The Sun. — London, England, 1855-11-23 00:00:00

Spirit of Journals. THE MANCHESTER STRIKE. (From the Times of this day.) What a vast amount of mischief is there hatching in Manchester just for want of a little timely con sideration ! Perhaps it would be truer to say that there is the consideration, but a wan t of the moral courage to act upon it. No doubt the case of the spinners is a very hard one—hard, that is to say, so far as concerns the self-denial and the positive difficulty it entails. They findthemselves pinched at both ends. Wh ile provisions are rising, and while, consequently, they who have always lived up to their incomes . ,_sm_ all or great, find th e y mus t re duce something if they would pay their way, these u nfortunate spinners find not only this hard ship, but also one at the other end—viz., that their wages are seriously curtailed. Their pound a-week, if so much, won't now go nearly so far as it did ; but now they won't get their pound a-week. As to the embarrassment and discomfort this must cause there can be no difference of opinion. Every body finds it hard to retrench. You can do with out a thing so long as you have never had it, or made no point of it, but when it is once customary, and part of your nature, it's like losing a limb, or what is dearer even than a limb. How hard it is to shut up a country-house, or to put down a car riage, or to send old domestic servants crying out of the house, or to take an eldest son from Eton, or even to give up wine. A Manchester spinner, perhaps, will think all these sacrifices easy enough —quite nominal. Indeed he would think it more of a sacrifice to have to keep all these things. But use is second nature, and if people are so weak as to render themselves the creatures of circumstances life becomes a burden without their indulgences, They think themselves abominably ill-used by some body or other—society perhaps, not Heaven of course —if they are obliged to do without their usual com forts. During the late war there was an army tailor who made his 10,000/. a year and spent it: When the war was over he failed, and his widow, after some vicissitudes, was fain to live with her son at a remote country curacy. There she mo lested the neighbourhood with the narratives of her former splendour and how ill-used she had been. One strong-minded lady told her she ought to be thankful she had enjoyed so much prosperity— not discontented because she had lost it. The army tailoress, however, would not be so comforted ; but every night, when all the village was wrapt in slumber, she had a blazing fire in her bedroom, lighted two candles on the toilet-table and two more on the mantel-piece, put on her old dresses, one after another, kept a poor maid yawning and stretching, and about two o'clock slowly retired to the huge feather bed she had reserved from the wreck of her fortunes. Of course, a spinner who only wants, may be, a pound a-week, if so much, will think the woman was mad. But a sudden drop from 10,0001. a-year to 1001. a-year is a much greater trial, and touches many more weak points, than a drop from 30s. a-week to 205., or 255. to 18s. ; and the question is not one of absolute in come, but of comparative. What these spinners and piecers at Manchester have to consider this, not the difficulty and dis agreeableness of having to do with less income, but whether they can really get more. From the statements of their employers, which don't seem to be contradicted, this is impossible. The em ployers have already, they say, gone a good deal too far. For many years they have been giving higher wages than their brother employers in the smaller towns of Lancashire, and the result has been the bankruptcy of many houses in the trade, and the closing of mills, while mills burnt down have not been rebuilt, and millowners have seized every opportunity for giving up this particular branch of manufacture. It is just that coarsest and commonest kind which admits of the largest competition, and which is apt to leave expensive localities for cheaper ones, either at home or abroad. There have been various ups and downs in the rates of wages, but the Manchester employers have always kept above the country ones, and even the proposed reduction will not bring them down to the country level. " But," say the spinners, " living is so much dearer in Manchester than in the other towns—rents higher, everything higher; and a man must have better wages in Manchester to live as well as a man at Stockport, Ashton, or Bury." But here comes the fallacy, which is en snaring the spinners to their ruin. The " low counts of yarn" that they make can only be sold at a certain tariff of prices all over this part of the world. A merchant or warehouseman won't pay more for it simply because it comes from Manches ter, if he can get it as good anywhere else. There are, indeed, certain employments the value of which is connected with the spot, and if the spot is an expensive one the employment must be better . paid. If you want your dinner cooked, or your shoes cleaned, or your bed made, you want it iu your own house, and if you choose to live in an ex pensive place you must pay what the servants ask you. The same is truer still of such things as meat, and fish, and vegetables that must be fetched from a distance to where it is your pleasure to reside. If you want to eat a cabbage cheap, you had better go to where it is grown; but if you prefer having it brought to you, you must pay hsr the carriage and for the expense of the trades man keeping a stock. Fresh eggs are twopence a dozen in one place and twopence a-piece in another, because, among other reasons, they don't keep fresh for a twelvemonth, and cannot bear a voyage of 500 miles without some degree of risk ; but cotton goods, and coarse yarn in particu lar, may be kept and carried about as much as you please, and if you cannot get them cheap from one place you can from another, and have them brought to you at much the same carriage. All this is not only true, but has actually taken place in the matter before us. The merchants and the middlemen, the Manchester warehousemen of Lon don, the moment they found the manufacturers of Stockport, Ashton, and Bury selling yarn cheap e r than the Manchester people, went to those towns, and, as the Manchester people were still unable to come down to the lowest figures of the market, this particular branch of manufacture has been rapidly declining in Manchester, and now bids fair to be totally extinguished. We believe there is absolutely no other help for these poor people than that they should consent to do the same work at the saute wages as the spin ners of the other towns, or, at least, at such an approach to those lower wages as their employers may think n ecessary. As for the o bj ect i on t h a t livin g is dearer in Maechester, and therefore that paid, labour s h ou ld b e better that is ridiculous, as we have att empted to show. There is a great deal of labour in this country that has cost a fortune, and is hardly paid at all. The rearing and educa tion of a young gentleman, from first to last, at a good school, and at college, and in some degree of professional preparation, generally costs not less than 2,0001., and, as often as not, the a man who has is it had this capital sunk upo n him mcufrraote with 1001. a year or a barrist er w i th nothing his profession. Many a gentleman has spent 20,0001. or 50,000/. on his house, but, i nstea d of finding that considered in the sale of his estate, ho cannot get sixpence an acre more on ac coun t of it, and the first thing the new purchaser does is to pull the house down to the ground. So these poor spinners must put the cost of their labour—that is, their personal expenses—out of the question, and consider only what their employers can afford to give them. These employers must know the condition and the prospects of the mar ket much better than the operative, for it is their business. Should the strike continue, and should the market still fall, while provisions are rising, it is frightful to reflect what distress the poor work men are preparing for themselves and their chil dren. Better think betimes of the old saying that "Half a loaf i s b e tt er than no bread. " W e g ive the same advice to all. Never was there a time which called louder upon people to draw in a few reefs in their expenditure. At all times the pru dent will let their habits of expense lie loose upon them, so that they may throw off superfluities as easily as a winter coat on the return of summer, and now more than ever, with a prospect of in creased taxation and high prices. THE RYDE-PARK RIOTS. (p rom The Corenai the Ti mes o f t hi s d ay. ) disturbances whichrs appointed to inquire into the lst of July last hayeoccautrred in H 3 de -park on the n gth handed in their report, and ears we are bo und to say that in th e ma i n it app to be a .1 St and reasonable com ment upon the evidence. The events of the . last few itindays have reviv e d so that almost as immediate an inter est etro t g h t e ven su t b o je t c h t e , . is felt i n this report as though it had boon question_o ia world two months ago. The great for decision is whether or not the m Police can safely be intrusted with the maintenance of the public peace—whether they will display that reasonable degree of moderation and forbearance which we have a right to expect at their hands in the midst even of tumult and disorder; and it is, of course, a very strong security that the police ,ill not abuse their discretionary powers when it i fro er(l)Ktiown that the Home-office will not shield them the securityw eQnsequences of their acts. Now, this e have obtained in the present Report. Com • mtssoners, i inspectors, superintendents, ser geants, and constables will all be upon their guard when they see that their co n d uc t, or m i scon duct, may at any momentpublic be made the subject of the c investigation. And who I will deny that investigationu was ne c es sar y i n th e 1 present case after readin g the Report of the Com- e In issioners ? They tell us that not only was want of • - THE SUN, LONDON,, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 23, 1855. judgment displayed in the arrangements made by • Superintendent Hughes for clearing the rails by the Drive in Hyde Park, but that considerable and un necessary violence was committed by the police on perfectly inoffensive persons. A similar judgment is delivered with reference to the occurrences in Park street at a later period of the day, where, it is said, there was "serious injury to unoffending indi viduals," and a " discreditable exercise of violence." The conduct of Superintendent Hughes has bsen specifically censured, although Sir George Grey has contented himself with administering a severe reprimand, and has not recommended the still graver punishment of suspension or dismissal, upon the ground of the Superintendent's long and faithful services in the force. The conduct of some among the constables has been especially denounced by the Commissioners—some of them have been even selected as fit subjects for indict ment and criminal proceedings. We would, how ever, by no means wish to leave upon the minds of as many of our readers as may not have the patience to peruse the report for themselves the impression that it is entirely unfavourable to the police. So far from this, the Commissioners speak with well-merited praise of the vast majority of the police force engaged in Hyde-park on the Ist of July. The service required of them was of the most harassing and irritating kind. They were, at the critical moment and at the critical spot, in sufficient in point of numbers, and were very badly handled. The condition of the cell at the Vine street station, in which many of the prisoners made by the police were confined, is most severely cen sured. For fear of exaggeration, we will adopt the very language of the report upon this point "It was impossible to hear the evidence of the witnesses who underwent this infliction without being surprised and shocked at the sufferings to which they were subjected." Forty-three persons were immured in a basement cell 25 feet in length by 8 in breadth, the height being 7 feet 10 inches. Ten persons were ultimately removed, but still 33 were left - to endure the intolerable hardship of confinement during a long night in such a locality. Nineteen persons were even condemned to pass a second night in this horrid den, and, as a natural consequence, the health of some among them has suffered permanent injury. The conduct of the police at this point of the transaction was perfectly inexcusable, and is considered so by ,the Commis sioners and the Home Secretary. On the whole, the report of the Commissioners is our full justification for having urged forward this inquiry in July last. NATIONAL SWNDAY LEAGUE. With a view to facilitate the co-operation of the pub lic in the action of the Sunday League, its committee have prepared three forms of petition, general and spe cial, of which we subjoin copies. In their prospectus the committee say :—" It is not anticipated that the re sults of this movement will be confined to metropolitan institutions only. The inhabitants of our large towns have also their museums, their picture galleries, and botanical gardens ; and it is presumed that the impetus once given in London, its effects will be felt to the re motest corners of the empire. The support of the pro vincial seats of industry to the metropolitan movement will be the surest means of completing an undertaking which claims for itself the title of ' National."' The following are the petitions referred to : "Petition for the opening of Museums, Picture Galle ries, and Botanical Gardens throughout the United Kingdom on Saturday afternoon. " Your petitioners take it for granted that museums and other collections of a similar character are established for the instruction and moral improvement of the people ; and that in proportion as such institutions are made available for popular education do they fulfil the pur poses of their origin. " That the labours and necessary avocations of the great body of the community leave little or no opportu nity of visiting such institutions during the week, when they ara open to the public, and hence the main object of their formation is lost to those whom they are in tended to benefit. " The Sunday, as a day of rest and pleasure, when the thoughts of men, released from the engrossing la bour of mere existence, turn naturally to the beauties of the universe and to its Creator, is the time most fitted for the exercise of the reflective faculties ; and your pe titioners being firmly convinced that all true education must tend to the reverence and love of the Deity, be lieva that if such institutions as above enumerated were open to the people on Sunday afternoon, it would be an inestimable boon to the labouring population, would raise up an opposing principle to intemperance and im morality, and in every way advance the condition of the people. - "Your petitioners therefore pray that all restrictions and impediments may be removed, so that museums, picture galleries, botanical gardens, and similar collec tions generally of parochial or municipal foundations throughout the United Kingdom, be opened to the pub lic on Sunday afternoon. .. . . " And your petitioners will ever pray, &c." " Petition for the opening of the Crystal Palace on Sun , day afternoon : " The petition of the undersigned showeth : " That among all classes of her Majesty's subjects there is felt to be a necessity for providing means of healthful and innocent recreation on Sunday, in a man ner consistent with the religious feelings of the people. " That after labouring hard for six days in the week, it is no rest, but weariness and vexation, for the work ing -man to be confined on Sunday to the scenes and cir cumstances of his accustomed toil ; and that while the rich have ample facilities at their disposal, there is a lamentable deficiency of means of relaxation adapted to the physical, intellectual, and moral needs of the farni lies of the poor. " That the Crystal Palace, so splendid in its architec tecture, so rich in its accumulation of natural and arti ficial objects of extraordinary beauty and interest, and with its healthful and magnificent gardens, affords the noblest provision for the recreation of the people which any age bath seen ; and your petitioners believe that the opening of this great institution on Sunday afternoon would have the happiest and most beneficial effect, and would be an inestimable boon to the working popula tion, whose imperative duties will not permit them to devote any portion of the week to visiting it without a very heavy pecuniary loss, which they cannot aff. rd. " Your petitioners therefore pray that your honour able house will effect any changes in the law as may en able the Crystal Palace Company to open that institu tion on Sunday afternoon. " And your petitioners will ever pray, &c., &c." " Petition for the opening of the British Museum, the National Gallery, Marlborough-house, and other na tional institutions to the public on Sunday afternoon : " The petition of the undersigned showeth : " That the British Museum, the National Gallery, Marlborough-house, and other collections of art and natural olj cts, being the property of the nation, and maintained at the public expense, should be readily accespible t) the people. " That under the present arrangement the great mi.- jority of the people are unable to profit by the means of iestructiou there accumulated for their use. " Your petitioners believe that if the above institutions were opened to the people on Sunday afternoon they would render invaluable aid to public instruction, greatly lessen the inducement to seek objectionable means of relaxation, and by providing innocent and healthful recreation, more effectually render the Sunday a day of rest for the millions who toil throughout the week. " So far from leading to an increase in the hours of labour, as has been objected, your petitioners believe that which they pray for (by giving to the people a know ledge of the benefits arising from instruction and intel lectual recreation) would have an exactly opposite ten dency. " Your petitioners are fully persuaded that, so far frem operating to the detriment of true religion, such a proceeding would largely tend to its promotion, inasmuch as by rendering4he lessons of nature and of art acces sible to the people, they would b e taught more deeply, because more intelligently, to reverence the Creator. " Your petitioners therefore pray that, in order to promote the moral and intellectual improvement of the people, the British Museum, the National Gallery, Marlborough House, and other national collections, be opened for public inspection on Sunday afternoon. " And your petitioners will ever pray, &c." HO fr TO MAKE CRIMINALS. The following letter has been addressed to a contem !wary : i area seantnfrploemefthteheSuseassexes —The following extracts, taken • t E h x a p S t : r r u e .3' usually o a f i 1 y S a a t r u e rd b a r y o , u N g h o tv N. before the magistrates in petty urn of any of the country papers : 44 REIGATE.—John Humphrey, servant, for ridingotntle the turnpike road without reins —fined 20 5 . and2o -n costs. James Bull, workhouse boy, aged 12, for Steal ing s. 11 apples on the 9th of August ; received a good horsewhipping at the time—fined ld., and Id. the value o; the apples ; costs 15s. James May, for stealing of potatoes, value 2d.—fined (including costs and value of potatoes) 11. " DOEKING.—William Sawyer, for stealing one gallon of potatoes, value 4d.—fined 108., and 9s. 6d. costs. " blthuunst—Alfred Pwyer, aged 11, for stealing 10 carrots—fined 16s. ed., value of carrots and costs." Now, by what rule of proportion these costs are regu lated, or why it should take 15s. to place a young urchin before the magistrates and convict him for stealing a pennyworth of apples, while another, for pilfering four pennyworth of potatoes, costs ss. 6d. less, I will not atop to inquire, but the case of the waggoner is one of very great hardship. This poor f e llow pleaded in excuse that he hail be en ou t a ll n i g h t w i t h hi s team an d was very tired, b u t thi s excuse did not avail him, an d h e was mulct in the penalty of 205. , and 20s. costs, or 14 days' hard labour. Now, as no very great outrage had been c ommitted on society b y this,„poor tired and jaded man waggon without rei ns i n a lonely country wouldouldhave tho ug ht th a t a fine of ls. and a cautionroadna one is have st e tiefied the en d s o f j us ti ce, i nstea d of (4s probably is the county gaol. Of what came) kicki ng hi s h ee l s i n t h e are e arthly use is it t r yi ng t o re f orm our criminals if th e y manufactured wholesal e ou t o f such trumpery cases as these .......„____ - • J. M. The Taunton Courier mentions that the hills in the neighbourhood of Coombe St. Nicholas, Chard, Somer set, were covered with snow to some depth OLlWednes .. 0.1 • % . . day morning, the 21st inst. Naval and Ltelligence. Her Majesty's steam-transport Urgent, Commander Phillips, went into Portsmouth harbour yesterday morn ing to disembark her passengers and invalids, consisting of Lieut.-Colonel Cobbe, of the 2d West York Militia ; Captain M'Naghten, of the Bth Hussars ; Lieut. Fane, of the 54th Regiment ; Ensign Cunliffe, of the 3d Royal Lancashire Militia (in charge of invalids) ; Lieut. Pal mer, of the Impregnable ; Mr. Thomas, Master of the Impregnable, and the navigating party, who took the receiving-ship Hibernia, 104, from Plymouth to Malta ; Mr. Reynolds, surgeon, from her Majesty's ship Niger, on promotion ; Mr. Inches, Assistant-Engineer, R.N., to join her Majesty's ship Fisgard ; Lieut. Ozzard, R.M.,_ invalided from he r M a j es t y ' s s hi p P r i ncess Royal; the Rev. Chas. Moore (garrison chaplain at Gibraltar), son, and daughter ; Mrs. Seagrave ; Mrs. Buckley ; 1 sergeant and 5 privates of the Royal Lancashire Militia, to join the depot ; 2 warrant officers of the Royal navy; 26 naval invalids; 3 distressed British seamen ; 10 women, 13 children, and military invalids, consisting of 18 of the Royal Artillery, 1 of the Ist Royal Regiment of Foot, 4 of the 54th, 5 of the 66th, 6 of the 94th, 1 of the 95th, 26 of the West York Militia, and 12 of the 3d Royal Lancashire. These poor fellows were miserably off on board the ship, owing to her taking in water at the scuppers and scuttles, and thus saturating their decks ; the troop-deck was constantly wet, and the roundhouses on it were useless and incapable of afford ing accommodation from that cause ; men, women, and officers had to make use of others on the upper deck in consequence. The 50-gun steam-frigate Shannon will be launched to-morrow from Portsmouth dockyard, at 11 o'clock. At Spithead—The Caesar, 91, Capt. Robb ; the Hast ings, 60, Capt. E. Gs Fanshawe ; the Russell, 60, Capt. Francis Scott ,• the Blenheim, 60, Capt. W. H. Hall ; the Hawke, 60, Capt. Ommanney; the Ajax, 60, Capt- Warden ; and the Edinburgh, 58, Capt. Hewlett. The last named is ordered to have her defects made good with all speed and proceed to Kingstown (Dublin), not Queenstown, as before reported. The Gorgon steam-sloop, 6, Commander R. B, Craw ford, arrived at Memel on the 17th inst., having in tow a large coasting-sloop, of about 150 tons, one of four of that class which her boats (under the command of Lieut. Michell) succeeded in cutting out from a Russian port, near Riga, on the 26th of Sept. During the time the Gorgon has been in the Baltic (not four months) she has succeeded in capturing and destroying no less than 40 small vessels, chiefly employed in conveying grain from ports in Esthonia to Stockholm, and returning with salt and other necessaries of life ; these cargoes average in value about 401. each, but from the nature of the service the Gorgon has been employed on it became imperative to destroy them ; it is hoped, therefore, a grant will eventually be made for arduous service of this nature. An experimental mortar-boat arrived at Portsmouth yesterday from Liverpool, in tow of the Uncle Sam tug. She is built of iron by Laird, of Birkenhead, on an en tirely new principle. She carries her mortar amidships, and has the most ample stowage below. She draws at present but two feet of water, and when mounted and munitioned her draught, it is estimated, will not be three feet. Her name is the Cupid. The Perseverance, steam transport No. 7, Captain Haines, was ordered yesterday to be turned . over by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (who have been working her since her outfit) to the Asl• miralty, as she will henceforth be a naval transport, com manded by Commander Crang and a man-of-war crew and complement of officers. The following are the latest appointments made at the Admiralty :---Commander J. H. Crang to the Persever ance ; Lieut. G. M. Comber to the Perseverance; Lieut. A. Dent to the Basilisk ; Lieut. W. W. Oke to the Royal William ; Lieut. J. Moore, to the Salamander ; W. H. T. Green, Master, to the Perseverance ; Edwin M. Stone, Paymaster, to the Perseverance ; John R. Starling, Assistant-Clerk, to the Perseverance. The following gentlemen passed for direct commissions in the Royal Marine Corps at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, yesterday :--11. C. Bowker, H. J. de Kant zow, S. T. Bridgford, W. J. W. O'Grady, G. Hewlett, H. M. Kay, N. F. Way, and E. A. Macey. At Portsmouth yesterday the following ships were on station and in progress of refit, &c. : In the Harbour.—The Victory (flag), Captain G. T. Gordon ; the St. Vincent, 101 (ordinary flag), Captain G. A. Elliott, C.B. , the Calcutta, 84, Captain J. J. Stopford ; the Excellent, 46, Captain Sir Thomas Mait land, C.B. (gunnery training ship) ; the Illustrious, 72 (novices' instruction ship), Captain Harris ; the Victoria and Albert (the Queen's state yacht), Captain the Hon. Joseph Denman ; arjd the Fairy; Elfin, and Osborne tenders ; the Perseverance, troop-transport ' • the Arro gant, 46, Captai n Y e l ver t on ; th e Basilisk, 6, steam sloop, Commander Jenner ; the Fire Queen and Sprightly steam-tenders, Master Commander Paul and Acting Master George Allen ; the Urgent, steam-tran sport ; the Fanny and the Portsmouth sailing-tenders ; and the Polyphemus steam-sloop, Commander Warren, which was taken out to Stokes Bay yesterday for trial of her machinery. In Ducks.—The Bellerophon, 78, fitting for a receiv ing ship at Portsmouth ; the Thalia, 42, fitting for a Catholic floating chapel at Portsmouth ; the Fox, 42, fitting for a screw steam-transport ; the Marlborough, 131, fitting her machinery, which will be ready for trial in the basin on the 3d of December, and for a trial out side on the 10th ; the Hind and the Biter steam gun boats under refit ; the latter will be out of the engineer's bands on the 15th proximo ; and the Blake, old 74, being broken up. In the Basin.—The Salamander steam-sloop, Com mander Mecham, nimplete in the engine department, and ready for trial ; the Prompt, Blazer, Havoc, and Porpoise mortar-vessels, under refit; and the Stork and Swinger gun-boats also refitting. The Stork will be out of the engineer's hands on the 30th inst., and the Swinger on the Bth of December. In the Steam Basin.—The Repulse, 90, shipping her machinery; the Sampson, 6, steam-frigate, Captain Hand, which will be ready for trial to-morrow; the Transit steam troop-ship, Commander Johnson, ready for sea, except spare piston ; the Isflexible, 6, under refit, will be read for trial by the Ist of December ; and the Fury, 6, paddle-sloop, under refit. As may be imagined, with this work on hand, and the amount daily increasing by fresh arrivals, all the de partments are in full work the usual and extra hours. The port steam-tender Lizard, Second Master Winni cott, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday from the east. ward with supernumeraries, and left in the evening with others for Plymouth. The steam-transport Niagara, from Ireland, with 84 officers and men of the 69th Regiment, and the West meath Rifle Militia Regiment, arrived at Plymouth yes terday afternoon. The 69th were landed for trans-ship ments to the West Indies. The Rifles continued on board for disembarkation. When the screw steam-ship Hogue, 60, Captain Ram say was placed in dock at Devonport on Wednesday it was discovered that, in consequence of her having grounded in the Baltic, she had carried away her fore foot and a considerable portion of her falsekeel. Upwards of 50 fathoms of fishing nets were attached to her keel. The steam gun-boats Badger and Redwing were placed in dock at Devonport on Wednesday to have de fects made good. The Castle Eden convict-vessel arrived yesterday morn ing at Woolwich from Deptford to embark convicts for Bermuda. She is to ship some stores from the Royal Arsenal, and will likewise take thence ammunition for the gun on board. Two convicts managed to effect their escape yesterday morning from the guard while the gangs were employed in their ordinary labour in Wool wich Arsenal yard. The first, named James Leishain, is 27 years of age, and is a native of Dundee. When con victed he was a hawker. He was under sentence of penal servitude for 64 years. The second, belonging to a separate gang, named Wm. Buckengshaw, is 20 years of age. He is a native of Sheffield, and wandered about the country as a knife-grinder. He is supposed to have dressed himself in one of the labourer's brown overcoats, which is missing, and to have carried off a cotton um brella. He was condemned to penal servitude for life, and most probably contrived in this disguise to elude the examination of the police and inspectors at the gates. The sailing-transport Eden, which arrived last week off Woolwich dockyard with 82 guns captured at Bomar sund, yesterday discharged the last of her cargo. Same few of these guns are broken at the muzzle and trunnions, and several of them are still loaded and spiked. An order has been transmitted from the Ordnance -office to keep the uninjured portion in reserve, and the damaged ones are to be broken up and consumed, when mixed with our native metal, for the purpose of casting mortars. The Wahrendorff projectiles are about to be forwarded to Shooburyness, with some experimental rifle guns for proof practice. There are no transport vessels off Woolwich Arsenal at present, but the contract bargee are engaged alongside quay four deep. They are being laden with shot, shell, and ammunition, and a number of cases of horse litters and pack saddles, to be reshipped on bo ar d vesse l s l y i ng in the London ocks for tke Crimea. A naval court-martial assembled on board the flag-ship Impregnable, in Hamoaze, on Wednesday, to try Lance- Corporal Wm. Everest, Royal Marines, fur having stolen upwards of 601. from Ellis Jackson, engineer, while on service in the Baltic in the gun-boat Magpie. The Court considered the charge proved, and adjudged the prisoner to be mulct of all pay due, to be imprisoned for 12 months, and then dismissed from her Majesty's service. It is in Contemplation to augment the corps of Royal Marines. A number of recruits were received during the last month at head-quarters dt Woolwich. Lieut. Robert W. Ellis, 52d Regiment, has obtained leave of absence from the 24th of November to the 21st o f July, 1856. n r , t i eo Sta ff - Assistant-Surgeon Armst r o ng i s re li eve d f rom duty at Chatham, to proceed to Winchester, t o d o d u t y Ch i ath witht t un r o m ur e e d d th t e ha c t sen a new the depot battalion. k Corp corps i o s p t e o n b t e o f t or h e m P e d o a e s t in England and elsewhere. A Clonmel paper says :—" There have been repeated countermandings in reference to the troops ordered to occupy this garrison. The Tipper • ary Light Ifant got the route for T ra l ee, but t • heir departure s ry has been postponed, and it is now thought they will be left for the winter in quarters where they have been so success ful in procuring recruits. The West Middlesex were upder orders for Clonmel ; so were the Antrim Rifles ; and the last-named corps is not to relieve the sth Lan cashire Militia, which is said to have left. Aldershott Camp for this garrison." It is stated that 28 officers and 512 non-commissioned officers and privates of the 2d Somerset Militia have vo lunteered for service in the Mediterranean. Lieutenant Lionel S. T. M. Cary, of the 2d Battalion, Rifle Brigade, died on the 9th inst., at m a , &La on his way borne fram the Crimea to England. He was wounded on the Ist of September, which, with exhaus tion from exposure in the trenches, brought on his fatal illness. He was in his 19th year. Mr. Clarkson's patent cork life-boat was exhibited again yesterday at Portsmouth dockyard, to show its properties, not alone as a life-boat, but as a pontoon raft. From the contents of the boat ar: ►f+ on air-tight many-shaped boxes was formed, capable. of containing a file of soldiers in continuous march, lea.ving the boat itself empty as a depot. The Comman,der-in-Chief, Sir Thomas Cochrane, Admiral Superintendent Martin, Cap tains Sir Thomas Maitland, G. Elliott, G. T. Gordon, R. Sharpe, Commanders Elliott and Franklin, Flag- Lieutenants the Hon. A. Hay and Brandreth, Master- Attendants Underwood and Davies, Mr. Abethel, Mas ter Shipwright, and other officials were present, and seemed much astonished at the boat's capabilities. THE MURDER OF A SURGEON IN NORTH DURHAM. GATESHEAD, Wednesday Night.—The inquest on the body of Mr. Robert Stirling, assistant to Mr. Watson, surgeon, of Burnop-field, near Shotley-bridge, who was murdered near Gibside, on Thursday, the Ist inst., was resumed in the village school-room to-day. Major White, the head of the county constabulary, Mr. Ram say, county magistrate, and other persons were present during the inquiry. The jury having aU assembled, ex• cept the foreman, Mr. Burnett, Mr. Farell, the coroner, remarked on the impropriety of a gentleman in his position absenting himself after be ing sworn to inquire into a case, the atrocity of which he had never known equalled in all his experience as coro ner ; and he intimated that he would present Mr. Bur nett to the Queen's Rernembrancer, by which he would be liable to a penalty of 401. Thomas Holmes, a workman living at Burnop-field, was first examined. He stated that while searching for deceased, with his father, Mr. Thompson, one of Mr. Watson's assistants, and other persona, on the afternood of the 6th, he found Mr. Stirling's body in Smaile's wood. Mr. Thompson was with him when the body was found. The deceased appeared to have been shot in the right side. There was also a wound on the upper part of the nose and a cut over the right eye. His clothes were much torn, and the trous ers appeare d r iddl e d, as if by a gunshot. Witness found nothing in his pocket ; a piece of braid, apparently a portion of a watchguard, was hanging out of his waistcoat pocket, as if the watch had been torn from it. His hat was lying near to where the body was found. The body was laid on its belly. There was a gap in the hedge, as if a body had been pulled through it. The Coroner—What induced you particularly to exa mine this plantation ? Witness—There is a foot road through it, and I ima gined that Mr. Stirling might have taken it for a short cut. I saw deceased's hat first, and then noticed his body. The Coroner—Did you observe a gap in the hedge of the plantation ? Witness—Yes ; after I found the body I saw a gap, as if some one bad been dragged through it. Mr. Watson, surgeon, stated that deceased left his house on the Ist, to visit a patient at Spen, and did not return. Deceased had received an appointment in the Turkish Contingent, and had only been 10 days in the neighbourhood. Mr. Geo. S. Thompson, a student in medicine, stated that the deceased had a silver watch with a silver face when he left Mr. Watson's on the let to go to Spen. Deceased did not want to wear a gold watchguard in going this journey, and witness gave him a piece of silk to make him one. Witness had ascertained that deceased had left Mrs. Corn's house, at Spen, about half past 1 o'clock on that day. The Coroner stated that Mrs. Corn was now confined, and could not attend the inquest to give evidence of the time the deceased left her house. Mr. W. K. Kidowes, a retired surgeon, residing at Dement Cote, near Medomsley, saw the body of the de ceased on the morning of the Bth, at Mr. Watson's. He was laid on the floor, and the clothes had not been re moved ; decomposition had taken place. The trousers of deceased were torn, apparently by a gunshot ; and the torn part of the trousers corresponded with a wound found in the right side of the abdomen of the deceased. On removing the clothes from the body a dark patch of extravasated blood was observed on the ride of the ab domen ; the discolouration was the size of the palm of the hand, and was punctured with holes, as if a charge of shot had penetrated. Witness also found a cut on the left side of the neck. It was about two inches in length and two inches and a half deep. It. addition to that de ceased appeared to have been struck on the right cheek with the butt-end of a gun. Some of his teeth were knocked out, the bone of the nose was broken, and there was a slight wound above the right eye. Those were all the external appearances presented by the body. He had lost very little blood. Witness made a post mor tent examination of the body the same morning. On opening the abdomen he found the intestines much in jured by shot corns having penetrated into them. Wit ness took some of the shot out, which he now produced. [A. juryman, after examining them, said that they were No. 4 shot.] The large omentum was also riddled with shot. Witness also took two of a smaller size from under deceased's clothes. The Coroner—They look like No. 5. Mr. Ramsey—They appear home made. Mr. Eddowes—The trousers produced were those taken from the deceased's person. They were much riddled. Witness found a good deal of blood in the cavity of the pelvis. The right iliac vein was wounded. The charge from the gun appeared to have penetrated deceased's person at a !evel. The gunshot wound would produce death in a few misiutes—less than five. Death would be caused by the shock sustained by the nervous sytem. Deceased would be .able to cry out after receiving the charge of the gun. Witness found the lungs and heart healthy and uninjured. He examined the head. There was no fracture of the skull. Death would be accelerated by the blow deceased had received in the cheek. The injury to the nose appeared to have been caused by the guard of a gun. The wound in the throat did not pene trate any vital part. By Major White—The wound on the neck appeared a clean cut, inflicted by a sharp instrument—probably a broad knife. The Coroner asked if the charge did not appear to have struck something in deceased's pocket. Mr. Watson—Yes ; his knife, and probably his purse. Mr. Ramsey—From the nature of the wound ells covered on the person of the deceased he thought that deceased must have been met in the road and shot at. The Coroner had viewed the place where the murder had been committed, and was of opinion that deceased had been shot from the bankside, through the hedge. Robert Anderson, a young lad, son of a farmer at Low Spen, said it was about a mile from his father's house to Smaile's-lane, where Mr. Stirling was said to have been killed. Witness saw the deceased on the Ist of Novem ber, about 1 o'clock, as he was passing his father's house. Witness saw the deceased about 15 or 20 yards down the lane. Deceased was about the same height as wit ness's father. When his father went to the rent-day at Gibside on the I st he was dressed not unlike M r . St i rl in g. Wit n ess did not hear a gun fired. H e never saw Mr. deceased p passed Satisrsleindgalive again. Be was walki ng very qu i ck as he him. Witness was givi ng some water to a foal as him. Deceased was coining from Mrs. Corn's. Witness saw no one else passing at the time. Deceased had a stick with him. The Coroner —Has the stick been found ? The Policeman—Yes ; it has been found in the wood. Mr. Thompson—One of deceased's hands appeared contracted when we found the body, as if a stick had been wrested out of it. William Cozen, a youth, at present a falen-servant at Black Collerton, in Northumberland, said that he was working in a field on Low Friar-side Farm on the Ist of November. It was opposite &sidle's-lane, across the Derwent. He was gathering potato tops, about half past one or a quarter to two o'clock, with some women, when they heard a gun fired, apparently in Smaile's wool. He afterwards heard a voice exclaim, " dear I oh, dear I" It was followed by the voice of a man shouting Hoy, hoy !" and a sound like clapping of hands. He first imagined that some one had been firing at a hare, and that the gun had burst ; but when he heard the shouts of " Hoy, hoy I" he thought that nothing was the worse, and that some one was setting dogs after a hare. A man on what you h ear d to t h e worsen —Did you menti on F4W i j t u ne rY ss —Yes ; I said that sone one was running dogs after a hare, but they made no reply. Mr. Ramsey—Was the report a loud one ? Witness—Yes, but I never thought about it until I heard that a man was murdered. - 114;jor\Vbite — Did you bear the clapping of hands and shouting long Witness—About two minutes, The Foreman of the Jury—Why have you left this part of the country I Had you not the offer of another master ! Witness—l do not like this part. My friends live at Black Collerton. A Juryman—Nothing has been done to induce you to leave this neighbourhood I W itness —No; nothing. The Coroner said that there was another witness, who, in passing from Burnop-field to Rowland Gill on Thurs day afternoon, about half-past one o'clock, heard a gun fired in the Jane, but she would not attend w ith out a summons. The policeman produced the clothes taken from the person of the deceased. The right side of the trousers was riddled with shot, and shot holes were also in the waistcoat. Deceased's coat was also much torn, a s if h e had been dragged through a hedge. His hat was also broken. A portion of a pocket-knife was produced, which had been shattered by the charge from the gun. The Coroner at this stage of the proceedings ad journed the inquest for a fortnight, to give the police ample time for further inquiries. They have some clue, but they are keeping their suspicions quiet at present. The reward offered for the apprehension of the perpe trators of this horribl e outrage is 5 00 1. ; the inhabitant s of Winterton have give 50/., the inhabitants of Tanfield 50/., the Government 1001., Lord Ravensworth, Mr. John Bowes, and other county gentry, 3001. Since the murder of Mr. Stirling the inhabitants of the villages in this neighbourhood have been kept in the greatest alarm by a series of outrages, which, in point of fact, have made it dangerous to leave home after night fall. Two or three highway robberies have been ootn• mitted and others attempted. A house has been broken into at Wickham, and the house of a man named Robin son, residing at Blauchland, fmnerly a carrier between Newcastle and Hexhani, was entered while he was in bed. He was awoke, but to save his own life durst not stir, and the burglars came into his room and took 501. out of his pockets, with which they got clear off. Amost impudent highway robbery was committed on Monday afternoon at Swalwell-bridge, about two miles from where Mr. Stirling was murdered. Mr. Connell, a publican, belonging to was proceeding to inset the Shotley-bridge coach, when he was struck down by three fellows, who, after handling him roughly, robbed him of what money he had upon him. A man named Tobby Walker, belonging to Newcastle, has been appre• hended and identified as one of the three men who robbed LA W INTEL LIGENCE.—Nov. 22 COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. (Sittings in Banco, before Chief Justice Jervis, and Justices Williams, Crowder, and Willes.) NELEPHERD AND ANOTHER V. CONQUEST.-INFRINGEMENT OP DRAMATIC COPYRIGHT. This was an action by the proprietors of the Surrey Theatre against Mr. Conquest, of the Grecian Saloon, in the City-road, to recover seventeen 40s. penalties, in consequence of his having represented a piece called Old Joe and Young Joe without their consent. The plaintiffs claimed copyright in the piece, under the following cir cumstances :—They bad. emp!oyed Mr. Courtney to go to Paris, in order that he might adapt something for the English stage, and on his return he had produced the piece in question. Subsequently Mr. Courtney had in writing assigned to the defendant the right to repre sent the piece, but the plaintiffs claimed penalties from him upon the ground that, as they had employed Mr. Courteney to write the piece, the copyright belonged to them. The trial took place before the Chief Justice, in Middlesex, and his lordship directed the jury in accord ance with the plaintiff's view of the case, and a verdict was found for them for 341. Subsequently, however, a rule was obtained to enter a verdict for the defendant, or a nonsuit, or for a new trial, upon the grounds that there was no evidence of the plaintiffs being the proprie tors of the sole right of representing it, inasmuch as no assignment of the copyright to them had been proved, but, on the contrary, it had been proved that there was no such assignment ; and further, that the Chief Justice had misdirected the jury in telling them that, if the plaintiffs had employed Mr. Courtney to write the piece for them, they would be entitled to the copyright. To day cause was shown against this rule being made absolute. Mr. Sergeant Byles and Mr. Russell appeared to show cause ; and Mr. Warren, Q.C., Mr. Hawkins, and Mr. Jacobs to support the rule. Mr. Serjeant Byles submitted that if one person em ployed another to invent things, it was clear that the right to patent those inventions was in the employer ; and so if a person were employed to write plays, and paid for so doing, the copyright in them belonged to the employer. In this case, Messrs. Shepherd and Cress wick had employed Mr. Courtney to write for them ; they had, in fact, bought his brains, and were to be con sidered, in law, as authors of all the works which he had written in execution of that engagement. Mr. Warren repudiated this doctrine, and contended that, in common sense, and according to the plain mean ing of the statutes, the author was the person who had written the piece. He also detailed the causes which had led to the passing of the modern Copyright Acts, and contended from those facts, and from what appeared in the acts themselves, that it was the intention of the Legislature to confer the copyright upon the actual author, and nobody else. If this view were not adopted he submitted that the whole object of the Copyright Acts would be defeated ; and it was further submitted that the copyright having originally belonged to Mr. Court ney, the plaintiffs could only acquire it by an assignment in writing from Mr. Courtney, executed in proper form, there being no such assignment in the case. The Chief Justice said there was no doubt that if Mr. Courtney was the author within the meaning of the act, he had not assigned the copyright to the plaintiffs ; but the argument was that as Mr. Courtney had been em ployed by the plaintiffs, and paid to write for them, they were, by operation of law, authors of all he wrote in pursuance of that employment. Mr. Warren submitted that if that were so the effect would be to make an author a mere slave, and to inflict a serious injury upon literature ; and, indeed, under those circumstances, the phrase of his learned friend would be justified, when he, speaking of Mr. Courtney, said, "We bought his brains." Suppose a Mr. Grump in Holywell street were to agree with some embryo Wa.ter Scott in distress, that, in consideration of a pay ment, he should in future write for his publisher, would that pass copyright in all future productions t If Sir Isaac Newton had been employed to make discoveries in physical science, and in the course of that employ ment had produced his "Prinoipia," could it forsooth be said that the employer was the author of that immor tal work ? Or, if the proprietor of a theatre had em ployed Beaumont and Fletcher to write plays for him, would the works of those men of genius belong to him in consideration, as in this case, of some paltry 2/. a-week ? Mr. Justice Williams—l do not see that it makes any difference, whether the amount be 2/. a week or "Ten Thousand a-year." (A. !augh.) Mr. Warren continued to urge upon the court that it was plain that the intention of the Legislature was that the c , pyright should originally be only in the author, and could only pass from him by assignment duly exe cuted ; and the learned counsel concluded an eloquent address, by submitting that the rule should be made ab solute. The Chief Justice said that the case was one of some general importance, and therefore they must take time to consider it.—Judgment deferred. POLICE INTELLIGENCE—Nov. 22. CLERKENWELL.—CsARGE or CAUSING THE DEATH OF A WIFE.--Simon Richard Hence Hyde, bricklayer, residing at No. 7, Hertford street, Somers Town, was charged with having caused the death of Sarah Hyde, his wife, by striking her In the head. Sergeant Hill, 39, S division, having been sworn, said—On Wednesday evening, at half-past 6 o'clock, I received information that a man had caused the death of his wife, at a house, No. 7, Hertford-street, Somers Town. I immediately proceeded there, and found a woman lying dead on a bed, in a room up stairs. It was a four-roomed house. No one was in the house at the time. I made inquiries, and was informed that the woman and her husband (the prisoner) had quarrelled the night before. The deceased had been washed and laid out, and a shawl tied round her bead to keep ht-er chin up. She had a black eye. I made inquiries to trace the husband, and at length found him at a house, No. 2, Hertford-street. They at first denied that he was there, but being positive that he was I went into the house, and found two men in a back room. I asked the prisoner, who was there, if his name was Hyde ? He said, " No, my name is Penn." I said you are the man I want. He replied, "I am not ; it is your mistake." I told him he must come with me. The prisoner then said, "It is of no use to conceal it, I am the man. I shall reserve what I have to say." Mr. Tyrwhitt---Did the woman appear to have been dead for any length of time? SergeantfiillL-She died at half-past 5 o'clock ; she had been dead about an hour, your worship. David John Short, of 7, Hertford-street, Somers Town, landlord of the house, said—On Tuesday night last, at half-past 11 o'clock, I went to bed. Shortly afterward I heard a noise up stairs, and on going up stairs I saw the prisoner and his wife (deceased) on the floor, struggling together. They were both dressed as usual, in their clothes. The deceased asked me to se parate them. They were both quite exhausted. The prisoner was bleeding from the mouth and face. I se parated them, and persuaded her togodown stairs, which she did, and she sat down with me three-quarters of an hour. I advised her to go to her mother's house in the same street. She shortly afterwards returned again, and went up stairs to bed. At half-past five in the morning I went to call my sons to go to work, when all was quiet. I left between seven and eight o'clock, and found a crowd in the street, and a report that the woman was dead, and had been killed by her husband. By Mr. T 3 rwhitt—The prisoner was drunk and the deceased was sober. She put the candle to her head, and said, q Look, Mr. Short, I s h an ' t b e able to go to work again." They lived on good terms when the pri soner was drunk. Mr. Tyrwhitt—l shall remand the prisoner. WESTMINSTER. —Tux SUSPECTED MURDER AT CHELSEA. —Sarah Allem, wife of a messenger in the offices of the Iro❑ Steam-boat Company, at Chelsea, was placed at the bar for re-examination upon the charge of attempting to drown two her children, respectively aged 11 months and three years. Mr. Newbon, solicitor, stated that he was in4tructed by the Citizen Steam-boat Company, in whose service the husband of the accused held an humble but respon sible position, to attend and watch the case, which was of a very peculiar nature, on her behalf. The particulars of the former examination have been detailed, and upon tt - e accused being placed in the duck, Inspector Drake, of the V division, stated that since the former examination, the body of the third and oldest child of prisoner had been found in the Thames, and a coroner's jury had returned the open verdict of " Found drowns•]." Mr. Arnold intimated that the charge upon which the prisoner had been remanded, and the only one at pre sent before bim, was for attempting to drown the two other children. He wished to know whether there was any other charge. Inspector Drake replied that there was not, but the charge originally brought under the notice of the magis trate upon the police sheet, was for having caused the death of the eldest child, as well as for having thrown the other two, who were rescued, into the wafer. Mr. Arnold observed that, for the presents he would only go on with the charge of attempting to Op T wn. He then desired th e w it ness, M rs. Woodland, who g ave evi dence on the first examination, to be recalled.... In reply to the magistrate's questions, she Mated tha t l she did not ob serve anyt hi ng pecu li ar i n the,-,,prispner s manner at the time she left her house, at five in the evening. She took the youngest child, who of course could not walk, in her arms. That and the one three years old, after their immersion in the water, were brought home at at out eight on the same evening. Prisoner's h us b an d fi rs t came h om e that evening at half past five ; then he went out again, and came home about six. Cross-examined by Mr. Newbon.—Witness had lodged in prisoner's house above two years. Accused was always very kind to her children, and discharged her duties to them properly, but latterly had not seemed to take the same pride in their appearance as before. Sh e said they bad scurvy in their blood, and borrowed a medical book from witness about scrofula. The eldest boy, who was turned six, and not five years ofage,a she had before stated, wa s healthy an d ro b ust. W itness never saw him carry the youn ges t (th e baby) about. She had seen him take the inf an t up when craw l ing , that was all. John Massey, of 3, Waterloo place, Church•street, Chelsea, a blacksmith, was called to prove that a little after five on the evening in question he met the prisoner and the three children in Claurch•street, about 400 yards from the water, but he gave his answers in so incoherent and strange a manner, set up a hearty laugh when ques• tioned, and behaved so indecorously that he was ordered down from the witness box, it being presumed that be was under the influence of liquor ; but on a subsequent stage of the inquiry, it having been stated that there was every reason to believe he was sober, and that b e _ was a man of very eccentric habits, he was again put under examination. Mr. Arnold having animadverted upon his extraordinary conduct, and p 'inted out to him that he was giving evidence in a case possibly affecting, the prisoner's life, he then became decorous in his de meanour, and added, that when ho met the accused she had the infant in her arms, arid one of the other children on either side of her, and addressing him said, "It is very foggy, is it not ?" to w hi c h h e replied, " It is." At the request of Mr. Newbon, the witness Wood land was recalled, and said that the accused was in the habit of going with her children to meet her husband on his return home from his office. Robert Spink, of 15, Laurance-street, Chelsea, cab driver, proved that he was opposite the Cadogan Pier on the evening the two children were rescued from the water, when he beard cries, and proceeding to the upper "dummy" at the pier, endeavoured to seize one of them as it floated up from the arch of the pier, but failed. lie beard the cries of two children in the water. In cross-examination by Mr. Newbon, witness said it was a very high tide, reaching close to the shore. There were only posts and chains to separate the road from the water, with here and there interstices and stairs for men to get to their boats. He got up to his knees in water in going to see what was the matter when he heard the cries. William Cuiack, the brother of the landlord of the Magpie and Stump, Cheyne-walk, proved the identity, by the accused's husband, of the rescued children, who were put into a warm bath, and received every attention at the tavern in question. A police -sergeant of the V division here made -the in quiry whether a statement made by the rescued child, three years of age, to its father, respecting the occur rence, in the absence of the accused, could not be given in evidence. Mr. Arnold replied that could not. This being the whole of the evidence adduced— Mr. Arnold observed, that he must at present require the same amount of bail for the prisoner's appearance on Wednesday next. Mr. Newbon submitted that there was was no case made out against the accused. Mr. Arnold repeated, that at present he should re mand the prisoner till Wednesday. There was another child in question, whose death might be made the sub ject of inquiry before him. That of course he at present could not say anything about. The pri-oner, whose demeanour was composed, was then removed to her cell. As on the former occasion, her commitment to gaol was made out, in consequence of no bail being presented for her. SOCIETY OF ARTS. The address at the opening of the session was pro nounced by the Rev. Dr. Booth. The Speaker began by some observations on the utility and claims of such societies. In social intercourse a friendly interchange of thought took place, during which notions or casual hints might be thrown out, which, by the operation of the laws of association, might connect themselves with latent trains of ideas, almost forgotten, but which, now kindled as by a spark into a blaze of light, might lead to brilliant discoveries. Again, the system of prizes was calculated to stimulate inventive ingenuity, and frequently gave rise to inventions, conferring the greatest benefits on our, manufacturing industry. Such societies were useful not only for their action directly on men of science, but for the means they afforded of giving relaxation to persons who, exhausted by the press upon their faculties during the hours of business, were but toe happy and re f res h e d to fi n d a path in which their hither to unoccupied faculties might wander with enjoyment. The speaker then proceeded to mention the peculiar ob jects of the society. The members were not associated, like those of the Royal Society, for the exclusive pur poses of physical discovery and mathematical research. They did not limit themselves, like the members of the Geographical, Geological, Astronomical, or other societies. Arts, manufactures, and commerce, was their field —progress in all three their intention. This would absolve them, even if it should be found that some of their plans had failed. Bacon had well observed that " the abortions of time, as well as the births, should be registered." Hence our failures were useful, because they contracted the field for our investigation. Another maxim of Bacon, which indicated a point of view which the society adopted, was this : " The true and legitimate end of all the sciences is to enrich man's life with stew inventions and appliances." A peculiar chemical pro perty of the unseen rays of light had led to the inven tion of photography, and the society, by holding the first exhibition of photographic pictures, had given rise to the establishment of the Photographic Society. Dr. Booth enumerated other examples of the same nature, and afterwards glanced upon the indirect help which the society must have afforded to the gradual development of the principles of free trade. He then alluded to the labours of the vice president, Mr. Twining, which had called forth the distinguished approbation of the Empe ror and Empress of the French. Mr. Twining, by his labours in the establishment of an Economic Museum, had caused the society to be associated in the minds of the French people with the movement. Dr. Booth then directed his remarks to some peculiar directions in which the society has been active, and then alluded to the good which might be done to the society, its journal, and the nation, if the members would contribute cordially to its pages. He considered that if this were done properly, the Journal might become the organ of 70,000 intelligent persons. He regretted that the labours of the counci, to settle the question of the rating of mechanics' insti tutes and other establishments of the same nature had not been brought to a satisfactory conclusion. In allu sion to the subject of the visit of the society to the Expo sition Universelle, and the reception of the members by the Emperor, Dr. Booth remarked that one of the results of that visit ha .l been, that the Emperor was induced by the representations of Mr. Chadwick to place one of the worst-drained localities of the capital under that gentle man's control. Dr. Booth then alluded to an important change which bad been made in the bye-laws of the so ciety, the effect of which was to establish a body of mem bers to aid the council by their judgment and advice. The subject of lecturers to the association in connection with the society was then entered into, and it was ad mitted by the speaker that this department of the so ciety's activity had not as yet worked well. He ex pressed himself at the same time very strongly on the inefficiency of scientific lectures in general. They were too often mere " talk " about physicai phenomena. The lecturer then adverted to the great subject, or, as he called it, " the most important question to which the council of the society could devote its attention duri4 the forthcoming session, that of education as promoted by systems of examination." It would be doing injus tice to Dr. Booth to weaken his arguments by coin. preseion. Any one who wishes to know what a pro found thinker and practical man can say on this vexed subject of the competitive examination, may be referred, as Dr. Booth referred his audience, to his pamphlet under the title of "Examination the province of the State," in which he argues the question fully. We may remark that he alluded with triumph to the fact that of late years the patronage of the directors of the East India Com pany had been appropriated by the Legislature to reward successful candidates in competitive examinations ; that the War Department was partially thrown open, that the Admiralty was following in the same course, that examination was revived in the inns of court, and so on. The lecturer then finished an address which was well received, with some eloquent exhortations to the mem bers on the duties which were required from them. The following is the list of prizes awarded by the so ciety : TO Charles Atherton, Chief Engineer of her Majesty's Dockyard, Woolwich, for his paper " On the Capability for Mercantile Transport Set vice of Steam-.3hips"—tae silver medal. To Colonel Arthur Cotton, late Chief Engineer, Ma dras, for his paper "On Public Works for India, espe cially with reference to Irrigation and Communications," and for his persevering and continued advocacy of their extension—the silver medal. To John Bennet Lawes, F.R.S., for his paper " On the Sewage of London" —the silver medal. To John Forbes Royle, M.D., F.R. , for his paper of last session " On Indian Fibres fit for Textile Fabrics, or for Rope and Paper making"—the silver medal. To Chalice Sanderson, for his paper " On the Manu facture of Steel as carried on in this and other Countries," being an essay sent in competition for a premium offered in the society's prize list—the silver medal. To Peter Lund Simmonds, for his paper " On some Undeveloped and Unappreciated Articles of Raw Pro duce from different parts of the World"—the silver medal. The Council have also awarded the following premi ums for articles exhibited in the seventh annual exhibi tion of inventions, or submitted for the consideration of the society's committees : To Felix Abate, of Naples, for n ture printing from wooden blocks and rollers—the silver medal. To Field and Co., of Birmingham, fur the production of microscopes to be sold to the public at the respective prices of 106, 6d. and 3/. 35., tent in comp..tition for th• special premium offered by the council—the silver medal. To Andrew Peddle How, for his engine -room telegraph —the bronze medal. _ _ To Messrs. %V. Muir and Co., Manchester, for their improved grindstones—the bronze medal. To Herbert Mackworth,.M. Inst. C.E ., government inspector of mines, for his instrument called Metra, in tended for the use of mining and other engineers, for geologists, scientific tra.ellers, &c. —the bronze medal. To Francis Herbert Wenham for an improved letter lock, which prevents the combinations being ascertained by any other means than by working out the entire sys tem of changes, sent in competition for the premium offered in the society's prize list—the bronze medal. ST. nARYLIBONR BANK FOR SAVlNGS.—Comparative statement of progress, at specified periods, during the last seven years : Sums invested with National Open Deposit Debt Commis -lOn 20th November, 1849 A , counts. sion.rs. 20,382 PP 1850 PP 1851 ,f 1882 . ..... 22,774 si, 1853 ~ 1854 IP 1855 --D. FINNEY, Secretary and Actuary. MURDER IN FRANCE.—An aged couple, named Bonet, of Coulans (Sarthe), not 'having been seen for several days, their neighbours deemed it expedient to force open their doer. A terrible spectacle then presented itself, nt they were both found lying dead on the floor, with ter rible wounds in the head and face, and part of the man's face had been devoured by the cat. A large piece of wood stained with blood was lyi ‘g near, anyl it was evi dent that it was with it that they had been murdered ; the drawers and cupboards were in confusion, the mur derers having ransacked them for money and valuables. The authorities have commenced a searching investiga tion with the view ' lumen the mtarderer, ____ . Country Markets. DERBY SMITHFIELD.—Nov. 20. A short supply of fat beasts to-day, which sold well, and fully maintained last week's prices. The number of sheep also less, for which high prices were asked. Fat calves scarce. A plentiful supply of fat pigs, both English and Irish. The following were the quotations :—Beef, 6d to 6 1 d mutton, bid to 7d ' • lamb, Od t o Od ; rea l , 7d tc lid per lb. ; pigs, lO s 6d t o 0s Od per score ; rough fat, 7s 31 to (a per 141 b. ; hides, 3,d to 44d per lb ; calf-skins, 3iL,l to 51 per lb. EDINBURGH GRAIN.—Nev. 21. A large market to-day. Wheat much easier, and fully is down. Barley, although dearer on the average, was a little cheaper, with many parcels. Oats and beans dearer. Wheat, top, 4s down, and en the average is Od down. Barley, top, is Od up —average, 8d up. Oats on the top 2s 8(1, up —as erase, is up. Beans on the top Is up—the average, 2s 8d up. A.TERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER. Wheat £4 3 7 4-12ths. Do. new -12ths. Barley 0at5.,.,., .1 13 0 7-12th. Beans ...... ...... 2 15 0 2-121hs. BOSTON—Noy. 21. A good attendance again to-day, and a seasonable supply of all kinds of grain. The best-selected samples of dry wheat met a tole ra bly s t ea d y demand at about last wee k prices, but inferior qualities were is to 2s per qr. cheaper. In spring corn no material change to note in the value. Prices :—Wheat, red, 67s Od to 83s Od; white, 83s Od to 85s Od extra, 88s Od. Barley, 35s Od to 44s Od. Oats, 203 to 325. Beans, 50s Od to 58s Od. Peas, 48s Od to COs per qr. NEWARK—Nov. 21. We had a full attendance to-day, and a good supply of grain. There was a slow trade, particularly for wheat, at late prices. Wheat, white 868 to 945, red 84i to 88s; barley, malting 42s to 458, grinding 38s to 40s; oats, 24st. 348 to 375, 22st, 32s to 31s ; beans, 56s to 60s ; malt , 70s to 728; peas, 48s to 508; tares, 74s to 80s per qr. SEABORNE MAILS. (N signifies that the mails are sent from tilt) General Post ofiio• Sy the night—and M by the morning—despatch.) Da y whi n ni , n , ut rroo, at hat COHN TRIErt. in General Post- Port j Office, London.* Dl4.ttehod Ea,: and imerica(bylirit.pacl.'N Every Friday •. • • LivetTo,l , Muerte?. (by United packet) .- •• I LiverNel . Nov. America (by U. Statc• packet) .......... N , • • • Southern pt.,n, kustralia (via South ampton) ......M •"•" •• • Southampton' Ditto (via Marseilles) N, Ditto (via Cape of Goad ' Hope) ............N Uncoil tfrica (West Coast) ..N 23d of the month.. pimento, Dec 6 ilexandria ........ N B , 9, 24, &30of rn . Dover ..., klexandria..........M 4th & 20th of mon. ,Southampto., dahamas il7th of the monttls ou th mo „. :t :telgium ....... .. Dai ly •••••• • • • • • 'Dover Daily :3razil ........ '9th of the month.. Southampt 0, Dec. 15 luenosAyres........m 9th of the month • Southarnet,,, Dec. lb '.ape of Good Hope ..N Various port Uncertair Jape of Good Hope ..N Jape de Vords 9th of the month g authampto , Dec. 15 eylon (see India) leylon— .......... N oi, Tu.Th.•sti „ I2d & 17th of month south imp t.,, • 'hannel 151a5.... . ..N •Southampr hlli. •••••••••• . . Once a month.... 8,13,16,23,&28 or et D over Dec. 4 Jonstantinople 'Nanstantinople ,4th & 20th of mon.:Sauthampten ,:ont. of Europe M & it jTwice dai1y....... !Dover Twie. daily Zgypt (see India) Franco ........ M & N !Twice daily ...• • - Dover .. Twi coda. libraltar 7,17, 20, 27 rim Southampton keece (see India) l rey t own 2nd & 17th of mon. Southampton lamburgh ..........N,Tuesday & FridaylLondon .lavannah hi 2nd of the month ISoutharuptet• Dec. 1. 51 Daily • • • • • • • • • • • • !Dover Dail 3 clonduras ..........m l l7tn t: the month.lSouthamptort 16thofinOn India (viaSouthampt.)m 4th & 20th of mon.lnymouth • • Nov. 20 'ndia (via Marseilles)M 9th& 25th of month Dover j . lonian Isles (see India) 7, 17, & 27 of mon D0ver...... Ireland ........M & N•Twice daily ..... Holy h ea d . ITwteed nib 9, 17, & 27 of m.!Southampton•Nay. 25 afadeira hi ,9th of the month ISouthampton' gadeira 123 d of month •• • . Liverpool Malta (see India) %Salta .• .• •.• • .• ••N, 1 3, 18, &28 of mon. Dover • Nov. 20 Nfaurltlus (see India) ganritius .• •••• •• • • il4th of the month Mexico hi '2nd of the month., Southampton Dec 1 Naples ........ it; 'sthlsth2sthormon.!Dover New Granada '2l & 17th of month S ou th ampton . New Zealand. !By private si 1p .. Various port , ,Unoertala Papal States ........N sthlsth2sthofinon. Dover .... Peninsula • 51 7th 17 th 27thofmon. , S ou th ampton Peru .............. I2d & 27th of mon.lS out h ampton Port Natal By private ship... V ar i ous ports Uncertat, Sicily N ,sth 1 sth2stholmon, Dover Tuscany ........ ....N: s thl s th 2s thofmon. Dover Venezuela ...... 2d & 17th of Southampton.l & 16 mon Van Diemen'sLand (see Australia) ...... • Welt Indies . h• 2d& 17th o; month Soutbampton l lB4l6 mon • When any of these dates fall on a Sunday, the malls will lie de. 'patched on the following day, with the exception of the India: (via .outhampton), and the Malta, both of which will be despatched V • preceding day. BHA.RE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, Noy. 22. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The tone of the market was dull to-day, opening at a general decline, but on the announce. , "lent of the breaking up of the Bank parlour without any advance in the rates of discount, there was a rally, and prices closed at about yesterday's rates, Caledonians, 28 k —Lancashire and Yorkshire, 75—GreatWesterns, 44 50 — London and North-Western, 93 4—Ditto (i shares, new), 1 dis.—Dutch Rhenish, dis.—Midland, 62j 3 3h 3—South Eastern, 17.1.3. —North B r iti s h, 61—G reat Northern'', 214—North Eastern, Berwick, 16g. MANCHESTER, Nov. 22. STOOK EXORANGE.—The market has been fluetwaing a little in favour of sellers to-day, but the prices dosed at about yesterday's rates. Midlands, 63—Dovers, 17i Leeds, 74k—Great Western of Canada, 21i—London an d N.Westerns, 92i. • LEEDS, Nev. 22. STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was a dull business to-day. The only transactions up to one o'clock were in Leeds Northern Quarters, at 2 pm.—Leeds Gas shares (Six per Cents.), at 110 i. DUBLIN, Nov. 21. STOOK EXCHANGE.—Three per Cent. Consols, 871 4 Ditto, for Account, 7th Dec., 874 I—New Three per Cent. Stock, 87,f i—Ditto, for Account, 17th Dec., 871- -Midland Gt. Western and Royal Canal, (50/. paid), 48 —Great Southern and Western, 514—Eighths, 6 per cent. Pref., 70—Hibernian Bank (251. paid), 33 1—Dublin and Belfast Junction, 40. "NsmEslS" HALL AND SAILORS' HOURS.--Captain Hall, of her Majesty's ship Blenheim, has addressed the f Mowing letter to Captain Stuart, R.N., of Cork, on the subject of Sailors' Homes in Ireland :—" Gulf of Finland, Oct. 26, 1855. Dear Captain Stuart,—Now that our toils in the Baltic for the season are drawing to a close, I have time to think of our Sailors' Home friends. Many thanks for your letter and particulars about your visit to town to see the First Lord. I sin cerely hope, and I think that good will result from it to the Irish Homes. I never lose a chance, when it offers, of pushing them forward. At Glasgow, where a Home is wanted more than any other place I know, we have been very fortunate—one person alone, Mr. Ewing, has given the munificent sum of two thousand guineas to the funds. At Portsmouth we are now in a most flourishing state, thanks to his Royal High ness Prince Albert, whom I had an interview with ~n the subject when last in England. When this just war is over, if God spares me, the remainder of my life shall be devoted to the good cause, for I am con vinced it is a step in the right direction to make our in , valuable sailors better and more useful men, for they, after all, in the time of need, are the sheet anchor and , -afeguard of the United Kingdom. If we neglect them we neglect ourselves and the welfare of our country. I am glad to see the Home at 13,..1fa5t progressing so well, and proving so useful. We have not been idle here lately, as no doubt you will have seen in the papers ; not a vestige of the military village of Hango Udd (where the men of the Cossack were murdered) is left. I landed and completely destroyed it, and the enclosed is what I erected over the unfortunate men's grave ; and wishing all success to the Homes at Cork and Queens town, believe me, yours faithfully—W. H. HALL. We are ordered home, so we hope to be in England soon." BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 20th inst., at Holkham, Norfolk, the Countess of Leicester. On the 21st inst., the wife of Herbert Ingram, Esq., Loudwater Mills, Herts. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 21st inst., at 22, Queen's-terrace, St. John's wood, the wif e o f r. William Tasker, jun. On the 21st inst., at Chester-square, the wife of Win. Brodrick, Esq. MARRIED, On the 22d inst., at Chester-le-Street, Alexander Dunbar, Esq., son of the late Major Dunbar, Soots Fusilier Guards, to Ellen, widow of the late Raleigh Henry Ysa, Esq., son of Sir W. W a lt er Y ea, B ar t ., o f P yr l an d Hall, Somerset shire, and daughter of John Cookson, Esq., of Wbitehill, co. Durham. On the 21d inst., at St. George's, Bloomsbury, tho Rev. Frederick Elmer, incumbent c . d . St. Paul' s , O ver Tabley, Cheshire, to Matilda Wood, niece of Mr. Samuel Cole, of Bloomsbury. DIED. On the 20th inst., at 27, Ca nnon - street-road, Commer cial-road east, Mr. Charles Massie. On the 22d inst., at Norland-plaee Notting-hill, Ken sington, John Saunders, E sq., aged t a On the 21st inst., at 7, W oo dl an d- terrace, Trafalgar oad , Greenwich, Mr. Matth ew Marshall, upwards of years Superintend en t of Mooring Chains to the Port f Trafalgar road, London, aged 64. Ou the 20th inst., at Brighton, Frederick, only on of Captain Frederick Madan, H.C.S., of Northwick-terrace, London. aged 20. On the 20th inst., at Morden Colleg e , Bl ac kh ea th , M r. John Jac o b Battier, aged 79. On the 22d ult., at Paris, Edward Galley Giles, Esq., late of Gray's-inn, London, aged 51. On the 19th inst., at Bridgefield House, Southampton, Thomas Henry Croft Moody, Esq., solicitor, aged 40. LONDON : Printed and Published by MI7RDO YOUNo , , of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, fa the minty of Miadleser s Friday, Reyember 23,,2815, (w Pro 184 " T Ext BCC't POS ten( Act tho Rai Mai out Ilft) the by 1 Lon Far in t tile raiT We is it bot sea foi pll Oa DO