The Sun. — London, England, 1870-02-18 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.-TIMRSDAY. The LORD CIIANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. On the motion of Lord REDESDALE the standing orders committee, and the select committee for the conside- ration of opposed private bills was appointed. Lord CAIRNS moved for copies of returns from poor law, and other officials in Ireland, as to the tenure of land, &c., in that country, and also for copies of reports received as to the tenure and occupation of land in foreign countries. The papers were ordered. Lord ROSSE moved for papers and returns relative it. the Royal Mint. These papers having also been ordered their lordships ad• journed. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TnrnsDAY. Tho Smucru took the chair at four clock, -GLASGOW MUNICIPAL EXTENSION AND '3l PROVESIENT BILL. The second reading of this bill was opposed by Sir E, COLEBROOKE• Major HAMILTON seconded the motion of Sir E. Cole brooko for the rejection of the bill. Mr. GRAHAM trusted the municipal authorities of Glas go A' would have an opportunity of being heard before committee. Mr. ANDERSON opposed the bill, on the ground that the pcople of Glasgow looked upon it as a great in justice. mr. BRUCE opposed the bill on public ground; arguing at some length that much injustice would be done to the in. habitants of Glasgow if it were passed. Mr. DAGLISH supported the second reading. Mr. 0. EWING also supported the bill. Mr. MACFIE was fully satisfied that the case was one for inquiry before a committee. A division was taken, when there appeared— For the bill Against Majority against —4l The bill was therefore thrown out. NEW MEMBERS. Colonel BERESFORD took the oaths and his seat for the borough of Southwark in the midst of cheers. Mr. PLUNKETT took the oaths and his seat for the Univer pity of Dublin. NEW WRIT. On the motion of Mr. NOEL, a new writ was ordered to issue for the borough of Nottingham iu the room of Colonel Wright. NAVY ESTIMATES. Mr. CHILDERS laid upon the table of tho House the navy estimate•. PAUPERISM 1N LONDON. Mr. W. H. SMITH gave notice that on the 15th of March ho would call the attention of the House to the in crease of pauperism in London, and to the operation of the Pour-law in providing charitable relief. (Hear, hear.) THE HUDSON'S BAY TERRITORY. Mr. GOURLEY asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, if the Canadian Government had paid to the Hudson's Bay Company the contract price (.£300,000) for the territory ceded by the latter; and, if not, if it was intended, owing to the recent hostilities at the Ilea River settlement, to relieve both parties of the contract, and create of the territory a Crown colony ? Mr. MONSELL answered that the Home Government, the Canadian Government, and the Hudson's Bay Company were all cordially co-operating to bring about a settlement of the dispute that had arisou at the Bea River. Only recently information had been received which gave reason to hope that these efforts would be successful. RATING OF ➢IIINES. Mr. PEASE asked the President of the Poor-law Board whether, in the measure preparing by her Majesty's Uovefia meat for "extending the incidence of rating," it was pro posed that metallic mines should become rated for the pour and other local rates? Mr. CIOSUB.EIN said it was the intention of the Guyana ment to briug in a Lill for such a purpose. INDIAN BANKS. Sir S. NORTLICOTE asked the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Government had under their consider ation the position of the Presidency Banks, and whether they proposed to take any steps with reference thereto? 2dr. DUFF said the Government had the subject under their consideration, but the matter had not been fully com pleted. PAUPER RELIEF. Sir S. NORTB.COTE asked the President of the Poor. law Board whether his attention Lad been drawn to the the case of a pauper named Ann Howe, who was removed in July last from the Union of Pontypridd to the Union of South Molten, tizether with her six children, although two of them were earning wages fully sufficient for their own maintenance ; and whether he was aware that the legality of the order was disputed ? Mr. GOSUIIEN said Lis attention had been called to the matter, and he further was aware that the legality of the removal was questioned, but he could not say that any mea sures were in contemplation on the subject. WHITWORTH GUNS. Sir J. HAY asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he would lay upon the table of the House extracts from the report of Admiral Viscount Tamandar6 to the Brazilian Minister of Marine, being the replies of the Brazilian naval officers in command of ships in actual warfare in the Para guay, to the seventh question, on the subject of the jamming of the shot in the Whitworth guns? Mr. CHILDERS said he could not produce the paper, as it had been questioned by the Brazilian Government; but he would be glad to give the hon. member a copy of the paper for his own use. SERVIA. Mr. GREGORY asked the Under uecretary of State for Foreign Affairs if her Majesty's Government had received Information of a large concentration of Turkish troops which had caused much excitement in Servia, and if any represen tations had been made on the subject to the Turkish Go vernment, and with what result? Mr. OTWAY said there had been an inquiry, and the Porto do _Aed the attack on Montenegro was intended. EDUCATION. Mr. WINTERBOTHAM asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when the Commission of Inquiry into Primary Education in Ireland, appointed in 1867, would make their report, and what was the cause of the delay in doing so? and whether their report and the evidence taken by the Com mission would be laid upon the table of the House before the second reading of the Government Education Bill for Eng land and Wales? Mr. C. FORTESCUE said he had received intelligence that day from the Secretary of the Commission, who said it had been thought the report would be ready in March, but he found now it could not be produced before Easter. INDIAN POSTAGE. Mr. EASTWICK asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British officers on the Tele graphic Staff in Persia had been deprived of the facilities of postal communication they had hitherto enjoyed, owing to a question between the Foreign office and the India-office as to the incidence of expense ; and, if so, whether any steps would be taken to restore those facilities ? Mr. OTWAY said the expense of non-efficient corres pondence had led to the arrangement, but all necessary books and papers would, of course, be sent as usual. SCOTCH PUBLIC OFFICES. Mr. FINNIE asked the First Lord of the Treasury, it the evidence taken before the Departmental Commission appointed to inquire into the working of the Scottish public offices, and other Government arrangements, would be pi inted ; and, if so, when the report would be laid upon the table of the House ? Mr. GLADSTONE said the report had not yet been laid before the Treasury, therefore ha could not say whether it would be printed. TRAM WAYS. Mr. W. H. SMITH asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade if it wore the intention of the Board to make a special report on the bills for powers to lay upwards of 125 miles of tramways on streets within the limits of the metropolis before those bills were read a second time ? Mr. LEFEVRE said the whole subject of tramways was under consideration, and a statement would be made on the subject in the course of a few days. The second read ing of the bills had been postponed. BOMBAY MILITARY FUND• Mr. DICKINSON asked the Under Secretary of State for India whetherat the time when the Bombay Military Fund was transferred to Government in 1866 the then directors of the fund did not contemplate raising widows' pensions to the rate at which they stood p►ior to the reduction in 1831 ; and whether the fund was not in a position to justify such la , crease ; or, if the state of the fund had not yet been ascer tained, when did he expect that it would be? Mr. OT WAY said the Government had no information on the first part, and the other part of the question wact now being considered by Sir Samuel Brown. EXPENSES AT ELECTIONS. Mr. W. BEAUMON T asked the bon. member for DI ighton it he intended to proceed this session with his Parliamen tary Election Expenses Bill ? Mr. FAWCETT said he should not bring in the bill until the select committee now sitting on election matters had made its report. GENERA LS OF MARINES: Colonel FRENCH asked the First Lord of the Admiralty _Wiath.o/-t4Q-gi=ga_PiXoxiaa 94_thur,tiulis6.ma to be included in the retirement about to come out for AdMiials on that list; and, if not, for what reason were they to ho excluded ? Mr. CHILDERS hoped the hon. and gallant member would not press him to anticipate the statement he would have to mako on Monday week. SPANISH WINES. Mr. AKROYD asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any communications had been received from the Portuguese or Spanish Governments, making over tures for the negotiation of a treaty of commerce with one or other of those countries, offering a reduction of the tariffs on the importation of British goods, provided some recipro cal advantages be given for the importation of Spanish and Portuguese wines; and, if so, if he would lay such corres pondence upon the table of the House? _ _ Mr.OTWAY said communications had been received, and the Government wore to come to some arrangement on the subject. The matter was now under consideration. MARRIAGE LAWS. Mr. B. HOPE asked the hon. member for Marylebone whether, considering the important collateral considerations raised by his bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister, he would fix some Wednesday for the Com mittee, on which the question could be discussed in all its bearings? Mr. CHAMBERS said he was anxious to give time for the discussion of the bill, and therefore would defer the com mittee until to-morrow, but he complained that its opponents had last year addressed the House on the measure, not ad ducing arguments against its principle, but simply rising for the sake of putting obstacles in the way of its pro gress. LNTERRUPTION OP TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICA- TION. In reply to Mr. BAINES, The Marquis of HARTINGTON said that to-day the tele graphic wires were working very much Later than they had done during the last few days. When last he was interrogated on this subject, he indulged in the anticipation that within a very few days the cause of the delay in the transmission of messages would be removed, thinking that they arose chiefly, if not solely, from the organisation which had just taken place with re gard to the management cf the telegraphs. The present cause was the state of the weather, which, of course, was altogether beyond human control. So much had the wires been affected by the weather that during the last few days they had been almost entirely useless. Between Manches ter and London, out of seven wires, only two yesterday could be used. There was only one working for the greater part of the day between London and Dublin, and between Scotland and London the 68E13 state of things occurred, The engineers had assent' him that this inconvenience fre quently occurred under the old system, but since 1866 they bad never kr . u the inconvenience to be so serious. Besides this, since the collection of Parliamentary intelligence and general news had been left to other organisations, for transmission to country newspapers, such was the quantity of matter loured into the telegraph offices that it was utterly impossible with the present ma chinery to transmit it all. U, til some arrangement was come to by which such a state of things should be remedied, it was on the authority of Mr. Scuclamoro quite impossible that the Government and Post Office could give entire satis faction. TIIE ARMY ESTIMATES. Mr. CARDWELL intimated to the House that on the 11 March he hoped to be able to introduce the Army Esti mates. THE EDUCATION BILL. It was 20 minutes to 6 when Mr. FORSTER rose to move for leave to bring in a bill to provide for public ele mentary education in England and Wales. He was received with cheers. First he craved the indulgence of the House, saying that he was!conscious of his deficiencies for the per formance of such a task, but he should try to forget those deficiencies, and he hoped the House would forget them in considering the important work upon which they were that night entering. This matter of primary edu cation was a very serious business, not because it was hoped to do great good by the removal of ignorance from the land, but by striking at the root of crime and misery, which were fraught with mischief to the individual and danger to the State. (Cheers.) Affecting as it did the training of a vast proportion of the population, this matter of popular education concerned merely both their intellectual and moral training ; and he was sure no member of that House would forget that, while trying to do great good, it was possible to do harm. (Hear, hear.) That feeling of responsibility he thought rested on both aides of the House. He felt, and he thought the House generally felt, that, while the necessity of dealing with the question was urgent, it was also necessary to proceed with great care. (Hear, heal.) He would not detain the House by showing why, in his opinion, an education bill was necessary, neither would he enter into the political history of the question. It would be sufficient if he alludea to the fact that last year ono of the principal objections to her Majesty's most gracious speech from the throne was the absence of any promise of legislation on the subject. He did not ask hon. members to divest themselves of party feeling in considering this question, because ho knew they would, and thus approach the subject in the most compre_ hensive and liberal spirit. The Government hal not brought forward the present bill with any view towards a compromise. The matter was too important for that—(hear, hear)—they must look around and consider the present as well as the future, and doing that they must not be bound by any particular or limited view. No bill, he was sure, would do any real good that did not meet the necessities of the day— (hear, ;hear) - and that was not all, because to be thoroughly efficient, it must also meet the needs of the morrow. It would not do for them, therefore, to merely con sider the future by recent profit, by the lessons of the past, but look forward hopefully for the future. They had two great facts to deal with—first, that primary education was a necessity ; and the next was, that none but reliable schools should have a vote of public money. Last year the sum voted by Parliament for elementary education was £415,000 for schools in England and Wales, in which there were 11,000 day and 2,000 night schools, and the number of children reported as receiving education in those schools amounted to one million and a half, perhaps, not receiving the best educa tion, but receiving education of some sort; but then he was bound to say that the attendance was shown to be most imperfect. They, however, were under a deep debt to the managers of these schools, and no one more than himself knew the extent to which they were indebted for much of the good that had been ac complished by voluntary labours. He had seen a statement of the number of children in the various counties that required education, and he was struck wtth the immensity of the want. In Liverpool it appeared the number of children be tween five and thirteen was 80,000, 20,000 attended school of some sort or other, and 20,000 get no sort of education at all. In Manchester the number was 65,000, and the number receiving education was about as much more, and the in struction much better than that of Liverpool. He saw his lion. friend the member for Leeds in his place, and he regretted that he had to say that the con dition of Leeds and Birmingham was as bad as that of Liverpool. The bill of the Government, he thought, would meet a great deal of the want; and the great point of it was that its operations would be in accordance with proved need. They had much imperfect education and much good, but unfortunately the good soon became bad by the parents keeping their children from regular attendance. (Hear, hear.) The State help was necessary, but unfortunately, upon that point, it had happened that State help had been given to those that wanted it the least, and therefore he hoped that the time had now come when help would be extended to those who might need it. (Cheers.) There was a strong desire for education of a national and complete form. (Cheers.) The country demands, and the first duty they had to do was to cover the country with good schools; and, secondly, get the parents to see that their children visited them He thought it possible to achieve such a sub ject, ; with that view the present bill was brought forward. In solving the problem of how to provide an efficient system of national education, there must be consistently with the attainment of our object the least possible expenditure of nubile money. (Hear, hear.) Existing efficient schools must not be injured, and the most caretut en deavour must be made not to encourage parents to neglect their duty. The object of the House should be v complete the present voluntary system, to fill up gaps, as it were, sparing public money where it was not needed, and spending it whore it was needed. (Hear, hear.) With those conditions he now came to the principle and plan of the bill. First, there was a legal onactmett that there should be efficient schools everywhere throughout the kingdom. Secondly, there was a compulsory provision for the estab lishment of such schools', if they were proved to be wanting, but not unless. (Hear, hoar.) Upon the passing of the bill there would be no portion of England or Wales that would not bo in ono school district or another, for the country would bo parcelled out into so many districts. The boundaries of those districts would be boroughs as regarded towns, and parishes as regarded the country—not the ecclesiastical, but the civil perish. In the divisions of the metropolis ho should be guided by the experience of the metropolitan mein '• r . If in any one of the districts it was toiled that the elementary education was sufficient, efficient, and suitable, it would not be touched. Public elementary schools would be subject to three regu lations—one old and two new. They would be kept up to a standard of secular efficiency. Inspection would be no longer denominational. And in future there would be what was called a conscionco clause as a condition of the public grants. Such was absolutely necessary, but it would be very different tE the _present cmc,feige clause, - „ It yeould, apply, to HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Morning. Evening FRIDAY . .................. 42 min past 3 4 min peat 4 _ _ SATURDAY 25 min past 4 55 min past 4 SUNDAY _ . MONDtY 50 min past 5 14 min past 6 TVESDAY R „.. ! ‘ ... ! ~, 33 xi* rad 6 4 ... 0 U Eau put 7 THE MORDAUNT CASE. The hearing of this case vas ronolvdd thiA daq, More Lord Penzance and a special jury. Serjeant Ballantine said tlat a witness named Haynes, who served the citations, anC was, therefore, a most mate rial witness, was very ill, in London, and he had therefore to ask that his evidence migit be taken at the hotelwhere he is stopping. Lord Penzance said that c•uld be done after the rising of the court. Dr. Harris, a surgeon at Worthing, said that on the 25th of May last he was cated in to attend the respon dent. He believed her to be 7erfectly insane. By Serjeant Ballantine : He thought her disease to be puerpural insanity. No one could mistake that kind of insanity at its first [appearance. He should attach very little importance to statements made by a patient suffer ing from such a disease. Supposing it to manifest itself juA after the confinement, there would be certain indica tions of it. By Dr. Deane : The symptoms, of course, might vary. Never met with a case of hysterical catalepsy. Mr. Hughes, a surgeon, residing at Bromley, was callea in to attend the respondent on the 25th of August. Had paid her over fifty visits, some of which lasted hours. lie had also eeen her in consultation with Dr. Gull and Dr. Reynolds ; was of opinion that Lady Mordaunt was a com plete wreck—she had no mind. He had endeavoured to test her memory, and found that she had none whatever. Had seen her ladyship throw herself on a couch. He had dined with her, and her habits were most capricious. Sometimes she would eat very little, and at others pack her mouth as full as possible. He heard the evidence of the witnesses on the previous day, and remembered the acts deposed to by them. He had the impression that the doings of her ladyship were just what might have been expected from her condition. Her state had not improved of late, and when he last saw her she was decidedly worse. Her physical condition, however, was better. Supposing her to be " shamming," she could not be in the physical condition in which she now was. He had watched the respondent most carefully, and he did not believe that she was " shamming." By Serjeant Ballantine t Took her disease to be puer pural insanity. He had tried to get her into conversation, and had asked her if there Was anything on her mind ; it was impossible to convey to the court an idea of her answers. She had wonderful powers of digestion and would eat three or four mince pies at a stretch. Dr. Wood, who had been appointed referee in a case of dispute between Drs. Gull and Reynolds, said he first saw Lady Mordaunt on the 18th of September, when she was alone. She said " I am very well." He then put questions to her but failed to get any intelligent answer. He found her pulse weak and her hand cold and clammy. The respondent was unable to tell witness how long she had lived in the house. He put various questions to her ; but failed to get definite answers. The subject of music was introduced and witness asked the respondent to play, and selected a song, ' Strangers Yet," for her to sing, she tried to sing it, but she utterly broke down, and burst into tears when she got to the end of the verse. Witness asked her what was the matter, but she simply replied, "Oh, nothing." Witness was quite surprised at her docility. She would do the most trivial things. She was in a pitiable condition, and he never spoke harshly to her. A few days afterwards—on the 23rd of September—he called again, and found her standing in the room like a statue. In dealing cards she would suddenly stop and poise the card in her hannd, just as if circulation were suspended. When asked as to the value of coins, she could tell the value of them separately, but not when they were piled up together. On one occasion she drew a cheque for £.500, but it was so irregularly done that h e asked for a sp ec i a l or d er on i t to her bankers. Her lady ship thereon sat down and wrote a most incoherent letter on the back of the cheque. Witness went on to give evi dence to the effect that the respondent could not draw out a cheque properly, or even understand the meaning of "pay to order." When asked to draw out a cheque, she put down the right day of the month, but the wrong year. He saw the respondent on the 25th of October, having just left instructions that she should not be informed that he was coming. Witness asked to see the child, and when it was brought she took no notice of it. She at times manifested something like curiosity, but nothing more. Witness played whist with her, and every now and - then she suddenly stopped and played false cards. When it was pointed out that she had made mistakes she corrected them. From first to last was struck with her remarkable consistency, or her incon sistency. There was no variation whatever in her conduct. Her mind seemed almost to be a blank, and she was quite capable of being checked by another mind, and was completely at th e merc y o f o th er persons. Believed that with proper guidance she could write a cheque. She seemed quite incapable of reflection. Her bodily health was somewhat improved ; but she gave him the impression of a person natuially robust. By Sergeant Ballantine : Did not think that if a cheque book were put before her, she could write a cheque by her self ; but she might do so if roused to it by another person. He would not be prepared to hear that she drew the cheques herself. The mistake at whist would be :evoking. The song she was asked to sing was very applicable to her own position with Sir Charles. Certain natural acts were performed by insane persons. The fact of her crying would bo consistent with the presumption that she was shamming. By Lord Penzance : A case just like that of Lady Mordaunt was under his care when he was attending on her ladyship. It would be difficult to define the exact condition of the respondent's mind. Had seen other cases of the same sort arising from puerpural insanity. Believed it impossible for the most practised artist to carry out such a deception as that said to have been dune by Lady Mordaunt. Her physical condition was better, and believed that the fact of her making flesh - showed a tranquil mind. Had she been simulating her health would have failed. Puerpural insanity might occur in any period during pregnancy and within the p er i o d o f lac tation. In the majority of cases where puerpural insanity ensued it came suddenly. Sir Thomas Moncreiff, father of the respondent, said in May last year he saw his daughter at Walton Hall. This was on the 10th of May, and he was with her the greater part of the time. It was difficult to say that he had any conversation with her. He had asked questions, and sometimes she answered appropriately, and at others in such a manner as to convince him that she knew not what she was talking about. He had asked her if sho would like to see him. At times she said she did not care, at others that she should, and at others made no answer. Sometimes he mentioned Lady Louisa Moncrieff, and asked the respondent if she would like to see her. Lady Mordaunt seemed to deliberate, and would then answer in the affirmative. He saw her on the 15th of May, and told the respondent that he was going to take her away. When she was being taken away she did not seem to understand it. Witness travelled to London in the same carriage • she got hysterical at one time. She stayed in Belgrave-square some days, and then went to Worthing. He frequently saw her, and he considered that at times she shewed some kind of sense, and at others was out of her mind altogether. Saw her last on the 9th of the present month, and she seemed better as regarded her bodily health ; but her mind was much the same as when he first saw her. Cross-examined by Serjeant Ballantine : Had converse,- tions with Lady Louisa Moncrieff as to what the respon dent had told her. Understood that the respondent said that the child was not Sir Charles Mordaunt's or her's (the respondent's) either. The letter produced he had read. This epistle was dated October 8, 1869, and said, " My dear mother, I am at last able to write a line to tell you lam well. . • • The bird' has taken a journey home to-day. He' has become ' very cockey' of late. . . Bunchey' (i.e., her sister Blanche) would not divulge much of home news.l This was the case for the respondent. Serjeant Ballantine, on behalf of the petitioner, re marked, in introducing his case, on the most painful nature of his task. He would endeavour as far as possible to hurt nobody's feelings. He could not agree with the analogy drawn by his learned friend between this and a criminal case. The question was whether the petitioner, who alleged that he suffered from a d ea dly i n j ur y, s h ou ld be shut out from any remedy. The issue they were directed to try fixed a particular time the 30th of April, and after that period when they were to say whether the respondent was sane or insane. If she was sane at the time the citation was served, she was bound to answer. He would draw the attention of the jury to the 30th of April. He would put them in possession of the facts generally that he would have to refer to and reserve to himself the right to speak hereafter. He divided the testimony into two parts—facts and opinions. With regard to the evidence as to the facts it was sus picious bcause it did not tally wtih the medical evidence, and also that persons who could have been, had not been called. Some three or four things had been imputed to the re spondent repulsive and shocking in their nature if they were not simulated ; and not one medical man observed any thing of the kind spoken to byher menials. Supposing Lady Mordaunt to be insane, she would be rt. s-especter of , b ut , it sne Would he Ash somad to do those acts before persons of her own station. He did not think they would place much reliance on the testi mony of the witnesses ; but if they did they should bear in mind what he had just said. The first witness examined was a dependant of the Moncreiff family, and of course their views, would be well understood by her. The other three who gave evidence of the same sort were inferentially, if not directly, contra dicted by the medical men who had been called. He would pow refer to the second blanch of his case. Why was not Lady Moncreiff called? Sie was present at the confinement, and heard a variety of confessions and statements, and her observations would have ;neatly assisted the jury. Was it not likely that she thought her daughter sane, and could not get up into the witness-box and say to the contrary? They were also told tha Blanche Moncreiff and Lady Louisa were with the respondent at different times, and why were they not callel ? He could understand the grief and agony it would Ic to them to be called ; but the solemnity of the case denanded it. The rights of Sir Charles were impeded ly this issue and he asked the jury to think that the reason the family did not get into th, witness box was that they knew that the isue was not a true one. The medical evidence was certainly very strong, but the witnesses were, as it were, experts." They spoke to few facts, but said that appearoices indicated certain things. He looked at the certificals of Dr. Tuke, Dr. Alderson, and Dr. Priestley, and **proposition was puerpiral mania only a few days after the confinem en t, an d con tinuing to progress towarts dementia from time to time. They made their stand on that puerpural ttania With a fever peculiar to a state of pregnancy. it the medical men were wrone as to puerpural madness their evidence was worth nctliing. Then they had the evidence of Sir Charles Sinpson, an old friend of the family. He also thought it MIA puerpural mania from the cammencement, and the whohof his evidence was founded on that supposition. As to fie evidence of Dr. Gull, it was doubtless of great imporance. He doubtless took in sans which he thought woult be a sure test of sanity, or in malty. Dr. Burrows, than vhom a more eminent man did not live, certainly seemed o say that at the time he saw Lady Mordaunt he could tot make up his mind that she was insane ; it was only when other facts came to his knowledge that he thought so.As to her singing the song, the words of which resembled her own position, he thought it a strong argument for hiscase. Her feeling in the ntataer showed that she had tot forgotten all that was past ; and the docile way in which she finished the piece showed that sla meant to save her name and fame of those beloning to her—he was afraid by duplicity. There were aerie things that so spoke to the human heart that words •ere unnecessary, and that was one of them. He could rot concur with the entle plan 101,111idathat..a.Wiking.r.,Ahia THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 18, 1870. every public elementary school, secular as well as denominational. Thore would be power given to the school boards to frame byelaws for the compulsory attendance of children from five to twelve years of ago. No parent would be under any penalty for non attendance of children if they could show reason able excuse, education elsewhere, sickness, or that there was not a public elementary school with in a mile of home. The powers of the Industrial Schools Act would be transferred, in an extended form, to the district school boards. In conclusion, the hon. gentle man said he was very sanguine that in its many pro visions the bill he had sketched would become law The great problem was how best to get assistance fccM . organisations, and how to supply the necesssary funds for general education. The latter was a great difficulty ; but he did not think insurmountable ; and with respect ► to the latter as local agency, had not proved as satisfactory as could be desired, they intend to have recourse to municipal organisation. (Hear, hear.) The expenses he proposed to meet by local taxation, by rates, and by money voted by Parliament, coupled with central inspection. With respect to the educational boards there this bill would take the muni cipal boundary, and in the rural districts take the parishes ; and then they did not propose to meddle were all was at present going on satisfactorily. The educa tional boards would be elected in towns by the town councils, in the counties by the select vestries where there was one and by vestries where there was not, and each would have the privilege of electing who they please. (Hear, hear.) The Government did not propose that there should be any nominees on the board— (hear, hear)—and where those boards did the work well, there all would go on rightly. But where they did not do the work well, the Government would go in and do that which others had failed to achieve. (Hear, hear.) Then there was another important matter, and that was the question of school fees. It had been the subject of great consideration whether these fees ought or ought not to be given up, and the Government had come to the conclusion of not giving up these school fees. The cost would be too enormous. The bill proposed to give the school boards power to grant free tickets, but they would have nothing about them of the shape or form of pauperism. (Hear, hear.) The cost of the schools they proposed should be passed as follows—one-third by the parents, one rates, and one third by Parliament. The charge on the poor rates was in no case to exceed 3d. in the pound, and it was not expected that the sum would in any case be approached ; but there were additional clause in the bill which would give those places a con siderable grant of public money towards their annual expenditure. The bill also proposed to give the schools the power to borrow. With respect to the religious teaching, the bill did not prescribe religious teaching what they proposed to do was to leave the matter to the feelings of the majority of the people, and by that means they felt certain the majority would prefer a Christian pro gress in education. The bill did not lay down that the great book in which they believed should be the only book not used in the public schools. (Hear, hear.) They gave power to the board, and to the people they looked with the most perfect trust and confidence as the proper power to say what was the best to do. Upon the speedy provision of an elementary education depended our industrial progress. (Hear, hear.) Upon it depended the safe working of our constitution. Now that we had given the people power, we ruus",, give them educa tion. Upon this speedy provision also depended the national power. He was well aware many earnest men in that House, who entertained their own ideas as re garded education. He himself was ..lonscious that educa tion was not virtue ; but that was no reason why we should longer promote tho present state of ignorance that prevailed. [When the hon. gentle= n resumed his seat, which he did after speaking exactly three hours, he was loudly cheered.] Lord ROBERT MONTAGU said that the inspectors under the present system did not examine in religion on the part of the Government, therefore he could not under stand the provision of the bill against denominationc inspection. Mr. DIXON was in favour of the scheme, and thought it would give universal satisfaction. Mr. Mundella, Mr. Melly, and Mr. Cowper-Temple ex pressed similar sentiments. Lord SANDON approved of the spirit of the measure, but would not pledge himself to details. Ile was pleased to notice that Mr. Forster had, by his proposals. encouraged instead of damped the feeling of local self-support. Mr. FAWCETT expressed his opinion that the measure was one of a tentative character, and afforded good ground for ample discussion in committee, with a view to really meet the admitted feeling that the subject should as soon as pos sible receive a settlement. Sir J. PAKINGTON pronounced it a great and compre hensive plan, framed in the most conciliatory spirit, hut re ,:rretted that Mr. Forster had not made his able speech as the head of a responsible Educational Department. He believed that no system of national education could be carried out unless it was solely in the hands of a responsible member of the Government. He criticised some portions of the scheme, and thought that compulsion would be necessary to carry it out. The question was, should that compulsion be direct or indirect? Leave was then give❑ to bring in the bill, and it was sub sequently read a first time. The second reading was fixed for the 14th March. A similar permission was granted to Mr. Bonus to bring in a projf'ct to facilitate the re vesting of mortgaged estates i❑ mortgagors. Mr. S. LEFEVRE obtained leave to bring in a bill to confirm certain orders made by the Board of Trade under the Sea Fisheries Act, 1868, relating to Boston Deeps and Emsworth. The House then adjourned. COURSIN G. WATERLOO COURSING MEETING. TIMRSDAY. After a postponement of ono day this great meeting commenced at Altcar this day (Thursday). The principal feature of the sport was the match between Lady Lyons and Master M'Gratb, upon the latter of whom odds were laid. The excitement was intense when the two dogs were slipped, and culminated in roars of shouting when the Lady, always in front, was returned as the winner. The double Irish winner was deft ated almost pointless, and was afterwards nearly drowned in a ditch. WATERLOO CUP. FIUST ROUND. Mr Lonsdals ns Master Frederick beat Mr Boote's Byperi- cum Mr Allison's Albatross beat Mr Bland's Black Huntsman Mr luglvb)'s Inkstand beat Mr Forester's Financier - Mr Blausbard's Bab-at-tlie-Bowster beat Mr B. 11. Joneb's Jaunty Jane Mr Hay wood's Refraction beat Lord Howard de Walden's El Sbikari Mr Blacklock's Baffler beat Mr Trinder's Schoolmaster Mr Carruthers' Cataclysm boat Lord Stair's Swivel Dr Richardson's Requiem beat Mr Swinburne's S. S. Mr Copland ns Eurus beat Mr Bake's ns Blunder (1) Mr Bartholomew ns Cavalier beat Mr Stocker ns Claude Mr Graham ns Pedestrian beat Mr Hodson ns Pauline Mr Watson's Waywarden beat Sir J. Metcalfe's Malt Liquor Col. GLodlake's ► ady Lyons beat Lord Lurgan's Master NI 'Graz h Mr Mould's My Goofiness bo,t Mr Todd's Pagan fir BrundritC, Thackvolii beat. Mr Gilmour's Gulf Stream Lord Blotting's BOW iiniere beat Mr Alassey's Master Livox Brochlebatik't, Brigade beat. Mr Evans's Enchanter Mr Cheshvre's Conceit beat Mr Legh's Lareeny (2) Mr Borron's Black Knight beat Mr Hysiep*s Hiawatha Mr Clark's Chivalry beat Hon Cecil Molyneux's Sonato (1) Mr Randall's Royal Bride beat Mr Foulkes's Hearty Lass Lord Softon's String of Pearls beat Mr Deighton's Diana (late Jealousy) Mr Puuchard's Protectoribeat Sir Capel Molyneux's Meer- sehauln Mr Van Agnew's Varioty (late Apropos) beat Mr Jardine's Iron Croivn (1) - - Mr Spinks's Sea Cove beat Mr Nevillo's Abercorn Capt Hawthorne's Wave beat Mr T C Smith's Cydippe Mr Barden's Bacchante beat Mr Green's Harvest Queen Mr Gibson's Cylono boat Mr Hosford's Pat of Uullingar Mr Lister's Cock Robin beat Mr Vyner's Rob Roy Mr Cunningham's Commodore beat Mr F Johnston's Bed of Stone Mr Dunlop's Pretender beat Mr J Johnston us Cottage Girl (1) Mr llarfleet's Margrave boat Mr Reed's Regal State SECOND BOUND. Albatross beat Master Frederick Bab at the Bowater beat Inkstand Refraction beat Baffler Cataclysm beat Requiem Cavalier beat Eurus Pedestrian beat Waywarden Lady Lyons beat My Goodness, after one undecided Bendhnere beat Blackstone Conceit. beat Brigade Chivalry beat Black Knight Royal Bride beat String of Pearls, after two undecideds Variety beat Protector Sea Cove beat Wave Bacchante beat Cyclone Commodore beat Cock Robin, after one undecided Margrave beat Pretender The very extensive Distillery now being erected at Belfast, with all recent improvements for the manufacture of Irish whisky, by Mess's. DUN VILLE & Co., who have gained a world-wide celebrity for their flue old Irish whisky, is to be called "The Royal Irish Distillery." tress or mind, and ne thought it slimed some sanity at least, that she could play the game even moderately well. He was sure that Dr. *Wood did not found his opinion on the game of whist ; bul still it was one of the facts that influenced him. Sir Charles Mordaunt was 33 years of age, and the lady, who was " superlatively beautiful," was 19 or 20 at the time of the marriage. The marriage was a suitable one, the settlements he made on her were liberal in the extreme, and for a time they lived as happily as possible. Lady Mordaunt was much admired, and her constitution was, perhaps, afflicted with hysteria in one form or another, after' a marriage of some time, during which she had had miscarriages. On the previous June 1868, Sir Charles determined, in accord ance with his usual custom, to go to Norway for fishing. He was anxious that his wife should go with him. She did not wish to do so, and he determined that she should stay at Walton, where she could be visited by her friends. Sir Charles never dreamt of wrong or neglect. He went on the 15th June 1868, and was away exactly a calendar month—these dates would become material. The child was born on the 28th of the following February prematurely. It was a child that might have been the child of her own husband as far as dates are concerned. He would now come to a very painful part of the inquiry. Immediately on the birth of the child, and as soon as the child was born, Lady Mor daunt repeated a question as to the With of the child, and under circumstances which he thought would show her sanity. She was told it was a small one; but said she did not mean that, but had the child anything the matter with its eyes. She then asked after a certain person, and in such a way as to spew that she was afraid that both she and the child had been affected, and she must have been sane to do that. Dr. Deane would ask his lordship if these state ments and confessions could be admitted as evidence. His friend was trying the main question, and not the col lateral one, and the jury had to decide. Lord Penzance thought he could not interfere with the way in which Serjeant Ballantine was conducting the case. Dr. Deane had said that if Serjeant Ballantine went on, it would be very painful ; but that was not a legal objection, and the only question was whether the questions were material. He said that on the grounds of common sense and justice he must admit them, though, had he disc re ti on i n th e matter, he would rather have acceded to Dr. Deane's opposition. Serjeant Ballantine went on to say that he proposed to spew certain statements made, and then the truth of these statements ; from them the sanity of Lady Mordaunt would be deduced. Ilis friend could call persons who, although parties to the suit, were competent witnesses. When Lady Mordaunt made the statements to which he referred, her husband looked on them as being the result of the confinement, until facts came to his knowledge. He would now read a statement made by the respondent. Lord Penzance said it would be bettor not to mention names till they were proved. Serjeaut Ballantine proceeded to read :—" On March 8, after her confinement, she asked the nurse to say she wished to speak to me, and when I saw her she burst into tears and said, ' Oh, Charlie, I have been very wicked.' I said, ' With whom ? ' and she said, With A., 8., C., and others, and in the open day.'" He (Serjeant Ballantine) would sa,y that there was a great deal of difference between one gentleman and the other three. He would ask them to remember that the words used in reference to this person were " Very wrong," and that might not mean adultery. But certainly Sir Charles had forbidden her to see this person, and yet there had been interviews and letters between the parties—the former when Sir Charles was from home ; but still he hoped that the jury would be able to find that " very wrong " did not mean adultery. As to the other person, he was a co-respondent to the other suit, and it was he that Lady Mordaunt alleged was her child's father ; and he (Serjeant Bal lantine) would bring evidence to shew that they were frequently together. In her diary on the 3rd of April the words " 281 days from 27th of June " occured, and it was on the last-named day that she saw Viscount Cole. The jury would see that 231 days was the ordinary time of gestation. As to the co-respondent (Sir Frederick Johnston) it was to him that Lady Mordaunt attributed her child's illness. He would shew that Lady Mordaunt had frequently enquired of her husband why Sir Frederick Johnston was not married, and was told that it might be prejudicial to the lady he married. It was the next day that the respondent went to see Dr. Priestly, though she never told ner husband that she was even ill. They would have evidence as to the state of the child's eyes. They would hear that Lady Mordaunt went to an hotel, and that she and another person supped together, and went to the theatre together. On that very night in 1867 she wrote and said, " I felt horribly dull a ll b y m y self, yesterday evening." It would be proved up to the hilt that she was with a gentleman on that very night. He should be able to prove that she was not a raving lunatic, but knew all she was doing- an d saying. The learned counsel then proceeded to refer to the letter of the Bth of October, and asked if that looked as if Lady Mordaunt was in the state of insanity alleged. He then went on to dwell on the fact that diaries were kept, but destroyed by persons who were in close attendance on the respondent, and the fact of their destruction was extremely suspicious. Wit nesses would be called to prove that she was sane, and a letter would be read sent by her husband on the 16th of May—long after the day set down as the date of her insanity. If Sir Charles Mordaunt thought his wife was pure, he would hold out his arms to receive her ; but he could not believe that such was the case. Elizabeth Hancock, wife of Daniel Hancock, said that on the night of the 27th of February she was sent to attend Lady Mordant, who was confined on the following morn ing. The baby was very small indeed, and only weighed 3 3 / 4 1b. Witness believed that it was about an eight months' child. Sat up with Lady Mordaunt all the night, and the respon pondent said, " I want to ask you one question—is the child diseased ?" Witness said, " I don't see anything the matter with the child, more than it is a very tiny one." The respondent (lid not then seem excited. On the fol lowing day she was " very comfortable," but in the evening repeated the question, and said, " Are you quite sure there is no disease? Did Mrs. Cadogan or Mrs. Canem see nothing of it ?" Witness said there was nothing snore to be seen than in " a common child.* one the other person the housekeeper. Witness told the respon dent that she (Lady Mordaunt) said that it was a seven months' child ; but she (witness) thought that it looked more like an eight months' child. Witness gave her rea sons for the belief, and the respondent then went to sleep. Remembered the Tuesday evening Lady Mordaunt began to speak on the same subject, and witness told her to kep quiet, as it would make her head bad if she talked so much. She then said, "If you don't let me talk I shall go niad, for I have something I must say, and will tell you to-night." Witness offered to fetch Sir Charles but the respondent said, " No, not to-night ; I will tell him some other day. This child is not Sir Charles's at all, but Lord Cole's." Witness answered " For goodness be quiet, and say no more." Lady Mordaunt said "It took place the last week in June. Sir Charles was in Norway, and Lord Cole visited me the very last week in June." Witness said it was strange that a young married lady should know it was the last week in June, and Lady Mor daunt said "Oh ! but Ido know ; it is Lord Cole's." On the following Friday Lady Louisa Moncreiff was present in tho house, and said that she should like an oculist to see the child's eyes. Lady Louisa told her daughter that she was afraid the child would be blind. Lady Mordaunt said that she should like to have the child baptised. When speaking of the child's eyes the respon• (lent said that she knew Sir Frederick was in a fearfully bad state of health. On the following day Mr. Solomons, an oculist from Birmingham, came to see the child's eyes. The child was examined in the dressing-room, which was next to Lady Mordaunt's room. Sir Charles went into Lady Mordaunt, and witness left. Sir Charles soon after left the room. Witness returned, and the respondent said she would tell witness what had occurred ; but she did not just then, as the words seemed to choke her. Lady Mordaunt pretended to Sir Charles that she suckled and nursed the child. The respondent told witness not to let any one see the child, as it was not fit to be seen, and she was sorry that she had brought such a horrid little thing into the house." The next day the respondent told witness that the time was coming when she must and would tell Sir Charles everything. On the Monday the respondent, about eight in the evening, got excited and sent for her husband, and said to him, " Charles, I have done very wrong with more than one person." Witness then left the room. On the Tuesday evening she again told Sir Charles it was not his child, but he pooh-poohed the idea. On the morning of the 13th witness left the petitioner with the respondent, and afterwards witness went to the 'room and met Sir Charles coming out, who said, " Her ladyship tells me just the same rs before. What am Ito believe ?" Witness afterwards said, " Supposing Sir Charles makes inquiry ?" and Lady Mordaunt answered, " Then there will be row." On the Thursday succeeding that period witness asked if she should not ask Lady Louisa to stop, but the respondent said, " No. Let her go by all means. I can do better without her than with her." She (the re spondent) would go abroad as soon as she could get away, and Charles and her father would settle it between them. Lady Mordaunt was not excited at that time ; but she sometimes cried when witness looked at the baby's eyes. Heard conversations between Lady Louisa Moncreiff and the respondent. Lady Mordaunt, in the presence of Lady Louisa Moncreiff, proposed that witness should take the child to nurse, and bring it up as Lady Mordaunt's ward. Witness said if she gave up all her time she should require a good round sum ; but if only as a nurse child of course she would take less. Witness was to bring it up as her own, and when the child crew in ., lb u.a4 b. be told that it was an unfortunate. Lady Mordaunt said that she could never take charge of the child herself. On the 26th witness went out with the respondent for a drive, and she appeared to be very cheerful. Up to this time had never noticed any syipp toms of insanity ; but the respondent put on a hysterical manner before Sir Charles and the doctor. By Dr. Deane : Saw the excitement before Sir Charles but not before herself. Never knew Lady Mordaunt before the 28th of February. Did not put on the exciting manner till Lady Louisa had left the house, and Mr. Solomons came from Birmingham to see the child. The respondent never did really suckle her child, except before Mr. Orford and Sir Charles. This witness was being cross-examined, when the court nee, and the case was adjourned till to-morrow. GENEROSITY RECOGNISED.—The Government of the United States of America has expressed its recogni tion of the humane generosity of a British merchant cap tain by awarding. him, through its London Ambassador, a handsome gold watch, accompanied by a testimonial in. writing. Captain Oxley, late master of the barque Flet worth, of Shields, well deserves the praise accorded to him for his rescue, and subsequent devoted care of the master and five men who survived on a piece of the wreck of the Susan Smith, of Boston. The gallant tar declared, when he received the present at a local marine board meeting, that he had only done his duty as a British sailor, and he hoped that every man would do the same as he had done. This simple but noble senti ment should find an echo in the hearts of all who may be placed in similar circumstances. A YOUNG SAMARITAN.—Tho teacher of some " City Arabs," in a school connected with a church in Glasgow, selected on Sunday the parable of the Good Samaritan as the subject of his lesson. After telling the little fellows the story, the teacher, with the view of turning the lesson to some practical account, put to the class the following question :—" What would you do if you saw a man or a woman lying in a street or road, wounded and bleeding like the traveller described in the parable?" The subject appeared to be new to them, and for a minute or so they looked at each other, and hesitated to reply. The teacher repeated the question, addressing himself to a boy whose countenance seemed to indicate that he had hit on the proper line of action in such a case. "What would you do, Archie ?" "I would birrell (whistle) for the bobbies, was the prompt reply. An arrangement is now proposed by which through tickets to any part of the United States may ba sold in the East by agents of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and by which, on the other hand, tickets can be bought in New York, carrying tho holder through to Hong Kong, Yokohama, or Hiago direct. Tickets to carry the trayeller all round the werlg will also bo issued. AMERICAN AFFAIRS. (From the Anglo- American Times.) Elsewhere will be found a resnindof an able speech of Senator Fenton on Senator Sherman's Finance Bill. It is more an essay on currency and resumption than a dis cussion of the measures proposed by the Senator from Ohio. Practically the late Governor of New York brings for ward two main objections. He holds that the currency is redund ant, and that it must be curtailed if it is to be lifted up to the value of gold, while the tendency of Mr. Sherman's bill is rather to increase than to diminish the circulating medium. Mr. Fenton opposes it on that ground, though he believes that the gold-bearing notes cannot be got into circulation. His other objection is for the latter reason not strong; he opposes two unequal currencies of the same denominational value, while he regards the proposal as harmless, because the superior currency cannot be in troduced in the face of the inferior. He answers those who think it best to have the currency alone on the ground that if now redundant, the growing requirements of the nation will soon overtake the superfluity. In asserts that they who say so do not understand the character and pur poses of money, that a nation does not require its currency to keep pace with its wealth. England and Scotland have rather reduced than added to the circulating medium for many years, and their wants are amply previded for by cheques, drafts, hills, and other ego; cuff, which are brought into play as substitutes. This would be a strong answer to the argument lately advanced by us if it went over the whole question, but it does not. What we said was, that, supposing the currency of the United States to have been redundant before the South had been reconstructed and the Pacific Railroad had been built, the large portion drawn off to supply such an empty reservoir as the South then was, and to replace the coin circulation of the Pacific States, was practically a curtailment. This is not au swered by Governor Fenton, although the real question, and the only one whereby the general rise, or lifting up, as he calls it, of the currency can be accounted for. He thinks the chasm of the 20 per cent. gold premium still left is impossible for the nation to jump except by a long training ; but he forgets that in six mouths that chasm has nearly been narrowed one-t elf. Senator Morton took ground in strong opposi tion to the Bill. In the first place, it would contract the currency to the extent of $6,750,000, as it would require that amount to be withdrawn as a reserve by the banks issuing the $45,000,000. Since June $26,000,000 of Three per Cent. Certificates had been curtailed,and this was the real cause ot the present stringency, while Sherman's Bill would run up the amount to $33,000,000. Congress was opposed to contraction, and Commissioner Wells erred in his argu ment that it was necessary if currency was to be brought up to par to withdraw from two to three millions of Legal Ten ders, his comparison of the United States with the United Kingdom being altogether erroneous, the latter having facilities that three-fourths of the former did not pi ssess in bank cheques and credits. He was not of opinion that gold would decline until specie payments were reached. It, was possible that gold might be at 40 cents. premium within four months, and intelligent financiers are looking forward to some such rise. In providing for a system f banking it was unsafe to calculate that gold would never go beyond 80 cents, and to establish banks on a coin basic, with only 25 per cent. of gold in their vaults ; it might be successful in the Pacific States, but was dangerous, and would certainly fail on the Atlantic side of the Rocky Moun tains. Senator Sherman here put a question regarding the operations in gold in New York, to which Mr. Morton replied that they were limited to transactions between im porters and the foreigners with whom they dealt. " The importers sell their goods to the jobbers, and the latter to the Western merchants, on a gold basis, but there is no gold in the transaction. They sell for gold, with the un derstanding that when the debt comes due they are to be paid in curl ency, according to the value of gold on that day. These gold notes proposed by the bill could not go into circulation any more rapidly than the gold they represented, and could not he kept afloat except by the bank keeping a dollar in gold for each dollar it had out. In case of an increase in the price of gold, these notes would be run home for redemption, in order to procure gold to sell to importers who were required to have it. The banks would then have to go out and buy at a large pre mium, which would inevitably cause their suspension." Senator Sherman explained the nature of his bill, as first partially correcting the unequal distribution of banking currency among the States, and establishing free banking on a coin basis. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Con necticut, with less than two millions, or a twentieth of the population, have nearly a third of the bank circulation, while the rapidly growing Western States have scarcely $3 per head,and the Southern States are without any bank ing facilities. This arose out of a violation of the la w by a former Secretary of the Treasury and Comptroller of the Currency,and National Banking had become the monopoly of a few States, which, in reply to the demand of the West for more circulation, called for a contraction of the cur rency. This bill was the remedy which had been sought in vain for three years, and the Committee on Finance suggested the measure to the President and the Secretary of the Treasury, who approved. The first objection was that it expanded the currency; but this was avoided by equal aiuount or TlArYtf per emit. Certifi cates, as the House would not sanction the withdrawal of greenbacks. They bore interest, and were mainly held in Eastern banks where the circulation is in excess. The proposition for free banking on coin notes inaugurated the true system embracing absolute security to the note-holder, and the United States. The banks to be authorized will be organized only on the Pacific coast, or in New York, and the South where largo transactions are based upon gold values. He further answered the possible objections to the proposition. The bill would be followed fie due time by a bill for funding the public debt, and for the revision of the In ternal Revenue tax and tariff. Senator Sherman was auxious to push the bill through, as it was but a mere pre liminary to still more important measures. It is evident, from the large majority it commanded in the Senate, and the absence of hostile criticism in the papers, that it has met with general approval, or, at any rate, no hearty hostility ; yet we cannot help thinking there is great force in Senator Morton's remarks. He holds with Fenton that two currencies of unequal value cannot co-exist, the in ferior driving out the superior, and if gold again becomes, as it assuredly will, a great medium for speculating, the gold bearing notes will rapidly be presented to the specie paying banks, which run cannot be met by a reserve of 25 per cent. ; hence that the banks will be driven into the market to buy gold from the speculators who are driving them, that they may be enabled to cash their own notes, and if loft to such mercy will be speedily choked out of existence. It is announced that specie-paying banks under this bill are already being organized on the Pacific slope, where they may safely do so ; but whether banks so organized can carry on business in New York remains to be seen. At any rate we can well understand the mouths of the Fisks and the Goulds water ing in anticipation of a delicious treat. If they had had them in their celebrated gold raid last September they would have cut them into ribands, unless the Treasury had been directed to assist them in case of necessity, which might be done, as the Treasury advances would be covered by the U. S. bonds already deposited. Long accounts appear in the New York papers about the capture, trial, and execution of Salnave. He attempted to leave Verrette on the 27th December, but his force was driven back in great disorder, and the pursuit was so hot that, after doubling in many directions, and his bag gage and followers being cut off, on the Bth January Sal nave, with a devoted remnant, attempted to cut his way through a portion of the opposing army. He was, how ever, defeated after a fierce fight of five hours, his force being nearly all cut to pieces. Taken to Port-au-Prince, he was at once tried ; M. Lavand declining even at Sal nave's request to defend him. The President of the Coun cil named two lawyers, and the prisoner was charged with annulling the Constitution and proclaiming himself Protec tor of the Republic, holding the Government by fraud and force. "Therefore, Sylvan Salnave is accused of high trea son, devastation, pillage with arms, committing assassina tions, and is now amenable for these crimes." He appears to have been well defended, but the tribunal, after an hour's deliberation, brought in the following sentence : "In the name of the Republic, the Court finds Sylvan Salnave, aged 43, soldier and ex-President of Hayti, guilty of all the charges preferred against him, and do sentence him to be shot to death, and orders that the exe cution shall take place at the Peristyles of the National Palace." A quarter of an hour was given to write a letter, which he sealed and placed in the hands of the President. Ile was then pinioned, taken to the place of execution, tied to a post and shot, his body being put into a cart and buried among the felons. His Government was over thrown after a three years' struggle. He first sprang into notice in the movement for overturning Soulouque, whese bust he shattered with a pistol shot. One of his acts brought him into collision with the British, for he dragged from the English Consulate some Haytian refugees, and shot them, in spite of every remonstrance. The Bulldog opened fire on the forts, but in changing position got aground, when the captain was compelled to blow her up. than was captured by the B r iti s h , Subsequently Cape Hite' but Salnave escaped. He was a man of undaunted bravery, but we are not aware that he had any other high quality. The Vaples and Florence Observer informs us of the death of Mr. W. G. Mickell, of New York, which took place last Saturday at Naples at the United States Hotel. The deceased gentleman had been in failing health for some time past, but his death was hastened by a cold caught about three weeks since, which brought on a dis ease that baffled all the acquirements ot medical science. The saute paper says the United States sailing frigate Sabine has not come into port, although wo hoar that she has been cruising in the neighbouring waters for some days past. She may be expected at any moment. The general arrangements of the British Post office for taking over the telegraphic business have been found to work admirably. Notwithstanding the diffi culties which necessarily attended the reorganisation of the various establishments, the whole of the work up to Saturday night was transacted in a manner to give satisfaction to all concerned. The reduction in the tariff of charges to the uniform rate of ls. has already led to a large increase in the amount of business. It is estimated that the number of messages despatched Landon : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREW? of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Office, NO. 112, Stratick in the Precinct of the Savoy, is the gOenty Micicileoes"".! Friday, February 18, 1870, on Saturday ras 30 per cent. over that of the previous day. There was an interruption in the communication with the North-west in the early pert of the week, and all manner of suggestions were given as the reason, chief among them being the extraordinary state of the atmo sphere, of which everyone who breathed it did not require to be told. It transpired, however, that the ignorance of a workman in meddling with some particular wire had been the cause. ELECTION NEWS.—From Virginia four of the nine Representatives were sworn in and took their seats, Jen• 27, in the House—Messrs. Jos. H. Platt, jun., Second Dig' trict ; C. H. Porter, Third District ; Robert RidgwaYt Fifth District; and William Milnes, jun., Sixth District. Messrs. Ayer of the First District, Booker of the Fourth, M‘Kenzie of the Seventh are yet to be admitted. Joseph Segar claims to have been elected to represent the State at large, but the precedent established, in a similar case that occurred in Tennessee, will prevent his admission to a seat. On the January Mr. Gibson, of the Eighth District, took his seat. Mr. Lews, oAo of the Senators elect from Virginia, a very tail, spare man, was sworn in on the 27th January, no oue responding to the Vice President's in quiry as to whet her there was any obj,ctiou ; and on the 28th Mr. John W. Johnson, the other Senator elect from Virginia, was sworn id, his name being shown in an Act of Congress removing political disabilities in answer to the objection of Senator Edmunds. A NEW BRIDGE AT CLIELEEiI. A fine new suspension bridge is to be built between Chelsea and B atei sea. Of cour,e, this will be a great convenience to the inhabitants of those dis tricts; and if the old Battersea and Putney-bridges are destroyed there will be an end to two ugly edi fices which endanger the navigation of the river. It is not too much to say that they have occasioned more loss of life than any other two Thames bridges which cm be named, not even excluding old Lou don and Westminster. With a suspension bridge at Chelsea below the Battersea obstruction, and with a suspension bridge at Hammer smith above the Putney obstruction, there does not seem to be much plausible reason for keeping these dang3rs in mid stream any longer. 'Their exorbitant tolls have paid for both bridges over and over again. Battersea is, we believe, a Tontine bridge, and if so it cannot cost any very large sum to buy off the surviving annuitants. As for Putney it should simply be removed by the Thames C3 1,- servancy, as they would remove any other danger to the navigation of the river. If the existing thoroughfares make the existence of these bridges necessary, they will be rebuilt on an improved plan. If, as believe, they are not necessary, they have only to be cleared out of the way. Ihe new bridge which is to be built at Chelsea will be a very hand some one. It is to be built by a company, sync' are to have the right of levying tolls, similar in amount to those of Waterloo-bridge and Vauxhall bridge. Whether this will pay the company or not is quite a different question, and one which we do not choose to discuss. All that we can predicate for the future is that the public will get a con venient bridge, and a handsome one. Th e new bridge is to start as nearly as possible from where the Cadogan steamboat p►er now stands —itself a miniature suspension bridge. From Cadogan pier it will cross the river in a straight line into the Albert-road, leading from Battersea Park, where many villas have lately been erected and are now i❑ course of erection. Its total length will be 820 ft., or about 100 ft longer than New Westminster-bridge and Blackfriars-bridge. Its width, however, will be only 35ft., which is divided into a 20ft. roadway and two footways of 7} feet. The whole structure is to be built on the plan of Mr. Ordish's rigid suspension bridge, a principle which has answered with great success in the Moldau bridge, which he has recently erected at Prague, and for which the Emperor of Austria gave him the gold medal of the Order of Merit. The whole principle may be shortly said to be that of an inverted girder—the rigid ties which support the girder from below being turned into rigid ties which sup port the bridge floor from above. By this weans all downward movement and all lateral swing is gut rid of. The latter has proved destructive to some of the best suspension bridges ever built In the United States. For the rest, it only remains to say that the cost of the bridge is estimated at be tween £60,000 and £70,000, and that it will be completed in little more than a twelvemonth. The Bank Returns, The Bankers' Magazine furnishes the returns of the cir ciliation of the public and joint-stock banks in England and Wales for the four weeks ending Ist of Jan., 187 0 ' These returns, combined wish the circulation of the Scotch and Irish banks for the same period, and the average cir culation of the Bank of England for the four weeks ended the 29i1l of Dec. (the nearest date furnisb ad by their returns), will give the following results of the circulation of notes in the United Kingdom when compared with the previous month : Dec. 4, Jan. 1, , 18G9. 1870. Increase. Decreas e. _ _----- Bank of England... 23,181,190( 22,70 , .,762 , . ; 74,439 l'rivate Banks 1,751,71 fi 2,66 .1 ; 69 9 Joint-stock Banks 2,3 ,:,7341 2,281,198 I 7, , ) 4, . 1 ___....- Total in England. 78,301,648] 2',650,070 —! 6 1. 57 : Scotland 5,287,15,4: 4,975, 47 I 312, ',; Ireland 7,354,163i 7,050,256 I :97,9 01 United Kingdom 40,9;3,269, 39,681,373 1 , 1,261,84 d And as compared Dec., 1869, the a £412,119 in the ci decrease of £50,41 with the month ending the 2nciof above returns show a decrease 01 rculation of notes in England, and a' L 3 in the circulation of the United Kingdom. On comparing the above with the fixed issues of 0 0 several banks the following is the state of the circulation: The English private banks are below their fixed issue £1 , 380,506 The English joint-stock banks are below their fixed issue 457,4 42 Total below fixed issue in England ... £1,837,9 48 The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue... 2,225,7 76 The Irish banks are above their fixed issue ... 701,761 The average stock of bullion held by the Bank•of Eng land in both departments during the month ending 29th of Dec was £19,091,239, being an increase of £648,03 3 9 as compared with the previous month, and an increase of £906,873 when compared with the same period last year. The following are the amounts of specie held by the Scotch and Irish banks during the month ending the If 4 of Jan. : Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks ... £3,087,6 04 Gold and silver held by the Irish banks ... 2,757,358 £5,844,9 62 being a decrease of £79,689 as compared with the pre vious return, and an increase of £314,579 when compared with the corresponding period last year Bank of 8ng1a..4 Returns. An Account, lursuant to t] cap. 32, for the week ending ISSUE DEF he Act 7th and Bth Victoria Wednesday, Feb. 16, 1870. P A.B.TMENT. Notes issued f 33,815,050 Governmt. Debt £11,015, 10 ' Other Securities 3,984,9 00 Gold Coin and Bullion Silver Bullion £33,815,050 BANKING D. £33,815,0 50 Proprietors' Capi tal £14,553,000 Rest Public Deposits (including Ex chequer, Sav ings' Banks, Commissioners of National Debt, and Div. EPARTNtExT. Govornmt. Seen rities(including Dead Weight Annuity) .... £14,331.31 4 Other Securities 17,783,2 23 Notes 11,274, 210 Gold and Silver Coin 950,26 3 Accounts ..... 9.891.155 Other Deposits.. 16,542,989 Seven Days and other 8i115..... 457,439 £44,339,105 X 44,339, 105 BIRTIIS. GREEN On the 16th inst., at Ehmy-street, the wife cf Colonel M. S. Green, C. 13, of a s n. .11AcKwou.TH — On the 15th inst., at Park-street, West minster, Lady Mackworth, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. MORGAN—PASCOE—On the 16th inst., at St. Luke's, Chel sea, Edward Vaughan Morgan, of Beaufort Lodge, Chelsea, to Emily Ann, second daughter of J. 1. Pascoe, of Oak-hill, Surbiton. Ou'roN - GRIMSDALE —On the 16th inst., at Hillingdon , Charles James Orton, Esq., of Cranford Lodge, Upper Holloway, to Jane, the youngest daughter of the late Wm. Grimsdale, Esq , of Uxbridge. DEATHS. - ALLEYNE On the 14th inst., at Barton-under-Needwood Sir Reynold Abel Alleyne, Bart., aged 81. COLTER On the I.sth inst., at Farningham, Rent, Chas• Colyer, Esq., aged 86. MooßE—On the 16th inst, at Theobalds, Ilawkliurst, the Lady Harriet Moore. 4