The Sun. — London, England, 1866-07-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS.-LAST EVENING. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Bury Railway (Extension), and the Midland Rail way (Ashby and Nuneaton) Bills were severally read a third time and passed. CONSECRATION OF CHURCHYARDS BILL. Lord REDESDALE said he regretted that the principle and provisions of this bill had not met with that approval from the episcopal bench, and the clergy generally, to which he considered it was entitled. After a few words from Lord STANLEY Of ALDERLEY and the Earl of DERBY in support of the bill, it was read a second time. The Dean Forest and Commons Bill was brought up and agreed to. The Postmaster-General Bill was read a third time and passed. EXTRADITION TREATY ACT AMENDMENT BILL. In reply to Lord TEYNHATIc • The LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving the third read ing of this bill, said that some misunderstanding prevailed in reference to this subject, and he thought it right to state the complaints made by the French Government in reference to the operation of the existing treaty were justified. However, the French Government had in the most friendly manner consented to a continuance of the treaty on its original basis, however they might have dis sented from its pr3visions. THE REFORM DEMONSTRATION IN HYDE PARK. In reply to Earl GRANvux.P., The Earl of DERBY—Although the noble earl had not given me any notice before I Came to the house of the questions he intended to put, I cannot be surprised that he should have desired to take the earliest opportunity of calling the attention of your lordships and the country to what he has justly described as the deplorable events which took place last night—events which I am sure all persons, whatever may be their political or private opinions, can not but look at with feelings of the deepest regret, and also of some shame and humiliation. (Hear, hear.) There is only one point which is satisfactory in what took place last night, and that is, as we find from inquiries made within the last hour, that there had been, up to that time at all events, no actual loss of life. There have been injuries, someiof a serious character, but the latest in formation is that there has been no loss of life whatever. and it is hoped that no loss of life will ensue. But it is impossible to deny that the proceedings of yesterday were of a very serious character. (Hear, hear.) I entirely acquit those who were the leaders of the movement of any inten tion to produce the consequences which followed from it. (Hear, hear.) Ido firmly believe that those who desire to make a great demonstration had no intention of causing any breach of the public peace. I think, on the other hand, it is idle to contend that that which they desired was to afford a fair opportunity for public discussion. It is im possible to believe that any such fair discussion could take place under the circumstances, and I cannot but think that the object was, not by breach of the public peace but by a demonstration of physical force, to overawe the legislature and give a false impression of public feeling upon the subject of Parliamentary Reform. But I do hope, as I acquit them of any intention of violating the public peace, that the experience of last night will show them how impossible it is for those who take upon them selves the responsibility of collecting tens ;and hundreds of thousands of persons together, and assembling them for a demonstration of physical power, to answer for those persons who are not in immediate con nection with them, bat who in every great town are ready, half in sport and half in earnest, to join in any riot or disturbance, or, perhaps, I might say, in any frolic. I believe that a very large portion of those who were in Hyde-park yesterday were boys andyoung men who really had no serious views with regard to the objects of the de ' monstration, and who merely joined it for the purpose of assisting in any disturbance or any row that might take place. There was among them a great amount of good humour. Rough jokes were bandied about from side to side, and I believe that a great portion of the mischief that did ultimately result was not in the slightest degree anti cipated or intended even by those who were the principal actors. At the same time it is impossible not to see that that result was of a very serious character. The leaders of the demonstration, I dare say, were sincerely desirous of trying the point of law, whether the parks ought to be open for all purposes, and at all times, to her Majesty's subjects. But the point of law is one upon which I be lieve there can be no question at all. There is no doubt that the crown is the owner of these parks. It is true that they are kept up at the expense of the public for their enjoyment and recreation, but the crown has the un doubted right of exercising such control over the parks as to prevent them being diverted from their proper purpose to objects which may interfere with the recreation and enjoyment of the people. I believe this has been laid down at all times. It is a question on which there is not the slightest doubt, and that opinion has been emphati cally declared by the Home Secretary of the late Govern ment in the most handsome manner, concurring as he did in the course which was proposed to be taken by my right hon. friend the Secretary for the Home Department of the present Government. As to the propriety of exercising certain restrictions and regulations over the parks, I be lieve that no member, either of the late or of the present Government, and I think that no one who has seriously considered the question, can entertain the slightest doubt. The mode which was adopted yesterday of enforc ing the rights of the Crown was thought to be tho least likely to produce collision between the police and any n um ber of persons who might attend the demonstration. Whether it was really the most prudent course I do not pretend to say ; but there can be no doubt that it was for the purpose of preventing a collision that the gates of the park were closed. Unfortunately it happened, partly from the pressure of the vast multitudes collected, and partly from the spirit of mischief, that an attempt was made to pull down a portion of the railings. I am told that no less than 1,400 yards of iron railing were pulled down in the course of last night. The consequence was that the park was left, open, and considerable destruction has taken place to those ornamental flower beds and shrubs which have afforded so much delight to the people, and great injury has been done to the property of the Crown. I believe that the leaders, having ascertained that they would not be admitted, desired to withdraw and to hold their meeting in a place where the same objection would not apply as to the parks, and whatever I may think of the prudence of meeting where they did, I can safely say there was no de sire on the part of any one to interfere with that which is the right of British subjects, namely, to assemble for the discussion of political and public questions wherever they do not infringe upon public or private rights, or obstruct legitimate traffic. There is no doubt that the leaders on this occasion endeavoured to withdraw their force from the scene of action, but after they had withdrawn a multi tude of rough and idle characters assembled, and from these in the main the mischief proceeded. I believe that the police acted with great forbearance and temper. (Hear, hear.) The troops, whom ultimately it was necessary to call out, behaved with the utmost forbearance ; and what ever may be the rumours of charges made upon the people, or anything ojthat kind, such rumours are utterly and entirely unfounded. (Rear.) The troops confined them selves, as far as possible, to keeping the crowd moving, and at not a very late hour l as t n i g h t the park was compara tively clear, and comparativ e l y li ttle damage was done in the streets. I believe my nobl e an d l earned friend on the woolsack was an unfortunate sufferer in consequenc e of his near neighbourhood to Sir Richard Mayne, who yester day was not a very popular character. (Laughter.) And between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning I was honoured with a visit by the mob, but beyond breaking a few win dows, I do not believe any mischief was done except in the immediate neighbourhood of the park. Neverthless it will be the duty of the Government to use every means in their power to prevent a repetition of dangers of this kind. I have no reason to suppose that there is likely to be a re newal to-night of the scenes of last night. Still it is not to be concealed that there was a number of idle people about the park this afternoon, probably with no political object, but bent upon doing mischief, and it will be necessary to take precautions for the purpose of interfering with their unlawful occupation. There will be no attempt to exclude peopl e from the park, because circumstances have made that utterly impossible—(a laugh)—but what will be done will b e to prevent assemblag es b y k eep i ng th e • crow d s in motion. This will be done by 'the police, and I hope it will not • e b n ry to call out the milit ary . (H ear. ) I t may b e cesesarY, eceasa however, to patrol the park and the immediate neighbourhood, and if the spirit of mischief and insubordi nation does continu e , it will be necessary to t a k e th ose s t eps which were t a k en on aformer occasion, and call upon the w ell-dis posed inhabita n t s of the district to enrol themselves as special constables for th epreservation of the publicpeace in which all are interested, but more especially those resid ing in the immediat e vicinity of the park. I cannot under take to say what were the precise instructions given by my right hon. friend the Home Secretary, my or whether it i s pos sible to produce them. I know thatright hon. friend has been in constant communication with S We have had the fullest confiden ce in the iuidrgß a m t . eli h n i t a s Yaun discretion of Sir Richard Mayne. Every power dis posal was made use of last night, and will be made use of again this evening and to-night, fur the purpose of pre serving the public peace. (Hear, hear.) Earl GRANVILLE—I do not regret having put the question to the noble earl, which I admit he has answered in a very candid manner. There are some points in which I entirely agree with him. I think with regard to monster meetings held in the metropolis!, that they cannot be of any use in furthering the objects of those who convene them, but at the same time I think it should be borne in mind that some difficulty was thrown in the way of those persons in the course of a recent debate. A measure of re form having been proposed for the enfranchisement of the working classes, one of the strongest arguments used against it was the apathy and indifference shown by the working classes themselves with respect to every measure of reform. I agree, however, entirely with the noble earl that the object of the real working classes of the metro polis is, as much as his own, to preserve public order, and that meetings of such magnitude are held not so much for the purpose of fair discussion, but as displays of mere phy sical force. I believe there is no doubt as what is the law with respect to the royal parks. If there is no authority to prevent meetings there must be excessive exercise of power in preventing carriages from entering certain parts of the park, or preventing preaching, or cricket matches, and in closing the gates night and morning, all of which things are done every day. All these restrictions are enforced in order to preserve the royal parks for the recreation and healthy amusement of the people. But I wish it to be understood that while Sir George Grey's views were in accordance with those of the present Secretary of State as to the un desirableness of permitting monster meetings in the parks, he gave no opinion as to the mode of proceeding which was adopted by the Government in the way of prevention, and which, yesterday, was not successful. I think the public will be anxious to have, and that after consideration the noble earl will not find it inconvenient to give, fuller explanations, both with regard to the instructions which were given and as to the mode in which they were carried out, especially as to whether it was desirable to bring out the troops at the moment at which they were brought out. It is an unusual circumstance to call the military out on such occasions, and I think it ought to be clearly explained upon whose authority they were called out. But my object in rising was to assure the Government that they will have, as far as I know, the co-operation of every person in this house and country in ensuring that which is of the greatest national importance, namely, the maintenance of order in this great metropolis. (Hear, hear.) Lord TEYNHAM suggested that means should be given to the people to hold these meetings without interfering with public order. Their lordships adjourned at five minutes past 6 o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING. The SPPAIRRT, took the chair at twelve o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Lords' amendments to the following bills were con sidered and agreed to, and the bills were read a third time and passed :—Great Eastern Railway (Alexandra Park Branches), Great North of Scotland Railway, Llanelly Railway and Dock, Muswell Hill Bstate and Railways, and North British Railway (Camps, &c., Branches). CIVIL SERVICE SUPPLEMENTAL ESTIMATES. Mr. HUNT laid on the table these estimates. NEW MEMBER. Mr. Joii A. SMITH took the oaths and his seat on his election for Hertfordshire. THE LIVERPOOL SEWAGE UTILIZATION BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. • On tho order of the day for going into committee on this Mr. HENLEY said ho considered that they should postpone the first part of this bill this session. That part related to the sewage and water supply, and the second part referred to the removal of nuisances, and that latter portion of the bill, which it was proposed should be of immediate application was most important. In the pre sent bill there was a very serious omission, namely, in the absence of any. provision for any ample supply of water for the .cleansing purposes. The right hon. gentleman contended• at much length that the portions of the bill to which he took exception might be postponed until next session, as they did not demand immediate legislation. Mr. AUSTIN BRUCE said he was obliged to differ with the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Henley), for he con sidered the points to which the right hon. gentleman referred as being of a character that might be postponed, were exactly those which ',required immediate legislation. (Hear, hear, and " No, no.") Tie was of opinion that in order to give effect to any act of this description they should secure the co-operation of the local authorities, and in order to accomplish that object clauses had been introduced into the bill, to enable the inhabitants of any particular parish to apportion a part of the rates for the purpose of sewage and public health. lie referred to the state of workhouses in the metropolis and other parts of the kingdom, where the absence of those sanitary regula tions provided by this bill led to a very great increase in deaths, particularly in respect to children, and he illus trated this by reference to the bills of. mortality for the last two or three years. Mr. CAVE said that ho could not agree with his right hon. friend (Mr. Henley) as to the propriety of postponing legislation on certain portions of this bill. He agreed with the last speaker that immediate legislation on the subject was necessary. Mr. AYRTON said, that according to his Parliamentary experience he never knew of a measure of such magnitude as the present bill introduced by the mover in a speech so incommensurate with its importance. He totally objected to the powers conferred on the police in carrying out the whole of the provisions of this bill. For instance, poor persons might be turned out of their tenements without any place for their shelter being supplied, which, he considered, was in itself an objection that should be regarded as fatal to the measure by those who were influenced by constitutional principles. Powers vested in a magistracy, which it was proposed under the bill to transfer to the police, were exercised with humanity and discretion ; and he did not think that such transfer to the authorities of Scotland-yard was calculated to inspire much respect for law on the part of the commu nity. The local authorities would by this bill be liable to bo brought under the despotic influence of stipendiary magistrates, which might possibly have the effect of de: priving the public of their services. The way in which the improvement in habits which was contemplated by this bill was not in arming of the police with power to thrust themselves into private dwellings, but by an extension of religion and morality among the community. Sir G. GREY considered that the state of the law re specting overcrowding of houses and sanitary regulations was not so satisfactory as not to require amendment, and he supported the bill. He denied that there were any grounds for apprehending an excess of power on the part of the police in giving effect to this bill, and referred tothe Smoke Nuisances Act as supporting that view. Mr. T. HUGHES entreated the houso not to allow a bill of so important a character as the present to be arrested in its progress this session, and he contended that pablic feel ing was in its favour. There might be some concessions on the part of the supporters of the bill, but he trusted that the bill in some modified form would pass the Legislature. Mr. GRAVES could speak to the feeling in Liverpool on the subject of this bill, and it was decidedly in favour of its provisions. Mr. H. LEWIS agreed with the hon. and learned mem ber for the Tower Hamlets (Mr. Ayrton) as to the uncon stitutional and impolitic nature of the bill. He considered that nothing was more injudicious than to place the police in any position that would bring them into collision with the public generally, or in any way to render them unpopular. Mr. CANDLISH thought that legislation on the subject was imperatively required, and he supported the bill. In the course of the debate on this bill, it had been urged as a ground for its postponement that the session was so far advanced, but he thought the measure of such importance that the house would be justified in having a special session for the purpose of passing it into law. Mr. ADDERLEY supported the bill, and denied that it conferred any arbitrary powers on the police, but merely armed them with a power that prevented the existing law on the subject continuing a mere dead letter. He accused the hon. and learned member for the Tower Ham lets (Mr. Ayrton) with being ignorant of the sentiments of his own constituency, when he described them as being opposed to this bill, and referred to an abstract of docu ments laid before the house on the subject in confirmation of his statement. As the principle of the bill was ad mitted, as well as the necessity for legislating on the sub ject, he thought the present discussion was futile, and injurious to the interests of the public. Mr. LOCKE bore his personal testimony to the fact that as far as his experience of the metropolis extended it was in favour of the bill, which he trusted would be passed during the present session of Parliament. Mr. POWELL supported the bill. Some further discussion having taken place, the house went into committee—Mr. DODSON in the chair. Clauses 1 to 4 were agreed to. On clause 5, a division took place on an amendment proposed by Mr. HENLEY, to make the modo of levying t t h h e e L dra me in l ag G e e l v a e t r e em t s t aAmeet , a l s B a sB g . en T er h a e l d eo is in tri m c i t te ra o ts ivi un d d e e d r , and the amendment was lost by 82 against 8. Clauses 6 to 9 were agreed to. On clause 10, Mr. PAULL moved several amendments with the ob ject of providing for the better inspection and a b atement of smells arising from the drain pipes of dwelling-houses being out of repair. Sir R. COLLIER thought the clause sufficient for the purpose as it stood. Mr. KNIGHT was replying, when, according to th e rules of the house, the discussion terminated at ten minutes to four. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Col. TAYLOR, the Speaker was au thorised to issue a new writ for the borough of Galway, in ,he room of Mr. Morris, who had accepted the office of So icitor-General for Ireland. The house adjourned at 4 o'clock. The house resumed at six o'clock. THE DISTURBANCES IN HYDE-PARK. will form my apology for not having given Mr. W. OSBORNE —Perhaps the urgency e nno o ti f ee th to o case he right l hav have otno put.gentleman v t e h t e o H a s o k m w e h S e e t c h r e e r t Secretary w of l h statee cl yu t e o s t t i o h n e house, with reference to the m ee ti ng p ropose d t o have been held i n H y d e-park last evening, ,what instructions were i t given by the Home-office to Sir R. Mayne ? (Hear, hear.) Mr. AYRTON believed that the unfbrtunate state of things which had taken place, and which all must regret, had arisen from causes that might have been entirely pre vented. Exclusive privileges in the parks having been conceded from time to Limo to particular classes of society, the people in their turn thought they too had a right to use what they regarded as public p roperty for their purposes. This right having been put forward, the Government ought to have issued a well-considered and temperate proclama tion, explaining what were the exact rights of the people in respect of the royal parks. In that case they would not have had the scenes of the previous night. Instead of that they had published a notification, which actually suggested that the meeting proposed to be held was likely to be at tended with violence and disturbance. It was a principle of the constitution that this country was not to be governed by force. To have appealed to force, therefore, and not to have met the people on the ground of right, was that which had really led to the events they now deplored ; and he trusted the Government would take an early opportunity to issue a proper notification explaining the state of the question, and not persist in the disastrous course of endea vouring to keep order by an exhibition of police on the one hand and of soldiers on the other. In conclusion, he asked the Home Secretary to produce the notification issued by Sir R. Mayne, and to state what steps had been taken to disabuse the minds of the people of the erroneous impres sion that they had a right to hold political meetings in Hyde-park, and to preserve the peace of the metropolis. Mr. WALPOLE—In the trying circumstances in which the metropolis is placed at this moment, I think I should not be exercising a wise discretion in following the hon. gentleman who has just sat down in some of the remarks he has made. At the commencement of his speech he drew a contrast between different classes of society, and he tried to make out, and to represent to the house, and through the house to the country, that there was a different ad ministration of the law to those whom he calls the higher and richer classes, and those whom he calls the poor. Nothing of that kind was present in any notice issued with my'sanction, and nothing of that kind, I am equally sure, was ever present, or ever will be present, to my mind. (Hear, hear.) I believe that all classes of society should be:treated alike in this matter which is now before us. It was because that notice was founded on the principle of securing to all classes the full benefit for which the parks are appropriated that it was issued. (Cheers.) The hon. gentleman has found fault with the notice as a notice con taining a false proposition, and he has followed that up by remarks which seemed to be responded to by partial cheers of gentlemen opposite, as if there was any false suggestion contained in this notice, as if the matter of right to which the hon. gentleman has referred is not perfectly well known to this house and to the country by proceedings which have heretofore taken place, and which it was convenient for the hon. gentleman to forget. (Ministerial cheers.) In the year 1855 there was a great stir made in this metro polis about a bill brought in by a noble lord now a peer in the upper house, but then a member of the House of Com mons, with reference to Sunday trading. At that time great meetings were held in the park, great meetings were actually held and great disturbances took place, and the Government of the day—not the Government of my friends sitting near me, but a Government con sisting of gentlemen on the other side of the house—in consequence of those proceedings appointed a commis sion to inquire into those proceedings, into the conduct of the police, and into the rights that were claimed. I will refer only briefly to a part of the report of the com missioners who inquired into that subject to show that the matter is not so entirely new as the hon. member would represent it to be, and that the present Government have not commenced a course totally unknown to the house, totally unknown to him, and totally unknown to the country. The commission consisted of Sir James Stuart Wortley, Mr. Baynes Armstrong, and Mr. Gilbert Henderson, who went into the fullest invesfiga- on of the subject, and I find this paragraph in their re port : —"After the proceeding in Hyde-park on Sunday, the 24th of June, it was fit and proper that measures should bo taken to secure to all classes the undisturbed ex ercise of their rights, the right to ride or drive in the park. The arrangements for this purpose seemed to have devolved on the first commission according to the distri bution of the duties sanctioned by the Secretary of State for the Home Department. With the prospect of the re currence on the Ist of July of the tumults of the 24th of June it was right to issue some warning to the public, and to apprise the unwary that such proceedings were illegal and would be checked by the police. Police notices were advertised, and also printed and placarded, which had in view those objects, and also, as we understand, the pre vention of a public meeting in the park at which it was anticipated the Sunday Trading Bill would be discussed, and the assembled multitude addressed by the speakers in the usual form. An attempt to hold such a meeting had been foiled by the police on the 24th of June. It semrs to us that meetings of this nature might properly be inter dicted and suppressed, as novel and not sanctioned by usage or the regulations of Hyde-park. To make Hyde park an arena for the discussion of popular and exciting topics would be inconsistent with the purposes for whichit is thrown open and used by the public. Whether the hold ing of such meeting was contemplated or not it is difficult to say, but it was understood by many not as interdicting the meeting in a limited sense, but as prohibiting all as semblages for such purpose in Hyde-park on the Ist of July." Now that is the report of the royal commission to inquire into a proceeding similar to that which oc curred last night. In the following year another ques tion was raised, whether bands of music and preachings were to be allowed in Regent's-park, and one or two other matters. On that occasion an opinion of the law officers of tho Crown was taken, which I hold in my hands- For that opinion three questions were put. The first was "Is there any authority to close the gates of the enclosure and to exclude the public altogether during the day?" The answer is, " We think that there is a right in point of law to close the gates, and to exclude the public from the park.'' The second question is, "The gates of the enclosure being open, is there any authority to prevent those persons who are present, and conducting themselves properly, in their attempt to obtain ingress ?" The answer was, "We think that the gates being opened there is a right on the part of the Crown to exclude persons attempting to obtain admis sion, but we do not think that right should be exercised against particular individuals unless in case of previous mis conduct." I beg to call -.he attention of the hon, gentleman to the third question and the third answer :—" Supposing persons to have entered to preach or play upon musical instruments, or to sing ; does any authority exist to have persons so singing or playing or preaching put out of the park, suppose they do not obstruct the thoroughfare or cause a disturbance? and if so, you are particularly re quested to state what is the nature of the authority and how it is derived." The answer is, "If persons have entered to preach or to play, they could not be turned out without proper notice. The permission of the Crown to the public to enjoy the parks is conditional only, and does not apply to persons who so conduct themselves, and the best way of giving such notice is by posting it up at the entrance to the park. The authority to close and to exclude the public from, the park is that which every landowner has to prevent trespassing on his land, and we are of opinion that the public has not acquired any legal right to use the park by reason of the continual user, and by favour of the Crown." The law officers, who wrote that, opinion were Sir Alexander Cockburn, the present Chief Justice; Sir Richard Bothell, now Lord Westbury; and Mr. Wills, an able lawyer. I have now answered the question with a view of dealing with the matteras a matter of right. As a matter of right I conceive that it is perfectly clear that the opinion given by those law officers is the true opinion, on which any person holding the situation I have the honour to hold is required to act. As to the mode in which he should act, as to the discretion which he should exercise, I frankly and fairly admit any advice must be given subject to the responsibility of the Minister to Par liament. But Ido beg the hon. gentleman to understand that instead of issuing this notice on the ground which he supposes, we issued it solely on the ground to which I have adverted, namely, the parks, being parks appropriated by the Crown for the benefit of all classes of her Majesty's subjects, ought not to be interfered with, and so all my predecessors have held —ought not to be interfered with by any meetings which are likely to be the occasion of political excitement or religious agitation, and thereby to interfere with the recreation of the people. (Ministerial cheers.) Now, for myself, I can truly say that if any meeting is to be held for political demonstration, or for religious agita tion, that is so entirely opposed to the purpose for which the parks are open to the public, that until corrected by this house and by Parliament, I must take leave to think that we are bound to exclude such meetings from the park. (No.) I hear some hon. gentleman say " No." If that be his idea, I hope ho will bring the matter distinctly before the house, and lot the house discuss it temperately and calmly. I have given my reasons why I think the line ought to bo drawn between meet ings of that description and the free admission to the parks of all classes of her Majesty's subjects. I believe that distinction to be sound, and as I said before, until prevented by parliament, I shall certainly feel it my duty to act upon it. In acting upon it let not the hon. gen tleman suppose that I do it in the tone or in the spirit which he has so unjustly imputed to me. (Cheers.) Let him not suppose—l hope it is not in my character, and lam sure it is not in ray disposition—that anything like coercive au thority should be exercised over any ono,unless to,enforco obedience to the law. But then the hon. gentleman goes on to say that public opinion and moral influence is that to which the government ought to bow. Most cordially do I agree to that. No other test do I wish to be judged than alnwtahopiupesldcoalnutenovtryethr.e right-mind e d public opinion of the coun try, t o th at moral influence which I trust will always exer coifse its duo w e i g h t over every person who is an inhabitant cats in no ffoorrcealnyreppurudpiantsenietxennetpirtetlyo acquire obedience obedience to the law, but if the law is likely to be violated, if the public peace is likely to be broken it is a very grave responsibility, let me tell the hon, gentleman, for any person occupying the position I have now the honour to hold, if ho has not the moral courage to exercise it and put it in force. (Cheers.) Having said that let me assure the house that if any words of mine uttered in the most conci liatory spirit would allay the alarm which has prevailed in the public mind for the past 48 hours, I would utter them from this place or anywhere. I have no desire that any public meeting should be checked, held at the proper place and at the proper time for discussing any subject what ever, political subjects, of course, among others. All I say is, that for the reasons I have stated I think, and shall continue to think until I am contradicted, that the royal parks are not the place for such discussions. Now, the h h o o n n g e rn n e n l e h e m r a f n o r t h t e h m e T e m n w b e n for rr Hamlets, questions also the in re gard to the exact course which I thought it my duty to take with reference to the meetings announced to be held in Hyde-park. The notice which I issued, or rather the notice which was issued by my authority, does not contain, I believe, a single word that any peace-loving subject of the Crown can really take objection to. It states that the parks are open for the recreation of the public, and there- THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 25, 1866. fore that meetings of a description like that which was in tended to be held will not be permitted. That notice was communicated the moment it was in print by a letter to the gentleman who was supposed to be the leader and pro moter of the League. It was hoped that after that notice was sent to him that those who had advised the meeting would be cautious before persevering in their object, and would desist. They chose to think otherwise. I do not hold myself to blame for anything which happened in con sequence of that determination—(cheers)—but I do think I have seen letters written—(loud ministerial cheers)—by others which involve the writers in a very grave responsi bility. (More cheering.) And now, sir, as to the instruc tions I gave. The instructions I gave were these, that notices having been issued, that temperately and forbear ingly if the meeting did take place, the police were to warn those who held the meeting against doing anything con trary to the notice which had been issued. They were in structed unquestionably, if they did anything contrary to that notice, to stop the meeting, but not to have recourse to force until obliged. They were also instructed in case of necessity, but in case of necessity only, to call the mili tary to their aid. I have seen it stated in the papers that the military was called .out before any serious rioting took place. That is not true. The military were not called out, as I firmly believe, a moment too soon I also gave in structions that the park should be closed at five o'clock, thinking that was the best way Of preventing riot ; and I have the best proof of that from what has happened, for those who went as the heads of the meeting to address the people in Hyde-park were those who went to the Marble Arch and demanded admittance, to try the right, as they called it, but who went away from the park, and who did not take any part in the proceedings, as I am happy to believe, subsequently took place. Other.persons were under the impression that if they were not to be admitted they ought to go quietly home, and they marched back in stead of trying to break into the park. But when you bring huge masses of men together—and those who broke into the park were those against whom such notices as this are more particularly addressed—l need not say that when thousands and thousands of persons chose to break the law, it is jneither in the power of force nor of moral in fluence to prevent them. Well, that was the state of things up to yesterday evening. I ought to say, in justice to the military force that was called out, from all quarters I have heard that they exercised the greatest forbearance —(hear)—and that they did nothing whatever in the way of severity or coercion; and I ought to say in justice to the police, that I do not believe, from all I can hear, that they took any measures of undue severity,but they did take strong measures, which they were bound to take when the railings of the park were being pulled down. I ought to say also,and I think it fair to say,that those who were col lected together—l do not mean to apply this remark to all —but I believe that the groat mass were orderly and good tempered. But it is extremely painful that the precautions which we took did not prevent that great disturbance which occurred yesterday evening. It acted in some mea sure as a preventive, but it did not prevent the pulling down of the railing and the breaking into the park, and I doubt if that could have been prevented by any such mea sures that could have been taken by way of precaution. It has been doubted whether locking the gates was the best thing to do. I hope the house will not judge after the event, but will see on the other side of the question, that if tens of thousands of men had been allowed to go into the park it would not have been possible to have pre vented the meeting. (Hear, hear.) It would not have been possible to take measures that would have se cured the preservation of the peace - (cries of "Oh!' ) that is my opinion —without great risk, without great excitement consequent upon them, and upon the whole, therefore, I am still inclined to think that the measure taken of locking the gates was really the best measure. (Cries of " No.") I hear some gentlemen differ from that. I have expressed my opinion, and in expressing that opinion I can only say that it has been tried before in other cases, and I think I have heard it said in this house that it was perhaps the best precautionary measure that could have been taken. At all events, whether it was best or not, no ono can doubt that those who began the distur bance wore not the police. The disturbance commenced with men who came there for a different purpose than that of open discussion. (Hear, hear.) The responsibility of that rests with others, and not with me. I am bound to say that I have to add that some disturbance has occurred in the park this afternoon. The measures we have taken are as moderate, I believe, as the circumstances of the ease will admit of. I hope I may appeal to the right-minded people of this metropolis, I hope I may appeal to all those who really wish to have free discussion, and at the same time that the peace of the metropolis should be preserved, that they will not give a grudging support to the Government in whose hands that peace is intrusted. (Cheers.) I have nothing more to add than that I thank the house for the kind manner in which they have listened to me, and having made these observations I hope the house will be satisfied that there is really no ground of complaint against the Go vernment for adopting that course which it was its impe rative duty to adop* • Mr. OLIPITANT was of opinion that the measures of the Government had not been judiciously taken, and did not see how the executive could take any credit to themselves for what they had done, or escape the imputation of serious blame. At present the police were the laughing-stock of London. He had witnessed the whole affair, and he felt the greatest sympathy and compassion for both police and people. For there they stood, face to face, with a sort of unlimited order to attack each other on no pretext or excuse whatever. After the railings were pulled down, it was evident that to attempt to prevent the meeting was useless, and that tho pohCe ought then to have been withdrawn. The effects of the whole proceeding had been seriously to impair the authority of the executive, to bring the police into contempt, and to make the military ridiculous. At tho same time he thought there was a moral to be drawn from this little episode. He looked on it as providentially sent to warn them that if th e y l oc k e d the gates of Reform against the people they might have them pulling down the paling of the constitution. (Cheers.) Mr. B. COCHRANE wished to call attention to a letter which had been written by a member of that house, and which ho considered had tended both to excite the people and to incite them to a breach of the peace. (Cheers, and cries of "No, no.") He referred to the letter of the hon. member for Birmingham (Mr. Bright), which he had written after the declaration made by the right hon. gen tlemen the present and late Secretaries of State for the Home Department, and when the hon. member therefore knew perfectly well the force of the language he had used. (Hear, hear.) It might be said that he (Mr. Cochrane) ought not attack an absent man. (Hear, hear, and laugh ter.) The hon. member was not only absent from that house, but he was absent from London altogether. The language of the letter was not more remarkable than the care and caution which the writer showed for his own Personal safety. (Cheers.) It reminded him of lines written of another great agitator— With the cold caution of his patriot spleen, Which seeks for treason, but which seeks a screen : And keeps this maxim ever in its view— " What's basely done should be done safely too." (Laughter and cheers.) He (Mr. Cochrane) must protest against that letter. (Cheers.) He regretted very much that when he put a question to the late Secretary for the Home Department some two or three weeks ago, as to the legality of the meeting in Trafalgar-square, the right hon. gentleman said it would be legal, unless it were held for the purpose of petitioning Parliament. That answer he thought at the time was calculated to mislead the people, and he considered that it would have been more to the credit of the right hon. gentleman if he had ex pressed some strong opinion against the legality of those meetings, instead of leaving to his successor the whole odium of putting a stop to them. (Cheers.) Mr. LAYARD condemned the measure of the Govern ment as injudicious and foolish, and added that if the Home Secretary had shown trust in the working men they would not now have had to lament the riot and disturbance which had occurred. For these results he held the right hon. gentleman and his colleagues entirely and exclusively responsible. Major JERVIS administered a sharp rebuke to Mr. Layard for the use of language which was calculated to stimulate instead of assuaging exacerbated popular feeling. He protested against the notion as absurd that, because the paling had been thrown dowr, the police were bound to retire. Sir G. GREY confirmed the views of the Home Secre tary with regard to the illegality of holding political or religious meetings in the parks, and regretted that the leaders of the Reform L eague h a d no t in this instance, as on a preceding occasion, held their meeting in Trafalgar square. Mr. COWPER added his denial to that of Mr. Walpole that exclusive advantages in the parks bad been granted to any class of the community. He suggested that in future such gatherings had better take place on Primrose hill. Mr. J. S. MILL said that this was no ordinary occasion, and it seemed to him that noble lords and honourable gentlemen opposite were by no means aware of its great importance, or of the very serious consequences which might arise from the step which they had taken. He did not intend to enter into the question as to the right of the people to meet in Hyde-park. The Government had the opinion of good lawy ers th a t they had a right to ex clude the people, but lawyers were not unanimous upon the point, and he could p ro d uce well argued opinions, based both on legal and constitutional grounds, asserting that the people had a right to meet in the park. He did not, however, desire to lay any stress upon that circum stance. He maintained that if the people had not that right, they ought to lave it. (Hear.) And further, that if, for reasons which were unintelligible to him, it was ne cessary for the maintenance of some nominal right, that permission should be asked before - such meetings were held, that permission ought at once to have been granted. (Hear, hear.) Ten thousand times more ought it to have been granted when the people believed, erroneously though it might be, that they had the right to assemble in the park, because the fact that their minds were excited upon another subject was the very circumstance that ought to have warned right hon. gentlemen that they might reasonably f ear the consequences which had fol lowed, and which he believed that they deplored as much as any one. He believed that the public ought to have the use of the parks for this purposo, because what other place was there that was half so convenient? [Several Hon. Members—Primrose-hill]—or where there would be so little interference with traffic ? Was there less interrup tion of traffic in Trafalgar-square than in Hyde-park—or did a meeting of this sort held once in two or three years cause one-thousandth part of the interference with the other uses of the park that was occasioned by a volunteer review ? It was obvious that if such reasons as this were to exclude the public from meeting in places which must be considered to belong to them, there were no others for their exclusion from which much stronger ones might not be urged. Perhaps, indeed, that was what hon. gentlemen opposite wished. (Hear, hear.) Ile fully accepted the assurance of the Home Secretary that he did not wish it. He believed in the perfect sincerity of the right hon. gen tleman, but he was not altogether re-assured, because the right hon. gentleman only said that he had no objection to meetings at proper times and in proper places; but he did not, inform the house what, in his opinion, were proper times and places. The newspaper scribes of her Majesty's Government were already declaring that no open-air meetings ought to be tolerated in the metro polis. Let them try to prevent the holding of such meetings. In that case they would have to encounter a resistance of a very different kind, and from very different persons from any that they had Jet met. (Cheers and counter cheers.) Noble lords and right hon. gentlemen opposite might be congratulated upon having done a job of work last night the impression of which it would take wiser men than they, and the lapse of many years, to efface. It had been and still was the anxious wish of all those who, while they understood the age, were likewise lovers of their country, that the necessary changes in its institutions should be effected with the least possi ble, and, if possible, without any, alienation or ill-blood between the hitherto governing classes and the masses of the people. Her Majesty's present advisers seemed to be de termined that, so far as depended upon them, this hope, this wish, this anxious desire should be frustrated. (Oh, oh.) They all knew that there was a kind of people who could do more mischief in an hour—(cheers from the Mi nisterial benches)—than all the wisdom in the world could repair in a year. Some gentlemen opposite seemed to have an honourable ambition to inscribe their names upon the list of such persons. (Hear, hear.) The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—I take it for granted that tile speech which we have just heard is one of those which were intended for delivery in Hyde park, and it may give us some idea of what will be the style of rhetoric which will prevail at these poriodical meet ings. On the part of the gentlemen who sit on this side of the house I would repudiate, and repudiate with some indigation, the feelings, motives, views, and policy which the hon. member fin. Westminster has, without any foun dation whatever, imputed to us. (Cheers.) No opinions have been expressed on this side of the house which have not been shared by the highest authorities opposite. Every one must deplore what has occurred, but whatever those who are so profoundly sage after the event may say, I be lieve that there is no prudent man who would not have taken the course which we adopted, and which our prede cessors have generously stated that they would have pur sued. There can, I think be no two opinions, except among gentlemen who desired to deliver speeches inHyde park, that meetings for political or religious purposes ought not to be held in that locality. In the case of the parks which have been established in our great towns within the last few years, the rule always prevails that no such meetings shall be held within their bounds. The good sense of the people of England has brought them to the same conclusion as has been adopted by the practical men who are responsible for the management of the parks in the metropolis. I should not have risen had it not been for the extraordinary and unjustifiable tone of the hon. mem ber for Westminster, for which the debate has afforded no foundation, and which was absolutely inexcusable—(hear, hear, and no, no)—but as lam upon my legs I cannot help making a remark upon the view which appeared to be the foundation of the speech which introduced the discussion. The whole speech of the hon. member for the Tower Ham lets rested upon the assumption that there was in the noti fication published by the Government a false suggestion that this meeting would, if it took place, lead to riot and disturbance. There was no false suggestion of the kind in that notification. It was not assumed by those who drew up that document that riot or disturbance would be occasioned by those who promoted the meeting or by the working classes who attended it. Quito the reverse. Wo had great confidence-- (a laugh) —in the conduct of the in dividuals who had undertaken the management of the meeting, because other person's behaviour had shown that they would act with perfect propriety. We were equally cer tain that the real working classes who would attend the meeting would not be the authors of riot or disturbance. At the same time, we said to ourselves, that a meeting of this kind was likely to lead to riot and disturbance, and has it not done so ? I live close to the scene of the disturbance, and at the present moment I am not sure whether I shall get home safely to-night, or whether I have a home to go to. There fore I have some opportunity of observing what is taking place. There was a great many people there, very noisy and turbulent people, but I will be bound to say that they do not belong to the working classes. It was, however, the case that where meetings, however honest and honourable may bo their promoters, and however good citizens may be those who attend them, are taken advantage of by all the floating scum of a great city to assemble and conduct themselves as they did last night. I entirely repudiate the views imputed to us by the hon. member for West minister that we are opposed to public meetings, especially to those of the working classes. On the contrary, I look to public meeting held, as my right hon. friend said, at proper times and in proper places, as one of our great political safety-valves. I am far from discouraging them. I would throw no obstacles in their way. But I believe that unless they are held at proper times and in proper places they give opportunities for tumult, riot, and dis turbance, and what has occurred proves the soundness of that opinion. In reply to Mr. OTWAY, Mr. WALPOLE said there was no foundation whatever for the statement that the Guards had teen ordered to load their rifles. Affer a few words from Mr. WHALLEY, who com plained of the employment of police spies at meetings of the Reform League, and a characteristic speech from Mr. lIADFIELD, the subject dropped. PRISON MINISTERS. The O'CONNOR DON called attention to the inefficient working of the Prisons Ministers Act, relying chiefly on the returns from the Middlesex prisons, and after recom mending that the Act should either be made compulsory, or that the permissive power should be placed in other hands, he concluded by moving a resolution pledging the House to an immediate consideration of the subject. Mr. WHALLEY strenuously opposed the motion. Sir G. GREY agreed that in some respects the Act had failed and required amendment, but he was not willing to pledge the House to immediate action, knowing the diffi culties of the case, and hoping that when the advantages of the Act became better known it would be more widely adopted. The motion was supported by Mr. O'REILLY, and op posed by Mr. NEWDEGATE. Mr. WALPOLE acknowledged that, though the Act had been carried out in the majority of cases, the intentions of the Legislature had been defeated in many gaols where the magistrates had refused to apply it. While admitting the importance of affording facilities for religious worship to these unfortunate prisoners, he thought the experience of the Act was too short to justify an immediate interference of the Legislature, nor could ho agree in the expediency of vesting a power of interference in the Homo Secretary. He promised to address remonstrances to the justices who had not applied the Act, and he hoped that course would be effectual. After some observations from Lord E. HOWARD and Mr. MAGuntx the motion was withdrawn. On the motion of Mr. GLADSTONN, an interesting return was ordered, described by him as a valuable addition to the general history of the country, as it would show the net public income and expenditure of Great Britain for each year from 1688 to 1801. The Attorneys and Solicitors (Ireland) Bill passed ,hrough committee. The adjourned debate on the Compulsory Church-rate Abolition Bill was renewed by Mr. HUBBARD, who contrasted it very unfavourably with the Solicitor -General's Bill,and regretted the decision of the Dissenters not to accept the morn equitable com promise which the latter offered. A motion for adjourning the debate, made by Mr. Henley was rejected by 108 to 64 ; and a second motion to adjourn the house, by Colonel North, gave rise to a sharp discus sion, in the course of which Mr. Selwyn, Mr. Henley, Sir S. Northcote, and Mr. Hunt expressed strong objections to the Bill and urged Mr. Gladstone to drop it for the Ses sion. Ultimately the debate was adjourned until August 1 The remaining orders were disposed,of, andthe house ad journed at 25 minutes to 2 o'clock. RINDERPEST IN SHEEP.—The first appearance of rinderpest among sheep in the west of England has just occurred, Mr. Parsons, farmer, Pethertod Bridge, Somert shire, having recently lost no sheep. Professor Simimds yesterday examined the flock, and found the whole suffer ing from the rinderpest in its most virulent form. The local committee order the immediate slaughter of the re maining flock of 450. Mr. Blake, magistrate, Ulset Farm. had lost 15 cattle, and the remaining 38 were examined by Professor Simonds, and their immediate slaughter ordered. CRYSTAL PALACE.-ONE SHILLING DAY, TUES DAY.—Admissions on payment, 23,351 ; ditto by season tickets, 4,698; total visitors, 28,052. r A DVERTISEMENTd—HoIIoway's Pills.— Grateful Car minative. —When bowel complaints rages and cholera threatens it is little short of madness to disregard the warnings to ward off the portending mischief, which flatu lency and alvine pains providentially convey to us. The above -named pills are designed for this very purpose, and admirably hitherto have they fulfilled their office. Their purifying virtues being combined with the surest aperient qualities not only free the circulation from every taint, but release the bowels from all unassimilated matters, and re- lieve every organ and the system generally from deranging causes. In childhood, and for all whose health from birth has been delicate, Holloway's pills are peculiarly appro priate, because they act mildly, are gently laxative, and highly salutary to the bowels. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—The riot in Hyde Park was discussed in both Houses of Parliament last night, and the Ra dical members said all that was to be expected of them. They acted as party politicians anxious to make the most of what they consider to be a slip on the opposite side. We have ourselves no reason to depart from our habitual impartiality ; we do not speak either as official apologists or as desiring to increase the political capit a l o f th e Opposition, but simply in the cause of law and order. With this view we must, in the name of the peaceful inhabi tants of London, denounce the arguments of those who would justify or excuse the outrages of which London was the scene on Monday night. We have already said that in our opinionthe plan of shutting the Park gates was a mistake. Such a proceeding might have been effectual agai ns t a sma ll crow d , ' but was useless against such a gathering as thronged the neighbourhood of the Park on Monday night. If it was desired to maintain the law which allows the Government to regulate the use of the parks, the best course would have been toforbid the Reform leaders to address the crowd within the enclosure. On their refusing to obey they might have been apprehended, and the proceedings before the magis trate, or an appeal from his sentence, would have tested the right which Mr. Beales claims. It is certain, however, that the course taken by Mr. Walpole and Sir Richard Mayne was that which they looked upon as most likely to avoid a collision with the crowd. They believed that an interference with the meeting after the people were gathered in the Park would lead to serious disturbance, and they concluded, with little reflection, and unwisely as it has turned out, that the shortest way would be to prevent the meeting assembling at all. It was an error in police generalship, but made in perfect good faith and with the best intentions of doing right. But whether the dispositions of the police authori ties were prudent or otherwise, there can be only one opinion as to the conduct of the mob. The mass of the people did, indeed, only enter the Park through the gaps in the railings which a minority of the rioters had broken down, but this leaven of evil doers was sufficient to carry on a fight which, had it not been for the temper of the police and of the sol diers, might have been disastrous. Sir Richard Mayne was hurt by a stone, and many of the police were severely injured. On the other side a number of the rioters received severe punishment, and many more were taken into custody. The records of yes terday's Police Courts testify to the nature of their offences. But the riot in the Park was not all. A portion of those people whom the metropolitan mem bers represent as having merely contemplated a peaceful meeting, and then forced their way into a Park that belonged to them, finished the night by a series of wanton outrages on private property. After leaving the Park, gangs of ruffians broke the windows in Great Cumberland-street. At 1 o'clock in the morning 200 or 300 were engaged in this work of devastation. What the inhabitants of Great Cumberland-street had to do with the exclusion of the people from the Park, and why their property should be destroyed as an answer to the tyranny of Sir Richard Mayne the leading Liberals will, per haps, inform us. Others of the rioters went south ward, and the Lord Chancellor's windows shared the fate of those on the other side of the Park. Complete quiet was not restored in the London streets until almost morning. Yesterday the riot ing began again. Crowds congregated in Hyde Park, and again attacked the police with stones a d brickbats. They tore up the shrubs, broke off branches from the trees, and wrought a devastation in the Park which it will take some time to restore. As night approached the attack on' private houses was resumed. The windows of the Athenaeum Club were smashed—for what reason it is not easy to conceive. In other streets near the parks similar outrages were committed. Several of the police are said to have been badly hurt on this the second night of the riot, and the services of the Guards, both horse and foot, have been required to overawe the crowd. We would now ask where is this to end ? Several days ago we ventured to remonstrate with the Reform League on their plan of making a de monstration of physical force at the west end of London. We pointed out that they were resorting to an objectionable political procedure, and one long since condemned by sober opiaion ; that by calling upon the lower classes to come " in their thousands" to Hyde Park they were bringing together a multi tude whom they could not control, and a large part of whom was sure to be bent on mischief. The event has gone beyond our apprehensions. The disorderly element in the crowd has been more lawless and more wantonly destructive than could have been expected. The most conclusive proof has been given that such gatherings, which can serve no useful purpose whatever, cannot be sufficiently reprobated. Half a mile of park railings are pulled down, and the windows of a streetful of private people are broken at one o'clock in the morning. This, in the eyes of some, may be no very serious affair, but it is sufficient to show that if crowds are to have their own way other people who do not belong to them must suffer. It is the duty of mem b ers on both sides of the house to support the Executive in repressing these disturbances. We are glad to see that Lord Granville in the House of Lords, and Sir G. Grey in the Commons, do not condescend to join in the outcry of some of the Radical members. Sir G. Grey repeats his declaration against political meetings in Hyde Park, and there are few men not blinded by party spirit who will be of a different opinion. The doctrine that because a place belongs to the "people" —that is, the ration—therefore any section of the public have the right to use it for any purpose they please is consistent neither with law nor com mon sense. Hyde -park is, indeed, in a certain sense national property, but the legal ownership is vested in the Crown, which has the right to regulate the use of the park for the benefit of the community. Thus it is closed at nights ; hackney carriages are allowed to pass only along a certain road ; buying and selling are permitted only under restrictions ; some games are not allowed, booths and tents may not be erected,- exhibitions of jugglery and the like are prohibited. In short, it is shown in a hundred ways that the park is not a piece of waste land, and that it is not the right of any set of people to use it as they would a common at some race or fair. The leaders of the agitation profess their intention of trying the right with the Crown, and we shall be content to submit to the decision of a competent tribunal ; but as was stated last night in Parlia ment, the question has been already investigated, and the opinion of the law officers taken. This opinion was that the Crown had the power to pre vent, among other things, public meetings such as that of last Monday. We trust that until an adverse judgment be obtained from a court of justice the Government will not abandon this right, which would be simply to give up the park to every kind of disorder. There is no wish to prevent the work ing class or any other class from holding meetings, and if they had been willing to make their demon stration at Primrose-hill, or some other convenient spot, it would have been at their service. But Hyde-park has been hitherto maintained for other purposes, and we hope that the usage will not be changed. HERALD.—Austria, Prussia, and Italy have agreed to the prop ose d arm i stice of fi ve d ays, which, it now appears, was to commence on Sunday morning, and will continue until to-morrow even ing. There was a momentary doubt as to the accept ance of Italy, but that doubt has been cleared up in a favourable sense, certain cogent reasons having been presented to the Italian Government why it should not let slip, on a mere point of punctilio, an opportunity which, if the war were to continue, might never recur. The moment is one which maybe seized upon by each of the three Powers for effecting a compromise which may be arranged without loss of honour to any—an arrangement which takes cog nisance of the facts of the past while it bears in mind the possible accidents of the future. Austria is to retire from a positionwhich is no longer tenable to her, and, excepting the cession of Venetia, which has never after all been more than a temporary pos session held by her in trustfor Europe andthe world, is to retain her dominions in their integrity. Prussia is to consolidate her conquests in Northern Germany by the annexation of a part and the formation by the rest of a confederacy which is to be under her con trol. Italy, who occupies a large part of Venetia with her armies, who bids fair to cut off Venicefrom direct communication with Vienna, and threatens Austria in the Tyrol by her movements in the direc tion of Trent, is to have Venetia, which has been practically won for her by her Prussian alli es at Koniggratz. The present positions of the armies are such as to justify the conclusion of peace on such terms. The Prussians are threatening Vienna with three army corps. Their centre is to the south of Luudenberg, in . the Marchfield, a few miles distant from the Austrian•camp at Florisdorf. Their right threatens Krems, on the Danube, some way abo ve Vienna, *and extends towards Linz, which is de fended on a peculiar system by a series of detached fortresses, which are not likely to withstand a siege by modern artillery. Their left is directed towards Presburg, below Vienna, but is paralysed i n it s movements by the 30,000 Austrians under Benedek, who remain at Olmutz. We have little more than guess -work to aid us in computing the numerical strength of the opposing armies. The three Prus sian armies are supposed to number 300,000 men, while the Austrians in front of Vienna are said to be at least 350,000. The stream of the Danube, which runs by Florisdorf, was the favourite line of defence of the Archduke Charles. It has been con secrated in military history by the fields of Essling and Wagram, and constitutes a strong natural barrier against assault on the capital of Austria. Between this river and the small branch called the Viennese Danube, which skirts the city to the north, s the broad plain of the Prater, the park or holiday ground of Vienna, now a vas t camp for the army i n w hi c h rests th e h o pe 0" Austria. If the war is to go on the battle will have to be fought by this army in front of Vienna. The only defence of th e t own i s i n t h e eart h wor ks of Florisdorf. Vienna i s now practically an open city, and no longer to be regarded as a fortified place' The outer enceinte is chiefly useful for purposes of octroi. The wall of th e o ld c it y i s now levelled with the ground, and th e elit e o f t h e A ustr i an ca pital listen nightly to the strains of Strauss's band on the very site of the barrier which was trusted in as s defence against Moslem an d Ch r i s ti an i nva ded of olden times. The broad glacis which surrounded the city in a circle, and separated it from th e suburbs, is now covered with stately terraces and blooming gardens. If th e P russ i ans could prow', against the Austrian a rm y a t Fl or i s d or f th e city eh, Vienna would as a matte r of course b e th e prize a the conqueror. The Prussians may attempt to take the army at Florisdorf in flank. The army of the Elbe may move from Znaym to cross the shallow' stream of the Danube at Krems or Tullu, and thus approach Vienna from the we s t. Th e arm y of Prince Frederick Charles may march from Lundenberg towards the Danube at Presburg, and, effecting 11 ,. passage there, may attack Vi enna on th e eas t. l 31 1,! the forces of the Archd u k e Alb ert h ave a much distance to go, and ma y w ith ease be dia' posed so as to confront either of these movements' If the plenipotentiaries at Brunn should fail to arrange terms of peace it may yet turn out that .the Austrians may retrieve thei r m i s f or t unes by Whet ing a severe check, if not a ruinous defeat, on the enemy. Should the P russ i ans b e f orce d t o re treat, the garrisons of Olmutz and Koniggratz will sa ll l forth in time to pre ven t th e i r escape f rom Austrian territory. No time could be more favourable to th e Prussians than the present moment, and it is to he hoped that this reflection will p reven t th em f r o m being too exacting, and from seeking to drive to extremitie s an enemy who is not disposed just now to tempt for-, tune further, if by any means he can save his honour. Intelligence of such a diplomatic convention as this armistice for five days, agreed on between the Cabinets of Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and Florence, cannot, of course, be immediately communicated t' s the commanders of armies in the field. On Sow day, the first day of the armistice, there was severe fighting, both i n Ger man y an d I ta l y. A n Austrian division, under Colonel Mondel, is reported to have ' gained an advantage on th a t d ay over a Prussia°, force advancing on Blitmena n , t o th e nor th-west 9' Presburg. On the same day the Prussian corps in Bavaria advanced as far as Hof, and General Mai l ; teuffel laid a war contributi on on the inhabitants e" Frankfort of two and a-half millions sterling ove r and above what they had p rev i ous l y pa id . The pa ). Frankforters are beside themselves with terror 81 the threatened exaction, the burgomaster is reported to have died of grief, and the " Free City" has o,l' pealed in its despair to the int ercess i on o f t h e Folio' and English Governments. On Sunday last, 4 5 0' the Italians claim their victory. The Medici din" sion, after mine hours' fighting, drove the Ails: trians before them across th e moun t a i ns in tu" direction of Trent, now only separated from them by the Val Sugana. It is clear that th e Austrians have so weakened their garrisons Venetia and the Italian Tyrol, that if the war con tinues they will have to retire step by step befeli e the pertinacious forces of th e Ki ng o f It a l y . The" , difficulty would be to outnumber, or at all event/ to be a match for, the Prussia ns i n th e N o rtlitt the same time that they would h ave t o hold w. Italians in check, to protect V en i ce , t o d e f e nd the Quadrilateral, to bar the passes on the road 1 Innspruck and Salzburg. Thei r p o liti c ces sion Venetia may have appeased the Emperor,NapolO s i Beyond this it has been unprod uc ti ve . It has 1311 3 propitiated, it has only enraged, the It a li an s, and , 1 has been resuitless of any str a t eg i c advantage 0 Austria. The position gained by the Italians Venetia and on the Stelvio is not, we think, to be regretted under present circumstances. It is W s desirable that the peace which i s now t o be oen ,. eluded should not be a hollow compact, but a P e .. r a i amour settlement. To' this end it is most essenti. that the aour propre of the Powers co n ce r ned 10 t _ 1 should not be so deeply wound e d as t o t em pt thew too long for a re-opening of the question. If It sl 4 has gained a' footing in Venetia f rom w hi c h all armies of Austria will find it difficult to dislodg her, there will be so much the more re a so n why 01 , 1 ' may accept Venetia with dignity, and not as a boon, from a Power which has fought bra'' 7 for Italy, but has humbled her with its patronage. COUNTRY MARKETS. LEEDS—TUESDAY. Wo have mode ra t e arr i va l s thi s wee k. Th er e Bing almost an entire absence of demand for wheat to-day, fl; tors have had little to d o , but on the very f ew sa les 1 0 ,,, 0 a decline of 2s per qr h as to be submitted to. Last wee' prices for all spring corn about is lower. MARKET lIARBOROUGIL—T UESDAY. Old white wheat, 56s to 60s ; now red, 53s to 58s Per _ 3 .! stone. Barley, fino, —s ; other kinds, 28s to 38s per 30a Oats, now, 26s to 32s ; old, 32s to 36s per qr. Beans ) ° 48s to 535; now, 42s to 46s par qr. ERIS T OL—T UESDAY. Thera was a good attendance to-day. Wheat to s e must be quoted 2s per-qr. lower. A good trade in barlc):: at 6d per qr. advance. Oats are quiet.' M a i z e, Americ 3 : mixed, in good supply, and being same p r i c e f o r 12 COs' i , as barley for 10 score, attracts attentio n , and a largo b us " ness was done at 6d to is per qr below last week's prica• LIVERPOOL—TUESDAY. There was a fair attendance at to-day's market7„ e r wheat continues dull at a further decline of 2d to 3 " 100 lb. Flour in slow request, at is per sack and ball; on the week. Oats were difficult to move, and prices ' voured buyers, while oatmeal was f u ll y 6d per l oa d lorre' i Barley was also rather cheaper, and beans and peas OA be noted is to 2s per qr down. I n di an corn i n fair regto but, as there was a good deal off er i ng, over 27 s for American mixed was not obtainable in quantity. MELTON MOWBRAY.—TITESDAY. lie• White wheat, 56s t o 61s ; red, 54s to 57s per 36 s f - o e t Barley for melting, 36 s to 39s per qr; feed, 30s to 3 35 f s t,. 30 stone. Oats, old, 26 s t o 34 5; new, 22 s to 30 s per 2¢s Beans, old, 48s to 525; new, 45s to 48s per qr. SHEFFIELD—TUESDAY. Red wheat, per load of 3 imp. b us h e l s 18 s Od 205 6a 6 1 White do do 2OB Od to 2 30 0 4 New red do do —s Od -- ' s c d New white do do —s Od _s 0 j Beans do do lOB Od 2,v„t3 p d Peas, per qr. ° Grinding. na-ley, per qr 34 8 Od 3 - , d Malting. barley, (.0 3 Bs Od 42' Oats, do 2 - 8 O d 32 il o d 6 ' F10nr....18 10d to 2i Dd per 141 b, I I [ADVERTISEMENT.] Dyspepsia (indigestion), eon" Apr Lion, debility, consumption, and a ll nervous, bilious, stona%„ 11 d and liver complaints in every stage. are only aggravated e'r, accelerated by drugs of every description, but perfeCtlY Oa a able by Du Barry's health-restoring Revalenta Art it Food, as proved• by thousands of cases which had been o sidered hopeless, such as-cough, rsthma, also diarrn s , haemorrhoids, liver complaints, fir ;:ulency, nervouso i e do " biliousness, levers, sore th roa t s, di p hth er i a, cata r r hs, influenza, noises in the head and ears, rheumatism, gout 7 3 ; 1 . purities, eruptions, hy s t er i a , neura l g i a, i rr i ta bi l it y, s leeil it y, ness, acidity, p a lpit a ti on . h eart b urn, h eadache, deb' dropsy, cramps, spasms, nausea an d s i c k ness, eve n In P t ; r,' o f nancy or at sea, sinking fits, bronchitis, scrof u la, tightse g o s the chest, pains in the pit of the stomach and between 0 shoulders, &e. We quote a few :—Cure No. 46,276. 3 1 rt i t 0 ai Roberts, timber merchant, of Fernley, Surrey, of 30 17 0 diseased lungs, spitting of blood, live r der angeme nt, and, % tial deafness.—Cure No. 47,121. Kiss Eli za b e th J a cobs, 0' s al treme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings ; low spirt"' lo rd nervous fancies.—Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decieß• 0 lieut. of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. Elf ty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervons'33-04 asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sick aesci ote c vomiting—Maria Joly.—Cure No. 54,816. Th e Bo'. T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, of indigestion and torpid ity of the liver, which had re s i s t e d all medical treattnenijo, In tins, 11b, 2s 9d; 21b, 4s 6d; 51b, lls ; 121 b, 220; t oi ; 40s.—Barry Du Barry and C o., N o. 77, Regent-street, I..,.°ll`fse also Phillips, tea deal ers, 8 , Ki ng Willi am-stree t ; On at 61, Gracechurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 49, Bisholsevd; street Within ; 63, 150, and 298, O x fo r d- s t ree t ; 330, Stag, , 54, Upper Baker- s t ree t ; 103 , T o tt en h am - cour t-r i o Upper-street, Islington, N.; Harvey, Notting-hill; *l- 01, Brothers, 65, High-street ; and Stubbs, Queen's-terra °4 .o. John's-wood. London ; and all respectable grocers and co mists.—Beware of spurious imitations. Births. t lia BICKNELL—On the 23d inst„ at Louth, Lincolnshi re / wife of Cecil D. Bicknell, Esq., of a daughter. ri jor OHARRINGTON—On the 22d inst., the wife of Spencer rington, Esq., of a son. 10 10 FORSTER—On the 23d inst.,'at New Wandsworth, thew of Major F. R. Forster, sth Fusiliers, of a daught el 'Or MALLESON— On the 22d inst., the wife of Fred. Nlr• son, Esq., of a son. Marriages. #' ITENDERSON—KERR—On the 24th inst., at St• to Piccadilly, Hemy R. Henderson, Esq., of The Close , A O chester, and 14, Argyll-street, London, to Sara b n f 0 3° only daughter of the late William M. Kerr, Es ( l' , - Island of Jamaica, and Terlings Park, Herts. , 0 Ca o i WRIGIIT—FFRENCII -On the 21st inst., at St. gag a , tholic Church, Chelsea, Thomas A. Wright, 7,..lstt e ' Fernhurst, Sussex, to Harriet O'Connell, eldest dat a ,lol of the late N. J. Ffrench, Esq., R.M., of Ffrenci l 90' county Roscommon, and granddaughter of the lato O'Connell, Esq., M.P. HAMILTON—On the 22d Deat inst., a h t s Homo Mead, L9 ll ''o t P Hants, Gen. Charles W. Hamilton, of the late 13e Army, aged 83. 1 0 0- PLownEN—On the 21st inst., at 15, York-street, r° square, Charles H. C. Plowdon, Esq., aged 71. atori m SCOTT—On the 20th inst., at Manor-park-terrace, St re3 ` Mr. John Wray Scott, aged 62. YOUNG—On the 21st inst., at Arbour-square, SteElle'' wife of Charles V. Young, Esq. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM AN10,,!4i1i., of No. 112, Strand, Punter. at Tna San Ogee, ' b ty °I Strand, in the Precinct of, the Savoy, in the °111:1 Middlesex,--Wecinesday, July 25,1860. ~_.