The Sun. — London, England, 1861-02-20 00:00:00

OT AL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT -GARDEN. -1- 1 1 1 Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING, the First Act of BIANCA, THE BRAVO'S BRIDE : Mr. W. Harrison, &c. Followed by Auber's LE DOMINO NOIR. Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Thirlwall, Miss Leffler ; Messrs. H. Haigh, H. Corri, A. St. Albyn, and Horncastle. To conclude with a Divertissement. Conductor —Mr• Alfred Mellon. Commence at Seven. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lowe, Mr. J. B. Baokatone. THIS EVEN ING, the Di rformanoes will commenee with the Comedy of THE BABES IN THE WOOD. Messrs. E. Villiers, Buckstone, W. Farren, Mrs. Wilkins, and Miss F. After which, a new Pantomime, QUEEN LADYBIRD AND HER CHILDREN. The Pantomimists by the un rivalled Leelercqs, Herr Oole, and Fanny Wright. Commence at 7. RO YAL PRINCESS'S TIIEATRE.--. Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, the Farce of A.S.S. To be followed by DON CA SAR DE BAZAN. Don Caesar, Mr. Fechter. Supported by Messrs. Basil Potter, F. Matthews, J. G. Shore, Miss M. Harris, Kiss C. Leclercq and Mrs. Weston. After which, a new Christmas comical pantomime, entitled ROBINSON CRUSOE ; or,Harlequin Friday, and the King of the Caribbe Islands : in which Monsieur Espinosa and Mdlle. Marie Dumil etre, of the principal cantinental theatres will appear. Clown, dlr. A. F. Forrest. THEATRE - ROYA L LYCEUM. Soto Lessee and Directress, Madame CELESTE. THIS EVENING the new drama, THE HOUSE ON THE NO BRIDGE OF TRE Dhns t AME. Principal charaaters by Mr G. Vining, Mr. J. Joone, Mr. Villiers, Mr. Clifford, Mr.. John Rouse, Mr. Forrester, Mr. Morris ; Miss M.Ternan, Miss K. Saville, Miss L. Thompson, and Madame Celeste. After which, the Lyceum Christmas Comic Extravaganza, CRYSTABELLE ; or, The Rose without a Thorn, showing IHE VISION' OF A ROSE, ITS FADING AT EVE, AND THE MAY-BLOOM OF THE WILD BRIAR. To conclude with a new Divertissement. Miss Lydia Thompson, dm A DELPHI . , NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. .tom Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster. THIS EVENING, AN UGLY CUSTOMER. Messrs. J. L. Toole, C. Selby, and Warde ; Miss K. Kelly, and Miss E. 'ehorne. After which, THE COLLEEN BAWN. D. Boneicault, D. Fisher, Rtilington, Falconer, Stephenson. C. J. Smith, Romer. Miss Agnes Robertson, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Biillngton, and Sri. Chatterley. To conclude with a new Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled JLUE BEARD FROM A NEW. POINT OF HUE. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford. C. J. Smith ; Miss Woolgar, K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and R. Thorne. Doors open at half past 6—Commence at 7. Box-of oe open from 10 till 5. No charge for booking. Private boxes, £2 2s. ; Family Boxes, £l. Orchestra Stalls, ss. ; Balcony, 45.; Front Circle Stalls, *5.; Pit Stalls, 25.; Pit, I s. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, ; Gallery, ed. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- Proprietor and Manager. Mr. Wig. BATTY. Immense success of " Turpin's Ride to York." The Last Morning Performance will take place on Friday, Feb. 22, when the Boys of the Duke of York's School will attend with their splendid Brass Band, commencing at two *'clock with the Pantomime and Scenes in the Arena. THIS EVENING. will be reproduced TURPIN'S RIDE TO YORK, ArID THE DEATH OF BLACK BESS, in which the Brothers Edwin will appear with their celebrated Steed Black Bess. • - - .... To. be succeeded by Scenes in the Arena, supported by talented Parisian and British Artistes. - • Cot►cluding with Batty's Prize Equestiau Comic Panto mime, for Good Little Boys and Girls, by T. L. Greenwood, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE WONDERFUL HORSE ; or, Percinet and Grociosa, the Ugly Duchess and the Greedy King, produced with Gorgeous Scenery. by Mr. Cuthbert, new Costumes and Appointments, and introducing in the comae scenes Batty's Prize Equestrian Harlequinade, and the celebrated Old Bob Ridley. Box-oilice open daily trom 11 till 4 Stage Manager—Mr. W. WERT. Director of the Arena—Mr. Pearson; Commence at 7. CANTERBURY-H4LL CONCERTS! A Grand Selection from Verdi's Opera, IL CORSARO, consisting of the following Morceaux : Preluclio. Coro Seena ed Aria. "Tutto parca Sorridere" Coro di Odalische. " Oh qual perenne" Caratina "Vola talor dal Carcere" Coro ed inno Scena ed Aria. " Cento leggiadre Vergini" Tema° Finale "Voi tacete io non" will be performed EVERY EVENING, in the original key and Italian language—in addition to the usual attractions. _ • • Mr. F. JONGHMANS, Musical Director. Also, in preparation, Selections from Verdi's New Operas, `Un Ballo in Maschera," "Simon Boccanegra ;" and Flo. tow's celebrated Opera of " Stradella." HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tamp' DA.Y.—Morning, Bh. 54m.—Afternoon, 9h. 38m. To-moßnow.-Morning, 10h. 22m.—Afternoon, 11h. 9m. THS WEATHER.—Svx OFFICE, FEB. 20, 1861. :7. THERMOMETER, IN TIM SHADS. 54—highest since noon yesterday. 39 —lowest this morning and during:the night. 48—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.6 3. IVINn--South-Westerly—light ; with doubtful weather, inclining to rain. . , • t , THE SUN. LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20, 1881. There were " cheers" last night in the House of Commons at the close of a division, in which the ex-Governer of the Bank of Eogland defeated the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Ex chequer. Those " cheers" were audible because that defeat was the first discomfiture sustained this session by her MAJESTY'S Government. They were all the more heartily given, those " cheers," because the blow struck was one aimed, not directly or in directly, at any of his fifteen ministerial colleagues, but point blank at our Financial Administrator. They were " cheers" given out " with a will" by the majority told off against Mr. GLADSTONE, be cause the particular motion thus carried, in spite of all Mr. GLADSTONE'S arguments (many of them most specious and ingenious arguments, indeed, some of them being put to the House last night with consummate rhetorical adroitness) because, we say, the particular motion thus carried in spite of Mr. GLADSTONE'S reasoning, and of his own vote and of the votes of so many of his ministerial colleagues and their supporters, was a motion for a different assessment of Schedule D, and in fact, for a better adjustment of the iniquitous and detested Income Tax ! No wonder the House cheered, or rather the majority of the Rouse cheered, under these circumstances. It was the glimmering, at last, of the first auspicious break in those dull leaden clouds, which have so long covered the whole political welkin, down to the entire cir cumference of the horizon, under the evil influence —a malign influence like that said to have been exercised by the storm -brewing necromancers of old—under the evil influence of that unlucky, and in effect, though not, we be lieve, in design, most malignant Magician of Finance, our present Chan cellor of the Exchequer. • The defeat sustained last evening by Mr. GLAD STONE, and through him by the Government, was the result of no policy of party—it was the pro duce of no factious movement. To recognise this fact upon the instant, it is only necessary to note the nature of the motion upon which the House divided, to mark the quarter from which it ema nated, and to scan the names given in the Division List. It is especially noticeable in regard to the last point, namely, in reference to the Division List, that while so many leading members of the Government appear in the melancholy catalogue of the minority, including among them Viscount PALMERSTON, Lord JOHN RUSSELL, Sir GEORGE LEWIS, Sir CHARLES WOOD, Mr, MILNER GIBSON, 1 and Mr. GLADSTONE—the Leader of the Oppo- i sition was not there to take any part at all in the division ; Mr. SOTHERON ESTCOURT, Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, and Lord JOHN MANNERS alone, of the late Ministry, being there to add a few units to the total number of voters rendering Mr. US E _ BARD'S motion (simply a motion for a Committee of Inquiry) triumphant. It was a division observe, in the first instance, which, in a House of no l ess th a n 258—(not by any means, for an ordinary night, a small House !)—w hieb , in a House of no less than 258, yielded a clear niajority of FOUR against the strong Coalition Govern ment ! This adverse division moreover Coming immediately after the successive defeats sustained at the hustings by the Government side —at Leicester, in South Wilts, and lastly, in the far north, there in Aberdeenshire. The defeat in South Wiits being all the more vexatious and ignominious from its occurring upon the occasion of a vacancy caused in the representation of that county, by the elevation of one of the leading mem bers of the Cabinet to the House of Peers, in the person of Lord HERBERT, her MAJESTY'S War Secretary. And now upon the heels of those seri ous discomfitures out of doors, comes the adverse decision of the Commons, last evening, a division in which a majority of 131 " Ayes" put the " Noes out of joint," those discomfited " Noes" numbering in all 127, though including in that minority so much of the strength, and weight, and genius of the Government. As affording overwhelm ing evidence, however, of there being nothing what ever of a party contrivance or Of a factions movement in last night's division, it is only necessary to scan for a minute or two the character of the names numbered in the list of the majority. There, among those 131 supporters of Mr. HUBBARD and his brother teller, Mr. JAMES WHITE, of Brighton, are recognisable, in the first instance, two of Lord JOHN'S own colleagues in the representation of the city of London, there is Mr. WYGRAM CRAWFORD, and there, too, is the Baron LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD; while among the mass of Independent Liberals told through the lobby door with them are men as thoroughgoing in their liberalism, as antago nistic to torvism. as Mr. FRANK CROSSLEY, of the West Riding, as Mr. WYLD, of Bodmin, as Mr. WILLIAMS, of Lambeth, as Mr. AYRTON, of the Tower Hamlets, as Mr. LocKE and Mr. LAYARD, colleagues in the representation of Southwark, as Mr. MONCK TON MILNES, of Pontefract, as Mr. DIGBY SEY MOUR (the new Q.C.—and well has he earned his silk gown), the member for Southampton, as Mr. Alderman SALOMONS, of Greenwich, and, finally, to close our list, and not to render it unne cessarily tedious, as Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, that earnest and staunch Liberal, the colleague of Mr. BRIGHT in the representation of Birmingham. Looking down names like these in the list of last night's resolute majority against Government, one wonders for the moment not to find Mr. BRIGHT voting there with his colleague, Mr. SCHOLEFIELD. But, putting this momentary surprise aside, and re verting to a consideration of the general effect of the division list—weighing that Ministerial mino rity of 127 against that miscellaneous majority of 131—it is impossible not to recognise clearly how little party had in any way at all to do with the defeat sustained last night by Ministers, it is im possible, in other words, not to recognise how com pletely the success of Mr. HUBBARD'S motion was attributable to the fact, that the majority of the House saw distinctly, and accepted frankly the excellence of that motion, pre cisely as it was submitttd to them by the ex-Governor of the Bank of England. Last night's division in this respect will carry an exquisite sense of satisfaction and a thrill of hope over the whole country, throughout all those ranks and masses of the population existing upon precarious incomes, by the sweat of their brow, and still more by the sweat of their brain, men of business of all classes, and men of the various learned professions. Mr. GLADSTONE has now had forced upon his own recognition rather painfully a reminder of the pre dictions uttered, perhaps it should be said muttered ominously, on all sides as the session approached that the weak part of the Ministerial policy was that relating to the Financial Department. Infatuated himself in respect to this easi est method of all the numerous methods of taxing a community ; convinced himself, in spite of all arguments, of all experience to the contrary, that the Tax upon Income and Property, as at pre sent raised, is the Model Tax of Taxes, Mr. GLADSTONE has had it now forced upon his knowledge that not only very many out of doors, but that a majority in the House of Commons pronounces the present mode of assess ing incomes under Schedule D to be unjust, to be 'cruel, to be essentially and deplorably demoralis ing. The injustice and the inequalities of this grinding tax, according to its existing mode of assessment, are matters of absolute notoriety. It was upon this old and threadbare subject that Mr. HUBBARD discanted last evening, in a speech distinguished by very considerable ability—making out his case so well that in spite of all the eloquence, of all the ingenuity, we can hardly say all the ingenuousness of the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he carried his motion upon a division, and placed in their first minority the strong Coalition Government. There is hope at last, then, for the hitherto neglected and despised victims of Schedule D—the consolatory prospect of their precarious incomes being taxed, in future, according to some more equitable mode of assessment. The Reform Banquet in the House passed off much as was expected. Ministers wished the sabject had been let alone, but did not like, for decency's sake, even to move the previous ques tion. They had indeed in her MAJESTY'S Speech decided that the question of a Reform Bill should not "be now put." What, however, could they do with two bills each of which adopted as nearly as possible the very words of their own bill of last year. They were together, in fact, as Lord PALMERSTON said, the last year's Reform Bill minus the transfer of a few seats. The Premier did not wish to appear, he said, to have changed his mind, and he could not, therefore, vote against a first reading, Mr. GRIFFITHS and Mr. WARNER politely withdrew their obstructive amendments ; even Mr. DISRAELI did the courteous, so, nemine contradicente, the House of Commons undertakes once more to consider the questions of a £lO franchise in counties and a £6 franchise in boroughs. Lord PALMERSTON distinctly warned the Re formers, however, that they were to expect no further facilities from nim. He had consented to speak with them in the entrance hall, but as to inviting them into the Dining or Drawing Room that was quite out of the question. Mr. BAINES Wednesdays — an d e d cin Mr.esd aKyle_a KING are to get on as best they can on d if Reform cannot be denied a footing in the house, care is to be taken that it shall make no progress. If the hon. members are, therefore, as much in earnest for their respective proposals as we take them to be, it is to the country itself they must look. Lord PALMERSTON declines any further aid, therefore the classes proposed to be enfranchised have the affair now entirely in their own hands; if they be silent now, we do not see how any one can be expected to take up their cause hereafter. It is well known that to carry any Liberal measure a member must either have very resolute support from the Government, or from the people. Per haps it ought, to be so. Till either the administrators of the country's business, or the country itself deems a measure sufficiently important to throw themselves into its advocacy, it can hardly be said to have much claim on the atten tion of such a practical body as our House of Com- Imons. An individual member on national business is next neighbour to a cipher. But if the people • c hoose to put themselves on a line with him, his i m portance on the question he takes up increases as rain 'dly as the figures in our numeration table. N ow , therefore, is the time for popular action. Petiti 'ens ought to flow in rapidly, if sincere reform ers are not to receive a severe check. We admit a difference in what may be expected from odie unenfranchised in the counties and the unenlianchised in the town. The former have m ach less inducement to petition than the latter. They a.we, as a body, so entirely at the disposal of the landlords, except, perhaps, in the casual case of a large town extending its suburbs beyond the boundary o f the borough, that they could gain nothing by the franchise. We do not indeed object to Mr. KING'S Bill ; so far as it is even nominally an extension of the suffrage, it must be supported by Liberals ; but it will have no effect, we fear, beyond increasing the per-centage of votes through which the landlords express their sentiments. The votes of both Whig and Tory landlords *ill each have ten, fifteen, or twenty per cent. added to the numbers they can drive to the poll ; the relative positions of the two aristocratic parties will remain unchanged ; but the advanced Liberals will nowhere have the slightest chance. With the boroughs it is somewhat different. Working men, who there, will be the next stratum of electors to the present one, although much needing protection for their votes, are, we believe, more independent by far than the county voters vont be. Their numbers and power of combination give them strength ; they are as neces sary, as a body, to their employers, as their em ployers to them. To thousands of them, we know, an unprotected vote would be a curse, but on tens of thousands it would confer the privilege of voting, as they always do at the show of hands, for the right man. Mr. BAINES' Bill is, therefore, a summons to the working men of all the great boroughs to say what they wish. We confess we look with some interest on the result; Hitherto, while Governments were many years offering working men the franchise without trouble, it was hardly to be expected they would put themselves out of the way to get it. The case is changed now. The Government is not hostile, far from that ; it would probably not dislike some proof that it was not so far wrong last year ; but it says we are powerless. A mem ber who has taken great pains to show that the working men of his own borough are deserving of the franchise, brings forward a bill in their favour. Left to himself, he, like the Government, is power less ; supported by the £6 renters, he could, we doubt not, carry his bill even over the bar of the House of Lords. Will the working men petition ? We cannot predict. If they do not they must not expect enfranchisement for many a long year. If they do, they can so do it that opposition will cease. Mr. WARNER told the house that Norwich had begun ; Leeds and Newcastle will almost certainly follow ; should the movement spread to Manchester, Sheffield, Bir mingham, Glasgow, and other populous towns, it would then become general. On this we believe turns the fate of Mr. BAINES' Bill. THE B ALLO7 IN AUSTRALIA. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—Fearing that, from the erroneous state ments made in the British House of Commons, much misapprehension may exist as to the work ing-6f the Ballot in South Australia, I forward you the enclosed letter frem the Returning Officer for the city of Adelaide, hoping that the testimony borne by him to the efficacy of the Ballot will con vince many even of our opponents, decide the doubts of the timid and wavering, and stimulate yet more the energies of those who are seeking not their own, but their country's good. With much respect to the executive committee, I have the honour to be, dear Sir, Yours truly, WM. THOMAS. 76, Rundle-street, Adelaide, South Australia, Dec. 24, 1860. To WILLIAM THOMAS, ESQ. Adelaide, No. 211, Rundle-street, Nov. 14, 1860. Dear Sir,—l am in receipt of your note, dated the 12th inst., in which you ask my opinion (as returning officer for the city) " upon the working of the ballot in South Aus tralia as applied to the election of the Houses of Parlia ment ;" in reply, I have much pleasure in giving you such particulars as have come under my immediate notice in reference thereto. The first election by ballot in Australia took place in March, 1857, and, as you may suppose, created great ex citement ; some being adverse to the system, while, on the other hand, there were many advocates in its favour. It was promulgated, by those opposed to it, that the effect would be fatal, inasmuch as a great number of the electors would not avail themselves of their franchise. The result proved that these assertions were without foundation. _ _ The working of so important an act in its infancy had many difficulties to overcome, the greatest of which was— how the less intelligent of our population would cotstrue its meaning—but I endeavoured, in my advertisements, to convey the details in such terms as could not be mistaken, and which had the desired effect. The number that had registered for the House of As sembly were 3,583, and for the Legislative Council 2,330 (this has reference to the City of Adelaide only). For the accommodation of electors there were five polling booths erected in different parts of the city, in which the clerks had copies of the electoral roll. Each elector was (pre vious to the day of election) supplied with a certificate, which, when presented, was stamped by the clerk, and re turned to him, together with a list of the candidates; and no ono could receive a voting paper unless he produced his certificate; the stamping showed that he had already voted, which prevented any attempt to vote a second time. The polling commenced at 9 a.m. and concluded at 4 p.m., and during the whole of the day the most complete order and decorum prevailed; this proved a very great con trast to the previous elections under the old system of open voting, which was marked in many instances with the most disorderly (and I may say outrageous) conduct. I have therefore no hesitation in saying that if the purity of election is to be maintained, the ballot is the only system to secure it. I say this irom the experience I have gained up to the present time, having superintended five elections, and all with the same successful results. In England there may be more difficulties to surmount than in the colonies, but I sincerely believe that perseverance will overcome them ; and, T may add, that many in the pro vince who were formerly opposed to it are now convinced of its desirability. I remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully, JOHN LAZAN, Returning Officer for the City of Adelaide. PEMBROKE ELECTION.—MILFORD, TUESDAY. —The writ for the election of a member for the borough of Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Tenby, Milford, and Wiston, in the room of the late Sir J. Owen, has been received here, and Thursday next has been fixed for the nomination. The candidates are Sir Hugh Owen, son of the late Sir John, and the unsuccessful candidate for Pembrokecounty, in the Liberal interest, and Mr. Meyrick, in the Conservative interest. g for p articularsthe building of SHIPBUILDING AND REPAIRING.—A return has patlbhBneenseed9nde .ex6dpporxe. e n s d e i n t u t e r d e o t f o th P e a f r o l u ia r m n e l n il t lio fu n r s n v i o sh te i d n repair 00 o 1 f n8 s , ships and shipsa o n nds and n e s dhwi vesselsp ag s e s of artificersf building commenced as theresf o a for tnwhgae ships year - and converted to screws while building, £193,727; on 17 ships launched as sailing ships, and subsequently converted into screws, £322,074 ; for the fitting out and refitting, and for repairs and maintenance of 239 steamships and vessels in commission, £519,976; and of 56 sailing ships and vessels, £39,194 ; for the fitting, refitting, repairs, and maintenance of 207 ships and vessels in the steam ordinary, £362,256, but the corresponding outlay on 100 sailing ships in ordinary appears to have been met by credits given for stores retut ned on paying off; for the fitting and maintenance of hulks, £5,560; and for the maintenance of yard craft, £21,611. Then there wav £286,752 paid for building vessels by con tract, £76 9 ,590 for machinery of steam vessels, £343,136 for miscellaneous expenses (such as mooring, ballasting ships in ordinary, docking, repairs to cranes, &c.), and £llO,OOB for stores sent abroad, or purchased by captains and Consuls. A widdw. named Lecuirot died last week at her residence in the Rue de Grenelle, in Paris, at the age of 90, in the very room where she was born, and which: she had occupied during the whole course of her long life. LAI T NEW 6. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) TURIN, FEB. 20. The number of troops who were made prisoners at Gaeta was 11,000. The Sardinians found between 700 and 800 can nons and 60,000 muskets. Three generals accompanied Francis 11. to Rome —25 are prisoners. General Chiabrera has been ordered to summon the Commander of the fortress of Messina to sur render. PESTH, FEB. 20. The municipality of Pesth has forwarded an ad dress to the Emperor demanding the dismissal of the Ban of Croatia, and the appointment of a Hun garian in his place. The Congregation of Croatia has been transferred from Fiume to Buccari, oti account of the state of siege at the former place. CONSTANTINOPLE, FEB. 13. A meeting of the Hasne tavileholders has been held, at which it was resolved to address protests, through the embassies, against the renewal of these bonds, ROME, FEB. 16 (via Marseilles). The Giornale di Roma gives a denial to the rumours of an arrangement between the Holy See and Piedmont. The departure for Paris of Mgr. Sacconi, Papal Nuncio to the Court of the Tuileries, has been postponed. At the demonstration on Thursday last the crowd shouted, " Long live Victor Emmanuel !" " The Unity of Italy for ever !" Some priests were even seen cheering with the multitude. Some French patrols at length requested the crowd to disperse, and were obeyed. COPENHAGEN, FEB. 19. In to-day's sitting of the Council of State the convocation of the Holstein Diet was fixed for the 6th March next. The purport of the communications to be made to the Diet is not yet known. PARIS, FEB. 19. An ordinance of the President of the Tribunal of the Seine appoints M. Germiny provisional Admi nistrator of the Bank of the Railways (Caisse des Chemins de Fer), with the most absolute powers. The Conference on the Syrian question held a sitting to-day. The Patris and the Pays say : " The latest news from Cochin China announces that fresh persecutions had been commenced against the Christians," ,QR COBDEN, M.P. Mr. Cobden presents his compliments to the Editor of The Sun, and will feel obliged by the publication of the enclosed letter. Algiers, Feb. 16. R. COBDEN, ESQ., M.P., TO R. DALGLISR, ESQ., M.P. Algiers, Feb. 16, 1861. My dear Sir,--The newspapers which have just reached me contain a circular issued by a commit tee in Glasgow, bearing your signature as convener, inviting subscriptions to a testimonial fund in acknowledgment of my " recent eminent services." Whilst I appreciate most cordially the friendly motives which must have prompted the gentlemen whose names appear on the committee to take this step without my consent or knowledge, I must beg them to allow me very respectfully to decline their proffered kindness. I drew upon the Government for my expenses during the time I was in Paris, and have therefore incurred no pecuniary sacrifice for which lam entitled to reimbursement. As for the services which I rendered in connexion with the Treaty, they were a labour of love for which it would be painful to me to accept compensation in any form, or from any quarter. Reiterating my thanks for your kind intentions, Believe me, yours very truly, Robt. Da.lglish, Esq., M.P. 1t16.. COBDEN. WRECK OF TEE RE.RO. On Monday afternoon it blew strong, and the wind gradually increased t o a ga l e f rom S.S.E., which prevailed throughout the night. The har bour of Penzance was crowded with shipping. The flowing . tide, urged by the gale, swept over the Extension (the most exposed part of the piers) in volumes, and about 11 o'clock one of four vessels attached to the moorings furthest seaward broke adrift. It was the brig Hero, of Bide*lrd, Captain Fowler, coal-laden, from Wales for Plymouth, that has been here for some days windbound. Five men (including the captain) were on board; and three of the crew of an o th er vessel jumped on board to assist. A warp was got out and made fast, but parted, and the ill-fated vessel fast drifted towards the rocks which lie outside the West Cornwall Railway sea-wall. The eight men, seeing the fate that awaited the Hero, took to their boat, but this frail craft was soon disabled, got into the breakers, and was upset, in the sight of many scores of spectators, who witnessed the struggle from the pier, the moon at times shining brightly. The struggle was brief—indeed the whole affair was one of a few minutes—and seven of the eight sailors perished. OLe was swept by an immense wave along the back of the Northern pier—another such wave would have dashed him against the railway wall, but he was caught by a brave man, descended the pier by some iron bars fixed in it and rescued the half-drowned mariner. We have not yet been able to ascertain names or details. The wind moderated this (Tuesday) morning, but the Hero—her masts gene and fast breaking up— is a total wreck.—Cornish Telegraph. THE TURNBULL MEMORlAL.—Yesterday at noon a deputation waited upon Lord Palmerston, at his residence in Piccadilly, for the purpose of inducing his lordship not to accept the resignation of Mr. Turnbull, of the office of Calendarer of Foreign State Papers. His lordship, after hearing a statement from the Marquis of Normanby, who introduced the deputation, said as Mr. Turnbull had sent in his resignation ho had thought it his duty to accept it. MoDENA.—The ('ourrier of Cremona gives the fearful news that the warlike Duke of Modena meditates— "meditates" is the word—the re-conquest of his duchy, and has made preparations to invade the Emilian provinces at the head of an army of 18,000 men. It has been re marked for some time past that reactionary agents are very busy endeavouring to debauch the peasantry. An English company is at present negotiating with M. Lesseps for the land in Egypt which belongs to the company for eutting the canal to Suez. It appears that this land is well suited to the cultivation of cotton. A person left Paris yesterday for Alexandria to communicate with M. Lesseps on the subject. A RASH LEAP.—On Saturday last a private in ono of the regiments in garrison at Dover, with the view of escaping from a picket in close pursuit of him, madly jumped from the cliff beyond Archcliff Fort, a height of nearly 100 feet. On being picked up he was found to be alive, and was promptly removed to the Military Hospital, but the injuries received preclude hope of his ultimate re covery.—Maidstone Journal. In the Paris corn market during the past week prices have continued to tend upwards. The four marks of flour were quoted at 671250 the sack of 157 kilos. Wheat was firm at 36f 50c and 371 the hectolitre and a half. An adjudication of 10,000 quintals (22111 b each) could not be effected for the military intendanco, the prices sent in being too high. Rye has scarcely changed, the prices being 23f 25c to 23f 50c the 115 kilos ; barley was firm at 20f 500 to 211 the 100 kilos; and oats were quoted at 32f 50c the 150 kilos. Workmen have been for some days past in Paris fixing up at the corners of the streets new plates on which are written, in white letters on a blue ground, the name of the Quarter; the number of the arrondissement; and the name of the street in still larger characters. The Charivari has a sly cut at the dreadful state of the streets in the French metropolis. A respectable elderly bourgeois stands opposite a female figure wearing a crenelated diadem, and intended to represent the " City of Paris," both up to their uncles in slush. The man ad dresses her in these terms—" Sapristi I my good friend, you have been dreadfully filthy for some time back! Could you not keep yourself a little cleaner ?" Lii TV INTELLIGENCE—(This Day.) COURT OF CHANCERY. (Before Vice-Chancellor Kindersley.) ItiORNINGTON V. MORNINGTON. His Honour delivered judgment at great length, detail ing minutely the circumstances of the case. On the three questions submitted to his consideration his Honour was of opinion that the rents and profits of estates were liable to pay the interest and arrears of the annuities respectively due by late and present earl. That the surplus charges of £10'2,000 charged by £lOO,OOO on the Irish estates were to be carried to the £5,000 charged on the English estate. And he approved of the chief chief's certificate in not adopting the master's report, but ordering an inquiry into the costs, charges, and expenses properly incurrred. POLICE IN7ELLIGENCE—(This Day). MARLBOROUGH STREET. A THEATRE THIEF.—THE ADVANTAGE OF AN OLD CONSTABLE.—Wm. Tring, a young man, was charged be fore Mr. Beadon with being at the St. James's Theatre for the purpose of picking pockets. William Parsons, fireman at the theatre, but formerly in the police, said that on the previous night, just as the com pany were leaving the theatre at the close of the per formances, he saw the prisoner at the grand entrance, leading to the dress circle, try several ladies' pockets. Distinctly seeing the prisoner draw his hand from one lady's pocket, be gave him into custody. In answer to Mr. Beadon, Parsons said he had been watching him for five minutes. In answer to Mr. Wontner, who appeared for the pri soner, Parsons said he did not exactly remember what he said to the lady, but he distinctly saw the prisoner's hand in the lady's pocket. He allowed him to try three pockets, and was waiting to see him take something. He had been in the police 20 years, and it was not the first time he had met him (Mr. Wontner). (Laughter.) Brown, 304, said he had the prisoner in custody in Feb. 1860, for a similar thing at the Haymarket Theatre, and he then was sentenced to 3 months' imprisonment. Sergeant Cole said he also had the prisoner in custody for stealing a purse on the night the Princess Royal was married, and he was then committed for 3 months. Prisoner was . again committed for 3 months. THAMES. ATTEMPTED SITICID.r...—An intelligent looking young woman, named Mary Ann Stern, dwelling with her parents, at No. 8, New-square, North-street, Whitechapel, was brought before Mr. Yardley charged with attempting to commit self destruction. The case was a very singular one, and much sympathy was expressed for the prisoner. She is a needlewoman, and has been working very diligently to maintain herself. A few days since she was robbed on her way home of a purse containing 6s. which she had received a few minutes pre viously for some work she bad taken to a warehouse in the City. The loss of her money led to a dispute with her mother, and while labouring under great anguish and distress of mind she repaired to the canal bridge in the Mile-end-road, and precipitated herself into the canal. Many persons saw her commit this rash act, and raised an immediate alarm. The prisoner was taken out of the water by Lewis Lambert, a police constable, No. 311 K, who conveyed her to Mile-end Old Town work house. She was attended by Dr. Freeman, Medical Officer of Health, and was fortunately resuscitated. She had been since under medical treatment, and was very weak and ill from her immersion in the water, and the anxieties she had undergone. The mother of the prisoner said her daughter was a sew ing machinist, and that she had been very short of work ever since a fortnight before Christmas, and that the loss of her money, and her inability to pay for her board, had preyed on her mind. Mr. Yardley—ls she a single woman P Witness—Yes, sir, and always behaved very well until Friday night, when she plunged into the water. Dr. Freeman, who was in attendance, and took some interest in the case, said he believed the prisoner was a person of good character, and that she was labouring under despondency of mind, occasioned by the loss of her earn ings, when she attempted to commit suicide. Mr. Yardley said the prisoner had committed a very foolish and wicked act, and for which she was liable to severe punishment. If the prisoner had come before him and made known her loss, and if her statement had been verified he should have thought it consistent with his duty to afford some relief from the poor-box fund. He could not do so now for she had committed an offence against the law. It was a most absurd act, and he hoped the prisoner was sorry for what she had done. The prisoner said she was very sorry, and would not repeat the attempt on her life. Mr. Yardley—l hope not. To commit self-murder is an offence against the laws of God and the laws of your coun try. I believe I shall not far exceed my duty in discharg ing you. Now let this be a warning to you for ever. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. THE BIRMINGHAM GRAND 10 sous each, 3 ft, with 10( save his stake; about thre, ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE, of ) added; the second horse to e miles and a half. 27 subs. st lb at lb Huntsman .. 11 12 Old Ben Roe .. 11 2 Goldsmith .. 11 0 Colonel .. 10 8 Longford .. 10 8 The Comet .. 10 7 Omar Pasha .. .. 10 5 Johnny .. 10 4 Topsy .. 9 11 Romeo .. 9 11 St. Mark .. 9 11 Doubtful 9 10 Wee Nell .. .. 9 7 Norma .. 9 5 Premier .. 9 5 Marmion 9 4 Bourgeois .. 9 4 Heads or Tails .. 9 3 Unknown .. 9 3 Ghika .. 9 0 Evelyn .. 9 0 Lanforda .. 9 0 Sepoy 9 0 Shylock .. 9 0 Cock-a-doodle-deo .. 9 0 Border Chief .. 8 12 Brine .. 8 7 BETTING AT MANCHESTER, TUESDAY. Knight of the Thistle was supported freely for the Derby, and also for the Two Thousand Guineas, finishing at 33 to 1 (taken) for the former event, and 16 to 1 for the latter. Klarikoff was also supported for the Two Thousand Guineas at 8 to 1, and was quite as good a favourite as anything. For the Liverpool Grand National Steeple Chase, Franc Picard was backed at 7 to 1, and there were others to take 25 to 1 about Red wing.-10 to 1 was offered on the field for the Chester Cup, but the only horse that appeared in demand for this event was Wild Rose, who was supported at 33 to 1. Closing prices : GRIND NATIONAL STEEPLE CHASE. 7to 1 agst Franc Picard (taken) 9to 1 agst Jealousy (offered, take 10 to 1) 10 to 1 agst Emperor (offered, take 12 to 1) 100 to 7 agst Old Ben Roe (taken) THE DERBY. 7 to 2 agst Dundee (offered, take 4 to 1) 33 to 1 agst Knight of the Thistle (taken) TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. Bto 1 agst Klarikoff (taken) Bto 1 agst Diophantus (taken) 16 to 1 agst Knight of tho Thistle (taken) THE CHESTER CUP. 10 to 1 agst Chere Amie (offered, take 12) 33 to 1 agst Wild Rose (taken) 40 to 1 agst North Lancashire (taken) RACING FIXTI FEBR URES FOR 1861. UARY. Pontypool 22 CH. MA Nottingham Spring 5 Coventry Liverpool Spring 12 Shrewsbury 14 Warwick Spring 19 AP. Northampton Catterick Crofton Park Epsom Spring 11 Newmarket Craven 15 I Llanboidy .. l6 Thirsk lB , 1 Liverpool llunt Club 20 Doncaster Spring 23 , Newmarket F S 29 :AY. Chester 7 York l4 Malton Salisbury l6 Bath 2l Manchester 22 Harpenden 24 Epsom 2B NE. JU Chelmsford Beverley Hungerford Ascot 11 Hampton Newton 19 Odiham 25 Newcastle 25 Bibury Club 26 Stockbridge Wiuchoster 2B IBIS DA Y'S SHIPPING. LONDON, Feb. 20.—Wind this day at noon—South- Westerly ; light breeze, and rather dull weather, with rain.• DEAL, Feb. 19.—Wind S.S.W.—Arrived—Glentamer, from the River, and sailed for Canterbury, New Zea land. Cowm3, Feb. 19.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Sylphide, from Santos. PLYMOUTH, Feb. 19.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Nimrod, from London for Moulmein. , DARTMOUTH, Feb. 19.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Black Prince, from London for Sierra Leone. CLynE, Feb. 10.—Wind S.l•..—Arrived—Oetgoca, from Huelva. Sailed— Scottish Maid, for Callao ; John Law son, for Monte Video. (ItY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTIIAMPTON, Wednesday Morning. Arrived, Feb. 19—Bremen, steamer, from Bremen ; Petrel, from Portsmouth ; Havre, steamer, from Havre ; Petrel, from Cardiff. Sailed—Jessie, for Sunderland ; Atalanta, steamer, for Jersey. (BY SUBMARINE AND MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Wednesday Morning. Arrived, Feb. 19—Sulphine, from Venice. Arrived, Feb. 20—Storm Cloud, and Edmund Graham, front Calcutta: Thomas I,Vhitsey, from Boston; London, steamer, from Stromsad. DEAL, Wednesday Morning. Anchored—Nerthfleet, from London for Hong Kong. Passed—lndus, Swedish ship, from Batavia for Ham burg. THIED EDITION. 6UN OFFICE, Seven o'clock. BEAL ING BACES.-1 This Day.) BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. ERLEIGH STAKES. Oliver Twist Heads or Tails Broadbrim Nine ran. SELLING HUNT STAKES. The Slasher Maid of the Mill 2 Tough Tom 3 OPEN STEEPLECHASE. Red Rover Premier Shylock Nine ran. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS—(Tars DAY.) The Speaker took the chair at 12 o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. On the motion of Mr. CHILDERS the order for the second reading of the Street Railway Bill was discharged, and the bill was ordered to be read a second time on the 9th of April. The following bills were read a second time : Bognor Railway; Brighton, Uckfield, and Tunbridge Wells Railway; London and North Western Railway (Additional Powers) ; London and North Western Railway (Cheshire Lines) ; London and North Western Railway (Liverpool Lines) ; Londonderry and Lough Swilly Rail way ; Morayshire Railway ; Newcastle under Lyme Marsh Lands ; Peterefield Railway (Deviation) ; Sneyd's Branch Railways ; Tiverton Roads ; Tyne Improvement ; and Exeter and Exmouth Railway. Some railway and other private bills were also read a first time. QUALIFICATION FOR OFFICES BILL. Mr. HADFIELD, in moving the second reading of this bill, said that the qualification which he proposed to abolish was a relic of the barbarism of former times, when the sacramental test of 1662 was introduced in the case of all persons employed in the military and civil services of the country. So distasteful was this test that 2,000 clergy men resigned their ministry rather than conform to it. In 1828 that test was repealed, but the qualification clause was introduced. By this qualification the party taking office declared, on the faith of a true Christian, that he would not use any power, authority, or influence he might possess to weaken the influence of the Established Church, as by law established in England, or to deprive the prelates and clergy of such Church of the privileges they at present enjoyed. Now this qualification declaration was required to be taken by magistrates, which was a practical griev ance, as it tended to exclude Dissenters who might be desirous to serve their country as magistrates, and referred to certain cases which had come under his observation to illustrate this position. None of the members of any Government in this country made this declaration, and they got rid of it by pleading ignorance of the law which required such declaration to be made within six months after the acceptance of office, for which an act of indemnity specially provided. He contended that this was most unjust, for there was no reason shown why the exemption should not be extended to those who occupied humbler stations than that of Ministers of the Crown. Such difference in respect,to a statutory requirement was a dis grace ; and so far from the members of the Church of England endeavouring to perpetuate such an absurdity, they should turn their attention to the heresies and dis sensions that prevailed amongst their own clergy, some of whom were accused of not having any belief in revelation. Having referred to the course of legislation in respect to this bill, which had been passed by this house but rejected by the House of Lords, he concluded with his motion. Mr. BAZLEY seconded the motion. Mr. NEWDEGATE opposed the bill. The alleged grievance which this bill proposes to abolish related to the case of persons accepting corporate offices who were merely required not to use their powers against the Church of England which was a constitutional element. Now, he considered, there was no hardship in such a declaration, and was the ground on which they had acted for the last 32 years in admitting to office persons who were not mem bers of the State Church. He appealed strongly to tie house to follow the example of the House of Lords, and reject the present measure merely for the sake of whit was called religious equality. He concluded by moving that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Sir G. C. LEWIS said that this declaration was a mere fanciful and ideal security to the established Church. It was a mere declaration that was not cnforeed by any secular penalty, and which was capriciously administered. No man could Le indicted for perjury for a violation of this decla ration, and the stability of the Established Church rested upon far different securities to that which the declaration afforded. He would therefore vote for the second reading of the bill, but at the same time he must state that the ex isting law did not inflict the practical grievances which the hon. member for Sheffield supposed. Mr. SOTHERON ESTCOURT said he concurred in what the last speaker said, but he considered that it was one of the first steps towards destroying the bulwarks of the Established Church, and by sapping and mining to effect the separation of the Church and State—an object which Dissenters did not hesitate to avow. He considered the declaration quite useless, but for the reason he assigned he felt bound to oppose this bill and support the amend ment. The house then divided, and the numbers were — For the second reading .. Against . BO Majority The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed this day fortnight. TRUSTEES OF CHARITIES BILL. Mr. DILLWYN moved the second reading of the bill. He said that this measure had been so often before the house and so much ventilated, that he would have wished to have avoided making many observations on the subject on the present occasion. However, in consequence of the measure introduced last session it would be necessary to trespass on the attention of the house at some length. The state of the law which, up to last session, required al teration, related to the trusteeship of unendowed schools, and to the quality of the education given. By the bill passed last session the latter subject was only dealt with, for it merely provided that the trustees should afford in creased facilities for the admission of children into the endowed schools of the country. However, the question of the administration of the trusts was not touched, and no provision was made relative to the question of the trustees. According to the decision of the Court of Chancery and the House of Lords in the Leominster case, Dissenters were declared by the existing law ineligible to act as trustees of endowed schools. The effect of that decision would be to impede the operation of the; act of last session. It could not be expected, when so large and respectable a body as the Dissenters found themselves excluded from the management of those schools, that they would have much confidence in the quality of the education imparted to the children in such schools. By this bill he merely proposed that no one shall be ineligible to act as trustees in the endowed schools merely because they did not profess a certain form of belief, except in those cases when the founders of such schools had expressed a wish in their bequest that such trusteeship should be limited to members of the Chuith of England. As this was a modified and moderate measure he hoped it would receive the adoption of the house. Mr. SELWYN moved, as an amendment, that the bill be read a second time upon that day six months. He said that one of the objects which this bill proposed was to effect indirectly what the house had refused to grant directly last session. He objected to the preamble of the bill, as being calculated to mislead both the members of the Church of England and Dissenters, for it set forth that some doubt had arisen as to the eligibility of 'persons not professing the doctrines of the Established Church to act as trustees of these endowed schools. The fact was that there was no doubt whatever on this point, for though no statute law existed, a practice had been in operation which had been unchanged and undoubted. The honourable and learned member then cited various cases which had come before the equity and law courts to show that the principle had invariably been adopted of legalising the appointment only of trustees to endowed chanties who were of the religion of the sect for which such charities were in tended. This was proved by decisions which excluded members of the Church of England from the trusteeship of charities which, according to the intention of the founders, were endowed for the use and benefit of Dissenters. By this law the contrary was permissible only in the case where there was sn expression of opinion ix the instrument which conferred the amount given by the donor; but the bill went much farther. When the intention of a donor was clearly expressed, of course no doubt could arise, but when that was not the case they were to arrive at such from the opinions of the donor or other surrounding circum stances, which, according to the provisions of this bill, could not be altogether exclud e d. A s a last objection he contended that the adoption of this bill would lead to dis cord in the management of these endowed charities, by raising a difference of opinion as t o t h e mode of religious education to be imparted to th e rec i p i ents of the charity. This discord would exhibit itself on each recurring election of trustees, when ea c h party would endeavour to have an accession of strength in enabling him to carry out his par ticular viers. The hon. and learned member then referred to recent legal decisions which set this question at rest as regarded the existing law in respect .to Church of England charities and mixed charities, as well as other trusts. Finally, he contended that it was ungrateful, after the passing of the endowment act of last session, to bring forward a measure like the pre sent until they had seen the working of the former andb.e In a discussion on the Red Sea Telegraph ques tion on the 9th inst. Mr. Gladstone stated that the dividend to the shareholders was not yet due, and that he hoped the necessary bill would pass through Parliament in time to prevent any default. The statement was erroneous and the hope unfounded. The dividend was then eight days overdue, and although a short period has hitherto been allowed for sending out the warrants, that period in the present case expired on Friday last. The British Govern ment, therefore, are now withholding from a large number of families the payment of sums to which it is admitted the moral title of the claimants is as incontestable as that enjoyed by the holders of Consuls. Such technical irregularity as exists is solely to the charged to the carelessness of Govern ment functionaries; and at various intervals in both Houses of Parliament it has been proclaimed by members, not only of the existing but of the late Cabinet, that the public might make investments in this security with perfect reliance as to the nature of the guarantee. It is believed that no similar lapse ever before occurred with a public security in this country, and perhaps the unpleasantness would not now have been witnessed but for the circum stance of a peculiar system of subtle refinement having crept into our financial dealings. The amount involved in the temporary breach of faith was £lB,OOO, and the Ministry had a sense so delicate of "what was due to Parlia ment, and the respect they were bound to pay to its authority," although Parliament had already voted the money, that they could not think of incurring the responsibility of disbursing it after the Law Officers of the Crown had intimated the discovery of some flaw in the wording of the documents relating to it. Probably the House of Commons, instead of being thankful for this extreme deference, are simply conscious of the manner in which their time is being wasted, and of the fact that ten times £lB,OOO would be well laid out rather than that the financial character of the Government and the national credit should even for a moment be compromised by such questions. There is a narrow scrupulousness which may lead to results akin to those from recklessness. If we are once to establish the practice of appealing to the Law Officers of the Crown with regard to the propriety of making payments universally admitted to be equitably due, there will not be a single lia bility of the Government that can be deemed secure. Happily, however, public sentiment on these points is in advance of that displayed by the Government, and t o Ministry can resort to such proceedings with out loss of respect. In the present instance, all s p o e m rs e ons ma w ch ou in ld ery be b g y rea w tl h y ie p h, leawseidthoifut inflicting thereweb ruinous expense on individuals, an action could_ broutht for interest at 8 per cent. on the delayed Gity Article. payments, e t o o n g t t a h e t e t i h m e t s h e u sual damages for the breach o f THE MURDER NEAR RYDE, ISLE OF WIGIIT.— A coroner's inquest was opened on Monday before Mr. F. Blake, the coroner for the Isle of Wight, at Old-house Farm, the scene of the murder, about a mile from Hyde, to inquire into the cause of the death of Jane, the wife of Henry Lacy, a farmer residing at that place. The proceedings were con tinued yesterday, when several witnesses were examined, from whose evidence it appeared that Lacy had thrown his wife downstairs, and that she died from the injuries she received. Susan Wilder, the niece of the deceased, appears to have been implicated in the occurrence, or, at all events, she knew of it, and endeavoured to conceal the fact that Lacy had thrown his wife downstairs, and represented that she had f a ll en d own. Lacy is a man of drunken habits, and it is supposed that he was intoxicated when he com mitted the crime. The deceased had several bruises, and marks of blood were found on her clothes and on the bed where she had been lying. Thejury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder" against Lacy, who has been committed to Winchester Gaol. The woman Wilder, who is of rather repulsive appearance, has been examined before the magi strates of Hyde, and remanded on the charge of " having on the 17th inst., well knowing that one Henry Lacy had then and there feloniously killed and murdered one Jane Lacy, feloniously relieved, comforted, and assisted the said Henry Lacy." THAMES EMBANKMENT.--At the meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Works yesterday the President said —having received a communicatim from her Majesty's Chief Commissioner of Works expressing a wish to see him upon the subject, he had accordingly done so. He (the President) had again strongly urged the objections enter tained by the Board to having this subject referred to a Commission. The Chief Commissioner said that he still adhered to the opinion that a Commission would be neces sary, and the Government proposed that the Commis sioners should bo seven in number, and that the present . Lord Mayor should be the CRuirman. He (th e P res id ent) had that e he had replied expressi ng hi s w illi ngness to un d er take that responsibility. The B o a r d ex p ressed their approval of the course which had been adopt e d, com mittee, R d nady recei„d s formal request t o b e one o f t h e cora- appealed to all those who had the cause of religious educa tion and religious charities at heart to reject this bill. Mr. MILLER supported the bill on the ground of com mon justice and sense. The objects of the bill were to pro claim the principle of religious liberty, and to prevent the waste of the funds of those charities by persons litigating questions like the present, well knowing that the cost would be defrayed out of the funds of the charity. He denied the correctness of the assertion of the hon. and learned member (Mr. Selwyn) as to there being no doubt as to the ineligibility of Dissenters to act as trustees to these charities, and he cited the authority of Lord Camp bell, who denied that any such disqualification existed. He confessed that he did not know what a Dissenter was, for the law had not defined it. He could understand that, in the days of persecution, a man who went to the stake be cause he would not conform was a Dissenter; but in the present day when Dissenters, as they were called, were made to pay church rates, were entitled to admission into the parish church, and bulled in the parish churchyard, it was difficult to know who was a Dissenter. Sir W. HEATHCOTE:opposed the bill, which he con tended would lead to fresh litigation, and throw doubt on endowments. Mr. LOWE said that a difference of opinion existed be tween learned judges on the subject, for Lord Campbell said that the appointment of Dissenters as trustees was a matter of discretion, while Lord Chelmsford was clearly of opinion that this exclusion was a clear and unbending rule. Under these circumstances he thought it would be most deirable to have the matter settled by a legislative enactment, in order to prevent litigation that would waste the funds of endowed charities and other trusts. Then as to the question, was it expedient that a Dissenter should be excluded from the management of schools to which their children were admitted ? He was of opinion that it was, and that it was only just that the children should have representatives on the management of the institutions to see that their rights were properly at tended to, and that *heir religious doctrines were not inter fered with. He contended that it was not worth while continuing a system that benefited only attorneys, who got up speculative suits, and deprived Dissenters of rights to which, after the act of last session, he considered they were fairly entitled. For these reasons he would support the second reading of the bill. Sir H. CAIRNS opposed the bill, and said that no judi cial authority had proceeded upon the doubt as to the eli gibility of Dissenters, which formed the basis of this bill. He argued that when they admitted the principle that they were to exclude Dissenters from trusteeship, when the founder expressed in words his intention to that effect, it was most absurd to contend for their admission, when he expressed his intention by implication. Mr. HENLEY protested against the dogma laid down by the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Lowe), that, because by the act of last session, they admitted children to the secular benefits of these schools, they were necessarily bound to admit Dissenters to the board of management. Supposing that that principle was pushed to its legitimate extent, and there were children in those schools belonging to different denominations, each one of these might claim to be represented on the board, which would lead to a state of confusion that was impossible to imagine. Mr. DILL WYN replied, and the house divided — For the second reading 164 Against it Majority The announcement was received with loud cheers. The bill was then read a second time. LIBRARY OF THE HOUSE. Sir W. HEATHCOTE moved for the appointment of a standing committee of fifteen members to assist Mr. Speaker in the direction of the library, and to whom shall be referred all matters relating thereto :—Colonel Wilson Pattea, Lord John Russell, Mr. Chancellor of the Exche quer, Sir James Graham, Mr. Walpole, the Lord Advo cate, Lord Naas, Lord Harry,Vane, Mr. Monckton. Milnes, Sir Wm. Heathcote, Mr. Massey, Sir G. Lewis, Lord Stanley, Mr. Stirling, and Mr. Whiteside, five to be the quorum. AFFIRMATIONS. Sir J. TRELAWNEY moved for leave to bring in a bill to allow affirmations or declarations to be made instead of oaths, in certain cases, in Great Britain and Ireland. He contended that when convicted felons were allowed to give evidence, it was most unjust to the testimony of a witness who from conscientious reasons refused to take an oath. Mr. DILLWYN seconded the motion, and leave was given to introduce the bill. CHURCH RAZES COMMUTATION. Mr. ALCOCK obtained leave to bring in a bill for the voluntary commutation of church-rates, and the bill was read a first time. EAST INDIA (RAILWAY COMPANIES). On the motion of Mr. H. BAILLIE, a number of returns on this subject were ordered. The house then adjourned at a quarter pait five. THE RED SEA 7ELEGRAPR. ~--'~~t f 4 AVA t~. THE SUN,I " LONDON, - WEDNESDAY Ev ENING, FEBRUARY 20, 1861.