The Sun. — London, England, 1860-06-19 00:00:00

BENSON'S WATCHES. "Perfection of mechanism." —Morning Post. Gold Silver 2to 50 guineas. Send 2 stamps for Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet, descrip tive of every construction of watch now made, with their prices. Watches sent to all parts of the kingdom free by post, or to India and the Colonies for Ss. extra. 33 awl 34. Ludgate-hill, London. E.C. Established 1749. TH EATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Backstone. THIS EVENING the performances will commence with SHOCKING EVENTS. Mr. Compton. To be followed by THE FAMILY SECRET. Messrs Chippendale Howe, W. Fax Ten, Villiers, Bstone, Mrs. B. White, Mrs. , Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Wilkins, an d Miss Amy Sedgwick. After which, a new farce. entitled FITZSMYTHE OF FITZSMYTHE HALL. Messrs. Bucksto - ne, W. Farren, and Rogers ; Mrs. Wilkins and Miss Henrade. To conclude with THE ODDITIES OF THE OHIO. By the Leclercqs. Commence at 7. ROYAL see PR INCES S'S THEATRE.— Les, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, will be performed THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Sir John Falstaff, Mr. Phelps. To oonclude with THRICE MARRIED. Mr. Meadows, Miss C. Leelereq, Commence at 7. A. DELPHT, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. Continued success of the popular American comic Actress, Miss Julia Daly. THIS EVENING, to commence with TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. Messrs. Leigh Murray, Toole, Selby, Misses Simms, Kate Kelly, and Mrs. Chatterley. After which, OUR FEMALE AMERICAN COUSIN. Messrs. Stuart, C. Selby, Billington, Eburne, Miss Julia Daly, K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and Mrs. Chatterley. To conclude with THE BIRTHPLACE OF PODGERS. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Eburne ; Mrs. Chatterly, Miss K. Kelly Commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till 5. Private boxes, £2 2s. ; Family Boxes, £l. Orchestra Stalls, ss. ; Balcony, 4s. ; Front Circle Stalls, 3s. ; Pit Stalls, 25.; Pit, is. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, is ; Gallery, 6d. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. FRENCH PLAYS-ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. Directeur, M. Talexy.—Lessee, Mr. F. B. Chattertou. M. LECLERE. THIS EVENING. LES FEMMES QUI PLEURENT, en un acte. PARIS QUI DORT, piece en quatre actes : Blai reau, by M. Leclerc Orchestra Stalls, 7s. 6d. ; Balcony Stalls, ss. ; Pit, 2s. Gallery, ls. Private Boxes, from Two Guineas. The next appearance of Mdlle. Duverger will be duly an nounced. Commence at 8. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. — Proprietor and Manager, Mr. WM. BATTY. New Engagement and First Appearance in London of Madlle. LEONTINE, the Renowned Equestrienne from the Cirque Imperiale, St. Petersburg. Immense Success of the Gorgeous Hippo-drama—the New and Splendid Scenery, the Magni ficent Costumes and Decorations, the intensely interesting and thrilling incidents with which it abounds, render it the most superb and beautiful production ever placed upon this stage. On Monday, June 18, 1860, and during the week, the En tertainments will commence with the Grand Historical Spectacle in Three Acts, entitled " FAIR ROSAMOND, or the AMAZON CRUSADERS." Succeeded by an unusually brilliant programme of the Scenes of the Cirque, introducing the celebrated British an t Continental Equestrian Artistes, including Madlle. LEONTINE, in their unequalled perfor mances. Concluding with a Popular Farce. The magnificent Chandeliers manufactured by Messrs. De ities and Sons, of Houndsditch. Doors open at half-past 6, performance commence at 7. Bog-office open daily from 11 till 4. Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST. CONCERTS.- CA NTERB UR Y THIS EVEN T ING, C. H. GOUNOD'S OPERA, FAUST. First Time in this Country. Faust Mr. Henry Herbert. Mephistopheles Mr. C. Bernard. Siobel .. Mrs. Anderson. Marguerite Conductor Mr. Jonghmans. And selections from Dinorah, Trovatore, Macbeth, and numerous other Entertainments. Balcony, is Hall. ed. Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come dian and Mimic,. and W. T. Critchfleld. The AFRICA?' OPERA T itOUPE, their first appearance since 1852, consisting of ELEVEN STAR PERFORMERS, who will give the whole of their inimitable entertainment every evening. The gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening. THE WEATHER. --SUN OFFICE, JUNE 19, 1860. THERMOMETER, TN TEE SHAW?. 65—highest since noon yesterday. 52—lowest this morning and during the night. 60—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.87. WlND—South-Easterly ; light, with cloudy dull weather, and heavy rain in the morning. THREM O'CLOCK.-It has been raining all day, with slight exception. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins DAY.—Morning, lh. 38m.—Afternoon, 2h. Om. To-monnow.-Morning, 2h. 22m.—Afternoon, 2h. 43m. ~... ... , k tu r ..., ~ ..,.. 4 - . , 4 •::.2.". --‘--- ~ i r k , 71.0 4,-,, i. .„, 4 '' , .....Q.,, '''l; r . , •!.,-,„ 1'11, •MO • - N,,, S . , -?,-/r , -f- - •,..,Agt-c - ....• - "A,,„ ..._..- ~ ~urui'i~ THE SUN. LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1860. The gathering of Kings and Dukes to do homage to the EMPEROR at Baden-Baden was, for it is the EMPEROR'S system, heralded by an Imperial pam phlet. This time the scribe, or Imperial AARON, was our old acquaintance M. ABOUT, and the " German Question" is certainly an appropriate topic for the nominal author of the " Roman Ques tion." It were affectatidn to pretend that the pamphlet has no political significance. The POPE and ANTONELLI rightly judged differently in the former case, though they did not manage their diplomacy respecting it with the superhuman cleverness and cunning which we naturally attri bute to the Vatican. The secular sovereigns who met at Baden will be much wiser, and though rumour says that due care was taken they should see a copy of the pamphlet, we may be pretty sure they will say nothing about it which shall commit them with the EMPEROR, or with the European public. We have at least opinion enough of their wisdom to have little doubt that they will, officially, know nothing whatever about M. ABOUT and his bro chure: We cannot agree with one of our most respected contemporaries, that the EMPEROR condescended to visit Baden. As in all other cases, he gained his object. The Regent would rather he had been a thousand miles off, after the awkward affair of the intercepted correspondence; knowing, too, the sus picions of the petty German Princes. His Minister tried to keep the EMPEROR from coming ; but the EMPEROR would come. Admitting that he forced himself, perhaps half rudely, on the Prince Regent, Lours NAPOLEON is just the man to feel that to be a triumph. Carrying his point, not critically con forming to the formal courtesies of courts, is that on which ho plumes himself. And he did carry his point. Tie placed the Regent in the dilemma of refus ing him, and of thereby being first in a quarrel ; or of receiving him, and thus giving him the coveted opportunity of laying before him, not Im perial views and opinions (those he might find out as he could), but Imperial representations. He even gained another point, for he compelled a" mob of monarchs" to gather around his presence. It reminds us of the olden times in the East, when Rings by the score used to gather their meat under the table of some conquering potentate, or to think it a high honour if they sat at meat with th him. It i s c e r tainly a curious question what thought, and perhaps whispered to each other, : l they " took tea" with the Great Monarch of the occasion, each of them having, perhaps, a copy of M. AiouT's pamphlet in their pockets. It was, indeed, a rather unpleasant dose for all the parties present. It begins with love to Ger many, to be followed by rather unkindly sayings about German princes. Till the great uprising of Germany which drove out the French, the old Teutons were fast Frenchifylng their language and their mann°. s ; now the P ar i s i ans, our author tells .1 us are Germanizing. Heavy German compounds a nd rough gutturals can Lever inde e d be adopted into the glib, polished language of Franc e , but in music, and philosophy, and science, and art, Germany is becoming the honoured idol of France. And the friendship of France is worth something. 'he Ottoman Empire felt it in the Crimea, where Frazee delayed her fate; the deliverance and union of the Moldavian and Wallachian provinces is also witness to the blessings of French philan thropy; and "Italy, our august mother in civilization and the fine arts, has, under the auspices of France, entered on the path of independence and unity. It was French Armies who opened the way in which she now marches alone under the guidance of Piedmont ; if GOD allows this great work to be accomplished, and a nation of 26,000,000 of inhabitants is organised at h r gates, France will take no offence. Faithful to her generous traditions she will sacrifice her pri vate susceptibilities to the general welfare and for a peaceful future ; for European order will not be firmly established until the day in which there shall be neither nationalities oppressed nor kings insup portable to their subjects." M. ABOUT does not advert, however, to the fact that, in Savoy and Nice, France took the keys of the north-western gates of Italy into her own hands. A rather suspicious looking preamble all this for the monarchs. But what follows was worse. First the lesser ones have their lesson the " swarm of petty Princes who buy and sell their subjects as they would their flocks," who have divided a nation, naturally homogeneous into a " deplorable multi tude of Governments." The intelligence and pride of the German people resent the degradation, and regard the support of 37 Governments, when one. would be sufficient, as ridiculous. The German people can unite ; they did it to expel the French in 1813, they strive to do it in the Zollverein, they showed their national sentiment at the SCHILLER feast, they would hare united under the lead of Prussia, in 1849, but for the imbecility of FREDERICK-WILLIAM, and they are ready to do it now ! Their Majesties of the petty territories must have read these words of the Imperial anonymous Secretary with rather uneasy con sciences. But the greater ones were not spared. Austria comes in for the most contemptuous denunciation. She represents the doctrine of Divine right in its most absolute vigour ; political and religious despotism, abnegation of the rights of the people, the most enormous concessions to clerical authority, a blind worship of the past, and an obstinate hatred of all progress ; these, says M. ABOUT, " are the worm-eaten bases of the Austrian monarchy." She is then contrasted as a confused heap of nationalities with Prussia, which repre sents German nationality, religious reform, com mercial progress, and constitutional liberalism. Hence the people of Germany love Prussia, and look to her as the centre and rallying point of German unity. Moreover an Austrian unity, by comprehending with the same hand nationalities amounting altogether to 70,000,000 men, would have threatened the equilibrium of Europe. A Prussian unity would number but 32,000,000 sub jects of one Government. Let not, however, Prussia think herself immacu late, She at the crisis of 1849 adopted the principle :of Divine right in opposition to that of popular suffrage. She has been guilty of supress ing constitutions around her, and of putting to death the noble patriots of the Fatherland ; still, peoples are more forgiving than Monarchs, and she will be forgiven if she repent. But Germans may ask—Who is a Frenchman that he should talk to us of liberty ? Gagged and deprived of all political liberties, what honest interest can he take in German liberties ? Of course M. ABOUT gets out of his own awkward question as well as he can, but it is a sorry affair. He succeeds easily enough in showing that Prus sians are pretty closely fettered, and that the dif ferent provinces of the Kingdom, do not, like the departments of the Empire, enjoy equal rights. What, however, those rights are, in France, he does not tell us, and a German would doubtless tell him, that unequal franchises, may be better than equal fetters. But what about the Rhine ? Why, says M. ABOUT, you have all been very uneasy about it ever since we claimed " natural boundaries" in Savoy. Now, really, if you will go on saying that we mean to make the Rhine our boundary, too ; if no protes tations, no explanations will suffice, you will just irritate us into doing the thing. It would be just like a man persisting in telling another that the latter meant to give him a slap in the face ; per sisting in following him and telling him so—tell ing him, also, at the same time, that he would crush and annihilate him. If he did of course, the accused man would at last find excellent reasons for giving the slap which his provoking neighbour dared him to inflict. Such then is the scope of the last Imperial pam phlet. Germany is but a name for a miserable batch of feeble states. Two only of them can com bine, and unite all into one efficient whole. Austria is out of the question; she represents but antiquated principles. Prussia may do, but she must mend her ways ; and as to the Rhine, why, you say we will come there, so we suppose we must ; if we do, thank yourselves. A remarkable letter from the hand of Colonel Sir JOSHUA JEBB will be found in another part of The Sun of this evening. It is an argument in which that gallant soldier supplements in. an ad mirable manner the elaborate Report of the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire so far into the state of our National Defences, as those Defences are substantially embodied in oar outer For tifications. Nothing could be more happily timed or more directly to the purpose than this well reasoned communication. Colonel JEBB recognises the justice and accuracy with which the one damning blot of the report (a report otherwise entitled only to our heartiest commendation) was hit immediately upon its issue from the press and its submission to the two Houses of the Legislature. That solitary but all-important omission was at once indicated among others by ourselves. It is a hiatus, in fact, quite as start ling in its way as that in which the character of HAMLET was said to have b2en once overlooked in the distribution of "parts," when the Danish Prince was about to be doubly murdered at some redoubtable amateur performance. The Commis sion, it will be remembered, has, in effect, simply evaded the very point of the most vital importance among all tie points of vital importance submitted to their consideration. They have shewn, as their report shows with admirable lucidity, how all the naval ports may be the most rapidly and the most effectually rendered impregnable. They have dedicated to this end the whole of their energies. They have set apart for the realisation of this design a round sum of £12,000,000 sterling, only providing that that otherwise somewhat alarming aggregate of £12,000,000 shall be die tributed over fonr years, and disbursed in com paratively moderate instalments. But—while pro- : viding thus for the safety and security of such places as Portsmouth and Chatham, the Medway 1 and the Thames—the capital of England, the heart of the British Empire, is passed by ! Certainly, it must be admitted, with a wistful look askance in its direction. It has been passed by as though it were a subject of the most secon larY nature. This, moreover, while it is candidly acknowledged all the while that " the main object of an enemy in invading this country would be to push for the capital, in the hope ' that if he succeeded in obtaining command of it, such a disaster would result in our buying him off upon any terms he might find it expedient for him to exact." Yet— admitting this—the 33.0yal Commissions do nothing, suggest nothing towo.rds rendering that " main object" of an unscrupul,lus invader, that paramount prize towards the acquisition of which his every energy would inevitably be directed—■beyond his reach, inaccessible to his tenterprise, indestructible, inexpugnable ! Now, Sir JOSHUA regards this, without, so to speak, one in etant's hesitation, as not merely a startling, but as ita a manner a fatal omis sion if allowed to pass uncared for. His reasoning at the very outset is cogent, and even to our think ing irresistible. He maintains that—" If the British Lion is to be bearded in his den [recollect by the way that it was a den once upon a time called, and that not by any means so very long ago, called too by certain French imperial Colonels, whose words were echoed in the official Moniteur, A DEN OF ASSASSINS ?] it would be to draw his teeth, to cripple his power, and to humiliate him !" Unquestion ably Colonel JEBB is perfectly right in so arguing. It is only an argument like this, indeed, that—to use an expressive idiom—stands to reason. Sir 1 josHua continues, in the enforcement of this powerful argument, thus " The capture of one of your naval ports would not effect this object, or do much more than produce permanent exasperation and temporary incon venience. No the path before the invading'army is clearly visible, even now, when looked to thus by an ticipation and hypothetically. It trends onwards— as plainly as a pikestaff could point it out—directly upon the metropolis. What we have to do, Sir JOSHUA (with the foregoing conviction strong upon him) clearly and succinctly indicates. The First line of defence, he reminds us, is—THE CHANNEL. For the guarding of which we have happily already our noble Channel Fleet ! The Second — MEASURES FOR OPPOSING A LANDING. This being precisely the very line of defence cared for espe cially, one might say exclusively, by the Royal Commissioners ! At least that portion of it ex tending from the Humber in a south-westerly direction to Plymouth. The third and fourth lines of defence Sir JOSHUA JEBB'S letter marks out boldly and broadly ; and they are these—" one or more general actions," the gallant officer should rather have said one general action, or more than one, at a certain distance, or at certain distances from the metro polis. And—beyond this—the traceing around the capital successive lines of defence in its more immediate neighbourhood. In regard to the " third" head or section, that relating to general actions in the field—is one that, of course, must always be contingent upon the accidental development of the campaign, and upon the particular genius or pecu liar idiosyncracy of the Commander-in-Chief, Be fore passing it by, however, for the purpose of ar riving at the " fourth" (the consideration of which constitutes the gist of Colonel JEBB'S letter) our gallant commentator upon the Report of the Royal Commissioners, very aptly quotes the opinion expressed upon this point by the late and great Dake of WELLINGTON ; where speaking of invasion his Grace observed that, " There is no mode of resistance, much less of protection, from this danger, excepting by an army in the field capable of meeting and contending with its,' formidable enenmy." Then follows Colonel JEBB'S most impressive and persuasive argument replete with masterly suggestions. To it in its entirety we would earnestly direct the attention of the general public, but more especially that of our military authorities—sanguine that the timely hints thus thrown out by this tried and valued servant of the Crown may have due weight in the oncoming deliberations of the Legislature in the matter of our Defences, and may receive all the consideration to which they are eminently entitled at the hands of her Majesty's Government. Sir JOSHUA, it will be sufficient here to remark, insists upon the urgent advisability of the first determined stand being made within a distance not less than thirty or forty miles from the metropolis; He then points out the exact line of country—a line of country so full of strong positions that he emphatically declares it might be not inaptly desig nated the Torres Vedras of London ! This most favourable and even formidable line, he writes is to be found "in the escarpement of the chalk range running westward from near Maid stone, towards Reigate, Dorking, Guildford, and Farnham. At the latter point this general line, after including all the strong ground in front of Aldershott, might be advantageously thrown back in the direction of Oliham and Reading, resting its right on the Thames. Chatham and the river Medway lie on the left, and would compel a hostile force marching in haste from the south-east to take the road passing through Maidstone. Keeping this road they would soon find themselves at the foot of Wrotham•hill, and would not be likely to diverge to the right, because in such a case they would come upon some of the proposed Chatham defences, near Cobham. The whole of the ground also on the left bank of the Medway is very de fensible ; and, as the proposed work at Shooter's hill lies upon the old Dover-road, it may be as sumed that the high ground at Wrotham-hill might be taken as the left of a line which in its course westward intersects every road by which an enemy could march to London from the most ac cessible parts of the coast." Having indicated by which extracts the eminently practical character of Colonel Sir JOSHUA JEBB'S suggestions, we must now content ourselves with referring our readers to the gallant officers entire communication. 1 Commending the public attention also, in the same breath, to the patriotic propositions thrown out to the same end by our earnest hearted correspondent " Nauticus," who most wisely argues that what we have above all things to do is to remain what we have hitherto been, THE MASTERS OF THE SEAS ! It is the one grand moral of our glorious Patriotic Song—that song the ringing chorus of which avers that so long as " Britannia rules the waves"—so long—" Britons never shall be slaves !" POLITICAL SERMONS IN ISLINGTON.—On Sun day last sermons were preached at several of the churches in the above parish against Lord Chelmsford's Bill. At St. Luke's, Holloway, the minister said that petitions against the bill were lying in the vestry-room, and urged the congregation before leaving church that day (Sunday) to go and sign, as it was a holy work to oppose a bill which, he alleged, had been carried through the Lords by a dis honest trick. The report of the National Bank of Austria an nounces a half-yearly dividend of 28 florins per share. A further distribution of £5 per share is notified to be paid to the proprietors of the Western Bank of Lon doa on the 4th of July next, making the total returned £35 per share out of £5O. Another sum of £5 per share is ex pected to be realisedin the course of a year. THE MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, Monday._ TL e Royal Mail Company's steamer Atrato, Capt. Woolly, sailed hence this afternoon at 3 p.m., with her Majesty's mails for the British and foreign West India Islands, Pacific, and Central America. She took 51 passengers, amongst whom are the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Antigua ; Staff-Surgeon G. Hoffmann, for Barbadoes ; and Capt. Anthony, for Coldera. The Atrato took on freight 370 bottles quicksilver, value 12,500 ; French jewellery, £2,124 ; French specie, £320 ; English jewellery, £ 3 , 106 ; English specie, £lO,OOO, for the colonial Bank of Barbadoes ; dia monds, £200; and a full cargo of French and Digit sh mer chandise. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Tagus, Capt. Woodgates, also sailed hence to-day, with the usual mails for the Peninsular ports, 16 passengers, and a general cargo. THE SUN, LONDON, T(TESDAY'EVENING, JUNE 19, 1860, MR. BENEDICT'S CONCERT. Mr. Benedict's grand morning concert took place yester day, at her Majesty's Theatre, before a densely crowded and most fashionable audience. Arr. Benedict's playing was worthy of his music. The delicate and beautiful touch and finished execution which have ever characterised Mr. Benedict's performances on the pianoforte, were never more delightfully exemplified than in his rendering of his new concertino, which was enthusiastically applauded, as it well deserved, not only at the termination, but whenever "tutti " afforded a plausible excuse for doing honour to the soloist. Mr. Benedict, who, bo it understood, plays the music of others as well as his own, also took part in an in genious, brilliant, and immensely difficult duet for two pianos (on themes from Meyerbeer's " Robert le Diable"), with its gifted author, Herr Leopold de Meyer, with whom it is not too much, though a great deal, to say that he fairly shared the honours. Before quitting the subject of piano forte playing we must also record the brilliant success of Miss Arabella, Goddard, whose splendid performance of Thalberg's fantasia and airs from ROssini's " Mose in Egitto" quite equalled the best efforts of her male competi tors, and elicited rapturous applause. The " Stabat Mater," so far as the principal vocalists were concerned, was sung to perfection, and equal praise is due to the performance of the scene from " Othello," by Madame Borghi-Mamo and Signor Mongini : to Madame Catherine Hayes, for her chaste and musicianly rendering of Mendelssohn's beauti ful " Ave Maria." PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Last night Shakespeare's comedy, " The Merry Wives of Windsor," was performed here, Mr. Phelps sustaining the part of the fat and doughty knight—Sir John Falstaff. The denizens of the northern part of the metropolis have long been familiar with this performance, but to the more westerly and aristocratic audience it was a decided no velty. The Falstaff of Mr. Phelps is really and truly a great performance, for throughout the whole of the faults and follies of the part, the audience was never al lowed to forget that, with all his failing, Sir John Falstaff was still a gentleman. The famous buck-basket scene was magnificently acted and rapturously applauded. Mr. George Melville sustained the part of the jealous pated Ford very excellently, albeit his reading was a little too fast to please our fancy, and Mr. Frank Mathews and Mr. Meadows acted with their usual ability the characters of Justice Shallow and Sir Hugh Evans. Mr. Widdicombe was the Master Slender, but it was not at all suited to his abilities. Mrs. Winstanley, as Mrs. Page, acted with her usual heartiness and spirit, and Miss Rose Leclercq was indeed a " sweet Ann Page." The house was filled in every part previous to the rising of the curtain. ADEIRLII THEATRE. The charming comedy, in four acts, " The Serious Family," was revived last night at this theatre, and re ceived by a numerous audience with appreciation and applause. The moral of this comedy is excellent, having for its object the convincing a wife that her first duty is to her husband, rather than to follow the rules of her mother, when those dictates are in direct opposition to the will of her lord and master. The cast of the piece at the New Adelphi is extremely happy. In Captain Murphy Maguire, a sort of friend in need, Mr. Leigh Murray appears to great advantage. His genial warmth as the Irish gentleman, his admirable brogue, and the thoroughly natural manner with which he supports the character, render it an excellent bit of acting. Mr. Billington plays the husband, Mr. Charles Torrens, with ease and judg ment, his rollicking gaiety when out in the society of his old friends and his staid manner when at home in the bosom of his serious family, being capitally depicted. No less suc cessful is Mr. J. L. Toole, as Mr. Aminidab Sleek, a gentle man of puritanical notions, the peculiarities of " saintly hypocrites" being portrayed by the actor with force and humour. Mrs. Alfred Mellon, as Mrs. Ormsby Delmore, the female friend in need, performs, as she always does, most charmingly; and Mrs. Charles Torrens is imperso noted with ability by Miss Henrietta Simms. The other characters are respectively supported by Miss Kate Kelly, Mrs. Chatterley, and Mr. W. H. Eburne. After the comedy, " Our Female American Cousin" was performed, and the evening's entertainment concluded with the burlesque of " Dinorab," in which Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. C. J. Smith, Mr. Paul Bedford, and Miss Kate Kelly, support their on • ginal parts. FRENCH PLAYS. M. Leclere made his first appearance in England last evening. He has a pecular talent for the representation of serious comic old men, stolid and amusing veterans, who are the more amusing from the fact that they are quite un conscious of the fun that is in them. In "Deux Anges Gardiens " he plays admirably the part of a retired soldier of a peaceful turn of mind, but who remembers enough of his sabre exercise to be able to terrify a duellist who pro poses to fight this retired soldier's intimate protege and friend. "Furnised Apartments," another piece of M. Leclere's repertoire, is the original of an English farce, played with great success at the Adelphi under the title of "Id on parle Francais." Taupin, the name of the personag3 represented by M. Leclere, is a mean and villanous letter out of lodgings, caring little for the reputation and morality of his lodgers, but troubling himself greatly as to their means, and exacting his first month's rent in advance. The Frenchman of the Adelphi farce is, in the St. James's vaudeville, an Englishman, but the general plan is the same in both pieces. In " Paris qui Dort" he is a sort of uxorious Dogberry, and his preternatural admiration of his wife seemed to entertain the audience quite as much as his insane endeavours to keep the peace in the neighbourhood of the Paris supper houses. Until his present engagement at the St. James's Theatre, we believe M. Leclere had never been seen in England. His talent as an eccentric comedian is peculiar and striking, and any piece in which he plays becomes from that fact interesting. UNIVERSITY IMELLIGENCE. DURHAM-EASTER TERM, 1860. PUBLIC EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF B.A. EXAMINERS. The Professor of Greek. The Professor of Mathematics. Rev. William Henderson, D.C.L., Principal of Victoria College, Jersey. Rev. John Aitchison, M.A., Head Master of the Gram mar School, Canterbury. CLASS PAPER. CLASSICAL AND GENERAL LITERATURE. CLASS 11. Clutterbuck, James Cooper, Bp. eosin's Hall. CLASS IV. Ladbrooke, John Arthur, Bp. Hatfield's Hall. CLASS V. liayton, 'William, Bp. Hatfield's Hall. Wilkinson, Thomas, Bp. Hatfield's Hall. CLASS VI. Badnall, James, Bp. Cosin's Hall. Val er, Rev. Henry, University College. CLASS VII. Kenyon, Roger, Bp. Cosin's Hall. Scarr, Grover, Bp. Cosin's Hall. Tindall, Richard Abbey, Bp. Hatfield's Hall. FINAL EXAMINATION IN THEOLOGY. EXAMINERS. The Professor of Divinity. The Principal of Bishop Hatfield's Hall. The Rev. H. L. Mansell, M.A., St. John's College, Oxford. Bulman, John, 8.A., University College. Burns, W. IL, 8.A., Bp Hatfield's Hall. Clarke, John F., 8.A., University College. Dawkins, J. C., B.A_,. Bp. Co s in's Douglas, Philip H., B.A. Bp. Cosin's Hall. Fowler, J. T., Bp. Hatfield's Hall. llepple, J. 1) , 8.A., University College. Howard, Thomas, 8.A., Bp. Cosin's Hall. Hutchinson, Edward, Bp. Hatfield's Hall. Robertson, T. M., University College. Tapfield, Edward, Bp. Hatfield's hall. Woodward, Samuel, University College. PRIZENEEN. Graduate—J. D. llcpple, B.A. Non-Graduate—T. M. Robertson. The University Mathematict.l Scholarship has been as signed to Edward Marshall, University College. The Hebrew Prizes have been thus awarded : Senior Class—J T. Fowler, Bp. Hatfield's Hall. Junior Class—J. C. Dawkins, 8.A., Bp. Cosin's Hall. ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, GRAY'S INN-ROAD.— The number of patients relieved at this hospital during the week ending June 16, 18;0, was 2,995, of which 706 were new cases. Yv METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPITAL, DEVONSHIRE SQUARE, CITY.—The aggregate number of patients relieved during the week ending June 16 was—Medical, 958 ; sur gical, 472 ; total, 1,38.5 ; of which 432 were new cases. TAXATION BY THE LORDS.—A crowded meeting was held yesterday evening to protest against the course the House of Lords adopted in refusing to repeal the paper duty, in IJawkestone Hall, Waterloo-road. The members for the borough were present, as were also a number of gentlemen of local influence and position. Mr. John Wil liams occupied the chair. A resolution condemnatory of the Lords having been moved and seconded, Mr. Williams, M.P., made a long speech, in which he suggested that the Paper Duty Bill should be included in any money bill which yet remained to be passed, and sent up to the Lords fur their approval. Mr. Roupell followed, and said that if the government did not preserve the rights of the Commons, he hoped it would be driven from office. He believed, how ever, that the govern went would pursue a manly and straightforwaid course. A petition to the House of Com mons, praying it to preserve its privileges from violation, was adopted. THE PROPOSED FORTIFICATIONS , —We are on the road an expenditure without end. To buy safety at any price is now the received cry ; but the time will come when people will ask whether even safety may not be bought too dear, or wcethcr protection may not be carried to such a Ditch as to leave little to be protected. So in the middle ages i.. was uncommon for a man to ruin his estate utterly in fortifying and securing his house. And let not people who are ready to make any sacrifices for defences be too sure that they will get the thing for which they will certainly pay dear. Fortifications are not more infallible than gunboats, but they are not so tell-tale. Provided th-y are extensive and proportionately expensive they pass for good however defective, till an enemy is found to bring them to the test. O. paper our military engineers have it all their own way, but they have never shone practically, and were no match for the Russian at Sebastopol,— EMMincr, OUR NA22ONAL DEFENCES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUIT. SIR,—We have had the report of the Commission on our National Defences, and it is sufficiently elaborate. The Com•• missioners state, "that they are led to the opinion that, neither our fleet, our standing army, nor our volunteers, or even the three combined, can be relied on to secure the country from foreign invasion." It would be said, indeed, if they could find a majority of Englishmen to coincide with them in this opinion, and in giving it to the world they must have taken a very contracted and partial view of the constitution of the British empire. It is not by the defence of our stockyards and naval stations alone that the mighty fabric of the British empire is to be maintained. It is not confined to, or comprised within, one isolated spot, but encircles the globe, and exists in every clime. An Englishman may truly say with Byron,— " Far as the breeze can drive the billows' foam, Survey our empire, and behold our home." Now, this being the case, it becomes necessary, in consider ing any scheme of defence, to take a comprehensive view of the British empire as a whole, and to determine the best means of giving security to each member of this compli cated community; for we must always remember that the greatness and might of Britain arises, not from her own intrinsic resources alone, but from the combined power and wealth of her many possessions. Futile, indeed, would be the mere defence of our colonies, if the colonies, those members of our empire which impart life and energy to its people, were severed from it. No ! England's very exist ence depends upon not only retaining her colonial depen dencies intact, but also in maintaining a constant and cer tain communication with them. Hitherto Englishmen have been accustomed to look upon her " wooden walls" as the surest protection from foreign invasion or insult, and every truly patriotic states man will still consider them as the true bulwarks of British power, and, what is of infinitely more consequence, of Bri tish liberty. It may be all very well to protect our dock yards from the possibility of the sudden attack of an enemy, which, if successful, might cause infinite loss ; but do not let us for one moment admit the possibility of a successful invasion of our shores, so as to lead to a protracted defence of either the dockyards or London, because, before such a descent on our coast could be made, the enemy must have become master of the seas, and this implies the de struction of Britain's naval supremacy. It requires little power of prophecy to predict what would be the result should Great Britain cease to be paramount on the waters. Not only would the spring of her wealth be dried up, but the blockade of our ports would cut off those supplies of the necessaries of life, without which we could not maintain for one month the existence of our teeming population. Anarchy and the disruption of society would be the result —the complicated machinery of our social system would collapse—the majesty of Britain's might would vanish— " And, like the baseless fabric of a vision, Leave not a 'rack behind." No doubt that, since the the introduction of propulsion by steam, great facility is given to an invading force coming by sea. But I firmly believe that, as the like advantage is possessed by the ships of the country to be defended, there is little or no gain to the invaders now, as compared with the time when both fleets had to depend only on the wind for locomotive power, whilst the rapid transit by rail way, and speedy communication by electric telegraph, would secure the concentration of a large opposing force, much more rapidly than troops could be disembarked, even if unopposed in landing—which immunity would scarcely be accorded to them. Taking ail this into consideration, we may safely rest assured that to effect a successful invasion of our shores would be even more difficult than it was prior to the introduction of steam. The inference to be drawn from the above remarks is, that it behoves Great Britain, at any cost, to maintain the supremacy of the seas. In order to do this, it is essential for her to have a prosperous, contented, and loyal maritime population, with a numerous and actively employed mer cantile marine. Our legislature, since the predominance of the Manchester party in Parliament, have been too apt to ignore the merchant navy, and treat them as if not a necessary adjunct to the power of Britain; this has been a great mistake, arising, like the report on National Defences, from taking a partial and limited view of the construction of the British community, and, I am sorry to say, it is now bearing fruit in the existence of an apathy and indifference to British interests on the part of our seamen, which exhibits its effects in the small numbers enrolled in the Naval Volunteer Reserve. I trust some means may he adopted to reanimate the dormant patriotism of our seamen, and if this is once fairly brought about, adieu to fears of invasion, or to doubts of our supremacy on the waters. Our wooden walls will be animated by such a spirit that none will be able to stand before them. Bofore closing this letter, I may be allowed to suggest that most nautical men (not connected with the Admiralty) con sider that the vessels best adapted for coast defence are gunboats. Built for speed, and armed with heavy, long range guns, ten or a dozen of these would be more than a match for a line-of-battle ship, as they would be so placed as to strike her with every shot, whilst from their rapid movements and distant position none of her guns could be brought to bear upon them. It would be well to have several of those gunboats laid up in all the large ports, say the Mersey, Clyde, Tyne, and Hum ber. They might be placed in perfect safety in any of these rivers, and would be available where most wanted in case of war—requiring merely officers to be sent down, as they would be quickly manned by the volunteers residing in the port. There is little doubt, in case of a war with France, an attempt would be made to destroy the shipping in the north-eastern port, which is all within the range of the guns of a vessel at sea. A few gunboats on the spot would obviate this danger at once. June 18, 1860. NAUTICUS. DEATTI OF GENERAL MACKENZIE. (From the Inverness Courier.) - We have to record the death of our venerable townsman, General John Mackenzie, the oldest officer in the British army, who expired this fore noon, at his house in Academy-street, in the 97th year of his age. General Mackenzie was born 19th December, 1763. He was the second son of Sir Alexander Mackenzie of Gairloch, Bart., who succeeded to the title and estates in 1766 and died in 1770, having been killed by a fall from his horse. The deceased general entered the army in his fifteenth year as lieutenant of the 73d Foot, and iu 1782 rose to be captain. On the formation of the 78th High landers, or Ross-shire Buffs, in 1793, he obtained the:appointment of captain, and in two more years rose to be major and lieutenant-colonel. He served in the campaigns on the Continent, including the several actions on the Waal and the Rhine in 1794 and 1795. He after wards served in Sicily, Egypt, India, and Spain. In 1802 hq attained the rank of brevet-colonel, in 1809 that of major-general, and in 1814 lieutenant-general. In 1837 he became a general officer. The deceased was married to Lilias, daughter of The Chisholm, by whom he had one son, Mr. Alister Mackenzie, who died a few years ago as receiver-general at Melbourne, in Australia. General Mackenzie was a brave impetuous sol dier, and was known among his companions in arms by the soubriquet of " Fighting Jack." In his latter years he devoted much of his time to science and literature, and was greatly esteemed for his private worth and accomplishments. He retained his faculties to the close of his long life, and continued to take a warm interest in passing events. In October last, when the 78th Regiment was publicly received in Inverness, and was marching through the town, General Mackenzie stood at his door to congratulate the men, and, by command of Colonel Mackintyre, the regiment gave three hearty cheers for their venerable brother soldier. The remains of General Mackenzie are to be interred on Tuesday in the Gairloch tomb, at Beauly Priory. TIIE GREAT BILL ROBBERY AT LIVERPOOL-- , Thomas Lee and James Joy, the two men convicted of stealing £ll,OOO of bank bills from the person of Mr. Plague, A. Liverpool cotton broker, on the 12th ult., were yesterday sentenced at the Liverpool sessions—Lee (who had previ ously been convic±ed) to ten years' penal servitude, and Joy to seven years. In passing sentence the Recorder highly complimented Spital, the London detective, for the vigilance and tact he h a d di sp l aye d in the capture of the prisoners. DEATH OP MR. COMMISSIONER MURPHY.—Mr. Commissioner Murphy, of the Insolvent Debtors' Court, died at his residence at Kensington early on Sunday morn ing. The learned commissioner had been poorly for some few days, tut his death was not expected. lie resumed the settings a his curt after the late holiday, and sat only one day. He complained of an all ction of the throat, and being unable to attend, the Chief Commissioner heard the cases allotted to him until Wednesday last, when Mr. Nichols, the senior barrister, was appointed by the Home Secretary to sit in his absence, and has since contin ue d th e s i tt i ngs. For the l as t f ew days the complaint of Mr. Commissioner Murphy assumed the form of a tumour in the throat, and, as it could not be reduced, congestion of the brain was the result. He was seized with paroxysms, and became uncon scious, and expired early on Sunday morning in a tranquil state. The deceased commissioner represented Cork for about 20 years, and resigned on being appointed commis sioner of the Insolvent Debtors' Court in 1853 ; he was a Member of Lincoln's-itm 2 slid Was called to the bar in 1833, 44c1 iR 20 ireaFf 119 wt." appointed 4 C9PamieSiptier of the wart. LATEST NIEWt. The following telegrams have been received at Mr. Reuter's office : PARIS, JUNE 19. The 21Ioniteur of this morning says :—The Em peror's visit to Baden will doubtless have a favour able result. It was necessary that such a step should have been spontaneously taken to silence the unanimous concert of evil rumours and false appreciations. The Emperor, in going to explain freely to the united sovereigns that his policy would never de viate from the principles of right and justice, must have carried into minds so noble and so free from prejudice, the conviction which true sentiments ex plained with sincerity cannot fail to inspire. The reciprocal relations between the members of this assembly were more than courteous. The Moniteur then draws attention to, and gives details of, the different meetings which have taken place, and concludes as follows :—" Thus all who desire the re-establishment of confidence, and the continuation of friendly international relations, should felicitate themselves upon a conference which consolidates the peace of Europe." ROME, JUNE 19. The news published in some French journals that the Holy See would invite the Court of St. James to accredit an official representative at Rome, is entirely without foundation. WILDB AC, TUESDAY. The Dowager Empress of Russia has resolved upon celebrating the next anniversary of her birth day (July 13) with the Royal family of Prussia. Her Imperial Highness will therefore leave Wildbac on the 10th July, so as to arrive at Pots dam on the evening of the 12th. The Empress will proceed via Weimar. BADEN, JUNE 19. The Prince Regent of Prussia assembled the German Sovereigns in the Castle yesterday after noon, to thank them for having been present at his meeting with the Emperor of the French, in order to receive together the peaceful assurances of his Majesty. His Royal Highness said,— " The maintenance of the integrity of Germany will always be my principal care. " In pursuance of this object, I shall not allow myself to be influenced even by the considerations that my ideas on the progress and aims of the Prussian and German policy are not shared by some Confederate Princes. " In order to come to some understanding, Aus tria has taken some steps to which I attach great value. " Should an understanding be brought about I shall communicate it to the German Princes." The Prince Regent concluded : " I shall continue the line of policy which I have pursued till now - in reference to Prussia and Ger many, and I hope that other German Governments will join me in this course of policy." This morning the Kings of Hanover and Saxony took their departure. PARIS, JUNE 18. It is asserted that the Emperor addressed to the German sovereigns expressions favourable to peace. The Patrie says :—" The Emperor presided to day at a council of the Ministers, and afterwards paid a visit to Prince Jerome." BADEN, JUNE 18. It is stated on good authority that the Emperor Napoleon, in his conversations with the German sovereigns, repeated pacific assurances, without alluding to questions regarding the interior or ex terior policy of Germany, or to the Italian question. GENEVA, JUNE 18. The Sardinian Cabinet having officially commu nicated to the Federal Council the cession of Savoy and Nice to France, a new note has been addressed to the different powers by Switzerland, protesting against the cession of Northern Savoy to France. THE BOMBAY MAILS. The Vectis, with the above mails, arrived at Marseilles at 4 p.m. The mail was to leave for London at 5 p m. MALTA, JUNE 15. HOMEWARD BOMBAY MAIL. The Columbian arrived at Sues on the 9th. The Massilia arrived at Malta at 6 p.m. on the 13th, and left at midnight for Southampton, where she will probably arrive on the 22d. OUTWARD CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS. The Ceylon, from Southampton on the 4th, ar rived at Malta at 6 a.m. on the 13th, and left at 9 p.m. The Valetta, from Marseilles on the 13th, arrived at 9 p.m. on the 15th, and left at midnight for Alexandria. Simla at Galle on the 21st May (20th April from Southampton) ; Northam at Bombay on 24th May (27th April from Southampton) ; Otta wa left Galle for the Colonies on 19th May (12) 18th April Mail from England. THE INSURRECTION IN SICILY. Advices from Palermo, of the 10th, state -. " A decree of Garibaldi fixes the 18th of June for the levy of men furnished by the conscription, and the 20th of June for the departure of the con scripts for Palermo and Catania. Another decree orders the collecting of horses and military stores. These decrees are caused by the necessity of ener getically pushing on the war in favour of Italian unity. Some cannon have been cast. Thousands of pikes have been distributed among the inhabi tants. The Council of defence of the town has ordered the barricades to be carefully kept up. " The Archbishop of Palermo has paid a personal visit to Garibaldi." SWITZERLAND. A public subscription has been opened at Berne to send arms to Garibaldi. THIS DAY'S MARKETS. HAY MARI.T&TS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4lss Od ; clover, £4 Os to £5 18s Od ; and straw, £1 7s to £1 14s per load. Supply short; trade firm. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £5 Os; clover, £4 Os to f 5 18s Od ; and straw, 7s to Al 14s per !gad. A steady demand for both hay and straw, at our quotations. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 153 Od ; clove► £4 Os to £5 15s Od ; and straw, £lss to £1 lls per load. Trade steady; supply very moderate. COLONIAL. TEA.—The market has continued very dull, and prices are unaltered. SUGAR.—For the medium and lower descriptions there has been an active demand, and prices have shown an upward movement. In the refined market there has been a steady inquiry at full rates. COPPEE.—The dealings have not been extensive, former prices however are current for all descriptions. ItlCE.—The marker has continued very quiet, and prices generally have remained without material alteration. SALTPETRE.—Thera has been more disposition to sell on the part of holders, and a fair amount of business has been transacted, but at slightly reduced rates. TALLOW.—lncreased activity has been apparent, and prices have shown a decided upward movement. P.Y.C. on the spot is quoted 52s 3d to 52s Gd, and last three months 52s 6d per cwt. We learn that the first contract for the execution of a Fotion cf the new bronze coinage has just been taken by James Watt and Company, of Soho, near Bi rmingham, and that the quantity contracted for amounts to between 1,700 and 1,800 tons, or something like 250 or 300 millions Of pence, halfpence, and farthings,--Mechanics' iltagazfne, LITERATURE, Six Months in _Reunion. By the Rev. P. Beaton, M.A. 2 vols. Hurst aiad Blackett. A lengthened visit to one of the islands of the Indian Ocean, possesses some claims to originality even in these days of travel and adventure. Re union, better known by its former name of Bour bon, is a French colony in close proximity to the Mauritius. Its appellation was changed at the eventful epoch of 1848, and a less courtly cognomen substituted for the old monarchical name. The reverend author having a six months' holiday, em ployed it in visiting this island, after a brief so journ at the neighbouring Isle of. France. He gives us many curious details of the manners and customs of the mixed races who inhabit it, and his stj le is fresh and unaffected. Although there is a good deal of interesting matter concerning the Huguenots and the various creeds of the island, there is nothing like sermonising in the book. It opens with an amusing account of his voyage out. The horrors of a lengthened passage are patheti cally bewailed. Fortunately, the skipper had an inexhaustible store of " yarns," and would enliven his disconsolate passengers in the evenings with passages drawn from his own varied experience in many parts of the world. He had a personal grievance, which was somewhat cu r i ous . Af ter 40 years of a seafaring life, he was obliged, according to recent regulations, to pass an examination as master before getting command of his ship on his last voyage. He declared that he felt himself de graded, and could not get over the indignity. Not withstanding all the skipper's tales, however, the montony of a lengthened calm was found weari some. Here is our author's humorous description of his sensations : " Tossing for weeks at sea in a calm is like tossing for weeks en a sick-bed. In the morning you long for the evening, and in the evening you say, would it were morn ing. Yesterday, to-day, and to •morrow are as like one another as the three furies. There is the same regular routine of sleeping, waking, eating, drinking, and sleeping again, and the same broad, blue, meaningless ocean to gaze upon. The head of a living lion may excite interest and terror, but you have no such feeling on looking at his head when lifeless. You feel that " better is a living ass than a dead lion." And so when the ocean is full of life and emotion, you gaze upon it with the same feeling as Byron when he penned his celebrated address; but when it bears for weeks the same dead, motionless, meaningless expres sion, the dullest landscape on shore would be far more attractive. "A life on the ocean wave" sounds amazingly well in song, but when the roaring deep is turned into the dull monotony of a three weeks' calm, there are certain verses of the Ancient Mariner about slimy creeping things that will present themselves to the mind, though suggestive of anything but pleasing associations. There are anxious inquiries made about the supply of provisions and water. You have horrible dreams at night about— " Water, water everywhere, And not a drop to drink ;" and during the day you look at the fat cook with a half cannibal sort of feeling, and a mental calculation of how long he would serve for stores. So hazy and indistinct and dreamlike does life become, that you fcel disposed, with Berkeley, to deny the existence of matter. You begin to suspect that the ship must be the " Flying Dutchman," the sailors phantoms, and your venerable friend the skipper a spectre. At times you feel tempted at table, like the fat boy in Pickwick, to run a fork into the tender calf of his leg, so as to find out whether he is substance or shadow. Having doubts, however, whether he might approve of this experimentunt incorpore vili, you resist this inclination or defer yielding to it till some future occasion." A fresh breeze fortunately soon enlivened their prospects, and they were further cheered by the excitement of shark fishing. After a short visit to the Mauritius the travellers proceeded to the place of th9ir destination. Among the most in teresting passages in the book is the adventures and misfortunes of a little band of Huguenots. A gentleman named Francis Legual was one among the many Frenchmen whom the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes drove from their country. He took refuge in Holland, where after some time he learned that the Marquis du Quesne was about to form a settlement in the island of Bourbon, which the French were said to have abandoned. It was proposed to place the new colony under the pro tection of the States General and East India Com pany. Many of the French refugees, headed by Legnat, joined in the project and set sail in a small frigate. But when they reached their destination, instead of landing them on the beautiful and fertile land they came to seek, the captain took them on to the island of Rodriquez, about 300 miles distant from Mauritius, and there abandoned his hapless passengers to their lonely abode. After lingering two years in this solitude the poor exiles resolved to endeavour to escape. From the fragments of wrecks which strewed the coasts they constructed a frail bark, and after many risks and dangers and some loss of life, they reached Mauritius, the nearest land inhabited by Europeans. But their troubles were not over. An unfortunate dispute about a piece of amber excited the cupidity .and cruelty of the governor, who condemned them, chained, to be transported to a rocky island only 600 feet in length, where they were left to drag out a miserable existence under the burning sun. After many months, some of them contrived t o escape to the mainland, and appealed to the crew of a Dutch vessel, who, returning to Holland, gave an account of their unjust sufferings, which resulted in an imperative command for their release, after three years of persecution and captivity. The rock on which they were imprisoned at Mauritius still bears the name of Amber Island. A great propor tion of the second volume is occupied by a discus sion of the vexed question of Coolie emigration. The writer, like other travellers, looks with consi derable suspicion upon the system. One curious fact he discovered in his intercourse with them— namely, that the Coolies in Mauritius never assert that they have not left India of their own free will, while the Coolies at Bourbon invariably affirm that they have been trepanned in some way. He cannot vouch for the truth of their statements, but attri butes some of the difference of feeling to the fact that the Mauritius Coolie receives nearly double the wages of the Coolie in the neighbouring island. As matters now stand, a planter may buy a Coolie at the auction-mart for a certain sum, may retain him till there is a rise in the price, and then dispose of him for five years at the market value. By this means he has the benefit of his labour for a time, and gains a profit as well. It is true that this transaction must have the nominal consent of the Coolie, but under the circumstances he would find opposition difficult. Many similar devices contra dict the apparent plausibility of the five years system. The happy idea of civilising Africa by importing negroes and instructing them in the arts of civilised life for the benefit of the importers, is shown in its true colours. The rapid development of the sugar-growing resources of Bourbon is greatly due to the aid of the coolie labourers. Great improve ments have been made in the manufacture, and new machinery has been introduced. From 1815 to 1819 the average annual production of raw sugar did not amount to more than 696,623 kilogrommes, there being 1,000 kilogrammes to a ton. From 1820 to 1829 it rose to 6,901,026 kilogrammes, nearly ten times the former amount. The scale went on increasing rapidly especially after the im provements' in the machinery until from 1851 to 1853 the annual production was 31,647,961 kilo grammes, and at present it exceeds 55 millions. The planter has, however, to contend against many dangers, foremost amongst them being the destruc tion occasioned by hurricanes and by by fire. The latter casualty, often the result of incendiarism, is carefully watched against. But the worst foe of the sugar cans is the rat ; " a more dangerous enemy," says Mr. Beaton, " than hurricane or flames. It has chased the Dutch from Mauritius, and has stood its ground in these islands against in these i. " phosphorus, arsenic, and all the other destructive d m w p i l i o l y b e e d fou against n A agenciesl an y other w : t h e r have esti interesting g b dai l e e e t ne s pleasant volumes which will furnish agreeable en tertainment to a large class of readers. THE LATE BARON DE HOCHEFIED LARPENT.--. This estimable gentleman, who died on t h e Bth instant, at Holmwood House, near Dorking, Surrey, at the age of 77, waa the elder brother of the late Sir George Gerard Lar pent, Bart., sometime M.P. for Nottingham, being the son of John Larpent, Esq., secretary to the Duke of Bedford in France, and to the Marquis of Hertford in Ireland, a gentleman subsequently employed in a variety of official situation. The deceased, John James Larpent, was born in 1783, and h a d the foreign barony of De Hochepied con firmed to him by royal licence in 1819. He married Georgi arta, daughter of Frederick Reeves, Esq., of East Sheen, s iirre y, by whom he had a family of five sons and three daughters. He is succeeded in his title and estates by his eldest son, Arthur John Larpent, Esq.—Court News. DEFECTS IN THE NEW REFRESHMENT AND WINE LICENCES ACT.—Two material defects in this act have been discovered, and an act will be required to amend them. The houses are not to be opened before b or after 12 in the sec tion, but i the licence in the schedule of the act " four" has been placed for " five." In the 27th section, where the hours are mentioned, the borough of " Finsbury" has been omitted from the other metropolitan boroughs and cities. The new duties are payable from the Ist July, and a short act will probably be forthwith introduced. _EAST INDIA (ARMY).-A return just issued gives the strength, regimentally, in officers, men, and horses, of the regular local army, of the several arms in India, Euro pean and native, at the different presidencies from the latest r Aurns. It appears from this document that in Bengal t iere were in the artillery 312 officers and of men 2,036 Eu rupeans and 2,309 natives; of cavalry there wore 459 officers, and of man 1,261 Europeans and 22,522 natives; of infantry the officers numbered 1,147, and the men 2,775 Europeans and 68,828 natives. In Madras the officers of artillery were 199, and the men 1,878 Europeans and 2,174 natives ; in the cavalry there were 178 officers, and of men not any mention is made of Europeans, but the natives are set down at 2,988; the infantry had 1,522 officers and of men 2,342 Europeans and 61,878 natives. The artillery of Bombay had 152 officers and of men 1,426 Europeans and 1,883 natives ; the cavalry numbered 72 officers, and of men no number of Europeans is given, but 7,672 natives are se; down ; in infantry the total number of officers was 939, and of men, Europeans 2,166 and natives 37,215. Giving a total of officers in the presidencies of 4,980, and of men 18,584 Europeans told 210,469 native,