The Sun. — London, England, 1860-01-20 00:00:00

INAUGURATION OF THE CLIVE ST-ITUE. SHREWSBURY, THURSDAY. After the inauguration of the statue, a banquet took place at the Lion Hotel, under the presidency of the Mayor, Mr. W. Burr, supported by Earl Stanhope, Earl 'Powis, Lord Hatherton, Viscount Hill, Sir Charles Wood, Secretary for India,l‘lajor Herbert Edwardes, the distinguished Indian hero, and a largo number of ladies and gentlemen con nected with the Clive family and with the county. The banquet was of the most sumptuous descrip tion. During its progress, " the loving cup" was passed round in accordance with ancient usage— an enormous silver tankard, presented by the Cor poration of Shrewsbury to the great Clive a hun- dred years ago. Mr. SLANEY , M.P., pro osed the "Army and p N a vy," which was responded to by Sir GEORGE POLLOCK for the first and Admiral GOWEN for the latter service. Colonel HERBERT EDWARDES proposed " The Memory of Lord Clive." (Cheers.) In the course of an eloquent speech the gallant soldier said — Some people deprecate such memorials as these and call them hero-worship; in my judgment they are wrong. The giver of empires is indeed God; but God works through human means, and when He pleases to give e - zipire to a people he gives them a man-like Clive, and in honouring the instrument we do but honour the Providence that wields it. (Cheers.) It is the true spirit of Christianity to honour all men in their degree ; and the age that shall cease to do so—the age that shall look unmoved on the bygone genius and greatness of its country, is certain to be an effete and little age—an age without power of its own, an age with out poetry or conception or enthusiasm, an age without faith on earth or reverence in heaven. De fend England from a worn-out age like that. (Ap plause.) Others there are who say they are quite willing to pay honour to a hero, provided that he be perfect, and that Clive was a man of imperfec tions ; that they have read history, and know that his errors were as glaring as his service were great. They doubt if it be right to honour such a man. These objections I respect, though I think them hard and leaning not only towards uncharity but ingratitude. Let us look back along the ranks of our great patriots; or the defenders of our country by sea and land. I name no names, but ask you to review them in your memories, and say to whom should we have given the public monument and the household niche, had we reserved our gratitude for a man without a flaw ? (Cheers.) The best of them ' could only have carved beneath his bust, " I was a man !" If we, too, feel that we are men let us hon our what is good and great in our fellows, while we sorrow for their faults, taking a lesson from the gold-diggers, who never find the pure metal pure, but much mixed with dross and dirt, and whose labour it is to fling away the dross and make the gold their own. Approaching the memory of Clive in this spirit, we cannot but do it honour—great and lasting honour—such as can only be expressed in marble. If we look up to Clive, the boy on the steeple of Market Drayton, or descend with him to head his playmates in a skirmish with the towns men ; if we sail with Clive the youth to India, and listen while he weeps over the home and country he has left ; if we watch Clive, the man stooping wearily over the desk in peace and leaping up at the sound of war, flinging away the pen, shouldering the musket, serving as a volunteer, winning a commis sion, daring to devise the capture of Arcot, daring to take it with 500 men, and daring to hold it against 10,000 for fifty days, with a starving but devoted garrison, rejecting with scorn the bribes of his besiegers, and victoriously repulsing them in three desperate assaults; if we behold him in the first pride of military success submit conten tedly to serve under his old commander Lawrence, and refusing to accept a sword from the Court of Directors unless Lawrence got one too, if we see him chosen at Madras to revenge the murder of 123 Englishmen in the black-hole at Calcutta, if we are compelled to stand by and see Clive, the Orien tal intriguer, stooping to win a victory over false hood from the traitor Omichund, if we escape with him into the open air and tented field, and forget what we have witnessed in the Cabinet, as Clive the soldier once more grasps his sword, and leads 3,000 men across the Ganges to contend with 60,000 for the empire of Hindostan, calmly laying down to sleep in the grove of Plassy while the battle languished, and rising refreshed to turn the tide of 1 Imperial victory ; it we walk with Clive the con queror through the golden vaults of his allies, and see the g iver of a kingdom, and the founder of an empire, believing himself moderate as he accepts the fortune only of a noble ; if we return with him to England, and see him rejoicing to enrich his friends and relatives, and pensioning his old com mander ; and when the affairs of Bengal. fell into diSorder, once more, at the call of masters who had ill-used him, leaving his country and his wealth to sail again for India ; if at this crowning period of his life we look on with unmixed pride and see first how Clive the civil reformer cleansed the corrupt administration of the State, and next how Clive the military reformer grappled with a demoralised army and put down mutiny as none have done it since—if at this noble period of his career we learn that while retrenching others he impoverished him self, and conferred upon the army he had re buked th - 9 noble charity of £60,000; if, lastly, we re-land upon the shores of Eng land and behold with . shame and sorrow our ignorant country permitting a faction, smarting undeF Clive's retrenchments and reforms, to im peach Clive's Indian Administration, adding " the pangs of wounded honour" to the agonies of disease, and breaking the balance of a noble mind—surely in this history, if we find much to extenuate, much to censure, and much to deplore, we find much to admire, much to honour, much for which English men must feel proud and thankful. (Great ap plause.) It was he, indeed, under Providence, who laid the foundation of our Indian empire—an em pire which in extent is now 14 times greater than the British Isles; nearly 2,000 miles from north to south, and 1,500 from east to west ; with a popula tion of nearly 200,000,000. That empire is not without its cares and pains—chiefly, I believe, be cause we have shrunk from doing our Christian duty ; but if, on the whole, it be a glory to our country, and the ceaseless marvel and envy of foreign nations ; if it develops the resources of two hemispheres, and confers blessings on mankind ; we owe it all to the genius and the greatness of Clive ' and it is fit that Englishmen should do hono ur t o his memory. (The gallant Colonel concluded amid loud and long sustained applause.) Earl STANHOPE said, I have been requested to propose the next toast—" The Government of India, at home and abroad," and I am sure we feel it on this occasion a great privilege to have among us the Secretary of State for India. (Cheers.) Con sidering the many calls upon his time, and the many duties that devolve upon him, more espe cially as the opening of Parliament is now close at hand, I think he has paid no common tribute of respect to the memory of Lord Clive, and no com mon compliment to the town of Shrewsbury, in de voting the few hours of leisure at his command to coming here. (Cheers.) I may venture to say that I have known Sir Charles Wood ever since I entered public life, now, I am sorry to say, 30 years ago. And though we have often happened to differ on public questions of great moment, that has never on any occasion prevented me from feeling towards him sentiments of cordial personal regard, nor from acknowledging the ability which he brings to hear on public affairs. and the upr'.glit spirit with which he has dealt with all questions in which he has been concerned. I may add that al though he is the chief of the civil service of India, in which capacity he will, no doubt, presently ad dress you, he is not the only member of that service present, for we have also present a gentleman who has been conspicuous for his exertions on the Clive committee, and who in his general character is` not only a faithful and intelligent servant of the public, but has distinguished himself as the able historian ssf several public transactions. I rejoice that the Indian civil service should be represented here, not only by its official head, but by one of its most gifted and meritorious servants. It once fell to my lot to be, 'Wood, butottoi the office now held by Sir Charles of Sir Robert Peel e e secretary under the Administration was called in the l \li to that office which in those days but which in ti.e st of London the Board of Con trol,neda.stern part of London was better known as th e I I had frequent ißoard. In that capacity o pportunities sery of observing' the great ability which the civil thaenitrsdof India brought to bear on the discharge of to h t a ies both in India and at home, and I am happy public op portunity of bearing this ample testimony‘?this to those suggested services. There is only one other remarl Nv s vel to me by the proceedings of this d a y. - Lord Clive that in his youthful days he was read ~f washed by an active and daring spirit, by great cour age and readiness, but not by any aptitude : f o e .4 tidy. Colonel Ed vardes has well told 3on bow ho was noted for climbing up the lofty steople of Market Drayton, and how he led the skirmishers against the townsmen. Now when - eye find him distinguished by an active and daring spirit of fearless courage, and . by no aptitude for stady, and that i n India he was distin uished in every way , not onl y as a warrior, but as the founder of a system of civil government, I confess I am inclined in some degree to doubt whether the undeviating standard of proficiency in books now required for the civil service in India may be really on all occasions the best adapted for the future welfare of the empire. (Cheers.) lam not making an y remark that can be s aid to p artake of a party character, because, as far as I tts. aware, a ll parties have co ncurred in making the change that has taken place. The present system is not to be ascribed to any one p art y of the State ; but when w e look back and see how many men of great dis tinction and eminent public services in India have attained their distinction, not by proficiency in books, but by an active and daring and fearless spirit, sometimes in spite of inaptitude for scholastic study, I doubt whether we do not shut out what past experience has shown to be not the sole qualfi cation, but, combined with others, an efficient in strument of service. I hope you will forgive me for making these remarks, and I will not further detain you beyond inviting you to drink, with all cordiality, the health of our distinguished guest, and in expressing a hope that the administration of India may derive fresh vigour and efficiency, ad ministered as it is by Lord Canning in India, and so many servants of the Crown in this country. (Applause.) Sir CHARLES WOOD, who on rising was much applauded, said,—l hope I may be permitted, before replying to the toast proposed by my noble friend on my left, to express very shortly my gratitude to you, Mr. Mayor, and to those gentlemen to whose kindness I am indebted for the honour and privilege of being here to-day. I should have held it unbe coming if the Minister for India had not taken part in these proceedings, and had not given his share of the tribute due from all Englishmen and more especially those who are interested in India to the memory of that great man who has truly been described as the founder of our Indian Empire. I esteem it a piece of great good fortune to myself that I happen at this moment to hold that position which gave me some claim to your invitation, and I have had the greatest grati fication in taking part in the ceremony, and joining in that tribute which has been perhaps delayed too long, but which has been at last paid in the most appropriate manner and on the most appropriate site. (Cheers.) I am now for the seventh time connected with the Government of India, and the more I see and the more I learn of that empire the greater marvel I consider it to be in the history of the world. Yet it is hardly more extraordinary than the career of that great man who founded it. When we look back to his history, and consider what our Indian Empire is; when we carry back our recollections to his early career, when he was a humble and dispirited clerk in a mercantile house, when the chiefs of the principal factions of India were captives at Pondicherry, how little could we have expected that our empire would expand to such gigantic dimensions. It was his energy, gal lantry, and glory which in a few months struck a fatal blow to the power of our enemies. Again, his second visit saw him the victor of Plassy, by which ono of the richest provinces of India was subjected to the rule of this country. But Colonel Edwardes has, among other things, truly told ns that on the occasion of his last visit to India, Lord Clive ac hieved a triumph, not so brilliant perhaps as those he had achieved before, but which redounds still more to his credit, when he put an end to unparal leled evils and established our constitutional admi• nistration upon a sound and proper footing, which has, upon the whole, lasted to this day, and pro duced men of the first eminence. He quelled a mutiny, not such as we have more recently witnessed, but one much more difficult to deal with—a mutiny among Indian officers. But how little could Lord Clive, even in the brighest moments of :his ambition, anticipate the dimensions to which our Indian em pire has since extended ; how little could he, who so strongly depended upon the devoted attachment of the Sepoy, suppose that that mighty empire could be endangered by the mutiny of those very troops I:am glad to see that the recent accounts we have re ceived show that the last embers of that fearful mutiny, in the shape even of predatory bands, have been trodden out. (Applause.) Much we have to sorrow for in the events of the last three or four years, but we have at least the pride—a melancholy one though it be—of knowing that the inhabitants of India, both soldiers and civilians, old and young, the tenderest womau as the strongest soldier, have shown energy, devotion, and resolution worthy of this country, and worthy of those who founded our power in that distant land. (Applause.) I am glad to see that the Governor-General of India, who by his firmness and energy contributed so much to put an end to that dreadful state of affairs, is now making a peaceful progress through the north ern provinces of the country, lately the scene of mutiny and rebellion, confirming the loyalty of the inhahitants, rewarding all those who faithfully stood by us in the hour of need, and showing the British character, as supposed to be depicted in the far-famed banner of the Knights Templars' " Ter rible to foes, faithful to friends." I trust now for a continuance of that peace so necessary for the de velopment of the prosperity and resources of that great country. As you all know, a change has re cently been made in the government of India, which was inaugurated under the auspices of a noble lord, whose personal acquaintance with India, added to his character for zeal and ability, render him the fittest person to be placed at the head of the Indian administration. I know of little difference between his opinion and mine upon Indian matters. (Cheers.) I am glad, therefore, to think that in the course of the administrations which he has to pursue under two different Governments, little or no change is likely to occur, and that in adminis tering the affairs of that great empire we shall be utterly and entirely free from those party differences which, wholesome and inevitable as they may be in domestic affairs, ought to be eliminated from a sub ject of such vast and Imperial importance as the ad ministration of the Queen's Indian dominions. It will be our duty, the duty of those who - are my coadjutors in the administration of India—the council and the other civil servants, one of whom I am glad to see present—to recur to that policy— which was only interrupted for a time—best calcu lated to promote the development of the internal resources and the lasting benefit of that country. I believe that by so doing we shall make India the source of wealth, not only to her own sons, but to this country also. I hope we may thus bind that empire to us, not with the iron chain of the sword or the bayonet, but by mutual interests and bene fits received and conferred. (Cheers.) On behalf, sir, of my coadjutors and myself, I beg to return you and the good company I am addressing our warmest thanks for the manner in which the last toast was proposed and received. (Applause.) Sir C. WOOD again rose and said—Stranger as I am to your county, perhaps I ought not to be called upon again to address this assemblage, but a duty has been imposed on me from which I cannot shrink, since it is most grateful to me to have to propose the health of a nobleman who is one of the oldest friends I have, " The Lord-Lieutenant of the County." (Cheers.) When we have been doing honour to one native of this county who in a dis tant land and at a distant time achieved for him self imperishable fame, it is not unfitting to refer to the memory of one who, nearer home, on the fields of the Peninsula, acquired honours for him • self which, have worthily descended to his suc cessor. You know him so much better than I do that it would be unseemly in me to dilate, espe cially in his presence, on those good qualities which I believe he possesses ; for I cannot per suade myself but that ho is a good landlord, a good neighbour, and, in every sense of the word, what I hold to be one of the noblest characters —a good English country gentleman. (Applause.) In that capacity, in which I propose his health as your Lord-Lieutenant, I cannot but believe that the military qualities of the family of Hill, teste d in h smo many faithfully fields, and somany instances,r, the will enable truly to dischar g e duties of his situation ; and that unde r hi s care your militia, your yeomanry, your rifle corps will form a distinguished portion of that domestic force without which no country can safely exist. (Cheers.) I trust that by the mariner in which you will re ' spond to the toast you will show that I, a stranger, have not inadequately appreciated the sense you entertain of his merits. (Applause.) Viscount HILL, in responding, said,—l scarcely know how to reply to the toast so kindly named to you by one of my oldest associates, and one with whom I spent the ,greatest part of my time during my stay at the university ; and although we have looked at one another for some years from opposite sides of the house of Commons, I maintain the same opinion of him as I held at Oxford, and be lieve him to be one of those who most conscienti ously does his duty in any situation in which he may be placed. (Cheers.) I shall not trouble you with any remarks upon the subject of the day, which has already been treated by many eminent men ; nor shall I trespasi on your time, except to say that, connected as I am with this county, and knowing the feelings which emanate from it, I may congratulate myself and all around me upon our having at last done what was needful in comme morating the genius of Lord Clive. Many plans of this description are pursued upon the impulse of the moment, just when great or daring acts have been performed ; but this has been carried out by those ‘vho , ,sf o t u e r. r the lapse of' many years, prove how much t e l o le nnected country. v is indebted to the man whom we delight to ion county, m e n t t 0u i .with bo a u i tn l i l ite also n a fl e x () e of Cline, a t s h those v ll ahso our that are the monument by an eminent artist w 'T t this day erected be a lasting and fitting orna ,own. (Applause.) Mr. BERI AH TI O s h eus, the courtesy w hi c h } M.P.—I thank you for you m t o i f r eL resultord S Stanhope, whosehope as labouresnlber and proposing the health of that committee Sou h_ aye this day wit nessed. When we look how rich English history is in its materials, and how vast the fund which he has contributed to it, we must k ac nowledge that TUE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVEN ENG, JANUARY 20, 1860. NE7F ZEALAND. the field is wide enough for every labourer, and that the harvest wil . 1 a justify and repay the severest toil. Lord Stanhope .bias shrunk from no labour, and the great character a f his writings is the painstaking and perfect accuri toy which is impressed upon them. And I cannot pay this compliment to the greatest of living historians without recalling to mind him whom we have lost —the legislator, the brilliant essayist, the Parlian.tentary orator, the late Lord Macaulay, who reca.i'ved that title, the highest honour a grateful country could bestow, for his literary ability. It is, perhaps, a singular instance of a man who by his pen has won nobility ; and while we justly lament his loss, let us equally honour the man who happily is still among us, who by his pen has added fresh distinction to a family already illustrious. (Cheers.) We have to thank all the members of the committee for erecting a memorial to the great conqueror of India, and for setting before us a bright example of that singular union of indomitable courage and intuitive sagacity which we possess in the rare instances of Clive and Wellington, and enabling us to celebrate that re markable example of successful audacity of which the victor of Plassy affords the most extraordinary instance recorded in modern history. I beg to pro pose that you drink the health of Lord Stanhope and the members of the London committee, as well as those in Shrewsbury, who have equally contri buted to this most successful monument. (Applause.) Earl STANHOPE replied,—ln the name of the committee whom I have the honour to represent, I beg to return thanks, and to thank also my hon. friend who proposed the toast,for the very kind man ner in which he was pleased to speak of me. I can assure you that in coming down to the interesting ceremony of this day I undertook a task which has been most agreeable to me, and which will never cease to be remembered by me with feelings of cordial satisfaction. (Cheers.) It is not often that the great distinction acquired by the founder of a family is so worthily supported and maintained by the private virtues of his descendants, and the general respect in which they are held. (Applause.) For myself, in bidding y ou farewell on this occasion —since the railway train will not stay, even for such agreeable moments as these—l hope I may be allowed respectfully to thank you for the kindness with which I have been received, and to express a hope that several acquaintances which I have had the privilege of making this day may not cease with the occasion, but that I may continue to retain them, as well as some place in the good opinion of those whom I now address. Once more I thank you in the name of the committee and my own, and I now very respectfully, and with every feeling of gratitude, bid you farewell. (Applause.) Sir B. LEIGHTON,M.P., who was veryindistinctly heard, was understood to speak to the following ef feet :—lt is but seldom that we have an opportunity of distinguishing ourselves upon the battlefield, as did Clive and Wellington and Hill, but a great dis tinguishing mark between our own and foreign countries is, that noblemen and men of fortune par take actively in the conduct of the business of the country, and even if they do not serve the nation in a political capacity, there are other opportunities by embracing which they may yet be useful mem bers of society. Any one who knows the present noble head of the house of Clive is aware that he still gives his services to his country, though not on the field of battle. In his native county he gives his time and talents, and most liberally of his for tune, to every charity and object worthy of support. It is a thing most worthy of remark that in England we find many of our nobility and country squires, not acting as foreigners do, spending their time in foolish amusements, but working in various ways for the benefit of others. But another member of that noble house has served his country and at tained high rank at a young age; and in future years, should his services be required, I do not doubt that we may have him as a talented young general, full of vigour of body and mind. Let us now pass to one of the former members for South Shropshire, re markable for his courtesy and urbanity of manner. He has passed from us, leaving a son to succeed him, who had before him as happy a future as could fall to the lot of any:man. The inscrutable ways of Pro vidence have taken him away, but let us hope that there is a younger scion of that house following in his steps, who signalised himself in the perils of India, and who is now among us. I beg to give you the ..Health of the Earl Powis." (Cheers.) Earl Powis then rose and said,—l thank you, on the part of the members of the Clive family, for the cordial reception with which you have honoured them this day, upon the occasion when we are met to commemorate the name of their ancestor. I also thank the Mayor for the munificent hospitality with which he has received and entertained the assem bled company, and for the hearty zeal with which he has done everything in his power to add to the brilliancy end importance of this occasion. (Cheers.) The members of Lord Clive's family must feel highly gratified at the memorial which has been erected a century after the great battle which commenced. his career in Irldia. Many events are greeted with mo mentary applause, but after the lapse of a century deeds and lives are judged by their results and may be said to have passed into the scene of history ; and in this instance there could be no more fit ex ponent of the occasion and of the work which has been completed to-day than the noble and accom plished historian who has shown so much zeal and had so much trouble at the head of the committee. We are also very sensible of the tribute that has been paid to the memory and actions of Lord Clive by the right hon. gentleman who presides over the Government of Inia at home, and others among us, and at seeing the army an service of India re presented by a gallant general who stands foremost in reputation among the living officers of the In dian army, and the gallant officer who is himself a native of this county, and who is now enjoying a short respite from the labours and anxieties of the last two eventful years, and whose former return was greeted with well-merited honour. (Cheers.) I will not attempt to go through the history of India from the days of Plassy, or the various phases through which that great empire passed under the control of that great company, the great est private association that ever exited in the world, presided over by such men as the Marquis Wellesley, Warren Hastings, and Lord Corn wallis, who, by their actions and the prosperity which their Government produced, justified the esteem of the Sovereigns who committed to them its manage ment and control. I will only express a hope that under the new Government to which Sir Charles Wood has adverted, under the great constitutional change which during the last few years has taken place in the Indian Government, when another century shall have elapsed, and the battle of Plassy shall be commemorated as having occurred 200 years before, the countless millions, the varied races, the numberless creeds of which the population of India is composed, may be found .to be enjoying peace, prosperity, happiness, and contentment, aus pleio regis et senatus Anglice. (Applause.) Viscount HILL—We have been so well enter tained at this sumptuous banquet that I am quite sure we shall all unite in returning our most cor dial thanks to the mayor, who has not enly liberally provided for our physical wants, but has . given us the opportunity of hearing the history of one of whom his country is justly proud. I give you " The health of the Right Worshipful the Mayor." (Great cheering.) The Mavoit suitably responded. Sir W. YARDLEY said—The assembly has already expressed its warm appreciation of the exertions of the committee appointed to bring to an issue the erection of a noble memorial to Lord Clive, which you have inaugurated io-day ; and I am sure you will all agree that in no respect has that committee exhibited greater discrimination and liberality than in their selection of an artist. The position of Baron Marochetti is'as cosmopolitan as his reputation— Italian by extraction, French by birth, English by adoption, and each of these countries is illustrated by works of his creative genius. He has erected a fine statue at Turin, a colossal statue of Wellington at Glasgow, a noble statue of Richard of the Lion Heart in the city of Westminister, and now he has added a no less noble statue of the no less lion-hearted Robert Lord Clive at Shrewsbury. (Cheers.) No artist possesses more strikingly the creative genius of imparting the real expression of character to his works. A just and eloquent tribute has already been paid to him by the noble lord who did the corporation of this town the honour of presenting the statue to them, and therefore but little remains for me to say. But I trust I shall not be considered to be encroaching upon that wholesome rule which excludes politics and party sentiments from happy meetings like this when I express my hope and be lief that Baron Marochetti, whose health I propose, may be called upon to illustrate by his genius a glorious era in the history of his own country — Italy, when it shall be a nation united, free, and happy. (Applause.) Sir C. R. BoucirroN having in a witty and graceful manner proposed the health of " the Ladies," for whom the Hon. R. C. HILL, M P., appropriately responded, the brilliant assemblage broke up with the interchange of mutual felicitations upon the successful issue of the in' erecting demonstration. [ A vEnT E NT.] —II ell oway' s Pills.—Thesepuri fying Pills have for the last quarter of a century been in exten sive demand throughout our Indian empire ; and since their discovery they have been largely patronised by all classes of society, and are, by those most capable of judging, pro nounced to be better adapted for liver complaints than any other medicine. In ague, remittent and continued fever, this priceless preparation checks the current of the disease, throws out the poison from the system, corrects the humours produced by malaria, rouses the nervous system, stimulates the kidneys, gives a healthy action to the skin, and restores the balance of the circulation, which is the foundation of health, and the guarantee for the full per formance of every vital function. fairly expected that the equalisation of duties on all others would operate to the same degree as an actual reduction on French wines. Whether the upper classes would consume a larger quantity of the finest vintages is immaterial to the point at issue ; the great question is, whether a new body of consumers, among the middle and labouring classes, may be created for the inferior growths. On the question of consumption in England, Lord Chelsea re-affirms still more positively that, if the English artisan could procure, at a cheap rate, a w holesome, palatable, and moderately invigorating beverage, he would not resort to the use of " poisonous and maddening liquors." Moreover, the vile and sicken ing compounds of sugar, water, spirit, and colouring matter, known as " home-mado wines," would cease to destroy the digestive organs, and to poison the juices of the psorer class of the community, who would at once substitute the use of the genu:ne article from abroad. It is further contended that France can supply an increased demand for her wines in England, both as regards quality and quantity, and that since Sir E. Tennent wrote, a great change for the better has taken place in the wine trade of France. That France is now indif ferent to a reduction of our duty on her wines is emphatically denied. It is proposed, in fine, that the wine duty be lowered gradually (say in the course of five years) to ls. per gallon. The pro bable effects of an increased consumption of wine in England from 6,000,000 to 60,000,000 gallons a-year is also discussed, but this is rather a matter of speculation. As regards the vine disease, it is answered that its recurrence could never produce the ssme deplorable consequences as before. The efficacy of sulphur to decompose and destroy the fungus known as oidiune is indisputable, and char coal has recently been found to possess the same virtue. " Such," concludes the report of Lord Chelsea, " it is submitted, are some of the conclusions that may fairly be arrived at from a careful and impar tial consideration of the best and. fullest evidence obtainable up to a very recent period (end of the year 1858) with respect to the wine producing and exporting power of France. If the estimate of her resources contained in the foregoing remarks be not exaggerated, the result will be to remove, in the event of any proposal being entertained fora further remission of the import duties on wine in England, one, at least, of the stumbling-blocks that has hitherto stood in the way of a measure calculated to prove so mutually advantageous to both countries, and that has so many social, com mercial, and, it may be added, political recom mendations to plead in its favour." There, is an appendix to the report containing some useful statistics on the subject. PARISH OF ST. GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST. Last evening a meeting of the vestrymen of this parish was held in the boardroom of the workhouse for the purpose of proceeding with the election of an afternoon lecturer in the wish church, in the room of the Rev. Hugh Allen, M.A., who had been no minated by the Lord Chancellor to the rectory of St. George's, Southwark. Mr. Foulger presided. Owing to the revival of the disturbances in the parish, consequent upon the practices which are carried out in the church, there was an unusually full vestry; and many of the most influential parishioners were present to watch the proceedings. The CHAIRMAN announced that the following gentlemen had announced their intention of becom ing candidates for the lectureship :-1, the Rev. Thomas Richareson, St. Bees' Theological College, Cumberland, incumbent of St. Matthew's Church, St. George's-in-the-East ; 2, the Rev. James Kelly, M.A., late incumbent of St. Peter's Episcopal Chapel, Queen-square, Westminster; 3, the Rev. J. B. Courtney, M.A., of Trinity College, Dublin, late curate of St. Mary's, Whitechapel, and All hallows, Thames-street; 4, the Rev. Joseph Irving, M.A. ; 5, the Rev. John Dickenson Bell, St. Bees' Theological College, curate of Mansfield; 6, the Rev. James Parker, M.A.; 7, the Rev. Henry Temple, M.A., of Brasenose College, Oxford, head master of Coventry Grammar School ; 8, the Rev. Horace Roberts, M.A., Magdalene College, Cambridge, late assistant minister of Bedford Episcopal Chapel, Bloomsbury ; 9, the Rev. Robert Bickerdike, M A., Trinity College, Dublin, curate of St. Saviour's, Southwark ; 10, the Rev. Charles Thomas Woods, M.A., of Trinity College, Dublin, minister of Wo burn Chapel, Tavistock-square ; 11, the Rev. Geo. Eastman, St. John's College, Cambridge, rector of Draycott Folliatt, Wiltshire, late curate of Stepney; 12, the Rev. Alfred Henry Roxburgh, curate of Ufton, near Leamington. No sooner had the proposition for proceeding to the election been made than a vigorous discussion sprang up as to the mode of taking the votes. One vestryman suggested that the candidates should be reduced to two, and that then there should be an election of one of them. Another proposed that a ballot should be taken, and that the highest on the poll should be declared elected. Various ways of proceeding were recommended, but the Chairman ruled that, according to a by-law of the vestry, a ballot must be taken for all the candidates, and that the gentleman who obtained most votes should be declared successful. This decision gave rise to an animated and not very polite discussion. Phrases such as " holding an unjust balance," " unworthy of Englishmen," and " dodge" were freely bandied about. Finding that there was no chance of an amicable settlement of the matter, it was proposed by Mr. ARMSTRONG, and seconded by Mr. BATMAN, that the election of lecturer be deferred for a month. _ _ v••••• Mr. HERBERT strongly protested against the ad journment. _ There : had been no afternoon lecture during the last fortnight, and this motion would deprive the parishioners of the only service they could attend with any satisfaction in their parish church. (Cheers.) Speeches of extraordinary vigour pro and con., having been delivered, the motion for deferring the election we- - ; agreed to. Mr. Churchwarden THOMPSON gave notice that at the next meeting of the vestry he should move the rescinding of the by-law which restrained the vestry from voting in any way they thought proper upon the matter. Mr. BARRETT inquired whether any opportuni ties would be afforded for hearing the caddidates preach before the election was proceeded with. A vestryman suggested that the Surrey Music hall should be engaged for a day, so that all the candidates might preach there. Vestrymen who might have the courage to hear them all would be able to form an opinion before voting. The report of the Lecturer's Committee was then brought up. It stated that the committee who had been appointed to remunerate Mr. Allen for his services bad collected £46. (Mr. Allen was lecturer three mpnths.) They had deducted £4 for the organist and for lighting the church, and had handed over £42 to the rev. gentleman. Mr. HERBERT moved that the thanks of the vestry be conveyed to the Rev. Hugh Allen for the manner in which he'had discharged the duties of lecturer, under very trying circumstances. Mr. BARRETT thou r litt it would be better if the vestry would put their hands in their pockets and give him a bit of vellum, like men. (Laughter.) Mr. PARFITT did not think the vestry ought to humble themselves by adopting such a motion. It must be remembered that Mr. Allen said he would bear the law expenses consequent on the appeal to the Court of Queen's Bench. He did not think a vote of thanks was at all called for. Mr. STEPHENS contended that the law expenses were incurred in defence of the rights of the parish ioners, and that 'the vestry were clearly responsible for them. lie would second the motion for. the vote of thanks to Mr. Allen. Mr. SMITH considered it preposterous to use the words " trying circumstances" in connexion with Mr. Allen's lectureship. Mr. BARRETT believed that any v t of thanks which the vestry might award would ° amount to just nothing at all. When Mr. Allen received it he would scarcely kno w what to do with it. If gentlemen would subscribe half-a-crown a-piece for ellum and frame it would be very much better than a dry vote of thanks. The congregation of St. Jude's had, on the previous day, given Mr. Allen a vote of thanks and £7O. That was something like a vote of thanks. He had no doubt that the money was the more acceptable part of it. (Laughter.) Mr. SLY said he thought it would be something to a man of honour to have a vote of thanks from the vestry who elected him. Mr. ARMSTRONG thought it would be ungracious to refuse such a simple act of courtesy. Ho thought Mr. Allen would be quite content without any half crowns. (Laughter.) At length a resolution, simply thanking Mr. Allen for his services, was agreed to. Mr. Smut' gave notice that, at the next meeting of the vestry, he should move a resolution affirming that, in consequence of the determination of the rector to persist in practices which were opposed to the feelings of the parishioners, the parochial constables and other offic ers be withdrawn from attendance on the services of the parish church. Mr. HERBERT assured the vestry that all the disturbances, which were renewed last Sunday, were by persons wholly unconnected with the parish, who came from a distance to support the rec tor, and who were admitted privately into the church, through the rectory-house, before the gates were opened for the ordinary congregation. The vestry then adjourned. [AnvawrisrsinNT.l—,Eyps'a cliocceopathie Chemist) C0c0.*.,--This eateemed preparation is sold by the prin. grocers at 10. 6d. per lb., ix 11b., ilh, and ill, packets. Each packet is labelled " James Apps, Homes pathic chemist, Londo4," LAW _INTELLIGENCE—Ian. 19. COURT FOR DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES. ;Before the Judge Ordinary, Mr. Baron Channell, and Mr. Justice Keating.) SIMONIN (FALSELY CALLED MALAC) V. MALAC. Dr. Phillimore, Q.C., and Dr. Swabey appeared for the petitioner. _ The hearing of this petition by Mdlle. Simonin for a declaration of the nullity of a is facto mar• riage which she had contracted with Leon Malec, which was commenced on Tuesday, was resumed at the sitting of the Court. Madame Simonin, the mother of the petitioner, said that Mdlle. Simonin is now 28 years of age, and that at the time of the marriage M. Malec told her ho was 29. Her daughter and Malec asked her consent to the marriage before they came to Eng land, and she gave it. They asked it, and she gave it verbally. Mr. Noel, who formerly practised as a notary public and advising counsel at Paris, explained the French law, as contained in the 170th, 63d, 151st, 152 d, and 'ls4th articles of the Code Napo leon, on the subject of the marriage of French subjects in foreign countries. If two French subjects went to a foreign country for the purpose of evad ing the French law, and there contracted a mar riage without due publication in France and with out consent of parents, and then returned to France the French courts would annul the marriage. But if the consent of the parents was signified after the marriage it would be held good. When the parents of parties un'ler a certain age who wished to con tract a marriage withheld their consent, the proper course was to draw up an acte respectueux et forma before a notary, requesting their consent. The pa rents might then give or withhold their consent, and a minute of their decision would be drawn up by a notary. If the parents consented, they must either go before the Maire when the marriage was contracted, or their consent in writing, drawn up by a notary, must be produced to the Maire. When certain prescribed forms had been observed, and a certain time had elapsed after the acte respectueux had been presented, the marriage might take place even without the consent of parents. Dr. Phillimoro submitted that he had now esta blished that the parties had a French domicile at the time of the pretended marriage, and that the marriage was in fraud of the French law. The want of capacity to contract the marriage by the law of domicile was, he contended, fatal to the va lidity of the contract. He admitted that Storey, in his " Conflict of Laws," laid down that contracts of marriage were governed by the lex loci contractus, whatever might be the capacity or incapacity of the parties by the law of domicile ; but that proposition was not borne out by Pothier, Huber, Savigny, Felix, and the other jurists whom he cited. If their lordships should be of opinion that there was no precedent for a case like the present, he hoped they would not lay down a principle different from that h w ich guided all other civilised States, but would give effect to the prohibitory laws of a foreign country when they found that two subjects of the foreign country had come to England to enter into a marriage contract for the mere purpose of evading those laws. Sir C. Cresswell regretted that the Court had not had the assistance of cDunsel on both sides in a case of this importance, and said they would take time to consider their decision. WILTON V. WILTON. Mr. Karslake appeared far the petitioner. This was a petition by John Wilton, a major on the retired list of the Madras army, and late a captain in the 36th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry, for a dissolution of his marriage with Emily Blake ney Wilton, on the ground of adultery. The mar riage took place at Ootacamunde, in the East Indies, in May, 1833, the petitioner being then a lieutenant, and the respondent a Miss Pilkington. They cohabited at various places in India at which his regiment was stationed at different times until 1842, and had two children. In that year, in con sequence of his wife's bad state of health, he brought her and the children to England. They reached England in September, 1842, and he remained with her until April, 1843, when he was obliged to re turn to his regiment in India. He placed his two daughters at school at Brighton, and left his wife an allowance of £7O a year, as her health did not permit of her returning with him. Capt. Wilton remained in India until 1848. In the December of that year he was living with his wife at the house of a Miss Dotterill, who kept a school at Stratford, in Essex. In the same house there was a child named Amy, and in consequence of a communica tion that he received respecting that child he sepa rated from his wife, and has not since cohabited with her, but until a recent period continued to make her an allowance. It was proved by Mrs. Ayres, a nurse, that on the 15th July, 1845, Mrs. Wilton was delivered of a child at a house in the City-road, which was christened " Amy," and of which she said that Mr. Robertson, a surgeon, was the father. Mr. Robert son was then on his way to South America, where he had an appointment connected with a mine. He has since died, and leave had been obtained to pro ceed with the suit without a co-respondent. The delay which had taken place in the institu tion of a suit was explained by the inability of Major Wilton to incur the expense which would have been necessary before the passing of th e Di vorce Act. The Court held that the allegations in the petition had been established and the delay satisfactorily explained, and dissolved the marriage. BILL V. BILL. Dr. Phillimore, Q.C., and Dlr. Aspinall were counsel for the petitioner. John Bill, a bootmaker of Liverpool, married the respondent in December, 1830, cohabited with her until 1847, and had eight chi! wren by her. In con sequence of her inteinperp.t e habits he was obliged to separate from her in 1847, and made her an allowance of 12s. per week. In August, 1848, he discovered that since the separation she had• com mitted adultery, and he withdrew the allowance. He now prayed for a dissolution of the marriage. Direct evidence was given of an act of adultery committed by the respondent about 10 years ago. The Court dissolved the marriage. DAVIS V. DAVIS. Mr. J. A. Stephens, Q.V.,(ind Dr. Spinks were counsel for the petitioner. Mrs. Maria Louisa Davis prayed for a dissolution of her marriage with Henry Hart Davis, on the ground of adultery coupled w ith bi g amy. They were married in 1835 at B r i g ht on , and cohabited until 1844, and had two children. In 1844 they separated. Mrs. Davis a ft erwar d s instituted a suit for a divorce a mensa e t th or o in the Consistor.y Court of London, on th e groun d o f a dultery ; and in July, 1845, the learned judge, Dr. Lushington, pro nounced a decree of di vorce . Evidence of these facts were given by M. Michau, a brother of the petitioner, and it was also proved that on the 14th o f N ove mber, 1858, Mr. Davis went through the ceremony of marr iage at the British Emb ass y i n Paris with a Miss O ' Ne ill, and afterwards cohabited with her as man and wife at 16, Rue Lepelletier. The Court dissolved the marriage, with costs against the respondent. e o n d t e f o u r e C f at t t h l e a f a is rm no e w r, beginning to serious [ADVERTISEMENT I . enabled its inventor to t a k e hi g h :I— at T tr h a ° c r t i t e h Y e 's a F tt o care and attention have breeder, and feeder o y f stock. Two years of unremitti ng ground as a benefactor to these interests ;_and notwithstand ing the many drawbacks, the malevolent shafts against it and its probable utility,the food, from its admitt e d value, will become a necessity to the agricultural int eres t . Experience has proved, first, that it effects a considerable subjected ' saving in the consumption of provender; secondly, that it produces health and vigour in all animals to its influence : and lastly, increases in , a remarkable degr ee an early development of fat. Mr. Thorley, originati ng thi s s i ng ularly efficacious food, aimed at a compou n d ca l cu l ated t supersede, to a certain extent, the tedious a n d expensive m o odethen prevailing of fattening stall-fed beasts. In this ho happily succeeded ; and success prompted a very natural desire to improve upon the invention, so as to make it ap plicable to every description of domestic animal. The Eng. lish farmer was slow to encourage its use, and manifested an unwillingness to rely t pen its efficacy, fancying he possessed in the produce of his farm, ample materials whereby to feed and fatten his cattle at a cheaper rate thanby the employment or addition of artificial food, The tests to which this food has been subjected have proved its perfect admissibility as a cheap addition to the natural produce of the farm ; inasmuch as in realised, and rendered marketable in two-thirds of the time usually consumed in developing fat ; it, therefore, becomes apparent that a certain saving is effected by a fair application of Thorloy's Compounded Food. It is believed that the present unprecedented low price of wheat has induced its very gene ral use, in preference to any other of the usual articles of food; it is, however, much questioned whether wheat is a nourishing and proper food for the working horse, certainly it is not for cows or pigs. Mr. Thorley's Food, besides possessing the advantage of greatly invigorating the health and increasing the physical power of all animals, is a tonic and gentle stimulant, and when mixed with their other food, materially assists their digestive powers—a matter of great consequence, since it is an undoubted fact that the nourishment contained in their ocilinary food is lost, conse quent upon the impaired or defective action of the digestive organs ; it will also be found to be particularly beneficial in restoring to good working condition horses which have been over-worked, or become weak from disease, or ar, naturally of a feeble constitution. In cows its effects art undoubted, indeed almost marvellous, nearly doubling the yield of milk and butter, whilst it at the same time enriches the quality of both. In pigs its fattening qualities are still more remarkable, displaying in a few weeks its manifest superiority over every other kind of compound or manu factured food adopted in the feeding of swine. Such has been its marked success, that at all our great cattle shows, Royalty, noblemen, and others who have fed their cattle en Thorley's Food, have invariably carried off the principal prizes, whilst cards of commendation have been awarded. The patronage of Royalty, of our principal nobility, the clergy, and of our leading agriculturists, must prove a • great tuoiteraent to this gentleman to pursue his onward course ; and he may confidently rely, in producing so highly-favoured a compound, on a contiDll,4itni ouch high and distinguished patronage.: HOUSE OF COMMONS, Tan. 18. EXAMINATION OF BILLS BEFORE PARLIA MENT UNDER THE STANDING ORDERS. Mr. Smith, one of the examiners, sat at ten o'clock in committee-room, and proceeded to examine the proofs the standing orders of which had been complied with in the following bills, which were unopposed, according to num bers on petition list, viz.:- 1. Oswestry and Newtown—by additional capital. 2. Great Western Railway. 3. Silverdale and Newcastle Railway. 4. Ulster Railway. 5. Blackburn Gas. 6. Symington and Biggen and Broughton Railway. 7. Commercial Docks Act Amendment. • 8. Liverpool Corporation Water. 9. St. Helen's Canal and Railway (Powers over Rail ways near Liverpool and Manchester). 10. London and North-Western Railway, St. Helen's Canal and Railway Companies. 11. Hedon, Burgesses Land and Corporation Tolls. 12. Hinckley and Leicester Railway. 29. Caledonian Railway (Branches to Lanark). 16. Brompton, Chatham, Gillingham, &c., Water. This bill was opposed. Mr. Frere, one of the examiners, also sat in committee room No. 16, for the examination of proofs of standing orders in the following unopposed bills, which were passed : 13. South Devon Railway. 14. Bradford, Wakefield, and Leeds Railway. 15. Doiset Central Railway (works, &c.). 17. Caledonian Railway (Lesmahago branches, &c.). 18. West Middlesex Water. 19. Scottish Drainage and Improvement Company. 20. Inverness and Ross-shire Railway. 21. Wellington (Salop) Water. 22. North London Railway. 23. Great Ship Company. 24. East Somerset Railway. 25. Midland Railway (Burton-upon-Trent Branches). 26. Midland Railway (Rowseley and Buxton Lines). 27. Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax Junction, and Brad ford, Wakefield, and Leeds Railway Companies Amalga mation. 28. Wakefield Gravitation Water. Mr. Smith, ens of the Examiners of Private Bills, sat yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, in Committee Room No. 17, and received proofs that the standing orders of the House of Commons had been complied with iri the following bills :—Unopposed York Improvement (Lendel Bridge and Approaches), Disley and Hayfield Railway, Great Southern of India Railway Company, Wellington Suspen sion Bridge, Limerick and Ennis Railway, Athenry and Ennis Junction Railway, Midland Railway (Burton-upon- Trent Deviation), Midland Railway (Use of Railways in and near London). Opposed—Midland Railway (Hinckley Extension), Midland Railway (Station in St. Pancras), &c. Mr. Frere also, one of the Examiners, sat in Committee Room No. 16, and received proofs in the following bills : Unopposed—Belfast and County Down Railway, Doncas ter and Wakefield Railway. Keith and Dufftown Railway, Droylsden Gas, London and South-Western Railway (New Bristol and Exeter Railway at Exeter, &c.), London and South-Western Railway (New Line to Exeter and Credl - Railway, &c.), Cheshire Midland Railway, Water ford and Limeriok Railway. Opposed—Medway Valley Water. The Examiners will continuo their sittings to-day, and proceed with a further list. COUNTRY MARKETS. BIRMINGHAM-JAx. 19. A large supply of wheat, most of which 'was out of con dition, and prices were at no decline on late quotations for dry samples, but damp and inferior sorts were unable to find buyers at is decline. Barley brought last week's rates. Oats in slow request. Beans and peas unsaleable, except at a reduction. The following is an extract of a letter from Auck land, dated Oct. 14, 1559 :—" It is certainly a beau tiful climate here, the fields looking exceedingly well, potatoes promising. As for wheat, barley, and oats, they only plant enough for their own use. Everything being imported, food is at an outrage ous price, such as flour ss. per stone ; bread, Bd. per 21b. loaf ; rice, 4d. per lb. ; sugar, 7d., coarse brown ; candles, ls. Gd., and moulds ls. Bd. Every thing else in the same proportion, except beef and mutton, beef being 7d; the lb., mutton sd. and 6d., pork 4d.,. but everything else three times as dear as in England. Clothing is remarkably cheap. Had I known, I would not have brought out a thing. Everything is sold by auction—that is how the shopkeepers get their supplies; They put all small articles up by dozens, and larger things in lesser lots. I will give you the actual prices of some wear ing apparel :—Moleskin trousers 6s. to 7s. the pair, all sizes and colours ; cloth trousers, 95., 10s., and 1 ls. the pair, all sizes and colours ; ladies' Cash mere boots, 45., 4s. Gd., and ss. the pair; children's shoes, from 2s. to 4s. the pair ; topcoats, from 9s. to 12s. each, of a very good quality. Everything else in a like manner. Moleskin trousers are preferable out here to go into the bush ; cords split into ribands, with the stumps of the tea tree and scrub, which we find about a foot from the ground. Tho country is in a dreadful state ; we have travelled the country far and wide. I can say we have been to every settlement to the south of Auckland, and a great many to the north, but could not get one day's work of any kind. We took a carpet bag and a change of clothes and my shears, and were determined to have work if it was to be got, but really it was dis heartening to go to so many places and none to be found. They did not employ any men ; those who had sons used to shear for themselves. There was one man, a German ; he lived in the middle of a forest ; he had cut a road about five yards wide, and the trees hung over it. He had cleared about six acres. He had just enough room to grow stuff for himself. He was a very nice fellow. I have been to every surveyor I could hear of. No work was to be had. A great many who came out in our ship are now working for their food. There are only six out of 400 who have got work, that I have heard of. They started up into the bush in large gangs ; they took no provisions with them. They were going to live on the fern roots and cabbage tree, which the natives feed on. I saw one of the many who went ; he had lost his companion, but luckily he was not far in the forest. He was stung dreadfully by the mosquitoes, the woods being alive with them ; I have got my share, I can assure you ; farmers who have their land next the forest dare not set any corn at all, for if they did they might go at night and cee a beautiful green field, and in the morning there would not be a green leaf, for these creatures and other numerous inspets. There are any quantity of mid pigs ; they are first-rate eating; they taste like mutton ; they are bad to catch, but if you come suddenly upon them they will attack you ; they have fearful tusks. Lodgings are very dear ; you cannot get lodgings under £1 th© week. House-rent dear—four bedrooms and two sit ting-rooms and kitchen, no garden, £4 the week. All the houses are made of wood ; even the Governor's house is wood. The land is very bad about Auck land ; it is white clay, like pipe-clay. I'll contrive to write again before the mail goes out." Extract from a letter dated Oct. 23, 1859 :—" I have got better news to tell you—that is, I have got a job for the present, until something better offers itself. Tell all my relations and friends to stick to the old country. If there is nothing to do there, they may come here and work for their food. 1 am not doing much more and have to work 16 hours daily, and 18 on Saturday. Thank God, I have my health. I wish you would put a letter in the papers. It is too bad—in fact it is a robbery to knock up so many gool homes to come out here to starve, which they are doing ; many hundreds are here; no one knows how they live." THE WINES OF FRANCE AND THEIR PJWI3ABLI• CONSUMPTION IN ENGLAND. A blue-book of 200 pages, yesterday issued from the press, contains a series of reports from her Ma jesty's Secretaries of Embassy and Legation on the effect of the vine disease on the commerce of the various countries wherein they reside. These re ports include France, Spain, the United States, Austria, Tuscany, and Sardinia. France is far more fully reported on than the rest, and as at present the commercial policy of that country has received a new impulse and direction from the late Imperial edict, it may be well to refer to what is said with respect to French wines. The solution of the vital question, " whether, in the event of a reduction of the duty, France would be always in a condition to meet any demand (for her wines) that might arise from England," forms the principal subject of in vestigation in the lengthy and elaborate report of Viscount Chelsea on the past history and present state of the wine trade in France. The narrative of Sir E. Tennent, drawn up for the Board of Trade some years ago, is recited and discussed, and many of its arguments are controverted in detail. The result of Lord Chelsea's inquiry would seem to be in every respect favourable to an encouragement of the importation into England of French wines in large quantities, and strongly affirmative of the vinous fertility of her soil, as sufficient to supply the increased demand that may arise. It is shown that prior to 1849, leaving finest growths (which are confined to small districts) out of account, the qua lity, as respects the wine, had degenerated in France ; that it had lest in flavour what it had gained in fecundity, and that the adoption of the new methods of cultivation, the introduction of the common sorts of grape, and the abuse of manure, had caused the wine to lose its primitive superiority and distinctive qualities. Hence a diminution of price. But this diminution of price being counter balanced by the sale of much larger quantities, the wine-grower has benefitted by the change, and the total value of vine property in France, instead of declining, has increased in a larger ratio than that of other descriptions of agricultural produce. Wine property, in a word, far from being neglected, pis eagerly sought after. A Ministerial report by M. de Chabrol, dated March 15. 1830, and another, communicated to the Commission of the Budget, Nov. 29, 1849, both establish that, since 1788, the cultivation of the vine has been constantly on the increase in France. In 1830 there was an increase of 438,000 hectares ; it was upwards of 200,000, or 10,000 per annum nearly, from that neriod to 1849; in 1851, the total area of land under vine culture amounted to about 2,000,000 hectares. The present report goes on to establish -1. That the increase above mentionedis a constant and universal fact, manifesting itself throughout the whole extent of the country, but chiefly in those districts where the cultivation of the vine is most profitable. 2. That the increase of production is greater still, and, in proportion, more general than the increase of land cultivated. 3. That where there has been a dimi nution in the price of wine, it was owing to adulte ration. 4. That the value of wine property has in creased far beyond the proportion of the develop ment of the population. A long report on the working of the wine-tax, from the same French source follows. Lord Chelsea having quoted these data, carries down the narra tive to tne end of 1858, and concurrently tests the accuracy of Sir E. Torment's estimate of the pro ductive powers of France as embodied. in his work on "Wine, its Uses and Taxation." First, is wine a luxury or a necessary of life ? Lord Chelsea cannot deny that established facts would go to prove the fornier proposition, quoad England; but the ab stract justice of the system which onerously taxes the juice intended to gladden the heart of man he takes _leave to dispute, and states, moreover, that there is every a priori reason for classing wine as a necessary of life. Again it is contended that aggra vations and remissions of taxation produce a remark able effect on the consumption of wines, it being de monstrable that reduction of duty has always pro moted consumption, and that since the equalisation of the wine duties by the English Government in 1840, there has been a steady increase. The de clining- taste for wino in England, one of Sir E. Tennent's positions, is satisfactorily disproved by statistics ; for there is every reason to believe that if the English artisan could procure wine at a moderate rate, he would soon bid adieu to gin, whisky, and other injurious liquors, as was the case in the 17th century, when the wines of France en tered for one-third into the total consumption of the people of England. But, to insure this con sumption now, the wine merchants, it is hinted, must change their habit of extorting large profits on the sale of retail quantities. " Whether it is possible by a lower duty on wine to increase con sumption so as to sustain the revenue" is another question, discussed and resolved by Lord Chelsea in the affirmative. It is also believed that, were the duty reduced to ls. per gallon, French wines, not withstanding the alleged preference of the English for strong brandied beverages, would eventually contend with their rivals on equal terms, or alto gether brat them out of the market, as they.did port wine before the Methuen treaty. An appeal to official documents to ascertain what is the rela tive proportionate amount of wines of all countries consumed in England will show that, as regards French wines, this proportion, which for a period of 16 years, from 1815 to 1830, only amounted to 4 . 42 per cent., rose during the 16 years comprised between 1837 and 1854 to 6 . 33, equivalent to an increase of 50 per cent.; and what is still more re markable, this proportion attained, in spite of the vine disease, during the four years 1851-54 to 7.12, 7.50, 7 . 79, and 8.12 per cent. of the total consump tion, or an increase of 100 per cent. 1..910,41 , 131y to the period 1515.0, It could not, however, be MANCHESTER-JAN. 19. Business in wheat was very limited. but sellers did not appear anxious to press sales at less money. Flour in little demand, and quotations unaltered. Oats a slow sale, and prices as before. English beans were the turn in favour of the buyer. Indian corn at late rates. Oatmeal in mo derate request, at barely late rates. BOSTON-JAN. 13. We had a moderate supply of wheat from the growers to day, the demand for which was slow, and prices as Wore. Beans and peas were steady. Oats and barley were at the prices of last week. Wheat, red .38s to 44s Oats.... l6s to 241 White do .46s to 48s Beans 37s to 441 Barley .25s to 37s Peas ....34s to 370 Averages for the week : Wheat 5 491 qrs., at 42s 101 Peas .... 177 „ 3ss 101 Beans 8ar1ey......... 16 ~ 2Bs Oil Oats 1,058 „ l9s 04 Rye "-.. II .-ii OJ. MARKET HARBOROUGH—Ja.x. 17. There was a middling supply of wheat, which met fair demand, at about former rates. White wheat, 38, to 44s ; red, -3 to —s per 36 stone. Barley in limited quan tities, and a slow sale, on former terms—old, 34s to 404 ; new, —s to —s. Oats were a steady sale, from 23s to 240 per 24 stone. Beans (old), at ns to 43s ; new, 34s to 430 per 38 stone. LOUTH-Jix. 18. There was a dull business dons in wheat to-day, sod prices were at barely last week's quotations, pis., wheat, rei and mixed, old and new, 40. to 44. per qr. • whit*, 490. Oats, 18s to 224 ; beans, 39a to 44s ; barley, 291 to 3354 EDINBURGH GRAIN-JAN. 18. The supply of wheat, oats, and beans, was large. Sal o6 for wheat dull. Wheat on the top Os 6d up average 1• od down. Barley on the top Oa 6d up average Os 9d up. Oats on tho top Os 6d up . average Os 9i up. Beans on the top 2s 4d down average Os 9d down. Averages per Imperial quarter. Wheat.... Barley ll7 8 0-12ths Oats Beans Total Supply and Sales. Beans 261 qrs Sold 228 qrs Wheat .1549 qrs Sold 979 qrs Barley. ..... _1217 qrs Sold 1067 qrs Oats 336 qrs Sold 231 qrs GLASGOW-JAW. 18. In the market to-day a very quiet business was doing, and prices for wheat and beans rather lower, but barley► oats, and peas nominally unchanged. CORK-JAN. 18. The following were the quotations this morning :--Ea wheat, 24s 6d to 28s Od ; white, 24s 6d to 26s 9d; barley 1 60 Od to 188 Od ; oats, 128 Od to 138 6d. DERBY SMITHFIELD —JAN. 17. There was a short supply of fat stock to-day, witk • good attendance of buyers; the prices asked were higher' and a clearance was readily effected. Sheep were in betto r ,_ supply, and well sold. C a l ves i n li m i te d supp l y, and ll' request. Fat pigs about the average. Beef 6ld to 7d I Veal Tid to $4 Mutton .. Lamb Od to Od Rough fat, 5s 6d per 0,010. Hides, 3!d to 51d ; calf skins, 6d to 6id. FOREIGN 141 AIL PACKET LIST. In the following table 13 signifies that letters are despatok4 by evening mails from Londoi, mad IL by morning N DESTINATIONS. D espatek Port of M ail of Mails. 1 Despatch. due. ----- Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton .............. Feb. 11, E Southainp. Feb. 9 Ditto, via Marseilles ..... an. , Bahamas and Havana via New York ...................... an. 20, Liverpool snit Ca Canada, &c. (by nadn. pckt.) an. , Liverpool Jan. 13 Cape of Good Hope, Ascen sion, and St. Helena _. ..... Feb. 6, vonport Feb. 1 China, Penan g, and Singa pore, via, Southampton .... an. 20, M Southamp. an. 15 Ditto, via Marseilles Gibraltar, via Southampton.. J an . 20, Southamp. Jan. 11 Honduras and Blewflelds .... F e b.7l7, Soutkamp. overdue India (Calcutta) and Ceylon, - via Southampton Jan. 20, Soutkamp. Jan. 1 1 Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via South ampton an. 27, 3 Southanzp. an. 25 Ditto, via Marseilles Lisbon, Brazils,Buenos Ayres, and F. Islands Lisbon, Vigo, and Op or t o J an. 27, II 'ontkamp. Jan. 21 Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton an. 20, 31 miasmal). an. 1$ Ditto, via Marseilles Jan. . E Mexico and Havana Jan. —.lf 'outhamp. Newfoundland 'Jan.. 23, /9 iverpool.. --` United States and British N America (by British packet) Jan. 20, E iverpool.. an. 25 Ditto (by U. S. packet) Jan. —,E outhamp. -- West Coast of Africa, Ma deira, and Teneriffe Jan. 23 E iverpool.„ ' eb. 10 West India, California, Vene zuela, Chili, Peru, Grey- town, New Granada, &c Feb. 2, outhamp. overdue BIRTHS. CUN LIPPE.-- On the 17th Torrington-squaret the wife of Robert Cunliffe, Esq., of a son. FREmn.—On the 13th inst., at the Hotel du Louvre, Bow logne-sur-Mer, the Lady Isabella Freme, of a daughter. NuvILLE.—On the 19th inst., at 10, New Burlington street, the wife of the Hon. C. C. Neville, of a daughter. ORD.—On the 18th inst., at Streatham-hill, the wife of W. M. Ord, Esq., of a son. MARRIAGES. MORGAN— SMITH.—On the 19th inst., Matthew Somer ville Morgan, Esq., of Camden Cottages, and Palsgrave place, Temple, to Caroline Maria, youngest daughter of the late J. Orrin Smith, of Hatton-garden. SMYTIEB—STAMP.—On the 19th inst., at St. George% Hanover-square, Benjamin Pries W. Smythe, Esq., to Hannah Maria, daughter of Henry Stamp, Esq., Castle street, Reading. DEATHS. BURY.—On the 18th inst., James Frederick Bury, Esq., of St. Leonard's, Nazing, Essex, aged 62. CIIAPLIN.—On tho 18th inst., at 2, Hyde•park-gardenst Edwin Charles Chaplin, Lieut. R.N., son of the late W. J. Chaplin, Esq., aged '27. COWLEY.—On the 18th inst., at Hatfield House, Georgians Lady Cowley, relict of Henry Lord Cowley, and sister to the Marquis of Salisbury, aged 74. GILKES.—On the 16th inst., Benjamin Robert Gilkes, 01 Barnclose, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, aged 76. HANDLEY.--On tho 19th inst., at 37, Lowndes-street, grave-square, the Hon. Mrs. Handley, relict of the Ist° Henry Handley, Esq., of Calverthorpo Hall , Lincoln* shire, aged 60. JOHNSON.—On tho 17th inst., at 5, Cadogan -place, Oe°* Johnson, Esq., of Ll anr h y d , R u thi er , N or th W a l es , a ge" 64. POUTLOCK.--- On the 16th inst., at his residence, the Susll 44 Arms, Brixton, Mr. James Portlock, aged 47. LONDON : printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG of No. 112, Strand, Printeri at The Sun . Office, No. 112 : - Strand, in the Preetnet of the S avo y, I n t h e ooun tY Middlesex, Friday, January 20, 1860.