The Sun. — London, England, 1870-02-16 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. THE SICK STATESMEN. Of Mr. Disraeli there is no fresh news, save that the indisposition of the right hon. gentleman still continues, though there is some improve ment. The Conservatives will lose their leader during the important opening of the land and education debates. lUr. Bright is reported to be progressing favourably to recovery; but the Attorney- General's wound in the knee confines him to his bed, though he improves slowly, and can transact a little business. NEW MEASURES. The text of the bill to render legal marriage with a deceased wife's sister, has been published. It enacts that no marriage under these conditions that lies hitherto taken place, or that shall in future take place, shall be void by reason only of the _affinity of the parties. The registers of such marriages aro to be received as evidence in all courts of law or equity. It is provided of course ;that nothing contained in the bill shall render valid any marriage with a deceased wife's sister, when one of the parties has intermarried during the life of the other. Further, the third and last clause provides that no existing rights, titles, or interests of any sort shall be invalidated by this Act. The member for sall, Mr. Charles Forster, brings in a bill to abolish the forfeiture oflands and goods on convictions of felony. The shortest possible clause, without any qu,alifica tion, effects a repeal of the existing law. Another measure prepared by Mr. Goschen makes provision (or the proceedings of boards of management and boards of guardians upon the dissolution of dis tricts and unions, or the annexation of parishes to unions. Its chief features are contained in the clause which provides that, in the case of any district being dissolved, the last action guardians - or managers are to continue in office to 'wind up the accounts. These guardians are also empowered to make orders upon parishes or unions, of this sort for contributions, as they would have done before such dissolution. The services of such officers as maybe deemed necessary for the liquida tion of accounts are to be retained at the discretion of the Poor-law Board. Other clauses regulate the Munagement of these dissolved unions under every condition. DUBLIN UNIVERSITY. The Hon. D. Plunkett has been returned for Dublin University without opposition. The Barnes demonstration, as was generally expected , proved a mere feint. The new m em b er , in returning thanks, expressed the opinion that the Government had only the ex pante statement of professional agitators be fore them; when they heard the entire case they would perceive the injustice of the fixity-of-tenure cry. It is to be hoped that they have gained some insight into the matter ere now. Speaking of the Tipperary election, Mr. Plunkett strongly ridiculed the sham Fenian," Mr. He ron . " There was nothing more - miserable than to see the poor, miserable pup pet sporting in a green sc ar f an d go ld h arp before t 6 electors." Dublin University has once more two barristers for its representatives. During the last forty years it has not ceased to send at least one lawyer to the House of Commons. THE CIVIL SERVICE Only twenty-five appointments are open for the Civil Service of India this year—seventeen for the Presidency of Bengal, and eight to the North-West Provinces. As there may be ten times as many applicants, all well posted with some knowledge and an indefinite amount of cram, for places of a remuneration of £3OO a year to commence, it is evident that the way of open competition is by . no means easy. Preparation for the Indian Civil Service, even when conducted on the purest cram principles, is severe, and yet it confers only the ninth or tenth part of a chance. FUNDS CONVERSION The opposition to Mr. Lowe's project for convert ing the Reduced and New Three per Cents. into Consols is becoming more pronounced. The Chan cellor of the Exchequer proposes that the change should be effected by the stockholder paying Os. per cent., but a good many stock-holders are repre senting that there ought to be no charge. If the conversion be a public benefit, it ought to be effected gratuitously. One indignant possesser of Reduced says the scheme is merely one for putting 00,000 in the official pocket of Mr. Lowe. Another correspondent points out that trustees are allowed to keep accounts only in their own name. Now, he keeps his trust account in Reduced, and his own account in Consols. How is be to prevent con fusion after conversion, unless he can be allowed a separate trust account F THE EXCISE A. writer, " having an intimate knowledge of the Excise department," proposes a reform in the mode of collecting licences. A.t present the collectors assess the excise dues themselves, and thus there is no safeguard whatever against collusion between those functionaries and their subordinates. Surely the two duties of receiver and assessor ought to be distinct. The mode of transacting the business, too, is wasteful, for the. collector travels about from one place to another, sitting first at this village and then at that town, this roving expedition being conducted, of course, at the public expense, though the receipts often do not equal the cost. The writer suggests that taxpayers sqould pay .the money for their licences to the postmaster of their respective towns. Thi s pl an would, he says, secure divers advantages. It would save £20,000 a year. People would not, as now, travel from three to ten miles for their licenses. The charging of duties and issuing licences and the receipt of public money would be kept wholly distinct, and therefore collusion would be impossible. 33y this plan, too, officers of the Government, instead of roaming about the country, would be engaged at home in the performance of their duties, detecting those who were committing frauds on th e revenue.. The reformer sums up by declaring the Excise De partment to be a disgrace to the age in which we live. .• THE BISHOP OF EXETER, UNITY AND CHARITY. Two letters which appeared yesterday—the one in the Pall Mall Gazstte, and the other in the Times— shew how differently those who agree in the main are divided about Bishop Temple's most recent act. Both the writers are clergymen ; they both belong to the " Broad" school ; yet they look with very different eyes upon the bishop's speech in Convocation. To the Pall Mall's corre spondent it is a blow to both liberty and unity; it is a misfortune to the Church ; and it does not support its arguments. The Times writer "A Member of Con vocation," regards it as a preparation to enlarged Chris tian charity. The one observes in " Dr. Temple's recan tation" great damage done to the Liberal clergy with whom, before he became Bishop, the right rev, prelate did not object to associate. The other, in the reception given to Dr. Temple's speech by Dr. Pusey, Archdeacon Denison, and others, finds a means by which those who were opponents cin be renonciled. Dr. Pusey shakes hands with an Essayist and Reviewer, who does not confess that he has done wrong ; so the High and the Broad are brought together. The correspondent of the .Gazette bewails the "fi asco. " " There are hundreds, ' exclaims the Times' correspondent in ecstasy, "who will hail such a long-delayed acknowledgment of truth and justice as the triumph of the cause for which they have struggled, an d a s th e b ea t and most truly Christian Eirenicon." TUE IRISH citrnba: A meeting of the parishioners of Enniskillen has been held, to consider the draft of the Act of Con stitution for the future government of the Irish Episcopal Church. The decision of the meeting on the subject declares itself in the form of a pe tition, which is said to embody the general sentiments of the churchgoing community in the centre of Ulster. It is adverse to the investing of the clergy with more than ordinary ministerial powers. The petition is addressed to the archbishops, bishops, and others in Convocation assembled, and strongly protests against the draft of the Act of Constitution, as depriving the parishioners of their existing rights and privileges. It expresses regret that all power is to be placed in the hands of bishops and of the clergy who have promised to obey them. The election of parochial ministers should be the right of the laity, this right being historical, as well as the right of votin g on matters of r it ua l and doctrine. The petition further states that many more clauses of the draft contain objectionable propositions, which it trusts will be carefully changed in Convoca tion, and that all proceedings connected with the re organisation of the Church of Irela n d w il l be conducted with a view to its freedom, independence, and purity. EII'• FROUDE AND THE "SATURDAY REVIEW." The AS'aturday Review has long waged war upon Mr. Fronde ; now the historian assails the critic. Mr. Fronde complains of the hostility which for fifteen years has been directed against him from the pages of th e weekly jourr.al. lle has been pro nosAucool guilty of every crime that a writer of history can commit, and, worst of all, charged with bad !arm In the collection and representation of facts. The historian now challenges the critic to a test examination. "If the editor will select any part of any one of my volumes, one hundred, two hundred, tly:ee hundred pages, wherever he pleases, I am willing to subject them to a f orma l examination by two experts, to be chosen—if Sir Thomas Hardy will kindly undertake it—by the Depqy Keeper of the Public Records. They shall go through my referen ces line for line. They shall examine every docu ment to which I have alluded, and shall judge whether I have dealt with it fairly." Mr. Froude lays no claim to be free from mistakeS; but 111- does assert that he has dealt with his I.terials honestly, and to the best of his lity. He has worked through nine hundred ILI Mail of lottera..notsta- and other...lnners. urivate find official, and in diffictlt handwritifig. wiir freely bear the expense of a trial, on condition that the report, whatever it may be, is published word for word in the Saturday Review. THE IrARILEIte CATECHISM. The tenant farmers of Fermanagh and the neigh bourhood have embodied their grievances and wishes' in a catechism, which is said to have a wide circula tion. It is a very irreverent, if not a blasphemous production. It begins :—" What is your name ? Oppression. Who gave you this name ? My landlord and agent in the days of my youth, wherein I was made a child of toil, a man of sorrow, and an inheritor of a bundle of rags," &c., finishing with the Ten Commandments. This mode of breaking off is highly judicious, for after the Com mandments in the familiar church catechism come statements of duties both to God and to our neigh bour, and with these the authors of this catechism seem little disposed to trouble themselves. SHORT TIME AND HIGHER WAGES. There is some prospect of a trade contest at Glas gow. The joiners of that city recently intimated to the employers their intention to demand the nine hours systom of labour, and an increase of wages to the extent of a half-penny per hour on the present rate of Gd., on and atter the Ist of March next. The masters have consented to the advance in wages, but refuse to concede the reduction in time. As trade is very brisk just now the men think the time favourable for aggressive operations, and they have determined to persevere in both demands. The other Scotch branches of their union, which is a very strong one, refuse to assist in enforcing more than one point at once, so that the battle will be carried on with diminished forces. BROADHEAD HUMBLED. A meeting of the committee who got up the a-A scription to enable the great rattener to emigrate has been held for the purpose of hearing that gentle man explain his reasons for turning up again, like a bad penny. All he had to ofter in excuse for returning to his native land was to the effect that the papers were against him in Ame rica, and he could get no work. He has now sadly fallen from his high estate, stnd some of his former friends proposed that he should be required to refund what money may be remaining from the subscriptions handed over to him. Broadhead told the committee that he could not starve, and that he intended doing the best he could with the remainder of the money to provide a living for himself and family. The way in whlch he could do best was ho thought, by opening some kind of shop. After this appeal, the cruel resolution, requiring him to stump up his little all, was abandoned. THE PROGRESS OF MUDDLING. A lecture recently delivered at the Society of Arta raised within some sanguine breasts the hope that it was all up with the teetotallers. "A vinous liquor of considerable body and fine amontillado flavour" was produced, and it was affirmed that this remarkable commodity had been concocted from tea. This, it was fondly said, is the natural consummation of things. The Tartars make wino out of mares' milk ; the Abyssinians manage to get drunk upon honey water; the Malays ferment strong stuff out of the juice of the cocoa-palm. Surely it is time that tea furnished its contribution to the great muddling cause. Unfor tunately for this hope, the new beverage of "consider able body and fine amontillado flavour " is defective in on, very particular--it is noOtotoxicating. FARMING IN THI: 411ITED SITATES. An interesting letter in the Daily Kau on Ameri can agriculture points out the different characteris tics of the various States, and how the advantages of the one are compensated by the special good qualities of another. If, for instance, one State has alluvial prairies, it lacks the necessary of wood. The rich prairie l an d i s more f ert il e, an d easy of cultivation, but it c os t s more t o f ence it an d b u ild on it. Every rod of fencing must be brought often from a great distance, also the timber and lumber for building. Fencing alone, if substantial, costs about a dollar, or four English shillings, per rod. Thus 120 acres, even if enclosed in a single field, would require GOO rods of fencing, costing GOO dollars. Then the first breaking up of the tough prairie turf costs 5 dollars per acre ; making for fencing and first ploughing 11 dollars per acre. Now, farms mostly fenced and under cultivation, with com fortable houses, barns, and other outbuildings, may be bought in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, for 10 dols. per acre ; farms half in timber of all kinds for fencing and b-tilding material. In the latter States, too, work is to be found all the year round, whilst in the great corn-growing regions of lowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska the period from seed time to harvest is amazingly short, and during the long winter there is no employment. ICY CRICKET. A new variatign of an old sport is coming into vogue. Several cricket matches on the ice have been played this winter, and during this last frost a great contest came off at Swavesey, near Cambridge, between eleven members of the All England Eleven and the University and sixteen of Swavesey. Bats men, howlers, and fielders worn skating pattens, the care required in moving about on those articles coun terbalancing the exceptionable swiftness of fast bowling on the smooth ice. Run-getting was remarkably rapid, and altogether the experiment promises well. MONEY AND BUSINESS. (From else Springfield Republican, Jan. 29.) The ease in money has increased during the week, and has been by no means counterbalanced by increased busi ness or speculation. Not only the great cities are filling witlf money, but the interior centres like Pittsburgh, Louis ville, which always report a stringency, now have money enough. To-day's lesson is the necessity of istab Ebbing among the banks some plan, analogous to the old Suffolk Bank system, by which bank notes may be re turned to their sources in times of abundance. In its pre sent working, the currency flows to the centres through channels that seem to be so valved as to aid its introgres sion, but check the return current. It is the venous system without the corresponding arterial. In reforming the bank system, this experience will be turned to good ac count, if it leads us to provide circulation in both directions —out from the banks and back to them. For in this lies the only natural and efficient cheek to overissue and inflation. With a currency redeemable in gold and continually return ing to the issuer for srch redemption, inflation is an impos sibility. The surplus unabsorbed by the public needs must flow back to its own source as inevitably as the unplucked flower withers and returns to the earth that produced it. The money market on the Pacific coast, with which we are every day becoming more intimately connected, also shows considerable ease and increased mercantile deposits at the banks. The Alta California says the demand for money has fallen off on account of stagnation in business. Enterprise has received a severe check in the competition with Eastern production (via and because of the Pacific Railroad), and also in the attempts of labourers to e 7 act ten hours' pay for eight hours' work. "The attempt to force up wages at the moment the railroad was surmount ing the Serra Nevadas, bringing with it the cheap labour of the East was suicidal." The decline in building has paralyzed all affiliated occupations, and cheated both capital and labour out of their hire. Well, the working men have some things to learn, especially that both they and their employers are subject to certain laws of supply and demand, more despotic and certain of execution than the laws of the Medes and Persians and St. Crispins. Gold is a little lower than it was a week ago. On Friday (21st) it was down from 121 of the previous day to 1201, but the Customs of Saturday advanced it to 120 f. On Monday it toak a leap to 1211. A " private" cable dispatch (anything "private" has an awful effect in Wall-street), that the strike at Le Crenzot, in France, had not yet ended, shared with Senator Sherman's bill the taurine glory of this toss There are two other causes, however, more efficient than either of these; foreign exchange is high owing to an unaccountable scarcity of cotton bills, and the immediate disbursements of gold interests are not expected to be sufficient to supply the demands of importers for bullion to pay their Customs' duties with. The New York banks, however, hold $39,454,003 against 628.861,197 last year so that there is really no cause for alarm. On a sharper foreign demand for American securities the price fell off, and by Tuesday had dropped to the lowest point of the week. The exports of specie from New York, thus far this year, amount to $1,316,682, comparing with the same peried in past years as follows : 1870 51.316,682 1863 $3,763,059 1857 $1,087,285 1869 2,251,472 1862 2,658,274 1856 101,834 1868 7,161,031 1861 58,504 1855 116,621 1867 2,583,211 1860 912,219 1854 1,845,682 1866 2,545,236 1859 2,912,659 1853 747,670 1865 2,967,573 1858 7,673,888 1852 2,881,290 1864 4,333,587 The import of srecia has been $270,377, against $169,905 in 1870. Governments have been generally firm during the week, fluctuating somewhat with gold, and closing with a rise in spite of gold's decline. The foreign and home demand for Ametican securities, in view of our im proving credit abroad and the easy money market here, is very sharply felt, especially as the supply is subject to the perpetual drainage of a few millions a month to he buried in the Treasury vaults at Washington. Our 62's in London are never quoted at less than 87 now, and sometimes at 87+. London, by the way, seems to have succeeded Frankfort as our most prominent Bond depot in Europe; of course, it never should have been otherwise. Southern State Bonds are unsettled, as usual. Tennessees started the week brilliantly, but have since declined. New North Carolinas are also weak ; in bonds of this issue the New York Stock Board make no discrimination, but pri- vate dealers prefer those of 2.867-8 to the "special tax." A recent resolution, not yet acted upon, in the Legisla ture of that State, proposes to suspend the payment of interest on the Special Tax Bonds till their constitu tionality can be determined. Of all the Southern States Texas seems to have the most flattering prospect. Out of debt, with $300,000 in her Treasury, and a Republican Administration, immigrants are rapidly pouring over her borders. West Virginia also has no debt, but honourably proposes to shoulder her part of the ante-war debt of Old Virginia. The stock market has been the scene of some adventure during the week. The reported issue of stock by the Chicaeo, Rock Island, and Pacific Road, without the sanction of the New York Stock Exchange, has been con firmed and pretty thoroughly exposed. The unauthorized issue was about $2,000,000, and has been cautiously dribbled into an unsuspecting and highly favourable market during some months. This was in direct violation of rule three of the Stock Exchange, requiring all new issues of stock to be registered for the proper information of the public, and the stocks of the road have accord_ iegly been expelled from the list called at the daily sessions, thus following iu the fortunes of Erie, which wes once expelled for the same cause, and was re cently readmitted. The managers of Rock Island, in defence of their course, allege rogue's reason, sim ply and only :—That they could not sell their watered stock so advantageously its issue was known, and that they wished to avoid he expense of injuuctions and attendant legal proceedings. The counterfeiter's plea is precisely the same ; be consummates his crime secretly, because, if it was known, he could not dispose of his spurious money, and would be obliged tc undergo the expense and discomforts of hanging. The Toledo and Wabash claims tohave lost nearly $700,000 by being com- polled to give notice to the Stuck Exchange of its issue last summer. The Lake Shore, in order to avoid a similar loss, sold its stock on the very day and as far as possible within the very hour of giving notice. But 4bese com- panies were merely paying the penalty of increasing their indebtedness,and have no right in business equity to resort to subterfuge to escape it. Rock Island is now called at the National Stock Exchange (Fisk's) and has fallen from 1191 to 103. The War-164 which claims to have first ex- posed this rascality, urges also an investigation of the management of the Milwaukee and St. Paul, which claims to spend 335,000 per mile in the construction of road that does'nt cost half that, and is scheming to depreciate and buy in North-`Postern stock, so as to control the latter road at the May election. The president of the Milwaukee and St. Paul has issued the syllabus of his directors advising the stockholders to authorise the issue of $828,06C as a stock dividend, at the rate of 83 for each share of preferred, and 87 of each of common stock. He says the receipts have fallen off on account of the depression in the grain trade, and estimates the State and Federal taxes levied upon the company at the rate of 4 cents for every bushel of grain transported. The company has 936 miles of road in operation and 837 ; 000 per mile capital. There is much speculation in North -Western,by European parties, who buy and sell per cable as they used to do in Erie. The Northern Pacific Railroad has secured Jay Cooke as its agent, but does not intend to issue stock immediately. It is proposed to first connect Red River with Lake Supe rior by a road of 225 miles long, all in Minnesota, the eastern terminus being on the Lake Superior and Mis- siscippi Railroad 20 miles south of Duluth. This done, certain Amsterdam capitalists, who are now at work on the St. Paul and Pacific, are ready to build the road to the Missouri. There has been considerable activity in Pacfin Railroad mortgages and a further advance in prices. Union Pacific first mortgage bonds on Tuesday sold at $3 and Centrals at 93, and the market was swept of all the bonds offering at these figures. The demand was from home investors and foreign bankers, especially Germane, in the case of Central bonds. In Union Pacifc land gran) bonds a very large business was transacted, all tho way up to 63 and interest. An additional interest was given _ _ to this movement by reports that the Pacific mail sieam. ship company intended to withdraw their steamers run ning between New York and Aspinwall and Panama and San Francisco, confining their operations to the China line. On Saturday evening an agreement was signed by the Adams and American Expross Companies, by which the latter surrenders to the former all the routes given by the Adams to the Merchants' Union under the arrangmaent of December, 1867, and which were transferred by the Mer- chants' Union to the American upon their late consolida- tion. In consideration of the transfer, the Adams pays to the American $600,000, within a period of five years. As a compensation for the tmnfer of the Fort Wayne and Chicago route, the Adams g ivos to the American the trans- portation over the Cincinnati and Indiana road, the lower end of the Illinois Central road, and the Jeffersonville (tndiana) road. The United States Company has not yet signed the agreement; which, however, does not in terfere with the arrangements between the Adams and American. In trade foreign merchandise is improving, and importers of dry goods especially are preparing for a large spring business. The imports thus far this year at New York amount to $13,956,817, against $15,856,197 in 1869, of which $4,786,*208 is dry goods, against $5,981,881. Cotton and breadstuffs are both strong with favourable _ _ Liverpool advice& Provisions have Lot changed very much. (From the Wall-street Journal.) FRIDAY EVENING, Jan. 28, 1870. Miscellaneous Stocks are gl which had fallen to 38i, hal N. Y. Cent. & Hud. Rr 9si Erie Reading Mich. Central ll7i Illinois Central Cleveland & Pittsbrg. 91 Chi. & North-West 72 North-West Preferred 89; Canton.. Rock Island .- 105} —,and Cleveland and Toledo Fort Wayne BB Money on call is exceedingly easy, and the ruling rate is at five per cent., with exceptional rates at four and six per cent. Discounts continue to work easier, and first class acceptances, for which there is an active demand, are current at six and eight per cent., the principal busi ness being at seven per cent. Gold is active to-day, the opening price having been 1211, and having reached 121 k and 121 a, has finally closed at 1211. QUOTATIONS FOIL SPECIE. Amer. silver... 94 to 97* I Eng. sous 486 to 488 Mex. dollars...lo3* „ 101 20 francs 385 „ 387 Eng. silver 470 , 480 I Valera Five francs .... 96 „ 97 j THE SUN, LONDON, WFDNEMAY: EVENING, FEBRUARY 16, 1870. / Foreign Exchange is rather easier, rates being abou t I off. s. Da L Six ondon Bankers -_lO Iys.9 London, Prime Commercial lOBl -108 i Paris, Bankers Bremen, Bank ers Hamburgh, Bankers 351-34 Frankfort, 0 M 4Ol-40/ Berlin and Colog ne Antwerp 5.211-5.161 Amsterdam, Bankers - ... S wiss 5.21f-5.161 Government Bonds are generally steady, and there is a fairly active demand, the principal transactions being in 67's, 68's, 10-40's, and currency 6's. Sixes, 1861, registered llBl to 1181 Sixes, 1881, coupon Sixes, 1868, coupon .. - to - U.S. 6s. Pacific Railroad Five-twenties, 1862, registered ll5l to 116 Five-twenties, 1862, coupon Five-twenties, 1864, coupon Five-twenties, 186 . 5 . , coupon Five-twenties, 1850, coupon, new Five-twenties, 1867, coupon U.S. 5-20 Coupons, 1868 ll4f to 1141 Ten-forties, coupon ll2l to 113 Ten-forties, registered Oregon War Loan, Sixes 1881 - to - ;enorally higher, Pacific Mail, ving advanced to-day to 40f. Pacific Mail 4of Atlantic Mail Quicksilver W. 11. Telegraph Miraposa Mariposa Preferred lBl Ohio and Mississippi.: 25 Boston Water Power 18 Cumberland NY- dNHa- .i\ _ an, __ven 138 M & St. Paul 1.1 & St. Paul Preferred 86k Railroad Stocks are generally steady and prices firm, a heavy business being done in New York Central, Chi cago and North Western and Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, the latter of which, spite of its ignominious ex pulsion from the New York Exchange, has to-day ad vanced "on the Street" to 113. The following were the Mortgages : N. Y. Central 6s, 1883 89{ N. Y. Central 6s, 1887 88 N. Y. Central 6s, U Est 36} N. Y. Central 6s, Sub'u 854 N. Y. Central 75,;1876 101 N. Y. Con. 7s, con. 76 — Erie Ist Mort, Ex 94 Erie 7s, 2d Mort, 1879 B9l- Erie 7s, 3d Mort, 1883 B6 Erie 7s, 4th Mort, 1880 7Bf Erie 7s, sth Mort, 1888 74 Long Dock Bonds Buff. N.Y. &E. let M,'77 B4 Hud. B. 7s, Ist M, '69_1011 Had. It. 7s, 3d M, '75 991 Harlem Ist M, '6B '72 100 Mich. C. Ist M, 69'72 1161 Mich. new Ist M 88,132 — Mich. So., 7 p. c 2d M 941 N. Ind. Goshen Line '6B Mich.S.&N.l.S.F'd7p.c. 961 111. Cen. 7 p. c, '7O 116 Alton &T. H. let M Alton &T.H. 2d pfd Alton & T. H. 2d M. Inc 74 Han.& St.J.LandWrntslos Han. & St. J. Con Chi. B. & Q., Ist M 105 Ohi. & N. West, S. 96 Chi. & N. W. Con Cony. 90 Chi. & N. W. Int B 7ll Chi. & N. W. Ist M 94f 1 Quincy & Tol, let M, '75 70 111. Jr So. lowa Ist M 7O Gt. West. Ist M , 'BB B3} Gt. Western 2d M '93 7 71 Tol. & Web. Ist M Ex 9l Express Stocks are steady: Adams 6o} to 601 American Merchants' Union 361 to 37 Merchants' Union, old Stock to United States Wells, Fargo, and Co 201 to 201 Southern State Bonds continue slow, excepting in Ten nessees and MiEsourie, which show some activity. The unprincipled and reckless manner in which the credit of the Southern States is being manipulated, ought to fire every correct thinking Northern capitalist with alarm and indignation. closing quotations for tho Tol. & Wab. Equip 73 Mil. &Pr. du Oh. lst M — Gal. (Sr Chic. Ext 101 Gal. & Chic. 2d M 9l Chi. & R. L Ist M 100 Chi. R. I. & Pacific 7's 95 Cleve. & Tol. S. Fund 96 N. J. Central Ist M 102 N. J. Central 2d M 94 Pitts. F t.W., & Ch. Ist M 1021 Pitts. Ft. W., & Ch.2d M 941 Pitts. Ft. W., &Ch.3d M 9O Cleve. & Pitts., 4th M 741 Chic. & Alto!), S. F. Inc — Chic. & Alto; S. F. lstM 971 MR. & St. P. 1121 Ist M 9l Mil. & St. Paul 2d M B2 Marietta & Cin. Ist M B7 Morris & Essex Ist M 991 Morris & Essex 2d M Joilet & Chic. Ist H — Chi. & Gt. East'n lstM 75 N. Y. & N. H. 6s ... 95 Dubuque &S.City,lst M. 93 Peninsula Ist M 9O Ohio & Miss. Ist 31 92 Ohio & Miss. Con 7B Tol. P. W. Ist M. E. D 7Bl Atlantic & G. W. 2d M — Del., Lack., & W., 2d M 9Ol Lake Shore Div. Bonds 85 Cleve, P. & Ash. N.B — Do. 0.B::. Union Pacific Gold 8... 87} Central P. 1311. Gold 8... 94-f Pacific ER. guar. by Ido. 91f The following table will show the Earnings of Thirteen of the Leading Railroads of the Country during the years 1868 and 1869: 1E69. 1868. Chicago and Alton Chicago and North Western Chic., North Island, and Pacific 5,274,609 4,797,161 elev., Col., Cin., and Indiana 3,115,965 2,918,312 Cleveland stud Pittsburg Illinois Central Lake Shore and Michigan So 12,926,0(10 12,194,000 Marietta and Cincinnati Michigan Central Milwaukee and St. Paut Ohio and Mississippi 2,915,547 2,964,039 St. Lou, Alt , and T. Haute Toledo, Wab., and Western 4,269,418 4,0 3,200 Total 573,176,973 $69,251,815 This table shows hat the Chicago and North Western earnings decreased $ll,llO in 1869, and the Ohio and Mis sissippi $48,432. All the other roads did better in 1869 than in 1868, and the aggregate increase in the earnings is equal to 83,987,760. There has been much animation all the week in the bonds of the Pacific Railroads, which are now regularly quoted on the Frankfort market, where they have greatly advanced. Central Pacific, under large orders from Europe, have been purchased to-day at 94i, and Union Pacific's at 87f to 87k. The St. Joseph and Denver Railway Company has made a contract with an English firm for the purchase of $320,000 worth of iron, to be delivered at once. The iron is now in New Orleans, and will be forwarded to St. Joseph as soon as possible. The New York Trust Company guarantees payment for the iron. This is enough to complete the road to Marys ville. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. Colonel Baker's Montana expedition returned to Fort Shaw on the 28th January, having killed 173 hostile Indians, Baker's party losing one man killed and one wounded. On this account the expedition has been pro nounced a complete success, as well as in having destroyed 44 lodges, with all the winter supplies, robes, &c., and captured over 300 horses. The Blood Indians delivered up all the stolen stock in their camp. Most of the mur derers and inauraders of last summer were killed. We can only regret the necessity which exists for such proceedings, which look badly on paper, though the aspect they assume in the far West is widely different. Accounts from Omaha state the report of the disaster to the Pawnee raiders was exaggerated. Four Indians had their feet and hands frozen, and were unable to reach the Reservation, but the others arrived safely. They captured 129 ponies from friendly Indians on the Arkansas river, but say that they ha ino fight. Superintendent Janney will return' the stolen property to the owners and have the leaders of the stealing expedition punished. The hunting expedition had returned, having been successful ; large numbers of buffalo wore killed, with other game. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUESDAY. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. Mr. MussTER took the oaths and his seat for Waterford city. The accounts from Red River allude to the sud den fall in the thermometer to 45 deg. below zero, seven men having been found frozen to death between Forts Garry and Abercrombie on the 16th Jan. On that day took place the most fearful storm ever experienced on the plains. The two correspondents — Cunningham of the Toronto Globe, and Robertson of the Telegraph. —fortunately ar rived four days before, the storm, and were comfortably lodged in gaol by Riel. They bribed their guards, how ever, and escaped, leaving Pembina on the 18th, and ar riving at St. Paul on the 28th January. Their opinion is that the insurrection will be over, and the Government revert to the Hudson's Bay Company, by spring. A con- ference had been held between the insurgents and the Roman Catholic dignitaries from Quebec without result, as Vicar-General Thiebault could not produce the credentials required by the insurgents. The inte rest of the United - States in Riel has sensibly slack ened since it became known that he opposed annexa tion. The news by Cable from Toronto is to January 21, telling that great meetings had been held at Fort Garry of all the leading men on the two preceding days. Mr. Donald Smith, of the Hudson Bay Company read a dis patch of the Canadian Government, appointing him Com missioner for inquiry into the causes of the insurrection, and also a dispatch of the Governor-General of the Do minion to Earl Granville, which spoke in a reassuring manndr of the character of the conflict at the Red River. These gave satisfaction to the meeting, and twenty Eng lish, with a like number of French representatives were appointed to hold a convention on the 25th of January to decide on the best course; Riel, the commander-in-chief, supporting the plan. NICKNAMES OF STATE RESIDENTS.—AIabama, Li ' zards. Arkansas, Toothpicks. California, Gold Hunters. Colorado, Rovers. Connecticut, Wooden Nutmegs. De laware, Muskrats. Florida, Fly-up-the-Creeks. Georgia, Buzzards. Illinois, Suckers. Indiana, Hoosiers. lowa, Hawkeyes. Kansas, Jayhawkers. Kentucky, Corn Crack ers. Louisiana, Creoles. Maine, Foxes. Maryland, Craw Thumpers. Massachusetts, Bay Staters. Michigan, Wol verines. Minnesota, Gophers. Mississippi, Tadpoles. Missouri, Pukes. Nebraska, Bug-eaters. New Hamp shire, Granite Boys. New Jersey, Blues or Clam Catchers. New York, Knickerbockers. North Carolina, Tar Boilers and Tuck oes. Ohio, Buckeyes. Oregon, Webfeets and Hard Cases. Pennsylvania, Pennaniites and Leather heads. Rhode Island, Gun / lints. South Carolina, Wea sols. Tennessee, Whelps. Texas, Beofheads. Vermont, Green Mountain Boys. Virginia, Beagles. Wisconsin, Badgers. Territoi ies, &c. —Dakotah, Squatters. Utah, Polygamists. New Mexico, Sranish Indians. Idaho, For tune-seekers and Cut-Throats. Nova Scotia, Blue Noses. New Brunswick, Fish-heads. Nevada, Sage Hens. Ca nada, Canucks.—Pacific Coast Almanac. SUBMARINE CABLES. The latest telegraph project is a cable from Hong kong to Manilla and the Philippine Islands. The Spanish Government has granted a concession for forty years, and the work is to be done for £297,000. The trade with Manilla is important, though how far it will recompense this outlay remains to be seen. The enterprise, however, is not competitive. THE NEW TREATY WITH CHINA. Sir Rutherford Alcock enlarges upon the merits of the new Chinese Treaty. He considers the imposi tion of a2l per cent. duty, instead of the transit dues as the greatest advantage in the new con vention. He has littleto doubt this benefit will be a real one, and that a total exemption from such charges will be secured in the end. "The argument of the faithlessness of Chinese authori ties to their engagements, and their ingenuity in finding pretexts for extortion, or the arbitrary levy of taxes, if carried to its logical conclusion, would be equally valid against any system that could be devised; and should lead to the total abandon ment of all effort to remove what is defective in the existing state of things, or any further endeavour to relieve foreign trade from the greatest obstacle to its extension Bind prosperity. The absolute abolition, by imperial decree, of all inland taxation would be just as value less on this supposition; some officials would still be assumed to be likely to find means of evading the law and levying taxes." Sir Rutherford also brings arguments to justify the increased duties on silk and opium, sJ much complained of. THE SPANISH CROWN. At last we hear a positive fact, and not a specula tion, from Spain. A very suggestive fact it is, too. The Duke of Montpensier arrived at the Spanish capital on Monday morning, unannounced and unexpected. "He went," telegraphs the Times correspondent, "to the Hotel des Principes, and afterwards on foot to the Church of San Gines ; then visited various private friends and made purchases in sundry shops • then called on General P r i m , w ith whom he had long interview." It seems his grace did divers other things ; but this last transaction is most remarkable. That the Duke of Montpensier should visit the politician who has been most bitterly opposed to him, and who has kept him - from the throne so long, is a symptom that cannot be overlooked. A general movement amongst the Spanish journals, too,' is noticeable. They are hazy, but evidently gravitathigi to the Duke. Draughts from three of the depots stationed at Chatham left that garrison on Monday for Ports 7 mouth, to embark on board the Serapis troopship for conveyance to India, to join the service com panies. These draughts consisted of 54 noncom missioned officers and men of the Ist Battalion of the Bth, under the command of Capt. Forster, of the Ist Battalion of the 3d ; 94 of all ranks of the Ist Battalion of the Ist Regiment, and Lieutenant Posnett ; and 20 of the 45th Regiment, and Lieut. Bridge. Du BARRY'S Delicious Health restoring Revslenfa Ar tibica, Food, which contains three times the nourishment of he, bust meat, saves fifty times its c o st in other remedies, re s t ore .' perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, healthy liver, res freshing sleep, functional regularity, and energy to the more enfeebled, removing speedily and effectually indigestion (dys pepsia), habitual constipation, diarrhoea, hemorrhoids, liver complaints, flatulency, nervousness, biliousness, fevers, sort throats, catarrhs, colds, influenza, noises in the head and ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia. irritability, sMeplessness, acidity, palpitation, heartburn, head ache, debility, dropsy, cramps, spasms, nausea, and siciruess, sluicing fits, con!rhs, asthma, bronchitis, incipient consumption, scrofula, tightness of the chest, pains at the pit of the stomach, betvreen the stioullers. &c. We quote a few out of P80:00 cures irIiiIPOIV'S 1101.1t:1 restoresby On 13 irry's Food, Care No. Rome, July Si. I - The health of the Holy Father is excellent. especially since, tband 3:ling all other remedies, he has confined himself entirely to Da Barry's neval. nta Arabica Food, of which he consumes a plateful at every meal. It hay oroduced a surprisingly beneficial effect on his health, and his holiness cannot praiso this excellent food too highly."--From the Gazette du Midi, July 25. Cure No. 9,832:" Of Fifty year: indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthmt cough, eonstipatiou, flatulency, spasms, sickness at the stomach and vomiting. Maria Jolly. Worthain, Ling, near Diss. Norfolk Cure ao 47,1:1: Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of Nazing Vicarage Waltham Cross, Herts, of extreme nervousness, indigestion gatherings, low spirits. and nervous fancies. Important Caution --Beware of the many unsavoury and more than sloppy imita tions to which without authority, Baron Liebig's name is mcs..t audaciously attached In tins, at is d; Ilb 28 2d; 2 lb. •fs &I; 5 M I ts; 12 lb 22s : 24 lbs 4 s.—Also • 1.7 BARBY'S RUNALENTA RABICACHOCOLATE POWDER is packed in tin canisters: for 1: cups at 2s, for 24 cups at 3s 6d, for ;8 cups at 6s, for 2.3 cups at 30s, for 576 cups at 55s —being about one penny percup. The 30s and tins are sent free of carriage in England on receipt of Post Office Order.— AaieY Do Baum' and Co., No. 77, liegent.street, London; and all grocers and Chemists. PRICE OF GOLD. The quotation'of gold at Paris is about at par, and Vie short exchange on London is 251. 15J. per sterito►; on comparing these rates with the English Mint price of £3 na..104d. per ounce for standard gold, it appears that gold at the above price is slightly dearer in Varia than in London PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a second time :—Aberdare Gas, Aberdare Local Board, Airedale Gas, Ashton-under- Lyno, Stalybridge, and Dukinfield (District) Water, Bath Corporation, Belfast Harbour, Bradford and Huddersfield Road, Brighton Intercepting and Outfall Sewers, Brougbty Ferry Police Commissioners, Buxton Gas, Chesterfield and Brampton Railway, Cleckheaton Local Board Clyde Lighthouses, Clyde Navigation, Colne Fishery, Continental Communication, Eccleshill and Bolton Gas, Edinburgh, Loanhead, Roslin, and Penicuick Rail way, Fosdyke Bridge, Glasgow Houses of Refuge, Greenock Harbour, Gunthorpe Bridge, Hyde Local Board, International Communication, King's Lynn Consumers' Gas, King's Lynn Gas, Kirkcaldy and Dysart Water, Leeds Corporation Gas, &e., Leeds Corporation Gas (Pur chase, &c.), Leicester Lunatic Asylum, Limerick Markets, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Improvement, Northampton Corpora tion Markets and Fairs, Oldham Corporation Water, &c., Paisley Gas, Reading Local Board of Health, Rother ham and Kirnber worth Local Board of Health, Ruabon Water, Salford Borough Improvement, Shef field Corporation Water, Stapenhill Bridge, Thames Etnbankmeht (North), Tyne Improvement, West Hartle pool Extension and Improvement, and Wrexham Gas. SPIRITUAL PEERS IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. Mr. S. BEAUMONT gave notice that on tho 15th March he should move for leave to bring in a bill relieving spiritual lords from attendance in the Upper House. ROYAL FORESTS. Mr. GOLDNEY gave notico that on going into Committee of Supply on the 15th February, ho should move for returns showing the extent of the Royal Forests, and -ask whether certain portions of them could not be more beneficially dealt with than at present? THE BRIDGEWATER ELECTION. Mr. HEADLAM gave notice of his intention, on the Bth March, to move for a select committee to inquire whether the report of the commissioners iu the Bridgewater election petition could be relied upon for the purposes of legis lation ? HALFPENNY INLAND POSTAGE. Mr. GRAVES gave notice of Lis intention to move a reduction of inland and newspaper postage to one Lalf penny. FOOT-WARMERS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES. An Hex. 3lmunEn gave notice of his intention to move a resolution' with a view of compelling railway companies to provide hot-water tins for the comfort of all descriptions of travellers in very severe weather. WORKMEN'S TRAINS. Mr. C. REED gave notice that, oh Monday next, he would make a proposition requiring from all metropolitan railway companies the adoption in any future bills of a stand ing order providing for cheap workmen's trains. THE GAME LAWS. Mr. TAYLOR gave notice that he would bring in a bill on the 15th March doing away with tho mischievous work ing of the existing game laws. PUBLIC HEALTH. Dr. PLAYFAIR asked the tight hon. member for North Staffordshire, whether the Ro3 al Commission on Public llt alth, of which he was the P r esident, had inquired into the want of connection and defective organisation of the Various hygienic services of the State ; and, if so, when their report on the subject was likely to be presented ? Sir 0. ADDERLEY said the report would le preeonted very shortly, when the various matters referred to by the hon. member would doubtless be found to have been consi &red and provided for. TREATY WITH AUSTRIA. Mr. IiEWD E GATE asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether any ireliminary engagement or any protocol, ema nating from the Foreign Office or otherwise on behalf of her Majesty's Government, connected with any proposal for the renewal of the Commercial Treaty between France and this country, had been produced by the French Govern ment, or otherwise communicated to the Legislature of France whether any document or communication of the above de scription had been produced or made to the Reicharath with reference to any proposal for contracting a treaty between Austria and this country; whether any negotiations wore pending with reference to the renewal of thecommercial treaty with France, or with reference to contracting a treaty between Austria and this country ; and, whether any preliminary engagement or any protocol, relating to the renewal, or to the contracting of any treaty either with France or with Austria, had Leon signed by any person having authority to act on behalf of her Majesty's Government ? Mr. G LA DS TONE said no protocol of the British Govern ment had been laid before the French Legis7ature, because no such document existed. With regard to the third section of the question, he could say that no negotiations were pend ing for the renewal of the French treaty, because the time of the treaty had not yet expired. With respect to the Austrian Reic!israth the case was different, endpapers might have been laid before them; as regal ded the treaty with Austria, he might say it had been Nought to a close and only wanted ratifica tion ; wlit.n that was done it would be laid before Parlia ment. Mr. NEWDEGATE asked whether the papers laid before the Reichsrath were anterior o the ratification ? Mr. GLADSTONE thought that most likely. THE POLICE. Mr. TORRENS asked the Secretary of State for th© mo Department whether any steps had been taken, by a more efficient organisation and disposal of tho Metropolitan Police, to prevent the occurrence with impunity of aggra vated disturbances like those which took place at Highbury on the morning of the Gth November last ? Mr. BRUCE thought the matter exceptional, and no change was required in the police regulations. Tho riot referred to on the bth of November took place in conse quence of the police being drawn away from the locality by a large fire breaking out. THE ADMIRALTY. Lord H. LENNOX asked the first Lord of the Admiralty when ho would be prepared to lay upon the table of the House the report of the committee on the re-organisation of the Secretary's Department at the Admiralty? Mr. CHILDERS said the report was very voluminous; it was in the hands of the printer, and would be ready in a few days. DEATHS FROM STARVATION. Mr. J. TALBOT asked the President of the Poor•law Board whether his attention had been drawn to the large number of deaths reported within the last few weeks in the metropolis, upon which the coroners' juries had returned a verdict of "Death from starvation or insufficient food ;" whether he was aware of the over-crowded condition of many of the London workhouses, and of the labour yards attached to them ; and whether her Majesty's Government had any measures in contemplation for the investigation and relief of the distress now prevailing in the metropolitan district ? Mr. GOSCHEN said his attention has been drawn toit, and the exertions of all were unremitting in their endeavours to alleviate the evil. A good deal of good might b..) done by increasing the number of relieving officers with respect to the preventing the deaths by star vation. If all the regulations proposed wore carried out, there would be this year an addition of 7,000 beds, and next year 4,000 beds to the 34,000 that existed in the metropolis, and thus he hoped the overcrowding of the workhouses would in some degree be met. The Govern ment were anxious to do all that was possible to alleviate the existing distress, but no special bill was in contempla tion. ST. PANCRAS WORKHOUSE. Mr. EYKYN asked the President of the Poor-law Board under what circumstances the inquiry held at St. Pancras Workhouse by the special inspector, Mr. Bere, Q.C., bad been brought to an abrupt termination before all the matters in question had been fully investigated? Mr. GOSCHEN said the hon. member had been misin formed ; the inquiry had nct been concluded. No. 1 inquiry had, but No. 2 had not yet commenced. POLICE SUPERANNUATION. Mr. BOLCEOW asked the Secretary of state for the Home Department whether he intended, during the present; ession, to bring in the Police Superannuation Bill promised last year ; and, if so, at what time he was likely to do so ? Mr. BRUCE said a bill was in preparation. TRANSMISSION OP CATTLE. Sir R. ANSTRUTHER asked the Vice-President of the Committee of Council what steps had been or were to be taken by the Government, in pursuance of the powers given to them by section 75 of the Act, c. 70, 32 and 33 Vic., for regu lating the transmission or live stock by land or sea, with a view to mitigatieg the ii,juries at present inflicted upon ani mals by the want of proper accommodation, as well as from the want of htiy due arrangements fur feeding and wat :ring them during transit? Mr. FORSTER said the Government were waiting for information on the subject. CHINA. Mr. AKROYD asked the Under Secretary of State or Foreign Affairs, if ho was aware of the strong objections raised by the China merchants, both .in China and in this country to tho terms of the supplementary convention to the Treaty of Tien-Tsin, negotiated by Sir Rutherford Aldcock, Ler llnjesty's Ambassador in China; and whether or not the Government would delay the ratification of that convention until the opinions of British merchants engaged in the trade had been fully ttscer tainoti ? Mr. OTWAY said the Government were anxious to have the opinion of the merchants in both countries before the matter was definitely concluded. VOTING IN IRELAND. Mr. W. JOHNSTON asked the Chief Secretary for Ire. land whether it was his intention this session to introduce a Bill to assimilate the municipal and Parliamentary franchise in Ireland ? Mr. C. FORTESCUE said no such measure was in con- teinplation. DISEASED CATTLE. Mr. C. READ asked the Vice-President of the Council if ho was aware that such doubts exist as to the power of sum mary jurisdiction of justices nnder the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, that the Norwich and other magistrates had declined to hear any summonses under the Act; and if ho would take steps to remove the uncertainty which now exists; tt»d if, when the local authorities naked information from the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council, an answer, stating " that it was not within the province of that &par tment to interpret an Act of Parliament," was all the aid local authorities were to receive from the Privy Ccuucil in carrying out the Act and orders fur suppressing contagious diseases among cattle? Mr. FORSTER said the Government were aware that some do übt existed in the matter, but having taken legal opinic.n, they believed that such seminary jurisdiction did exist. The judgment in the case tied in the Court of Queen's Bench had been decisive, and no other steps were considered necessary. IRISH LAND TENURE. Mr. GLADSTONE, on rising to address the House on this important subject, and to make the motion of which be had given notice, was re ceived with loud cheers front the Ministerial ben , :hen. Twelve months were not yet fully passed, he said, since it was his duty to submit to the House a measure with reference to the Church in Ireland. At the time that mea sure was introduced its promoters were cold that it was not the subject which involved the Lappioess of the Irish people or which went to the root of the Irish difficulty. The Government at no time denied the justice of that representation. They were sensible that, heavy as the labour was of carrying that great measure, a labour still heavier re mained.to be performed. He trusted the House would approach the consideration of Irish land tenure in the same spirit to which the success of the Irish Church Bill was due. If the measure did not directly affect the majority of the people of Ireland, it did indirectly affect the whole population, and through the population had a direct and vital connec tion with the happiness and stability of this great empire. The Matsu must not disguise horn themselves the fact that the difficulties of the question had been gteatly aggravated by delay. (Hear, hear.) These who reflected upon the nature and character cf the constitution of the British Par liament would understand how it sometimes fell grievously short of a perfect performance of the duties belonging to it.. The operations of Parliament since the Reform Act of 1832 had been in themselves so remarkable, so st arching, so comprehensive, and so beneficial that he should not be deemed to cast a reflection upon it if, he submitted that neglect was chargeable upon the House for not before now dealing in the same comprehensive spirit with the question of the Irish Land Tenure. (Hear.) Ile would now for a moment glance at the recommendations of a Royal Commission which reported in the year 1845 on the subject. The right hon. gentleman proceeded to exa mine these recommendations, saying that although they might not, if fully carried out, have accomplished all that was now hoped to be accomplished, yet possibly there would have been at this moment no such question as the Irish land question. The House, he hoped, would now, seeing that it had determined to grapple with the question, firmly resolve the difficulties that had hitherto stood in the way of a conciliatory policy towards Ireland, and by a manful and resolute effort endeavour at once to open and seal up this great question of the happiness and welfare of the Irish pe' ple. (Loud cheers.) He hoped, in discuss ing the question, there would be au avoidance of all angry feeling, and that every member would forbear to revive painful recollections by reference to in vidieus topics. That the subject was one of vast Red surpassing interest was proved by the attention vouchsafed to the question by the press and people of other countries. No better illustration of this could be afforded than that of the Emperor of the French, who had himself engaged in a great and arduous task for the restoration of constitutional liberty in the country over which he ruled, had in the kindliest phrase, and in the most solemn manner, noticed the efforts this nation and Parlia ment were making with a view to healing the wounds of Ireland. (Loud cheers). And he was sure, on the part of the House, he might reciprocate the feeling which his Imperial Majesty had manifested, and wish him success iu his attempts to extend constitutional liberty. (Cheers.) Writers of exalted position in the world of philanthropy had endeavoured to elucidate the difficulties of the question. Members of the Bar, members of this House, engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, persons of every rank and station had lint their efforts in the work. Some thought the Irish pea sant was prone to disorder; some did not understand why landlords in Ireland couid not go on in the saute steady and easy manner as in England; while others thought that the Irish having been in a state of constant progressive improvement for 20 years could have no occa sion for still exhibiting sentiments of discontent or uneasi ut es. Lord Russell, in that House, Lad laid it down that evictions were the cause of agrarian crime. The right hon. gentleman then proceeded to examine what was the real cause of Irish discontentment, and in doing this he con trasted the nature of land tenure, as it was looked upon by the occupiers, with that in England, and likewise with the contract system prevailing in Scot land. In Ireland, he showed the people had not embraced as yet the idc a of occupation of land by contract. They conceived they had some right or interest in the soil as tenants thereof, and that notion was, whether wrong or right, deeply-rooted in the mind of the Irish nation. Then the right hon. gentleman quoted figures with a view of showing the increase of pauperism in Ireland, and this dis tress he traced in a great measure to the increased cost of subsistence. Free trade, which had done so much to lessen the price of wheat—which was a great boon to England—had had a contrary effect with regard to oats and the products of pasture lands in Ireland. It bad been said that they had been legislating for Ireland for the last century, and yet the country was not content, but they had endea voured to do all that was possible for the benefit of the country. (Hear, hear.) In 1793 Parliament sanctioned an Act, the object of which was to enfranchise the Roman Catholic with respect to Parliament; but that had been en tirely frustrated by the acts of the landlords, with respect to the forty shilling freeholds, which ushered in the dreadful famine of '47 and '4B. Then again another re medial measure, as it was thought, was passed—viz., the Encumbered Estates Act; but unfortunately the Act con tained one oversight, which he believed made it a question whether that Act was a benefit or not. When the provisions of the Act were put into operation it was found that when the land was sold the person who ought to have received an allowance• for the improve ments he bad made in the soil was not the person who received it, which would not have been the case had the legislation proposed in 1845 been successful. (Hear, hear.) All these circumstances having arisen, it then became a question whether the remedies Parliament had proposed had been successful. Then came the question of emigration. But emigration, in his opinion, was but another name for banishment, and the country whose remedial measure for evils that existed was banishment did not deserve the respect of any body of men ; therefore, he could not say that he could look to emigration to do that good which some persons thought it was so calculated to produce. They had in the measures brought forward to benefit Ireland abolished the Church cess and built workhouses, but the good anticipated by those and other laws had, he thought, been overbalanced by other laws, and thus that which was thought by Parliament likely to prove highly beneficial for Ireland in the end, resulted in a state of affairs quite the re verse. In this state of matters it became the duty of Parliament to take the matter in hand, and the Government now proposed to the House a measure forregulating the holding and ownership of land ; and in doing that the great difficulty they had to encounter was the various modes that had one ny one been advocated as the great panacea for the ills of Ireland. The great difficulty and the cause of the greatest discontent in Ireland he thought was insecurity of tenure, and that ho looked upon as the mischief they had to face. Ito thought he might say that the sun of hope bad recently dawned on Ireland, and it was, he was sure, the desire of all that the landowners of that country might assume a position like those of England —(Hear, hear) — and by residence, by sympathy, and the discharge of their duty in the administration of justice, do their utmost lc. eradicate that bitter feeling which the reverse of all this had produced. There were some who looked upon perpetuity of tenure as a means of producing good but the Government had decided not to deal with the evil in that manner ; and then the next question that arose was insecurity of tenure, and how to deal with it. The evil that had to ho contended with was the insecurity of land tenure, and that insecurity of land tenure was duo to four causes-Ist, the withdrawal by the landlords o privileges customarily enjoyed by the tenantry, of which we had had some very painful instances at no distant day. The withdrawal of privileges, especially of pasturage, gave rise to Whiteboyism. Secondly, there was a lavish and pitiless use of notices. (Hear, hear.) Thirdly, direct evic tions; and fourthly, increased demands in the shape of rent founded solely upon the improved quality of the soil, resulting from the expenditure of the tenant's labour and capital. The right honourable gentleman then inquired where the tenure of land was more satisfactory than that prevailing in Ireland. First, ho referred to Ulster, whore ho showed that land tenure was infi: nitely more secure than in the rest of Ireland. Theft he glanced at the Scotch tenure of land, and that, he said, was much more secure than was land tenure in England. Reverting to the Ulster form of lease, he endeavoured to prove by statistics how, under its operation and influence, the' province had prospered, and its agricultural capacity been greatly enlarged• The natural producing power of the ordinary soil of Ulster was not one half that of Munster and Connaught combined, and yet, under the state of things that existed, the actual produce of the soil was greater in 'Ulster than the rest of the three provinces. (Hear, hoar.) 131 " ster, therefore, showed that it was possible to find a remedy for the insecurity of tenure, and at the same time, as was his contention, not shake the stability of pro perty. (Hear.) Now, coming to the bill itself, he begged to say that, with regard to a variety of minor points, he and his colleagues, conscious that a variety of opinion was enter tained, wished to be guided solely by the experience of ta e House. The bill was to be a bill to amend the law relating to the occepation and acquisition of land in Ireland. First, ho should dispose of so much of the bil l as related to the acquisition of land in Ireland ; but befor e doing co he wished to say how much, in such a juncture, be regretted the absence, and the cause of the absence, of both the right hon. member for Buckinghamshire (Mr. Disraeli) and of his (Mr. Gladstone's) colleague, the right hon. the President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Bright). In the measures that they proposed with respect to land, the efforts of the Government were, in the present case, not dire,ted entirely to Ireland; they proposed to deal with it in such a manner as would affect the three kingdoms. One of the bills they proposed to introduce would give increased facility to the transfer of land in England ; another would deal with the cases of succession in intestacy; but everything else that he might mention in the course of his remarks weal relate to Ireland. In the bill that he was about to introduce, tbo first provision would be to e nlarge the powers at present possessed by limited owners . (Hear.) The next proposition was to give assistance by way of loan to tenants to purchase from their landlords the land they now occupied—(hear, hear)—by giving to co' piers willing to buy where landlords were willing to sell. With respect to waste lands the bill further proposed to give further facilities to landlords by way °f loan, to prepare and reclaim waste land fur cultivation, and making roads, and to secure t ° them a property over that which their industry and ill' telligonce had made valuable. (Hear, hear.) When the landlord of his reclaimed laud was desirous of selling it, the provisions of the bill would give Lim assistance, and the whole of this part Of th e matter would be confided to the management of the Boyd of Works of Dublin. The mode of repayment of the leant; so advanced would bo precisely the same as that novr pursued where loans had been advanced for the purposes of drainage. These were all the pro positions of the bill with respect to ownershiP It was proposed to supply a distinct judicial machinery for the administration of the provisions of the Act. That ma" chinery would be twofold—either the Court of Arbitration , as it was called is the bill, or the Civil Bill Court. Th e right hon. gentleman here explained the constitution and modus operandi of the two several courts. Then there woul d be a court for land causes established in Dublin, for the put pse of disposing, by equity and common lay( judges, of references from the other two courts. The decision of these judges would, therefore , be final. They would have large powers of discretion. The general aim of the bill was to lay down clear and distinct rules for the guidance of the Court, and to allow the Cerra to take into their consideration the con" duct and circumstances of the parties to the suit. TO right hon. gentleman then passed in review the different descriptions of holdings in Ireland. There were, he observed, four descriptions of holdings. First, the Ulster custom ; sec.incl, those that existed under other customs, analogous more or less to the Ulster custom ; third, yearly tenancies ; and fourth, those voluntary leases which certain landlords, already sensible of the mischief arising from the present state of things, had provided for their tenants. All these several holdings the billwould keen in vie'', Finally, Mr. Gladstone explained several miscellaneous subordinate but important provisions. Eviction for noir payment of rent as a general rule would not be deemed disturbance by the landlord; but where it followed an inabi lity to pay an excessive and flagrantly unjust rent the colt would bo allowed to take that circumstance into considera tion. Notices to quit hereafter must be for twelve months dating from the last gale day in the current year, an d, to make them a more expensive amusement, they must all bear a half-crown stamp. In every new tenancy over £.l th e county cess would bo divided between owner and occupier , the oNupier below that amount being relieved altogether' With the full knowledge that the measure was fo r from perfect, he invited suggestions for its amendment from all sides, and, after summarising the benefits which it would confer on owners, occupiers, and labourers, and the reason why he expected it to be accepted byall three classes, he con' eluded a speech of three hours in a powerful and loudly" applauded peroration by expressing a fervent conviction that carried, not as a p arty or class triumph, but as a com mon act of justice and patriotism, the measure would spread throughout Ireland the blessings of peace, order, and settled and cheerful industry. 31r. HARDY (in the absence of Mr. Disraeli) gave el: pression to the wish of th e O ppos iti on t o d ea l w i t h th e bil in a candid and conciliatory spirit, and with an intense desire to realize all those blessings which Mr. Gladston e had anticipated from it. Ho deprecated a desultory se ci imperfect discussion of its provisions at the present Me ment ; and, anticipating that the material discussion would be in Committee, be asked when the second reading would be taken. On tho motion of Sir J. PAAINGTON, the papers relating to the dismissal of Colonel Boxer were ordered, and, after the Dissolved Districts and Union Bills had been read second time, The House adjourned at ten minutes to ten o'clock. The Bank Returns. Tho Bankers' Magazine furnishes the returns of the cir eulation of the public and joint-stock banks in England and Wales for the four weeks ending Ist of Jan., 1870. These returns, combined with the circulation of the Scotch and Irish banks for the same period, and the average cir culation of the Bank of England for the four weeks ended the 29th of Doe. (the nearest date furnished by their ;he following results of the circulation ed Kingdom when compared with the returns), will give I of notes in the Unit previous mouth : Dec; 4, Jan. 1, 180 1 . I 1870. llncrease. Decrease. 474,43 8 b 9,690 87,541 - G .1,576 312,4 1 t - I "i 97,907 1,261,896 23,181,190 22,706,752 2,751,71) 2,66 2,3 ,8,730 2,281,128 Bank of England Private Banks Joint-stock Banks Total In England Scotland Ireland United Kingdom. 5,287,453 7,354,163, 27,650,070 , 7 056 r 256' 40,913,269' 39,681,373, And as compared with the month ending the 2nd of Dec., 1869, the above returns show a decrease 01 £412,119 in the circulation of notes in England, and it decrease of £50,413 in the circulation of the United Kingdom. On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the several banks the following is the state of the circulation:-- - The English private banks are below their fixed issue £1,380,50 6 The English joint-stock banks are below their fixed issue 457,44 2 Total below fixed issue in England £1,837,241 The Scotch banks are above their fixed i ssue ... 2,225, The Irish banks are above their fixed issue ... 701,76 2 The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng land in both departments during the month ending 29th of Dec. was £19,091,239, being an increase of £648,033, as compared with the previous month, and an increase of £906,873 when compared with the same period last year. The following are the amounts of specie held by the Scotch and Irish banks during the month ending the Ist of Jan.:— Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks ... £3,087,t30 4 Gold and silver held by the Irish banks ... 2,757,358 £5,844,96 2 being a decrease of £79,689 as compared with the pI ViOUR return, and an increase of £814,579 when compared with the corresponding period last year The severe weather has stopped nearly all work on the dockyard extension at Chatham, so that a large number of men have become idle at a time when much distress exists in the town. The work on the iron ships in the dockyard is retarded by the cold weather. BII?T118. CitA.nuis— On the 11 th lost., Iho wife of NC' 11. (Thurman, of twins. CitArmAN—On the 14th inst., at 72 Harley-street, the wire of T. Palmer Ch a p man, of a son. MARNA G ES. DARICE- 3 PMIL7.AN—On the 15th inst., at Stepney, Capt Frederick M. Darke to Helen Mi ne, only daughter o the late Mr. William M'Millau, TUitTON OUCHTERLONY —On the 15th inst., Lt Bath, Major Thomas Trevor Turton, Hyderabad Contingent, to Marie Eleonov, younger daughter of the lato 'Thus• 0 uchterlony. DEAT'IIS. BURN- On the 15th iust., Burn, Esq., of No. 6, Strattou-street, Piccadilly, aged 81. BULLOCK - On the 14th inst., at Hawthorn House, Hands" worth, Edwin Bullock, Esq., aged 83. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREWS of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE Surf Office, A 0. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex Wednesday, February 16, 189. I 1