The Sun. — London, England, 1865-03-30 00:00:00

President Davis's Message to the Congress, - • - (Front the, Rif .hmond Enquirer, March 15) The following 1 _essage was transmitted to Con gress on Monday - To THE SENATE . AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE Cost EDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. When informo lon Thursday last that it was the intention of Cot tgress to adjourn sine die on the ensuing Satur lay -, I deemed it my duty to request a postponeme) it of the adjournment, in order that I might submit for your consideration certain matters of public int , nest which are now laid before you. When that rc quest was made the most important measures that had occupied your attention during the session had been so far advanced as to be sub mitted for executive action, and the state of the country had been so materially affected by the events of the last four months as to evince the necessity of further and MOW energetic legislation than was con templated in November last. Our country is now environed with perils which it is our duty calmly to contemplate. Thus alone can the measur la necessary to avert threatened calamities be wisely devised and efficiently enforced. Recent military operations of the enemy have been successful in the capture of some of our sea ports, and in devastating large districts of our country. These events have had the natural effect of encouraging our foes and discouraging many of our people. The capital of the Confederate States is now threatened, and it is in greater danger than it has heretofore been during the war. The fact is stated without reserve or concealment, as due to the people, whose servants we are, and in whose courage and constancy entire trust is reposed ; as due to you, in whose wisdom and resolute spirit the people have confided for the adoption of the measures required to guard them from threatened perils. While stating to you that our country is in danger, I -also desire to state my deliberate con viction that it is within our power to avert the calamities which menace us, and to secure the triumph of the sacred cause for which so much sacrifice has been made, so much suf fering endured, so many lives have been lost. This result is to be obtained by fortitude, by courage, by constancy in enduring the sacrifices still needed—in a word by the prompt and resolute devotion of the whole resources of men and money in the Confede racy to the achievement of our liberties and inde pendence. The measures now required to be successful should be prompt. Long deliberation and protracted debate over important measures are not only natural, but laudable, in representative assemblies under ordinary circumstances ; but in moments of danger, when action becomes urgent, the delay thus caused is itself a new source of peril. Thus it has unfortunately happened that some of the measures passed by you in pursuance of the recommendations contained in my message of November last have been so retarded as to lose much of their value, or have, for the same reason, been abandoned after being matured, be cause no longer applicable to our altered condition, and others have not been brought under examina tion. In making these remarks, it is far from my intention to attribute the loss of time to any other causes than those inherent in deliberative assemblies, but only urgently to recommend prompt action on the measures now submitted. We need for carrying on the war successfully men and supplies for the army. We have both within our country sufficient to attain success. To obtain the supplies it is necessary to protect productive districts, guard our lines of communica tions by an increase in the number of our forces, and hence it results that with large augmentations in the number of men in the army, the facility of supplying the troops would be greater than with our recent reduced strength. For the purchase of supplies now required, espe cially for the armies in Virginia and North Caro lina, the treasury must be provided with means, and a modification of the Impressment law is required. It has been ascertained by examination that we have within our reach a sufficiency of what is most needed for the army, and without having recourse to the ample provision existing in those parts of the Con federacy with which our communication has been partially interrupted by hostile operations. But in some districts from which supplies are to be drawn, the inhabitants, being either within the enemy's lines or in very close proximity, are unable to make use of Confederate Treasury notes for the purchase of articles of prime necessity, and it is necessary that, to some extent, coin be paid in order to obtain supplies. It is therefore recommended that Congress devise the means of making available the coin within the confederacy for the purpose of supplying the army. The officers of the supply de partments report that with two millions of dollars in coin the armies of Virginia and North Carolina can be amply supplied for the remainder of the year, and the knowledge of this fact should suffice to in sure the adoption of the measures necessary to 'obtain this moderate sum. The impressment law as it now exists prohibits the public officers from impressing supplies without making payment of the valuation at the time of im pressment. The limit fixed for the issue of Treasury notes has been nearly reached, and the Treasury cannot always furnish the funds necessary for prompt payment, while the law for raising revenues which would have afforded means for diminishing, if not removing this difficulty, was unfortunately delayed for several months, and has just been signed. In this condition of things it is impossible to supply the army, although ample stores may exist in the country. Whenever the owners refuse to give credit to the public officer it is necessary that this restriction on the power of impressment be removed. The power is admitted to be objectionable, liable to abuse, and unequal in its operation on individuals; yet all these objections must yield to absolute ne cessity. It is also suggested that the system of valuation now established ought to be radically changed. The legislation requires in such cases of impressment that the market price be paid ; but there is really no market price in many cases, and then valuation is made arbitrarily and in a depre ciated currency. The result is that the most extra vagant prices are fixed, such as no one ever expects to be paid in coin. None believe that the Govern ment can ever redeem in coin the obligation to pay 50 dollars a bushel for corn or seven hundred dol lars a barrel for flour. It would seem to be more just and appropriate to estimate the supplie s im pressed at their value in coin—to give the obligation of the Government for the payment of the price in coin with reasonable interest, or at the option of the creditor, to return in kind the wheat or corn im pressed, with a reasonable interest, also payable in kind, and to make the obligations thus issued re ceivable for all payments due herein to the Govern ment. Whatever be the value attached by Congress to these suggestions, it is hoped that there will be no hesitation in so changing the law as to render it possible to supply the army in case of necessity by the impressment of provisions for that purpose. The measure adopted to raise revenue, though liberal in its provisions, being clearly inadequate to meet the arrears of debt and the current expendi tures, some degree of embarrassment in the manage ment of the finances must continue to be felt. It is to be regretted, I think, that the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury of a tax on agricul tural income equal to the argaimented tax on other incomes, payable in Treasury notes, was rejected by Congress. This tax would have contributed mate rially to facilitate the purchase of provisions and diminish the necessity now felt for a supply of coin. The measures passed by Congress during the ses sion for recruiting the army and supplying the addi tional force needed for the public defence, have been, in my judgment insufficient,and I am impelled by a profound conviction of duty, and stimulated by a sense of the perils which surround our country, to urge upon you additional legislation on this subject. negroes as soldiers has n o t The bill for employing yet reached me, though the printed journals of your proceedings inform me of its passage. Much b ene fi t is anticipated from this measure, though farless than would have resulted from its adoption at an earlier date, so as to afford time for their organisation and instruction during the winter months. The bill for diminishing the number of exempts has just been made the subject of a special message, and its provisions are such as would add no strength to the army. The recommendation to abolish all class exemptions has not met your favour, although still deemed by me a valuable and important mea sure ; and the- number of men exempted by a new clause in the act just passed is believed to be quite equal to that of those whose exemption is revoked. A law of a few lines repealing all exemptions would not only strengthen the forces in the field, but be still more beneficial by abating the natural discon tent and jealousy created in the army by the exist ence of classes privileged by law to remain in places of safety while their fellow-citizens are exposed in the trenches and the field. The measure most needed, however, at the present time, for affording an effective increase to our mili tary strength, is a general militia law, such as the constitution authorises Congress to pass, by grant ing to it power "to provide for organising, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the Confederate States," and the fur ther power "to provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Confederate States, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions." The ne cessity for the exercise of this power can never exist if not in the circumstances which now surround us. The security of the States against any encroachment by the Confederate Government is amply provided by the constitution, by reserving to the States re spectively the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia, according to the discipline prescribed by Congress. A law is needed to prescribe not only how and of what persons the militia are to be organised, but to provide the mode of calling them out. If instances be required to show the necessity for such a general law, it is sufficient to mention that in one case I have been informed by the Governor of a State that the law does not permit him to call out the militia from one country for service in another ; so that a single brigade of the enemy could traverse the State, and devastate each country in turn without any power on the part of the Executive to use the military for effective defence ; while in another State the Execu tive refused to allow the militia "to be employed in the service of the Confederate States " in the absence of a law for that purpose. I have heretofore, in a confidential message to the two houses, stated the facts which induced me to consider it necessary that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus should be suspended. The conviction of the necessity of this measure has become deeper as the events of the struggle should be developed. Congress has not concurred with me in opinion. It is my duty to say that the time has arrived when the suspension of the writ is not simply advisable and expedient, but almost indispensable to the successful conduct of the war. On Congress must rest the re sponsibility of declining to exercise a power con ferred by the constitution as a means of publicsafety to be used in periods of national peril resulting from foreign invasion. If our present circumstances were not such as were contemplated when this power was conferred, I confess myself at a loss to imagine any contingency in which the laws of the constitution will not remain a dead letter. With the prompt adoption of the measures above recommended, and the united and hearty co-opera tion of Congress and the people in the execution of the laws and the' defence of the country, we may enter on the coming campaign with cheerful confi dence in the result. And who can doubt the con tinued existence of that spirit and fortitude of the people, and of that constancy under reverses, which alone are needed to render our triumph secure ? What other resources remain available but the un dying, unconquerable resolve to be free ? It has become certain beyond all doubt or question that we must continue this struggle to a successful issue or must make abject and unconditional submission to such terms as it shall please the conqueror to impose upon us after our surrender. If a possible doubt could exist after the conference between our commis sioners and Mr. Lincoln, as recently reported to you, it would be dispelled by a recent occurrence, of which it is proper that you should be informed. Congress will remember that in the conference above referred to our commissioners were informed that the Government of the United States would not enter into any agreement or treaty whatever with the Confederate States, nor with any single State; and the only possible mode of obtaining' peace was by laying down our arms, disbanding our forces, and yielding unconditional obedience to the laws of the United States, including those passed for the confiscation of our property, and the constitutional amendment for the abolition of slavery. It will further b 3 remembered that Mr. Lincoln declared that the only terms on which hos tilities could cease were those stated in his Message of Dec. last, in which we were informed that in the event of our penitent submission he would temper justice with mercy, and that the question whether we would be governed as dependent territories or permitted to have a representation in their Con gress was one on which he could promise nothing, but which would be decided by their Congress after our submission had been accepted. It has not, however, been hitherto stated to you that in the course of the conference at Fortress Monroe a suggestion was made by one of our com missioners that the objection entertained by Mr. Lincoln to treating with the Government of the Confederacy or with any separate State might be avoided by substituting for the usual mode of negotiating through commissioners or other diplo matic agents the method sometimes employed of a military convention, to be entered into by the com manding generals of the two belligerents. This, he admitted, was a power possessed by him, though it was not thought commensurate with all the ques tions involved. As he did not accept the suggestion when made he was afterwards requested to recon .ider his conclusion upon the subject of the suspen sion of hostilities, which he agreed to do, but said that he had maturely considered of the plan, and had determined that it could not be done. Subsequently, however, an interview with Gene ral Longstreet was asked for by General Ord, com manding the enemy's Army of the James, during which General Longstreet was informed by him that there was a possibility of arriving at a satisfac tory adjustment of the present unhappy difficulties by means of a military convention, and that if Gene ral Lee desired an interview on the subject it would not be declined, provided General Lee had autho rity to act. This communication was supposed to be the consequence of the suggestion above referred to, and General Lee, according to instructions,wrote to General Grant on the 2d of this month, propos ing to meet him for confe r e n ce on the subj ec t, a n d stating that he was vested with the requisite autho rity. General Grant's reply stated that he had no authority to accede to the proposed conference; that his powers extended only to making a conven tion on subjects purely of a military character, and that General Ord could only have meant that an interview would not be refused on any subject on au th e g i l l i t which he (General Grant) had the right to act. It thus appears that nengitoohr veetrhr the thfe Confederatetheauthoriti es generals , any United States treat or make any terms or agreement what ever for the cessation of hostilities. There remains, then,. for us no choice but to continue this contest to a final issue ; for the people of the Confederacy can be little known to him who supposes it possible they would ever consent to purchase, at the cost in a cost of degradation and slavery, permission to h country garrisoned by their own negroes , and go verned by officers sent by the conqueror to rule over them. Having thus fully placed before you the informa tion requisite to enable you to judge of the state of the country, the dangers to which we are exposed, and the measures of legislation needed for averting them, it remains for me but to invoke your attention to the consideration of those means by which, above all others, we may hope to escape the calamities that would result from our failure. Prominent above all others is the necessity for earnest and cordial co operation between all departments of Government, State and Confederate, and all eminent citizens throughout the Confederacy. To you especially, as Senators and Representatives, do the people look for encouragement and counsel. To your action— not only in legislative halls, but in your homes— will their eyes be turned fot the example of what is befitting men who by willing sacrifices on the altar of freedom show that they were worthy to enjoy its THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENIMI, MARCH 30, 1865. blessings. I feel full confidence that you will con cur with me in the conviction that your public duties will not be ended when you shall have closed the legislative labours of the session ; but that your voices will be heard cheering and encouraging the people to that persistent fortitude which they have hitherto displayed, and animating them by the manifestation of that serene confidence which in moments of public danger is the distinctive charac teristic of the patriot who derives courage from his devotion to his country's destiny, and is thus en abled to inspire the like courage in others. Thus united in a common and holy cause, rising above all selfish considerations, rendering all our means and faculties tributary to the country's wel fare, let us bow submissively to the Divine will and reverently invoke the blessing of our Heavenly Father, that as He protected and guided our sires when struggling in a similar cause, so he will enable us to guard safely our altars and our firesides, and maintain inviolate the political rights which we inherited. JEFFERSON DAVIS. Richmond, March 13, 1865. in about three weeks proceed on her trial cruise to sea. It is very much to be wished that among the other reforms which the ironclads seem to be introducing the Admiralty would adopt the French system of fastening on the plates with what are termed wood screws instead of through bolts. The latter weaken the plate very considerably and do not hold it on at all, whereas the trials made with the French system of fastening at Shoebury showed it to be so superior to ours as to be literally above any degree of comparison. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. SCINDE. The half-yearly general meeting of this company was held yesterday at the London Tavern—Mr.W. P. Andrew, the chairman; presided. The reports of this company's undertakings, namely, the Scinde, the Punjab, and the Delhi, railways, and the Indus Steam Flotilla, were taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, expressed the deep regret he and his colleagues felt at the loss, by death, of their excellent and able agent, Mr. R. W. Stevens, who had the entire confidence of thelocal Govern ment during the construction of the Punjab Railway, and had performed his duties to the company in the most satis factory manner. The traffic on the Scinde Railway had not come up to the expectations of the directors. In the past half-year there had been a slight falling off in the receipts from exceptional circumstances. There had been a combi nation among the native merchants not to send their goods by the railway unless the trucks were placed at their dis posal. This had caused some delay in sending the traffic over the line, but at the same time the native merchants were too wise to trust their goods to the river craft. The depressed state of commercial affairs had something to do with the matter, but otherwise the prospects of the Scinde Railway were as good as ever. If the line cost more than was contemplated, he was sure the traffic from the Punjab would more than compensate for the extra outlay, and that there was a great future - before them. The flotilla kept up the communication regularly from the terminus of the Scinde Railway at Kotree up the Indus to Mooltan, the terminus of the Punjab Railway. One of their vessels recently brought down a cargo from Mooltan to Kotree, the freight forwhich amounted to £3,500. If all their vessels were as complete and efficient as that vessel the returns from the flotilla would be very large. It was a very difficult river to navi gate, but they found that many of their smaller vessels had turned out more profitable than some of the larger vessels, which were considered superior to them. They had also a number of vessels that were earning nothing, owing to an unfortunate dispute with the contractors, but that had now been settled, and he trusted that those vessels would be come available, and that the returns would increase. Their officers managed the flotilla in a very efficient and admir able manner, and they had met with no accident to any of the vessels. The first sod of the Punjab Railway was cut by Sir J. Lawrence in 1850, and in three years afterwards the first section from Lahore to Umritsur was opened for traffic. Sir J. Lawrence opened the first section of the line between Lahore and Mooltan last year; and he (the chairman) had no doubt that the whole of the Punjab Rail way was now open and working to Mooltan. The estimated cost of this railway was about £2,500,000, and would be finished for something less than £lO,OOO per mile. It was the cheapest railway in India, and owing to the favourable gradients and the absence of heavy works to keep in repair the maintenance would be light and the working expenses very moderate. The great central station at Lahore was a very handsome and important building, and he expected that the Delhi line would contribute its share of the ex pense of building it. The works on the Delhi Railway were now occupying great attention in the Punjab, as it would be a continuation of the Punjab Railway from its junction near Urnritsur to Delhi, where it would also form a junction with the East Indian Railway. The inhabitants of Delhi were most anxious for its completion, and the site of the sta tion would be within the walls of that city. It was a lino of great commercial importance, and the works had been com menced on it at both ends. The construction of the line would be carried on with energy and spirit, and every effort would be made to complete it as ~.eorly as possible. The surveys were going on with a view to supply the missing link between Kotree and Mooltan along the valley of the Indus. This line had been delayed in the most unaccount able manner, its construction was of the utmost import ance in a political and commercial point of view, and it was surprising that it had not been made long ago. It would, in fact, form the great bulwark to protect the em pire, and the great channel of communication from Kur rachee to the interior. Three routes were being surveyed along the valley of the Indus, and ho believed that before the next rainy season the surveys would be completed so as to admit of the selection of the best route for the railway. Sir T. H. MADDOCK seconded the motion for the adop tion of the report. Capt. WOOD, superintendent of the Indus Steam Flotilla, entered into an explanation as to the working of the steamers, and showed that the net earnings, after paying all expmses, making;ample reserves for repairs and insur ance, yielded a return of 3j • per cent. upon the capital ex pended on them, or 23 per cent. on the entire capital of the flotilla, including that which had been unproductive. This, he thought, under the circumstances, was a very fair result. The success of the boats was duo in a great degree to the energetic exertions of the officers of the company in work ing them, and endeavouring to secure large freights. He believed that the traffic would become so great that when the Indus Valley Railway was completed the line of steamers could not be dispensed with. Mr. THORNTON adverted to the difficulty of navigating tho Indus, and the efficient manner in which the steamers were worked. Mr. FORSYTH, the commissioner of Lahore, explained the difficulty of collecting materials for the works in the Punjab, and the admirable and successful manner in which the late Mr. Stevens and the other officers of the company exerted themselveste overcome all difficulties, and to con struct the railway. It was very gratifying to see how happy the officers of the company along a line of 240 miles in length lived among the pEople, and pulled together to accomplish the greitt work aey had in hand. They were all on the best terms with the local Government. In reply to questions by Mr. SEYMOUR and Mr. HAYMAIkiI it was stated that the accounts of the company were being adjusted by the Government authorities, so that it was impossible to say at present what were the actual net earnings of the railway since the opening of the line ; but they had worked at a profit from the commencement. The length of one route along the right bank of the Indus was 550 miles; by another route, crossing the Indus at Sukkur, would be 500 miles ; and the third, along the left bank of the Indus, would be 450 miles, which was the route the chairman had recommended. By the last mail it appeared that the officers of the company had traversed the whole line from Lahore to Mooltan, 220 miles, stopping at various places to examine stations and works, and accomplished the distance, including those stoppages, in 12 hours. The scale of rates for goods and passengers was too low, and efforts were being made to raise them. Resolutions were passed adopting the report, re-electing the retiring directors, Sir T. H. Maddock and Mr. J. E. An derdon, and also Mr. E. Thornton, the retiring auditor. Mr. M'Kinnan was also elected an auditor. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. the last meeting, the works had yeen proceeded with as ra pidly as possible, but the severe winter had to some extent retarded them. The tunnel at Loxley and th 3 cutting at Hopton were so far advanced as to enable those works to be completed simultaneously with the other portions of the line, which were being pushed forward with the utmost energy. The actual expenditure and present liabilities amounted to £137,979. In answer to a shareholder, Mr. FIELD, the contractor, said he believed the line would be opened about the end of August or the beginning of September. The report and statement of accounts were adopted. The Minotaur. Yesterday another magnificent addition, as far as size, strength, and speed are concerned, was made to our iron-clad fleet by the formal delivery to the Admiralty authorities of this iron-plated ship, which, it is believed, will in some respects equal the renowned Warrior. Long and minute descriptions of the plans pursued in the construction of this enormous vessel have so frequently appeared in the columns of The Sun that a brief recapitulation of her chief characteristics will probably suffice on this oc casion. The Minotaur, then, is one of those vessels of a special class which were designed to be im provements on the Warrior. The latter class are vessels of 6,100 tons, 380 ft. long by 58ft. broad, plated over the greater part of their broadsides with 41in. iron armour, backed up with 18 inches of teak. These have only 26 protected guns within the armour-line, 10 more guns being at the bows and stern, which have no armour, but which are so subdivided by a webbing of iron compart ments that they might be riddled with shot without much danger to the main part of the ship. Each of these Warriors is driven by engines of 1,250 horse power, and they have undoubtedly proved the fastest ships in the navy, and from their bows and stern not being overborne with heavy armour are toler ably buoyant even in heavy weather and very broken water. There is no question that vessels of the War rior class are fine sea boats of their kind, and it is more than doubtful if the new class designed to im prove upon them—the Minotaur, Agincourt, and Northumberland—will at all equal them in seagoing qualities. In the Minotaur class it was fancied by the authorities that by diminishing the teak backing from 18 to 10in. they could be made to carry 51in. armour safely, and that by a little increase in their dimensions they might be enabled to carry it from end to end, and to have the whole ship covered in armour. The Minotaurs, as they are called, there fore, are all of 6,621 tons, no less than 400 ft. long by 59ft. beam, plated with 51in. armour on a 10in. backing, carrying 36 protected' guns, and are pro pelled byscrew engines of 1,350 (nominal) horse power. Hardly were these vessels designed and commenced when the results of experiments at Shoeburyness proved that a mistake had been made in diminishing the teak backing—a mistake for which the additional inch of armour by no means compensated. The end of all the experiments at Shoeburyness has been to show that the amount of resistance of armour to shot depends generally less upon the thickness of the plate than the thickness and system of the backing. Thus the Warrior target, with 41in. of iron and 18in. of teak, stood fire obstinately, though soon afterwards infinitely greater results were obtained from plates of 31in. supported by Mr. Chalmers's admirable system of backing. On the other hand, the Minotaur target of siin., with only 10in. of teak behind it, literally crumpled up under the fire of the smooth bore 68-pounder. But when this unpleasant discovery was made all the Minotaurs were too far ad vanced to be altered, so that in these magnificent looking vessels we have really got only much more expensive Warriors, with even less than half the powers of resistance which the Warriors possess. All the Minotaurs are built on the ram system, having what is termed the swan-breasted beak pro truding under water. The stem of this portion, which would have to resist the first blow of the shock, is a most gigantic forging, as also is the stern frame. Every part of the vessel is of iron, even to the spar-deck, though the plating here, which is about three-quarters of an inch thick, is, of course, covered with wood. Every part of the hull is di vided into longitudinal and transverse water-tight compartments, which not only insure her safety in case of accident from below the water-line, but add immensely to the stiffness of .the whole hull, which is virtually made by these means one huge hollow wrought-iron girder of immense strength. There is also a riveted wrought-iron skin within the backing behind of the armour-plates, and this, being con tinued over the inner keel, forms a double bottom, which, in case of a vessel of suchgreat weight taking the ground, would be of the greatest service. The armour-plates along all parts of the broadside, from the edge of the spar deck to five feet below the water-line, are all of 51 inches thickness, of the best rolled iron, made by the Thames Iron Company. For about 30 feet, at the extreme ends of the ship, the thickness of the plating is reduced, to give the buoyancy which she will assuredly much need. At the stern the thickness is still more than 2 inches, while under the counter at the stern it is no more than 21 inches.yl'he number of ports on each side is 18, of which two on each side amidships are for Armstrong 300-pounders. All the portholes are made on the improved principle, and very narrow, while the clear height of the midship port-sill from the water is no less than 10ft. —a foot higher than in the Warrior. An important addition has been made to the ship since she was laid down in the shape of a poop and topgallant forecastle. The poop gives ample space for the cabins necessary for an admiral and staff, thus fitting the ship for a flagship, which the arrangements of the earlier ironclads did not admit of. The forecastle, being plated in front with armour plates, forms a kind of breastwork, to prevent the upper deck being raked by an enemy's fire, and also gives room for two large guns, which can be trained in a line with the keel, and will be most useful as bow chasers. At the time that the Warrior made her trial trips it was pointed out that it was little less than absurd to give these enormous vessels— double the length of any line-of-battle ships in the service—only a frigate's crew, and only the tradi tional three masts. The experience gained by work ing the Warrior has shown that these objections were just, and the Minotaurs are now each to have crews of 750 men, and five instead of three masts. All these masts are of iron, and of nearly tlib same height, which certainly detracts somewhat from the beauty of the vessel's " sit" upon the water. Four of the masts are square-rigged, the after most mizen having fore-and-aft sails only. Every part of the ship, which has been executed by the Thames Iron Company, and built under the careful and anxious inspection of Admiralty overseers, is really the very perfection of iron workmanship. As an iron structure it is the opinion of all who have seenfinish her th a t no vesse l more per f ec tl y fi n i s h e d h as ever appearednh of a private onthe Thanes. Ie en It has literally arerally all the of 1,360-horse power, nominal, and are capable of working up t o an indicated power of more than 8,000 horses. These engines are by Mr. Penn, and it is impossible to speak too highly of their ex quisite finish. Yesterday, in going do wn th e r i ver , there was, of course, no attempt made to get speed out of a vessel of such enormou s l engt h i n such a nar row and devious channel. She was, in fact, only kept under steam to enable her to assist the efforts of the tugs in case of emergency. Still, though the engines were only moving slowly, none could avoid being struck w ith their sikent ex hibition of tremendous power, as they moved with the ease of watchwork. The steering apparatus, which is worked by hydraulic pressure, seemed to answer excellently in the short trip down the river from the Victoria Docks to Purfleet. Off the latter place she was brought up for the night, and to-day will continue her journey to Sheerness, where she will take in her armament, shot and shell, &c., and WATFORD AND RICMIANSWORTH. The half-yearly meeting was held yesterday at the office, Bedford-street, Strand; Lord Ebury in the chair. The report stated that there had been a steady increase in the traffic, and when the various adjacent lines were completed the line must become highly remunerative to the shareholders, as a through communication would be opened with the North-Western, Great Western, and Great Eastern lines to Watford, Hertford, and Hatfield. The CHAIRMAN moved tie adoption of the report, and said the issue of the preference shares would place the com pany in an independent psition. Mr. CASY seconded the motion,which was agreed to, and a vote of thinks to the charman concluded the proceedings. OKLHAMPTON. The half-yearly meetiag of this company was held yes terday at the offices, Pot's Corner, Westminster, Mr. S.C. Hamlyn in the chair. The Secretary read th3report,which stated that the works between the junction at Colebrook and North Tawton had been prosecuted with much success during the past half-year, and it was expected that this portion of the line would be open for traffic in July next. It was arranged that the South-Western Railway Company 'should work the line, aad also the proposed the to Bude and Torrington respec tively, when finished, for 41- per cent. of the gross receipts, and should grant in rebtte an annual sum of £3,000, or so much of it as might be necessary to insure the payment of a dividend of 4 per cent. on the capital. In conformity with requisitions from ;he inhabitants of Plymouth and Devonport, urging on tte company the importance of ex tending the narrow gauge into these towns, a bill for this object was now before a select committee of the House of Commons, and the directors had every reason to believe it would be successful. 'l‘e expenditure on capital account amounted to £56,366, leaving a balance of £609. The report was adopted. The Earl of Portsmouth and Mr. Holly, the retiring directors, were re-elected, and the proceedings terminated. ARBROATH AND FORFAR. The annual meeting was held at Arbroath on Monday— Mr. Miln in the chair. The report stated tlat the balance of revenue was £14,336, and the proposed dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. would amount to £13,412, leaving a balance of £923. Power had been given at the last annual meeting to dis pose of any portion of tie stock necessary to moot current charges, but it had not leen exercised. It would, however, be necessary to exercise it during the current year. Tho report was adopted, and on the motion of Mr. Dim- SON it was resolved to abandon the practice hitherto fol lowed by this company of paying the bankers commission on the dividend warrants. STAFFORD AND UTTOXETER. The ordinary meeting of this company was held on Mon day at Stafford, Mr. E. C. Eyton in the chair. The Secretary read the report, which stated that, since BRIDGE OF WEIR. The half-yearly meeting of this railway company was held on Saturday at Johnstone, Mr. W. E. Hardie in the chair. The report stated that after paying the working expenses, interest on mortgages, and the ordinary charges against re venue, there was a balance of £6OO, out of which it was re commended that £562 should be appropriated to paying a dividend at the rate of 4-1- per cent. per annum on the 17th of April, leaving a balance of £37. Mr. Hunter, the con tractor of the line, had been settled with and paid, and an arrangement had been entered into with the Glasgow and Seuth-Western Railway Company for the transfer of the railway to them, on paying back to the shareholders the money in full. The report was adopted, a dividend at the rate of 41 per cmt. pr annum was declared, and the retiring directors were re-elected. UXBRIDGE AND RICKMANSWORTH. The half-yearly meeting was held yesterday at the office, Bedford-street, Strand—Lord Ebury in the chair. The re port, which was adopted, stated that the preliminary nego tiations for the purchase of land were still in progress, and that the works would be commenced with as little delay as possible. RICKMANS WORTH, AMERSHAM, AND CHESHAM. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yester day at tho office, Bedford-street, Strand; Lord Ebury in the chair. The report statedthat the company's extension of time bill would be taken by the committee on April 27, that the London, Bucks, and East Glocestershire Bill would be taken by the same committee, and that, pending the result, no steps would be taken by this company towards the construc tion of their line. The report was adopted. TAMAR AND CALLINGTON. The half-yearly meeting was held yesterday at the Lon don Tavern ; Mr. Banks in the chair. The CHAIRMAN said there was no report to lay before the meeting. He could state, however, that the works were in a forward state, but had been almost at a standstill for the last three months for want of funds. A sum of £16,000 was required to finish the line to Kellybrea, and a further sum of £7,300 to complete it to Callington. The directors had received offers to purchase the line in its present state; but they thought it would be more to the advantage of the shareholders if they finished the line themselves, and then to consider its sale. The meeting was then made special, and the directors were empowered to raise on mortgage A sum not exceeding £23,300 for the purposes of the railway. PEEBLES. Tho half-yearly meeting was held at Peebles on Tues day—Mr. W. Chambers presided. The report (an abstract of which has appeared in The Sun) was held as read. The CHAIRMAN congratulated the shareholders on the continued prosperity of the company, the lease to the North British having proved every way advantageous for all par ties. As compared with the corresponding period of last year, there was an increase of £255 on passengers, and a decrease of £428 on goods. Out of the free balance accru ing to this company, the directors proposed to pay at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the preference stock, and at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum on tifß ordinary stock. The North British Company continued to work the line to the entire satisfaction of the directors. The report was unanimously approved, and tho dividends were declared. DUMFRIES AND LOCKERBY. The report of the directors stated that the total expendi ture on capital account had been £141,884, and the receipts £117,574, leaving a balance against the company of £24,310. It being necessary to raise additional capital, the directors, under the act of last session, obtained power to raise £34,000, which would enable them to pay off every out standing claim. The total revenue during the half year was £6,635, and the outlay £1,756, leaving a balance of £1,879, out of which the directors recommend a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum. The directors had agreed to amalgamate the company with the Caledonian Company, the latter to guaradtee to the shareholders a dividend of 6 per cent. per annum in perpetuity on the or dinary shares. SOLWAY JUNCTION. On Tuesday the first sod of this railway was cut by Mr. W. Ewart, M.P., at Annan. Starting from a junction with the Caledonian line at Kirtlebridge the new line will cross the Glasgow and South-Western by a bridge over a deep embankment, and will cross the Solway Frith by embank ments at the shore ends and a viaduct between them of 2,400 feet in length, thence over another small estuary to a junction with the Maryport and Carlisle line at Brayton, and thus obtain access to the iron ore districts of Cum berland. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TRIES.--Sir Walter Scott tells a story of a Scotch minister who, on an icy winter Sabbath, threatened his congregation with everlasting torments in thick ribbed ice. Being taxed with the heretical tenden cies of such a version, the crafty Scot replied, " I'd no try to scare sinners this cauld weather by making 'em think about a het fire." Sir Roderick- Murchi son and his attendant congregation of geographers have not the worldly wisdom of the Highland preacher, or they never would have chosen this pierc ing wintry weather to invite the British public to entertain the question how they may best reach the North Pole. About the end of next July, when the cabhorses opposite Burlington-house are fainting with heat, and the splash of the waterman's bucket is a refreshing sound ; when there is a fierce sun raging very potently in Piccadilly, then will be the time to talk to us of driving on in a steamer through fields of pack-ice five miles in diameter and 40 feet in thickness, and of the pleasant and-healthful pas time of journeying night and day over frozen soli tudes, drawn by dogs - harnessed to little boats—a pleasure which, as we are assured by Sir Roderick Murchison, is altogether unaccompanied by risk, and which, as we know from long experience, is eia tirely devoid of profit. But now, in this truculent month of March, while hail and rain and snow and sleet each takes its turn in the course of the morn ing and the east wind knots up the muscles with rheumatic twinges and freezes the marrow in an old gentleman's bones, how can these naval and scientific personages have the cruelty to drag us, even in ima gination, among the Arctic icebergs? However, these wilful men . will have it so. Burlington-house is filled once every fortnight with enthusiastic geographers, all eager for fresh tidings from the North Pole, and we must listen and report and com ment. That the geographers are quite determined in their desire to go to the North Pole at the ex pense of the British public is now a settled matter. What they expect to find when they get there is by no means so certain. One of the secretaries, spe culative as to Arctic migrations, seems to imagine that we may perhaps discover an Asiatic people there, dwelling in a state of isolation, and in a sort of Happy Valley. Professor Owen, less romantic and more possible, limits his hopes to the re discovery of a favourite sea-pig, which he has missed from the shores of Greenland, and which he thinks he may find grazing upon seaweed on the bottom of those open seas which are now supposed to flow unchained by frost round this mysterious point. Several Admirals, in a pardonable profes sional spirit, think the only advantage of future expeditions lies in the possible discovery of a new sea, which may hereafter form a naval station ; but, having discovered it in his imagination, Sir Edward Belcher asks, in dismay, "But what can we do when we meet with this open water ?" It will not do for the sledging parties to launch their little dog-carts and push off into this new chartless ocean, leaving the dogs, who are their only means of re turn, upon the icy cliffs of the coast, in the dangerous companionship of the walruses, the white bears, and perhaps Professor Owen's sea-pigs. In the back seats of the large meeting room at Burlington-house there may possibly lurk an innocent curiosity here and there to know what, after all, that North Pole is, and whether there is really a magnetic rock which is the axle on which the world spins, or a whirlpool at the point where it revolves so rapidly. But even this simple faith was destroyed by Admi ral Seymour, who informed the junior geographers that two Dutch ships had already got to within two degrees of the Pole, and that one ship of an un mentioned nationality had actually sailed two degrees past it, and, as we presume from the Admiral's silence on this point, the sailors had seen nothing specially worthy of attention as they passed by. So far as we can gather, these are principally, if not entirely, the hopes and desires which animate the geographers to talk to us so pertinaciously of floes and icebergs and the interesting and alluring North Pole. There are two plans at present in fashion for performing this promising journey. Captain Sherard Osborn, who is now gone to India, left behind him a project for proceeding in ships lo Smith's Sound at the head of Baffin's Bay, and leav ing the ships there in safety to explore northwards along the west coast of Greenland in sledges and boats. The other is the plan of a German professor, who, out of the depths of his inner consciousness, has formed to himself a complete system of Arctic navi gation and a vision of the North Pole. This Prussian sage, who has a high notion of the mission of this country to settle all questions of precedence among the icebergs, and who enjoys also the pre-eminent advantage of an utter ignorance of public feeling in England as to the reality of that mission, insists that England ought to go direct to the North Pole in a steam-vessel, via Spitzbergen, forcing her way through the pack-ice to the north of that island. The geographers were all assembled on Monday night, under the presidency of Sir Roderick Murchi son, gravely to debate and infallibly to decide which of these two plans should be carried out. Sir Rode rick was surrounded by hydrographers and Arctic voyagers and eminent admirals, and he confidently called upon them to settle—not whether either plan was feasible, but which plan was the preferable. The result does not seem to us to have been emi nently satisfactory. All we can glean from the dis cussion is that the high authorities assembled at Burlington-house were at odds with each other which plan was the more'utterly hopeless. Sir E. Belcher, who knows what sledge-travelling is, de clared loudly that he did not believe in the sledge system at all. He had himself failed to get on with a sledge more than one mile in two days. Then there was the digging out and the sinking in, and that terrible difficulty of having the sledge journey brought to an end when they came to the expected open water. Sir E. Belcher thought that if we started an expedition in ships we might possibly succeed, because we might send more ships after them, and so keep up a sort of line of communica tion between Woolwich dockyard and the north pole ' • but as to Capt. Osborn's idea of dog-carts over the icebergs he would not hear of it. Sir G. Back, on the contrary, thought there was a remote possibility of success for Capt. Osborn's scheme, but none at all for that of the German professor, whom he laughed at for drawing plans of the frozen zone in his comfortable library in Berlin. He had seen the Dorothea crushed among the pack-ice which Dr. Petermann recommended as such excellent sail ing water. On the contrary, if Capt. Osborn's two ships should find the ice so loose that they could sail about it, and if in the following winter the ice should be so closely wedged and immovably fixed that the sledges could pass over it, and if the sledging parties could not meet with that open water which every one expects to find, then Sir George did not see why Captain Osborn's sledging parties should not get near, or even up to, the North Pole. The testimony of the other admirals did not very much improve this unpromising prospect. Admiral Collinson thought there was no open sea for ships, but believed also that there was no continuously open surface for sledges. Upon the whole Sir Roderick must have found himself in an unsatisfac tory position. He had called his prophets together to bless at least one of his two projects, and, behold, they had cursed them both together. Even Admiral Fitzroy, who did open his mouth to bless, had the words taken from him, and was campelled to say that " we shall be wanting in our duty as a nation if we wilfully waste the energies of those young men who are anxious and willing to go and explore these regions." So say we. Since Sherard Osborn is gone, the geographers have lost the only head that was likely to create an air of feasibility to this I fanciful folly. Captain Osborn said openly that Arctic adventure recommended itself to him because it gave a sphere of action to unfriended naval officers, who had no other opportunity of distinguishing themselves in time of peace. He instanced many good names all made in Arctic service. We are not inclined to disregard or to undervalue this recom mendation ; but we deny that the fact now exists. The interest in this wilderness of ice has passed away. The idea of a North-West passage is gone away into the limbo of old errors, and rots in com pany with the Perpetual Motion and the Philoso pher's Stone. We know now that these Arctic expeditions are mere crawling and digging and dog driving under great discomfort, but with little danger ; and we have no hope that any result can come of them of the slightest practical use to man kind. A man will get more credit now for a good survey of a coral reef in the track of a trader than for three years passed in eating pemmican and rub bing his frost-bitten nose with the snow of the North Pole. The object, therefore, fails. When Ross and Franklin and Osborn and M'Clintock made names in the frozen zone, people believed in results to come. Their adventures were followed by the public eye, and their skill, courage, and endurance made them famous. All this is gone by. The frozen zone has passed as much out of fashion as the Da venport Brothers. Captain Osborn thought that Arctic service now is what he found it to be. We are as anxious as he is that opportunities for dis tinction should be open for the young and ardent spirits of our naval profession ; but they must break new ground. Sir Edward Belcher says that whales leave the northern seas and tend towards the equator, because they like warm water. Whales are very sensible animals. We wish we could say as much of the geographers. POST.—The occasion which Mr. Davis has taken for addressing a special Message to Congress is un questionably one which amply justifies him in adopt ing so unusual a step. The brief interval which has elapsed since the opening of the present session of the Confederate Parliament has been crowded with events, and the position and prospects of the infant republic have meantime undergone a serious change. Indeed, it may be admitted that during the past three or four months the Federal Government have achieved more brilliant and, at the same time, sub stantial successes over the Confederate arms than during the entire antecedent period of the war, and have for the first time afforded what to many may seem satisfactory evidence of their ability to accom plish the task which they have undertaken. The con fidence of the Confederates in their ultimate success may remain unshaken, but in the eyes of the world the prestige which has for so long a time supported them has sustained a severe blow. " Events, says Mr. Davis in his Message, " have so materially affected the state of the country as to evince the necessity of further and more energetic legislation than that of November last." During that time two, indeed we might say three entire States have been overrun, their principal towns occupied, and, though it would be incorrect to say that their population has been reduced to a state of subjec tion, the Confederacy 'has been deprived of the assistance which the people of those States would otherwise have been in a position to render, and of the supplies which out of their resources they would have been enabled to afford. The seaports through which, though blockaded, numerous cargoes of con traband of war had been received from the opposite side of the Atlantic have been captured or aban doned, and since Congress last received a Message from the President the Confederacy has lost every outlet available for trading purposes on that wide extent of seaboard which stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to Chesapeake Bay. However firm, there fore, may be the resolution of the Confederates, however sanguine they may be of the future, and however confident that their subjugation by the po pulation of the Northern States will never be effected, the events which have taken place must exercise so great an influence on - the future course of the war, that the special attention of the Legislature is fit ' tingly directed to the consideration of the best means by which their effect can be counteracted. In no spirit of fear or trepidation, but with a perfect con sciousness of the gravity of the situation, Mr. Davis accordingly invites his Congress to adopt such mea sures as the altered position of affairs may demand. However patriotic may be the sentiments of the Southern President, it is not easy to discover in the measures which he has submitted for the acceptance of Congress any scheme which, even if accepted, would in any important respect alter for the better the present condition of the Confederates. Money and supplies for the army are wanting, and both one and the other are sought by Mr. Davis. " If," says Mr. Davis in his Message, two millions of dollars in specie can be raised, then the armies in Virginia and South Carolina can be supported for the re mainder of the year." The sum is certainly not a large one when considered relatively to the exi gencies of a State; and under any other circumstances than those in which the Confederate Government are placed it would seem almost puerile to address the representatives of upwards of 6,000,000 of people, and tell them that the probable success of their last struggle for civil and political liberty depended on their being able to furnish such a sum to the army which was fighting in their defence. The money grants made by the Confederate Congress have, as Mr. Davis admits, been liberal, but they have not been sufficient to meet the demands which have been occasioned by the war. But it is not alone by money grants that Mr. Davis tells his Congress that the war is to be carried to a successful conclusion. The Habeas Corpus Act must be suspended. That is to say, the Government must be entrusted with almost absolute power, and those bulwarks with which the liberty of the citizen is environed must for the time be thrown down. This is an extreme measure, but Mr. Davis may fairly allege that it is not lie who has set the example in adopting it. When two years ago the Confederate army crossed the Potomac, the Federal Government suspended the same Act, and placed several States, into which the tide of war had not even then advanced, under martial law. It is not in itself any reproach on the system of government in a State that those measures which are intended to be a protection to its citizens in time of peace should be suspended ; and it will be in the recol lection of many that even in this country, and more especially in Ireland, the Legislature have deemed it expedient in troublous times to suspend the operation of a law which, more than any other in the statute-book, is specially intended to secure the subject from the abuse of irresponsible power. That the Confederate army requires money, that is to say, the means of obtaining supplies, must be evident to all ; and the Southern President is justified in pressing upon his Parliament the neces sity of affording to them the means of supplying , their wants. No alternative, as he justly puts it, is left to them except to surrender and submit to be held prisoners by those who were once their slaves, or to fight for independence with all the energy of which they are capable. The nego tiations for peace failed ; but, as Mr. Davis demon strates, the failure was attributable solely to the Federal Government, and to the utterly unaccept able nature of the proposals which they made. Mr. Lincoln positively refused to negotiate with the Southern Government as such, and when the latter. in their desire to obviate that difficulty, suggested a military convention, it was rejected by the Federal Commander-in. Chief. The circumstances tinder which the recent negotiations came to an impotent conclusion are alluded to in Mr. Davis's message, and we are certainly not surprised that the Southern President should conclude that the sole object of the Federal Government was to reduce them to the most abject submission. However adverse circum stances may have been, the Confederacy has not yet reached that pass where it has no choice but to accept the yoke which the North is anxious to im pose upon it ; and we can only hope that the measures to be adopted by the Confederate Congress may realise the results anticipated by the Chief Magistrate of the Republic. HEALTH OF LONDON, (Front the Registrar-General's Weekly Return.) In the week that ended last Saturday the births in Lon don and nine other cities or boroughs of the United King dom were 3,930, the deaths 3.091. The annual rate of mortality in the week in those 10 largo towns was 29 per 1,000 persons living, and greater than in the previous week, when it was 28. In London the births of 1,091 boys and 1,010 girls, in all 2,101 children, were registered in the week. In the corres ponding weeks of 10 years, 1855-64, the average number, corrected for increase of population, was 2,073. The deathsin London in the same period were 1,634. The average number for the 12th week in 10 years (corrected) is 1,471. The deaths in the present return, therefore, exceed by 163 the estimated number. From zymotic diseases 299 persons died; smallpox proved fatal in 10 cases ; 31 deaths occurred from scarlatina, and 12 from diphtheria; 93 children died from whoopingcough, six of whom were in the subdistrict of Tottenham-court. Typhus was not so fatal as in the previous week, the num ber declining from 85 to 53. Seven deaths from fever in the Whitechapel workhouse, Mile-end New-town, wero registered. The deaths during the week from diseases of the respi ratory organs (exclusive of phthisis) were 417. From bron chitis 265 deaths occurred; 83 persons died from pneumo nia, and 29 from asthma. Phthisis proved fatal to 160 persons. A female, aged 59 years, died on 2d March at Middlesex Hospital, from injuries caused by being run over by a vehicle in the street. A labourer, aged 56 years, died on 17th March, at St. Mary's Hospital, from fractured skull, in consequence of falling from a van. A carman, aged 34 years, died on 21st March, at St. Mary's Hospital, from rupture of liver and other injuries caused by being run over by a van. The son of a collector, aged eight years, was killed on 18th March by being run over by an omnibus on Holborn-hill. A " needlewoman, aged 40 years, died on 17th March at St. Luke's Workhouse, from effusion on the chest, caused by exposure and destitution." The rate of mortality was 28 per 1,000 in London, 33 in Edinburgh, and 33 in Dublin ; 35 in Liverpool, 26 in Man chester, 24 in Salford, 28 in Birmingham, 33 in Leeds, 24 in Bristol, and 31 in Glasgow. . The rate in Vienna was 40 per 1,000 during the week ending the 11th inst., when the temperature was 26 . deg. Fahrenheit lower than in the same week in London, when the rate was 26 per 1,000. In Liverpool the births were 369, the deaths 318 ; in Manchester the births 210, the deaths 179 ; in Salford the births 101, the deaths 52 ; in Birmingham the births 226, the deaths 174 ; in Leeds the births 171, the deaths 143 ; in Bristol the births 103, the deaths 73 ; in Edinburgh the births 115, the deaths 110 ; in Glasgow the births 345, the deaths 249 ; and in Dublin the births 159, the deaths 159. There were 431 deaths in Vienna during the week ending the 11th inst. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometerin the week was 29.702 in. The barometrical reading decreased from 29.89 in. on Tuesday, to 29.26 in. by the end of the week. The mean temperature of the air in the week was 34.0 deg., which is 8.2 deg. below the average of the same week in 50 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher) The highest day temperature was 45.8 deg. on Wednesday and Thursday. The lowest night temperature was 23.7 deg. on Tuesday. Tho entire range of temperature in the week was, thesefore, 22.1 deg. The mean of the highest temperatures of the water of the Thames was 38.8 deg ; that of the lowest was 37.5 deg. The difference between the mean dew-point temperature and air temperature was 7.5 deg. The mean degree of humidity of the air was 73, complete saturation being represented by 100. The general direction of the wind was E. and N. COUNTRY MARKETS ._ _ ~. S.A.L I S B URY.- T UESDAY. The attendance at market this morning was decidedly increased. There was a shorter supply of wheat, which met a brisk trade at an advance of 1s per qr. Barley was scarce, and business active. Moro doing in oats. The following are present prices :—Wheat realised from 36s to 448 ; barley, '23s to 355; oats, 19s to 28s ' • beans, 40s to 465; and peas, 34s to 48s per qr. Winter tares, from 8s to lls per bushel ; Best bread, 10d ; household ditto, 9d per 81b loaf. NEWCAS TLE-ON-TY EE.—T UESDAY. A good supply of wheat from the growers. A ready sale was experienced at the extreme rates of Saturday both fBor English and foreign wheat, being an advance of fully 1 per qr on the week. Barley scarce. Beans and peas were firm. Malt the same as last week. Flour advanced 1s p ot sack. Northumberland wheat sold from 32s to 445, Norfolk and Suffolk, 39s to 45s ' • Dantsic, 39s to 46s ; oats, 21s to 263 ; barley, 26s to 31s ; beans, 86s to 40s; rye, 27s to 36s ; 51s to 62s per qr. ; flour, 26s to 28s per sack. The averages were—wheat, :39s 11c1 . ; barley, 29s ld; oats, 23s sd; and beans, —s per quarter. LYNN.—T UESDAY. At to-day's market the supply of wheat was small, and the demand was active at an advance of is par qr. Both malting and grinding barley were fully is per qr higher' Beans and oats in favour of sellers. New wheat, 40s to 43s ; new red, 36s to 395; old white , 41s to 42s ; old red, 38s to 39s per 36 stone. Barley for malting, 29s to 33s ; secondary, 30s ; ordinary, 25s to 28 0 per qr. Oats, 20s to 24s per 24 stone. Beans, large, 355 to 368 ; small, 37s to 38s per 38 stone. MARKET HARBOROUGH.—TUESDAY. New white wheat, 41s to 44s ; new red, 36s to 40s per 36 stone. Barley, fine, 34s ; other kinds, 26s to 28s per c if' Oats, new, 19s to 23s ; old, 24s to 27s per qr. Beans, cif 40s to 425; new, 34s to 38s per qr. HIM L.—T UESDAY. Since our last a fair business has been done in the COo ll trade. English wheat has been offered sparingly, at an ad vance of is per quarter . Choice old whites make 460 to 47s ; fine high mixed, 44s ; mixed, 425. At our market to day millers bought freely of fresh English wheat at an ad vance of is per qr. Foreign met a better inquiry, at fill late rates. Spring corn of all kinds in moderato req uest~ without alteration in value. COAL MARKET. Price per ton at the close of the market. s. d. s. a; Byass's Bebside West Walls End Haswell... 22 H ar tl e y l5 9 Hetton 22 6 Cowen Hartley Tunstall a Carway and Duffryn East Hartlepool ...... 22 „ Malting 22 0 Holywell Main... ...... 16 u Ships at market, 29 ; sold, 26. • 5 [ ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Pills. —Satisfactory 138: sults.—Whenever the blood is foul, the stomach disordere“, or the bowels irregular, these pills prove infallible 015 tives. Many who had suffered for years, though they Id sought the best professional aid, write to say they cou it not describe the effect the medicine had upon them. re carried off more bile, and made them feel lighter and cheerful than all the medicine they had taken previ" s Holloway's pills strengthen the stomach, prevent bilious ness, purify the blood, raise the spirits, and give energY both body and mind. In diseases of the head, he art, kidneys, these pills are invaluable, not only in remoi ro t dangerous symptoms, but in warding off the dire off° often resulting from injudicious treatment. Births. BUnicE.—On the 27th inst., at Albury i the Hon. 3111 ' Newdigate Burne, of a son. ri C. DOUGLAS.—On the 28th inst., at Sutton, Surrey, Mrs. %-,• Douglas, of a son. GLYN.—On the 29th ins+., at 5, Eaton-place west, r 5" Glyn, of a son. O'GnAnr.—.At Dresden, Saxony, the wife of Stanai6ll Courcy ()Grady, Esq., of a Marriages. LOVELACE—JENKINS.—On the 29th inst., at St. JO; re) Paddington, the Right Hon. William, Earl of LoAre''?",,-s to Jane Crawford, widow of the late E d w ard Jenkl`' Esq., of the Bengal Civil Service. n t St• SEBRIGHT—FITZPATRICK.-011 the 27th instant, --ders George's, Hanover-square, Sir John Gage Stan'. . 0 , Sebright, Bart., of Beechwood , county Ho rts, to Onl. Amy Douglas, youngest daughter of the Right Ilan' W. Fitz Patrick, of Upper Ossery. Deaths. CORBOULD.—On the 28th inst., at Tallymoro ford Richard Thomas Corbould, late of the 139 ' 11k ° England, aged 82. r deng, CRocicronn.—On th E e sq 2 . 7: a h g i e n d st 7l at 83, Phillimore - V - late Kensington, Mrs. Frances Crockford, widow of the Wm. Crockford, JEUTIS.—On the 28th inst. at at 54, St. George's-road, S.~•+ Audoen Eyro, the infant son of Capt. Jervis, M' F ' WHARTON.—On the 27th inst., after two days' illnestia. DB.uWrhahiarn,toagne, aged of the Albany, Piccadilly ' , 111111 : ert o i coin's-inn-fields, Clerk of the Peace for the county London : Pt inted and Published by WILLIAM ANDg, i t , M of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at E SUN 0111Je, " ° ' o f Strand, in the Precinct of the S a v o y , in the COkrW Middlesex.—Thursday, March 30, 1865. THE Capital . paid Furth( J. B. T Londo Londe John Ha H. Mayr Port 1 Henry ] Grace( Joseph I don ar Arthur 1 Lou& Messrf Cornhill BROIL' needle-si AUDIT London) Messrs This ( plying a trading 1 steam co In ord ness to only no( tamed b ampton It is mouth o mails an There traffic. increash over the recognis insuranc by stean fle( fay . oural are new, dently e to compl about 3( The si price, an Two-1 and the short pe Applii annexed and Co. THE LI To tl Gentle £27 each to inaeri or any, accept at on allutr 'when, rt. The CR (Limit TILE to It 61 THE Ina°. poi 2:%5, '25 Comp a The liab Interco' annum those pa 31st Mai Capital, Deposit Calls n,' Sir JAN Chain William Bank, James ( Mobili IST lithailt Millws W. lune Horsh James and M J. Mack Mobil' le. G. W the Cr Messrs. John leo En!in W. Wils Mcssn Messrs. This( ing, un Sharehe factories the por combine the fern tropoliti The ( Inent pf FOR: To ti