The Sun. — London, England, 1861-02-22 00:00:00

YAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, the Farce of A.S.S. - - To be followed by DON CASA R DE BAZAN. Don ArMSar, Mr. Fechter. Supported by Messrs. Basil Potter, 3'. Matthews, J. G. Shore, Miss M. Harris, Miss C. Leclercq d Mrs. Weston. After which, a new Christmas comical pantomime, entitled ROBINSON CRUSOE ; or, Harlequin Friday, and the King' et the Caribbe Islands : in which Monsieur Espinosa and Ndile. Marie Dumilatre, of the principal continental theatres will appear. Clown. Mr. A. F. Forrest. THEATRE- ROYAL L YCEUM. Soie Lessee and Directress, Madame CELESTE. THIS EVENING the new drama, THE HOUSE ON THE BRIDGE OF NOTR' DAME. Prind ch ai r s . pal rs caraeters by Mr. G. Vining, Mr. J. Johnstone, Mr. Villie, . Clifford, Mr. John Rouse, Mr. Forrester, M Mr. orrisDLTean, Miss K. Saville, Miss L. Thompson, and M a da me Celes rn te. Alter which, the Lyceum Christmas Comic Extravaganza, CRYSTABELLE ; or, The Rose without a Thorn, showing ADD VIsION OF A ROSE, ITS FADING AT EVE, AND THE MA.Y-BLOOM OF THE WILD BRIAR. To conclude with a new Divertissement. Miss Lydia Thompson, C. i t 1) ET,P ti I, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager. Mr. Benj. Webster. THIS EVENING, AN UGLY CUSTOMER. Messrs. 3. L. Toole, C. Selby, and Warde ; Miss K. Kelly, and Miss E. Thorne. After which, THE COLLEEN BAWN. D. Boncicault, D. Fisher, Billington, Falconer, Stephenson, C. J. Smith, Romer. Miss Agnes Robertson, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billing - ton, and Chatterley. To conclude with a new Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled 3LUE BEARD FROM A NEW POINT OF HUE. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith ; Miss Woolgar, K. Kelly, Laidlaw, and R. Thorne. Doors open at half past B—Commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till 5. No charge for booking. Private boxes, £2 2s. ; Family Boxes, Li. Orchestra Stalls, Se. ; Balcony, is. ; Front Circle Stalls, Is. ; Pit Stalls, 21.; Pit, is. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, is ; Gallery, 6d. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. A STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- Proprietor and Manager, Mr. WM. BATTY. Immense success of " Turpin's Ride to York." THIS EVENING. will be reproduced TURPIN'S RIDE TO YORK, AI4D THE DEATH OF BLACK BESS, in which the Brothers Edwin will appear with their celebrated Steed Black Bess. To be succeeded by Scenes in the Arena, supported by talented Parisian and British Artistes. Concluding with Batty's Prize Equestian Comic Panto mime, for Good Little Boys and Girls, by T. L. Greenwood, entitled HARLEQUIN AND THE WONDERFUL HORSE or, Percinet and Grociosa, the Ugly Duchess and the Greedy King, produced with Gorgeous Scenery. by Mr. Cuthbert, new Costumes and Appointments, and introducing in the comie scenes Batty's Prize Equestrian Harlequinade, and the celebrated Old Bob Ridley. Bon-office open daily from 11 till 4 Stage Manager—Mr. W. WEST. Director of the Arena—Mr. Pearson. Commence at 7. CANTERBURY -HALL CONCERTS!!! A Grand Selection from Verdi's Opera, IL CORSARO, consisting of the following Morceaux:— Preludio. Coro Scena ed Aria. "Tutto parca Sorridere" Coro di Odalische "Oh qual perenne" Cavatina "Vola talor dal Carcere" Coro ed inno Scena ed Aria. " Cento leggiadre Vergini" Terzetto Finale "Voi tacete io non" will be performed EVERY EVENING, in the original key and Italian language—in addition to the usual attractions. Mr. F. JONGHMANS, Musical Director. Also, in preparation, Selections from Verdi's New Operas, Ballo in Maschera," "Simon Boccanegra ;" and Flo tow's celebrated Opera of "Stradella." HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAT.—Morning, 11h. 50m.—Afternoon, h. m. To-moanow.-Morning, 12h. 27m.—Afternoon, 12h. 54m. THB ®BATHER.—t3ux OFFICE, FEB. 22, 1561. THMILIIOICETEIty IX THII SHADS. 53—highest since noon yesterday. 42—lowest this morning and during the night. 52—this day at noon. BAROMETER-29.68. WlND—South-Westerly—Still rather fresh, with fine weather. A \ z!c .r THE SUN. LONDON, FRIDAY, FEB. 22, 18t1 The greatest disappointment in the way of prac tical legislation last session was indubitably the unlooked for collapse immediately upon the ap proach of autumn, of that elaborate and comprehen sive Bill for the revision of the whole law relating to Bankruptcy and Insolvency—a Bill which at the period of its introduction every one was san guine would have been perfected into an enactment before the session of 1860 should have definitely terminated. We speak of that disappointment ad visedly as the greatest of all the disappointments experienced last year in the way of practical legis lation ; and we do this with only too vivid a remem brance of that other and more ambitious, because in every way more imperial outline of a measure by which the noble lord the member for the City gravely proposed to remould the whole scheme of popular representation in Parliament. And it is precisely because we have that particular measure of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S dandling and coddling only too painfully in our recollection—that we refer thus deliberately to Sir RICHARD BETIIELL'S Bankruptcy Bill of last session as the source of incomparably the greatest disappointment expe rienced in the may of practical legislation. Lord JOHN'S rough draft of an enactment in relation to Parliamentary Reform was notoriously Th e Little Bill, as Sir RICHARD'S in relation to Bank ruptcy Reform was The Great Bill of that (for the most part) wasted session of the Legisla ture. Recollecting the fate attendant upon those two widely contrasting Government measures—mea sures introduced, one of them (as about the most urgently required of all the great law reforms) by her MAJESTY'S Attorney-General, the other (as the long-talked of, and long-hoped for electoral panacea for all the ills that Parliament, or at least the popular branch of Parliament, is heir to) by her MAJESTY'S Foreign Secretary—recollecting the evil fate attendant, in two very different ways cer tainly, but as it proved with precisely the same result in the end, namely, the collapse and disap pearance of both—the country, immediately upon the approach of this present session, looked, in the first instance, to see what were the plans proposed to themselves in regard to these two measures by the members of her Majesty's Government. What the deter mination arrived at in regard to them by the Cabinet proved to be, when the opening day of the session arrived, the country knew virtually from her Majesty's Speech from the Throne. It was quite as s i gn i f i cant in regard to Parliamen tary Reform, th a t no reference whatever was made to it in the Speech from the Throne, as it was in that Her Majesty there distinctly announced a new measure of Bankruptcy and Insolvency :Reform as forthcoming. Moreover, as the event happily proved, the new Bankruptcy Bill was mot only forthcoming, but forthcoming immedi ately. And no sooner were its provisions explained in the House of Commons by tl e first Law adviser of the Crown, from whose genius as a great lawyer and a great law reformer it is the direct emanation, than in spite of the little ceartankerous afterthought of opposition arti culated by the hon. and learned (and excessively eaptiou g member for Sheffield, the vast majority 'MARRIAGE LAW REFORM ASSOCIATION, instituted for the exclusive object of promoting the passing of an Act to render lawful marriage with a deceased wife's sister. Offices—No. 21, rA RLTAMENT-STREET, S.W., London. JOS EPH STANSBURY, M.A., Hon. See. ENGL I SH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. Under the Manag,ement of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, Sole Lessees. THIS EVENING, the First Act of BLANCA, THE iiRAVO'S BRIDE : Mr. W. Harrison, ,tc. Followed by Auber's LE DOMINO NOIR. Miss Louisa Pyne, Kiss Thirlwall, Miss Leffler ; Messrs. H. Haigh, H. Corri, A. St. Albyn, and Ilorncastle. To conclnde with a Divertissement. Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. Commence at Seven. ItOYAL irtlEA'fitg!,'-ROYAIi, HAYMARKET. Lesime. Mr. J. H. Raukstane. ETENINcI, the performances will entnmenee with the Comedy of THE BABES IN THE WOOD. Messrs. E. Buekstone, W. Farren, Mrs. Wilkins, and Miss F. After which, a new Pantomime, QUEEN LADYBIRD AND HER CHILDREN. The Pantomimists by the un rivalled Leclenge, Herr Cole, and Fanny Wright. Comtnenee at 7. upon both sides have felt perfectly secure that this time there would really and truly be " no mis take" in the matter, but that the session would not come to an end before a most salubrious and sweeping measure of reform had cleared away a thousand anomalies and countless abuses from the laws relating to Bankruptcy and Insolvency. Parliament is now only in its third w eek, this present Friday is only the seventeenth day since the session of 1861 commenced, and already Sr R. BETHELL'S new Bankruptcy Bill has advanced far on its way to the moment when it shall be formally enrolled upon the Statute Book as a substantial enactment. Laid upon the table of the House by its author and introducer, the Attorney-General— read (pro forma and as a matter of course) a first time--read (not simply as a matter of course, but I really in consideration of its many great and ob vious merits) a second time—it has now already made good the chief part of its way through Com mittee. As affording a token of how much in 1 earnest the Attorney-General is, the Cabinet is, the House is, in advancing this great law reform in regard to Bankruptcy and Insolvency, it is only neces - nary to glance at the progress the measure made in Committee last evening. Clause after clause from the 51st to the 117th was passed—sixty•seven clauses in all—sixty-seven clauses (every one of them of more or less importance) in the course of one sitting ! And amongst these sixty-seven clauses —clause 81 !—that just and admirable clause which secures the assimilation henceforth of traders and non-traders, subjecting both to the provisions of the new act of Bankruptcy. Vainly yesterday did Sir GEORGE BOWYER propose the postpone ment of this clause upon the plea of its being one involving as, in point of fact, almost every individual clause in the whole of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S Bill unquestionably does involve to a greater or lesser degree " very important principles of jurisprudence." Vainly did Colonel DUNNE urge that this clause (so pecu liarly obnoxious to some overweening sticklers for the maintenance of what is called the landed inte rest) should be set aside for the time until the Com mittee should have received an explanation from those whose feelings towards the landed interest they could trust. Clause 81 was passed inexorably through Committee, nevertheless, notwithstand ing! And so too was the next one, clause 82, the one relating more particularly to an act of bankruptcy by a non-trader--Sir HUGH CAIRNS vainly opening the artillery of his legal arguments upon it in formidable opposition. One after another the objections raised against this clause were dissipated by the logic of the Attorney-General. How effec tually—one clause selected haphazard will suffice to indicate. Take, for example, the specious and ingenious objection raised by Mr. SEYMOUR FITZ GERALD, thus succinctly recapitulated, and after wards summarily disposed of by Sir RICHARD BETHELL : who observed, " His right hon. friend the member for Horsham had said that it would be quite sufficient for a creditor to swear an affidavit that he believed his creditor to be going or re maining abroad to defeat or:delay his creditors, and that the bare expression of that belief would entitle the creditor to an adjudication in bankruptcy. He begged to assure his right hon. friend that he had been misinformed, and that in truth there was no instance of any tribunal having arrived at such a conclusion from any such premises ; for every court would require some proof, by an overt act, of the malus animus of the individual in going abroad. There was nothing in the English law so monstrous as that of the bare belief of the creditor entitling him to adopt such a proceeding." Henceforth, therefore, traders and non-traders, being assimi lated, as they ought in reason long since to have been assimilated, we may presume that the old, delightful, but discreditable system of levant ing will go out of fashion as completely, let us say, as duelling or hair-powder. The " Gentleman of England who live at home at ease," and not only at ease, but with honour to themselves, with advan tage to all around them—will not have, henceforth, to be contrasted with the Gentlemen-Vagabonds of England who live abroad in luxury to their own infamy and to the ruin of the unfortunate creditors from whom they have escaped. It goes well then, obviously, with the new Bankruptcy Bill, every. thing considered. Clause 81 and clause 82 having been passed, the worst dangers also have been passed by the growing enactment. And we shall soon have, doubtless, the opportunity of witness ing it so powerfully borne up on that strong wave of Public Opinion (wittily spoken of by Lord JOHN RUSSELL when alluding to the only rea sonable prospect there can ever exist of a new Reform Bill) that it may be safely carried over the Bar of the House of Lords. However else this session may be wasted, it is not likely to be wasted (thanks to Sir RICHARD BETHELL) in respect to the national hope of a comprehensive reform in the law of Bankruptcy. The reply of Lord JOHN RUSSELL to Lord E. HOWARD last night, in reference to cruelties said to have been perpetrated by the Sardinian army, shows strongly the mischievous results of French intervention both at Gaeta and at Rome. Every one who sifted, as he best could, the accounts which appeared in the papers from time to time, had little doubt that bands of brigands—furnished with the means of doing it from Gaeta while the French fleet protected the place, and from Rome, notwithstanding French troops occupied the city and its territory—stole across the borders of the Papal domains, and in larger or smaller bands per petrated all kinds of outrages in the name of "Royalist reaction." Th e p o li cy was muc h o f a piece with that which, when the country welcomed GARIBALDI with oi en arms, turned loose upon it all the scum of the prisons, as a parting blessing. There can be no doubt of the correctness of our Foreign Secretary's statements; in addition to the sources of information open to every one, he has the responsible servants of the country in Italy, and the counter statement of the servants of the ex-King of NAPLES and of the King of SARDINIA, to compare, and we must, therefore, believe that what had been previously accepted as fact, was rea lly so. As his Lordship observed, to preach humanity to the Sardinian Government in dealing with villains who could put out men's eyes and roast them to death before their own fire, would be to insult them. All trustworthy narratives shew that the army of the King of SARDINIA has been as moderate in victory as brave in conflict. But these hired villains of Cardinal ANTONELLI and FRANCIS 11. are infinitely worse wretches than the Chinese murderers of their unfortunate priso ners ; since, apart from the treachery in which ANTON ELLI'S Own would not suffer by comparison, the Chinese after all did but treat our brave men as they would have treated their own prisoners. Lord JOHN RUSSELL says that encouragement still continues to be given to these brigands. We can believe anything of the butchers of Perugia ; but the question is how long will Lours NAPOLEON persist in making himself responsible for these dis gusting outrages ? While relieved from fear by the presence of French soldiers, the POPE, or rather ANTONELLI, to whom he seems to have sold him self, will, in spite and malice against the King of ITALY, encourage these wicked disturbances. THE SUN, LONDON FRIDAY F v ENING, FE B WARY 22, .t 1861. Surely, it 'were far better that the PorE and the Italians should settle their own relations, than that, by forcible intervention, the latter should be hindered In putting down the horrid brigandage which unsettles the country. We repeat the hope we have before expressed, that Lord JOHN will persevere strenuously, as well as boldly, in the course which the Blue-book shows that he has commenced well—that of protesting against the prolonged occupation of Rome by an army which has no right there, and which is unavoidably the abettor of brigandage. Once more through the sigh Church pertinacity of the Lords, the House of Commons is compelled to take up, de novo, the subject of marriage with a deceased wife's sister. In a matter of domestic, and in some respects pressing interest, like this, it is not fair for the Peers, by the mere force of votes, to oppose longer the representatives of the people. Let it be remembered that the case is not one of imposing any burden on the unwilling or the con scientious. No one proposes to legislate, as the Divine Author of Judaism did in the parallel case, that a brother shall marry a brother's widow. It is simply asked that those who believe Scripture and reason to be on their side shall not be visited with heavy social and pecuniary penalties for using their right of private judgment—the judgment in this case coinciding with that of the vast majority of Protestants at home and abroad. Controversy on the subject has quite settled the point, that the existing prohibition has no justification but a worthless canon, and the well•known lists in our prayer-book. We need not say that with the exception of a few High Churchmen neither of these authorities is any authority at all. But as the Lords have not been asked to compel persons to marry, so they have not been asked to compel any clergyman to marry those whom he thinks it would be sinful to marry. If the Canon, and the Prayer-book lists are an authority as sacred to him as the Koran to Mahomedans, he is not even wished to violate them. Such simple remarks seem necessary, because really some of the warm opponents argue as if it were proposed to inflict a burden, instead of removing one, or to violate a High Church conscience, instead of leaving it at full liberty—the only demand made by those who think the marriages in question natural , advantageous, and Scriptural, is expressed in the exclamation of the Apostle—" Why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience ?" It has always appeared to us that this question is, at its root, one of religious persecution or tolerance. No one can pretend that but for the Canons and * the Prayer-book, any mortal would have dreamed of a prohibition so essen tially absurd and indefensible. It originated in, an age of asceticism, and has been perpetuated by ecclesiastical tradition. But without dwelling on its origin, the fact is, that the Church of Eng land accepted it when just emerging from the cor ruptions of Popery, and that even the opinions of her own sons, and some of the most eminent of them, too, have been adverse to the restriction. But outside the Church of England that is amongst half the worshipping population of the country, so far as we have heard, opinion is unani mous. All the great Dissenting bodies have ex pressed themselves as aggrieved by the restriction ; their ablest writers have elaborately shewn that it has no foundation in Scripture or in reason. Many of the most respectable amongst them, their minis ters and church officers, openly set at naught the prohibition, and retain their religious standing in their own communities ; while, as to the Church of England, we believe that if her laity were polled on the subject, nine-tenths of them would laugh at the idea of there being anything against marrying your deceased wife's sister, but Lord LYNDHURST'S Act as marred by the late officious Bishop of LONDON. In such a state of religious opinion, we ask, is it anything short of religious persecution for a kno of High Churchmen to use their great influence with the large and respectable Conservative party, to force their views of marriage on those who differ from them. Dissenters have certainly a right to resent this; they ought, unquestionably, to have 'immediate relief from an Act founded on a Church of England Canon, and punishing them for disobedi ence to it. Should the Lords again reject the bill sent up by the Commons, we should suggest that Dissenters immediately place in the hands of Mr. MILNES another bill to exempt them at least from penalties designed to enforce obedience to the dogmas of a Church from which they dissent. We do not see how even the Lords, who we suppose do at least believe in the Toleration Act, could reject such a bill. A few facts may be mentioned showing the progress of public opinion on the subject. Since 1849 the signatures to petitions in favour of rescinding protection have amounted to nearly 1,000,000 ; an amazing number when we remember the compara tively small number of persons directly interested. The signatures in opposition to relaxation have been 114,204. Another remarkable fact connected with the petitions is the character of so many of them. Last August the Earl of CLARENDON presented to the House of Peers petitions from one hundred and two Corporations of England and Wales, and twelve had previously petitioned, in favour of relaxation of the law. These peti• tions were numerously signed, and it will not be denied that the signatures must have been those of the elite of the middle cass. The Par liamentary progress of the bill has also been such as ought to weigh with the Lords to concede the point this session. In 1842 there was a majority of 23 against the first reading ; in 1849, when Mr. WORTLEY again introduced the mea sure, a majority of 34 for it on the second reading. The majorities increased, and not to weary the reader, the bill was carried in four Parliaments and in thirty-one divisions. In this Parliament, on the 7th February, the number of those who had voted in its favour was 302; of those who voted against, 208; of neutrals, 44; of new members, 90. To-night, therefore, should the opponents of the measure go through the idle form of dividing, the old majorities should be well sustained. We believe, also, that, with one exception, the Lord Chancellor, the whole Cabinet is in favour of the bill. In the House of Lords it has come so near to success that we may hope this fact at least will weigh with their house when the votes of the other house are remembered, and dispose all the fair and moderate opponents to withdraw from the contest. The bill has been before their lordships' house four times, and the voting has stood thus : 1851. 1856. 1858. 1859. The vote against the bill was.... 50 43 46 49 The vote for the bill Bishops against the bill Bishops for the bill — 4 Number of lay peers against Majority against without the bishops So that the majority of hereditary peer's against the bill in 1859 was only 6. We have but one brief remark to add. The Lords and Commons of England profess, and with much truth, to be a practical legislature—to adapt legislation to facts, not to theories—and therefore to give up laws which are not, and will not, be obeyed, because the judgment of the community refuses to accept them. Th;s is precisely the case with the prohibition attached by the late Bishop of LONDON to the bill of Lord LYNDHURST, in 1835, which declared legitimate a ducal marriage of the kind in question, and all others up to that time also. Thousands of adults have violated that Act ; thousands of innocent children - are suffering the legal consequences ; and, to this day, numbers of persons are annually setting the Act at defiance. It is an Act against natural right; it appeals only to ecclesiastical grounds which are thought supersti tious by the mass of the nation ; it cannot be enforced, yet it is fertile in unpleasant legal conse quences—it cannot be long retained, and ought, therefore, to be at once repealed. " Honour to whom honour"—and so in half-a dozen words let us briefly here make the amende honorable to the Re Galantuomo. The telegram has happily proved to have been too steno graphic. For—while we are perfectly correct in having said that no mention whatever of the great name of GARIBALDI appeared in the Speech from the Throne recently delivered by VICTOR EMMANUEL —one passing reference there was (though not explicit, yet perfectly comprehensible in its way) to the daring Adventurer who but only one year since acted the PERSIUS to the Sicilian ANDRO MEDA at Marsala. " Valiant youths," said the KING of Italy towards the close of his speech on opening his new Italian Parliament, " Valiant youths, led on by a captain who has filled with his name the most distant countries, have made it evident that neither servitude nor long misfor tunes have been able to weaken the fibre of the Italian peoples." That is all —that is the one only reference made in the KING'S speech to GARIBALDI and the Garibaldians—to the great Victor and his Volunteers. But it is at any rate enough to acquit his Majesty of the damning charge of ingratitude. Except that it might be deemed captious and needlessly carping under the circumstances, now that we have the speech in its entirety to contrast with that first irritating epitome of it in the telegram, we should still be disposed to regret and to marvel over the non appearance of GARIBALDI'S name in the speech of VICTOR EMMANUEL. While, however, the name is not graven on the pedestal, the Bust of BRUTUS proves to have been for once not absent from the procession. And if the mere name be not there, none can at any rate mistake for one single fraction of an instant the identity of " A Captain" who has filled with that here unarticulated name of his the most distant coun tries ! So that VICTOR EMMANUEL still lays claim, in GARIBALDI'S instance, to that title the Hermit of Caprera loves best of all to give him, that of the Re Galantuomo. REMOVAL OF THE COURT TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT.—Her Majesty, the Prince Consort, and the junior branches of the Royal family are expected at Osborne House on Tuesday next ; their stay, it is thought, will not extend over more than ten days or a fortnight at the utmost, The honorary freedom of the Fishmongers' Com pany has been unanimously voted to Mr. Cobden, and will be conferred upon the veteran free-trader as soon as he re turns to England. TIIE WHITBY LIFEBOAT ACCIDENT.—At a meet ing of the Whitby Lifeboat Committee, held on Wednesday last, it was unanimously resolved to place forthwith their lifeboat establishment under the management of the Na tional Lifeboat Institution, and to accept the generous offer of the society to station there one of its best self-righting lifeboats, accompanied by a transporting carriage, both thoroughly equipped, including a set of efficient cork life belts for the lifeboat's crew. TIIE EARL DE GREY AND THE BALLOT SOCIETY. —Reports having been circulated that Earl De Grey's views on the ballot had undergone a change, we are gratified in stating that the noble earl has practically refuted these rumours by forwarding his subscription to the Ballot Society for the current year. THE ANNUAL MOTION FOR THE BALLOT.—Mr. Berkeley has given notice for Tuesday, sth March, of his intention to move for leave to bring in a bill for the protec tion of electors in voting for members to serve in Parlia ment. We believe the hon. member has been requested to postpone the motion for a few days later. MANCHESTER UNITY OF ODD FELLOWS.—The Pride of Islington and Northampton lodges having engaged to take a benefit at the Islington Philharmonic Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, there was a large attendance of members of the North London district and their friends, the varied entertainments, including selec tions from " Norma" and the " Rose of Castile," appearing to give universal satisfaction, and the lodges have realised a handsome profit for their benevolent funds. M. Charles Avisseau, a pottery manufacturer at Tours, of extraordinary genius, and one of the modern rivals of Bernard de Palissy, has just died in that city. The notification for the renewal of the Exchequer bills due in March is expected forthwith. Their present rate of interest is 11d. per day, or £2 ss. 71d. per annum; but a large amount will probably be sent in for payment unless the rate is raised to 2d. per day, which will be £3 Os. 10d per annum. The advices from America yesterday state that all producers, both in the North and South, are shipping goods to Europe as fast as possible. In the North the mo tive probably is to anticipate the possibility of communica tions being interrupted in case the crisis should end in hos tilities ; while in the South, in addition to the same reason, there is the stimulus to escape the suggested export tax on cotton, which, according to some accounts, is threatened as high as a cent (one halfpenny sterling) per lb. MR. EDWIN JAMES, M.P., AND TacE JOURNEY MEN BAKERS.—On Wednesday a deputation from the London Operative Bakers' Reform Association waited upon Mr. Edwin James, M.P., for the purpose of inducing that gentleman to lay their case before Parliament, with a view to getting the Legislature to interfere on behalf of the journeymen bakers of the metropolis. The deputation con sisted of both masters and men. Mr. James said that if a petition was signed by masters and men he would bring it before the House of Commons, in order that an inquiry might be made into the unfortunate condition of the men. The men, with the assistance of the masters, are now actively engaged in getting up the petition. The bakers of Ireland are about to introduce a bill into the House of Com mons for the better regulation of their trade. IRON CASED WAR SHIPS.—An elaborate discussion of this very important question is to take place on the 28th inst., the Right Hon. Sir John Pakington in the chair, at the Hall of the Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi, Lon don, under the auspices of the Institution of Naval Archi tects, of which Sir John is president. Papers will be read by Mr. Samuda, the eminent shipbuilder of Poplar, Mr. Scott Russell, and other gentlemen, and will be followed by a debate, in which Captain E. P. Halsted, R.N., Capt. Sherard Osborn, R.N., Admiral Sir George Sartorius, Cap tain C. P. Ccles, R.N., Mr. James Nasmyth, C.E., and other gentlemen of distinction have promised to take part. The discussion will commence at noon, and will be renewed at an evening meeting. On the two following days (the Ist and 2d of March) papers will be read on the rolling of ships, by the Rev. Dr. Woolley, late Principal of the School of Naval Construction ; on the deviation of ships' c' mpasses, by Mr. Evans, R.N., Compass Superintendent to the Admiralty ; on American river steamers, by Mr. Norman Russell ; on the classification of iron ships, by Mr. Grant. ham; on unsinkable iron ships, by Mr. Lungley ; and on the wave line theory, by Mr. Scott Russell. We are in formed that members of Parliament, naval officers, and other gentlemen of position who may desire to attend any of these meetings will have cards of admission furnished hem by the council on making written application to the secretary, 166, Fleet- s t ree t, L on d on . A SAD CASE.—O n T ues d ay ev ening last a lady, apparently about 35 years of age, and of highly respectable appearance, took a first-class ticket at the Woolwich Arsenal station of the North Kent Railway, to proceed by the 6 p.m. train for London. Whilst waiting on the platform for the arrival of the train, she was suddenly seized with paralysis, which rendered her perfectly insensible, and de prived her of the power of speech. The sufferer was con veyed to the Armstrong Gun Tavern, Plumstead, where she was promptly attended by Dr. Allinson, but she still remains in the same unfortunate condition, and every effort to ob`ain a knowledge of her relatives has hitherto been unavailing. It is hoped that publicity may lead to the re cognition of the unfortunate lady by her friends. She is of fair complexion, with flaxen hair, and is attired in a dark silk dress, and mantle, and had a plaid shawl on her arm. Two sovereigns and a half sovereign were found in her possessiort and a portion of her clothing is marked "A. Fitzrobert, 1860." The united studs of Couut F. de Lagrange and B iron de Niviere, says the Sport, have at present 79 horses in training. Thi s num b er has never before b een attained by any one prop r i e t or or partnership, e ven in England, and John Scott is th e on l y public trainer whose sta bl es h ave over held so great a number of horses. LAriEbT NEW 6. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) TURIN, FEB. 22. The inauguration of the Italian Parliament has been celebrated in several towns of Venetia. The Opinione says :—" Three colonels, a major, and two captains, have deserted from the Citadel of Messina." PESTII, FEB. 22. A royal rescript convokes the Diet at Buda for the 2d April, in order to make arrangements for the coronation of the Emperor as King of Hungary, to receive communication of the inaugural diploma, and to elect the Palatine of Hungary. TURIN, FEB, 21. Government has presented to the Senate a pro sect of law according the title of "King of Italy' to Victor Emmanuel and his successors. The project was received with loud cheers. PARIS, FEB. 21, The Patrie publishes a telegram from Vienna announcing that the state of affairs in Hungary is becoming very serious, and that several districts, among which are Raab, Somogy, Pieterwardein, and Buda, will be declared in a state of siege. ' " ITALY. The Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies held their first preliminary sitting on the 19th. In the former the President opened the proceedings with a speech suitable to the occasion, and then appointed the four youngest Senators to be Secre taries. In the Chamber of Deputies, which met in the old hall, some curiosity was excited by the presence of Col. Musolini, of Garibaldi's corps, who was dressed in his picturesque red shirt. He took his seat on the extreme left, as one of the deputies for Calabria. M. Crispi took his seat beside him. M. Lorenzo Valerio, late Royal Commissioner for the N arches, entered soon afterwards, and also took his seat on the left. The President consulted the Chamber as to whether the 253 elections of which the minutes had been received, were to be examined on that day or the following. The Chem. ber decided that they should be proceeded with at once, after which the sitting terminated. A Turin letter of the 19th says :—" Last evening there was a grand illumination. The open space in front of the Palace was transformed into a kind of artificial garden. Some fifty fountains were erected, in which jets of water and gas were blended together. Turin does the honours of the capital with great spirit. There were also fire works and other popular amusements. This day, a great concert is to be given by the city to all the members of the Parliament. Yesterday morning the majority of the deputies from Southern Italy arrived, and also a battalion of the mobilised National Guard of Naples. This is the first time the National Guard of that country has ever been mobilised. These young men are very well dressed and smart in appearance. Indeed, they seem to look down with an air of superiority on their fellow citizens of the North, who never theless received them with great cordiality. It is unnecessary to say that the royal speech produced a very satisfactory impression, and that the Bourse hailed it with a rise on all descriptions of securities, although the King pretty plainly announced that a loan would soon be wanted." A letter from Rome in the Monde, of the 16th, says :—" The revolutionists here knew the day before yesterday what had occurred at Gaeta. These people have a telegraphic system of their own —one superior to the ordinary one, for it anticipates events. They passed all the day in deliberation and agitation ; but the Roman and French police were aware of their projects. The revolutionists resolved, as usual, to get up a demonstration, and they ought to have been prevented ; but either measures were ill-taken, or public curiosity paralysed them, and the consequence was that there was a manifestation consisting of a display in the Corso of Bengal fire of the Piedmontese colours, an illumination of houses, and the assem bling of a large crowd, who raised cries of ' Long live Victor Emmanuel and Garibaldi! Hurrah for Napoleon III!' and even 'Down with the Pope !" The same letter says :—" It is stated that no sooner was the young Queen of Naples, on arriving at Rome, relieved of the presence of strangers who visited her, than she wished to see the youngest of the children of the late King, and as the child was asleep, her Majesty went to his chamber. As she was looking at him, a lady of honour, who held a light, accidentally set fire to the curtains of the bed. The young Queen, with great presence of mind, snatched up the child, and carried it out of the room. The flames soon spread, but the servants having hurried up, succeeded in extinguishing the conflagration. The people of Naples, who are very superstitious, consider fire an indication of happiness, and the Neapolitans here accordingly rejoice at the accident." In the letter we also read :—" Queen Christina, of Spain, yesterday afternoon visited the King, Queen, Princes and Princesses of Naples s at the Quirinal, and shortly after the Pope arrived. All the Royal personages, who had been waiting at the bottom of the great staircase, prostrated themselves to kiss the feet of his Holiness. The Pope raised them and blessed them, and then, with the King by his side, led the way to his apartments. In the course of the conversation which followed, Francis IL, who was greatly moved, frequently took the hands of the Holy Father and kissed them respectfully. The Pontiff remained with the august personages for more than a hour, and when he left, a crowd, who had collected in the square, greeted him with enthu siasm. The people afterwards invaded the court yard of the palace and cried for a long time,' Long live the King!' They then demanded that the King should present himself on the balcony ; but his Majesty, not being in a mood to receive popular ovations, sent one of his chamberlains to thank them, and did not appear." FRANCE. The Moniteur publishes the official return of the customs revenue for January, 1861, amounting to 8,134,900 f., being 5,476,337 f. less than in the corresponding month of 1860, and 4,453,347 f. less than in 1859. The official journal makes the following remarks on the subject:— " The tables which present the principal com mercial and maritime results obtained during the month of January last, as compared with those of the corresponding period of the two preceding years, show in several respects a fresh increase in our commercial relations with foreign coun tries. In the imports the most marked aug mentation has taken place in French colonial sugar, coffee, raw cotton, and metals, particularly i❑ cast iron from England. Sugar, as compared with 1860, has ircreasd 49,348 metrical quin tals (2211 lb. each•), and with 1859, 76,051 m.q.; coffee, 8,806 and 4,613 ; cotton, 37,031 and 28,217 ; and rough castings, 10,430 and 29,905 respectively. There has also been an improvement in cocoa and on raw wool, as compared with Jan., 1860. In exports the commercial movement has rather slackened in some kinds of merchandise—refined sugar has been sent abroad under benefit of drawback in a less quan tity by 3,739 met. quin. than in the corresponding month of 1860. Among the goods, the stock of which in our entrepots maintains itself at a higher point, notwithstanding the increase in the consump tion, coffee must be more particularly mentioned. There remained on hand 147,824 met. quin. at the end Of last month, while there had been only 98,985 at the end of the same month of 1860, and 80,766 in that of 1859. Lastly, attention is directed to the increase of the movement of French shipping to foreign countries, the French colonies, and in the great fisheries. The national flag, as compared with 1860, has gained during the month more than 14,000 tons in arrivals, and nearly 20,000 tons in depar tures." BOURSE, Feb. 21.—The market has been again heavy, and prices have undergone a further decline, For the Account, Threes, which opened at 67f 95e,. G'REA:f DESTRUCTION OF RUSSIAN are now at 67f 90c. The following are the last I GRAIN BY LOCUSTS. quotations :- 41 per per Cents ... 97 90 Credit Foncier 925 Do end month.... 97 95 Belgian 41 3 per Cents Do. end month 67 90 Roman Bank Shares 2872 50 Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 656 25 Spanish Threes 4B Do. Account 652 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans 1405 .. 1402 50 Northern New ditto 892 50 .. Lyons and Mediterranean 932 50 .. 931 25 Geneva — „ • Southern Western .... 560 .. 560 Eastern Sardinian Au strian Lowbard TIZE PENINSULAR MAILS. -..-.-- ----4.-- The screw steamer Alhambra (of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's fleet), Captain J. D. Steward, arrived at Southampton at 2 p.m. yester day, with mails from Lisbon of the 17th inst., and from Vigo of the 18th, in charge of Capt. Robinson, R.N., Admiralty agent. Bad weather prevented the Alhambra communicating with Oporto. She had fresh north-westerly breezes and cloudy weather on the 17th, and subsequently experienced a succession of strong south-westerly gales, with thick weather and heavy rains. The Alhambra brought nine passengers, includ ing Dr. Somerville, R.N., and Mr. Wright, assistant surgeon, R.N. ; and on freight £2,200 in specie, 76 half-chests of oranges, 341 cases of eggs, and 16 packages of general merchandise. The Royal Mail Company's steamship Oneida arrived at Lisbon on the 13th from Southampton, and sailed at 4.30 p.m. for the Brazils. When the Alhambra left Lisbon there were lying in the Tagus her Majesty's steamships Edgar, Tra falgar, St. Jean d'Acre, and steam frigate Diadem. The Algiers had left the previous day for Malta. There had been no debates in the Cortes of par ticular interest. It was understood the Pope's Nuncio, M. Ferrari, would be allowed to remain at the Court of Lisbon, notwithstanding the pub lication of his unfortunate despatch, and that no opposition would, in consequence, be made to the Portuguese Government's capitalizing the church property. Exchanges for three months were quoted this packet, on London, 541 ; Paris, 527 ; Hamburg, 481; Amsterdam, 42k; Genoa, 524 ; Portuguese Three per Cent. Stock, registered, 47 . 1 471; cou pons, 471 471 ; Deferred, 381 39 ; Bank of Portu gal shares, 14 141 per cent. premium. The steamship Coralline, of Glasgow, was at Vigo. At noon on the 20th, in lat. 48.6 N., long. 5.30 W., the Alhambra passed the Peninsular and Oriental steamer Tagus, bound for Lisbon ; and at 5 a.m. on the 21st, off the Start, the Pera, bound for Gibraltar. The Alhambra will take out the return mails for the Peninsular ports on Wednesday next, the 27th inst. 211. E BOP GROWERS AND 111 E CHAN CELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. Yesterday afternoon a numerously attended public meeting of the hop planters of Kent was held, at the assembly room of the Star Hotel, Maid stone, to consider what steps should be adopted in consequence of the refusal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to grant a further postponement of the duty payable in respect to the crop of 1859, or to receive a deputation on that subject. The chair was occupied by Mr. Pannett, of Chart ; and amongst the most extensive planters present were Messrs. J. Whatman (formerly M.P. for West Kent) Elvy, Hartridge, Collier, Mercer, Buckland, Sim monds, Park, Clifford, Hatch, Stuart, and Hayes. Letters were received from Lord Holmesdale and Sir E. Filmer, members for West Kent, expressive of regret for their unavoidable absence. The CHAIRMAN observed that the meeting had been originally convened for the purpose of appoint ing members of a deputation to wait upon Mr. Gladstone, but it had since transpired that no such deputation would be received by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and therefore they knew what to expect. The chairman then read a letter from Mr. Gladstone, to the effect that he went to the extreme verge of his authority on a former occasion by granting a postponement of the duty, and he could not now accede to a postponement of that postpone ment. They had now met to consider the present state of the question, and to say whether they would remain content with the treatment they had received at the hands of the Chancellor of the Ex chequer. (No, no.) The Sussex planters had already decided to adopt active measures to obtain a reversal of Mr. Gladstone's refusal. Several in fluential members of Parliament had promised their co-operation, and it would be well for that meeting to consider what course should be taken by th e Kentish planters. Mr. ELVY (of Yalding) moved a resolution re questing the county members to continue their exertions for a postponement of the duty. Mr. HARTRIDGE seconded the motion, which was unanimously adopted. Mr. HATCH, Mr. HAYES, and other gentlemen, addressed the meeting, and it was resolved to co operate with the Sussex planters to obtain a fur ther postponement of the duty by every legal means. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. M. _MIRES AND TILE 7 URKISII LOAN. A statement published yesterday morning that £280,000 of Constantinople bills fall due on M. Mires to-day is fortunately quite incorrect. No bills whatever drawn from that quarter upon M. Mires become due until the 12th March. Between that date and the 26th of the same month, there will arrive at maturity 11,666,000 f. (£466,000) of bills at three months' sight, which were drawn on the 12th and 26th November upon M, Mires by his agents at Constantinople, Messrs. Arland Court and Co., to order of the Turkish Government, and which 'were on account of the first instalment on M. Mires' Turkish Loan. Of this amount 10,000,000 f. (£400,000) have already been discounted by the .Societe de Credit Industriel of Paris, who had been provided by M. Mires with securities by way of cover. The balance is too small to admit of a doubt of its being provided for. In the beginning of Feb ruary there were also drawn upon M. Mires from Con stantinople bills to a further amount of 11,666,000 E, at 45 days'date, which fall due on the 15th of March. Of this amount 4,000,000 f. have already been dis counted, it is believed, by M. Mires himself, through the intervention of the Turkish Minister in London, and the proceeds (£160,000) have come into the hands of the agents of the London Loan of 1858, and will be applied to the dividend due the Ist March on that stock. There thus remain between 7,000,000 f. and 8,000,000 f. (say £300,000) of bills on M. Mires, due the 15th March, for which no provision has yet apparently been made, but which are fully expected to be met in due course. They are on account of the second instalment of the loan, and all bear the endorsement of the Turkish Government. There is, therefore, no instant cause of anxiety. Meanwhile the Greek interest continues to manifest an unex pected degree of strength under the existing critical circumstances. A loose statement was published this afternoon upon the authority of the Levant Herald to the effect that the whole of the Galata houses were expected to stop payment. This state ment is dated the 16th inst. News by telegraph has, however, been received to the 20th, when the Greek houses, instead of stopping payment, had just shipped a further large amount of gold—com puted at about £loo,ooo—for Marseilles. At Paris the Mires scandal continues to excite great attention. In addition to M, Mires, MM. Solar and Avond, two financiers associated with him, are said to have been arrested. It is also said that one nobleman has cut his throat, and that two more hare fled. These are the fruits of the gigantic system of Bourse jobbing which has extended into the highest circles, and which has long compromised the French Government in the eyes of Europe.— L aily News. ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.--On Tues day rt a ll b l i re. circumstances, Palmer cut rp, a b his w if u e , t s c butcher, o throat, f B andr i gin afterwards tem eo . ar rn d 8 - f bis own. For some time past they have lived very unhztp. pily, and on several occasions, when in a s t a t e o f excite went, caused through drink and jealousy, he being a person advanced in life, while his wife is not more than 20, he has threatened her. On Tuesday, they having had some angry words, he took a clasp knife, and deliberately cut his wife's throat, whilst she was in bed, in a most shocking manner, and then cut his own. He at once ran downstairs and alarmed the neighbours, who sent for the neatest medical assistance. The wounds were dressed, and although they were found to be very extensive, the lives of the unhappy individuals are not despaired of. During the day the pri soner Sharp was able to speak, and was informed that he must consider himself in custody, to answer the charge at the Lincoln assizes, to be held in March neat. The following is from the circular of Messrs. Carr, of Rostock:— The tot al shipments of wheat from Russia up to the end of September were 684,871 quarters, against 5(38,105 quarters in 1859. Taking into account t he sad havoc done by the locusts in the whole of. Southern Russia, Russian and Austrian Poland—•the devastation being so enormous that in the Odessa districts alone some 400,000 or 500,000 quarters of wheat were destroyed—and considering that from the St. Petersburg, Riga, and Aro•hangel districts, and from Poland the yield is not great, but the reverse, I think I may estimate Russia and Russian Poland's capabilities or exports for the next campaign at one million quarters. Having so often been written to and asked to give an idea of the devastation committed by the locusts, it may not be out of place, once for all, now to do so. In the distance a swarm of locusts looks like a dark thunder-cloud, and as they approach a whistling sound is hoard in the air, similar to a violent thunder-storm ; the sun, if shining at the time, is darkened, and the temperature becomes 5 or 10 deg. Reaumer, cooler, as the warmth of the sun is prevented from penetrating the mass. The swarm takes from twelve to fifteen hours to pass over, and the enormous mass or quantity of this fearful scourge in the atmosphere, as far as the eye can reach, makes such an overpowering impression on the human frame that a person feels such an inward depressing feeling, such as difficult breathing, and inability to shake off the horror striken nervous sensation. Business is suspended.. If these plagues have once reached the ground the earth is for several miles in extent a foot deep at least with them, and they do not ascend until they have eaten every particle of grain, pulse, grass, &c., and the soil then looks as if it had been laid waste by fire. _ _ These insects can only be got rid of when they are not tired and able to fly away, when a great noise is made and several thousands of persons set to work together ; indeed, it often happens that the Government sends two or three regiments of soldiers to assist the farmers ; if, however, the swarms are tired and so enormous that they cover the fields a foot deep or more, then it is not in the power of human beings to prevent their commit ting sad havoc, and when killed and left on* the ground (or should a swarm be driven into the sea and afterwards washed ashore) the stench is past bearing and generally is followed by a pesti lent disease. According to a map drawn whilst the Governor General of Odessa made a tour of inspection. early last May, about seventy-five Russian sqßare miles were covered with the eggs of these insects. In the fields surrounding the small town of Tomaszow no less than 625 baskets of living locusts (each basket containing about 6,400, and 551 gornats of 15,600 eggs each, making in all about four million locusts and nine million eggs) were delivered to the burgomaster of the place. TILE GALE AV PLYMOUTH. PLYMOUTH, THURSDAY, 7 P.M. The storms continues. About noon it increased gradually to a hurricane. The Narcissus, Geyser, and Philomel are in the Admiralty anchorage, inside the breakwater. In the merchant anchor age there may be 40 vessels in all. About 3 o'clock the American barque Hiawatha, Captain Hull, from Havre, of and for New York, in ballast, fouled a Belgian brigantine, and both went ashore in Batten Bay. The Belgian is called the Joseph, Captain Louves, from Liverpool, with salt for Ostend. The American bark will probably become a total wreck ; the Belgian may be got off if the weather mode rates. Shortly after a strange English bark came in from sea and attempted to anchor, but, having her canvass loose, she drove ashore ; her masts have been cut away. In driving ashore she got across the schooner Devon, Captain Fowler, belonging to the South Devon Shipping Compa n y, and carried away her bowsprit and foremast. The Devon is from Wales, with railway iron, for Lon don. After this, a small schooner, with a running bowsprit, went ashore on the Batten ; name un known ; crew saved. At the same time the schooner Pigeon, Captain Hinkley, belonging to Plymouth, went ashore under the Hoe and Citadel ; crew saved. She has on board 500 barrels of gun powder, received from the ship Indian Empire, Captain Black, bound to Melbourne, and which put into Plymouth Sound on the 18th inst. with mainmast gone. The Pigeon was to have retained the gunpowder in the Sound until the ship had. been into harbour for repair. The strange barque will probably become a wreck. We do not hear of any loss of life by these wrecks. DEATH OF MR. SECKER, THE MAGISTRATE.--• Shortly after the commencement of the business of the Marylebone Police court, it was rumoured that Mr. Seeker, who for many weeks has been unable to perform his duty owing to indisposition, had expired. His worthy colleague, Mr. Mansfield, upon receiving the information, directed Burrage, one of the warrant officers, to proceed at once to Mr. Seeker's chambers, Essex-court, Temple, to ascertain whether the rumour was correct or not. He did so, and on his return stated that the much-lamented gentleman ex pired at half-past 5 o'clock the previous morning. It is a remarkable circumstance that within the last eight or nine months death has claimed no fewer than three of the Mary lebone magistrates, viz., Mr. Broughton, Mr. Hammill, and the one whose dissolution we have now the sad duty to record. NEW TRINITY WORKS DEPOT. —AR extensive and important establishment is being formed by the Board of Trinity on the north shore of Milford Haven, near to Pembroke Ferry. The works are estimated to cost £lO,OOO, and are to consist of pier storehouses, walled enclosures, and houses for the workmen, forming a perfect depot for the whole of the western coast so as to store supplies for the lighthouses along the Bristol and St. George's Channels, and the Irish sea. A large body of men are at work under the contractor, Mr. Douglas, in preparing the ground, &e. THE WRECK OF THE STEAMER METROPOLIS.-- JERSEY, Feb. 20.—The hull of this ship, broken in two parts, has now drifted to some distance from the spot where she struck and went down, and is buried in the sand. The steam-tug Experiment has been occupied for some time in salvage operations, and will continue to be so for some time to come should the weather continue favourable. She takes out two divers, who have already recovet ed several cases of copper and other articles. The total salvage up to the present time amounts to some 60 casks of spirits, 40 pipes of wine, the cases of copper referred to, and a few miscellane ous articles more or less damaged by sea water. Of the considerable quantity of malt liquor on board, the whole, or nearly the whole, will be lost, the bungs having been forced out by the fermentation consequent on the tossing the casks have received. On Saturday la casks of spirits were found in the Bay of Grouville on the east of the island. There have, of course, been several instances of misappro priation of the portable part of the cargo. On Saturday two men who had been employed by Lloyd's agent in the carriage of a pipe of wine and a cask of gin from St. Brelade's Bay were convicted before Jurat De Quetteville at the Court of Correctional Police, and sentenced to short terms of im prisonment, for stealing a considerable portion of the liquor in their charge. On the same day, at Gorey, two officers of the Impot discovered three hogsheads of gin hidden, one buried in a publican's garden, and the other two concealed in the sand above high water mark, with an old boat turned upside dawn above the spot; and yesterday two hogsheads of port wine were found in St. John's parish, hidden in a clump of furze. It is understood that the owners of the Metropolis will put a fast-sailing vessel on the station at once, to be replaced as soon as possible by another suitable steamer. On Saturday the Harbour Committee of the States of Legislative Assembly met to inquire into the cause of the wreck. The sitting was private, but we learn that both Captain Corr and the pilot, John Battam, were examined, and that the latter was deprived of his license by the committee. THE HORSE NAILMAKERS ' STRIKE.--The pub lication of a notice stating that various firms in the trade were willing to take on and teach persons the trade who had never been connected in any way with it before, has had the natural effect of calling forth numerous applicants —common nailmakers, chainmakers, and others. The number of appli cations would undoubtedly be greater but for the fact that those on strike exercise such a terrorising influence over all those who have not joined their ranks : still we understand that several new hands would be put on yesterday morning. A meeting of those on strike was held on Saturday morning in Dudley, which was numerously attended, and after it was over about 200 nailers in the most wretched distress were to be seen wa lki ng about the streets of the town. The meetings are naturally of a private nature, and therefore it is difficult to ascertain accurately what business is transacted at them. One thing however is certain, that the " Unionists" during the past week have made such a use of their influ ence, that many men who had taken out iron from ware houses at the beginning of the week to work up into nails brought it back on Saturday uninanufaqured, the men evi dently being afraid to go in contravention of the union laws. The iron, however, was not taken in, and conse quently the men will have to work it up, or subject them selves to a charge of neglect of service. Numbers of men' on strike surrounded the warehouses on Saturday afternoon, as those who had been at work were bringing their nails in, and a considerable amount of tacit intimidation was going on. The precautions that have been taken, and the reward offered for the conviction of "intimidators," prevented any actively offensive measures being resorted to ; but still two men trespassed so far near the confines of the offence that' they were given into custody. Eventually, however, they were discharged, as the evidence of intimidation was legally insufficient. The influence of the tacit intimidation exer cised —although it is difficult to make it amenable to the law—is so great that between 100 and 150 turned out on Saturday night in the neighbourhood of Golnal and Sedg ley and joined the stpico,-13frponghqtri j) g dy roe. Mill _____~ .~ -~.~.- iii ha , the dat me: Nvo qui bal oft poc are a I am St '