The Sun. — London, England, 1867-09-27 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence. A very handsome, capacious, and fast steam launch, named the Witchcraft, purchased by the Admiralty from Mr. Samuel White, of Cowes, Isle of Wight, for service in the Abyssinian Expedition, has been put through her speed trial over the mea sured mile in Stokes Bay with most satisfactory results, preparatory to her being despatched to the Red Sea. With an indicated horse power of her engines of 31, and 290 revolutions, she realised a mean speed of nine knots—a rate of speed never even respectably approached by any one of the heavily-built bluff bowed launches supplied to the ships of her Majesty's navy from the Royal dockyards. The Witchcraft, in addition to her speed and her extraordinary interior amount of capacity, is very sensibly fitted, and possesses a wonderfully comfortable dining and sleeping saloon abaft the engines. Altogether she illus trates, for Admiralty instruction, what a steam launch of one of her Majesty's ships ought t o be, in the weight she can carry and the rate she can steam at a certain expenditure of fuel per hour. An order was yesterday received by Capt. Gordon, C. 8., Superintendent of the Military Stores at Wool wich, directing a large number of cases to be for warded iu great haste to the Indian Store Depart ment at Lambeth, for packing the new contract saddles, already completed, for Abyssinia. About 600 old cases were shipped in barges in readiness to be towed up the river. The Fancy, screw gunboat, 60-horse power, has just concluded at Portsmouth a short series of trials which are worth some consideration, especially as regards the application of the principle tried to ves sels of moderate tonnage. The inventors of the principle on trial—Whettam and Walker's patent— contend that a screw enclosed in a section of an open cylinder will give a ship greater speed, with less vibratory movement of the ship's hull, than can be obtained with any screw as fitted unenclosed in the usual manner. The assertion was a bold one, but the Admiralty gave the promoters an opportu nity of proving the soundness or unsoundness of their invention by placing the Fancy gunboat at their disposal, the experimental trials to be made being, of course, under the supervision of the Ad miralty officials at Portsmouth, and reported upon by them, therefore, in an official manner. Under these conditions the Fancy has made three trials, the first being with 'her screw working in the ordi nary unenclosed position, as a standard for compari son with the subsequent trials made with the screw working in the open tube or cylinder. On the 21st of August the Fancy made her standard trial over the measured mile in Stokes Bay with these results: —Mean speed of vessel, 7.957 knots; indicated horse power of the engines, 194.29 ; revolutions of engines, 180.19 ; vibration of the vessel, very great (as is always the case with these craft under full steam power). A glass tumbler of water was placed on the deck over the screw, and the motion shook out liin. of the water. The first comparative trial made with the patented principle was on Sept. 2, and the re sults were—Mean speed of vessel, 7.799 knots ; indicated horse power of engines, 192.81 ; revolu tions, 176.167. The open cylinder in which the screw was enclosed had just sufficient diameter to allow the ends of the screw blades to work without coming in contact, and was in length about twice the breadth of the screw blades when revolving at the perphery. The vibration of the vessel on this trial, from the action of the screw alone, was nil, a glass tumbler full of water again placed directly over the screw not having a drop of its contents shaken out upon deck. The third and last trial took place on Wednesday last, the tube enclosing the screw being reduced to nearly half its length on the previous trial, and now only just covering the thick ness of the disc formed by the play of the blades of the screw in its evolutions. The results in this case were—mean speed of vessel, 8 knots ; indicated horse power of engines, 187 ; revolutions of engines, 180 ; vibration, precisely the same effect as in the last trial. The rate of speed is slightly in favour of the tube enclosed screw, but the most important result obtained from the trials has been the utter annihilation of all vibratory movement of the ship's hull from the action of the screw in a vessel so sus ceptible. of such movement as a shallow gunvessel like the Fancy. The success in this respect is most marked and indisputalle. This is obtained, as ob served, without any loss of speed ; it saves the stern frame of the ship from the usual course of destruc tion following upon the use of the single screw on wood built ships, and it entirely removes that un pleasant and horribly dislocating sensation experi enced generally in the after cabins of screw steam ships. His Dutch Majesty's man of war Valk, Capt. T. Koopman, has sailed from Woolwich Arsenal for Portsmouth to await the embarkation of the Queen, on her Majesty's return to Holland. The embarka tion, according to existing regulations, is to take place on the let of October. . A large contract has been entered into by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty with Mr. Thomas Airey, a dairy farmer, near Petersfield, for the supply of his dessicated milk, for the use of her Majesty's naval service. During the present week about 10,000 imperial quart cases have been deli vered at the victualling stores at Deptford. During the past few days Major W. W. Lynch, attached to the divisional staff at Chatham, and other officers, have been engaged in the inspection of the vessels chartered by the Government for the con veyance of the mules to be employed in transporting the stores required by the force composing the Abys sinian expedition. The vessels taken up for this special service are the Empress, Coumoundouris, Bolivar, Venetia, and Parana, which together will convey between 700 and 800 mules from the various ports in the Mediterranean, where the agents of the Government have been for some time past occupied in making purchases of those animals. Each vessel is fitted up for the special purpose for which she is to be employed, and will also take out detachments of non-commissioned officers and men of the Mili tary Train and the Army Hospital Corps, together with a number of surgeons and veterinary surgeons. The vessels are to be ready to take their departure from the Thames for the Mediterranean to-morrow. The hired transport Forest Queen, Capt. Ander son, yesterday went alongside Woolwich Arsenal, after shipping a part cargo of war stores under Go vernment contract in the London Docks, and com menced receiving about3oo tons of Portland cement in casks, and is to fill in her magazine with ammu nition for the use of the troops at Halifax. An order has been received at Woolwich Dockyards from the Lords of the Admiralty desiring that the names should be sent up of all widows of men employed in the services of the yard who died before serv ing the full term of ten years necessary to en title them to a pension, as their lordships have been pleased to intimate their intention of considering the merits of each case. This announce ment on the part of th e i r l or d s hi ps h as g i ven grea t satisfaction, as it is well known that many who have died just before the expiration of the term of service entitling their widows to a pension have by that fatality left them wholly unprovided for. 111 The freight ship Caroline, in St. Katherine's Docks, yesterday received a large amount of guns, shot, platforms, carriages, and other stores, from Woolwich Arsenal, in transit for the Mauritius. Major-Gen. Warde, C. 8., commandicg the dis trict of Woolwich, has been engaged each day dur ing the week in carrying out the half-yearly inspec tion of the brigades and divisions of troops in Wool wich garrison, and on Thursday, the 3d proximo, the General and Staff will inspect the garrison of Warley. Col. D'Aguilar, C. 8., and Lieut. Bram ley, B Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, have been appointed by special order from the Horse Guards, signed by General Grant, G.C.8., Quarterma3ter , General, to investigate the efficiency of the new pack saddle recently brought out under the patent of Lieut. M'Mahon. In virtue of their instructions these officers have commenced a daily route parade over the roughest and most uneven parts of the country within the vicinity of the garrison, over the chalkpits at Charlton, down the rugged sides of the ravine on Plumstead-common, through which the pack animals, heavily laden, are driven to test the strength and superiority of the new saddles, together with the advantages of the expanding system on which they are constructed, The reports are daily given in to Gen. Warde, and are satisfac* tory. It is stated that the saddles will likewise be adopted by the French Government for their trans port service. The general court-martial which was occupied five days at Chatham in the trial of Private Nash, of the Ist battalion of the Bth Regt., on the charge of forwarding a letter to his commanding officer complaining of the treatment he had received while confined in Fort Pitt Hospital, closed its labours on Wednesday afternoon, and the members of the Court have been ordered to proceed to their duty. The finding of the Court is not expected to be promul gated for some time. The 80th Regiment, now stationed at Aldeisinott, will vacate C, D, and F Lines, South Camp, this day, and occupy the centre block of the permanent barracks, when they will be attached to the 2d Bri gade. The 4th Dragoon Guards will vacate their present quarters in the North Camp on Tuesday next, and occupy the West Cavalry Barracks. Some extensive improvements and alterations are being carried out in the military gymnasium, Chat ham, for the purpose of obtaining increased facilities for carrying on the physical training of the officers and troops under instruction in gymnastic exercises. In the mechanical department of the gymnasium the materials of which the flooring was originally composed have been removed, and a bottom of a more suitable and elastic character substituted, so as to lessen the chances of the officers and men re ceiving injuries from falls during the time they are undergoing their course of instruction. The altera tions which are now being carried out have necessi tated the closing of a portion of the gymnasium until the proposed improvements are effected. The Michaelmas vacation of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich commenced yesterday morn ing andwill close on Monday evening next, when the cadets will reassemble and resume their studies until Christmas. RAILIVAY INTELLIGENCE. CALEDONIAN. The half-yearly general meeting of this railway was held on Wednesday in Glasgow ; the chairman, Lieut.-Colonel'Salkeld, presiding. The report, an aostract of which has appeared in The Sun, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, began by referring to the diminution in the dividend. Under ordinary circumstances, he said, some reduction was to have been expected at first so soon after the amalgamation with the Scottish North-Eastern. But had trade been good that fall ing off might almost have been covered by this time, and when trade recovered he felt confident that the former dividends on the ordinary Caledonian stock would be resumed,while the Scottish North Eastern would prove a valuable acquisition. Great efforts were being madeby a class commonly called " bears" to run down the market price of Caledonian stock by the circulation of reports detrimental to the company. The pamphlets and newspaper articles which had appeared bad all the same object— namely, to enable speculators who, he was credibly informed, had " beared" the market to the extent of £500,000 to buy in again at a lower rate, and so realise a profit on stock they had sold without hav ing it to deliver. As a proof of the scarcity of stock upon the market, notwithstanding the numerous sales quoted in the share list, the bears were actually paying every fortnight a heavy amount of " back wardation" for leave to tide over their engagements to deliver stock they had sold. It had been stated that, inasmuch as the charge made against revenue in the Caledonian accounts was not equal per mile to that of the Great Northern, the difference must have been charged to capital. But he contended that the circumstances of the two railways were so different that no comparison could be properly made between them. In illustration of this view he went into various details as to the working of the respective lines. He showed that no comparison Could be made between the working of the Great Northern and the Caledonian Railways, but on com paring the working of the Caledonian with the Glas gow and South-Western a similar rate of expendi ture on permanent way and rolling stock was appa rent. Although, he added, the allegations which had been made had created a panic in the breasts of some they had not materially affected the credit of the company, for within a very short time they had been enabled to borrow money at 31 per cent., while several allotments of the new 5 per cent. preference stock had been applied for. The chairman concluded by moving the adoption of the report, and the de claration of dividends as therein recommended. The motion was seconded by Mr. T. Mu., and after some discussion as to the fall in the dividend from 7+ per cent. in the corresponding period last year to 51 per cent. for the past half year, the re solution was carried unanimously. _ _ The retiring directors having been re-elected, the meeting by a majority approved an agreement under which the Caledonian are to work the Solway June , . tion line, at the same time authorising the board to contribute £60,000 towards that undertaking. The CHAIRMAN next introduced a proposal of the directors to grant a retiring allowance to Mr. C. Johnstone, the manager of the line, who was about to resign from failing health. The board, he inti mated, were prepared to recommend a gratuity of £5,000, with a yearly allowance of £4OO. This proposal was met with a storm of opposition. It appeared that Mr. Johnstone's remuneration had gradually risen from £1,237 in the year 1857 to £2,718 in the year ending January last, the average of 10 years being £l,BOO a year. Mr. G. SMITH expressed himself in favour of giving £3,000, with £5OO a year. The general feeling of the meeting was against any allowance being given. A motion to this effect was made, but against this the Chairman intimated his intention of using the proxies held by the directors. After a stormy scene, in the course of which the chairman repeat edly urged the withdrawal of the motion and the postponement of the whole question, the motion of the previou3 question was made from the chair, and on being put to the meeting was carried. The matter accordingly dropped, and the meeting broke up. EAST GLOCESTERSIIIRE. The report of the directors states that the com pany's new Act, 1867, extended the time allowed by the original act for the purchase of lands (with the exception of two cases, in which the notice must be given within twelve months) until October 1, 1869, and for the completion of works, including the works and deviations authorised by the Act of 1866, until October 1, 1871. It also empowered the company, subject to the rights of the Midland Company, to enter into working and traffic arrange ments with the Great Western Company, thus restoring the latter company to the position with respect to the company's undertaking which it was originally intended that it should hold, the agree ment entered into with the Midland Company being at the same time fully preserved. The directors having regard to the difficulties which appeared to exist in bringing about such an arrangement be tween the Midland and Great Western Companies as would provide for the completion of the under taking at any reasonably early date, the directors thought it expedient to consider whether some arrangement might be made which would admit of proceeding with the line in sections. Sufficient time had not elapsed for this purpose since the passing of the new act, but the directors were still in com munication with the two companies and the con tractor. In co„s^quenee of many of the share holders not having paid up either their first or second calls, after repeated applica' ions made to them, the directors were compelled with great reluctance to take proceedings at law against those in arrear, and verdicts were obtained in favour of the company, subject to the discussion of two points of law which were reserved for argument next term. The capital accounts showed that £41,565 had been received, of which £20,282 had been expended in obtaining Parliamentary powers, and £16,792 in the purchase of lands, £560 on account of construction of works, awl £415 secretary's salary, leaving a balance at the bankers of £716, and interest on deposit with accountant-general £2,800. THE SUN, LO.NoOS, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 27, 1867. £l5 each granted at the last half-yearly meeting to Mr. J. Frost and Mr. Peckitt be increased to £2O. He was glad that the funds of the association enabled them to make this increased grant. The report alluded to the satisfactory diminution of the death rates, but it must also be borne in mind that the money they bad bad to deal with had been less. This resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Dott, was also carried unanimously. Mr. GODFREY, in moving a vote of thanks to the chairman, expressed the pleasure he felt at the pro gress of the association, and believed that at some future period this society would rival the Benevo lent Railway Society. They were in no way anta gonistic to that society, but were only too happy to work with them if they would join them. All they wanted was reciprocity of feeling, and had no objection to amalgamate with that association, on the terms of maintaining their independence. It was their duty to do all they could to provide for one another. A great many men might provide for one, when one in their position could not pro vide for himself. He cordially thanked his lordship for taking the chair on the present occasion, and hoped that he would long live to give them his pa tronage. (Cheers.) Mr. SAVILLE seconded the motion. The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said that he was quite of opinion that there was room for both societies, and hoped both would prosper. (Cheers.) The proceedings then terminated. STATE OF TRADE. BELFAST, Sept. 24. —Flax.—During the past week the supplies in our various markets were rather in excess of those offered the preceding week ; de mand good, and in some instances advanced prices were obtained. Yarns.—A continued improvement in demand has manifested itself during the past week. Orders to a considerable extent for lines, both warp and weft, have been placed on home account. Tows also have changed hands with in creased freedom. Business transacted on continental account has been moderate. Prices are without change; stocks have further decreased. Linens, brown handloom.—A moderate demand continues to exist for heavy linens, printing lawns, and good makes of light linens for bleaching. Medium and fine sets of linen handkerchiefs are in active request. Power-loom.---A. fair demand exists for drills of superior descriptions, suitable for bleaching. Roughs 5-4 and 6-4 wides continue in good request, at cur rent rates ; 4-4th wides dull of sale. Demand less active for diapers and damasks, cambric handker chiefs, and linen handkerchiefs, bleached and finished linens. Home trade, although no actual change has been reported, still some slight symp toms of improvement have become manifest. A fair amount of business has been transacted on conti nental account. American trade—demand dull, as is usually the case at this season of the year. Prices rule steady ; stocks are without change. BRADFORD, Sept. 26.—The tone of the market is still very quiet, if anything, quieter than last week. The sales of wool are confined to some special sorts, consisting of some of the best choice wools, which are not large in stock. Other classes of wool are quite neglected. In worsted yarns the foreign houses are waiting the result of Leipsic fair. The demand, though very limited, is still almost wholly confined to the home trade. Some spinners con tinue moderately employed on 40's and 36's lustre and in 30's super ; but these are quite exceptional cases. Prices are not lower than last week. The piece trade shows the same languor. Some manu facturers have begun to run short time, and others say that it would be beneficial to adopt it gene rally. The accounts from America are rather more hopeful, but there is hardly any actual change for the better. The foreign and the home trade are equally languid. It is too early to place orders for spring. The demand for plain goods is upon the whole extremely flat. Prices are still drooping. UNITED KINGDOM RAILWAY OFFICERS AND SERVANTS' ASSOCIATION. The eleventh half-yearly ordinary general meeting of this excellent association, the objects of which are to grant pensions to officers and servants employed upon or in connection with railways, in case of lengthened or permanent incapacity for duty, and to give prompt temporary assistance in cases of accident or other emergency, was held at the London Tavern last night ; the Right Hon. Viscount Bury in the chair. The notice convening the meeting having been read, The report was taken as read. It stated that the committee noticed with pleasure the healthy state of the society. At no period of its history had it been so satisfactory, 19 deaths only having occurred dur ing the past six months. Upwards of £5,780 had been paid to claimants since May, 1863. The George Stephenson fund had been increased by £lOO from donations received during the past six months, and the annual May collection included several new donors and annual subscribers. Meetings had been held at Stratford, Ipswich, Bow, and other places, for the purpose of adding to the funds and promul gating the objects of the society ; and the committee acknowledged the kindness of the promoters of those meetings, and anticipated a good result from their labours. All the necessitous applications for tem. porary assistance had been entertained, and the com mittee proposed to increase the two annuities already granted of £l5 to £2O, and felt assured that at no distant period they would be in a position to place more annuitants on the funds. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said that being a man prominently con nected with railways, he had much pleasure in taking the chair of so useful an institution as the present. He was actuated in doing so also by a wish to support Mr. Godfrey, from whom he had on every occasion received great kindness. He was quite aware of the arduous task that gentleman had undertaken in the organisation of this society, and could bear testimony to his being the right man in the right place in his ordinary duties, and no doubt was so in this society. (Cheers.) He (Lord Bury) considered himself a working railway man, and he thought he might say so with justice, seeing that he had been that day from 11 to 5 at a railway board meeting. Formerly the characteristic of railway servants was a want of providence, but he was glad to see that a different feeling had now grown up, and indeed it was a curious thing that such men who were subject above all classes of the community to risks and dangers should not have considered that the first duty they had to perform was to provide for themselves and families in sick ness. Naturally it was every man's duty to provide for his own family in the best way he could out of his weekly earnings, and in that case the old pro verb, ' Union is strength," applied with redoubled force, because the earnings of railway officials in general were not sufficient to enable them to lay by anything, without great self-denial, for the purpose of providing for their families. It must be evident that if a large number of men combined together to make a small weekly payment each, they were able, having regard to the average death rate, to form a sort of assurance fund in case of accident or death of the members, and thus to obtain a very much larger sum for their widows than they could other wise hope to do. All such institutions were valua able, and every one connected with railway manage ment felt it incumbent on him to fostcr them. He was perfectly disinterested in taking the chair that night, because,as they were aware, he was connected with a kindred institution which was larger in num bers than the present ; but he was convinced that all such associations which were well constituted and well conducted merited the hearty sup port and co-operation of all railway men, whether they belonged to one society or the other. (Cheers.) It was absurd to imagine that one society could take in the whole railway world, therefore all these societies bad a good effect. The present was soundly and well conducted. As it was kept up by the pence gathered from the weekly wages of labouring men, it would be wrong to say more than one meant on the occa sion, and, therefore, he would only add that he was confident that the funds were properly dealt with. The amount required for the management of the society naturally was in excess of that in which the numbers were greater, and that was to be remedied by getting together as many members as possible. The society it was quite evident had paid all its ex penses, and no money had been borrowed to help out the management fund. (Hear, hear.) He should like to see a larger number of members, so that the death rate should not embarrass their funds. The remedy was entirely in their own hands, and he should be glad to see the society placed in such a position as to satisfy the most rigid scrutiny of any actuary. He wished every prosperity to the under taking, and in conclusion moved the adoption of the report. Mr. T: BOWDEN seconded the motion. He ob served that the institution was managed by as few persons as was possible, consistent with perfect safety. They had endeavoured by all means to get new members to join, and had held various meetings where they could, but it was exceedingiy difficult, from the pressure of railway business, to get per mission to hold meetings, especially in the evening, when the mails were going out. Their funds were prosperous, so far as they went, and it rested en tirely with the members to get as many more to join as possible. It was true that there was a rival institution at Euston, but most of the members of this were members also of the other, and he might say provident class. He regretted that there was not a larger attendance, and hoped that men would see their own interest, and attend such meetirgs whenever they had an opportunity of doing so. (Hear, hear.) The report was unanimously adopted. Mr. Jourtsori then. moved that the annuities of THE GROUSE DISEASE. Writing to the Pall Mall Gazette, on this subject, Mr. Francis Francis says :—" The only chance of getting at any sound knowledge on the matter is by making every head keeper upon as many moors as possible keep a careful diary, under forms of various headings, as to state of heather, weather, water, grouse, &c., and anything else that may affect them. By comparing these returns when moors first became diseased, we may get at some regular data framed on a basis large enough to rely on. Ido not believe that bad food or bad water originates the grouse disease any more than I believe the same things origi nate cholera or typhus. Unfortunately we know so little of epidemic causes that it is a subject on which we can only theorise. In all probability the grouse disease hangs about and lingers, like other diseases, waiting for a favourable opportunity and suitable weather, &c., to come forth and slay its thousands. I doubt if it is ever quite extinct, and it is towards these connecting cases and their discovery that attention should be directed chiefly. We know that if any dangerous epidemic prevails in any country or district, over-crowding, bad food, bad water, and a consequent weak state of health will be found favourable to its development ; and that, if places where these conditions exist are attacked, they will probably suffer severely. Buc then we know, on the other hand, that a great deal of over crowding goes on, and bad food is devoured, and bad water consumed, and weak health endured for considerable periods without cholera or typhus being prevalent in such localities ; and I have not the least doubt that frosts and thunderstorms fre quently destroy the young heather, and that there is much over-crowding, much bad weather, and a total absence of vermin without the prevalence of grouse disease. The presence of worms in the dis eased birds certainly argues a derangement of the system, and interference of some sort with the diges tion—at least I suppose so ; and in all probability the grouse would have been eating unsuitable food for some time before, and they must have been to some extent ailing for some time; for tapeworms of the size which have been frequently mentioned do not grow in a day or a week. lam afraid that the entire stock of grouse in the north has become, I will not say exactly diseased, but tainted with or subject to disease, and that the course most likely to stave off the evil for a time would be to intro duce fresh stock. The disease has not, I be lieve, affected Ireland. The Irish grouse are fine strong birds, much• larger than the Scotch grouse, and if it were possible to introduce Irish birds upon the moors that have been cleared, I think it is extremely probable that the in troduction of fresh blood might have a most beneficial effect. In keeping diaries, the important point, as in all other matters of that nature, would be to note closely where the first outbreak of the disease occurs, and then it would be advisable, if possible, to draw a cordon round that moor and promptly to destroy all the grouse on it. This I fancy would be the most merciful and least destructive policy in the end. Keepers also should have the strictest orders and the strongest inducements to hunt out diseased birds and to kill and burn them at all times. For, as I have said, I believe that in nooks and corners some diseased grouse are always to be found, and thus the disease is kept alive and propagated. As to its ramifications, when it bursts out in full fury who can say where they will extend to or when they will Stop ? Healthy and un healthy moors will probably become affected alike ; and it may be that it is in this way that the disease has penetrated into deer forests and such places where the vermin are untouched, and that formerly stamped out the disease it was hard to twhheenprietvallveanscleinogfervinegru;sion that pro pagate. I do not assert, I merely suggest this.. I see it stated that man with his gun takes the place of vermin, and therefore we can do without vermin ; but this seems to me to be a very self-sufficient sort of statement. The fact is, we may have moderate a certain amount of vermin e n r d m i even o actgood ns scavengers; sport oav e g wh e with we must give some thing to the vermin in recognition of the use which they are. But we are not satisfied with moderate or good sport ; we want slaughter. We must kill our hundreds of brace per diem, and to do that we must get rid of the vermin. This state of things is unnatural, and some sort of penalty is sure to follow it." 711 E YORKSHIRE WOLD TUMULI. In continuance of the pre-historic inquiries on the Yorkshire \Volds a series of seven low tumuli— almost obliterated by cultivation of the land—have been opened by the Rev. Canon Greenwell, of Dur ham, and with him several distinguished archat)lo gists. The researches are being made in the vicinity of Weaverthorpe, on the northern range of hills reaching from Mahon to Filey. Very inte resting and valuable discoveries have been made, of which the following are the chief details :—" The tumulus first opened was 22ft. diameter and 2ft. high. At the centre, upon the natural surface, was the skeleton of a female laid on the left side with head to N.E., with the hands up to the head. The body was doubled up. Upon the right wrist was a beautiful bronze armlet, of the snake-head pattern, a succession of oval swellings lengthwise, and quite perfect. Close to the neck was a delicate bronze fibula, of the bow shape, extremely elegant in workmanship, which had originally had a tongue of the same metal. This had been broken off, and replaced by an iron tongue, fixed in a piece of wood which passed through the bronze coil of the fibula. On the cheat was a necklace of beads, 53 being of glass and 17 of amber. The glass beads were most beautiful. They were all blue in colour and ornamented (with one exception) with a zig zag pattern in white enamel. The exceptional one was larger and more globular in form, and was ornamented with amulets of white—identical with the glass beads of the well-known Arras find in 1817. The mound contained a quantity of potsherds, and a few flint chippings. The next barrow was 27 feet in diameter, and only one foot high. A trench 7f t. long, lft wide, and 31t. deep, had been dug on the south side, but this contained nothing but broken animal bones and potsherds. At the centre on the surface was the body of a female with head to the north, laid on her left side, with hands up to the face, and body doubled up into the least possible space, being from head to foot only 35 inches. On the right wrist, in this case too, was a perfect bronze armlet of the most beautiful description, resembling a delicately formed cog wheel, with rounded teeth on both sides, the rim between the teeth being ornamented with three grooved lines. For exquisite preservation, delicacy and beauty of workmanship, high polish and brilliant patina, this armlet is not to be surpassed. This was similar to the Arras finds, except in being more delicate. Ike skull was remarkably thick4udstroug, while the other bones were very light and slender. Below the hip were the remains of a plain urn of a peculiar dark coloured ware. Below the body, and quite to the left of it, formed E. and W., was a hole or trench, 7ft. by 4ft. and 2ft. deep, containing flint chippings, animal bones, and charcoal, and numerous parts of a dark urn spread about. Among the Lones was the core of an ox's horn, which had been clean cut from the head. The third barrow was 50ft. in diameter and 2ft. high. At the centre, upon the natural surface, was a doubled-up body on the right side, the head to S.S.E., the right hand under the head, the left on the hip. At the feet were much charcoal, several fragments of pottery, and a few flint clippings. The fourth barrow was 32ft. diameter and 2ft. high. At the centre, on the sur face, was a body on the left side, with head to N.E. The right arm down by the side, the fingers touch ing the knee, hand flat, the left arm extended from the elbow, hand also flat, and both with the palms upwards. Six inches below the body were many fragments of a peculiarly plain, dark urn. Four feet S.E. of the centre was a hollow 3ft. by 2ft. and 18in. deep, which contained much burnt matter, parts of an urn, a thumb flint, and several flakes. Four feet west of the centre was another similar but larger hole, filled with black matter and charcoal, and with sides burnt a dark red colour. The fifth barrow was 46ft. in diameter and 2ft. high. At the centre, in an oval grave, 7ft. by 4ft. and lift. deep, N. W. by S.E., was a body on the left side, contracted, head to S.E., right hand up to the head, and left on the chest. A great quantity of charcoal was about the body. To inter this body a burnt burial and an unburnt body of a child had been disturbed, pieces of burnt bone and a child's lower jaw being close to the intruding burial. Above the body were parts of a highly ornate " drinking cup" and portions of cinerary urn. The sixth barrow was 50ft. in diameter and lift. high. At the centre was an oval hollow, 4ift. by 4ft. 4in. deep, contain ing two doubled-up bodies, and between their heads an urn, small and rude, and covered with scorings. The first body was on the right side, with head to N.W. ; the other was on the left side, with head to S.E. Under the second body was a considerable quantity of black unctuous matter resembling de cayed wood. This has often been observed. In the hone were a few animal bones, potsherds, and some flint clippings. The seventh barrow was 42ft. diameter and lft. high. At the centre was a body on the left side, with head to N., and both hands upon the knees. There were one potsherd and some animal bones ; among them the tine of red deer rubbed down into a pointed implement. This highly interesting group of barrows bears a strong resem blance to the remarkable group near Arras, Market Weighton, opened by the Rev. E. W. Stillingfleet and Mr. Clarkson, in 1817, the following years. The ornaments are almost identical, and other mat ters point to the same people. They are evidently of a date long subsequent to the mass of barrows on the IVolds, and belong doubtless to the late Kul tic period, after the introduction of iron, and may date one or two centuries before our era. Not far distant, however, from them is a large mound con taining a vast number of bodies, all of a people of much earlier race. This is being investigated.— Sheffield Daily Telegraph. THE COMPOUND HOUSEHOLDER. Yesterday evening a meeting of compound house holders was held at the King's Arms, Iloxton street, to consider their position under the Reform Act of last session. Mr. COOK (who was voted to the chair) stated that the meeting had been convened in consequence of a parochial notice which had been served upon householders whose rates were compounded for, threatening to demand of them instead of their landlords the payment of sewers, main drainage, and general rates, as well as poor rates. Mr. J. ACLNND, a delegate from the Reform League, explained that the Reform Act gave male adult household suffrage conditionally upon a twelve month's occupation and the personal payment of the poor rates. It would have been better if the latter qualification had been omitted. The question was a social rather than a political one, and if the middle classes were wise they would not provoke the hosti lity of the working classes, who were quite strong enough to hold their own if they were only true to themselves. (Hear.) He did not mean to say that Mr. Gladstone's was a better measure than that which passed this year. Both parties were to blame, but the Conservative act had the advantage that it recognised indirectly the right of every occupier to be an elector—a point from which there was no re ceding. (Hear.) The occupier of a small tenement, the rates of which were compounded for, was placed very much at the mercy of the landlord, and it was for those who were so situated to call upon the Legislature for an enactment that whatever rate they were required to pay they should be entitled to deduct from the rent paid to the landlord. It was true that there was a greater demand than supply in the case of house property, but the lath and plaster landlords, who formed the residuum of the middle classes, were not in a position to defy public opi nion. The select vestries, composed of landlords, saw the advantage under this act of putting money into their own pockets, and they had accordingly given notice to compound householders, that after the 29th inst. all compounding would cease, and the tenants would thereafter have to pay their own parochial rates. But the act of Parliament had no reference to any other rate than the poor rate, and Mr. Beales, after the breaking up of the Council of the Reform League at 11 o'clock on the previous night, had prepared an elaborate legal opinion, showing conclusively that that was the correct read ing of the act ; therefore, until the existing contract between the tenant and landlord terminated, the sewers, main drainage, and general rates could not be legally demanded of the tenant. The advantage of successive occupation of different tenements which the act gave to the householder was denied to the lodger, who could only obtain the suffrage by twelve months residence in the same lodgings. In that respect he thought the measure would prove more Conservative than many persons supposed, because in poor neighbourhoods the lodgers were continually moving, and not many of them would come upon the register, while in the more " respect able" portions of the metropolis occupiers and lodgers were more likely to be Conservative than Radical. 'Nothing less than manhood suffrage would satisfy the working classes. (Cheers.) They hailed this act as a step in the right direction ; but before full justice was obtained a hard battle would have to be fought, arousing the working classes to an assertion of their independence, and binding them together by a common grievance. The object for which the present meeting was called was only to be attained by an organisation covering the entire metropolis, but when such an organisation had been provided they would be enabled, with the support of public opinion and of the Press, to correct step by step the errors of a rascally act, which intention ally, by ignorance, or by gross negligence, placed a whip in the hands of the landlords to scourge the tenants. (Cheers.) The meeting was subsequently addressed by Mr. Joiner, Mr. W. J. Mete, Mr. Lucraft, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Brisk, and others, and the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :—" That this meeting, comprising compound householders and direct ratepayers, is of opinion that the 7th section of the ' Representation of the People Act, 1867,' has put an end to the composition be tween the owners of houses and the parochial autho rities only as regards the payment of the poor rate, and consequently that occupiers, having compound ing landlords, and having taken their houses free from taxes, are not bound by law to pay, in ,addi tion, the lighting, sewers, main drainage, and general rates ; which latter demand is, in its opi nion, not only oppressive but also illegal, and should be resisted by all legitimate means ; and this meet ing desires a copy of this resolution to be forwarded, through their principal officers, to the various paro chial authorities."—" That this meeting, comprising compound householders .and direct ratepayers, is also of opinion that the system of compounding for the rates, which has existed for many years, between the owners of houses and the parochial authorities, has always proved most convenient and satisfactory to all parties concerned, including the occupiers; but that the legislative prohibition of this compound ing system as regards the poor rates will not only involve the parochial authorities with vastly in creased costs of manifold difficulties in, and probable collisions and breaches of the peace with occupiers during collection, but greatly oppress, impoverish, and embitter the occupiers to be thus personally rated, cause disarrangements and dissensions be tween owners and occupiers, as well as add to the already heavy burdens of the present direct rate payers. And, therefore, this meeting respectfully, but earnestly, urges upon the attention of her most gracious Majesty Quen Victoria the paramount necessity of forthwith reassembling her Parliament, in order that the ratepaying cl tuses of the Repre sentation of the People Act, 1867,' may be repealed without delay. Aud this meeting desires that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for transmission or presentation to her Majesty." It was also resolved that an aggregate indigna tion meeting of compound householders and direct ratepayers should be held in London-fields on Tues day next, to which the Reform League and Work ing Men's Association were to be solicited to send deputations. A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman for having taken the initiative in the movement con cluded the proceedings. FRENCH THEATRICALS. ITALIAN OPERA.—The Dilettanti make it their special business to pick holes and find out flaws in that which passes for perfection with the superficial world—they sprinkle ambiguous voices about the town that they detect a falling off in Mdlle. Patti's vocal and physical powers since last season. The best answer to these detractors is that Mdlle. Patti has performed the surprising feat of singing six dif ferent operas on the first six nights of her return to Paris. There is assuredly nothing singular in the fact of a prima donna having six different operas in her repertoire, but this lively little lady sang the " Somnambula" on the first night, then " Don Pasquale," " Barbiere," " Traviata," " Lucia," and " Crispin° ela Comare." A cantatrice who can do this might be lit to compete with Hercules in any of his labours, excepting one—and whilst she has been doing this she has been studying the " Trova tore, "Semiramide," and " Elisire." Whilst we abjure all complicity with these detractors, we can go so far with them as to avow that Ricci's delightful little opera was played in its ensemble just as well, perhaps better played, two seasons past. Where Mlle. Vestali fanned herself as she warbled her exquisite waltz movement, and then sang her chanson a boire, or, to speak by the card, her chanson h manger, since la frittola is the subject, every one exclaimed, " She is charming, but how charming could Mdlle. Patti be induced to play the part ?" Zeus has heard our aspirations, and we storks are discon tented with his gift. We don't like this substitu tion of Ciampi for Zucchini. He was far from a first-rate buffo ; like Grassot at the Palais Royal, he depended too much on his nose, but Ciampi's buffooneries are to his as the jokes of a clown at a country fair to those of the wits of the round table at Holland House. His inferiority to Zuc chini was painfully conspicuous in the famous trio of the apothecaries, and he must fully under stand that the applause was intended for Mercuriali and Agnesi. Mdlle. Patti has never played Leo nora in Paris. We await her appearance in Grisi's great role with some apprehension, as it is not the character which is calculated for the display of her remarkably versatile powers. Signora Grossi will make an excellent Azucena, and Nicolini must struggle hard and possibly without success to dis turb our recollections of Mario and Fraschini. His Edgardo has failed to remove them, but Mdlle. Patti's Lucia was so near perfection that we wil lingly forgot and forgave all other shortcomings. ODEON.—Look to your laurels, ye novel-writers, for there are dramaturges abroad. They always pounce upon the best romances, and absorb them as remorselessly as that horrible pieuvre at the Aqua rium on the Boulevard Montmartre when it rushes at the crab which crawls unconsciously before the cleft in the rock, where the monster, hushed in grim repose, awaits its evening prey. Octave Feuillet's " Roman d'un jeune homme pauvre," Achard's " Alber tine de Menis," and hosts of other romances have been dramatised ; but Mme. George Sand has been the most despoiled of all. Each of her novels has been turned upon the stage ; but we must not complain, for the work has been as skilfully done as when a sailing frigate is transformed into a screw in our dockyards. Francois le Champi and the Marquis de Villemer bear witness to the fact ; still more do Ces Beaux Messieurs de Bois Dord, who drew the town to the Ambigu some few years past to see the strange feudalisms which Mme. Sand has so skilfully woven into her Watteau pictures of Berrichon life. You must not, however, expect to see the glories of the Ambigu re produced at the Oddon. Jane Ellsler, as before, wears the doublet and hose as a scion of that noble house as manfully as Ellen Tree in Viola. But Mdlle. Page was then the Lauriane, and, above all, Boccage was the old Marquis of the Seigliere school. Lafont will not wrest the laurels from his brow ; he is a great artist, but the Marquis de Bois Dore is not a " lion empaille." The boil with which 141.- font has made him is not done like those cornices in the Luxembourg, which stand out,fresh like newly burnished gold, though two centuries have slid away since Marie de Medicis dwelt there. Lafont has gilded his Lois by a procede Ruolz. He is not the fine, feudal, chivalrous old beau, brave as his sword, courteous in his bearing to all, descending even to scented foppery to pay his court to the fair veuve Lauriane. Boccage reminded us of Sir Roger de Coverly and his widow, but Lafont neither dresses nor plays the part as we could have hoped. For those, however, who happen not to have seen this play at the Ambigu, the represen tation at the Ocldon will have many charms. Mlle. Jane Disler still plays the Mario, and Mlle. Anto nine makes a marvellously pretty widow. We marvel not that such a Lauriane should have turned the old Marquis's heart, that she should have thrown her chains over M. de Lucenay, M. d'Ars, the vil lain Alvimar, and the young Florentine. The play is admirably put on the stage. Watteau and Bon cher could not have designed more poetically painted pastorals. PRIM RosE-lIILL.—The Commissioner of Works has given instructions that the whole of the footpaths on Primrose-hill shall be lighted with gas, and men are now busy in laying down the pipes. It is contemplated to have a large and ornamental column on the top of the hill, sur mounted by four lamps.—Pall-mall Gazette. PERUVIAN BARK IN INDIA.—We stated a few years ago that, thanks to the foresight of the English and Dutch Governments, the valuable genus of Cinchonas, to which we owe what is commonly called Peruvian or Jesuits' bark, and which, through the greed of contractors and their accomplices, is fast disappearing from its native forests, has been successfully reared in India and Java. The last number of Dr. Gaffe's Journal des Connaissances Medicoles affords us further information on this subject. The species which has become most completely naturalised in India is the Cinchona succirubra. It is easy to cultivate, attains a height of 15ft. in three yeafs, and its bark is rich in quinine, but it only thrives well at an altitude of from 4,000 to 5,000 feet above the level of the sea. In the lower regions its bark is much poorer. A recent discovery, how ever, offers some hopes of cultivating it to advantage in the coffee plantations situated at altitudes of about 2,300 feet. It has been found that if the trunk of the Cinchona be enveloped with moss for the space of about 18 months, its bark will become excessively thick and richer in alkaloids ; and this plan may be advantageously followed, as above stated in tho coffee plantations. The Cinchona inicrantha, which, in the Peruvian forests, where it grows wild, only contains cinchonine acquires considerable proportions of quinidino by cultiva tion. The C. Calysaya does not thrive well either in India or Java, but the species which succeed best below the altitude of 6,000 feet are the C. officinalis, and the C. lancifolia, generally sold under the name of C. Pilayo. These qualities contain as much as 11.34 per cent. of alkaloid principles, 5.85 of which are quinine. Instead of cutting down the trees, as they barbarously do in Peru, a long strip of bark is taken off, and the place covered up with moss. In this way the bark grows again, and the operation may be repeated periodi cally a certain number of times. But oven when the tree s hewn down, if the stump bo left in the ground, new shoots will spring up from it, which in a few years may ho out do SY4 iu thoix Galiunani. NEW PROJECTILES. Whatever is coLducive to the wholesale destruc- tion of mankind is a powerful promoter of civilisa tion ; so, at least, M. T. Landi, 21, Rue des Dames, Batignolles, tells us in a printed description of cer tain missiles of his, now exhibiting at the Champ de Mars. " Those monstrous and costly contrivances of cannon and iron-sheating are things of too privi leged and feudal a nature to suit the democracy of the seas. . ..... And to attack this aristocracy, I have conceived the idea of fire-pumps and flying torpedoes, which, while they possess the power of cannon, are more de mocratic and within every one's reach." This, we must confess, is exceedingly pleasant and sets us quite at our ease. " The enunciation of the great social problem, which I intend to develope at some future period, may be stated thus: —While allowing society as at present con stituted time to maintain itself and seek repose n existing laws and institutions, let us promote civi isation by improving our engines of war." Oracular but tempting. The gentleman whose heart glows with such humanitarian feelings is the inventor of an " Infernal Percussion Shell," for sieges ; and a " Double-Explosion Shell" for battles and sieges, two contrivances we need not dwell upon, having some reason to suspect their novelty. But ur author has gone much farther, and invented a ' multiple cartridge," being a cylinder containing at certain measured distances several common musket charges. It is made of paper, and provided with a friction priming, which has the peculiar advantage of catching fire by its mere introduction into the barrel. As soon as the cartridge has got to the breech, it begins to spit fire from the top like a rocket till the uppermost charge is reached, whereby the first shot is fired ; it spits again till the fire gets to the second charge, and so on. Six shots at least may thus be fired in succession. This cartridge may be used with all kinds of old muskets, making them as formidable as needle-guns ; so that the great mass of muskets in the store-houses, or in the hands of the people, may be turned to account, and if necessary the nation may be armed after the mo dern fashion, without needles and at a small cost." This " arming the nation" sounds ominous : aris tocrats had better keep a sharp look-out. The other inventions of M. Landi consist in ~a fire engine" and a " flying torpedo ;" the former throw ing fire instead of water on the enemy's ship at close quarters, the inflammable liquids being alcohol, oil of turpentine, or petroleum. The flying torpedo is a congreve rocket, feathered like an arrow ; it may be cast against the side of a ship, and will explode under water, being charged with fulminate of mercury. Any ship, however large, may be de stroyed by it. Our author does not say whether the two latter contrivances are democratic too." COUNTRY MARKETS. BRIS T OL-THURSDAY. On our market to-day there was a very fair supply of English wheat, and fully highar currencies were realised. In foreign wheat, which met a good inquiry, prices were is dea: er. Malting barley steady, at the rates of last mar ket ; grinding inquired for, and tending upwards. Oats 11 1 fair demand, and rather lower. Beans at about is over previous rates, as also Indian corn. MANCHESTER-THURSDAY. Our market this morning was well attended. There was a dull business done in wheat, and English descriptions advanced is per qr and foreign 6d per cental. The trade in flour moderate, and choice qualities brought is per sack over late currencies. in oats and oatmeal no material change to note. Indian corn advanced 6d per qr. BeanS is dearer. BURY ST. EDMUNDS-WEDNESDAY. The supply of wheat at this market to-day was good, and farmers were able to make previous rates, with a f trade. In barley a fair sale, and is dearer. Other articlGs were unchanged. Average prices : Wheat, 62s lid ; barley, 39s lid; oats, 30s Cd ; beans, —s Cd. BIRMINGIIAM-THURSDAY. At to-day's market there was a large supply of English wheat, and closed dull at the quotations of last week• Barley and oats ruled quiet, at former prices. Beans and peas were is per quarter advance. EDINBURGH-WEDNESDAY. Wheat on the top, 2s Od up •iverage, is Od up. Barley on the top, Os 6d down average, Os lld down. Oats on the top, Us Gd down riverage, is 0(1 down. Beaus on the top, is Od down Iverage, 3s 2d up. Total supply and sales. Wheat 272 qrs sold 262 Barley 778 qrs sold 728 Oats 937 qrs sold 686 Beans 9l qrs sold 7 Average prices. Wheat, 66s 4d I Oats, 36s 1d Barley, 4os Od j Beans ...50s Od Town-made flour sells as follows :—White, 55s Od; extra superfine, 53s Od; superfine, 51s Od; fine, 49s Gd. GLASGOW-WEDNESDAY. To-day's market was thinly attended, and the supplies, were light. The trade done in wheat was pretty fair, t" the full rates of last Wednesday. Flour 6d to is dearer. Barley, oats and oatmeal as last quoted. Egyptian beans and Indian corn is per 2801 b dearer. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. kustralia and New Zealand, via Bouthampton.....Oct. 20. Ditto, via Marseilles ...... 14. Ditto, via Panama •• •••• • • • Brazil, Buenos Ayres, end Monte Video Oct. 4. Ditto, by 1 4 'renell packet .. Oct. 22 Cape Verds, by Brazil packet —.... . Oct. 4. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension. anti St. Helena.... Sept. 27. China, Penang, and Singapore. via Southampton.. Oct. 3 Ditto, via Marseilles . Sept. = 7 . Falkland Islands J braltar, via Southampton Sept. 27. India, via Southampton Ditto, via Marseil es Sept. 2 7 • nano., Egypt, tc. Sept. 27. Ditto, Marseilles Sept. 27• Ilauritius, Cape of Good lope, and Natal, via Southampton Oct. 20 Ditt ), via Harsel les Oct. 1 4. Newfoundland Portugal Ditto, by private ship to Oporto ... Ditto ditto to Lisbon United States, Canada, California, &c., by British packet Ditto, by United States packet Ditto ditto (New York, Ditto ditto (New York) Ditto ditto (Baltimore) .. Ditto, by Canadian packet Sept. 21 . West Coast of Africa, Madeira, and Tenerift Oct. 3• West Indies and Pacific (except Mexico and Baha mas) Cuba and Mexico Sept. 23• Balianas, via New York Oct. 9 , Bermuda, via Halifax ADTERTISEMENT.]-11olloway's Ointment and Pill['' Experience before Authority.—For nearly the third of 5 century have these remedies stood iu the foremost rau lc , for overcoming ulcers, sores, swellings, rashes, an d Al' descriptions of skin diseases. At first the faculty denounced these medicaments, but the experience of sufferers seoll overthrew all interested opposition. Those whom Hollo way's medicines had cured told other invalids the benefi t they had derived from their use ; those in their turn tried them, and found ()pally satisfactory results ; and thus ar° these admirable curatives used and prized throughout the habitable globe. The Ointment has always been app lied with:the most marked success in erysipelas, varicose vein s ' swelled ankles, and numberless other infirmities by Wb icil thousands around us are sorely oppressed. Births. BARNSTON—On the 23d inst., at Crewe-hill, Cheshire, the wife of Major Barnston, of a daughter. DUSTER— On the 26th inst., the wife of Wm. H. Duns n, Esq., of 3, Henrietta-street, Cavendish - square , of s°ll TRAVERS—On the 25th inst., at Winchester, the wife ° Captain Travers, 60th Rifles, of a daughter. Marriages. CLOVER—SPARKS —On the 26th inst., at St. George's, gill over-square, John P. Clover, Esq., M.A., barris ter % law, to Esther Ann, second daughter of the late RP Sparks, Esq., of Clifton Hall, Cumberland. HARRISON —LELLo—On the 25th inst., at Holy Triuiti, Brompton, Mr. William T. Harrison, to Eliza E 3231 third daughter of Mr. Wm. Lollo, of Ludlow, Salop. Deaths. BILTON —On the 25th inst., at Ivy Cottage, Brixton bill, Thomas Bilton, solicitor, aged 70. BUTLER—On the 16th inst., at 19, Chapel-street, Pentonville, Wm. Butler, M.R.C.S. and L.S.A., aged 42. GRANT—On the 25th inst., at 201, Union-street, Aberdee?! David L. Grant, Lieutenant 50th (Queen's Own) R 1551.. ment, third surviving son of D. R. L. Grant, of Sing ford, Aberdeenshire, aged 25. PAGAN—On the 23d inst., at 8, Melville-street , E dinburg of S. A. Pagan, Esq., M.D., Fellow of the Royal College Surgeons, Edinburgh. f tbe PHELPS —At Ramsgate, Robert Ellis Phelps, E s q ., India-office London, age 29. ROBERTS—At , Maidstone, Frances Jane Lennard, the of Captain B. M. Roberts, and youngest daughter of tii" late General Sir Wm. Cator, K.C.B. London : Printed and Published by WILLIADI ANDREW', of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tug SUN 031ce, No 0 ' 112', Strand, in the Precinct of tho S a vo y , in the County liabilesel.—Friday, September 27, 1867. ,~