The Sun. — London, England, 1867-02-28 00:00:00

friIEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE. „ft Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chutterton. THIS EVENING, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. S.Vlock, Mr. ; Messrs. Phelps, Barrett, T. Ntead, F. Barsby, C. Warner; Mesdames Hermann VeLin, Golier, an d Hudspeth. To conclude wth the Pantomime, entitled NUMBER ; or Harlequin and the linome-King* of the Giant Mount ain Commence at a Quarter to Seven. rtHEATR-E ROYAL, HAYMARKET, Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Bucksrone, TO-NIG LIT, A LE-3:,:0N Fon Messrs. Fothern, Chivy adale, Compton, Howe, Rogers, Clarke, Braid, Kendal, Gordon, Vincent, ; Mesdames Chippendale, Moore, kiill, Wright, Laws, Ac. After ;alien, LORD DUNDREA.RY MARRIED AND DONi FOit. Messrs. Sothern, Boer , G o rdon, Clark, We,:thersby, WLdre, rta. To conclude with JENNY LIND AT LAST. Miss lona Burke. Commence at Seven. OYAL LYCEU - 1 THEATIt .Sole Lessee and Manage:, Mr. rechter. EVE:NING, iLoUGE Er NOIR. Maurice i)'Arbel a Gambler), Mr. leeLter ; Messrs. Emery, Evans, 3loreland, loitzpatrica. Dalton. iteynolds, Lomas, .NewbJuni, Andrews. Anuerson, Vivian, Bennett. and Edward Prii;e; Miss Ilea rade, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss Grattan, and Miss Carlotta ,Leclereq. .Preci_de I by TILE TWO POLTS. Mr. 11. Widdlcomb. . . HEAYRE ROYAL ADELPIII. tole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, Feb. 2S, at Seven, A SISTER'S PE NANMiss Kate Terry, Miss Hughes, Mis Ernl:omiiy ritt ; Messrs. 11. Vertu, Biliiuton, Ashley, Eburne, s and ;3tephensor , . To conclude with the New Grand Burlesque of TUE MOUNTAIN ; . or, THE KNIGHT, THE LADY, AN D THE LAKE. Messrs, J. L. Toole, Paul Bedtord, Ashley, R. Homer, and C. J. Sinita ; Mrs. Anted Mellon, Miss Furtado, Miss Hughes, Miss Emily Pitt, iAc. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. New Management. Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster; Manager, Mr. 11. Wigan. T iIS EVENING, LAVAT!<;►t-; OR, NOP A BAD JUDOE. Messrs. H. J. Montague, P. Murray, and Charles Mathews ; Mesdames Mairis and n Palmer. Alter whi -11, A COMICAL COUNTESS. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathews. followed by A. ROMANTIC IDEA. Messrs. Addison, Mu.'ray, C: Mathews; Mesdames E. Farrea and C. lilatnews. To conclude with an ATROCIOUS CRIMINAL. Mr. J. Clayton. Doors-Open at hall-past Six; commence at Seven. I'okBORN THEATRE ROYAL bele Proprietor and Manager, Mr. setton Parry. THIS t` KING, a new Farce, MY TURN _NEXT. Mr. Belmore, 3iihs Foote, AIiSS LeLnox. Liter which, Boucicault's drama of FLYING SCUD. Atessrs. Nev tte, Belmore, Blake, Garden,Vollaire; 3lesdames F. J t,,se ph s, C. Saunders, B. Foote. Baymond. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Soh Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. T tIIS EVE.NING, HIS LAST LEGS. Mr. C. Verner, Mr. C. 11. Fenton ; Mrs. ISu,,kingham White ant Miss Went worth. Followed by, at half-past 8 o'clock, ai ew and original Drama, by T. \V. nob rtson, entitled SHA.DOW TitEE S tLJ Hi'. Characters Ly Messrs. Vining. J. G. Shore, C. Ver ner, I'. Villiers, H. Forrester, H. Mellon, and Cathcart ; Misses Montagu, Minnie Lamonds, and liatherine i..ougers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. Tif IS .NVENING, MARRIED DAUGII rEns. Messrs. Th,rne, Belford, and G. Murray ; Misses Johnstone and LI agues. Atter which, will be produced a Grand Burlesque, entitled GUT FAWKES : Messrs. Thorne James, Robson, and Fenton; atesdames Swanborough, Raynham, Johnstone, Hughes, Newton, &c. To conclude with A. SUIT OF TWEEDS. Commence at Seven. rip HEAT R E ROYAL, ASTLEY'S. Under the Sole Management of Mr. W. 11. C. NATION. The IN 0.,i0n-al Pantomime in the Tenth Week of its exis tence more vigorous than tver. EVERY EVENING the elegant Comedy, DELICATE GROUND. Messrs. Fernandez. itizharuson. and Miss Laid law. After which, the Nation-al Pantomime, HUSH-A-BYE, BABY. Mieses Caroline Parkes. Nellie Nisbett, tiwynne, Marshall, Burton, Grosvenor, Simmonds, Mrs. Caulfield; Messrs. Atkins, Stephens, Milano, aid the Original Little lt ow ella. The Free Li,t suspended. Public Press excepted. To prevent lisappointment Beats must be booked in advance. A STLEY'S STUD OF THOROUGHBRED 11013 BY HORSES, on view at the THEATRE ROYAL, .A.J.!LEY'ti, EVERY EVENING at 9 o'cloc,.. ESSEX CALVES-ESSEX MAGISTRATES. —"Write me dt,wn aCA L —1 OGBEARY revised. TA.6ATRE ROYAL, &STLEY'S. TI - 1E "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. IL GLENIE; Sporting Library, 4, Connaught • terrace, Edgware-road, is specially appointed AtiE.N e to deliver the LATE _EDITION of " Li L SUN " at the earliest possible moment alter leaving the press. tie is able to deliver copies iu Town, the Suburos, and in many parts of the Country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 40 miles by 0 o'clock. Orders by Post punctually attended to. LATEST INTLLIGENCE.- "(4,,, S AIL SMITH," Lte ' Tli Mail Coach," bliepticrd's Bush, now or the White Hurt, Acton, -itidlesex. bo- - s to intone Lis trichils end neighbours ti,e. the I. 2SUII'IU of " z.,..C5" can be seen at his ho .se as above. -ALLE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN." J. I.RILAIES begs to inform his friends, and the pulnic , - , nerally. that he bupphes the LATEST EDITIoN 01 VIE SUN" as sOon as published —No. 16, lhanpstead roa.d, N. W. TE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. R. GLENLE delivers tne rE EDITION at Clielsei., 7.10 ; Ki I bihn, 8; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30 ; Uxbridge, 0.20 ; Watford, 8.45. 1111 E LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN" supplied, as soon as published every Eveninu . , by ALEXAN DEM (late 1;a0Oliti), Newspaper Agent, 21, Cxv2noisti- greet, Oxtord-street. riiilE SUN" NEWSPAPER.—" The Mitre" Tavern, New Church-street, near the Alpha-road, Paddington. —qtr PIZZI•;Y (many years of thurili streec) havini4: taken the above Business of Mr. Fred. Squires, re spectfully informs his friends and the pubic that "THE 61N" (Third Edition), cont,iining the Latest Sporting News, Results of Races, La:est Varliamentary Debtte., &c, can be seen at his house as above " Ali the year round." *** A well-selected and extensive Stock of WINES, &c. METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. MOORG AT E-STEEET ST AT lON is the nearest to E. MOSES and SON'S Establishment, corner of Aldgate, City. METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. GOWER-STREET STATION is the nearest to E. MOSES and SON'S Establishment corner of Totten ham-court-real and Euston-road. METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. GOWER-STREET STATION is the nearest to E. MOSES an , l SON'S Establishment, New Oxford street, corner of Hart-stroet. MOSES and SON'S ESTABLISHMENTS • are CLOSED EVERY FRIDAY EVENING at sunset till SATURDAY EVENING at sunset, when business is resumed till Eleven o'clock. All articles are marked the lowest prices in plain figures, from which no abatement can be made. Any article not approved of will be exchanged, or the money will be returned. Lists of Prices with rifles for Self-measurement and Fashion' Sheet, with Patterns and " History of London," (second part), gratis and post free. MOSES and S 0 N hi ...I • are Ready-made and .Bespoke Tailors, Habi l . Makers, Woollen Drapers, Hatters, Hosiers, Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, and General Outfitters - for all Glasses. MOSES and S ON'S ts 4 • LONDON HOUSES, 134, 155, 156, 157, Minories ; 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, Aldgate ; 506, 507, 508, New Oxford-street ; 1,2, 3, Hart-street ; 138, Tottenham-court-road ; 288, Euston-road. APOPULAR HISTORY of LONDON from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Present time. Part the Second—From 1066 to 1867. E. Moses and San, corner of Minories and Aldgate ; Nov Oxford-street, and Tottenham-court-road, London; And Bradford, Yorkshire. Gratis and post free on application. lIE SINGER, N ew Noiseless Lock-Stitch j. FAMILY SEWING MACHINES. Chief Offieo in the United Kingdom-147, Cheapside, London. /M [1 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tills am—llorniQ4, Bh. 31m.—Afternoon, 9h. 10m. TJ-AloitiLow.-Morning, 9h. 501n.—Afternom, 10h. 30m, d' .la ~~' / . :(1,1P:- ~... tr_.".o, '`,--,t'' a i l- , Ly ~. , LONDON, THURSDAY, FEB. 28, 1867. The debate which took place on Tuesday on the motion of Mr. FAWCETT with respect to the exten sion of the Factory Acts was very interesting, and although the hon. member subsequently withdrew, it, in order that the subject might be more appro priately considered further on, much that was said may serve for matter of further consideration and regard. This is, indeed, one of the most painful questions that can engage the attention of the political philosopher, and demand the changes of the Legislature ; for many striking proofs are not wanting to show that numerous evils ensue from the practices that at present prevail in too many quarters. As Mr. FAWCETT pointed out, " The Report of the Children's Employment Commission disclosed the frightful fact that the lives of thou sands of children were being sacrificed, and the bodies and minds of tens of thousands were being ruined by premature employment when young." It behoves us, then, to inquire diligently into the causes that lead to such a deplorable state of things, and to seek for a remedy to the evil that is so ap parent. It is worthy of notice that one objection, which was made at the introduction of the Factory Act, has been met in the most satisfactory manner. It was said that the interference with particular trades would jeopardise their property, but it had been seen that the country had steadily pro gressed in textile manufactories. We quite agree with the honourable member in his opinion that the State has. every reason and right to inter fere when such evil effects are produced by leaving things to take their course. The particular object" which Mr."/7AwcErr had in view was to extend the Educational clauses of the Factory Act to children who are employed in agriculture, and he certainly succeeded in pointing out very clearly the necessity for the . step he advocated being taken sooner or later. As he showed, it was of no use in many places that the greatest care had been taken to pro- , vide schools for the young, and the greatest zeal was exhibited to render them efficient, because they were not properly applied. "If a child is taken away from school at eight or nine, he is certain . to grow up in a state of ignorance, and forget the little he has learned. All the agencies that can be applied to correct the mischief have little effect, for it is found that the first rudiments of learning be come difficult to acquire in after life." It is said that many obstacles are in the way of applying the half-time system to agriculture, but we suspect that in this, as in other instances, much will depend upon the manner in which the task is under taken, and the desire that is experienced for its success. In - fact, the half-time system has been tried and found to be effectual in its application. Difficulties arose from the circumstance that in the county the distances were often so great ; but those might be obviated by taking alternate days or alter nate weeks. There is also great truth in the re mark here net with, that if we increase the intelli gence of the labourer we thereby increase his efficiency ; and there will be more to be distributed as " rent to the landlord, profit to the tenant, and wages to th labourer." In fact, the greatest boon that can be conferred upon these children is to give them an education, and it will prove in the long run the surest means of raising them, and of bettering their position in every respect. Mr. WALPOLE said that the early attention of the Government and of the country must be given to this subject when the facts are fully before them. The right hoe, gentleman showed that there would be considerable difficulty in applying the provisions of the Factory Act to rural districts, and he thought it most probable that the best way would be, to have it arranged that when a child was required to work at agricultural labour, a certificate should be given to state that the child's education is going on at the same time. We are glad to find that the Home Secretary admit the probable necessity of extending Rollie of the principles tte Factory Act to the agricultural districts. Mr. FAWCETT wisely withdrew his motion upon the consideration that the speech of the Home Secre tary was so satisfactory. We hope, therefore, that when this subject in its entirety comes before the House it will' be found that hon. members are so unanimous that. there will be no real difficulty put in the way of passing beneficial measures. A great deal of the opposition that succeeded the Factory Act was due to prejudice, and happily since then experience has shown the fallacious character of the arguments then employed with so much vehemence and determination. It is certain that something should be done to ameliorate the condi tion of children employed in agricultural districts ; and, no doubt, some modification can be suggested which will meet the pressing difficulty of the matter, and be adapted to the peculiar exigencies of the ease. It is a great point gained that the Government should be willing to take up the matter so readily ; and those who lake a deep interest in the welfare of these children, and the prosperity of the country in general, will recognise and appreciate the impor tance of the subject engaging the early attention of the Legislature. In the very able and appropriate pamphlet* which we referred to a few lays since on the relation be tween Capital and Labour some of the inconsis tencies of the Trades Union leaders are clearly exposed. The writer contends that the interests of the great masses of English operatives, more espe cially of the workmen of the northern and midland counties, are made entirely subservient to the inte rests of the London trades, which are often entirely opposed to theirs, and this because the head-quar ters of agitation and organisation are in London. The unity of the interests of operatives as opposed to capitalists is shown in this pamphlet to be a grave mistake, and this is illustrated by a reference to a strike of the colliers for an advance of wages. The majority of the London Unions belong to the build ing tradevho are not affected by a rise iu the price of coal. "It may go up 100 per cent. without their trade being in any degree affected ; but not so the engineers, mechanics, pattern-makers, mill wrights, boilermakers, smiths, iron shipbuilders, glass-makers, iron moulders, wire -workers, brais trades, soda-makers, and all the great industries of the north, whose handicraft requires coals ; the one great and only advantage which they possess over their foreign competitors is cheap coal. It, is the one great cause of their prosperity and their wealth. To assist in any movement or agitation that should make it dear is to cast from them the most priceless sift Providence ever bestowed on industrial man. If the exhortations and promises of the Miners' Union are successful, the men will get ere long 20s. for eight hours work, or half-a-crown an hour ; this would drive out of the country nearly every trade I have enumerated." Looking at the question from a social as well as an industrial point of view, we may well ask with our author how dear coals can possibly be the interest of any artisan ? A rise of 10 per cent. on colliers' wages means a rise of a shilling a ton, or 14 per cent. at the pit's mouth, which is increased to 25 or 30 per cent. before it reaches the artisan or small con sumer. How then can it be his interest to aid the colliers in getting an advance of wages ? Another difference between the operatives of the northern trades and their London fellows is the different risk they run in regard to foreign com petition. The mason and bricklayer need not feAr the importation of foreign houses, and can there fore oppose his employers more resolutely and with greater impunity than other workmen. " The * Capital and Labour. By a Member of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 23, 1867. strike itt building trades," says our author, " means a delay in the execution of works, public or pri vate ; a strike in other trades means not the post ponement of work, but the loss of it entirely." Consequently it is easy for the London builders, who know their work is waiting for them, to urge upon the northern operative the maintenance of a struggle in which he risks not only his present work but his future chances. Even the building trades, however, may carry their confidence too far. Many parts of the interior of houses, such as window frames, doorways, &c., are now imported; and so great is the difference between English and foreign wages that this can be done at less cost to the employer, besides the advan tage of knowing that he can depend upon the punc tual fulfilment of his orders. The greater prudence. and sobriety of the foreign workman enables him to make more profit out of his lesser wages than the thriftless Englishman, so that the apparent advan tage of the latter is often really nominal. An in stance which forcibly illustrates this is before us. "In consequence of the exorbitant demand and uncertain work of the navvies employed on a rail ,way in Kent, Messrs. Waring, the contractors, bad over a number of Belgian navvies at the same wages they were paying the Englishmen ; these men kept themselves in working condition, and actually re mitted to Belgium more money than their whole wages would have amounted to in that country." The hard-won increase of wages very often pro duces no increase in the comfort of the workman's • . home, since the publican and the gin-palace are the largest gainers. It has been ascertained that the men employed on one large fiFrn spent on a*average 1:05. a'week each in drink,: and though we need not accept this as a fair estimate of the industry of the whole country, we fear that the difference" between English and foreign wages is more profitable to the publican than to any one else. Two very serious evils have resulted from the pressure put by the men upon the masters. One is that the large employers are fearful of undertaking contracts which are limited as to time, and which consequently go abroad. The other is, that English labour is no longer either the cheapest or the best. That punctuality is the soul of business is a good old saying, but punctuality in the execution of a contract is what no large employer can now guarantee. The policy of the Trades Union leaders to advise a strike directly the masters have a large contract on hand may be very effective for a temporary success, but it is in the end most disastrous. A Welsh firm were offered a contract for 4,000 tons of rails for Russia, but knowing their men would demand an advance of wages as soon as they knew of the contract, they were obliged to make so high an estimate that the order went over to Belgium. The letters which Mr. LE FEUVRE recently addressed to a con temporary fully confirm the impression created by these facts. Owing, he says, to the unsettled con dition of your iron trade, one of our chief railway companies lately invited a foreign firm to make a tender for the ironwork for a new terminus. From the same cause his own firm are obliged to ship iron from Belgium to London and re-ship it to Bombay, to enable them to execute works to time, so as to be delivered before the monsoon. A large quantity of manufactnred iron was lately brought alongside a vessel loading in the docks for Bombay, within seven days from the despatch of a telegram from London to Belgium. The "Manchester Man" confirms all these statements. " Belgium and France," he says, " carry off our contracts for loco motives and rails; France builds the iron fleets for foreign nations ; locomotives and steam engines havp been delivered in . England for one of our English railways from CREUSOT'S in France ; from Zurich, from BOIST'S works in Berlin; from the works at Seraing, near Liege ; a house in Carlsruhe has supplied locomotive; for our Indian railways ; a large firm of English iron merchants and coal proprietors have lately ordered a pumping engine iu Belgium for one of the Northumberland col- All these orders have gone abroad, be cause the foreigner could take them at a lower price and execute them with punctuality." The immense extent of sonic of the foreign establishments is not at all understood in deries. this country. CREUSOT'S works, referred to in the passage just quoted, are on a very large scale, while KRUFF'S works at Essen, in Prussia, turn out 100,000,0001b5. of steel per annum. Mr. COcKERELL, an Englishman, founded works near Liege, which employ 7,000 men ; and there are many others in France, Belgium, and Prussia on a similar scale. It is not difficult to understand the reasons which have given so great a stimulus to foreign competition. Coal in Lancashire has advanced from 4s. 6d. a ton to 7s. 6d. in seven years, while in Belgium it has fallen from 18s. to 13s. In 1863 the iron-workers of Great Britain succeeded in getting their wages raised 40 r.er cent. ! As a natural consequence the price of iron rose during that year from £7 per ton to £9 10s. In France the price of iron kept declining, and since 1863 it has fallen nearly 50 per cent. Skilled labour is in England at the present moment twice as high as in France and Belgium, and three times as high as in Prussia, Austria, and Russian- Poland. Unless, argues our writer very forcibly, we can make as good an article and sell it as cheap as the foreigners they will take the market from us, and this is but the natural effect of the laws of demand and supply. " Ten years ago we could beat the foreigner on any terms, because our material was cheaper and better, our labour more skilled and our work superior; but great changes have been at work "since then both at home and, abroad, and one of the effects of the discontent fostered by_ trades' unions 'is inferior and wasteful work." Surely, then, those who, talk so much about the rights of labour are not going the best way to work to secure the interests of labour itself. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. PARIS, Wednesday Evening, The Emperor presided yesterday at a Council of State at the Tuileries at a general meeting to dis• cuss the proposed project of law on the press. _ _ . The bulletin of the Moniteur says : " It is stated from Florence that the Ministry has succeeded in annulling the Langrand Dumouceau contract, so that it will not have to submit it to the new Chamber. _ _ " Accounts from Berne mention that the loan of 12 millions voted by the Federal Council at its last sitting to provide for the expenses of the reorganisa tion and armament of the troops of the confedera tion is about to be partially taken up to the extent of six millions. The Council, renouncing the idea of negociating this loan with native and foreign banking houses, has adopted the resolution of hav ing recourse to public subscriptions, the success of which plan seems to be assured beforehand. " Correspondence from Copenhagen furnishes some statistics relative to the result of the elections for the Northern Parliament in Schleswig. The votes given in the Duchy to the Danish candidates are to be the same number as those obtained by the candidates of the other parties elsewhere. • "According to documents published by the Customs department of Russia, the exportations of the empire to foreign countries during 1865, com pared with those of 1864, show an increase of more than 80 millions of francs." The Moniteur Beige publishes an ordonnance according to which all the communes of Brabant and Liege are subjected to the provisions of articles 1 to 7 of the decree of the Bth imt. relatiyo to the cattle plague. The most severe measures have been adopted on the frontiers of Western Flanders for prevention of fraud. The Government has adopted a measure which will be of great utility and convenience to the public. From the 15th of March apost-office will be opened in the Champ de Mars, near the pavilion of the Commissariat General in the Avenue de la Bour donnaye. At this office the same facilities will be given to the public as at the other offices. Stamps will be sold and letters may be paid for and registered. Visitors and parsons having business at the Exhibition may have letters addressed to the Poste Restante, which will be delivered on giving proof of identity, as is the case at the chief Post office. The Legislative Body was occupied on Monday and yesterday in discussing the decree abolishing debates upon the Address. Some of the Opposition members contend that the decree is illegal; irregular, and inexpedient. The Ministers M. Vuitry and N. Rouher defended the decree with much convincing eloquence, and argued that the abolition of the dis cussion on the address WAS not only in conformity with law, but that its discontinuance was desirable as regards utility, and that the system of interpella tions saved time, and added to the real freedom of debate. A detail of the arguments would not in terest the English reader. Indeed, the Chamber passed to the order of the day by a vote of 241 against 25. The Siecle is still in great alarm and agitation, I think without cause, relative to the new project of law upon the press. It says : " We do not hasten either to rejoice or to affect ourselves upon the matter. Let us wait till the end. The present time is fertile in surprises. As it ap pears evident that unparalleled regulations, against which we raised our voice, were really at first con templated by the Ministry,„ we have much to fear, but we nevertheless persist in having hope. " Will La France, which affects to be so well in formed upon the subject, complete its information respecting it? Its silence in regard to the eventual privation of our electoral rights is of bad augury. Will Ministers persist in this amiable proposition ? It may be so. If this be the case it will be for pos terity a characteristic trait, which will enable future historians to judge of the extended liberal sentiments which animate the high dignitaries of Government." Here is a little episode to recount of the mur der of the widow Blainville :—The President to the prisoner: Your mother died two years ago in consequence of the sorrow caused by your miscon duct. That must have grieved you very much ? The murderer : Not much. When you love a parent it always makes a little impression, but to tell the truth I was glad when she died. (Marks of disgust.)---You did not like work? I was always very lazy.—You, however, had religious feelings. You have been seen at church? I went to church as a spectacle.—You attended the Sacrament ? I went to see the young girls at their confirmation. —You often went to the house of the widow Blain ville, to whom your father was to be married? When I knew that they were going to be married I said to myself, I will takke charge of their nup tial blessing.—Your idea was to kill three per sons ? Answer. Four. —Why did you wish to assassinate the apprentice Of Madame Blainville, a young girl only 17 ? She annoyed me, and I de termined to finish her as well as the others. If my father had had 40 mistresses I should not have troubled myself about it, but when I knew that he was about to marry, that en tailed a certain amount of money which I should lose.—Thus it was cupidity which urged you to murder ?—Yes. And you would kill anybody who _ _ prevented the satisfaction of your cupidity ?—Of course, that is simple. And after tho first three victims you wont to kill your father ?—Yes, during the night. You premeditated your crime ? During 18 months. This is monstrous !—I know it. When did you intend to carry your murderous project into execution ?—I did not intend to strike the blow until April of this year ; but, having no wcrk, and being short of money, I marked down the date for the 14th of January. 1 mentioned the fact to a friend. That friend put my father on his guard. I therefore made up my mind to advance the business by a fortnight. My father was to be married on the 22d December. I therefore deter mined to do the business on the 20th, and you know the result. Your victims sacrificed, what did you intend to do ?—Take all the money of widow Blain ville and all my father's money, and keep up the wedding with it in my own way. I knew I should fall into the hands of justice. And that did not stop you?—No, I knew I should pay for my wed ding enjoyment with my skin. That is the total amount. When you murder, you may rob. It is done at the same price. And you did not hesitate as to the four persons, oue of whom was your father?—Father, or anybody else, it is the same thing. I was delighted at the idea of being revenged. So your sentiments are not changed ?—They will never change. If I had spared my father I should have missed the most im portant person in the drama. You wished, no doubt, to become an important personage in the annals of the Court of Assize ?—Oh, no ; if I had had an annual rente to live upon the Court of Assize would never have seen me. If I had to begin again I would adopt another plan, and I should not be here. The President now became disgusted, and turning to the jury said, " Gentlemen, we =not continue our progress through this sanguinary circle of crime." The Advocate-General then proceeded with his address. In the course of the evidence the President asked the ruffian how many times he struck the poor woman with the knife. He replied, "as many times as possible ;" an answer which excited general indignation. Fearful Disaster on the London and North-Western Railway. At 20 minutes past 11 o'clock on Tuesday night a very appalling accident happened at Clifton, near Penrith, on the London and North-Western Rail way. It seems that as a large luggage train from the south was passing Clifton the axle of one of the waggons broke. After proceeding a short distance the waggon ran off the rails,,and then general con fusion ensued; other waggons and . some vans, in cluding one which contained about four tons of gunpowder, ran off the metals, and the train was speedily brought to a standstill. The gunpowder van, along with another containing salt, was " slewed" upon the line running southwards, and thus the whole of the road was entirely blocked up. Not long after the accident happened a goods train for the south came up, and the confusion was so great that sufficient means were not taken to check it, and in a few minutes the engine came into colli sion with the gunpowder van. Either the concus sion which ensued or the sparks emitted from the engines produced one of the most terrific disasters ever witnessed on a railway, for the moment after the engine struck the van all the powder it contained exploded with fearful force. The entire four tons of gunpowder blew up in one vast cloud of smoke and flame, the latter illuming the entire district, and the explosion seemed to shake it fairly to its centre. The earth quivered as if in the throes of an earth quake, and the shock terrified people for miles around. Waggons and goods of all sorts were whirled about in every direction, and a scene of destruction seldom, if ever, witnessed on a railway was presented. The driver and stoker of the engine which ran into the powder van wero instantly killed. Goods contained in both trains were set on fire, as were also some of the waggons, and they continued to burn for hours. The shock of the explosion was heard for 16 or 20 miles, and the windows of houses three or four miles distant were shaken, and in some instances broken. About six hours and a half elapsed before both lines were cleared. FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.-0a Monday a young man, named Henry Powell, of Cheltenham, a pupil of Mr. Chambers, farmer, of Droitwich, went out early in the morning shooting. He was discovered shortly after wards lying on the ground terribly wounded. Ho died two hours afterwards. It is supposed that whilst getting over a hedge the trigger was caught by a twig, which owed the gull to explode. LATEST INTEL LIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) - -~- - RUN GARY. PESTII, Feb. 28. Yesterday evening a conference of the members of the Deak party was held at the request of Count Andrassy. The count, who was present, announced his intention of presenting the new ministers to the Diet to-morrow, And asked the members to take into consideration some important measures which he proposed to bring forward in the same sitting. These will include a Bill of Indemnity for the Cabinet, which is to be authorised to continue provisionally the conscription and the collection of taxes. Other bills will refer to the reorganisation of the municipalities and the press laws, which are to be modified, a jury being allowed •in certain: cases. Count Andrassy represented the necessity for passing these new laws as soon as possible. The members present at the conference then re solved that the Diet should discuss the above mea sures on Saturday next. CROATIA. AGRAII, Feb. 27. A rescript of the Austrian Government has ar rived here censuring the authorities for certain articles published in the Croatian official papers. Itafurther declares that a dissolution of the union between Hungary and Croatia is illusory, and that the Emperor desires the maintenance of the union of the two kingdoms. Yesterday a torch-light procession . of students . took place to the monument of General Jellachich. No great popular sympathy was manifested in the demonstration. The patrols and police force were strengthened on the occasion. FIUME, Feb. 27. The judicial inquiry into the demonstrations in honour of the Hungarian ➢linistry is still being carried on. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, Feb. 28. Count Sohus Lych ha 3 declined tq accept the Presidency of the North German Parliament. The cattle plague has broken out in some Prus sian villages adjacent to the Dutch frontier. PLYMOUTH, Feb. 28. The Lowestoft sloop General Lee has been picked up at sea abandoned, and brought into Plymouth to -day. She has been in collision with some other vessel that has, left her figure-head and head-gear on board the sloop. Ti.e crew of the sloop are supposed to be on board the other vessel. FRANCE. BOURSE, Feb. 27.—Two o'clock.—The market is buoyant, and stocks and shares are at higher quota tions. Threes have gained 12ff., the price being 69f. 95c. Italian Fives are at 54f. 10c., showing a similar advance. Among credit shares Foncier have reached 1,520 f., or 15f. higher. Mobilier have im proved 2f. 50c.—to 510 f. Railway shares are like wise very firm. Three o'clock.—The following are the last quota- tions•6:- 4i per Cents 99 90 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 7O Do. end month 69 97i Credit Alobilier 510 Do. end month 512 50 Credit Foncier — Do. end month 1512 50 Bank Shares 3570 Italian Loan 54 10 Do. end month 54 15 Mexican Loan 2O Do. Bonds l4O Spanish Threes Home Debt — Deferred RAILWAYS. Orleans For Account, 927 50 Northern 122.5 Lyons and Mediterranean........., 036 25 Southern 585 Western -- Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard 413 75 North of Spain 112 50 SaragosEa Ditto to Barcelona, — Roman. —.— PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. HOUSE OF COMMONS—FEB. 27. on'icEs AND OATHS BILL. Order for second reading read ; motion made and question proposed, ".That the bill be now read a second time :" Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " now," and at the end of the question to add the words " upon this day six months :" (Mr. Newdegate) Question put, " That the word ' now' stand part of the question." The house divided; ayes, 195; noes, 93. AYES—I9S. Acland, T. D. Foster, W. 0. Naas, Lord Adam. W. P. Fortescue, C. P. Neate, C. Agar-Ellis, L. G. Gaselee, S. Nicol, J. D. Akroyd, E. Gaskell, J. M. O'Beirne, J. Amberley, k is. Gavin, Major O'Brien, tsir P. Andover, Lord Gilpin, C. O'Dono•rhue v The r 3 Antrobus, E. Gladstone, W. E. 0' neiliy, .o. W. A yrton, A. S. Glyn, G. G. Cabo. ne, K. B. Bagwell,J. Goldsmid, Sir F. Otway, A. Bailey, ti , ir J. Gower, F. L. Pease, J. Bard ,y. A. C. Goschen, G. J. Peel, A. W. BarrA., air 11 W. Gregory. W. Pelham, Lord Bass, A. Grcville, Col. F. Veto, Sir M. Bitxtcr, W. E. Grey, Sir G. Phillips, d. N. Bazley, T. Gridley, 11. Pim, J. Beaumont, W. B. Gr..svenor, Lord It. Pollard Urquhart W Berkeley, H. F. tirosvcnur, Capt.lt Portman, W. H. B. iii..dulph, M. Grove, 1. Pott.r, E. Blake, J. tiuinnt.ss B. L. Potter, 'l'. B. Bowyer, Sir G. Hadfield, G. • Power, ,ir .1. Brand, ii. Hanbury, H. Pritchard, J. 'Bright, Sir C.T. Hankey, T Read, C. S. Bright, .1. Hardcastle, J. A. Roebuck, J. A. Bruce, Major C. Harris, J 1). Russell, A. Bruce, H. A. 11 ay, Lord J Busse I, F. W. Bryan, G. L. Ilayter, Capt. A.D. St. Aubyn, J. Buller, A. W. Headlam, T. E. Salemona.Aiderman Ruder, Sir E. M. Henderson, J. Samueb,on, B. / Butler, C S. Henley, Lord Scholetield, W. Candlish, J. liesketh, Si: T. Seely, C. Capper. C. Hibbert, J. T. Shaft°, R. D. Cardwell, E. R.' Hodgson, K. Sheridan, 11. B. Cavendish, Lord E. Holthin, 1. Sheriff. A. Cavendish, Lord F. Holland, E. Smith, J. A. cheettiam, J. Howard, C. W. G. Smith, J. B. Childers, H. C. E. Hunt, G. W. Speirs, A. Clay, J. In ; ham, Robert Stacpoole, Capt. Clement, W. J. K.vana;lt, A, Stanley, W. Clive, G. Kennedy, f. Stansteld, J. Cogan. W. H. King, J. G. Steel J. Conhurst, Sir G. liinglake, A. W. Stone, W. Courtenay, Lord Kuatchbull-liugess Stuart, Col. C. Cowen, J Layard, A. 11. Sturt, Lt.-Col. N. Cox, W. Lawson, J. A. Synan, E. Craufurd, E. IL J. Leeman, G. Tottenham, Lt-Col. Crawford, It. W. Letevre, G. J. S. Tracy, C. K. D. Crosland, Col. ' Lewis, H. Trevelym, G. Crossley, Sir F. Liddell, H. G. Vandeleur, Cl.. Davey, it. Locke, J. Vai,derbyl, P. Denman, G. Lowe, it. Vivian, li. H. Dent, J. D., : • - Lusk, A. Vivian, J. Devero ,, x, R. J. Mackinnon (Rye) Western, Sir T. Duke, Sir W. M'Lagan, l'„ White, J. Dillwyn, L. L. Mainwaring, T. White, C. -' Dowdeswell, W. E. Martin, L'. W. Whitworth, B. Duff, M. E. Merry, J. Williamson, Sir H Earle, R. A. Mill bank F. Winnington, Sir E. Enfield, Viscount Mitchell, A. Wynne, W. It. H. Esmonde, J. Moffatt, G. Wyvill, M. Evans, T. W. Monk, C. Young lt. Eykyn, Roger Monsen, W. Eaw,ett. H. More, R. J. Elides, J. Morris, AL Fordy,e, W. Morris, W. Forster, C. ' Morrison, W. Forster, W. E. Murphy, N. 1). TELLERS. O'Loglilen, Sir C. Gray, Sir J. NOES— 93. Adderley, C. B. Fellowes, E. Mordaunt, Sir C. Agnew, Sir A. Forde, Col. Morgan, 0. Annesley, Col. H. Forester, Gen. Morgan, Major Archdall, Capt Gallwey. Sir W. P. Neeld, Sir J. Arkwright, It. Garth, B. North. Col. Bagge, W. Getty, S. G. O'Neill, E. Bantle, H. J. Goldney, G. Parker, Major W. Barnett, ti. Goodson, J. Repton, G. W. J. Barrow, W. H. Gore, J. R. 0. hobertson. P. itateson, Sir T. Grey, T Selwyn, C. J. Beach, Sir M. Griffith, C. D. Severne, J. E. Beach, W. Gwyn, II Stanhope, J. B. Bowen, J. B. Hamilton, LT. Stronge, Sir J. M. Bruce, B. A. Hardy, J. Stuart, Lt.-Col. W. Bruce, Sir H. Henniker, Lord Surtees. li. E. Cartwright, Col. Heygate, Sir F. Taylor, Colonel i hatterton, H. liiiiyitrd, T Tollemache, J. 'Cochrane, A. D. B. lLtham. Lord Tomline, G. Cole, Hon. H. Jollifie, IL Treeby, J. W. Conolly, T. Kendall, N. Trevor, Lord A. C.irance, Ti. Ker, D. S. Vance, J Cooper, E. IL King, J. K. Verner, Sir W. Du Vre, C. G. Kinnaird, A. le. Waldegrave-Leslie Dutton, R. 11. Knox, Major W. S. Walker, Major G. Dyke, W. 11. Lamont, J. Waterhouse, ~. Dyott, Colonel Langton, W. G. Whalley, G. IL Edwards, 11. Lanyoo, C Wise, H. C. Egerton, Sir P. Lefroy, A. Woodd, B. T. Egerton, E. C. Lindsay, Col. C. Wynn, C. W. W. Eliot, Lord Lloyd, Sir T. TE I. L ER& li'ane, Lt-Col. Long, It. P. Newdegate,C. Feriden, J. Lowther, J. Schreiber, C. THE WOUNDED_ ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE. The Prussian papers mention a new plan for the care of the wounded on a field of battle which was tried during the war, and has now been definitely adopted. Every surgeon is to be provided with a pocket-book con taining a pencil and a number of labels (like those sold for luggage apparently) with a string at one end. After attending to the wounded man, the surgeon writes on ono of the labels the name of the wound and what he has done to it, signs the label, and ties it to the wounded man's button-hole. Thus the men can be carriecl,..by the hospi tal attendants to the proper place, and the surgeon to whom he is brought can learn in a moment the state of his wound, and proceed to dreas it. OXFORD LOCAL EXAMINATIONS. The titles and certificates awarded to the success ful candidates at the Oxford Local Examination, held in Birmingham in June last, were distributed yes terday—the Rev. Dr. Temple, of Rugby, presided. The Rev. CHAIRMAN, prior to distributing the prizes, addressed the assembly. He said he should follow the usual practice of the chairman on previous occasions, of say ing a few words upon the general subject of the success or failure, prosperity or ad versity, that might attend the examinations. He need not go into generalities, because that had so fre quently been done before. It was one of the great difficulties in education, which both learners and teachers constantly met with—so constantly, that it was very remarkable they should need to be so fre quently reminded of it, and yet, being himself a teacher, he often needed to be reminded of it, and he was certain it must be the case of others also— one of the great difficulties in all education was to secure sufficient attention to the beginnings. The beginnings of all learning always ran the risk of be ing run over too rapidly, and the original purpose of those examinations was to lay great stress upon the elementary subjects which are in perpetual danger of being hurried over by the teachers and learners. To the learners there always will be the very strongest temptation, if they wish to learn at all, to go ahead ; they will always want to get at the new knowledge before they have made themselves really roasters of the old, and this temptation also infects the minds of the teachers. Therefore, in these examinations great stress from the beginning was laid upon the elementary subjects, upon the pre liminary part of the examinations, and of all the work that had been done by them there was no part so sound or good as the steady progress which had been made in these preliminary subjects from the •beginning., The Doctor remarked upon the striking improvements 'Which the candidates had evinced' with regard to their arithmetic. He added that when the present scheme was started the .Universi ties had no means of knowing, except by report, what would be the best for the different schools. He had no doubt that the time would come for im proving the organisation of the scheme, and then, of course, all suggestions from persons capable of judg ing would be entertained. Upon this subject, how ever, there was such a divided state of opinion that he should advise them to let the subject go on in a tentative way,feeling how things worked before they were accepted. Now, the progress made by the examinations, besides the soundness of the work, was al3o visible in the numbers of candidates. Ln this district the numbers were diminished, but if they took England over the numbers were very mach increased. Of course it was impissible that any organisation could be devised to suit everybody at once, and therefore what arrangements might be best for England would not be best for Birming ham. But it was not merely the case that the num bers for the whole of England had increased, but more than this, those who had come in were satis fied the thing was good. lie concluded by briefly addressing the successful and unsuccessful candi dates, congratulating the former, and urging the latter to increased exertions. (Applause.) EXTBAORDINARY BULLION ROBBERY. On Tuesday afternoon between 3 and 4 o'clock, Messrs. Rothschild despatched a covered van from their banking establishment in St. Swithin's-lane, Cannon-street, City, with 24 cases of bullion for shipment to Hamburg and Rotterdam. The van be longed to a carrier who has been many years em ployed by them. The custom of the house in for- warding or receiving bullion or specie from any part of the metropolis is to make a person in the employ accompany the vehicles. On the present occasion the 24 cases (weighing about 2cwt. each) were to be shipped on board two steamers lying in the river. Twelve of the cases were for the Waterloo, Captain StrAnack, bound to Rotterdam, and the other 12 for the John Bull, bound to Hamburg—both belonged to the General Steam Navigation Company—the former then lying alongside the Harpy revenue cut ter, off the Tower, and the John Bull off HOrsely do wn. All the cases were marked and lettered, and the perion dent with them was provided with two lists or tallies of the marks on the cases, in order that he might tick them off in shipping them, per sons representing the steamer being furnished with a duplicate list to do the same as they received them. The van proceeded to Nicholson's Wharf, where the bullion was taken out and placed in a boat belong ing to Mr. Gray, lighterman, in Water-lane, which was lying off the wharf, and then pulled off along side the Waterloo. The steamer had been taking in cargo, and was in charge of the chief mate. The moment the bullion boat came up he attended to the shipment of the cases. They were hauled up by the vessel's crane, two at a time, and immediately lowered into the fore hold of the vessel, the repre sentative of Messrs. Rothschild ticking them off his list as they left his custody, and when the 12 had been put ou board he received from the chief mate a receipt of their safe delivery on board and left. The chief mate went into the hold with the boat swain and saw them securely stowed away, and as other goods came down these were placed round the bullion cases so as to fill up the 'tween decks. The hatches were then put on and fastened with iron bars ; these were secured by a padlock, locked by the thief mate, who kept possession of the key. There were on board at this time ten hands of the crew (Capt. Stranack was not ou board) and three Custom-house officers. The latter came on board the IVatErloo at Gravesend on her last homeward trip, last Saturday, and, in accordance with the Custom house regulations, would remain on board till the steamer had cleared Gravesend on her outward trip. At night time they kept watch and watch the same as the crew did, and during the whole of Tues.lay night and yesterday morning there were always two persons on deck keeping watch ; indeed, if they are to be relied on, they never quitted the deck for a moment, and yet, by some unaccountable means, two of the cases of bullion were abstracted from the hold, and the thieves got clear off with them. The intention, no doubt,was to carry off the whole of the 12 cases, as the thieves seem 'to have had a lighter alongside the steamer to receive them, but they were disturbed and made off. The robbery was not dis covered till 6 o'clock yesterday morning,, when the chief - mate 'unlocked the padlocks - and removed the _bars for the men to remove the hatches. It was at once seen fiad been dlittlibed'iluring the night, and 'upon the mate examining the cases two were found to be gone, and from appearances it was quite evident that they had passed outward up the hatchway, and that the hatches had been re moved. It is impossible for one man to have passed the cases up on to the deck on account of their weight-2 cwt. each—the distance being some 10ft. or 12f t. ; and the conclusion arrived at is that the thieves must have hauled them up with a pulley rope attached to the top of the steamer's crane, and by the same means lowered the cases into a lighter alongside, but how this could have been done with one of the crew and a Custom-house officer on deck on the look-out is the most extraordinary part of the affair. As soon as the discovery was made the Thames police were called on board, and strict search was made by them among all the vessels lying near the Waterloo for the stolen cases, but without avail, and during the day the officials of the General Steam Navigation company were engaged making a searching investigation into the whole facts of the robbery ; but, with the exception of showing that a lighter which was moored alongside the steamer the night previous had disappeared in the morning without the consent of its owner, nothing has trans pired. The affair has been placed in the hands of the city detective force in conjunction with the Thames police, and every means will be taken to apprehend the guilty parties. The cases contained bars of silver, and their value is estimated at up wards of £2,090. SUICIDE OF A JEW THROUGH BEING SWINDLED. —Ou Tuesday an inquest was held at St. Mary-at-Hill, City, on the body of Mr. Jacob Loed, aged 50 years, a Prussian Jew. On Friday !naming he almost succeeded in destroying his life by chloroform, and on Sunday morning his dead body was taken . out of the Thames near Fresh Wharf. It appeared that his mind was greatly troubled by a loss of £7O which he lent a friendlor an hour, but which the friend never returned. The jury returned a verdict of oSizirdido whilo in a Ado of Temporary Inanity." rill ttrrillat ~j_ J~ ' HER MAJESTY, &c• WINDSOR CASTLE, Feb. 27. The gieen, accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Louise, drove out yesterday afternoon. Her Majesty the Queen, with their Royal High neEses Princess Louise, Prince Leopold, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Christian, left Windsor Castle this morning for London. Her Majesty travelled by special train on the Great Western Railway to Paddington. The Prince of \Vales rode out on horseback yester day, attended by Major Teesdale. The Queen, accompanied by her Royal highness Princess Louise, and attended by the Duchess of Roxburghe, Lord C. Fitzroy, and Colonel the Hon. D. De Ros, visited the Prince and Princ.tss of '\Vales at Marlborough House yesterday forenoon. The Princess of Wales. Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales up to a late hour last night was progressing most favour ably, and the infant Princess continues well. We have every reason to believe that the bulletin that will be issued at Marlborough House this afternoon, will, in all probability, be the last, as her Royal Highness is so much better. THE QUEEN'S COURT. The Queen held a Court at Buckingham Palace yesterday afternoon. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, escorted by a detachment of the Life Guards, and attended by Viscount Hamilton, General Knoltys, the Hon. A. T. Fitzmaurice, and Major Teesdale, arrived at the garden entrance of the Palace shortly before three o'clock. His Royal highness Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone, arrived at the Palace from Woolwich. His Royal Highness Prince Christian arrived, attended by Mr. G. D. Engleheart. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived from Gloucester House, attended by Colonel the Hon. James Macdonald. VISIT OF TIIE QUEEN TO TILE PRINCESS OF WALES.—Yesterday her Majesty the Queen, accom panied by their Royal Highnesses the Princesses Louise and Beatrice and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein , and attended by General Grey, Lord Charles Fitzroy, Col. the Hon. D. Do Ros, the Duchess of Roxburgh, and the Hon. Flora Macdonald, left Windsor Castle for London, for the purpose of visiting her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. At Paddington a great many people had con gregated, while a guard of honour, consisting of the 14th Hussars, commanded by Lieut. Dyson, was drawn up in the station-yard. Her Majesty was received by Mr. F. Saunders, the secretary, and conducted to an open car riage. The Queen immediately after left the station, escorted by the cavalry, for Marlborough House. After staying with the Princess of Wales about three quarters of an hour, her Majesty proceeded to Buckingham Palace to hold her first Court thieseason. Her Majesty returned to Windsor about half-past five. The engine attached to the state train was decorated with devices and flags. The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., and Mrs. Gladstone entertained at dinner, yesterday evening, at their residence, on Carlton-house-terrace, his Grace the Archbishop of York, the Earl do Grey, the Earl of Morley, Lord Otho Fitzgerald, M.P. ; Captain the Hon. R. W. Grosvenor, M.P.; the Right Hon. F. Peel, General and Mrs. Malcolm, Mr. Bernal Osborne, M.P• ; Mr. T. B. Potter, M.P. ; Mr. Arthur Russell, M.P., and Mrs. Russell; Mr. W. H. Gladstone, M.P., &c. Later in the evening Mrs. Gladstone had a reception, which - was numerously and fashionably attended. Inexpensive Benveolence.—A. Hint to S. G. 0. Some of our readers may remember that a year or two since the charities of London found them selves undergoing the process of dissection in the columns of the Times by the reverend nobleman who writes under the above well known-initials. The " expenses" of the various institutions were subjected to a keen analysis, and compared with the income and with the amount distributed in pur suance of the objects for which they were established. A host of " Governors," secretaries, house-stewards , and others, found them_elves the object of an unsparing, and not always very, discriminating attack, and were held up as fattening on the pub lic benevolence, and interrupting the stream of charity that should have flowed into the pockets of the poor, or been applied to the relief of human want and suffering. Among all the examples/ however, we do not remember that the reverend censor produced a single one, even by will of contrast, in which a benevolent in" stitution was managed upon strictly eco nomical principles. That there are many such all must know, but by some mischance " S. G. 0." appears never to have met with them. Our columns to-day contain a report of an insti tution which is probably more " cheaply" adminis" tered than any in this kingdom, and which con trives effectually to relieve a larger proportion of its applicants, and, at the same time, to spend less money in doing so, than any similar fund with which we are acquainted. We refer to the Provident Clerks' Benevolent Fund, whose 26th annual meet' ing, under the presidency of its popular and much esteemed treasurer, Mr. John Abel Smith, lI—E . " was held last evening. When we state that th e income of the fund for 1866 was close upon £6,200, and that its whole expenditure was under £4 OO, fully half of which was absorbed in printing, adver tising, and postage, our readers will be inclined to agree with Mr. Smith that such a result is, indeed, without parallel in the charitable institutions of this country. The Fund has, of course, peculiar advan" tages, being sheltered and aided by the pres ti g e , of a wealthy and powerful life office ; but it nvisv of necessity be an inducement to the benevolent t° subscribe when they find that of every guinea theY contribute 19s. 7d. go directly to the objects of the fund. The proportion of applicants relieved, too, is sin gularly large. Of 155 who have applied for an: unities, varying from £l5 to £ 35 each, for 'whit old age, infirmity, or widowhood when insufficient" provided for, constitute the qualifications, 125 have u been placed on the list, and 12 more w ill be elects . this year, making 137 successful out of 155 aPPII ; cants. That this proportion should be main wtaoinueicia seems too much to hope, but t hat it ...„s be maintained, and even increase d, if the claims of of the fund were recognised as the y d e serve a lly' be, admits of no doubt. Those c laims are t two great upon employers and clerks, eq uall y great up every class of donors, for who in this great ceu is not in any way interested in t he p rosperity happiness of a class, whose industry, fidelity, 13 1 integrity are among the most important wheels the vast machinery of commerce ? f t i his We trust before the next annua l meeting 0 noble fund it will receive the hearty and en n ib a c r n e d support of that great class of our countryin. countrywomen, to whom a really deserving le 14 tion never appeals in vain. U NIVERSITY C O LLEGE, LONDON.--The an i rell he meeting of the proprietors of Un iversit y College Was yesterday. There was a large attendance. T annt;i3l report having been read and its adoption moved, Mr. D. Christie su bmitted a series of resolutions, censuring the council for re jecting Mr. Martineau as Professor of gental Philosophy and Logic. Sir J. Bowring, Mr. J. Goldsmicitt M.P., Mr. S. Morley, Dr. Carpenter, and Mr. W. 133 g en h av i ng s p o k e n, Mr. Christie withdr ew his resolutions, an the report was adopted. 12t h R RFOR M MOTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. ---On the leave !42 of next month Mr. Horsman w ill move for t he bring xtend t' bring in the House of Commons , " A bill to e; right of voting for members of Parliament in boroughs." Sir John Gray, in committee on the ItoPre° sentation of the People Bill, will move, " That each pets who shall have served an apprenticeship for a terra bare' seven years for the purpose of learning any trade or _ w .0 1 3°"', 1 dicraft, and shall have received from the person he served such apprenticeship the certificate of serviceoar. of competency usual in the trade, shall be admitted t . 0 : franchise in the same manner and under the sates regt,.l3ll cities and tions that may be provided for by the bill for the admis,bivivi, of graduates of colleges, members of the profession of u city, law, surgery, medicine, engineering., and other.T; fessions or avocations, the exercise 01 Whicil l ull l special training and. aka"