The Sun. — London, England, 1866-05-09 00:00:00

OUSES.—Messrs. TOPLIS and ROBERTS have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN, unurban, and Country RESIDENCES to LET or SEL L. rarticulars upon application forwarded for two stamps, upon stating requirements and rental. Offices, 2, Conduit street. Regent-.treet, and South Kensington, facing the Diuseum. Sp OTH KENSIN GTON, HYDE-PARK, Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Queen's-gate and Peters ham Terraces, Queen's -gate, Cornwall, Princes and Beaufort Gardens, glvaston -place, Cromwell-road, Onslow and Thurloe Squares, o ltnns, Am. Messrs TOPLIS and ROBERTS have itz sI MINCES to SELL and LET in these and surrounding locaou th lities. Offices, 2, Conduit-street, Regent-street, and S K ens ington, facing the Museum. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.— Sole Lessee and Mangger, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, A RO3IAN fIC ATTACHMENT Air. Compton, Mr. W. Farren ; Miss Ada Cavendish. After which. T HE FAVOURITE OH'FORT UNEM Messrs. thern, uckitone, Chippendal or e, Ro;,,ers Mesdam es Chippendale, Saville, Moe, Fitzwilliara, , L i n dley, &c • Concluding with A DAU =IITER KO MARRY : W. Farren and Miss Helen Howarl. Commence at Seven. ROY A L LYCEUM T REATRE.— Under the sole Management a Mr. Fechter. THIS RVENIICG, A DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. Messrs. Dorsman, Fitzpatrick, Clifford ; Mrs. Horaman, &c. To conclude with Shakspere's Tragedy of HAMLE r. mr. Fechter ; Messrs. Emery, Addison, Widdicomb, Vezin, Jor dan, Fitzpatrick', ilorsman, Moreland, Westland, Gwynette Morton, Clifford ; Mesdames Elswortliy, Henrade, and C . Leclercq. Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webs** THIS EVENING, at 7 precisely (4th time), a neif"Drame - Comedy, in Four Acts, entitled THE FAST FAMILE . Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford, It Phillips, Ashley. Eburne ; Mrs. Allred Mellon (Miss Woolgar), Miss H. Simms, Miss Furtado, Miss Smith (her 4th appearance), Miss Sea man, Miss Godsall, and Mrs. H. Lewis. To CDnclude with CRYING JENNY AND LUGHrs. INGA JOHNNY. Messrs. J. L. Toole , W. IL Eburne A ; M. Mellon and MISS Furtado. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, A LUCKY HIT. Messrs. J. G. Shore, Ti.. Mellon. and Miss K. Rodgers. After which, at a quarter to Eight, THE STREETS OF LOND ON. Messrs. Vining. T. Mead, D. 3furray, Shore , Villiers ; Mrs. 11. Marson. Miss E. Barnett. and Miss B. Rodgers. OYAL STRAND THEATRE. ][l, Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Bwanborouot T HIS E VENING, at Seven o'clock, PEEVE TION. After which will be produced a grand Easier Burlesque, PARIS ; or, Vive Le mpiere : 3les .rs. Stoyle, 1 h orne, J ame . : Mesdames A. Swanborougb, Raynham, Simp son. J o h ns t one, 114010 e, and Holt To conclude with DEAF AS A POST : Mr. Belford. SADLER'S WELLS THEATRE.- Under the Management of Mr. W. 11. C. Nation. Mr. W. H. C. Nation has much pleasure in announcing that, in consequence of the Decided +ucc,•ee attending the production of DOT, It will be repeated Every Evening until iurther notice. THIS EVENING, 16th night of Mr. Dion Boncicault's beautiful l'rama of DOT. Messrs. T. Swinbourne and Bel more ; Miss Ada Dya.. New scenery, dresses, and appoint ments Concluding with 33rd night of J. C. Burnand's evergreen Burlosque of IXION. Misses L. Witlmore, F inny Gwynnßelmore, e, Hudspeth, A. Harland, and Het t y Tracey ; Messrs. and F. Baraby. Commence at Seven. Acting Manager, Mr. NYE CHART, T H E "SUN" N EWSPAPER.- G. R. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught terrace, Edgware-road, is specially . rpointed AGEN 12 to d e li v er the LATE E DITION of THE SUN "at the possible moment after leaving the press. Ile is able to deliver copies in Town. the Suburbs, and in many parts of the Country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by 9 o'clock. S H E "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. R. GLENIE delivers the LATE EDITION at Chelsea, 7.40 ; Kilburn, 8; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30 ; Uxbridge, 9.20 ; Watford, 8.45. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied, as soon as published every Evening, by THE (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 24, Old Cavendish-street, Oxford-street. THE LAST EDITION of " THE SUN " supplied as soon as Published, containing all the LATEST NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by H. W. HARRIS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blacktriars-road, London, S. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the pubiic generally. that he supplies tho LATEST EDITION of " PHE SUN" as soon as published —No. 16, Hampstead road, N.W. QPORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supplies the LATEST EDITION of "THY; SUN" as soon as pub lished.-4, Bath-street, City-road, E.C. THE NEW DERBY RACE GLASS, price 505., with sling case complete. Will show distinctly the entire race from " the start" to the "coming in." e uaranteed the cheapest and host lass to new model) ever offered to the public Sent carriage tree to any part of the king,tom. Post olli,e orders payable to W.LLIAII CALLAGHAN, Opt'c'an, 23A, New Bond-street, W. (corner of Conduit-street). Sole Agent for the celebrat'd Opera, Race, and Field Glasses made by Voig, - tlander, Vienna. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, Bh. 38m.—Afternoon, 9h. 15m. Ta-Moßßaw.-3lorning, 9h. 50m.—Afternoon, 10h. 30m. • , ..., ....- A. Vi 4 '--' - ,4 4 0 7, w± ,i.v.".1....0 4., I LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1866. An interesting discussion took place last night in the House of Lords on the subject of the Con tinental disturbances, which is well worthy of at tention, since it refers to the influence of the past upon the present. Lord CADOGAN, according to notice, put the question to the Foreign Secretary, whether anything had been done in the shape of mediation, with a view of assisting the Govern ments of Austria, Prussia, and Italy to arrive at a "pacific settlement." Lord CLARENDON replied that no information had been given to Parliament, because this country will, neither directly nor indi rectly take part in any war, if it should un fortunately occur. UP to the last fortnight, said the noble Earl, there appeared to be every chance of moderate counsels pre vailing, but lately this hope has dwindled away. Lord CLARENDON, however, stated that had the Government entertained the least idea that their good offices would have been of use they would not have hesitated to come forward. Most truly did the noble lord conclude his few remarks by stating, that it " is a raelancholysig ht in this en lightened age, and i n th e present state of civilisation and progress, that Europe should be ever menaced with war, for which there is no cases belli, and for which there is no justification." Earl GREY'S speech was very much to the point ; he said that what was now occurring was the natural consequence of the conduct pursued by us two years ago. This. is perfectly correct, for none of the present confusion would have arisen had a firm policy b een acted upon by England at the commencement of the Schleswig-Holstein dispute three years back. The noble lord reminded the House of what he bad predicted at the time, that " encouraged by our sufferance, scandal, wrong, and robbery would re sult." The contest now before us is likely to be one of a mo re formidable nature than the one we shrunk from formerly. Earl RUSSELL appeared to be very indignant at the tone of the remarks of Lord GREY, and declared th at h e of non-interference never laid down the doctrin e in the sense in which it had been just repres ented. the noble lord That may be very true, but now at the head of her MAJESTY'S Government was greatly t o blame for the manner in which he transacted aff • at the F ore i gn - o ff ice during the outbreak of the n ano -German war, and . the nations of Europe are now reaping conse quence of her " meddle - and-muddle" - and-muddle" the " policy Lord DERBY made some spirited observations the subject, and declared t h at Lord R u s , s on E m i sre presented the nob le lord co ncerning the police , a dopted by the Go vernment at that time. As Lord DERBY truly stated, the noble lord laid down that the action of the German Powers in the affairs o f Denmark was a wrong and a robbery, and having done all this " when Denmark depended on your moral, if not your material support ; then you took an opportunity of withdrawing from the contest which you yourselves had encouraged, and aban doned the ally whom you had led by your en couragement to maintain her own right." This language adequately defines the disgraceful course pursued by England towards Denmark And it is satisfactory to find the subject taken 1 up by one so well a ble to treat it as I the noble earl at the head of the Opposition. It is well at the present juncture that some protest should have been entered against the course pur sued by the German Powers in both Houses of the Legislature. What with the official silence BO ob stinately preserved, and the unworthy manner in which the doctrine of a non-intervention policy is ca rried out, the p art that this country now plays am ong the nat ions of Europe is a very mean one, and quite inconsistent with her character and pre vious reputation. _ _ _ A great demonstration is to take place in part of Count BISMARCK'S hotel to congratulate him upon his escape. The assassin has died in prison from the effects of the wounds he inflicted upon himself. It seems very strange indeed that a man like this should have been allowed to keep knives in his possession after he was captured. The warlike preparations still continue; the seventh army corps is now to be mobilised, and the town of Erfurt is to. - be placed in a state of defence. Count MENSDORFF has addressed a Note to the Austrian Minister in Berlin, in which he mentions that the Prussian Government do not acknowledge the necessity for Austria to prepare to repulse an attack upon her Italian possessions, and states that Prussia will not consent to proceed with ne gociations unless the entire Austrian army be placed upon a peace footing. Therefore, declares Count MENSDORFF, we must consider the nego ciations for a simultaneous withdrawal of the military preparations of Prussia against Aus tria, and of Austria against Prussia, to be exhausted. This is one of the most significant signs of war that have yet appeared, for so long as the despatches on the subject were sent forth so repeatedly, they kept up a semblance of peace at all events, but now we really must not be surprised at what we hear. Besides this announcement, Count MENSDORF de clares that they consider the King of SAXONY has as much cause to arm as they themselves, and that they do not approve of the course taken by Prussia in insisting upon the Saxon disarma ment. It must be confessed that the Count has the best of the argument all through this despatch, and particularly when he asks how Prussia can reconcile her demand that the Austrians should leave the German frontiers unguarded, withithe duties of a German Power. The conduct of Prussia to wards Saxony has excited universal indignation, and in consequence of the proposition of Saxony at the Federal Diet, Bavaria is said to have addressed a Note to Prussia requesting an explanation, to which the reply was that Saxony would not be entered by Prussian troops so long as the Austrian troops did not occupy it. This assurance, however, is not to be relied on, and indeed we cannot place implicit confidence in any of the assurances of Prussia, except those which relate espe cially to her; own interests and career, her che rished policy of aggression and annexation. To day is the time which was fixed on as likely to be decisive in the settlement of the all-important ques tion of peace and war, and things are now in such a state of preparation that we may surely expect to hear shortly which way the decision has been made. While peace is still possible, it no longer seems to be very probable, and the result of a war ill not surprise any one who has watched the cause of events for the last few years, and noticed the tone which German policy has lately assumed. The long-vexed question of church rates appears at length to be in a fair way of settlement. Wearied with - controversy, which only succeeds in stirring up feuds and dissensions, without pleasure or profit to any party concerned, both sides of the House seem to have listened with satisfaction to the moderate and sensible proposal of Mr. GLADSTONE last even ing. The Chancellor of the Exchequer distinctly announced that although the Government was anxious for the success of the measure_they had no intention of pressing it on the House, but were willing to be guided by the amount of support which it received. It is not, indeed, a question which can be settled by the exercise of arbitrary power, but it deals so much with men's consciences and convictions that any attempt at solving it would be perfectly useless, unless it leaves full scope to free and independent opinion. The friends of the Church of England have long been anxious for a settlement both in the interests of justice and reason, and in those of the Church itself, inasmuch as it is decidedly deroga tory to any ecclesiastical establishment to be engaged in perpetual disputes about petty rights which are neither popular nor profitable. The great hardship of compelling men who hold another form of faith to pay for the maintenance of a form of worship from which they conscientiously dissent is too glaring to need evidence, and this grievance Mr. GLADSTONE'S measure will en tirely remove. After the passing of the bill no suit or proceeding shall be instituted for the recovery of church rates, but vestries are to be en abled to assess a voluntary rate. Unless the mem bers of the Church of England are willing to ap pear in a very unworthy contrast to the Catholics and Dissenters who support their own establishments without any State aid, they will not allow their edifices of worship to suffer by the change. As for the clause which provides that after three years non-payment of rates a householder shall not be eligible for the office of churchwarden, or to vote on any question relating to the maintenance or management of Divine service in the parish church, we see no possible hardship. A conscienti ous Dissenter would certainly not wish to interfere with affairs which he disapproved of, and which could not possibly concern him. In fact the clause is based on the great constitutional principle of the unity of taxation and representation. The bill, on the whole, was favourably received by both sides, and we hope that all parties will agree to give it a fair and impartial consideration, with the view of removing a fruitful source of contention and annoy ance. The influence of time and reflection is beginning to show itself in the United States. The temporary excitement which the Radical party succeeded in stirring up a few weeks ago has died out, and men are asking themselves What end, private or public, they can gain by the reckless policy which would sacr ifice the very objects fo r whi ch the war, rightly or wrongly, was waged. The enforced subjection of the Southern States, the maintenance of military rule, the general sense of insecurity, and the depres sion which the measures so strenuously advocated by Mr. STEVENS and his friends would infallibly create, must seriously interfere with that revival of commercial activity and enterprise which it is espe cially the interest of the North to foster. The PEE SID LIT', h as known how to wait until the effer vescence of the crisis had subsided. As he himself de cision have exercised' , recently said, " He knew he could not get through without public mind, a struggle " but his quiet firmness and de to point to the alteredast7ew o er f fu fe l ell in n fl g u i e n n t c h e e on the Ile is able besides, as time goes on and to show the reviving prosperity of the on, Vice-President STEPHENS and of as evidence in his favour. _ y country General LEE greatly assisted ill The examination of enlightening th o people of THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 9, 1866. the Northern L States as to th e t rue s t a t e o f things in the old C on f e d eracy. They are both Ines of high reputation, who from the conspicuot Is and responsible position which they had owl' ied during the years of the Southern struggle w ere well able to give an opinion of the feeling and condition of the people, while they were above the suspicion of personal or party interest. The interest of the extreme Radical party is rapidly dying out, -and in fact it is chiefly exercised in Congress, wlere the next elections will probably pro duce a cons iderable change. The PRESIDENT can afford to " bide his time " and defer many useful and patriot is measures until he is better supported by the representatives of the people. He is not likely to have to deal with so refractory a body if the present temper of the public mind is adequately represented. Public meetings, we learn from the news brought by the City of Boston from New York on the 28th ult., are being held throughout the country in great numbers for the purpose of endorsing the PRESIDENT'S policy. A further in dication of the improved temper of the times is the failure of the attempt to identify JEFFERSON DAVIS with the assassination plot. We may hope that the prolonged captivity of this illustrious man will be shortly brought to a close, since it can answer no good end to retain him in durance while the whole aspect of affairs is changed, and the Southern States have accepted their destiny. We are glad to find that President JOHNSON has granted Mrs. Davis the long-desired permission to visit her husband. The persecution of one man, however prominent his former position, is unworthy of a powerful Government like that of the United States. The Foreign relations of the States are assuming a quieter aspect. Spain is evidently beginning to feel that she has made a mistake in her aggression on Chili, and it is semi-officially reported that she has now requested the mediation of America. The Fenians are subsiding into insignificance, and now that the grand scheme of invasion has collapsed, the old rivalry between O'MAHONY and ROBERTS is again coming up. The parties most to be pitied are the unfortunate dupes who have parted with money for Fenian Bonds. We see with great satisfaction that the House of Commons has refused to give its sanction to the virtual destruction of the beautiful and popular Victoria-park. Lord JOHN MANNERS, Mr. HOPE, and Mr. Alderman LAURENCE, especially deserve the thanks of the working classes for their resolute opposition to the unwise and unpopular measure. It was proposed to refer the bill to a committee, but Sir J. TnOLLOPE wisely reminded the House that the committee had so power to examine wit nesses on oath, which made a serious difference with a contested bill. So strong and unanimous was the feeling that Mr. STANILAND, who had charge of the bill, withdrew it, and the crowded parishes of the East End may enjoy the sight of trees and grass unsuffocated by smoke and sm ell. Another subject that will very well bear inquiry is the management of our water companies, and we regret that Sir G. GREY should have induced Mr. HANKEY to withdraw his bill. It is a poor argu ment to say ou behalf of a defective system that it was established many years ago. Surely modern improvements can effect something. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FRO3I OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Tuesday Evening. The Moniteur says :—" According to the private correspondence from Germany, the Austrian Go vernment on the 4th of May addressed a despatch to its Minister at Berlin, in reply to the Prussian communication of the 30th of April, relative to the question of disarming. In this despatch Austria maintains the necessity of the measures of defence which she has thought it right to adopt, as well as in regard to its own territory as to the Federal ter ritory, and justifies the preparations made by Saxony for her own defence." The same paper states after the Emperor and Empress had attended mass at Auxerre, his Majesty had a long conversation with the Archbishop of Sens, and promised to allow 30,000 f. during ten years for the restoration of the Cathedral, one of the most beautiful Gothic edifices of France. The Emperor also gave 10,000 f. in aid of the charitable establishments of Auxerre. paper, warw h i s c h h o s a g e t n a e k r e a illy pla c w e e 1 l t h - e i n K f o i r n m g e d o f , apt Prussia s t e s r s a a €a il t i l tke the command in chief of his army, with Field-Marshal Wrangel as head of his staff. Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia will have the command of the First Corps d'Arm6e. According to a letter from Dusseldorf, Prince Charles of Hohenzollern has accepted the sovereignty of the United Principalities, and thus the wishes of the Roumanians to have a foreign Prince to rule over them will be fulfilled. On the other hand, some of the Paris papers express doubts whether this vexed question of the Danubian provinces be finally settled. There is no allusion to the subject in the Moniteur or other morning papers of to-day. A clever thief has just victimised the proprietor of one of our leading hotels here. While a gentle man was still in bed, there was a knock at the door, and a man dressed like one of the servants entered, and, after apologising for coming so early, removed a handsome clock from the mantlepiece, and said his master had desired him to take it to be repaired as it did not go, and it was inconvenient to a tra veller to be without a clock in his room. When the gentleman went out the real servant of the hotel immediately discovered the robbery, and the master was charitable enough to imagine that his guest had taken away the clock, and ordered that notice should be taken whenever he went. When the gentleman was going away and had paid his bill, the hotel-keeper politely observed that there had been a clock in the room. Au explanation en sued, and the master was perfectly satisfied of the respectability of his lodger, who indeed is a rich merchant. The thief, however, has not yet been traced. Some commercial travellers in the north of France have introduced a new and curious branch of trade. At the town of Villers-Sire-Nicole and other neighbouring localities, they purchase the hair of married women and young girls, for which they give a liberal price. They do not, however, pay in money, but find it more delicate and enticing to give in exchange articles for the toilet and the house, trinkets, and other " unconsidered trifles." The person who furnishes this news states that many husbands who on going out left their wives or daughters with a beautiful head of hair (or a nobby head of hair, as it is called in the London concert halls), on coming home at night find them like shorn lambs, and their hairless heads concealed under a fancy new cap, perhaps the produce of the ham. The hair trade is literally going ahead. Since the excitement about the war the Bourse speculators have not been satisfied with doing busi ness during the legal hours, but many have assem bled in the evening in the Passage de l'Opera, as if they intended to go to the theatre. With a view to deceive the police, they adopted for the nonce a lan guage of their own. For instance, when Patti was mentioned, that was to signify " I offer to sell Dente ;" it is fine weather, meant " I sell." The police, however, who have discovered everything, have found out the deception, and steps have been taken to prevent speculation in stocks after the legi timate business hours of the Bourse. A significant fact has transpired in regard to the probability of war. Some hundreds of young Prussians who have been employed as clerks to bankers and merchants, or as workmen, have re ceived orders to join their regiments. These young men form part of the reserve of the Landwehr in the regiments of the six corps d'armoe already mo bilised. A letter from Auxerre giTe4 t3OlllO farther parti culars of the visit of the Emperor and Empress. Her Majesty was dressed in black silk, and wore a bonnet of Italian straw with blue ribbons. Their Majesties walked about the Exhibition for more than an hour, and inspected every object very minutely. The spectacle of the field of competition was very beautiful. It is in the valley of the Yonne, and the Imperial pavilion where the prizes and medals were distributed was tastefully decorated with flowers. Among those present were M. Vaitry, President of the Council of State ; M. Fremy, Di. rector of the Credit Foncier, deputy for the Yonne; M. Mony de Mornay, Director of Agriculture at the Ministry of Public 'Works ; M. Leconte, deputy ; M. Camille Doucet, the Duke de Cler mont Tonnerre, Viscount de Virieu, and other well-known individuals. Baron Martineau des Chenetz, Vice President of the Council, was pre vented from attending by illness. The candidates for the vacant seat at the Academy of Fine Arts of the Institute, caused by the death of M. Clapisson, are Messrs. Felicien David, A. Elwart, C. Gounod, and Aim Maillart. The elec tion will take place on Saturday week. The Academy of Fine Arts has elected a 3 free correspondents (section of correspondence) liessrs. Fiorelli of Naples, and Newton of London. The recent terrible explosion at Havre which de stroyed the English vessel the European, 8112 caused the death of 60 persons, was, according to tle scien tific men of France, the result of the explosion of a liquid matter called nitro-glycerine, which has been employed with success for two years as a substitute for gunpowder in mines. The idea is due to M. A. Nobel, an engineer of Hamburg. It may be heated to 100 deg. without danger, but it explodes at 180. It is a poison, and forms one of the principal con stituents of fat substances. It may be catained by pouring the glycerine drop by drop in ,;o an equal volume of nitric acid and sulphuric acid. It ex plodes from the influence of a shock, tat not always at the point where the shock takes place. This ex plosive oil will not explode by contact with a lighted match. Ceramique having been the " observed of all ob servers," at least among sporting men, since Chan tilly Races, some may like to know that the name is of classic origin. Among the masterpieces of Grecian art are three bronze statues erected by the Athenians in honour of three manes of Miltiades. With these manes Cimon had three times gained the principal prize at the races at Athens. There were gentlemen riders in those days. He rode his own horses, and so did the sons of the Kings of Syracuse, Agrigentum, and Macedonia. So did Nero and Pythagoras. So highly esteemed were these horses in that day that when they died they were buried in Ceramique with great pomp among heroes and warriors. M. E. Houel, a French writer, the author of an ertdite history of the horse, relates that Philodas had t splendid mare named Dura by the Corinthians, and that after it bad been ',ictor at a celebrated race, the Greeks al lowed him to place the statue of his mare at Olympus. About three years ago a gentleman named Cochin, residing at Passy, on dying recommended his widow particularly that she shottld take great care of his garden, and always retail the gardener in her service. The lady scrupulously observed these directions, and has had no occasion to regret that she has done so, for a few days glace while the gardener was pursuing his ordinary labours in the garden he dug up a packet containing securities to the amount of 3,500 f., which he immediately gave to his mistress. This has been a settled, beautiful summer's day, not intensely hot, but warm enough fir June, bright and beautiful, and without a cloud. The recent rains have improved vegetation wonaerfully. Karl Blind and the Attack on Count Bismarck. The family of Karl Blind have been profoundly afflicted by the intelligence of the last few days from Berlin. The earliest telegrams stated that Count Bismarck's assailant, who has since died, was a son of Karl Blind ; and subsequently others have been received denying the relationship. In truth, he was the son of Mrs. Blind by a former husband, but has borne his step-father's name. He was 22 years of age, and left England four years ago, but paid a visit to this country two years since. 'When here he was a rifle volunteer, and won a prize at Wimbledon. For the last two years he has been studying political economy at Hohenheim in Wir temberg. His family had so little reason to sup pose that he was engaged in desperate projects that they were expecting shortly to see him, having lately received a letter announcing that he was coming to England. In the absence of direct and authentic information they can only suppose that, living in that part of Germany where Count Bis marck is hated perhaps more intensely than any where else on earth, he was carried away by his political influences that surrounded him, and led to commit an act to be reprobated by all honourable men, and regretted by none more than the patriot whose name he had been permitted to bear. Sale of Land by Auction Bill. Mr. James Beal has addressed a letter to Lord St. Leonards on this bill, criticising its leading provisions. Of clauses sto 13, he says :—" They should be intitulod, To enable the public to combine against the owner of property offering same by auction, to obtain same at the price agreed to by the parties to the combination, and below the value of such property ;' and it proceeds in this most unjust course by clause 5 denying to the vendor the protection of the auctioneer, his own paid servant, who, as much to save the time of the public as in the interest of his employer, proceeds to facilitato the business by offer ing bids up to the reserve, at which he stops and declares it to be open to the public present. This clause would, in effect, destroy the business of the auctioneer, and a system of sale by tender would bo preferable. Clause 9 is a most unwarrantable interference with the rights of the subject. If a man has fixed a price to pro tect his property, on what principle is he to be denied an active agent to bid up to his reserve ? An auctioneer would have no alternative but to introduce the Scotch system of upset price, which limits price by letting the whole world know the owners' idea of value, often in igno rance of real market value. Clause . 10 is utterly irrecon cileable with clause 6, which is to be a sale without reserve, with privilege of secretly acting on a reserve. Clauses 11 and 12 are the corollary of the previous absurd restric tions, and place the auctioneer at the mercy of each intending purchaser. One is at a loss to know what grievance it is sought to remedy. A instructs an auctioneer to sell ; by the bill A is to be bound so to obey a law as to injure the market value of his property. B, C, and D may be intending purchasers, who may legally com bine to possess themselves of A's property at a ridiculously low figure. The law protects B, C, and D, but leaves A helpless. But how are B, C, and D now protected ? That either advised or acting on thair own judgment they attend an auction, if the reserve or the bid of the auctioneerpasses the price they deem adequate, they cease to bid, and the property either passes to a bolder buyer or is bought in. If an injustice can be shown in existing practice, rely upon it the auctioneers are too high and too honourable a body to hesitate about effecting a requisite change ; but I believe all our evidence would point to the difficulty of protecting the vendor against a combined public. The bill is power less for good ; but it is most powerful for evil in virtually exterminating the business of the auctioneer, which has grown with our commercial growth, is governed by com mercial laws, and i s con d ucte d b y an i n t e lligent and hon ourable body of men, who are at a loss to know why they are the subject o f your l or d s hi p ' s s p ec i a l attention. It is beyond the p rov i nce o f leg i s l at i on , an d is a dangerous precedent. If successful, you may proceed to deal with the property of individuals, to fix values, to define rentals or terms of leases, or to prescribe rules to vendors of paint ings or retail dealers. It is opposed to all modern legisla tion, and cannot be expected to receive the support of the House of Commons, to whose commercial instincts it is opposed. Let me show an absurdity. If an auctioneer offers a diamond bracelet worth £lO,OOO he is to . , be at liberty to pursue his present practice ; if he offers furniture or books, no obstacle arises ; and yet he knows well but arra for the protection ho offers his client in his knowledge of values he would be compelled by organised combinations against him to part with his property at a third or fourth of the value. The same knowledge and the same protec tion is to be of no avail to the vendor of lands or houses. Is it not too absurd, my lord ? The law already throws obstacles enough in the way of the transfer of real and leasehold property ; land is all but extra commercium. Let me invite your lordship to enter a field in which vast good may accrue from well-directed labour in simplifying our antiquated and cumbrous system of conveyancing. Depend upon it auctioneers will keep pace with the changes which, in so far as commerce is allowed an alliance with land commercial spi r it and energy demand,- LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAM.) THE IMPENDING WAR. VIENNA, MAY 9. The outbreak of war is considered to be immi nent. Great uneasiness has been created here by the speech of the Emperor Napoleon to the Mayor of Auxerre. The goods traffic on the Northern Railway will shortly be stopped. In the event of war the Archduke Carl Ludwig will go to the Tyrol, where he will superintend the formation of rifle corps. It is expected that 30 millions of florins in small coin will be issued by the Government. FR- , LNKFORT-ON-MAINE, MAY 9. It is believed that at the next sitting of the Fede ral Diet a motion will be brought forward request ing Prussia to withdraw her troops from the Saxon frontiers. Prussia is said to intend explaining her military movements as measures of defence. It is expected that the Federal Diet will pass a resolution ordering the mobilisation of six Federal army corps. The current rumour that the Duke of Brunswick is acting as mediator between Austria and the Middle States for the conclusion of a defensive treaty of alliance is not yet confirmed. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, MAY 9. Yesterday evening, at nine o'clock, a serenade took place before the residence of Count von Bis mark in celebration of his recent escape from the hands of the assassin. About 2,000 persons were present, to whom Count von Bismark, in expressing his thanks said :—" We are all ready to die for King and Fatherland, let it be on the pavement of the street or on the battlefield. Our common feel ing finds its expression in the cry of "Long live the King." M. de Monteverde, a Russian officer, arrived here yesterday with an authograph letter from the Em peror of Russia to the King of Prussia. LEIPSIC, MAY 9th. A numerously attended meeting of working men took place here yesterday at which resolutions were passed condeming the remonstrances of the Muni cipal Council of Leipsic against the warlike policy of Baron von Buest. Other resolutions were passed, urging the affiance of Saxony with the other middle states, and also a general armament of the people. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, MAY 9, 9 A.m. All hopes of the preservation of peace are aban doned, and believed to be unavoidable. The rumour is current that Count Mulinen, who arrived here recently from Paris, was the bearer of a reply from the Emperor Napoleon to an autograph letter said to have been addressed to him by the Emperor of Austria. PESTH, MAT 9. Count Maglath has arrived here and is conferring with the principal members of the Hungarian Diet, whose moral support the Austrian Government seeks to secure before the settlement of the question of the affairs common to Austria and Hungary. ITALY. FLORENCE, MAY 8 (Evening). In the Chamber of Deputies this afternoon the bill empowering the Government to provide by Royal decree for the maintenance of public safety throughout the kingdom came on for discussion. The Minister of the Interior said the Government accepted the proposal of the committee, but that should the extraordinary powers granted by the bill be found insufficient they would demand additional powers. The Government desired that the Parliament should sit as long as possible, in order to divide with them the responsibility in the present national crisis. The Chamber finally approved two articles of the bill. The debate will be continued to-morrow. FLORENCE, MAY 9. The National Committee of Rome have issued a proclamation declaring themselves ready to assist young men who may be willing to leave that city in order to take part in the war of independence. BADEN. CARLSRUHE, MAY 9. The Government have ordered the compulsory purchase of horses for military service. SPAIN. MADRID, MAT 9. The Government have obtained a large majority in the Congressional Committee for the nomination of the members of the Committee who will have to report upon the Financial Bill just brought forward by Marshall O'Donnell. FRANCE. PARIS, MAY 9. The Constitutionnel of this morning publishes an article, in which it denies that the speech of the Emperor at Auxerre is an encouragement to the ambition of Prussia. The writer says :—" The object of France is neither to serve the ambition of Prussia nor Italy, but to assure her own dignity and security. The programme of France is known and has just been repeated. It lies wholly in these words—reform of the treaties of 1815. Any enter prise not directed towards this object will find her not indifferent, but attentive, vigilant, and resolute. " The speech at Auxerre is not therefore a com promise with the various interests agitating Ger many, but a last appeal to the wisdom of the signitaries of the treaties of 1815, on behalf of the peace and security of Europe. It is for them to consider if it would be expedient to leave to the chances of war, always uncertain and formidable, that general reform which France wished to see carried out in peace and by means of a friendly understanding." BOURSE, May 8, Three o'clock.—The market has closed on the following quotations : q per Cents 9l 50 Do. and month — -- 3 per Cents. 63 85 Do. end month 63 55 Credit Alobilier Do. end month - - Unis — Do. end month — Bank Shares 3445 Italian Loan 39 50 Do. end month 39 40 Mexican Loan 33 Do. Bonds 247 50 Spanish Threes Home Debt Deferred - AYS. For Account. Orleans Northern ...... 1055 Lyons and Mediterranean 797 50 Southern 530 Western — Eastern Sardinian . — Austrian Lombard North of Spain ...... 165 125 Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona Roman GO - AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICA. SOUTHAMPTON, MAI: 9. The North German Lloyd's steamer America, from New York, of the 20th April, hari arriyed off Cowes with 295 passengers for this port, Havre, and Bremen, and $3,500 for Bremen. On . the 28th ultimo she spoke the screw steamer Hermann; bound westward, 38 miles off Sandy Hook, and on the 29th the screw steamer Allemania, bound westward, 187 miles off Sandy Hook. Her news has been anticipated. The Supply of Gas to London. A committee of the House of Commons has been inquiring for the last fortnight into the question of the supply of gas to the metropolis. This inquiry has its origin in the introduction by the corporation of London of a bill into Parliament authorising that body to erect gas works, and supply the citizens with gas, and which led the House of Commons to direct that the subject, as it affected not the City only but the whole metropolis, should be inquired into. Rightly to understand a question which is second only to the supply of water, it may be as well to state its present position. Gas-works have at various times since the first discovery of gas as an illuminat ing power been established in different parts of Lon don, some, like the Imperial, having a very large dis trict, with works in different places, some, like the Equitable, having two different districts unconnected; and all more or less were at liberty to, and did, in fact, compete with one another until the year 1860, and in the City of London, in particular, an active com petition was carried on between the Great Central Company and two other companies. In that year, however, a bill was brought into Parliament by the representatives of nearly all the vestries of the metropolis to put some control upon the gas companies in respect of the quality and price of their gas, as to both of which loud com plaints had arisen. The gas companies were, how ever, too formidable- for the parochial representa tives, and they succeeded in getting the bill turned into law into a very different form to what it had entered the House of Commons, and whilst pro fessing to be a settlement of the question it has, in fact, in six years brought the whole subject again before the public. Without prejudging the decision of the com mittee, it may safely be said that the inquiry, as far as it has gone, has established that London is sup plied with gas of a less illuminating power and at a higher price than most other towns in England, that this result has been brought about directly by the provisions of the act of 1860, which absolutely put a stop to all competition by dividing London into districts to be served by a specified company, and none other, but without laying down any unifor mity of price, so that a consumer in one district has been paying more than another in a different dis trict, and the disproportion in the price charged for the public lamps has been even greater than the private consumer. The only check upon price was, in fact, that after paying 10 per cent. dividend upon their capital the consumers were entitled to a re duction out of any surplus profit, but as no care whatever was taken to ascertain and define the capital of each company, and as the companies were entitled to make up the dividends of all back years to the number of ten to the same rate, it is not sur prising to learn that it is only under the pressure of the attack of the corporation of London that any reduction whatever has taken place ; in short, as an example of the operation of the act, it may be mentioned that the cost of public lighting in the City was doubled. Whilst London has been paying 4s. 6d. per 1000 cubic feet of gas giving an illuminating power equal to 12 sperm candles, Manchester has been paying only 3s. 6d. for the same quantity, giving an illuminating power of 20 candles, and as what the consumers buys is not gas but light it follows that the price of an equal light has been in Man chester nearly one-half less than in London, or, in other words, that 1850 feet of light have been given for the same price as 1000 in London. Nor is this all the difference between Manchester and London : the cost of the public lighting in Man chester has been 255. a lamp against an average of £5 in London, and beyond all this upwards of one million of money has been spent in improvements in the city of Manchester out of the profits of the gas-works, and this in the face of the fact stated to the committee by the town clerk of that city, that whereas coke, the principal residual product of gas manufacture, fetches in London more than half the price of the coal in Manchester it is nearly un saleable. It may well be asked how this result is brought about, and the answer is that the supply of gas in Manchester is where it ought to be in London, in the hands of the municipality. Without adducing the examples of other towns, it may be sufficient to state that it was proved before the committee that in one town in England, Walsall, the corporation supply of gas to the citizens in direct competition with one of the wealthiest companies in England, obtain a handsome profit, and keep the price of gas lower in the town than in any other district sup plied by the same company. With these facts before them, the committee will probably be puzzled what to recommend to the House of Commons, so as to hold the scales even between the gas companies and the . public. On the one side the corporation of London are asking to be allowed to establish gas-works down the river away from the metropolis altogether, wherewith to supply the citizens with gas; on the other hand the compa nies are appealing to the committee not to allow a competition the results of which they justly fear; whilst a third source of embarrassment arises from the fact that every gas company in London has a bill before Parliament this session to increase their capi tal and extend their works, and every one of which is opposed by the localities where the new works are proposed to be erected. It is true a Minister of the Crown seems to think it a small evil to have two large gas concerns established within 500 yards of Victoria Park ; read St. James's for Victoria, and a different view might be taken of such a proposal. At all events, the inhabitants of London generally take a different view of the proximity of gas works, and the explosion at Vauxhall has taught them that the sooner they are all removed out of town the better. A careful consideration of all the circumstances would seem to indicate that an opportunity such as may not occur again now presents itself for dealing with this great question upon a comprehensive basis. There exists no municipality in this metropolis ex cept the corporation of the City. Let the committee propose to them and to the gas companies, who are all before them on this inquiry, that the one should buy and the other sell the whole of their concerns as they stand, the purchase money to be a debenture stock, charged upon the gas works and gas revenue, and redeemable by annual drawing at a premium out of one-half the surplus revenue, the other half to be applied in moving the gas works out of London and consolidating them in three or four large esta blishments. As the City would step into a working concern, it would be a perfectly safe operation for them, and its immediate result to the public would be that the gas -,vorks at the Temple and by the Houses of Parliament could within 12 mouths be moved away altogether, and those proposed at Vic toria Park would become unnecessary. To the gas shareholders it would be equally bene ficial, for if they had a five per cent. debenture stock redeemable at RIO per cent. premium, it would probably be of the same market value as their exist ing shares with all the risk and uncertainty attend ing their property. As gas is by far the cheapest light that can be purchased its certain reduction in price under the management of the corporation, as one concern, would take it into the home of the working classes, where it is not found at present, and so largely in crease the consumption. An objection might be raised by that part of London in the City that their interests would not be cared for ; but if the City was bound to supply gas outside the city at the same price as within the metropolis would have a sufficient protection. RE -OPENING OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.--Yester day the British Museum re-opened after a week's closure for the usual thorough cleansing of the rooms and galle ries. During this and the three following months the public will be admitted from 12 to 6 o'clock, in addition to the ordinary days of admission—Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 4 , 1114' rt• *"..A.lffAv eat , ' lit it• !, s' • HER MAJESTY• 'WINDSOR CASTLE, Tuesday. The Queen, with Princess Helena, drove out yes terday afternoon, and drove in the grounds tbig morning, attended by Lady Churchill. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Louise and Prin cess Beatrice also walked and drove in the Som e Park. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, attended by the Hon. E. Yorke, arrived at the Castle this mow ing. Count Gleichen visited her Majesty and remaine d to luncheon. His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe - Weimar dined with the Queen and the royal falai yesterday. --- -~ The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Prince of Teck, rode on horseback yesterday morning. The Prince and Princess of Wales took a carri a g e drive. In the evening the Prince and Princess of Wales' attended by Viscountess Walden and Major Tees dale, went to the Royal Italian Opera. The Hon. Mrs. A. Hardinge has relieved Vis; countess Walden as Lady in Waiting to the Pri ncess of Wales. THE ABYSSINIAN PRISONERS• • t the The following telegram has been received a- India-office : Sir Bartle Frere to Lord de Grey. Bombay, May 8, 9 1/ 311 ' Colonel Merewether, at Aden, on the 2801 April, reports that Mr. Rassam and the releaseur captives are all well at Kooats (?) and preparing f ° their journey to the coast. Metropolitan Railway AggreESioll. La3t evening a very numerous meeting 0 - f the owners of property, traders, and inhabitants of tu, o Euston-road and its vicinity took place at La of Assembly-rooms, Gower-street, for the purpos e taking measures to resist the contemplated destruc tion of property and other encroachments hi t ir • Metropolitan Railway Company in carrying ou t the Additional Powers Bill. A and Mr. John Paget, the ma g i s trate, preside3l was supported by a l arge p or ti on of influ enti tradesmen and inhabitants. Mr. CASTLES, of Euston-square, who is a r ail W a h l, surveyor, exhibited a plan of the proposed acr e° d meats of the Metropolitan Railway, which 0110W : s .. the property proposed to be taken from Ge sv ii : c h street to the west side of Euston-square, and vi r l o f he said was by an open cutting, taking the wh ole the gardens and forecourts, running up within 8 hei feet of the houses, so that the inhabitants, if t ' the could live in them at all, would have to suffer : g annoyance of the steam and s mo k e f r om sun tt ' o , l- ; steam-engines continually under their win u° , l " to The plan the Metropolit an Company aPPenijo adopt was to attack th e i n h a bit an t s a l o ng the d of the Euston and Marylebone roads in detail, : a thus render them an easy p r ey. They had W ee : t he in undermining Marylebo ne Wo r khouse, and the church authorities in St. Pancras were not alive be next public edifice claimed for destruction w° lll , o St. Pancras New Church. He proceeded to flu od that ono of the schemes was to construct a g t e llio depot, and that there could be no necessity Or e , increased land for railway purposes. He in°l t of " That in the opinion of the meeting the aruou f , n land sought to be taken by the Metropolitan ,1%'3 3 way being very much in excess of what they t he possibly require for the legitimate purposes of ose railway, strenuous steps ought to be taken to oPP their further progress in the House of Lords." Mr. NUNN seconded the resolution. t hat, Mr. SPENCER went into statistics to shoo - o f even by their own evidence before the com mitte e the House of Commons, the Metropolitan C 0111334 1 0 had at present the means of carrying doubl e t he amount of its present traffic, and that when fa r other metropolitan schemes were completed, 6° , the from increasing, it would diminish the traffic °' Metropolitan line. ad' Mr. Jack, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Grabant es , 5 dressed the meeting, and Messrs. Wilding an d A ton, of the Tottenham-court and Hampstead roaero showed how they had defeated the North-W est t o and Charing-cross Companies in their endea c° to destroy their property. im ittee The resolution was adopt e d, an d a c° 71 ",,„ - r cl,g. appointed to oppose the bill i n th e House of -""" RAIL I , 00 1 1 WAY ACCIDENTS.—In. one action—th e in one—against the N orth London Railway, th e verdict vr- r oo favour of the co m p any, i t appear i ng th a t t h e a cciden t to e from the passenger having alighted from the train Whilel(aoio in motion. Here the re was no con t r ib u t or y neglig ell , c ,%; t he not unfrequently all ege d i n some cases o f this kind) `'" - , is ed, part of the comp any ' s servan t s . Th e acc id en t, it oPP% - hil t arose entirely from the passenger'a own rashness. the London and Brighton Company there was but one s h een which was brought by the widow of a labourer who D over l ot killed on the line. A verdict in that case was give ll ''eneer the company for £l5O. The London, Chatham, and v, - , t to Company also had but one action against them brouPoel trial. That was a case of personal injury by co llisioni tion i the damages awarded were £250. There were thro e 8c a gog against the Great Eastern Company, in which the ° ra t t he given were respectively £4OO, £2OO, and £2OO. Ageinsitt of South-Eastern there were three actions—ono arising: a nd the accident in the Blackheath tunnel, in Dec., Bu . :„aei in respect of which a verdict passed against the n°,7 g le' for £1,200 ; and two others which arose out of the P' s ,too hurst accident in June last. One of these, in whi ch ot her damages were awarded, was brought by a father an dra to restf for the loss of a son, in whom they had a pecunia r if o tiol l and who had been killed by an accident on the o '3 by A lino. The other action was for injuries sustaf tle i tt t i i husband and wife; the husband being a clergYin Bi t r of e ' case it appeared that the medical expenses alone vin t he to £5OO. The verdict against th e c om pany, wh ° ' up i aS 10r question of negligence, did not deny their liability,to ill £4,500. The Great Western Company wore defendsllbitect five actions—one by a widow for the loss of her 118cst Nsb an engineer, earning £5OO a y ear , i n w hich a verciie pot' r taken, by consent, for £1,850 ; the others wore - r the sonal injuries, in one of which the verdict We B re' company. In the others, the damages giver` lie t i t ee c ' spectively for £5,775, £1,600, and £702 10s. 111 or tion against the Bristol and Exeter Railway • diet, by consent, was given for £2,262. Again land Company there were four actions ; in one of . p iorf vo?dict was given for, £BOO, in respect of a person B ` o , l l 2 ol 4l arising out of the collision last year at Colney get elj ' lB . 9,o o : it will be remembered, 300 passengers were more °I . ", 4 )11 1 ' jured. In the second action (also for a personal initpaei verdict was for £250. In the other two cases the c :Con r ‘ obtained,the verdicts. The London and NorthWe ete— rf pany were defendants in 14 actions—one for loss of ' t : t he • a. the . • which the verdict wasfor the company, it appearine ion accident occurred through the passenger's own in Z. 11; , 4 In two other cases the company were succes s Oa an . ; one of them it was proved that the parties ( 11118 , b ,, fb- accel l. wife) had before they brought action agreed coal . ; Against tlaeb jell a certain sum (which was paid to them bye e leaa7 pany) in full of their claim. This fact, which Ti reotir, in bar to the action, put them at once ou t L i d o I°. Another of these 14 cases was an action by e• /ri ,h by the loss of her husband, a carter, who met his The for dio accident on the line, leaving two children. 9 00 1 ,: given in that case was for £3OO. The other ten ne BB- ve rdic`; this company arose out of personal injuries. 1 : 11 : ‘ , 0, .C 6 6" were respectively for £4,000, £3,500, £B5O, and on £525, £5OO, £4OO, £225, and £225. Against the h- to tion e and South-Western Company there were three 0 00 —one for the loss of a wife wh o wa s killed 11. an i lrer , on the Salisbury line, and i n w hi c h a verdict W8:50 Net for £5OO ; one for a personal injury, in which fell°.! awarded, and one in w hi c h th e ver di c t was giv en e Igor al of the company. Th e S ou th D evon Compa n y P erson fondants in one action only, injury, and i n w hi c h £550 d amag es were i 80 , Great Northern also had but one action again ,l 00:e. in that, for a personal i n ju r y, £450 was siwar" d T or y ' were seven actions against the Lancashire 110 0 for to s r w hi c h was for 3 shire Company—six for personal injuries, and °litivelY fo of life. Thu verdict in the six cases were resPec abet, £l,OOO, £450, £3OO, £250, £2OO, and £ 57 . In tll .l hiar ell ; a widow, for the loss of her husband, leaving t soe hest e the damages awarded wer £750. Against the re two ac' Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Company there W 8 t he I ° B dtet a mother f or t t he Te l JO tions, in one of which, brought by a son, in whom she had a pecuniary inte r° ini BrY s- - was for £2OO. The other was a case of pers' va ease..t) , 0 190 which the damages given were £450. . wee at ia 47 in number—are exclusive of those (forunnErought, which were compromised before act i on s were',red to of others, after actions brought, that were ro tratien.—Railway News. .. ti r.." ..