The Sun. — London, England, 1870-04-27 00:00:00

MPERIAL PARLIAM ENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS—TUESDAY. The Speaker took the chair at five minutes to four. THIRD READINGS. The following bills were read a third time and passed: —Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Navigation, Reading Gas, and Worcester Railway. MARRIAGE LAWS. Mr. T. CHAMBERS presented twenty-eight petitions from different parts of the country in favour of legalising the marriage with a deceased wife's sister. MONASTIC INSTITUTIONS. Mr. NEWDEGATE presented petitions in favour of, and Vicount BURT and other hon. members petitions against, the appointment of a select committee to inquire into these institutions. THE CHURCH IN WALES. WILLIAMS gave notice that on the 24th of May he should bring forward the motion which stood in his name for the disendowment and disestablishment of the Church in Wales. DUBLIN FREEMEN COMMISSION. Mr. J. LOWTHER said he should not bring forward his motion on the subject which stood in his name, as he had been informed that the report would be presented in the course of a few days. PRISONS. Mr. HIBBERT asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there were any prisons in Englaud and Wales which were not in conformity with the requirements of the Prisons Act, 1865, and, if so, whether he would state the number of such prisons, and whether the 35th and 36th sections of that act had been enforced against them. Mr. BRUCE said it was quite true that there were at that time a great many prisons not yet in conformity with the Act of 1865, but he believed that since the Ciate of the last report a considerable number had conformed to the Act, and the others were making the necessary alterations to comply with the same. Two new inspectors had been appointed, and they had received instructions to inquire and report on the subject. The penal sections of the Act had not been put in force. THE LETTER CARRIERS. Sir HENRY HoARE asked the Postmaster General whether letter carriers who had called a meeting of their body for Good Friday were menaced by circular with dis missal if they attended the same ; and, if true, under what statute such circular was issued. The Marquis of HARTINGTON said a circular letter had been sent round to the letter-carriers calling upon them to attend meeting on Good Friday to hear a paper read on the present position of the post-office employes, and after wards to discuss the matter. As that was in oppositionto a rule laid down by Lord Stanley of Alderley, when Post master-General, the proposed meeting was not allowed. There never had been any obstacle placed in the way of the letter-carriers making any representations to their superior officers, which, when couched in respectful language, were always attended to. But it was not to be tolerated that a regular system of organised agitation was:to be allowed in which the men might be led into acts or words which might cost them their situations. The rule of Lord Stanley was a very goo t one and he had no intention of rejecting it. THE RED RIVER. Mr. TORRENS asked the Under Secretary of State for the colonies whether there was any truth in the state ment contained in the Toronto Globe of the 2nd instant, that "in view of the intended expeditionary force to Red River the Canada Rifles were not to be disbanded." " That this expeditionary force was to consist of not less than 2,000 men, of whom a fair proportion are to be impe rial troops." And that "the artillery required was to be furnished from England." Mr. MONSELL said so far as the Imperial Government was concerned the Canadian Rifles would be disbanded. With respect to the second part of the question, the motion was under consideration, and it would not be for the public service for them to make any communication at present. THE MASSACRE BY BRIGANDS. In reply to an Hon. Member, Mr. OTWAY said the despatches just published had been received in the Foreign-office cypher, and great difficulty had been encountered in decyphering them in consequence of the errors they contained. The greatest care had been taken in the matter, but he could not say whether or not the word "or " in Mr. Erskine's despatch to Earl Clarendon was to be read as it appeared, " £25,000 or a free pardon," or whether it was a mis print. OUR RELATIONS WITH THE COLONIES. Mr. TORRENS called the attention of the House to the political relations subsisting between this country and the self-governing colonies, and moved for a select com mittee to inquire into the political relations and modes of official intercommunication between the self-go verning colonies, and this country, and to re port . whether any and what modifications are desirable, with a view to the maintenance of a' common nationality cemented by a cordial understanding. He said it was impossible from the reports which reached us from all quarters of the globe to entertain any doubt about the fact that, whether founded upon sufficient grounds or insufficient grounds, the belief bad been induced in the public mind in the colonies, that it _ was the deliberate pur pose and the fixed intention of her Majesty's advisers to sever the connection between this country and the colonies. It was true her Majesty's Ministers had explicitly denied that they entertained this policy, so universally attributed to them by the colonists, and he for one accepted it in perfect good faith. ' Never theless, it was undeniable that the line of action recently adopted towards these colonies, whatever might have been its extent, had had the effect which he had described, viz., of raising the conviction in the mind of the colonists that the policy of her Majesty's Ministers was a policy of severance. It was passing strange, remarked the hole gentleman, to hear of such testimony coming to them simultaneously from all parts of the world, from colonies divided from each other by half the circumference of the globe, yet all concurring in the same voice, and all saying that they derived their information from her Majesty's Ministers themselves ; yet, notwithstanding. her Majesty's Ministers declared that they had never enter tained any such views, and entirely repudiated the policy which had been attributed to them. He wished to im press upon the House and the country the feeling of cordial and warm loyalty and unity which pervaded the colonies in their relations with this country until a recent period, and with that view he quoted from a work entitled " Vice-Regal ExPeriences," the author of which was not unknown to Mr. Speaker. The hon. mem ber than went on to say that the feeling of attachment to this country on the part of the colonists had become es tranged, but he hoped not hopelessly estranged, by her Majesty's Ministers. He chiefly attributed this state of things to the defective character of the departmental mechanism in reference to our colonial possessions and remembered that the official. appointed to manage the affairs oonnected therewith was generally moved just at the time when he was beeoming acquainted with the people and the requirements of the countries. He con tended that there were grounds for inquiry 11 , 3 to whether the machinery of the depart ment was such as would conduce to the Permanent unity and well-being of this empire. He believed that the House had not had brought under its attention either during the last or present session any question involving more vital and important interests than the one which they were now discussing. At some length he alluded to the generous treatment which New Zealand had received at the hands of Her Majesty's Ministers in t h e case of the Maori war, and contrasted it with the partiality exhibited towards Canada. It had been attempted to justify the conduct of the Ministers by de claring that they were simply carryi ng out. the policy of their predecessors. Armed assistance had been rendered to Caeadfioest it was denied to New Zealand under dire circumstances. The facts did not warrant the justi fication which had been put forth on behalf of h er Majesty's Ministers. The policy that had been carried on in early times with the Maories was certainly any_ thing but what it ought to have been, as no restitution had ever been demanded of them for the destruction they had caused. When peace was made, it only lasted until these Maoris obtained a fresh supply of ammunition from the American whalers, and then fresh outrages recom menced and continued with the utmost obstinacy. In the year 1863 Sir G. Grey altered this policy, and made it compulsory for these Maories to make restitution and compensation, and he thought there could not be two opinions on the soundness of such a proceeding.. The policy that now was to be . pursued, he thought, would be accompanied by the Worst effects, and the restor gg tap Lad ta k en from that Mai% it gala out would be the signal for fresh outrages, because they could not understand such an act of leniency, and the end would be that it would be attributed to weakness. Then, again, the proposal to recognise the Maori King would be most offensive to a great num ber of superior tribes, who had all along been faithful in their allegiance to her Majesty, and all of them would refuse to acknowledge the right of a second rate chief usurping the power of Royalty. He regretted to say that it appeared to be the feeling of the colonists that the policy that was to be pursued towards them would be more disastrous than an actual severance of the connection that bound them to the mother country, and if they perse vered in it, he felt it would be the means of breaking up the colonial empire. He cautioned the Govern- ment from allowing a fire to go too far, because, if they did so, it might be that in the end they would find themselves utterly unable to check it. An opportunity now presented itself of unit ing the colonies to the mother country in the strongest bonds of unity, and he hoped that such a favourable moment would not be lost by the Government. He con cluded by formally moving for the appointment of a select committee. Mr. EASTWICK seconded the motion, and remarked that, in order to shew sufficient grounds for the appoint ment of a select committee to inquire into our political relations with the self-governing colonies, it was not ne cessary, in his opinion, to insist upon any particular case like New Zealand. He reviewed the past his tory of - the colonies in relation to the mother country, and the policy which the Imperial Parliament had adopted. He divided the policy of the Government into four stages, and expressed his fear that the latter would leave England witheut colonies. He regarded our colonial possessions as of great importance to the British Empire. During the last few months there had been increased attention on the part of the pub lic to the subject and if the Government took a false step, despite all their many services, they would suffer under great odium. The loss of the colonies would be a great blow to England. He asked whether the new policy could be applied to all the colonies, and equally to those which had a large native population and those which had comparatively no native population. He thought that if the colonies were of value to this country financially, they were infinitely more so politically and morally, and with respect to the talk of separation there would have been no such observations had it not been for the indiscreet remarks of some of our statesmen. On the SPEAKER putting the appointment of the com. mittee to the House, Viscount BURY moved the previous question. He hoped that in the discussion that would doubtless take place the House would confine itself to the motion of the hon. member for Cambridge, and not go beyond the four corners of the proposition. He thought that a great deal had been said about the colonies, but he believed that some of the most important of them repudiated the proposal of this country to interfere in their government. All they required was to be let alone. He thought the appointment of the committee, as proposed by the hon member; wonici lead to the worst possible results. Sir 0. DILICE seconded the amendment. Mr. ADDERLEY hardly thought that, however useful the discussion raised by the motion of the hon. member for a select committee might prove, its acceptance by the House would lead to the result which was desired. It could only raise hopes which would be doomed to disappointment. The discussion wascontinued by Mr. Disguise and Mr. R. N. Fowler, in support of the motion. _ _ Mr. MONSELL denied that the Government bad in any way treated the colonies with an air of hauteur or superio rity. He condemned the proposition for a select committee, as needlessly raising a question which had far better be left alone. Lord SANDON opposed the motion, and Mr. GLADSTONE Mowed with a few remarks in the same direction. The House divided, and "the previous question," which really meant that the motion of Mr. Torreus " be not put," was agreed to by 110 to 67 votes. Leave was given to Mr. STAPLETON to bring in a bill to enable the owners of settled estates in England and Ireland to charge such estates, within certain limits, with the ex pense of building mansions as residences for themselves. it was subsequently read a first time. Mr. DENISON moved for a select - committee to inquire into the law and its administration relative to compensation for accidents, as appled to railway companies. The motion was agreed to. The House adj urned at half-past one. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 27, 1870. sel's name to appearin the paper, although, as a pro minent•lawyer, it has frequently to allude to him as the plaintiff's or defendant's counsel. But though gentlemen like Mr. M'Farland may be permitted the luxury of shooting their enemies, the execution of Jack Reynolds shows that he was wrong in his remark when arrested for brutally ending the life of Mr. Townsend, that " hanging for murder is played out." Stupid, brutal Jack, without friends, was just the style of perzon for an example. There are many murderers now in our prisons who might with as much profit to the community be exe cuted ; but having friends in office, however cruel and premeditated were their acts, there is no chance that any such punishment will be meted out for their crimes. New York has been so far consistent that a strenuous effort was made to save even Reynolds, but it very properly failed. Although no sign of feeling was shown by the, pri soner when sentence was passed, at the moment of execution he was seized with terror and anguish, tears streaming down his cheeks, and he died in this state. The Union League Club has celebrated at a great meeting the proclamation of the Fifteenth Amendment. Senator Wilson spoke, so did Mr. Greeley, and Wendell Phillips is here to attend the meeting at Apollo Hall, to-night, the last of the American Anti-slavery Society. Our coloured citi zens have had great rejoicings, and demonstrations in the streets, getting up creditableprocessions,though people do ill-naturedly remark on negro minstrelsy when the bands play and the dark procession moves. Secretary Boutwell spent several hours in Wall street, but the Executive have learnt a lesson, and it will be a sharp operator who extracts any state ment from him, though on his return from Massa chusetts another attempt will be made. The Funding Bill is to be brought up for discussion at the next meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. Rumours have been floating about of rings to lock up greenbacks, with a view of breaking down the stock market, and it was even commenced, but money is cheap, while greenbacks are scarce, and it would be difficult to alter the natural tendency of things. and those who tried it would be very likely to burn their fingers. James Fisk, jun., has succeeded in decorating himself with military as well as naval feathers, and getting a thousand men as well as his fleet of se eamboats to back him. He has been elected Colonel of the Ninth Regi ment, and a committee was sent to the Opera House to conduct him to the armoury of the re giment, where he addressed the officers, and an nounced that a new uniform, if necessary, would be supplied to every man joining the regi ment. The Susquehanna Railroad people might not have got off so cheaply in the great Battle of the Tunnel had Fisk then been so well prepared. Miss t. larke was married to Mr. Leon Neff, on Wednesday, but the ceremony was quiet owing to the illness of the bride's mother, much to the dis appointment of many who expected a very grand affair. The marriage of Miss Lulu Clarke has been postponed until November, also causing dis appointment. Miss Belle Macdonald, a Scottish lady here on a visit to her relations, is engaged, it is rumoured, to the Hon. A. J. Garvey. Mr. Henry Moss is to be united to Miss Sarah Hill, Mr. Philip Cunningham to Miss Faxton, Mr. J. H. Serie to Miss Mary Tilford, and the marriage of the last is soon to take place. Several newly-wedded couples have taken their passages for Europe, and you will soon have quLe a number spooning over that continent on their honeymoon tour. I am sorry to say that several of our citiz !ns have to leave too in search of health, among them Mr. Herbert Noyes, who will not return till September. WASHINGTON, April 8. The Corporation of Washington has been autho rized by a bill, to plant the streets and avenues with trees, leaving roadways of not less than thirty-five feet wide, and it is to be hoped that the Corpora tion will take action on it to beautify and give shade to these "magnificent distances." Collector Parnell is one of the commissioners who went to New Yosk to investigate the Baileydefalcation, has returned with the unpleasant information to bis bondsmen, that the sum will reachs2oo,ooo. The President, his private secretary, and all the high military officials have left for Troy to attend the funeral of General Thomas. The widow declined the proposition to havi..> the remains interred at West Point. Every honour that could be heaped on the noble Virginian has been, but some exaggerated pretensions have appeared in the papers, for, as usual, we run into extravagance. The idea of drawing a comparison between Thomas and Washington is ridiculous ; nor is the comparison fair between Lee and Thomas, for both acted honestly and according to their view of what ,heir conduct ought to be. Both were Virginians ; both West Pointers ; the one gave his sword reluctantly to his State against the Union ; the other gave his sword reluctantly to the Union against his State ; and, although the war decided that Thomas was right and Lee wrong, its decision was that of force, not of equity, though you know how strongly Union in saititnent I am, and how thoroughly I uphold the patriotism of the decision of General Thomas. Still, I respect the motives of General Lee, and feel little inclination to draw odious comparisons between these renowned soldiers. Talking of soldiers, General G. R. Paul of St. Louis had a joint resolution rushed through Congress for his benefit. It is passing strange that Congress, years after the gallant action in which the General so severely suffered, should all at once be in such a hurry to do something for the muti lated soldier, whose sight was totally destroyed by a shot which passed through both eyes at Gettys burg. He is to have the pay and allowance of a Brigadier, the rank on which he retired. Although. General Butler has failed in getting his coloured boy into the West Point Academy, Representative Prosser, of Tennessee, nothing daunted, has brought forward his boy, Alonso Napier. One member wants to put a young Indian into that school, pro bably to teach our youths how to " sculp," acd him self to be taught how the savages can best cut the throats of our citizens in the Far West. The Piegan affair has been producing most disagreeable fruit, as murders by the Indians are reported from all sides, and people are becoming very uneasy in the prospect of another sanguinary Indian war. That affairs do not look so peaceful as it is desirable out West is seen in the Mormon remonstrance against the Cullom Bill. It claims a Divine origin for polygamy, as given by God . through Joseph Smith to the Church of Jesus Christ's Latter Day Saints. On religious grounds Mormons denounce the bill as against the fiat of the Almighty ; on legal grounds they denounce the bill as unconstitutional; and, generally, they denounce it as a measure of perse cution, cruel, and calculated to encourage vice. There is something which wise men will not over- look iu theMormondeclaration,that the Territory had been settled and civilized by them before it passed into the possession of the United States, and assert ing thatpolygatny was an institution of the territory before the sovereigety of the United States was extended over it, they urge the Washington Go vernment to follow the example of moderation set by England towards polygamy in India, and France in Algeria, as the Mormons regard it as an ordi nance on which their happiness and eternal welfare depend. If these people are in earnest, and really believe what they say, as I think they do, there is danger in the Cullom Bill, yet the House Bill is considered too lenient by the Senate Committee on Territories which is now considering it, and is said to lean towards more stringent measures. A de cided course one way or another has to be taken, for we can have no compromise, no middle way, and the Government must either be prepared to fight or to endure what the people regard as a scandal to the nation, till the institution can be broken up by the force of Gentile colonization. An interesting question is being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee, whether the Fifteenth Amendment confers the right of suffrage on the Indians. General Butler manages always to be on a committee for investigating an alleged swindle or other infraction of the law. His latest investiga tion is into the disposal of Cuban Bonds and their influence on Congress. The Judiciary Committee, of which it is au offshoot, uphold Butler in com pelling witnesses to answer all questions put. The reason for this move was the contumacy of Dr. Bliss, who attended the late Secretary Rawlins in .his last illness, in refusing to answer questions, and who has been rooted out by this Nose Committee, as it is called, as interested in Cuban affairs. When the investigation has been closed, the doctor is to be dragged to the bar of the Representatives, and there made to answer, or to be committed for contempt. The lobbyists and newspaper cor respondents are the men Butler is after. He has discovered that a black-haired, black-whiskered, low-statured man had been offering large sums to secure the influence of the leading newspaper cor respondents. Another committee is investigating the affairs of Mr. Mullett, supervising architect, and A third thole of Gen. Howard who has been LAW AND POLICE. LEGACY DUTY AND REAL ESTATE.—III the case of "Forbes v. Stevens," the question came before Vice- Chancellor James whether legacy duty was pay able out of certain real estate in Bombay held by the late extensive mercantile firm of Sir Charles Forbes and Co., as part of their partnership assets. The part nership was an annual one at the end of each financial year in August, the balance being transferred to a new partnership account. In delivering judgment his honour said he had no doubt that the produce warehouses at Bombay, being the produce of a partnership estate, was a personal asset to all intents and purposes, and must be subject to legacy duty. How DIVORCE EVIDENCE IS OBTAINED.—In the Divorce Court, Dr. Tristram, in the cause of Plowden v. Plowden, applied for leave to amend the petition by filing further allegations. The respondent, who appeared in person, said that he had been followed about day and night by private detec tives employed by his wife's solicitors. He could not go any way, but they were there also. Women were put in his way, and it was evidently their desire to get him to commit himself so that they might have evidence against him. His witnesses had been got at, and one of them had been offered £5, but had refused it.—Lord Penzance said that he had before said that it was intolerable that a man should be followed about everywhere. He did not say it was so in this case ; but the respondent alleged that it was, and he had better file affidavits in support of what he said.—Mr. Plowden said that the other side had plenty of money, and he had none, and they were trying to crush him.—Lord Penzance said that the application of Dr. Tristram must stand over till next week.—Dr. Tristram said that the allegations he desired to add related to acts of the respon dent some time ago.—Lord Penzance said that, after what the respondent had said, the application had better stand over. A JURY PUNISHING A PLAINTIFF.—The Court of Com mon Pleas granted a rule for a new trial in the case of "Statham v. the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway," which was heard before the Under-Sheriff for the county of Surrey and a jury, and a verdict given by default with a farthing damages. It appeared that the fact of the plaintiff having received injuries on the rail way was not disputed ; but as he had overstat e d some o f his expenses, th e j ur y had punished him by awarding him, only a farthing. Tnx LEDBURY SCANDAL—The Dean of Arches has appointed to give judgment in the case of " Martin v. Jackson " on Thursday next. PAYMENT IN " GREENBACICS."—An action was brought last term at Westminster against a firm of attorneys for negligence in not arresting a man under a capias, and a verdict for £l,OOO was obtained. An application for a new trial was granted on the ground that the damages were excessive. Another application has now been made on the part of the plaintiff for a cross rule to raise the question whether the judge had misdirected the jury in saying that the sum was to be paid in United States greenbacks. The sum which the plaintiff had lost was really £5,000, and the supreme court of the United States had decided that payment in " greenbacks " was wrong. Arule nisi was granted, the court expressing a strong opinion that a second rule was unnecessary, and if it were discharged the plaintiff would have to pay the costs. SELLING BAD COKER NUTS—Two men were charged at the Guildhall with selling coker nuts unfit for human food. Evidence was given to shew that the prisoners had sold coker nuts at a penny each, which were absolutely putrid. The nuts were chiefly bought by children. One of them was fined 10s. ' the other, who had aggrava t e d his offence by assaulting the police,:was fined 20s. CUTTING A MAN'S THROAT " FOR A LARK."—A barber named Edwards has been charged at Liverpool with cutting the throat of a soldier named M'Conville. The barber went into the barracks to see M`Conville, who was a friend of his, and seeing that he was about to shave, he offered to shave him. No sooner had he got the razor in his hand than he drew it across the man's throat, wounding him dangerously. He explained when arrested that it was "for a lark." He was remanded. BOY GAMBLERS. —John Ferguson has been fined £5 and costs, at Willenhall, Staffordshire, for keeping a gaming house for boys. The house was sometimes crowded with locksmiths' apprentices, who paid defendant a fee upon every game of dice and cards. Boys seven years old were amongst the gamblers. Wine, whisky, and ale were drunk, and heavy sums were won and lost. Defen dant was stakeholder. The evidence chewed that he counselled the boys, if they had no money of their own to stake, to rob their master of two or three sovereigns. DANGEROUS CELLAR TRAPS.—In an action, Arnold v. I_llou_g,gan, tri e d at Liverpool, the jury returned a verdict for (I)vfhiheihs fvta,angeotnhsrtoruugcl:edtheonceltlahre L7o damages sustained by th e p l a i nt i ff, a boy, by reason p t n h n e c d iim ef l e e n ; da a n n t d which was incautiously til t r p a r p o o f ted up. Mr. Crompton moved •in the Court m of Excheq uer f or a new trial, on th e d that the was play gon the spot, angrodun that defendant was child only liable for damages to persons properly walking in the road, Their lordships now unanimously held that, inasmuch as the trap was in itself a nuisan ce , the owner had it at his own risk, and that it must be maintained in as safe a state for children, who might play upon it, as for adults who Q nly jyalka 4tuml.satQA refused. , AMERICAN CORRESPONDENCE. (From the Anglo-American Times.) NEW YORK, April 9. The new charter for our city has been rushed through the Senate, and signed by Hoffman, coupled with a very stringent Election Bill as a bribe to the Republican members to give us over, bound band and foot, to the Grand Sachem, Mr. Tweed, and his co adjutor, Sweeny. .By the way, Mr. Tweed his just ce:ebrated his birthday, and another year dawns on him, op ning with the greatest of all his triumphs. Fifteen aldermen are to be elected on a general ticket, which is considered an improvement on the old plan. This board must sanction unanimously be fore any increase of salary can be made or new office created. The heads of departments are, however, appointed by the Mayor without the concurrent vote of the aldermen, and these heads cannot be removed without cause, but the Mayor has power to impeach, and, after conviction, to dismiss. The Mayor becomes the great power, on whom here= after rests the responsibility ; for he appoints also the members of the various commissions, and the departments are simplified, those of the Street and of the Croton aqueduct being united and named the Department of Public Works, with one bead in stead of the former four. A much-needed Dock Department has been created for improving the river front, and providing accommodation suitable for such a trade as that of New York. George Francis Train has been lecturing in his general and diffuse style at the Bowery Theatre, for the benefit of the Fenian botherhood, and John Mor rissey gave $3OO and O'Brien $5OO (both leaders of the Young Democracy), and so enthusiastic did the " man from Tipperary" become, that he jumped up and began to sing till he was suppressed by the roars of laughter, which followed his per formance. This mau made himself conspicuous on a previous evening by his declaration that he would follow Train wherever he led, with the freedom of Ireland for his object. Train com menced by asserting " that fishes go in shoals, and birds in flocks," hence the graceful and easy con clusion that "shoulder to shoulder we will free Ire land." I confess I did not see it, and dimly heard, while pondering this difficult bit of logic in my mind that England had killed all the men of the late civil war, and rolled up the national debt on the head of the working men, that the present in cumbent was a miserable flunky President, that the Cabinet and Congress had been on their bellies begging for invitations to Prince Arthur's banquet, and at last I was aroused by three deep groans for the President, the Cabinet, and Con gress; and I awoke to the conviction that our Train was grandly announcing the spirit of pro phecy with which he is gifted. He said, " I be lieve that I have foreshadowed great approaching events. 1 foreshadowed that there would be great earthquakes on the Pacific shores. They came, and I now believe that before twelve months have passed an earthquake will swallow up San Fran cisco." This was too much for your correspondent, who has a deep interest in a " wild-cat," so he left bathed in tears. But next day I read how George had been elected by some man in D üblin (!), on March 22, Preside n t-El ec t o f t h e great Republic of Ame rica. At the same time he was informed that Ire land was rebel from centre to sea, the Protestants of the North, as well as the Catholics of the South. O'Neill entered, and had been heartily embraced by Train, who assured the audience that he meant fight, and he took the opportunity to ask O'Neill if he would shake hands with Savage, to which the General graciously assented, and the reconciliation then and there took place. How the tyrants of the Old World must tremble! General O'Neill then came forward, and said there was no man who desired more to see Irishmen and Irishwomen hon ourably united than he. You might imagine that O'Neill meant a general union in wedlock ; but he meant, shoulder to shoulder, as the fishes in shoals, and the birds in flocks, against the tyrant England, adding that when the Union was achieved, the green flag would be unfurled, and the junction cemented by the best blood of the Irish race. General O'Neill means what he says, and he said very emphatically that his audience would soon see the green flag unfurled, and your readers must not bo surprised if they hear of a movement against Canada, for the information I have obtained and forwarded to you leads me to believe that the Fenians mean mischief, and are now on the move to execute their long talked of design. Mr. James Gordon Bennett sailed in the Lafayette for France to prepare for his contst against Mr. Ashbury of the yacht Cambria, and he was dined and wined, and escorted on board by his many friends who take a deep in terest in the race. There are always rumours afloat, and one is that Bailey, the fugitive collector, had been seen in Broadway, near Union-square; but the detectives believe these reports to be circulated to put them on the wrong scent. There has been a h( avy fall in the value of real estate, and in rents too ; in fact, every one who knows this city is asto nished at the number of stores to be let in Broad way. The business in real estate has received a severe check, and those who purchased in eligible spots two years ago on the speculation of realizing on the anticipated rise have had all the juice squeezed out of them, and are the mere rind of an orange or a bag of dry bones, or anything else in that line you choose to imagine for me. The late Commo dore Perry's mansion in Thirty-second-street, near Fifth-avenue, was bought last week by Dr. George Brooks for $40,000, though but a few months ago 645,000 had been refused for it. There has been a meeting to get up a remonstrance against any change of Commissioners on the Central Park, and a strong committee will proceed to Albany to see to it. Early in the week business was dull and the weather bad : rain and snow and sleet, cold and dreary. But latterly finer weather has set in, and a more cheerful feeling pervades financial and business circles, and trade is steadily improving. The Stock Exchange appointed a sub-committee to inquire if Power's Hotel, in Park-row, could be obtained as the site for a new building, and, as this looks like business, the effect has been to send the rents of Park-row up and of Broad-street down ; but Wall-street is strong and active, and such a move cannot be made until a powerful opposition is overcome. Mr. Edward Matthews offered, to erect a suitable building between the present Ex change and Delmonico's for $1,300,000, but the board favours an up-town movement. The great sensation of the week is the M'Farland trial, though there is more talk in it than any thing else, for the shooting of poor Richard. son has already been written to death, and seems to have reflected little credit on any one concerned. Every effort is made to blacken Richardson's cha racter, and that of his friends, and the upholders of Mr. M'Farland or Mrs. Richardson, or whatever name that lady adopts. A crowd of witnesses for the defence, have been subpoenaed, among them Vice-President. Colfax, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. 0. B. Frutiiinghatn, Rev. .11. M. Field, Samuel Sinclair, Horace Greeley, Mrs. Sinclair, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Johnson, Miss Gilbert, Mrs. Calhoun, and the mother of Mrs. M'F ar l a nd, Mrs. Sage. M r. M'Farland was always accompanied in Court by his bright little boy, Percy. The defence will be mainly grounded on the temporary insanity under which the act was committed, and there is scarcely any chance of an adverse verdict. Yesterday, the jury, which, after a great deal of trouble had been empanelled, and some points had been argued out and dismissed, was addressed by Mr. Charles S. Spencer; for the defence, in a long and powerful speech, in which he painted, without reserve, the character of all the actors on the othe r s id e i n th e _ _ blackest possible colours Unfor tunat son was styled thoroughly corrupt, and the demon who had placed before her such extraordinary temp tations as Mephistopheles pl aced before Faust was not the devil, but poor Richatdson; but the penalty was the same, for, according to the counsel, she has to pay with the price of her soul. The counsel has drawn a very strong case against Richardson and Mrs. M'Farland, which he will have to prove before what he states can be accepted; buthe openly alleges adultery, asserting that they lived together in the same apartments night and day, and were found hugging and kissing without the slightest reserve. All sorts of stories of course are current. Recor- der Hackett, who tries the case, is said to hate Horace Greeley and the Tribune. The Herald, the Ledger, the Sun, and other papers strongly support 11.Tarland, and he is defended by very able coun- sel, while certainly the last scene iti the life of Eichardson prejudiced the public against his side, which was fully shown in ihe attempt to empanel the jury. Apropos of hatina, one of the stories told is that the proprie or of the Herald has just as great an aversion for the leading counsel for the defence, as the Recorder has for Horace Greeley and the Tribune, and perhaps with bet ter reason ; for a long time ago these now distinguished men dropped words and took to fisticuffs ; and the lieraldnever permit§ the coun- charged by Fernando Wood with misappropriating the funds of the Freedmen's Bureau. Congress is very " fussy" over its investigation business, as if the members desired to persuade the nation of their honesty by proceeding against lobbyists. I may add that there is no man whose affairs require more investigating than those of Gen. Butler himself. He is deep in a scheme to remove Gen. Andrews of Massachusetts, and he is bringing a ereat pressure to bear on the President with this object, but the plot is not at all relished in Massachusetts. 'I here is a curious rumour floating ab Jut from St. Peters burg, that Mr. Burlingame was poisoned by his Chinese associates. It is na.ural that such re ports should be circulated, but their untruth is thoroughly well known, as well as the loyalty towards li"in of all his Chinese associates. Mr. M'Leary Brown has peen accredited by the Chi nese Government as his successor. The President before leaving for Troy signed the bill for the erec tion of a bridge across the Delaware River, between Philadelphia and Camden. The St. Louis bridge is to be finished by Oct. 1, 1871, the contract for its con struction being taken by the Key Stone Company of Pittsburgh at $1,500,000, being well within the esti mate. The Loudon bankers, J. S. Morgan and C 0 .., took up two and a half million dollars of the Bonds, with the option of taking the rest of the four millions within thirty days ; and $1,200,000 have been paid in by the American stockholders, so that that great work is now secured beyond peradventure. A hear ing before Chief Justice Howe was to be given on Saturday to a notice applying for a receiver for the Union Pacific Railroad by Wyoming creditors for $1,000,000, and the bill affirms vast frauds in the construction of the line. The House Pacific Railroad Committee have heard arguments from the counsel of General Fremont in support of the Memphis and El Paso Radroad Bill, to which there is great oppo sition in both Houses, though the General and his friends appear confident of success. The Commit tee on Naval Affairs have agreed to report favour ably the bill granting the officers and men of the Kearsarge one hundred and ninety thousand dollars for the destruction of the Alabama. Commissioner Delano has forbidden the publication of the annual lists and income returns of taxpayers, believing it to be objectionable and offensive, and not for the interests of the Government. The Committee on Post-offices desire to be relieved from considering the bills for subsidizing steamship lines, as they consider it to be rather the duty of the Committee on Commerce. During the debate in the Senate on the Income-tax Mr. Delano sat next Senator Sherman. That gentleman called up the joint re solution, but the Finance Committee concluded to postpone the subject of the revival of that objection able tax until the general tax bill comes up, merely declaring that it shall be collected on offi• cial salaries, and dividends or interest paid by corporations during 1870. Mr. Sherman then announced that the Finance Committee would re commend the extension of the income tax for seve ral years, and though the first resolution had been . received in silence, this called forth protests from all sides, and it is evident that the Finance Com mittee will get little support for such a proposition. Mr. Conkling doubted the constitutionality of the tax, and Mr. Sumner pronounced it to be the most odious of the taxes called for in war time. Mr. Sberman, however, asserted that when the time arrived he would prove it to be the most equitable of all taxes. Venezuela is to be coerced into the payment of some claims by American citizens ; at least the Foreign Affairs Committee advise the use of the Army and Navy by the President for the purpose ; but Venezuela wants to be annexed. Commander L. A. Beardslee is detached from the Hydrographic Office, and ordered to take command of the Palos, which is to proceed from Boston to China, through the Isthmus of Suez. THE MUNICIPAL CHARTER OF NEW YOB,K AND THE ELECTION LAW. A correspondent of the ,Standard has painted a droll picture of Mr. Horace Greeley, of the Tribune, and Mr. John Morrissey, M.C., discussing, over a lunch at Delrnonico's, the municipal administration of ew York City. He says The philanthro pist and prizefighter, the vegetarian teetotaller and the bon vivant, the moral reformer and the faro dealer, sat down together, and Morrissey so worked upon Greeley that the Tribune came out the next morning adversely to the passage of the Charter in the Senate." The New York Herald has a still more comic sketch of the scene at Delmonico's :--- "They were remarkable heads that thus came together Heads, indeed, of strange variety, viewed in an y aspect, whether moral, intellectual, physical, or tonsorial. O n Morrissey, fate has 'put a head ' fit for Hercules, the ex pression of which is all hard force; on Greeley, one that is all softness, like a pippin in December. On Morrissey, the jetty, Jove-like curls come down to the very brows, leaving no forehead, as there was no need for any ; and on Greeley the scant hair, to which nature in her economy gave no colour, parts away from a wild waste of fore head, eloquent of brain run to seed. Morrissey's head is indebted to art for the greater part of its heroic style •—partly to the art tonsorial, partly to the art that is for pre-eminenca distinguished as 'the manly art.' Gree ley's head is as simple and unwashed a piece of nature as ever came out of a turnip field. Behold, then, the many differences in the two he a d s; an d not l ess different than the heads thus brought together by the force of events are the characters of the men who came with them. One of them is a great moralist, who preaches without stint and with almost savage invective and doctrines of plain, straightforward honesty; who cannot indulge himself with even Christian patience for rogues, but who, with all his abstract love of honesty, is so charmingly and eccen trically ignorant of the ways of the world that he believes faro to be au innocent little game that children play in the Sunday schools. He is a philosopher who has all the true philosophic love of virtue in the abstract, but who does not believe practically that it makes any difference whether a man is honest or dishonest does not believe that virtue forfeits her character in coming to terms with vice. Finally, he is a great politician, who can be fooled to the uses and intrigues of a prize-fighter through the vanity of his personal importance." This remarkable meeting has been seized on by moralists of all classes as a theme on which to descant; the man whose life has been devoted to inculcating lessons. of virtue to find himself at last exactly on the same level with the one whose exploit* , have been in the prize ring and in the gambling hell; but Mr. Greeley's enemies have not confined themselves to this, for some endeavoured to prove that the two are more on a par in morality than the public believe. The Evening Post asserts that though Mr. Greeley was despatched to Albany as one of the fifteen delegates to the Union League Club, " his sympathies were with Tweed rather than with the citizens whose spokesman he was" —that his course was ' wavering and uncertain'— that he does not agree with the League' —that his conduct was simply a fraud, a dishonourable deser tion of a clearly implied duty ; a gross breach of trust." All manner of rumours were soon in circu lation regarding the gigantic job said to have been perpetrated, whereby the Government of the city was sold to W. M. Tweed and Peter B. Sweeny by an alliance of the Republicans with Tammany Demo crats against the Young Democracy, one of whose leaders, as we bef ore explained, is Morrissey. , 1 , he Member of Congress showed Mr. Greeley that Tam many had used him as a cat's-paw ; that . each • Re publican Member had received $lO,OOO for voting for the New Charter, though ostensibly the vote was given on the compact that the Democrats should assist in passing a stringent election law. Th e New Charter has been passed, and the rule of Tweed and Sweeny has been fully established and confirmed. Sheriff O'Brien, Morrissey, and the rest, have been thoroughly defeated, and New York seems to look on with a grim complacency, for, in the hands of Tweed and Sweeny, they know the worst, while in the hands of the Young De mocracy they do not know wh a t mus t h appen. That each successive ring exceeds in rapacity, in audacity, and in ingenuity its predecesor has been proved by the state of things which now prevails, and they would indeed be sanguine men who anti cipated any improvement at the hands of the young Democracy. Tweed is like a great king, whose wealth is enormous, and whose sway is now absolute, and, in an American sense, permanent ; therefore, he cannot escape such a responsibility for the go vernment of the city as may even influence a Tammany Hall politician. The S'tandard's corre spondent naively says, "Should the Cba ter pass, the most populous and opulent city in America will be in the hands of an unprincipled 'ring,' who will administer its affairs to swell their already enormous wealth." As if that populous and wealthy city had not been the prey of such organizations as long as this generation can remember. The Tribune of the 6th inst. plaintively asserts its disbelief in voting for a bad law, on a compact that others will vote for a good one. It considers a stringent elec tion law to be a necessity, and the one passed to be good ; but it would not in payment hand over the city to the Tammany ring for an indefinite period, The Tribune is not usually slow in as,erting bribery and corruption as the moving springs of those who do what it disapproves, and it is openly stated that the Republicans who voted for 't'weed's Charter were heavily brihed.; yet the Tribune says that its friends in the Legislature meant well, thoug h they judged ill, as time will m ake plain. But in turning on a brother editor for what it terms a false state ment, the Tribune is by no means so careful in its language as the following extract from the same paper will show :--- .. The statement blazoned in a city journal that ill? editor of the Tribune ever a ss er ted, surmised,. or gu ess° that the Hon. James W. [lusted was paid ,000, or all other sum, for supporting the Tweed Charter,7 is a bast! fabrication. Mr. Greeley never alleged nor insinuated 010 Mr. Husted was paid a cent for voting for or a gainst auY bill ; and whoever asserts the contrary as of his own ]ca°w ledge is a liar." MONETARY REPOR"IS-YESTERDAY• In the Stock Exchange to-day the business doing 119 ' g been only moderate. During the earlier hours much heaviness was apparent, and a general reductios took place in prices. Towards the close f' better feeling manifested itself, but the quotatioas were still generally lower on the day. Consols have re ( i ceded I. For money the quotation has been 9n, 94, at t for the May account, 94, 94i. Reduced and New Ohre per Cents., 92k, 92g. Bank stock, 233, 235. India Flue per Cents, 113 i, 1131 ; ditto Bonds, 205., 255. Pr e°. Exchequer Bills, par to ss. prem. The tone of the market for English railway stocks 119 '1, been alternately steady and depressed, opening fia t ' general decline ensued, to be succeeded by a rally and d partial recovery. Metropolitan has fallen India an Brighton i t , South Eastern Great Northern A , Whilst Great Eastern, Midland, London and North-Western' and Great Western have each declined 4. Indian railway stocks have been quiet, but wit i l change. Canadian shares have been dull, and the' Gr ail Trunk Ist Preference Bonds have receded 4. For forei;ll shares there has been only a moderate demand. Austrian and Lombardo-Venetian have fallen 4. The market for foreign bonds opened heavily, bu t , t , i f tone at the close was decidedly more favour aPm " Egyptian 1868 have recovered I; Brazilian 1861, 1 , ; New Grenada, 4; but Peruvian 1865 have fallen 4; Portuguese, 1869, 4; Turkish, 1869, 4; and Spa nish ' 1867, 4. The new Egyptian loan has been quoted at 1 Pre y ' and the Japan 1 prem. American securities have been quiet, and a decline of i a has taken place in Atlantic Bonds, Erie shares, an Illinois Central shares. The mining market has been devoid of any feature importance, and the transactions have been on a veil ra°' derate scale. Bank shares have been dealt in to a fair extent, an cl l ll . ° value of the leading undertakings has been well ma''. tained. The market for teleph shares has been flat. F. ia gra mouth, Gibraltar, and Malta have fallen Telegraph Construction Shares have been flat and lower. In the market for miscellaneous securities the transact ° . have been restricted, and the movements in prices JO' been unimportant. There has been a good demand for money to -day, and three months' paper has been taken at 21 to 3 per ca t " No material alteration has taken place in the changes, but the rates have been firm. ti The report of the directors of Liebig's Extract of I les Company (Limited) states that the profits for the Y e9 ' f t have been £ 42,360. A dividend of £1 p er s h ar e, being 3 the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, is recommended , " h e ; ther with a bonus of ls. 3d. per share. £7,000 Nvi ll ,"; added to the reserve, and £ 14,000 will be written off 1° machinery and depreciation of buildings. A prospectus has appeared of the Crystal Palace 1 0 1 Company (Limited), with a capital of £12,000 in shares ° £5 each. A deposit of 10s. per share must a ccornl) 3l / 1,8 applications, £1 10s. must be paid on allotment, and th e balance in three equal instalments, in three, six, and months after allotment. The report of the Standard Bank of British Sn lit , Africa (Limited), to be presented on the 29th inst o " shews an available total of £8,849, and recommend s dividend of 10s. per share on 14,861 shares (£25 1 ,31(1) ; and of 4s. per share on 4,379 shares (210 paid), wh. ie gl will absorb £8,306, and leave, after app ro p r i a ting i to reserve, £379 to be carried forward. At a meeting of the Continental Union Gas Co InP 3lll a dividend of 4 pe r cen t. f or th e h a lf- year was declare'. A meeting has been held of the Pacific and San Fri' cisco Railway C om p an y. Th e di rectors ' report h a s bee n adopted, and a divid en d a t th e ra t e o f 3 per cent. 1 3 — annum declared. MARKETS-YESTERDAY. co LONDON PRODUCE MARKET, TIIESDAY.-Quietness has,,,ea tinued to be the feature of the market. For tea there ha s very little inquiry, at about previous quotations. Sugar ha s :, le dull, both raw and refined, at late ra t es . C o ff ee has been limited request. if o LONDON TRADE REPORT, TUESDAY .- The market et quiet. Y.C., spot, 445. 6d. ; last three mon th s, 45 5 . 61 r cwt. LONDON OIL MARKET, TUESDAY.-Linseed oil has bees quiet, at 325. 3d. spot. Rape has been firm. English br ° spot, 425. 9d. to 435.. been LONDON METAL MARKET, TUESDAY.-There has - a its l - fair demand for iron. Tin has been fi rm, at £133 for Str Copper has been steady. Wallaroo and Burra, at froni to £76. 11 0 LONDON WOOL MARKET, TUESDAY.-Mu c h firiruless ub lie been noticed in the wool market. Fo r c ol on i a l wool, at,P.tioq sale, biddings have been a n i ma t e d, an d extreme quo"! ae d have been realised for all qualities. English wool has contin firm. BOROUGH • AND SPITALFIELDS POTATO 21..Alt r ie , TUESDAY.-These markets have been moderately supplied, potatoes The trade has been firm, as follo w s : -E n glish a, 00l to nos. to 120 s. ; regents, 120 s. to 140 s. ; Scotch regents, lo w. 140 s. ; and French, 90s. to 110 s. per ton. METROPOLITAN HAY AND STRAW MARKET, TlTEScitos The supply moderate, and the trade steady at late rates : meadow hay, 80s. to 85s. ; inferior ditto, 605. to 703.: re c og. 503. to 655. ; prime clover, 110 s. to 1265. ; inferior ditto,4,o, to 955. ; prime second-cut clover, 100 s. to 110$. ; inferior 80s. to 90s. ; and straw, 265. to 30s. per load. LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, TUESDAY.-The M ar yet has been quiet. Sales 10,000 bales. .4 been LIVERPOOL CORN MARKET, TUESDAY.-Wheat ds. • firm, at an advance of ld. per ce n t a l. Fl our t en di ng up"y aIS Barley quiet. Beans 6d, higher. Oats and peas inactive. corn dull, and 9d. lower. MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.-Messrs. Alexander Collie andZst Report :-The market to-day h as b een qu i e t , b u t steady, all' week's prices have been maintained. and 14. LEEDS CORN MARKET, TUESDAY.-Wh ea t fi r m dearer. Oats and beans steady. Barley dull. 0 ell° LEEDS TRADE REPORT, TUESDAY .- In the coloure or a 'hall there were scarcely any l arge b u y ers, e ith er l oca l or ll* distance. The largest was one fr om Gl asgo w, an es purchases were not of much importa nc e. The Tbiff which took place were only small parcels of 0$ meltons and light coatings. Manufacturers did • o f push sales, as they find fair profits impossible. Some do t for forty years there has ne ver b een a l ess remunerative TFT,ed soldnot even m u a e t h a time ofa fort panic. Plainnight cloths ago t t o ha t n he piece , We ll stocks of doeskins, and goods of that class, as o d. as Venetians, are more than sufficient for any cle a nso Manufacturers keep their works going mor e be „„ro. of the men they employ than of any call for their maralfact'"are Very little progress is made with the f a ll t ra d e. Orders to withheld because of the , uncertainty which exists sl ur a the requiremements of n ex t season. When par ties re t . o . f A r l o i m ipoll London and wool sales oils a sales threeregmlikefrlyom £1 to z more los tobemeeui ra . Per dearer, and mill owners are buying nevertheless. „ 001 HULL PRODUCCE MARKET, TITESDAY.-Corn, sro a 'hietal"' English wheat, week's imports two thousand quarters. Re .- aid' sellers at a shilling advance, some two shillings advanceled. Foreign more inquiry, rather more money o b Zilialr Dirley imp or t e d , thi rty thousand quarters. Fine .`" os o at last rates. 'Common easier, to buy for grinding firro ivo nee.• eight thousand quarters imported. English 6d. quarter au, las; Peas, eight thousand quarters imported ; slow sale "" v eral currency. Cattle, good show, and fair attendance. S e g ood sales of heifers at last week's prices. Sheep, fair show , t, let° demand at last prices. Average supply of pigs ; decline prices ; better sale. NEWCASTLE CORN MARKET, TUESDAY .- Wheat in re c l nc4 at 6d. to ls. advance. Flour dearer. Spring corn steady n o GLASGOW IRON MARKET, TUESDAY.-The mark et i r -id• been flat, at 58s. 6d. to 58s. 9d. month, and 58s. 2d. to 05 ' cash. 4 ., ni 05 Aiv ECCENTRIC ROBlN.—Ecce n t r l u it t y teE/ to be confined to the humen species. In Mr. T. Sec' eo t garden, at Grindleton, may be seen a Robin Re dbr of sitting on five eggs. Th e nes t i s b u ilt o h the top A i beehive, in which th e b ees are b us y a t wor k. I% l ° °lb so near neighbours, they are on the most amicable BIRTHS. t rot. Rous—inst., On the 25th at 6, Bolton-r ow, Mayfair , '- John A. Rolls, of a son and heir. tal SCOTT—On the 25th inst., at N orw i c h, th e w ife of CsP - Southose Scott, Royal H.A., of a son. MARRIAGES. Wra' BATT— HAYLOCK —On the 23d inst., at West D ra yton , , no! , Henry Batt, Esq., of West D ra yt on , t o A nn ie A u f - f )3al' second daughter of the late John Hayl oc k, Esq., °' sham, Cambs. CARTER—DREW—On the 21st inst , at S. Andre le6 e ol ' Glower, Joha Proctor Carter, Fellow of King c s niell Comb., to Isabel Mary, only d aug ht er o f C a ptain x" Trinity House, I,ondon. DEATHS. Esql MORGAN—On the 25th inst., William Bowyer Morga n ' of Highgate, aged 54. ictrotor &Atom —On the 26th inst., at 4, Ovi ng t o a-square, ton, Nicholas Simons, Esq., aged 81, WS 9 Loudon: Printed and Published by WILLIAII. ANDW' 1 12, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tni3 SIIN Office, 14 °•,,,,, pf Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the Coo"' Iliddleoex.—Wedneeday, April 27, 1870. i t).4 ale