The Sun. — London, England, 1866-04-25 00:00:00

mi PERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVENDTG. The LORD CRASCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. SMALL-PDX ON BOARD SHIP. _ _ The Earl of ELLENBOROUGH said that he had just learned that the ship Octavia had arrived from Bombay, and that there had been on board of her upwards of a hundred cases of small-pox. He wished to ask the noble duke at the head of the Admiralty what steps had been taken to prevent the spread of the disease ? The Duke of SOMERSET said that the orders of the medical men were sufficiently explicit, and directed that every sailor should be examined as to whether ho had the small-pox. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The followingbills;;;;ad-as;COnd time :—Broms- grove and Droitwich Water, North Eastern llailway (Gilling, Helmsley, and Pickering), N or th Eastern Railway (Leeds and Wetherby Branch), Hull, Horness, and North-Eastern Railway, Dublin Ports Act Amend ment, Dublin Ports Dock, Leicester Cattle Market, Sz.c. The Limerick and Castle Connell Railway, Brean Down Dock, Cork Harbour, United General Gas Company (Dub lin), South Essex Railway, and Imperial Gas Company Bills were severally read a third time and passed. WEST MIDDLESEX WATER BILL. Lord REDESDALE moved that the house should go into committee on this bill. Earl GREY thought that some explanation should be given by the Government as to what were their intentions as to taking some definite course in reference to private bills of this description, so as to introduce some system of municipal reform. He thought the Government were neglecting their duty in not paying more attention to bills like the present. Earl GRANVILLE said that the subject of this bill did not in his opinion raise any question of municipal re form. No doubt it was desirable that there should be more united action in respect to dealing with this subject, but at the same time it was a question that was attended with great difficulty. He reminded the noble earl (Grey) that there was no authority given in the bill to empower the company to divert or abstract a quantity of water from the Thames so as to affect injuriously the supply of the river water to the metropolis. The Earl of DERBY was understood to object to the principle of the bill. Lord TAUNTON considered that this bill tended to the obtaining of better terms from the corporation of the City of London. He thought also that justice would not be done in regard to these subjects unless the public forced them on the attention of Parliament. He contended that it was a disgrace to the country the manner in which municipal matters were sometimes managed, by which an unnecessary expenditure was incurred, and the interests of the public were - grossly neglected. The Earl of CARNARVON cited statistics to show the considerable increase that had taken place in the con sumption of water during the last twenty years. Ile agreed with the bill, but considered that the subject should receive the careful attention of Parliament. The bill then passed through committee. QUALIFICATION FOR OFFICES ABOLITION BILL. Lord HOUGHTON, in moving the second reading of this bill, said that the subject had been frequently before their lordships. The object of the bill was to relieve a very large numbe r of p ersons from making declara tions on their acceptance of office, which were unnecessary, and in some cases offensive to the feelings of a large portion of the community. There was no doubt that the bill was affected by the measure which came up from the other house, and which was read a second time yes terday by their lordships, with a view to relieve members of Parliament from the imposition of certain oaths on taking their seats. He did not see why the same relief should not be extended to the class to which the present bill referred. There was nothing in the bill to alarm their lordships, and he believed that the principle of the bill had the ap proval of the majority of the reasoning and respectable portion of the people of the country. From returns to Parliament it appeared that in Manchester alone, and else where, there were some thousands of persons who did not subscribe to the declaration, and the consequence was that the Indemnity Act had to be passed. He considered, however, that a general form of declaration should be required on the part of mayors and other officials, pledging their loyalty to the Crown. The Earl of DERBY offered no opposition to the bill, more particularly after the bill relative to Parliamentary oaths. Lord HOUGHTON then moved the second reading o the Qualification for Offices Bill, which he described as being a corollary of the Parliamentary Oaths Bill. Lord DEBBY, having explained that his former opposi tion to the bill proceeded rather from a conviction that the measure was intended as an attack upon the Church than from any value he attached to the declarations sought to be abolished, stated that, as one uniform oath had now been agreed upon to be taken by all members of Parlia ment, he thought municipal officers should be placed in a similar position, and therefore he should not oppose the motion. After a few remarks from Lords TAUNTON and ROMILLY, the bill was read a second time, Lord GRANVILLE express ing an opinion that the subject of uniformity of oaths might advantageously be further inquired into. The East Indian Military, ic., Funds Transfer Bill was read a third time and passed. The Public Offices (Site) Bill was read a second time. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING. The SPEAKER, took the chair at four o'clock. THE REFORM BILL. The Sheriffs of London presented a petition in favour of the Government Reform Bill. RYE ELECTIONS. Tha report of the Rye election committee was brought up. It declared that Mr. L. B. Mackinnon was duly elected, and that the allegations of bribery were frivolous and vexatious. THE BISHOPRIC OP NELSON. In reply to a question from Mr. SELWYN, Mr. CAItDWELL said it was quite true that represen tations bad been made to the Government, in consequence of their not giving their assent to the consecration of tha Bishop of Nelson. The refusal had arisen in consequence of the] law proceedings which had taken place in the Privy Council with respect to Natal. The Government were of opinion that before any action was taken by the Crown a bill ought to be introduced, when the whole subject could be considered by Parliameht. That was the sole reason for the refusal of the Government. With respect to Prince Rupert's Land, the bishop had been appointed, and was awaiting consecration previous to the delivery of the judgment of the Privy Council. COOLIES FOR THE EAST INDIES. Mr. B. COCHRANE asked the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he could inform the house if 'the French Government did not intend to press for a renewal of th© treaty for the immigration of coolies from the East Indies ? Mr. LAYARD said at that moment he could not give the hon. gentleman the information he required. NEW ZEALAND. Mr. ADDERLEY asked the Secretary for the Colonies what reply the Government had given to the addresses from New Zealand for the separation of the two islands under distinct Governments ? Mr. CARDWELL said the Government had intimated that they were not prepared to sanction such a proceeding. THE FENIANS. Lord DUNKELLIN asked the Secretary o f s tate the Colonies whether he r Ma j est y' s Go vernment had f re ceived any intelligence of an attack made or thr eatened b the Fenians on any of our North American colonies ; and if he would communicate the purport of it to the hous e ? Mr. CARDWELL said that he had no account. of the attack of the Fenians on our North American coloni es . There had been threatenings, however, for some time p as t, but that had given rise to a manifestation of loyal feeling on the part of her Majesty's subjects there, and the most attl " steps had been taken to meet, both by sea and land, any such threatened attack. mr WESTMINSTER BOITLEVARDS. . B. • move I eC CHEANE said on Tuesday next he should c°v arait provision wag ma d e tee to inquire and report whether proper west. fo r the poor in tion of thethe proposed construe- RATES oisT o der Boulevards. Mr. Alderman s4T TENMENT PROPERTY. emption from local rate s called attention to the ex and buildings in the occupa tio n claimed for houses, lands, mts throughout the 0)11i:t o t e of the Government Depart open inion of this house, her Majesty's and moved that, in the consider the expediency of r l e stre Government should that all lands and buildi ngs amending to Parliament purposes ought to be /tabl e t o localaria occupied f or p u blic • ner as other property, and pay ratesltes 131 the same man _ different parts ng moeitit buildings hon. gentleman took the opportunit f a Z ; din g l Y• The Whole Early unjust it was to the ratepay y gr o s S o how of the metropolis. In Chelsea the Governi occupied 72 acres, which was about 1-10th parish, the amount of the taxation for which was to which the Government only contributed £.515 e . 45° ' Green wich also suffered very severely from the same cause , and did not see why post-o ffi ces and savings banks shounleld not pay their quota to • poor rates like any ether buildings. Mr. TITE seconded the motion, because he knew how grievous the burden of the poor rates were in Chelsea. In that part of the metropolis the poor into amounted to one-fourth of the rack rent paid by every small shopkeeper in Chelsea. Mr. VT. MARTIN supported the motion. Mr. CHILDERS hoped the house would hesitate before - .they agreed to the motion of his hon. friend, because it not only proposed to bring all existing Government property under local rating, but it proposed also to deal with imagi nary property. It appeared to him that the motion went to the extent of saying that because a large area Of building land was held by the Governmen t, but was not built upon those imaginary buildings should pay rates. If Government were called on to pay on this basis, there was no knowing to what extent the general taxpayer might be called upon to pay local rates. At the present time the Government paid rates on great deal of public property where a beneficial occupation was proved. He, therefore, call 3 d ulon. the house not to adopt the principle laid down in the resolution, be cause it would lead to changes of which the hon. member who brought forward the motion did not himself see the end. Mr. Ferrand, Mr. Denman, and Major Dickson sup- ported the motion. Dr. BRADY opposed the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the motion of the hon. member was most extensive in its ap plication, and he thought it would be unadvisablo at the present moment to force it to a division. He would freely admit that it was a subject which demanded full inquiry. The motion was ultimately withdrawn. POOR-LAW EXPENDITURE. Mr. KNIGHT moved the following resolution—" That in the opinion of this house it is expedient that all items of poor-law expenditure throughout the United Kingdom, not being in maintenance or out-door relief, or otherwise under the immediate control and direction of board of guardians or parish officers, should become a national charge." He was not proposing that the whole burden of police rates, salaries of masters and mistresses in workhouses, and other items of expenditure, should be thrown on the Imperial Exchequer; but, in considering that £169,000,000 of the property of the country was not assessable to the relief of the poor, he thought it most desirable that the proposition he had made to the house should be considered. The country was gradually inclining towards the adoption of a national rate, and he hoped that whatever great change was effected in that direction the burden of relieving the poor would be thrown on the land. He hoped, if he re tained a seat in the house, he would have an opportunity of bringing the matter more fully under the consideration of Parliament. Mr. WARNER seconded the motion. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER heard with satisfaction the statement that the hon. gontlenaan intended to bring forward the subject on a future occasion, as it was an indication that he did not at present intend to take the sense of the house upon it. The subject was one which involved many difficulties. The charge which the honourable gentleman would transfer from the local to the Imperial Exchequer would be ab0ut£2,250,000, and if that were allowed, a corresponding claim would be raised on behalf of Ireland and Scotland. Of the two and a quarter millions of local taxation, taking it at a very low estimate, the working classes paid at least half. The matter was, therefore, one which involved very serious issues, and he therefore hoped the hon. gentleman would very seriously consider it before he pressed it on the attention of the house. Mr. KNIGHT said that the right hon. gentleman's ar gument would have been perfectly applicable before the passing of the act of last session, which introduced a per fectly new state of things. The motion was then negatived without a division. FIRE INSURANCE. In answer to an appeal from Mr. HODGICISSON, Mr. SHERIDAN consented to withdraw his motion on this subject.. HARDEN, MANCHESTER, AND SALFORD PETITIONS. Mr. FERRAND—in moving for a select committee to inquire whether the signatures to the petitions presented to this house upon the 12th and 13th days of April, 1866, in favour of the Representation of the People Bill, and pro fessing to be petitions from the inhabitants of Harden, near Bingley, in the county of York, and of Manchester and Salford, are the genuine signatures of the persons whose signatures they profess to be, and, if not, by whom and under what circumstances such signatures were annexed— complained that the Chancellor of the Exchequer hadacted most offensively towards him the other night, when he brought under the notice of the house the manner in which the Harden petition had been getup for presentation to the house, by putting into his mouth words which he had never used. Thr right hon. gentleman made him say that the men, as they left their work in the mill, were asked and required to sign the petition, whereas what he said was, that it had been intimated to them that they should sign. (Hear, and laughter.) An intimation, however, from the millowners in question was tantamount to a command, as he would now show the house. A short time since they found that several of their hands attended the parish church and Sunday school, upon which, they being them• selves Dissenters, they threatened to dismiss them unless they gave up the practice. Some of them forsook their religion for the sake of keeping their employment, but the greater portion of them, true to their faith, preferred to trudge through wintry roads a distance of two miles to get employment at another mill. It was usual to get up peti tions at the mills in Yorkshire. Of thathe did not complain , VII' the Harden petition was signed three times in different handwriting by the same person, twice by another, and in four instances the names were those of children. After all, Harden was but a sample of what was done in other parts of England. A letter he had received from a highly respect able person said that Manchester beat Harden out and out in the manufacture of petitions. The petition, as large and as hollow as a drum, which had been presented in favour of the Reform Bill, had been signed over and over again by the same persons, many of whom did not live in Manchester at all, but in the outlying towns whore they had signed similar documents. Boys, too, had signed the Manchester petition for the fun of the thing ; and one boy said he did so because he understood the man who had charge of the sheet was paid in proportion to the number of signatures he obtained, and that he wished to help the poor fellow— he looked so cold and hungry. (Laughter.) In some in stances where men refused to sign. their names were never theless appended to the petition. (Name, name.) It was not usual to give names, but he would prove the facts whichhe had stated before a committee of that house. The same thing had occurred with respect to the reform petitions from Bradford, which had been signed in a warehouse in Brad ford. Such things had occurred before, and he need only mention the petition presented to that house in favour of the Charter, which professed to be signed by 3,000,000, but which was proved to be signed by only 800,000. It con tained the name of the Duke of Wellington, which was signed 50 times, and the name of the Chancellor of the Ex chequer was also appended to it, although he did not be lieve he had signed it. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, instead of assisting him to put a stopto the scandalous ma nufacture of petitions, had acted mostunfairly towards him in reference to this motion. (Oh, oh.) Hon. members might say that, but he contended that what he had stated was true. The hon. member then referred to a speech of the hon. mem ber for Walsall (Mr. Forster), who, in speaking of the sub ject of forging signatures to a petition, described it as a gross breach of the privileges of that house. He hoped the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer would second his motion on this subject. He trusted that any parties who were proved guilty of forging signatures to this petition would be punished, and that if they were members of that house they would be expelled the house. The hon. gentle man concluded by moving for a select committee in connec tion with the matter which he had brought under the con sideration of the house. Mr. Alderman SALOMONS seconded the motion. Mr. W. E. FORSTER contended that there was no ground for the hon. member's charge of unfairness against the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The right hon. gentleman was perfectly willing that an inquiry should take place. All that he stipulated was that there should be an inquiry into all the charges made by his hon. friend. His hon. friend said that when the workpeople of a manufacturer at Harden came to receive their wages a petition was handed to them with an intimation that they should sign it. (Hear, hear.) His hon. friend distinctly intimated that the master of the mill required his people to sign the petition. Mr. FERRAND—No. Mr. W. B. FORSTER—That was the feeling of the house, but now it appeared that his hon. friend did not intend to convey that impression. It m a tt ere d littl e w h a t c h arges his hon. friend made against the Chancellor of the Exchequer or himself (Mr. Forster), but the charge against this ma irufacturer was a s er i ous one. newhhaodwraes jealous ceiveda of letter his from the m anu f acturer in question, character, and it appeared that not the slightest pressure . of any ki n d h a d b een put upon his workpeople to in duce them t o s i gn the petition. (Ch surprised that his h onoura b le friend, aftereers.) H e was declining to frame his motion so as t o o b tain an inquiry truth of the char ge aga i nst this manuf acturer, should i make out this charge aga i ns t h i m by saying into the who man to abouthave this s d gceoetrlceimoyn,ug that he t w o as ten the so s m o o rk o o t f m her story t o t a lly unconnected with this p e titi on, without giving aildthen was (Mr. Forster) the slightest information of the charge him he wa s going to make. The result of this committee would s how what credit was to be given to his hon. friend's state ments with regard to other petitions—(hear, hear)—and might induce him to be more careful in his statements in future. Sir F. CROSSLEY, having pßradford peti_ tion, wished to bear testimony to the respectability of the and to express his convicti on man ufacturer in questio n, a that the petition was genuine. Mr. BAZLEY also bore testimony to the genuineness of f reform. Had not the petition from Manchest er in favour o the people of that place been ar dent friends of reform he would not have been there to represent them in that house. Mr. W. KNIGHT said he had received a letter from Manchester, in which it was stated that factory children and others of that class and age had signed the petition for reform from Manchester. hot'''. GL ADSTONE said he had made a proposition to the gentleman (Mr. Fernand) in refekence to this m otion, which h e th ought h e had acceded to, but it would seem that, having taken five or six days to deliberate on the subject, he had declined to case amount t o ? Why, that it. Wh a t did th e charge in this h that th e owner o f a m ill h a d called upon his m en t o sign thisepotition under compulsion, and his right hon. f r i en d the Hluc'' Secretary said that it was the duty of the h ouse fully to quire into the matter. Now he (Mr. Gladst one ) quite concurredl com pelled to sign a p e titi o n to that house that if persons were privi lege was committ e d b y the person s S a gross breach of manner. The hon. gen tl eman found f who acted i n suc h a fault with him because he said he understood rstood him to say he used that be cause he did not rec o ll ec t th e words of the hon. gentleman. The proceedingpart o ---n his Was a on. gentleman. very proper one, andie THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 25, 1866, aid not know how the hon. gentleman manufactured such charges out of such slender materials. With regard to the point of courtesy he felt some difficulty (a laugh)— for the hon gentleman's standard was really so high that he must candidly confess his inability to come up to it. (Laughter.) Mr. FERRAND wished to explain. (Cries of " Order.") The right hon. gentleman misquoted him, in attributing to him the statement that the working people as they entered the mill were required and ordered to sign the petition. These words wore reported in the morning newspapers. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said tho hon. member told them a short time ago that what ho had said was that he understood the hon. member to say so and so. The hon. member introduced the word "understand," and having made that tho ground of a separate and distinct charge against him (the Chancellor of tho Exchequer), now came forward and said he never used the word at all: Tho hon. member dwelt very much upon the difference between " intimation" that they should sign, and then being " ordered and required" to sign, and then dragged head and shoulders into the discussion another sto.ry of which ho would say nothing of the propriety of introducing, except that it was told for the purpose of proving that in the opinion of the hon. member an intimation coming from so harsh and austere a character was equivalent to an order. (Hear.) Yet the hon. member did not see the inconsequence, the solecism, the mistake, the error, the misapprehension —(laughter)—into which he fell, and upon which was founded the whole of this imputation, this mighty house of _ _ cards, and with regard to which he had nothing to do but give a single puff and the whole fell to the ground. Ho believed the hon. member made his statement in perfect good faith, but ho was anxious to know whether he was ready to support it before the committee. It was a serious allegation ; and, courtesy or discourtesy apart, the hon. member ought either to amend his motion so as to include an inquiry into the charge that the petition was tendered to the working people with an intimation that they should sign it, or he ought to withdraw the charge. (Hear, hear.) One of these things he put positively and pointedly before the hon. member, and he appealed to hon.members on the other side as to whether that was not a fair alternative ? (Hear, hear.) The hon. member found fault with him for neglect ing to eulogise the statement of the accuser. When the allegations were proved before a committee he should be prepared to agree that the hon. member had done service to Parliament; but it was a mistake to give credit to an accuser before his accusations were substantiated. The petitions from Manchester and Salford stood upon a different foot ing to that from Harden, and the hon. member would do well to consider the position in which he stood, before ask ing the house to appoint a committee in regard to those petitions. It would be a very difficult thing to institute an inquiry with regard to the genuiness of the signatures to a petition, when that petition bore between 70,000 and 80,000 names. When they appointed a committee to exa mine into a charge of misconduct, they ought to have before them somebody or other who was ready to take the responsibility ; and though the hon. member derived his information, as he had stated, from creditable persons, ho had neither given their names nor stated that he would undertake to prove the allegations. In the case of the Harden petition, however, it was different. In that case the hon. member said he had made personal inquiries, and was prepared to take the responsibility of substantiating the charges he made before a committee. The Govern ment, therefore, had no objection to accede to the motion of the hon. member as far as that petition was concerned. Mr. FERRAND rose to explain, amidst loud cries of " Order, order." Sir G. GREY said ho understood the hon. member had a right. The SPEAKER said ho thought the hon. member had already made his reply. The hon. member had spoken twice. (Laughter.) Mr. FERRAND said he had drawn up his motion with the full intention that every inquiry should be made to the satisfaction of both sides of the house, and with that view he had searched in the library for precedents. If the right hon. gentleman was under the impression that the words were not sufficient to secure the fullest inquiry, ho was quite ready to amend his motion. His statement was confirmed by the hon. member for Bradford, who admitted that the petition was laid in the counting-house, and that when the people went for their wages they were required to sign it. Mr. FORSTER —I did not admit that it was signed when they went to receive their wages. I know nothing on that point. I distinctly contradicted the statement of the hon. member, that there was any intimation that the workpeople should sign it. Mr. J. HARDY understood his hon. friend to say that it was intimated to the workpeople that they might sign it. Colonel EDWARDS suggested to his hon. friend that the motion should be withdrawn—(laughter)—both on account of the time it would require and the expense it would entail, with very unsatisfactory, if not useless results. Sir G. GREY said the hon. gentleman must take his own course as to withdrawing or persevering, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer must not be understood as recommending the withdrawal of the motion as far as it regarded Harden, with regard to which the hon. member had made specific statements amounting to a breach of the privileges of the house. As to that part, his right hon. friend had said merely that the motion should be amended so as to include the charge made by the hon. member against the millo wners. Mr. WHITESIDE also urged his hon. friend to with draw the motion so far as it related to the Manchester and Salford petitions. Mr. FERIIAND was anxious to meet the wishes of the house, and strike out all relating to Manchester and Salford. The AT T OHNE Y-GENERA L suggested that the motion should be amended by requiring the committee to inquire whether the petition presented to the house on the 12th April, 1866, purporting to come from the inhabitants of Harden in the West Riding of Yorkshire, was the genuine petition of the persons who signed it, and if so, under what circumstances these signatures were affixed. The original motion was withdrawn, and the amended resolution was then agreed to. HABEAS CORPUS. number r e followingf persons returns confined wereOn othrdeerati:ofßoefturnAir. of 8Y theN uA in the gaol of the county of Limerick up to the 18 th day of lt April, 1866, under the provisions of the Habeas Corpus Suspension (Ireland) Act; stating whether all or any of said prisoners have been kept in separate confinement and treated under the silent system since their committal ; and, if so, specifying the number of hours they have been confined in their cells, and the number of hours they have been allowed for exercise each day ; and whether, during such exercise, the silent system had been imposed; whether said prisoners, or any of them, have been al lowed to communicate with their professional advisers, or friends, relatives, or men of business ; and if so, whether in the presence of the officers or governors of the prison, and subject to their or his approve' or otherwise. TRANSUBSTANTIATION AND DECLARATION ABOLITION BILL. On the order of the day for the second reading of this bill, Mr. 'WHALLEY wished to know what it meant. If its object was what he understood it to be, it would in effect recognise the power of the priests in a most im portant portion of the Roman Catholic Church service, and thus at the same time the supremacy of a foreign potentate in this country. (Oh, and laughter.) Sir C. O'LOGIIEN hero interposed, to state that as there was some misaprehension he should postpone the motion. 'lho motion was withdrawn accordingly. SUPERANNUATIONS (OFFICERS, METROPOLI TAN VESTRIES AND DISTRICT BOARDS) BILL. This bill was considered as amended, and after somo further amendments was ordered to be read a third time. PROSECUTION EXPENSES BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. EXCHEQUER AUDIT DEPARTMENTS BILL. The house went into committee on this bill upon its re committal. Mr. CHILDERS moved to omit the word "vouching" in Clause 9, in deference to the opinion expressed on a for mer occasion by the right hon. gentleman the member for Oxfordshire. The amendment was agreed to. The remainder clauses, with- amendments, were agreed to, and the bill passed through committee. :DRAINAGE AND IMPROVEMENTS OF LANDS (IRELAND) BILL. This bill passed through committee. PARLIAMENTARY OATHS AMENDMENT BILL. The consideration of the Lords' amendment to this bill was postponed until Thursday, Mr. WHALLEY giving notice that on that day he would move the insertion of tho words " being Protestant" after the words " her Majesty, her heirs, and successors." CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (EXPENSES). This bill passed through committee, the usual resolution being agreed to that the moneys necessary for carrying out the act should be provided out of money voted by Par liament. The house adjourned at half-past ten o'clock. A FOOLISH VISION.—Some time in the autumn of 1864 two madmen and a dog understood to be sane sailed from New York in a tiny two-masted vessel, named the Vision, for England. Provisions for the crew to last some two months were, if we remember rightly, taken on board the Vision, which from stem to stern measured just 16ft. Once, and once only it appears, was anything hoard of the voyagers after they s e t sa il from New York ; the Vision, it is said, was spoken to by another vessel in mid Atlantic. A contemporary now announces that "an empty barrel, with the name Vision' painted on it, has been picked up between the coast of Africa and South America"—which is rather a wide description. But no doubt, we are assured, exists that this barrel belonged to the little vessel in question ; so that, perhaps, more has come back to the world from this foolish enterprise than any reasonable being imagined would come back. rADVERTISEMENT.I—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills.— Redemption from Disease. — The hidden cause, the un suspected source of many a wasting sickness and failing strength, have been developed . by these admirable Pills, phlasicartieesncueodf t m h a e ny oin v t a m lu e a n b t le to liv tla , e s malady thus thus discovered has rescued many valuable lives from a con forms-under which they afflict mankind, such as fistulas, torture and premature end. Piles,. in all the many d - to lasting cure. stdaitninr:diuccoetti.ivt.hireeer inflammations, ulcerations, internal, external, both are ointment and pills are innocent in composition . a state recent or of chronic,ease , and are thence thus .sacfoenlyduacntpd speedily helping, never in operation, and assist each other, ever are healing, purifying, and comforting : bot are ' gentle harming, Nature's acknowledged laws. 13' . brought to RAILWA' PERNAMBUCO, :GENCE, The 21st half-yearly general meeting of this com pany was held yesterday at the London Tavern; Mr. Benson, the chairman, presided. The report, an abstract of which has already ap peared, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said it detailed the various steps that had been taken by the directors since the special meet ing held on 23d January last. They had sent out a copy of the resolutions passed at that meeting, through the kindness of Captain Medeiros, to the Brazilian Government, and they had every reason to believe they bad reached their destination. The next step they took was to present a memorial to the Emperor through the British Minister at Rio. It explainedthat there existed a clear and recognised contract with the company to grant the promised additional guarantee, and also provided for the set tlement of the just and legal claims of the memo- j rialists in respect of the works executed by them. The memorial had been received by the Emperor at Rio Janeiro on March 10, and the Emperor had promised the British Minister that he would take the matter into his consideration. So far as Captain Medeiros was concerned, when he ceased to repre sent the Brazilian Government the Board went into communication with the Baron du Penedo on the subject, but it did not lead to anything. The next step was to send out a special agent to represent the company in Brazil. They prevailed on Mr. Bramah to accept that office ; he was well acquainted with the country, had on a former occasion been pre sented to the Emperor, and knew the members of the Government. Mr. Bramah went out by the last mail in the beginning of the present month. The directors hoped the proprietors would approve that step. (Hear, hear.) The directors had done every thing they could, and they must npw wait patiently for the result, which would be communicated to the shareholders as soon as possible, or they would call a meeting to consider any question re quiring their consideration. The important ques tion of the railway had come before the Provincial Assembly in Pernambuco, in the course of which it was stated that the Government could not long delay some arrangement for providing more rolling stock to carry the increasing traffic and for extend ing the line into the city ; that this would have the effect of greatly increasing the receipts and saving the Government from all loss in respect of the gua rantee. It was stated that the traffic and general management of the railway deserved commendation, and gave great satisfaction to the public. The Pre sident, in his address on the Ist of March to the Provincial Assembly at Pernambuco, stated that it was of the utmost importance to the province that the railway should be extended into Recife. Already the traffic receipts on the line had exceeded all ex pectations, and were increasing; and no delay should take place in the development of the line by the construction and opening of important district reads to the railway, and in providing additional rolling stock. The extension of the railway into the city of Recife and to the harbour was indispen sable for the accommodation of trade and com merce in the province, and for the development of the traffic on the railway. He thought the Govern ment would see the necessity of those works being immediately commenced. The heavy rains had caused the third and fourth sections of the line to be rather more expensive, in consequence of extra repairs and renewal of sleepers. The stations on the line were in a good state, but the terminal station was wholly inadequate for the requirements of the railway. The chairman said it would be a folly to spend any more money on that terminal station, which was merely a temporary structure. lle said the Provincial Assembly had passed a law for authorising the making of tramways for the railway, which was a most im portant matter for the company. Ile would be glad to answer any questions. The dividend on the present occasion would be at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum, which was to some extent the re sult of accumulations from previous half-years ; the sum actually available to the company being at present only a little over 3 per cent. per annum. Major VEREKEII, seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. Mr. AUSTEN said he fully approved the course adopted by the directors. He believed the Brazilian people were quite aware of the honest claim of the company on the Government for the extension of the guarantee. He was glad that an honest and straightforward course had been adopted by the directors towards the Brazilian ',Government, and he trusted it would have the proper effect. He wished to know the amount of capital that would be required for the extension of the railway into the city and to provide the requisite rolling stock. A long discussion then ensued, in the course of which various suggestions were made as to what I should be done with a view to urge the compa n y' s claim on the Brazilian Government, but the general feeling appeared to be entirely in favour of the course which had been adopted by the directors. The report was then unanimously adopted. Dr. PEARL, seconded by Mr. GoEz, moved a re solution to the effect that external or internal bonds of Brazil be accepted in exchange for the shares of the company, but after an explanation by the chair man that a similar resolution had been rejected by a special general meeting of the company in January last, the resolution was withdrawn. It was stated that about £200,000 would extend the line into the city of Recife and to the harbour, and provide ample rolling stock for a large traffic. Mr. VALPY proposed a formal resolution to the effect that while the shareholders regretted that the mission of Capt. de Medeiros had been brought to an end without any result, they fully approved the course adopted by the directors, and especially that with reference to the appointment of an agent in Brazil with full powers to represent the company. The motion was seconded and carried unani mously. A dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum was declared for the half-year ending Dec. 31 last ; and the proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors. Cork, Cork and Bandon, &c., Bill was adjourned till the Bth of May. In group 1 the preamble of the Metropolitan :additional powers) Bill was proved. In group la the preamble of the London, Chat ham, and Dover (various powers) Bill was proved, and the clauses were gone through. Appearances were taken in the case of the Croydon, Mitcham, and Kingston, and the Bill was adjourned ; and in the case of the City, Kingston, and Richmond Bill it was reported that the parties did not intend to proceed. In group 5 the preamble of the Bristol and North Somerset (Deviation) was proved. In group 7 the preamble of the East Gloucester shire was proved, and the clauses were gone through ; and also that of the Wrexham, Mold, and Connah's Quay (Additional Powers) Bill. In group 10, in the case of the Craven Junc tion, the referees reported that the estimates were insufficient. The Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding was proceeded with and adjourned; and ap pearances were taken in the following bills, and they were adjourned :—London and North-West ern (new works, &c.) ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire (Central Station and Lines) ; Shrews bury and Potteries Junction. In group 13 in the Great Northern (additional powers) the preamble was proved, and the clauses were gone through. PEMBROKE AND TENBY. A Wharncliffe meeting was held at the offices, Pembroke, on Thursday—Mr. W. Owen in the chair. The secretary (Mr. Stokes) read the heads of a bill authorising the company to change its name, to construct short branches at Pembroke and Ilobb's point, and to extend their Whitland extension to Carmarthen, a distance of 14 miles. The capital to be raised was £200,000, and the various works were to be completed within five years. The directors announced that they had failed in their negotiations with the Great Western respecting a narrow-gauge line to Carmarthen. A resolution approving the bill was unanimously agreed to. ATLANTIC GREAT WESTERN. The traffic receipts on this company's line, 507 miles in length, amount for the month of March to $131,544 for passengers, mails, &c., and to $256,936 for freight—total, $388,480, against $399,870 in March, 1865, and $151,575 in March, 1864. The total receipts for the first three months of the pre sent year amounted to $1,302,335, against $1,016,539 for the same period of 1865, showing an increase of $285,796. RAILWAY BILLS. Yesterday in the House of Lords the various bills were adjourned. In the House of Commons various railway bills were considered in the different committees. The Salisbury and Yeovil was adjourned till the Bth of May ; of the Llynvi Valley and Ogmore Valley the clauses were gone through, and the bill re ported with amendments ; and the same with the following bills :—The Hexham and Allen dale, the rarsonst own, and Portumna - bridge, the Lancashire and Y or k s hi re (extension of time, &c.) ; the Mid Hants, the Bideford, Appledore, and Westward Ho', the Midland (additional pow ers), the Wantage and Great Western Junction, the South Yorkshire, the Leven and East of Fife; and the London, Worcester, and South Wales. The Bristol and Portishead was proceeded with, and adjourned till the Ist of May, and the West Naval and Military Intelligence. His Royal Highness the Field-Marshal Com manding-in-Chief will hold a lev6e at 1 o'clock on Tuesday, May 1. Rear-Admiral the Hon. James R. Drummond, C. 8., was yesterday appointed Admiral-Superin tendent of Devonport dockyard, vice Rear-Admiral T. M. C. Symonds, C. 8., promoted to Vice-Admiral. It was currently reported at Portsmouth that Capt. W. C. Chamberlain, at present commanding the iron cased screw frigate Resistance on the Mediterranean station, has been offered by the Admiralty the com mand of her Majesty's ship Asia and the Steam Re serve at Portsmouth, vice Capt. H. Caldwell, C. 8., Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, appointed to the senior naval command at the Cape of Good Hope. The iron armoured screw frigate Bellerophon, Capt. E. Tatham, is preparing for her cruise with the competitive broadside gun carriages and their 121 ton guns. Sir W. Armstrong's iron carriage has been received on board and placed in position in the ship's battery. Capt. Scott's and the Woolwich Arsenal iron carriages have yet to be received, as also the Admiralty pattern wooden carriage. The guns for all four carriages are lying ready for ship ment on the jetty alongside the ship. The Rinaldo, 7, unarmoured screw sloop, 951 tons, 200 horse power, has had her bows and top sides entirely reconstructed, and other extensive re pairs in the remaining portions of her hull effected in dock at Portsmouth-yard. She will shortly . be undocked, stored, rigged, and otherwise brought forward for commission. The Cruiser, 5, screw unarmoured sloop, 750 tons, 60 horse power, having undergone a thorough re pair to her hull and machinery at Portsmouth-yard, has since been completed in rig, armament, and stores, and is now ready to make her preliminary trial of machinery in readiness for commission. The 1' earl, 21, screw unarmoured corvette, 1,469 tons, 200 horse power, having been completed in rig, stores, and armament at Portsmouth, and also hav ing made a very satisfactory trial of her machinery over the measured mile in Stokes Bay, has been placed at moorings on the upper waters of the har bour in readiness to hoist the pennant. The Mersey, 40, screw unarmoured frigate, 3,733 tons, 1,000 horse power, has been completed in her outfit for immediate commission at Portsmouth, and is now lying in the steam basin of the dockyard wait ing orders for the trial of her machinery over the measured mile, preparatory to being officially re ported ready for commission. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. ____ TIMES.—It is encouraging to find that even in the House of Lords zeal for the Church begins to be tempered by discretion, and that years of argu ment have produced their effect like the dropping of water on the stone. An act of justice and good feeling was accomplished last week when the House accepted the Parliamentary Oaths Bill. We have now to record a minor, but still not an unimportant, concession. We are almost ashamed to reckon such things among reforms to be taken notice of and rejoiced at, but when we consider the labour of the fight it gives a higher notion of the victory. The House of Lords, through Lord Derby, has assented to the third reading of the Qualification for Offices Bill. We shall no longer 'have to pass the yearly Indemnity Act, by which officials of all ranks are mercifully relieved from punishment for not pro mising to maintain the Church of England. Very few people would ever have heard of this Indem nity Act, though it has been a yearly piece of legis lation, had it not been for the efforts of one or two reformers in each house, whose common sense re volted at such solemn mockery. It is pretty well known, however, that when the Test and Corpora tion Acts were repealed, a Declaration was ap pointed to be mane by persons holding civil or municipal offices to the effect that they would not exercise any power, authority, or influence they might possess by virtue of their offices to weaken the Protestant Church as by law established. This Declaration ought to be made by thousands of per sons throughout the country, from the highest down to the humblest. It is needless to say that it is not made. Men are put into offices high and low, and may hold them for years, without knowing that they are daily committing a statutable offence, sub jecting them to penalties, and that they are only re lieved by the annual interference of the Legislature. To such an end have come the notable precautions in favour of the National Church. What a satire it is upon statesmanship that less than forty years ago grave legislators, and lawyers, and divines solemnly consulted, and agreed that the connexion of Church and State required all this incessant declaring, and promising, and abjuring ! No sooner was the law passed than it was disregarded. In fact, it appears that no effort has ever been made to put it in force. It was an absurdity from the beginning, and though it was, no doubt, quite justifiable in those who re pealed the Test and Corporation A c t s to give any sop that might be necessary to their opponents, we can have no high opinion of the judgment or the charity of the latter. And yet this state of the law has been maintained ever since, and bills for the modification of it which were sent up from the Commons have been thrown out by the Lords. As the Conservatives, led by Lord Derby, have at last yielded to reason, we have no desire to taunt them with their former obstinacy. But the force of habit and party spirit has certainlynever been more clearly evinced. The practical effect of the law was ad mitted to be nothing at all. Political oaths when really taken have but little effect ; what, then, can be the effect of not extorting the Oath or Declara tion at all, but merely stating solemnly in an Act of Parliament that it ought to have been extorted ? The infinitesimal gain which the Church received by its existence being, as Sir Hugh Cairns would say, " taken notice of" once a year was thought worth obtaining, even though Parliament was made ridiculous for its sake. We suspect the Conserva tive chiefs desired an opportunity of abandoning the position they had rashly taken up in bygone years. The passing of the Parliamentary Oaths Bill enables them to retire with grace. It cannot be requisite that aldermen and town clerks should make declarations or give securities which are not demanded from those who frame our laws. Now, the Parliamentary Oaths Act will admit not only men of the various forms of Christianity, but also non-Christians of every religion and race. These will be in no way pledged to maintain the Protestant Church or to respect the possessions of bishops and clergymen. They will simply declare their allegiance to the Crown and their acquiescence in the; present Parliamentary settle ment of it. If, then, members of the two houses are not to be bound to the Church, why should officials whose work is for the most part merely ministerial be so bound? The case for the aboli tion of the present forms is based on an irresistible a fortiori. • Lord Derby accordingly strikes his colours and surrenders, having fought his ship as long as she would swim. The " animus hostile to the Church" cannot be of much importance among Civil Service Clerks when members of Parliament may now legitimately indulge it. Lord Derby . con fesses that we cannot continue to requir. e from municipal authorities and officers declarations from which we have relieved members of Parliament. In short, the measure which has been so often.pressed on the attention of the house is now at last favour ply received, and we may expect a suitable change in the law. The end of this controversy reminds us of the strange perverseness which has hitherto led the Conservatives to resist year after year reasonable demands, and to make great party questions out of petty and unimportant matters, It seems to have arisen from what have been called " favourite aver- signs." A certain class of men, though sensible enough in ordinary matters, are apt to have anti pathies as unaccountable as those on which Shy lock remarks. They cannot abide their Papist, or Dissenter, or Jew, and are willing to keep up a little bit of legislative tyranny, not because they really think it will be of use, but as a kind of stand ing protest against such very objectionable persons. But it is precisely in these matters that the public opinion of the country is most advanced. Abso lute religious equality and the abrogation of all that either injures or offends any order of men are demanded by thinking people of every class, and it is strange that the leaders of the Con servative party have not long since seen that it is their interest not to withstand this 'widespread desire. They have undoubtedly weakened their position in the State by these tactics ; they have created a feeling that they are bigoted and impracticable, with minds that cannot rise above those sectarian differences which time and know ledge tend more and more to obliterate. By re sistance on unworthy subjects, when they have not had the moral support of the country, they have wasted their real Conservative power, and to this cause we must attribute their want of success as a party in spite of their numbers and organiza tion and the social position of their members. We hope we may accept the recent speeches of Lord Derby 7as signs that a more liberal spirit, and con sequently that a more prudent policy, will prevail. If it be so, the party will have no cause to regret it. There is now a good opportunity of placing the whole system of political Oaths and Declarations on a more equitable basis. It would, perhaps, do little harm if in many cases they were swept away altogether ; but if this be considered revolutionary, let them be at any rate assimilated to the Parlia mentary oath, and confined to a mere profession of allegiance. Lord Houghton proposes a declaration in the terms of the Parliamentary oath, and Lord Derby thinks this a proper settlement. But it would perhaps be better that Government should bring in a bill applicable to all persons and offices. Lord Romilly reminded the House that Protestants still take one oath when admitted as solicitors, and Catholics another, and Lord Granville added that it was the same with magistrates. There evidently is room for a comprehensive measure on the basis of the Parliamentary Oaths Bill, which has now so happily passed both Houses. HERALD. With the exception of Mr. Gladstone, who will stand at bay against a host of powerful orators, we cannot imagine in whom the Govern ment reform bill has a champion left. The whole tide of parliamentary logic is overflowing it. On Monday night the last arrow was discharged and fell blunt upon the floor. By universal agreement Mr. Bright never made so elaborate an effort with so little success. His own friends and admirers were disappointed. But he was under the difficulty which so many others on his side of the house have felt, that he proposed to answer Lord Stanley, and found himself incompetent to the task. This is the re markable element in the debate. One Ministerial speaker after another has risen, declaring himself ready to dispute Lord Stanley's ground, but has left the question almost immediately, and diverted him self to easy and safe generalities. They resemble horsemen riding hopelessly round an impregnable infantry square. Mr. Bright was no exception to the rule. Indeed, he shrank from taking even the terms of Lord Grosvenor's amendment firmly in hand ; he would not discuss the words ; he picked to pieces a meaning which he thought he found wrapped up in them. He chose to infer and sus pect, and then putting Lord Stanley's argument on one side, he rose into his usual flight, threatening the aristocracy, the Administration, the Constitu tion at large ; impeaching the Government statis tics because they did not suit his purpose, arbitrarily substituting a new set of his own, and reasoning for the entire country upon a few and unauthenticated figures from Burslem and Wakefield, and winding up, as is his wont, with a strong northern breeze of menace about overthrown embankments, and "that terrible abyss" into which he is eternally looking for the future destinies Of England. And he prophesies a majority for the bill in a house which he declares hates it; and what more was wanted to justify Mr. White side's rebuke that he would first render the character of the house odious and next make its action cowardly ? But all the time he was forgetting Lord Gros venor's amendment and Lord Stanley's speech ; he was forgetting the bill itself. Nevertheless, those members who think, and who at the same time re spect their independence, cannot be expected to vote with him until they have had their judgments relieved from the embarrrassment which has been forced upon them by a scheme dealing with one third of a formidable political question, essentially and vitally connected with the two other thirds which are kept absolutely in the dark. They will not sign blank political cheques, and hence the exasperation of the Treasury Bench. The point has not been put, since Lord Stanley's speech, more clearly, calmly, and effectually, than it was put on Monday night by Mr. Walpole, whose speech, almost erasing as it did that of Mr. Bright from the memory of the house, brought back the subject within its proper limits. Parliament, he said, had been presented with the fragment of a legislative proposal, upon which other legislation, immediately consequent, must depend, and had been required to accept the part, in complete ignorance of the results to which it would lead. And for what reasons ? That Parliament is pledged. If there has been a fallacy in the debate from first to last it is this. Mr. Whiteside had shattered that pretence by a series of evidence ; but Mr. Walpole disposed of it in a breath. The pledge was given by Lord Russell in 1860 ; it was distinctly withdrawn and repu diated by Sir George Grey, on the part of Lord Russell, in 1865 ; and, if not, was it less valid in 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865, than in 1866 ? We really hope that we have heard the last of this unworthy quibble ; or else that politicians who make use of it will have the honesty and candour to admit that it pro- Imised a measure of statesmanship to settle a large public question, and not a mere tinkering with a single detail of it. Ministers, holding that pledge between their teeth, have suited their own conve nience about fulfilling it, and now ask the House of Commons to fulfil it for them, in order, as Mr. Bright frankly avows, that Lord Russell may be retained in office. The second supposed necessity for change to which Mr. Walpole referred was_ the advantage to be derived from incl udin g a larger number of the working classes within the pale of the franchise. Here the cue was given by Mr. Glad stone and Mr. Bright, long before Lord Elcho ex tracted from local registers, through official machi nery, the statistics upon which the Government bill is based. The figures having been amassed and collated, Ministers proceeded to legislate upon them ; but the House of Commons then learned for the first time that the working class grievance so long alleged and harped upon was an empty fiction. Instead of being unrepresented, that one class commanded more than a fourth of the borough constituencies throughout the realm. Mr. Glad stone took the facts as he could not help finding them, and framed his measure boldly so as to in crease one-fourth to upwards of one-half. But Mr. Bright takes a different course ; he will not have facts if they are against him ; he is like the traveller who would not be guided because he objected to the name of the person who published his map. So he spins a calculation of his own, and appeals upon the strength of that to the justiet of the House of Commons. Admitting for an instant that the matter was relevant, which it is not, because nothing can be relevant to this debate until Lord Grosvenor's amendment has been impugned on principle, and Lord Stanley's argument answered, could Mr. Bright expect the house would act upon his two paltry scraps of statistical guesswork from two small localities in Yorkshire, when Government have introduced a bill upon the strength and credit of returns furnished by themselves. Assume, hemay he right how ever, as Mr. Walpole argued, that and Mr. Gladstone wrong. Then we are more hopelessly in the dark and more perilously adrift at sea than ever, and no more overpowering reason could be given against hasty legislation. We had before us the author of the bill and the instigator of the bill, and they contrdaict one another as em phatically upon the grounds which are said to jus tify the bill as though they were the most inveterate political opponents. Was ever a case made out more substantially for reflection and delay ? We are not assuming that the Ministerial statistics are accurate, although it would be ridiculous to weigh the arithmetical odds and ends of Birmingham against them ; but viewing the question in the fairest light, if we are so bewildered by the infor mation we have, we ought to verify it, or obtain better before we hurry into legislation, the effects of which may be felt through all times. We are glad, however, that Mr. Walpole kept the question mainly within the channel marked by the amend ment and the confessedly unanswered speech of Lord Stanley ; for it is through this that the wisdom awl the conscience of the House of Commons must be reached. The bill is avowedly partial ; its structure has been regulated by no principle of the Constitution ; it unsettles everything and settles nothing ; and yet the Opposition is assailed,. as re fusing to consider the subject when its emphatic declaration is that it desires to consider the subject, not piecemeal, but as a whole. And Mr. Walpole drew attention to another evil tendency of the measure, which not only convicts it as an attempt to infringe our constitutional law, but also scatters to the winds a great and misused shibboleth of the Liberal party. In its headlong downward action it commits the cardinal sin and disconnectsrepresenta titan irom taxation it entirely destroys the oonno4„ tion ; it takespower from those who pay, and confers it upon those who mainly have enjoyed the fruits of every important financial remission during the last 20 years. This bearing of the question, of course, bad to be kept in view, because the efforts of Ministe rialists from the beginning of the debate have been pertinaciously directed towards the confusion of issues, and the blindinc , of the house to the real a nd single point upon which it has now to deliver judg e ! ment. Mr. Bright exclaims " Settle the question. Mr. Walpole answers " Settle it by recognising Lord Stanley's unrefuted argument, and adopting Lord Grosvenor's amendment." The member for Birmingham, who has more voices than a ventrilo quist, preached on Monday night something like finality, with, he reckons, four millions of unen franchised working men still waiting for their rights even should this bill become law. We would rather in such a case be more just to him than he is to him self, and credit him with more sincerity when be talking in his natural atmosphere about " leverage' than when in a cold House of Commons he is prac tising the accents and attitudes of moderation. As suming, however, that he imagines himself sincere, what does he understand by a political settlemen t? As Mr. Walpole interprets him, a Franchise Bill, partially enacted, hotly pursued by another of an entirely different nature and scope, with an immi nent prospect of the two coming into collision, and both thrown off the rails. Even were the second reading to pass, which every hour renders more doubtful—in fact, Ministers no longer count upon a majority—the Franchise Bill must be shunted into a siding, until the Distribution of Seats Bill comes up with it, so that both may go on together until the final collapse and dissolution takes place in committee. But this is not the spirit or the method upon which the House of Commons has been accustomed to legislate upon questions of im portance to the nation now, bearing upon the destinies of many ages to come, and it is not with the paltry object either of forcing through a raw' Franchise Bill, in order to keep a dilapidated gi nistry erect, that Parliament will hammer this piece of mechanical patchwork upon the great organism of the British Constitution, which is nothing if not maintained in spirit and substance as a whole, the repertory of the nation's life, and the source of s' its freedom. COUNTRY MARKETS. LEEDS-TUESDAY. --- There is a fair show of grain this week. For good qua" alities of both old and new wheat we have had a steady consumptive demand, at the full prices of Tuesday last. Spring corn in moderate sale, and there is no change "2 prices. The average prices for the week ending April 23 were Wheat, 47s 71,d per qr. ; barley, 40s 7 d ; oats, 29s 611 LIVERPOOL--TUEMMAY. The arrivals from Ireland and coastwise since this dal week have been moderate. At this day's market there was a good attendance of the town and country trade. Wheat met with a fair consumptive demand at recent -ates• In barley, beans, and peas no material change to note , but oats and oatmeal easier to buy. Iu flour full prices were made. Indian corn was less inquired for, and maY bo quoted 3d lower—prime mixed being 28s 9d. MELTON MOWBRAY.—TUESDAY. The supply of wheat was middling, the demand being firm at extreme quotations for choice qualities. White wheat, 49s to 55s ; red, 42s to 48s per 36 stone• Barley for malting, 34s to 38s per qr ; feed, 30s to 32$ P e ! 30 stone. Oats, 27s to 345. Beans, old, 50s to 525; n°'' 43s to 47s per qr. SHEFFIELD—TUESDAY. At our market to-day thero was a tolerable supply °I wheat; the trade was not active, and scarcely any alters : tion in prices. Barley supply limited, but enough to wee' the demand. Oats realised late rates. Beans ruled filot at extreme quotations. Bed wheat, per load of 3 imp, bushels....l7s 6d 199 ° I White do do ....19s Od to 210 ' ) a New red do do ....16s 6d 37„s 6d 1 New white do do ....18s Od 200 ",,i Beans do do ....18s Od 19$ 6 -; Peas, per qr.. - Grindino' barley, per qr 3ts Od 3-$ pd A Malting barley, co 38 g °d 440 Ou Oats, do 27s Od 3$ ° d F10ur.... is Id to 2s Od per 141 b, MARKET HARBOROUGII.—TUESDAY. A moderate supply of wheat, which was steadily d' s; posed of at former quotations. Oats a fair show. Beall were scarce. 96 Old white wheat, 50s to 54s ; new red. 44s to 49 s per .t. stone. Barley, fine, 41s ; other kinds, 28s to 34s per 3° ,) Oats, new, 22s to 28s ; old, 29s to 33s per qr. Beans, oi 48s to 51s; new, 42s to 45s ptr qr. Foreign Mail Packet List MAILS DUE. ----- - Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton May 20. Ditto, via Marseilles n a y 14. Brazil and Cape Verde'. by British packet ...... may 4. Ditto, by French packet Map 2; Cape of Goad Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena May 25. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton.. May 3 - Ditto, via Marseilles April 27. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton April 2'?. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton May 3 Ditto, via Marseilles India (Bombay), via Southampton. April 28 Ditto, via ilarseilles .. May S Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton gri l l2B . Ditto, via Marseilles Apri 27 Hauritius, via Southampton Ditto, via hlarseillei May 8 . Newfoundland Portugal . ... ... .. ......mMaayy T. Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon... United States and British North America, by Bri tish packet Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp- ton .. . • ••••• Ditto, via Cork ~ Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry.. April 4' West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamas and Honduras) April 28 Cuba and Mexico April 23 ' Bahamas, via New York. May 3 * Bermuda, via Halifax May 9 ; West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe .„ MaY 1' EADVERTISEILENT.] —Da Barry's delicious and heal th ' restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, which contains t hree times the nourishment of the best meat, saves fifty times it: cost in other remedies, restores perfect digestion, stron g r (Tv( s, sound lungs, healthy liver, refreshing sleep, W IG' tional regularity, and energy to the most disordered or feebled, removing speedily and effectually indi,estion (diet pepsia), habitual constipation, diarrhcea, hemorrhoids, ii/0 complaints, flat ulency, nervousne ss , bili ousness , fevers, O r d throats, catarrhs, colds, infl u e nza, no i ses i n the head a ll ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, ii en.. ralgia, irritasility, sleeplessness, acidity, palpitation , he ar burn, headache, debility, d r op s y, cram ps, spasms, n an/1- c i, and sickness, sinking fits, c oug h s , asth m a, bronchitis , i n t pient consumption. scrofula, tightness of the chest, Pal? 1 / 4 1.. the pit of the stomach, between the shoulders, &c. cso ficate No. 29,410. We find it the safest remedy. A n— d ; Ure, ; Dr Harvey; Dr Wurzer ; Dr Shorlan_.a Dr Campbell. We quote a few out of the 62,0 0 cures :—C/P-,,,r No. 57,314. Tittenson - I cannot express my gratitude 1:;, the benefit I have derived from Du Barry's food. 11 /.. n d petite is perfectly restored, the pains in my leg, bat -- a od chest are quite gone, and I am fast gaining strength is flesh. Mrs A. Owcn.—Cure No. 54,812. Miss Virgin,ers Zeguers, cured of consumption, after her medical a dv liv abandoned all hopes of recovery.—Cure No. 49,832. 01 „ s o, years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervonsti' asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sicknesseo the stomach, and vomiting. Maria Joly, Wortham, Ling' /1 o f Diss, Norfolk.—Cure No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth Jaw"',.. Nazing Vicarage, Waltham Cross, Herta, of extreme nervoleo. ness, indigestion, gatherings,l ow spirits, and nervous fan Xlll+ In tins, 11b, 2s 9d; 21b, 4s 6d; 51b, lls ; 121 b, 225; 2 „; 40s.—Barry Du Barry and Co. , No. 77, Regent-street, L0n450 also Phillips, tea dealers, 8, King William-street ; lik evi7 te , at 61, Gracechurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 49, BishOP traa sg a A ; street Within ; 63, 150, and 298, Oxford-street ; 330, S 6 54, Upper Baker-street; 103, Tottenham-court-road ; Upper-street, Islington, N.; Harvey, Notting - hill; Ol t . Brothers, 65, High-street ; and Stubbs, Queen's-terrac e ': John's-wood. London ; and all respectable grocers and Cl'' mists.—Beware of snurious imitations. Births. ALLAN—On the 24th inst., at 6, Laurel Villas, Lower mouton, the wife of W. D. Allan, Esq., of a son. an BARRON—On the 23d inst., at 436, West Strand, th e of Mr. F. J. Bar r o n , o f a son. HALLETT—On St. George's Day, the wife of G. It Ju .-- late Captain 11.14.'s 96th Regiment, Esq., of a son. 0 PRICE—On the 22d inst., at 377, B run swick-Pr d „ e g al Campden-hill, the wife of As s i s t an t C om missary-Ge n Price, of a son. Marriages. oo' COX — GODDARD—On the 21st inst., at Ruan Miner.„ , c co, wall, Rose Mary Anne, youngest dau g hter a It,' „ae- Esq., of Poltesco, Holston, Cornwall, to Augustus x rick, only son of the late A. P. Goddard, Esq., ° Stock Exchange, London. i kon° FRASER-110XON—On the 24th inst., at St. MarY7Alo:' Church, Thomas L. Fraser, E sq . , son o f th e late .titer Fraser, Esq., of Calcutta, t o L ou i sa J . M oxon , daub of the late G. Moxon, Esq., 11.E.1.5. Deaths. _ of --- --- ATHERTON-011 the 20th inst Thos. Atherton, sl.l '- the Cedars-road, Cl ap h am _ co mmon, aged 61. PLACKTITTIIN--On th e 22d i ns t. , Edwin .Blackburn ,, ' 3(l.' Melville Villa, Le am i ng t on , aged - 'no • • L` 9 ELIOT—On the 22d i ns t , at St. Iliehael's Bognor, the C. Eliot, age d 67. Elder , ~ ELDER—On tho 21st inst at Oxford, Dorothy An" - aged 7 Gonntot- 6. On the 23d inst., John's Tr,rst' at St. College, - pierpoint, the Roy. John Gorham, aged 44. lIEMSLEY—On the 21st inst., at Gotham, 11. llemsleY , -- aged 78. MrrcnissoN—On the 22d inst., at 20, Richmond - 0' Barn.sbury, Wm. Mitchinson, itged 61: ssag MURRELL—On the 21st inst., at 4, Half-moon - 1 %1- e' Uracechurch-street, George Murrell, aged 45. V f London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM A.. , „„-ngi 11 , 1 of No. 112, Strand, Punter, at Tnz SuN Oinac , „:"„; . ty Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy in the uo" -- Middlesex.—Wednesday, April 24,1866. az. r ; : .s -4°( A :~ -.K. _ 11 li sh a 3 an lit Ban 'ad , I tit 3, Irk ( ---._ li G In it ti ll ., ......._