The Sun. — London, England, 1849-06-22 00:00:00

sure of taxation upon the loceff:y where the paupers ex isied. If this propositi m of his Nebas and Learned Friend were to come into oprstien, they would have a state of things here similar to that which existed in Ireland. Mr. BROTHERTON was suite ecrtain that if they paid the poor-rates out of the Consolidated Fund, they would find that there would be sti enormous increase in the rates. At the same time, he was quiie ready to ad mit that there wits great inequality in the rates. In the township in which he resided the rate was a shilling in the pound, while in an adjoining township it was six shillings.—(Hear, hear.) In 1834, when the new law was brought forward, he stated it as his opinion that they should have a uniform rate throughout all the townships of a union, so that the guardians, mate ad of looking to a particular township, would direct their at tention to the entire union. In Salford, out of twelve thousand assessments, nine thousand were under ten pounds a year, and the consequence was that the rates fell heavily upon the poorer classes. While he was opposed to the motion of the Noble Ler', he thought it would be necessary to deal with the inequality of the rate, and to extend the assessment over the whole of the union, in stead of limiting it, as at present, to a township.—(Hear.) Mr. WODE dOUSE ag,resd in everything that had been said as to the ability which had bsen di.played by the late Commissioner, Mr. Charles Bul!er. He (01r. Wodehoese) had placed a motion on the books, in accordance with a recommendation which had been given elsewhere, that the salaries and established charges of the poor-law should be paid out of the Consolidated Fund. The Honourable Member then stated that he had been informed by the brother of the Honourable Member for Cambridgeshire that a house near Calais (Messrs. Laroche, Chevery, and Dawson) had made proposals to supply a union in that county, with a variety of necsssari• s—bread, biscuits, fl brandy, beef, mutton, &e., at a cheaper rate then it was possible for any English house to make the supply. He would vote in favour of the Noble L n.dts motion, in the belief that it was absolutely necessary to revise the public burthens of the country.—(Hear.) Mr. PETO said he could bear testimony to the neces sity of a change taking place in the operation of the poor-law in the city of Norwich. The Hon. Member stated several cases in which the present law op-rated most severely in that city. Still he hoped that the Noble Lord would not press his motion to a division, as he doubted if, at the present advanced period of the ses sion, the appointment of a Committee could be attended with any benefit, and he thought, besides, that enough had been done by drawing attention to the subject. Mr. ELLIS said he could also bear test= ,ny to the inequality of the present mode of levying the poor-rate in the city with which he was connected, the city of Leicester. He was, however, opposed to the levying of a national rate, and thought besides that the session was too far advanced for the motion to be pressed with any advantage. Mr. ROBINSON etas quite inaudible in the few re marks he addressed to the House. The Hon. Member was understood to be in favour of the motion. Mr. BROWN said he was decidedly opposed to the opinion which had been expressed, that the introduction of free trade had been to increase the public distress. An Hon. Member bad alluded to an instance in which workers in glass had been thrown out of employment. Now he (Mr. Brown) had, on the contrary, been in formed that the result of the free-trade measure had been to increase the number of glass-cutters from twelve hundred to three thousand.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. POULETT SCROPE, after referring to the pro ceedings of that Committee which had been appointed on the subject before the H-use, said he was glad to hear in the course of that discussion an admission of the facts which had been brought be ore that Committee, with regard to the inequality of rating throughout the country. A very fraudu lent attempt had been mide by the landlords in some parishes to force the labourers in their employment to reside in other parishes, to the rates of which the landlords did not contribute.—(Hear, hear.) Now, a fraud of that kind, he thong it, should meet with every possible exposure.—(El 'Fir, hear.) On general principles, he was of opinion that they ought to extend the rate over a union, and make it a union rate. The fact of their having taken the management of the poor from the perishes, and given it to the guardians, was an additional reason why the rate should be thrown upon the whole union —(Hear, hear.) He believed, if they did so, there would be no need of a law of settlement, or of a law of removal, and that the unions would be content to manage their own poor. Ho thought that, year by year, they might gra dually approximate the rate, and that by so doing they would satisfy the various parishes of a union. He was also of opinion that the medical, and some other charges, might fairly be thrown upon the Consolidated Fund. Mr. CARDWELL thought that it was very likely the motion would not be pressed to a division, for at that late period of the session, when a Committee would find it impossible to make a report, it was better not to come to any decision. He was long and well acquainted with his Hon. Friend now at the head of the Pour-law Com mission, and certainly expected much from him and for the country; and he sincerely hoped he would turn his attention to that important subject, which would be much better than to allow it to go to a division. There was one thing, however, to which he (Mr. Cardwell) should beg leave to call the attention of the House. One of the incidents of poor-law charges on various locali ties was the increase of the poor pepulation from Ire land, who came over in a most heartrending con dition to this country. Ha was not now speaking of those who came over at their own charge to seek employment, but ot' the absolutely destitute; and if there was one place more than an :ther which suffered, it was Liverpool, which he represented. In connexion with this subject he moved for papers some time since, which were now laid on the table of the House. By these it appeared, that not less than '296.000 destitute, unhappy, miserable emigrants from the sister country had, within the last year, arrived in Liverpool. It was manieestly no blame to them, nor did he allude to the subject in any unkind or ungenerous spirit, but to show how it affected particular parties with heavy local taxation, which did not properly belong to them, and how that created a feeling of injustice, which was desirable not to increase. Out of the 300,000 persons who so termed, 120,000, or 10,000 a month, were totally destitute, the conscouence of which was, that not only was the poor rate doubled, but a fearful loss of life ensued. Ten Roman Catholic clergymen, one Protestant clergyman, many parochial officers, and medical men had fallen vic tims. The evils that this produced it is impossible to describe. It is no blame to them, for they cannot help it, in consequence of the fearful calamity which befell the sister country. The consequence however is. that they must either become one of three things—they must be either paupers, thieves, or vagrants. They bad, how ever, discovered that they can be sent back, and are, therefore, become either vagrants or thieves. Now, he did not wish to stigmatise or calumniate the Irish character, for it would be manifestly unjust to do so; nor did he mean to give any personal offence to gentlemen from Ireland, but by the criminal returns it appeared that whereas, in 1846, 18 000 persons were committed in Liverpool by the magistrates, it increased in 1848 to 22,000; and Ihe summary convictions, wich in 1845 were 3.800, in 1848 became 7.700. or double the number. The gaol built to contain 500 prisoners now held 1,100; and the evil was increased in other respects to such a d. gree, that the industrious classes cannot pro cure employment in consequence of the great competition in the labour market. The Right Hon. Gentle. an op• posite, the President of the Board, sent Captain Denham to inquire into the subject, whose report was now before the Reuse. A more sorrowful di cument Wes never laid on the table. lie would not trouble the House of Com mons, acquainted as all were with the horrible fatality which occurred on board the Londeneierry steamer; but one captain says that 300 are often on deck during a passage, which sometimes lusts for twenty-Four hours; that there was space below for the accommodation of about 100, but none on (leek except for cattle. Captain Denham says that the deck space allowed was a square yard to two persons, and that the whole deck on the ar• rival of one of these steamers was crowded with passen gars, filled with animal mire, and otherwise in the most frightful and horrible condition. He states that in a rough voyage of twenty-eight hours, from Dublin, a space on deck was set apart for 400 people, which was only 28 feet by 13; that these unfortunate creatures were throwp among the cattle, when they sought for a little animal heat; and altogether, as another commander states, the scene would make the stoutest heart ache. But if that occurred in paddle-steamers, it was still worse in those propelled by screw, where they were exposed on the one hand to the washing of the sea, and on the other to all the filth and wretchedness of the cattle among which they were thrown. In cases, he believed, of women taken in la bour, they may be an exception, but deaths frequently occurred, and police constables say they even saw per sons absolutely frozen to death, from the inclemency of a night, ou the deck of these steamers. The Right Hon. Gentleman opposite promised that the law should put down the practice of crowding vessels; and he would say the House must be prepared to deal with the whole sub. jest, or they could not leave 10.000 persons a month landed at a single port totally destitute. That was a :state of facts which those who represented large con stituencies were cognizant of; and having thus called :attention to it he should leave the matter to the consi deration of his Hon. Friend and the Government. H e hoped, therefore, that a remedy would be provided before they met again against this most terrible evil. Mr. LABOUCHERE observed that in consequence of the representations made to him, be did send Cap tain Denham to Liverpool, and he tock that course, not with the desire of limiting the transmission of paupers -from Ireland, for if it were to be checked it ought not 'to be by raising the price of the passage. He held that the poor men who came, not as paupers, but to work, had a perfect right to come over ns cheap as they could, and, therefore, in this instructions to Captain Denham, he directed him to confine himself to the manner in which they were treated on board, and he did think that a case was made out for the interference of the Govern ment. He thought, however, that it was most important that the checks about to be made should not be cheeks to the emigration of the Irish emigrants. He should be sorry to put any check whatever on their coming over • but for the sake of their common humanity it was ab: solutely necessary they should interfere to prevent the improper crowding of persons on board steamers coming from the Irish ports. In the spirit of the report made he fully concurred, and promised that the attention of the Board of Trade should be directed to the subject. Mr. SPOONER suggested to the Noble L,)rd the pro priety of withdrawing his motion, for although he should be obliged, if it went to a division, to vote against it, yet he must do so with great reluctance. Mr. SLANEY believed the important subject then under consideration was about being brought to a close, and he would not discuss it, therefore, at any greater length. The case made by the Chief Commissioner was no doubt most ably stated, but no man yet staid any thing elistut the burdese' eieeUn ll the fact that while the upper and middle classes were improving in wealth, the working classes were retro grading. Ile should therefore ask the Nouse at a fu- tore day why that was so—why it was that the working classes were not only not advancieg but rearegradieg into misery and destitution. The Hon. Gi ntlemen who seconded the motion did so b.-cause the poor-rate; were so uneven, but as Chairman of a Committee which set in 1830, he was in a positioe to say that the manage ment of the unions, by the guardians and others, was the comecrience of all the evils which then existed. Why should a man who drained hie estate, and gave employment to the people, by which he made his pro perty worth 20s. an acre, be placed on the sane level is to rating, and often rated higher, thin the men who did not employ any persons whatever, and whose land was only 103.? In his opinion the reason for the increase of the peor-rafes aro-e teem it want of employment. Colonel DUNNE test happy that the present motion was brought on by his Noble Friend, for he was elad to see the p tor law &hate•d on Reg ish ground. He did say that this discussion would recs.l to English Members that that which was unjust in England was unjust in Ireland. With reference to the landing of Irish paupers in Liverpool, he might observe, that although they might have suffered some inconvenience from that, yet that the town had ga, , ned immensely by the Irish trade, whicn was more than a compensation for the temporary inconvenience alluded to.—(Haar.) Lord sUG E I' said. th atter what had passed he would not endeavour to force the sense of the House, but being content with , he opinions elicited, he would with draw his motion.—(Hear, hear.) The motion wAs consequently withdrawn. NATIONAL EDUCATION IN IRELAND. Mr. HAMILTON brought forward the motion of which he had given notice, Sre an address to her Majesty, praving that she will be graciously pleased to direct that such a modification of the system of national education in Ireland may be made as may remove the conscientious objections which a large proportion of the clergy and laity of the Established Church entertain to that sy,tem as at present carried into operation; or otherwise, that means may be taken to enable those of the clerey and laity of the Established Church, who entertained such conscientious objections, to extend the blessings of scrip rural education in Ireland. He said in bringing forward the important subject of education in connexion with the Church in Ireland, it would not be necessary for him to aike up the time of the Howe at any length. He had little more to do than reiterate seme, of the argu ments he had used last year. He then endeavoured to show that every denomination of Christians in this coun try were agreed in this, that no system of education should be tolerated which was not based upon religion. Experience had now taught them that they should leave to every denomination the care of the religious instruc tion of the children of its own members, and leave to the State to deal with secular education. In Ireland a sys tem had obtained repugnant to the principles of the Re formation, and to the sense of duty entertained by the clergy. The rule was, that the Bible should be placed upon the same tooting as other books. Now, could Pro t-stem laymen or clergymen of the Established Church, or of any Protestant Dissenting congregation, consent that the use of the Bible should be dependant upon the caprice or will of the parents or guardians who happened to attend. Such a principle could no be sanc tioned by Protestants. And there was high authority to justify the scruples entertained by the clergy in Ire land upon this subject. The Bishop of London had lately admitted, that if he were in Ireland he should feel compelled to act as the clergy acted there. There was another objection, namely, that the system tended to secularize education. It would end ultimately in the inculcation of merely secular knowledge, which was considered equally objectionable both by Protestants and Roman Catholics. The latter acted in this country in reference to this subject as the Protestant clergy did in Ireland. The Hen. Memter here read some extracts from addresses by ecclesiastical authorities of the Ro man Catholics in this country, showing the jealousy with which they regarded all attempts to secular ze edu cation. That feeling was also stronoy entertained by the Established Chinch in Ireland, who in consequence of their conscientious scruples on this subject were de prived of all aid from the national sy stem of education. Was that fair, or just?—(Cheers.) He would forbear goine into details of the managemetit, his object being to place the principle he'ore the House for its judgment. lie hoped Government would take the matter into their consideration with a view to its settlentent.—(Hear.) The clergy of the Established Church in Ireland should have the power of forming such rules in their schools as would satisfy their own scruples, and enable them to participate in a benefit which was freely enjoyed by other classes. They did not wish to impose their own opinions upon others; but that consideration which they extended to them they claimed for themselves. It had been stated that the National Society of Ireland was de servinu of support, because the system was the same in principle as in the u niversity of which he was the re presentative. He denied that there was any analogy in the two cases. It was manifest that the children of the poor, if they went to schosl very young, must obtain their religious education from the teachers in there schools. But, though Reman Catholics were nut com pelled to attend chapel in the University, yet the dec. trines of the New Testament formed a large pro portion of the examination of each student.— (Hear, hear.) He had presented that clay a petition, signed by 64,000 of her Majesty's subjects. He had also presented a pstitien signed by 1,587 clergymen of the Established Church, setting forth their conscientious objections to the system of education in Ireland, and pra)ing for the same liberty as was given to al other den tenina'ions.—(Hear, hear) lie thought it would be straege, indeed, if such petitions from the !sit) and clergy were disregarded and refused by those who set themselves up as the great advocates of civil and religi ous liberty.—(Hear, hear.) He th iught that the Pro testants in Ireland had a lair claim to ask that the great principles of the Reformation should be muintaine d in their case.—(Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member concluded by moving the reselotion. Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that the only objection he should take to the tone of the Hon. Member's speech, was his statement that he represented the Protestants of Ireland. He denied that he represented the ma jority of Protestants of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.) When he said that, the Hon. Membes forgot that those Protestants who took a different view from him were equally sincere in their views and convic tions as the Hon. Member and his friends. The great objection he had to the motion was that it would abolish the present system of national education in Ire land, and if so they would have to ask for a grant for educating Roman Catholics specially—(Hear, hear) — and for his own part he did not know on what grounds such a grant could be asked.—(Hear, hear.) Believing as he did that the motion of his Hon. Friend was op posed to the best interests of Ireland he hoped the House would not agree to it. The question was one not only of great importance but great difficulty. Witness the numerous commissions that had been formed to inquire into the subject previous to 1832, when Lord Stanley took the subject up. A national system of education, to be national at all, should be RS comprehensive as pos sible—(Hear, course taking care to prevent abuses. He believed that the system of eduction in Ireland, which had now been in existence for 16 years, had gained ground during the whole of that period, and had gained the approbation of every religious denomi nation.—(Hear, hear.) It was a system free to all, and imposed disabilities upon rione.—(H , ar.) Taking the explanation of the Hen. Member as to the system in the University, be could not see in what respect it differed in principle from the system of national education applied to the junior members of the Univer-icy. Title Hon. Member had appealed to the Roman Catholic Members of that House to support him, but he believed that the feelings of the Roman Catholic population had entirely changed on that question. The Right lion. Gentleman proceeded to quote from Plowden's History a petition presented by Mr. Grattan in 1792, to show that it had not always been a principle of the Roman Catholic Church to oppose a mixed education,. on the contrary, in that petition from the Roman Catholics of Ireland, not of any particular part of it, the benefits of the intercourse which must arise from such a system were distinctly set forth with reference to the University of Dublin.—(Hear.) The Hon. Member had assumed that the majority of the Protestants of Ireland were op posed to it, and said he could not understand how any clergyman could, in accordance with his ordination vows, give it his support. He believed that at least five hundred cl rgymen were in its favours a large majority of the Protestant laity were of the same (pinion; and, taking the fact that they had a majority of Protestants, as will as a majority of Roman Catholics in its favour, he thought they were fully entitled to say that it was really a national system.—(Hear, hear.) In the midst of much obloquy and opposition the system had gradually and steadily extended itself, and even as compared with last year, there was a considerable increase of schools and scholars. The increase on the year was 104,833 scholars, and the total number in the schools was 507,417.—(11ear, hear.) He thought that in the midst of the distress, suffering, and difficulties of Ireland, the tact that they had now upwards of 500,000 children in their schools was one of the most consolatory nature con nected with that country, and gave hopes of a better fu ture. He felt that the country were under a deep debt of gratitude to Lord Stanley and the Government by whom the system was institived, and he would add they also owed gratitude to Dr. Whatelev, the Archbishop of Dublin, and to Mr. Blake—whose death he lamented — tor their efforts to establish this system.—(Hear, hear.) lie believed the increase of schools and scholars in con nexion with instruction in improved agriculture was the best guarantee of permanent future progress in Ireland, and while he regretted that his Hon. Friend should have felt it to be his duty to re-open this question, he confi dently called upon the House to reject his motion, and support a system which had been proved to be so bene ficial.—( Hear, hear.) Lord BERNARD wished to warn the House against b ing deluded by the deceptive reports of the Educa tional Board with respect to the feeling of the people of Ireland on the subject. He could assure them that the feeling against it was as strong as ever, and the petition that had been presented that day from 91,000 friends of Roman Catholic families was a proof of it. In fact ho could state positively that the system was an utter failure. He denied that the clergy of the Established Church were in its favour. Jle held in his hand a curious historical document, as to the comparative position of the National Schools and the Church Society Schools, in the county of Cork. The increase - in the number of N ationals Schools had been 16; in those of the Scrip tural Schools, 19. In the number of scholars there had been a decrease of 12,339 in the National Schools, and expense nincrease of 5,835 in the Church Society S chools. The per head, in the National Schools, was 151. 10s., while in the Church Schools it was only 31.103. In that year (1847) there had been altogether a decrease of 55,7F8 scholars in the National Schools, and an increase of 20,000 in the Church Schools. So that when the lion. Gentleman spoke ,of the increase in and extension of the National schools, notwithstanding the deep distress which existed in Ireland, he was giving the Howe an tot iv ot use. With regard tit the model school, and the agricultural school, how could it be said that the rules of these could not be laid on the table until next year? He believed tbm a system of national education would revive work in Ireland. It was to the clergy they had to look for the right support of the educa tion of Ireland, and these had done their duty notwith standing that many of them had been excluded from benefices b-ceuse they would not support this mon strous system of national education. That, certainly, was a mo.t ungeni-rous, and unjust act, but it was the feet, as had been admitted. The system, however, would nut stand; and until they introduced into Ireland a sys tem of education founded on the Scriptures, that country would never be prosperous, turbulence and dis trust would still prevail in it, and the scenes of last year would he of frequent occurrence.—(Hear.) Me. 'MOORE said, lie believed that there were many of the clergy of Ireland who were opposed to the present system of education; but they conceived it better than no system at all, and therefore they accepted it. They believed that education ought to be based on religion, and that a system of education without religion was little better than no education at all, while, on the other hand, they conceived that even such a system was pre ferable to a system based on a false religion.—(Hear.) But while there was no doubt that a large body of the people of Ireland saw much to find fault with in the present system, he regretted that the reso lution should express that the system only was objection able to one class for whose education so much provision had been mode---(Hear, hear.) He confessed that in a resolution so sectarian he could not agree. To the first portion of the resolution he did not see much to object, hut to the second, " That measures might be taken to enable the clergy and laity of the Established Church to extend tte blessings of Scriptural education," he most decidedly objected. It was the case that 800,000/, given for the purposes of education to that party, had been by them converted into another channel; and was it right that they should now come to that House and ask tor additional funds to carry on their system? To any such proposition he was most decidedly opposed. Sir AR rHUR BROOKE supported the motion, and re ferred to the state of education as it existed in Ulster, which was on the system of the Church Education So ciety. He stated, when the subject was last before the House, that there were in Ulster, in proportion to the population, one million of the people educated more than there was in Connaught, which was under the national system. So that there could be no doubt of the failure of the national system. Mr. NEWDEGATE also supported the resolution. In doing so he was asking no more than was granted to the Roman Catholics, namely,liberty to educate the rising generation in the mode they considered best; and when he saw that the application to that House was backed by 1,587 of the clergymen, and 64,000 of the laity of the Established Church in Ireland, he, thought it was deserving of consideration. It was not true that the Roman Catholic clergy were favourable to a system of national education, for when Government proposed to erect schools and colleges for the education of those of that faith, they bad been denounced and condemned by the great majority of the Roman Catholic clergy. It was said that why ought not the system which suited the Presbyterians also suit the members of the Church of England; but while the Presbyterian system was per haps more democratic than was the Church of England system, yet he thought they had seen enough to cause them to pause before they gave much encouragement or extension to that principle. He considered that all educa tion ought to be based on the Scriptures, and for that reason he opposed the present national system of educa tion in Ireland. Lord CLAUD HAMILTON said there was nothing which fell from the Right Hon. Gentleman the Secre tary for Ireland from which it could be gathered on what principle the national system of education was es tablished. He thought the House would be astonished that two thirds of the schools under the National Board were not bound by the authority of that Board. Two • thirds of them were what was called non-invested schools. rhey were not under the cognizance of the Educational Board; and therefore it was not true that the system was a united one. It was also said that the Presbyte rian clergymen were in favour of the national system, but if they were so it was; because they were made to believe it was a united system. Thera were, however, 423 schools under the superintendence of Presbyterian clergymen, but only 28 of these were vested or were under the control of the Educational Beard. There were, therefore, 28 Presbyterian ministers patrons of vested schools, and 393 of non-invested; so that Presbyterian mi nisters countenancing this system, and opposing it,were as 14 to 1; and the fact was, while the Presbyterian body took advantage of the system, they did not yield one iota ot their principles. The Presbyterian body had accepted of a portion of a grant, but retained to them selves the povt er to give what education they considered right.—(Hear, hear.) As to the clergymen of the Established Church, there was a large number who re fused their adhesion to the system, while many of those had been kept from preferment in consequence. The real grounds on which he disapproved of the actions of the National Board were, that while he thought the trait tug schools most useful, yet he could not help feel ing that the Board did not carry out the instructions of the Government. Notwithstanding all the earnest re comm, ndtrions given to that Board, they were not car ried out. He could state to the House that more than a quarter of the whole schools rejected a number of extracts from the Scriptures which had been recom mended, and not, only that, but they would not ;How the Scriptures themselves to be admitted within their walls. He found that Lord Clarendon, when he visited one of these training schools, said that were he aware that the Scriptures were not used in those national schools, he would be one of the firmest and most uncompromising opponents of the sys tem. Had the Noble Lord, when he sp ke in that manner, been aware that in so large a number of them the Scriptures were not allowed, he certainly would not have spoke as he did, and how could any one approve of a system which was subject to such management? Those Scripture extracts were recommended as class-books; hut when he found that not only these, but the Scriptures likewise, were excluded, how could they give credit to the assertion, that the system was founded on religious truth?—(flear, hear.) He was totally at a loss to know how religious education could be furthered in Ireland, when a strict prohibition was directed against the use of the Holy Scriptures in the national schools, and consi dered that such a system was opposed to religion, and the beneficial influence of morality on society. Lord JOHN RUSSELL said, that on hearing the objection of the Noble Lord (Lord Claud Hamilton), he should say that the advancement of religion and mo rality was ardently promoted in the national schools, and he did not think that it would be judicious to put an end to a system that had so well succeeded since 1831, through which 500,000 children had been religiously and morally educated. fie did not say that the best system of education was carried on in these schools, but he thought that the House should consider that Lord Stan ley, who had been the originator of the system, had, in conjunction with many others, highly approved of the advancement of education in Ireland. He did not mean to interfere with the conscientious feelings of Roman Ca tholics in preventing their children from reading the Bible, because that was a matter appertaining to their creed, but he should say that there was no objection raised against the extracts from that sacred work, which were used in all those scho•ds. He regretted to say that the Noble Lord (Lard C. Hamilton) was under an erro neous impression, when he stated that the Board of Edu cation did not comply with the regulations • for th© rules are, that before eleven o'clock religious education shall be given to the children according to their respective faith, but that the remaining portion of the day shall be devoted to secular instruction. The Noble Lord (Lord C. Hamilton) also stated that the extracts from the Bible were not read; but he should say that in 2,800 of those schools these extracts were generally read, and the rea son of the refusal of the other schools to read those ex tracts was, that they did not consider them to be a good version, and therefore these were allowed to partake of secular instruction apart from those Scriptural extracts. Yet from this it could not be argued that no religious education was carried on in those schools. He also con sidered that the property of the Protestant Church was sufficient to educate the children of that profession in Ireland, and that it would be contrary to the principles of justice and economy to allow a grant when such a great income was at its disposal. He recollected that a Protestant Bishop of the last century was attacked be cause he disseminated a work among the people, but his reply was that he wished to make them, if not good Pro testants, good Catholics, or anything good. Mr. NAPIER said that he did not mean to make any allusion to Roman Catholics, but he should say that he felt astonished that the Noble Lord (Lord John Russell) had expressed such an 4nion as that the clergy of Ire land had sufficient means to educate the children of their profession; men, many of whom have only 70/. per year. He considered that the question had been altogether avoided by the Noble Lord, because it was evident to all that the object of the motion was to allow a portion of the grant for the education of the Protestant children of Ireland. He did say that there was an exclusion of the Scriptures, and th it their case was, therefore, but a sine olicsfo. Mr. REYNOLDS, who was recei ved on risin g with for Protestants what t p h le ey on h e a , d a d sk o i n n e g fo t r h ß em om o a n n l cries of " Divide," from all parts of the H ouse, said that the question which ought to be kept in view was simp l y only to Catholics. whether what bad been done for the Roman Catholics of Ireland was a grievance to the Protestant population. It was proposed that the Protestant Church of Ireland should be made richer by a grant, but that in itself would be a grievance to the whole community of Ireland; and he hoped that in all future questions respecting national edu cation in Ireland, financial reform associations would ap ply themselves to consider whether the money for that purposes ought not to be drawn from the resources of the Established Protestant Church of Ireland. He must take that opportunity of rebutting the charge of ignorance brought against the province of Con. naught by the Honourable Member for Fermanagh. —(Cries of " Oh, oh," and " Divide, divide.") lie would remind the Hon. Member that the province of Ulster exceeded in population that of Connaught by nearly a million. It was the Protestant Church of Ire land which required investigation, and he hoped that early in the next month his Hon. Friend the Member for Middlesex would be permitted by the Hon. Member for Montrose, on his own motion, to introduce a motion for the purpose of instituting the necessary inquiry.— (Cries of " Divide.") The Hon. Gentleman finding himself interrupted, moved the adjournment of the debate; but on the sugges tion of Lord John Russell and Mr. Disraeli, the latter of whom assured him that every sentence he had uttered had been listened to, resumed, and shortly af terwards concluded his speech. The House then divided, when there appeared— For the motion ... 102 Against it ... 162 Majority against it ...-60 Sir G. GREY suggested to Mr. Wyld that it would be well to delay, until to morrow (this day), his motion relative to coal mine accidents, when he would be able to lay on the tale sum • printed papers on the subject. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the law relating to judgments In Ireland. Captain PECHE LL intimated his intention of opposing Mr. Hayter's Bill to authorise the sale of the Royal Pa vilion and grounds at Brighton. The Small Debts Curt (Scotland) Bill passed through Committee, as also did the Soap Dzies Allowances Bill, the Joint-Stock Companies' Act (1848) Amendment Bill, pro forma, the Solicitor-General proposing to introduce some new provisions; as elan in the Railway Abandon ment Bill, which was committed, pro forma, fur the same purpose. Oa the motion that the Marriage (Scotland) Bill be committed, a discussion ensued, in which several Hon. Members expressed their determination to oppose the Bill, should it be pressed to Committee at that late hour of the night, The LORD ADVOCATE felt it to be him duty to go on with the Bill, discussion on which might be taken on the third reading. Mr. FORBES was opposed to the Bill, and moved that the Chairman report progress. The gallery was cleared for a division, when there ap peared— For the motion ••• ••• •'• 24 Against it ... ••• 59 „, Nlajority against ••• ••• The Bill then passed through Committee. The Assaults (Ireland) Bill was read a third time and passed. The Life Policies of Assurance Bill was committed. The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the House adjourned at a Quarter -past Two o'clock. THE SCOTTISH SOCIETY OF LONDON. The great success which attended the fete of this so ciety on Wednesday was continued and brought to its climax by the proceedings of yesterday. Nothing could be more satisfactory, nut only to the feelings of Scotch men, but of all who are interested in the cause of healthy public amusements. Not only were the whole arrange• ments of the fete conducted with the most perfect order, but there was a spirit of goodwill and alacrity shoe n throughout, which redounds greatly to the credit of all who were present. The jealousies of country and race seemed on this occasion at least to have been completely laid aside, and one common sentiment of good fellowship and sociality appeared to prevail. The stands were densely crowd , d with a highly fashionable assemblage of spectators, and the whole space beyond the enclosure re served for the celebration of the games was filled with visitors. The general character of the scene was as nearly as possible that which was presented on the pre vious day, and of which yesterday's impression conveyed a description; but the effect was greatly heightened by the increased numbers present, by the éclat which always attends a meeting honoured by the patronage and the presence of royalty, and last, but not least, by the unexpected, yet welcome, appear ance of his Grace the Duke of Wellington in the grounds of Hollank-park. During the early part of the day some doubts were expressed whether her Majesty would condescend to be present; but all fear on that subject was removed by the knowledge, which soon spread abroad, that arrangements had been made for giving her a suitable reception, and that she would arrive shortly before four o'clock. As might have been expected, an announcement of the kind sent the prevailing excitement up to boiling point. Hundreds of fresh visitors poured upon the grounds, and before the time when the Royal party were expected to appear there could not have been less than from 7,000 to 8,000 people present. The pro gramme previously drawn out was slightly altered, so as to afford her Majesty an opportunity of witnessing the games which were most likely to attract her attention; and preparations were made for rendering her recep tion as striking as possible. On a raised platform in front of the Grand Stand were placed the pipers entered as competitors. The way thence to the entrance of the ground was heed with Highlanders. The large body of archers waited outside to receive her Majesty and escort her to the enclosed space ; and the noble men and chiefs present occupied the position where they could most appropriately and effectively welcome the Royal party. Just as these arrangements had been completed, a signal was given that the illustrious visitors whose presence was expected had arrived, and the vast assemblage, rising spontaneously, prepared to give them a loyal and right hearty welcome. Their expectations, however, were disappointed. It was not her Majesty, but the Duke of Wellington, who walked up between the double line of Highlanders, and who, it is almost unne cessary to say, was received with every sign of enthu siasm. In the stands the ladies waved their handker chiefs, and, below, the gentlemen cheered lustily. The military bands struck up the accustomed " See the Conquering Hero comes," and his Grace ap peared greatly delighted at the spectacle before him, and the hearty e nthusiasm with which he was welcomed. As if from habit, he paced along close to the kilted Highlanders who guarded the approach, seemingly inspecting them as he went, and touching his hat in his own peculiar manner at each fresh outbreak of applause. As the excitement which attended his Grace's arrival was beginning to subside, the outriders of the royal cortige, in their scarlet liveries, appeared upon the ground, and immediately afterwards her Majesty drove, in au open carriage, right into the centre of the space enclosed for the games. The carriage, which was also cccupied by his Royal Highness Prince Albert and three of the Royal children, drew up immediately in front of the grand stand, and there, after sufficient time had burn allowed for the expression of a loyal welcome, the horses were unharnessed, and the games proceeded. These details have been given out of the order in which the proceedings of the, day ran, because they fur nish the best material for supplying an accurate idea of the great success with which yesterday the fete of the society was crowned. The performances of the competitors yesterday, circumscribed as they had been in numbers by the results of the previous day, were naturally looked forward to with great interest. The best men were pitted against each other iu each class, and the spirit of emulation in each was con centrated by the knowledge that he had an antagonist whom it would require his greatest efforts to overcome. As on the previous day the preceedings commenced with archery, varied and enlivened by the performance of the military bands and the pipers in attendance. This was succeeded by a match not included in the programme, but got up by the judges for the throwing of the light hammer. This hammer ought to have been 161 b. weight, but was e in fact, considerably heavier, yet it was thrown a distance of 90 feet 5 inches by Sandy APHardY, who won the first prize, and of 90 feet, 2 inches by Colin Macdonald, Cranachan, who won the second. It is pro bable that next year greater attention will be paid then was to be expected on the present occasion to the rules upon which this beautiful and highly-striking game ought to be conducted. Mr. Fox Maule suggested that the whirl round, now generally adopted by players, should be done away with; and certainly the great grace and precision with which one competitor, named John Cameron, threw the hammer, appears fully to sustain the value of this suggestion. There is also another ob jection to which the practice observed yesterday is open; the thrower of the hammer, while required not to over step a certain line, was not limited so strictly as he should have been as to the point of the line from which he threw, nor as to the direction in which he sent the hammer. The consequence was, that throws made from the extremity of the log, behind which each player stood, and which took a down-hill direction, had an undue advantage over throws from the centre f the log, which went straight forward. These observations are not made in an invidious spirit, and are merely in tended for the introduction of better rules into this ad mirable game. Dancing and pipe music succeeded the hammer, and gave the greatest delight to the body of the spectators present. The Terpsichorean art in the Highlands is a very different thing from what fashion has recognised in England. The reel is a wild and striking performance —full of animation, of rapid movement, of violent though not ungraceful exercise, in which the hands, the fingers, and the voice take part equally with the feet. There is something very characteristic of the people in these national dances, of their enthusiasm, and of the energy with which they embark in any cause which has once engaged their affections. The dancing was of a very superior kind yesterday, the best performers only appearing, and the applause of the spectators encourag ing them to put forth their best efforts. The next game was the final contention in the putting of a stone, 21 lb. weight. Prizes were awarded as follow:- 1. Alexander M'Hardy ... 34 feet 5 inches. 2. Thomas Menzies ... 33 feet 10 inches. Both successful competitors distinguished themselves greatly in this game, and the great distance to which they put the stone, and the clean, admirable manner in which it was put, excited general praise. At this point in the proceedings the president and vice-president of the society, the judges, and other noble and influential persons present, began to make the ar rangements for her Majesty's reception, to which by anticipation we have already alluded. The interval of time thus left was very agreeably passed in witnessing the performances of the boys of the Caledonian Asylum in dancing reels and playing bagpipes. One little fellow created no small amusement in this last department, being in such a state of excitement at the competition to which he was exposed that his tiny fingers often missed, or imperfectly covered, the holes of the chanter, and sounds laughably void of melody were the result. There is one consolation remaining for this juvenile piper, that if he lives he may have many years of practice, and yet play well before he is a man. The instrument which he blew was quite as large as himself, though, thanks to the diet of the Caledonian Hospital, not made of such solid materials. After the arrival of her Majesty the proceedings were re-opened with dancing, in which those who won the prizes took part, and with which her Majesty, Prince Albert, and the Royal children seemed to be highly de lighted. This was succeeded by the final contention for prizes pi who at nlg. ofconi Colin t t nh h e eex acMacdonald, dnpreviousotenthrowingsat;dd aa, of ycf keen weretr haen Cranachan heavy egt lehsedaoemnf formes eu e t et r dh3 . Ti inches. . p h euh e ircep men rsye mustered in the c e ntre of the enclosed space, and, strip at last declared f or the following competitors:— 2. Sandy Mac Hardy 80 feet 1 inch. At the close of this game broad sword playing and stick practice commenced, and was carried on with the same spirit and skill as on the previous day. The men who had already distinguished themselves most were pitted against each other, and the company were highly delighted with the result. Mr. R. R. M'lan and Mr. Rowland, both in the Highland dress, and with naked broadswords in their hands, acted as judges; yet so rapid were the movements of the players, that even their practised eyes were sometimes at fault as to whether there had been a hit or no. Besides the sword play and stick practice, an interesting exhibition of strength was made by Professor Bushman, who, with a sweep of his sword, cleft in two an immense thick bar of lead, and by a different, though not less expert use of his weapon. cut right through a thin handkerchief resting upon its edge. The prizes in this department were awarded as follows:- 1. Corporal-Major Milling, of the Blues. 2. Corporal Sutton, let Life Guards. 3. Mr. G. Platts (a civilian). After the sword playing, came the " tossing of the caber," a game peculiar to the , Highlands, requiring re markable strength and great ectivity, and possessing as much as any other included. in the programme of the society those striking and picturesque characterist ics which supply the principal charm of out-door sports and pastimes. The caber is formed from the trunk of a larch or fir tree, the branches being lopped off, and the size reduced so as to enable a man by resting it on his shoul der, and raising the thin end, with his hands from the ground, until he is almost in an erect position, suddenly to toss the long mass of timlaer into the air in such a manner that the heavy end, previously aloft, descends, while the thin end rising u p describes as it were a so mersault. There were no 11 se than three cabers is the field yesterday, the first two of which were easily tossed by nearly all the men who tr ied them. The third proved too much for any of the competitors; but the judges, guided by the merits of the different attempts to toss it, decided in favour of the folt owing names :- 1. John Cameron. 2. Samuel Kennedy. (This is a different mode of deciding from what is practised in the north of s,;otland, and, upon the whole, it seems not to be so good a. one.) There only one caber is used, and it is reduced in size on the spot until the best man tosses it. Two foot races were run d mine. ' her Majesty's stay on the grounds, one by the bare . 1 .43gged Highlanders, in which Colin Macdonald, Cranacha a, was the winner; the other made up from the boys of the Caledonian Asylum, and which, from the number of tr,mbies and the keen struggles of the little fellows for supe drafty, excited a lively in terest. Her Majesty rem aired more than two hours upon the ground, and her d eparture took place amidst manifestations of affection and loyalty still more en thusiastic and striking than 'those which greeted her ar rival. Indeed this was the only point in the proceed ings when the order, previot isly observed so completely, was interrupted. The specta tors confined beyond the in closed space burst in on all sides, and surrounding her Majesty's escort to the ent , iince of the park, repeated cheer atter cheer with deafening effect. After a time, order was restored by the anthers, who brought the open air proceedings of the fete to a close. A banquet was then given in a pavillion erected on the grounds, at which Lord Drumlanrig, as vice-presi dent of the society, in the unavoidable absence of the Marquis of Breadalbane, filled the chair. In discharging the duties which thus devolved upon him, his Lordship was ably supported by the - Right Hon. Fox Manle, the Chisholm, and other gentlemen well known for their high national spirit, and the interest which they take in everything connected with Scotland. The Chisholm especially was most happy in giving the right tone and character to the proceedin gs of the society. He an nounced the list of prizes. ;!Zany of the successful can didates have had their nan les already recorded, but there are some who still remain to be mentioned; the most important of these, and indeed of any, is the list of those who have been successful in archery, and to whom prizes to the amount of 300 guineas in plate, or otherwise, will be awarded. They are as follow: Greatest gross score, Mr. R. Mor , ze (West Norfolk Archers) 617 Greatest number of hits, Mr. H. Ford (Queen's-park Archers) ... •• • ... ... Is 2 Second greatest gross score, Mr. C. Garnett (Lichfield Archers) "... 571 Second greatest hits, Mr. P. Muir (Edinburgh Salisbury Archers) ... ..• ... 124 Third gross score, Mr. J. Bramhall (West Norfolk) 472 Third gross hits, Mr. J. K. Heath (St. George's Archers) 88 Gross golds, Mr. H. llippisley (Royal Toxopholites) Greatest score at 100, Mr. E. Meyrick (West Berks) 133 Greatest number of hits at 100, Mr. T. Meyler (West Berks) 34 Greatest score at 80, Mr. E. W. Willis (Queen's .park Archers) ... ... 185 Greatest hits at 80, Mr. Marr (St. George's Archers) ... 36 Greatest score at 60, Mr. Hutchon ( St. George's Archers) 110 Greatest hits at 60, Mr. Flood (Queen's -park Archers) 25 Golds at 100, Mr. Leatham (Wakefield Archers)... ... 3 Golds at 80, Mr. J. Mellor ... . . 3 Golds at 60, Mr. H. Garnett (Lichfield Archers)... ... 3 The list of pipers who gained prizes is as follows:- 1. RoderickM‘Kay, piper to Mr. .M.‘Kay, of Arisaig. 2. Donald Maenz - ie, - Taimouth Castle. 3, Donald ill'lnnes. 4. Charles Macdonell, piper to Captain Charles Forbes. FOR THE SWORD DANCE. 1. Alexander Cameron, piper to the Hon. W. Scarlet 2. Angus Macintosh. FOR REELS. 1. Donald M'Craw. 2. Donald Mlienzie, Taymouth Castle. FOR THE BEST-DRESSED HIGHLANDER. 1. JohnM:lCen;iet piper to the Marquis of Breadalbane. 2. James M'Lennan. 3. Donald M'Pherson, head-keeper to Sir Henry Meux. The CursoLm also announced that Colin M'Donald, Cranachan, had won the largest number of prizes given at the fete, and was therefore entitled to an extra prize on that account. _ _ . The CHAIRMAN also announced during the evening that her Majesty and Prince Albert had subscribed 501. to the society, and that Lord Holland had consented to allow the use of his park at the repetition of the na tional games next year. The proceedings at the banquet terminated soon after ten o'clock, and the company assembled there returned to town. LA. PRIMA BALLERINA. A SKETCH. (From Her Majesty's Theatre.) 'Hong the shadows of the mountains That have frowns for Roman land— By the forests and the fountains Are encamped the brigand band. On the mission of their plunder They have ceased awhile to roam, And their hearts are softened under The tender touch of home! Bright wives and pretty children Group laughing round their knees— Their hearts are proud, their voices loud, With flushing revelries! The robbers glory, where they dwell, In spoils of recent booty, The while sweet smiles around them tell Of playfulness and beauty. n. Now lift your heart and listen To the tumult of their noise; They drink, and game, and glisten , In the glory of their joys; While their younger and their purer, Who yet have done no wrong, Are leaping to the mandoline, And dancing to the song! 111. What ho! there screams a whistle, That comes shrilly on its way— Now half that band of brigands Leap up to their foray! They know that plunder-warning — Alive their pulses throb— There are victims on the highway, And the time is come to rob! Iv. On bravely rolls a carriage Upon its easy track; You hear the mule-bells jangle, Postilion's sharp whips crack! There are riches to be gained, tho', And luxuries to lop, And your true Italian Turpins Have raised the shout to " Stop 1" Courier, cameriera, Postilion—all are seized! Be sure the gentleman inside Is anything but pleased! He is the mighty mqiire Of the ballet of all France; But, " will he nill he," now, I vow, lie must get out to dance! He capers in grim terror As the bandit chiefs approach, When, lo! the Captain lights upon A treasure in the coach! A fair and lovely lady, With light whose bright eyes brim— Will the Captain e'er get tired Of their shining upon him ! Will he rob her of no kisses? Will he spare her purse and life, Will he woo his beauty-prisoner, And win her for his wife? Will he tease the Ballet-Maitre, And consummate his woe? Or will he ask Ma'nfselle to dance, And after—let her go? vi. Yes, that's the resolution The Chief is prone to take, For there is no evolution, He hears, she cannot make; The Ballet-Maitre tells him, Beyond all sort of doubt, That Ma'm'oelle beats all dancers In Creation out and out! VII. Ma'm'selle is seen descending, With graces from her throne, And tripping down three carriage-steps, Before she takes her own ! Ma'm'selle is next se en d anc i n g With pas so fairy light, That robber's eyes are glancing, As tho' they bless'd the sight! Ma'w'selle has danced the Cracow dance— Cachum—Tyrolienne! As they were never danced before, Or if—we don't know when! The Robber Chief must let her go, With admiration bearty;— ........„ And this is owing all, you kno w, To CAROLINE ROSATI! HEE MAJESTYS TUSTRE.—Bestdes the novelty __ ThursdayAa n l d bo p n i ie'ts picturesque playingense(ute, ballet ahl o el r er dw a r L t a se b e pm l a r e c oti h d e tu : c a ee D dn vl ePedraysuqsunt striking i l k e pi e o n t n ge Hongroise on les Patineurs. Nothing . choregraphic can surpass the novelty of this skating scene, originally com posed by M. Taglioni at Berlin,.perfornied in every part of Germany , a nd introduced la Paris to relieve the heavy sombreness of the opera lately produced at the A c ademic de Musique. This novelty will be followed by another, no less attractive—the grand scene and third act of the celebrated opera Il Guiramento, sung by Pa rods and Moriani, to which will be added the sprightly ballet of La Prima Ballerina, a scene of sunny lands, c ontrasting admirably with hyperborean coup d'eeil with that of the first divertissement. The true estimation of living is not to be taken from age, bat action ; some die old at forty, other in fants at fourscore.—Z/iza Cook's Journal. THE SIN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 22, 1849, SPIRIT of th FP.031 THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. TIME S.—The financial statement we arc promised this evening, though it, will lack the interest which has successively- attached to a war budget, a new tariff, or a repeal of the corn-laws, will not be without some ex traordinary features. It will relate to a country asso ciated with a continent wrapt now for a twelvemonth in war, almost from one end to the other. From St. Peters burgh to Madrid there is not one city of Europe which has not poured its armies into the melee, and which is not suffering some share in the destructive results. Trade, commerce, agriculture, manufacture, navigation, and every form of industry has been disturbed by that fell power which kills, devours, and spoils the life and substance of man. The civilised world is now practi cally alive to the truth, which humanity and reason have long taught the good and the wise, that nations are knit together for good or for ill, and that no member of that brotherhood can suffer without involving all the rest, Ent land has adopted that truth, and made it the basis of Ler commercial legislation. No sane Englishman, there fore, can expect anything else than that our commerce with our neighbours, aad consequently the customs arising out of that commerce should have somewhat de clined. Many of our neighbours hive been too busy, tee poor, or too frightened to use the products of our industry. They have nut been able to pay their debts, or have feared to contract new ones. some instances our ships have been absolutely excluded by war from their customary ports. Nor is this all. To war must be added free trade. We have surrendered a consider able though fluctuating revenue from the importation of grain, and a more uniform revenue from sugar. Ire land also continues to be a drain on the Imperial resources. All things considered, we might thank our buoyaut for tunes if the Chancellor of the Exchequer should an nounce to us no very great deficiency iu our national in come. Even in that case we should be favourably distin guished from all the nations of Europe. But, instead of a statement only a little less favourable than last year's, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will, we b e li eve, be able to announce a positive and decided improve ment. Spite of revolutions, wars, and block ades spite of the continuance of famine and spite of free trade—the revenue now presents an actual surplus over the expenditure; and but for the extraordinary expenses wnich the last financial year had to discharge for its predecessor, we believe that Sir Charles Wood would now be able to hand over the greater part of a million to the Commissioners of the National Debt. England is once more paying its way like an honest and Christian realm. We owe this agree able result in the first instance to the resolute economy introduced into our expendituro. The improved editions of the budget last year, the labours of the financial Com mittees, and " the pressure from without," begin at last to tell, and we are actually recovering from insolvency. When the figures of our condition will be presented to the world in a few hours, it is sufficient to say that Sir Charles Wood enters the new financial year with a respectable surplus in hand, and with every prospect of making it a good round sum before the year is ended. What more could be expected than this ? A modern Chancellor of the Exchequer is not a Prospero, who can raise storms and lay them. Famines and wars are neither created nor extinguished by budgets. If the capitalist of France or of Germany do not venture, under the terrors of anarchy or of war, to import new machinery from this country, and if the merchants of those countries are afraid just now to fill their ware houses with articles of British manufacture, it is not within the power of a Yorkshire baronet, whatever his virtues and attainments, to warrant Europe against either cholera or war, or any other natural or social calamity. Prosperity is a comparative affair. We can only say we are vastly more prosperous than our continental neighbours, or any other old established country. At the present moment the capital of other countries is Sowing into England, and those philosophers who were lately predicting the drain of our money are now at their wits end to account for the fact that there is a flow, not an ebb of the metallic stream. We are more likely to suffer a congestion than an ex haustion of gold. Foreigners are investing in our funds from a sense of their greater security, and steadi ness. In so doing they contribute to the capital of this country, and increase that public confidence which is necessary to the full use of our powers. We have no objection to see all Europe crowding to our Stock Ex change, and by that channel to our railroads, our manu factories, and our ports. There are other signs of re turning prosperity. The great towns in the north are regularly if not busily employed. From the returns of the Board of Trade it appears that the consumption of necessaries and comforts of life imported from foreign countries is steadily increasing, indicating of course an equal export of our manufactures taken in exchange. W e are not inundated with foreign manufactures, though even that would have its compensations in the continual circuit of commerce; but there is every pros pect of a healthy trade both at home and abroad; and though the calamities of Europe should still render her a less profitable neighbour, we have now a new world, as Canning said, to rest,)re the balance of the old. CHRONICLE.—The gradual advance of the Musco vite legions towards the scene of operations in Hungary is masked from the view of Western Europe by that veil of Cimmerian obscurity which always attends the move ments of Russia, and which now enwraps, with impe netrable folds, the whole frontier of the Austrian Empire. If the accounts which we receive of the plan of the cam paign are correct, it is clear that much time must be consumed in bringing to the field the various corps in dispensable for carrying the war into the inhosi itable plains of Central Hungary. For a campaign on the Pusztas the blaze of the summer sun is almost as unfa. vourable as the weeping skies and icy blasts of winter. Little reliance can be placed on the reports which reach us of the numbers and present position of the belligerent parties. In numerical strength the combined forces will probably be interior to the Magyar levies, but superior to them in effective strength. The Austrian army is a mere wreck, commanded by an officer of no military re putation; and the whole direction of the war must, of course, rest with the Russian General-in-Chief, Prince Paskiewitsoh. The approaching struggle will Lot be so unequal as to abate the interest which the spectator feels in witnessing a fair fight ; whilst the vast interests involved, and the enormous masses of troops brought into the field on both sides, invest it with an importance which throws into the shade all the military contests of which Europe has been the theatre since the days of Napoleon. The brilliant successes of the Hungarians have raised them up a host of friends, and inspired the tongue of many an advocate who was mute during their hour of adversity. For our selves, we pay willing homage to the gallantry and un conquerable resolution which have triumphantly with stood the vast military force concentrated last winter upon the Hungarian capital. We admire the genius and perseverance which organized in those remote and boundless plains, the true home of the Magyar race, the numerous and well-appointed army which now presents a defiant and not unequal front to the legions of the Czar. We acknowledge the strength and fervour of that national spirit which animates the Magyar race throughout the length and breadth of the land. Presi dent Kossuth, we are well aware, is not so black as be has been painted, although his most familiar friends would be puzzled to recognize the features of the Hun garian O'Connell, as his admirers used to call him, in the glowing portraiture of a wise and high-souled patriot by which he has of late been represented. But our views of him and of his cause have not been changed by the unforseen results of the contest which he had the largest share in originating. We never blinked the real question at issue between Magyar and Imperialist, and we need not retract or qualify one syllable of what we wrote before an unexpected turn of Fortune's wheel brought it out into a broader and clearer daylight. We are told, as if it were a great discovery, that the Hun garians are only fighting for their " ancient constitu tional rights and liberties." So they are, in the literal sense—or so at least they were, before thtir leaders threw off their allegiance to their youthful Sovereign. But do our readers understand what these constitutional rights import? They import nothing less than the total separation and absolute independence of the realm of Hungary—a separation ruinous to the Empire which, for many centuries, has borne so conspicuous and so useful a part in the affairs of Europe—an independence such as the Hungarian nation has never practically en joyed since St. Stephen's crown first rested on the brow of a scion of the House of Hapsburg. Ever since the date of the fatal battle of Mohicz, the Kingdom of Hun gary has been virtually subject to the Crown and Go vernment of the Empire. The turn which events have taken since the Magyar army for the second time crossed the Theiss has inevitably tended to freeze the sympathies of every Englishman towards the Im perialist cause, and we are told that our hopes and tears for the result of the war ought to undergo a corresponding change. It is impossible fur us, of course, to survey the drama with the same feelings, now that Russia has become the prominent actor in it. Without distrusting the uprightness or good faith of the Emperor Nicholas, we must lament most deeply an in tervention which, whilst it lasts, must reduce the Aus trian empire to the level of a Russian province; although we are conscious that, after the treatment which the former has received from the western Powers, it is not for us to reproach her for throwing herself into the arms of her northern ally. Nevertheless, we do not hesitate to say that we deem it far more beneficial for Europe that Austria should be saved from destruction . by the victories of the Czar, than that she should perish nd by t h h i e s defeat. In the triumph of the Magyars th a e banks foundation of their projected democracy of the Danube. certain as it would be to o precipitate the decadence of Austria, and almost certain to kindle . the flame of insurrection in the neighbouring Polish pro vinces, we see the seeds of future wars and convulsions which may indeed change the face of eastern Europe, but which are not likely to change it for the better. Should these anticipations be disappointed, none will re joice more than we. Should Hungary make good her claim to an admission into the commonwealth of nations, we shall be ready, in due time, to bid her a friendly and cordial welcome. Should she secure a chapter to herself in the future history of Europe, we sincerely hope that it may be neither a short nor a melancholy one. • of BRITISH AND FOREIGN SCHOOL SOCIETY. — The annual examination of the Boys' Model School, in the Borough-road, was held yesterday (Thursday) before a large assembly of subscribers and friends to the institu tion. The chair was successively filled by the Lord Bishop of Manchester, Sir John Boileau, and Professor Pillans, of Edinburgh, each of whom questioned the children in various branches of learning. The attain ments of the scholars in geography, history,. mental arithmetic, and some branches of natural philosophy, were exceedingly creditable and appeared to give the highest satisfaction. A large number of beautiful spe cimens in drawing were exhibited, and various pieces of music were well sung. The children wtre thoroughly tested as to their acquaintance with the sacred Scrip tures, and excellent speeches were delivered by the , respective chairmen. JOURNALS. I DINNER OF THE NAVY CLUB. The members of this distinguished club gave a grand entertainment last evening to the First Lord of the Ad miralty, Sir Francis Thornhill Baring, at the Thatched House Tavern. This being the first occasion of the Right Hon. Baronet's meeting the gallant officers of that branch of the service over which he is politically placed, a high degree of interest was excited in the profession, and about 70 officers assembled to do honour to their guest. Included in the invitation to the First Lord were the civilian members of the board, the Hon. W. Cow per, M.P., and Mr. John Parker, the recently-appointed Secretary to the Admiralty. Rear-Admiral Dundee', C.B , M.P., the senior naval Lord of the Admiralty, was present as a member of the club. Admiral Si: John A. Ommaney, K.C.8., as the chair man of the day, presided, and was supported by Admi rals Sir E. Codrington, G.C.8., Sir C. Ogle, Bart., Sir G. Hamond, Bart., K.C.8., the Marquis of Thomond, G.C.H., Sir C. Adam, K.C.8., the Hon. D P. Bouverie, Hon. F. Aylmer, C. 8., Hon. I). H. Mackay, C. 8., Sir F. M:-..sen, Ii C. 8.; Sir Francis Se) mour, C. 8., G.C.H., A. L)saght, Earl of Cadogan, C. 8., Admiral Bowles, C. 13., J. M. Gordon, the Earl of Waldegrave, C. 8., Sir Henry Hart, K.C.H., the Hon. Sir F. B. It. Pellew, C. 8., K.C.H., Sir C. Napier, K C.D., C. Sotheby, Sir A. W. Clifford. Bart., C. 8., G. P. Falcon, W. 0. Pell, Captain Sir E. Lyons, Bart., G C. 8., K.C.H., Sir It. Grant, Sir Tnoa. Hastings, Lord G. Paul , t, Lord Ed ward Russell, Lord J. F. G. Hallyburton, G.C.H., Sir Baldwin Walker, Lord Mid dleton, &c. Captain John Forbes occupied the vice chair. After tl:e usual loyal toats had been done justice to, and " The health of the Duke of Wellington and the British Army" had been drank, The gallant, distinguished, and venerable CHAIRXAN proposed " Tke het.lth of his Right Hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiraliy," saying he felt at a loss suitably to give expression to his feelings. In selecting. the Right Hun. Baronet to preside over the naval ser vice, her Majesty had placed the superintendence in the hands of one who would look to the m.tintenance of the honour of the naval profession, and the preservation of its effLiency in case of need.—(Cheers.) Sir FRANCIS T. BARING, on rising to respond to the toast, was most cordially and enthusiastically greeted by the company. In the course of his speech he said he had been too lung in public lite to care much about mere popularity; but in the course which he should pursue he hoped that, whether his acts might be approved or not, he should at least have the credit of being actu ated by the most conscientious feelings.—(Hear, hear.) He had, as was well known, declined to take office, and he had only accepted that which he now occupied, be cause he fancied that in this particular department he might be of some service to the public; and, if on retir ing from office, the members of this company could say he had done his duty, he should be amply repaid for any labours he had undergone, or any sacrifices he had made. —(Cheers.) He could not conclude without briefly al luding to the distinguished Nobleman who had been his predecessor at the Board of Admiralty.—(Hear, hear.) With such an example before him be entertained some hope that in his hands the interests of the service and the character of the British navy would not suffer any dete rioration.—(Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN next proposed "The health of Admiral James Whitley Deans Dundas, and the Junior Lords of the Admiralty." Admiral DUNDAS responded in that good-humoured style which is truly characteristic of the Gallant Ad miral. Sir FRANCIS BARING then claimed the privilege of proposing the next toast, that of " The Health of the Chairman." The toast met with a cordial reception from the com pany. Numerous professional toasts followed, and the fes tivities were continued until a late hour. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, JUNE 21.—The Nelson, 120, seems destined to be kept in a constant state of repair, as may be augured from the !acts of her having been built 35 years ago, and been several times nearly rebuilt, from dry rot and other causes, and the Queen, 116, being about to resume the pennant of the flag ship for the Mediterranean. The following o ffi cers have been appointed to the La Hogue, 60, at Sheerness I—Captain M'Dougall, Lieute nants Hardman, E. Scott, W. B. Urmston, and John Ward; Master J. H. K. Bower; Paymaster and Purser, Henry South; Mates, C. Fairholme and H. Ilathorn; Second Master, G. IV. Grey; Clerks, G. D. Gordon, R. H. Lweday ; Midshipmen, A. R. Wright, E. W. Strong, C. R. Tuckey, G. D. Fitzroy, and R. M. Gillson ; Mau. ter's-Assistant, W. H. Parker; Naval Cadets, H. Kerr, H. J. Marshall, A. L. Lathbury, &c. The Success hulk, used so frequently by Major-Gene ral Pasley in his operations for raising the wreck of the Royal George at Spit head, is now nearly broken up; but, although one of the oldest ships in the service, her timbers and floors are reported to be perfectly sound. ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY. This distinguished branch of the naval service was inspected this day on Southsea-common by Major-Gene ral the Right lion. Lord Frederick Fit zelarence, G.C.H., the Commander-in• Chief of the South-Western district, &c. The battalion under its commandant, Colonel G ib sone, was drawn up in open column, right in front, at eleven o'clock, at which time the Noble General and staff arrived on the ground. The corps then wheeled into line, and received the General in the usual manner. His Lordship proceeded then minutely to inspect the men, their arms and accoutrements, after which he assembled the officers of the corps in front, and in a soldierly ad dress complimented them very justly upon its appear ance and discipline, which, he said, was equal to that of any battalion he had ever inspected on the field. Hi■ Lordship intends inspecting the field battery and artil lery practice at Fort Cumberland shortly, when some excellent firing may be anticipated. Wind W.S. VV. Fresh breezes, and cloudy weather. WooLwicri, JUNE 21.—The Desperate steam•vessel, recently launched at Pembroke, arrived at Woolwich on Tuesday morning, and is now under the shears outside the basin, having her jury masts taken out preparatory to her engines being put in. The Black Eagle steam-vessel, Master Commander S. B. Cook, has been taken alongside the wharf wall to have some injuries she sustained near her paddle-boxes re paired, the Charon having run foul of her when employed in towing the Grappler on Tuesday, when the latter was taken to be docked. The Royal Standard was hoisted yesterday on the va rious flagstaffs at the Royal Dockyard, the Royal Ar senal, and the Garrison, in commemoration of her Ma jesty's coronation. The Royal Standard was hoisted again to-day, being the anniversary of the proclamation of her Majesty. THE BRITANNIA BRIDGE. MENAI STRAITS, THURSDAY.—As briefly intimated by telegraphic dispatch yesterday, the unparalleled ex ploit of depositing the tube, after ono or two misadven tures, which, contrasted with the magnitude of the labour, sunk into insignificance, was accomplished after two hours of the most anxious and critical toil. In ad dition to Mr. Stephenson, Captain Claxton, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Brunel, and Mr. Locke were on the tube, rendering valuable and unceasing assistance throughout the pe rilous process. The applause of the multitude, mingled with salutes of cannon, continued for upwards of half an hour after the completion of the experiment, which was celebrated by the engineers on the tube and pontoons in successive rounds of champagne. The tube was floated obliquely, and then gradually swung round with its face to the space between the piers. Arrived here, the next step was one of the most anxious character, seeing that if, from the run of the tide, or any giving way in the great net-work of tackle, or the tube overstepping the line of destination parallel with the piers, the experi ment must have failed, and the process of bringing it back would hare been one of great difficulty. Fortu nately, however, such was the nicety of the arrange ments, and skill, and quickness of the directing power on the top of the tube, and the moment of its progress to the spot so geometrically measured, that the success of the final step was unerringly secured by the vigorous action of a giant vice upon the Anglesea end of the tube, which clinched its extremity, and instantly held it fast. The next operation, that of elevating the tube to its per manent position, will be accomplished as soon as possible. This is to be done by huge hydraulic presses ot a mag nitude commensurate with the size of the works, one cy linder alone being almost large enough at the entrance to contain a man standing, and of the ponderous weight of 40 tons. It is the most powerful machine ever con structed. The two end tubes will now be raised, and it is expected, from the rapidity ot the movements, that this great iron highway over the Straits will be ready for the passage ot trains in the autumn. r e it a l ciers of ton are wearing interesting chit-chat,.thraetestes, FASHION.—It may be h m e e j 'tined as a tnorceau of made of a completely new flowers in their head d material.atlscrutiny. To the thenatureof which has dtfied best withoutit its brittleness. It is capable the descript i on s a ki closestnd o CI ef t; ut of taking the richest colours, and the more minute flowers and fruits made of it, when artfully placed amidst the blonde, feathers, &c.. of the coiffure, have much the bewitchingly glittering effect of the fire-flies held captive in the aerial robes of the Oriental beauties. The origin and exclusive dispersion of this novelty may be traced to the Messrs. Jay and Co., of Regent-street, who have bestowed their customary elegant taste in a great variety of sweetly pretty head-dresses for the especial display of this petite addition to their extensive salons en haut. —Post. FIRE NEAR REGENT.6TREET.-- This morning, shortly before one o'clock, the extensive premises in the occupancy of Messrs. Cox, music printers, situate in Old Burlington-mews, Regent-street, was discovered to be on fire. The premises containing a vast quantity of type, the flames, as they communicated with the cases, caused the letter to run through the flooring like a stream of liquid lead, which, falling upon the helmets and shoul ders of the firemen, materially injured their dresses. In spite of the torrent of water discharged over the fire, it was nearly two o'clock before the flames could be extin guished, and not until they had travelled completely through that portion of the premises in which they had commenced, and had either consumed or materially damaged the contents. ROYAL GENERAL ANNUITY SOCIETY.—The Fancy Fair of the Royal General Annuity Society will, we un derstand, Le continued over Friday and Saturday, and t rema'niug articles will be sold by public auction. GOLD FROM CALIFORNIA..—LIVERPOOL, JUNE 21. —The brig Jessie, Captain Luce, arrived this morning frem California and Valparaiso. She Lrings on freight gold to the amount of 60,000 dolls. This is the first im portation into Liverpool of the precious metal, direct from California. We have received files of papers from Adelaide • (Australia) to the 6th of January, and from Wellington (New Zealand) to the 3d of March. They bring no in telligence of interest.