The Sun. — London, England, 1866-02-27 00:00:00

THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as soon as Published. containing alt the LA PEST NEWS awl SPOUTING 11 , 1TELL1G.EYCE, by IL. W. lIAKILIS, Ne sparer Agent, 4, Blacktriars-road, London, S. LIFEBOAT SERVlCES.—llarieg the storms of the past year the National Lifeboat Institution, by its life boats and other means, contributed to the savin4 - of 707 persons from different wrecks ou our coasts. The Insti tution also expended .021,374 in the same period on its life boat ektabshmeats, in addition to granting X 4,950 for re wards for saving lite and exercising the lifeboats. The Committee of the Institution earnestly A i'PEAL to the public for ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on the Institution's 150 lifeboat stat ions. Contributions are received by the London and country bankers ; and by the Secretary, itichard Lewis, Esq., at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, London. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. - Managers. Messrs. E. FalJoner and B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, the Play of TILE JEALOUS WIVE Mr. ; Messrs. 11. Marston, Barrett, Warner, G. Belmore, E Phe!ps, Harcourt ; Mrs. Herman Vczin, Mrs. Vaiukulliff, ""is is It. Leclercq Seymour. &C. Alter which. the Pantomime, Ll'l TLE KING PI PPLN ; or, Harlequin Fortunatus and the Magic Puise and Wishing Cap. Commence at 7. TIIEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.- Sole Lessce and Mani g,:r, Mr. Iluckstone. THIS EVENING, A BONIA.NTIC ATTACIIMENT. Mr. W. PArren, Mr. Compton; Miss Ada Cavendish. To be followed by BROTHER SAM : Messrs. Sothern, Backstone, Compton ; Mesdames kielly Moore, Snowden, Le. After which, ORPHEUS IN THE HAYMA.RKET Messrs. W. Farren, Fisher, Bart:email, Wealliersby, .he. ; Mesdames Keeley, S no wden, Moore, Lindley, Woolgar, Howard, Walght, C o leman, Lovell, Prevot, To eor.clude with A omraenco KISS IN at THE DARK. C Seven. ROYAL LYCEUM TREATRE.- Under the sole Management of Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENING, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER. Mr. IS. Widdicomb. Atter which, THE MASTER OF RAVENSWOOD. Mr. Fechter; Messrs. Jordan, Emery, Widdicomb, Vezin, J. H. FitzpatricK, D. Evans ; Mesdames Ternan, Elsworthy, Lavenu, and C. Leclercq. Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI . Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, at 7, a new farce called PIPKIN'S RUSTIC RETREAT. Messrs. J. L. Toole and?. Bedford. After whTch, at 8, RTP VAN WINKLE. Rip Ns 15‘ith appearance), Mr. Jtfferson, supporica by Messrs. Cilling ton, P. Bedford, R Phillips, Felix Rog,rs, Ashley, Lburne, U. J. Smith; Mrs. Billingter, To conclude with LEHIND TIME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Phillips. Eburne, C. J. Smith ; Miss A. seaman, &c. -ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. %ruling. THIS EVENING, QUIET LODGINGS. After whi h, at a quarter to Eight, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO 31END. Characters by Mows. Vining . , T. Mel vil:e, T. Mead, D. Murray, S. Cadiaein. F. Vilders, J. G. Shore, G. Murray, 11. M.lion, C. Seyt..n, R. Cathcart; bliss L. Moore and Miss Katherine Rodgeis. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee acid ALanagerc es, Mrs. t wanborough. THIS EVENINf at Seven (19th time), a new and origl• nal Com"dy, TH PI FLY AND TILE %V EEL Messrs. For telle and Price; MisAs Sw..nborough and Ilaynham. After whlc will be produced a new opera IturleEque, L'AFRICAINE ; or, The Queen of the Cannibil lslan Messrs. Stoyle, James, Thorne; Mesdames Swanborough, Itaynham, Johnstone, &c. To conclude with LENDING A HAND. Mess. s. Belford Turner ; Misses Simpson and Hughes. GRATIS AND POST FREE. E. MOSES and SONS' FASHIONABLE ALMANAC or '865, List of Prices, with Fashion-cArd for the present season. MOSES AND S 0 N 14• respectfully call attention to their large and well assorted stock of JUVENILE CLOTHING. The newest 'glories are combined with the latest and most fashionable designs, and the best workmanship. E. MOSES and SON give particular attention to this important branch of their twsines3, and they can with confidence affirm that the prices are such as must satisfy the most economicaL T►iis depart ment is in a distinct purt of the premises, which will be found a great convenience for ladies and children. MOSES AND SON '• respectfully invite public attention to their large and well-assorted WINTER STOCK. MOSES AND SON'S •"SANDRINGHAM" and "DANISH " WRAPPER I'ttroduced oy them) is the newest and most tashionth.e style of Overcoats for the season. MOSES AND SON'S ~• READY-MADE and BESPOKE CLOTRINU- for all classes and all ages. MOSES AND SON'S E l . CELEBRATED "INDISPENSABLE" SUIT, from 30s. E • MOSES AND HOSIERY and DRAPERY, lot all classes and alt ages. S 0 N'S MOSES AND SON'S RATS AND CAl', fur all classes and all ages. lq MOSES AND SON'S • BoOTS and SHOES, for all classes and all ages. MOSES AND SON'S ~. o UTFI IS. for all classes, all age.l, and all climates. Ll MOSES AND SON'S Au• LONDON 1104.38E5, 154, 155, 15', 157, Minories ; 83, 81, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, Aldgate ; 506, 507, 503, New Oxford--street; 1,2, 3, Hart-street; 137, 138, Tottenham-court-road ; 288, Euston-road. Also, Bradford, Yorkshire. TO MOSES AND S N'S Establishments are closed every Friday evening at sunset until Saturday evening at sunset, when business is re sumed until 11 o'clock. All articles ara marked the lowest prices in plain figures. Any article not appr,ved of will be exchanged, or the money returned. Last of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion Card, and our new pamphlet, " The Philosophy of Dress," gratis and post bee. I‘lllE LAST EDITION OF << THE SUN," Containing the Latest Set/M . IIN CI EELI.I.(I C aue be bad Every bvening of G. R. GLIGN LE, NEws AGENT, LIG. 4, Connaught-terrace, llyde-park. 11HE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN" ,11. supplied, as soon as published every Ev eninir, b y ALEXANDItIit (late BROOKS), Newspaper Ageut, 24, Ohl Cavendish- Weer, Oxford-street. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. lIOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the public Ferff i til l g t tt a lle su u pplies _th . %L e. :TIZT . 10, EDlTlONl4aptead r.ad, N.W. a s Pap" QPORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supp li es th e jzy LATr.sT EDI 440 V of "TII n SUN" as suou as pub lish( d.-4, Bath-strtet, City-road, E.C. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. 12n. 30m.—Afternoon, T ins DAY.—MorniAg, lh. Ow. TJ-Monßow.-Iforning, lh. 26 m. — Afternoon, lh. 50m. , ,„.., , utt. LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 27, 1866. There is, perhaps, no part of our administration respectin g w hi c h t h ere i s a more uncom f orta b le feeling of misgiving and dissatisfaction existing in the public mind than the conduct of our naval af fairs. The uneasiness and discontent is possibly increased by t he tact that few ci v ilians know mu c h about the m a t ter. They have only a vague idea that a great deal of money is spent to very little purpose, that ships are . n built, rebuilt, t a k en t o g pieces, and put together again without even seeing service, that the outlay ina our dockyards is like pouring water through a sieve, e talent and enterprise receive a steady that private clia oura ment, and that a s ystem of favouritism pre vails which refuses to entertain any new , scueme or project unless it originates in properly authorised quarters. Unfortunately, when professional men take up the subject all they say tends to Con f irm these popular misgivings, and the Secretary for the Admiralty has no very easy or enviable task i n submitting his yearly budget to the House of Com mons. He generally succeeds, indeed , in carrying his point, for if there is one thing more than another about which Englishmen are disposed to be liberal, it is their navy; and rather than appear indifferent or averse to the maintenance of our naval supre macy, they vote large sums of money annually, notwithstanding the uncomfortable conviction that the funds might be better spent. Last evening Lord CLARENCE PAGET had to submit not only to some sEvere criticism, but to the adjournment of the debate. He was, indeed, spared the comments of a very formidable • • • crate owing to the absence hich iof Mr. LAIRD from illness, an absenceon publicw several speakers did not scr u p le to regret as well as on personal grounds. Sir JOHN PARING TON, however, subjected the Secretary's statements to a severe examination, while Mr. SAMUDA objected to the favourite designs for ship-building. Mr. BAILLIE took exception to the enormous expenditure on ironclads, and Admirals WiLcoTT and SET moult found respectively something to complain of in the rate of speed in our ships, and in the treat ment of our minor officers. On all these topics there was certainly room not only for criticism, but for censure ; but the speech of the right honourable baronet the member for Droit wich was, naturally enough, the speech of the debate. The most formidable portion of his attack on the Admiralty was that on which the common sense and justice of the country will go with him, for there is a general impression that with regard to the turret system the Government has neither shown regard to the interests of the public nor to the claims of private enterprise and inven tion. We are very glad to find that Sir JOIIN PAKINGTON is resolved to call the Board of Admi ralty to account for their treatment of Cap tain COLES. It is not very surprising that Lord CLARENCE PAGET, as their spokesman, should have shown a desire to postpone the evil day, and shuffle off the inevitable discussion. Sir J. PAKINGTON, however, was not disposed to pass the matter over so easily. He reminded the house that last year, when addressing it on this subject, the noble lord said, " The first proposal we have to make is, that we shall endeavour, if possible, to construct a ship on the turret principle which shall be a real sea-going vessel." " How," asked the right hon. baronet, " has that promise 'been fulfilled? The year has passed, and the same promise has to be made over again." The proposal for the new turret ship, such as it is, does not commend itself to the approval of Sir JOHN PAKINGTON. The new vessel, the Monarch, is to be more than 5,000 tons; while Mr. LAIRD has already shown by the Vesta that a turret ship of 1,100 tons can possess every quality of a good sea-going ship. The "Vesta has already been subjected to an ordeal which very few of the Government vessels care to face too readily : she has made a long voyage in bad weather. But the size and tonnage of the proposed vessel was not the only point on which Sir JOIIN FAKING TON was inclined to regard the proceedings of the Admiralty with suspicion. " Above all," he said, " I want to know, after this long delay who is to design the ship and to be responsible for it? It is well-known that Captain COWPER COLES was the originator of this plan. The Admiralty several years ago recognised it as an experiment worth try ing. No one will deny that if an experiment be worth trying it ought to be fairly and thoroughly tried. If it has been tried at all it certainly has neither been done fairly nor promptly." But, in fact, as Sir J. PAEINGTON went on to show, Cap tain COLES'S plan has never been tried at all. The Royal Sovereign has been converted into a ship very useful in its way, no doubt, but by no means the sort of ship that Captain COLES designed. In vain has Captain COLES entreated over and over again that his plan for a turret ship, long ago ap proved theoretically by the Admiralty, should be pui to a practical test. The present constructor of the navy, Mr. REED, favoured a rival system. " I ask," ndignantly exclaimed Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, if the Admiralty has not allowed the invention of a rival system to have all the advantages of official support and experiments, while the invention of Captain CoWPER COLES has up to the present hour never been fairly tried, although it was long ago accepted by the Board as a system well worthy of a trial." Certainly public opinion will be inclined to endorse the verdict of the right hon. member for Droitwich, that in this the Admiralty is most to blame. The great question as to the rival merits of the broadside and turret systems remains to be settled, and it was clearly the duty of the Admiralty to give a fair trial to the turret ship. Sir JOHN FAKING TON asked ironically under whose guidance and direction the new ship was to be constructed, that of Captain Cous or of Mr. REED ; but it is matter of common notoriety that Captain COLES has already received his congd on the plea of a breach of official etiquette. He is, in fact, been got rid of before this grand new turret ship is constructed, so that he may not carry off any share of the credit if successful. JOHN PAKINGTON found another occasion for disapproving the Government scheme. He com plained that the new vessel was to be " unneces sarily and unwisely large, incurring an enormous expense, while it would have been far better to test the qualities of the system as to its sea-going powers by means of a much smaller and less expensive vessel." But, in fact, Mr. LAIRD has already put the system to the test, and has proved by the Vesta that a sea-going turret ship is by no means a matter of impossibility. It is a little too bad that when there is undoubted talent in the country, ieady and willing to devote itself to the service of the country, the Executive should refuse to employ it. Sir JonN PAKINGTON boldly attributed the recent failures in the speed of our men-of-war, and other mishaps, to the fact that "the Government have allowed themselves to lose that shipbuilding talent which they once possessed." Men of inde- pendence and ability are year by year driven - _ __ from our public service, disgusted with the treat ment which they receive, and the natural conse- quence is that, while our annual naval expendi ture is reckoned by millions, our fleet and our Administration are in an equally unsatisfactory state. Mr. GLADSTONE cannot certainly find his new position a bed of roses, for he is constantly being called to account, and far oftener by friends than by foes. Last night Mr. WHITE took upon himself the arduous task of revising the national expendi ture, and in the course of his long oration drew very unfaTourable conclusions as to the mode in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer conducted matters in his department. Mr. WHITE seemed to be very much afraid lest the right hon. gentleman should forget his old promises, and yield to the various temptations that assail him from many quarters. He took a decided step to remind him of his responsibilities by quoting a passage from the speech made to the electors of South Lancashire last summer, in which Mr. GLAD STONE declared that he did not think the expendi ture of the country was yet reduced to the lowest possible point consistent with honour and security. The appearance of the estimates for the present y v e r a es r en h t as Go sh v a e k rn e n n le A n l tr; w l h V i ti c h r r , E t ' s h 0 c u o g n h fi f d a e r n f c r e o m i n p t e h r e feet, we had thought an improvement on the last one. While he had relied on the encouraging ide a held out of old thing's Passing away and al things becoming new, he found that the sum required for the army, navy, and civil serv i ce was simi lar to that demanded last year. Certainly this was a disappointment, and M r . WHITE m a s not inclined to mince matters, as he recalled its bitterness; for he said very plainly, that unless these defects were altered the Govern ment ought to go out and " allow other men, cap_ able of conducting the Government of the country Like most extreme politicians, Mr. I.l.rniTE has run away with the idea that fully half of the £70,000,000 yearly taxation was borne by the un represented classes. The two resolutions which the hon. member moved and afterwards withdrew con tained truth in themselves, but were not of a practi cal nature, nor of that class which the House would be likely to affirm and approve of. He showed his sense and discretion in not pressing them to a division, and notwithstanding many exagge rations, and some untenable propositions made by Mr. WHITE, some good may be gained by his elabo rate speech ; and the question is one which emi nently, under all its attributes, deserves the attention and consideration of Parliament. There is another view of the question which may well engage notice, and that is, How is all the money spent which is raised in such large BUMS ? are the interests of the public properly considered when we take into ac count the advantages which the Government possess in the way of resources ? Mr. GLADSTONE, in his brief speech, contrived with great dexterity to defend the Administration from the attacks which had been made upon it. In the first place, he stated very truly that to convey a deliberate judgment to the House, it would not do to quote passages from speeches which were too warmly coloured to convey views to Parliament. The right hon. gentleman very fairly admitted that the chief responsibility of all the estimates proposed rested with the Crown. Mr. GLADSTONE, with some reason, differs from the opinion set forth by Mr. WHITE, as to the non-advisability of fight ing the battle of retrenchment in Committee of Supply ; and declared that " the House would never be thoroughly equipped with regard to its steward ship of the public expenditure unless there were in it a race of men who standing in the position of independent members, will do us the immeasurable service of devoting their time, energy, and labour to the wearying and irksome business of making themselves acquainted with a vast mass of detail, and by following from point to point every item of public expenditure, and bringing to bear upon it the force of independent judgment and the light of public opinion." This is very correct, because it is always far easier to find fault with a thing than to suggest a remedy. Foremost among those —who are few and far between in the ranks of Parliamentary men who have done good service to the State in the dreary drudgery of economical survey—stands the name of the late Mr. HumE, to whose zeal and assiduity the Chancellor of the Ex chequer paid a high compliment last night in his remarks upon the services which private members might render to the cause of retrenchment. If we had more to follow such an example now no doubt we should not find Reform in this important department of the Administration a visionary theory, instead of a practical benefit. If there is one thing more than another which re- quires time, thought, and patience, it is certainly the question of the national expenditure, and it generally happens that those most in earnest about instituting changes are too eager and impetuous, and desire all kinds of impossible schemes and im- practicable changes. As Mr. GLADSTONE reminded the House last night, it must not be supposed , 4 that a mere sudden determination on the part of Government, or a single decision in the House, can in a moment alter that which is the result of long traditions, of habits, and practice of policy existing throughout several generations." Sir S. NORTIICOTE, on the part of the Opposition, declared that they as frequently advocated economy on their side of the house as those on the Ministerial Benches could do. While he admitted the necessity for adopting care, the hon. baronet said that if the house agreed to the resolutions of the hon. member for Brighton, and then did nothing, they would be . open to the accusation plausibly brought 'ay that hon. member against the Chancellor the Exche quer himself. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Monday Evening. The position of affairs in Ireland seems to excite even more interest in France than in England, and in the absence of " metal more attractive," I think cannot do better than refer to the subject. The Siecle says, " The spirit of terror has prevailed over principle in the English Parliament," and proceeds to extract from the works of - Napoleon the Third the greater portion of the chapter devoted to indi vidual liberty in England. Referring to the Habeas Carpus, Napoleon says," In general it is true to say there is more liberty in England and more equality in France. That may be easily conceived from the organisation of the two people." The Imperial writer proceeds to consider what are the principal guarantees of individual liberty in England. " The great Charter of King John proclaimed the first principles of individual liberty, but under the des potic reigns of_ the Tudors and the fi rs t St uar t s, i t was generallyrecognised that every Englishman deprived arbitrarily of his liberty could appeal to the Courts of Justice. At the commencement of the reign of Charles the First, the Courts of Justice solemnly decided that they could not restore to liberty a prisoner arrested by order of the King or the Lords of the Privy Couacil, even if the arrest should be made without any allegation as to the cause of it. This decision caused much excite ment, and led to the Petition of Right, in the third year of the reign of Charles the First, according to which no arrest could be made under such circumstances. As the judges did not pay much attention to this alleged right another statute was passed by which the judges were required to grant without delay a writ of habeas corpus. Means, however, were found to elude this right, and it was only after the definitive vote of the third year of the reign of Charles the Second that there was a repression of the abuses against liberty." After fully describing the pro visions of the Habeas Corpus Act Napoleon the Third alludes to the pcwer of imprisonment claimed by the House of Commons and exercised in modern ' l t a i m u d e s t , o b l s e t o t n a t r y o s l there t h i s e a p s o t w i l e l greaterrof public p o w op e i r n i i n o n E . n g - The Sie c l e a dd s— J " Unfortunately there is no public opinion in I The performance yesterday afternoon, in the in terests of The Theatrical Fund, of Dion Bouci cault's Five-act comedy of " London Assurance" on the boards of Old Drury, went off very effec tively, and to the delight of all those who were as sembled in the National Theatre to witness it. The comedy itself—thickly sprinkled in the dialogue with old-fashioned " dammes," and relating, as it does, to such obsolete " larks" as those indulged in more than a quarter of a century since by the late Marquis of Waterford and his boon companions —proved a trifle passe. Thanks, however, to the racy humour of Mr. Compton's pettifogging lawyer Mark Meddle, (ambitious of being kicked, courting a kick, in fact, as actionable, with uplifted coat-tails) thanks, again, to the broad humour of Mr. Buckstone's Dolly Spanker—and thanks in no small degree also to the whimsical impersonation of th 3 valet Cool by Mr. Clark, that best and drollest of all stage-servants,—the performance, as a whole,: went toff delightfully. Mr. Chippendale took great pains with the character of Sir Harcourt Courtley, but that character itself is too intrinsically disgusting, contemptible, and ridiculous to be re garded with anything like even toleration. Mrs. Hermann Vezin's Lady Gay Spanker only made one sigh for the remembrance of poor charming riant Mrs. Nesbitt. Miss Nelly Moore looked and played prettily enough as Grace Harkaway. The light comedy part of Dazzle was to have been assumed by Mr. Sothern—otherwise Brother Sam, otherwise Lord Dundreary—but, in his unavoidable absence, was enacted by Mr. Jordan, with the close applause favourite, vou greetedrite, the th whole appearance body close shaven, stiff, black be ar d , t h e deep voice, and the heavy manner of y our most approved stage-villain. A h tu e r a n rtoyfeach in round of popular of performers at th e c l ose of the before the footli g ht s play being summon e d 1.,y acclamation. M . r achant Seamen's Orphan Asylum. The annual general meeting of the governors and subscribers to this institution, and the half-yearly election of inmates into it, took place yesterday at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. The number of children to be elected was 20, 8 girls and 12 boys, out of a list of 35 approved can didates. The polling for the election of these opened at 12 o'clock, and closed at 3 in the afternoon, and at 4 o'clock the chair was taken by Mr. H. Green, the treasurer of the institution, who, having an nounced the names of the successful candidates, the business of the meeting commenced. Mr. R. W. HACKWOOD, the secretary, read the ' 38th anual report of the committee of management. The institution now possessed a freehold property worth little short of £30,000, unfettered by liabili ties of any kind. The receipt of an increased num ber of annual subscriptions, of liberal donations, and some few legacies, had enabled them, during the year, to repay the balance of the loan from the bankers, by which the cost of the new asylum was entirely liquidated in 1864, and also to add upwards of £6OO to the invested capital of the charity. Since the date of the last report Lady Morrison had added to her former benefactions to the institution by placing in the hands of the trustees a sum for the endowment of the chapel erected at her expense for the use of the asylum. On the 26th of April last the anniversary festival in connexion with the institution was held under the presidency of Mr. Alderman Lusk, M.P., when about £1,500 was collected in behalf of the funds. The committee specially acknowledged a donation of 100 guineas from Mr. 11. D. Hodgson, M.P., a similar contribution from Messrs. Blyth, Green, and Co., and a thirty-third gift of £lOO from the corporation of the Trinity-house. A legacy of £2,000, under the will of the late Richard Thornton, Esq., and one of 100 guineas handed in by the executors of the late John Allan, Esq., had also been received before the accounts for the year were closed, whilst one of £lOO by Mrs. J. R. Williams, Canada West, and a be quest of £lOO made by Mr. Nathaniel Gould, and paid during the testator's lifetime, had also lately been added to the fund. The amount arising from ship collecting-boxes had during the year reached over 2603. During the year 39 children had been admitted into the asylum after election, four had been admitted by purchase, and one by presentation, which number, after deducting 21 who had left, gave a total of 162 children, namely, 103 boys and 59 girls, now resident, or nearly 50 more than was on the books when the new asylum was first occu pied in 1864. The election of that day would still further increase the number to 183. The report was unanimously adopted, and a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. in a better manner, and at a cheaper rate, to take their places." This is proceeding to extremities at an early - period of the session ; and well may the new leader of the House exclaim, " Save me from my friends," when. he is thus greeted by a supposed supporter of his policy. The incongruity that exists between :the Chancellor of the Exchequer's words and actions excites the wrath and indignation of the hon. member for Brighton, as we learn from the lines of POPE, by which such inconsistency was described— " A very heathen in the carnal part, Yet still a sad good Christian at her heart." There was great truth, at all events, in the conclu sion come to by Mr. WHITE, namely, that if we arc to have such constantly increasing and extremely heavy expenditure, we should be spared the homilies in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was wont to indulge at the close of the Session, in which he had submitted extravagant estimates to the House, and thus it went abroad that he "was the advocate of the greatest economy and the enemy of all prodiga lity." It is very ackward for a Minister, more especially a financial one, to meet with such a com mentator as the hon. member last informed the House that he had been going over the right hon. gentleman's speeches, and he could easily compile from them a " Financial Reformer's Manual, or Economical Guide." England when the point relates to Ireland. Pre judices make the common law. Nevertheless powerful voices are often raised in her favour. Let the English meditate upon the chapter written by Napoleon the Third about England and no longer allow the reign of arbitrary power in Ireland. Since the Habeas Corpus Act has had such good effects in England, let them not be egotists. If the Parliament in a fit of unjustifiable terror may have thought fit to deprive Ireland of the benefit of it, let not the deprivation be of long duration. As to our French statesmen, they may also benefit by reading these lines. Passports have been abolished, criminal proceedings have been shortened ; but how many abuses still exist which have not been touched upon in this sketch of the Habeas Corpus Act." This latter sentence brings me to the most im portant amendment which is to be proposed to the Address--" That it is convenient and' opportune to give to the act of 1860 the developments which be long to it." In other words, a direct conflict is provoked by the terms of this amendment between what in England would be termed the Conservatives and the Whigs. The amendment has received a great many signatures, but the Government pos sesses the general confidence of the Chamber, and it " needs no ghost, from the grave" to predict that there is no chance of its success. The Moniteur states that the volcanic explosion in the island of Santorin, having caused great uneasiness to the inhabitants of the Hellenic Archi pelago, the Minister of France at Athens had em barked on board the Monette for the islands of Syra and Thera, to assure the Catholics of the religious establishments there of the solicitude of the Government of the Emperor, and of his promise to aid them, in case the further progress of these dan gerous explosions should render assistance ne cessary. The steeplechases at La Marche commenced yes terday. The weather was very favourable, and the attendance numerous. The opening prize of 2,500 f. for horses which had never won a steeplechase of the value of B,ooof. was won by R. M. D., a bay mare, six years old, belonging to Count do la Bigne. Distance 4,000 metres. Five horses ran. Katinka was second, Infante third. An objection was made that R. M. D. did not carry the required weight, but it was overruled. At Croydon R. M. D. won the Cup. The Tribune prize (handicap) was won by M. E. Porte's Alezane mare, Senteur, 5 years old, carrying 65 kilogrammes. Perle-Fine 2d, Gabion 3d. In these races all obstacles were easily overcome by the horses. Distance, 3,000 metres. The trial prize, 1,500 f., was won by M. Lunel's Milton. Sixteen horses were, entered, nine ran ; Niger 2d, Droit du Seigneur 3d. Among the many beautiful improvements of Paris will be the construction of a new street from the Theatre Frangais to the new Opera on the Boule vards. Already some of the most unsightly buildings of Paris have beeeu levelled opposite the Theatre Frangais, weere is to be a splendid square, which will be decorated with a statue of Joan of Arc. The site for this statue has long been a matter of con test, but the locality is now decided upon. The first Emperor intended to have a street direct from the Tuileries to the Boulevards. The present Em peror desires to carry his uncle's views into effect, and it is probable that the Rue des Pyramides with this object will be prolonged into the new street in question. SPAIN. FRANCE. The Moniteur of this evening states that accounts from Mexico to the 27th January mention that the Imperial troops continue to obtain victories over revolted bands. A financial plan for the establish ment of the Mexican budget has been prepared. According to this project, the budget will present a total of about 150 millions of francs. 'AYR. Cash. "London Assurance" at Drury-lane. THE 6CN, LoNDoN, TUESOAv EVENING, FEBRUARY 27, 18C6. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) THE PRINCIPALITIES. LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. MADRID, FEB. 26. The Epoca, of this evening, announces that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has made final declara tions on behalf of the temporal power of the Holy See. The Minister of Marine is seriously ill. VIENNA, FED. 27. It is asserted that France, Austria, and Russia have agreed upon the expediency of assembling in Conference, as proposed by the Porte, for the settle ment of the question of the Principalities. This Conference would be composed of delegates from the Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris, and would sit at Constantinople. It is also stated that France and Austria concur in their views upon the affairs of the Lebanon and the Eastern question generally. PARIS, FEB. 27. The Emperor, the Empress, and the Prince Im perial received on Sunday the Commissioners of the Paris Exhibition. The Emperor, in announcing the appointment of the Prince Imperial as Honorary President of the Commission, said—" My son is at present too young to take an active part in your deliberations, but he will at least have an opportunity of learning in good time to honour labours which secure the prosperity and splendour of the State." BOURSE, Feb. 26, Three o'clock.—The marke closed on the following quotations :- 4-f per Cents 99 40 Roman — Do. end month — Ottoman Fives — • 3 per Cents. 69 30 Mexican Loan _ Do. end month 69 35 Do. Bonds — • Credit Mobilier ... 680 Russian — • Do. end month ... 680 Austrian - Bank Shares 3690 Spanish Threes ... - Credit Fancier 1335 Home Debt Italian Loan 6l 40 Deferred Do. end month 6l 40 RAIL Orleans — Acct. 862 50 Northern — ... 1115 Lyons and Mediterranean — 886 25 Southern — ... 552 50 Western — 570 Eastern — ... 541 25 Sardinian . — 141 25 Austrian Lombard — ... 398 75 North of Spain — 172 56 Saragossa — 225 Ditto to Barcelona — ... 105 Roman — ... 113 57 THE BOMBAY MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 20. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Massilia, Captain Lockie, with the heavy Bom bay mails, arrived this evening. She brings 35 passengers ; 11 packages specie, value £3,139 ; pre cious stone, 6,000 rupees ; and a general cargo, con sisting of 482 bales cotton, 292 bales 469 boxes silk, 1,271 chests tea, 95 chests oranges, 23 casks wine, and 43 packages sundries. The Massilia experienced along the coast of Por tugal a strong north-easterly gale and heavy sea ; across the Bay of Biscay heavy squalls of rain and sleet with tremendous north-west swell, and up the Channel dark, squally weather, with moderate breezes. On the 19th the Massillia exchanged signals with the Pero, bound to Alexandria with the outward mails of the 12th, and on the 21st with the British brig Queen, steering eastward ; also with a man-of war, supposed French, standing east., under steam and sail. The usual Egyptian squadron was at Alexandria. ler Majesty's ship Pelican left Alexandria on the 12th for Beyrout. The Victoria, Hibernia, Caledonia, Gibraltar, Royal Oak, Resistance, Enterprise, hydra, Cocka trice, Psyche, and Wizard, were at Malta. IREL AND, DUBLIN, Feb. 26. On Saturday, six more soldiers, W. Price, D. Lyons, and W. Curry, privates, belonging to the 87th regiment ; J. Hughes, 75th regiment ; and D. Kinchela, alias J. Kelly, Royal Artillery, all on furlough in this city, were arrested on a charge of having deserted from their regiments and joined the Fenian Brotherhood. Subsequently to the arrests, the police having received information that some of the persons arrested as civilians at Pilsworth's pub lichouse in James's-street were soldiers in disguise, they proceeded to the prison in which they are con fined, and discovered that the men who had given their names as Thomas O'Brien and Wm. Thomp son were in reality two deserters from the sth Dra goon Guards, named James Wilson and Martin floynes. The police also arrested a man named James M'Grath at the Ncrth-wall on Saturday, on a charge of Fenianism. The men Cullen, Lawlor, Lyons, and Byrne, re cently arrested in Townsend-street under the sus pension of the habeas Corpus, were conveyed on Saturday night under a strong escort of police f rom the College-street Station to Mount; oy prison. Th e prisoners confined in Chancery-lane Station have not yet been removed. An important arrest has been made in the County Carlow. 'The Express correspondent says :--"After several mouths' searching, by night and day, John Morris, the famous Head Centre for Carlow, was arrested this morning at the house of his uncle, Ned Nolan, a farmer residing at Kilmaglash, near My shal. By the arrest of this outlaw the Fenian cause in this part of the country has got a serious check, as there is reason to suppose that he was one of the most active agents engaged in the treasonable con spiracy." £lOO reward had been offered for his apprehension. The arrest was very cleverly effected. At Ballinasloe yesterday morning, the same jour nal reports:—" Shortly after 2 o'clock, Sub-inspec tor Sweeny, accompanied by Head-constable Ellis, and a party of constabulary, proceeded to make a number of arrests. The parties at the time were in their beds, and no resistance was made. Their names were:—John Martin, butcher; Michael Clarke, stonemason, just returned from America ; John l Eustace, baker; and Timothy Connor, shoemaker, late agent for the Irish People. The parties were brought to the police barracks, where our active re sident magistrate, Mr. John M. Hatchell, was in waiting, and they were soon transmitted to Bride well, where they remain at present with two sub constables on sentry. The loyal people of this town on proceeding to their various places of worship were greatly annoyed to hear of their arrests, though most of them expected such a result. It is expected that more arrests will speedily be made, and that disclosures will be made involving parties entirely unsuspected. The country in the meanwhile remains in a disquieted state, and the general desire is that troops should be sent here and to Loughrea. The local paper, the IV estern Star, has several times called on the Executive to send a couple of companies here, but we are still left to the protection of the police." Accounts from Limerick state that some Fenians were brought in by train from the country on Satur day and confined in the same prison with all the other suspected Fenians taken up during the week under the suspended Habeas Corpus Act. One of the prisoners is named Wall, schoolmaster of, Kil inallock workhouse ; a second, Mr. Thos. Hartnet, an independent farmer, from near Newcastle west ; and the third, Mr. Michael Condon, also a respee, able farmer from. the same neighbourhood. On pass ing through the streets to the prison muchsynapathy was expressed for them by the crowds who congre gated at all public thoroughfares to see them. A respectable young man from Rathcoole, ar rested yesterday under the same act, was also brought in and committed to the county gaol. It is said that great influence has been used to admit some of the parties to bail. The board of military officers, which has been sitting here for the last fortnight by adjournments, have not yet concluded LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DO VEIL The report of the directors states that the gross receipts for the half-year ending the 31st of Decem ber last upon all the lines owned and worked by the company had been £271,134, against £237,225 for the corresponding half of 1864, showing an increase of £33,909, or 14.3 per cent. The working ex penses amounted to £143,823, or 53 per cent., against £124,124 in the same half of 1864, showing an increase of £19,700. The receipts of the gene ral undertaking amounted to £206,116, against £182,249, showing an increase of £23,867, or 13.10 per cent. The receipts of the Metropolitan Exten sions during the half-year amounted to £62,876, against £47,923 in same half of 1864, showing an increase of £14,952, or 31.20 per cent. The average receipts per mile of the general un dertaking in the half-year had been £2,813, as against £2,514 for the corresponding half of 1864. The average receipts per mile of the Metropolitan Ex tensions had been £5,240, against £4,167 per mile in 1864. The receipts of the steamboats during the half-year had been £36,646, and the expenditure £24,386, including £2,500 carried to the reserve and insurance fund, which now amounted to £15,562. The balance of the revenue account of the general undertaking amounted to £91,024, and for the cor responding half of 1864 to £80,544, showing an increased profit of £10,480 in the past half-year. The balance of revenue on the Metropolitan Exten sion amounted to £31,438, against £23,963, showing an increased profit of £7,475. The total number of passengers conveyed on the company's railway and branch lines was 5,123,038, being 759,374 more than in the corresponding half of 1864. Of this number 629,632 were carried on the Metropolitan Extension, and 132,742 on the other lines of the company. Great frequency and regularity in the running of trains were conditions absolutely essential to the existence of traffic, especially in the metro politan district. On the city section the two addi tional lines between Loughborough Junction and the Elephant Castle, a distance of 1 mile 65 chains, were completed. The Great Northern Company, as 3 temporary measure, ran trains to Ludgate sta tion, and only awaited the completion of the widen ings south of the river to continue those trains to Victoria and the Crystal Palace. Arrangements had been made under which the Borough goods traffic of the Great Northern Company would be carried on to the Blackfriars Station, and goods and coal trains would commence to run through between the systems on the Ist of March. The capital ac count of the main line showed that £4,789,465 had been expended ; of the Metropolitan Extensions £6,182,515 ; of the Victoria Station improvements £470,718; and of the city lines £1,125,147 h a d been expended. j o . SW. finn 4l,l rfr .4-1:11‘ 1.1 fat • HER MAJESTY• WINDSOR CASTLE, Monday. The Queen, accompanied by her Royal High ness Princess Helena, drove in the grounds this morning. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES. The Prince of Wales went to the House of Lords yesterday afternoon. The Princess of Wales, attended by the Countess of Macclesfield, took a carriage drive. Royal Polytee' , nie Institution. The ordinary general meeting of the shareholders was held on Saturday at the institution ; the Rev. J. B. 0 wen in the chair. After the usual preliminary business, A SHAREHOLDER complained that the report of the directors had not been sent out and circulated among the shareholders with the balance-sheet, &C. The CHAIRMAN said he did not think that could be done with a view to economy, but there would be no difficulty in future in publishing a summary of such reports. The CHAIRMAN then said it was with deep regret he had to announce that, in consequence of a very severe indisposition, Mr. Pepper had not been able to attend at the institution for several days past, and as the same cause prevented his being present that day he had sent a report to the board of directors, which he (the chairman) would read to the meeting. The chairman then read the report. Professor Pepper regretted that the public had not come for ward to support the institution during the last six months as they had in the corresponding period in 1864. This he attributed in a great degree to the intense heat which' prevailed during the lastsummer and the disagreeable weather during the Christmas liolilayo. As an illustration of the effect which the weather has upon the receipts of the institution, Pro fessor Pepper drew attention to the fact that a seri ous diminution of receipts was sustained during the late three days' snow. After referring to some of the principal entertainments during the last six months, Professor Pepper remarked that the portion of the public really appreciating scientific discourses was very small compared with the majority, who require the light entertainments to be at a maximum and scientific lectures at a minimum. The laboratory had been further utilised by the delivery of regular courses of lectures on electricity, geology, and che mistry. The chairman said he was happy to add to the report of Professor Pepper that since Christmas the new exhibitions had been wonderfully successful. He took the last week as an instance, when they cleared £2B ; whereas in the corresponding week last year they lost £3O, which shows a difference of £5B. From the public approbation which the new enter tainment had gained he thought they might look forward to a much better report at the end of the current half year. From the report of the directors, which the chairman next read, it appeared that the receipts for the past half year had been considerably less than the corresponding period, the cause of which the directors believed was as stated in Pro fessor Pepper's report. Notwithstanding, however, the heavy undertakings taken in hand during the their labours. Some civilian witnesses have given their evidence in such a vague way as to cause order after order to be issued for " further inquiries," and this has prolonged the sittings. It is now said that the testimony taken down by the Court will involve other non-commissioned officers besides the four under arrest. A young man named Dwyer was arrested this evening on suspicion of being Geary, who fired at the head-constable in Rath keale, but was discharged. The trial of Sergeant Darragh at Cork had not concluded on Saturday. The 41st half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Dubin and Belfast Junction Railway Com pany was held on Saturday at the Company's office, Talbot-street, Mr. John Barlow in the chair. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, explained the various propositions that had been made to the directors of the Dublin and Drogheda Railway Company for an amalgamation of the two lines. A discussion followed, after which the report was adopted, and a dividend at the rate of per cent. was declared. MONDAY EVENING. This morning the orderly-officers and sergeant majors in the Dublin garrison inspected the Fenian prisoners, and identified five, arrested in civilian clothes, as deserters from their regiments in Eng land. They were delivered handcuffed to the mili tary authorities. Three publicans and another man were arrested this morning at Sligo. Sergeant Campbell, of the Antrim militia, and two other men, were arrested to-day in Belfast ; also a man named Murphy, in Cork, and another at Kinsale. Ten casks of powder, weighing 25 pounds each, and 1,000 yards of fuzee, have been seized in Kilkenny. The Carlow " bead-centre," for whose appre hension a reward was offered, has been taken in Belfast. A ser g eant of the Antrim militia h as b een arrested in Cork. In Bantry and other places several arrests are reported. Five persons recently arrived here, have been re cognised as deserters. One has been hnnded over to the military authorities, and the others remanded for further examination. The constable wounded in Tipperary, although he received three shots, is progressing favourably. Geary, who fired on the constable, still eludes the police. A constable was stabbed in Carrick-on-Suir last night while arresting a fellow for using treason able expressions. On Saturday upwards of 80 members of the Stephen's-green Club entertained the Chief Secre tary for Ireland at a banquet. This entertainment was intended as a marked compliment to Mr. For tescue prior to his departure from Ireland for his official duties in London. Railway and other Companies. - - - STRATFORD-ON-AVON. The directors of this company have determined to declare a dividend for the past half-year at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum. MID-KENT. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the office, Westminster-chambers; Mr. L. Simpson in the chair. The report stated that the purchase money of the line should by this time have been paid by the South Eastern Company, but all the endeavours of the directors of the Mid-Kent to obtain a settlement as yet had been unsuccessful. Fresh negotiations had been opened, which the directors trusted would result in a speedy settlement of the questions in dispute between the two companies. The report was adopted unanimously, and a divi dend of £3 ss. per cent. for the past half-year was declared on the ordinary capital, payable on the 28th inst. The retiring director, Mr. Makins, and retiring auditor, Mr. Room, were re-elected, and the pro ceedings terminated. RAILWAY BILLS. Before Mr. Smith yesterday in the case of the Cork Harbour and Curraghbinny Extension the stand ing orders were not complied with. For the Wol verhampton and Walsall there was no appearance. The Aberdare Northern Bill was postponed until March 7. Before Mr. Frere the Swansea Union Bill corn plied with the standing orders. The Merthyr, Tredegar, and Abergavenny was postponed. The West Cork, Cork and Bandon, Cork and Kinsale Junction, and Cork Maroom Direct (Arrangement), was adjourned till Friday next, and the Tamar, Kit Hill, and Callington until the 12th of March. In the case of the Sheffield, Buxton, and Liverpool there was no appearance. Yesterday the Referees' court was opened for the consideration of the locus stanch of parties in respect of Gas, Water, and a University Bill. The rail way bills will not be considered before Monday next. HEALTH OF THE MASTER OF TRINITY. — Dr. Humphrey was in attendance upon Dr. Whewell during the whole of Sunday night. Yesterday morning consciousness returned sufficiently to enable the Master to state that the accident was the result of the sudden start ing of his horse, and not as was at first apprehended of his seizure by a fit. The Master is pronounced much better, and strong hopes aro entertained that the dangerous crisis has passed. The inquiries at Trinity Lodge have been most numerous. half-year, the directors had succeeded in keeping down the gross expenditure to a' figure much less than during the corresponding period in 1864. The expenses incurred in bringing before the public the beautiful optical illusions which have rendered the past year's operations of the Polytechnic so popular, were still drawing large audiences, and there was every likelihood of their eventuating in profit to the shareholders. All the rooms, shops, and stalls of the institution remained let on advantageous terms; they were not alone sustaining their rent but making profit on the letting. The directors testified to the valuable services rendered to the institution by Fro fcssor Pepper, and declared him worthy of the most cordial thanks of the shareholders. Notwithstand ing the bad season of the past half-year, the direc tors felt themselves justified in recommending a dividend of 1i per cent., making, with the dividend in June last, 4 per cent. per annum ; but they ad vised, as a prudential measure, that whenever au actual loss is incurred in a half-year, so long as any portion of the accumulated balance of £2,450 re mains above £l,OOO, a dividend at the maTimuni rate of 4 per cent. per annum should be paid. The Rev. C. MACKENZIE, hon. manager of the education department, read a report showing a more successful result than any previous half-year. The CHAIRMAN moved that the three reports above referred to be received. Mr. MAYHEW was ready to second the reception of the reports, with the exception of that part of the directors' report which suggested the diminution of the reserve fund for the equalisation of dividends/ and after some discussion the clause was expunged. Mr. MOLYNEUX moved, and Mr. exußeg seconded, an amendment, that the dividend be 2 i per cent. instead of 1i as proposed; and the Keg• Charles Mackenzie supported the amendment, which was carried by 15 to 10. The Rev. Mr. Owen was re-elected to the board► and Messrs. Charles Mayhew and M. Yeatman were re-elected auditors. On the motion of Mr. MAYIIEW, the remuncra- tion of the directors, in consequence of the reduc tion in their number, was lowered from £350 to £3OO. A suggestion that the board should be re duced to four members was favourably received, and it was understood that whenever a vacancy occurs it will not be filled up. Votes of thanks to Professor Pepper and his AS sistants, and to the chairman and directors, co l ' eluded the business. Art Workmen's Exhibition at Manches' An art workmen's exhibition the Royal Insti tutions enceo i f n :t ester was yesterday opened, S M ir al j e . h P. Kay-Shuttleworth and a i i i i i tl p lu r : : rous company of ladies and gentlemen, by Lord Houghton, who spoke at some length on the ad vantages popular taste s f t such e in artand exhibitions, as tending to prom ote improving popular wan" ners. The present exhibition contains about 4 00 contributions, which are the work of 200 workmen' It differs from a previous exhibition of a simila r kind at Manchester last year, inasmuch as most 01 the present contributions are the work of regula r -working men, produced during the ordinary hours of work, while the former one was mainly furnished with works by amateurs, which were the produc tions of their leisure hours. The aim of both ha° been to display and stimulate the art workmanshiP of the Manchester district. The germ of both is said to have arisen out of a desire of the Manches ter house decorators, painters, and grainers to display f their ability and remove a prejudice in f a vour 0 " foreign talent." The contributors are, for the most part, the individual artisans who have execu ted the work, and their names are attached; but a many instances the article exhibited is sent b7 ,, 0 firm of employers, who specify if possib le the riarcl'il of the workmen engaged upon it. it has not b ee found possible to carry out this rule i n some c‘.7,, without modification, because it is sometimes dil cult to decide whether a thin.. is a p i ec e of art work b or whether the one peculiar merit tha t may attach e to it—the merit of design—does no t belong rather to the employer than the workman , and so::netinls _, the whole question of merit is so inextricablyl,,un volved in the combined talent and labour oi ,L. entire establishment that no name more that tinct can have the credit of it than of con of the workshop whence it came. U . the , tributions include panels decorated -":tiqtion of: utmost care of the painter or grainer in illu; _ coo . marbles or woods. The plasterers contributet_ns, ..., original designs in their method of ornameiinlie_slloif teriors, and there are also some good speel. _ ll ,, for gilding and cabinet work,great in wall papers. Stone and wood carvers appea r .., co n force, and among the former is a panel, 1: table t stone r4resentiwr " the Good Shepherd 7 ': i.,eavy . representing " Christ inviting the Weary and .L. ` _oiled and original clesign laden ;" and a bust of a girl with the face, _ 1 zon . There are some specimens of floor tiles, anu ' l ', Ivr y s id er able number of models and drawings of chinery. The contributions ar e from within , ti e co i„. of 25 miles of Manchester , a nd altogether tu bition is a very interesting one, Lge4t —te a D o. 4 c o p, ,s 3 , l_ , b o a f 4 4.c( T~tentlFi 14, 4 rt . t eri, to littt hart, kaa 1 9 . th 4 e to th anl) r, o• 1 a lAd av e . a ift„ 'tat e dia o t ' l Ol 4 tid It e • .744 it tei'• tior are whi in t £3O