The Sun. — London, England, 1860-05-02 00:00:00

CIBEAT WESTERN R A ILWAY.- N..A Notice Is Hereby Given to the Proprietors, That in con sequence of the Bills now before Parliameni in which this Company is interested being in an incomplete state, the Ad journed Special General Meeting will be held pro forma only, on Thursday, the 3d inst., for the purpose of being immedi ately and further adjourned until Thursday, the 17th inst., when the said Adjourned Meeting will be held at this Sta tion, at one o'clock precisely, to proceed with the unfinished business comprised in the notice for the Special General Meet ing which was held on the 22d March last. SHELBURNE, Chairman. BARRINGTON, Deputy Chairman. Paddington Station, May 2, 1860. BENSON'S WATC H E S. " Perfection of mecbanism."—Morning Post. Goldi Silver 5 to 100 guineas. 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 55. extra. 33 and 34, Ludgate-hill, London, E.C. Established 1749. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, will be performed VICTIMS. Messrs. Buckstone, Farrell, Cullenford, &c. ; Mrs. B. White, Miss M. Ternan, Mrs. Griffiths, &c. And BOX AND COX. After which, a new fairy romance, THE PILGRIM OF LOVE. ItO YAL PRINCE S S'S THEATRE.- Lessee, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, to commence with 31Y WIFE'S OUT. Mr. Widdicomb and Miss L. Keeley. Followed by THE FOOL'S REVENGE. Bertuccio, a Jester, Mr. Phelps. To conclude with the extravaganza of THE SYLPHIDE. Miss C. Leclercq, Miss Louise Keeley, Miss Helen Howard, Miss Rose Leclercq, Mr. Shore, Mr. Saker, and Mr. Frank Matthews, Commence at 7. A DELPHI, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager. Mr. Benj. Webster. Engagement of the celebrated American Actress, Miss JULIA DALY, and Mr. LEIGH MURRAY. THIS EVENING, TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. Mr. Leigh Murray, J. L. Toole, C. Selby, Romer ; Miss H. Simms), K. Kelly, Laidlaw. and Mrs. Chatterley. After which, OUR FEMALE AMERICAN COUSIN. Messrs. Stuart, C. Selby, Billiagton, Eburne, Miss Julia Daly, K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and Mrs. Chatterley. To conclude with the Fairy Extravaganza, THE FAIR ONE WITH THE GOLDEN LOCKS. King Lachrymoso, Mr. J. L. Toole; Count Pleniposo, Mr. P. Bedford ; Viscount Verysoso, Mr. C. J. Smith ; Graceful, Miss Woolgar ; Queen Lucidora, Miss Emily Thorne ; Mol]mopsa, Miss K. Kelly. 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. ROYAL LY CEUM THEATRE.- Under the management of Mr. Wm. Brongh. THIS EVENING, a new comic drama entitled NEXT OF KIN. Messrs. Emery, S. Calhaem, Tilbury, &C. ; Mesdames E. Travers and K. Saxon. After which, the burlesque of THE FORTY THIEVES. Miss Lydia Thompson, Miss Clara St. Casse, Miss E.Travers, Miss K. Saxon, Mrs. Wallis ; Messrs. Emery, Tilbury, &c. and a numerous Corps de Ballet. Followed by WHITEBAIT AT GREENWICH. Sir W. Don. _ To conclude with THE MIDDY ASHORE. Miss Lydia Thompson. Commence at 7. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, King-street, St. James's. Lessee, Mr. T. B. Chatter ton. Directtess, Miss Wyndham. The nearest Theatre to Chelsea, Pimlico, and Westminster, the Park being open to carriages and foot passengers all hours of the night. THIS EVENING the performances will commence with a new and original comedy, entitled A FRIEND IN NEED. F. Robinson, C. Young, &c. After which, A LADY AND GENTLEMAN IN A PE CULIAR PERPLEXING PREDIC AMENT. Mr. Charles Young and Miss Wyndham. - - Followed by a new burlesque, LUCREZIA BORGIA AT HOME AND ALL ABROAD. Mesdames Wyndham, E. Scott, Cecilia Ranoe, Miss Clara Morgan, and the Corps de Ballet. Reduced Prices—Gallery, 6d ; Pit, ls. The Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at hall-past six; perform ance commences at 7. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- Proprietor, Mr. Wm. BATTY. Manager, Mr. EDWIN HUGHES. First Appearance of Little MONONI and the celebrated Delavanti Troupe, who are engaged at a great expense. Great and unprecedented success of the NEW GRAND MILITARY SPECTACLE, universally pronounced to be the most perfect and magnificent production ever witnessed in this Theatre. The enthusiastic approbation bestowed upon the novel and varied Scenes in the Cirque is the best assurance of the unequalled talent of the eminent Equestrian Artistes who nightly appear. THIS EVENING, and during the Week, To commence with the Great Military Spectacle, in Four Acts, called "THE HISTORY OF A FLAG," succeeded by an incomparable programme of Scenes in the Arena, supported by the most renowned and talented Equestrian and Gymnas tic Artistes in Europe. The magnificent Chandeliers are manufactured expressly by Messrs. Defries and Son, of Houndsditch. Doors open at half-past 6 o'clock, performance commence at 7. Box-office open daily from 11 till 4. Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST. CANTERBURY HALL THIS EvENING. C. 11. GOUNOD'S OPERA, FAUST. First Time in this Country. Faust Mr. Henry Herbert. Mephistopheles itr. C. Bernard. Siobel Mrs. Anderson. Marguerite Conductor Mr. Jonghmans. And selections from Dinorah, Trovatore, Macbeth, and numerous other Entertainments. Balcony, Is, Hall, 6d. Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come (Ilan and Mimic), and W. T. Critchfleld. Several interesting Pictures are added to the Fine Arts Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant sights of the metropolis. The gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening. CONCERTS.- THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, MAY 2, MO. THERMOMETER, TN THE SHADE. 62—highest since noon yesterday. 35—lowest this morning and during the night. 63—this day at noon. BAROMETER-30.16 ; WIND, Easterly; fresh, with fine weather. It blew a strong gale yesterday afternoon. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 11h. 21m.—Afternoon, 1113. 49m. To-monßow.-Morning, Oh. Om.—Afternoon, 12h. 14m. .•%'-• ' • .••'3'.,..• •.. ~;,•, -•• , , , -- , - - (L4 , --a- L',• - '- ) ' - 4 -ilk \ ) , A, ' •-", 1 s•••=f • .._--- k_ , ~ _ \ • • *, • - it. z _ •,,;\ • i • ~ •,$ ' • ~ ,--v-, • - ' 6 - 14:,/ A '..t. , ,ft 5'7,4,.,. • , i 0 ....10 0. ,• ',car .. - -.i- - .....'-. - : 7 ',4 , i .- 's‘.--" ..- • ,, ,;.-----, ' _,.. THE SUN. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 1860. Thank GOD ! the Admiralty has now fairly got upon the right track. It is only necessary hence forth that it should be kept fairly up to the mark. There is an end to anything like overweening soli citude. We have for months past had a Channel Fleet cruising about between our shores and Europe—ever on the alert, and in an admirable state of efficiency. We have our maritime power duly represented upon the various naval stations scattered over the " wide, wide world" in both hemispheres. Foremost among these separate fleets being, of course, one great fleet in the sea of civilisation—the Mediterranean. Such, in point of fact, is the state of effi ciency to which the Admiralty has brought both the Channel Fleet and the Mediterranean fleet—our chief Defensive maritime armament and our chief Offensive maritime armament—that Lord CLARENCE PAGET could with reason exultingly direct the attention of the House of Commons last evening to facts and figures that "speak,"—as the favourite idiom has it—" volumes." Instance this, the simple statement that in the Channel fleet there are only 150 petty officers and 226 A. B. seamen short of the complement. The Mediterranean fleet being the while in a yet more satisfactory condition, -having, with petty officers and able seamen, got nearly the required maximum of the full compli ment ! While such facts as these are beyond the reach of contradiction, while the Royal Naval Volu nteers already number as many as 1,000 and the Coast guard volunteers no less than seven thousand—the men, moreover, dropping in (in both departments) freely and fast, coming "with a will" to take service under the Crown spontaneously in startling contrast to the old brutal system of the press-gang —we may well throw to the winds the chief part of our quondam anxiety and look hopefully to the future of the Royal Navy of England ! Hope fully----confidingly—yet even to the last, not a jot less than of yore. vigilantly. It is true that the 'Coast-guar,:l is still far short of the grand total of 132,000 recomoaendcd by the Royal Commission. And gladly shall we hail the date when that maxim of J r..l's Ashore shall have been at tained. But oc:r anxiety is modified simply by the conviction that the recommendation of the Royal Commissi, on is actually now in a fair way to be, itt the fullness of time, happily and most satis factcnily realise d. Meanwhile, let us not hesitate an instant to push onward yet more vigorously in the direction—in the direction upon which we have already of late so far advanced. Let us not budge one inch, so to speak, not a single hair's breadth from the straight line clearly marked:out before us —the line already marked, so far resolutely, and constantly alike, by the Cabinet of Lord DERBY and the Cabinet of Lord PALMERSTON. Patriotism and not party is now the motive-power setting in play the machinery of our maritime administra tion. Abundant mistakes and errors have yet to be rectified at the Admiralty—not a doubt of it. But what encourages us in our reliance upon the Board (whoever may be in power—no matter whether it may be presided over by the Duke of SOMERSET or by Sir JOHN PAKINGTON) is the evi dent readiness of all parties and of all adminis trations to rectify off-hand, whenever it may be possible, whatever may be clearly shown to require rectification. There is at the same time fortunately little fear at present but that the authorities at the Admiralty will be kept up to the mark, the high water mark of efficiency, assiduity, and zeal, desired alike in this instance by the people and by the Parliament. Last evening afforded us proof posi- in, both in Lords and Commons, in that matter, that there are really, henceforth as we have inti mated, but few reasons for regarding the affairs of the Admiralty, the sayings and doings of our Admiralty administrators, with anything like our pristine solicitude. The master of debate in the House of Lords was as vigorous and as pa triotically in earnest, in every syllable of the noble harangue he delivered yesterday, as he has shown himself during we don't care to say how many previous sessions of the Imperial Legislature. Seldom has Lord LYNDHURST spoken more directly to the pur pose—and that a very noble purpose, one of vital and permanent importance to the commonwealth — than he did yesterday. • Nor are we by any means prepared to cavil at the tone in which the hon. and gallant Admiral the member for Southwark was almost simultaneously bringing under the consi deration of the House of Commons last evening the requirements of the heroic service with which his own chivalrous reputation is so intimately asso ciated. Whatever may be the exception taken to that tone by Lord CLARENCE PAGET, we at any rate can by no scans regard it as calculated to militate against the interests of the Royal Navy. There are caprices yet to be got rid of by the Admiralty authorities as pernicious and ridiculous. There are inconveniences to which our gallant tars are yet subjected quite unnecessarily. There is still for them to a very considerable extent a lack of genial and inspiriting encouragement. Until the Naval Service shall have attained a state of something as near as possible to perfection in the comprehensive and yet at the same time the detailed excellence of its general organisation —we do trust that Sir CHARLES NAPIER, and more like Sir CHARLES NAPIER, will still continue to speak right out, to plead yet manfully the cause of those brave tars who are thus professionally represented in the Commons House of Parliament. As conspicuous, and in a manner prominent, among the auguries of good to the Royal Navy, we must particularise, before concluding our re marks upon yesterday's discussions, the rapid pro gress now making towards the realisation of a pro- ject, the adoption of which we ourselves have for very many years past advocated in the columns of The Sun energetically and perseveringly. We allude to the augmentation of the number of boy sailors enrolled in the QUEEN'S service, as in one sense the youngest members of the Royal Navy of the present, and in a nobler and a higher sense, as the germs at the same time of the Royal Navy of the next or immediately ensuing generation. Upon this point, however, we must let Lord C. PAGET, with his sailor's frankness, speak manfully out for himself. He observed—" A statement for the years 1857, 1858, and 1859 would show the increase which had been gradually taking place in the esta blishment of the boys, as the Governments of the day perceived the necessity for an augmentation. In 1857 the number of boys was 1,898, in 1858 the number was about the same, but in 1859 the num ber had increased to 5,147. At the present time we had no less than 8,535 boys. Opinions might vary as to the percentage of boys which it was desirable to have in the fleet, and he did not think that point was yet satisfactorily ascertained. It was still un der the consideration of the Admiralty. The per centage at present of boys was about one-sixth, but some authorities thought it ought to be as high as one-fifth. However that might be, the fact remained that we had at present 8,500 boys, who would become in a short time first-rate sea men." This one part of itself would be amply sufficient to fill us with confidence as to the future Royal Navy of England. It is evident at length that the Admiralty recognise the advisability of beginning at the beginning in the great work of simultaneous advancement and renovation. Let them but persevere now along the path upon which they have taken heart at last to adventure. The Sicilian rising is evidently a much more formidable affair than the Government of Naples wishes Europe to believe. Every means has been used to prevent information from the island reach ing the capital, and this alone looks suspicious; at the very same time, too, at which the Govern ment was publishing accounts that the rebellion was suppressed and order restored, troops, ammui tion, and stores were being shipped to Sicily. There can be no doubt that so brutal was the con duct of the garrisons in the island that the foreign consuls were obliged to protest ; their written and published document is the proof that the accusa tions against the soldiers and their general of endea vouring to provoke a rising even in Palermo are but to true. The Neapolitan soldiery appear to be ready for any work of bloodshed, and above all, of pillage ; the inhabitants may well dread them, for though, doubtless, they would prove cowards enough before other soldiers, they appear to exult in attacking and plundering the unarmed. It is beyond doubt that they have destroyed and sacked entire small and beautiful Sicilian towns, murdering all the inhabitants who could not escape, and carrying off the spoil like brigands. It is, of course, difficult to come at the precise truth of the case. No "own correspondents " can follow the contending armies. The last accounts, however, from Naples, which are up to the 25th, tell us on good authority, and with a detail which can hardly be the work of fiction, that up to the 22d the Royal troops were still fighting, and often with heavy loss, against the patriots. Near the little town of Monreale, for instance, the fighting was very severe. The Royal troops were, in fact, repulsed. The insurgents hearing that they were coming out in greater force withdrew in order to save the town from destruction. It was of no avail; the place was sacked and pillaged just the same, although it is one of the favourite resorts of the inhabitants of Palermo. The fight at Carini sees to have been a very sanguinary one. It was held by two or three thousand of the insurgents. After they had retired the KING'S troops imme diately buried 320 of their own number and 250 of 1 the rebels. The town was then pillaged and plun dered, as a matter of course, in the most relentles and brutal manner, the officers joining in the work. It has been for some days asserted that GARIBALDI has sailed for the Island, with about 200 coadjutors. That he left Genoa by sea with about that number of his most venturous followers, seems not to admit of a doubt; and for what other place he can have left it is not easy to conceive. It has been long be lieved, with no little probability, that Count CAVOUR is at the bottom of the rising in Sicily. It is known that the population there only waited a word from him to do so ; but whether he has on this occasion given that word is of course uncertain. Should GARIBALDI appear amongst the Sicilian patriots, they will not want a leader who is almost an army in himself, especially in giterilla warfare. The Neapolitan government would assuredly give almost any price for his head, but it may turn out that, small as his means in Sicily will be, he can use it for better purposes than enriching butchers and assassins: Just now those who sym pathise most with the insurgents fear that they must be so nearly out of ammunition and provisions that they can hardly hold out long, and we confess our fears predominate. Surely, however, the reign of such a young brute as the present monarch cannot be long. The suppression of political, even of municipal, action is indeed complete; no man dares tell his mind to his neighbour for fear of an informer ; the people are not suffered to congregate in any number. Even the Uni versities are not allowed to receive the youth from the country, lest they should become centres of discussion. Yet one would think that oppressed human nature would at length burst loose with a fatal crash, and destroy for ever a Government which is the disgrace of Europe. So, then, Berwick is also to be broiled on the Commission Gridiron, Mr. PEEL demands it, and the house awards it. Much the better may Ber wick be for it, and much the better may we all be for the torturing of another delinquent constitu ency. It is impossible not to ask, with so many members, Cui boncil The commissions are costly prosecutions ofa crime which, no one doubts, the con viction is certain on the plan adopted, but that very plan necessitates indemnity for the guilty. No Englishmen, except those belonging to the Wes leyan Conference—a conference of Popes—would ever tolerate compelling a man to answer questions, which f the reply proved his guilt, would bring on him a penalty. We may be over jealous of permit ting any man to be questioned with a view to his conviction and punishment, but it is so completely the safe side, so ingrained into our elementary con ceptions of liberty, that the most despotic judge who could sit on our Bench would not tolerate such questions for a moment. It seems therefore almost impossible to render a Commission of inquiry thoroughly efficient ; either we must abandon compulsion to give evidence, or we must compel the evidence, but grant impunity to the man who gives it. The House of Commons in its wisdom in regard to " corrupt practices at elections" thinks the evidence of more value, than the remote chance of convicting in but a few We are not prepared to say it is Unmasking the criminal ought to be, and in some cases is, punishment enough ; while, if we had to rely on such evidence as could be obtained without compulsory confes sion. most of the criminals, the greatest especially, would certainly escape. The real question, there fore, is, whether the infliction of the penalty of publishing to all England the bribery of which a man has been guilty, or the bribes which he has taken, is a punishment worth the cost of the com- cases. not so. mission. The two last commissions cost the country in round numbers—Gloucester fifteen hundred, and Wakefield two thousand pounds. Has the country received a quid pro quo for that expense ? Lord PALMERSTON thinks we have. We confess we should like to see the quid. The prosecution, with doubtful results, of two or three individuals who would not " make a clean breast of it," or who may have perjured themselves, is but a very meagre result. Indeed we may say that the exposure of the individual, and the furnishing materials for legislation are all that we. have gained. If those materials be not used, the total result, as Mr. BRIGHT said, is really nil. We cannot, however, object to the decision of the House. Had we been in it we should have voted for the commission. While the law stands as it does it is all that can be done. Little enough, yet better for the purposes of reformers than nothing. We have at least the weight of cumulative evidence in favour of something more efficient than the present Act. We have proof upon proof that its pro visions can be evaded in the most gross and barefaced manner. We have proof that the election com mittees are what, indeed, we might know them to be without proof, little better than solemn farces— tribunals which can pronounce elections pure, which are afterwards found to have been carried by the grossest corruption—and candidates ignorant of the malpractices, who are afterwards shown to be the very fountain of them. This is something ; it will surely at length coerce decent men into the adoption of the only and well known effectual remedy. The debate will, we should think, compel the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General to lose no time in bringing the offenders at Wakefield, who can be prosecuted, to justice. Strange that none can be found in Gloucester also. But it is surely high time to do something better in conse quence of the reports of these costly commissions than prosecute a casual evader of questions. The boroughs must be dealt with. In the case of Galway, the House of Commons refused to disfranchise the delinquent voters, considering dis franchisement as a penalty, and therefore a viola tion of the indemnity. Perhaps as the Act stands they are right ; common sense however teaches that it is not a penalty in the sense that a fine and imprisonment would be. It is simply a refusal to employ a person again in a capacity in which he has been proved by his extorted confes sion, unfaithful. He has given no fresh proof of his fitness to use a vote aright, and the Act ought to be se far amended, as to place it in the power of the house to disfranchise the individual—we say the individual, because the country could never be induced to disfranchise the large and respectable part of a constituency for the venality,of a third or fourth of the electors. Even suspension of the writ for one or two elections would be hard on such persons, though it may be desirable. We trust, however, that the last of these com missions, and the revelations they make, with the difficulty of acting on them, will open the eyes of all respectable members to the necessity of a real, an efficient ballot. We know, that to many of them, the idea of losing their personal influence at an election is very painful, and they shrink from it. But let them be consoled, if the influence be what it ought to be. If it be the influence of character, of abi lity, and of liberal views on public questions, their influence will be as great as ever. Most members lay claim to such qualifications. If they do so justly, they need not fear the Ballot; if not, they ought to be subjected to that test. Lord and Lady Vernon are staying at the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone. Yesterday was the birthday of his Royal High ness Prince Arthur, It was kept privately at Buckingham Palace, owing to the mourning for the late Prince of Ho henlohe-Lan genbourg. Their Royal Highnesses the Princess Alice, Prince Alfred, and .the Princesses Helena and Louisa, at tended by the Viscountess Jocelyn, Lady Caroline Barring ton, Lord Charles Fitzroy, and Major Cowell, honoured the performance at the Haymarket Theatre last evening with their presence. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold, attended by Lieutenant-Colonel Ponsonby and Major Elphinstone, honoured the performance at the Olympic Theatre with their presence last evening. The Countess Dowager of Glasgow and Miss Catherine Sinclair have arrived at 18, Chesham-place, for the season. The Hon. George Frederick and Mrs. Boyle are staying with the countess. Viscountess Palmerston has issued cards for as semblies on Saturday next, and on Saturday, the 12th in stant. Viscount and Viscountess Combermere are ex pected to arrive in Belgrave-square, to-day, from Comber mere Abbey. Sir James and Lady Anne Mackenzie have left Claridge's Hotel for Sherbocne Lodge, near Aldershot. General Inglis arrived at the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, on Monday, from Paris. HER MAJESTY'S THEA.TRE.—The house was well attended last evening. In the Queen's box we observed Lord and Lady Cremorne, Hr. E.:Stanley, Mr. Stanley, and Miss Stanley. Among the distinguished visitors were the Marquis of Bath, the Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Earl of Wilton and party, the Earl and Countess of Cardigan, Lord and Lady Astley, Lord and Lady John Russell, Lord and Lady Mountcharles, Lord and Lady Mary Craven, Lord Chelsea, Lord Stracey, Lord Hardwicke, the Dowager Countess of Harrington, the Countess of Waldegrave, Baron and Baroness do Rothschild, Viscount Sydney, the Hon. Otway Toler, Sir George Bowes, Sir John Lowther, Colonel and Mrs. INl'Donald, Colonel Tyrwhitt, Colonel and Mrs. Freestun, Major Pole, Major Blake, Mr. Hunter Blair, Captain Craycroft. Mr. and Miss Robarts, Harman Grieswood, Esq., Mr. and. Mrs. Scheneley, the Rajah Du leap Sing, Mrs. Gardiner, A. Hook, Esq., Begrez, Esq., Josephs, Esq„ Mr. Posns, Mr. Joel, F. Cooper, Mrs. Julian Pauncefole, Mrs. Graham Smith, R. Knightly, Esq., Mrs. Wheeler, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Lewis, Mr. Sergeant Ballantine, &c. IVIIITTINGTON CLUB.—A grand volunteer ball, under the patronage of Viscount Ranelagh, colonel of the South Middlesex Volunteers, and other distinguished officers, was given last evening at the Whittington Club. The arrangements were excellent, and as a consequence the affair went off in a spirited manner. Upwards of 300 visitors joined in the exercises of the ball-room, and indemnified themselves with an excellent supper. Every metropolitan corps was represented on the occasion, and the variety of uniforms, augmented by a few of the " regulars," gave a general liveliness to the scene, while it afforded means of comparative criticism to the on-looker. The festivities did not terminate until that late hour which is indefinitely de scribed as rather an early hour. DEATH OF LADY GEORGE BERESFORD.—This ladydied a fewdays since at Gillingham Hall, near Becclas. Her ladyship was daughter of the late Mr. Schutz, and mar ried, in 1808, Lord George T. Beresford, G.C.H., sort of the first Marquis of Waterford, who died in 1839. The mortal remains of Baron de Bruck lay in state on the 25th, and the two following days, in an open coffin in the principal Protestant church at Vienna. It was dressed in his minister's uniform, and all his decorations were placed on two cushions at the foot of the coffin. An immense crowd of persons walked in the deepest silence round the catafalque. General de Failly has arrived in Paris. He is the first of the generals of the army of Italy who has re titrned to France ; the others are expected shortly to follow. The son of the unfortunate General Ortega, after having petitioned in vain for his father's life, has left Spain for Rome, to take service under Gen. Lamoriciere. The Pays mentions as a rumour, - which has created a great sensation, a proposal said to have been made by the Count de Montemolin and his brother, Don Ferdinand, to renounce their legitimist pretensions, and to recognise Queen Isabella as the lawful sovereign of Spain. Mr. MASON JONES.—The young Irish orator, whose lectures excited great attention last season, is an nounced to give an oration on the late Lord Macaulay, the Essayist, Historian, Orator, and Poet, at Willis's Rooms, on Monday evening next, May 7. There is a talk of a journal in the French lan guage being brought out in Rome, with M. Louis Veuillot for editor. THE POPE'S IRISH TRIBUTE.—The collection in Cork yesterday realised £1,050, odd shillings and pence, which, added to the sum posted on the day of the prelimi nary meeting, makes a grand total of about £2,500 from the capital of Munster. GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—The Government emigrant vessel Tudor, 1,064 tons, Capt. H. Armstrong, belonging to Mr. T. Teighe, of London, which sailed from Southampton on the 3d Dec., arrived at Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, on the 22d Feb., with 36 married couples, 114 single men, 74 single women, 18 boys between the ages of one and 12, 19 girls between the same ages, three male and three female infants—making a total of 303 souls, equal to 278 statute adults, under charge of Surgeon-Superinten dent Vim. Campbell. Three births and 16 deaths (children) occurred during the voyage. THE FIRE AT THE SAILORS' HOME.—INQIYEST.—. A THIRD DEATH.—LIVERPOOL, Tuesday.—Yesterday an inquest was held before the Borough Coroner on the bodes of the two men, Robert Hardiker and Joseph Clarke, the victims of the disastrous fire at the Sailors' Home. Nothing not already known was elicited from the witnesses exa mined, and the jury returned a verdict of accidental death in both instances. Late last evening Mr. Williams, super intendent of the Home, was informed of the death of John Gillis, mate of the ship Dermot, who assisted the superin tendent materially on the morning of the fire, and was considerably burnt. SAD AFFAIR IN VIRGINIA.—A letter to the Richmond Despatch from Harrisonburg, Virginia, states that a Mr. Sites was married in that county a few nights ago to a Miss Devier, and that a party of young men at: tempted to serenade the new couple with tin pans, bells, &c. James Devier, a brother of the bride, went out and remon strated, when the serenaders took to their heels ; he, how ever, pursued them, when one of them, named Smallwood, shot him dead. In the Chamber of Deputies at Nassau a few days days ago the report of the committee on petitions for and against the Concordat was presented, and gave rise to a very animated discussion. The Chamber eventually adopted unanimously, with the exception of five votes, a resolution proposed by the committee requesting the government--1, to abstain from concluding a concordat or any convention of the kind with the Holy See ; 2, to regulate the relations between the Roman catholic church and the state by means of a bill according the widest liberty of conscience ; and 3, to examine the question whether it would not be desirable to come to a provisional arrangement with 1i ome respecting the nomination to vacant catholic parishes. SWALLOWS IN PARIS.—A number of persons assembled a few days since near the new square of the In nocents, at Paris, watching the movements of a flock of swallows that were flying about apparently in great bewil derment, and uttering cries of distress. Since their flight at the beginning of the winter in search of a more genial clime, all the wooden sheds which formed the old market, and under the eaves of which they had been in the habit of finding shelter, have been demolished, and the poor tra vellers on arriving were at a less where to pitch on other convenient quarters. THE WEATHER.— LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.—A most beneficent change has taken place in the weather in this town and neighbourhood. The cold, hard atmosphere that has existed for weeks past and checked vegetation very seriously, has been gradually giving way for the last two or three days, and the heart of the husbandman, florist, and all who have a patch of ground in which they take an in terest in cultivating, must have been gladdened by the rainfall of Sunday, the geniality of yesterday, and the bright sunshine and warmth. May has opened beautifully. A few days like the present, and the scarcity of vegetables and consequent dearness which excludes them from the table cf the poor man will soon give place to plenty and cheap ness. The improvement in the weather has already caused prices in our corn market to recede a trifle. LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE.—A meeting of the council was held at headquarters yesterday—the Lord Mayor in the chair, The chairman announced that his Royal highness the Duke of Cambridge, Honorary Colonel to the London Rifle Brigade, had fixed Saturday next, at five p.m., for an inspection of the regiment on the Parade ground, Horse Guards. It is expected that this oorps,which numbers above 1,600 members, will muster as many as 1,200 strong at the inspection. Lord Grosvenor, Lieut.- Col. Commandant of the Queen's Westminster Volunteer Corps, has kindly consented to keep the ground. The coun cil recommended Major Vera Close for nomination to her Majesty's Court of Lieutenancy as Lieut.-Colonel of the second battalion. SOCIETY OF ARTS CONYERSAZIONE.--The first conversazione of this session took place on Saturday even ing at the house of the Society of Arts in John-street, Adelphi. The principal attraction of the evening was a col lection of upwards of 200 miniatures and drawings by the late Sir William Ross, It A., which were hung round the walls of the great room. This collection is now open for public exhibition. In the model-room were collected a variety of new and ingenious inventions, and there was an extensive display of bronzes and other ornamental works lent by Messrs. Elkington and Messrs. Jackson and Graham. Several of the tables were covered with the microscopes of Messrs. Ross, Baker, Pillischer, and Varley, and the stereoscopes of Messrs. Murray and Heath, in which some objects of unusual interest were shown; and Messrs. Mapple and Co., exhibited an electric clock on a novel principle. Some photographs burnt in on glass and porcelain were contributed by M. Joubert ; and some re markable specimens of copper ore and malachite from Australia by Professor Tennant. At intervals during the evening Mr. Charles T. Jones exhibited an sxyhydrogen apparatus, with a series of beautiful photographic views of Egypt. LORD PALMERSTON AND TOsM SAYERS.—The Sporting Life says—lf rumour speak true (and we would not have even one of her hundred tongues prove false in the case) the ever-young and jaunty Premier recently gave way to an honest, open-hearted, and generous ebullition of feel ing when the name of the gallant little English champion was mentioned. It is said that while the Home Secretary was assuring the house, in heavy phrase, of the illegality of prize-fighting, a gallant sporting member was busily en gaged in the Library collecting a " purse " for the cham pion. Lord Palmerston, happening to come in, was in stantly accosted by the amateur collector with " I want a sovereign for Tom Sayers." "A • sovereign for Sayers ! splendid fellow I I'll give you five." Ile was, however, told that the subcription was lirnired to one sovereign each, which ho paid with a sort of subdued alacrity, observing— " I have great pleasure in giving it, but I wish you would let me make it five." BENGAL ARMY.---The officers of the Bengal arwy are now employed in the following manner :-202 Q. 14 fur lough, 56 on civil and political employ, 21 on the military staff. 104 serving with regular regiments, 22 doing duty with her Majes:y's European regimentg, 7 doing duty with other corps of the Bengal army, ;ID on duty with discharged soldiers proceeding to England, 15 with police corps, 10 with Commisstlr:at and stud, 25 with public works,surveys, &e., 264 doing duty, miscellaneous 10, giving a total of 794. The number of officers wanting to complete the eseablish. meat on, the let of October, 189, was 131, LATEST NEWS. The following telegrams were received at Mr. Reuter's office : PARIS, MAY 2. The Illoniteur of this morning publishes a note of M. Thouvenel, of April 7, relative to the neutra lisation of Savoy. In this note M. Thouvenel con tests the pretensions of Switzerland, and declares that France fully accepts the execution of article 92 of the final act of Vienna. The Moniteur also announces the publication to morrow of another note of a later date than that above-mentioned. MARSEILLES, APRIL 30. Letters from Naples to the 28th inst. confirm that Carini had been taken by assault after three days' fighting. The town had suffered greatly. The Government states that only a few hundred insur gents remained to be pursued. Letters affirm, how ever, that the supplies of provisions to the towns had been often intercepted. The recent struggles had caused great excitement. The details are still contradictory. GENOA, MAY 1. Advices have been received from Naples to the 28th ult., which state that the Ellecttico has arrived at Naples from Palermo, bringing families of the military. The insurgents were meditating an attempt on Palermo. A column, which left Messina on the 20th April, was engaged in serious combats with the insurgents on the 21st and 22d at Galati, which town was destroyed. The royal troops fell back upon Messina. Another column, under the command of General Lotiria, had left Palermo in order to pursue Trapani. It was sup ported by two frigates. MARSEILLES, MAY L Letters from Naples to the 24th state that news of a peaceful character had been received from Sicily, contradicting that which had arrived by way of Turin. ROME, APRIL 28: Prince Chigi, Colonel of the Papal Guard, has tendered his resignation, in order to take service as a simple gunner. General de Lamoriciere will re turn to Rome on the 2d of May. CONSTANTINOPLE, APRIL 30. The ..Tournal de Constantinople officially denies a statement which has appeared in the Gazette de Genoa, to the effect that steps have been taken by Piedmont to obtain from the Porte the recognition of the annexation of Central Italy. The Duke of Brabant left to-day for Venice in an English steamer which was offered to him by Sir Henry Bulwer. VIENNA, MAY 2. The Wiener Zeitung of to-day contains an auto graph letter of the Emperor, dated the 26th ult., decreeing that the ecclesiastical affairs of the evan gelical portion of the army shall be under the ma nagement of military chaplains of both the Augs burg and Helvetic confessions. In each of the mili tary stations of Vienna, Verona, Ofen, Lemberg, Prague, and Hermannstadt two military chaplains, one of the Augsburg and one of the Helvetic con fessions, are to be appointed, who will occasionally have to inspect the surrounding districts. In time of war two evangelical military chaplains are to be added to the clerical establishment in the hospitals of the operating armies. VIENNA, MAY 1. The TViener Zeitung of to-day publishes an auto graph letter of the Emperor, dated the 29th ult., containing the following appointments :—To the dignity of Extraordinary Councillors of State for life ; Archbishop itauscher, Prince Adolph Schwar zenberg, General Francis Prince von Lichtenstein, Prince Vincenz von Auersberg, Count Hartig, General Haller, Count Apponyi, Field-Marshal- Lieutenant Degenfeld, and Baron Sokesevits. The Emperor's letter also contains 38 appoint= ments of Extraordinary Temporary Councillors of State, among which are the following Hungarian gentlemen :—Vay, Mayloth, Somsich, Burgomaster Topercer ; also the following Bohemian gentlemen : —Clam, Martinez, Albert Nastitz, and the Presi dent of the Chamber of Commerce, Trenkler ; and the following Lombardo-Venetian gentlemen— Count Moncenigo and Baron Zigno. The same journal also publishes an imperial decree, dated the 22d ult., in execution of paragraph 4 of the imperial patent for the settlement of Hungarian Protestant affairs. This decree orders that the branch of the Ministry of Public Worship, which is to consist of Evangelical co-religionists, shall be established immediately. All questions relating to Protestant religions and scholastic matters in other provinces are Also to be referred to this branch of the Minis try, which will provisionally consist of three coun cillors, who are already appsinted. HANOVER, MAY 2. In yesterday's sitting of the Hanoverian Diet the Military Committee moved that the plan pro posed by Government for the fortification of the coast should be rejected, and the necessary supplies refused. PRUSSIA. A letter from Berlin, dated April 27, says : The same uncertainty prevails here in politics. The negotiations between the different Cabinets continue. A wish is shown to settle the Swiss affair amicably if possible, but they do not know exactly how to set about it. Prussia and England wish the proposed conference to be held at Brussels. However, you may be sure that Switzerland will not conclude a separate treaty with France. If such a project ever was entertained it has been abandoned. Since yesterday the suicide el' Baron Bruck is the exclusive topic of converP,ation. This tragic event throws a sad light upon the deplorable con - dition of Austria, ; and Prussia has been told to link her destinies to that Empire, falling ir,to decay ! Youth and hope linked to clecrepitude and the past ! We are asked to perform the part in Vettetia which Russia performed in Mmgary, to her cost. Every true Prussian would blush with shame if he thought his Government capable of concluding such a bargain. Nevertheless Austria strives to obtain, with that tenacity whicl A is. peculiar to her, an alliance and reciprocal Ww.tran'ines—refusals do not discourage her, in the sar .ne way that she fancies that Prussia, which receiv ed a blow from her, will reply by good services. The Middle ,States, r noreover, are beginning to reflect ; when a ship is about to sink the rats leave it. When the questior i of the Federal military re form comes on a char) go will be visible. A great battle h7s been waging in the Chambers since yesterday 07 1 the land tax. It is said that the Government wi',l be d efeated. The proposed taxes meet with fly.; strongest opposition from the landed proprietc:r a and townis. Peti;:ions for a reduction of the Rhine tolls are being numerously signed. The - Prussian Govern ment can, howevex, do nott .ing in the matter with out the consent of the other • Riverain States. How ever, some hope .af attaini n g the object exists in consequence of the internal. 4 onal service of the Bel gian railways, the Great I ,uxembourg Comprny, and the French Easterr. I railway, which, by a reduced tariff, threatens to exclude the competition of the Antwerp, Cologne, t it td Mayence line as re gards the traffic to SWitzeil :la.ud, so that Prussia has already taken steps, with Hesse and Baden, for re moving the tolls. Conjecture is afloat respecting a visit paid yes terday to Sans Souci by the Archduchess Sophia of Austria, accompanied by the Queen Dowager and Queen of Saxony. They arrived quite privately yesterday morning, and left the same night for Dresden. The Prince Regent did not meet them at Sans Souci, but has gone there to-day. AMERICA. QUEENSTOWN, WEDNESDAY. The Canadian mail steamship Anglo-Saxon, Captain Ballantine, which left Portland, Maine, on the 21st ult., has arrived. The steamers North American and America, both from Liverpool, had arrived out. A resolution had been passed in the Senate at Washington for inquiring into the expediency of raising the Sardinian. mission to one of the first class. The Attorney-General, Mr. Black, had received and declined a challenge from ex-Governor Walker. The Charleston Democratic Convention was the topic which absorbed public attention. The treaty which had been concluded with Spain provides for the ascertainment and settlement of all pending claims. Tornadoes in the west had done much damage to property. Several persons were also injured. The steamer Raonke will land the Japanese Embassy at New York. A Japanese servant of the British Minister at Jeddo was murdered shortly before the Powhattan left. The Minister took no official notice of the deed. The town of Sorisburg had been entirely de stroyed by fire. The Bank of Tennessee had suspended payment. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, APRIL 21. The stock market is active, at lower prices. New York Central, 801 s. 10 ; Erie Third Bonds, 851 b. 60. Cotton unchanged. Sales 700 bales. Middling Upland, 111 c. Ashes unchanged. Flour, State and Western, drooping. Wheat, oats, tallow, and rice, dull. Corn and pork firm. Sugar has advanced lc. on the lowest prices of the week. Molasses unaltered. Coffee, leather, and oils quiet. NEW ORLEANS, APRIL 20. The c;otton market is dull. The sales to-day amount to 7,000 bales. Middling, 10Ic. to 11c. Sales o f the week, 44,000 bales ; receipts of the week, '21,000 bales. Freights for cotton to Liver poOl, . Sugar firm. Exchange unaltered. TR.2? CALOUTTA AND CHINA MAILS. The screw steamer Pera, Capt. Thomas Jamieson, arrive d at Southampton yesterday at 5 p.m., bring ing the heavy portion of the mails from China and the East Indies. She brought 165 passengers. On freigh t she had £6OO in specie, 1,536 bales of silk, 100 bales of flax, four bags of coffee, and 150 pack ages oi ' miscellaneous merchandise. The Pera sailed from Alexandria on the 18th ult., Malta the 21st, and Gibraltar the 26th. On the homeward voyage she experienced strong north westerly breezes between Alexandria and Gibraltar, thenoe to Southampton variable winds and fine weather. Coming home the Pera spoke on the 19th ult., in lat. 33. 9 N., long. 25 50 E., the steamship Atlantic, steering S.E. ; 24th lat. 36 50, long. 0 30, the Euph rates, steering E. ; 25th, lat. 36 39, long. 2 W., the American ship Martha, steering S., and the brig :Niary Young, steering E.; 26th, going into Gibraltar, the steamship Hecla ; off Portland yes tell:lay, the ship Wings of the Wind. Admiral Mundy's fleet, consisting of the Hanni bal, .Renown, James Watt, Agamemnon, Scylla, London, and Assurance, were at Malta on the 21st. Her Majesty's ships Victor Emmanuel and Amphion left 'Maltafor Corfu on the 21st, and the Orion, for Ply mouth, on the same day. AA.t Gibraltar, on the 26th, were her Majesty's ship Scourge, Lapwing, and Quail. Off Algesiras was the French squadron, consisting of fiv e ships of the line. Ad vices from Gibraltar by this arrival are only three days later than those received by the Euxine, and th ere is consequently very little news. The Chrom'cle of the 24th says : " Th e late arrivals from the coast of Barbary' present* ;no new feature of interest. Tranquillity prevail ed at the different ports, and trade began to revive. Several of the Europeans who, on account of the war with Spain, had left their homes, had returns 3d and taken up their former abodes, which hav' b een protected by the Moorish Government during their absence. The export of wools was becom ,ng general." Exc hanger and freights as last quoted. BANKRUPTCY BILL. The number of the law Magazine, published yester, lay, has the following remarks on the sub ject of ' this measure : " Us Ron the merits of this bill we have elsewhere fully e :ntered ; but upon the imperfect and indeed wholl: v erroneous statement of the Attorner-General in int) roducing it we must here make an observa tion, I )ecause it tended to mislead the nublic very mater ially. The profession could not be misled by it, bee ause those branches of it which are interested in the subject are fully aware of the facts. "TI ie Attorney-General described his task in amend Ling the law, as rendered difficult only by the wrecks of former laws which covered the ground ; and, i n order to make good this description, he stated that the Act of 1831 (abolishing the Septua gint, , as the 70 commissioners were termed), had substituted a new tribunal, and that this measure had o nly lasted a few years when it was replaced by an other system in 1842, which after seven years was e .xchanged for the one of 1849. So far is this from being the fact, or anything like the fact, that the c ourt established in 1831 exists at the present day, the change effected in 1842 (5 and 6 Vic., c. 122) being only the increase of its powers in sum mon ,ing trader-debtors, and in granting certificates, fort aerly granted by creditors, and the extension of t he system to the country by the appointment of di'sl aiet commissioners—while the Act of 1849 was y a consolidation of the former statutes, with the ails fition of giving the commissioners original juris di•ction without a fiat, and the adoption of the clas si t ication of certificates proposed by the London rue rcnntile body. 'Whoever instructed the Attorney-General re spec sting the history of the bankrupt law, and told him how well the Scotch system worked by ad hering to the ancient jurisdiction of the Local Courts (Sheriffs' Courts) in Bankruptcy, should have in form ed him that Lord Brougham's County Courts Bill of 1833 vested this jurisdiction in the proposed court ;e. That bill was only lost by a majority of one on the third. reading ; and it had been thoroughly examined in committee of the whole house according to an agreement come to by Lord Brou gime with Lord Lyndhurst, that it should be made as perfect as possible in detail, and then the vote • taken on the third reading ; but that, if passed, it she iuld be in the shape which the committee had given it. Therefore the Attorney-General would have had the authority of the Lords substantively, and of Lords Lyndhurst and Brougham, i n hi s favour upon the important branch of this bill, for vesting- bankruptcy in the County Courts. The reject ion of the bill of 1833 is deeply to be regretted. It decided the necessity of Lord Lyndhurst's Act for the appointment of district commissioners, whereas the Act would have entirely sufficed, and some handreds of thousands would have been saved to the country, besides removing the only difficulty which lies in the way of the Att orne y-General's billas aegards County Court jurisdiction. "His informants have equally kept from his k no wledge the great expe n se of the old system which, upon the accounts obtained in 1831, spew the average of the incomes of the commissioners was about £5OO, and must have amounted to above £300,000 a•year out of the fund for distribution among creditors in the London district. The ac cording of compensation from the consolidated fund was the greatest blot in the new system; and that grievance of creditors, so much and so justly com plained of, is now, we rejoice to find, on the point of being removed. ' , The Attorney-General's principal difficulty will be how to deal with the existing commissioners— who, having patent places, can surely not be treated in the manner proposed by the bill; but on this and the other parts of the proposed chsnge we do'not< nter further, than to express a hope that care will be taken to prevent the former abuses from again springing up, by restricting the power of the official assignee, and that no door may be left open for fraudulent conduct in arrangements by amicable composition." THE NAVY. A letter from Hong Kong, dated Marchls, says: —" The Samson arrived yesterday evening from Cheefoo and Shanghin ; she left the gunboats all safe at the former place (Cheefoo) on the 4th of March. It is said the Chinese are assembling 50,000 cavalry at Tientsin. The m a il sa il e d on th e 15th of March." Viee-Admiral Alexander Renton Sharpe, C. 8., died yesterday at his residence at Stockwell. The gallant deceased was midshipman in the Kent in the expedition to the Helder in 1799 ; and of the Hercule, at Cape Francois and siege of Curacoa, in 1804 ; Lieut. of the Topaze in action with two French frigates near Corfu in 1809, and commanded the Scout at the destruction of three French armed ships and some batteries in Sagone Bay in 1811. The late Admiral was in 1815 nominated a Com mander of the Order of the Bath, in recognition of his services afloat. His commissions bore date as follows :—Lieutenant, Dec. 8, 1806 ; Commander, March 5, 1809 ; Captain, Jan. 22, 1813 ; Rear-Ad miral, June 1, 1848 ; and Vice-Admiral, July 30, 1857. A service pension becomes at the disposal of the First Lord of the Admiralty by the demise of the Admiral. Since the issue of her Majesty's proclamation for the increase of the navy the officers in charge of the recruiting establishment on board the receiving ship Fisgard at Woolwich have entered since the Ist of May, 1859, to the present date, the following number of men and boys—viz., ablebodied seamen, 140 ; ordinary seamen, 117 ; Ist and 2d class stokers, 204 ; landsmen and novices, 400 ; grown boys and artificers, 56 ; and Ist and 2d class boys, 3,443 ; making a total of 4,360. The screw steam-frigate Forte, Captain E. W. Turnour, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral the Hon. S. H. Keppel, K.C.8., embarked his Excellency Sir George Grey, Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and suite, and taking a mail, sailed from Plymouth Sound on Monday afternoon for Table Bay, where the Forte will replace the Boscawen, flag of Rear- Admiral the Hon. Sir Frederick Grey, K.C.B. The seamen belonging to the steam reserve at Plymouth have begun to fit out the screw steam ship Desperate, 8; her masts have been taken to 'Keyham, and were ordered to be shipped yester day. The screw steam gunvessel Espoir, 5, will be masted immediately after. The screw steam-frigate Melpomene, 51, Capt. Ewart, was taken out of the lock at Keyham steam yard on Monday and towed to her moorings at Hamoaze, off the Devonport Dockyard. The screw steamship Royal Albert, 121, Captain Lacon, was placed in No. 3 dock at Keyham on Monday, to be cleaned and repaired—her false keel is slightly damaged aft. The naval apprentice brig Nautilus, 6, Lieut. B. Grant commanding, put to sea from Plymouth sound on Monday, to exercise the boys in shorten ing and making sail, and returned to her moorings. i-lhe steam gunboat Shamrock, 60-horse power, Com. Edye, sailed from Plymouth on Monday, to resume her surveying duties. The following appointments were made yester day at the Admiralty—Capt. J. A. Paynter to the Exmouth, vice Stopford. ; Capt. W. C. Chamberlain to the Racoon, vice Paynter ; Lieut. A. Tupman to the Forte, additional, for disposal; Lieut. S. Long and Lieut. R. L. Turton to the Edgar; G. West, acting first class assistant-engineer, for temporary charge of the machine: y of the Bustler ; James M. Wortley, assistant paymaster additional to the Victory ; J. W. Featherstone, assistant clerk, to the Neptune ; W. F. Woods, assistant clerk, to the Euryalus ; F. C. M. Sadler, assistant clerk, to the Bacchante; B. F. Meyer, assistant clerk, to the Asia. TILE GUNBOATS AT UASLAR. The Portsmouth correspondent of the Times says: —Several letters having appeared in the Times from well-known shipbuilding firms, claiming exoneration from the charges contained in your leader of the 25th ult., relative to the condition of the gunboats at Haslar-yard, will you allow me to state, for your own and the public information, that none of the boats upon which my report to you was based were built by either of those firms ? My report did not apply to those vessels the defects of which were solely owing to their having been hastily constructed with unseasoned timber, but to those the destruction of which has been caused by their having been built of timber totally unsuited to shipbuilding purposes. The four boats on the condition of which I framed my report I will call by numbers-1, 2,3, and 4. No. 1 I find to have been launched from its builder's yard in May, 1856, and hauled up beneath Haslar sheds for her preservation on the 31st of March, 1857. No. 2 was launched in March, 1856, and hauled up on the 30th of January, 1857. No. 3, partly repaired, was launched in April, 1856, and hauled up on the 30th of February, 1857. All three of these vessels had their copper kept on until shortly before the recent investigations. No. 4 was completed in her repairs at a cost of about £1,400, the estimated sum to re-copper her i, say £5OO, making a total of £1,900. She was launched in May, 1856, and was hauled up on the 2d of Feb., 1857, and her copper stripped off for the preserva tion of her bottom. The repairs to No. 1 are for the present suspended, a special report having been made of her condition. This is the boat whence were extracted the short copper bolts. No. 2, like No.l, has her repairs suspended for the present, and is also, in a similar manner to No. 1, stripped of her planking. No. 3 is partly repaired ; but her de fects have been but little short of those of Nos. 1 and 2. The three foregoing vessels belong to what is termed the " coppered" class, their copper having been kept on their bottoms until the commencement of their repairs. No. 4 belongs to the " uncoppered" class, her copper having been stripped off on her being hauled up underneath the sheds. Not only, as I have before stated, are the majority of the tim bers of Nos. 1,2, and 3 liberally marked with "sap," but in several instances they have been barely squared, and plainly show the growth of the wood. No. 1 is also conspicuous for the slightness of her frame as compared with any other boat now under repair. None of the other five boats under repair at this time in the yard show such an extent of this all-destroying sap as the vessels I have numbered. The planking of nearly all the boats, both under repair and those that have been repaired, is, I, ever, stated to have been more generally affected, and a great number of them have been found faulty from this cause to an extraordinary degree. Plank with the " sap" on it has not only been used freely, but the faulty side of it has been bolted next to the vessel's framing, and communicated its rot to the timber of the vessel itself. The planking on the outside thus presenting a hard, firm appearance, has b e en found one of the most difficult points to deal with, and I am assured on competent authority that this great evil in the construction of the vessels has proved to be the " rule," and not the " exception." Some of the boats repaired have shown excellent workmanship combined with bad material in their original construction, while others have shown exactly the reverse. Of the decay of a vessel from having been hastily built of unseasoned wood, one vessel now under repair in the third division of the shed affords a very good illustration ; she is named the Albacore, and was built by Messrs. White of Cowes, was launched in April, 1856, and was hauled up in her present berth on the 26th of January in the following year. The greater part of this vessel's fore timbers, planking, stem, and cutwater have been removed, and will have to be replaced with. new ; but, as this has been caused solely by using unseasoned timber at a time when, perhaps, other could not be procured, the defects may be said to proceed from natural and unavoidabl e causes, as has lately been the case with the Princess Royal, and must be expected in that of many other vessels lately built in the Royal dockyards. The two boats which have borne away the palm from all others hitherto examined for excellence of both workmanship and . material —are those built by Mr. Patterson, of Bristol, the Earnest and Escort. Many yet remain to be examined which have not been placed under sheds and carefully protected from the sun, wind, end rain, in a like manner to the b oa t s in Haslar yard, and it will be next to impossible to form a correct judgment of the state of those vessels until some of them hav e been opened and examined. One of the boats hauled up at Hasler on the 20th of last month, the Fancy, has been in commission, and has been on service in the Black Sea. As she is in need of repairs, a strict scrutiny into her state of planking and timbers, as far as relate to her ori ginal construction, would tend to throw consider able light on the probable condition of the remain.. der of our gunboats, both at home and abroad. The boats that I have numbered in this letter 1,2, and 3 were considered, prior to their real condition being ascertained, to be three of the most sound and effec tive boats in the navy list. Had not these dis coveeids been made, they might possibly have been ddspatched to reinforce the China squadron, and gone down from beneath the feet of our officers and. men. siINFLUENCES OF THE " SEASONS."--Nature has wisely ordained, that the year should be divided into four seasons. Two of these in particular, Spring and Summer, possess very powerful attractions, and operate very bene ficially on the human. heart. Were it not for such golden opportunities, man would be a greater savage than he now is, and blunted against all the finer feelings that should animate his system. Nothing but an occa sional interview with Nature, whose lovely handiwork at these seasons possesses a charm that affects almost every human heart, could render this world of ours even tolerable. Let us thank Nature then, with all our best devotion, for so considerately and wisely keeping us in our own proper places ; and for softening those hearts which, during the seasons of gaiety, f as hi on , rioting, and f r i vo li ty, have been all-but alienated f rom the enjoyment o f every wholesome social virtue, --detwit Kidd's" Honest Thoughts for Honest People," THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING., MAY 2, 1860.