The Sun. — London, England, 1861-03-22 00:00:00

1' }IFATRY,-ROYAL, IiA.VMARKBT. Le6see, Mr..T. B. auOkataile. TR 13 EVENINfI, the performances will oommenee with A DUKE IN DIFFICULTIES. Mrs. Stirling, .Miss F. Hayden, Mrs. Wilkins, Miss Fanny Stirling, Mr. Budistone, Mr. Compton, Mr. Howe, &e. Alter which, a new pantomime, QUEEN LADYBIRD AND HER CHILDREN. The Pantomimists by the un rivalled Lederer's, Herr Cole, and Fanny Wright. Commence at 7. rRINCF N'S Tft gATRE._ 11) Lessee and Manger, Mr. A. Harris, THIS EVENING, THRICE MARRIED. Atter which, HAMLET. Hamlet, Mr. Fechter. Messrs. Graham, Meadows, ace. ; Misses Heath, Elsworthy. TAIiEI,PEII, NEW THEATRE-ROYAL. mute Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. VVebeter. THIS EVENING, AN UGLY CUSTOMER. Messrs. J. L. Toole, C. Selby, and Warde ; Miss K. Kelly, and Miss E. Thorne. After which, THE COLLEEN FAWN. D. Eouaicault, D. fisher, Billington, Falconer, Stephenson. C. J. Smith, Romer. Miss Agnes Robertson, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chatterley. To conclude with a new Burlesque Extravaganza, entitled BLUE BEARD FitOM 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 6—Commence at 7. Box-office open from 10 till 5. No charge for booking. Private boxes, £2 25.; Family Boxes, £l. Orchestra Stalls, Cs. ; Balcony, Is.; Front Circle Starclls, Ss. ; Pit Stalls, 2s. ; Pit, Is. 6d. ; Amphitheatre, ts ; Gallery, 6d. Acting Manager—Mr. Wm. Smith. CANTERBURY- HALL CONCERTS!!! W e stminster -road. rropr t e tor ...... • Morton. A Grand Selectiofr om Verdi's new Opera, IL A RO, (This opera has never been produced in this or any other country, exc ept at these Concerts) , having met with that de dedeioceso which charactise the most popnlar works of thi s great Master, will be performed EVERY EVENING ; together with a Selection from LA FIGLIA DEL REGGI MENTO, by Donizettl, Principal Artistes—Miss Russell, Madame Maria, Miss Tyrrell, Mr. H. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, H. Drummond, and c. W. Bernard. Director, Mr. F. Jonghmans. The Comic Department comprises Messrs. E. Marshall, A. B. Hollingsworth, .7. Blanchard, F. Bell, W. H. Welland, and the Brothers Conrad. John Martin's Three celebrated Pictures will remain on view a short time longer in the Fine Arts Gallery of the Establishment. FUNERAL OF THE DUCHESS OF KENT. In consequence of the Funeral of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the above establishment will be CLOSED on MONDAY next, the 25th inst. TE OXFORD, No. 6, OXFORD-STREET, near Tottenham-court-road. THE GRAND INAUGURATION CONCERT takes place on TUESDAY NEXT, March 26. In addition to the Powerful Company permanently engaged, all the available talent of the day will appear, full particulars of which will be duly announced. Tickets (Hall 55., Balcony and Stalls 7s. 6d.) may be obtained of the principal Music-sellers, and at the Oxford and Canter bury Halls. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TlllB DAY. —Morning, 9h. 48m.—Afternoen, 10h. 36m. To-moußow.-Morning, 11h. 17m.—Afternoon, 11h. 54m. THB WEATHER.—SUN Orncm, MARCH 22, 1861. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADS. 45—highest since noon yesterday. 32-lowesi this morning and during the night. 49—this day at noon. BARomETER-29.78 ; rising rapidly. WlND—North-Westerly—fresh; with fine cool weather. 42i, o _r, 1. PTA ,:--__,-: .. - • i .. No .• - :, t.'4:l;( , ~:•,• xi o - ' ' b ----‘'.•-, ''" . - - -- - - 4 .- '-- . 1 J ' . ' tl ' '' ''' . . 4 ?. .. 1. „ . ~' . 1 . 04 11:S'''.1. X -2.)-tl-- ' ' l, , - •t i t l ~ _ Fi THE SUN. LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1881. The Bankruptcy Bill is mellowing, and ripening very satisfactorily into an enactment. Having at length passed not only through its first and second reading, but also clause by clause through the Comet:lens in Committee it was again carefully re vised last evening —several objectionable provisions being either bodily eliminated from the bill or as cautiously and judiciously, as was in any way prac ticable at the moment, modified. Upon one clause, clause 207, the implacable clause, through the operation of which anyone, while mouldering in his grave, might have been even thus posthumously ren dered bankrupt—upon that cruel provision which had thence already acquired the invidious title of the Dead Man's Clause—Sir RICHARD BETHELL suffered his one defeat upon a division yesterday, when the House was still carefully revising his measure in committee. That now happily obli terated clause being last night struck bodily out of the bill by the decision of a clear majority of sixteen in a House (with Speaker and Tellers) of 258—but 119 trooping into the Ministerial lobby at Sir RICHARD BETHELL'S instance, and 135 1 walking at the instance of Sir HUGH CAIRNS into the lobby of the Opposition. And that result—when it was announced that that most harsh and incon siderate clause (207) was thus, by a clear majority of sixteen in a house of more than 250 members, peremptorily rejected—was hailed, not unnaturally, with a renewal of those ringing cheers that have latterly been so frequently audible under similar circumstances from the benches of the Opposition. Not, however, that it should for one instant be supposed by anyone who may not have scrupulously watched the progress of this new Bankruptcy Bill through those stages which it has already traversed in the House of Commons, and traversed alto gether so very successfully—not, we say, that it must be for one single instant imagined (from the mere accident of that adverse discussion yesterday, that resolute discussion striking out the " dead man's clause," whole and entire, amidst the cheers of the Opposition) that Sir RICHARD BETHELL'S Bill has received from the Opposition altogether, or from any one section of the Opposition, other than the very reception to which it was alone in itself eminently well entitled—a re ception, namely, the most frank, candid, and magnanimous. Determined though Sir HUGH CAIRNS and Sir GEORGE BOWYER have shown themselves now very recently to be in their antagonism to certain extraneous clauses, as we may call them, clauses, wholly and absolutely necessary to be made in this otherwise masterly revision of the laws relating to Bank ruptcy and Insolvency—resolute though Sir HUGH CAIRNS and Sir GEORGE BOWYER have both shown themselves to be in their antagonism to these excre scences upon the measure as framed by her MAJESTY'S Attorney-General, the great mass of the Opposition, the whole bulk of the Commons generally, including amongst them the hon. baronet the member for Dundalk, and the right hon. gentleman the ex-Solicitor-General, have shown Themselves to be, as Sir RICHARD BETHELL in truth has only in the main given them good reason to be, most generously disposed to forward this new Bank ruptcy Bill on its way to its final promulgation as part and parcel of the law of the land, as a fully developed and perfected enactment. The rapidity with which the Bill has already won its way so far , thr ough the ordeals required to be traversed by ° Y and every outline of an enactment, is proof positive indeed of the general merit of the Bil itselt Pia its' entirety, and of the impartial and g enero us spirit with which it has been welcomed by all parties and sections of parties in the House of Commons. How ever unwilling the Attorney-General may have been to have witnessed the abrupt and forcible erasure of clause 207 from the draft of his abbre viated but still comprehensive measure of reform in the laws of bankruptcy and insolvency, the right lion. and learned g entle man can hardly recognise in the fact of Sir HUGH CAIRNS' amendment that the clause be got rid of, in the fact that that amend m of sixteen ent was carried by a ma j orit y against the wishes of the Government, or even in that most irritating fact of all, the cheers that greeted the ancnonneement of the last triumph won in this way by , h e r m A JEsTy's Opposition—Sir RICHARD I BETHELL, we say, can hardly in any thing of all this recognise aught that can impress him with the most remote idea that this Bankruptcy Bill of 1861 has, on the whole met with a reception other than one charac terised by frankness, candour, and magnanimity, Exceptions were taken—it is gratifying to remem ber most successfully—to the extravagant notion of legalizing a sort of posthumous bankruptcy—so successfully that the dead man's clause (207), as we have seen, has been summarily struck out of the bill altogether. Exceptions have been taken with partial success, also, to other taws in a bill, that l in a comprehensive view has given only very general satisfaction—flaws, for example, like that very recognisable one, threatening evi !IT British traveller during his absence from these islands with the unlooked for misery of finding himself rapidly reduced to a state of bankruptcy during his absence. Modifications have, in that last instance particularly, been wisely insist ed upon as requisite by the critics of the 8i. 1 .1 as it has gone on its way pretty smoothly altogether through the House of Commons ; and they have in several instances been quite as wisely allowed by the author of the Bill himself to the further improvement (in spite of himself) of his bolt and sweeping scheme of innovation. So satisfactorily in truth has the good work gone on that Sir RICHARD BETHELL, in compensation for the cheers which greeted the adverse majority of sixteen, enjoyed the satisfaction yesterday of inti mating at the'close of the discussion upon his Bank kruptcy Bill, that immediately upon his bringing up the report to-morrow (that is this evening) and after moving a supplementary clause fixing an ad valorem duty upon deeds—the Bill, as now revised and modified and altered in Committee,will be passed on into the hands of the QUEEN'S compositors to be at once reprinted in readiness for the Third Reading ! That Third Reading to come on directly upon the reassembling of the House after the close of the Easter vacation. This, recollect, before the month of March has yet closed, before the Easter recess has yet commenced ! It speaks well for the spirit in which the House of Commons has welcomed Sir RICHARD BETHELL'S new Bankruptcy Bill, and it speaks well, also, for the skill with which the First Law Officer of the Crown had put his master-hand to the re-moulding and the re adjustment of the whole system of English law relating to Bankruptcy and Insolvency. It has pleased Earl GREY to express, in his place in the House of Lords, the same opinion as we have already given on our wisest policy in regard to the lonian Isles. We totally disbelieve that they have the shadow of a grievance to complain in our ad ministration of the protectorate confided to us in 1815. The Protectorate itself is the only grievance, if they choose so to consider it. It is, however, plain enough that there is a party there, whose extent and influence are as yet doubtful points, who desire to get rid of us and our protection, and to unite the islands to the adjoining kingdom on the mainland, to which they are bound by the ties of race and language. We have not the least doubt that they are politically deeply indebted to us. We took them under our wing when Greece itself was in Mahommedan hands; and had abyContinental Power been entrusted with the charge, they would have:had a rule which, while giving " patriots," as they call themselves, plenty to complain about, would have taken care that, if they opened their lips in com plaint, they should have done it the second time with the walls of a dungeon for auditors, and per haps hardly able to stand upright from the effects of the bastinado and weight of irons. How far the desire for union with Greece extends among the populace, is not easy to guess from the language of acknowledged demagogues. Some accounts tells us that these patriots were unwilling to bring about a dissolution or prorogation of their parliament, for fear of losing their pay; and that when the Lord High Commissioner did send them about their business, they were jeered by the people. They must be singular Greeks if they were indifferent to pecuniary considerations; but the islanders also must be very unlike the race they belong to, if they do not view the political question chiefly through the pecuniary one. There are times of ex citement in almost every community when the national feeling overpowers every other, and when even the bourgeoisie are carried away by it. If there is anything like this among the Islanders at present, then, indeed, we can hardly doubt what would be the course most consistent, most dignified, most conducive to the spread of English influence throughout Europe. England has applauded as one man the language of her Foreign Secretary, " That the people were the only judges of whether their grievances were such as to justify a change of dynasty." We cannot de fend Lord JOAN by saying, with the Duke of NEWCASTLE, that this has no relevance to the de sire of the Islanders to get rid of our protectorate ; we must agree even with the Marquis of NORMAN BY for once, that this language is altogether relevant to their case; indeed, it is a case a fortiori, for we are purely foreigners at Corfu, and it must be admitted that, unless for some very weighty reasons, any people are justified in regarding the rule of foreigners as itself a grievance—such a grievance that it is likely to magnify the most unintentional errors into grave delinquencies, and to cause even good to be evil spoken of. Lord JOHN'S having used the language referred to before all Europe, and it having been notoriously popular in England, strengthens the case for taking the high position of declaring that if they wish us away we certainly deem it no advantage to ourselves to keep there; but even had these words never been written the same course would have equally been the wisest and the most dignified for England. We cannot conceive a step we could now take more popular than that of ascertaining thoroughly and honestly the sense of the population of the Seven Islands, and of acting upon it. We would not even address to them a word in favour of our protectorate. We would take care to make it dis • tinctly known, with the4most unequivocal pledge of the national faith, that should the majo rity of the Islanders prefer retaining our protectorate, the minority, their leaders in chided, should not experience any disad vantage, not even mere coldness from our Govern ment in consequence of their votes. We would offer, not a sham, a Savoy ballot, but an effective and independent one, with every assurance that we were perfectly willing to part company with them if they did not think our company worth having. We must believe that an act of this kind would render England the most popular power in Europe. The sympathies which France is now attracting from the reviving nationalities would be at once trans ferred to us. France would be regarded as the selfish appropriator of all she could grasp; Eng land as the consistent giver up of those who had the claim of nationality only against her rule. Our absolute power over the Islands, and the perfect e la a r s i e ty with which we could do what we pleased, would o b r u t t he en a h c a t. nce the generosity and th e popu i It is quite true that Lord JOHN'S despatch had nothing to do with the present political rebellion in th e Corfu Assembly . . We all remember how the "pat riots," after becoming unmanageable under a lenie att High Commissioner, were visited by the great English critic on HOMER, who effected, however, but little, and who was followed by the present "King STORK." The uneasi ness is not one of last year, or the year before it only. But this, if it shows that Lord JoHN's despatch did not create the mischief, shows also that it is one which ought no longer to be trifled with or palliated. The dissatisfaction was one which found appropriate fuel in the de spatch, or at least an irresistible argumentwn ad kominem, as against the noble lord, and an argu mentum ad populum against the whole English people, who exulted in the despatch. We cannot, however, imagine that the people need any such argument. Lords may not like undoing the work of 1815, but the people of this country are almost as willing as those of France to tear the treaties of that year to pieces. Our " interests in the Adria tic," it will be generally thought, are to get rid of a protectorate which is only a cost and a burden to us, and to set Austria, Russia, and Prussia, the example of giving nationalities their rights. How much should we do for Hungary and for Poland, by a cheerful concession to the great European principle of the day; a principle which even Lord PALMERSTON and Lord JOHN RUSSELL cannot deny commands the enthusiastic support of the country they govern. As to the military view of the matter, we cannot set that against the right of the people to choose their own rulers. It is, however, grossly exagge rated. The harbour of Corfu, which is a fine one, would be as free to us as ever, though we should not be its masters. But with Malta so near, we have little need of another naval station at Corfu. It might perhaps be fair to secure, by tteaty, that it should never be placed, for any consideration, in the hands of any of the greater powers—France, Austria, or Russia; and if it were not, we should practically lose very little of our strength in the Mediterranean. There are, indeed, several easy arrangements which we need not now specify, by which we might, at the same time, take the dignified posi tion of not forcing ourselves on those to whom British rule was unwelcome, however advan tageous, and yet not suffer in a naval point of view. We must, however, keep in mind also that even some little loss, in that respect, would be more than compensated by the position England would gain with every people in Europe. It is not a little singular that the Turks, whom the patriots at Corfu implore all Europe to " im prove off" the face of the country they occupy should be amongst the most advanced free-traders of Europe. The Northern States of America have had the benefit of a visit from Mr. COBDEN, but such inapt scholars have they proved, that no sooner could they filch an opportunity than they changed a tariff already far too high, for the inte rests of consumers, into a protective one. They hazarded alienation of England, and defiance of the seceding States, by hostility to Free-trade and a ruinously protective tariff. France, too, has had the advantage of fifteen months' scholarship under the popular Free-trade teacher; a teacher, too, who was quite in love with his pupil, as well as with his own doctrines ; yet she has got no further than a first step towards Free-trade—a very faltering one, and, as the debates in the Chamber show, she is almost frightened at the step she has made. Not so, however, the good Mussulmans who "blight the fairest portion of Europe." Their tariff was liberal enough, as a tariff, before. Their heaviest duties were not on foreign but on home productions. They levied twelve per cent. on exports, and only five per cent. on imports. This is temporarily changed to a uniform charge of eight per cent. on both imports and exports ; the working of which should be that exports from Turkey will be, more frequently than they now are, paid for by imports, and not by silver and gold. But the duty on exports is to be gradually reduced—one per cent. annually—till it is to remain at one per cent. on all exports from the country. Imports will continue to pay the eight per cent. duty. There is also to be a con siderable reduction on goods in transit through Turkey. A Government monopoly will, it appears, remain in Salt and Tobacco, two articles commonly selected for that purpose. The treaty is to last for twenty-eight years, and it is to bind all parts of the SULTAN'S dominions, even those over which his rule is little more than nomi nal. Our merchants may find, perhaps, in the Mediterranean and the Levant some compensation ' for the foolish and selfish protection tariff, signing which was the last important act of poor Mr. BUCHANAN'S not very t enviable reign. TJEIT SUN, 1 - LONDON, ''FRIDAY ',EVENING, MARCH 22, 1861. T.HE BUDGET. Mr. Gladstone, last night, put a notice on the paper that 'he would move on Monday, the Bth of April, to appoint a Committee of Public Accounts—and that on Monday, the 15th April, he would make his Financial Statement—that is —the Budget. "BEGGAR MY NEIGHBOUR." (From Punch.) AN INTERNATIONAL DUET. LOUIS. " Come, Mr. Bull, your purse is full, Let's have a friendly game : See here I play you my La Gloire. Now what's the card you name ?" Joux. " I play my Warrior, a good card. And one I'll freely back : Then follow suit with my Black Prince, The king of all the pack. " And so for every card you play, You'll find that I'll play two • My purse is heavy, as you say— Who'll tire first, I or you ? " Your little game, my foreign friend, Is one that two can play : And he will be most sure to win Who can the longest pay. " But is it wise to waste our time (Nor is that loss the chief), In games that can do neither good, And_may bring both to grief ? " Throw up your cards, I'll throw up mine, And cease this fruitless labour ; There's better work for each to do Than Beggaring his neighbour." We are authorised to state that the announce ment in the Globe of last evening that the remains of her late Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent will lie in state at Frogmore to-day and to-morrow is entirely without foun dation. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam bridge and the Princess Mary have left their residence, in the Ambassadors' Court, St. James's Palace, for Cambridge Cottage, where their royal highnesses purpose to reside in comparative retirement for six weeks, in consequence of the death of the Duchess of Kent. The Earl and Countess of Lichfield have arrived at their now residence, in Dover-street, from Brocket Hall, Herts, for the season. _ The Earl apd Countess Howe have arrived at Curzon House, from Gopsall Hall, for a few days. Lord and Lady Herbert's intended entertainment to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has been postponed owing to the death of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent. LATEST NEWS. NAPLES, MARCH 21, 11.40 A.M. The names of the new Councillors of Lieutenancy are not yet known. The journal _ltalia del Popolo haring accused Alexander Dumas of having taken 40,000 ducats from the Government during the dictatorship of Garibaldi, Dumas has sent a challenge to the editor of that journal. Count Teleki and M. Winkler will be his seconds. The typhus fever has disappeared from Naples. NAPLES, THURSDAY, 9 P.M. A fete took place this morning in honour of Garibaldi in the San Carlo Theatre and in the Royal Palace. Perfect order and tranquillity prevailed. The Chevalier de Nigra was present in a private box during the fete in the theatre. Zappetta, President of the Association of Work men, delivered a moderate speech in honour of Garibaldi. PRESBURG, MARCH 22. Tho elections at Boeing have given rise to a violent party struggle. The electoral parties pelted one another with stones; Twenty persons were slightly wounded. The military were compelled to interfere. THE PENINSULAR MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 22. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Tagus, from Lisbon on the 17th inst., has arrived here with the above mail. She brings 24 passengers, £3,571 in specie, and a general cargo. The Tagus experienced strong north-westerly winds and a heavy sea throughout the passage, The Tyne arrived at Lisbon on the 13th instant and sailed for the Brazils on the 14th. The English fleet and usual Portuguese squadron were lying in the Tagus. At Lisbon exchange on London at three months was quoted 543; Paris, 527 ; Hamburg, 48 ; Am sterdam, 423 ; Genoa, 522; Rentes, 3 per Cent., 48; Coupons 471; Deferred, 391 ; Lisbon Bank, 555 milreis ; Oporto Commercial Bank, 256 ; Oporto Mercantile Bank, 260 milreis. THE BOMBAY MAILS. The Peninsular and Oriental Navigation Steam Company have received the following telegram : MARSEILLES, FRIDAY MORNING. The Vectis, with the above mails, arrived at Marseilles at 9 p.m. yesterday. The mails were to leave for London at 10 p.m. The Ellora, with the heavy portion of the mail, was to leave Malta at midnight on the 18th, and may be expected at Southampton on the 27th inst. The Orissa brought the mail to Suez, arriving there on the 14th inst. THE OUTWARD MAILS. The Ceylon (from Southampton 4th of March: reached Malta at 6 a.m. on the 13th, and left al midnight for Alexandria. The Engine (from Marseilles 13th of March) ar rived at Malta at 2 a.m., and sailed again at 8 a.m., on the 16th. FRANCE AND ROME. La Patric publishes the following under the head of Latest Intelligence : " A Turin journal has stated that orders have been sent from Paris to Toulon, ordering the Ad miral Maritime-Prefect to send a number of trans port ships to Civita Vecchia to bring back to France the Corps d' Observation, under the orders of Gen. Goy - on. " This statement is totally untrue. We are enabled to state that no order has been sent for the return to France of the troops who guard the safety of the Holy Father at Rome ; it is even announced that General of Brigade Dumont, who replaces General Denoue, at Rome, who has been promoted to the rank of General of Division, will immediately proceed to his post." PRUSSIA. Advices from Berlin of the 19th inst. state that rumours of a change in the Prussian Ministry gain ground. Count Arnim-Boitzenbourg is spoken of as the new President of the Council; Count Bernstorff, now Minister at London, as Minister of Foreign Affairs; M, de Witzleben, Interior; Count Rittberg, Justice. The Vincke party, who command the majority, have resolved not to reject absolutely the credits demanded for the army, so as to avoid giving em barrassment to the Government, but only to vote them provisionally for one year. MONTENEGRO. Advices from the Adriatic coast, of the 16th inst. announce that the Governor of Roumelia had advanced troops on Autivari, which, it was re ported, the Montenegrins intended to attack with considerable forces. On the evening of the 15th the Turkish steam corvette Edirneh and the Austrian steam-frigate Schwartzenberg cast anchor in the roadstead. FRANCE. BOURSE, March 21.--There has been still but little business doing, but prices have obtained a slight improvement on th ose o f th e p rev i ous d ay; Threes, for the account, being now at 68f 25e. Railways firm, but quiet. The following are the last quotations : If per per Cents ... 95 90 Credit Foucier 940 Do end month.... 95 80 , Belgian 4i.. — 3 per Cents Do. end month 6B 25'' Roman Bank Shares .. 2890 —; Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 665 Spanish Threes 4B Do. Account 666 25 Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans Northern 970 971 z 25 New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 952 60 .. 952 50 Geneva 386 25 .. 388 75 Southern Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard , . 473 75 .. 472 60 A Parliamentary return states that from the year 1845 to the year 1855, both inclusive, 157,485 sum monses in bastardy were issued in the counties of England and Wales. 124,218 applications were heard; 107,776 orders made; and 15,981 orders refused. SALE AT ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.—Yesterday, in consequence of Mr. Batty retiring from the management and profession, the whole of his performing stud of horses and other trained animals, together with the carriages, &c. were disposed of by public auction. The sale took place in the theatre, and, although there was a very numerous attend ance, the biddings were confined to a comparatively small number, no doubt from the fact that most of the animals are too conspicuous for private use. The horses fetched various prices, none of them remarkably high. The cele brated cream-coloured horse Beauty, known to most of the frequenters of Astley's, fetched only 14 guineas. A very handsome skewbald, named Guy, was disposed of to Mr. Cooke, the equestrian, for 50 guineas, while Diamond, a black horse, recently performing in " Dick Turpin," fetched 34 guineas. A remarkably handsome bay mare, named Brunette, a lady's horse, was sold for 81 guineas, the highest price reached in the sale. A pony called Tom Thumb, said to be one of the smallest in the world, and which the groom carried on his shoulders, fetched 151 guineas ; White Surrey and Raglan, 31 guineas each. A Brahmin cow, trained to various purposes, but not very highly venerated, was disposed of fur 81 guineas ; and a pair of performing camels fetched .58 guineas. The Robin flood stag, a rather stately-looking animal with very good antlers, was sold for £4 10s. This concluded the sale of the live stock ; after which the carriages and paraphernalia brought the sale to a conclusion. An announcement by the auctioneer that Mr. Batty has granted Mr. Cooke the use of the theatre for a night at Easter, for the purpose of a benefit, in consequence of his recent loss by fire,was heartily welcomed. THE PROPOSED REVIEW AT BRIGHTON. The proposed Volunteer review and sham fight on Easter Monday next at Brighton is a subject which is just now causing considerable agitation and even ill-feeling among the various metropoli tan Rifle Corps. By some commanding officers the scheme is warmly approved, and energetically sup ported. Other commanders take precisely an oppo site view, and not only decline to allow their regi ments to attend by summoning them to parade else where, but are otherwise active in their determi nation to oppose every detail in the plan. The result of this disunion among the commanding officers, of course, extends to a certain degree among the subalterns and men, and the effect of the whole must certainly be disadvantageous to the pro gress of the metropolitan Volunteers by perhaps eventually leading to the retirement of some of their ablest commanding officers. Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Bury, Lord Elcho, and Lord Truro support the intended :review at Wimbledon-common, or, at least, will not attend with their regiments at Brighton ; Lo.rd Ranelagh, Colonel Lindsay, Col. Brownlow Knox, M.P., and other commanding ' officers ; are in favour of the Brighton display. It is contended on one side that Brighton is too far from the metropolis, and that the railway ar rangements will not be equal to the rapid transport of a large body of men and a considerable number lof spectators, in addition to the vast holiday traffic always on the South Eastern line to the Crystal Palace and other places. The last objec tion is of course the gravest, and is met by Lord Ranelagh and his friends saying that whatever weight it has applies with infinitely greater force I to the Wimbledon demonstration, as the South- Western Railway has confessedly an infinitely smaller passenger traffic than the South-Eastern, and has consequently not only less experience, but less of the facilities required in the way of rolling stock to meet an unusual run. Distance from Loudon, they contend, secures them from the presence of an overpo wering crowd, and the choice of Brighton has been made in order to secure a station that has unex ampled facilities for accommodating large numbers, and getting off the trains in rapid succession. There is no doubt but that the choice of Wimbledon is open to the objection that the station was never meant to accommodate more than 100 passengers or so, and that from the want of sidings more than two trains cannot remain there. This, in the case of a large number of Volunteers coming down by rail, and the certainty of an immense crowd of spectators, would be a cause of delay and incon venience sure to give rise to bitter complaints. Both parties seem quite to have overlooked a place which is probably better fitted than any other in the kingdom for such Volunteer re views on a large scale—we mean the Epsom Downs. There is space of ground there and to spare for all the London Volunteers and any amount of spectators. The town is large enough to meet any demands in the way of commissariat, and, above all, there are two lines of rail to the spot, both of which could, and actually do, on a Derby-day take down from 15,000 to 20,000 passengers. Those who have chosen Brighton have, in our humble judgment, gone too far; and on the other hand Wimbledon is too near, and is otherwise in the choice of its railway station most unfortunate. If the weather is fine both displays may, and we trust they will, be most successful ; if, on the cbntrary, it is wet and stormy, there will not be much to choose between the discomforts of either party. The force to be reviewed at Brighton will consist of five brigades. As great doubt still exists about the numerical strength of these, and as, in fact, the return of the tickets issued will not be known till next week, we will say nothing about the numbers that are expected to be present. It is sufficient to say that the railway company state they have made arrangements for the rapid transport of a much larger number than are likely to go down. The resources of the South- Easter Company for passenger traffic are greater than those of any other line in the kingdom. The Six Feet Guards (32d Middlesex) have volunteered to assist their rifle comrades in Sussex in the sham fight. The sup t ;osed enemy will land at Shoreham, and the whole of the manoeuvres will take place in the neighbourhood of the Race Hill, whence a perfectly unin terrupted view of them may be had. ARGENTINE SILVER. *Now that the old rale that those who could not afford to purchase silver for the uses of the table must be content with pewter is out of vogue ; and in the present. age of invention, even down to our own coinage, it is the fashion to represent the real article by an imitation. Therefore it be comes a matter of moment that the fabric be as near a fac simile as possible. Mr. I. W. Benson has succeeded most completely in manufacturing an article which so much resembles silver that it is difficult for the unpractised eye to distinguish the precious metal from the counterfeit. Thus, the name argentine is very appropriate. It is some years since Mr. Benson first succeeded in manufac turing this combination, which is capable of being employed in the fabrication of all articles which can be made of silver, whether table services or ornamental structures. It is declared by the inventor that he is able to produce articles com posed of argentine at a price equal only to the duty on silver. There are now a great many imitations presented to the public, and each and all must stand by their own merits, but we advise would-be purchasers to judge for themselves, and not buy in haste, but, after inspection, give their patronage to those who can produce the best article. THEATRES' v. .31USIC HALLS. TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN. SIR,—I beg to enclose you the withdrawal of the notice of appeal by Mr. Morton from the deCision of the Lambeth magistracy relative to the illegality of performing a pantomime at the Canterbury Hall. The summons was originally taken out to prevent the encroachment of saloons and music halls on the exclusive rights of theatres, where the sources of profit almost entirely arises from the permitting smoking and drinking, which cannot take place in a theatre, nor is it desirable. I wish it clearly to be understood that in proceeding against Mr. Morton, it was not because he was by any means the most offending against the law, but from his being the head of those species of establishments, in the same manner that my 'tame was used as being the oldest manager. Some music halls and saloons have, though apparently not known to one gentle man who has written on the subject, not only acted regular farces, dog melo-dramas, &e., bat have ex pensive scenery, and were preparing to proceed much further, hence the reason for managers moving to protect their rights.—l am, sir, yours very obediently, B. WEBSTER. New Theatre Royal, Adelphi, March 20. WEBSTER AND MORTON. Richmond. terrace, Clapham-road, March 18. Dear Sir,—l beg to inform you I have advised that the appeal herein should not be proceeded with. I have, there fore, paid the fine and withdrawn the recognisances.— YoulB truly, FREDERICK STANLEY. Mr. T. J. Jerwood, solicitor, Ely-place. THE DUCHESS OF KENT'S FUNERAL. Morton, the well-known manager of the Canterbury Hall, has, with a spontaneous and generous display of loyalty worthy of himself, and also worthy of imitation by the great mass oZ his brother managers, announced the closing on Monday next, the 25th instant, of the popular enter• tainments nightly drawing crowds to his establishment, It is understood that Sir Charles Wyke will leave for Mexico on the Ist prox. Increased hopes appear to be generally entertained that the bondholders will ultimately obtain compensation for the 660,000 dollars of which they have been robbed. It is believed that the committee intend to convene a general meeting of the bondholders at an early period. _ _ The Assyrian Museum at the Louvre has just been enriched by four sarcophagi in white marble, the covers of which are decorated with finely carved human heads with the exception of one, which, from its primitive execution, appears to be of great antiquity. These sarcophagi, which unfortunately bear no inscription, are placed in the salle which contains that in basalt of Sennazar, King of Sidon, given to the Louvre in 1856 by the Duke de Luynem. MR. COBDEN AND THE COMMERCIAL TREATY WITH TRANCE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—The accompanying letter from Mr. Cobden is intended for publication. May I request as a favour that you will allow it to appear in your columns?—l am, azc., E. S. ELLIS, Mayor. Leicester, March 20. Algiers, March 12, 1861. Dear Sir,—l have received the address of the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of Leicester, bear ing your signature, thanking me for my exertions in negotiating the commercial treaty with France. The perusal of this eloquent address has afforded me great pleasure. It deplores the many genera tions of Englishmen and Frenchmen who have lived in a state of hostility owing to their mutual jealousies and distrust,and the ruinous consequences that have been entailed on both countries, and it hails the treaty as the auspicious omen of a hap pier and more peaceful era. These sentiments have my warmest sympathy, and I frankly avow that they express the considerations and motives which, more than the material interests involved, though the two are inseparable, have inspired my humble but zealous efforts to remove the obstacles which impeded the commercial intercourse between the two countries. I have the best reason for know ing that these considerations weighed also with preponderating force in the motives which in duced the French Government to enter into the treaty. And I have the firm conviction that, with time and the exercise of a little mutual forbearance, these hopes and aspirations may be realised. But whilst the entire mass of onr industrious population seem to share these feelings, we cannot unfortunately close our eyes to the unpleasant fact, demonstrated, by the experience of last year, that we have among us individuals, if not an entire class, occupying positions of great influence, who are actuated by totally opposite sentiments. In referring for the first and last time to the attempts made by those to whom I allude to defeat the negotiation of the treaty, it is not to complain of their attacks on myself. If by their bold and persistent misrepresentations they did succeed in causing me some anxiety at one stage of my labours, from the fear that the manufacturing community would be so far misled as to prevent the Chambers of Commerce from affording me the personal co operation in Paris necessary for the completion my task, the unswerving confidence with which those bodies honoured me throughout the negotia tions, and the unanimous approbation which they have expressed of the result, leave me in no humour to quarrel with my opponents. I allude to them now merely to draw from their past conduct a warning for the future. It must not be forgotten that those public speakers and journalists, who, without one fact to justify them—for they would not wait for the facts—charged the French Government with deliberate deception and treachery towards me in the affair of the treaty, are the same persons who have incessantly pro claimed the hostile designs of that Government upon our peace and security, who have accused it of having made formidable naval preparations and who are for ever discovering it 3 plots and con spiracies against our interests in all parts of the world. And their accusations are just as little entitled to credit in the one case as the other. I offer this as my deliberate judgment after nearly 15 months' residence in France, with the best possible oppor tunities of obtaining a knowledge of those facts which can alone afford the means of arriving at a correct conclusion ; and claiming for myself in other respects no greater advantage over my oppo nents than in the possession of that moderate share of sagacity and temper which enabled me to take a more correct view than themselves of the designs of the French Government with regard to the treaty. Yes, those parties have subjected themselves to another and more serious disadvantage. When a witness is convicted of giving false evi dence against his neighbour his testimony is for ever discredited by a jury of his countrymen; and should the parties to whom I allude be found again charg ing the French Government with treacherous de signs, and arrogating to themselves exclusive sources of information respecting its intentions, we should be wanting in discernment and sagacity, and be guilty of great injustice towards that go vernment, if after the specimens we have had of their rash and unscrupulous allegations we were to allow our judgment to be in the slightest degree influenced by their statements. I will only add, that the industrious population of England, who will soon be brought into intimate commercial relations with the French people, have it in their power to frown down the efforts of those who, from whatever motives seek to sow dissen sions between them and embitter the relations of the two countries. To their good sense and sound feeling I confidently confide the task of securing for us those moral results of the treaty to which your address attaches so just a value, by cultivating the sentiments of peace and goodwill with their power ful, intelligent, and amiable neighbour. Begging you to assure the members of your council of my very high appreciation of the approval with which they have honoured my services, I remain, your most obedient servant, E. S. Ellis, Esq., Mayor. R. COBDEN. ROME.—The following is an extract from a pri vate letter from Rome :—"Daily we hope to see the entrance of Victor Emmanuel into Rome. I hope this prayer of every heart will soon be realised. I have read the speeches made by Messrs. Plinchon and Boissy in favour of the Pope, the King of Naples, &c., in the French Senate. Is it possible there are animals so vegetative ? These °Mita wish that Italy should be divided, and remain in its pris tine state; because they fancy the existence of a free state in the South of 21,000,000 of men, is contrary to the in terests of France. Austria and Germany will not have Italy united, because opposed to their security. The ex-kings and princes, Italians, not by birth, but solely by sove reignty, protest again3t it as contrary to their power and interests. So that according to this reasoning, the fate of Italy is to be determined by considerations of everybody's interest and pleasure, except those of her own sons. Enough. God is great; and I believe this time He has covered us with his hand." INTENDED OUTBREAK AMONG THE CONVICTS AT CHATHAM. —The coercive measures recently resorted to by the authorities to put a stop to outbreaks among the con victs at this establishment, appear not to have had the desired effect, for there still exists much discontent among them, and a determined hostility to the governor's autho rity and that of the officers under him. A plot was formed, it appears, to take possessicn of the prison, and secure the warders, and Wednesday was the day fixed on to carry it out; but this was happily discovered by a communication which the governor received previously to the prisoners arriving at the prison for dinner. The plan was that as soon as the gangs had entered the prison they were to fasten all the doors and secure the warders, and as the clerks leave at 12 o'clock, they would then ob tain the control of the prison and do as they liked. Infor mation of the plot was sent to the military authorities here by the governor, Captain Powell, and a body of upwards of 300 soldiers, each supplied with 10 rounds of ball cart ridge, arrived with several officers, under command of Colonel Jervis, Ist depot battalion. They took up their position in the vicinity of the prison, to be in readiness to act against the convicts if required. The presence of such a force, drawn up in lino with fixed bayonets, had the effect of overawing the prisoners, and they entered the prison very quietly. The troops remained under arms some hours. It appears that those who concocted the plot are now in irons, awaiting an order from the Home Office as to their disposal. THE ROYAL TOMB • HOUSE AT WINDSOR.—The Royal Tomb-house, in which the body of tho late Duchess of Kent will be temporarily deposited, is a lofty stone edifice, to which access is gained through a subterraneous passage situated at the foot of the altar in St. Geo rge ' s Ch a p e l. It was originally built by Henry VIT., as a burial place for himself and his successors ; that monarch, however, altering his pur pose, designed the magnificent chapel at Westminster, where his antique and stately monument has been th e admiration of thousands. Card inal Wolsey, on coming into possession of the structure at Windsor, began a sumptuous cenotaph for himself, whence this building obtained the name of the Wolsey Tomb-house." Previously to his disgrace the cardinal bad nearly completed his object. The monument was composed of white and black marble, with elaborately wrought brazen columns, candlesticks, sze., and it is said that Benedetti had received 4,250 ducats for what he had executed, and that the expense of gilding had already exceeded £3BO. The unfinished tomb was seized by the Parliament in 1640, and the ornaments were sold to Colonel Venn, the Governor of Windsor Castle, as "old brass," for £6OO. James 11. then fitted the place up as a Roman Ca tholic chapel. This aroused the indignation of the people, and from that time down to the reign of George 111. the pro perty remained neglected. George 111. repaired the exterior and excavated a vault 15 feet in depth, which he had fitted up as a mausoleum, under the direction of Mr. Wyatt, for himself and family. On each side of the vault, which cor responds with the dimensions of the building, are recesses, formed by Gothic octagonal columns, each with a range of four shelves to receive the bodies of the deceased. The in terior has since b'een completely repaired, the royal tombs having been long beneath a floor of rubbish. The turrets -and pinnacles have also been restored. In the royal tomb house are buried Georges 111. and IV. and William IV. ; Queen Charlotte and Queen Adelaide ; the Dukes of York and Kent; the Princesses Amelia, Charlotte, and Augusta ; and the Princes Octavius and Alfred; and other royal personages. COURT OF COlll WON COUNCIL. A Court of Common Council was held yesterday in the Council Chamber. Guildhall. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor presided. THE COAL DUES. The LORD MAYOR informed the court that he had received a communication from the committee appointed by the House of Commons to consider the subject of the local taxation of the metropolis, re questing certain information. The question was one of very considerable importance, and he thought therefore that the letter had better be read: The CHAMBERLAIN accordingly read the commu nication referred to, which required that the com mittee should be furnished with extracts from the records of the corporation, showing the amount of money levied upon coals, &c., prior tc, the year 1831, and the objects to which such money Wes applied, and also the authority under which such dues were levied. The corporation was also re quired to furnish a statement of all moneys raised by them, and the nature of the different securities or obligations under which such moneys had been raised. He said that, in effect, the same informa tion was sought to be obtained from him when he was examined by the committee of the House of Commons on Monday last, but he declined to give it, because in point of fact it was disclosing the title of the corporation to theprivileges they claimed , which he, as a non-legal officer, did not consider himself justified in doing without their authority. Mr. H. L. TAYLOR then moved a resolution that the subject should be referred to the Coal, Cori?, and Finance Committee, which was carried unani mously. RAILWAYS IN THE CITY. Alderman LAWRENCE then proposed a motion of which he had given notice at a previous court, that in order to mitigate the evils likely to arise from carrying out the various railway schemes nog before Parliament, for obtaining stations or ter mini within the City of London, and which in volve the destruction of large numbers of houses now occupied by the working classes, petitions be presented by this Court to both Houses of Parlia ment, praying them to introduce clauses to compel the several companies to run three trains early ill the morning and also in the evening, except ol Sundays, within a distance of six miles from the General Post-office, such trains to travel at the speed of 12 miles an hour, and at the fare of 4d. per mile. Mr. Alderman Lawrence called the attention of the Court at considerable length to the inconvenience to which the working classes would be subjected by having their dwellings destroyed by the neW railways, and he urged that it was imperatively necessary that they should be enabled to obtain e residence at a short distance from the metropolis , and to get there at a cheap rate. Mr. MEDWIN seconded the motion. Alderman ROSE thought the matter was too ill; portant to be disposed of at once by the court, and proposed as an amendment that the question b e referred to a committee, who should be empowered to consider the whole subject, and report thereon to the court. Dr. Ross seconded the amendment, which, after some discussion, was put and negatived, and the original motion carried by a large ;majority. PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF BLACKFRIARS-BRIDGE Mr. H. W. VALLANCE, the chairman o f the Bridge-house Committee, brought up a re port, which recommendaramong other things that the present Blackfriars-bridge should be taken down, and a new bridge erected in lien thereof. Mr. DE JERSEY said it appearedlo him that the question involved in this report was far too inl; portant to be taken into consideration at once, anu, he should therefore move th a t thi s re p or t b e printed, and circulated among the members of this court, and that it be taken into consideration on a future day. __ Mr. VALLANCE said he had no objection to the course that was proposed by Mr. De Jersey, but he would merely observe that the London, Chatham , and Dover Railway would erect another bridge at distance of 105 feet from the present bridge, and that they could not proceed until they knew what course the Corporation intended to take with re. gard toßlackfriars. - The LORD MAYOR observed that it was of jai' mense importance that the works of the railwei should not be delayed, and he suggested that there should be a special sitting of the court to consider the report in question. This suggestion was agreed to, and the court , after disposing of some other business, adjourned• FOREIGN TARIFFS. A statement, in the usual form, has been laid before Parliam e nt o f th e a lt erat i on i n fore i gn tariffs since the 31st of December, 1859. It is of a more voluminous character than ordinary, as it include°, the whole of the chan ges un d er t h e French and Chinese Chinese Treaties, the f ormer o f w hi ch occupy 20 pages, and the latter nine pages. The other more important alterations are those made by Sardinia; including Naples, which are in the direction o f,. freedom, and invol ve an • average reduct i on of about 50 per cent. in the d u ti es on most of the principiV• articles of importation. Russia shows no dispn . al" tion to an improved system, her only alteration being a reduction of 50 per cent. on rod iron and an increase of 100 per cent. on mixed stuffs of silk and cotton. As regards the Grand Duchy of Finland, however, there is a reduction of about 281 per cent' on pig iron. Spain likewise has been without pro gress, except that, in connexion with the war 0 1 Morocco, there has been permission for free imports into the port of Ceuta. Portugal has limited her movements to a reduction of from 33 to 50 per cent; on foreign brandies. Greece has made several alterations; some'involving an inerease, and other° a decrease. Grain, which was previously free , is now taxed according to description to the extent of from ls. to 2s. 6d. per quarter. In the duties on hides, paper, and wrought iron there is a considerable reduction. Mo rocco has removed until October next her pro hibition against the exportation of wool, maize , beaus, peas, and hemp seed. Brazil shows seversl modifications, including a reduction in pig iron, and also in various kinds of metal work, while on other kinds, especially steel pens, scissors, guns, and rates, and zinc and its manufactures, there are heavy ad ditions. Linen and woollen fabrics, and earthen' ware 'have likewise been subjected recently to 0. great increase. The Argentine Republic has made some important changes, all of a favourable kind. Thus the old duty of 8 per cent, is entirely removed from all printing materials, books, paper, ca ttle for breeding, coal, charcoal, lime, and other articles essential to the progress of the country. On $ large number of additional ar ti c l es o f an ana l ogo us description, including agricultural machines, ma terials for shipbuildi ng , a ll raw materials for t he use of i ndustry, iron and other metals, timber, &: 0 •9 there has at the same time been a reduction of 7 5 per cent., the former ad valorem duty of 20 per cent. having been lowered to 5 per cent. On silks and ready-made clothes the reduction is equal to 6 0 per cent., and on woollen, linen, cotton, and metal manufactures 25 per cent. Venezuela has increased her export duties on coffee, cocoa, and hides, and the Sandwich Islands ha ve a d o pt e d, i n p l ace of their old rates, ad valorem duties of a uniform character as regards the majority of imported articles. A SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. The London correspondent of the Belfast Iv e ws Letter is responsible for the following extraordinary story of a scene alleged to have taken pls.te a fer nights ago in the House of Commons A large number of hon. members had retu'..ned to their places after voting, and others worm still pouring in, when the Sergeant at Arn heard some one snoring in the little dark, corner under the Speaker's gallery, at the Opposition side o f the house. Proceeding to the spot, h e recogn i se d all hon. memb er , i n even i ng costume, who had evi; hadde n t I l y a i been i m sacrificingdwo n tosleep.liberally to The Sergeantßacchus, an d t Arms shook him, and at length got him upon his feet. The 'tellers' then gathered round him, an d the Speak er was inkrmed that the house had not been clear' whet: they had commenced to count, es the presence of one hon. and gallant gentleman Ws ° unperceived. The Speaker then directed that the house should again be cleared ; so the members who had just returned to their seats rushed ne t again to be counted. The hon. and gallant gel s tleman who had caused all this trouble remained standing behind the ch a i r o f th e S ergean t -at - Arms, and steadying himself thereby, and, as hi s , friends had gone to the lobby with the a Noes , , it was necessary for him to proceed up the floor 0 , 1 the house and p ass th e t a bl e an d the S pea ker! chair. To effect this object he made what sailors call a ' tack,' and his movements were the more absurd because, instead of disappearing with the crowd, be waited until all the other mem; hers had quitted their seats, and then commenc ed the overland journ e y t o the lobby, amid roars 01„ laughter from the strangers' and the clerks at the table. The Speaker tried hard to keep his counte nance as the hon. and gallant member came up 10 zigzag fashion, but the whole affair was too corm° , and he was compelled to hold his handkerchief up to his mouth and relieve himself by shouting Order, order.' The climax of the division was like wise rather comic. One of the ' tellers' had also been dining out,' and when it became his duty t° announce the numbers, he made the funniest boy:, imaginable to the Speaker, and said, in a very thick voice, The ayes to the right were th-i-r-teen, and the noes to the left fif-ty-ty-th-ree." anc in t Cal tint id. bat por the met Sup Beci at t Dor wec for bees slut mat Lon wee XB7 Sto4 men mar 6 p Mel Cen and 82, tinu rath Eag and Grel fiat. reali to ; 11-i mail Aus Cha Ls. Tel( 3 pel Indi Di CoTas Di Exci 13 ra2 Di Chili Equl Meg New Di Peru Di Di itus Bard Spat Di Turl Bele Stal undi wer oth( Sam des( upv Inf blip Pri Do La. Ini