The Sun. — London, England, 1866-04-27 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE, TWELVE O'CLOCK. The Money Market is more active to-day, owing to the settlement at the Stock Exchange. The quo tations of the brokers are firmer, few first-class bills having been negotiated under 6 per cent. Loans on Government securities have also advanced to 5 and 51 per cent. from day to day. There were no gold operations at the Bank of England yesterday afternoon. The alterations in the Bank of England return are not of great importance, and the position of the establishment is still far from strong. The follow ing are the particulars : Active Circulation ...£22,161,115 Decrease 142,680 13,855,776 Decrease 33,336 Best 3 , 204,852 Increase q 044 • P ublic Deposits ... •.:: 4,417,147 Increase 371,688 Other Deposits ... 13,294,641 Decrease ... 677,149 Seven Day and Other Bills ... ... 427,129 Decrease 13,101 Government Securities 10,694,254 Increase 50,000 Other Securities 18,507,854 Decrease 468,862 Notes 'Unemployed 5,844,205 Increase 106,185 The Stock Exchange Committee have appointed the following special settling days : Anglo-Mexican Telegraph Company (Limited) shares, Wednesday, 2d proximo, to be marked ; in the scrip, represent ing paid-up ordinary stock of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, Thursday, 3d proximo ; and the committee have also ordered the Bonds of the San Paulo Railway to be officially quoted. Mr. Coleman, of the firm of Messrs. Coleman, Turquand, Youngs, and Co., of London, and Mr. H. W. Banner, of the firm of Messrs. Harwood, Banner, and Son, of Liverpool, have been ap pointed by the Master of the Rolls joint provisional Official liquidators of Barned's Banking Company (Limited.) The Bank of France return presents some fa vourable features. The bullion has been increased £ 2 88,000, and the notes in circulation have been reduced £440,000. The commercial bills, however, have received an addition of £260,000, and the advances on stock, &c., £B,OOO. The Treasury balances have been augmented £576,000, and the Current accounts £466,000. Two o'CLocK. According to Reuter's telegram, this morning, the 3 per Cent. Rentes were 66f. 80c. Flat. The English Stock Market has presented a rather buoyant and favourable appearance. Several deal ings for investment have taken place, and quota tions are generally a little higher. Consols have Unproved k per cent., the prices being 86! to 87 for Honey, and 87 to k for the account. The New Threes and Reduced Annuities are 851 t o ; ditto Red Sea Telegraph, 191 ; Exchequer Bills, 3s. dis. ; Bank of England stock, 242 to 243 ; India Five per Cents., 1061 to 1; and ditto 4 per cent. debentures, 101 i. In the Foreign Stock Market the operations have been principally confined to the settlement, which Will be concluded this afternoon. Spanish Passive have risen to 25t 26 ; and Certificates to 15.1 26 ; Italian are weak at 501 ; Turkish 5 per Cents. are 33i ; Mexican, 201 1 ; do. New, 181 ; Greek, 12 13 ; Chilian Loan, 11 . prem. ; and Bra zilian Scrip, 32i dis. ; United States Government 6-20 Bonds, 70 a ; Erie Shares, 52 1 ; and Illinois, 80 I. Business in the Railway Share Market has con tinued exceedingly dull, and in several instances Prices are a shade flatter. Great IYestern have declined k, Great Eastern and Metropolitan each 4, South Eastern k, and Midland 4. The Foreign and Colonial lines are without material variation. South Austrian and Lombardo -Venetian have receded to 15k, Grand Trunk of Canada to 24 and Great Indian Peninsula have unproved to 1100. Bank and Miscellaneous Shares remain inactive. Bank of London are dealt in at 24 ; Imperial Ottoman at 14 ; Overend, Gurney, and Co., tI dis. ; International Financial, 11 dis. ; London ioancial, 44 4 dis. ; and Credit Foncier and Mo biller of England, i prem. ex div. Mr. Edward Gibbon Swann has announced his l 'etiremest from the Oriental Commercial Bank, f or the purpose of c oncentrating his attention upun his Private business. BRITISH FUNDS-ONE O'CLOCK , GCVERNMENT FUNDS. * Der Cent. Consols , Do. Account, May 9 B7l 7 0, per Cent. Reduced Bsk i r,""v 3 per Cent B5l 1 ' , ow 21 pe r Cent. Jan. 1894 69 I ) 0 . 5 per Cent. Jan. 1873 — annuities, 30 yrs, expire sth Jan., 1880 Do. f or 3 0 yrs, exp i re sth April,lBBs — Do (Red Sea Telegraph), Aug., I°oB l9} March. June. L cliequer Bills, £l,OOO, 3 per Cent. — Do. £5OO — DO £lOO and £200 -a _uk of E ng l an d St oc k, 5 p er C en t - ) 0 Account r,l,lcbLIN GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. ian Stock, 101 per Cent., April 1874 — DO . Acco un t , V.,°. 5 per Cent. July, 1870 .„0. 1 per Cent., Oct. 1888 JJO. Certificates D 0..,, Enlaced Paper 4 per Cent — r,°- 5 per Cont., Jan. 1872 ,°. 5 i per Cent., May 1879 — "0. Deb., 4 per Cent., Aug. 1866 Do. Bonds, £l,OOO — 0 • D under £l,000 FOREIG FUDS—ONE 'CLO 4r gentine Republic N , 6 per Cent., .£l5 pd O — pm CK. Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent, 1859 5 per Cent Dd • 4 per Cent., 1852-58-60 1.)0. 1863 , Do. 1863 — D O Account — DO ' Scrip, £45 paid Do. 1864 BB 7 Do £lOO Bonds — 1)0. Government Railway Debentures. 89 i , -uO. £35 paid vre e k 3 die 5 er Cents., 1824-5, ex Coupons Do. Account Do. Coupons tiznateraala 5 per Cent. — tal ian 5 per Cent 1865 Do. Account Do. Ilaremmana Railway — &lexicon 3 per Cent Dn. Account Do 1864 Do 6 per Cent. An g l o -F renc h ktontevidean 6 per Cent., £3O paid koorish Imperial 5 per Cent 'Ow Granada Do 2 per Cent — Do Deferred Do Land War:ants (Hectares) Do "°. 6 per Cent, 1864 — r., Guaranteed, 4 per C re nivian 5 per Cent., 1865 ent I, 00 Account ° rtngues e 3 per Cent, 1853 Do 3 per Cent., 1856, '7, '9, '6O, '62, '3, 451 4,. 1) 0• Account - "man S p er C ent., 1822, £ St BBl Po 41 per Cent. 1850 Dl3o 4 per Cent , 1860 D 0 3 pet Cent:lBs9 — ° 5 per C en t . 1862 ° Per Cent. 1864 — 'ardinian 5 per Cent S panish D 0: Account .Pantsh 3 per Cent Do Account R. New Deferred 0 A ccount Do Passivo ... 25-; -1-'0 Account 26 5f Spanish,, Cert. of Coup not funded s _U 0 Account I6A 15/ w t e _clisY 4 per Cent. — T itti u t ; 'Ai per Cent. 1864 ll 18 h 6 er Cent. 1854 — D o -0 Account 6 ~per Cent. 1853 DO 120 Account 1)0 £lOO Bonds — 6 per Cent. 1862 4,0 Accountcc :21)0 Bonds o `2 , 6 per Cent., 1863 0 " 0 per Cent., 1865, paid up Scrip — Doo Account v .. 4 per Cent. GI a, -antoed ' 719zuela 3 per Cent. tict)to account TN 6 Per Cent 1862 — '-'0 Account " DO . 1864 — b ut Dividends on the above payable in London. fi c h 2 i Pe* Cent., Ex. 12 Guil _ p.. " 0 1 per Cent. Certificates — . .9.elt Routes 3 per Cent. — 'Lahan 5 per Cent 1861 E 25f 110 Account " ' x• • •••• 51 50 11 e °'lso s 1 TWO O'CLOCK. t., for money '.'9. A.Ccout ~ 87 ............ •••• ......... . SHARE MARKETS.—This Day. ORDINARY SHARES AND STOCKS. Share ) Railways. I p aid ! Closing i Business i I Price. done. Bristol and Exeter .... Caledonian ... .. Cambrian ..... Cork and 8and0n...... Cornwall Dublin & Belfast June Dun„Perth, & A b.Junc E.London, bcrip Certi 89 9 t '27 128 55 65 13 15 4 6 67 70 70 72 84 d Do. Glasgow & S. Western ,Great Eastern, ()rd. stk.' 29 15d 114 116 40 41 , 6 7 Do. E. Angl. st. No ! Great North of Scotland Great Northern D ). A stock Do. B stock 122 124 117 i 39 Do. New, le. at 25 pre,' Gt S. and W. of Ireland Gt. Western -Original , Do. S. Val. Rail gua. Do. South Wales Do. W. Mid.—Oxtor Do. Newport Lo. Hereford. Lane shire ,t Yorkshire LJndon and Blackwall Lon., Brigh. o t S Coast s Lon., Chat., and Dover Do. Metrop. I , :x. A Lon. & North Western Lon. & South Western Man., Shet., d; Lincoln Metropolitan. Do. New 58 59 57 59 39 4 1 34 31 tO) ra 121 i 06 0 27 29 t2l 1211 92i 43 ! 61 63 1534 !34 2 Ski 111 92 95 _ Do. Extension...... Metropolitan District. Do. do. do. Do. and John'sW'd Mid and Do. £9 Share 123 123 , If 2 p 93 95 Do, iiirmin & Derby "id Kent North British Do. Ed., Pth., & Dun. Nth. Eastern—Berwick Do. U.N'E purehabt Do. Leeds ..... Do. York DG. Carlisle 87 88 6 27 10) 710 71 72 109 110 Po. stock. & Darling. Do. 10. 1860-61 North London Do. do. 1864 36 36k ! 10 II p 122 124 1 2p 1 2p 74 76 108 112 149 )51 66 68 Do. 10. 1865 North Staffordshire N. & S. W. Junction ,Scottish Central (Scot. N. E , Aber. stock so. Scot, Mid. stack Shropshire Union 'South Devon - 4 outh E. stern 49 51 I 751 74 Staines, Wok., 6z Wok Taff Vale Do. C Vale of Neath 8 9 190 143 2i 35, 100 103 Waterford & Kilkenny Waterloo & Whiteha West Cornw 62 (.4 1381 BUITISII Atlantic & St. Lawrence Born.,Baroda, Az Cen.ln. gu. 5 per cent Do. F shares Buffalo t Lake Huron Do. Preference Buff.,Brant, & Goderich, 6 p.c. 872-3- • Calcutta & S. E., lim Uaj e Town & Dock, gu I Demerara, 7 p.c. per. pi East. Ben%lal, gu., 5 do East Indian, gu. 5 p.c. Do. J Extension Grand Trunk of Canada Do. Equip. Mort, Bonds 1 charge 6 p.o Do. Ist Pref. Bonds Do. do. deferred :..• Do. 2d Pr• f. Bones Do. do. deterred Do. :?d Pref. stook Do. do. deferred Do. 4th Pret. stock Do. do. deterred t. India Pen. gua. sp.c i'o. Gua. 5 per cent Do. New gua. 5 p. c G t. Soul h of India gua. 5 per cent Do. 41 per cent Do Great FV, s. of Canada.. Do. New Do. 6p. c. Bds• pay 1873 1/o. 54 do. pay. 1877-8 Indian Branch, limited Madras, gua. 5 p.c Do. 4f do Do. 4i do Do. Fifth Extension Melb. Cor. 6 p. c. Bnds. Mel. & Hudson's Bay N. RL C'da, 6pc lst pf.bs Scinde Do. Delhi Do. do • ta g 6 . Do. Punjaub.... ,„„ 0, 0 Do.lndus St. Flo 2O 10 100 1 FOSS: 100 100 100 all 100 100 100 {lOO 2 100 100 ISSIONS. 54 56 104 1033. H 4f 51 9 10 78 80 96 93 65 Ti 100 102 101 102 102} 103} 23 25 85 87 63 66 55 60 57 59 50 55 42 45 40 41 26 28 25 23 1091 1;06 16 2p; 16 2 PI 99 101 91 93 15; 151 5i 4yl A+ Y 6 83 -5 1} Of 100 101 91 93 86 88 F 5 8 8t 99 100 98 99 it I 97 99 104 1 3 1031 211 f 109 i Ft 15 1 1 I 100# I 99 i COLONIAL GOVERNMENT SECURITI ES. British Columbia, 6 pet cent., Deo. 31, 1872... 100 Can.Gov.6 p.c.Ja.& J uly 1877./4 Do. 6p. o. Feb. & Aug.. 1 0 tO 14 Do. sp. c. Mar. & Sept 10'i 90 94 Do. sp. c. Jan. & July 100 7 • 80 791 Do. sp. Inscribed sk 100 77 50 Cape (I.Hope, 6 p.c. 1873 100 102 IC4 Do.Apl,&Oct. 1890-1900 100 105 107 Do. do: 1680-9;i 100 105 107 Do. Jan.&July, 1890-9 , 100 102 IC4 Do. 5 per cent. 15 April Lila 15 Oct., 1900.... 100 90 22 Ceylon, N0v:.1864, 6 p.( 100 1 , 2 104 Do. 1878, do.. 100 106 1 8 Mauritius, 6p. o, 1873, Jan. and July Do. 1 , 78 )o. 882. May .5, Nov. Do. 1895, Feb. & Aug l9O I( 2 104 Natal ',ov. o per cent lOO 10u 102 N.B.Gov. 6 p.c.Ja.&.l uly IGO 93 9.5 N. S.W. Gov. 5 p-c., is& 100 - - Do. 5 p.c. 18.1 to 187, 100 90 95 Do. 5 p.o. 1888 to 189 z 100 874 R 8! New Zealand, 6p. cent 100 92 95 Do. 5 per cent... . 100 79 81 Nova So ,tia Gov. 13 p. c sterling, 1875 lOO 08 100 Queensland Gov. 6p. e lOO 08 100 991 8. Aus.Gov. 6 p,c 1868-u 100 -- - - Do. 1878 & upwards l.O 105 107 Vic,Gov. 6 p.c. Ja & July 100 - - Do. do, April & 100 103 104 BRITISH MINES. 2 Cain. ConsoL Gold, lim. 1 Chiverton Clifford Amalgamated. 30 14 16 Devon G. Cons. (Tavist. 1 s+o 680 Drakewalls East Bassett (Illogan) 294 18 20 Nast Carauou 2.14.e 8 9 East Cam Brea 34 31 44 Nast Grenville East Gunnislake 8.3.0 East Loved 3.9.0 8 9 E. W'l Russell (Tavistk 10.8.9 3 31 Gam.& StAubyn(G wen. 66 5 7 4 Great L trey, limited., all 21 22 Great South Tolgus 0.14.6 it -- Great Wheal Busy 14.9.6 1 16 G. Wheal Vor (Heist .o 40 221 53. Grenville 8.18.0 24 3 Herod's Foot . 8.10.0 38 40 ilingston Downs ...... 5.10.6 41 5 Margaret aJny Lelant 13.17.6 4 6 Marke Valley 4.10.6 31 41 4 flwyndy Iron Ore, lim 21 24 10 New Sewn - North Roskear N.Wh'l Bassett ;Mogan 4.4.0 North Wheel Crotty 2.13.0 1 1 Prosper United.. •••• • 7. 16 Pr ,vidence Uny Lulant 10.6.7 32 34 S. Caradon (St. Cleer) ll 375 400 South Condurrow 3.2.0 11 S.Wheal Fran. (Mogan 18.18.9 J 5 20 stray Park 35.15.6 4 6 Tin Croft 9 13 15 5 Vigra and Mogan, lim all 3 5 West Bassett (Mogan 14 1 2 W. Caradon (Ltskeard 9 8 9 West Chi verton ll 724 774 West Seton 474 130 140 Wheal Bassett 'Mogan 51 80 85 Wheal Buller (Redruth 16 20 22 Wheal Mary Ann (Men. 8 3 5 Wheal Seton -- Wheal Trelawuey (Lis 7 '3 15 rtr:rL~Kr.~l.r. Bristol and Exeter 4 per cent. stock, 87i (rest -orthern, 5 per cent., 1096 Ditto, 5 per cent., redeemable at 10 per cent., IC7 LINES LEASED AT FIXED USLITALti Birkenhead, E 6 London and Chatham, 4i per Cent., 871 r oiCINJUN itAIL WA Yl4. nutch Rhenish, 2 Namur and Liege, gua. 6 per cent. pl., 19 Sambre and Meuse, 5 per cent. pl., 9 South Austrian and Lombardo Venetian, 15* FOIIELON KIN Xi,. Kapunda, zcottish Australian, BAN ( Agra and Mtsterman's. lim.. 45i 5 6 Bank of British Columbia, zOA +tank of Egypt, 3t B ink of London, 24 Consolidated Bank, lim., 9} European Bank, lim., 8 8 Bindustan, China, and .1 span, 11m., 11 Imperial Bank, Lim., 24 Imperial Ottoman, 11 f Ditto, new, 10i ff London Chartered Bank of Australia, 22} London and County, 77/1 Midland Bank, Rm., 191 union of London, 64 MISCELLANEOUS. Ceylon Company, 11} City offices, lim., i 4 Commercial Union, Insurance, 6 5f Credit r oncler and ifobilier of England. 5f f Crystal Palace, 6 per cent. perpetl. deb., 10iN Gen. Credit and Finance of LJudon. tin,.. 4 Imperial Mercantile Credit Asso.. lim.. f London Financial Association, I'm , 15, Madras Irrigation and Canal, Ditto (all), 7 f National Provincial Marine, lim , 4 Overend, Gurney, and Co., lim., 14i I f Panama, New Zealand. and Australian Mai!, Um., 61 Rio de Janeiro City Improvements, Rm.. 22 A dividend of 3s. in the pound, payable on Mon day next, is announced on the estate of Messrs. Paget, Bainbridges, and Co., Bankers, of St. Paul's Churchyard, who suspended payment on the 15th ultiino. There has been very little business transacted in the Foreign and Colonial Produce Markets during the last few days. Sugars have been in very limited request, and no public sales have been held. Coffee in some instances has sold at rather lower prices, while in rice, fruit, and spices the operations have led to no material alteration as regards values. Tallow has been in fair demand at steady rates for both present and foward delivery. THE POWER OF STEAM.— The South-Western Railway Company now possess a monster engine which has been named the Colossus. It has been built to draw tram of 80 loaded waggons 80 miles in three hours, each loaded waggon weighing about 10 tons. It can drag nearly 1,000 tons from London to Southampton with almost the speed of a bird flying. THE SCN, LONDON, FRIOA Y EVENING, APRIL 27, 1866. ELECTION COMMITTEES.—This Day. 'WAKEFIELD. The committee reassembled this morning at 11 o'clock, and the evidence in support of the sitting member's case, which was opened yesterday, was proceeded with. Mr. Clarkson, cashier to Messrs. Lee, the manu facturers at Wakefield,' gave evidence tending to show that the money advanced on behalf of Mr. Leatham was legitimately applied to electioneering expenses. William Smith, a member of the London de tective force, proved having held a warrant in his possession for the arrest of Henry Barrett, whose name has figured so prominently in the proceedings, and who levanted. in October last, not being able to account for a sum of £3OO which had been en trusted to his care. Other evidence to the same effect was adduced. HUDDERSFIELD. The evidence on behalf of the petitioners against the return of Colonel Crossland was resumed this morning, and several cases of bribery were deposed to on the part of the recognised agents of the sitting member. NORTHALLERTON. Mr. Price, Q.C., addressed the committee this morning on behalf of the sitting member, but called no witnesses, as he contended that no case had been made out against his client. Counsel on the other side then addressed the com mittee, but no decision was given up to the time of our going to press. KING'S COUNTY. This committee„ which adjourned from Wednes day, resumed sitting this morning, and the polling clerk to the sheriff for the county was examined but his evidence was not material, as he had been obliged from illness to delegate his duties to an assistant during the election. Some witnesses were then examined in support of the petition of Mr. Pope Hennessy. Liverpool Cotton Market. -This Day. The Market opens with a moderate demand. Sales probably 6,000 bales. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. This Day. LONDON, April 27.--Wind this day at noon—South- Westerly ; moderato breeze, and fine weather. LIVERPOOL, April 27.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Fanny, from Demerara. OFF LIVERPOOL, April 27.—Arrived—Stromboli, screw steamer. OFF KINSALE, April 25. Arrived—Erromanga, from the West Coast of Africa. Sailed—Alice, for Valparaiso; Home, for Barcelona. PLYMOUTH, April 26. —Wind S. E.—Arrived —H er Majesty's ship Pelican, from Malta ; left Gibraltar on the 14th inst. DARTMOUTH, April 25.—Wind W.—Sailed—Mystery, for Bermuda. PLYMOUTH, April 26.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Medusa, screw steamer, from London for Madeira and Rio de Janeiro. QUEENSTOWN, April 25.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Specu lator, from Callao ; Conjuror, from Barbadoes. Sailed— Arbitr, ator, for Miramichi. BRISTOL, April 26.—Wind S.W.—Arried—Julie, from Havannah ; British Ensign, from Smyrna ; Marie Eliza beth, from Bayonne. CLYDE, April 26. - Wind S.S.E.—Sailed—City of Montreal, for Nov York. SWANSEA, April 25.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—Alma, for Quebec. moos, April 27.—Wind S.W. — Arrived—Chevalier, from Belfast, for repairs. IBY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. 1 GRAVESEND, Friday Morning. Arrived, April 27.—Forest Queen, steamer, from Oporto ; Citizen, steamer, from Bordeaux ; Cologne, steamer, from Boulogne ; Bidwell, from New York ; Victoria, from Dant sic ; Sir R. Peel, steamer, from Dunkirk. DEAL, Friday Morning. Passed, April. 2G.—Odessa, screw steamer, from London, for Constantinople. Passed, April 27.—Juanpore, for Shanghai : Glence, for New York—both from London. Fret ch Theatricals. ITALIAN OPERA.—" Si roes n'avez rien a me dire."—Thrice fortunate were they who happened to be at the Italian Opera the other night when WWI°. Patti sang the charm ing melody which Mme. do Rothschild has composed to these words. Instead of condemning us to the peine forte et lure of Itodi's air with variations, which every Rosins without variation introduces into the singing lesson in the Barbiere. Mlle. Patti sang the famous air from the Vepres Siciliennes, and after the loud plaudits had subsided before the eager desire to entice the little songstress into an en core, she came to the ramps and sang this melody, which will soon be ground to dust by the street organs, whistled by the cabmen, and hummed by cocottes in high spirits over a new parure or a fresh batch of worshippers. Everyone has of course heard it by this time, and the pub lic voice has all eady endorsed the euloguium which it had elicited from the most competent critics of the day. Alas ! the refrain of this ravishing melody rings discordantly in your critic's ears, for he knows full well that your readers will say to him, " Si vous n'avez rien k me dire"—why do you chatter ? But, as Ancient Pistol observes, " young ravens must be fed." That inexorable dragon, the public, awaits its morning prey, and must have its weekly allowance of pabulum. Lions are best seen at feeding time, as the Rev. Peter Plymley observed to his friend when he invited him to dinner. It would be the most unpropitious moment to See your readers when this indigestible stuff is put before them. See in Monday's Meniteur the straits to which an unhappy critic is reduced. M. Theophile Gauthier begins and ends his "Revue des Theatres" with a review of Dickens's " Bleak House," an idea probably suggested by the temperature, since rude Bureas is visiting us too roughly. There is absolutely rein a roes dire, gentle reader, but as your Sisyphus must roll his stone up the hill, he will not appeal in vain either to Jupiter or Venus to put their shoulders to the Gros-Caillou. The only pieco of news is bad news. Mlle. Patti is going. She will leave an " aching void," but M. Bagier is not an impressario who stays shivering on the brink of the abyss, like Curtius —he does not " crane " but plunges boldly in, and pro mises to amuse us to the best of his ability with the ltaliana in Algieri with a female tenor, Mlle. Mela. A female tenor will look oddly on the stage—a sort of "Veluti in speculum." The Price of Gold. rile quotation of gold at Paris is about per m and the short exchange on Lo n d on i s 25.15 per £1 sterling.n , comparing these rates with th e E nglish Mint price o f Z., tia. luid. per ounce for standard go ld , i t appe. . rs t h a t go ld is l mil le p m about 2-lithe per cent. dearer in Paris than in London. By advic:s from Hamburg the price of gold is 427 per mark and the short exchange on London is 1.3.51 per £1 Standard gold at the Engli.h Mint price is, therefore, at about 2. 10ths per cent. dearer in Hambur4 than in London. IMPORT OF COTTON AT ANTWERP.—An Antwerp letter states that the ship Due de Brabant has just arrived there from India with 3,500 bales of cotton, representing a value of 2,000,000 f. For the last eight or nine years not a single bale had reached that port direct. CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY.— THURSDAY, APRIL 26.—Admissions on payment, 1,903 ; ditto by season tickets, 1,358 ; total visitors, 3,261. PRINCE ALFRED'S CITY FREEDOM.—It will be in the recollection of our readers that a short time since the corporation unanimously decided upon presenting the freedom of the city of London to his Royal Highness Prince Alfred at a grand ceremonial to be held next June, and the date of which is not yet fixed. On the same occa sion it was also determined to depart from the usual rou tine of the gold box, and to present the time-honoured scroll of freedom in a casket that should be more characteristic of the great profession which Prince Alfred follows. In the circulars, therefore, which were sent out to the chief jewel lers who were invited to compete in designs for the casket the specification was limited to a carved polished oak-box inlaid and enriched with pure gold. The oak of which the casket is to be made is, we believe, to be taken from one of the massive beams which lately supported the roof of old Guildhall, and which were put in after the partial destruction of the building in the great fire of Loudon. These designs for the casket were submitted yesterday to the General Purposes Committee at Guildhall. Among other competitors were Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Benson, Mr. Brooke, &c. After a very short discussion the design of Mr. Benson was unani mously chosen. It is a very exquisitely carved oak cabinet, somewhat similar in general style, though, of course, not in material, to that made by Mr. Benson when the City's freedom was presented to the Prince of Wales at the great Guildhall ball. Its delicate tracery will make it almost unique of its kind, and its massive chased gold mouldings and inlayings relieve the darkness of the oak, and give great richness to the whole design. The arms of Prince Alfred, with the shield of Gotha, are enamelled in gold on the front and back, with nautical emblems in dark blue panels supporting them, while the ends of the casket, which is oval shaped, are closed with a scroll work of foliage surmounted with masks. A more beautiful work of art has seldom been presented by the city, and, though perhaps not equal in cost, it almost surpasses in design the celebrated casket which was given to the krince of Wales. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE--This Day. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] CHESTER RACES.-THIS DAY. HANDICAP PLATE of 100 sous; winners 101 b extra. Half a mile. Mr. Law's Lucy Long, 4 yrs, 7st 101 b 1 Mr. Phillips's Persuasion, 5 yrs, 6st nib 2 Marquis of Hastings's Pantaloon, 4 yrs, Bst 121 b (includ ing 101 b extra) Five ran. BADMINTON STAKES. _ . Lady Hester -- Thermometer Knightsbridge Won easily. BIENNIAL STAKES Lucifer Terror . Mr. Pitt Won by half a length. STEWARDS' CUP. Treasure Trove.. DERBY. 1000 to 60 agst Redan (taken freely) SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. CHESTER RACES.-THURSDAY. HANDICAP PLATE of 50 sous for three-year-olds and up wards ; winners 101 b extra. Five furlongs. Professor Anderson 1 Grapeshot .. 2 Pantaloon Five ran. Betting at starting -5 to 2on Professor Anderson, sto 1 agst any other. Won by a head; bad third. The DEE Cur of 50 sous in specie, added to a handicap sweepstakes of 5 sous each ; winners 101 b extra. Nearly a mile. Mr. Barber's The Clowr, 5 yrs, Bst 21b Mr. Law's Loughrca, 3 yrs, sst 91b Betting at Starting -2 to lon The Clown canter. Won in a HER MAJESTY'S PLATE of 100 gs ; three-year-olds, 7st 81b ; four, 9st 71b ; five, lOst 21b; six and aged, lOst 41b. Three miles. Selim Honesty Stanton Wiseman Betting at Starting-6 to 4on Honesty, 3to 1 agst Wiseman, 6 to 1 aget Selim. Won by a length ; two le n h g e t c h s E s b i e R t i w wA e Ni e n n i e s l Nr e s c D o il n oc d iAbp a end ofx t r t sa h . ir so d vs , s ix ea f c u h r , lo w n i g t s h . 100 added ; Mr. C. Peck, jun.'s Exceller, 4 yrs, 7st 71b Marquis of Hasting's King Hal, 3 yrs, 7st 61b (in 101 b ex) 2 Captain Williams's Distraction, 3 yrs, sst 71b 3 Mr. Heathcote's Skirmish, 4 yrs, 7st 81b 4 Betting at starting-7 to 4 agst Exceller, 3to 1 agst Skirmish, 4to 1 agst King Hal. Won in a canter. The DEE STAKES of 10 sovs each, with 200 added, for three year-olds ; colts, Bst I Olb ; fillies, Bst 61b ; certain win ners extra. One mile and a half. Mr. Chaplin's Bertie 1 Mr. Saxon's Monitress • • 2 Mr. Merry's Mirella Won by a head ; bad third. The MARQUIS OF WESTMINSTER'S PLATE of 5 sovs each, with 100 added; penalties and allowances. About one mile and a quarter. Captain Gray's Castanet, 3 yrs, Est 41b 1 Mr. Johnstone's Rococo, 3 yrs, 6st 81b (inc. 101 b extra) 2 Mr. Johnstone's Holstein, 4 yrs, 7st 3 The following also ran :—Messmate, Aldcroft, and Edgbaston. Betting at Starting-5 to 2 agst Holstein, 3to 1 each The Castanet an BEAUFORTd Rococo, B u N N BIENNIAL to s 1 agst Txi 8 Aldcroft.of 25 sous. each, with 100 added, for 2-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 101 b ; fillies and geldings, Bst 61b; certain winners extra. Three quarters of a mile. Mr. C. Peck, jun.'s, Manuella 1 Marquis of Hastings's Prodigal 2 Mr. Barber's Captain Three ran. Won by a neck. The ALL-AGED SELLING STAKES Of 5 sovs each, with 30 added; 2-yr-olds, Bst4lb; three, lOst 111 b; four, lOst 121 b; five and upwards, list; m and g allowed 31b; maiden and selling allowances. Half a mile. Northill ............................................................ w. o. BETTING ON THE COURSE. DERBY. 9 to 4 agst Lord Lyon (taken) 5 to 2 agst Rustic (taken) 100 to 6 agst Vespasian All Lord Bateman's horses and Mr. Wadlow's were struck out of Chester engagements at 1.45 this day. Per suasioa out of Cestrian Handicap at 11 20 last night. SCRATCHINGS. April 14, at 5.30 p.m. C. by Y. Melbourne, dam by Ted dington, out of Maid of Masham, out of 2,000 gs stakes. April 14, at 5 p.m. All horses engaged in Mr.E.Egerton's name, out of all engagements. April 19, 11.55 a.m. Cambuscan and Esca, out of Great Northern Handicap at York. April 20, at 11.19 a.m. Lady Florence and Endsleigh, out of Chester Cup. April 21, at 1.25 p.m. Helen and Fan, out of Chester engagements. April 21, after 6 p.m. Prince Imperial, out of all engage ments. April 23, at 9 a.m. Little Goy, The Buck, Pepper's Ghost, and natty, out of all engagements. April 23, at 9 a.m. Easby, Birkgill, Dunadry, and Maid of Usk, out cf Chester engagements. April 23, at 9 a.m. Mephistopheles, out of Epsom Derby. April 23, at 11.15 a.m. Goojerat, out of Chester cup. April 25, at 2 p.m. Mr. Pitt, out of Chester cup. April 25, after 6 p.m. Quarantine, out of all events, ex cept the Harpenden handicap. YORK SPRING MEETING—THURSDAY, MAY 10. Acceptances for The Flying Dutchman's Handicap. One mile and a quarter. Ago st lb, Age st lb Lozenge 4 8 12 Castanet 3 6 1 Raglan Harry Brailsford ... 4 7 12 Murillo Holstein 4 7 1 'Bob Chambers 3 5 11 Molly Carew 5 6 111 Duty Free 3 5 11 Dean Swift Missile Chapel Royal ASCOT HEATH SPRING MEETING. TUESDAY, MAY 1. Acceptances for the Duke de Brabant Stakes of 400 sore, added to a handicap of 25 sovs each. The New Course, 1 mile 5 fur. Age et lb Baragah 5 9 5 Redmire 4 8 4 Sandal Merry Wife Brahma Auditor 4 7 12 Gomera 4 7 11 Holly fox Filbert Merry Hart Pintail Helen 5 7 2 Cutaway Age st lb Eleanor Eakring 3 6 12 Xi Plutus Sealskin lon 3 6 9 Split the Difference 3 6 9 Lincoln Green 3 6 2 G by Yellow Jack, out of Treachery 4 6 2 Monitress Haphazard Hasketon Maid 3 5 7 RACING FIXTURES FOR 1866. MAY. Ascot Spring .... 1 Salisbury .... 3 West Drayton Manchester Bath 8 Wye York Spring Harpenden lO Epsom Summer l5 Paris Ascot Summer 29 Windsor Summer 5 Newton Hampton Odiham Beverley Bibury Stockbridge JU. Chelmsford l9 Liverpool Summer Ipswich Hungerford Newcastle on-Tyne 26 Worcester Carlisle ..................... 8 Newmarket July ......... 8 Pontefract .................• Abingdon .................• 10 Reading ..................... 12 Nottingham ............... 17 Down Royal C0rp......... 18 Stamford ..................... 19 AUG Radcliffe 23 Spilsby Winchester 24 Southampton 26 Huntingdon Caen Goodwood 3l Deauville .................. 4 Brighton ..................... 7 Brighton Club ............ 9 Lewes ........................ 10 Egham ........................ 14 Wolverhampton ............ 14 Stockton ..................... 15 Oxford ........................ 16 Hastings ..................... 21 SEPT] Warwick September 4 Leicester Doncaster Brecon Canterbury OC T Bedford ..................... 2 Northampton ............. . . 2 Royal Caledonian Hunt and Kelso ............... 3 Dover YorkPDley Derby Plymouth A ut u h gu s t Summer 23 2i Lichfield Tunbridge 2B Yarmouth 29 Weymouth 29 Baden Baden 3l ;AMER. --- Richmond Monmouth Manchester Autumn 2l Newmarket Ist October '25 Walsall ,BER. Newmarket2d October... 8 Newmarket Houghton ... 22 IRISH RACING FIXTURES. APRIL. Cork MAY. Curragh . ............. 1,2, 3 I Athlone Baldoy le Spring...... 8, 9 JUNE. Curragh ................................................ 26, 2 7 , 28 , 29 JULY. Carlow ..........••.••••••••sE E p 4, 1 5i D own Royal Corporation 18 mBER. Cara& ► uuniin►u►►►►►►►►nm►►►►nn►►u►►►u►►ru►►mu► 4 ► 5► 6 THE MURDER IN CANNON STREET. The following appeared in our late edition of last even , ing:— This afternoon the man named William Smith, appre hended at Eton on suspicion of being the murderer of the unfortunate woman Sarah Millson, the housekeeper to Messrs. Bevington, No. 2, Cannon-street, was place d be fore the Lord Mayor for re-ex am i na ti on. Colonel Fraser, Chief-superintendent Foster, Inspector Hamilton, chief of the detective department, and Sergeant Moss of the detective force, watched the case for the police authorities. Mr.Wontnor appeared for the prosecution ; the prisoner was defended by Mr. Scartb. The evidence was in fact a repetition of that given at the coroner's inquest yesterday, and which will be found in another column. Mrs. Robins, in her cross-examination, adhered to the evidence she had given with respect to the prisoner being the man she saw leave the door of Messrs. Bevington's on the night of the murder. She did not know the prisoner was blind in his left eye, which must have been towards her when the prisoner passed her in Cannon-street. The young woman Collins also repeated her evidence. George Terry was next examined, but nothing in addi tion to that which he deposed yesterday was elicited. In cross-examination, he said the prisoner wrote a letter, which was found in Mrs. Millsom's desk, for him in the George public house. He read a portion of it over to her. He didn't go to her for the money himself from Mrs. Millsom because she had told him to send some one better dressed than himself. He had heard that Messrs. Bevington had been robbed, but never proposed to the prisoner to mention the fact of the robbery in the letter. He had been in trouble for illegally pawning a carpet. but he had only been in prison 21 days. On the night of the 11th of April he was in bed in St. Olave's Union Workhouse from eight o'clock in the evening until eight in the morning. Sarah Webber said the deceased had borrowed £33 15s. from her. She had lent the money through Mrs. Terry. The deceased had paid her about £8 of the amount, by instalments of 10s. a week. She never authorised Terry to send any person to Mrs. Millsom. About two months ago Mrs. Millsom called upon her and said that some one had called upon her for some money, but she (witness) told her she had done wrong in paying any to any person. Police-constable 34 M said he knew deceased, and a short time ago she showed him a letter she had received (the one that has been so often referred to), and she ap peared to be in very great fear. And on the Wednesday following he went with her to see if it was possible to find the writer. Deceased showed him two receipts for certain instalments, signed "W. Denton." In cross-examination witness said he first saw the letter on the 4th of February. He could not find out the writer or Terry. By the Lord Mayor—Mrs. Millsom said the person whom she was in fear of was Denton, who represented himself as a solicitor. Henry Child said he lived in Brocas-lane, Eton, and knew the prisoner, and saw him in the Jolly Miller beer shop one evening in the early part of the month, but he could not say whether it was the 11th or the 12th. He was dressed in a black suit. He was asked if he would make one at dominoes. Prisoner replied that he couldn't, as he had got 40 miles to go. Witness said, " You can t go 40 miles to-night ;" to which he said, "Suppose I get to London to-night—that will be 40 miles ? He (witness) said, " Well, yes, but you are not going to London." -Pri soner said "Yes, he was," at which remark he called the prisoner a l—r, and left the hoUse. The public-house is about a mile and a half from the Slough Station. He thought it would take about twenty minutes to walk the distance between there and the rail way station. It was about seven o'clock in the evening when he met the prisoner. By the Lord Mayor—He (witness) could walk the dis tance in twenty minutes if he went along sharpish. Blackman, a stoker at Eton Gas Works, said he left the works on Wednesday, the 11th of April, at 7 o'clock. He saw the prisoner as he was going to light the lamp ; he met him between the Willow Brook and the Fifteen-arch Bridge. He was going in the direction of the Slough Sta tion ; he had his best clothes on and a black hat. Cross-examined—He was not going particularly fast. It would not have taken him more than 10 minutes or a quarter of an hour to get to the station from where he met him. It might be half-past seven or five minutes later when he first met the prisoner, but he could not say positively. William Clark, of the Backs constabulary, stationed in Eton—He recollected Wednesday night, the 11th of April. He was on duty up to twelve o'clock that night. He saw the prisoner about a quarter to twelve coning down the High-street from the direction of Windsor. He was going towards his own home. He had black clothes on, a hat, and carried a yellow walking-stick. Cross-examined—He was sure the trousers the prisoner now had on were not those he wore the night he met him. John Pierman, an inspector of the Bucks police, sta tioned at Eton College, said he was acquainted with the railway trains. There was a train to London from Slough at 743 p.m., it arrived in London at 8 40. There is also a train which arrives at Windsor from London at 11 43 p.m. Windsor station was about 300 yards from the prisoner's home, and it would take about three to five minutes to walk the distance. gross- examined —He did not know that the-7 4. 3 _train arrived at 7 89 on.the night of the 11th. By Mr. Wontner—At whatever time a train arrives at the station it is never started until the proper hour set down in the time table. • Mr. May, the surgeon, here repeated the evidence he has already given, with respect to the condition in which he found the deceased woman on the 11th April. Mr. Wontner said that was all the evidence he had to produce that day. He had to ask for another remand. Mr. Scarth said he had eight or ten witnesses ready to give their evidence that the prisoner was in Eton the whole of the day and night of Wednesday, the 11th of April. The Lord Mayor said, as he had already been asked by the prosecution to remand the prisoner, he should certainly do so. Mr. Scarth said his witnesses had'all been cross-exa mined by the police, which he thought unfair. The Lord Mayor thought it would be far better for prisoner's adviser to hear the whole of the case against the prisoner before he commenced his defence. Mr. Scarth said his client was an entirely innocent man. He would adopt the suggestion of the Lord Mayor The prisoner was remanded for a week. Bank of England Returns.•--Last Evening. An Account, pursuant to t] cap. 32, for the week ending ISSUE DE: :he Act 7th and Bth Victoria, Wednesday, April2s, 1866. Notes issued .....Z28,005,320 'ARTNIENT. Governmt. Debt.Xll,ols,loo Other Securities 3,984,900 Gold Coin and Bullion Silver Bullion £28,005,320 I BANKING D: X 28,005,820 Proprietors' Capi tal £14,553,000 Rest Publio Deposits (including Ex chequer, Sav ings' Banks, Commissioners of National Debt, and Di♦ Accounts) 4,417,147 Other Deposits 13,294,671 Seven Day and other bills IEPARTMENT. Governmt. Secu rities(including Dead Weight Annuity) .... £10,697,254 Other Securities 18,507,854 Notes 5,844,205 Gold and Silver Coin ..... 850,456 X 35,896,769 April 26, 1866. £36,896,769 % MILLER, Chief Cashier. Foreign Mail Packet List MAILS DUE. Australia add New Zealand, via Southampton...- May 20 Ditto, via Marseilles May 14 Bruit anciCape Verde. by British packet Msy 4. - Ditto, by French packet Map 2 Cape of Goad Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena May 25. China. Penang, and Sing wore. via S out h a mpton May 3. Ditto, via Marseilles. April 27 Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via 6 outharopton April 2?. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton... May 3 Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via Southampton. April 28 Ditto, via Marseilles .. - May 8 Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton April 28. Ditto, via Marseilles April 27. Mauritius, via Southampton Ditto, via Marseil ei May 8 Newfoundland . . May 9. Portugal .May 4. Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon. .. United Mates 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.. April 27. West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas and Honduras) April 28 Cuba and Mexico • April 23. Bahamas, via New York. May 3. Bermuda, via Halifax May 9 . West Coat, tof Africa, Madeira, and Tenerife ...,May 13 WRECK OF A LIVERPOOL STEAMER. --A telegram was received in Liverpool yesterday from Cadiz, announc ing that on Wednesday afternoon the steamer Nile (Capt. Horsfall), stranded off Trafalgar. The vessel was herself full of water. The crew had failed to land at Couil on ac count of the surf, and had been taken to Cadiz, where they arrived on the 25th. The Nile was a steamer p lying be tween Liverpool and Alexandria, and belonged to Messrs. Moss and Co., Liverpool. All the officers and crew were saved. . The Rev. J. Young, M.A., succeeds the _ Rev. J. Etble AO the tor of Burole.3i, gate, 21 1 123 j 2} 1091 UST DIPERIAL PARLIANENfi HOUSE OF LORDS-LAST EVENING. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a second time :—Croydon Commercial Gas, North Eastern Railway (new line), South Staffordshire Water, North Eastern, and Yorkshire (Dur ham new line, &c.), North Eastern Railway (Yorkshire now line), South Staffordshire Works, and the Sheffield Water. SALE OF LAND BY AUCTION BILL. Lord ST. LEONARDS, in moving that the house should go into committee on this bill, explained some of the leading provisions of the bill. He contended that the law as it stood at present ;equ}red revision, as it inflicted much hardship. After some discussion, the bill went through committee, and was ordered for third reading. POOR PERSONS BURIAL (IRELAND) BILL. This bill was read a second time. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OP COMMONS—LAST EVENING. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed:— Brighton and Dove General Gas ; Bristol and Exeter Rail way ; Congleton Gas and Improvement ; Glasgow Houses of Refuge ; Maidstone and Ashford Railway ; Metropolitan District Railway ; Presteign, Clun, and Bishops Castle Railway; and Worcester, Bromyard, and Leominster Rail way. WINDSOR ELECTION. The report of the committee appointed to try the merits of a petition against the sitting members, Sir H. Hoare and Mr. Labouchere, was brought up. It stated that the two hon. members were not duly elected, and that they had, by their agents, been guilty of bribery, but not with their knowledge. WRECK OFF CORK HARBOUR. In reply to Mr. MAGUIRE, Mr. M. GIBSON said the attention of the Government had not recently been ca ll ed to the wreck of New York, now on Daunt Rock, off Co rk lia rbo t u h r e . C l i t ty ha o d f been, however, broug ht to the atte ntion of the vernment about a year ago. The Government h a d no official notice of another casualty taking place at the same spot in consequence of the wreck. The power of the Government to, compel the owner to remove the wreck was doubtful. The Board of Trade and the Trinity were not authorised to remove sunken vessels, but to lay down buoys. The Government intended to take stops to obtain the power they were at present without. CHURCH RATES. Lord JOHN MANNERS asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he had prepared amendments to the bill for the abolition of church rates ; and, if so, when ho proposed to lay them upon the table of the house. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said his suggestion, on the second reading, had been embodiedwith clearness, and before they were brought under the consi deration of the house, they would be submitted to the hon. member for Bury St. Edmunds. ST. PANCRAS BURIAL GROUND. Mr. M'EVOY asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he was aware that the Midland Rail way Company, having obtained an act (27 and 28 Vic., c. 231) which by its 23d section allowed them to pass a tun nel under the old churchyard of St. Pancras (a closed burying ground) were about to make an open cutting through said churchyard, thereby disturbing the tombs and bodies; and whether Government would interfere to protect the place from such desecration. Sir G. GREY said inquiry had been made, and it ap peared the railway was to be made in a tunnel twelve feet below, and the upper cutting was to be made to construct the tunnel. The trustees had refused to sanction the opening of the ground, and certain arrangements had been made with the company, to whose proposals they acquiesced. THE REFORM BILL. Mr. FERRAND asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would pledge himself to withdraw the six teenth clause, disfranchising the dockyard electors, in the event of the Representation of the People Bill being read a second time. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it would be premature for him to answer the question before the second reaiing had been decided. OYSTER FISHING. Mr. S. CAVE asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether it was true that the Customs authorities of New Shoreham had strict orders to seize and destroy all oysters brought into that port from the deep sea beds between the 30th April and Ist September, but that no such orders had been issued in respect of ports north of the North Foreland ; and in fact oysters taken from the same beds were landed from these ports during the above period ; if so on what principle this distinction was made, as the words of the Act 18 and 19 Vic., c. 101, s. 2, empowered officers of the Customs to seize " any oysters imported into or landed in any port of the United Kingdom." Mr. GIBSON said it was quite true, as stated by the hon. gentleman, but it was solely for the purpose of the Act of Parliament being put in force which prohibited the importation of oysters during the close months between May and August. JLDGES IN IRELAND. Mr. WHITESIDE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, having regard to the amount of business in the Landed Estates Court, Ireland, it was intended to fill the pities of third judge, now vacant in that court by the death of the late Judge Hargraves? Mr. C. FORTESCUE said it was not intended to fill up ,he vacancy caused by the death of Judge Hargraves. ITALIAN VOLUNTEERS. Mr. H. SEYMOUR asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if her Majesty's Government had re ceived any information with regard to the alleged raid of Italian volunteers on the Austrian territory; and whether it had anything to do with the temporary refusal of the Emperor of Austria to receive Count Arese and Signor Venosta ? Mr. L IYARD said the Government had reason to be lieve that the whole matter was unfounded. No informa tion on the subject had been received. THE BUDGET. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said as it was intended to finish the debate on the Reform Bill to-- morrow evening, he should, on Thursday next, bring for ward his financial statement. THE REFORM BILL.—ADJOURNED DEBATE. Mr. LOWE rose and said—As we aro now on the second reading of the bill for the purpose of reducing the electoral franchise it is not inopportune to ask what is the principle of the bill. (Hear, hear.) Our information upon this subject at the present moment is very meagre. (Hear, hear.) We have learnt from my right hon. friend the President of the Board of Trade that the principle of this bill is to reduce the franchise,and we have learnt from the Solicitor-General for Scotland, as I understood, that the principle of the bill is to fill upwith figures two blanks, which the Government propose to fill up with £7 and £l4 respectively, but which we can fill up with any number we think proper. These are the rather shady-coloured views which have been imparted to us on this important, question. I submit that they neither of them answer the question at all, because the principle of a bill does not mean the scope and te nor of the bill, it does not mean the thing the bill professes to do, but the ground or reason on which it is based, and upon that, as far as I am aware, her Majesty's Government have been entirely silent. I can only imagine two grounds on which this bill can be proposed to the house, this bill for lowering the elec toral franchise. The first of those grounds is, that the franchise ought to be given for its own sake ; and the se cond is that it is the means for obtaining some ulterior ob ject. Which of these two is the principle of the bill ? The first principle has at any rate the merit of extreme simpli city, and those who profess it are very little troubled either with proof or investigation. According to their theory, all they have to find is a person fitted to have the electoral franchise—and they are not very particular in exacting proof of fitness, nor very strict in the presumptions which they apply to it—and that having that person the giving of the franchise to him follows as a matter of immediate and cogent necessity. According to this view this is not a ques tion of politics at all. It is a question of morality, of right and wrong. It is a debt, to use the words of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and when you find a man presumably fit, or whom you choose to consider fit, for the franchise,accord ing to this view you are as much bound to give it him asyou are to pay your own ordinary debts, and that to deliberate about it is as much an act of turpitude as to deliberate when you will pay your creditors. Thus all those citizens who are not admitted to the franchise become creditors of the state, and every day, and every hour, you withhold it froth them is, according to this view, wrong accumulated upon wrong, a denial of justice, a disgrace and . an e oPP briutn to those who act in this manner. That iswown view hether that may be taken. It is very important to kn , o rd because it is the -new on which this bill is brought eludes anything like reason or argainen c s impossible to it is a view which, whatsoever other merits it either flies so high or sinks so low that propound it may be deal with it by argument. .Thoserbe great philosophers — they s n st on no i e r y r e t d th l haeayeP artdt s h o t w e l eronsf hand, f ; a s l doc trinei3t,politics. 33 polit i c i ans,tso nor are they using arguments religion of humanity. they are not . or doctrines within range ofsciencemay, (Conservative cheers.uerne fallacy and the most obvious mistaken the means for the end, and um of a 3 r ai from ' that because we all believe . our long elective menianyohstavPe franchise is a pod thing to attain the experience error.v i ct victims sTohfetyh infer of it, that the end of good government, that, there.ore, it is necessarily a good thing in itself. They have this great adVantage, as all enthusiasts, all persons believing in immediate intuition, establishing arbitrary connection of ideas have over those w h o are not so fortunate, that they entirely emancipate themselves from the necessity of looking to conshuences. (Cheers.) They are free altogether from those complicated, those troublesome, and embarrassing contemplations of the future effects of their measures. They divest their minds altogether from these things, and fall back OA the priucipl• consequences? that w i the Thatb et maintain—and ue a r right c lh g as h sc oht expedient, in action, nde e t ei s e er pr e swho principle the g re a te s t eshueeteot means h m f al b st th a tt ohb eel question.•ra ne balf franchise, da t cb elsml second view el h n div d kee s re o r o n : ho n ieiresr other political politicalnt ol n o t ing 'very much Yhate t aht: can be ob tained)—expediency, good government, the pre• serration of order in the country, to keep the just balance of classes, and to prevent any predominance or tyranny of one class over another. This . prin . ciple, we have been told is not one of the British c onst i tut i on, and I will, therefore, with the permission of th t e e he o 7 u t s h e, o re f li fer to a few words of the the fiprresatmstbalteutoe,f tashefasrtaas allusion n is t is o tultea'm aware, that contains any declara tion with regard to electoral rights , a e n n . d ry ha V s l a . the body from which the knights of the ' that act it was determined that ‘h` neobsnelurtane)owshera Look - At the e l l elected. h ave a v c ßl e possessed of a f.ve for a knight of the shire unless hold amounting in value to 40s. annuaillys. principle here laid down. In the first place it recites gh at .g too great a number of people have been involved i n ttLe r election. That is the danger—the too gr ea t s i ze of el ectoral of districts, so as to make them unwieldly. In the next place, it, contemplates the fact that a class may be swamp e d by anc 4 .., ther class of less importance and of less weight in the country and, in the third place, it establishes that a voter ought to possess a certain qualification —a principle embodied in the doctrine that the franchise ought not necessarily to bo given to any man not qualified for it, or to any man unfit for it. ct ( b: H uaets e fis a wt r sn , ehe h oos hear.) a lgod r ) bt f t eh S s oeao personlot o h o dawteeatdhl on wtn v oiw o ts t e hhwot i sahmmen swamp another . q t ulisu t o eos b e refe r r e d merely to proposed t t h io e n r . t h ( a t H t e e n ce n o r n :s h i e e n r , g tr i l t . e; The same authority lays down this second ground, that ho w ever we may differas to the quantum of the franchise, we havo a common grounder argument, and if that be so it may not be impossible to arrive at some sort of compromise. As to the advocates of the first principle there is no common ground of reasoning, and no man who holds the theory that everything in politics must be referred to the safety andgood government of the state, can agree with the Under Secre tary of State (Mr. Layard) that it is better to be governed less effectually by a large representative body than more efficiently by a small representative body. (Cheers from the Opposition.) Which of these principles does the bill go upon ? To ascertain this you must ask what the bill will do ? What will be the number of persons enfranchised under this bill? If we know that, then we know the manner in which these numbers will be distributed ; we then have data up to which we can argue as to what her Majesty's Government intend us to understand by it. But lam met hero by the glee difficulty occasioned by the' Government —(hear, hear)— t a o nd . therefor e it is impossible fbr me to guide the vote I have eit u h s e i r n a fo cc rin er a d t i i n o g n to the number of persons to be en franchised, or to the man ,h n ne e n r aG in otov w ed hich they will be distri elusion without it. When this bill b giv from e rn ire ni ct en u distri buted. (Rear, hear. ) T was brought chooses rtoou cgohm t come to nttoo, it atwith holdwo na s intended to be merely a franchais and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, acting upon I never heard, in order to assist our strange deli zinciple of which ratio to nz o la t i b d e I be fore us statistics of what might be expec ted suit of the change. That was satisfactory. But the prem .'' , and certain members of this house, bore down upon the Government, and they began to slide. First of all, the Chancellor of the Exchequer declined to lay on the table a bill for the redistribution of seats ; but ultimately h e sa i d he would lay such a bill upon the table ; and then, advane irg another step, growing bolder the further he went, ho l s a a i i d d d h o e w w n o would d f o proceed , the t w h i a t t h w he when bill upon the yha t d h l e a i t d a b ,and l e before the house the two parts of the bill, they would be prepared to stand or fall by it. (Hear.) Well, then, thewlaole question becomes changed. When the Government made up their minds to bring in a Redistribution of Seats Bill the obvious course would have been to withdraw the Franchise Bill and bring in the additional measure, so that the two might be considered together. (Hear, hear.) Plain, downright common sense could see no other course. Self-love and pride, and a number of other things, caused the Govern ment to desire to appear to concede as little as possible. So the challenge they made was one by which they deter mined to put the Administration in jeopardy because of the bill. I never heard or read of any conduct on the part of the Government so utterly irrational and unintelligible. (Cheers from the Opposition.) Until we know the distribution of seats we do not know the number of persons to be brought into the constituency. If you take the borough seats, there is one which many people would prefer to take rather than any other. (Laughter.) And sup mdiedmtbehart f r yf p ro o on s m e wy i to o tu u ol dwa not e oroetn merely s t o t it t u r e a n n cs e e , rs transferring athe nrLgah nt co sf rhe politic tr e uni a fi l nyg power au one body of men to another, but you would be enfranchis ing a great number of men of the class of 47 householders who up to this time have never enjoyed political existence of any such kind. Before we make such a change we ought to know the number of persons to be enfranchised and the proposed distribution of seats. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member for Birmingham says that you might establish universal suffrage, and yet that you might continue to neu tralise its effect so as to make the representation less popular than it was before. We are ignorant at present of what is proposed to be the second part of the Government measure, and, therefore, we do not know in the least what the effect of the whole change is likely to be. It is quite right that in a matter of great Imperial policy, on which it is desirable that certain information should be kept secret, the Govern ment should call upon their supporters, and even upon the Opposition, to trust them. But in this case important infor mation is kept back apparently from mere wantonness. (Cheers.) It seems as though it were a trial of power, in order to see whether the Government can make the House of Commons pass under the yoke or not. It seems to be their desire to see whether they can exhibit us to the country as persons content to be treated with this degree of indignity (hear, hear). We have been subjected to the indignity of having a great part of the provisions ckf the bill concealed from us until we have given a vote upon the subject. (Hear.) Look at the language that was used by the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he spoke at Liverpool. He said he knew the people with whom he had to deal. Was that the sort of language that ought to have been used ? It seemed to indicate that the House of Commons was better known than trusted. (Cheers, and laughter.) Then let me refer to the language of my right hon. friend the President of the Board of Trade, who avowed that the Government wanted to bring in the mea sure in such a way that the House of Commons should be compelled to pass it. Was that respectful to the House of Commons ? If you were dealing with a horse, and were trying to discover whether it was a roarer or not—(great laughter)—l could understand your getting in into one cor ner of the stable and givingit a sharppunch to see whether it would grunt. (Renewed laughter.) But the Commons of England are not exactly the class of people to be treated in this manner. (Hear, hear.) Then, again, look at the lan guage of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Goschen), who observed, " Some people say that we have ditided the bill into two parts, but we thought we could not carry the whole ; but we thought we could carry it in two halves, and therefore have acted as we have done." There fore, on the one part there is an attempt to force us, andon the other there is a desire to take us in. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) It is possible that the two parts of this bill, pre sented separately, may amount to more than would have been obtained if they had been presented in the first in stance as a whole. It has also been said by Hallam that one of the great advantages of having the leading mem bers of the Government in this house is that they owe a, double allegiance—one, as leading members of the Govern ment to this house, and the other to the Crown ; and that, while not wanting in duty to the one, they will not be wanting in respect to the other. Mr. Hallam was a v-ery good historian, but he was not a good prophet. (Hear.) if he had lived to this time he might have seen that, while allegiance might be shown to the Crown, there might also exist the desire to humiliate and degrade this house in tits eyes of the country. (Loud cheers.) I might here quote, with slight alteration, an old epigram— " Whatever the pain may coat, It is time we should say each adieu, For your confidence in us is lost, And we have not sufficient in you." (Loud laughter.) That is a remarkable position, and very few men contrive to get into it twice in their lives. But the Chancellor of the Exchequer has enjoyedthat happines s. When the right hon. gentleman went out as Lord High Commissioner Extraordinary to the lonian Islands, under proposed a reform the Government of Lord D erb y , be to the Chambers of the lonian Islands, and one p ar t of that reform was that the posvers of the Lord High Commis sioner ,ommis.. sioner should be defined byanact of the as sem b ly, and they we r e very ewcePing. be and exceptions, arbitrary, but the r i g h t hon. gent l eman said the re must and that • t i on m ust be t hat all the powers that her MaJ' except she might do by esty might choose to e order • in council. (Laughter.) Then, as was urged b y my mem b e r for K noble friend the King Lynn (Lo r d S t adm it that we ought to have e Sta nley), the Government xtr 10 11/4 be fore we gio .1. a information furnished rho erym, T'ittee' and th'y prnrlsse t-_, produce it immediately if the bill be read a second time, corner." It is a task give it us until they "get us into a Worthy of the subtle genius of the Chancellor of th e is so e Exchequer to show us that this informa tionstran^-ed from the principle of the bill that it is considered by us on the question of the second readi ng o f t h e bill But if this knowledge .d is neces sarily intertwined with the proper at this st age, w h y i s i t not communicatedco consideration o e beforethe billwe go into committee ? (Hear, hear.) We are told rumours are abroad, and p er haps we must not be unwilling to be lieve them, though I think the Government have gone far enough in conceding what is to be done after the second reading, but I am told that we are to be offered one more concession, and that, if we will only con descend to give the Chancellor of the Exchequer a victory over us, when we get into committee the two bills shall advance pari yam . (hear, hear.) Would it show that you were properly treated? would it show that you were doing your duty to the Government and to your constituents, would it show that you were acting worthily of the dignity of this great assembly, and consistently with the relations between this house and the executive Govern ment—(hear)- to allow a proposition of this sort to be broachedat the last moment, when it would be too late to reply ?_(loud cheers) —and I beg has. =Pl4b,gs to bsery this before it ie too late, and if gm do I* they vr 4 il4