The Sun. — London, England, 1866-11-13 00:00:00

Metropolitan and Provincial Working Classes' Exhibition. Last evening the Industrial Exhibition which has been open in the Agricultural Hall, Islington, for the last 10 weeks, and which has attracted more than half a million of spectators, was formally dozed. Lord John Manners, M.P., presided at the ceremony, and was supported by the Council and other leading promoters of the undertaking. The floor and galleries of the vast hall were well filled with an audience chiefly composed of the working classes, but also including persons of other social grades, as well as both sexes and all ages. The building was tastefully decorated with flags and banners, and altogether the scene presented was one of a.truly animated and even imposing descrip tion. The programme for the evening was at once ample and varied. It commenced with the perform ance, by Mr. C. F. Davies, on Willis's Great Exhi bition organ, of a pirited triumphal march, spe cially composed for the occasion. Then, on the Chairman ascending the platform, the choir of the Tonic Sol-fa Assoc tion sang the Old Hundredth Psalm very impressively; after which the Rev. C. Boutell proceeded to read the report of the adjudi cators. In this document these gentlemen state that, in awarding the prizes, they based their judg ment " not on intrinsic merit alone, but also on the circumstances and opportunities of the producer, and the promise or suggestion of future improvement" offered by his work ; and they thus sum up the general character of the Exhibition . " We feel bound to state that, with certain honourable exceptions, the objects exhibited do not attain to great ex cellence. The chief deficiencies are in those important qualities which result from well-directed study, and in ori ginality of design, the offspring of independent thought. At the same time there are abundant evidences of patient, laborious perseverance, of earnest assiduity, and particu larly of technical skill and manual dexterity, which give promise of more decided excellence in future Industrial Exhibitions." Mr. W. J. WATTs, the secretary, next read the report of the Executive Council, from which it ap peared that the undertaking had realised, with com plete success, the original idea of the promoters—' namely, that it should be a Workman's Festival, and become a means of providing rational recrea tion and profitable amusement for, the working po pulation of the metropolis at a merely nominal cost. The report also stated that— " Since the opening of the Exhibition, about 550,000 persons had entered the building, and of these upwards of half a million have paid for admission. Of children ad mitted free there have been 3,092 belonging to the Sunday schools, 401 to the parochial schools, 3,992 to the ragged schools, and 1,559 to other schools. Concerts, oratorios, organ performances,leetnres, gatherings of various societies, a flower show, and other entertainments, have been given in connection with the Exhibition. . . . Although the Council are in a position to meet their estimated liabilities, besides expending the sum of £BOO on prize medals, certi ficates, and mementos for exhibitors, it must be borne in mind that a large proportion of the labour bestowed on the undertaking has been rendered gratuitously, and that the singers, musicians, lecturers, agents, and others have, in most cases, tendered their services without remuneration. One of the most pleasing features of the festival has been the nightly influx of working men, who have brought their wives and families to share their pleasures, for they knew that here nothing would be permitted but what might be seen and heard without raising a blush or offending the most sensitive. There have been awarded special prizes in money to a considerable amount, 81 silver medals, 175 bronze medals, and 185 certificates of honourable mention, making a total of 441 exhibit ors ou t o f 1 ,455 who have re ceived marks of merit." The next part of the programme was "An Ode to Labour," written by Mr. J. Plummer, and set to music by Dr. Spark, of Leeds, expressly for this Ex hibition, at the inauguration of which it was per formed by a very powerful choir. It was now re peated at the closing ceremony in a very effective manner by about 1,000 voices. Both the music and the words are productions of considerable merit, and their execution, it need hardly be said, elicited warm and even rapturous plaudits from all parts of the hall. Lord J. MANNERS then rose to address the vast assemblage, and was received with vehement and general cheering. He said he was painfully sensible that from the " music married to immortal verse" to which they had all just listened with so much delight, to the feeble effort of one human voice like his own in that huge gathering, the de scent was great indeed. (hear, and a laugh.) He owned that when first invited to preside on that oc casion, he imagined that he was, perhaps, indebted for that honour to some fanciful relation, in the minds of the Managing Committee, between the works of the department with which he was officially connected and the works which lately had been in spected with so much pleasure and admiration by thousands upon thousands within these walls. But a little further reflection convinced him, as he trusted it would convince them, that, after all, there sub sisted a very real and substantial relation between the office over which he had the honour to preside and the present purpose to which that hall was de dicated. (Cheers.) Only a few years ago, in this country, all the coarser operations, as they might be called, of construction were necessarily confined to English and Irish hand s ; but when a question was raised of the finer, the more decorative and ornamental arts, then in many quarters it was thought that recourse must be had to foreign heads and fingers. But a British school of art-workmen had sprung up which might date from the da s of Pugin and of Barry, and the New P a l ace at West minster. And h ow great had been the progress of these decorative and constructive arts since then Mr. Beresford Hope had proposed to the Royal Commission which a year or two ago examined into the constitution of the Royal Academy that a school, so to speak—•a class of British art workmen should be associated with that body, and that marks of distinction and approval should be held out to them. They all knew that reform and progress in these matters marched but slowly. Yet he had lis tened with much gratification that evening to the long catalogue of prizes which the adjudicators had been enabled to bestow upon British workmen from the profits accruing upon that Exhibition ; and he thought that to any one occupying his present position an undertaking like that could not but be of the deepest interest. Any one who walked round the interior of that building, and noticed the various proofs it contained of creative fancy, of imitative skill, of mechanical ingenuity, of fidelity to nature, of respect for truth, for temperance, for good sense, and good taste, could not fail to perceive how real and close was the connexion between the head of the Department of Public Works and of Royal Palaces and Parks and Gardens, and the objects of the present gathering. Ile had referred to fidelity to nature. He remem bered a few years ago, on examining the fine new hall of the University of Dublin, he was struck with the beauty and perfection of the sculpture which adorned its walls. Ile made inquiries into the sub ject, and was told that the Irish workpeople from whose hands those sculptures came had not been copying some dead inanimate design, but had had real flowers and leaves before them whi c h th e y h a d i mitated, with the happy results that he had men tioned. He recollected, also, what had lately oc curred in his own special department. Last year his predecessor in office, instead of permitting th e flowers, as it had been the custom to do, to remain in all the parks under his charge to be destroyed at the end of each autumn, thought it would be well to distribute the m among such of the working classes as cared to ask for them l • and a gre a t an d gra tif y i ng demand was the result. Something like 20,000 plants were then thus distributed. H the utmost pleasure thi s year in fo llow i ng e had himself so good an example, and mark the consequence. The de mand had risen from about 20,000 to 50,000 the l a tter number of plants having b een , recently distri bitted from the various royal parks and gardens among the working population of that metropolis. Of that quantity not less than 16,000 had gone, he fejoiced to say, in the direction of the Victoria and Greenwich parks, and he could not but think that hereafter many a working man would find his model of beauty in the plants so distributed. A certain alertness and activity which characterised the French more than any other European army was often attri buted by competent judges very much to the peculiar opportunities which the French soldier had in time of peace for employing his brain and using his fingers in avocations other than those of war. Now, he could not help thinking:that, in a similar manner, the great , army of British art workmen would find their skill and ingenuity wonderfully increased by employing those leisure moments and winter evenings, which might not otherwise be so profitably spent, in these extraneous labours of love. Vast, indeed, was that army. That exhibition, he believed, had for the first time called forth that array of provincial as well as metropolitan art-workmanship ; and it was most gratifying to know that in the opinion of the adju dicators some of the most meritorious designs bad emanated from provincial towns. Another impor tant consideration connected with these exhibitions was the additional zest they communicated to the pleasures of the domestic hearth and the social circle. They could easily picture to themselves many a long winter night occupied by a father, a husband, a bro ther, or a son over his labour of love, the progress or which was watched, many of those present knew how fondly and proudly, by the wife, the daughter, the sister, or the parents, who speculated hopefully on the place which some little article--a unit in a great whole—might hereafter occupy in a collection like the present. Nor did the beneficial influence of these exhibitions stop there. The half million and more persons who had lately visited that noble hall were composed not exclusively, but mainly of work people, with their wives and families. Therefore he might safely say that the domestic influence exer cised by these exhibitions was not confined to the immediate circle in which it was created. Again, let them mark how, around these productions of the working men, had been grouped the charms of music and the various branches of knowledge which were to be acquired from the lectures that had been deli vered. Thus they saw how one thing, small perhaps in its inception, might lead to great and varied results, and they might, moreover, gather from the results of these undertakings en couragement for the future. The report of the adjudicators had told them what was reasonably to have been expected, that perfection had not yet been attained—(a laugh) ; but at all eventsthere was enough excellence shown to stimulate every ex hibitor to go on and prosper in future years. Again, that Exhibition had been visited with interest and delight by many men and women of all classes, and he saw in it one link the more added to the golden , chain which should bind together all sections of that great community. (Cheers.) In these days, when so much was said and written to disintegrate society, let them take heart and hope from witnessing the triumphant success of that great Industrial Exhibi tion. (Cheers.) And great as had been the benefit derived from that Exhibition, considerable as had been the pleasure, the recreation, and instruction afforded there during the last ten weeks, let them take away from that which might otherwise be a somewhat sad closing ceremonial the consoling thought that in the future in their various spheres they would derive fresh encouragement for works of that magnificent character, and carry home with them aspirations, sentiments of mutual forbearance, brotherly kindness, and an enlarged humanity to cheer their hearths and warm their hearts under the snows of winter, and to burst into virgin flowersand Christian fruits beneath the suns and the fires of Pentecost. (Loud cheers.) The noble lord con cluded by thanking the adjudicators and exhibitors, on behalf of the committee, for their co-operation, and then declared the Exhibition formally closed. Au appropriate prayer having been offered, the choir sang Kent's anthem " Blessed be thou," and a vote of thanks to the chairman was passed by ac clamation. In acknowledging the compliment, Lord J. MANNERS said that about a quarter of a century ago, when he began to regard himself as a working man, he recollected at the close of one of those arduous Parliamentary campaigns which re sulted in the triumph of the Ten Hours Bill, attending a meeting which, with the exception of the present one, was certainly the most numerous meeting at which he had ever been present, in the Free Trade hall at Manchester. There they celebrated in the heartiest manner the successful termination of that protracted struggle, and he well remembered that throughout its progress it was alleged by those who opposed the abridgment of the hours of labour that the work people of this country, if they ob tained that boon, would not use it in the way that its advocates asserted they would do. Well, years had rolled by since then, and there, in that Exhibi tion, as well as in many other displays, innumerable proofs had been given of the soundness of the views held by himself and his friends on that point, and it was now an established fact that the working people of this country, to whatever class they be longed, would make a good not a bad use of those leisure moments which might be secured to them, whether by means of legislative enactments, or through the improved regulations of trade. The noble lord then invoked three cheers for the council, the adjudicators, the exhibitors, &c., which were given very heartily by the whole assemblage ; and after one or two formal resolutions, the diver sified ceremonial was at length brought to a close by a further musical performance. Naval and Military Intelligence. VALETTA, Nov. 7.—Since I last wrote I have re ceived a few particulars as to the cruise of the squa t dron, the return of which 1 have already an nounced. Since its departure from Malta on the 25th June the squadron has visited Patras, whence the Commander-in-Chief detached himself in the Psyche, to call at Constantinople and various places l i in the Levant. The squadron left Patras on the 27th August, arrived at Syracuse and Augusta on the 9th Sept., left those ports on the 24th, arrived at Cagliari on the 28th, left that port on the 30th, and arrived at Port Mahon on the 2d Oct., where it had to perform 10 days quarantine, the Balearic islands having placed that term on arrivals from all ports out of Spain. After remaining at Port Mahon till the 23d of October, the squadron weighed anchor and sailed for the coast of Sicily (Lord Clarence Paget having in the meantime been joined by Lady Clarence Paget and family), and anchored . off the island of Favignana on the 26th of Octo ber, leaving that anchorage on the 31st for I Malta. Many o th er places were in the original programme, but the Admiral was prevented visiting them ou account of the obstructions of quarantine. While cruising for a f ortn i ghtin the neighbourhood of the lonian Islands, the time there, as well as sub sequently on passage from port to port, was usefully employed in experimental sailing, steaming, and gunnery exercises, in all of which the various ships are in a high state of efficiency, thanks in a great measure for this to the Commander-in-Chiefs dis creet regulations in respect to avoiding excessive exercise in the midday sun, and substituting the cool hours of morning and evening for this purpose a forbearance fully appreciated by the crews, and has tended to produce an excellent spirit of emula tion among all on board. It may be observed that Lord Clarence Paget appears to have made himself very popular with both officers and men without having relaxed in the slightest degree that strict dis cipline so essential in a fleet. Clean bills of health have been issued from Marseilles since the 4th inst., and it is consequently expected that the quarantine here on arrivals will be reduced from 15 to seven days, and soon probably taken off entirely. The cholera has also ceased at Genoa and Naples, but continues to spread in Sicily. By the mail arrived yesterday we learn that it was increasing at Catania, and is committing great ravages in Palermo and the neighbouring country. Strict local quarantines are enforced in such towns as have as yet escaped. Letters from Constantinople of the 31st ult. say that all quarantine has been abolished there 'on ar rivals from ports in the Black Sea, but that ar rivals from England are still subject to 24 hours detention in the Dardanelles. The following no tice has been promulgated by the Malta Govern ment :—" Information having been received that cattle murrain existed in the district of Bona, the Malta Government has directed that the importa tion of cattle from Algeria be prohibited from the 22d inst. until further orders ; and the introduc tion of wool, hides, skins, horns, bones, and hoofs from Algeria shall not be permitted until sub jected to the usual sanitary measures under the di rection of the physician of the Lazaretto." Her Majesty's surveying vessel Sylvia, 5 guns, commissioned on the 12th ult. by Commander E. W. Brooker at Woolwich, sailed from Greenhithe • after the adjustment of compasses yesterday, under THE SUN, LoNLON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 13, 1866. orders to call at Portsmouth, Devonport, Madeira, or St. Vincent, Rio Janeiro, Cape of Good Hope, &c., through the Straits of Magellan to Hongkong, to carry out a survey in the Chinese waters. The steamship Britannia, in the London Docks, yesterday shipped 700 11-inch shell from Woolwich Arsenal for Gibraltar. The James Holmes com menced receiving hutting materials for Bermuda in the West India Docks, and the Gazelle in St. Ka tharine's Docks, shipped a cargo of timber and general stores for Malta, all from Woolwich Arsenal. The Admiralty order quoted a short time ago in The Sun, in which it was stated that their lordships had been pleased to permit all men on the 10 hours system to enter the dockyard at Woolwich at 8 30 for a certain period, as an experiment, was yester day announced to have yielded the desired results. The order is intended to relieve those men who by sheer accident may not be able to reach the dock yard in readiness for the first muster at 6 o'clock, and, not being entitled to admission until after the dinner hour, were consequently mulcted of half a day's pay. The order contained a caution to the effect that if any undue advantage were takenof the indulgence the order would be reconsidered, and the permission would be withdrawn. It was yesterday announced that no infraction by reason of the pri vilege has been reported, but that, on the contrary, the number of those who failed to be present at the early muster had been fewer than heretofore. The steamship Golden Fleece, chartered by the Transport Department of the Admiralty for the conveyance of troops to Hongkong, left the Victoria Docks for Gravesend, on her way to Portsmouth, on Saturday afternoon. Every provision has been made for the comfort and accommodation of the officers, the men, and their families, which are to accompany them under the regulations of the Admi ralty Transport Department. The system intro duced by Dr. Edmonds, R.N., which has for some time been adopted by her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners in all ships chartered by them, is now also applied to Government troopships. In the Golden Fleece provision is made for effective ventila tion whether during calms under the line or in stormy weather, when all ports or even hatches might re quire to be closed. This is effective without any machinery liable to derangement, but by the econo mical use of steam as a rarefying agent, or, when a more powerful action is desired, by its direct pro pulsive action. The five large transports now being built by contract on the plan of the Admiralty and Transport Departm ents are all to have Dr. Edmonds's system of ventilation applied to them. The Golden Fleece will embark a portion of the troops at Ports mouth to-day, and will call at Cork for theremainder and then proceed to the Cape and Hongkong. When all are embarked she will have nearly 1,100 souls on board. The paddle steam sloop Buzzard, 6, Commander Charles G. Lindsay, from the West Indies, arrived in Plymouth Sound yesterday morning. She left Barbadoes September 26, arrived at Fayal October 20, left November 5, and spoke November 10 the brig Iris and ship Patrician ; and November 11 the Dutch bark Water Nymph. The persons employed in the modelling depart ment at Chatham dockyard have been busily occu pied for some time past in executing a number of models of the various descriptions of ships belonging to the British navy, for transmission to Paris, where they will be exhibited in the French Exhibi tion. The various classes of ironclads and other vessels of the English navy will be represented at the Exhibition. The models completed include those of the Bellerophon, Achilles, Hercules, Monarch, Warrior, Lord Warden, Blanche, and Royal Oak, besides the various types of partially plated iron ships, and the different descriptions of wooden frigates and other ships. The following is published at the Admiralty, Whitehall,respecting the loss of the Griffon : —" The Buzzard arrived at Devonport this (Monday) after noon, after a lengthened passage from Barbadoes. Intelligence has beee received from the West Coast of Africa of the loss of her Majesty's gun vessel Griffon. It appears that the Griffon and Pandora, when standing into Little Popoe, in the Bight of Benin, on the evening of Oct. 2d, unfortunately came into collision, and that the Griffon ran on to the beach shortly afterwards. The Mullet and Pan dora had endeavoured, without success, to get the Griffon off up to the evening of Oct. 6, and it was feared she would become a total wreck. Officers and men arc all safe and well." The depot companies of the 2d battalion of the 2d (Queen's Royals) Regiment left Chatham on Satur day, and embarked at G ravesend on board the Irish steamer Lady Wodehonse, for conveyance to Dublin, the order from the Horse Guards directing the de pot to be quartered at Birr. The marching-out strength of the depot of the 2d battalion of the 2d Royals was 7 sergeants, 5 corporals, 2 drummers, and 120 rank and file, 10 soldiers' wives, and 10 children, together with the following officers—viz., Capt. J. M'G. Magill, Lieut. C. D. St. Croix, and Ensign G. D. King-Ilarward; Capt. F. J. Ilircy, in command of the depot, is on leave of absence. The service companies of the 2d battalion of the 2d are now on their passage home from Bermuda, and will join the depot at Birr. The regiment left England Feb. 12, 1858, for Malta, whence it was transferred to Bermuda. It is relieved at Bermuda by the 61st Regiment. The depot of the 2d is relieved at Chat ham by the 82d Regiment, which marched into the garrison on Saturday from Colchester. The mounted A troop of the Royal Engineer train, with the whole of their horses, pontoon train, waggons, and other materiel, arrived at head quar ters, BromptDn barracks, Chatham, on Friday evening, from Aldershot, and went into the quar ters in the North-square vacated by the Royal Artillery. The strength of the troop is :-8 staff sergeants, 17 corporals, 1 bugler, and 141 sappers and miners, with 132 horses and the usual accom paniments of pontoon trains and field equipment. The officers who arrived at Chatham with the troop are :—Capt. R. N. Dawson, in command ; Lieut. B. Blood, Lieut. A. de V. Brooke, Assist.-Surg. J. L. Erskine, M.D., and Veterinary-Surgeon T. W. Mayer. On Saturday the officers and men of the troop were inspected in the barrack-square by Col. J. L. A. Simmons, C. 8., director of the Royal En gineer establishment. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE• PENARTII. The directors of this company have issued a cir cular to the shareholders, bringing under their no tice the financial position of the concern, which ren ders it necessary for them to urge the proprietary to assist them in taking up that portion of the share capital issued to bankers and others 'As security for advances for completing the works. The number of such shares is 420 original, amounting to £42,000, and 849 preference, representing £84,900, making a total of £126,900. The directors announce that they have themselves taken up £23,000 of this amount. The powers of the company to raise loans on the security of debenture bonds have been fully exercised, and it is imperative that the advances from bankers and others referred to should .be liquidated, and a very large proportion must be paid off at once, so that it is absolutely necessary that the shares should be realised without delay. The railway and docks are now completed and leased to the Taff Vale Railway Company at a rental of 41 per cent., and one-half the surplus pro fits on the ordinary capital. 3IANCHES TER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLNSHIRE The total expenses of this company's railways and canals, including rents, tolls, duty, &c., from July 1 to November 4, 1866, amounted to £173,766, as against £160,990 for the corresponding period of 1865. The proportion of the South Junction re ceipts accruing to this company from July 1 to November 4 amounted to £14,636, as against £14,396 for the corresponding period of 1865, and the expenses to £7,375, as against £7,038. A Dover paper says that the Nelly steam-tug, Captain Wilson, is at present engaged with Messrs. Brunel and Ha wkshaw in surveying between Dover and Calais, in connection with the projected tunnel between England and France. The vessel has been specially fitted with scientific apparatus for that purpose and may be seen any fine day from the pier. Tie Island of Cuba. The following is the official translation of the Royal order suspending for the term of six months the payment of duties upon exports from the Island of Cuba :-- Superior Civil Government of the Ever Faithful Island of Cuba, Secretary's Office.—His Excel lency, the Colonial Minister, in a Royal order, dated 22d of August last, communicates to the Most Excellent Superior Civil Governor of this Island as follows Most Excellent Sir,—The Queen (whom God preserve) has been pleased to issue the following Royal decree : ID view of the reasons shown me by the Colo nial Minister, and in accord with the council of my Ministers, I hereby order the following : Article 1. The - payment of export duties on articles in the actual tariff will be suspended for the term of six months, commencing from the publi cation of the present decree in the Gaceta de la Habana, in all the custom-houses of the Island of Cuba. Article 2. The exemption allowed by the pre ceding article will be free, without any distinction of flag. Exportations which may be made in the period indicated from all payment of the estab lished duties, and neither now nor at any time can be exacted of the exporters, owners or con signees, the payment of the duties which would have been due during the six months counted from the publication of this measure in Havana by reason of the tariff duty, the collection of which is hereby suspended. Article 3. As a consequence of the termination of the two preceding articles, whilst the aforesaid sus pension of export duties exist, no guarantee what ever will be exacted by the custom houses of the Island of Cuba that vessels, loaded with goods otherwise subject to export duties, will land their cargoes solely and exclusively in Spanish ports. Article 4. The custom house administrators and marine authorities, without at all hindering the liberty of traffic and exportation, will furnish to the central dependencies of the Treasury charged with the collection of revenue the necessary statisti cal data to determine the quantity of articles ex ported and the amount of duties of which they are exempted. Article 5. The Colonial Minister will order the necessary instructions for the execution of the pre sent decree. Given at Zarauz, the 20th day of August, 1866. Signed by the Queen. ALEXANDRO CASTRO, Colonial Minister. Which Royal order I communicate to your Ex cellency for your knowledge and the corresponding effect, and his Excellency having fulfilled the order, it is published for general intelligence. MIGUEL VERDEGUER MESTRE, The Acting Secretary. Havana, Sept. 24, 1866. A New French Law. _ -o- Count de Montholon has communicated the text of a new French law, as follows: Article 1. The duration of the rights granted by anterior laws to the heirs of irregular successors, grantees or legatees, and of authors, composers or artists, is extended to fifty years, dating from the decease of the author. During this period of fifty years the surviving husband or wife, whatever may be the matrimonial arrangements, and indepen dently of rights which may result in favour of tha survivor from the regulations of the community, has all the enjoyment of the rights which the de ceased either has not disposed of by private contract, being parties in being or by will. However, if the author have heirs in reserve, that enjoyment is limited for the benefit of such heirs, according to the proportion and distinction established by articles 913 and 958 of the Code Napoleon. The enjoy ment does not take place when tiere exists at the moment of death a separation of persons pronounced against this surviving party. It ceases in the case where the survivor contracts a new marriage. The rights of heirs in remainder, reserve, or of other heirs or successors during this period of fifty years, remain, moreover, regulated in conformity with the prescriptions of the Code Napoleon. First. When the succession devolves to the State the exclusive right is extinguished, without preju dice to the rights of creditors and the execution of agreement of cession which may have been con sented to by the author or his representatives. Second. All the provisions of anterior laws con trary to those of the new law are and remain abro gated. American Foreign Carrying Trade. The following letter appeared in a contem porary : SlR,—i read with interest in your last issue Mr. Silver's letter to the United States Commissioner of Revenue relative to such modification in the laws as would permit American merchants to build their ships where it is most to their interests to do so. Your own able argument for confining the modifi cation to the liberty of building our American ships where it may be most desirable, when such vessels are to be employed in foreign commerce, corre sponds with my views also. . The exemption of " materials, machinery, &c.," from tariff for such building purposes, would pos sibly lead to all the difficulties and confusion that you apprehend. I was told but a few days since by a large owner in ships running under the United States flag that he must retire or sail under a foreign nationality, as he could not replace his superannuated ships in his own country. It has, then, become a simple question—whether the merchants of the United States may continue running ships to foreign ports, abandon their busi ness, or the flag of their country. In pursuing the latter course, it may, I think, be presumed that a large amount of cash would cease to augment the United States internal revenue. American shipbuilders, particularly when iron vessels are required, are not, under the present cir cumstances, likely to receive much patronage for the construction of ships for foreign service. In fact, I am under the impression that the repairs re quired from the shipbuilders and engineers of New York on the foreign-built vessels would prove much more advantageous pecuniarily to them than all the contracts they are, under the present contingencies, likely to obtain. I am a Protectionist in general, but here is a commercial subject that cannot be protected. Foreign-built vessels may be deprived by our laws of any advantage in our long coasting trade, and allow our costly domestic-built vessels to run at a profit, but there is no protection against the com petition of foreign-built vessels in the foreign trade, unless port dues of some kind are made so enor mous as to counterbalance the cost of building ships at home. Such a policy toward foreign countries is not likely to be adopted ; neither would it, in my opi nion, be very commendable. As years pass, improvements in ships, more espe cially for transatlantic passenger accommodation, will be required ; and I would suggest that after foreign-built vessels had been in service under the United States flag, and trading directly with the United States for ten years, they should be consi dered naturalised, and eligible to the coasting or any other service that a citizen of the United States should wish to employ them, with liberty to run them under the flag of the country. Hoping that our Government may not overlook the importance of this subject—l am, yours very respectfully, HowLAND The Standard informs us that Mt. James Haugh ton, the host of Mr. Bright and the advocate of total abstinence and vegetarianism, has, through the columns of the Freeman, addressed a strange lecture to "the disturbers of the meeting in the Mechanics' Institute." Some idea of the tone of this gentleman's mind and of his power of forming im partial judgments may be gathered from the follow ing paragraph :.—" I do not know, nor cau I form an opinion, whether the spirit of Orangeism or of Fenianism predominated among you, the disturbers of our otherwise peaceful assembly ; but if repre sentatives of either or of both these follies were pre sent, I would solemnly ask their upholders if the time has not arrived when Irishmen should forget the differences handed down to us by, I should hope, our less civilised forefathers, and unite with the men of Great Britain for the noble purpose of secur ing for all the in h abitan ts of these islands all the rights and privileges of freemen ? I once had dreams and fond aspirations myself for the national independence of my beloved country, but they have passed away." The amusing innocence of Mr. 1-laughton, as to whether the disturbers were Feniaus or Orangemen is commented upon in sarcastic Language by the Evening Mail:—" Mr. Naughton kimself (says the Mail) has admitted that the meeting was influenced by a spirit of fun and recklessness.' "fhey must have been thinking of me (says Sc in the play) for they laughed consumedly.' But: there was, and the party' feel it, much more than: fun in the ex pressions which gave emphasis to the occasion. The working men of Dublin had no sort of sympathy with Mr. Bright, and they certainly did not conceal their contempt for his patrons. In making both of these things clear they broke no law, whether of hospitalibtye,orbloftchoeuirrtesy. name, Th a ey not invited the stranger agitato r; th ey did no t -wish that there should ‘. demonstration' in favour of agitation, they uttered a protest against his coming, and the use made .of him—which was good-humoured, yet not wanang in serious purpose—rough, but intelligent and roightilY effec tive." The Secretary of State for War has decided upon granting a substantial reward to the family of the unfortunate deceased Mr. Snider, the inventor of the new breech-loader. American Debt. FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAINE, Nov. 5. The following letter is a private one of the Honourable Secretary of the Treasury at Washing ton to Mr. William Walter Murphy, the U.S. Consul-General at this city. As its publication had been desired by several bankers, Mr. Murphy has concluded to publish it. We suppose there can hardly be a doubt entertained but that the Govern ment of the United States will pay its national debt in coin, and the Circular in question mentioned by Mr. M'Culloch was only issued from New York for stock-jobbing purposes. The Secretary of the Treasury, who is perhaps one of the ablest finan ciers in the world, is now paying some 20 million dollars a month on the principal, so that at this rate, when the 5-20's mature, there will be but little to pay. It is a suprising fact that in one, month Mr. M'Culloch paid as much on the Ameri can national debt as the whole late war contribution of the German States to Prussia, which war loans were thought to have destructed so much the money market in Germany. The said letter runs as follows : " Treasury Department, " Washington, October 18, 1866. " Dear Sir,—Accept my thanks for your interest ing favour of the 19th ult. " The Circular was calculated to do us harm, but I trust the holders of our securities in Germany have too much confidence in the good faith of the Government to be affected by circulars of any kind. " The policy of the Government in regard to its bonds is well understood in this country ; and there ought not to be any mistake about it on the other side. The principal of all our bonds, the interest of which is payable in coin, will be paid in coin. Our interest-bearing notes are payable in currency. —I am, very truly yours, " H. M'C LILL 0 ell, Secretary. " Hon. Wm. W. Murphy, Consul-General, " Frankfort-on-the-Maine." I am happy to state upon this occasion that Con sul-Gencral Murphy, who a few weeks ago met with the sad accident of breaking his arm, while alight ing from his carriage, is fast recovering, and already able again to attend to his official business. We extract the following news from Bombay Oct. 13 :—" The cotton crop in Khandeish is re ported to be in a flourishing condition generally, and an average yield is expected. Reports from all parts of the lower provinces of Bengal state that the growing rice crop is one of the finest that has been known for many years. Sir William Mansfield's conduct with reference to the recent court-martial 'on Captain Jervis at Simla has been severely criticised by the whole press of India. Cap tain Buller, of her Majesty's 90th Regiment, has been appointed aide-de-camp to his Excellency Sir William Mansfield, in the place of Captain Jervis. A deputation waited on Tuesday upon Sir Stafford Northcote, President of the Board of Trade, in reference to the currency question. The deputation represented the Currency Reform Asso ciation, and its views were. explained by Mr. A. Alison, chairman of that association, who traced all the panics and commercial evils of these times to the fact that the Bank of England is a trading concern, with a share capital. and honni to make profits. He proposed that there should he created a Bank of Issue, which should take away from the Bank of England the right of issue, and pi ve out bank-notes to whomsoever chose to take them n exchange for gold or Government securities. S . l Stafford Northcote promised to confer with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject. A correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette, who has just returned from Podolia, informs us that a strong impression prevails there, both among the Russian and Polish inhabitants, that Eastern Galicia will very shortly be annexed to Russia. The Rus sian officers are so convinced of this that they talk of spending the Carnival at Lemberg, and are already making inquiries as to the fashions there, the number of places of amusement, and so on. The Ruthenian clergy on the Galician frontier, who are in constant communication with the Russian priests, also assert that the Russian Government will, before many months are over, take the place of the Austrian in Galicia—an exchange to which they looked forward with great satisfac tion. Whatever foundation there may be for these rumours, that they exist is at least significant of how the wind blows. The same correspondence brings us the news that the United-Greek Bishop of Chehn, whose banishment to Wiatka on account of his opposition to the propaganda of the Russian clergy in his diocese was telegraphed some weeks ago, died a few days after he had arrived at his destination. On Monday last the Liverpool Liberal Associa tion held a meeting, at which, after much discussion, it was determined to hold a Reform meeting, and to send invitations to Mr. Bright, Mr. J. S. Mill, and others. Mr. Gladstone, it is understood, has declined to take part in any Reform meetings for the present. An Irish paper mentions that Mr. IV. H. Gre gory, M.P. for Galway county, has been asked by the Government to become one of the Commis sioners to confer with persons to be named on be half of the United States regarding the maritime codes of the two countries, and the laws in both as to foreign enlistment. It is stated in the Manchester Guardian that Mr. W. G. Harcourt, to whom the letters under the signature of " Historicus " upon disputed questions of international law are ascribed, has been invited by Lord Stanley to act as one of the commissioners on the part of our Government to confer with those who may be named on behalf of the United States to consider the discrepancies in the maritime code of the two countries, as well as the expediency of bringing the laws of foreign enlistment in both into unison. "It is felt by all who have considered the matter carefully," writes a correspondent of our contemporary, " that the accord of France is most desirable, if not indispensable, and I have reason to know proposals have been made for the attainment of this most praiseworthy object." From Trieste we are informed that the Empress Charlotte continues to get better, but it is thought necessary that she should continue for some time longer in seclusion. The Temps is informed by a letter from Prague that the reported attempt on the life of the Emperor of Austria was all a mistake of the English officer who arrested the supposed regicide. It has been ascertained that he is nothing but an unoffending tailor, and he has been set at liberty. Spirit of the American Press. ENGLAND AND AMERICA. The speech of Lord Stanley, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs in England, at the banquet in Liver pool, given in honour of the successful laying of the cable, is one of the signs of the time. His earnest desire to have a good understanding between this country and England, and his energetic remon strances against every attempt to alienate the two countries, have attracted the very general atten tion of the press on both sides of the water. Lord Stanley could say what he did with a good grace, for he was one of the few British statesmen, of the nobility at least, who stood up with our nationality with steady faith in the triumph of loyalty and freedom. But the altered tone of the London Times, though less honourable, is, perhaps, even more significant. When a lover of the right rejoices in the success of right, and Lows to the majesty of power as it crowns the right, all is consistent. But when a mere worshipper of power without right is compelled to admit the ma jesty of right, against all his antecedents, the lesson is more impressive. The comment of tle Vales is refreghingly attended with indications of its ataious state of mind. It now sees clearly how the present Minister can re-open negotiations for the adjust ment of American claims for indemnity for the losses by the Alabama, notwithstanding they were so peremptorily closed by Lord Russell. Its vision is so cleared that it can see very plainly how the British Government can settle the bill without dis honour, if, after the neutrality laws of the two countries have been overhauled, it should appear to be reasonable. What kind of eye salve has so cleared the obfuscated vision of the Times? Why, it admits that had our Government acted as the British Government did to us, respecting the Fenian invasion of Canada, it would have cost the British Government more than enough to pay all these claims. That fact stings British pride. It is seen that a great, powerful nation, deeply indignant at wrongs done in its extreme peril, can yet be mag nanimous in its hour of victory. But it sees some thing much more convincing. It sees that if Britain should be involved in a war, which may occur at any time, and if we take their position as neutrals, the losses inflicted on British commerce will be appalling to contemplate. It is this spectre, rising up in the future, that so alarms the Times. Whether our Government will make any attempt to open the negotiations is yet to be seen. it is a grave ques tion whether we ought to take any step towards the protection of British commerce from the fate of war when it comes. Such a measure as this is not to our taste. She has taken her stand ; let her hold it.— Watchman and Reflector. RAILROADS IN WAR. General M'Callum, who during the war of the Rebellion, had charge of the railroad service of the armies, has furnished a report which contains many curious things. He commenced his labours in Feb ruary, 1862, at which time the only railroad held by the United States, for military purposes, was that which extended from Washington to Alexandria, and was seven miles long. From this small be ginning the railroad service of the army increased until it became a prodigious affair. When the war was ended General BPCallum's department had seized and built over two thousand miles of railroad, and operated them with the necessary engines, cars, engineers, and assistants. They had built so many bridges that, if they had been placed in connection, they would have extended 26 miles. Some of these bridges were wonderful constructions and built with surprising swiftness. The great bridge on the Chat tahooche was seven hundred and eighty feet long and ninety-two feet high, and it was built in four days and a half. The bridge over the Potomac, at Aquia Creek, Virginia, was 414 feet long and 82 feet high, and it was built and passed over by trains within 40 hours. Very frequently these roads were attacked by the rebels, the tracks torn up, and the bridges burned, but the Con struction Corps was promptly on hand to repair and restore them. In Hood's campaign to Ten nessee his troops destroyed thirty-five miles of track, and burned bridges extending over four hundred and fifty feet. This damage was perfectly repaired, and the line was again in working order in thirteen days. There was great destruction of trains and engines by guerillas. In six mouths of 1865 sixteen wrecked locomotives and nearly three hundred car loads of wheels were brought into Nashville. Frequently these military railroads were put to the most laborious work in the transportation of troops. 1u 1865 the entire Fourth Army Corps was transported from East .Tennessee to Nashville, three hundrel and sixty miles, without accident or delay, in fifteen hundred cars. At one time the construction and railroad sorps of General M'Cal lum was composed of twenty-five thousand men, and in their operations they spent forty-two mil lions of dollars. The labours of this important part of the army was severe, and gave to those who efficiently conducted them no chance for fame. But upon them most undoubtedly depended the success of our armies, because they not only carried troops where they were wanted, and brought back the .sick and wounded, but they also kept the sol diers fully supplied with food comforts and ammu nition.—Philadelphia inquirer. IMPORTANT TO EMBRYO CONSULS. The State Department seems to be much troubled by applicants for Consulships abroad. Many who offer their services for those posts have very small qualifications for the positions they covet, and they seem to suppose that no particular knowledge is necessary on the part of incumbents of such offices. And yet it is notorious that our Consuls abroad m ay get us into difficulties with foreign nations, and frequently they assume to do things in the name of the United States Government which are entirely beyond their authority. The evil has become so grievous that the State Department has been com pelled to issue a circular, which shows that the erection of a School for Consuls in some of our large cities might be a valuable insti tution for the edification of candidates for office in other countries. It is established by the official circular that one who covets consular office must be a native-born citizen, over 21 years of age. He must have taken the oath of allegiance, and must be acquainted with geography, English gram mar, arithmetic, and bookkeeping. He must be able to read and write, and must be well ac quainted with the history of his native country. Beside these qualifications, it is necessary that he should have sufficient acquaintance with international law to be able to discharge his duties intelligently. He will have, therefore, to study the " Consular Manual," " Kent's Commentaries," " Story on the Constitution," and " Wheaton's Elements of International Law." Before he can obtain a commission he must undergo an exami nation to test his knowledge of the im portant principles which are discussed in those treatises. In addition to all this, he ought to be able to read and write the French or some other modern language, and if he understands the dialect of the country to which he desires to be ac credited he will stand a much better chance of pro motion. It will surprise many who are ambitious to serve their country that they should be required to know so much, but it will be a satisfaction to the country to know that hereafter the character of our consuls abroad will be raised, and that our interests will be safer in the hands of that class of officers than they have been.—Philadelphia Inquirer. THE PARIS ExPosinoN.—Since our last the President of the United States has completed the appointment of the Commissioners from the United States. We add herewith the names : Charles Seymour, New York ; William A. Rudd, New York ; E. IL Mudge, Massachusetts ; IL F. Winchester, Connecticut; Charles R. Good win, Paris. Additional State Commissioners—Dr. M. Du Puyster, California ; Frank Fuller, Utah ; H. D'Aleigny, Michigan ; J. W. Hoyt, Wisconsin ; T. T. Mann, Minesota. The commission for the American Restaurant has been taken by Messrs. Dows and Co., of Boston, who will add to the food department an American bar. Properly managed this will prove a creditable as well as a profitable undertaking. COUNTRY MARKETS. COLCHESTER--Nov. 10. A small supply of wheat at market, which sold freely at fully late rates. Fine barley was fully as dear, and other kinds sold well, but at no advanco on last week. Beans and peas in short supply, and no material change in value. Wheat, white i 08267 s Beans, Mazagan......405 425 red 56s 64s Middle and small" 448 485 Barley... 328 54s Peas, white. 38 3 425 Oat 4 grey —Ns 00 CHELMSFORD—Nov. 9. At the market to-day wheat was in good supply, 1 -) 1 . the trade was very inactiv e , a t a re d uc ti o n of is per c if cn all sorts. Spring corn of all kinds quoted as last We"' but business rather better. WheAt, old white.... 508 644 new Sus 65s old red 48.4 68s new. 48s 57s Barley.... 24s 32s Chevalier - - t4 Grind ng ,58 30s Malt 58s tOs Chevalier 6.-o 621 Oats ••• 2'6 26s Peas, Partridge 40s 12s White „3•26 30s B ilin,g Dun.. ....... 383 40S dit o, Wane, Tick, old 40s new 3Ss 1 ? Barrow r icks 423 10° new... 44: maz,,ga n 0 n 43830 42 GIL A—Nov. 10. • Old white wheat, 58s to 61.5:; old rod, 54s to 588; O W white, Ms to 58s ; new red, 49s to 54s per 36 stone. Bar ley for malting, 38s to 455 per qr. ; grindiwg, 30s to 3441' 0r 30 stone. O:tts, old, to 32s ; now ' 'Gas to 50s per 2 stone. Beans, old, 42s to 52s ; new, 39s to 46s per 38 stone' Peas, 35s to 40s per 36 stone. NORTHAMPTON—Nov. 10. New white wheat, 56s to 60s; new red, 50s to 56s ; old white, 58s to 625; old red, 56s to &9s per 36 stone: 1301 1, for malting, 42s to 51s per qr. ; grinding, 29s to 36s per Su stone. Oats, old, 26s to 335; new, 23s to 32s per 24 ston e ' Beans, old, 46s to 49s ; new, 428 to 45s per 38 stone. Pea s ' 38s to 42s per 36 stone. ABERDEEN—Nov. 9. The attendance at the corn market to-day was large, and there was a good business doing. Prices for oats, bore, and barley is up. Whito wheat 48s Od to 54s Od t 621 b V bushel. Red wheat 48s Od to 50s 0d) Potato oats 2 2 4 3 5 s 0 6 d d t t o o 2 25 6: 0 0 d d} 40lb bushel Common oats Bere 3ls Od to 32s 6d t 53113 . bus h e l. Barley 32s Od to 33s Odj 20s 6d to 21s 6d V boll o f - Oatmeal 280 11 5' Flour, fine 43s Od t o 50 s 6d 311 sack of 2 8010 lil KIRKCALDY—Nov. 10. Good supplies of wheat, barley, and oats, and priceo unchanged. Wheat. Barley. Oats. First Ms Od ; 31s ~d 2.58 Od .11cond 66s Od I 37s Od 21s 6d Third dls 0.1 41s Od 288 6d COAL MARKET. Price per ton at the close of the market. s. d. 0. d. Lambert's W.Hartley 17 3 Walls End Hetton ... 22 o n Original Hartlepool 22 0 Holywell Main .. . .... 1 7 n v Hetton Lyons l9 9 Wallsend Haswell... 22 v 6 Tees East Hartlepool S. Wylam l6 6 Heugh Hall 2O u 0 o Acorn Close 2O 3 Bradyell's Hetton .... ..- ships at market, 46—sold, 42. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and New Zealand, via Southamptoa Nov. 19 ' Ditto, via Marseilles Dec• 14 ' Brazil and Cape Verde, by British packet . . ...DeO• 4 . Ditto, by French packet Cape of Good Hope, Asoension, and St. Helena Nov. China, Penang. and Singapore. via SouLhampton Nov 19. Ditto, via Marseilles Nov. 27 Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton Nov. 19 ' India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton.., Nov. 1 9 Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via Southampton. Nov. 22 Ditto, via Marseilles Nov. 22 Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Nov. 19 ' Ditto, via Marseilles Nov. 22 ' Mauritius, via Southampton Nov. 19 Ditto, via Marseil;e3. D4. 1 4 Newfoundland Portugal Deo 4 Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon.. . United States and British North America, by Bri tish packet Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp ton Ditto, via Cork Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry ..Nov. 16 * West Coat of Africa, Madeira, and Tencriffe ....Deo. j 2 West Indies and Pacific (except Bahaumus and Honduras) N0r. 13 Cuba snd Mexico Nov. 28 Bermuda, via Halifax Bahamas. via New York. Deo 15' The Pall-Mall Gazette says:—" A French news, paper announces that a merchant of Brest bt is chartered the Great Eastern to ply between 1 4 1 York and that port during the G r e a t Exhibition ° 1867, and it is calculated that she will C o nvenien tl l, convey 3,000 passengers each trip. We hear of t h :' and other arrangements on a monster scale for e al t letting all the world in Paris next summer, b u as yet we have heard nothing of any commensu rate arrangements for lodging the million when it g ets there. Every traveller in the habit of vi s i ti i Paris during the full season' well knows the 0 "i ficulty of getting lodged at all in that capital, 311 0 the impossibility of getting lodged at a reasona ble price. Inat then will be the case when thousa nds of strangers are pouring into it daily for inea ltmho in the spring of 1867 ? The Imperial Commission ed to ought to explain what provisions they mea n t make for the p r ope r r ecepti on o f the guests ti ho are convoking from all parts of the world ; it Ic never do to leave such an important item in success of their undertaking to the hotel and lodg' ing-house keepers of the French metropolis." Two plans for reorganising the French army nre , o said to be sufficiently complete to lay before o a Emperor :-1. The whole contingent to be o ile out each year ; all fit f or serv i ce t o b e retain ed, bo those unfit to return home. Service-men t° divided into three classes. The first, those dentin; for the active army, to be distributed into the vari ° lo arms according to the aptitude of the men and t o requirements of the corps. The second cla ss become the first ban of a National Guard, ele theo, armed, frequently assembled, and always liable for service. The third class to be called the second ba"; unarmed, without uniform, but retained on muster rolls, and liable in time of war to be drafted tor vacancies in the first two classes. 2. Syst° lll divides all the contingent fit for military serviea The first portion to be incorporated ; the s ee ° i n g class to form a reserve, and assembled for u :d, three months in each year ; to be clothed, a rya 'i; and equipped. The third class to be only ha nd case of war or under urgent circumstances, an' ty then to remain undisturbed at their ordinary oce be pations. Marshal M'Mahon, accompanied bl. rs , officers of his staff, has arrived in Paris from Alg le n i t for the purpose of taking part in the Army Org a iio r sation Commission now sitting. Marshal Barag" e t, d'Hilliers has also arrived here with the same o bje t Prince Napoleon has arrived iu Paris from his tril, to England. 0. F. Winchester, of Conneticut, and Charles Goodwin, now resident in Paris, have been pointed by the President Commissioners to the P 73 1, Exposition. The appointments of the thirty C° missioners on the part of the United States 0 0 now all been made. The ten salaried Comm were appointed and confirmed during the late ° sion of Congress. The two above named esaiDP leo the list of the twenty unpaid Commissioners. Births. 10' GORING —On the 10th inst., at 53, Portland -pla ce, Goring, of a daughter. t f GRANT—On tLe the 12th inst., the wife of H e nry Gol' - ' l ,l Harp Tavern, Harp-lane, Tower-street, of a daub wif e GORE—At the Chateau do la Bouilage, BrittanY , 0 ° of Lieut.-Col. J. Pollock Gore, unattached, of Th o pt• SHUTE—On the 9th inst., at Ch e lmsf or d, the wile of Shute, R.M.L.L., of a daughter. Marriages. re dth ROSSLYN—MAYNARD—On the Bth inst. at a t St. 0 . 43° ,10 0 1 Hanover-square, the Earl of Rosslyn to. Bl an che , tortil second daughter of Henry Fitzroy, Esq., of S a d 9 Northants, and widow of the Hon. C. Maynar' cuo rge% WALKER—WRIGHT—On the 10th inst., at At•,,,-; Es c ll Bloomsbury, Lydia, eldest daughter of J. w 81 ' — '010" of Southampton-street, Bloomsbury, to Cha rles ' - son of Mr. C. Wright, of Upper Norwood. Deaths. „ 2 , 5 1), Bum— On the 10th inst., at Kensington, Allred Esq., aged 60. COMFORT—On the 9th inst., at Eden-grop e, place, Holloway, Mr. John Comfort, aged 73 . , n frele CUNINGRAME—On the 9th inst at Craigendel ."*" shire, Alex. Cuninghaine, Esq . ., of Craigends. EDWARDS—On the 9th inst.,' at Compton flounl;9. Sombourne, Hants, Thomas Ed wa rds, Becl. , of GILBERT—On the Bth inst. , R o b er t Gilbert, Ems" Grove-end-road, St. John's-wood. Con's' IGGLESDEN—On the 10th inst a t Gravesend ' 0011 W. lgglesden, H.M.I. Navy, aged 65. J . B OOO/ JACKSON - On the sth inst., at Pau, Miss Arnie G. of The Reculvers, Hastings. _ v ro. London : Printed and Published by Wit LLELPI All 9;;; 11 2, , of No. 112, Strand, Printer at Try: SUN 000 0, ' o il 0 1 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in t he C° Middlesex.--Tueoday, liovembor 13,1&A ( p ~~~ ~" ~ ~ ..y - ~ t. 6 ..,,........: ~~ i