The Sun. — London, England, 1855-10-19 00:00:00

'ST.RATES OF SE _L A general meeting of the magistracy of Middlesex was held at Clerkenwell yesterday, for the consideration of the business of the county ; Mr. Pownall presided. On the report of the finance and general purposes com mittee, an order was made on the county treasurer for the payment of bills, salaries, and demands, to the amount of 13,7501. N. 9d., and the ordinary rates wore made. MESSRS. STRAHAN, PAUL, AND RATES, IN THE HOUSE 01' DETENTION-DISOLOSURBSS -SIiSPENSION OF THE GO . VERNOR. After the usual report from the visiting justices of the House of Detention had been read and disposed of, Mr. Woodward, the chairman of the committee, read the fol lowing report : "To har Majesty's Justices, &c. Special Report of the Visiting Justices of the House of Detention. " It having come to the knowledge of the visiting j us tices that certain prisoners, committed on a charge of mis demeanour, had not been subjected to the ordinary regu lations of the prison, a searching investigation and inquiry into all the circumstances was at once instituted; and the visiting justices, at the conclusion of their investigation, were surprised to find, from the admissions and statements of the various officers examined in the course of the in quiry, that nearly all the rules laid down by the court for the government of the prison, and sanctioned and con firmed as required by law by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, had been deliberately violated by the governor, and also by several officers, in some instances by his express directi on . Th e v i s iting justices are of opinion that the conduct of the governor has been highly reprehen sible, and they feel it to be their duty to lay the whole of the evidence before the Court for their decision. " CHAS. WOODWARD, Chairman. "House of Detention, July 30." " EVIDENCE. " John Sims, deputy governor, examined.—The governor is on leave of absence. Just previous to his leaving he told me to treat the three prisoner; Strahan, Paul, and Bates in the same way in all respects as up to that time they had been treated. I knew what that treatment was. Visitors to them were admitted at all times of the day without being questioned. Their names were not recorded. On the day after the prisoners came I saw the governor take visitors to their rooms. I have never taken visitors to their rooms myself. I have seen them admitted, and I have seen warders take visitor, to those prisoners' rooms. I have known the prisoner Strahan to be taken into the governor's house by the chaplain to see his (Strahan's) wife. The chaplain told me he was going to take Strahan into the house. He said he had authority to do so. It was on last Saturday week. I have never seen either of the prisoners go in at any other time. The three prisoners take exercise together, and they did so before the governor left. They exercise is the governor's gar den before twelve o'clock. On the occasion before al luded to Mrs. Strahan came early in the day, and was taken to the governor's house, where she remained with her husband till about seven in the evening, when they both went to his cell, and she remained there till ten at night. She then returned to the governor's house, where she remained all night. This was on Satur day, and she did not leave until the Sunday evening. She breakfasted with him in his cell about half-past eight and remained all day with him, except while he was at chapel. She also went to chapel, but sat in the governor's pew. The cell doors of the three prisoners are left open all day by the governor's order. There are no water-closets or urinals in the cells in which they are. I have not seen the other two prisoners in the governor's house. The friends of Bates have remained as late as half-past eight at night. The average number of visitors daily has been about four to each prisoner. The provisions have been of the ordinary kind. They have wine. I have taken the three up to Bow-street for examination. The prisoners I there left with the senior warder. The cab hire is charged to the office. The governor told me to pay it. He said he had not made out his bill yet. The letters of the three pri soners sent out, and also those sent in to them, aro not examined. I asked the governor whether I was to open their letters. He said `No.' I, seeing the governor take down visitors, and that the prisoners were treated differently, did not interfere. When I spoke to Warder Forth ab gut allowing the three prisoners to exercise together and con verse together, he said he had the governor's order for it. " Nathaniel P. Forth says—l am a warder. The prisoner Bates came in on the 20th of June, and went into the in firmary, where he was under the charge of Infirmary Warder Keely. Strahan came in on the 21st of June, and was given over to me, and I put him in No. 16 ordinary cell. Two hours after, Mr. Sims told me to put him iu No. 5 room by order of the governor, and I did so, On the 22d of June Sir John Dean Paul came in. The governor ordered him to No. 3 room. Mr. Sims told me they were to be exorcized in the yard separately, and watched, and they were for several days, till the !governor took Strahan into his garden. Mr. Strahan used to come round from the governor's garden, and get into the yard where Sir John Dean Paul was. The door is open betweea the two. It was unlocked, and had been for years. I reported their being together to Mr. Sims. He told me to g- to the go venor. I went, and told him they were talking. He told me to take no notice. I reported also to the governor that Mr. Strahan had gone into Sir John 1). Paul's room. Ho told me to take no notice of that. From that time they constantly went into one another's rooms, and took their meals together. Visitor, have been in the cells at meal time—Mrs. Strahan, Mrs. Bates, and Mrs. Bates's nurse. Filsil and Merrick are my subs. Bates is still in the out.) gon room--the infirmary. He was not treated by the sur goon. When they visited each other they went front one floor to another The warders did not interfere. I know that Mre. Strahan was in the cell at dinner time, and a gentleman visitor also. I took a bottle of wine from Mr. Strahan's room, No. 5; it was in a portmanteau. Mr. Sims ordered me to search the portmanteau and cell. I put it back in the portmanteau, locked that, and kept the key, I reported it to Mr. Sims. When ho came bask I gave the key to Filsil. I found a box in my store. I examined it, and found ono full bottle of !wine and part of a bottle. Mr. Sims took the box away, wine and all ; it was marked on the front from a biscuit shop. The go vernor told me the visitors and friends were to be passed in, and allowed to go into their cells. " Frederick Filsil says- - I am a sub-warder. Strahan and Bates have been under my care. I found Strahan in No. 5, and Bates in the infirmary. For the first week the infirmary warder heel charge of Bates ; afterwards I had charge of him in the gallery. On the 23d of June Strahan asked me to order him a bottle of sherry. I said I would speak to the governor, which I did. Ho said, yes; it's all right;' and he said at the same time something about the doctor, but I cannot say exactly what it was. I ordered a bottle of wine, and took it to Strahan's room. I drew the cork and left the bottle and a wineglass in the room. I reported to Forth, a warder, that the prisoners had beau in the habit of going into each other's rooms. Forth said, "The governor says you are not to notice it.' They wore in the habit of going to each other's rooms frequently. I saw on one occasion four female visitors in Mr. Bates's room at one time —one was his wife, ono his daughter, one hie niece, and the nurse, I have seen them all four there ou more than one occasion. I have seen all three in Mr. Strahan's room at one time—firs. Strithan and two gentle men. I took from Mr. Bates's room last Monday part of a bottle of wi ne . I n his room I saw a pork pie, some Ger man sausage, a currant pie, and wine. As late as eight or D i me Mrs. Strahan and Mrs. Bates have been in the cells. The lady visitors had baskets. Strahan's s ervan t brougrt. him in a basket some new -laid eggs. The baskets were lost searched. I cannot tell why I did not search them, but I suppose it was because other officers did not. It ought to have been done. I passed visitors in without any ques tions. I saw a box in Mr. Strahan's room, containing a pot of marmalade, one bottle of sherry, and part of another bottle. The box was there near a week. I afterwards saw it in Forth's store. I never received express orders I once saw Mr. Strahan with not to search the visitors. Lis wife in the governor's house. "James Merrick says—l am a sub-warder. I have had charge of Sir J o hn Dean Paul- For a few days he was treated as other prisoners. About a week after Mr. Stra ban had been here I saw him go to Sir J. D. Paul's room. I reported it to warder Forth. He said he would ask the governor about it. In about an hour be said he had spoken to the governor, i It would be who said we were to take no notice of t. my duty to atop a prisoner going from one cul l to anoth er . For some days the cell doors of Strahan, Paul, and Bates wore kept locked. Then the warder told me they were to be kept unlocked and on the jar. It w as Forth told use so. I saw wine on the mantel-piece of Sir J. D. Paul's room. I reported it to Forth. I spoke to Sir John about the wine, and he said, 'I suppose the governor ordered it, for I have spoken to him ' Visitors were allowed to go into the rooms and remain any time. I have seen them whilst exercising together conversing with each other. I have neverseen more than one visitor at a time in Sir J. D. Paul's room, but ho could go if ho pleased to the other two prisoner's rooms whilst visitors were there Letters were d e li vered to them unopened. 21r. Sim, gave. them to me to deliver.l " William Keely says—l am infirmary warder, I had Mr. Bates under my charge from his first coming to the prison for about eight or nine days. He w as p u t i n the infirmary. He was treated in the same way as other pri soners as to diet. While under my charge I kept the cell l oc k e d. His wife was the only person who saw him after the regular hours. He took no medicine while in the in firmary. He had nothing but plain diet. He was given over at the end of Sor 9 days to another wa r d er. The in firmary was not occupied when Bates oame into the prison. c "The R ev . George Jepson, chaplain, says—Th e th ree prisoners, Strahan, Paul, and Bates, have had the oppor tunity of taking exercise together. I have seen two of them together. I know they have had privileges as to visitors once when. I went to the cell of Mr. Strahan his wife and brother were there, so I did not go in. Nothing has passed between me and the governor respecting the . three prisoners ; he merely said when he went away, ' I hope these three gentlemen will continue to have the same indulgence.' One day went to Mr. Strahan's cell; he was ill. His wife was coming that day to see him, and I sug gested th a t h e should see her in the governor's house. Strahan objected to it at first, told Sims of it. There was no o_cr left with but I urged it on him. I M wad hie wife all day .Mr.Strahau heave, I told aims thought would be a great indulgence. I told him I would take the responsibility on myself—no warder remained with them. lam quite sure they were left entirely alone. I stayed a short time with them. I confess it was wrong of me. I was aware that Mrs. Streamn was going to sleep that night in the governor's house. I think Mrs. Hill told me before the governor (her husband) and his family left town Mrs. Strahan would on that particular night sleep in the go vernor's house. As the rules had been so far relaxed, I thought it would be no great extension of the indulgence, his seeing her in the house. I did not take him from the cell to the house myself. "Alfred Foster says—l am a warder. I take down the names of visitors, but it is not my duty to search parcels. I had not before Monday last put the same questions to the visitors of the three bankers as to visitors to other pri soners. It was because I observed visitors passed in by the governor without their names being recorded that Ipassed visitors to these three prisoners without questioningthem. The names since Monday last have been recorded. Mrs.rs Sarah Waterworth, matron, says—Once I met the chief warder late walking up and down the corridor. I asked him whether anything was the matter? He said, No ; Mr. Strahan was ill.' It was about eleven at night. I went with Mr. Sims to Mr. Strahan's cell, and asked him whether there was anything I could do for him. He said, 'No.' I once went with the governor some time ago to see a male prisoner. I met Mrs. Strahan in the corridor on the following day, and she said, Oh, I believe I have to thank you for your kindness in visiting Mr. Strahan last evening.t "Mr. John Sims further examined.—l saw the chap lain and Mr. Strahan go into the governor's house. The chaplain made no arrangement for his being taken back. He told me a few minutes before that he was going to take him. I said, I don't cars where you take them, so as you have authority.' He said he had, and mentioned the names of Mr. Burslem and Mr. Halsey. I have seen Mr. Northall Laurie here. He gave me no orders. On the Saturday evening, about seven, Mr. Strahan walkedby himself from the governor's to the cell unattended. The rules since the last meeting of the visiting justices have been strictly ob served. " The Rev. George Jepson further says—Before the go vernor left ho said to me he had been in the habit of pass ing their letters to the three prisoners, Paul, Strahan, and Bates, and asked me if I would object to do the same, and if any letters came addressed to them under cover to me would I pass them in ? and also asked me if I would post any letters they might give me, to which I assented, sup posing their family letters were referred to. I received two letters under cover to me for Mr. Bates from Brussels, which Mr. Bates said came from his brother. I posted two letters, one from Mr. Strahan to his wife, and the other from Sir John Dean Paul to his sister. " August 20. "Mr. Frederick Wm. Hill, the governor, says—Having heard the evidence read, I admit the general correctness of it. I said to Sims on leaving, Go on quietly.' That is all I remember saying with respect to the three prisoners. Up to the time of my leaving visitors came at all times, as many as liked together, and stopped as long as they pleased, by my permission. There was no written order of a visit leg justice to permit the prisoners to see visitors out of the appropriated places. No visiting justice gave directions that the rules should be relaxed. Ordinarily visitors are not admitted into the calls ; the visitors to Strahan, Paul, and Bates were. A gentleman from the Court of Bank ruptcy came soon after they were admitted, and said it was necessary to see them together, and I allowed him to see them together. After that they asked me to allow them to communicate and associate in each ether's rooms, and I permitted them. I knew their cell doors were not locked, but I never recollect giving orders that they should bo left unlocked. I saw Strahan, Paul, and Bates exercising to gether. Although I do not recollect ordering the cell doors to be left unlocked, I certainly knew they were not locked. Silence was not maintained by these three prisoners, and they were not invariably attended by an officer. Rule 22 has not, I freely admit, been observed. Letters addressed to them came by post in the ordinary way, and were not opened. I admit the statement of the chaplain, that on leaving the prison I requested him to receive letters ad dressed to him under cover for the prisoners. Visitors were admitted on a Sunday, although it is directly contrary to rule 22. It was with my authority. I gave no authority or permission for the chaplain taking Mr. Strahan lute my house. Sir John D. Peal had two glasses of nine a-day by the written order of the surgeon. I gave permission to the warder to go out and fetch wine for the other prisoners, Strahan and Bates, but I believe there is no written order for those two having wine. "Rev. George Jepson further examined—With respect to the prisoner Strahan seeing his wife in the governor's house, I did not tell Sims that I had authority to do it. I mentioned the names of two magistrates, Mr. Halsey and Mr. Burslem, they having expressed a wish that indulgence should be granted to the prisoners, Strahan, Paul, and Bates, consistently with their safe custody. I did not say to Sims that Mr. Halaey and Mr. Burselm had authorised it. I did it under the idea that they (the prisoners) had been allowed certain privileges, and from conversation I had had with Mr. Halsey and Mr. Burslem I thought that both those gentlemen and the committee would have no objection to it. Nothing transpired between me and the governor about Mrs. Strahan sleeping there ; the first I heard of it was from Mrs. Hill. She said Mrs. Strahan was coming up from the country, and had inquired whether she (Mrs. Hill) could accommodate her with a bed. I did in form Mr. Bates, after the governor had left, that com munications might be made to him under cover to me. Thu letters from Brussels I gave to Mr. Bates, and he told mu they were from his brother. "John Sims further examined—The governor was absent when Strahan left. When Strahan left he made an obser vation to Forth, the officer of the division. I did not hear it, but Forth told me it was that I had acted harshly; but that Capt. Hill had treated him kindly, and that he should reward him for his trouble. The governor told me to treat them as he had directed, and that he should return in August. The day that I expected the governor back the chief clerk told me that the chaplain had said the go vernor would not be back for a fortnight. I have seen gentlemen visit Strahan with fruit-baskets in their hands. " October 8. "Nathaniel P. Forth, further examined, says—On the morning Mr. Strahan went out, the 2d August, he said, You are getting more harsh every day, and the next thing I expect to hear is to go into a common cell.' He said ' The magistrates are a set of Radicals—(a loud laugh in court)--they are no gentlemen ; never mind I leave you to-day, but as for Capt. Hill, I shall reward him for his kindness to me.' I reported that to the deputy-go vernor immediately afterwards. Strahan had his money, watch, and other articles in hie possession ; they had not been taken from him; by the rules they ought to have been. I had charge of Strahan on his first coming in. I put him in a common cell. In about two hours afterwards he was removed to the octagon room by the governor. When Sir J. D. Paul and Mr. Bates came in there was room for them in common cells. Bates was sent up di rectly to the infirmary, and Sir J. D. Paul into No. 3 room, both of which are octagon rooms." Mr. Woodward said that having been called upon by the chairman to read the report he had obeyed the summons, and it became his painful duty to rise, as chairman of the visiting justices of the House of Detention, and he must say that ever since he had been in the commission of the peace he had never done so under more painful emotions than on the present occasion. The visiting justices were called upon from time to time to make reports on the state of the prison, and were required by act of Parliament to state in those reports whether there had been any devia tion from the rules laid down for the regulation of the prison, and sanctioned by the secretary of State. Under those circumstances, therefore, it was quite impossible that the committee of visiting justices could do otherwise than bring the subject under the notice of the court. It might be as well for him, as the magistrates might not remember the different points contained in the report, to give them a brief epitome of the evidence embraced in it on the subject. It was well known that by the regulations of the prison no magistrate was permitted to be on the committee of visi tors for a longer period than twelve months, and having served the time he went off, but was subsequently re-elected. On his (Mr. Woodward's) return to office, he went to the prison and inquired particularly of the governor as to the power of the visiting justices t atment of three particular prisoners, and on being in formed that they had required certain things within the that c ul ' possib . to grant , he w is h ed to them, consistent with the rules of the shown all the indulgence p i s l sy h o e nh d . e themex t end ed not r e inquired if they dieted prison was one merely for safe custod , and not one of , punishment, he (Mr. Woodward) themselvesserie (but , n a o s t personse s ty ) were they liked,ow ed to au d h t a o v e what oh a s neeTcfehoser governor gave him no reason f r ro u ni les th h e ad been departed from, but a themselves all that might be deemed to be reasonabl e. Pur received from few days afterwards ho was informed by & magistrate who was not on the committee that the rules had been taorsbweleiresvehethraect greatly deviated from and infringed. On the Monday morning he he saw the d went to the prison, w here d eputy-gover nor, th e governor then being on leave of a b se nce on his unual an nual holiday, and put to him several questions, and lee learned that the rules had in several cases been infrin Further inquiries infringe s in respect of th ose three prisoners. ' were t the!? m a d e , an d the ev id ence that had been read was taken the prison required upon the subj ec t. Th e regu lations o f with one that prisone rs s h ou ld not assoc i a te or conve rse • ners another, but it a p peare d t h a t t h ese pr isoners were allo wed to associat e , converse, and walk with eac h o th er , in vie . Wien of tho se rules, and withoat any consent prev iously ohtained from th e visiting justices. The regu l at i ons o f Ice prison alloWed prisoners to see two friends daily, but not together, and then only for 20 minutes at a time, ex cept with the express permission of the governor under very special circumstances. In the case of these prisoners, however, persons were admitted without their names being taken in diaerinainately at all hours ; and as to letters, which, by the rules, were required to be examined, they were received and passed withoett being seen or opened by the governor, and the prisoners were also all°w t send out letters t o th e i r friends without having tond (3' orgo the usual supervisi on o f the governor. If there w a rm excuse to be offered at a ll f or any one, it was to be ma"dy on the part of the' chapl a i n , w h ose duty was of a kilt' character, but he had been admonished to attend solely to his jiuties for the future, but on thie plAttor ho jan, say that the governor was not without excuse. He was furnished with a journal, and it was his duty to enter in it all circumstances that might occur, which was laid before the committee at their meeting every Monday morning, when those entries were not passed over in silence but read aloud, and every circumstance noticed and commented upon. Consequently, if the governor had experienced any difficulty in the course of the week, by then bringing it forward he could easily have removed the responsibility from his own shoulders and thrown it upon the committee. While they could not conceal the fact that he had acted in violation of the rules, it was the decided opinion of the visiting justices that the governor had not been actuated by any improper motives. If they had not that opinion he would not have retained the confidence of the magi strates of the county one day longer. Of that he (Mr. r Woodward) was fully persuaded, and believed that Mr. Hill, as governor of the House of Detention, bad allowed his kindlier feelings to get the better of his sense of duty, which induced him to yield in the way he had done. He should conclude by moving a resolution that he thought would meet the full justice of the case, and would at the same time satisfy the public, that if hereafter there should be any difference made in the treatment of prisoners sent to the House of Detention, it would be found out by the visiting justices, and the case of the persons in whose fa vour the difference was made would be brought before the court and dealt with accordingly. He concluded by mov ing a resolution to the effect that the governor of the House of Detention be called in and publicly reprimanded, for the manner in which he had permitted the rules and regu lations of the prison to be broken and violated, by himself personally as well as by the subordinate officers of the prison. Mr. W. P. BODKIN, in seconding the resolution that had just been brought before the notice of the eourt by Mr. Woodward, said it was not without considerable hesitation on his part that he had come to the conclusion that the resolution now proposed was the proper mode to deal with this matter. The governor, by his example, had shown a total disregard of all the rules and regulations that should be set by a superior officer to his subordinates—rules which it was his boundeu duty to respect and maintain— and in acceding to the resolution he thought they were barely discharging their duty to the public, to their brother magistrates, and to themselves, and instead of fol lowing it up by more serious results, to deal with it by a public reprimand. As far as he was aware of the indiscretion of Mr. Hill, they had no reason to complain in any other instance than the present. If they had, he should not have voted for a simple reprimand, but that he should at once be dismissed from his situation. He concluded by second. ing the resolution that had been rubmittesi to the court. Mr. Burslem and Mr. Halsey both strongly denied that they had ever given any instructions as to a violation of the rules of the prison, either directly or indirectly. Mr. Williams, M.P., thought the proposition of the worthy magistrate did not deal sufficiently with the ques tion, where there had been a flagrant violation of the rules of the court, sanctioned by the Secretary of State. They had that day dismissed seven inferior officers for very venial crimes. [lt may be necessary here to state that this was in allusion to a matter referred to in the report of the visit ing justices of the House of Correction, Coldbath-fields, in which it was recommended that seven sub-warders should be dismissed for having employed prisoners to perform trifling services for them, the gravest part of the charge being that the prisoners engraved the warders' names en bits of metal to be attached to coffee-pots to be used in the prison, which recommendation was confirmed by the court.] But in this case there was a violation of all rules on the part of the superior officer of the prison. After such continued viola tions of the rules by the governor, as set forth in the speech of the gentleman who seconded the resolution, he was sur prised that he should have come to the conclusions he had stated. Ile thought it was a question that ought to receive their consideration, and that at least in the meantime the governor should be suspended. It might be that the magis trates would be charged with making regulations to which they obtained the sanction of the Secretary of State, but which they allowed openly to be violated. They should re member the public eye was on them, and they should be especially careful to deal out even-handed justice. The governor having taken all the responsibility upon himself, and having actually allowed one of the ♦isitors to sleep in his house all night, he could not see how the magistrates could acquit themselves in public opinion by dealing with the case in the way proposed by the resolution. Mr. KIRBY, said, as he thought the question was of ex• treme importance, he was not in favour of its being dis posed of in the hasty way now proposed. The public eye was upon them, and what was now said would be reported, and it would go forth to the public to-morrow in the papers that these three persons while in the prison had lived there with as much freedom as in their own houses. There could be no charge of a more serious nature, and he could see nothing whatever to justify the governor in the course he had taken on the present occasion. The governor had the power to appeal to the committee if he wished to make a relaxation of the rules in favour of any individuals, but nothing could justify him in the course he had taken, or them in dealing with it in the manner proposed. Their rules had been sot at nought, and it would go forth to morrow in the press, and be carried to every house in the country—and what would be said of the magistrates ? Would it not be said that the poor man for atrifling offence was treated with harshness, but to the highly criminal offenders the greatest leniency was shown ? He hoped, therefore, that the matter would be reconsidered, and not disposed of in the hasty way that was proposed. Mr. ARMSTRONG said in the early part of the day he was called upon to confirm a recommendation to discharge several subordinate officers, and although there was but a slight charge against two, they felt it to be their duty to discharge the whole of them ; but what would be a repri mand to an individual under a much graver charge, who would thee walk out of this court unscathed and un touched ? If they tolerated this offence, it would soon spread through the other institutions of the country, and would prevent thorn visiting other officers with anything beyond a reprimand, let their offences be what they might. ks their rules were subject to a higher power in the person of the Secretary of State, he thought they had no right to let the matter pass over without getting his sanction to the course that the court should pursue, as the rules that he had sanctioned and approved had been violated by their governor. After that, in common fairness to the minor culprits, they ought to go something beyond a mere repri mand ; but before they came to any decision, he should like to hear what the governor had to say in his defence. Before they ridded themselves of the matter, and passed sentence upon Mr. Hill, he thought that the evidence taken should be submitted to the Secretary of State. Mr. E. E. ANTROBDS said he could not forget that he had that day been a party to the dismissal of seven officers of the House of Correction, Coldbath fields, and one of the House of Correction at 'Westminster for misconduct; and he could not see how they could pass over one of the gravest offences that had ever been committed since he had had the honour of being in the commission of the peace. He moved as an amendment :—" That the Governor of the House of Detention be suspended, and that the evidence that has been taken be circulated and taken into considera tion on a future day." Mr. GOODHART seconded the amendment. Mr. W. PAYNE remarked that they should not lose sight of the fact that the great object of this prison was to secure prisoners from escape, so that they might be forthcoming on a future day in a court of justice. By the rules of the prison persons were required to do certain work, such as to make their own beds and wash the yards and cella of the prison ; but, by application to two justices, he found that certain privileges could be granted to them in their exemp tion from such duties. He found also that by the rules pri soners could have a pint of wine per day. (A laugh and cries of " Porter.") Gentlemen might laugh at it but he would read it to them from their own printed regulations for the House of Correction, Coldbath fields, and House of Detention. (Mr. Payne here read from a report that prisoners might he exempted from having their hair cut, from bathing, &c., but it ap peared that it was an old copy of the rules not now in force.) Mr. Payne said if these rules were obsolete he could say nothing more upon them, but still he ob tained from them this fact, that at that time certain pri vileges were granted to certain individuals. It was in this way that the common thief or prostitute did not want such privileges as were granted to parties in a higher stage of life. He thought the governor acted from superabundant kindness?, and if he erred it was only on the aide of kind ness, and not with any intention to do wrong. He believed that justice would be fully administered by adopting the course pointed out by the resolution. Mr. WOODWARD, in reply, said that some gentleman had remarked that the eyes of the public were upon them in reference to that question, and such no doubt would be the case, but the proceedings of that day would show that it could not be done without corning under the notice of the court. If the governor, or other officer, violated the rules of the prison, it would be found out by the visiting justice, and he believed the justice of the case would be answered in the way he had proposed. If the governor was reprimanded it would go forth to thepublic, which would in itself be a great punishment to a person in his position, and it was by no means necessary to keep the matter open for further discussion. The CLIAIRUAN then put the question, when there ap peared— For the amendment 24 Against it ..... Majority f or t h e amendment —l9 The amendment was then declared to be carried, and Mr. Sims, the de puty - governor, was appointed governor pro tem. Some routine business was disposed of, and the court adjourned. _The Bev. ' Thos. Macdougall, TUB BISHOPRIC OP T I -.4 DuAN . apointed to the Rshop r i o y.sterday by the Bishop s of Bi h Madras. e vp. was r I D irL.ip Consecrated Francise town clerk lia.s of -IT L n a ive r 4 it who hai been Calcutta, Victoria, and LEITH.—RESIGNATION OP PROVOST are happy to be able to state that tei received a letter from the provost, he, from all that has transpired, h av i n n g, his office, seen it to be his duty to take this step.—Leith. Herald. THE PETERBOROUGH GRAND CHORAL RESTIVAL.— The Grand Choral Festival was celebrated in the nave of the Cathedral on Tuesday 'alt. Sebastopol, Oct. 6. My Lord,—Marshal Pelissier having signified to me his wish that the cavalry force under General d'Allon ville, at Eupatoria, should be reinforced by some Eng lish cavalry, I at once acceded to his reqaest, and have ordered the brigade of light cavalry, under Brigadier- General Lord George Paget, composed of the Carbi neers, 4th and 13th Light Dragoons, and 12th Lancers, and one troop of the Royal Horse Artillery, under Cap tain Thomas, to be sent for this service. I am in hopes that transport will be found to convey them early next week. I have the honour to transmit to your lordship the copy of a report I have received from Lieut.-Colonel Ready, with the details of an expedition undertaken against a fort and buildings on the island of Taman. The object was entirely carried out, and the troops have been enabled to supply themselves with a large amount of firewood and building materials. Since I last had the honour of addressing you, I have seen Lieut.-General Vivian, and I am happy to inform your lordship that he quite approves of the decision I had formed of uniting the Contingent at Kertch. Some few thousand men have already arrived there, and every exertion is being made to insure them their sup plies of food and fuel for the winter. The corps of General de Salles have, during the past week, pushed forward their advanced posts to the high ground on the left bank of the /3 elbek, overlooking Fort Sala, Their supports occupy a ridge from this place, stretch ing towards the south to Markul. The main position of the army is on high, bold ground, extending from Aitoda to Markul, with the reserves posted between the village of Urkusta and the Bridge of Tinli. The corps is further to be reinforced with the view next week of making a strong reconnaissance of the ground from Foti Sala towards Wyenbash, on the left bank of the Ratcha. I have omitted to report that Lieutenant-General Markham has been compelled, by illness, to return to England for a few months. He sailed on the 29th ult. I beg leave to enclose the lists of casualties. I have, &c., JAMES SIMPSON, General Commanding. The Lord Panmure, &c. (Enclosure 1.) Yenikale, Sept. 27, 1855. Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you, for the in formation of his Excellency General Simpson, that three companies of the 71st Regiment, under the com mand of Major Hunter, 71st Regiment, embarked at Kertch on Monday last, the 24th inst., on board her Majesty's ship Minna, at an early hour in the morning, and proceeded, in company with her Majesty's gun-boats Lynx, Snake, Arrow, and Harpy, together with about nine (9) French gun-boats, conveying six companies of French infantry, to the opposite coast, and arrived about eleven o'clock a.m. opposite Taman, thelineof gun-boats extending a short distance to the eastward of Phana goria. The landing. commenced shortly afterwards, to the eastward of Phanagoria, covered by the fire from the gun-boats. There was no resistance offered, and the place had been evidently but lately evacuated. A few mounted Cossacks and infantry were the only people we had seen up to the time of landing, and who were driven from Phanagoria and Taman by the well-directed fire from the gun-boats. When the disembarkation was completed (which was effected without accident) the force moved upon Phana goria, and took quiet possession of the fort and build ings, and established itself there. A few stores were fonad still in the place, but (with the exception of an hydraulic press and some medicine-), of no partfcular value, consisting principally of hospital bedding, and some clothing, and accoutrements. There were, however, upwards of sixty-two pieces of artillery (9 and 12- pounders apparently) and four mortars, all rendered unserviceable. As the force entered Phanagoria a strong party of Cossacks appeared on the hill-side about 1i or 2 miles from the town, increased from time to time until their force appeared to amount to about 600. The gun-boats Lynx, Arrow, and Snake immediately opened a fire upon them, as did also some of the French boats. The prac tice from these boats was most admirable, and the Cos sacks immediately withdraw beyond the crest of the bills, leaving only a few videttes on the neighbouring ridges. Early on the following morning, the men were em ployed in collecting wood for fu e l an d h utt i ng ; the night having passed quietly, with one exception, the enemy having taken advantage of the darkness to ape proach our lines, and opened fire upon our sentries, our troops were instantly on the alert, and the Cossacks re tired. One man, an English sailor, serving at a field piece in the works, was slightly wounded in the heel. The quantity of wood for fuel, and for hutting, is something considerable, but the exact amount can scarcely be arrived at yet, but I hope to have the whole embarked by Saturday. —I have, &c., (Signed) . READY, Lieutenan;.Colonel Commanding 71st Light Infantry. Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Airey, K.C.B ' &c., Quarternia,ter- General. (Enclosure .2.) SIPPLEMENTARY NUMERICAL RETURN OF CASUALTIES FROM OTH TO 27TH SEPTEMBER, 1855. 46th Foot-3 rank and file wounded by the explosion of a magazine in the town of Sebastopol. let Battalion Rifle Brigada-1 rank and file killed • 1 ser jeant, 4 rank and file, wounded, by the explosion of a ma gazine in the town of Sebastopol. fil e Total-1 wounde rank and fil o ki lled ; 1 sergeant, 7 rank and d. W. L. PAKENHAIf, Adjutant-Genoral Enclosure 3. SUPPLEMENTARY NOMINAL RETURN OF A PRIVATE S EPT KI LLED FROM THE O TH TO THE 27TH OF ~ 1855. HILLED. SEPT. 27. Ist Battalion Ride Brigade—Private David Mathexrs, by the explosion of a magazine in the town of Sebastopol. W. L. PAKENRANT, Adjutant-General. Enclosure 4. suppLEMENTART NOMINAL RETURN OF NON. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES WOUNDED FROM 9TH TO 27TH SEPTEMBER, 1855. WOUNDED, By the explosion of a magazine in the town of Sebastopol. SEPT. 27. 4Gth Foot—Privates Thomas Miller and Michael Spring, severe l y ; John Loughrin, slightly. I s t Battalion Rifle Brigade Colonr-Serjeant John Round, severely; P r i va t es J ohn Hayes, Michael Gleeson, W illi am COX, and George Best, slightly. W. L. PAKENHAM, Adjuto.ut•Genoral. --- lADvEartsunxr.l—Medieine always aggravates chronic dis eases, such as dyspepsia (indigestion), flatulency, habitual con stipation, nervous, bilious, and liver complaints, 4. , :c., but Du Barry's delicious Revalenta Arabica Food invariably cures them in a very short time. We extract two out of many thousand expressions of gratituderrom invalids :—From the Dowager C ou ntess of Castlestuart. Cure 52 , ( ;12.—R oss t revor, County of Down, Ireland, December 9, 1854. The Dowager Countess great nervousness an d irritability of many years of Ca-etlestuart feels ind uce d , i n the interest of sufferingsufferinghu manity, to state that Du Bar r y' s excellent Revalenta Arabica Food has cured her, after all m e di c i nes had failed, of indiges- This food de serves the confidence of all sufferers, and may be considered a rea l bl essing. Inquiries will be cheerfully answered.—Tre vag l er, Gulval, near Penzance, Feb. standing.t io n , bile, 20, 1851.—Eighteen years nervous debility, violent palpita- Lion of the heart, throbbing of the temples, violent pains on th e left side and back, sh or t ness of breath, cough, numbness of the extremities, cramps, s p asms, flatulency, retching, and such general weakness, th a t I was consequently fearful of fall ing when on m y legs, all these symptoms have been removed by Btu Barry's excellent Revalenta Arabica Food.—Maay GELBERT The 121 b., carriage free, on receipt of Post-office order. Barry 60 and 68, Cornhill ; 49, Bishopsgate-street: o p n u d r : ra t r et e n e t . : p 2 m 4 r , 0 7 o t Du Barry dr Co., 77, Regent-street, London ; also at 182, Piccadilly ; 60, Graccchurch-street; 330, and 451, Strand; terFweaerrtl3.ingdon-street ; 67, St. 55, Cha r ing.cross ; 54, Upper Baker-street; 3 6 0 3 , 4, Cheapside •; Oxford-street; 89, High-street, Camden -town ; 18, Pall aCnodn I d s nit o : street; m al mall; 7 2 ' [AOVSRTISSMRNT.] comb-street ; 13, King W illiam- s treet, Paul's Churchyard ; TUB WAR IN TRH B kar. —Po 1 P: Pall-mall-East 1 0 . m c k a s l p l :a g. s s t t r ; de l wt 3 ;a 2 r , 9,ls. : wimps) PATRNT RECONNOITRING °IAMBS.— Messrs. S. and B. Solo mons, opticians, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Observe Opposite the York Hotel. By leer Majesty's Roy 1 Letters Patent for valuable and extraordinary improvements in the most powerful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Race course, Opera, and Perspective Glasses, to know the distances of objects viewed through them—of great importance to the army, navy, and others. These telescopes possess such extra ordinary powers that some 3,i inches, with an extra eye piece, Is ill show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the same telescope can Fe seen a person's countenance three miles and a half distant, and an object from 16 to 20 miles. They aro of larger and all sizes, with increasing powers accordingly ; w hil e their vary ing from 4 to 6 inches enable us to discover more than the above, and the Georgian with his 6 satellites, &c. — The Royal Exhibition, 1851.—Valuable, newly-invented, very small, powerful waistcoat-pocket glass,the size of a walnut, by which a person can bo seen and known 13 miles distant; they answer every purpose on the race-course, and at the opera house s country sc enery, an d ships are , clearly seen at 8 t o 1 0 miles. They aro invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, ga mekeepers, and tou r i s t s. Opera, r ace - course, camp, and perspective glasses, with wonderful Power.—Newly-constructed Spectacle Lenses of the great. eat transparent p ower . The valuable advantage d er i ves from this invention is, that vision becoming impaired is preserved and strengthened, and very aged persons are enabled to employ their eight at the most minute occn. pation.can see with these lenses of a much less magnify. ing power—and they do not require the frequent changes to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. Deaf ness—Now Discovery.—The Organic Vibrator, an extraordi nary powerful, small, newly-invented instrument for deafness, entirely different from all others, to surpass anything of the kind that has been, or probably ever can be, produced. Being of the same colour as the skin, is not perceptible ; it enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at public assemblies; the unpleasant sensation of singing noises in the ears is entirely removed; and it affords all the assist. vice that possibly could be desired. 39, Albemarleltreet, Pico42lly. 4Asinvo—opposito the York liotol t ___. The following paper, "On some points connected with Agricultural Chemistry," by J. B. Lewes, F.R.S., and Dr. J. H. Gilbert, F. 0.5., was read at the late meeting of the above pssociatiou : The author explained that their subject was necessarily somewhat controversial, for Baron Liebig had recently published a criticism on their experiments and opinions, which had been circulated very freely in England, France, Germany, and America ; and, from the well-merited re putation of that distinguished chemist, his statements and opinions had been echoed almost unexamined by numerous writers, both in the technical and general press. To those statements aid opinions, therefore, the authors now pro posed to address themselves. They would first call atten tion to the unfairness of an article on the question at issue, in a recent number of the " Journal of the High land Society of Scotland,"* as by so doing they would be naturally led to a proper definition of the subject before them. They explained that it was agriculture, not nor mal vegetation—that is, the growth of plants, under culti vation, and not their growth in circumstances under which every element necessary for their development had to be specially provided. In other words, they pre. supposed, as the preliminary conditions of their inquiry, a soil under ordinary cultivation and an atmosphere—each yielding, unaided, their quota to the result. Indeed, Baron Liebig had defined the province of agricultural chemi s t r y t o b e that of produ c i ng more corn and more meat, and no t sim ply corn and meat, which had been produced for centuries without her aid. Looking at the subject in this point of view, the authors maintained, as a fundamental fact, that the composition of agricultural vegetable produce was no direct guide in the choice of manure for the various crops grown in rotation— that which was required being simply the resultant deficit for the artificial production of that margin of proeuce which distinguished agriculture, as practised in this coun try, from natural vegetation, or from produce obtained for the purposes of export, without any return to the laud by home manures. Those of their experiments which had been passed under criticism by Baron Liebig were taken, with others by their side, to illustrate the conclusions to which the authors had arrived. They first brought a summary of the results of their experiments on the growth of wheat, by different shemical manures, during many consecutive years, and they maintained that, inasmuch as by means of such ma nures they could raise the produce by from 10 to 20 bushels per acre over the unmanured produce, and, indeed, far ex ceed the result obtained by the annual supply of farm-yard manure; that this being the case, the objection of Baron Liebig that their soil was naturally so rich as to be unfit for experiment, must be considered to be entirely without foundation. They then illustrated by tables and diagrams of results, by reference to which Baron Liebig had endea voured to prove the contrary :-Ist, " That the mineral constituents of wheat cannot by themselves increase the fertility of land ;" and 2d, " That the produce in grain and straw is rather proportional to the supply of ammonia." So far as it went they fully accepted the above definition of their conclusions as given by Baron Liebig—subject, of course, to the qualifications which their own papers would indicate. But they utterly repudiated that definition when understood in the meaner assumed by Baron Liebig, when summing up and giving his verdict on their opinions at the conclusion of his treatise. They next showed by , reference to tables that nitrogenous manures, whether ap plied in the form of ammoniacal salts, nitrate of soda, or rape-cake, had a great effect in the increase of produce of barley also—the next in importance of the cereal grains. Turning to turnips, the type of the root crops grown in alternation with the cereals, they sub m itt e d t h at Baron Liebig s stateme n t, th at the phosphates were the only manures which they had found to increase the growth of the turnip, was directly contrary to the whole tenour of their papers on the subject, in which they had maintained' the absolute necessity of matters yielding both as s i m il a bl e carbon and nitrogen within the so il, for the prod uc ti on of a full amou n t of the crop in question. They did main tain, however, that phosphoric or phosphatic manures had an action on the development of the underground fibrous feeders of the plant, and, consequently, on its rapid growth aid development, which could not be accounted for by the mere supposition of supplying the actual constituents of the crop to be grown and removed from the land. They illustrated that in their experiments, they had the very circumstances provided which hal been demanded by . Baron Liebig as necessary for the support of their conclu sions ; and thus it was proved that even where existed in the land a residue of phosphates from previous manuring, more than would be contained in many heavy crops, still an annual additional supply gave annually a consider able increase of produce. They further pointed out that Baron Liebig had endeavoured to substantiate his objec tions by comparisons, which they showed to be quite inad missible, whilst one main argument he had founded upon a mere misprint, which reference to the succeeding tables would at once have explained. His argument on the point in question was therefore simply reversed. They next illustrated by a collective table the action of manures on sone of the most important crops of rotation, including wheat and barley as cereals, turnips as a root crop, and beans and clover as leguminous crops. From this table it appeared that, whilst mineral manures alone hail little or no effect in increasing the produce of wheat and barley grown respectively in succession, nitrogenous ma nures, on the other hand, yielded most striking results. And here attention was called to the fact that these manures had a similar effect on a corn-exhausted soil on the farm of the Earl of Leicester, at Holkham, of which the surface soil was poor and 'light, but the subsoil somewhat rich and loamy; and, also, at the farm of the Duke of Bedford at Woburn, on a soil and subsoil naturally of the poorest pos sible description. And they further maintained that these results of direct experiment on different soils were perfectly in accordance with the general experience of practical far mers all over the country, as to what was the predominant characteristic ofcorn exhaustion. In the experiments quoted mineral manures were, of course, found to give a further increment of increase when the nitrogenous manure em ployed was in excessive quantity. With turnips, again, superphosphate of lime had given an average increase during a series of years of more than 7 tons of the bulk ; the addition of alkalis to this had even diminished the amount of increase. Ammonia salts alone, on the other hand, had only given a few hundredweights of increase, instead of more than as many tons, by the phosphatic manure. The mixture of both mineral and ammoniacal manures bad, however, given a better produce still • though not equal to that which would have been ob tained had there been also a liberal supply of carbonaceous organic matter within the soil. Turning to beans and clover, nitrogenous manures which had been so beneficial to the cereals, and phosphates which had been so much so to the turnips, had here comparatively little effect. The constituent of manure which acted in the most charac teristic manner with these leguminous crops was the alkali potass, which, when used as a direct manure to soil of a similar description, had compar a ti ve l y littl e e ff ec t on the increase of growth of cereals or turnips. In these remarkable facts, though the experiments cited were by no means to be taken as examples of manuring, the authors considered there was afforded an interesting clue to the principles involved in manuring, fallow, and the rotation of crops. They next called attention to the analysis of three actual rotations; the course in each case being turnips, barley, clover, and wheat. In one instance, the rotation com mencing without manure; in the second with super phosphate of lime alone ; and in the third, with a mixed and pretty full manuring. It appeared that, in each case, the clover grown between the barley and the wheat (the intervention of which, instead of the immediate suc cession of the wheat, would greatly increase the produce of the latter), removed from the land very much more of phosphoric acid, of potass, of lime, and of magnesia —in fact, of every important mineral constituent except silica —than either the precding barley or the succeeding wheat. Hence it was maintained that the effect of this leguminous crop, in rotation as a preparation for wheat, could not be, according to the theory of Baron Liebig, to increase the available supply of, or to conserve within the soil, the im portant mineral constituents of the crop. Unless, indeed, in the case of silica; which, ho wever , B aron Li e bi g had himself maintained would never be wanting in sufficient quantity in any soil provided there were a sufficiency of available alkalies present. Taking these facts, together with those indicating the most important m anuring for the cereals, as well as with others relatin g to the comp os iti on and known circumst ances o f growth of the leguminous crops, it could only be concluded that the clover had accu mulated from the atmosphere within the soil—a supply of available nitrogen to a great extent exhausted by the growth of the previous cereal, barley, and so essential for the succeeding cereal, wheat. Finally, attention was called to the fact, that but a comparatively small proportion of the nitrogen supplied in manure for the growth of cereals, was recovereu in the increase produced. They showed by a table that the loss of nitrogen was greater or less according to the amount of it supplied in manure, and to th e con di i ons f avoura bl e or otherwise as to mineral supply, character of the season, &c. Under the most favourable supplied conditions—that is, with a full supply cf minerals and a limited supply of nitrogen, they had only recovered in the increase about half the nitrogen contained in the manure. But when nitrogen was supplied in quantity sufficient to yield a full crop for any given season, they had only obtained about one-third of the supplied nitrogen in the increase. And, inasmuch as, when the amount of nitrogen employed W4S not very great, the one-half or two-thirds which was not recovered in the increase obtained in the year of the ap plication of the manure had little or no effect on the next crop, it could not be supposed that the excess of nitrogen still remained within the soil. It was worthy of remark that vegetable physiologists had frequently observed the evolution of nitrogen from the leaves of plants during their growth, beyond that which was due to the atmosphere with which they had been supplied. But as it had not yet been clearly shown that the cereals gave off more nitrogen in this way than the leguminous crops of rotation, further experiment was needed before the loss in question, and consequently the varying characters in this respect of the different plants in rotation, could with full confidence be explained by reference to the functional action in question. The only explanation which had been suggested as special to the . cereals was that proposed by Mr. Way, namely, that the silica required by these plants is taken up as a double silicate, of which ammonia is one of the bases, and that this alkali or its constituents is evolved upon the fixation of the silica within the plant. It was at least not in fa vour of the view that the authors had found that water containing salts of ammonia dissolved less silica than pure water when percolated through a given bulk of soil. It must be admitted, however, that although the explanation of this loss of nitrogen with the cereals might require fur ther investigation, which th e authors had hoped to devote to it, yet, as in the case of other crops, they had recovered in a series of years a much larger proportion of the supplied nitrogen, theycensidered that the loss in question could not be wholly due either to drainage of soluble or the eva poration of volatile compounds of nitrogen; but that the fact of a considerable loss in the production of a full crop of the cereal grain must be looked upon as an important and fundamental item in studying the rationale of agricul tural practices. Upon the whole they concluded 1. That the manure indicated by the resultant require ments of British agriculture has no direct connection with the composition of the mineral substances collectively found in the ashes of the produce grown on or exported from the farm ; and that the direct mineral manures which are required are not advantageously applied for the direct reproduction of the exportable corn, but it should be used for the green or fallow crops, the office of which it is to collect from the atmosphere, or to conserve on the farm, nitrogen for the increased growth of the saleable cereal grains. 2. That the nitrogen required to be provided within the soil for this purpose is far greater than that contained in the increase of produce obtained by it. 3. That the effects of fallow in increasing the growth of the saleable cereal grains, chemically considered, are not measurable by the amount of the additional mineral food * Professor Anderson, on the part of the Highland Society, repudiate 4 its responsibiliiy for the article in cipestion, aad Mr. Robt 4ussell, of NI TT A I i n , a l so clinlitialefl all e 9 Nieetlea with its atithiirship.- of plants liberated thereby, these being, under ordinary cultivation, in excess of the assimilable nitrogen existing in, or condensed within, the soil in the same period of time ; the amount of which latter, therefore—the avail able nitrogen—is the measure of the increased produce of corn which will be obtained. 4. That the beneficial effects of rotation in increasing the production of saleable produce, chemically considered, is not dependent on the fact of one plan taking from the soil more of the different mineral constituents than an other ; but on the property of the so-called green or fallow crops Winging cn, or conserving upon the farm, more nitrogen than is yielded to them in manure, whilst the crops to which they are subservient are both largely ex ported from the farm, and yield in their increase consi derably less of nitrogen than is given to them in manure. 5. In a word, that, in the existing condition of British agriculture, a full production of the saleabe cereal grains, with, at the same time, other exportable produce, is only attained —whether by manures, fallow, or rotation—by an accumulation of available nitrogen, nominally an atmo spheric constituent, within the soil itself. A lengthened discussion followed the reading 'of the paper, in which Baron Liebig, the Marquis of Tweeddale, Professor Anderson, Dr. Daubeny, and Mr. Russell took part ; after which Dr. Gilbert replied. WHY SHOULD AN ALLIANCE WITH NOR WAY AND SWEDEN BE OF IM PORTANCE ? TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—l am induced to propose this question, as I be lieve it is generally admitted that the time has not yet arrived, nor is it even at hand, in which a lasting peace is possible, and, consequently, England and France may yet strengthen their position and advance the objects of war by fresh alliances. In suggesting an alliance with Norway and Sweden I trust I may justly be allowed to claim for those countries an exception frem the reproach of a "dishonourable neutrality," with which your Prime Minister recently charged the treater European Powers who have thought it consistent with their position to stand aloof from the contest, for the former States stake their very existence by co-operation, which I presume neither Prussia nor Austria would be inclined to admit as the explanation of its inaction. Your Prime Minister, in the speech to which I have above alluded, did not iudeed mention Norway and Swe den, but, if lam not greatly mistaken, this forbearance may be attributed to the still less flattering supposition that their accession or non accession to the policy of the Western Powers is comparatively of little value. And here, then, you have the seceed reason for the appear ance of these lines,—namely, that although there exists some floating idea, that Norway and Sweden, by their position . in the very lion's mouth, might be applied to a better purpose than mere neutrality, yet the opinions generally entertained by the English public as to the service which they could render are very indistinct. The only advantage English politicians seem hitherto to have promised themselves from a Norwegian-Swedish alliance, is that an army from Sweden might be throwa into Finland, and that such a diversion would, in a direct manner, assist the blockading fleets in the Baltic, and indirectly second the operations of the allies on the shores of the Black Sea, by preventing the Czar from sending the flower of his northern army to the Crimea. It cannot be doubted that a Scandinavian army In Fin land would have hid an important influence on the course of events ; and it may not be too presumptuous to suppose that by its judicious employment Sweaborg, as well as Sebastopol, might now have been wrested from Russia, while the Swedish arms might have found an opportunity of washing off the shame of the igno minious surrender of that stronghold in 1809. I am convinced, however, that it wo u ld b e i n t h e power of Norw a y and Sweden to play a far more im portant part in the present war drama than has been generally assigned to them. It will, probably, at the first glance, appear to most persons a strange and even absurd statement, yet I trust to prove it not the less true, that the most effective means of cooperation of these two kingdoms lies not in their power to raise an army of from 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers, but in their ca pabilities as maritime nations, and I the less he-itate to propound this opinion as, by private co mmun i cat i ons, I find that such h as not altogether escaped the attention of persons in this country. When we ask why is it that Russia, with the excep tion of the destruction of Bomaraund and the conflagra tion of the magazines at Sweaborg, is still in the Bettie as strong in a military sense (for I speak not of the effect of the blockade on her trade) as when the war began ? why are all her formidable stronghold-, in that part still in her possession ?—why is it that Cronstadt has not been so much as struck by a single shell I—why is it that the glorious but incomplete nperstions of the allies at Sweaborg could not be followed up ?—and, finally, why have the allied fleets, so justly the objects of so much pride and confidence, done so little in the waters of the North ? The reiterated answer is that the allies are in want of small and suitable vessels—a fleet of guri-boats, fit for rapid ma noeuvring among the intricate banks, rocks, islets, and narrow firths of the Baltic Sea ; and that such ves sels England and France have not possessed, and coubi not build and bring up in time for effective operations. But just such a fleet Norway and Sweden could have furnished, and in number probably superior to the reed. The two kingdoms have together about 400 gun-beats and mortar-vessels of different sizes ;* and if that slum ber be somewhat reduced—a part of the Swedish gun boats, I understand, not being afloat—it is, at all events, certain that the two countries could have furnished a fleet of at least 300 gun boats and other small vessels, purposely built and adapted for the Russian stores in the Baltic, and that might, without difficulty, have been brought to their appointed places. Nor is it generally known in England that Norway and Sweden have in scribed on their rolls 68,000 men as liable to the service in the fleet. Of these Norway alone has about 50,000 (all men born and bred in the seaport towns, and accuse tomed to the sea), and I assert only what I believe is generally recognised among seafaring men when I state that these men are among the best sailors in the world. Now, sir, I ask if the matchless fleets of Eng land and France in the Baltic had been supported by such sea forces as these, or a part of them, and on the land side by a Scandinavian army of 40,000 men, how would it in all probability have fared with the Russians in those waters ? and might not the most im portant operations in their effect on the war have era this been successfully accomplished ? With these facts before us I think it will at once be conceded that an alliance with Sweden and Norway would be chiefly desirable for the sake of their fleets, and, if so, it is to be remarked that they are the only States in Europe which are able to supply that assistance to the allied cause. I will not attempt to lay down the conditions on which such an alliance is to be purchased ; but i❑ the Sardinian alliance we have seen that terms are to be made to meet the exigencies of each of the contracting Powers. In my next letter I should wish, with your permis• sion, to represent a piece of Russian policy towards Nor• way, which would seem in itself to afford a sufficient mo tive for the two kingdoms to j4iin the contest, even with- out asking guarantees or sub-idies. Until then, I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, A NORWEGIAN (R). * 79 Norwegian gun-boats are supplied with tao 601 b, mortars each; 55 part with one 241 b., part with two 241 b. guns each. WIND AND WEATHER REPORT. THURSDAY, October 18 Stations. Course of Wind. State of Weather, Greenwich N. W......... Overcast. Lothbury. Manchester S. S.W ....... Cloudy. Sheffield .... Stoke-on-Trent.... S . W... Carlisle W . Frosty—Windy. Lancaster W Rain. Maryport . E. Whitehaven W. Cloudy. Leeds S.W Cloudy. Dublin .. S.W Cloudy. Liverpool Holyhead Brighton ...... ...... N.W Fine. Bristol W Fine. Plymouth Exeter.... N.W Fine. Haverfordwest ... N.W Cloudy. Gloucester S.W.. Fine. Swansea 5.W.......... Fine. Cardiff N. E.... ...... Fine. Derby S. S.W . Fine. Nottingham Leicester W Fine. Leamington N.W Fine—Cold. Yarmouth N.W Fine. Cambridge S. .. Fine. Lowestoft Shrewsbury N.E. Cold Harwich N Ipswich N. Fine. Southampton N.W Unsettled. Cowes N.W Cloudy. Poole N.W Fine. Portsmouth W Cloudy. Boston N. W Fine. Gainsborough .... N.W Fine. Great Grimsby._ N.B. Fine. Amsterdam York Hull W.S.W ..... Fi ne . Dundee Darlington S.W Fine. Berwick S.W. Fine. Glasgow W. Rain. Sunderland W Cloudy. Newcastle Perth W N . . W . . fi fi n n el ° .. Scarborough W ............ V ery fine. Edinburgh Whitby Aberdeen . N. ............ Fine —Cold. Tonbridge 1 W .......... Overcast. Strood . The large hired transport Simla, from Constantinople, wa., on the 27th ult., in Varna Bay , with two anchors g down, riding out a strong gale, acci - •m , panied by a heavy hseeargh o fr n ei al t, ee shore, and waiting opportunity to disembark consisting of 420 horses, 300 men, 30 wag gone, 50 tons of gunpowdfr, and other materials, belong ing to the army of the Turkish Contingent. The damage received by her collision with the Cleopatra had been completely repaired, and the Simla will probably be occupied all the winter in the Black Sea. The new screw steam gun -boat Chub, built in the dry dock at Sheerness, was put out of the fitting basin yes terday, and willleave to-day for Woolwich, in tow of the steam tug-vessel Fearless. The engine, machinery, boilers, &c., for the Chub are already at Woolwich. She is to be fitted and attached inmediately to one of the ship. in the Black Sea fleet. . •~~y~'F..}3 MEETING OF MID D. THE MAG. DON, RIDAY EVENINGs OCTOBER 19 18 DESPATCH SIMPSON. ( From a supplement to Tuesday's Ga:ctte. ) WAR DEPARTMENT, OCT. 18. Lord Panmure has this day received a despatch and its enclosures, of which the following are copies, ad dressed to his lordship by General Simpson : THE LATE MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT GLASGOW. Country Markets. DERBY SAIITHFIELD.-00T, 16. There was a plentiful supply of fat beasts to-day, with' flat demand. Sheep and lambs were more numerous 0 0 , shade lower in p r i ce . F at pigs a scanty supply, whO were well sold. The fallowing were the quotations :—Beef, 6d to 60 mutton, 6.3 d to 7d ; l am b, 7d to 71d ; veal, 7d tc 7id P' lb. ; pigs, 103 Od to Os 3d per score ; rough fat, 6s 0 , to per 141 b. ; hides, 3id to 40 per lb ; calf-skins, 3,;_, t per lb. EDINBURGH GRAIN.—OCT. 17. A large supply of grain to-day. Sales ready for I des' and barley, and prices considerably up. Oats and beau were easier. New wheat, top, 4s up, and on the average 6s 5d 01 , 1 wheat, top, 6s up—on the averag e is up. B a r lel top, 2s up— average, is 9d up. Oats on the top is 4d 8 1 — average, 6d. down. Beans on the top is up--average is 5d down. AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER. Wheat £4 11 5 5-12ths. Do. new Barley -12ths. 0at5........... 2 3 1 1-12ths. 1 15 7 1-12th. Beam) BOSTON—OCT. 17. A moderate supply of all kinds of grain. In the wild trade great excitement prevailed, but a fair business No; clone at an advance of 2s to 3s per qr. Spring corn solo readily at enhanced prices. Prices :—Wheat, red, 67s Od to 838 Od; white, 83s Od 14 ssa 011 extra, BTs Od. Barley, 30s Od to 31, Od. Oat%, 20s to 325. Beans, 50s Od to 54s Od. Peas, 48s Od to 5 0 per qr. NEWARK —OM. 17. A full attendance to-day, and a good supply of grai n ' with au advance upon wheat and beans of 2s to 3s per (1 1 ' Wheat, white 84s to 88s, red 784 to 82s; barley, ma lting 38s to 425, grindin g 36 s t o 38 s; oats, 24st. 348 to 38s, 22 9 4 28s to 32s ; b e a ns , 54 s to 6s ; malt, 70 s t o 781; peas, 46g to 48s; tares, 98s to 100 s per qr. SEABORNE MAILS. (N aloftles that the mails 'are sent from the General Past-ofill i sy the night—and Mby the morning —despatch.) Day whcf cia.l. Ili From wnat I W" COUNTRIES, in Gen era l P ost- Port due ‘,.,r, Office, London.* Disp„t e h ed. 1 Etigio°' America(byltrit.pack )N 'very Friday .. Li„ rpooi ..,. _ it ,.. m. tor E A mericP by United Sts. 24 packet) .....U... State,s N •••• • • • America (by• • • Liverpool. . ,Oct. packet) N ..• • • .....• soothamovin Australia (via South ampton) M ........• • • Southampton Aug. 14 Ditto (via Marseilles) N, Ditto (via Cape of toed Hope) ........ ....N I Africa (West Coast) .. N; 23d of the month.. plymouth .. Noy, 6 9, 24, & 30 of TT; . Dover .....• Alexandria...—. N ,I, i l a le i x g a m n as .5 dria....................11:417thth&02f0ttbhe onofmmotli. Southampton ! Southampton) Belgium ............N!Daily...... .• • • • • Dover ...... 1 7)st'y Brazil ..............M 9th of the month.. Southamton N o v, 16 Buenos Ayre5........ M p9th of the month.. Southampton Nov. 11 Cape of Good Hope ..N Cap of Good hope ..N Capo de Verds ...... N 9th of th e month Southampton Noy, 15 Ceylon (see India) Ceylon.... _ .... „, ..N Various ports[l.ll.‘ertsl o h 86 1. Channel Isles ...... N; Von .• Wet.earP. Southampton Tu.T.-• Once a month.... Nov.l 4 Constantinople o hh n ii ln s i t ; a ' n — t in . o . p . le . .... .... .. .. : ,2d & 17th of month southampton 8,13,18,23,6c28 o f m ',over ...... Constantinople 14th & 20th o f mon. Smithumpton Cont. of Europe M & NlTwice daily ...... Dover ...... TlVic . ° l/111 Egypt (see India) France ........ M & N!Twice d a i1 y...... Dover _ „,.. , Twn.n ,l *l P libraltar .. .. — 31. 1 4, 7,17, 20, 27 o f m. Southamptoi Oct. 16 '.lreece (see India) •lreytown .. ...• ....M 2nd & 17th of mon. Routh amp ton ilamburgh .....• •• ..N;Tuesday & Friday London ... iLwannah .... .• .....M 12nd of the month soothampton . Daps 1 Holland .. • .... • ... ..M!Dally.. .... .•• • • • Dover ...., .. Daps _ Honduras ........Mll7th of the month. Southamptor . 16thofinea India (viaSouthampt.)3ll4th Sc 20th of mo '. Flym.iutb .. O c t, 20 tndia (via Marseilles)M;9th&2Bth of month Dover ......I lonian Is'ee (see India) 7, 17, &27 of mon Dover.... , A / Ireland ........M & N I Twice daily ...... HJIA head . ...I•p*- 411 Li5b0n.......• •• ....Mr7, 9, 17, & 27 of m. Southamptoi Oct.e 26 Iladeira Madeira .. ---IN them 19th of the month Southampton Nov. 16 .......... N .23d of mon .... Liverpool . delta (see /ndia) • 1 .. !traits ... ..... .... ~N 8, 18, &28 of mon. Dover ...... Oct. 20 Mauritius (see India) Aauritius ........ ..N 1 I 14th of the month Mexico ............M 2nd of the montl,.• Soathampterl Noy, 1 Naples ...„. .........N,bthl6th2hthofmort.'Dover ... Hew Granada ......N! ;21 & 17th of month Southampton' New Zealand.... .. .. —A y private 81.4 p ..I Various ports UnCert alti Papal states ........ 2=i !,thlsth2s thotmon,Dover ...... Peningtll a • • • • •• • • •• IA Ithl7tll27thottnonlSoutharapton p om ,„ ............M 1 1 , 27th of mon.Southamptof. Port Natal ..........N ny private ship... Various ports UIICOrt aP icily „.......... ........:r.s2dthltlZtohfomfmonottin, D so o u v t e h r am .. p .. to . ; I 1,16 to Tascany .....•.......2,/!sthisti:2sthofrnon. Dover ...... Z e D zt i l e e m lu e . n . ,; L . OS Australia) ... a . n .. d( 7 ' t We tt Indies ... , ...31iAd .9 , 17th oi month .Southamotsn 1 i s.lB 03 !Southampton 1&160 011 Wben any of these dates fall on a Sunday, the mails will be de' 3patched on the followi ng d ay. with the exceptien of the Indic.i Solthanicton), and the Malta, both of which will be despatched I" preceding day. SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, On'. 18. STOCK EXCHANCE.—The tone of the market has be g/ fluctuating to-day, and the prices closed at their loirel point. Cale~loni•~n, 2!), : i A—Aberdeen, 11 —North Western, 92 1 $ 42 2i —Manchester, Sheffield, an d Lit• coinshire, 224 2-- Midland, 64/ 1 4 4i44 4 44 4—Nor th British, 63—South Eastern, 171. 3e. 9d., i ls. :-Id.—Griet, Western, 5' 1 1 — Lancashire and Yorkshire, E at 7 # ;— London and North Western, 921 1 4 2 24—ut Latter shire, 17— Luxembourg Constit., d. 91 c. MANCHESTER, OCT. 18. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market has been rather 51 to-day, and a good business, closing weaker since the sa• vance in discounts. Eastern Counties, 9 7-16—Leedt 75i 4 s s —Midlands, 64141 3j 4 4—Dovers 17 3 46 i—Caledonian s , 29I—G rea t Westerns, 524 52—Groat Northern, A, B—East Lancashire, 17 1-16 17—Sheffield/It 22} 2—London stock, 92i. BIRMINGHAM, OCT. 111. STOCB EXCHANGE. —There was little business to-dsil and p r i ces generally a downward tendency. London and G closed at 924 923—Midlands et 60; Great Western Birmingham Guaranteed Stock at 69 691. DUBLIN, Ow. 17. STOCK EXCIIANGE.—Three per Cent. Consols Elf Ditto, for Account, Nov. 15, 87i 3—/ffew Three Pe r Cent. Sto c k, 88$ —Ditto, for A, Noy. 16, 884 —Royal B an k of Ireland (10/. pd.), 19 ccount — Dublin and Be fast Junct., (451. paid), 40 —Mining Co. of Ireland (1' paid), for Acct., ]3 4—Dundalk and Enniskillen, 1 3 " Bank Stock, 224—Killarney Junct., 6?--Great Southern and Western, (50/. pd.), 504 50 $—Ditto, Four per Cent: (pd. in full, 201.), 18,3—Midland G t.Western and AL Cant.' (V. paid), 48 4 — Waterford and Limerick }lye per Cent. Pref., 40. We learn by electric telegraph that her Majesty'S steam -transport Transit, Commander Johnson, from Balaklava, Sept. 22 ; Constantinople, 26 ; Malta, Oct. 4 ; and Gibraltar on the Sth, put into Plymouth S o und yesterday morning, and sailed in the afternoon for Spit' head. She has on board from the seat of war 35 officers, 130 sick soldiers, 32 seamen and marines, and some women and children. The naval officers are Mr. Heat, Master of the Diamond ; Mr. Wolferden, Surgeon of the Hannibal ; A. R. Myers, Clerk of the Hannibal ; and R. Allen, Paymaster of the Triton. The ruilitarY are—Lieutenant Ward, R.A. ; Captain Matthews; B. Easton ; Lieutenant Knot, 63d Regiment ; Captain Hibbert, 7th Regiment ; Captain Appleyard, 7th Regi ment ; Lieutenant Scott, 88th Regiment ; Lieutenant Williamson, 23d Regiment ; Captain Turner, Grenadier Guards ; Lieutenants Caldescntt and Turner, 3d Re' gmeot ; Lieutenant King, 4th Regiment; Dr. Goos; Major Payne, R.M. ; Lieutenant D e Vismes, R.A.; Lieutenant Burgess, 46th Regiment ; Assistant-Surgeon Chapple, R.A. ; Lieutenant Breton, 4th Regiment ; Lieutenant-Colonel Watson, 14th Regiment ; Lieute nant-Colonel M'Cree, 19th Regiment ; Lieutenant Carey, 31st Regiment ; Lieut. Garnmell, 39th Regiment ; Lieut. Every, 90th Regiment; Dr. M‘Gregor, Turkish Cont;n• gent ; Capt. Cunninghatne, Rifles ; Lieut. Bacon, 95th Regiment ; Captain Campbell, Scots Fusilier Guards; Lieut. Armstrong, 97th Regiment ; Assistant-Surgeon Watson, Staff; and Dr. Kettle, Turkish Contingent; aiso, Dr. Easton and Mr. Sullivan, Master's-Assistant; captured by the Russians at the Hango massacre. BIRTHS, OF A EON. On the 18th inst., at Lansdown-road, Notting-bill, the wife of Frederick T. White, Esq., of Lincoln's•inn, bar rister-at-law. At 32, Finchley New-road, St. John's-wood, the wife of Captain R. Scott. OP A DAUGHTER. On the 16th inst., the lady of W. M. Bridger Halnaker. On the 15th inst., at St. Helier's, Jersey, the wife of Colonel N. Alves, H.E.I.C.S. MARRIED. On the 17th inst., at St. Paul's, Wolverhampton, by the Rev. W. Dalton, Captain H enry K ent, 77th Regiment, ellest son of Captain Henry Kent, Royal Navy, to Caro line, youngest daughter of the late William Ward, Esq., of Wolverhampton. On the 17th inst., at Stonor-park, Charles Frederick Smythe, E sq ., eldest son of Sir Edward Smiths, Bart., of Acton Burnell, to Maria, the third daughter of Lord Camoys. DIED. On the 16th inst., at the Vicarage, Biggleswade, the Rev. Joseph Douton, M.A., aged 66. On the 14th inst., at Knightsbridge, the Rev. S. Lloyd Pope, M.A., of Trin. Coll. Oxford, vicar of Whittlesea St. Mary, and curate of All Saints, Knightsbridge, aged 53. On the 17th inst., Thomas Robinson Woreley, Esq., the eldest eon of Sir William Woreley, Bart., of Hovingham Hall, York, aged 28. On the 18th inst., at 2, Grove-road, Brixton, William Thomson, Esq., late of Lewes, aged 52. On the 16th inst., at Kelmarsh Rectory, in the county of Northampton, Richard Dalton, Esq., late of Candover House, Hants, aged 66. On the ieth inst. , at Tutt on S co t ney, Hants, James Wickham, Es q ., aged 68. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO youNr, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Me Sun Office, No, 1 12, Strand, in the Pnvinot of the Savoy, 1 41 the minty If Ididdieit; Friday, Octobq 19, ;~_ .i ='~:tk