The Sun. — London, England, 1867-05-18 00:00:00

lIVIPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS.-LAST EVENING. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Cambridge Gas and the Great Northern Railway Bills were read a second time. The Moulton Gas, the Milford Harbour, the Manchester Corporation Ward, and the Holborn Valley Improvement Bills were read a third time and passed. PETITIONS. A petition was presented from the people of Maidenhead, praying that no alteration should be made in the Common Prayer used in the churches. THE CONDEMNED PRISONERS IN IRELAND. ],odd LIFFORD rose to lay upon the table of the house a petition, which he had given notice of, from the people of Glasnevin, in Ireland, praying that a memorial might be presented to her Majesty praying that the unfortunate persons now under sentence of death in Ireland for political offences might have their sentences commuted. The petition emanated, said the noble lord, from those who had taken up arms to protect the cause of peace and order; and though they deeply regretted that those men should so have offended, yet they earnestly prayed that her Majesty would exercise her royal clemency. Although aware of the heinous crime these men had been guilty of, he could not but point out to their lordships that this outbreak was quite different from any other that had occurred in that country. It was an attempt against a throne that had been established 700 years —it was against a country which had the most mag nificent army and navy, and this by a people who had no such advantages. T heir conduct had been quite different ; they had visited the houses of the gentry and had been quite cour teous in their demeanour, they had committed no outrage ; some had been mere swindlers, some had been dupes, and some enthusiasts. His lordship then alluded to the speech of Burke, and stated that though he was misguided they were noble words, and if capital punishment was visited on him he would be translated into a martyr. The petition was ordered to lie on the table. FORTIFICATIONS BILL. Lord LONGFORD moved the second reading of this bill, and it was agreed to. The house then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENING. The Srzaxmt took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : --Blyth and Tyne Railway, London and South-Western Railway, Prescot Gas, Riaton and Warburton Bridge and Tyne Improvement. THE METROPOLITAN GAS BILL. The Sheriffs of London and Middlesex presented a peti tion from the City of London against this bill. DISTRESS IN GALWAY. Mr. GREGORY asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he had received any communication from the Law Life Society expressing the intentions of that corpora tion to give employment and support to their tenantry during the present severe distress in the west of Galway ; and whether he would order a report from the Poor-law Inspector as to the steps taken in fulfilment of that pledge. Lord NAAS said he had received further information, and it was to the effect that unfortunately great distress prevailed, but the society had set on foot certain works on their estate with a view to give relief to the suffering people. He would take care that reports were made frequently as to the state of the distress. THE FRENCH EXHIBITION. Mr. BENTINCK asked the Vice-President of the Council on whose responsibility and judgment purchases were to be made at the Paris Exhibition ? Lord R. MONTAGU . said last night ho stated that no purchases had been made in atticipation. With respect to the usual South Kensington vote, it was under the con trol of the President and Vice-President of the Council, assisted by the art referees, Messrs. Redgrava and Robin son. If something was reported as worth purchasing, it would be considered by those having control of the vote, who, with the assistance of the gentlemen named, would take the matter into consideration. THE ANNUITY TAX. Mr. 3IONCRIEFF asked the hon. member for Peeble shire whether it was the intention of her Majesty's Go vernment to introduce any measure relative to the An nuity Tax in the burgh of Canongate, Edinburgh ; and, if so, when such measure would be introduced ? Sir G. MONTGOMERY said it was the intention of the Government to introduce a bill on the subject in the course of the next fortnight. RE-APPEARANCE OF THE CATTLE PLAGUE. In answer to an IIoN. MEMBER, Lord It. MONTAGU said it was true that the cattle plague had reappeared in tho metropolis, and there were eight infected places. Last night, out of 73 cows, 25 were attacked. The disease was also rife in Germany. An Order in Council had hien pa•:s;;d on the subject this day. Mr. R. HUGESSEN asked whether 73 represented the 'whole attacked? Lord R. MONTAGU said 73 cows in one district were attacked. SCOTCH REFOR3I BILL. Mr. BOUVERIE asked whether members would be in possession of a copy of the bill? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was anxious that the committee should define the meaning of the word " house," as there was a clause in the Scotch bill which deuended upon it. He thought the committee would most probably decide the matter that evening. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. The debate was resumed on the question that the words proposed by Mr. Wetkin, "provided that no tene ment shall be considered a dwelling-house for the purpose of this act, which contains less than two rooms." The hon. member said his object in moving the addition of the words to clause 3 was solely to prevent " household suffrage" degenerating into " hovel suffrage," be cause he did not think that huts in which great number of persons were crowded should form a qualification for the exercise of the elective fran chise. The bill as it stood held out inducements to create votes by the erection of hovels quite unfit for human habitations. The great object was to exclude the hovel from the operation of the bill, and make household suffrage what it ought to be. Capt. MELLOR opposed the amendment, as he con sidered it would neutralise the decision already come to by the house with respect to the lodger franchise. Mr. PEASE thought that the proposal of the hon. member for Stockport would fall short of the object he intended, and therefore he had taken the liberty of making certain additions to it, when he thought it would have the desired effect. Ile proposed to add at end of Mr. Wa.tkin's amendment the following words : —" And the said two rooms shall not together contain less than one thousand six hundred cubic feet of space, and that no room or rooms shall be considered a lodging fur the purposes of this act that do not together contain one thousand six hundred cubic feet of space, or separately contain one thousand cubic feet of space." Sir J. COLLIER said the proposal of the hon. member who had just sat down would not work well. It would create all sorts of difficulty, because it would compel the overseer, in cases of dispute, before the revising barrister to give evidence as to cubical measurement of rooms for which the vote was claimed. Mr. LIDDELL said very: much difficulty would be cleared away if the Government would give the definition of the term "dwelling-house." Mr. M'LAREN said the amendment of the hon. member for Stockport had nothing to do with the lodger franchise. It related entirely to dwelling-houses directly rated to the poor, while lodgers were not. An amendment was moved by Sir F. GOLDSMID, pro- viding that no man shall be entitled, under clause 3, to be registered by reason of his being a joint occupier of any dwelling-house, was carried on a division by 259 to 25. Mr. HODGKINSON next moved an amendment practi cally abolishing the " compound householder" by provid ing that after the passing of the Act no other person than the occupier shall be rated to parochial rates in Parliamen tary boroughs. He traced the history of these compound ing Acts, maintaining that they never were intended to interfere with the Parliamentary franchise, that their operation was anything but beneficial, and that their aboli tion would put all classes of voters all over the country on an equality, would simplify the processes of registration, would exclude the residuum, and make the bill permanent. Mr. GLADSTONE said that they had before them a proposal which meant either a repeal of the Small Tene ments Acts simpliciter, or that repeal qualified by the pro position of the hon. member for Pontefract (Mr. Childers), who would allow that and similar acts to remain in ope ration wherever, by a deliberate agreement between the owner and occupier, it is desired to retain them. For his own Fart, he preferred tiro latter alternative. Two suc cessive divisions have established as the principle of the present bill, so far as relates to the borough franchise, that against which he and others have strenuously con - tended. Now, so far as he was concerned, it was impos sible for him to acquiesce in a principle which amounts to the a.ioption of household suffrage attended with restric tions of a nature the most unjust and vexatious, and cer taiu to lead t o a p ro l onge d ag i tat i on ou t o f d oors . Against i the ne , pulities in the franchise established by the bill, he and those who formed with him the minority in the two recent divisions must continuo to protest. With regard to the provisions in the bill w hi c h appear t o con f er h ouse h o ld suffrage, it is not their intention to propose any restrictions. The only course, therefore, open to them under the circum stances is a firm but not a vexatious opposition to the plan of the Government ; and along with that opposition they must consider what is taking place out of doors. For his own part, he could not contemplate without pain the probable commencement of an agitation and opposition which he could not, under the circum stances, consider illegitimate, but to the mischiefs of which he was not blind. Looking to these circumstances, he had to ask himself whether the proposition of the member for Newark will or will not so mitigate the evils and increase the advantages of the bill as to warrant mem bers in voting for it who, like himself, entertained the opinion that the Government plan with respect to the borough franchise is quite unacceptable. Now, the prin ciple of the Government bill is, " Choose between the fran chise and composition." The hon. member for Newark adopts the proposition laid down by the Government, who cannot, therefore, have any objection to his amendment on the ground of principle or consistency. The President of the Poor Law Board emphatically declared the principle of . _ the bill to be that of the personal payment of rates, and the hon. member for Newark confers, at the expense of the economical and social inconvenience arising from the with- drawal of composition—instead of au extension of the fran chise, which he (Mr. Gladstone) and those who thought with him considered limited, unequal, equivocal, and dan- gerous, as leading to conuption— an extension which is liberal, perfectly equal, and which is not open to the charge of tending to corruption. On the other hand, it is proposed to mitigate the economical inconvenience of the propositien by offering those who prefer economical convenience to the franchise the opportunity to pass into the position of compound householders if they please. The question, therefore, arises, which of the two great elements con tained in the question—one political and constitutional, the other social and economical— should be regarded as of primary and which of secondary importance; and, so far as he was concerned, he could have no hesitation in giving the preference to the former. The bill as it stands, con tinued the right hon. gentleman, leaves it open to the vestries to determine the extent of the parliamentary franchise. The proposal of my hon. friend entirely removes out of the way that enormous objection, and from the time the amendment is adopted the agency of the local authorities ceases to operate in the regulation of the franchise. While the bill, as it stands, theoreti- cally invests men with the franchise, it at the same time places them—in most cases, lam afraid—in irreconcileable antagonism with their landlords in the endeavour to obtain it. (Hear, hear.) But that evil, if it be not wholly re moved, is universally mitigated by the amendment—(hear, hear)—because, by the amendment, the man is put in the possession of the franchise, and, instead of having a process to perform in order to obtain it, he must have a process to go through in order to' divest him of the franchise. (Hear, hear.) As a practical element in the case, I believe that to be a benefit of enormous worth. (Hear, hear.) Desirous, if possible, to find a way to peace, I look at the proposition of my honourable friend in the spirit of peace. lam very sorry that it should be necessary to interfere with our sys tem of composition throughout the country, in order to meet the views expressed by Parliament ; but if practical considerations are to prevail, it is my duty to take the lesser of two evils—(hear, hear)—and I think the abolition of composition, accompanied with the removal of the neces sity for a baneful political strife throughout the country— (hear, hear)—and with the great gain of an immediate liberal and real enfranchisement, is an advantage such us entirely to eclipse and throw into the shade the mischief that constitutes the price for which we are to purchase this boon. (Hear, hear.) I know it may be urged that the proposition is one that ought not to be embodied in the bill, lest it should awaken opposition from sources at pre sent unopen to the bill ; but my conviction is that the mind of this country is so much awakened on the subject of Parliamentary reform, that what Nye may fairly_call the intelligent public of the country, without distioctionlof place or party, are ready to do that which I myself am ready to do upon the same grounds—namely, to submit to sacrifice and inconvenience for the sake of a settlement of a great political problem—(hear, bear) —which problem, if not settled, may become to us a source of public dangers - (hear, hear) - and public dangers, possibly, in volving much that has not yet been drawn into the vortex of controversy. (Hoar, hear.) . In the abstract, I admit that objections may be taken to my hon. friend's proposi tion ; but I am bound to say for myself and those around me that nothing less than its adoption could possibly hive the slightest effect upon our proposition with reference to the provisions of the bill. It is for the sake of immediate peace, for the sake of a settlement, for the sake of removing the occasion for those popular proceedings which I antici pate out of doors, it is for the sake of all those great objects, that am ready to accept my hon. friend's amendment, and pay the price that he demands. Here is a hope, and possibly a last hope, of peace , o f concord, and of general assent on the part of classes and parties in this house and out of this house, to the adjustment proposed by Govern ment of a contested question. It is not asking a sacrifice from Government. (Hear, hear.) On the contrary, the principle of the amendment is in accordance with the prin ciple of the bill ; it is a principle which has been adopted by the house, and it is one which we consistently, with our convictions, could, in pursuance of our public duty, embrace. (Hear, hear.) I cannot say with what earnest ness I hope that the door thus opened may be found to afford a passage by which we can proceed. lam not a lover of circumstances in which the business of governing thi s country is taken from within the walls of this house to places beyond them. (Cries of "Hear, boar," with mur murs from the Ministerial side.) I foresee—l think I might say I see—that that is a state of things at which we are likely to arrive unless some means be adopted. (Loud cries of " Hear, hoar.") Sir G. BOWYER—No. Mr. GLADSTONE—My hon. friend the member for Dundalk must not put an exaggerated meaning upcn my words. (Hear, bear, and laughter.) Ido not mean to say that the whole functions of Government aro likely to be transferred out of this house to others; but what I do say is this, that when upon any question, and especially upon a great and vital question of this kind, popular agitation commences, and the people meet in thousands in every part of the country for the purpose of protesting against the proceedings of Parliament, and declaring that . in their view they cannot be acquiesced in—what I do say is, that although that may be a state of things which my hon. friend may contemplate with satisfaction, it is yet ono which would cause me the greatest pain. (Hear, hear.) I, therefore, earnestly hope that it may be consistent with the views of Government, as it is certainly not inconsistent in the slightest degree with the pi inciple of the measure which they have proposed, to adopt the amendment of my hon. friend. It is upon our part that it involves a complete waiving of the ground on which wo have stood. It is the only mode in which we can depart from the ground with honour and propriety. So far as 1 am concerned, I am ready to take the responsibility of doing that, entirely for the sake of peace, and if the pro posal be not accepted I shall feel that I have done all that the love of peace requires or can dictate to those who are most enamoured of it. (Cheers.) Mr. BASS supported the amendment, and urged that it did not involve a single social or economical disadvan tage. It would get rid of all inequalities and invidious distinctions, and would, as the right hon. gentleman the member for South Lancashire had poinyd out, afford a peaceful solution of a most difficult question. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER—The hon. member for Newark has correctly described the position of this question when he said that the proposition which he brought forward was not at all opposed to the prin ciple upon which the bill of the Government is founded. (Hear, hear.) There can be no question, I think, about that; on the contrary, it must be evident that if the policy recommended by the amendment could be brought into action, it would strengthen and enforce the prin ciples which we have been impressing upon the house as those which are the best foundations for the franchise, and would give completeness to the measure which we have introduced. (Hear, hear.) Our opinion was, when we had to consider this question, that the principle upon which we proposed the franchise should be established in boroughs in this country was one which was of such virtue that it would in the end overcome all the difficul ties that might at first be opposed to its symmetrical actin, and would alone prove satisfactory as a solution of difficulties long connected with the question. And I will observe that those who ars in favour of what they call household suffrage, but at the same time deprecate the exercise of the franchise by what is in modern phrase called the residuum of the people, are inconsistent in their complaints that we have accompanied the franchise with what they call restrictions. There are many who profess to be in favour of household suffrage, but who admit that it ought not be exercised without some principle of selec tion, and they must acknowledge that if this is not intro duced as an element of the suffrage the principle of rating is the only one which can be adopted. (Hear, hear.) And, therefore, nothing can be more inconsistent and ab surd than for them to speak against such a restriction. Those who are in favour of universal suffrage and manhood suffrage may with consistency complain of the regulations which we propose as restrictions. But for those who night after night in this house have advocated household suf frage, and at the same time have told us that there is a plebs Roniuli against the influence of which wo must guard ; but for them to contend that the propositions we have in troduced with regard to the payment of rates is a restric tion, is an absurdly inconsistent position. (Cheers.) Those who think it is wise and desirable that the franchise should be established upon the principle of value aro quite consistent in speaking of the arrangement we propose as a restriction. They can with the utmost propriety de scribe every regulation for the exercise of the franchise as a restriction, because they say the principle of value is a sufficient test. But those who are for household suffrage, and who, at the same time, admit there is a portion of the population under those conditions to whom the pri vilege of the franchise should not be entrusted, and who attack our scheme as one involving restrictions, are en tirely inconsistent. Our answer to those who would found the franchise on the principle of value, is that there is no strength in their positi on. It ha s been tried and failed. It is worn out, a nd durin g fift een years of miserable rottenness it has been frequently brought for ward in this house. The house has obtained a reputation for insincerity in dealing with the question of Parliamen tary Reform, which is untrue. Their position was that that they had no confidence in the principle of the pro positions which were brought before them, and that there was nothing in those propositions around which the sense and conviction of the community could rally. (Hear, hear.) That was the real cause of the position of the Reform ques tion up to the present time. Her Majesty's Government, when they undertook this great duty, determined to found a policy which they could recommend rpon a principle, and they had the greatest confidence in that principle. They believed that, discarding this fluctuating and uncer tain orieeiras of valna anti falrina , crimaral enrirlitinn of the population of the boroughs, a better principle might be established. We said to ourselves that an individual who lives in a house and fulfils duties, and is placed in a position in which some of the ordinary obligations of life must be discharged—that is, if ho is rated to the financial arrangements of the community of which he is it member —will necessarily be called - upon to fulfil some more formal and important duties; he will have to elect his local representatives, to watch their conduct and call them to account, and thus take an interest in the public life of his district ; that man may, prima facie, be intrusted with the still higher privilege of electing a representative to Parlia ment. (Hear, hear.) I say that is a true principle, and that the strength of it has been proved by two circum stances. Tho first is that this principle was introduced into Parliament by a Government who were in a minority, and although their propositions were received with great severity by their habitual opponents, that principle has so asserted its sway that it has been accepted, not only by considerable, but, as the right hon. gentleman opposite admits, decisive majorities. (Hear.) That is the first proof that the principle upon which our franchise is based is true. What is the second ? It is that, after all this controversy, after all this prolonged agitation, after every effort of ingenuity to oppose and every exertion of intel lect to criticise our proposition, we have, by a gentleman opposite, a formal proposal which would effect, no doubt without using any language of exaggeration, a great social change in the condition of the country, and that too, recommended by the right hon. gentleman, who hitherto has been the most uncompromising opponent of our policy. (Cheers.) I say, therefore, there must be something in this principle which has so long boon de rided. I think there must bo something in the payment of rates, in the sense of duty which it developes, in the public duties connected with it, in the exercise and discipline of the mind under it ; and the common sense of the country THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 18, 1867. and the conviction of Parliament have come to this con• elusion, that this is a sound and true principle upon which the borough franchise is to be established. That is shown, not only by triumphant majorities, but by the proceedings of this evening, still more characteristic than the triumph of parties or the struggle of Parliamentary contests. (Cheers.) No doubt, in the application of this principle in England there must be great difficulties. It is not neces sary for me to advert to them. The hon. member for Newark has this evening with great clearness and ability recapitulated many of these difficulties. But it is not the first time that difficulties have been experienced in the ap- plication of a great principle. It will not have been the first time, if this franchise we have proposed succeeds, that such difficulties have been surmounted. We have always anticipated that these perplexities—which have full justice done to them in Parliament—we always believed that, when they were encountered, they would disappear. I will not dilate upon the efforts we have made to facilitate the admission of the compound householder to the franchise, nor will I dwell upon the general result of the clauses which I have placed upon the table for that purpose. It will be acknowledged that, however great these difficulties may have been, they have been greatly mitigated, if not re moved, by those clauses. But the fallacy of the view of the right hon. member for South Lancashire which has in fluenced him to-night is this—that from the first he has ac cepted it as a conclusion on which allhis strategy should be founded, and the whole course of his conduct regulated, and all the advice given to his friends adjusted, that eve have fixed upon this foundation for our franchise in order to reap the advantages which the rat in g acts would give us in restrictins , the suffrage. That has been an en tire mistake, because a proposition similar to that now offered was contained in our original s cheme. (Hear.) But when we considered the immense difficulties of the question, and of engaging the attention of Parliament and the country in a real, earnest, and sincere scheme of re form, we hesitated before we encumbered the ship already freighted with a cargo of great price with a burden which might perhaps imperil the voyage. (Cheers.) What did the right hon. gentleman tell us on the very first night ha addressed us on the subject. Did ho not describe those acts as the result of the advanced civilisation of the coun try. If we had come down to Parliament and proposed that the suffrage in boroughs should bo founded upon real rating and residence, and also that we should simplify the matter by repealing all the rating acts, why the cham pions of civilisation would stand aghast. (Hear.) It would have required a considerable time, and a great deal of dis passionate discussion, and many vicissitudes of public and Parliamentary life before we arrived at the calm and philo sophical result which I hope will distinguish this evening. (Cheers.) Now let me speak of the motion of the hon. member. I need not say that, so far as the spirit of the proviso is concerned, the Government can have no oppo sition whatever to it—(cheers)--because it is their own policy, and if they had been masters of the situation they would have long ago recommended it to the house. But the house will feel that in the application of this policy we must proceed with the utmost prudence and consideration. I do not myself think, after much anxious attention, that it will be desirable or possible to deal with this question by a proviso at the first glance. I see a grave omission in the absence of a saving clause, and that of a vary large character, to protect existing arrangements ; and when you remember the number of acts you have to deal with, I think it will be admitted that there would be infinite diffi eul_ties and perplexities in dealing with the question in the manner proposed. It is exactly the question which I think the house should decide. We have said from the beginning tint, subject to the maintenance of the great principle which we thought ought to be the basis of the suffrage, and to which we must adhere, the advice and assistance of the house was courted by us; and this is exactly a case upon which the independent opinions of the house may be given with advantage. Months ago I might in vain have proposed a policy which is now generally ac cepted as of the wisest character ; but it is now proposed to the house by an hon. member opposite, and her Ma jesty's Government, under those circumstances, do nut hesitate to accept it—(cheers) —it being a policy which is their own, which carries out their views, and which will render triumphant the system of rating; and it required no &olefin) tones of admonition from the right hon. gen tleman opposite to induce me to express my cordial adhe sion to the proposition. (Ministerial cheers.) But 1 must impress upon the hon. member for Newark not to press the house to a hasty division upon it. My own impression is that separate legislation will be much the better course, for otherwise you will involve the Reform Bill in great difficulty, and cause great delay. If it is to be dealt with by separate legislation, I shall be perfectly prepared on the n ah oacwsc: pursuing . cb.lyuasphsrsf ria;euotjc conclusion ncoeNtnravyfehoeleni es which settlement Arrived nt o teas s ms e phn r oor v onofo u a i tpt a d t l roh i dio o fee t u n btt part of the Government to undertake the task. (Loud cheers.) I should still recommend the committee to pro ceed without loss of time with the Reform Bill. Lot us provide even for the compound householder—(a laugh)— and the bill can be so drawn up as to fit in with thismea sure. I have frankly told the house what were the feelings of the Government on the subject, and what wore our plans; and I can take no credit for any sacrifices in the c e i o e a u n y r c , s e e t , h % c. v e n a e r house o t h w ßr a iu h d bt i u c a l h t r e , :e t v io O s e n h d t d ht u a he conducted inthat, o d sr o w e M fs i a a t a h r rt hGyilhee,tea3 gladne N i q t e ' d u o i r u l e in l se s t i t t C hoh i con tribute a h r a e v e c o h n a c d e r n d e a d, rk N a V l e lu s s h io O n li s ld m il a o d t e be a m i verysu nd e rasgt agitated e . d an d e dangerous state of the country in consequence of the state of the Reform Bill and the treatment of the question by the house. I do not believe in anything of the Mind. (Cheers.) I believe a more monstrous exag geration was never made. I have no doubt there are in dividuals who have long tried, what 1 may call, their blundering hauds—(cries of "Oh, oh")—on this question, who may be exceedingly annoyed that those who were their rivals have been more successful in their efforts — (Ministerial cheers) - but that the great bulk of this nation are moved with sullen and dangerous discontent by the conduct of the House of Commons, which every candid and dispassionate mind must feel is sincerely endeavouring to bring this question to a satisfactory solution, I think that that is a statement which cannot be established, and whatever may be the influences which regulate the con duct of others, 1 can assure the house that the Govern ment in the course they are taking are not at all influenced by the terrors predicted, or by any of the arts of agitation which have been resorted to. (Loud cheers.) Mr. CHILDERS suggested that after the concession just made the clause relating to the compounders should be postponed until a bi ll for abolishing thorn was laid on the table , a nd that the two bills should then altogether proceed pari passe. Mr. AYRTON replied that what Mr. Childers would do was tantamount to giving up the Reform Bill altogether for this session, for the ramifications of the Compounding Acts were so wide that a bill could not be passed without going before a select committee, and he suggested as an intermediate course something akin to his own amend ment, by which every occupier would be rated, and the operation of existing contracts and Rating Acts saved, so that the whole question would be left open. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER pointed out the impossibility of carrying on he two bills purl passu, and of mixing up the two subjects, and declined to go further than to pledge himself to deal with the subject effectively iu some manner which would not interfere with the progress of the Reform Bill. A long conversation followed, turning chiefly on the CORM to be pursued and the exact character of the engage ment of the Government. Mr. Forster, Mr. Mill, and Sir R. P. Collier dwelt on the futility of proceeding with the compounders' clauses if they were to be abolished, and pressed the Government to go on with the other parts of the Bill until the House could see their plan. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Mr. BRETT urged the difficulties of the subject and the obstacles in the way of bringing in a Bill. Mr. POWELL advocated separate legislation. Mr. DENMAN maintained that the easiest mode of pro ceeding was to adopt the proviso, and Mr. SASDFORD warmly declared that the bill was now turned into house hold suffrage pure and simple. Mr. HENLEY . replied to him, and insisted that there was no change in the principle of the bill, which had al ways offered the franchise to every householder who paid his rates. He recommended the Government to accept the resolution as the easiest and readiest mode of effecting the object, for in passing a bill they would be met with the sordid opposition of those interested in maintaining this system of robbing the poor. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER repeated that the Government accepted the proviso in principle, pleading the difficulty of deciding at once without consi deration how it would best be carried out—whether by a separate bill or by clauses in this bill. He suggested, therefore, that Mr.Hodgkinson should withdraw his amend ment, that clause 3 should be disposed of, and on Monday he would state what course the Government would take. This course was objected to by Mr. Gladstone and Lord Carnarvon, who moved that the Chairman report progress, on the ground that Mr. Disraeli's concession —which, whe ther politic or hot, was an abnegation of all the principles of the Conservative party—had totally' transformed the character of the bill. Ultimately the Chairman left the chair without further progress being made, or any decision given on the amend ment. The ITypotlice Amendment (Scotland) Bill passed I.irough committee. The other business was disposed of, and the House ad journed at 20 minutes to 1 o'clock. Miscellaneous Foreign News. (From Correspondents of the Anglo-American Times.) PARIS, May 14. A few sittings of the London Conference sufficed 'or the settlement of the Luxembourg question in a manner which will not admit ofits revival or further endanger the tranquillity of Europe. The Duchy, delivered from all connection with Ger many, is to remain a part of the dominion of the King of Tolland, guaranteed by the great Powers. Its fortress is to be evacuated by the Prussians and of the treaty. razed in four weeks from the signing No troops are to be kept there, except those neces sary for the maintenance of order. Such is the verdict of the Conference, and such the treaty pro claimed with unmistakable evidences of satisfaction in the principal Courts of Europe as the greatest triumph of modern diplomacy. The nature of the guarantee given by the con tracting Powers is not supposed to be such as to impose upon any one of them the duty of interfer ing single-handed, or in such a way as to involve it in dangerous complications, but simply a collective moral obligation which answers ever; Purpose, since neither France nor Prussia would dare disregard it. Peace was the great end sought by the Conference, and this it has accomplished, when war seemed im- minent and almost unavoidable. Confidence is re established,and the stock markets,those political baro meters which are ever first to indicate the condition of national horizons, arc once again buoyant, with promise of a peaceful future. The Senate and Corps Legislatif were assembled yesterday to re- ceive a communication from the Government, stating the happy conclusion of the Conference, the stipulations of the treaty, and the new gages for the consolidation of good relations with neighbouring Powers, and for the preservation of the peace of Europe. Nearly all the Deputies were at their places, and a considerable number of foreign princes and ambassadors were present during the interesting session. Let us hope that we may have no more national quarrels to record, and that the blessings of peace may continue long and uninter ruptedly. Let nation contend against nation, not in bloody strife, but in great international exposi tions of products like that now covering with its gigantic proportions the Champ de Mars, display ing the progress of agriculture, commerce, art, and science, and teaching mankind to forgot war and live in brotherly love. Fashion has had its votaries in every age, and many are the follies and absurdities which a com pliance therewith has originated on the part of Eve's daughters. The human form and face have been subjected to every kind of transformation that female ingenuity could suggest, to follow the de- cree of the all-powerful goddess. The " lords of creation" have, time and again protested, but invain Fashion has proved triumphant, and they have been compelled to reconcile themselves as best they could to its imperious sway. Time and custom have in turn taught us to regard as necessaries of female toilette, false hair, powder, rouge, pencilling of eye brows and eyelids, lip colouring, and a variety of little touchings-up, which, after all, did not too much disfigure the visage of those in need of such addi tions to beauty. We have submitted to crinoline and trails, flounces and ruffles, to bonnets huge and bonnets small, bonnets round and bonnets flat, to robes high-necked and robes low-necked, to curls and waterfalls, and even to " fronts " and mollets, with heroic patience ; but if ever there was a time when forbearance should cease to be a virtue, surely that time has arrived, with the introduction of several new modes which are threatening us with popularity. Imagine the introduction of artificial ears into the market, as commodities required in womdn's toilet. Fancy a woman concealing auri cles, considered large and unsightly, beneath her hair for the purpose of wearing these appendages, possessing all the required shams of form, colour, &c., and you ca n ima g ine to what extent the o t ees of fashion in E urope . I h ave ofdesirethe to appear handsome is carrying many dev seen a pair of th ese artific ial organs, so fine, so delicatelysotopardon the frailty turned, and so rosy, It tempted of those who, anxious to conce a l ears o f inharmo nious proportion, resolve on adopting the imitation to correct the faults of the real, and call art in to the aid of nature without compromising its har mony. However absurd it may seem at present, I would not be surprised, ere long, to see a total dis appearance, from view, of over-large organs of hearing, and a substitution of this more graceful modern invention. What would be the consternation of an unsus pecting victim of matrimony to discover on his toilet-table, the morning after the marriage vows had been spoken, among a profusion of powder, paints, false hair, &c., a pair of tiny ears that be had before admired as nature's gift to the wearer? Really 'tis enough to make " old fellows" persist in celibacy, or else demand a thorough examination before the bargain is concluded. Another freak of fashion has been signalled in Parisian society, and promises soon to be quite the rage. Instead of cosmetics, heretofore used for the purpose of giving a snowy whiteness or a delicate tinge of carmine to the* skin, those favourite rose and lily colours patronised alike by Catherine de Medicis and Moon de Senclos, the Parisian women are now employing a decoction of chicory roots for browning the complexion. This preparation, when carefully distilled and hermetically sealed, produces marvellous effects in morning ablutions. However pale one may be, the employment of this cosmetic will produce any shade of brown desired. The blondes have bad their day, and the brunettes are having theirs with a vengeance. If any one doubts the prevalence of this skin blacking fashion, he has only to go to the Bois de Boulogne, the Champs Elysees, Champ de Mars, or any of the great promenades, to encounter such a number of these bronzed faces as to make him imagine an invasion of the capital by P eruv i an or Mexican women. 'Tis not alone the fancy fair ones who have taken this mania for browning, but the l a dies du grande monde also. I trust I may be pardoned a slight digression from my usual routine of Parisian gossip to speak of a few matters and things outside of this kingdom of fashion and folly. The coronation of Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austria, as King of Hungary, comes off to-morrow, and in anticipation of the event the papers are re viving interesting souvenirs of the singular cere monies observed on that occasion. The customs which "from ti me i„„„,, or i a le h a ve given to thi& coronation a certain charm of int2.rest and pictu resque grandeur are still retained and scrupulously respected. I gather some details of them from a French paper. In the church a dialogue takes place between the prelates, in which the Archbishop ad dresses the following allocution to the Primate : " Our holy foster-mother, the Catholic Church, demands that you elevate the august (here follows the name of the King) hero present to the dignity of King of Hungary." The Primate replies, "Do you know if he merits that dignity, and if he is capable of fulfilling well the duties appertaining to it?" The Archbishop answers, "We know it and believe it." Au original peculiarity terminates the civil and public ceremony. The King, at the head of the cortege in movement, mounts in a gallop the coro elevation, which, accord- ,rtifii ing to a Hungarian tradition, must be composed of earth from the different quarters of the kingdom. He then takes the oath of fidelity, scatters a quan- tity of gold coin among the populace, draws his sword, and turning his horse rapidly, he brandishes it successively towards the four cardinal points in describing a cross, symbolical of his determination to protect his kingdom against all attacks from whatever quarter they may come. The horse is shod with golden shoes, which heloses on the hillock, and which then become the property of the crowd. A circular has been addressed to the parish autho rities throughout the kingdom directing them to send forward, before the 15th of May, a cubic foot of earth for the erection of the royal hillock. Many important discoveries arc being still made in the I'ompeiian exhumations. A few days ago a vase full of water was taken out of some ruins. This water, on being analysed by a celebrated chemist, was found to contain the same quantity of oxygen and . hydrogen as that which now runs from the fountains. This fact, connected with others during the exhumation, leaves no doubt that this water has remained in the vase in a state of perfect pre servation since the reign of Titus. Similar disco veries have been made before. In 1862 a fountain was dug up in the court of a house which at the time of the eruption had its cock closed. On open- ng the cock several drops of water came out, and he vase below was found to contain what had 'alien into it centuries before. No wine had been found in the ruins of Pompeii up to a short time ago. A recent discovery was made of a glass urn containing three or four fingers of wine in its bottom, not liquid, but in a gelatinous state. This wine is undergoing an analysis, and it is thought that we shall soon know the nature and qualities of the wines which were served upon the tables of the Roman patricians. m ore. Accompanied by the general-in-chief of the army of Egypt, the Emperor reviewed the Egyptian bat talion last Thursday in the court of the Tuileries. This battalion is composed entirely of Nubians and Abyssinians, with skins of ebony blackness. It re mained five years in Mexico, and did most excellent service in that tropical climate. His Majesty the Emperor addressed his congratulations to the com mandant of the battalion upon the efficiency of his troops, and distributed with his own hands recotn pences to several who had received honourable wounds while fighting for France. While on duty these soldiers possess a perfect immobility and a very soldier-like bearing. Their manual of arms is peculiar, and all of their movements are exerted with astonishing rapidity. On the bayonet charge I imagine they would prove terrible to an enemy. Pleasure trains from the provinces are arriving continually in Paris with their loads of visitors to the Exhibition. They seem to leave their homes by caravans or associations, and come well prepared with provisions, &c., and live independently and cheaply. Strange to say, the women predominate in the numbers arriving up to this time. The King and Queen of the Belgians, Prince of Wales, and Russian notabilities have arrived in the city. Pre parations are being made at the Palais de l'Elysee for the reception of the Emperor of Russia and his suite, who are expected about the Ist of next month. Ismail Paella, Viceroy of Egypt, will arrive next week. Victor Emmanuel, the King of Prussia, the King of Sweden, and Kossuth are looked for shortly. Curiosity to see " those that govern in the mood potential " will have fine opportunities of being gratified by those who remain in Paris during the Exposition. A ball of extraordinary magnificence is to take place at the Austrian Embassy in Paris on the 28th inst. It is said that the cost of lighting, decorations, supper, &c., will be 100,000 francs. The receptions of General Dix have been re newed again for the month of May, commencing Saturday night last. The attendance was large, and the receptions will no doubt be as brilliant and delightful as those that were held before Lent. Bishop Stevens, of Pennsylvania, sailed in the Arago, for New York, on - Wednesday last ; also Mr. A. W. Greenleaf, head of the popular and wealthy house of Greenleaf, Norris, and Co., left for home in the same steamer. Mr. Greenleaf hats been in Europe for a year, and his departure will be greatly regretted by his numerous friends. The weather this week in Paris has been miser able. The streets and boulevards have been so wet that out-door amusement has not been indulged in. There is to be a reception on Friday night, the 17th, at the residence of Colonel C. B. Norton. It is in honour of the United States Commissioners to the Exhibition, now in Paris, and will no doubt be a brilliant affair. The American restaurant at the Exposition is now completed, and on the way to amass a fortune. Is is flocked to by crowds from every nation, and the coloured waiters and dinners, -et la mode Anteri cain, remind one of " Home, sweet home." The soda-water fountain in connection with the restaurant attracts the largest crowds, and the French are the best customers, drinking the delicious beverage with a relish which proves their enjoyment of the " sweets of life." In driving on the Boulevards of an afternoon a very familiar feature of America is to be seen occa sionally in the shape of light " buggies ;" and, com pared with the heavy vehicles driven in Europe, they present a very fragile appearance. Mr. Roast, who has imported these buggies, receives liberal patronage from Americans, who admire this delight ful and easy style of driving more than any other. Many of the walls of houses, fences, &c., in Paris are being ornamented with flaming placards repre senting the wonders to be seen at the " American Circus." They universally attract large crowds of the curious and the idle, who never tire of gazing, and seem to think the placards as good as the show itself, to judge from their open-mouthed wonder. It is related of Crates, the Theban, that being a man of great wealth, and desirous to go to Athens to study philosophy, he sold all he had, lest his riches should divert him and call him home, and, having got all his money together, he threw it into the sea, saying, " Get you gone to the bottom of the ocean ; I will drown you now lest you should one day do the same by me." This opening to my'correspondence must take all the readers of the Franco and Anglo American 7inies by surprise, and the following thoughts may arise, " Whoever would be such an idiot as this Crates ? What could he have looked like? A pity he did not leave his portrait to this age of photo graphy ! Why couldn't he drown himself first, and leave all his riches to get on swimmingly by them selves ?" The fact is, I cannot apologise for the philosopher's conduct ; I can only suppose he had an idea of his own that the more a man possesses the less the intellect he enjoys, and that feeling it a duty to cultivate the latter, he preferred sacrificing his wealth insteal of tying it up neatly in a pocket handkerchief, and leaving it by the sea-shore for a spendthrift who might chance to pass by. I should never have alluded to his existence at all if I had not found myself in the position of Crates myself when I put my pen on paper but a moment ago. Paris (now modern Athens) is the new school for teaching young men all to turn old and bald before they are twenty-one, and the comers who crowd hither are bound to become philosophical for more reasons than one ere they leave this capital. If any attempt treatises on what they acquire they must drown more than half the suggestions which • press forward. A female Crates may be painfully sensational, but that such a mythological biped does exist will appear from the following items which she reck lessly casts into the ocean of oblivion for the sake of speculation. The first throw immerses Luxem burg in thc bottom of the deep, though a few stray splinters, with the words " London Conference," "Peace," written on them float, about a long while on the surface, as if they did not desire to be for gotten ; but they sink, too, at last, and will doubt less slip out of mind. The second throw is not a fling at any one, be it understood, but it so happens that all the kings, queens, and princes, now banqueting and gathering in concord, have to be disposed of ; the Tycoon of Japan, and peacocks' feathers carved in whalebone all down his back, as also his wooden shoes worn on state occa sions, do certainly look demonstrative, but his bet ters go before him, aad the most respectful thing a celestial prince can do is to follow. Gounod's " Romeo and Juliet," the Duchess of Gerolstein, Victor Hernani, the Prussian cannon, ' the Academie Francaise, all these immense suc cesses, which we may not • call enormities, have to swim ; some of Punch's and Cham's carica tures get twisted round the ocean cable, among whole bales of bad books, which will not cross the Atlantic, but Punch and Cham ever do get out of difficulties. Punch rises first, then Chain peeps up, and both fraternally struggle for a top wave, which eventually opens, disclosing all the royal company beneath. Punch, who at the end is victorious, looks down, and considers that there being no more crowned heads to work upon, hi.; work is done, nobly dives, and is heard of no Many other things are next violentlyhurled forwards among which the ministering priestesses of Mabille, the Chateau des Fleurs, and other temples dedicated to a very wandering Venus. Though they cling frantically viherever they find hold, most give up much useless effort, and leave nothing but a very muddy, troubled-looking surface behind them. All this drowning was necessary before spun cotton could have a clear hearing ; and now that it can do so the following is the state of that interesting ar ticle at the Exposition is found in the 4th Group, Class 27, and is made into white or coloured sewing cotton used for embroidery, hosiery, and gimp. 4 The finest specimens in the English section are from Paisley and Huddersfield. A remarkable feature in this department is Prince Albert's monu ment, built up with reels of cotton in a high glass case. It is a perfect reduction of the commemo rative edifice raised by the Queen dedicated to her departed husband. In the French section the finest sewing cotton is marked D.M.C. Among the cotton tissues we have calico, twill, muslin, cambric, tarlatan, organdi, worked and bro caded gauze, or muslin. The centre of heavy tissues in France is Mulhouse, especially for printed cottons, the finest exhibited are cashmere patterns and the feather on white twill. In the English section a very splendid display of cotton velvets from Manchester attracts every eye ; as also the calicoes, which look like silk when they have undergone what is denominated the Alacian finish. They are washed from madder dye ; after which they stand both boiling and scrubbing. The embroidered muslins from St. Guentin in the north of France are perfection. The cotton now employed on the continent comes principally from India, China, Egypt, and Brazil ; but until 1864 America alone supplied the French market with 700,000,000 kilos. yearly. BRUSSELS, May 15. I see you noticed the late inaugural ceremony of he Belgian Public Works in a leading article. The improvements will confer a great benefit on Brus- sels, whatever may be the results to the English capitalists. I can ee no reason why it should no t pay them, considering the large sums obtained from Belgium, the heaviest part:of course falling on this beautiful city. The London Stock Exchange is no criterion of real values. Men say it is, on the prin ciple that an article is worth only what it will fetch. How is it that one man can sell a thing at a high price, while another man fails in selling the same quality, at a low price, at the same time and place. If the article be worth the high price it is worth more than the low price, and if only the low price it is not worth the high ; but it has been sold at the same time and place at both these prices, and therefore the theory must be wrong. Just as wrong, as it will be shown, by savages in the interior of Africa and Australia, by whom a coloured bead would be taken in preference to the Koh-i-noor. After all, everything is but a bauble, dependent on !ashion, and the necessities of the moment for its value, as. witness the Tulip mania, when solid firms bid against each other, and traded in what was commercially rubbish. The sailor who, mis taking the precious bulb for an onion, eat it— thereby swallowing a rarity more precious than Cleopatra's pearl, ought to have aroused the owner to the real folly, if anything can awaken men to a sense of what idiots they are. Your correspondent is stopping at the Hotel de l'Europe, and he has had, therefore, the honour of being under the same roof as the Duke of Edinburgh, which he wishes to record as a true American Republican. This is a charming hotel. The accommodation good, the tone quiet, and the charges moderate. Mr. Mid dleton, who is a great favourite among his American guests, is a lover of the Fine Arts. In this old city there are many gems unknown to the general tourist. The old churches and museums contain some beautiful paintings by the earliest Flemish masters. Our landlord is himself a collector, and he has some very rare works of the old Flemish and Dutch school, which afford amateurs an oppor tunity of studying the merits of these exquisite paintings. "Harper's Hand-book" is the guide for most of us, and as usual leads, or rather mis-leads, travellers to crowd a single establishment where they are charged exorbitantly, meet with little at tention, and go away dissatisfied, declaring there is nothing to see and little to get except big bills. This is the usual result of a great run on a single establishment, and it is my object in these remarks to point out to those fond of the fine arts, and who desire leisurely and to advantage to see this old _ . historic city, to secure their accommodation at hotel. A crush here would probably in time have .the same effect as that I condemn. But if Ameri can tourists distributed themselves more generally over the town, instead of crowding into one esta blishment, they would meet with more attention, superior accommodation, and be better able to pass their time to advantage. In compliance with your request I have extracted from our landlord's book the recent American arrivals, and I have added to the list a few of the more celebrated European visitors. One of the most severe storms of the season oc curred at Frankfort-on-the-Maine on Monday night last. The rain filled the streets in places up to the hubs of the axletrees of the waggons, rendering it almost impossible to pass through the streets. The storm was attendel with some lightning. Between Frankfort and Nanheim the storm stopped a train on the Maine, Weser, R.R., and another train run into it and did much damage. STATISTICAL MEMS. During the year 1866 the general traffic of mer chandise on the river Elbe amounted to 12,809,593 quintals (a quintal is 1101bs). Of these, 5,713,743 were conveyed up the river, the down traffic amounting to 7,095,850. The year before the total amount was only 10,170,261 quintals, or more than two millions less, the surplus of last year belonging almost entirely to the export account. The traffic of the Elbe is almost exclusively in the hands of Hamburg and Prussia ; for, of the seven millions mentioned above, six proceeded from the latter Power, and Hamburg received about half a million more, the balance represent ing the amount of traffic with the other bordering countries.—The number of emigrants that em barked at Bremen in 1866 was 61,877 ; of these, 10,178 were llanoverians, and 3,848 were Hessians. Generally speaking, therefore, so far as the port of Bremen is concerned, emigration is on the increase. The Journal des Connaissances Medicales gives an ac count of certain remarks made by Baron Larrey on the labours of the Statistical Board at the French War Office. In his opinion, in a physical point of view, the real number of young men examined for the conscription is not given ; the distinct and essentially medical indication of the disorders which led to the rejection of recruits, whether individual or endetnical, is also wanting ; the proportion of those rejected is easily influenced by certain political circumstances, however rare they may be; notwith standing the progressive diminution of the number of exemptions for deficiency of stature, there is no increase of the average height of the contin gents, and yet there is an increase of that average in the whole army ; whereby it may be concluded that volunteers are taller than others, or that some recruits continue to grow after having joined the army ; the proportion of exemptions for infirmities is nearly the same now as it was in 1831. Baron Larrey is of opinion that by drawing up statistical tables with reference to the affections which led to exemption from military service, with the average for each region, the physical capacity of the French , nation would be best determined. THE INTERNATIONAL RACKET NAM In a recent publication we noticed, under the heading of "_Sports in America," the commence ment of the game between William Gray and Frederick Foulkes. The game then stood three for Foulkes and two fur Gray. We extract the after progress of the game from Wilkes' Spirit of the Times : "It will be remembered that the latter unfor tunately broke his racket in the fifth game when be was apparently winning it in a canter. The sixth game had begun when the adjournment took place ; Gray had got six aces to five for Foulkes. The betting was then $5OO to $4OO on the latter, and these odds were taken freely. When the company came together on Tuesday afternoon an impression prevailed that Gray would win, and even money was offered. It was Foulkes' first hand, and be scored two aces and was then out. Gray was out without scoring, and Foulkes ditto. Gray did not score in the next hand, nor did Foulkes. Gray missed again and Foulkes scored one. At his seventh hand Gray made two aces ; he then missed twice, and then made six aces, thus winning the game, 15 aces to 8. " Gray was now the favourite, and there was a great deal of excitement among the company. lie seemed.to have made up his mind to settle it out of hand, and, going on with extraordinary vigour, and playing with a judgment, activity, and precision that was greatly admired, he made seven aces before he was put out. The skill and activity he displayed seemed to have a rather depressing effect on his antagonist. He was soon out for a blank, and Gray's hand was in. He did not score, but in Foulkes' next hand succeeded in putting him out with a blank score. In his next hand Gray gained two aces, and the scores stood nine to love. Foulkes' hand was out without scoring, and Gray ditto. Foulkes was once more put out withott troubling the marker. Gray then got his band in and scored six aces in splendid style, thus winning the seventh game and match. The score in this seventh game was—Gray 15, Foulkes 0. "As Gray has won the American part of the match, and also scored 25 aces more than Foulkes, it is almost certain that the former will win the money. In order to beat him, Foulkes not only has to get the best of the seven games to be played in Ireland, but also to score 26 aces more than he in the course of these games. If Foulkes were to Win four games out of the seven in Ireland, and get in the course of playing them 25 aces more than Gray, it would be a tie, and another series of seven games would have to be played. But this looks to us very unlikely, while, according to the articles, Foulkes may get the majority of the Irish games, and make twenty-four more aces than Gray, and he will still be a loser. The articles stipulate that if the games in one court :ull tie those in the other, then the player who has made the most aces in the aggregate shall be the winner. In this point of view, that last game in which Gray got 15 aces to none for Foulkes was doubly damag ing to the chance of the latter. It not only de cided the American game against Foulkes, but also added 15 more to the balance of 10 aces already existing against him. Two to one is offered on Oral , and no takers. "After the match a purse of $2OO was made UP , and for this Gray and Foulkes played the best of three games. Both played well, and the contest was interesting. The first game was 13 all, and they set to 5. This Gray won, sto 2. The second game was won by Foulkes, 15 to 11. The third game, which carried the money, was won by Gray, 15 to 12. " A match was made between Foulkes and Wil liam Devoy on the one side, and William Gray and his brother Joseph on the other, to be played on Saturday. At the time appointed, however, there was a rainy, cloudy sky, which darkened the court so much that the playing of this match was post poned until Tuesday. It is one full of interest to racket-players. Foulkes and Devoy arc the strongest players in America, while William Gray is pro" bably the best player in the world, and his brother Joseph, for a youth of only 16 years, is a pile" - mem'. COUNTRY MARKETS. DERBY—FRIDAY. There was not much wheat on offer to-day; being still inactive, at rather under last week's pri ces ' Barley was a moderate show ; malting sorts were inactiil at former quotations, and grinding samples made NI! prices. Oats scarce, with a healthy inquiry, and fine fr esh qualities 6d to is more money. $6 New white wheat, 72s to 76s ; old red, 68s to 71s por stone. Barley for malting, 40s to 47s per qr. ; grinding' 30s to 35s per 30 stone. Oats, new, 26s to 32s ; old, 34s to 36s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 58s to 60s; new, 46s to 483 per 38 stone. the trade LIVERPOOL.—FRIDAY. We had a thin attendance at to-day's market, and there was only a moderate demand for wheat at barely the rate° of Tuesday last. Flour slow, and rather easier. India n corn was in limited request, and 9d to is under previou° rates. Beans at 6d under last week's quotations. in ul t° and oatmeal there was a limited business doing, and no change in value. LINCOLN.—FRIDAY. 16 New white wheat, 60s to 68s ; new red, 58s to 69s po r - stone. Barley for malting, 49s to Ms per Beans, ; 32s to 36s per 30 stone. Oats, 25s to 30s. Beans, 4 43 t° 50s per 38 stone. STAMFORD—FRIDAY. With a moderate show of wheat the demand was bess„, ll and at is under recent currencies. Barley a small s h0 " 0 ; and ruled inactive. Oats in active request, at WO ra B tes. eans wero in favour of the seller. r B 6 New white wheat, 65s to 71s; red do., 57s to 66s P e- ap stone. Barley, malting, 40s to 50s; grinding, 27s to per qr. Oats, new, 24s to 295; old, 30s to 32s pei 24 st one Beaus, 43s to 48s per 38 stone. Peas as of late. WAKEFIELD.—FRIDAY. 't a At our market to-day English wheat was in ip demand, and the little business done was at rates lower value. Beans and oats fully as dear. In barley l er ' little doing. Weather line. BRISTOL SUGAR—FRIDAY. The market doings of the week have been quiet i n 11 2 1 descriptions of sugars. Prices for both raw and refil l " sorts rather easier. COAL MARKET. Price per ton at the closeof the market. j. s. d. s• 0 Holywell Main l7 0 East Hartlepool ...... 18 9 Original H 16 6 artlepool Hetton Lyons ........ 16 6 Walls End Hetton ... Ships at market, 29—sold. 27. LADVEUTISEMENT.I—HoIIoway's Ointment an d - fo p, Useful Kuowledge.—The successful treatment of the gpaf mass of diseases is not so great a mystery as reenY suppose. Purify the blood, cleanse the liver and stofo3lf, and the absorbent system will immediately right its- ot Both medicaments may be beneficially used by th° roeo inexperienced, under whose care the very worst of — s itig will progress favourably and terminate happily, by ll tro c- Holloway's celebrated remedies according to the yea tions wrapped round each pot and box. These renoWootl remedies cure all diseases of the bowels and kidner l i the will be found superior to all other means for mitigatieagrow sufferings of those unfortunately afflicted by in c maladies. Births. t f 11° EDEN—On the 15th inst., at Doncaster, the viri. f oof Hon. Wm. G. Eden, of a daughter. • of Fox—On the 15th inst., at Kilburn, Mrs. 11. E. twin daughters. ;f a , of P ' SINGLETON—On the 16th inst., at Brighton, the W-- Singleton, Esq., of a son. Marriages. J USTICE —LYNSE—On the 16th inst , at the AbbeY„,!,,,,-tiv Malvern, Frederick John Justice,. Esq., of .r",i e ' ' c :ob Monmouthshire, to Laura Isabella, eldest daa'" Walter Lynne, Esq., of Southwick. SHUTER—MAYEIt -On the 16th inst., at St. Mary 's ' ton, M a ry Ann, eldest daughter of James Shoter, 6 t of 26, Oakley-road, Islington, and 121, Wood;,c E.C., to William James, eldest sou of Esq., of Seven Sisters'-read, Holloway. • Deaths. B B the A o ßT A LL s ao l llA E lftlo.Ddi o :—, l o l ,,Ofge d kith 3. ia s t., Mr. John Bow ie, of V lee L.-street' 41 3 00• a the th s e to lit , h E i x n e s h t. a , n a g t e. Stoke Newington, - ../ V. GonnAno —On the sth inst., at the Old Kent-ro ad, 2L I - 1. " Goddard, foul-may of 291, Strand, aged 70. Be a' HOOKIIAM—On the 15th inst ,at 9, North-crescent, . , ford-square, Thos. llookha.n . 1, Esq., of Gadsden C't3(;d Risborough, Bucks, and late of The Librarn ' Bond-street, aged 81. T 1 Set i/1 LITsHINGTON— On the 15th inst., in Dorset-square, ° Sophia, relict of Sir James Law Lushington, Gr• o 3., acrd 89. ~, ,pling - WEnu -On the 16th inst., at Broomfield Cottage, ' e ' ton, Frank Webb, Esq., aged 416______ ... ..... _____, London: Printed and Published. by WILLIA.II AN D ? W. of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tar; 5t37.1 Paco, l'' ° ' o f Strand, in the Precinct of tb.o Savoy, in the C oon Middlesex. —Saturday, May 18 0 1867. ..