The Sun. — London, England, 1866-02-22 00:00:00

LIF EB OAT SERVICES. —During the storms of the past year the Natio nal Lifeb4at Institution, by its life boats and other means, contributed to the savin of :07 sos from different wrecks on our coasts. The Insti tutiponer also expended .C 21, 374 in the same period on its life boat estabshmeats, in addition to grantiug £1,950 for re wards for saving life and cxeraising the lifeboats. The Committee of the Institution earnestly A PPEAL to the public for ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the continued heavy demands on the Institution's 150 lifeboat stations. Contributions are received by the London and country bankers ; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis, Esq., at the Institution, 14, John-street, Ade'phi, London. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. C,hatterton. TIT'S ONENING, the Play of THE JEALOUS WI Wit: Mr. Phelps; Messrs. 11. iMarston, Barrett, Wa Vezin,rner, G. Delmore, E Harcourt;hrs. Mrs. Herman Vandenhuff, h is es P. Leclereq. Seymour. &C.l Atter v. Lich, the pantomime. LITTLE KING rtl - iris ; or, harlequinFerturatus and the Mag ic Purse and NN ishing Cap. Commence at 7, THEATRE ROYAL, 'HAYMARKET.- Sole. Lessee and Diann g-.!.r, Mr. Buckstone. TIM; EVENING, A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT. Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Comptun ; Miss Ada Cavendish. To be followed by BROTHER. SAM : Messrs. Sothern, Bu ketone, Compton; Mesdames Neill' Mcome, Snowden, ke. Al ter which, catrnEus IN THE HAYMARKET Messrs. W. Farren, F,sher, Bartleman, Weaihersby,te , fifes d a mes Keeley, Snowden, Moore, 000 re, Lindley, IV Igar • , Bows: d, Wright, Coleman, Lovell, Prevot, tc To cor,clude with A KlSS ..irrAnco a' I SeQen. ARK. IN TSeveHE n.DARK. Co- 110YAL LYCEUM TEIEATRE.- Under the sole Management of Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENING, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER. 3.1 r. li. Wiedicomb. After which. TETE MASTER OF RAVENSWOOD. Mr i#-chter; Messrs. Jordan, Emery, Widdicomb, Vezin, J. H. litzpatric ,- , D. Evans ; esdames Ternan, Esworthy, Lavenu, and C. Leclercq. Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. MIS EVENING, at 7, a new farce called PIPKIN'S RI; 5T IC RE t, EAT. Messrs J. L. Toole and P. Bedford. Ater 8. RIP VAN WINKLE. Rip (his 14f)th appearanze), Me. . I ..frerson, supported by Messrs. Millington, e. Bedford, It Phillips, Yells Rog,rs, Ashley, k. burne, C. J. Smith; Mrs. Billing= &c. To cone; tide Frith i ERIN D TIME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Piiiliips..Eimrue, C. J. Smith ; Miss A. zeamsn, Sce. OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. la) Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. 'HIS F.VTNING, QUIET LODGINGS. Ater whi h. st a quarter to Eight, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO liIEND. Characters by 21(m; s. 'Vining, T. Mel vibe, T. iliead, D. Murray, b. Calhaem, F. Villiers, J. G. Shore, G. Maryay, N. Helton, C. Seyton, It. Cathcart; Miss L. Mouee and Macs Katherine 'lodgers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. twanborough. THIS EVENING, at Seven (15th time), anew and ori.gi • nal CunitAdy, THE FLY AND WEB. Mis re. Par selle and Price; 111is,cs Swanborough and Itaynham. After which will be odueed a new Opera Burlesque, L'AFUICAINE ; or, The Queen of the Cannibal Islan ie. Messrs. S!ctyle, James, Thorne; Mesdames Swanborough, Rzyn:aam Johnstone, &o. To corequie wlth LENDING A HAND. Messrs. Belford tr - ia Turner ; Misseb Simpson and Hughes. GE, AT IS AND POST FREE. IL MOSES and SONS' FA3ITIONABLE ALMANAC fo iS63, List of Prtccs, with Fashion-card for the pretent Seas -11. MOBESA N D S 0 N F• respect - Ai) , ell attention to their large and well assorted stoci. of J Cji.o I The newest fabrics ii!'e co - J;) nett with the latest and most lashionable Rod ‘ . .e ;Jest workmanship. E. MOSES and SON give particuiii, a.ientlon to this important branch of their business, and they can with confidence affirm that the prices are such as must satisfy the most t conomical. This depart ment is in a instinct part of the premises, which will bei.und a gre tt convenience for ladies and children. MOSES AND SON E• respectfully invite public attention to their large and we t-assurted wINTEE. STOCK. MOSES AND SON'S j•"SANDRINGHAM" and "DANISH " WRAPPER. 11.:ocuced riy them) is the newest and most fashiuntb:e style ul Uvercuats for the season. 141 MOSES AND SON'S IZEADY-HAUL and BESPOKE CLOTHING for all classes and all ages. MOSES AND SON'S E• CELEBRATED "INDISPENSABLE" SUIT, rola 30a. EMOSES AND • 110SIERY and DRAPERY, for all classes and all ages. S 0 N'S 111 MOSES AND SON'S ~(• nAT S AND CAPS, fur all eldbaes and all ages. F MOSES AND SON'S IIuOTS and ,110 k L; for all classes and all ages. y am , E MOSES AND SON'S • OUTFI for at! classes, all age., and all climates. F MOSES AND SON'S LONDON• TIOLI;.;ES, 154, 155, 15", 157, ninories; 83, 84, 85, 56. 87, 88, 89, Aldgate ; 506, 507, 508, New Oxtord--street ; 1,2, 3, Hart-street 137, 138, rottenhain-court-road ; 2SB Euston-road. Also, Bradford, Yorkshire. MOSES AND SON'S • F.ma 7 ,lishmenis ale closed tvery Friday evening at suuset until l at - al.:lay evening Nt suuset, when business is re suinr-1 nn 1l a o All articles arc:ikisTlied the lowest prices in plain figures. A fly ar ciele nut, appr,ved of will be extthaagtd, or the money re I .1 , lied.. _ _ gist of Prices with Rules for Self-measurement, Fashion and our new pamphlet, The l'hilusophx.of Dress," gratib an I post hoe. irdlE LAST EDITION OF "THE SUN," A Contaiiiii ,, 4 the Latest .SPORTI.NIi INTELLWEACo,. had Every Evening of G. It GLEN [E, News AGENT, No. 4, Conua.ught-terrace, lycle-park. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published every Evenin:', by vv. ALEXAND.I4II. (late Illt0OliS), .Newspaper Agent, 24, Old Cavcndistl- itreet, Oxford-street. THE LAST EDITION of " TIIE SUN " supplied as =oon as Published, containinz all the LATE - T INh;rVS awl SPORTING INTELLIGr:NCE, by 11. W. II Attl{.l6, Ne n spaver Agent, 4, Illacktriars-road, London, s, THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 1866, THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. IIt..'LAIES begs to inform his friends, and the pubic thrt he isupphes the LATEST EDlTltili of ate..'• as soon as published —No. 16, Hampstead r)ad, N. W. QPORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supplies the LATp.ST EDITION of "TEE bUN" as suou as pub- Batlf-;trf et, City-road, E.C. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.-31c,rning, 6h. 54m. Afternoon, 7h. 20m. T °lmo w.-3I orni g, 7n. 501 - IL—Afternoon, 84. 26m. figa .4 ,3 1 eig LONDON, THURSDAY, FEB. 22, 1866. From the intelligence brought by the Hibernia from N ewyork on the 10th we may infer that both p art ies are anxious to get over the French-American crisis without havin gdangerou s recours e t o th e cos tly an d alternative of war. We ne e d no t i n d ee d accept unr eservedly the statements of the New York Tribune, that the Marquis D E M ONTHOLON and Mr. SEWARD have had -fi nal intervie w upon M ex i can ' a affairs, at which it was positively un d erstood that the French EMPER OR h given orders for the with drawal of his troops, leaving MAXIMILIAN his ow n resources. The tone of the care w hi ch the Ihe public mind i s , h owe ver, decidedly pacific, and Government of the United States have taken to di s ' - avow the Bagdad affa ir, and even to Punish thos e suspected of complicity in it, seems to indicate an anxiety on their part to avoid an open rupture with the Government of France. If they have reason to believe that the EMPEROR is willing to withdraw his forces without unnecessary delay, they may well feel some annoyance at the unprofitable struggle which is likely to precipitate matters, and to give the Government of France ground for complaint. The Federal commision appointed to investigate the affair have made their report, in which they throw the blame upon General CRAWFORD. Colonel REID, his adjutant, has been arrested for complicity, and Captain SINCLAIR of the Liberal army has also been arrested for violating the neutrality laws of the United States. The States Marshal is disarmin g all parties at Brownsville and in the neighbourhood ; and not too soon, for a French, ......—..---- man-of-war has arrived at th t a h t e 2 7 o o o ut F h re o n f ch th t e ro ß ops io Grand, and it was repo rted were ex p, c w t e i t d h , (Ir t h a o w u a g l h o f t h t is h e is l o i r n c c e o s n . s is l t t en w t il w l i b t h e a t d h e .. rumoure vantageous for France and America alike to settle, the dispute amicably, and though no one in their senses would be inclined to endorse General WEIT ZEL'S assertion, and declare " Mexico not worth fighting for," still if the restless spirits of the army choose to accept that form of resigning sour grapes it will matter little to their superiors. A somewhat amusing instance of the manner in i which the Americans construe that doctrine of in- I ternational neutrality which they preach so loudly to other nations is mentioned in the Hibernian's summary. The New York police one night arrested a man with a waggon-full of arms and ammunition. O'MAiroNv claimed the property as 1 belonging to the Fenians, and the man, arms, ammu nition, and all, was discharged. As the Fenians , openly declare their hostile intentions towards a friendly Power, the United States Government had better look at home before they address any more polite remonstrances to our Foreign Secretary. There are indications of trouble for Spain, who is likely to be a serious loser by her aggressive con duct towards Chili. Intelligence from Panama of the Ist announces that Peru has concluded an offensive and defensive alliance with her gallant little neighbour, and has declared war against Spain. Three Peruvian frigates and two corvettes had left to join the Chilian fleet, so that the blockading squadron will not be in a very enviable position. Valparaiso is closely blockaded, and it was thought I that an attack on the city was meditated. Probably the Spanish commander, finding the tide of fortune turning against him, had resolved to try a bold stroke to recover his lost prestige. It was hoped at Lima that the other South American Republics would join:the alliance against Spain; and, if so, we trust they will abide by the resolution of the Chilian Ministry, and refuse to lay down their arms until they have obtained a satisfactory guarantee from the aggressor. If, whenever the Spanish exchequer gets low, the Madrid Government seeks to replenish it at the expense of one or other of the Southern Republics there will be little peace or prosperity for them. It would be far better to seize the oppor tunity, and by firm and united action teach the Spaniards a useful lesson, and prevent the repeti tion of aggression and defiance on such paltry pretexts. In internal affairs the negro question has again come uppermost. A deputation of coloured men visited the PRESIDENT, and urged upon him the right of the negroes to representation, seeing that they aro taxed. Mr. JOHNSON, who is never afraid of avow ing his opinions, declared that he had always been the friend of the black man, but that he believed the Southern negroes would not be benefited by enfranchisement, for it would breed a war of races. The question he averred was one for the people to settle, and it would be tyrannical for him to force a decision upon them. The coloured deputation, as may be supposed, were not at all satisfied with this plain speaking, but it represents the opinion of most moderate and unprejudiced men nevertheless. To another deputation, expressing approval of his general policy, the PRESIDENT is said to have replied that he intended to adhere to the policy laid down in the annual Message ; adding that he was not a candidate for re-election, desired no office, and could afford to do right ! If the majority of American statesmen could act up to this prin ciple whatever their views, it would be fortunate for themselves and the country. 'We hope Mr. JOHNSON will maintain his independence and straightforwardness, for one term of official duties conscientiously fulfilled will give him a higher place in the record of American statesmen than half-a dozen re-elections obtained by subserviency to the intrigues of party. At the present time few subjects can be so profit able for study or so appropriate for inspection as that of the negro. What with the recent circum stances that have taken place, and the extraordi nary and absurd course pursued by some persons in reference to them, it seems difficult for the unini tiated to come to a correct conclusion or to form a fair judgment upon abstract matters relating to the blacks. Among those publications which throw light upon this question must be mentioned a paper* that has lately been read before the Anthropological Society of London, which contains much to interest and instruct. In his preface the author truly states that the occurrence of the Jamaica rebellion will cause Englishmen to be brought face to face with the negro. This paper was well received by a numerous meeting in St. James's-hall on the first of this month, and the writer declares that such a de monstration leads him to hope that he has brought Iforward his facts opportunely, "and that the shal lowness and impiety of those who have dared. to compare the wretched GORDON with St. STEPHEN, nay, even with our SAviouß himself, will be in the future thoroughly understood." A com prehensive view of the condition and cha racteristics of the negro are here met with ; and it is curious to dwell upon the fact that the negro race has always been the same in its features and attributes. Thousands of years before the Christian era, before the people of this country were known of as rude savages, the sculptures of ancient Egypt show us the " well-known features of tho negro, pourtrayed with a fidelity and truth which leave not a doubt of his identity, as being, in fact, the counterpart of the African of the present day." Then we find that the close connection with civilisation which he enjoyed at that time in no way improved the negro, and he was then a menial. One fact is mentioned here as showing the wide difference that exists among races. CESAR tells us that the ancient Britons were so savage that they were not even fit for slaves. This, as we stated, shows the " great gulf between the European and other races." Looking at the negro as he appears in Africa, where he is certainly free from those influences which, it is said, do him so much injury, we find the testimony of the enlightened men who have travelled there, and have had much to do with the black race, agrees with the opinion of those who have had dealings with them, and they concur in stating that there is an almost " total absence of all those attributes which enable other races of man kind to advance in civilisation." On the other hand, unanimity prevails respecting the " innate cruelty" of the negro, his brutality when excited ior misled, an d hi s " inbred sloth. " " The most 1 notorious vices seem to be his portion, and they are strangers to every sentirnent•of compassion, and aurheeannleaftwftuol himself. of the corruption of man by the remarks recentlyTniiiaisdeoib)ioynisonpEiKsEc,onlifiArKnriend, and BURTON the latter of whom declares that there are two distinct creeds touching the Af r i can race ' in England—th at of those who know him and the who do not. "Ignoranc e , not knowledge senti mentality, not sense, sway the ; e practical public mind." FRANKLIN, the philosopher, gave it as his opinion that the negro is best w h en " held to labour" by better and wiser men than himself, and with this view BURTON coin- * The Negro in Jamaica. By Commander Bodfora Pim, E.N. Trubner and Co., Paternoster-row. cider. A quotation is given from the writings of an anti-slavery man who has served on the Coast of Africa. Commander A. H. FOOTE, United States navy, thus speaks of the African race—" No philo sopher among them has caught sight of the myste ries of nature ; no poet has illustrated heaven, or earth, or the life of man. No statesman has done anything to enlighten or brighten the links of human policy ; in fact, if all that negroes of all generations have ever done were to be obliterated from recollection for ever, the world would lose no great truth, no profitable art, no exemplary form of life. The loss of all that is African would offer no memorable deduction from anything but the earth's black catalogue of crimes. Africa is guilty of the slavery under which she suffered, for her people made it as well as suffered it." Mr. M. FORSTER, who for fifty years had great experience in the characteristics of the race, states that he has had many of the native children in England, under his care, and that it is not till they grow up that their natural deficiencies:are discovered ; they acquire the rudiments of education with great facility, and have " consideiable receptive, but no creative powers." This gentleman con siders that they are the worst enemies of the negroes who would give them sudden liberty without being prepared for it. The writer concludes the first part of his paper by stating that he has shown sufficient to prove that the negro, in his own land, is little better than a brute "in mental power a child, in ferocity a tiger, in moral degradation sunk to the lowest depths ;" and from this he infers that "social slavery is the effect, not the cause, of this degraded condition." The experience of ages, the observation of the wise, and the discoveries of the learned, all tend to con fute this view of the matter; and the more the sub ject is studied, and the investigations are pursued, the clearer will it be shown that the negroes are an inferior race, incapable, under any circumstance, of attaining to the heights reached by other races, and only kept in their just limits by strict super vision and firm and judicious treatment. Their savage propensities are most manifestly displayed on all possible occasions, and it is perfectly idle for for pseudo-philanthropists to rave about the per fection of the African race, when history, ancient and modern, emphatically belies their statements, and the personal experience of those best qualified to judge goes directly against the extravagant pro positions set forth. In speaking of the negro elysium, the Island of Jamaica, the writer affirms that this plan furnishes proof that the "negro is a negro still, theories to the contrary notwithstanding." The Maroons, to begin with, show that the possession of mere free dom has not affected a savage people to civilise it. They have been free since the island was taken by the English, and they still wander through the woods in a half-naked state, and exhibit other signs of barbarism. It is truly stated that nowhere more than in Jamaica could a better opportunity have presented itself for proving the soundness of the wisdom of those who declare that the negro is equal to the white man, and that if he had the same privileges he would attain the same degree of excellence. The writer of this paper has a good right to speak with boldness and decision, for he has had great experience, and what he utters is the " practical conviction of twenty-five years' experience of the negro charac ter." We shall take another opportunity of re ferring to his able and explicit remarks upon this interesting subject. Leave was given on Tuesday night to bring in a very important social measure in the House of Commons. Mr. TOfIRENS introduced a bill to pro vide better dwellings for artisans and labourers ; and the principle of his measure was a practical and simple one. He proposes that whenever the Home office is called upon by a corporate body, or by twenty ratepayers of a district to direct an inspection to be made of a fever-stricken locality, the Home Secretary should have power, supposing the houses to be found unfit for habitation, to de mand from the local authorities an estimate of the cost of removing and rebuilding such houses, and that it should be competent for the Public Works Commissioners to advance the necessary funds on ,he security of the rates. Mr. TORRENS remarked that many philanthropic individuals had been en deavouring for some years past to improve the dwellings of the labouring classes ; and he instanced Mr. PEABODY'S munificent gift, Miss BURDETT COUTTS'S charitable efforts, and other noble examples. However great the good effected by each and all ' of these the work is beyond the scope of private effort, and as it is emphatically a national question, it is clearly the duty of the Government to take it up. Mr. TORRENS cited the opinions of several experienced medical officers. The prevalence of fever in the metropolis is a great and recognised evil, and it is an evil which does not only affect the poor, for. as Mr. TORIMNS justly said, how do the wealthy residents of the West End know from what fever-stricken quarters their clothing or their fur niture come ? It need not, we hope, be necessary to appeal to the selfishness of hon. members to induce them to give a favourable hearing to this bill, for the facts are powerful enough to demand consideration. The number of persons who live by wage labour within the bills of mortality are roughly estimated at about 648,000, and for these proper accommodation is only provided for 9,000. No wonder that typhus in all its forms is ever at work amongst us, that over seven hospitals are full to overflowing, and our pauperism never lessened. " There were men," said Mr. ToRRENs, "living with their fami. lies in a single room, deaths taking place there, births taking place there. As the inevitable result, there was a pestilence ; fever held revel in those places, fever never departing. He could multiply a list of the evils resulting from the system. These places were the well-heads of pauperism —the springs of disease and demoralisation and death ; and unless they were dried up and drained, as was done with the land, to expect health in the inhabi tants was vain." The bill is not intended to benefit London alone. Newcastle, Liverpool, Glasgow, arc all described as anxious for something of the kind. Mr. TORRENS dis claimed any idea of indicting a loss upon the owners of the property rebuilt. They were to be fully compensated, but the free trade in fever which they had hitherto enjoyed was to be put a stop to. It is quite certain, whether the TOR R ENS bill becomes law or not, that the Session cannot be suffered to pass without the Legislature taking some steps to remedy so great and increasing an evil. The health and morality of the population should be the first care of Parliament, and all reform, education, and preaching will in vain seek to elevate the people so long as they are confined to habitations which are a degradation to the inhabitants and a disgrace alike to our civilisation and our humanity. The biddings for bills on India took place yes terday afternoon at the Bank of England. The proportions allotted were, to Calcutta, £217,200 ; to Madras, £3,200 ; and to Bombay, £lOO,OOO. The minimum price was as before, Is. Hid. on Calcutta and Madras, and Is. Il4d. on Bombay. Tenders on Calcutta and Madras at 2s. will receive about 80 per cent., and on Bombay at 2s. Old. about 13 per cent. ; above these prices iu full. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Wednesday Evening. I have nothing more important to speak of to-day than the attitude assumed by M. Bismark, which I noticed yesterday. The anticipations prevalent as to the course he was likely to adopt have proved perfectly correct. He declares, by a single letter to the President of the Chamber of Deputies, that the resolutions adopted by the Chamber of Repre sentatives of the nation are unconstitutional and unacceptable, and that he sends them back to the Chamber, considering them to be null and void, and says he shall treat them as not having come to his knowledge. The Siecle, iu reference to the attitude of Prussia, says that diplomatic communications between the Cabinets of Austria and Prussia have been very frequent within the last few days. There is a desire to prevent an armed conflict between Austria and Prussia, and to arrive at a pacific solu tion of the question of the Duchies. The obstinacy of the Cabinet of Berlin has rendered this diplomatic activity more necessary than ever. The restoration to Denmark of the northern portion of Schleswig appears to have been again under consideration. By such a plan Prussia would gain the co-operation of the other portions of the two Duchies. To-day is observed in some circles of Paris with a degree of veneration as the anniversary of the day when the remains of INloliere were committed to the grave. Moliere died on February 17, 1673. At that period he was treated as an atheist, and his re mains were conveyed to the cemetery of St. Joseph by two priests, accompanied by about 100 persons with torches, like those of a malefactor, no funeral service having been performed over them previously. A schism has taken place among the society of Gens de Lettres, the cause being the Tresor Lit teraire. .A very stormy meeting of the society has just taken place in the Rue Scribe. The society is now divided into what may be called,two intrenched camps, Conservatives and Liberals. The commit tee were attacked very vigorously, but on a scrutiny the Conservatives obtained seven nominations out of nine. Another scrutiny, however, is to take place next week, to decide the points at issue. The doubts as to whether the late Leopold of Belgium was or was not a Free Mason have been settled by a masonic funeral ceremony celebrated with pomp in the hall of the Lodge of the Grand Orient at Brussels. A sarcophagus was erected, ornamented with all the masonic insignia of Ma sonry. The Grand Master, M. Van Schoor, pre sided at the ceremony, and M. Defre pronounced an eloquent funeral oration. Mr. Van Schoor, holding in his hand the symbolical ear of corn, said, " The life of man here below is only a passage. Look at this ear. It has fallen under the scythe of the husbandman. Thus man falls under the scythe of Time. The ear is dried up, but it is not de stroyed. If this grain be placed in the earth it will have new life. Nothing is lost for the Great Architect of the worlds. Brothers, let us return to the tomb of our venerated Master. In the name of the Lodge of the Grand Orient, whom he loved so much, and by whom he is so much beloved, let us say a last and eternal farewell." At the same time the funeral veil, which separated the tomb of the Temple of Immortality, disappeared, and the bust of the late King was seen surrounded with lights, flowers, and plants. To the sound of music the Masons defiled around it, each depositing a laurel of acacia on the sarcophagus. The ceremony is said to have produced a profound sensation. A terrible story is told by the Epoque. Some time ago a young girl named Sophie G- left the convent to be married to a respectable young man. The marriage had been in contemplation for some time, and was looked forward to with pleasure by both families. Unfortunately the young lady had been confided to the care of a governess, supposed to be a woman of great purity, but who, in reality, is bad in every re spect. She taught the worst lessons to the young Sophie. One evening she took the young girl out into bad company, and she did not return home till the next day. The governess told such a lame story that she was instantly discharged, and Sophie was sent back to the convent. Her behaviour there was so regular and so good for a time that her parents thought she was quite reformed, and again sent for her home. The marriage was once more talked of, and indeed arrangements were made for it to take place. Unfortunately, however, the bad example of the governess had taken too deep a root, and Sophie thought of nothing but balls, concerts, lovers, and novels. By an unhappy chance, Sophie, who was not watched closely enough, about a week ago, met her former governess. Sophie was in vain expected to breakfast. For some days there was no news of her, and then came the information from the Prefecture of Police that she had been with girls of bad character, and was in prison. Both father and mother were horror-struck. The father went into his study and blew out his brains with a pistol. The mother rushed into the room. Soon after the young man who was to be Sophie's husband followed. Sophie's mother was sitting beside the corpse. Her reason was gone. She was mad. Next day a corpse was found in the Seine. It was that of Sophie's affianced. He had announced his coming marriage to all his friends, and from shame, disappointment, and despair, he had committed suicide. Sophie, who is but 17, is still under the care of the police. The young man was very rich, and there was every probability that the marriage would have been a happy and prosperous one. A circular has been issued by the Minister of Public Instruction which directs that henceforward education is to be given in the religious schools without any distinction in regard either to birth or fortune. The distinction heretofore made between rich and poor children has sometimes led to various evils and much dissatisfaction. The weather is still very ztrong and unsettled. The wind to-day has been colder than on any day during this winter. lam told, hut Ido not know the fact myself, that snow fell last right a few miles from Paris. It does not freeze, but the temperature is very little above freezing point, A ROYAL DESSERT SERVICE.--A magnificent dessert service in porcelain and ceramic statuary has just been completed by Mr. Copeland of New Bond street, for his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, which far outrivals anything yet produced in " the Potteries." The centre piece is of extraordinary beauty. The principal comfort being supported by figures representing the four quarters of the globe, each with its appropriate symbol, modelled from designs by the celebrated sculptor Durham. The exquisite taste and richness of the deco ration of this specimen of the potter's art is positively enchanting. The four raised fruit dishes are also elevated upon groups of figure; and represent, by their various zodiacal signs and diversity of the ideal occupations, the months of the year. The remaining portion of the elegant service includes ice pails, cream bowls, sweet meat dishes, plates, and coffee cups and saucers. The plates are of the finest porcelain, perforated to show the skill of the potter's art. On each plate there are four panels, surrounded by festoons and ribbons of raised and chased gold, most delicately painted with varied flowers and fruit. In the centre is the monogram of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, the initial of the Prince being in gold, that of the Princess in strings of roses. Tho design of the plates is carried out throughout the entire service, both as regards the pedestals of the vari ous groups, which are all perforated and magnificently de corated in a truly regal style. For our own part we hardly know which to admire most, the gorgeous beauty of the gilding or the chaste and exquisite flower painting, as the colours in every instance being quite up to that of Sevres. The labour of producing such a brilliant speci men of British art must have been immense, but it must be extremely gratifying to Mr. Copeland to hear the an bounded and especial praise that is lavished on his efforts by all those who have the good fortune to get a glimpse of it before it is convoyed to its destination. BURGLAR PROOF SAFES.—The many recent robberies from so-called thief-proof safes has stimu lated the different makers of these articles to remedy the glaring defects of their construction, but hitherto without effect, for forcing ci la crowbar is now a daily, or rather a nightly fact. The safe patented by Mr. Hendry, Cheap side, is so constructed that it is impossible for the same to be opened by foul means, as the more it is forced the more firmly does it got fixed. The safe has a circular door which screws into its position, the screw round the edge of the door worming itself into the mouth of the safe; when locked another bolt presents itself so as to prevent tho turning of the door ; when unscrewed it rests on a pivot, which is home by a frame hinged to the side of the safe, thus permitting the door to be swung round. Tho safe is semi-cylindrical, and is thus calculated to resist a large amount:of force. It is made of half-inch boiler plate, care fully packed with a fire-proef composition• LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) SPAIN. MADRID, FEB. 21 (Evening). Congress has adopted the proposals of the com mittee in reference to the bill to prevent auy person from being at the same time a Government func tionary and a member of the Chamber of Deputies. PORTUGAL. LISBON, FEB. 21. To-day the motion protesting against the order addressed by the Government to General Prim to quit Portugal was rejected, after an animated de bate, in the Chamber of Deputies. It is said that General Prim will go to Gibraltar. AUSTRALIA. (By Overland Telegraph from Galle.) MELBOURNE, JAN. 25. The severe drought which prevailed has at length terminated, and rains have fallen over the whole continent. NEW ZEALAND. MELBOURNE, JAx. 25. Intelligence from New Zealand announces that General Chute had attacked and captured a large rebel pah. The war was virtually over, and the troops were leaving for England. CHINA AND JAPAN. HONG KONG, FEB. 1. It is reported that a large rebel force is within 30 miles of Nunkan (? Nankoo). Intelligence from Japan states that Belgium is endeavouring to conclude a treaty with the Japanese Government. FRANCE. PARIS, FEB. 22. M. Pietri, Prefect of the Department du Nord, has been appointed Prefect of Police. BOURSE, Feb. 21, Two o'clock.—ln spite of a fall of * per cent. on English Consols being an nounced by each telegram, the market here exhibits great firmness, and quotations are generally higher. Threes are doing at 69f. 15c. Three o'clock.--The market has closed on the following quotations : 41 per Cents 9B 95 Do. and month — 3 per Cents. 69 121 Do. end month 69 121 Credit Mobilier 680 Do. end month 677 50 Bank Shares 3690 Credit Foncier 1327 50 Italian Loan 6l 20 Do. end month 6l 221 RAIL Roman Ottoman Fives 3B 50 Mexican Loan 47 50 Do. Bonds 307 50 Russian — Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt — Deferred VAYS. Cash. Acct. 865' 41 •.• ... 1113 75 t 482 50 ... 536 23 ... 568 75 ... 541 25 ... 130 - - ... 405 ••• 397 50 172 50 - 228 75 .---...100- - „„ 120 Orleans Northern Lyons and Ileditorrauean Southern Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona Roman AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE NEW YORK. SOUTHAMPTON, Feb. 22. Tho North German Lloyd's steamer New York, from New York on the 10th inst., arrived off the Needles at 10.40 a.m. The Queen's Colleges. DEPUTATION TO EARL RUSSELL. Yesterday Earl Russell received a deputation at his official residence in Downing-street, consisting of a number of gentlemen interested in the main tenance of the present system of education in Ire land. They included the Rev. Dr. Wilson (Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presby terian Church in Ireland), the Rev. Mr. M'Naugh ten (ex-Moderator), the Rev. Mr. Denham, the Rev. Mr. Pettigrew, and the Rev. Mr. Robinson. The deputation represented the North and South of Ireland, and several of the more important towns, especially those in which the Queen's Colleges have been established. The MODERATOR, addressing Lord Russell, stated that although the deputation consisted of members of the community to which he belonged, they still claimed to represent all classes in Ireland without reference to creed or politics. He contended that the Queen's Colleges and the Queen's University had perfectly realised the object of the original founders, which was to give a united and unsec tarian education to the youth of Ireland, without denominational distinction, and thus to remove one of the causes which operated to divide and dis tract the people of that country. He pointed out to the noble lord that the colleges had been approved of by the Roman Catholic hierarchy, in cluding Archbishop Manning and Archbishop Crony, as also by a vast majority of the laity professing that faith. But he said when Archbishop Cullen, who held the office of Pope's Legate in Ireland, was translated to the Roman Catholic see of Dublin, a revolution of feeling took place not only amongst the Roman Catholic clergy, but also to a consider. able extent amongst the laity also, and that the colleges and the University were denounced. A Roman Catholic university was set up in opposition to it, which was now about to be endowed by the ' State. He contended that if the Queen's Univer sity were to be enlarged, as was now proposed, the Roman Catholic element would be so strong that virtually the direction and control of public educa tion in Ireland would fall into their hands, and the Roman Catholic youth now attending the Queen's Colleges would be drawn away to the affiliated Ro man Catholic University. The effect would be that the principle of united education which the Govern ment had so supported, and from which so much benefit was derived, would be altogether de stroyed. Other members of the deputation subsequently addressed his lordship, and stated that the Presby terians of Ireland, who had long maintained their loyalty to the Crown, and who had endeavoured by their influence to impress all their fellow-subjects with feelings of attachment to its institutions, looked upon the proposed alterations as being of the most alarming character ; and it was their conviction that they would, if carried out, destroy that feeling of unity and honourable rivalry among the students which now existed, and which, if allowed to con tinue, would have the happiest effects in allaying long standing sources of irritation and animosity in the country. _ . Earl RUSSELL said—l have listened with great attention to the remarks which have fallen from the members of the deputation, - and I assure them I should be very glad if all parties could be contented with the changes which are in contemplation or which may be intended. It seems to me, I confess, that the duty of the Government is to act with per fect impartiality towards the various religious per suasions in Ireland, and in conformity with that view the system of national education was estab lished by means of the National Board. Objec tion was then made by the Presbyterians in the north of Ireland, and (as you yourselves state in a paper which I hold in my hand) an agreement was come to by which the Presbyterians were to receive aid from the National Board of Education. The Government of Ireland, previously to that time, had consulted with the representatives of the Pres byterian body, and, finding some of the concessions which they demanded reasonable, agreed to make these concessions, and the terms upon which the Presbyterians of Ireland consented to receive aid were in my mind perfectly fair and reasonable. That, however, did not imply any change in the principles of the National Board. Well, we now come to the question of academical education. It has been observed very truly by the Moderator of the General Assembly that Archbishop Cullen objected to the Queen's Colleges soon after their formation. I beg leave to say that he was not the only person who made an objection to them, nor was he the first to object; for I well remember that, when the plan was laid before the House of Commons, Sir Harry Inglis, one of the members for the University of Oxford, denounced it as a gigantic scheme of godless education. That phrase was mis applied, and I did not agree with him. The Queen's Colleges were founded on a sound principle, and I am glad to hear of the success which has attended them. At the same time one cannot, or ought not, to be surprised that Roman Catholics should consider it wrong that they should have an academical edu cation in which their own religion was not made a prominent feature, and in which youths of their own denomination could not receive that elementary in struction which it is desirable they should receive with regard to the doctrines of their religion. I believe that if we were to go to the heads of the houses of the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge, and ask them to consent to do what is done at Bel fast, and call upon them to take no account of the teaching of the doctrines of the Church of England in any of their colleges, they would at once refuse to make any such concession. That being the case in England, I cannot wonder that the great majority of the Roman Catholic body in Ireland, especially the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church, have opposed and discountenanced the plan of the Queen's colleges. The question is, whether there should be any allowance made for those parents and those sons who felt conscientious scruples on those points. In England we have yielded to the behests of the Roman Catholic body in that regard, and young men who may be students at Oscott, Stonyhurst, or elsewhere, may come to London, and if they show that they have the proper attainments they can acquire the same academical honours and distinctions as may be obtained by such as have come up from any Pro testant or other institution in the kingdom. Some members of Parliament, representing Roman Ca tholic constituencies, and the Roman Catholic com munity have asked that the same privileges may be allowed to Irishmen in their own country as are allowed to Englishmen in theirs—at the London University. And I confess that it, appears to me the proposition is a very reasonable one. It is not, I think, a sufficient answer to them to say, " We can not recognise your complaint, for you have only to cross the Straits which divide England from Ireland and you can have in London all the advantages which you claim." This is not a sufficient answer to what, I think, are natural scruples, and I think an attempt ought to be made to secure to Roman Catholics in Ireland the same academical advan tages which they would receive if they were here in England. Such has been the foundation of the inquiries which have been made by the Government. Of the measures which are in con templation by the Government I cannot give you the details, because they are not yet set tled ; and although I fancy Archbishop Cullen will not be satisfied with thaproposed changes, still if we propose nothing but what is fair and impartial, re gard being had to the large number of the Irish peo ple who are Roman Catholics, we cannot, I think, be blamed if we endeavour to give them, in conside ration of their attainments, the same honours and marks of pro-eminence which they deserve, and which they would obtain if they were educated in England. The changes in contemplation are en tirely with that view ; and I trust that neither the system of primary education under the National Board nor the Queen's Colleges will suffer from the changes which we propose. With regard to those who have no conscientious scruples to attend the Queen's Colleges, they will, of course, continue to avail themselves of them ; while, on the other hand, those who do entertain conscientious scruples will have other facilities afforded them of acquiring academical distinctions. The MODERATOR thanked the noble earl for the courtesy with which they had been received, and added that the deputation were there in the interests of educated Roman Catholics theniselves. He held in his hand a pamphlet written by an Irish Roman Catholic baronet (Sir Dominick Corrigan, M.D.), on the Freedom of Education, in which a hope was expressed that the Government would, in the inte rests of the Roman Catholics of Ireland, uphold the present system. The deputation then withdrew. Extract from Mr. Goscheu's Private Diary. (From the Owl.) To-day I took my seat in the Cabinet for the first time. I confess that I felt very shy, and it was some time before I could quite make up my mind to go in. I felt rather like the Amateur Casual, and got out of my brougham in the same sort of half-confident manner. I got to No. 10, Downing-street, and tried to look as if I knew exactly where the Cabinet room was, an d hoping that I should see Gladstone or some one to show me the way ; but unfortunately I saw no one except a most civil old gentleman with grey hair, who looked at me most kindly as I walked down the long passage in the entrance of the house. Of course I thought he knew me by sight ; and when he pointed to the right and said, " That way to the Treasury," I fancied that of course the First Lord would naturally sit there and the Cabinet with him. I accordingly went up some stairs, and after some trouble found myself in a kind of open hall, with several messen gers seated behind a glass frame like early vegetables, being forced with mutton chops, potatoes, and beer. On asking one of these gentlemen where the Cabinet was, he first inquired what I wanted, and then sug gested that the Cabinet was not on view for the pub ' lie. I confess that at this moment I forcibly felt the inconvenience of not having been trained up in official habits, for if I had been, the messenger would most likely have known me, or, at all events, I should have known how to treat him. With great civility, however, the messenger guided me back again the way I had come, and pointed out the door where he said the Cabinet sat. I accordingly walked straight up to it, and, with an effort of boldness, quite contrary to my usual character, was about to open the door, when my grey-haired friend rushed up to me, and, seizing me by the arm, said, " You must not go in there, sir ; the Cabinet is sitting." I explained to him that I was the Duke of Lancaster, or the Lord Chancellor, or Chancellor of the Exche quer, for I was so nervous, and had been so recently moved out, that, like wine, I was rather sick, and hardly knew wherel was. In fact, it was not till I mentioned my name was Goschen that he really took in who I was, and allowed me to pass in. I never felt so shy in my life as at that moment. But I must say that they were all very kind to me, excepting one Minister whom I will not name, who remarked, in an audible whisper, " Here is the theory of Foreign Exchanges;" but, as it was only an exchange from the Board of Trade to the Duchy of Lancaster, I thought it was a bad joke. Well, I felt very like a new boy, and also very like a boy who had become a prmposter so soon, that the rest of the prmposters who are much older feel very jealous of him. I was given a chair at the table, which, by the bye, is like any other table ; and, as all shy people do, I of course only sat on the very edge of it, much as Lord Russell sits on Reform. After a time, however, I got over the feeling of shyness, and even offered some observations on the subject under discussion. I got on very well, and at last actually ventured to blow my nose, which was very well received by them on the whole, though the Duke of Argyll seemed to think it rather a liberty for a new Minister to take. Altogether, I think that they are not a very different set to what you may meet any day on the board of a good joint-stock company, and it certainly is surprising how a nearer acquaint ance with a Cabinet shows in many parts of the work the thinness of the veneer. EXTRACT FROM LORD HARTINGTON'S PRIVATE DIAItY. To-day took my seat in the Cabinet. _Horrid bore to do it, but could not help it. Thought that some of them talked a deal of twaddle, and found that they didn't seem to know much what they meant to do about anything. They don't appear to be very cordial with each other about some questions. However, I treated them all very civilly, and, as Gladstone and I are very good friends, I dare say I shall be very comfortable. But it is a horrid nuisance being in office. 4 ,b Curt Oren HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, IVedriCSday• Her Majesty, accompanied by their Roy al High nesses Princess H e l ena , P r i ncess Louise, PPrincessßeatrice, Prince L eopo ld , an d h er S erene Hi g h nes s Princess Hohenloh e , l e ft O s b orne at h alf-past t w o to-day, and arrived at Wi n d sor C ast l e soon a fter six o'clock. The suite consisted of the Duchess of Roxburghe, the Hon. Caroline Cavendish, Lieut.-General the Hon. C. Grey, Colonel the Hon. D. de Ros, Sir John Cowell, and Mr. Sahl. The Earl of Caithness and Major-General F. Seymour, C. 8., are the Lord and Groom in Wait- lug. PORTSMOUTH, Wednesday. Her Majesty, accompanied by their Royal High nesses the Princesses Helena, Louise, and Beatrice, and Prince Leopold—and attended by the ladies and gentlemen of the Court—crossed over from Osborne this afternoon in the royal yacht Alberta, Captain the Prince of Leiningen. A special train was in attendance at the Royal Clarence Yard, where the royal party landed at half-past three, being received by the naval and military authori ties, and immediately left for Windsor. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred accompanied her Alajesty across, but returned to his ship in the Alberta. _~_ The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales presided yesterday at a meeting of the council of his royal highness, held at the office of the Duchy of Cornwall, Buckingham gate, St. James's-park. There were present the Lord Portman, Lord Warden of the Stannaries ; Lieutenant-General Knollys, Comptroller of the Household of his Royal Highness; Mr. Herbert William Fisher, Keeper of the Privy Seal ; and the Earl of Leicester, who took the oath on his appointment as a member of the council of his royal highness. Mr. Bateman (the secretary) attended as Clerk of the Council. The Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by the Countess of Macclesfield and Major Teesdale, left Marlborough-house in the afternoon for Belvoir Castle, on a visit to the Duke of Rutland. National Choral Society. The performance by this society last night of Mendelssohn's magnificent " Hymn of Praise" and Rossini's " Stabat Mater" drew one of the largest audiences we have ever seen in Exeter-hall. The soloists were Madame Parepa, Miss Franklein, Miss Cox, Mr. Leigh Wilson, and Mr. Weiss. The exe cution of both these masterpieces was worthy of the highest praise, as the most exacting critic, we should imagine, could hardly desire anything better than the rendering of the two celebrated com positions by Mr. Martin's corps. Madame Parepa received a warm and cordial welcome; her singing was characterised by great purity and devotional spirit. The two younger lady artists also acquitted them selves in a very excellent manner, and each have reason to be pleased with the impression they pro duced. Mr. Leigh Wilson, now a general and re cognised favourite in the Hall, never sang better, and therefore, without going through the different pieces he executed, we compliment him upon his entire performance. Mr. Weiss was heartily •xel coined, and sang also with his usual force and ex pression. The chorus deserves especial praise ; they gave their part of the composition with a steadiness and precision which showed to what perfection the drilling of the accomplished director had brought them to. The band was excellent ; in fact, the whole concert was complete and perfect in every particular, and marked by all that care which is now so distinguishing a characteristic of all the oratorios conducted by the talented and energetic Mr. G. IV° Martin. Drury-lane Theatre. A general meeting of the renters or debenture holders in this theatre was held yesterday in the saloon of the building—Dr. Beaman in the chair. Mr. JAMES ROBINS, the secretary, read the report of the sub-committee which was laid before the meet ing of proprietors in January last, and which stated that the accounts for the year ending Dec. 31, 1866, showed that the receipts, including a balance in hand of £1,334 ss. 3d., amounted to £9,478 2s. Id., and the payments to £8,356 13s. 7d, leaving a cash balance of £1,121 Bs. 6d. The receipts comprised a sum of £5,000 from the lessees on rent account, and a further sum of £ll5 for extra performances during the season 1864-5. The payments comprised a sun . ). of £1,330 17s. 3d. for four quarters' rent to the Duke of Bedford, and £6ll 12s. for rates and taxes, £2,100 to the trustees of the new renters, and all the ordinary current expenses of the 12 months up to Christmas last. The report of Mr. Marsh Nelson, the architect, which was appended, assured the pro prietors and renters that the theatre was in good re pair, and that the fire cocks and apparatus for the prevention and extinction of fire were in satisfactory order. The two reports were adopted. The report of the renters' committee was then presented. I t stated that the committee congratulated the renters on the improved aspect of their affairs ; the a mount of the last dividend being the largest that had been declared for many years. One of the committee having suggested at the former proprietary meeting that the balance in the names of the trustees shoul d not lie idle that wish had been acted upon, and 3 small addition to the income was the result. The committee, in alluding to th e m i sun d ers t an di n g with the lessee, were happy to announce that an amicabl e adjustment had been effected, and they were the more pleased that such was the case, because a coo' trary course would have been detrimental to their interests. The theatre was like to be open during a portion of the year, when, indeed, it should nev er be closed, viz., the " London season"—for the Pre" duction of opera and ballet on a grand scale--a 3 arrangement which, if carried into effect, woul d ' it was hoped, be remunerative and satisfactory to all parties. This report was ordered to be re ceived . A desultory conversation then took place in rega l ' to matters of practical detail, and amongst them a question was mooted as to the condition and c harae" ter of a wooden spiral staircase leading to the the e ' an opinion being expressed that that staircase wa s unsafe, and that, in the event of a fire occurring, t he consequences arising froin its insecurity would be most disastrous. Ultimately a resolution was pr °- posed by Mr. Tegg and seconded by Col. Challonerf_ to the effect that the attention of the architect be called to the wooden spiral staircase leading to th,e flies, and to report thereon to the proprietary ; 3 that the sub-committee be requested to take every precaution against the possibility of fire in t he theatre. The motion was unanimously adopted, and Mr. Reddish said he would speak to the architect personally on this important subject. It was stated that the receipts to the renters had increased gradually every year during the las t few years. Four years ago they were £4 15s. per deben ture, and they afterwards rose to £6, to £6 Gs., and now to £7, while formerly the amount was as 1011. as £2, and for a considerable period there Was no dividend at all. her the Col. CHALLONER put a question as to wh et doors of the theatre were made to open outwards re inwards—the former plan being doubtless the n?°, safe and convenient ; and the answer was that t" door in the building opened outwards. nd Resolutions were then passed re-electing thanking the sub-committee and the ale° renters . ee: er mittee. Thanks were also voted to Messrs. F„r and Chatterton, the managers of the theatre, and Mr. their uniform courtesy and attention ; a a Chatterton having acknowledged the complimen", and the similar tribute was paid to the chairman , an business terminated. At the half-yearly meeting of the Oriental C°ln menial Bank, held to-day, the report recomm elldeci an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. P annum, free of income tax. 3 , 11 Der( D o • , Per( W 2 3 D o A . j „D o( ..zeije‘c -4ra z i r 4 a D 0•14 An I 1) 10111 t4' 1 , , , , a l ia 4 13 0 45, C o b: i s . At to t] COrr Thr e In of e a te rn c