The Sun. — London, England, 1867-01-14 00:00:00

Woiking Classes Industrial Exhibition. On Saturday afternoon the prizes were distributed to the successful competitors at the recent " Metro politan and Provincial Working Classes' Exhibi tion." The Exhibition, which commenced on the 3d of September and closed on the 12th November, was held in the Agricultural Ball at Islington. Financially the results were satisfactory. Nearly 600,000 persons entered the building between those two dates, and the receipts from all sources amounted to upwards of £5,400, while the expenditure was only £1,530. The council had thus a balance of about £9OO, out of which they provided the prizes, consisting of silver and bronze medals, the certifi cates of honourable mention, a framed view of the Exhibition for every exhibitor, printed reports, &c. In the first notice of the Exhibition printed in the Times it was remarked that while the display was an improvement on the local Exhibitions which had preceded it, the articles sent in could not, as a whole, be deemed satisfactory specimens of what the arti sans of the metropolis arc capable of doing, and actually accomplish, every day for their emphters. It would appear that the adjudicators took a similar view, for the concluding paragraph of their Report is in these terms : " In expressing our opinion of the general character of tl&is Exhibition, we feel bound to state that, with certain honourable exceptions, the objects exhibited do not attain to great excellence. The chief deficiencies aro in those important qualities which result from well-directed study, and in originality of design, the offspring of independent thought. At the same time, there are abundant evidences of patient, laborious perseverance, of earnest assiduity, and particularly of technical skill and manual dexterity, which give promise of more decided excellence in future Indus trial Exhibitions." There was a large amount of amateur work in the show at the Agricultural Hall, many tradesmen and artisans exhibiting in classes with which their own particular calling had no occupation. Thus a cheesemonger competed in and gained the second " special" prize for fancy needlework. The question whether amateur work should be much encouraged in Industrial Exhibitions is a disputed one, but it is not easy to see how either art or manu facture is usefully promoted by a cheesemonger ex celling in crochet or embroidery. In the fine arts' department most of the pictures were by amateurs, and of this portion of the Exhibition the adjudica tors remark :—" Many of the works that have found their way into the galleries are quite unworthy to be exhibited under any circumstances, and some pos sess but slight claims for appearing in public." In almost every instance of an artisan exhibiting in his own class the result was highly creditable ; but it may be hoped that in future Working Men's Indus trial Exhibitions there will be fewer useless models, and worthless patchwork quilts and beadwork ships, which show but little ingenuity, and no taate, and are only so many records of misapplied patience. The ceremony of Saturday, which took place at Exeter-hall, was opened with prayer by the Rev. R. Maguire. Mr. G. J. GOSCIIEN, M.P., who presided on the occasion, then addressed the exhibitors and others assembled on the occasion. He commenced by con gratulating them on the fact that the Exhibition had paid all its expenses and left a surplus to pay for the prizes. It must, he thought, be gratifying to those who had obtained prizes to know that those prizes had been paid for out of the proceeds of the Exhibition, at which many had been successful competitors, and it must be gratifying to other ex hibitors who had been unsuccessful to feel that they had taken part in an Exhibition the pecuniary re sults of which had been satisfactory. The gaining of prizes was not the only object of those Exhibitions, though, no doubt, it was an important object. Their more important end was to induce persons to come forward and submit their industrial and intellectual efforts to public examination. In this way, such Ex hibitions afforded wholesome, rational, and intellec tual tests. The prizes which successful exhibitors carried to their homes served as mementoes of many hours profitably and agreeably spent. He looked upon Working Men's Exhibitions as a very impor tant event in the present state of affairs. They were proofs-that the working men had tastes, for which some persons were scarcely prepared to give them adequate credit. They proved that the work ing men did not devote themselves exclusively to the labour upon which they depended for their daily bread, nor give all their leisure time to pleasures, which, though innocent in themselves, were often abused ; but that, like persons in other stations, they had a diversity of tastes, and were animated by other feelings and sentitnents than those which some attributed to them as a class. In certain senses Working Men's Exhibitions stood upon a footing different from that of those Exhibitions to which all nations were invited. The latter indicated the pro gress made by the family of nations ; but the former marked the progress made by a class whose tastes, whose feelings, whose thoughts, whose advance in mental qualification and social well-being were, he regretted to say, too little known to the country at large. He was not afraid of being misunderstood when he stated that in this country one class knew too little of another class, and that many of those bitter words which in momenta of excitement were dropped on one side and the other were the result of that ignorance of each other rather than that of enmity. Ile felt convinced that the more each class knew of the other the more likely would each be to trust the other. He did not think that classes in this country were separated by hostile lines of offence and defence. They were separated merely by a cloud, which more light would dispel ; and he valued those working Men's Exhibitions because they would throw light upon the private life of the working men. The curtain had risen on their amusements ; and what a pleasant sight had been presented in the Agricultural Hall ! He did not wish to make too much of that Exhibition, because he held that it was not right to judge of a whole class by selected sections, and thus to make the whole responsible for a part. Many persons, when speaking of the working class, mentally included in that class only paupers who could not work, and cri minals who were too lazy to work. This was not done of malice aforethought, but the persons to whom he alluded judged of a whole class from perhaps four or five specimens who had come under their own immediate observation. From a similar error working men sometimes did great injustice to per sons in the upper class. He knew how often the charge was made that those who addressed the working class flattered them too much. That was a fault which he should be very sorry to commit, be cause it would be most offensive to the working men themselves. Besides, frankness was particularly desirable at a time of so much misunderstanding and so much doubt. He would observe, then, that - while, on the one hand, the working class were making progress in the direction to which he had referred, on the other, doubts were expressed as to whether those who took a part in our Exhibitions at home were making that progress which was neces sary to enable them to take a part in our competi tion with other countries. It was said—he knew not with what truth—that a canker was eating into the vitals of English prosperity. Two causes were assigned for this—the neglect of education and the struggles between labour and capital. As to educa tion, those whom he addressed knew best whether the charge was true or not—whether the working classes ought. to do more for the education of their children—whether sufficient sacrifices were made by them in order that they might be able to give their children such an edu...mtion as would prepare them for the battle of life. If the charge made against the working class on this head was true there would be in the future a heavy weight on our people in competing with other countries. He believed, however, that the working class would not be be hiudhand in this respect. He believed that their eyes were open to what was before them, and that they were making progress in the direction of edu cation. Then, as to the difficult question of the struggles between labour and capital, there were many who thought that certain indications which we had seen were the beginning of the end of the prosperity of this country. He would not believe that there was not enough of good feeling both on the part of the employers and the employed to pre vent such a catastrophe as that of England falling behind in competition with other nations. He be lieved tbat if the working class should find them selves on the wrong tack they would not be ashamed or afraid to go upon the right one. He believed they were not incapable of learning les sons from passing events, and he bad no doubt that if our trade were jeopardised the patriotism and good sense of all classes in the country would prevent those dangers of which we had heard so much. If the working class thought the time was come when the questions to which he had alluded ought to be removed from committee rooms where those who discussed them sat with closed doors, to another place in which there was a gallery of re porters, he believed the loyalty which was now shown to Trades' Unions would become a loyalty to the Parliament which made laws for the nation at large. Those questions must be solved. He had every confidence that they would be solved satis factorily, and that in Exhibitions held not at the Agricultural Hall, nor in any hall of industry, but in the markets of the world, where the prizes were to be found in the custom of all the countries which surrounded us, Englishmen would be able to main tain that pre-eminence, and the result of the com petition would be increased comfort and wealth to individuals, and still greater prosperity to every branch of English industry and manufacture. The speech of the right hon. gentleman was listened to with much attention, and several times during its delivery, and also at its conclusion, he was loudly cheered. The distribution of prizes was then proceeded with. The special prizes amounted in the aggregate to £57. The first of them, a £lO-note, the gift of the Agricultural Hall Company, was presented to H. A. Major, a letter carrier, for the best painting in oil. Sums of £5 each, the gifts of the same com pany, were [presented to R. C. Dunham, butcher, for a decimal key ; W. H. Mye rs , p r i n t er , f o r a working model of railway signals ; and E. R. May, late lieutenant in the Indian navy, for boat-lower ing apparatus. Miss Alice Haselden, aged 17, was presented with £5, the gift of Mr. J. Harris, for the best watercolour drawing. The young lady was loudly cheered as she stepped up to receive her prize. Mr. W. A. Latta, a compositor, received a prize of £2 25., the gift of Mr. J. E. Wilson, for the best specimen of ornamental typography. Miss Ellen M. Hammond, governess was presented with a prize of two guineas for the best specimen of fancy needle work. Mr. Franklin was awarded both a silver cup, the gift of Mr. J. Howard, and a silver medal for agricultural machines. After the special prizes, the silver medals, 85 in number, were presented ; next the bronze ones, of which there were 187 ; and then the certificates of honourable mention, 189 in num ber. The distribution of the pictures of the exhi bition followed. This was a very tedious process, occupying over two hours. When all the prizes and pictures had been delivered, Mr. BERESFORD HOPE, M,P., rose and said that at the request of the Council-of the exhibition he had intended to have addressed to the assembly cer tain observations on the subject of art ; but the proceedings of the day had occupied so much time that he ,felt he would not be justified in making more than a few remarks on the subject. The hon. gentleman then proceeded to combat the notion that workmanship and art were in no way con nected. He observed that in some minds there was too much of the idea that workmanship was one thing and art another—that workmanship was the work-day clothes, and art only the Sunday vest. This was a fallacy and heresy. To be good at all, the workmanship must be artistic. There was as much art in a well-made table as in a well-painted picture. He did not mean to say there was as high art in the one as in the other, but, if rightly made, a table must possess two qualifications. It. must please the eye and be adapted to its purpose. All art was to be learnt from the human face ; and a beautiful face—a face in which all the features were best proportioned, best modelled, best put together —best fulfilled all the purposes which the human face was made to carry out. If a clumsy workman were about to make a table, it was probable that he would not consider whether the article was in tended to be such a one as would bear heavy weight or a table to he moved by a lady's hand ; but it was not so with aworkman who had any knowledge of art. 11e would be aware that the various portions of the table should be in proportion one with another, and that if they were not so it would be both offensive to the eye and ill-suited for the purpose to which it was intended to apply it. He implored of the working men who heard hint not to believe there was any royal road to art. Exhibitions like the one recently held at Islington were most creditable to those who took them up ; but even in such exhibitions there might be mischief lurking if they led persons to think that their own natural in genuity would enable them to dispense with instruc tion in the principles of art. The working men should not require those exhibitions as fields on which they could canter their own ingenuity, in order to see how they could go without real systematic learning. The great object to be achieved was the particular improvement of every man in his own particular studies ; and, with all respect to the gentleman who organised working men's exhibitions, he must express his opinion that while prizes should be given to those who in their hours of recreation produced works out of their own business, something more special should be given to those who, as a labour of love, prepared articles for exhibition in that profession to which they had devoted their life. The remarks of the hon. member were much applauded. On the motion of the Rev. Dr. Solly, seconded by Mr. Holms, thanks were voted to the chairman, and the proceedings were then brought to a close. AGRICULTURAL POLITICS IN LEICES fERSHIRE. The inaugural dinner of the Leicestershire Chamber of Agriculture took place at the Bell Hotel, Leicester, on Saturday, under the presidency of the Duke of Rutland, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, who was supported by the Mayor of the borough, Lord Berners, Viscount Curzon, M.P., Mr. E. B. llartopp, M.P., Mr. C. S. Read, M.P. for East Norfolk, Sir A. G. Hazlerigge, Sir F. T. Fowke, Mr. A. Pell (chairman of the Central Chamber of Agriculture), and over 100 others. After the loyal and patriotic toasts had been disposed of, Mr. W. U. IIEYGATE, ex-M.P. for the borough, gave " the Health of the Lord-Lieutenant of the County." The noble CIIAIR3fAN, in responding, said that he had received letters of apology for non-attendance from I.llr. Packe,.M.P., and the late High-Sheriff, Mr. F. Palmer—the former being of opinion that such associations were established 20 years too late, and that it was high time the farmers should be aroused to a sense of the mischief of modern legisla tion. Since the establishment of free trade, it was an undeniable fact that the position of the British farmer had not had a fair share of the consideration of Parliament. (Cheers.) Too much attention had been paid to the British manufacturer in competing with foreign countries, and when farmers had met for the purpose of complaining of a grievance they had been mot with the cry of " No politics." (Laughter and hear.) It was an insult to common sense that where the pocket suffered the cause of it should not be probed to the bottom by discussion. The chairman thought he might sit down by saying that he fully indorsed the sentiment. After apolo- gi , ing for the absence of his brother, Lord John Manners, who regretted that he was unable to be there—(cheers)--as he left him in bed with an attack of illness which had prevented his attendance at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, he said their object was to bring before the Legislature any griev ance that they thought they laboured under, and to induce the Houses of Parliament to consider and respect their rights and redress their grievances. They thought that of late years the weight that was due to agriculturists, the largeness of their body, and their wealth, had not been duly attended to in the Legislature--(cheers)—and it was for the pur pose of bringing to bear upon the Legislature their wishes, feelings, and grievances that the Chamber was established. He believed they would agree with him that for the useful and profitable working of the Chamber it was important that party politics should be excluded, but only party politics. They might consider any question—whether the Malt-tax, the toll-bars, or anything e . se coming under the term of " politics," but nothing relating to party. They cared not for the politics of any man so long as he gave them his vote in the House. It was right also that all internal jealousies should be done away with, and if they meant the Chamber to be useful they must lay aside all small prejudices, so that landlord and tenant, foreman and labourer, might unite in supporting it. He would not touch upon the various questions to be brought before the Central Chamber—much less would he venture into the question of the malt tax or the toll-bars, for their great object was to put a stop to injustice. (Hear.) Therefore, be hoped he should not be con sidered to be bringing forward a question that was altogether irrelevant to the object of their meeting if he ventured to refer to a subject mentioned the other day by the great agitator of the day—Mr. Bright. In order not to misrepresent the hon. gen tleman he would quote the whole paragraph, which be had copied from the papers. On the sth of last December Mr. Bright in a speech said :—" Again, in 1846, although every intelligent man in every country in the world admitted the justice of the force of our argument against the corn laws, still it required the occurrence of a crush ing famine in Ireland, a famine which destroyed as many lives in that country as would have been de stroyed by a great war, and which drove into exile as many of the people of that island as would have been driven into exile by the most cruel and relent less conquest—it required all that before the Par liament of England, the men among whom I sat, among whom I sit now, whose faces are as familiar to me as those of any person whom I have known is life—l say it required all that before they would consent to give up that intolerable wrong and cease to tax the bread of an industrious community." Now, if he was alone concerned in that paragraph he should sit down, but there were those alluded to in it who were now no more, who had been called away, and whose characters were reflected upon. (Loud cheers.) He was glad of that opportunity of vindicating the memories of as great, as patriotic, as honest, and as straightforward politicians as the country had produced. (Cheers.) There was no doubt those sentences were uttered in order to pre judice the people against what he might call the governing party. But in point of fact it really did not touch them, and if it referred to anybody it was to the late Sir Robert Peel and to Mr. Bright's friend Mr. Gladstone, and to no one else. (Cheere.) Who was it that gave up the contest for protection on the grounds of the Irish famine, but Sir Robert Peel and followers ? He believed, nevertheless, that they were actuated by pure and patriotic principles —that they had conscientiously changed their opin ions. But when the Irish famine and the lives of the Irish people were laid to the doors of those who to the last defended that protection which they be lieved to be the best for their country he repudiated any such imputation. He said that not so much on his own behalf as on the behalf of Lord George Ben tinck, than whom there was not a more noble or more conscientious man. Why did he adopt the course he pursued at the time of the Irish famine? Why, because—whether rightly or wrongly he would not say—he conscientiously thought that the famine was to be met by other and different means than by the repeal of the corn laws. He thought it not a question of food, but that it was a question of bringing the food to the mouths of the people. (Cheers.) He thought what they wanted was the money wherewith to buy the food, and he proposed that the people should be found employment, and he therefore proposed a vast scheme of Irish railways ; and who could tell, if Lord George Bentiuck's pro position had been carried out, that it would not have been successful ?—that the Irish famine might have been mitigated. And who could tell, if he had been successful, that the emigration which followed would never have taken place, and that Fenianism, of which we had lately had so much, would never have been heard of ? Now, he gave Mr. Bright credit for conscientious motives—(no, no, and laughter) ; but he said this, that a politician who could take so low a view of his fellow-labourers, who could believe not one, two, or three men, but that a large body of English gentlemen could be so actuated by selfish and unpatriotic motives—that the man who really believed that (and if he did not believe it he would not say what he thought of him), and took such a low view of his fellow-countrymen as that, had not those great, those ennobling, and those judicious qualities of which our statesmen and our patriots are made. (Loud and continued cheers.) The health of the Mayor, Mr. T. W. Hodges, having been drunk and acknowledged, Lord SERVERS gave the toast of the " Central Chamber of Agriculture." In doing so he said such societies were to bring in the strongest bond of union the landlord and tenant farmers and their employers. Such was necessary because the landed interest had not received from the Legislature that justice which they ought to have received on many occasions. (Cheers.) To show the necessity of such, and that a proper stand should be taken in Parliament when any agricultural measure was brought before it, he would state that as far back as 30 years ago, when ever anything occurred to affect the landed interest, it failed for want of co-operation. Mr. Huskisson, when he first tampered with the physical regulations connected with agriculture, by taking off the tax on hemp and flax which were produced by the farmer, increased the tax upon oilcake, clover, and other grass seeds. When a remonstrance was made they were met by the cry that it was too late. A similar society to that was established in 1835 in conse quence of politics being entirely excluded from the agricultural associations, and with the aid of the Central and 67 local societies' exertions petitions were sent to the King, and the next session the claims of the agriculturists were acknowledged in the speech from the Throne, and redress promised to their grievances. Soon after the society failed in consequence of the indiscretion of one or two of its members, but in 1846 a special committee of the House of Lords sat and took evidence, which re sulted in the redress of the grievances. Oue great injustice at the present time was the inequality of the rating of tenants, a question which the wholeof those connected with the land should look well into. The total sum received per year was something like £9,680,000, and the expenses for administration of the Poor-law only £6,423,000, the other charges amount ing to nearly £3,000,000, which charges were quite distinct from relief of the poor. Why was the expense of registration, vaccination, &c., which amounted to about £173,108, thrust upon the land? When the question was asked in the House of Commons the Chancellor of the Exchequer replied—because there was no other class that would like to bear it ; they did not know where to put it. It was wrong that one-third of the whole of the poor-rates should be spent in four or five items unconnected with the relief of the poor, which was equal to 23 per cent. of the income tax. (Applause.) He then proposed the toast. Mr. A. PELL, chairman of the Central Chamber, acknowledged the toast, and said the society was established on the principles of Chambers of Com merce at Manchester and Liverpool, which meddled in politics, the former sufficiently to make them feel it with effect, it having boasted that it asso ciated itself with those measures which led to the find repeal of the Corn Laws. It was, therefore, the farmers' business to take care of themselves, and he repudiated the assertion that it was a Radical or Conservative maveinent. They desired to elevate the labourer, and it was monstrous to blame the farmers for the present condition of their servants while such small profit could be derived from the land. It was a great injustice to put a tax upon that which was the very life-blood of the labourer on a harvest day. (Cheers.) " The Borough and County Members" having been given, Lord Curzon and Mr. lIARTorr, two of the county representatives, responded, expressing their approval of the organisation of such an association, and the bitter hoping for a removal of the obnoxious malt tax. If they did not get it removed in the next Session, they would not the following, for their efforts would be frustrated by the wild schemes of some persons who would convert our time-tried constitutional monarchy into a miserable republic. (Hear, and cheers.) He was convinced that what ever reform the English people required ought to THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14, be carried out in such a spirit as to consolidate our Constitution. (Applause.) The toast of " The Town and Trade of Leicester" having been drunk, Mr. T. WILLSON (the Secretary) gave "The Visitors," which was responded to by Viscount INGESTRE. Mr. C. S. READ, M.P. for East Norfolk, also re plied to the toast, and in doing so referred to the malt-tax, which he hoped to see abolished. It was said that in Norfolk they were protected by the malt tax, but if protection were tying the leg of a man when running a race he would rather be without it., In Norfolk they were not benefited as much as the farmers of Leicestershire. The only persons really benefited were the brewers, and not the far mers. As to the question of labour, and any burden that fell upon the land must eventually be felt by the landlord. If a police-rate were increased id. or a county-rate ld., that fell upon the tenant entirely ; but when they came to an important question like labour, if it were a case of 25 or 30 per cent., it was impossible for the tenant to bear the brunt, and therefore it must affect the landlord. And there was no co-operative labour unless a landlord was a party to it. If they were to have co-operateon, let the landlord take three-fourths of his rent, let the tenant take another portion, and the remainder be equally divided between the tenant and labourer. He should be glad if the settlement laws were entirely abolished, and when the labourer was set entirely free he would feel the benefits of recent legislation and be independent. Farmers were in a different position from a manufacturer,who was not aware of the number he employed, but they did know whom they had engaged on their land, and they had many means of helping a poor man and his f am ily w hi c h he hoped they would carry out. It was not by ac tual money payment that they could do the labourer service. They could often call the attention of the t landlord to his position ;they could give him garden ground, cart his coals and his wood, and he was sure the comforts of a farm kitchen would be much en hanced by a just distribution of the refuse of their dairies, &c., to those who needed it. So deeply did he feel the responsibility of a tenant farmer that he said, if at the close of each day they did not feel a happy conviction that they had done something to make those about them happier, they had not done their duty in that state of life in which it had pleased Providence to place them. (Loud cheers.) Sir F. T. FOWKE having proposed the toast of " The Local Chamber," which was replied to by Mr. HENRY ST. JOHN lIALFORD, the CHAIRMAN proposed " Fox-hunting," which was responded to by Mr. TAILBY, concluding the list of toasts, and the company separated. Miscellaneous American News. There is considerable anxiety to know what this Congress will do in regard to the question to finance and the currency. The House Committee of Ways and Means is, as it was last year, favour ably inclined to Mr. M'Culloch's idea. But the general sentiment of Congress is adverse to his recommendation. A large portion of the Western members come here strongly in favour of more national banks and additional currency. We should not be surprised if they succeeded in securing more banks, but on the condition that the currency shall be furnished them only in the ratio of the retirement of the greenbacks. One thing, how ever, is certain—Secretary M'Culloch will not be able to obtain any further power to contract the currency than that which he now has. Congress is not disposed to give him any a dditional power in that line. In Congress, Mr. Sumner, Massachusetts, offered the following resolution, which was agreed to : Resolved, Tbat the Secretary of State is hereby requested to communicate to the Senate such infor mation .as he may possess in respect to the progress made in collecting the products, and also the weights, measures, and coins of the United States, for exhi bition at the Universal Exposition at Paris in April next. The Nation remarks as follows :—" Of all the plans for the relief of Broadway, we like best that of the Metropolitan Transit Company, which proposes, if it can get leave, to lay a horse railway, level with the ground, from the Battery to Central Park, touching no street in its whole course except the streets it crosses at right angles, and buying its right of way from the owners of pro perty instead of begging, or buying, or stealing from the city government a right to occupy part of the public thoroughfares. The new line of travel will lie through what now are blocks of buildings. Com bined with the horse railway on the surface will be a steam railway, for freight, laid under ground, and a second steam railway, for passengers, laid at some considerable height above the surface—all these roads to have double tracks. The company expect to be able to carry a passenger from Wall -street to the Park in about sixteen minutes. The expendi ture necessary to bring about this much-desired re sult is reported to be very much less than unin formed persons would think possible, and is Eet down at no more than $3,200,000, for it is intended that the road shall be run over lots of land whi c h as within a m a y be chart ere d, yet have not many houses standing on the m . We s a inndc reasonablee the rel yhomeshope distance thatofN e o the l v theircompanyYor working kersbrought places. Mr. Ashley's resolution looking to Mr. Johnson's impeachment was couched in general terms, and would, if passed, have empowered a committee of seven to inquire into the official acts of "any officers of the Government of the United States." The vote was upon the suspension of the rules, and an affirmative vote of two-thirds was required. Every Democratvoted against it, and sixteen Republicans, among the latter being Judge Spoiling. Mr. May nard also voted against it and Mr. Raymond. It is reported that the resolution is to be revived ; but this vote may probably be justly taken by Mr. John son as an assurance that if he behaves himself hence forth he is to be allowed his two years and two months more of office. That the people would be very glad toget ridof him isbeyondadoubt ; but be yond a doubt, too, they are hardly ready to subscribe to the belief of a late writer in the Atlantic Monthly, that a President may be impeached "if he have done anything that he ought not to have done, or left undone anything that he ought to have done," which is true, probably, as theory, but does not answer the question whether we had better get the wheel ready to break our particular butterfly. Congress appears to have changed its mind since this was written, or to have considered the veto of the President on the Negro Suffrage Bill sufficient cause to take preliminary steps toward Impeach ment. There appears to be, if we judge from the fuss which exists at Washington, amongst a large class of persons, a settled conviction that the departments are something in the nature of charitable refuges for distressed persons of both sexes. Men lay claim to the offices on the ground of service in the army, which, in the absence of personal unfitness, is good ground, and women on the simple groun d o f sex, which is no g roun d at all. Private employers are perfectly justified i n employing women qu a women; but Government, being simply an agent spending other people's money, has no right to employ any body for any other reason than his or her eminent fitness. In the meantime discipline and order in some of the departments seem well-nigh at an end. The remedy is competitive examinations, tenure de pendent on good behaviour, and the total abolition of patronage. An arrangement has been made with the General Post Department of France for the exchange of mails by means of the new French line of mail packets established between Havannah and New Or leans, running in connection with the French line conveying mails between St. Nazaire and Vera Cruz. Under this arrangement the New Orleans Post-Office will make up mails for and receive mails from the agents of the mails embarked on these French packets, to comprise not only correspond ence to er from France, Algeria, and countries to which France serves as an intermediate point, but also letters for Cuba, Mexico, Hayti, Porto Rico, St. Thomas, Vene zue l a, U n i ted S tates o f C o l om bi a , G uadaloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, English Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Dutch Guiana, Mayagnez Island, Ton Islands, Society Islands, Bolivia, Chili, Peru. The - 1867. French packets of the branch line from Havannah to New Orleans leaveHavannah on the 6th of each month, on the arrival at the port of the packet which left St. Nazaire on the 16th of the preceding month, and will arrive at New Orleans on the 9th. Return ing, will leave New Orleans on the 13th, to arrive at Havannah on the 16th, in time to make connection with the steamers from Vera Cruz for St. Nazaire. The postage charges upon letters sent and received by this route, viz New Orleans, are as follows : For or from Guadaloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, English Guiana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Trinidad, thirteen cents per single letter of half an ounce, prepayment optional, which is in full to destination. For or from Dutch Guiana, 14 cents per single rate, prepayment op tional, also in full to destination. For or from Marquesas, Ton Islands, and the Society Islands, 37 cents per single rate, prepayment optional, which is in full to destination. For or from Cuba, Mexi co, Hayti, Porto Rico, St. Thomas, Venezuela, and the United States of Colombia, 10 cents per single rate. For or from Bolivia, Chili, and Ecuador, 34 cents per single rate, prepayment required. For or from Peru, 22 cents per single rate, prepayment required. The postage upon letters sent to or from France and Algeria by this line is 15 cents per single rate of one-quarter ounce, prepayment optional. The Postmaster-General has sent estimates to the House for the service of the Department for the fis cal year ending June 30, 1868, the sum being $7,500,000. The items include—for inland trans portation, $860,000, for foreign mail transportation $620,000 ; and for ship, steamboat, and way letters, $B,OOO. The following amounts will be required from any money in the Treasury not otherwise appro priated :—For overland mail transportation, be tween Atchison and Folsom, and for marine trans portation, between New York and California, $900,000; for steamship service, between San Francisco, Japan, and China, for one year from July 1, 1867, $500,000 ; for steamship service be tween the United States and Brazil, for the same period, $150,000. Total, $1,550,000. The House Committee is adverse to the Senate Bill allowing the mail line from San Francisco to China to dispense with a stoppage at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. A joint resolution has passed the Arkansas Le gislature to appoint a committee of 14, including the President and three from the Senate, the Speaker and six members of the House, and three citizens to be appointed by the Governor, to proceed. imme diately to Washington for a conference with the Government as to the political situation of the coun try, and report on the reassembling of the Legisla ture on January 10. The American Board of Missions has prepared an interesting collection of books and other articles for the religious department of the Paris Exposition, which will be taken out at the expense of the Go vernment. In the collection are about 112 speci mens of the more than 2,000 different publications issued from the presses of the board. It includes 42 works on Ethnography, 41 on Philology, and 31 Biographies of Missionaries, and 1,000 others printed in 14 different dialects. A number of idols formerly worshipped by the people of the - Hawaiian Islands accompany the collection, together with copies of the papers at present published there, three in English and four in the native language. Among the idols is the original Sandwich Island war-god, the only one in existence. There is also a Hawaiian drum, and specimens of cloth, beaten from bark, formerly made and worn by the females of the islands. The President has informed Governor Worth, of North Carolina, that Secretary Stanton has ordered General Sickles to rescind his instructions prevent ing the infliction of corporal punishment under the laws of North Carolina ; also that General Howard has been instructed not to interfere with the North Carolina law for the apprenticeship of orphan chil dren. This was inevitable, for the barbarous code of North Carolina, which makes whipping a punish ment for theft and other petty offences, applies to black and white alike, as does also the orphan law. As matter of fact the coloured people are likely enough to get more than their fair share of the " benefit" of both laws. The only remedy is to be sought through the Civil Rights Bill, when the State laws are unjustly applied, as they are quite certain to be in many instances until both whites and blacks are educated out of the semi-barbarism left by slavery. General Howard said to be satisfied with the North Carolina orphan law. It is reported that General Sickles will resign because of the recall of his order, but this is a guess of the gossips, and is not probable. A New York engineer has planned, and is about building, a river steamer, constructed entirely out of Bessemer steel, the length to be 45)ft., the breadth 45ft., and the displacement 1,760 tons. By constructing the steamer upon a peculiar model which he has planned, the engineer claims that with engines of 10,000-horse power he can secure a speed of at least thirty miles an hour. The boat will accommodate 1,000 passengers, and is to run, if successfully built, between New York and Albany, making the trip in five hours. One factory in Augusta has turned out, during the past year, six millions four hundred and ten thousand yards of cloth, which, at a profit of only two cents a yard, would amount to about twenty five per cent. on the capital of the concern— s6oo,ooo. This, says the American Artisan, proves that there is profit to be acquired in the manu facture of cotton where it is grown. In a recent petroleum litigation in New York an affidavit of a chemist was read, in which it was as serted that the article termed " red kerosene " is merely ordinary kerosene oil coloured, to induce persons about purchasing to believe that it has undergone a process depriving it of its explosive properties. Mr. Gartshore, of Dundas, Canada West, has, or is about patenting, a method of using petroleum as fuel, which protnises extraordinary economy. By the process eight gallons of petroleum will propel a train of twenty-four cars from Windsor to Suspen sion Bridge. It is said that Mr. Gartshore has been offered by the Great Western Railway Company $lOO,OOO for the privilege of using the invention on the road. The citizens of the eastern part of Indiana are agitating the question of a railroad to connect with the Indiana Branch, P.R.R., or at Homer Station. A meeting was held at Cherry -tree a few days ago, and a respectable amount of money subscribed to ward the object. Some capitalists of Erie, Pennsylvania, have pro jected a Transportation Company, for the shipment of oil from that city direct to any port in Europe. Two Erie gentlemen have visited Europe to ascer tain the feasibility of the scheme, and have reported favourably. A. Brigham, a leading exporter of petroleum, is a prominent mover in this enterprise. He proposes to secure sufficient capital to purchase a fleet of vessels, to start early next spring, and to purchase others as they are needed ; the vessels to be of 400 tons canal capacity, and to carry 2,500 barrels each, and to make three trips per year. The objection to shipping other freight in vessels which have carried petroleum is to be obviated by a, new fumigating process. It is estimated that a saving of $2 per barrel on the cost of transportation to Europe can be effected by this plan. The coal fields of America cover over 225,000 square miles, an area equal to twenty-eight such States as Massachusetts. One cubic mile will fur nish seven millions of tons annually for a thousand years. At this rate our coal will last sixty thou sand years. The Honolulu Commercial Advertiser states that the principal object of General APCook's visit to San Francisco was to communicate with the Govern ment by telegraph, and to ask leave of absence, so that he may visit Washington to consult with the Cabinet respecting a reciprocity treaty with the Sandwich Islands, or a liberal revision of the treaty now in force. He has become convinced that the American interests will be greatly served by a reciprocity treaty. The project is warmly supported by American residents on the Islands, and by the business men of San Francisco. The Times' Philadelphia correspondent states that the American people who wibh a perpetuation of good-feeling between the North and South greatly approve the action of a son of General Robert E. Lee, who, at a recent dinner party in Richmond, was asked to join in a toast to "The Fallen Flag," but, instead of doing so, rose and said—" Gentle men, this will not do. We are paroled prisoners. We have now but one flag, and that is the flag of our whole country--the glorious old stars and stripes. I can recognise no other, fight for no other, and will drink to no other." There is a split in the Fenian camp about— Christmas plum-pudding ! An Irishman would be at his wits' end if he could not find a cause for a quarrel. The Feuians in the United States looked with complacency on the Fenians in Canadian prisons under sentence of death: Indeed, they rather rejoiced at the acquisition of strength they anticipated from the blood of the martyrs. A Fenian hanged by the sentence of a British Judge would have been a strong card in the hands of Pre sident Roberts—a fine subject fOr declamation, and not a bad reasen for a call for coppers. Lynch and M'Mahon naturally saw the matter in another light, which inclined them to regard as callous the indifference of the brotherhood to their fate. No assistance-was tendered from head-quarters during the trial, nor to alleviate their suffering during the long imprisonment, an imprisonment, too, which had a prospect of ending in a very unsatisfactory manner. The magnanimous Roberts, however, began to move towards Christmas time, in favour of his incarcerated brethren. The picture of the heroes pining in gaol without pudding at this festive season touched his heart, and appeals issued from head-quarters for contributions towards procuring a Christmas dinner. This was - " the straw that broke the camel's back." They had been captured, imprisoned, tried, and condemned, and both Lynch andM`Mahon had borne themselves, under the trying circumstances, like4men of courage and resolution. They probably regarded President Roberts' action as a bitter satire ; they knew what became of con tributions received by Head Centres ; they wished at least to have the dignity of martyrs ; and they saw they were being degraded that the President might obtain contributions, as well as the credit of interesting himself to benefit., them, at the same time that they keenly felt his neglect. M'Mahon resented the appeal as an insult to himself per sonally, and both he and Lynch, on the part of the prisoners generally, cautioned the public against responding to Colonel Roberts' appeal. " This appeal," they said, " might be made with propriety for paupers and convicts on Blackwell's Island, or in some institution of the kind, but is a gross insult to the Irishmen held as political prisoners in Canada. Never having received any aid or assistance from the Fenian head-quarters during their long confinement in the Toronto Gaol, they consider this last appeal of President Roberts as adding insult to injury. They earnestly entreat their friends not to outrage their feelings, and that they may be spared this cruel humiliation." The public debt of the United States amounted on the Ist inst. to $2,6:5,000,000. Secretary Al•Culloch writes to a friend :—" What we need is au increase of labour. If we could have the productive industry of the country in full exer cise, we could return to specie payments without any very large curtailment of United States notes. My object has been to keep the market steady, and to work back to specie payments without a financial collapse. I shall act in the future, as I have in the past, with great caution, and attempt no impractic ' able thing." With regard to the Southern Post-offices, one of the despatches to the Associated Press states : " Notices recently published concerning the discon tinuance of Southern post-offices are liable to be misunderstood. No wholesale discontinuance of offices now in operation is contemplated, but the action of the Post-office Department refers only to the many offices in the South which were suspended at the commencement of the war i n 1861 , and which have not since been formally re-opened. Although in fact discontinued, the accounts of such offices cannot be closed, and the balances due the Government collected by the Auditor for this De partment, und er ex i st i ng laws and regulations, without a formal order of discontinuance by the Postmlster-General, whereupon the bonds are surrendered to the auditor, and he can proceed against the late postmasters. The auditor of the Post -office Department reports to the Post master-General that the postal revenues in the late insurgent States have exceeded by $291,654 the actual expenditures; and it appears that, including all liabilities to June 30, 1866, the revenues in that section would only be deficient $75,383. The new Tariff bill has upon the free list un planed pine lumber, shingle bolts, hemlock bark, and ship timber. The Pall Mall Gazette says :—" So much has been said of electoral corruption in the United States that it is only fair to mention particularly that a member of the New Jersey Legislature con victed of selling his vote has been sentenced to im prisonment for one year and for ever precluded from holding public office." Colonel Bomford, commanding in North Caro lina, prevented the infliction of corporal punishment by the Sheriff on a negro in Raleigh, Dec. 19. In dictments were immediately ordered against him by Judge Fowle, and the Governor of the State was called on to carry out the laws of the State. The whipping of the negro was to be continued next day. We notice the sudden death at Baltimore, on the 15th Dec., of the Rev. Stephen Williams, aged 84. He was apparently enjoying his usual health, and was conversing with his wife, when he fell from his chair, and on being raised it was found that he was quite dead. The remains of deceased, who was much respected, were interred in Greenmount Cemetery. George Peabody has given $25,000 to the Five Points House of Industry in New York. Professor Agassiz is to deliver in February, be fore the New York Association for the Advancement of Science and Art, a course of six lectures upon Brazil and zoology. The Rev. John S. C. Abbott, whose " Lives of the Presidents of the United ates" has just been published, will soon sail for at whether he goes to collect materials for his life of Napoleon 111. Mr. Raphael Semmes (Admiral) has been lecturing in Texas upon 4t Th e Equipment and Captures of the Alabama, viewed by the Light of American Precedents and the Laws of Nations." EXPERIMENTS WITII PETROLEUM.—The necessi ties of ocean steam navigation, especially for long voyages, are stimulating wide-spread attention to such improvements in generating steam as may lessen the storage now required for fuel, and dimi nish the cost and labour in managing it. Difficul ties in the mode of burning petroleum in England are supposed to be obviated by some American in ventions, and our Navy Department, under a late Congressional appropriation, has directed tests to be made at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Chief Engi neer Isherwood has, therefore, arranged for an adequate series of experiments with apparatus on the principle covered by patents owned by the Pe troleum Light Company, the appropriation of 5,000 having been made on the memorial of Col. Julius Adams, an engineer of New York, in re ference to that mode of using petroleum as fuel. It is claimed that the effect of burning oil is nearly thrice greater than that of an equal weight of an thracite coal. As the coal and petroleum occupy nearly equal space —the first weighing from 43 to 52 pounds and the latter about 52 pounds per cubic foot—the use of oil would be a great gain in saving stowage in steamers, as well as dispensing with much of the labour iu shipping supplies of fuel, and in dispensing also with numerous coalheavers, stokers, &c., beside avoiding the inconvenience of raising clinker and ashes from the furnace, which rubbish from coal reaches from seven to more than 16 per cent. of the whole weight. Other advan tages are claimed for the oil as fuel for marine en gines, such as the rapidity with which steam can be raised ; the reduced dimensions of boiler and fur nace below that required for coal ; the continuous firing effected by feeding the fuel through a pipe into the furnace, thereby preventing the great loss of heat to the furnace every time a fresh supply of coal is thrown in, and the rush of cold air on opening the furnace doors ; the freedom from smoke, cinder, ashes, or refuse of any kind; and last, not least, the ability to command a forced fire almost instantly with out a forced draft whicb, under some circumstances at sea, is of vital importance, &c. The whole petro leum interests of our country would be immensely benefited by success in the experiments now In progress under the direction of the American and British Governments. NEGRO SHOOTING IN VIRGINIA.—A correspon dent of the New York Herald, writing from Rich mond on the 11th inst., says :—" The following ac count of the difficulty between Dr. James Watson, of Rockbridge county, and a negro named Tube Echols, was published several weeks ago, and will prove interesting to your readers, since Dr. W. has been rearrested by order of General Schofield and brought to this city. Dr. James Watson, one of the most respectable gentlemen in Rockbridge county, on 'Wednesday last shot and killed a negro named Tube Echols under the following circum stances. On the day previous the doctor's family' were going to church in a carriage, and were over taken in a very narrow part of the road by the car riage of Major John R. Echols, containing the family of that gentleman, and driven by deceased. The negro attempted to force a passage by the doctor's carriage, though knowing that he could not do so with safety on account of the narrowness of the road. He, howover, against the remonstrance of the doctor's driver, made the attempt, when the wheels of the two carriages became interlocked, one wheel of the doctor's vehiclebeing smashed to pieces. This did not stop the determined negro, but he con tinued to drive ahead, when another wheel was broken, and the horses to Dr. Watson's carriage took fright and ran off, in their flight breaking the carriage to pieces, but fortunately without injuring any of its occupants. This occurred in a very dan gerous part of the mountain road, on one side of which was a steep precipice. Dr. Watson was not present, nor was he at home, being absent in at tending his practice. When he returned on Tues day night he was told of the occurrence, and on Wednesday morning rode over to Major Echols' to chastise the impudent negro who had thus endan gered the lives of his wife and children. He found him in the field at work, and told him for what pur pose he had come, and struck him with a small stick, which the negro wrenched from his hand and started to run. The doctor ordered him to halt or he would shoot him, and the negro not obeying the order the doctor levelled his pistol and fired, the ball striking him in the back and coming out about the centre of the abdomen, inflicting a wound from which death ensued in a few hours. Dr. Watson immediately went to a neighbouring magistrate and surrendered himself, and, after an examination, was bailed in the sum of 1,000 dols. for his appearance for trial before the County Court. The doctor was subsequently tried and discharged by a jury of his own country, but, as remarked above, he was rear rested and brought to Richmond. General Schofield admitted him to bail in the sum of 20,000 dols., and by an agreement between the parties, an examina tion will be commenced in this city to-morrow, when the evidence in the case will be made public. The affair caused no excitement outside of the neighbourhood in which it occurred, and conse quently I.am unable to furnish any of the evidence brought to bear upon the case before the court that tried it." COUNTRY MARKETS. NORWICH- SATURDAY. The supply of wheat at this market to-day was fair, and he trade being slow the rates of last Saturday were barely supported. The show of barley was tolerably good, and there being an active demand for all good malting quali ties prices had an upward tendency, secondary and grind ing sorts were also fully as dear as of late. A rapid thaw took place in the early part of the week, but it has again been succeeded by frost and snow. White wheat (weighing 631 b), 68s to 70s ; old red aitto, (weighing 631 b), 58s to 63s ; new red ditto .(weighing 601 b to 631 b), — s t o — s; b es t ma lti ng b ar l ey (weighing 521 b to 531 b), 50s to 52s ; runs ditto (weighing 511 b to 52114 46s to 48s; distilling ditto (weighing SOib to 521 b), 38s to 40s ; oats, 24s to 268; beans, 57s to 39s ; peas (maple), 3es to 38s per qr. Flour, 44s Od per sack. NOT TINGHAM—SATURDAY. The show of wheat was limited, but the condition of the grain was irregular. The demand was fair, and prices Is to 2s per qr. higher than last week. Tho supply of barley was tolerable, and the demand for the best quali ties good, at is per qr. dearer. About the usual show of oats, for which there was a healthy demand, at fully previous rates. Beans in limited supply, at about last week's prices. Old white wheat, 70s to 74s ; old red, 60s to 67s ; new white, 63s to 73s ; new re d , 56s to 64s per 36 stone. Oats, old, 35s to 40s ; new, 26s to 33s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 568 to 59s ; new, 45s to 52s per 38 stone. Fine flour, 48$ to 51s per sack. LEICESTER—SATURDAY. The supply of wheat at our corn market to-day was tolerable, at is per qr. advance. The inquiry for barley was active. The supply was:middling, and business was transacted at about is par qr. over last week's prices. A fair demand for oats, which were in rather limited supply, and late rates were slightly exceeded. Best sorts of beans maintained their value ; other kinds were a shade lower. New white wheat, 67s to 70s •, new red, 60s to 68s ; old, white, 70s to 76s ; old red, G6s to 70s per 36 stone. Bar ley, for malting, 40s to 51s per qr. ; grinding, 32s to 34s per 30 stone. Oats, old, 34s to 38s ' • new, 29s to 34s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 55 s t o 58 s ; new, 45s to 52s per 38 stone. Fine flour, 19s ; seco n d s , 45 s to 47s per 20 stone. YORK-SATURDAY. There was barely an average show of wheat to-day, and sales were firm, at is per qr. more money. A firm demand for barley, at an advance of is per qr. on last week's rates. Oats by no means plentiful. Sales were steady, and higher prices were asked but notobtained. The demand for beaus ruled slow, and prices underwent little change. New white wheat, 56s to 64s ; new red, 50s to 58s per 36 stone. Barley, for malting, 36s to 40s por qr. ; grinding, 33s to 34s per 30 stone. Oats, new, 22s to 26s per 24 stone. Beans, new, 45s to 48s per 38 stono. Malt, 68s to 70s. Flour, 478 to 49s per sack of 2801bs. GAS FROM COFFEE.—A remarkable communica t ion was made bylll.Babinet at the last meeting of the Academy of Sciences, on the evolution of gas in the process of making coffee. If cold water be poured on roasted coffee, finely ground, such as is generally used with boiling water, a considerable quantity of gas is generally evolved, about equal in volume to the amount of coffee used. If a bottle be half filled with this ground coffee, and cold water be then poured in until the cork is reached, which is to prevent the escape of the gas, a violent explosion, sufficient to force the cork out of the bottle, or even to break the latter, will result. The yearly consumption in Paris of ordinary cheese of all kinds is estimated at 3,000 tons. LADYERTISEMENT.—HoIIoway' s Ointment and Pills. Uniform Success.— These remedies stand unrivalled for the cure of gout, rheumatism, lumbago, tic-doloreux, and every other variety of neuralgic pain. The painful place); have only to be bathed in tepid salt and water, and well rubbed with Holloway's Ointment, to convince the most sceptical of the curative power it exercises over these diseases. The most desperate cases best exemplify the striking success which follows the proper use of this soothing Ointment and these purifying Pills. Both medi caments are composed of the most inocuous and healing balsams. Some severe cases of neuralgia, recently success fully treated, have been reported to Professor Holloway, with the earnest prayer that he would publish them for the benefit of all thus afflicted. Births. BOND—On the 11th inst., at Wimbledon, Mrs. E. Bond, of a daughter. HOLMES—On the 10th inst., at 4, Dawson-place, Bays water, the wife of Charles A. Holmes, Esq., of the Inner Temple, of a daughter. MONEY—On the 10th inst., at Eastbourne, the wife of Capt. G. N. Money, Bengal Staff Corps, of a son. SIDNEY—On the 11th inst., at Bowes Manor, Southgate, the wife of Thomas Sidney, Esq., Alderman, of a son. Marriages. BAKER BAILEY—On the 10th inst., at the parish church, North Stoneham, Hants, Robert Thomas, the only sou of the late Mathew Baker, Esq., Q.C., of Dublin, to Mary, the eldest daughter of W. Bailey, Esq., of Cleve lands, Bassett, near Southampton. MACPIIERSON—MILLER— On the 10th inst., at St. Mary'il Episcopal Church, Dalmahoy, Mid-lothian, Lachlan Mac: pherson, Esq., Major in ll.M.'s 30th Regiment, E econa son of the late M a jor E van M ac ph e rs o n, o f Oh e nt r uinl• Inverness-shire, to Catharine Louisa, second daughter of 0. G. Miller, Esq., of Itatho. Deaths. Do NALDSON—On the 11th inst., at Carlsten Hall, Cumber land, Sir Stuart A. Donaldson, of 32, Prince's-gardens, London, aged 54. EGLEY—On the 10th inst., in Upper George-street, Bryan ston-square, Mr. Thomas Egley, bookseller, aged 73. IzoN—On the 10th inst., at The Lodge, West lirornwicbt Wm. Izon, Esq., aged 95. MURPHY—On the 11th inst., at Willingborough, William Murphy, Esq., solicitor, aged 58. NAPIER— On the 11th inst., at Sarnfawr, near Bridgendt Glamorganshire, Capt. Charles P. Napier, Chief Cory stable of the county, aged 63. ORTON—On the 9th inst., Richard Orton, Esq., of Water loo-place, Pall-mall, aged 73. don : Printed Lad Published by WILLIAM AN 1) if No. 112, Strand, i qier at TiIZ AUN OilidC, No. 2t' = • iitrand, in the Precinct of the Sav)y, in the County o f Middlesex.—Monday, January 14, 1667.