The Sun. — London, England, 1866-07-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS.-LAST EVENING. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. ROYAL COMMISSION. The Royal assent was given by Commission to the fol lowing bills :—Drainage Maintenance (Ireland), Burials in Boroughs (Scotland), Lunacy Acts (Scotland) Amend ment, Hartfield (Chase, Wayning, 'and Improvement) Railway, London, Worcester, and South Wales Railway, Great Northern Railway (Barnet Branch Abandonment), London and North Western Railway (New Lines), Stour bridge Improvement, Furness Railway, Thames Subway, Metropolitan District Railway, Kingsbridge and Dart mouth Road, North British Railway (St. Margaret's Divi sion), North British Railway (Branches), Dolphinton Railway Companies, North British Railway (Stirling, &c., Branches), Longton, Adderley Green, and Bucknall Rail way ; Tottenham and Hampstead Junction, Dublin and Antrim Junction Railway, East London Railway (Addi tional Powers), Midland Counties and Shannon Junction Railway, Sutherland Railway, Beddergell Railway, Brighton and Hove General Gas, Can nock Chase and Wolverhampton Railway, Eco nomic Telegraph Company, Hoylake Railway, Hull and Hornsy and North Eastern Railway, Kilmarnock Water, London and North Western and Cockermouth and Worthington Railway Companies, London and North Western Railway and Whitehaven Junction Railway Companies, Manchester, Sheffield, and Linconshire Rail way (Liverpool Extension), Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (New Lines), Sheffield United Gas, Thorpe and Great Clapton Railway and Pier, Whitby, Red car, and Middlesborough Union Railway, Winchcombe and :Stockport Railway, Ayr Harbour, Brynmar and Blae navon Railway Company, Mid- Wales Railway, Shrews bury and Potteries Junction Railways Company, Swansea, Vale of Neath, Brecon, and Junction Railway, Hemel Hempstead and London and North-Western Rail way, London and South-Western Railway (Additional Powers), London and South-Western Railway, Poole and Bournemouth Junction, Neath New Gas Co., Goatbridge, &c., Branches, Shrewsbury and North Wales (Devonshire) and Midland Railway Company, Wovenhoe and Bright lingsea Railway Company, Thetford and Watham Rail way, United General Gas, Eske Valley Railway Company, Shzewsbury and North Wales and Shrewsbury Junction nd Potteries Amalgamation Rail way Companies, Glasgow and South-Western Railway (additional powers), Alder shot Gas and Water, Salisbury and Yeovil Railway, Alli ance and Consumers Gas Company, Edgware, Heghyole, and London Railway, Manchester, and the Stourbridge Railway, Bradford Corporation, Mid land Railway, Carlisle, Bideford, Applodore, &c., Railway, and Westward Ho' Railway, Guardian Fire and Life Assurance Company, Shrewsbury Bridges, Medway Docks (No. 1), New River Company, Rugby Bridge, Lancashire Union Railway, London, Brighton, and North Coast Railway, St. Leonard's and Hast ings, Lewis, Mid-Kent, and South Eastern Railway, Companies ; the Furness, &c., Railway Companies, Great Northern and Western of Ireland Railway, and West Bromwich and Walsall Railway Bills. The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Marlborough, and the Earl of Bradford. Their lordships adjourned during pleasure. The LORD Onaxomnnon took his seat on the woolsack at 5 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : —East and West Junction, Waterford and Limerick Rail way (Arrangement), Wandsworth and Putney Gas, Swan sea Vale Railway, Glasgow Police, Aberdare and Central Wales Junction Railway, Teme Valley, and Wolverhamp ton and Walsall Railway. MAD DOGS. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved the second reading of this bill, the object of which was to protect cattle in Ireland from attacks by dogs in a rabid or excited state. The LORD CHANCELLOR did not approve of the principle of the bill, the provisions of which might lead to litigation ; but he did not feel called upon to oppose the second reading. After a short discussion, the bill was read a second time. TRANSUBSTANTIATION, &c., DECLARATIO N ABOLITION BILL. On the motion for the second reading of this bill, The Earl of DERBY said that he trusted the noble lord (the Marquis of Clanrlcarde) would not press the second rending of the bill, not that he was opposed to its provisions, but because he thought it was incomplete. Besides a commission had been appointed to inquire into the general question of the abolition of all these oaths and declarations, and he thought the subject of this bill should bo referred to that commission before the subject of special legislation should bo considered. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE, on the understand ing that Government would take up the subject, consented, and after a brief discussion the bill was withdrawn. The Standard of Weights and Measures Bill was read a second time. In answer to the Earl of row's, The Earl of DERBY said that it was to be regretted that the captain of her Majesty's ship Caledonia should have written a letter to the Times newspaper, detailing the proceedings of the ship on a special service ; and the Ad miralty would record its disapprobation of that step. Lord FOLEY, on the part of his brother, Capt. Foley, stated that he greatly regretted the course he had taken, but he bad done so in reply to some comments on the length of time which had been taken in performing the service in question. The house adjourned at a few minutes after 6. HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. THE NEW GOVERNMENT. Mr. B. Disraeli, Colonel Peel, Viscount Cranborne, Sir J. Pakington, Sir J. Hay, Sir Hugh Cairns, Lord Stanley, Mr. Bovill, Mr. Cave, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Gathorne Hardy, Mr. Du Cane, and Lord Burghley took the oath and their seats on their re-election. THE JAMAICA COMMISSION. Mr. BUXTON gave notice that on an early day ho would call the attention of the house to the report of the Jamaica Commission. AFFAIRS ON THE CONTINENT. Mr. lIORSMAN gave notice that on going into com mittee of supply on Monday next he should call the atten tion of the house to the state of affairs on the Continent, and ask certain questions relative to the correspondence between the Governments of England and France on the subject. THE REFORM BILL. Mr. GLADS TONE gave notice that to. morrow he should move that all orders relating to the bill for the amendment of the representation of the people be postponed until Thursday, when he should move that they be discharged. NEW WRITS-THE NEW PEERS. On the motion of Col. TAYLOR, a new writ was ordered to issue for Heitfordshire, in the room of the Right Hon. E. Bulwer Lytton, now called to the House of Peers under the title of Baron Lytton. A new writ was also ordered to issue for the Eastern Division of Suffolk in the room of Sir J. Henniker, now called to the House of Peers as Baron Henniker ; and a new writ was also issued for Pontefract in the room of Sir W.lolliffe, now Baron Hylton. THE NEW CHIEF BARON OP THE EXCHEQUER. On the motion of Col. TAYLOR, a new writ was ordered to issue for Suffolk, in the room of Sir Fitzroy Kelly, who has accepted the office of Chief Baron of her Majesty's Court of Exchequer. SUMMARY PROCEDURE (SC OTLAND) BILL. Sir E. COLBROOK asked what were the intentions of the Government with respect to this bill, and when it was to be proceeded with. Mr. WALPOLE said it was inconvenient for him to say anything with respect to the bill in the absence of the Lord Advocate from the House of Commons. He would, how ever, consult the Lord Advocate, in order to ascertain the course intended to be taken. THE CREW OF THE WOLVERINE. Mr. BARING said he had to inform the house that the serious charge made against 12 of the crow of H.M.S. Wolverine, at Jamaica, was utterly and entirely unfounded. (hear, hear.) He had caused the most searching inquiry to o. be . e made, and it was satisfactory to find that the honour bat t h e service had not been compromised by any such bar r Proceedings as had appeared in a morning news paper. THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY (IRELAND). In reply to Sir R. PEEL, Mr. GLADSTONE said it was a fact that the Queen's University had received a new charter, but as the matter was a complicated one,- he should postpone arguing the matter until it was before the house in a regular form. TENURE OP LAND (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. B. OSBORNE asked the intention of the Govern ment with respect to this bill. Lord NAAS said it was not proposed to proceed further with the bill during the present session. THE 11TH HUSSARS AND BREECH-LOADING RIFLES. In reply to several questions, Col. NORTH said he trusted the house Wo uld pardon I him for referring to the case of the three offi cers 11th Hussars, whose chance of promotion had aee of the together b een extinguished by the arrangement which had m ade in the regiment of appo i nting a half-pay officer been the majority, wh en common j ustice should have inducd the War-office to choose from the officers of the regim en t. Col. B. KNOX sa id he q uite concurred in what had f allen from the hon. and gallant member, and quite approved of what had been done by the lato Secretary for War, and of what was now being done by the present Secretary for War, in the conversion of Enfield rifles into breech-loaders, but before they determined on what should bo the perma nent breech-loader for the service, he hoped they would consider whether they should not adopt a rifle which had been reported on to the Admiralty as one of the most simple and admirable weapons that had ever been invented. Major DICKSON said if they could not intrust the Horse Guards in a small matter like that of these officers, they could not intrust them with greater matters. If they were to consider the claims of the senior captain of the 11th Hussars, they must considerthe claims of every field officer who had been put on half-pay without any fault of their own. Mr. J. B. SMITH said he happened, i i the spring of 1851, to be coming down the Rhine in a st 3amer on which there was a number of Prussian soldiers, who were armed with a weapon he had never seen before. lie asked to look at one, but the soldiers said they were not allowed to show them. There was an English engineer on board who had settled in Prussia. He asked the engineer if he knew what kind of weapon this was that the Prussian soldiers were armed with, and he replied that it was the needle gun, that it would carry four times as far as the ordinarymusket,and fire four times as often ; and he added, " if you go to war with Prussia (which was not at all probable) you will soon find out what it is." He (Mr. Smith) thought it of import ance, told him he was a member of Parliament, and re quested him to write him a letter with soma particulars concerning it. A few days after his return to London he received a letter from the engineer. It was a very important letter. Mr. Fox Maule was then Secretary for War, and he handed him the letter, and said he wished him to read it, as it was very important. Mr. Fox Maule took the letter and read it, and, without turning round, handed the letter back over his head muttering, " We know all about it." From that day to this they had heard nothing about the needle gun. A few weeks afterwards Mr. Fox Mania brought on the estimate for the ordnance, which in cluded a rote for 50,000 muskets to replace an equal num ber that had been burned in the Tower. He (Mr. J. B. Smith) opposed the vote, saying that voting money for such a weapon as the old musket was as bad as throwing the money into the river ; but Mr. Maule said it was of im portance that the Government should not be without the muskets. This letter was dated April 24, 1851, and it stated that the Prussian army had been armed with the needle gun since 1847, that it was generally admitted it would kill at 700 yards. He was very glad to hear that the right hon. and gallant gentleman opposite had taken this question into his serious consideration, and that the country would no longer be without the finest instrument that could be produced. He happened to be in company with Mr. Whitworth shortly after some experiments had been made with his rifle, and with his cannon and Sir W. Arm strong's, and Mr. Whitworth, than whom there was no one who was better able to give an opinion on the subject, re marked, " We are in our infancy in regard to this matter ; we are only just beginning to make instruments of de struction ; it is only just now that the scientific mind is called to the invention of instruments of de struction ; but it will go on and never cease until war will become so destructive, by inventions of different kinds, that there will be the termination of it." Seeing that there was six millions of men in arms in Europe, it was indispensable that the army of this country should be supplied with the best possible weapon. It was necessary to provide a sufficient quantity for forim i m mp ed r i o a v te em u e s o e t , e b w ut er i e t was not wise to lay up great stores, being made so rapidly that the best weap ons of the p resent time might in a few years be shown in the Tower a s g reat curiosities, and as useless as the muskets that were pur chased during the time of Mr. Fox Maule. Mr. H. SEYMOUR asked whether any of her Majesty's troops in India were supplied with breech-loading rifles, and whether breech-loading carbines had been served out to the cavalry it was intended to send out (the llth;Hussars) to India without them. He also wished to know whether it was not practicable to have the arms converted in India, instead of having to send them to England ? It was far more important that our army should be supplied with breech-loaders in India than in Europe, seeing that, ac cording to recent accounts, the north of India was in an unsatisfactory state. Mr. NEWDEG ATE was the survivor of the three mem bers of that house who had urged the appointment of the small arms committee of 1854, and he had on that occasion acted with the Duke of Somerset, whom ho regarded as one of the ablest administrators of the present day. He (the hon. member) believed that he was mainly instru mental in introducing Mr. Westley Richards to Lord Hardinge, and that it was to the exertions of Mr. Richards and some other gunmakers, that the country was indebted for the Enfield rifle, the most efficient muzzle-loading musket that had ever been possessed by any country in the world. He did not join in the contempt which had been expressed for hard shooting ; for he had been as sured by friends of his who were present at lnkerman that but for the hard shooting of our men the two-gun battery would have been captured by the enemy, and that the loss of that battery might have cost us the battle. He was glad to learn the army were at once to be supplied with breech-loaders, for he believed that an inferior breech loader was better than none at all. He was not aware whether the Snider was the best rifle that could be invented but he trusted the Government would submit the pieces as fast as they were converted to the test of actual practice. In that manner they would at once teach our soldiers the use of the weapon, and put the weapon itself to full proof. It would be an act of great rashness not to act on the in formation we had lately received ; and supposing we had a hundred or a hundred and fifty thousand breech-loaders of not the very host construction left on cur hauls, it would be easy hereafter to sell them off, and in the interim we should not have been behind the rest of the world. He did not agree that the priuc:ple which was insisted on of absolute interchangeability in the parts of a rifle, valuable as it was, was so valuable that the Government ought to sacrifice to it the mechanical skill of the country outside the Enfold factory. He trusted, therefore, they would adopt a second pattern in case of any emergency, a step which would increase their power threefold. Ho hoped also they would appoint to test the claims of the rival mus kets a tribunal from which every inventor should be ex cluded, and which should consist of infantry officers who would have no other guide than actual experience. Mr. OSBORNE—I feel perfect confidence in leaving the decision of this important question to the gallant general who now holds the office of Secretary, for War Two bet ter appointments could not have been made than that of the gallant gentleman and that of the Earl of Longford, with whom I have long been intimately acquainted in the House of Lords. (Hear, hear.) But I rise to ask a question with regard to other appointments which do not give me the same confidence. I wish to draw the attention of the house to the administration of justice in the sister country. (Hear, hear.) I am not about to criticise in any unfair spirit the appointments which have been made by the other side, because I think that, taking them man by man, those appointments are, on the whole, very creditable to the gentlemen opposite, and that they may fairly compete, in the matter of well-informed dukes and statistical baronets, with any appointments made on this side. (A laugh.) I shall be delighted, and 1 mean to give them a fair trial, which I think, under the circumstances, they deserve. At the same time 1 must kg for a categorical answer to the question which I am about to put to the right hon. gentle man the head of the Government in this house. I wish to ask if there is any truth in the statements which 1 have seen in this morning's papers with regard to the law ap pointments of Ireland ? Tho house is well aware that 11 years ago there was constituted a court of appeal, of which a very great lawyer was put at the head—l mean Mr. Blackburn. I believe there have been fewgreater, or more illustrious lawyers, either in Ireland or in this country, than Mr. Blackburn was. Within the last few days we have seen it reported that Mr. Blackburn, at the age of 85—and I am sorry to say the shadow of his former self—has been transferred to the great and important office of Lord Chan cellor of Ireland. (Hear, hear.) It is true that he had served in that office before, but it was many years ago, before the increase of age and infirmities had weighed him down. However, having had no official .information on the point, I ask, is it true that he has been appointed Lord Chancel lor ? Now, there was an officer in Ireland who I believe might bo compared as an equity lawyer with any in this country or Ireland ; and I did hope that my Lord Derby, in his anxiety to put his Government, as he says, upon a broad basis, would remember that there was a man of mo derate politics, though of great legal ability, who might most properly have been put into that place. I mean Mr. Brewster. I am surprised that he has been passed over. (Hear, hear.) What has happened ? A man whom we all recollect, both for his ability and for his deafness (Mr. Napier) has been taken from his snug retirement of £2,000 a year— Several HON. MEMBERS—£.I,OOO. Mr. OSBORNE—So much the better for him. (Laugh • ter.) I do not grudge it him, for I think he has well earned it ; but what I find fault with is that Mr. Napier —a deaf judge—has been put of all places in the world into that of Lord Chief Justice of Appeals. (Hear, hear.) I ask can this be true ? I refuse to believe it till I hear it from the right hon. gentleman opposite. It may be said that this appointment has been made by the Government in their anxiety to save his pension of £4,000 a year. But that is no answer ; for I s a y the interests of the Irish public suffer from having a Chancellor 8 5 ought s'anci a to Chiefbe man of of 8 Justice who is as deaf as a n y (Laughter.) I see by the papers that there has been a roun d-robin, and that the right ho n. g entleman ( Mr. White side) Brewster ought not to be promoted side) insists that Mr. n to the rank of Chancellor. I t is unnecessar y for me to sa y anything about the right hon. his great talents he merits any promotion I think that for at the hands of her Majesty's Government. He has been of great and ma terial service to his party ; but he ought no t to be allowed to dictate terms to the Government, so that the Irish peo ple should be subjected to a deaf judge of appeals and an octogenarian Lord Chancellor. I will ask is that justice to Ireland ? Such are not my notions of justice to Ireland; and I did hope from the exposition on the hustings at Aylesbury that such a job as this would not have been perpetrated. (Hear.) Ac I am speaking I will give credit to the Government for doing that which their predecessors d l id not do—for putting the Irish Secretary into the Cabinet. ive great yn o c b r edit lei t e o n d t h w e m h u f ohra has that; h b a e t e ; n a p n u d t t l n h e r a e v . e o o o i sb tion to i o g first Irish Secretary who has occupied that position. An Hon. MEMBER— There Mr. OSBORNE_wou, should Mr. Horsm an . ldhrdl forhe hwisasbnuostinceosns. ret that call (Laughter.) I re neetedawithy e h o im un a try n r a i n sh Secretary, he did the Government h ave got a Scotchman as Irishg the Treasury. I wi s h th at Lord Derby could have Lord of selected from amongst his numerous adherents, who, so anxious to be placed, an Irishman to thl • s post. (Hear, hear.) Without making any invidious comments on the policy in nubibus of the Government, I hope the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Disraeli) will give us some explanation of the course which is to be pursued with regard to Ireland. I have some difficulty in decyphering the right hon. gentle man's meaning when he laments the great emigration that is going on. That emigration is undoubtedly to be deplored, though at the same time it has its good side ; but when the right hon. gentleman, as leader of this house and Chancellor of the Exchequer, directly hints that he has some measure in reserve by which he will put a stop to that emigration, I think he is bound to state to the house whether he is going to inaugurate a great system of public works, and whether there is to be money from the English exchequer applied for that purpose. Mr. OLIPHANT here made a remark to the hon. member. Mr. OSBORNE—My hon. friend suggests to me to ask whether Lord Chief Justice Lefroy has resigned. Of course he has. My hon. friend is behind the age. Being a Scotch member, of most disinterested feelings, my hon. friend cannot enter into it. The only quarrel is now amongst the lawyers as to who is to share the plunder. (A laugh.) I believe that the quarrel is made up, that Lord Chief Justice Lefroy has resigned at the age of 92, that we are to have a Lord Chancellor of 85; that Mr. Napier, who is as deaf as a stone, is to be Lord Justice of Appeals; and that the member for the University of Dublin is to be Lord Chief Justice. I believe that that is the information we shall hear ; but I won't anticipate it. (Laughter.) I hope that the right hon. gentleman, either in contradicting or affirming it, will give us some sketch of his Irish policy ; because there is nothing so mischievous for Ireland as to leave the people of that country under the belief that great measures are " looming in the future," which are to stop emigration, and to put money into all their pockets. Unfortunately I have a vivid recollection of public works in Ireland, and I do hope that neither in the shape of loans to Irish :railways nor of public works are we about to have Irish capitalists or Irish workmen de bauched with such a policy. This is a most important question, and it is one upon which the future of the right hon. gentleman's Government depends. I hope by the smile which I see flitting across his interesting counte nance— (roars of laughter)—l hope by that smile that he is about to rise and give as utter denial with regard to these Irish appointments. I cannot but feel that by doing so ho will materially strengthen his position, although he may possibly disappoint some of his ardent Irish sup porters. (Hear, hear.) General PEEL said that he could give no explanation with regard to the first question which had been put to him. The papers had never been beforo him, but he un derstood that the appointment of Major Jervis had been submitted to her Majesty for approval. He (the gallant general) had always conceived it to be his duty in such cases to call upon the Commander-in-Chief to bring in some officer on half-pay, so as to relieve the half-pay list, but if the Commander-in-Chief should point out that by so doing he would inflict great hardship upon the senior cap tains, the Secretary of State would no doubt attend to his representations. With regard to the question of breech-loaders, which was one of much greater importance, he (General Peel) could only state what had been done since he had been Secretary of State. As the hon. and gallant gentleman said, the occurrences which had sur prised the whole of Europe had conclusively proved the great superiority of breech-loaders, but he did not admit that they would shoot four times as far. On the contrary, he believed that that was a perfect fiction. Mr. OSBORNE observed that what Mr. Smith said was that the Prussian needle-gun shot four times as far as the old " Brown Bess." General PEEL—Still quite sufficient had taken place to show that the breech-loader was au immense improvement. He need only refer, in proof of that, to the accounts which had been received from the special correspondent of the Times—than whom no one was more capable of giving an opinion, and than whose opinion none was of more weight. We had, however, military officers attached to the embas sies of both the countries that were engaged in the war ; and he (Gen. Peel) had letters from each of them. One of these, dated " Vienna, July 5," said, "1 do most sincerely hope that no delay will occur, but that wo shall immedi ately, and at any cost, arm the whole of our army with breech-loaders." The officer who was with the Prussian army wrote—" As to the needle-gun, I have only to say what I have been urging for three years. We dare notgo to war with muzzle-loaders against breech-loaders." (Hear, hoar.) In another despatch, however, he said, " I look upon our own gun, from what I hear of it, as much better, as I think it is simpler ; but breech-loaders it must be, and that speedily." (Cheers.) He (General Peel) was glad to state that the attention of the late Government had been turned to the subject during the last two or three years ; for it was two years since a committee reported that the whole of the army should be armed with breech-loaders. Tho question then was how this recommendation should be carried into effect ? Should it be by conversion of the Enfield rifle into a breech loader, or by the introduction of a new arm ? He thought it had been properly decided to introduce the Snider rifle ; and the present Government had resolved that the number to be converted should be 100,000, instead of 40,01)0. (Cheers.) By converting the present Enfield rifle, which was the best muzzle-loader into a breech-loader, they obtained an arm that shot better and they got rid of the ramrod and the copper cap. Ho had given orders for the conversion of 100,000 of those rifles instead of 40,000, and he expected to succeed in get ting as many more converted by the trade, so that by the end of the financial year they would have 200,000 breech loaders ready for service. Were this work to be done by hand it would involve an expenditure of £l2 per rifle, whereas by the aid of machinery it could be effected at £1 per rifle. The Government, however, had not come to any decision, beyond the mere conversion, as to what the future arm of the troops should be. The question would probably be referred to a commission, composed chiefly of infantry officers, to decide upon the relativo merits of Snider and other breech loaders. With regard to the Indian army, there were some cavalry regiments armed with breach loading carbines, but he did not believe there was such a thing as a breech loading musket being in use there. With respect to the equipment of the 11th Hussars, the War office communicated with the Horse Guards, stating that there were 700 of Sharp's rifles in store, and wishing to know whether that department desired that they should be issued to that regiment. The answer received was to the effect that no such desire was entertained, and that was the reason why the rifle in question had not been supplied. Mr. OLIPHANT wished to know whether the attention of the right hon. and gallant gentleman had been called to the use of the Westley Richards percussion cap carbine, and the Spencer repeating carbine, which had been found a most efficient weapon during the American war. The Marquis of HART INGT ON said that there appeared to be some misapprehension with regard to the question of the appointment of Major Jervis. That appointment had boon made by the Horse Guards in the spirit of the royal warrant, and not, as had been supposed, for the sake of saving the half-pay. The Commander-in-Chief had pro mised the appointment to Major Jervis, in justice to the claims put forward by that officer.;With regard to the con version of the Enfield rifles, ho had ordered the conversion of 20,000 of them immediately on receiving the report of the committee. From what he knew of the resources of the establishment at Enfield he doubted whether the anti cipation of the right hon. and gallant general opposite Ns ould be realised. An HON. MEMBER, reverting to the question of the pro motion of Major Jervis, said it was not only a case of hardship to other officers, but was an actual bar to promotion. QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY IN IRELAND. Sir R. PEEL called attention to the circumstances under which a new or supplemental charter had been granted to the Queen's University in Ireland, and complained that the charter had received the sign manual of the Crown and had the groat seal affixed to it, in spite of an assurance given by Mr. Gladstone early in the session that no change should be made in the constitution of the university until an opportunity had been afforded to the house of challeng ing the policy of the Government relating thereto. The right hon. gentleman charged the late Government with having been influenced in the course they had pursued by a desire to conciliate the support of the Irish Roman Catho lic members. Sir G. GREY hold that nothing could be more clear and unambiguous than the manner in which the intention of the Governments both of Lord Palmerston and Lord Rus sell had been stated, and denied that their conduct was liable to be construed into a violation of a pledge given by Mr. Gladstone. What his right hon. friend said was, that immediately after the issue of the charter a copy of it would be laid upon the table, and that whatever was done by the Government would be done upon their responsi bility. In compliance with that understanding, on the 26th of March, a copy of a letter to the Lord Lieutenant, explaining what the Government proposed doing, was communicated to the house. The supplemental charter was not a revocation of the original' charter, but merely an enabling one, and he hoped the senate of the university would see the propriety of adopting it, and thus remove what was admitted to be a grievance on the part of the Roman Catholics in Ireland. Mr. LOWE echoed the opinion of Sir R. Pool with re gard to the nature of the pledge, and suggested that the Government should take up the question of the Queen's University in the interests of education. r Mr. C. FORTESCUE defended the conduct of tho late Government, and in reply to the imputation cast upon them by Sir R. Peel, that their obje c t h a d b een to co ci liate the support of the Irish members on the reform question, stated that the supplemental charter had received the sign manual a week before the motion of Lord Dun kellin came before the house. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL did not impute any in tentional breach of faith to the late Government, but con tended that the proposed charter, if accepted by the senate of the Queen's University, would have produced a complete subversion of the whole system of education at that in stitution by doing away with the condition of residence at the Queen's Colleges. Mr. LAWSON (the ex-Attorney General for Ireland) attributed the opposition raised to the charter to the fact that it placed Roman Catholic students upon an equality with other subjects of her Majesty. It did not interfere with the Queen's Colleges, but merely enabled the senate to do as was done by the London University, confer de grees upon persons who presented themselves as candi dates for honours from other educational establishments. It would in no respect affect the mixed system of educa tion, but rather operate as one of its best preservatives and securities. After some observations from Mr. MAGUIRE and Sir P. O'BRIEN, _ . Mr. GLADSTONE, in justification of the course taken by the late Government, said Sir R. Peel was himself a party to the introduction of the change in the constitution of the Queen's University, having sat on the Treasury bench as Secretary for Ireland when Sir G. Grey, as the organ of Lord Palmerston's Administration, specifically announced the object they had in view, and given it his tacit approval. Sir George stated that her Majesty's Go vernment thought that object would be best effected by an enlargement of the powers of the university, by amend ing its charter so as to remove the restrictions which then prevented it from granting degrees to any students except those who had passed through the course of instruction in one or other of the Queen's Colleges, and thus adopting a system analogous to that which was found to work so satisfactorily in the University of London. Such was the declaration made by his right hon. friend with the official and responsible approval of Sir R. Peel. Sir PEEL said he had not sat silent, for he intimated to Lord Palmerston that if the Government made an alte ration in the constitution of the Queen's University he could not continuo to hold office. Mr. GLADSTONE repeated that the right hon. baronet had, as Chief Secretary, sat silent on the Treasury bench, and upon that silence ho must be held fully responsible for the whole measure. Ever since the month of June, 1865, the plans of the Government had been well known to the house. The supplemental charter sufficed for the purpose of extending the powers of the university so far as the granting of degrees was concerned, but to place the uni versity upon the footing of the London University it would be necessary that those who received degrees should be invested with the membership attaching to those degrees, and that could only be effected by an A , t of Parliament. He protested against mulcting the Roman Catholics of Ire land of civil rights which were freely granted in England in deference to conscientious religious convictions, and ap pealed to the Government to declare their views with re gard to the question of education in Irela d. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The right hon. gentleman has appealed to me to express on this occa sion the opinions of the Government on the question be fore us. My complaint is that there is no question before us. (Hear, hear.) The question before us is, whether we should go into committee of supply, and I think it is most inconvenient that if the opinions of the Government are .ndtc ftohfbeutth desired on so momentous a question as Irish education it should be sought to obtain them without any notice and in a manner so incidental as has occurred this evening. In deed, this discussion has originated in a misconception be tween the right hon. gentleman the member for Tamworth and the late Government, respecting some engagement that was made about the Queen's Colleges. I do not wish at all to enter into that argument. It is clear that her Ma jesty's Government entered into an undertaking in which they have not been, from some circumstance or other, suc cessful. I will agree that it is impossible to leave the ques tion in the position in which we find it. We will consider it with candour. We will endeavour to make ourselves acquainted with all the facts; and I think with refer ence to that result it may be interesting to know what will be the decision of the Senate in the autumn. (Hear, and a laugh.) As the discussion has gone on it has assumed various phases, and has developed into a variety of aspects, till at last, in the speech of the right hon. gentleman the member for South Lancashire, it has touched on the very principles on which the whole system of Irish education is to be founded. It is not desirable that an issue of so much importance should bo discussed in this house in a manner so incidental, and alsolutkly, practically speaking, without notice. I do not say this in defending the Government from any expression of opinion upon the question.. .If proper notice had been given, with the intention of elicit ing, even at this period of the session, and under the cir cumstances in which the Government finds itself, and challenging the opinion of the Government upon the whole question of Irish education, we should have been prepared to meet the discussion. We should not have shrunk from such a discussion, though I think under all the circum stances of the case the proceeding would not have been a very fair one. But as the right hon. gentleman proceeded he touched upon the vital principles on which tho whole system of Irish education is founded, and I declare myself that, though I listened to him with that attention which he always commands, I am quite in ignorance whether ho is in favour of or opposed to the system of mixed educa tion. I only say this to illustrate the inconvenience of treating these vast questions in a manner so unexpected, so occasional, and so desultory. We recognise fully the import ance of the whole question of Irish education. It will receive from us an earnest and anxious consideration. (Hear, hear.) When the matter is brought before Parliament in a na tural manner we shall be prepared to offer those opinions l i which wo think it will be expedient for them to adopt and to follow. But on the present occasion I think it unne cessary for mo to say more—(hear, hear, and a laugh)— except that an honourable gentleman, who rose early in the evening in this discussion, made some inquiries of mo which it was not then convenient that I should answer, respecting some appointments in the Irish Go vernment, and which it would not be respectful to the much agree, so far house that I should pass over in silence. The hon. member for Nottingham favoured the house with an eulogy upon Whig judgeel ltrhifgo-er m the duties s a t h t s e e r l a can f givenocharacterrni by D a y f n l\ t opinion, h l l e .. hßori Brewster. gentleman. t i e t r h I the very I characterbelieve 31 M r r .. B re w Brew ster- to be a most eminent lawyer, and a temperate and sagacious politician, and no doubt Mr. Brewster would fulfil the duties of Lord Chancellor of Ireland with great ability and satisfaction. I am only surprised. that after the glowing account of Mr. Brewster given by the hon. gen tleman he and his friends did not make him Lord Chan cellor. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) The hon. gentleman inquired of me whether the Lord Chancellor of Ireland greate eminence,Lo was Mr. Blackburn°. I believe . . I may say that her Ma jesty,by the advice of her Ministers, has appointed Mr. Blaekburne to be Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and that he has accepted office. The hon. gentleman did not deny ability and experience. The hon.. gentleman referred to the past as having been the period when Mr. _Blackburn° that ftrheeal Ireland, decision Government was distinguished ; but three months ago Mr. Blackburne hon.of appeal gentle man i s only three months ago he would have been deemed quite the was judge judge l o v f h who appealrevises Chancel lor, and if ho had been appointed by t a o of Lord Chancellor. (A laugh.) The hon. gentleman competent s byto thinktla e late him seemed to complain that Mr. Napier was appointed as suc cessor to Mr. Blackburn°, although au hon.gentleman who sits near the hon. member, delivered a panegyric on Mr. Napier. No one can deny that he is an able and astute lawyer. When the act passed first for const i tuting the judges of appeal in Ireland it was admitted that if ono man more than another was entitled to the highest post it was Mr. Napier. The hon. member for Nottingham, with that delicacy which sometimes distinguishes him, talked of an infirmity under which Mr. Napier labours, and said he was deaf as a post. I am sorry to say, and I speak from inform ati on which I h ave re ceived, that deafness is an infirmity to which the right hon. gentleman has always been subj ec t , b ut that d id not prevent him from obtaining the confidence of the house in his judgment and learning, and by hi s l a b ours materially assisting the deliberations of this house in committee. I am informed that the infirmity to which Mr. Napier is subject, being an infirmity not coming from age, has not increased since ho was in the House of Commons, and therefore I cannot think that that is any ground for incapacitating him from filling the post to which he has been preferred. I do not know that I need say more upon the remarks of the hon. member for Nottingham (Mr. Osborne). The hon. gentleman has indeed said that it was my duty, on thepart of the Goveroment, to express the policy they mean to pur sue with respect to Ireland. I remember seven years ago, under almost similar circumstances, taking my placeatthis table. The hon. gentleman, who then represented another constituency — he really has been almost a universal repro sentativo—(laughter)—asked me to favour the house with an exposition of the policy of her Majesty's Government, not only on this but ahnoston every other subject. (Laugh ter.) A debate took place, and a reforenco was made to pre cedents which regulate the conduct of this house, and I believe it was admitted by the hon. gentleman,who did not take much by his motion, that it was not established that it was my duty to make an exposition of the policy of the Government, it being clearly shown, on the contrary, that such was not my duty, no one placed in my position hav ing felt it his duty to do so on first t a king his place at this table. Tho hon. member ha s no w grown more modest ; seven years' experience has modified his opinions—(laugh ter) —and now he confines his demand as to what will be our policy towards Ireland. On that point I will not shelter myself under precedents. The hon. member seems to accuse me of having some secret by which emigration may be checked from the sister isle and he demands that J, as Chancellor of the Exchequer ' s h ou ld with perfect frankness explain what this secret Specific is. Ho certainly seemed to intimate that I, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, was go ing to place an export duty on emigration. (Laughter.) Tho hon. member for N o tti ngham says t h e re are some things he will not bear, and says emphatically that he will not bear votes for public works, but especially will he hold himself bound to oppose votes for railways. Now, I am bound to admit, with the frankness which the hon. gen tleman encourages, that it is part of our policy to propose a vote for the Irish railways and to assist them at this moment. (He ar , hear.) Thi s ma y deprive us of the con fidence of the hon. member—(laughter) —but this will, perhaps, be of less importance if wo obtain the confidence of others by this declarati on. I hope that such a policy, which we inh er it e d f rom our. predecessors, will obtain for us support, and we recommend it because we think that they wisely advised it. I have now answered the ques tions of the hon. gentleman as to our Irish policy, and I trust that, when questions relating to Ireland come to be discussed, whether those be imperial or local, whetherthey relate to the construction of railways, or whether they in volve the question of education, the Government will be able to announce their policy in a manner which will en title them to the confidence of this house. (Hear, hear.) Several votes were agreed to for the Revenue depart ments, the Customs, and the Post-office packet service. A number of bills were advanced a stage, and others postponed. The house adjourned at a quarter past one until twelve o'clock this day, when the Thames Navigation pill will be considered in committee. ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH EXPEDITION. (From the Times Special Correspondent.) VALENTIA, Friday Night, July 13. This day, just before noon, the Great Eastern picked up the shore end off this island, and in less than three hours made a perfect splice with the main cable, and amid the hearty good wishes of all, went steaming across the Atlantic to America, paying out the Wire as she went. This evening she was about 80 miles from land submerging the rope at the rate of about six knots an hour, and conversing by sig nals with the shore through the whole length of 2,370 miles of wire, all the signals coming with a force and distinctness such as have never yet been found with any submarine wire. So clear and rapid are all the messages that, even despite the paying out work going on, it is perfectly easy now to hold the most gossipy sort of conversation on all kinds of subjects with any of the engineers on board the Great Eastern. This has never been done before, and probably could not easily be done now but for the improved instruments invented by Piofessor Thomson, Mr. Varley, and Mr. Willoughby Smith. These, however, are all acting with the most uner ring precision, and every one is sanguine of a suc cessful result to this last great attempt. Beyond actually recording the fact there is not a great deal to say about the splice-making. Everything went so smoothly and s as such a perfect matter of busi ness routine that there was an utter lack of incident. It was meant, if possible, to make the splice the day before this, for there was a half-concealed repug nance among many about commencing the work on Friday. It need scarcely be said, however, that there was no feeling of this kind among the en gineers and electricians, most of whom had been engaged in former efforts, and all of whom remem bered that when the cable was successfully laid in 1858 it was on Friday that the work of sinking in mid-ocean was begun. The Great Eastern left Berehaven on the evening of Thursday, the 12th. A small fleet of ships had previously assembled there. In addition to six fine colliers there were her Ma jesty's ship Terrible, with the Albany, Medway, and William Corry, and to these on the morning of Thursday was added her Majesty's ship Racoon, which, through the kind hospitality of Capt. Armi tage and his officers, took out a large party of visi tors to see the squadron start, and be present at the making of the splice. Under these special circum stances, therefore, Berehaven wore a most festive aspect, and with the constant visiting of boats from ship to ship the harbour teemed with life and activity from morn till dark. The general sailing of the squadron, however, did not come off as was expected. For many reasons it was deemed advisable that all the vessels should not leave together, so the Terrible, the Medway, and the Albany were started early yesterday morning, and aftersome hours unpleasant groping through a dense fog, during which all the ships came perilously near the rocks off the Skelligs, they at last found their way to the entrance of Valentia harbour last evening, and taking their bear ings, stood out again, to remain at the buoy at the shore end till morning. Tne Great Eastern, with the Racoon, quitted Berehaven just before dusk, leaving the magnificent bay destitute of a single ship out of the squadron which had so lately filled its waters with life and animation. Im mediately outside the haven both ships were at once enveloped in one of those dense, white Atlantic fogs which make navigation on the coast of Ireland almost as difficult and dangerous in summer as in winter. Not a thing could be seen ahead. Even the Great Eastern herself, to which the Racoon kept close, gradually became dimmer and dimmer in the watery haze, like the shadow of a vessel as vague and unsubstantial looking as the Flying Dutchman. Soon even this taint visionary outline was lost as a great sweep of fogbank poured over her and enveloped also the Racoon so closely that even from her own deck her spars were lost to view. It was not by any means a pleasant situation on such a coast and such a cruise, especially with a gigantic neighbour close at hand like the Great Eastern ; the slightest touch from each would at once have put her Majesty's ship Racoon under some 50 fathoms water. The speed of both ships, therefore, was slowed to as low a rate of motion as would keep steerage way upon them through the swell which came lumbering sluggishly along in tire some monotony. Fog horns were also set going from both ships, and their dismal clamour made the night seem doubly long. It was alsolutely neces sary, however, to keep them going, for at all risks an accidental encounter with the great ship was to be avoided, even if the Racoon had to heave to and remain where she was till daylight. Fortunately, the fog-signals from the Great Eastern were so distinct that there was no necessity for this, and at slow speed the Racoon was able to keep her place about half a mile astern of her . huge consort. A very wide berth was given to the shore, and of course a very wide one indeed to the Skelligs. The ships were off the latter soon after daylight, and before 6 a.m. the Terrible, Medway, and Albany were sighted, keep ing their dreary vigil through the mist and rain round where they thought the buoy at the shore end was. This, as we have said, was about 30 miles to sea, and was quite out of sight of land. There were two buoys—one a very large one, equal to a weight of seven tons. It was moored by what is called a mushroom grapnel, which was attached to the buoy itself by 120 fathoms of stout chain. This was only placed a little east, or nearer land than that which upheld the end of the cable itself, for if the buoy holding the actual end of the wire pitched about much in rough weather the cable is very certain to fray through its fastenings or break off, and in either case, it, of course, sinks im mediately, and, no particular bearings being taken, is often difficult to find. For this reason a mooring buoy is always placed inside the supporting buoy and exactly over the cable, so that if the rope breaks loose its place is known at a glance, and can be raised in such shallow water in 10 or 20 minutes. The second and outer buoy which held the wire was of nearly the same size as the mooring one, and to this, by powerful slip ropes, the cable was securely held with about a quarter of a mile of its end length hanging down in water. To landsmen it may ap pear a very simple task to find these conspicuous beacons floating at a given place in the sea. Yet, in reality, the work is one of no ordinary difficulty and delay. The swell so frequently conceals them that a ship may actually be within half a mile of them without making them out ; and, with no bearings to guide them, a continued succession of short tacks across the place where they are supposed to be is often necessary for hours and hours before they are discovered. This was actually the case with the buoys of the cable picked up this morning. As soon as the first gleam of daylight shone, the Terrible, Albany, and Medway all went in search of them, in the confident expectation of an immediate find ; yet, after two hours close search, they got no trace of them, and even when the Great Eastern hove in sight were obliged to signal "Buoys not yet found." Within ten minutes after this they lighted upon both of them, and the great ship was at once sig nalled to come up. As she did so, all the accom panying vessels of the squadron gave her a wide berth, for as on her lay the duty of grappling for and lifting the cable buoy, her movements were likely to be both quick and uncertain. This, in fact, proved to be the case. Several times she steamed down with her grappling iron and ropes astern just over the line of the buoy, and it seemed impossible to those not on board of her that she could have missed it. Miss it, however, she did so repeatedly that it was after 10 o'clock before a great strain was seen to come upon her grappling ropes, and the buoy itself began to follow slowly, dodging and dipping about in the foam of her track. Directly this was noticed her paddles were reversed, and the great ship was brought to a standstill, and after a deal of shouting and directions the end of the wire was safely noosed and brought on board the vessel, and so on through the hauling in machine. When this was perfectly secure, and a tight grip had of it, the fas tenings to the buoy were cut away, and the huge, red monster rose more than half its length above the waves, and went tossing about at random. No body, however, troubled himself about this, for buoys, though costly, are as nothing when compared with submarine cables, and it was wished to make the splice at once. This was rather a long operation, and though done with every speed consistent with safety occupied nearly four hours before it was com pleted. Before it was begun the shore end was put in connection with the batteries on board, and a message at once despatched to Mr. Glass at the tele graph house. At the latter place Mr. Glass, with Mr. Varley and all the staff, had been waiting since dawn for the first signal that the shore end was found. The marine galvanometer had been watched with impatient eyes for the long -expected signals; but it was mute and gave no sign till at about 20 minutes past 11, when its stationary light began to move in strong, rapid signals of dash and dot from right to left, which were read as they came with ease, and the message was, " Got the shore end—going to make the splice—everything is right." To this Mr. Glass replied with a few words of congratulation, and for a little time a rapid conversation was kept up be tween the house and the ship at sea, and then sud denly the light stood still and mute, for the work of making the splice had begun. This, with a cable of such length and importance as the Atlantic Tele graph, is a labour which involves the utmost scien tific and mechanical skill, for a faulty joint might delay the working of the wire for weeks. How it was made on board the Great Eastern may, how ever, be very simply told. The end of the cable, stowed in the aftermost tank, was brought out, and about six fathoms' length of its wire and hemp cover ing untwisted, and while this was being done the same operation was going on and to the same ex tent with the shore end which was picked up from the buoy. In this manner the gutta-percha insu lator was quite laid bare, and the gutta-percha itself was cut away for a considerable length of both por tions. The strand of copper conductors was next unwound from each end, and the two joined together by close plaiting. Every copper wire plaited toge ther was - of a different length to that to which it was bound, so that at no one place were any two joints near each other. Every junction, too, was firmly bound round with fine wire, and further se cured by strong soldering. When the conductors had been thus, as it were, welded together to the perfect satisfaction of the electricians, another class of workmen came upon the scene—the men who in sulate with gutta-percha. This is the most important work of all, and every step in its long process is watched with the most careful scrutiny. 'With fine bands of softened gutta-percha, about as broad and not thicker than an ordinary tape, they envelope the conductor in fold after fold, each laid transversely to the other, and each as it is wound round having its edges melted firmly together by the flame of a small spirit-lamp. As the operation progresses the insulating compound is laid on in thicker bands till the whole core is covered with a perfectly homoge neous mass as impervious to water as granite itself. When this was effected this morning the splice was lowered overinto the sea, and the huge coils in all the tanks having been previously joined together, the whole was tested through to ascertain the perfectness of the splice by a series of messages to and from the telegraph-house. An ordinary conversation was carried on with very rapid signalling, and the result was that in a short time the joint with the shore end was pronounced absolutely faultless. The light signals were as strong and as distinct to follow as those which would be made by a common Morse needle, and even those least versed in telegraphy would be able to read them easily after a day's in struction. Here it may not be out of place to mention that the system of signalling employed is entirely through Professor Thomson's marine galvanometer. The principle of this is merely that, instead of a needle oscillating on a dial to right and left, a small, but exquisitely burnished, mirror on which a light is thrown is made to move. This fine reflected ray of light is thrown upon a graduated scale, about 3 feet distant from it, so that with its movement its sig nals range over an area of nearly 2 feet each way. Thus a rapid passage of the ray of light to the right or left means, as they pass over the divisions of the scales in front, different letters, and these are called dashes, while a pause upon any particular degree for a second or so means dots, and so by dots and dashes of this flashing ray the signals are read, the work being much facilitated according as the light passes to the right or left to the centre of the scale. By means of this beautiful apparatus the slightest battery power would be sufficient to signal through an insulated wire of 5,000 miles in length, even though some serious faults might exist in the cable. As soon as these bright, dancing little tokens had given their last answers this morning the submerged splice was raised out of the sea and its iron covering plaited on and round it till the whole work was finished. When this, like other parts of the splice, had been supervised and reported upon by the mechanical engineers, a message was sent through to Mr. Glass, saying, " Splice all, 0. K. • we are going off." The answer was, " God speed you," and on the receipt of this the fastenings of the joint were cut adrift and it went down in the waves under the Great Eastern's stern. As it sank the first movement . of the paying -out machine could be observed, and in another minute the Great Eastern and her consorts steamed slowly out into the fog and mist and rain which covered the Atlan tic, and, with a parting salute of one gun, the Ra coon turned her head inland, and brought her visitors ashore this evening. Since then the signals between shore and ship have been incessant. If possible they improve in character and clearness every hour, but this is always the case as cables become immersed in the perfectly equable tempera ture of a deep sea. The weather since the ship started has been very squally, with storms of heavy rain. When last heard from, at about 9 o'clock this evening, the ship was nearly 80 miles from shore, steaming a little over five knots an hour, the cable running out smoothly at about six. Everything was going on perfectly, the wind and sea rather abeam, the ship rolling, or we should rather say moving slightly, and reported as altogether astonish ingly steady. During every hour of the day and night these signals will be kept up, stating weather, depth of water, position of the ship, distance run, and amount of cable paid out. Until fairly out of deep water, however, nothing can be safely said as to the result of the enterprise, and it will be a week at least before the cable can be said to be entirely beyond risk of loss. By that time the Great East ern will be iu little more than 1,000 fathoms of water, when a fracture of the cable might be re garded with comparative indifference. Never on any occasion have there been so many visitors at Valentia to witness the starting of the expedition. Every morning has brought in fresh groups of tourists, and every evening has as regu larly witnessed their departure, for there is absolutely no accommodation to be had here on any terms. Col. Bradford, and Lieut. Bentinck, who were among the late arrivals, have been wise enough to bring a bell tent with them, and are camped out on the hill, and other visitors coming from Killarney are, we have heard, intending to bring similar means of shelter with them. Yesterday a large party, conducted by Mr. Bevan and Mr. Bewlay, came in from Dublin, and held a very important meeting, at which prayers were offered up for the success of the Atlantic Telegraph expedition. Nearly all the county gentry were pre sent at this gathering, which was held in a store room belonging to the slate works. It was not en tirely a religious service, however, for manyspeeches were delivered. Yet, even for most of these visitors, mo accommodation could be found in this pretty little village, or even at the market town of Cahircive en some eight miles distant. The majority, th ere f ore : had a wild mountain drive into Killarney, through a night of heavy rain and keen cold wind. None of those interested in the success of the expedition intend leaving here till the Great Eastern is in comparatively shoal water, and on her way to the banks of Newfoundland. ROWING MATCH FOR £2O.—A scullers' wager took place yesterday morning, the competitors being Bird and Miles, both plying at Greenwich, to row from the Halfway House to Greenwich Hospital. It was a very close match for some time, when Bird took the lead, main tained it, and won by a short distance only. Supposed. Suicide by • a Military Officer in a West-end Hotel. Last evening an inquest was held by Mr. C. St. Clare Bedford, in the board-room of St. James's Workho use, on the body of Capt. George Gordon Hope Jormstone, 4Q years of age, who was found dead in be td at " Gregory's Hotel," Rupert-street, Haymark. A, under circumstances thatled to the sup position tl la he had destroyed himself by poison. The jury having viewed the body in the dead house attached to the workhouse, Mr. Robert Hope Johnstone, residing in St. James's-street,, identified the body as that of his brother, who v zas fornierly an officer in her Majesty's 79th Highla,nC lers. Witness had also been in her Majesty's mill - Lary service. He had not seen the de ceased for son le time. ' Mr. Normal' Buchanan, distiller, of Glasgow, but at present stayiug at No. 6, Craven-street, Strand, said he had kn,wn the deceased for the last 26 years. On Saturday morning he left the deceased about a quarter to two, as far as he could remem ber, and he never saw him happier. About half past 12 deceased had some gin-sling, and witness had some brandy and soda. Deceased complained of spasm of the heart, but after taking a cigar and some gin and water he recovered. An agreement was made that witness should call at his hotel in the morning at half-past ten, or deceased was to drive down to him at a quarter to 11. When witness left he said ho was quite well. He appeared to be per fectly able to take care of himself, and said he was going to see a friend. He saw nothing more of him. By the Coroner—Witness knew that while deceased was in the Highlands last summer he carried a bottle of chloridine with him in his portmanteau, and used occasionally,to take as many as 20 drops at a time. The brother of deceased said he knew that large doses of medicine were taken by deceased, and he had told him he should not take double doses of blue pills and strong doses of salts. Witness knew no thing of the chloridine. From the character of de ceased, he did not think he would commit suicide. Evidence was given that deceased returned to his hotel at half-past three, and ordered the waiter to call him at 10 next morning, and to supply him with some rum-and-milk. The servant-girl took in the rum-and-milk at the hour named, but as deceased appeared to be asleep she did not disturb him. A short time afterwards he was found dead in his bed. An empty bottle which had contained chloridine was found near the bed, and also a tumbler which had contained chloridine and water, and which still contained about 20 drops of chloridine. From the post-mortem examination it appeared that death was occasioned by an overdose of chloridine while in a state of intoxication. The Coroner, after some difficulty in attempting to arrive at a conclusion, showed the jury that there were, according to the medical evidence, several causes for death, and, having descanted upon them, left the jury to consider upon their verdict. After a short deliberation, a verdict simply of " Disease of the heart" was returned. COUNTRY MARKETS. COLCHESTER-JuLy 14. There was a moderate supply of wheat at market to day. Trado more active, at the prices of last week. The weather fine and forcing. Wheat, white 54s 80s Beans, Mazagan......4os 42S red: 508 5-is Middle and 5ma11...42s 48s Barley ... 34s 43s Peas, white. 38s 42a Oats .... ... —s s grey ..36s as CHELMSFORD-JULY 13..,. Here to-day there was a very good supply of wheat, but little business could be done, in consequence of sellers standing out for previous rates. Prices of spring corn unaltered. Wheat, old white.... 478 578 Peas, Partridge 40s 428 new . .42s 56s White ..3A 30 old red 42a 52s BAling .. ...... B ---8 new. 4ls 518 Dun.... ..... —3BB 408 Barley . 2ss 338 dit o, new... ---8 —a Chevalier --a —s Beans, ck, 01d......408 4 58 Grinding 25s 30s new.... 388 92 8 Malt 588 503 Harrow 1id:8.428 488 Chevalier 60s 62s new....40s 948 Oats ... 2JB 26s Mazigan . 388 428 1. 4 v, T verb Mr. of ti te e , or 1 14 teen ST] 3t o An Clet sh - 0 . 1 Dm. 11 14 Year I R \ TIIj Floc CO., and Etre, ,--..._. GRANTHAM-JULY 14. Old white wheat, Ms to 595; old red, Ms to 55s ; neW white, 52s to 56s ; new red, 47s to 52s per 36 stone. Bar ley for malting, 36s to 42s per qr. ; grinding, 30s to 33s per 30 stone. Oats, old, 30s to 32s ; new, 25s to 30s per 2 1 stone. Beans, old, 48s to 51s ; now, 44s to 46s per 38 stone• Peas, 36s to 40s per 36 stone. NORTHAMPTON-JuLy 7. Now white wheat, Ms to s 58; new red, 52s to 56s ; old white, 54s to 58s; old red, 52s to 56s per 36 stone. Barley for malting, —s to —s per qr. ; grinding, 30s to 35s per 3 0 stone. Oats, old, 30s to 34s ; new, 265,t0 34s per 24 stone• Beans, old, 46s to 50s ; new, 42s to 45s per 38 stone. Pea', 36s to 40s per 36 stone. ABERDEEN-JULY 13. There was little business doing to-day, and the market rather thinly attended. Oats tending downwards. White wheat 40s Od to 45s Od / Rod wheat 40 s Od t o 45 s Od} 621 b bushel. Potato oats 25 s Od to 25. Gd f b u shel. 40lb " 11 Common oats 24 s Od t o 24 s 6d Bore 30s Od to 31 s Od t 53/b 1-1 bushel. Barley 32s Od t o 32 s 6di Oatmeal 19s Gd t o 20 s Od 11 boll of 2800). Flour, fine 36s Od t o 37 s Od ?sack of 2 60,b ii KIRKCALDY—JULY 14. Small supply of wheat and oats. No barley. Sales slow. Wheat is cheaper. Oats wore at the prices of last week. Wheat. Barley. Oats. 47s Od —s 6d 3OB Od Os Od —s Od 31s 6d Third.— 508 Od —s Od —s Od Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton July Ditto, via Marseilles July 14. Brazil and Cape Verds. by British packet ...... Aug. 5. Ditto, by French packet Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena July China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton July 20. Ditto, via Marseilles July if. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton July 27. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton July 20. Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via Southampton. July 13. Ditto, via Marseilles July 22. Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton July 13. Ditto, via Marseilles July 14. Mauritius, via Southampton July 1 3 Ditto, via Marseilles. July 13. Newfoundland Portugal .....Aug 5. Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon. .. United States and British North America, by Bri tish packet ..... Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp ton Ditto, via Cork Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry „July 20. West Coabt of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe „July 11. ➢Pest Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas and Honduras) July 14. Cuba and Mexico . July 30. Bahamas, via New York. July 2 6 • Bermuda, via Halifax .Aug. 1. Births. DUGDALE—On the 14th inst., at Symonstone Hall, ne ar Burnley, the wife of Wm. Dugdale, Esq., of a daughter: Dowu--On the 15th inst., at 7, Dingle-hill, Mrs. J. gu lf Dowie, of a daughter. HOLFORD—On the 16th inst. at 43, Half Moon-street, Pic cadilly, the wif e o f W . T. Holford, Esq., of a daughter: SMITH —On the 12th inst., at Brighton, the wife of Captain 0. Smith, of a daughter. Marriages. FRASER—MATHEWS —On the 14th inst., at the parish church, Walton-on-Th ames , Ch ar l es Fraser, Lieut. I °' (Prince Albert's Light Infantry), only surviving son ° the late Capt. Chas. Fraser, R.N., to Caroline Eleancl eldest daughter of the late Ri c h ar d M a th ews , Esq., ° Oatla,nds-park and Clapham-rise, Surrey. KIRKE—BREWSTER— On the 12th inst., a t G ran tcheste r / Cambridgeshire, John Kirke, of the Middle TomP i l barrister-at-law, youngest son of the late Col. Kirke; East Retford, Notts, to Emma Mary, eldest daughter of the late James Brewster, of Brampton, Huntingdonshil' Deaths. GARY—On the 15th inst., at 1, Upper George-street, ston-square, George 11. Cary, Esq., barrister-at-law, 0 Attorney-General of Vancouver's Island. FAREBROTHER— On the 13th inst., at 8, .Russell-terra ce ' Reading, John Farebrother, Esq., aged 70. 1, JEA.NNERET—On the 14th inst., Henry Jeanneret, of No. - 4 Upper Stamford-street, solicitor, aged 56. PuEsTox—On the 14th inst., at 1, The Grange, Michael 9- grove, Brompton, David Preston, Esq., M.D., half-Pd' 13th Light Dragoons, aged 78. STIRLING—On the 14th inst., at Broom House, Ftll l,3lll ' Miss Stirling, aged 62. WILLANS—On the 11th inst., at Blackheath, Hate s ; wife of J. Willans, Esq., Westbourne-park-road, J 3S Y water, aged 47. WmildoßE—On the 14th inst., at 1, Westbourne-e : crescent, Major James Whitmore, formerly of the Jl ° East India Company's Service, aged 59. - - London: Printed and Published by VirILLLAM ANDR— of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at 'rm.; suN offi ce , No. 1 ' Strand, in the Precinct of; the Savoy, i n th e Coral "" Middleam—Tuesday, July 17, If6ti. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 17, 1866,