The Sun. — London, England, 1860-08-30 00:00:00

BENSON'S WATCHES. " Perfection of mechanism."—Morning Post. Gold Silver 2to GO 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 and 34, Ludgate-hill, London, E.C. Established 1749. - FLORAL HALL, CO VENT GARDEN. The MENDELSSOHN SELECTION TO-MOiillOW (TIIIMSDAY). THE MESSIAH. It having been suggested by numerous patrons of the Floral Hall Concerts that the performance of a Sacred Oratorio in this uniquebuilding would be acceptable to the general public, it is respectfully announced that Handel's MESSIAH (the entire work 1, with Mozart's Accompaniments, will be given on FRIDAY EVENING next. Aug. 31. Principal Vocalists - Miss Parepa, Miss Augusta Thomson, Madame Laura Baxter, Miss Leffler, Mr. Wilbye Cooper, and Mr. Lewis Thomas. Baud and Chorus of the Royal Italian Opera. Solo Trumpet, Mr. Thomas Harper. Conductor, Mr. Alfred Mellon. Unreserved seats, Is. ; reserved seats, 2s. 6d. ; stalls, ss. private boxes, to hold four person!, £1 lls. 6d. The Box-offlce is open from 10 till 5. No charge for book ing,. Commence at S. T H"TRY.-ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Boast one. Tins EVENING the performances will commenac with THE OVERLAND ROUTE. Messrs. Charles Mathews, Buckstone. Compton, Chippendale. Rogers, Mrs. Charles Mathews, Miss iVeekes, and Mrs. Wilkins. After which, PAUL PRY. Mr. and Mrs. C. Mathews. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Lessee, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, will be performed MACBETH. Mr. James Anderson and Miss Elsworthy. After which, THE FIRST NIGHT. Mr. A. Harris and Miss Maria Harris. Commence at 7. ADELPHI, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager. Mr. Benj. Webster. Last nights of the popular Adelphi Drama of Janet Pride. THIS EVENING, JANET PRIDE. Messrs. B. Webster. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, Stuart, C. Selby ; Miss Woolgar and Miss Laidlaw. To conclude with THE ENCHANTED ISLE ; or Raising the Wind under the most approved Principles. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith, C. Selby, Powell, Romer, Misses Woolgar, K. Kelly, and Emily Thorne. - Doors open at half-past 6—Commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till 5. No charge for booking. Private boxes, £2 28. ; Family Boxes. £l. Orchestra Stalls, ss. ; Balcony, 4s. ; Front Circle Stalls, Is. • Pit Sta ll s, 2a. ; Pit, is. 6d. ; Amphitheatre , la ; Gallery , 6d: Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Wm. BATTY. Continued Success of "Mazeppa." A Grand MID-DAY PERFORMANCE will take place on SATURDAY next, Sept 1. commencing at Two o'clock. This Evening, Lord Byron's splendid Hippo-drama of MAZEPPA AND THE WILD HORSE, with entirely new and beautiful scenery, costly costumes, and appointments, introducing the largest stud of highly-trained Horses, Po nies, Buffaloes, and Camels in the World. To be followed by Scenes in the Arena by the Star Riders of the day, Including the greatest Equestrienne in the world, Madlle. de Berg, whose wonderful Leap through the body of a Mail Coach (a feat never before attempted by any other female) has been nightly received with enthusiasm. Doors open at half-past 6, performance commence at 7. Box-office open daily from 11 till 4. Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST. Director of the Arena—M. Felix Rf-volti. CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS.- EVERY EVENING, A Grand Selection from MARTHA. And Selections from DINORAH, TROVATORE, MACBETH, And numerous other Entertainments. Balcony, is Hall, 6d. Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come dian and Mimic), and C. Marshall. The ETHIOPIANS, consisting of 17 performers (organised expressly for this Establishment), for the performance of Vocal and Instrumental Music, Comic and Sentimental, with Negro delineations, anecdotes, &c., in addition to the usual entertainments. The Fine Arts Gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, AUGUST 30, 11160. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 69—highest since noon yesterday. 56—lowest this morning and during the night. 67—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.38 ; still falling. WlND—Westerly; blowing a gale, with fine dry weather It blew very strong yesterday afternoon. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THis DAY.—Morning, lh. 24m.—Afternoon, lh. 42m, To-Itop.Row.-Morning, 2h. Om.—Afternoon, 2h. 18m, tc.:7. - .r 4 ,..te , 4 --- -.;,-.\ .., - ' 'W --2-43:4 " 7-14.k - ' , ..;;; Is ' N. , 'R t I. ' h'.. . ~ .. c 4- 7 \ , ' r '- ' ,,.. - ~ i ; % ' . 4 . , , Pa, .. , t, ... •,g - . --•-,- -:-.,.... ...:Jr, s, - -- " 1 4' k "I' •it c) , .." I hi, - ' -,, e , '- — n ...",,,,,, 'IF: l' . ' ‘ 1 1111;')pm- .• , •" " ; .. .- ' t•••• - . __ 4 .-7t. , r....... - ~.. = ,', --..... THE SUN. LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1860. The telegraphic summary of Count PERSIGNY'S speech was so far complete, that our readers would hardly thank us if we occupied a couple of columns in giving it to them in extols° ; we shall only therefore make such remarks as a second perusal of it in this form suggest. It is a very clever speech ; no doubt of that. If both master and servant revised it carefully several times, it could not have been better done, either in regard to omissions, bold assertions, and plausible shadings and colourings. Who, for instance, could have dreamed beforehand of the bold appeal to the Bourdeaux programme, " Empire c'est la paix." One would have thought that that notoriously falsified declaration would not have been raised from the dead, with whom it was supposed to be numbered, for the purpose of prov ing that it had been living, at least in spirit, through the two great wars of the second Empire. M. PERSIGNY has the courage to do this with the most pleasant and assured countenance. He gives it to be sure a new definition ; that " When the - EMPEROR uttered those grand words, he could not pretend to the power of suppressing war amongst the nations of the earth, or of introducing to the world a new process for the pacific solution of all the problems of European society. But the serious signification of the programme is this, that the new Empire, only acceptin g the succession of the first under the conditions of an inventory, re pudiated the inheritance of strife and vengeance, to enter for the future into relations of peace and concord with all the Powers. This programme has been faithfully followed." From such an after-the-event interpretation of words intended to convey so different a meaning before it, the speaker easily enough showed that circumstances forced the pence-loving Empire into war against its will. We might, perhaps, be disposed to suggest to the speaker—may not this lamblike, this olive-branch Empire, yet again prove to have more in it of the fox or the wolf than the lamb, and to prefer the laurel to the olive-branch again ? But we are told to be quite at ease in that respect, for " the military role of France in Europe is finished," she has established, outside of her, the state of things which it was her mission to found ; Russia cannot, now that Sebastopol is no more, seize suddenly on Constantinople; nor can Austria domineer again over Italy ; therefore in Europe, the military work of France is finished; whether it is finished elsewhere, this de ponent saith not. But it is clearly proved that the Empire is peace, for it found two wars wanted ; it made them ; they have done their work ; there is no mere war wanted—and therefore the Quaker Empire is now as truly pacific as our pugnacious friend. JOHN BRIGHT himself. One curious proof of this is really too good to puss over. It was supposed till now that France gave in in, the Crimean war, for two very conspicuous reasons ; it was exhausted ; while it saw England stronger than ever. It had made a lucky hit at the cost of England, by appropriating the glory of the Malakoff while we had done the work—of another campaign all the " glory" would be England's. That would. not do ; glory, not compl e t e d wor k, wa s quite enough for the exhausted Empire. A second to be that Pran ce wan t e d reason was sompereeived to make a friend of Russia, and the price was— giving up the war. So again of Italy, the terrors of the Quadrangle were always supposed to have made, so far as Lours NAPOLEON was concerned, the peace of ViVafranca, lie himself added the unreasonable distrust of Europe. No one at the time thought of any other reason for falsifying his promise to expel the Austrians from the Alps to the Adriatic. In both cases, we are assured by M. PERSIGNY, we are quite mistaken. The Crimean peace and the Ita lian peace came so soon—so unexpectedly that most were taken by surprise--not for reasons men tioned or obvious at the time—but because the Empire was peace! Reluctantly drawn into war, no exhaustion of resources, no wish to deprive England of the glory of finishing the work begun. no fear of the four great fortresses—no, nothing made peace but its being the genius of the Empire How natural, then, for such an Empire to expect hat all the States who now so foolishly distrust France will s9.e her true character. She has merely gained now the position to which she was always entitled, Europe was altogether wrong while France had no authoritative voice in her coun cils. She has this now--she needs no more Let Europe be reassured. True, there is some foolish talk about the Rhine, but a river in the actual state of military science is no strategic boun- dary. An invasion of England has also been the idle romance of some few factious minds in that coun- try. But there, the virtuous QUEEN and the leaders of both parties appreciate such nonsense as it de serves, and the populations of both countries wish for peace, and think of nothing else, England espe cially. What fear can there be that either of the two countries could think of commencing a war, which must prove so disastrous to both ? Ex cellent reasoning, Mr. PERsIGNY ! We only want proof that the counsels of an EMPEROR may not again, as in the Italian war, prevail against the wishes of his own paople, and proof also that some outrageous military exploit may not, be soon again necessary—necessary to make civilians forget their domestic slavery, in the Foreign laurels gained by their army. We are too likely perhaps to call to mind Savoy ; —the origin of the last and lasting distrust generated by Imperial duplicity. Duplicity ! Why M. PER STONY tells us, the affair was all frankness itself— First, how justifiable was the principle of the act. The Victor of Solferino had a right to expect the results of the battle—the treaty—would be respected by the Italians though they were no parties to them —" If however, the first use that Italy makes of her independence is to tear up the Treaty of Villa franca—that is to say, to reopen the entire question, and expose us to a fresh war—France, after having voluntarily paid the cost of the independence of Italy, could not permit her generosity to be abused to the extent of also paying for a great Italian Kingdom. She had, then, the undeniable right to say to Piedmont, that if the treaties were violated on the other side of the Alps, she would demand that they should also be modified on this side of them." The old ludicrous nonsense of France hav ing cause to fear from Italian union and indepen dence ! M. PERSIGNY regrets that, at first, the EMPEROR'S Government could not give publicity to the arrangement—yet adds, that "if the Government of the EMPEROR was not en abled to speak thus openly, it nevertheless did not hide its intentions either from the Sardinian or British Governments. Even before the war it had advised Sardinia that, if events should bring about a great Kingdom of Italy, we should demand that the passes of the Alps shotild not remain in the hands of that kingdom. And, above all, nothing was concealed from the Govern ment of Great Britain. It is possible that it was imagined that we might have been brought to re nounce Savoy, notwithstanding the violation of the treaty of Villafranca. If such should be the case, they have been deceived, and we have deceived no one." The plain fact is that so far was the thing hidden from our Government, that it could hardly, after the assurances it received, be brought to believe it ; and, that from the day when all became plain " Alliance with France has been no more heard of, and Germany, politically, occupies with our Government the former position of France. As to the general tenor of M. PERSIGNY'S remarks —they aim to persuade us that France wishes, now, for the most peaceful relations with us and with adjacent European countries—we quite believe it Count PERSIGNY, is also, himself, notoriously, no . one of the war party ; he personally prefers peace ful counsels. He was the right man to put forwa now. If he has dressed up a case for the purpose, still the purpose is one lie sincerely seeks—but at any hour he might be thrust aside for a WALEWSKI and his Colonels ; and no one knows that better than the speaker. We might also tell him, if he did not know it, that all these peaceful counsels, which be is authorised now to promulge, follow on the present isolation of his master. They are the peaceful counsels of fear ! From Sicily to the Orkneys he has not, we believe, one hearty friend. The Italians, whom, undeniably, he has greatly served, he has yet also re minded so ungraciously of his services that he has chilled the gratitude whieh might have besn a far better defence than the Alps of Savoy. More than that, he still intermeddles, most hatefully to them, by maintaining on the throne of Rome one of the most odious of their temp oral princes. France can never be loved in Italy while she in sults her by a French army on the Tiber. The passage in the Royal Speech relating to the Chinese Expedition is sufficiently significant. '1 he Commissioners—in this passage—content them selves with observing—" We are commanded by her MAJESTY to inform you that her MAJESTY greatly regrets that the pacific overtures which, by her MAJESTY'S directions, her Envoy in China made to the Imperial Government at Pekin, did not lead to any satisfactory result, and it has, there fore, been necessary that the combined naval and military forces which her MAJESTY and her ally the Emperor of the FRENCH had sent to the China Seas should advance towards the Northern Pro vinces of China, for the purpose of supporting the just demands of the Allied Powers." The Commis sioners adding yet further —" Her MAJESTY, desirous of giving all possible weight to her diplo matic action in this matter, has sent to China, as special Ambassador for this service, the Earl of ELGIN, who negotiated the Treaty of Tien-tsin, the full and faithful execution of which is demanded from the Emperor of CHINA." Than every word of all which nothing could well be more calm, dig nified, or unimpassioned ! It is the majesty of a great power, speaking simply and directly to the purpose, with no momentary thought of empty vapouring and vituperation. The " pacific over tures," our SOVEREIGN regrets, have not lead to any satisfactory result." It has become, therefore, necessary, her MAJESTY intimates, that her Royal forces, together with the Imperial forces of her ally, the reigning NAPOLEON, should—"advance towards the northern provinces of China!" For what ? Simply—"for the purpose of supporting the just de wands of the. Allied Powers!" . Contrast which tempe rate announcements with the extravagantly hyper bolical language of the Chinese proclamations — charging the outer barbarians with the excess of temerity and the extreme of insolence, and threat ening them in turn with an impending and inevi table doom, amounting to a penalty very little short of absolute annihilation ! The reference to her MAJESTY'S ally, the Emperor of the FRENCH, is the only unwelcome reminder contained in these Royal comments upon the Chinese Expedition. The implied necessity for a simultaneous movement on the part of the com bined naval and military forces of France and Eng land is in every particular, at this juncture, a most Considerable amounts of gold continue to be sent to Spain in payment for wheat. With this exception, the Continental demand is not so pressing as might have been expected. - - A (I , i- 1 The National Portrait Galler y , 29, Great George street, Westminster, will be closed for repairs and altera tions dining the month of September, and will reopen on Mr. Reuter's office : Wednesday = , October 3. THE LONG VACATION.—The long vacation has commenced, and, with the exception of yesterday, at the judge's chambers, where Mr. Baron Wilde attended after the absence of a judge for some time, the "profession" may •be described as very dull. The long vacation ceases on Oct. 21. unsatisfactory reminiscence. It recalls only too vividly to our recollection the regrets with which we have not failed all along to regard the fact, that this new European expedition against the Chinese is not what we would fain have had it on every account, owing :- SINGAPORE AM) BATAVIA CABLE.—Telegraphic communication with Batavia was restored on the 9th July, but again broken on the 13th by a fresh rupture of the cable between Mint ok and Singapore, which has not yet been re paired.-I,wlon and China Telegraph. A pleasure train, conveying 1,800 persons, is about to run from Vienna to Paris in 48 hours, stopping namely an English Expedition exclusively; but that it is, on the contrary, what we would gladly (if we could) have precluded it from being, namely, an ENGLISLE and French Expeditionary movement. By undertaking, in concert with France, to deal with the Chinese, we have manifestly and deplo rably hampered ourselves. We have thereby in some measure clogged our diplomacy here at home in Europe. We have incontestibly increased the difficulties by retarding the progress of our cam paigning, whether by sea or land, at the actual seat of war, along the north-east coasts of the great Asiatic continent. As to the hampering of our diplomacy in Christendom—that we may happily resign with implicit confidence to the patriotic ardour and wise discretion of the two illustrious statesmen upon whom at this present moment peculiarly devolve the weighty responsibilities of upholding untarnished the honour of the Eng lish name, and the dignity and pre•eminence of her Britannic MAJESTY'S Government. From first to last, throughout the whole of this momentous twelvemonth, the noble lord the Foreign Secretary has written and spoken in words befitting both the majesty of England and his own historic reputa tion. While, as to his noble colleague, our veteran Premier, what Englishman is there amongst us who will not remember with a thrill of pride and exultation those haughty and dignified expositions of the guiding principles of our foreign policy, with which expositions the Premier closed so effectively and appropriately his labours this year as leader of the House of Commons, in his capacity as Chief of the Administration ? Wherefore —recalling to mind the despatches of her MAJESTY'S Foreign Sec retary and the speeches of the First Lord of the Treasury—we have in truth ample reason for rely ing upon the maintenance of the dignity and in tegrity of our foreign policy, especially with refe rence to the state of our relations with France, in spite even, be it said, of these untoward Chinese complications. The embarassments resulting from our having entered upon this new Chinese war, in concert with our French ally, are more imminent, and more vexatious, and more difficult. to evade out at the actual scene of the hostilities, yonder at the oppo site extremity of the eastern hemisphere along the coasts of the Chinese Empire. Had we not " encumbered" ourselves with the " assistance " of our French ally, the campaign might have been already, by this time, vigorously inaugurated, if not already carried at a rush to its triumphant termination. Upon this point, what says the Times' Correspondent ? His evidence is positive— it is, in point of fact, conclusive. After recounting the various particulars demonstrative both by sea and by land of British preparedness—" BUT," he writes, " the expedition is a joint one, and we cannot commence before our allies are ready." Adding, " they are far removed from their base of operations, and have no India under their lee." Beyond which he goes on to relate how peculiarly unlucky they have been out in the Chinese seas with their tran sports. Insomuch that their blundering and misfor , tunes there in this respect form quite a companion picture to our own, a few years back in the Euxine and especially at Balaklava ! Altogether the lament- I able result is summed up by this reliable eye-witness (writing from the actual scene of the delays) in this significant sentence. " From present appearances, at least a month must elapse before our allies are ready—a month which I suppose we must spend in inaction !" So much for our active alliance with France for the chastisement of the Chinese. But for which active alliance we might ourselves have advanced alone at once to the destruction of i the Taku forts, and of those at Tien-tsin, to the summary capture of Pekin and to the routing of the Imperial forces under SANG-KO-LIN-SIN, the Chinese • Generalissimo. rd at only four stations by the way. When the bridge of Kehl shall he finished at tke end of next month, the regular time of an express train between Paris and Vienna will be only 42 hours. TIIE - WOODSIDE FERRY, LIVERPOOL—The Bir. kenhead Commissioners, at a special meeting held yester day, agreed to raise the sum of £103,000 for the purchase of the Woodside Ferry and some land in Birkenhead-park, the whole property of the trustees of the late Mr. Price. Last year the ferry, which has been for many years worked by the Birkenhead Commissioners, yielded a profit of £B,OOO. In a short, time the free stone pier at Woodside will be suserseded by a huge landing stage, now constructing by the Mersey Dock Beard. THE WINSLoW PoISONING CASE.—It will he re membered, in connexion with the trial of Winslow, on the charge of having poisoned Mrs. James, of Liverpool, that the deceased bequeathed the good interest, &e., in her business to Winslow, and the remainder of her property to her nephews and nieces. We learn, however, that a caveat to the will has been entered on behalf of Mr. Bennett, a brother of Mrs. James, and a large wholesale stationer in L CASE OF THE REV. S. SMITII,—A memorial to the Home Secretary, praying for the remission of the re maining term of the sentence on this clergyman, has been numerously and influentially signed in Bristol. Mr. Smith, it will be remembered, was convicted at the Glocestershire spring assizes of 1658 of an aggravated assault on a Mr. Leach, and was sentenced to four years penal servitude. In the meantime his family have been reduced to great dis tress, and, as it is believed there were some mitigating cir cumstances in the case, the memorialists urge that the penalty already suffered is a sufficient punishment for the offence of which Mr. Smith was found guilty. AN ECCENTRIC PERSONAGE.—A singularly attired man, who gave the name of Alexander Dignum, but who was recently better known as Dr. Boucher, a pro fessional phrenologist, was brought up yesterday, at the New Bailey, on a charge of vagrancy. The prisoner had called upon the Turkish Consul, at Fallowfield, and asked for a suit of clothes. He made himself quite at home, and, in order to get rid of him, he was presented with some silver. No witnesses were present to establish the charge, and Mr. Trafford ordered him to be remanded, and sum monses to be served on those who had been the means of giving him into custody. It was stated that the prisoner's real name is Bushell, and that he had once been sent by the magistrates to the Prestwich Asylum. The prisoner gave a very random account of himself, and he pulled off a shabby looking wig to show how much better he looked "under bare poles."—slfanehester Guardian. ACCIDENT AT FARNBOROUGH.—As Viscountess Lismore, accompanied by her sister, Lady Cosmo Russell, was taking a drive on Sunday last in a low phaeton, the horse, shortly after leaving her residence, took fright, and turning violently round the coachman was thrown from his seat. The animal finding himself free, started off at full speed, and making a rush at the iron gate of Farnborough Park, the present residence of Lord Lismore, the lodge keeper endeavoured in vain to stop his progress, the horse suddenly turned to the left up a hill, and on slackening slightly his speed, Lady Cosmo Russell, in endeavouring to get out, was thrown with much violence on the road, severely cut about the hands and face, and much shaken. Lady Lismore, with great presence of mind, kept her seat. At the top of the hill the animal dashed the carriage against a wall, breaking it to pieces, and. Lady Lismore was extri cated from her perilous position by a groom and some offi cers near the spot. We regret to state that her ladyship has been much indisposed since the accident. SCOTCH VOLUNTEERS FOR GARIBALDI.—The number of Scotch volunteers for Garibaldi continues rapidly to increase.. In Glasgow on Tuesday a large number came forward to join the company forming in that city, in addi tion to those who had joined on the previous day. We be lieve that up to nine o'clock on Tuesday night, the number which had joined in Glasgow was 160, and at that hour the committee were busily engaged in enrolling additional names. In Edinburgh the number of Garibaldian volun teers is now 110, and at the meeting in the Volunteer Arms on Tuesday night, 15 guineas were subscribed towards the fund now raising for defraying the expenses of the volun teers. It may be mentioned, as showing the prevailing enthusiasm fur Garibaldi, that among the applicants for enrolment in the Edinburgh company there appeared a young boy of twelve years of age, who had actually pre vailed on his father to bring him in from Dalkeith, that he might have an opportunity of offering his services either as drummer or in any other capacity in which he might be useful. The services of the boy were of course declined, and he had to return home greatly disappointed at being unable to realise his expectations of joining the corps. Scotsmen. MANCHESTER UNITY FRIENDLY SOCIETY.—The financial statement of the North London District of Odd Fellows has been issued to the lodges. To statists, as well as the members, it affords important information as to the sick and funeral fund of this vast society—the chief fund for providing the benefits assured. At the commencement of 1860 the North London District contained 7,611 of the 30.5,214 members forming the Unity. A year before the numbers were 7,227. The entrance fees during 1859 amounted to £4ll Os. 93.; contributions, £7,840 9s. 6d. ; interest, £1,419 17s. 83., together £9,671 13s. lid. The amount paid in sickness during the year was £4,165 15s. 4d., and funeral levies £1,217 16s. 4d., together £5,383 lls. V., the net increase bring £4,288 2s. 3d., and making the total capital of the district £50,211 10s. 3d. The number of deaths were members 82, and wives 60. The society has disappointed the expectations of actuaries, for if comparison is made with former years, the lodges are in a better posi tion, and, strange to say, though the members must be in creasing in age, this district is younger than it was 15 years since (the average age of the members being 34 years 7 months), and the rate of sickness is not so high as the ex pected average; in fact the sickness does not increase in proportion to the number of members. One cause of this is the influx of young men, but a suspicion gains ground that the true law of sickness has not yet been ascertained. THE Ro.ln CHILD MURDER.—The following me morial has already' received numerous signatures in Bath:— "To THE RIGHT HON. TILE SECIIETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT. " The memorial of the Mayor and other inhabitants of the city of Bath, being magistrates, clergymen, bankers, commissioned officers in her Majesty's two services, mem bers of the legal and medical professions, &c. sheweth,— That an extraordinary crime, and as far as we know, a crime unique and unparalleled in the annals of this country, was committed on the 29th of June last at Road, in the adjoin ing county of Wilts. That as living in the immediate neighbourhood our attention has been specially directed to it. That a miscarriage of justice has occurred, through the defective manner in which the coroner's inquest was con ducted, that inquest having been closed after one sitting without any attempt to ascertain and name the murderer. That in consequence of this Samuel Saville Kent, his family and household have never been examined and cross-exa mined. That the condition of the doors, windows, and fas tenings of the house prove that Road-house was not forci bly entered from outside during the night. That, therefore, the murderer was an inmate of that house, or was secreted there for the purpose, and that his accomplices before and his accessories after the fact are to be sought in that man siert. That Mr. Kent's household are, therefore, collec tively responsible for that murder, and that the innocence of no one of them is to he assumed. That, nevertheless, the inmates of that house have never been examined. That we, therefore, humbly pray you to grant a special commis sion for the investigation of this crime, as the ordinary means have entirely failed. That a special commission is an unusual procedure, but that the crime is extraordinary and unparalleled in its character and circumstances. We, therefore, pray you to grant such special commission." NEW TORY VOTERS FOR SELKIRKSHIRE.—Last year some of the Liberal bona fide electors of Selkirkshire, stimulated by various circumstances, formed "'The Sol kirksliire Association of Liberal Electors," of which the principal object was to promote and aid the registration of duly-qualified persons. Accordingly, at the registration courts of last year the Liberals placed on the roll 40 new names, all on bonerfirle qualifications. This step seems to have alarmed the Tory proprietors; and, from the claims just lodged for this year, it seems plain that there is to be a revival of the old expedient of mushroom growing. Having vigorously attended to the registrations every year the Tory agents have gleaned the field so bare that they produce only eleven claimants ; and of these seven are fictitious and non-resident. All the seven are life rents, and all are claims of relatives to be enrolled en the pro perty of relatives. The remaining two (the others, we believe, are enrolled already) of the Duke of Buccleuch's sons, one of them barely of age, claim on the imagination that they have bought from their father £IO a-year each far life in the shape of the half of a fourth and a half part of a sheep farm. The elder son of Lord Polwarth has sud denly become proprietor of a field, worth just £lO, in the middle of one of his father's farms. Two sons of Mr. Walker, of Bow'and, have speculated in the twelfth part of a piece of land at their father's avenue gate. Ensign Bal lantyne, residing at Canterbury, has prematurely become Esq. of Birch Bush Park, which domain is to be cut off from his father's estate at Holylee. Mr. Borthwick, of Crookstone, in Mid-Lothian, has been treated with incredi ble generosity by his brother in-law, Mr. Pringle of Tor woodlee, who has presented him with half a farm in the Selkirk. It may very well be doubted whether these curious speculations in land will prove sound and profitable., even should the Sheriff find himself able to pass them technically. —Scotsmen. THE PRACTICE OF THE CHAMPION SHOT AND HIS FAntml.—On Monday Horatio Ross, Esq., of Netherley, and his son, Mr. Edward. Ross, the champion shot of Eng land; Capt. Keith Slew art Mackenzie, of Seaforth ; Capt. Muir, Stirling, and others shot at two distances-900 arid 1,800 yards—the targets being casks placed in cables in the Montrose basin. A large number of gentlemen collected to witness the practice. The shooting of Mr. Edward Ross with the Whitworth rifle gained by him at Wimbledon was very precise, hitting the cask in regular succession seven times, and missing very seldom. He sits while he shoots, and although firing before many experienced shots, took it remarkably cool. his firing with the Whitworth at the long range was not neary so good, but with the Lancaster rifle lie made some good shots at the 1,800 yards distance. Mr. Horatio Ross, his father, the celebrated deerstalker, made beautiful prac tice with the Lancaster at the furthest distance, and far many times struck the cask, while the shots invariably were in close proximity to the boat. Hie practice with the Whitworth and 'West . lev Richards (broach loader) at the seine distence always fell short. His rhos with tai se Latta at 930 yards wore, however, ve ry accurate. Capt McKen zie's waa very goc;I, although not to be ceeo to thet the M .ssre. It a: Capt. .)1 eir, Sag llu, made seine good shots with the tille won by Mr. Edward Ross, the peize of the ladies , of Northamptonshire, which has sub sequently been famished with sights on Lord Elcho's prin ciple, and seemed to be much appreciated by both Captain Moiremcl the owner. The shooting became general towards the close. and sonic good shots were made. The firing clearly showed the Lanpaeter rifle to be, t4l.e best adapted fos. long ranges ; but arm angereent of` the sights ohs the barrel seems to have something to do with this, and it was the opinion of many on the ground that were the sights of the Whitworth, &c., further forward on the barrel, the defect would be removed. --Dundee Argus, Saturday. SIR W. ARMSTRONG. TO TILT EDITOR OF TIIE SUN. Sir,—Permit me to correct a paragraph which appeared in The Sun of yesterday, to the effect that I had resigned the superintendence of the Reyal gun factories. I have neither tendered my resignation nor had the slightest communication with the War-office on the subject, but I may add that although my en gagement with the Government is for a term of years, yet that I have no intention of retaining either the office or the emolument longer than my services may be required for perfecting the system of artillery which I have been the means of intro ducing. I may also be allowed to remark, lest certain words in the paragraph should give rise to a con trary impression, that although the duties of the office which I have the honour to hold do not de mand my constant attendance at Woolwich, yet they are such as to absorb my whole time and attention.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, W. G. ARMSTRONG Newcastlo-upon-Tyne, Aug. 28. TILE GREAT EASTERN. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—ln answer to the numerous inquiries al ready made with reference to the return of the Great Eastern to America, I am desired to state that the ship will be placed on the Gridiron at Mil ford as early as the tides will permit, and that she will be shortly advertised to sail from that port to New York on Wednesday, Oct. 17. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. H. YATES, Secretary. 11, King William-street, E. C., Aug. 29. The ex-Queen of the French, before leaving Tunbridge Wells, honoured Sir Waller and Lady Caroline Stirling with a visit at their seat at Burrswood. The Princess Doubovitsky has left Fenton's Hotel for Paris. The Duke and Duchess 9f Hamilton and family aro expected to arrive from Germany, on their way to Brodrick Castle, Isle of Arran, for the shooting season. The Earl and Countess of Cork are staying at Homburg, there the Margu:s and Marchioness of Clanri carde, and Mr. Beaumont, M.P., and Lady Margaret Beau mont, are also residing. The Countess 7_,lka and Mr. Gamier have arrived at 3laurigy's Hotel from the north. The Countess de Spaur, accompanied by the Count do Spaur, has.arrivcd at Maurigy's Hotel from tho Isle of "Wight. Lord and Lady Charles Brudentll Bruce have left Hertford-street for Jervaux Abbey, Yorkshire, the seat of :he Marquis of Ailesbury. Lady Margaret Charteris was confined of a daughter, at Tit ness-park, Sunning-hill, Berkshire, on Monday last. Sir George C. Lewis left town yesterday for llarpton COLD t, Radnor. Mrs. Giffard and family have arrived at Mau rigy's Hotel from Caris, Mr. Jose Campo has utived at Fenton's Hotel from Madrid. The Countess de Neuilly, with the Duke de Ne mours and family, the Prince of Wur,temburg, and their numerous household, have left their residence at Tunbridge wells for Claremont, Surrey. The Count de Paris and the Duke de Chartres are staying with their illustrious rela tives. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess d'Aumalo and family are on a tour in Scotland. TM?. SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY Ev.EISfING, AUGUST 30, 1860. NE - w S. The following telegrams have been received at GENOA, AUG. 29 (Evening.) The Genoese journals of today publish the fol- The Anthion, which left Naples yesterday morning, brings the news that on Monday last the Neapolitan generals, assembled in council, had, with the exception only of General Bosco, unani mously resolved to advise the King to take his departure from the city. At the moment of the departure of the Anthion, a rumour was current in Naples that the officers of the army and navy had tendered their resigna tion en masse to the King. PARIS, AUG. 30. Six copies of the convention, in reference to the affairs of Syria, have been drawn up, one of which is destined for each of the contracting powers. The Austrian and Russian ambassadors, before quitting Paris on leave, signed their copies. The date of these copies will be filled up, and the signatures of the other ambassadors added, as soon as the Turkish ambassador will have received full powers for the definitive signature of the con vention. PARIS, AUG. 29. The Neapolitan Government has proposed to M. de Villamarina to offer to Garibaldi as neutral the territory of Naples, to prevent the effusion of blood in the cap:ial. It does not appear that there has ever been a serious question of an interview between the Em perors of Austria and Russia. All the rumours on the subject of demonstrations at St. Petersburg, leading to the belief in a coali tion of the Powers of the North, stand in the greatest need of confirmation. ANNECY, AUG, 29 (EVENING). The Emperor and Empress have passed through At that town, as well as on their arrival here, they were enthusiastically received. Their Majesties will continue their journey on VIENNA, AUG. 30. Prince Metternich, who left Paris on Monday evening last, arrived here yesterday evening. He will only stay here three days. The Prince will be received in audience by the Emperor to morrow morning, and will then proceed imme diately to his castle of Koenigswarth in Bohemia. VIENNA, AUG. 30, Although the committee of twenty-one in its sitting of Monday last definitively adopted the two reports presented in the name of the majority and of the minority, the full sittings of the Reichs rath will not be resumed before Monday next, the 3d September. 'Cho Council of the Ministers is, however, sitting almost without interruption. It is believed that the Government will promulgate the new political reforms without waiting for the vote of the Reichs rath in order to leave to the Emperor the whole merit of spontaneously alopting them. VIENNA, AUG. 29. The Emperor has induced General Benedek to remain at the head of the Hungarian Administra tion until the closing of the extraordinary session of the enlarged Council of the Empire. This will probably take place very soon, as, although his Majesty expressed his intention of not leaving Vienna before the Reichsrath closing its sittings, he has fixed his departure for the 15th September. The Hungarian members of the Reichsrath are frequently summoned before the Emperor. It is believed that Austria will soon enter among the number of constitutional States, notwithstand ing the endeavours of the military aristocracy to the contrary. Several independent and liberal statesmen have considered it their duty to represent to the Em peror that, unless the constitutional tendencies of the empire be complied with, a revolution would become inevitable. The Presse of to-day publishes the text of the proposal of the minority of the committee of 21 members, which is as follows : "'That his Majesty, by his own authority and power, should create such institutions as will allow the greatest possible development of the free and independent right of representation in all the pro vinces, and at the same time should in the most complete manner maintain the unity of the empire and of the legislative and executive power of Go vernment; and further, that an effective and inde pendent control should be exercised over the public administration by a proper representation of all the interests of the people in the communes, the diets, and the Council of the empire." FRANCE. BounsE, Aug. 29.—The market has been heavy, and prices rather lower. Speculators are engaged in the arrangenients for the approaching settle ment, and refrain from any fresh operations. For the Account, Threes are now at 67f 90c (the opening price); Mobilier, 681f.25c ; Orleans, 1,372 f 50c ; Northern, 935 f; Strasburg, 627 f 50c ; Medi terranean, 885 f; Austrian, 480 f; Lombard, 472 f 50c. The following are the last quotations :- 41 per per Cents... 97 45 Credit loncier 900 Do end month.... —; Belgian 41 9B 3 per Cents Do. end imnth 6B Roman Bank Shares 2820 I Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 682 50 Spanish Threes 478 Do. Account 682-:50 Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Or'caul 1375 .. 1375 Northern 950 .. 952 50 New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 882 50 .. 88.5 — Geneva 360 .. 360 Southern Western Eastern .... Sardinian An strian Lombard THE SYRIAN EXPEDITION. The Gazette de Trieste states that the captain of the Austrian steamer Stadium, on her return voyage to Trieste, spoke, on the morning of the 20th, a large vessel that had hoisted the signal of distress. She proved to be the steamer Ganges, belonging to the Messageries Francaises, naving on board EOO men and 30 horses of the Syrian expedition, A part of her machinery had broken, and from her decks being too crowded she had become unmanageable. She had been trying for six days to make the nearest port, but in vain. The Stadium took the Ganges in tow, and brought her safe into the road of Navarino. She had left Marseilles on the 10th, Malta on the 13th, and on the 14th her machinery gave way as described. RUSSIA. Next to the ravages of the locusts in the southern peovinces and the destructive, fires that have oc curred in several of the towns Ana cities, the domestic question nic,:a dismissed by the Russian lownals, jy that of passports. It is treated with considerable freedom, and the St. Petersburg papers have published several private letters, describing the systematic manner in which these documents are converted into means of extorting money by the local authorities, especially in the interior of Russia. The Invalide boldly asserts that the rigid passport system of the police is the direct cause of the vagabondage that " infects" the provinces. The fees exacted are so high that those who cannot pay evade them, and after wards either bribe the village authorities to forward a passport to them, or are arrested as vagabonds, and swell the number of criminals. The officials often take the bribes, and keep back the papers in order to extort more. As no one can receive a passport without paying, in advance, all his share of the communal taxes that will fall due during the whole time of his absence, the sum is frequently a prohibition of any change of place, and even the free peasants, proprietors, and tradesmen are thus bound to the soil, unless they evade the law, or make a private arrange ment with the police. Similar revelations of the system are being made in Moscow as in St. Peters burg ; and the Invalids asserts that for every indi vidual case of oppression and extortion thus ex posed, there are thousands that never will be brought to light. Aix. HAMBURG. The Conference that has been sitting at Hamburg, to draw up a general code of maritime law has con cluded its labours; it will re-assemble at Nurem berg on Oct. 29, to consider the present state of the commercial law of Germany. SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 25th have arrived. The semi-official Correspondancia blames some of the journals for making constant attacks on the Government of Great Britain, which is " a friend and ally." The Espana, however, insists that the attacks are justifiable, inasmuch as England has inflicted a long series of wrongs on Spain, be ginning with " the robbery of Gibraltar" and the defeat of Trafalgar, and ending with the heinous offence recently committed by a Minister in Parliament of " putting Spain on a level with Portugal and Sweden." The Minister of the Inte rior had returned to Madrid. The cholera had broken out with increased violence at Malaga, 600 persons having been attacked in one day, and 50 of them having died. The Correspondancia says that a telegraphic . despatch from London announces that Lord Granville, President of the Council, was about to visit the ports of Spain in his yacht, and it says, " We are charmed at this; from what he will see he will be able to tell his Government that Spain does not need permission to become a Power of the first order." THE BRAZILIAN MAILS. LISBON, AUG. 29. The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's ship Tyne, from the Brazils, arrived here this morning, and will leave for Southampton at noon. She has on board £34,000 in specie. T.HIS DAY'S MARKETS. CORN EXCHANGE. Stitt ERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES. Wheat, 60s ld ; barley, 34s 9d ; oats, 27s ld ; rye, 40s 4d ; beans, 47s 7d ; and peas, 43s 9d. Loa SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES. Wheat, 68s 6d ; barley, 33s 4d ; oats, 26s 9d ; rye, 41s 9d ; beans, 46s 7d ; peas, 41s 9d, ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, 80,588, barley, 820 ; oats, 3,063 ; rye, 87 ; beans, 2,104 ; peas, 99 quarters. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET. A full average supply of beasts was on offer in to-day's market. Prime breeds realised Monday's currency, but inferior beasts declined in value 2d per filbs. Sheep, the show of which was good, met a dull inquiry; Downs and half-breds supported previous rates ; other breeds gave way 2d per 81bs. We have to report a dull sale for lambs, at a fall in value of 2d per Sibs. Owing to large supplies from abroad, calves were very dull, and 4d to 6d per 81bs lower than on Monday. Pigs were in moderate request, on foriner terms, but mach cows were a dull inquiry. - - Per 81bs to sink the offal. s. d. s. d.' Crse. & inf. beasts 3 0 3 2 Second quality do. 3 4 4 4 Prime large oxen 4 6 5 0 Prime Scots, &c. 5 0 5 2 Crse. & inf. sheep 3 6 3 10 Second quality do. 4 0 4 4 e. d. s. d. Primecrs-wool do. 4 6 5 2 P me. S' thdown do . 5 4 5 6 Large orse. calves 3 10 4 6 Prime small do 4 a 5 0 Large hogs 4 0 4 6 Small porers !d to 6s 4d. Lambs, 5s Suckling calves, lOs to 23s 23s to 30s. and quarter •old store pigs, TOTAL SUPPLY. Beasts 1,200 Sheep and lambs 11,100 Calves Pigs FOREIGN SUPPLY. Beasts Sheep Calves Pigs MEAT MARKETS. NEIVGATE AND LEADENHALL.—The supplies of meat are larger; and trade rules somewhat heavy, as follows :- - Beef, from 2s 10d to 4s 6d ; mutton, 3s 6d to 4s 10d ; lamb, 4s 8d to 5s 4d ; veal, 4s 8d to 5s 4d ; pork, 4s Od to 5s 2d per 81b3. by the carcase. - SOUTHALL, Aug. 29.—Fair average supplies of stock were on off , r here to-day, and the trade ruled inactive, as follows :—Beef, from 3s 6d to 5s Od ; mutton, 3s 8d to 5s 4d ; lamb, 5s 2d to 6s Od ; veal, 4s Od to 5s Od ; pork, 4s Od to 5s Od per 81bs to sink the offal. ROMFORD, August 29. We had a heavy demand, to-day, for each kind of stock. Prices as follows : Beef, from 3s 4d to 5s 2d ; mutton, 3s 10d to 5s 4d ; lamb, 5s 2d to Os 2d ; veal, 4s Od to 5s Od ; and pork, 4s Od to 5s Od per Blbs ; sucklinc , calves, 15s to 19s ; quarter old store pigs, 23s to 30s each; and ranch cows, £l4 Os to £l9 Os eac. HAY MARKETS. SMITIEFIELD.—Moadow hay, £3 Os to £5 5s Od ; new do., £2 lOs to £4 lon ; old eloysr, £4 Os to £6 Os Od ; new do., £3 88 to £5 Os ; and straw, £1 103 to £1 16s per load. A slow trade. CUMBERLAND.— Old Meadow hay, £3 5s to £5 5s ; new do., £2 lOs to £4 12s; old clover, £4 Os to £6 Os Od ; new do., £3 8s to £5 Os; and straw, £1 lOs to £1 16s per load. Trade dull. WIIITECHAPEL.—OId meadow hay, £2 15s to £5 5s Od; new do., £2 lOs to £1 15s ; old clover, £4 Os to £6 Os Od ; new do., £3 8s to £5 Os ; and straw, £1 lOs to £1 16s per 19ad. Trade rather heavy. COAL MARKET—AVG. 29. (rem of Coal per Ton at the close of the market.) a. d. Walls End. Hastings - Hartley l7 0 l'anfield Moor 13 3 l'antield Moor Butes-13 3 Byass's Bebside West Hartley ...17 0 Buddle's West Hartley 17 0 Howard's West Hart ley 17 0 St. Cuthbert's Hartley 15 0 Washington Hartley 16 0 Wylam l6 6 Lambert's West Hart- R. West Hetton ..17 0 Franawellgate l7 0 Hough Han 17 0 I Kelloe .........18 3 Hedley 17 0 Stewart' s 19 0 Byron l7 0 South Hartlepool 17 6 Keiper Grange.... l7 9 Cassop lB 0 Brvddyll's Hetton 17 9 Hetton .. l9 0 South Hetton ..19 0 Shineliffe 17 3 Car. & DuffrynMalting22 6 Edon Main 17 3 Hunwick ;t, 86; sold, 80. ley 16 9 Posses West .. 0 Newton Main 15 0 Walls End. Thorpe Ships at raarkei TB'S DAY'S SHIPPING. LoxpoN, Aug. 30.—Wind this day at noon—Westerly ; strong breeze, and fine weather. It blew very strong yes terday afternoon. PORTSMOUTH, Aug. 20.—Wind W.S.W.—Arrived— Max, from Dantzic for Cork, leaky, and with loss of sails, &c. ; her Majesty's ship Emerald, from the Channel Islands. PLYMOUTH, Aug. 29.—Wind S.S.W.—Arrived—Es cort, from Labrador. CARDIFF, Aug. 29.—Wind S.S.W.—Arrived—Rivalen, from Quebec. Sailed—General Michels, for Hong Kong; Ville de Nantes, for the Cape of Good Hope ; Ailsa, for Quebec. HOLYWEAD, Aug. 29.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—Albion, for Demerara. SWANSEA, Aug. 29.—Wind W.—Arrived—Coquimbo, from Caldeira. Sailed—Thmas Daniel, for Coquimbo. OFF FLEETWOOD, Aug. 29.—Wind SW.—Arrived— Jallula, from Miramichi. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday Morning. Wind W.S.W. It has blown a gale all night, with heavy rains. Arrived, Aug. 29—Nancy and West Lothian, from Sun ' derland ; Courier and Atalanta, steamers, from Jersey; Le Coq, from Cherbourg; Gratitude, from Newcastle. Sailed—Havre, steamer, for llavre ; Le Coq, for Cher bourg ; Atalanta, steamer, for Jersey. Arrived, August 30—Argyll, steamer, for Carentan. (BY SUBMARINE AND MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Thursday Moruing. Wind W. weather fine. Arrived, And. 09—C o llege Vorzorig, from St. Peters burg ; S. A. Bell, from Jamaica; Vivid, , from Faro ; Ne ride, from Sierra Leone ; Hele ne, from rnanrog ; Meta, from Archangel. DEAL, Thursday Morning. The wind has been blowing very hard during the night in squalls from S.S.W. ;:it is now more moderate from the west. Otto Venus, from Antwerp to Rio Janeiro, has slipped from anchor and chain to clear collision with the baque Fairy, from London for Swansea. The Otto Venus is get ti.,;g supplied with others from here. A nc hored—Tall.intme, for Berbice ; San Michel Arch angelo, for Cardiff—both from London. The Oresund, from the west for Pimboueff, has probably slipped and gone to Ma rga t e R oa d s. About 300 sail are in the Downs. THE NAVY. A Malta letter, dated Aug. 25, says :—" During the past week the Mediterranean fleet has been re inforced by the screw frigate Melpomene, Capt. C. J. J. Ewart, and screw line-of-battle ship Orion, Capt. J. S. Frere. The Melpomene arrived here on the 23d inst., 11 days from Gibraltar, and the Orion on the 25th (to-day), also from Gibraltar, after a passage of 10 days. Her Majesty's line-of-battle ship Cressy left port on the 23d inst., and is still in sight, cruising off the island. Her Majesty's scree' troopship Mega2ra, Commander Henderson, lately returned from Corfu, left Malta on the 23d inst. for England, with 154 naval and military invalids, also the following passengers :—Lieut. Gregory, ('apt. Davis, R.M. ; Mr. Allen, R.N. ; Lieut. St. Aubyn, 22d Regiment ; Lieut. Phillips, R.N. ; Mr. Holmes,. Mrs. Pemberton, Mrs. Holman and two children, Miss Allen, Miss Churchward. Her Majesty's ships in port are the Hibernia, receiving ship ; the Queen' the Orion, and the St. Jean d'Acre, I ine-of-battle ships ; the Melpomene, screw frigate ; the Grey hound, screw corvette ; the Boxer, gunboat ; the Caradoc, despatch boat. By the French steamer Du Trembley, arrived on the 22d inst. from Tunis, we learn that on the 19th inst. (Sunday) the Hatti Humayoum was promulgated at the Bardo, the official residence of the Bey, and the mail for France was detained for 24 hours to despatch the news to the French Government. The Du Trembley left on the 23d, on return to Tunis. Her Majesty's screw steam-sloop Pioneer, 35 0 horse power, Mr. May, master, in command, left Woolwich yesterday morning, on the engineer's trial of machinery after repairs. The Pioneer has been fitted with peculiar care to join Dr. Living` stone's expedition in the Zambesi, and has been: freighted at Woolwich with a heavy cargo of vie" tualling and other stores for the use of Dr. Living stone and the exploring party who accompany him- The Pioneer anchored at Greenhithe for the adjust' ment of her compasses, &c,, under orders to sail to morrow for Plymouth, whence she will proceed in tow or under convoy as far as Madeira, and will be there cast adrift to make her own way towards be destination. Before leaving Woolwich basin she underwent a most rigid examination and thorough survey, to ascertain her capabilities for the long and trying voyage the little ship is about to under take. Mr. May, R.N., who has taken the com mand, and who has already served five years With Dr. Livingstone, came home from the Zambesi ev pressly to take out the Pioneer. The Emerald, 51, screw, Capt. A. Cumming, sir rived at Spithead yesterday morning from Alder ney, with two batteries of Royal Artillery on board' under the command of Major Lennox. They wer e disembarked by steamtug, and joined the head' quarters of the 15th brigade, stationed in Ports' mouth garrison. The Emerald will have to be placed in dock, having on Tuesday morning, wbi le getting under way in Alderney harbour, and in charge of a pilot, struck on a rock on the ebb tide , where she hung until released by the returnia flood. Her discharge-pipe is broken by the shit?! straining while on the rock, but her other datnaP: are not thought to be very serious. Hawsers WO" got out, and every precaution taken by Capt. Cull' ming and the officers of the ship to prevent her r.,e, ceiving any more injury than was unavoidable will' she lay in her perilous position. The Rhadamanthus, paddle, Master-Command er Sturdee, sailed from Portsmouth for Devonport yes' terday morning. The Osborne, Admiralty paddle yacht, Mast er- Commander G. K. Bower, sailed from Spithead 5 15 ' terday for the westward. Practice with shot and shell, the former at 9 1 and the latter at 1,800 yards, has during the P as o week been made with Armstrong 12-pounder gu il d , at Cumberland Fort, near Portsmouth, the hea quarters of the Royal Marine Artillery. The e ; suits of the firing at these ranges have furt he 4 proved the wonderful accuracy of the weapon, il o it has also reflected the highest possible credit Oa the officers and men of this corps by the skill a il knowledge they have displayed in its working- The tops and lower rigging have been plac e , over the mastheads of the screw steam sloop Ca r lew, 9, Commander Shaw, at Devonport. The bottom of the screw steamship Gibraltort 101, having been coppered in No. 1 dock, Key'll steam-yard, she has been removed therefrom, and is now in the basin. The gunboats Goshawk a° Partridge have been placed in the dock. The screw steam Coastguard ship Hawke , ,l Capt. W. Crispin, put back to Plymouth Soundc:he Tuesday, owing to the boisterous state of t' weather. The new contract-built steam gunboat H ° er on ' , having been coppered, is removed from No. 4 f e at Devonport dockyard, in which the new gun ° Dotterel is now placed, for examination, BZe. AA al The following appointments have been Infw the Admiralty :—Lieut. St. Vincent D. Lake to thl Spiteful ; Lieut. Stanhope G. Price, to the Ca l° bridge ; Richard T. N. Pearce, master, to the spit': ful ; William Roche (b), assistant-surg., confirraea in the Falcon ; Thomas B. Potts, 3d class assistir. engineer, to the Hornet; and Edmund G. clerk, to the Blenheim. THE ARMY. • A detachment of the Ist battalion of the brigade of the Royal Artillery, consisting of ab i °ll , 160 men, under the command of Capt. Shaol“,, e f; with six guns—four 9-pounders, and two. " . „ 0 pounders, 104 horses, and the usual ammunlt'lj carts and baggage waggons, arrived at Hors fle ' Barracks, Bristol, yesterday, from Aldershott. A party of Sappers and Miners, attached to tl`yo Royal Engineer establishment at Chatham, 11 , 110 been employed for some time past in making '„e necessary preparations for the removal of a lorr„ cliff at Caxton, a short distance from Chat which it is intended to destroy by several inanle ti : r charges of gunpowder, the mass of earth to be '3 move being computed to contain several thous and tons of chalk. It was yesterday announced at Woolwich Az le ; nal that Capt. A. Noble, Royal Artillery, Assistnli Inspector of Ordnance, is about to resign his nol' l mission in the Royal Artillery, and that he ha d tered into engagements to join the manufacturl firm of Sir IV. Armstrong and Co., at ElsWi e d Captain Noble was appointed to his present post assistant-inspector in the arsenal on the resigngt l9 " from ill-health, of the late Major Vandeleur. HARBOURS OF REFUGE • The following is the report of the select 00 311 , tee appointed to inquire how far it may be prac ti ; cable to afford better shelter to our shipping 11 1 3° ,, our coasts than is at pres e nt afforded, by the a d l tion of some plan f or th e cons t ruc ti on o f bre 97 ; waters and harbours less costly and better adap t for certain localities tlian the system of solid 11 : 0 " sonry hitherto in use, and whether any such P l e appeals. likely to be also serviceable for the imPr' s ', ment of our national defence, and to report to t,y house : "The committee have met and considered thed subject-matter referred to them, and hava exam i ; l3 oo l several witnesses in relation thereto, and va r ' o 4 designs of floating and other breakwaters 13 been laid before them. " The committee feel the importance of see every means by which harbours and break w3 ` t it of a less costly construction than those at presel l ,,d course of formation could be placed on various 11"" of the coast. " They have taken much evidence on this s il ,d ject, and have had their attention especi all y eal' i o to floating breakwaters, of which several plg o , have been submitted to them. Upon the adl i , tages to be derived from these const ruc tions the ° dente is conflicting. "The comnittee are not prep are d to recorata - o f that the Government s hould undertake the tasl ui f constructing breakwaters on these principles, ,I'ej looking to the vast co st o f harbours const rue' d upon the systems hitherto in use, th e y are oe , opinion that a mod era te sum may b e advanto o to ously expended by Government in testing any 1 /1 It# which may offer a probability of important res'lre, in e i t a to future g of money, and in giving P t life savin g d v p ia roperty in various localitiq i tet o carry this object into eff ec t, the con 3llll bt " reco mmend that a sum, not excee di ng £lO,O OO, p l a ced at the di sposa l o f t h e A d m i ra l ty. tl The committee have received evidence question of the deposit of silt in the large ha t b a se now under construction. Some witnesses .40' stated that these harbours are gradually deter? tiny from the accumulation of silt. The , 1131 .. 0 e1l grapher of the Admiralty has, however, int''' . „ill' the committee that at Devon, Portland, PIP II° I., - er e and Kingstown, recent soundings show that t is no deposit. The slight silting of a few in ch , e i i fli Holyhead Refuge Harbour may, it is stated , 'to]) be attributed to the millions of tons of stone , P e ,e! from the quarry, that have been tipped into th e i DO ill the construction of tile breakwater, and that 01 cause of deposit will consequently cease when works are brought to a close. The committee further recommend that tlia3l2o tention of the Admiralty and Board of Tra de sh. , be invited to this importwit subject, to cons l o4 whether any facilities can be given to public b°til'elf or to private companies who may desire, at. own risk, to improve our harbours, or to gl:" Creased protection to oar coasting trade. . no te ° " And the committee have directed the tY of evidence taken before them, toget her Wl' appendix, to be laid before your lords . hips. " Aug. 2," ..1.1t.1...k.i.1 ........