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

SPIRIT OF TEE PUBLIC JOITIIIIALS. The limes remarks on the suggestions of the last 1 amateur Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Patterson, of Liverpool. Mr. Patterson proposing to abolish all Customs Duties save those on wines, spirits, and tobacco does no pore than repeat the cry of a " Free Breakfast Table." Re would have no duties on tea, on sugar, or on coffee. Consider the effect of adopting this proposal on the great Mt of Englishmen below the limit of the Income tax, or, A all events, as receivers of weekly wages, escaping the burden of it. Such men pay nothing in respect of Assessed Taxes, they rarely feel the pressure of Stamp Duties, they are not liable to be mulcted in respect of Succession Duties or Legacy Duties, and, in truth, they would feel the needs of the Exchequer only through the duties on beer, spirits, and tobacco. Those among them who do not smoke and who abstain from all intoxicating drinks would escape these, and would be exempt from tny recognisable pressure of taxation. Such a practical conclusion a ould, in our judgment, be most unjust ,nd most dangerous. The circumstance that Mr. Bright, who first suggested the cry for a " Free Breakfast Table," has become a Cabinet Minister nakes it only the more necessary for him to be explicit in deprecating the consummation he advocated. Mr. Lowe will have a pleasant surplus in April, and he may be trusted to distribute it properly. The tariff may not im properly be relieved of the fruit duties, since it is certain the classes contributing to them will remain taxed as consumers of tea, coffee, and sugar. The licence duties 're open to considerable revision, and some pro fitless yet onerous items might be dropped alto gether. The Chancellor cf the Exchequer frankly explained last year his objections to somo of ,he assessed taxes he yet felt himself obliged to retain. the payers of income tax will look to him for a reduction )f the rate of that burden, and, as we are persuaded, will sot look in vain. But, as we have said, we may leave Mr. ~owe to discharge his own work, and we may leave Mr atterson to discover the error of his reasoning, onlyremark :ng that, even if his view were correct that the increased Jonsumption of beer, spirits, and tobacco would make up for all he cuts away, the result would, we should think, be far from satisfactory even to himself. The Standard thinks tkat the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to the capital of India has created an iwpres sion upon the minds of the native subjects of her Majesty such as the local authorities themselves confessed to have surpassed all previous expectation. Fortunate as the reign of Lord Mayo has been in all respects, perhaps there is no event connected with it which Hindoo and Mahom medan will recal hereafter with greater satisfaction than the gorgeous reception which has been accorded to a Prince of the Royal blood—in their eyes a Prince of India no less than of England. We have heard a great deal of late about justice to India, and boons to the natives ; but we doubt whether anything we have done for the country It least since the substitution of a living and palpable ruler for that perplexing abstraction, the East India Company, has been so universally popular among the hundred and fifty millions of our Indian fellow-subjects, as the sending to them a real Prince of our Royal House. We venture to say that no act of Imperial authority has tended so much to produce a good feeling in the breasts of the Indian people, or to advance the British raj in the estimation of the native princes and chiefs, as this of the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, and no man could have performed his part in it more admirably than Lord Mayo has done. uoyalty, in an English sense, wo can hardly expect from the natives of India. They are and ever must be aliens to the British sentiment and strangers to our national genius. Thus wo cannot hope that the visit of a Royal Prince will affect them as it does our own kin dred in Australia or in Canada. But there is no reason Nhy the natives should not be brought to take a personal pride in all that surrounds the office and administers to the glory of htr who is Queen of India as well as Queen of 'England, The Pall Mall Gazette, in referring to M. 011ivier's recent circular on the French press, asks who ever said a thing without seeming to say it so happily as a French journalist 2 Of all the functions which the Minister of Justice must wish in times like these to keep in his own hands, one would have said that the determination when to prosecute a newspaper would have been the first. There is no harm in M. 011ivier's laying down the lines of his future policy in this matter ; indeed, we are willing to admit that an unmistakable declaration that the sub stitution of parliamentary for personal Government involves no licence to revolution may have been urgently called for. But at all events M. 011ivier might have re served to himself the power of pronouncing on each indi vidual case as it came before him. He need not have handed it over to agents who have not been appointed by himself, and who have been trained in the traditions of the very system over whose ruins the Ministry has mounted to office. Rather it would have been expected that he would have limited the action of these official by every lawful expedient, and that his object would have been to ensure, as far as possible, that no journal should be prosecuted until he had himself gone into the facts. As it is, he may at any moment find himseif saddled with prosecutions which he sees to be inel:- pedient, and have to choose between going on with them against his own judgment and abandoning them at a aacrifice of prestige. Instead of sending a circular to his subordinates in a body, M. 011ivier had better have waited until the necessity arose, and then communicated with the proper official by a telegram in cypher. Fully recognising the primary and paramount impor tance of the Irish land measure, the nation, nevertheless —as we have already declared—says the Telegraph, expects, desires, and demands a National Education Bill. Further, it wishes that this bill should be introduced and conducted with all the force and gravity of a Cabinet question ; and we thoroughly believe that it will be well satisfied upon both these points by the announcement which will shortly be made to Parliament in her Majesty's name. Where there is a will there is a way; and no man sits in the Commons, we should think, who has not by this time a hearty goodwill and an unfeigned desire to provide for the education of the people by a lasting, far-reaching, and earnest plan of national instruction. And if such is the real state of the case, we say that all obstacles are at once reduced to an affair of simple arrangement. Given that ardour for deeds in the matter of popular education which both parties in the State have been exhibiting in words, and what remains to forbid the necessary time for the discussion and passing of an adequate bill ? What the Government, speaking for the country, resolves to have done, the Legislative Chamber will do ; the courage of the Cabinet can make the Commons bold; its energy will force the laggards to activity ; its estimate of the popular force behind it will be accepted by its opponents. There is ample room upon the standard which it carries for two more inscriptions besides that of " Justice to the Irish Tenant : " we look to read upon it., when the Lord Chancellor raises it on Tuesday next, " Education for Every British and " The National Universities for the Nation." It will be noble, indeed, when the session is over, to stand back and see these great questions of the Irish Land, the Universit y T es t s, an d the instruction of the people all hap pily arranged. To resolve upon that magnificent legisla tive trilogy will be to achieve it. The opposing forces are shadows, not substance; the obstacles are such as vanish when they are Approached. The time, the circumstances, the spirit o f t h e people, and the state of parties, all enjoin audacitys and constrain to great things. The f' D ai/Y News believes the public will be interested in hoaxing that the landowners and agriculturists of the pltasant county of Dorset are taking into consideration ?Jr. Stanhope's report to the Royal Commission on the Employment of Women and Children in Agriculture. At a meeting held in Dorohester, on Saturday, it was ren 4ered abundantly evident that Mr. Stanhope's report had held as 'tweye the mirror up to nature," and enabled thole attonialled Sonthrons to see themselves as others see th99l Of course th e repor t met w i t h no flat tering acknewle4gment. Mr. Stanhope's photographic art was, of course, resealed, as foolish faithfulness in por traiture is wont to be. There was a wonderful simplicity in the manger in which the meeting dealt with the whole question. The landowners and farmers' friends who met to reav,nre each other, and to declare to one anothat that they wore not quite so bad as they had been painted, quite forgot the French proverb, " Qui s'exeuse s'aecusel / In the North, manufacturers have emancipated the agricultural labourer, and the competition of the great towns has supplied the place of that competition which the farmers will never willingly enter into with one another. In th 3 South, the new stimulus to the agricul tural mind must be given by education. Look at this Dorset la ) ,ourer, and you need not wonder that his wages are low. lie is, as Lord Ashley says, " broad shouldered and stiff-backed," but he is gaunt and clumsy in arpear an ;;e, and slow and heavy in movement. His heavy " s'ioon,'' thick with the dirt of many seasons, and heavy with hobnails and tips, cause him to drag his feet as ho walks. He is as heavy in mind as in clothing. Talk of emigration and he thinks of transportation; of removal to some more pros. porous parts of England and he fears removal from. his. parish. You can hardly help such a man, whose condaion is the result of ages of neglect. The improvement must begin with the rising generation; and as the children,:are educated, as their enemies are awakened, and their facuffi©s aroused and trained, the whole agriculturalpopulation fwill feel the impulse, and we sjzall not need "a regimental rays tern in every village tp teach an educated people to lake care 9141amiclyel. ItA/L WA Y AND OTHER COMPANIES'. MIDLAND. The directors of this company have decided on recommending to the proprietors a dividend on the ordicary stock of the company for the past half year at the rate of di per cent. per annum. BELFAST AND NORTHERN COUNTIES. The report of the directors states that the traffic receipts for the past half year, ending the 31st of December, amounted to £60,101, as compared with £60,693 in the same half of 1868 ; £60,529 in the slime half of 1867 ; and £59,993 in the same half of 1866. Duri:,g the past 13:tlf year there had been a considerable falling off in the quantity of merchan dise sent over the line, causing a reduction in the receipts for that item of £1,669. In the passenger department there had been a fair increase ; also i❑ cattle and other items of traffic. The directors did not consider the result of the half year's working at all satisfactory, but when they considered the great depression there had been during the entire period in the staple trade of that part of the country, and in all branches of business connected with it, they ventured to hope that, with the commercial improve ment apparently approaching, the traffic on the line would go on advancing as informer years. The work ing expenses contrasted favourably with those of previous half years. More than the usual number of waggons had been rebuilt during the half year in addition to others extensively repaired ; the carri age stock had also received considerable repairs, the directors being determined to maintain the entire plant in the most efficient condition. The perma nent way had been maintained in good working order. The balance of net revenue was £22,947, out of which the directors recommended the usual dividend on the 4 per cent. preference shares, £3,492 ; and on the ordinary shares at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, amounting to £13,947, leaving a balance of £2,308. The capital account showed that £1,157,771 had been expended, leaving a balance against the company of £20,958. GREAT SOUTHERN OF INDIA. A special general meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, Leadenhall-street--- Mr. J. Chapman, the chairman, presided. Mr. 11. NOTMAN, the secretary, having read the notice convening the meeting, The CHAIRMAN stated that the object of the meeting was to authorise the directors to borrow £400,000, or such other sum as the company might be authorised to raise by the Secretary of State for India, and at such rate of interest as the Secretary of State might think fit. He concluded by moving a formallesolution authorising the company to bor row £400,000, or such other sum as the Secretary of State for India might sanction. The motion was seconckd and carried. Formal resolutions were also passed unanimously authorising the whole or any part of the sum men tioned to be created and issued as debenture stock ; authorising the directors to create and issue deben ture stock to pay off any mortgage or bonds falling due, and to apply the money received for that pur pose ; and authorising the directors to fix the rate of interest at 5 per cent. or any lower rate, as the directors might think fit, the interest to be paid half-yearly; also, if deemed expedient, the deben ture stock might be issued at a discount of 10 per cent., but it was not to be transferable in a smaller sum than £lO, or any multiple of £lO. The proceedings then terminated. _ROYAL SARDINIAN. Yesterday an extraordinary meeting of this com pany was held in the City Terminus Hotel, for the purpose of passing a resolution to accept and ratify, subject to such terms and conditions, if any, as the meeting might think fit, a convention between the Italian Government and the company, dated March 24, 1869, for compromising and settling all disputes between the Government and the company. Mr. H. R. Grenfell took the chair. The CHAIRMAN said it was impossible for the board of directors at the last meeting of the com pany to recommend the shareholders to accept the conditions of the Italian Government for the con struction of the line from Cagliari to Iglesias. The directors had since entered into negotiations with the Italian Government, and the result of the7e, in the form of certain proposals, had been laid before the shareholders in their report. It al pared pro bable that the Italian Government would consent to the provisional construction of the Cagliari and Iglesias line upon the following conditions—firs`, the application of caution-money in cerlain pro portions as the work proceeded; second, the ori ginal guarantee of a net revenue of 9,000 lire per kilometre, to come into effect upon the completion of the line to Iglesias ; third, a first mortgage upon the line and rolling stock, &c., to secure the repay ment of the new money to be advanced ; fourth, the provisions of the original concession to remain in force until the Italian Parliament shall take action upon the convention of March. As the approval of the March convention seems likely to be delayed in consequence of the present state of politics in Italy, the directors recom mended the shareholders to authorise them to arrange with the Government for the provi sional completion of the Cagliari and Iglesias line, and to provide the necessary funds for that purpose. An eminent firm of contractors were willing to undertake the completion of the line for £122,500. The contractors would receive in part payment the contractor's plant of the company, and at least £17,000 of the company's bonds. There was reason to believe that less than £68,000 in cash would, with the caution-money, plant, and contrac tor's bonds, suffice to complete the line. It was proposed to issue at par an amount of £2O bonds not exceeding £90,000, bearing interest at 12 per cent. per annum, such bonds constituting a first charge upon the line. The guaranteed revenue on the line was estimated at £13,500 per annum, which would provide for the interest on the bonds and leave a surplus of £2,700 per annum as a sinking fund for the redemption of the principal. It had been intended that resolutions should be proposed at the present meeting giving the directors the ne cessary powers to carry into effect the convention of March, 1869, and, if possible, the provisional arrangement abovementioned for the completion of the line. He thought it would be well for the share holders to adopt these proposals, but the Board were of opinion that further time for their conside ration should be given. He therefore proposed the adjournment of the meeting to the 22d instant, which was agreed to, and the meeting adjourned accordingly. STRHOWY. The dirrctors of this company have determined on recommending a dividend for the past half year at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, being the same as for the previous and corresponding half years. RAILWAY BILLS. Yesterday the examiners into Standing Order Proofs held their sittings in the House of Com mons' Committee-rooms. Before Mr. Frere, the following Bills had complied with the Standing Orders :--The Halifax and 0 venden Junction Rail way; the Great Northern Railway, the Severn and Wye Railway and Canal, and the opposed Man chester and Salford and District Tramways (No. 2), and Manchester and Salford and District Tram ways (No. 1). Before Mr. Robinson, the unop posed Bills of the Dublin and Antrim junction 11 ,, ilway and the Callender and ban Railway were found to have c )tnpli,d with the Standing Orders. Oppos e d Bills of i he Dagc;;Lam (Thames) i)ock Company and of the Margate Pier complied with the Standing Orders. [ADVERTISEMENT. Ointmeht And Fills.— Never neglect acold.--Prom gro s s con t raven ti on o f thi s very simple advice, thousaLds of persons contract chest complaints, might be altogether prevented by the use of these harmless, et effectual and reliable remedies. It is painful to hear of the many fatal cases, which com menced with the ordinary symptoms of a common cold. Mdloway's ointment rubbed upon the back and chest prevents all disastrous consequences. It soothes the in flamed lining of both throat and chest. After rubbing in the ointment for a few days the pectoral irritation and the tightness of breathing diminish, the cough becomes looser and less frequent, and the phlegm is expectorated with less difficulty, till the lungs become free and respi ration natural. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 2, 1870. FOREIGN NOTES. PROTECTION IN THE 'UNITED *TATES. The Yew York limes says that boots and shoes, which used to be very cheap in the United States, have now become dear, and the cause is the old burden 'of taxation. It can be demonstrated by examination that ate th ewhole nation pays a tax of 7i per cent. on the aggreg cost ot all the boots and shoes that are manufactured. The taxes eat out the means of every individual, and if their object is for revenue they fail in it. The American tanners do not require protection, as the advantages of their business are great. The great expense in manufac turing leather is not labour, but material and machinery, and in these they were beyond competition. At this time the very unpleasant spectacle is seen of hides and skins imported from South America to New York, carried across the country in bond, tanned in Canada, and then exported to England. So much for the effects of inconsiderate taxation on one important branch of industry. and the other day he escaped from his prison in the settlement of New Caledonia. After three or four days he was recaptured, in a state of complete exhaus tion. He had not tasted food for fifty-two hours, and though kind treatment was accorded to him, his mind gave way under his sufferings. lie is now more than half mad. RE-ADMISSION OF VIRGINIA. (From the Anglo-American Times.) Virginia has been re-admitted ; the Bill passing through Congress after a long and exciting debate. The PRESIDENT is only too glad to have the State admitted on any terms it will accept to oppose the measure ; and we now learn that it received his signature last Wednesday. When Congress re-assembled on the 10th instant, Senator STEwAn - r, of Nevada, moved that the Virginia Bill be taken up, whereon what the American papers describe as a spicy lebato ensued. Mr. SUMNER asked for delay, to which Mr. STEWART objected, accusing SUMNER of having voted against the Fifteenth Amendment, and so far proving the assertion that on the production of the journal Mr. SUMNER'S name was not recorded on the passage of that Amendment. The debate in the Senate made it evident how far the Chamber feared that Virginia might follow in the wake of Tennessee, where it is asserted two-thirds of the members of each Legislative Assembly are well-known rebels, unable to take the reconstruction oath of 1862. Attorney-General Iloart had given it as his opinion that the Test Oath could not be required from the Virginia Legislature ; but this was called in question on the ground that the Reconstruction Act rendered a person ineligible for a seat in any of the Legislatures of any of the States which had seceded who could not take the oath. On the other hand, the impolicy was urged of now testing members who had been elected wit h out such test. If Virginia were admitted the adop tion of the Fifteenth Amendment would be rendered certain ; if not, Virginia would be thrown back into rebel -hands, and the Amendment might be lost. A Senator denounced Virginia as the most per fidious of all the rebel States, whose admission he would postpone for the next decade, mild only the Fifteenth Amendment be secured. The measure was debated again and again, and finally was passel, the Rouse Bill being amended in the Senate so as to enforce the Test Oath for public officials, at the same time that numerous conditions were introduced, one of which prohibits distinction on account of coloar in schools and public places. Mr. BINGIIA3I endea voured by a surprise to carry through a bill for the immediate admission of Virginia, and though defeated, his amendment eventually passed the House. A curious error was made during the pro ceedings which followed. A resolution was offered, to reconsider the vote, which was lost by a tie vote, the Speaker casting his in Mr. BINGHAM'S favour. It was afterwards discovered that Mr. HOAR'S vote had not been recorded, and that the motion instead of being lost had in truth been passed. Just ten years ago the predecessor of the Roll Clerk, who was new to his position, made a similar blun der in his first attempt to take a vote, that error not being discovered for several days. Mr. BING HAM was defeated, but on the 11th he again brought up his resolution, when he yielded to the Recon struction Committee, seeing it to be useless to press for the unconditional and immediate admission of Virginia. As the Reconstruction Committee Bill appears substantially to be that passed of which we have this week received intelligence by cable, we give it here in extenso:— " Whereas, The people of Virginia have adopted a Constitution Republican in form, and, by its pro visions, assuring the equality of right on all citizens of the United States before the law ; and " Whereas, The Congress of the United States have received assurances, and are assured that the people of Virginia, and especially those heretofore in insurrection against the United States, have re nounced all claims of any rights of secession in a State, and that they are now well disposed toward the Government of the United States, and will sup port and defend the Constitution thereof, and will carry out, in letter and spirit, the provisions and re quirements of the Constitution submitted under the Reconstruction Acts of Congress, and ratified by the people of Virginia; therefore, " Be it enacted, &c., That the State of Virgiala is entitled to representation in Congress as a State of the Union under the Constitution ratified on the 6th day of July, 1869, upon the following funda mental conditions: . "1. That no person shall hold any office, cavil or military, iu said State who shall not have taken and subscribed to one of the following oaths or affirma tions, viz. : Ido solemnly swear or affirm that I have never taken an oath as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a mem ber of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any St.tte to support the ConsLi .ution of the United States and thereafter engaged in insuriTcCon or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof ;' or, do solemnly swear or affitm that I have been re lieved of disability 1.;) , an Act of Congress as pro vided for by the third section of the Fourteenth Article of Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.' "2. That the Constitution of said State shall never be so amended or changed so as to deprive any citizen or class of citizens of the United States of the right to vote or hold office in said State who are entitled to vote or hold office by said Consti tution, except as a punishment for tuch crimes as are now felonies at common law, whereof they shall, have been duly convicted under laws equally ap plicable to all the inhabitants of said State ; or to prevent any person, on account of race, colour, or previous condition of servitude, from serving as a juror or participating equally in the school fund or school privileges provided for in said Constitution ; provided that any alteration of said Constitution, equally applicable to all the voters of said State, may be made with regard to the time and place of residence of said voters. "3. That all persons who shall at the time when said Constitution shall take effect, hold or exercise the functions of any executive, administrative, or judicial office in said State by the appointment or authority of the District Committee, shall continue to discharge the duties of their respective offices until their successors,or those upon whom such duties shall under said constitution devolve, are duly chosen or appointed and qualified. " Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the election of United States Senators by the General Assembly of said State on the 19th day of October, 1869, shall have the same validity as if made by previous authority of law." According to the Cable the Senate added to the conditions required by the House, the latter sanc tioning the Amendments, whereon the Bill passed through Congress, as the message says, by a strict party vote. "The conditions require the Virginia State officers to take the test oath that they are not disqualified by complicity in the Rebellion, or else that Congress has removed the disqualification. If any officer does not take the oath within 30 days of ter the passage of this law his office is vacated. Falsely tAing oath is to be treated as perjury, punishable by fine and imprisonment. The Virginia State Con stitution is never to be altered so as to deprive negroes of the same rights of suffrage, office hold ing, and school privileges as whites, or to require different qualifications for office holding or voting on the part of negroes from those required in whites." A remark made by one of the Southern Senators during the debate is worthy of attention. Mr. WARNER said that his State, Alabama, " by reason of her early admission and representation in Congress, was nearly five years ahead of her neigh bours, Georgia and Mississippi, in which States a less enlightened policy in public affairs had been pursued. On behalf of these States be asked " that some definite measures should be promptly taken for their reconstruction." He advised Congress to abandon its prescriptive policy, as barren of good results, and apply itself to the suppres sion of lawlessness and crime ; going to the South, with a halter in the one hand, to hang the mur derer of to-day, and universal amnesty in the other, to pardon the political offender of the past. Substantially we believe Senator WARNER to be right, holding that Congress would do more good by exhibiting less anxiety to make a State Republican than to re-establish law and order on a firm basis. In It Congress, however, may fail in doing the migra• ion of the races may achieve. Two streams are flowing ; for the whites are leaving for North ern climates better suited for their manual la bour, and the blacks steadily drift South. In a short time therefore for practical purposes the races will be separated ; mud the negroes where they con gregate in overwhelming numbers must secure the control of the State. For instance the migration of the African is from Virginia towaris Louisiana. and there is an influx of European la bour and capi tal into the former State, which may quickly change it into something more resembling Pennsylvania and Maryland. The entire number of sheep in the United States is over 23,000,000 One half of these are kept in seven States, Ohio taking the with 6,730,126 head, and producing nearly one-sixth of all the wool in the country. )4.ichigan shows third in this list. MONEY AND BUSINESS. (From the Springfield Republican, Tan. 15.) The stringency in the money market consequent upon the shifting of the business of the country from 1869 to 1870 has given way during the past week to a greater and more wide-spread case than has been experienced for some weeks. The banks at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago report an increase in their reserves, and loans at all these points are more easily supplied. The Now York banks at present hold in reserve eighty-four millions, the largest sum that has stood to their credit for over a year, exceeding the legal requirement of 25 per cent. of their loans by twenty-eight millions. This abundance of money is occasioned in a -great degree by the dullness of trade, and will probably be somewhat drawn upon by its revival. There is little likelihood, however, of any embarrassing stringency, especially at the East, unless the present flattering aspect of national finances should changa for the worse. The imminency of specie payment has a wonderful effect in confining money to legitimate commercial ventures, and driving it out of those speculative fields which absorb so much at tention and capital in inflation times. The business of stock speculation in Wall-street, for instance, has fallen off, as fir as shown by the books of the Stock Exchange, from 19,713,702 shares in 1868 to 10,573,053 in 1869. It is esti mated that the number of brokers has also been reduced one-half by the starvation process, and those who remain get a very scanty return for their operations. The amount of capital thus thrown out of employment is immense and its presence is felt when applied to more legitimate in vestment, as a relief to the loan market. In regard to the business of the past year fuller and more accurate statistics show that failures throughout the South and North have in creased, but at the South have decreased, making an aggre gate of 2,799 against 2,608 last year; the amount involved was $75,054,000 against $63,774,000. Profits have been steady but small, except at the South, where the sudden recovery of business furnishes another proof of the prin ciple that devastation from war, though apparently of the most destructive character, is really very temporary, affecting as it does only the circulating capital of a coun try, leaving intact the fixed capital. The land with its fertility, natural or artificial, the highways, most of the buildings, the people with their skill in labour, these ele ments of production remain to replace what has been de stroyed, as they would have replaced it had it been eaten up and worn out in the ordinary course of annual con sumption. Gold during the week has been invested with unusual interest, from the efforts of certain parties to get their living from speculation in it. That the Government would buy the West Indian islands and impair its credit by shouldering their mortgages, that the Bank of France was short of specie and had authorized Belmont to buy largely, and other flying rumours, were industriously pointed out by interested augurs as birds of evil omen, when they were little more than can a rds. They served, however, to raise gold on Friday from 121 to 123. The clique of heavy operators found little sympathy in the street, and met eonsidarable opposition from the stockbrokers, who unloaded liberally to keep the premium down. On Saturday Mr. Doutwell telegraphed an order to sell on Monday $1,670,000 extra coin, and invest the proceeds on Tuesday in bonds. This bear movement succeeded for the time being, but on Monday, when the gold came to he sold, the bids were for nearly five times the amount to be sold, and ranged from 121.35 to 122.37, causing tho premium to again advance to 122/, On Tues day it ran down again to 1211. The Gold Board and Gold Exchange Bank troubles have broken out again. The bank requires that brokers during each day shall give cheques for the balances due the bank, but does not itself give cheqnes for balances due the brokers until after the whole day's business has been "cleared." Trevor and Col gate on Monday refused to give their cheque for $500,000 to the bank without an immediate return, saying that they did not wish to be bothered with injunctions in getting their money back. After a stormy session of the Gold Board the firm was allowed to have its way, but for that once only. On the following day, however, Marvin Brothers refused in the same way to give their check for $900,000. Although they eaimed that they were only doing what Trevor and Colgate had been allowed to do, they were ex pelled from tho Gold Boarel.! This circumstance has given rise to a large number of transactions without the aid of the bank, or ex-clearing house, as the phrase is. Much regret is expressed that the clearing-house system was not suffered to die in the agony of the September panic. Go vernment Bonds are about 2 per cent. higher. The rise in gold stimulated a greater activity, and the small supply of bonds begins to be sharply felt. The 100 millions taken by the Government, and the prospect of a continued de mand from that quarter, the demand for them by persons who wish to invest their January dividends, and the steady drain of them to Europe, are elements in the demand con tinually operative, and in a measure cumulative. The outstanding bonds of the Government in round numbers amount to $2,100,000,000. About $1,000,000,000 have been taken by European capitalists, while $805,000,000 are of registered tissues. About £75,000,000, also, of small denominations are scattered over the country, having been purchased in exchange for the 7.30 bonds. There are, therefore, only about $220,000,000 of bonds left available in the country as against $550,000,000 to $700,000,-000 at this time last year, from which foreign investors can be supplied. North Carolina new bonds have broken down to 34k. Other Southern State bonds have fluctuated, but ou the whole have not much varied. Speculation in rail way stocks revived with the speculation in gold, and the rise has been quite marked. New York Central has been in demand, and rose on Monday 3 to 4 pre cent., but has since fallen off somewhat. The general list is Ito 2 per cent. higher. The Kansas Pacific Railway, during Decetn ber, earned from freight $145,323, from passengers $63,530, altogether $65,853 over its working expenses. Breadstuffs continue dull and irregular. Christmas week was a dismal one in England, a great rain storm sweeping off much grain and many cattle, damaging also the fields of winter grain, and bringing up prices of wheat ls. per quarter. In provisions the last stronghold of war prices seems giving way, viz., hog products. At New York prices have fallen within a month, and mostly within a few days, from $32 to $2B for mess pork, $29 to $26.50 for prime mess, from 19 to 16/ cents for steam rendered lard, and from 15k to 14 cents for Cumberland bacon. Butter and cheese are steady. Cotton has been coming down to the sea in greater quantities than the Liverpool or home demand could dispose of, and quotations are lower. The India crop is also reported to be larger, and the prospect of its coming through Suez better. Prices have been almost miraculously sustained, and must be quite sensitive to depreciatory symptoms. Wool is higher for low grades and Texas. Tobacco is being exported more freely than last week, but the home market is quiet. Seed leaf has been in better demand, and sellers have come nearer to buyers' views. The sales at New York include 50 cases of Connecticut (crop of 1868) at 50 to 60 cents. (From the Wall-street Journal.) FRIDAY EVENING, Jan. 14, 1870. Business throughout the country continues restricted, and failures are heavy. De Bost Brothers, jobbers of ladies' dress goods, 89, Worth-street, N.Y., aro announced as having failed; and George Underhill and Co., jobbers of woollen goods, are also reported to have suspended. Howard and Co., a large firm in the jewellery trade, at 619, Broadway, have stopped payment ; tha American Watch Company and other similar large establishments being among the creditors. It is reported that the credi tors of Richard Patrick and Co. will grant an extension, and the firm will probably resume business. R W. Martin, }nn, and Co., stock dealers and brokers, 26, Broad-street, New York, are announced as having failed, but it is ex pected that they will speedily resume. Money on call is easier, and loans have been readily made all day at 6 per cent., with exceptional transactions at 5 and 7 per cent. Discounts aro also easier, although somewhat unsettled by the continued failures. Prime double name paper passes readily at 8 to 12 per cent., and prime single names at 12 to 20 por cent. Gold, spite of every effort to drive up the market, continues heavy, and has varied to-day from 121 i to 1211, at which price the market closes. Railroad Stocks have fallen off, and the market, with few exceptions, is heavy. Closing quotations for mort gages. N. Y. Central 6s, 1883 87j N. Y. Central Gs, 1887 86 N. Y. Central Gs, It Est 83 N. Y. Central Gs, Sub'n 84 N. Y. Central 7s, 1876 98 N. Y. Gen. 7s, con. 76 Erie Ist Mort, Ex 92 Erie 7s, 2d Mort, 1879 B9l Erie 7s, 3d Mort, 1883 B7 Erie 7s, 4th Mort, 1880 7Bl Erie 7s,sth Mort, 1888 7l Long Dock Bonds Buff. N.Y. &E. Ist M,'77 — Hud. R. 7s, Ist M, lied. It. 7s, 3d M, '75 9B Harlem Ist M, '6B '72 9B Mich. C. Ist M, 69'72 117 Mich. new Ist M 85,'82 — Mich. So., 7 p. c. 2d M 92 N. Ind. Goshen Line '6B Mich.S.&N.l.S.F'd7p.c. 97 111. Cen. 7 p. c, '7O 116 Alton & T. 11. let M 93 i A!ton &T. 11. '2d pfd 8U Alton & T. 11. 2d M. Inc. 71 1.1au.& S t.J LandWrnts lOa flan. & St. J. Con C lli. & N. w 1:i. B. & Q.,eslt, S s 1 M 105 ( S. & N. W. Con Cony B7 Chi. & N. AV. Int B Bl & N. W. Ist M 9l Quincy & Tol, Ist M, '75 70 & So. lowa Ist M 7O Gt. West. Ist M, 'BB B5 Gt. Western 2d M '93 77 Tel. & Web. Ist M Ex 9J Foreign E \ change is dull:and quotations generally arc nominal. Tol. & Wab. Equip 73 Mil. & Pr. du Ch. Ist M — Gal. & Chic. Ext 101 Gal. & Chic. 2d M 9l & R. I. Ist M 101 Chi. R. I. & Pacific 7's 94 Cleve. & Tol. S. Fund 93 N. J. Central Ist M 102 N, J. Central 2d M 94 Pitts. Ft.W., & Ch. Ist M 1011 Pitts. Ft. W., & Ch.2d M. 941 Pitts. Ft. W., & Ch. 3d M. 91 Cleve. & Pitts., 4th M 7ll Chic. & Alton, S. F. Inc. Chic. &Alton, S. F. lstM. 971 Mil. & St. Paul Ist M 9l Mil. & St. Paul 2d M B2 Marietta & Cia. Ist M B7 Morris & Essex Ist M b Morris & Essex 2d Joilet & Chic. Ist M._ Chi. & Gt. East'n lstM 75 N. Y. &N. H. G 5,,,,, 9G Dubuque &S. City,lstll. 92 Peninsula Ist 11 Ohio & Miss. let M 9ll Ohio & Miss. C0n,,,,,, 761 Tol. P. W. Ist M. E. D 77 Atlantic & G. W. 2d M. Del., Lack., & W., 2d M. 92 Lake Shore Div. Bonds 85 Cleve, P. & sh. N.B — Do. O. 8... Union Pacific Gold 8... 81 Central P.llll. Gold 11... 911 Pacific 1111. guar. by Alo. 90:1 Sixty Days. Three Days London Bankers ... loBi -10 S - 8 - 1091,-1091- London Prime Commercial 108 —lOBl Paris, Bankers Bremen, Bankers Hamburgh, Bankers 35; -35 i - Frankfort, .11 0 .. 4Ol-401 _., 7o' 71-} Berlin and Uulogwi Antwerp Amsterdam, Bankers Swiss 0.24-5.181 The following are the quotations for specie:— Amer. silver... 96f to 97f I Eng. soya 486 to 488 Mox. d011ar5...1031 „ 101 j2O francs 385 , t 387 Eng. silver 470 , 480 ( Thalers Five francs .... 96 „ 97 j Government Bonds are irregular, but there is some demand for export. Sixes, 1861, registered ..... 117 j to 118 Sixes, 1881, coupon , . 11.8.4 to 118 k Sixes, 1868, coupon .. U.S. 6s. Pacific Railroad Five-twenties, 1862, registered ll3f to 114 Five-twenties, 1862, coupon Five-twenties, 1864, coupon ......... .„ ll5l to 115 Five-twenties, 1865, coupon Five-twenties, 1835, coupon, new Five-twenties, 1867, coupon U.S. 5-20 Coupons, 1868 lll to 114} Ten-forties, coupon .. ll2l to 113 Ten-forties, registered Oregon War Loan, Sixes 1881 — to Miscellaneous Stocks do not show much animation, the transactions being principally confined to Pacific Mail, which has fluctuated between 40 and 41f. N. Y. Cent. & Hud. Er. 911 Pacific Mail 4oi Erie Reading Mich. Central ll7k \V. U. Telegraph Illinois Central Cleveland & Pittshrg. 90 Mariposa Preferred Chi & North-West .... 73 1 Ohio and Mississippi 251 North-West Preferred 86f Boston Water Power l4i Canton 53 Cumberland Rock Island Cleveland and Toledo M & St. Paul Fort Wayne BB IM & St. Paul Preferred 861 Express Stocks are heavy, and there is little business - - _ . doing. Adams 621 to 63 American Mercitants' Union 36i to 37 Merchants' Union, old Stock.. United States WVlls, Fargo, and Co 53/ to 54 20k to 21 Messrs. Drexel and Co., the Philadelphia bankers, report as follows on Friday, Jan. 14 :—Pennsylvania Railroad Shares, 544 55 ; Sixes, Ist Mortgage, 97 974 ; Sixes, 2d Mortgage, 96 964. THE EX-GRAND DUKE OF TUSCANY. The ex-Grand Duke of Tuscany has died within the last few days, at the age of 78. Up to the year 1859 he reigned as Leopold the Second. He was the son of Ferdinand the Third, who was driven from Tuscany by the French in 1799. At the peace of Presburg he was made Grand Duke of Wurzburg, the bishopric having been secularised to form this sovereignty. The young prince was brought up here, and in 1814 returned with his father to his hereditary possessions in Italy. In 1824 he came to the throne, on the decease of his father. In 1847, when the Democratic spirit presided in Europe, Leopold was one of the most Liberal princes, and granted many reforms. Progress was, ho wever, too rapid, and at length he fled to Gaeta, and his Ministers, Montanelli and Guerrazzi, were joined with ➢lazzini in forming a triumvirate, which pro• posed to unite Tuscany with Rome, then declared aßepublic. The Austrians replaced him on the throne after the victory at Novara, but in 1859, he was again compelled to retire, and, notwithstanding some subsequent successes, his State was annexed to Piedmont. After that time he lived in retirement, and he gave evidence of his literary taste by publishing a splendid edition of the works of Lorenzo de Medici in four volumes. MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS Lv TURKEY. Whilst the insurrection at Dalmatia was at its worst, a military convention was agreed upon between the Emperor of Austria and the Sultan of Turkey. What was the precise object of this bargain is not quite apparent, save that it may have been to secure the neutrality of Mon tencgro by overawing that little territory with Turkish soldiers. But, whatever may have been the original scope of the convention, it is certain that the movements of troops continue. A strong force of Turks was at first marched into Bosnia and Herzegovina, although the Montenegrins male not the slightest demonstration of assistance to the Dal matians. Moreover, now that the insurrection in Dal matia is at an end, the march of soldiers still goes on. Fresh detachments of Turks arrive almost daily at the Montenegrin and Dalmatian frontiers. The IVord thinks that Austria and Turkey mean to engulf Montenegro. This is a natural inference for a Russian paper to make; but, whatever may be its motive, the movement of troops is undeniable. AFFAIRS IN TURKEY. The Vienna Presse states that the Turkish Minister of Commerce, Kabouli Pacha, is to be Ambassador at St. Petersburg. The Turkish regular troops are to be armed with the 200,000 needle - guns purchased in America, which have nearly all arrived at Constantinople. Intelligence from Scutari, dated the 28th ult., states that a Turkish colonel, Aali Bey, has been attacked and dan gerously wounded at Podgoritza, on the 3lontenegrin fron tier. Great excitement has been occasioned by this event in the regiment, which is stationed along the frontier, and the Porte has ordered a rigid inquiry, forbidding at the same time any violation of the boundaries. BAVARIA. We learn from Munich that the King of Bavaria has invited to dinner all the ministers, and the twelve mem bers of Parliament who voted against the "no confidence" address—a proceeding which seems to signify the intention of the King to support Prince Hohenlohe. THE RED RIVER REBELLION. The Yew York Times publishes a despatch from Chicago, which says that Dr. Shuffer had arrived at St. Cloud from Pembina, and reported matters at Fort Garry to be in a serious state. The French are masters of the situation, and have seized the Hudson's Bay Company's safe to pay the troops. Colonel Desalaboug, a Commissioner of the Canadian Government, and Father Th6bault are endeavouring to open negotiations with Beille, the French leader. It was rumoured that the Sioux Indians were coming down, and thc;•Dakota and Minne sota people were greatly alarmed, fearing another Indian war. The Scotch and English half-breeds were passive, and the Hudson Bay Company's officials manifested indif ference. THE SPANIARDS IN CUDJ A French telegram from New York on the 30th ult., states that the Spanish General Puello has been defeated with a loss of 450 men near Guaimaro by General Jordan, who has succeeded Quesada as com mander-in-chief of the insurgent forces. THE LAW OF DISTRESS. The " Derwentwater Romance" is a story with a plentitude of moral. To the preacher it is an example of -vicissitude ; to the quiet man an instance of how freely one may now-a-days break the law and pro duce disorder with strict retribution ; to many people an illustration of how insecure is he who dwells on princes' favour; to the advanced politicians a protest against certain points of the law concerning landlord and tenant. In this latter light Mr. Charles Neate, present Senior Follow of Oriel College, Oxford, late member of Parliament for Oxford City, regards the Romance. He writes to the Dail) News protest ing against a law which gives a landlord everything —an unjust precedence over other creditors and a power to take away a tenant's goods in case of a debt, whether disputed or not ; and leaves nothing to the tenant save redress by civil action. There are no safeguards whatever. The landlord may not be the real owner of the land, may only think himself such; and yet he has power to enter another's ground without even a properly qualified " sworn and known" bailiff, and can take away any goods he can lay hands upon. Mr. Charles I\eate hopes that the law will be corrected. LEGITIMATE BUSINESS. It is a pity that INIr. Carlyle, who once rejoiced at the notion of discovering the most foolish of living persons, did not go and look for him in Pall Mall. In that region a certain coal-dealer carried on business as the " Pall Mall Guinea Coal Company," thereby infringing the right of the original company under that name. An injunction was granted against him, but instead of frankly giving up the title, he placed a piece of paper over the first three words, and left in view a representation of a sove reign and a shilling on the window blind. Vice- Chancellor Malins has decided that this freak is con tempt of court. How the coal agent could have expected that the law would tolerate such shuffling, it is hard for anyone who does not answer to Mr. Carlyle's ideal to say. REPUDIATION. The Americans find repudiation such a capital bogie for terrifying European holders of five-twenties, that they are exceedingly loth to part with it. They have decided that the ghost shall not walk this earth in substantial form ; they have resolved to pay in gold and in full; and yet they are constantly reviving the subject, and discussing resolutions for the mere purpose, it would seem, of frightening their European credi tors and degrading their financial position in the European capitals. The House of Representatives has just had a little fun of this kind. It has, by a majority of 120 against 41, ordered to be laid on the table a resolution in favour of redeeming the five twenties in greenbacks, and condemning the Adminis tration for redeeming such bonds at a high rate of premium, when it has a right to claim them at par. Of course the Administration will pursue the even tenour of its way, as it has done before under similar circumstances. THE FRENCH MINISTRY. According to the Paris correspondent of the Tele graph, M. 011ivier contemplates several changes in his Cabinet. "He wishes to replace M. Buffet, Minister of Finance, and M. Louvet, Minister of Commerce, by MM. Magne and Forcade. This course will be opposed by M. Daru, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who has expressed his intention to resign, should M. Bu ff et be compelled to give up his portfolio." If M. Buflet be replaced and Count Daru resign in consequence, the Cabinet will lose its only representatives from the Left Centre, and will be composed solely of the Right Centre and the old Imperialists. Should 31. 011ivier try this manoeuvre, he will have boxed the compass completely. He will have travelled in search of power from the Republican Left to the supporters of the old despotism. And the last fragment of public confidence in his political morality will have vanished. It was precisely the presence of Count Daru and M. Buflet in the most important posts that gave the 011ivier Cabinet the position it has attained. TIIE MIPEROIt'S ASSAILANT. There is romance both in the history of the man who once saved the life of the Emperor of Russia and in the history of the Pole who tried to kill him. The young Russian who preserved the Czar from assassination at St. Petersburg was made a nobleman, and indulged in excesses which soon ended his life. Berezowsld, the Pole who attempted to murder the_ Emperor at Paris in 1807, has also come to a tragic end. He was condemned to Denalservitude forlife. PRUSSIA AI'TD BAVARIA. The address of the majority of the Bavarian Chamber of Deputies contains a passage decidedly unfavourable to the treaty of alliance with Prussia. "Our people," so runs the paragraph, " may be desirous of breaking these treaties but we live in an age which produces decisive crises. Experience has taught us that treaties concluded with Prussia may bear interpretations calculated to inspire apprehensions among the people. There arises from this a strong desire to give our foreign affairs a direction capable of inspiring public confidence." The address amounts to a vote of want of confidence in Prince Hellen tohe, Minister of Foreign Affairs. REVOLUTION IN SAN LUIZ. Accounts from Habana, of January 10th, state that the revolution in San Luiz Potosi is still increasing. The Governor and the members of the Legislature aro prisoners. Some of the Federal generals have joined the Insurgents, and the commanding Federal officer states that his forces cannot contend against the usurpers. The Federal troops in Durango, under the command of General Herrera, have pronounced against, and refused to recognise the National Government. The inhabitants in several districts of the State of Morelia have also pro nounced against the national authority, and a detachment of troops sent against them was defeated. THE WEST INDIES. The "West India, Pacific, and Mexican Mails have arrived, bringing intelligence from Havannah to the 7th of January, when the thirteen gunboats arrived from the United States. Thirty-nine rebels had been shot that morning in the fort. Great rejoicings in the Spanish squadron were taking place, and the insurgents were forming themselves into guerilla troops and destroying a vast amount of property. A largo Spanish transport bad arrived at Porto Rico with 800 troops for reinforcements at Havannah. The report of the rout and total discomfiture of the Salnave party is confirmed from Hayti. The three revolutionary steamers entered Port-au-Prince on the 18th of December, captured the steamer, and landed 1,200 men. The next day the steamers shelled the palace, half the city was burnt, the powder magazine ex ploded, and many were killed on both sides. The English Consul and the commander of her Majesty's ship Defence exerted themselves to save life and property, and offered safe conduct to Salnave if he would leave, to pre vent further bloodshed. Salnave at the date the snail left fled towards San Domingo. Five of his generals had been shot and 25 proscribed. He himself, as announced by telegraph, has since been shot. THE CHESTER CUP. §pealing of the Chester Cup, a contemporarysays the handicap boasts a grand entry, a wonderful number of really gcod-class animals being engaged, and it will be a matter for surprise if a far diffe •ent field does not contest this great event to that which was seen in 1869. Of course last year's victor, Knight of the Garter, is top weight, 9st 81b being given to him, but it is reported that he will not run again, but retire on his laurels to a quiet life at the stud. See-Saw has Bst 121 b, a weight under which it is not impossible for Lord Wilton's horse to distinguish himself over this course. St. Mungo ist. 121 b, is said to have recovered from his accident, but for which he might have proved himself the best three-year-old of his year. He ran a great horse here in 1869, and may do the same a second time. Mac gregor, Mr. Merry's dark Derby candidate, is lightly esteemed, as Knight of Athol, Captivator, and Exciseman are all placed above him. The Middleham horses Good Hope, l'st 101 b, and Thorwaldsen, 7st 101 b, are both well in, as are those thorough stayers, Starter, 7s 41b, and Cherie 6st. 101 b., whilst Birthday is a good animal, not overweighted with ist. It is impossible to estimate the chances of the three-year-olds, but there are any amount in at feather weights of whose capabilities next to nothing is yet known." THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES. The following remarks on the two-mile handicap, the Northamptonshire Stakes, are from the Echo :—"Here old Romping Girl heads the list, and worthily, for this dis tance exactly suits her capabilities, though she can hardly concede the weight to several candidates lower in the scale. The four-year-olds are very well represented, and several are most favourably weighted. A brace of dark horses, much talked about last season, Royal Head and Vansittart, are entered here, as well as in the Chester Cup, and they may be expected to figure conspicuously for one of the coming handicaps. The Newmarket Handicap, sixty-nine subscribers, run on April 20th, over the last mile and a half of the Beacon Course, has Pero Gomex handicapped at the same weight as Blue Gown last year, while See-Saw figures at a pound Count de Lagrange has utered a trio, Gondolier, Nelusko, and Ourogan ; and in Vestminster, 7st. 111 b., and Cherie, 7st., we have the winners of the two great autumn handi caps, the latter appearing the best in. Of the three-year olds, Kennington, 7st. carries the top weight, and he is considered worthy of the same honour in the City and Suburban. This smart youngster can hardly fail to pay his way during the coming season." DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH A THIEF. An attempt at robbery was made on Monday morning in Birmingham, tecompanied with violence of no ordinary character. A young man entering the shop of Mr. Carter, pawnbroker, in Aston-street, said he wished to buy a watch. Suddenly the man grasped six or eight watohes, and, saying "these are mine," Turned towards the deor, with the intention of escaping. In this, however, he was checkmated. It is Mr. Carter's custom when selling valu able property to close the shop door, and bolt it by means of a spring, which is concealed close to where he stands behind the counter. In the present instance the door was shut and bolted. The thief turned towards Mr. Carter, who seized the man by the throat. The man seized Mr. Carter's arm with his teeth, and bit the flesh through. Mrs. Carter came to her husband's assistance. The man seized her finger between his teeth, and bit it to the bone. He pulled a handful of hair from her head, and tore an earing from her ear. A fearful struggle followed. The man, putting his hand into his pocket, produced an open clasp knife, saying, "Now, you -, I'll stab you." In the struggle Mr. Carter was cut about the face and neck, and he received several severe gashes in the arms and neck. Backwards and for wards the men struggled and fought, throwing aach other from side to side of the shop. Mrs. Carter shouted "Murder !" and, at length, seeing that matters were becom ing very serious, she opened the door. A crowd of people rushed in ; and a young man named Jones, went to Mr. Carter's assistance. He was knocked down, and the fellow got his knife into Jones's mouth, and cut open his flesh from the corner of the mouth to the jaw bone. The wretch then stabbed Jones in the throat. when his hand was seized by another 'young man named Gridland. M.r. Carter got his knee into the pit of his stomach, and with his hand pinched his throat till the fellow was black in the face. Even then he struggled till completely exhausted. The fellow was handcuffed and taken to the police station. He provedtobe G. Fisher, aged 23, a gun instrument maker, no fixed residence, who was only re leased from gaol on Friday last, after serving a term of 15 months' imprisonment for stealing a watch from the shop of Mr. Emmanuel, Edgbaston-street, in a precisely similar manner to that in which he evidently intended to steal those in the present instance. On arriving at the police station, ho 'assumed a very meek and penitent air. "Ho feared God would never forgive him." NATIONAL ANTIPATHIES. — ETery true English man at the bottom of his soul hates a foreigner, or, if that expression be a trifle too strong, has a keen perception of the notorious inferiority of all other races. The feeling, however, fluctuates strangely in intensity. Probably, if the truth were known, our normal state of feeling is one of contempt towards every ono who does not speak English—and, moreover, the English of England, tem pered by uncomfortable doubts as to the perfect security of our position. We don't think a Frenchman our equal, but we rather shrink from comparing Paris to London. We treat a German with affable contempt, but we have a vague awe for his supposed authority on philological cr inquiries, and some suspicion of his growing practical abilities. An American is, of course, a bad imitation of a Briton, but he certainly inhabits a larga country, and though we sneer at his amazing statistics, they do convey some unpleasantly significant facts. The dislike or the ad mirAion comes uppermost at different times. We generally regard the chief nations of the earth as our rivals,and dislike them accordingly—especially if we fancy that we arc passing them in the race. It is pleasant to be able to point to our next-door neighbours as illustrations of the failing from which we are exempt. Our grandfathers used to contem plate the miserable French slaves to an arbitrary monarchy as living illustrations of the evils produced by the want of a British Constitution. If they had been perfectly certain of their own indisputable superiority, their antipathy would have been swallowed up in their conoeit.—Fi•osn li r ational Antivathies. in the Cornhili 'Magazine fol' ZWruarm. A NEIV SYSTEM OF ASTRONOMY. A book on the planetary universe calculated to arrest attention has just been published by Dr. P. E. Trastour de Verano, formerly State Geologist of Louisiana in command of the first American Scien tific Expedition to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and now engaged in scientific research in Nicaragua, Central America. In this book the author boldly challenges the truth of the received opinions on astronomy, opposes the Copernican system, Kepler's laws, and Newton's theory of gravitation, and sets forth his protest in the following words : Contrary to the teachings cf the system of Copernicus, the only ono that now gives law to astronomy, the sun is not placed in the centre of the planetary system, and the earth and the planets do not revolve annually around that luminary. Contrary to the belief in the system of Ptolemy, the earth is not situated in the centre of the universe, and the sun and the planets do not accomplish their annual re volutions by revolving around it. Contrary to the system of Tycho Brahe, the earth is not motionless in the centre of the planetary system, and the sun does not revolve annually around our globe, carrying with it, in its revolution, all the planets that circulate around it. Contrary to the doctrine of the astronomers of our days, the orbit of the earth and the orbits of the planets are circles and not ellipses—Kepler having mistaken illusions for realities in ascribing to the ellipse a power in space which it does not and cannot possess. Contrary to their doctrine, the moon dons not revolves around the earth while the latter is said to revolve around the sun. Contrary to their doctrine, the earth, the moon, and the planets pursue their course continually in the plane of the ecliptic, and never go wit of it. Contrary to their doctrine, tho diminution of the obli quity of the ecliptic is a chimerical idea. Contrary to tlieir doctrine, the precession of the equi noxes, upon which the most important works of modern astronomy arc based, is something that does not exist. Contrary to their doctrine, the equinoctial points ant the solstices always preserve their same positions. Contrary to their doctrine, the terrestrial meridian varies annually, and the latitudes and the starting point of longi tudes change from year to year. Contrary to their doctrine, our civil year is not of con stantly equal duration, as their almanacs represent it. There is never a year of duration equal to the one that preceded or follows it. Contrary to their doctrine, the Gregorian rectification was founded upon no astronomical basis. Instead of pre venting it has augmented confusion ; at a future day Easter will come round again in the middle of spring, although the almanacs will call it winter, if they persist in keeping the 21st day of March as the date of the spring equinox. (Juntrary to their doctrine, the climates of the earth are not nearly invariable, but are subject to extreme vicissi tudes. Contrary to their doctrine, the scars have a general movement that carries them from west to east. Contrary to their doctrine, at a future day the sun, the planets, the moon and the stars will rise in the west and set in the east. Contrary to their doctrine, the dimensions, distances, and movements of the planetary bodies, as set forth in their compilations and tables, possess no reality whatever ; for they have been determined without taking into account one of the most indispensable conditions. Contrary to their doctrine, no comet ever precipitates itself into any sun whatever in the realms of space, or eau in any event come ir to collision with the earth. Contrary to their doctrine, Kepler's Jaws are but pure illusions. It is only necessary to study them experiment ally in order to recognise the fact that they have not the least connection with the fundamental law of celestial mechanism. Contrary to their doctrine, Newton's theory of gravita tion offers neither evidence nor probability. It is a fan tastic commentary, built upon the chimerical ideas of Kep ler, radically foreig❑ to all mathematical truth, and even transgressit.g the limits of common sense. Newton stA pp :d. beyond the sphere of the difficult only to enter into hu possibiiities. The author considers that " the errors of modern astronomy proceed from the fact that men have made an article of faith of what is simply and purey a question of science," and proceeds to disclose the fact that the predictions of eclipses, from which the Copernican system has undeservedly derived so much weight, is nothing but the result of a long ex perimental labour, independent of all astronomi cal system, and limited to the observation of the course of the sun, of the moon, and of the periods ; that they can prove nothing in favour of any system whatever, as they have been, and can be, calculated in any and every system. After speaking of the intimate and inseparable connection existing between astronomy and geology he says:— "The astronomy of the time we live in has to undergo the fate of all human aberrations. It clings tena ciously to what is not, yet does not see what is. One of the most remarkable arrangements that responds to one of the most important astronomical necessities of the planet we inhabit it overlooks entirely. I refer to the mathematical regulation that has collected all the land on one hemisphere of our globe and covered the other with an immense ocean—a mechanism transcendently simple, yet which, more than any other, perhaps, throws into relief the hand of the Creator by the geometrical regularity of its results." Dr. Trastour not only substitutes an entirely new mechanism of our plane tary system for Copernicus' solar system, but gives a universal law in lieu of Newton's theory of gravi tation. By the aid of his diagrams the route that the earth has traversed up to the present day and all consequent phenomena can he traced ; and he concludes with these words :—" One single sub stance, spread throughout the universe, is its origin, its law, and its preservation." The amalgamation of the Atlantic Cables meets an unexpected opposition at Washington. Like the Ala bama claims, which might long ago have been settled by a graceful and ready concession, the tenacity with which the injudicious terms granted by France have been held is rousing an American opposition which, unless speedily relinquished, may assume a serious aspect to the French Company. It is extraordinary that they do not see this, and will not take the trouble to inform themselves of the feeling in America, which, if they did, would quickly con vince them that their prni er course is to urge the Impe rial Government, on its part, to withdraw the concession, and having procured the sanction, to tear the paper up and throw it into the fire. The Foreign Relations Com mittee of the Sonata devoted an entire day to the subject, and a clause has been inserted in the French Cable Bill it is maturing, to prohibit such consolidation without the consent of the Postmaster-General. The English lines cross the ocean to English territory, but the French Cable lands on the soil of the Republic, and most assuredly the Government of the United States has a right to impose conditions on telegraph companies landing Cables in the Union. The population of San Francisco by the Direc tory of 1869 is 172,050, including 8,600 Chinese and 2,850 coloured. lu 1868 it was 147,950, showing a gain in one year of 24,100. This constitutes it the tenth city of the population. United States in point of BIRTHS. FISHER --On the Ist inst., at Manor-street, Clapham, the wife of Fred. Fisher, Esq., of a son. RANDBLL—On the 31st ult. ; at Weybridge, the wife of 11. Randell, Esq., of a son. MA RMAGES. COSTON—BRoWNE—Out he 27th inst., at St. Peter's, Eaton square, Henry James, eldest son of William C. Costou, q., of Ifftehin, to Harriet M.Browne, voaugest daugh ter of the late %V. J. Browne, Esq., of London. LEWIS—LANGFoIth- On the 27th inst., at Norwood, Her bra George, third son of the late Edward Lewis, Esq., of Hertingfordbnry, Hells, to Mary, seaoud daughter of Edward Langford, Esq. Da17713. FENNELL —On the 31st ult., at Clarendon gardens, Maids bill, Edwin Fennell, Esq. Fox—On Ihe 30th ult., Louisa, wife of the Hon. Charles Lane Pus. Printed awl P,,Lis'.l.!cl y WILLIA.:II AN uItENVS, 'l2. r r, th: , :ince, ,0. IH, , irand, iu the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Miailleses.—. Wednesday, .V.ehruary 2, 1.870. R D AR 0 serve the han LT W 5 - - .Th s celeb re, RrAd Pa in lic tll3 &gents In - !yr lITTLI RErS DANCE'. d or Lea A weekly, F T tree 11 1 , STAF The rob fessional 3 Weekly pa. biped with establisbm This est niNPd by I and it is Lady Lai Carolina 1 All info ten or per: Subseri Treasure! THE JE' receive A and DM Pupil s . f, The s• manual A publ When th , messed. Applic other pal 1 1 TIE The I Fire Rel The mo BonusE I value a render leave is thirty d T'9 0 Upwl this 110 The enable unman' helples Ban] street ; Curler t wherel7 Girle of the kin' The C isheli and lau wise pi multabh The( e lfzirel] 11,c FIINI prove CO Mess) /riond Roar Liver AEA'. lite: the 1 , then for i 8, GB Offici Wat oftep. G' Thi ests.bl free. Ban street, See., L° yea nes dig ter 8 t for foo Vire