The Sun. — London, England, 1866-03-14 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, 11EIRCI1 14, 1866. The Ministerial Reform Bill has been read a first time, but it can hardly be thought by the most ardent supporters of Government that it has been received with anything like cordiality or approved by the House. The distinguishing feature of the debate has been indifference on the part of the lead ing speakers, but the most significant thing of the whole is that all the chief opposition made to the bill at this early stage has proceeded from the Ministerial side of the House. Mr. GLADSTONE has found " troops of friends" of the candid sort, and doubtless their advice and reflections have been as encouraging and exhilarating to him as such com munications generally are. The debate last night was amusing, and contained great variety ; but that arose more from the personal tone it assumed than from any intrinsic interest manifested in the mear.ure, or for any zeal and enthusiasm for or against it. Mr. LowE's speech was a very elaborate one, and his strictures on the Government were very telling against them. It is well known that the right hon. gentleman is no friend to Reform, but at the same time he can see very clearly the errors of those who are or pass to be devoted ad herents to its cause. In particular his criticism on the doings and sayings of Mr. BRIGHT were very much to the point, and that his shafts struck home was proved by the circumstance that the hon. member for Birmingham repeatedly inter rupted him, in or out of season. The extreme inconsistency of Mr. BRIGHT'S cause was ably ex emplified by the member for Calne in his eloquent and effective discourse. Now we have the Ministers following the advice tendered to them at Rochdale by the hon. member for Birmingham, and intro ducing a franchise bill ; but, says Mr. LowE, the hon• member was not always of this opinion, and to prove it he read a passage from a speech he de livered at Bradford in 1859, in which the oracle declared that " the question of distribution is the very soul of Oa() question, and unless you get that you will be deceived, and when the bill is passed may possibly h ave to lament that you are not in you the position in which You would wish to find your selves. Mr. BRIGHT and his friends took very good car e that the bill then under (11 "clIEBion s h ou ld not pass, and he now s tands convi cted before the coun try of having opposed a measure which went much further, and would have effected far more than the no w before the house. Mr. fragmentary scheme LOWE truly said that the House of Commons held a proud position, and was far above any other de liberative assembly that ever existed, and that they must be careful to keep up its character. More true than pleasant were his remarks on the weak ness of modern Governments. formerly men in an official position made up their minds as to the advisability of this or that proposition, and kept to it, but now every thing that is awkward is called an " open question." Thi s i s a ver y correct defini tion of things, and shows the necessity for sending men of discretion to represent the people in Parlia ment. We differ from Mr. LOWS as to the incon venieicea and injuries which he thinks will accrue NEATH AND BRECON RAILWA Y COMPANY. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV EN, That the ORDINARY HALF - YEARLY GENERAL MEETING of the above company will be held at their Office, No. 1, We Chambers, Victoria-street, Westminster, on THURSDAY, the 29th instant, at one o'clock p.m. precisely, for the transaction of the general business of the company. And Notice is Hereby Given, that the Transfer Books of the company will be closed from the 14th instant, and remain so closed untilhe BANKS t termination of the s aid meeting. W. L. , Chairman. D. HOWELL MORGAN, Secretary. 1, Westminster Chambers, Victoria street, S.W., March 13, 1866. HOUSES. --Messrs. TOI'LIS and ROBERTS have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN, bunurban, aad Country RESIDENCES to LET or SELL.. ..Pariculars upon application forwarded for two stamps , upon stiffing requirements and rentsl. Offices, 2, Conduit street, Itegent‘treet, and South Kensington, iguseum. lacing the ____l---------- SOUTH KENSIN GTON, HYDE -PARK, Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Queen's -gate and Peters ham Terraces, Queen's -gate, Cornwall, Princes and Beantort dardens, Elvastun- place, Cromwell -road, Onslow and T hurloe squares, Boltons, &c. bl es srs TO PLIS an d ROBE rtTS have RE OEN CES to SELL and LET in these and surrounding localities. Offices, 2, Conduit - s treet, Regen t -street, and t h e auseura. 130 ut b Kensington , facing -------- HEA T R E R OYAL, DRURY-LANE.— TManagers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING. KING LEAK: Mr. Phelps; Messrs. B. ;Marston, Barrett, A. Raynor, E. Phelps, Barsby, Har court, M'lntyre. 2deagreson ; Mrs. Herman Vesin, mi ss Atkinson, Mi.,s E. 'Keaton, &c. Atter which. the Pantomime, LITTLE KING PIPPIN; or, ffariequin Fortunatus and the Magic Purse and Wishinc , Car. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.- Sole Lessee and 3lansga, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE OVERLAND ROUTE: Messrs. Bnckitone, Compton. Chippendale, W. Farren, Rogers, Gor don, Braid, Clark. Weathersiy, White, Coe, drc.; Mesdames Snowdon, Hill, Wright, Coleman, Moore, (tc. After which (for the last week but one), ORPHEUS IN TILE HAI MAtilibT. Messrs. W. Farren, Fisher, Bartle man, Weathersby, tc ; Mesdames Keeley, Snowden, Moore, Lindley, Woolgar, Howard, Wright, Coleman, Lovell, Pre 90t, &C. Commence at Seven. 'ROYAL LYCEUM T REATRE.— Under the eole Management of Mr. Fechter. THIS EVRNING, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER Mr. H. IViddicomb. After which, THE MASTER OF RAVENSWOOD. Mr. Fechter; Mssrs. Jordan, Emery, Widdicomb Vezin, J. H. Fitzpatrin, e D. Evans ; am:lames Ternan, Etsworthy , , Lavenu, and C. Leclercq. Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI. Sale Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. TF{IS EVENING, at 7, a new farce called PIPKIN'S RUSTIC RETREAT. Messrs. J. L. Toole and?. Bedford. After which, at 8, RIP VAN WINKLE. Rip (his 1631 appearance), Mr. Jefferson, supported by Messrs. Billing ton, if. Bedford, It Phillips, Felix Rogers, Ashley, li.burne, C. J. smith; Mrs. Billingtor, &c. To conclude with LEOD TIME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. philliPs, Eburne, C. J. S I:l mith ; Miss A. Seaman , &c. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, QUIET LODGINGS. After which, at a quarter to Eight, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. Characters by Messrs. Vining, T. Mel ville. T. Mead, D. Murray, S. Calhaem, F. Villiers, J. G . shore, G. Murray, H. Mellon, C. Seyton, R. Cathcart; Miss. L. Itoore and Miss Katherine Rodgers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs.. wanborough. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, a new and origi nal Comedy, THE FLY,AND THE WEB. Messrs. Par 'mile and Price; Misses Swanborough and Raynham. After which the Grand Burlesque, IVANHOE. Messrs. Stoyle, Thorne, James, Fenton : Mesdames Swanborough, Raynham, Simpson. Johnstone, and Hughes. To conclude with LENDING A HAND. Messrs. Belford Turner; Misses Simpson and Hughes. THE "SUN" NEWSPAPER._ G. R. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught terrace, Edgware-road, is specially appointed AGEN 1: to deliver the LATE EDITION of "THE SUN" at the earliest possible moment after leaving the press. He is able to deliver copies in Town, the Suburbs, and in many parts of the Country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say lu mites by 0 o'clock. TII E "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. R. GLENIE delivers tLe LATE EDITION at Chelsea, 7.40; Kilburn, 8; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30; Uxbridge, 9 20 ; Walford, 8.45. JIHE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN" supplied, as soon as published every Evenin:_ , , by ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21, Old Cavendish-street, Oxford-street. fiIHE LAST EDITION of " TIIE SUN " JR-. supplied as soon as Published. containing all the LATEST NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by If. W. HARRIS, Nemspaper Agent, 4, Blacktnars-roan, London, S. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." HOLMES J. Ihe begs to 1; inform tr e his . friends , and the pub;iC EUITIoN of THE generally, '? as so s o u n pp as e publishea l --No. 16, Hampstead road, N.W. SPORTING. —JOAN ROBERTS supplies the LATk.ST EDITION of " TH id SUN" as soon as pub ---6 Rath -at, et. City-road. E-C. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TIES DAY.—Morning, h. m.—Afternoon, 12h. 25m. To-Monnow.-Morning, 12h. 50m.—Afternoon, lh. 14m. • att t 7 :11 .,„ er: 314 from the admission of many more working men to the franchise. 'We have not experienced these evils as yet, and notwithstanding the returns that have been made show how largely this class has added to the voters of late years, the sense of the nation, as represented in the House of Commons, will always triumph over the influence of class pre judice and interest which the right hon. gentleman deems likely to intend if the present measure be carried out. ____ mr VILLIERS did his best to support the Bill, but he was more successful in those parts of his discourse in which he addressed himself to a general view of the question than when he came to parti culars. The right hon. gentleman adduced the instances of Catholic Emancipation, the repeal of the Corn-laws, and the introduction of the first Reform Bill, to prove that gloomy prognostications were not always fulfilled. If, however, as Mr. VILLIERS declares, now is the accepted time for amending the representation, why not go on and complete the good work, instead of trying temporis ing and experimental schemes, and leaving for a future time the difficulties and irksomeness of settling the vexed questions that relate to its completion. The truth of Mr. LOWE'S observation about weak Governments was exemplified in that part of Mr. VILLIERS' speech in which he said that this was a bill " respecting which those who are intimately allied with the people, and have their confidence, declared that though it is not all that they desire they are ready to accept it." This is not the speech in which the Ministers of a great country ought to introduce a measure that concerns the interests of the community. If the members of the Government do not possess the confidenCe of the people they are not fit for their position, and cer tainly it is quite out of character that they should employ political dragomen to interpret for them what are the desires and hopes of the nation. There is too much of all this clap-trap in the mea sure before us. It goes too far for the moderate men ; but it bears no relation to a proper scheme of Reform—a comprehensive measure for adapting the laws of representation to the spirit of the age and the wants of the people. It is not a grand idea, a decided plan of action, such as a Ministry might glory to succeed in carrying, or be proud to fall in endeavouring to further its high and heroic ' objects. All parties concerned in its concoction have made a compromise, and we cannot recognise in this bill any of the zeal which was to distinguish Mr. GLADSTONE as a shining light in the cause; while we can find little of the pristine energy which made the name of Lord RUSSELL associated with the measure of 1832. Then, again, we have Mr. BRIGIIT very tame and unequal after the fervour of his protestations of 1859, when he was ready to move mountains rather than let an insufficient and incomplete measure sully the annals of Parliament, and offend the taste and militate against the wishes of the nation. Mr. GLADSTONE did not think it expedient to make a reply, which was the more remarkable be cause the chief opponent had been on his own side of the house, they had been very unequally met by the supporters of the measure, and it will be some time before any contrary statements can be made, while what has been said against the measure will be influencing the public mind and dwelling in the memory of those who have listened to the speeches, all above the average in point of merit, and some distinguished for their reason and eloquence. Mr. BRIGHT did not say much to the purpose in his attempt to support the Ministers, and set to maintain his own consistency. He tried to get rid of the attacks made upon him by Mr. LOWE and Mr. HORSMAN by a sort of to quoque argument, and declared they were disappointed at not getting into office. This style of argument may produce laughter in a debate, but it is a very poor Avifißß i sids&Acr en e pr N r,rl in Mr. BRIGHT'S professed horror of " place," if he were not always talking of it. Mr. BRIGHT has a very bad habit of contra dicting all that is said in relation to his past doings and sayings, and he interrupts a speech a dozen times rather than allow the House to think that any report of his speech is correct. This answered very well when Lord CRANBOURNE quoted from the report of the Times about a certain meeting, but it did not succeed quite so efficiently when, on his challenging Mr. LOWE as to the authenticity of his statement, the right hon. gentleman gave the Star for his authority. Mr. BRIGHT did not rise to defend the bill, but to explain it, which it was curious that he was so competent to do, seeing that he affirmed he had had nothing to do with its framing. He seemed, how ever, to have imbibed a sort of intuitive per ception of its merits, and " Talcs to its virtues very kind, And to its faults a little blind." The " difficulties of Ministers" and the " disin clination of Parliaments" pleaded its cause with the hon. member for Birmingham, and he proceeded to damage it by his support, declaring that if the tone in which the working-classes were spoken of was not moderated, either there would be a constantly increas ing emigration to weaken the country, or " you will find some accident happening when you will have to do something more than you are asked to do to night, under the threat, and it may be the infliction, of violence." A more unworthy representation of the feelings of the people could not have been made than this language contains from one who professes to be their exponent. But it is not in this spirit that the House of Commons can entertain, or the people of England consider, the question of Reform. This new scheme has no decided prospect of success, and indeed may very likely fail. Neither its adoption nor rejection by the house will have the effect that Mr. BRIGHT prophesied. All that we have to do is to wait in patience, and to persevere in an endeavour to arrive at the truth ; and if the Minis ters are not able or willing to effect their purpose of Reform, the people will be very willing t o awa i t i ts solution at a more favourable juncture. The political affairs of Victoria have reached a crisis of considerable importance, and it is fortunate for the colonists that they have at the head of affairs a Minister so impartial, so firm, and so thoroughly constitutional as Mr. CARDWELL. The right hon. gentleman has had more than one pro blem to solve since he accepted the seals of the Colonial-office ; but when he has been left to his own unbiassed judgment and unfettered action, he has usually shown himself fully equal to the occa sion. The situation of affairs in Victoria has grown so complicated and so serious that Mr. CARDWELL has been forced to take a decided step, and has re called the G overnor o f Vi ctor i a. S i r CHARLES DARLIN G has been a faithful public servant through a long career, but in his government of Victoria he has shown either a complete oblivion or a total dis regard of the fundamental principles of constitutional legislation. The Governor of a colony, like the QUEEN herself, should recognise no party, and should make it his first duty in a time of disturbance, as her MAJESTY would do in a similar case, to settle every political difficulty by a strict observance of Constitutional law. Sir CHARLES DARLING, on the contrary, has sided with one branch of the Legisla ture against the other, completely disregarding or 6uperAedii3g the Upper House, and in conjunction THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 14, 1866. with his Minister s has allowed himself to be com mitted to ants undoubtedly illegal. The deadlock which the G•or eminent of Victoria came to origi nated, as we • all know, in a difference between the two Houses. The Council or Upper House repre sents, we bell( :ve, chiefly the intelligence and edu cation of the colony, seeing that the Assembly is recruited bfy something approaching to universal suffrage. We may, therefore, conclude that the Council woui'd I , .ave been the less likely of the two to act in defiance of the Constitution, but in any case the Goys rnor was clearly wrong in acting upon a bill as law when it had not passed through both :Houses. It would be manifestly un constitutional aid illegal for our Home Government to proceed upon a bill which had been thrown out by the Lo - cds, whether rightly or wrongly ; and Sir CHARLES DARLING, in virtually superseding the Council, was in reality showing as much hos tility to public liberty as if he had set the popular assembly at defiance, and refused to recognise the representatives of the masses. The whole system of our constitution is based on the principle of check and counterbalance. It is this which keeps us happily oscillating in the medium between Democracy and Despotism ; and however inconvenient or tedious the old-fashioned obstruc tions may sometimes be to eager and ardent apostles of progress, we in this country know their value too well to dream of disregarding or removing them. There is, as Mr. CARD WELL in his careful examination of the whole matter, very clearly shows no perplexity which can arise in colonial government without a constitutional mode of redress, as it would have been better, as he points out, for the Governor and his advisers to have referred the difficulty to the decision of the Imperial Parliament than to have , adopted unconstitutionalmeans for extricating them selves from their embarrassing position. The history of the crisis is summarised by Mr. CARDWELL in his despatch of November 27, so that any one interested in the case may soon master its history. It seems that the Assembly desired to pass a law imposing certain customs duties, which they had reason to believe the Councilwould dislike. To insure its passage through the Upper House, they therefore made it part of the ordinary Appropriation Bill, or, in political phrase, " tacked it on," a prac tice which,as Mr. CARDWELL on a subsequent occasion reminds the Governor, is always carefully avoided in the Imperial Parliament. The Council, displeased at the introduction of the tariff, refused the whole measure, and consequently the Appropriation Bill dropped. This is the point on which the Governor and his advisers laid themselves open to censure. Notwithstanding the failure of the bill in the Upper House the Government proceeded to levy the dutie s it imposed. Some merchants resisted the claim as illegal, and an appeal to the Supreme Court issued in their favour, but in spite of this decision the duties were levied. On this head Mr. CARDWELL speaks decisively. Irrespective of the judgment of the Supreme Court, no ordinary consideration should in his opinion have induced the Governor to give his concurrence to the levying of these duties. He shows that the reference to the manner in which the Imperial taxes are levied by anticipa tion is entirely inaccurate, inasmuch as such taxes are only levied because it is not doubted that the resolution of the House of Com mons on which the bill enacting them is founded will become law ; and if the other branches of the Legislature withheld their concurrence, such levies would be immediately stopped and the sums levied repaid. In the case of the Victorian Govern ment there was a positive certainty that the bill would not receive the necessary sanction. " I look," says Mr. CARDWELL, " with extreme apprehension on a state of things in which the Government of a British colony is engaged in col -I,,,tiniz money by mere, nv-en whom the supreme Court has declared it is not due. It is an example of violence which may do incal culable mischief beyond the limits of the colony in which it has been allowed to occur." The other means of raising money for the public service to which the Governor and his advisers were forced to resort is also severely censured by the Colonial Secretary. It was impossible for them to draw the money from the public account with out the signature of the Audit Commissioners, and it was therefore arranged with the Bank to ad vance the necessary funds ; and it was agreed that the Bank should at once petition the Supreme Court for repayment of this loan, that the Government should at once confess judgment, so as to enable the Bank to repay themselves out of the public ac count. This transaction Mr. CARDWELL disap proves of very strongly, asserting that it could only be justified by an " overwhelming public emergency," which did not exist; and he declares his opinion that i without t h t o h us r at e n e t r si oa e s nn p c re sanction n s f , law,o‘ f i n law,ei n o l e c c o t in and nt g r a t duties g out a in paying loan salaries without sanction of law, the Governor and his advisers have acted unconstitutionally: , The immediate cause of the Governor's recall is not, however, to be found in these errors of judg ment, but in his differences with the Council. It is certainly not surprising that that body, indignant at the manner in which they had been set aside, should have addressed a respectful petition to the Crown, representing " That the laws of the colony have in a measure been dispensed with, the Constitu tion superseded, and her MAJESTY'S authority dis regarded, if not abused." And, in doing so, they adopted the proper and constitutional mode of ob taining redress. But Sir CIIARLESDARLING denounces their conduct in the strongest terms,and expresses his hope that the course of events may never again elevate any of them to the Ministry, "since it is impossible their advice could be received with any other feel- .ngs than those of doubt and distrust." As these gentlemen are naturally those who are most likely to furnish candidates for office, it is evident that the political system could not work under such circumstances. It is also desirable that, after such an open disregard of constitutional law on the part of those in authority, some open and decided action on the part of the Imperial Government should testify its disapproval, even though the late Gover nor is a man of ability and reputation. MR. THOMAS CARLTLE.—We understand that the installation of Mr. Carlyle as Rector of our University, to which office he was elected in November last, will take place in the Music-hall on Monday, April 2, at two o'clock. It is, we are glad to say, confidently anticipated that the health of Mr. Carlyle will permit him to speak his address. -Scotsman. FATAL ACCIDENT TO A CLERGYMAN.—We regret to record a distressing and fatal accident to the Rev. A. S. Pott, rector of Northill, which occurred on Monday. The rev. gentleman had been on a professional visit to his solicitor, Mr. Hooper, of Biggleswade, and was returning home. It is supposed Mr. Pott lost control of the horse on which he was riding, as the animal was seen to pass through Siddington toll-gate on the gallop, and when about 100 yards from the gate the horse suddenly swerved and throw its rider, who pitched on his head in the middle of the road. On persons going to his assistance blood was running from his mouth, nose, and ears. He was removed to the house of Mrs. Williams, his mother-in-law, the Grange, Caldocote, and medical assistance sent for. He lived about an hour, but never spoke after the accident.— Bedford Times. DESTRUCTION OF A COTTON MILL BY FIRE AT B URNLEY. —yesterday morning information was received by the various fire insurance companies of the destruction of Messrs. H. Knowles and Son's cotton mill Burnley, known as the Frimley Mills. The loss is esti mated at ..f530,000. Several parsons working in the mill aro supposed to Kaye perished. LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) AUSTRIA. VIENNA, MARCH 19. It is stated that the Imperial sanction has been given to the proposal, that treaties of commerce should be concluded by Austria with the Argentine Confederation and Hayti. Negotiations for this purpose have already been entered into by the Ministers of Commerce and foreign affairs. SPAIN. MADRID, MARCH 14. The Chambers of Commerce of Seville, Vallado lid, Barcelona, and other principal towns in Spain, have sent deputations to the Congress against any reform of the corn laws. TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, MARCH 7. A proposal made by the French representative at the Cholera Conference to stop the sea commu nication between lledpaz and Egypt, in the event of another epidemic, has been adopted. The Porte, however, will not accept or enforce the measure, fearing an insurrection among the pilgrims. Reinforcements have been sent to Schumla, pend ing the decision of the Conference now being held at Paris. CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS. MARSEILLES, MARCH 14. The China, with the above mails, arrived here at 7 a.m. this day. The mails leave for London at 11.30 a.m. Letters to-morrow (Thursday) evening. FRANCE. BOURSE, March 13, Three o'clock.—The market closed at the following quotations :- 41 per Cents 97 30 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. Do. end month €9 771 Credit Mobilier 703 75 Do. end month 707 50 Bank Shares 3620 Credit Fonder — Italian Loan 62 05 Do. end month 62 15 RAIL Roman — Ottoman Fives — Mexican Loan 4B Do. Bonds 307 50 Russian — Austrian — Spanish Threes — Homo Debt — Deferred rAYP. Cash. Orleans Northern Lyons and Mediterranean. Southern Western Eastorn Sardinian. Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona Roman Acct. ... 882 50 ... 1140 - - ~. 915 - - ... 557 50 - ... 568 75 547 50 140 - - 411 25 422 50 '''''' --. ••• - - ... 232 50 ... 98 75 I" - ... 117} - The Interest of France in the Right of Search. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SIN. Sin,—You have this day given to the former member for Stafford a hearing on a subject in which he is particularly qualified to speak. The Right of Search can be thoroughly understood only by one who, like him, has had the opportunity of combining the knowledge of the lawyer, sailor, and diplomatist. Besides, no one can understand a thing after it has happened unless he understood it before it hap pened. Now what Mr. Urquhart says in your columns to-day is only what he published in a pamphlet in 1855 ; that is, a year before the Decla ration of Paris. In private conversation everybody is now saying, "We must get rid of the Declaration of Paris," but nobody has the courage to say so pub licly. But why do not people speak out what they think on this matter ? This reticence arises from th 9 fear of France. People believe that France is anxious to maintain the Declaration of Paris. The Lord Advocate actually declared on Friday week, in the House of Commons, that by the French law neutral goods cu Cllo.uaw lAnGvais were Ilabic w capture, while enemies' goods in neutral bottoms were free. The very words of the French Declaration of War show the contrary to be the truth. " His Majesty will waive a portion of his rights. He will not seize enemies' goods in neutral vessels." A very little reflection will show that the De claration of Paris is as inconsistent with the wishes and feelings of France as with her laws. France can desire to cripple maritime power in general only for the sake of crippling it in England. But France has nothing to fear from England. If, in deed, she wished to invade her, the Declaration of Paris would assist her in the project. But she has no such intention, or she would hare availed herself of the tempting opportunity offered. With any other view it can be of no benefit to France that England has given up her maritime power. France, too, has given up her maritime power, and with it half her strength ; which means, in certain cases, all her strength. Allied as she now is with England against Russia, her alliance is barren. The joint intervention in favour of Poland had no result but to embitter the sufferings of the Poles. England and France were powerless against Russia in 1863 as they were in 1855 ; but in 1801 England alone prevailed over Russia, though Russia had for allies France, Den mark, and Sweden. Russia wasthen beaten solely by the English cruisers taking her goods wherever she could find them. In 1855 and 1863 England had France for an ally, but she had lost the right of search, and Russia did not even need to send out ships against her. England and France, too, were opposed to Prussia in her conduct respecting Schleswig Holstein ; but here again their alliance was useless. England and France being deprived of their maritime power, there is no one but Austria left to resist the con tinuous encroachment of Prussia. Let us now suppose France allied with Russia against England. There is nothing for France to gain from Russia. Russia may invite her to con quest in India, which is now open, as she has done in Algiers and Mexico, but she will only lead her into a financial abyss, from which she will af ford her no means of extrication. If there is one country more than another whose Govern ment is openly subservient to Russia it is the United States, but Russia has not used her in fluence over the United States to give up the right of search so as to make things pleasant to France On the contrary, they hold it over the head o, France, and shake her power in Mexico without striking a blow. France cannot be independent without the right of search. Like England, she is unable to do any thing except at the bidding of Russia. She has, indeed, a European Congress assembled within her capital. It is even said that she is to nominate a Polish Prince for the Danubian Principalities, and that Russia is to oppose her choice. No doubt she may succeed, but will this be opposing Russia ? Russia can get Prince Czartoryski into the Princi palities only by haying him put forward as her antagonist. France, then, can have no motive for maintaining the Declaration of Paris. If she proposed it in 1856, it was because she, like England, was , to use the words of Sidney Herbert, " agreed with her enemy, but not with her ally." Thus, these Powers con cluded a war undertaken in defence of Turkey by laying down a new international code first promul gated by Russia. From the Congress now sitting in Paris nobody knows what new and fatal proposition may emanate. It is called to consider the state of the Danubian Principalities, but it is quite as competent as was the Congress of 1856 to destroy the Law of Nations. May we not hope, then, that some patriotic Frenchman may protest against the competency of Congresses to alter that which is in its nature immutable, and may put that protest in a practical shape by demanding the abrogation of that Declaration which has made France as well as England a nullity in Europe. England will not venture on such a proposition, alarmed as may be her Ministers, through her fear of France. It is, then, for France to take the step. areh 12, DuLOMATICT.7S, CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS, (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Tuesday Evening. The discussion yesterday in the Legislative Body elicited some very interesting facts in regard to the position of the agriculturists. M. Magnin, in pro posing an amendment to the Address having for object the abolition of various local imposts upon corn, said that " the sufferings of the agriculturists were very great, and nobody denied them. There were three causes of the depression which now existed—the depopulation of the rural districts, the want of capital, and the increase of duties. There were various explanations of the decrease in the population of the rural districts—the chief was the large increase in the army. (Several voices— " That is true.") The successive calls for 140,000 men in time of war, and for 100,000 men in time of peace, took away from agriculture immense numbers of hands, and the agriculturists could not afford to pay the high price of exemption from service. Men who are under arms did not work, and yet decreased the produce. Another cause of the decrease of the population of the agri cultural districts was the emigration towards the towns. From 1851 to 1861 the rural population diminished to the extent of two millions. If the account to the end of 1861 had been completed the deficit would probably have amounted to 500,000. If machinery had not come to the aid of agriculture, it would have been unprofit able to gather in the harvest in 1863 and 1864. want of capital was the second cause of the The sufferings of the agriculturists. Capital had been taken from the land and invested in various other securities. From 1855 to 1865 8 milliards 264 millions of capital had been taken from France and invested abroad. Mexico, without speaking of the expenses of the expedition, had taken from France several hundred millions for sub scriptions which had been opened in France under the patronage of the Government, and which, in spite of the law, had tempted families by lots of 500,000 f., an operation disastrous for France, and which could not be too severely condemned. Be sides, this the Government had authorised the Credit Foncier to obtain in the departments money to lend in the towns." The orator, in conclusion, entered into some statements to prove that the third cause of the agricultural distress was the increase of imposts. M. Vuitry, Minister and President of the Council of State, refuted the arguments of M. Magnin and other members. In order to prove the anxiety felt by the Emperor for the prosperity of the landcil interest, he said that, while President of the Re public, he had caused larger reductions of imposts than had taken place for fifty years. In 1851 there had been a reduction of 17 millions of imposts upon the land. "In regard to England," continued the Minister, " which is always cited when reduction of duties are demanded, it is well that the Chamber and the country should know that in England the average amount of imposts is 576.70 c. per head, and that in France it is only 41f." The Minister, in conclusion, opposed the proposal for an inquiry into the state of the agricultural interest, on the ground that it would do harm to individuals, and excite want of confidence. The verbal amendment proposed was rejected by 223 against 23. The cholera has re-appeared in Lower Brittany, and, it is said, in the provinces of France ; but it is in a mild form, and the deaths have been very few. Dr. Shrimpton, the most approved English mem ber of the medical profession in Paris, has just published a pamphlet to prove that the cholera is not contagious. He quotes various facts and authorities in favour of his opinion. There have been reports of the re-appearance of cholera in Paris, but my inquiries in the proper quarter lead me to the belief that they are untrue. There is, however, a good deal of illness here at present. An important question of law and personal right is to be decided by the Civil Tribunal of Paris on Friday. The point to be decided is whether a journal which republishes a comnzuniquj inserted by another newspaper which defames a third party is liable for damages. A communique is a communi cation sent to a newspaper by the Minister of the Interior to rectify statements, which the editor is compelled to insert. The Constitutionnel repub lished a communiqué which appeared in the Avenir whn +l , ;nls. as hiulcAf " grieved by the pa r ti cu l ars stated in th a t communique, fl "" unique, cites M. Boniface, the editor of the Constitutionnel, before the Tribunal, and claims 200,000 f. damages for alleged defamation of his character. The Moniteztr of this evening announces that the Emperor, yesterday, received the letters by which his Majesty the King of Denmark and the Prince Frederich of Denmark thanks his Majesty for send ing the Grand Cross of the Imperial order of the Legion of Honour. Also the letters of recall which put an end to the mission of Gen. Torrico as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Peru. The Moniteur also mentions the receipt of a pri vate despatch from Madrid, which states that the Minister of the Interior announced to the Congress week. that the state of siege W ou ld b e term i nated this M. Duruy, the Minister of Public Instruction, is reported to be rather seriously indisposed. STATE OF TRADE. MANCHESTER, March 14 .—There has not only been a pause in business to-day, but some slight check in prices. For shipping yarns we ha6e had a strong market, and spinners are deeply under contract, but the demand has been scarcely equal to what it was yesterday ; yet at a shade less than the extreme prices spinners are asking a large busi ness could be done. In home trade yarns the advance asked has also checked business. In the cloth-market business, which was active and hard ening in prices up to yesterday, received a check through the advices then to hand from America of the plentiful supplies of cotton being sent forward to the principal seaports. To-day, after merchants have had time to consider the advices brought by the steamship Europa, the effects of the check are still seen in the diminished anxiety manifested on all hands to operate, and in the altogether quieter tone of the cloth-market. Sellers, of course, after the recent activity, are in a very independent position as regards fresh orders ; but although they have made no alterations in their lists of quotations, the tendency of prices may be described as decidedly weaker. The business of the day in cloth has been of small amount. Messrs. John Slagg and Co. report of this day's cloth mar ket :—" The active demand noticed last Tuesday continued till yesterday, when the arrival of the American advices tended to check operations. To day our market is quieter, and we close with a small business at slightly weaker rates." steam coal trade, an d or d ers are b e i ng p u sh e d for 12th.—Activity s till c haracterises the D it l h FF, much wa C rd Aß w vigour, so that the men have no cause to complain of slackness of work. In the iron trade business is in about the same state as when last reported, and although specifications come in irregularly makers manage to keep their mills and furnaces going. LEEDS, 13th.—There has not been a full atten dance of buyers in the cloth-halls this morning, but there was a moderato demand for seasonable fabrics, including plain and fancy meltons and tweeds, and prices were firm. The larger por tion of the spring goods trade being now over so far as both manufacturers and merchants are concerned attention is being paid to fabrics suitable for autumn, and on such and heavy goods for winter manufacturers are well employed. The price of wool, English as well as colonial, is very firm at the recent advance, and stocks are generally low. Hence voolleu yarns and cloths have an upw aril tendency RoCIIDALE 12th.—The state of the market to day shows that the severe frost which stimulated our trade last week has bee% but of brief duration. Business has been below the average, and there is little doing, except that a few buyers are operating in the fancy flannel department. The home merchants aro doing little in plain goods. The local wool trade is flat, and staplers are asking higher rates. Bear Hunting in Norway. (From Land and Water.) After my adventure with the calf, I would try another part of the country (it was the calf's ghost I dreaded really). " Would Ole like to accompany me ?" Catch Ole staying behind ! I was his harvest, and it would have been a matter attended with no little difficulty to have got rid of him, had I wished it. He was, moreover, a very useful fellow, and obliging too ; and I daresay not more of a knave than all hunters are in general, and Norwegian in particular. So I took him. Next morning we started, and within a week's time had pitched our camp on some mountains near Ler del, on the Sogne Fjord. I passed a very pleasant time of it ; for though I had not as yet caught the most distant glimpse of a bear-skin, yet the pure air, the wild scenery, and the free life I was lead ing, proved some compensation for all my disappoint ments and vexations. Several tracks of bear had, indeed, been seen of different degrees of freshness, and that was all ; and I was at last beginning to despair of winning my bet. For my time was nearly up, and in ten days I must be starting for England. One (ever-memorable) day I had sent Ole into the village of Lerdel to get the letters, and to bring a supply of bread and other necessaries ; and dur ing his absence, determined to take a botanical ex cursion, for the purpose of gathering some of the rare Alpine plants that grew on the mountain side, I shouldered my rifle to be ready for any emer gencies, and started on my journey. Was I dreaming ? Was lin a state of somnam bulism ? Had the tension my nerves had so long undergone turned my brain ? I could not credit my eyes ; were those bear tracks ? Yes, they were un doubtedly genuine ! ..No phantom bear could have left that impress on the soft clay ; and what was still better, they were evidently very fresh. How I longed for Ole, or, rather, for his sagacious little dog! But it was too good a chance to be thrown away, and, forgetting all about my botanical propensities, I set off in chase. How cautiously I proceeded —no In dian tracker could have done his work better. It was at last going to be crowned with success; I should win my bet; retrieve my mistake I had Still on and on the chase led me ; up-hill, down hill, across mountain streams, through thick brush, till at length it entered an apparently boundless forest. Here Bruin had evidently been squatting and regaling himself on strawberries. Maybe he was not far off. If I came on him sleeping, should I shoot him so ? No, that would be decidedly unfair--but —I needn't tell any one about that. . . Yes, he must be hard by, for I had cast round the place, and there were no tracks on the other side. How cau tiously I peeped and peered through bushes, fancy ing every log or trunk of a tree was my friend. At length I saw him ; and to my joy discovered that it was a real bona fide bear, in all his native freedom. Fortunately, lie had not discovered my proximity, for the wild strawberries seemed to engross all his ursine thoughts. The revolver was loaded, if it should come to close quarters. Well, to make a long story shorter, I at length got him in a good position, and sent a two ounce bullet crashing through his shoulder, and Bruin rolled over with a roar and bit the dust. Never shall I forget the ecstacy I experienced. To have killed a bear was indeed something, but to have killed him by myself entirely was a feather in my cap indeed. Already visions of a procession into the village, headed by the defunct Bruin, and accom panied by bands of music, floated across my enrap tured vision, and I doubt not that I should have worked out the whole programme of the festivities that would take place, had it not occurred to me that the sun was sinking, and that I had three or four hours walking before me. On closer inspection Ifoundmy Bruin to be avery thin and emaciated specimen ; decidedly mangy, especially about theneck. Itstruck me as being odd, because I had always thought bears were extremely fat at that season, just before hybernating. How ever, there must be exceptions, I comforted myself, and doubtless this was one—a poorly bear. Still it was a bear, sick or well ! and I had won my bet, and retrieved my honour. As I could see the skin would be useless to me, I contentedmyself with cut- Llus oft } - Alo vat), morc for am pUrpOSe 01 convincing Ole, who might otherwise be rather incredulous on the subject, and lighting my pipe made back tracks. Fortunately it was a bright evening, and I expe rienced no difficulty in finding my way. Joy, I sup pose, shortened my journey, and helped me along. I had arrived within a mile of my tent, when I espied Ole in company with two men hastening towards me. Their eyes were eagerly bent towards the ground, as if in search of some object. " Oh, yes, it was quite plain. Ole had missed me, and becoming alarmed had procured assistance, and was now following on my tracks. Faithful fellow, he shall have another dollar." In a few minutes we met, and I was only fore stalled in my intention of blurting out my good news with a self-satisfied air by Ole's asking me " whether I had seen a bear !" "Is it likely, my good Ole ?" and a smile curled the corners of my lips. " Because,' , he went on " these two men were bound for Bergen fair with a tame bear ; but it broke loose over night, and they have been searching for it ever since morning." I shan't forget their looks in a hurry ; there could not be a shadow of a doubt but that I had sacrificed their dancing bear. It was too much ! ten times more galling than the confounded calf ; any man might mistake that for a bear in the dark ! Poor devils, how they did cry . . . all the dollars they had expected to gain at the fair would never be rea lised—their livelihood was gone—they were ruined. Such I gathered from their incoherent tale. And what was Itodo ? Here was a pretty mess. What a fool I had made of myself—killed a calf in one part of the country, and shot a tame bear in another. Charming little tale for the club ! My meditations were interrupted by their again asking ine "if I had seen a bear ?" " Seen a bear ! Oh, no—l had been picking wild flowers out—there," I blurted out—pointing in a totally different direc tion to that in which I had gone. And the men went on their way, not indeed re joicing ! " Any letters, Ole ?" Ole handed me one. A bright thought struck me. " Ole," I said, after hastily glancing at the con tents," I must start for England at once." And there and then we struck camp, and never halted till several miles intervened between me and my pos sible pursuers. But I don't think they would have followed me, for I left as a " gift from the Eng lishman," at the house where they had put up, a roll of dirty-backed dollars, which, doubtless, served to pacify them. To Ole I never breathed a word about the matter. Indeed, I would rather have lost 10 dol lars than have told him. Of course, I had won my bet ; I had killed a bear, but I never claimed it. I have kept the stump of the dancing-bear's tail ; it serves as a pen-wiper, and as a reminiscence of my adventures. Need I add, that having once killed a bear I shall never try to kill another. That season cost me much. . . . And I see in my journal two significant items, " Twenty dollars to Lula (such was the Soster girl's name) for VEAL I" " Twenty-five dollars for a D—B." (a dancing-bear.) A Parliamentary return was published yesterday showing the cost of conversion of timber in her Majesty's dockyards, and of articles manufactured in the respective dockyard and steam factory workshops, together with the cost thereof in excess of or less than rate book prices, for the year 1864-65, in order that the same may be laid before Parliament, in accordance with the course pursued in respect to similar accounts for previous years. A SHIP OF TIIE " OLD SCHOOL."—Last week there sailed from Hull, amid the cheers of a great multitude, the bark Truelove, the only vessel despatched this year from Hull to the Davis Straits' whale fisheries. The Truelove is under the command of Captain Wells, a name associated with the most successful period of the whale fisheries. The Truelove is one of the oldest vessels afloat. She was built at Philadelphia, United States, in the year 1764, and is consequently 102 years old. At that time the spot on which she was built was one of the plantations from which much wood was taken for the build of British vessels. About half the long life of the Truelove has been spent in the whale fishery trade, but she was formerly in the ()port* wine track. , hf si. din rit mar" - elan; r, HER MAJESTY• WINDSOR CASTLE, March 13. The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Helena, and attended by the Duchess of Roxburghe (Lady in Waiting) the Hon. Mrs. Bruce, the Hon. Emily Cathcart, Lieutenant-Gen• the Hon. C. Grey, Major-General F. 11. Seymour , and Colonel H. Ponsonby (Equerries in Waiting)i and the Master of the Household, drove in a car riage and four to Aldershot this morning, escorted by a detachment of the Ist Regiment of Life Guards and two detachments of the 3d Hussars. The Queen was received near the camp by Lieu tenant-General the Hon. Sir James York Scarlett, K.C.8., commanding, with his staff, who conducted the Queen to the North Camp, where her Majesty inspected the troops, the Queen driving down the lines, and the troops then marched past. The Queen then drove to the royal pavilion and remained there to luncheon, and afterwards in spected the troops quartered in the South Carel ) / who likewise marched past her Majesty. The Queen returned to Windsor Castle at half" Fast five o'clock. The Princess of 'Wales took a carriage drive Yes terday, attended by the Hon. Mrs. F. Stonor. Thoir Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary left St. James's Palace to-dal for Belvoir Castle, on a visit to the Duke of Eut" land till Monday next. Naval and Military Intelligence. The screw steam frigate Liverpool, 39, Cal:A. Rowley Lambert, from Gibraltar February 28, arrived at Plymouth on Monday morning. Sh e brings the ship s ' compan i es o f the Firefly an d Cockatrice, and Lieut. Lacken, of the 32d Regi ment, stationed at Gibraltar. The Liverpool left in port the gunboat Skylark, Captain J. C. Pr e " vost, and spoke off Cape Spartel the screw steam frigate Topaze, 31, Capt. 'William M. Dowell, C. 13 bound to the Pacific, but which was said to he going :into Gibraltar in consequence of the aP" pearance of smallpox among the crew. On San" day last the Liverpool spoke the Alexandrine , from Foo-chow-foo, with tea, and the Postilion, from Calcutta, both bound to London. The iron paddlewheel steam vessel Oberon, 3, Lieut.-Commander Edmund H. Verney, at PIP' mouth, having made a satisfactory trial of he r engines, will now require some minor defects to be made good, when she will proceed to he r station, the 'West Coast of Africa. The screw steam frigate Galatea, 26, was towed on Monday from her moorings in Hamoaze to'Sei; ham steam yard, where she will be docked and fitted for the first division of the steam reserve. The trials of the Bellerophon, iron screw frigate/ 14 guns, 4,270 tons, 1,000-horse power, Capt. B• Tatham, are fixed to commence over the measured mile in Stokes Bay, near Portsmouth, on Thursdall the 15th inst., weather permitting, under the super' intendence of Capt. H. Caldwell, C. 8., comman d : in; her Majesty's ship Asia and the Portsmout h Steam Reserve. A court-martial assembled on Monday morning on board the flagship Royal Adelaide, in lla,moaz e t for the purpose of trying Mr. E. A. 31. Chaffers, assist.-paymaster of the Doris, for being drunk on board the said ship on the 28th of February last• The Court consisted of Capt. C. J. F. Ewart, Cap t ' R. Drew, Capt. Aplin, Capt. Tremlett, and Ca pt' V. Baker. Mr. William Eastlake, Deputy -Judg e- Advocate. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and it being on record that he had before been on proba' tion under a charge of intemperance the Court ad: judged him to be dismissed from her Majesty ° service. . _ The following appointment has been made in the Royal Naval Reserve :—To be Sub-Licutenan t) Charles Greulich. LAW INTELLIGENCE.—This Day. COURT OF DIVORCE. (Before Sir J. P. Wilde and a Common Jury.) lIODGE V. lIODGE SIMMONS AND SY3IONDS. Dr. Dean, Q.C., and Mr. Inderwicke appeare d for the petitioner, and Dr. Sninks for the respon dent, who entered au appearance, and denied the adultery. The co-respondent entered no appea r ante. From the evidence it appeared that the petitioner t was a builder, an d li ve d a t a p l ace ca ll e d Stoke, near Plymouth. The acts of a d u lt ery d epose d to wer e of the most fl agran t c h arac t er, an d comm itt e d under circumstances of a very revolting description. did, Some witness e s were ca ll e d w i t h a v i ew to t l, credit the testimony o f th e w i tnesses f or the Pc tioner, and counsel having addressed the jury, His Lordship summed up very carefully. The jury, after a s h or t consu l tat i on, found 3 verdict for the petiti oner on a ll t h e i ssues raised. d His Lordship then pronounced a decree nisi, an condemned the co-respondents in the costs. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Ths DaY• 4 MARLBOROUGH STREET. bed DAMAGING A PICTURE.—James Reed, described as a hawker, was charged before Mr. Tyrxvhitt with wilfully damagi ng a p i c t ure, t h e property of a g el' tleman, residing in John-street, Adelphi. John Morgan, a y oung man, porter a t th e auctie ll rooms in Savile-row, sa id th a t on th e Previ°d.th4 afternoon a gentleman purchased an Italian lan to scape at the rooms, and asked him to take it John-street, Adelphi. In the ev en i ng , while car, i, rying the picture along Tichbor ne - s t ree t, the 1/' , Boner and two or three other men, all ha/ i ,r o baskets, obstructed him,. and on his requesting L e d prisoner to move so that he might pass, he exelai rn ,,a " I'll shove this stick through your picture," 3 7 0 immediately did so. The gentleman was desire iv that the prisoner should not be prosecuted, only requiring that the damage should be paid. The evidence having been corroborated, 31r. Tea whitt asked w h a t was t h e amount of dama ge, s o f the porter said about £l, but the painting 105 d id the value of £l3. The gentleman, however , not care much a b ou t the damage to the picture' to Mr. Tyrwhitt said the prisoner was fortunate ve have alighted on a man w h o seeme d t o like to lw se his picture damaged. H e s h ou ld d ea l w ith the ca as one of assault, and fine the prisoner 405., ° r month. THAMES. HALF A YEAR AGO.—AUgUSt U S Stuta, a Y° ll 3 man, was brought before Mr. Paget, charged ' 6 ' o , stealing a suit of clothes and a neckerchief, the r perty of Frederick Wulman. The parties are German sugar bakers. Th e . P o r .s secutor said that half a year ago h e wa s lodg in ' t o Pennington-streQt, St. Geo rge -i n -th e -East, and ;two prisoner also lodged the re f or t wo d a ys and' - D nights. He then mi sse d hi s su it o f clothes 3 i. necktie. He saw no more of hi s c l o thes or th e ,P to soner until last night, when the thief earile: o t Messrs. Gunwood's sugar house, where he W .,r tg e lf work, and asked for e m pl o y men t. He m i mew- tie recognised the coat on the prisoner's back: „ c o was sure it was his property. He brought it it Germany more than a year a go . He va ille waS at 20s. only, but the whole suit when stolen worth £3. Hunrick IVulman, brother of the last Wi t also identified his broth er ' s coa t, w hi c h he sa w ° the prisoner's back last night. , The evidence having been translated to t'-' e f ' soner by M. Wintjen, interpreter to the Nu r ," be said the coat was his own property, and th a " hie brought it from Germany. It was a gift fro father, for whom it was too large. d s c3s The prosecutor repeated his evidence, an certain the coat was his property. He wa s 3 ° - confirmed by his brother. Mr. Paget committed the prisoner for trial. ref, TliE Two BROTHERS.—SamueI Heath, a lab°ll te loal was brought before Mr. Paget, charged with $ hip ing a watch and a pair of boots belongi n g t° t lree, c brother, George Heath, a carman, and some the property of Joseph Blake. locig" On the 25th of last month the prisoner wa , s ing with his brother at No. 24, Red man s" day , Stepney. He was missing on the following Ire , and the property, the subject of the present eh,' bis was gone. Last night George Heath m et Ns'i ith t a brother at Riverhead, in Kent, and taxe d hinl I,tiso the robbery, which he admitted. The prisoner to A said he had sold his brother's watch and b°l9tstolol man at Lewisham, in Kent, and the rest of the $ property to another man at Oakstcad, in surreyMr, Paget remanded the prisoner fora Week Ec ha a L 0 3( +1 e / lie / Z Au] t No i o i e 1