The Sun. — London, England, 1869-12-23 00:00:00

SZIRIT OF THE Eu.smo JOURNALS. No one can have been surprised, says the Times, that the special jury impanelled to try the Messrs. Gurney and their fellow directors should have returned on Wednesday afternoon a verdict of Not Guilty after ten minutes' con sultation. It had been felt for days past that it must be so. No other end to the case was possible on the argu ments and evidence adduced by the prosecution itself. A. year ago an equally strong impression prevailed against the defendants. Public morality would have been outraged had the Lord Mayor dismissed the charges. It would have been outraged now had the directors been convicted on those charges. But there is no real discrepancy. For the purposes of the preliminary investigation in January it was enough to establish a primci fade case to prove that the facts were compatible with guilt. On the trial the prosecutor was bound to demon strate to the jury that theywere incompatible with innocence. This he has failed to accomplish in respect of any of the defendants, and flagrantly in respect of the three new directors. The unfortunate shareholders in this ruinous company will probably be disappointed in finding that they have been made victims, but that the law gives them no victim in return. But this is because, like Dr. Kencaly, they have failed to apprehend that for the establishment of a charge of conspiracy the accused must be shewn to have both known the truth and concealed it. Gross and culpable ignorance is not sufficient. The verdict has been given, and it is the right verdict. But while the public is bound to be just to these unhappy gentlemen, it cannot afford to be gene rous. They sinned grievously in not putting the public into as good a position as themselves for judging as to the expediency of joining or refusing to join their company. If their reticence has ruined their fortunes and peace of mind, it must not be forgotten that it has broken up and wrecked many households besides. When all is said, it can hardly be disputed that they, in their character of directors that is, trustees for their shareholders—engaged the public to buy an insolvent business under the delusion that, apart from any question of guarantees in the shape of private estates, it was still solvent. We consider conduct like this highly censurable, and any indulgence towards it to be opposed to public policy. To hail with enthusiasm an acquittal which is no acquittal from this charge is as repulsive to our feelings of what is becoming as to have triumphed in the defendants' committal last winter. Of the bursts of applause which are reported to have welcomed each event, we think the one as senseless and immoral as the other was savage and heartless. The Daily News declares that the result of the Overend and Gurney case has been foreseen almost since the trial began. To have decided otherwise would have been to disregard alike the rules of law and the conclusions drawn from the evidence. As is common in trials where social interests as well as legal issues are involved, a great warmth of expression characterised the speeches of the opposing counsel. Those who rejoice the most over the result have the greatest reason for rejoicing that the proceedings were instituted. Had nothing been done it would have been said that law is swift to smite the small transgressor, but impo tent to punish the gigantic wrongdoer. As it is, the accused have been fairly dealt with while the equality of all men before the law has been vindicated in a way which will not soon be forgotten. Those who demanded a victim and those who have denounced the prosecutor have both been disappointed. The fact of the prosecution having been carried into effect will have a salutary result, if it do nothing mote than render the promoters and directors of companies more cautious in the future. The proceedings themselves will lose all their value if they fail to render the investing public less credulous, and more disposed to ask questions than to place trust in great names. Nor are we without hope that this and other examples of the havoc caused by the failure of establiehments of reputed solidity will lead to the reconsideration of the conditions under which the liability of a shareholder is limited. The loss of capital involved in Overend, Gurney, and Company (Limited) could have been borne in many cases where the payment of the subsequent calls produced beggary. Fifteen pounds were paid up on each share of fifty pounds. The prospectus said that no more would be required. Since the liquidation has been in progress, calls of five pounds each have been made at frequent intervals. How much suffering would have been saved and ruin averted if the maximum sum according to the prospectus had been the maximum in reality ! The Standard is inclined to think that the Archbishop ins done wisely in cutting the knot by asking for the assistance of a suffragan in discharging the duties which hamper him in his work as Primate. Certainly we have no sympathy with the suggestion of a Liberal contem porary, that he should neglect a certain portion of his work as the alternative to having a suffragan. Why, asks the Times, with contemptuous meaning, " undertake those ruridecanal conferences," or squander time in " attending debates between handfuls of country clergy ?" Why are bishops to permit themselves to be " devoured in this way by their subordinates ?" In fact, our contemporary comes back to its cherished penny-post theory, and anticipates the day when a bishop will be a civil functionary, sitting in a cen tral bureau, and dispensing the graces of his office through the medium of the pillar-box round the corner. We look upon suffragans as a stop-gap, pending the honest and practical consideration of the overwhelming case for a reconstruction of the dioceses and an extension of the Episcopate. No one who fairly examines the question, and takes into account the enormous increase of the population since the days of Henry VIII., will aver that an addition of one new diocese to the number then in existence represents an augmentation of episcopal power adequate to the present needs of the Church. Possibly the day is -not far distant when the question of the increase of the episcopate may be fairly taken in hand, but we have no doubt that the Archbishop of Canterbury has been well advised in asking for a suffra gan in the meantime. The Post, in discussing the question of national defence, observes that during the ten years that Lord Elcho's corps has been enrolled it has, he tells us, passed through its ranks sixteen hundred men trained to arms. This is a remarkable result. If we assume that half of these volunteers would, on any imminent danger threatening the country, join the ranks of their old corps, the London Scottish would then be a magnificent regi ment. But Lord Elcho reckons that as this process has been going on in the other corps of the force, somewhere about a million of men have been thus trained. If only a half or even a quarter of these men were to respond to a call to arms, the country would be in possession of a very formidable force that now lies, dormant and unobserved. Whatever, then, may be said as to the aptitude and capabilities of the volun teers for offensive war, there can bo no question that, as a nursery for a purely defensive force, the volunteer institution is fulfilling important and special functions. Lord Elcho is an avowed advocate for the introduction of some modification of the conscription in' England. He says every Englishman is bound morally, as also by "an ancient law," to defend his country, and is "legally liable for home defence with compulsory service." But if it be true that the volunteer service is silently and quietly causing a vast body of men trained to arms to accumulate in the country, surely we may afford to dispense with a measure chat—whether.rightly or wrongly—is abhorrent to the ideas of an Englishman. With a remodelled militia, and a really effective volunteer force, it seems certain that while the country would be amply defended at home, the regular troops would be available more than they ever were before for general service, the militia, in a great mea sure, making good their losses. The Telegraph thinks that in the very remarkable sermon preached by the Dean of Durham at Westminster Abbey, • on the occasion of Dr. Temple's consecration, he struck what Dr. Newman would call the true " note" of the policy that should guide the Church of England. Dr. Lake discussed in no disguised terms the question which has been raised by the elevation of Dr. Temple to to the episcopate, and appealed to the memorable support which Saint Athanasius gave to Saint Basil when the Greek father was denounced as unfit to be a bishop, because he would not separate himself from the Arian friends of his youth. No one would say that the great opponent of Arius undervalued unity ; but he also- knew the necessity of individual freedom. As Dean- Lake justly said, the C%urch of England would do well to study that example. She has been distinguished for the learning and ability of her divines, because she has shunned the crowd of tests which are the bane of sects, and which drive intellect into opposition. In no sect could men of such diverse views as Hooker and Paley, Tillotson and Butler, have worked hand in hand. So far from being the reproach, that fact is the glory of the English Church. Were. the EpiScopal (aces confined to one school of theology, then, whe'ber the school were Low, Bread, cr High, the power of the Church would bejn to decline. The- groat aim of her authorities must to, to snake her more and more national ; and it is chiefly because Dr. Temple is peculiarly fitted for the task that the laity have so heartily welcomed his elevation. As ,he Speaker of the House of Commons said the other day, I perilous game is played by those who would reduce the Church to the narrow dimensions of a sect : and those are the true friends of the Church who place in positions of ecclesiastical authority men who will save her from such fate. The Prieeess Alice had a fall from her horse, at f:inne.s tho other day. VIOI.IO, G(l;liatiiAb l y §4o,kop ate Uot 00riOUgly hut. LAW AND POLICE. THE SOMERSET AND DORSET RAILWAT.—A petition nos been presented by the directors of the Somerset and Dorset Railway Company, in Vice-Chancellor Stuart's Court, praying the court to confirm a scheme for an ar rangement with the creditors cf the company. The principal object of the scheme was to raise a loan of £140,000 to pay one sum of £40,000 to one creditor, and distribute the balance among other pressing creditors, the company being said to be insolvent. Several persons opposed the scheme, amongst them an unpaid landowner who had sold his property to the company, and the representative of the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company, who had been in the exercise of a right of run ning trains over the Scmcrset line. The Vice-Chancellor, who commended the fair and honest manner in which affairs had been conducted, said he would certainly have confirmed the scheme if he could have done so, but he" held that the opponents had a right to object, and if he confirmed the scheme he would muse delay, expense, and ve7Lation to the parties coacerned. lie would make no order as to the cost of the application. NIGHT CABs.-1 painful story was told of the devices of London cab proprietors at Marylebone Police-court. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals organised a staff of officers to go r( Ind at night and inspect the railway cabs. The result was that on one night waen the inspection was made five, cut of every six horses in cabs proved to be lame, with wounds, and otherwise unfit for wor.r. Several p:oprietors were fined 20s. each and costs. ROBBERY BY A POLICEMAN'S WlFE•—Agnes Stewart, the policeman's wife who was convicted of stealing a cash-box containing £l2O, has been sentenced to two years' hard labour, at the Middlesex Sessions. STEALING A CEILD.—Mary Jones, the woman who took away a baby from the nursemaid and left it on the pave ment in the City, having stolen its shawl, has been sen tenced to nine months' hard labour at the Middlesex Sessions. ROBBING FURNISHED LODGINGS.—Thomas and Caroline Edwards, who have carried on a system of robbing fur nished lodgings, twenty different persons having made complaints against them, have been tried at the Middlesex Sessions. The man was sentenced to five years' penal servitude, and the wcman discharged, as she had acted under the influence of her husband. VELOCIPEDES ON A FOOTPATH.—Mr. Ganthony, of Rich mond, has been fined ss. by the Richmond magistrates for driving a velocipede on the footrath. THE ST. FANC.EAS INFIRMARY AGAIN. several inquests were held at St. Pancras on Thursday. The infirmary, in which so many deaths had taken place, was again the subject of comment. In one of the cases, Hannah Butt, aged 61, was shewn to have been killed through the administration of a • wrong dose of medicine. Dr. Ellis said : Deceased was admitted suffering from debility. On December the 6th she had slight diarrhoea, for which I ordered her a mixture, and I ordered five grains of calomel for a strong young woman in the neat bed. The next morn ing I found that the nurse of the ward, who was only t'iere temporarily, had given the calcine' to the old woman i - "stead of the young womar. The dose given in mistake n - > doubt killed her. All the bottles of medicine are 1 shelled with the number of the bed in which the patients are. Susan Pentetow, an inmate of the ward in which de c used died, said : About afortnight ago a young man from tie dispensary brought a powder into the ward. I gave it t 3 the paii nurse, who gave it to the old woman. Tl-4 d - !ceased never rallied afterwards. The names of the two patients were not the same. The following report to the guardians on the subject by Dr. Ellis was put in evi ebnce:—" This morning (Tuesday) I find the nurse of the t3mporary 24 ward gave last evening a powder, consisting of five grains of calomel, to an old woman suffering from carbuncle ; the powder should have been given to a yran,g woman suffering from pleurisy in the next bed. Tae nurse, from her character, seemed competent for the d sty when engaged. I must mention that on the day of the removal of the patients from the infirmary to the t !mporary accommodation, I took every precaution against alcidents of this kind, by giving the infirmary matron in structions to superintend the administration of medicines; bat this she flatly refused to do." Dr. Ellis added that t'se master of the house discharged the nurse who had made the mistake. A verdict of " Death from misadven tare" was rettuneo. In the other cases affecting theparish same evidence was given which excited the comment of the jury. In answer to questitn3, Dr. Ellis said that pauper nurses went on duty at ci_:ht o'clock at night, and were kept on till seven the next morning, and then they were r3tained to assist in the scrubbing till twelve o'clock. The jury thought the pauper nurses could hardly 133 fit for anything if they were kept on duty for sixteen h lurs at a stretch. Dr. 11.11, in answer to questions, said t'iere was only one night nurse to twenty-two wards, con t lining about 300 per3ons. Even this nurse was a pauper, and although twelve months ago he recommended the a?pointment of a l aid nurse, that recommendation had nit been carried out. Dr. Lankester remarked that E island took a great deal more care of her criminals than of her paupers, and the opinion was acquiesced in by 5 - 37eral of the jury. - •., AN OUTRAGE IN Tur. NORTH OF IRELAND. — Agrarianism is tf avelling northwaris. A daring outrage is reported to have been committed on Sunday night near Bleek, in the county of Armagh. Charles Murphy, a bailiff on the property of Mr. C. H. L. Ward, of Stratford on-Avon, was sitting at supper, when a party of armed mn entered his house after firing shots, and struck him on the head with a Listol. He ran into a corner, aid they assaulted him again. They also assaulted his wife and daughters. One of them handed him a book and wanted him to take an oath, hut he refused. They smashed the furniture and windows and then went away. H. supposes that they accuse him of being instrumental in getting some of their 'rents raised, although there is no foundation for the charge. In February last he received a threatening letter, and a party of men broke in his door. THE FOREIGN OFFICE A GEN CIE S .—The Pall ilfoli G e:ette understands that the scheme which has been pre- Fired by the Foreign Office for compromising the question of agencies has been unfavourably received by the Treasury. Lord Clarendon made the suggestion to transfer these agencies from the five gentlemen who at present enjoy them to one of the number, Mr. Staveley, who, it was prapoced, should retire from the service on the same pension as if he had been dismissed, but whc; should be still allowed rooms at the Foreign Office where he could transact the agency business. In consideration of drawing the pension it was further to be arranged that he should retain only half the agency fees for his own emolument, and should pay over the other half to the other present agents as compensation. The Treasury, we understand, objects to so much of this scheme as involves t'ie allowance of a pension which is not yet earned, and the diplomatic service was equally little prepossessed in favour of an arrangement which called upon them to pay thuble the amount which the service really cost, in order t..) supply a fund for compensation to those who were to b 3 no longer employed. The Pall Xall Gazette is satisfied with this result. It says that a root and branch reform of a bad system is wanted, not a compromise which would retain its worst features. The functions of an agent rut j resent are to act as banker and commission agent for the consuls and diplomatists who choose to pay him, and to receive and transmit their letters and parcels in the Foreign Office bags. All these duties could be quite as well performed by any private agent absolutely unconnected with the Foreign Office. There ought to be no compensation for such services. One gentleman is unable t 3 fulfil his duties, and ought at once to retire, and the other clerks who have accepted agencies might be allowed a little extra salary. A FENIAN INIANIrsTo.—The Fenians in America have issued an address, congratulating the Brotherhood across the Atlantic on the steady advancement of the cause Irish nationality. " The disestabl!shraent of the Angli can Church in Ireland,' it rays," gives us sincere pleasure. But the Church, though disestablished, has not been dis endowed, su that religious liberty is as Ins removed as ever. Three garrisons have held Ire land in subjection—the Church, the landlords, and the military; among the latter we reckon the constabulary, armed with breech-loaders, and handled a 3 if engaged in a perpetual campaign. It is the turn of the landlord to be disestablished next ; and after that the great establishment—that of the English military colony— must inevitably follow." On the land question the mani- Lsto speaks strongly, as might be expected. The grievance it declared to be great enough to justify a rebellion indeed, further on the document proclaims that th e re are three first-class grievances oppressing the I r i s h people, nay one of which woul.l justify a revolu- Conary war; landlorlisna, maladministration, and exces s:ve taxation. "The land of, Ireland," we are told "belongs to the people cf Ireland. The actual cultiva tore alone should enjoy the psirilt ge of holding land, ain, the farmers should hold direct from the only legitimat( landlord—the aggregate Irish people." The rule of Engla.ms is, however, the grievance of grievances, and" to remove it is to remove all others," Every English garrison must be with drawn. Protestant, landlord, and British ascendancy must be withdrawn. Self-government is the only salvation for Ireland; autonomy is the panacea for her grievances. The manifesto encourages the Brotherhood to endure to the end, as, though England can overcome any short-lived attach, she cannot encounter the permanent disaffection of the people, maintained as . it 044,.M . .i . )7 • gicii::)49lo 4 7 4 _ va th9..4194944,99;41440.. THE SUN, LONDON, THUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 23, 1869 MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. Board has requested that the charges of misconduct against Dr. Ellis be more precisely defined, in order that they may be investigated at once. It will be remembered that when the late public outcry arose respecting the state of the St. Pancras Infirmary—the rats, the sewers, the draughts, the foul air, &c.—the " new " guardians laid the blame upon Dr. Ellis. With a logic of an eminently Pancrasian type, they declared —first, that the infirmary was not in a bad state, and, secondly, that its bad state was the result of Dr. Ellis's plot. He, to bring discredit upon the tr, uar dians, had purposely " doctored " the wards. lie had closed the ventilators, and made divers arrangements for the manufacture of foul air and the other discomforting influences complained of, not omitting, we suppose, the rats. The guardians are now asked to define these charges. But they protest against having cast upon them the duty of a formal prosecution, in which rigorous technical proof of every point is demanded. " A master may often have abundant cause to dismiss a servant without being in a position to substantiate his conviction or verify his observations." Is the case of this kind, however ? Discredit was cast upon the Board, and the Board cast it upon Dr. Ellis. They are now re quired to skew that the doctor is guilty, in order that they may be proved innocent. The question seems hardly one of dismissal. irisu WORKHOPCE CHAPLAIN. The 'Rev. Mr. Dunscombe, who is Protestant chaplain of Macroom workhouse, King's County, has thought it needful to give up the salary of his office, and yet to continue its duties. He has nominally resigned, partly because of the occasionally irksome regulations of the Poor Law Commissioners, and partly because of the small number of Protestant inmates. As rector of the parish he still promises, however, to minister to the spiritual wants of the few persons of his religion who have the misfortune to find themselves within the house, and neither the Guardians nor the Commissioners raise any objection. Mr. Dunscombe can at least claim credit for an act of disinterested feeling which is not common. UNDERTAKERS' MYSTERIES. A. strange story was told at the Southwark Police court on Tuesday. ' A.- young man appealed to the magistrate for assistance under the following circum stances. About twelve months ago he entrusted an undertaker of South London to conduct the funeral of his mother. Not having accommodation at home, the body Was removed to the undertaker's to be placedin the coffin. The applicant and others of the family attended the funeral at Bow Cemetery, where they saw the interment, believing the coffin to contain the body of the mother only. lie was not undeceived until a few days ago, when a man, who was at the time of the funeral in the employ of the undertaker, told him that the latter placed the bodies of three children in the coffin with his mother, and_ they were all buried together. The son straightway went to the undertaker, who, according to the police-court story, offered to return the whole of the money on condition that the case was hushed up. The tradesman confessed to putting one still-born baby in the coffin. This is not the first time that such a tale has been told, and on good foundation, too ; but there ought to be no difficulty in ascertaining the truth. As the magis trate told the applicant, the Secretary of State could grant power to have the coffin taken up. The young man has expressed his intention of asking permission, Government did not intend to make any reply to It, on account of its recriminatory character. AUSTRIAN AFFAIRS. A Ministerial crisis is expected in Vienna. It is gene rally believed that the Government is in a complete state of disunion. Count Giskra and his party in the Cabinet are in favour of maintaining the present order of things, while Count Taafo f:nd his friends propose to make large concessions in order] to pacify the nationalities. The pcsition. of Count Beust is a very awkward one. Ho is in favour of the Constitution which he helped to create, but, on the other hand, his political sagacity induces him to uphold the doctrines of conciliation. He is supposed to sway the balance of parties, and his decision is looked for with interest. He has had a long conference with the Emperor since his return from the East. The North-East Correspondent states that a Czech proclamation has been published at Prague, which proposes the overthrow of the Government, and calls upon the nation to support its Dalmatian brt thrcn. General Roditch Las set out fer Cattaro ills full powers to v.ct, and with considerable sums of money to ceropenFate those persons who have suffered by the insurrection. He will endeavour to pacify the province by the promise of important concessions. The Vienna Ca:ette has contradicted a despatch, which was said to have been sent from Count Ecust to the Austrian Am bassador at Berlin, for the purpose of complaining against the Prussian agitation in Bohemia. DISARMAMENT. All the later information serves to confirm the accuracy of the Central Press telegram, denying the statement of the Times that France had proposed dis armament to the leading European Governments. The Herald says that a scheme of the kind was some time since the object of an exchange of correspon dence between the British, French, Russian, Prus sian, and Italian Governments. "But it is not cor rect to state that that idea was initiated by the French Emperor. Moreover, the correspondence ex changed between the interested parties up to the present time leaves little chance of the idea assuming a more tangible form." Another contemporary is more positive, and, like our telegram from Berlin, states that there is no foundation whatever for the report. There is too much reason to fear that the contradiction which we first published is quite correct. A FENIAN RAID ON SALFORD. The Manchester Guardian makes a startling an nouncement. It states " upon authority it cannot doubt" that Salford has been threatened with a Fenian raid. Last Saturday evening a telegram from the Horse Guards was received by Colonel Reynolds, the assistant adjutant general for the Manchester district, intimating that the Fenians contemplated an attack upon the Militia Barracks in Salford, with the view of obtaining possession of about 800 stand of arms which were stored there. Colonel Reynolds lost no time in adopting measures for the defeat of the plot. The rifles were removed the same night to the Infantry Barracks. There they are safe against surprise. THE TIPPERARY ELECTION. There is still no definite course marked out as to Mr. O'Donovan Rossa, M.P. The London corres pondent of the Dublin Mail declares that no step can be taken towards declaring the election for Tippe rary void until O'Donovan Rossa has had the oppor tunity of claiming his seat in the House of Com mons. To afford him this opportunity he will, probably, be brought to the bar of the House, and a resolution will be moved, declaring his incapacity. That motion being carried—and it is almost certain to be so—a new election will be ordered. DEMOCRACY IN SOUTHWARK. Mr. Odger, notwithstanding his declaration in favour of a Fenian amnesty, does not seem to have secured the thorough support of the Irish electors in Southwark. One Hibernian party has held several meetings within the last few days, and determined to start Mr. J. P. M'Donnell, secretary of the recently dissolved Amnesty Committee, as a candidate. But Mr. Odger gets aid from other quarters. Sir C. W. Mike, M.P., and Sir 11. Hoare, M.P., who were his colleagues in his Chelsea candidature, have subscribed £3O each to his election fund. A committee has been formed at Stafford to receive subscriptions to promote Mr. Odger's return. ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY. The Rcotsman anticipates a severe contest for the Lord Rectorship of Aberdeen University. "From the lists of the various committees, it appears that Mr. Grant Duff will have a majority in the Angus and Buchan Nations, and that Sir William Stirling Maxwell will have a decided majority in the Moray Nation, while in the Mar Nation the numbers aro about equal." Everything, therefore, depends upon the latter Nation, in which the most strenuous efforts are being made. A SUFFRAGAN FOIL CANTERBURY. The Primate of All England has taken a very wise course—one which it would have been good for the English Church if hisGraco had taken long ago. He has applied to the Government to be allowed a suf fragan. The Government has acceded to the request. It could hardly do otherwise. Work which lays a man down in sickness nigh unto death is evidently too heavy. Public opinion, which has made so great demands of late upon dignitaries both lay and clerical, does not wish the best men to be worked out of the world ; and yet the work must not be left undone. So these suffragans come in to do it. " The Archbishop (the Times announced) is anxious it should be known that this application has been made quite independently of his resent illness, and that no further step will be taken for several months, in order to ascertain whether his Grace's recovery is as complete as there is now every reason to hope." This announcement probably means that if, after a reasonable period, Dr. Tait should "find his duties too much for his health, he will—as he would if in any secular position—resign his see. LORD LIFFORD ON TENANT RIGHT. Lord Lifford, in a letter to the Times, ex presses no very favourable opinion of tenant right. It might have been all very well thirty years ago, when tenants made little objection to give up the land for the landlords' use, but now the "right" has swelled to enormous dimensions. It is not even confined to the land, for the landlord is appraised and paid for according to his good or bad qualities, even by public advertise ment, as much as are the houses and soil. The fol lowing instance, which Lord Litfurd admits to be extreme, occurred on his own estate : A miller holding a small mill on my property came to me and begged me to take the mill off his hands, as from ill-health and other circumst;:nces he found it a losing con cern. I agreed to do so. I put advertisements into various newspapers, and I received tenders for the mill from several respectable men. However, each of them threw up the bargain at• Last without assigning any reason. This puzzled me. I made inquiry, and I found that each gentleman who had proposed to take the mill had received a notice -warning him not to. do so, the tenant-right not having been paid. Now, by whom do you suppose that this tenant-right was claimed? Not by the tenant who voluntarily surrendered the mill, but by the widow of a former miller's man, of whose existence I was ignorant, and who had no claim whatever upon the mill, except that he had worked there, and lodg d there, as a hired servant. The woman's demand of course - could not be satisfied, and the mill is now a ruin. Lord Lifford has his own idea of what a Land Bill should be. On he one hand, justice requires that the landlord should have the power of changing a bad tenant for a good one. On the other hand, jus tice equally requires that the evicted tenant shall be repaid for his outlay on the farm, made with the knowledge of, and not objected to by, the landlord. WE LSII EVICTIONS. The agitation on behalf of the Welsh tenants who were turned out of their holdings for voting in favour of " the wrong men" at the last election is still maintained. A meeting of the Welsh Reform Asso ciation has just been held at Liverpool. A strong body of M. P.'s—Richards, Richard, Rathbone, Ser jeant Simon, and Captain Parry—were present, and assisted in the demolition of the Welsh landlords. Resolutions were passed expressing sympathy with thn evicted tenants, and advocating the Ballot as the remedy for such evils. A. cDllection was made for the saTerers. FIRST COMMISSIONS IN ABEYANCE. The news we gave some time since that first com missions in the army would probably soon be placed in abeyance, is confirmed by the issue of an order from the Government at the Morse Guards stopping all appointments to ensignships, &c. This order also makes more probable the many rumours of great approaching changes which have lately been in.cir culation. RUGBY SCHOOL. The position at Rugby is becoming serious. The total disorganisation of the school is threatened. Tho Daily Kews publishes a letter urging the assistant masters to apply the remedy which is in their own hands. The trustees have appointed a master whose ideas of his office are against the whole of the school traditions he has hitherto ruled on a principle entirely different to that which Dr. Arnold inaugurated at Rugby. The assistant-masters are the embodiment of those traditions. Why, the Daily News correspondent asks, should they consent to see the work of forty years destroyed when by holding together they can perpetuate it ? :" There may be difficulties in the way, but I believe that if they were to resolve that Rugby School as it is, should be continued, apart from its endowment or their Trustees, they would be abun dantly supported." FA STING rim CEDENTS. A strong argument against the reality of the Welsh fasting business is that nothing of the kind has been known before. The newspaper correspondents have been fishing with their usual acumen and assiduity, and the leading precedent they can discover is that of an old woman aged 68, mentioned in the Annual Register for 1809. This tolerably venerable impostor lived at Tutbury, in Stafford, and had spent, it was reported, twenty comfortable months. without food. " Proper persons," said the Annual Register, " were appointed to watch her day and night; besides these, surgeons regularly visited her two or three times a day, during which time she did not even drink the smallest quantity of water. Washing her mouth with water was, and is, the only thing she continues to do." But the proper persons, it seems, did their work very badly. In 18p, the Register told a different tale. Several gentlemen tried another watch with such strictness that after a praiseworthy nine days' battle, Anne Moore gave in, " reduced to a state of extreme debility and einacia ton." Shortly afterwards her solemn confession of 311 years' roguery was published. Doubtless she congratulated herself that the age of witch-burn -Ing was past. Other minor cases might be cited, but one substantial conclusion is pretty clear. No instance of life being really kept up without sustenance has ever occurred. The cases on record are all cases of imposture. A DOCTORS CONSPIRACY. The St. Pancras Guardians are confronted with a task which will require all their energies during this period of comparativ9 tranquillity, which Mr. Wat utolauLhas_brouzlit_About. The Poor Law A TANGIBLE SPIRIT. Mr. Henry Dircks, C.E.—one of the inventors of Pepper's Ghusts—writes an amusing letter to tho over again the same old story of a frightened continually by the constant ringing at h T a b u n n e t s e , dtehllomugse. A friend of his had his family unr easonable hours, and thmultaneously, of all his bells. No cause could be assigned for the strange occurrence. The servant girl would become terribly excited ; the children would scream themselves into hysterics ; and everyone would be much terrified. The spiritualists laughed to scorn any idea of the sounds being of the earth earthy. Writers in the Spiritual Magazine tried in vain to convince Mr. :iendßyanl by his incredulity was rewarded. wrote to him : " I have discovered the . It was the servant girl all the time. I li c Dm a iyi u rsse g th h efsri t y her in the act, and have discharged her." TURNPIKE TOLLS. The Chambers of Agriculture are obeying the com mand of the Government are exercising them selves very much about the question of turnpike tolls which has been referred to them. The Warwickshire Chamber seems disposed to sanction the principle that the expense of maintaining roads should in future be chargeable partly on local and partly on national funds. As to the charges on the latter funds, it is proposed to recoup the Chancellor of the Exchequer by certain new or increased taxes on carriages and horses. The chamber is still discussing this scheme. THE SE' AGE QUESTION. An important Government inquiry hasbeen opened at Aldershott. The Local Board of Health was threatened with an action for polluting the River Meltwater with town drainage. They answered that the sewage from the Camp Farm was quite as baneful, and suggested that as the Government con tributed to the poisoning of the river, they ought to sl.are in cleansing it. Bence the inquiry. Some residents in the neighbourhood haw, affirmed that the water which came from the Camp Farm after the sewage bad passed over it was very offensive, and a medical officer supported this testi mony. On the other hand, Mr. Blackburn, lessee of the Camp Farm, while admitting- that the sewage water was often black, stated that the blackness was caused by the iron-rust of the soil over which it had previously passed. Captain Salmond, Royal Engineers, said he had inspected the farm recently in conse quence of complaints which had been made, and found it in a aood state. The Commissioner summed up with the opinion that sewage farming was yet in its infancy. - It must be made a special business, and the sewage must be applied to the land in the proper proportion and at proper seasons. He will report shortly to the Secretary of State DUELLING. The Daily News tells a story which ought to be useful on the Continent, especially in France. A rich merchant of Valparaiso, being challenged by an officer to fight a duel, wrote to his ad versary the following letter :—" I have no desire whatsoever to kill you, and still less do I desire to be killed myself. Hero is what I propose. Go to the nearest wood. Choose a tree about as stout as myself, place yourself fifty, thirty, or even fifteen steps from it — just a.. 9 you like, and then fire bravely on the tree. If you hit it, I will admit that I was in the wrong, and will offer you an apology. In the contrary case, I shall ho ready to receive yours." The officer saw the absurdity of appeals to honour Which are decided by skill in shooting instead of by right. Tie invited his adversary to dinner, and a reconciliation ensued. It is evident that to shoot at a tree is quite as reason able a mode of arbitration as to shoot at a human being. But no one questions the folly of duelling; it is the courage to resist a pernicious custom that is needed. _ rOREIGN NOTES. THE CCCUMENICAL The Council at Rome held its third general congregattoii on Monday, when commissions of faith and of ecclesiastical d'scipline were nominated. The commissioners consisted r2spectively of forty and twenty-four members, and the principal names on the commission of faith were those of the Archbishops of Cambray and Westminster, the Primate of Hungary, and the Armenian Patriarch. The Papal Bull apostolic sedis, dated Oct. 12, which restrains in conformity with the spirit of the age the number of reserved cases of ecclesiastical censure, was pro mulgated on the day of the meeting. The Times' corres pondent states that it is arranged that 120 fathers will leave the Council and Rome too, at a signal from the Bishop of Orleans, one ambassador, if not two, accompany ing the dissentients. The French Government, according t this information, would at first say nothing to Mgr. Dupanloup ; but seeing that the confusion at present existing is likely to imperil not only Rome and the Pope, but the general peace, gave the directions referred to. It is said that Cardinal Mathieu has been telegraphed for by the French Emperor, and that he started at once, without asking permission. The Cardinal is said to be at the Lead of the Conservative pasty in the Gallican Church. Dr. Manning has been appointed by the Pope "Promoter" of the dogma of infallibility under the guidance of a Jesuit father. If he pleads the cause successfully, the cardinal's hat awaits him. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF SPAIN. Despatches received from Madrid through the Agence Havas repeat the rumour of a rapprochement between the ex-Queen of Spain and the Montpensier family. Isabella, on hearing of the dangerous illness of the Duchess of Montpensier's son, telegraphed to her sister, expressing her regret and sympathy. The Duchess, touched by this mark of interest, thanlted her warmly for her solicitude, and this exchange of despatches led to a better under standing Letwcen the two families. The regency of the Duke of Montpensier is talked of, supposing it possible to place the Fi ince of Asturias en the throne. TEE AUSTRIAN ITOURMEN. In the Upper House of the Reichsrath the Ministers wore questioned on the subject of the illegal demonstra tion that had been made by tho workmen of Vienna. Count Taafe replied that the Government was against the display, but that it had been unwilling to repress the assemblage, on account of the meeting of Parliament taking place at the same time. The Ministry were considering the whole question of the workmen's rights, and this was shown by the plans they had formed e aiihiact, Agi to the isSition from the workmen. the CRUELTIES AT SEA. Captain Il..ichinson, of the American ship Sonora, has been charged with inhuman treatment by some seamen who wore in his vessel, and a criminal prosecution will be instituted against him. Two men have made affidavits, reciting the miseries to which they and three other seamen were subjected by the captain. In consequence of bad treatment and indifferent food they ran away atNoila, but were caught and sent back to the ship. The captain placed them in the hold and chained their hands and feet. A chain was stretched between two stanchions, about a foot from the bottom of the hold, and the prisoners were compelled to sit or lie upon the flobr under the chain, with their arms fastened to it. The prisoners were chained in a row, several feet apart, and in this position they were kept until the end of the voyage—ten days. When they arrived at Manilla, three of them bad to be taken to the hospital, where they were left. The men have witnesses to confirm their statement. COSTLY MARRIAGES IN INDIA. The Bombay Ga:ette has a strong article on the absurd system which prevails in India of spending enormous amounts on marriage festivals. An Indian marriage cere mony is a most costly and formidable affair, and such is the inexorable rigour of custom that men will pinch themselves all the year round in order to spend one or two thousand pounds at their children's wedding. Debts are incurred which burden the debtor for years, and the money which, laid out in cultivating the ground, would have enriched the spender for life, serves only to make a temporary display of fireworks, jewellery, horses, and other useless accessories to the marriage feasts. Every man feels it to be incumbent on him to spend as much money on his son's wedding as was spent on his, and were he not to do so, he and his family would feel disgraced. Recourse is, there fore, had to the native money-lender, and the whole mischievous system is perpetuated. The _Bombay Gazette suggests that as the reform must begin from above, some effort should be made by the cultivated classes to put a stop to so futile and even disastrous a practice., THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE'S CHARGE ON THE OVEREND AND GURNEY CASE. LONDON, 'WEDNESDAY. The Lord Chief Justice delivered his charge to the jury in the Overend, Gurney, and Co. case at Guildhall to-day. The court was crowded. His lordship, after some prefa tory remarks, in which he said that little as was the assis tance which gentlemen acquainted with mercantile affairs like the jury needed in comprehending a case of this kind, it was still his duty to bring the matter before them in a clear form, proceeded to call attention to the counts of the indictment. With regard to the first six, which charged a misdemeanour under the 24th and 23th Vic., c. 96, he said one of the defendants, Mr. Barclay, would not be affected by them, for he appeared to have had nothing to do with the publication of the - prospectus, having left London before it was agreed upon; and he should have directed the charge against Mr. Barclay to be withdrawn when Mr. Mellish made the application, had it not been for the general counts of conspiracy. But as whatever was done by any of the parties in a conspiracy was the act of all, if the jury thought the defendants had entered into the fraudulent conspiracy represented, then Mr. Barclay like the others would be implicated. Besides the counts of conspiring to defraud the general public there were s )me which charged the defendants with issuing the prospec tus with intent to elefraudDr. Thom by inducing him to take shares. With the exception of one or two, he thought the latter counts could not be maintained.. Where there was a general conspiracy against the world at large, and particularly when persons were defrauded, it might be said that the con s2iracy was against them individually; but with regard to Dr. Thom and certain ether parties, they were not brought into ecntact with the defendants, for they took their shares over from other persons. Still there was undoubtedly ono person who would be included in those counts, and who bought immediately of the defendants ; he meant Mr. Peate. There were other counts, but the substance of the charge was this : That the firm of Overend, Gurney, and Co. being hope lessly insolvent, the defendants knowing the fact, con spired to induce other persons to take shares in a new corn. pany, to which their business would be transferred, with the view of defrauding and cheating the persons who should pay for them. And if the jury believed that the business was worthless, and that the defendants, knowing this, ' conspired to defraud the public, there could be no doubt of their guilt of the offence laid to their charge. But in order to convict, the jury must be satisfied that there was a deliberate intention to defraud, and he prayed their special attention to that point. For in a case of this k'nd they were on the confines of criminal and civil law, and must take care not to step over the border line. In a civil action, a contract would be found to be void because of a misrepre sentation, though honestly made, in the belief that it was correct; but in a criminal prosecution it must be found that the misrepresentation alleged to be made was known to the defendants, and that, acting upon that knowledge, they set about deliberately to do that which was charged as the statute able offence in the case. Coming lack to the actual charge in this case, he must point out that it involved four questions :—What was the state of the business ? Was it the worthless, hopeless, insolvent business which on the part of the prosecution it was alleged to have been ? If so, was its condition known to the defendants ? If it was, slid they misrepresent the state and condition it was in? .-if they did, what was their inten tion—waa it to defraud persons who might take shares? In order to answer the first question, it was necessary to go back to the history of the firm. His lordship referred to the evidence on this point, and the figures sheaving the vast business transacted, the large profits for many years, and the heavy losses which resulted from what he termed insane speculation. There appeared to have been in 1865 a deficit of three millions. A business, conducted like that of a banker, with other people's money, should, the moment it was known there is a large deficit, be at once brought to a close. The man who took the money of others under such circumstances would be guilty of fraud, and, therefore, the defendants were perfectly right in declining, in 1865, to continue the business under the old conditions. What then were they to do ? They might, as Dr. Kenealey suggested they ought to have done, have realised their assets, and paid what they could in the pound. But he could not help thinking that some allow ance was to be made for men with such a business and such a name as the defendants had at the time if, while they had another opening, they did not adopt the remedy named. What could a man do with a good business when lie found that, by unlooked for circum stances, he could not conduct it solvently without new capital'? He might sell it, but he wns hardly likely to take that course ; or he might endeavour to obtain new partners to join him who would bring in the capital necessary to cover the existing debts. Such a course was perfectly legitimate, provided always that the man who has the business made known to the other all the circumstances necessary to enable the one who was coming in to aepreciate all its merits, what liabilities he undertook, and what was the prospective profits. On the other hand, if the person who found himself in the position indi cated, knowine , that his business was hopelessly gone, mis represented it, ° in order to prevent the other party from knowing its true position, he was guilty of fraud, and if a body of men combined to carry out such an iniquitous pro ceeding, they were guilty of conspiracy to defraud. He must ask the jury to take pains to form their own judgment as to which of these two courses the defendants pursued. They . made up their 'minds to dispose of the business to a joint-stock company, but at the same time to retain an interest in it, by taking shares themselves. Ac cording to the evidence on their behalf they made it known that there was upon an account of 15 millions a deficit of 4 millions, which would become eventually 3 millions. This aniountrthey proposed to reduce to 2 millions, by striking out of the liability side of the account that which stood in the private ledger, and to guarantee the property of the members of the old firm to meet that deficit of two millions, while the property of the pro prietors, being reduced by this guarantee, there would still remain a deficit of one million. Now, supposing that to be the true result of the figures, and that this deficit of a million would certainly fall sooner or • later upon the new com pany, was this business worth purchasing by the public? The proposal was made palatable by the state ment that the directors would only call up £500,000, and that they would not ask for a farthing in cash. At the same time the borrowing power of the firm, to the extent of £190,000 a year, was said to be undiminished, and it was represented that the introduction of a million of capital would cover the deficit. The decision of the jury on this point would depend on their view of the reliability of the figures adduced by the prosecution or defence. In considering .otht r points, his lordship observed that he could not impugn the motives of the prosecution in this matter. Ho gave them credit for beleg actuated by,public motives and a sense of public duty. They believed, no doubt, that a gigantic fraud had been practised upon them and other shareholders, and they had entered into this proceeding with the feeling that those who had defrauded them ought to be made responsible at the bar of a criminal court of justice. Giving . them credit for these motives, ho could not concur in any of the observat.i.ons which had been made in their disparagerant. But ho must say that ho thought c4,s9____tho new directors should - 111We been mixed up in zne same prosecu tion as the old. He knew of no case which had produced on his mind such a deep impression in regard to one • matter which had long been growing up as his firm conviction, and it was that our present sys tem of prosecution was based upon a false principle, and that a public prosecutor was a neces sity in the due administration of justice. (A movement of applause was quickly checked.) If there had been a public prosecutor in this case, he would Undertake to say that he would not have put the new directors into the one charge, and at all events he would have allowed to those who were put on their defence an opportunity of calling before the jury those of their colleagues wbo could have thrown so much light on this most important transaction. His lordship went on to inquire whether it was probable that men so well acquainted with business would have joined in this undertaking, and embarked in it large sums of money if they bad not examined its condition, or if they doubted its success, and failed to draw attention to the terms of the prospectus, with a view of seeing whether its representations had not been fully explained. Speaking of the deeds, he observed that the first sufficiently indicated that there was some farther arrangement, and any commercial man must have seen that it did not provide for fully crrrying out the object it contemplated. Then the fact that the Stock EKchangc had not exerted its powers and inquired about the other deed should be a warning to the public not to trust too much to the exercise of that power and to make full inquiry for themselves. Certainly he doubted svhether, even if the second deed had been more explicilly indicated, the shareholdtrs would be teoubled to look at it, and believed that if the position hsd been more c7carly stated, the public, knowing h jNY large was the property of the Gurneys, would have hesitated to invest; but still it would be for the jury to say whether this arrangement of the deeds was part of a fraudulent scheme. After a short adjournment, His lordship went on to cen . ides the other points of the case, insisting that in this case the intentien of the defendants was everything, and, putting before the jury with greater care the arguments on both sides, the jury had been told that their verdict would have great in fluence on the commercial world, and that the commercial world of the present clay required purification. Indepen dently of their verdict, however, it might be hoped that this melancholy matter—the downfall of this com pany, the presence at the bar of a criminal court of justice, of men who once stood so high in the commercial world—would have a powerful effect. They were told that the commercial world was no longer animated by those lofty and safe principles of con duct which formerly distinguished British merchants and ma le them respected throughout the world, and that for this had been substituted a spirit of reckless speculation and commercial gambling which had lowered this country in the eyes of the nations. In this case, they found the members of a firm doing an enormous business, and universally known as men of vast wealth and high position, fallen from their high estate, induced by delusive expectations into embarking the capital which ought to have been devoted to their own particular business, in wild speculations and rash projects ; and now they saw them fallen into absolute ruin, their commercial position destroyed, their vast fortunes lost, their reputations threatened, and themselves placed at the bar, charged as criminals with conspiracy to defraud. He hoped that if such a lesson was necessary to the com mercial world, it would be lasting in its effect, But no one could look upon society around him and fail to see that a sprit of speculation and gambling had taken possession of the minds of large classes of time people of this country. Men who were wont to be satisfied with moderate means, seemed now to be led away by a spirit of greed of gain, sunder the influence of which they were willing to risk their fortunes, however hardly earned, in the often vain expectation of realising something t.y pre mouns on shares, or in other ways. It was well that they learn the danger of following such ignus falai, and that it was unsafe to trust in enterprises the scope of which they cnild not comprehend, and in the management and superin tendence of which it was impossible they could take any part. Jr the result of this trial was to check this spirit of specula tion, he should rejoice. In conclusion his Lordship, who had been speaking for over three hours, complimented the jury on the assiduous attention which they had paid to the case. An attempt to applaud was suppressed. The jury retired to consider their verdict at two o'clock, acid retuinel in a quarter of an hour with a verdict of Not Guilty. On its announcement tumultuous applause broke forth in all parts of the court, and numbers of the assembly indulged in extravagant demonstrations of joy, waving their hats, stamping on the seats, and shaking hands with those around them. When at length comparative silence was obtained, Dr. Keneaiy applied for costs under the 24th and 25th Vic. chap. PG. section 121. The Lord Chief Justice said if only the original partners had been included in the indictment he should, although he fully concurred in the verdict s have allowed costs. because he thought an inquiry was necessary. But as it was he should not be justified in granting the application. This decision called forth another burst of applause, and She defendants then left the court amidst the congratula tions of their friends, while sonic hisses and other expres sions of disapprobation were directed against the prose cutor. THE VOLUS El; HS. The prizes won by the members of the 49th Mid dlesex (the Post-office) corps were distributed last evening at Westminster Ball by Mrs. Du Plat Taylor, in the presence of Mr. Scudamore, Mr. Edmund Yates, and other gentlemen connected with the Post-office. In opening the prozeedings Lieutenant-Colonel Du Plat Taylor congratulated the regiment on its efficiency, and not without rea son ; for, though it has only been in existence some 18 months, its strength is 810 men, of whom, for the year ending December 1, 795 were extra-effi cient, 14 efficient, and there was only one non efficient—the honorary chaplain. Colonel Taylor explained that this very exceptional state of effi ciency is not clue to exceptional advantages pos sessed by the corps, the memters of which are not collected under one roof in St. Martin's-le- Grand, but are scattered over the whole of the London suburbs. No officer, it seems, are accepted until they have gone through a course of in struction with a regular regiment and have passed an examination before a board of officers. Colonel Taylor claimed for his men that they were the best accoutred corps in London, for all have great coats, and he added that he should not be satisfied until they had their baggage-waggons, tents, and equip ment complete, so that they might be fit for active service whenever they were called upon. The prize list was a long one. Among the chief prizes were the Lieutenant-Colonel's annual Challenge Cup, 1869, won finally by Sergeant Parker ; ditto, 1870, won in the fist monthly competition by Colour- Sergeant Burnham ; Captain Cunynghame's Cup, won by Sergeant Macdonald ; the Adjutant's badge and £5 for the champion shot of the regiment, by Armourer-Sergeant Daines. The Company Chal lenge Cups of 1869 were won finally by Private Wheeler, Captain Arnall, Ensign Reeves, Corporal Clarke, Colour-Sergeant Burnham, Private Phillips, and Corporal Parker. A meeting of the 26th Regiment of Middlesex Rifle Volunteers was held on Tuesday evening, at the St. Katharine's Dock-house, for the purpose of hearing from Lieut.-Col. Collet a st)tetnent of the steps that had been taken towards filling the va cany caused by the death of the late Col.-Comman dant Ralph W. Grey, who by his devotion to the interests of the corps had succeeded in raising it to its present position as one of the first metropolitan battalions. Col. Collet said that a very responsible duty had devolved upon him and the officers in the selection of a commanding officer, and that they had _ _ _ felt that the first requisite was that he should ba a man of military experience, and at the same time of sufficient means and leisure to be able to devote the necessary time to the interests of the corps. He stated that, although the appointment was in the hands of the Lord-Lieutenant, he had no doubt the wishes of the members of the regiment would re ceive attention, and he then announced that he had been in communication with Capt. Kennard, of the Bth Hussars, who was about to retire from the ac- tive service of the army, but who would feel gra tified to command so well-known and efficient a regiment as the 26th. Colonel Collet further state I that Captain Kennard had served on the Duke of Abercoru's Staff when he was Lord Lieutenant of Irel tnd, during the last Administration. This state ment was received with most hearty and unanimous approval, and Colonel Collet then said that be would take the necessary steps for carrying the wishes of the meeting into effect. A cordial vote of thanks to Colonel Collet and a similar compli ment to the active and energetic Adjutant of the corps, Captain Elliot, closed the proceedings. The 29th (Notth) Middlesex Rifle Corp; held its annual prize distribution in Middleton-hall on Monday; Lord Enfield, M.P., honorary colonel of the regiment, presiding. The proceedings were opened in a short speech by the chairman, who ex pressed his deep regret that Colonel Whitehead was absent through a family bereavement, an called upon Major Peters to describe the condition of the regiment. The officer referred to then gave the returns of the regiment, and said the recruiting had been carried on very briskly during the year, and that the returns place d the re g ime nt in a fair position. With respect to the shooting, among the marksmen of the year were—lion. Surgeon Dr. Stewart, Coptain Wade, Captain Spenc...r, Captain and Adjutant Wallis, Captain Rey noldg, Lieutenant Hopkinson, and Colour-S ergeant Fraser, of No. 1 company, who was the winner of the battalion medal, and, what is of more honour, the badge of three stars as "best shot," ho having made 107 points in his 2d and Ist classes. The company prizes were very numerous, and were chiefly given by the company officers. The bat talion prizes were presented by Lord Enfield, Col. Whitehead, Major Peters, Major Goode, and others, and the chief were won by Private Wilson, Private Siegert, Sergeant Humphrey, Sergeant King, Pri vate Giles, and Private Wheatley. Three prizes won at the Belgian Tir National, at Liege, were also presented. These were won by Colour-Ser geant Heathcote, Private Thurston, and Private Woodbridge. After the presentation some compli mentary speeches were made. The room was then cleared for a ball. The whole proceedings were carried out in a manner which reflected great credit upon the shooting committee, whose labours were heightened by the great distance from the head-quarters. The annual presentation of prizes to the Ist Mid dlesex Engineer Volunteers was held on Saturday last, at the head-quarters, College-street, Brom?' ton. There was a large attendance of the members of the corps and their friends. In opening th e proceedings, Colonel M'Leod of 111‘Leod congratu lated tl e corps on its steady progress in strength and efficiency, as shown by the following statistics• 1869 —total strength, 645; efficieots, 450; 1868"' total strength, 563 ; efficients, 378, or an increase in the strength of the corps of 80 m e n. Eighty men had passed through the first class, as a i ganl st 30 last year ; 88 in the second class, against 6 2 ; and 34 i❑ the third class, against 32. Colone l E wart, Royal Engineers, subsequently addressed the corps, and pointed out the advantages whi ch would accrue to the engineer portion of the s ervice by occasional visits to the School of Engineering e t Chatham. The principal prize, a splendid silver challenge vase, the gift of Colonel M'Leod, was presented to the best shot of the corps, SaPPe r Ingram. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, Dec. 21.-The market for shipping yarns was very steady. Some little business has been done at full prices, especially where early d e " livery could be promised. In hometrade yarns th e market has been tame. Buyers and sellers appe ar to be equally indifferent about business, being a good deal engaged in taking stock. Prices ha ve been tolerably steady at Friday's quotations, but th e transactions have only been of small amount. T he cloth market has been steady during the last fe ll days, and there has been a fair inquiry, but th e transactions have not been great, and buyers ar pear to have completed most of their purchases Nif the present. To-day there is a decidedly quieter fee ' . ing in the market, which almost amounts to flatn ess Quotations are still well maintained, but so far 39 , we can perceive any difference in the inclination e' prices it is in favour of buyers. Manufactures are well supplied with contracts, and therefore 111 1 little inducement to meet any demand that might offer at lower prices. Messrs. John Slagg and C° B ‘ report of to-day's cloth market :—" Though t he business of the past week has been but sn l3, " prices have been fairly maintained. To -day th general tone is quieter, and, though quotations hale sustained no actual change, our market closes flat l l' and to some extent weaker." CARDIFF, Dec. 20.—The continuance of sO r11 : 1 / b weather has interfered to a considerable extent w"t the steam coal trade, vessels being unable e itbe to leave or arrive. Employment has not, in 011 ; sequence, been so regular at the collieries , it is satisfactory to find that orders are coi ning in freely from the principal continental marke ts ' and only fair weather and ample tonnaee are r e ; quired to keep the pits in active work. In th house coal trade there is considerably more bus ioo " „ doing, the shipments coastwise and the local O r e sutnption having increased. Quotations for hnl i qualiiies are a little firmer. but prices arc .stl far from being adequately remunerative. r ri I a prietors who are large coke manufacturers nr . doing a fair business on Staffordshire acc ntilt The near approach of Christinis has clitisea a slackening of operations at some of the ironworks, and for the next two or O re l weeks there will not be much doing. Se ver :a American contracts remain to he executed, n'a also engagements for Italy and Spain. 11°111 „ business is almost at a standstill, which will cc""; t.inue until the commencement of the New I C e ` l In tin plates there is no change to note. „yell LEEDS, 21st.—There were quite as many ""'„ in the markets in the cloth halls to-day as last day, and among them were some representing iNI3/1d; Chester and scotch houses. Small parcels of g ()° , were purchased, both plain and fancy. Ligh t "' l ro tune tweeds and cowings for the spring trade W e o sold to a moderate extent, and a fair business ' 4l e , done in hair lists and other white goods. Tr ans %l tions in heavy cloths were of a very excepl"ro character, nor was there mach done in either stiP e o fine blacks or black union cloths. There wa s alteration as to prices. ROCHDALE, 20TH.—Considering the period of th e year and the general quietness which has for sn d i time prevailed in both the flannel and cotton t ra o i a fair amount of business was done in the P I) o f market to-day. There was a moderate attendanceva buyers, who purchased small selections of pla in t a v e, fancy goods for immediate, rather than prosp ects requirements. Prices were without any m at f iA g change. Many of the manufacturers are W° l. c. vg , short time or keeping part machinery stn tu d il A t Yorkshire goods sold as well as last week, li n fo . the same prices. Wools, too, though EDO ° turers are not active buyers, are steady in prica' PRICE OF GOLD. 10 4 I: tie quotation of gold at Paris is about at P si r on4 t le short exchange on London is 2M. 151 per £ 1 'itefice 01 In comparing these rates with the Engli s h Mint P' t ot E' l'is.lo4d. per ounce for standard gold, it aPP e ' r ,,,%o gold at the above price is slihtly :dearer in !Paris "" L mion, NOTICE.—The Anglo-American limes for . 5 week, issued on Friday, will contain a Supplement gi°l:3l,o the full text of the President's Message to Congress, r ' Reports of the Secretaries of the Treasury, of the D te ri, l .- the Postmaster-General, and of the Commissioner c.or terual Revenne. Next week, the Navy Report, th Report, Report of the General of the Army and of ",:(1, ral Sheridan. Price, 4d. 15, Catherine-street, lj be London.---Early application necessary. Copies C3° obtained at The Sun Office. yen The Greenwich Hospital pension of 15 0 , 5 vacant by the death of Brevet-Major - 1 ; 3 ;),Sr• R.M., bas been awarded to B re vet-AIN °. Davis, R.M. a 3 1 JOURNALIS3I.—The New York Sun has In a— r of •st Y°s"-,00 per cent, on its capital of $850,000 during the fir- a 3, 01, Is new management, and its profits now range from, 000. to $4,000 a week, its daily circulation being ov er l 13. It has been excluded from the White House.—li t3y* ° I ) ; i 6 Frothingbam is now the art critic of the Tribun e ;orebb also a regular contributor to the Nation. C. 11 ' a ("John Paul") has become the dramatic critic of an d Spirit of the Times. George H. Butler, his predecess°r'fare now the husband of Rose Eytinge, is to be give ° a Wi ll well dinner at the Astor House, when Mr. Greel4l United preside, before going with his wife to Calcutta S tate s Consul-General. , 'ADVERTISEMENT. I —Holloway's Ointment and ttiess Hope on.—lt is peculiarly gratifying to the discoverer af f o res inestimable remedies to receive unsolicited testimonials ot o f ter of all descriptions of diseases effected by his rnedicar aat-s ;r e ' e v ery other previous treatment had failed. The mot to o tif sufferers may take heart, ‘nd hope on for a abort Cal e TV they have given a fair trial to Holl oway ' s pa t en t raedic il3c : s ;l3P °s ointment applied according to the directions affixed o will, with ease and expedition, cure all sores, wounds, sp a t he erysiplas, gout, and cutaneous eruptions. Rubbed 11 , 1) „ ° . le ix : chest it removes pecto r i a l diseases. he p ill s are in f t,,r b tne e c . O a f sberseoafthindlgestion, sick he a d ac h es, coug hs, asthma , s " - biliousness, liver complaints, and debility. BIRTHS. wife f LAX CASTER—On the 15th inst., at Rome, the ° D. Lanca s t er, o f a son . ITV S e°° ScoTT—On tha 19th i u st, at Brixton, Willia m Esq., of a daughter. MARRIAGES. SW.bl MMILLER—CREAM—On the 21st inst., at St. mark'- g ' ton, Walter W. Miller, M.D., of Eye, Suffolk, to widow of the late Charles Cream Esq., of Eye. WESTERN—YOUNG-0 , 1 the 21st inst., at Wargra; s ter ° ' r Thomas Western, third son of the late Ed wd.l _ng M.P., t? I , _;sq., of Harley-street, to Isabel Frances, thi rd of Adolphus WjllisiuYoung, Esq., of .113x° of DEATBS. P ri ANTRIM On the 19th inst., at Glonarm Cagle; the Antrim, aged 55. cv . rtigg BAGG —On the 20th inst., at 28, Talbot-roa d, 1 ' fn aged 6'. W Vrtinci° ' BOND—On the 21st filet., at Southampton , • In Bond, Commander R.N., aged 78 London: Printed and Published by WILLIAM A NP trA tici of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tax SUN Office li id a 111'109°''' in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the cotuitY 01. - Thursday, December 23 160. K l'4 l - A This CO p Puri Sold in I the Nzontl 8, C OliForvo t n's LL if x iUTl 14, RUS ADVANCE bold or Lel able weekl3 Forms free THE s Dine for deviling ORIGINAL P. Con&gnee • celebrated T Por leaux Whiskies. f also ho seer number of 1 of others Nrs AN" A: De7nted tc PAW:R. Railroad, and those t this newsy Pubrist E STAE The rebi fessional 3 weekly Dal biped with establishrni This est; need by h and it is Lady Lan Caroline . 11' All infoi ten or pers4 S uhscrip Treasurer, 'rHE A JEW recnivo AP and DUNI' Pupils, for The sysl manual alpl A public when the tressed. Applienti, other partic THE I Offices— The love Fire Revent The modern Bonne or t value as S render, then leave is Brat thirty days rrHE B 1 of Of Upwards i this Efospita The Comt enable th. -- u numerous p helpless by E Bankers, 3 street ; and 1 Waterloo- N'Aerio/ Mehra, Under the pat] whereby a he Girls of all ag. the kingio-n. Tho obje o lish education, and laundry, 1 wise previle , l suitable eltaet The Commit entirely sus tai Offica, 121. 1 G R E A Thin Ifosp estc.blisb a free_ stroet, lreqqr Sec., Sznit 11RITV Macken Patron— For the g destitute orpl and of all r . prosperous e One hundr stitution , am Increased endowed, an , assistance. Subscriber Institution, its peculiar c The last E Secretary. Offices, 73, ano ; and lq IFE J of the boat Institut from various The Institut on it. Lifeb 4.1,250 for Ty Tho Instit its managem Contributi and country Esq., at the 1 HEALTH RE DU BAT and II saves fifty ti: perfect iliges refreshing et, • most disordo effectually in surnption, ha •vngoments, N9rVOUSI:IOB9, catarrhs, col Pb en matism, ralgia, irrit heartburn, 1 nausea and s fits, bronchit the pit of thi %be most dig( for invalids F SiPORTAN7 anu more till city, Baron I Hencefortl Du Barry's and Infants' has already been doomed nese the Pop by it after th We quote f 48.413):—" I Holy Father ther rernedi arry s Rove latoful at ei enoficial off praise this ea liCaro No. years' liver ues irritabil dizestion, col ervous a,-2,1t0 Curti NO. 7 Stuart do Dec ford :—" I ha food.—STum Waterford." Cure No. fro dyspep3 rfattilon , y, zp of Lynn, Nor Cure No. 4 nArvoiNctes, vous fancies. Curo No. 5 yearl diarrhc Tito Food 2tb., 4 :3. 6d.; anist()rs, car. arry'j Iteval tin oaalst.srs: clps at Gs., is at.mt no pet vt cArriai iKltittlr DU i Fort Unwed:lute. Se w.ticrth-r road. Snp