The Sun. — London, England, 1870-04-30 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAiVIENT HOUSE OF LORDS—FnmAy. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE BILL. The LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving the re-commitment of this bill, explained some alterations which he had made in the bill, to meet certain objections which had been raised at the measure, on its second reading, The principle one was the framing of the rules o f procedure of the New Court, which would be referred to the Committee of the Privy Council, of which the Lord Chancellor and the Chancellor of the Exchequer must be members. The Home Circuit would not be abolished ; but with respect to civil matters a concurrent jurisdiction would be given to the courts at Westmin ster, extending over the Home Circuit, and criminal cases would be brought to the Old Bailey, or tried by a commission of gaol delivery which it would be neces sary to issue as occasion might deem requisite. Lord ROBHLLY said there was great difficulty in blending common law with equity in cases of injunction. On that point the rules of the new Court would require great con sideration. Lord CAIRNS said all the changes that had been made in the system of judicature had been partial and incomplete, because they had not made a sweeping reform, and placed it upon a broad and permanent basis. He did not think the machinery of the bill would effect its object, namely, the union of the systems of law and equity. The diffe rence between the two systems was not one of prin ciple, but of procedure, and he doubted whether any set of rules would affect the object in view, unless the bill provided the subordinate offices and departments, which would be required to carry them out. He recommended the Government to appoint a commis sion to consider the rules. and then embody them in the bill. Lord Wit_ f.ook objection to some of the pro visions of the 401. and said it was a subject upon which it was most cietnrable there should be no hasty legislation. He suggested that the framing of the rules should be entrusted to a commission. The LORD CHANCILLOIL ultimately postponed the motion for the recommitment of the bill, and their lordships ad journed at 25 minutes past 7. HOUSE OF COMMONS—FRIDAY. The Speaker took the chair at five minutes to four. WATERFORD ELECTION. The SPEAKER announced that he had received the report of the judge with respect to the result of the inquiry on the Waterford election petition, declaring Mr. B. Osborne duly elected. TRAMWAY BILLS. A number of tramway bills which stood on the paper for second reading to-day, were postponed until Friday next. DOWNPATRICK,DUNDRUM L AND NEWCASTLE RAILWAY BILL. Mr. WILLIAII JOHNSTON moved that the resolution of the Standing Orders Committee of the 25th of March last, with respect to the Downpatrick, Dundrum, and New castle Railway petition, together with the said petition and the bill annexed thereto, be referred back to the said committee ; and that they have power to inquire whether there are any special circumstances which render it just and expedient that the standing orders should be dis• pensed with in respect of the said petition. The motion was agreed to. BEVERLEY DISFRANCHISEMENT BILL. A petition was presented from Sir H. Edwards praying the House not to pass the Beverley Disfranchisement Bill, as it might affect the trial of the information now pending against him. EDUCATION. A number of petitions were presented, praying the House to pass an enlarged measure of unsectarian iduoa tion, and also others in favour of scriptural education. NAWAB OF BENGAL. Mr. HAVILAND-BURKE asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether there was any objection to lay upon the table of the House a copy of the despatch for warded by the court of directors of the late East India Company to the Governor of Calcutta, Mr. Cartier, dated the 20th of April, 1771, as also a copy of Mr. Cartier's letter to which the above despatch was a reply ; and, if he would inform the House of the date of the receipt by her Majesty's Secretary of State for India of the Nawab Nazim's memorial of the 28th July, 1869, as also of the dates of the same being forwarded to and received by the Governor-General of India. Mr. GRANT DUFF said the despatch referred to contained a great deal of matter that was of no interest, and there fore it would be useless to reprint it, but he should have no objection to give every portion of it whioh related to the family of the Nawab. The memorial was received the day after its date, namely the 28th of July, and it was sent to India on the 28th of October. MALTA. Mr. KINITArED asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether it was the intention of the Govern ment to sanction the admission of " ecclesiastics " into the Council of Government at Malta ; and, if so, whether he lad any objection to lay upon the table of the House a copy of the correspondence with reference thereto, and goo a return of the number of voters in the several districts of the island who voted for the re-admission of ecclesiastics ; also of the number who abstained for voting altogether. Mr. MONSELL said it was not until the year 1857 that ecclesiastics were excluded from the council of the Govern ment of Malta, but the whole council having desired their readmission, it was put to the vote. when of that election there 1,409 assents, to 58 dissents. He had not the number of those motto abstained from voting. There was no inten tion on the part of the Government to interfere with the vote of the people. THE CENTRAL HALL. Mr. ALFRED SEYMOUR asked the First Commissioner of Works if it was true that he had the intention of substi tuting any other material for mosaic work in carrying out the designs for the decoration of the Central Hall of the Houses of Parliament ; and, if so, what materials he was prepared to substitute ? Mr. AYRTOII said the question was still under considera tion, no determination having yet been come to. Mr. SEYMOUR asked whether the right hon. gentleman had it in contemplation to substitute any other material. Mr. AYRTON said ho had it in contemplation to do that which, on consideration, should be deemed best. THE RED SEA. Mr. GOURLEY asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what measures, if any, were being taken to procure a new and correct survey of the Red Sea ? Mr. CHMDERS said there were some charts in hand of the Red Sea, but they were of an old date. The Red Sea was fairly surveyed, but not so the gulf of Suez. The re-survey of portions of the Red Sea was under con sideration, but nothing had yet been determined on, NATAL. Mr. ROBERT FOWLER askedthe Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to withdraw the troops from Natal. Mr. MONSELL said he had no such intention. He had to ask the hon. gentleman to postpone the motion which stood in his name on the subject. - - - Mr. FOWLER said if it was for the public interest that tie should not bring it forward, of course he would not do eo. He should therefore put it off until May 20. HIGHWAYS ACT. Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH asked the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department when the return rela tive to the Highways Act, addressed for on the 19th July, 'LB69, would be prefented to the House. Mr. BRUCE said the returns were very difficult. He 4° Ped they would be on the table in the course of a few days. MR. BUXTON. Colonel FRENCH drew attention to the rumours respect ing the attempted assassination of Mr. Charles Buxton. Oiie rumour was that it was a Fenian outrage, and another that the man was an evicted tenant. He wished foOnformation on the subject. Mr. BRUCE replied that the man who shot at Mr. Buxton was an English shorthand writer, who had been discharged for impertinence. The police were informed of -the circumstance, and were now investigating the case. THE ARMING OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE MILITIA. Lord ELCHO inquired why the volunteers and militia were not armed with breech-loaders, seeing that there were sufficient weapons for the purpose. Ir. CARDWELL said there were only 300,000 at present in store, which was a much smaller lumber than was asnally rewired. With regard to the lalitia they ha already supplied sixty-four regiments, and issued 27,000 Sneider rifles in the course of the present year. Lord ELcH6 remarked that there were only 140,000 effective volunteers, and if there were 300,000 arms, why could they not be placed in the hands of the volunteers ? Mr. CARDWELL replied that the reason was simply that 300,000 was a smaller number than usual. THE STATE OF BUSINESS. Mr. GLADSTONE said on Monday they would proceed with the Irish Land Bill in Committee. He understood that there was a strong desire that they should report progress at an early hour on Monday night in order to give time for disposing of the motion, growing out of the order of the House, for the appointment of a Select Committee, to inquire .into monastic and conven tional institutions. They would, therefore, report pro gress at eleven o'clock. There was a great deal of uncertainty as to whether the inquiry proposed, was to be an inquiry into the internal affairs, and personal relations of these institutions or whether it was concerning certain points connected with the state of the law and the holding of property. It would very much facilitate the matter if the hon. mover of the motion would state what he considered would be the proper object of the inquiry. Mr. NEWDEGATE promised that he would state his views on that point on Monday. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 30, 1870. A'T'TEMPT TO MURDER A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. About ten o'clock yesterday morning a desperate at tempt was made to murder Mr. Charles, Buxton, M.P. For several years past Mr. Buxton has employed as sec retary a young man, named White, a, person of some what eccentric habits. Owing to his irregular conduct of late a three months' notice to leave was given at the com mencement of the session, which afterwards was reduced to a month. Mr. Buxton desired him to attend at his resi dence in Grosvenor-crescent yesterday morning at 9.30, when he was slightly reproved for not waiting for Mr. Buxton on Tuesday, and for not sending some papers by post. To this he made no answer. Mr. Buxton then said he required the direction of Colonel -, and asked his secretary to procure for him the Army List from another apartment. To this request at first White made no reply, but afterwards said, in a sullen manner, that he was going to fetch it. Mr. Buxton felt annoyed at the man's conduct, and told him he had better leave the house. White remained silent, and then said, " You want the `Army List,' do you ?" and then he left the study to fetch it. On returning, his conduct became still more remarkable, and Mr. Buxton again reproved him for the manner in which he was behaving, observing that although he wished him to leave his service, he was willing to assist him in every way, and to procure for him another situation. To this White said, "I do not believe a word of it," and then leaned over the table, and gave a ferocious scowl at his master. Thinking that, the man merely meant to assault him, and feeling that be was the more powerful of the two, Mr. Buxton remained sit ting, and White then proceeded to his usual place at the table. Mr. Buxton again told him he had better leave the house, and was walking out of the study when he heard the report of firearms, and turning round he saw White standing looking at him, with a revolver pointing towards him. Mr. Buxton instantly threw himself on the floor of the room behind the table, when White coolly said " Are you wounded, sir ?" Mr. Buxton then rushed at his assailant, when White ran out of the room, opened the street door, hailed a hansom cab, and in a moment or so was out of sight. Mr. Buxton followed to the door but the man had then gone. The mark of the bullet was found on the wall directly over the place where Mr. Buxton was standing at the time the pistol was fired, and the bullet was picked up in the middle of the room. White is still at large, and the belief is that he is insane. Information was immediately given to the authorities at Scotland-yard, and Colonel Henderson directed Inspector Tay and Sergeant Davy to take every means for securing the would-be murderer. CONGRESS. SENATE, March 30.—Mr. Schurz introduced bill fixing the first Tuesday in November as the day for electing Representatives to Congress throughout the country. The joint resolution for a special committee on Indian Affairs was consi dered: The case of General Ames came up in order , but, on motion of Mr. Sumner, the Senate went into Executive session. March 31—Mr. Patterson introduced a bill est tblishing a National Institute of Applied Sciences, and Mr. Cole a bill, providing for mail service with Australia, New Zealand, &c. The credentials of Morgan C. Hamilton and J. W. Flanigan, Senators elect from Texas, were presented, and those gentlemen were sworn in. The House re solution of respect for Gen. Thomas was concurred in. A bill was passed, allowing retired army officers to be assigned to duty at the Soldiers' Home. Mr. Saulsbury offered a resolution asking the Secretary of State to communicate the date of ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment by the several States, but objection was made, and it was hid over. On the motion of Mr. Wiley, the Committee was in structed to consider the expediency of a survey to ascertain the practicability of a communication be tween the James and Kanawha Rivers and Ohio River. The case of Senator elect Ames, of Missis sippi, was discussed. April I—Mr. Osborn pre sented the petition of 0. B. Hart, contesting the seat occupied by Senator Gilbert, of Florida. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Casserly presented resolutions of the California Legislature, asking the abolition of the income tax. Mr. Mor ton introduced a bill to enforce the provisions of the Fifteenth Amendment. The case of Senator elect Ames, of Mississippi, was taken up, and on the motion of Mr. Sumner, the report of the Judi ciary Committee that Ames is not eligible was amended by striking out the " not," thus declaring him eligible, and was passed as amended—yeas 40, nays 12. Among the nays were Carpenter, Conk - ling, Edmunds, Pratt, Schurz, and Trumbull, Re publicans. Messrs. Stockton, Thurman, Hamilton, and Johnson, who were opposed to the motion, were paired off, and did not vote. Senator Ames was then sworn in. Adjourned until Monday. April 4—The House resolution authorizing a supply of arms for instruction to certain colleges was re ported. Bills were introduced by Mr. Edmunds to regulate judicial proceedings, and by Mr. Fenton to provide for a line of mail and emigrant steamers between New York and Scandinavian ports. The Georgia Bill was taken up. Mr. Stewart moved to strike out the Bingham amendment, and Mr. Wil son offered an amendment extending the present Legislature for two years from its reorganization. April 5 —The House resolution directing an inquiry into the loss of the Oneida was passed. Mr. Willey introduced a bill appropriating the proceeds of sales of public lands for educational purposes. The bill requiring Internal Revenue Supervisors to be ap pointed by the President and confirmed by the Se nate was reported adversely. Mr. Cameron offered a resolution providing for a testimonial in honour of the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Volunteers who passed through Baltimore on April 18th and 19th, 1861, in response to the first call for troops of the President. After some discussion, on the motion of Mr. Sherman, the resolution, with amend ments by Messrs. Saulsbury and Stockton, was re ferred to the Military Committee. The Georgia Bill was discussed, padding which the Senate went into Executive session. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 30.—Mr. Randall offered joint resolutions of respect for the memory of Major-General Thomas ' which were adopted unaniinously. Air. Butler, from the Re construction Committee, reported the bill to admit Texas, which was concurred in by a party vote, and sent to the President. Mr. Hoar, from the Com mittee on Education and Labour, reported a bill to establish a national system of education, which was postponed until the second Tuesday of next December. Mr. Arnell, from the same committee, reported a bill Darning the office of education, iu the Interior Department, the " Bureau of Education," transferring to it the unexpended funds of the Freedmen's Bureau, discontinuing the latter bureau. Bills were introduced by Mr. Morrell, to amend the patent laws ; and Mr. Slocum to amend the internal revenue laws. Mr. Cleveland offered a resolution, which was referred, requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to accept the most advantageous bids for gold, and prohibiting purchases of bonds beyond the amount authorized for the sinking fund. A massage was received from the President, announc ing the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment. The Tariff Bill was discussed. March 31.—. The bill discontinuing the Freedmen's Bureau, and trans ferring its unexpended funds to the Bureau of Education, was considered, and a moti on t o ta bl e it was defeated— yeas, 63 ; nays, 92. Messrs. Clark, Conner, Degener, and Whitmore. the mem bers elect from Texas, were sworn in and took their seats, after some opposition by Mr. Butler and others to Conner, the Democratic member on the ground that he had whipped negro soldiers when a captain in the army, &c. The Tariff Bill was considered in committee, Mr. Schenck advo cating and explaining it. Mr. Logan introduced a bill to incorporate the Irish Colonization Society. April I—Mr. Bennett introduced a joint resolution authorising the appointment by the Secretary of the Treasury of an agent to make inquiry into the feasibility of more advantageous commercial rela tions with the Canadas. Referred to the Commerce Committee. The Tariff Bill was considered in Com mittee of the Whole, and the date when it shall go into effect was made the Ist of October next. The section relating to tea being reached, Mr. Long bridge moved to amend by admitting free of duty tea imported in American vessels or foreign vessels under reciprocity treaties. Without disposing of the amendment the committee rose, and the Senate bill authorising the erection of a bridge across the Delaware was concurred in. An evening session was held for debate only. April 2—A bill was passed continuing to the widow of N. W. Parker his rights as discoverer of two islands in the Pacific. Bills were introduced by Mr. Potter for the redemp tion of bronze and nickel coins in sums of $25 ; and by Mr. Butler, of Massachusetts, for the collection of debts due the Government by Southern railroads. The Tariff Bill was considered in Committee of the Whole, and amendments changing the duties on tea and coffee were rejected, leaving the duty on tea 20 cents, and on coffee 5. When the sugar clause was reached the committee rose. April 4—Bills were introduced by Mr. Knapp, to protect patents; Mr. Schofield, to equalise salaries of U. S. Judges in Eastern and Western Pennsylvania; and Mr. Loughridge, to equalise soldiers' bounties. Mr. Hoge offered a resolution for adjournment on May 10th, which went over, the previous question being refused. Mr. Heaton introduced a bill appointing the election of Congressmen on the Tuesday after the first Monday, 1872, and every second year thereafter. The rules were suspended, and the bill passed by a vote of 114 to 40. Mr. Maynard introduced a resoluti.,u, directing the Secretary of the Navy to inquire into the particulars of the sinking of the Oneida , with a view to ascer tain the responsibility therefor. Mr. Schenck suggested a modification, so as to extend the inquiry to the conduct of the Bombay, which was accepted, and the resolution, as modified, was adopted. Mr. Julian introdueed a bill to protect settlers on the public lands. Mr. Porter offered a resolution reciting the municipal troubles in Rich mond, and directing the Reconstruction Committee to inquire into the facts, and report what legislation is necessary to put down the rebellion, and main tain the authority of the National Government in Virginid. After some " filibustering "on the De mocratic side, to prevent action upon the resolution it was withdrawn. A report was adopted arranging for a meeting on Tuesday evening, in the Hall of Representatives, in respect to the memory of Gene ral Thonia., &c. The Tariff Bill was considered. . April 5. —The bill recently introduced in reference to the Bureau of Education, discontinuing the Freedmen's Bureau, was passed. Mr. Hoar, from the Committee on Laws, reported a revision of the various patent and copyright laws. The Tariff Bill was considered in Committee of the Whole, and an amendment was adopted, reducing the duty on clarified sugar from 3 to .2i cents per pound. The duty on brandy and other distilled spirits was increased from .$2 to $3 per gallon. Pending action on an amendment increasing the duty on cordials, the Committee rose, and Mr. Butler asked leave to introduce a joint resolution for the annexation of Dominica. Mr. Wood ob jected. THE FUNDING BILL. (From the Anglo-American Times.) The Funding Bill was discussed for the first time by the Ways and Means Committee on the Bth April, but no conclusion was reached and no vote taken. The Committee on Banking and Currency have carefully considered its provisions and heard arguments on the subject ; for instance, that day Mr. DAVIS of Massachusetts addressed it ; so that they will be ready to take an active part when the bill is reported to the House by General SCHENCK. That many changes will be made by the House, and many recommended by the Committee is now known. The main contest has been over the clause relating to the National Banks, which will be so mo dified as to be accepted by them. The banking inte rest in the House of Representatives is considerable, but it is hoped that the difference between Secre tary BOUTWELL'S views and those of the bankers can be adjusted to their mutual satisfaction. A characteristic letter, addressed by Treasurer SPIN NER to a director of the National Bank of New York, has been published, and has led to much correspondence. The banker endeavoured to elicit Mr. SPINNER'S views, hoping that they would be found to favour the banks ; but, on the contrary, the Treasurer argued for Four per Cent. Bonds, re gretting that such had not been made the uniform rate. All his worldly goods, he said, were in U. S. Bonds and National Bank Stock ; yet he advised for many reasons the reduction of interest to four per cent., not doubting that with agencies at Amster dam, Berlin, London, Frankfort, and Paris, and quar terly interest payable there in their respective cur rencies, the Bonds could be negotiated, adding if others were prepared tel purchase such stock it was no hardship to make the banks do so, while he de fended this from the charge of being " Mexican," or forced loans, byreference to the profitable privilege accorded. It is a wise policy, Mr. SPINNER con-• tends, to satisfy the masses of the taxpayers ; and the bankers should remember that, next to high taxes, banks of all institutions were the most unpopular with the people, who have votes and direct the legislation of the country. The banks should join their interest with that of the people, and ask for nothing more than was right and reason able ; but if they resist wholesome legislation they will surely come to grief. The most important measure is the funding of the National Debt at the lowest possible interest, after which all necessary details, including justice to banks, can easily be arranged. For instance, they are liable to annoy ing levies, the general Government collecting, through the internal revenue, a license fee on each bank, and percentage on all profits. Through the Treasury it collects percentage on circulation, on deposits, and on capital ; and if that on circulation alone be abolished, it would compensate the banks for any loss. All persons who discuss the Funding Bill hold the same opinion as Treasurer SPINNER, of the vast impoitance of settling the interest on all the Debt at the lowest rate ; but all do not see, like him, that the lowest rate can only be obtained in those countries where money is cheapest, and on the terms of the lenders. When borrowers, who propose to reduce their burdens, begin by launch ing out into abuse of the only persons who can afford to lend at the rate the debtors desire, they neither act wisely nor graciously. If the United States require the National Bonds to be funded at 4 per cent. they must seek the European markets, and they must adapt the securities to suit European re quirements, or " the financial SHYLOCKS of Europe," as they have been called, will jeer in derision when the bonds are " peddled" on this side. That Ame rican Securities would grow quickly in favour among the masses in Europe if the coupons were made payable in European cities we have no doubt, and we are quite as confident that quantities of these bonds would return to America in the boxes of emi grants, for if made of a low denominational value the people who intend to settle in the States would learn to buy and hoard a property having equal value on both sides the ocean, yielding interest which they could draw in Europe till they emigrated, and in America after they landed in the Republic. The most numerous body of the financial SHYLOCKS would resolve themselves into the hard-working la bourer and mechanic, whose information led them to appreciate the fact that the best form their say ings could take was in U. S. bonds. Although the men most conversant with the facts, and whose opinions ought to weigh most heavily, such as Mr. BOUTIVELL, Mr. SPINNER, and Gen. SCHENCK, are aware of the truth of what we state, they have to con tend against such a mass of ignorance, presumption, and prejudice, that there is little hope of the only provision being retained in the bill which could make the funding at a low rate of interest success ful, although it is probable that another fight for the re-insertion of that clause will be made in the House. One really strong argument its opponents have, the value of which, we, perhaps, underrate en this side. Whenever an opportunity offers, cor ruption enters, and the " ring" around the core of " any bill with money in it," widens and deepens till it eats out the heart of the measure. So fearful are American legislators of these birds of prey that they reject legislation which might be beneficial, preferring to submit to the known evils than to run unknown risks. They picture to themselves a scramble in Europe over the sum voted for funding the bill ; then auother scramble over the agencies ; jobbing, so as to manipulate the Bonds to indivi dual gain ; and, finally, some of the persons en trusted with the money for the interest absconding with the funds. The commercial morality of all great monetary centres tends to warrant suspicion, but if we compare the percentage of rascality to the mass of business transacted, it will be found that it appears far larger than it is, and that swindling is perpetrated almost entirely by interlopers, peo ple who, in olden days, would never have been permitted to enter financial circles, but who now have managed to penetrate into them, to the great scandal and shame of the commercial name gene rally. We regret to see these sort of people float ing loans of bogus American Railroads, which will presently react injuriously on American cre dit ; but they are successful in European marts, notwithstanding the pains and trouble taken by many American journals to expose them. Secretary BotrwEet. had left for a week to visit his home, iu,Masachusetts, and the bill was to be reported to the House about the time of his return. The special correspondent of the Daily News says, " Shrewd men believe the rumour that the ROTHS CHILDS have actually offered to put the new loan of $1,200,000,000 on the market under the Funding Bill." At the same time that he cannot see how these bankers could expect anybody to exchange the old bonds for the new, and why they should therefore make such an offer, he remarks that a return to specie payments is a moral process, popu lar faith in the Government's power to pay in gold, if called upon, being one of the large elements in it; and he admits the immense progress lately made therein towards redemption, while the more the faith the less the gold required, and we may add the higher will the securities of the United States rise in value. The indignation at Captain Eyre's conduct in leaving the crew of the Oneida to perish remains as strong as ever in the United States, but much of it is directed against the American Admiral in Japan, who allowed the Oneida to proceed to sea without replacing the boats she had lost, notwithstanding the appeal of ()apt. Williams. Many of the American tapers demand an investigation of the Admiril's conduct, and attribute the loss of life as much to the want of boats as to the extra d n ary, indeed almost insane, conduct of Captain Eyre. Vice-Admiral Porter does not see how the Senate c►th carry out the joint resolution of Congress, ordering an investigation, and be points emphatically to the fact that the British Government has nothing to do with the matter, while he adds if the laws of Great Britain can reach Captain Eyre, then he should, and doubtless will, be punished, and the proper way is to appropriate $50,000 to assist the American Minister in prosecuting the owners of the Bombay and Captain Eyre through the regular course of law. Admiral Porter is a sensible man, and he very properly points out the course which ought to be pursued. COLONEL BOXER. On going into committee of supply, Mr. O'REILLY called attention to the paper relative to the resignation of Colonel Boxer of the office he held in the Royal Laboratory, and moved for a select committee to inquire into, and report on all the circumstances which led to that result. The hon. gentleman reviewed at great length the whole of the facts connected with the case, quoting largely from the published correspondence. Col. Boxer had served the state well for many years, and in refusing to answer certain questions when called upon by the Secretary of State for War, was guilty technically of insubordination, and accepted the alternative of resigning. He (Mr. O'Reilly) denied that Colonel Boxer had been " dismissed," as the right hone gentleman had said, and he had received no reward for his services. The member for Droitwich had laid it down, that it was the duty of such an officer to invent for the public service. There was, however, as .he (the hon. gentleman) contended, a great diffe rence between improvements in manufactures and inverk Lions. An intelligent officer would naturally be expected to improve in manufactures, but it could not be expected of him to invent without reward. Mr. O'Reilly pro ceeded to speak of the specific inventions of Colonel Boxer, all of which he urged had benefitted the public. It was under these oircumstances that he asked for a full inquiry into the subject. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON thought the hon. gentleman had made the best of a bad case. He thought the Secretary for War had acted quite properly in calling upon Colonel Boxer to resign, and expressed his opinion that any other gentleman under similar circumstances would have done the same. He denied having given Colonel Boxer the instructions which in the correspondence he attributed to him, or that he was justified in the course which he adopted. He could not have thought that a man like Colonel Boxer would have attempted to practice so much deception upon him. In answer to a letter from him to Colonel Boxer asking whether he had any pecuniary in terest—whether he received any royalties or other con sideration in the manufacture of cartridges by Messrs. Eley, Colonel Boxer replied that he had absolutely assigned his patents to that firm. His (Sir John Pakington's) fear at the time was that the relations between Colonel Boxer and Messrs. Eley might give rise to scandal. There had been secrecy from the beginning to the end of the some what scandalous transaction. Had he known then what he knew now, he should have felt it his duty to remove Colonel Boxer, to have brought the case under the notice of the commander-in-chief. The letter to which he had alluded was founded upon a minute in his own handwriting ; but his instructions did not contain any word about royalties or other remuneration. The mistake, however, had been made, and Colonel Boxer was entitled to the benefit. The right. gentleman concluded by saying that the right hon. gentleman at the head of the War Department took the same view of the letter as he (Sir J. Pakington) had done, and he hoped the House would, irrespective of party, do the same, and that they would find that there was nothing in his (Sir J. Pakington's) conduct incon sistent with his duty to the Crown or his character as a gentleman. Mr. WHITWELL said he hoped the House would approve the conduct of both the right hon. gentleman the Secre tary of State for War and the right hon. baronet, and say hat they had acted with the utmost honour. Mr. CARDWELL acquitted Sir J. Pakington from all blame iu the matter, and defended the course which the War-office had taken in requiring Colonel Boxer to resign. He de clined, however, to assent to the motion for a select com mittee. Ultimately the motion was withdrawn. Lord CRICHTON called attention to recent magisterial ap pointments in the county of Leitrim, and moved for papsrs on the subject. Mr. C. FORTESCUE defended the appointments, after which the subject dropped. Sir L. PALK inquired what day the Government would fix or proceeding with the Education Bill ? Mr. GLADSTONE said as soon as the Irish Land Bill was disposed of he proposed to put the Education Bill in its place, and to facilitate its progress as far as it was possible. _ _ Sir J. JENKINSON called attention to the case of Jacob Spinosa, who had been convicted of murder, and recently reprieved, and asked upon what ground such reprieve was granted. Mr. BRUCE said he was justified in the course taken by the recommendation of the learned judge who tried the case. Mr. C. BENTISCK drew attention to the case of the-Tor nado, and contended that the capture of the vessel was illegal, and that the proceedings in the Spanish Courts had been grossly unfair. Mr. O'rwAY said that all the Government contended for was that the vessel should have a fair trial in the Spanish courts. After some discussion the motion was withdrawn. The Poor Relief (Metropolis) Bill was considered in com mittee, and the other orders having been disposed of, the House adjourned at 20 minutes past two o'clock. THE WEATHER. The weather in the North since Friday, when there was a severe gale of wind, has been cold and stormy, and on Wednesday snow fell over the northern counties of Scotland. The ground, even on the lowlands of Banff, Aberdeen, and Moray, was slightly coated with snow, but towards the seaside it soon disappeared. On the mountains the snow was lying to a considerable depth. Until now the Weather during April has been very seasonable, and field-work is well advanced. The storm of Wednesday, however, will stop vegetation considerably. In Perthshire, there Was strong frost on Wednesday morning, with a cold north-westerly wind. The higher Grampiams were covered with snow and the prospects as to pastures in the northern and eastern districts of the county are not of a very hopeful description. In 'North and East York shire there have been several days of very cold weather, with continuous north wind. On Thursday morning there was snow on the moors and wolds. Yester day there was a considerable rise throughout the British Islands. In some cases the thermometer rose above fifty degrees. LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART. The Athecenum remarks :—We hear that Mr. S. Smiles has a book nearly ready belonging to the department of knowledge he has so successsully illustrated—Biography. In it the author, it is said, will develope certain original and ingenious theories of human life which have suggested themselves in the course of many years of study as " Cha racteristics of Biography," in relation to race, lineage, cul ture, love, marriage, health, occupation, and various cir cumstances influencing life and character.—We have reason to believe that the first subscription list for " Lothair " amounted to 3,000 copies. —Mr, Edward Dicey has ceased to occupy the post of editor of the Daily News, to which he succeeded on the retire- Tent of Mr. Walker, about three months since.— A Dublin, comic an d sa ti r i ca l wee kly p a p er i s t o a pp ear in in, called Z os i mus, th e n i c k name o f a f oo l once well knownn the s t reets o f t h at c i ty. It will be principally illustrated was on Il by Mr. O'Ffea, an artist who a little time ago enjnt of fjnin that joining g the forthcoming the sta o ffn h f co a m London g number comic o journal.—We understand f the Carlow College Magazine willcontain the firstport ion of . of Carleton's last work, a t ballad of "The Red-hairs eryMan'sfounded Wife." on the old Irish An original poem, by Dr. Moir, will apkear in the also an article on the Coercion, Bill hichamenumber er ; might come under the said bill were it written in w a newspaper The Graphic says : " Last evening was the anni versary of the birth of Shakspeare. At no London theatre, we believe, was one of his plays performed. The members of the Irving Club dined together at St. John's Tavern, Clerkenwell, Mr. Creswick occupying the chair. The occasion was also taken advantage of by Mr. Fry to give a ' Shakspeare Evening ' at the Queen's Concert Rooms. The play chosen was ' Hamlet,' which the reader rendered so as to call forth the repeated applause of his numerous audience." The M,tsical Standard has the following :—Gounod is at present suffering from a painful but temporary affec tion of the hand, which prevents his finishing a new work on which he is engaged.—Some of the continental quid ' nuncs aver that Verdi has three operas in contemplation, at the instance of as many different artists., OUTRAGES IN IRELAND. Early one morning this week three armed men called at the house of a widow named Bridget Brady, residing at Larah, in the parish of Ballymaclugh, County Cavan, and, forcing open the door when refused admittance, they obliged the woman to promise that she would give up some land which she holds from another widow of the same name, and threatened that if she did not act up to her promise they would soon return and shoot her. They then proceeded to the house of a man named Grehan, who is herd to a Mr. Duffy, another tenant of Mrs. Catherine Brady, and placing him on his knees, with a revolver to his breast, swore him to leave Mr. Duffy's employment, and forced him to accompany them to Mrs. Brady's own house, where they also demanded ad mittance,. but were stoutly refused. They then demanded money in the name of "Rory of the Hills," and having been thrown some out of a window they left ? first warning Mrs. Brady that if she did not immediately give up a certain farm of land (the good-will of which her husband had purchased in his life-time) to the former owner, she would not escape so well on their next visit. The Dublin Evening Standard learns from Athlone that as Miss Counsel was returning from Moate, on Monday mor ing, accompanied by her sister, their car was stopped by a man at the cross-roads between Boyannagh and Glynn, who informed the young lady that " he would shortly be at her father's funeral and her own wake." Mr. Laurence Counsel has been for some time in possession of the small estate at Creggan, formerly belonging to the late Captain Tarleton, who was murdered. Mr. Counsel had a tenant who died a short time ago. This man held at the nominal rent of five shillings per year, simply as an acknowledg ment of tenancy. LAW AND POLICE. Two RAILWAY COMPANIES.—A question has been raised in Vice-Chancellor James's Court upon the construction of a railway agreement whereby local traffic was excluded out of certain overrunningpowers mutually conceded bythe Midland and Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Rail way companies. The latter company who were the defend ants, maintained that the Hull traffic was local traffic, and sought to restrain its being sent over their line. The plaintiff's contended that local traffic meant any traffic between stations, and did not include the traffic from Hull to Manchester through Barnsly. The Vice-Chancellor held that the plaintiff's contention was clearly right. Six WEEKS AFTER MARRIAGE.—Lord Penzence had before him the cause of Mumley v. Mumley, which was a wife's petition for a dissolution of her marriage, on the ground of her husband's cruelty. It seemed that the parties were married some seven years ago, the petitioner being a widow and the respondent a widower. The former had been the happy mother of 15 children and the latter the father of four. The parties lived happily for five weeks ; but during the sixth week Mr. Mumley was out rather late, and his wife went to fetch him home. This interference did not suit him, and he so severely kicked his better half that she was laid up in bed. At the end of three months he again assaulted her, and she had to be attended by two doctors. The next act of cruelty was locking her and her daughter out all night, and by this means compelling them to sleep in the garden opposite. Corroborative evidence was given of the cruelty, which seemed to have been practised, to use the petitioner's words, "almost daily," and Lord Penzance granted her prayer. THE NEW CROSS ACCIDENT.—A case, arising from one of the numerous actions brought on account of the New Cross accident, last summer, has been brought before the Court of Queen's Bench. The plain tiffs, Jacobs and wife, claimed 26,000, but agreed to take 22,000. On the taxation of the costs, the Master only allowed for one counsel, two having been employed, at fifty and thirty-five ineas respectively, and the motion Queen's before ihe Court of Queen's Bench was to review the taxa tion. The Solicitor-General, on behalf of the plaintiff, argued that on many occasions the counsel were necessary at a sheriff's inquisition. The Common Pleas and Exchequer were much more liberal with regard to the taxation of costs, and it was desirable the custom of the three courts should be uniform. On the other side it was urged that discretion rested with the matter. The court took time to consider its judgment. THE VACCINATION ACT.—A father having been sum moned at Marylebone for not having his child vaccinated, Mr. Mansfield, the magistrate, took the oppor tunity of saying that since his recent remarks on the subject he had been inundated by let ters from all parts of the kingdom, both from the upholders of the anti-vaccination movement, and from the lower classes who knew no better, and were misled by others. He thought the public ought to know there was a class of persons who, it appeared, had a motive in checking vaccination and thus encouraging disease. To the attacks upon himself he was perfectly indifferent. ALLEGED CONSPIRACY BETWEEN BROKERS.—John Abel, a broker at Hammersmith, and Alfred Yardley, a broker in the Edgware-road, were charged at Marlborough . -street Police-court with conspiracy to defraud Captain Nevison of the sum of £5. Captain Nevison said he was looking at a sideboard at a sale in Gloucester-gardens, when the defendant Yardley came up and offered his services. Captain Nevison said he would wish to buy the sideboard for £l2. A few days later Yardley called on Captain Nevison at his club, and told him he had bOught the sideboard for £ll ss. He gave him a cheque for £l2 28., including commission and carriage. He after wards was told that the price Yardley gave for the side board was £65. When he told Yardley of it he said that Abel, the other broker, had bought the sideboard when he was out of the room, and had sold it for £ll ss. The complainant, through a friend, advispd the brokers to return the £5 and apologise, but this theydid not do. Yardley's la w y er sa id i t s h ou ld be done, and the charge was allowed to stand over for the present. PAINFUL CHARGE AGAINST A CLERGYMAN.—The Rev. Sumner Gibson rector of Sullington, was charged at the Elford Petty Sessions with an assault. Mr. Gibson met a publican named Gadsby, who was riding home on a cart load of hay, and having asked him some questions concerning the purchase of a portion of it, struck him a blow in the face, which knocked him into the ditch. He then commenced belabouring Gadsby with the stock end of his whip. Subsequently Mr. Gibson visited Gadsby's house, behaved in a most unseemly manner, and assaulted one or two other persons. A summons was applied for and granted, but on the com plainant learning that Mr. Gibson had been suffering for some time past from " aberration of intellect," it was withdrawn. A certificate from Sir William Jenner was produced in court to the effect that Mr. Gibson was suf fering from nervous excitement and "delirium." A CLEVER BURGLAR.—One Henry Clarke took upon himself to do a little bit of burglary at Liverpool, and for that purpose entered the house of a licensed victualler in Oldham-street. He took about 30s. from the till, and 'packed up several articles with which to add to his personal comforts at home. Having performed this work to his satisfaction, Mr. Clarke bethought himself of refreshn►ent, and proceeded to imbibe from the various liquors in store. Instead, however, of making off afterwards with the stolen property under some mistaken idea as to his whereabouts, he lay down on the floor, forgetting to awake himself until the morning when the landlord " called " him and gave him into custody. On being brought bsfore the magistrates, he was committed for trial. The death is announced of Afro. Lever, the wife of Mr. Charles Lever, the well•known author, and her Majesty's consul at Trieste. MONETARY REPORTS—YEsTERDAY. The Stock Exohange markets have been quiet, today, and no important cl_unge has taken place in prices. Rail . ways have been depressed, and easier; but foreign bonds have been a shade firmer. Consols have been quiet, at 93,1 to 94 for delivery, and 94 to 94* for May. Reduced and New Three per Cents, 92i, 92ff ; Exchequer Bills, Par , to ss. prem.; Bank Stock, 233, 235; India Five-twentie s, 113 k, 114 ; and India Bonds, 20s. to 255. prem. The market for English railway stocks has been very dull, and without exception the movements in prices have been adverse. Caledonian has fallen *, Great Eastern, i; Great Northern (A), ; London and North-Western, I; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, i; Metropolita n, ; Midland, -*; and South-Eastern, g. Indian railway stocks have continued quiet and unal tered. Canadian shares have been flat, and Great Western have been * lower. Foreign shares have been dull, and South Austrian and Lombardo-Venetian hav e receded *. Not much animation has been noticed in the markets for foreign bonds. Egyptians have been rather better, and Russian have risen *, but Spanish, New Grenada, and Turkish have been flat at about lower. The Japanese loan has experienced a further fall, anti ° now quoted at 11-, 1 dis. American securities have been dull. The Five-Twen t y and Ten-Forty bonds have fallen and Virginia i• Bank shares have been firm in value, with a moderate business doing. As regards telegraph shares, British Australian have been* lower, but Falmouth, Gibraltar, and Malta, and French Cable shares have been firm. In miscellaneous securities only a moderate business has been concluded, at about previous quotations. The discount market has been fairly supplied with capital. There has been a moderate demand for accony modation, and three months' paper has been taken at 2 1 1 to 3 per cent. As regards the exchange, no material alteration has been noticed in the rates. At a meeting of the Standard Bank 'of British South Africa, the directors' report was adopted, and dividend° of 10s. per share on £25 paid, and of 4s. per share of gl° paid were declared. In reference to the state of the bullion market, Messrs. Pixley, Abell, Langley, and Blake, remark—The arrivals of gold during the week have been important, and they comprise a total of £591,150. About £250,000 of the above has been sent to Russia, £124,000 have been pur chased by the Bank, and further sums will be sent in during the next few days, as there is no general demand for the Continent. Silver—The market has been slightly more active the last few days, owing to a demand for Holland; we cannot, however, quote any alteration in price, which remains at 60fd. per ounce standard for fine bars, There are no inquiries for bars for India. Mexican dollars—The price has been firm at 59*d. per ounce during the week, and for shipment to China by the out going steamer of the 29th inst., an advance of *has be en offered. The Board of Trade tables for the month of March she lf that there was a decided increase in the exports of British and Irish produce and manufactures during that mont h compared with February, or with the correspondi n g period last year. The actual figures are £17,30 0 , 210 ' against £15,697,465 in 1869, and £14,829,249 in the previous year, shewing an increase of £1,600,000 over the corresponding period last year. Compared with February there is an increase of £2,845,000. In the three months the shipments amounted to £45,678,774, against £4,280,3 65 in 1869, and £41,422,916 in 1868. In the two months the CO'? tinted real value of of the articles imported Wee" £29,190,331, against £29,642,204 in 1869, and £24,983, 632 in 1868. In February only they amounted to £14,935,5 67 P against £18,148,799 in 1869, and £15,494,140 in 1868. At a meeting of the creditors of Messrs. T. Moffat and Co., cloth agents, Ridgefield, the liabilities were stated to amount to £3,069, and the assets to £1,231. A com P o i" tion of 4s. in the pound was offered, but it was resolved to hold another meeting in seven days. MARKETS-YESTERDAY. LONDON CORN EXCHANGE, FraDAT.-Only a moderate Oil ply of English wheat was on sale here to-day. Although V„ active, the trade was steady, and the quotations were I n t:, tallied. Fair supplies of foreign wheat were on the stand. Thetrn sections were restricted, on former terms. Moderate supPue* barley were on sale. The trade was firm at previous quotations. d was quiet, but unalterea. Oats were in moderate suppltr fair request, at full prices. Beans and peas were steady. " • was firm. Arrivals :-English and Scotch.-Wheat, 2,340 (Ira*" barley, 510 ; malt, 1,510 ; beans, 90 ; peas, 110. Foreig ll , - Wheat, 14,180 qrs. ; barley, 2,810 ; oats, 19,790 ; flour, 470 sa w and 2,650 barrels. LONDON PRODUCE MARKET, FRIDAY.-Tea has beefs dull and drooping. Raw sugar has been quiet, on former tern * Brown to Middling yellow Jamaica, 245. 6d. to 30s. ' • air P" brown Madras, 265. to 265. 6d..per cwt. Coffee has been quie t, previous quotations. LONDON TRADE REPORT, FRIDAY.-The market has hePd. dull. YC, spot, 445. 3d. to 445. 6d. ; last three months, 450. to 455. 6d. LONDON OIL MARKET, FRIDAY.-Linseed oil has been quiet, at 82s. [spot. Rape firm. English brown, spot, 48s. LONDON METAL MARKET FRIDAY.-Scotch pig at 5 78 . Tin has been dull and easier. Straits, £lBl to £132. Copper been inactive. inactive. iv of METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, FRIDAY. -The meat has been short. The trade has been firm, as follows ' to Beef from 3s. to 4s. Bd. ; mutton, 3s. 4d. to ss. ; lamb, 7 0 . 7s. 4d. ; veal, ss. to 55. 4d. ; and pork, 48. to 58. Bd. per Bibs. vo the carcase. BOROUGH HOP MARKET, FRIDAY.-The market has without change. Business has been conducted on a very In t 0 rate scale, at about late rates. Mid and East Kents, £7 0. £l2 125.; Weald, £6 to £8 ; Sussex, £5 12s. to £6 125.; Bavarlro £6 Os. to £9 ; French, £5 to £6 10s.; Americans, £4 ss. to and yearlings, £1 10s. to £3 15s. per cwt. LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, e, FRIDAY.—SaIes for S e ; week, 66,500, of which American 35,625 ; on speculation, 7,6 , taken for export, 8,000 ; actual ditto, 7,250 ; taken by the tr i ,, 50,250 ; import, 135,375 ; stock, 562,750, of which AmeriT u P 358,000. To-day's markets closed quietly, with sales of 8, bales. n . Ada higher. CORN MARKET, .....V.IDAY.—FIour urin, . n d d higher. Wheat very fair, and 2d. higher. Maize quiet ••••• drooping. French flour steady. MANCHESTER, FRlDAY.—Messrs. Alexander Collie and ar ee ; remark :—" The market is exceedingly quiet, and quotations _,,,, nominally the same as on Tuesday, but buyers have the adirs' tage in placing out orders." WAKEFIELD CORN MARKET, FRIDAY.—(By Telegraph? Owing to the ungenial weather, and short supplies, wheat I* proves in value, and to-day prices are fully ls. per quarX e dearer, especially for fresh red, with a moderate consumPt." demand. Barley steady. Beans and oats are rather dear. . GLASGOW IRON MARKET, FRIDAY. —The market has bee' steady, at 575, 3d. cash, and 575. 6d. one month. CORK BUTTER MARKET, FRlDAY.—Ordinary Firsts, I ; _ t 2 li i i s m in on t t h h e , I m 2 aJ oo ket ; . septeraber .. seconds, 115 s. ; thirds, 995. ; fourths, 855. ,• fifths, 625. ; ILX, : not quoted ; 920 firkins in the market. Mild-cured firsts, IP"' " seconds, 118 s. I ; L th 29 ir .— ds a , l a o p 6 o s o l ., 2 o s n i rr lrk a i l n t • A:I7:I7E,RAPp,RIAPI,R2I9L._. December, 111.00. 28 1‘ . f — a 1. 1; c c e t t r 28.—Petroleum, verye i u n, dull,spot, 8 December, 57 sellers. - t s o sl ck p , ai 80 d ,5 ; 0 6 07: 411 ::: f wh ich 63,000 American and 6 1 ,500 Indian. Floating-60,600 Allie r and 26,600 Indian. HAUB A 'l oot 28. URG, APRIL 28.—Rape oll,spot, 31i May, 311. '---- . uty I , IS I T B E 4 R ; Da be A r 7 I. I 9 L 4. 21.—Banta tin, 79. Rye, May, I°° BERLIN, APRIL 28.—Rape oil, current month, 151; tember-October, 14. Spirits, current month, 16a ; September, 16 13. ST. PETERSBURG, APRIL 28.—Wheat, May, 10 . , see hemp, June, 38f. Tallo w , s p o t , 58} 3 rou bl es 58 1 . May, 15}. HAVANA, APRIL 28,—N0. 12 sugar, 141 ; Muscovaed, 71. 'MADRAS, APRIL 27.—New Western cotton is quoted 0 9 ' per lb. cost and freight. . GOVERNMENT ECONOMY. Government " economy" is developing itself in 515115 :, eccentric forms. We are informed that in conseque nce of military prisoners being now located at Millbanl4 Prison, the number of cells are so reduced that the 6° ' went have taken the residences of the chief officers there) turning them into cells, and locating these gentlemen outsi.(lB.l in lodgings, although their duties require them to vl s t . day and night, and they may be called up at any morn e l i de So great are the shifts Government is put to to provl_w Accommodation for the large number of convicts 11 _°_, awaiting removal from county prisons, that prisoners a.J!: in one or two of our largest establishments, in associatl, contrary to the spirit of the Act of Parliament. In f 3 , c , t everything is done to keep the estimates at the 10 1, .e„!,. possible point, without any reference as to efficient (I'' cipline being carried out.—Globe. BIRTHS. the 29th inst., at 13, Russell-square, BAKR —On Mrs. ur°hu Baker, of a daughter. LATHAM—On the 28th inst., at Lichfield, the Rev. S. Laths°, of a son. MARRIAGES. ts DEEDES—BERNAL—On the 28th inst., at Si. Paul's, K '11 0 ; bridge, (3/anville Deedes, Esq., Royal Artillery, t ° „0, rence Clara, youngest daughter of the late Ralph B ar " Esq., M.P. Herby' HALL—O'GRADY -On the 28th inst , H o gnaston, 1 shire, Samuel Anton Hall, of Kiveton Park. Yorksbir, 1. Anna Helena, da ghter of the Rev. Thos. O'Grady, v ieB of Elognaston. DEATHS. CAMPBELL -On the 27th inst., at Dawlisb, Devon,3ll'6. Frances Campbell, aged 91. DELAFossE —On the 27th inst., at Newton Abbot, Devon, Rear-Admiral E. H. Delafosse, aged 82. S London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREW 2' of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Office, No. of Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County Middlesex.--Saturday, April 80, 1870. _ N° kla ° ; e LI A P rize h.e PU t 4 ;cl,4ttt NIU~, I tiv AN( %„„, No p o weei inR E 8 DWI atli tda ,,, r Aared tZnighir, t i ;1: e i e u h r' c O 1) t 4, B • And a 1) 1 , 40 N r,t