The Sun. — London, England, 1866-11-02 00:00:00

COURT OF CO COUNCIL. Yesterday a special meeting of the Common Council was convened at Guildhall, and as there was a general understanding that the Lord Mayor, than whom there has been no chief magistrate of the City of London so popular since the late Mr. Cubitt, would avail himself of the occasion to take lease of the Corporation prior to his relinquishing office, there was a large attendance .of members. THE MAYORALTY. The LORD MAYOR, on . assuming the chair, after the transaction of some routine business, said— Gentlemen,—As this is the last occasion on which I shall have the honour of presiding over this Court, I cannot take leave without expressing my grateful thanks to each and to every member for the great courtesy and consideration I have received at your hands. Gentlemen, I assure you these are not empty words. They are words uttered from a grate ful heart, for whatever may be the powers of any man who occupies this chair, they would be as no thing unless he had the confidence and encourage ment of those over whom he presides. I confess this was one of the duties which I approached with great timidity. I have sat in this court for a period of twenty years, and with all my knowledge of its various workings, I little contemplated the grave and onerous responsibilities of the chief magistrate in presiding over this assembly. I have the satis faction of knowing that I have faithfully and con scientiously discharged my duties. (Cheers.) Gen tlemen, your uniform courtesy and kindness, your generous forbearance and consideration, in the court and out of it, lead me to hope and believe that you ratify that expression. (Renewed cheers.) I shin retire from this office, by God's blessing, with health, with strength, and with honour. (Cheers.) I shall retire from it, not to lead an idle life, but to re turn into the midst of that Corporation which has conferred upon me honours ever to be cherished, never to be forgotten. (Cheers.) I owe to the Corporation of London the proud position I hold as its chief citizen, and hut for this great and important body I might still have lived in compara tive insignificance. It is a position to be coveted, to be envied, to be fought for, and to be won. I have had the good fortune during the past year to spend many happy hours—hours the pleasant recol lection of which I shall carry into my retirement, and which will inspire me with hope for the future. Gen tlemen, we are here members of a great and impor tant body, a body that has in past days done great "suit and service" to the community, and which I believe is destined to carry on great municipal duties and functions and great improvements for the com mon good, and to maintain unabated the freedom of the citizens of London. (Cheers.) There may be those, perhaps, who decry the Corporation. They know nothing of its history and less of its working. There may be those.who throw stones at us ; but I hope they will permit me to tell them that they themselves live in glass houses ; that we represent here an old and valued institution—an institution to be dearly prized, not only because it is at the head of all the municipalities of the country, but because it stands aloof from all political parties, and in every act and deed proclaims the maintenance of the liberty and independence of the people. I sin cerely hope it may flourish ad infinitum, and in tak ing my leave of this proud and noble position which I have had the good fortune to win, I shall carry with me the recollection of your friendship and en couragement, and I hope the Corporation may be in the future, as it has been in the past, the bulwark of liberty, and always identified with order and of pro gress. (Cheers.) THE TAXING POWERS OF THE METROPOLITAN BOARD. Mr. LOWMAN TAYLOR, having obtained the leave of the Court to bring forward a matter of great importance, said it behoved him, as one of the representatives of the city at the Metropolitan Board of Works to show the Court and his fellow citizens the position they stood in with regard to the all-important subject of taxation. The citizens of London, he continued, did not shrink from any lia bility, but they did not care to pay more thin they had a right to pay, and he could assure the Court that an inspection of a document just issued by the Metropolitan Board of Works would show that, not only was the city unjustly dealt with in other re spects, but that it would have to pay far more than it ought to be called upon to pay. The rating for the Metropolitan Board was based upon the county rates, but as there was no county rate in the city of London, the Metropolitan Board had previously taken the rate in the city upon what was the nearest approximation to the county-rate—namely, the sewers'-rate, and upon this basis the city had been taxed for the purposes of the Metropolitan Board. But there had been a new Act of Parliament, known as the Union Assessment Act, and under that Act another body which had been empowered to revalue the city, had, in the exercise of its powers, raised the rating of the city to an enormous extent. As he had anticipated, the Metropolitan Board had seized this re-assessment as a basis for its rating. In Sep tember last, on the report of the ratings beim: , brought forward, the rati ng o f the City of London,° based on the sewers'-rate of of £14,909, was shown to produce £18,507. The report, as the Metropo litan Board was always anxiou s t o h ave the largest possible amount from the City of London, was re ferred back to have the Union Assessment ratint, substituted for the sewers' - rating, and i n Octobert'a report was brought forward recommending that the City of London, instead of being rated on £1,500,000, to speak in round figures, should be rated on £2,109,135, and instead of the city having to pay £lB,OOO, it would have to pay upwards of £26,000, being an excess of nearly £9,000. To show one instance of the injustice pursued towards the city, be would point out that while Middlesex and Surrey only had re-assessment at long distances of time, the city had been in the habit of annually add ing to its rates, and from 1856 to 1866 it had added no less than £90,000, and this while Surrey had o n ly had one re-assessment since the constitution of the Board. sow, if the Metropolitan Board did not see that the city was unjustly treated, then the city itself should take steps to place itself on a right basis. (Cheers.) There was another question connected with this matter which was of importance to the city. Seeing that great works could not be carried out without money the money to be spent ought to be represented at the board ; but this was far f r om being the case. There were small places around the metropolis, as St. Luke's (Middlesex) Holborn, Rotherhithe, and other places, sending in the whole a large number of members,,l while the amount paid by those places was less in whole than was paid by the city of London, which on its part only had three representatives. Sir I;en- jamin Hall, when he brought in the bill which con stituted the Metropolitan Board, could not have been very favourable to the city, for whereas he only allowed three members to the 98 parishes—and more than 98 parishes—for there were unions in the num ber — o f the city, he allowed the borough of South wark to have four members. The city of London out not to rest satisfied until it had at least six members— (cheers)—and he would move that the documents he produced should be referred to the Local Government and Taxation Committee, with instructions to confer with the Sewers Committee, and report forthwith. Mr. RUDKIN seconded the motion. Mr. Deputy BONE asked Mr. Taylor if he was aware that the Chamberlain had received a p recep t for £26,000 to be p a id ? - - Mr. TAYLOR replied that he bad little doubt of such being the fact. The motion was carried unanimously. THE SLAUGHTER-HOUSES AT THE CATTLE-MARKET. Mr. Deputy CIIAPLIN brought before the notice of the chairman of the Markets' Committee an ad vertisement in the City Press, stating that occupants of the slaughter-houses at the Cattle -market had re ceived notice to quit, and were without any h opes of receiving compensation. The advertisement was signed " One who Suffers." Mr. RUDKIN, in reply ; said the slaughter-houses were let upon an engagement that certain sanitary regulations should be carried out by the occupants, and that the tenancy would expire on six months notice being given. Certain occupants bad not carried out the engagements of their covenants, and by their neglect the slaughter-houses had become a nuisance. More than that, when the rinderpest was RAILWAY AND OMER COMPANIES. raging these occupants were ordered not to slaughter share capital, which it had not been found possible diseased cattle ; but, instead of following the in- to make available. The large and increasing work struction, they actually sought out such ( attle, and ing expenses would require the instant attention of when the cattle which they had received, contrary the directors, otherwise any increase of traffic would both to the orders in Council and to the orders of be more than absorbed by the increase of expendi the Court, were destroyed, the slaughterers had the ture. With regard to the responsibility of the exe effrontery to ask for compensation. (Laughter.) cutive, the committee state that the system which They had also put the Corporation to the expense the accountants employed by them traced in the of providing a new system of drains—an expense of company's books " was not merely one of general £44o—as it was found that carcases they wished to deception of the shareholders, and misrepresentation conceal were dropped down the drains, half a calf of the company's affairs; it was not merely deliberate and half a sheep being actually taken out. This i falsification of the accounts from year to year, so statement, he conceived, was quite sufficient to show! as to show to the shareholders and divide among that the commitee was justified in giving the tenants I them a revenue which was not in existence, and was notice to quit. (Hear.) I known not to have been earned ; but it was a THE JUDGE OF THE SHERIFFS' COURT. careful and most ingenious fabrication of imaginary It was moved by Mr. GARRETT, the chairman of iaccounts, begun and carried on from time to time Law, Parliamentary, and City Courts Committee, for the purpose of supporting the falsified half yearly that the bye-laws of the Court should be suspended 1 statements of revenue and the general misrepresen in order to allow a report of the committee, in refe- 1 tation of affairs." rence to the Judge of the Sheriffs' Court, to be I The report of the committee concludes with the brought forward. To this several amendments were ' following, under the head " Remedial Measures." proposed, the chief objection to the motion being that " The systematic concealment thus practised on the subject should be entered upon at that sitting. i the shareholders, and the crisis which has ensued, The amendments were, one after another, rejected, renders it absolutely necessary that the management but the minority, holding their ground and calling of the affairs of the company should, without delay, for a division after each amendment, succeeded in be placed in the hands of a board possessing the driving off any business for upwards of three hours. confidence of the shareholders and the public, so The question at length seemed upon the point of that such measures may be devised and carried out being settled by the agreement that the report should as shall restore the character and position of the be read, but not discussed, when a motion that the company, and insure that its affairs shall in future report should not be read under any circumstances be conducted with integrity. As it has heen offi still kept the Court from proceeding. At length cially communicated to the committee that the board, The LORD MAYOR asked the Court not to tax his at a meeting held on Oct. 23, resolved to place their powers longer in his then state of weak health, as he seats individually in the hands of the shareholders, had already sat many hours, and for the purpose of a new board being elected at the The Court adjourned. meeting to be held at Edinburgh on Nov. 14, for considering this report, the shareholders will then have an opportunity of nominating the parties into whose hands they are prepared to commit their pro perty and the future management of the company. The committee have anxiously considered the best means of restoring the credit of the company, and promoting its future success, but the subject is so beset with delicate and important questions, that it appears to them the consideration of the subject should be left to the reconstituted Board of Direc tors, and as parliamentary powers for accomplishing this may be necessary, they recommend that the re quisite notices should at once be given, the terms of which should be so comprehensive as to embrace any scheme that may be devised and approved by the shareholders. The committee, while they cannot but attach blame to the Board for the position of the company's affairs, have no hesitation in expressing their conviction that the conduct of the chairman has been so unjustifiable as to preclude the possibi lity of his being allowed to retain any official position in the company. They, however, are of opinion that the services of some of the present directors may, with advantage, be made available to the com pany, should they be willing to act in the present emergency. The committee consider that the manager and accountant ought to have communi cated to the Board the irregularities carried out in their department, and ought not to have been par ties to the improper entries made in the books, and that they should at once have taken care that all the directors were made cognizant of the irregularities suggested by the chairman. They feel it due to Mr. Walker, the secretary, to say that the share holders are greatly indebted to him for the straight forward and independent manner in which he has acted throughout for the interest of the company. In conclusion, the Committee desire to express their sincere sympathy with the shareholders, many of whom, they are aware, must be greatly incon venienced at not receiving their usual dividends, and disappointed at the results brought out in this report. Bearing in mind, however, that the present exceptional and untoward state of matters is attri butable to gross mismanagement, which it is hoped may never again occur, and not to any normal con dition of the railway property, the Committee feel assured that,—relieved from the promotion and construction of new lines and works under which the company has laboured for the last few years, exer cising strict economy in the expenses of mainten ance and management in all departments, a watch ful care over the cultivation of traffic at remunerative rates, and with unanimity of action on the part of the shareholders and executive,—the large and valuable property of the company will be so fos tered, and its inherent powers developed, as to prove that, although some of the shareholders may for a time be deprived of the return which they calculated upon from their investment, they are possessed of a property of great and increasing value, which will ultimately surmount the difficulties with which it is at present unfortunately surrounded. The Com mittee cannot conclude without expressing the obligations they are under to Messrs. Mac kenzie and Guild, the accountants employed in the investigation, without whose valuable assistance, given at much personal inconvenience, they could not, within so limited a period, have presented to the shareholders so complete an exposition of the company's affairs. " James White, chairman; G. Graham Mont gomery, Peter Clouston, George Harrison, John Irving, Alex. C. Matthew, George Robertson, Robert Young." REGENT'S CANAL. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Wednesday, at the offices, City-road-basin—Mr. W. Parker in the chair. Mr. Abbott, the secretary, read the report, which stated that the 'traffic upon the canal during the six months ending Sept. 30 had amounted to 849,524 tons. The gross receipts from tolls amounted to £32,653, and the net profit to £19,386; including balance, £405, remaining from March 31, the sum available at the credit of profit and loss was £19,791. After appropriating £657 for interest on calls re ceived on account of new shares, and £969 (being 5 per cent. on the net profit) to the reserve fund, the directors recommended a dividend of 13s. per share (free of income tax), which would absorb £17,562, and leave a balance of £603 to be carried forward. The amount received to Sept. 30 on account of the new shares allotted in November last was £39,754, and the expenditure there against £39,321. Consi derable property had yet to be acquired before the important works for the improvement of the com pany's dock could be commenced. The directors recommended that the 4,318 new shares not yet taken up be offered to the proprietors gene rally, and that the interest upon calls payable in re spect of such shares be 5 per cent. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, referred to the highly satisfactory position of the undertaking ; its progress was steady and re munerative. Col. WILSON seconded the motion,which was agreed to, and a dividend of 13s. per share was declared, payable on Nov. 5. The directors were authorised to issue the 4,318 new shares not yet taken up at 5 per cent. interest. Mr. G. Wharton was elected an auditor, and the proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman. it n r o n s g sib W le e , been near A HORSE-RACE IN E GYPT. Next • ni were all up at fou r , sl ee p h av i ng and started for the Tomb of th e Sh e ik , but,as was filled with women, could not go in. M. Guichard had given napoleons to bo run for by the Bedoui ns . Two milesh3aod been staked out by flags, and about 35 wished to start. Mrs. Boss was to start them; M. Guichard stood by tho wianing post and started them backagain. "Shaita n ," or th e d ev i l, as Mrs. Boss's horse was called, was so violent that, as soon as the Bedouins were off, she let him go and arrived second, and coming back third. The same horse won both times, and had the prize; he was ridden without a saddle, and with a bit of rope for a bridle and bit, by a boy of 14, who deliberately stripped, and when told that this was not allowed, put an old rag round his middle. Directly after the race the winner disappeared in the desert, as his owners were afraid of the evil eye for him. On our way back to the camp, old Sheik Mohamed tassan came up and made an amende honorable to Mrs. Boss, and after a long conversation he made her a formal proposal. "0 lady, when thou art tired of thy white husband and needest change, come to Mohamed Hassan. By Allah, thouridest like ten Bedawees, and thy conversation is such that thy husband need never go to a coffee-shop for entertainment or knowledge. I will stand before thee, 0 lady, and serve thee like thy mameluke if thou wilt come to me." The old Sheik was much thanked for his flattering offer, and when we got under cover of our tent he insisted on serving his "sitt" (lady) himself with coffee.—Dickens's " All the Year Round:, THE S*JN, LONIMIN, FRIDAY EVE:MING, NOVEMBER 2, V 66. The Lord Chief Baron and Earl Granville in the Cinque Forts. The biennial banquet of the Dover Sailors' Home took place on Tuesday evening at the Lord Warden Hotel, Dover. Earl Granville, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, presided, and was supported by the Lord Chief Baron (Sir Fitzroy Kelly), Sir Brook Bridges and Sir E. C. Dering (the members for East Kent), Major Dickson, M.P., Mr. Knatchbull- Hugessen, M.P., Admiral Hall, Sir Luke Srnithett, the Mayors of Dover and Folkestone, Cols. Elwyn, R.A., Chapman, R.E., .NP.Mahon, Cox, &c. The customary loyal and patriotic toats having been duly honoured, The LORD CHIEF BARON rose and said he felt much flattered in being able to propose to the com pany " The Prosperity of the House of Commons." Retrospecting to the time in which it had been his fortune to be connected with the house, he remem bered with great gratification the associations to which it had led. In looking around he saw men who were entitled to the respect and confidence of their country, and he scarcely knew an occasion more worthy of their care and solicitude than the present. He would impress upon them the necessity of keep ing continually in view the prosperity of the navy as one of the first of the great duties they had to perform. Whatever might be the shortcomings of the House of Commons, and whether they did stand in need of that reform and improvement which some are so eager to force upon them, they could not at least be reproached with any indiffer ence to the prosperity and well-being of the navy. They had always—at least during the time he had had the honour to sit in the House of Commons— devoted their sincere efforts to the promotion of the strength, the interests, and the prosperity of the navy, and he did not doubt that they would con tinue to do so. He trusted that the hon. gentlemen present would make it a point to keep the House in mind of its duty in respect to every measure which tended, in a greater or less degree, to insure the safety on sea and the comfort on land of the mariners of England. First and chiefly, he hoped they would not be unmindful of the necessity of increasing and enlarging the harbours of refuge. Just consider how many shipwrecks, how great an amount of suffering and loss of human life, might be avoided even iu a single year, if there were more harbours of refuge along the most dangerous and exposed parts of the English coast. And that brought him to consider the harbour of Dover, for which the Legislature has already done much, and for which he trusted it would yet do a great deal more. He was sure that Earl Granville, as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, would do his best to promote the prosperity of the town. He would just mention that, despite some little dispute which had arisen on the subject, Dover was still the first of the Cinque Ports. But it was not within the power of man, either by harbours of refuge or by any other works, to obviate the calamity of shipwreck ; and then it was that this admirable institution was called upon to exercise its beneficent influence. It would ill become a stranger among them to enlarge upon the inestimable benefits which the Dover Sailors' Home confers upon so many of our fellow-creatures; but he could not help remarking that it was when a man was reduced to the utmost ' I extremity, and the most forlorn condition in which it is possible to contemplate any human being, that this great institution steps in and affords health and com fort to the distressed. Neither were the benefits of this institution limited to their fellow-country men. Its benefits extend to mariners who come from every part of Europe, and more especially the sailors from the opposite shore ; he alluded to the French, and to whom he was happy to say each year binds us stronger and stronger. He hoped the illustrious Sovereign of that country might con descend to cast an eye upon this institution from which so many of his subjects had been relieved in cases of the greatest and severest of human suffering. Returning to his original subject, he hoped that the House of Commons would direct its efforts to the advancement of the navy, and would never forget the Sailors' Home. (Applause.) Sir E. DEIZING, in responding, observed that he had been a member of the House of Commons since before the time of the Reform Bill of 1832, and he thought that to return thanks for such a body was an honour of which any man might be justly proud. No doubt all thought that House susceptible of great improvement. He believed it was the general feel ing among all parties that it was desirable to come to an amicable and friendly settlement upon a ques tion which for years and years had disquieted the public. Although it might be that the House of Commons, constituted as it now is, reflects in a great measure the virtues, the weaknesses, and 112 might say the prejudices, of the great m of our country men more clearly, inns decidedly, and more promptly than any other public assembly, yet, what ever tb:ie feelings might be as to the present consti tution of the House of Commons, they should recol lect that that House, constituted as it now is, is iden tified with the greatest period of the country's his tory, with all the great persons of whom they are justly proud, and who bad contributed largely to the welfare and prosperity of the country. Of all schemes he knew of none which would be regarded with greater satisfaction by all classes than if some proposal was made which would take Sailors' Homes out of that dependence in which they existed by th e casual and voluntary subscriptions of individuals, and place them on a better foundation. The Rev. W. YATE, the founder of the Dover Sailors' Home, of which institution he continues to be the hon. secretary, here read the annual report, from which it appeared that the Home had received 227 wrecked crews, consisting of 2,000 men of dif ferent nations. " Prosperity t o a to tt p ri r b o u p t o e s d e the honour of theD Earl o v G e u r A s s a l i - l i o L r L s E , u th o e m n e ro ., r r n os e e his selection to preside to the respect for the ancient office which he now by the Sovereign's gracious pleasure most unworthily held. They were probably aware that, but for the contest of precedence between two of tho oldest of the Cinque Ports, the ceremony of his installation would have taken place before. He rushed in to act as mediator, and, as mediators generally got served, he effected no good, and was glad enough to come out of the contest unscathed. They would all agree with him that that ceremony could only take place where all was perfect harmony and con cord. He did not mean to say that he should not himself have felt the compliment of a public installation ; on the contrary, he should have been highly gratified, but he con sidered it somewhat unreasonable that any compliment should be paid to the present Lord Warden, who had not an historical character at all, which was not paid to some of the greatest men in the kingdom, which was not be stowed upon Lord Liverpool or the Duke of Wellington, nor on Lord Dalhousie, and was only revived in honour of that statesman (Lord Palmerston) who, despite the di versity of political opinions, by a service of 50 years to his country, and by his character, both public and private, insured the respect of all classes in the country, and became the most popular statesman that ever guided the counsels of a country. To co-operate in a work like the present was an honour that the greatest Lord Warden might not be ashamed to share in. To argue against the Sailors' Home even the eloquence of Lord Derby or Mr. Gladstone would prove vain. He enjoyed with the other privileges of his office a most beautiful view from his residence both across the downs and on the sea. On some days the sea was dotted with vessels, on others 40 or 50 largo vessels wore to be seen in all the beauty of full sail. On another occasion, as bad occurred during the last three weeks a sight was to be seen which in his opinion could not be seen in any other port in the world—four or five hundred vessels motionless, fastened by their anchors, or lazily turning with the tide. while the swiftness of the steamer gliding by in defiance of wind and tide formed a striking contrast ; and then, simultaneously, the whole would set sail, and keep clear of each other in a manner which to a landsman would seem incredible. In such a scene it was impossible not to be struck with the variety which the metropolis pours forth to every part of the known globe. There was, too, that fatal white lino which marks the meeting of the waters over the Goodwin Sands, a line which reminded them of the dangers and perils to which sailors are subject, even when so near to:their native shores. The other day he read the speech of a member of Parlia ment (Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen), who took the chair on the last occasion of this kind, in which ho made sonic appro priate remarks in reference to the Great Harry of the Eliza bethan period, and he:(Earl Granville) could not help com paring it with the Great Eastern of our own times. Ho had a doubt as to whether the Great Harry was not more beau tiful than the Great Eastern, but of course there could not be the slightest doubt as to the superiority of the latter vessel in other points. Its last feat was to accomplish the greatest event of modern days by completing a link be tween us and America. Admiral Hall had alluded to the pleasure which he felt on finding Sailors' Homes established in America, which was, he believed, the stimulus which urged him and his colleagues on to such laudable exertions. However proud they might be in the existence of our com merce and the progress which they were continually making, they should still remember the seamen. The noble earl having adverted to the increase of shipping casualties, and consequently the greater necessity for such institutions as this, concluded by proposing the toast. Complimentary toasts followed, after which the company separated. TERRIBLE COLLIERY EXPLOSION TWENTY-FIVE LIVES LOST. On Wednesday morning a fearful explosion of firedamp, causing the loss of 25 lives, occurred at the Pelton Col liery, a pit working about nine miles south-west of New castle-on-Tyne, and five miles from Durham. The Pelton Colliery is not a very extensive working, and is owned by Messrs. Hutchinson and CO., who have everbeen known by the care they take in lookingafter the proper ventilation of their pit. Latterly, a new seam, called the Boston Bank seam, has been opened, and an additional number of work men engaged therein. Between two and three o'clock on Wednesday morning 30 mon and boys went down the shaft to work the night shift in the new seam, and they pursued their vocation for about two hours, when an un usual smell of gas was noticed. This, however, created no serious apprehensions among the colliers at the time. Shortly after five in the morning a terrible explosion was heard, not only in the pit, but throughout the whole neigh bourhood above ground. Immediately dense volumes of smoke and dirt were vomited from the mouth of the pit, and the whole district became panic-stricken. Crowds of people, many of whom had relatives in the pit, rushed to the bank to learn what had occurred, and as soon as the nature of the appalling catastrophe became known, the scene was heartrending. A number of volunteers quickly set to work with a will to render aid to those down below. The viewer and under-viewer took the direction of the volunteers, and in the course of an hour or two a score of men had descended the shaft. At first the stithe was too overpowering to allow of the men doing much, but when this had been partially cleared away, the volun teers were enabled to reach the scene of the explosion. It was then discovered that not fewer than 25 poor fellows had met their death, either by the explosion itself, or the equally deadly after-damp. Their bodies, some shockingly burnt, others in a quiet, calm, and placid sleep to all ap pearance, were scattered all over the seam, and the sight was too appalling for the volunteers who had descended the shaft. The search was then proceeded with to discover the living, and up to a late hour yesterday three persons had been found alive. Then the work of sending up the bodies began, and as the relations of each identified a father, a brother, or a kinsman, they were carried to their homes in the village close by. 0 wing to such a large crowd having assembled on and about the month of the pit, the services of a body of constables had been called in to keep clear a space for the workers. Messrs. Hutchinson are doing all they can to alleviate the sufferings of the widows and orphans of those whose lives have been thus momen tarily snatched away. There is yet one more of the bodies to be found, as up to four o'clock yesterday afternoon 24 had been sent up the shaft. Every inquiry will be made as to the cause of the explosion, and the Government inspec tor of mines is already busied about the workings. Sucha fearful explosion has not been known in the county for some years. What makes the explosion more strange is the fact that the owners of, the colliery not long since erected a ventilating apparatus on a large scale, which has hitherto been found to work very well. Lockhart and Sir Walter Scott. (From the Inverness Courier.) The late John Gibson Lockhart was not a social or clubable man. He was fastidious and reserved, silent in mixed company (he heard ottly with one ear, and was too proud to acknowledge it), was inveterately prone to satire, so that he earned for himself the appellation of " The Scorpion," and he was a victim to dyspepsy, which, perhaps, like charity, should cover a multitude of sins. His fine acute intellect and classic taste were often obscured, and his better sym pathies chilled, by pain and languor. To a few friends, however, Lockhart at times unbosomed himself. With them, his cold, sarcastic, haughty manner melted away— at least for a season—and in those genial hours he was the most confiding and delightful of companionsi As showing the better nature and higher feelings of the man, wo are tempted to publish a private letter addressed to the late Mr. Wm. Laidlaw, the factor and friend of Sir Walter Scott, in which Lockhart speaks of the sense of duty and respon sibility under which he wrote the memoirs of his illustrious father-in-law—a work which, with all its faults, is unques tionably the best biography since Boswell's "Life of John son." There is a great tenderness in the following letter ; and the picture which the writer draws of his happy fire side contrasts painfully with his latter years, when broken health, a desolate hearth, and feelings lacerated by paternal troubles and anxieties, might have made him join the la mentation of the ancient British bard— " God hath provided unpleasant things for me : Dead are those I love !" Few letters of Lockhart's are so generally interesting, or so valuable biographically, as the subjoined : " London, January 19, 1837. " My dear Laidlaw,—lreceived yesterday your letter and a very munificent donaton of ptarmigan, for both which accept my best thanks. They were both welcome as remem brances of Scotland, of old days, and of your kindness and affection, of which last, though lam the worst of corre spondents, neither I nor my wife are ov 31. fu,-getful. The account you give of your situation at present is, consider ing how the world. wags,•not unsatisfactory. Would it were possib:o fur me to find myself placed in something of a simi- lar locality, and with the means of enjoying the country by day and my books at night, without the necessity of di viding most of my time between the labours of the desk —mere drudge labours mostly—and the harassing turmoil of worldly society, for which I never had much, and now-a days have rarely indeed any relish. But my wife and chil dren bind me to the bit, and I am well pleased with the fetters. Walter is now a tall and very handsome boy of near 11 years ; Charlotte a very winsome gipsy of eight—both intelligent in the extreme, and both, notwithstanding all pos sible spoiling, as simple, natural, and unselfish as if they had been bred on a hill side and in a family of 12. Sophia is your old friend—fat, fair, and by-and-by to be 40 which I now am, and over—God bless the mark !—but though I think wiser, at least more sober, neither richer, nor more likely to be rich than I was in the days of Chiefswood and Kneside —after all our best days, I still believe. "Politics, over which we used sometimes to dispute, I have quite forsworn. I have satisfied myself that the age of Toryism is by for ever; and the business of a party which can in reason propose to itself nothing but a defensive at titude, without hope either of plunder or honour, seems to me to have few claims on those who, when it was in power never were permitted to share any of the advantages it so lavishly bestowed on fools and knaves. So lam a very tranquil and indifferent observer. "Perhaps, however, much of this equanimity as to pass ing affairs has arisen from the call which has been made on me to live with the past, bestowing for so many months all the time 1 could command, and all the care I have had any real heart in, upon the MS. remains of our dear friend. I am glad that Cadell and the few others who have seen what I have done with these are pleased, but I assure you none of them can think more lightly of my own part in the mat ter than Ido myself. My sole object is to do him justice, or rather to let him do himself justice, by so contriving it that he shall be, as far as possible, from first to last, his own historiographer; and I have therefore willingly ex pended the time that would have sufficed for writing a dozen books on what will be no more than the compilation of one. A stern sense of duty— that kind of sense of it which is combined with the feeling of his actual presence in a serene state of elevation above all petty terrestrial and temporary views, will induce me to touch the few darker points in his life and chat acter as freely as the others which were so predominant; and my chief anxiety on the ap pearance of the book will be not to hear what is said by the world, but what is thought by you and the few others who can really compare the representation as a whole with the facts of the case. I shall, therefore, desire Cadell to send you the volumes as they are printed, though long before publication, in the confidence that they will be kept sacred whilst unpublished to yourself and your own household; and if you can give me encouragement on seeing the first and second, now, I think, nearly out of the printer's hands, it will be very serviceable to me in the completion of the others. I have waived all my own notions as to the manner of publication, &c., in deference to the bookseller, who is still so largely our creditor, and, I am grieved to add, will probably continue to be so for many years to come. "Your letters of the closing period I wish you would send to me ; and of these I am sure some use, and some good use may be made, as of those addresses to myself at the same time, which all, however melancholy to compare with those of the better day, have traces of the man. Out of these confused and painful scraps I think I can contrive to put together a picture that will be highly touching of a great mind shattered but never degraded, and always to the very last noble —as his heart continued pure and warm so long as it could beat.—Ever affectionately yours, "J. G. LOCKHART." MR. MERRIMAN.—I confess it was a laughter moving exhibition. His enigmas and bon-mots were not, strictly speaking, cf the first order. As for instance, when the lady, in the richness of her classic bewity was resting on her horse, Brown would address the gentleman with the whip and with the gold band down his trousers—" I say, sir ! Mr. Coleman, sir!" " Well, sir, Mr. Brown, what can Ido for you ?" " Yes, sir." " I say, what can I do for you ?" " I was thinking, Mr. Coleman." "Oh, you were thinking! Indeed, Mr. Brown ; you had better take a chair, and rest yourself after that exertion." " I was thinking, Mr. Coleman, why it was that you were such a favourite wiih the ladies." "Why lam such a favourite with the ladies of the audience ?" "Yes, of the audience. Because —because you have such a command over the ring." In a second Mr. Coleman gives him a severe " cut" on the leg, which causes Brown to leap into the air with a cry of assumed agony. The mottled charger begins to get into motion, the band strikes up, the paper hoops are brought, Mr. Brown walks round diligently behind Mr. Coleman, as eager not to lose sight of the horse for a mo ment.—Dickens's "All lice Year Round." NORTH BRITISH. The committee of investigation appointed at the meeting of this company on the 28th of September have just issued their report. It states that the company, as now constituted, was a combination of numerous independent undertakings. Incorpo rated in the year 1844 with a main line 58 miles in length, and an authorised share and loan capital of £1,000,066, it now comprehended within its system 781 miles open to traffic, 147 miles authorised by Parliament, and partly under construction, an authorised share and loan capital of £22,210,713, and a gross annual revenue ex ceeding £1,250,000. The capital hitherto created amounted to £15,414,625, the borrowing powers amounted £5,799,507, the ordinary share capital was £4,771,230, the participating preference (Edin burgh and Glasgow ordinary) capital entitled to a minimum dividend of 41- per cent. was £2,422,485, and the other preference stocks of the company re present £8,220,910,the priorities of which preference and participating preference stocks were determined by the Amalgamation Act of 1865. The lines leased by the company were the Peebles, Port Carlisle, Carlisle and Silloth, and Edinburgh and Bathgate, and those worked by the company for payment of a percentage on their gross traffic receipts were the St. Andrew's, the Leslie, the Devon Valley, the Berwickshire, and the Milngavie Railways. He had satisfaction in reporting the assurance given by their professional assistants that the borrowing powers of the company had not been exceeded, but were at the 31st of July last still available to the extent of £95,551. They were also certified that the nominal share capital of the company, so far as issued, was not in excess of the amount authorised and received by the company in respect of it. The capital ac count had been unduly increased by carrying to it, directly as well indirectly, sums of large amount on various accounts. With regard to the revenue, the accountants had prepared an adjusted account for the half-year ending 31st of July last, exhibiting the charges that, according to correct practice and the usage of other railway companies, should be placed against revenue. The result was that, after paying debenture interest due at Whitsunday last, a free revenue of only £113,591 appeared available for the payment of the preferential dividends, ac cording to their priority, amounting to £208,441. The additicns to the expenditure entered in the ad justed revenue statement consisted of £17,752 roll ing stock, £23,558 wages from the 18th to the 31st of July, £5,073 boilers to ferry steamer, £l,OOO citadel station at Carlisle, £16,3C0 Parliamentary expenses, and £22,758 interest on unproductive works and bank balances, making together £86,440. The accountants specify,butdo not include in the expenditure, £39,022 on account of line renewals. The committee had no hesitation in expressing their opinion that the large and, iu the case of two half-years, improper accumulation to " suspense" of relaying expenditure could not be justified, more particularly when it was noticed that from 1858 to 1864 the ordinary requirements of the line had either been imprudently overlooked or insufficiently attended to. During those years the total sum expended was £18,125, of which there was charged against revenue during those five half years only £6,000. At July, 1864, the re-laying could evidently no longer be postponed, and the following amounts were actually expended, although in July, 1865, and January, 1866, much more was debited to the renewal account—January 31, 1865, £19,594 ; July 31, 1865, £22,582 ; January 31, 1866, £45,227 ; and July 31, 1866, £49,3l4—to gether, £136,718. During those half-years there was charged to revenue only £64,500, but it prac tically includ e d £17 , 4 18 and £29,256 over debited, I which was i n rea li ty ord i nary maintenance, making u 6,674 ; so that only £17,826, or less than £4,500 each half -year, had been actually paid out of re renewal suspense, venue. e a n b s o e 7 sums do not include £22,342 of and Glasgo w c ow transferred from the Edinburgh tion, forming pany's books at the amalgama g part of the £153,358 at the credit of the general balancein accountiNiarh in July last. At the g th e a n t er i al ls 7 oeoeotisnhgould be '1865, it was arranged line chargedrenewals to revenue half yearly towards the then in progress. At that time the system embraced way, while it now extended to yi lesr o .e of i rail way, e i ld r r 47 a BB n sl t a miles3l nl rolling stock had also been had prepared a statement z o i f e £a1n7d,7J5.2 W. T he Guild)acc accountants (Messrs W. Macken the sums placed to capital or suspense accounts, in stead of to revenue, in the 7 half years ending Jan. 31 last. These consisted of amount carried to sur plus property, &c., £269,286, and to capital and other accounts, £80,048, together £349,334 ; deduct I balances prior to July 31, 1862, £45,198, making ithe total amount short charged £304,136 . This large accumulation of revenue expenditure, not provided for, and now disclosed for the first time, formed one of the chief sources of the financial difficulties in which the company was placed. The amounts thus kept out of revenue expenditure had been paid away in dividends not earned, and the deficiency thus occasioned had necessarily been provided for by advances from bankers and other temporary temporary loans, which swelled the present An important item of the company's obligations consisted ofprelim d i u n r a ing preliminary and e parliamentary expenses incurred, which last four years amounted to £260,027. O sum £79,000 was still unpaid, £69, 643 carried fthis was to preliminary and parliamentary expenses, and £64,070 to construction. The amount incurred during the last session of Parliament was about £64,000, of which £32,600 was stated as the cost of promoting unsuccessful and opposing rival schilmes. Of the latter amount, the accountants, in, their ad justed revenue account for the last half-year, had placed one-half, or £16,300, against revenue, which the committee approved. They state that compli cated and elaborated exertions had been made to conceal a large amount of expenditure under the head of suspense accounts, consistinc , of , 4 line re newals," " line sus ,7 otherwise postponed expenditure,lense,ense," . ‘: s "surplus locomotivepro p e property," ': suspenseaud , , account contingent oth • count 18 " 63, accounts were in a greater more than ready and convenient or a less n2 n'n' Li d n e ‘ t g s. degree account . " epAennl e l s tethhiaeuesge which should properlyoutlets chreaavteedbeeton provide carried againstf o r charge s re venue. The present . and postponed according to the report, liabilities of the company, amounted to £1,875,626, to meet which there were £95,551 unexercised borrowing powers of the com pany, and the power to issue preference ,Erfoek and Naval and Military Intelli,;;ence. On Wednesday afternoon Admiral Sir W. F. Martin, K.C.8., hoisted his flag at Devonport, as Commander-in-Chief on board the gunnery ship Cambridge. Yesterday (Thursday) morning his predecessor Sir C. Freemantle, struck his flag on board the Royal Adelaide, to which Admiral Mar tin then shifted his flag from the Cambridge. The screw steam gun-vessel Star, 4, Commander Bradshaw, at Plymouth, has been inspected by Capt. Ewart, preparatory to her departure for the East Indies. The screw steamship Zealous, 20, Capt. Richard Dawkins, is now in dock at Devonport, for the pur pose of being supplied with a four-bladed propeller. A court-martial was held on board the Royal Adelaide on Monday and Tuesday, before the Presi dent (Capt. Napier, of her Majesty's ship Canopus) ; Capt. Seccomb, her Majesty's ship Liverpool; Capt. Dawkins, her Majesty's ship Zealous ; and Captain Tremlett, her Majesty's sh ip Irnpregn able, for the trial of John Mackenzie, second captain of the foretop and seaman gunner, on board her Majesty's ship Bristol, 31, for having on several occasions feigned to be suf fering from rheumatism and pretended to be unable to perform his duty. Capt. Seymour, prosecutor, stated that while on the coast of Africa, a great many of the crew being ill at the time, the prisoner complained of pain in his limbs night and day. He visited the sick daily, and there was a marked contrast between him and others who were suffering from the same disease. He seemed to have lost .no flesh nor any of his ruddy colour, while the others were shockingly emaciated, and when he was alone his countenance was calm, but on his catching the eye of any one he would im mediately contort his features as if in great agony. He again saw him in the hospital in Ascension when he told him he had a suspicion of his not being ill. He then answered him in an impertinent manner, and, the surgeon being near at the time, said he believed him to be feigning illness, and he should report him. Several other witnesses were called for the prosecution, and after their evidence the priso ner put in his defence, which stated he had been in her Majesty's service for 16 years, had a Sebastopol medal and two clasps, and that he had not feigned illness ; that he, having described the symptoms to the doctor, was treated for rheumatism ; that the only evidence against him was that of the master at-arms, who bad a grudge against him, through his having quarrelled with him. The court having heard the evidenee in support of the charge, as well as the defence, found that the prisoner did feign to be suffering from rheumatism, and pretended to be unable to perform his duty. The court then sen tenced him to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour in the Naval Prison at Lewes for 12 months. The Admiralty paddle yacht Enchantress, Com mander Petley, sailed yesterday from Portsmouth for Woolwich, it is understood, for the winter. The crew of the Terrible, paddle corvette, Capt. Commerell, V.C., have been transferred to a hulk at Portsmouth while their vessel is in dock and under repair at that yard. Route marching exercise by the troops at Chatham for the winter months commenced at Chatham yes terday, and will be continued until the commence meat of the spring drills. The 2d depot battalion, under the command of Col. W. Rickman, marched out yesterday, and each corps will take marching out exercise twice a week. On these occasions the troops are to be occasionally halted, and such man oeuvres undertaken as the nature of the ground will admit of. The junior officers accompanying the corps are also required to frame reports on the character of the district through which the troops pass, and its adaptability, or otherwise, for military movements on a large scale. The remains of the late Col. J. T. Maulever were interred at the Kensington Cemetery yesterday He served with the 17th Regiment throughout the campaign in Affghanistan and Beloochistan under Lord Keane, an d wa s present at the storm and capture of Chuznee (medal), also of Khelat. lie served throughout the whole of the Crimean war of 1854-5 in command of the 30th Regiment, in which gallant corps he was not only respected and esteemed but beloved by all ranks. At the Alma he had his horse shot under him, at the battle of lnkerman, where the 2d Division bore the brunt of that me morable fight, be was severely wounded at the Lead of the regiment ; he was present also with the re giment during the whole of the siege of Sebastopol, at the repulse of the Russian sortie on 2Gth of Oc tober, 1854, the assaults on the Redan on the 18th of June and Bth of September, 1855, at which lat ter he was again wounded. For his services lie was mentioned in despatches, created a C. 8., an officer of the Legion of Honour, and of the Turkish Order of the Medjidie, and was in possession of the fol lowing medals :—Ghuznee, English Crimean and three clasps, Sardinian Medal for military valour, and Turkish Crimean. Dr. W. 11. Burrell, Deputy Inspector of Hos pitals, died on the 31st ult. at Exmouth, aged 71. In 1849 Dr. Burrell sat as one of the members of a Board appointed by the War-office to make in quiries concerning yellow fever, and contributed a valuable paper on the subject, which was after wards published by the General Board of Health with their second report on quarantine. Subse quently Dr. Burrell, while principal medical officer at Malta, drew up an elaborate account, from official records then at his command, of the plague, which ravaged that island in 1813. On the appointment of the Barrack and Hospital Commission Dr. Burrell was appointed by Lord Herbert to act in conjunction with Dr. Sutherland and Capt. Galton, and ,he contri buted in no slight degree to the success of au in- quiry which has since led to so great an improve ment as regards the comfort and sanitary wellbeing of the soldier. STATE OF TRADE. BRADFORD, 'Nov. I.—. The quietness so long re ported has considerably increased to-day. The wool trade is stagnant. Spinners have just supplied them selves for their urgent requirements. A few sales have been effected in bright-haired sorts. Stocks in the hands of staplers being low, and growers ad hering with firmness to prices, there is very little, if any, change in the quotations here. In other sorts a slight concession may be obtained. Both worsted yarns and pieces are very inactive. Many spinners and manufacturers are either running to stock or curtailing production. Prices are generally un settled, and in favour of the buyer. LEEDS, iSt.—The trade report of the Leeds Cham ber of Commerce for the month of October is as fol lows:—" The season being now nearly over, there has been less doing in the woollen cloth warehouses during this month, purchasers generally only buying for assorting their stocks ; but though business has been quieter than during the previous month, it has not been much less than is usual in October. The manufacturers are very fairly employed. The cap trade has continued good. The demand for wool has been somewhat quieter during this month than pre viously, but there is a fair steady consumption going on, and prices are firm. For the coming sales about 50,000 bales have arrived, of which 36,000 are Cape wools. The demand for English wools has been very quiet, and prices have been in favour of the buyer. Threads.—There has been more inquiry for flaxes, especially for the better sorts, an d pr i ces h ave b een very firm. But little has been done in tows, but there is no material change in rates. In the earlier part of the month there was a better inquiry for linen yarns, but it has hardly been maintained. Prices have been more steady. Threads remain as before. There is no improvement to report in the iron trade, and the manufacture of iron for railway purposes, &c., has been very depressed. The difficulties which rail ways have met with in their financial arrangements have tended to suspend all operations not strictly ne cessary, and to induce the companies to use up their stock as closely as possible. There has, however, been a better demand for merchants' iron. The machine makers are not atpresent receiving many new orders, and are principally working out former contracts. The tool makers are receiving but few orders of late, the trade being to a considerable extent affected in the same way as the iron manufacture. The cut nail trade is not so good. The seed crushing and oil trades generally have been active during the past month, and the market has been decidedly firm, both for rape and linseed. There has been a good demand • for rape oil, owi ng t o i t s l ow price co mpared with Gallipoli and olive oils, whichlhave :advanced fully £2 per ton during the month. Linseed oil is quiet. There is a fair demand fof linseed cakes, considering the time of the year. A fair amount of business has been done in leather. In sole leather the principal demand has been for the best tannages and heaviest averages, of which the supply has been moderate and prices firm. In dressing goods the inquiry has been chiefly for light common and light shaved hides, also kips and calf skins. The supply of offal is much reduced, and prices have assumed a firmer tone. The shoe trade continues to be in a satisfactory state, and the hands are well employed. The demand for sanitary tubes, firebricks, &c., con tinues very good, and the makers are full of orders. There is a moderate steady demand for paper. There is no change to report in the price of mate rial. There has been through the month a very full supply of cattle in the public markets, and though the demand has been good, yet it has hardly been equal to the supply, and prices have given way. Numbers shown (five markets)—Beasts, 1,885 ; sheep, 16,600. There has been a good supply of wheat, and prices have advanced about 4s: per qr. The quality of barley varies much ; for the better sorts there has been an active demand, at an advance of 2s. per qr. Oats are dearer. In beans there is not much change." COUNTRY MARKETS. BIRMINGHAM—TxuasDAY. At this day's market there was a fair supply of English wheat, and old, also dry new, was fully as dear ; datiP samples and foreign neglected. Barley; except best quality, tending downwards. Oats maintained their value. Beans and peas firm, without much l passing in either. BRISTOL-THURSDAY. On our market to-day English wheat was in moderate supply, and sold slowly, at barely the rates of this clay se'nuight. Values of foreign firmly maintained, but with very little activity. Fine malting barley is per qr higher ; secondary attracted little attention. Grinding qualities sold freely, at an improvement of 6d per qr., oats fully 6d per qr, and a fair demand for all descriptions. Indian corn is per qr dearer, which checked the trade. Beans sold at full prices. BURY ST. EDMUNDS—WEDNESDAY. Our farmers brought a good supply of wheat to market to-day, which met a dull sale, at last week's rates. There was not much barley offering, considering the season, and the trade for all kinds was anything but brisk, prices being decidedly in favour of the buyer ' although there was no quotable difference in value. Oats, beans, and peas were in request, at is per qr advance. RANCHES TER—TEunspAy. A decidedly quieter tone has prevailed in the trade during the week. Wheat and flour have, nevertheless, been firmly held, while oats, oatmeal, and Indian corn have maintained an upward tendency. There was a fair at tendance at our market this morning, but there was no disposition to buy either wheat or flour; sellers, however, did no;. press sales, and no change in prices occurred. Oats were id to 2d per 451 b, and oatmeal 6d to is per load dearer. In beans or peas there was no alteration, and the same may be said of Indian corn. EDINBURGH—WEuxzsDA.Y. Wheat on the top, 28 Od up average, 3s 3d up. Bailey on the top, 8s Oct up average, 2s 2d up. Oats on the top, is 6d down average, Os 3d down. Beans on the top, is 6d up Total supply 1698 qrsandsvaleeras.ge, Wheat 1015 rs sold 495 Barley2s 4d down sold 1385 Oats 1388 qrs sold 1208 Beans 25 qrs sold 17 Average prices. Wheat, 61s 4d 1 Oats, 29s 4d Barley, 39s 4d 1 Beans ...53s 2d Town-made flour sells as follows :—White, 50s Od; extra superfine, 48s 6d ; superfine, 47s Od ; fine, 45s 6d. GLASGOW-WEDNESDAY. To-day's market was as usually attended. Wheat and flour were dull, prices nominally unchanged ; barley and oats the turn dearer; oatmeal, 6d. to ls. higher per 2801 b; beans and peas unaltered ; Indian corn lost part of its ad vance ; mixed American was held at 19s. per 2801 b. Foreign Mail Packet List. -- -..--- MAILS DUE. Australia and New Zealand, via Southamptoa Nov. 19. Ditto, via Marseilles Nov. 13. Brazil and Capa Verds, by British packet Nov. 5. Ditto, by French packet Nov. 23. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena NoV. China, Penang, and Sing :pore. via SOU:hampton_Nov 3. Ditto, via Marseilles .... Nov. 13 ralkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton Nov. 3. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southarnotou Nov. 3 Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via South am pt on. Ditto, via Marseilles Nov. 7 Haifa, Efypt, an I A den, via So.ithartipt.m Nov 3 Ditto, via Marseilles Nov. 7. ilaurltius, via Southampton Ditto, via Marseil!e5... , fewfoundland ..• Nov. 7. l'ortugal .• Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon.. ...... united States and British North America, by Bri tish packet ....... ...Nov. I. Ditto. by United States packet, via Southamp ton Ditto, via Cork Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry Nov. 2. West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Teueriffe ....Nov. 10. ?Vest Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas and Honduras) No 13 Cuba and Mexico Nov. 28. Bermuda, via Halifax Nov. 21 Bahamas. via New York. Nov. 15. IMPROVEMENTS IN SOUTH KENSINGTON.—Among the local Acts recently printed was one cited as " The Bel gravia and South Kensington New Road and Improve ment Act." A new road is to be made from Eaton-square to Brompton-road. The preamble states that the construction of the road and its dedication to tho public will be attended with great expenses, which cannot be repaid to the under takers unless they are enabled to acquire land in the neigh bourhood and to lay out the same for building. The road is to be completed within four years, and the compulsory purchase of land is limited to three years. PHOTOGRAPHY.--Among the various contrivances which are daily contributed towards the improvement of this art there is a kind of positive paper, invented by Mr A. Taylor. Instead of albumenising or salting it by means of the usual preparations he coats his new paper with a solution of white lac in water impregnated with borax. Thus prepared, the sheet is sensitised and printed in exactly the same way as common albumenised paper. The photograph obtained is reddish, and would as sume a disagreeable chocolate colour if it were merely fixed with hyposulphito of soda ; but this draw back, may be avoided by toning in a gold bath. If the print be first dipped into a bath of sul phocyanide of ammonium, and then definitively fixed in a bath of hyposulphite of soda, it will first become yellow in the former substance, and then change to bistro in the latter. The lac may also be dissolved in a watery solution of phosphate of soda. The paper thus prepared and sensitised in the usual way prints exceedingly well; its colour is black or sepia, and does not change mate rially when fixed with hyposulphite. If the white lac be dissolved in a mixture of phosphate and borate of soda, the paper coated with it will assume very agreeable tints, varying between red and black ; and these tints may be graduated at pleasure by varying the proportions of the two salts. The paper prepared with phosphate of soda is best adapted for hard and powerful prints; that with borate, on the contrary, should be pre ferred for delicate and light photographs. If the sheets prepared as stated be sensitised with nitrate, then dried and afterwards once more dipped into the white lac solu tion their sensitiveness will not only not be diminished, but materially increased. Births. BENNITT —On the 31st ult., at Canterbury, the wife of W. Bennitt, Esq., Inniskilling Dragoons, of a daughter. GORDON—On the SOth ult., at 13, Cromwell-place, South Kensington, the wife of Lieut.-Col. Geo. Grant Gordon, Scots Fusilier Guards, of a son. HENNIKER—On the 31st ult., at 8, Charles-street, Berkeley square, the Lady Alice Henniker, of a son. LAWSON—On the 30th ult., at 35, George-street, Edin burgh, Mrs. Charles Lawson, of a son. Marriages. HARRISON—OIpiANNEY On the Ist inst., at Christ Church, East Sheen, Charles T. H arr i son, Esq., [loyal Engineers, eldest son of Capt. J. Harrison, late 4th Queen's Own Light Dragoons, to Annie Miria, third daughter of 0. Ornmanney, Esq., J.P., of East Sheen, Surrey. TuoLLorE—TERNAN—O n the 29th ult., at the British Em bassy, Paris, Thomas A. Trollope to Francis Eleanor, eldest daughter of the late Thomas L. Ternan. Deaths. BROOKS —On the 30th ult., in Loudou, Thos. Brooks, Esq., of Stock Park, Newton-in-Cartmel. BURRELL—On the 31st ult., at Beacon-hill House, Ex mouth, Devon, W. H. Burrell, M.D., Dep u ty-I ns pector- General of Hospitals, aged 71. GOLLETON—On the 28th ult., at Fermoy, Ireland, Sir R. A. F. G. Golleton, Bart, aged 42. LETIEN—On the Ist inst., at Paddington, E. Levien, Esq., formerly of the Stock Exchange, aged 76. MURLEY— On the 31st ult., S. Murley, of 149, Bishopsgate street Without, aged 51. Difoxox—On the 30th ult., at 81, Gower-street, William 0. Moxon, Esq., of 3, St. Martin's-place, Trafalgar-square. RICHARDSON—On the 30th ult., at Field House, Whitby, C. Richardson, Esq., J.P. for the North Riding of the county of York, aged 87. London : Printed end Published by WILLIAM ANDREWS, of No. 112, Strand, Punter at Tin Sim (Arne, No. 1 12 . Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Aliddleim—Friday, November 2,1860. I. ~~ N' ~.l ,~f r I