The Sun. — London, England, 1859-10-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 26, 1859, MB. ADAM BLACK, .211. P., ON WAGES, TRADES' UNIONS, AND STRIKES. On Saturday evening, Mr. Adam Black, M.P., delivered a lecture on "Wages, Trades' Unions, and Strikes," in Dunedin-hall, Edinburgh. The hall was crowded in every part, upwards of 2,000 kilos present. Among the gentlemen who accom parded Mr. Black to the platform was the Right Hen; Sir John Melville, the Lord Provost. After a few remarks from Sir JOAN MELVILLE, who was called fo the chair, Mr. BLACK rose to address the meeting amidst loud and prolonged cheering. He spoke at con siderable length, but we can only afford space for a brief condensation of his address. After some introductory remarks, he said—The subject of wages, trades' unions, and strikes, is one of very great importance, as it seriously affects the peace and prosperity of the country, the accumulation of capital, and the protection of property ; and it most especially affects the happiness of the operatives an I their families. Moreover, it is a question requiring an attentive consideration of first prin ciples, with their bearing upon the common busi ness of life ; at the same time, it is one which is much obscured by the animosities and excited feel ings occasioned by the sufferings of both masters and men in their unhappy contests. be my endeavour calmly and impartially to examine the bearings of this question so deeply affecting our social economy. The value of commodities does not continue invariable, their price is affected by fluctua tion in abundance or scarcity. The price of corn, for example, is always varying from this cause. When a.plentiful harvest has thrown a larger than ordinary quantity into the market, then there will be a competition among the sellers to procure theur chasers, and rather than keep their wheat n stackyard the farmers will offer it at a lower price, and when the price is reduced to such a rate as will induce a sufficient number of buyers to take up the quantity to be disposed of, then the price will have adjusted itself according to the supply and demand. On the other hand, in the event of a deficient crop and a scarcity of corn, then, as there would be a demand for a greater quantity than was brought to market, purchasers would compete and overbid one another to secure the desired quantity. So with all goods ; they will command prices relative to their scarcity or abundance, and if left to a free market they will as surely adjust themselves according to the supply and. demand as water will rise to its level ; and all attempts to force prices to an unnatural level, or to protect certain pro ductions, have been. attended with disastrous con sequences. The only important trade that never was subjected to the infliction of protection was the cot ton trade, and none has risen to such gigantic mag nitude, and afforded occupation to so many hundreds of thousands, and on which have been raised so many princely fortunes. Experience has incontes tibly proved that perfect freedom in buying and selling is most advantageous for all parties, and that everything in the nature of monopoly or restriction or interference with production must be injurious to the public, and generally without benefit to the parties for whose advantage they were intended. Labour is as much an article of commerce as corn or sugar. Money or capital is likewise an In article of c ommerce. Both are necessary to production. all great works many must be employed who can con tribute nothing but labour ; eapital,however, is ab solutely necessary to procure materials and imple ments, and to support the workmen till the manu facture is completed and sold, and the money received for the goods. If capital be necessary for the employ ment of labour, labour is equally necessary for the employment of capital. Capital is always seeking to employ labour, and it is the business of the capi talist to find out the occupation which will yield the greatest return with security. And according to the risk and the agreeable or disagreeable nature of the speculation engaged in, will a higher or a lower interest be expected; but where trade is free, the returns from the employment of labour will on an average bear a uniform value, modified by circumstances. Skilled labour, for example, or what: requires years of preparatory instruction, will be paid higher than unskilled labour, so as to remu nerate for the time and expense employed in prepa ration for business. Other circumstances will modify the wages of labour, such as continuous or inter rupted employment, healthy or unhealthy occupa tion,or other peculiarities ; but wherever the occupa tions are of a similar character, and the profits equal, the wages of labour will likewise be equal. If, under particular circumstances, profits should be greater in one trade than the average, then capital and labour will be attracted to that trade till they reach the average level. A question arises, what proportion of the profit of the manufacture should go to the capitalist, and what to the operatiVe. The interest of money, like the price of every other commodity, rises and falls in the market in proportion to its abundance or scarcity—in other words, if there be a greater demand for the use of money than usual, the competition for loans will cause a rise in the in terest. On the other hand, if money is more abun dant, and the demand limited, the interest will fall. Let us assume that the average rate of interest is 5 per cent. when laid out on good security and without trouble to the capitalist. If a capitalist, having £lO,OOO, is desirous of speculating with it, so as to bring him in a larger return than ordinary interest, lie may invest it in a cotton-mill, or in building a ship, or in publishing books, or in any other specnlation ; but, as all trading or commercial speculations are liable to greater risks than money lent on good se curity, and as trade demands careful superintend ence, he is entitled to a return considerably higher than he would receive from the funds, or from lend ing it on the security of property. Supposing, then, the ordinary rate of interest to be 5 per cent., a prudent man would not engage in a manufactu ring or mercantile speculation unless it promised at least 8 or 10 per cent. ; say, then, that during the year he employed 20 men at 203 . a week , the wag es year the men would be £l,o4o—the interest of his money at 8 per cent. would be £BOO, from which he would have to pay insurance, bad debts, and small items, and he would require sonic remunera tion for his own skill and superintendence, say double the wages of a common workman, £104; then, to render this speculation worth carrying on, it ought to yield an annual profit of £1,914 ; and if it was a work requiring £lOO,OOO, and employing 200 men, then the annual returns should be just ten times greater.,lt would be rash to speak positively on this subjects, as profits are effected by so many acciden tal circumstances, but this estimate will serve to explain the nature of the transaction. Let us see then what would be the effect of the 20 workmen demanding a rise in their wages from 20s. to 255. This would be an additional deduction from the pro fits of £260 annually, which would reduce the re turn on the capital employed to £540, or little more than the interest on money lent on property ; in which case, if the capitalist were a prudent man, he would as soon as possible withdraw from the trade, and the men would be thrown idle. If the capital of the country were to increase more rapidly than the population, then the division of the profit on capital would decrease, and the proportion drawn by labour would increase, and vice versa ; for, as money becomes more abundant, the interest is con sequently lowered—there is a greater inducement to invest in more remunerating speculations, such as trade and commerce—there is a greater demand for men to carry on the new undertakings, and the competition for workmen increases their wages. This shows how advantageous it is to the operative classes that capital should increase, as of necessity they must share in its benefits. We sometimes hear ill-informed reasoncrs speak of capital as antagonis tic to labour, whereas it is the very life-blood of la bour, and must as certainly circulate through the whole body of the labourers as the blood from the ' heart circulates to the extremities of the human. frame. Whatever diminishes the wealth of the capi talist injuriously affects the workman. If any sud den reverse were to come upon the rich, by which their wealth was to be annihilated, it would be one of the greatest calamities that could befall the la bouring classes ; the country gentleman Would be obliged to pay off his servants ; the improvements on his estates mus t b e s t oppe d, an d those employed on them discharged; the , manufacturer would not have the means of carrying his operations and employ ing workmen ; the wouldvie have no demand views on on often subjects of f th for new houses. Erroneous which we are now treating operative classes to regard their employersta lead the Jealousy, envy, and malevolence ; and the with em ploers to regard the workmen with distrust while in their occupation, and with neglect when in ilistress. A true and Christian appreciation of the value and importance of the relation between master end servant would induce each to regard the other with charity—the workman to rejoice in Ll' .e prospe ity of his employer, and the employer to treat his workmen with justice and kindness. in ordinary c -‘ses prices are fixed by a kind of huckster iog ; and, instead of organising a determined contest, were workmen to threaten to leave. or actually to leave their masters, unless their demands were agreed to (but without obstructing or intimidating others), if circumstances warranted a compliance with their terms, some masters would agree to them, and others would be ohligt d to follow their example, as other wise they would lose their best men. But if already wages had reached their proper level, and masters could not carry on their works with a fair profit — if a lager proportion was p aid awa y in wages, the resistance to the demand would be so general that the workmen 'would find it to be their interest to accept the largest wages that could be mutually agreed upon. This would accomplish the same ob ject as a strike, in every instance where a strike wo u ld have naturally been successful, without the disastrous consequences which uniformly attend thew i n t es ti ne wars. the prosperous summer of 1836, the spinners in Glasgow memorialised their masters for a rise in wage s. Trade being brisk and profits large, the manufa cturers were desirous to in crease their trade, and there was a competition for workmen. The advanc e was therefore readily agreed to. But by - and -by ca m e the commercial crisis of January and February, 1857, and prices fell so much that the masters could not sell with a profit at the a d van ced rate of wages, and ther efore they proposed that wages should be restored to the former rate, which was from 265. to 365. a-week. The workmen however thought that, contrary to the nature of things, wages should be kept u p at the same rat i e n a period of depression as in times of great pros perity. They struck work in a body.on the Bth of April, and continued till the sth of August, .a. period of seventeen weeks, when they unani mously agreed to return to their work on terms lower than those first offered by the masters, after having endured extreme sufferings themselves, and caused wide-spread mise r y among others through this insane strife, which a knowledge of the laws that regulate wages would have prevented. The number of spinners i n Glasgow in 1837 was between SOO and 900 ; each of these gives employment to a certain number of women and girls, about seven for each spinner—thus about 5000 females were de prived of the means of IR-elihood through the folly .and perverseness of those who ought to have known better. The total loss to Glasgow during the strike was £194,540. No doubt combinations of work men have been, legalised by the act of 1825, and very properly so. But if workmen may combine to fix prices and resolve upon the conditions on which they will dispose of their lab our, even-handed jus tice requires, and the law provides, that the same rights be accorded to the employers. They may unite to lower the rate of wages, and to agree on the conditions on which they will engage work men. If the workmen may legally have recourse to a strike to compel a rise of wages, or any other concession, the employers may also legally resort to a lock-out to compel a reduction of wages, or an ac ceptance of any other terms. While I say this, I by no means approve of a lock out by the masters. Both may be legal , but it is very inexpedient, and very dangerous for either the one party or the other to exercise this extreme power. It is like the power of the House of Commons to stop the supplies—a power which maybe heldup in terrorem, but which is never exercised. When such intestine national contests occur, they are accompanied with most of the evils that attend wars. The country -which is the theatre of the war is devastated, property is de stroyed, multitudes of innocent persons suffer, the belligerents on each side endeavour to do as much damage to the other side a s possible, disease and crime and death follow in the track of war ; and after disaster has done it s worst to both parties, very often from sheer ex haustion they patch up a peace which leaves bot h parties in much the same condition as they were before the beginning of the conflict. Each p art y strives to destroy the property of the other. Multitudes who take no part in the strike, but desire to remain at peace, are thrown out of employment. Wives and children are reduced to beggary, crime becomes more ram pant, and disease and death thin their numbers. This was all painfully illustrated by the great strike of the colliers in Lanarkshire, Renfrew, and Stir ling, in 1837. We have a melancholy instance of the intense suffering which must often be endured by the numerous victims of these strikes in the case of Daniel Lock. a plasterer,' who late l y com mitted suicide in London, leaving behind him a paper containing these words :—" The strike—the ruinous strike; God protect my unfortun ate family." The rash act of this nnhappy man has made his case public, but who can tell how many innocent victims of the pride and folly of others weep in their desolate homes unheeded and unseen? It is difficult to procure the printed rules of the different unions, and when they are procured they are gene rally indefinite and defective ; much is left to be decided by the council. By the last annual report of the Amalgamated Engineers and their rules as revised in 1857, the combination purports to be a friendly society or benefit club only, but the middle of the preface contains a paragraph in defence of " restrictions against the admission into our trade of those who have not earned a right by a proba tionary servitude." After enumerating the trades comprehended within their scheme, the preamble sets forth its provision of branches. No branch is to consist of more than 300 members, or to have more than seven officers, three officers being allowed to a branch of 20 members ; every member is re gistered, age, trade, married or not, that the details may be recorded in the general registration book in London. The fines imposed on the members for neglecting to notify the union authorities their mar riage, or removal, or change of service, show the strictness of supervision under which they are living. There is nothing like it anywhere else in this country. The executive council consists of 25 members, appointed by as many branches of districts, nine of which are in or near London. The ordinary business is transacted by the coun cil of nine London members, five forming a quo rum ; their powers are very great and very vague, and they determine anything wherein the society's rules are silent. This is in itself a tremen dous power. In case of any dispute, the inquirer may ask what is the rule on the subject; he may be told there is no ruler, the council settles those matters on which the rules are silent. He is in the hands of the council, who may fine him or expel him if they think proper, and he has no means of redress. This power, in the absence of law, is evidently too formidable to be resisted. The central council avoids the responsibility of taking care of the funds. It simply draws on the branches for what it wants to pay expenses, salaries to itself, grants to strikes, &c. If the central council asks for maney, the branch must send it, and at the end of the . financial year the affairs are settled by equalisations, thus exercising a despotic control over the funds of the members. Then the i paembers are liable to numerous fines of 55., 2s. 6d., ls., &c., for . not giving information on a multitude of sub jects, and several other provisions show that every man is living under a spy system from the hour when h e becomes a member, and a victim, of this despotic organisation. With a working-man who has entered the trades' union there often occurs something that he can't do, mustn't do, daren't do, because it is against rules, or would be found out. There is always the idea that somebody would tell on him. The yoke seems to be upon him 'wherever he goes. If compulsion were only used towards their own members there would be less room for complaint, but when it is used to deprive of their only means of livelihood those who do not belong to their associations, it is a tyranny more cruel than that of despotic sovereigns. I shall proceed to show that trades' unions, as at present managed, and strikes, are exceedingly injurious, not only to the country, but to the workmen themselves. I am unwilling to occupy y o ur time by detailing the effects of strikes before the passing of Mr. Hume's Act legalising combinations. Before that time in stances of violence, sometimes ending in assassina tions, were not uncommon. In 1812, Mr. Ho rsfall, an eminent manufacturer, was waylaid and shot by a band of assassins, and several mills were at the same time attacked and destroyed. In the end the combination was suppressed but not until seventeen of the combined workmen had been executed at York. I have already alluded to the loss a and injury sustained by the workmen and the public in the strike of the colliers in Lanarkshire and the adjoining counties. Before the strike their wages had been raised from time to time to 355. a week for three days' work of four or five hours a day only, or 355. for fifteen hours' work — a convin cing proof that, when the profit to the capitalist in any particular line is great, competition among the masters for workmen will raise wages without having recourse to a strike. But in 1837, in con sequence of the price of iron having fallen from £7 to £4 10s. a ton, the ironmasters found it impos sible to carry on their trade while such extrava gant wages were paid to the colliers, and offered them the following terms -30 s. a week , working eight hours a . day. Those terms were immediately rejected, and the whole colliers in Lanarkshire, 2,000 in number, struck work, and remained unem ployed for six months. Their place was partly supplied by weavers, who ha,l been starving on Bs. a week. After the loss of six months, the men were glad to return on the terms offered by their masters-30s. for 48 hours' labour, instead of 355. for 15 hours. The town of Preston is celebrated i f n or th l3 e annalsweeks ; of strikes. On the sth November, 1836, the operatives struck, 'and ceased working 8,500 persons ere thrown idle. Of this number it was said that only 660 . spinners .working, voluntarily rlcin gcould left uld their not be on the spinnerswtohr , the rest,.. being depen dent to continue dent was estimated that the .k. ' em ou lo: v e as without them. It to Continue at work loss of wages by persons £ . 60,361 ; the loss N t V o i g 6 64 spinners in wages during the turn-out, £9,652. The total loss to the town and trade of Preston in this unavailing ed struggle was £107,196. The townlvabseseireon.Nevddby with applicantsbegga.rs ; the work houses were relief; s three ary. persons were known to have perished fo r from starva tion ; and after a contest of five supplies from the union altogether months, the was resunazi on the terms offeracidlint, y workt the masters ; but 200 (or one-third of the spinners) were obliged to leave the town, their places being occupied by new-comers. In 18a4 . the operatives of Preston again struck for a lase of 10 per cent., and, after a contest of seven months, were glad to return to their work at the old prices, after again involving hundreds of families in misery and ruin. The amalgamated engineers, in the previous year, combined to procure a cessa tion of overtime and piecework, and a reduction of the hours of labour, To this the masters replied insisting that every man should sign a docu 'mer.t repudiating all connexion with trades' unions. .After 15 weeks' battle, and spending £25,000, the - workmen accepted the terms of the masters. But it is unnecessary to advert to the other remarkable strikes and their consequences. They have been always disastrous to both masters and men, and injurious to the country. The unionists of many , other towns have driven away thriving manufac turers from their own locality. It may be supposed that the calamity cannot be very groat if it is only the removed of a branch of manufacture from one town to another ; but workmen would do well to consider that by these frequent strikes they are playing into the hands of their competitors in Ame rica and on the Continent of Europe. Many parts of Prussia, Saxony, Switzerland, and France, have extensive and flourishing manufactures ; and now that communication between one country and an other is so easy and rapid, these countries are com ing more and more into the market of the world to compete with the British manufacturer. It ap pears from the authentic statements published by Messrs. Du Fay and Co., of Manchester, than whom there are no higher authorities on such subjects, that the demand for raw cotton in 1853 increased 71 per cent. in Germany, Russia, and Holland, while it fell off 11 per cent. in Great Britain. It is not by illegal violence alone that personal liberty may be encroached upon ; there are other means of intimidation that may be as effectual, or even more so. The Pope, by the threat of excommunication, was able to control the most powerful sove reigns. A similar threat is one of the most effective instruments in the hands of the coin mitt :es of the unions. When they order a strike, he would be a bold man who would preach the right of private judgment, and act upon it in opposition to the commands of the secret committee. He would not only be shunned by all his companions, but reproached and denounced as a snob, a nobstick, as unfair, and insulted in other opprobious terms. By cajolery, molestation, and threatening, the combined leaders strike a general terror into the whole community. In most of these contests 1 have no doubt there are many who in their own minds nre satisfied that they are unne cessary and ruinous, but are as much afraid of stating their convictions and acting upon them, as men who live under the nightshade of the Inqui sition are afraid of professing their faith in the right of private judgment lest they should be per secuted for heresy. What. right has any man or society of men to prevent a boy from learning a trade by which he may earn an honest livelihood ? To prevent him is inhumanity to the boy, is cruelty to his parents, and injurious to the country. And what is the class that is injured ? These boys are the sons of workmen, and it is workmen who doom them to idleness: They are their own children who are thus barbarously treated. If the son of a carpenter should desire to learn to be a printer, or the son of a printer desire to learn to be a carpenter, to prevent them is to exercise cruelty of the worst description, as it is against the young and un offending and helpless. And what is the reason for this exclusion ? It is avowedly to secure a monopoly of the trade, by preventing an increase of workmen. While you so rigidly maintain mono who are so ready to de pn o o l u i n e s o e a mo monopoliesn g yourselves, in all other cases? Another way in which unions encroach on the rights of both masters and men is, their dictation of the manner in which work is to be executed. From the nature of these rules, they appear to be devised by the most idle and unskilful men of the union, as they generally favour these at the expense of the indus trious and skilful. For example, they insist that the wages shall be uniform ; that the man whose work is superior in quality and quantity shall receive no more than the man whose work is inferior and de ficient. The work of some may be worth 405., and of others 20s. If the union determine that all shall have 30s. (that being the average), is it not a pal pable injustice done to the superior workman who is thus compeiled to contribute 10s. a week to a lazy and clumsy companion? Then they forbid piecework, by which the man who is skilful and industrious may gain much more than he could possibly gain by the ordinary weekly wages. The effect of this, and fixing an average wage for all, is to keep the whole body of operatives on one common level, without the hope of ever rising above the status of a working man. I have known operative masons, industrious, frugal, and skilful, who, by taking piecework and making extraordinary exertions, gained money enough to enable them to commence as masters, and, by good management, rise to great eminence. Had these men been doomed to the dead level of an average wage, cramped and manacled , by trade union rules, they never could have reached their eventual prosperity. The noble workmen George Stephenson, Telford, and Tredgold, laboured as journeymen at not more than 12s. a week ; they, by the exercise of their free and unfettered talents, increased the power of the country, and added im mensely to its wealth and happiness ; but had they been fettered and confined by trades' union rules and control they would have died unknown and un honoured, and Britain would have been deprived of the incalculable benefits resulting from their exer tions. It is said to be a rile among the bricklayers that they are never to leave the trowel out of the right hand, that they may never be able to use both hands in laying the bricks. In the business of printing, although a small number of a book may be printed, the men are not permitted to charge for less than 250. If I want to publish a book in ten volumes, each volume separately at intervals, I should calculate that the sale would fall off, per haps, by 50 of each successive volume. In this case, common sense would say, I should print 50 less of each successive volume, and both the printer and pressman would see the reasonableness of this and be willing to charge accordingly ; but, if they were to venture to do what seemed to themselves so rea sonable and just, a mandate would go forth from the committee that they must stop or the office will be closed. The result is that by the rules of the union, if I print 50 I must either pay for 250, or at the close of the publication I must be left with a great many imperfect books. The consequence of these frequent interferences between workmen and their employers has been that masters have stimulated men of mechanical genius to invent machines which do the work of hundreds of men, and never combine. Bit, could the operatives have had their way, the nation would have been deprived of the incalculable bene fits which these inventions have conferred upon the community. There would have been no power looms, no spinning-jennies, no steam printing-press, no boot-closing machines—in short, almost every intention which has abridged labour and increased the comfort and wealth of the people has met with determined opposition from the operatives. I be lieve that in almost all trades the unionists dictate to both masters and men the methods to be followed in carrying on their business, and lay down arbi trary rules which are often not only inapplicable to the business in hand, but are positive hindrances. Were all left to act like free men, the customer would say how he wanted the material supplied, the master would negotiate with him accordingly, and would engage with the men to do the work on such terms as might be agreeable to both parties,; but, instead of that, a third party, who has no in terest in the transaction, steps in and in a dictato rial style controls them all or forbids them to pro ceed further. One wonders how sensible men—men calling themselves freeborn Britons—have so long submitted to the dictation of this secret tribunal. We are accustomed to laud free national constitu tions, but freedom to act in all social relations in such a way as will be most conducive to man's own happiness, uncontrolled either by prince or priest, or by any committee of his own trade, is the most invaluable of social privileges. Britain has expe rienced the blessings of free trade, and I hope and believe that our countrymen are determined to re sist every attempt to deprive them of this source of national prosperity, and will guard it with the greatest jealousy. In conclusion, allow me to say that, although many of you may not coincide with my views on this important subject, I have told you what 1 believe to be the truth, and in doing so my sole object is to promote your advantage by saving you from fruitless expenditure, from an oppressive yoke of superintendence and control, and from dangerous conflicts which are pregnant with ruin to yourselves and families, and which are injurious not only to you as individuals, but have a baneful influence on the material interests of the country. At the conclusion of the lecture, Mr. EVERETT, a working man, in the front seat of the area of the hall, rose and attempted to address the meeting amidst considerable interruption. He failed in getting a hearing, but Dr. Guthrie helped him up to the platform, and, heedless of the noise which prevailed, he asked Mr. Black who ought to settle any differences which arose between employers and employed as to the rate of wages. The work-. men had of late been always willing to submit their difference to arbitration, and he asked whether Mr. Black would support a bill for the purpose of of betweenislisri.c.ußtreAcic said t employers he y (l a forming committees of arbitration to settle questions a n a s e w m er p e lo d ye tl% ques tion in his lecture. The case was precisely the same as that of the farmer who brought his grain to the market and the baker who came to purchase. They must agree between themselves. There might be some hie.,lin t' ;ling between them, but th e y must come to an understanding themselves (cheers). I Mr. IV. CHAMBERS proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Black for his lecture. He was sure that what ever might he their individual opinions on the sub ject of the lecture, they must all admire the manli ness and the kindness with which Mr. Black had come forward and announced his principles (cheers). He was happy to think that, notwithstanding the differences which existed between the employers and employed, were there more intercourse between these two classes, and were they more frequently to consult with each other as to their mutual interest, there would be much less of that unfortunate colli sion which they now experienced. Dr. GUTHRIE seconded the motion. - Mr. CALVIN EVANS, a working man, rose and said he had an amendment to propose. He mounted the platform, and said his amendment was, that Mr. Black was unworthy of the thanks of the meeting, an announcement which was received with a perfect storm of hissing and hooting, which continued all the time that he continued speaking. In-the midst of the noise, Mr. D. J. THOMSON moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, and the Lord Provost vacated the chair. POLICE INTELLIGENCE, Oct. 25. GUILDHALL.—Mr. Tallent, a bookseller in Paternoster-row, was summoned before Sir Peter Laurie to_ show cause why he refused _to pay the amount of 17s. 6d. for a church-rate in the parish of St. Faith-the-Virgin, under St. Paul's. A clerk attended from Mr. Tallent, and stated his employer was ill, and at the same time he handed in a formal notice from Mr. Tallent, stat- in; his objection to the rate, and his determination to contest its validity. Sir Peter Laurie—Why does Mr. Tallent object to pay this rate ? The Clerk—He objects to the rate on account of the Popish practices in the church. Sir Peter Laurie—Then the sooner they put an end to them the better. Mr. Hicks, the churchwarden—l do not live in the parish, and do not, therefore, attend the parish church. I have only attended it once, and that was on the occasion of a charity sermon, and I did not observe any Popish practices then. If I were aware that such practices existed I would do all in my power to put a stop , to them. I may, however, state that the service is intoned, and that is the worst feature in it. (Laughter.) Sir Peter Laurie—lf every one would make the same objection it would soon put an end to these Popish practices. Mr. Hicks—The fact is the recent change in the form of worship observed in the church, from strong Calvinistic to High Church, seems to have given offence to the congregation. It was not so much the music as thelsymbolical additions to the service that were objected to. Mr. Martin (the chief clerk)—l suppose the church is not much frequented ? Mr. Hicks—No, sir ; none of the parishioners attend the church, as they live out of town. Mr. Martin—What have you to say to this no tice which Mr. Tallent has forwarded ? Mr. Hicks—The validity of the rate not having been questioned in any ecclesiastical court, Mr. Tallent is, I apprehend, too late with his objection. Mr. Martin—There is a recent case reported of " Reg. v. Nunneley," in which the defendant gave a similar notice in writing, to the following effect : "I hereby give you notice that I dispute the validity of the church-rate now in question, owing to various irregu larities which were committed by the chairman at the meet ing for levying the said rate, and subsequently on taking the poll, and that I am advised by counsel that such rate is illegal ; and I further give you notice that if any distress warrant is granted against me, I shall sue you at law for damages." By the 53d Geo. 111., cap. 127, sec. 7, which gives summary jurisdiction to the justices in such cases, it is provided that " if the validity of such rate, or the liability of the person from whom it is demanded to pay the same, be disputed, and the party diE putiug the same shall give notice thereof to the justices, the justices shall forbear giving judgment thereupon, and the person or persons demanding the same may then proceed to the recovery of their demand according to the course of law as heretofore used and accustomed." In that case, the magistrate made an order which was subsequently quashed by the Court of Queen's Bench, on the ground that, the rate being disputed, the justices had no power to make the order. Mr. Hicks—But this is only an objection to evade the rate. With regard to the Popish prac tices it is all humbug. (Laughter.) Mr. Martin—Which do you mean is humbug, the' Popish practices or the objection ? (Renewed laughter.) Mr. Hicks (to the audience)—lt is no laughing matter, I can assure you. (Laughter.) Sir Peter Laurie—Well, we do not want any of the St. George's-in-the-East practices in the city. (Cheers from the auditory.) Mr. Hicks—Our rector is the son of the Rev. Dr. Milman, the' Dean of St. Paul's, and the service is similar to the cathedral service, in which, of course, there is a great deal of music. Sir Peter Lauri—Does this intoning cost more or entail any extra expense ? Mr. Hicks—lt does tot cost the vestry a farthing, sir, for the rector pays for all out of his own pocket. Sir P. Laurie—l wish it were made more expen sive to the vestry, as they would then have it in their power to stop it. (Laughter.) Mr. Hicks (appealing to the audience)—lt is no laughing matter. Sir P. Laurie—They seem to think differently. St. George's-in-the-East has set the example for laughing at such practices. Mr. Hicks—This objection to the rata is an idle excuse to, evade payment. There is no complaint of any etcessive outlay, and, indeed, there cannot be, for some time back the salaries of all who were paid out of the rate were cut down to half the ori ginal amounts. We now pay the organist only £lO a year for coming twice a week, barely sufficient to buy shoeleather ; and £5 a year for lighting the gas, ringing the bells, and blowing the organ. Mr. Martin—And are those sums paid out of the church-rate ? Mr, Hicks—Yes, sir. The pew-openers and the sexton are also paid out of the rate. Mr. Martin—lf you will make a rate including only such items as the law recognises as necessary for the decent observance of public worship in the church, then you may come hero and enforce your demand ; but the application of the rate to other purposes is illegal, and any claim for a rate so ap plied cannot be supported. Mr. Hicks—My year of office is nearly expired, and I will therefore leave that for my successor. As there seems to be some difficulty in the present case I will let it pass. Mr. Martin—l would recommend you at all events to delay enforcing your claim until you have in serted in the rate only such items as the law sanc tions for the support of the church. The summons was then dismissed for want of jurisdiction, the churchwardens being left to their remedy in the Ecclesiastical Court. LAM BET H.—CHARdE OF CRIMINALLY As - SAULTING A YOUNG WOMAN.--James Stevens, a young man, was charged before Mr. Yardley with a criminal assault upon Margaret Luck, aged 25, an unmarriedfemale, who lives with her brother at 25, Lillington-stre:t, Vauxhall-bridge -road., The complainant stated that at about seven o'clock the previous night she met the prisoner, who was a total stranger toher,in Grosvenor-park, Walworth, when, as the night was very foggy, in consequence of which s h e h a d l os t h er wa y, she asked him to direct her to Vauxhall-bridge. He said he was going p ar t o f th e way , an d he went with her some distance. On the way he treated her with a glass of ale, and at another house lie per suaded her to have a glass of gin-and-water. She remained with him till :about 11 o'clock, about which time he ind uce d h er t o go into a low-priced theatre, near the Westminster-bridge-road, and ad joining one of the arches of the South-IVestern Railway. He then gave her a glass of gin, upon taking which she became overpowered, and was soon in a state of insensibility. She recollected no thing more till about two o'clock the following morning, when she found herself in bed at home. In answer to Mr. Yardley, complainant stated that when she recovered herself she found her dress, shawl, and bonnet very much torn. She re collected that before she was overpowered she told the prisoner where she lived. She was told by the persons in the house where she lived that she was brought home in a cab. She was much injured. Mr. Yardley asked if the cabman who took her home bad been found. Inspector Ceaplin, B division, replied that he was in the court. Fred. Hawcock, badge 11,111, cab driver, de posed that about a quarter past 11 o'clock the pre vious night, he was in Hercules-buildings, West minster-bridge-roud, when he was called by some one. He saw the complainant, who was sitting on the pavement with her back against a wall, and she was insensible. She was ass'sted into the cab by the prisoner and another man. The prisoner, who said that he had only just seen the com plainant, told him where to take her to. Prisoner went to Lillington-street, where complainant was admitted by some man, who soon after came out and directed him to send for a policeman, observing that he thought there was something wrong. The prisoner remarked that there was nothing wrong in him, and that he had promiscuously met her. A police-constable was sent for, and the prisoner was taken to the police-station of the B division, Rochester-row. Wm. Luck, complainant's brother, corroborated the evidence as to the state in which the com plainant was, and as to the state of her dress. He was satisfied that there was something wrong, when he sent for a Surgeon, and in consequence of the representation made to him he sent for a po lice-constable, who took theprisoner into custody. Br Mr. Yardley—My sister has always been a well conducted young woman, and has behaved herself respectably. She has been in service, and has always had excellent charact4.s. I have made inquiries, and hare ascertained that she was seen drinkin,t with some man like the prisoner. Mr. Yardley asked if it had been found where the complainant had been after she was taken to the theatre she had alluded to. The Inspector observed that there had not been time to make the inquiry. Smith, 262 B, stated, that the prisoner was given into his custody on a charge of having administered something deleterious to complainant, and of also having committed the capital offence. Ho made a statement to witness which was corroborated in Many particulars by the statement made by the complainant. Mr. Win. Whitmarsh, assistant to Mr. Pearce, surgeon of the B division, proved having examined the complainant, and stated that the capital offence THE MORTARA CASE. (From the Times.) It really seems as if there were among our Roman Catholic fellow-subjects men who were desirous to force upon the Government and people of these slands a reconsideration of a great public measure, solemnly resolved upon after a long controversy, and founded on views the most liberal, and as we are still willing to believe, the most enlightened. We know that the Roman Catholic faith is not the faith of .hese kingdoms. Why. will the Roman Catholics Labour so sedulously to convince us that our country is not their country, our interests are not their interests, and our standard of morality is not their standard of morality ? Cannot they receive at our hands a toleration, an indulgence, a consideration utterly unknown to every nation in which their faith is in the ascendant, without seeking to abuse the liberty they enjoy by putting forth doctrines shocking to every feeling and every conviction of the nation in the midst of which they live ? One week we see the Bishops of the Roman Catholic Churth in Ireland effecting a diversion in favour of the Pope by an attack on the national system o education, which was designed for and accepted by their predecessors as a great boon, which has worked successfully for 30 years, and which, though accused of proselytising tendencies, has never been shown to have made a single proselyte. Upon this scarcely dissembled onslaught on the well-meant attempts of good men of all parties to promote popular education in Ireland follows a denunciation of any sympathy with the inhabitants of the Papal States in their present sore need, because the con tinuance of Papal despotism in temporal matters is pant of the religion of the writer, who, though sym pathising most keenly with the alleged oppression of Ireland, holds in the utmost horror the longings of Italy for emancipation from ecclesiastical tyranny. And now, not content with 'exhibiting themselves as the champions of ignorance and the supporters of tyranny, to-day our columns are sullied by the appearance of a letter the object of which is indi rectly to defend the proceedings of the Papal Government with regard to the boy Mortara—pro ceedings which even Roman Catholic nations have regarded with dismay and aversion. This day it is no conclave of bishops nominally met to deliberate ; it is no veteran agitator who values his sacred office mainly for the power which it gives him over the minds of an ignorant and exciteable population ; it is an English country gentleman of ancient lineage and unquestioned private character, who comes for ward as the apologist of one of the worst iniquities for which Rome of late years has had to answer. Our readers have read, and we confess we should have thought but for Mr. Langdale's letter that no layman could have read with out assent, the emphatic protest signed by a number of bishops, noblemen, and gentlemen against the conduct of the Papal Government in the case of the boy Mortara. The facts have long been notorious, but will bear a brief recapitulation, especially as Mr. Langdale thinks that he has de tected a case completely analogous in the ordinary conduct of Englishmen. The boy Mortara, the child of Jewish parents, was, it appears, clandes tinely baptised by a maidservant into the Church of Rome. On the strength of this baptism the child was on the 24th of June, 1858, when six or seven years old, forcibly taken from his parents by the Papal Government, and conveyed under an escort of soldiers too a convent in Rome. Sir Moses Monti. fiore, on behalf of the British Jews, went to Rome to obtain, if possible, the liberation of the child, The Pope absolutely refused to see him, and he was informed that the child should not be released. The protest, as Mr. Langdale truly says, censures this proceeding on two grounds—first, that the child is taken away from the authority of his parents ; and secondly, that he is educated in a religion of which they . disapprove. Mr. Langdale is evidently of opinion that in so doing the head of the Roman Catholic Church acted well and wisely ; that, the child having become a member of that Church by the treacherous and dishonourable act which the servant perpetrated under his father's roof, the Pope had a right to call in his civil to the assist ance of his spiritual authority, and to kidnap the child of bis subject in order to bring it up in the bitterest hatred and contempt of its parents and their religion. The tie he thinks which bound the parent to the child, and which Burke not inaptly called the sacrament of nature, was rudely broken by the furtive administration of the sacrament of baptism to an unconscious infant, and the civil power of the State was well exerted to enforce a right so obtained for an end so desirable. But, instead of coming forward as the direct apologist of proceed ings which evidently excite his warmest sympathies, Mr. Langdale thinks it easier and safer to be himself the assailant, and to protect the Papal Government by attacking those who protest against its bigotry and tyranny. The case of Mortara is, according to Mr. Langdale, constantly the case of children in every Poor Law Union in England. Children, he says, are taken from a starving parent to be educated in a faith contrary to their parents' will, or else the last moments of a widowed mother are invaded by the assurance that her child will be educated in a religion which she believes will lead to an eternal separation between then. To be sure, Mr. Lang dale admits that the law does not direct this, that the matter is one of local management; but still he maintains the cases to le strictly parallel, and calls with much triumph upon the protesters to apply to this crueltythe same indignation as they apply to the Mortara outrage. Mr. Langdale shrouds himself in vague, and we dare say he thinks safe, generalities ; but the dif ference between the case put and the case protested against is, even as he states it, so plain, that we are almost ashamed to point it out. The Roman Government took the child from parents well able to maintain it, by violence and contrary to their protestations and reclamations. In the English case put by . Mr. Langdale there is no taking at all. If a parent is unable to support a child from sick ness or poverty, the child is admitted into the Union Workhouse, not in contravention of the wishes of the parent, or with the view of prosely tism, but merely for the purpose of preserving its life—a stretch of humanity which is not, we be lieve, to be found in any Roman Catholic country. When placed in the workhouse the child is in structed together with the other children, and it learns such religion as is taught there as a part of its education. There is no wish to make converts or proselytes, but the Board of Guardians believe, and rightly, as we think, that they are not bound out of the funds placed at their disposal for the relief of the poor to provide separate spiritual instructors,accord ing to the religion of the parent. This is Mr. Lang dale's parallel case. In the one case there is a taking away by violence of a child whom the parents were willing to maintain and educate, in the other there is a receiving with the consent of the parents of the child, under a benevolent law, into a place where the State may perform towards it that duty of nurture which the parents, through poverty, sickness, or death, are unable to discharge. In the one case the child is seized that it may be prosely tized, in the other it is received that it may be kept alive. The whole gravamen of Mr. Langdale's charge is, that in the case of those who are sup ported on public charity the State has not thought fit to require that special religious instructors should be maintained. It will be a happy day for the Roman people when such is the heaviest accu sation that a bitter and uncandid enemy can bring against the priestly tyranny under 'which they groan. But Mr. Langdale does not appear to have care fully considered his own position. It is quite pos sible to disapprove the treatment of the parents of the boy :Mortara without seeinc , anything repre hensible in the management of our Poor Law Unions. Bnt the converse would seem to us im possible. It seems to us impossible to disapprove, as Mr. Langdale appears to do, the conduct of our Poor Law Guardians, and yet to approve, as Mr. Langdale appears to do, the treatment of the boy Mortara. Not to provide Roman Catholic instruc tion for a young Roman Catholic is surely less scan dalous than by force and fraud to push Roman Catholic instruction on a Jew. To omit a duty which the State never undertook is surely -less cul pable than to violate a right which lies at the foundation of civil society—the right of every parent, so long as h e is able, to maintain and edu. sate his child, to bring him up in his own faith iahec:ll-lef ise its i indeed, on e wa y o f reconc iling these con tradictions; sthe Catholic ol hd ic ea re m lig a i y true, proon ispagateit and by force and fraud. The Protestant religion is false, and therefore its professors are bound to pay out of the poor-rates for instructors to expose its absurdities. It would be more seemly in the defenders of the Pope to labour to raise his to his, trans parent sophisms Government to our level than t o sophisms to drag down our practicetryby had been committed. She was insensible when he saw her. Mr. Yardley—Was that the effect of intempe rance, or of anything that had been administered to her ? Witness—She had more the appearance as if some narcotic had been administered. It did not appear as if she had berm drinking much. The prisoner was remanded for a week. SPO.k2'IN 61 INTELLIGENCE. NEWMARKET HOUGHTON MEETING. THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE DAY. A dull slate-coloured sky and a piercing cold wind rendered the Cambridgeshire Day somewhat dreary and uncomfortable. They deterred mere pleasure-seekers from visiting the Heath, and even diminished the attendance of those persons who take a pecuniary interest in the sport. Several other circumstances may bra enumerated to explain the slight falling-off in the company which was perceptible. -The " great race " was " set " for a quarter to one, and hence the market folk, at that early hour, were unable to quit their stalls, and the villagers could not complete their purchases in time to witness the commencement of the proceedings. Speculation, too, had been so limited that the event did not excite general interest. Still it must not be inferred from these remarks that the attendance on the Heath was by any means small—it was only not up to the average. Twelve o'clock was the time appointed for the first race, which was decided on the Top Course ; it was the Feather Plate, and ex cited very little interest. No sooner had the jockeys weighed for it than the business of weighing the riders for the Cambridgeshire was proceeded with, and this was a task of some perplexity, caused by the confusion which the crowded state of the weigh ing room created. In due course the numbers of the running horses were displayed on the telegraph board. Meanwhile a Babel of tongues arose from the ring, and the shouting from that quarter was deafening. There was, however, evidently "more noise than nuts," and speculation—amongst backers of horses at least—was pursued with little spirit. The changes which were made in the relative posi tions of certain horses will be sufficiently indicated by the list of quotations appended to the return of the race. Almost the first horse saddled was North Lin coln, and Wells mounted him in the stables at the top of the town. A crowd immediately surrounded them, and followed them down the course. After North Lincoln came Lifeboat and Mazzini, and then followed Ditto and Gracchus. Artless, Maud, and Broadlands were amongst the next who gal loped down the course. Ariadne and J. Osborne's two were saddled under the ditch, near the starting post. The elaborate description of the race which is given elsewhere suggests few comments. A veritable outsider was the winner. Red Eagle was scarcely mentioned in the betting, whilst his stable companion, Lady Alice, was the most trusted repro-. sentative of his owner and his friends. Just befrJre the start, however, we believe that Mr. J. o , :porne took 500 to 5 about the winner. It may Ile remem bered that Red Eagle was frequently quoted at out side prices for the last Derby ; bia't the public, at least, never gave him credit for possessing much racing merit. His success to-day principally bene fits the fielders, and has Given them a " turn' which they have not experienced for a long time. Ariadne justified the higla opinion which the Danebury party entertained of her chance. The favourites were beaten after going a little more than half way. North Lincoln, who had run forward in the early part of the race, was amongst the first to disap pear from the front, and then Mazzini and Artless, in succession, declined the encounter When the great event had been decided, and the excitement which its unexpected result had occa sioned had somewhat abated, a movement was made to the Flat, where the remainder of the day's sport was to take place. The subsequent races were not marked by any incident of importance, and the cold gradually lessened the numbers on the Heath until only an ordinary day's attenda nee was left to witness the termination of the races. Fifty Pounds, for two-yr• olds and upwards. The winner, with his engagements, to be sold for 300 guineas, if de manded, &c. Last three miles of B.C. Mr. I. Dawson's The Pitman, 2 yrs, sst ........ (Buck) 1 Mr. Fuller's Simple Simon, 2 yrs, sst ...... (Wilt s hi re ) 2 Count Batthyany's Neoptolemus, 2 yrs, sst (Daley) 3 The following also ran :—Yorkshire Grey, Lady Bird, Lottery, Tormentor, Steppingstone, Pomona, Hamlet, and Whitewall. Betting-2 to 1 agst Pomona-5 to 1 agst Tormentor 6to 1 agst The Pitman-8 to 1 agst Yorkshire Grey-10 to 1 each agst Steppingstone and Simple Simon. After getting through the ditch gap, Pomona and Lady Bird alternately made play. At the Bushes, Neoptolemus, Tormentor, and The Pitman joined her, and Lady Bird dropped behind them. On making the turn, Neoptolemus was in front, but at the top of the hill he tired and ran all over the Course, and The Pitman and Simple Simon went on together, Pitman winning by three-quarters of a length ; bad third ; Lady Bird was fourth ; Tormentor fifth, and Po mona sixth, wide intervals separating each. The Cambridgeshire 'Stakes of 25 sovs each, 10 ft, and 5 only if declared ; with 100 added ; winners extra ; the second to receive 50 sovs out of the stakes. Cambridge shire Course. 1 mile 240 yds. 205 subs. 91 of whom pay 5 sows each. Mr. J. Osborne's Red Eagle by Birdcatcher, 3 yrs, sst , 131 b (H. Grimshaw) 1 Mr. F. Robinson's Ariadne, 3 yrs, Est 121 b a 's A L ie i g feb A o l (Bray) 2 IS Is 'Li... MerryS hee a er t, ri 4 li y es r , s, 3 , y s r t s 6st 41b (H. Covey) 3 (French) 0 Baron Rothschild's North Lincoln, 3 yrs, Bst 71b (Wells) 0 Mr. Jones's Ditto, 4 yrs, Bst 31b (J. Osborne) Mr. R. Ten Broeck's Prioress, 6 yrs, Bst 31b (G. Fordham) 0 Mr. Crawfurd's Mayonaise, 3 yrs, Bst 21b ....(Aldcroft) 0 Mr. Savill e ' s M on t e b e ll o (i nc . 31b extra) 6 yrs, Bst (Charlton) 0 Lord Portsmouth's King of the Forest,‘s yrs, 7st 91b (11. Steggles) 0 Lord Glasgow's Brother to Bird on-the-Wing, 4 yrs, 7st 91b Mr. W. Day's Schism, 3 yrs, 7st 21b (Pritchard) 0 Mr. A. Nichol's Volta, 4 yrs, 7st (car. 7st 21b) .. (Little) 0 Mr. C. Devon's Independence, 3 yrs, 7st fSwift) 0 Mr. J. Doyle's Sam Spode, 4 yrs, 6st 131 b (Custance) 0 Capt. Gray's Glenbuck, 3 yrs, Est 131 b (J ohnson) 0 Sir W. Booth's Artless (inc. 71b extra) 3 yrs, Est 111 b (Perry) 0 Mr. S. Osborne's Lady Alice, (in. 31b ex.), 4 yrs, Est 81b (Challoner) 0 Mr. S. Williams's Mazzini, 3yrs, Est 91b (Hibberd) 0 Capt. Beresford's Gracchus (in. 71b extra), 3 yrs, Est 81b (W. Bottom) 0 Mr. W. Day's Petra, 3 yrs, Est 71b (J. Adams) 0 Mr. Blanton's Broadlands, 4 yrs, Est 61b . • (A. Edwards) 0 Mr. Townley's Ticket of Leave, 3 yrs, Est 51b (J. Snowden) 0 Mr. R. Sutton's Ambush, 3 yrs, Est 51b (Britton) 0 Lord Coventry's Maud, 4 yrs, Est (Sadler) 0 Mr. Hodgman's Mutineer, 3 yrs, Est (Dickenson) 0 Baron Niviere's Geologic, 3 yrs, Est (Madden) 0 Mr. J. Scott's Benbow, 3 yrs, sst 41b (Daly) Mr. J. Wareham's Australian Maid, 3 yrs, sst 2lb (Maidment) Mr. J. Simpson's Honey, 3 yrs, sst 21b (Howey) 0 Betting at starting-6 to 1 agst North Lincoln, 7to ] agst Mazzini, 9to 1 agst Artless, 11 to 1 agst Honey, 100 to 8 agat Sam Spode, 100 to 7 agst Lady Alice, 15 to 1 agat Ariadne, 16 to 1 agst Mutineer, 100 to 6 agst Ambush, 100 to 6 agst Petra, 20 to lagst Broadlands, 33 to 1 agst Maud, 33 to 1 agst Australian Maid, 40 to 1 agst Montebello, 40 to 1 agst Gracchus, 50 to 1 agst Volta, 50 to 1 agst Red Eagle, 50 to 1 agst Mayonaise, 1000 to 1.5 agst Schism, 1000 to 15 agst Meg Merrilies. THE RACE. A crowd of pedestrians and equestrians as usual assem bled at the starting. post to scrutinise the condition of the competitors for the last time, before they commenced their journey. When Mr. Hibburd, however, took up his flag, and called upon the homes to take their -places, the mounted spectators in his vicinity want helter-skelter to wards the winning chair, in order to witness the finish of the race. The starter was soon left with a clear field, and after wheeling round to the left, the horses began to form in line. Tho only really fidgetty animal at the post was Australian Maid—the mare that broke away in the Second October week and ran through the town. She was led to the post, and scarcely any persuasion could induce her to join ber horses. After a very little impatience even on the part of the most refractory animals, for the jockeys behaved admirably under the command of the starter, the signal was given, and the lot were despatched at exactly six minutes past one. The first on her legs was Maud, who went away about two lengths in advance, attended by Red Eagle, Ditto, North Lincoln, Lady Alice, Petra, Benbow, and Geologie, Prioress and Mutineer being at the tail of the ruck, and Australian Maid half a dozen lengths behind. They had scarcely reached the Criterion Stakes starting post when Ditto joined the rear lot, and Red Eagle took up the running, followed by Lady Alice, Petra, Geologie, Maud, Honey, Ariadne, Sam Spoke, Benbow, and Meg Merrilies; North Lincoln, in the centre of this lot, going as well as anything. As they neared the site of the old Duke's Stand North Lincoln was beaten, and Honey and Benbow also dropped away. Ariadne then drew towards the leader, followed by Meg Merrilies, Lady Alice, and Sam Spode. Lady Alice was beaten before reaching the cords, and the race was left to the three placed, Red Eagle carry ing on the running to the end, and created a sensation by winning cleverly by half a length; Meg Merrilies was beaten three lengths, and as far from her Sam Spode (fourth), and Lifeboat (fifth), were close together; Schism and Mutineer were well up with the fifth, Maud and Lady Alice were in front of the neat lot, N orth Lincoln, Petra, Artless, Mazzini, and Honey were running in with the second division in a cluster, and the lot pulling up was followed by Volta, Gracchus, Montebello, and Brother to Bird on the Wing. On starting Independence struck into Sam Spode's heels, and nearly knocked him down. Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, for three-yr-olds and upwards. Tho winner to be sold for 80 says, if demanded, &c. Last half of Ab.M. 3 fur. 217 yds. 4 subs. Mr. Stevens's Boundaway, 4 yrs, Bst 41b Mr. Greville's Grand Duchess, 4 yrs, Bst 41b (L. Snowden) 2 Even betting. Won by a length. Match, 100, h ft. Last half of Ab. M, 3 fur. 17 yards. Duke of Bedford's Orlando, 3 yrs, Bst 71b.... (S. Rogers) 1 Lord Glasgow's Alarm colt, 2 yrs, Gst 91b (Bray) 2 Betting-2 b 1 on Orlando. Won by two lengths. Optional Selling Stakes of 6 soya each, with 26 added, for 2-yr-olds, colts ; Bst 121 b ; fillies, Bst 81b. Last half of Ab. M. 3 far. 217 yards. 14 subs. Lord Aile a slaury's Plumper, 7st llb (Drew) 1 Mr. T. Dawson's Tousle (a 0), 7st llb (Madden) 2 Mr. Eastwood's Buttercup, 7st llb (J. Snowden) 3 The following also ran:—Swertha, Harwood Lee, Cir cassia, Lady Falconer, Brine, Brocketina, Venison filly, Onset, and Offs ring. Betting —7 to 4 agst Lady Falconer, 4 to 1 agst Plumper, 5 to 1 agst Ciccassia, 7 to 1 agst Brine. Buttercup running wide made play to half-way up the cords, where Plumper obtained the lead, and won by a length and a half. • Buttercup finished right under the judge's chair, and was beaten by a length for second place. Lady Falconer was fourth. Free Handicap Stakes of 20 sovs each, h ft. T.Y.C. 5 fur. 140 yds. 7 subs. Mr. Merry's Lord of Lorn, 4 yrs, Bst 61b (Plumb) 1 Baron Rothschild's Nowstoad, 3 yrs, 7st 31b (Challoner) 2 Mr. Copeland's the Argosy, 4 yrs, 7st 121 b .. (Norman) 3 Theodora, Katherine Logie, and Poloniva also ran. Betting-2 to 1 agst Theodora, 7to 2 each agst Lord of Lorn and Newstead. Won by two lengths; a length be tween the second and third. Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sows each, 10 ft, for two and three-yr-olds. T.Y.C. 5 fur. 110 yds. la subs. Mr. Townley's Sparrow Hawk, 2 yrs, Est 71b (J. Snowden) 1 Mr. T. Parr's Pescatore, 2 yrs, Est 91b (Bray) 2 Mr. A. Williams's Rara Avis, 3 yrs, 7st 121 b (J. Adams) 3 The following also tan :—Comforter, Cynthia, Makeless filly, Fair Maid of Kent, Beeswax filly. Betting-2 to 1 agst the Beeswax filly, 3to 1 agst Spar row Hawk, 6 to 1 agst Cynthia, 7 to 1 agat Pescatore, 10 to 1 agst Fair Maid of Kent. Won:by a length; three lengths between second and third. Fifty Pounds, for 3-yr-olds and upwards; maidens allowed 71b. R.M. 1 mile 17 yds. Entrance, 3 soya. Mr. W. S. S. Crawfurd's Zuyder Zee, 5 yrs, Bst 101 b (Wells) 1 Baron Rothschild's Bastion, 3 yrs, 7st 81b (Challoner) 2 Lord Glasgow's Pax, 3 yrs, 7st 111 (Bray) 3 Starke and Sedbury also ran. Betting-5 to 4on Zuyder Zee. 4to 1 agst Bastion, sto 1 agst Starke. Won by a length and a half; very bad third. Selling Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sovs each, 10 ft, for 3-yr-olds and upwards. The winner to be sold for 200 sovs, if demanded. R.M. 1 mile 17 yds. 6 subs. Mr. Merrifield's Charles the Second, 4 yrs, 7st 131 b (L. Snowden) 1 Sir R. W. Bulkeley's Knuckle Duster, 3 yrs, Est 41b (Gunn) 2 Mr. Copeland's The Argosy, 4 yrs, Bst 51b Bel Esperanza and Queenstown also ran. Betting-6 to 4 agst Queenstown, 2to 1 agst Knuckle Duster, 4 to 1 agst Charles the Second. Won by a head. COUNTRY MA_REBTB. LIVERPOOL-OCT. 25. We had a fair attendance of millers and dealers at our corn exchange this morning, and they were more inclined to do business. Wheat was rather more dealt in, and, though previous prices were generally asked, the turn was again in buyers' favour. Flour had a better sale at the rates of last market. The business in Indian corn was fair at full prices. Oats ld per bushel and oatmeal 6d per load dearer. Beans, peas, and barley at extreme rates. SHEFFIELD-OCT. 25. The show of wheat was an average one, but the trade was confined to retail requirements, without change in value. Beans more in demand. No change in barley, oats, or flour. Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushels...l6s 011 to 17s 6d White 91 11 ...18s Od to 238 Oi New red .16s Od to 17s Gd New white Beans .188 Od to 19s Od . 16s 6d to 208 Od 77 Peas, per qr 1 77 448 Od to 50s Od Grinding barley, per,qr 33s Od to 35 s Od Malting ditto, ~ 3Bs Od to 40s Od Oats 24s Od to 328 Od _lf Millers' prices for flour—ls 6d, is Bd, and is 10d per 141 b, , LEEDS—OcT. 25. We are tolerably supplied with wheat, which meets a slow sale; but we make no alteration from the quotations of Friday last. Fine heavy barley in request, inferior de scriptions almost unsaleable. Beans and other articles un altered. NEWCASTLE-OCT. 25. We had a tolerably good supply of wheat to-day, which met a flat demand, at fully the currencies of last market day. Fine barley in fair request, and as high in price. Oats unchanged in value. Beans scarce, at late rates. NORWICH CATTLE—Ocr. 22. A crowded supply of store cattle to •day, comprising Scots, shorthorns, Devons, and Irish. A large attendance, and a great business done. Scots, 5s to 5s 6d ; shorthorns, 4s 6d to 5s 6d ; Irish, 30 6d to 4s 6d; Devons, 45 6d to 5s (estimated weight when fat). Fat beasts dull, 8s Od to 8s 6d per stone, with a clear ance. Sheep—The pens were tolerably well filled. The best sheep in demand at 39s to 40s per head. Fat sheep, 8s to 8s 6d per stone. Pigs—A good supply. Store pigs 30s to 3.5 s ; fat pork, 8s Od to 8s 6d per stone. LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL-OCT. 25, The market to-day was steady, and closed rather firm. North British, 60—Great Western of Canada, 141 141-' Sheffields, 354—Caledonians, 94—Lancashire and York shire, 96i—London and North- Westerns, 95.1- I—Dutch Rhenish, 4a dis.—North Staffords, 44 4 d,—Berwicks, 90 961—Midlands, 105 4—Chester and Holyheads, 49/—* Birkenheads, 77 78—LseIs Northern, 451 4C—Eastern Counties, 11 13-16 4—Grand Trunk of Canada, 9 1 Great Western, 64 4 64I—Dovers, 23k. LEEDS-OCT. 25. The closing quotations to-day were—North Eastern, York, 73k—Midland, 106—Sheffields, 35—Caled o ni a n, 901 —North Eastern, Leeds qrs., 3. 1 p.m. B I RMIN G HAM- OCT . 25. There was a small business doing, and prices were lower. South Staffordshires sold to-day at 10.8.9.—Birmingham Banking Company, 264 27—Birmin g ham Canals, 96-- London and North Westerns, 95—Midland Stock, 1061 Birmingham Guaranteed, 71—Town and District Bank, 111—Crystal Palace Pref., 41 51. MANCHESTER—OCT. 25. There was a very quiet business doing in this market to-day, and at the close prices were steady. Sheffields, 3 5 —Dovers, 23—Leeds, 961—Midland stock, 105 I—Great Ship Co., 4 3 —Caledonians, 91 a —Lo ndon Ei g hth s , Birkenhead stock, 77k. FOREIGN MAIL PACKET LIST. in the following table E signifies that letters are despatehel by evening mails from London, and M by morning mails. _ Next DESTINATIONS. Despatch Port of Mail of Mails. Despatch. due. ---- Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton N0v.12, 31 Southamp. Nov. 1 0 Ditto, via Marseilles Nov. 18, E Nov. 4 Bahamas and Havana via New York Oct. 28, E Liverpool., Oct. 2 4 Canada, &c. (by Canada. pckt ) Oct. 25, E Liverpool.. Oct. 20 Cape of Good Hope, Ascen sion, and St. Helena Nov 5, E Devonport Nov. 1 China, Penang, and Singa pore, via Southampton Nov. 4, 31 Southamp. Nov. 2 Ditto, via Marseilles Gibraltar, via Southampton.. Oct. 27, 31 Southamp. Oct. 25 Honduras and Blewfields .... N0v.17, 31 Southamp. Nov. 16 India (Calcutta) and Ceylon, via Southampton Nov. 4, M Southamp. Nov. 2 Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via South ampton Oct. 27, 31 Southamp. Oct. 25 Ditto, via Marseilles Lisbon, Brazils,BuenosAyres, and P. Islands Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto O c t. 27, M Southamp.. Nov. 1 Haiti, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Oct. 27, 31 Southamp. Oct. 2 5 Ditto, via Marseilles Mexico and Havana Nov. 2, 31 Southamp. Nov. 1 Newfoundland Nov. 4, E Galway.... —' United States and British N America (by British packet) Oct. 28, E Liverpool.. NoV. 2 Ditto (by U. S. packet) Oct. 26, E Southamp. West Coast of Africa, Ma deira, and Teneriffe NOT. 23 E Liverpool.. Nov. 9 West India, Calif°, nia, Vene zuela, Chili, Peru, Grey town, New Granada, &c. BIRTHS. GORDON.—On the 22d inst., at 10, Albyn-place, Eat burgh, the wife of J. W. Gordon, Esq., of Cairness, of * son and heir. ILuccocx.---On the 22d inst., at 78, Wimpole-street, Ca. vendish-square, the wife of Captain George Hancock, R.N., of a son. TAAING.—On the 24th inst., at 2, Park-square west, the wife of Samuel Laing, Esq., M.P., of a son. MUSGRAVE.—On the 24th inst., at Mattersey, Notts, the wife of the Rev. Vernon Musgrave, of a son. [MARRIAGES. lIYDE—LEDIARD.—On the 16th inst., at St. Georgdgf Hanover-square, C. E. Hyde, Esq., C.E., London, to Anne Holford, the enly daughter of the late J. Lediardt Esq. PALMER—DOUGLAS.—On the 21st inst., at Edinburgh► Lieutenant George Palmer, R.N., of H.M.'s ship Edin burgh, to Ellen, fourth daughter of James Douglas, Esq• of Cavers, Roxburghshire. DEATHS. BLANcIiARD.--On the 18th inst., at Southampton, Richd. E. Blanchard, of the Customs, aged 35. CAMPBELL.—On the 21th inst., John Campbell, Esq., °f Glonsadael, aged 63. CAMPBELL.—On the l'ith Sept. last, Richard Campbell , of H.M.'s Commissariat, Sierra Leone. Da. PER.—On tbo 24th inst., at Dalston, Mr. Robt. Draper. aged 52. FAIRBANK..—On the 21st inst., at 11, Somerc-21aee, Hide' park, James Fairbank, Esq. lIA I LBIES.—On the 24th inst., at Weston-super-Mare, the Rev. T. K. W. Harries, rector of Mursley, Bucks. RULLINGS.—On the 18th inst., suddenly, at Montpelier , France, Joseph R. Mullings, Esq , of Eastcourt, late M.P. for Cirencester, aged 68. VILLTERS.—On the 24th inst., at the Royal-crescent hotel; Brighton, George Augustus Frederic Villiers, sixth Ear l of Jersey, aged 52. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOU IOI of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 1 12 ,, , Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, is the county 0 ' Middlesex, Wednesday, October 26, 1859, I