The Sun. — London, England, 1856-05-31 00:00:00

sk lk4 ROYAL BRITISH BANK. Notice is Herby Given, that the Chief Office of this Bank will, on MONDAY, the 2d dav of June next, be removed from Tokenhouse-yard to the Bank's premises (formerly the South Sea House) in Threadneedle-street. HUGH INNES CAMERON, General Manager. 27th May, 1856. PROVIDENT CLERKS' BENEVOLENT FUND. ELECTION OF ANNUITANTS. At the Election of Annuitants held at the °dices of the Provi dent Clerks' Association, 15, lloorgatc-street, on Friday, the 30th inst., John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., in the chair, the following . were the numbers of votes obtained by each candidate : John Porch, clerk ••.. • ... 305 lA. MY, widow • 966 M. J. Morley, widow •• . • 3,614 14. Crab b 837 111. A. Fortiugton •• • • 653 M. J. Drower, „ J. Trethowan, „ 372 J. Cowles, 343 M. Hamerton „ 186 E. Summerhays ~ •• • • 2,531 E. Stanbank „ •• • • 2,052 B. Reynolds „ 1,637 M. Groves ~ •. • • 1,557 A. Harris, 1,237 The election was, therefore, decl M. J. Morley, E. Sturim!rhays, IL NILLIiM May 30, 1856. :land to have fallet on J. Porch, Stanbank, and B. Reynolds. THOS. LINFORD, Secretary. T RUST and LOAN COMPANY of UPPER CANAD At the Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders held at the offices of the Company. on Friday, May 30th, 1356, S'r It J. Bonn, K.C. 8., in the chair, the followin; resolutions were unanimously passed :—That the rteport and Accounts subinitt dby the Directors be received and adopted. That a D'.v dead at the rate of Seven and a-Half per Cent. pc , * annum, less income tax, be declared on the paid-up can tal s ock of the Company for the six months ending 31st March, Mi. Tnat Peter Buchanan, Charles Morison, and 'William Gordon Thomson be re-elected Directors of the Com pany. That Michael Laward and Thomas W. Bell, Esqs., be re elected Auditors of the Company. The meeting was then declared extraordinary for the purpose of electing new Directors. It was unanimously resolved that James Ibit3hinson and Math.w Esqrs., be elected Directors of the Comp Many. T. ACDONALD, Secretary. 65, Moorgate-street, May 30, WA. ER MAJESTY'S THEATRE, NccoLomim. THIS EVENING (Saturday, May 31), will be repeat° , Verdi's Opera, --- • • LA TRAVIATA, Violetta, Mille. Piceolomini ; Alfredo, Signor Calzolari ; Barone Dauphol, Signor Vairo ; Dottoro Grenvil, Signor Eaiilou ; and Germoat Giorgio, Signer B.,neventano. To conclude with the - Ballet Divertissement, LES QUA.TRF. SAISONS ; Madame, Bellon, Mdllles. Katrine, Bosehetti, Lisereux Pierron, and M. Vandris. Applications for boxes, stalls, and tickets to be made at the Box-office of the Theatre, Colonnade, Haymarket. THEATRE ROYAL, DTURY-LANE. Lessee, Mr. t , .. i'. Smith ENGLISTI OPER I. r,v - ENLN(.4, will be pro.ineed THE YINKEIZ TIOIJ3EKEErSa. After which, MARITANA. To conclude with TIIE YOUNG ACTRESS. rtltly£3ll P.OYAL., IIkvNIARKIST. Under Oho Management of sir. Bunkstotie. TUTS SHE 5100P,3 TO CONQUItn, Fo!lox.' by TFIG REMITS AND IVILD'aIS OF WO)1,11sT. To concludo with MIL 0-17 T OF WATER. ILIYAL PitINCE36%.4 TUFATRE, OFOrt•.1)--.1TRFALT. Under the ligavizernantot CnAaLss KLAN. EvEtitgq, THE VICTOTI VANQUISHED. After wh!ch, TEll WINTER'S TALE. Penzipal characters by !Ur. and Mrs. C. 'Kean. ROYAL All&LPI - 11. Propiator and Nranager, Mr. B. Webster. Dtroctreai, :n.,,t my• , Celesta. PAUL PRY. Followel by A PO'T!,I , I or S)I3KE. T,) conr.biln with G 301) NIGIIT, SIGNOR PANTAIAN. renAL TILEA.T%F.. Lesscearhl Manaler, Mr. Alf:•e?. Tail 'EVENTING THE Tit ‘GEDY Q-TEEN. After which, RETRIBIT lON. To with ST MC AT TIOTE. ROYAL SIrIREY TaRkTRE. Lassoes, INtemrs.Stopherl ail Croswick. T:il EVE:NINO, Will he performed The Tragedy of lIAMLP.T. To colvind3 with BLACK-EYED SUSAN. ASTLEY'S novAr. Aqvarrarar RE. Lessee and Mana:.:er, Mr. Win. Cooke. Ttox-oftica open from E'et , n ti IFo tr. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Diacatrian Director, Mr. :V. Cooke, lull. TIII3 EVENING, The hi;:hlv sneeessfal Romantic Equestrian gnectaele, called HORSE THE CAVERN, or tin lliiunted Itrlancls of the Abruzzi, in which ?Ir. \Vilna ti rooke's ftilr.3es, trained by him, will exhibit a number of novel and eNtrforilinary feats. After which, The transcendently heauttlul Acrs of lIOIIIEIIANSIIIP in the CIRCLE. , Ta concluic with a TRIOJIPIIE EQUEST.P.E. WATERIII R AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tam DAT—Morn. 31 min. aft. 11—Evening. 0 min. aft. 0 T )410RBOvir—Morn. 57 min. aft.ll —Evening 21 min. aft.l2 THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, MAY 31. THERMOMETER, IN TUE SHADE. 57 - hlg'oest slnce noon yesterday. 47 —!owest this morning and during the night. 51 —this day at noon. BATIOMICTER-29.85—falling rapidly. WIND, N. to N.N.W.—Fresh, with dull cold weather, Rain in the night. Two o'CLocK.—Wind—.N.E., fresh, with rain. N cl• r,... , Jz4, ) . •-) 0.-z,v;;,, , ,....-...z,-., - ~ z7' , 17.; -- ,(11 : 7---- - .. ___,,__N-.--31.1,11, . ~ ) , ......,,;,_,4„1.,.:„..1. 4 .6.....„, 4 L.,- 1- , _ LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1856. The Appellate Jurisdiction (House of Lords) Bill last night received its second reading. Although we fully concurred in the decision that refused to recognise the validity of a seat in the " hereditary " branch of the Legislature, accom panied merely by a Life Peerage, still we felt that a large and comprehensive measure of Peerage Reform was urgently required. Bnt that im portant alteration should be effected by a solemn and well-considered Act of Parliament, and not by the undue extension of an alleged prerogative of the Crown, which, if it ever existed, had be come obsolete, not having been exercised for more than four centuries. We felt that, with the pre vailing German influence, and the desire already manifested to abrogate, so far as practicable, the recognised and constitutional functions of both Houses, it was dangerous to sanction any experi ment that might constitute a precedent under which the power of the Executive might be greatly increased. If the validity of the WENs- LEYDALE Patent had been affirmed, there would be no limitation to the privilege of creatinc , a number of Life Peerages, sufficient to constitute a good working majority for the Minister of the day. Not merely one, but one hundred Life Peers pretexts. might be created on the most frivolous Every succeeding Administration would, de l ib tless, be willing to avail itself of so powerful a weap on against its political opponents, and the indep en _ dente of one of the co-ordinate branches of the Legislature would thus in time be completely sub verted. The extent of the remedy should be limited to the exigency. It sleould not be re quired to burn down a pig -stye in order to obtain a joint of roast pork, or to I.urchase a milch cow if an additional pint of milk were required. Be sides, the remedy 'should be prescribed by Parlia ment, and not by ono of its branches. It should be provided by an act of the whole body, not by the simple volition of a single constituent member thereof, whose alleged privileges require to be moat jealously watched. The supposed necessity arose from the note _rious deficiencies of the appellate jurisdiction of the House. These deficiencies were univer sally admitted. There was not a single person, Noble or Commoner, who had hardihood sufficient to allege that the tribunal which might over-rule the unanimous judgment of the Judicial Bench WWI is a Satisfactory condition. It had, in fact, THE SUNi LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING; MAY 81, 1856. treat the see as to all intents and purposes void." Thus only, in the Dean's words, can the just de mands and interests of tho Crown and Church be duly, honestly, and effectively met. LATEST NEWS. BERLIN, SATURDAY, MAY 31. An Imperial ukase places the educational esta blishments of Russia under the Emperor's special superintendence. A draught for constituting a Board of Educa- cation, with the assistance of a committee of [earned men, has been submitted, to the Emperor. CONSTANTINOPLE, MAY 23. Tho Princes Vogorides. and Virtaledos, the Armenians Dadian and Alihram Bey, the Pro- :estant Stephen Bey, and the Hebrew Hatom have for the time being a seat and voice in the Medjlis Council. The excitement at Serajowo, the capital of Bosnia, in consequence of the building of a church steeple, has been suppressed. Kursebid Pasha took energetic mcasuyes. Adviccs from Athens of the 24th of May say— " The French Minister has received leave of ab sonee, and is gone to Paris." MADRID, MAY 29. A naval force, consisting of two ships of the line, three frigates, two corvettes, and four steam boats, is destined to proceed to the Gulf of Mexico. THE BALTIC. HAMBURG, MAY 28. Our city has recently, and since the reopening of the navigation between the German ports and those of the Baltic and Gulf of Finlapd, been smnewhat enlivened by the presence of a number of Russian visitors, who, on account of the num ber cf "golden Imperials" they usually bring with them, and the liberal way in which they spend them, are much cherished by the hotel and shop keepers of the place, who seldom fail to reap rich harvests at such seasons. Many more are successively expected, as, from what some of them report, above 50,000 persons of all grades have ap plied for permission and passports to travel abroad. Most of them, after refreshing themselves with the good. things that are placed before them hero, and especially having fitted themselves out from head to foot with all that is fashionable in point of dress, pas; on to Paris and southern Germany to spend the reminder of the time allowed them on leave of abse-Ace from their homes and families. It is truly astonishing - to witness the great anxiety and avidity displayed by the various tradesmen, aided by the commissioners of the hotels, in looking after these travelling Russians, and the manner in which they are fleeced. Not withstanding these drawbacks, they all appear, however, to feel extremely grateful to their Em peror for allowing them to enjoy the fresh air of the places in which they sojourn for the time being and especiaily glad that the war is at an end. We learn from Warsaw, up to the 241 inst., that, notwithstanding the rejoicings on the visit of the Emperor have been great and general, some dis satisfaction is mingled therewith iu the- minds' of the people, on learning the notice that six Polish patriots, who had not availed themselves' of the amnesty granted them to return to their country, and who have been absent since the year 1831, have been punished by the confiscation of their property. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, MA y - 27. The statement of the Frankfort Post Zeitung, that numerous members of a "mysterious religious society" have been arrested in this city, is correct. The following is some detailed information on a sub j ect of which nothing is known to the Vienna public. About a year ago the police received information that the habits and manners of some of the workmen in the suburbs had undergone a very great change. As the phenomenon was observed in several suburbs the police suspected that some central club had been formed with branch establishments. The movements of same of the men were closely watched, but up to Whit-Sunday last nothing more was discovered than that, instead of going to church, they read their Bibles diligently at home, " and were so greatly averse to any kind of ceremony, that if one of their friends died they abstained from following the corpse to the grave." As there is not any law in Austria which makes reading the Bible a punishable offence, the authorities had uo reason for inteifering withthe workmen,nntil, onW'hit-Sunday last, they held a conventicle, and were surprised by the police. It is probablethat some papers were seized as it is known that the persons arrested (between 60 and 70) call themselves" Brethren of St. John," and belong to a new religious sect. Although it is not believed that the Brethren of St. John have anything to do with politics, they are suspected of being in connection:with the Hungarian Protestants, and it is therefore probable some time will elapse before they are set at liberty. The Ultra montanists have, during the last five or six years, fostered and cherished the St. Severinus Verein, which is a union of workmen under the direction of some influential members of the High Catholic party, until it has become quite a power in the capital, and it is not unlikely that the new sect is a kind of opposition union formed by those work men who have no taste for cant and Jesuitism. PRUSSIA. ) BERLIN MAY 29. The day before yesterday the Qu'een went to meet her sister, the Queen of Saxony, at the frontier. In addition to the members of the Imperial family of Russia, the Emperor, the Empress Mother, and the Grand Duke Michael, there are visiting here now the Queen of Saxony, the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Princes of the Nether lands, Prince William of Mecklenburg, the Crown Prince of Wurtemberg and his consort the Grand Duchess Olga, the Grand Duke of Olden burg, the Duke of Nassau, Prince Wilhelm of Badn, Prince Moritz of Sachsen -Altenburg, Prince of Hohenzollern Prince Selma, Prince Windischratz, &c. Further there are innu merable Russian nobles and State officials attached to the suites of the Emperor and the Empress- Mother, of whom Count Nesselrode, Baron Mey endorff, Prince Gortachakoff, and Prince Woronz off, need only be mentioned. Many members of the two suites had to be accommodated in hotels here. On the 26th inst. alone 102 Russian fami lies arrived here and took up their quarters in the hotels. Every place of public entertainment in and about our west end is perfectly invaded and taken possession of by the Russians. General Ney has returned from his mission to St. Petersburg, and left Berlin this morning on his way back to Paris. WEST COAST OF AFRICA. PLYMOUTH, Friday Evening.—Her Majesty's steam sloop Salamander, Commander G. F. Moe chan, arrived here this evening. She exchanged crows with the Scourge at Sierra Leone on the 28th of April, and left for England on the 30th. The colony in general was healthy, but some fever pre. vailect among the Europeans, caused by previous rains. Several heavy typhoons had been expe rienced. Her Majesty's brig Philomel was ex pected to leave for England on the 2d of May ; sh e is leaky. Outside Sierra Leone the Salamander met the French frigate Zelie, going in with a com plimentary message from t he newly appointed Commodore at Goree. On the 9th of May, o ff C a pe Verd, the Salaman der was nearly run into at midnight by a large screw-steamer, ship rigged, white funnel and black top, going down the north-east trades, as if bound for Australia. In the Channel to-day she observed two Dutch frigates, homeward bound, apparently from a long voyage. The French Vice-Consul at Sierra Leone comes home passenger in the Sala mander. MR. BARON PLATT. —We are happy to learn that the health of tbis learned and estimable judge is such as to admit of his resuming his seat. The di:o)unt houses have given notice that their rate for money at call will be 41 per cent., being a reduction of per cent. " TH,E CHILD IS FATHER OF THE MAN."--This clic turn of Wordse ci:th was never more aptly illustrated than by the following anecdote of Henry Brough tm, the school-boy, which we find in a delicicus vo lume of the reminiscences of the late Lord Cockburn, just published by Adam and Charles Black, with the title " Memorials of his Time, by Henry Cockburn." "Brougham made his first ex plosion while in Fraser's cit as (at the High School of Edinburgh). He dared to differ )from Fraser, a h o t but good-natured old fellow, on some small bit of Latinicy. The master, like other men in power, main tained his own infallibility, punished the rebel, and flat teced himself that the On r was over. But Brougham nappea:cd the next day, loaded with books, returned to the charge before the whole clan-, and compelled honest Luke to c nifeis that he had been w.ong. This made Frougham famous throughout the whole school. I rememLer, as well as if it had hee d yesterday, having had bins pointe 1 out to me as ' the fellow who had b ea t the master.' It was then that I first saw him." PROVIDENT CLERKS' ASSOCIATION. Yesterday the 13th election of annuitants on the bene• volent fund of this association took place at the offices, No. 15, Moorgate-street, City ; J. A. Smith, Esq., M.P., the treasurer, in the chair, supported by W. G. Prescott, E q., &c. It affords us much pleasure to notice the steady pro gress of this association. We have watched that progress narrowly from its commencement, and from the trouble we have taken to make ourselves conversant with the principles of the association, and the manner in which it is conducted, we can confidently recommend it to the notice of the public as an association worthy of their confidence ; and, if a further proof be wanting, it is to be found in the fact of so many of the trustees, who are men of the highest eminence in the commercial world, devoting so much timo to the personal inspection and conduct of the business of the association. But one thing appears to us to be wanting to complete its suc cess, viz., greater publicity amongst the class for whose especial benefit it was established. Already the association has been enabled t) confer considerable benefit on the relatives of those who availed them- selves of the opportunity of becoming members of the Benevolent Fund. Since the establsiTiment of that fund 50 annuitants have been elected, at an aggregate amount of upwards of 1,0001. a year, and 8801. is now pr.ya,ble, and which timely aid has been of the g,reate,t benefit to the recipients, from its being the sole provision which the scanty means of their rela tives, when living, could make for them. Upwards of 12,0001. have also been distributed in gratuities, to members suffering from sicliness and distress. Orphan children have also received aid, and assistance has been granted to many in procur►ng thqaa situations, and thereby the means of supporting themselves, and many a clerk has had cause to rejoice at his having become a member of this association. The CHAIRMAN said that he attended there that day for the Purpose of going through the necessary formality of opening the poll for the election of annuitants, an d the same time he expressed the greatest satisfaction it afforded him, and he had no doubt it did others, also that the association had been able to affect so much within so short a time towards alleviating the distress of those who bad fallen into misfortune, in many cases through no fault of their own. He also hoped it would stimulate the clerks of the United Kingdom to unite in spreading the advantages of the association, and st:11 more that it would be an inducement to them to cultivate those habits of fruga'ity which it was the especial object of the assoceatioe to foster, and on which it so much had to depend for success. The hon. gentleman then declared the poll open, and the election commenced with great spirit, which was kept up throughout the period allotted for taking the votes. At its conclusion the books were made up, when R. H. Jones, Esq., chairman of the board of di rectors, attended to declare the result. The CHAIRMAN, after apologising for dslaying the meeting arising from the length of time it necessarily occupied the scrutineers in examining and making up the numbers, said it afforded him much pleasure to meet them on that occasion, as, indeed, is did on all occasions which afro:sled them the opportunity of relieving the distressed, for whose especial benefit the association was established. He, however, deeply regretted to see such an array of candidates before him —(hear, hear)—parti cularly as but few, comparatively speaking, could re ceive the assistance of the association. It was to him a subject of much annoyasce and vexation that so many of them should be disappointed ; but he expressed a hope that the board at their next meeting would con sider the state and condition of many of the unsuccessful candidates, and, if practicable, afford them some little remuneration. (Hear, hear.) The sum to be awarded that day was 85/., which appeared at first sight to be a small sum ; but when it was considered how small were the contributions received for that purpose it wool 1 be found to be a very large sum. If they could induce the higher class of clerks to come forward and support the institution, he could safely say the board would never have to turn away a candidate empty handed. (Hear, hear.) It was to that class of clerks the asso. ciation at its commencement looked for support, and as the persons who would come provided and make up any deficiencies for the benefit of their less fortunate brethren ; but such had not hitherto been the case. It was therefore the duty of the Board to he careful of the funds of the association, and not grant more annuities than they felt confident they could pay, so that the recipients may always rely with cert Linty on receiving the amount of their pensions for life. (Hoar, hear.) There were some connected with the association who considered the board went too fast in granting money, and other?, that they did not go fast enough ; but the board had the best means of judging what could be done. They were at all times desirous of going too fast rather than too slow—but at the same time it must be consistent with the eafety and resources of the asso ciation. (Hear, hear.) He then read the state of the poll, as follows :—J. Porch, 305 ; A. Ady, 966 ; J. Bowles, 348 ; E. Crabbe, 837 ; M. Hamerton, 186 ; B. Reynolds, 1,657 ; M. J. Drower, 581 ; M. A. Forting ton, 653 ; M. Groves, 1,557 ; A. Harris, 1,237 ; M. J. Morley, 3,614 ; H. Stanbank, 2,052 ; E. Summerhays, 2,531 ;J. Trethowan, 372. He had much pleasure in • . declaring J. Porch (clerk), B. Reynolds, M. J. Morley, H. Stanbank, E. Summerbays (widows) elected annui tants. Mr. J. W. WELCH said he should not be doing justice to his own feelings if he left the meeting without making a few observations. He quite agreed in all that had been said by the chairman with regard to the great holy of clerks not supporting the association as they ought, especially those holding the higher appointments in commercial houses of eminence, and who had ample means of supporting an institution founded for the bene fit of their poorer brethren. As one of the oldest members of the association, be regretted and deplored their being obliged to turn away so many respectable widows, from their inability to grant so many annui ties as ho had hoped from the first they would have been able to do, and as they could have done bad they been properly supported. He had studied the question ♦ery closely, many of the clerks he seriously condemned for not having supported the association, whilst there were others whom he praised for becoming members, and who, he thought, might do more, but at the same time he was led to believe that taking the clerks as a body, their not supporting it arose from their being badly paid—(hear, hear)—and who, consequently, bad not got it in their power ,to subscribe towards the association, after providing for the requirements of the tax collector. (Hear, hear.) He found there was, from the present mode of doing business, a tendency on the part of many employers rather to cut down the salaries of their clerks than otherwise, and with every s msideration and respect towards them he could not refrain from expressing the above opinion, as some excuse why a much larger number of clerks had not joined the association. (Hear, hear.) The Board had done everything in their power to accomplish, to the fullest extent, the object they all had in view at the commencement of the association ; but as yet they had not been so successful as they had hoped. They must not, however, be disheartened by that, but ap re it to the principal establishments to come for ward and support it as an additional com pensation for that intelligent and respectable body of men through whom they conduct successfully their great undertakings. (Hear, hear.) He thought the board had a right to claim from the principals a share of their charitable benevolence towards the benevolent fund of this association, which would place it in a position equal to that of either of the charitable institutions in London. (Hear, hear.) He also called on the higher class clerks to support the association, and to endeavour to induce their friends to join them. (Hear, hear.) Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the meet ing separated. GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—Ifer Majesty's Commis- F ion er s of Emigration will despatch a vessel to Adelaide, South Australia, between the 7th and 14th of July next. A. NEW PLANET.—Another planet was di,covered on Thursday morning at the Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford, by Mr. Pogson, the fiist assistant. It is a little trighter than a tenth magnitude. Mr. Pogun saw the planet about midnight on the 23d, but the sky clouded over 'before he could obtain a satisfactory observation. Letters from persons very well informed at Naples say that his Majesty King Ferdinand had invited Poerio to ask for his pardon, but without effect, as his victim dis dained to sue for mercy from the man who he knew .; would only relax his persecution under fear from with- OR`. M. DE BAZENCOURT'S BOOK.—The Moniteur yesterday repudiates any official character for this book ; but how came it that M. de Bazencourt was officially accredited, by his own statement, to the marshal commanding the French army, who, we must hope, will recoil from in dorsing the misstatements of this civilian, who talks of setting squadrons in the field as learnedly as a spinster, and gives his opinion on military matters as doginati ; cally as if he had the military experience of Napo'-eon the Third himself. —Morning Advertiser. MINING INTELLIGENCE.—As money becomes more abundant, and the ratos for obtai nin g it easier, we ob servo more inquiries for dividend mines, and a greater disposition to speculate in those of a more progreL , siv character. We cannot, however, report a very larl.e amount of business teansactions, the occurrence of two partial holidays during the week - having greatly inter fered with them. —Minting Jourmg of this day.: become a mockery and a reproach—a blot on the laws of the United Kingdom—and bad as it is at present, it must become far worse when some of the most efficient Law Lords should in course of nature drop off—and serious obstacles existed to the infusion of new blood, or the satisfac tory filling up of the vacancies thus occa sioned. This, thee, was the great desideratum, and the question, therefore, naturally arose — why it should not be met by the creation of a perfectly independent tribunal, the efficiency whereof would be as generally acknowledged as the inefficiency of the existing one is deplored ? Their Lordships, however, cling to the privilege with extraordinary tenacity. They seem to have some vague notion that, in surrendering that which, to the great majority of their members, must be a great practical inconvenience, they would lose a great portion of their dignity, and that, unless the judicial be still united to the political function, they would forfeit the brightest gems of their coronets. To persons of ordinary capacity it would seem that the transfer of the jurisdiction to a body like the judicial branch of the Privy Council would be the best mode of getting rid of the difficulty, and that a judgment would he just as sound, although de livered by an experienced Judge not possessing either an hereditary or life peerage, as by a noble lord, advanced in years, whose physical and mental powers had been in some degree im paired by the labours he had undergone in winning his toilsome course to the distinction he had achieved—that, in the words of Ermis, "The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The man's the gowd for a' that." Sed Diis &her vistm. The Select Committee th.night otherwise, and hence the diluted measure now introduced, which is neither one thing nor the other ; which, while it will not give complete satisfaction to the _suitors, will let in the sharp end of the wedge in reference to the vexed ques tion of life Peerages. It would surely be far bet ter that the retired Chancellors and Judges should be permitted to enjoy the otium CUM , dignitate which they had fairly earned than that they should be expected to serve' gratuitously as Law Lords, when their age and infirmities had con - polled their retire:nent from the judicial situations they had previously occupied. Should they find themselves competent to discharge the arduous duties of Appellate Judges, there would, of course, be a great desire to retain their services. They might eve:a be entitled to e✓s officio seats in the Wilds with the priviiege of working if they thought proper, and without being liable to invidious remarks if they sought the ease and;relaxation for which they had laboured in their earlier years. The new Deputy Speakerships, with sabries of 6,0001. per annum, and the possibility of being created life Peers, is at best a miserable expedient to achieve that which might be much better ac• complished in another way. Thsi les, the matter savours strongly of a job, for there is nothing to prevent Peers, whose services at present are gra tuitously. given, but wh© might . not be unwilling to avail themselves of the salary to be given, from being nominated. Oa the whOle, we should say, let either a new tribunal be constituted, or let there be a real reform, such as we have al ready suggested, of the Upper House, making the seats therein elective, although the possession of a hereditary or life Peerage should be a necessary qualification. This is what the country requires, and which we have no doubt must sooner or later be conceded, if the privileges of the Peerage are to be perpetuated. It now and then occurs that the note of "spiri tual destitution" is vigorously sounded throughout the kingdom. S )me fussy curate, incapab'e distinguishing himself in any_ other way, fin is himself in occupation of a district where people go to chapel instead of church. Straightway he has recourse to the census returns—calculates Uri,: number of people who can't go to church if they Would, and who wouldn't if they could. The result is a letter to the Church newspapers, in which the existence of Dissenters' chapels is stu diously ignored, and an alarming state of heathen ism is piteously set forth. So many thousand people going to—we won't say where—for want of Church extension ! His example finds imita tors—the note of "spiritual destitution" is sound©d ; and, when it has gathered force, down come the High-Church party with the cuckoo cry of " more Bishops." Who that has heard it but has been reminded of the French Princess, who, on being told the people were starving for want of bread, inquired why they had not recourse to sweet cake ? One would have thought fewer overpaid Bishops—and these relieved of their Parliamentary " duties" (?), which take up half their time, by keeping them six months per annum in London—and more and better paid curates, would be more germane to the matter. Say so, and to what a torrent of ecclesiastical laudation of the divine virtues of the episcopate you expose yourself ! _ _ _ A fortiori, the cry of " more Bishops" should be louder, if not more general, when there is a practical diminution of the number of acting Bishops. Just, however, as the Sabbatarian party make reverence for " the Sabbath" a cloak for the usurpation of clerical authority, High Churchmen make reverence for the episcopate a cloak for party aggrandisement. Now that two Bishops (London and Durham) are, so far as the discharge of their spiritual duties goes, defunct, and a third stands in need of a straight-waistcoat, they have not a word to say on the matter. Batter, they seem to think, the people should lack the choicest spiritual alms than a Low-Church Bishop should be appointed ! Hold on, my Lord Bishops, though one foot be in the grave—hold on till there is a prospect of High Churchmen filling your places, and then hie as fast as you can to your reward ! Religion is really faring very badly just now in the hands of its ostentatious champions of most creeds. The contemplation is sufficiently offensive, and we gladly turn to something more practical. Tho Episcopacy may be a very good thing for all that is:said. of it, or it may not. Ono thing is certain— the public are entitled to have what they pay for. They pay the Bishops of LONDON and DURHAM handsomely, and these Bishops can discharge no episcopal d u t y i n re t urn . Th e y are t oo o ld a n d infirm. T he greater reason they should retire and make W ay for younger men. The best Judges that have adorned the B.:lnch have done so in like * circumstances, and surely Christian bishops should not h es i tate ! O n t h e brink of the grave they should surely se-, au example of self-denial. ?. The public, how ever, ought to have better ground fur relianc . An Act should be passed, not for the appointment of suffragan bishops, but, as the Dean of B RISTOL recommends, "enabling the Crown to inquire, by a commission specially appointed , into the aide gations of any petition from a bishop prayin g leave to retire, or into the presentments by corn. petent authority of the inability of any bishop to discharge efficiently his duties, whether becms-, , of old age, protracted illness, bodily or mental linfirmity ; and on incapacity being reported, to PRUDENCE AND BENEVOLENCE. There are some propositions so plain and self evident that it is a matter of wonder to the think- ng mind that they should require to be more than once clearly and simply stated in order to nsure their geaeral acceptance. Argument seems thrown away in endeavouring to prove elaborately ,hat which admits of no denial ; yet the labours- of the divine, the state3man, and the philanthro pist are all evidence that men do not practically believe that which it is impos3ible for them theo retically to deny. We are led to this view of the subject by the report which we publish to-day of the meeting of an association which has for many years been strongly and sincerely advocated in these columns. We allude to the " Provident Corks' Association." Omitting for the present all referenc2 to it as a thoroughly established Mutual Life Assurance Othee, in which capacity it is open to all classes, we prefer to regard its Benevolent Fund. alone as illustrating in a striki3g degree the remarks with which we commenced this article. Were it simply affirmed that it is not only the interest but the duty of all to make provision to the extent of their power for the infirmities of their declining years and the wants of those de pendent on them ; were it, in continuation of this, remarked that such a provision was peculiarly ap plicable to those whose whole income is contingent on the continuance of life and health, few, we apprehend, could be found to withhold their assent to so evident end palpable a truism ; yet, as a corollary upon this, we find the class to whom these observations usost strongly apply the Clerks of Great Britain.-1 body numbering in their ranks some 50,000 intelligent, well-educated and respectable men, are represented by less than one-tenth of their number in an institution founded for their especial benefit, and possessing the strongest possible claims upon their support. Of thirteen widows Y7:10 yesterday contended for the annuities granted by the Club's Benevo lent Fund four only were successful. The in ference, therefore, is, that the clerks of this ceun try are either unable or uawilling, to afford to their disabled fellow-workers, or to their widows and orphans, that support of which they stand E 0 much in need. True, the subscription demanded is very small and utterly out of proportion to the benefits conferred. True, annuities, amounting to nearly 1,0001. a year, have been granted. We still feel that among so large and important a body these results are far inferior to what might reasonably have been anticipated. If it le true, as was hinted by one of the speakers, that the "superior" or batter-paid class of clerks are slow in giving their aid to this excellent institu tion (on the ground, we presume, that they do not expect to require its assistance), the fact speaks volumes in their discredit. It is from them the association has a right to expect not only sup port but earnest an 1 hearty co-operation, and we trust soon to have to record an adhesion of such strength that it may be long before a necessitous widow is left to mour❑ the want of that sympathy and that esprit de corps which would have secured for her the valuable aid of this noble Fund. Nor, in blaming the clerks, can we fully acquit the principals of our commercial houses of undue neglect. On them this institution has peculiar claims. Their clerks are, as was justly said, the machinery by which the wealth of our merchant princes is acquired, and their declining years, their widows and orphan children demand and deserve their generous aid. Among the earliest and warmest supporters of this Association we' find the well known names of BARING, ROTHSCHILD, lIANKEY, and PRESCOTT. To the steady and constant friendship of Mr. JOHN ABEL SMITH the members have often borne warm and grateful testimony, and there are, in this great country, thousands of mercantile men who require only that the objects of this excellent institution should be fully laid before them to add their names at once to the list of subscribers. Nor can they in all the wide range of British benevolence find many objects on which an annual guinea will be more usefully and legitimately bestowed. RETURN OF TILE ORLIIEAN ILEROES. The question how and when. the return of the soldiers who have so nobly fought and bled in the Crimea can be restored to their homes, and the happy families who await so anxiously their return, would soon be accomplished were there but even a few such transports as the steamer Pacific. They would make short work of it if they came up to the extraordinary running of this vessel. The Pacific left Portsmouth on the 27tk of April, and having coaled at Malta, went on to Balaklava, where she embarked 775 men, and 26 officers (in all 801), these she took to Spezzia, in the Gulf of Genoa, and landed them on the 22d inst. ; thus occupying from Portsmouth to Balaklava, and back to Sperzia, only 25 days, out of which she was 8 days in port ; so that she must have averaged throughout that period a run of 344 miles per day, or 141 miles per hour since leaving Portsmouth. She has been ordered back to Balaklava. As the troops above mentioned were on board only 5 days and 22 hours, and allowing time for coaling, she would, by two voyages per month, herself remove 10,000 troops in six months. THE AUSTRIAN CONCORDAT. A letter from Vienna, in the Bourse Gazette of Berlin, states that the Emperor of Austria has just given special orders, in consequence of the representations of his Protestant subjects in re ference to the arbitrary measures to which they have been subjected since the conclusion of the Concordat, especially in matters concerning Pro testant burials. The Minister of the Interior has, by his Majesty's directions, issued a circular to the municipal and police authorities, recommending them to oppose every measure calculated to wound the feelings of Protestants. In his circular he states that every subject of the Emperor enjoys the right of protection in his religious belief after life as during his existence, and that no obstacle is to be placed in the way of religious ceremonies authorised by the laws. In order to facilitate the burial in their native land of individuals belonging to other states of Germany, Austria has concluded a cen vention with Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, and other minor states, by which permission, in the shape of a pass, will be granted for the transport of a body from the territory of one of the contracting parties into that of another. Lord and Lady Ashburton and the Lord and Lady Feversharn have arrived at the Pavilion Hotel, Folke- st9ne. j , r General llieliard Doherty has returned to town after a lengthened stay at the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone THE AMATEUR PANTOMME.—Her Nlajesty has bon-. nured the committee by naming "The Royal Naval Female School" as the charity to which the receipts of the performance at the Royal Italian Opera House Lyceum on Monday aro to be applied. Tee Chancellor of the Exchequer has resolved on a further investigation into the public advantage of con t rising the Scotch Fisheries Board, and bee selected Mr. Bonamy Price and Mr. St. John, the latter an officer of the Customs, to conduct the inquiries, and to report on the whole question. Those gentlemen will pnceed to Scotland forthwith on this duty. APPOINTMENTS.—Vii:;ount Sidney has been appointe l Loed-Lieutenant of Kent in the room of the late Earl C''" 7 l)er- Mr. G. Ruisel, of the Treasury, has been ap , ited assistant-secretary to the hoard of Works, in the ueni of Mr. Tn orauorro u perannuated. Mr. R. Wil- Eon, of the Tre asury, has been -appointed private secre- tary to Mr.' J. Wilson, in succession to Mr, Russell. • k 11/ - 1 l *a, COURT CIRCULAR, Her Majesty will hold a Drawing ROOM on Friday, Juno 20. and a Levee on Wednesday, Juno 25. Her Rua' Highness the Duchess of Kent and Prince Ernest of Leiningen dined with the Queen on Thursday. The Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, Prince Loewenstein, and the Maharajah Duleep visited her Majesty in the evening at Buckingham Palace, and witnessed the fireworks. Prince Frederick WilHata of Prussia, attended by Lieut.• Gen. Baron Schreckenstein, Baron de Moltke, Capt. Heinz, and Lieut. de Schreckenstein, went yes terday afternoon to the Prussian Legation in Carlton terrace, where his Royal Highness, received the Diplo matic Corps. The Princess Royal and the Princess Alice took a carriage drive yesterday. The Queen took a drive in the afternoon, accompanied by the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice, and at tended by.the Hon. Lucy Ker, in an open landau and four. Prince Albert rode on horseback, accompanied by Count Alexander Mensdorff. The equerries in waiting attended on horseback. Her Majesty gave a Concert in the evening at Buck ingham Palace, at which the following assisted :—Ma danie Goldscbmidt, Madame Novelle, Madame Bosio, Madame Viardot, Madile. Didi6e, Mr. Simi Reeves, Signor Gardoni, Signor Ronconi, Herr Formes, and Mr. Weiss. The Royal Personages, the Foreign Ministers, and a large party of the Nobility were present, the invitations amounting to above four hundred. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary arrived at a quarter before ten o'clock, attended by Lady Geraldine Somerset and Major Home Purvey. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was attended by his Equerry in waiting. Her Majesty awl his Royal Hignness the Prince Con. sort entered the Grand Saloon (which was prepared for the Concert) accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge, the Princess Mary, the Regent of Baden, Prince Frederick William of Prussia, and the puke of Cambridge, his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, Count Alexander Mensdorff and the Maharajah Duleop Singh, and attended by the Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting. The general coin pany assembled in the Picture Gal lery followed her Majesty and the Royal Circle into the saloon. The concert commenced about tea o'clock. The following was the programme : PARTE PRIMA. Settimino—" Oh terror, oh salmis," Mes dames. Bosio, Novcllo, Viardot c Didiee, Sig. Gardoni, Mr. Weiss, o Herr Formes (Conte Ory) Rossini. Duo—'' Amor possente nome," Ma,:lc. No vello e Mr. Sims Reeves (Armida) Air—" Egli In cho a dir m'approse," Made Bosio (Arabi none Gallic) Rc;meil de Mazourkas de F. Chopin, arranged for voice and piano, by Mr. and Madame Goldsehmidt Duo—" Qui dove merce," Made. Bosio o Gardoni (Pastorale) Air—" Com' e belle, crezia Borgi Duo Aliens, rcntrez voici forage," Mes dames Goldsehwidt c Viardot (La mere grand) Coro Signor del Ciel," Mesdames Novcllo, Bosio,Viardot, c Lid 60,Sig. Gardoni, Mr. Sims Reeves, Sig. Ropconi, Mr. Weiss, e Herr Formes (Eli) 0. Goldschmidl ' Made. Novell° (Lu- Donizetti. Costa. P. SECONDA, All 'idea," Mesdames Bosio, No vell°, e Didiee, Mr. Sims Reeves, Sig. Gardoui e Ranconi, Mr. Weiss, e Herr Formes (Mose, iu Egitto) Nocturne and By Schubert, for Piano, trans- La Truito cribed by Herr Otto Goldschmidt S. Heller. Trio—" Pensa c guards," Sig. Ronconi, Mr. Weiss, e Herr Formes(Margherita d'Anjou) Meyerbeer. Air—" Squallida vesto e bruna," Madame Goldschmidt (Turco in Ital a) . Duo—" Le ciel sourit a u - Sot limpide,"Mes dames Novello e Didieo (Le Zephyr) Vieux Airs FranQais du 15 et 16 sieclo, Ma dame Viardot. Coro —" Placida c it mar," Tutti (Idomeneo) Mozart. Mr, Costa presided at the Pianoforte. MEMORIAL OF BRITISH . SCULPTORS. Sculptors' Institute, 32, Sackville-street. TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR BENJAMIN HALL, BART. We, the undersigned, Briti.sh sculptors, feel assured that we shall not be deemed intrusive or officious in ad dressing the following statement of the Crown chsrged with the supervision of the public monuments of the country. We have observed with regret that frequent attempts have been lately made by the most influential organ of the daily press to disparage the ability of British sculp tors, and to defend as au inevitable necessity a recourse to foreign artists. It is, moreover, reported that a large sum of money is about to be devoted to a monument to the Duke of Wellington, and another sum to a memorial at Scutari to the brave men who have fallen in the late war ; and, in the present temper of the public mind, and in the disposition of some who exercise the patronage -of the country, we are not without apprehension that due justice will fail to be done to the English sculptor. We desire to guard ourselves against the imputation of an illiberal jealousy of the foreigner. Art is a uni versal language, and the artist should find himself a native of every great city in the world. There has never been a time when the English courts and the English people have not received with ready welcome the foreign painter, architect, and sculptor. May it be thus always. But we claim for native talent that it also should be sought for and appreciated. It is not true that there is a dearth of genius amongst the sculptors. of England. There are works of indisputable excellence from the hands of living artists that attest the contrary. What is lamentably true is this—that means have rarely been adopted for committing public works to the men of the greatest merit amongst us. We would humbly suggest that if the patronage of the 'nation were exercised with more care and discrimination, and with a genuine desire to discover the worthiest on whom to bestow it, the public monuments of England would no longer be ap pealed to as displaying in so many instances a painful mediocrity. None can feel more deeply than ourselves the degra dation which the sculpture of England has suffered during the last 50 years, from the erection in our Me tropolitan Cathedral, the Abbey, and Guildhall, of the huge puerilities and distressing allegories which deface the walls of those buildings. But let it be borne in mind, that while large sums were being lavished upon such productions as these, Flaxmaa and Banks were alive, needy and seeking employment. Men who were neglected year after year by the Government and the municipal authorities of that time are now the boast of every Englishman, and are acknowledged to have ears el an European reputation. To approach somewhat nearer to our own times, we would point to a fact of no little significance. A sculp tor of the name of Watson recently died ; he was an in dustrious artist, and a competitor for most of the public monuments erected in his day. He never obtained a commission ; but the rejected models which he exhibited on such occasions, are now sought for with avidity, and studied by living artists. Whether the same unfortunate method of selection still attends upon us, we must leave other to decide. We must observe, however, that there is an increasing indisposition amongst artists of acknowledged merit to enter into any public competition. It is felt that a pro posal for a general competition is no security against an incompetent or impartial judge. To combat this indisposition, to foster the genius of the country, to secure for our greatest monuments the artists of the greatest power, we would finally submit, 1. That in every competition a public exhibition of the models of all competitors should precede the selection of any one of them ; and 2. That such selection should be made by a committee so constituted that the body of ar tists as well as the public in general may confide in their: To a public competition so conducted we cheerfully ire vite every artist resident in the United Kingdom, and we rest confident that, patronage being liberally and wisely exercised, there will no longer be an impression abroad, in this country, that the English sculptor is une qual to the celebration of English heroism. We have the honour, with great respect, to subserib •arselves—E. H. Bally, R.A., P. MacDowell, E A. W. C. Marshall, R.A. J. H. Foley. A.R. A., H. Weesi , J. E. Thomas, F. M. Miller, T. Thorncroft, A. Hone, T. Butler, W. Behnes, M. Noble, J. Hancock, A. Munro, E. B. Stephens, J. S. Westmacott, J. Durham, J. Ed• wards, F. Thrupp, E. Davis, Thos. Earle, W. F. Wod rington. ELD ELECTION. The election of a representative in Parliament for Lichfield, in the room of Lord W . aterpark, resigned, took place in the Guildhall of that city yesterday, The pro ceedings excited very little interest., although on Monday it was confidently reported that an opposition candidate would be proposed on the day of nomination, and this report was confirmed by subsequent circumstances. Mr. Carden, a member of the Oxford Circuit, accompanied by Mr. Kenealy , the barrister, arrived in the course of the evening, but after consulting the heads of the Con servative party, Mr. C. found that he bad no chance of success, and be declined offering himself as a candidate. The hon. candidate was in court during the nomination, but he took no part in the proceedings. The Rev. T. B. FLOYER (the usual formalities having been gene through) proposed the Hon. Francis Dudley Stuart Ryder, commonly called Lord Sandon, as a fit and proper person to represent the city of Lichfield in Parliament. The noble viscount's views, as stated in his address, were in accordance with his own, and he doubt ed not that he would justify the choice of the electors. Mr. HEIVITT seconded the nomination ; and, no other candidate being proposed, Lord Sandon was declared duly elected. Lord SANDON, in acknowledging the honour conferred upon him, professed himself to be of no party—for all parties he believed were now extinct but, in the pre sent circumstances, be should give an independent sup port to the Government of Lord Palmerston. lie would support all measures which in his opinion would promote the happiness and prosperity of the country, careless what happened to its institutionsif such blessings could be secured. (Cheers.) Dr. ROWLEY requested the noble lord to favour the electors with his opinion with respect to the ballot. Lord SANDON he v 7.97 not to favour of the ballot, w hich he thought would rattier promote than discourage cOrrui tea. A vote of thanks was then passed to the returning offi• cer, and the court was dissolved. DREADFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT. Accounts which have been received at Bristol give par ticulars of one of the most terrible and destructive colliery accidents that have occurred for many years. The sacri fice of human life by it has been fearful, no less than 12 poor fellows having been suddenly hurried into eternity. The place where it occurred was at Yusdavid pit, Cww avon, Glamorganshire, one of the extensive mines worked in that neightesurbood by the Governor and Co. of Copper Miners in England, and the immediate cause of the calamity was an explosion, in the big ream of that mine, of the explosive gas known as fire-damp. The part of the works in which the explosion took place bad been for some time known to be dangerous, and the proprie tors were at the time in the act of erecting two of Straves's patent mine ventilators, so as to improve the ventilation and free the mine as far as possible of the offensive vapour. In the meantime every proper mea sure, such as cautions, the provision of an ample supply of safetylanterns, &c., had been taken to guard against accident. As al the men who could have given infor mation on the subject have been killed, the immediate cause of the explosion can only be matter of conjecture; but in all probability it arose from a disobedience of the order never under any circumstances to use a naked light. At the time when the explosion took piece there were between 130 and 70 persons at work in the mine, and the dreadful state of consternation which prevailed above ground when it became known that the explosion had taken place, will readily be conceived. Such rela tives of the miners as lived within reach, hastened to the mouth of the shaft, where they gave vent to the most agonised cries and lamentations. The noise of the explosion was heard by the men engaged above ground. who lost no time in descending to ascertain the extert of the accident. It was soon found that a very violent explosion had occurred, and Mr. Thomas, the manager of the colliery, and Mr. Gilbertson, master of the works, having arrived on the spot, means were taken for bring ing up the dead and wounded men, so that any meancl which could be used, might be employed to lessen ag extent of [the injury. Messengers were at once de- spatched for Dr. Pritchard and Dr. Russell, and heti these gentlemen at once proceeded to the mouth of the pit. a.als were alto provided, and such appliances as it was thought might lessen the pains of any sufferer, or contribute towards their recovery. On the men being brought out 7, it was found that eight of them were dead, and the four others were so far gone,that little or no hopes were entertained of their recovery. One poor fellow had his head and his right arm torn from his body, which presented a shocking spectacle of mutilation. Two or three others were brui , ed a good deal, but the majo rit y must have died of suffoeiiton, as the only marks of injury visible upon them were some scorches, not of sufficient consequence to have produced death. The four poor fellows who were got out alive never rallied, but died at different intervals. The names of the deceased men are David King, aged 25 ; Ilopkin Hill, aged 50; David Thomas, aged 16 ; Walter Morgan, aged .26 ; David Williams, aged 19 ; Hopkins Williams ' aged 27 ; John Lewis, aged 30 ; John Evans , aged 21 ; Jobn George, aged 13 ; David Morgan, aged 19 ; Henry* Griffiths, aged 35 ; and Thomas Thomas, aged 45. Many' of the pour fellows were married, and have left widows 'and children to lament their untimely end. Since the explosion the mine has been examined by several scien tific and practical persons, and it has been found that the shock must have been very great. The sides of the mine were injured, and a strong pit waggon, composed of iron, was bent and battered up as if it had been a bit of paper. The accident, as may be supposed, has cast si g'oom over the neighbourhood in which it occurred, rod in which calamities of this kind are of rare occurrence. GENERAL Oh'DER ADDRESS -D TO TB CIiIMEAN ARMY. Head-quarters, Sebastopol, May 15, 1856. Peace being now definitely arranged, the Clommauder of the Forces has the satitfaction of publishing an extrac t of a despatch from the Secretary of State for War, i ° which refereace is made to the services of this army " I may avail myself of so fitting an opportunity as th e moment when her Majesty's troops, urder your con3ci mand, are about to quit the scene of their enduram and triumphs to place on rec.ird the feelings entertains d to' wards them by her Majesty, the Government, and. he; people. Since the period when the army first qui!ttea the sl'ores of England there is no vicissitude of we which it has nut been called upon to encounter. Sla , )rt i f after its arrival in Turkey, and while doubtful as to th e manner iu which it was to be brought in contact vrithi the enemy, it had to sustain the terrible att.ack ° cholera, which prematurely closed the career of m a gallant and eager spirit. ✓ On this occasion, the 110 3 1 proved that moral, as well as physical, courage pery adc its ranks. Led to the field, it has triumphed in eng mints in which heavy odds were on the enemy's side,; ra has carried on, under difficulties almost incredibl. j. siege of unprecedented duration, in the course of w! sick the trying duties of the trenches, privations from str tined supplies, the fearful diminution of its numbers by disease, neither shook its courage nor impaired its ells. cipline. Notwithstanding that many a gallant cornraile fell in their ranks, and they were called to mourns comrade beloved commander who led them from En g land, an who closed in the field his noble career as a soldier, her Majesty's troops never flinched from their dutiebi or disappointed the sanguine expectations of they country. The zealous manner in which the army pre4 pared to take the field, had the war been prolos.`geal its eagerness for active operations, and its fitness to meet any emergency, are known to all. These coVe bined events and circumstances have thus afforded the Queen, the Government, and the country, the portunity of witnessing the conduct of the army under every aspect, and the feeling is universal that it 100 worthily maintained its own high character and tho honour of the British army, and you may be per.' fectly assured that on its return home it wi lt be we corned with the fullest approbation of its Sovereign,- and with every demonstration of admiration by th e ' country at large. I add with pleasure that the set vices of the valions departments attached to the arm}' are of a character to entitle them to the fullest credit,. The zeal and energy of the medical, commissariat, and clerical departments have contributed to bring the arref nto its present most effective condition. (Signed) By order. (Signed) C. A. WINDIIAM, Chief of the Staff. PANDLIIIa. THE CIVIL SERVICE. VACANCIES, APPOINTMENTS, AND PROMOTIONS. -1. Office of Public Works—The Hon. Edward Berkele% Portman has been appointed private secretary to tho chief commissioner, in the room of Mr. Berringtoe , re" signed. Devonport Dockyard—Mr. F. W. Bogbar s° has been appointed third-class clerk in this d o ckyard , vice Keys, promoted to Pembroke. The Board of Trade' —Mr. David Lennox, principal officer of her MajestYl Customs at Holyhead, has been appointed receiver 0 droits of Admiralty for the Holyhead district, in the, room of Lieutenant John Lascelles, R.N., resig a l Customs.— Mr. William H. Coulson has been app oia" a clerk in the tea department, in London ; Mr. Thoal Harrison has been appointed a clerk in the Coast Go t _ Office, in London ; Mr. Scot Montgomery has be en P ro ; rooted from second to first class of tidewaiters, in London Mr. Henry Randall has been promoted from third ti second class of tidewaiters, in London ; Mr. Richal"' Hayward has been promoted from fourth to third 0 1 ° ° of searchers, at Liverpool ; Mr. Robert M. Gre en has : , been promoted from fifth to fourth class of searchers, 6" Liverpool ; Mr. James Davis has been rromoted from fourth to third clerk at Bristol • Mr. Thomas Ma rt 's has been promoted from fifth to fourth clerk at Bristo Ireland—There is a vacancy in the General Regis.,.!ri Office Dublin, for a junior clerk, caused by the deatl i Mr. John Byrne. Cape of Good Hope—Mr. Ricbo at John Eaton has been appointed civil commissioner as, resident magistrate for the division and district of Cale don, vice Mr. W. M. Mackay ; Mr. Chas. Haw has bee ' appointed civil commissioner and resident magistrate Of the division and district of Cradock, vice Mr. W. Gilfil lo3 : deceased ; Mr. James Christopher Davidson has be e " appointed civil commissioner and resident magistrate l'af the division and district of George, vice Mr. J. G. AsP e ; liog, retired upon a pension. Ceylon—Mr. ChristoPh o . Temple has been appointed a puisne judge of the preme Court of Ceylon ; Mr. W. G. Forbes has be°7_ appointed Government agent and fiscal for the southera province ; Mr. W. Morris has been appointed Goveii: ment agent and fiscal for the eastern province ; gr. a E. O'Grady has been appointed Government agent e°,4 fiscal for the north-western province.--Civil sera-, Gazette. FRENCH CENSUS. The Moniteur publishes the following report t° the Emperor from the Minister of War sire,—A. decree of the 9,h February last prescri bed that the quinquennial census of the populatio n of tbei, Empire shall take place this year. The last c segu p taken in Algeria was in 1852, or one year later Oa_ that in France. It would, sire, be of great interest toll.: able to publish the number of the population of Alg, e r c i . at the same time as that of the mother cotill"."," and the Governor-General has in nmsequenca pressed a wish that the census should be proceene 1 ,„, with immediately in that colony. As the nuraWri, the population of each locality serves, in Algeria 10,1 France, not only as the groundwork for fixing "j..- different taxes, but also for the division of certain van tages which interest both Europeans and nativea-1 it is necessary that the census should co mprise , a hitherto, all the natives who reside in the town° and hamlets. The expense of taking the census in Fribrie, forms part of the obligatory charges of the cornel,ll„litld There are the same reasons for deciding tha t it he be so likewise in Algeria, leaving the expens e "Jos borne by the local and municipal budget in such Pia If as the communes have not been duly constituted- u st your Majesty approves of the above measure , I r ed deb that your signature may be affixed to the /Ince° sT .' tree for carrying them into execution. "j 7 o ut u t The report is followed by a decree carrying ig the suggestions therein contained. The censuiiu not to include the soldiers and sailors employer_ in the colony, the inmates of prisons, the studellt;_,j, the different colleges and schools, members of a c o ' f gious communities, nor refugees at the charg e the State. << thA --------- It is rumninpri t njor-GO,-,r0,1 wyr(lhvn• 'ii, hero of the 11, , :d ,n," will be brou g ht forward a t; a C ant _ I data for the represen tation of East Norfolk at the geneble election. Gen. Wy ndham's family have consider property and influence in East Norfolk. DIO In t there Ni closed n bales, it Port. The L ket rep( recover] tolitre, ] to 40f. t Bo much Oats we for Britt prov e d report a aiderabb reductio the freig Accou Rtate thz Clere w best qu z 'copecks and li: for 29r, has noi Candles sold a t and cont 1 33 rout aud spec They, he rate s of maintain Tke B Is quite s tock Of I The char oreaFie of Improve' Why the Thursda, ntinimith also of at Active Bullion Rest . Public Other I Seven-I Govern: Other S ] Rotes t Notice E.xchequ4 ar►d Augi tb m , th the same 31 .. 16s. With rega has not tttoBo NCI The oft t b Et Port i tlart is as Gold Silver PL: • t 1 1 Ir; :t e a sae' IvseeYeic 11 N faaE.'atrkr e ' ca 'd o iu,ccioo t ruE h en e ixgtc : e 1 and Che fo] +eke : ei k I ', 23k 56 • f I ' 4 • deni hnish 251 ; 1 'he R ot theas r, [l. ) Bankit vl4:toria kcirrlsi Th e c 314 rete passi ng Vertise( t4 tely , Drees. lie n 0114 a 'Nat "hict Ur. car zy, This 14 % the bent t auto kie el Re e 4 ro bber Thi v a Ditt