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

LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—During the storms of the past year the National Lifeboat Institution, by its life boats and other means, contributed to the savint . of :07 persons from different wrecks on our coasts. The Insti tution also expended £21,374 in the same peri.d on its life boat ei tabshments, in addition to granting £4,950 for le wards for saving life and exercising the lifeboats. The Committee of the Institution earnestly A £'PEAL to the public for ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on the Institution's 150 lifeboat st.tions. Contributions are received by the London and country bankers • and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq., at th e I 'esti tudon, 14, John-street, Adelphl, London. rrII EATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. - Managers, Messrs. E. k'alouner and P. B. Chatterton. TFII3 tVENING, the Play of THE JEA.LOUS WI WE Mr. Phelps ; Nebsrs. li. Marston, Barrett, Warner, G. Delmore, E. l'helpe, Harcourt: Mrs. Herman Vezin, Mrs. Vandenhaf, & is es It. Leclercq. Seymour, &c. Alter which. the Pantomime, LITTLE KING rIPPEN ; or, Harlequin Fortunatus and the Magic ru,•se and Wishing Cap, Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.- Sole Less( e and Maw Buckstone. THIS EVENING, A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT. Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Compton ; 11119 s Ada Cavendish. To be followed by BROTHER SAM : Messrs. Sothern, Bucksione, Compton; Mesdames elly Moore, Snowden, &c. After which, ORPHEUS IN THE HAYMARKICT Messrs. W. Farren, Fisher, 1i man, Weathersby, ‘ te. ; Mesdames Keeley, Snowden, Moore, Lindley, Woolgar, Howard, Wright, Coleman, Lovell, Prevot, &o. To eor.elude with A KISS IN THE DARK. Commcnco at Seven. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.- Under the bole Management of Mr. Pechter. THIS EVENING, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER. Mr. Widdicomb. After Which, THE MASTER OF RAVENSWOOD. Mr. Frchter ; Messrs. Jordan, Emery, Widdicomb, Vezin, J. H. ritzpatriv, D. Evans ; Jaesdarneslernan, Rswortby, Lavenu, and C. Leclercq. Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five. itTEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI. 111 Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. „ . TIIIS EVENING. at 7, a new farce called PIPKIN'S RUSTIC BE PLEAT. Messrs J. L. Toole and P. Reword. After n hich, at 8, RIP VAN WINKLE. Rip (his 150th appearance), Mr. Jifferson, supported by Messrs. Billington, Bedford, It Phillips, k elix Rog..rs, Ashley, it.burne, C. J. Smith; Mrs. Biltingtcr, &o. To conclude with LEIIIND TIME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Phillips, Ebnrne, C. J. Smith ; Miss A. seaman, &c. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Alanager, Mr. (leo. 'Vining. THIS EVENING, QUIET LODGINGS. Al ter whi,h, at a quarter to Eight, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. Characters by Messrs. Vining. T. Mel ville, T. Mead, D. Murray, S. Calhaem, F. Villiers, J. G. shore, G. Murray, It. Mellon, C. Seyton, It. Cathcart; blioa L. Moore and Miss Katherine Rodgers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee Id Manageress. Mrs. bwanborough. THIS EVENING, at Seven (19th time), a new and orig,l - Comedy, TIIE FLY AND THE WEB. Messrs. Par aelle and Price; Misses Swanborough and Raynham. After whic:i will be produced a new Opera Burlesque, L'AFRICAINE; or, The Queen of the Cannibal Islan is. Messrs. Stoyle, James, Thorne ; Mesdames Swanborough, If aynham, Johnstone, .tc. To conclude with LENDING 1 ILt D. Mess - s. Belford Turner; Misses Simpson and Hughes. ei RATIS AND POST FItEE. kA E. MOSES and SONS' IeAsHIONABLE ALMANAC for 1861, List ot Feces, with Fashion-card for the present season. MOSES AND S 0 N E• respectfully call attention to their large and well. assorted stock of JUVENILE CLOTHING. The newest faorics are combined with the latest and most fashionable designs, and the best workmanship. E. MOSS and SON give particular attention to this important branch of their business, and they can with confidence affirm that the prices ire such as must satisfy the most eoonornical. Tnis depart ment is in a (dstinct part of the premises, which will be iuund a great convenience for ladies and children. MOSES AND SON E. respectfully invite public attention to their large and w•e i l-as sorted WINTER STOCK. MOSES AND SON'S • "SANDRINGHAM" and "DANISH " WRAPPER litroduced oy them) is the newest and most fashiontb e style ut Overcoats for the season. MOSES AND SON'S ~• READY-MADE and BESPOKE CLOTHING for all classes and all ages. MOSES AND S O N'S • CELEBRATED "INDISPENSABLE" SUIT, trom 30s. E s MOSES AND SON'S 110SIE . ILY and DRIPERY, for all classes and all ages. 11 - 1 MOSES AND S O N'S _I • HATS AND CAI'S, fur all classes and all ages. AND SUN'S • DI sBOEO'I'SS d So: all classes and all ages. 1p MOSES AND SON'S ju• 0 UTFI l'S, for all classes, all ages, and all climates. FMOSES AND SON'S • LONDON HOUSES, 154, 155, 15P, 157, Minories; 83, 81, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, Aldgate ; 306, 507, 508, New Oxford--street; 1,2, 3, Hart-street; 137, 138, lottenham-court-road ; 288, Euston-road. Also, Bradford, Yorkshire. 10 MOSES AND SON'S _CU • Establishments ale closed every Friday evening at Suuset until uaturday evening at sunset, when business is re sumed until 11 o'clock. All articles are marked the lowest prices in plain figures. Any article nut appr4vEd of will be exs,haugtd. or the money returned. of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion Card, and our ni w pamphlet, "The rhilosophy of Dress," gratis aril post free. lIE LAST EDITION OF " THE SUN,' Containing the Latest StVILTIA(i LN L'ELLIti P...• Ln Dan be had Every Muting' of U. I{. tiLltN I 14), NEWS AGENT, No. 4. Connaught- terrat e, Ilyde-park. JPIIE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN" supplied, as soon as published every Evening*, by . ALEXA.NDEII (late BltOUICS), newspaper Agent, 24, Old Cavendi d 11- street., Oxford-street. 111 IE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as soon as Published. containing all the LA rEsT NICWS and SPOUTING INTELLIGtuNOE, by' 11. W. lIIIIIIIS, DieAspaptr Agent, 1, Blackirlara-road, Loudon, S. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." .1. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the puthie generally, that he auppites the LATEST EDITIoN 1111 4 ; bUN" as soon as published—No.l6, llampslead road, N.W. PORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supplies the L - 5,. LATEST EDITION of " fit bUN" as soon as pub- Bath-strtet, City-road, E.C. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins DAY.-MOrtliriC, 12n. 30 m.—Afternoon, lh. Om. TJ-Mounow.-31@rning, lh. 26m.—Afternoon, lh. 50m. ~~i~ 4mt. LONDON, TUESDAY, FEB. 27, 1866. respectin g is, perhaps, no part of our administration which there is a more uncomfortable feeling of misgiving and dissatisfaction existing in the public mind than the conduct of our naval af fairs. The uneasiness and discontent is possibly increased by the fact that few civilians know much about the matter. They have only a vague idea that a great deal of m_n ey is spent to very little purpose, that s hi ps are b pieces, and put together ag ain w ithout rebuilt, taken to ithout even seeing s ervice, that the outlay in our dockyards is like pouring water through a sieve, that p r i vate t a lent and enterprise receive a Steady discourage ment, and that a system of favouritis m pre vails which refuses to entertain any new sche me 'or project unless it originates in properly authorised. quarters. Unfortunately, when professional men take up the subject all they say tends to confir m these popular misgivings, and the Secretary for the Admiralty has no very easy or enviable task in submitting his yearly budget to the House of Com mons. He generally succeeds, indeed, in carrying his point, for if there is one thing more than another about which Englishmen are disposed to be liberal, it is their navy; and rather than appear indifferent or averse to the maintenance of our naval supre macy, they vote large sums of money annually, notwithstanding the uncomfortable conviction that the funds might be better spent. Last evening Lord CLARENCE PAGET bad to submit not only to some severe criticism, but to the adjournment of the debate. He was, indeed, spared the comments of a very formidable critic owing to the absence of Mr. LAIRD from illness, anabsence e tn o which to re several speakers did not scruple public regret as well as on personal grounds. Sir JOHN BAKING TON, however, subjected the Secreta r y's statements to a severe examination, - while Mr. SAMUDA objected to the favourite designs for ship-building. Mr. BAILLIE took exception to the enormous expenditure on ironclads, and Admirals WALCOTT and SEY MOUR found respectively something to complain of in the rate of speed in our ships, and in the treat ment of our minor officers. On all these topics there was certainly room not only for criticism, but for censure ; but the speech of the right honourable baronet the member for Droit wich was, naturally enough, the speech of the debate. The most formidable portion of his attack on the Admiralty was that on which the common sense•and justice of the country will go with him, for there is a general impression that with regard to the turret system the GOvernment has neither shown regard to the interests of the public nor to the claims of private enterprise and inven tion. We are very glad to find that Sir JOHN PAKINGTON is resolved to call the Board of Admi ralty to account for their treatment of Cap tain COLES. It is not very surprising that Lord CLARENCE PAGET, as their spokesman, should have shown a desire to postpone the evil day, and shuffle off the inevitable discussion. Sir J. PAKINGTON, however, was not disposed to pass the matter over so easily. He reminded the house that last year, when addressing it on this subject, the noble lord said, " The first proposal we have to make is, that we shall endeavour, if possible, to construct a ship on the turret principle which shall be a real sea-going vessel." " How," asked the right hon. baronet, " has that promise been fulfilled? The year has passed, and the same promise has to be made over again." The proposal for the new turret ship, such as it is, does not commend itself to the approval of Sir JOHN PAKINGTON. The new vessel, the Monarch, is to be more than 5,000 tons ; while Mr. LAIRD has already shown by the Vesta that a turret ship of 1,100 tons can possess every quality of a good sea-going ship. The Vesta has already been subjected to au ordeal which very few of the Government vessels care to face too readily : she has made a long voyage in bad weather. But the size an i tonnage of the proposed vessel was not the only point ou which Sir JOHN PAKING TON was inclined to regard the proceedings of the Admiralty with suspicion. "Above all," he said,' " I want to know, after this long delay who is to design the s'aip and to be responsible for it ? It is well-known that Captain COWPER COLES was the originator of this plan. The Admiralty several years ago recognised it as an experiment worth try ing. No one will deny that if an experiment be worth trying it ought to be fairly and thoroughly tried. If it has been tried at all it certainly has neither been done fairly nor promptly." But, in fact, as Sir J. PAKINGTON went on to show, Cap tain COLES'S plan has never been tried at all. The Royal Sovereign has been converted into a ship very useful in its way, no doubt, but by no means the sort of ship that Captain COLES designed. In vain has Captain COLES entreated over and over again that his plan for a turret ship, long ago ap proved theoretically by the Admiralty, should be put to a practical test. The present constructor of the navy, Mr. REED, favoured a rival system. " I ask," indignantly exclaimed Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, " if the Admiralty has not allowed the invention of a rival system to have all the advantages of official support and experiments, while the invention of Captain COWPER COLES has up to the present hour never been fairly tried, although it was long ago accepted by the Board as a system well worthy of a trial." Certainly public opinion will be inclined to endorse the verdict of the right hon. member for Droitwich, that in this the Admiralty is most to blame. The great question as to the rival merits of the broadside and turret systems remains to be settled, and it was clearly the duty of the Admiralty to give a fair trial to the turret ship. Sir JOHN PAKING TON asked ironically under whose guidance and direction the new ship was to be constructed, that of Captain COLES or of Mr. REED ; but it is matter of common notoriety that Captain COLES has already received his conge on the plea of a breach of official etiquette. He is, in fact, been got rid of before this gran3 new turret ship is constructed, so that he may not carry off any share of the credit if successful. Sir JOILN PAKINGTON found another occasion for disapproving the Government scheme. lie com plained that the new vessel was to be " unneces sarily- and unwisely large, incurring an enormous expense, while' it would have been far better to test the qualities of the system as to its sea-going powers by means of a much smaller and less expensive vessel." But, in fact, Mr. LAIRD has already put the system to the test, and has proved by the Vesta that a sea-going turret ship is by no means a matter of impossibility. It is a little too bad that when there is undoubted talent in the country, ready and willing to devote itself to the service of the country, the Executive should refuse to employ it. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON boldly attributed the recent failures in the speed of our men-of-war, and other mishaps, to the fact that 'the Government have allowed themselves to lose that shipbuilding talent which they once possessed." Mon of inde pendenze and ability are year by year driven from our public service, disgusted with the treat ment which they receive, and the natural conse quence is that, while our annual naval expendi ture is reckoned by millions, our fleet and our Administration are in an equally unsatisfactory state. Mr. GLADSTONE cannot certainly find his new position a bed of roses, for he is constantly being called to account, and far oftener by friends than by foes. Last night Mr. WHITE took upon himself the arduous task of revising the national expendi ture, and in the course of his long oration drew very unfavourable conclusions as to the mode in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer conducted matters in his department. Mr. WHITE seemed to be very much afraid lest the right hon. gentleman should forget his old promises, and yield to the various temptations that assail him from many quarters. He took a decided step to remind him of his responsibilities by quoting a passage from the speech made to the electors of South Lancashire last summer, in which Mr. GLAD STONE declared that he did not think the expendi ture.of the cou n t ry was yet 'reduced to the l owes t possible point consistent with honour and security. The appearance of the estimates for the present year has shaken Mr. \V MITE'S confidence in the present Government, which, thought an ivap v r t o ho eran though far ol ar i thefrom per fect, we had thou last one. While he had relied on the encouraging idea held out of old things passinf, away and all things becoming new, he found that the sum required for the army, navy, and civil service was simi lar to that demanded last year. Certainly this was a disappointmeht, and Mr. WHITE as not inclined to mince matters, as he recalled its bitterness ; for he said very plainly, that unless these defects were altered the Govern ment ought to go out and " allow other men, cap able of conducting the Government of the country THE LO.N.OON, TUES DA Y EVENING-, FEBRUARY 27, 18C6. in a better manner, and at a cheaper rate, to take their places." This is proceeding to extremities at an early period of the session ; and well may the new leader of the House exclaim, " Save me from my friends," when he is thus greeted by a supposed supporter of his policy. The incongruity that exists between :the Chancellor of the Exchequer's words and actions excites the wrath and indignation of the hon. member for Brighton, as we learn from the lines of POPE, by which such inconsistency was described— " A very heathen in the carnal part, Yet still a sad good Christian at her heart." There was great truth, at all events, in the conclu sion come to by Mr. WHITE, namely, that if we are to have such constantly increasing and extremely heavy expenditure, we should be spared the homilies in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was wont to indulge at the close of the Session, in which he had submitted extravagant estimates to the House, and thus it went abroad that he "was the advocate of the greatest economy and the enemy of all prodiga lity." It is very ackward for a Minister, more especially a financial one, to meet with such a com mentator as the hon. member last informed the House that he had been going over the right hon. gentleman's speeches, and he could easily compile from them a " Financial Reformer's Manual, or Economical Guide." Like most extreme politicians, Mr. WiirrE has run away with the idea that fully half of the £70,000,000 yearly taxation was borne by the un represented classes. The two resolutions which the hon. member moved and afterwards withdrew con tained truth in themselves, but were not of a practi cal nature, nor of that class which the House would be likely to affirm and approve of. He showed his sense and discretion in not pressing them to a division, and notwithstanding many exagge rations, and some untenable propositions made by Mr. WHITE, some good may be gained by his elabo rate speech ; and the question is one which emi nently, under all its attributes, deserves the attention and consideration of Parliament. There is another view of the question which may well engage notice, and that is, Ilow is all the money spent which is raised in such large sums ? are the interests of the public properly considered when we take into ac count the advantages which the Government possess in the way of resources? Mr. GLADSTONE, in his brief speech, contrived with great dexterity to defend the Administration from the attacks which had been made upon it. In the first place, he stated very truly that to convey a deliberate judgment to the House, it would not do to quote passages from speeches which were too warmly coloured to convey views to Parliament. The right hon. gentleman very fairly admitted that the chief responsibility of all the estimates proposed rested with the Crown. Mr. GLADSTONE, with some reason, differs from the opinion set forth by Mr. ItinlTE, as to the non-advisability of fight ing the battle of retrenchment in Committee of Supply ; and declared that " the House would never be thoroughly equipped with regard to its steward ship of the public expenditure unless there were in it a race of men who standing in the position of independent members, will do us the immeasurable service of devoting their time, energy, and labour to the wearying and irksome business of making themselves acquainted with a vast mass of detail, and by following from point to point every item of public expenditure, and bringing to bear upon it the force of independent judgment and the light of public opinion." This is very correct, because it is always far easier to find fault with a thing than to suggest a remedy. Foremost among those —who are few and far between in the ranks of Parliamentary men who have done good service to the State in the dreary drudgery of economical survey—stands the name of the late Mr. HUME, to whose zeal and assiduity the Chancellor of the Ex chequer paid a high compliment last night in his remarks upon the services which private members might render to the cause of retrenchment. If we had more to follow such an example now no doubt we should not find Reform in this important department of the Administration a visionary theory, instead of a practical benefit. If there is one thing more than another which re quires time, thought, and patience, it is certainly the question of the national expenditure, and it generally happens that those most in earnest about instituting changes are too eager and impetuous, and desire all kinds of impossible schemes and im taeitreanable changes. As M r . G LADSTONE rem i n d e d Housemene mere e, lastosurdand single 1, determination t i ed t reme i must njoait o not inn oott the e b eo upsaer,ta supposed o , t Can 3t Government, a e oi c vl in a moment alter that which is the result of long traditions, of habits, and practice of policy existing throughout several generations." Sir-S. NOIITHCOTE, on the part of the Opposition, declared that they as frequently advocated economy on their side of the house as those on the Ministerial Benches could do. While he admitted the necessity for adopting care, the hon. baronet said that if the house agreed to the resolutions of the hon. member for Brighton, and then did nothing, they would be open to the accusation plausibly brought by that lion. member against the Chancellor of the Exche quer himself. England when the point relates to Ireland. Pre judices make the common law. Nevertheless powerful voices are often raised in her favour. Let the English meditate upon the chapter written by Napoleon the Third about England and no longer allow the reign of arbitrary power in Ireland. Since the Habeas Corpus Act has had such good effects in England, let them not be egotists. If the Parliament in a fit of unjustifiable terror may have thought fit to deprive Ireland of the benefit of it, let not the deprivation be of long duration. As to our French statesmen, they may also benefit by reading these lines. Passports have been abolished, criminal proceedings have been shortened ; but how many abuses still exist which have not been touched upon in this sketch of the Habeas Corpus Act." This latter sentence brings me to the most im portant amendment which is to be proposed to the Address—" That it is convenient and opportune to give to the act of 1860 the developments which be long to it." In other words, a direct conflict is provoked by the terms of this amendment between what in England would be termed the Conservatives and the Whigs. The amendment has received a great many signatures, but the Government pos sesses the general confidence of the Chamber, and it " needs no ghost from the grave" to predict that there is no chance of its success. The Moniteur states that the volcanic explosion in the island of Santorin, having caused great uneasiness to the inhabitants of the Hellenic Archi pelago, the Minister of France at Athens had em barked on board the Monette for the islands of Syra and Thera, to assure the Catholics of the religious establishments there of the solicitude of the Government of the Emperor, and of his promise to aid them, in case the further progress of these dan gerous explosions should render assistance ne cessary. The steeplechases at La Marche commenced yes terday. The weather was very faVourable, and the attendance numerous. The opening prize of 2,500 f. for horses which had never won a steeplechase of the value of B,ooof. was won by R. M. D., a bay mare, six years old, belonging to Count de la Bigne. Distance 4,000 metres. Five horses ran. Katinka was second, Infante third. An objection was made that R. M. D. did not carry the required weight, but it was overruled. At Croydon R. M. D. won the Cup. The Tribune prize (handicap) was won by M. E. Porte's Alezane mare, Senteur, 5 years old, carrying 65 kilogrammes. Perle-Fine 2d, Gabion 3d. In these races all obstacles were easily overcome by the horses. Distance, 3,000 metres. The trial prize, 1,500 f., was won by M. Lunel's Milton. Sixteen horses were entered, nine ran ; Niger 2d, Droit du Seigneur lid. Among the many beautiful improvements of Paris will be the construction of a new street from the Theatre Francais to the new Opera on the Boule vards. Alreadyscme of the most unsightly buildings of Paris have beeen levelled opposite the Theatre Frangais, weere is to be a splendid square, which will be decorated with a statue of Joan of Arc. The site for this statue has long been a matter of con test, but the locality is now decided upon. The first Emperor intended to have a street direct from the Tuileries to the Boulevards. The present Em peror desires to carry his uncle's views into effect, and it is probable that the Rue des Pyramides with this object will be prolonged into the new street in question. The Moniteur of this evening states that accounts from Mexico to the 27th January mention that the Imperial troops continue to obtain victories over revolted bands. A financial plan for the establish ment . of the Mexican budget has been prepared. According to this project, the budget will present a total of about 150 millions of francs. LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) SPAIN. MADRID, FEB. 26. The Epoca, of this evening, announces that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has made final declara tions on behalf of the temporal power of the Holy See. The Minister of Marine is seriously ill. THE PRINCIPALITIES. VIENNA, FEB. 27. It is asserted that France, Austria, and Russia have agreed upon the expediency of assembling in Conference, as proposed by the Porte, for the settle ment of the question of the Principalities. This Conference would be composed of delegates from the Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris, and would sit at Constantinople. It is also stated that France and Austria concur in their views upon the affairs of the Lebanon and the Eastern question generally. FRANCE. PARTS, FEB. 27. The Emperor, the Empress, and the Prince perial received on Sunday the Commissioners of the Paris Exhibition. The Emperor, in announcing the appointment of the Prince Imperial as Honorary President of the Commission, said—" My son is at present too young to take an active part in your deliberations, but he will at least have an opportunity of learning in good time to honour labours which secure the prosperity and splendour of the State." BOURSE, Feb. 26, Three o'clock.—The market closed on the following quotations : ti per Cents 99 40 Do. end month 3 per Cent 5......,., 69 30 Do. end month E9 35 Credit Mobilier Do. end month Bank Shares 3690 Credit Fonder 1335 Italian Loan 6l 40 Do. end month 6l 40 RAIL' Roman — Ottoman Fives — Mexican Loan — Do. Bonds — Russian — Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt — Deferred 'AT& Cash. Acct. Orleans Northern — ... 1115 Lyons and Mediterranean — ... 886 25 Southern ... 552 50 Western — .. 570 Eastern — ... 541 25 Sardinian . — ... 141 25 Austrian Lombard — ... , 398 75 North of Spain — ... 172 50 Saragossa — ... 225 Ditto to Barcelona - -- ... 105 Roman — ... 113 57 CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARTS, Monday Evening. The position of affairs in Ireland seems to excite even more interest in France than in England, and in the absence of " metal more attractive," I think cannot do better than refer to the subject. 'The Siecle says, " The spirit of terror has prevailed over principle in the English Parliament," and proceeds to extract from the works of Napoleon the Third the greater portion of the chapter devoted to indi vidual liberty in England. Referring to the Habeas Corpus, Napoleon says," In general it is true to say there is more liberty in England and more equality in France. That may be easily conceived from the organisation of the two people." The Imperial writer proceeds to consider what are the principal guarantees of individual liberty in England. " The great Charter of King John proclaimed the first principles of individual liberty, but under the des potic reigns of the Tudors and the first Stuart s , i t was generally recognised that every Englishman deprived arbitrarily of his liberty could appeal to the Courts of Justice. At the commencement of the reign of Charles the First, the Courts of Justice solemnly decided that they could not restore to liberty a prisoner arrested by order of the King or the Lords of the Privy Council, even if the arrest should be made without any allegation as to the cause of it. This decision caused much excite ment, and led to the Petition of Right, in the third year of the reign of Charles the First, according to which no arrest could be made under such circumstances. As the judges did not pay much attention to this alleged right another statute was passed by which the judges were required to grant without delay a writ of habeas corpus. Means, however, were found to elude this right, and it was only after the definitive vote of the third year of the reign of Charles the Second that there was a repression of the abuses against liberty." After fully describing the pro visions of the Habeas Corpus Act Napoleon the Third alludes to the power of imprisonment claimed by the House of Commons and exercised in modern times, s t , o b ut controlsays there t i h s e a p s o t m i e l greater rof p lib public o v p e i r n i i n o n E . n g - The Siecle adds " Unfortunately there is no public opinion iz "London Assurance" at DFury-lane. The performance yesterday afternoon, in the in terests of The Theatrical Fund, of Dion Bouci cault's Five-act comedy of ct London Assurance" on the boards of Old Drury, went off very effec tively, and to the delight of all those who were as sembled in the National Theatre to witness it. The comedy itself—thickly sprinkled in the dialogue with old-fashioned " dammes," and relating, as it does, to such obsolete " larks" as those indulged in mere than a quarter of a century sinceby the late Marquis of Waterford and his boon companions—proved a trifle passe. Thanks, however, to the racy humour of Mr. Compton's pettifogging lawyer Mark Meddle, (ambitious of being kicked, courting a kick, in fact, as actionable, with uplifted coat-tails) thanks, again, to the broad humour of Mr. Buckstone's Dolly Spanker—and thanks in no small degree also to the whimsical impersonation of the valet Cool by Mr. Clark, that best and drollest of all stage-servants,--the performance, as a whole,: went [off delightfully. Mr. Chippendale took great pains with the character of Sir Harcourt Courtley, but that character itself is too intrinsically disgusting, contemptible, and ridiculous to be re garded with anything like even toleration. Mrs. Hermann Vezin's Lady Gay Spanker only made one sigh for the remembrance of poor charming riant Mrs. Nesbitt. Miss Nelly Moore looked and played prettily enough as Grace Harkaway. The light comedy part of Dazzle was to have been assumed by Mr. Sothern—otherwise Brother Sam, otherwise Lord Dundreary—but, in his unavoidable absence, was enacted by Mr. Jordan, with the close shaven, stiff, black beard, the deep voice, and the heavy manner of your most approved stage-villain. A hearty round of applause greeted the appearance in turn of each popular favourite, the whole body of performers at the close of the play being summoned before the footlights by acclamation. Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum. The annual general meeting of the governors and subscribers to this institution, and the half-yearly election of inmates into it, took place yesterday at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. The number of children to be elected was 20, 8 girls and 12 boyr, out of a list of 35 approved can didates. The polling for the election of these opened at 12 o'clock, and closed at 3 in the afternoon, and at 4 o'clock the chair was taken by Mr. H. Green, the treasurer of the institution, who, having an nounced the names of the successful candidates, the business of the meeting commenced. Mr. R. W. HACKWOOD, the secretary, read the 38th anual report of the committee of management. The institution now possessed a freehold property worth little short of £30,000, unfettered by liabili ties of any kind. The receipt of an increased num ber of annual subscriptions, of liberal donations, and some few legacies, had enabled them, during the year, to repay the balance of the 'loan from the bankers, by which the cost of the new asylum was entirely liquidated in 1864, and also to add upwards of £6OO to the invested capital of the charity. Since the date of the last report Lady Morrison had added to her former benefactions to the institution by placing in the hands of the trustees a sum for the endowment of the chapel erected at her expense for the use of the asylum. On the 26th of April last the anniversary festival in connexion with the institution was held under the presidency of Mr. Alderman Lusk, M.P., when about £1,500 was collected in behalf of the funds. The committee specially acknowledged a donation of 100 guineas from Mr.ll. D. Hodgson, M.P., a similar contribution from Messrs. Bly th, Green, and Co., and a thirty-third gift of £lOO from the corporation of the Trinity-house. A legacy of £2,000, under the will of the late Richard Thornton, Esq., and one of 100 guineas handed in by the executors of the late John Allan, Esq., had also been received before the accounts for the year were closed, whilst one of £lOO by Mrs. J. R. Williams, Canada West, and a be quest of £lOO made, by Mr. Nathaniel Gould, and paid during the testator's lifetime, had also lately been added to the fund. The amount arising from ship collecting-boxes had during the year reached over £6OO. During the year 39 children had been admitted into the asylum after election, four had been admitted by purchase, and one by presentation, which number, after deducting 21 who had left, gave a total of 162 children, namely, 103 boys and 59 girls, now resident, or nearly 50 more than was on the books when the new asylum was first occu pied in 1864. The election of that day would still further increase the number to 183. The report was unanimously adopted, and a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. THE BOMBAY MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 20. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Massilia, Captain Lockie, with the heavy Bom bay mails, arrived this evening. She brings 35 passengers ; 11 packages specie, value £3,139 ; pre cious stone, 6,000 rupees ; and a general cargo, con sisting of 482 bales cotton, 292 bales 469 boxes silk, 1,271 chests tea, 95 chests oranges, 23 casks wine, and 43 packages sundries. The Massilia experienced along the coast of Por tugal a strong north-easterly gale and heavy sea ; across the Bay of Biscay heavy squalls of rain and sleet with tremendous north-west swell, and up the Channel dark, squally weather, with moderate breezes. On the 19th the Massillia exchanged signals with the Pero., bound to Alexandria with the outward mails of the 12th, and on the 21st with the British brig Queen, steering eastward ; also with a man-of war, supposed French, standing east, under steam and sail. The usual Egyptian squadron was at Alexandria. Her Majesty's ship Pelican left Alexandria on the 12th for Beyrout. The Victoria, Hibernia, Caledonia, Gibraltar, Royal Oak, Resistance, Enterprise, Hydra, Cocka trice, Psyche, and Wizard, wee at Malta. IRELAND. DUBLIN, Feb. 26. On Saturday, six more soldiers, W. Price, D. Lyons, and W. Curry, privates, belonging to the 87th regiment ; J. Hughes, 75th regiment ; and D. Kinchela, alias J. Kelly, Royal Artillery, all on furlough in this city, were arrested on a charge of having deserted from their regiments and joined the Fenian Brotherhood. Subsequently to the arrests, the police having received information that some of the persons arrested as civilians at Pilsworth's pub lichouse in James's-street were soldiers in disguise, they proceeded to the prison in which they are con fined, and discovered that the men who had given their names as Thomas O'Brien and Wm. Thomp son were in reality two deserters from the sth Dra goon Guards, named James Wilson and Martin floynes. The police also arrested a man named James M'Grath at the North-wall on Saturday, on a charge of Fenianism. The men Cullen, Lawlor, Lyons, and Byrne, re cently arrested in Townsend-street under the sus pension of the Habeas Corpus, were•conveyed on Saturday night under a strong escort of police from the College-street Station to Mountjoy prison. The prisoners confined in Chancery-lane Station have not yet been removed. An important arrest has been made in the County Carlow. The Express correspondent says :—" After several mouths' searching, by night and day, John Morris, the famous Head Centre for Carlow, was arrested this morning at the house of his uncle, Ned Nolan, a farmer residinn. at Kilmaglash, near My shal. By the arrest of this outlaw the Fenian cause in this part of the country has got a serious check, as there is reason to suppose that he was one of the most active agents engaged in the treasonable con spiracy." £lOO reward had been offered for his apprehension. The arrest was very cleverly effected. At Ballinasloe yesterday morning, the same jour nal reports:--" Shortly after 2 o'clock, Sub-inspec tor Sweeny, accompanied by Head-constable Ellis, and a party of constabulary, proceeded to make a number of arrests. The parties at the time were in their beds, and no resistance was made. Their names were:—John Martin, butcher; Michael Clarke, stonemason, just returned from America ; John Eustace, baker; and Timothy Connor, shoemaker, late agent for the Irish People. The parties were brought to the police barracks, where our active re sident magistrate, Mr. John M. Hatchell, was in waiting, and they were soon transmitted to Bride well, where they remain at present with two sub constables on sentry. The loyal people of this town on proceeding to their various places of worship were greatly annoyed to hear of their arrests, though most of them expected such a result. It is expected that more arrests will speedily be made, and that disclosures will be made involving parties entirely unsuspected. The country in the meanwhile remains in a disquieted state, and the general desire is that troops should be sent here and to Loughrea. The local paper, the TVesternStar, has several times called on the Executive to send a couple of companies here, but we are still left to the protection of the police." Accounts from Limerick state that some Fenians were brought in by train from the country on Satur day and confined in the same prison with all the other suspected Fenians taken up during the week under the suspended Habeas Corpus Act. One of the prisoners is named Wall, schoolmaster of Kil mallock workhouse ; a second, Mr. Thos. Hartnet, an independent•farmer, from near Newcastle west ; and the third, Mr. Michael Condon, also a respect able farmerfrom the same neighbourhood. On pass ing through the streets to the prison much sympathy was expressed for them by the crowds who congre gated at all public thoroughfares to see them. A respectable young man from Rathcoole, ar rested yesterday under the same act, was also brought in and committed to the county gaol. It is said that great influence has been used to admit some of the parties to bail. The board of military officers, which has been sitting here for the last fortnight by adjournments, have not yet concluded their labours. Some civilian witnesses have given their evidence in such a vague way as to cause order after order to be issued for " further inquiries," and this has prolonged the sittings. It is now said that the testimony taken down by the Court will involve other non-commissioned officers besides the four under arrest. A young man named Dwyer was arrested this evening on suspicion of being Geary, who fired at the head -constable in Rath keale, but was discharged. The trial of Sergeant Darragh at Cork had not concluded on Saturday. The 41st half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway Com pany was held on Saturday at the Company's office, Talbot-street, Mr. John Barlow in the chair. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, explained the various propositions that bad been made to the directors of the Dublin and Drogheda Railway Company for an amalgamation of the two lines. A discussion followed, after which the report was adopted, and a dividend at the rate of 1i per cent. was declared. MONDAY EVENING. This morning the orderly-officers and sergeant majors in the Dublin garrison inspected the Fenian prisoners, and identified five, arrested in civilian clothes, as deserters from their regiments in Eng land. They were delivered handcuffed to the mili tary authorities. Three publicans and another man were arrested this morning at Sligo. Sergeant Campbell, of the Antrim militia, and two other men, were arrested to-day in Belfast ; also a man named Murphy, in Cork, and another at Kinsale. Ten casks of powder, weighing 25 pounds each, and 1,000 yards of fuzee, have been seized in Kilkenny. The Carlow " head-centre," for whose appre hension a reward was offered, has been taken in Belfast. A sergeant of the Antrim militia has been arrested hi Cork. In Bantry and other places several arrests are reported. Five persons recently arrived here, have been re cognised as deserters. One has been handed over to the military authorities, and the others remanded for further examination. The constable wounded in Tipperary, although he received three shots, is progressing favourably. Geary, who fired on the constable, still eludes the police. A constable was stabbed in Carrick-on-Suir last night while arresting a fellow for using treason able expressions. On Saturday upwards of 80 members of the Stephen's-green Club entertained the Chief Secre tary for Ireland at a banquet. This entertainment was intended as a marked compliment to Mr. For tescue prior to his departure from Ireland for his official duties in London. Railway and other Companies. STRATFORD-ON-AVON. The directors of this company have determined to declare a dividend for the past half-year at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum. LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DO VER. The report of the directors states that the gross receipts for the half-year ending the 31st of Decem ber last upon all the lines owned and worked by the company had been £271,134, against £237,225 for the corresponding half of 1864, showing an increase of £33,909, or 14.3 per cent. The working ex penses amounted to £143,823, or 53 per cent., against £124,124 in the same half of 1864, showing an increase of £19,700. The receipts of the gene ral undertaking amounted to £206,116, against £182,249, showing an increase of £23,867, or 13.10 per cent. The receipts of the Metropolitan Exten sions during the half-year amounted to £62,876, against £47,923 in same half of 1864, showing an increase of £14,952, or 31.20 per cent. The average receipts per mile of the general un dertaking in the half-year had been £2, 843 , as against £2,514 for the corresponding half of 1864. The average receipts per mile of the Metropolitan Ex tensions had been £5,240, against £4,167 per mile in 1864. The receipts of the steamboats during the half-year had been £36,646, and the expenditure £24,386, including £2,500 carried to the reserve and insurance fund, which now amounted to £15,562. The balance of the revenue account of the general undertaking amounted to £91,024, and for the cor responding half of 1864 to £80,544, showing an increased profit of £10,480 in the past half-year. The balance of revenue on the Metropolitan Exten sion amounted to 131,438, against 123,963, showing an increased profit of £7,475. The total number o f passengers conveyed on the company's railway and branch lines was 5,123,038, being 759,374 more than in the corresponding half of 1864. Of this number 629,632 were carried on the Metropolitan Extension, and 132,742 on the other lines of the company. Great frequency and regularity in the running of trains were conditions absolutely essential to the existence of traffic, especially in the metro politan district. On the city section the two addi tional lines between Loughborough Junction and the Elephant Castle, a distance of 1 mile 65 chains, were completed. The Great Northern Company, as a temporary measure, ran trains to Ludgate sta tion, and only awaited the completion of the widen ings south of the river to continue those trains to Victoria and the Crystal Palace. Arrangements had been made under which the Borough goods traffic of the Great Northern Company would be carried on to the Blackfriars Station, and goods and coal trains would commence to run through between the systems on the Ist of March. The capital ac count of the main line showed that £4,789,465 had been expended ; of the Metropolitan Extensions £6,182,515 ; of the Victoria Station improvements £470,718; and of the city lines £1,125,147 had been expended. MID-KENT. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the office, iVestrainster-chambers; Mr. L. Simpson in the chair. The report stated that the purchase money of the line should by this time have been paid by the South Eastern Company, but all the endeavours of the directors of the Mid-Kent to obtain a settlement as yet had been unsuccessful. Fresh negotiations had been opened, which the directors trusted would result in a speedy settlement of the questions in dispute between the two companies. The report was adopted unanimously, and a divi dend of £3 ss. per cent. for the past half-year was declared on the ordinary capital, payable on the 28th inst. The retiring director, Mr. Makins, and retiring auditor, Mr. Room, were re-elected, and the pro ceedings terminated. RAILWAY BILLS. Before Mr. Smith yesterday in the case of the Cork Harb9ur and Curraghbinny Extension the stand ing orders were not complied with. For the Wol verhampton and Walsall there was no appearance. The Aberdare Northern Bill was postponed until March 7. Before Mr. Frere the Swansea Union Bill com plied with the standing orders. The Merthyr, Tredegar, and Abergavenny was postponed. The West Cork, Cork and Bandon, Cork and Kinsale Junction, and Cork Maroom Direct (Arrangement), was adjourned till Friday next, and the Tamar, Kit Hill, and Callington until the 12th of March. In the case of the Sheffield, Buxton, and Liverpool there was no appearance. Yesterday the Referees' court was opened for the consideration of the locus standi of parties in respect of Gas, Water, and a University Bill. The rail way bills will not be considered before Monday next. HEALTH OF THE MASTER OF TRINITY.—Dr. Humphrey was in attendance upon Dr. Whewell during the whole of Sunday night. Yesterday morning consciousness returned sufficiently to enable the Master to state that the accident was the result of the sudden start ing of his horse, and not as was at first apprehended of his seizure by a fit. The Master is pronounced much better, and strong hopes are entertained that the dangerous crisis has passed. The inquiries at Trinity Lodq Jaye 'Won most 'tumorous. 1 , r ,-- .. z ..= 1 ..- . D . . s. A _ ..„., , (gun -;,---._,--,,..: Elrdiar. .a.\-_ ~i. HER MAJESTY• WINDSOR CASTLE, Monday. The Queen, accompanied by her Royal High ness Princess Helena, drove in the grounds this morning. TIIE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES. The Prince of Wales went to the House of Lords yesterday afternoon. The Princess of Wales, attended by the Countess of Macclesfield, took a carriage drive. Royal Polytechnic Institution. The ordinary general meeting of the shareholders was held on Saturday at the institution ; the Rev. J. B. , O wen in the chair. After the usual preliminary business, A SHAREHOLDER complained that the report of the directors had not been sent out and circulated among the shareholders with the balance-sheet, Szo. The CHAIRMAN said he did not think that could be done with a view to economy, but there would be no difficulty in future in publishing a summary of such reports. The CHAIRMAN then said it was with deep regret he had to announce that, in consequence of a very severe indisposition, Mr. Pepper had not been able to attend at the institution for several days past, and as the same cause prevented his being present that day he had sent a report to the board of directors, which he (the chairman) would read to the meeting. The chairman then read the report. Professor Pepper regretted that the public had not come for ward to support the institution during the last six months as they had in the corresponding period in 1864. This he attributed in a great degree to the intense heat which prevailed during the last summer and the disagreeable weather during the Christmas holidays. As an illustration of the effect which the weather has upon the receipts of the institution, Pro fessor Pepper drew attention to the fact that a seri ous diminution of receipts was sustained during the late three days' snow. After referring to some of the principal entertainments during the last six months, Professor Pepper remarked that the portion of the public really appreciating scientific discourses was very small compared with the majority, who require the light entertainments to be at a maximum and scientific lectures at a minimum. The laboratory had been further utilised by the delivery of regular courses of lectures on electricity, geology, and che mistry. The chairman said he was happy to add to the report of Professor Pepper that since Christmas the new exhibitions had been wonderfully successful. He took the last week as an instance, when they cleared £2B ; whereas in the corresponding week last year they lost £3O, which shows a difference of £5B. From the public approbation which the new enter tainment had gained he thought they might look forward to a much better report at the end of the current half year. From the report of the directors, which the chairman next read, it appeared that the receipts for the past half year had been considerahlY less than the corresponding period, the cause of which the directors believed was as stated in Pro fessor Pepper's report. Notwithstanding, however, the heavy undertakings taken in hand during the half-year, the directors had succeeded in keeping down the gross expenditure to a figure much less than during the corresponding period in 1864. The expenses incurred in bringing before the public the beautiful optical illusions which have rendered the past year's operations of the Polytechnic so popular, were still drawing large audiences, and there was every likelihood of their eventuating in profit to the shareholders. All the rooms, shops, and stalls of the institution remained let on advantageous terms; they were not alone sustaining their rent but making profit on the letting. The directors testified to the valuable services rendered to the institution by Pro fessor Pepper, and declared him worthy of the most cordial thanks of the shareholders. Notwithstand ing the bad season of the past half-year, the direc tors felt themselves justified in recommending a dividend of 1i per cent., making, with the dividend in June last, 4 per cent. per annum ; but they ad vised, as a prudential measure, that whenever an actual loss is incurred in a half-year, so long as any poition of the accumulated balance of £2,450 re mains above £l,OOO, a dividend at the maximum rate of 4 per cent. per annum should be paid. The Rev. C. MACKENZIE, hon. manager of the education department, read a report showing a more successful result than any previous half-year. The CHAIRMAN moved that the three reports above referred to be received. Mr. MAYHEW was ready to second the reception of the reports, with the exception of that part of the directors' report which suggested the diminution of the reserve fund for the equalisation of dividends, and after some discussion the clause was expunged. Mr. MoLYNEux moved, and Mr. CHuRCE seconded, an amendment, that the dividend be 21 per cent. instead of 1i as proposed; and the Roc' Charles Mackenzie supported the amendment, -which was carried by 15 to 10. The Rev. Mr. Owen was re-elected to the board, and Messrs. Charles Mayhew and M. Yeatman were re-elected auditors. On the motion of Mr. MAYJIEW, the remunera tion of the directors, in consequence of the reduc tion in their number, was lowered .from £350 to £3OO. A suggestion that the board should be re duced to four members was favourably received, an d it was understood that whenever a vacancy occur o it will not be filled up. Votes of thanks to Professor Pepper and his as sistants, and to the chairman and directors, con cluded the business. Art Workmen's Exhibition at Manchester• An art workmen's exhibition at the Royal Insti tution in Manchester was yesterday opened, in Pr e- Bence of Sir J. P. Kay-Shuttleworth and a 2211W: A rous company of ladies and gentlemen, by Lor d Houghton, who spoke at some length on the ad vantages of such exhibitions, as tending to promot e popular taste in art and improving popular mat' ners. The present exhibition contains about 400 contributions, which are the work of 200 workmen' It differs from a previous exhibition of a simila r kind at Manchester last year, inasmuch as most of the present contributions are the work of regula r working men, produced during the ordinary ho of work, while the former one was mainly furnis he ' with works by amateurs, which were the produ°' tions of their leisure hours. The aim of both 1 13 ° been to display and stimulate the art workmanship of the Manchester district. The germ of both is said to have arisen out of a desire of the Blanches ter house decorators, painters, and grainers to display their ability and remove a prejudice in favour oef " foreign talent." The contributors are, for tl i , most part, the individual artisans who have execute' the work, and their names are attached ; but i ! many instances the article exhibited is sent by firm of employers, who specify if possible the name s of the workmen engaged upon it. It has not be found possible to carry out this rule in so2ne ca,s without modification, because it is sometimes cult to decide whether a thing is a piece of aro` tt eric; 0 11 or whether the one peculiar merit tha t may aw to it—the merit of design—does not belong rat liefier to the employer than the workman, and soineto'. the whole question of merit is so inextricablyaan volved in the combined talent and labour or entire establishment that no name more that' tinct can have the credit of it than CO y _ of the workshop whence it came. rll ,e t h e; tributions include panels decorated With, of utmost care of the painter or grainer in inutaptiosP__, marbles or woods. The plasterers contribut., original designs in their method of ornamen. tinnsl74 teriors, and there are also some good speenn e s for gilding and cabinet work, and original design _ at appear gr" wall papers. Stone and wood carvers on force, and among the former is a panel tab let stone representing " the Good Shepherd ;' a ueaq . representing " Christ inviting the weary and laden ;" and a bust of a girl with t he face v coo . There are some specimens of floor tiles, and a f oia siderable number of models and drawings °radius chinery. The contributions are from w ithin a otii. of 25 miles of Manchester, and altoge ther the bition is a very interesting one. i ~".~ - tion. whit in tt itor( lueni TI gives Debi be a] B evei th e debe Ti Ban] A( Thre Pirni Ti l Fran t o 4,-, Ba ~ho`v dealt quQtc t L attic 41. Ret 4 0j , t rl tAzil 00. F r e I Dl 0 b e s o°