The Sun. — London, England, 1870-02-15 00:00:00

THE ST. PANCR AS WORKHOUSE INQUIRY. Mr. EYKYN gave notice of his intention to call the at tention of the House to the recent inquiry at the St. Pancras Workhouse. POOR-LAW UNIONS IN IRELAND Mr. G. HARDY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Government had, during the recess, circulated queries relating to the occupation of land to the several Poor-law Unions of Ireland; and, if so, whether they would lay such queries and the answers before the House ? Mr. FORTESCUE said such queries bad been circulated, and they and the answer he would lay on the table of the House. BANK OF BOMBAY. Mr. GILPIN asked the Under Secretary of. State for India whether the Secretary of Stato for India had given any instructions to the Government of India as to the with drawal of the agency of the Bank of Bengal, established at Bombay ; whether any communication had been received from that Government in reply; and whether such reply indicated that the agency would be withdrawn ? Mr. G. DUFF replied in the affirmative, but that a reply had been received Stating that the Government of India de clined to withdraw the agency. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAY. The LORD CHIaCEILOR took 1 ,4 4 seat on the wonia..,k at five o'clock. The Earl of CARNARVON called the attention of their lordships to the present relations of the colonies with this country, and moved for copies of correspondence between the Government and the Governor-General of Canada and the Government of the Australian colonies on the re duction of the military force stationed in those colonies. The noble earl then at some length proceeded to comment upon the desirability of maintaining the best feeling in tho colonies with respect to the mother country, and observed that, with respect to the formation of a council for the colonies, similar to that of the Indian Council, with a view of affording the Secretary of State for the Colonies more as sistance, ho doubted whether much good would arise, asthere was no clear analogy between the colonial empire and India. Although it was just rossiblo some additional information might be gathered, yet the tendency of the appointment of the Council would be to occasion dis-ati,faction and ultimate mischief. It was said the colonies were now in a position to tako care of themselves, but he could not believe that the time bad yet arrived when they could take care of themselves. He asked the Government not to do any thing that would interfere with the pros; erit7 of Aus tralia, as if they did, the commerce with that great colony would suffer iu a great degree. The noble lord then urged on the Government the necessity of keeping up an adequate reserve of troops in Canada, as the withdrawal of trofips would be looked upon as an abandonment of the colonies altogether. Earl GRANVILLE, having defended himself from attacks which had recently been made on him relative to the subject of emigration, and the state of affairs in New Zea land, avowed that he did not approve of the idea of holding a conference on colonial questions, and in that opinion be had the support of the Governors of Canada, Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Aus tralia. He justified the withdrawal of the troops on the ground that it was the duty of the Government to concen trate the army at home, and throw the burden of self-de fence upon those groat and free countries themselves. The motion was withdrawn, and their lordships adjourned. HO USE OF COMMON S.-MOND AY. The SPEAKER took the chair at five minutes to four o'clock. THE ADDRESS TO THE TIViONE. Lord OTUO FITZGERALD, who appeared in Windsor uniform, brought up the reply of her Majesty tho Queen, which was read at tho bar of the House. EQUALIZATION OF POOR RATES. Mr.%GOSCHEN gave notice of his intention on Friday next to introduce a bill for equalising poor rates throughout the metropolis ; and on Monday next to appoint a select com mittee to report whether it was expedient that the charges now imposed upon occupiers of rateable property should be divided between o►►ners and occupiers. TELE(RAPHIO COMMUNICATION WITH EAST INDIA. Mr. GREGORY gave notice that on an early day after Easter he should call the attention of the House to the state of telegraphic. communication with our dependencies in the East. I)YE WORKS. , Mr. EDMUND POTTER asked tho Seeretary for the Home Department, if he intended to bring in a bill for the amendment of the Prints Act, and the Bleaching and Dye ing Works Acts ? Mr. BRUCE answered in the affirmative. WORKSHOPS REGULATION. • Mr. E. POTTER asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intended to bring in a bill for the amendment of the Workshops Regulation Bill ? Mr. BRUCE said ho was not prepared at the present mo ment to bring in a bill on the subject, although ho was im "Nssed with the necessity of legislation thereon. CONSTABULARY (IRELAND). Mr. STACFOULE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if any, and what, alterations were to be made in the organi sation of the constabulary force of Ireland, and why the vacant cadetships had not been 'filled up? Mr. FORTESCUE answered that the subject was now 3ccupying the attention of the Viceroy, and that there was no necessity for anxiety. THE CRYPT Lord E. BRUCE asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether some arrangement could not be made for the cele bration o f divine service in the Crypt of St. Stephen's, now perfectly ready for that purpose, once on Sundays during the session of Parliament? Mr. GLADSTONE considered it rested rather with the House of Commons than with Government to ilii3Ulllo the initiative. i THE SERPENTINE. Mr. D. NICOL asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the levelling and purification of the Serpentine were being done by contract; and, if so, what date was fixed for the completion of these works? Mr. AYRTON said the work was being carried on under contract, and by the 15th April is was expected to be com pleted. THE CAB REGULATIONS. Mr. BOWRING asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the prevailiug un certainty as to the exact nature of the new cab regulations in the metropolis, he would consider the propriety of forth with issuing and euforcing regulations whereby, in the case of all disengaged cabs, whether on authorised stands or uot, the public might before hiring them have positive means of knowing, both by daytime and after dark, the rates of fare chargeable ? Mr. BRUCE said that cabmen were a hotly which required time to move them. He should not insist upon the regula tion preventing crawling at certain hours during the day. Mr. D. NICHOL asked what was to be done with respect to cabs carrying lamps? Mr. BRUCE said he found it would cost at least a to provide each set of lamps, and he did not think it worth while to incur such an expense, and that it would be far better to direct their attention to providing a better class of cabs and horses. THE UNITED STATES. --- Mr. GOURLEY asked the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, if the Government of the United States of America had offered to re-open negotiations for a settlement of the Alabama difficulties; if so, whether such negotiations would ba conducted in London or Washington ? Mr. OT WAY said the Government of the United Stat-s had not offered to re-open the matter, but if it should be re-opened it would be done at Washington. TIIE CONSULAR SERVICE. Mr. GOURLEY asked the Secretary of State for Foerign Affairs if there was any reason for retaining, at a cost of £2,000 a year, a Consular General or Minister Plenipotentiary in Bamburg, considering that that city had been, since the events of 186 E, a part of the North German Confederation, and therefore not in a position to contract military or com mercial treaties ? Mr. OT WAY said the matter had been fully considered B y the Government during the recess, and an intimation had been forwarded to Mr. Ward, our consul there, ac quainting him that the residence of a consul there was no longer necessary, and a day had been fixed for his with drawal. AEGISTRATION OF VOTERS. Mr. HARCOURT asked the Secretary of State Tor the Horne Department whether her Majesty's Government would in the course of the present session introduce a bill to amend the laws relating to the registration of voters in the boroughs of England and Wales ? Mr. BRUCE said he was afraid that tne appearance of contending bills would prevent the bringing forward such a 1111 during the present session. REGIU\I DONITIre M. DAWSON asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether there would be provision made in the estimates of tt,v currentyear 1070-71 fur the pAyment of the Regium Do- Lum grant to non-conforming ministers in Ireland, the Act of I'm Lament passed last session not coming into opera tico till the date of January, Ist, 1871? Mr. C. FOIITESCUE said Government did not intend to prt , pase any such vote for the Regium Donum or other such small grants durins the present year, and th e arrangemen ts, he believed, would be in harmony with the feeling of the great body of Presbyterians in Ireland.' EMIGRATION. Sir J. LAWRENCE asked the Under Secretary of State the Colonies whether azaJleshatchos had recently arrived from the Governor of western Australia upon the subject of free emigration to that colony, or referring to the fact that convicts had been received solely on the condition that an equal number of free emigrants should be sent out at the expense of the Imperial Government ? and, whether, at the present condition of the labouring population of England, the Government were prepared to take steps for sending out the number of free emigrants to complete the arrangements made with the authorities of Western Australia ? Mr. MONSELL said last year an arrangement had been made with the Governor of West Australia on the subject, and lately a despatch had been received on the subject, which was now under the consideration of Earl Granville, but he was afraid it did not contain any vetv definite information on the subject. THE THAMES EMBANKIIENT. Lord ELCIIO asked the First Commissione'r of Works • whether, in pursuance of the recommendation of a Select Committee of last session, it was his intention to bring in a bill to relieve the Metropolitan Board of Works from the obligation to construct a viaduct on the Thames Embank ment from Llung:!rford Badga to Wellington-street, Strand; and whether, "hav►ng regard to the improvement of the metropolis, and a security against its further disfigurement," he inteuded, is accordance with a further recommendation of the select committee, to recommand to Parliament that the Standing Orders Le amended, so "that whenever any pupae company or corporate body applies for t'arttamentary powers to enable it to execute any works or erect any build ings in the metropolis, or to raise money for the execution or erection of such works and buildings, it should, before coming to Parliament, deposit at the office of the Commis sioners of her Majesty's Works and Public Buildings, plans and elevations, designs, or models, in like manner as railway companies were now obliged to deposit plans and sections at the Board of Trade ?" Mr. AYRTON said when the question was before the House last session, he expressed an opinion that the street would never be made if sanctioned. Since that time he had been appointed to the office he at present held, and hehad written a letter to the Metropolitan Board of Works calling their attention to the matter, and stating, if it was their be lief that it would be for the interests of the ratepayers that the proposal should be abandoned, and a bill could be in troduced for that purpose, and such a bill had been accord ingly prepared. With respect to the second portion of the question he had also addressed to the Board a letter calling their attention to the recommendation of the committee, and further, whether it was desirable to alter the functions of the Board, was a matter that would require great considera tion, and such a matter was not under the consideration of the Government. A report from the Metropolitan Board bad been received, and it would be placed upon the table of the House. TLIE BUDGET. Mr. CANDLISH asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if, as an early rcduction of duties on articles of import was expected, and as delay and uncertainty was likely to lessen the revenue and embarrass importers, he would fix an early dly on which he would make his firancial statement; and if he couldnow fix a day for that purpose ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could not sly at what period the Budget would be introduced, neither could ha arswer hypothetical questions. He hoped to be able to get the Budget over before Easter. THE SUGAR DUTY. Mr. GRIEVE asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the event of reducing or altogether removing the duty on sugar, an allowance of the duty paid on the raw article would be allowed on stocks of refined sugar in the hands of refiners when such reduction took place? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER could only sly if it should be his good fortune to take off any duties in the forthcoming Budget, he would take care that the interests affected should not suffer more than was unavoidable. THE FACTORY ACT. Mr. AKROYD asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it was his intention to bring in, during the present session, a bill to assimilate the Factory Exten sion Act and the Workshop Regulation Act, or to enforce the administration of the Workshop Regulation Act in dis tricts where the locz.l authorities refused to do so ? Mr. BRUCE said he was willing to take such a step, to enforce such a provision, if he possessed the power. but he did not. COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. Mr. CAMPBELL asked the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intended during this ses sion again to introduce a measure for improving the finan cial administration of counties? Mr. K. lIUGESSEN said the bill at present in the pro gramme of the Government would, he was afraid, prevent him bringing in any such bill during the present session. THE JUDGES. Mr. S. HILL asked the First Lord of the Treasury whe ther it was the intention of her Majesty's Government to fill up the vacancy in the Court of Queen's Bench caused by the death of Mr. Justice Ilayes ? Mr. GLADSTONE said after a conference with the Chan cellor of the Exchequer it bad been determined not to fill up the vacancy. It would I o recollected th:;t the number of Judges had been increased, in order to deal with the election petitions, those petitions had been di - posed of, and there was now no necessity for further increasing the jr.dicial strength, the more so as a bill was announced which would deal with the judicature of the country. The Lord Chancellor had math certain re-arrangements of the duties of the judges, and a bill would be brought in the Lords on the matter next week. SUPPLY. The report of the Committee of Supply was brought up and received. NATIONAL DEBT ACTS. The report on this subject was brought up ana received. PRESERVATION OF EPPING FOREST. Mr. FAWCETT moved that an humble address be pre sented to her Majesty, praying that she would be graci 3usly pleased to defend the rights of the Crown over Epping Forest, so that the forest may be pre served as an open space for the recreation and enjoyment of the public. Earnestly he hoped Government would accept the motion, inasmuch as it concerned the nealth and recreation of a large class of the community, and that the poorest class. (Cheers.) Mr. C. BUXTON seconded the motion. It was a cala mity to the poor of the East-end of London to be deprived of that which was the greatest source of enjoyment and ►musement. He trusted the head of the Government would give his best attention to the subject. Mr. B HOPE said the question was one that affected the :omfort and recreation of a greater number of our fellow ,ownsmen than anything else possibly could do. He trusted, if the Government did not choose to accept the .notion, the House would pass it by an overwhelming ma- jori ty. Mr. COWPER suggested that the public should come to is mutual agreement with the authorities that certain por tions should be dealt with as was all other property, While come portions should be reserved for their enjoyment. On that ground he supported the motion. Mr. SAMUDA also supported the motion. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said what the motion asked should be done was full of difficulties, and though its passage through the Rouse might give satisfaction to its ?romoters, it would be very ineffectual fot the purposes in 'ended. Alderman LAWRENCE said the explanation of the Go vernment would be most unsatisfactory to the inhabitants A the East-end of the metropolis. Here was a large tract of land, which had for years been used as a recreation ground, passing away from those to whom it undoubtedly oelonged, and when the matter was brought before Parliament the Government said they had no power in the matter, and that, in fact, their hands were tied. He hoped ,he House would not be lead away by the specious arguments A the Solicitor-General. Mr. GLADSTONE said ho thought his hon. and learned riend the Solicitor-General had stated what could, and what muld not be done, in the clearest manner. He did not ques tion the right of the honourable member for Brighton ,o take the opinion of the House on the matter, and he felt that ho had shown clearly that it was the duty of the Government to move in the matter. It was :learly the duty of the Government to do everything that was practical to be done in the present emergency,to preserve to the people of London the space as a place of recreation. There were some questions to be fully considered, and one of them was the extent to which the forestal rights over a lortion of the land had been sold, and then that being determined it was but right that the most active steps should no taken to preserve the right over the portion still remain ing open. He hoped the hon. gentleman would not object to alter the words of his motion to as not to bind the bands of the Government in dealing with the matter, but leave the matter open, in order that they might proceed as they thought best. (Hear, hear.) The Government were bound to take the motion at once in hand. (hear, hear.) The right hon. gentleman then suggested an alteration in the terms of the motion, which was agreed to Ly the hon. member for Brighton, and the subject dropped THE MINORITY CLAUSES. Mr. lIAROCASTLE obtained leave to introduce a bill to repeal the minority clans s of the Representation of the People Act., 1E67, and the Representation of the People Act Scotland, 18G8. THE BALLOT. Mr. LEATHAM moved for leave to bring in a ont to pro vide that tho poll at Parliamentary and Municipal elections be taken by ballot. He hoped the introduction of the bill would not be opposed, because the question had now assumed a form that required the fullest and most serious considera- tion. The bill, as its name implied, proposed to take the votes at elections by ballot, instead of as at present by open voting, but it did not at all touch the system at present ob served at the Universities. It did not interfere in the least _OP ...sistm., purevica THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 1870. elections of boards of guardians or local boards. The ballot proposed by the present bill was that known as the Australian system—viz., the ballot by ticket. The various clauses of the bill would carry out the matter in detail, and he should be able to defend. the various proposals as thoy came before the House. These details were exceedingly simple—so simple, indeed, that persons not able to read, or count above five' would be ablo.to understand them—a provision he thought that ought to go a great way in favour of the bill. The bill made it a misdemeanour for a voter to show his ticket before he left the polling booth, a provision that would go a great way to prevent corrupt voting, and it would seem when the measure was under consideration that all the safeguards it was possible to embody had been im ported into that measure. Mr. LIDDELL, protesting his invincible hostility to secret voting, held it most objectionable to propose to legis late before the Select Committee on Elections had reported. The Marquis of HARTINGTON, while assenting on the part of the Government to the introduction of the bill, :Treed with Mr. Liddell that it would be hardly respectful to the Committee to press it forward before their report was before the House. On this account he urged Mr. Leathern to postpone the second reading to a period sufficiently re mote to allow the Committee to decide on its report. As to the expediency of a private member taking up the question the Government, he said, reserved its opinion. Mr. Beresford Hope and Mr. Sclater-Booth joined in re presenting the propriety of adjourning the debate until the committee's report was received ; but Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Bib bert, Sir W. Lawson, Mr. Melly, and Mr. Eykyn were op posed to further delay, and ultimately leave was given to bring in the bill, Mr. Leatham agreeing not to take the second reading within a month. Mr. SHAW-LEVEVRE next explained the general piovi sions of two bills introduced by the Board of Trade —one, consisting of 800 clauses, to amend the ]aws relating to merchant shipping, and the second to abolish compulsory pilotage. In the discussion which followed a general ap proval was expressed of the bills by Mr. Cave and others ; but Mr. No -wood, Mr. Stevenson, and Mr. Gourley regretted that the light views were not abolished ; while Mr. Graves, Sir J. Hay, and Mr. It. N. Fowler were opposed to tho abo lition of compulsory pilotage, and recommended the consi deration of the subject by e select committee. Bills were brought in by Mr. Raikes to protect the pro perty of married women ; by Mr. Denman, to amend the Evidence Act of last year; and by Mr. W. Johnson, to re peal the Party Processions Act. Mr. CRAUFURD obtained a committee to consider the operation of the Scotch Poor Law ; and on the motion of Mr. °TWAY a Select Committee was appointed to inquire into the constitution of the Diplomatic and Consular Services. Mr. Rylands and Mr. R. Shaw took thq opportunity of making some observations on the expense of those ser vices; to which Mr. Eastwick roplied that the services were not overpaid in this country as compared with other countries. The House adjourned at 11 o'clock. MISCELLANEOUS NE WS. ,~__~ Trn WEATHER 131.001 C. The weather, added to general causes, threatens to strip the Government and Opposition benches. Mr. Disraeli's dinner to Lord Derby and a largo party of the House of Commons has been unavoidably post poned, and it is not likely that the Conservative leader will be in his place in the House during this im portant vyeek. On Saturday four Cabinet Ministers were absent from the Council. Mr. Childers was at Osborne ; and the Foreign Secretary, the President of the Board of ' Trade, and the Home Secretary were suffering from indisposition. Mr. Bruce is affected with a cold ; Mr. Bright, however, is a little better. The terrinle weather has spared neither high nor low. The churches and chapels on Sunday resounded with the coughing and sneezing of afflicted ministers. In several places of worship in West London alone the clergymen had to apologise for not preaching. THE ALABAMA CLAIMS. The important correspondence which has passed between the Earl of Clarendon and Mr. Fish, American Secretary of State, has been published as a parliamentary paper. It contains very little that is new. Mr. Thornton, the British Ambassador at Washing ton, writing. on November 22nd, says that he delivered Lord Clarendon's despatches to Mr. Fish, and the latter expressed his hope that some means might be found of coming to an amicable issue. But it appears that the English Foreign Secretary's detailed answer to Mr. Fish's arguments was not to be presented to Congress, on the ground that -it was of an unofficial character. Lord Clarenden thinks this wrong. If one part of the discussion were submitted to Con g ress, the whole ought to have been. Writing to Mr. Thornton, he says : " The publication of the correspondence was, in my opinion, to be regretted, as having a tendency to prolong discussion, and not to allay irritation ; but when it became known here that-the correspondence had been sent to the Senate, her Majesty's Govern ment had no other alternative than to publish the whole, as the British public had a right to expect that important information should be furnished to them by their own Government, and not be derived from the newspapers of another country." On this ground, the EnglisleForeign Secretary sent the entire cor respondence to the London Gazette .rated the - town of Darlington and the .North or England on the happy termination of the diffi culties which had existed in the iron trade. For the settlement of the vexed points between masters and men, Mr.-Hughes had himself been one of the Board of Arbitration and Conciliation, and he was proud,- he said, of the arrangement that had been come to. Terms have been settled on which the men are to work for a whole year. A glorious, but still a serious, time. for the working people of England might be said to hare already begun. The late political crisis had conferred their majority on the working people, who were now admitted into partnership with the nation. The future position of the country depended on the way in which they chose to exercise that great power which had been placed in their hands. Although Mr. Hughes believed that there were no better workmen in the world than Englishmen—and even in matters of art, in which foreign nations are sup posed to excel us, he considered that the aid the State is g oing to afford would enable us -to compete with them—still there had been, and was at present, a dangerous amount of untbrift, drunkenness, and carelessness among our working people, which, it . continued, would render impossible our success in the futur3 as an industrial people. It was to be earnestly hoped that the working men of this country were going to prove in the future that they were worthy of their fathers, who made England so groat a nation. COMMUNICATION WITII FRANCE. Mr. Fowler writes in exposition of his scheme for securing better communication with France by mean s of large ferry boats, which would carry a train and its passengers without need of disembarkation. These. vessels are to be 450 feet in length, and proportionate breadth, drawing. about twelve feet of water. From their form and size they will be free from all tossing and rolling in the heaviest Channel seas. It has been objected that the Great Eastern rolls in rough weather ; but Mr. Fowler answers that there is an obvious difference between an Atlantic swell and the short chopping sea of the Channel. It is not proposed to place the carriage on the deck, ex posed to wind and rain; but in a space between the upper and the main deck, and com pletely.protected. On the main deck, accommoda tion be provided for passengers (who will gene rally alight from their carriages, as they would at any railway station where a stoppage is made for re freshment), and they will find well-lighted, well warmed saloons, with means of reading, writing, &c., which Will make the sea voyage the most agree able part of the journey. Private cabins will also be provided on the same deck, and large rooms for the officials of the Custom-houses of the two countries, so that all luggage may he examined and the weary delay from :that cause at the end of the journey entirely avoided. Mr. Fowler estimates that the voyage in these boats will be performed in ono hour. TIPPERARY. The writ for the replacement of the lost legisla tive treasure has arrived, and so far there is some prospect of peace. Mr. Heron has issued his address, and as yet he is the only candidate. He advocates his former platform of fixity of tenure, denomina tional education, and an amnesty to the Fenian prisoners. The party are sanguine of a return nem con.; but it will be well to avoid too great confidence, for the Fenians (the real Fenians as Mr. Disraeli calls them) may try another coup. The Irishman is doing its best to lash itself and the Tipperary electors into fury, by declaring that the seat belongs to Rossa; but if the convict be the only opponent of Mr. Heron, the seat will go to the latter, let Jeremiah poll what votes he may. THREE OTHER IRISH ELECTIONS. The other vacant seats in Ireland will be filled up under circumstances of some interest, although there is no opposition at Dublin University to the Hon. David Plunkett, Q.C. That übiquitous Mr. Barnes has issued an address in favour of an independent legislature, and other small changes, but no notice is taken of him. At London derry the re-election of the Irish Attorney-General is powerfully opposed by Mr. Baxter, backed by Lord Claud J. Hamilton, who has thrown all his powerful influence into the scale. In 1868 the Attorney- General (then Mr. Sergeant Dowse) defeated Lord Claud himself by 705 to 599 ; but it is said that a section of the Liberal adherents are discontented with Mr. DJ wse's refusal to supportMr.G. H. M oore's proposal last session touching the political prisoners. At Water ford only three candidates at present mean business. They are Mr. Bernal Osborne and Mr. Crean on the Liberal side, and Mr. Smyth. The latter is in the Fenian interest, and his personal sacrifices on behalf of the political prisoners have made him very popular. LEGAL TRAINING. Lord llatherley has two law reforms under con sideration, according to the London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian, the two being the esta blishment of a new court of appeal, and a reform in the system of legal education. The latter is much in need of reform. What ever has been done in the way of legal training has been by independent bodies, such as the Inns of Court. Their practices are diverse, and their certifi cates have no very high value. " The Chancellor contemplates the erection of what will, I understand, be called a Legal University, to which the constituted bodies I have alluded to are to be affiliated as colleges and halls are to the Uuiversities of Cambridge and Oxford. From the heads of houses will be chosen, it is supposed, by election, the members of the senate or governing body, and by their authority degrees of different grades and values will be given, attesting the proficiency of the student in knowledge of equity or law." WILD STATISTICS. The Duke of Marlborough—that_ famous Lord President of the Council who ruled over English education without knowing what the Conscience Clause was—made a fair educational speech at Oxford, but lost his head when be touched upon statistics. Comparing England to the Continent, he came to the conclusion that things in this country were not so bad after all. "In Prussia, I believe, the proportion is one in six of the population which is provided with that educa tion, -while the proportion in our own country is one in seven of the population ; so that while Prussia has a scheme under the direction of the Government which interferes with the liberty and convenience of the subject, we have a system which is con sonant with our own feelings and innate liberty, and yet we find that we are not more behindhand than the difference between ono in six and ono in seven of the whole population." " 'Not more bebindhand 1" The difference between one in six and one in seven in a population of twenty millions is nearly half a million, and yet the Dnke calls this a trifle. Worse still, his statistics do not represent the whole state of the case. There can be no doubt the superiority of Prussian education over English is even greater than is denoted by this one-sixth and one-seventh calculation. MR. HUGHES, M.P., ON BRITISH INDUSTRY. Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P., has been speaking to working men, at Darlington, on the subject of the industrialposition of ,England. He first congratu THE TELEGItAPIIS. There is another break-down of telegrapnic com munication. The gale of the last day or two, and the snow which has fallen in some parts of the country, have seriously affected the wires. About noon yesterday the following wires leading out from London ceased to be in working order :—Three to Liverpool, three to Brighton, one to Bristol, four to the South-eastern district, one to Ely,one to Cambridge, two to Newmarket, three to Hull, two to Newcastle, two to Glasgow, two to Edinburgh, four to Leeds, three to Birmingham, two to Manchester, and one to Ireland. Many branch lines too must be out of order, -though to what extent is not known. Com munication with the Continent is also interrupted. 'fm STRIKE IN TILE IRON DISTRICT. • A. full copy of the agreement that has been come to between masters and men in the North of England iron district has been published by 111 r. Thomas Hughes, M.P.. who signed it on Friday evening as president (pro tea:) of the Board of Arbitration. Its chief principles may be described as effect ing a compromise of all the questions at issue. The ironmasters have given the advance of wages claimed by the men, on the one hand; the men, on the other, have waived their claim for cer tain extras, which used to be paid in the district be fore the great strike of 1866, and have agreed to bind themselves for a whole year, though they evidently believe (rightly or wrongly) that there will be a rise of prices in the summer which would have entitled them, but for the present settlement, to a further rise. This is the statement of alTairs given by Mr. Hughes in the Pall Mall Gazette. He dis claims the credit of the arrangement, having sat at the court as president, and not as arbitrator. He is eminently pleased with the results obtained, and is sanguine that the North of England will not see another strike in the iron trade. THE THO.RNCLIFFE WORKS. The works and collieries belonging to Messrs. Newton, Chambers, and Co., and the, scene of the late disgraceful riots, are situated midway between Sheffield and Barnsley, and rank among the largest in the West Riding. The production of ironstone in 1868 was not less than 18,000 tons, but coal is the principal mineral worked, some 300,000 tons per annum being yielded. The well-known "Silkstone " seam is worked at three pits. This description of coal usually has a good demand in London and other markets, but the late dispute has had the effect of causing a great reduction in the amount sent to the metropolis. In 1868, 51,937 tons were sent ; in 1869, on account of the dispute, only 17,582 tons were forwarded. Mr. John Chambers, in giving evi dence before the Coal Commission appointed by the House of Commons, stated that the firm generally employed about 2,000 persons, the wages amounting to froni £1,600 to-22,000 weekly. In one colliery a good miner could make from Bs. 11d. per day of eight hours to lls. ld. In another the men earned Bs., 10s., 125., and 14s. per day, and they struck for an advance of 5 per cent. on those wages. The firm in tellectual welfare not been unmindful of the moral and welfare of the families of those in their employ, for, although there are schools in all the villages around, Mr. Chambers stated that himself and partners sup , ported two schools themselves, in addition to which they had been instrumental in building one Church of England church, two Wesleyan churches, and two chapels in the immediate districts in which the works are situate. THE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE. The Earl of Shaftesbury strongly protests, in a letter to the Times, against any revised translation of the Scriptures. There is no revision needed, as the entire Bench of Bishops testified in Convocation; for when Dr. Thirlwall declared that no altera tion in the verbal or grammatical construction of the New Testament would in any way affect the doctrines held by the Church of England, their lordships broke into general cries of "hear, hear." The Earl argues that the English Bible, as altered by the bishops, will cease to be the Bible, not only of the Nonconformists, but of the Scotch and Irish Presby t3rian Churches ; it would cease to be the Bible of our brethren in the United States of America, and of every Protestant speaking th e E ng li s h lan guage over the entire surface of th e g l o b e; an d would, moreover,. lie under the burden, the impor tance of which will, of . course, be variously e s ti ma t e d, of having the fifty million copies of th e S cr i p t ures hearty, earnest, and g enera l accep ,rne i a n d e y d issued The b the Bible Society " s y no di ca ll y con tame of the authorised version is of in es ti ma bl e benefi t; any disruption would produce ev il s f or w hi ch no accuracy could atone. INSTRUCTION FOR THE BLIND . The demand that we noticed last week on behalf of 30,000 blind men and women, b egg i ng t h at i n, any scheme of national education these unfortunate. persons may be included, and have Government aid and inspection extended to them, is a n o t unreasona bl e proposition. Still,the question is asked whether it would not be more feasible to treat the matter more as a separate branch of charity, instead of complicating any educational measure, and endangering i t s com plete success by bringing forward points like these that are immaterial to the great principle of the education movement. The instruction necessary to en able a blind person to overcome the difficulties nature has placed in his way, and make a scanty li v i ng , is necessarily of an entirely diff eren t c h arac t er f rom that which will, itis hoped, be soon extended ,to every child of the poorer classes. Industrial schools for the blind cannot be made self-supporting, and therefore help must be rendered by the State. Another point should be remembered, that any distinction as to age would be unjust, as many per sons are upwards of 20 years of age when they become blind, and the instruction of these adults will be even more necessary and more difficult than that given to children. SELF-SUPPORTING EMIGRATION. Sir C. E. Trevelyan writes to the Times on the subject of emigration being made self-supporting. It appears that the "Highland and Island Emigration Society" made advances to a number of emigrants some years ago, and were obliged to form another society for the purpose of recovering the sums advanced. Great exertions were made. An agent was appointed to procure information as to the location of the emigrants, to visit them in person, and to collect the amounts of their respective promissory notes. The agent of the society travelled 2,200 miles in three months, and about £1,700 was repaid. That was the period of the first excitement of the gold diggings. The emigrants had been suddenly dispersed over a district about 400 wiles long and 300 broad, and they were powerfully influenced by . the unsettled state of feel ing which then characterised the working classes in the colony. Legal proceedings were in some defaulting cases instituted, but it was vain to contend against so many adverse cir cumstances. Now, however, affairs ha ve t a k en a new turn. Many familie . s . who were then desti tute have *risen to respectability, and it is hoped that such persons will now repay the sums due from them. These revelations, however, are not of an encouraging nature to those who advocate th e l oan .of Government money to emigrants. THE VOLUNTEER FORCE. A correspondent of the Daily News writes on behalf of the many thousands of the rank and file of the Volunteer force, whom he considers to be practi cally unrepresented in all the discussions that are taking place at the present time concerning the organisation and welfare of the citizen soldier. "In the first place," he says, "I affirm unhesitatingly that the rank and file are to a certain extent unrepresented, or misrepresented, I care not which, on the vital question that is being considered and discussed at the present time by the Secretary of State and a number of commanding officers, because I object in toto to its being taken for granted.that these officers represent accurately the feelings and wishes of the members for whom they are the self-appointed legislators." The minimum number of attendances at drill to render a .man fit for service should be fixed, says this writer, at thirty. Commanding officers might object to this, because they would have less efficient "paper" men, and consequently less capitation grant to receive, but the Government and the country would gain largely by having " an efficient body of WA in t. 149 UNA MIN of tJe word.", ' QUALIFICATIONS FOR HANGMEN. The retirement of Calcraft through "age and infir mity " calls to mind that other occasion some years ago, when tho illustrious official was well nigh dismissed. Although the matter was only talked ot, some twenty or thirty epistles were received, asking for the place. One gentleman expressed a hope that he might be able to do the work well " with the blessing of Providence ;" another thought he could " do the job for two pound a week." A third--most remarkable of all—wrote only these memorable words, "Honnered Sur, I am a Boocher." Was it possible to say more in so short a space ? FACTORY DISCIPLINE. A remarkable piece of civilisation was rehearsed at the Ilford Petty Sessions on Saturday. The forewoman of a jute factory at Barking was summoned for flogging a girl about 15 years of age. It appears that the girls in these factories are employed at separate frames in parties of four or five each ; and the rule is that the girl who is last in finishinc , her work at any particular frame receives ten or a c. dozen strokes with a two-toot strap ; the end of which is cut into strips so as somewhat to resemble a cat o'nine tails. The victim in question has twice received castigation at the hands of the forewoman. However, it was pleaded on the other side that the floring was the " custom of the establishment ;" the girls' know what they were going to get before they commenced work. The magis trates took this view of the case. The girl had "no reason to complain," if she consented to the punishment beforehand. Whether she would have had any reason to. complain if she had consented to decapitation beforehand does not transpire. The Factory Acts have familiarised us with the principle that it is not legal to overstep certain limits, no matter who may consent to it. Certainly beating girls because they are last with their work—a condition which makes it matter of certainty that some one must be beaten—looks bar barous. But the Ilford magistrates have set that notion right. CONSOLS CONVERSION. The Times holds that the option which the Chan cellor of the Exchequer is about to give the holders of the New Three per Cents and Reduced Three per Cents to exchange into Consols at the rate of 2100 ss. for every 2100 Consols will be regarded as an advantage by all concerned. At all events, those who wished to sell the New Threes or Reduced would first convert, since by payment of ss. they would acquire a stock worth 10s. more in the market. Never theless, considering the general apathy of the public it is very doubtful whether it would not be better to facilitate the operation by not exacting any percen tage whatever. It is an important fact that the change is one that will not cost the nation a shilling. Indeed, by promoting uniformity it is calculated to diminish the future expenses of administration, and it may be doubted if it be not the duty of a Govern ment to furnish gratuitously every facility in the management of affairs, provided the working out of such facility involves no favour to one portion of the public at the cost of the whole LIS7 FOR THE USE OP VISITORS TO 2VIE METROPOLIS. INDIVIDUAL DISHONESTY URGED AGAINST NATION4L CREDIT. (From the Anglo-American Times.) We cannot conceive why the Governor of the Empire State should be set up as a target for the City Editor of the Times to shoot his arrows at. The Hon. JOHN T. HOFFMAN is an able, successful, and respected citizen, who latterly has attained to a very prominent position in his party, which leads many, to predict that the Democrats will run him in 1872 as their candidate for the Presidency. Recently the City articles of the Times have contained a series of attacks upon this gentleman, and the New York papers have been rummaged for para graphs to give them poir t. Last Saturday, for in stance, it was announced, as late news, the probabi lity of Governor HOFFMAN'S election as next Pre sident of the United States, and this contingency was thus gravely brought to the attention of the bondholders : "It was by Mr. HOFFMAN, in his capacity of Governor of the leading State of the Union, that the control of the Erie Company was placed permanently in the hands of Messrs. GOULD and Ftsx, be having, against the urgent remonstrances of the most respectable journals of New York, refused to veto the me3Eure. It is true that Gover nor HoFrmas has recently thought it expedient to -_put forth a manifesto against repudiation ; but it may be asked, what security is there in the face of the experience already acquired, that he will, should he be called to the office of President, appoint a Cabinet capable of giving expression to ideas of financial honesty ?" Messrs. GOULD and FISK are suggested as theanost likely persons for "President" HOFFMAN to select to control the Treasury, especially, adds the Times, " would that gentleman be likely to place - the portion of the National Debt held abroad in such hands." This is as comical a superstructure as was ever erected out of slender material. Because Governor HOFFMAN did not veto a bill passed by the New York Legislature, therefore he will, when President, select GOULD and FISK for tie administration of the National Debt, and after separating the portion of it held abroad from the rest, hand over to them especially that portion to manipulate. Because Governor HOFFMAN has lately come prominently forward, more through the collapse of other Demo cratic chiefs than from any efforts of his own, therefore be is to be the next President. What does it matter that General GRANT has only been in his seat eleven months, and has three years and one month still leftto run ? What does it matter that, if IloFFmaN were in the seat, he could no more appoint such persons as Frsx and GOULD to administer the National Debt than could the writer? The English are profoundly ignorant on American affairs, and such assertions carry weight with them. The ob ject is to damage American credit, not to injure the reputation of Governor HOFFMAN, who is merely used as a convenient tool, and the audacity with which this is done shows the confidence of the Times in the ignorance of its readers. This was fol lowed, in the next issue, by a liberal quotation from an article of its New York namesake, point ing out, in telling sentences, the harm inflicted on American credit abroad by the passage of such Acts as the iniquitous Erie Bill, which legalized " robbery, fraud, and false pretence, perpetuating in the bands of men guilty of these off epees theirill-gotten power." If the object of the London Times had been to de nounce the passage of this Act through the New York Legislature and Governor HOFFMAN for not vetoing it; if it intended to point out asdoes the New York Times, and as we have often done, the disas trous consequences to the mercantile community of giving such scope to the Erie and other cliques, then no American would have a word to say in objection, New Yorkers knowing that they are open to rebuke for allowing a splendid railroad, penetrating their State and largely owned abroad, to fall a legalised prey to the persons in whose hands it now is. But while endorsing the spirit of the strong remarks by the New York 7 imes westrenuously object to the con struction put upon its words, by the London limes. It is evident that the article reproduced last Mon day suggested the remarks of the previous Saturday, the latter being simply incomprehensible in their folly until the clue was given by the former, which perhaps somebody told the City Editor, and thus led him to show the connection. The New York 7 imes says that Governor HOFFMAN "may one day be Pre sident of the United States. We gave you ANDREW JOHNSON, who wished to repudiate the debt, and we may give you JOHN T. HOFFMAN, who will pro bably put BARNARD in the place of Mr. CHASE, and make GOULD the receiver of as many roads as he cares to manage. It is painful to write this. 'The thoughts it suggests are full of shame and grief. American credit is dying abroad because we have permitted ruffians to slay it at home." Carried away by a spectacle grievous to the best portion of the New York community, knowing and feeling the material injury inflicted on eomtnerce, as well as 'the moral injury to the cause of liberty and universal suffrage, the New York Times writes in a strain which might otherwise be considered exaggerated doubtless impelled by feeling how necessary it was not to mince words in trying to open the national eyes to the mischief caused. The London l imes, however, opens its own eyes to another effect of such writing. Here we have the City Editor gravely putting Mr. HOFFMAN in the Presidential Chair, and FISK at the head of the Treasury, with special instructions to manipulate that portion of the National Debt held abroad, and in support of this absurd programme the sentence above given is extracted from the New York limes. Surely the London Times does nat imagine that Mr. HOFFMAN, if President, could supersede Chief Justice CHASE and place Judge BARNARD in the most elevated seat of the Supreme Bench ; or, if BARNARD were there, that he could make GOULD thereceiver of as many roads as he cared to manage. The Times knew that the sentences it quoted from its New York namesake were far-fetched, intended to illustrate and give point to the attack, 'just as a Tory journal might speculate on JOHN BRIGHT usurping the throne of England, and turn ing Buckingham Palace into a Quakers' meeting house. Yet if a New York journal gravely based its argument on any such satire of a London con temporary to show the rottenness of English Mo narchical institutions, it would be a somewhat pa rallel course. ANDREW JOHNSON wished to repu diate the debt, but did ANDREW JOHNSON suc ceed ? It may be said that he was in discredit as PRESIDENT ; take then GRANT'S Administration, the strongest known for many a long year. GRANT ear• neatly desired to place one of the most upright and learned lawyers on the Supreme Bench as an Associate Justice, but failed in the attempt. Yet with this failure almost recorded in the same issue, " President" HOFFMAN is described as placing a disreputable Judge in the highest judicial seat, to do which he has first to oust the leading lawyer of the United States. Of course this 'is all absurd, but it serves the purpose of the 7 imes, and it is used with out a scruple to lower the credit of the Republic. We are as strongly alive to the injury inflicted on the country by the proceedings of the Erie Clique as any of our English or American contemporaries, perhaps more so, as our attention is especially di rected to American affairs, and the feeling prevail ing on American subjects in Europe. We know what goes on in the United States almost as well as if the paper were printed in the Union, while a great deal more sensitive than our Transatlan tic brethren to the effect produced on this side by American proceedings, and we have never hesi tated to denounce the acts of the Erie clique, and to point out the evil consequences. But we desire to do and to see this done in a fair spirit, for he is no true painter, who paints the devil bl ac k er than be is. The Erie clique damaged foreign investment in New York, and even the mercantile credit of the State in private transactions. It has succeeded in in volving in the disrepute, the State Legislature, the State Judges, and even Governor HOFFMAN ; but we cannot see the connection between these acts and the 'security of theNatiocal Bonds. The Times knows that there is none, yet it never ceases to associate the two, aware that English investors for the most part are quite unable to discriminate or to unravel such a tangle. We propose in the following article to prove that national credit may stand high, while the proceedings of individuals of that nation are marked with a marvellous dishonesty. Capt. A. E. Scott, RN., will read a paper at the Royal United Service Institution on Friday next, on " Naval armaments, or the past compared with the present efficiency of guns ? carriages, and ships." MUSEUMS. Antiquarian—Somerset House. Admission by application to the secretary. Botanic—Royal Botanic Society of London. Regent's park. Admission daily by orders from fellows. Royal Gardens, Kew. Open daily, 1 till 6, free. British—Great Russoll-s reet. Open free on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Frida s, 10 to 4 • summer months 10 till 7. Closed let till 7th Januarylst till 7th May, and Ist till 7th September ; al o on all thanksgiving days. City—Guildhall. A collet on of antiquities, &c. Daily 10 till 5. Geological— Jermyn street. Open daily (except Fridays) _ . _ _ _ _ free: India—lndia Office, Charles-street. Asiati , l natural his- tory, antiquities, Open free on Mondays, \Vednes days, and Fridays, and on Thursdays IT orders. Ring's College - Strand. Anatomy and curiosities. Daily 10 till 4. - Patents—South Kensicgton. Models and inventions. Open free daily. Royal Institution--21, Albemarle-street. Various objects. Daily, 10 till 5. Royal Military Repository—Woolwich. Models of forti fications, cannon, and warlike appliances. Daily, 10 till 4. Royal Polytechnic Institution-309, Regent-street. Men - tifit., with lectures. Open daily, till 10 p.m. ls. Snane's-13, Lincoln's-inn-fields. Antiquities, nuriosities, and pictures. Open' Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fri days in April, May, and June ; and Wednesdays, from February to August. Admission on application to the Curator, . Society of Arts— John-street. Adelphi. inventions, pic tures, curiosities &c. Daily: admission by member's order. South. Kensington—Cromwell-road. Open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays, 10 till 10, free; on other days 10 till 4,5, or 6. 6d. Tower of London—Ancient armour, &c. Open daily, lf till 4. is. PICTURE GALLERIES. Bridgewater Gallery—Cleveland-square. Cards to view may be obtained from Mr. Mitchell, Old Bond-street. British Artists—Suffolk-street. April to July. ls. Masters, June, July, and August. is. Buckingham Palace Pictures . — May be viewed by an order from the Lord Chamberlain. Cartoons of Rapbael—South Kensington Museum Mon day, Tuesday, Saturday, free • other days, 6d. Crystal Palace—Sydenham. Modern Pictures and Sculp- ture. is. Dulwich Gallery—Dulwich. Chiefly Flemish and Dutch Pictures. Open free daily, exeept Friday. Flagman Gallery—University of London, Gower-street. Foundling Hospital—Guildford-street.. Open Mondays, 10 till 4. Gallery of Ancient Masters-49, Pall. is. Greenwich Painted Hall—Greenwich. Mondays and Fri days Free : other days, 4d. Guildhall—City. May be seen on application to the bad .. . _ keeper. Hampton Court Palace.—The galleries are open free (tally except on Friday. Monument—Fish -street Hill. Every day. Gd. National Gallery—. Trafalgar-square. Open free, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sattrdays. Trinity House—Trinity-square, Tower-hill. Models of lighthouses, &c. Daily, 10 till 4. Tussaud's Waxwork-58, Baker-street. Open daily till 10 p.m. ls. SUBURBAN PLACES OF RESORT. Cremorne Gardens—Chelsea. is. Crystal Palace ?ark—Sydenham. Open daily, Is.; Satur days, 2s. 6d. Greenwich Park Greenwich. OnPn frAe Hampton Court Gardens.—Open free daily. Highbury Barn and Gardens - Highbury. 6d. and is by refreshment tickets. Kew Gardens—Kew. Open free, daily at me o'clock • Richmond Park—Richmond. Open free, daily. Rosherville Gardens—Gravesend. Open daily. 6d. Royal Horticultural Gardens—Kensington. Admission by Members' order. Windsor Great Park—Windsor. Open free. Windsor Castle may be visited o❑ Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fri days, by tickets obtaiLable at the Lord C.)hatuberbiu s Office, in the Castle. MAP OF TILE 11 us.—The Proof-Sheet, a type founders' trade periodical, published in Philadelphia, con tains a "Map of Boston and the A djacent Country." It represents the hemisphere viewed from such a point in space that Boston appears as the geographical centre of the globe. The Hub is represented to be about the size of Lake Ontario, and New York is too small to figure at all. The great lakes are the Boston water-works ; Mexico, Iceland, and South America contain the gas works; the South Pacific is dotted with Boston bath- houses ; Madeira is the Yankee vinegar factory; and in the centre of Africa is the Timbuctoo office of the Atlantic Monthly• VERTISEMENT.J—Henceforth no one will doubt the valuable properties of Du Barry's health-restoring Revalonta Arabica Invalids' and Infants' Food, since to the thousands of blessings it has already received from Invalids whose position had been deemed hopeless, we may now add that of his Holiness the Pope, whose health has been perfectly restored by it after thirty years of unsuccessful medical treatment. We quote from the "Gazette du Midi," July 25th :—" Rome, July 21,1866. - The health of the Holy Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning all other reme dies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food, of which ho consumes a plateful at every meal. It has produced a surprisingly benelicial effect on his health, and his Holiness cannot praise this excellent food too highly." We extract a few out ofmoro than 63.000 cures:—Cure No. 53,216, of the Marchioness do Brehan, of seven years' liver complaint wasting away, debility, nervousness, with a nervous palpitation, all over, had digestion, constant sleeplessness, and the most in tolerable nervous agitation. Cure No 1,771: Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord-Lieutenant of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia, No. 49,832: "Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness, and vomiting —Maria Joly " Cure No. 46.270: Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of 30 years' diseased lungs. spitting of blood, liver derangement, and partial deafness. Im portant Caution—Beware of the many unsavoury and more thau sloppy imitations to which, without authority, Baron Liebig s name is most audaciously attached. In tins, at Is d; Ilb 26 9d; 2lb 4s 6d; slb Ils; 12 lb 225: 24 lbs 4 s.—A lso I , U BARBy's RDNALEN TA A RABICA CHOCOLATE PowDER is packed in tin canisters: for It cups at 2s, for 24 cups at 38 6d, for 8 cups at 68, for 268 cups at 30s, for 576 cups, at 558 —being about one penny per cup. The 30s and 55s tins are sent free of carriage in England on receipt of Post Office Orden— ! ARRY Du BARRY and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, 'London; and a Grimm ;taut Onmisto. CONGRESS. SENATE.--Jan. 21.—Mr. Sherman, from the Fi nance Committee, reported, with a verbal amend ment, the bill to continue the income-tax law. Mr. Patterson introduced a bill to abolish the Freed man's Bureau, providing a Bureau of Education. Mr. Pomeroy introduced a constitutional amend ment establishing female suffrage. The Virginia Bill was considered, and passed by a party vote , with various amendments. The bill as amended requires the Legislative officers to swear that they never engaged in the rebellion after having taken • the oath as officers of the - State or of the Unite d States, or to swear that they have been relieved of their disabilities by Congress. It further provid es a penalty of fine and imprisonment for swearing falsely, and exActs as fundamental conditions that Virginia shall not deprive any class of citizens of the right to vote, hold office, or share in the privi lEges of the schools. Adjourned till Monday. — Jan. 24.—The credentials of Lot M. Morrill, of Maine, were presented, and he was sworn in. ,7‘-1 r. Norton offered a resolution of inquiry as io e t he , M.litary Commission inv,tigating the eligibility of the Georgia legislators, but its consideration was objected to by Mr. Sumner. The bill to retire the Three per Cents., and substitute coin notes, was considered, and advocated by Mr. Sherman. On the 25th a bill was passed authorising the Passport, Clerk at the Departrnetit of State to administer oaths on appli cat i ons f or passports. A bill was reported relievi n g certa i n ex - re b e l s o f po li t i ca l dis abilities. '1 he bill t o ret i re t h e Th ree per CelVs• was discussed. M r . Sh erman, f rom the Fi n ance Committee, reported a substitute for'the House Bill relating to the Income Tax. On the 26th the House Invalid Appropriation Bill was reported — Mr. Buckingham introduced a supplementary Cur rency Bill. James B. Howell was sworn in a s Senator from lowa to succeed Mr. Grimes. Mr. Sherman's Currency Bill was discussed. On th e 27th the House resolution prohibiting collectious from subordinate officials to make presents to thei r superior officers was concurred in. The creden tials of Messrs. Lewis and Johnston, Senators elect from Virginia, were read, and Mr. Lewis, who was present, was sworn in. The Currency Bill wag considered. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.—Jan. Schenck asked and obtained leave for the WaYs and Means Committee to sit during the sessions. He said he expected to report the revised Tariff Bill very early next week—probably on MOnday--- and that he would soon after move to take u p the revised Tax Bill. After some speech-making is Committee of the Whole, the House adjourned. Jan. 22—This day was devoted to debate, no other business being done. Jan. 24—Bills were intro duced giving the letter carriers $1,200 salary where the free delivery system is in opera tion ; increasing the number of Judges o f the Supreme Court ; regulating the mode of deterrain jug the ratification of Constitutional Amendments/ providing for health and safety in coal mines ; an d to establish postal telegraph lines. This last wa s introduced by Mr. Washburn, who moved its refer ence to a special committee, which was agreed to. The Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Appropria tion Bill was reported. It appropriates $19,203,0 91 : A report of the General of the Army, stating thst the military officers inquiring into the eligibility of the members of the Georgia Legislature were doing so, as a Board outside of the Legislature, to assis t General Terry; was referred to the Reconstructio n Committee. The Senate substitute for the Virginia Bill was taken up, and after discussion concurre d in by a strict party vote, all the Republicans voting for it. It now goes to the President. On the 25 ( °, Mr. Scofield, f rom th e N ava l Comm i ttee, repor ted a bill to reorganise the navy, which was. reconr mitted. The League Island Navy-yard Bill Iva! discussed, and supported by Messrs. Myers, O'Neill , and Reading. The report of last April on the con" tested election cas e f rom th e Fourth Congressional District of South Carolina was taken up. It giv es the seat to A. S. Wallace. A minority report, de' daring neither claimant entitled to the seat, wa s adopted, and the whole matt er was t h en referred to the Election Committee. Oa the 26th, on m otion of Mr. Van Trump, the Secretary of the Tres' sury was asked to state the interest paid by the Government on the bonds of the Peal e Railroad Companies, why these bonds are omit' ted in the public debt statement, &c. ° J3 c i motion, the Mining Committee we r e directed to investigate the Avondale mining disaster, an d report whether Congress has power to legislate fo r the prevention of such oczurrences. The Leagn, e , Island Navy Yard Bill was di scusse d. M r . R an dall spoke in support of the bill, while Mr. Woodwar d opposed it. After an argument by Mr. Scovell in favour of the bill, Mr. Dawes moved to lay it uP° l3 the table, and his motion was agreed to by a vo te of 94 against 67. The House went into Committee ou the legislative appropriations, and Mr. Butle r, of Massachusett s , rea d a speec h defending the Ad" ministration against the charges of rxtravagan ce i recently made by M r . D awes . Th e l atter rep lied to Mr. Butler, a ft er w hi c h th e House adjoUrn". On the 27th a hill was introduced by Mr. Gilfillae , requiring National Banks going into liquidation to deposit lawful money in place of their circulating notes, and take up their bonds. Messrs. Plat t Ridgway, Miles, and P or t er , Representatives elec t f torn Virginia, wer e s w o rn i n . . The bill abolishing the franking privilege was passed—yeas 174, naY e 14. Among the nays was Mr. Woodward, of Penn" sylvauia. Mr. Churchill, from the Election Cour I mittee, reported a resolution giving the seat from the Twenty-first Pennsylvania district to Mr. CO' vode, and said he would call it up on Tuesday. M r ' Dawes made a speech in Committee of the Whole , and Mr. Logan, from the Military Committee, re" ported a bill reducing the number of army officers. PRICE OF GOLD. me quotation7ol gold at Paris Is about at par, syd tae short exchange on London is tat. 15a. ver mterilug; On comparing these rates with the English Mint price of rre..lo4d. per ounce for standard gold, it appears th at gold at the above price is slightly dearer in Yetis than 11 ' London BUDGET OF MISCELLANEOUS.—News ha 3 ben recsived at New York of the total loss of the ram Atlanta' sold to Salnave's Government. She was wrecked nea r Fortune Island. It is believed no lives were Five small business stores in St. Joseph, Mobile/ were burned on Sunday morning, January 23d, an d William Foster, brother-in-la er of ex-Congressinaa, Loan, perished in one o f th em . Whil e a num b e r of firemen were trying to rescue Foster, the walls fell up o ° thorn, killing two and injuring five. One of the injured fa not expceted to recover.-The Association for the Pre vention of Gambling in New York city last year expended $18,150. The number of persons reported as frequenting gambling- houses was 768, and the number of plaees closed through the instrumentality of the association wa * , 230.-One hundred and fifty b a bi es have been foun d iu the little basket crib at the door of the NOR York Foundling Asylum since the 20th of last Novera' her. - Here is a " Personal " from the N ew York Herald. "If ' Personal' of the 18th of January is from thee, my Charlie, give me the first initial of thy next natne;, and make sure that my poor broken heart can yet revive. -A trip round the globe in 77 days and 21 hours is rub lished by the Erie Railway, the trip beginning by a jour ney over that road.--Young New York has bad but single day's skattng this winter.-An Indian chief is the most popular preacher on a Wisconsin circuit.-Montan a has a new paper called the Pick and Plow. It is publishe d at Bozeman City.- A Polish Count and an Austrian General were among the lodgers in a New York station house on the night of the 25th of January.--A new paper, called The Knife and Fork is announced. Let us hope tha t it will be both sharp and pointed, or its readers will he, apt to stick at reading, and cut buying it. -Punch an: Judy.-The Apaches are industrious in Arizona. The' have lifted the scalp of one out of every nine whites to the territory.-At the recent Fat Men's Convention a! Lewiston, Maine, there were estimated to be 50 tons of fat men.-The latest theatrical sensation in New York is en titled "Buck, Buck, How many Horns; or, Gold at t65."- -- A Chinese idol merchant has appeared in New York< A, Berlin professor says th a t a ll c hild ren are born withbli) eyes ; the darker hues come later.- Wisconsi a has a weekly newspaper called the Lean Wolf.-TI following is a suggestion of an American paper WI it overloGks the fact that there can be no taxation , `it ! ! representation • - There are 6,000,000 dogs in the Unite d States. A tax o f $2 a h ea d w ill pro d uce $17 , 000 , 000. Off with the income tax and on with the dog tax."-The fir e department of New York costs $1,000,000 per annum; °f Boston, $240,000 ; of Chicago, $300 . 000 ; of Louisville/ $85,000 ; of Cincinnati, $3b3,000 •, of Baltimore, $95,5 49 ' New York has two engines more than Philadelphia. Th° discovery fs reported of a bed of pure sulphur, 135 feet if; thickness and about 530 feet below the surface, on an island in Bayou Choupique, in the delta of the Mississippi, withir; ten miles of the soa.-lt is stated that th e G overnmen t wfh not only prosecute the father of the Welch fasting o'l but also the committee who combined to keep her with' out food. BIRTHS. GURNEY—On the 14th inst., at Russell House, Balham, the wife of Arthur Gurney, Esq., of a son. NUGENT On the 13th inst., at 76, South Audley-stree t, the wife of Alfred Nugent, Esq., of a daughter. MARRIAGES. BENNETT —FASCUTT —On the 11th inst., at West Broil*" ton, Nicholas Bennett, Esq., of 4, Furnival's-inn, t ° Sarah, widow of th e l a t e William Fascutt, Esq., of the National Debt office. CRUIRSIIANK - ELSRY—Ou the 13th inst., at Ealing, Ale ander Ramsay Cruiksliank, Captain R.A., to S. E. ne 3 ; rietta, only child of Lieut.- Colonel W. Elsey, of We s " Lodge, Ealing. DE,47'HS. BERKELEY —0 n the 13th inst., at Abingdon House, Kew' the Lady Berkeley. CURRIE—On the 12th inst., at Manor House, Sevenoalc°l the Hon. Mrs. Currie. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREWof No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TAE SUN Office, ZO. 112, Stran d ' in the Precinct of tho Savoy, in the County of 31idcUese%' Tuesday, February 15, 1870, - ' 1