected. Whether the arrangement is moral in itself, or practically conducive to morality, is, however, by no means certain ; and indeed it would appear that the abatement of nuisances which, as it were, stare us out of countenance, contributes not a little to the mass of vice which is barely screened from observation, or thinly plated with gold. It is true, therefore, that if we look at our Easter holidays as they are kept by the working classes from a continental point of view, something may be dis cerned which we would like to have changed altogether ; but it is also true that if we want continental refinement, we must adopt the manners and customs from which it is acquired, and give up feelings and convictions which are deep-rooted in the national heart, and which have formed and moulded our national character. The Herald is apprehensive that the proposed conces sions to the natives of India in reference to the Civil Service will gb beyond the bounds of prudence. To aug ment the new appointments to an extent sufficient to give general content would be impossible, even though the entire service were placed at native disposal. And what would be the result of giving up the service to the natives in any considerable degree, say to the extent of enabling it to exercise any strong countervailing influence to our own ? Was the rule which we supplanted so much supe rior in justice, in humanity, in care for the political freedom, social advancement, and material progress of the people to that which we have substituted as to warrant recurrence to such a retrograde policy ? Were the natives of_lndilt as fit for the work of government as ourselvea,we should certainly never have been able to monopolise it, and find ourselves in the position of considering how far they shall be admitted to a share in the administration of their own affairs. The Standard says the Beefsteak Club is gone ! It is to be formally dissolved this week. That pleasant little company, consisting of an exclusive twenty-four, is to melt away, and its goods and chattels—its furniture plate, oil portraits, and prints—are to be sold by public unction. How many will regret the end of a history once so triumphant ! We go back unavoidably to the past ; we see ancient figures ; we listen to uncommon gossip ; we live in a different life, and see persons as they are not seen now, in the old doings, habits, and rules of the Beefsteak Club, which used to meet so familiarly in a room at the back of the Lyceum Theatre. At present the club is merely a convenience. But we cannot part with our good old friend, the Beefsteak Club, without a reminiscence of it. A peer of the realm, calling upon a famous actor, found him, not rehearsing, but cooking on a gridiron, in the immortal Professor Wilson way, a dinner of beef. Forthwith, he said, let an association be founded to cultivate and perpetuate this neglected art. Of course the hint was taken. Fox, Sheridan, and Brougham sat down at that simple table with the Duke of Norfolk. However, it is vanishing ;it is being sold up ; and it will presently have no better claim to existence than the Reform League. For, in fact, that kind of life has long gone out from among us. The modern club is not what the former clubs used to be. It does not take up a man's life as they did ; it represents a totally different social aspect. Of course there are still " Bohemians" and " Scribblers," " Savages" and " Hooks and Eyes," but these are merely nominal. They willnever have their histories written ; and if they expire, as they do, for all the world knows to the contrary, every day, they will not deserve an epitaph such as may be written on the tombstone of the Beefsteak. .POLITICAL POTATO-DIGGING. Among the stories current with reference to the last West Gloucestershire election, we have been told the fol lowing, which is perfectly authentic. A very active legal agent, on the Liberal side, started to bring a man to the poll. The agent found the elector, a poor man, in his garden. At the moment he was engaged in digging potatoes. " Come along," said the agent ; "we want you to vote for Kingscote and Marling." " Well," said the elector, "I must finish digging these potatoes first, and if You want me to go along, you had better help me." The agent was aman of allwork, so, taking a spade, he very ably and adroitly assisted the voter in his work, taking some thing like from twenty minutes to half an hour to finish the job. " Now, come along," said the man of law chuckling over the delight with which he would tell of his achievement ha the committee-room. "No," said the elector; "I might better have left the potatoes in the ground than dig them up and leave them exposed; you must help me to put them away." This was more than the agent bargained for ; but, having gone so far, he deter mined he would not lose his man for want of going a little further So he set bravely to work. At length this was completed, and the two started for the next polling_pi ace. " I feel uncommonly hot," said the elector, as they p assed a public-house. " After all this work, would you not like a little drop ?" " Oh, by all means," said the agent. " Come in." So in they went, and had a good drink, for which the agent, of course, paid. "For whom did you say I was to vote ?" "Of course for Kingscote and Marling," was the reply. " Well, I don't know that," said the other, to the utter discomfiture of the agent ; " I always have voted blue, and I feel as blue as ever ; but I'll think on it, and by the time we reach the booth I'll have made up my mind." The rest of the walk was spent by the man of law in urging the political pre-eminence of the Liberal side over the Conservative ; but all to no purpose, for when the all-important question was asked of the elector by the deputy-sheriff, he gave the name of Colonel Somerset The agent was crestfallen ; all his glorious vision of triumph had departed in a moment ; the crowning narra tive which he meant to tell of how he dug and housed the potatoes, and made sure of his man, before an admiring committee, vanished ; but he had taken too prominent a part in the affair not to be obliged to give an explanation, and thinking candour and frankness the best in the mat ter, he plainly told how lie had been outwitted by the "blue clodhopper," who made him dig and house pota toes, and find drink for two into the bargain, and all for nothing, or (as he cons i dered) worse than nothing.—The Gardener' s Magazine. The lit nchester Exam'ner says that to conlhm - Lion of tho earthquake reported to Lave occurred last week Las bccu received from its ceereditEd rtA., nt, in tli3 district. Front a careful examination of certain d,:emm-nts and envo wh i c h h^cc reached it, however, 11:1t journal has no doubt that the rerorts were the rceuita of a foolish and not very creditable freak. • - THE FLOODING OF TIIE OUSE.—A mc2sage fr.mu St Germains says : "At four on Monday afternoon, in consequence of an unusually high tide, nearly fifty feet of the east bank of the river Ouse split and subsided into the river close to the sluice of the St. Peter's Drain, and about half-a-mile from St. Germain's Church. Great fears are entertained that when it is high water, at eight this evening, the tide will come through the breach and flood she cowArY, g.§ :P4 4-.§102": PAUPER NURSING. The - guardians of the poor of St. Pancras having teferred to the consideration of a committee the present system of nursing the out-door poor, the committee reported that, in their opinion, it is highly desirable that the out-door sick poor should be properly nursed by efficient persons, but they do not see how, h a ving regard to the size and population of the parish and the large number of sick persons in the receipt of outdoor relief, it would be possible to provide a sufficient staff of nurses to attend the sick in their own houses. The committee are, however, informed that there are chari table institutions in the parish where in special cases of sickness ladies in connection with the charities under take the duty of nursing, and they recommend that appli cation be made to these institutions to know whether they will extend their operations to the parish sick, upon the guardians assisting the funds. The guardians have adulated the recommendation of the committee. ILLEGITIMACY IN SCOTLAND. --e , - The annual report of the Registrar-General on the births, deaths, and marriages registered in Scotland during 1868 (published yesterday) chews that of 115,673 births 11,266, or 91 per cent. of the whole number were ille gitima' e. As usual the proportion of illegimate births was greatest in the rural districts, averaging 10'3 per cent. while in the towns it was 9'3. The people in the north eastern division seem to have been the greatest offenders against the moral law, the proportion of illegitimate births there having averaged 15'2 per cent. At Wigtown it reached 16'4, and at Banff 17 1 ; but Kirkcudbright has achieved the highest distinction in this respect, the figures being 17'3. The north-western and northern divi sions make a less discreditable appearance, the returns being respectively 6'l and 6'3 per cent. Of the children born during the year, the proportion of the sexes was 105'4 boys to 100 girls. THREATENIAG NOTICES. --1. Threatening notices, which the local journals call "awful and impious," are being served on landlords and tenants in the county of Westmeath. The following are specimens : ADDRESSED TO . A LANDLORD. "Notice.—March, 1869.—Sir, you,have let to a heretic, or Protestant, a farm in this part of the country, but he shall never put his foot upon it, or he will never leave it alive. We will never allow a heretic to live amongst us. So if he puts his foot on these lands he will be shot dead. The ball is realy for him. This is ro idle threat, so help me God.—ONE OF THE P..( ADDRESSED TO A TENANT FARMER. " Notice.—March, 1869.—Sir,—Take notice you mutt give up the lands belonging to . If you do not you may prepare your coffin, for you shall be shot before the end of this month (Marc!). The bullet is pre pared for you. Therefore prepare for ETERNITY, as nothing, not even GOD IN HEAVEN, CAN SAVE TOU. The land belongs to the people now. Give it up and save your life— ONE OF THE PEOPLE." EXECUTION AT MANCHESTER. Easter this year with all its merriment and jollity does not pass off without its tragedy. On Monday morning, Michael Jackson, aged 24, was banged by the neck until dead within the walls of the Manchester Gaol. The unfortunate wretch having bad a public house dispute with a man named Kurney, had allowed his angry passions to get the better of him, and stabbed Patrick Kurney so severely that he soon afterwards died. For this he was sentenced to be executed, the jury recom mending him to mercy. Every attempt was made to procure a reprieve, but without success. Neither jury recommendations nor local petitions were listened to, and on Monday the law took its course. The execution was private, the first of the kind which has taken place at Manchester. Six reporters only were present, besides the regular officials. Calcraft was the executioner. The culprit was penitent and resigned. He was attended to the drop by the Roman Catholic chaplain of the gaol, the Rev. Mr. Clarkson. He struggled power fully for some time after the drop had fallen, but was soon quiescent. His body was cut down and buried in the usual way. The prison philanthropist, Mr. Thomas Wright, on Sunday had an interview with the then condemned, now deceased, murderer. THE NORWICH WIFE MURDER The trial of William Sheward, charged on ms own con fession with the murder of his wife, at Norwich, in June 1851, commenced on Mt nday before. Mr. Baron Pigott. Mr. O'Malley, Q.C., opened the case for the prosecution at great length, calling attention to the inexplicable disap pearance of the prisoner's wife, the prisoner's own con fession, and the other strange circumstances of the case. A great deal of evidence was given for the prosecution, beginning with that of Davis, the police-inspectorin London, t, whom Sheward made his confession last January. The labourers and others who found pieces of a human body at Norwich in 1851, were then questioned, and Mr. Nicholls and Mr. Dalrymple, the surgeons, who examined the fragments, gave their evidence. It will be remembered that the remains were said to belong to a much younger woman than the prisoner's wife, who was 54 at the time of her disapearance; but the medical evidence on Monday, stated that the woman whose remains were found, might have been 54. The evidence for the prosecution was not concluded when the court rose. Every place was occupied, and the prisoner, who has been very ill, remained seated during the day. THE COLLIERY INUNDATION.-THAN IS'' GIVING SERVICE. The twelve miners who were rescued a week ago from their terrible imrrisonm• nt in Lock's Lane Pit, were so far improved in health on Sunday as to be able to attend Divine service at Brierley Hill parish church. The build ing was crowded with people. We noticed with regret that many of these men, whose praise has been sounded throughout the laud, were suffered to remain standing during the greater part of the service. Prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. Sillitoe, curate, and appropriate allusions to the occasion were solemnly de livered and reverently listened to. This was the case to a marked degree when the reader arrived at the thanksgiving prayer. Before this was given the whole of the rescued miners were announced to be desirous of returning thanks to Almighty God for their late deliverance, and all the congregation were requested to join in repeating the prayer, and after going through this and the remaining portion of the Church service in an earnest and impressive manner, a special sermon was preached by the Rev. Josiah Stone, vicar. He selected for his text the 40th verse of the 12th chapter of Matthew—" For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." In the course of a very appropriate and affecting discourse, the rev, gentleman referred to the recent miraculous deliverance from the Lock's Lane Pit, which he said might be regarded almost as of the nature of a resurrection. In a very earnest peroration, the rescued men and boys were called upon to acknowlege their obligations to God, and to devote the lives which had been spared to His service.—B:mingliam Gazette. A sad accident occurred at the New Palace Cub house, in King-street, St. James's on Monday. Some workmen engaged in repaieng the house rested their ladder on a bale ny wide') pava w , y beneath it, and ladder and workmen fell to the ground. One man was serkusly in jured, aLd is in St. George's Hospital. The rest were able to to sent ho:r.o. AN ACTION BY A TRADE SOCIETY AGAINST BANICERS.—At the Leeds As s i zes the Barnsley Operative Brickmakers' Society sued the Barnsley Banking ,pAny for £B7 ls. 11d. upon a deposit note to this effect C ect o " Barnsley, 24th June, 1868. Received from the Barns ley Operative Brickmakers' Society £B7 ls. 11d., for which we are accountable." The sum originally deposited was £lO7 ls. lid., and then notice was given to the bank not to pay to anyone. There had been a quarrel amon g the members, and after the quarrel the society applied for the balance, but the bank refused to pay it unless the origi na l depositors, some of whom had seceded from the society, cam e all together_ for it. Three of those parties, named Cave, Thompson,. and Bake, insisted upon it that the bank should not pay. The plaintiffs' case depended upon the fact teat all the nineteen members of the society as at pre-ent existing were the plaintiffs, but the defendants had in court three of the original depositors, who protested against payment to the plaintiffs. Mr. Seymour argued that the accountability was to the society, and that the three dissentients to the payment were no longer mem bers, and had no locus stanii. The judge said it was a pity that the depositors had not appointed two or three trustees, and agreed that the money should be paid to them ; but now he was very much afraid the only persons who could legally sue were the members of the body at the time the contract wa ; made, and the money leposited. The society was not a corporation, although :hey called therrnelves by a particular name, and the money was deposited by particular parties.—Mr. Overend ;defendant's counsel): We have offered if they will appoint sew trustees to pay to those trustees.--The Judge : 1 hink the b an k s h ou ld pay, and the plaintiffs give an ;ulemnity.— he judge directed a nonsuit, with liberT to Ithe_court above. • THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 30, 1869 211 E ROUTES 7 0 CHINA. (From the Anglo-American Times.) The article in the Economist of last Saturday on this subject would have been good had it only been all true. Were it not for a little mistake of over ten days in the time of the Peninsular and Oriental Company from Southampton to Hongkong the argument would have been perfect, but it is as tonishing how so trifling an error vitiates all; for the heading of the table, " via Marseilles and Bom bay," is a mere imaginary road. The question is whether on the opening of the Pacific Railroad the transit from Europe to Eastern China, Australia, and New Zealand, will not pass over that route, changing the direction from east to west. The Economist thinks not, because the time is not short ened, at least not further than this, that the San Fran cisco boats and the Peninsular and Oriental Co.'s boats, whose passengers left England together, would arrive at Shanghai about the same time. Were this true, the Economist would have made a strong point, although we are prepared even then to show cause, as in former articles , why the route through the United States should still be preferred. But the Economist has made an extraordinary mis take for a journal devoted to the facts and figures of commerce. According to it the time by the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer is 39 days to Hongkong, but the time from South ampton to Victoria, that is from port to port, the only fair mode of reckoning is given in the time table of the company itself at 50 days. The steamer which leaves Southampton at 2 p.m. Jan. 4 is due at Hongkong on the 25th February ; that leaving on the 4th Feb., is due on the 26th March ; the 4th March one should arrive on the 25th April, and so on. The steamers which start on the 20th Jan. ought to get to Hong Kong on the 11th March. From this time six days may be deducted for the passenger route, allowing carpet bags only via Marseilles making the run for the mails at the quickest 44 days ; but we maintain the calculation ought only to be made on the through route for valuable cargo and for the mass of passengers, or, as we before observed, from the En glish port to the Colonial port. The Economist rightly estimates the time to Yokohama across North Ame rica at 38 days and between that city and Hong kong the boats of both companies intermingle on waters common to each ; we may, therefore, take the passages between Yokohama and Hong Kong as the same. The question then is decided by the time each takes to reach its first port iu Chinese waters. If the American steamer takes 38 days to land the passenger from London in Yokohama, and the Peninsular and Oriental Company can land its passengers in 39 at Hong Kong, it follows that t t o he j y a p w a i n ll s m ho ee u t ld ab g o o u b t mi yth c e l w A l e ; ri l c ie a n n ce ro t u h t e e, t a rtv n l d el t l h e e r traveller to Hong Kong by the Mediterranean and the Red Seas. This is substantially the concluiion arrived at by the Economist, and it would be fair if its statements were correct. But supposing that by the most hurried carpet-bag line the time to llong Kong is 44 days, and to Shanghai 48 bv the Pen insular and Oriental Company, while to Shanghai it . _ _ s 43 by the American line, it follows that the travel ler from London to Shanghai gains by the Eastern road five days in time over the Marseilles route, and eleven over that by Southampton. If this be true, and the figures are taken from the Time-Table of the Peninsularand Oriental Company, and from the Eco- nomist, as regards the Western road, then the great commercial organ is altogether wrong, and ought to write another arti&e to correct the erroneous impression it has created. Even the Daily News gladly picks up whatever tends to take the crow out of these Yankees; but neither the one nor the other paper would wish to disseminate any thing not strictly true. We admit that the passen ger via Marseilles will be able to reach Hong Kong quicker in a Peninsular and Oriental Company's boat than if he put himself into a North German as it will be this summer—the American steamer from a L m l o p y t d o n o . r But, ilam b w u h r e g n h the through A mernica ro s u t t e e am is e c r om at p S l o e u te t — h- Southampton will probably land him in Hong Kong before the Peninsular and Oriental Co.'s steamer sail ing on the same day from that port. This, as a matter of speed, would give the traffic of Chinafrom Shang hai as well as of all Japan to the American highway, and enable it to compete with the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the ports south of Shanghai. The Econontiq consi Jers that the time on the old road is more capable of being acce:erated than on the new ; that it has ,the advantage of more fre quent coaling stations, reducing the bul of fuel required for the Ai bailie and Pacific steamers. We grant this; but experience has shown that for safety, comfort, and economy there is nothing like big ocean fleets. They may not answer for the navigation of narrow straits and the frequent calls in shallow harbours, but we consider that the open sea and the large boat more than compensate for numer ous coaling stations. There are two main advantages connectedwith the American road which the Econo mist but lightly touches on. From London to Shanghai, through the United States, the latitude of the Medi terranean is maintained after New York is reached. Those who have endured the stifling heat of the Red Sea, and know the discomforts arising from cli mate between Suez and Hong Kong, can appreciate the value of maintaining some such latitude as the 40th parallel. The passenger who steps from the steamer at Alexandria into that at Suez walks from the comforts of civilization into the discom forts of barbarism ; but there is no such change along the American road. It is difficult to decide whether the New York boats or the San Francisco boats are best found, and the through cars of the Union Pacific Railway will be moving hotels, 3herein the passenger will live as luxuriously as he would in a steamer, only that he passes over land instead of over water. The other relates to the transfer of baggage and cargo. The Pacific Mail vessels take in their cargo at Hong Kong, at Shanghai, and Yokohama, transferring it into the cars of the Pacific Railroad at a pier of San Francisco, and from a pier of New York into the English steamers, will be the only other transship ment. What may be the Peninsular and Oriental Company's changes from Yokohama to Hong Kong we do not know ; but the steamer from Hong Kong is bound to Bombay, and transfers its China cargo to the mail packet for Suez in the open harbour of Galle. At Suez it is thrown into a small tender, and carried miles to the wharf, and again in Alex andria the steamer being anchored in a bay instead of lying in a dock. Putting aside all other routes discussed by the Economist but that across the con tinent to San Francisco, for none of them threaten a revolution but that, and putting aside also the imaginary route via Bombay, our table from port to port is this : By P. & O. Co. By P. Rd. Days. Days. Southampton to Hong Kong 5O ... 47 71 ••• Shanghai 77 Yokohama 59 ... 38 The passenger by Marseilles can deduct six days from the Peninsular and Oriental Co.'s time, and we have reason to believe that this table then substantially shows the comparative time. Surely the Economist does not suppose that' a traveller would land in Bombay, and proceed via Allahabad to Calcuttta by way of reaching China, except a tourist on a journey of amusement. For eight months the heat of the line is frightful ; the expense would be over whelming ; the discomfort intense ; and what the time would be we cannot tell, as we never heard of any one who went such a journey. LONDON COFFEE AND EATING-HOUSE KEEPERS' 13Exzvot.,ENT AssociAnoN.—Thomas Scambler Owden, Esq., Alderman for Bishopsgate Ward, has kindly con sented to preside at their anniversary dinner, on Tuesday, April 27th, at the London Tavern. William Ropes, a venerable Boston merchant, has just died in that city at the age of 84 years. His was among the oldest and most noted firms in the Russian trade, and on his first establishment of that connection in 1832, he resided abroad ten years, five :n St. Petersburg and five in London. At that time to supply Hid want of religious advantages in St. Petersburg he hired a hall where every Sunday he rend sermons, off , red prayer, and sang; and the American end nearly all the English resi dents attended. Though a supporter of Orthodox Con gregationalism in Boston, in his latter years ho was a com municant of the Episcopal Church. DuNvILLE and CO., Belfast, are the largest holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is ro commended by the medical profession in preference to French Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exporta tion. Quotations on application to Messrs. Danville and Co., Belfast; or 4, Beaufort -buildings _Strand, London: yertiment DUELLING IN ITALY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) FLORENCE, MARCH 23. The parliamentary sitting of Thursday last was looked forward to with considerable interest in consequence of the feeling lately aroused by the three fatal duels which have taken place at Bologna, Turin, and Faenza. An interpel lation on the subject had been announced by General Bixio, and an additional piquancy was imparted to the incident by the fact that the officer in question is himself celebrated for the number of hostile meetings in which he has been engaged as principal. It must be admitted that the gallant officer, not usually remarkable for moderation, tact, or prudence, acquitted himself of his delicate task with no little credit to his moral courage and good feeling, and came out of the discussion with flying colours in com parison with his adversary, the Minister of Grace and Justice. He stigmatised the practice of duelling as worthy only of a barbarous state of society, and condemned the uniform neglect of the Italian authorities to apply to it the penalties prescribed by the existing laws. The Minister's reply was somewhat evasive, and General Bixio declared himself dissatisfied with it ; upon which the former, piqued into a certain amount of personality, expressed his regret that his opponent should speak of him as approving, in any sense, of the practice, remarking that he had never fought a duel in his life, and was not certain that other members could say the same. The General seized this opportunity of making his recantation, acknowledging that he had, unfortunately, been engaged in many affairs of the kind, and adding, " I confess frankly that I did wrong." The subject has been post poned until the counter proposal of Deputy Macchi—to repeal all penalties against duelling —shall come on the tapir. The fact is, that although the existing laws are not severe, and prescribe nothing heavier than imprison ment for homicide in a duel, the magistrates cannot be got to enforce them, and the only effectual remedies are to be sought in the action on public opinion of an enlightened journalism, so as to invest the practice with the ridicule which now, happily, attaches to it in England, and, per haps, in the institution of some kind of tribunal of honour, such as exists in Prussia. This tribunal, however, unfor tunately serves rather to decide whether a duel is abso lutely inevitable than as a court of final resort. With regard to the proposed financial scheme, the pro visions indicated in my last letter arc gaining confirmation daily ; and I am in a position almost positively to assert that a general domestic loan does not enter into the com binations which Count Cambray Digny has at present in view. M. Joubert and others, the representatives of the new negotiators, are now here, and it is in this direction that we must look for the proposed solution of the diffi culty, which is, indeed, a serious one, and takes the Government and the nation, as the French would say, " by the throat." The Estimates remaining unpassed are those of Public Works, Public Instruction, Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Finance. The Army and Navy Estimates have passed. In the former case there is an increase over last year of between one and two millions, in spite of many economies. This is chiefly attributable to the introduction of breechloading arms, and an augmentation in the pay of officers. Three millions in excess of the Government estimate for the navy were proposed by the parliamentary commission, but, in consideration of the increased army expenditure and the universal cry for economy, part only was carried. The present naval force of Italy consists of 22 armour plated vessels, 22 screws, 22 paddle steamers, and 6 sailing vessels of war of all classes. The contract which existed between the municipality of Florence and Messrs. Laidlaw and Co., of Glasgow, for bringing into the town the water of the river Sieve, has just been cancelled by mutual agreement, and the lawsuit which . had been commenced between the parties is thus disposed of. Whether or no it he true, as the munici pality allege, that Messrs. Laidlaw's pretensions were exorbitant, is a matter of comparative indifference to the Florentine householder. Not so the loss of the Sieve water. That which we now drink is execrable when not filtered, and good bye to the peace of mind of him who reads or listens to what the learned have to say about its composi tion. All the wells, especially in the new and fashionable quarter near the Lung Arno, receive infiltrations from the river, and, independently of any other substances in solution, there is an immense deposit of lime, which must in the long run be prejudicial to health. Optimists, how ever, say that it is all a matter of fashion, and that their forefathers have drank whatever there is that is unwhole some, and have, nevertheless, been a long-lived race. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. now to be found in the Irish Chancery _Records. Even supposing the list to be authentic, however, Dr. Brady contends that it would supply no proof that all the peers who were present in the 1560 Par liament voted for the Reformation. If all the nobles voted for it, why, he asks, was that Parliament broken up ? The Loftus MS. says that Parliament was dissolved on the Ist of February "by reason of aversion to the Protestant religion and their ecclesi astical government." TUE VOLUNTEERS. Apropos to the Volunteer Review at Dover, Lord Ranelagh writes a letter to the papers, repeating his memorable assertion that the volunteers are a sham. Partly by his exertions (he points out) a force has been raised in this country, " formed out of the best and most patriotic of her sons," which force wants nothing but organisation to turn it into an efficient auxiliary army. But this very organisation it lacks, and it is, therefore, a failure for all prac tical purposes. But what organisation shall be given to the volunteers ? Lord Ranelagh would think the application of the present army system to them as making matters rather worse than better. The regular army, no less than the volunteers, is most unsatisfactorily provided with s t ores . Th e C r i mean War shelved nothing so stronglyas the facility which existed under the present system for a breakdown in the commissariat department. So that if we are to esam sy e steill, for the army. Lord change must our do volunteer t the or want of system, we Ranelagh denounces the army reform of the present Government. He declares that the volunteers want " organised trained command," which, from what we can gather from the letter, means officers taught in the regular army. " The short-sighted policy of what-is called army reform has recently, by its ill considered retrenchments, in effect so reduced the esta blishment that barely sufficient officers are left for the command and direction of the regular army. In war efficiency there would be at least none left for either the militia or volunteers. I calculate that from 1,500 to 2,000 officers would be required for a work ing staff for the volunteers alone. It is in time of peace that men should be trained for the art of war, staff as those commanded." For the settlement of to commanders and their and this applies as much the whole matter Lord Ranelagh pleads for a com mittee, undertaking to prove before it that the volunteer corps may be turned i n t o an e ffi c i en t arm y in the matter of com inwiatilidoloitrasntayffa.dditional outlay THE OPPOSITION AND THE DILL. Easter brings no cessation of political rumours. What will the Lords do with the Bill is still as much as ever the one subject of discussion. The London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says that the honester and stupider section of the Conservative party (which is by far the more nume rous section) are furious at Mr. Disraeli's cynicism and Lord Stanley's silence. They are still resolved to fight, and have committed their cause to Mr. Hardy in the Lower House and the Duke of Marlborough in the Upper. The Duke has on this account put off a visit to the Continent, just as Lord George Bentinck postponed his attendance at Newmarket twenty years ago. If Mr. Disraeli and Lord Stanley do not join in this movement they will jeopardise their position materially. It is well known that they ardently desire the bill to pass, because so long as the question is kept open the Liberal party must be lh the ascendant, but they cannot well avow this motive. The Bishop of Oxford is believed to be a v a toy prolonged defence of the Irish Church, lest it should lead to an attack upon the English. He is, moreover, very sore against Mr. Disraeli for throwing him over last year, and preferring the mediocre Bishop Jackson to himself. Bishop Wilberforce's influence at Blenheim is very great, and it is therefore possible that the Duke of Marlborough may be deterred from carrying resistance to an extremity. Moreover, it is believed that no one save the Earl of Derby could ever induce the peers to throw out the bill ; and Mr. Disraeli's speech (which was, of course, made after due consultation with the ex-Premier), indicates that even the political Rupert shrinks from such a desperate conflict as that. Of course much will depend upon circumstances ; and should the com mittee upon the bill reveal any disaffection and cliques among the Ministerialists, the peers will treat the bill in a way th a t th e y would not have ventured upon had it come u p to them with the united support of the Liberal "Arty. The Conservative papers announce a " great demonstration " in London against Mr. Gladstone's measure, which is to take place on April 27, in St. James's Hall. As the arrangements are said to be not yet made, tle announcement would seem to be somewhat premature. It is rash to prophesy a " great meeting before it is decided who is to speak. The only thing known is that the Earl of Harrowby is to preside. His lordship is a highly respectable nobleman, but ills eloquence is not of a character to attract overfloving audiences. A qtrEsTION POP, ANTIQtrATZTANS, The question as to whether any of the Irish spiritual peers assented to the Royal Supremacy Acts is being debated between Mr. Charley, M.P., and Dr. Maziere Brady. Mr. Charley wrote to the Times a few days since respectin g a passage in his speech on the Irish Church Bill, and cited a list of the spiritual peers who assented in Parliament to the Irish Royal Supremacy and Uniformity Act of 1560. Dr. Brady writes in answer to this, that no such list is known to exist, but that the list Mr. Charley quotes was fof some time regarded as a list of the Peers ana Omnmeners in the first Parliament of Elizabeth Its spurious nature has, he 68444,32c= luir Droved ausLtheLwiginal. ilk_ not LORD STANLEY. Lord Stanley is paying a visit to Scotland this week. He was last autumn elected Lord Rector of Glasgow University, and is now about to be installed and to deliver a rectorial address. Afterwards he is to be entertained at a banquet; but as the Conser vative party is very small in Glasgow (it mustered 7,000 votes fewer than the third Liberal candidate at the general election, in spite of the minority clause) it has been wisely determined that the ban quet shall nol have a political character. This deci sion will, moreover, spare Lord Stanley the unplea santness of having to speak on the Irish Church question, a matter on which he has nothing to say that would please his party. A HINT FOR 4g DOD." " Dod" still describes Mr. Gladstone as a " Liberal- Conservative." At first sight this would seem . to be an error, arising from carelessness in neglectincr to make an alteration which events require. But ° we notice that Mr. Gladstone's son, who did not enter the House until long after • his father became ,a pronounced Liberal, also calls himself by the same colourless, meaningless title. Moreover, Mr. Gladstone still gives his du b address as the Carlton. This reminds us of an incident which happened when he foined• • the Aberdeen Administration. Being one day at the great Tory Club, an impertinent young man asked him " When are you going to take your name off the Carlton ?" To which Mr. Glad stone replied, with ready severity, " when my Lord Derby takes his name off Brooke's." However, the apswer has proved not quite accurate. Lord Derby has ceased to be a member of the Whig club, Mr. Gladstone remains a member of the Tory. EASTER SERVICES IN THE LONDON CHURCHES. The London churches were thronged on Easter Day. At those churches.where the ritual is more elaborate, large numbers of persons were unable to obtain admission. In some there were no fewer than five celebrations of the holy Communion, beginning at 5 a.m. The earlier celebrations which were all "plain," that is, without music, and' of the most simple ritual, were attended by . the largest number of communicants. At St. Alb:,n's, Holborn, the bell tolled sixty-eight times after the consecration prayer, for some reason as yet unex plained. At some of the churches noted for pulpit eloquence there were sermons by the chief preachers of the day. Dean Stanley preached twice at the Abbey. Mr. Liddon wound up this season's special services under the dome of St. Paul's. These will now be succeeded by the services in the Abbey. Mr. Liddon's sermon lasted an hour and a half, just twice as long as it ought to have been. It is much to be lamented that this great preacher should be more and more falling into the error of delivering these gigantic discourses exhausting alike to him and his hearers. At All Saints', Lambeth, the Rev. F. G. Lee ignored the recent judgment, and in defiance of the law and of the understanding with his diocesan, had a most elaborate ceremonial, in which incense and lights were used the elements were elevated, and the celebrant prostrated himself. At St. Mary's, Moorfields, Archbishop Manningpreached, and speak ing of the Real Presence, said there was no need for him to argue upon it, for there were persons outside thej Church who believed it as much as lie or his hearers could do. He added, " These persons robed themselves in the vestments which the priests of the Church are robed in when they approach Him ; they sang the same hymns as those used in the Catholic Church; they offered Him fragrance and all the homage of their hearts • but still' they had Him not. He (the Archbishop) loved these People for the love they had for the shadow of our Lord. He would do anything to reconcile them, but would not depart from the truth to meet their views." DR. CUMMING ON EARTHQUAKES. ------- --- Dr. Cumming, who may be described as the pulpit Braddon, has been commemorating the most joyful festival of the Church year by a sermon on Earthquakes, calculated to send nervous " females " into hysterics. He referred to the feeble and scarcely perceptible shock of earthquake in Lancashire as proof of an approaching " tremendous change," and said that the daily papers were " the most splendid commentary on the Book of Revelations." The sensationalist divine further remarked that even journalists said the present state of things could not continue much longer. As to " the present state of things," there never was a time when politics were so little convul sive as they are now. Thirty years ago the Luxem burg question, the Turco-Greek question, the Franco-Belgian question, and the Spanish Revolution would every one of them have led to a war. All these are events of the last twelve months, and yet, though there are large armies in existence, I.ey don't fight, but the " questions " are solved over a green-baize table. As to the earthquakes, Dr. Cumming will find, if he refers to any book of reference like Haydn's " Dictionary of Dates," that for more than 2,000 years earthquakes have been shaking the world, and that even the great catastrophe in South America last year has had many a parallel, as in Syria, a. D. 742, when 500 towns were destroyed, and the loss of life surpassed all calculation; as in Catania, 1137, when 15,000 persons perished ; in Cilicia, 1268, when 00,000 persons were swallowed up ; in Naples, 1456, ',when 40,000, and in Lisbon, 1531, when 30,000 persons suffered a like fate. Even these were surpassed more recently. In 1667 there was a succession of earthquakes at Schmaki, which lasted three months, and engulfed 80,000 persons; iu 1693 more than 100,000 persons were destroyed in Catania and Sicily. Then came the turn of Asia. In 1703 Jeddo, in Japan, was destroyed, and with it 200,000 persons ; in 1731, 100,000 were swallowed at Pekin. In fact, the eighteenth century was one long succession of these calamities. They extended through Southern Europe, North Africa, the whole of Asia, and the West Indies, and from September 1693 to February 1797 about 040,000 persons are known to have perished, besides the " thousands " and the "many thousands " who are spoken of and not enume rated. Probably not fewer than three-quarters of a million of persons were thus destroyed. Again in the seventy-four years from 1783 to 1857 the kingdom of Naples lost 111,000 inhabitants out of a population of 6,000,000. And yet, because a few houses are shaken in Lancashire, Dr. Cumming must frighten his hysterical hearers into fits. But then some persons like to be frightened. It is a kind of mental dram-drinking with which they can not dispense. It is worth noting that earthquakes in England are by no means the novelty which some persons sup pose. Lincoln was severely visited in 1142 ; in 1274 Glastonbury was destroyed ; in 1580 part of St. Paul's Cathedral and of the Temple Church fell; there was a smart shock in London in 1750 ; and there were .shocks in various parts of England in 1852, 1860, and 1863. THE SATT:',IN CASt. Miss Saurin is not alto ; , other satisfied with the verdict she obtained in hek- .....L.Lotis suit against the authorities of the Hull Convent. She wants more than the Court of Queen's Bench would give her. According to the Daily News,. Miss Saurin has filed a bill in Chancery against the whole of the nuns in the Hull Convent, with the view of compelling a distribution of its property. It is very likely that the sum which, under an equal distribution of that property, would fall to Miss Saurin's share, would exceed the amount, £3OO, which she paid into the Dublin Convent when she was professed, and the re _ t urn of which was awarded to her by the recent verdict. The Daily .Ants, with questionable discretion, recommends that the con vent should immediately pay over to Miss Saurin the largest amount which she could receive on any pos sible division of the estate. But is the Court of Chancery so very sure to give its decision for Miss Saurin ? The other decision has yet to come under the review of the full court at Westminster. THE BIGHTS OF PEDESTRIANS. The Times has been conducting a discussion within the '.ast few days on the perils of London streets. One of its correspondents raises, and settles to his own satisfaction, an interesting question. It is a theory that the pavement in towns belongs to the pedestrian, the road to the cabman or carman. Is this so ? The correspondent says No. "No matter whether a pedestrian be old or young, rich or poor, the road is as much his as the pavement is ; And whether he be a reckless old gentleman slowly 3rossing the former, or a more provoking young trrand-boy dodging under the noses of horses, the driver is bound to pull up and use his utmost endea vours to prevent injury to his fellow creature, regard less of every other consideration." Generally in crossing a street it is the walker who defers to the driver. But according to this theory the position should be reversed. Apropos to the subject of pedes trians' rights, we may mention that a London vestry has determined to put a stop to the increasing prac tice Of turning the pavement into advertising boards. PLA:tin Ittal VIM:AMTS. It is the height of bliss with youth to do something dangerous—to go within an inch of an accident and to escape it after all. Nothing is more charming to the typically venturesome boy than to be allowed to play with a gun. Perhaps hunting is enjoyed partly for the same reason. But the danger is not always avoided. Three baronets, we were lately reminded, have recently fallen in the hunting field. Three accidents have occurred within the last few days foom carelessness in handling guns. There is one case which occurred at Exeter. An apprentice, trying to rid his master's gun of a piece a. __ramrod— fired._ it__42fi int 9. _t,ho. Or*: the contents of the barrel "entered the braia of a passing labourer, killing him instantly. At Doncaster, a boy of 14, after several hours' enjoyment with a gun out of doors, returned home, began 'oad ing it in the kitchen, when it suddenly went oft, and so injured a servant girl that she _is not likely to recover. And at North Shields, a schoolmaster, whose goods were under distraint for rent, and whose house was besieged by bailiffs and a large crowd, fired his gun out of his bedroom at random to frighten the people away, and shot a youth, 17 years of age, who was in the crowd. He also is unlikely to recover. A GALLANT POLICEMAN. The general idea of a policeman is in some way associated with slinking round corners and avoid ance of crowds. But now and again one comes across some gallant deed performed by members of the force. One such has just been performed at Liverpool. Seeing a bundle thrown over a wall, Police-constable James thought something was the matter, and waited. In a minute or two a man leaped over the wall. Ile was immediately seized by James, who proceeded to take his prisoner in the direction of the bridewell. He had gone only a few yards when the ruffian took a large iron " jemmy " from his pocket, and dealt the ollicer a tremendous blow with it over the right eye. The blow was so violent that the - officer was stunned for a second or two. He, however, still retained his hold of the man, and closed with him. The fellow, however, had at first the advantage, for, taking a short hold of the " jemmy "—a formi dable iron weapon, about 2ft. in length and about 41b. in weight—he continued to strike a succession of heavy blows. Jamcs drew his staff, and a terrible struggle ensued. The officer. dealt several heavy blows on his adversary's head, arms, and body with his truncheon, and the thief returned the blows with his "jemmy." The noise aroused several people in the neighbourhood, but they were afraid to interfere. But James held on and fought bravely un til h e became nearly insensible, when, happily, help arrived in the shape of an inspector. We commend the cam to those who have to administer patronage. TIIE TREASURES OF THE DEEP. A curious story is told of the wreck of H.M.S. Lutine, which foundered off the sand banks on the coast of Holland in 1799, with an immense amount of specie on board. She had £1,500,000 of subsidiary money for the Englishtroops then serving under the Prince of Holland. She had also on board assign ments of specie for merchants and bankers at Hamburg, and the Crown jewels of Holland, which had been reset in this country. The Lutine encountered a fearful storm, and foundered, with the loss of all hands. One man was picked up but sur vived only a few hours. The Dutch Government offered £B,OOO for the recovery of the jewels, and a company was formed in England to search for the treasure which had been hidden by the shifting sand. They soon recovered about £160,000, of which the Dutch Government claimed 280,000 as royalty. Subsequently the sand buried the wreck and stopped operations. Since then other companies have b een form ed, but have successively failed, though D 30,000 more was recovered at intervals. The bulk of the treasure still remains in the keel of the slip, which lies embedded in sand. It is proposed to endeavour to regain it, and Lloyd's, it is said, intend to apply to Parliament for necessary powers. The Dutch Government have resigned all claim to the wreck, and it is thought the best plan will be to construct large iron caissons, such as were used for constructing the piers of Blackfriars Bridge, and sink them into the sands. It is thought that operations will be commenced next summer. GUTTER CHILDREN. Miss Rye writes to the Times on the subject of the emigration of our street children to Canada and the Western States of America. Last year she visited America, and was able to judge of the success of Mr. Meter's scheme on behalf of the city Arabs of New York. The idea has crossed her mind that the same thing might be attempted for the " gutter children "of our great cities. Miss Rye asks if there is anything she introduces them to in America which can be worse than that to which they are doomed if left where they are now ? Fully convinced of the importance of the mission, she is prepared to start with a party of children for the 'West about August. The matter was pressed upon her attention by both press and people in America, and they declared that they wanted the raw material from which our criminals and Mag dalens were manufactured. As there are more resources for the boys, and more means of occupa tion, Miss Rye proposes to take only female children from 5 to 10 years of age, and these will consist of orphans, deserted children, and foundlings. A thou sand pounds will be required to start this work properly, and she commends it to the notice of the public, from whom she ventures to ask for help FOREIGN NOTES FRANCE AND BELGIUM. Pending the solution of the railway difficulty between Belgium and France, the official papers of both countries exhibit great uneasiness as to the prospect of a satisfactory agreement. The Belgian papers are almost unanimous in stating that the Cabinet of Brussels will not allow its deci sion to annul the contract between the Great Luxemburg and the French East Companies to be subjected to any examination or discussion, and that the subject is not even to be broached. If the French Government harbour any idea of over-riding the law of Belgium, it will be disap pointed. This is very plain writing. On the other side, the Patrie, a Paris semi-official paper, gloomily states that the views of the two Governments are still as wide asunder as the poles. The French Government has not only determined that there shall be a Belgian question, but it seems resolved to keep it open. GERMANY, North Germany is rapidly taking high rank as a manu facturing country. In the production of coal—the alpha and the omega of manufacturing prosperity—it is now second on the list of European nations. In 1850 it was only fourth, producing not more than one-ninth of the quantity of coal raised in England. Nov it is second, and produces nearly one-fourth as much as England. THE LUXEMBURG FORTIFICATIONS. Prussia is seriously dissatisfied with the state of affairs in Luxemburg. The demolition of the fortress is being effected so slowly that Count Bismarck has addressed a complaint to the Government of the Duchy. The Prussian Minister very justly urges that the decision of the London Conference is not being carried out. A Prussian officer arrived at Luxemburg a f ew d ays ago , and demanded that a n engineer should be sent with him to inspect the works, but the Grand-Ducal Govern ment declined. The officer, however, paid a private visit to the fortifications, and notified to his Government that three large works still remained wholly untouched. At the present rate the progress of demolition will hardly be completed in ten years. One writer recently stated that the entire sum spent in carrying out the decision of the Conference was thirty shillings a week ! The matter has been brought before the Luxemburg Assembly, and it has been suggested by several deputies that the work ought to be hastened. INDIA. Shere Ali, Ameer of Affghanistan, and Lord Mayo, Governor-General of India, have met at ihnbala, and thus our new policy in Central Asia has been f a i r ly inaugurated. Great preparations had been made for this interview. Eight thousand European and Indian troops were gathered together to do honour to the Ameer. Camps bad been formed and no less than fifty wells dog to furn'sh water to the assemblage. At Umballa, Shere Ali will receive a far more decisive impres sion of British power in Asia than at Peshawur, where it wan at first arranged that the interview should take place. The Indian Daily News remarks :—" The meeting will be a ratification of those unwritten terms of mutual reliance which the interests of both nations have created; and while Shere Ali will depart assured of support, the British will have secured in him the only one gua rantee needed of the impregnability of the north-west frontier." The Nizam of Hyderabad, who, like the Begum of Bhopal, was one of the firmest of England's native allies, died of heart disease on the 26th of February. His career .was in no way distinguished ; he lived in close seclusion and quiet ; but his relations with the British Government were conducted with exemplary prudence. He has teen succeeded by his son, an infant, a brother of the late Nizam being appointed guardian. Some excite ment was created respecti:T the choice of a guardian, and troops were cal:ed out in apprehension of a disturbance, but tLe " succ9 , sion" seems to have passed off quietly. The recent attack by the Bcr,otes on a tower at Kohat has been punished, On the 44 ,li of February an expedi, tion of 400 men attacked a number of villages beitinging to that tribe, and inflicted severe loss upon the maraudeo. The troops had two men killed and twenty-five wounded. THE CUBAN INSURRECTION. The effect of this interference is becoming more and more manifest. It is difficult—almost impossible, indeed —to ascertain the exact position of affairs ; but,giving the Spaniards the full benefit of recent triumphs, and espe cially the last victory, it is still clear that the position of affairs is not wholly satisfactory. 'Whilst the rebels were hpaineing Puerto Principe, General Lesca attempted three times to relieve the p!ace, but it has oozed out that ho was beaten on each occasion. He is nnw reported to be in a dangerous position. Admiral Hoff, who commands the American squadron off Cuba, says that the revolt is making progress—Spanish bulletins notwithstanding. And well it may. A Complication with S paikis a not improbable result of the impartial and neutral attitude of the American people towards Cuba. The recognittm of Cuban independence has been openly advocated iniphe House of Representa tives. The American press almost unanimously urges this Mrs,. The manifestations of public sympat_hy palpable that much uneasiness has been causes at the Spanish Embassy. Senor Roberto, the new Spanish Minister, arrived at New York a few days ago, and the Times correspondent believes that he Will make a formal complaint on this subject. The Spanish officials at Washington say that as far back as December a series of expeditions began to be fitted out at various American ports in aid of the insurrection, and others are projected. Some have alreadybeen successfully landed in Cuba. Complaint is made chiefly against the law officers at New York and New Orleans, and for months the Spanish Legation have been gathering evidence of these expeditions, and can submit a formidable array of testimony of these acts of aiding the enemy. The arras captured from the insurgents in battle bear American trade-marks, and charges are even made that the mail steamers clandestinely engage in the profitable traffic. In short, the Americans are deliberately committing every offence which, justly or unjustly, they charge against England. More than this, the Times corresponden t believes that Spanish protests will not be of the slightLst avail. CONGRESS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Oa the 4th the House was called to order by Mr. M'Pherson, the Clerk of the last llouse. Mr. Woodward offered a resolution referring the return of the Twenty-first Pennsylvania District to the Election Committee, but it was decided out of order, as was a resolution to place the name of Henry D. Foster on the roll. Mr. Brooks, of NOSY York, made the point of order that the Clerk had not called the names from Georgia and Louisiana. The Clerk overruled the point, and Mr. Brooks appealed, but the Clerk refused to entertain the appeal. A scene of great noise and con fusion followed, Mr. Brooks insisting upon his right to the floor, and the Clerk direct ing the election of a Speaker to be proceeded with ; the excitement extending to the members on both sides. Finally, Mr. Brooks gave way, and Mr. Blaine, of Maine, was elected Speaker, he re ceiving the votes of the Republican members. The House then adjourned.—On the sth Messrs. Van Horn and Dyer of Mobile, Hamtnill of Maryland, and Winchester and Rice of Kentucky, were sworn in. The papers of the Maryland and Kentucky Representatives thus admitted were referred to the Election Committee, as were the papers of the Georgia Representatives, who were not sworn in. The case of Covode v. Foster of Pennsylvania was similarly referred, and the time for taking testimony in the case of Taylor v. Reading was extended sixty days. The House then elected all its remain ing officers except Chaplain, and adjourned until Tuesday.—The House having reassembled on the 9th March the resignation as a member of Mr. E. B. Washburne, now Secretary of State, was pre sented. Rev. G. Butler, of Washington, was elected Chaplain. Mr. Maynard offered a resolu tion directing the Election Committee to investi gate the Congressional election in Louisiana, which was adopted. Mr. Kelley re-introduced his bill for a new nickel coinage. Resolutions were adopted providing for a Select Committee on the census, one on retrenchment, and increasing the number of the committees on pensions rnd Pacific Railroad. Mr. Boutwell offered a resolu tion, which was adopted, re-establishing the Coin mittee on Reconstruction. Mr. Butler, of Massa chusetts, offered a bill repealing the Tenure-of-Office Act, which was passed—yeas 143, nays 16. The negatives—all Republicans—included Schenck, Jenckes, and Farnsworth. The House adjourned until Friday. Why does not Parliament follow the example set by Congress, which the New York Tribune thus de scribes :—" Congress does not always take all the excel lent advice it receives from the newspapers —more's the pity!—but it lays hold of all the newspaper men it can find for its high offices. Having already Mr. Schuy ler Colfax, a Western editor, for President of the Senate, and Mr. Gorham, formerly connected with the California press, for its new Secretary, succeeding Mr. Forney, editor of two papers (with Mr. Blaine, Maine editor, for Speaker of the House, and Mr. 111.Ther son, a Pennsylvania editor, for its clerk, and with any number of other journalists in prominent positions in or about either house), the Senate has finished the journalistic organization of that body by the choice of Mr. Anthony, editor of Providence (R. I.) Journal, for president pro tent pore. Their appreciation of the profession being thus made known, will not Congressmen take the examplo of the gentlemen whom they delight to honour, make few and short speeches, attend promptly to their business, g-t through with it as soon as possible, and leave the Amer!- can Eagle to Mr Pogram and his brethren of the stump?" Dating the year 1868 the total number of books published in the United States was 1,918. Of these 1,450 were original American works, 359 reprints of English books, •and 109 translations and reprints of Continental books. Classified, they make the folowing exhibit : Theology 261, fiction 310, history 171, poetry 127, laW 108, arts, sciences and fine arts 116, year-books 131, medicine 101, travel 82, trade 41, .education 71, juvenile books 233, and 155 miscellaneous books that do not legi timately come under any of these divisions. The American Bible Society printed and put forth from its publication office 1,200,000 copies of the Bible during the year. Messrs. Collins and M'Leester give the tables of the publications in the United Stetes, and from them we learn there are 5,734 periodicals, and upwards of 6,000 printing offices in the country. Five hundred and forty two daily papers are published ; 4,425 weekly : and 277 monthly. 56 tri-weekly, 63 semi-weekly, 46 semi-monthly, 297 monthly magazines, 4 bi-monthly, and 24 quarterly. Of course New York has the greatest number, beinc , 675 newspapers. Pennsylvania comes next with 495:ibex) Illinois with 415, Ohio with 377, Indiana 269, Missouri 240, lowa 228, and then Massachusetts with 219. Nothing shows more conclusively the increase of population in the West. The United States Tariff now udder consideration of Congress contains the following :—" On all books printed and manufactured prior to the year 1850 five cents per pound ; provided that no more than five copies of any book shall be imported in any one invoice. On all Bibles and Testaments, the value of which is less than five cents each, ten cents per pound. On all books in the English language, bound, stitched, or in sheets, printed since the year 1849, of which editions are printed in the United States, and all printed matter not otherwise provided for, 25 cents per pound." The 62,000 Chinese in California are nearly all enrolled in six clubs, corresponding to the six districts from which they came. When an immigrant ship arrives the agents of each club go on board and take charge of those who come from their district. The immigrant is boarded and lodged until he finds employment. All Chinamen who are sick or in want aro also provided for by the clubs. There is an outbreak against Chinese labour in Oregon, and a woollen factory com pany at Oregon city has been threatened with dire calamities if they persist in hiring any Chinese opera tives. The steamer which arrived from Hong Kong on the 23d of February bad on board 400 Chinese women. The Chinamen armed to secure possession, and the Chief of Police took measures to prevent a riot. The Chinese companies are anxious to prevent immoral immigration, but have lately been foiled. The women were taken from the steamship China, guarded by the police, to places desig nated by the head men; and, as efforts were made to seize some of them, a general tight was only prevented by the police, though a fray did occur, and some people were wounded. (ADVERTISEMENT.]—Avoid Medicines: they always aggravate chronic complaints: but Du Barry's delicious health-restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, which yields three times the nourish ment of the best meat, saves 50 times its cost in other remedies, and invariably restores perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, healthy liver, pure blood, refreshing sleep, functional regularity, and energy to the most disordered or enfeebled. We extract a few out of 68,000 cures ;—" The Pope's health restored by Du Barry's Food. Cure No. 68,413. "Rome, July 21, 1866. —The health of the Holy Father is excellent, especially since abandoning all other remedies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food, of which he consumes a plateful at every meal. It has produced .a surprisingly bene flcial effect on his health, and his Holiness cannot praise this excel lent food too highly." From the " Gazette du Midi, July 25 Cure No. 58,216, of the Marchioness de Brehan, of seven years' liver complaint, wasting away, debility, nervousness, with a nervous palpitation all over, bad digestion, constant sleeplessness, and the most intolerable nervous agitation.." Cure No. 1,771; Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieutenant of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia. No 49,832: " Fifty years' indescribable agopy from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness, and vomiting.—Maria, Joly."--Cure No 46,270: Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of 30 years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derangement, and partial deafness. Important Caution.—Beware of the many unsavoury and more than sloppy imitations to which, without authority, Baron Liebies name is most audaciously attached. In tins, at Is. I}d.; 1 lb. 2s. 9d.; 2 lbs. 4s. 6d.; 5 lbs. lls.; 12 lbs, 225. ; 'd 4 lbs, 40s, —Also Du BARRY's REVALENTA Anesica Caoco- LATE POWDER is packed in tin canisters; for 12 ClltlSat 25., for 24 cups at 3s. 6d., for 48 cups at 65., for 288 cups at 305., for 576 cups at 535.—being about one penny per cup. The 30s. and 555. tins are sent free of carriage in England on receipt of Post Office Order. - BARRY DU BARRY and Co., No. 77, Regent-street. Lon don; and all Grocers and Chemists. Births. LiTARD —On the 27th inst., at Herstmonceux, Sussex, the wife of Colonel R. Luard, of a daughter. NORTH—On the 28th inst., atThurland Castle, Lancashire, the wife of North North, Esq., of a son. Marriages. BALL—CRANE —On the 27th just., at St. Ann's, Brook field, Highgate-rise, George, third surviving son of P. Ball, Esq., of Aylesbury, Bucks, to Jane, eldest daugh ter of Charles Crane, Esq., of St. Alban's House, High gate-road. LUND Timrson -On the 27th inst., at Lee Chapel, C. H. Lund, of Skipton, to Amelia Fry daughter of the late Rev. T. Tiwpson, of Lewisham, London. De 3 tbs. BABER On Easter Day, at Streatham Rectory near Ely, the Rev. Henry H• Baber , aged 94. , BOOTE - On the 28th inst., Mr. Thomas Boote, of Grace church-street, aged 59. BOOTH—On the 28th inst., a t p • , mice s-park, Liverpool, Henry Booth, Esq. --- Printed and P a bli e h ed by WILLIAM ANDREWS, n 14°clon of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tian Stria Me No 2, Str and, in th e Precinct :of the Savoy in the 3, County I ot middieees,--Ttteeday, DUrch 30,1869, g IN Af — This celel prize M edel. Sold in Bc the Agents Observe tt ttan's LL WI Ern ___( 14, BUSE ADVANCE; hold or Lea able weekly Tor= free EA S' TITS: Attractive. Portrait M o s. Adi d . Open TIOY.P Easter 11( First appet Fe-engal Barnes. th Bella with G IaSgOW _ A•o alter:: stalls, Is.: cm- Mr place on A" Rooms hat and Co. ' an attracti Dance Mul. 91HE t Thin for devilin ORIGINA. A SI Very Fini Old Crust Shippin Sparklinl lery, Qr Sample bottles SI D • B Consigne celebrate , Bordeaux Whiskies also be s , number ( of others SOIET 0 " at sortmen lisks. In &c., in I Afro Sp TENN) W.C., 7. Mr. T MINER of Lyell tate th, UEOLC guineas PRA( MINER 149, St] Tin The : Fire Re The mo Bonus f value a render leave is thirty d KIT APPE penses. S ' off nvie.Tr The £879 I( srn Hsu the Se( street, Qual Govan NA Under Where`. Girls o the kin The lish (54 and tat wise T suitabl The entire] Pure, 8, GI Musi Offic Onic if Poi destit and prosp .0n stitut Int endn assist Su Insti its p( Secri Ba lane II F. A