The Sun. — London, England, 1867-09-25 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence. The Secretary of State for War and Inspector General of Fortifications are at present engaged on a tour of inspection of the coast, harbour, and river defences of the kingdom, more especially on the southern, eastern, and western coasts. The consi deration of the present state of these works, and of the plans submitted for finishing them, is a subject of no little magnitude. It is well known that opinions are vastly divided among professional men as to the form and disposition of the iron plating, both for the marine fortifications—such as the forts at Spithead—and the embrasure " shields" for the coast batteries. The great fault in points of design in the first instance with regard to most of the works on the coast that have been expressly planned to carry armour plating is the evident overcowding of each work with embrasures. These works, it must be remembered, built of granite, with an iron rib work of longitudinal and transverse girders, and sheathing of outer armour, in the disposition of which each embrasure will cost from £l,OOO to £1,500, are supposed to be building to last, not for a few years, but for alltime. They can neither, when once planted in the sea—like the Shovel fort in Ply mouth Sound, the Spithead forts, or the fort on the Isle of Grain—be reconstructed like a fleet, or mate rially enlarged upon in any way. The fact is these forts were all intended when first designed to carry the heaviest gun, then known, the 23-tonner, or, as it is generally called, the 600-pounder, which has earned such fame at Shoebury ; but now that the land batteries at the Gilkicker, at Sandown, at Sheerness, and other points are nearly ready to re ceive their ironplating, it is found that there will not be space for the 23-ton gun, and a lesser weapon will therefore have to be substituted. The same con clusions apply to the marine forts at Spithead and elsewhere. The introduction of submarine mines into the system of defence for roadsteads, harbours, and rivers has, however, rendered the failure of our marine forts to carry their originally intended weight of armament a less serious matter than it would otherwise have been, as it is just possible that all such works may in future be looked upon as grand torpedo stations, with their guns protecting the nests of hidden mines lying in the water chan nels and on the edges of the shoals, rather than as fighting batteries defending, unaided by any secret bedevilments, the passage from the attack of an enemy's fleet. But there are faults of overcrowding batteries with gunports in some of the works that have been, or are about to be, visited by Sir John Pakington and Sir John Burgoyne that is really unpardonable and utterly without remedy, unless every alternate embrasure is built up, and half the original number of guns placed in the work. Take the costly Hilsea lines, which were designed to command the entrance to the island of Port sea (on which stands all the naval and ordnance establishments at Portsmouth), as an example. The embrasures have here been placed so closely together that even the earthen covering for the stone-fronted face of the batteries will not stand, so acute is the angle given by the short distance between the ports. As the earth is piled up over the top of these batteries the foundations also give way, and huge cracks may be seen opening up through the brickwork in all directions. The want of soli dity in the base to support the superstructure is, in deed, also to be found in almost every piece of new fortifications now erecting, or lately erected, around our coasts. In many places this result may have been inevitable from the nature of the ground, but in many cases it has most undoubtedly been assisted by a neglect of precautionary measures, or disregard of any consideration of the condition of the soil, marsh, or shingle on which the fort was to be raised. Forts are now standing, or are trying to stand, which are constantly letting slip large slices of their ramparts into the ditch below. These forts carry guns, but it is almost needless to say that not one bas yet been fired from their ramparts, nor could it be done with safety, for fear of the whole fort fall ing prostrate. The Medway forts are, perhaps, the most curious and instructive in their history of all. They have no doubt been a bugbear and a horror to Secretaries of State for War and the officers of the Department. The so-called foundations of these works only were completed when they split through in the most fan tastic forms from their lowest to their highest stones, and had to be braced together with stout iron tie rods from side to side to keep them from breaking up. This latter strengthening measure accomplished the next step was to build up the superstructure. As the stones for this purpose were laid on any one side of a work it sunk in the quaking morass, while the opposite side rose. It was soon evident that no forts could be finished on the Medway's bank, but the difficulty was got rid of in a most un dignified way, and in a way, too, that was peculiarly cruel to Sir J. Pakington when just fresh from his labours in the " reconstruction" of the navy, and taking up his new duties as Secretary of State for War. Sir John was made to say in the House of Commons that " it had been determined to abandon the forts ou the banks of the Medway in order that the money with which it had been intended to con struct them might be expended upon the Spithead Forts." If Sir John Pakington visits the sites of the aban d.med forts on the Medway during his present tour with Sir John Burgoyne he will doubtless learn the true cause of their abandonment, and at the same time the importance of weighing carefully any state ment which he may have to make officially on sub- jects with which he has had no opportunity to make himself personally familiar. In accordance with instructions to that effect, re ceived at Chatham from the War Department, a supply of revolvers has been forwarded from the armoury to Dover, on the application of the autho rities of the town, for use by the police and detec tive officers engaged in watching and searching the steamers leaving for the Continent, to prevent the escape of Col. Kelly and Deasey. The arms for the officers were applied for by the Mayor of Dover in consequence of a number of strangers and suspected persons suddenly appearing in the town for the pur pose, it is surmised, of assisting Kelly and Deasey to make their escape to the Continent. Yesterday a photograph of Kelly was circulated among the me tropolitan police doing duty at Chatham. The detachments belonging to the various corps attached to the three battalions of infantry at Chat ham who have completed their course of instruction in the use of the Snider breechloading musket at the Ilythe School of Musketry will rejoin their respec tive regiments at the garrison this morning. Licut.-Col. Richard Handcock, formerly of the 46th Regiment, and whose death we announced in our obituary yesterday, at the advanced age of 80 years, entered the army in 1805, and accompanied the expedition to llanover in that year. He attained the rank of Lieutenant in 1806, in which year he joined the army in Sicily, and was employed with various operations until 1810 ; went with the expe dition to Naples, and was present at the capture of Ischia and Procida, and returned to Sicily, and was employed against the French army in 1811. He served in Spain during 1812 and 1813, in cluding the battle of Castella, siege of Tarragona, and affair of Villafranca. He served also in the campaign of 1815, and was severely wounded at Waterloo. He became Captain July 30, 1818 ; M ijor January 10, 1837, and Lieut.-Col., Nov. 23, 1854. The Admiralty have directed that the trials re cent'y inaie, comparatively, between the hydraulic propelled gun vessel Waterwitch and the double screw vessels Viper and Vixen are to be repeated in Stokes-bay with the two first named, the Water witch to be lightened at the wish of Mr. Ruthven, the inventor of the hydraulic wheel of the Water witch, on any trial, to give her the same mean im mersion with which the Viper may be tried. We cannot exactly understand what either the Admi ralty or Mr. Ruthven expect to learn from these renewed trials. If the results of the trials of the fastest of the double screws—the Viper—is at all questioned in their comparison with the results ob tained with the hydraulic vessel, any new trial at " mean immersions" only, will not lead to any satis factory settlement. Probably, however, it is thought that these extraordinary ironclads may burn their coals with greater safety on the measured mile than at sea. The Admiralty yacht Enchantress, Commander Petley, is under orders to proceed from Portsmouth to the Medway for the service of the Lords of the Admiralty in a contemplated tour of inspection on the eastern coasts. The Warrior, 32 guns, armoured iron screw frigate, 1,250 horse power, Capt. H. Boys, sailed from Spithead yesterday morning for the coast of Ireland, calling in at a western port and Queens town. The armament of the Warrior has been supplied to her on the new scale, and consists of four 12 ton, 9 inch and 28 61 ton, 7 inch muzzle loading rifled guns, mounted on iron carriages and slides. Some surprise has been recently expressed at the loss in the rate of speed at the measured mile apparently sustained by this frigate, in her re cent trial in Stokes-bay, as compared with the rate she attained on her first trial when commissioned by Capt. the Hon. A. A. Cochrane. The difference is, however, perfectly explainable. The ship and her engines are just as capal le of giving the same rate of speed now as on her first trial under steam if the conditions of trial are made the same. Now the weight on the safety valve has been reduced very considerably below the original weight, owing to the age of the boilers, and the ship's mean immersion of hull has been very materially increased by the additional weights she has to carry in her new arma ment and its supplies of shot shell, powder, &c. The St. George, 72, unarmoured screw line of battle ship, Capt. Nolloth, sailed from Portsmouth yesterday morning for Portland, to resume her duties at that port as cadet training ship, &c. The St. George answers very well as a harbour training ship for young officers on the first step of their pro fessional career, but as a fighting ship she is a sham, and, in appearance, with the exception of ships now building in her Majesty's dockyards, she is un doubtedly the ugliest ship in the navy. The Danae, screw corvette, 4, 350 horse power, fitting with her machinery at Portsmouth dockyard by the Messrs. Napier, of Glasgow, has had steam up, and will make a preliminary trial of her engines outside Spithead about Friday next. The unarmoured screw sloop Blanche, 6, 350 horse power (nominal), having received on board the heavy portion of her engines and machinery, by Fears. Raveuhill and Hodgson, alongside Chatham dockyard, has been removed up the harbour, and moored alongside the Gloucester, 50, where she will complete her equipment, and be brought forward for sea. Her iron lower masts have been fitted on board. THE FRIGHTFUL DEATH OF THREE CHILDREN ON THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY. Yesterday Dr. Ilardwicke, deputy-coroner, opened an inquiry at the Railway Hotel, Colney hatch, on the bodies of the three children who were knocked down and killed by an express train, near Colney-batch station on the Great Northern Rail way, on Saturday. NVontner, solicitor, appeared on behalf of the railway company, and Mr. R. Ring, solicitor, on behalf of Mr. Angus and other inhabitants. The jury, having viewed the bodies, proceeded to the scene of the accident, and called the attention of the authorities to a pond which they considered dangerous. Upon their return into court, Alfred Glover, Colney• hatch, a platelayer, said— On Saturday, a few minutes before 12, 1 was near the crossing between Colney-hatch and Whetstone tunnel. I saw a long goods train pass down. 1 heard also the whistle of an uptrain. I turned round and saw the three children under the engine. The two girls were carried 34 yards and the boy 41 yards. I went up to the little boy and laid him on the bank. lle was quite dead. I then went to the eldest girl. She was cut about the head, and her feet were off. She was quite dead. The next body was about a yard from the other. One of the company's foreman brought a blanket and covered the bodies over. Wm. Smith, the driver of the express, said—l was driver of the express from Leicester on Saturday morning. I saw the children on the line immediately the down goods train passed. I was then four or five yards from them. I saw that the engine went over them. I stopped at the station and reported the circumstance. The guard found one of the little girls' hats under the engine. Wo were going 40 miles an hour when the accident happened. Benjamin Murgatroyd, guard in the employ of the Midland Railway Company, said he was guard of the express in question, and saw the accident happen as described by the last witness. Mr. Taylor, hall porter at the Colney-hatch Asylum, and related to the children, said they went out for the purpose of black-berrying. They were in the habit of crossing the line four times a day in going to and from school. A Juror—About 30 children attend that school. Another Juror—About 120 or 130 children pass over the line daily. It is a regular thoroughfare. Mr. John Angus, 10, Ely-place, Colney-hatch, carpenter, said—l have lived here nine years. My children went across the line to school at Friern Barnet ; many other children do the same. They go from Ely-place, where there are about 20 houses. Some children come from Frien Barnet to the infant school on this side of the line. By Mr. Ring—The path across the line has been used for years. Edwin Dibbin, stationmaster at Colney-hatch -1 know the crossing, which is called Church-path. It is a public crossing. I have not known any acci dents to happen on it before this. The path was at one time diverted, made more safe, because the ap proach was more elevated, and persons could see what was coming each way. It was altered to its original site at the request of the parishioners, who did not like the Church-path being done away with. The tunnel is about three-quarters of a mile from the path. There is a bridge between the path and the tunnel, but it does not hide the view of approach ing trains. The Coroner thought the jury had obtained suffi cient evidence to enable them to come to a verdict. The Foreman said he had a speech to make before he retired, and a juror intimated that he had a number of motions to make, but he was advised to reserve them till the jury were in private. The Foreman said that in support of his strong opinion on the dangerous practice of allowing cross ings over railways he should quote Blackstone. Blackstone said, "There is an unwritten law that England recognises that the public must be pro tected spite of companies and all monopolies." He found that 1,056 persons were annually killed by trains. The poor children used all the caution that any one possibly could on the occasion. They watched the slow goods train pass, and then pro ceeded to cross the line, but were knocked down by an express which was tearing along at the rate of 40 miles an hour. The accident might have been prevented if the railway company had gone to a little expense, and made a tunnel under the line. 11e considered that if the company did not fully pro tect the lives of the public they would be the mur derers of every one killed. The Coroner said the forman had omitted one im portant point upon which the company might be induced to construct a tunnel under the liae, or a bridge over it, and that was that there were two schools, one on each side of the line, which were approached by this path. The jury then retired to consider their verdict. After a lengthened deliberation the jury returned into court, and the foreman said—" Our verdict is accidental death. No blame attached to the driver of the engine. The jury express their unanimous Opinion that all foatpaths, roads, &c., on railways should have the s line protection for the public as before the railways croszing them. This protection we do not find on the Great Northern Railway." Coroner—l cannot enter all that as the verdict. I must enter the verdict accidental death, and your opinion must form the subject of a separate resolu tion to be forwarded to the company. Foreman—lf you don't take the verdict as we have written it we shall retire and draw up another, attaching the blame directly to the company ? Coroner—You do not wish to return a verdict of manslaughter against the company ? Foreman—Not exactly. Coroner—But I can only enter it as accidental death or manslaughter. The jury still persistal in attaching blame to the company, and retired to reconsider their verdict. After they had been absent a considerable time they were called into court by the Coroner for the pur pose of adjourning the case. They did not at first obey the summons, and the Coroner at length went into the room himself. After the lapse of an hour the jury entered the court with the following verdict:— "That the said Fanny Eliza Roddis, Mary Ann Roddis, and Henry Albert Roddis were found dead from the mortal effects of injuries by an express train passing over their bodies at a public crossing on the Great Northern Railway, and the jurors fur ther say that the said deaths were the result of an aecidental cause, and that they attach no blame either to the deceased children or engine-driver." The Coroner was about to read a resolution passed by the jury, when Mr. Ring objected to the verdict being qualified. If the jury attached blame to the company, the ver dict in effect was one of manslaughter. The Foreman—Part of the jurors were in favour of a verdict of manslaughter. The Coroner--The jury have, I think, acted ac cording to custom in appending their opinion in the form of a resolution to the verdict. That will go be fore the public through the press. The resolution is " That the jury empanelled at the Railway Hotel, Colney-hatch, to inquire into the cause of the death of Fanny Eliza Roddis, Mary Ann Roddis, and Henry Albert Roddis, having returned a verdict of accidental death, are of opinion that all public cross ings and roads on railway lines should have proper superintendence and protection for the prevention of such accidents in future. They also consider this crossing to be unsafe, and the jurors further wish to state the case of the mother of the children to be a fit one for the consideration and compensation by the railway company." The Foreman--The jurors have subscribed a sum of money for the mother. Mr. Wontner having stated that the company in tended to pay the expenses of the funeral, and take the case of the widow into consideration, some re criminating words were bandied about as to the motives exhibited on either side during the inquiry. The Coroner remarked that is was a pity the in habitants had not waived a small amount of interest or feeling at the time the company wanted to divert the path across the bridge and acceded to that being done. The accident would thus have been prevented. THE SUN_ ',UNDO 4. WEDINESOAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 25, 1867. than they gave. It would be still worse if they availed themselves of legal quibbles to repay the timely advance by giving less than they received. Yet this is the Democratic plan for dealing with those who trusted the United States. The English who have heard much of the base tendencies of Republicanism might take this lesson to heart; it is the Conservatives of America that are engaged in this wicked scheme to defraud both the creditors of the United States of their money and the nation of its honour, that party which has been foremost in exciting the worst feelings of animosity between the kindred natons, the promoters of corruption, who have used as tools, the ignorant emigrants, to attain their own base and selfish ends. It is not diffi cult to predict the result of this attack. It will end in shame to its originators, and although it cannot fail in the first instance seriously to injure the national credit, it will produce so clear an ex pression of the national mind that eventually this ghost being laid, the shade which has hitherto created so undefined a feeling of alarm, damaging materially United States securities, will be set at rest for ever. Now is the time for the people to speak out. A glorious opportunity is offered to crush for ever the detractors of the honour of the nation by giving to the creditors a clear, well-defined, irrevoc able pledge, that, come weal or come woe, through sunshine and through storm, in prosperity or adver sity, the nation, above all things, will maintain its honour, redeeming every liability, no matter how' great the pressure. This, we feel assured, will be the answer of the nation to the Democratic agitators, who, even if successful on such a ticket in can vassing some States, would quail to carry into effect a measure —even, if possible--which would stamp for all time with infamy the great Republic, and hurl into ruin the citizens by thousands.— Anglo-American Times. MR. HUGHES, M.P., ON PARTNERSHIPS OF INDUSTRI'. The second soiree in commenoration of the for mation of the collieries of Messrs. Henry Briggs and Sons, at Whitwood and Methley, into a partnership concern, in which the workers have an interest, and a bonus is paid yearly to every labourer in pro portion to his wages and the success achieved, was held at Whitwood, on Saturday evening. Up to two years ago the proprietors of these collieries had been engaged in constantly-recurring disputes with their workpeople as to the rate of wages and the number of hours' labour that ought to constitute a working day, and, as as a consequence, the success of the firm was small and the dividends paid on the capital invested by no means satisfactory. In order, if possible, to obviate these difficulties that so freauently arose, to render the works remunerative, and to make the relation between employer and employed more amicable, the proprietors converted their works into a limited company, in which the workmen were allowed to have shares, and after a fixed dividend had been paid upon the c tpital the remainder of the profit, provided there was any, was to be divided amongst all the persons interested, including those labourers who had no pecuniary stake in it. The proceedings on Saturday evening commenced with tea, of which 1,800 persons, all of whom were in some way interested in the colliery, partook. After tea a meeting was held, presided over by Mr. Henry Briggs, the chairman of the directors, who was supported by Mr. T. Hughes, M.P., the Hon. and Rev. P. Y. Savile, rector of Methley ; the Rev. J. Armytage, the incumbent of the parish ; the Rev. J. S. Gammell, the Rev. B. Hinde, Mr. E. 0. Greenirg, Mr. Archibald Brigg, Mr. G. Bradley, and others. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said that since they met last year at Leeds they had had continued prosperity, and had been able to divide a large sum amongst their operatives. This amount had increased by one-half since last year ; then it was £l,BOO, now it was £2,700. He believed that they would continue to prosper, and that they would find that the operatives who worked at these collieries would improve in their character for steadi ness, thrift, and sobriety, as they had done of late years. Mr. Huai!Es, M.P., then addressed the meeting, and, after congratulating all present upon the suc cessful result of their co-operation, said that they had had great success during the past year. The directors had been enabled to pay to the men who worked with their hands and sinews in the colliery w ages no less a sum th an £2,700 ou t o f the concern. H e h a d h ear d it sa id t f h o r e weekly prefi ts of about that movement in which they were embarked —" after all there is very little difference between you and other concerns in the same trade ; it has been a good year, and everybody is content and pleased at what they have done this year in the coal districts." Be was very glad that other persons were as satisfied as they, but he did not hear of any other place in the coal districts where £2,700 had been distributed amongst the col liers, and if there were any such places he should be glad to hear of them. Ha was there as a capitalist, having a few shares in the concern, and if the work men, shareholders, and those who had no share in the firm, but had received a bonus on their labour, were satisfied with the success that had been achieved, he could say the capitalists also were. If, then, those who advanced the money and those who worked in the collieries were pleased with the result of the year's labours, it was a strong proof they were in the right road, not only to success, but to do some thing higher than any mere money success could bring, for he would be ashamed to talk about mere money returns as the real great advantage of that movement in which they were all deeply interested. If it were merely for the money success that that colliery had achieved, they would not have had such an enthusiastic as that met there ; and, therefore,hesh gth o a uld eriag like to tell them one or two reasons why he thought they were doing something much more valuable than making profits for them selves by working heartily in that great work. In the first place they had gained a great reputation. He was not one of those who counted reputation at more than it was worth, but he thought that all men who were in earnest and meant to do well that work which had been given to them to do in the world, and had strength given to them to go through with it, whether they were well or ill spoken of by men, merited a good reputation. At the same time there could be no doubt that next to the " well done" of one's own conscience, it was the greatest encouragement any man or body of men could have to know that they were spoken of with in terest and watched with anxiety by those whom they respect outside of their own body. With regard to that point he could say that even at the end of the first year of their operations their proceedings were drawing attention in many parts of the world outside the West Riding of Yorkshire, and during the year which had passed since their last meeting that reputa tion had spread very widely. Two years ago very few persons away from that village were interested in the properity of those collieries ; but now he said deli berately because of his own knowledge, that not only in all parts of England, but also upon the con tinent, in the United States of America, and in the colonies there were many persons watching with the greatest anxiety the experiment they were making in the \Vhitwood Collieries. That placed a great responsibility upon their shoulders, for they had a great reputation to sustain. Why did people watch them with anxiety ? Why did some persons represent that there was nothing to distinguish their concern from the ordinary run of joint-stock companies, and detract from all the good which was spoken of them, and endeavour to lesson by mis representation the success they had achieved ? And why, on the other hand, was it that many other persons were anxious to exaggerate the success they had attained ? It was because, whatever their opinions might be on these subjects, they believed that they were trying a critical experiment ; that they were facing the great labour question which was puzzling and daunting statesmen, which was carrying misery and pauperism into a great many parts of England, and which was, in fact, the most important and most harassing question that men had to face in all the civilised countries in the world. They believed that possibly in their success might lay the solution, probably the only solution, of that question. The principles upon which that eocieti was founded were such as this, that "the interests of capital and labour are identical." They had been told that for years ; people had said that capi talists and labourers were flying in the face of natural laws in disputing, as they had disputed, and as he was afraid they would continue to dispute. That might be very well in theory under the old system, but so long as it was found, as it had been more and more of late years, that capital lay with one 'set of people, and labour naturally with another set, and that, whatever good-will they might have towards one another personally, antagonism rose up between them, they might just as well say that strife would not occur as that water would not run down hill. Another principle was, " Co-operation for ever, and no more strikes ;" a sentiment which he w.:s sure came home to the hearts of many persons in the room, for it was only four years ago that there was a terrible strike in the dis trict. Let them consider the difference between what they saw around them and that miserable time when that strike occurred, and ask themselves whether it was likely that there would be a strike now at Whitwood Collieries. He, as a share holder, should be very much surprised if a strike took place, because the works were carried on upon a new principle—that of co-operation, which had as its root-principle the idea of justice. They had been told that demand and supply would settle these questions satisfactorily, and that unlimited compe tition was the way in which universal peace was to be brought about in this world, and especially in the world of commerce and trade. They saw what had been the result of the application of that principle of every man taking as much as he could and giving as little as possible. Not only had there been strikes in the coal district, but the whole industry of this country had become almost in a state of dead-lock. They heard on every side that in a great many branches of industry in which England had been famous for generations, and had been in the front of the nations of the world, we were being supplanted by foreigners on the Continent and in the United States. It would be a sad day for England when that actually occurred, because she existed, and only could exist, by being in front of the commercial world. He would like to know how it was possible for her to main tain her hold as the workshop of the world and her place in the front of the nations if things were to go on in the old style. We were hearing day by day that our trade was being supplanted, and he did not think that anything could bring it back, or give England her old post in the very front of the man ufacturing and commercial nations of the world, except some form of that system of co-operation which they were carrying out, and which was be ginning to take a great hold upo❑ both the work men and capitalists of England. They at Whit wood had been very prosperous hitherto, but they could not expect always to have good years and good trade, although he believed that their prosperity would last longer under the co-operative system than under any other ; and when bad times did come, he asked those who were trying the experiment of the first great industrial partnership in England whether they would then stand true to their colours. He hoped and believed that they would ; and he could assure them that they had men who could lead them through bad as well as good times. There had been co operative societies which had been started on prin ciples similar to theirs, and had gone on well for a time and.'then fallen away from their first faith. It was a matter of great regret to those who had engaged in a work of that kind, in the success of which they sincerely believed the future of England was bound up, to find that those who had put their hands to the plough should draw them back again ; but it would not do to ignore the fact that workmen in Lancashire and Yorkshire had started co-operative mills upon what he believed to be right and true principles, and had afterwards converted them into joint-stock companies. He was delighted to hear, however, that in many instances they had not succeeded, since they departed from the true and right principle, because he thought it served them quite right. He hoped that that would never be done at Whitwood, and that the workmen remembering that they were carrying out a great experiment under the eyes of all who thought on these subjects, not only in England, but also on the Continent, and in the United States even, would work honestly, and make the most of their opportunities, not only for their own bene fit, but also for that of all those who were engaged with them in that concern. He had been attending to these subjects for many years, and he had more hope of seeing a successful issue to those questions that had been agitating the country from the expe riment they were trying there than from anything else that had ever been offered as a solution to them. He therefore besought them to work honestly and heartily, supporting one another in the work, the highest that could be given to man to do, of mak ing the country in which they were born a better place for Christian men and women to live in. (The hon. gentleman resumed his seat amidst loud applause.) other speakers afterwards addressed the meeting. Social Science Conjess. BELFAST, Monday. One of the most attractive papers, so far as a large audience was concerned, was that read by Mr. Goldwin Smith on Saturday, in the Department of Education, on " The adaptation of the old univer sities to the requirements of the present day," in whilli it was primarily remarked that public edu cation was destined to be the great organising and conservative force of the future ; but while the rich were being educated the poor must not be neglected. The reform and extension of universities was as important as the improve ment of popular schools. After showing that the colleges were not only in date and in outward form, but in character, distinctly mediaeval, he noticed the recent reforms in the universities, such as the opening of fellowships, the better endowment of the university professorate, especially in the department of science, and the breaking up of the exclusive dominion. of the heads of houses, and the institution of an elective council. Still much remained to be done; mediaeval shackles had been loosened rather than struck off. Though the fellowships had been made prizes, they were still sinecures, and the headships had been left without fixed duties, at least of an educational or literary kind. With a passing comment upon the evil results of the requirements of celibacy, and the unsatisfactory relations of the colleges to the universities, Mr. Goldwin Smith proceeded to point 1 out that Oxford was completely in the power of the clergy, and of that party which predominated among the clergy ; and if the same ascendancy had been less marked in the case of Cambridge, it was, perhaps, because the clergy there had, so to speak, been less clerical—possibly because so many of them had undergone the somewhat secularising training of mathematics. He would not presume to treat clerical ascendancy as an acknowledged evil, and as many good men thought it so much the reverse of an evil, he would only say that, as no man could serve two masters, so no institution could serve two objects— that of national party and that of national educa tion. how incompatible the two objects were every one who had been engaged in university education, and in whom the sense of national duty was paramount, had bitter reasons to know. Referring to the religious tests which cut off the universities from the Nonconformist part of the nation, lie observed that an institution which was sectional could not be national, and that an institu tion which was not national could not educate the nation. The tendency of legislation was at present towards the removal of the tests ; and there could be no doubt that the progress of philosophy, science, and philanthropy was steadily giving the victory to the common convictions and interests of men over those denominational differences which, two centuries ago, seemed of such absorbing importance. A denomina tional system of education was built on a founda tion which, to all appearance, was being eaten away by forces more silent, but more sure, than a party movement in the universities or in the House of Commons. Upon the question of university exten sion, Mr. Goldwin Smith was of opinion that more room might be made both at Oxford and Cam. bridge by giving up the college monopoly, which, as a matter of right, ought to go ; and at Oxford by allowing students to live in lodgings instead of compelling them to reside inside the college gates. A proper entrance examination would keep out unfit men, thus enabling the university to admit those who would really make good use of their advantages. Deprecating the multiplication of local universities and the introduction of the political element into the management of education ---it was a misfortune to Oxford and Cambridge, whatever it might be to the House of Commons, that they were represented in Parliament—Mr. Goldwin Smith pointed out some of the evils which he thought militated against the system of compelling students to reside inside the uni versity walls, and concluded by observing that he would not have Oxford and Cambridge go the length of the London University, which had become merely an examining board. He would, however, give the lower degree, 8.A., to those who had completed a course recognised by the university, and passed examinations conducted under her authority while attending the local col leges. The higher degree and the franchisg of the university he would reserve for those who had undergone the highest training in the university itself, and would admit to the university only such as were prepared to undergo such training. Many ways might be suggested in which the universities might act as centres of upper class, and perhaps even of general, education—such as the examination and certification of teachers, and possibly the inspection of public and grammar schools. Academical statesmanship, seeking with singleness of heart the interests of national education, would gradually solve these problems. Ecclesiastical party would not solve them. Unhappily, in his own university ecclesiastical party was likely to be the growing power for many a year to come. He then pro ceeded to urge concessions to the Roman Catholics in the matter of education. He divided the Roman Catholic clergy into two parties, one struggling for power, the other fighting for conscience sake. He gave a qualified adhesion to the policy of extending the charter of the Queen's University to a Catholic College ; he even eulogised the con duct of the Roman Catholic universities in earlier times, as the beacon lights of civilisation amidst comparative barbarism, and he emphatically declared that he would make concessions to the Roman Ca tholics in this country which he would resist on principle in lands where they were dominant. REPUDIATION. Last Monday evening a message was brought by the cable from New York informing Europe that the question of paying off the 5-20 United States Bonds in currency is being politically agitated. The effect of such telegrams is not felt immediately. The vague feeling of alarm generated in the minds of the holders of these Bonds does not cause in stant action, for the people believe that the move ment has been made by political parties to forward their objects. The dread of the United States adopting so dishonourable a course as to redeem the Bonds in greenbacks when the option rests with the Government has always exercised an injurious influence on the value of these secu rities. Many well-informed men, both in the United States and in Europe, have persistently maintained that such would be the eventual action of the American people. This belief, held by those of no hostile spirit to the United States, was grounded on these facts. First, that a large party in the Northern States had been opposed to the war, had persistently denounced the creation of the debt, and had prophesied its repudiation, a prophecy they feel bound to justify. Second, that the South regard ing the burden fastened upon them in common with the conquering North as a degrading penalty, the badge of their subjugation—the rod which they had been compelled to bring for their own chas tisement—would make every effort after the Reconstruction of the Union to cast off the oppressive weight. Third, viewing the bad side of human nature, it was reasonable to expect that the Democrats and the South would be aided by a large party who cared for neither, but who felt the pres sure of the taxation, and who would be content to relieve themselves at any sacrifice to the nation. Those who have held so persistently that the Ameri can financial problem would be solved by repudia.. tion watch with great interest the attacks of the Democratic leaders on the public credit. It is natural enough for them now to exclaim, while priding themselves on their foresight, " We told you so !" and we cannot disguise that the uphold ers of the United States credit in Europe are in some degree put to shame. It is not that they doubt for a moment that anything but complete discomfiture can be the ultimate result. But they are grieved to see an agitation like this, gain anything ap proaching to formidable proportions. At the same time the holders of bonds ought to have been pre pared for the war now waged. The material question to them is what is likely to be the result. Mr. PENDLETON'S plan is to redeem the bonds at par, in greenbacks, as the time arrives when the Government have tho option. The 5-20's of 1862, amounting to $514,780,500 (the Bonds chiefly held in Europe), could be taken up by the Government at any period from the Ist May last. These are the Securities mainly quoted on the Stock Exchanges which were becom ing so favourite an investment in Great Britain, Germany, and France, as to check the exportation from New York of specie, and give a fresh medium of exchange. If Mr. PENDLETON'S plan were carried out, the Treasury would have to strike off from the presses $50C,000,000, and redeem the whole issue. The advantage to the holders would lie in being the first swindled. Although the loss would be fearful, the United States' greenback currency would not become at once valueless; therefore at least a por tion of the principal would return to the holders, which would scarcely be the case with the Bonds of a later date. As nearly all the debts of the United States are now funded in 5-20's, in five years hence all could be redeemed, the debt cancelled, and the currency increased by the amount. The effect can scarcely be esti mated. Debts of all kinds would be annihilated, every bank in the country would be destroyed, and until specie was manufactured and obtained circu lation it would be impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the country. A man buying a leg of mutton and the usual household supplies would have to be accompanied by a cart-load of greenbacks. The greenback is a legal tender, but no law can compel men to exchange sterling substance for a worthless currency. A simple re pudiation would not be so disastrous, because it would involve loss only to the bondholders, but the annihilation of the value of the currency which would follow Mr. PENDLETON'S plan would ramify over the country, influencing every monetary transaction betwcen man and man. The question is, what would be the depreciation of the currency supposing that an amount equal to the National Debt was added to it ? Mr. PENDLETON pretends to believe that the value would not be materially changed. Does any sane man believe that the United States could absorb twenty-eight hundred millions of paper dollars, representing a sum in sterling of more than £550,000,000. The note circulation in England is under £24,000,000, and the gigantic trade of that country is carried on with a tenth of the currency with which Mr. PER DLETON'S plan, would deluge the United States. That gentleman urges the fact that, during the War, the Government borrowed this money as low as 40 cents of gold to the dollar, and as the Government received the sums the loans realised, in greenbacks, they are justified in paying in the same currency. We would like Mr. PENDLETON to answer this ques tion—The Government had their presses during the War, they could turn out any amount of paper currency, instead of borrowing to repay hereafter by the manufacture of this, irredeemable paper, why did they not at the time manjacture it, and pay their debts without swindling any one? Had they tried it, Mr. PENDLETON knows as well as we do that the value of their currency would have sunk to the level of that of the Confederates, and the United States would have been com felled either to suspend military operations or to carry them on by means of forced loans. A Government, like an individual, when in extremity has to pay heavily for accommodation. If the loans reinstate the Government or the individual in a sound financial position, it is surely not creditable that those thus saved should turn on their preservers and argue that they ought to receive back no more KING 7 IIEOD ORE. The Standard continues its interesting account of the visit to King Theodore : Early the next morning the Abuna Salama made his appearance, asking whether I knew or was con nected with Henry Stern. I answered in the nega tive, endeavouring to impress upon his mind that I had nothing whatever to do with any mission— Catholic, Protestant, Greek, or Presbyterian. For tunately this specimen of the Abyssinian clergy spoke tolerable Italian, so that I was able to tickle his vanity without having to fear the whims of an interpreter. During the course of the conversation he alluded to the various reasons Theodoros had for imprisoning the missionaries and Consul Came ron ; but as these, in their principal truth, are already well known, I will not touch upon them, except to call attention to the circumstance that the fact of Cameron's having had to hand a despatch to the King, in answer to his offer of an alliance, scarcely tallies with the assertion Lord Russell made in Parliament, accusing him of disobedience by not remaining at Massowah. On Cameron making him acquainted with the result of his proposal, and handing him the despatch signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Theodoros became mightily enraged, and Lejean, the French Consul, escaping his ire by his having explained that M. Thouvenel was the As;.-Negus, or mouth of the Emperor, filling an office similar to one existing in Abyssinia. The same evening Theodoros warned both the consuls to leave, saying he could no longer guarantee their safety ; Lejean accepted the warning and escaped. Cameron, trusting too much to his own influence, and thinking his importance would increase after the departure of the French representative, procrastinated, and was eventually arrested and cast into prison. The reasons why Theodoros acted thus I will endeavour to explain from the facts I gathered from the Abuna, and from his own words, for after having been kept in durance some three weeks the Abuna one day summoned me to the Imperial presence. He seemed much better tempered than on the occasion of my first visit, and began by asking whether I. would ever have been treated in a more clement manner in any other country. " Certainly not, your Majesty ; especially not in England, where the innocent are incarcer ated and criminals left at freedom and rewarded !" I replied, as coolly as he had questioned me. He seemed amused, and after a while said, " Tbat I can easily believe, if the British Goverment treats its subjects in the same manner they have acted towards me !" In answer to this attack, I endeavoured to look upon all the disagreements that had occurred between him and Great Britain, as caused by the lament able ignorance preyailing in England respecting the manners and customs of Abyssinia, and begged him to remember that Queen Victoria, against whom he seemed to have the greatest grudge, was but an instrument in the hands of the Parliament, and not possessing the power and strength his Majesty did, who had but to command and he was obeyed. " Avoonat, very true," answered Theodore ; " but that does not alter the facts, except in so far that I must hold the British Parliament responsible for the insults heaped upon me, looking to it for an apology and reparation, and not to the British Queen." Thereupon I modestly asked what he required for the release of the prisoners. He answered with a great show of dignity and wounded pride : " Stern and the other missionaries have been guilty of many breaches of faith and of great dis respect and treachery towards me, for which they have been justly condemned to. death by the likaouent ; but I, in the fulness of my clemency, have diminished and softened the severity of their sentence, and commuted it to imprisonment for life. What the law has pronounced justice must carry out. lam no robber, who makes prisoners merely in order to extort a ransom. I act in accordance with justice." "Then, your Majesty, I would beg of you to treat me with the same severity as Consul Cameron; cast me in chains and lacerate my body with the scourge. He is not more guilty than I am." Theo doros seemed rather astonished, but I continued, saying that not being a spy nor a missionary, never having given him cause for anger, I never for a moment entertained any fear for my safety whilst in his dominions. He had the reputation of a great man ; no truly great man would ever act so tyran nically, and ended by advising him to cut off my hands and feet, and see if he could then say to his conscience, "I have acted rightly." " Will you engage in single combat with one of my knights, and stake your life for your, liberty ?" asked Theodore, when I had concluded. " No, I do not dream of it, being quite inexpe rienced in the use of the sword and lance. Besides, I should have fancied enough English blood had been shed for your Majesty." " How so?" he in quired. " Consul Plowden was murdered because he was your friend. That fact might possibly escape your memory, but that you should have forgotten Mr. Bell, who sacrificed his own life to save yours, is not what I should have expected." On hearing this Theodore became furious, for any allusion to Bell's death was extremely dangerous, and for a moment I fancied it was all over with any chance of escaping. However, thrusting his sword back into its scabbard, from which he had half drawn it, he remarked, " I do remember him, else your head would now have left its shoulders." Therewith his Majesty ordered me back to my residence, and I saw no more of him for six weeks, during which time I plied the Abuna with every reason I could think of to prove how advantageous my release would be to himself. I succeeded in gaining him over to my opinion, and in consequence of the representations he made to the King, coupled with my own respectful behaviour, I was again f +~' summoned to his Majesty, who informed me that I was at liberty to leave the country whenever I chose, advising me to get out of it as quickly as possible. I thanked him with all due fervour and the necessary laudations of his clemency and over powering kindness, begging him to fill the measure of his bounty by ordering the release of Cameron and his fellow-prisoners. But in vain. He replied :-- "As you already know, the missionaries have been justly condemned, and until I have received the reparation I consider myself entitled to from the British Government for the insolent manner I have been treated, as well by these men as by your own country, I shall dotaiu them here." " But," I remarked, "I cannot comprehend. how your Majesty curl look upon these men as hostages, or men for whose acts the British Government eau account itself responsible, as they are men of a totally different speech and nation, and no more British subjects than your Majesty yourself." This seemed to stagger him somewhat, but he soon recovered his presence of mind, and coolly in formed me that I lied. That if these men were not Englishmen, Consul Cameron would not have exerted himself as he had done in their behalf. " I consider myself at war with England," be continued; " and as I cannot chastise the British myself, and they did not come here, I shall continue to detain the Consul until I have succeeded in obtaining the fulfilment of all my conditions !" I then inquired what those conditions were. " You are no ambassador sent to me to demand the nature and extent of my conditions, but I Will tell you in order that your country may not try to excuse itself by pleading ignorance. My empire reaches to the sea, but my harbour, Massowah, is in the hands of the infidels. As soon as the British Government arranges a cession of this harbour to Me, by war or by peace, or provides me with the arms and ammunition requisite for taking it by force, 1 will set Ras Cameron free and at liberty. Now, any son, depart in peace. " Holy Father," he continued, turning to the Abuna, "give me your blesEing." The traveller concludes by congratulating himself on safely getting out of King Theodore's doll' nions. COUNTRY MARKETS. LEEDS—TUESDAY. a We had only a small attendance of the trade to-day, a n , there was a slow demand for wheat at the prices of /a s ' Tuesday. Barley is rather easier to buy. Oats and boan S firm. LIVERPOOL—TUESDAY. We had a full attendance to-day of both the town and country trade at our market, who showed a considerabl e disposition to buy, but the high prices asked checked bush; ness. Wheat met with a fair demand at an advance of °I: per rental on white and 3d on red descriptions. Flour 1 0 : scarce, and brought an advance of 2s per sack on the rate' of last Tuesday. Indian corn still in good demand, an d° fair trade done at 42s for prime mixed American and prial; Danube. Oats and oatmeal dull, but the rates of last we e d wero supported. Barley at late quotations, but beans 50 peas were about is per qr dearer on the week. MELTON MOWBRAY.—TUE SDAY. About the usual attendance, with an average supplY wheat, and prices unchanged. Barley scarce, and a tiro trade. Oats steady. White wheat, 64s to 73s ; red, 58s to 68s per 36 stole; Barley for malting, 408 to 52s per qr; feed, 32s to 38s r t . 30 stone. Oats, old, 30s to 32s ; new, 25s to 30s per 2 15 Beans, old, 52s to 545; new, 45s to 50s per qr. SHEFFIELD—TUESDAY. There was a better supply of wheat, and the busine so . done was at the extreme rates of last week for best wbi te l for rod wheat the trade was slow. Spring corn witho u ' change. Red wheat, per load of 3 imp. bushels..'..2 is Od to 28 0 9, 1 White do do ....2es Od 29 8 New red do do ....'47s Od 2 0 9, 1 New white do do ....29s ud 3 08 .' Beans do do ....19s Od 220 01 Peas, per qr Grinding be ley, per qr 41s Od 438 01 " Malting barley, r o 42s Od 458 03 Oats, do 2Bs Od 338 0 ' F10ur....2s ld to 2. 8d per 141 b. . MARKET HARBOROUGH.—T lIESDAY. A moderate quantity of wheat on offer, and tho den l6l 4 was slow, at quite late rates. Barley more healthy. U 8 and beans dull. Old white wheat, 65s to 74s ; new red, 61s to 69s per stone. Barley, fine, 52s ; other kinds, 23s to 36s per old, 46s new, 25s to 30s ; 30s to 32s per qr. Beans , o 46s to 535; new, 42s to 47s per qr. BRISTOL—TUESDAY. At the corn market to-day there was a fair demandor wheat at au advance of is per qr. Barley 6d dearer. ill dian corn rather higher. Oats dull. • Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. tnetralla and New Zealand, via Southamptoi.....Oet• 20. Ditto, via Marseilles Ditto, via Panama . ....... ......... ........ Brazil, Buenas Ayres, and Monte Video Oat. 4. Ditto, by French packet . Oct. 22 Cape Verde. by Brazil packet ...... . Oct. 4. Cape of Good Hope. Ascension, and St. Helena.... Sept. 2 1 ' China, Penang, and Singapore. via Southampton.. Oct. 3 Ditto, via Marseilles •. • Falkland Islands Oct. 4: Gibraltar, via Southampton Sept. 274 India via Southampton ...... .... ..... . ..... Oct. 3 . Ditto, via Marseil es Italia, • Egypt, &c. . * I: 27 : : Ditto, Marseilles Sep t. 2.. Mauritius, Cape of Good Hope, and Natal, via Southampton Oct. 20 4 DM >, via Maud ies Wt. 4 4 ' Newfoundland Portugal Oct. 4 4 Ditto, by private ship to Oporto ... Ditto ditto to Lisbon United States, Canada, California, &c., by British packet . Ocf• 3 . Ditto, by Unite.' States packet Ditto ditto (New York, Ditto ditto (New York) Ditto ditto (Milan:lure) Ditto, by Canadian packet Sep t ' " West Coast of Africa. Madeira, and Teneriffe 00 1 . 3 West Indies and Pacific ;except Mexico and Baha mas) Cuba and Mexico Sept: Bahamas, via New York Bermuda, via Halifax ~Oct WEIGHTS AND MEASURES IN 110LBORN.-- I ' . weptterday nine persons trading in the Holborn district t fined before the Justices of the Special Sessions h eld Freemasons' Tavern— Mr. J. Fysh Pownall, in the 6 d One licensed victualler, one beer retailer, ono flour Ono corn dealer, one cheesemonger, two greengrocers: ,'" ije chandler, one potato dealer, and one dealer in rabbits. maximum fine was £1155., and tho minimum ss. pe [AnvEansEmENT.]—Dyspepsia (Indigestion) Constipatiniof bility, Consumption, and all nervous, bilious, stomach, an d a ted complaints in every stage, are only aggravated and acceler ye by dings of every description, but perfectly curable 11 414 Barry's health-restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, as prov e g oc o thousands of cases which had been considered hopeless, e ' o o l ' as—cough, asthma, also diarrhoea., haemorrhoids, h per 0 0 plaints, flatulency, nervousness, biliousness, fevers, sore thr 001 diphtheria, catarrhs, colds, influenza, noises in the ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, neu r iiesa irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpitation, heartburn , ache, debility, dropsy, cramps, spasms, nausea and si c : o felol even in pregnancy or at sea, sinking fits, bronchitis, sc.` ll 11 0„' tightness of the chest, pains at the pit of the storaa c i , c olt.: between the shoulders, &c. We quote a few :—The Pope's' jel restored by Du Berry's Food. Cure No. 68,413.—"Ror ae ' c ollif la 21, 1866.—The health of the Holy Father is excellent, esPe.,Fel. since, abandoning all other remedies, he has ect:tried 11 ; entirely to Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food, of Whic sec consumes a plateful at every meal, It has produced 1,0 0 ,, prisingly beneficial effect on his health, and his Holines s , t ie ( 1 7 praise this excellent food too highly."—From the " d ye ro e ' Midi, July 25 Cure No. 46,270 Mr James Roberts , gS , merchant, of Fernley Surrey, of hi, tl years' diseased, : f 05 6 :, spitting of blood, liver derangement, and partia 41 ' Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord - 1 - 4 ' e r, 004 Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 49 , 832. so cF', years' indescribable agony from dispepsia, nervoll, top asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickns 6 7 o o,oY, vomiting.—Maria Joly." Important Caution.—Beware of theoo o unsavoury and more than sloppy imitations to which, , c,; e e authority, Baron Liebig's name is most audaciously attaeß, I In tins at Is. 14d.; 1 lb., 2s 9d. 2 lbs., 4s. 6 d.; 5 lbs zo " : 12 lbs., 225.; 24 lbs., 405.— BARRY Du BARRY and Co-, itegent-street, London; also Fortnam and Mason, 182, Piccoa and at 61, Gracechurch-street; 4, Cheapsido; 63, 150, ' ln Orford-street ;330 Strand; and all grocers and chemists. Births. goo' ELIOT— On the 23d inst., the wife of Captain the Charles Eliot, of a son. Powis—On tho 23d inst., at Lambert House, Groat vern, tho Hon. Mrs. E. V. It. Powis, of a daughter. me, WILKINSON —On the 23d inst., at Southampton 11 'i% V., Highgate, the wife of Lieut.- Colonel Wilkinson , of a son. Marriages. gor ELLICE—SPEIAS —On the 24th inst., at St. George's , - , 0 ; over-square, Edward Ellice, Esq., M.P., to -111.,,ii'l of wart, eldest daughter aT. Campbell Hagart, '' of Bantaskine, and widow of tho late Alex. Speirs , Elderslie, N.B. < 0 0: HARRis—FoRBEs—On the 17th inst., at All Saints , _ ro ad sington, Quarles Harris, jun., of 32, St. Luke' s : jta Villas, Kensington, to Emily Henrietta, second dawn of George Forbes, Esq., of Maida-hill. Deaths. r r P DAINTRY— On the 22d inst., Jane, relict of the Lt ". Daintry, Esq., of North Rode, thieshire. At ef FERoussaY—On the 21st inst., Catherine, fourth eatio of the late Sir Charles D. Fergusson, Bart. ,„, • FLOWERS - On the 23d inst., at 2, Lombard-street, N,'". Flowers, Esq., aged 63. 'l l3°. GmBERT—On the 22d inst., in The Close, Salisbury , W. Gilbert, Esq., aged 7 l lotl LITTLE— On the 23d inst., o. on board H.M.S. -us-e John Lit the 22d instle, 8.A., Mt. .8., surgeon, RN. ro s6 ' OGLE —On , at Warwick-s treet, Belgra v°- Edward L. Ogle, Esq., aged 72 London : Printed and Published by WIIALLIM AN' , '' .v Ili , of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tan SoN Oalce, 14° t , Of Strand, in the Precinct of the St/ voy, in the 0 0" blicicUeou.--Wecluosdo,y, September 25, 1867.