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

BENSO N'S 'WATCHES. " Perfection of mechanism." —Morning rest. Gold Watches .................. 4 to 100 guineas. Silver Watches ................ 2to tO guineas. 33 and 31, Ludgate-hill, London, E. C. send 2 stamps for Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet on Watches. E Nc , LISII OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. ROYAL Under the manazement of Miss L. Fyne and Mr. W. Harrison. THIS EVENING, DINORA 11. Messrs. Santley, Cord, St. Albyn, and W. Harrison. Misses Pilling, Mid wall, and Miss Louisa Fyne. Conductor, Alfred I%lclion. DIVERTISSEMENT. 3ldlles. Levine, Pasquale, Pier ron, and Mons. Vandris. Commence at R o'clock. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buokstone. THIS EVENING the performances will commence with AN UNEQUAL MATCH ➢Mss Amy Sedgwick. After which, a new Farce, entitled THE RIFLE, AND HOW TO USE Ir. Messrs. Buckstone, Compton, Rogers, Mrs. B. White, Mr'. Wilkins, and ➢lrs. E. FitZWillialn. And JACK'S RETURN FROM CANTON. Commence at 7. I TAYMA RKET THEATRE ROYAL. I- For the Benefit of MISS AMY SEDGWICK, SATURDAY, October 22, 1859, and her Last Appearance ; on which occasion will be produce:, by the kind permission of Messrs. - Robson and Emden, PLOT AND PASSION. lladame de Fontanges, Miss Amy Sedgwick (for this night only). To be followed by THE DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. Lady Elizabeth Freelove, Miss Amy Sedgwick. To conclude with THE RIFLE AND HOW TO USE IT, in which Mr. Buckstone will perform. _ ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. — Lessee, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVEXING, the performances will commence with LOVE'S TELEGRAPH. To be followed by a dramatic tableau in Watteau colours, by J. it. Planche, Esq., entitled LOVE AND FORTUNE. To conclude with THE TWO POLTS. NEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. Open for the Winter Season. THIS EVENING will be performed ICI ON PARIE FRANCAIS. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Chas Selby, and Miss Kelly. After which, THE WILLOW COPSE. Luke, Mr. Ben. Webster; Hulks, 3lr. David Fisher ; Augustus, Mr. J. L. Toole ; Staggers, Mr. Paul Bedford. Followed by LOVE AND HUNGER. Mr. David Fisher, Mr. Paulßedford, C. Selby, C. J. Smith, Miss K. Kelly, Miss Laidlaw. Doors open at half-past six—Commence at seven. Box- Office open from 10 to 5. No charge for securing seats, nor far bills of performance. All fees to servants of this establishment are strictly prohibited. Actin , Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, King-street, St. James's. Lessee. Mr. T. B. Chatter ton. The nearest Theatre to Chel4ea, Pimlico, and West minster, the Park being open to carriages and foot passen gers all hours of the night. THIS EVENING-, Poole's comedy, THEY'RE BOTH TO BLAME. Messrs. Leigh Murray, Barrett, Walter Carle ; Mesdames Erank Matthews, Murray, Catharine Hickson. After which the successful Ballet Farce, by John Oxen ford, Esq., entitled MAGIC TOYS, supported by Miss Lydia Thompson, Miss Clara St. Casse, and a numerous Corps de Ballet. To conclude with the New and Original Burlesque, lar L. Buckingham, Esq., of VIRGINICS ; or the Trials of a Fond Papa. Reduced Prices—Gallery, 6d ; Pit, Is. The Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half-past six ; perform ance commences at 7. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Lessee and Directress, Miss Swatibormgh THIS EVENING, THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN EGGS. After which THE GREAT RUSSIAN BEAR; or, An other Retreat from Moscow. And CAUGHT BY TIIE EARS. Followed by THE VERY LATEST EDITION OF THE LADY OF LYONS. . . Commence at 7 o'clock, C ANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS.— CEVERY EVENING.—The )tusic of Verdi's Opera 01 MACBETH (now first made public in England at these Con certs). _ _ _ Ina few days will be produced a Selection from Meyer beer's new opera of DINOIZAH. Comic Vocalists - Messrs. (leorze ITo lson (the Irish Come dian and Mimic), W. T. Critchfield, and E. W. Hackney. Several interestinz Pictures are added to the Fine Arts Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant sights of the metropolis. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, OCTOBER 21. THEIMONETEB, IN THE SHAM 61—highest since noon yesterday. 40—lowest this morning and during the night. 43—this day at noon. BArtomETErt-29.32. Wurn, Northerly; light. with very cold weather. The coldest night for six months. HIGIi WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins Diy.—Morning, 9h. 7m.—Afternoon, 9h. 51m, To-Moßuow-Morning, 10h. 33m.—Afternoon, 11h. 10m, 't 00. t ;, , aut.m.l 4 . S ay" A • '1.642 , kx , - • • o THE SUN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1859 Already we have had several distinct celebrations of one of the most memorable events of 1859—the virtual completion of the grandest of all modern achievements in naval architecture. The Great Eastern, however, is worthy, indeed, of this reite rated jubilation. It is worthy of it as one of the most signal products of our engineering genius and com mercial enterprise. Wednesday, howbeit, at length it may be observed, witnessed the gratifying inci dent of its crowning inauguration. For uron that evening, at the Roy al Hotel, Holyhead, the directors of the Great Ship Company were entertained at a grand banquet, in company with a numerous gather ing of distinguished public characters, by the London and North-Western Railway Company, termed by one of the speakers, the greatest railway company in the world. Conspicuous among those who participated in these festivities, it will be seen through the interesting report of the proceed ings published in another part of our impression of this evening, were the late First Lord of the Ad miralty and the present Chancellor of the Ex chequer. Between the speeches delivered by those two prominent members of the House of Commons —one, a man of rare genius, the other, a man of remarkable common sense, energy, and general in telligence—there is, of course, observable a very marked difference indeed. But the kind of differ ence is not, perhaps, altogether precisely what the majority might have anticipated. Mr. GLADSTONE, in returning thanks for his own "health," not contented 'with giving a dry toast, must needs give one, if we may venture upon the vulgarism, very thickly and over abundantly bultered. He it is who tells his hosts that their's is " the first railway company in the world." He speaks of the Chairman (the Marquis of CIIANDOS) to his face, as " an honour to the order to which he belongs." He has a word of panegyric to be pro nounced over the recently devoured banquet itself, declaring it ecstatically to have been "so admi rably served !" He has, almost we were going to say the indelicacy, but we will call it instead of that the effrontery, to tell the audience he is addressing that it is " incomparable com pany 1" Altogether piling the Pelion upon the Ossa of flattery, and making the Olympus of ordinary compliment quite a wart by comparison ! Besides which, there comes blown to us in the rather empty - wind-bag of M r. G LADSTONE'S after-dinner oration on Wednesday, a distorted fragment of a ridiculously applied ex t ract from Dr. JOHNSON, and one admirably selected quota tion, qUite the gem of the speech, from POPE'S " Windsor Forest." As to the former—that is, the Johnsonian " elegant extract"—quoth Mr. GLADSTONE, "Dr. JOHNSON, I says"—so that the right hon. gentleman is actually not quite certain about the right authorship of a remark that must surely, to the ordinary run of English students, be familiar as household words—a remark which the Chancellor of the Exchequer thus goes on to murder in cold blood for the purpose of a preposterous misapplication —" Dr. JOHNSON I think says that whatever induces a man to live more in the future and less in the present exalts him in the sale of creation." If Mr. GLADSTONE will but take down from his bookshelves the volume ofiOIINSON'S worksontaining the Doctor's account of his " Tour to the Hebrides," he will find the original passage in its integrity and en tirety--one of thz; most exquisitely beautiful rh e 4 °rical passages in the English language : we quote it here exclusively from memory, a passage running, we believe, verbatim as follows We were now treading that illustrious island which was once the luminary of the Caledonian regions, whence savage clans and roving barbarians derived the benefits of knowledge and the blessings of religion. To abstract the mind from all local emotion would be difficult if it were possible, and would be found impossible if it were endea voured. Whatever withdraws us from the power of our senses, whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future predominate over the present, advances us in the dignity of thinking beings." Far from me and from my Mends be such frigid philosophy as should conduct us indifferent and unmoved over any ground which had been dignified by wisdom, learning, or virtue. That man is little to be envied whose patriotism would not gain force upon the plains of Marathon, and whose piety would not grow warmer among the ruins of lona." Those, " we believe," are JOHNSON'S ipsissima verba—a fragment of which, dwarfed and distorted, was indecorously dragged into his speech on Wed nesday by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the purpose of a bizarre travesty, through a most ludi crous application. The quotation from POPE, how ever, as before intimated, was as admirably applied as that from JOHNSON was misapplied—and, cer tainly, reading those three familiar couplets (from one of the earliest effusions of our English ALEX ANDER the Great) by the light of Mr. GLADSTONE'S comment, the poet's verse seems distinctly prophetic of the repeal of the Navigation Laws and the triumph of Free Trade principles—so happily pro phetic that we are fain to repeat them here in our leading columns The time shall come when free as waves or wind, Unbounded Thames shall flow for all mankind, Where nations enter on each swelling tide, And seas but join the nations they divide; Earth's distant ends our glory shall behold, And the New World run forth to seek the Old." Reverting, however, to our consideration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's last after-dinner speech, as a whole, we would earnestly recom mend him, the next time he displays his rhetori cal abilities over the dessert, to moderate his im mense powers of eulegium, and, above all things, to remember SCROOGE'S deprecatory appeal to the ghost of Marley—" Don't be . itneery JACOB!" • A delightful contrast to the ornate but really empty oration of Mr. GLADSTONE, was the emi nently sensible and practical speech delivered to that " incomparable company" on Wednesday evening by Sir JOHN PAKINGTON. If for nothing else that speech of the ex-First Lord of the Admi ralty would have been worthy of all praise and of prolonged remembrance for the following : " I think" said Sir JOHN "we cannot come to Holyhead, we cannot look at this great and noble harbour, without recollecting that that harbour has arisen from the grants which have been given by the House of Commons, and I hope and trust that the House of Commons will be wanting in the great duty which devolves upon them at this mo ment of providing harbours for England. Ido not believe that two more important steps have ever been taken towards the naval strength—towards the defences—towards the commercial prosperity of England—than the creation of those two noble arti ficial harbours of Portland and Holyhead. It was my duty to come here a year ago officially, although I am not now a member of the Government, and I was then delighted to hear it very often happens that 200 or 300 vessels at a time during the winter find shelter in this harbour of Holyhead, which vessels would otherwise be buffeting about with great risk to life and property in St. George's Channel. Now, I trust that the liberality of the House of Commons will not be restricted in this great item of public i expenditure. I cannot help here appealing, not to you the constituents, not to my brother members in general—but if it is no very unfair, and if my right hon. friend will kocgive me—l hope 1 may appeal to the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon this subject, with respect to a report not long ago presented to Parliament and the public, from the commission on harbours of refuge. I had the honour myself of appointing to preside over that commission Admiral Hope. I appointed Admiral Hope because I believed then, as I believe now, that he is a man not only of distinguished gallantry and professional skill, but a man of great ability. The report which has been presented justifies that which it recommends—an extension of the system of harbours of refuge— and I hope and trust that the House of Commons will be liberal in this respect." Admirable words, ad mirably well applied, and upon an occasion in every way most felicitous. We earnestly trust that they w ill be taken well to heart by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, by the British House of Commons, and by the English people generally. It would be an appropriate incident worthy of com memoration hereafter in the history of the greatest maritime nation the world has ever seen, if the multiplication, and com pletion, and perfect organisation of the whole system of harbours of refuge were to date in effect from that wise and patriotic appeal made by Sir JOHN PAKINGTON to the people and to the Parlia ment—an appeal made by him with a force so familiarly felicitous upon the Great Eastern's crowning inauguration. In returning thanks for the House of Commons last Wednesday, Sir JOHN PAKINGTON very pro perly began with confession of sins. Not that he has himself, as we consider, much to answer for, we mean in respect to bribery—the topic to which he was adverting. Let it be remembered that, as Lord BROUGHA3I reminded us at Bradford, it was Sir JOHN PAKINGTON who co-operated with him in endeavouring effectually to put down bribery; and to do it by means which we must acknowledge would have gone very far towards accomplishing the object. Lord BROUGHAM and Sir JOHN had prepared a declaration to be made by members on taking their seats, so stringent that no member could have done what, for instance, Sir 'Wm. HATTER, Messrs. PRICE and MONK, Alderman CARDEN, and Messrs. LEATIIAM and CHARLES WORTH have just confessed to having done, with out blasting their reputation for ever. Sir JOHN has, we believe, done his best to purify the borough constituencies by any means short of the Ballot ; and had not the House of Commons opposed his proposal, and refused to require its members to make an effective declaration, we should have had no Wakefield and Gloucester commissions ; it would have been impossible for gentlemen who had sent above £4,000 each to com paratively small constituencies, to have professed their solemn belief, that, in no way, directly or in directly, was their return duo to bribery and cor ruption. We may hope, as Lcrd IlnouGrum and Sir JOHN PARINGTON have bath spoken out so boldly on the present disgraceful revelations, that the House will be compelled to do something bona ftJc against blibery. "I am sure,"—said the L•on.Member— " thatall will agree with me in saying that this vile system is demoralising to the people, discreditable to our who:e representative institutions, and ren ders an appeal to the people not a test of enligh tened opinion on any matter of public policy, but a mere question of who may have the longest purse, or the most unscrupulous partisans." This is, in deed, but a repetition of Lord BROUHAM'S observa tions at Bradford—we may say of the opinion of every unbiassed man. Look at the last Parlia ment. Who. can deny that Lord PALMER.- STON'S majority was a purchased majority ? THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 21, 185 Already the unseated, if their places were supplied by Derbyites, would have given that side the majority. But Tories cannot boast. Glouces ter and Wakefield have demonstrated that had Lord DERBY obtained a majority, that, too, would have been a purchased majority. There is nothing to choose, in this respect, between either party, and Sir JOHN PAKINGTON did not hint that there was. It may be truthfully affirmed that even a majority of 50 in the House of Commons, as things now stand, may be destroyed by free resort to bribery. There arc certainly at least 25 boroughs in the kingdom in which money spent as freely as at Gloucester or Wakefield, we may add Norwich and Berwick, would have carried the election. Sir JOHN will perhaps be taunted with Dover, and we are by no means prepared to defend what he did there. Let it be recollected, however, that it was but follow- ing too faithfully the precedents furnished in, what was understood to be a Government borough, by other First Lords of the Admiralty. 'We quite believe that no man in the House would be more willing than Sir JOHN to take all such unworthy influence out of the hands of the Government. We adverted the other day to the demoralising influence of bribery on the candidate class, and nothing in the late investigations has pained us more than to see what unworthy artifices and equivocations it has led gen tlemen to resort to. Not the least culpable being, that most common of all, what we may properly term corrupt ignorance. Surely hardly any immorality can be much greater than to minister to crime, and yet by avoiding sight of the commission of the crime itself to fancy your self innocent. Let corrupt ignorance be branded as it ought. It is not ignorance. The candidates at the boroughs referred to did know that bribery must be going on. Either they are such idiots as to be on that account disqualified for representing any constituency in the House of Commons, or they had sense to know that thousands of pounds could not be required for honest purposes with constituencies not exceeding 1,000 or 1,800 voters. Technically, legally, perhaps, these gentle men did not know what was done with their money. Though it was sent in sums so large, and sent secretly, yet they had no knowledge of what they did not see done with it. But would any, of them tell a friend that they had no suspicion, amounting to moral certainty, that their purses were the fountains of corruption, at which hundreds of voters were de filing themselves. Some persons will talk lightly of bribery— " Oh the poor fellows are glad of it,"—•it's a wind- fall for them once in a while," and so forth. We believe, in old seasoned, boroughs, like Norwich, Yarmouth, and those now under the Commission harrow, there is a good deal of feeling of this kind. We have even known men boast of the vast sums of money they have spent in winning an elec tion ; Alderman CARDEN himself was said to have boasted on the Exchange of the money he had spent on political objects. But do such men seriously think of what they laugh about ? We know but too well that the greater part of what is received in bribes goes in dissipa tion. It is received by unprincipled persons, and spent in drunkenness and vice. It does• not even do the receiver any pecuniary service while it mi nisters to their sensuality. But worse than that—it makes them one and all, as Lord BROUGII.A.M observed morally guilty of perjury. Each takes the bribe, knowing that he may be called on to take the bribery oath, and of course prepared to take it, or openly to confess himself guilty. Ninety-nine out of a hundred, of those who take bribes, do so, we believe with Lord BROUGHAM, fully intending to perjure themselves if called on to take the oath. With him, we therefore hold them morally guilty of perjury, and those who furnish the money as morally guilty of subornation of perjury. We cannot, of course, dwell on the subject now, but it should be borne in mind that suppression of the grosser forms of bribery is but half doing the work. By all means let us render Gloucester and Wakefield doings impractiable ; but the cruel bribery of intimidation, of undue influence ; of a proprietor of land, almost without saying a word coercing his tenants ; of the lawyer, ban ker, and creditor coercing their clients and debtors ; of all the nameless unfair means by which one man overbears the judgment and the electoral liberty of another—these evils are far more extensive than the more loathsome ones just now before us, and for them there is but one known remedy—the BALLOT. A remedy which need not supersede, but would rather come strongly in aid of those pro posed by Lord BROUGHAM and Sir JOHN PAKINGTON. A Cabinet Council was held yesterday, at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Down ing-street. The Ministers present were Viscount Palmer ston, tho Lord Chancellor, Sir G. Cornewall Lewis, Lord J. Russell, the Duke of Newcastle, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, the Chancellor of the Exhequer, the Duke of Somerset, the Right Hon. T. Milner Gibson, Sir G. Grey, Earl of Elgin, and the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers. The Queen will hold a Privy Council to-morrow (Saturday) at Windsor Castle. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent will leave her present residence at the Isle of Wight on Friday, the 28th inst., for Frogmore Lodge. Their Excellencies the Count and Countess de Torre Diaz and Madlle. de Zuluota have left London for Madrid. The Duke and Duchess de Medina Celi, accom panied by Count GUaqui, Grandee of Spain, and suite, have anived at Claridge's Hotel from Paris. _ The Dowager Marchioness of Lothian and the Ladies Kerr have left Claridge's Hotel for Paris. The Countess Dowager of Caledon has arrived at Farrance's Hotel, Belgravia, from Castle Caledon, County Tyrone, Irel and. Viscount Palmerston arrived in London yesterday morning from his seat, Broadlands. His lordship left town for Windsor Castle in the afternoon. Sir G. Cornewall Lewis arrived in town yesterday morning from Harpton Court, Kington, Herefordshire. The Chancellor of the Exchequer returned to London yesterday morning from Holyhead. PRESENT TO TIER MAJESTY.—There is now On the way to this country from the Maharajah of Cashmere, as a present to her Majesty, a most costly shawl tent, which will contain, moreover, a bedstead of solid gold. The value of this regal offering is said to exceed fifteen lacs of rupees (L 150,000). THE ATLANTIC CABLE.—Messrs. Beardmore and Robinson, electricians, have visited Valentia this week, and set on foot a series of experiments on the Atlantic cable. Encouragement as to the success of the undertaking, both as regards the resuscitation of the old and the laying of . a new cable, is, in the ascendant. These gentlemen found room, in the state of the cable, to disseminate new courage among its fricnds.—Tralcc Chronicle. 1 THE LORDS' PROTEST AGAINST THE REJECTION OF TILE BALLOT.—A bill for enabling the Scotch peers to elect the 16 representative peers for Scotland by ballot was moved in the House of Lords in 1734, and was rejected. Many peers protested, " because (to quote the words of their protest) the method of voting by ballot appears to us infi nitely more preferable on many accounts; fur as it is well known there are several alliances among that body of nobi lity, many of the peers may be put under great difficulties, their alliances drawing them one w ty and their opinions and inclinations another way. It is also possible that by pensions from the Crown, or by civil or military t preferments, o a court and c be enlif et : a : nor them ffa nee arbitrary at voting atty y r4natforgor b .ye be ee minister) ~ i n ni,ene d hi rsaseatetirjer apprehend :II) .neeiyinecessityeltheir ei obligations nntnhudeemartribelothat in o (under o s l i ae n t li g evee t t h s i t o e h i n r e ande canmPt h ol i b l i o e r e; o m e w a eo l f of the electors are under any influence whatsoever by which they may be biassed in the freedom of their choice." DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT CA3IBERWELL.—Yester day morning, - between one and two, the premises belon.ity , to Mr. Carter, hairdresser, Camberwell, wer e discovered to be on fire. Mr. and Mrs. Carter, with their two children, were in their beds asleep. A policeman succeeded in arma ing the inmates, but owing to the fierceness of the flames, they wero unable to get to the front door, and as a last re source they made to the back of the building, and succeeded in reaching the street in safety, Engines were called into operation, but the whole of the stock in trade was destroyed, and the building nearly consumed. The origin of the mis fortune is unknown. Mr. Carter was insured—the contents in the Liverpool and London-office, and the building in the Sun-office. LATEST NEWS. The following telegrams have been received at Mr. Reuter's office:— MADRID, OCT, 20. The Cor•r•espondencia Autogr•afa advises the Ministers to have recourse to arms, as the Emperor of Morocco has not given satisfactory declarations to the Government. The same correspondence approves the resolution taken by the Government, in ordering the Spanish Consul to leave Tangiers. PARIS, THURSDAY EVENING, 9 P.M. The Emperor of Russia will remain at Warsaw ,o the 23d. He :will there meet the Emperor of Austria. M, de Kisseleff will return immediately to Paris. BRESLAU, OCT. 20. It is stated by well-informed persons that the Emperor of Austria will arrive here at the same time as the Emperor of Russia, who will be here on the 23d inst. The Emperor Alexander arrived at Warsaw on he 19th inst., unaccompanied by the Hereditary Prince. MARSEILLES, OCT. 20. The Valetta, with the mails from Bombay, arrived at 2 p.m. this day. BOMBAY, September 26.--Imports abating; cot ton falling; oilseeds steady. Exchange on London 2s ed ; money abundant. The mails left Marseilles for London at 4 p.m. The Behar, with the heavy portion of the above mail, was to leave Malta for Southampton on the 18th instant at 8 a.m. FRANKFORT-ON-MAINE, OCT. 20. In the sitting of the Federal Diet of to-day the representatives of the four kingdoms and of the Grand Duchies of Hesse and Mecklenburg, and the Duchy of Nassau, made a proposal for a revision of the federal military system. The question of the constitution of the Electorate of Hesse was not discussed. ST. PETERSBURG, OcT. 19. Messrs. Stieglitz and Co., bankers, will retire from business on Jan. 1, 1860, and are now engaged in liquidating their affairs. TRIESTE, OCT. 20. The Austrian Lloyd's steamer, just arrived, brings advices from Constantinople to the 15th inst. Two of the chief conspirators have died at Kulely. Sir Henry Rawlinson, English Minister to the Persian Court, has been received by the Sultan, and afterwards took his departure for Teheran. Prince Alfred is about to viiit Metelin, the Dar danelles, Salonica, and the Greek Archipelago. A vessel with a number of Circassian emigrants on board has been wrecked, and 203 persons lost their lives. we have still 7,600 kilometres to construct, and nearly 3,000,000,000 fr. to disburse for them. Such is the object we have to attain during the new epoch of peace which is now commencing. And when we shall have accomplished that object France will have a greater length of railway than any other country in the world, as she will have 16,300 kilometres, whilst the United Kingdom of Great Britain will only have 15,500. But the same will no be the case with regard to the population or the superficial extent of territory. Thus when the great networks shall be executed France will only have 450 kilometres for every million of the population, whilst in Scotland the proportion will be 910 kilometeres, in England 866, and in Belgium 482. There is therefore nothing rash in the projects which we are now endeavouring to carry out." The cause of the larger pecuniary returns of rail way lines in France as compared with those in England is thus explained : " If the English network gives in proportion to its length a smaller revenue than ours, notwithstanding all the ele ments of traffic which ought apparently to give it the supe riority, it is because it was constructed without any gene rarplan. In order to remain faithful to the principle of laissez-faire which dominates all her economic organisa • tion, England authorised the execution of all the lines demanded, although they were destined to injure one another, without procuring to the country any benefit pro portionate to the capital which they absorbed. This has occasioned an unintelligent competition, which has greatly reduced the average traffic of English railways. In France we have avoided that mistake, and have divided the terri, tory into large zones, each served by a single enterprise. This rational proceeding has prevented the construction of parallel lines, the waste of capital, and ruinous rivalities. And that is why our railways have more traffic and are more profitable, and why they will continue to be produc tive even when they shall have received the embranchments and extensions now in contemplation." BOURSE, Oct. 20.—The market has been very dull, and prices looking down. Threes, after having been done at 691. 80c., receded to 69f. 60c.; Mobi lier varied from 792 f. 50c. to 7851.; Lyons, 915 f. to el2f. 50c. ; Orleans, 1,3701. to 1,367 f. 50c. ; Southern, 512 f. 50c. to 510 f.; Austrian, 517 f. 50c. to 546 f. 25c. ; Lombard, 557 f. 50c. to 5561. 25c. The following were the last quotations:- 41 per Cents. .... 95 Credit Foncier 690 Do. end month Belgian 4i lOO 25 3 per Cents 69 60 Piedmontcsa (5) .. 85 50 Do. end month 69 65 'Roman B3 75 Bank Shares. 2325 Austrian Credit Mobilier .. 783 75 Spanish Threes Do. Account 785 Home Debt 43 50 RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern New ditto B2O .. Lyons and Mediterranean 915 .. 912 50 Geneva 5lO .. Southern Westei a 572 50 .. Eastern Sardinian 412 50 .. A.ustr;an Lombard ..... Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 111 c. ; money, 25f, 10c.; three months, paper, 24f. 96c.; money, 24f, 940. A Vienna letter in the New Prussian Gazette says :—" The Emperor, on his return to Schosn brunn on the 15th from Ischl, immediately receiued Field Marshal Prince Alexander of Hesse, brother in-law of the Emperor of Rusga. The Prince, who has been appointed to the command of a Russian corps, will only remain here a few days. On the evening of his arrival from St. Petersburg he re ceived a visit from Count de Rechberg, the Presi dent of the Council of Ministers. A report is cur rent here that an interview is to take place between the_ Emperor Francis Joseph and the Emperor Alexander, and that the Archduke Albert has been charged to prepare for the meeting of the two Em perors at Warsaw." A telegraphic despatch states that the interview in question is to take place at Mp slowitz. AUSTRALIA. PLYMOUTH, THURSDAY EVENING. The ship Yorkshire, Capt. Reynolds, belonging to Messrs. Money, Wigram, and Co., of London, 79 days from Melbourne, was off the port to-day , with about 50,000 ez. of gAddust, 12,000 sovereigns, and 190 passengers. She left Melbourne Aug. 2, rounded Cape Horn on the 25th, and crossed the Line Sept. 14. A great number of icebergs were observed on approaching the Cape, and when rounding a small one was struck, without damage to the Yorkshire. Fine weather was experienced from Australia to the Line, which distance was accomplished in 44, days. For the last three weeks baffling winds have prevailed. THE GREJT EASTERN. SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY MORNING. The President of the Chamber of Commerce has received the following letter, and communicated it by public handbill : ‘; On board Great Eastern, off Holyhead, Oct. 19. "Dear Sir,—We have agreed to go to Southamp ton. Get the moorings ready. I shall be in town to morrow and Friday, if you wish to see me. " I am, dear Sir, your obedient servant, " L. S. MAGNUS. " P.S. She will leave this harbour within 10 days." The anticipatiot which we have expressed that the long delay necessary to really tit this ship for sea would prevent her departure for America either during this month or next have thus far been realised. At a board meeting, held at the ship, at Holyhead, on Wednesday afternoon, the date of the departure for America was postponed sine die, and orders were given that all money paid for passages to the States should be returned. At present no time can be fixed for the transatlantic voyage until good progress has been made towards fitting out the ship in thorough sea-going com pleteness—a work which, we need scarcely say, will involve considerable time. Though some dis appointment may possibly be felt in England, and a good deal more in America, at this indefinite postponement, yet on the whole the directors have taken a prudent course both for the passengers and shareholders in thus, as far as is in their power, placing the first real voyage beyond the ehance of mishap or shortcomings.of any kind. It is almost certatn that the vessel will not start for the States this year. THIS DA Y'S MARKETS. CORN EXCHANGE. There was only a limited supply of English wheat on offer in to-day's market, and its general quality was some what inferior. Prime samples of both red and white moved off steadily, at full prices, but low and damp qualities met a slow inquiry, at Monday's currency. We were tolerably well, but not to say heavily, supplied with most description of foreign wheat. Millers generally purchased cautiously, yet prices were supported. There was less activity in the demand for floating cargoes, at late quotations. We have again to report an active inquiry for nearly all kinds of barley, especially for malting parcels, at very full prices. There was a moderate inquiry for malt, on former terms. A steady consumptive business was passing oats, at pre vious rates ; but beans and peas were much neglected. Flour was unaltered in value. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK Wheat. Barley Malt. Oats. Flour. English 2,310 / 3,170 I 690 260 i 780 Irish Foreign 9,460 4,930 I 18,060 160 skr. I bl. FUNERAL OF ROBERT STEPBENSON, ESQ., M.P. (THIS DAY). The mortal remains of this eminent man, whose name, in connection with some of the mightiest works of engineering skill will for ever be remembered, were interred this morn ing in Westminster Abbey. The line of procession from the mansion of the deceased gentleman in Gloucester-square to the Abbey, was crowded by thousands of persons, and a sight more impressive yet simply grand, as the mournful cortege proceeded in proces sion up the nave of the sacred building, cannot be imagined. About 11 o'clock the funeral procession proceeded through Hyde-park, Grosvenor-place, Victoria-street, to the en trance of the Great Cloisters of the Abbey, Dean's-yard, Westminster, where it arrived in the following order : Mutes and Pages. The Hearse, containing the body of the deceased. The coffin was superbly made of polished English oak, most elaborately decorated, on the plate of which the fol lowing inseription was engravel : ROBERT STEPHENSON, Esq., M.P., Civil Engineer, D. C. L., F. R. S. Born Nov. 16, 1803. Died Oct. 12, 1859. FIRST CARRIAGE. George R. Stephenson, Esq. I G. P. Bidder, Esq. C. Parker, Esq. I Robert Stephenson, Esq. SECOND CARRIAGE—PALL BEARERS. The Marquis of Chandos. I Sir R. Murchison. G. C. Glyn, Esq. THIRD CARRIAGE—PALL BEARERS. J. Locke, Esq., M.P. I J. Chapman, Esq. S. Beale, Esq., M.P. FOURTH CARRIAGE. The Mayor of, and Deputation from, Newcastle. FIFTH CARRIAGE. Nicholas Wood, Esq. I William Kell, Esq. P. H. Stanton, Esq. T. E. Harrison, Esq. J. Ellis, Esq. John Dixon, Esq. SIXTH CARRMGE. J. W. Ouse, Esq. The Mayor of Sunderland. SEVENTH CARRIAGE. Sir Joshua Walmsley, I John Perry, Esq. Dr. Bird. I Mr. Alderman Allison. EIGHTH CARRIAGE. Joseph Sandars, Esq. I W. H. Budden, Esq. George Vaughan, Esq. I Wm. 'Weallens, Esq. G. Berkley, Esq. J. Berkley, Esq. E. Clark, Esq. Rev. It. S. Gordon. NINTH. CARICIAGE. T. S. Gooch, Esq, W. H. Phipps, Esq. TENTH CARRIAGE. R. S. Illingworth, Esq. R. Hayes, Esq. ELEVENTH CARRIAGE. B. P. Storkman, Esq. Kirton, Esq. J. Green, Esq. Spiers, Esq. G. W. Schmidht, Esq. At 10 minutes past 12 the Very Rev. the Dean, Dr. T. Trench, proceded by the choristers and canons, went to the south door of the nave to receive the funeral cortege, and from thence it was conducted up the nave, which at this moment presanted a most impressive appearance (there being nearly 2,000 persons present, all, with very few exceptions, being attired in deep mourning), the vest bell tolling and the organ pealing forth its most solemn notes, in the following order : The High Bailiff of Westminster. Alms-men of the Abbey. Sixteen Boys of the Choir. Sixteen. Gentlemen of the Choir. The Sub-Dean of 'Westminster Abbey. Canons Repton, Jennings, and Cureton. fho Dean and his Attendants. The Mayor and Sheriff of Newcastle. TIIE COFFIN. Mourners. Sir C. Walker. The Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers. [Amongst whom were Mr. Hawkshaw, Mr. Errington, Sir J. Rennie, Mr. Fowler; Mr. John Scott Russell, Mr. Walker, Mr. Maudsley, Mr. Charles Manby, &c,] Deputations from various parts of the country. The magnificent chant, " I am the resurrection and the life," having been performed, The 9th Psalm, " Lord, thou hast been our refuge," was next chanted, and the Rev. S. S. Jones then read the les son from first Corinthians, chap. xv., verse 20, " Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept." Handers anthem, from Job, chap. xxix., " When the ear heard him then it blessed him, and when the eye saw him it gave witness of him," was next sung, and this concluding the portion of the burial service within the choir, the procession was re-formed and the coffin carried to the grave into which it was lowered, whilst the words " The man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live," &c., were solemnly chanted. The Very Rev. the Dean then read the remaining por- tion of the service. The whole congregation joined in the Lord's Prayer, and the thousand voices in deep emotion repeating the words after the full enunciation of the Dean was intensely affecting. "his body is buried in peace, But hit name liveth evermore." from Handel's Funeral Anthem, which was most effectively sung by the gentlemen of the choir, finished the burial ceremony, and, amidst the solemn notes of the "Dead March in Saul," the mourners and friends of the deceased were conducted to their carriages, and the immense assem blage dispersed. The whole of the funeral arrangements were ably con conducted by Messrs. Morant, Boyd, and Morant, of 61, New Bond- street. TBE _RECALL OF SIR GEORGE GREY, GOVERNOR OF THE CAPE. Yesterday afternoon, at 5 o'clock, a numerous and influential deputation of merchants and others connected with the Cape of Good Hope had an in terview, by appointment, with the Duke of New castle, Secretary of State for the Colonies, at the Colonial-office, for the purpose of urging upon his Grace the importance of reinstating Sir George Grey in the Governorship of the colony, having regard to his general efficiency, and especially to the skill with which he was accomplishing the paci fication of the eastern frontier, a policy which was fast approaching its final accomplishment, to the complete satisfaction of the colonists of all classes, at the time of his recall. Among the gentlemen composing the deputation were Mr. W. F. Russell, M.P. Sir Charles Fox, Mr. S. R. Thomson, Mr. Gondlonton, Mr. Searight, Mr. G. Lathom Browne, the Rev. J. Harsant, Mr. R. Pounsett, Mr. W. Forster, Mr. G. Bushell, Mr. Hamilton Ross, Mr. J. Barry, Mr. Cawood, Mr. P. Vanderbyl, Mr. M. S. Vanderbyl, Mr. Birkeworth, Mr. Mosenthal, Mr. Saxon, Mr. Henry Robinson, and Mr. C. J. Busk. They were introduced to his Grace by Mr. F. W Russell, M.P. _ _ _ Mr. LATIIOM BROWNE, managing director of the Cape Town Railway, was proceeding to state the object of the deputation, when The Duke of NEWCASTLE interposing, said he thought he observed gentlemen present apparently taking notes of what was being said, and he felt it right to state that on an occasion of this nature, when a deputation was received by a Secretary of State on a matter involving the exercise of the prerogative of the Crown, it was inconvenient to have reports published in the newspapers of all that transpired at such an interview. Such a course, indeed, altered the character of the deputa tion, and necessitated the adoption of a reserve on the part of the Minister by whom it was received, for which otherwise there would be no need. Re ports in the public journals of what was said at interviews of that kind, which were presumed to be private to some extent, were not unfrequently made the subject of comment in their columns; and such a course was inconvenient, tending as it did to im pose restraint upon a Minister of the Crown with whom a conference was sought. If he had been aware that it was intended that the deputation should be accompanied by representatives of the newspaper press, he should certaintly have deferred receiving it for a week. He wished to be under stood as making those observations in no unfriendly spirit whatever to the public journals, or with any undue desire to invest the interview between the deputation and himself with anything like secrecy. His object was rather to state, as a general rule and for the reasons he had alleged, the inconvenience of the course to which he had referred. Mr. GODLONTON, a member of the deputation, said they had not before been aware that they were accompanied by reporters. It was here stated on the part of some of the representatives of the newspapers, four of whom were present, that they attended in consequence of a letter addressed to the editors of the respective journals stating that the, deputation was to meet his Grace. Mr. LATIIO.II BROWNE, the principal spokesman of the deputation, said he had certainly written to the editors of the newspapers, but he had made no request with regard to the attendance of reporters. The Duke of NEWCASTLE said, most unquestion ably such a letter was tantamount to an invitation that reporters should be present. No one ever sent a communication to the editor of a newspaper ap prising him, for instance, of the intention to hold a public meeting on some subject of public interest with any other view than to secure the attmdanee of a gentleman to report the proceedings. He (the; Duke of Newcastle) must not be supposed to de sire the exclusion of the representatives of the newspapers, now that they were present, but if reports were to be taken of what occurred, he must frankly tell the deputation that he must exercise the utmost reserve, and, in fact, say nothing. (A laugh.) He believed he might say it was t 1 e ex ception, and not the rule, for deputations to Mildi ters to be accompained by reporters. PPihcps, under the circumstances, the best course wo:l t l i d i ; h e , to Thise t thep s o u n g e ges t interviewion did no tuntilappear that to day meetv we, k approbation of the deputation, and the report?rs, who, from the first intimation from his Grace that their presence was likely to impose some reserve upon him, were about to withdraw, now prepared to do so, feeling that the object of the deputation would otherwise be defeated, The Duke of NEWCASTLE said the conduct of the representatives of the newspapers present had been perfectly frank and gentlemanlike. Before they retired —if it was their intention to retire—he wished to say, that as it had got wind that he had written a despatch to Sir George Grey, he must state that that despatch had crossed Sir George on his passage home from the Cape, and that he had since furnished him with a copy of it. He (the Duke of Newcastle) need scarcely say what the pur port of that despatch was. He might add that he had made an appointment to see Sir Gco. Grey to morrow (this day). Mr. L. BROWNE reminded his Grace of the deep regret which the recall of Sir George Grey had occa sioned to all classes of the colonists, and of the anxiety with which they would look to the public journals for some intelligence of the course her Majesty's Government were prepared to take in the matter. From this point, however, the interview was con ducted without the presence of the representatives of the press. AGRICULTURAL MEETING. HEREFORDSHIRE. HEREFORD, Thursday. The Herefordshire Agricultural Meeting took place here yesterday. The dinner took place at the City Arms Hotel, and was presided over by Mr. C. W. Allen, supported by Lord Llanover, Mr. King King, M.P., Lord W. Graham, M.P., Mr. INTildmay, M.P., Colonel Clifford, M.P., Mr. G. Clive, M.P., Mr. R. Yapp (High Sheriff), Mr. Chandos Wren Hoskins, Mr. Robert Biddulph, Mr. James PhilliPps and others of the leading gentry and yeomanry of the district. After the usual introductory toasts, the CHAIR MAN proyosed" The County Members." Mr: KING KING, M.P., after some remarks of a personal nature, said there was now no question upon which public opinion was much divided. It was the general opinion of the country that we should be prepared for any emergency that might arise, by strengthening our army and navy and defending our seaports. All seemed perfectly unani mous on that point ; and though he had an abhor rence and dread of warlike proceedings as much as any Quaker, he believed the best way to avert the threatened evils was to be prepared to meet them. (Cheers.) He believed the subject of the represen tation of the people did not excite any very deep interest. He had this ground for saying so—that the present Government managed to get through the late session without any serious agitation on the subject. As to the subject of providing better cottage accommodation for labourers, he believed two cottages to every 100 acres would be sufficient, or at all events a great improvement sn the existing. system. (Cheers.) Lord W. GRAHAM, M.P., paid a tribute to the memory of the late Mr. Blakemore, M.P., and dwelt upon the importance of stimulating the introduction and improvement of agricultural machinery as a means of compensating for the scarcity of agricul tural labourers. He noticed the improvement which had resulted from the operation of these societies, and hoped that the agricultural interest would con tinue to-increase in prosperity. - Mr. MILDMAY, M.P., said the only way to supply the defect of agricultural labour was to pay more attention to the improvement of machinery. The more this was employed the more improvement there would be in the intellectual and social con dition of the agricultural labourer. If machinery was used farmers must have intelligent and trust worthy servants, whom they must pay adequatelP and for whom they must provide decent and com modious dwellings. These improved dwellings would not only be a great boon to the occupants , but landlords would find their profit in them in their increased habits of respeetability in the labourer, and hi s f orm i ng h a bi ts o f sav i ng, w hich would prevent his becoming a charge on the rates, on an emergency. H e d epreca t e d th e prac ti c e a hiring servants at "mops" and statute fairs, and, thought that if thes e nu i sances cou ld b e di spen sea , with in other counties th ey nee d not b e perpe t ua ted in Herefordshire. Another means of improving the labouring classes was to educate the younger children. (Cheers.) The more intelligence the man possessed, the greater must be the value of his labour. People might depreciate the advan tages of education as much as they pi.eased, and sal that it raised the servant above his work, but 1 1 1 opinion went to the contrary. The clergy and landowners might do much in this respect, but they must have the co-operation of the farmers. There was certain farm-work which must be done by children, and would not pay for the employraen of adult labour, but he suggested the plan of send ing the children to school ant to work on alternate days. (Applause.) • The CHAIRMAN proposed " The He ath of the City Members, which was well received. Mr. GEORGE CLIVE (Under Secretary of State fer, the Home Department) replied, and apologise ( ' for the 'absence of Colonel Clifford his colleagn2f who, with Lord Llanover, had left the room. li e said that he was painfully reminded of the duties of his office by hearing an organ being ground out' side, for one of his most arduous duties had been to assist the police magistrates in putting down the nuisance of organ grinding. (Laught e r.) o e j hoped the good news that the pap ers h a d con t a ineo, that day would turn out to be true. P eace se ernea to be nearer in Europe than it had been for some time past, and they heard from China that the Emperor was prepared to receive the Englis h Embassy in the kindest, the most loving' and peaceable manner. (Laughter.) This was a mild measure after what had recently occurred' when we considered the recent shocking slaught!e r of our men, and the enormous expense necessary te set the matter right. He had heard a story of French Ambassador of so imperturbable a court' tenance that nobody could tell from it whether' 11° had received a kickor a compliment; the Emper°' . of China seemed to expect similar conduct from the English people, and that they would endull any amount of ch as ti sement hi s su bj ects m i g ht choose to inflict with out reta li at i on. B ut some de' monstration was n ecessary to conv i nce t h e Chine , we would net put u p w i t h such indignities ; and 11 the measures ad op t e d would promote a speed/ restoration of peace, coup l e d w i t h a littl e c ontia . bution towards expenses, it would be a very htPl l termination to a disastrous affair. (Applause.) 0 , Mr. CHANDOS W REN H OSKYNS , i n a highly practical speech, pointed out the advantages of P, meting local co m p e titi on b y o ff er i ng pr i ze s It things peculiar to the district, and expressed t ll astonishment and pride he had experienced in ,_Wit nessing the magnificent exhibition which had ell!: racterised that day. He held out hopes that meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society wir d be held at Hereford in 1562: and while he assure them that visitors would be astounded at the noble show of Hereford cattle that could be made, he advised them to give prizes for hops, apples, Jiff& rent kinds of wheat, and other things peculiar to the district. Many other toasts were proposed. DEATH OF MR. FRANCIS GRAVES.—We regret to have to announce the sudden death of Mr. Franois Gralire_t of Pall-mall, which occurred on Saturday last. He °I well known in this countryand on the continent as one ° the best judges of engravings, both ancient and mode' His His knowledge of English and foreign portraits, and /11 f familiarity with every fact of th e i r history, and the lives ""f tl originals, were almost u nr i va ll e d. During upwards na 30 yeas several of the finest collections in England, an especially that of the late .Lord Northwick, were form under his superint en d ence ; an d t o hi m th e print-room? the British Museum is indebted for many of its most curl' ous prints and drawings. He was also an admir.Ne judg of paintings, as far as historical portraits are concerned, Or several of the most interesting pictures in the recall established National Portrait Gallery had passed threug his hands. Fe was of kind and amiable manners, alvirnia ready to communicate any information he possessed, al his death will be sincerely regretted. THE STEPNEY CORONER'S INQUEST.—The Biff of London has caused formal notice to be served upon the Rev. James Bonwell, incumbent of St. Philip's, SteP°l4 of his lordship's intention to issue a commission under provisions of the Church Discipline Act, for inquiring iD e ,"" the grounds of the scandal existing against him in refere i l i to to the above inquest. The commission will be addressed to Dr. Twiss, the Bishop's Vicar-General ; the Venera ble Archdeacon Hale • the Rev. Canon Dale, Vicar of St...,.rt — t eras • the Rev. J. E. Kempe, Rector a St. James's, Nv e c — ; mins'ter ; and the Rev. W. G. Hnmphry, Vicar a - 117 arti n' s-in-the-Fields. T A THE GREAT CONSERVATIV E D EMONSTRATIO N LIVERPOOL.—The arrangement s f or th e forthcoming 1)81: quet to the Earl of Perby and other leaders of the Coro; vative party, at the Philha rmon i c H a l l, Liverpool, on Tie evening of the 29th inst., are now nearly completed. committee have had a most difficult and invidious task lco— awarding tickets—though th e pr i ce will be two guineas the numerous applicants, wLose number far exceeeel ll slate at the committee's disposal. The dinner, which be eald will be supplied by Mr. Lynn, of the Water loo Hotel. The b oxes w il l be devoted sokly to the use of tll 1 dies (at ss. a head), and after the dinner the galleries r st n le thrown o p en to gentlemen, at the rate of os. in the tT 1. out)ws, and 2s. 6d. i n th e back rows. The ladies, it_A said will be requ)sted to wear the Conservative co l o urs— , ani blue —as l i b era ll y as pcs3 ibl e, b ut, as t h e h a ll has ir be recently redecorated, no flags or other ornaments will lee made use of. A n i ns t rumen t a l b au d an d a compan y of g singers will be stationed in the orchestra. 0 00 PRESENCE OF MIND IN A SERVANT GIRL „ / About one o'clock last Friday two men sealed the walla.; the Manor-house, Alphir gt and entered the back raises. The noise awoke tl a servant, who immediately co'f o municated with a gentleman staying with Mr. Snell. ~.e d doing so she had to traverse a long passage. She low' out and saw the men taking away lead, when she shouted. " Take the gun and shoot them." This caused the vi 11 8,7 ,0 to run away, leaving a pair of shoes, a bl ac k apron and pieces of cloth. It is hoped these articles will lead to their detection .—Bridgetvater Met wry. NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL. Each kind of ptime meat sold steadily, at full prices. Otherwise, the demand was in a sluggish state. The sup plies are good. Per Bibs. by the Carcass. s. d. E. a. Inferior Beef 2 10 to 3 0 Mid. d 0..... 3 2 to 3 6 PuLlarqedo. 3 8 to 3 10 Do. small do. 4 0 to 4 4 Large pork.. 3 4 to 4 0 s. d. s. d. Infr. Mutton. 3 2to 3 6 Mid. do 3 Bto 4 0 Prime do. 4 2to 4 6 Veal 4 oto 5 0 Small pork BOROUGH HOP. Our market is well supplied with all new hops, and tho demand for them continues steady, at full prices. Year. hugs and old qualities may be purchased on lower terms. New Mid and East Kent, 84s to 147 s per cwt. Weald of Kent 60s to 76s „ Sussex... COLONIAL. TEA—No dealings of any importance have been re corded, and prices remain without alteration. SuGitt.—For the finer qualities of British plantation there has been a more active demand, and full prices have been obtained. Foreign descriptions, of good qualities, wero also in request, and sold for higher rates. In the re fined market a moderato amount of business has been done, at slightly advanced quotations. COFFEE.--For Plantation Ceylon there has been a steady inquiry at late values; other qualities are in fair demand at previous prices. RICE.—The market is moderately active; no material alteration, however, is apparent in values. SALTPETRE.--A largo quantity has been offered at public sale, but there has not been much animation, and prices remained almost the same as before. TALLOW.—A steady business has been transacted, and little variation can be recorded in prices. P.Y.C. on the spot and for last three months delivery is quoted 69s 6d to 59s 9d per cwt. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY. A Council of Ministers, at which the Emperor presided, was held yesterday at St. Cloud. This is not a day of news, but there are various reports of a gloomy description in circulation, some of them too wild to repeat. Our rumour is that Neapolitan troops have landed at Ancona. Upon the - whole the complexion of the news from Italy is unfavourable. Considerable excitement is said to prevail in Piedmont on account of the conditions of the Peace, which have transpired and are consi dered very unsatisfactory. The state of the Duchies is also represented as very alarming, and it is said that Marshal Vaillant has written to the Emperor, suggesting their occupation by French troops, or that a civil waz will shortly break out. A Paris letter in the Independance of Brussels again brings forward, with some variation, the plan spoken of a few weeks back for the settlement of the Italian Duchies. It says " The signature of the treaty of peace between France and Austria is the first step towards the final consummation of the arrangement. You may be certain that discussions have taken place for carrying out the plan which was mentioned some time br. ck, and vihich now is said to have a better chance of success than ever, though with some slight modifications. According to that project the defini tive p ea T e u e scany and the Duchess of Parma Grand tr e shally is to stipulate that the treaty e e restored ; lik ew i se, t h a t t h e D uc hy b of of of Parma' shall be divided by drawing a straight line from Pietra Santa and along the road of Massa, Carrara, Pontremoli, and Settoloa to Pia cenza, all which towns are to go to Piedmont. The fortifications of Piacenza are to be augmented, so as to defend the frontier of Piedmont. Austria wanted to make Piacenza a federal fortress, but she yielded to the opposition of France. The Duchess of Parma is to have the Duchy of Modena and Reggio. The Grand Duke of Tuscany before entering his States is to promulgate a constitution which has obtained the assent of the French Go vernment, and it is not believed that his return will excite any serious resistance. This plan, how ever, h a s not yet received th e assen t o f Piedmont, and that is the principal reason of the visit of Gen. Dabormida to Paris. As things have taken this turn, all that the Congress will have to do will be to put the treaty of peace and these slight terri torial modifications under the sanction of Europe. It is believed also that Menton and Monaco will be _definitively annexed to Piedmont, and that the Prince, as an indemnity, will be allowed princely honours and a dotation from this latter country. Such are, it is said, the arrangements come to." A Paris letter, in the Nord of Brussels, says : " The Sardinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, before his departure from Turin, received a note from Count Walewski, delivered by the Prince de Latour d'Auvergne, and which was a reply to the last me morandum of the Piedmontese Government on the affairs of Central Italy. In the note, Count Walewski recommended Piedmont to act with groat prudence, and to avoid furnishing, by too much ardour, a pretext to the enemies of Pied mont to accuse her of acting with a view to ag grandisement. The note also expressed a desire that nothing should be changed in the state of Central Italy until the great powers should have come to a decision on the subject. It is in con secrzence of this language on the part of the count that the permanent occupation of Parma by the Piedmontese troops and the regency of the Prince de Carignan were postponed." A second telegraphic despatch from Constanti nople states that Fuad-Pacha will probably resign as well as Aali- Pacha, the Grand Visir. It may be remembered that these two heads of the Turkish Ministry had strongly opposed the desire of the Ambassadors to call Abdul-Mcdjid's attention to the situation of the empire, and had received the collective memorandum very coldly. This is thought likely to be the cause of the retirement of those two functionaries. The Constitutionnel publ6hes a long article o the works of general utility which the peace will enable France to undertake; and among the rest specifies the new railway lines now in progress or in contemplation. It adverts with justifiable satis faction to the rapidity with which such works have been executed in France, after an undue delay at first, and points to the fact that the extent of rail way communication in the country is now greater than in Great Britain. It says : " France, under the influence of the Imperial Govern ment, has be en a bl e t o repa i r the time lost at first in dis cussions as to the mode, of executi on , p i a su b sequently ' in political rev o l u ti ons . W e now possess 8,700 kil ome t res of railway (the kilometre is iths of a mile), which have cost nearly 4,000,000,000fr.—0f which 3 , 2 50,000,000 fr, were raised by companies, and 750,000,000 fr. by the State. But I