The Sun. — London, England, 1866-02-28 00:00:00

LONDON, IVEDAESDAY, FEB. 28, 1866. Metropolitan local government is a subject that may well engage serious attention, for it is one that concerns the interests of the community in a great degree. Lord It. MONTAGU on Monday called the notice of the House to the very inefficient manner in which the work was carried on by the local self-governments ; and in the course of his speech he gave some very good definitions of the state of the case. Indeed the noble lord very truly said that, in many respects, London was worse off than Paris, and even than small corporate cities in the kingdom. In illustration of this he mentioned the miseries endured during the last snow-storm through the state of the London streets, he himself finding the slush ancle-deep. The vestries never perform their appointed duty of causing the footpaths to be swept and cleaned. In the frost, also, great danger accrues from the neglect that prevails in not adopting proper measures to preserve passengers on foot or on horseback from slipping. Another important thing to notice is that from want of a "ruling autho rity " many persons are run over, 232 being killed in one year by being driven against by cabs, drays, and carts. A better proof of the want of a better arrangement could not be furnished than the fact that typhus fever is greatly on the increase. Under the existing system little or no attention is paid to the removal of nuisances, and no thanks are given to those who point them out. The medical officer of St. Pancras in his report showed where the nests of typhus might be found, and in consequence he was called impertinent by some of the vestrymen. No wonder that the noble lord should deny that there was any advantage in this so-called " noble Principle of self-government." If one board had the complete jurisdiction over all the metropolis a better state of things would follow. It would not be necessary to break up the minor boards. Last night Mr. AYRTON moved that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the local government and local taxation of the metropolis. The hon. member was very indignant at the re marks made by the noble lord the even ing before, and i„ expressed a hope that he might not agai n hear a a " rep e titi on i n that House of such observ a ti ons s had recently b een made with respect to th e vestrymen of the metro- This is certainly rat h er dinar an extraordinary observation, observation , and we should lik e to kno w Y why this class in pa rticular should be consider e d sacred from • • • Mr. AYRTON did his best to criticism. defend the and declared that local s present system, _elf - govern _ had been of more service to the community than the doings of the central Government by way of interference. Lord R. MONTAGE again made some observations in favour of a commission instead of a committee, and blamed the conduct of Sir G. GREY in not dealing with the subject in a de cisive manner, instead of showing great hesitation. That, however, is the fashionable course for Ministers to pursue nowadays, and therefore no one need feel surprise, though it is very inconsistent for the Government to leave all these matters to be settled by the house instead of inaugurating a policy of their own. Lord R. =‘l o = rauu very properly said that , 4 the ordinary rule was to appoi a committee to agcertain biets, and when these were known to appoint a Royal Com mission to devise a measure to meet an acknowledged difficulty." Sir G. GREY said that the House seemed in favour of the appointment of a committee, and he coincided in that opinion, because the diffe rent members of the metropolis could assist at the inquiry. Mr. LIDDELL made some observations on the coal tax, which, he said, he feared the Metropolitan Board were hankering to continue, in order to carry on improvements. The hon. member truly stated that " coal in the metropolis was an absolute neces sary of life, and there was no impost to which he unJerstood there was a greater objection, because it was a tax levied in its worst form." Lord ELCHO'S remarks reverted to the state of the poorer classes, and he stated that people might well imagine no one took into account how far, and in what way, all these improvements might affect the working classes. The House of Lords had, however, as the noble lord said, issued a standing order, to the effect that statements should be made of the number of persons I I displaced by any works for which compulsory powers were granted, and what was to be done to remedy the evils of such displacement ? We con cur with the noble lord in his wish that the House of Commons should adopt a provision similar to that of the House of Lords, which certainly has the credit of making the first attempt to protect the rights of the poor. In this money-making age there is no danger more to be guarded against than this encroachment on the dwellings of the working classes, because little or no effort is made to remedy the ills thus occasioned. Mr. LOCKE pointed out the great difficulty that laid in the way of providing dwellings for those who were turned out by railways being brought near their habita tions, because in many neighbourhoods the inha bitants are most averse to the poorer classes coming to settle in their parish for fear they should even tually become chargeable to the parish rates. To put a stop to this evil the hon. member advocated the advantage of union rating. A uniform rate in all the parishes of the metropolis is what has long been wanted, both for the interests of the community in general, and for the free dom and welfare of the working classes. As Mr. LOCKE stated, the parishes which are the richest are the most lightly taxed, and the inhabi tants of St. George's, Hanover-square, only pay a six or seven-pence in the pound. The committee having been granted, it is to be hoped that their labours may be successful, and that results may follow alike creditable to the House and beneficial to the public ; and certainly the matter under their consideration is one that should long ago have been dealt with in a vigorous manner. The subject to which Mr. CRAWFORD last night directed the attention of the house is unquestion ably a very important one, and its importance in these days of commercial enterprise is likely to in crease rather than diminish. Our mercantile con nection with India, which has been so long allowed to languish from various causes, is now extending so rapidly owing to the peculiar position of the cotton trade, the new tea plantations, and many other movements of the kind, that the rapidity and fidelity of the telegraphic communi cation becomes a matter of considerable moment. It might naturally have been sup posed that a country, whose wealth and whose mechanical resources are alike illimitable, would have made the communication with its own terri tories one of the first objects of its ambition. If we have enterprise and revenue enough to attempt lay ing a cable under the Atlantic, we might surely have contrived to establish a rapid and effectual system of communication between England and India. Some parts of the route are no doubt difficult and dangerous, but the great point of complaint is not that the line does not work, but that the messages transmitted by it are most inaccurately rendered. The cases which Mr. CRAWFORD cited last evening were of a very serious nature, especi ally when we remember the extent of the interests involved. As Mr. CRAWFORD observed, the tele graph at the present day has almost super seded the post in commercial matters, especi ally with regard to a tedious and dangerous voyage. "In relation to the trade with India it was the custom when goods were shipped for tele graphic information to be sent of that fact. On the receipt of the bill of lading, if the market were favourable, the goods were sold while on their way to their destination, and by that means the shipper was relieved from a great part of the risk, and was therefore content to re ceive less than he otherwise would accept, and so the public were enabled to obtain the 'goods at a reduced price." There is, however, another aspect to the question in which the telegraphic system is not so advantageous to any party concerned. A mercantile house in Liverpool sent last September an order for 1,000 bales of cotton, which was deli vered in India as an order for 21,000 ! Another order from another house was transformed from 500 bales at 12d. per lb. to 500 bales at 20d. per lb. It will not take a man of business very long to calculate the effect of such blunders, although their consequences would naturally vary with the resources of the firm which gave them the order. Thus we find that the failure of one house was ascribed to the fact of a telegraphic order to Egypt for 500 bales of cotton being converted into an order for 5,000. When we remember the extraordinary accuracy with which telegraphic messages are transmitted on other occa sions, we shall he more surprised that greater fidelity is not attained in respect to so important a trade. According to the official retut:ns of 1864 the aggregate value of the commodities imported into this coun try from abroad was 275 millions sterling, and of the goods exported was 214 millions sterling. "Of the goods imported," said Mr. CRAW FORD, " those from India were 20 per cent. of the whole, and Ceylon, Singapore, China, Japan, Australia, and the Mauritius supplied 11 or 12 per cent. in addition, so that portion of the world which was the subject of his motion supplied no less than one-third of the whole of the imports. In the case of exports, out of the total of 219 fr millions those countries took no less than 42 millions sterling." The nature of the goods imported is also a matter of consideration. Rice, sugar, and tea enter largely into the list, while articles supplying material for the industry of the country amount to nine minions, exclusive of cotton, which is 38 mil lions alone. The confusion created by the inaccuracy of the telegraph is heightened by another evil, the extreme uncertainty and tardiness in the delivery of the messages. If a message is correctly given, the delay of a month in the transmission may render it virtually inaccurate. Yet this is Mr. Ilop,s- no uncommon occurrence. FALL, who seconded Mr. CRAWFORD'S motion, mentioned that a message which should have been delivered in 36 hours at Bombay did not reach its destination for 36 days--in fact, after a letter en closing a duplicate of the order telegraphed had reached the parties. The complaints, in fact, have been so numerous that both mover and seconder declared themselves unable to allude to a tithe of th em , Nr, CRAWFORD stated that binee he had F l O USES.—Messrs. TOPIAS and ROBERTS have numerous furnfsh'd and unfurnished TOWN, glCirban, and Country RESIDENCES to LET or SELL. Pariiculars upon application forwarded for two stamps, upon at sting requirements and rental. Offices, 2, Conduit street, Regent-‘treet, and South Kensington, facing the Aluseurn. QOUTII KENSIN GTON, HYDE-PARK, Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Queen's-gate and Peters ham Terraces, Queen's -gate, Cornwall, Princes and Beaufort Gardens, Elvaston- place, Cromwell-road, Onslow and Thurloe Squares, Boltons, &c. Messrs Torus and ROBE ti,TS have Er. DENCES to SELL and LET in these and surrounding localities. Oflico,s, 2, Conduit-street, Re,gent-street, and South li,nsington, facing the Museum. .1 FE B 0 AT SE ItVl C ES. --1) uring the storms of the past year the National 1 b ast Institution, by Its life boats o her means, contributed to the savin: of •07 persons from €liffvreitt wrecks on out coasts. The Insti tut:on also expended .01,1" 4 In the same on it is lile te- bat et tabihrne :ts, in addition to gr:o.tiug £4,050 r wards fir :aving lite and exerziting• the lifeboats. The Committee of the Institution e trneAtly A VI'EAL to they üblic fur ASSISTANt..F. to ehable them to inert the continued heavy demands ou the lustautiou's 150 lifeboat Etations. t h e London and country C on t r ibutions arc received by bank.trs ad by th :7.-ecreary. Richard Lewis, Y.eq., at the Institution, n 14, Jot street,t Adelphi, London. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE._ Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, the Play of THE MERCUANI . OF VENICE. Mr. Prieto; Messrs. Rayner, Barrett, G. Bel more, E. Phe'ps, M•lntyre ; Mrs. Hermann 1T mit ; ilia H. t.e;:ltreq, Sze. Atter 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 Matirg,r, nuek.ton.. THIS IIZAWNING, A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT. w. Darren, Mr. Compt'in ; Miss Ada Cavendish. To be followed by BROTHER SAM : Mess! s. Sothern, Buckstone, Compton; Mesdames Nelly Mooze, Snowden, After which, ORPHEUS IN THE HAYMARKET Messrs. W. Farren, Fisher, L's tieman, Weathersby, &o ; Mesdames Keeley, Snowden, Moore, Lindley, IVoolgar. Howard, Wright, Coleman, Lovell, Prev:it, Sze. To eorclude with A KISS IN THE DARK. Commence at Seven. R°YAL LYCEUM T REATRE.- Under the sole Management of Mr. Feehter. THIS EVENING, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER- Mr. H. IVichliconab. Atter which. THE 3IASTER OF RAVENSWOOD. Mr. letchter; Messrs. Jordan, Emery, Widdicomb, Vezin, .1. 11. FitzpatrieL - , D. Evans ; Itesdames Tertian, E:sworthy, Lavenu, and C. Leelercq. Box Office open daily from Ekven till Five. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING. at 7, a new farce called PIPKIN'S BETBEAT. Messrs J. L. Toole and P. Bedford. After which, at 8, RIP VAN WINKLE. Rip this 151st appearance), Mr. Jefferson, supported by Messrs. Billington, I. Bedford, II Phillips, Yelix Itog,rs, Ashley, kburne, C. J. Smith; Mrs. Bilfingtcr, , &c. To conclude with LEIII.SD TIME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Phillips, Eburne, C. J. Smith ; Miss A. Seaman, &c. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. Tlll3 'EVENING, QUIET LODGINGS. After wht h, at a quarter to Eight, IT IS' NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. Characters by Messrs. Vining, T. Mel ville, T. Mead, D. Murray, 6. Calime= P. Villiers, J. G. shore, G. Murray, N. Mellon, C. Seytun, R. Cathcart; Alio L. Moore and Miss Katherine Rodgers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, ss, Mrs. Swanborough. TIIIS EVENING, at Seven (2 th time), a new and orig - i• nal Comedy, THE FLY AND THE WEB. Mesql. Par selle and Price; Mists Sw,nborough and Raynham. After which will be produced a new Opera Burlesque, L'AFRICAINE; or, The Queen of the Cannibal Islan is. Messrs. Stoyle, James, Thorne; Mesdames Swanborough, Raynham, Johnstone, ,tc. To conclude with LENDING A HAND. Mess:s. Belford Turner; Misses Simpson and Hughes. (IIIE LAST EDITION OF " THE SUN," it. Containing the Latest SVOILTING IN rELLWENC , assn be Lad Every Evening ot U. IL GLItNIF, NEWP AGENT, No. 4. Connaught-terrace, Ilyde-park. 11IIE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " IL supplied, as soon foi published every Eveninv, by vV. ALEXANDER (I%te filtoOliS), Newspaper Agent, Old Osvendisii-street, Oxford-street. THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as Joon as Published, containing all the LA FEST IN PASTS and SPORTING INTELLIGLNCE, by H. W. ILtIU IS, kirelsspaper Agent, 4, Blacktriars-roan, London, S. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. lIOI,MES begs to inform his friends, and the pubic g, ierally. test he IS iippl,es the LAT.E6T EDITI,N of • " as soon as published —No. 16, Hampstead road, N.W. QPORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supplies the I.A. I. ST E I'lo )1 of " 11. til.ll.N" as sOoa as pub -11,!1 d. - I, B.:th-odr, Ctty-roa.l, E C. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TalB DAY.--11(miing, 2611 - I.—Afternoon, M. 50m. TJ-Mo rdt ow.-Moruin 2u. 10.11.--Afternoon, 21i. 30m. ~~~~ r'llEt) 1 ; Sun. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 28, 186 g. given notice of his motion he had received hundreds of letters on the subject ; while Mr. HORSFALL'S account was very similar. He had received nume rous communications lately from India fully con firming the accounts given in this country. From Madras one party sent during six months 250 messages, of which 153 only were received. Two telegrams were sent off on the same day, one of which took 7 days and the other 27 in transmis sion. As a sample of the confusion arising from the mismanagement, Mr. HonSFALL mentioned that a firm he knew received a telegram from Bombay, stating that the managing partner was leaving from ill-health, and asking for a gentleman to be sent out to take his place. A gentleman was engaged at a salary of £l,OOO a-year, and despatched to Bombay, when lo ! it turned out that the telegram was not from Bombay at all, but from Madras, and that it was only a clerk who was ill ! The Chamber of Commerce at Liverpool, when trying to collect information on the subject, were told that it was difficult to single out instances where all the system was so bad. The messages have to pass through seven different administrations, and the mistakes occur in Turkey, where the employes are ignorant of the English language, and apathetic and indifferent to business. The line in India was worked well enough, as was every part under the direction of Englishmen ; and what is wanted is clearly to have British operators all along the line, as between Bussora and Kurrachee, where the messages are sent 1,500 miles in half an hour. National jealousies on the part of Russia and France are said to interfere with this proposal, but it is quite impossible that a system so mischievous and so unbusinesslike should be tolerated any longer. It is most injurious to those commercial interests with which the ma terial welfare of our vast Indian possessions is identified, and wo can only hope that the committee obtained by Mr. CRAWFORD will be able to effect a radical reform in the system of telegraphic com munication between this country and India. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) AUSTRIA. VIENNA, FEB. 28. It is officially announced that the International Exhibition at Vienna will take place in 1870. Intelligence received hero from Constantinople states that the diplomatic representatives of the Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris have communicated to their respective Governments the wish of the Sublime Porte that a commission should be sent to Bucharest on behalf of each of the above Powers in order to inquire into the recent events in Roumania. POLAND. WARSAW, FEB. 28. An imperial ukase has been issued, permitting Jews who have received a diploma at a Prussian or Polish university to enter the public service in Po land, with the enjoyments of the rights and privileges connected with the office of public func tionaries. HOLSTEIN. KIEL, FEB. 28. General Gablenz, the Austrian commander in Holstein, has addressed an order to the Provincial Government of that Duchy, sanctioning the extra ordinary convocation of the committee on the Budget. General Gablenz in this document alludes as follows to the recognition of the Constitution of 1854 : " I do not hesitate to express myself in favour of the Constitution of 1834 as the proper basis for the future political organisation of Holstein, and I re cognise in their full extent the obligations thereby imposed upon the Government of the Emperor of Austria." Central Criminal Court.—This Day. OLD COURT. (Before Mr. Baron Bramwell.) FORGERY. Henry Harris pleaded guilty to a charge of forging a power of attorney to defraud a person named Gibson of certain dividends he was in the habit of receiving from the Bank of England ; he also forged a document with intent to defraud another person named Dickson. Prisoner provided himself with a form to represent the official document, and Gibson, being an illiterate man, was deceived thereby, but in the case of Dickson he was de tected. He was sentenced to 10 years' penal servitude. MURDER OF A POLICEMAN. John Daley, 22, John Cahill, 22, and Daniel 18, were in dicted for feloniously killing and slaying William Fitz gerald, a policeman in the F division. Tho deceased was on duty in Drury-lane, when there being a row he interfered and was attacked by the pri soners. He received such severe injuries that he died in a very short time after the ill-treatment. The jury had not returned their verdict when we went to press. NEW COURT. ALLEGED FORGERY OF MINING SHARES. Mr. John Pennewan, a surgeon, until lately practising at Redruth, in Cornwall, was charged with forging certain transfers of shares in the Ilallenbeagle and other mining companies. There were 15 indictments against the prisoner. The proceedings were of a very technical nature, and involved the production of a vast collection of documents. Tho case will not conclude to-day. POLICE; INTELLIGENCE.—This Day, MARLBOROUGH -STREET. ASSAULT ON AN ACTRESS.—Mary Ann Pillar, a young woman, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with assaulting Miss Mary Granvilo, actress, of No. 4, Grafton-street, Fitz roy-square, and also with destroying a bonnet of the - value of 30s. The complainant said that shortly after 12 o'clock last night she was passing through King-street, St. James's, on her return from the theatre, when the defendant and three other finiales came behind her, and while the other females were hulling her, the defendant struck her under the eye and on the back of her neck, pulled one of her ear rings out, and tore her bonnet, of the Value of 80s., to pieces. In answer to Mr. Tyrwhitt the complainant said the defendant was an entire stranger to her, and that she had not given her or the other female the slightest provocation. A constable said that hearing cries of " Police " he went to the spot and found the defendant holding the com plainant by her bonnet and shawl. He took the defendant into custody, when defendant said the complainant struck her first. _The complainant said she never struck the defendant. All she did was to defend herself. The defendant said she was struck first. Tho constable, in answer to Mr. Tyrwhitt, said the defendant and her companions were not sober. Mr. Tyrwhitt said it was a cruel assault, the defendant and three companions having attacked an unoffending female. He should fine her 20s. or 14 days, and order her to pay 20s. for the damage and a fine of ls., or another 14 days. VIOLENT ASSAULT ON A WlFE.—Thomas Egan, of No 5, Market-street, Newport-market, was committed for two months with hard labour for assaulting his wife by throw ing a cup and saucer at her cutting her head and arms. Mr. Tyrwhitt further ordered him to find bail to keep the peace towards his wife, he having threatened to do for her. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. MONMOUTHSHIRE. The directors of this company have determined on recommending to the shareholders at the half yearly meeting a dividend at the rate of 6k per cent. per annum. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Tuesday Evening. A speech from M. Thiers—the man of many Ministries, it might be said Dynasties—always an incident of interest, acquires more than usual im portance at the present time. He spoke yesterday in the Corps Legislatif, but in such vague and rambling terms, that as he did not say what he meant to do, I for one am at a loss to know whether he intends to support any of the amendments to the Address or to vote for it purely and simply. M. Thiers commenced with a truism--that there were so many topics to deal with as to make it a real case of embarrassment of choice. However, he plunged in medias res, remarking that, of all sub jects, none was so worthy of attention as the politi cal constitution of the country. The great interest of a nation was its political constitution. M. Thiers proceeded to say that any change of dynasty was now out of the question ; but, as far as could be gathered from his argument, he wants now an ex tension of popular principles, for he said that " the re-establishment of liberty was now only a question of time. The Revolution had given to Frenchmen real equality—equality before the law." M. Thiers, after remarking upon the press— he did not say it was not free—accused the Government of interfer ing with the electors, but did not venture to point out any proof or example of such interference. M. Thiers, after reviewing seriatim the topics of the Speech having especial reference to foreign politics, touched upon England, admitting by implication at least that the most important point to be considered was how far the institutions of France ought to be assimilated with our own. He said free trade was nct liberty, nor was universal suffrage liberty. It was a step to liberty. The suffrage was restricted in England, but no one could say that England was not free. Nothing was so becoming in the speech of Tkners as the end of it. I give it in _ his own wor6. " In England how many things arc contrary to liberty (let the reader recollect that he had just said that England was undoubtedly free). The law of primogeniture, substitutions, a national church— intolerance everywhere, and yet England is free. Why ? Because in a Republic or in a Monarchy people are free when they have such institutions as I have enumerated. Nations may be mis taken, but they are less liable to mistakes than a man. A man commits faults, because not being forced to deliberate, to weigh the for and hgainst, he is carried away by his passions. If he should hold in his hands the destinies of nations he may precipitate them into great misfortunes. Thus the real definition of a free nation is this—A free nation is a being who is obliged to reflect before he acts." (Applause from some parts of the Chamber.) The enrolment of soldiers for the Pope is now completed. His Holiness has ordered the following prayer, his own composition, to be offered up on the occasion.—" Protect this city, Oh Lord ! and let your angels guard its walls. In your mercy hear the prayers of your people. Let your anger turn from your people because we are threatened by the coalition of our enemies, they who glorify themselves in their strength. But you, destroy their power and disperse them, so that they may know that there is no one to fight for us but you, our God." The prayer is in Latin, but the above is a literal trans lation of it. The Committee of the Great Exhibition having expressed a desire to thank his Imperial Majesty for having named the Imperial Prince as honorary Pre sident, the Emperor received the members of it on Sunday at the Tuileries. 'The Emperor said to them, " My son is yet too young to take an active part in your deliberations, but at least he will have an opportunity of learning in good time to honour labours which insure the splendour and prosperity of the State." The Emperor was engaged in con versation for a long time with the committee, and the young Prince graciously held out his hand to the members of it when they were about to depart. I have already mentioned the intention to erect a statue to Joan of Arc in the new square by the Rue St. Honors. The attention of artists has long been directed to the endeavour to obtain an accu rate resemblance of the heroine. In the archives of the Empire an authentic portrait of her has been found taken from life by an officer of the Court before which she was tried by the English. She was born in 1412 at the village of DomVemry la Pucelle, near Orleans. There is a statue of her in that city, and also in the Museum of Domvemry. The family of Joan of Arc is not yet entirely ex tinct. Only a few days ago there died at Orleans Madame de Julienne, whose maiden name was Gauthier Dave, who was a descendant of the great female warrior. An old man, named Antoine Granier, and his wife have just been tried before the Court of As size at Nismes, for atrocious cruelty towards,their child Adeline for a series of years past. The child disappeared ten years ago, being then four years old, and was recently discovered in a sort of cave, deprived of fresh air and light. She was crouched on the floor, quite naked, an idiot, and having hardly the human form. She cannot speak, but utters monotonous and piercing cries. The child was almost like a corpse. The only explanation of these unnatural parents was that they were obliged to keep the child in a " sequestered" spot, because she had frequent fits of furious madness, and they were afraid that she would dishonour the family. A witness deposed to having thrown a fig to the child, who crawled along the floor and seized and ate it with avidity. The jury found both prisoners guilty, but, it will hardly be credited, with " ex tenuating circumstances," and they were sentenced to six years' imprisonment. Last night and to-day there has been much rain, but the temperature is that of advanced spring. 1 enclose a blossom of a peach-tree. There are myriads of trees in the vicinity of Paris in full bloom. [Our Correspondent sends a beautiful blossom.] FRANCE. BOURSE, Feb. 27, Three o'clock.—The market was brisk, and railway shares maintained their ad vance. The following were the closing quotations 4.1 per Cents 99 50 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 69 421 Do. end month 69 40 Credit Mobilier Do. end month 678 75 Bank Sharps 3690 Credit Foncier 1337 50 Italian Loan 6l 55 Do. end month 6l 45 RAIL Roman Ottoman Fives 3B 40 Mexican Loan 4B Do. Bonds 3OB 75 Russian Austrian Spanish Threes Homo Debt Deferred Orleans Northern Acct. 867 50 1117 50 'AYE. Cash. Lyons and Mediterranean •.. b9O Southern — •.• 551 75 Western Eastern Sardinian . 147 50 Austrian Lombard — ... 398 75 North of Spain 172 50 Saragossa — ... 225 Ditto to Barcelona Roman ... 115 AMERICA. ARRIVAL OP THE CITY OF WASHINGTON. The Royal Mail Company's steamship City of Washing ton, from New York on the 17th inst., arrived at Queens town at 6 30 a.m. to-day with the mails, 123 passengers, 5130,080 in specie, and £3,142 sterling. She landed the mails and 17 passengers, and proceeded for Liverpool at 6 •15 a.m. NEW YORK, Feb. 17, Morning. The Reconstruction Committee have decided to report in favour of the 2dmission of 'Tennessee, on the ground that she, having applied for admission into the Union, and her constitution being Republican, she shall be admitted on on the same terms and for the same reasons as territories The Tennessee delegation, however, ask admission to Congress, and deny that the State was ever out of tho Union, or that Congress can legislate for Tennessee as for a territory. Mr. Bancroft's remarks upon foreign Governments in his oration upon the late Mr. Lincoln's birthday have caused much indignation among the diplomatic corps. The Austrian Minister has protested officially to Mr Seward against Mr. Bancroft's statement that the Emperor Maximilian was an Austrian adventurer. Mr. Seward refused to accept the protest, on the ground that Austria had declared she would remain foreign to all Mexican matters. This theory the Austrian Minister re fused to accept, since it confounded the person of a member of the Austrian Imperial family with his political position, and his Excellency persisted in protesting against the impropriety of Bancroft's remarks. Sir Frederick Bruce refused an invitation to dinner x which Mr. Bancroft was to be present. The Spanish frigates Carmin and Isabel Catolina have arrived at New York, and will be thoroughly overhauled before their departure. The City of London and the Bremen have arrived out. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW Yonx, Feb. 17, Morning.—Money easy. Gold 1371 Exchange on London, 1481. Stocks firm and active. New York Centrals, 901. Illinois, 1141. Erie, 81. 5.20 Bonds, 1031. Cotton steady. M. Upland, 45. Flour declining. Wheat limited demand. Corn inactive. Provisions steady. Coffee held firmly. Sugar buoyant. Molasses limited demand. Petroleum inactive—crude, 30 ; refined, 48. NEw ORLEANS, Fob.l6.—Cotten dull, 45. Stock, 190,000 bales. MOBILE, Feb. 16 .—Cotton quiet, 43. Week's :sales, .0,000 ; receipts, 10,000 ; exports, 12,000 ; stock, 70,000. MEXICO. Advices from Vera Cruz to the Ist inst. announce that considerable military activity prevailed at that, port. Troops wore leaving for the interior and the frontier, and ammunition continued to arrive from France. The Republicans recently captured an Imperial train near Tampico, valued at $650,009. New Orleans despatches state that the Republicans had been defeated and routed near Tampico, with the loss of 850 mon. General Iledese and all the officers of his staff were killed. Walker v. Milner and Another. -c. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Srn,—From the evidence given in the above trial by the convict Caseley, it would appear but a trif ling matter to break open safes made by either Mil ner, Griffiths, or Tann. Now it may be somewhat comforting to pawns using safes manufactured by Griffiths to learn that twice last year attempts were made upon one in my use of his make, the last occa sion (Aug. 16) being a very determined one, as the appearance of the safe testified, together with the tools and instruments left behind by the burglars. On being informed that my factory had been robbed I hastened down to the place and opened the safe in the presence of Inspector Elliott (of the borough police), who congratulated me upon being spared a very serious loss (£400) in cash, besides other pro perty, through the protection afforded by Griffiths' safe, in fairness to the maker of which I have ven tured to trouble you with the foregoing facts.—l remain, Sir, yours obediently, _ . , EDWARD J. NEWBEGIN. Sunderland, Feb. 22. DEATH OF Dn. LEE, Q.C.—The death is recorded this morning of Dr. John Lee, Q.C., of Hartwell, a gentleman who was known not only as a lawyer but as a politician, a scientific man, and a social reformer. He was of great age and ve r y regular i n hi s mo d e o f li v i ng and general habits. Ho was a most energetic Radical, and very frequently appeared on the hustings at Aylesbury as an opponent of Mr. Disraeli, when he offered himself as a candidate for the representation of the county of Buck ingham. In some cases he went to the poll, but was never successful. Ho was a rigid teetotaller and a determined enemy to the use of tobacco, which he condemned on every possible occasion. His house at Hartwell was a perfect museum, and scientific men always found a welcome there In his general manners Dr. Lee was somewhat eccentric. Although a lawyer and one of her Majesty's counsel ho always appeared on the hustings attired in a light blue tail coat with loss of brass buttons, and generally with a buff waistcoat and light trousers, sometimes breeches, made in the quaintest fashion of the old times. Ho was an active member of several of the learned societies. The rectory of Hartwell and the vicarage of Steno, Buckinghamshire, which were his gift, he made over to the Royal Astrono mical Society, who have remained the pa,tron6 over kin Ce. NORTH-WESTERN. Tho half-yearly meeting was held at Leeds on Thursday ; Mr. Burkill in the chair. The report stated that there would be a dividend of 5 per cent. on £471,336 A consolidated stock (guaranteed), and of 1i per cent. per annum on £314,224 B consolidated stock ; and that, owing to the English and Scotch tariff agreement, this com pany did not receive its rights and assume its place as part of the Midland through route to Scotland. The report was adopted, and the dividends were declared. CRYSTAL PALACE AND SOUTH LOND ON. The report states that the stations and the whole of the works to be executed by this company have been completed. Important arrangements had been made by which the traffic from the South Eastern, the Great Northern, the Metropolitan, and probably the South-Western Railway would also be brought over the line. Those arrangements, however, could not be carried out, nor the traffic be properly de veloped, until the junction with the South-Eastern Railway was completed, and also the line between Peckham and Walworth. In the meantime the line was worked for the benefit of the contractors, who guaranteed and paid the interest on the B stock. The capital account showed that £819,560 had been expended. KENT COAST. The report of the directors states that the receipts from traffic for the half-year ending the 31st De cember last amounted to £30,580, against £27,022 for the corresponding period of 1864. After pay ment of debenture interest and general charges, the sum of £24,890 remained applicable to dividend on the preference and ordinary stocks of the company, which the directors proposed should be at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum on the £302,502 B stock, and at the same rate on the £408,500 ordinary stock, leaving a balance of £3,560. The capital account showed that £952,608 had been expended. SEVENOAKS, MAIDSTONE, AND TUNBRIDGE. The report of the director states that the rental payable by the London, Chatham, and Dover Cora pany for the past half-year was received on the 31st of December last. After payment of debenture in terest and general charges the balance amounted to £3,720, out of which the directors proposed to apply £3,300 to the payment of a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the preference shares, and to carry forward £420 to the next account. The capital account showed that £333,008 had been ex pended. WHITEHAVEN, CLEATOR, AND EGREMONT. The half-yearly meeting was held at Whitehaven on Monday--Mr. A. B. Steward in the chair. The report stated that the total receipts for the half-year had been £17,231, and the working ex penses, including taxes and rates, £7,797, or 45+ per cent. The directors recommended the payment of a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, less income tax, on paid-up capital. The Marron line had been opened for mineral traffic at the com mencement of the present year, and would be ready for passengers in a few weeks. The report was adopted, and the dividend de clared. THE PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL SCULLING MATCH.—In the New York Clipper of February 17, just arrived, there appear some choice remarks relative to Hamill's prospects in coming to England to row our Cham pion. The. Clipper is "glad that the race is not to take place on the Thames, because we could scarcely look for a fair trial on that river. Of late years, rowing matches on. the Thames have been in the hands of betting men and bookmakers, as they are called over there. The men. matched to row aro ' touted' and watched in their trials in the same manner as racehorses are; and as soon as tho good thing' is out, largo commissions are thrown into the market, and every available means used, fair or foul, to bring off the event ' according to the books.' " These and other valid reasons—if they had been true as to facts—are given; and the editor goes on to say :—" Since writing the above, we have received a letter from Hamill, dateul/ dated Feb. 8, in which he informs us that he is awaiting a o f ficial statement of Kelley's acceptance, and that as sure as such appears he will at once forwarda sufficient amount , to cover the sum deposited by the English Champion." St the matter rests for the present ; but we learn that Hat& 11 intends to come to England in May, when he will take, 7 ip his quarters on the banks of the Tyne, where the race v /ill in all probability be rowed. Harry Clasper is to build! him a boat. THE SO-CALLED " DECLINE OF THE TURF. " Three stakes, with a " thou" (one the gift of :Mr. Blenkiron) added to each, will be run for during the Ascot May and June Meetings in money and plats; abou. t 900 two year olds are engaged ; the Jockey Club is seve. uty three strong, with two kings and two princes in its ran. I cs Mr. Chaplin's two-year-old Hermit, by Newminster, fro m Seclusion, has forty-six engagements; Mr. Merry 's yearly colt by Thormanby, out of Sunbeam, has 20 k old Qurli Ataxy is in 12 produce etukee. MARKETS.--This Day. MARK LANE. Fresh up to our market to-day the arrivals of home grown wheat were moderate. Dry samples moved off freely at fully late rates. For inferior produce the trade was quiet at about stationary prices. With foreign wheat the market was moderately sup plied. For most descriptions there was a fair demand, and the quotations ruled firm. Floating cargoes of grain were in moderate request at late rates. The market was very moderately supplied with barley. Malting descriptions were ver) firm, and prices were is per qr. higher than at the close of last week. Grinding and distilling barley changed hands at fully late rates. Malt was firm at the extreme prices of Monday. The market was well supplied with oats; on the whole, the trade was steady at Monday's quotations. Both beans and peas met a slow sale at late rates. The flour trade was quiet at previous quotations. SHIP ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Wheat.Barloy. Malt. Oats. Flour. English and Scotch 1070 530 1610 150 420 Irish Foreign B5BO 2750 21,540 410 sks. 1680 bls. COMPARATIVE QUANTITIES AND PRICES OF GRAIN. For the week ending Feb. For the corresponding week 24, 186 G. last year. Qrs. Aver. Qrs. Aver. Wheat 59,576-45s 5d Wheat 79,804-38s 2d Barley ..... ....58,819-34s 8d Barley 54,547-29 s Od Oats 10,238-23s 10d, Oats BOROUGH HOP. The hop market is rather quiet; nevertheless, prices rule firm. WiIITECHAPEL. The supply of meat on sale is good, and the trade rules tolerably active, as follows: Beef, from 2s 10d to 4s 6d;; mutton, 4s Od - to 5s 4d ; veal, 4s 4d to 5s 4d ; and pork, 3s 10d to 5s 2d per Blbs by the carcase. Liverpool Cotton Market. —Tl,is Day. The tone of the market , continnes strong. Sales 12,000 bales or more. RACING IN FRANCE. LA MARCHE STEEPLE CHASES. The first of the spring reunions of France was inaugu rated by the commencement of the steeplechase season on Sunday last, under the most favourable auspices, at the head-quarters of French cross-country encounters, La Marche. The weather, happily for the occasion, was bright but cold, and the ground in capital condition, being more fit for flat racing than jumping. Three events were decided, the first being no exception to the general rule in steeplechasing, an objection being laid by the owner of Infante (Barun do Herissem), whose horse came in third, a long way behind, on the ground that the first and second did not carry sufficient weight—the winner (R. M. D.) having won at Croydon last year, and the second(Katinka) for having won the Prix de Cloture, at La Marche, in November last. The owner % of R. M. D., however, de claring that he was not liable to a penalty, a telegraphic message was sent to England to obtain the required in formation. The reply received having shown that the objection against R. M. D. was unfounded that horse was declared the winner. The second money was, however, withhold for a week, and the decision will be given some time this week, in order that bets may be settled on Saturday night next, at the Salon des Courses, Grand Hotel. The new stands were well patronised, and the arranging of the weighing and hoisting of the numbers in the betting en closure, on the same principal as at Longchamps, gave great satisfaction. The company for the opening day be ing very numerous speculation was carried on most briskly, although all the events came off dead against the fielders. The sport commenced at half-past two, and finished at a quarter-past four, thus enabling all to reach Paris in good time. M. Dennetier, as clerk of the scales and " everythingarian," got through his labours like a Hercules. There was some betting on the Liverpool Grand National, which will be found recorded below : The Prix D'Ouverture of 100 sovs, for horses which have never won 320 sovs; two miles and a half. 8 subs• Count de la Bigne's R. M. D., 6 yrs, 11st (Quinton) 1 M. Macevoy's Katinka, aged, list 4lb (Lamplugh) 2 Baron do llerissems's Infante, 6 yrs, 9st 10Ib., (Bryant) 3 Mario and Bonsoir also ran. Betting-7 to 4 agst R. M. D., sto 2 agst Katiuka, and 5 ;0 1 agst Bonsoir. For three-fourths of the distance the race lay between R. M. D. and Katinka, the former leading by a couple of lengths. On reaching the ice wells the second time round, Infante drew up, and turned the last corner with R. M. D., but the former falling at the last hedge, R. M. D. won in a canter, with Katiuka second. Infante was remounted, and finished third. Mario full, and Bonsoir, being beaten, was pulled up in the course of the race. An objection against the winner for not carrying sufficient weight was over ruled, Tho second money is withheld in consequence of a similar objection. The Prix des Tribunes (handicap) of 60 sovs for all horses; 1 mile 7 fur. 9 subs. M. Porte's Sentence, 5 yrs, lOst 31b (Cassidy) 1 Count de la Bigne's Perle-Fine, aged, list (G Quinton) 2 Baron von Urootvou's G..bon, 4 yrs, 9st Glb.. (Pulaise) 3 • - - - - Farintosh and Lignieres also ran. Betting-5 to 2 agst Sentence, .3 to 1 agst Perle-Fine, and 5 to 1 any other. Farintosh and Sentence came abreast to the river and jumped together, after which the former took the lead, and the latter dropped back to the rear. Farintosh fell at the road, and Lignieres was in difficulties at the Irish bank, and was pulled up, Perle-Fine in the meantime making the running. Within half a mile of home, Sentence again wont to tho front, was not overtaken, and won easily ; Perle-fine was next. The Prix D'Essai of 60 sous, for four-yr-olds and upwards which have never won a steeplechase or hurdle race; 2 miles 1 fur. 110 yards.' 16 subs. M. Lunel's Milton 6 yrs, lOst 71b1 (Cassidy) 1 M. Porte's Niger, 5 yrs, 11st 2lb (Collins) 2 Count de la Bigne's Droit-de-Seigneur, 4 yrs, lOst 71b (G. Quinton) 3 The following also ran : — Lansquenet, Glycine, Mister ton, Robert, Caprice, Duncan. Betting-5 to 2 agst Niger, sto 1 each agst; Milton and Misterton, 8 to 1 agst Caprice, and 10 to 1 agst Droit-de- Seigneur. Niger and Duncan alternately led till near home, when Duncan fell back, and Milton coming forward passed Niger within a few lengths of home, and won by two lengths. CHELTENITAIL GRAND ANNUAL STEEPLECHASES.—The sum of 300 sovs is to be added to the Grand Annual Steeple chase, and 150 to the Prince of Wales Stakes. WINDSOR SPRING MEETING. —In consequence of tb e floods, the above meeting has been postponed from the 22d and 23d of March until the sth and 6th of June. In order to avoid clashing with Warwick and Groxton Park, Lewes Spring Meeting has been postponed to the 22d and 23d of March. The principal stakes close on March 6. DUUHAM liAcEs.--:The North Durham - Handicap, with 50 sovs added ; the Raby Stakes (handicap), with 50 added; and the Wynyard Plate, of 30 sovs ; cb)se and name on the 6th March. CATTERICK BRIDGE RACES.—The r.bedale Hunt Stakes, with 50 sovs added, and the Nortii, Yorkshire Steeple chase Stakes, with 100 added, for tiais meeting, close and name on Tuesday the 6th March. Four stakes to be run for at Nemcastle-upon-Tyne, close and name on the first Tuesd A y in March, namely, the Northumberland Plate, with, 300 sous added ; the New castle Handicap, with 100 added; the Stewards' Cup, with 100 added ; and the La'.nbton Stakes, for two and three year olds, weight for r.ge, with 50 added. . The Grand Natio - JAI Hunt and West Somerset Steeple chase of 10 sous each, h. ft., with 250 added, for regular hunters that have. not been in a training, ptable,since Jan. 1, 1866, closes on Thursday ; as also the Grand Military Cup, value 100 sovs ; the West Somerset Open HandiCap, with 200 added; the Hunters' Stakes, with 70 added ; and the Stewards' Gold Cup, value 100 soya. A rather amusing incident took place a few weeks ago in connection with Stabber. It appears that the clerk of a solicitor in practice at Middleham was in the habit of fill ing hi s spare time by deriving all the information possible from . the boys employed in the various stables. This in fore nation he was in the habit of forwarding to certain of hi * i patrons at a considerable profit. Soaring, however, at b igher game, he wrote to the principal sporting papers, - stating that after the purchase of Elland and Split the Dif ference by Mr. Sutton to lead work for Lord Lyon, the two horses were tried on Middleham Moor with Stabber. This "trial" he professed to have witnessed himself before day light, and in the depth of winter too. The letter contain ing the anonymous scandal .. was sent to Mr. Dawson, in the hope that he might detect the writer, which ho had no difficulty whatever in doing. An investigation took place, and certain of the boys were closely questioned, 'when it appeared that several, being out of employment, and " on the loose" in Middleham, consequent on Lord Glasgow's horses being sent away, bad raised the wind by imposing upon the two eager scribe. in short, the lads made a clean breast of it,. and stated that a mock trial was g o t up, not on th e moor, but in a beershop. There were only three (boys) in it, one of whom was delegated to convey the result of the trial to the lawyer's clerk, and the others were held in reserve to corroborate him, and, to use their own words, it " came on stunning." The price paid for this wonderful piece of news retailed all over the country for the benefit of backers and bookmakers was three shillings. " Ho would not believe me at first," said the lad who " did the cheeky," " but when 1 told him that I could bring the other two boys who rode in the trial, ho said, ' Fetch 'em here,' and when we told him all about it, he tipped us a bob apiece." It isneedless to say that the solicitor has discharged the victim of this hoax, who adopted the nom de plume of " Stabber's Ghost." And it is extremely improbable that even his shadow will ever be seen again on Middleboro Moon—Sporting Life. ti tur t s :1110ln HER MAJESTY• WINDSOR CASTLE, Tuesday. The Queen walked and drove this morning, ac companied by Princess Helena. Viscount Torrington and the Hon. Mortimer Sackville West have succeeded the Earl of Caith ness and Major-General F. Seymour, C. 8., as Lord and Groom in Waiting. TIIE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES. The Prince of Wales went to the House of Lords yesterday afternoon. The Princess of Wales took a carriage drive. The Hon. Mrs. F. Stonor has succeeded the Countess of Macclesfield as Lady in Waiting to the Princess of Wales. ASTLEY'S THEATRE.—Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales and Prin.%) Alfred, attended by a numerous suite, honoured this theatre with a visit last evening to witness the grand successful pantomime. Il i a Excellency the Marquis D'Azeglio, the Duke of St. Al bans, the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe, &c., had private boxes. Tho royal family were delighted with the performance. The Earl and Countess of Bessborough enter tained a select party at dinner on Monday evening at th eir residence in Charles-street, Berkeley-square. The Countess of Clarendon will have an assembly this evening at her residence in Grosvenor-crescent. The Countess Cowper had a dinner party last evening at her residence in St. James's-square. Lord and Lady John Manners received a select party at dinner last evening at their residence in Cumber land-terrace, Regent's-park. Sir John and Lady D'Alberg Acton and General BoUverie have left Brown's hotel. Sea Messages from Passengers of the Londoh Admiral Halstead, the secretary of Lloyd's, has received the following letter from Sir Anthony Perrier, C. 8., H.M. consul and Lloyds's agent at Brest, dated Feb. 24, 1866 : Sir,—l annex a translation of an extract from A letter just received from the Commissary-Genera l of Marine at Lorient, which may be of interest to those concerned in the fate of the unfortunat:e London, should the original papers sent to Parrs not have been transmitted to her Majesty's Govern ment by the Minister of Marine. —I am, sir, You r obedient servant, ANTHONY PERRIER. To the Secretary of Lloyd's. Extract of a letter from Commissary-General of Marine at Lorient (translation). On the 12th of February last three bottles were found on the coast of Quiberon and Locruariaque r, and containing six papers written in English as follows : The first paper—D. W. Lemnon, London, Thum" day, 10th January, 1866. The ship is sinking ; hope of being saved. Dear Parents, —May Ow bless you, as also me, with the hope of eterila' salvation. Second paper—Steam-ship London. They ar° putting out the boats. Third paper—F. G. Huckstepp. On board steam" ship London—lat. 46.20 long. 7.30, lost boats , masts, and sails ; ship leaking. Fourth paper—We commenced our voyage ° ll Saturday, 30th Dec., 1865. Sunday, in the Cho' nel; Monday, in open sea ; Tuesday, ditto ; nesday, at Cowes ; Thursday, at Plymouth ; Fri day and Saturday, at sea ; Sunday, bad weather ; Monday, water from the stern comes in cabin ; t he 9th, heavy damages ; a boat l os t ; ma y We ge" , home ; storm.—H. •G. Fifth paper—F. C. 31‘Millan, of Launceston/ Tasmania, 11th January, 1866, to his dear wif e and his dear children :—May God bless you all; farewell for this world ; lost in the steam-sh i p London, bound for Melbourne. Sixth paper--H. J. Denis to Th. Denis Knidat at Great Shelford:—Adieu father, brothers, And sisters, and my . . . Ed. steame r London. Bay of Biscay, Thursday, 10 o'clock. Ship too heavily laden for its size, and too c rank; windows stove in ; water coming in evLrywhere* God bless my poor orphans. Request to, send this, if found, to Great Shelford ; storm not, too violent for a ship in good condition. On the same day were found rxa the shoals (31 Guiberon a binnacle watch, stojped at half-1 )9 ' 5 ten o'clock, a woman's shift, t wo , cotton s h e ets, an d o two splinters of wood, having on them in wh it a letters 6 centimetres (2i inches) long, the vi° r " London." A great quantity of sta7'es have been picked UP along the coast. In compliance with the instructions of the Ai l ; nister of Marine] the a - Dove ment i one d papers hale been sent to the MiniFiter of Marine and Colonies' Sale of a Comic Singer. r ( f F te ra r m no t o h n e Galasngoovwelilsearlael sale, Yesterday by public tion, took P l age within the rooms of Messrs. Hu son and Dixon, West Nile-street. For several clafr placards may have been observed in the city, 1: nounci-ag th e com i ng sa l e o f t h e services of.o James Taylo r , d escr ib e d as " Th e Ch amp i o n C° ll3l of ermat Britain." On certain conditions Mr. VI; for proffered his services for four months, fro No vember next, to the highest bidder, engag,ing b ., to siy.lg twice every la w ful eve n i ng i n an y establish Yuent, and in any town to which he might be se n a The novelty of the affair doubtless excited a g oc) e i deal of curiosity amongst Mr. Taylor's professi on o brethren in the city, who y es t er d ay afters ° °a into " The Mart" as the hour of sale a r c i proached. At five o'clock Mr. Hutchison me ° f himself into a chai r w hi c h was placed on the toPf the table, and was soon a ft erwar d s suppor ted on the right by Mr. Taylor, for whom similar accomel ec T tion in this elevated position had been providd', The gentlemen who were expected to become W I ,. ders stood or were seated in front of the auction ec of Many of them were smoking cigars, and an array e, champagne glasses which studded a green 1)0 e covered table gave promise of pleasures yet to chin- Mr. Hutchison opened the proceedings by exPl ai o , ing the circumstances under which he came to o _ 3l cupy the chair; but before advancing to the r e be business of the day he caused the champagne t e .,a handed round, while the company smoked a", air" chatted, chaffed Mr. Taylor in a quiet way , hos quaffed his health with fraternal fervour. 1. 1 ,% 0 comfortably circumstanced, the bidding began' to first offer made was £lOO, immediately increased A £llO ; but it was evident that this was in ten d N merely as a start, because the bidding went up ,i 0 a rush through all the intermediate tens til l was reached. Offers were now advanced more ea . ' tiously ; and when £315 was gained the tiort ders became so shy that a cunning sugge,s„„id was made that some more champagne bottles sn,vi3,3 be uncorked. The hint:was acted upon , and bri ef sparkling beverage again went round. Aft er sister , interval, and what seemed a grateful refl . , oe .. Mr. Hutchison again went to work, but it ' pcared still to be a stiff up-hill struggle with At £325 the " hat call" was threatened by the 10_ o tioneer ; bat two additional bids were fai ntly Yu leo tured upon, and at £335 the services for four ared dar months of the " Champion Comic" we re sec or t on behalf of the proprietor of the Whiteba it Cone ne d to Rooms. The bidding, as it seemed, was confined one or two gentlemen representing the prokpnoeked of concert rooms in the city. After being ai, down Mr. Taylor sprang up with chara cteristic o eu, ness to thank the company for their patronag tb° descending from his perch, w as lost aluong crowd. •r"_ RUMOURED RESIGNATION OF EARL BUSS L14 1., 0 Nothing transpired this morning in or about tt'ot House of Commons to confirm the rumour peval,e..i in the early part of the day, to the effect that /47_ Russell had resigned the Premiership. Th e C , i lj ;r. cellor of the Exchequer, Sir G. Gre3ry, ' the Cardwell -were present at the early sitting 035 House, and none of that peculiar excitement 'Ol,O observable as is invariably the case wh en the° a " screw loose in the Ministry. tin .' are 13( are Cit at For Pat Pat Cot - a kt Pe e N , 4e N , .1) attz, A r n., 4 4 °', ktra, e ku , `"01 0 k; 4 1, ( bat,i 15' ▪ ( • 11 D, tkr, i)( 1 10 4' IZe Do 0 D D o , e oc'e; An" P re 0 Jar ipso