The Sun. — London, England, 1865-04-20 00:00:00

assia, The Lord President of the Council ;has received from the medical officer of the Privy Council the following letter in regard to the Russian epidemic : Whitehall, April 19. My Lord,—l have the honour of reporting to your lordship that the information which, under your directions, I have been receiving during the last fort night, on the subject of certain diseases prevailing, or said to be prevailing in the North of Europe, is now so far completed by a telegram yesterday re ceived from Dr. Whitley at St. Petersburg, as to render possible a judgment, which I think may not be premature, on the very important question, whether this country, in its intercourse with the North of Europe, is exposed to more than its ordi nary risks of being infected by disease. The very alarming rumour which excited your lordship's vigilance on the present subject, was to the effect that a disease of the nature of plague, coming from beyond the Ural Mountains, and caus ing depopulation in its course, had not only reached St. Petersburg, where it was said to be causing fear ful ravages, but had spread beyond the Prussian frontier, and was prevailing, though in a less de structive form, at Dantzig and various other places in North Germany. Telegraphic inquiries, however, which Earl Rus sell at your lordship's request caused to be made of her Majesty's ambassadors and consuls in the coun tries to which the rumour referred, led almost imme diately to the establishment of two facts, which, while they fully accounted for the existing rumour, divested it in great part of its extremely alarming character. In the first place it was ascertained, that, though undoubtedly St. Petersburg was suffering a very great excess of sickness and mortality, yet, at least the main part of the epidemic disease which was prevailing there consisted only of such fevers as are well known in this country. And, in the second place, it was ascertained that, though a very frightful dis ease was indeed prevailing in parts of North Ger many, and particularly about the Lower Vistula, this disease was altogether different in kind from the fevers which were prevailing in St. Petersburg. In proportion as time has permitted the ordinary postal communications to take place, the above-stated two facts have been established more in detail. And it may now, I think, be fairlylassumed that there is no other important fact to be added to them. First, as regards St. Petersburg, the epidemic which is prevailing in that city consists of two forms of fever which are known in this country as relaps ing fever and typhus. Of relapsing fever (which also, from the circumstances under which it prevails, is familiarly known by the name of famine-fever) we have had no large experience in this country since the years 1846-48, when, in consequence of Irish distress, the disease first became epidemic in Ireland, and next raged in Liverpool, and many other of our chief towns to which its contagion was brought by Irish immigrants. Typhus, on the other hand, is probably never absent from among us. During the last two or three years, there has been an almost unprecedented amount of it in London, and, as your lordship is aware, inquiries relating to very large epidemics of it in Liverpool, Greenock, and Bristol have during the last few months been required of the medical department of the Council office. In times when relapsing fever prevails (and always they are times of national scarcity) typhus always, or nearly always, co-exists with it. It was so at Liverpool in 1847, it is so at St. Petersburg at present. The mixed epidemic, wherever it occurs, testifies to the miserable state of a starving and over-crowded proletariat; and there seems reason to believe that if the St. Petersburg epidemic is of more than common severity, this is only in result of ex tremely aggravated conditions of privation, over crowding, filth, and district-unwholesomeness, ope rating on large masses of the lowest population. It is probable that the relapsing fever has caused par ticular alarm in St. Petersburg from the fact that the disease had never before prevailed there, nor indeed been much known anywhere in Russia. But it is a disease greatly less dangerous than typhus. To persons whom they respectively have attacked in this country, typhus has been seven or eight times as fatal as relapsing fever. Both typhus and relapsing fever are communic able from person to person by means of the general exhalations of the sick ; and the danger of such contagion acquires its utmost development when masses of ill-fed population are crowded together in places which are unsusceptible of ventilation. It seems probable that the fevers now prevailing in St. Petersburg are not only extensively diffused, but in their respective kinds are of fully average severity. The relapsing fever is causing more than its usual proportion of deaths, and is notably at tended with those inflammatory swellings which are known by the name of buboes. Although the re ports which are before me do not state the relative frequency with which the latter symptom is observed, yet from the fact of its being mentioned in a very general report on the epidemic, I infer that it has been more than commonly frequent, and doubtless it was from this circumstance that there arose the rumour of plague. It is therefore requisite to men tion that buboes are by no means exclusively charac teristic of plague, that severe typhus in this country is not very infrequently attended by them, and that also in our other forms of fever they are sometimes, though far less frequently, observed. The great im portance, however, of the question which is involved in that system of buboes was a main reason for your lordship's thinking it desirable to have an English physician's report on all the elements of the St. Petersburg epidemic ; and it was therefore that under your lordship's orders I instructed Dr. Whit ley to proceed to St. Petersburg for the purpose of making personal examinations in the matter. He arrived at St. Petersburg on Saturday night last, and his telegram which I yesterday received informs me in positive terms that " nothing resembling plague has been observed." As regards the disease which is prevailing in parts of North Germany, the case is very widely different. That disease is one of which hitherto England has had no general experience. Even in foreign medical literature mention of it is but comparatively recent, and the knowledge which relates to it is incomplete. It is a febrile nervous affection of a very painful and very dangerous kind. By us, for practical pur poses, it may be regarded as a new disease ; but, in truth, it has for the last 28 years been prevail ing very extensively in successive small epidemics, both in Europe and in America, throughout the en tire breadth of the north temperate zone. Having regard to the probability that sooner or later this disease may show itself in England, I have thought it convenient that, both for your lordship's present reference, and for such further use as you may deem expedient, there should be compendiously stated the main facts which are yet known with regard to the disease's nature and laws of distribution ; and I have accordingly prepared a special memorandum in which, by reference to foreign authorities, I endea vour to fulfil that object. Both on account of the alarming rumours which were connected with the present epidemics in North Germany, and also with a view to collect the latest and fullest information concerning the habits of so important a disease, your lordship (as in the case of the St. Petersburg fevers) deemed it right that an English physician should be sent to observe and re port ; and, under your lordship's orders, I instructed Dr. Sanderson to proceed for this purpose to those places about the Lower Vistula where the disease was chiefly prevailing. From him, during the last few days, I have received telegrams and letters which leave no doubt as to theidentity of the prevailinc, dis ease, and establish, as I have already stated, that it has no dependence on the fevers of St. Petersburg. In the special memorandum to which I refer, I have stated what I can learn withregard to the coin. municability of the nervous disease. Your lordship will observe that, though I hesitate to speak of the disease as incommunicable by personal intercourse, I show reason for believing that under ordinary cir cumstances it is not thus communicable in more than a very low degree. And Dr. Sanderson writes to me, in relation to the present epidemics, that he finds "no reason for regarding the disease as per sonally communicable ;" that he has " met no single instance in which more than one member of the same family has been attacked ; nor has there been any diffusion of the disease in any of the hospitals." From the foregoing statement your lordship will dispose themselves, in regard to lodgment and seclu sion, as not, in any fairly avoidable degree, to en danger the public health.—l have the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's most obedient servant, (Signed) JOHN SIMON. To the Lord President of the Council, K.G. Mr. Hibbut, M,P., at Oldham, Yesterday the Oldham Liberal Registration So ciety held its first festival at the Co-operative Hall, King-street, in that borough. At the public meeting which was held in the evening there was only a mo derate attendance, and that was composed largely of women. Mr. J. Platt took the chair, and was sup ported by Mr. Hibbert, one of the members for the borough, and by several of the town councilors and leading Liberal electors of Oldham. The CHAIRMAN said the time was not very far distant when the electors of that town would be called upon to exercise the franchise ; but they had been so long without a contested election that he scarcely knew whether any person took any interest in politics. There had, however, recently been a contest in a neighbouring town, where the old party spirit seemed to be alive, and parties who had been there said that the excitement could not possibly have been greater even if there had been an invasion of England. He congratulated the Liberals of Roch dale on having fought a very good battle. (Hear, and cheers.) Many of his Liberal friends in Roch dale had entertained misgivings about the result of the election, for what reason he did not know, ex cept it was the boasting of their opponents. They never had any reason to doubt their friends, and they knew the register was in their favour . ; yet they knew theirpolitical opponents had been for manyyears organising an opposition. He could not help feeling sorry for Mr. Brett, who belonged to the old school of Tories. If he must have an opponent that was the very man he should like to fight, because there could be no doubt about his opinions. Their diffi culty in Oldham was of a very different character. They could not tell what kind of a man they were fighting. How the Conservatives and extreme Ra dicals could unite in supporting Mr. Cobbett had been a puzzle to him ever since he took a part inthe politics of Oldham. The time would soon arrive when they would have to think of politics, and of the promotion of Liberal principles, by which he meant principles in accordance with the legislation of the last 30 years. After the results they had seen, he did not think that any of them would like to go back. (Hear.) Opponents who had fought against that great and good man who had lately departed from them, were willing to pay homage to his me mory, to applaud his abilities, and many of them had stated publicly that he was right and they were wrong. Might not they also be wrong on many other questions on which Mr. Cobden had expressed views differing from them. Among other mea sures, Mr. Cobden was willing to extend the franchise to the people, and he believed that a practical solution of the difficulty as to such an ex tension will be found in the last letter which Mr. Cobden wrote. He (the Chairman) believed the time was not far distant when they would see the end of the present struggle in America, with the end of which they would see also the end of slavery. (Applause.) He hailed the last news with the greatest possible pleasure, as he thought the struggles of Lancashire were drawing to an end. Whenever the history of the cotton famine should be written, it would be seen that Lancashire had stood forward nobly in a good cause, and that never had this country been truer to itself than in maintaining neutrality during the American war. (Cheers.) Mr. HIBBERT, M.P., who was received with con siderable applause, said he had great pleasure in coming there that night to meet his constituents, many of whom he hoped he might now call his old _ _ and dear friend s . (H ear , h ear .) For the first time since he had been their representative he saw ladies at a political meeting. He was glad to see them, because it showed that they took an interest in poli tical progress, and he thought if the wives were on the right side there could be no doubt the husbands would be there also. It was right in his opinion that ladies should take an interest in political progress, because there was nothing that so much affected their comfort and happiness as the great advance which had taken place in political and financial matters during the last 30 years. It was certainly a matter for congratulation that so much had been done to add to the comfort and happiness of the people ; and he was sure there was no man, woman, or child in this country who did not feel benefited by the noble deed that was done by those who have gathered that, neither as regards the fevers obtained the repeal of the corn laws. In speak which are present in St. Petersburg, nor as regards ing of that his mind naturally reverted to the la the nervous disease which is occurring in North mented death of Richard Cobden. He (Mr. Rib- Germany, are the circumstances such as have on , bert) had now had the pleasure of sitting in the former occasions led to the adoption of quarantine House of Commons for nearly three years, very near by this country—that, as regards the importability to that respected man for whom he had the greatest of the nervous disease, our danger in communicat- admiration, not only on account of his political ing with the Baltic ports (unless they were move- opinions, but also because of what he had perceived ments of masses of infected population) is apparently of Mr. Cobden's conduct in the house. Not only did nothing, or next to nothing—and that, as regards the late member for Rochdale pay attention to the the Russian epidemic, our danger in communicating questions of State which agitated this country, but with St. Petersburg is only the same sort of danger he was always ready and willing to attend to the as the several parts of the United Kingdom have least local matters which affected the interests of the often occasioned to one another, and are even at the county of Lancashire in general, and Rochdale in present time, as regards the worst known forms of particular. He remembered that at the time the fever, daily and abundantly occasioning. cotton distress commenced, an effort was made in As, however, it is possible and evenprobable that, the House of Commons to carry out some legisla with the re-opening of the Baltic navigation, ships tion in order to enable the people of Lancashire to which come to our ports from Russian territorymay meet that distress. Mr. Cobden was always ready occasionally have fever cases on board, it is essen- to take a part in the discussion of the questions tial that, in places which this danger may affect, the arising thereon. However small was the business local sanitary authorities should exercise peculiar required to be done, Mr. Cobden never seemed to vigilance against all those unwholesome conditions think it too small a matter for him to stoop to ; and which favour the propagation of such disease. In he (Mr. Hibbert) remembered that in the second this connection I would beg leave to advert to the year of the distress, Mr. Cobden was particularly short general memorandum which, under direction anxious, knowing how severely the small millowners of the Lords of the Council, I prepared in 1860, and suffered from the large amount of taxation which have since then been in the habit of circulating, on was coming upon them,and wrote to him (Mr. Hib the " proceedings which are available in places at- bert) several letters, wishing to know whether some tacked or threatened by epidemic disease." As re- thing could not be doneto relieve the silent millsfrom gards the class of places to which my present re- bearing so large a proportion of rates. Unfortunately marks particularly apply, it is scarcely needful to at that time nothing could be done; but he believed observe that the state of common lodging-houses, a course of action had since been taken to follow and of houses which are sub-let in several small out very much the suggestions which were made by holdings, ought very specially to be seen to, and Mr. Cobden. He thought the world at large would that every possible care ought to be taken to pro- admit that they had lost a great man, and all vide lest they be left over -crowded and ill-ventilated. Englishmen would admit that this country had lost Except in connection with reckless personal asso- one of her greatest statesmen. Mr. Disraeli had elation, there is little danger that febrile contagion said that Mr. Cobden was the greatest political will spread widely where the sanitary circumstances character that the middle classes of this country had are good ; but the advent of such a contagion into ever produced. He (Mr. Hibbert) had no doubt the poorer dwellings of a place tests, in a crucial that such was the truth ; and that now Mr. Cobden and unflattering way, the sufficiency of their adap- was gone from them they would feel his loss more tation to health. and more. There was one subject to which atten . Finally, with reference to the just-mentioned tion ought certainly to be paid, viz., to the Liberal danger, and to others of a like kind, it seems im- Registration Society of Oldham, and those gentle perative on me that on this occasion I should bring men who gave so much time, labour, and money to under your lordship's partial notice the very unsatis- promote its success ought to be thanked. Objec factory state of our sanitary laws in everything tions to voters had been sent out right and left by which relates to the migration, exposure, and hous- the registration societies of South Lancashire, and ing of persons who are infected with the current had given great trouble and inconvenience. From contagions of the country, and who, in the absence 30 to 40 householders in that borough had lost their of proper precaution, must communicate their disease votes, merely because they could not attend before to others. Complaints are frequently made that the revising barrister. He was happy to say there the public health of a district is seriously endangered was now a bill before Parliament, and likely he by the arrival (sometimes from abroad, sometimes thought soon to become law, which required the ob from other parts of the United Kingdom) of patients jection to be stated in each notice paper. One of suffering with small-pox, typhus, typhoid fever, the greatest questions of the day was that of scarlatina, or some other malignant and more or reform, and he believed the people were less communicable disease ; or that such patients are apathetic, owing to the length of time since being lodged in houses where the disease can hardly there had been a general election. He was in fail to spread; or that, either in states of imperfect favour of the plan for re-distributing the seats, convalescence, or even during active disease, they dividing the larger towns into wards, and travel in public conveyances or expose themselves in giving those large towns more representatives, places of common resort. In the present state of by whom all interests would be represented. It the law the authorities w ho are charged with the was impossible that another Parliament could meet local protection of the public health are practically without extending the franchise in some measure to almost powerless agai ns t these evils, and it would the working classes. They should not "rest and be be over-sanguine to imagine that, within any small thankful," but endeavour to improve their constitu number of generations, the sanitary state of the tion. He believed the enfranchisement of the work poorer dwellings of the country will be generally ing classes would add dignity to this country, would such that the germs of contagious disease can with bind the entire community still closer together, and impunity be imported into them. I would therefore in a united people the country would possess a better venture to submit to your lordship that in my opinion safeguard than in her armies or her fleets. (Cheers.' it deserves the consideration of the legislature, Several other gentlemen also addressed the meet whether the hands of local authorities might not ex- i ng . pediently be strengthened against the evils which I have described ; whether, namely, such authorities might not, under proper qualifications, be empowered to require that persons who come with dangerous communicable disease into the district should so The Royal Dublin Society's Spring Cattle Show. DUBLIN, April 19. This show is regarded with deep interest through out the entire country. And good reason there is for this. In the years that Ireland was most de pressed it indicated with considerable fidelity the unfortunate condition of the agricultural commu nity, and, when the return of prosperity took place, it proved a faithful index of the happy change. Looking at it in this light, therefore, even though it were not the most important agent in the country for producing an improved breed of stock, its value will at once be readily admitted. The present show confirms the opinion of those who hold that Ireland is not going backward. There is not only an increase in the number of animals exhibited, but they are better bred. A comparison of the society's records of shorthorned stock entered in 1864 and in the current year will establish the former statement : Yearling bulls-1864, 77 ; 1865, 98 ; two-year-old bulls--1864, 34 ; 1865, 36 ; three-year-old bulls -1864, 12 ; - 1865, 14 ; aged bulls-1864, 10 ; 1865, 13 ; yearling heifers-1864, 17 ; 1865, 18 ; two year-old heifers-1864, 5 ; 1865, 12 ; three-year old heifers, 1864, 3 ; 1865, 4 ; aged cows-1864, 9 ; 1865, 18. This shows an increase of 41 entries for 1865. As to the marked improvement in the breeding of the stock —a matter of much more conse quence, it must be allowed, than an increase in the number of entries—the Freeman affords most em phatic evidence. " The excellence of the breeding and fat horned stock at the present show came upon many with most agreeable surprise, as per sons interested in stock-growing were aware that, owing to the high price of meat, nearly all animals that were not near being what is called finished,' and been shipped to supply the English markets, and this, combined with the scarcity of grass and green crops, led persons to suppose that the show of horned cattle this year would be far below the average. But we do not remember to have seen any similar exhibition held under the auspices of the society in which the stock breeding of the entire country was so well represented. In the collection are to be found animals from all parts of Ireland, of the best and purest breeds, and some of them, from re mote localities, have taken off the highest prizes in the department to which they belong. In the shows of former years our attention was often drawnto the very inferior breeding of some of the animals entered for competition, but on passing through the show that commenced yesterday, nothing struck us more forcibly than the claims to notice and commendation which nearly every animal exhibited possessed." This is cheering language ; it seems to prove, too, that the agricultural classes are beginning to recognise the truth of the assertion that they ought to devote themselves mainly to breeding stock. Among the noblemen and gentlemen who, as on previous occa sions, exhibit shorthorns, are the Marquis of Drogheda, the Earl of Mayo, the Earl of Caledon, Lord Cremorne, Lord Crofton, Colonel Leslie, M.P. ; Mr. Barnes, the Messrs. Christy, Sir Robert Paul, Mr. Richard Reynall, Mr. Jaffray Barcroft, Mr. Cosby, Mr. Phinease Riall, Mr. Allan Pollok, Sir Alan Bellingham, Mr. G. W. Lambert, Mr. Henry Richardson, Sir Percy Nugent, Mr. Conolly, M.P. ; Mr. Wm. Jameson, Mr. N. Burton, Mr. N. M. Archdall, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. R. Chalmer, Colonel Fisher, &c. Among the English exhibitors are Lady Pigot, Mr. R. Tennant, and the Hon. G. E. Lascelles. The English element, it may be noticed, is well represented on the list of judges :—Short horns—John Thompson, Aislaby, Hull ; Stiles Rich, Dedmartin, Chippenham, Wilts ; James Bult, Dod hill House, Kingston, near Taunton. Miscellaneous Breeds—Henry Haywood, Blakemere House, Here ford. Sheep—Robert J. Wiley, Winterfield, Cat terick, Yorkshire. Swine—Henry-Haywood, Blake mere House, Hereford. Fat Stock—Robert J. Wiley, Winterfield, Catterick. It is only just to say that in proportion to the means at its disposal, the Royal Dublin Society awards most liberal prizes. A co veted prize, which, indeed, confers the blue ribbon of the show, has always been the Irish Framers' Gazette Challenge Cup. This prize was originally presented by Messrs. W. S. and E. Pardon, the . . enterprising proprietors of the Irish Farmers' Gazette, to be awarded to the animal in the breeding classes of neat cattle, which, in the opinion of the judges, possessed the greatest merit. For several years it went through a variety of vicissitudes of ownerships, but was at length permanently won by Col. Townley, of Townley Hall, Lancashire. Th© gallant gentleman, who always took a deep interest in the prosperity of the society's shows, seeing the advantage which competition for such a valuable prize must confer, determined that this cup should be replaced by a plate with which the name of the Irish Farmer's Gazette should be associated, and accordingly he contributed the sum of 160 The THE SUN, LONDON, THUnSDAY EVENING, APRIL 20, 186 guineas for the purpose, to which the society added £5O, thus raising the value to £155. In 1864 the plate was awarded to Mr. Thomas Butler, of Ballycarron, Golden, county of Tipperary, for his shorthorned bull Soubadar. The Irish Rail way Challenge Cup, of the value of £l5O, is the result of the joint subscription. of Irish railway companies. It is awarded, in the terms of the conditions, to " the best bull, of any breed, over two and under five years of age, the owner to produce satisfactory proof to the committee of agriculture, by a certificate from the owners of the cows that the bull had got 20 calves within twelve months preced ing the show." Mr. Thomas Barnes of Westland, Moynalty, carried off this cup last year by his short horned white bull, Dr. Mac Hale the second. This year it has been won for Mr. Mulholland, of Bally waiter, by his shorthorned bull Defender, a beautiful roan, calved January 11, 1862. This animal was also awarded the Irish Railway Challenge Cup. Mr. James Ganly, of the firm of Ganly, Sons, and Par ker, the eminent stock salesmen, also presented a challenge cup, valued at £5O, for the best yearling bull, of any breed, which was won in 1864 by Mr. W. T. Crosbie, of Ardfert Abbey, Tralee, for his shorthorned bull Ravenswood. It was carried off this year by Mr. James Anderson, for his shorthorned bull Brilliant Lamp. In addition to these special prizes, the society award a gold medal each for the best of all the prize bulls and the best of all the prize breeding heifers, besides the very liberal prizes, both in money and medals, awarded in the several sec tions. This year the committee of agriculture have placed at the disposal of the judges 12 first and 6 second silver medals, and a similar number of cer tificates for the encouragement of such novelties in implements and machines as may be considered by them useful and advantageous to the country. For the purpose of promoting the cultivation and pre paration of flax, they offer this year to manufac turers of flax-scutching and breaking machines of a cheap and portable kind, which, in the opinion of the judges, are best adapted to the requirements of flax growers—for the best flax-breaker a large gold medal and five sovereigns, and for the best flax scutcher, a similar prize. For the encouragement of the woollen manufacture, the committee of manu factures co-operating with the committee of agri culture with a view to carry out the purposes of the show this year, offer 10 first and 10 silver medals for specimens of Irish woollen manufactured goods. The English exhibitors in the farming implements and machinery department are numerous. Messrs. Richard Garrett and Sons, Leiston Works, Sax muudham, Suffo,k, show steam engines, with single cylinders, adapted to drive thrashing, general agri cultural, and other machinery ; patent portable combined thrashing and dressing machines, with treble and double blast, as may be required; and also single corn and dressing machines, lever horse hoes, manure;distributors, and corn drills. Messrs. Ashley and Jeffrey, of Stamford, have haymakers, horse rakes, chaff cutters, oil cake mills, rotatory and chain harrows, turnip pulpers, locust bean mills, corn drills, hand rakes, and hose, thrashing machines, circular saw table, and portable steam engines. The Reacting Ironworks Company, Limited (late Barrett, Exall, and Andrewes) have a three-horse portable steam en gine, invented and manufactured by the exhibitors, giving increased boiler capacity, enlarged cylinder, and extra length of stroke ; 42-inch steam-power combined thrashing machine, fitted with patent corn elevator, wood-hangers, double shaker, crank, and patent perforator wrought-iron beater, drum, and breasting ; a " barley hummeller," made entirely of iron, and consisting of a cylinder, with wire at the bottom, in which revolves a spindle, fitted with steel knives to break off the awns of the barley ; chaff cutters, oil cake mills, broadcast sowing machines, and combined sack-cart and holder for holding open sacks without the use of nails or hooks. Messrs. Picksley, Sims, and Co., Bedford Foundry, Leigh, near Manchester, show a four horse power combined vertical steam engine and boiler, with improved water-heater, to economise fuel ; a four horse-power bone-rasping and grinding mill, reaping and mow ing machines, chaff cutters, washing and mangling machines, cattle troughs, corn crushers and grind ing mills, gorse cutting and bruising machine for steam power (Handley's patent), turnip cutters and garden chairs, in various patterns. Messrs. Hill and Smith of Brierlyhill, Staffordshire, show iron fences, gates, posts, garden seats, tree guards, and barrows. Messrs. Smith Brothers, of Thrapston, have haymakers, horse rakes, drills, grist mills, winnowing machines, and sheep cribs. Messrs. A. and T. Fry, Temple-gate, Bristol, show an improved American horse rake, with 23 teeth, which will collect, ready for loading, from three to four acres of hay per hour ; sheep racks, mounted on wheels, capable of feeding 24 sheep at once, and having a hay rack and trough for corn or roots ; grass drills, &c. Mr. J. P. Dodge, of Upper Thames-street, London, shows a variety of articles invulcanised indiarubber, such as sheets, valves, hose, covers, bands, washers, rings, springs, packings, &c. Messrs. Richmonds and Norton, South John-street, Liverpool, have some highly-finished and effective flax-cutting ma chines, corn crushers, drills, rakes, ploughs, mowers, &c. On Stand No. 26 Messrs. J. and F. Hancock, of Tipton, Staffordshire, exhibit a most ingenious machine, and one which to a country circumstanced as Ireland is in respect to the produce of the dairy may be said to be of almost national importance, for anything that tends to improve the flavour of butter must of necessity commend itself to public attention Dr. Rae on the Arctic Regions. ------41.---- Dr. John Rae, RN., delivered a lecture on Tuesday night on the Arctic Regions to the members of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. The lecturer began by stating that he had at first intended to give a general view 'of the arctic regions connected with the different expedi tions which had been sent there, but ho had found that such a course would occupy so mnchtime that he preferred to speak of them only so far as he had acquired a knowledge of them by his own experience. He would, without fur ther preamble, begin by stating that his first visit to the Arctic Sea was in 1846, and his object was to complete the survey of the northern parts of North America. The coast to be examined extended for about 500 miles, and was that of a supposed passage separating Boothia Felix from the main land. In this expedition he made use of open boats in preference to larger vessels, because they could be hauled over the ice. They were undecked, and the party had to sleep in them uncovered by anything but an oil cloth. After reaching the spot where they proposed to commence the land journey they had to pull one of the boats over 40 miles of land. This they accomplished with ease, but further progress was rendered impossible by ice, and he was compelled to go back to the coast to winter. Their position in those circumstances was by no means satisfactory. They had no material for building houses, they had to be absent 15 months, they had with them only four months' provisions, and they wore not certain that they would be able to find food. The mtni, however, whom he had with him, who had been well trained to such life in the Hudson's Bay territories, readily agreen to his proposal, and at once made preparations for wintering. They ran up some small walls, covered them with the sails of the boat and with a deer-skin formed a dobr. In the month of September the deer began to flock in from the north ; and in that and the following month they secured a large number of thorn. They also now collected fuel in the shape of moss and plants. The most uncomfortable part of their position was the moistness of their house, and the consequent looseness of the stones of which it was built. The frost, when it set in, froze every7part of their dwelling to such a degree that the lecturer had to take his books to bed with him and thaw them with the heat of his body before he could open them. (Laughter.) During the whole expedi tion they made use of no spirits, with the exception of a glass or two at the Christmas season. His experience was that these liquors had first an elevating, succeeded by a depress ing, effect. Ho attributed one half of the cases of death in those cold regions to the use of them. Their occupation during the winter was almost entirely negative, and the most of his own time was spent in educating his men. With the Esquimaux by whom they were joined they were on the most friendly terms, and Dr. Rae's experience of the tribe led him to form a highly favourable opinion of them. He had never seen any people so admirable in their domestic relations. Ho found that the father was kind to his child ren, the husband tender to his wife, and the children duti ful to their parents. The Esquimaux treated his wife as his equal—in fact, she was generally the best man—(laughter) —and was careful after he had made the acquaintance of a stranger to introduce her and his children. They were most delicate also in their relations with strangers ; they never accepted presents without offering something in ' ey were exceedingly grateful, and they were ruiy courteous in not intruding too far upon the domestic arrangements of others. In these respects they were vastly superior to all other savages. Of their - houses the lecturer gave a minute description, stating that they were built in winter of the hard packed snow, which was cut into blocks. These were arranged in circular tiers, each block being cut away obliquely at one end, so that all above it might have a secure rest, the effect being that the whole building was return spiral. A house of this description could be built in an hour. The window was formed by the insertion of a piece of pure ice in a hole on the south side. In the interior above the door, where the cold air could not readily reach, was built a platform which, when covered with skins, they used as a bed. Dr. Rae stated that he had never slept better in his life than in such a house, with only one blanket, and with the temperature thirty degrees below zero. In the month of April, when the spring had set in, the party started once more, travelling along the coast without finding a passage, and continuing their journey till they came to Lord Mayor's Bay, which had been sur veyed by Sir John Ross in 1831-2. From his examina tion the lecturer knew at once that by the agreement of the coast with the account given by Sir John Ross that he had joined another survey. They then travelled up to a point which connected them with Sir E. Parry's survey, thus making the examination of the north-east point of Ame rica complete. The deer were beginning then to come in great numbers to the north, and they killed some. They retained the flesh for future use, cutting out the stomach and intestines, which they were not teo particular in clean ing —(laughter) —and making soup of them, which was re markably good, though somewhat greenish from the con tents of the stomach. (Renewed laughter.) They could not imagine the appetite a man got in these cold climates. (A laugh.) They were, however, frequently reduced, both in food and fuel, and from the want of the latter necessary they had sometimes to take their kettles to bed to melt the snow they employed in cooking. They returned to their winter quarters after having walked something like 1,200 miles, and hauled each about 2001bs. weight. The spring they spent among their Esquimaux Mends, and when the ice broke up in the month of August, they put back to York Factory, whence they returned to England. His next expedition was that undertaken in 1848, at the request of and in company with Sir John Richardson, a man renowned not less in science than in Arctic exploration. (Cheers.) In boats conveyed from England they descended the large and beautiful Mackenzie River, at the mouth of which they found a hostile tribe of Esquimaux, who would have pil laged them had they not kept out to sea. Thither they were followed by some of the smaller canoes. It became stormy, however, and the effect was that the canoes, the nature of which is that the person who is in one cannot get out of it, and that if he is overturned he must remain head down— (laughter) --speedily left them. The object of the expedi tion was to explore 400 or 500 miles of coast and to search for Sir John Franklin. When they reached the mouth of the Coppermine River they were frozen in, and compelled to cross the country under the most disagreeable circum stances, in overcoming which Sir John Richardson parti cularly distinguished himself. After a most trying march, and without finding any traces of Sir John Franklin, they arrived at Fort Confidence, their winter quarters, and one of the coldest places known, the temperature being 72 deg. below zero, or 104 deg. below freezing point. Dr. Rae had to return from this expedition without having obtained any information. He was again appointed by Go vernment in 1850 to search this coast. In that expedition he was at one point within4o or 50railes of the place where Franklin's party were, and at another they found two pieces of drifting wood which had belonged to a Government vessel. In 1853 he was again sent out by the Hudson's Bay Company, to attempt further exploration, in which they did not succeed. They, however, did obtain such in formation from Esquimaux as left them in no doubt of the fate of Sir John Franklin and his party. After an amusing description of some of the animals of the Polar regions, Dr. Rae concluded his lecture by reference to the proposed Arctic expedition. There were, he stated, two plans, that of Capt. Sherard Osborne's, to send out two steamers, one to winter in Smith's Sound as a depot, and the other to go as far north as possible and then to endeavour to reach the Pole by sledges ; the other, and that most favoured by naval men generally, to send a steamer towards the Polo by way of Spitzbergen. No journey had yet been accomplished equal to that proposed by Capt. Osborne. Capt. M'Clintock, in his journey in 1853,0 f 1,030 geographical miles, had been able to kill a large quantity of game ; and each man had only a small sledge to haul, the former of which could not be depended on, and the latter of which would not be the case in this plan. On the whole, he thought it not perhaps im practicable, but far more difficult than Captain Osborne thought. By the other plan he thought it quite practicable to reach the Pole in one season, whereas the difficulty of reaching Smith's Sound was so great that they would take as long to reach the winter quarters as they would to reach the Pole by the second route. The lecturer concluded amidst loud applause. POLICE INTELLIGENCE-April 19 WORSHIP STREET. AN EXTRAORDINARY PROSECUTION.—Maria Robinson, young, ladylike, and interesting, the daughter-of a gentle man well known in past years as connected with the legal profession, and now deceased, was charged with robbing h.r employer, Mr. B. Hartshorn, a draper and haberdasher carrying on business at Hackney. It will be recollected that the prisoner had been in the employ of Mr. Hartshorn as a shopwoman for about three months ; that from suspicion, as he alleged, of her honesty he requested one Sunday night to be shown the contents of her box ; that she refused, and insisted on leaving the house, which she did, promising to return in the morning following with her sister, in whose presence the box should be opened. This arrangement was carried out, and the prosecutor, having called in a policeman, claimed several articles found in the trunk as a portion of his stock-in trade, which had no right there, and must, he asserted, have been stolen by the young woman, whom he therefore gave into custody. For the defence it was shown that several of these pieces of goods had been given to the prisoner by her married sis ter, who had previously kept a milliner's shop in Hackney, that others she had bought out of the prosecutor's stock, and seen by another shopwoman to have apparently paid for by putting money in the till ; but one item (a handker chief) she disclaimed all knowledge of, and could not, she assured her solicitor, account for having been in her trunk. Tho prosecutor was subjected to a severe cross-examina tion ; and it was clear, despite his persistency that the property in question must have been stolen from him that similar goods could be purchased at other shops still, Mr. Cooke, the magistrate, evidently felt the neces sity of thoroughly sifting the whole matter, which sud denly took the following unexpected turn : Mr. Lewis (to prosecutor}—Was this young lady's trunk opened during her absence from your house ? Mr. Hartshorn, visibly confused, began to fold some of the articles before him, and remained silent. Mr. Lewis—Now, sir (repeating the question), probably something more is known of this than you imagine. Mr. Hartshot n—Well, I believe that it was. Mr. Lewis—By whom ? Mr. Hartshorn—My wife. Mr. Lewis—When ? Mr. Hartshorn—On the Sunday afternoon. Mr. Lewis—The same day that you accused her on her return ?—Mr. Hartshorn—Yes. Mr. Lewis—Any servant in the house ?—Mr. Hartshorn —No, myself and wife only. I knew nothing of the, box being opened at the time, and afterwards was very vexed but ladies are curious, and— Mr. Lewis—And you a kindly-disposed man. Noly, sir, from where did your wife get the key in question ?—Mr. Hartshorn—lt was on her own bunch. Mr. Lewis—ls she here ?—Mr. Hartshorn—She is not. Mr. Lewis (to the magistrate)—Sir, I think, after this revelation, the "lady" should be present. At personal in convenience I will remain while she is fetched. Mr. Cooke—l quite agree with you. Mr. Hartshorn—lf you will permit me I will send her. No one else is in care of the business. Mr. Cooke—The constable in charge of the case will fetch her ; it will not occupy many minutes. This little incident was listened to by a crowded court in; dead silence. After the first admission respecting the trunk, and when after a brief space the lady having been brought in a cab entered the court, her husband was ordered from it. Upon her oath she detailed the proceed ing as stated by him, and when, with a purposed apparent indifference, Mr. Safford, the clerk, asked her, " Did any person look into her box ?" she replied " No." Mr. Safford—You are sure of that, madam ?—Mrs. Harts horn—l tried the hasp. Mr. Safford —When ?—Mrs. Hartshorn—On the Sunday afternoon. Mr. Safford—Yes ; not open it ?—Mrs. Hartshorn—No. Mr. Safford—you never opened the box ?—Mrs. Harts horn—No ; I did not open it at all. Mr. Cooke (sternly) —Are you sure of that ? Mrs. Hartshorn paused, cast her eyes downwards, and then said, in a low voice—" No, I am wrong; I did open it with one of my own keys ;" and the witness, by dint of further questioning by Mr. Safford, admitted that her husband looked into the box and perceived all that was there. Mr. Cooke finally remarked—This is a very grave charge against this young person. The prosecutor's evidence is in most particular instances contradicted by that of his own wife, who also when pressed contradicts herself. I can detain the prisoner no longer. Miss Robinson curtseyed ; unmistakeable sounds of satis faction were heard from the body of the court, but these were quickly silenced ; and the young woman left the court with numerous friends. ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOClETY.—Evening meet ing, Monday, the 24th inst., at half-past 8 p.m. ; Sir R. I. Murchison, K.C.8., president, in the chair.. Papers to be read.-1. On the Bayanos River, in the Isthmus of Pa nama. By Mr. Lawrence Oliphant. 2. A journey from the foot of Chimborazo to Bogota, across the Central Andes. By Mr. R. Cross. [ADVERTISEMENT.] - Holloway's Ointment. Painless Cures.—Sores, wounds, ulcerations, and other diseases affecting the skin, aro amendable by this cooling and heal ing unguent. It has called forth the loudest praises from persons who had suffered for years from bad legs, abscesses, and chronic ulcers, after every hope of cure had long passed away. None can foam an idea of the comfort it bestows by restraining inflammation and allaying pain. Whenever this ointment has been once used it has established its own worth, and has again been eagerly sought for as the easiest and safest remedy for all ulcerous complaints. In neu ralgia, rheumatism, and gout, the same application, pro perly used, gives wonderful relief. SPIRIT OP THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TinEs.—Flushed with victory, commanding forces which are overwhelming in numbers, and have been disciplined by five arduous campaigns, the Northern Generals are following up the great victory over the Confederate Army of Virginia. Another contest has taken place, and has inflicted on the retreating Southerners further losses of such magnitude that it is difficult to believe that General Lee will be able to offer any long resistance. to his pursuers. When that skilful officer found that he could no longer defend the positions which he had so long held against the Federal armies, he prepared to carry into execution a plan which the Southern Generals have apparently long meditated. To evacuate Richmond, the fall of which could not be long delayed, and to transfer the seat of government to Lynchburg, or some other spot less easily threatened, is said to have been for some time the advice of General Lee. But to such a course there were many objections. Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy, and though. Mr. Davis had long since stated that the reten tion of it was not indispensable—that military resistance could be continued without it—yet to lose it was necessarily to lose mucti of moral strength. The Confederacy was discouraged, and if Richmond were taken the depression would become still more deep and general. The 'army was proud of the successful defence which it had made during repeated invasions of Virginia, the inhabitants of Richmond were among the most spirited, earnest, and hopeful champions of the Southern cause, and if the place were abandoned these two important classes would be offended and discouraged. So, pro bably, reasoned the chiefs of the Confederate Govern ment, and the evacuation of the capital was delayed until it was made necessary by a great disaster. General Lee retreated, not at his own time and with . undiminished forces, but on the morrow of a terrible defeat. Indeed, only his own consummate military talents prevented it from being a rout. The Northern Generals opened the spring campaign with armies immensely superior to his own in numbers and all the appliances of war. Grant and Sheridan were immediately opposed to him; General Sherman's pro gress made it impossible to send reinforcements from the depopulated States at the South, and even, said, compelled General Lee to despatch a portion ix his own diminished army. Short of men, and scantily supplied during the last few months with materials of war, the Confederate army might make an honour able, but could hardly make a successful, resistance. The advantages gained by General Sheridan on the Confederate right made the defeat of Lee even more sudden and complete than was to be anticipated. The retreat from Richmond was not effected without an immense loss not only in killed and wounded, but pri soners. Such a reverse had never befallen either side in all the changes and chances of this war. In many battles the Federals have suffered more severely in the number of men actually stricken down, but fifteen, or twenty, or twenty-five thousand prisoners taken—for so high do the Federal accounts go— represents a disaster seldom equalled in any war, and one from which it is most difficult for an army to recover. The military skill which the combatants have now acquired enabled the Federals to take ad vantage of this signal success. From the abandoned and blazing city General Lee hastened to retreat with rapid marches to the westward. He had a few hours' start, but it is plain that the confusion in his ranks, and the fatigues of that unequal combat, made it impossible for him to achieve his purpose. On the morning of Monday, the 3d of April, the retreat began, and as soon as the Federals dis covered it they pushed on in pursuit with a vigour which contrasts strongly with the slothfulness which generally followed victory in the earlier days of the war. 'The general character of the move ment may be understood from the various despatches received, although we are as yet without details. About 50 miles south-west of Richmond is a place called Burkesville, where two of the railways by which Richmond and Petersburg communicate with the West cross each other. To this Burkesville Junction Lee made his way with all speed. But General Sheridan, one of the most active of the Federal Commanders, and the officer to whom the success of Grant's operations was chiefly owing, pressed on the retreating Confederates without loss of an hour. On Wednesday, the sth, Lee was at Amelia Courthouse, while a part of the Federal army had gained a place called Jettersville, to the west of the Confederates, and was in a position to cut off their retreat. The result was that on the 6th another battle was fought at Burkesville Junc tion. This appears to have terminated with a ter rible loss to the Confederates. What force they may have remaining it is impossible to say, but, judg ing from the loss of officers and the number of prisoners and guns captured, the army of Gene ral Lee can no longer be in a state to carry on a campaign. General Sheridan reports—" We have captured Generals Ewell, Kershaw, Butt on , Corse, De Bare, and Custis Lee, several thousand prisoners, 14 guns, two caissons, and a large num ber of waggons." Generals A. P. Hill, Pegram, and Fitzhugh Lee are killed ; the loss of the first of these three especially is a severe blow to the Confederate army. When such has been the course of events, it is not matter for surprise that the surrender of General Lee and the total destruction of the chief Southern army should be daily expected. It is, indeed, quite possible that this may take place, for Northern armies, which probably outnumber his remaining forces ten to one, are pressing on him and closing round him. It remains to be seen what course the chiefs of the Confederacy and the Congress will take in this extremity. The obstinacy of purpose of Mr. Jefferson Davis and the majority of the men whom the South chose as its representative is well known, and doubtless there are not wanting many who even in this hour of desperate fortune are will ing still to persevere. But it may be that some of them, desirous to stop the shedding of blood and the miseries which a savage partisan warfare would bring on the Southern population, may prefer to give the power of negotiation to the general who, in a series of gigantic battles, has commanded the admiration of the world, and whom even his adversaries regard with a feeling very far removed from animosity. The Confederates certainly can now expect to make but poor terms compared with what they might have exacted a year ago ; but even now they have the means of inflicting such losses on the North by maintaining their resistance that the Washington Government may not be unwilling to grant honour able peace to those who have fought and failed with honour. Even a hopeless contest kept up by guerilla bands without unity of purpose, or any object but revenge, may force the North to maintain great armies throughout the expanse of the Southern States for many years to come. Such a warfare must be deplored by every humane man. Every one must hope that if the South shall be no longer able to contend with its adversary by means of regular armies in the field, it will accept the arbitrament of war, and return even to a hated political connexion rather than shed blood to no purpose. But it is impossible to say what desperate resolve may be taken by men under the influence of such threats as the North has continually uttered, and of such laws as Congress has enacted. For this reason we hope that the leaders of the Confederates may con sent to bring the struggle to a close if they really believe their military power at an end, and that the North may meet them as conquerors should meet an honourable foe. HERALD.—The Prussian Navy Bill is at length before the world, and we have learned upon what basis a new maritime power is to be established in Europe. There is to be for the present, no new war-harbour established on the Baltic coast, since Prussia is already in possession of an excellent har bour. She calmly adopts Kiel Bay, where the depth of water is convenient, the wharfage cheap, and the chances of successful bombardment few. But the Parliament at Berlin is, nevertheless, called upon for a magnanimous vote. The approadhes to Kiel Bay must be defended ; the harbour and wharf must be rendered secure ; an arsenal, on a royal scale, must be constructed and fortified. So runs the programme, which amounts to the inauguration, upon paper, of a Prussian Spithead. Forts must be erected, of enormous strength and in the least as sailable positions ; batteries must be armed with guns of the heaviest calibre and longest range, and a great navy-yard is to constitute the new Prussian Portsmouth. Many a year will elapse before the idea is developed into a fact ; and yet it is not without its meaning for the nations of Europe. After glancing at the details of the scheme sub mitted to the Chambers at Berlin, we may as well remember some few facts of P russ i an hi s t or y which throw a curious light upon them. Five years of labour and expenditure are, approximately, devoted to the works ; th e nuc l eus o f an i ron fl ee t is imme diately to be organised ; dry docks and workshops for refit and repair, are to be completed in all their details without delay ; and, as a broad result, there is to be a new, powerful, and commanding mari time armament at the disposal of Prussia. This intel ligence the Berlin Cabinet itself announces. It is full of vaunts concerning iron-clad vessels and steel-cast ordnance ; it avows that " the means required for this outlay cannot be supplied from the ordinary State resources," and it hopes to meet the exigencies of the occasion "if granted an extraordinary credit of 10,000,000 thalers." It asks, in point of fact, for a loan an " extra ordinary credit," under exceptional circumstances. And the reason is, that Prussia feels herself com pelled to take rank as a naval power. She must protect her own commerce and that of Germany ; she must " defend her coasts And harbours in the North Sea and the Baltic ;" and she must be " able in future constantly to maintain her influence in European affairs, especially when these affect such countries as are only to be reached by sea." This is plain speaking, and not the worse o that. But after the argument we have the explanation. Prussia and Germany, it is urged, have a rising maritime commerce to protect on all seas, with, since the Danish war, " an extension of rights and relations." Their shores on the Northern and Bal tic Seas have hitherto lain comparatively unpro tected ; they have powers to develope which are impossible without a fleet, and, in order to pd themselves in a safe position, they must have a navy, not merely d e f ens i ve, but capable of offensive operations also. Thus much we learn from the ministerial programme, which is well-worded and succinct, although the historical evidence cited is not made very clear. But the ambition of the pro ject is astounding. Prussia desires, at one vault, to ride the oceans of the earth. The preamble of her Navy Bill affirms that she' must build ships to protect her trade in the most distant seas, to cover her coasts at home, and, in the event of war, to blockade the ports of all hostile nations. It is true that drawbacks are admitted ; but the confidence displayed in the Navy Bill is little less than sublime. Assume Prussia not to become, at a bound, a naval power of the first rank, what is the argument ? That unless she keeps foremost in the second rank, her fleet is utterly useless. We do not imagine for a moment that the English people, proud as they are of their maritime position, are jealous of these endeavours to launch' a new European navy ; they can keep the sea ; they can, under proper admi nistration, defend coast and port ; they can escort their merchantmen, no matter what storm of war is raging ; but they can also afford to hear a few words of suggestion, very much in unison with much that has appeared in our columns, from the Berlin navy ad m i n i s t ra t ors. A class of ships is wanted, they say, " to protect commerce upon the high seas, to capture hostile cruisers and merchant men, convoy native vessels, render service at the most important commercial stations, and which, through their rapidity and other good qualities, are able to assist ships of the first class in action. This class still consists of wooden frigates and corvettes." To these words, echoing our own, we would direct particular attention. But what is to be the new Prussian navy, as constituted by the bill just pro duced ? An armament of ten heavy ironclads, of is enormous strength and burden, ten others more f lightly armed ; eight decked wooden corvettes—six of a less capacity ; six iron despatch boats, " mostly used in time of war to carry despatches, to watch the enemy, keep up communications with ports at home, tow damaged vessels, carry wounded to hos pital, and so forth ;" and four transports—the whole costing a mighty sum of money, and being put in line-of-battle or otherwise serviceable order so soon as their holds can contain a keg of gunpowder. Europe, it need scarcely be said, will regard with little anxiety this maritime activity on the part of Prussia. Prussia is a kingdom with few favourable outlets and feeble natural frontiers. It has more than once been forced into a policy of craft and vio lence by the instinct of self-preservation. But, from the day when a Prussian King made his first ap pearance on a field of Europe, the kingdom has neglected warnings which may not yet be studied too late. Its efforts at self-aggrandisement of recent years have not been too wisely calculated. We all know what the realm is in itself, and how it has been formed—of what an agglomeration, indeed, of seignories, duchies, bishoprics, principalities, •and provinces, it is constituted, eight distinct deposits of acquired power underlying the Prussian throne. Now Prussia, not satisfied with being safe by land, aspires to a rivalry with the great maritime nations on th e sea, which must tax the Royal and patrimonial resources of her monarchy, besides the people, in a manner somewhat severe. It may be a far-sighted policy ; but it certainly appears experimental so far as the living generation is concerned. It is a truth familiar to all Europe, that Prussia, apart from her brief intervals of inglorious warfare, since 1815, has been working apace to put her material interests on a level with those of the other Northern and Western nations. In this attempt she has partially succeeded. Engaged in many constitutional struggles, inferior in intensity to those of 1848, though more prolonged, she has, upon the whole, advanced conside ra bl y, an d , until the assault upon Denmark discredited her in the sight of the civilised world, her fame stood high. We are dynastically related with her, and must have every desire to witness her prosperity ; but her politics of late have been suspiciously circuitous and provocative, as the action of that which may be termed Minor Germany most indubitably proves. There are several dangers before her, upon all of which she appears eager to rush. Lord Brougham once said that Prussia never adopted in her court the style of extravagance prevalent in England, France, and Austria ; but impoverished herself by " trying to seem stron ge r than she was." Comparatively considered, it is true that her armaments, in proportion to her population, are not exorbitant. They are by many degrees less, relatively, than those of the French and the Dutch, the Spaniards and the Portuguese ; but when Prussia has a great navy, with costly harbours, coast works, and a system of maritime fortifications, will she be one jot the stronger along her land frontier? Her Minister of Marine recom mends the " re-establishment of the fort of Fried richsort." In that we discover a truth which the Minister of Marine would appear to have forgotten. Friedrichsort was dismantled because it was useless. But every fancy has its hour of sunshine, and there exists little possibility that the Berlin Chambers will baulk the last Royal proposition that a people, intoxicated by cheap victories over the Danes, shall clothe their coasts in granite and iron, and, far and near, defy the world. COUNTRY MARKETS HULL.—TUESDAY. During the past week business has been somewhat cur tailed by the Easter holidays. Wheat has ruled very dull, and - English declined is to 2s per qr.; good reds, 87s to 38s; wheat, 42s to 445. In foreign transactions were limited at about is per qr. less last week. At our market to-day there was a small show of English wheat, which sold at the cur rent rates of the previous week. Fine malting barley, owing to scarcity, was in active request. Beans and peas in retail at former rates. • SALISBURY. —TUESDAY. At this market to-day the offer of wheat was less than a week ago. There was only a moderate attendance of farmers, millers, and dealers, and the trade ruled d u ll, a t about previous quo tations. Oats in request, at 1s per qr. advance, and in some cases 2s over previous rates. Beans and peas in limited demand ; no alteration in prices. The following are present prices :—Wheat realised from 36s to 42s ; barley, 23s to 29s ; oats, 19s to 28s ; beans, 40s to 465; and peas, 34s to 48s per qr. Winter tares, from 8s to 11s per bushel ; Best bread, I.od ; household ditto, 9d per 81b loaf. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.-TUESDAY. There was but a moderate supply of wheat at to-day's market, and it being a holiday the attendance of buyers was scanty. Barley and oats were scarce, and all sorts of grain sold slowly, at barely last week's prices. Northumberland wheat sold from 32s to 445, Norfolk and Suffolk, 39s to 45s ' • Dantsic, 39 5 t o 46 s ; oat; 21s to 26s ; barley, 26s to 31s ; beans, 36s to 40s ; rye, 27s to 36s ; malt, 51s to 62s per qr. ; flour, 26s to 28s per sack. LYNN.—TuEsDAY. We have had another week's fine weather, and also a change of wind from the north-east to the south. The market to-day was but thinly attended, and there was con sequently a small show of wheat, for which last week's prices were readily paid. Malting barley is nearly all worked up in this district—the few samples offering rea lised full prices • grinding qualities rather dea rer . B eans and peas supported last Tuesday's prices. New wheat, 44s to 46s ; new red, 37s to 38s ; old white, 41s to 428 ; old red, 38s to 39s per 36 stone. Barley for malting, 33s to 35s ; secondary, 30s ; ordinary, 26s to 280 per qr. Oats, 22s to 24s per 24 stone. Beans, large, 35s to 36s ; small, 37s to 408 per 38 stone. The averages were—wheat, 38s 8d; barley, 29s fid; oats, 26s Od ; and beans, —s per quarter. MARKET HARBOROEIGH.—TTJESDAY.. New white wheat, 41s to 44s ; new red, 38s to 41s per 30 stone. Barley, fine, 34s ; other kinds, 26s to 28s per qr. Oats, new, 19s to 23s ; old, 25s to 28s per qr. Beans, old, 40s to 425; new, 34s to 38s per qr. Births. COLMAN.—On the 18th inst., at Carroty House, Norwich, the wife of J. J. Colman, Esq., of a daughter. Hussm—On the 17th inst., at Scotney Castle, Lamber hurst, Sussex, the Hon. Mrs. Hussey, of a son. PERKINs.—On the 19tst.,--at Southampton, the wife of Frederick Perkins, Esq., J.P., \ of a son. SCHRODER.—On the 18th inst., at Arbutus Lodge, Den mark-hill, the wif e of Anthony Schroder, Esq., of a son. Marriages. HYDE — BRooxsisANK—On the 19th inst., at Trinity Church, Chelsea, Edward Hyde, Esq., of Essex Villas, Holland park, to Elizabeth O. H., youngest daughter of the late T. C. Brooksbank, Esq., 39, Cadogan-place. LEWINS—PATTISON.-011 the 19th inst., at Dovercourt, Essex, George Pearson, eldest son of John Lewins,Esq., Ripon, Yorkshire, to Ellen, only child of T. Pattison, Esq., The Lodge, Dovercourt. Deaths. Cox.—On the 15th inst., suddenly, at Winterfield House, Dunbar, Captain James Cox. JOHNSTON.—On the 16th inst., Charles Johnston, Esq., formerly of Cheshunt, Herts, aged 63. MASON.—On the 16th inst., at 15, Park-crescent, Stock well, William Mason. SOUTTEIL.—On the 16th inst., at llighbury, Richard C• Soutter, aged 56. TOMKIN.—On the 16th inst., W. B. Temkin, Esq., of Witham, Essex, aged 44. UFFINGTON.—On the 18th inst., at 16, Charles-street, Ber keley-square, Viscount Uffington, aged 26. Vnsnc.—On the 16th inst., at Belstead Lodge, near Ipswich, Petrus Wyna,nd Vink, Esq., aged 40. London : Printed and Published by WIL LIAM ANDREWS of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Office, No 114 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex.— Thursday, April 20, 1865. T a r; -0 n, ' Borni ItuN I 4.ond ( Br :n ip Ladi e , rtt ls sd,, .11, 1 II PRR2 It is Soli t►c A , at ~~ Obs, "Ma; —___ Nol CER I bect 1 etwe Aqt. The e: Wit COXIE Sore cently rh e raost t necwith°, k , f0r5,1 Prod ul s p rta r _ , A331 Ilolbc ' Righ Q meat stand Alabz Itnpoi ralogi at N] of Ly, tle and c ~ PR, R kL4 iry OP 0, 1 3 6vido enaim the br street C 431 Mr. I B arcl SA Cart Thi Want th e II