The Sun. — London, England, 1869-11-19 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JTURNALS. M. de Lesseps, observes the Times, is a man of genius. In pursuit of his great idea he has shown an indomitable spirit of pertinacity. He has never felt discouragement. He has not known lassitude. He has never paused in his progress. On Wednesday night there was high pomp and festival at Ismailia. The dream of years had come true. The ships of two oceans met at the lake harbour in the midst of the desert, having traversed in their double journey tho isthmus from end to end. A numerous fleet, bearing imperial, royal, and illustrious voyagers, had come from the Mediterranean to this half way resting-place between the two seas, and, simultaneously with these, there arrived from the Gulf of Suez a convoy of ocean-going steamers. The passage of the canal was thus accomplished. The asser tions, so confidently repeated up to the eve of Wednesday, that many months must yet pass, and vast sums be still spent, before the passage could be made, turned to the discredit of their authors as the advance guard of each flotilla saluted cue another on Lake Timsah. The triumph of M. de Lesseps was thus ccmplcte. He had spent years upon years in the active, constant, unwearied execution of his scheme. He had seen experiment after experiment tried only to The estimates of the cost of the undertaking wh:ch he himself had put forward had been doubled, and on every occasion Then it became apparent that the money which had been provided was insuf ficient the burden had 1 cen cast upon him of per suading the capitalists of the world to have faith in his promise, and to throw their gold into the sands where so much had been lost. All this he had gone through in the strength of his belief. Even at last, when the moment of realimtion seemed imminent, there arose a rumour of a new difficulty. The most careful watch that had been possible had been insufficient for the Arab and Egyptian workmen, and it was announced that a rock had been discovered in the canal between Ismailia and Suez, which would be a fatal impediment to navigation until its removal was effected. But on Wednesday the thing was done. We rejoice that the undertaking has been so far completed, and to join in doing honour to the man who, under obstacles and difficulties apparently insurmountable, pursued his grand design with unwavering faith to the end. In referring to the triumphal opening of the Suez Canal, the Daily .News remarks that the engineers of that under taking well deserve the honours that will assuredly be paid them, and its promoters and constructors are equally entitled to the gratitude of mankind. A great work of civilisation has been accomplished; for the improved facilities of commerce between East and West, though not . producing all the transcendent results promised, will yet contribute materially to the welfare of millions, both now • and in future generations. So much we are not only willing to acknowledge, but most cordially to rejoice in. The Suez Canal, however, has - apparently not eseape'd the usual fatality of splendid and novel engineering works. There is a dazzling gain to the world, and the engineers and and promoters have acquired renown ; but there is little satisfaction for the obscure shareholder, whose subscriptions wore the con • dition precedent of the whole undertaking. We are half inclined to doubt, indeed, whether for some time to come the working expenses will be more than paid. The sailing ships by the Cape, which possess about seven-eighths of the trade, will not, without an effcrt, be beaten out of the field by the steamers on the Canal. Their competition will at least retard the use of the latter route. The railway between Alexandria and Suez will, more over, compete with the canal for the present overland traffic—especially the passengers and mails. For the 'world it is an advantage that there will be so much com petition, but the shareholders can hardly look forward to it with the same satisfaction. We need not continue our .calculations, which may now be tested very soon ; but per haps, when Englishmen are accused of apathy, it may be remembered that the extreme hazard of the speculation more than justified us in keeping our money out of it. The en terprise is not wholly premature, though it does not pro mise to pay ; but it was not a work for private capitalists :to be asked to execute. The Telegraph reminds us that in a comprehensive and able address at the Society of Arts, the other night, Lord Henry Lennox drew attention, among other things, to the subject of our meat supply. The question, how the super abundant supply of animal food which exists in some of the colonies can be made available for the home country without being salted and cured, is among the most impor tant problems that can engage the attention of the social reformer ; and, as Lord Henry Lennox says, it has still to be completely solved. If the colonies could supply the English poor with really fresh and palatable meat at 3d. a pound, they would effect a social revolution in England. It is even more important that the Dorsetshire labourer should be well fed than that ho should be well taught. Could the East-end of London be sup plied with fresh meat at 3d. a pound, winter would lose half its terrors to our Door, suph a disease as relapsing fever would be unknown, and death wuld be less busy. Cheap food would put an end to groundless poli tical discontent, and would he the teat ally of the school master. No doubt large supplies are already received from the colonies, but, although sufficiently nourishing, the meat can scarcely be called fresh. Partially the problem has been solved ; but, as Lord Henry Lennox observes, science has still to complete the solution of the question, how meat may be brought from South America or Australia to this country fresh, palatable, and cheap. Packing in ice still seems the best method ; but at present it is too dear, and it will continue to be so unless chemists shall discover some method of cheaply manufacturing ice. `How to make icebergs at a trifling cost is the great problem. _ The Standard declares that whatever is light in the heart of the nation must faint and grow heavy so long as those horrible narratives of outrage and cruelty come to us from the charnel infirmary of St. Pancras. Count up the recent deaths. One, the week before last, " accelerated" by foul air; seven, last, week, similarly " accelerated ;" six, again, lying in the deadhouse, and the guardians protesting against the impertinence of coroners' inquiries. It is diffi cult to write with patience or temper of iniquities so gross and shameful. We regret that it is impossible to accept `the apologies offered on behalf of this too-notorious insti tution. No explanation can explain away the facts of deficient air, light, ventilation, and comfort; and the very language used by the board and its officers suffices to convict them. Their own medical adviser appeals to their humanity. At once they request a sanction for his dis missal from the Poor-law Board. He calls in two inde pendent witnesses, of the highest professional :standing, - and they confirm his statements, word by word. Juries, moreover, justify his allegations. Not one of these victims perished without complaining of cold, or bad smells, or habitual misery, while in the department of this glorious British establishment allotted to the care of the sick, the .infirm, and the troublesome poor, who are always with us. _Here rises a guardian who objects to the truth, as told by unhappy folks who wear Pancras uniform, or receive Pancras fees, or have visited Pancras pest-houses. But these gentry, guardians of the rates and not of the poor, have before them a hill too high to climb. Flatly to their faces they are told that the removal of a pauper to their infirmary is no more or less than a preliminary of carting him to the graveyard ; that the place has not merely remained without impros ement, but is absolutely incapable of being improved ; that the paro chial benevolence so bestowed is nearly equivalent to a sentence cf death ; and—but how sickening is the report of "laughter in the court," when such desolation of human life is described—the dirty den is known amongst its deplorable inmates as " the rat ward." Objections are made to inquests in these cases, but the law will not let the worst felon or the most hopeless lunatic die without an inquiry, and so we thank the coroner who is courageous 'enough to insist upon knowing, for himself and the world, how paupers are murdered off the rate-books of tit Pancras. . The Post, in referring to the present depression of trade. .finds reason for it in the i n fl uence cf trades unions. It is one of the cardinal points of trade unionism that the work to be done shall be equally divided amongst those who have to do it ; and that, no matter how ingenious or industrious an artisan A may be, he shall not earn more than his dull colleague B. Is it to be wondered at that . the French and Germans are beating us out of the 'Market—even out of cur own market—when the brains and encrgiC3 of the English workman are dwarfed and crushed by so unnatural and mischievous a policy? On 'the Continent, competition iu the workshop is allowed to take its natural course ; the best man comes to the front. Ilis work a model to iri follow-artizan, and the craft to which he belongs is stimulated by his example. What would become of tl3 if the principles of the trades unions torrid, by a sudden and general cows of insanity, be im ported into all tl.c vccaticns a life? Tho leader of his of its least able circuit WC to tr,e le incai hcd 7,1 ' nicyit acccrilpii.. would have to ret his varied le: ruing, and would treat Tares: , :tering iL;ncrancc cf a uneral prac- Ctioner. Eloquence would fade frc.rn the firs and theology from the meimrks of the greatest preachers, who would haVe thenceforth to shape their sermons open the model of those cutpcorings of egotism, rulgaity, and bad gram mar which may ho heard at street corners on Sunday even ings when the weather is unfortunately favourable. A law or an organisation that imposes on its 'subjects a dead level of mediocrity cannot be good, and must be bad. If there is to be excellence there must be freedom to strive for it. The Trades Unions have decided that there shall not be such freedom. That is the reason why continental iganu facturtrfi have Int4._raridlYkrzip3 alnisLuse. tints with the Li L; ACTION AG A INST THE PRESIDENT OF THE POOR-L ATV BOARD. An appeal motion, Field= v. Goschen, was concluded in Vice-Chancellor Stuart's Court on Thursday. It was vir- tually made by Mr. Fieldcn and Mr. Mount against Sir Samuel Morton Peto, and at the time when the bill was filed Sir M. Peto had stopped payment, and inspectors were appointed. Since that time he had become bankrupt, and his assignees had been brought before the court. The bill asked that it might be declared that Sir Morton Peto had become in respect of a certain conces sion granted for making a railway, a trustee for the plaintiffs as regarded two equal third parts of the benefits of such concession, and that it might be declared that the plaintiffs were entitled to a lien amounting to the sum of £30,000, which Sir Morton had agreed to pay, and that, in default of this payment, the right of the plaintiffs to the concession might be realised, and that the money might be paid after deducting a dividend of £30,000 to £40,000, paid out of the estate of the bankrupt Peto, and that an injunction should be issued, for bidding the defendants to part with the concessions. Mr. Kerslake, Q. 0., and Serjeant Served appeared for the plaintiffs, and Sir Roundell Palmer and Mr. Kekewich for the defendants. The case, as stated by Mr. Kerslake, was to the following effect :—The plaintiffs and Mr. Hammond, a civil engineer, had obtained a con cession from the Government of Russia. Messrs. Peto and Goschen were anxious to obtain the concession but it was granted to the plaintiffs. Mr. Hammond had been induced to place himself in the hands of Sir Morton, acting as agent for Peto and Goschen, to get the first concession forfeited on the ground of delay in performing the stipu lated conditions. Through the influence of Mr. Hammond the interest of the plaintiffs, his co-adventurers, was destroyed. An agreement was proposed that a sum of £40,000 should be paid to plaintiffs for the surrendering of their rights,and£lo,ooo was paid by a cheque of the defend ants. Thebalance was secured by promissery notes of Sir M. Pete. Having detailed the circumstances attending the obtaining and surrendering of the concession granted to the plaintiffs, the learned counsel stated that the plaintiffs were respectively the chairman and contractor of the Dunabcrgand Witepsk Railway, and the plaintiffs obtained in 1365, in conjunction with Robert Hammond, a conces sion for a line from 'Vitespk to Orrell. Hammond, after he had had certain negotiations with the defendants, neglected to make the necessary arrangements for the completion of the contract with which he was entrusted. He had deter mined to throw over his co-adventurers, and on their becoming alarmed and telegraphing to his residence in London, ho replied that in ten days after wards the whole of the caution money must be deposited. Hammond, in conjunction with the defendants, had so cajoled the plaintiffs with assurances that he would procure a contractor, that they had neglected to prepare the caution money. The defendants paid Hammond a sum of £l,OOO, and an engagement for a further payment of £40,000 was entered into as a consideration of his ser vices in procuring the forfeiture of plaintiffs' concession, and in assisting in obtaining a new concession for the defen dants and himself. Hammond's solicitors wrote to the plaintiffs informing them that all connection between him and them was at an end. This being the state of affairs the plaintiffs, Mount and Fielden, prepared to file a petition against Messrs. Peto, Hammond, and Goschen, but to avoid this an agreement was made by the defendants that a sum of £40,000 should be paid to the plaintiffs as purchase money of their rights, of which sum £lO,OOO was paid by cheque, and that the defendants would have the option of paying the balance either in money or by 2,000 shares of the pro posed railway fully paid up, and of the value of £2O, or by a smaller sum of shares of £lOO each in the Dunaberg and Witepsk Railway. Although Mr. Goschen had on his appointment as Cabinet Minister apparently given up his connection with the firm, he had and still has, according to evidence, a considerable interest in the firm, and especially in that: particular concession. The learned counsel said there was a clear case of collusion on the part of Hammond, who, thinking he was about to join a millionaire, abandoned his co-adventurers on behalf of Sir Morton Peto. Mr. Kekewich, on the part of Mr. Goschen, denied that Hammond had any concession from the Russian Minister of Finance, although there had been an additional promise given to Hammond—viz., the payment of the caution money and the security of £6,000,000 for the construc tion of the line. He believed also that Hammond had received a letter from the Russian Minister. Except in connection with his firm as bankers, he had no interest in the proposed line. Having denied other allegations in the bill, he stated that Mr. Goschen, when a copy of the bill proposed to be filed in Chancery had been sent him, said that he had nothing whatever to do with the firm of which he had been a mem ber, adding that he would hold any persons prosecuting a bill liable to criminal proceedings. Mr. Goschen, in con clusion, denied that any such company as that described had h'en eztablishcd, and that he had ever signed a cheque for £lO,OOO. The Vice-Chancellor expressed his surprise at the man ner in which the case had been conducted, documents being read which were not in the bill, and new allegations being introduced which the defendants had no means of answering. No ground had been shewn to induce him to make a decree in favour of the plaintiffs. The case had entirely broken down, and was disproved by evidence read on behalf of the plaintiffs. The appeal must be dismissed with costs. LAW AND POLICE. TIIR HANDY BOOK FOR TNVESTORS."—An injunction has been moved for, in Vice-Chancellor Manna's Court, to restrain the publication of a pamphlet, entitled " The Handy Book for Investors," which, it was alleged, con tained matter detrimental to the financial position of the Prudential Assurance Company. Mr. Finlaison, of the National Debt Office, and others had made affidavits of the perfect solvency of the company. On behalf of the pub lisher, Mr. Effingham Wilson, it was stated that the publi cation of the pamphlet complained of was put a stop to the moment he was cognisant that the statements were objected to. He would give an undertaking to that effect until the hearing of the cause. The matter then dropped. HIRING PIANOS.—An action has been brought by Cramer and Co. in the Court of Queen's Bench for the value of a pianoforte disposed of by the defendant. The piano was sent on the principle of its being paid for by way of hire until the sum paid amounted to the price. The owners believed that the defendant had disposed of the piano before the payment was completed, and asked for it back, but were told that it was in Scotland, having been bought for a friend who had taken it there and not paid the hire. The price was £23, of which £2l had been paid and £5 103. more offered, but the action was brought on the ground of wrongful disposal. The jury who heard the case found for the defendant, and the question was whether the verdict could be held. After some discussion, the Court suggested a stet processus, and the case was put off. A SrNonLAR CASE.—An action has been brought in the Court of Queen's Bench, by a young woman, who, while standing in a butcher's shop, was accidentally stabbed by a knife which the butcher had under his arm. The Court gave judgment for the defendant, on the ground that he did not know the woman was behind him. A CHANGE OF DOMICILE. —A special case, stated for the opinion of the Court of Exchequer by the Queen's Remem hrancer, has been tried in that court. A claim was made by the Crown upon the executors of the late Mr. Robert Hastie, and the question was - whether he had not lost his domicile of origin, and acquired another in India, which continued till his death. It seemed he was born in Scotland in 1785, and went to Calcutta, where his uncles were in business as the firm of Stewart and Co. His brothers afterwards joined him, and they all became partners in the firm. In 1828 Mr. Robert Hastie came to England for his health, intending to return to India. He travelled about England for some years, and died from a fit. The question was whether his property was chargeable with legacy duty. The court said cases of this description must be judged according to circumstances. The testator had left Scotland at an early age, making India his permanent home, and it was clear he meant to return there. Judgment must he given against the Crown. CHARGE AGAINST A BANKRUPT.—SamueI Cohen, formerly a piece-broker, and now a bankrupt, has been charged on remand at the Guildhall with perjury. There were three charges against him. First, for concealing his property ; second, for accounting for his failure by fictitious losses ; third, for cemmitti -g perjury in his examination before the Registrar. Evidence was given in support of these statements, and a warrant was obtained against the prisoner's son, who was implicated. The case was re manded, bail being refused. AR EON AT A PUBLIC -HOUSE.-At Southwark Police-court Mr. John Co 3ac . c, late proprietor of a public-house in the Borough, has Leen brought up for final examination after fl:reo months' detention in prison, on • a charge of setting fire to his Louse. The how;e was found to be on fire in several places at once, inflammable matter was piled up under the stairs, and open vessels containing spirit wore about. A blow ripe, with the bowl end full of cotton, saturated with benzine, was found under the spirit casks. The prisoner was com mitted for trial. The Prince of Wales will exhibit stock at the Birmingham Cattle Show for the first time this year. It is expected that his Royal Highness will be on a visit to the Duo n'Oar Ereebam, at the timo of tho THE SUN, LONDON, ITIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 19, 1.E69. METROPOLI7 AN GOSSlP—Thursday. Ministers have dispersed again, and the political prophets are free to predict what they please. One thing it needs no prophet to tell us; there is no serious dis agreement among the members of the Cabinet, though the organs of the Opposition have been hinting the contrary. It may be that they have not yet come to an agree ment, and that Mr. Gladstone has furnished them only with a few principles to form the basis of future legislation. This is probable enough. There certainly has been no time for the elaboration of details. Moreover, we know that the Government is waiting for statistics from Ireland. So it may be concluded with tolerable safety that the Premier has given his colleagues a sketch forthem to study, and that when they meet again, which will probably be before Christmas, he will have the benefit of their opinions, and of the details which are being collected in Ireland. Since I last wrote three elections have taken place, the result in each case being what I foreshadowed last week. The contest in the Scotch Universities is virtually over, although the poll continues open, and Mr. Gordon has won the seat lately occupied by the Lord Advocate. From the first it was considered hopeless by many Liberals to bring forward a candidate; for I know for a fact thak but for the Conservative Government retiring from office just before the poll closed last year, Mr. Moncreiff would have been defeated. Mr. Gordon is deservedly popular, and his return to the House will be hailed with satisfaction by both political friends and foes- On all sides I hear complaints of the selection of Mr. Smith as the Liberal champion. Estimable no doubt he is, but his name was scarcely ever heard of south of the Tweed before he was chosen by the Liberal committee. A large portion of the electors live in London, who wanted to bring forward Mr. John Stuart Mill—a man essen tially suited for such a constituency, but local clan nishness prevailed, and Mr. Smith was brought out to fight a losing battle. Even after he was selected, and when a great many Liberals who were first opposed to him consented to vote in his favour, he made such ridiculous shifts day after day that no spirit whatever was infused into the contest by the Liberal graduates. Mr. Gordon's majority will be about 600, the result being a most crushing defeat to the Liberals. As I anticipated, young Mr. Gladstone has been re elected at Whitby by a considerable majority, although his opponent succeeded in reducing the gap between them. The new Junior Lord of the Treasury may congratulate himself that so far he has been the only Minister opposed on re-election since the formation of his father's Government. The contest yesterday at Hastings was a tough one, and at one time the Liberals held out signs of distress. • The personal popularity of Mr. Robertson counteracted a great deal of Liberal feeling, but the result proves conclusively that Hastings is Liberal, for although the majority is considerably smaller than at the general election, it was admitted by the Conservatives that no other gentleman would stand a chance against a Liberal candidate. Up to three o'clock the Conservative returns gave their own man as being ahead, but at four o'clock they admitted being in a minority of 93, whilst the Liberals claimed a majority of 137. By Mr. Kay Shuttle worth's return, another agricultural implement maker has, been added to those already in the House of Commons the other two being Mr. Samuelson and Mr. Howard. Several more elections will shortly come off—notably Ti pperary and Waterford. Mr. Heron will in all likeli hood be returned for the former constituency, but who will be the successful candidate for Waterford it is impossible to say. The ex-member for Liskeard has narrowly escaped being brained ; no wonder that his usual pluck seems to have deserted him, and he has made up his mind not to appear again before the nomination. The writs for Lynn and Chester will be issued almost immediately, A gentleman, writing from Lynn, tells me that Mr. Young is exceedingly popular, but the Conserva tives are believed to be the strongest party. No opposition is likely to be offered to the return of the Hon. Norman Grosvenor for Chester, although what his merits are as a politician remains in obscurity. However, he is a Grosvenor, and that fact alone covers a multitude of sins. He has gene nously told his future constituents that when he has formed :his political opinions he will communicate them to the electors. And yet all classes are satisfied at the selection. Chester must still be considered a pocket city. Everybody praises Mr. Gladstone's last ecclesiastical appointment. Mr. Merivale is altogether an improve ment upon the septuagenarian Canon Dale. The new Dean of Ely is an accomplished scholar, and his recent double course of Boyle lectures on the Conversion of the Roman World and of Northern Europe to Christianity, excited much attention at the time that they were delivered at 'Whitehall two or three years ago. He is best known, however, by his "History of the Romans under the Empire." His elder brq,ther, Mr. Herman Meri vale, is also a :very accomplished man, and is Permanent Under-Secretary at the India Office. The only circum stance to be regretted about Canon Dale's refusal of the deanery is that it makes no vacancy for Professor Maurice. It.is quite possible, however, that we may yet see him hold a stall in St. Paul's, for a prebendal stall has just become vacant by tixo cloo.tla. of Ur. II eorwarta. It will be , not a little singular to see Mr. Maurice attached to the capitular body of which his old antagonsat, Mr. Manse', is the head. The controversy between these two theologians was exceedingly bitter, as indeed is always the case when men discuss matters which are, and must be, beyond their comprehension. The occasion of the quarrel was Mr. Mansel's! famous Bampton lectures, in which he declared that we could not know anything of God's nature really, but conceived of Him simply as He wished us to think of Him. Thereupon Mr. Maurice waxed very indignant, declaring that Mr. Mansel's theory was contrary to the idea of Revelation, and was grossly immoral. In fact this usually remarkably sweet-tempered theologian was as violent as Dr. Pusey or Dean M`Neile could be. The world took small interest in the quarrel, and after it had led to an interchange of three or four volumes, it expired from want of fuel to feed the flame. The special services in London are now in full force. No fewer than sixty-three churches are taking part in what, I suppose, may be called the High Church Revival. They began on Sunday, when hundreds were turned away from some of the churches for want of room, and they will con tinue until the 23rd. They are almost innumerable ; for instance, at St. Alban's, Holborn, there are no fewer than five celebrations of the Holy Communion daily. Then there ars Matins, Meditation, Instruction, Litany (not always Vie Litany of the Prayer-book), and Mission Services. One of the most remarkable circumstances is the introduc tion of "prayer meetings," as at St. Andrew's, Plaistow ; at St. Columba's, King,sland (where Mr. Stanton, of St. Alban's is to officiate) ; and several other churches of an " advanced " character. It seems as if the High Church clergy, who were long ago convinced that frequent , repetitions of " dearly beloved " were not sufficient to win the masses from heathendom, were now finding out that even incessant celebrations of the Com munion will not avail, and that they must try something else. As they have recently been sanctioning the revival of lay orders, it is quite possible that we may see before many years are past prayer meetings and class rooms distinctive features of Ritualist churches. Of course the world scoffs at all these attempts to evangelise our great Babylon. They say that the men and women ("chiefly the latter ") who attend these services have no need of them ; and that those who do need them are not there. These censors do not believe in intercession, or forget what the Laureate has so well said— " More things are wrought by prayer Than this world dreams of." I should add that the preachers in the different churches are not the clergy attached to them, but men specially chosen, such as Mr. Bennett, of Frome ; Mr. Body, of Wol verhampton; Mr. Randall, of Clifton; Mr. Clarke, of Taunton ; and Provost Fortescue, of Perth. I 'spent two days at Brighton in the early part of the week, and found that all' Rotten Row had transported itself to the seaside, that the antient Route du Itoi (which is the original name of the unsavoury-sounding London resort) had removed to the modern King's-road, which is the chief resort of London-super-mare. Even Hyde Park in June scarcely presented a denser block of carriages than did that unrivalled esplanade which stretches along for three miles of coast. The hotels were not only full, but overflowing. Forty persons were turned away on one afternoon from the hotel where I was staying. Altogether, there were about 60,000 visitors in the place—a large ad dition of population to a town whose regular inhabitants number only 100,000. The town is still increasing rapidly and prodigiously, along the coast towards Shoreham on the west and Newhaven on the east, and on the north up the sides of the steep hills. Brighton has about 26 churches and over 40 dissenting chapels. The first offer every variety of ritual. St. Paul's in West-street used to be the most advanced in this respect; but Mr. Wagner finds himself in some measure outstripped by Mr. Beanlands and Mr. Perry (one of the Ritual Commissioners) at St. Michael's, Montpellier. At both churches altar lights are used, and the eucharistic vestments are worn. St. Michael's is a most massive and lofty structure, built by Mr. Gilbert Scott, and, to my thinking, somewhat heavy. It is to be enlarged. Trinity Chapel, sacred to the memory of Robertson, has now for its incumbent a very young, but eloquent clergyman, named Hall,of whom it is expected the world will hear a good deal before many years are past. Mr. Purchas, the eccentric incumbent of St. James's Chapel, who seems to have devised services of his own invention, is not generally supported by the High Church party. lie is offering no oppOsition to the suit which is now being carried on against him in the Arches Court, by the Church Association. This is, no doubt, very wise, for unless he should escape by some technicality lie could scarcely fail to lose his case, and by failing to defend it he will, it is affirmed, avoid paying the prosecutors' costs. On the other hand, the prosecutors have shewn wisdom by selecting Mr. Purchas whose vagaries are notorious, and abandoning the suit against Mr. Lowder, who is one of the most popular and devoted of the London High .Church clergy. In pulpit eloquence Brighton is badly off, as badly as Bath has been since it lost the pre sent Bishop of Peterborough. Quo of the moat notable reeidenta at Brighton is Kr. i Ashbury, who stood as a candidate in the Conservative interest last year. He has made his money in the north, and: is spending it pretty freely in the south. He has furnished two houses in Brighton magnificently, his dining room sideboard alone having cost him £2,000. His yacht is famous for the number of prizes it has won, and is a most beautiful vessel, splendidly fitted up. It is now gone with its owner to the Suez Canal. It seems to be thought in Brighton that Mr, Ashbury, who was defeated at the last election by only a narrow majority, although coming forward at the last moment, will win the next election, and that Professor Fawcett will have to find a seat else where. From Brighton I Went to Arundel and Chichester. Arundel is certainly very well worth a visit, though it is to be wished that more of the Castle were shewn to strangers on certain days of the week. As it is, you are allowed to see only the famous old keep, built by the Saxons, and which during the Parliamentary wars served the Royalists to very much the same purpose as the Resi dency served our belcagureil countrymen in Lucknow a dozen years ago. The view from the keep is superb, and stretches to the Isle of Wight in one direction and to the Surrey Hills in another. As for the town, it makes one smile to think that it should ever have returned a member to Parliament ; nevertheless it is apparently as large, and certainly is a good deal more active, than another town which I visited not long since, at the opposite extremity of England, surmounted also by a castle of Saxon origin, but which still retains its repre sentation—Launceston to wit. Chichester Cathedral I found adorned with the finest modern stained glass in Eng land. Wailes, Hardman, Clayton, Bell, and O'Connor are all represented. Inquiring for the old Bishop, I was assured that there was not the smallest chance of his resigning. He is still hale, and was active enough to con secrate a church last week in the easternmost part of his diocese. Dean Hook I met pacing the cloisters,and looking as portly and good-humoured as he always looks. Recent letters from America tell me how great a desire there is in Canada to have Prince Arthur for sovereign. Fenianism has died out in the Dominion, and, indeed, is not to be found now even in the Northern United States. Having served the purpose of Northern statesmen, the Fenians are now discarded and despised, and so have become strong Southerners. My correspondent tells me also the early history of the present President. A few years ago he was a drunkard on the streets. His friends set him up in the wood and coal trade, but he drank away wood, coal, and credit. Then he became a common street-hawker, carrying wood from the place where it was disembarked into the town. Having become somewhat more sober, his father offered him a place in his tanyard, and there Ulysses Grant worked until the war. That event was the making of him in eJry way. He put restraint upon himself, and soon showed such mili tary skill that he rose rapidly from step to step until he became Commander-in -Chief. Although he has given up drinking, he is a most inveterate smoker. The Royal Geographical Society may hope for a new sensation before l . ong. Some time next spring we may expect to see Mr. Hayward, who has lately reached India after an exploring expedition in Central Asia. He underwent great hardships, and was nearly starved. For six months he was kept in horrible imprisonment by the Sovereign of Turkestan, who might have cut his head off without the prisoner's friends being any the wiser. Mr. Hayward is not content with his experience, but was, when I heard from India, about to start again in ordor to fix the whereabouts of some lake which he believes to exist in Central Asia. One of the most successful of recent institutions in London is the Lombard Exchange and News-room. This magnificent structure stands at the corner of Gracechurch and Lombard-streets, and is one of the finest buildings of the kind in London. It was begun at the time that Londoners seemed to have more money than they knew what to do with. It was finished just at the very height of the panic. No one would have it then. Even a wealthy corporation like the Loudon and County Bank would not venture to give the price which was wanted, so for some time this palace, for palace it is, remained empty. A few months ago it was determined to convert it into a newsroom and a place for men of business to meet. It has now about 1,600 members, and it is fast superseding that wretchedly inconvenient place of resort, 'Change. In newspaper matters the chief things to mention are the forthcoming appearance of two new papers. That of the Civilian I mentioned some months ago, and that of the Graphic a few weeks ago. While on this subject, I may add the following items, which may interest some of your readers. Mr. Delane, editor of the Times, is probably the hardest-worked man in London. He begins work about five in the afternoon, and continues until three a.m. He is currently reported to read every line that goes into his paper except the advertisements, even down to the reports ; and, besides this, there is a vast amount of news and leaders, which, though set up, never appears, owing to press of matter, but which he has to read. He ' has a magnificent salary ; but he takes so much work upon himself that it is difficult to know what would become of the Times if he were laid aside. His principal coadjutor is Mr. Dasent, the writer on Northern antiquities. He is a frequent leaaer-write r , and a little while ago was able to boast that he had written one article in the Times for every day of that year. Mr. ,Sidney Colvin has suc ceeded the late Mr. Burnett Payne as art-esitic of the Pall Ma 2 Gazette, and the father of the latter-named gentleman is a frequent writer on educational topics in the same journal, and Mr. Dutton Cook is its theatrical critic. Mr. Edward Spender is writing a series of articles in the Globe on the towns cf England. Professor Headland, of Chasing-cross Hospital, is a constant leader writer in the Standard, and Canon Trevor in the John Bull. Mr. Saunders, of the Central Press, is gone to Suez to witness the opening of the canal. The New York Asso ciated Press will spend two or three hundred pounds in telegraphing an account of that event, rid England, to the - United States. Mr. Tennyson seems to be in the same state of uncer tainty respecting the title of his new poem as he was with regard to " Enoch Arden." The title of that book was changed several time, and it seems likely that this will be , the case with the forthcoming volume. First of all, it was publishersoksealls " Idylls of the King ; ers placarded their s a e n c n o mn s c e e n d s b . t T h i e i en the bo win dows with the announcement, "Mr. Tennyson's new poem, ' The Birth of King Arthur." Now it is spoken of as "a new poem" only. Of other books I hear that a novel will shortly be published, under the title of " Clubs and Drawing-rooms," by an old magazine contributor, who will use a nowt-tle-pluthe, inasmuch as he intends to show up without mercy the deteriorated morals of the upper circles. Of books which have actually appeared let me mention especially a most beautiful work, pub lished by Messrs. "The Universe, or the Infi nitely Great and the Infinitely Little," by F. A. Pouchet, M.D., a work most sumptuously printed and illustrated. Mr. Galton's much-expected work on " Hereditary Genius" has also appeared. So, too, have two lives of Albert Darer r t s h . e costly and elaborate volume, by Heaton, published by Macmillan ; the other Charles oneamuch a cheaper, but still a beautiful volume, written by Mr. W. B. Scott, and published by Longman. The " Auto biography of the late Professor Pryme" is anticipated with much curiosity by Confabs, on account of the numerous incidents of university life which it is expected to contain. Another semi-literary item is, that the only son of Robert Browning and the late Elizabeth Barrett Browning is an undergraduate of Christ Church, Oxford, and steered the college eight last term.. Three months have served to exhaust one edition of the Report by the Committee on Intemperance appointed by the Lower House of Convocation for the Province of Can terbury. This edition numbered 5,000 copies. The book is to be issued in a cheaper and amended form. I can heartily recommend your readers who have not seen this fine collection of evidence to do so straightway. All must admit the importance of the subject dealt with ; and none can impeach the impartiality and competence of the authority. The pecu liar value of the report is that the committee consisted of a number of clergymen in no way committed to a decision, and the evidence was taken from every kind of authority —parochial clergy, magistrates, superintendents of asylums, gaol governors and chaplains, workhouse masters, recorders, judges, coroners, and policemen. Yet in spite of this great diversity, the evidence is singularly decisive and unanimous, and the report founded upon it is equally so. Although Mr. Vining, lessee of the Princess's, has just appeared in the Bankruptcy Court, that incident has not deterred some speculator from erecting a new theatre in the Strand, which is already overcrowded with these places. He has taken the Bentinck club, which was opened a few months ago for sporting men, but came to grief in conse quence of the raid upon the betting agents. It is now being pulled to pieces by way of preparation for a new place of entertainment. Another theatre has just been opened down in Sloane-square, thus giving Chelsea an opportunity of witnessing the drama, which it has not hitherto had. In spite of the fog, a large company assembled to greet Jenny Lind at Exeter Hall last night. The oratorio per formed was " Ruth," composed b y her h us b an d, Mr. Otto Goldschmidt. Th e popular artiste received a warm recep tion, and many o f those present were struck with the freshnesss whi c h s h e still displaye d . Wh en it i s remembered th a t s h e made her first appearance in London on the 4th of May, 1847 on which occasion she took the r' l le of Alice in " Robert le Diable," at Her Majesty's—it is truly wonderful that twenty-two years after she should still be able to captivate a critical audience by her vocal powers. ADVERTISEMENT. I - Holloway's Fills. Liver Com plaints and Disordered Bowels.—lt is impossible to exag gerate tli:3 extiaordinary virtue of this medicine in thus treatment of all affections of the liver or irregularities of the bowels. In the cases of depraved or superabundant bile these Pills taken freely have never been known to fail. I❑ bowel complaints they aro equally efficacious, but they should then be taken rather more sparingly, for every me dicine in the form of au aperient requires caution when ' the bowels are disordered, though a gentler or more genial aperient than these Pills, in moderate doses, has never yet been discovered. If taken according to the printed in struction; they not only cure the complaint, but imp_rova I the whole system. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. THE SUEZ CANAL. The opening of M. de Lesseps's great work has been successfully accomplished. Vessels have traversed the canal from sea to sea. The Empress of the French in her yacht has sailed from Port Said to Ismailia, the "halfway house," and other steamers have come from Suez to the same town, thus completing the voyage. ANOTHER PEERAGE DECLINED. Mr. Gladstone's very kind offers to send several of his respected supporters to the Upper Ho use are not being very graciously received. One of the best of his contemplated creations—Mr. Grote, the historian— was prevented, through that gentleman declining the honour. Mr. Ellice, M.P. for the St. Andrew's District of Burghs, then refused to be kicked upstairs; Mr. "W. B. Beaumont, M.P. for South Northumberland, followed suit; and now Mr. 0. R. M. Talbot, M.P. for Glamorganshire, has written to he excused. CHESTER. The Hon. Norman Grosvenor, who is the Liberal candidate for the seat left vacant by his relative, has at length made an effort to retrieve the amazing vagueness of his election address. In this r , mlarliable document he announced his intention of explaining his oinions on divers questions as soon as he had formed them—leaving his course for the future a compicte blank . . It is gratifying to find that the formation of his opinions is progress ing rapidly. He has already concluded that com pulsory education and the Ballot would be good things. Two such important decisions in so short a space are highly satisfactory. By the time the Hon. Norman Grosvenor reaches nomination day he will, at this rate, have accumulated quite a presentable stock of ideas. On the land question he would "have justice done to the interests of landlords and tenants"—an opinion which is probably quite up to the average. TRAITORS AS 31.P.'8. " Rossa for Tipperary !" " Mackay for Water ford !" Such are the Fenian war-cries at the elec tions about to take place in Ireland. The sedition mongers rejoice to call their heroes " convicted felons in British dungeons : " and they bring them forth as martyrs grandly suflering under tyranny. The O'Dono van Rossa placard has already been noted ; a similar, only a much wilder, one has been issued in Water ford, suggesting " Captain " Mackay in place of the retiring Mr. Grubb. In this election address the act of union is spoken of as " the hellish covenant made by a demon minister with Pandemonium," a string of curses which suggest the question : If by the demon be meant the British minister of the day, and if the covenant he made was with Ireland, what lovers of their country are they who compare it to Pandemonium ? The placard goes on to declare that the return of Mackay would chew that the electors deem parlia mentary representation a farce (a statement with which it would be difficult to disagree), that they look up on mora l f orce as h um b ug (rather hard on moral force), and that they think the cause of Ireland may best be served upon the hill side. POLITICS AT GRAVESEND. Sir Charles Wingfield, the member for Gravesend, made an attempt on Wednesday evening to audit the legislative account of the year with his con stituents. Promises of a lively meeting were not want ing from the commencement. The gathering was large; "hundreds were unable to gain admittance ;" but amongst those who did get in was a large body of roughs. The appearance of Sir Charles Wingfield as a speaker was the signal for a display of political fervour. Volleys of howls and yells reverberated through the room. Flights of squibs winged their way towards the member and his sup porters. Bags of flour and ochre • flew about thickly. Sparks and clouds of smoke obscured the field. Sir Charles found a public speech altogether out of the question, and therefore contented himself with a private address to the reporters. Amid great uproar, shouts of "Dock yard labourers," " Go back to India," and singing 64 Act on the square," the member gave the reporters to understand that he had confidence in the Protes tant Irish Church now that it was released from its fetters ; that he supported the programme of the Birmingham Education League ; that he would vote for the Ballot ; likewise for the University Tests Bill and that the policy of retrenchment had his cordial support. A vote of thanks and confidence was moved in dumb show. Then the member and his friends thought it time to depart. The howls, yells, squibs, and flour-bags reigned triumphant to the last. MR. SMITH, M.P. FOR WESTMINSTER. There is no victory of which the Conservatives were more proud at the general election than the return of Mr. Smith and the defeat of Mr. John Stuart Mill for Westminster. The society which con tributed as much as any other organisation to that event was the Westminster Working Men's Constitu tional Association. It has just been holding its " first anniversary supper." Mr. Smith himself attended and spoke ; but the working men, according to the report we bavo of tho proceedings, 'inlet hare been either absent or silent. Mr. Smith denounced the Premier for saying that he intended to govern Ireland on Irish ideas; he attributed the present sad agita tion to the expression. On the education question the member for Westminster trusted that religion would not be divorced from the future teaching of the country. "If it wore right that we should be taught how to live, we certainly should be taught how to die." CORRUPT BOROUGHS. The ratepayers of Norwich, Beverley, and Bridg water are about to reap a further reward of their cor ruption. Formerly the expenses ofelection commissions were paid by the Treasury, but under the Act of last June each borough or county where an enquiry is insti tuted must pay for the examination of its iniquity. The Commissioners of the Treasury make advances, and then demand repayment. This course is to be adopted in the case of the three erring boroughs .just mentioned. The Act was passed in the hope that, though infamy had little influence in diminishing bribery, cash payments might present the evil in a new light. IRISH AGRARIAN OUTRAGES. The magistrates of Meath are evidently thoroughly alarmed. The memorial from them to the Lord Lieu tenant is a striking document. One passage is especially noteworthy. They say with res p ec t to their dis trict : Within the last twelve months one farmer has been murdered, three magistrates have been shot at, one in open clay. In the attempts to murder them two ladies have been wounded, ono seriously, and the coachman of one magistrate has been killed. The steward of another gentleman has been twice fired at, and on the first occasion severely injured. Several magistrates and landlords have received threatening letters. In none of these cases, owing to the misguided sympathy of the population with the criminals, does there seem any prospect of the vindication of the law. Such a state of things is very serious—sufficiently startling, the memorialists think, for the calling of an autumn session. But what can the Government do? They cannot punish sympathy with a criminal except it chew itself in overt illegal acts; and these it is difficult to discover It is not with surprise, therefore, that we read in the reply from Earl Spencer's Secretary that "his Excellency will be glad to have suggestions as to the efficient remedies to be provided." It will puzzle even the Meath Justices of the Peace to prescribe for this very sad " ill of Ireland." REDUCTION OF TAXATION. A well-attended public meeting was held at Hack ney, on Wednesday evening, to get up a petition in favour of largely reducing public expenditure. The speeches and proposals left nothing to be desired in point of thoroughness. No half measures were tole rated. Mr. Holmes, M.P., was present, and told the old story. Last year we spent 65,000,000, of which £20,500,000 was for the interest of the National Debt, £15,000,000 for the army, £11,000,000 for the navy, and £5,000,000 for the Abyssinian War, leavin g only £17,000,000 f or th e o th er gene r a l purposes of Government. It does not appear, how ever, that the member for Hackney had any very definite scheme of reduction to advocate. The Foreign Office, he thought, was a haunt of extrava gance which needed reform. And, if no great amount was to be saved in expenditure, there was the expedient of making the rich pay more and the poor less. One way or another he would secure such a sum as would permit the sweeping away of the entire £22,000,000 we receive from customs' duties, leaving wi nes an d sp i r i ts to b e d ealt w i th by the inland .excise. Lesser lights shone next. Mr. Noble was less vigorous than the M.P. • ho would be sati s fied with afurthor reduction of £8,000,000 a year. The land, in his opinion, ought to bear more taxes, He pointed out how great a proportion of the revenue the land paid a century and a half ago, and how small a pro portion now' ; but he forgot to add how large a ratio real property then bore to the entire wealth of the country, raid how much smaller the ratio is now. Then came the reciprocity advocates, who combatted Mr. Holmes's icheme for abolishing Customs' duties. Those imposts were, it was urged, only too light. The Holmsit as, however, won on the voting, and the meeting; decided against reciprocity. THE ;EW EARL OF DERBY AND HIS HOUSEHOLD. Th r i Conservative papers announce that the new Earl ..of Derby is not parsimonious ; consequently the stoi.ies which have been floating about that his house held at Knowsley is to be reduced, his expenditure Cut- down to the lowest possible figure, and his Co vers let out for shooting, are not true. is well known, however, that in domestic matters f he late earl was lavishly extravagant—witness his beer bill commented upon by our London correspon dent last week. The present lord will have nothing of that. While he is not reducing his family estab lishment at Knowsley he is cuttui off unnecessary • e . e a 15 • • whola etztlay unaer effectual control ; tnougn ms iorctsfup (toes not let his shooting and does retain it for invited guests, vet he will not continue to pay excessively for game. The now arrangements are attributed by the _Liver ?wol courier to " Lord Derby's taste for method and 'business which he displayed in the House of Commons," Tim CRAMBERS OF COMMERCE. The second deliberation of the Associated Chambers if Commerce at Birmingham was devoted to a great vtiriety of subjects. A resolution asking the Govern ment to inquire into the operation of the French Treaty was debated for some time and eventually passed. Several members warned the Chambers against any infringement on the doctrine of Free Trade. The most important business of the meeting, however, was the reading of a letter from Colonel Smith on the subject of interna tional coinage. lie announced that the movement was making great progress, that Swede n an d th e German States were both likely to adopt the French money, and that weights and measures were tending to an international and metric system. "If the Government can arrange with the States of the French Convention as to the adoption of an identical mintage, I believe it is prepared to adopt an interna tional coinage and unit of account." INTERNATIONAL MONEY. The Salut Public of Lyons bewails British obsti nacy in the matter of international coinage. The best system of common money would, in the opinion of this journal, have been secured by the adoption of the Napoleon, which is worth twenty francs, about 108. 6d., but perfidious Albion refused to revolutionise its money by accepting a coin of this value as the standard, " M. Magne, therefore, proposes the creation of a 25f. coin as a sort of compromise with the decimal system. But M. Puma, president of the commission, offers the strongest opposition to this project. The argu ments he adduces turn principally on the point that the higher the standard is raised, the greater is the risk of increasing tho prices of all articles. The M. piece would be retained, but only as legal fender for sums up to 100 f. Thus two standards would exist— the one of silver, the other of gold (the 25f. piece pf nine-tenths of fineness). This system would enable all the States which do not admit the gold standard to adopt the monetary system of which France desires to be the centre. But N. Puma's objections appear to have induced3l.Mag,ne and the commission to reflect." The Sa'ut Public seems to be under the impression that though the English Government would not adopt the 20-franc coin, it would be willing to accept the 25-franc piece. But "British obstinacy "is so in tense that the Commission on International Coinage declined to recommend even the milder alternative, and, in fact, did not feel justified in proposing any change whatever. THE CONGE D'ELIILE. The Record has come to the conclusion that the conge d'elire ought to be abolished. Our contemporary does not suggest, however, that the Legislature should suppress the unreal proceeding. It exhorts deans and canons simply to take no notice either of the cave or the Queen's Missive. This recommendation is, of course, made the means of another attack—though not, it must be admitted, a very severe one—upon the C;iapter of Exeter ; the rev. gentlemen who compose it ought to have allowed the whole affair to be conducted by Letters Patent. That Dean will be a bold one, and that Chapter a unique one, which would dare to omit obedience to the law in this matter ; if we wait until that event takes place, it will be long ere the conge will be abolished. Besides the existence of a chance of opposition to the Crown would be too much to withstand in case of another appointment similar to that of Dr. Temple. THE MODEL PARISH. The disclosures at the St. Pancras inquests have at length awakened the ratepayers of that district. They have held a meeting to consider the local management of the parish, and have agreed that the conduct of their representatives ought to be inquired into. Mr. Watson, Vice-Chairman of the Board, pro tested against this condemnation. There was nothing to complain of in the management of the workhouse. It was said that the ventilation was bad; but he knew better, for, on personal inspection, he had found the ventilation excellent—so remarkably fine, indeed, that several patients had "swollen faces" from its effects on Friday night. This admission is extra ordinary, and it seems unfortunate. One of the complaints made at the inquests was that if the ordinary means of ventilation wore resorted to, the patients were poisoned, and if doors and windows were thrown open they got swollen faces. 44 SUBJECTS." Medical teachers and students are suffering from a sad dearth of bodies for dissection. In fact, the scarcity has become so great that the practice of sur gery is threatened with serious danger. With the view of relieving this " subject" famine, the Pad dington guardianshave been considering the propriety of putting in force the- 7th section of the Anatomy Act, and furnishing the metropolitan schools with the unclaimed bodies of persons dying in the work hou,-ic. As the Act refers only to unclaimed bodies, it was urged that no one could bo aggrieved by this assistance to the cause of science. Melt, IN as nom opposition, however, and so the Board came to no definite conclusion. FOREIGN NOTEg. SPAIN. According to despatches from Madrid, it appers that the candidature of the Duke of Genoa is losing ground every day, the more so because doubts are entertained as to the consent of Victor Emmanuel. It is now expected that the Act of Abdication, by which Queen Isabella resigns in favour of hor son, will be presented to the Cortes. BELGIUM. In the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, M. Fthe- Orban, Minister of Finance, replied to the Opposition member, M. Dumortier, and said that the Franco-Belgian question had excited some doubts, but that it had been happily disposed of. In some respects they had cause for rejoicing since their relations with France were now more friendly than ever. The conventions which had been concluded- wore not injurious in a political sense, and were favourable to the industrial interests of Belgium. The Minister professed his readiness to furnish the Chamber with a report or the negotiations, but the details were scanty, because most of the negotiations were verbal. BAVARIA. A private telegraph from Munich contains the reply of he Judicial Faculty to the questions which were discussed by the Convocation of the Council. It declares that the proclamation of the articles of the Syllabus relating to the infallibility of the Pope will of itself effect no change in the constitutional and legal relations between the Church and the State. But the Faculty expects that the efforts which will be made to carry out the principles of this dogma will call for an inquiry into the legislation that affects the legal and judicial situation of the Catholic Church in Bavaria. The elections of the first degree have just taken place. In the electoral circum scription of Munich the Progressist party have carried the day by an important majority. The struggle has been a severe one. COUNT /MUST AT CONSTANTINOpLE. The North-East Correspondence of the 15th publishes a despatch from Vienna, stating that a courier had arrived there the day previous from the East, bringing a letter from Count Beust to Baron d'Arczy. According to this account, the Austrian Chancellor is fully satisfied with the result of his conferences with the Crand Vizier, and the reports of his complaints of Turkish weakness, and of the bad condition of the Turkish army, are entirely without foundation. Count Beust is confident of a pacific settle ment of the Turco-Egyptian difficulty, and thinks that all the apprehensions which are felt on the subject are entirely groundless. BOILER INSPECTION IN AMERICA. The Philadelphia Public Ledger has an interesting article on the Boiler Inspection Law in the United States. For the last two years Philadelphia has been comparatively exempt from boiler explosions, only one of any conse quence having occurred, and this result is naturally ascribed to the influence of the new law. Fifteen hundred and fifty boilers have actually been examined by the inspector, and a much larger number have been looked to by their owners, who are uncertain when he may pay his official visit. Eleven of the boilers examined officially were totally condemned, five had to be repaired, and several others altered to avoid the risk of burning through the plates. The Ledger points out that had it not been for this timely inspection, about twenty explosions might have occurred. Ono of these dangerous boilers was under a street pavement, and the shell was so thin that a slight blow made a deep impression on the plate. In one instance a valve was discovered which cut off all connection between the boiler and the safety-valve ; in another case the safety valve was so rusted that it would not move under a pressure of ninety pounds, and had to be taken apart before it would operate at all. In ono of the boilers ordered to be repaired the stays were so weak that they broke under a pressure of eighty pounds, but the defect was one which would have been detected only by the most thorough tests. Philadelphia contains, says the Ledger, about forty-two hundred boilers, more probably than any other city, and these are forty two hundred reasons why there should be a thorough inspection law, unembarrassed by any interfering influences. AMERICAN STATE PRISONS. A new prison system is proposed in the United States, which will be a great improvement on previous legislation. It will take the management of the State prisons out of the domain of politics. The prison managers will be appointed by the Governor and Senate of the State instead of being elected by party nominations and party rates. The Prison Board will hold office for ten years, and will thus be corn paratively itrmauqt, being akstjo act on _their nu ~~. independent judgment. The four principal officers , lle warder; chaplain, physician and clerk are to hold office during goo d behaviour. The Board appoints them but canno t rem t ove them except for cause and with opportunity given to ile accused to make his defence. The directorship of the pri" sons is at present a political office, with salary and perci t ' i. sites attached, and abundant opportunities to make wool corruptly. The office under the amended constitution will have no emoluments, being merely honorary and beneficent. A better systom of prison labour is also to be provieeaf and the reformation of the convicts is to be the gl °t object of the discipline. Hitherto it has been nanc'l, neglected, and coercive disciplino has been relied on. BANK OF FRANCE. PARIS, Nor. 1 8 . The following is the return of the Bank of Fre , lic e for the week ending to-day, together with the co r " responding figures of the previous account DEBTOR. Nov. 18. Nov. 11 ' c . fr. c. fr. Capital of the Bank 182,500,000 182,500,000 Profits in addition to June 9, 1857) ital (Art. 8, Law, 7,014,776 02 7,044, -76 02 R and its branches 22,105,750 14 22,10 5, I s ° Reserve of landed pro perty 4,000,000 4 , 000,002 Notes in circulation Banknotes to orderand receipts payable at 209, 615 90 sight 48,888,246 08 49, ',- Treasury account cur- . 6 9 01 rent creditor 200,084,471 97 179,006,i , 6 11 Current accounts, Paris 322,251,095 51 326,199 P Do. branch banks Dividends payable 43,568,56 2949892 --__ 44 1: 2 0 2 0 0 5 , , 8 8 1 3 1 -:.. Discounts and sundry interests , 834 16 Rediscounted the last six months 991,660 38 991,660 as Surplus of receipts not distributed -......-- A r, 67 1 " Sundries ....,.. -,_..----.. 73 Total CREDITOR. Iv. 18" -----.. _Nov. 11. NO c. Cash in hand and in fr. c. fr. o gi Branch banks Commercial bills over due Commercial bills dis- °8 9 4 counted, not yet due 308,150,326 42 30 8 , 584,° 0 Do. branch banks 292,092,660 2 92 , 978, 8 ° Advances on deposit of - 000 ' bullion 18,614,900 18,730, ,_ ..• Do. branch banks 3,468,680 2, 760,7D ' Do. on French Public 0 Securities 18,946,000 19,011+700 .... Do. by branch banks 8,546,300 8 , 454, Do. on railway shares o° ---" and debentures - Do. branch banks Do. on Credit Foncier 100 Bonds 1,097+,4 --. -- Do. branches Do. to the State (Con -1857)n, Jun© 10, 60,000,000 6 0 , 000, 0 00 Government Stock rs ' 390, 5 066 1,513,816 49 12,980,750 14 12,98 ,,A , 750 ; c7 il 4 80,595,187 21 80,5950. u" serve Do. disposable . . Rentes Immobalisees (Law, Juno 2, 1857) 160,000,000 -- 100,000,000 Hotel and furniture of tho Bank and landed 9,190,184 -' propel ty branches ... Expenses of manage- 9,112,283 - 63 2,108,051 83 2,116, , :i 55 7,787,775 81 7,599,1"" m - ent _ Sundries ---r--„,2 49 Total Certified by the Senator-Governor of the P a of France. :(Signed) Roulo9. Bank of Engla•Ld Returns. An Account, i.ursuant to tl cap. 32, for the week ending 1 ISSUE DET the Act 7th and Bth Vi c e ,V r" Wednesday, Nov. 17, I"' PA.RTNT. Gover ME nmt. Debt..C ll ,° lsl 9o ° O P Other Securiti e s.. ,9 84 ' Gold Coin and 310 Bullion ......... 17,4, Silver Bullion p2,479,9i° Notes issued ......£32,479,310 £32,479,310 BANKING D . :PARTMENT. Go vern mt. Secu- Proprietors'Capi tal £14,553,000 Rest 3,107,904 Public Deposits (including E xchequer, Sav iugs' Banks, Commissioners of National rities(including - Dead Weight Annuity) .... ilM,6 * /0 6 Other Securities 16,"',.'300 Notes 9,3•21, Gold and Silver 925, 116 Coin Debt, and Div. Accounts 4,000,972 Other Deposits 17,910,180 Seven Days and other Bills 579,140 £ }o,lsl+£Ob X 10,151,203 LISI FOR THE USE OF VISITORS 2llE 11ETROPOLIS. MUSEUS. Antiquarian—Somerset House. M Admission by sPl 3l;6ltion-3 to the secretary. Rege nt' Botanic—Royal Botanic Society of London. nr• park. Admission daily by orders from fellows. Gardens, Kew. Open daily, 1 till 6, free. di e n British—Great Russell-s reet. Open free on .0. 01/ ,, 4 lv Wednesdays, and Frida a, 10 to 4 ; summer montP-socl till 7. Closed Ist till 7th January, Ist till 7th 00 Ist till 7th September; also on all thanksgiving d i r - , 6Y aili , City—Guildhall. A collect on of antiquities, &c. 10 till 5. Geological—Jermyn- street. Open daily (except A-11 free. 1 big' India—lndia Office Charles-street. Asiatic natn r rn dner tort', antiquities, , &c. Open free on Mondays , "" days, and Fridays, and on Thursdays by orders. 41f. King's College—Strand. Anatomy and curiosities . 10 till 4. ntii o Patents—South Kensington. Models and i n Open free daily. Mee° . Royal Institution-21, Albemarle-street. Various °— 10 till 5. Royal s Military Repository—Woolwich. Models Of" f°1 1 0 tications, cannon, and warlike appliances. till 4. gofe r Royal Polytechnic Institution-309, Regent-street. - tific, with lectures. Open daily, till 10 p.m. Soane's-13, Lincoln's-inn-fields. Antiquities , cur a I f`" and pictures. Open Wednesdays, Thursdays, 5n from days in April, May, and June ; and W e dnesday s +, 00 February to August. Admission on application 0 C urater P ic' Society of Arts—John-street. Adelphi. I n ventio -, bet a tures, curiosities &c. Daily : admission ~by ra °/11 order. 00 Jai south Kensington—Cromwell-road. 0 a o Tuesdays, and Saturdays, 10 till 10, free, p othe r 10 till of , Lo 1 0 ToweLondon—Ancient armour, &o. Open da. till 4. le. PICTURE GALLERIES. Ot Bridgewater Gallery—Cleveland-square. Cards may be obtained from Mr. Mitchell, Old Bondl tre° British Artists—Suffolk-street. April to July. 18 ; lr itiS7 British Institution-52, Pall-mall. Pictures hi r rie leP Artists, in February, March, and April ; and 11 de r Masters, Junto, July, and August. Is. n or Buckingham Palace Pictures.—May be viewed bi a from the Lord Chamberlain. Cartoons of Raphael—South Kensington Museum day, Tuesday, Saturday, free • other days, 6 d. scour Crystal Palace—Sydenham. Modern Pictures and ture. ls. Dutch Dal wich Gallery—D ulwich. Chiefly Flemish s r ' Pictures. Open free daily. except Friday- street. Flaxman Gallery—University of London, Govie r ",, s n cloi 4 .a Foundling Hospital—Guildford- street. Open I ' 10 till 4. Gallery of Ancient Masters-49, Pall. Is. „d Fri- Greenwich Painted Hall—Greenwich. Alonclayss" I days Free other days, 4d. Guildhall—City. May be seen on application to the keer. Hampton Court Palace.—The galleries are open frog daffy except on Friday. Monument—Fish-street Hill. Every day. 6d• o pdap s National Gallery—Trafalgar-square. Open free, ILL Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. National Portrait Gallery-29, Great George-street. el free, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Mode ls Trinity House—Trinity-square, Tower-hill. till li g hthouses, &c. Daily, 10 till 4. Tussaud's Waxwork-5 8 , Baker-street. Ope n -- 10 p.m. ls. SUBURBAN PLACES OF RESORT. Cremorne Gardens —Chelsea. ls. Crystal Palace - Park—Sydenham. Op e n daily,ls.; Sate r u r t k Gardens.--open d r G e e e r n sd w z i c os h p I.Openfgrhe free u f dr r ya e i. e l y . A is 1 , 5 , Greenwich ai d gt a nh y pb s , tuorn 2 y s c . B 6 opa d uar . H RRKoie r esl e rhi f m r eG e rov s an h icdd m i oep e n n : tr_kt_i Kew ßi Gd. and is Horticultural Go. Gardens—Gravesendmr O d oe p tin e ds n_ . f K r c eee,ne Gardens—Kensington. g l pr yoteoena: daily.. daily e rn : e i e sci : o members' order. DICKINsoN—On the 17th B fo R s ~ a- B erkeley S o u se , the Hon M TtllSt. _ oo Edmund Dickinson, of a son. .tf„jor W D-011 the 16th o in f s a t lo a n t Aldershot, the wife of '-- H. E. Wood, V.U., MARRIAGES. o hs rle ° BUCK TROTTER —On the 17th lust , a t Pimlico, n tho A. M. Buck to A n ne K a tharine, eldest daughterirgb. late Archd. Trotter, Esq., of Dreghot n, near Vinuo,l99 BIDDER—MAUNDERS—On the 16th inst. , at WeY. rn e ° tb ° Jacob T. Bidder, of Manchester, to Mary Caro/I° o'utli• second daughter of Joseph Maund e rs, Esq., W re 'l l ' ' DEATBS. ate, lielid BOWDEN—On the 18th inst., at 4 0 , Prin ce's-g Bowden, Esq., aged 65. ..,,p, O, BP DAWES - On the 17th inst., at 6, Hyde - p ark-gi"" Dawes, Esq., aged 84 A g London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM woe- A of No. 112, strand, Printer, at THE Sur; Office NO' in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the Coun t y of fa''` Friday, November 19', 1809. • - •T! fessi( yea bine( estal T 1 nised and Lady Caro Al ton c Su Trea a s. F prix AD hold tale For' for ORI, CO/19 Boni IVhi: also rum - 11 of ot] Devc PAC, nail] and 1 this • 11 boat from The on it £4,2, TI its n CC xnd Esq., E' rip recei• and Pupil Tb many A 1 wher nesse Ap other T' Th Fire I Thß I Bone value rondo leave thirty T` road. Up this 1 Tb enabl nurne bolpb tat street N Under where Girls the ki, The lish et' and la wise suitab The entire °Mc G.' Th seteb] free. Bai street Sea., --____ IT Boer( 133.: RICA] D' tor t' ITO us YAftl .