The Sun. — London, England, 1861-03-09 00:00:00

1p 0Y AL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. " 1 " ) Under the Mankr, H ement on othM, Sole iss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. arris Tilts EVENING, LE DOMINO NOIR. %Ms Louisa p vn e, miss Thirtwall, Miss Leffler•• Messrs. Henry Haigh, K. ,orri, A. St. Albyn, and Horncas'tle. To conclude with a new Divertissement. Conductor—Mr. Allred Mellon. Commence at E. TiIEA Tit g-R0 YAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Backstone. THIS EVENING, the neriormances will commence with THE SUN AND THE WIND. The Leclereqs, &c. After which, a new and original comedy, A DUKE IN DIFFICULTIES. Mrs. Stirling, Miss Fanny Stirling, Mr. Buckstone, &e. To conclude with THE HAPPIES DAY OF MY LIFE. Mr. Compton, Mrs. Wilkins, &c. Commence at 7.1 YAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- " ti Lessee and Manatr,er, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, the Farce of SUSAN SMITH. To be followed by DON CiESAR DE BAZAN. Don Caesar, Mr. Fechter. Supported by Messrs. Basl Potter, F. Matthews, J. G. Shore, Miss M. Harris, Miss C. Leclercq and Mrs. Weston. ' To conclude with a comic ballet, THE JOLLY MILLER. M. Espinosa, Mr. Garden, &c. THEATRE - ROYAL LYCEUM. Sois Lessee and Directress, Madame CELESTE. THIS EVENING the Butletta of T AT RASCAL, JACK. Followed by the new drama, , THE HOUSE ON TILE BRIDGE OF NOTRe; DAMN,. Principal characters by Mr. G. Vining, Sir. J. Johnstone. Mr. Villiers, Mr. Clifford, Mr. John Rouse , Mr. F o rrester, Mr. Morris ; Miss 3l.Ternan Miss K. Saville, Miss L. Thompson, and Madame Celeste. Alter which, the Lyceum Christmas Corals Extravaganza, CRYSTABELLE ; or, The Rose without a Thorn, showin g rHE VISION OF A ROSE. ITS FADING AT ENT AND THE MAY-BLOOM OF THE WILD BRIAR. ADELPHI, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Beni. Webster. - THIS EVENING, AN UGLY CUSTOMER. .Messrs. L. Toole, C. Selby, and Warde ; Miss R. Belly, and Miss E. Thorne. After which, THE COLLEEN BAWN. D. Boucicault, D. Fleher, Billington, Falconer, Stephenson, C. J. Smith, Romer. Miss Agnes Robertson, Miss Woo'gar, Mrs. Billington, and are. Chatterley. To conclude with a new Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled BLUE BEARD FROM A NEW POINT OF HUE. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith ; Miss Woolgar, K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and M. Thorne. Doors open at half past 6—Commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till 6. No charge for booking. Private boxes, £2 2s. ; Family Boxes, £l. Orchestra Stalls, Balcony, 4s. ; Front Circle Stalls, is. ; Pit Stalls, 25.; Pit, ls. 64. ; Amphitheatre, is ; Gallery, 6d. Acting Manager-64r. Wm. Smith. CANTERBURY -HALL CONCERTS!!! Westminster-road. Proprietor ...... ..C. Morton. A Grand Selection trom Verdi's new Opera, CORSARO, (This opera has never been produced in this or any other country, except at these Concerts). having met with that de cided success which dharactise the most popular works of this great Master, will be performed EVERY EVENING ; together with a Selection from LA FIGLIA DEL REGGI MENTO, by Donizetti, - Principal Artistes—Miss Russell, Madame Maria, Miss Tyrrell, Mr. H. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, H. Drummond, and C. W. Bernard. Director, Mr. F. Jonghmans. The Comic Department comprises Messrs. E. Marshall, A. B. Hollingsworth, J. Blanchard, F. Bell, W. H. Welland, and the Brothers Conrad. John Martin's Three celebrated Pictures will remain on view a short time longer in the Fine Arts Gallery of the Establishment. RIGA WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tau DAY.—Morning, 12h. 48m.—Afternoon, Ili. 14m. To-uouitto-w.-Morning, 34m.—Afternoon, 112. DIE WEATIIER.—Snx OFFICE, MARCH 8, 1881. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 53 —highest since noon yesterday. 44—lowest this morning and during the night. 57—this day at7noon.l BAROMETER---30.03 ; up again—great fluctuations. WIND--South-Westerly—rather fresh; with dull weather cifirP 4 117 . , \ ' 0 - c; - .011 ,4•-• THE SUN. LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1881. " Stole away !" Sir BALDWIN WALKER ! And a right good start having been very considerately given to him by the Government, the Admiral really appears to have effectually made his escape from the Parliamentary Inquisition. It is an exceedingly shabby little trick this, and as such is calculated far more seriously to damage the Administration than the minority of four upon the Income tax, and of five upon this threatened Admiralty investigation. It is all of a piece, how ever, if we only call to mind the origin of the Coalition. Recollect in what its rise to power ac tually originated. In nothing less paltry than those shuttling and thoroughly hypocritical resolutions of Lord JOHN RUSSELL in respect to Parliamentary Reform, which Sir HUGH CAIRNS admirably and most truthfully designated a rolitical dodge. That the resolutions were a dodge, and nothing less disgraceful than a dodge, subsequent events have only too plainly demonstrated. The trumpery " Little Bill" of 1860, and the " No Bill At All " of 1861, have proved beyond the reach of any con tradiction that in the matter of Reform Lord JOIIN is clearly kith and kin in his genius to another JOHN renowned in the pages of Mr. CHARLES DICKENS'S Oliver Twist, to wit—Mr. JOHN DAWKINS, the Artful Dodger. It is perfectly in keeping therefore, it tallies exactly with the gene ral fitness of things, that a heterogeneous cluster of politicians who could thus condescend to dodge their way into office by a petty, dirty, little, shabby device like those now notorious Resolutions should not hesitate about descending yet a step lower in this melancholy incline from the old-fashioned high-minded statesmanship of a past generation — that they should evidence anew their capabilities in what may be termed their peculiar metier, namely, Political Bathos, by proceedings so singu larly mean as those which have characterised this new Admiralty Farce of " The Flight of Sir BALD - v.-1N ; or, The 'rub and the Telegraph." The discussion which took place last evening in re gard to the escape of the ex-Naval Surveyor revealed the trickery of her Majesty's Government in all its nakedness. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON having intimated to the house as one rather in search of accurate information than intent upon flinging accusations against the Admiralty—Sir JOHN PAKINGTON having intimated to the House in this way interrogatively, that he had received a communica tion from a correspondent of his at Devonport - to the effect that the Port-Admiral having telegraphed to the Admiralty, " Should he send the Himalaya (then under steam) in pursuit of the Narcissus"' the Admiralty replying "No, send the Avon," and the Port-Admiral responding through the electric , wires, " The Avon is a mere tab !"—the noble and gallant lord the Secretary to.the Admiralty, in explanation, indulged the House of Commons by perusing to them these, the ipsissima verba of the telegrams exchanged between Plymouth and the Admiralty ! Beginning as follows : the Port Admi ral to the Admiralty-sth March,ll . 42 a.m.—" The Himalaya has gone out on her trial." The Ad miralty to Plymouth-11'52 a.m.—" Send the Avon to the southward of the Eddystone to to end eavour to i ntercept t h e N arc i ssus " [to endea vour, observe !—a sort of "I wish you may get it"] —addin g [so considerately this, under the circum stances —in words evidencing such generous fore thought]—" Make th e officer the bearer of an order to Sir BALIAVIN WALK - LI:IC) return to Devonport." Plymouth to the Admiralty —.1.21 p.m.—" The Himalaya is just enter.ng into the Sound. Shall she also proceed i n search of the Narcissus P'' The y u Port Admiral was h ere clearly pu tting ' his foot i nto it—pas de zele was warily the axiom of the French diplomatist — and here W as t he Port Admi ral only too zealous in the public service--only too officious with his indiscreet suggestions. Was he not a N9te the answer immediately flashed back to him from the Admiralty ! Still, March 5- 1.38 p.m.—The Admiralty telegraphing in reply to the Fort Admiral at Devonport about this wrretchedly-inopportune suggestion of his in re the Himalaya : " Why does she return so soon ?" Why, indeed ! As to the Admiralty messenger going in search of Sir BALWIN WALKER on board of that ship--Que diable allait it faire clans cette galere ? The Admiralty adding in this pithy, and laconic, and very suggestive telegram [quite in the spirit of Lord RAGLAN] " What is the state of the weather ?" Yet although the reply flashed back from Plymouth to Whitehall was, in respect to the weather , not by any means un- satisfactory, all thing's considered—nothing at all came of it ! The Admiralty, on the con trary, peremptorily telegraphing —at 3 p.m.— 4 , The Himalaya need not be sent in search of the Narcissus, in addition to the Avon !" No matter, meantime, about the Avon being the merest tub. Perhaps that, indeed—certainly that, indeed, was all for the better ! A tub thrown to a whale being quite good enough in its way—why, might not the old tub of an Avon be quite good enough for this Chase of an Admiral, which is assuredly, 'n its way (to borrow a tolerably familiar phrase From "Hamlet")—" Very like a Whale !" What. ever may be thought about the contrivance hit upon by the Admiralty—hit upon it was, and acted upon t was with all un-reasonable slowness. At 3 p.m —not sooner—" The Avon proceeded under steam" in pursuit of the Narcissus That, was literally the intimation signalled about 3.30 from Plymouth to the Admiralty. So that all the while the telegraphic messages were maundering about he weather and so forth, neither Avon, nor ye Himalaya, nor yet anything else had gone after that inconvenient old admiral, who had stolen away on board the Narcissus. Be, all the time' putting more and more distance between himself and his intended pursuers. At last—at last—the old tub of an Avon went forth and saw—nothing. and then came back again. The Admiral had got away right cleverly—as the Admiralty intended he should. And then three nights afterwards, in answer to certain vexatious enquiries put to him by Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, the Secretary to the Ad miralty rises from his official seat in the House and reads categorically, seriatim, verbatim et literatim those excessively ridiculous and silly little tele grams. And so the matter is to drop quietly on one side and be forgotten—the Admiralty thinks very probably. Supposing the Admiralty to think which—it certainly never yet was more mistaken. Sir BALDWIN WALKER must appear sooner or latter coute qui coute, bon gre mal gre, willi nilli, or however, you may please to express it—he must appear before the Committee of Inquiry appointed by the House of Commons. That—we take it—is just simply a settled point. However he may be got at—return he will, and answer one after another the few hun dred and odd questions that will have to be put to him by that inquisitive Committee. And now, as to the manner of getting at him. Like the stranger in the old love ditty, he is " Off, Off, and Away." Whether the Narcissus be or be not worthy of description as the " light barque" flying " over the silvery spray." As to cutting the Admiral off in his flight now by means of the Avon or the Penguin, or any other vessel sent from our own shores, that obviously is no longer for an instant to be thought of. But another means of getting at Sir BALDWIN WALKER, of intercepting him long before he gets into the latitude of Ascension Island or of Table Bay, into the vicinity of either the turtles or the gorillas, there indubitably Is. It is a means for intercepting him yet, that we ourselves at once pointed out in our impression of yesterday. It is suggested gravely, as quite a new and original idea in the Times of this morning, in the words following : "We have at this moment several war steamers lying idle at Lisbon. A telegram to our Minister there would reach him in about four hours, when he could at once despatch the fastest vessel upon the station for Madeira, where she would arrive within 72 hours, and no doubt lor.g before Sir BALDWIN WALKER, in the Narcissus, would be there." Our own suggestion of this very means for yet recalling the escaped Admiral before he can have got much further on his southward voyage, having appeared yesterday in The Sun in the words subjoined : "If the Admiralty be in earnest in their wish to cut off ' or catch Sir BALDWIN WALKER, they might have telegraphed to Cork, some three hundred miles further west, to send one or more vessels out —or they might even telegraph to our Naval Authority at Lisbon to send a vessel on a cruise for the same purpose." It is identically the same suggestion now repeated this morning by our leading contemporary. Let it but be adopted by the Admiralty—no matter from whomsoever it may have emanated—let it but be adopted even thus tardily by the Admiralty, and Sir BALDWIN WALKER will go no further than Lisbon—thence returning upon his course home wards for the purpose of revealing all those myste ries that he was to carry away with him locked up in his own heart so very conveniently. Even when he has actually come back again, and is delivering up his secrets at the mandate of the committee —the shabby little trick by which he was thus suspiciously being shuffled out of the way will certainly not be forgotten. It is far and away the paltriest dodge upon which the Coalition has ad ventured since the date of Lord JOHN'S Dog-in-the- Manger Resolutions. We must wait with patience for a little more than a week to know how the new President en tered on office. We shall not be surprised to learn that he confined himself, even at his inauguration, to generalities. Though he has all the patent facts of the case before him, he may, if he thinks it better, reasonably ask time to render himself fami liar with all the documentary details of the past, before he adopts any special measures; but on the other hand he will, we should think, almost cer• tainly let the revolutionists know that he will exe cute the laws as he finds them, and sustain the Federal rights of the Union, not acknowledging the utterly illegal acts of the South. We know of only one opinion which Mr. LIN COLN has yet avowed, which we much regret; we refer to his timidity on the Tariff question. Coming as he does from an agricultural State, he ought to have well understood the folly of protection. The produce of his own State, like that of the Southern States, seeks the markets of the world ; to obtain these it needs that the produce of the world should freely enter the Union in exchange. Perhaps Mr. LINCOLN well knows this, but he may know also that the North will not hear of anything but pro tection to native industry. Mr. LINCOLN, however, should, not only in the interests of commerce, but in those of reunion with the South, have honestly exposed the injustice of making American con sumers pay tribute to Ameriean manufacturers. The South has always, and with justice, resented the Northern protection tatiffs. On this point the North is at least as selfish and wilful as the South is on the subject of slavery. At this moment we are fearing to hear by every mail that the new Tariff has passed Congress, and been signed by the PRESIDENT. It has been fenced through the Houses with great haste, since the secession of the Southern representatives, because the North had it all its own way then, and its object was the exclusion by prohibitory duties, of English iron and THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 9, 1861. hardware, besides other manufactures. The Senate I evidently did not relish the Bill, and made, it is said, 150 amendments, and hope has been expressed that these will have delayed its progress till it may not get through this session. We trust it may prove to be so, since a more suicidal policy on the part of the North ; one more calculated to justify the South in seced ing, and to dispose other countries to recognise the new confederation, wnich will almost certainly adopt the opposite policy, can hardly be conceived. The Anti-President of the Southern convention, who has contrived to be inaugurated first, proclaims for the new confederation a policy decidedly the reverse of that of the MORRILL Tariff. He says : —" As an agricultural people, whose chief interest is the export of a commodity required in every manufacturing country, our true policy is peace and the freest trade which our necessities will per mit." He tells them that it is the interest of the States, and of those from whom they would buy and to whom they would sell, that there should be " the fewest practi cable restrictions upon the interchange of com modities." Thus Free-trade doctrines are as natural to the South as the selfish code of Protection is to Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Assuredly Eng land does not wish to see the breaking up of the Union ; but if the North perseveres in the mad policy of driving our merchants and manufacturers from its doors, and the South adopts the reverse one of making them welcome, who can say whether, slavery notwithstanding, English trade and capital may not flow to the South and desert the North. We expect much from the firmness of Mr. LINCOLN, and the two internal slave States of Tenessee and Arkansas already seem to have responded to it by voting for the Union, and the border States by their hesitation ; but the North must renounce commercial hostility to the Southern States and to England, if it would not place itself in a false posi tion. No sophistry can convince the public that a tax on Insurance does not comprise all the worst vices of a tax.- If a tax on luxuries, especially on demoralizing luxuries like spirits, be cheerfully acquiesced in, because self-indulgence is a fair subject for a tax, and because vice ought, if possible, to be met with the check of costliness, then Fire Insurance, and indeed every kind of insurance, ought to be untaxed. Insurance is prudence, not indulgence; it springs from the 'virtues which create and protect the capital and industry of the country, not from vice. Yet, as Insurance taxes now stand, they are a penalty on prudence, and a premium on recklessness. The man who will risk his property—property , too, perhaps, which, if destroyed, will cause loss to his creditors also, saves the tax. The man who, for a yearly payment, takes secu rity for himself and creditors against what may or may not happen, pays the Government from fifty to two hundred per cent. for his prudence and honesty. But Mr. SHERIDAN, in his able speech last night, did not, in one respect, do full justice to his sub ject. The inequality of the tax is something enormous. It is an inequality, too, entirely in favour of the landlord class. The tax, it should be observed, like the probate duty, is a tax inflicted almost exclusively on the industrious, as compared with the landed class. It is tax which does not touch the most valuable property of all, land, which is incombustible ; and not only that, but the produce of land—farming stock—is exempt from duty ! Thus the landlords have called in Legislative Exemptions in aid of nature to ren der their property absolutely free from fire insurance duty ! Who can wonder that in a house of landlords a majority of nearly three to one de termined to let their well alone. It has always appeared to us, however, amongst the most un• righteous of imposts, since while incombustible pro perty is burdened with no equivalent tax, combus• tible property should, in addition to the disadvantage implied in that fact, be wilfully subjected to another by arbitrary taxation. It is common to justify it as a property tax—but it has in that aspect two glaring defects. First, the one just mentioned—next, that of not being made compulsory on all. If landlords paid 3s. per cent. on the value of their land, and if all other property were required to be insured and to pay 3s. per cent., as it now does on its fair valuation, it would be at least a fair property tax. We do not know that it might not be one of the best forms of property tax ; but as it now stands it is self-convicted of being class legislation of the most obtrusive and offensive kind. It is not even reduction of the amount which strikes us as most important. The tax ought to be abolished, or by compulsory insurance, and an equal tax on the value of land, to be made equal for all classes. As to the state of the Exchequer, that is quite another question. We certainly have not yet been told what we shall want. Still the old adage of " too soon if before the Budget, too late after wards," though Mr. GLADSTONE tried to explain it away, cannot be forgotten. Looking to this, however, we must confess that the iniquities of the Income-tax so far transcend those of any other tax that the first reduction must be made there ; and the first tax which ought to be abolished is that which has a schedule A and a schedule D assessed at the same rate. So long as even a remnant of a tax exists which treats as income equally available for taxation, that which is derived from daily labour of the brain and the hands, and that derived from the funds and from real property—which also treats as having the same income the man who, out of £5OO, has to maintain a wife and large family, and the man who lives on it at lodgings—so long will there be a tax which has a claim to repeal in preference to Hops, or Paper ; or in preference even to reduc tion of tea and sugar duties. All who desire the repeal of other taxes, must earn that repeal by first getting rid of the most unrighteous tax of all, the tax which ought to be laid by in reserve as our great resource in war—the income-tax. REPRESENTATION OF CORK.—An influential deputation waited on Dr. Lyons on Thursday to request him to retain his seat as member for Cork till the next dissolution of Parliament, and that with the strict under standing that he should not be required to attend in his place in the House of Commons. The doctor yielded to the solicitations of the deputation, stating his regret that the state of his health would not allow him to serve them more actively, but that he would continue as their repre sentative to the close of the session.—Freeman's Journal. The Cork Reporter states that the head-quarters division of the Tipperary Artillery Militia is daily expect ed in Cork harbour, on board the Megrera, from England. The division will proceed fr m Cork to Cahir for bodiment. A letter from Berlin of the sth instant says that Herr von Zedlitz, the head of the police department, had just challenged Herr von Vincke to a duel with pistols, which, if not prevented, is to take place in the Easter vacation. The .Regno d'ltalia states that a petition has been circulating in many Italian towns, and has received a great many signatures, beg;ing the Italian parliament to revoke the sentence cf death under which Mazzini still lies, and to permit him to return to Italy. THE " ENTERTAINMENTS " AT THE VICTORIA THEATRE.—One of the attractions last night at the Victoria Theatre was to have been a "set-to" between some bull-. dogs, commonly called pugilists, amongst whom were Mace and Langham, but the Lord Chamberlain very properly prohibited the display of such a demoralising exhibition. LA' EST NEWS. TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE. PARIS, SATURDAY. The Moniteur of to-day says :—" Yesterday a deputatiou from the Senate presented the Address to the Emperor. "His Majesty replied : " The new right of examining freely all acts of the Government was granted to the political bodies with the object of enlightening the country on the great questions which now agitate public opinion. " The discussion must have convinced it that, notwithstanding the difficulties which have been created abroad by the conflict of extreme situa tions, we have not abandoned any of the opposed interests it was necessary to protect. My policy will always be firm, loyal, and without any after thought. " The address of the Senate approves my conduct during the past, and express confidence in the future, for which I thank you." The Moniteur also announces that Baron Gros has received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. ROME, MARCH 6. The Queen of Spain has offered to the Pope her Royal Palace at Madrid. His Holiness, however, intends remaining at Rome. He has recalled all his soldiers to Rome, with the exception of three companies of Papal Zouaves, which are still at Anagni. NAPLES, MARCH 6. The Archbishop of Naples refused to be present at a Te Deum celebrated for the surrender of Gaeta Popular disturbances ensued, and the Arch bishop's palace was attacked by the people. Strict orders have been sent respecting the re sistance of the prelates. VIENNA, FRIDAY. The Oesterreichische Zeilung says :—" Francis IL is deterthined to stay at Rome as long as the Pope remains there." Prince Petrulla has proceeded to Paris. MADRID, MARCH 7. The Ministry have declared that they consider the project of a partition of Rome between the Pope and Victor Emmanuel as unworthy of se rious discussion. The idea of transferring the Papacy to Jerusalem they stigmatise as absurd, and stated that Europe must preserve within her the chief of the Church. CONSTANTINOPLE, MARcli 2. The Porte, in its written answer to the last Rus sian note, repeats its former verbal reply, and denies all right of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the empire. The Turkish fleet, with troops and six months' provisions on board, is about to cruise off the coast of Dalmatia. DESTRUCTION OF GAETA. The Minister of War at Turin, says the Gazzetta Alilitaire, has decided upon disarming the island of Pianossa, and raising the fortifications of Gaeta to the ground. THE BRAZIL AND PACIFIC MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY. The Bora Mail steamship Magdalena, Captain Woolward, has arrived, with the above mails, 95 passengers, and £3,895 in specie. Off Teneriffe, on the Ist inst., she experienced a heavy gale, and was struck by a heavy sea, which washed everything from the deck. Several of the crew were severely wounded. On the Bth ult. she spoke the English ship Snow den, on the 22d the steamer Oneida and the Hikalje, on the 3d inst. the outward French Brazil packet, and on the 7th her Majesty's ship Marlbbrougb. The British barque William Perle, from Liver pool on the 11th of November, had stranded on the coast of Brazil, 60 miles south of Rio Grande. There were little hopes of saving either vessel or cargo. At Buenos Ayres the political complications and the rise in the value of gold considerably checked operations in the markets. The Federalists and the Liberals were in almost open hostility to each other. Colonel Saa had gained a complete victory over the levies of San Juan, taking.about 400 prisoners. The aspect . of affairs continued to be ♦ery threatening. Exchange was quoted 65s to 65s 6cl per doubloon. Ounces had risen during the month from 338 dols. to 360 dols. The last price on the Bolsa was 348 k dols. At Bahia sugar was brisk at former prices. 1,000 bags of coffee from the interior had been sold before arrival. The remainder of the crops was expected to come forward rapidly. Freights, 60s. for the Channel. Exchange, 90 days, 261 d. At Pernambuco cotton ruled from 8,400 to 9,000 reis per arroba. Sugar, white qualities, declined from 2 to 3 per arroba. Freight to Liverpool— cotton, Id. per lb. ; sugar, 17s. 6d., with 5 per cent. primage. Exchange on London, 90 days, 260. At Rio Janeiro business was less active. Imports limited. Export trade in coffee was limited, owing to the smallness of supplies. Business in sugar was important for home consumption, at a considerable decline in prices. The rate of discount was un altered. Exchange had been fluctuating, closing at 26d. on London ; on France, 360 to 370 reis were the extreme rates. Small business had been done in shares and stocks. Sovereigns were dealt in at 9,500 dols. THE SIEGE OF MESSINA. A letter from Naples of the 2d says : " General Cialdini arrived here a few days back, in the Cavour, with General Valfre, of the Artil lery, and Major-General Avenati. After a long conference with Prince de Carignan, he left for Messina. It was intended to give him a popu lar ovation, but be declined to accept one, and ho also refused to allow the National Guard to get up a ball in 'ais honour. He said that he felt such pain at having had to combat the Nea politan troops, whom he esteemed, that he would not take part in any public rejoicings at their defeat. There have been sent to Messina from Gaeta four battalions of Bersaglieri, four of the Line (the 9th Regiment), six companies of Engi neers, 50 rifled cannon, and 22 large mortals. General Avenati is to command the expedition, and General Cialdini only goes to inspect the operations. Some officers of the garrison of Messina succeeded, a few days back, in escaping, and as a boat of the English vessel the Terrible happened to be between them and the citadel the latter could not fire on them. The English squadron, consisting of the ships of the line Hannibal, Cressy, and James Watt, under Rear-Admiral Mundy, has left Naples for Malta, via Messina. A single English advice boat remains here. I3elore the English squadron sailed, Prince de Carignan paid a visit to Admiral Mundy on board the Hannibal. The ships fired a salute, and hoisted the Italian flag in his honour." FRANCE. PARIS, FRIDAY. Visits of lunatics to the Tuileries are becoming almost of daily occurrence. Yesterday another case occurred, but the man, instead of asking for the Emperor, demanded immediate admission to the Prince-Imperial. " What have you got to say to H. 1.11. ?'' asked the concierge to whom I e addressed himself. " The Prince has summoned me by electric telegraph, and intends to make me his secretary," answered the man. " But," he added, " I confess that I am not fit for the post seeing that I possess no sort of educa tion !" The poor fellow was placed in the hands of the police and conveyed to the Prefecture, from whence he is to be sent to a lunatic asylum. He was ascertained to be a journeyman lapidary. " The banking house of M. Mouchoux, at Sens (Yonne)," says the Constitution of Auxerre, " has suspended payment, and that gentleman has been arrested. The liabilities are estimated at about 1,400,000 f, and the assets at only about 400,000 f. BOURSE, March B.—The market has been more buoyant, and the business done has been at prices slightly in advance of the closing rates of yester day. Threes, which opened at 68f 10e, arc now at 68f 25c. The Railway Share - Market has also shown an improved tone. The following are the last quo tations : 41 per per Cents ... 95 75 Credit Foneier — Do end month.... 95 70' i Belgian 41 99 75 3 per Cents Do. end month 6B 20 Roman Bank Shares 2890 , Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 665 Spanish Threes 4B. 7: Do. Account 663 75 Acme Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans 1427 50 .. 1426 25 Northern New ditto B9O Lyons and Mediterranean 951 25 .. 952 50 Geneva 378 75 .. 377 50 Southern 527 50 .. 530 Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard 475 .. 476 25 ITALY. A Paris letter in the Independance says : " King Victor Emmanuel was scarcely less prompt than the Emperor Napoleon in congratu lating the Prince, his son-in-law, on his success in the Senate. The following is given as the text of the telegraphic despatch addressed by his Sardinian Majesty to the Prince :—I have just read your splendid speech, and I thank you in the name of Italy and in my own.' " POLAND. Advices from Warsaw state that tho agitation, though " muffled," is on the increase. Russian troops continue to arrive. It is hoped and expected that the Emperor will grant a constitution to Poland. A funeral service had been celebrated at Cracow in honour of the victims of the 27th February. All the shops were spontaneously closed. A tobacco dealer having refused to put up his shutters, this was immediately and quietly done for him. This pacific agitation is gradually extending to all the provinces. The military governor of Warsaw, the aide-de camp General Paniutiae, has issued the following notification : " Notwithstanding the warning of the 26th, the inhabi tants do not comply with the police regulations. On the 27th the crowds did not disperse when summoned to do so by the authorities. In the Cracow suburb a Cossack post was assailed with stones, and a patrol of infantry were forced, in front of the house of Malez, when repulsing the assailants, to open a passage for themselves with the butt ends of their muskets. By order of a superior authority, the inhabitants are once more warned that all gatherings in the streets are severely prohibited, and that the first summons of the police must be obeyed. In case of non compliance, the recusants are liable to the full penalty of the law, and will have to blame themselves for the conse • quences that may ensue, and which they would regret." The committee of citizens published on the 3d of March this notice : " The funerals of the victims of 'Wednesday took place yesterday, and the whole population showed that it com prehends its duties to the country ; every one,without dis tinction, discharged his duty. United by the same and sole thought, we have bidden the victims farewell. May this feeling of our duty guide us also, at every moment, in future." The Central Agricultural Society has published this notice, signed by its president, Count Zamoy ski, and the secretary, Vladislas Garbinski : " In the name of every member of the Agricultural So ciety, the committee thank you, noble youth of our schools, for your zealous co-operation in the maintenance of order at the sad and solemn ceremony of this day—the funerals of the victims of the 27th, amongst whom there were also a few members of our society. By your attitude you have given proof of all the qualities that will one day make you worthy and useful citizens of your country, which we love with all our hearts, and to which each of us has the sacred duty of devoting himself." PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. HOUSE OF COMMONS-MARCH 8. FIRE INSURANCE. Motion made and Question put, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill to reduce the Duty on Fire Insurance," The house divided—Ayes, 49; Noes, 138. AYES-49. Arndtt, Sir J. Gaskell, J. M. Malins, It. ' Barnes, Thomas Gladstone , Capt. Monson , W. J. Baxter, W. E. Gray, William Morris, D. Bazley, Thomas Grogan, Sir Edward Onslow, Guildford Beamish, F. B. Hadfield, Geo. Selwyn, C. J. Blake, J. A. Haliburton, Justice Sidney, Thomas Bowyer, Sir G. Hennessy, J. P. Somes, Joseph Brooks, R. Hopwood, J. T. Spooner, R. Buchanan, W. Hubbard, J. G. Stracey, Sir H. Butler, C. S. Jermyn, Earl Tollemache, Hon.F Buxton, C. Jervis, Captain Vance, John Dalglish, Robert 'Jones, D. Verner, Sir Wm. Dent, John Dent Kennard, R. White, Jas Duke, Sir James Ker, D. S. Farquhar, Sir M. Lee, W. Fermoy, Lord Lindsay, W. S. Forster, W. K Locke, John Sheridan, H. B . Gard, R. S. Maguire, J. F. Coningham, Wm . NOES-138. Acton, Sir J. Gladstone, W. E. Packe, G. H. Adeane, H. J. Gower, F. L. Padmore, R. Atherton, W. Gregory, W. H. Paget, C. Ay . ..+nn, A. S. Gregson, S. Paget, Lora A. Baines, E. Grey, Rt. Hn. Sir G. Paget, Lord Q. E. Baring, Thos. Geo. Gurdon , B. Palmerston, Viec Barrow, W. H. Gurney, John H. Parker, Major W. Barttelot, Major Hamilton, Major Patten, J. W. Beecroft, G. S. Hardy, Gathorne Peel, F. Beutinck, G. W. P. Hayter, Sir Wm. Philipps, J. IL Black, Adam Headlam, Thos, E Pollard Urquhart Bramston, T. W. Heneage, G. Pugh, D. (Carmar , Bridges, Sir 8., Bt. Henley, J. Quinn, Peter Bruce, H. A. 'Henley, Lord Rothschild, Baron I Buller, Sir A. Hervey, Lord A Russell, Lord J. Bury, Viscount Hodgson, K. D. Russell, Sir Wm. Butt, Isaac Holland, E. Salomonq,Alderman Caird, James Horsfall, T. B. Selater-Booth, G, Cardwell, Rt. Hn. E. Horsman ,E. Scott, Sir W. Carnegie, lion. C. ' Hotham, Gen. Lord Smith, J. B. Cayley, E. S. Howes, Edward Smollett, P. Clay, James Hunt, G. W. Stacpoole, W. Clifford, C. C. Hutt, W. Steel John Clive, George Jolliffe , Sir W. Stirling . , Wm. .Cowper, lion. W.F. Kekewich, S. Steuart, A. Crawford, R. W. Kerrison, Sir E. Stewart, Sir M. It. Davey, R . King, J. K. Taylor, Hugh Davie, Sir H. R. F. Langston, J. H. Thompson, H. S. - Davie, Col. F. Lawson, W. Tite, Wm. Denman, G. Leader, N. Tollemache, J. H. Douglas, Sir C. Lefroy, A. , Torrens, R. Duff M. E. Leighton, Sir B. Trelawny, Sir J. S. Duff, Major. Lennox, Lord G. G. Vandeleur, Col. Dunkalin, Lord Leslie, W. Villiers, Rt. Hon. G. Dunne, Col. Lewis, Sir G.C., Bt. Warner, Edward Egerton, A. F. Lockhart, A. E. Watkins, J. L. V. Estcourt, S. Longfield, Robert Western, T. S. Ewart, William Lysley, W. Westhead, B. Ferguson, R. Mackie, J. Whitbread, S. Filmer, Sir E. Martin, J. Williams, W. Finlay, A. S. Massey, W. N. Winnington, Sir T. Fortescue, C. S. Merry, James Wood, Rt Hn. Sir C. French, Fitzstephen Milnes, R. M. Woods, Henry Gallwey, Sir W. P. Mitchell, T. A. - Wyvill, M. Gavin, Major Moffat, George TELLERS. Gibson, T. M. Norris, J. T. Brand, H. B. Gilpin, C. North, F. Dunbar, Sir Wm. RS. For Against Layard, A. 11 Northcote,Sir S Green, J Anson, Mujor . Miller, K.T .. Bouverie, For Against Sykes, Col. Puller, J Bond, J W M Gelifford, Col. Beaumont, S Montague,Ldß Rogers, J J Wemys, JH E Forster, W E Woods, H Thynne,LordEßerkeley,WHF Sibthorp,Majorßlencowe, J G Beaumont, W B Kinglakc, A W Forrester, C Agnew, Sir A Cochrane, B Smith, M T Upton, General Smith, T A. Botfield, B Angerstein, W Baxter, C Gregory, W H Adair, H Shatto, Murray, W Glyn, G Bathurst, Col. Vyner, it Jackson, W Bright, J Hopwood, J T Carnegie,llone Elphinstone, Thynne. Lordll Wyld, Deedes, W Garnett, W J Bonham Carter Ilenessey, J P Trelawny,Sir J Verner, Sir W SAomons, Ald. Tomline, G Fortescue, D F I'eacocke, G Hardcastle,J A THE WEATHER. METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS. `This Day, i between 8 and B. E. I M. D. F. C. I. S. 9 a.m. I--:-- Nairn 3O 00 41 38 W.N.W. 6 7 0. 5 Aberdeen Leith. 30*21 45 41 S.W. Berwick £o •I 1 45 41 W. 4 1 b. 2 Ardrossan Portrush Shields .Galway 30'41 45 44 S.E.. 4 5 0. 2 Siarborough , 30.22 44 40 N.W. 4 1 b. 3 Liverpool 130•39 44 42 W. 4 1 b. 3 Valentia ) 30'36 47 45 E.S. E. ' 2 9 0. 4 Queenstown 3O 44 48 46 W. 1 2 c. 1 Yarmouth 3O-32 42 40 N.W. 6 1 b. 4 London 3041 43 39 W. r 2 2 b. Dover 30•39 47 43 N.W. • 4 1 b. 3 Portsmouth , 30 , 15 46 44 N.W. 3 5 m. 2 Portland --I:0 48 s 6 44 W.N.W. 1 1 m 2 Plymouth ' 30'45 44 42 W.N.W. 1 1 1. 2 Penzance Jersey 1 30'.0 45 44 ' N.N.N. 2 2 t. 3 EXPLANATION.—B. Barometer, corrected and reduced to 32 deg at mean sea level; each 10 feet of vertical rise causing about 1-100th of an inch diminution, and each 10 deg above 32 deg causing nearly 3-100ths increase. E. Exposed thermometer in shade. M. Moistened bulb (lb' , evAporat,loA and dew-point). D. Direction of wind (true — not magnetic). F. Force (I to 12--eitimited):' C. clbud to 9). -I. Initials :—b , blue sky; c., clouds (detached) ; f., fog. ' • h., hail ; 1.,. lightning ; m , misty (hazy); 0., overcast (dull) ; r., rain ; s , snow; t., thunder. A letter repeated augments—thus, r.r., much rain. S. Sea disturb ance (1 to 9). TELLERS Bi_RMINGIIAIiI RADICAL REFORM LEAGUE. The members of the above league, of which Mr. Charles Sturge is chairman, held a meeting at the offices, Bennett's-hill, on Monday—Mr. J. Taylor, jun., in the chair. The provisional coinwittee's report stated that they had been iu communication with reformers in many towns, and although so short a time had elapsed, the most encouraging and satisfactory replies had been received, and a large number of subscriptions had been announced. Let ters from societies working for the same objects had been received from London, Newcastle-on- Tyne, Carlisle, Norwich, and other large towns, while at Banbury, a similar league had been formed, expressly to co•operate with that at Birmingham. The report recommended that all subscribers should be members ; that it should be managed by a com mittee and officers elected by the members; that its objects should be to obtain a measure of reform which should include manhood suffrage, vote by ballot, and equal electoral districts. 'The report was approved, and the following resolution unani mously passed, "That the deliberate and dishon ourable abandonment of reform by her Majesty's Government having again thrown the question before the country, it is the duty of reformers of all classes 'promptly and earnestly to combine to force upon the attention of the House of Commons the national desire for a thorough reform. This league, therefore, calls upon the people in every town in the kingdom to petition Parliament during the present session, praying for an immediate con sideration of the subject, and for the adoption of a measure which shall satisfy the just requirements of the people by including manhood suffrage, vote by ballot, and equal electoral districts. That the league further recommends the adoption of memo rials to individual members, calling upon them to endeavour by all means in their power to procure an immediate settlement of the question ; and ear nestly exhorts the people, by the promptness of their union, and the energy of their proceedings, to strengthen the remnant of real reformers in the House of Commons." The meeting theruseplrated. PARLIAMENTARY REIORIII. MEETING AT NORWICH. A meeting of working men was held in a room at the Free Library, Norwich, on Tuesday even ing, for the purpose of organising a movement in favour of their enfranchisement. Mr. C. J. BUNTING, having been called to the chair, said that for some time past there had been an opinion in Norwich that something ought to be done to give expression to the feelings of the work ing classes with respect to the present state of the reform question. When they looked at recent oc currences in the House of Commons, they could not but feel that they had been insulted by one party and betrayed by another. He did not expect to have seen the time when a Liberal Government, placed in office almost for the purpose of passing a Reform Bill, should repudiate the measure on the ground that in the present state of public feeling it was inexpedient. The question would never be the leading question of the day till the working classes took the matter up for themselves, for if they did not move on its behalf, who could be ex pected to do so ? There might be a difference of opinion on the subject, but he was sure they were all agreed that it was time that the national dis grace, the non-enfranchisement of the industrial classes, should be removed. (Hear, hear.) For this object they should combine, and should, he thought, revive the old agitation for manhood suffrage, for they had of late been limiting their demands to such.an extent that they had become almost infini tesimal. (Applause.) But, in addition to this, he might add that, when the working man had got a vote, he would want protection for its exercise, and therefore he was an advocate of the ballot. (Cheers.) Whether or not it might be prudent to organise such an association as he had alluded to was now the subject for consideration ; at any rate, he felt that they had done right in convening that meeting, and he would now leave the matter in their hands. Mr. BLACKBURN then moved the following reso lution :—" That the continual and systematic ex clusion of the working classes from the elective franchise is a direct violation of the principles of justice, and a standing reproach to the boasted freedom of the British constitution." He said that in 1845, during the Chartist agitation, Lord J. Russell urged that the suffrage could not be granted at a time of agitation, and in compliance with a popular demand ; and now they were told that the people did not demand it, and therefore did not desire it. A week or two ago he had a vote, but his rent now being under the standard, he had not one. Mr. ROBERTS seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. BUNTING read two letters, one from the Lon don Reform Union, and the other from the Bir mingham Political League, thanking the people of Norwich for what they had already done in sending up petitions (of which about 40 had been presented), and urging them to increased activity in the same direction. _ _ _ Several other persons having expressed their views on the subject before the meeting, the follow ing resolution was proposed by Mr. J. WINTER : " That in the present state of political parties it is important that the working classes who are especially interested in - the great question of amending the representation of the people, should organise for its effectual and speedy settlement. It is therefore resolved to re-establish without further delay, the Norwich Political Union." Mr. Winter then proceeded to say that they should put them seles in such a position as to be able to concentrate all their efforts when the proper time arrived, especially as Government had said that it was their own fault that a bill had not been brought forward this session, inasmuch as there was no prospect of popular support. Mr. SCARLE expressed his opinion that an error had been committed in asking too much from the Legislature, and he considered that if their demands had been moderate, and had been backed by suffi cient energy, they would have had more success. Several persons having expressed themselves of a decidedly different opinion to the last speaker, Mr. - ADAms briefly seconded the resolution, which was then adopted. Mr. G. LYNES next moved that "The union re- cognises' no settlement of the electoral system as final which does not provide for the complete en franchisement of the people, voting by ballot, short parliaments, a just apportionment of representatives to population, and the means of returning members without personal expense ; but that as progress towards this consummation must be gradual, the union stands pledged to support every well con sidered effort which may secure an instalment of its claims, and that every person accepting the constitution of the union and subscribing not less than ls. annually to its funds, be entitled to regis tration as a member." The resolution, having been seconded by Mr. W. KING, and discussed at some length, was ultimately adopted. MEETING AT DERBY. On Tuesday evening last a crowded meeting was held in the Town-hall, Derby, for the purpose of " taking into consideration the statement made by Lord John Russell respecting the wants and wishes of the people in regard to the reform question." The mayor (Mr. Cox) opened the meeting, he having called it in compliance with a requisition. He, however, declined to preside, but evade a few remarks, in the course of which he said, whilst they had a perfect right to-meet and discuss the question of reform, he thought it would have been more op portune if the meeting had been called to consider the present depressed state of manufactures and commerce, and the best means to alleviate our suffering mechanics. His worship having left the hall, Mr. Councillor Etches was voted to the chair; and called upon Mr. G. W. M. Reynolds, of Lon don, who delivered a long address. A working man named Reynolds moved, and a working man named Watson seconded, the following resolution : —" That in the opinion of this meeting her Ma jesty's Ministers in their treatment of Parliamentary reform have grossly betrayed the trust reposed in them by the people; that the present restricted franchise deprives a large number of honest and industrious citizens of their just electoral rights, entails on the nation bad legislation, great financial extravagance, and an irresponsible foreign policy ; that a comprehensive measure of Parliamentary reform, in which the electors shall be protected by the use of the ballot, is the just demand of the working classes; that this meeting pledges itself to maintain the principles of labour being fully and fairly represented in Parliament; demands the total extinction of class legislation ; recommends that committees be formed in all cities, towns, and villages throughout the kingdom, for the purpose of forming one great reform union ; and resolves to promote, as far as it can, in every locality, the agitation of the question until equal rights, equal justice, and equal protection, are obtained for all classes of the community. And further, that this meeting requests the members for Derby to remind her Majesty's Government that an alteration of the present representative system has been prayed for by petitions to Parliament for the la•it twenty years by those whose lot it is to labour ; and that the members _be requested to urge the,,Minist F y to take tfie'eleclive - fitaahiie Into th r eir seiieus con sideration, to prevent being driven by popular im pulse to grant as a matter of necessity what is re fused on the ground of justice, viz., a recognition of the inherent right of the working classes to political liberty—a recognition which would be the bulwark of constitutional freedom." The reso lution was supported by the Rev. W. Griffith (Wesleyan reformer), who, in the course of his speech, said Birmingham must be put in motion again. A million of people must march up to St. tinir hi ~f right.s Thtir hands. They must tell them that they will not leave the doors until their rights are conceded. The gates of the house will then be thrown open to them, not from a sense of justice, but from fear of a rebellion, and the people would then get possession of that liberty which had been so long denied them. (Cheers.) The resolution was then adopted. MEXICO. A letter from Mexico, dated Feb. 4, says :—The Spanish Ambassador, accompanied by the Arch bishop of Mexico and four of his suffragans, expelled for issuing a most inflammatory circular against the validity of civil marriages, arrived at Vera Cruz a few days back. These dignitaries of the Church received very rough treatment at the hands of tha populace. The conduct of the Juarez Government in handing to Senor Pacheco his passport has been universally approved ; he had so completely identi fied himself with the Miramon faction that there was no other course left open to them. Many had con templated the appointment of Senor Pacheco as likely to lead to beneficial results, from the liberal tendencies he had previously shown. Never were hopes more completely dashed to the ground. A very few weeks sufficed to satisfy even the most credulous that the Mon-Almonte Treaty had worked its effect, and that to carry through this piece of rascality he was willing to go all lengths. He at once became the open and unblushing partisan of the Church faction, and it is notorious that the humane efforts made by Mr. Mathew to bring about a reconcilia tion between the two parties were entirely frus trated by his machinations. Had this gentle man, when the outrage was about to be committed on the British Legation, threatened to demand his passports, instead of being satisfied with a feeble protest, the bondolders' money would never liaie been taken, and the Legation seal would never have been broken. He was the first to demand of Gen. Ortega guarantees for Miramon and his clique, and it is established beyond a doubt that he after wards harboured some of these parties in his house, and did all in his power to facilitate their escape. The British Government are the best judges of what interpretation ought to be put upon such con duct, but the uninitiated here can only view it as a direct insult to the British nation. Some believe that in any entanglement that might arise out of the affairs of this country Spain would receive the support of France, and the inconsiderate conduct of M. Dubois de Saligny has unfortunately lent weight to this belief—but the loyal conduct ever pursued by our ally the Emperor of the French ought to be sufficient to dissipate such notions. Mr. Weller, the United States Minister, and Baron Wagner, the Prussian Minister, have both acknowledged the Juarez Government, and it is understand that proposition have been forwarded to Mr. Mathew for the settlement of the conducta affair; but whether they are such as that gentle man will entertain remains to be seen. The Mexi can Government profess a repugnance to pay one set of claims in preference to another ; but they forget that in our case a double outrage was per petrated. Not only was our money seized in the first instance, in common with all others ; but when restored, on its way to the coast, and under the special protection of her Majesty's Council, it was again laid violent hands upon and distributed, - in the very teeth of a protest made by Mr. Mathew. It is, undoubtedly, important at a moment like the present, when every one is endeavouring to get something out of the fire, that the British Minister should be here to act as best he can for the interests of his countrymen, who have been greater sufferers and treated worse than - the citizens of any other nation ; still, the question, so far as England is concerned, does not resolve itself purely into one of pounds, shillings, and pence. The dignity of the country must be cared for. A great anxiety manifests itself to know what course the English Government are likely to take with respect to the Church property. The amount, as I showed in a previous communication, is enormous, and now that it has become national there would seem to be no sufficient reason why the English Government should not consider this property as assets, and insist upon its being applied, to a certain extent at least, for the benefit of their citizens. The subject is deserving of much consideration. The Zarco Administration seems to go on a trifle better than its predecessor; the future, however, of the country is very uncertain, and the lives and property of foreigners very far from secure. Vicaria still holds his own in the. South, and not a single chief of the reactionary party, with the ex ception of Diaz, has been taken. Miramon, they say, has escaped on board a Spanish or French ship ; but Marques and the others are still at large, and, supported by all the influence of the priests, may .at any moment involve us in troubles and dangers worse than before. Report says that an English vessel with a large force will soon arrive off the coast. The news seems too good to be true. EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF -TWELVE LIVES ON BOARD SHIP. A terrible catastrophe befel the Russian ship Raumo, outward bound to Gibraltar from Cardiff, on Sunday last, by an explosion among her c argo (1,061 tons of steam Welsh coals), when the ship was in the Bristol Channel, about 50 miles west of Lundy Island, by which she was so extensively damaged that she foundered, and 12 of her crew', it is feared, were lost. The Raumo was a large fir-built ship of nearly 1,000 tons burthen, and was owned by Messrs. S. E. Oestander, at Malmo, where she was built in 1860. The sworn deposi tion of Captain Gastave Robert Soderlaund, the master, takeh before the Receiver of Wreck at Padstow, and which was received at the Board of Trade yesterday, furnishes the following particw lars of the loss of the ship : " We sailed from Cardiff on the 27th of last month, our crew numbering in all 19 hands. The coals were shipped by Messrs. David and Soup merchants, at Cardiff, and were consigned to a fires at Gibraltar. Knowing the peculiar character of the coal to generate gas in ships' holds, and the accidents that have taken place from the hatches lbeing kept on, I kept our hatches off for several days after sailing from Cardiff, and gave strict orders to the crew not to go below with a light. The hatches were kept off till the morning of the 3d inst. (Sunday last), when extraordinary•heavf weather compelled them to be battened down to prevent the water getting through. The explosion took place about two o'clock in the afternoon, the, ship being under all sail and about 50 miles west o f Lundy Island. There was no warning whatever--- the force was tremendous, and for a moment the entire ship presented one beet of flame. It blew' up the decks entirely, carrying away the boats, destroying the sails, rigging, and bursting out bows- Four of the crew who were below in the forecastle were never seen afterwards, and must have been killed. On recov er i ng th e shock, they discovered the ship was making water fast, and before thei could get to the boats to save themselves she cap e sized and shortly disappeared. The remainder 01 the crew (fifteen) got into the boats and pulled for the land. In the course of the following night, it being very dark, and a stiff breeze blowing from the N.W., the boat's party compared, and at daylight on Monday morning those in the pinnace along with the captain could not see anything of the other boat. About six o'clock on Monday evening vessel hove in sight and picked them up. The vessel proved to be the schooner Herald, of Penzance , Capt. White, master, which landed them safely the next day at Padstow. The loss of the ship is esti: mated at £7,00 0 . She was insured for £5,500, and her cargo for £500." The dollars by the Mexican Packet have beep disposed of at 69d., being a decline of id. from the price realised for the last arrival. There is now hardly any de mand for dollars for Chi na , an d th e presen t ra t e i s their actual silver value. THE NEW AMERICAN TARIFF BILL.—AS far 1 18 can be gathered from the latest statements from Washing' ton, the Morrill Tariff Bill, which had just passed the Senate, would have to go back to the louse of R: Wives, for their concurrence in numerous amen. All that would then be required would be the signature of President Buchanan. None of the journals seem to 0: press mu c h d cu bt o f th e Bill b e i ng passe d as amen ded, bill' as it is o ft e n f oun d' d ur i ng t h e pressure a t th e c l6se of 11 Presidential term 'that a small knot'of persons nic9y too 1) u compact organhation , retard any measure until it is _ late to receive the Presidential s i gna t ure , which must ' given before midnight on March 3 when his fur r ctions pire, there is still a possibility that the Bill nay be de leated.