The Sun. — London, England, 1858-11-02 00:00:00

upwards of his fellow-countrymen who are paupers and on the verge of pauperism. Mr. Blum:TT's contribution, then, to the solution of the great social problem of the condition of the people is—alas ! for poor human nature—a bril liant and showy declamation, " full cf sound and fury, signifying nothing." And yet he comes near to the truth. The reduction of the nation's expenditure is his panacea for the social evils of the system. It is, then, after all, like most other things, a MONEY QUESTION. Poverty, vice, misery abound, because the poor man earns too little and pays too much. Now, we will refer Mr. BRIGHT to a few plain facts. In the years 1854, 1855, and 1856, taxes were high, and wheat was from 80s. to 90s. a quarter, and yet the condition of the people was rapidly improving, both in the agricultural and manufacturing districts. Mr. BRIGHT must remember well, if any man in England does, that not only were the people willing to pay the heavy load of taxes for the Russian war, but they were able. How was this ? The reason why, during these years, the people could pay their taxes was, that they had plenty of money to pay them with. The influx of Australian gold enabled the Bank to keep out an adequate bank-note circulation. With , this circulation the price of all commodities was permitted to rise, so as to include the additional amount of taxation imposed. The producer got a good price for his goods, and was therefore able to pay good wages to the working man. The working man, as a consumer, paid a price for his food re munerative to the food-producer ; and he could afford to do this, for he got adequate wages. Every industrious man in the kingdom was doing well. The usurer and the hard calculator partook of the general prosperity, but he seldom got more than 5 per cent. for his money, and he could no longer purchase luxuries below cost price. Peace came, and bullion went out. We had a monetary crisis, which raised discount to 10 per cent., and the poor rates in Lancashire 56 per cent. Government stepped in at the last moment to prevent a national convulsion, and granted to Fear that relaxation of the monetary system which they had denied to Justice. NAPLES. Are these things necessary ? We affirm most decidedly that they are not. We want money in the realm, not so far abundant as to excite to wild speculation, nor so inadequate to the nation's wants as to produce depression of trade, misery, and starvation. Experience tells us that a limited amount of national money (L 20,000,000), basea on the honour, good faith, and wealth of England, issued by the authority of the Queen and Parlia ment, would be sufficient. By " the sacred duty which we owe to our coun try,"—in the name of the million of paupers, and the million struggling between independence_ and pauperism—we call upon Mr. BRIGHT to direct his energies and abilities to the unpopular but most important subject—the Money Question. This is, indeed, the great social question of the day, and far beyond the honours which even the SOVEREIGN of this mighty empire can bestow:Far beyond the loud applause which the most despotic demagogue can extort from his worshippers will be the honour due to the man who shall bring happiness, content ment, and every social blessing into the lowly dwelling of every labourer and operative in the kingdom. THE SUN. TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 2, 1858. JOHN BRIGHT is a man. Right or wrong he speaks out, and gives utterance to his sincere con victions in a manly, straightforward way. He means what he says, and he says what he means. There is no mistake, there can be no mistake, as to his opinions. The language in which he clothes his 'earnest, honest views of men and things is plain, strong, nervous English. We listen to him with pleasure, even when we have the misfortune to differ from him ; and we also think that we have a right to speak our mind. It is our mission, as it is that of Mr. BRIGHT, to tell the country what we believe to be the truth. We "dare" to differ from Mr. BRIGHT. We believe that on many occasions he speaks the truth, but we refuse to admit that he alwayk according to our appre hension, speaks " the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Mr. BRIGHT, as we have said before, is not infallible. We admire his self-reliance. But it is possible to be too self-confident. And when a man asks his fellow-citizens how they " dare" to differ in opinion, we say at once that his self confidence has degenerated into intolerance. Now we are not going to say a word at present about Mr. BRIGHT'S opinion as to the advantage of Peace-at-any-price. Sir It. WALPOLE, Mr. Fox, Lord GREY, Sir R. PEEL, and Mr. BRIGHT alto gether would not convince us, any more than they would convince the nation, that " any-peace is better than the most successful war." But we differ widely from Mr. BRIGHT upon another and a most important subject, and that is, the best means of improving the condition of the people of England. Before we " dare" to tell him in what respect we differ, we will do ourselves the pleasure of informing him in what respect we agree with what he said the other day at Birmingham on this topic. Habernus corifitentem . 1 On Friday the Tines in an elaborate argument, endeavours to extract the sting of Mr. BRIGHT'S remarks, in which he convicts our contemporary of inconsistency in writing anonymously its contemptuous arguments against the Ballot. But on Saturday it finds itself required :to defend secret authorship against Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT, who, we must confess by some very plausible reasoning, endeavoured to show that articles in newspapers would have more weight if authors habitually appended their names to them. The Times feels that Mr. HERBERT'S arguments have something in them. Of course a man who wrote on his responsibility by giving his name, would have an extra inducement to care, both in his facts and arguments. There is positively no denying such an obvious truth as this. Yes, but, says the Times, " If; Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT made a clean breast of it he would confess that not love but hate was father to his 'thought. He knows, and we know, that it is just the anonymous charac ter of the Press that has sec•froil ifs in'lgnivlence." Even so—the secret author is an independent authof—and will the Times deny that the secret voter must also be an independent voter ? Or, will it take the other horn of the dilemma, and deny that the voter ought to be independent ? Yes, says the Times, in reply to Mr. BRIGHT, but there is no analogy that we can perceive between the cases. The voter's is a legal act which aids in choosing him and me a governor; and I have a right to know how his act affects me. Not quite so fast, good Mr. ANONYMOUS. There is at least the resemblance of securing independence in both cases. That you assert strongly on Saturday. Secrecy is inde pendence ; so far good. Next, independence is always asserted to be a desirable qualification for an elector. You do not like to give a vote to the operative or farm servant, because he is not inde pendent ; that is one at least of your reasons. Then, again, will the Times not readily allow that a column or two of its bourgeois is a thing which very much affects our common governors ? Does it not often print them to get certain governors in or out, or in again when they have been turned out P and is not the censorship of the whole Euro pean press evidence enough that an article in a newspaper is a matter of much more concern to governors than a poor independent vote ? We beg the Times' pardon, and hope it will not think us guilty of flattery, but we have a much higher opinion of the influence of its articles than its modesty permits it to entertain of them itself. Why, we think, in our vanity, better of our own. We believe that the clients of our Coppocks in numberless cases, be most thankful to know who wrote some- leader or communication in a news. paper ; these leaders have often a great deal to do with which senator is elected. The candidate senators never overlook an editor if they know him, and, if they do not, they like to be friendly with the manager or the proprietor. The truth is, the voter ought to be represented—that no one will deny. If he fears, or merely wishes to oblige in his political good nature, any one else, then he repre sents that individual or individuals, not himself. If it be really intended that every voter shall repre sent others who have no vote, then in the name of common sense give the unrepresented votes for electors. Let us , have, as they have in some . coun - tries, double election—electors chosing others whose business it shall be to elect the representa tative. But now the voter is presumed to be inde pendent, and the Times has assured us that secrecy is the soul of independence. We are often told, however, that we cannot secure secrecy —an odd objection, to be sure, from opponents of secrecy. We reply, however—try. Though the acts of our Australian, colonies are not f ra med for absolute secrecy i n - the ev en t o f a scru ti n y, yet they have secured secrecy there, and even when the majority has beck' but narrow, th e defeated party has not doubted the honesty of the • tino. or appealed to a scrutiny. We _lay before " When I am told," said Mr. BRIGHT, " that the greatness of our country is shown by the £100,000,000 of revenue produced, may I not ask how is it that we have 1,100,000 paupers in this kingdom, and why it is that £7,000,000 should be taken annually from the industry, chiefly of the labouring classes, to support a small nation, as it were, of paupers?" We agree that this is a ques tion which ought to be asked. "But," he continues, " it is well known that just above the level of the 1,100,000 there is an equal number who are ever oscillating between independence and pauperism, who, with a heroism which is not the less heroic because it is secret and unrecorded, are doing their very utmost to maintain an honourable and inde pendent position before their fellow men." There are, then; 1,100,000 of British paupers, and, another 1,000,000 of our fellow subjects living on the verge of pauperism—living a life of careworn and anxious struggle for food enough to eat, and cloth ing enough to wear. In Ireland the rate of wages is a shilling a day i in .Scotland's remautic glen. q. and moorlands there are many families existing from day to day and from week to week on oat meal. While these things continue, says Mr. BRIGHT, "we are bound by the sacred duty which we owe to our country to examine why it is that, with all this trade, all this industry, and all this personal freedom, there is still so much that is un sound at the base of our social fabric." With this view of the question we entirely and cordially agree. We re-echo the eloquent and glow. ing language of the hon. member for Birmingham with heartfelt approbation_ Crowns, coronets,..“ mitres, military display, the pomp of w ar , w id e colonies, and a huge empire, are all trifles light as air, and not worth considering, unless with them you can have a fair share of comfort, contentment, and happiness among the great body of the peojl e . ,, Mr. BRIGHT, then, has truly and forcibly depicted the evils of the social condition of the people, and declared that the first business of a statesman is to direct his attention to the removal of those evils. With all this we agree. But what are Mr. BRIGHT'S proposed remedies for these evils? Get, he says in effect, some political privileges, in order that you may reduce the taxes ; and, in the meanwhile, if you are starving, and cannot wait for political privileges and reduced taxation, emi grate. This is all the advice which the great popular orator ha s t o offer to the two millions and our readers, h' Jwever, the draught of a bill, whic h if they will bAlt compel our legislators to make it law, Will, we ;think, set the landlords and the whole tribe of vote purchasers at defiance. Indeed, nothing can be much -easier than to provide me. chanically for secrecy, if our governors but wish to do it. And tl ten, as in the case of the Income•tax, the sentiment generated by the law and its recti tude comes in aid. Practically it is found that where the law- gives a man a secret and thereby an independent • rote, men are slow to disgrace them selves by pry ing, if they could, into what the law forbids them to know. LATEST NEWS. THE PENINSULAR MAILS. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY MORNING. The Valetta steamer, with the Peninsular mails, is telegraphed from Hurst at 10 45 a.m. SPAIN. The following telegrams were received at Mr. Reuter's office, Nov. 1 : MADRID, Nov. 1. The coalition of the parties in opposition to the Ministry have had the majority in the elections at Madrid. Government has triumphed everywhere in the provinces. General tranquillity reigns in all parts of the country. PARIS, MONDAY. Letters from Naples state that the King liars had frequent conferences with Monsieur de Tilanguer. There is a report that be will be again appointed Minister. THFJ SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 2, 18 iii. 'signing any treaty at all. He was at that time on his return journey overland to Nagasaki. Had any doubts existed as to the propriety of proceed- • ing without delay to negotiate at Jeddo, they were at once solved by this intelligence, for A became incumbent on the Ambassador to lose' no time in securing for Great Brtain those advantages and privileges which other nations either bad acquired or were acquiring, and in placing her, without delay, in the position of the other Euro pean Powers at that time represented in Japan. As, unfortunately, all the efforts made at Nagasaki to procure a Dutch interpreter had proved unavail- ing, an insuperable difficulty seemed t o present itself on learning that the only language in which the Japanese could communicate at Jeddo was Dutch. This obstacle was, however, removed by the friendly act of Mr. Harris, who, with great liberality and courtesy, placed his own interpreter, Mr Huesken, at Lord Elgin's disposal. _During the fortnight's stay of the squadron at Jeddo the ser vices of this gentleman were in constant request, and his readiness to oblige rendered him univer sally popular, while in his official capacity his knowledge of the people and familiarity with their habits, acquired during a residence among them of two years, must have rendered him invaluable. Simoda is about 80 miles from the city of Jeddo, situate at the extreme point of the promontory which forms one side of the capacious bay, or rather gulf, at the head of which the capital is placed. Up this bay the squadron proceeded, with a fair wind, on the morning of the 12th, and passing through the Straits of Uraga, the left shore of which is feathered with rich verdure and indented with little bays, reached a point opposite the Port of Kanagawa, beyond which no foreign ships had ever ventured, and where the Russian squadron could then be discerned at anchor. Captain Osborn, however, professing his readi ness to explore the unknown waters at the head of the bay, and to approach as near the city as possible, Lord Elgin seemed determined not to lose an 'opportunity of establishing a precedent likely to be so important in our future intercourse with Japan, and, to the astonishment of both Rus sians and Japanese, the British ships deliberately passed the sacred limit without communicating with the shore, and a few minutes after were cautiously feeling their way round a long spit of land which runs far put into the bay and offers some danger to the navigator. An instinct for deep water must have guided-the ships along, the channel, which was afterwards found_ to be suffi ciently narrow and tortuous, but at last all doubts as to the feasibility of the enterprise were removed by the appearance of several large, square-rigged, Japanese vessels at anchor, the draught of water of which was a guarantee for our own. Behind these rose gradually out of the waters of the bay a line of insulated forts, which marked the defences of Jeddo, while an extensive suburb, running along the western shore, formed a continuous street as far as the eye could reach. The ships ultimately anchored in three fathoms of water, about a mile and a half from this suburb, and the same distance from the fine island forts abovementioned, which are situated on a sandbank, the intervening channels being always covered with water. About a mile beyond these forts, and parallel to them, lay the main body of the city ; the wooded height, on which' is situated the C as tl e of the Tycoon, forming a conspicuous object. The - arrival of the British squadron in waters which the Japanese had sedu lously, represented as being too shallow; to admit of the approach of large ships filled them wth dismay and astonishment ; boats followed each other, with officials of ascending degrees of rank, to beg them to return to Kanagawa ; and finally urgent repre sentations were made to the Ambassador on the subject. The pleas generally put forward were amusing and characteristic ;—first, it was said the anchorage was dangerous, but the presence of their • own squadron was referred to as an evidence to the contrary ; then that it would be impossible to pro cure and send off supplies, but it was protested that if necessary we could do without these. The merits and comforts of Kanagawa were. expatiated on in vain ; the paramount duty was the delivery of the' yacht at Jeddo, and to deliver the yacht there it was necesspry to remain at the present anchorage. No sooner was this settlod than the Japanese in their usual way becaMe perfectly reconciled to the arrangement,. sent off supplies with great willing ness, and began to prepare a residence on shore for Lord Elgin and his Staff. It appeared that Count Putiatine had been delayed for 10 days negotiating on this subject at Kanagawa, and only succeeded in taking up his residence at Jeddo on the same day that we cast anchor before the town. He had made the journey overland from Kanaga, a dis tance of 18 miles. male and female populatidif Might be seen innocently "tubbing" at the coroners of die streets. In "JeddO they frequent large ,bathing establishments, the, doors of which are open to the passer-by, and pre sent a curious spectacle, more especially if the in mates of both sexes ingenuously rush to it to gaze at him as he rides blushingly past. But it would not be possible to condense within the limits of a letter the experiences and observations of a resi dence in the capital of an empire about which the information at home is so very scanty, and which presents probably a greater variety of interesting and curious matter to the stranger than any other part of the world. Suffice it to be recorded as our general impression that, in its climate, its fertility, and its picturesque beauty, Japan is not equalled by any country on the face of the globe; while, as if to harmonise with its sur passing natural endowments, it is peopled by a race whose qualities are of the most amiable and winning description, and whose material prosperity has been so equalised as to insure happiness and. content ment to all classes. 'We never saw two Japanese quarrel, and beggars have yet to be introduced with other luxuries of western civilisatign. It is not to be wondered at that a people rendered inde pendent by the resources of their country arid the frugality and absence of luxury which so strikingly characterise them should not have, xperienced any great desire to establish an intercourse with other nations, which, in all probabity, would carry in its train greater evils than could be compensated for its incidental advantages. Their exclusiveness has arisen, not, as in. China, from an assumption of superiolity over the rest of the world, but from a conviction that the wellbeing and hap pinesss of the community would not be increased by the introduction of foreign tastes and luxuries ; and that very propensity to imitate and adopt the appliances of civilisation, so foreign to the China man, is so strongly developed in Japan that their rulers foresee that the changes now being effected will, in all probability, some day or other revolu tionise the country—an apprehension which need cause the Emperor but little alarm ; no one can doubt who has visited the two countries that the Chinaman will still be navigating the canals of his country in the crazy old junks of his ancestors when the Japanese is skimming along his rivers in high-pressure steamers, or flying across the country behind a locomotive. We have yet to discover what the exports of Japan may be beyond camphor, wax, and copper ; but, from a consideration of the natural tendencies and "go ahead" disposition of the peo ple, there can be little doubt that a market will at some future day exist in these islands for the pro duce and manufactur es of the West of sufficient magnitude and importance to secure for them a high place in the list of Great Britain's customers. The landing of a British Ambassador in state at the capital of empire of Japan was only in keep ing with the act of unparalleled audacity which had already been committed in anchoring British ships within the sacred limits of its harbour. Japanese officials were sent off to superintend the operation, but they little expected to make the return voyage in one of her Majesty's gunboats, with 13 ships' boats in tow, amid the thunddr of salutes, the in spiring strains of a naval baud, and the flutter of hundreds of flags with which the ships were dressed. Close under the green batteries; threading its way amid hosts of huge masted broad-sterned junks, the little Lee, surrounded by her gay flotilla, steamed steadily, and not until the water had shoaled to seven feet, and the Japanese had ceased to remon strate, or even to wonder, from sheer despair, did she drop anchor, and the procession of boats was formed, the four paddle-box boats, each with a 24-pound howitzer in her bows, enclosing between them the Ambassador's barge, the remainder of the ships' boats, with captains and officers all' in full dress, leading the way. The band struck up " God Save the Queen" as Lord Elgin ascended the steps of the official landing-place near the centre of the city, and was received and put into his chair by sundry two-sworded personages, the rest of the mission, together with some officers of the squa dron, following on horseback. The crowd which for upwards of a mile lined the streets leading to the building fixed on as the residence of the Embassy was dense in the extreme ; the procession was preceded by policemen in harle quin costume, jingling huge iron rods of office, hung with heavy changing rings, to warn the crowd away. Ropes were stretched across the cross streets, down which masses of the people rushed, attracted by the novel sight ; while every few hundred yards were gates partitioning off the different wards, which were severally closed imme diately on the passing of the procession, thus hopelessly barring the further progress of the old crowd, which strained anxiously through the bars and envied the persons composing the rapidly forming nucleus. During Lord Elgin's stay of eight days on shore nearly all the officers of the squadron had an opportunity of paying him a visit. His residence was a portion of a templ e situated upon the outskirts of what was known as the Princes' Quarter —in other words, it was the Knightsbridge of Jeddo. In front of it was a street which continued for 10 miles, as closely packed with houses and as densely crowded with people as it is from Hyde-park-corner to Mile-end. At the back of it stretched a wide and somewhat dreary aristocratic quarter, containing the residences of 260 hereditary Princes, each a petty Sovereign in his own right, many of them with half-a-dozen town-houses, and some of them able to accommo date in these same mansions 10,000 retainers. Pass ing through the spacious and silent (except where a party of English were traversing them) streets we arrive at the outer moat of the castle ; crossing it we are still in the Princes' Quarter, but • are astounded as we reach its further limit at the scene which now bursts upon us—a magnificent moat, 70 or 80 yards broad, faced with a smooth green escarpment as many feet in height, above which runs a massive wall composed of stones Cyclopian in their dimensions. This is crowned, in its turn, by a lofty palisade. Towering above all, the spreadin g arms of giant cedars proudly dis play, themselves, and denote that within the Im perial precincts the picturesque is not forgotten. From the highest point of the fortifications in rear of the castle a panoramic view is obtained of the vast city with its two million and a half inhabi tants, and an area equal to, if not greater than, that of London: The castle alone is computed to be capable of containing 40,000 souls. But the party on shore did not confine itself to exploring the city alone ; excursions of 10 miles into the country were made in two different directions, and but one opinion prevailed with respect to the extraordinary evidences of civilisation which met the eye in every direction. Every cottage, temple, and tea-house was surrounded by gardens laid out with exquisite taste, and the most elaborate neatness was skilfully blended with grandeur of design. The natural features of the country were admirably taken advantage of, and a long ride was certain to be rewarded by a romantic scene, where a tea-house was picturesquely perched over a waterfall, or a temple reared its ~carved gables amid groves of ancient cedars. The tea house is a national characteristic of Japan. The traveller, wearied with the noonday heat, need never be at a loss to find rest and refresh ment ; stretched upon the softest and cleanest of matting, imbibing the most delicately flavoured tea, inhaling through a short pipe the fragrant tobacco of Japan, he resigns himself to the minis trations of a bevy of fair damsels, who glide rapidly and noiselessly about, the most zealous and skilful of attendants. In their personal cleanliness the Japanese present a marked contrast to the Chinese : no deformed objects meet the eye in the crowded streets ; cutaneous diseases seem almost unknown. In Nagasaki towards evening a large portion of the • THE ATRE-R OY A L . , -DRURY-LANE. Under the Management of Miss L. Pyne and Mr. W. • ..• Harrison. THIS EVENING, Balfe's celebrated Opera , THE 'ROSE OF CASTILLE : Characters by Miss Louisa Fyne, Miss Susan Fyne Miss M. Prescott, Mr. Geo. Honey, Mr. Bartl ®e man, Mr. F. Glover, Mr. A. St. Albyn , an d Mr. W. Harrisn. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. To conclude with a new Ballet Divertissement, LA FLEUR D'AMOUR : Meadiles. L. Michelet, Morlacchi, and Pasquale. OYAL P•RINCESS'S THEATRE. -&-t) Under the Management of Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVENING will be presented Shakepere's Play of KING. JOHN. King John, Mr. C. Kean—Constance, Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by the Farce of AWAY WITH MELANCHOLY. rrHEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET. -1- Lessee, Mr. J. B. Bucketone. THIS EVENING will be performed LONDON ASSU- B &NUE : Mr. and Mrs. C. Matthews, &c. HE WOULD BE AN ACTOR. JACK'S RETURN FROM CANTON. And ANY PORT IN A STORM. Commence at 7. OYAL STRAND THEATRE. 1.) Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough. THIS EVENING, WOOING IN JEST AND LOVING IN EARNEST: Messrs. Selby, Parselle, and Miss Swan borough. After which THE MAID AND THE MAGPIE. Followed by THE BONNIE FISH WIFE. And MT AUNT'S HUSBAND ; Mr. Swanborough, Mrs. Selby, Miss Ternan. Commence at 7 o'clock. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Sole Lessee, Mr. William Cooke. The New Tariff : Dress Circle, 3s. ; Upper Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. ; Galleries, 6d. Great and Extraordinary Sensation produced by the new and brilliant Decorations—Splendid Act Drop—Magnificent Chandelier—Appropriate Scenery. During the week the new and successful drama of THE BATTLE OF BOTHWELL BRIG. With THE SCENES IN THE CIRCLE, comprising the evolutions and equitations of the first Professors in the world and their unequalled Stud of Horses. To conclude with a Farce called FAMILY JARS. No fee for booking. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The following Company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of - Selections from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, DK ET6, &c., viz. :—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badsey, Miss Brunch, Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti, Miss Montague, Mrs. Lawrence, and Mrs. Anderson ; Herr F. JonArhmauls, Mr. Renshaw, S Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, F. L lime, Mr. Badsey, Senor Tirol!, Mr. Cozens, Mr. Bell, Mr. Barnard, and Mr. St. Albyn. Mr. John G. Forde, Mr. E. Taylor, and E. W. Mackney. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks —flarmonium, Mr. Courtney—Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at 7 precisely. Suppers, &c., until 12 o'clock. NoTlcz.—The Proprietor begs respectfully to announce that - TIIE FINE ARTS GALLERY IS NOW OPEN, • From 11 o'clock a.m. until 12 o'clock p.m., Containing an extensive Collection of Pictures by Ancient and Modern Masters. THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, Nov. 2. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 49—highest since noon yesterday. 47—lowest this morning and during the night. 52—this day at noon. BAROMETER.-30.41. WIND, Easterly ; fresh, with fine cold weather. • A AA „ • . 41.4 ritl•: 11 4 t - • Aar . - ir •' • • *lkteirq I 17 V . it. • • \- adt.6 .1 .V 4 t_• , - • • FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY. This being All Saints' Day, the Bourse and all the public offices are closed. General de Brigade d'Oullenbourg has been ap pointed to the command of a division of cavalry at Luneville, in the room of General Count Lion, who has retired from ill health. The llfoniteur de la Reunion gives the following details connected with the seizure of the French ship the Alfred by the Portuguese, as briefly men tioned by the telegraphic despatch from Nantes " The Labourdonnais steamer . has brought to the Government of Reunion news from the coast of Africa which lead us to augur favourably of the mission of the French brig of war Le Genie. She has also brought reports from Capt. Cahours, of the Alfred. That vessel was at AnjoUan when she fell in with the English corvette Persian, by the captain of which she was visited, every in quiry being made as to the operations which she was engaged in. The clear and explicit replies made by the captain of the Alfred prevented the commandant of the Persian from carrying into execution his intention of searching the vessel. The interviews which the captain of the Genie afterwards had with the commanders of the Eng lish cruisers on the 'station and the energetic lan guage he made use of were of a nature to prevent the renewal of similar pretensions. The instruc tions for the vessels on the Mozambique station, by the Governor of Reunion, give the French mer chantment all the support necessary for their commercial operations. The Alfred, on leaving the Comores, where she had made some engage ments, proceeded to Ibo, on the eastern coast of Africa, to convey three European passengeis to that place. The Portuguese Governor seized the vessel, and sent her to Mozambique. The Governor of Reunion received the intimation of this fact from the Governor-General of Mozambique, who in the same despatch announced that the Alfred had been released, and the Governor of Ibo summoned to Mozambique to give an account of his conduct. Thus satisfaction hattbeen given before it - has Veen applied for." CHISELHU.RST PEAL OF BELLS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—About a year and a half ago the little village of Chiselhurst, in Kent, had the misfortune of having their peal of bells destroyed by fire, and such quantity of the old metal as could be gathered together was sent to Messrs. Warner and Sons, bell founders, who purchased the same, and the casting of the new peal was entrusted to them as well. On Saturday last eight members of the St. James's Society, of London, paid a visit to Chiselhurst, and rang upon the bells of the parish church, Mr. John Holt's original one-course peal of Grandsire triples, having the doubles in the last four leaves, containing 5,040 changes in two hours fifty-three minutes. Performers—Mr. Henry Haley, treble ; William Bannister, 2d ; John Bradley, 3d ; Henry Booth, 4th ; Robert Jameson, sth ; Charles 'Wilson, 6th; John Rogers, 7th; Jesse Hortin, tenor. Con- ducted by Mr. Henry Haley. The above was a masterpiece of change-ringing, and was worthy of the bells, which are a noble peal in the key of F, from the above foundry, and which cannot be sur passed by any peal of their weight (tenor, 17 cwt.) in the country. A space in your valuable paper will much oblige your obedient servant, A LOVER OF CHURCH BELLS. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, Nov. 1. The Queen, accompanied by Prince Arthur, drove out this morning,.attended by Col. F. H. Seymour. His Royal Highness the Prince Consort went out shooting. Lord Charles Fftzroy and Lieut.-Col. the Hon. A. Har dinge have succeeded Col. F. H. Seymour and Capt. the Hon. D. de Ros as Equerries in Waiting to her Majesty and the Prince Consort. The Earl and Countess of Derby arrived in London yes terday from Knowsley-hall, Lancashire. His Lordship and the Countess proceeded in the afternoon to Osterley-park. The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived in town yester day from a visit to Baron L. de Rothschild, at Gunners bury-park, Acton. Despatches were received at the Colonial-office yesterday from the Governor of the North American Provinces, the West India Islands, Natal, and from the Lord High Com miasioner of the lonian Islands.. - Mr. Drummond Wolff, of the Foreign-office, has succeeded Mr. W. niggins as Private Secretary to Sir E. Buiwer Lytton. The marriage of the Earl of Eglinton with the Lady Adela Capel, daughter of the Earl and Countess of ESSEX, will take place in the drawing-room of the vice regal lodge to-morrow afternoon at three o'clock. Mr. C. F. Hancock, of Bruton-street, has furnished some very beautiful ornaments in jewellery for the wedding. The Earl and. Countess of Derby arrived, in Lon don yesterday, from Knowsley-hall, Lancashire. His lord ship and the countess proceeded in the afternoon to Osterley Park. The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived in town yesterday, from a visit to Baron L. Rothschild, at Gunners by-Park, Acton. Major-General Buckley and Lady Catherine Buckley have arrived in South Audley-steet,' from visiting Major .General Bouverie, and Mrs. Bouverie, at Delapre Abbey, near Northampton. Sir Edward and Lady Conroy have arrived at the Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood, from Reading. The Dean of Worcester has left Farrance's Hotel, Belgravia, for the deanery, Worcester. Mr. R. W. Grey, M.P., and Lady Hayward have joined the circle visiting Viscount and Viscountess Pal merston, at Broadlands. M. and Madame de Bernoff have left the Clarendon, for St. Petersburg, via Paris; Mr. Robert Prescott has left the same establishment, for Italy. "It is understood that the members of the Conser vative Club of Glasgow University have agreed to bring forward the Right Hon. Benjamin Disraeli as a condidate for the office of Lord Rector, as successor to Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton. The Liberal Association are likely to nominate either Mr. Dickens or M. Thackeray. LORD ELGIN IN-JAPAN, (From .an Occasional Correspondent of the Tines.) SHANGHAI, SEPT. 3. Lord Elgin has returned to Shanghai after an absence of exactly one month. This short interval, however, has sufteed to enable him to conclude a treaty with Japan, which, if it does not equal in commercial importance the one recently signed at Tien-tsin, is invested with even a higher character of historical interest and political significance. After the complicated and harassing work in which the allies have been engaged in China for the last year, it is matter of congratulation to them that a political revolution as startling to the Japanese themselves as it was unexpected by the world at large should have been. wrought by the application of moral force alone in this singular and hitherto jealously exclusive empire. Various causes have conspired to produce this result. The contact into which they were constantly brought with both English and Russians during the late war, the expedition of Commodore Perry, and the establishment at Simoda of an . American Consul, together with the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Harris, the gentleman who filled this post, doubt less operated largely in preparing the Japanese mind for the change which their own sound com mon sense and quickness of observation showed them was inevitable. It was not, however, until the intelligence reached Jeddo of the treaty of Tien-sin, accompanied by an exaggerated report of the naval force with which the allies intended visiting Japan, and the uncompromising attitude they would assume when they arrived there, that the Plenipotentiaries appointed to treat with Mr. Harris put their signature to the treaty, which had already been for some months before them. The arrival almost immediately afterwards of both the Russians and ourselves confirmed to some extent the rumours they heard, and Plenipotentiaries were without delay appointed to treat upon the same base as that which had already been adopted in the American -treaty. It is not to be supposed,' how 'ver, that the Japanese Government succumbed feebly to the pressure from without, as though re signing itself in despair to an inevitable destiny. So far from such being the case, Lord Elgin upon his arrival at Jeddo found the late Liberal Go vernment, with whom the Americans had treated, had been turned out' of office only two or three days previously. The Conservative or aristocratic party had replaced the enlightened Prime Minister with whom we expected' to treat by men of anti progressive tendencies, and it was evident that, so far from yielding to further pressure, there was a strong disposition manifested on the part of the hereditary nobility to break rather than bend fur ther. This was the public opinion which the six Plenipotentiaries appointed to treat with Lord Elgin, though of sufficiently enlightened views themselves, were compelled constantly to consider in their discussion of those points in which any advance was desired upon the treaty already signed. So determined, indeed, was the resistance made to any further innovation, and so keen their investigation of our demands, that the work of negotiation, though it proceeded rapidly, was not unattended with difficulty, and afforded no prospect of a more liberal tendency than that already manifested. Having thug briefly adverted to the peculiar conditions under which the treaty of Jeddo was negotiated, I shall proceed to a general narrative of the principal events which marked this most in teresting episode in the•diplomacy of Great Britain in the far East. On the 3d of August Her Majesty's ships Furious, Retribution Lee (gunboat), and steam-yacht Emperor, destined, as a present for his Majesty the Tycoon of Japan, entered the port of Nagasaki, and steaming past the point at which a line of junks have heretofore been moored to bar the ingress of foreign ships, cast anchor immediately off the city and Dutch factory of Decima. On the following day the Calcutta, having on board the Admiral, accompaniedby the Inflexible, joined the squadron. Nothing can exceed in picturesque beauty the bay of Nagasaki and the situation of the city at its extremity : swelling hills covered with the most luxuriant verdure rise from the water's edge. The steep thatched roofs of snug cot tages peep from out the dense foliage amid which they are nestled; white temples perched upon overhanging points contrast brilliantly with their dark green setting. In some places precipitous walls of rock are mirrored in the azure blue of the water at their base ; in others, drooping branches kiss its calm surface. Green batteries guard projecting points, and rock-cut steps ascend the steep hill sides, clothed with heavy forest or terraced with rice fields. Boats of quaint construc tion, with sharp-pointed prows and broad sterns, above - which flutter two black and - white flags—the Imperial colours—glance across the harbour, pro ' pelted by stalwart naked figures, who scull to the tune of a measured chant. The fore part of the boat is covered by a roof, and contains a posse of two sworded officials, who incontinently board each ship as it anchors, speak very fair Dutch, are ex tremely inquisitive but very gentlemanlike and goodnatured, and who,-after official curiosity lias been satisfied, proceed to make their reports, and return, in all probability, to circumnavigate the ship as a guardboat during the rest of its stay in the harbour. A Dutch merchant ship and a Japanese man-of-war screw steamer were the only vessels in harbour when we arrived and anchored about half a mile from th• shore. Toe city of Nagasaki covers a plain at the end of the harbour, but it has outgrown its area, and the houses cluster up the spurs of the hills that sink into it, and the streets are in places so steep as to render steps necessary. Formerly foreigners were not allowed to enter the town, and the Dutch were only permitted to leave their prison of Decima under a strong escort of officials, and when permission had been formally asked and ob tained. Now the barriers had been so far broken' down that we explored at pleasure the shops and streets of the town—not, as in China, an offensive and disgusting operation, but a charming and agree able amusement. The streets are broad ' clean, and free from foul odours ; the people civil and cour teous, and if the shops in the town do not afford many interesting objects of speculation, the bazaars, which are stocked with lacquer, china, &c., for the express benefit of foreigners, are so tempting that few can leave them without experiencing a consider able drain upon their resources. Fortunately this was a temptation to which we were not exposed for any great length of time. Immediately on the Admiral's arrival it became necessary to decide upon the steps which should be taken for the presenta tion of the yacht. The distance of Nagasaki from the capital of the empire, and the comparative in significance of the principal authority, rendered it very undesirable that so important an act should be performed there. As Mr. Ward, who commanded the yacht, had been instructed to deliver it over if possible at Jeddo, it was therefore determined that he should proceed at once to that place. Lord Elgin determined by accompanying the yacht to avail himself of the opportunity which would thus be presented of gaining access to the capital, as by these means additional facilities would doubtless be afforded for carrying out the object he had in view. No sooner was it decided that the presentation of the yacht should take place at Jeddo than the Furious, Retribution, Lee, and Emperor started for Simoda. Heavy gales obliged all four ships to run in for shelter at the bay of Nagasaki, and it was not until the morning of the 10th that they sighted the lofty volcanic mountain of Fusiyama. Towering like Etna to a perfect cone, with an elevation of about 11,000 feet above the level of the sea, it was first visible at a distance of upwards of 100 miles its beautiful outline defined sharp and clear, with the first grey tints of morning. This celebrated mountain, so dear to the Japanese, has been created by him into a household go d. Fusiyanaa is painted at the bottom of the delicate china cup from which he sips his tea ; it is represented on the lacquer bowl from which he eats his rice. He fans himself with Fusiyama—he hands things to you on Fusiyama. It is on the back of his looking-glass, it is embroidered on the skirts of his garments, and is the background of ev er y Japanese w or k f art or imagination. Simoda is a lovely but dangerous haihour. Its apparently sheltered nooks and se cluded coves woo you into their embraces, and when the south wind blows fiercely you are dashed to atoms upon their ribs of iron. The earthquake which wrecked the Russian frigate Diana changed the surface of the bottom, and there is now no good holding ground, but it is a fairy land to look upon, and in calm weather the picture of repose and se curity. Here, too, there is a Goyoshi or Bazaar, and a better display of lacquer and china than at Nagasaki, but it is a town of no local importance,'ill containing some 3,000 or 4,000 inhabitants, an dw when under the new treaty the port is shut up sink into its normal condition of a fishing At the head - of the bay the American flag flaun proudly ; for two years it has waved *n. solitary magnificence over the exiles who during tha tt.eriod g r emote period have represented American interests in munion corner of the globe. Cut off from all. c , () h from their fellow-men, and sacrificing inthe inte rests of civilisation and commerce the blessings of at last been all social intercourse, their e ff orts had village.ts fr er o o na wne m d r w . H ith ar s r u is ec t e h ss a , t a h n e d it t a n d e Ambassadoronly days from Jeddo , where he had concluded his treaty, Nagasak i,m le o f m t en rheatud.reod c heard e e fd a ee r wd d a d i re c td wfhr from e t h C e o Count Gulf Po. of t p i h a e e t i th n itej e lec , i sd :s iw y dd b oca n ns btautattthhaa p td, negotiating. The Dutc • there of the be fore the intelligence had arrived treaty tly failed altogether uen Mr. Donkey Curtius, had also been for some time o e engaged gTai Tien-sin, - d s n i anneag had negotiating consequently n g s eaq AQUATICS. PAIR-OARED RACE FOR SILVER CUPS. A very interesting pair-oared race, though not of a very exciting nature, was rowed yesterday afternoon over the course between Ilattersea and Wandsworth meadows. The competitors were all members of the Westminster Rowing Club, the following being the results : - Blue and White H. Finney . I C. Wood T. Slade, coxswain. Green and White J. Elsmore I D. Slade A. Harper, 'coxswain. . Red and White E. Walton H. Baker W. Godfrey, coxswain. Pink and White 0 E, Nolan I J. Foster C. Knight, coxswain. The race was to have been started in the morning from Putney, but owing to the dense fog that prevailed, the dis tance was reversed, and postponed till the afternoon. Green and White were the favourites, Red and White having the best station: A capital start was effected,-Blue and White taking the lead, which they maintained throughout, winning easily by about eight lengths. Six lengths between Green and White and Red and White. The race between Red and White ;and Pink and White was very spirited, Red and White only beating them by half a length. THIS DAY'S MARKETS. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD. - Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 lOs ; clover, do., £4 Os. to £5 55.; and straw, £1 ss. to £1 108. per load. Both hay and straw were in good request, at very full prices. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 10s; clover do., £4 Os. to £5 ss. ; and straw, £1 5s to £1 lOs per lead. Supplies moderate, and trade rather brisk. WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 lOs; clover, do., £4 Os to £.5 ss. ; and straw, £1 6s to £1 12s per load. A full average supply, and a fair demand, at our quotations. COLONIAL. TEA..—The market continues steady, and prices remain the same as last week. SUGAR.-There have been very few inquiries for either home use or for exportation, and the market has a very heavy appearance. In the refined market scarcely any business has been done, and quotations remain unaltered. COFFEE.—The generrl tone of the maket is towards a decline, notwithstanding stocks, as compared with those at, the same time last year, show a considerable deficiency. Rica—No business has been reported and quotations are unaltered. FuuiT—There has been a fair amount of business done in new currants, and previous prices are fully supported. Valencia raisins sell readily at former values. SAareanta—lThe demand has been by no means active, but a fair amount of business has been done in the better qualities at about previous rates. TA LLow—The market has exhibited more firmness owing to advices from St. Petersburg. P.Y.C. on the spot, 50s. 6d. ; all the year, 505.; and January to March, 50s. 9d. to 51s. per cwt. THIS DAI'S SHIPPING. • LONDON, NOV. 2.—Wind this day at noon, N.E ; strong breeze, and cloudy. FALmotrrn, Nov. I.—Arrived—Alexander, from Moul mein; Commander, from Rio Janeiro; Edsoold, from Ha , vannah. PORTSMOUTH, Nov. I.—Wind E.N.E.—Arrived—John N. Cushing, from. Calcutta. _ . SOUTHAMPTON, Nov. I.—Wind N.E.—Sailed—Sal sette (steamer), for Sydney, N.S.W.; Nornam (steamer), for Bombay. CIIOOKIjAVEN, Nov. I.—Arrived--Nancy, and Speed, from Quebec. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Tuesday Morning. Wind, N.N.E. Arrived, Nov. I—British Queen, screw steamer, from Havre ; Tinto,. from Bombay ; Dodo, from Leghorn ; Bal bec, screw steamer, from Havre. Arrived, Nov. 2 1 —Dalhousie, from Valparaiso. Sailed—Pasqualina, for Patras ; Loochchristie, for Ghent; Rosalie, for Ostend. (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRABH.) GRAVESEND, Tuesday Morning. Wind, N. by E. ; tide, four hours' flood ; weather cloudy. Ari:ived, Nov, 1--Earl of Carlisle, from Smyrna ; Colo nist, from Jabbea ; Luella, from Gravelines ; Observer, from Guernsey ; Providence, from Gravelines ; Harpy, from Cronstadt ; Amor, from Riga ; Furet, from Guernsey. Arrived, Nov. 2—Bellwether, from Guernsey; Equity, from Dantsic ; John Ludwick, from St. Petersburg ; Why not, from Guernsey ; Victor, from Cronstadt ; Fnulie Elirs, from Cronstadt ; Bietude, from Dunkirk ; Hannah, from Sundswall ; Constanti, from Montevideo ; Noe, from Ha vanna ; Nora, from Odessa ; Milda, from Malmo ; Mar • garete, from Calais; Leander, from Louvain ; Clio, and Albatross, from Sundswall ; Tantivy, from Patras ; George and Sarah, from Dunkirk. _ DEAL, Tuesday Morning. Wind N., moderate. ' Passed Albeona (8.5.), from Calcutta, for London ; Prince Albert, from London, for Jamaica; Barossa, from London, for Cardiff; Francisco Maria, from Taganrog, for Hull. Sailed— Extelsior, for London ; Union, for Lynn. MR. G. T. F. SMITH'S WEATHER PREDICTIONS FOR NOVEMBER, 1858.—The interim of the Ist and 6th, a turbid or foggy atmosphere, probably some rain accom panying. 6th to 9th a more genial temperature, with high wind near the 11th. 12th to 14th rather mild for the sea son. Windy near 15th, from thence to the 18th dry, with medium temperature. From 18th to 24th a prevalence of cold dull weather and thick or turbid atmosphere (bluster ing or turbulent near the 22d), From 24th to 26th a medium temperature. Freta 6th to 30th cold, wet, and disagreeable; the month a gloomy one, probably snow in some parts of the, kingdom.—G.. T. F. Smith, 12, Glouces ter-place, Cheltenham. DRAUGHTS.—Two matches at this apparenlly simple, but scientific game are to bo played, commencing on the 21st of December next. The first match, for £lOO a side is betwixt 111‘Kerrow of Glasgow, a n d m artin of London. The seconkrnatch for £5O a side, is betwixt that famed hero of the game, Drummond of Denny, and Hudson of London. The preliminary instalments for these matches having been deposited, there can be no doubt but that they will come off; and, from the well-known skill of the compe titors, we anticipate that the event must create great excite ment among lovers of the game.—Glavato Daily Mail. A MAN KILLED BY A DONKEY.—A strange occurrence took place two days ago Gardanne (Benches du-Rhone). A farmer had been in the habit of ill-treating a donkey, and on the day in question had beaten the poor animal more brutishly than usual. The proverbial patience of the long-eared animal appears to have been at length exhausted,•and taking advantage of the moment when the man had just taken off its harness, the donkey rushed forward, knocked him down, and then began tearing him in the most dreadful manner with its teeth, striking him also with its forefeet. The man cried out for assistance, but be fore aid could arrive he was so dreadfully mangled that he died in a few hours.—Galignani. THE GREAT BRITAIN. —This celebrated screw steamer, belonging to the Liverpool and Australian Naviga tion Company, eaves Liverpool for Australia on the 20th of November. She is 3,500 tons regi s t er , an d 5 00 h orse - power , and has m a d e the passage to Melbourne in 61 days. These facts place the Great Britain in an exalted position—even equal to the overland mail route, particularly as far as first class passengers are concerned. We find that many saloon passengers patronise the overland route at a cost of about £9O. The charge made by the Liverpool and Australian Com pany is from £55 to 60 guineas, and the time occupied in the journey has been as regular, if not more so, than th e over land route ; so that the rates for passages . are proport i onably . lower; for in the ease of the emigrant it can be truly said, f the Great " time is money." Moreover, the departure Britain, just now, is very opportune as we learn ° the .Penin sular and Oriental Company's steam' er Salsette, which has just started, carries neither goods nor passengers. FRANCE AND PORTUGAE. (From the ..ilforiling Chronicle.) The Horning Herald publishes, and we repro duce else Where a " communicated" article on the subject of the difference which las recently arisen between the Governments of Portugal and France. By the wid of the revelations of 0 1,7 contempo rary, and of ink:.rmation we receive from abroad, we are now enabled to place before our readers, in their true light, the circumstances which led tO this deplorable incident. We need not return to the consideration of the original question: The facts of the case, undisputed from the commencement, admit of. no doubt, and. England; at least, has judged its merits. The authoritative declarations, put forth during the past: week by the official organs of the two Govern ments, have exhausted the discussion. But there are two questions connected with this matter which possess more than a momentary in terest, and which well deserve the attention of the country. What, it is asked—what, in the midst of these transactions, has been the policy of England ? Again—does the decisive course adopted by France towards this weak State, furnish grounds for any inference as to the future foreign policy of the Im perial Government ? With respect to the course adopted by her Ma jesty's Government, we must confess; after a care ful consideration of the question in all its - bearings, that we agree neither in the praise nor in the blame already so freely hazarded by partisans. As far as We are able to judge, the occasion is one neither for enthusiasm nor for censure. We have so long: been accustomed to the dramatic incidents of a " spirited" foreign policy,that our disappointment is only natural at hearing of a " difficulty " with . which we have had nothing to do; and which ap- . pears likely to be solved before our- Ministers_have had the opportunity of denouncing any foreign Power, or of representing English chivalry as the only safeguard of Europe, menaced by the legions of a despot. The' policy of the English Government, in the case before us, may not have been ambitious, but it certainly has been wise. England, it is well known, has contracted to wards Portugal obligations of a very complicated character. We have, in fact, guaranteed not merely Portugal to the Portuguese, but even the Portuguese to their King. The policy of such engagements is at least doubtful. They may impose onerous duties on the protecting Power — they may render the protected Sovereign a reckless ruler, and the unprotected people careless of con sequences, in their dealing with foreign na tions. But, whatever their inconveniencies, Trea ties must be respected ; and, as soon as the relations of Portugal with France assumed a menacing aspect, it became the obvious duty of her Majesty's Go vernment to be prepared for every contingency. In the presence of imminent danger, they adopted an expectant attitude. Ana why, it may be asked, should they have re mained thus passive ? Why, it has been asked, have her Majesty's Government neglected the in terests of an ally, menaced by a powerful State ? We have said that our treaties with that State im pose upon as a species of Protectorate, of doubtful advantage to Portugal and to ourselves. But the matter would be far worse, if those treaties bound us to intervention, whether - such intervention were, or were not, in accordance with the interests of the Power we desire to befriend. It was not for England to impose her intervention :- it was far Portugal to seek it. - - This she did not do, for reasons which it is easy to appreciate. The King of Portugal and his Ministers; fully aware of the obligations of Eng land, and that she was able and ready to fulfil them, did not solicit her aid. England was wise in not imposing, Portugal in not seeking interven tion. France, a high-spirited Power, was so far committed in the affair, that war would have been the inevitable result of resistance by the one Power or of interference by the other. The attitude of England upon this occasion somewhat resembles that adopted by France in 1849, with reference to our intimdation of Greece. We owe it to the moderation of Portugal that we have been enabled to observe a similar neutrality, which was no less indispensable to the maintenance of the peace of Europe. And here we may express our regret that the English Cabinet were not informed, at an earlier date, of the unfortunate measures contemplated by France. We have reason to believe that their want of information on the subject is in a great measure to be attributed to an accidental circum stance. At the time when the policy of France was decided at St. Cloud, Lord Cowley was, we under stand, absent from Paris, and was thus precluded from enjoying that daily and confidential inter course with Count Walewski, which is indispen sable to the harmonious action of the two Govern ments, and which, in the case of the dispute with Portugal, would in all probability have obviated the adoption by France of an attitude, from which, although she might afterwards have found it un tenable, she could not with honour recede. And now we come to the second, and the more important question. Does the conduct of France in this matter afford any indication of her future policy ? Is that policy—as the enemies of the Im perial Government would have us infer—to be one of arrogance, of aggression, of contempt for inter national rights ? England is not compl e t e l y w ith ou t experience of Governments which have been compelled, by the sterility of their domestic policy, to occupy the at tention of the public with the achievements of a turbulent diplomacy, and therefore she will not hastily accept the harsh interpretation of which the Emperor's conduct is perhaps susceptible. The Palmerstonian and the Napoleon systems have much in common. The affair of the Charles-et- Georges is the counterpart to that of Don Pacifico's claims. But we must not allow ours - elves to be misled as to the real import of such transactions. They have no real bearing upon European politics, and are merely intended, in the one case to facili tate the postponement of inconvenient Reforms-- in the other to furnish harmless occupation for the thoughts of a distrusted population. Other causes, too, were not wanting. The insulto recently offered to the Sisters of Charity, at Lisbon, had irritated the religious feeling of France, which the present dynasty is ever seeking to conciliate ; and the Emperor was probably eager for an oppor tunity to make amends f or an a pp aren t i n di ff eren ce, which the priestly organs had shown a disposition to resent. It is possible, too, that the Emperor's Government was a little stimulated by the criticisms in the English Parliament and the Press, to which the scheme of African Immigration had justly given rise. Some of our contemporaries have augured. ill for the suppression of the Slave Trade from these occurrences ' • but we see no reason to fear this re sult. War between France and England would be much more likely to lead to an increase in that traffic, as was even the case when our means of local repression were weakened during the war with Russia. Encouraged by the approval of Europe, Portugal will persevere in her honourable efforts ; and we are confident that Frar.ce, yielding to the unanimous expression of public opinion, will aban don a scheme which, even if it be legal, is at least of doubtful morality. " C'est, en definitif," said the Emperor in a remarkable speech on a memo rable occasion, " C'est, en definitif, l'opinio,n publi que, qui remporte toujours la derniere victoire!" THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT.—The Penin sular and Oriental Company's steam-ships Northam, Cap tain Shead, and Salsette, Captairi Brown, left Southampton yesterday for Melbourne, for the conveyance of the Aus tralian Mails from thence to Suez. The Salsette will bring on the first mail under the new contract. Neither vessel. took cargo, specie, or passengers. The Salsette took out large quantity of stores and a heavy ship mail for the Aus tralian colonies and. New Zealand. The first mail under the near contract will be due in Southampton on the 11th of April next from Australia, and the first mail for Australia will leave Southampton on the 12th of next March. DEATH OF IDA PFEIFFER.—We regret to hear of the death of this clever and enterprising lady. Madame Ida Pfeiffer expired at Vienna on Wednesday last, never haring recovered the effects of her severe fever attack in Madagascar. Her books of travel will long be a popular memorial of that spirited and intelligent ambition to see for herself the wonders of the wide earth, and to describe what she had seen to others, by which she won an honourable distinction through achirmements not easy to her sex. REPORTED DEATH OF THE REV. S. SMITH.--' It was reported in Bristol on Saturday, upon what is consi dered to be good authority, that the Rev. Samuel Smith, whose trial and conviction for the attack on Mr. John Leach, of Croydon, created so much sensation at the Glocester Spring Assizes, had died at Lewes, to which place he was removed prior to being , sent to Bermuda, where it was intended he should complete the remainder of his sen tence of four years' penal servitude. It will be remem bered that at the time of his conviction Mr. Smith was pro noUnced to be in a precarious state of health, and showing simptoms of pulmonary disease, but these representations were negatived by the reports of the medical officers of the gapl in which he was confined. The wife and children of the unhappy man are being provided for by the friends of ' her husband. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following gentlemen having undergone the necessary examinations for the diploma were admitted members of the College at a meeting of. the Court of-Examiners on the 29th ult.:—viz., Messrs. Henry Gervis, Tiverton, Devon ; John Lycett, Minchinhampton, Gloucester., Richard Gibbon Davey, Wa rner, Kent ; George John Parker , Bristol ; Robert Sage Ellis, Swavesey, Camb r id ges hi re ; Wilberforce Arnold, Bel fast; Joseph Brooks Shepherd, Skidhill, Kent; Charles P4rsons, Wells, Somerset ; John Vivian Faull, Probus, Cornwall; Philip Sydney Jones Sydney, New South Wales; Arthur Samuels, Dubli n ; John Keville Smallhorn, Francis Thomas Bayntun, Bath ; and Henry Horsford Prins, Ceylon. SUDDEN DEATIT.---.411 untoward event occurred at. Drury-laneTheatre list evening. Mr. Wm. Blagrove, a violinist, one of the band, fell down dead at the stage . door, as it is conject ure d , of a disease of the heart. Ills death was instantaneous, and- it is - conjectured he had hurrjed to be in ti me a t th e theatre. Of course a pos t niptteaingiiiBition will be held. - Of so] 4 kexi to 4t fo ha