The Sun. — London, England, 1861-01-10 00:00:00

TEX CANADA EXTRADITION CASE. The inhabitants of Toronto held a public meeting on the 19th for the purpose of expressing sympathy with the fugitive slave Anderson. The Mayor was called to the chair. Resolutions in favour of the objects of the meeting were carried enthusiastically, and the following petition to the Governor-General was unanimously adopted :— " The memorial and petition of the undersigned most respectfully showeth— ,, That as inhabitants of this free British province, and warmly attached to the British constitution, we feel deeply concerned in any event, or act of civil administration, by which the reputation of our country as one whose soil cannot be polluted with slavery, might be tarnished, or the influence of British laws given directly or indirectly to the upholding of a cruel oppression. " That, alarmed by the manner in which the rash, and, as your petitioners believe, improper act of . a local authority in Canada, in arresting and de taming under an alleged charge of murder in the State of Missouri, the person of Anderson, now in gaol in Toronto, has been affirmed by a majority of the judges of the Queen's Bench, your peti tioners gladly betake themselves to your Excel lency as the acting head of the ex ecutive Govern ment, in the earnest hope that such a decision may not prevent your Excellency from disposing of this case in harmony with the spirit of our laws and the dictates of eternal justice. " That your petitioners believe that a just as well as liberal interpretation of the Ashburton Treaty would exempt the accused party, Anderson, from the range of its applioation ; and they are strength ened in this belief, not only by the authority of a judge of long experience on the Queen's Bench itself, but by the opinions of eminent practical lawyers in Canada, and by decisions in analogous cases both in Britain and the United States; also, by documents extant and accessible, illustrating the meaning of Lord Ashburton and other parties closely connected with the arrangements of the said treaty. " That were the prisoner in question remanded to a United States jury in the circumstances alleged, and in the present state of the slave law, the prisoner's opportunities of obtaini ng i mpar ti a l judgment are so small, and so diminished beyond all that could have been foreseen by the parties to the . Ashburton Treaty—especially s i n ce the deci sion in what is known as the Dred Scot case, which affirms that a coloured person hasino rights that he can assert, or which citizens of the republic are bound to respect—that his rendition on the evidence alleged would be to recognise a state of things never contemplated by those who framed the treaty. And your memorialists submit that where so much as a doubt of the reading of the treaty exists, the benefit should, as usual, but espe cially where such momentous interests are con cerned, be given to the accused ; and the case, so far as it happily comes for preliminary judgment before our own Government, should be decided in a large and humane construction of the clauses of the treaty and the acts of Parliament bearing upon it rather than by mere technicalities. " That the consequences of disposing of this cause otherwise cannot, your memorialists hope, but appear to your Excellency and your Government most dangerous to the sacred interests of just liberty, in rendering the condition of many indus trious residents in this province one of extreme peril. Nothing being easier than by means of such evidence as has been brought forward in this cue to drag them back to bondage, or subject them to the cruel pains of a law which gives no equal pro tection to the slave, whethet as regards life, chastity, or religion, and thus to render oar, happily, free territory a hunting-ground for persons whose crime may only have been that they dared to be better than slaves, and defended, at the risk of their own lives, or with possible danger to the lives of aggressors and spoilers, their inalienable rights and their dearest domestic relations. " That, reposing confidence in the generous and British-like spirit of your Excellency, and in the belief that 3 our memorialists plead only fur what is just and right, according to the law of nations, the sacred demands of religion, and the true reading of international compacts, they pray your Excellency to release the prisoner aforesaid, and hold him not liable to be rendered up to foreign authorities as claimed." At the conclusion of the meeting the Mayor said he was exceedingly gratified at the manner in which the whole proceedings had been conducted. He hoped, however, that they would respect the law. The law must be treated with respect; but if he read the treaty and the statutes aright, Anderson would never be given up. (Cheers.) They were met that evening as one man, without respect to politics or party, and he was confident that the news of such an influential and unanimous meeting would c vuse a bright ray of light to penetrate the prisoner's dark cell. (Great cheering.) At the Court of Queen's Bench, Toronto, on De cember 22, before Chief Justice Robinson, Mr. Justice M`Lean, and Mr. Justice Burns, Messrs. S. B. Freeman, M. C. Cameron, and Thomas Hodgins, appeared on behalf of the fugi tive, John Anderson. Mr. Freeman rose for the purpose of saying that after consulting with his friends respecting the case of the fugitive Anderson, they had made up their minds to carry the case to the Court of Error and Appeal. lie (Mr. Freeman) could not say there was no doubt of the right to do so, but he was glad to be able to state that he had received a communication from the Attorney-General upon the subject of appeal, and he had his assurance that the Crown was most anxious to procure the judgment of the Court above. The Attorney- General had gone so far as to say that any expenses would be borne by the Government. The chief difficulty which appeared to present itself was the consideration of the question—were the proceed ings a matter of record? Several authorities he (Mr. Freeman) had looked at showed that the writs of this description when returned were matters of record. The practice of the two courts here, when one of them gave judgment, was that the other court would pronounce the same judgment upon the same facts until the party went to the Court of Error and Appeal. This was the reason why he (Mr. Freeman) had determined not to take out a writ of habeas corpus in the Common Pleas, for the judges might tell him when he got there they would follow the judgment of the Court of Queen's Bench until reviewed by a higher court. But if he went to the Court of Error and Appeal, and he was told there he had no appeal, he would be in a position to ask an independent judgment of the Court of Common Pleas. The Chief Justice said the Court had looked into the statutes constituting the Court of Error and Appeal, and after carefully considering the matter, came to the conclusion that no appeal would lie. As to what counsel had said with respect to the Court of Common Pleas, the course in dealing with ordi nary cases was as he had stated it. But in a case of this description he (the Chief Justice) thought they might expect that an independent judgment would be given. Mr. F re - eman—I understand your lordships think there probably is no rule under the statute for an appeal. The Chief Justice—I can find none. Mr. Freeman—I suppose your lordships will make no objection to being brought before the Court of Appeal if that Court thinks fit to hear it The Chief Justice —Certainly not. It would be for counsel to consider whether they were not in the present state of the case limited to intercourse with the Crown. If they had in view an appeal from this country, their object should be to prevent the prisoner being given up. That was a matter be tween themselves and the Government. Mr. Freeman intimated that he had no fear of the prisoner being surren dered while further legal proceedings were contemplated. The Government was most anxious to have the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case. The following extract bearing on this case, from the speech of Lord Aberdeen in the Hou se of L ords in moving the Extradition of Offenders Bill on Friday, June 30, 1843, is very interesting :— lie did not anticipate that any inconvenience could arise from the carrying out of this treaty, ex cept what referred to the case of fugitive slaves, and this was, nti - doubt, a subject that would re quire the utmost caution on the part of those who would have to administer the law, arising from the new relations between the two countries. Some people had supposed that a fugitive slave might be given up under this treaty. This, he must say, I was a most unfounded notion. Not only was a I fugitive slave guilty of no crime in endeavour ing to escape from a stat e o f b on d age , but he was entitled to the sympathy and encouragement of all those who were ani mated by Christian feelings. Bat then it had been said a slave running away might be accused of theft, on the ground that the clotnes ho wore were not his own, but the property of his master. This, however, in his (the Earl of Aberdeen's) judgment, could never be construed into a theft. Nay, more, if a slave took a horse with him, or seized upon a boat, or, in short, appropriated to his use anything that was necessary to his flight, such an act could never be held to estab lish an animus furandi. Another point must be borne in mind, namely, that if at any time a fugitive slave should be demanded under this treaty, the demand would not be made by any Slave State, but by the central governmen t at Washington, and this in itself would be a considerable security against any improper ap plication. Another security would be found in the reference which would be made to the Home Go vernment by the governors of colonie.3, in case of any difficulty arising, when the Home Government ' would of course be assisted by the best legal advice that could be obtained. But the great security was, that, by an express stipulation in the treaty, it was agreed that the article by which the two Govern ments bound themselves to a mutual surrender of criminals should continue in force till one or other of the two Governments signified its intention to terminate it, so that whenever inconveniences arose either Government was at liberty to put an end to that part of the treaty, without being under the necessity of giving any notice beforehand. TEE if/TATHER AND THE PARKS. Another extraordinary spectacle took place last night upon the Serpentine River in Hyde-park ; in fact, those present during the whole of the day were kept in a state of the greatest excitement, owing . to the immense number of persons who patronised this park, and disported themselves by sliding or skating on the frozen surface. After the park gates were closed on Tuesday night an immense multitude of persons, including members of the Skating Club, riflemen, females, &c:, were present. Not fewer than 52,000 continued on the ice, and several serious accidents happened, which would doubtlessly have been attended with fatal results had it not been for the services rendered by Mr. Young, the secretary, I Mr. Williams, the superintendent, and the icemen employed under them. As it was, during the night Mr. R. Wilcox, of No. 26, Queen's-gardens, Brompton, sustained a severe cut on the head. A number of other persons had their heads also cut by falling upon the ice. These persons were taken to the Royal Humane Society's Receiving-house, where their wounds were dressed. Mr. R.1Vilcox, of 25, King-street, Holborn, broke through the ice during the pyrotechnic display, and became immersed. He was taken by the icemen out of the I water, removed to the receiving-house, and was attended to by Mr. Williams, the superintendent, and other persons belonging to the institution. Just about the same time, Thomas Kelley. of Cres cent-place, Brompton, Mr. Johnson, of 114, Long acre, and a rifle volunteer, named George Newman, of 19, New-street, Golden-square, broke through the ice, and descended into seven feet of water. Fortunately they were rescued in the nick of time, and were attended to by Mr. Young and Mr. Wil liams. Warm baths were prepared, the stimulants administered, and the parties were enabled to re turn to their homes. At an early hour yesterday morning more than 6000 persons wended their way into this park and commenced sliding and skating. Many matches were gone through by the patrons of the ice, including the " Circular Dance Polka," the " Quickest Road to Bristol," the " Express Train," and a variety of quadrilles and fancy matches, to the evident amusement of some 20,000 or 30,000 persons, who had taken up their positions on the best vantage ground of the promenades on either side of the river. The bridge that separates Kensington-gardens from Hyde-park was crowded to :inconvenience during the day, as well as the bridge leading to the Albert-gate ; but towards eight or nine o'clock at night other great torch light sketching matches and pyrotechnic displays commenced, which was carried on with full vigour for many hours. The visitors yesterday upon the ice were not content with amusing themselves with fireworks and torchlight skating, but seve ral skittle tents were pitched, and the game of nine pins played, not only by males, but females also took part in the laborious games. One woman who took part in a match let the ball fall, and severely injured a man who was sweeping the cut up ice from the entrance of the tent. A great number of other tents and marquees of various sizes were again placed on the ice for the sale of hot and cold provisions, similar to those put up on Epsom Downs on a Derby-day. There were also peep-shows, coffee-booths, Punch and Judy shows, roast potato-depots, cooked by roaring fires made upon the ice; pigs'-trotters, roast chesnuts, sand wiches, beer and ale both in bottle and on draught, which found ready and no doubt remunerative pur chasers, especially as fourpenny ale fetched in some places ls. a pot. Even that sum was not begrudged by some of the persons after fatiguing themselves with a few hours' skating. It is proposed to have on Monday next a gran amusement fair on the Serpentine, and, should the present severe weather continue, to have circuses for horse riding, shows, and dramatic performances ; but it is to be hoped that no wild beast exhibitions will take place on th.e ice. It seems from the inquiries made last night that there is no one invested with the power of preventing sash an affair from taking place, more than preventing persons from skating or sliding on the ice. Up to a late hour last night no fatal acci dent had occurred, although several persons had been seriously injured by being tripped up by the skaters. The thermometer in this Park during Tuesday night was as low as 18 deg. At 9 a.m. yesterday the mercury only rose to 21 deg., being 11 deg. below freezing point. At noon the quick silver had risen to 31 deg., but even then there was 1 deg. of frost. At 7 o'clock last night the glass was 27 deg., being 5 degrees below freezing point. The barometer was yesterday 30.34, and the wind was E.N.E., and the weather was described as being foggy in the morning, but during the middle of the day fine. A tremendous number of persons were still enjoying the healthy exercise of skating and sliding when the Park gates were shut. In consequence of the quantity of ice now in the river the greatest difficulty was experienced yesterday in communicating with the vessels of war at Chatham. The river alongside the dock yard wall, the Gun-wharf, and Anchor-wharf was nearly covered with floating masses of ice, through which the boats' crew had much difficulty in forciog their way. Should the present intense frost continue the whole of the river will be frozen over. The Go vernment steamers proceeding up the river from Sheerness yesterday experienced the greatest diffi culty in reaching the railway pier at Stroud, the ice in that part of the Medway having accumulated in large quantities, through which the steamers could scarcely force themselves. Some of the pieces of ice picked up in the river are as much as 6 inches in thickness. The frost in Kent continued with unexampled severity, and, since Christmas, has been far more intense than ever previously experienced by any now living. The Medway for some distance is almost entirely frozen over, and during yesterday the ice, which is of considerable thickness, had accumulated in such masses near Rochester-bridge that it is fully expected the river above the bridge will be completely frozen over in the course of a few days, should the present frost continue, so as to allow skaters upon it—a phenomenon that has not occurred for a considerable number of years. The cold on Tuesday night was greater than has yet been felt, the thermometer at Chatham, at an early hour yesterday morning, marking no less than 6 deg. below zero, a temperature that is alto gether unparalled in Kent. In consequence of the unprecedented severity of the season there is a great amount of distress, and hundreds of families have been thrown out of employment. Yesterday a pub lic meeting of the inhabitants of Chatham was held under the presidency of the High Constable of the town, to raise funds for the relief of the appalling destitution prevailing. At the close of the meeting a handsome sum was collected, and the town divided into districts, each of which was allotted to visitors, whose duty it will be to search out and relieve every case of real distress from the funds placed at their disposal for that purpose. The weather in the eastern counties during the last few days has been unparalleled in its severity for nearly half a century. The rapid thaw, ac companied by almost unprecedented floods, which was hailed as the precursor of milder weather, was suddenly checked by a return of temperature several degrees below freezing point, andthe result heavy;f al 1 s bouft sa:Inboaoownruit has been that immense tracts of the flooded land are now covered with ice several inches in thick ness. During Sunday and Monday there were seve ral thewas very clouds pointsdr fted to away , w the ay wind ng night tn becameh some m i having ge exposed pn e oe e s r oe e fdd places a lt ae few en esse t, a sht n nhe d ne s e t t h e natmosphereMonday severity, the thermometer exhibiting upwards of 40 deg. of frost, having in one Place fallen as low as 9 deg. below zero. The wind on Tuesday shifted due S., with, however, but little difference in the temperature, and that night was almost as severe as its predecessor. Up to yesterday afternoon no signs of a change had taken place, and at midday, even in the most favourable aspects, the thermometer remained as low as 20 deg. The result of this has been in some instances the partial, and in others the entire , su spension of business on the and arts o various rivers leading to the more inl p Essex and Suffolk, and great numbers are conse f quently thrown out of employment. The greatest distress also prevails among bricklayer s , gardeners, and agricultural labourers, who parade the streets of some of the large towns begging, being literally without a penny, the high price of provisions and the low rate of wages previous to the frost having prevented them from making any provision against such a season as the present. From the dangerous state of the highways many serious accidents have occurred—in one or two instances terminating fa tally. Every means which benevolence can devise has been adopted to give temporary relief ; but not withstanding the opening of soup kitchens and the distribution of bread, coals, and warm clothing, greater distress and suffering prevail than have been experienced in this part of England for very many years. The thermometer at Norwich is many degree* below the freezing point, and the cold is intense. On Sunday night and Monday there were great accumulations of snow, and the , ground is now covered to a depth of eight to ten inches, and even more where there has been any drifting. By great exertions the railway trains have been kept run ning with tolerable regularity, but this has only been effected by means of extra engines and the employ ment of numbers of additional men. The country posts are completely disorganised, and no improve ment can be anticipated at present, as the hard frost has rendered travelling on ordinary roads a matter of very great difficulty. Such a winter has not been known in this neighbourhood for many years. The frost at Newcastle on Monday and Tuesday night was as intense as ever known in this district. On Monday night a dense fog made the weather more cold than even on Christmas Eve. A number _ _ of passengers in the Shields steam ferry suffered severely from the effects of the frost and fog. They put off from South Shields in the steamer at nine o'clock, and no sooner had they got out into the channel of the river than the boat was enveloped in an impenetrable fog. The passengers and crow were in great danger, but they fortunately got the boat alongside a schooner, where they had to lie till five in the morning. A number of women and children were aboard the boat. All out-door employment is at a standstill, and the icebound condition of the upper reaches of the Tyne has thrown a number of keelmen and wherrymen out of work. Great poverty is likely to be sustained by a large number of work ing men's families, for there is less prospect than ever of fresh weather. In this town and Shields, and in Blaydon and some other places on the Tyne, the poor are supplied with quantities' of soup three times a-week, and the coal owners have been very lib e ral in distributing coals among the unemployed. The sea has fortunately got down, and the steam ships and some sailing vessels have proceeded on their voyages. The trains from the south have been delayed very much to-day. During Sunday night and throughout Monday there was a heavy and almost continuous fall of snow at North Shields. Many of the country roads ha veto a great extent been blocked up, and the coal-waggon ways have been a good deal stopped, and the traffic en the North-Eastern line is much impeded. The difficulties and dangers incident to travelling in the north-west of Northumberland last week are described in the following communication :— " On Thursday morning the highway to Rothbury, Glanton, Whittingham, and other townships lying to the west of Alnwick, was a scene it for a pain ter, and his easel would have exhibited some strange sketches indeed. It was the first day that the traffic had been opened out for carts after the late heavy fall and tremendous drifts of snow. The road had only then been made passable by cutting, and the width of it no greater than to allow one conveyance to 'get along at a time, excepting at intervals of a few hundred yards, there were short curves, or sidings into which one conveyance might shunt until an approaching one from an opposite direction passed. It was between those sidings that the scenes we allude to took place. Cold and bitter was the blast that blew across 'the dreary common of Aydon Forest, through which the road winds for nearly four miles, without a sheltering tree, and the drivers of carts and occasional eques trians—both blowing their fingers and anxious to get forward—were alike unwilling to be waiters upon the others. Then again, after passing those side cuttings, it was next to impossible to back any conveyance, as of necessity one party must do, or run tie risk of horses and cart being nearly swal lowed up by venturing a little to one side. Two equestrians had a narrow escape of it, one of them at least fairly putting spars to his horse, and gal loping back to the cutting which he had just des pised the use of. One four-wheel had two travellers, who had just congratulated each other on their freedom from accident so far, though the joltings were matters for record to future generations, when bang went one of their shafts in two places. tAfter binding up with six or seven yards of stout rope they got within one mile of their destination, when the rope yielding gave too much work for the other shaft to perform, and off it came too, in a couple of pieces. The roads will be bad yet, probably for some days. The weather in the North Sea still remains in a very boisterous condition. The wind is N.E., and the steamships are still detained in the harbour. The weather in:many parts of the West Riding and in Nottinghamshire is most severe. The prin cipal rivers of Yorkshire have been frozen over for some days, with the exception in some places of the Ouse and Humber, and on both the navigation is seriously impeded by the quantity of ice passing down, some of them blocks from three to four feet thick. The tributary rivers, the Don, the Derwent, the Wharf, and the Aire, are completely closed up, and all transit for the present is suspended. One of the most striking instances of the severity of the weather has been seen on the River Wharf, above Harewood-bridge, where five rats were embedded in the ice. It is thought that the rats were at tempting to cross the river, and while so doing were frozen. The ice on the Ouse is very thick—so • thick indeed that at the end of last week a cart passed over at Booth Ferry, near the residence of 1 Mr. John Wells, J.P., of Booth Ferry-house. The ice in the Trent is of great thickness, and at But terwick, on the borders of Lincolnshire, pieces five feet in thickness have often been noticed. Wild fowl have been driven nearer the towns than for some years past, and several wild swans have been seen in the neighbourhood of Wheatley hall, the pleasant seat of Sir W. Ridley C. Cooke. Many of the class of birds that ordinarily visit the district in the winter season have been noticed, particularly the fieldfare. The intensity of the frost is affecting the plumage of the birds, and in the neighbourhood between Pontefract and Doncaster several that have been shot have proved quite piebald. The frost con tinued with much severity last (Tuesday) night. ROYAL B UJIANE SOCIETY. - - - -A+ The annual meeting of the members of this society was held yesterday, at the offices, Trafalgar square; Mr. Benjamin Bond Cabbell in the chair. In the course of the proceedings it was mentioned that the annual subscriptions were not enough to pay the iceman's wages for one month of frosty weather, so that were it not for the bounty of a past age, the society would have to come to a stand still for want of funds, and that the last anniversary festival, instead of increasing the finances of the institution, involved a loss of more than £80. The following are the facts stated in the report :—The total number of cases of drowning brought under the notice of the society during the past year was 156, in which 187 persons were concerned. Of these 137 were successfully treated by the medical officers of the society, while 15 proved beyond recovery; 27 were cases of attempted suicide, and in 22 cases the gallant rescuers were rewarded by the society. The general court granted 24 silver medals, 65 bronze medals, 14 testimonials on vellum, 16 testimonials on parchment, and 72 pecuniary rewards during the past year. The number of bathers in the Serpentine last summer was 68,792, and the number of casualties 27, including 5 attempts at suicide, 2 of which proved fatal. Up to Tuesday night 112 had been rescued from drowning in the parks during the present frost, the number of skaters having been 396,850. The total income of the society for the past year, including a balance of £410 2s. 5d. brought forward from the accounts of the preceding year, was £1,897 12s. 7d., and the expenditure £1,689 12s. 2d., of which £604 19s. 11d. was paid in wages to icemen, &c., leaving in hand a balance of £208 Os. 5d. This report having been adopted, silver medals were voted to the following for their gallant intrepidity in saving the lives of others :—Mr. J. Pilbrow, 3d officer Peninsular and Oriental Company's ship Hindostan, saved the life of Major Ormsby, who fell off the gangway into the Hoogley, at Calcutta ; James Gant, A.B., on board H.M.S. Termagant, leaped into the sea and saved Jas. Harrington, a boy who, in a fit of insa nity, attempted suicide ; Mr. Laurence Cluny, midshipman on board H.M.S. Fawn, rescued an A.B. seaman, Alfred Dray, who had fallen over board at sea off the Cape of Good Hope ; William Anderson, master's assistant on board the Nile, saved on three occasions four lives under perilous circumstances. Had the funds of the society ad mitted of it Mr. Anderson would have been awarded a gold medal, Mr. J. Hawkins, acting mate, her Majesty's ship Curacoa, at Monte Video, saved William Dowsell, who, in falling from the rigging, fractured his leg in two places and was perfectly helpless. Anastacio Romaldo, at Para, in Brazil, saved John Brown, who, in a state of intoxication, had fallen into the river, which abounds with under-currents and is exceedingly mephitic. The particulars of this case were, for warded d s bA e oeu l rals,r. tmdai Austin nde midshipman, the oh r o o i pprmeerqa, the Hobson's-bay. • ounf: stoht Foreign-office fetoAhf e gp noah mnecoaeBuidrvrutie,tsrsi b sc las e y hvul e L hrdwae o sr r ishit d ido, are t. John nflDetvlsoi. r Gard der, vaolAr rcei ildr s N.B., saved five persons who had been in a boat capsized while crossing theForth. Ensign Chute and Private Quigley, 8th Regiment, at Spithead, saved J. M•Kennys, a private belonging to the same regiment. Rev. Dr. Dill, at Portsteward, county Perry, saved a lunatic named Hammill, who had leaned off the rocks into the sea. Lieut. Kennedy, R.M., her Majesty's ship Wasp, at sea between the Cape and the Mauritius, saved John Sier, A.B., who had fallen overboard. Captain E. Hardinge, her Majesty's sh i p Persian, at sea. saved a boy who had fallen overboard. Mr. W. J. Harton, medical student, saved, at Banagher, Miss Matilda Broadbent, who had flung herself off the bridge into the Shannon ; and Joseph Killingbeck. who, At Hamlett, near Leeds, at a great risk to his own life, saved Joseph Sheldon, a boy, who had fallen down 18 yards into a draw-well. Mr. Baker having been elected treasurer in the room of the late Mr. B. Hawes, the proceedings were closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, JAN. 9. The adjourned inquest on the 23 men and lads killed in Hetton Colliery on the 20th December, was resumed at that village yesterday. Mr. Dickinson, inspector of coal mines for the Manchester district, said he had been requested by the Secretary of State, in conjunction with his colleague, Mr. Dunn, to assist Mr. Atkinson, the Government inspector of mines of this district, in the investigation of this matter. George Lowden, examined, said—I live at Hetton Colliery, and am an overman. I was employed in the West Minor Pit on the day of the explosion. It was my duty to examine the workings before the men commenced operations. I went down on that day at 20 minutes past two in the morning, accom panied by my son, who is assistant lamp-keeper. I had minutely examined the places where the men were placed, and there was no gas. In coming out of the pit I found the return all right, and free from gas. I cannot form an opinion as to the cause of the explosion, except that it went from the flues. I had not seen gas for some four months before the explosion. The ventilation was going all right at the time of the explosion. The men were working with Davy lamps, and not with candles. At the time I left, the place was in such a state that I had no fear of them working with naked candles. I cannot say what part of the flues the explosion commenced in. _ _ Thomas Smith examined, said he resided a' Easington-lane, and was shifter, under Hall He went down the east mine pit on the evening of the explosion, about half-past five, and ex amined the lamps of every man working in the pit that night, and found all under his care per fect, and at that time there was no indication of gas in that portion of the pit. I cannot say what quantity of air circulated at the time of the explosion, but I think the air was good. I had no fear at the time the explosion took place. In my opinion, the explosion first made the blast at the crossing of the north waggon-way—it is the first place where the injury took place. I can not tell exactly where the gas first exploded. I cannot form any opinion as to the cause of the ex plosion. It would require the explosion of a large quantity of gas to cause so extensive an injury as I observed. I cannot form an opinion as to where the gas came from. I do not think so large a quantity could have accumulated from the " in-by" working of the pit. John Currie—I live in Easington-lane, and am a furnace-man. When the explosion took place I had charge of the east furnace in the east mine pit. When I took charge there was no appearance of gas. I had observed nothing previous to the explosion to lead me to think there was danger. I had a good fire on at the time, and had supplied it with coals about five or ten minutes previous to the explosion. After the explosion took place, the air came back from the furnace, instead of going through it. As soon as I found the wind I made the best of my way to the first door coming out of the downcast shaft. The force of explosion was very strong before I got through the first door, but appeared to cease after I got past it. I can form no opinion as to where the explosion took place. The force of the explosion came from the direction of the upcast shaft. Thomas Smith recalled, said—We take in gun powder in quantities of about Vbs. in two bottles. The two men on the north waggon-way had come up on the night of explosion. The supply from which the men got what they needed was kept above bank. There were about two or three lbs. in each of the men's bottles. After I gave the men the powder, which weighed about a pound, it was left in my cabin. By Mr. Dickinson—That powder has since been found unexploded. Job Laverick, a master-waterman at Eppleton Pit, and residing at Down's-lane, thought the ex plosion commenced at the flues. The inquiry is still proceeding. RISCA COLLIERY EXPLOSION. RISCA, JAN. 9, The official inquiry into the causes of this acci dent commenced to-day at Risca, before Mr. Brewer, deputy-coroner. The colliery company were repre sented by Mr. Llewellyn •, Mr. Owen, of Newport, appeared on behalf of the relations of several of the sufferers. Mr. L. Brough, the Government in spector for the district, and Mr. Evans, the inspec tor for Glamorganshire, were also present. The explosion, it will be remembered, took place on the 1st December,killing142 men and boys. All the bodies have been recovered except one. The first witness called was Mr. Chas. A, Harri son, the viewer and underground manager of the Risca Colliery, who described the state of the pit on the morning of the accident. At 6 o'clock he had descended the pit, and had visited in turn the r different in-take and return air courses on each side of the pit, trying them all with his lamp. At every trial he found the air perfectly good. On the east side he met the overman, who reported to him that all was right, and having measured the air at the main in -take, he ascended the pit to breakfast. According to the measurement be then took 37,500 cubic feet of air was entering the pit per minute. After breakfast Mr. Harrison visited the Rock Vein Pit (another colliery belonging to the same company), and while there he was informed by the banker of the Black Vein that the sulphur had fired in the pit. His answer was, " It can't be ; it couldn't happen." Running to the top of the down-cast shaft he pro cured a lamp and immediately descended. His first act was to examine the west side of the separation doors ; they were all right; then the east side sepa ration doors, and they were all right also. He then went to the top of the stope and examined the separation doors on the first west level, and found them all right. The regulator through the separa tion doors was perfectly uninjured. In the second east level he found his own son, who was still alive. He lifted him up so that he might catch the fresh air, and went forward. In a very few yards he found one or two bodies, and was soon stopped by the "falls"—that is, the ruins which had been made by the explosions. In attempting to penetrate into different parts of the working he was stopped by similar obstacles. After that he returned up the stope and assisted in recovering bodies. Mr. Harrison was cross-examined by the Coroner and by the Government inspector, and in answer to questions put by them he stated that the air in the return courses was particularly good. 37,500 cubic feet per minute was quite sufficient air to make the pit sweet and clean, and quite sufficient for the safe working of the pit. Occasionally 42,000 cubic feet per minute were passed through the pit, but the average quantity was from 37,000 to 38,000 cubic feet per minute. The ventilator was Struve's aerometer, or ventilating pump with cylinder of 18 feet diameter, a six feet stroke and eight strokes per minute. About 51,000 cubic feet per minute ought to be produced by eight strokes a minute, and the only way in which he could account for the difference between that amount and the amount actually produced was by attri buting it to leakage. He did not think the drag, i. e., the resistance to the current caused by friction (a cause suggested by the Government inspector) had anything to do with it. The stalls and levels, i. e., the places where the coal is worked, were always bratticed close up to the faces, the air was brought up within six yards of the faces, sometimes within four yards. If a safety lamp were acci dentally extinguished in the pit, it would have to be brought to the head of the stope at the bottom of the downcast. There was no other means of relighting them. By the 42d rule naked lights were only to he used at the bottom of the downcast pit, and in those level headings along which the in take air passes. That was on the recommendation of Mr. Mackworth. the former Government inspec tor, at a time when the ventilation was but 16,000 cubic feet the minute. In answer to a very pointed question from the Government inspector, Mr. Brough, Mr. Harrison stated most positively that no worker had ever complaiaed to him of danger or shown any indisposition to go down to work. The witness was also questioned closely by Mr. Brough as to the expediency of establishing a supplemen tary furnace at the bottom of a third shaft used at present solely for pumping, but he objected to it on the ground that it had closed or fallen in at the side, and that, even if it were fenced in, its effect would be overcome by the superior power of the ventilator, and the air would be drawn down in stead of drawn up. A furnace had been suggested in place of the ventilator, and he believed it had been tried some years ago, but the effect was only to prodace about 10,000 cubic feet of air. When questioned as to the possibility of increas ing the number of splits e., divisions of the cur rent of air entering the pit, so as to carry it into different districts) on the east side, where the explo • sion oceurred, Mr. Harrison said he did not consider it necessary, and in consequence of the badness of the roof and the bottom it was not possible to carry more air courses or bridges through the first east level. In the levels there were treble doors, two of woodwere o d and d oo closedr s o . n b e oyrr boys, oe c yr l cloth, t . r h, av ne a rde n d into in ws e t al h sf - e acl orsu istallsrule e the godfou doors ther s ; s c u oa a1 col liery . liery that no man should go through a door with out seeing it closed after him. 43,000 cubic feet was the largest quantity of air he had ever measured passing through the pit since the ventilating ma- chine was put up ; only 15,000 or 18,000 cubic feet had been obtained by the furnace. The size of the downcast pit was 16 feet by 10, the seam of coal on the east side was 8 feet by 6 feet ; on the west side it was 6 feet ; the level windways and the cross headings were 6 feet. When asked his opinion as to the cause of the accident Mr. Harrison said he believed it to be caused by the blower, or sudden eruption of gas in a certain portion of the workings (technically called the third and fourth east level), which he pointed out on the map, and the damp was first fired down the fourth east level, among the rippings. Probably the first explosion would be increased as the fire went through the working, in consequence of more gas being set loose by the falls of the timber. No safety lamps had yet been found in the ruins with the gauze cover taken off, but four had been found unlocked, and one had been found with a pick hole through the gauze just by thel spot where in all probability the explosion originated. Of the 142 men who had been killed 70 died from chokedamp with signs of burning, three had since died from burns, and three had their skulls fractured by the falls. He did not believe that one single man had been burned to death. In the goaves (or exhausted and closed-up workings) he had never seen any signs of firedamp, though there was blackdamp. He had not the least suspicion that there was anything dangerous in the state of the mine on the morning of the ac cident, nor should he have hesitated a moment to go down. Mr. Evans, the Government Inspector for Gla morganshire, was proceeding to put some questions to the witness when our parcel left. THE LAW OF MARRIAGE. It has often been a subject of wonder not un• mingled with regret to those who are the best because the most thoughtful friends of our consti• tutional polity; that the condition of our Roya Marriage Law should have been so long suffered to remain where it was left by the unwise and un patriotic Parliament of 1772. In a fit of chagrin at the marriage of his brother, the Duke of Cum berland, with the daughter of Lord Irnham, and of the Duke of Gloucester with Lady Walde grave, George III. insisted upon the introduction of the well-known Marriage Bill, and succeeded, though not without considerable difficulty, in hav ing it carried through both the houses of the Legis lature. By its provisions any marriage, however solemnised, is declared to be ipso facto void which shall be contracted by any descendant of King George II. without the consent of the Crown previ ously signified under the Great Seal ; save in the case of a descendant who, being above the age of twenty-five, shall give twelve months' notice to the Privy Council, and shall not have been forbidden during that time to enter into such contract by the joint address of both Houses to the Throne. An act was indeed passed during the present reign to pre vent the premature marriage of a King or Queen during the period of minority ; but this was 30 uni versally acknowledged at the time to be a wise and useful enactment, and is still regarded by all who have ever thought about the matter as so manifestly politic and just, that it may be omitted altogether from any inquiry into the reasonableness of main taining the existing Law of Marriage as it affects other members of the Royal Family. Two ques tions are involved in the prohibitory statute of 1772 —the one a question of moral equity, the other of political prudence. They are essentially distinct, and ought to be considered separately. Is it just to a junior member of the Royal House to fetter arbi trarily his or her conjugal choice in a manner to which the legal condition of other persons in the community affords no sort of analogy ? And if just, is it for the advantage of the Crown or of the realm that such peculiar disability should subsist ? These are questions which we should have hesitated to discuss a few weeks ago, when the possibility of a personal application of general remarks would have embarrassed the liberty of the journalist. The announcement of the engagement of the Princess Alice and Prince Louis of Hesse, and the public congratulations which have been tendered them on the event, by obviating misconception of the ten dency of our remarks, restore our freedom. The position of the younger sous of a constitu tional sovereign is no doubt in many respects anomalous. As members of the House of Peers they are called upon to exercise political duties without the same presumption of independence, as regards the monarch and the people, which is required by the theory of a hereditary senate. They are naturally supposed to have interests and feel ings not altogether unbiassed in favour of the Crown ; and nobody expects it should be otherwise. The instances in which Princes of the Blood have signalised themselves in taking a prominent part in parliamentary opposition are not for the most part of au edifying character, though there are memorials of manly and consistent conduct like that pursued by the father of the present Queen when Duke of Kent, and by the late Duke of Sussex, which the popular mind still loves to look back upon with affectionate regard. It cannot, however, be denied, that the exigencies of their political and social position render it peculiarly desirable that the younger branches of the Royal Family should have the solace, the sympathy, and the support of those social connexions which may fitly tend to nationalise and liberalise their thoughts and feelings. Ming ling, as they are certain to do, with the members of the ancient and opulent aristocracy, they are likely to form attachments of love or friendship as other men do ; and about the best that could be wished for them would be that such preferences when disinterestedly formed should be hallowed by the pure and ennobling sanctions that are invoked by all other orders in a Christian State. Why should their affections be statutably frozen, or their inherent rights of choice and of coin• panionship for life be subjected to the will of others? Was it justifiable as a question of morals to endeavour to prevent the late Duke of Sussex from living happily with Lady Augusta Murray as his true and lawful wife; or, failing that, was it morally right for a series of years solemnly to deny the marriage, and impute to a faithful and affectionate wife—for wife in the sight of God she undoubtedly was, as much as any duchess in the land—the reproach of living in concubinage ? It is vain to pretend that the sic nolo sic jubco of Crown or Parliament can make wrong to be right or change right into wrong. Public opinion, it may confidently be said, never ratified the Royal Marriage Act of George III. It was attributed to narrow-minded prejudice and pride on the part of that not very sagacious monarch, and to party meanness on the part of his Ministers and their majority in Parliament. The best man in the realm protested against the measure at the time; and the national feeling sought vent in a long-continued rain of ridicule, pasquinade, and caricature. But is there no solid, or subtle motive of policy in the restriction to compensate for its immoral tendency ? There may be considerations, into which we need not enter here, why an heir apparent or an heir presumptive should be statutably bound not to marry without the consent of his responsible advisers of the Privy Council, or perhaps, of Par liament. We should be sorry to see the door opened to intrigues and cabals, such as those by which, in Tudor times, Northumberland endeavoured to clutch the crown for his son, or those by which, in the days of the subsequent dynasty, the daughter of Clarendon was secretly wedded to the next heir to the throne. But with regard to the junior branches of the Royal Family, public opinion, we are per suaded, would heartily approve of material relaxa tions of the present law, if not of its abolition. The nation recognises no advantage to itself in the perpetuation of a system whereby all the Princes and Princesses of the Blood are compelled to mate with the members of foreign reigning houses. A very strong impression exists, on the contrary, that as the titled aristocracy instinctively seeks to recruit its strength by intermarriage with eminent indivi duals of the Commons, and adds in no small degree to its stability by so doing, so it were well if the less prominent branches of Royalty were permitted to unite with the sons and daughters of the princely houses by which on all sides they are surrounded. During the greater portion of the national history they were so permitted. The res t r i c ti on h as nothing of antiquity about it which could give it in the eyes of any a claim to veneration ; and we are certainly not aware of any particular good that has ever been even pretended as the fruit of our experience during the last ninety years. It was notoriously set at nought by more than one of the persons whose conduct it w as i n t en d e d to regulate during the reign of the Sovereign who was its author. In the childless reigns of the two suc ceeding monarchs the case did not arise ; and it is only of late that during the present re i gn contin gencies of future royal marriages have bean recalled practically to our recollection.— Daily News. [ADVERTISEMENT.] — Pills and medicine invariably ag gravate and perpetuate diseases ; their annoyance, dis appointment, and expense may be avoided by, persons in indifferent health sending only their addrsss to E. S. Barry, Esq., 77, Regent-street, W., London, and they will receive gratis a n d f ree b y pos t th e " I NVALIDS ' O WN GUIDE," or Natural Restorer, without medicine or ex p , nse, of perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, and refreshing sleep, to the most enfeebled, insuring the removal of indigestion (dyspepsia), constipation, liver complaints nausea, epilepsy, paralysis, debility, nervousness, palpitatiot, cough, asthma, consump ti on , dropsy, flatulency, diarrhoea,dysentery, biliousness, fevers, sore throats, cat arr h s, co ld s , noises in the e ars, r h euma tism, gout, impu r iti es, erupt i ons, hysteria, neural g i a , i rr it a bility, sleeplessness, acidity, palpi tation, heartburn, headache, despondency, sinking, tits, bronchitis — " Unquestionably the s a fest g uide to hualth , '? cramps, spasms, Crowned heads are allowed more than the usual rights of repentance. The patience of the world is remarkable when the errors of a sovereign are to be judged. The subjects of his brother potentates are scarcely less complaisant than his own. For many weeks every nation in Europe, and none more than the French, has been speculating on the ob ject of the French Emperor's policy at Gaeta, while in Italy itself the evils which this perverse con duct inflicts on the country have caused a feeling of very strroag resentment. Yet so exalted is Monar- chi, and so forgiving are we who look up to it, that the Emperor Napoleon, by yielding at the last moment, and permitting whit he ought never to have prevented, may not only reinstate himself in our good opinions, but cause us to be called upon by his followers for paeans of admiration. As prac tical men we shall not refuse any complimentary language which is agreeable to the Imperial party and not inconsistent with truth. We may there fore say that his Majesty will show his wisdom, and deserve the approbation of the world, if he ful fils the promise - which has been held out by the Ministerial press, and withdraws his fleet from Gaeta after giving 15 days' notice to the Bourbon King. We may also say that this is the course which we have always anticipated he would take as soon as the - arguments used by the friends of Italian liberty had been weighed by his unerring judgment. Let us, then, forget the weary weeks of this unneces sary siege, the men and money which it has cost, the reactionary tumults to which it has given rise, the disquiet which it has inflicted on Italy, Austria, Germany, England, and France itself, by prolong ing the term of suspense, and causing men to fear that another war must precede the settlement of Italy. Let us forget these things, that is, if the policy of thelEmperor becomes once more intelligible and loyal. He is bound by obligations as sacred to a high-minded ruler as any treaty to abstain from in terference in the affairs of Italy, except so far as relates to Rome and the country surrounding it, On the faith of a friendly understanding, and, indeed, of actual promises, the British Government has treated the Tuileries with excessive confidence, and entered into a commercial treaty which must seriously embarrass our finances, if distrust and stagnation of trade should be the rule within the next year or two. We cannot but think that the Emperor will appreciate the good will which the English people have displayed, and will show this appreciation by allowing Southern Europe to have rest. But even at the present moment, though it is pretty certain that the Emperor is about to with draw his fleet, no one can tell what terms he intends to impose on Piedmont. Some speak of a notice to Francis II. to leave his stronghold on pain of being left to his fate, which would then assuredly be to become the prisoner of either the hostile General or Admiral. But it is said that there is another course more attractive to the Emperor's imagination, although we cannot see its advantage to any one. This is to impose on Victor Emmanuel a truce for a long period, three months or more, and then to call a Congress at which the affairs of Italy should be debated. The love of the Emperor for Con gresses would seem to be a passion as incurable as it is unintelligible. Why a Prince who, in his own dominions, and even in his own Cabinet, is unwilling to allow any one to have a voice but him self should delight in drawing together obstinate Plenipotentiaries from all parts of Europe is a thing we give up all hope of understanding. Act ing alone, he is, from his superior military strength, the arbiter of Italy. Acting in conjunction with England, he has the power of helping a renowned and gifted race to establish its freedom, and of giving France a powerful ally, while he insures for his own name a high place in the annals of this century. Indeed, Napoleon III. has achieved a position which, if he uses it well, may cause some future Plutarch to compare him not disad vantageously with his uncle. To make France great by developing instead of overthrowing or suppressing the nationalities which lie about it, to carry French ideas to the ends of Europe, and to spread the fame of the French arms without using them to devastate the world, is in the power of this fortunate ruler, and yet he would abandon all these privileges in order that one of his favourites may sit at the top of a green table with two rows of star-spangled diplomatists at the sides. Without pretending to penetrate the secrets of Courts, much less the hearts of Sovereigns, one may form a fair notion of the influences which have acted on the French Emperor during the last few months. He is by the nature of his position placed between legitimacy and liberty, and is drawn towards one by the very fact of his believing that he has conciliated the other. He has done so much during the last two years for the Italian cause and for the English alliance, that he thinks his brethren who are opposed to these heresies have some claim to his consideration. How anxious all of these are to withdraw him frcm his liberal courses, and to make him one of themselves, is shown by the \w ay in which they have applauded the useless ty: i d im potent interference at Gaeta. Russia, Prussia, and even Austria have exulted over the "ieturn of the sheep who had gone astray. rr :ne Pope on New Year's-day' congratulated C eneral Goy on on the support which his maste r was giving to a just and holy cause. The LP_gitimiqs are certainly thankful for small mercies, but still the rate at which they value the Emperor's courtesies is an inducement to him to keep them in good-humour. Add to this that he has the French clergy to conciliate, who are not the less discontented because they are more quiet than a year ago, and it will be understood why, after having delivered Lombardy himself, and suffered Garibaldi to deliver Naples, he should desire to display himself in a conservative atti tude. To do the Emperor justice, we believe he looks upon the English and the Italians as his natural allies, and is resolved eventually to satisfy them, but he would have it appear that he is forced by circumstances to submit to the vic tories of liberty ; he would act towards those whose cause he favours as he acted towards Sar dinia four mouths ago, when he protested at her invasion of the Papal States, withdrew his Minister, and then let her alone. By the Congress after which he labours he probably desires to give a proof to his brother Potentates of bow mode rate are his own counsels, and how completely they are frustrated by the revolutionary impulses of the Italians. In this state of things the path of English policy is clear. We desire nothing more, and shall accept nothing less, than the often-repeated doctrine of non-interference. A Power like England owes it to its own dignity to maintain the principle which it has once adopted, and which has been acquisced in by France. Happily, we have in this case the sympathies of every party in France, except the Ultramontanists. The Imperialist journals are as much puzzled and irritated by the vagaries at Gaeta as is the 8iecle or any other Liberal paper. Their manner of speaking of the Emperor's acts is more expressive than if they used their newly acquired privilege of hostile discussion. They are sure the Emperor will act loyally to his unfortunate friend Francis II. They are sure that he will not leave him and his family to fall into the hands of the Piedmontese. Now that the King of Naples has done all that honour requires, it is for him to con sider whether he shotild not retire ; and he may count on receiving in France the welcome due to his courage under misfortune. At any rate, the French fleet ought not to leave, and will not leave, without warning him that the protection which it has hitherto given to his person and family is to be withdrawn. All this means clearly that the French people, even those most attached to the present dynasty, do not wish it to be thought that their country is fighting against the liberties of a struggling nation. On the Italian question, at least, the alliance between the English and French nations is complete.—Tones. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—The greatest happiness of a jour nalist is to introduce to his readers some new discovery cal culated to benefit that vast portion of our fellow-creatures which has the strongest claims upon our sympathies. It is with this feeling that we call the attention of invalids to the following extracts from Du Barry's interesting report of cures without medicine by Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food. Cure 180—Mr. %V. R. Reeves, 181, Fleet-street, London, of twenty-five years nervousness, constipation, indigestion, and debility. Cure No. 54,618—Wandsbeck, near Hamburgh, May 12, 1857,—I hereby certify that my mother•in-law, Mrs. Holze, who has just completed her 107th year, after having suffered for half a century and more, from indigestion (dyspepsia), and consequent dis orders, has been perfectly cured by Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food, and is now enabled to digest almost any kind of food with great comfort.—W. Holze. Avoid Pills and Medicines : they invarieoly aggravate and perpetuate diseases ; their annoya-dce, disappointment, and expense may be avoided by using Du Barry's Food which, at a few pence per day, saves 5C times its cost in other remedies, removing effectually, s .thout purging, constipation, indigestion (dyspepsia) nervous, bilious and liver complaints and an their consequences. Certificate No. 36,418. We find. it the safest remedy. Andrew Ure, MD., F.R.S., Dr Harvey, Dr. Wurzer, Dr. Shorland, Dr. Campell. Let invalids avoid the fearful dangers of spu. rious and injurimr, imitations offered under .a variety of false pretenc e s. Nevill's imitations are prohibited by the high Court of Chancery under a penalty of £5,000 against Alfred Hooper Nevill and his agents ; and the p re t ences that Nevill has a patent for Arabica Food and that Du Barry's are connected with such patent are utterly fals e . No canister is genuine without the name Barry Du Barry and Co., 77, Regent-street, in full, ontheseal and wrapper. Shopkeepers who attempt imposition in one article must expect to to distrusted in all others. Packed in tins 11b. 2s. 9d.; 21b. 4s. 6d. ; 51b. lls. ; 121b. 22s.; 241b. 40s. The 121b. and 241b. canisters are sent carriage free on receipt of Post-office order by Barry Du Barry and Co. 77, Re' gent-street, London; Fortnum M ason, and Co. ' ; Abbio, 60, Gracechurch-street ; 4s, Strand tea-dealers; e ta i a rr t e y d - e d -t i e s ; a l t r ea l : t 2 ; ;t 7 y , 3 1 ), 3 R e 01 t 0 i t a i, Fd l u i V 4n5 o s o b l I o: u d o r ,:a ; Pavementd ad Co., al 1 i g r i ; n rg PhillipsNVe i s 1 1 a a - nd e fr () C V e t a t s 4 i 9 d ° an ). (1 63 60 1 , 1n B d ish l o 5 p 0 eg 0 at x e : at • FOOD ACT. Dr. Letheby, the medical officer of the City, in his quarterly report, says :— " In the matter of the Adulteration of Food Act, I have had but four applications for analysis. These are one for milk, two for bread, and one for mustard. The milk was delivered in the ordinary way to a householder in Martin's lane, Cannon•street, and it was adulterated with water. One of the samples of bread was adulterated with rice and alum, and contained about 44 per cent. of water. The other sample was genuine bread, of good wheaten flour. The sample of mustard consisted of mustard meal, wheaten flour, and tumeric ; but considering that the proportion of wheaten flour was not excessively large, and that it is a common and necessary practice to dilute the meal of mus tard in order that it may be used as an agreeable condiment, I do not think that the mixture was an adulteration, and therefore I certified that it did net contain anything injuri ous to health. I am very anxious that the practical work ing of this act should be of advantage to the public, and should be brought fully and fairly into operation within the City. This, however, must be effected by the energy of the citizens themselves; for however desirable it may be to expose the frauds and dangers of adulteration, the act has not contemplated that the exposure should be brought about by the offices of the common informer. In every case therefore the public must initiate the inquiry by a fair and open purchase of the articles suspected to be adulte rated. Of the many classes of adulteration that deserve attention, there are none so serious in their consequences as those which affect the stamina and health of the people. The adulteration of bread, for example, with materials that lessen its nutritive value, is not merely a fraud on the pocket, but also a fraud on the constitution of the con sumer; for that which diminishes the flesh-forming con stituents of so important an article of diet must necessarily be a means of impairing the growth of the animal fabric, and of weakening the force of labour. In some cases of adul teration the practice of it has a far more extensive relation to the affairs of the community than at first sight appears. To take the sophistication of beer and porter as an instance, it is well known that the publicans, almost without excep tion, reduce their liquors with water after they are received from the brewer. The proportion in which this is added to the beer at the better class of houses is nine gallons per puncheon, and in second-rate establishments the quantity of water is doubled. This must be compensated for by the addition of ingredients which give the appearance of strength, and a mixture is openly sold for this purpose. The composition of it varies in different cases ; for each expert has his own particular nostrum. The chief ingredients, however, are a saccharine body, as foots and liquorice to sweeten it ; a bitter principle, as gentian, quassia, sumach, and terra japonica, to give stringency; a thickening mate rial, as linseed, to give body; a colouring matter, as burnt agar, to darken it ; coculus indicus, to give a false strength; and common salt, capsicum, copperas, and Dantzic spruce to produce a head, as well as to impart certain refinements of flavour. In the case of ale its apparent strength is re stored with bitt rs and sugar-candy. Now, apart from the question of how much injury is done to the health of the consumer by this practice, or how large is the fraud on the pocket of the purchaser, it is a matter of interest to know what is the effect of it on the revenue. There are, I believe, about 6,200 publicans and beer retailers in this metropolis. Supposing that each, on an average, has a sale for only six barrels of beer and porter per week, and that the degree of dilution is but to the extent of five gallons of water per barrel, in the aggregate there would have been used 186,000 gallons of water per week. This, if properly and honestly brewed into beer, would have required about 1,722 quarters of malt ; and as each quarter of malt pays a duty of 22s. 6d. to the revenue, there is a fraud of rather more than £1,937 sterling per week, or nearly £100,800 per annum. In like manner almost every such fraudulent practice of trade has a wider relationship to the public interests than the mere act itself would imply. I will not, however, pursue this further at present ; and in leaving it, I venture to express a hope that, as the public interests are so largely concerned in the general application of this act of Parliament, its execution will be faithful and vigorous." COUNTRY MARKETS. SHEFFIELD-JAN. 8. At the market to-day there was a good attendance, and an active business was done ill wheat, which was at fully late rates for the better quaPaies. Flour advanced id per stone. In oats, beans, barley, and other articles there was no change. The following are the quotations :— Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushels 248 Od to 288 Od White 31 )7 258 Oil to 28s Od New red „ ,, 20s Od to 2580d 1 New white » 248 Od to 26s 6a Beans )) 77 Ms Od to 22i Od Peas, per qr 54s Od to 55s Od Grinding barley, per qr 338 Od to 35s Od Malting.ditto, ,, 35s Od to 43s Od Oats I, 258 6d to 3480d Millers' price's for flour-2s 5d, 2s 7d, and 2s 9d per 141b. AL to-day's market there was a good show of English Wheat. A fair attendance, and a ready business doing in wheat at about former quotations. Bailey scarce, and good malting parcels were a little dearer. Beans and peas ml. altered. Oats steady. Wheat.... Old white per qr. 66s Od to 71, Od Old red 7> 64s Od to 70s Od New white .. ,, 60s Od to 698 Od New red .. „ „ 64s Od to 63s Od Dantzic, Konb , &c. old white 62s Od to 66s Od Dutch, Belgian, and French. 60s Od to 62s Od Baltic and Hamburg, red 60s Od to 62s Od St. Petersburg and Riga, old 52s Od to 55s Od Barley.... English malting 41s Od to 43s Od Grinding 34s Od to 36s Od Saal and Oderbruck 38s Od to 40s Od Holstein and Danish 388 Od to 40s Od Grinding 32s Od to 345 Od Oats English, old 27s Od to 30s Od Archangel and Riga, per at Os 14d to 140 Friesland and Dutch 0s14 id to 0515a Swedish and Danish 0814d to 0s14fd Beans ....English, old, per qr. 49s Od to 51s Od New pigeon 44s Od to 45s Od New tick. 43s Od to 44a Od Egyptian 38s Od to 40s Od Peas r Foeign breakers 43s Od to 46s Od .... Grinding 41s Od to 42; Od Tares .... Spring. —s Od to —s Od Indian Corn 37s Od to 38s Od Linseed, feeding 528 Od to 54s Od crushing 46s Od to 52s Od Linseed cakes (Hull) £10 10 0 to £10 15 0 Foreign 8 10 0 to 9 0 0 Rape cakes 5 5 0 to 6 0 0 Bones 5 0 0 to 5 5 0 COAL MAR] (Prices of Coal per Ton al s. d. the close et the market Walls End. Davison's West Hart ley .17 6 Thorpe .. ..25 0 Eden Main...24 6 South Durham 22 6 Buddle'sWest Hartley 17 6 Hetton all 26 6 Musgrave 20 0 Harton .. .. 25 0 Tanfield Moor Butes..19 6 Riddell • 25 0 Bate's West Hartley..17 6 Tees . 26 6 Benton'sWest Hartlfy17 6 South Hetton 26 6 Ships at market, 49 ; sold, 41. THE MAILS. MAILS DUE. Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South ampton) Jan. 18. Do. (via Marseilles) Jan. 12. Brazil and Cape Verds .. Feb. 4. Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, &c. .. • • Jan. Cuba and Mexico .• Jan. 28 Canada, &c. (via Galway) Cape of Good Hope, &c. . • .. Feb. 1. China, Penang, and Singapore (via S'ampton) Jan. 18. Do (via Marseilles) Jan. 12 Gibraltar (via Southamp'ton) .. Jan. 10 India (Calcutta), Ceylon , &c. (via Southampton) Jan. 18. Do. (via Marseilles) Jan. 12. India (Bombay), (via Southampton) Jan. 10. Do. (via Marseilles) .• Jan. 19 • Lisbon „ .. Jan. 11 Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) .. Jan. 10. Do. (via Marseilles) .. Jan. 4. Vigo, and Oporto Jan. 11. United State; California, &C. .. • • .. Jan. 16. Western Coast of Africa, Madeira, Teneriffe .. Jan. 10. West Indies and Pacific, Carthagena, Cuba, &c. Jan. 14. E,GERTON.—On the 9th inst., at 67, Lowndes-square, the Lady Mary Wilbraham Egerton, of a daughter. EviLL.—On the 5th inst , at Lyncombe House, Battersea rise, Mrs. William Evill, of a son. HABERSHON.—On the 8th inst., at 22, Wimpole-sheet, the wife of Dr. S. 0. Habershon, of a daughter. TOOGOOD.—On the 9th inst., at The Cottage, Greenford, the wifo of Henry Toogood, Esq., of a daughter. AI A lt It IAGES. Emas—MoATEs.—On the 8th inst., at Epsom, Frederick Startridge Ellis, Esq,, of Richmond, Surrey, to Caro line, second daughter of William Moates, Esq., of Ep som. Honns—ADAMS.--on the 8th inat., at Hampstead parish church, Joseph Hobbs, Esq., of Kensington-gardens square, Hyde -park, to Theresa, second daughter of Jas. Adams, Esq., of College Villas, New Finchley-road. AUSTIN. —On the 8th — inst., at 28, Gloucester-rota, Re geni's•park, John Austin, Esq., aged 53, BORER.—On the 6th inst., at Parkhurst House, Busted, Sussex, William Borer, of the firm of Mathew Brother. and Borer, of Upper Thames -street, aged 64. CLEGG.—On the 8th inst., at his residence, Fairfield House, Adelaide-road, Haverstock-hill, Samuel Clegg, Esq., C.E., aged 80. CLARK.—On the 8th inst., Mr. William Mark Clark, of Warwick-lane, Paternoster -row, publisher, aged 57. HICKS.—On the 6th inst., Charles Hicks, Esq., of Green wich, aged 82. RUSSELL.—On the Gth inst., at Roxeth House, Harrow on-the-Hill, James Russell, Q.C,, aged 70. VYSE.—On the 8th inst., at The Abbey, Herne-hill, Thos. Vyse, Esq., aged 81, WIOHTMAN.—On the 8th, inst., at Islington, William B. Wightman, Esq., aged 5.j. LONDON : Printed and. Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the Couuty of Alkidlesei, Thursday, Jani4ary . io, 1861, I