The Sun. — London, England, 1856-06-24 00:00:00

ar , '" T CANING. mbled in subscrip [ate inull" len heads mation of ilar sum, from 54 L 32/. c 1 for the isfaetory• notice of 3n is litt le been 11 ! aga i n sv , To sh° vr with th e will place igures for urns Jan e t r e. i o d lust p 3 '858, 0 °2 n 346,uv -223,000 346, 000 987, 000 20,0 0 660° R 6 ,022,0 00 Bu llion. 894, 0 1 ° 1 225, 0 A" 2 119 ,0 a 2 m ',070, 1 896,Uw_s„, 1 , 928, 4)w 1:121,000 K n ighting' that it was trial of the cuts. F il , t3r ury ec c°- 0 . r ecomur,_ yPreP erl . p l a ned sell RES Ar I!ea lv held a t - , t he d plans o ' n r; ts, them ro Sir Elk ° w i o lef m. Bat t . C. al, Mr. "' g and ab le . r (i oh it aPP e- ai re i s• Lcting Ce cn n tri• c °- of ;curing r , able woigcsio, ging a°' i ° it com bine •oo e era • ido l ' air Ind i a Englar' cl of the cr ed3 / ehed 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 b the Rite 0 , 0 0 L for aril° r oss ible ;very . ti es ' ;hat theaseve, purrs' here an ata3osioPr , eyanee .04 the b ui ,i r ob• rly e X3"- •bt ;a ro t ,f tholl Os ible befe r ; OP Wag °P. ' tt g 14 ° The Os regar ded do' erred the of Dustr a ctio° 1 si l a P r°ll core . r for its xecutive ow p o ttery 73 , 1e r stance , u og , 0 the a rr te . ort of tbe t o of the es"l. mo tion, sgliici; 1111 0 0 011 • I, eroP- ropo f Bach P tbe n to n sation asi d e ratio,,m, to ) O f til,‘Pl to " I ropp 9ed o re 15,2 00 sc t poi it t° , nd add 01 ga r )f inte r uare cte r u m!. cu _opoi, u nder ° ve te; ,ted b 9 tad of , ons truc d ll le ploY ve ei bo ' f ' dof the be en ,rand antra x trenic 1,00 the el" ( S°5D „ be' terro e ' is wa „ o ,s ana " ape ay, lo't' Lt Blu e) Yellow) 5 (Gr een) (Wh ite) coo , ide) co ' puke ocitide an d co nu aree e 001 4, .a s t fo,r r abre e t the 6° f th e spirit eo►o ed Won 11 s ubF" flE i ) cr as er gattn - CLU B. sg ° I trie• gin voi o nt an wed thel 0$ It r erdaY• f efe el s scar c m e all on c e 03 0 aiderationfotir, It was 1 3 ,tt , u" . and 6Pr ..Z $O 3 , s, Beth' 3 0 4 SOrilo .:.~.., , iNEY MARKET C OMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two o'CLocl. Tb ,e Liverpool Cotton Market on Saturday closed quietly, and, compared with Friday's rates, prices of all kinds were unchanged. The sales amounted to 9,000 bales, consisting of 500 American for ex port and 3,000 on speculation ; 80 Pernam and Maranham, 61d. to 61d. ; 130 Bahia, 6 d. ; 600 Egyptian, 6kd. to sa. ; 700 Surat, 4d. to 41 ( d. ; and 100 Sea Islands, 11d. to ls. Bd. per lb. The Railway Share Market was exceedingly active, and in most cases a decided improvement was mani fested. Letters from Hamburg mention that immense quantities of silver, in bars, amounting to several million thalers per week, leaves that city for Aus tria and the Northern States of Europe, which has for the time raised the rates of exchange on com mercial bills at two and three months as high as per cent. Accounts from St. Petersburg state that, in con f sequence of advices from Western Europe of a rise .n wheat, the grain market there has suddenly be ( some active, and wheat has advanced in price. On the arrival of the news 30,000 tchetwerts were sold : for export, and the price obtained was a slight iknprovement on previous rates. The navigation returns of France, with foreign eou.ntries and French colonies, during 1855, (a.hibit the following results :—Vessels inwards, 221987, of which 9,587 were French, and of 3,; 102,568 tonnage, against 20,287 ships of 2,', '40,309 tons in 1854 ; vessels outwards, 13,770, of which 5,768 were French, and a total of 2,( )30,698 tonnage, against 13,645 ships'in 1854, of which 5,726 were French, and 1,846,295 ag gregate tonnage. These figures show that the ex terior of France during the past year gave em pl oyment to 36,757 vessels, of the aggregate bur tb 'an of 5,333,266 tons, or an increase in tonnage over the preceding year of 746,662 tons. The principal topic of conversation among par ties interested in the Australian trade is the decision of the Government now hourly expected, relative t 4 3, the tenders recently submitted for the convey ance of the. mails to and from the colonies. Very few offers it is believed have been made, and a fear is 'freely expressed that none of them embrace the Panama route, which every one seems ready to admit is the easiest and most ad vantageous. The Point de Galle route, which appears the pet scheme of the Government, bears no comparison with that by way of Panama, and the latter has this most striking advantage, namely, that half the distance to Austrialia is regularly performed by the Royal Mail Steam Company's West India vessels ; so that a line of steamers is only requiiite to trade between Panama and Victoria to complete the en tire line of communication. Most parties are in favour of this course, and, above all, its eligibility ii recognised by the Australian people. The result gof the tenders is naturally awaited for with much anxiety. The market for English Securities is very firm, at a slight improvement in prices, but the trans actions have been of a limited character. Accounts from Paris report a contiauanle of the depression on. the Bourse, and this appears to check the up ward tendency of the Funds. Consols are 94i aad the Scrip is 31 premium. The New Three per Cents. have advanced to 951 I, and the Three per Cents. to 941 and 95. Bank Stock is quiet at 21.7. Exchequer Bills are 10s. to 13s. premium, and the Bonds are 99a I. _ _ _ Foreign Stocks are mostly buoyant. Turkish 6 per Cents. have risen to 1031 to 104, being 1 per cent. higher than yesterday, and the 4 per Cents. have reached 104 and 105. The Small bends are marked 1031. Spanish Certificates have been dealt in at 6 and 61. Russian 4i per Cents. lave receded to 98i, and French 3 per Cent. Scrip is 5 prem. Mexican Bonds have risen to 231. Peruvian 61. per Cents. are 79, Grenada New Active 191, being better ; Equador New Consolidated 141, and Do. Land Warrants 5. Chilian 6 per Cents. are 103, and Brazilian 5 per Cents. noi to 1014. The following are the nominal prices of Foreign Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 7f ; Alexi- NI, 22T, ; Peruvian, 78 80 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 546 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 50 2 ; Russian 5 pet Cents., 107 9 ; ditto per Cents., 97 9 ; Spnish 3 per Cents., 47 ; ditto Deferred, 25g ; dito Certificates, 6 & ; ditto Passive, 6 7 g 7i. '.7he upward movement recently notieed in the Vanes of Railway Shares continues ; a further im provement in most of the leading lines having igen place this morning. The shares most in favour are the Scotch lineq, the Midland, North- Yestern, South-Western, North-Eastern Berwick, aid Do., York. Great Westerns, owing to unsaiis tory rumours relative to the approaching dividend, lave remained depressed. In French shares there it more activity, and prices have improved. The Canadian are also firmer. The Euphrates are t) # pm, and the Ceylon 11 to pin. The Geelong slid Melbourne are in favour. Joint Stock Banking Shares are at firmer potations, especially the Ottoman, the City, and the London and County. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES. ( Prom the ()tidal List.) nnones- done. Sank Stock 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities Kew 3 per Cent. Annuities Long Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860... Ditto 30 Years, expire sth April, 1585 l7l India Bonds, £lOOO Ditto, under £lOOO l4 p Consols for Account Qonsol Scrip Exchequer Bills, 24d. £1000 2560 3 p Rmall l3 10 14 p Ditto Bonds, 1858, 36 per Cent.. 99i 1 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. 3razilian Bonds. 5 per Cent. lOll 1001 Ditto New, 1852, 4i per Cent. Ditto New, 1829 and 1839, 5 per Cent lOO 11 tuba Bonds, 6 per Cent lO2l Cbilian Bonds, 6 per Cent lO3 Zquador New Consolidated l4l Ditto Provisional Land Warrant qrenada New Active, 21 per Cent. Ditto Deferred /exican 3 per Cent — Ditto Account .z ' , ?eruvian Bonds 4? per Cent 79 Ditto 3 per Cent lussiau Bonds, 1822, £ St., 5 per Cent lO9 Ditto 41 per Ccnt. Itpmnist isouds, 3 per Cent — Ditto Account ' Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent. Ditto Account Enanish Committee Cert. of Coup. net fun 6i 6 i 13 rki.li Ronda, 6 pot' cent Ditto Account . , 1033 43i Ditto Small Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent. Ditto Account 4,tvidends on the above ,ayable in London. fzench Roatos, 4i per Cent. Ditto 3 per Cent. DittO Scrip, 2d Loan of 1855 . 5 p THREE O'CLOCK. Consols Ditto Account (July 10) THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT ILKLM—The death of • Mrs. M‘Knight, a Scotch lady, under circumstances of suspicion, at 'llkley, a watering place in the West • Riding of Yorkshire, was mentioned in The Sum of •Friday last. As was then stated, although the coroner's jury who investigated the cause of the death of Mrs. M'Knight had returned a verdict to the effect that she bad died from natural causes, a feeling prevailed that she had not come to her death by fair mean.. Dr. Macleod, the principal of the Ben Rhydding Hydrope.thic Es tablishment, at which Mrs. M'Knight and her husband • had been residing for some weeks, was of opinion that the unfortunate lady had been attacked by thieves, who had robbed her and caused her death by strangulation. Subsequent investigation has gone far to confirm these ♦iews. After the coroner's inquisition the body of Mr.. li‘Knight was removed to Scotland for interment ; but Wa.9 again examined by medical men, who expressed an • opinion that she had been murdered by strangulation. In addition to superficial marks on the neck there were deeplyseated effusions of blood. Some tramping tin kers or gypsies were in the neighbourhood of Ilkley shortly before the body of Mrs. AP/Knight was found, , and, as they have not since been seen in that locality, search is now being male for them. Other steps are being taken to bring the perpetrators of the deed to jus tice. A subscription has been entered into, and up wards of 1001. raised as a reward for the discovery of the villain,. It seems probable that the perpetrators of the deed suddenly attacked Mrs. M`Knight, pounced Upon her from some temporary biding-place in the grill ,or small ravine in the Cow Pasture, the place where her body was found, that they had seized tier by her hands, tightly grasped her throat, and also struck her over the head. Insensibility would by these means be at once raduced. The murderers appear to have taken away er purse and her pockethandkerchicf. Her purse, how- Tiv, could not hays huhu it ors than a few shillings. id 2e 10 4t. 50 it St. 5 5 20 10 20. 100 SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) Shr. RAILWAYS. RAILWAYS. ero.- ••••••••••••• OA Ambg. Nottng. Bog , and Eastr. Janet eldfast t itallymenA Wolvorb ?tour Valley !iirka3hd. Lancet.. Cheshire Junct • 1)0. Chetah. & Birk £5O and £25 Con , Do., • iilYtb &Tyneorigina £25 (issd. at 4ristol and Exeter Caledonian Chester & Holyhead Cork and Bandon. Cork, Black, & Past, Cornwall Do. A Do. B Dublin&BelfastJune Dun. P. & Aber. Jim East Anglian Eastern Counties..... wast. rJnion, A Sti Be., B. Stock. Do., New East'Kent East Lancashire Edinburgh& Glasgo , Edinb. and Peeblee Edin.Prth &Dund worth & Clyde Jun Furness Do. Extension. Glasgow & S. West Great N. of Scotlnd Urcat Northern 1O) all all all 1100 100 100 100 130 100 ,100 P Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &West.arc, ' Great Western . Do. Stour Val, Ra Gua. Stk Irish South-Eastern Lancaster & Carlituf X. Do., Thirds DO. New Thirds tau:wash. an d Yorke '; Do., Wst. Riding I% Liv.Crsby.&Sonthot London & Blackwafl Lond. Bright & Loud. and N. Westu Do. Fifths D0.101.5h.,M&8„ Do. Eighths . London and °. W-rt Lon. Tilby. & South. Barking Sh ..... Lrvinarry 6a Oolerain , Lndndrry. & Ennisk Manch.Shef.& Lind! D.., Man. & Lin. Un Metropolitan Midland Do. Birrnng. &Derby Midi& G. West. (I a. Do. Half Shares.... . Newcastle & Carlisle . Nwpt.Aberg. Newry & Enniskillr Newry Warrenpo:nt and Rostrevor Norfolk. Northn.Connties Un North British Nth Devon Rail. & Dock Stock Do., A Stock Do., B Stock Do., B Guarantee N. Eastern—Berwir Do. do. Extension .. Dodo. G.N.E. i'urolt Do. Leeds Do. York !North L0nd0n ...... N.&S.Wstin.,Ham: - stead, and City Jo.. North Staffordshir , -.. North Western N. & S. Westrn. June 1 1 Ox., Wore.. & Welv. f,,,rtAmouth Scottish Central:, Scottish Midland Shropshire Union South Devon ...... South Eastern South Wales S. Yrksh. & Riv.l3n , Do itaine Wok. &Wo' Stockton & Dar ing. Stockton & Hartle' Taff Vale Do. Pref., No. 1 Thames Hay. D.& R. Olverstone & Lane, Vale of Neath Watorfd. & Kilkenn . Waterford&Limer , ‘ West C0rnwa11....... West End of Londe/ and Crystal Palaoe Do. A ....... ........ Do. B Closing Prices this day West London..., Wimbledn 8t Croydon 28 29 5 -5, ... . 84 - 9 18 - 19 16 - -17 . 13 - 14 90 - 92 62i - 62 16 - 16, 10 12 ••• 'um ip., ... ". .., .d 9 10 18. E 19: 10j - 10 - 23 -- 32 21 23 81 - 83 60 = 62 36 92 - 94 8 -8: 95i 96 78 - 80 [3O -- 131 [O7 - 109 61i 62 68 62 , 68 - 73 5i -- 5i - 6i 95 96, , •• ''''' - 1 106 -- 10 7 104 - 104 tO4 - 1044 I •• ''''' ..' 34 - Ad 811 51 53 M ~~ •s+ ri = i 6 ... 55 - 57 3i 37i ~,., 38, ~ - ... ~ - . .. ... ••• - S 6 41 - 31 2 - 211 9 -20 61 611 92 - 124 • -- - 7 - 74 104 - 11 34 -• 35 03 -- 105 76 - 78 47 -- 49 14i 15, 74 - 75 75 - 76 ic 14 16 i6i -37 i • ••• 19i -- 204 42 -- 5 21 - 23 6i 7i 6 - 8 2 - 4 - 5 11 6 -- :GR. N ' li all all An t wor tt rdA Arlennes Atlan.& St.Lw. leßsed at 6 p. C. by Gd.Tnk. of Canada !ietvin N.;aEatn. Jun': ciezi ors to Oraissonau itombny, Ilaroda, an ClAntrs,l Do. Buff. & Lk. Bur. By. Carioeaux & Toulouse Coal Mines and By , emerars I )utcl - • Rhenish Eastern of France , Do. New Raid, Indian, g. 5 p. Do. Fx. B, gu 5 p. c. Do. Ex. C, gu. 5 p. c. Do. do. D, gu. 5 p. c. D 0.4 6 p.c.Bnds.,'s7 Ll°. do. do.. '59, d" Gee'ong V, Melbourne guar. 5 per c, nt.. 10d. Tlc.of Canada,A is Do. .)o. Cert. of Deben. con. Into Stk. till 'V ')0. Comp. 6p. c., do. 'it. Ceutral of 'Fran It. Tn. Per g. 5 p. c. Do New, gu tr. 5 p. c. , rent buxembour Constituted Shares Gt. W'storn of Canada qhs.res Do. New Do. Bds., rtyable '57 Do. do., '76, p. '6O Dc, do., '73, without . _ option Lake Const. k Baal' Lierre and Turnhout Lucca, & Fist. 5 p. c.p Lyons and Genova Lyons & Mediterran. ktacirae, guar. 4 4 p.c Do. New do., 5 p. c. Do. 4i p. c. Eaten Maria Antonia Do. do. New Nivel:lr & Liego ( with interest) no. (ea interest).. Do, do , C p. c. Pref Northern of Frame NorwegianTrunkPre' ,Paris and Lyons ;Ditto Bonds !Paris and Orleans. 'Recife & San. Fran , (Pernam.) g. 7 p. c , Rome and Frascati Royal Danish , goyalSwedish... . Sambre and Mouse Do. 5A p. cent. Pref Scinde, guar. 5 p. c I Do ISoutbern of Franee 1 Andrew's andl Quebec (A), West Flanders IDo 5 ner c. Prof_ I w. &N. W. of Rranef (West, of Switzerland iWiesbaden Zealand JOINT.STOCK BINH& 0i tl A.` 25 j 12A Bank of Egypt 100 50' Bank of London - 71 70i 70 1 40 all !;ri. Col. bk.& Ln. C . •- 60 al - N. America: • 66 An. 25 5 ,11artd. Bank ofl p 20 6 (Thrtd. Fink. of India. Anstralia, & Chinr .si 100 50 City - 72 71i 100 25 .lolon'al ••• 100 20 Comraercial of Loud 20 All glng.'4cot.&Ans.Cht 17 176 20 all Loud. Chart. Bk. 01 Alastralia l B4 - 1S 18i 20 10 'litto New ll —14 d 50 1 2u I.•ndon and COUTI , 7:0 • 33 100 50 Lna.&E.Bnkg.Corp. par 2p 50 10 London Joint Stock. .. 31i 100 10 London and Paris 4 2 d 100 20 Load.& Westminsto, 100 i 35 National Pro.of Eng 20 10 i)o. New . . 50 22.. 4stion ,l of Ireland 20 all Kew South Wales.... 44 -- 46 451 25 all Oriental Bank )f 'orporathn 4l 42 411 1 1 20 10 Ottoman Bank 2# 2E, 12 1 100 2n .'riNincial of Ireland 10 all On. Now ... 1 fi k tm - itiao Irn C , 100 50 Royal British 25 an moth . 38 40 25 all Unice of Australia T3 • 75 2i Do. Ne w 8 10 50 10 1;7r . ..i0n of To7don 40. 5J NestonatQflioudiir lP - R$ 4- 5 p 2 - 9 ; 2- $ ! li . - 21 11 - 2 r 37 37. 231 24i 23 . 4 - 2 / 2i 21- es ... 22i - 23 14 - 15 R 4 5.1 - 6 i 224 - 23 - 11p1 5j - 51 26} -16 3i - 100 - 102 125 130 1104 1111 • - 10.4 - 'lip 201 -20 i 2 - 29 i - lip 1 8 - 7i - 7. 19} -20 - 441 - 45 84 - 58} -58 i 53 -: 53 1 - li 1 -1; 12 - 12, 9/ - 10. 2 - 3 •... ... - pm 9 - 94 36i - 37 Jo Business done this day. 281 8 4 621 j; 18i 1 101 11 101 8 30 36 i 96i 78a t 6 107 a 62 111 4 961 6 15j 7} f 106 f 104 f 131 4f 1041 4 32i 2 i I 82k k 2 a 1/ 52 .55/ 37/ 8/ 71 854 7 Si 17j 211 1 12 it 33i 2 5 4 48} 15 74 12f 13 .IPaid, LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS LOaSIR , Compan, London & N. West. Caledon.„ E. Un. & E. C Gt.Nrtiln E. Count Caldoniam 1 Do Gt. Wenn Yk. New. Berw. Y.&NM Do Do S. Fasten_ Do Peto & Co. I Norfolk Do L.& N. W. & Midid. stckton & Darlingt. En. Conn. E. Count. , Do Do L. &N.W IDo Cto■tn. this day. 95 - 100 98 - 100 11 - 13 135 - 138 4 ... 4h ••• ..... . • • ... .... •• • Iliii : thi 12/ - 131 231 - 244 115 - 118 •N ''''' • • 2i -1/ 93 95 io 56 o 8 45 - 47 135 -7- iii Gt Northn Lancash & Yorkah. T. Braasey M.MClean Stockt. & Darlingt 'Do 71 3 - 20 32i -33 i 88 - 92 ncruass this da,v, estn. 5 i i 24 i 224 t 15 141 83 e 20 i 22a 31 1 5 1 6 261 1 91 8 1 i 7i 191 1 i t 12 4k 6 9A AT BIRMINGHAM. THE SUN, LONDON, TUE:BOAV EVENING, JUNE 24, 1866. PRESIDENT PIERCE ON THE NOMINA TIONS FOR THE PRESIDENCY. After a democratic ratification meeting at Wash ington on the 7th inst. the mob who composed the meeting formed in procession, and proceeded in order to the Whitehouse, numbering rank and file near 5,000. The President appeared at one of the upper windows of the mansion, and said :—I con gratulate you, my fellow-citizens, upon the occasion which brings you here, and I indulge the confident hope that the joy with which you hail the harmo nious and unanimous result of the deliberations at Cincinnati may be strengthened and deepened by the ratifying voice of our countrymen. It is plea sant to realise that, however other parties may be divided and distracted, there is nothing with us but union of purpose, and will be nothing but union in action. From this hour to that when the polls will be opened in November, all prejudices and personal animosities among those who should cultivate mutual regard and afford mutual support will be laid aside. Nay, even preferences that may have existed in our ranks are already no longer remembered. The preference of every friend in this crisis who cares more for the country than for himself, devotion to the cause, and an earnest sup port of the standard-bearers who are to lead us through the great struggle, will be the controlling sentiment of the democracy, north and south, east and west. We are all, lam sure, quite sincere in our convictions that not only the prosperity of this republic, but the perpetuity of this blessed Union, depend essentially upon the vindication and main tenance of the principles declared by the recent convention. But these principles can be vindicated and sustained only by concerted action, and that can only be secured by organisation. Hence, fide lity to this organisation and its usages, becomes, like fidelity to principles, a cardinal virtue. The latter can only be manifested and made effectual through the former. My friends will have duties to perform in the canvass which my position alone will prevent me from attempting to fulfil in per son. It is never to be forgotten by me that in 1852 older and better soldiers (cries from the mul titude, "Not better") than m y se lf, M r . B uc h anan and Mr. Cass—men who had been faithful and tried leaders through many years of labour and conflict— were passed by to callme from the retirement which I had sought, and to which I shall return without re gret. May I not add, gentlemen, if life be spared, I shall go back to the State of my birth conscious of having adopted no single measure of public policy during my administration which I did not believe to be demanded by the best interests of my coun try, nor one which does not to-night command the approbation of my judgment and my conscience ? The conduct of those older and better soldiers of whom I have spoken, and of the younger but nevertheless better soldier, Judge Douglas, whom I am glad to see now standing by the great and good man, General Cass, who for so many years has had not merely my confidence and respect, but/my affection, will never cease to be gratefully remembered by me. They were all in the field, not merely to encourage and direct, but actually to lead the columns. Their energies were not put forth because the standard was in my hands, but because its bearer was, in their estimation, for the time being the impersonation of those sound constitutional principles which they believed could alone give stability and permanence to this glorious fabric of our institutions. It is cheering to know that the action of the late Convention places the states men and patriots who are to lead us now upon the identical platform which I accepted, with full con viction of my judgment, and with every sentiment of my heart, and that they are to occupy it with the standard lowered never an inch, so far as the strict construction of the constitution and the vin dication of the constitutional rights of every por tion of the Union ate concerned. Much and justly as we admire the patriotism, attainments, and pri vate virtues of our standard-bearers, there will be nothing like man-worship in this contest. Men become comparatively insignificant, except as in struments, when great principles and the vast interests of a country like - ours are involved. There will be, on your part, no appeal to un worthy passions, no inflammatory calls for a second revolution, like those which are occasionally re ported as coming from men who have received nothing at the hands of their Government but protection and political blessings ; no declara tion of resistance to the laws of the land, no in vocation to the shedding of blood by those who have bad none to shed when our countrymen have stood face to face with foreign foes. But the issue will summon you to a calm, earnest struggle for the constitution, and consequently for the Union. You will bear yourselves like men determined to cling to that sound instrument as the only security from general wreck and the only refuge from universal ruin. Men who feel and act with you will cling to it with patriotic wisdom and steady fortitude, and they will defend it, if need be, with heroic valour against all assaults from without or from within. That a signal triumph awaits you in such a cause I entertain no doubt. If, as I fully be lieve, our fathers were not only guarded and sus tained through the changing scenes and struggles of the revolution, but were inspired after its close to devise and adopt this constitution by Omnipo tent Power, we may repose upon an humble but unwivering faith that that power will not permit the madness of their children to destroy it. Ac cept, gentlemen, my best wishes for you, collec tively and individually, and my thanks for this gratifying call. THE MURDERS AT MELTON mOTVBRAY. The suspected murderer, 'William Brown, has at length been arrested. A man answering to his descrip tion was apprehended on Sunday at Wetherby, near York. Intelligence was at once forwarded to Mr. F. Goodyer, chief constable of the Leicesterhire police, and from the papers found upon the man, as well as from hi s description, there can be no doubt o f his identity. The adjourned inquest was held at the Wheatsheaf, at five o'clock on Saturday afternoon. All the jurymen answered to their names. John Brown, brother of the supposed murderer, deposed that his brother William came into his shop a week last Thursday, and witness accused him of running away with his wife. Witness called him a scamp, and said if be were sure ho had slept with her he would run him through with a knife. His brother then pulled out a pistol, and presenting it, said, " Look here, this is loaded and capped." Witness then passed it off as ajoke. He afterwards examined the pistol, and believed it to be the same as he saw at the Melton police station—(the one found near the murdered man). Henry Baker, a groom, of Melton, deposed that he and his little boy went through the Thorpe toll-gate about a quarter past two on Thursday morning. They went mushrooming in a field about 200 yards off, and about half-past two heard a loud sharp report of a gun or pistol. They thought it was a keeper or poacher. Superintendent Burdett produced a pair of trousers, a shirt, a black silk handkerchief, a waistcoat all torn up and in a wet state, together with a black hat. There were spots of blood upon them, and fresh dirt marks. The clothes, which appeared to have been roughly washed, were found on Saturday morning in a hedge bottom near Mr. Cross's barn, each article at a distance of five or six yards apart. Wm. Moore, baker, of Melton, and two other wit nesses, identified the trousers and waistcoat as those Wm. Brown had on when he came to him. After some little conversation it was agreed still fur ther to adjourn the inquest till four o'clock on Friday afternoon. The man will arrive at Melton early this (Tuesday) morning. It appears that the landlady of an Inn at Wetherby had been reading an account of the murders, and was directly afterwards called upon to supply a glass of ale. To her astonishment she found that the man who required the refreshment exactly answered the de scription given of him in the papers. She detained him until a constable could be sent for, and ho was then given into custody. TIM ALLEGED MANUFAcTURE OF IDOLS Some months ago a story was in circulation charging the Birmingham manufacturers with making idols " for exportation." We explained at the time that the story was based on a joke which appeared in Punch. As a joke it was copied into an American newspaper, but a religious journal reprinted it in sober earnest, and so it made its way into the French newspapers. From them it returned to England invested with the full proportions of a solemn affirmation ; it bad its day in the press'and on the platform, was explained, and died away. People thought they had beard the last of the idol manufactories of Birmingham, but last week the story was revived, Birmingham itself being the place where the renewed charge was made. At the Church Mission. ary Meeting in our Town-ball on Tuesday, Lieutenant- Colonel Martin, an Indian officer, affectionately begled the audience to " cause making idols," and to give him, instead, a bell for a chapel at Peshawur. The Rev. Hugh Stowell, of Manchester, speaking on the same tempting subject, ingeniously combined an eleemosynary appeal with vehement denunciation. He said :—" Let the manufacturers of Birmingham, if they bad got money by the making of idols, bring forth fruit meet for repent ance, and pay back every fraction of the accursed money into the treasury of the Church Missionary Society, and never again manufacture an idol lest they should be found to be worshippers of the God Mammon." We regret that of the Birmingham clergymen present on the plat form not one thought it his duty to rebut this slander on his fellow -townsmen ; and we wonder that strangers to the town should have ventured to use a wholesale accu sation of idol-making as an argument to induce larger subscriptions to the society whose cause they were sent to advocate. The charge having been so deliberately re peated in so public a manner, we are entitled to ask Colonel Martin and Mr. Stowell for the proofs by which they support it. If they have proofs our columns are open for their statement ; if, having none, these gentle men remain silent, the public will know in future how to estimate the valtw of their "facts."—Aris's Birmingham, Gaixtee.. 'atw SOCIETY OF ARTS.-EXAMINATIONS OF PUPILS OF MEI.W.ANICS' INSTITUTIONS. • An interesting experiment which may lead to very important tresults, has just taken place under the auspices of the above-named society. We allude to the examina tion of fifty-two candidates from the various mechanics' institutions, and similar societies spread throughout the country. Due notice was given to these institutions that the Society of Arts had established a board of examiners, which on the 10:1, 11th, and 12th of June, would proceed to the examina tion of persons connected with the institutions, and would accord to such candidates as might pass certificates of raerit. These certificates are of three degrees—excellence, proficiency, and competency. The results of the first examination, although not officially published, are, we are assured, such as to warrant the most sanguine expectations of the projectors as to the success of the scheme. The examiners in mathematics, chemistry, English history, English literature, French and German, speak in terms of high admiration of the papers sent up to them, and of the intelligence displayed by many of the candidates when tested by a viva voce examination. Some of the examiners go so far as to assert that the results have been even more satisfactory than those obtained when examining pupils who have been specially prepared for examinations, in public insti tutions set apart for instruction in particular subjects. Now, this shows that, however unsatisfactory may have been the proceedings of the mechanics' institutes for some years past, they have not been utterly useless. IF, in spite of the want of systematic instruction, and, any recognised mode of testing efficiency, as many as fifty two members of these institutes present themselves, at the shortest possible notice, to undergo a probing ex amination, and a large majority of them acquit themselves creditably, it can scarcely be doubted that when a definite plan of regular examinations is laid down, the results will be multiplied extensively. A large proportion of the adult population of the country suffer from the want of early education, and experience the greatest difficulty in overcoming the impediments arising from deficiency of early training. There are scarcely any institutions calculated to supply this want. The mechanics' institutes have but too often abandoned the functions they were destine I to fill, and have degenerated into concert rooms, reading rooms, and circulating libraries. If, however, it can be shown that they afford facilities to men desirous of instruction, not only of study but of obtaining a public recognition of proficiency in study, they will rise in dignity and worth. The members will have a direct intrest in se curing the services of eminent men as lecturers and instructors. The studies may assume a definite and regular form, and tie institutions may become real working men's colleges. The prizes and certificates of the Society of Arts will hold out something tangible as a reward for submitting to a course of mental training which, without such reward, would scarcely be submitted to by persons who have passed the period when study is made compulsory. If the Society of Arts succeeds in elevating the mechanics' institutes into establishments or general education it will have made good its claim to a large amount of public gratitude. HAMPSTEAD HEATH. TO THE EDITOR 01' THB SUN. SIR,—AE one of those who have for some time la boured to secure the provision of Hampstead Heath for the public benefit, I trust I may be permitted to say a few words in reference to your recent notice of the subject, Hitherto we have failed to induce " the powers that be " to act on the principle which they are willing to admit, viz., that recreation•ground is desirable to the two millions and upwards of inhabitants of London, and that no plane is so desirable for the purpose as a heath of 200 acres, on a level with the cross of St. Paul's, with sandy soil, easily accessible from all parts of London, and with views unrivalled in or near the metropolis of this or any other country. They have formed parks at Bow and in swampy Battersea at the public cost, and yet hesitate to secure a spot so infinitely superior as Hampstead. It is not easy to account for this timidity ; but if a work of so great national importance is to be carried out, depend upon it it must be done by the strong hand of Government, and that neither the benevolence of indivi duals nor any local aid can effect it. If the same means be adopted to secure Hampstead Heath as were in the case of Battersea, the work will be accomplished in a few months, and at a cost of 100,0001. or thereabouts. If it be delayed, it will soon become impossible, and the Londoners be deprived of an advan tage which can never be regained. I trust, therefore, you will use your influence to induce Government to do its duty.—l have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, ONE OF THE PUBLIC. 20th June, 1856. LLOYD'S SHIPPING. —;This Day.) LONDON, June 24.—Wind this iday at noon, westerly ; light breeze and cloudy. PORTSMOUTH, June 23.—Wind variable and light.— Arrived—Great Western (s. tpt. 6), from Constantinople; Lilly Dale (tpt. 17), Constantinople ; Cresswell, London, for Nelson, N.Z. ; Etna (s. tpt. 186), Cork ; Kangaroo (s. tpt. 29), Crimea. Sailed—H.M.Str. Gorgon, for —; Sarah Sands (s.s. tpt ), London. The Onwart, transport, was towed to within 150 miles of the Rock of Gibraltar, by the Great Western (s. tpt. 6), arrived here from Con stantinople. NEWPORT, June 23.—Wind W.—Sailed—General Be. dean and Elphinstone, for St. Thomas ; Caroline Tucker and Protector, New York ; August and Victor, and Fre derick Wilhelm, for Singapore; Jessie, St. Thomas. CARDIFF, Jima 23. 2 - 1 -Virind: N.W..—Sailed—Mt;nliur, for New York. SWANSEA, June 23.—Wind W. S.W.—Arrived—Eleanor Chapman, from Caldera ; Grenfoll and Charles, Coquimbo. Sailed. -Laughing Water, for Hong Kong ; Pizarro and Chelyd ra, Coquimbo. MILFORD, June 23.—Wind for Ship Island. CRONSTADT, June 17. —The Ssvanna, arrived here to day from Blyth, had been aground on Nargen on the 14th June, and had thrown some cargo overboard. BOULOGNE, Jane 23.—ifhe cargo of the Nimrod, from Arklow to Newcastle, on shore south of Etaples, is being di2charged ; there is little hops of getting the vessel off, and the water is flowing out of her on all sides ; her rig ging and materials have been saved. M A.LTA, Juno 18.— The Fenice, from the Danube to England, put in here on the 9th June leaky, was surveyed and is transshipping her cargo into the Southampton. (PER ELEOTRIC TELEGRAPH.) PORTSMOUTH, Taosclay Morning. Arrived—The steam transport Kangaroo with Royal Ar illery, and the Euphemus with Russian spoils, both from ;he East. LWEEPOOL, Tuesday Morning. Wind N. W. Arrived—Kamschatka, from Rio Hache ; Eagle, Char leston ; Capitol, Baltimore ; BOiiie Young, St. John's, New Brunswick ; Blondine, New Calabar; Glen Isla, Quebec ; Dor Bornholinpke Eg, Iceland ; Rubin, Moul mein ; Dauntless, Apalachicola; Lithos, St. John's, New Brunswick. Off -William Miles and Majestic. Sailed- Amicitia, for Stralsund ; Maria Ignez, Lis bon ; Haidee, Cronstadt ; Wild Wave, Corfu ; Ju dith, Calcutta ; Flora, Newfoundland ; Scott, Valpa raiso ; Anna, Pillau ; Norwega, Allsunk ; Fredk. Bohn, Fredk. de Goss, and Carl August, for Dautsic. Wind N.W. QUEENSTOWN, June 22. Arrived—Lord Stanley, from Callao. Sailed—Emily, for Hamburg. Wind W.N.W. DUBLIN, June 23. Arrived—Zephyr, from Latakia ; Vasco de Gama, Oporto. (BY SUBMARINE aforn BRITISH TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Tuesday, 10.40 a.m. Wind S.W. ; tide four hours' ebb ; weather fresh. Arrived, June 23— Naprania, from Trinidad ; William Shipton, Singapore ; Sir Charles Napier, Pernambuco ; Alma, Christina. Arrived, June 2 4—Sabrina, from Santa Cruz; Indian Chief, Colombo ; Rachel Lotinga, New York; Eliza, Cal cutta. Sailed, June 23—Union, for Cadiz ; Jennie, Canaries. Sailed, June 24—Paris and London, No. 1 steamer, for Paris. DEAL, Tuesday, 10.31 a.m. Wind W.S.W, ; moderate. Passed, June 23.—Thomas and Joseph Crisp, from Shields, for Messina ; Rambler, barque, from Shields, for Barbie° ; Sarah Sands, screw steamer, and Transport No. 283, from the Black Sea, for the river. MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.) HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—OId meadow hay, 31 105 to 6/ 05; new do., 3110 to 4/ 10; clover hay, 41 155 to 6/ 15s; and straw, 11 65 to 11 105 per load. A moderate supply and a fair demand. CUMBERLAND.—OI3 meadow hay, 3112 s to 6/ Os; new do., 3/ 12e to 41 12s ; clover hay, 41 10s to 61 12s ; and straw, 11 Gs to 11 lOs per load. Trade steady. WHITECHAPEL. —Old meadow hay, 31 15s to 6/ Os ; new do., 3115 s to 41 10s ; clover hay, 41 lOs to 61 10a ; and straw, 1/ 6s to 11 10a per lead. A moderate demand. COLONIAL. Tne.—There are large public salos declared for to-mor row, which has in a great measure checked sales by private contract ; prices generally are without change. Common congou 8d to 9d. SuGArt.—There has been a fair demand for exportation of both foreign and colonial, but for home consumption but few purchases have been made ; prices, however, have been maintained. Large quantities of foreign are adver tised for sale during the week. COFFEE. —This article has been in better demand, and fine colony plantation is much wanted at very high rates, a fair demand has also bean experienced for native descrip tions at previous rates. RICE.—The low qualities of this article continue in re quest, principally for distilling purposes, but the fine con suming qualities havo ruled rather dull at an advance of 3d per cwt on late prices. Rum.—The demand is limited, but prices remain steady. TALLOW. —The market has been exceedingly firm, and the closing quotations are fully 3d per cwt in advance of late rates. P.Y.C. on the spot, 46s 3d ; last three months, 47e to 47e 3d per cwt. RELEASE OF TIZE MISSES SHEARWOOD FROM THE QUEEN'S BENCH PRISON.—Many of OUT readers will be glad to learn that the Misses Elizabeth and Ann Shear wood, who for 14 years have been incarcerated in the prison of the Court of Queen's Bench for contempt, have through the kind intercession of our worthy member, George Hadfield, Esq., been released, and returned to their family residence at Sharrow. These ladies were two of the daughters of John Shearwood, Esq., of this town, solicitor, who died possessed of considerable pro. perty. Their imprisonment arose from an unhappy dif ference that emanated with Mr. Jonathan C. Hobson who had married th§ix biztor".Steff4d independent. •'. - RAILWAYS. Bedford and Blet chley Backghamsh. Clydesdal e Je. Col. Stour Vy. Sud. and Hal. R. Lin. g. 6 pc. E. Un. H. Sb. (Alas. Barr. & Neils. Direct Do. Now Glstr.ds Dn. Fr Hrtlpl. Dk. & Railway Hull & Selby Do. Shares. Do. Shares. Lon.&Greenw Do. Preference Lon., Til., & S. Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Do. 6 per ct. Manch. l3atn. and Matlock Middlesbro' & Redcar. Midld.Bradfd Newmarket Bury E. G.spc N.& Est.s p.c. Do. 6 per et. Do. Fizeds p c Prest. SriNyt ,, Do. Shrs. A Roystn. & Hit. Shef.Roth.and Goole g. 5 p. c. Shrews. &H er S. Staffords h. Wear Valleygr 6 per cent Do Wilts&r.lomrst PREFEREN , Aberdeen Deben. ... Do. N 0.2, 7 p. o. , Do. 6 per cent. Myth and Tyne lOpel o. pref. (issd. at 501) Brill. & Ex. 4 p. c. St Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Ches. & Ho. Gu. 5A pc Do. do. Pref. No. 2. Do. do. Pref. No. 2. Cork &Bandens3p.c Dun.Prth .& Aber.J E. Anglian Cls. A Sh. Do. do. Cls. B 6 p. c. Do. do Cls. C 7 p. c. Ras. Co. Ex, spcNo. Do. No. 2 . Do. New 6 p. c. St East Un., G. 6 p. c. Do. 51., 10 per cent . Do. 16. Debentr.Sh. Do. do. 4 per cent East Lancash. 6 p. cts F. kW. York. J. sth , ' Edin. & Gl. 5 p.c. sh. Ed. Prth.&Dun.4p.c Furness Glas. & S.W. G. 5 p.c Gr%alNorthn. 5 p. c Do. p. a. Redeem. at 10 p. c. prem... Do. 4. p. e Do. 5 p.c. Scrip, Red st sp. c. pm... ... Gt.N. of Scot. lst Pre Gt. S. AW. (Ireland , Do. 4 per a. Prof. S R. W.(13. k H. Exipo :)o. con. red. 4i p.c. Do. eon. red. 4 p. c. no. irred. 4p. c. Do. 5 p. C. red. pref Do. do. do. Do. Birm. Pref. Sh Do. Chester 8 p. e. P. S Do. do. 5 p. c. do Do. Birm. Gua. Stk Do. Ches. Gus.. Sh Do. do. do Do. do. do Lan. &York. F. £2'' Do. 6 p. o. Stock ... Lon. &Brigh. G. 5 p.c. Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St.. Do. New Guar.6 p. c Do. do. 5 per cent . Lon. &N. W., Coy. It Nuneaton 5 p. et. 100 on.& S. W. 7 per ct all .cndy. &Coler. i Sh. :11 Londy.& Ennis. i Sl: 10 't.,5.,& L.,New,lol 11 Do. £6 100 00. do. 31 per cell'. all Karypt .&Carl.4 p 0 all 10. 4i per cent 10i Do 100 Nfld. Consol.6 p.e St 100 Do. Con.Br.Bir. 6pc 100 Di. 4i p. c. Pref. S 100 Ditto L.& H. Pref. Si an t New., Aber., &c., pr. f 5 p. c. red. 5 p.c. pm. all 'Norfolk Debenture 100 Do. Prof. sp. a. St, cli 100 Do. 5 p. c. Eat 100 De. 6i per ct. pref 100 Do. Way. Val. 5 P.C 100 North British I 1(10 N. E. Berw, 4 p.c P [ c 81 Do. do. do 13 Do Leeds 6 p.c :No.) 9 Do. do. Quarters ... 10 Do. York FL& q. Pur all North Staffordshire. 100 0x,W0.' , zW.15/ 4pc all Do R. Pref. 101. Sh. all , ot. Cent. ,New Fret 25 10 1.0.6 100 al 1 100 1(X) 100 IE 8t - 90 115 1115 Ur 95 :ii 'lOO - 102 16 - 17 d ii 1107 - 112 1100 - 105 B if 13 -13 i ••• ..... • • 1134 - 137 76 - 78 1 . 8 - 320 - 112 106 - 9t - luj ••• ...r 96 89 90 1100 1 100 (100 ,100 100 100 100 - 98 10 -10 k 16 - 17} 10 -10 k 74 - 76 19 - 201 9 - 10 -15 k 140 130 •00 .... 153 - 162 3 • - ... - iP South Devon Do. fixed, 4 per (E,. 118 - 140 99 - 101 90 - l'" '" 20 25 25 12 100 100 all all 103 -105 93 -94 - 1 (11 i 2 - - ij 'lO7 109 14j - 16 Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 41 per cont.... Do. Fixed 42 p c sh. S Wales Gna. 4p, c. do. 4z p. c.... 'S.Yorkeli.4p.c.Gunr. IStock.gtDar., 5 p. c.' ,Do. do. do 'Stock. & Hartl. g. 6 p. c. till July 1, '5 ;Wstertd.& 100 11 Pm Pm 23} -23 i 102 - 104 10i 101 • • 3 - 3~1 ..ii 4d 931 4 d 1 all Agna . . ... . a 1 all Anglo A nfitrla. Gold 10a all >Anglo Californian 20 7 tuatrnlian 1 1 all Australian Cordillera 1 all Ave Maria — 1 all Baden (Gd. Duchy of 50 all Rheum.. Iron & Coa 20 14 British Iron 4. 6 35 26i Firazilianlmp.(iesuetl at £5 pm.) 30 all Do. Cocaes k Cuiab 3 36 31 20 15 Do. St. Johr Del RON 23 25 z d Clarendon Cons. Min Co. of Jamaica — ip 40 all Cobre Copper 66 68 5 j 11 Colonial Gold — St. au Copper Min. of Eng 30 35 25 all Do. Prof. 75 p. cent 25 27 -..1 Copiapo. l6 18 x d 2 1 Fortuna 20 all Genc••al l4 16 1 all Gt.NuggetVeinßeg. 41, all Great Polgooth f 5 ' all Gt Wheal Vor United d 1 all Liberty 1 1 3 all Linares 8 85 5 ' 11 Lasitanian 4,1 4 I 1 all Mariquita A 1 all Now Granada — 1 I all Nouveau Monde >k 20 all Pontgi.Sil.& Le. Min lO5 115 5 1 Port Philip 4 1 all Quartz Rock 50 all Rhymney Iron 26 28 15 all Do. Now 8 10 30 14i: Santiago de Cuba 4 44 41 ..„ 6s, Sort. Cons. Min. Co 2l 21 1 all South Australian.. , 4 4 1 i all Do. Scrip 1 all Do. 10 per cent Prof 4i Tam. S. &L. Min. Co. 1 21 10 all Pin Croft 4 —; 44 284 all United Mexican 35 4 1 all Waller — ••• 1 all West Mariposa f 1 12s. Worthing Mining of Australia 1 al l Vnbn ........... MISCELLANEOUS. 25 19 Australian Agricult. 30 32 314 ie ell A.iistrain. Royal Mail ... . 34 10 all Berlin Water Works 55 6 50 40 'trit. American Land . 100 '26 Canada 27 132 129 St CO C.Go.6p.o.Jan&:;aly 145 1156 116 14i 154 St. 100 Do. 6 p.c. Feb & Aug St. 100 Da. 6p c. Mar & Sept 5 ail Crystal 2i 26 25 5 all Do. Preference 5l 5 i 5 1 4 a 1 'Jrystal Pal. of France 1 4 Duston Iron Ore 20 15/, gleam Steam St. 100 4 . ',lectric Telegraph., 92 94 1 all clectric Toleg. of Ir — 5 all En.&Aus Cop Sm Co 11 11 5 all Gen. Iron Sc Collier 15 14 den. Steam Navigst. 16 all General Screw Steam . . 14 131 141 134 4 all Lond. Gen. Omnibus 4 44 41 * 2C 10 Magdalena St. Navig 10 all Vlediteran. Elec. Tel 8 10 10 9 Mexiean ALS. &merlon. 4 5 25 5 Nat. Discount Co d— 1p 61 1 all Nat. Pat. Steam Fuel 10 5 Netherlands Land._ 2 20 all Do. Do. 5 2 Do. 8p c P iss at 1 d 1 4p 24 100 80 New R. & N.S. Land 18 22 N.S.W. Gov.6p.c.D. ) all N. B. Australzaian,„ a 20 lb Nrth.ofEuropeSteam 131 1 all Oriental Gas ll 13 1 2s. Do. "New Shares" - 4p pm all Peel Rr. Ld. & 3t 36 50 all Peninsular& Oriental 68 70 70 69 70 69 50 10 Do. New 6 Sp 174 18 174 18 'OO 60 Royal Mail Steam 70 72 [l7 1 all Scot. Austral. Invest. 1: 1 ; 1 Ditto New — iP 25 all South Austral.:Land 37 38 1 al: Subnesr. Tel. ScriP I - 10 all Do. Registered l4 24) 5 Trust& L. Co.U. Can 10 28 Via Disown'' , 174 V.Go.6p.c.Jan4aulg. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTERDAY.) The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wootsack at 5 o'clock. ROY AL COMMISSION. The Royal assent was given by commission to the fol lo wing bills :—Sir William Williams' Annuity ; Re formatory Schools (Scotland) ; Juvenile Convict Prison's (Ireland) ; Public Health (Supplemental) ; Drafts on Bankers ; Pawnbrokers ' • National Gal lery ; Oxford U n i vers ity ; Whichwood Forest ; Canada Company ; Bath Gas ; Cheltenham Gas ; Crow land and Eyre Road ; Edinburgh Municipality ; Cork and Youghal Railway ; Shrewsbury Water ; St. Ives and West Cornwall Junction Railway ; Dewsbury, Bat ley, and Heckmondwike Water ; Kettering and New port Roads ; Glasgow Court-houses and Public Offices ; Alford Valley Railway ; Banbridge Junction Railway ; Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding Junction Rail way ; Vale of Clwyd Railway ; Antrim and Coleraine Roads ; Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway ; Stock ton and Middlesborough New Road and Bridge ; Cork Bridge Water Works, &c. ; Knaresborough and Green Harnmerton Roads ; Kuaresborough and Patley Bridge Road ; Eastern Counties Railway ; Hampstead Junction Railway ; Lowestoft and Beccles Railway ; Coventry (city) Gas ; Swamerton's Name ; Clarke Thorn hill's Estate ; W a i nman ' s E s t a t e ; Blenheim's Estate ; and Midland Railway. The royal commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Harrowby, and Lord Colchester. PRIVATE BUSINESS. _ On the motion of L ord REDESD aLE, the Mid Kent Railway Bill was read a second time. On the motion of the same noble lord, the following bills were severally read a third time and passed : Bell's Estate, Rotheravon and Baroby Moor Road, G'as gow Paving, Wolverhampton Water, Blackburn, &c., Water, Middlesborough Improvement, and Todmorden Water. THE OATH OF ABJURATION BILL. Lord LYNDHURST-11y lords, I am placed in a situa• tion of some difficulty with respect to the second readirg of this bill, which has been so frequently debated by your lordships that hardly any new facts or arguments can be brought forward respecting it. Were Ito go into details I fear I should be listened to with impatience ; but, on the other hand, if I were to treat the subject merely in general termß a l should perhaps be charged with neglecting the duty which I have undertaken to perform. I shall endeavour, therefore, my lords, as far as possible, to steer a mid Ola course on the present occasion, and discarding everything that does not bear materially on the subject, bring before you those facts, those arguments, and those considerations that appear to me most essential to the right appreciation of this bill. I am relieved from one very considerable difficulty in this case, because no attempt has been made by this bill to repeal the oath of supremacy, an attempt which, on a former occasion, proved fatal to the hill. I feel also relieved from another difficulty, and by no means an immaterial one. When two years ago I brought in a a bill for the repeal of the oath of abjuration, I was met by the observation that I was repealing also the oaths re lating to the settlement of the Crown. On the present oc casion I cannot be met by arguments of that kind, because there is a clause in the bill by which persons are bound to maintain the succession to the Crown as it was established by the Act of Settlement. Should the present bill pass three oaths will require to be taken, the oath of allegiance, the oath of supremacy, and the oath to maintain the succes sion to the Crown as established by the Act of Settlement. Now, my lords, what objections there can be to a hill of this description it is extremely difficult to understand. My noble friend who sits near me on the cross benches means, I understand, to move its rejection, a course which I must say I hardly expected from him ; but I have endea voured to ascertain the grounds upon which he means to proceed, and I am told that it is in consequence of some words being omitted, namely, the words " On the true faith of a Christian." That lam told is the ground upon which my noble friend means to move the rejection of the bill; but let it be remembered that these words are no longer used for the purpose originally intended. Is it not singular that they should be attempted to be introduced into this bill for a purpose never contemplated by the per sons by whom the act was passed? (Hear.) But passing that over let me ask my noble friend what is the object at which he aims ? The regular course would be to allow this bill to be read a second time and to move the insertion of the words he advocates in the committee; but my noble friend is pursuing a different course, and see what the con sequence will be, should he be successful in procuring the rejection of the bill. The consequence will be that every one of your lordships, and every member of the House of Commons, will be obliged to continue to take that oath which all consider ought not to be taken—namely, to swear that no descendant of the person, pretending to be the Prince of Wales has any right or title to the crown of these realms, while all obedieno to him or his heirs is abjured. (Hear, hear.) Meet of your lord ships deem that oath impertinent and idle; and give me leave to add, that fOr a person to take an oath which is a mere act of folly must be designated an act of impiety also. But this must be the consequence should my noble friend's motion be successful. Another noble friend of mine, for whose opinion I have the greatest possible respect, foresee ing the difficulty, lei a endeavoured to avoid it—and no man has more resources in a case of. difficulty than the noble friend to whom I allude—by proposing, as he informed me the other night, that if this bill be rejected, he should move the second reading of a bill now on the table, the object of which is to strike out of the oath all words relat ing to the Pretender, and to retain the words " on the true faith of a Christian." But what would be the con sequence provided that bill sheuld pass your lordships' house? It would go down to the other house of Parlia ment, and the course there would obviously be at once to strike out the words. (Hear, hear.) The bill would then come back to your lordships in that shape, and of course would be lost. We shall then be precisely in the situation in which we now stand, obliged to abjure the Pretender, and to swear that no descendant of his shall have any tit's to the crown of these realms, which is the absurdity to which I have before referred. Let it not be understood that in these preliminary observations I am endeavot ring to anticipate and prevent any arguments that may be ad duced. Far otherwise. lam prepared to discuss and de fend the principles of the bill now, as at any other time ; but let me first in a few words trace the history of this oath. 'When William 111. came to the throne, in the first year of his reign there were no oaths administered except those of allegiance and supremacy. Two or three years after, an attempt was made in the House of Commons to introduce the oath of abjuration, a similar attempt being made in your lordships' house. But William the Third, with that liberality which was the peculiarity of his character, declared that he did not wish to impose any additional tests on his people, and the bill was lost in both houses. Thus the matter rested until the last year of the reign of William and Mary, when, as your lordships are aware, in consequence of the Pretender hav ing assumed the title of King of England, and having been recognised as such by Louis XLV., the oath of abjuration was introduced and became law. But let us look at the ori gin of this oath, not as a matter of history but of form. It had its origin long before the reign of William, at a period immediately subsequent to the discovery of thePopish plgt, when a piece of writing came through the hands of Garnet and others concerned in the plot, to the effect that the only mode of defeating the equivocations of the Rowau Catho lic; was to frame an oath of a certain shape, and to insert the words, "On the true faith cf a Christian." They were introduced, and were afterwards copied into the oath of abjuration for the same purpose, and every one acquainted with the history of the period knows that the oath was so framed with the sole object of guarding against the Roman Catholics. If any doubt should remain in the mind of any noble lord, let him read the clauses of the act of Parlia ment ; nay more, I implore my noble friend to refer to the debates which took place, and then I say that the conclu sion to which my noble frien I and your lordships must inevitably come, and which I defy any one to reject, is that the oath was intended to apply solely to the consciences of Roman Catholics. Parliament had no idea whatever of ap plying 'the words to members of the Jewish religion ; in fact there is nothing to show that they were at all contem plated in the oath of abjuration. 1 have now strictly given the history of the oath of abjuration, and the objects for which it was introduced, but there has been brought to my recollection within the last two days what appears to me a most extraordinary argument on the subject, or rather I should say a mixture of statement, history, and argument, to which I must for a moment advert. A most rev. prelate in Ireland has published a collection of rescripts and bulls of the Pope, and among these documents are several relating to the Pretender, merely matters of history, and obviously intended to be so. Certain documents are referred to by the prelate in question, and he is supposed to have stated, or to have quoted, a passage in which it was asserted that there were fifty Roman Catholic princes on the continent of Europe who were nearer in blood to James 11. and the Pretender than our present most gracious sovereign, Queen Victoria. Now the inference drawn from these statements is the most extraordinary that can be conceived, viz., that the Roman Catholics still have hopes that at some future period a Popish Sovereign may be placed on the throne of these realms. The argument is therefore that you ought not to touch this oath, and not ,render it less effective than at present for the purpose to which it was originally intended. I am at a loss to know how to describe this argument. (Hear.) I have read it with much attention, and believe the statement made to be perfectly correct. But what is the argument ? No Roman Catholic is now bound to take the oath of abjuration, and why? Because it was rescinded in 1829, when the Roman Catholic Relief Bill passed, and another oath was substituted in lieu of it. (Hear, hear.) The argument I have stated, therefore, although proceeding from high authority, is wholly inapplicable to the present case. Passing from that argument, I beg to remind your lordships that by the Roman Catholic R elief Bill, the words, "On the true faith of a Christian," are abolished. The oath the Roman Catholics are obliged to take has no such words in it. So that you abolish these words which were intended to apply to the Roman Ca tholics, and retain them, for what purpose ? to apply them to a class of the Queen's subjects for whom they were ori ginally never intended. (Hear.) I believe that a more inconsistent argument was never dreamt of. I took the liberty on a former occasion to lay down a position which I repeat now, and that is, that no British born subject ought to be disfranchised unless by some legislative provision di rected against himself, or against the class of which he was a member. I say that this is the very basis and prin ciple of our constitution. (Hear.) lam glad to be sup ported in this opinion by one of the learned judges before whom the case came on a former occasion, and whose opinion I shall take the liberty of reading to your lordships. He says—" A construction the other way, excluding the Jews from sitting and voting in Parliament, not by a direct and intentional legislative act, but by an unforeseen and unintended application of a few words inserted in the oath with an entirely different object, is not in accordance with what I considew to be the principles and practice of the law of England." This was the opinion of one of the most learned of our judges ; an attempt to answer which was made on a former occasion ; and what was that answer? It was an answer attempted by a noble friend of mine who sits on the benches opposite, who said that if the Jews were not ex pressly excluded, it was because Parliament took their ex clusion for granted, and that therefore they were to be actually excluded. So that whenever, by any mistake, Parliament omits to legislate, we are to consider it to have legislated, especially when it is a case of penalties and dis abilities. But even then the substratum is wanting. I deny that in the act of William 111. they were supposed to be inducted. Thera was tlion, )11.t Cinenumant &luau . whose learning and eloquence has never teen exceeded, I mean Lord Somers, and it would be extravagant to suppose that he would have allowed the act to pass with such an intention without observation. Nay more, in consequence of some vulgar notion that got abroad some years after re specting the position of the J ews , an op i n i on was ta k en of ralb o t, afterwards Lord Chancellor, and Raymond, after wards Lord Chief Justice, and they stated with reference to the disabilities of the Jews, that they werein all respectspree cisely in the same situation as any other natural born sub jects of this empire; so th a t th ere i s no ground forth° sup position that they wore contemplated by the oath. Ido not wish . to detain your lordships with lengthened quota tions, but there is anopinion of another distinguished judge who de idedthe caseinthe Exchequer, to whichl must refer. The substance of that opinion is thatif itberighttoexclude professors of the Jewish faith, with respect to which he offers no opinion, it would bo more consistent with thecha racter of this country and its Parliament to exclude them by direct legislation rather than by the casual expression of an Act of Parliament never intended to apply to them, and which was intended for another object and a different class of persons. For the rule of construction applicable to all acts is to ascertain what were the intentions of the Le gislature ; you are not to construe an act so as to derive from it some object which is not consonant with its plain intention; above allyou are not to construe it so as to make it contrary to its tenour, a bill of pains and penalties. But if you got rid of these words, " On the true faith of a Christian," what will be the effect ? You will un-Chris tianise the Legislature. I have heard that argument insisted on with great pertinacity, and in a great variety of forms. Is it meant to be said that during the reign of William 111., when that precise oath did not exist, the Parliaments were less Christian ? or that the House of Commons was less Christian than the House of Commons of the present day? (Hear, hear.) Nay further, look back to the reign of Edward VI., a reign remarkable for itsreligious character. No such words as these formed part of any oath re quired to be taken at that time; and because of that are we to say that Parliaments in the reign of Edward VI. were lees pious than at the present moment ? The same ar gument may be repeated in connection with the long reign of Elizabeth. I have also heard it said that it is inconsis tent with propriety that a person of the Jewish faith should be a member of the Christian legislature of a Christian country. I have heard this over and over again repeated ; I believe it had its origin with a right rev, prelate for whom I have a great respect, who I regret now not to see in his place, and that the more because of the cause of his absence—l allude to the distinguished metropolitan bishop. Now, I have always heard it said, Be cautious of an argu ment embodied in a phrase, for it is used to cover some fallacy. Examine the phrase, " the Christian legislature of a Chrsitian country." No doubt this is a Christian country. What is meant by that ?—it means a country of which the great portion of the inhabitants are Christians— of which the government is Christian—of which the estab lished church is Christian. But it is not to be said that there are none others than Christians here. Nor is it con tended that those who are not Christians are to be put utterly out of consideration. We find that those of the Jewish faith are possessed of all the rights of citizenship, and are liable to all its duties. Why, then, should they not be represented in the Christian Legislature in a pro portion similar to the numbers in this Christian country ? (Hear.) A member of the Jewish faith is required to fill onerous offices. You call upon him to fill the office of she riff. If a Jew is eosea sheriff of London or Middlesex and does not accept the office he is mulcted in a heavy fine. A member of the Jewish faith is bound to serve on juries ; nay more, we have placed them in a position to administer the law; we have placed them in the municipal corporations of the country, and I charge any person to say whether they .have not performed the duties incident to this office as well as those other British subjects who have previously filled them. There is at this time a gentleman of the Jew ish faith at the head of the magistracy in this metropolis, and I can fearlessly put it to any of your lordships to say whether in indulgence, impartiality, benevolence, and splendid liberality, that gentleman has been surpassed by any of his predecessors in office. (Hear.) I have heard a remark, I confess with surprise, of this description, that it was a strange spectacle that a Jewish chief magistrate should attend at St. Paul's on the day when a solemn thanksgiving was offered to Almighty God for the restora tion of the blessings of peace. I, my lords, have been pre sent at the performance of divine worship in cathedrals, when the form of worship and the doctrines taught dif fered widely from the religion which I hold to be true ; but, notwithstanding, when I have seen myself surrounded by numbers who gave praise to God according to the man ner which they in their consciences devoutly believed to be the true one, I confess that I have felt myself stirred with feelings of religious emotion, which I should seek in vain to describe to your lordships. (Hear.) Again, the phrase to which I have referred, that it is inconsistent with right that a gentleman of the Jewish faith should be a member of the Christian Legislature, enunciates a prin • ciple. If it is a principle it ought to be acted upon with uniformity. Let us see how it is acted on. I remember, some years ago, upon the union of the two provinces of Canada, the constitution of that colony was considered in this house. Many right rev. prelates were present, for questions deeply affecting the interests of the Church were under discussion. Is Canada less a Christian country than England, or was its legislature less Christian than our own? But no person had, when the discussion to which I have - referred teokplace, proposed toinsert a clause preventing a Jew from sitting in the Canadian legislature. This is the more remarkable, because the attention of Parliament must have been called to the matter; for when the colony was divided, a gentleman of the Jewish faith sat in the House of Repre sentatives, and was one of its most distinguished members. And yet the principle, if true principle it be, ought to be acted upon everywhere and constantly. The case, however, to which I refer took place some time back; many of your lordships may snot remember or may have forgotten it. But within a very few years we have given a constitution to Australia, to New Zealand, to the Cape of Good Hope— all Christian countries, all Christian legislatures, but not one of them bound to exclude a Jew from being one of their representatives. It has been said, "No such clause would have been pas,ed ; such an attempt would have been nega tived by the legislature." And yet you are now taking hold of a fragment of an act to do that which otherwise you are unable to do. It has also been said, if persons of the Jewish faith sit in Parliament, how could they judge of questions affected by religious considerations ? That argu neet was urged with great effect and considerable ability a hen the claims of Catholics were under consideration ; but in that case it was found to be unavailing, even though applied to a sect which feels it its duty to proselytise, and which looks upon the English Church as possessing places and temporalities to which it lays claim. But how widely different in the case of the Jews. They have no desire to make converts—their principles are opposed to it; they have no claim upon your temporalities ; they are inoffen sive ; not desirous at all of interfering with your religion, but solely anxious to be allowed to worship God according to the rule of the Mosaic law. We have a maxim at law "de ininimis non curet lex ;" I wish I could apply the amino rule to the arguments of those who oppose this mea sure. As I cannot do so, I must answer an observation which has been made ; which, however, is so trivial as an i.rgu went that I only notice it because it is founded on a mis apprehension of fact. I have heard this said, " How can a person of the Jewish faith properly fulfil the duties of a member of the House of Commons ? Committees of that house, election committees especially, are sometimes bound to sit de die in diem., and a Jew could not attend a sitting upon a Saturday." Now I have been in communication with the highest authorities upon the subject, and I find that such a statement has uo foundation in fact. There is nothing in the Jewish religion preventing the doing of such a duty on the Sabbath, rand two passages in the Talmud have been pointed out to me which appear suefieient authority for the statements which I have heard. In truth this is a question which affects not religious but civil rights,, awl, in connec tion with this, I mustrerlind your lordships that you have not scrupled to forcer theis to do that which you do not do yourselves. The noble lot d opposite (Lord Clarendon) has had some argument with the Turkish Government, and has no doubt put it to them how could they' thus deal with their Christian subjects; that the question was one of civil rights, not of religious opinions, and he has thus urged them to admit these Christians to equal rights with their Mussulman fellow-subjects. These arguments, bucked no doubt by something which I will not now stop to allude to, have proved successful, and by the Hatti-Scheriff now in force, Christians and .rilussulmans are on an equal footing. I counsel your lordships to take example by this, and not to force precepts upon others which you in practising yourselves. My lords, there is now a bill upon your lordships' table, the preamble of which states " that nothing is more contrary to the spirit of true religion than that persons should be subject to disabili ties on account of their forms of worship." This bill has been on your table for some weeks; it has been referred to the Statute Law Commission, a body composed of the highest and most competent authorities in the land ; these persons have returned it to you with the preamble unaltered, ad.i to the principle which it enunciates, and upon which I pray you now to act, they have given their high sanction. I know there are persons who look with something like scorn on the Jewish race. I hope, however, that this is one of the prejudices of a former time which has almost passed away. Fur my own part, I cannot but view them as a most remarkable people, callin g forth widely different feelings. Even when in captivity at Babylon we find them long before high in the confidence and service of the conquerors. When we come to more modern times, and consider the case of Spain, we find them for many years overwhelmed by op pression and kept in obscurity; but the moment that op pression ceased and a liberal system was introduced, they came out from their obscurity, and in the next three cen turies were distinguished in literature, science, and the arts. In still later times we find their history the same. Is there, then, ground for daring to point the finger of scorn at these our fellow-subjects? For let it not be lost sight of for a moment that these are British subjects for whom I am now pleading—not asking a favour, but contending for a right. My lords, I have always considered this house as the safeguard of the people against rash and hasty legisla tion. But, my lords, to stand as a barrier against bills coming repeatedly from the other house upon a subject d eep l y a ff ec ting the constitution of the house itself, only calling for legislation through the perversion of an act of Parliament, as I consider, inconsistent with true policy, and contrary to the fundamental principles of the consti tution. The principle upon which this bill is founded has been several times affirmed in the other house of Par liament, after debates in which the highest ornaments of that house have taken a conspicuous part. The first bill upon n t g h u i i ssubject e m Was beri, to ntroduced in the other house by a d whom, in the opinion of many of your lordships, much of the prosperity of the country might be traced. From that time to the present many have been the bills which have been brought to your lord ships bar. I would urge m up y on le y r o d u e, th it e haa impolicy beee of madelo ngeran o ar p g p a o m sin en g t t b h y ei t r heeeop progre ss. posing measures of this discussion, that in removing the disabilities which press upon the Jews we are acting in contravention of the prophecy under which they labour. No doubt if a man looks to a pro phecy, and deliberately takes means which according to his judgment would tend to its falsification, nothing could justify him in such an act. But we know so little of the mysterious ways of Providence that;we should commit a grave error if we were to be guided by any interpreta tion which we might place upon prophecy, instead of sur rendering ourselves to the dictates of justice and charity. We have succeeded in establishing an hereditary and landed monarchy connected with representative bodies and liberal institutions. We have advanced, though by slo w and cautious steps, to our present system of civil and religious liberty. There is one defect only in that system, one blot—the subject now under consideration. Let As remedy this last defect, or rather let us toar the defect it self from the statute book, and make perfect that system which is founded on that eternal principle of justice—the independence of civil rights and religious opinion. Earl STANHOPE said that the course which he pro posed to take in moving that the bill be read a second time that day six months was in perfect accordance with his con duct while in the other house, he having on every occasion opposed the progress of the measure. In the course of the able address which their lordships had just heard, the noble and learned lord referred at some len4th to the motives -which setts - ted those who introduced "the words; " on the truelikith of a-Christian" into the eaistieg act; He (Ear 1 1100 all all 'lOO 1100 10(1 323. 1 10(1 'lOO 100 3 ion 1100