The Sun. — London, England, 1866-02-21 00:00:00

DIPERLII PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS.—(LAST EVENING.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. CATTLE PLAGUE BILL. The Royal Assent was given to-day to the above bill by Commission, the Commissioners being—the Lord Chan cellor, Lord Singsdown, and the Earl of Dalhousie. _ . PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a second time :—Ardri shalg and Loch Awe Railway; Brighton West Pier ; Cleve don and Portishead Railway; Contract Corporation ; Cork and Youghal Railway ; Eastern Bengal Railway Company; Grange and Cartmel District Gas and Water ; Harwich Harbour Estates and Lands Improvement Company ; Hat field Chase Warping and Improvement (Railway); Inter national Communication Between England and the Conti nent ; Magdalen Hospital ; Midland Counties and Shannon Junction Railway; Pneumatic Despatch Company ; Suther land Railway; Swansea Canal Transfer; Thames Iron works, &c., Company. THE CATTLE DISEASES BILL. Earl GRANVILLE, in reply to observations from cer tain noble lords, said that the course which the Govern ment had adopted in reference to this most important and absorbing subject was founded upon conclusive evidence. He trusted that the measure would be found to effect the object desired, and that as far as the action of the Ministry could extend that it would be found beneficial. (Hear.) THE PRINCESS HELENA. The LORD CHANCELLOR read the Royal Message from her Most Gracious Majesty, asking the consent of their lordships to the allowance to her Royal Highness the Princess Helena on her approaching marriage. PRINCE ALFRED. The LORD CHANCELLOR also read the Royal Hes nage relative to the proposed grant to his Royal Highness Prince Alfred on his attaining his majority, which was in conformity with the course usually adopted in regard to members of the Royal family. Both these propositions were ordered to be considered on Thursday next. ARTS BILL. This bill was read a second time. Some conversation took place in reference to the Cattle Plague. The house then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENING. The SPEALE' 11 took the chair at the usual hour. NEW MEMBERS. Sir T. LLOYD took the oaths and his seat for Cardi ganshire, Sir W. Hutt for Gateshead, Lord E. Clinton for Notts, and Lord John Brown. CATTLE DISEASES BILL. The SPEAKER, on the summons of the Usher of the Black Red, proceeded to the House of Peers to hear tho Royal assent given to this bill. LONDON, BUCKS, AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE JUNCTION RAILWAY. On the motion for the second reading of this bill, ~.... ......._. Mr. H. SEYMOUR moved, as an amendment, that the bill be read a second time that day six months. The scheme had been over and over again rejected by the house, and under these circumstances he hoped the house would support him in the attempt to frustrate the schem ing of a few engineers and solicitors. Sir W. RUSSELL hoped the house would not agree to the amendment. The scheme had never been before the house. He hoped the bill would be allowed to go before a committee in the usual course. Mr. NEWDEGATE opposed the bill. Mr. SCHROEDER supported the motion for the second reading of the bill. It was a line of railway that was much wanted, and he hoped the house would not allow the bill to be strangled by the powerful coalition that had been brought to bear against it. Mr. DODSON thought under the peculiar circumstances the bill ought to be allowed to go before a committee. The amendment was by leave withdrawn, and the bill was read a second time. UNDUE RETURNS. Petitions complaining of undue returns for Galway, Barnstaple, Beverley, Western Division of Norfolk, Lewes, Frome, Harwich, and Limerick, were presented by Mr. Foster. WATERWORKS BILL. Mr. FERRAND gave notice that he should on an early day ask theGovenament whether the clause which had been agreed to should be inserted in the waterworks bill for the protection of life and property had been carried into effect. UNIVERSITIES BENEFITS. Mr. EWART gave notice of his intention to ask leavo to introduce a bill to extend the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford to persons not residing in colleges or halls in those places. LAHORE BISHOPRIC. Mr. GILPIN asked the Under Secretary of State for India if it was the intention of the Government to re-intro duce the Lahore Bishopric Bill during the present session. Mr. STANSFELD said it was the intention of the Go vt3ruluent to do so. IRISH COLLEGES. Sir R. PEEL asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes were contemplated in the charter and con stitution of the Queen's University and Queen's Colleges in Ireland, and whether it was the intention of the Go vernment fully to inform the house before with measure involving a departure from tile-present system University Education in that country. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said no change was in contemplation in the charter of Queen's College; with respect to alterations in the Queen's Uni versity, they were such as had been explained in the last session of Parliament. The papers, charter, and corre spondence would be placed before Parliament without the least delay. Sir R. PEEL wished to know whether the alterations *would be made before Parliament had had an opportunity of expressing its opinion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the Government would advise the Crown to the best of their ability, leaving the house open to express its opinion upon the advice given. GREENWICH HOSPITAL. Mr. H. B. SHERIDAN asked the Secretary to the:Ad miralty whether a Comptroller of the Greenwich Hospital Estates had been appointed ; and, if so, by whom was such appointment made, and at what salary or mode of remu neration. If such an appointment had been made, he wished to know the name of the gentleman who had been appointed, and whether he was to be allowed to follow any business or profession ? Lord C. PAGET said a gentleman of the name of Leth bridge had been appointed Comptroller and Solicitor to Greenwich Hospital, at a salary of X5OO per annum for each office. There was no superannuation attached to the appointment. The hon. gentleman was to be *Mowed to follow his own profession during the time he held the appointment; THE IRISH MAILS. Sir P. HEYGATE asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the attention of the Government had been called to the alleged irregularities which had occurred during the past six months in the running of the night =ails from Dublin to Londonderry, and what measures had been taken to remedy the evil. Mr. CHILDERS said certain irregularities had been complained of, but new and more powerful engines had been since employed, and, with the exception of two de lays, occurred by accident, there had been no complaints. There was no power in the hands of the Treasury to im pose penalties for delay. THE NEW LAW COTJRTS. Mr. C. BENTINCK asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he would state the names of the gentle men appointed to serve on the committee for the selection of the architects who were to compete for the new Law Courts ; whether the number of architects was determined, and who was to have the final decision on the merits of the plans; and, whether he would lay upon the table the proceedings of the Royal Commission ? Mr. COWPER said commissions embracing nearly all the • Pidges and a member from each branch of the legal profession considered the question, and a committee 0 t appoint e d . compete for the plan. the architects who were to Justice of plan. It consisted of the Lord Chief of the England,Exchequer, the Attorney-General, the Chancellor the hon. member l o t r ba First Commissioner of Works, and with the matter were Perthshire. The papers connected as e very voluminous, but they would be produced as soontlsir.l)ossible. The names of the architects were Mr. Scot Hardwick.'ar Street, Mr. W. Hows, Mr. Wyatt, and Mr. CONSUMPTION aOF skedM EAT AND CORN. Mr. S. NORTHCOTE t the Pr es id ent of the Board o f Trade what amount of information the G overnment cou ld give respecting the consumption of food, especially no corn and GIB at various perioON said there ds.wiPonrohe p r esent century. Mr. M. Greoliable statistics w hich at present co uld g ive the informatio n verom SOUTH KENSINGTON. rePiirel Mr. CAVEND ISH BENTINCK asked th e o Chanc e ll or of the Exchequer what course her Majesty's G eIIt intended to pursue relative to the vacant ground at South Kensington and the erection of a building there ; and, whether any bill was to be introduced this session for the removal of any of the collections now forming part of the British Museum. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the Government intended to take two votes with respect to this subject, but until those votes had been decided he could not say when the bill would be brought in. PROCLAMATIONS IN IRELAND. Mr. S. B. MILLER asked the Attorney G e neral for Ire land why the county and city of Armagh had been pro claimed under the Peace Preservation Act without the inland portion of the county of Louth, which adjoins the county of Armagh to a large extent, being at the same time proclaimed ; and whether there was any intention of proclaiming the county of Louth or the portion of it above referred to. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND said the course thought best had been pursued in Ireland. There was no cause at present to proclaim the county of Louth. CARRIAGE OF TROOP HORSES. Mr. W. GORE asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the horses of the Carabineers were moved on their route to Ireland in cattle trucks ; and, if so, whe ther any measures were previously taken to disinfect those trucks from the seeds of the cattle plague ? Dir. COWPER said the directors of the London and North-Western had undertaken that the horses should be moved in horse-boxes, and the greatest care was to be exercised with respect to the prevention of infection. PROVISION FOR PRINCE ALFRED AND PRINCESS HELENA. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQ ugli brought up a message from her Majesty, asking that provision might be mado for the Princess Helena on the occasion of her marriage, and Prince Alfred on the occasion of his coming of age. The Royal Message is to be taken into consideration on Thursday next. STATUE TO LORD PALMERSTON. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said on Thursday next that he should move an humble address to her Majesty, praying her Majesty to give directions that a statue to the late Lord Palmerston be erected in Westminster Abbey, and that that house make good the charges thereof. This motion: was also ordered to be taken into consi deration on Th urs d a y nex t. _ JAMAICA. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the order for consideration on Thursday would be the bill for the government of Jamaica. THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL. Mr. D. GRIFFITH obtained leave to bring in a bill to enable the Postmaster-General to sit in the House of Com mons. ARTIZANS' AND LABOURERS' DWELLINGS. Mr. M. TORRENS obtained leave to bring in a bill to provide better dwellings for artizans and labourers. THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE. Mr. CLAY rose to move for leave to bring in a bill to extend the elective franchise in cities and boroughs in England and Wales by creating an educational franchise. This qualification, he explained, was that any man of full age should have the right of submitting himself to be examined before the Civil Service Commissioners, and, upon such examination, should receive a certificate, which he would deliver to the town clerk, or in non-incorporated boroughs to the officers charged with analogous functions, and that thereupon he should be placed en the register of voters for such borough. A payment of one shilling would have to be made by him upon presenting himself to the cominissioners as a candidate, and a further fee of one shilling and sixpence upon obtaining his certificate. The subjects upon which ho would be examined and certifi cated would be reading, writing, spelling, and the four rules of arithmetic. Mr. GREGORY seconded the proposition, and stated that he believed in the bill as a good one. It was high time that some of the elite of the working classes at pre sent without a vote were introduced to the franchise. The measure, he considered, was calculated to elevate, not to debase, the constituencies, and for that reason it would re ceive his cordial support. Lord ELCHO said he did not like to enter into the general question of reform, as he knew that hon. gentle men were desirous of resuming the discussion on the cattle plague. He wished to say a few words with refe rence to the hon. member for Hull. Accustomed as they were to hear upon the subject of reform denunciatory eloquence from the platform of Birmingham, Manchester, and Rochdale, he thought it was refreshing to find an advanced Liberal like the hon. member endeavouring to do something better towards solving the question of re form than palming off upon them a £6 bill as a panacea for all the political ills of the country. In bringing for ward his measure the hon. member was only following in the wake of the hon. member for Westminster, Mr. Hare, and others. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member, in addi tion to the educational test, would give every man a status in proportion to his intellect and acquirements. Still ho must say the measure of the hon. member was both novel and pedantic in some respects, and these were qualities that did not tend to insure its success. He was afraid the bill would not be of the permanent character which the hon. member anticipated, for it might happen that after a time some hon. members would move to have the standard of examination lowered. It would also admit a clever man without character, and he had no doubt CounsellorKelly or Caseley would pass the proposed examination. Another objection ho entertained to the measure was that it would not be final. He thought there might be future members of that house, Viscount Amberley perhaps, who, after walking two hours through Leeds, might urge that the working classes were so wise that they should have a vote without examination. What the Reform Bill of 0115 Go vernment was to be no man could tell. Before the meeting of Parliament they were told it was to be a single barrelled bill ; now there was a rumour that tho measure would consist of two barrels ; but they were all agreed that it would bo loaded with No. 6. No hon. member having risen, the Speaker was about to put the question, when Mr. HORSMAN said he thought it was due to the house that they should have some expression of opinion from the Government on the proposal of the hon. member for Hull. He could not understand why the Government :should have such extraordinary reluctance upon the bill, after having declared Reform to be the absorbing, overwhelming, supreme question of the day. (Opposition cheers.) He could imagine ono excuse for the reluctance of the Government to speak upon the question. There must be some degree of soreness at the bottom of the reluctance. The hon. member must be an object of envy to the Government. (Laughter.) The hon. member for Hull, like the Government, pledged himself to introduce a bill at the earliest period of the ses sion ; and, unlike the Government, he kept his pledge. The hon. member, like the Government, promised to extend the franchise ; but, unlike the Government, he offered them something better than Lord Russell, who would only give them a House of Commons elected by the mob. (Cheers from the Opposition.) If the Chancellor of the Exchequer wore unwilling to pass an opinion upon the bill, he was surprised that those large and comprehensive reformers below the gangway, who were all their lives roaring for intelligence, did not offer some opinion on the bill of the hon. member which rested the franchise upon intelligence. (Cheers and laughter.) They were busy enough during the recess, but the Queen's Speech mesmerised all the large and comprehensive reformers. The hon. member for Bir mingham had been completely stunned by it. (A. laugh.) On coming down to the house the day of the Queen's Speech, he met an advanced reformer, and asked him how they had been treated in it. " Very badly," he replied; " they have shunted us into a siding ; but we won't stand it, as you will see this evening. Come down at 5 o'clock, and you will see the hon. member for Birmingham explode." (Great laughter.) He went down to see the hon. member explode, but he did not explode. (Renewed laughte . r.) When the right hon. gentleman the m ember for Droitwich alluded to the remarks of the hon. member the other even ing, he was ready enough to explode on Jamaica; he was also great upon the cattle plague, and went off half-cock upon Ireland. (Roars of laughter.) But o n the sub j ect for which the whole nation was clamouring at the doors of Parliament, the temperament of the hon. member was per fectly frigid. They had been told what .great things the late election had done, of the new blood it had introduced, and they were pointed to Westminster, Brighton, and Lambeth. The reputation of these gentlemen had pre ceded them to the house, where they were welcomed with pride and with pleasure. The house believed what it was told, that the zeal and sincerity of those gentle men were even greater than had been represented. The house had waited and watched for them to redeem the cha racter of the great reform party. They had waited, but with what result ? He could well imagine these gentlemen assembling around the hon. member for Birmingham at the Reform Club, and one of them asking him what he was doing about reform. " Oh," says the hon. member for Bir mingham, drawing himself up, " I am waiting for statis tics." (Laughter.) Then he turns to the hon. member for Westminster, with " What are you doing on reform ?" "Oh," he says, "I am helping the member for Birming ham." (Laughter.) Then he goes to the member for Brigh ton, and asks, " What are you doing about reform ?" and "I am helping the member for Westminster" would be the reply. Turning to the member for Lambeth, he would say, "And you are probably helping your hon. friends ?" The member for Lambeth replies, "Probably I am." Then he meets a candid reformer, and, putting the same question to the senior member for Brighton, is told that they were helping the member for Birmingham to smother reform under a mass of imaginary statistics. Now, they did not expect on a qualification having intelligence for its basis any very great assistance from those who went with the hon. member for Birmingham. They who were with the hon. member went a great deal further, and every one knew that intelligence was fatal to agitation—(hear)—but they did expect from members who had gained high position and influence in that house, that they would follow reform with a purer spirit of morality than had distinguished the question for the last few years, because when men of that kind were found to have degraded the Parliament they were intended to adorn, it was nothing short of a national calamity. (Cheers.) The CIIANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER —My right hon. friend who has just sat down expressed his hope that h should h ear a few wards from the Treasury bench. I h ope he will b e contented with a very few, and I assure tom also that h e w i ll derive some benefit from them. The principal d u t y ineinix;r air Hull. I have to perform is to render . a just tribute great fore to the spe ec h wo charac terised by g have rh heard this evening from the hon. great ingenuity in the n h and That speech, as I thought, was charac above all, by the evidentability . in statement, and by Candling of a difficult subject, but, sense of the serious nature On all these points lefthe earnestness and sincerity and a thankfo r h y a t thh hon, position ho was in. ieb friend related a f t o e r d the to (Hear.) proposal he has expressions he used, especially w a h n oc bene volently has a o s f and which fixed the moral character of made in his own words. My right hon e just sat down leads me a little beyond the, performances this evening, by the contrast which ho has been m pleased to imagine between the position of m hon. friend the member for Hull, who has fulfilled all his pledges, pledges, and that of her Majesty's Government, who he seems to think have already, before they have spoken one word, contrived to break the whole of them. I cannot admit that we' feel any of that mortification he supposes h w o e ne s s h t o y ul a d nd ffsu in e th r g y ty de o r f in the co h nt o e n. m p m la em tin be g r t f h o e r tu l m l. phazt contemplate of a good manemplatethatwintandly with the satisfactioninspires—lawuhgihcthh inspires—(laughter)—but on dit is entirely unalloyed by any reproaches of conscience as to what wa have yet done, or not done, on the subject of reform. In the speech of her Majesty it 'was stated that the Government were engaged in gathering information on this subject. Our responsibility with respect to this part of the question may be very well tested by two con siderations : the first is, the time at which the Cabinet was formed, and the time we had to proceed with the inquiry after the death of Lord Palmerston ; and the second, the important question whether, after the careful debates that took place in 1860, it was or was not material or important, with a view to the satisfactory handling of the subject, that an effort should be made to place Parliament and the country in possession of the best and most accurate information which we could command. (Hear, hoar.) We came to the conclusion that such information was desirable. If my right hon. friend thinks fit to challenge our judgment, and to say this is a proceeding intended only for evasion or de lay, it is competent for him to do so. But at any rate, whether these views were just or not, our duty has been a perfectly simple one. We have prosecuted the business of these inquiries and the management and manipulation of a number of particulars with respect to the situation of coun ties and boroughs. If it is to be considered worthy of this house by such attempts at accuracy and precision as the subject matter will admit of, to gain information, that is a thing not to be attained or accomplished without lapse of time ; not one moment has been lost, and the announce ment of the time when it will be our duty to make a pro posal to this house must dep end, and will depend, entirely on the day when we shall be able to place the house in possession of this information. Very few days I hope will elapse before I shall be able to state when that day will come. (Hear, hear.) " My bosom's lord sits lightly on his throne." I have no sins to answer for, nor I think have my col leagues, as far as the delay hitherto charged upon us is concerned. As respects the modest invitation, and as re gards the more elaborate invitation for some expression of opinion from me on the part of the Government with re spect to the merits of the proposal, I flatter myself that on that subject neither the respect which I bear to the gen tlemen nor the admiration I have of their abilities, nor any other motive, shall succeed in extracting from me the smallest particle of information. (Much laughter.) Leave was then given to bring in the bill. Mr. BOUVERIE (in committee of the whole house) obtained leave to bring in a bill to repeal certain portions of the Act of Uniformity, and it was afterwards read a first time. Sir J. PAKINGT ON nominated the select committee on education. The house then went into committee on the Cattle Plague Bill, and the discussion of the clauses occupied nearly the whole of the remainder of the sitting. Several bills were advanced a stage, and the house ad journed. Railway and other Companies. MIDLAND. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at Derby, Mr. W. E. Hut - binson in the chair. The report, an abstract of which has ap peared in The Sun, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,. said that in it the satisfaction of the direc tors was expressed at the increased traffic ; but, owing to exceptional circumstances, there had been some decrease in the receipts for conveying cattle and minerals. In reference to the former, if it so happened that the plague resulted in the establish ment of large dead meat markets, he believed it would be better for the community ; certainly they would prefer carrying dead meat to live cattle. Upon the mineral traffic the decrease had been £6,000 as compared with 1864, but circumstances in connexion with the colliers' strike in South Staf fordshire had caused an exceptional increase in that year. In order to show the progress which had been made in their mineral traffic, he might mention that in the year 1863 their receipts for mineral traffic amounted to £263,000 ; in 1865 the amount was £312,000, and the increase in the coasting and mer chandise department had also been very satisfac tory—it having been £58,000. This increased traffic had led to an increased expenditure. Their accounts showed, unfortunately, an excess of £11,390 in compensation for accidents as compared with 1864. The state of the money-market during the last half-year had not been favourable, but they had renewed their loans on terms quite as satis factory as they could have expected; the average had been rather less than 4i per cent., which was as good or perhaps better than any other company. A summary of the result of their working in the last half-year showed an excess (net) in disposable ba lance of £2,500, and but for the occurrence at Col ney-hatch their position would have been highly satisfactory. The expenditure on capital account during the half-year showed an increase of £973,000 —this upon lines yet unproductive of revenue ; their expenditure on the old lines had been £120,000 ; much of this had been laid out in the purchase of land close to large towns in order to provide for the proper accommodation of the traffic, and there had been an expenditure of £20,000 in the erection of a goods station at Bristol. They had to pay a dividend in 1864 on a capital of £14,250,000 ; in 1865 they had to pay on a capital of £16,607,000 an increase of nearly two millions and a half ; not withstanding this, they had been able to declare a dividend at the rate of 7 per cent., and to carry for ward £12,000. He hoped that was as satisfactory to the shareholders as it was to the directors. Their prospects were also encouraging ; in the seven weeks of the current half-year their receipts had increased £24,600. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report. Mr. PRICE, M.P., seconded the motion. Mr. GARNETT, and several other shareholders, addressed the meeting, chiefly in opposition to pro ceeding with the Settle and Carlisle Railway. A. resolution with the view to stop progress in it was moved, but ultimately the report was adopted, and the various dividends were declared as recom mended. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1866. NORTH-EASTERN. Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of this com pany was held at York ; Mr. H. S. Thompson pre sided. The "seal was affixed to the register of 17,000 shareholders, and the report, an abstract of which has appeared in The Sign, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN said that the increase of gross re ceipts in the past half-year was £102,001, and the increase of net profits £60,219. He thought that this was a very satisfactory result, considering that the price of almost everything they had to pur chase, as well as wages, had increased. The net increase had been fairly and honestly earned. As to the school fund for the education of the children of the workmen employed by the company at the Tyne Dock, what the directors contemplated was, that if the shareholders put into their hands sufficient funds, they would build one or more school-houses there. When the schools were built, the Government allowance and the school pence would, no doubt, be sufficient to keep the school in an efficient state ; but he thought it was a public duty that they who, for the purposes of pro fit, drew together many hundreds of workmen to a place where there was no accommodation for them to have a place where their children might be educated. (Applause.) About £6OO had been received to wards the proposed object, but that would not be sufficient to build the schools. With regard to the traffic, the year 1865 had been a year of very brisk trade in their district, and the result had been that the receipts in 1865 above those of 1864 amounted to £174,426 of gross revenue, the receipts of 1864 being £353,107 above those of 1863. This was a progressive increase, and showed that the measures they had adopted had not been been barren of re sults. The season having been remarkably fine and dry they had made considerable progress with the works, and they had been enabled to open the Mar ket Weighton and Beverley line, the Utley branch, the Whitby deviation, and the Castleton Grosmont branch, which had added about 40 miles to the length of railway. Considerable progress had also been made with other works which have not yet been completed, but the most remarkable feature of the year 1865 was the very successful result of their Par liamentary Session. This company had never ap plied for a new line or an amalgamation which they had not succeeded in obtaining, and no attempt to invade their district had ever succeeded. (Ap plause.) When that extended over 10 or 11 years, they might fairly ask what was the cause of that e s c u o b n s t t in a u n e ti d al s r u e c a c s e o ss. ns H l e n t t h h o e u fi g rs ht t h p e la c c o e u , l t d he gi y give d t h u r n e deniably got a good fighting staff ; the second cause was, that they had never employed their fighting powers in a bad cause, but strictly in self-defence ; and the third cause was that the directors had al ways framed their policy on the assumption that they should hold possession of their district so long, and so long only, as the majority of thinking men in that district believed that they were as well served by this company as they would be if they had other companies in the district. (Applause.) He alluded to the successful policy of the company in reducing the fares, increasing the accommoda tion to the public, and laying out capital in develop ing the district, and stated, if they retained posses sion of the district for a few years longer, this would be one of the cheapest and best served districts in the country, so far as railway accommodation went. (Applause.) Mr. LEEMAN, M.P., seconded the motion for the adoption of the report, which, after some discus sion, was agreed to. Dividends were then declared on the ordinary stock and shares in the Berwick at the rate of 6i per cent. per annum, on York ordinary stock at the rate of 6i per cent. per annum, on Leeds ordinary stock at the rate of 4k per cent. per annum, on the Thirsk and Malton stock at the rate of 2 per cent. per annum, on the ordinary stock of the Carlisle at 8i per cent. per annum, and on the Darlington ordinary stock at 91 per cent. per annum. The meeting also authorised the exercise of the borrowing powers sanctioned in the Amalgamation Act, 1865. Messrs. Leeman (M.P.), Hodgson, Seymour, Priestman, and Bell were re-elected directors, and Mr. Wylie auditor. A vote of thanks to the chair man concluded the proceedings. LONDON AND BLAOKWALL. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the London Tavern ; Mr. Daniell in the chair. The report, which has already appeared, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the re port, said it would have been very gratifying to the directors if they could have given them the .whole of the accounts to December last as usual, but it was not possible in so large an undertaking as theirs, having warehouses as well as railways, and accounts, to settle finally with other companies. They had to bring everything to a final adjustment up to the 31st of December, before they could make out a full settlement, to settle claims, and to wind up the affairs of the company to that date. The directors thought it better to give the share holders an interim dividend at once than to defer it until the final settlement, which might occupy two or three months longer. They reserved a certain sum in hand to meet any claims against the com pany up to the 31st of December last on revenue account. The company ceased working the line at the end of that day, and the Great Eastern Com pany commenced working it on the morning of the Ist of January under the lease. They proposed for the present to declare a dividend at the rate of 2 per cent. per annum, and so soon as all claims were settled and debts collected to divide the balance. There was no doubt that the receipts for the last half-year would compare favourably with those of the corresponding half of the preceding year. Mr. F. MACNAGHTEN seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. Mr. JEGGINS thought the shareholders had a right to have a statement of the receipts and expenditure on traffic account. They were told they would have to pay £5,000 more, or three months,' interest on debentures to clear that account up to the end of December, instead of as formerly to the end of September, towards which £2,900 had been carried over in August last. He thought at least they should have had a rough estimate of how they stood and what dividend they were likely to have. The CHAIRMAN said he considered they had no debts. It was true there were some disputed claims, and they did not believe they owed anything in respect of them. He did not think it advisable or discreet to go into those things now as they were mere 'natters of account, and would be dealt with as soon as possible. The report was then adopted, the usual prefer ence dividends were declared, and also an interim dividend on the ordinary stock at the rate of 2 per cent. per annum. Mr. Ratcliffe, the retiring audi tor, was re-elected ; and the proceedings concluded with a special vote of thanks to the chairman and directors for their able and successful management of the company's affairs during many years, having brought it from a dividendless line to one of 41. per cent. in perpetuity. STAINES, WOKINGHAM, AND WOKING. The report of the directors states that the receipts on capital account during the last half -year amounted to £645, being the produce of the sale of the residue of the company's surplus land. During the past year debentures for £1,825 bearing 4 per cent. interest had fallen due, of which £1,250 had been renewed at the same rate, and £575 at q per cent. The total increase in passenger and goods traffic during the past half-year amounted to £739, as compared with the same half of 1864. The Chertsey and Virginia Water Railway would be opened shortly, from which beneficial results were anticipated. The line from Blackwater to Sunningdale was likewise under con struction, which the directors thought, when com pleted, must add to the traffic of the line. The sum to the credit of profit and loss was £3,208, out of which the directors recommended a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the preference shares, less income tax, and 3s. per share, or 1 per cent. per annum, on the ordinary shares, also less income tax, leaving £9B to be carried forward. The capital account showed that £393,587 had been expended, leaving a balance of £1,493. The traffic receipts for the half-year ending the 31st of Decem ber amounted to £10,709, and the expenditure to £5,476, leaving a balance of £5,233. LLANBERIS AND CARNARVON. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, Victoria-street, Westmin ster ; Mr. Turner in the chair. The report stated that since September last consi derable progress had been made with the works on the line. Negotiations with the London and North Western Railway Company for the working of the company's lines had been brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The agreement not being in a suffi ciently advanced state, the directors proposed to adjourn the meeting to the 10th of April next. The London and North Western Railway Company were to subscribe one-half the cost of the connecting line at Carnarvon, and to work the railway for 50 per cent. of the gross receipts. The CIIAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said the works on the line were going on very satisfactory. Mr. WILSON seconded the motion, which was car ried unanimously. The meeting was then made special, and the direc tors were guthorised to borrow on mortgage or de benture bonds any sum or sums not exceeding in the whole the amount authorised. The meeting was adjourned to the 10th April next. RHYMNEY. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the Gray's-inn Coffeehouse, Holborn —Mr. Boyle in the chair. The report, an abstract of which has appeared in The Sun, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN said the dividend which last year had undergone a temporary depression was again at its old figure. The result was mainly owing to the great success which had attended the opening of the branch lines, the traffic on which had been very productive, with every prospective of an increase. Mr.ROY seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A dividend at the rate of 3 per cent. per annum was then declared, and Messrs. Gilliott and Boyle, the retiring directors, were re-elected. The meeting was then made special, and an agree ment between the company and the trustees of the Marquis of Bute wets unanimously adopted, and the proceedings terminated. DUBLIN, WICKLOW, AND WEXFORD. At the half-yearly meeting of this company, held in Dublin on Monday, the report, an abstract of which has appeared in The Sun, was read by the se cretary, Mr. Maunsell and adopted. The chair man, Mr. W. Darga,n, stated that the accounts were the most satisfactory that had ever been presented to a meeting of the, shareholders. Resolutions de claring the usual dividends on the preference shares and stock were passed unanimously, the outgoing officers were re-elected, and, on the motion of the Hon. F. Ponsonby, a vote of thanks to the chair man and directors concluded the proceedings. DUNABITRG AND WITEPSE. The i nalf-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the London Tavern; Mr. T. A. Mit chell, M.P., in the chair. The report, an abstract of which has appeared in The Sun, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the shareholders on the ex tremely rapid and successful progress of the works. The first section, from Dunaburg to Polotsk would be opened for traffic on the 31st of May ; it was practically ready for opening last autumn, but it Was thought better to wait till the winter was over and open it in May. He had no doubt that the whole line to Witepsk would be open for traffic in the autumn of this year, being fully 12 months earlier than specified in the contract of Messrs. Peto and Betts, and by which a large sum would be saved to the company in the shape of interest on capital during construction, making the total cost of the line so much less. As to the traffic, the Riga and Dunaburg railway, of which their line would form a continuation from Dunaburg, had been gra dually and steadily increasing its traffic during the last four years, and he believed it had in creased so much that the difference between receipts and expenses would, in the course of a short time, relieve the Government from payments in respect of the guarantee. Their line, as he had stated, would form a continuation of that line, passing through one of the richest districts in Russia. The prospects of traffic were very favourable, the places it would serve being purely commercial, having nothing to do with military operations. Mr. J. Smarr seconded the motion for the adoption of the report, which was agreed to unanimously. The retiring directors—Mr. W. Miller, M.P., and Mr. J. Smith were re-elected ; and also Mr. J. E. Coleman and Mr. A. Sim, the retiring auditors. Sir M. PETO said that since he had been in the City he was asked by more than one person in refer ence to a statement which appeared that morning in a very influential journal, to the effect that the pre ference shares of the Dunaburg and Witepsk were not likely to be received favourably. His answer had been, that instead of the company having pre ference shares to dispose of, they had more capital than was necessary to complete the undertaking ; and moreover, as the chairman had stated, the con tractors would complete and open the line 12 months before the time appointed. It passed through one of the richest parts of the country for produce, hav ing a large population, and great resources. He had no doubt that in a short time the traffic would render it so remunerative as not to require the as asistance of the guarantee of the Imperial Govern ment. The CHAIRMAN said they had not issued any pre ference shares at all, and their prospects were as favourable as possible. They would soon be called together to consider an arrangement for an exten sion of their line from Witepsk into the heart of central Russia to Orel. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors. CAMBRIAN. The half-yearly meeting of this company, ap pointed to be held at the offices, Westminster-cham bers, yesterday, was held pro fornza only, and ad journed until Tuesday, the 6th March. DUTCH RHENISH. The receipts for the fortnight ending January 31 amounted to £10,873, and for the corresponding period of last year to £10,526, showing an increase of £347. The receipts since the Ist of May, 1865, including the above, amounted to £234,340, show ing an increase, as compared with the correspond ing period of the preceding year, of £26,557. The working expenses for the fortnight amounted to £4,656, or 42.81 per cent., and for the correspond ing period of last year to £4,323, or 40.95 per cent., showing an increase of 1333. The working ex penses from the Ist of May, 1865, to the 31st of January last, amounted to £88,613, or 37.81 per cent., and for the corresponding period of the pre ceding year to 37.28 per cent. of the receipts. RAILWAY BILLS. Yesterday, before Mr. Smith, the following rail way bills complied with the standing orders : Wye Valley and the City and London-bridge. in the case of the Tavistock and Gunnislake and the South Wiltshire Junction the standing orders were not complied with. The consideration of the Long harne bill was postponed until the 22d inst. There was no appearance for the Midland and South Wales Junction. The Ryde-pier Tramways was the only railway bill heard before Mr. Frere, and the standing orders were not complied with. SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH. Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of this com pany was held at the London Tavern—Mr. H. Moor in the chair. The report of the directors stated that there had been an increase in the receipts compared with the corresponding period of last year of £2,390, and that after charging the revenue with £5,599 for re pairs to cables there remained a surplus which enabled them to recommend a dividend for the half-year at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum. The usual 10 per cent. of the gross receipts had been added to the reserve fund, which now amounted to £17,948. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said the accounts were very satisfactory, and a reduction having been made in the foreign tariff a further increase of profits ought be expected. The Board suggested to the proprietors the expe diency for having a fixed sum allowed for the repair of cables, and thought that £3,000 every half-year might be sufficient, £5,300 a year having been the average amount for the last six years. The motion that the report be adopted, and a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, pay able on March 1, was carried unanimously. It was agreed that £3,000 per half. year should be set aside for the repair of cables, and the proceedings terminated. MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH. The annual meeting was held at Liverpool yes terday, Mr. W. Langton presiding. The report, which was taken as read, stated that the reserve fund had been increased to £10,653, and a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum was recommended. The company was now in possession of 4 91 stations and 18,668 miles of wires. The chairman said that since the discontinuance of the uniform shilling rate charges had been raised and were now fairly remunerative. The business of the company was steadily increasing. The report was adopted, and the retiring directors were reappointed. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Consumption, and all nervous, bilious, stomach, and liver complaints, in every stage, are only ag gravated and accelerated by drugs of every description, but perfecay curable by Du Barry's health restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which had been considered hopeless ; such as indigestion (dyspepsia), cough, asthma, consumption, habitual constipation, diarr hoea, all gastric derangements, haemorrhoids, liver com plaints, flatulency, nervousness, biliousness' fevers, sore throats, diphtheria, catarrhs, colds, influenza, noises in the head and ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, pal pitation, heartburn, headache, debility, dropsy, cramps, spasms, nausea and sickness even in pregnancy or at sea, sinking fits, bronchitis, scrofula, tightness of the chest, pains in the pit of the stomach and between the shoulders, Sic. We quote a few.—Cure, No. 48,270. Mr. James Roberts, timber merchant, of Frira ley Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting* of blood, liver derangement, and partial deaf ness.—Cure, No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies.—Cure, No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decks, Lord-Lieu tenant of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No.49,B32 b'ifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, const patiea, flatulency, spasms, sickness, and vomiting—Maria Jolly.- Cure No. 54,816. The Rev. James I'. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, of indigestion and torpidity of the liver. which had resisted all medical treatment.— In tins, 11b, 2s 9d; 21b, 4s 61; 51b, Ils ; 121 b, 228; 241 b, I 0 s.—Barry Du Barry and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, London; also Phillips, tea dealers, 8, King William-street ; likewise at 61, Gracechurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 49, Bishopsgate street Within ; 63, 150, and 298, Oxford-street ; 330, Strand ; 54, Upper Baker-street ; 103, Tottenham-court-road ; 06, Upper-street, Islington, N.; Harvey, Notting-hill; Close Brothers, 85, High-street ; and Stubbs, Queen's-terrace, St. John's -wood, London; and all respectable grocers and che mists.—Beware of spurious imitations. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—The question which Mr. Buxton judi ciously abstained from putting on Monday night is one which must have occurred to every attentive reader of the Jamaica Papers. It is stated more than once in Mr. Eyre's earlier despatches after the Morant Bay massacre that its origin had been clearly traced to Gordon, and Colonel Hobbs, in one of his reports, declared that he had conclusive proof of this fact in his possession. No such proof, as far as we know, was produced before the court-martial, nor is any to be found in the published despatches of Mr. Eyre. Indeed we have no reason to suppose that any authorised minutes of the court-martial have yet reached the Colonial-office--an apparent omission which, until it be explained, cannot be re garded as otherwise than suspicious. On the other hand, we must bear in mind that, however strange it may appear, no one in Jamaica at first anticipated that for all the measures taken in putting down the insurrection a strict account would be required by this country. It is possible, therefore, that the ne cessity of sending the minute s or other documents to which he refers may not have occurred to Mr. Eyre until the receipt of Mr. Cardwell's despatch of Nov. 23, calling for explicit information as to the alleged connection of Gordon with the outbreak. That despatch was not received till the night of December 21, and was acknowledged by Governor Eyre on December 23-4. In his reply (being the last communication from the colony in Part 11. of the Jamaica Papers) Mr. Eyre encloses the letters which had just passed between himself and General O'Connor on the subject of Gordon's trial, and other transactions of the same date. It seems that no copy of the proceedings in Gordon's case had ever been furnished to the Governor, who returned the original to the general. The latter reported, on Dec. 24, that he had taken steps to procure the requisite particulars (without, however, specifying Gordon's case), but that it would be impossible to forward them in time for the mail closing December 24. Explanatorystatementswere, however, obtained from Sir Leopold M'Cli n t oc k an d C o l. Fyfe. Before the next mail left Jamaica Sir H. Storks had already arrived with instructions to " relieve Governor Eyre from the necessity of replying" to former des patches, and authority to inquire fully into all the questions raised by them. The third series of Jamaica Papers, which has just been pub lished, throws no fresh light on this matter, but it possesses some interest of its own, as contain ing the last despatches of Mr. Eyre and the first of Sir Henry Storks'. The new Governor reached Ja maica on Saturday, the 6th of January, and on Monday, the Bth, the supreme command was formally handed over to him by his predecessor. The letter addressed by Mr. Eyre to Mr. Cardwell on the morning of that day is not deficient either in dignity or in generosity. " I shall transfer," he says, "to Sir Henry Storks all the documents which were being prepared in reply to your despatches relative to the rebellion, and I shall be happy to afford him any information or assistance in my power to facilitate his administration. In giving up to another a Go vernment which I have had the honour of adminis tering for four years, under circumstances of great difficulty and trial, I would respectfully request you to convey to her most gracious Majesty my humble assurance that in the discharge of the onerous and responsible duties which have devolved upon me I have ever been actuated by the single desire to do my duty faithfully to my Sovereign, to uphold the honour of the Crown, and to insure as far as prac ticable the safety and welfare of the colony and people intrusted to my care." He concludes by expressing his confident belief that the inquiry then about to be instituted would show the justice and necessity of the severe measures to which he had re sorted, upon his own responsibility, and with a knowledge of the risk which they entailed. When we consider the circumstances under which this de spatch was written, and the trying position of a Governor thus superseded, yet compelled to remain in the colony of which he was so lately the ruler, we cannot but respect the feeling which dictated such language at such a time. Mr. Eyre may, or may not, have been guilty of great errors, and great errors on the part of a Governor affecting the lives of others may or may not amount to crimes ; but surely a man conscious of having acted rightly and looking forward to an honourable acquittal could hardly have written in a more becoming spirit. It is, indeed, by actions, and not by words, that Mr. Eyre's policy must ultimately be judged. How far he was justified in delivering over so large a district for so long a period to martial law ; how far he was cognisant of, and responsible for, any ex cesses that may have been committed by military tribunals or individual officers ; and how far the supreme law of public necessity may be invoked to excuse the arrest and execution of Gordon, are ques tions which the Commission alone can determine, after solemnly reviewing the whole history of the crisis. There are those, however, who have not only condemned the Governor in the meantime, out of his own mouth, but have founded that condemna tion on the general tone of his despatches, as dis tinct from particular admissions that are said to be contained in them. This is a point upon which any intelligent reader is as competent to form an opi nion as a Commissioner or a Colonial Secretary, and we shall not scruple to avow the impression which a careful perusal of the whole correspondence leaves upon our own minds. Had we no other evi dence before us than his own letters, with their en closures, we should conclude that Mr. Eyre was a brave and conscientious man of no ordinary ability, but without that judicial calmness which can alone enable any man to estimate the true proportions of a sudden emergency. The generalship and resources, as well as nerve, which he displayed in confining the original outbreak to the eastern part of the island are facts beyond dispute, and though not absolutely inconsistent with a deliberate cruelty, of which he has never been suspected, they are at least inconsistent with that kind of weakness which has been so freely imputed to him. It is impossible to read Mr. Eyre's letters and to believe that he was so prostrated by panic as to be insensible to consi derations of humanity. On the contrary, if we duly take into account the extraordinary demands made upon him in addition to the every-day duties of ad ministration, and the mere literary effort involved in corresponding at once on an infinite variety of topics, some of principle and some of detail, with the civil and military authorities of the colony, the Colonial Legislature, the Colonial office, and the Governors of several other colonies, m e shall find reason to wonder that his despatches betray so little excitement or distraction. At all events, his own apology for any shortcomings or omissions in his correspondence deserves to be re corded. Writing to Mr. Cardwell on December 24, he pleads that he had literally no time to examine critically the hurried reports from military officers which have been the subject of so much just animad version. " For the last ten weeks," he continues, " I have had an overwhelming pressure of work, arising from the rebellion, and from the arrangements hav ing to be made for the safety and tranquillity of the island; .from the labours incidental to a most im portant Session of the Legislature, under which a total alteration of the Constitution has been effected; from all the ordinary current business of the island, and from the correspondence connected with the subordinate Governments of British Honduras and Turk's Island. There has scarcely been a day, Sun days even not excepted, that I have not laboured from ten to sixteen hours, and often have been called up in the middle of the night to do so also. This pressure, and the anxiety attending my posi tion, has seriously affected my health, and I am sure that you will therefore view favourably any deficiencies which may have occurred in my corre spondence relative to late occurrences." No one who has felt or is capable of imagining the effect of such a strain as is here described will fail to be touched by this appeal, but our sympathy must not blind us to vulnerable points in Mr. Eyre's despatches, for which overwork will not account. An impatience of opposition, and a tendency to exaggerate the mis chievous designs of his opponents, may be traced in many of them, nor are they free from the peculiar weaknesses an littleness of colonial statesmanship. He had, in fact, been far too long from home, and had lived among colonial prejudices till he had lost the power of judging men and things by an Im perial standard. There are two things which must strike an impartial critic of this correspondence with almost equal force. The one is, that an almost universal belief in the reality of a widespread, if not highly organised, conspiracy united all classes of the white community, was shared by the officers of both services, and rallied for the time round the Governor his bitterest enemies and detractors. The other is, that no evidence on which a lawyer would place much reliance has yet been adduced to sup port this universal belief, or to justify the continu ance of martial law for more than a few days after the outbreak. The line between smouldering dis affection and a premeditated jacquerie, between en couraging the former and instigating the latter, may, doubtless, be difficult to draw, especially in the case of a black population, but it is of essential importance, and until this problem .be solved the Commission will have no satisfactory basis of in quiry. POST.—The navy estimates for the ensuing financial year are substantially the same as those submitted to Parliament a twelvemonth since. A net decrease of about £4,000 is practically inappre ciable, and it may not incorrectly be assumed that our navy and its appurtenances will cost us in 1866-7 as much as they did in 1865-6. Close on ten millions and a half is, doubtless, a considerable sum to pay yearly for maintaining a naval force which is to all appearances unemployed ; but we fear we must abandon all hopes of seeing this navy expenditure sensibly reduced, even though this country should be fortunate enough to continue in the enjoyment _of profound peace. What might be the results if that utopian dream, a general disarmament, were realised it is impossible to say ; but so long, as nations continue to adopt the maxim that the best means of securing peace is to be prepared for war, so long will it be necessary for even the most pacific of nations to expend large sums of money on arma ments which, at the same time, it is feryentlY hoped may never be employed. France and Eng land are by com mon consen t th e mos t powerful maritime States in Europe, and it would be men affectation to pretend that no small portion of the naval expenditure of each during the past five years has been occasioned by what, for want of a better term, we may designate as a spirit of rivalry. France was the first to recognise the necessity of converting wooden ships into ironclade, and England was compelled to follow suit. Bot h Powers have kept pace with each other ; and, ac cording to returns published last midsummer, it appeared that the English armour-clad fleet then consisted of 31 ships (of which 4 were in course of construction) and 5 floating batteries, whilst that of France was composed of 33 vessels, including floating batteries, of which 9 were on the stocks; It must, however, be said that even if France ban not exhibited any anxiety to create a powerful iron clad fleet, the extraordinary growth of the naval power of the United States during the past fey; years would have compelled England to reconstruct her navy. There is no reason to suppose that the peace which subsists between America and Europe will be disturbed, but it is evident that the maritime Powers on this side of the Atlantic could not be content to exist on the sufferance of the great Re public of the West. It may be a matter for regret that civilised nations should be compelled to spend immense sums on engines of war which may never, be turned to account ; but, nevertheless, it is an evil which under one form or another it will be found impossible to evade until the advent of that period when " the lion will lie down with the lamb.' The total amount of the estimates for the forth coming year is £10,388,153, whilst that for 1865- 6 was £10,392,224, leaving on the present estimates a net decrease of £4,071. The total expenditure as thus calculated is, however, invariably dimi nished by what are termed extra receipts and re payments, and these are calculated to amount the ensuing year to £150,000, being about £B,OOO less than they reached in the past twelve months- There is, therefore, on the whole but a trifling difference in the total estimates for the two years; On looking, however, to the several votes 41 which they are composed we observe points 01 distinction, for the explanation of some of which we must wait until the estimates are formally brought under the notice of the House of Commons by the Secretary to the Admiralty. We find, for instance, on the vote of wages to seamen and marines that there is a decrease of upwards of £82,000, and on the vote for victualling and clothing them a reduc tion of £90,500. The explanation of this is found in the fact that her Majesty's Government intend to reduce the number of sea m e n an d mar i n es, but " does not appear on the face of the votes, for this reason : in the army estimates the first vote sane; tions the number of men to be maintained, the second for their pay and support. In the navy estimates, on the other hand, no vote is taken for the number of men, the first vote being for their maintenanc e ' Unlike in the army, where the services of the soldiers are voluntary, the Crown may impress seamen or the service in the navy ; and although the system o _, impressment has been of late years modified by a° of Parliament, the right remains, and may be exer cised in cases of emergency. Hence it has arisen that whilst the number of troops is accurately de fined each year in the estimates submitted to Parlia ment, that of the seamen and marines serving in th e Royal Navy is not stated. A decrease in the nom' ber of seamen employed will not, however, iral 4 diminished efficiency. One of the results of the introduction of armour-plated frigates has been to reduce the number of seamen and marines ne cessary for the efficient management of a powerful fleet. An ironclad frigate, like the Achilles, for example/ carrying 26 guns, requires a far smaller co m ple ment of men than an old-fashioned ship of the line with an armament of 120 guns, whilst the former would prove more than a match for a whole fleet of the latter. We dwell upon this importan_ distinction between the two classes of ships, became; otherwise persons might be inclined to suppose th, e , i a reduction in the number of our seamen woulu entail a proportionate sacrifice of efficiency in ner,.. fleets. The most important item of decrease is.if the vote for naval stores, for the building, reporl and outfit of the fleet, which amounts to £1,321,5U 0 0 as against £1,700,000 last year. This gives a re duction of about £380,000 ; and, independently the decrease being considerable, it is otherwise de serving of notice as indicating that at length we may congratulate ourselves on approaching the ter mination of that most costly task, the reconstruc tion of our navy. But on turning to the items increase, we confess that we observe that we 5 1 . 13 about to enter on a much larger expenditure 1 11 some branches of our naval administration which .t does not seem easy to account for, on the supposi tion that we are about to rest for a time from th e labours in which we have been so long engageu, i Thus in the vote for dockyards, both at home o_7 abroad, we notice an augmentation to the exteitt "'" about £65,000 ; whilst the vote for new wall building, machinery, and rep a i r s, w hich in la st year's estimates stood at £527,985, appears in those for the present year as £892,865, showing an ine crease of nearly £365,000. No doubt, however, 10 Secretary of the Admiralty will be in a position _ satisfy the House of Commons that these vot es ', large as they are, must be consid ere d indispensah' e ' As regards dockyards more especially, the constr ec c i tion of a different class of vessels has ne cessitate the provision of extraordina r y accommodation on foreign stations. In a few days the navy estitner will be submitted to Parliament, and ample jus, cation will then be offe r ed f or f ram i ng th e estituw" on their present scale. COUNTRY MARKETS. - BRIS T OL—TUESDAY. At our market to-day there was a better attendance' We write best qualities :—Wheat is dearer, at which 6d vance fair sales were effected. Barley very scarce, a' per qr. dearer. Maize dull. Oats firm. NEWCASTLE—TUESDAY. old , New wheat sells slowly at Saturday's qu o tationS; f' o both English and foreign, supports late rates. No 0 11833 P in barley, beans, or peas. Oats in better supply, but 11 - altered in value. Flour quiet. LEEDS—TUESDAY. A fair sale for fine old wheat s , a t f u ll ra t es o f Fri to o. new in poor condition, and s e ll s s l ow l y a t prev ious r s tur Barley quite as dear. B eans , oa t s, an d ot h er ar ticles altered. The average prices for the week ending t Feb.l9 Wheat, 45s 41-d per qr.; barley, 40s 2id; and 49- 25s 10d. MELTON MOWBRAY.—TIIESDAY. CIS ' About the usual supply of wheat ; best dry samples vanced nearly is per qr., other sorts sold at top pric st on e. White wheat, 52s to 56s ; red, 45s to 52s per 36 r Barley for malting, 33s to 37s per qr ; feed, 28s to 300 P e e vf 30 stone. Oats, 220 to 89s. Beans, old, 48s to 520; 11 40s to 44s per qr. LIVERPOOL—TUESDAY. fbor° To-day's market was fairly attended, and for whont,„ - Th ur was a moderately good demand at Friday's r ates. -v '" a r. steady, and unchanged in value. Indian corn, 3d. P er - 0 a dearer. Malt, beans, and peas all unchanged. Oats in g° demand at late rates. Oatmeal steady. MARKET HARBOROUGH.—TUESDAY. • A middling supply of wheat, which met with ,"fadquiry e. at rather more money for best sorts. r Old white wheat, 50s to 55s ; new red. 44s to 5 0 s pot. stone. Barley, fine, 38s ; other kinds, 29s to 32s pe r S o ld, Oats, new, 22s to 275; old, 28s to 34s per qr. Befall''' 49s to 525; new, 42s to 45s per qr. GAINSBOROUGH—TunDAy. at A fair supply of wheat, and the demand was healtb9/490 full rates ; white changed hands at 518 to 53s i d gag to 52s per 36 stone. Not much barley ; the denlal l : asta steady, at advancing prices. Oats a meagre sh°"' 4 0 fully maintained their value. Beans made ()strew° 4 . • tations. Births. t he MAUND.—On the 18th inst., at Weston-super-gar - A wife of John Maund, Esq., of a son. e bt TONGUE.—On the 18th inst., at Ald r id g e, Staffordsbiter' wife of Captain V. Tongue, 6th Rifl es , of a dallg lit iA WARREN.—On the 19th inst., at Cliff Lodge, SoutharaP the wife of Vice-Admiral Warren, of a son. b y WATKINS.—On the 17th inst., at 11, Ch an dos-street , s till' the wife of C. S. Watkins, JkI.R.C.S. Eng., of a sop, born. Marriages. CHIPPENDALE —SNOWDON.—On the 11th inst., at the P dale, church of Ruislip, near Uxbridge, W. IL ChiPP eu tro" Esq., to Miss M. J. F. Snowdon, both of th e Then royal Haymarket. TWYFORD—SARGENT.—On the 19th inst., at Banjo sti rs, Church, near Dover, A. W. Twyf t g ord, jiaa fourth son of the late Samuel Twyford, Esq. , , r g 4 1 t 1 Margaret, only child of the late Lieut.-Gen. of the Madras Army. Esq., 21st P Deaths. s pside , BEVANS.—On the 15th inst., at 3, Bread-street, C-e Miss Bovans, aged 67. Samu el BLUNT.—On the 16th inst., at Balham, SurreY , Jasper Blunt, Esq., of the Colonial-office, ag ed 68. pence BRIMONT.—On the 12th inst., at his residence, 19 t,, ° rim de la ReMe Hortense, Paris, Anthony, Baron de aged 73. SPOTTISWOODE.—On the 20th inst. , at 12, James-adst: Buckingham-gate, Andrew Spottiswoode, Esq. age - v viE, London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM A ri l; 112; of No. 112, Strand, Painter, at Titz SUN 0 111(1° ,' „ a nti C" Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy. In the Cy Middlesex—Wednesday, February 21, 1866. •,ar C C - I' (•!). r la ,, l and With V V brig flay th e NO. J( g l e an Thar & p Uc kr! Poa P.` 3 rou itke C'' (111 Ire( ' 3 (Cori tak", Pri c an d 4; I ze rc rtt 11 (peti ih oegi te,eip t l eß;rl b tBt q no 4 E1 ,, et t aßea, tio n, tt All t he le `etati 1:i