The Sun. — London, England, 1860-02-17 00:00:00

APUBLIC MEETING will be held at the THATCHED HOUSE TAVERN, St. James'-street, on SATURDAY, the 18th of February (instead of Saturday , the 11th, as originally advertised), with a view to establish PRELIMINARY DRILL in Public Schools, in connectionin with the Volunteer Movement. Lo rd ELCIIO, M.P., the Chair. At one o'clock. Lord A s hburton, the `villa Geo. Byng, M.P., and the lion. W. F. Campbell, M.P., ssist in the proceedings. BENSON'S WATCHES. " Perfection of mechanism.".---Dlorning Pineal. Gold Watches .................. 4 to 100 guineas. Silver Watches ................ 2to 50 guineas. 33 and 31, Ludgate-hill, London, E.C. Bend 2 stamps for Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet on Watches ROYAL E NGLISII OPERA, co V ENT -G A RD EN. Under the management of Miss L. Pyne and Mr.W. Harrison. THIS EVENING, THE CROWN DIAMONDS. Messrs . H. Corri, G. Honey, St. Albyn, and Wm. Harrison. Miss Louisa ryne and Miss Thirlwall. Condactor, Alired Mellon. To conclude with the new grand pantomime, called PUSS IN BOOTS or, Harlequin and the Fairy of the Golden Palms. Messrs. W. H. Payne, H. Payne, F. Payne, Barnes, Tallien, Infants Lauri, and Miss Clara Morgan. Doors open at half-past 6—Commence at 7. T HE A T RE- ROYA L, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Bnokstone. THIS EVENING, will be performed AN UNEQUAL MATCH Miss Amy Sedpvick. ♦fter which, the new Haymarket Comic Christmas Panto mime, VALENTINE'S DAY; or, Harlequin and the Fairy of the True Lovers' If not. The pan tomimists the unrivalled Leclercqs. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM. — sole Lessee and Directress, Madame Celeste. Due Notice will be given of the recovery of Dona Isabel Cubas from her severe indisposition. THIS EVENING, a new Drama, called A TALE OF TWO CITIES, by Tom Taylor, Esq., from the story o f that name by Charles Dickens, Esq. Principal characters by Mr. James Vinimr, Walter Lacy, Villiers, Rouse, Forrester, J. Johnstone, T. Lyon, Morton, Palmer, White, H. Butler, Clifford, and Fredericks ; Misses Kate Saville, Stuart, Turner, Mrs. Campbell, and Madame Celeste. After which, will be produced a new Grand Christmas Ex travaganza and Pantomime, KING THRUSHBEARD, the LITTLE PET and the GREAT PASSION, in which is pre sented one of the most novel, coqtly, and brilliant effects ever w itnessed —designed and painted by Mr. William Callcott.— King Thrushbeard, Miss Julia St. George. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCE S S'S THEATRE.— Lessee, Mr. A. Harris. Re-engagement of the Wonderful Dancer, Mons. Espinosa. First appearance of Mdlle. Marietta Rosetta, Principal Dan sense of La Scala, Milan ; and the Delapierre Family. These highly-talented Children will appear every night. The Royal Princess's Rifles on parade every evening. Tins EVENING, CAUGHT IN A TRAP. After which, a new Christmas burlesque pantomime, by 11. J. Byron, called JACK THE GIANT KILLER ; or, llarle- Lo quin King Arr,ur and the Knights of the Round Table. Jack, Miss Louise Keeley—Harlequin, Mr. Cormack Panta loon, Mr. Paulo--Columbine, Miss Caroline Adams—Clown, Mr. A. F. Forrest. NEW THEATRE - ROYAL, AD ELPHI Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. ! Combination of Talent.—Engagement of these popular artistes, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan, who will appear for a limited number of nights. THIS EVENING, the comedy of THE HOUSE, or THE HOME? ,Messrs. A. Wigan, C. Selby, Billing - ton ; Mrs. A. Wigan, 3liss IL Simms, and Miss Laidlaw. FoEowed by the petite drama of ONE TOUCH OF NATURE. Messrs. B. Webster, Billington, Eburne, C. J. Smith ; Miss H. Simms, After which THE NYMPHS OF THE LURLEYBERG ; or, The Knight and the Naiades. Messrs. Toole, Bedford, Eburne, Smith, Powell, Romer, Miss Woolgar, C. Webb, K. Kelly, Doors open at half-past six—Commence at seven. Box- Office open from 10 to 5. No charge for securing seats, nor for bills of performance. All fees to servants of this establishment are strictly prohibited. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, King-street, St. James's. Lessee, Mr. T. B. Chatter ton. Directress, Miss Wyndham. The nearest Theatre to Chelsea, Pimlico, and Westminster, the Park being open to carriages and foot passengers all hours of the night. THIS ETENINC'r the performances will comment* with (fifth time) FIRST AFFECTIONS. Messrs. IL T. Craven, G. Spencer, and Miss fVyndham. After which, MAGIC TOYS. Miss Lydia Thompson. Followed by a new burlesque called DIDO. Mr. Charles Young, Mesdames Wyndham, Clara St. Casse, Murray, Eliza Arden, C. Ranoe, A. Evans, and Corps de Ballet. To conclude with I WILL, IF YOU WILL. Reduced Prices—Gallery, 6d ; Pit, ls. The Box-ofEce open from 11 to 5 daily. Doors open at half-past six ; perform ance commences at 7. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, Westminster-road. Last Six Nights of Mr. W. Cooke's Management. THIS EVENING, to commence with a grand and spirit stirring Hippodramatic Spectacle. Graphic, Picturesque, and Fascinating Scenes of Horse inapship by Miss Mice Maude Cooke, Miss Emily Cooke, and John Henry Cooke, the leading Equestrian of the day. To conclude with the Comic Pantomime of HARLEQUIN TOM MOODY; or, Old Towler the Huntsman and the God dess Diana ; Diana, with Songs, Miss Jacobs ; Tom, Mr. Herbert; Patty, Mr. G. Belmore. Commence at 7. Stage Manager, Mr. R. Phillips CONCERTS.- CANTERBURY HALL THIS EVENING, LUCREZIA BORGIA, (Donizetti) Donna Inerezia 'Miss Russell Maffio Orsini Mrs. Anderson Gennaro Mr. Henry Herbert Don Altonzo Signor Tivoli. Conductor—Mr. Jonghmans. Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come dian and Mimic), W. T. Critchfield, and E. W. Mackney. Several interesting Pictures are added to the Fine Arts Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant sights of the metropolis. The gallery is open from 5 till 11 on Sunday Evening. THE WEATIIER.—SUN OFFICE, FEB. 17, 1360. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 45—highest since noon yesterday. 39—lowest this morning and during the night. 43—this day at noon. BAROMETER-30.38. WIND, North•Ea►sterly ; rather fresh, with fine cold sunshiny weather. lIIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 10h. 3Sm.—Afternoon, 11h. 24m, To-monnow.-Morning, Oh. Om.—Afternoon, 12h. 4m, Q .O t i ":5L),• • • • ."` o , 41t.• THE SUN. LONDON, FRIDAY, FEB. 17, 1860. So then the doubt entertained in many quarters has at length been cleared up in respect of the annexation of Savoy to France. For our part we suspected that the evasion in giving a decided answer to questions put in both Houses of Parlia ment boded no good. But now the mystery is solved. The Imperial Masker is unmasked. France, or rather NAPOLEON, did want that Savoy should be annexed to France, on the plea that if Sardinia were to annex Central Italy to her dominions, France would not be safe on her frontier on the slopes of the Alps without Savoy were ceded to her ! This is Imperial friendship with a ven geance. And yet NAPOLEON went to war for "an idea"—an idea of conquest, as it now appears by his own showing. It was indeed a strange proceeding on the part of a Despot to go to war to restore freedom to the Italians—he that scrupled not some years ago to put down freedom in the sister Republic at Rome ! That was the first manifestation of the "coming events" which have outraged freedom in the very capital of her doubtful birth. But it is all of a piece. Profes sion goes for nothing where the performance nulli fies the promise by its utter disregard of all decency. But now the question comes nearer home : and it is well that we are arming both by ships and riflemen-volunteers. True, we are at the same time endeavouring to shut our official eyes to the state of our "situation" by conceding treaties of commerce, in the guise of reciprocity, all on one side —and taxation on the other ! Time will show how It can work if it be ever carried out. It is now some eight months since we stated our belief that Prince NAPOLEON was not lagging in Florence 'without a purpose, and we stated that, instead of hurrying on with his division to join the Emperor on th e :Nl:ilt*o w he to secure a snug littl e kingdomwas making all right of his own on the banks of the Arno. Tuscany was a tempting prize, RICO he was nothing loth t o ply his suit. B u t ev e): is baffled his purpose and his uncle's 'The courtship wa s too hot to be lasting, to boot.' and the H i gdom slipped from his grasp. ly e now see the t some of our contemporaries are clever enouol, to a pound the accomplishment of our suggestions !non. the and months ago. La st night Lord JOHN RUSSELL stated in the Howse of Commons the real position of affairs with respee tt to the proposed annexation of Savoy to Firanc. a. England was ro party to it. The "idea" F; Its al 1 French! But it has come to Nothing as et. ^ Jhe Emperor NAPOLEON is now fain to let the n xatter stand over until the sanction of the other great Powers be obtained. But for the ap si prehension of a general w ar with Europe, NAPO-1 LEON would not care a jot for public opinion, but would at once appropriate Savoy without scruple, letting VICTOR EMMANUEL help himself further South. We have said before that if the EMPEROR be so anxious to get a kingdom for his cousin, let him look to Naples, where the people would ex change their present master for any tyrant above ground, and we suspect the young King would not get a friend to help him—not even the PORE in his direst need. Who can doubt but that, before very much longer, there will be an end put, both in the Royal Army and in the Royal Navy, for once and for all, under any and every circumstance, to the brutal and de grading punishment of Flogging ? We ourselves, at any rate, for one, doubt it not for a single in stant. Already in the last few years we have made advances—positil'e and distinct advances—towards its abolition. We nave seen the number of stripes applicable to those convicted of certain offences diminished. We have seen the cata logue of those offences considerably hlibreviated. According to the scheme of the new regulations introduced into the Army for the better arrangement of military discipline, under the authority of H.R.H. ;he Duke of CAMBRIDGE, those offences have at Last dwindled down to the number of ten : by the perpetration of any one of which a soldier is degraded from the first to the second class, and when in that second class is liable to be flogged for any one of those ten offences upon its renewed commission ! Unhappily, the case is far dif ferent in the Royal Navy of Old England. There, in that heroic and peculiarly national ser vice, the pristine stringency and harshness of the service are so far retained that the sailors, whether in the first or in the second class, are alike liable to be flogged : there being only this difference between the two classes—those in the first class requiring to be tried first of all by court-martial, whereas those in the second are liable any day out of the 365 to be flogged simply at the pleasure of the captain ! So long as this continues to be the case in the army and in the navy, so long as the soldier may be brutally lashed as though he were a hound rather than a man, so long as our tars are liable at the whim of an irascible captain to this cruel and degrading flaggelation, so long certainly must two things follow as inevit able consequences ! Firstly, the agitation for the further diminution and ultimate abolition of this execrable system of punishment must be an inci dent of perpetual recurrence both within and without Parliament ! And, secondly, ad mission to either service must be viewed askance by the masses of the population, and enlistment in either shrunk from by hundreds and thousands (who would be otherwise too eager to be enrolled upon the books of the navy, or on the muster-roll of a regiment) with a feeling of peculiar and easily comprehensible repugnance. No wonder the Merchant Service is preferred to the service of the Royal Navy, when in the former there is not, and when in the latter there is, this harsh and brutal punishment ! No wonder thousands of pounds sterling have been paid down as an inducement to men to enter the Royal Navy—no wonder we have need of the bounty, as a golden " set off" to the igno miny of the mere liability to this detested punish ment ! But Admiral Sir CHARLES NAPIER said last evening, in regard to this degrading punish ment,—" If it were stopped, the discipline of the service could not be carried on !" We don't believe it. We cannot for one instant se riously think this—any more than could the House of Commons that rang with incredulous and derisive cries of " Oh ! oh !" at that astounding announce ment. It is the argument, however, the old fami liar argument (by this time one might imagine thoroughly used up) of that old-fashioned school known as the school of the Disciplinarians. We cannot possibly do without the lash, they say, the discipline of the service requires it ! There is an old phrase, that may be in vogue, perhaps more seasonably atout Michaelmas, to the effect that "What is good for the goose is good for the gander." Suppose—they tried a touch of it themselves ! It is so beneficial, so whole some, so especially advantageous in its opera tion, that really the notion of turn and turn about may perhaps be worthy in this matter of a moment's consideration. But seriously, is it not astonishing to find a gallant old sailor like the member for Southwark not only reiterating this threadbare argument, that if the punishment of the cat-o'nine tails were abandoned, the discipline of the service could not be carried on—but actually (with a shrewd head of his own upon his shoulders) maintaining that " the infliction of the punishment was as pain ful to the men who performed the duty as to the criminal !" The Parliamentary reporter adds " (Laughter)," and no wonder there was laughter ! Why, the brutality of this degrading punishment is pretty nearly beyond the reach of exag geration by any mere verbal description. What, by way of painful illustration to this remark—what were some of the parti culars given in the course of the impressive and able speech delivered by the hon. gentleman (Mr. BUXTON) who had- the ear of the House, and the eye of the Speaker, before the hon. and gallant member for Southwark rose ? Why, we find in the abbreviated reports of Mr. BUXTON'S speech, among other distressing particulars, the following :—"The hon. suffering membertben read a harrowing description of causedthe ' b y E flogging. written by ALEXANDER SOMERNILL , who was sentenced to receive 200 lashes. He became black in the face, and water was administered to him, and then the flogging recommenced and was continued until ho was covered with blood, and he writhed with agony, and it appeared to him as if the time when 1 w had lived without this pain had passed long away. When 100 lashes had been inflicted ho was taken down, being unable to bear more. The hon. mem ber proceeded to say that the punishment was much aggravated when it was inflicted in cold weather; and he related an instance of its being infllicted on a man when the day was so cold that the mere strip ping and exposing him to the cold was of itself a severe punishment. At the first lash the blood spurted out some yards. ?hat man afterwards shot himself. His own feeling was that such a punish ment as that was a brutal punishment. To strip a man half naked,uand tie him up by his arms and legs, and flog him until the blood streamed down, was a punishment so degrading and cruel that nothing would justify it but strong necessity, and it ought to be abolished unless it could be proved that its abolishment would cause a relaxa tion of discipline, and the onus probandi ought to be on those who were in favour of the punishment. But there was nothing he had heard to-night that proved that its abolition would have such a result." We rejoice at every additional step, h ow ever slight, that is taken towards the diminution and eventual abolition of this cruel and brutal p un ishment. The adoption by the House of Com mons, last evening, of the resolution proposed by the hon. member for Lambeth (Mr. W. WILLIAMS) was one of those steps in advance, even though the motion, we regret to observe, was only agreed to LATEST in a modified form. Mr. WILLIAms's. by the Hous'e motion in its' original shape went to the effect, " that an humble address be presented to her MA JESTY for a return of the number of men flogged in the army and militia in the year 1859, specify ing the offence, the regiments, the place of station, the time, the sentence, And the number of lashes inflicted on each man (in continuation of Parlia mentary Paper, No. 519, of Session 1858) ; also of the number of persons flogged in the navy in the year 1859, specifying the name of the ships and of the commanding officers, the offence, the sentence, and the number of lashes in flicted on each person, stating whether by order of court martial or the commanding officer (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 41, of Session 1859)" —the second of these two resolutions having been adopted only after a division which, by a clear majority of 78 in of a House of 172, struck out "or the commanding officer"—as incon venient ! What a man does, however, even though he chance to be a" commanding officer," let him not be ashamed of having related of him ! We sus pect there was just the plain truth spoken right out last evening by Mr. ROEBUCK, according to his fearless wont, when he remarked that " Wl4ere ever they found a regiment, or a ship, in which there was much flogging, depend upon it the officer was not fit for his command !" And then, as to the " necessity" of the thing in either sere vice, let both those high military and maritime dis ciplinarians—Colonel NORTH and Admiral NAPIER —bear in mind, for a moment, the " authentically ascertained fact," mentioned yesterday by Mr. BUXTON —namely, that, in fifty-seven regiments, and in forty-three ships, containing six thousand men, not a single case of flogging had disgraced 'they man, ship, or regiment ! NE W S. The following telegrams have been received at Mr. Renter's office : PARIS, FRIDAY. The Moniteur of to-day publishes a circular dated 12th February, addressed by M. Thouvenel to the Duke of Grammont, French Ambassador at Rome. This circular examine the recents facts which have caused the present state of affairs in the Legations, and states the reasons of the evil, and to whom belongs the responsibility of it. M. Thouvenel recalls the events in the Romagna before and dur ing the late war, and endeavours to show that from the day the Austrians evacuated the Romagna the accomplished facts were unavoidable. At the be ginning of hostilities the neutrality of the Holy See was proclaimed. The Austrians could, there fore, in complete security, continue to watch for the maintenance of public order in the Legations as we did in Rome. It is not for us to judge the rea song which determined Austria to discontinue her mission while France remained faithful to hers. The Austrians having left, the inhabitants rather found themselves, than made themselves, mas ters, The insurrection cannot, therefore, be im puted to France. M. Thouvenel recalls the counsel given by the Emperor to his Holiness on the 14th of July last to grant reforms, which advice was not followed. Rome allowed every opportunity for reconciling the Legations to pass away. The Em peror then addressed his letter of the 31st Decem ber. M. Thouvenel then passes in review the proofs of devotedness which the Imperial Govern meat has given to the Pope in affairs of the interior, as well as of the exterior since 1848, and adds : " From this statement it can be deduced how much satisfaction it would have afforded, and would still afford, the Government, to give its sup port to a combination capable of relieving the embarrassments of the Holy See, but in this case the goodwill of France runs the risk of encountering insurmountable difficulties. The question is not only to restore the Legations to the Pope, but the means must also be found for maintaining them in his possession without having to follow a new intervention by a fresh occupation. Events have shown how powerless this measure would be to remedy the evil. Public opinion in Europe on this subject is formed. The occupation has been condemned by the lesson of the past. Such a policy is to-day impossible; there fore the moment had really arrived to discover a different combination, when the Emperor stated the necessity of it to the Pope. Evident interests and pressing considerations had brought the Holy See to such a necessity. A firm and absolute reso lution to refuse to recognise the real nature of the present state of affairs would aggravate it more and more, and would at last create equally insurmountable difficulties. On the contrary, should the Holy See decide to leave the religious region, to which the question does not really be long, in order to return to the ground of the tem poral interests which alone are at stake, his Holi ness would then bring about, however late, changes favourable to his cause. In any case, it would then allow the Emperor to lend his support to a concilia tory and reasonable policy. The Duke of Gram mont is authorised to read and leave a copy of this despatch with the Cardinal Antonelli." e I MADRID, FEE. 15 . Marshal O'Donnell is actively engaged in for warding the war preparations, and in reconnoitring the country surrounding Tetuan. The public spirit in Spain is warlike. The Queen has presided at a Council of Minis ters, the result of which is not yet known. Their Majesties have left for Aranjuez. Marshal O'Donnell has received the 11 delegates sent by Muley Abbas to ask on what conditions peace would be re-established. Marshal O'Don nell has replied that the Queen alone has the right to fix the conditions of peace. He has, however, sent a messenger to Madrid on the subject. VIENNA, FEB. 16. The Oesterreichische Zeitung announces posi tively that the answer of Count Rechberg to the despatch of M. Thouvenel has not yet been given. The same journal contradicts the statement that the Prince of Hesse proceeds to St. Petersburg on any extraordinary mission. BERLIN, FEB. 15. The general discussion of the Matrimonial Law in the First Chamber closed to-day. In the vote on the first two paragraphs all the amendments, and also the original proposal of the Government, were rejected. The first Chamber has therefore rejected the civil marriage in every form. DRESDEN, FEB. 16. The official Dresden Journal publishes a tele gram, dated St. Petersburg, the 16th inst., an nouncing that Russia has rejected the English pro posal for the settlemeat of the affairs of Italy. CONSTANTINOPLE (via MARSEILLES), FEB. 7. A change in the Ministry is spoken of. It is said that the Grand Vizier will be replaced by Kyprisli Pasha, and Fuad Pasha by Ethem Pasha. Discontent is increasing in the provinces of the Empire. Protestant missionaries have left for the interior. The Turkish army has heard with satisfaction of the renewal of the Anglo-French alliance. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 1860. AMERICA. The following telegram has been received at Mr. Reuter's office : SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY. The New York Company's steamer Fulton, Captain Wotton, with New York mails of the 4th, has arrived off Cowes. She brings about 70 pas sengers but no specie. The Republicans had carried out their plan for the organisation of the house, by electing Mr. Forney, clerk, and Mr. Hoffman, of Maryland, as Sergeant-at-Arms. A. bill had been introduced appropriating ten millions of dollars for the Post-office department. Of this amount four millions are to cover defi ciencies. The Republicans in Washington were rejoicing over the election of Forney. Maryland will listen to no scheme of disunion from South Carolina. Ex-Governor Salmon, of Ohio, was elected United States Senator on the Ist inst., by ballot. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. Discount market in favour of borrowers. Sales of short paper desirable at 6 per cent. ; first-class six months' paper, 6,1. Foreign exchange market dull, and rates were hardly maintained. The principal foreign bankers asked 109 for long bills, and 109 k to 1091 for short sight. Commercial bills were selling at 1081 to 1081. Stocks inanimate. New York Central down to 704. The whole market was in a depressed and stagnant condition. Bankers' bills were quoted 1084 to 109. THE COAL TRADE. (Front the Times' City Article.) The following communication relates to the argu ments likely to be attempted against abandoning our right to place an export duty on coal. It fur nishes some statistics of the French trade in that article, and points to the fact that any measures on our part to restrict th• supply or enhance the cost would be self defeating, both in an economical and political sense. It is true that on the question of export duties much misconception prevails, many persons imagining that such duties must in all cases be inexpedient, whereas in a moderate shape, and for purposes of revenue, they offer under certain conditions a highly eligible field. The most indis pensable of these conditions, however, is that the article should be one that is not produced in other countries, since otherwise by taxing our own com modity we should simply to that extent offer a bounty to competitors. Coal does not come into this category, extensive fields of various qualities, from the highest to the lowest, existing in almost every part of the world. Hence there need be no regret that the idea of preserving an exclusive stock has been disregarded. With respect to the apprehen sion of various calculators, that the coal in England is only enough to last for some period ranging be tween 1,200 and 300 years, the majority of the public will, perhaps, feel little anxiety, preferring to entertain sufficient faith in the advancement of humanity and science to believe that we may allow all mankind to share our present advantages with out any danger of the world in future ages finding itself destitute of requisite means for the production of light and heat : Feb. 14. " Sir,—Will you kindly allow me to place before the public a few facts with reference to the coal trade of France, of which our legislators appear to be either ignorant or for getful ? " Mr. Horsmau apprehends much danger may arise from that clause of the French treaty which restrains the English Government from placing an export duty on coal. He in stances a not improbable event—that France may be en gaged in a war in which England is neutral, and that the former might by blockading her enemy's ports—say, the Austrian ports in the Adriatic, or the Russian ports in th( Baltic—prevent them from obtaining our coal, while she could supply herself with one of the most essential articles of modern naval warfare. This is only saying, in other words, that France in all contests save with England would have the command of the sea. To neutralise this advantage due to the French navy Mr. Horsman would reserve the power of imposing an export duty on, or exercise the right of declaring coal contraband of war. The argument that if we had not this power we might, instead of being neutral, actually be taking the part of France, by supplying her with a necessary article of war, is of no value whatever, because the opposite argument is equally valid, that by refusing to supply ker with fuel we are aiding her opponent, in destroy ing the efficiency of her navy. " These arguments could only have weight on either side upon the supposition that France could only obtain her fuel from England. To show that this is not the case it will only be necessary to state the actual facts as to her present coal supply, due chiefly to the crafty policy of the Citizen King.' The import duties on coals into France have heretofore been regulated according to an artificial arrargement of zones. The northern zone, as I may call it, has its south bounday on the coast of Dunkirk. The cen tral zone extends from Dunkirk to Sables d'Olonno, in Vendee. The southern zone embraces all the rest of France to the Spanish frontier. " Disregarding for the present the coals which enter France by the Meuse, and only pay If. a ton, as exceptional, the duties exigible in these zones are respectively as fol lows : Per ton. "In the northern zone, which admits all Belgian coals .. " Iu the central zone, containing all the large ports, and most of the manufacturing establishments of the west of France, and depending entirely on English fuel " In the southern zone, embracing the ports of the Gironde If. 50c " It is scarcely necessary to say one word upon the unjust and malignat ingenuity of such a system of taxation both to the French consumer and to the English coalowner and shipowner. "Now, the only relief which the French treaty gives to the parties so unfairly taxed is to equalize these duties, by reducing them to the standard of the northern zone. In effect, placing English coal on the same footing as Belgian. Article 11. imposes an equal duty of 15 centimes per 100 kilogrammes ' or a trifle mere than lf. 60c. per ton, on all coal, without reference to its place of entry. " The effect of the above system of taxation is just what might have been expected. The consumption of Belgian coal has largely increased ; a stimulus has been given to the opening of mines in Belgium, and the Emperor of the French had only to pursue this vicious system a little fur ther to render France, at least on her western seaboard, in dependent of English fuel. The following figures will con vey better than any words the operation of the present fiscal regulations. It is to be borne in mind that much of the importation from England is to the great seaports of the Mediterranean, where Belgian coal cannot compete with English : Belgian. English. In 1851 the importation was in tons 1,578,000 597,918 In 1858 Increase 1,101,299 712,913 " Had it not been for the large increase in steam naviga tion between 1851 and 1858, and the increased demand for fuel to her great arsenals in the south, it is scarcely possible that English coal Gould have made such great progress, loaded as it is with differential duties of 350 per cent. " It would, in my estimation, be takinga more statesman like view of this case to argue it upon the supposition of a war between England arid France. By keeping up high dis criminating duties against English coal the Emperor of the French might- foster a rate of production in_Belgian and Prussian coalmines—raany worked with English capital that, in the event of war, would render him independent of England. By the present treaty he will not only place his own navy, but the commercial marine and manufac turing interests of France, to a considerable extent, in such dependence on English coal that, in case of an interruption of the supply, must create great embarrassment and dis tress, as collieries cannot be opened out in less than three to five years, and capital for such purposes would not seek investment on the continent iu the event of a war between France and England. " It is very significant of the commercial instincts of King Leopold that, while his neighbour has been imposing such heavy dues on an article of first-rate importance, the Belgian Chambers in 1855 repealed all the duties on coal imported into Belgium, although it eame in direct competi tion with one of its most important industrial interests. " Before I close this letter let me say one word on the duration of our coalfields—a subject upon which much nonsense is both written and spoken. Mr. Horsman, draw ing his inspiration apparently from the Edinburgh Review, assumes it. at 300 years ; another hon. member at 1,200. I may observe that, without taking price into calculation, no correct estimate can be made of quantity. Double our pre sent prices (which would still leave them below the prices paid in France), and I do not despair of our viewers finding coal to last even beyond Mr. Gregson's estimate of 1,200 years—a pretty fair provision for posterity.—l tun, &c., " X. Y. Z." Lieut.-General Sir James Chatterton arrived in town yesterday from the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone. It is said that a marriage will shortly take place between Sir He7.ry Cottrell, BArt., and Miss Seymour, eldest daughter of the Right Hon. Sir Hamilton and Lady Seymour. AIR. I)ItuMMOND, M.P.—We regret to hear of the serious illness of Mr. 'Fleury Drummond, M.P., whose state of health has for some time past been such as to occa sion ff Trat anxiety to his famil y , and to p rev ent his attend ance 'in the 11(,use of Commons. INTENDED P RESE NTATION OF THE FRLEDOINI OF TILE CITY or 1.0...:00s TO Ma. Conous.—The freedom of the City will shortly be presented to Mr. Cobden, as a token of the esteem in which be is held by the citizens and the corporation. Notice of motion for the presentation has been placed on the papers of the Court of Common Council by Mr. Connell, and it will be au extraordinary and i exceptional occurrence if the motion s not carried with un animity and enthusiasm. The following is the text of Mr. Connell's motion :—" That the freedom of this city—in a gold box, value fifty guineas—be pre sented to Richard Cob den, Esq., M.P., in recognition of his long and eminent ser vices in liberating commerce from the shackles which prevented the development of the industrial enterprise of this country, and also for his voluntary and patrc exer , tions in negotiating the recent treaty with Frances" THE CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS. We have been favoured with the following tele gram from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company : The Alhambra, with the above mails, arrived at Marseilles at noon yesterday (Thursday, the 16th of February). The mails left for London at 3 P.m. FRANCE. PARIS, THURSDAY. The Patric announces that the King of Sardinia arrived at Milan at three o'clock on Wednesday last, and was received with extraordinary enthu siasm by the population. 3.20 r.m. The money market has been inactive, and closed heavy. Routes, 67f. 55c., or i lower than yester- day. TILE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ROOMS, HIGH HoLnoitx.—We observe that Mr. W. M. Paoker's Grand Annual Benefit Bal Masque is fixed for Thursday next, the 23d inst., and that it will ba the only one this season. This admirably conducted establishment affords great scope and facility for the entertainment, as there is abundance o f room, and the utmost attention paid to the comfort of the visitors, at the same time the inestimable boon may be enjoyed of obtaining really choice wines and delicacies at moderate prices. The beauty and brilliancy of the decorations are unsurpassed in any country, and the general management deserves our unqualified praise. We, therefore, prognosti cate for the talented benefeiaire a most crowded and fashionable assemblage to do honour to him on the occasion, an I if the ball pass off only as well as its predecessors there can be but one result, that of unmitigated pleasure. The price of the tickets is an assurance that the partronage will be of the highest order. SUICIDE IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE.—A melan choly event occurred on the Banff, Portsoy, and Strathisla Railway on Saturday last. A passenger, named John Horn, who travelled from Banff to Grange, had a gun in his pocket when ho entered the carriage. At Knock he was seen by a fello w passenger in a neighbouring compartment loading the gun, but beyond this nothing is known of what happened until after the unfortunate man had met his death. Just as the train arrived at Grange it was found that the deceased was bleeding profusely, and when taken up it was seen that the shot had entered his left breast.— Bal Journal. WEST INDIA AND PACIFIC MAILS. The Royal West India Mail Packet Parana, Capt. Woolward, arrived at Southampton yester day with the West India and Pacific mails. She brought 46 passengers, and her freight comprised specie, 333,113 dols. value in silver and 133,283 dols. value in gold. Her Majesty's ships Racer and Styx were at Port Royal ; the Gorgon was at Grey town ; the Cossack at Carthagena ; and the Arachne and Skipjack at Barbadoes. Her dates are Greytown, Jan. 16 ; Colon, 23 ; Demerara, 25 ; Jamaica, 26 ; Barbadoes, 27 ; St. Thomas, 31. Nothing had occurred during the fortnight at Demerara to afford the least interest to readers out of the colony. The planters were all busy, either commencing crop or preparing for the commence ment, but the weather had been unfavourablo from the beginning of the year. The exports for the fortnight were :—Sugar, 3,008 hhds., 131 trcs., 1,169 brls., 614 bags ; rum, 1,960 puns., 147 hhds., 85 brls. ; timber, 40,946 feet ; cocoanuts, 8,500. In Jamaica the public health continue in a satis factory state. The export of nitrate of soda from Iquique during the year 1850 amounted to 1,574,199 quintals, against 1,220,646 in 1848. Of this quantity 447'887 was shippE d to England, and 304,025 to France. During the month of December, 24 vessels of 21,213 tons loaded guano at the Chincha Islands. Of this quantity, 15,509 tons was for Europe, and the balance for the United States. From Chili there is no political news of interest. The country was quiet, and the people appeared to have settled down again to business. In the south, the Indians still continued to give trouble, but in their last encounters with the Chiiian troops had been invariably defeated. A destructive fire had broken out at Valparaiso, the capital of the province of that name, which swept away fifty houses. Most of the buildings were of wood, and owned by German settlers. The yearly budget had just been published ; it amounted to 6,495,609 dols. 56e. THE ELPHINSTONE MEMORIAL. Yesterday afternoon a meeting most influentially attended was held at Willis's Rooms, King-street, St. James's, to take into consideration the most appropriate mode of testifying respect for the me mory of the late distinguished Indian statesman, the Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone. Sir Charles Wood, Bart., M.P., was called to the chair. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, I passed a high eulogium upon the late Mr. Mount stuartaElphinstone, and expressed his concurrence with the object in view. The Duke of ARGYLL proposed the first resolu tion, to the effect that, in the opinion of the meet ing, the eminent public services of the late Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone throughout a long and varied career of distinction and usefulness afford a brilliant example of the highest qualities of a British statesman, and deserve the lasting gratitude of his country. The motion was seconded by Lord ELLEN ROROUGII, and carried non. con. Lord STANLEY next addressed the meeting, and in the course of his remarks said, that the most characteristic feature of the life of the decease d was the uniform and unvaried success, unbroken by a single failure, which he had achieved, and which had distinguished his brilliant career, and oftentimes in positions of no common difficulty. His lordship concluded by expressing a hope that a statue of Mr. Elphinstone might one day be placed in the august temple consecrated alike to divine worship and to human genius, in which, for gene rations past, the remains of our noblest country men had been laid. (Loud applause.) His lord ship then moved :—" That in order to give expres sion to this feeling, it is fitting that the public esti mation of the services of the deceased statesman should be shown by some permanent memorial." Sir JOAN LAWRENCE seconded the motion. Mr. GRANT DtiFF, M.P., threw out a suggestion that in lieu of a statue they should found three scholarships—one to be given to Oxford Univer sity, one to Cambridge, and the third collectively for the Scotch Universities. The resolution having been carried unanimously, Earl STANHOPE moved the appointment of a committee for the purpose of collecting subscrip tions, and determining the most appropriate mode of carrying out the objects of the meeting. Colonel SYKES, M.P., seconded the resolution, which, after a few words from the Right Hon. HOLT MACKENZIE, was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman, on the motion of Lord STANLEY, closed the proceedings. COLLIERY EXPLOSIOY AND LOSS OF ELEVEN'' LIVE,. A very serious colliery explosion occurred on Wednesday, at Higham, near Barnsley, in one of the pits, the property of Messrs. Charlesworth. Eleven men and boys perished by the fire-damp, and three others terribly injured. It appears that between one and two o'clock, the bottom steward, Mr. Ainsworth, whilst in the pit, had his attention attracted by some slight noise, immediately after which some men came from the bottom, and in formed him that an explosion had taken place on the n orth side. He then went to the top, and having got assistance, without delay descended. He dis covered in that part of the pit, where 14 men and boys were at work, that only three were alive. These were with all possible speed brought to the top and conveyed to their homes. The bodies of the 11 poor fellows were then brought up, and presented a most painful appearance, they evi dently having suffered not only from the fire damp, but also from the after damp, being mach bruised and burnt. The bodies were at once removed to their respective homes. Several of the wives of the men were present when the bodies were got out, and it need scarcely be said that a scene of a most distressing and painful character occurred, as each blackened and bruised, yet w recog nisable, husband or son as claimed. The pit, which is situated in a rather wild of part of the district, has been hitherto very free from accidents ; the owners, the well known and wealthy firm of the Messrs. Charlesworth's, having . introduced into their numerous collieries all the aids for the preven tion of accidents which modern science has de veloped. The colliery is a very extensive one, 210 yards deep, in which three scams of coal are vorked ; the deepest, the well-known Silkstone bed, being 210 yards deep. It was whilst working at this seam that the accident occurred. Happily, the explosion was confined to one of the workin gs ; otherwise a more serious calamity might have taken place, as there was at least 120 men and boys i n th e pit at the time. It is rather singular that, con trary to explosions from fire damp, no report was heard, the men at the top not being aware of a matter until the bottom steward communicated the fact to the manager, Mr. Depledge. The came of the accident does not as yet appear to be know'', NEW 'WESTMINSTER BRIDGE, -- Yesterday the works of the permanent approach on the Middlesex side were in a very advanced state, the houses in Bridge-street havin g been razed to the grottml, and not i ces of removal served on the occupiers of the remaining promises re quired for the approach, which is macadamised from the toot of the bridge. On the Lambeth side the approach is fully completed, and the superstructural of the bride as far as Stangate neatly finished. The line aiNot icom the Westminster-road to the 11islilep i - a-walk will b e w id ene d and iniproTc4 15 5, P.Ctt:t 44 the bridge is opened. LA TV INTELLIGENCE.—( This Day.) COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. (Before Justice Wightruan and a Jury.) BARRY Y. SIIIPLMY-LIBEL. This was an action for libel, brought by the plaintiff the originator of the Metropolitan and County Club, Victoria street, Westminster, against the defendant the registered proprietor of The Sporting Life newspaper. Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., and Mr. Wolsby was counsel for the plaintiff, and Mr. Sergeant Parry and Mr. H. Jameswere counsel for the defendant. The learned counsel for the plaintiff having stated the case, The clerk of the court read the libel, which charged the plaintiff with fraud and arson. The plaintiff was then called and cross-examined by Mr. Welsby—He said my name is William Barry. lam plain tiff in this action. I reside at 4, Victoria-street, Westmin ster. My private residence is at Norwood. I carry on the business of a commercial agent. I originated a club for the suppression of frauds practised by men advertising for the purpose of receiving money to invest, which they never did I mean persons advertising to invest money on horse-racingt which, if the horse won, they would send them a largo sum. The scheme of mine for suppressing such a system was ad- vertisea in Ben' c _Lilo in London. There is a seers- tary to that club. His name is Captain Cock burn, late of the 60th Rifles. I was 'Artier and manager in Brown's Patent Parchment Company. That business was carried on at Romsey in Hampshire. In March, 1859, I was residing at Romsoy. I had left that business at that time. I recollect Sunday the 27th of March. A fire occurred about three o'clock. I was in the neighbourhood with two men exercising some dogs. We were about a quarter of a mile from my house when I was remarking upon the beauty of the landscape, when one of the men pointed out some smoke rising frem my house between the slates andthe chimney. I said the cYmneymust be on fire and ran to the house. It was impossible to enter owing to the dense smoke. I put a saddle on my hunter and sent for the engines. I threw water through the kitchen window in the direction in which the fire was raging in that place. I was particularly anxious to get into the kitchen to rescue a favourite parrot of my wife's. Every person did all that was possible. I was much burnt in saving my papers. We got into two rooms in the front of the house, and saved some of the furniture therein; all in tho other part of the house was destroyed, but a table, sideboard, and some plate. An inventory of the property destroyed was sent to the Royal Exchange Office. Tho goods were insured for £4OO. I was paid £365. The reason I received less than £•100 was because the office questioned whether I had insured the china and glass. I was never accused of setting my house on fire. I never heard of such charge until I saw it in the paper complained of. The other allegations in the article are entirely unfounded. Before Captain Cockburn was ap pointed secretary to the club, a Mr. Chatterley applied for the office. My great grandfather spelled his name with a "y," but there was a question whether it was the correct way to spell the family name. Whilst I was a minor I spelled my name Barr. When I wont to the West Indies I used a "y" in my name, but on my return to England I resumed the name of Barr, in consequence of its being requisite, I should de so, in consequence of certain law prooeedings. A year or two after that I resumed the name of Barry, and I have not changed it since. Cross-examined by Sergeant Parry—l resided in the house at Romsey about nine months. My wife and daugh ter were out when the fire occurred. They returned while the fire was burning. At the time of the fire no one was in the house. I answer distinctly—no, I did not send our female servant to church that Sunday. She went out that Sunday afternoon in accordance with her usual practice. Hampton was the name of one of the persons who was with me when I was exercising the dogs. lie was present when the fire was first seen. It was twenty minutes or half an hour after we left the house that we saw the fire I ran first and the others followed. I cautioned the men when they attempted to go up stairs that there was gunpowder in the house. I will swear I did not tell two or three persons who wore trying to get into the home) that there was gunpowder in the house, and that it was dangerous to do so as there would be an explosion. The insurance office can tell you what I lost by the fire. I recollect a gun-case, containing a gun, belonging to a friend, standing in the back kitchen waiting to be taken to the station. I will swear I never sent a number of boxes before the fire to the railway station. I swear I did not send more than one box either on the Saturday or Sunday. I have never been charged with firing the house. I unfortunately knew a Mr. Whitmore. He never charged me with setting fire to the house. I never heard that I was charged with setting fire to the house or I should have instituted legal proceedings. The society I originated is called the Metropolitan and County Club, Victoria-street, Westminster. It was a mere coincidence that there is another club called " Fisher's," at 4, Victoria-street, City. I never heard it called by any other namo. I never knew it by any other name. Fisher's is a place where men go and bet, but at my club subscribers are supplied with the name, description, and photograph—(laughter)—of all defaulters on the turf. I have no further connection with Bell's Life in London than by advertising. The society was established in December. In consequence of the publication of the libel I have not now a single subscriber. Before the publication of the libel I will swear I had a hundred promises. The secretary of the club would, in the event of a member wish ing to back a horse, go to Tattersalls' and do so for him, but no money was required to be sent. At the 11th Deo , when the advertisement first appeared, there was no member who had paid his subscription. An advertise ment was inserted in the Times on the 14th Dec., offering to retired officers a situation of £2OO per annum having £3OO or £4OO to invest. We got three or four applications. The £3OO was to bo invested merely to guard against any fraud. The advertisement was repeated three or four times. I have been in the habit of playing cards, but for the last 10 years I have not played much. I was never charged with swindling at cards. I was convicted 14 years ago for a conspiracy. You ought to know it, you were my counsel. The gentleman who played lost nearly £l,OOO. I received £BOO for the gentleman, whose name was Kearney, for his losses at 100. I think I met Mr. Kearney at Cre morne Gardens. I played at ecarte with him at my house. I lost £2OO. I recollect on the first occasion of meeting Mr. Kearney, we went to a coffee shop and played at whist for some time. Two persons came in while we were playing and they joined us. I knew them both. Wo were all in the habit of frequenting this coffee shop. Mr. Kearney held in his hand six of the best trump cards and an ace, and yet lost the " odd trick." I was his part ner. Mr. Kearney had betted that ho would win the "odd trick." I think it was about £lOO. I have played at back gammon at Cheltenham. I was supposed to have won £l6O, but I actually lost £5. I will swear that I never was charged with playing with marked cards. I have heard it said that it was so. I have been at Liver pool. I was invited by some members of a club to play at backgammon. Two of these gentlemen after came to me at my hotel and played cards and backgammon. I was a loser. I can't recollect whether I loft Liverpool the next morning or not. My cards have engraved upon them "Captain" Barry. lam a captain in the Mexican service. I was never charged with defrauding gentlemen by letting out shooting ground which I had no right to do. Re-examined—l did not undergo the sentence of the Criminal Court. A write, of error was moved for and granted, and the prosecutor left the country. He has never returned. I was convicted solely by the evidence of a man named Lewis. I had met Lewis as a man about town. Before the publication of the libel I had nearly 100 subscribers to the proposed club. There was gunpowder in my house at Romsey. I can't say whether it exploded. There were seven rooms of furniture in the house that was destroyed. It was well and comfortably furnished. I was only in prison eight or nine days before the writ of error was granted. By the Judge—Lewis was one of the men who played with Mr. Kearney at the coffee-shop. Arthur White, a labouring man, residing at Romsey, said he was with Mr. Barry and Hampton when the fire was discovered. He gave corroborative evidence as to the circumstances connected with the destruction of the house. Cross-examined by Sergeant Parry —I heard in Rom soy that Mr. Barry kad set fire to the house. I heard it stated by several poneple. By the Judge—l can particularly tell you what I heard By Mr. Welsby—l never hoard any one tell Mr. Barry that he had done so. By the Judge—l never told Mr. Barry what I had hoard. Sparsholt, superintendent of the police at Romsey in his evidence, stated that everything was done to extin guish the fire. On an examination, a beam in the chimney appeared to have been the cause of the fire. Nothing appeared, or was any charge made, other than that the fire was accidental. Mr. Squire, superintendent of the borough police, and one of the fire-brigade at Romsey, also gave evidence as to the exertions Mr. Barry made to put out the fire. He was of opinion that the beam in the chimney was the cause of the fire. He also had heard it charged that Mr. Barry had caused the fire, but on inquiry it turned out to be quite un founded. The Romsey agent for the Royal Exchange Fire-office proved the payment of the sum insured. He had heard the report about Mr. Barry, but common report was a common liar, and ho never took any notice of it. Ho had never stated the fire was a very suspicious one. The case was expected to last the whole day. ,he COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. (Beforo Mr. Commissioner Fanc.) IN ILE ILEERJEMIOY ItUSTOMJEF:. This bankrupt wag described as of Singapore and Londor, merchant, Bishopsgate, and to-day was appoint e d f or y a last examination. _ _ _ The balance •oheet not having been filed in time an ad journment was taken by consent. The accounts, by Mr. 11. C. Johnstone, commenced June, 1858, and extend to Jan. last, and shows debtor to cred . - tors, unsecured, £9,516; cash creditors, £9,334; to ditto holding security, £1,377 ; liabilities, £189; surplus, Jum, 1858, 4;11,975, Cr.—By debts, estimated to realise £1,314; bad debts, £3,943 ; debts in China, £8,587 ; property in the hands of creditors, £1,526; mercantile discount :L373 property in the hands of agents, £13,111; trade expenses, £1,244 ; losses (including bad debts), £4,454 ; house ex penses, £727. POLICE INTELLIGENOE-( THIS DAY.) MARLBOROUGH-STREET. THE GERMAN FAIR—COUNTER APPLICATION..-Mr. Green, of the Portland Bazaar, attended before Mr. Bingham and said as Mr. Cramer had made an application to him he wisheel to make a contradiction, and hoped equal publicity misht be given to it Mr. Bingham said the application of Mr. Cremer had not been made to him. That court was not the place for giving publicity to statements or contradictions, they had better be made to the newspapers. What was it he wished to complain of—if it was anything that he had any power to interfere with he would do so. Mr. Green said he had been much annoyed by men with boards calling them impostors, walking up and down in front of his place of business. The boards had on them " Beware of Impostors—The German Fair is closed." Mr. Bingham said if ho believed that applied to him, and he could give reasonable evidence of it he would order it at once to be stopped. Mr. Green ■aid he did. Mr. Bingham said then he would semi an officer with a caution and to inform Mr. Cromer that it could not be per mitted, and that if he wanted to proceed against an impos ter that he must proceed in the regular way. It must be stopped as it was a libel and likely to cause a breach of the peace. THE CASE OF WETZENSTHIN STOIMASSER.--ANO OTHEII APPREHENS I ON.—Edward. von Wetzenstein, de scribed as of no occupation, but who calls himself an Austrian officer, and says he lefthik country in consequence of killing his adversary in a duel, was brought before Mr. Bingham, in custody of Sergeant Cole, 23 C, by whom he was taken into custody, at 14, !Edward -street, Surrey gardens, where he was residing in the name of Edwards, charged with being concerned, with others in custody, in conspiring by divers unlawful and fraudulent means to obtain from Mr. Joseph Stohwassor, of 39, Conduit. street, tailor, the sum of £3OO. Mr. Edward Lewis, of Great Marlborough-street, apparel for the prosecutor, and said that as the other prisoners stool remanded till Tuesday next by Mx. Beadon, perhaps it would be advisable only to take sufficient evidence to justify a re. mand, and have the prisoner brought up with the other, on Tuesday next. Mr. Joseph Stohwassor was then called, and said he was a tailor, of 39, Conduit-street, that ho know the prisoner, and that ho charged him with conspiring with others now ill custody in endeavouring to obtain money of him. The names of the other prisoners were Elizabeth •on Wetsen stein, Magdalena Jordan, Hermann Frieck, and there were others. He expected on Tuesday next to produce further evidence. Mr. Bingham (addressing the primaer) said he would b. remanded till Tuesday next. He could say anything if hi liked, but perhaps he would reserve his defence. The prisoner was then remanded. THAMES. A THIEF DETECTO3I..—A rough and illiterate lad, who gave the name of Joh* Murphy, but who has some times assumed the names of Bryant and Godwin, was brought before Mr. Selfe charged with stealing a coat, value lie. 6d., from the shop of Mr. William Bryant, clothes salesman, Waterloo-terrace, Commercial-road East. Mr. Disbois, shopman to the prosecutor, said there was a bell to which a piece of string was made fast in the shop, and the other end of the string was attached to each coat er garment outside the shop. He stood tinder the bell all day long, and when it rang he knew there was a robbery going on outside. He heard and saw the bell ring vio lently yesterday evening and knew that a coat was stolen. He ran out of the shop into the street, and saw the prisoner in the act of putting a pilot seat on his arm, and run.. ning away with it. He seized the prisoner and took the coat away from him. It was worth 12s. 6d., and the one produced was that which the prisoner had stolen. The prisoner, in defence, said he stole the coat because he wanted food. His father WAS in prison under a sentenee of eight months' imprisonment. His mother was dead, and ho had no one to care for him. Mr. Selfe—You should go to the relieving officer of the parish to which you belong. You cannot be permitted to go about the streets plundering tradesmen. The prisoner then called upon a strange-looking Irian woman, named Biddy Leary, to speak for him. She got into the witness box, looked strangely at him, and said he well not the boy she cams to speak for. The prisoner—Why you are my aunt. Mrs. Leary—Am I, now The prisoner—To be sure. You aro my father's sister. Mrs. Leary—Then sure I am, and you are not the boy g took you for. Mr. Selfe asked the woman if she knew anything of t h e boy, his habits and his mode of living to which ahe replied, he lives somehow and somewhere. Mr. Selfe—l suppose be does, whether he is your nephew' or not, you don't seem to know much about him. He ip sentenced to two months' imprisonment and hard labour. Mrs. Leary no sooner heard the sentence than she la" Vent to loud exclamations of grief, and said her poor dear isrlint boy was lost for ever. 71:11S DAY'S MARKETS. CORN EXCHANGE. To-day's market was very scantily supplied with Etll lish wheat, coastwise and by land carriage. For 11101 _ kinds there was a steady demand, at fully le per quart et over the sates current last week, and at which a clearanc• was easily effected. There was a slightly improved demand for foreig o wheat, the supply of which was good, but the high PO' tensions of holders checked sales. Floating cargoes were steady in price. The few samples of b ar l e y on the stands found buyer.. and the quotations of Monday were freely supported. Now malt was in fair request, bnt old parcels were rathil cheaper. The show of oats was limited. Most kinds were IA demand, and prices had an upward tendency. Both beans and peas were very firm, and lour mended extreme rates. AIMITALS TXTII IMMIX Wheat. Barley Malt. Oak. Miff. English 1,760 t 6,930 1 7,210 2,811 1 1,921 Irish - Foraign .. 1,140 I 5,310 .-- 3,770 Alis I Isli, NEVTGATB AND LIZADENHALL. The supplies of meat h.ro to-day are somewhat eiten ° sive, and tb.e trade generally rules inactive, u follows Per 81bs. by the moue. s. d. a. d. Inferior Beef 2 6to 2 10 Mid. d 0..... 3 oto 8 4 PuLlargedo. 3 6to 4 0 Do. small do. 4 2to 4 4 Large pork.. 3 6to 4 2 s. d. s• Infr. Mutton. 3 4to I Mid. do 3 St. 4 Primo do. 4 4t. 4 Veal Small pork BOROUGH MOP. - ----- --- • i , The proposal to admit foreign hops at a considerable r,„ duction in the duty, h as pro d uce d cons id era bl e flatness '", our market, and th e annexe d quo t a ti ons are a l m ost 10 - minal : Mid and East Kent'pocksts 80s to 140 s per owt. Weald of Kent do. 64s to 85s ~ Sussex do. 6os to 80■ ~ COLONIAL. TEA.—The market remains very quiet, no sales of ice, portance having been entered into, and prices are =Alton SUGARS.—A steady business has been done , &Ai il t 4 general tone of the market has improved. In the market prices continue firm, although business has Dow limited. COFFEE.—At public sale full rates were obtained for finer descriptions of plantation Ceylon. Other sorts to r in steady demand and realised full values. Rica.—ln the private market a rather large busing has been transacted, at about previous prices. FRUIT.—A rather large amount of business has 104 transacted in currants since the proposed reduction of ts duty, and prices have ads anced about 3s to 4s per cwt. SALTPETRIL—There have been no dealings of import l and quotations remain unaltered. TALLOW.--The market is very quiet, and prices kal slightly given way. P.Y.C., on the spot, is now quot7l 60s ; April to June, 56a ; and last throe months, 53 1 I cwt. THIS DAY S SHIPPING. • LONDON, Feb. 17.—Wind this day at noon, fresh, with tine weather. ocl 1.139 OFF PLYMOUTH, Feb. 16.—Wind, N.E.—Arrit Handy King, from Hamburg for Buenos Arm i° SCILLY, Feb. 15.—Wind, N.E.—Sailed—Jano, for Janeiro. FALmorrn, Feb. 16.—Wind, N.E.—Sailed—The I s t, Hands, for Singapore—The Cock of the Walk, for Michael's. al/ OFF PENZANCE ' Feb. 15.—Arrived—Jennette, from l a Mauritius for Itotterdam—Do Loto, from Savannah Havre. fot NEWPORT, Feb. 16.—Sailed—Queen of the Isle, Grenada. IS GAMMAS, Feb. IG.—Arrived—Circassian (8), from York. CnooKitaNEN, Feb. U.—Arrived—The Fortunate, hod Callao. r,, to CowEs, Feb. 17.—Arrived—Fulton (s), from New Yi and left for Havre. CLYDE, Feb. 16.—Sailed—The Ideal, for Havana. (By ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUT&IA&PTON, Friday Mor t Wind, N.E. Arrived—Parana, steamer, from the West Indies; T o e+ Eglinton, steamer, from London; Dispatch, steamer; JeSai le rsey. e _.„ort d—Agenoria steamer, for Bilboa; Courier, st for Jersey; Lady Eglinton, steamer, for Dublin. . 0 , LIVEUPOOL, Friday 1%1 02111 Wind N. by E. Arrived, Feb. 16—Corinthian, s crew steamer, froiy, Ar o r Sailed, Feb. 16—Ariel, for Ceara ; Moolin, for i!Te01: 1 ' Edward Thompson, for Genoa ; Nichola Honrich: Io• stantinople ; Cwmsynalog, for Antwerp. (BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAI GRAVESEND Fiiiay o; u cii ° rui g Wind, N.E. ; tide, nearly high water ; wea ther DEAL, Friday Wind N.E., Very strong.