The Sun. — London, England, 1858-10-01 00:00:00

FAREWELL SEASON OF MR. CHARLES KEAN AS MANAGER OF THE pOY AL PRINCESS'S THEAT4tE.- -cu This THEATRE WILL OPEN on SATURDAY next, the 2nd October, with the Farce of DYING FOR LOVE. To be followed by THE MEECHANT OF VENICE, which play will be performed for a Fortnight, and then with drawn for the production of Shakspere's Historical Tragedy of KING JOHN, which will be revived on Monday, 18th October. THEATRE -ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Under the Management of Miss L. Tyne and Mr. W. Harrison. THIS EVENING, Balfe's ROSE OF CASTILLE : Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Susan Pyne. Miss M. Prescott Mr. Fer dinand Glover, Mr. A. St. Albyn, Mr. George Honey, Mr. Bartleman, and Mr. W. Harrison. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. To conclude with a Ballet Divertissement : Mdlles. Zilla Ilichelet, Pasquale, and Morlacchi. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstons. THIS EVENING will be performed THE RIVALS. After which, THE DAUGHTER OF THE GUADAL QUIVER. Perea Nena. With THE KING'S GARDENER. And JOHN JONES. Commence at 7. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, the New Comedy of EXTREMES ; or, Mea of the Day. Supported by Messrs. Leigh Murray, Emery, .7. Rogers, and Barrett ; Mrs. A. Mellon (late Miss Woolgar), Mrs. Weston, Miss Kate Saxon. After which the Ballet of THE RENDEZVOUS, in which the Lauri Family will appear. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7. Box-office open from 11 to 5 daily. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough. THIS EVENING, MY AUNT'S HUSBAND; Mr. Swan borough, Mrs. Selby, Miss Ternan. After which THE LAST OF THE PIGTAILS ; Messrs. C. Selby, J. Bland, and J. Clarke, &c. Followed by THE BONNIE FISH WIFE. And I'LL WRITE TO THE TIMES. Commence at 7 o'clock. CANTER -BURY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The following Company of Vocalist& are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular OPERAS, MADRIGALS, CHORUSES, GLEES, Dorrs, &c., viz. :—Miss Russell, Mrs. Badsey, Miss BrunelL Miss Ray, Madame Bartoletti, Miss Montague, Mrs. Lawrence, and Mrs. Anderson ; Herr F. Jongr,hmans, Mr. Hynshaw, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, Senor Antonio, E. L }lime, Mr. Badsey, Senor Tirol', Mr. Cozens, Mr. Bell, Mr. Barnard, and Mr. St. Albyn. Mr. John G. Forde and E. W. Mackney. Pianoforte, Mr. 'Cecil Hicks—Harmonium, Mr. Courtnay—Director, Herr F. Jonghmans. Commence at 7 precisely. Suppers, &c., until 12 o'clock. NOTICE.—The Proprietor begs respectfully to announce teat in the month of October, A FINE ARTS GALLERY, now in course of construction, will be thrown open in con nexion with the above Hall. THE WEATHER.—STAN OFFICZ, OCT. 1. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 68—highest since noon yesterday. s.s—lowest this morning and during the night. 67—this day at noon. BAROMETER -30.02. WIND, South-West; strong breeze, and fine. . 4 , -, ", ' , , i Z. . . %.. 11- .". ,T CLU I. Moi „ ..S° ' , ..,,.. ,' A , ~ Ai e L,c:-• 7.: ,AI ‘ ' ' 5 c0,1..- -,,,,:,, ,-..,. ra .. 4 0 7 : gra -..... .01111106 \II V .. ... 4-, ....\ :o'* - : - • it . ~,,......C4'M,4 1 .:- ' N-',, 't i„i; ~ ~ 1'...1.10 • :;,,,, 7.,,A, 1*,,.„ -m- "'S _.IP"'" ' ' ''''..- THE SUN. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1858. The Revenue Returns for the financial year, half year, and quarter, which terminated yesterday, are once more before us, and we may say that they are quite as good as could reasonably have been anticipated. It is true that there has been a great diminution in the national income—that our receipts during the past year have been in round terms six millions (X 6,017,162) less than in the preceding one—the receipts having been during that which has just terminated £65,161,499, while those of the former were £71,178,661. The falling off is, however, fully and satisfactorily accounted for. We have had fortunately but few extraordinary demands during 1857-8, and, consequently, the Chan cellor of the Exchequer has been enabled to deal liberally with the tax-paying community ; and even a portion of the outlay that has taken place will be recouped by the Chinese indemnity. It must be borne in mind that the war 9d. was struck off, and that it is only within the present year that the tax-paying community have ex perienced the full benefit of the alteration. A fur ther reduction was effected last session by the munificence of Mr. DISRAELI ; but the effects thereof will only be perceptible next year, when the people are no longer tortured by the financial screw or the stringent applications of the tax- gatherers. The Customs have improved within the year, and considering that the first quarter was marked by a financial crisis of an extraordinary character —that only £5,590,018 were received, against £6,232,175 in the corresponding quarter of 1856 we must be agreeably surprised to find an increase on the year of more than £366,000, or a thousand pounds a day in round terms. The improvements on the half-year and quarter are, however, far more satisfactory. On the half-year it is £363,727, while on the quarter it is no less than £634,037. When we consider that this is the test of our com mercial relations with other nations, we must con gratulate ourselves on the satisfactory state of affairs proved to exist by the most unexceptionable evidence, viz., that of facts and figures. In the Excise there is an increase on the year of £212,000, but a decrease on the half-year and quar ter—on the former of £94,600, and on the latter of £213,000. This is the more to be regretted, as the returns under that head are generally regarded as indicating the degree of comfort and prosperity enjoyed by the labouring population. It, however, to a great extent may be satisfactorily accounted for. There has been a postponement of the collec tion of the hop duties, and an alteration of that of the spirit duties. Other influences, which gave additional facilities to the contributors to the revenue iii — these departments, have also been in operation, and, on the whole, there is no reason for forming an unfavourable opinion in consequence of the diminution in the domestic taxes on homely comforts. In Stamps there are improvements on the year, half year, and quarter, of £382,120, £312,624, and £78,745 respectively. The latter may, in a great degree, be ascribed to the tax on cheques intro duced in the last budget, which seems fully to verify the calculations of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In the Assessed Taxes there is an increase on the year of £37,013, but a decrease of £16,000 on the half-year, and of £lB,OOO on the quarter. This, however, mainly depends on the stringency of the collection, and does not materially indicate the general prosperity of the people. The great changes are in the Property and In come-tax, but fortunately they are not produced by any failure of resources, but in the most legitimate and satisfactory manner—by the reduction of taxation. Not only the war 9d. but an addi tional 2d. have been relinquished. The latter has as yet scarcely come into practical operation, but the full benefit of the former is now expe rienced ; and inasmuch as each penny in the pound was estimated to produce £1,000,000 sterling to the Exchequer, we must be well pleased to find that the loss on the year is but £7,900,399, or nearly £1,100,000 less than might have been anti cipated, while that on the half-year is £3,733,490, and on the quarter £2477,537 The- loss on the year is, however, made up to the extent of nea4ly £2,000,000, that of the half-year to more than £1,000,000, and that of the quarter to nearly £750,000, from other sources. In the minor branches the accounts arc very satisfactory. The Post-office is steadily improving. The increase on the year is £95,000, ( n the half year £105,000, and on the quarter £ • 5,000. These are proofs of the efficiency of the administration in this important department. In the Crown Lands there are trifling alterations scarcely worthy of notice, inasmuch as they have not in any of the periods amounted to £715. In the Miscellaneous the improvement is very considerable : on the year, £791,496 ; on the half year, £341,840 ; and, on the quarter, £262,252. This is, however, an exceptional item ; and, as the sale of old stores forms an important element in the calculation, it is one that cannot be taken into ac count as in any way representing the welfare or prosperity of the nation. On the whole, we have every reason to be pleased with the national balance-sheet, which furnishes another powerful proof of the elasticity of the national resources. What an extremely terrible thing for Ministers ! The British Quarterly Review is actually against her MAJESTY'S Government. A long, cynical diatribe against the present Cabinet in the num ber of this contemporary just issued u from the press, is prefaced with the remark, that " Never was there an epoch in which it was so necessary for the Liberal Party to unite their energies, to con centrate their efforts, and make a move in the right direction?' Meaning, of course, obviously, that even now the poor turned-out Whigs, like the poor frozen-out gardeners at Christmas-time, are begin ning already to experience rather distressingly the pangs of hunger, hunger after the loaves and fishes of office, after the fleshpots of the Egypt of power, and are consequently prepared, with a brazen effrontery, to make their old, old appeal ad miserieordiam. Thereupon, having blown the rallying bugle note for the benefit of the discomfited and scattered Opposition, the British begins in real earnest its laboured onslaught upon the various members of the present Administration. After this, of course, the next announcement to be looked for in the journals of the day will be the intimation that the Earl of DERBY has frankly ten dered to his SOVEREIGN the collective resignation of the present Government. Surely there is no alternotive before Ministers! The British Quarterly is against them, calls them piebald, kaleidoscopic, and all sorts of other odd little adjectives of the like complimentary description. Therefore, as an obvious and unavoidable necessity, Ministers have no other course before them but that, literally, of being—resigned. It is sufficiently amusing to remember, "at the same time, that this heterogeneous Cabinet, this Ministry composed of the mere odds and ends of party, this incongruous Administration, repre senting " every shade of opinion within the limits of the constitution"—that is to say, at least, as it is described to be by the British Quarterly—is really and truly, is notoriously, glaringly, undeniably, formed from and supported by the one only com pact, united, and considerable party within the walls of the Imperial Legislature. It is if possible still more entertaining to the mere unimpassioned observer of events to note that the disingenuous publicist who can so very flagrantly distort the facts of the case to suit party purposes, and to rekindle, if possible, the extin guished hopes of the Whig opposition—rather pre posterously follows up its recommendation of reunion and reconcentration among the Liberals generally •by directing, on behalf of the ex-Ministers, the grossest taunts against the most important of all the sections of true reformers in the House of Com mons—in other words, by personally insulting the chief of that notable little phalanx, seated upon the back benches to the left of Mr. SPEAKER, immediately below the gangway. "We would suggest," says the British Quarterly (so concilia tory, this !) "we would suggest to the democratic section of this body (i.e., of the Liberal party gene rally) the expediency of not requiring too much condescension at the hands of their great Whig colleagues, as the price of their adhesion." Too much condescension, forsooth !—surely, than this, nothing could well be more singularly im pertinent. Mr. GIBsoN and Mr. BRIGHT are coolly informed, as though they were lacqueys in the vestibule of the drawing-rooms at Cambridge House, that they really must not look for " too much condescension at the hands of their Great Whig colleagues"—those high and mighty Don Magnificos ! And as if the impertinence was not sufficiently explicit, the Whig reviewer con tinues—becoming pertly humorous under the ex hilarating influence of the following agreeable little hypothesis :—" Becanse the right honourable member for Ashton-under-Lyne, when he chooses to head a deputation, is not ushered by the under secretary with obsequious bowings into the cham ber of the principal; or because the Honourable Member for Birmingham is not occasionally feted at Cambridge House ; or because couriers are not continually kept running between his town resi dence and the Foreign-office with copies of im portant despaches, we see no reason why the Whigs should be publicly lectured on the want of proper decorum and refined manners." What a brilliant prospect does not this open up to the Liberal party of a general and permanent reconciliation. The next thing after Lord DERBY'S resignation —which will of course be given in not later than to-morrow—will be (equally of course) the forma tion of a sort of political Happy Family Cabinet, com posed harmoniously 9f `Whigs, and Manchedernp.s. What is become .of all the ghosts ? We used to hear much talk about such things in the days of our childhood. Churchyards had not then quite lost their reputation as domiciles of shadowy forms of the departed, and certain rooms in old houses, and now and then a whole house itself, were believed to be haunted, much, sometimes, to the prejudi ce of the landlords' pockets. JOHN WESLEY saw, or his disciples saw, ghosts by the score, and most of the old ladies of our acquaintance,and sexagenarians of the other sex, too, know of persons who had seen some form'of a deceased person, or had received some audible message from him; but really, now, we do not know where to find a ghost-seer, or a per son who indubitably knows of one. In this scepti cal age, this material age, this age which imprisons and enslaves steam itself to its service, and even binds the lightning by its wires, • and compels it to be a messenger of sordid and earthly things—in such an age as this no ghost can live. Only a day or two ago we read of a poor woman driven from her house by a ghost which could play all sorts of pranks with the chairs in her bed-room, and even untie the sailor's knots which bound them ; yet, forsooth, the police are set to work to find out the ghost ! and, we are gravely told, "it is hoped they will succeed!" Police succeed in pouncing on a ghost ! detectives detect a sprite ! We wish them joy of their task. Indeed, all the invisible world, the spirit world, which so often, to the undoubting, clothed itself in white, and became visible to our optics; now seems to have taken a nobler cue—they " rap it into us" now; and rap it into the believing pretty well too; IME SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 1, 1858 we must suppose, then, that ghosts have at last re solved to deal with our ears exclusively, and that spirit-rapping is the substitute for spirit-seeing. A good substitute, too, since the spirits, we believe, rap to order of the rappists, while in the old style the spirits did not always come from the vasty deep when we did call them. Or is it that another kind of ghosts have driven the old sort off the stage ? In this hard, unsparing age of change, misnamed, some say, Reform, many have been the deaths of mighty entities of the ages gone by, and their bodies being hardly inter red yet, their disconsolate, and, in truth, some what formidable shadows, still wander about on this side the dark river, and the inexorable ferryman declines to ferry them to their last home. Well may the hnmbler private spectres retire before those which now ever and anon flit before the public gaze. Minds full of Parliamentary Reform and Commercial Reform, of Law Reform and Prison Reform, of Sanitary Reform and Sewers Reform, of Church Reform and State Reform, of Reform of all the great and glorious institutions of our forefathers—minds full of these great imagina tions have no organs to discover the old vulgar ghosts. They are haunted by the ghosts of old feudal customs, of long lingering Protection, of Protestant ascendancy in Ireland, of Anglican Popery here, and of all the shapes and forms which Bigotry, Monopoly, Aristocracy once wore on earth. It was supposed by the many, at the time, that the Reform Bill of 1832 had buried Toryism for ever; yet ever since its shade, Conservatism, has followed and warned and frightened many, and, by its mysterious noise, almost ma c e us believe that the new house we have lived in for a quarter of a century or more was like to tumble about our ears. And, now that Conservatism hardly owns its name, " Progress," " well considered progress," or, as Mr. HENLEY has it, " one-foot-at-a-time pro gress," rattles all the possible danger of Reform about our ears, till we are compelled to acknow ledge that the shade of old Toryism has not got quietly into Hades yet. Nor do we know who is the politician that can lay the restless spirit of it. As to the ecclesiastical ghosts their name is almost legion. Stir which way you like they will make you hear. There are ghosts Episcopal, ghost s Presbyterian, ghosts Papal, ghosts of the Establish ment, and ghosts of Dissent—ghosts :which rise out of cathedral endowments, out of church rates, out of Regium Doman, out ofpoor curates, out of spiritual destitution, and out of rich bishoprics and incum bencies—you can hardly move without meeting some uneasy spirit, wailing and deploring that its life and vigour are gone. When the monks and friars of all colours, as MILTON describes them, covered the face of the land, they did at least keep the old sort of ghosts in some kind of order, but now that they and the monks are vanished both, and that a profane toleration first, and a yet pro faner cry of religious equality now, has half mur dered the churches by law established, there is no rest for us. Not a session of Parliament passes that bishops and a few other peers, or Dissenting, Catholic, and Quaker members in the Commons do not disquiet the spirits of our venerable ecclesi astical institutions, Wand almost kill with fright many a SPOONER and a NEWDEGATE, a MARL BOROUGH and a SHAFTESBURY. For ourselves we must confess that these latter kind of ghosts have as little terror for us as those of the old sort. The squeaking and jibing of the trembling ghosts of dead notions and habits of , thinking can only make us smile. Our age is quite as unsparing in scrutinizing its old institutions as it is in experimenting on and ransackings the facts and laws of nature itself. The old bodies of things and the spirits which dwelt in them no longer suit us of this generation ; they must be content to have served their turn, and allow us to believe that we can best arrange for ourselves. We have got rid of witchcraft and evil spirits, and spirits of all sorts, and, incredulous, we only send the policeman to settle any visions which may trouble a weak mind here and there. We do the same in sub stance with all who would terrify us by appari tions from the good old boroughmongering, Church and-King, and Protection-to-native-industry times We mean to go on renovating and rebuilding, and getting rid of rats, and ivy and owls, and ghosts, from wing after wing of the edifice, until, indeed, the ghosts of the past would not know the old haunted chamber if they came to it. IMPROVEMENT OF GALWAY HARBOUR. The government are about to send three gentlemen, experienced in engineering and maritime matters, to Galway, who will report to the government upon the state of the harbour and roadstead, and who will also inquire as to what works may be necessary for rendering that port safe and commodious. Freeman's Journal. RUMOURED ACCIDENT TO THE STEAMSHIP PRO PELLER.—Yesterday (Thursday) a telegram was posted in the Liverpool Exchange News-room, to the effect that a letter had been received in Dublin from Galway, in which it was stated that the steam-ship Propellor was run a ground to prevent her sinking. - • _ _ We have to record the demise on Saturday last of John E.'mont Brooman, Esq., Paymaster of H.M.S. Cornwallis, stationed at hull. This officer has seen service in all parts of the world ; amongst others in New Zealand, on the coast of Africa, in Austen 's expedition to the Arctic Regions in search of Sir John Franklin, and during the late war was under fire in the Baltic and in the Black Sea, for which the Arctic, Baltic, and Black Sea medals were awarded to him. Mr. Brooman dies deservedly lamented by his brother officers in the service, as well as by his bereaved widow, his aged m o th er , an d by a large circle of relatives and friends. His gentlemanly and honourable bearing and kindnes s o f heart, added to a well-stored mind, made him a kind friend and delightful companion. He secured the esteem and affection of all with whom he was brought in contact. MIDDLESEX REGISTRATION. Yesterday Mr. Shadwell, the revisin g b arr i s t er , h e ld hi s C our t a t the New Globe Tavern, Mile-end, to revise the list of voters in the several parishes at the east end of the metropolis. In the parish of St. Mary's, Whitechapel, a Mr. Newin was ob jected to as having claimed in respect of a "part freehold." Mr. Shadwell declared that he did not know what was meant by a " part freehold." The agent stated that Mr. Newin claimed on the Bridgwater estate, and his part free hold was situated on it. The claim was amended and allowed to remain on the register. The other business was to correct the register, and the officers of the various -panics attended and assisted the learned gentreniiiit in making a correct list of voters. ELECTION OF MEDICAL OFFICERS IN ST. 'PAN CRAS.—Yesterday a contest for the appointment of district parochial medical officers took place in St. Pancras. Out of the candidates six were reported by a committee of the vestry as eligible for election. However, notwithstanding the candidates had beencarefully examined and interrogated by the committee, they were called before the full bench, and passed through the same ordeal again. One member of the vestry, a Mr. Fisher, made himself conspicuous in his examination into the qualifications of the candidates by asking, " Where do you live ?" and " How long have you lived in the parish ?" A great deal of time was wasted in this way, and at length the candidates went to a ballot, the result as reported by the scrutineers being as follows : Haynes, 51; Slight, 18 ; Dalton, 5 ; Rawlings, 5 ; Naggs, 4 ; Davis, 1. Mr. Haynes was therefore declared duly elected. A Mrs. Hoffman was at the same time elected female superintendent of the lunatic department in the workhouse, against which appointment Mr. Farrer handed in a protest numerously signed, it being urged that other candidates had not had an opportunity to attend by due notice being given them of the time the election would take place. SUICIDE OF A GENTLEMAN UPON A RAILWAY.— During the last week the family of Mr. Gerard B. Smith, Warwick-square, Belgravia, and proprietor of the well known Pimlico heel Works, have been thrown into the utmost state of affliction in consequence of the said gentle man putting a period to his existence by throwing himself before a railway train at Wandsworth. An inquest was hold at the Wandsworth Union-house, before Mr. Carter, coroner for West Surrey, and a most respectable jury, when the evidence went to show that the deceased had been in a low desponding ,state of mind for some time past, for which no cause could be assigned, as he was in affluence ; nor did it come out that any domestic annoyance had preyed upon his mind, or that any hereditary mania had ever existed in the family. He was connected with many scientific socie ties, and had within the last few months laid out a large capital in mercantile transactions, which had resulted to his advantage. He left his residence with the intention, as he stated, of going upon business in the country, and was not heard of again until the sad intelligence reached his family of his dreadful and melancholy death. Evidence was brought to prove that the deceased deliberately threw him self across the tramroad when the Hampton Court train was approaching the Wandsworth station, and before the driver of the engine could stop the train the whole of the car riages went over him, causing instantaneous death and mutilating his body in a most frightful manner. A long discussion took place as to the deceased's state of mind, of which the jury were eventually satisfied, and accordingly returned a verdict of "Temporary insanity." The deceased has left a widow and young family to lament his premature and awful death, LATEST NEWS. AUSTRALIA. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY MORNING. The Sultana arrived in the Mersey this morning with 40,500 ounces of gold on freight. She sailed the 24th of June. HAMBURG, SEPT. 29. The Invincible steamer, coming from Cronstadt with a full cargo, foundered at sea near Hochland. The crew and passengers were saved, and have arrived at Stockholm. FRANCE. PARIS, FRIDAY. The Moniteur of this day states that the Emperor of Russia has given a distinguished reception to Prince Napoleon, and that the Emperor accom panied the Prince back to his residence. PARIS, THURSDAY. Lord Stratford de Redcliffe was to have been received by the Sultan on the 25th ult. The Chief Minister of Persia and his two sons have been dismissed, and are under surveillance. King Otho of Greece will embark on the 10th of October for Venice. The Emperor, the Empress, and the Prince Im perial left Biarritz on Wednesday at half-past twelve, and arrived at Bordeaux at six in the even ing. Their Majesties again left Bordeaux at eight, and arrived at St. Cloud yesterday morning at seven o'clock. Their Majesties and the Prince Imperial are in the enjoyment of excellent health. A letter from t uez, of the 16th, announces the arrival of the Egyptian frigate Gabari from Jeddah, with Ismail Pacha and 36 prisoners who were concerned in the massacre in the latter place ; these prisoners were to be conveyed to Con stantinople. One of the principal journals of Berne, La Suisse, publishes the following note, which is con sidered an official communication :—" For some time past the Paris correspondents of the Swiss, Belgian, and German journals seem to have formed a conspiracy for the propagation of a report to the effect that serious differences exist between the Federal Council and the French Govern ment. They assert that the latter reproaches the Federal Council with a want of energy in the case of certain cantons, too little inclined to submit to the requisitions of France in the matter of re fugees and passports ; that notes have recently been exchanged on this subject between Berne and Paris ; that the Marquis de Turgot is to occupy himself energetically with these affairs immediately after his arrival, &c. They have even gone so far as to say that the French Government had recently addressed a renewed communication of a very pressing nature to the Federal Council respecting the residence of some refugees at Geneva, and that M. Kern, who has just passed some time in Swit zerland, has set out again for Paris with special instructions on this point. We are in a position to affirm that these allegations are perfectly erroneous. M. Kern arrived in Switzerland on private business of his own ; and though he has seen during his stay the members of the Federal Council, his intercourse with it has had little or nothing to do with politics. The renewed com munication of the French Government respecting the refugees at Geneva is a fiction. Since the federal decree relating to this subject, no new com plaint has been made, and this affair has not even been mentioned between the two Governments. These latter have not exchanged any note on any subject whatsoever for several months back, and it may be affirmed, in a general way, that the rela tions between France and Switzerland have never been on so easy a footing." PARIS BOURSE, Sept. 30, Two ,o'Clock.—There has been a struggle to-day on the part of sellers to bring down prices, but without effect, and the option was done at 73g. 30c. on the Threes, which varied from 73f. 20c. td 71f. 35c. Mobilier have been done at 967 f. 50c. to 975 f. ; Austrian, 667 f. 50c. to 671 f. 25c. ; Orleans, 1,425 f. to 1,427 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 882 f. 50c. to 885 f. ; Southern, 597 f. 50c. to 602 f. 50e. ; Northern, 985 f. to 990 f. ; and Eastern, 745 f. to 747 f. 50c. The following were the last quotations : 4/ per Cents. .... 96 Cr6dit Fonder 660 Do. end month .. 96 40 Belgian 4f 3 per Cents. 73 10 Piedmonteso (5) 92 Do. end month.... 73 40 Roman 93 Bank Shares 92 50 Credit Mobilier 977 50 Spanish Threes Do. Account' 982 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. 1422 50 .. 1432 50 Orleans ..... Northern . 985 .. 990 New ditto. 836 25 .. 835 Lyons and Mediterranean BB5 .. 883 75 New ditto Geneva 650 657 50 Midi . Western 642 50 .. 642 50 Eastern Grand Central — • • -- Sardiniam Austrian 670 671 50 Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 20c. ; money, 25f. 15c. ; three months, paper, 25f. 2 ; tc. ; money, 25f, SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 26th have reached us. Some sensation had been caused by the Clamor Publico, a Progressista organ, having declared in favour of the O'Donnell Cabinet, though other journals of the same party are hostile. From a Government circular, in the Gazette, it appears that the Government has given orders that when it may be necessary to examine French consuls in cases pending before the civil and military courts, or in any judicial matter whatsoever, the .ex amination shall take place at the residence of the consuls. A royal decree makes some re gulations respecting public works and expro priations in the colonies. A letter says : " The general meeting of the Progressist party has been held to-day, M. Olozaga in the chair. On his proposition, the directing committee of the party was declared dissolved, and a new one, con sisting of MM. Olozaga, Luzuriaga, San Miguel, Modoz, Escosura, Calva, Asensio, D. Jose Olczaga, Garrido, Collantes, General Falcon, de Perales, Escalante, Corradi, and several others, was appointeLLZ The Venice Gazette states that the Imperial faniily of Austria being at present in deep mourn ing, the Archduke Ferdinand-Maximilian being at Trieste on the 25th, could not pay his respects in person to the Princess Mathilde, cousin of the Emperor of the French, but foiwarded to H. I. H. an autograph letter by the hands of Baron de Poni, who returned with out deity to Trieste with the Princess Mathilde's reply. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE FULTON. SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY EVENING. The steamship Fulton has arrived with the Ame rican mails and advices of the 18th inst. _ She brings 204,500 dols. in specie for England. President Buchanan arrived quietly at Wheat land on the 16th Sept. It is his first visit at home since his election. THE MEDITERRANEAN. SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY NIGHT. The Peninsular and Oriental steamer Sultan, Captain Cook, has arrived. She has only a small Mediterranean mail, the Bombay mails having come home by the Pera. She brings 32 passen gers, £1,511 in specie, 205 bales of flax, 103 cases of indigo, 10 cases of senna, 21 packages of ele phants' teeth, 328 sacks of wheat, and 39 packages of sundries. The Sultan left Alexandria on the 13th, Malta on the 18th, and Gibraltar on the 24th. Her Majesty's ships Princess Royal, Vul ture, Urgent, and Perseverance were at Alexandria, the two latter having taken troops. The Valetta steamer, with the mails of the 17th, from Southampton, arrived at Gibraltar on the 23d. On the of September the Sultan spoke the steamer Cambria, bound to Alexandria, with the Australian mails ; and on the 27th the Malta, for Alexandria, with the Bombay mails. 2tITROPOLITAY IOAIIi OP JVciii.kg. (MEETING THIS DAY) The ordinary weekly ntteting of the Metropolitan. Board of Works was held to-day in the Ceiilieil Chamber, Guildhall. MAIN DRAINAGE OF THE METROPOLIS. Mr. BAZALGETTE read the following report to the Board upon the arrangements proposed for con structing the Main Drainage and Intercepting Sewers : Gentlemen,—Since the date of your resolution I have been actively engaged in re-surveying and levelling the routes of the several lines of the intercepting. sewers recom mended in the report of Messrs. Bidder, Hawksley, and myself. Corrected surveys and detailed plans of the private property to be crossed are now being constructed, and an inquiry has been instituted as to the ownership and occu piers of such portions thereof as will have to be purchased. Additional borings are now being made, and the contract drawings and specifications for several portions of the work have already been commenced, and are beingproceeded with as rapidly as possible, in the order hereinafter enumerated. With regard to the arrangements by which the several parts of the works can be most advantageously and conve niently carried out, I submit that the natural and most convenient order for executing works of this character would be to commence at the outfalls on both sides of the river ; and by first constructing the high level and gravi tating sewers, to cut off the flood waters of the high from the low level districts, and thus to prepare for the subse quent execution of the low level sewers. - But for some years past, whilst the best system of main drainage to be executed has been under discussion, the evils arising from defective drainage and the want of proper outfalls have been rapidly increasing, and have, in many parts of the metropolis, become so intolerable as to demand some modification of this most convenient mode of conduct ing the works, in order to produce beneficial results with the least possible delay. Pressing demands upon this Board for improved drainage outfalls continue to - be received from all parts of the metro polis, and the memorialists have' grown impatient, at the answer that " no permanent relief can be afforded them until the main drainage is carried out." Thus it is ren dered necessary to push forward the works at numerous points simultaneously ; and whilst now making a selection of the works to commence with, it is not intended to, post pone the others, but one contract after another will be fol lowed up as rapidly as they can be prepared, and entered into ; and it is anticipated that in the course of the next year the whole will be in active operation. On the north side of the Thames the northern high level sewer, from Hempstead to the River Lea, is urgently needed. It will form a substitute for the open Hackney brook sewer, and embraceA a length of 74 miles of main sewer and 1i mile of branches; and, in an engineering point of view, it is a convenient portion of the work to com mence upon. I have, therefore, first prepared the contract drawings and specifications for this portion—to be let in one contract—which is now submitted for your approval ; and I recommend that advertisements be forthwith issued for tenders for this contract. The more detailed surveys which are now being made have enabled me to improve the original line in several places, and I hope, by similar- careful revisions, to be enabled from time to time to make improvements in all other lines. The whole cost of this work, including land, compensa tions, and a variety of contingent items, will be, in round numbers, about £150,000. A considerable portion of the surplus earth may be re moved from the excavations through the new sewer when constructed : and inasmuch as the best of this earth, and that from the middle level sewer, will be required to form the embankment of the main outfall sewer from the river Lea across the marshes to Barking Creek, the formation of so much of this outfall sewer forms a part of the present contract, and must be at once commenced ; and immediate steps must be taken to effect the purchase of the land neces sary for this purpose. I beg to call the early attention of the Board to this point, as delay here will give rise to great inconvenience ; and I recommend that the necessary machinery to accom plish this object be at once set in motion. The south side of the Thames next demands your atten tion. Large and densely-inhabited districts of Camberwell, Deptford, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, and Lambeth are suffering from flooding, and other evils arising from the pent up sewage of their tide-locked sewers; and last year this Board, fearing that further delays might arise before they were enabled to carry out the main drainage, had determined upon and taken steps for the execution of tem porary works, at a very . large pecuniary sacrifice, in order to afford those districts immediate relief. This relief may, however, now be obtained by constructing a portion of the permanent works. I therefore recommend that the order of the board for the erection of a temporary station at the mouth of the Earl sewer be rescinded ; and that in lieu thereof the first permanent pumping station at Deptford Creek, intended to raise the sewage of the low level sewer into the main outfall channel, be at once constructed. To build and erect the required machinery will take time, and it will now be necessary to provide competent assistance to superintend the designmg and erection thereof, as well as that of the other pumping establish ments. When these arrangements are sufficiently advanced it is proposed to construct the north branch of the low level sewer from St. James's Church, Bermondsey, to Deptford Creek, including a portion of the main low level sewer, in one contract. These works will, when executed, produce an early and most beneficial influence upon the populous districts already referred to. The sewers of the western division may be commenced and completed independently of the other portions of the work, but before these are contracted for it is desirable to enter upon definite arrangements for the deodorisation of the sewage to be carried off by them. I have already re ceived from -Mr. 'W. Y. Cooke, the chairman of the com pany conducting the Leicester Sewage Works, the heads of a proposition upon this subject in a letter which I here with submit for the consideration of the Board. The deodorixibg works proposed to be erected in this dis trict will afford useful experience for future arrangements to be made at the main outfalls, and it is possible they may be more advantageously worked by private individuals who entertain a favourable opinion of the value of the manure, than could be done by a public Board. I, therefore, recom mend that advertisements be forthwith issued in the public papers, setting forth the quantities of sewage to be dealt with, and stating that this Board will be prepared, at a time named, to receive and consider tenders from respon sible parties, for the deodorisation of the sewage of the western division, and the removal of the deposit, for a term of years, under certain restrictions, to be stated, which shall secure the effective deodorisation, purification, and removal of the sewage, in such a manner that no nuisance shall be created thereby. Under such arrangements the marketable value of the metropolitan sewage as a manure would soon be fairly developed. The high level sewer on the south side of the Thames should then be let in one contract. Then the middle level sewer on the north side, in another contract ; to be followed by a contract for the northern main outfall sewer, from the river Lea to Barking Creek. Then the low level sewer on the south side of the Thames, afterwards the southern main outfall sewer. Then the reservoirs at both outfalls ; and lastly the low level sewer on the north side -of the Thames. _ _ _ In compliance with the latter portion of my instructions, plans for outfall sewers to Greenwich Marshes have been prepared ; and I now beg to report that the following appear to be some of the comparative advantages and dis advantages of placing the southern outfall in Greenwich Marshes, instead of at Crossness Point in Erith Marshes. An outfall at Greenwich Marshes would admit of the discharge of the sewage from the high level sewer, at high water, by gravitation, and would reduce the lift of the low level sewage. But, on the other hand, the point of dis charge would be nearly six miles higher up the river; and since, with this proposition, it is rendered necessary to deodorise and reniove the deposit during the whole year, the annual expenditure would be largely increased. Indeed, so far as I have been enabled to compare the first cost and annual expenditure of the two propositions, it appears that in a pecuniary point of view, they are nearly balanced. Looking, therefore, at the whole bearing of the subject, I am of opinion that it is desirable to adhere to the former decision of the Board, and to place the Southern outfall at Crossness Point in the Erith Marshes. In conclusion, I submit the following table, showing the manner in which it is proposed to divide the work into separate contracts ; and the periods at which the draw ings and specifications may, so far as it is possible to esti mate, be expected• to be ready to advertise for tenders,, ac companied by estimates of cost, intended merely to give a general view of the nature and extent of the works, and in cluding land, compensation, and a variety of contingent items. The table has reference to the construction of sewers and works, exclusive of machinery, engine-houses, deodorising works, and other items. "1. High Level Sewer, north side of Thames —now ready—£lso,ooo.: "2. Northern „Branch of Low Level Sewer, south side of Thames—depending on the purchase of land and probable completion of machinery at Deptford Creek—£6o,ooo. "3. Sewers of Western Division—depending upon ar rangements to be made for deodorization—£ss,ooo. "4. High Level Sewer, south side of Thames—February, 1&59--£200 3 .000.r- - "5. Middle Level. Sewer, north side of Thames—March, 1859—£214,000. "6. Main Outfall Sewer, north side of Thames—April, 1859—X464,000. "7. Low Level Sewer, south side of Thames—May, 1859—£152,000. "8. Main Outfall Sewer, to Crossness Point, south side of Thames—June, 1859—X372,000. "9. Reservoir, north side—July, 1859-1150,000. "10. Reservoir, south side—July, 1859—£90,000. " 11. Low Level Sewer, north side'of Thames.Ldepending on the Thames embankment-1221,000. • Total approximate cost, £2,131,000. • Copy of a letter from Mr. W. F. Cooke, Chairman of the Company conducting the Leicester Sewage Manure Works, to Mr. Bazalgeire. " Oaklands, Stockbridge, Sept. 25, 1858. " Dear Sir.—With reference to the communications I have already had with you upon the subject, I beg to state that I am prepared, if called upon, to contract for the de oderisation of the entire sewage of London, and the removal of the mud deposit, upon the following basis : " 1. To erect works near Kensington-canal, and carry out the Leibester process in the most perfect form, for a fixed sum per million gallons of sewage per annum, deodor izing throughout the year with one ton of lime (or its equi valent in some other chemical) per million gallons. " 2. To erect works at the outfalls mentioned in plan 13 4 , and to deoderise, &c., for a fixed sum with three-quarters of a ton of lime per million gallons of sewage during half the year only ; or, " At any other stations that may be fixed upon here after for the whole or any portion of the present estimated quantity of sewage, the minimum being 70,000,000 gallons per diem. " 3. Also to contrret for employing an increased quantity of lime, &c., for a period during hot weather, on a sliding scale ; and also, " For deodorising an increased quantity of sewage beyond the present estimated flow—so that it will be in the power of the metropolitan authorities to fix the locality of fresh deodorising stations, to increase the quantity of sewage to be deodorised with the increasing population, and to increase the quantity of deodorising chemicals to .be used on an emergency in accordance with a fixed scale of charges--I am, dear sir, yours truly, (Signed) " Wm. F. COOKE. " Joseph Bazalgette, Esq." The adoption of the report was under discussion when we went to press. The Tuscan Moniteur of the 25th announces that the Archduchess Isabella, Countess of Trapani,• daughter of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, has been safely deliyered of a princess. LORD COLCHESTER AND THE LETTER CARRIERS. The following missive to the London letter barriers has just been issued : " I am directed by the Postmaster-General to ex press his lordship's disapprobation of the proceed ings, as reported in some of the newspapers, of a recent meeting held by . a portion of your body in the south-western district. " You are well aware that should any case of grievance exist, the rules of the department point out a proper mode of representing it ; that any one not satisfied with the result of his application may, through his immediate official superior, send a written statement of his case to the Postmaster-. General ; and that no obstacle of any kind is ever offered to your meeting, in a proper manner, on any matter connected with your interests as a body.; " You know also that complaints thus made, stated respectfully and without wilful or gross misrepresentation, whether emanating from a meeting or from individuals, never bring upon any ' one either loss of position, delay in promotion, or any other disadvantage. "Nevertheless, instead of the regular course being adopted, and the proceedings conducted in an open, manly, and respectful manner, the meeting referred to was held away from the ordinary place of employment, and speeches were made con taining statements which the men who uttered them must have known to be false, but from• the consequences of which they endeavoured to screen themselves by concealing their names. " The Postmaster-General holds every man who was present at that meeting, especially those who took an active part, responsible for its proceedings; and he warns all others not to follow an example tending to subvert discipline, to impede the public service, and to bring disgrace and dismissal on those concerned. " Lord Colchester has the 'satisfaction of believ ing that the great majority of letter-carriers are well-disposed, incluAtrious, and res . pectable men, who would take no iokart in such unjustifiable pro ceedings, and he believes that the actors iii them are in many eases among the least meritorious officers, and who, therefore, are moved , by a natural antipathy to the new arrangement, which makes merit the ground of promotion. " His lordship also warns the letter-carriers against the machinations of discarded officers, who, reckless of the ruin they may bring upon others, strive to spread disaffection in the department from which they themselves have been removed. " That the situation of letter-carrier is far from being ineligible is shown by the large number of respectable men constantly applying for appoint ment—a fact at which the Postmaster-General can not be surprised when he compares the amount of work and rate of wages with those ~ t o be found in ordinary employments. Excepting auxiliaries, who are employed during part of their time only, the lowest wages of any London letter-carrier (these being obtainable by a youth of 17—often the son of an elder letter-carrier) are 19s. a week, advancing with every year's good service to 235. ; while those who are willing , and able to become sorters may rise into classes receiving from 255. to 30s. a week, from 325. to 385., and from 40s. to 50s. ; though some of you appear unwilling to become regular sorter's, since that office entails the loss of the Christmas boxes (averaging, it is believed, more than £8 a year, and in some walks exceeding even £2O), which are given to letter-carriers. " His lordship reminds you that these wages are exclusive of your uniform, of a pension in old age, and of assistance in insuring your lives. A large number of you also are gratuitously supplied with medical attendance and medicine. Lastly, you have each a fortnight's holiday in the year, which most other working men must either forego or purchase by the loss of a fortnight's wages. Neither should it be forgotten that several of the foregoing advan tages have been granted recently, and that without solicitation, having proceeded from a spontaneous desire for your welfare. " As regards work, you know that more than two years ago you were all informed that if, after allow ing for temporary circumstances, caused by changes in the walks, any letter carrier thought his duties were more than a man of ordinary despatch might be expected to get through in an average of eight hours per day, he was at liberty to report his case for consideration. But few applications, neverthe less, have been received ; and even in nearly all these few cases, including, with one exception, those recently submitted to the Postmaster-General by a deputation of some of your body, it was found, on careful examination, that , the daily working time, instead of exceeding eight hours, was actually less. " On a late occasion I was authorised by the Post master-General to state, that provided the body of letter carriers conducted themselves in all respects - with propriety, his lordship would be prepared to take a fitting opportunity to look at the question with the view of ascertaining whether it might not be possible to submit to the Treasury some scheme by which the position and prospects of the letter carriers could be improved without their being re quired to qualify themselves for the duties of regu lar sorters. " Progress has been made towards performing this conditional promise ; and even for ascertaining whether, with due regard to the public service, the situation of letter carrier might be improved in any other way ; but I am now directed to state, that if any repetition shall take place of the im proper acts mentioned above, the Postmaster-Gene ral, looking to the necessity for maintaining perfect discipline in so large a body of men, will be re luctantly obliged to suspend all progress of the kind ; and that but for the conviction that the misconduct has been confined to compa ra ti ve l y few men, his lordship would have felt it his duty at once to take much more stringent measures. WILLIAM BOKENHAM, Controller of the Circulation Department. " General Post-office, Sept. 29." I [KENT RAILWAYS.—The surveyors of the South- Eastern Company have been employed during the past month in the neighbourhood of Ightham, correcting former surveys of the line proposed for cutting off the Reigate angle, now about to be actively prosecuted by the company, to meet the competition of the East Kent for the direct Dover traffic. The object is one of such obvious necessity that no doubt is entertained of the disposition of South- Eastern shareholders to sanction an application to Parlia ment for the object, and .an issue of new shares for the capital required. THE MILFORD RAILWAY.—The line from John son, on the South Wales Railway, to the town of Milford, is now in course of rapid formation, under the superinten dence of the Messrs. Lucas, the contractors, and the direc tors expect that the railway will be completed early in the ensuing spring, and opened for traffic not later than May next. In connexion with this undertaking, which will give 'direct access to the town of Milford, an extensive dock, comprising forty acres, is about to be constructed at Hakin Point, the facilities for the construction of which will enable the enterprising projectors to complete it at a very small outlay. A. fine shipping port is, therefore, likely soon to be formed in connexion with the new railway, and the shipping trade will soon possess another great and safe out let for America, the Mediterranean, Ireland, &c. The Government are evidently fully alive to the advantages which Milford affords. A BABY SHOT.—A singular and distressing acci dent has thrown the parish of Mudford into a state of ex citement. The particulars of this sad case are best given in the evidence taken at an inquest held by Mr. D. H. Ash ford, coroner, on Monday last, at Up-Mudford. The inquest was held on the body of Charles Field, aged 18 months, son of Mr. Thomas Field, yeoman. Mrs. Ann Field deposed :—" On Friday evening, about half-past 7 o'clock, I was in the parlour with one of my servantoi named Jane Lodge, and my child, the deceased, was held by another servant, Georgiana Weldon, who was sitting with it in the window. I told the girl, Jane Lodge, to take a gun out of the room and dust it. Immediately after I heard the other girl say, ' Oh, Jane, don't point the gun at the baby.' I rose to speak to her, but before I could do so the gun went off. I ran to catch the baby, and found the whole of the charge had entered its face. I took it and carried it into the kitchen, but it died instantly. I did not know that the gun was loaded. I believe it had not been moved since bird-keeping time. I think trie accident happened through ignorance." Mr. Tompkyns was sent for, and he said that the charge had divided the jugular vein and caused instant death. Georgiana Weldon- 1 I was holding the child when Jane took up the gun. Baby was laughing to see her with it, and she then said, Now, baby, I'll shoot you.' I said, ' The gun isn't loaded, is it ? She lifted it up to the candle to see if there was a cap on it, and said, I know it is not loaded for it has not a cap on.' She then took it up, and the gun went off, and the charge entered the face of the child." The inquest was adjourned. 'TIE NEW PEAL OF BELLS AT DONCASTER c uuß c H .—Doncaster has once more its church bells. Their presence in the new tower has been indicated for some days past by the occasional tinkling or bolder ringing of the workmen employed in suspending them; but on Wednes day their existence was proclaimed in a still more unmistake able manner, first by a gentle and tentative chime, and afterwards by a full sweep of the peal— " Ringing uproarious ; Sounding out glorious." Great expectations had been formed of the quality of the new peal, which has been cast at the foundry, of Messrs. Warner and Sons, Cripplegate,.under the superintendence of Mr. Denison, Q.C., who, as most of our readers are aware, has devoted much attention to the subject of bell casting in general, and to tho manufacture of this peal for his native town in particular. The large bells of the new peal are heavier in proportion to the small ones than in either of the two former peals. The method of hanging the bell is quite new, and the prin ciple is undoubtedly a great improvement on the old system, for, instead of the clapper always falling on the same place, the bell is so fastened to the stock that it can be turned round after it has been worn sufficiently in one place to 'fairer such a proceeding necessary. On Wednesday night they rung three " touches"—a "touch" being only a por tion of a peal—from the " g-randsire triple," the " touches" ocCupying from six to fifteen minutes, and the number of 'cffanges varying from 168 to 250, the total being 854. On the following morning the Doncaster ringers gave another " touch" of 350 changes from the " grandsire triple," which they repeated during .the early part of the afternoon. With regard to the quality of the new peal, there can be little hesitation in pronouncing it one of the most musical in. the • country. All the bells have a clear, fine, sonorous tone, and whether ringing or chiming, abundantly satisfy the musical ear. NORTHAMPTON AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. TOWCESTER, THURSDAY. The :annual meeting of the Northamptonshire Agricultural Association was held to-day in this town, when there was an unusually numerous show of stock and implements. The floral and horticul tural exhibition of the Towcester local society took place upon the same occasion, and was an additional source of attraction. In the afternoon a dinner was held in the Pomfret Arms, under the presidency of Mr. Yorke, Thrapston. The Earl of Pomfret, Col. Cartwright, M.P., Mr. Knightley, M.P.., General Cartwright, and about 200 of the leading gentry and agriculturists of the county were also present. The usual loyal toasts having been given, the CIIAIRMAN pi oposed " The Army and Navy." General CARTWRIGHT, in responding, alluded to the services which the army had rendered in India, and said shat though it was somewhat invidious to mention names where all had so nobly done their duty, he could not refrain from reminding the meet ing that one of the most distinguished officers now in India was one of themselves, and was only the other day riding across the country side by side with many of them—he meant Sir Hugh Rose. (Loud cheers. He hoped that, please God, his gallant friend might soon return to this country, and he was satisfied that he would be received with a cheeer equal to that which he (General Cartwright) was old enough to remember greeted the return of Lord Lynedoch. (Cheers.) With regard to the future efficiency of the army and navy, he trusted that no parsimonious Govern ment would ever allow the wooden walls of old England to fall into decay, for if they did, woe be to the power of England as a nation. (Hear.) The . CHAIRMAN next gave " Success to the North amptonshire Agricultural Association." He briefly alluded to the importance of such societies, and con gratulated the meeting on the successful show which had that day been witnessed.' The toast was drunk amid loud cheers. Mr. KNIGIITLEY, M.P., in "proposing the next toast, said he hardly loiew what observations he could offer. He believed that politics were strictly prohibited, and he confessed that he for one was very sorry that such was the case. He thought the time had passed when party feeling ran so high that gentlemen could not meet together and. discuss matters of public interest without endanger ing the harmony of the meeting. (Hear.) He should have been most happy, seeing so many of his constituents around him, to avail himself of the present opportunity in order that he might discuss public questions of the deepest importance to all of them. So far as he was personally concerned he felt there was no reason why he should shrink from the discussion of any subject which had occupied the attention of Parliament last session:or was likely to be brought before it next session. The rules of the society were so very strict that he would refrain from infringing them, however agreeable it might be to himself to explain his views on political mat ters. One subject, however, had been touched upon by his hon. and gallant friend, General Cartwright, to which he felt anxious to allude, even though it might be thought to come strictly under the head of politics. His gallant friend expressed a hope that the Government of the day would carefully provide for the defence of the country. (Hear, hear.) He cordially concurred in that wish. A noble lord (the Earl of Shrewsbury), at an agricul tural meeting recently held in the county of Staf ford, accused the House of Commons of having but toned up their breeches pockets in a niggardly spirit when the defence of the country was concerned. He (Mr. Knightley) did not think that that was a fair charge to bring against them. Ever since he had had the honour of a seat in Parliament he had never seen a vote proposed by the Govern ment which had been improperly controlled or granted in a niggardly spirit by the house—(hear) —and he felt satisfied that if Lord Derby would. bring forward in the ensuing session sufficiently large and liberal estimates they would be agreed to with the utmost cordiality. (Cheers.) Perhaps it into the be thought that he was entering too far the domain of politics ; but, if he was not to talk politics, what on earth was he to talk about ? He could not read them a lecture upon agriculture. He did not mean to say that he was entirely ignorant upon the subject, for he lived in the country and was upon terms of cordiality and friendship with a large number of farmers, but he had not the ad. vantage of being enabled to speak from practical experience, not being an occupier of the soil, and he felt that one ounce of experience was worth a whole ton of advice. (Laughter.) The hon. gen tleman concluded by proposing the health of the chairman. The CHAIRMAN briefly responded, and several other toasts of a local nature having been given the proceedings terminated. THE SHERIFFS' DINNER.—Last night the new Sheriffs for London and Middlesex—Mr. Alderman Hale and Mr. Deputy Conder—gave their inaugural dinner in the Tallow Chandlers'-hall, Dowgate-hill. The guests num bered upwards of 150, and among those present we observed the Lord Mayor elect, Aldermen Humphrey, Sir J. Duke, Sir J. Musgrove, Sidney, Salomons, Finnis, Carter, Cubitt, Rose, Lawrence, Phillips Gabriel, Mechi, and Allen ; Mr. Looke, M.P., M r . Tite, M.P., Mr. Norris, M.P., Under-Sheriffs Jones and Surr, Professors Taylor and Brande, Dr. Graham, Dr. Walker, Dr. Mortimer, the Rev. E. H. Bickersteth, the Mayor of Melbourne, Sir R. Mayne, the Recorder of London, the City Chamberlain, the Common Sergeant, and the rest of the civic officers. The dinner was of the usual sumptuous description. GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION. — Her Majesty's Emi gration Commissioners chartered yesterday afternoon, the 30th ult., the Dirigo, 1,182 tons , to sail from Liverpool for Melbourne, Victoria., at £l3 7s. 3d. per statute adult, to be ready for the reception of passengers on such a day as the commissioners may fix upon between the 17th and 24% of November. They have also given notice of their intention to receive tenders next Thursday, the 7th inst., for a ship to proceed to Sydney, New South Wales, to be ready to sail any day the commissioners may fix upon between the 18th and 25th of November. GOVERNMENT ARTISANS AND INCOME TAY.-- Some time since a number of workmen employed at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, were charged with large mins alleged to be due for arrears of income-tax, which was cal culated upon the overtime made during the busy period of the Russian war. A deputation of the men waited upon Lieutenant-General Sir W. F. Codrington, one of the mem bers of the borough, who used every exertion to procure a rescindment of the order made by the War-office, and an order suspending the payment of the tax was subsequently received. The authorities A the War Department, having fully considered the subject, have forwarded instructions to the heads of the various departments at the Royal Arsenal, directing that the sums already deducted from the men's wages shall be refunded, and that no further demand shall be made for the payment of the tax. This decision has given the utmost satisfaction to the men. MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A FATHER AND HIS CHILD BY DROWNlNG.—Yesterday Mr. Baker received in formation of the death of a man named James Thomas, and of his daughter, Elizabeth Thomas, who were drowned in the export dock of the West India Docks, under the fob; lowing distressing circumstances. It appeared that on Tuesday night last the child, who was with her father and mother on board the merchant ship Perseverance, fell overboard. Her father sprang from the deck into the water hoping to preserve his daughter, but in doing this he was not successful. In his endeavours to effect that object he dis appeared. Neither of the bodies was found till life was extinct. It is impossible to describe the agonising feelings of Mrs. Thomas upon so sudden a bereavement of a husband and child. The latter was nine years of age, and her father, who was mate on board the ship, was aged 37 years. CORONER'S INQUEST. -- DETERMINED SUICIDE OF A TRADESMAN.—Yesterday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the Lord Nelson, Nelson-street, Hackney-road, on view of the:body of Mr. oha Thomas Carr, aged 4E0 , , a tradesman, in business as an upholsterer, in Providence-place, adjoining. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased, who was married, was inclined to drinking ardent spirits to excess, and this eventually had an effect upon his mind. Latterly he became melancholy, and talked rather incoherently. On Monday last he was in the company of a:few friends, when he suddenly left. He went home , where he was followed by his wife, who, upon entering the bedroom, discovered that he was suspended by a cord to the bedpost. She gave an alarm, upon which some per sons-hurried to her assistance, when the cord was cut. He seemed without any signs of life, but a surgeon was sent for, who stated that life was extinct. Verdict, temporary insanity. ALLEGED MEDICAL NEGLECT AT LIMEHOUSE. —SPECIAL VERDlCT.—Yesterday Mr. W. Baker, the co roner, resumed and concluded a protracted inquiry at the Victoria Tavern, Three Colt-street, Limehouse, respecting the death of Maria Newman, aged 5. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned the following verdict : " That the deceased died a natural death, but the jurors can not separate without expressing their opinion that there was great neglect on the part of Mr. Win. Lyndon Francis, the medical officer of the Stepney Union, in the preparation and dispensing of the medicine prescribed for the deceased, the same having been imperfectly dispensed by the omission of two items prescribed, and no label having been attached to the bottles in which the medicine was sent, directing the quantity to be taken, and the coroner is requested to make this communication to the board of guardians of the union, with a request that they will issue positive orders to the dispenser of medicine to the poor to give the necessary directions thereon in writing as to the mode in which it is to be taken." PEERESSES' SECOND MARRIAGES.—The law as laid down by Lord Coke correctly has not changed to this day. The usage observed in regard to the continued as sumption of the title after the second marriage with a com moner, is but one of courtesy, and not recognised in any other way. At the several coronations of late years, the widows of peers who had remarried were not acknowledged as peers' widows, nor were they summoned. Like many other assumptions, which the mere courtesy of society re cognises, and are of daily occurrence, even in the case of widows of baronets and knights they are not legal, though tolerated for being a harmless gratification. Some years ago a very eminent conveyancer and equity counsel, since called to a distinguished and high position, refused on settling the draft of a lady's will, the widow of a baronet, to allow her to style herself by the title of her late husband, she being then the wife of a person of inferior degree, the real pro perty passing by the will being considerable ; and the will was made in her proper name with the addition of " calling herself Lady --." The general rule of law is, that the status a woman acquires by marriage she loses by remar riage, following the position and state of her husband, un less she has by birth any positive rack of her own,--Notes timi Queries,