The Sun. — London, England, 1866-01-24 00:00:00

TIOUSES.—Messrs. TOPLIS and ROBERTS have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN, rarban, and Country RESIDENCES to LET or SELL. Particulars forwarded for three stamps, upon stating exact requirements and rental. Offices, 2, Conduit-street,Regent .treet, and South Kensington, lacing the Museum. SOUTH KENSDI GTON, HYDE-PARK, Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Quee gat e and Peters ham Terraces, Queen's -gate, Cornwall, and Pnces Gardens, Elvaston-place. Cromwell-told, Onslow and Thurloc Squares, Buttons. &c. Messrs TO PLI 4 and ROBERTS have RE iI CES to SELL and LET in these and surrounding localities. Offices, 2, Conduit-street, Regent-street, and South Kensington, facing the Museum. LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—During the storms of the past year the National lifebsat Institution, by its Lifeboats and other means, contributed to the savinl of 07 persons from different wrecks on our coasts. The Insti tution also expended £21,374 in the same period on its life boat establishments, in addition to granting £4,950 for re wards for saving life and exercising the lifeboats. The Committee of the Institution earnestly APPEAL 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 L e wis , Esq. , at the Institution, 14, John-street. Acielphi, London. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. (Opera Company, Limited.) THIS EVENING (Wednesday), Mr. Charlea Del:fern's new opera, in one act, CHRISTMAS EVE. Madame F. Lancia, Madame E. Heywood; Mr. A. Cook, and Mr. D Miranda. Conductor, Mr. Allred Mellon. After which. at 8, the grand comic, sF eetacular, and ope rstio Christmas Pantomime, entitled ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP; or, Harlequin and the Flying Palace. (See other advertisements). Commence at 7 o'clock. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.- Managers, Hems. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, the Comedy of THE JEALOUS WIFE. Mr. Phelps, Mrs. Hermar n Vezin. &c. After which, the Pantomime. LITTLE KING PIPPIN; or, Harlequin Fortunatus and the Magic Purse and Wishing Cap. Messrs. G. Belmore, 11. Urayton, G. Weston. Master Percy itoselli ; Misses Hazlewood, A. Thomson, E. Falconer, &. Pantomimists, Messrs. H. Boleno, C. Lauri, Cormack, Saville, Miss Morgan, and Madame Boleno. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.- Sole Les'ee and Manager, Mr. Backstone. THIS EVENING, BROTHER SAM : Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Compton; Mesdames Islelly Moore, Snowden, To be followed by ORPHEUS IN THE HAYMARKET Messrs. W. Darren, Fisher, Bartleman, Weathersby, &o. ; Mesdames Keeley, Snowden, Moore, Lindley, Woolgar. Howard, Wright, Coleman, Lovell, Prevot, &c. To conclude with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Commence at Seven. ROYAL LYCEUM T EIEATRE.- Under the sole Management Et Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENING, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER. Mr. /I. Widdicomb. Alter a Well, THE MASTER, OF RAVENSWOOD, Mr. Erchter; Messrs. Jordan, Emery, Widdicomb, Vezin J. H. Fitzpatrick', D. Evans ; ketesdamesTernan, Etswortliy, Lavenu, and C. Lederer'. --- Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. 'r HIS EVENING, at Seven, a new farce called PIPRIN'S RUSTIC RETREAT. Messrs J. L. Toole and P. Bedford, After which, at 8, RIP VAN WINKLE. Rip (his 122 d appearance), Mr. Jefferson, supported by Messrs. Billington, Y. Bedford, it l'hillips, Eel's Rogers, Aehley, liburne, C. J. Smith; Mrs. Billingter, &o. To conclude with SEIIIND TIME. 31essrs. J. L. Toole, R. Eburne, C. J. Smith :Miss A. .t.eaman, &c. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, Sole Lessee and Ilanager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, QUIET LODGINGS. After whi.h, at a quarter to Eight, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. Characters by Messrs. Vining, T. Mel ville, T. Mead, D. Murray, S. Cathem. F. Viliiers, J. G. Shore, G. Murray, H. Melton, C. Seyton, R. Cathcart; Miss L. Moore and Miss Katherine Rodgers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, at Seven (never acted), LENDING A HAND. Messrs. Belford and Turner; Misses Simpson and Hughes. After which will be produced a new Opera Burlesque, L'AFRICAINE ; or, The Queen of the Cannibll Messrs. Stoyle, James, Thorne ; Mesdames Swanborough, Raynham, Johnstone, Ac. To conclude with THE ARTFUL DODGE. (1111 E LAST EDITION OF " THE SUN,' Containing the Latest SPOILTINU INTELLIGE.NCr., can be had Every Evening of G. R. QLENIE, NEWS AGENT, rfo. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published every Eveninr, by W. ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 24, Old Cavendisu- street, Oxford-street. 1111 E LAST EDITION of " TIIE SUN " LA rEN )P l i gv a :n o . o i n sroigatT e ritglTlTlNVl,t e it. W. 1111:R1S, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blaeldriars-road. London, S. THE LATEST • EDITION of " THE SUN." J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the public generally, that he supplies the LATEST EDITIoN of " THE SUN" as soon as published --No. 16, Hampstead road, NAV. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 7h. 16m.—Afternoon, 7h. 42m. T3-Monnow.-Morning, Bh. 15m.—Afternoon, Bh. 50m. t THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 24, 18€6. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24, 1866. Mr. MILNER. GIBSON has been addressing his con stituents at Ashton-under-Lyne, and doubtless the - right hon. gentleman thinks he has been very suc cessful, and made a great impression ; but he has not imparted any considerable amount of informa tion, and certainly he has divulged no official secrets. Mr. SMETHURST, in his introductory remarks, was more downright than flattering, and very likely the President of the Board of Trade would rather he had left his allusions to malcontent spirits alone. "He had heard it said that since the right honourable gentleman had got into a snug berth he had been a little bit of a trimmer and done very little for his constituents." Mr. SMETHURST, however, undertook to defend Mr. GIBSON, and declared that his influence in the Cabinet, although quiet, had been very great, and that he had been ii part a sort of schoolmaster to the Cabinet. The most we have seen or felt of the influence of the right hon. gentleman has been during the great struggle which took place between the States of North America, and, doubtless, his . advice also conduced to the hesitating and timid policy that our Government pursued respecting Denmark. At any rate Mr. GIBSON, generally a very moderate speaker, seemed rather put upon his mettle, and addressed the meeting in very decided terms. He said that a man who was entrusted with any particulaidepartment had better attend to it, and not trouble himself about those things which came under the notice of other people ; and he supposed that it was in consequence of his carrying out this principle that he was called " quiet," a term which seems to have given him great offence. In reference to political matters, Mr. GosoN did not show him self to be a very devoted partisan of his party, but seemed rather to seek to identify himself with general principles. It is certainly more sensible for a man in an influential position to decline to make - positive assertions as to the strength of parties in a new and untried House, and there is much to re spect in the straightforwardness with which Mr. GIBSON states that he believes the truth of the case to be that the " country at the last general election signified emphatically that whoever are the men who are to carry on the administration of tbepublic affairs of this country their policy must be guided by the principles acted upon by the Reform Bill of 1832, gradual progress to polit i cal , to religious, and I ma y say the entire accomplishment of commercial freedom." Mr. GIBSON took up the old argument about the cause of the American war being the question of " slavery," and endeavoured to show that the work ing classes of England recognised it as such, but signally failed in his attempt. We can assure Mr. GIBSON that it was not only " many of the masters in many parts of South Lancashire who sympathised with the Southern cause," but that it was generally popular in England, and that no impartial judge ever confounded for a moment the desire of the Federals to override the Southern States, and monopolise all advantages to themselves, with the question of " Slavery," which had nothing whatever to do with the origin of the war. As for congratulating the people of England on the course which we adopted during the eventful struggle that certainly seems rather a work of supererogation. The President of the Board of Trade has much to learn of true statesmanship and of national honour if he thinks he and his colleagues pursued any policy worthy of ad miration during that epoch. The most unjust course was followed ; and while unwarrantable privileges were accorded to the Northerners, the adherents to the Southern cause were subjected to all manner of persecutions, and great injuries were inflicted upon some subjects of the QUEEN in order that Ministers might mollify or propitiate the Wash ington Government, and all this dignified with the name of strict neutrality. Mr. GIBSON did not say much upon " Reform." He said, indeed, that to expatiate upon that topic was not quite so easy as on those matters with which he was more immediately concerned. He tried, however, to do Lord RUSSELL all the honour he could, and in so doing he was indifferent as to whether or not he uttered facts and twisted circumstances a little to fit. He said that four able Ministers had failed in trying to introduce a Reform Rill, but that was no reason why the attempt should not be made again. All that he would say of a defi nite character as to official intelligence was that the " Government, whatever may be the details of the bill, will propose a measure which will admit to electoral privileges a fair number of the upper portion of the working classes of the country. " There was great truth in one passing observation of the right hon. gentleman's, that every true Reformer should be guided "by the substantial merits of a Reform Bill on the whole, and not base his opinions on some particular point of detail." If he succeed in impressing this truth upon his friends and the sup porters of the Government he will do a great deal ; but it will most likely turn out, as on many former occasions, that each one has his own pet project or favourite theory to the exclusion of all others, which must be considered of paramount importance and vital interest. It was not to be expected that Mr. GIBSON Wolllp take a very fair view of the Jamaica question, but he certainly need not have gone out of his way to cast discredit upon the officials of the island. When we reflect upon the remarks made by the right hon. gentleman, we are justified in coming to the conclusion that in this business, as in other matters, he has been exercising that "quiet" and "very great" influence before alluded to. It is outraging the ordinary rules of official etiquette, and totally disregarding the observances of justice, fora Cabinet Minister to prejudge matters and form hasty conclusions, as Mr. GIBSON has done. In the face of all that has been said and written by the inhabitants of the island, in spite of all the reports that have reached us, with the knowledge that the Legislative Council and House of Assembly have recorded their thanks to the Governor and their appreciation of his services, Mr. GIBSON coolly informs his hearers that " when the news arrived of the shameful pro ceedings which had occurred in that island, it was felt at once by the Government that there was a prima facie case for inquiry ;" and adds that, while a large and important deputation waited on the Colonial Minister to urge an inquiry, Sir 11. STORKS was on his way from Malta to conduct it. We ask, by what right Mr. GIBSON speaks in this style, and how he dares to calumniate faith ful public servants of the Crown after this fashion ? Not a word is said of the great danger which was run by the white population, not a sentence is uttered as to the services of the Governor and those who zealously aided him, but sly innuendoes aria significant phrases are introduced, such as "shameful proceedings" and " dreadful proceedings." Such a course is quite unworthy of a Minister of England, and if such is to be the lan guage used in the house during the session the Government is not likely to find favour either there or in the country, for there is nothing less likely to be tolerated in England than a want of fair play. According to the intelligence brought from New York by the City of London, President JOHNSON is assuming the reins of power with a stronger hand. He is apparently getting wearied of the con stant opposition and hindrances which his measures have encountered, not only in the Congress, but among his own immediate associates and colleagues. It is stated with confidence that the President has 'ully determined to reconstract his Cabinet, re- taining only two of its present members. Mr. STANTON, who is known to have been one of the great obstacles in the President's way, from his hatred of the South and his antagonism to England, is, it is said, to be sent to this country in place of Mr. ADAMS, a selection which seems to be somewhat singular, considering his predilections, or rather his aversions. Perhaps Mr. JOHNSON thinks that by sending him to London he will impose upon him the restraints of diplomatic courtesy, and make him better acquainted with the people and Government whom he distrusts and dislikes. At any rate he will be free from his immediate interference, and perhaps that is the PRESIDENT'S principal object for the time being. Mr. SUMNER was to be absent three weeks, according to the official announcement. The reduction of the war establishment con- tinues, notwithstanding the critical posi tion of affairs with Mexico. Twenty-two regiments have been mustered out in Texas, and the War Department has ordered that 10,000 more shall be mustered out of the whole army. The military committee of the Senate has reported. a bill fixing the future strength of the Federal army at seven regiments of artillery, ten of cavalry, and sixty of infantry, the aggregate strength of the army being 60,000, and one new regiment of artillery and two of cavalry to consist of coloured troops. Gen. THOMAS has officially announced that all Federal troops will be withdrawn from Georgia and Ala bama, and that arms and ammunition will be fur nished to the militia. This augurs well for the restoration of civil order and the re establishment of confidence and public liberty in the Southern States. President JOHNSON evi dently wishes to strengthen his hands by concen trating his forces, and he is anxious, no doubt, to be able to show a firmer front to the extreme Radicals. There can be nothing like strong or national government so long as the executive is at the mercy of any one faction or party, bound to consult their wishes, and defer to their opinions. Mr. JouNsoN is not the man to undertake the government on such terms, and so long as he pos sesses at least the nominal authority he will endea vour to have the substance as well as the shadow. Fortunately, now that the first excitement and irri tation have died out, Mr. JOHNSON has the sense of the people with him in his wise and patriotic course. If he succeeds in inspiring the public with confi dence in his Government he will have gained an important point. His hands will then be strong enough to crown his gifts to the South by the release of JEFFERSON DAVIS, by which means he will do more to consolidate his Government and reconcile the disaffected portions of the Southern States than by any other measure. It is not likely, at such a juncture, that the PRESIDENT courts war, and the mustering out of so many troops certainly indicates a desire for peace. At the same time the American Gov:, nment is not Tnclined to abandon itsposition towards Mexico; and Mr. SEWARD, in a despatch to Mr. BIGELOW on the 14th ult., strongly insists on the necessity of all com munications received from the French Minister hav ing the EMPEROR'S sanction, without which they are worthless. From the policy pursued on both sides of the Atlantic we may hope for some conciliatory settle ment of this difficult and complicated question. The labours and researches of our adventurous explorers are never more useful than when they are directed to the improvement of our knowledge of our own dominions. There may be more interest and excitement in penetrating the interior of Africa and endeavouring to elucidate the mystery which still partly shrouds the origin of its mighty river, and there may be more to attract the seeker of " the bubble reputation" in exploits in those remote polar regions where so many brave men have left their bones ; but for a practical and serviceable ex ploration no more suitable field could be selected than our own colonies. The Australian continent possesses so many natural advantages, so excellent a climate, and so vast a territory, that she bids fair to realise the vision of the poet, when he exclaimed— "As in a cradled HERCULES, we trace The lines of empire in thine infant face." Australia has risen in population and importance with a rapidity which CAMPBELL could not have foreseen when he looked out upon the shipload of departing emigrants, departing not to the rich goldfields or populous cities of our own day, but merely to the freer scope and richer pastures of a fine agricultural country. Notwithstanding all that has been done and gained, there are immense tracts of land which are turned to no account, and which, nevertheless, offer most attractive fields to enter prise and industry. Besides that vast interior, of which as yet no one can speak with certainty, there is room for colonisation to a great extent in the north-east and north-west. The two papers read at the meeting of the Royal Geographical Society on Monday last were very interesting, and contained some valuable information. One of them was a description of Cape York district, furnished by Mr. JOHN JARDINE, and referred to the land lying to the north of a line drawn from the estuary of the Kennedy River, at the head of Newcastle Bay, to the opposite or north-west coast. The general character of the country is agreeable and salubrious though the aborigines belong to a very low order. The climate is healthy for Europeans, there having been no serious illness among the residents at the new settlement, which has been founded as a coal depot for steamers, and a harbour of refuge for trade in the dangerous navigation of the Torres Straits. Horses and cattle, goats and pigs, get on fairly, but sheep do not thrive. Fish is good, and green turtle plentiful. There is no doubt that the new settlement may, if turned to good account, prove the foundation of a prosperous colony. The other papers referred to Mr. J. MARTIN'S ex plorations in the north-west, which were directed chiefly in the neighourhood of the Glenelg River. Mr. MARTIN considered from the climate and capa cities of soil that it was essentially a wood-growing country, besides being luxuriantly grassed and watered. At the lowest estimate it would, he be lieved, carry a sheep to an acre, but in some parts that number might be quadrupled without fear. Here is room for enterprise, indeed, and it is a field of speculation which offers no risk provided the speculator has a fair allowance of capital, in telligence, and industry. Tragedy at Sea. PLYMOUTH, Jan. 23. The arrival of a small schooner, the Tamar Queen, of Plymouth, at this port this (Tuesday) morning, sets forth another horror at sea. For the last few weeks a long series of wrecks, attended with frightful losses of life, have been the constantly recurring themes. Now A mutiny, attended with murders and retribution, is recorded. The Tamar Queen, Captain Tremills, left Plymouth about four months ago, in ballast, for Cardiff, from whence she embarked a cargo of coals for Lisbon, and hav ing discharged the same at the latter port she pro ceeded to the Western Islands to ship a cargo of fruit for England. As is customary with the fruiterers, she had to pick up her cargo at dif ferent islands. At St. George's she had shipped about 570 boxes of oranges, and from thence was to proceed to Va Das Vellas to take in more. Here a drama began that for strange and startling incident fully equals any of Mar ryatt's scenes, and may give a useful hint to our penny sensational weekly periodicals. At St. George's, one of the crew having been left ashore through illness, it became necessary to ship a man in his room. Accordingly one of the islanders, a mixed race, being a sort of bastard Portuguese, was sent on board, making the crew consist of captain, mate, three men, and a boy. This hero of the murderous work that was to follow was tall and stately in his person, over six feet in height, of a dark and swarthy complexion, utterly ignorant of the English language, but by no means an indifferent seaman. The first day of his embarkation (Thurs day, Jan. 4) he ate his meals with the crew and silently attended to his share of the duties of the vessel, acting for the nonce altogether, as the crew thought " like a Christian." On the following day (Friday) he abstained from the usual meals, for which the crew thought him mad, overlooking the fact that he was probably a devout Catholic, and duly attend ing to his fast. That night they also observed that he slept but little, attributing this also to mental ( aberration, never dreaming that he was coolly arranging in his mind a plot to take their lives. The next day the man proceeded to assist in the ship's work, and nothing further occurred until about 2 p.m. on the afternoon of that day (Satur day, Jan. 6), when the schooner was under weigh about five miles from St. George's. The mate was then employed, in hauling in some ropes forward, when, turning round at an unusual noise, he saw the islander armed with the cook's hatchet, with which ho had despatched the captain and the seaman that was aft at the wheel, and making towards him to award him the same fate. The mate at once armed himself with a handspike, and a fierce encounter ensued. The mate struck at the murderer, and endeavoured to avoid his blows. After this scene had occurred for a few minutes by a fortunate slip the mate was enabled to get the man down, the only remaining seaman coming to his aid with a heavy boat's tiller. Having entangled one of the islander's legs in a rope, and secured it to a belay ing pin, they broke one of his arms, one of his thighs in two places, and broke his back. They then lashed him up, and in this state the wretched man lived until the following morning, when at about 4 a.m. they found him dead. The mate signalled to a schooner that was in sight, the Delgrada, of Liverpool, and her captain and mate came on board and saw the bodies, and heard what the mate had to say. Ultimately the bodies were thrown overboard, and the schooner bore up for England. The whole of the English crew were Plymouth seamen. The survivors are Thomas Pickard, mate ; Samuel Brown, Seaman ; and Richard Ford, boy. They have related their story to the local magistrates, but no charge has been made against them to justify their detention. A Board of Trade inquiry will, however, no doubt ensue. It is believed that the islander on board the Tamar Queen, after massacreing the crew, intended to appropriate the schooner and her contents, and could scarcely have contemplated such a design without accomplices. This renders an inquiry doubly necessary both by the English and Portu guese authorities. DR. FORBES WirtsLow.—We regret to hear that Dr. Winslow has been suffering from an injury to the back, caused by a fall from his horse. He has, however sufficiently recovered from the effects of tho accident to resume his professional duties. LA TEST INTELLIGENOE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) THE BOMBAY MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 24. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steamship Pera has arrived here with the heavy portion of the above mail, 35 passengers, £738 in specie, and a general cargo, including 387 bales of raw silk, value £35,000 sterling. She experienced from Alexandria to the Bay of Biscay strong westerly gales and heavy sea, up Channel northerly winds and much sea. On the 22d she spoke the steamer Ripon in the Bay of Biscay. Fourteen British war vessels were at Malta. The American frigate Colorado was at Gibraltar. Exchange at Gibraltar, 491 49k; Paris, 5.14 ; Marseilles, 5.15 5.16 ; Madrid, 1 discount. CHINA AND JAPAN. (By Overland Telegraph from Galle.) HONGKONG, Jan. 1. Total export of tea to date, 102,750,0001 b. Exchange on London, 4s. 7d. _ _ SHANGHAI, Dec. 26. The Nienfei have again shown themselves. An alarming mutiny has occurred among the coolies on board the ship Pride of the Ganges. The captain was murdered. Tea advancing. Silk active. Export to date, 49,500 bales. HONGKONG(Via Alexandria), Dec. 15. Intelligence received from Pekin announces that the Empress Dowager has resigned power, and that Prince Kung is again at the head of affairs. It is reported that Fiengkofan has been defeated by the Nyenfei rebels. The position is considered alarming, as the Nyenfei are collecting in large numbers in Shangtung and Ronan. Complicated questions are arising between the Chinese and French Governments on the subject of propagandism. The report that Bhaochow had been opened on treaty terms appears to be untrue. News from Japan states that the Ministers' mis sion to Osaca has proved successful, and the treaties have been ratified by the Mikado. The ports are to be opened to trade on the Ist of January, and the tariff is to be revived. Considerable excitement prevailed among the Daimios on the subject, and the Mikado and the Tycoon were at one time in danger ; but the affair ended well when the sanc tion was given. this soi-disant Satire of The Omnibus with feelings of scorn and abhorrence. A WORKING MAN'S VIEW OF TENNYSON'S "ENOCH ARDEN." By J. H. Powell—(Trubner and Co.) —is another tribute offered to the genius of the Laureate, and one that will be not the least accept able to the Poet himself—satiated, though he must have reason to feel, long since by the praises indi cative of his full and complete appreciation among all ranks and classes of his contemporaries. LIfERATURE. Da. POET'S EIRENICON—as " Reviewed" in the Weekly Register, has elicited from the learned divine himself a couple of remarkable letters ad dressed to the editor of that weekly newspaper. And to that same criticism of the Eirenicon in the Weekly Register the public are indebted for the eliciting of elucidatory letters respectively ad dressed to the Editor by Dr. Newman and the Rev. Canon Oakeley. The controversy that has thus arisen—provoked at its outset, if we are to believe the publishers' advertise ments, by Archbishop Manning, to whose ar guments those put forth by Dr. Pusey in his Eirenicon were understood to be, and in point of fact were formally announced to be, the response— the controversy, we would here say, in thus thicken ing and advancing, is assuming to itself every day a wider interest and a larger importance. Recognising which, we cannot but note with satisfaction the issue in a collective and separate form (as an octavo pamphlet of 36 pages) of the Weekly Register's Review of the Eirenicon, together with Dr. Pusey's two Letters to the Editor thereupon, followed up by the letters addressed to the same gentleman respec tively by Dr. Newman and Canon Oakeley. It is a brochure sufficiently important of its kind to be worthy of preservation. A SELECTION OF CHEAP SACRED MUSIC— Published by Lambert and Company—in elegant little fly-leaves (as they might almost be called) at twopence or threepence each, demands from us a passing glance and a casual word of commenda tion. Its character, its importance, its value, charm and attraction, may be best indicated by the enumeration of some among the titles noticeable in it as a collection of sacred pieces from the hands of various musical composers. Here, for example, then, are—" The Soul's Refuge," a hymn composed by Macfarren, for unison or four voices optionally. Here, too, is Guilio Roberti's sacred part-song of " Rest!" Jules Benedict's hymn "To Christ the Prince of Peace !" Mrs. Hemans' lovely poem of " Passing Away," set to music by Macfarren ! Mrs. Hemans' hymn of " Departure," set to music by Molique ! Adelaide Procter's " Shadows of the Evening Hours," set to music by the same com poser ; besides other charming melodies married unto noble words, according to the Laureate's phrase in The Princess. THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE has certainly this month made its appearance I?edivivus ! It is re juvenated. After a hundred and thi r ty-fi ve years existence, it blooms into life again, " as fresh as a daisy." The inauguration of its 136th year, on the Ist of January, 1866, with the initial number of a New Series, shows that this most venerable among all our monthly serials, is in truth another yet the samo, or to give the familiar expression of Horace in his own words, according to the device aptly adopted by the Gentleman's Magazine under these new auspices aliusque et idem ! It is an old friend with a new face. It is No. I. of Vol. I. of a New Series bearing upon the centre of its cover, in vivid memento of its antiquity among our popular periodicals, a little vignette sketch of St. John's Gate, Clerken well, the well known Residence of Cave, the Founder of the Gentleman's Magazine—its founder as far back as 1731, when its imprint was more literally announced as No. I. of Vol. I. not of a New Series but of the very earliest issue of the publication from the press. Sylvanus Urban still affects to edit it now in 1866 as then in 1731. "Le Roi est mort—Vive le RQi !" The Editor of a public organ in one sense never dies. Hence, therefore, it comes to pass that although the projector of No. I. of Vol. I. in 1731 was one Mr. Cave, and although the projector of No. I. of Vol. I. in 1866 is one Mr. Walford, they no less than their organ may be considered in a man - ner aliusque et idem—their editorial cognomen, conse quently, remains unaltered. It is even now as it was then, Sylvanus Urban, who presides over the contents of thepublication. Among the peculiarities noticeable in the new series, is the prefixing to each of the de partments in which those contents are subdivided a little scrap of Latin, by way of more or less appro priate motto. Another peculiarity—rather confusing of its kind—is this, that the typography is arranged now in single now in double columns—now leaded, now unleaded, now set up in one fount, now in another. That it is so, is to be regretted, and all the more so seeing that having been thus arranged in " number one " it can hardly be altered. Otherwise the reissue of the work in its new form demands our heartiest welcome and com mendation. It is worthy of its repute. It reflects new credit upon the name and fame of Sylvanus Urban. It has about it the solidity of a " Histori cal Review," and the refinement of one not unde serving of its earlier title, as emphatically " The Gentleman's Magazine." DIE llousmioLD, No, I.—(Groombridge and Sons)—is the initial instalment of a sensible little tR openny monthly, calculated to be very acceptable in many a household, as a domestic miscellany abounding in really useful information. THE OMNIBUS. A Satire (so-called !)—Triibner and Co.—if only by reason of one fearful couplet, in which George IV.'s statue in Trafalgar Square is spoken of gazing at the fountains— " Like Divos, meeting Heaven's judicial ire, Beholding water while he's feeling fire"— (an inexact as well as an atrocious simile, by the way—seeing that Holy Writ makes no mention whatever of Dives " beholding water," but of simply speaking of it, when he implores one drop at the hands of Lazarus)—if only, we say, by reason of its containing that one execrable couplet, we cast aside Naval and Military Intelligence. The iron screw frigate Minotaur, Capt.' F. A. II erbert, manned by the officers and crew of the Royal Sovereign, with seamen gunners from Her Majesty's ship Excellent, and engineers and stokers from the Steam Reserve, steamed out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday at high water, and anchored at Spithead. Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, G.C.8., Port-Admiral and Naval Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, went out to Spithead in the ship, and, after she had been brought to an anchor, returned ashore in his steam yacht, the Fire Queen, Staff Commander Paul. According to the arrangements at the time of the Minotaur leaving Portsmouth harbour yesterday, she will sail from Spithead at an early hour on Thursday morning. Captain A. C. Key, C. 8., commanding her Majesty's ship Excel lent, with his staff, previously embarked to conduct the experiments with the 12k-ton guns and their carriages now on board the ship, with the dif ferent ,mechanical appliances fitted to the latter for running the guns in and out, training, com pressing the recoil, &c. If the weather is found sufficiently rough in the Channel off the Isle of Wight the trials will be made there, but, if not, the — iftip will proceed to Portland, and carry out the contemplated trials in the " race" off Portland Bill, or further westward, if necessary, according to the state of the sea. The main conditions attending the trials of these 12k-ton guns on the. Minotaur's broadside to be sought for are that the ship should attain as near an extent of roll as may be possible to that attained by the Royal Sovereign when try ing the same description of guns in her central tur rets-16 deg. In the recent liniited cruises of the Minotaur off the Isle of Wight the ship had on board three 12i-ton guns—one mounted on Com mander Scott's iron-box girder-built slide and car riage, the second on the Woolwich Arsenal H iron slide and its iron carriage, and the third on the Ad miralty pattern wooden slide and carriage, fitted with eccentric movement rollers and other improve ments, as suggested to the Admiralty by Capt. A. C. Key. All three of these guns were smoothbores of 10.5-inch calibre, and all three, with the samo slides and carriages, she takes to sea with her again on this occasion. The Arsenal iron carriage is now fitted with an improvement in the compressor, having a much quicker action than the former one. The fourth gun taken out on her cruise by the ship on this occasion is also a 12+-ton gun, but it is rifled on the Woolwich plan, with six shallow groOves, on a Firth's steel tube, having a diameter of 9 inches. This gun is mounted on a wooden slide and carriage similar to that with Capt. Key's improvements. It is not at all probable that the results of the trials will be favourable to the wooden carriages in com parison with the two iron ones. This makes it the more to be regretted that the iron carriage and its slide now being manufactured by the Elswick Com pany from the designs of Sir William Armstrong have not been completed in time to be sent on board the Minotaur to mount the rifled gun she takes out with her trial. In justice to Commander ,Scott we are bound to state that his iron carriage and slide, which mounts one of the 10.5-inch smooth bore guns, has so far answered admirably under fire. In the smooth-water trials that have been made—no rough-water trials having yet been carried out for want of a fitting opportunity—the gun has been worked with the ease and regularity of clockwork. The gun, with its carriage and slide, is held in posi tion on the ship's deck most effectually by the hol low-soled slide-rollers working over the massive raised metal racers without the aid of the embrasure pivot, and the compressors have been fuund fully equal to check the gun at any desired length of recoil, with single or double charges. It delivers a very rapid fire, 12 rounds having been discharged on the last day the Minotaur was off the Wight in 6 min. and 35 secs. On that day also its com pressors came out of their trial with great credit. The gun was being fired double shotted with 401 b. powder charges. On the first round being fired it recoiled 4ft. Sin. on the slide. Nos. 3 and 4 of the gun's crew, who were loaders, asked for more room for loading the gun in the next round, and the adjusting screw of the compressors was slackened up accordingly by direction of the captain of the gun. On the gun being again fired she re coiled sft. Gin. This was rather more than the loaders required, and a half turn was given the opposite way again to the compressor wheel, when the gun, on its third round, recoiled sft, which was found to be just the distance required. We mention this incident thus particularly as best illustrating the ease with which the compressors of Captain Scott's carriage are adjusted, and the power they hold over the movement of the gun, and at the same time take the opportunity of remarking that the compressors may even now be very much improved by rendering them self-acting. There are many parts of this carriage and its slide, or rather of their fittings, which may be very much simplified, this opinion being one which Capt. Scott appears to share. For instance, there is the elevating screw. It works admirably in giving the gun quick eleva tion and depression at moderate angles, but it ap pears in its present arrangement, with its rigid ver tical screw, to be somewhat unsuited to extreme elevations of the gun in firing. This, however, yet remains for actual proof, and at the same time it must be confessed that, in all probability, but few opportunities will be taken of firing the 121-ton guns of any ironclad's main deck batteries at ex treme elevations, owing to the confined nature of the gunports. Objections have been raised to the observation made in our naval intelligence of the 20th inst., that in all three gun carriages and their slides then on board the Minotaur " there was not a single new mechanical contrivance or idea." There now seems no reason for modifying this state ment. The guns, in each instance, are carried on their carriages as in years past, and the carriages themselves run on the same form of slides. Two of the carriages are certainly made of iron, in lieu of wood, but this change of material in a body keep ing the old form cannot be termed " a new" mechanical idea. With regard to the fittings of the gun carriages and their slides ; endless chains, eccentric motions, friction compressors, and other arrangements of a like nature, cannot be termed " new." They are simply mechanical forms of power in daily use in all parts of the world, but in the present cases are for the first time applied in their new arrangements to the working of heavy guns on a ship's broadside—adaptations of sound prin ciples, and adapted, too, in a most ingenious man ner. The Minotaur will be swung to-day at Spit head to ascertain the deviation of her compass, pre paratory to leaving to-morrow on the cruise, which, if she completes the trials of the guns and their car riages, as at present intended, may possibly be a somewhat lengthened one. The Oberon, 3, iron paddle steamer, 649 tons, 260 horse-power, Commander Edmund H. Verney, sailed from Portsmouth yesterday at noon for the West Coast of Africa. The decision of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty relative to the disposal of her Majesty's 20-gun screw corvette Tartar, in dock at Woolwich, was yesterday made known. It is—" That, taking into consideration the large amount of expenditure, necessary for repairs to put the Tartar into service able condition, according to the official report after the departmental survey of the injuries to the ship, their lordships have ordered that her hull shall be made watertight, in order to convey her to Messrs. Castle and Beech's yard at Charlton to be broken up." The steam corvette Archer, ordered to be paid out of commission on Tuesday next, at Woolwich, is ordered to be opened out, so as to ascertain by in vestigation and inspection of her timbers if any cause can be discovered in decay or rot to account for the fatal outbreak of disease already detailed in The Sun. Yesterday a general court-martial, convened by order of the Duke of Cambridge, assembled iu the court-martial room at Chatham garrison, under the presidency of ColonelJ. W. S. Smith, C. 8., com manding the Ist Battalion, for the trial of Duncan M'Millan, a sapper in the Royal Engineers. Colo nel J. H. Lay e, Deputy Judge-Advocate for the district, officiated at the trial, and conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was charged with re peated acts of insubordination and insolence towards his commanding officer, Colonel Simmons, C. 8., with breaking out of barracks, and making away with his regimental necessaries. It was proved at the trial that the prisoner has been in the corps of Royal Engineers about six years. and- that during the whole of that time his conduct had been very bad. He has been repeatedly tried by district and other courts-martial, and has scarcely, owing to his repeated imprisonment, performed a twelvemonth's duty the whole time he has been in the service. The Court found the prisoner guilty, but the sentence passed on him will not be promulgated until it has been submitted to her Majesty for approval. We have to report the death of Capt. John Moore, R.N., C. 8., which took place on Saturday morning at his residence, Brook-farm, near Chobham, Surrey. The deceased entered the navy on the 7th of Feb., 1834, and on the 22d of Sept., 1841, was promoted to the rank of lieut. while serving on board the Caledonia, 120, flagship of his father, Admiral Sir Graham Moore, G.C.8., G. C.M.G. On the 30th of October of the same year he was nominated additional lieut. of the Queen, 110, fitting at Ports mouth for the flag of Sir Edward Owen. He was from the 26th of July, 1842, until advanced to the rank of commander, on the 22d of November, 1843, employed on the Mediterranean station in the Aigle, 24, Capt. Lord Clarence Paget. On the 12th of November, 1846, he was appointed to the command of the Harlequin, 12, again in the Mediterranean. He was appointed in March, 1853, to her Majesty's ship Highflyer, which he commanded throughout the war with Russia, and during all the operations in the Black Sea in 1854 and 1855. For his services during the war he was nominated on the sth of July, 1855, a Companion of the Order of the Bath, and had received the decoration of the Medjidie of the third class from the Sultan. In March, 1858, he was ap pointed to command ,the Hogue, guardship in the Coastguard, which he held a'short time, and then was selected by the Duke of Somerset, First Lord of the Admiralty, as his private secretary, a post he filled for upwards of three years, when he retired from ill-health. He was appointed a naval aide-de camp to the Queen in January, 1864. Capt. Moore was nephew of Gen. Sir John Moore, the hero of Corunna, after he was named. He attained the rank of commander the 22d of November, 1813, and his post rank November 22, 1848. Ethnological society. -~ ---- Yesterday evening an ordinary meeting of this society was held in their rooms in St. Martin's place. Mr. John Cranford, the president, intro duced the proceedings by reading a note he had re ceived from Mr. George Thompson, mentioning an exploration that is about to be made from the east ern coast of Africa in search of the ruins of the city .of Ophir, which are supposed to exist, and for the discovery of which Mr. Thompson conceives they are in the right track. The first paper read was " Notes on tha Andaman Islands, taken during a three days' steam trip," by Lieutenant St. John, which was read by his uncle, Sir E. Belcher. The expedition proceeded from Burmah in May, last year, and the party was much more successful in coming into communication with the natives than the expedition previously under taken, under the command of Dr. Mouat. Lieut. St. John described the climate as healthy, though at first relaxing to Europeans. He succeeded in penetrating some distance into the interior, though the whole country is covered with a thick growth of mangrove trees, and he made friends with one of the tribes of natives, some of whom, at first, were very shy, and avoided all commu nication with the exploring party. The Anda mans he found a short thick-set race, about five feet in height, but he does not seem to have been particularly struck with the smallness of their stature, which has caused them to be described by other travellers as a race of pigmies. They are jet black ; their features are generally those of the negrillo, though they vary in a remarkable manner, some of them having almost hooked noses. Their hair, when allowed to grow, is short and woolly, but the head is generally kept closely shaved, some few alone allowing it to grow on the upper lip. The men wear no clothing beyond belts and cords made from twisted bark, the women wearing a leaf in front and a bunch of bark behind. They paint their persons in patterns with red and white paints, and when unwell they cut the part affected all over with a sharp shell or a piece of glass. They are exces sively quick and clever, and delight in a hoax. In disposition they are represented as very affectionate, but, like children, angry when thwarted. Their huts are of the rudest kind; they are constructed of branches of trees just high enough for a man to sit under, and they aro slightly thatched with cane leaves. Their food consists of fish, turtle, and wild pigs—the latter being numerous, though small and peculiar to those islands. Lieutenant St. John said the bows of these islanders are very peculiarly formed, being of the shape of the letter S, in the use of which they are very expert. Their arrows are long, and most of them are pointed with iron, hav ing been hammered into shape from iron nails found in vessels wrecked on the coast. He described the dance of the islanders as exhibiting greater variety of figures than is usual in the dances of savages, the musical instrument used being a kind of wooden drum placed on the ground and struck with their feet. It is a curious fact that these savages make beautiful baskets, nets, and earthen pots. The latter are made like those of the ancient Britons, but thinner, and Lieutenant St. John thinks they are used for burial. Very little, however, is known of the habits of these people. At the conclusion of the paper Dr. MOUAT gave a description of these savages at the peod he visited the islands. They were very hostile, and he could not get them to enter into any communication with his party, with whom they from time to time came into collision. lie gave an interesting account of one of these savages, named Jack Andaman, who was captured and taken to India, and of his con duct in witnessing the various appliances of civilised life. Jack was very tractable and affectionate, but he could not bear clothing. The effect of it on him was to produce colds and inflammation of the lungs, which he had never been afflicted with when naked and exposed to the weather; and he was at length sent back to his native island as the only chance of saving his life. A second paper was read by Dr. CADDY, navy surgeon, giving a brief account of his visit to the Patagonians in 1861. He prefaced his account by a notice of the destructive earthquake at Mendosa, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, which calamity had occurred shortly before the vessel, on board which he was, touched at Valparaiso. In that earthquake the whole city was destroyed, and out of a popula tion of 15,000 more than half were killed. In passing through the Straits of Magellan the ship touched at several points, and Dr. Caddy had an opportunity of seeing the Patagonians, who at first sight ap peared to him like the giants of nursery tales. Dr. Caddy is Gft. 11in, in height, but the Patagonians, he said, were at least a head taller. Their features and general appearance reminded him of the Indians he had seen at Vancouver's Island and Nova Scotia. They seem to be in a very savage state, had nothing to offer in barter, but had a strong craving for rum, biscuits, and tobacco. Coal had been discovered within two leagues of the coast, there is good promise of mineral wealth, the climate is healthy, and Dr. Caddy considers the future of the Chilian settle ment in the Straits of Magellan to be most favour able. After a few remarks from Mr. Crauford the meeting adjourned. Mr. G. V. BROOKE.—Our readers will be re joiced to learn that there is reason to believe that this dis tinguished tragedian is not amongst the number of those who perished in the steamer London. Relatives of Mr. Brooke, who reside in the neighbourhood of Belfast, state that he was too late in applying for berths in the ill-fated steamer, and at once started for Australia by the overland route.—,Belfast News-Letter. :,-...-.-.~e.~ s+~ _ ---' to , Court --• -- (f 4 Amu HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, Tuesday. Her Majesty walked out in the morning, accom panied by Princess Helena and Prince Christian, and drove in the afternoon, attended by the Dow ager. Duchess of Athole. Their Serene Highnesses Prince and Princess Hermann of H o h en l o b e an d Prince Leiningen di n ed with her Majesty. Countesd Gleichen also dined with her Majesty. VISIT OF THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES TO THE DUKE OF SUTHERLAND. NEWPORT, Tuesday Evening. The first visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland in the Staffordshire Potteries commenced this after noon, having been somewhat delayed in consequence of the period of mourning rendered necessary by the death of the late King of the Belgians. The Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by the Countess of Morton and Major C. H. Grey, left Sandringham at about a quarter to ten o'clock, proceeding to the Wolferton Station of the Lynn and Hunstanton Railway in an open waggonette. The train by which they travelled arrived at Peter borough at 11.25. On the platform were assembled from 150 to 200 persons, who cheered heartily as the train entered the station. From Peterborough the special passed on to the Peterborough and Northampton line of the London and North-Western Railway. It left Peterborough at 11.30, and passed through some very charming Northamptonshire scenery. The royal travellers passed the populous manufacturing town of North ampton—at which place a number of persons were assembled on the platform --at 12.45, and arrived at the Blisworth Junction 10 minutes later, when the special was shunted on to a siding, and awaited the arrival of the 11.20 express train from London. The train left the station at 1.10; Rugby was reached at 1.35, and here a stoppage of 10 minutes took place. The platform was occupied by a good number of persons, who speedily recognised their royal highnesses, who graciously showed themselves, and were greeted with a good hearty cheer as the train moved on. Without further incident the train proceeded to Stafford, which was reached shortly after 3 o'clock, and here, after sonic cheering, an engine being in readiness, the royal carriages again assumed the character of a " special," and reached Newport about a quarter to 4 o'clock. The preparations at Newport to give their royal highnesses a proper reception have been carried out on an extensive scale. The prince and princess proceed this evening to Lilleshall, and his royal highness will shoot over the Duke of Sutherland's well-stocked 'preserves there to-morrow, proceeding on Thursday to Trentham ; and it is understood that a visit will be paid by their royal highnesses to the steelworks at Crewe on Friday. The prince and princess will, according to present arrangements,. remain the guests of the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland till Monday next. SHIPS' LIFEBOATS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—The attention of the public is now called to the lamentable deficiency of ships' lifeboats, and allusion has also been made to the coast lifeboats of the National Lifeboat Institution as being probably too heavy to carry on board our merchant ships. I have therefore thought that perhaps you would like to know that the important subject of ships' lifeboats has for some years past occupied the seri ous attention of this institution; and the fearful calamity that has just occurred to the ship London has directed renewed attention to the necessity of efficient or standard ships' lifeboats. This institution has long maintained 1. That there should be a sufficient number of boats to carry every- . person on board a ship, each fitted as a lifeboat of the size and description as per given standard, hoisted to davits at the vessel's sides, fitted with Clifford's or other sanctioned improved lowering apparatus, and having always in her such articles of equipment as shall be defined by law. 2. That every such boat should have painted on her exterior, in legible and conspicuous characterg the number of persons she was legally authorised to carry ; in order that every passenger or other person on board could at any time, by adding the total numbers together, satisfy himself that there was lifo boat accommodation for all. It would also be a manifest advantage that every boat should be of corresponding size, so as to take an equal number of persons on board. Thus, each was authorised to carry 30 persons, it would be readily calculated that each ten boats would carry 300, and the number would be so familiar to every one that in the hurry of taking to the boats the regulated safe cargo of each would be more cer tainly known, and less likely to be departed from. 3. That on leaving port, and at certain intervals during every long voyage, the captain of the ship should muster all hands, and call over the names of the officer to take charge, the crew to work, and the passengers to embark in each boat individually specified. 4. That the boats of every passenger ship should be especially and carefully inspected and reported on by the appointed Government inspector previous to each voyage. • At present the inspection of ships' lifeboats is O f no service, as there is no fixed standard, and it is notorious that the generality of those in passenger ships, and nearly or quite all of those in our COa o passenger steamers, are a mere sham, unentitled to the name of lifeboats. If space were allowed I could easily offer son° remarks on eazh of the above recommendations t° make plain their practicability. About two years ago the National Lifeboat Insti tution had two standard lifeboats built by th e Messrs. Foriestt, of Limehouse, under the superiw tendence of its inspector of lifeboats, Capt. Ward' R.N., and Mr. Joseph Prowse, its lifeboat survelc r ' The institution invited the Lords of the AdmiraltY and other gentlemen to inspect these two boats. This invitation was readily responded to by their lordships, several of whom, with the Duke ° i. f Somerset at their head, together with other naval authorities and the Committee of the National Lifeboat Institution, asselw bled at the Regent's Dock, Limehouse, an d witnessed a series of experimental tests to whic h these boats were submitted in conjunction with sow° of the coast lifeboats belonging to the institution/ and with which their lordships were pleased to a" press their satisfaction. These two boats were constructed on the sal° principles as the two classes of boats adopted by th e institution for coast service, but with such necessary modifications as were essential to make them capabl e of performing the ordinary duties of a ship's boat. Although such boats cannot be made to posses s in the same degree all the valuable properties of 0 0 coast lifeboats of the institution, chiefly in consc quence of the much greater weight which would b a e thereby entailed, yet this experimental trial suffice to show that they could be made approximate tdl them, and tl(at without excessive weight they inig llt possess considerable stability, either entire or partl 0 4 self-relief of any water that may be shipped, a 11 1 .. amount of extra buoyancy, and, lastly, partial sc i.o righting power, so that they could, if upset, ° readily righted again by their crews in the water' After further trials the Admiralty ordered the Messrs. Forrestt to build a large number of lifebo/ L : in accordance with the principles contained in t above-mentioned boats. It is, therefore, earnestly to be hoped that every o vessel of war and eve r y merc h an t s hi p w ill, st 3 ;_ distant day, be provid e d w ith am pl e standard 1' boat accommodation.—l am, Sir, yours, Sze./ RICIIARD LEIVIS, Secretary. Royal National Lifeboat Institution, John street, Adelphi, Jan. 23. Capt. William M. Dowell, C. 8., has been 3 , 11 ; pointed to the Topaze, commissioned, to take on to Valparaiso, and bring back the Leander. ~' .