The Sun. — London, England, 1866-02-16 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 2h. 45m.—Afternoon, 3h. 3m. To-Mortnow.-Mornimg, 3n. 22m.—Afternoon, 3h. 44m. , avN t t g PWA 44'%111 110fOUSES.—Messrs. TOPLIS and ROBERTS have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN, r•nburban, aad Country RESIDENCES to LET or SELL. Particulars upon application forwarded for two stamps, upon st Lang requirements and rental. Offices, 2. Conduit street, Regent,;Atreet, and South Kensington, facing the Museum. gt orm - 'KENSINGTON, HYDE-PARK, Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Queen's -gate and Peters ham Terraces, Queen's -gate, Cornwall, Princes and Beaufort Gardens, Elv Aston- place, Cromwell-ro .d, Onslow and Thurloe Squares, Bolt , ns. &c. Messrs TOPL IS and RO isE itTS have EN -1 DEN CES to SELL and LET in these and surroun localities. O ffi ces, 2, Conduit-street, Regent-street,din and South Kensington, facing the Museum. ____.----- 11FEB oAT SERV] CE S. During the stor ms of the past year the National Lifeboat institution, by Ate life boats and other means, contributed to the savin. of 707 persons from different wrecks on out coasts. The Inshte ti- tution also expended 1:21,:y. 4 In the same peri..d o its t boat ek tabshmeats, in additi on to grantiog £1,95 n for ie -0 wards for saving die and exer3ising the lifeboats. The Committee of the Institution e.trncstly A ePEAL to continued hea v ySSIST to enable them to meet the demands on the institution's 150 lifeboat stations. Contr ib u tions are received by the London and country bankers • and by the becretary, Richard Lewis, r.sq., at the Institution, 14, J o hn st re et, Adelphi, London. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. (Opera Company, Limited.) THIS EVENING. THE RIVER SPRITE: Messrs. A. Laurence, A. Cook, D. Miranda, C. Lyall, E. Dussek, and 2giadan.e Florence Lancia. Conductor, Mr. Alfred Mellon. After which (termtnating with the grand transformation scene) the great pantomime ALADDIN AND TILE WON DERFUL lAA.M.F. Commence at 7 o'clock. THEATRE ROYAL, DR URY-LANE._ managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, the Play of THE JEALOUS virites. Mr. Phelps ; Messrs. H. Marston, Barrett, %Varney, G. Belmore, E. Phelps, Harcourt; Mrs. Herman Yezin, Mrs. VandEnhoff, Blither; H. Leclercq. Seymour, ezc.; Alter which, the Pantomime, LITTLE KING PIPPIN; or, Harlequin Fortunatus and the Magic Purse and Wishing Cap. Commence at 7. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.- Sole Lessee and Manrg,r, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT. Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Compton ; Miss Ada Cavendish. To be followed ty BROTIIER SAM Messrs. Sothern. Buckstone, Compton; Mesdames Nelly Mooie, Snowden &c. After which, ORPHEUS IN THE HAYMARKF.T Messrs. W. Farren, Fisher, Bartleman, Weathersby, &c ; Mesdames Keeley, Snowden, Moore, Lindley, Wuolgar, Howard, Wright, Coleman, Lovell, Prevot, &c. To conclude with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Commence at Seven. ROYAL LYCEUM T REATRE.- Under the sole Management et Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENING, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER. Mr. H. Widdicomb. After which. THE MASTER OF RAVENSWOOD. Mr. Fechter; Messrs. Jordan, Emery. Widdicomb, Vezin, J. H. Fitzpatric., D. Evans ; AesdamesTernan, E sworthy, Lavenu, and C. Leclercq. Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five. • NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING. at 7, a new farce called PIPKIN'S I.I;STIC itE i ttEAT. Messrs J. L. Toole and P. Bedford. Atter which. at 8, RIP VAN WINKLE. Rip (his 141st appearance). Mr. Jefferson, supported by Messrs. Billing ton, Y. Bedford, It Phillips, ogss, Ashley, liburne, C. J. Smith; Mrs. Biliingtcr, &c. To conclude with GEHIND TIME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Eburne. C. J. Smith ; Miss A. t•eaman, ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, QUIET LODGINGS. After Vrhi,:h, at a quarter to Eight, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. t_ haracters by Messrs. Vining, T. Mel ville, T. Mead, 1). Murray, t 3 Caihaem, F. Villiers, J. G. Shore, G. Murray, H. blelion, C. Seyton, R. Cathcart; Miss L. Moore and Miss Katherine Rodgers. ROYAL SIRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress. Mrs. bwanborough. THIS EVENING, at Seven (10th time), a new and origi nal Comedy, THE FLY AND THE WEB. Mes-rs. Par- Odle and Price; Misses Swanborough and Raynham. After which will be produced a new opera Burlesque, L'AFRICAINE ; or, The Queen of the Cannibel Islan .s. Messrs. Stoyle, James, 'Thorne; Mesdames Swanborougb, Raynham. Johnstone, &c. To conclude with LENDING A HAND. Mess: s. Belford and Turner; Misses Simpson and Hughes. 4111 E LAST EDITION OF " TIIE SUN," containing the Latest SPOUTING INTELLItihi\ CZt, Can be had Every Evening of G. IL GLkNIE, NEWS AGEicT, No. 4. Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published every Evening, by ALEXANDER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21, Old Cavendish-street, Oxford-street. THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as coon as Published, containing all the LATEST NEWS awl SPORTINU lINTKLIAGE.NCE, by 21. W. 11,111.11.15, NeAspaper Agent, 4, Blacktriars-road, London, S. THE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN." J. lICTMES begs to inform his friends, and the pub,i6 enerally, that he suppl►es the LATE6T EOM , )N of •rHE buN " as soon as published--No. 16, Hampstead oad, N.W. PORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supplies the LATe.ST EDITION of "TIDC SUN" as soon as pub lished.-4, Bath-street, City-road, E.C. LONDON, _FRIDAY, FEB. 16, 1866. The Cattle Disease Bill again engaged the atten tion of the House last night, and a great deal of discussion took place. In consequence of the great confusion made by some opponents to the Govern ment measure, Mr. GLADSTONE proposed to alter the clause so as to give compensation up to one-half of the value of the animal. This proposition was finally accepted, although many hon. members pointed out the inconvenience of the change. Mr. DISRAELI winly advised his friends to accept the amendment, while, at the same time, he declared that the inconsistency of the Government placed them all in a very awkward position. The right hon. gentleman said that he spoke as regarded the interests of the country generally, and did not confine his remarks exclusively to the benefit of his own constituents, who are perhaps the greatest sufferers by this calamity. Nowhere is the cattle plague more severely felt than in Buckinghamshire, because there is so much grazing land there. " They have thousands of acres, which not merely in the memory of man, but for countless generations, have never been mowed, of the richest and finest laud in England." As Mr. DISRAELI stated, her MAJESTY'S Ministers must have arrived at their original deci sion after much thought and scrupulous investiga tion, and. it was not the thing to change our legislation in a harem scarum manner. The Chancellor of the Exchequer was no doubt mortified himself at having to depart from the Origin a l idea of the framers of the bill, but of course he had to consider the question as to whether it would ms - I r n its first state without much delay. Som e people are never satisfied, among them we may rank the hon. member for Birmingham as first and foremost. 11.-otwithatanding the sop thrown to CERBERLTS, in the shap e of chancre in the rate of ons compensation, M r . again made a desperate onslaught upon the bill, and proposed an amendment to the effect that the slaughter of the cattle herded with diseased animals should not take place without the consent of their ow ners. The hon, member did not, however, succeed in impressin g his : many others, for he was defeated by amajoeriwtsyoonf ass, having only 50 on his side. M r • DislikEu showed the inconsistency of the course pursued 0 . • 4i if it required by asking, act of Parliament to produce the effect sought for by the hon. member for Birmingham, he should fancy that any animal might be slaughtered with the consent of its owner." It is in some degree a satis faction that Mr. BRIGHT should have proposed this amendment, because it enabled the House to show, in a very decided manner, bow little they cared for his objections ; and indeed it was essential that a protest should have been made to the course pur sued by the hon. member for Birmingham in this matter. He has gone out of his way to mix up the engrossing topic of the cattle plague with all sorts of extraneous subjects, and contrived to introduce party questions and clans interests of a vexatious character. Such conduct cannot be too much condemned, and therefore we gladly witness, in the large majority against his amendment, a sign that members of the House of different political views unite to put down such hurtful tendencies. Further onin the evening the Government were de feated on Mr. HUNT'S amendment, " prohibiting the total removal of cattle until the twenty-fifth of March, and the hon. member purposes to follow up this suggestion by a string of exceptions to the general rule. Sir G. GREY was against this propo sition, because he said that it would be so 1 difficult to supply " dead mea t" t o t h e great ' centres. Mr. LOWE spoke very much to the point, for he said that the question to be con sidered was how far the House should embody these regulations, instead of leaving them to the local authorities ; and the hon. member further impressed upon the House the necessity of dealing at once with the subject, because time is precious, and we cannot be too careful as to how we employ it. " We may be able," said Mr. LowE, " to improve the opportunity, but it can never be recovered if lost. If we do not get the disease under by the middle of April, prepare yourselves for a calamity beyond all calculation. You have seen the thing in its infancy. Wait, and you will see the averages, which have been thousands, grow to tens of thousands, for there is no reason why the same terrible law of increase which has prevailed hitherto should not prevail henceforth." Captain JERVIS very truly stated that there would be no difficulty in carrying a supply of dead meat for the London market, because the great railway companies would be able to provide for the emergency. Lord ELCHO'S observations were also much to the purpose, when he declared that unless the amendment was agreed to the bill would not be worth the paper it was printed upon. Within the last few days he had attended two meetings of a most influential character, and the principle of this amendment was affirmed by both of them. There were gentlemen representing the railway interest of England and Scotland present at one of these meetings, and they all declared that " they would undertake to bring up any amount of meat to the towns, as fish, a much more delicate substance than meat to deal with, was carried now, if the removal of live cattle were prohibited entirely." So far it may be considered that the bill has progressed even more rapidly than might have been expected; but the great importance of the subject has induced the leading members on both sides of the House to form a neutral ground on which they may meet and discuss the question calmly and comprehensively. This is as it should be, and we trust that the public will appreciate the strong sense of duty thus manifested by the new Parliament. It is only to be re gretted that the House did not meet before Christmas, because so much time has been lost ; but it is useless to revert to the past, and the only thing now to be done is to make what use we can of the present. So far as we can judge from experience and observation, the bill, as at present amended by Mr. HUNT'S proposal, offers a decided check to the progress of the disease ; and should it not work effectually, it will be easy during the ses sion to make further arrangements, if, unhappily, this fatal disease should not be stamped out before the close of the sittings of the House. There has been for some time past a growing feeling in the public mind that the wandering and destitute classes, who come under the head of casual paupers, stand in urgent need of some better and more humane treatment. The experience of the " amateur casual" has only confirmed the prevailing impression of the general discomforts and hardships of the legal shelter provided for the houseless, while, large as is the number of our night refuges, they prove constantly unequal to the demands upon them. It is undoubtedly a difficult question, since there is as much reason to guard against the en couragement of vice and idleness as there is to avoid the risk of neglecting the really needy. With out doubt a large proportion even of the latter owe their distress to their own improvidence or intemperance, their own faults or those of their immediate relatives. But there is one class whose necessities appeal most powerfully to our sym pathies, and against relieving whose necessities the most rigid political economist can hardly venture to protest. The crowds of hungry, homeless, un friended children who haunt our courts and alleys, call powerfully for aid, for unless a helping hand be held out to them they have no prospect before them but a life of beggary or crime. They have either no parents, or parents, who from vice, cruelty, or intemperance, are unwilling or unable to help them. How are they to learn a trade—to ob tain any kind of decent employment? Who will give them a chance ? Who will take a boy without friends, without character, in any capacity what ever? They must go on roughing it, living how they can, and where they can, picking up scraps to-day and fasting to-morrow, sleeping now at this lvorkhouse and now at that, now under a railway arch or a scaffolding, till they reach an age when such a seed-time brings forth its natural fruit, and the childhood of idleness, beggary, and evil asso ciation, gives us the thief and criminal of every degree. Society pays dearly enough for these neglected children in the long run only unfortu nately it does not pay at the right time. A tenth part of the amount expended on a professional thief or burglar out of the public purse would, if laid out in childhood instead of in manhood, give the country a decent citizen instead of a perpetual burden. These homeless children may truly be ranked among our dangerous classes, for their future is full of danger to themselves and to others. Their number is large enough to allow for a vast surplus in spite of the many Christian and philan thropic efforts to establish refuges, reformatories, and industrial schools. In these admirable institu tions the children are taught a trade, a fact which puts in a great measure their life into their own hands, for a good workman can find plenty of op portunities—if not here, in the colonies. The men tal and moral training given in these schools sup plies, as far as possible, all the deficiencies of their neglected childhood, and the only matter for regret about the refuges and schools is that there are not more of them. There is still a large crowd of these homeless boys wandering night after night about the metropolis, and some of our earnest-minded philanthropists have set themselves seriously to con sider what can be done for them. Partly with the view of inquiring into their real condition, partly with the hope of enlisting a larger amount of sym pathy on their behalf, they assembled a num berof houseless and d est i tute b oys at the St. Giles's t n h ig ena hva a lodgings. Refuge on W e d nesday evening, giving good supp er an d payment for their The manner of the invita tion was a sufficient guarantee for the actual destitution of the boys assembled, if indeed their miserable appearance needed any such testimony. The announcement of the supper was sent round to the different workhouses to be made through the Masters to the inmates of the casual wards. Those who responded to this appeal were b3tl l . een 150 and 200, a much lower number than was anticipated ; but the fact was that a very great proportion of those whom the notice reached were afraid to come, fearing a lecture or the police. Still there was a crowd assembled round the doors of the refuge long before the hour fixed upon arrived, and it was a crowd pitiful to see. Hunger, squalor, disease, in all their forms, were in that dismal little assembly, representing in their rags and wretchedness the sins of others. The story which was gathered from some of them, after their hearts had been gladdened by a better supper than they had eaten for many a long day or night, was substantially the same. The greater part were orphans, many did not know whether their parents were alive or not, most were beggars, some were thieves ; most of them got their night's shelter when they had one by one gone the weary round of the different London workhouses, and sleeping in the casual wards ; those who brought tickets from the ward they had slept in the night before, declaring they had had nothing to eat since they left it. Whether they were so or no, they were lean and hungry enough to bear out any such statement ; and the unanimous shout they gave when they saw the slice of pudding which finished their supper was touching, from its proof of the childishness which belonged to their years, but which their faces contradicted. Nothing more was attempted than temporary relief. A few kind words from the Earl of SHAFTESBURY and other leaders of the movement, a good supper, and 4d. each for a night's lodging, were all that could be given for the moment ; but it is surely a question not only for our professional philanthropists, but for the community at large, whether their necessities do not demand something more. It is no light thing that we let hundreds of children grow up in the very midst of our metro polis without religion, without learning, without the means of earning their bread. How do we ex pect them to live? They will answer the question for us in a very unsatisfactory manner if we do not do it for them, and we must remember that the evil perpetuates itself. Those best acquainted with the subject have told us, on conclusive grounds, that ignorance is the great parent of crime, since the proportion of educated criminals is very small ; and since' the establishment of reformatories and the efforts made by ragged schools and other means, the number of juvenile criminals is steadily diminishing. But while these figures in one sense are gratifying and encouraging, they do not lessen, but rather add, to our responsibility, since if we endeavour to enlighten the ignorance we are - wilfully perpetuating the crime. If the cure for a deadly disease is, humanly speaking, in our own hands, are we not answerable for the fatal consequences which will infallibly ensue from its neglect ? It is a question for every citizen to ask himself each in his own degree. Let each do what he can to remove this great and crying evil from our midst, and we shall not long be able to gather such a little army of desolate outcasts from the very centre of the wealth and civilisation of the richest and most populous city in the world. At a very late hour last evening, at the close of a long debate, a measure of considerable importance was introduced into the House of Commons and read a first time. Mr. CARDWELL obtained leave to bring in a Bill to make provision for the Govern ment of Jamaica—a task which at this crisis is one of no ordinary difficulty. The Legislature of Jamaica, it will be remembered, passed an act for the amendment of their own Constitution ; but, subsequently, finding that the Imperial Government was willing to undertake the responsibility, they subsequently adopted the wiser course of placing themselves entirely in the hands of the Crown, and leaving the form of their future govern ment to be settled by impartial authority. The` question is so difficult in all its aspects, the present condition of the colony so unsettled, and the very defects of the existing representa tive system so great, that it would be almost im possible for the colonists at this juncture to orga nise a good and efficient constitution. The diffi culty would undoubtedly have been enhanced by the conflicting interests, the rival parties, and the double governorship. We in England can hardly believe it possible, at first sight, that representa tive institutions can fail to work well, but on a closer scrutiny it is easy to understand that, with less than 2,000 qualified electors cut of 440,000 people, and with so large a preponderance of blacks among the population, the Legislature entirely failed to meet the requirements of the island. Indeed we know from local accounts that at least one of the Houses was regarded as more mischievous and obstructive than beneficial, and, in fact, it was clear even before the outbreak, that the whole political system needed a thorough reorgani sation and amendment. The fortunes of Jamaica have shown a rapid decadence, and its pub lic and private credit have alike deteriorated with surprising quickness, although it possesses every element of wealth and prosperity. In tranquil times it might perhaps have been possible for the colonists to have reformed their own constitution, though, from local influences, interests, and prejudices, the case would always have been difficult, but under existing circumstances the task would have been almost impossible. Mr. CARDWELL proposes to provide for Jamaica in the first instance a Government similar to that now in operation in Trinidad, doing so by Order in Coun cil, for a period of three years. This is a wise pre caution, as by that time the heat and excitement of the moment will have passed away, and men will be able to judge calmly how far the form of government is adapted to the colony, what is really the position and what are the wants of its people, and what change or improve ment it will be advisable to make. There was of course no discussion on the introduction of the bill, which was read for the first time without any op position; and we trust that, should it commend itself to the general feeling of the house and the public, no factious opposition will be allowed to interrupt or retard its progress. A VOLCANO IN TIIE OCEAN.—PLYMOUTH, Wed nesday.—The ship Orient, 1,032 tons, Capt. John Harris, the arrival of which with a cargo of wool, &c., has already been announced, sailed from Adelaide Nov. 10, rounded Cape Horn. Dec. 13, crossed the line Jan. 15, and spoke Jan. 12, lat. 5 S., long. 27 W., the ship Queen of Nations, 65 days from Callao, for Queenstown ; 13th, lat. 3 S., long. 28 W., signalled a ship supposed to bo the first pendant 1,498, the Canova ; Feb. 9, the ships Eurydice, from Liverpool for Bombay, the Ravensbourne, and the Danish bark Doric) Roderson, standing to the westward, wind south-west. When crossing the Pacific the Orient experienced light north-west winds and light easterly winds with calms. No ice was seen there, but some was observed off the pitch of the Horn in 58 south. Moderate northerly winds prevailed in the South Atlantic. The south-east trades were met in lat. 19 S. and long. 15 W. ; they wero very light. The equator was crossed in lat. 30 west, and good north-east trades were found in 3 N. and 33 W. Light northerly winds prevailed in and about the Tropic of Cancer. On Sunday last, when such severe weather prevailed from the metropolis to the Land's-end the Orient was off the Isle of Wight, and Capt. Harris's re port says, " One of the heaviest gales struck us, in fact it was a hurricane ; there was little hopes of safety ; we lost much canvas and the ship laboured frightfully." On Friday, November 17, at 7 15 a.m., when in lat. 51 44 S. and long. 160 49 E., with a moderate wind from north-north-west and a clear sky, the ship commenced ringing the bells and trembling violently as if she were passing over a rough bottom in shallow water. Than instant all was confusion on board, as the crew and passengers thought she was settling down. The violent trembling last two or three minutes with nothing visible. Sounded the pump-well and found no water ; and sounded over the ship's side with the deep sea lead, but found no bottom. The conclusion arrived at by all on board was that the shiphad experienced the effects of a submarine volcano. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Thursday Evening. The Senate yesterday adopted the Address unani mously, of course, however not without another rambling tirade from the Marquis de Boissy. A word or two will illustrate the estimation in which the Senete holds this man. As he was proceeding with his voluminous comments, amidst general im patience, the first President, M. Troplong, hinted that they did not want to hear his " developments." The Baron de Heeckeren said, " We want to hear useful things." The President, " Yes, the Senate wishes to hear useful facts or observations, and not digressions, which, for the most part, have nothing whatever to do with the Address." Never, perhaps, was there an orator like the Marquis de Boissy. He talked away in spite of marked indications of im patience and disgust. Nay, he said he was " enchanted" at the interruptions. The religious commands as to the observance of Lent of 1866 are framed in the spirit of allowing the utmost indulgence compatible with the necessary demands of religion. Not many years since almost total abstinence from flesh was enforced during Lent, but M. Darboy, the Archbishop of Paris, this year makes the following regulatiolis :—" We per mit the use of eggs during the whole of Lent, with the exception of the last three days of Passion Week. We allow the use of meat Sunday, Mon day, Tuesday, and Thursday of each week, from Thursday after Ash Wednesday till Tuesday of Passion Week, inclusive. This dispensation only applies, even in regard to those who aie not sup posed to care about fasting, to the principal re past (Divine) except on Sunday, when fat aliments may be used at every repast. We permit the use of milk and butter at the collation, except on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Thus permission extends to every fast day of the year." The last mandentant of the late Archbishop of Paris (Cardinal Morlot) was made less indulgent than the present. Indeed, a French writer of note referring to it says that, though in theology absti nence from certain aliments is called fasting, in medicine such changes would be considered as a wholesome regulation of diet, in conformity with proper sanitary regulations. In looking over some ancient books, which treat of fasts, I find it stated that it was not till the 15th century that fasting began to be generally observed at certain periods. In a work of M. Raoul de Croy, published 30 years ago, upon the subject of Lent fasts, he remarks that in Genesis it is said that, on the fifth day of the creation, God commanded the waters to produce fish, and that birds would fly on the earth. Thus several Fathers of the Church considered fish and fowl to be of the same species, as they had the same origin. St. Basil and St. Am brose authorised this doctrine. In the life of St. Columban it is said that, in a time of famine, he fed his monks with game and poultry. Gregory of Tours relates that, dining at the table of Chil peric, and not usually eating meat, the King said to him—" Take this soup. It is for you. It is made with fowl." In 817 the Council of Aix-la-Chapelle made some modifications of the idea, lout the Coun cil still left some birds in the same category as fish. This anecdote is related in support of the hypothesis. A monk of the Abbey of Cluny went home on a visit to his parents. It was a fast-day. He asked what there was to eat, and was told that there watt nothing in the house but fish. Seeing some chickens in the yard he went and killed one and brought it in, and said, " That is the fish I shall eat to-day." His parents asked him if he had permis sion to eat meat. He replied, " No, but a fowl is not flesh. Birds and fish were created at the same time, and they have the same origin, as our hymns teach us." According to some French authors "certain aliments were forbidden in times of fasting, not from theological considerations, but on account of their scarcity. The Council of An gers in 1149 forbade the use of butter and milk. Charles the Fifth, whose health was impaired after the attempt made by the King of Navarre to poison him, however withdrew the prohibition. In 1584 the Council of Bourges forbade the use of eggs in times of fasting, but people were permitted to eat them in some localities. Charenton, near Paris, was one of those privileged places, and thus it be came the rendezvous of those who wished to avoid the discipline of the Church. B,:ontome, a courtier of Charles the Ninth, relates a pleasant anecdote about a fine lady who made a false and hypocritical display of her desire to conform to church discip line. In a certain town there was a procession in Lent. The lady appeared to be particularly devout, and joined in the procession bare-footed ; and although she in general dressed very stylishly, on this occasion her garments were those of peni tence, and intended to evince dislike of " pomps and vanities." The procession over, however, the hypocrite went to dine with her lover upon a quarter of lamb and a ham. The repast diffused such a savoury odour that people could smell it in the street. They rushed up stairs to the dining room, and the lady was caught in the fact of feeding on lamb, instead of the diet prescribed by the Church canons. She was immediately seized, and compelled to walk through the town with the remnants of the quarter of lamb on the spit fastened to her shoulder, and with the ham hung round her neck. In my account of the procession of the bceuf Bras, which appeared in The Skin of Tuesday, there was a misprint which should be corrected. It was not a little goat, but a little girl, who was dressed as Cupid. A letter from Dr. Tournes, connected with a scientific mission to South Africa, appears in the Siecle, which gives a lamentable account of the unfortunate prisoners of the Negus of Abyssinia and of the general condition of the country. Com plete anarchy prevailed, and there were three pre tenders to the empire. Theodore, the present Negus, is a fugitive and a wanderer from province to province. An engagement had taken place on the day of the arrival of Dr. Tournes at Halai, and 400 men were killed. The expedi tion wished to penetrate into the interior, but the certainty of being made prisoners induced them to retreat. On the 20th December the news respect ing the captives of Theodore was melancholy in the extreme. M. Sterne, a Protestant bishop, had died while being punished with the stick. Mr. Cameron, English Consul at Manahonah, had suf fered the same treatment, and was at the point of death. After having obtained permission to repair to Theodore to treat for the deliverance of Mr. Cameron, M. Rasam, first Councillor at the Residence at Aden, received Orders to stop at latala, a few days' journey from Gondar. His journey would now be useless, unless, indeed, the preceding news should be contradicted, which must be earnestly hoped, but which, unfortunately, is hardly probable. A lamentable case of attempted murder has just been tried by the Court of Assize of the Seine. The accused is Jean Danga,la law student, about five and-twenty, and the intended victim Francois Etienne. The cause was jealousy. The prisoner had lived for three years with a frail but beautiful blonde named Josephine Delporte, but she left him because she loved Etienne better. On the 20th December Josephine and Etienne were together At the concert Cafd Eldorado, when the prisoner in flicted some dangerous wounds upon his rival with a dagger. He is now slowly recovering from them. The prisoner was sentenced to hard labour for ten years, and the court awarded 3,000 f. to Etienne as damages for the personal injuries he had received. REPRESENTATIO N OF BRIDGWATER.—A petition from three electors of the borough of Bridgwater was presented to the House of Commons on Tuesday night, praying that the return of Mr. A. W. Kinglake at the late general election may be declared null and void. The petitioners state that on that occasion there were three'i candidates—Mr. H. Westropp, Mr. A. W. Kinglake, and Sir J. Shelley, and that the two first named were declared duly elected after a poll. The petitioners, however, im pugn the return of Mr. Kinglake on the grounds of bribery and corruption by himself, his agents, managers, and friends, and by divers other persons on his behalf. Impu tations of treating and intimidation are also put forward as grounds upon which the petitioners pray the House of Commons to declare the election and return of Mr. A. W. Kinglake null and void. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 16, 1866. LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) SPAIN. MADRID, FEB. 15. It is semi-officially stated that the Government is not favourable to the bill introduced by the Marquis of Miraflores for the creation a Privy Council. PORTUGAL. LISBON, FEB. 15. The Chamber of Deputies have rejected the pro posed contract with Messrs. Delrousse for the con struction of docks and of a railway to Cintra. The American squadron has sailed for the Medi terranean. FRANCE. BOURSE, Feb. 15, Two o'clock.—The weakness manifested yesterday has disappeared to-day, and the market has recovered somewhat of its buoyancy. Threes, for the Account, are doing at 68f. 95c., an advance of sc. Italian Fives, after having been quoted as low as 68f. 85c., or 25c. lower than yes terday's closing price, have recovered from this de pression, and are now dealt in at 61f. 15c. Credit Mobilier Shares are at 683 f. 75c.-Bf. 75c. higher. Railway Shares are steady, Lyons show an improve ment of sf.—to 883 f. 75f. Paris Gas Shares are in great demand at 1,735 f.—an advance of 7f. 50c. The first despatch from London brought a fall of The Bank of France has reduced its rate of discount from sto 4f per cent. Three o'clock—The market has left off on the following quotations:— 41 per Cents 9B 60 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 6B 95 Do. end month €9 Credit Mobilier Do. end month Bank Shares 3700 Credit Foncier 1300 Italian Loan 6l 05 Do. end month 6O 95 Roman Ottoman Fives 3B 20 Mexican Loan 46 75 Do. Bonds 3OO Russian Austrian S x minish Threes Home Debt — Deferred Acct. ... 872 50 1122 50 883 75 ... 557 50 ... 567 50 ... 550 RALLWAYB. Cash. Orleans Northern Lyons and Mediterranean Southern Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard — ... 402 50 North of Spain — 170 Saragossa — ... 220 Ditto to Barcelona — ... Roman — ... 116 23 The Legal Abolition of Slavery in the United States. Last night a public meeting was held in Exeter Hall, under the auspices of the British and Foreign FreeFlmen's Aid Society, to commemorate the passing of the constitu tional amendment by which slavery is for ever abolished in the United States of America. There was a very nume rous and respectable attendance, and the proceedings were characterised by the utmost enthusiasm. Mr. Benjamin Scott, the Chamberlain of the City of London, occupied the chair. At the request of the chairman, Dr. Tomkins read the Constitutional Amendment, which has been ratified by 28 States in America, the entire mass of people rising to their feet and cheering enthusiastically. The CHAIRMAN said there were two objects had in view in convening the meeting. The first was to commemorate worthily one of the grandest events which has ever been written upon the page of history—(cheers)—the com plete, final, and irrevocable abolition of slavery in the United States. (Loud cheering.) The second object was to commend to public attention the urgent necessities of four millions of slaves who were now in the transition state between slavery and independence. (Hear, hear.) They had not met to discuss the recent war in America— either as to its cause or its conduct—but to deal with that great fact which stood facing the world as the consequence of that war—that slavery had fallen—(cheers) mortally wounded by the sword, drawn first by the slaveowners. Slavery had fallen by the sword ; and, by a legislative enactment passed by twenty-eight out of thirty-six States, it had been consigned to a deep grave frcm which there was no resurrection. (Cheers.) They were not come to gether in a spirit of self-complacency to welcome their sister across the Atlantic because she had put away her sin, because the sin was English as well as American. (Hear.) Let it net be forgotten that England carried slavery to America, and kept it there as long as she had power to do so. (Hear.) They had met together to hold out the hand of cardial congratulation to the American people, without uttering one word of crimination or sanctimonious self-laudation. (Cheers.) No doubt there was a glorious future for America, and ho believed there was a grand future for England, and henceforth the two nations could go forward in the march of progress side by side, the laws of the two great nations having new been fundamentally assimilated. It was time that sympathy should be extended openly and without reserve by the people of this country to the suffering and oppressed peoples of other nations. He wished that had been done when the Emperor of Russia decreed the freedom of 25 millions of serfs ; and when the Dutch Government freed the slaves in the Dutch colonies. He remembered, in 1854, accompanying the Rev. Mr. Ringold Ward, a coloured clergyman, on a deputation to Lord John Russell, with respect to twenty British subjects who had been taken from their ships at Charleston and Savannah, and sold to slavery. On that occasion the Foreign Minister told the deputation plainly that there was little or no help to be expected from the Government in the affair. He (the chair man) would never forget the look of unmitigated scorn with which Mr. Ward said, as he left the audience chamber, "Now , go and sing 'Rule, Britannia, Britons never shall be slav es." (Cheers.) He (the chairman) could not comply with the re quest, and ho never since remained in a room where that air was performed or sung ; but now it could be con sistently sung, as he believed it could not be said that at the present time any British subject was in slavery. (Hear, hear.) With reference to the British and Foreign Freed men's Aid Society it had been in operation for the last eighteen months, and had collected about. £12,000 to be ex pended in food and clothing. Other societies had been doing tho same excellent work, and between £40,000 and £50,000 had boen remitted across the Atlantic to aid the suffering freedmen, and he hoped that this meeting would afford a healthy impulse to this movement, which was worthy of all support. (Cheers.) Mr. HANDEL COSSHAM, of Bristol, moved the first resolu: tion as follows :—" That this meeting reverently and grate fully acknowledged that, in the good providence of God, the crime and withering curs e o f chattel slavery—first in troduced by England into h er t ransatlantic s colonie and then perpetuated by th e f un d amental constitution of tho United States of America—has, by the recent adoption of the Constitutional A men d ment, b een rendered illal, and for ever hereafter prohibited throughout those United States. And this meeting tenders cordial congratulations to the friends of freedom in America upon the occasion of this gratifying and signal triumph of the cause of righte ousness and humanity ; recognising in this auspicious as similation of the fundamental laws of the United States and of Great Britain a new and enduring bond of unionbetween the two nations." He quite endorsed the sentiments ex pressed by the chairman that they had met to celebrate one of the greatest triumphs and one of the most glorious events of modern times. But he went further. He ventured to say that since the time of Moses, except the coming of our Lord to redeem the human race, there had been nothing like it in the history of the world. (Hear, hear.)' He did not wonder that they had such a glorious meeting that evening to commemorate that great event. But he did wonder that his countrymen had been so inert in recognising, in thanking God, and in congratulating themselves and the American people on the great and glo rious event to do honour to which they had that night as sembled. He did not want to underrate the grand event which struck the chains off 800,000 of their fellow-men 30 years ago, nor did he want to underrate the good effected by the Corn-law agitation, nor did ho wish to depreciate the great event of the Reform Bill, and the greater Reform event which he hoped before long would take place. (Cheers.) But in the face of all these great events, he be lieved the greatest of the whole was that which had lately occurred, and by which four millions of men marched from slavery into freedom. (Cheers.) He believed that when the history of the emancipation of the blacks of America came to be written and made known, a glorious character would be exhibited never heard of before. Mr. Cossham then referred to his late visit to America, and gave the re sult of interviews and correspondence he had had with some of the most distinguished statesmen and warriors of that country, including President Johnson, Mr. Seward, Mr. Sumner, General Grant, General Sherman, and General Howard. He also referred to the measures being adopted by the United States Government to render the abolition of slavery a thing of reality. Referring to the conduct of this country during the late war, he did not believe America had justice done to her during that time, and ho charged the great majority of the press of this country with trying to corruptopublic opinion. He believed that in reconstruct ing the Union and in abolishing slavery the Americans did not intend to act as England had acted with respect to Ja maicathat is, appoint men to carry out the emancipation policy who were every day of their lives doing their best to perpetuate slavery. (Hear, hoar.) On the contrary, the American Government had appointed General Howard to carry out the emancipation—(cheers) — and that appoint ment was a guarantee that emancipation would be some thing more than a name. (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN here announced that letters of apology had been received from the following gentlemen, who were unable to attend the meeting;—The Hon. Lionel Stanley, Professor Rogers, of Oxford, the President of the Wesleyan Conference, Mr. P. A. Taylor, M.P., Rev. Mr. Arthur, Pro fessor Cairns, Rev. Thos. Binney, and the Rev. Professor Riley. The Rev. NEWMAN HALL, on rising to second the resolu tion, was loudly cheered. After referring to the objects of the Freedmen's Aid Society, he said that in connection with it their thoughts would naturally revert to America. But, while they were endeavouring to succour freedmen—whe ther negroes or whites—they must take care not to be open to the retort—" Physician, heal thyself." Terrible accounts had reached them of the treatment of their own freedmen, and had gone throughout the whole world. He had read some of those accounts. They had haunted him in his sleep, disturbed him in his studies, and excited in him such an indignation as it was necessary to exercise the greatest vigilance over lest it might exceed the limits of a righteous wrath. He rejoiced those matters were to be brought under judicial investigation—he rejoiced that they had a Govern ment alive to the fact that England was on her trial be fore the world—that they had a Government determined that these matters should be impartially investigated and justice done upon them. (Cheers.) The rev. speaker enu merated some of the penal enactments which had existed against slaves previous to the passing of the constitutional amendment, and concluded by stating his belief that hence forth England and America would be more closely united now that slavery had been abolished in the latter country. Professor LEONE LEVY felt higkly honoured in being allowed in the slightest manner to take part in the meeting, the noble object of which was to commemorate and render thanks for the recent abolition of slavery in America. He compared the condition of the free and the slave States up to the time of the late war. On the one hand there was real life, all energy, and all progress. Agriculture, manu factures, shipping industry of every description were advancing rapidly. But the moral blight of slavery had struck down other portions of the State., and they could not get over it. There was comparatively no progress in the slave States. But he rejoiced to find that throughout the whole of the States of the continent of America had now become the land of freedom, and he looked forward to a glorious future to that country as the result of that great event. Dr. HOLBROOK, of New York, who was received with loud cheers, as a citizen of America claimed a few words in approval of the expression of opinion embodied in this re solution. He looked on slavery as the curse of any govern ment which allowed it to exist, and dwelt on the fact that America could now boast of being truly free. It had been the boast of England that her flag floated over free soils and freo peoples, and he was glad to be able to claim the same proud character for his native land. Now it might be truly said, that henceforth " the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave." (Cheers.) In the name of his countrymen, he thanked the meeting, and through them the people of England, for the sympathy they had expressed for the North in the recent struggle, and the assistance they had rendered in enfranchising the coloured inhabitants of America and alleviating their condition. Dr. HUGH ALLEN moved the next resolution. He denied the right in Undue of the white man to sell the black, and declared such traffic to be worse than slavery. The world had got too old to tolerate such a state of things as slavery any longer, and it was, he thanked God, at length effectu ally put down. He did not believe that the heart of Eng land was ever with slavery, and he believed the heart of England now rejoiced at the result of the late war in Ame rica. (Cheers.) The resolution he had to propose was— ,' That whilst this meeting offers its warmest congratu lations to all who have been faithful to the cause of freedom in the time of conflict and trial, it is deeply impressed with the sense of responsibility arising from success. All past experience has shown that the effects of the system of slavery remain long after the time of legal emancipation, both in the disabilities of the freed men, and in the spirit of caste in their former oppressors. And thismeeting would express its strong conviction that the zealous, enlightened, and persistent efforts of the true friends of freedom will, if possible, be more than ever needed to inculcate just principles, to redress wrongs, to relievs the necessitous, to protect the defenceless, to care for the orphan, the infirm, and the aged, to instruct the ignorant, to impart industrial training, and to exercise the utmost vigilance, so that the peace of society may be pre served, and that neither selfishness, prejudice, nor a domi neering class of any kind may mar the work of emancipa tion, or prevent its full benefit to mankind. This meeting, therefore, cordially approves the objects of the British and Foreign Freedmen's Aid Society, and pledges its ener getic support." The Rev. Mr. BROCK, in an able speech, seconded the resolution. Mr. J. HODGKIN supported the resolution, which was unanimously adopted. On the motion of Mr. ESTCOURT, a vote of thanks to the chairman was passed by acclamation, and the proceedings then terminated. BANK OF FRANCE. PARIS, Feb. 15. The following is the return of the Bank of France for the week ending to-day, together with the cor responding figures of the previous account : DEBTOR. Feb. 15. Feb. 8. fk. c. fr. c. Capital of the Bank 182,500,000 182,500,000 Profits in addition to capital (Art. 8, Law, June 9, 1857) 7,044,776 02 7,044,776 02 Reserve of the Bank _ _ __ and its branches _ 22,105,750 14 22,105,750 14 &serve in landed pro perty 4,000,000 4,000,000 Notes in circulation , 919,117,925 924,619,525 Banknotes to order wad: receipts payable at 5,358,561 51 sight 5,686,953 91 Treasury account cur -65,029,8 rent creditor Paris Current accounts, p • 169,464,920 03 163,455,098 62 Do. branch banks 26,060,817 26,428,715 Dividends payable 2,079,239 75 2,272,883 75 Discounts and sundry interests Rediscounted the last six months Surplus of receipts not Sundries distributed 7,261,965 81 7,953,568 79 Total CREDITOR. • Feb. 15. Feb. 8. Cash in hand and in fr. c. fr. Branch banks Commercial bills over due Commercial bills dis counted, not yet due 372,169,866 66 377,360,451 67 Do. branch banks 317,195,488 326,966,219 Advances on deposit of bullion 6,762,400 6,290,000 1)o. branch banks 5,361,800 5,105,000 Do. on French Public Securities 11,813,300 11,866,700 Do. by branch banks 6,280,700 6,467,500 Do. on railway shares and debentures 1). branch banks 19,533,000 19,870,200 D0..0n Credit Foncier Bonds Do. branches Do. to the State (Con vention, June 10, 1857) 60,000,000 60,000,000 Government Stock re serve 12,980,750 14 12,980,750 14 Do. disposable Rentes Immobalisdes (Law, June 9, 1857) 100,000,000 100,000,000 -. Hotel and furniture of the 13a,nk and landed property branches Expenses of manage ment 228,408 83 222,087 98 Sundries Total 1,417,953,705 69 1,417,802,775 50 Certified by the Senator-Governor of the Bank of France. (Signed) ROULAND. The Bank of France has reduced its rate of dis count from 5 to 4i per cent. THE POLITICAL CONDITION OF AMERICA.—Gast evening (Thursday) the Right Honourable Viscount Bury delivered a lecture on " The History and Present Political Condition of America" at the London and South Western Railway Literary and Scientific Institution, Brunswick House, Wandsworth-road. The Earl of Albemarle, Lady Bury, and Captain Mangles, occupied chairs near the platform. Joseph Beattie, Esq., William Beattie, Esq., F. J. Macaulay, Esq., F. Clarke, Esq., Percy M. Hart, F.R.G.S., the Rev. C. P. Shepherd, M.A., and H. Fraser Halle, LL.D., were amongst the gentle►een present in connection with the Railway Institution ; and the company assembled together comprised upwards of three hun dred persons. The subject was dealt with in a very interesting manner, in the course of which lucid illustra tions were given by the noble lord through the medium of two large maps, which were specially prepared for the occasion by the teacher of the drawing-class and his assistants. Capt. Mangles addressed the meeting at the close of the lecture, and in an eloquent manner pro posed a vote of thanks to Lord Bury, which was seconded by Joseph Beattie, Esq., and passed unanimously. A cor dial vote of thanks was also duly passed to Fredk. Clarke, Esq. (secretary of the South-Western Railway Company), for presiding upon the occasion. LEICESTER, Feb. 15.—Last night a large and influential meeting was held in the Town-hall, Leicester, for the purpose of promoting the presentation of one or two lifeboats to the National Lifeboat Institution. The Secre tary of that society attended and explained to the meeting the lifeboat, and the extensive sphere of operations of the National Lifeboat Institution. Resolutions were after wards unanimously carried that the cost of either one or two lifeboats should be collected in Leicester. HER MAJESTY'S STAGROUNDS.— On Tuesday afternoon the Royal staghounds killed a fine stag at Burn ham Beeches, near Slough, Buck. Another stag being started, the scent was lost when near Denham. Much con fusion was caused in consequence of the Royal hounds coming in contact with the old Berkeley foxhounds. 7 S) Tt r. HER MAJESTY• OSBORNE, Thursday. Her Majesty drove out yesterday afternoon With their Royal Highnesses Princess Helena, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Leopold. The Duke of Argyll arrived from London, and had the honour of dining with her Majesty and t he royal family. The Duchess of Roxburghe has succeeded the Dowager Duchess of Athole as Lady in Waiting. Her Royal Highness Princess Mary is expected to arrive at the Duchess of Cambridge's residence at S t ' James's Palace on Wednesday next, from a protracted visit to their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, at Strelitz. SIR CIIARLES WOOD, BART., M.P.—lt is under stood that a peerage has been offered and accepted by t he right hon. baronet. GOUNOD'S TOBIA.F. ---~ ST. JAMES'S HALL. The appearance of M. Gounod's new sacr ed . drama of " Tobias" has bee n f or some time Pa s ' eagerly expected by the musical public, and every thing that royalty and fashion could do was added to the attractions of the first performance. More over, it took place on behalf of a charitable object/ and the gaily-dressed assembly who crowded tlia brilliant hall had the satisfaction of knowing tha t the funds were devoted to a very worthy purpose -- the assistance of the funds of the University College Hospital. The pecuniary affairs of this excellent and valuable institution are not, it seems, la 85 flourishing a condition as its public services deserve' and it is labouring under the burden of a de bt which has grown to a very considerable a mount. We must hope that the kind intentions of Gounod and the patrons of Tuesday evening's en tertainment will not only prove directly profitabl e to the charity, but will stimulate others to come forward in the same good work. " Tobias," which formed the second part of th e , programme, was favourably received. It innst. not, of course, be ranked with those classical ch e f d'oeuvres which our modern musical arrangementts have made as popular as they are inimitable, but i t is full of grace and delicacy. Madame Lemma s- Sherrington, who was the Angel Gabriel, had som e beautiful songs, which she rendered charraina Madame Rudersdorff was the other prima donna' and Mr. Gounod was fo r tu na te i n securing t he services of M. Sims Reeves as his tenor. The s°l° " Father, thine arms about me throw," was exqui sitely sung, and certainly the music could ha'" found no more successful exponent. Mr. Patch 85 the bass, acquitted himself with credit, the choruses were effective and well sung, and the orches'd tral music was characterised by delicacy an expression. The first part of the performance consisted also entirely of M. Gounod's sacred 00 , - , position including a symphony iu " D. Ave Vertu) " A Christmas Carol," " A Tenor Solo," Salutaris Hostia," and the cxxxvii. Psalm. V ies ! . 0 five compositions, all excellent in their way, wer e given with effect and expression. The tenor s o l o was beautifully and, as may be guessed, was ad mirably sung by Mr. Sims Reeves. The " mas Carol " was enthusiastically applauded, as In deed it deserves to be, from the originality an d beauty of its style. The chiming of the bells an cymbals coming in the carol had a peculiar a nd 3 characteristic effect, and it is not surprising 08 " - charmed and surprised the audience. The Paa lli3 4 4‘ By Babylon's wave " was excellently sung by , choir, and must indeed be ranked among the speel a , successes of the evening. Altogether the perform, ance could hardly fail to satisfy expectation, and the crowds which filled the hall to overfl ow i ng testi ried to the interest and curiosity it had excited. The Great Jewel Robbery. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—Having read in the evidence of Caseley, th e convict, in the trial of " Walker and Milner," i ll the Court of Queen's Bench yesterday, that Caseley stated it was easier to open Tann's safe tha n Milner's, in justice to myself I think that the real facts should be made known to the publ ic ' as they are likely to form an erroneous impres sion. Caseley and other parties convicted of th e Walker burglary used the same applian t ee r 3 to open one of my saf es , manu f ac t ur ed by me 1(7 ; Mr. Johnson, :jeweller, Threadneedle-street, Pr' e t to that of Mr. Walker's, but without the slightes success whatever. If Caseley ever did open a safe with the name of Tann attached to it, it must have been one of a sP i T e rious class made in imitation of mine, and net of my Reliance Patent, or made by me, there hel e ; several makers of my name whose safes are net tented. I have never heard of any of mine b elli g broken open.—Yours, &c., JOHN Tom' 30, Walbrook, City, Feb. 15. Newark Priory. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. dßn Sin,—Amonst the many interesting relics of the ° 0 time which are located within a morning's driv e ir t ° lo London this sacred ruin, which dates from the day s ° f io ri first King Richard, is act the least interesting. The by was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and was inhab ited the monks of St. Augustine, where their prayers, V °5 5,0 and morning orisons might have been heard until the of the conscientious and amiable reformer, ping VIII., when the house was dissolved, and the last ' 1 s received a pension of £4O a-year. D r . Charles Afeeiglls:4ll.l':o published a curious legend upo n thi s P r i ory i n collu e ; zo t with its neighbour at Wav er l e y, i n S urrey ; an d the re ht decease of Mr. T. Love Peacock, the author, has 10911 „)r to my recollection the following stanzas, which he 13 P i : 0, lished some years si nce w h en h e h a d rev i s it e d the 010 now now the property o f E ar l L ove l ace, an d pre tty safe for' devastation. The antiqu ar i an s may thank one of the for' devastation. mer owners, an On s l ow , f or thi s re li c , as he prevented, l, total destruction. The r ea d e r s of m y " Plea for 1)-11°1 :ha reviewed by you just ten years since, may reme4ol;"3l.o* woodcuts of both places, which well deserve a vi sit - fine day, as " nooks and corners of old England." AUGUST, 1842. I gaze where August's sunbeam falls Along these grey and lonely walls, Till in its light absorbed appears The lapse of five-and-thirty years ! If change there be, I trace not, In all this consecrated spot : No new imprint of prior's march— On roofleless wall and frameless arch : The hills, the woods, the fields, the stream, Are basking in the self-same beam. The fall that turns the unseen mill, As then it murmurest, murmurs still. It seems as if on one were cast The present and the imaged past, Spanning, as with a bridge sublime, That awful lapse of human time ; That gulph, uufathomably spread, Between the living and the dead. For all too well my spirit feels The only change this scene reveals. The sunbeams play, the breezes stir, Unseen, unfelt, unheard by her, Who, on that long-past August day, First saw with me these ruins grey.. Whatever span the Fates allow Ere I shall be as she is now, Still in my bosom's inmost cell Shall that deep-treasured memory dwell. That, more than language can express, Pure miracle of loveliness, I l v V e h r o e se m v y o s ic o e hl s , o s in sw u e s e, whose ic t ahclit eye slight so brigl it, In those blest days, when life was new, And hope was false, but love was true. I am, Sir, yours obediently, cooja• London, Feb. 14, 1866 The late slave States of America have 8 3 : 1 7,: ri of 928,894 square miles, and their population nO'keloso average of 19 persons to the square mi le. In order to i . o se a population of equal density with Massachusetts t. to States would have to undergo an increase of populatioa s the extent of 108,809,332. The coloured raco es 34 1-3 d of the Southern people. Its distribution is 0 n ,' 3 , 3 1. 1, - as follows :—Alabama, 45 per cent. ; Arkansas, 23' '„:i ortlrC sl ar ; o M lin a a, ry ware, 22 ; Florida, 46 ; Georgia, 42 ; entucklit ` 7 1 .• Louisiana, l3; N 3 1a 6 0 ; d, s2oBu;thlleitsstroisisinipa,pis, 9 5:. ; l g e : u s :e l , 24 ; Texas, 27 ; Virginia, 37. t