The Sun. — London, England, 1861-06-12 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.-(YESTERDAY,) - The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. CHIEF JUSTICE MONAGIIA-N. The LORD CHANCELLOR drew the attention of the house to the notice which Lord Leitrim had stated that ho would place on the paper relative to Chief Justice Monaghan, the judge of the Common Pleas in Ire land. The noble lord had made certain statements relative to this judge, and he (the Lord Chancellor) said he felt it was due to that judge to have notice given of the charges which were made against him of having acted im.• properly while presiding at the assizes of Donegal. The noble lord (Leitrim) then said he would give that notice next Thursday, but on reference to the paper he found this was 'merely a notice for a return of two presentments made to the grand jury at the last Done gal assizes. The Earl of LEITRIM said he had to complain of the practice that prevailed with judges in Ireland of making speeches on the bench, but he would be most happy to second any other motion that might be conceived more satisfactory. After a few words from the Loin CHANCELLOR, the subject dropped. TEMPERANCE. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the mem bers of the Temperance Societies in the United Kingdom, praying for an amendment of the law relating to licensing. The petition was numerously signed, and had been presented to the other house. The noble and learned lord detailed name of tho evils of the existing law. The following bills were read a second time : SnelPs Estate, Clifton Suspension, Edinburgh and Glas gm% Railway, Workington Tidal Basin and Railway, Galbshiels and Peebles Railway, Enniskillen and Bun doran Railway Bills. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Elaud Gas; Peitadown. Dungannon, and Omagh Junction Railway ; Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (New Line) ; Leeds and Eeland Road ; Wycombe Railway (Extension); Midland Railway (additional powers) ; Manchester, Shef field, and Lincolnshire Railway (additional works). THE BOROUGH OF DUBLIN BILL. This bill went through committee. GREENWICH HOSPITAL BILL. The Duke of SOMERSET in moving the second reading of the Greenwich Hospital Bill, said he would very briefly state its objects. Their lordships would remember that three years ago an inquiry was ordered into the revenues and managemenl of the hespital. The report made was of some length, and, generally, it showed that some amendment in the system of management of the hospital was desirable. A comparison had been made of the relative cost of the main tenance of pensionero in France and England. It appeared that the annual cost of the maintenance of a pensioner in France was £11; in Greenwich Hospital it was £5O. But the cost of the administration of the system in France was only £5 per head, while the expen se of the administration of Greenwich Hospital was £ 2B 18s. per head. This proved that some better system of administration was required. The hospital was founded in 1691, under a charter from William and Mary, for the relief of disabled seamen and other purposes. The sum of £230,000 was annually voted to the institution by Parliament, which, therefore, contributed very liberally to its object. By the present bill it was pro posed to place the hospital under a new executive council and one civil commissioner, to be appointed for five years. The accounts relating to the hospital and the large estate belonging to the institution were to be annually passed through the Audit -office and brought under the direct con trol of Parliament. In moving the second reading he wished to state that there were some amendments whicla he wished to introduce into the bill, and therefore he should ask the house to allow it to pass through committee pro forma, in order that it might be reprinted, and ho hoped that all dis cussion would be deferred for the present. The bill was read a second time without any discussion. GOVERNMENT OF THE NAVY BILL. The Duke of SOMERSET moved the third reading of this bill. The Earl of CARNARVON wished to say a few worde upon a subject that was somewhat akin to this measure. A few days since a right hon. friend of his (Sir J. Pakington) made a statement in the House of Commons which had attracted considerable notice. The right hon. gentleman called attention to the great disproportion that existed be tween the English and the French navies in respect of iron cased ships, and stated that while we might have by the close of the year six or seven of those vessels the French Government would have a number little if anything short of 26. He might have added that within the last two months the French Government had issued orders for the construc tion of a large number of steel or iron boats, which would be capable of being taken to pieces and put together again with great rapidity, affording enormous facilities for disem• barking troops upon an enemy's coast. Now, it was true that France might be engaged in war with many European nations, but it was obvious that with other nations these steel launches would be totally useless. Mostof the warlike operations of France would be land operations, and as expe rience of the Italian war had shown, most likely would be conducted in a friendly country. That, however, was not the point to which he wished to call the attention of the Government. He understood that the French dockyards, both public and private, were at this moment occupied not solely in constructing French ships of war. He understood that both the Italian and Spanish Governments were hav ing iron-cased ships built in France, and he was further in formed that there were at this moment near Toulon two sister ships to La Gloire, which had been ordered by the Italian Government, and which were rapidly approaching completion. It was stated that two other ships of the same character had been ordered and the lines laid down. The Spanish Government was understood to be taking similar measures, and four ships had been already commenced,while negotiations were pending for the construction of others. It had been calculated, as he conceived, upon very reasonable grounds, that before the close of the year there would be a great accession cf strength to the naval forces cf Spain and Italy in the shape of iron-cased vessels. No one could feel any jealousy at this accession of strength on the part of those countries regarded by themselves ; but if the supposition of a combination of those powers with France were admitted, the question was at once changed, and sucha state of things must be regarded as pregnant with danger, at least to our naval position in the Mediterranean. But while foreign Governments had been proceeding steadily in the course they had marked out we had been acting precipitately, and had been constantly changing our policy as to the construc tion of ships. He himself recollected that within the last seven or eight years there had been four distinct changes of policy on the part of the Admiralty. Before the Crimean war large ships of war were held up as the great safeguards of the country. During the Crimean war a cry arose for gunboats, and they were built in large numbers, only, in many instances, to rot in the dockyards. The gunboat fever then died out, and large ships were again resorted to, until within the last two years, when the system was modified by incasing the vessels in iron. Ho understood, however, that within the last few days some invention had been dis covered by Sir W. Armstrong by which his guns could be brought to bear with such force and accuracy that the strongest iron plate would be pulverized by it. He did not seek to att r ib ute blame to the Admiralty, because it would be unreasouablo to suppose that the system of naval archi tecture could always remain the same, unaffected by modern inventions. But what he did complain of was the wasteful expenditure which sometimes occurred under the adminis tration of the Board of Admiralty. As an instance within his own knowledge he would mention the circumstances con nected with a dock at Malta. About 13 years ago the Ad miralty ordered the construction of a dock in that island, at a coat of about £60,000 or £70,000 ; b ut it was built on the worst possible place, at the extremity of a creek, and ex posed to the wash of the sea, caused by the trensendous storms of the Mediterranean. Then, again, pirtopwearsty,con structed not on Crown land, but upon private was surrounded by houses, so that in the event of war or disaffection it would be in the power of an enemy to destroy it. The work itsc If was bad, the stones after a short time opened,the whole dock settled, and it became evident that its . , disappearance was onlya question of time. 1 t might naturally be asked, did not the Admiralty inquire into these facts ? They did inquire,and were told that the mischief was attribu table to an earthquake that had occurred at Malta. It was true that there had been an earthquake, but the collapse of. the work took place two or three years before that earth quake happened ; so that at this moment the dock was in such a state of decay that the first heavy gale might bring down the whole.of the masonry. About two years since the Admiralty, seeing that this d o ck had been built for ships of a smaller size than we now used, wisely determined to con struct a second dock. For that purpose £60,000 had been taken in the Estimates, and another vote was proposed to be taken this year, which would bring the entire amount to £83,000 ; but, although they had been warned by the expe • rience of the past—although they had seen the mistakes into which they hadtallen in regard to the first dock—incredible as it might appear, they actually constructed the second dock precisely; in the same place, and open to precisely the same objections, as the first. It was not merely surrounded by private property, but was built through and behind the dock originally erected. There was consequently no access to the larger dock, except through the outer and smaller one, and therefore a large part of the additional space thus obtained was literally useless. That reminded him of the story of the man who cut one hole to admit the cat and another to admit the kitten. No ship could enter the inner dock if it was too wide for the other; and if in a severe tempest the work fell in, the whole of these two docks would b e completely c l ose d for five months, and that, perhaps, at a period of extreme emergency. The steps of the inner dock had been projected to such a width that when the work was done no large bottomed vessel could rest there. Last winter the workmen were engaged in undoing the work that had been done at a sacrifice of the public money, It was proposed at first to separete these two docks by a sliding- caisson, but representations having been made to them against that plan, the Admiralty gave way, and sub stitute d. an order to erect the usual cock gates. Suddenly, howevt jr, without rhyme or reason, a counter-order was is sued ozhe fine morning, and the plan f or a sliding caisson was re stored. In the event of a warxvith France which God ft n.bid;—and still more if France were supported by Italy e god Spain, it was morally certa in there must be a great naval engagement in the Mediterranean. to that case unless our arms were crowned with one of those overwhelm ing victories of which there were a few instances in our history, both fleets must obviously put back to their respec tive ports for repairs. The French fleet could go to Toulon, and would perhaps be again afloat in three weeks. The Ita lians could refit at Genoa, Spezzia, or some other harbour on their own coast ; while the Spaniards could conveniently do the same at Carthagena or elsewhere. But what would be the case with our own fleet? With the works at Malta in the ruinous state which he had described, we might not have a dock in the Mediterranean ready to receive it, and we should have to send every ship across the Bay of Biscay to be repaired at home. Observe the danger that must thus ensue to ships disabled and in a half sinking condition, the risk of their being intercepted on the way, and the certainty of the enemy obtaining the command of the Mediterranean in our absence. These were matters which must suggest them selves to every reasonable mind that reflected at all on this subject. He did not wish to impute any special blame to her Majesty's Government or to the noble duke at the head of the Admiralty, but he ascribed the evils to which he hod called attention rather to the vicious system of incessant change and weak vacillation which characterised so much of the naval administration of this country. (Hear, hear.) The Duke of SOMERSET (who was indistinctly heard) said—The noble earl first called your lordships' attention to the question of iron-cased ships, and referred to a speech lately made in the other house, founded on information fur nished to a right hon. baronet by Admiral Elliot. Admiral Elliot went to France, and applied, through the English Minister there, for leave to visit the dockyards of that country, in the same way as French officers have often ap plied for leave to visit our dockyards. His request was ac ceded to with the civilitywhich the French authorities would naturally desire to show in such a case. Admiral Elliot went, and saw all that was going on in those establishments; but I must confess that, under the circumstances, I sincerely regret the course which he took on his return to England. If I myself had given a French officer permission to view our dockyards, and I afterwards found that he took the first opportunity of publishing the results of his inspe c ti on i n the manner adopted by the ga lla n t admiral, I certainly should not think he had done a very friendly act. (Hear, hear.) At the same time all the information brought by Admiral El liot was only what we knew before. We were well aware of the progress t ships hat had been made i n regard to the building of in in France ; and we had taken some res esa measures, since our accession to office, for the construction of iron ships ourselves. The house is aware that the French had a, considerable start of us in this l'bspect. The late Go vernment was in power in 1858, when it was perfectly well known whet France was doing in the way of building iron cased vessels, but they took no step in the matter till May, 1859. Certainly some time was lost in these operations, which was all the more important because the opportunity of making actual trial of this class of ships was de layed. We have not yet been able to make trial of the first iron-cased frigate, although in a few weeks one will be in commission, and we shall then have more practical results than any we have yet obtained. When the present Government came into office, we found only one of those vessels laid down, and a sum taken in the Estimates for another. We immediately ordered a third, and, not satisfied with that, although Parliament was not then sitting, I brought before the Admiralty the necessity of at once ordering two more. I did net wish to go on build ing these ships until their effect had been tested, but, seeing the progress made by other countries, I thought we ought not to be unprovided with this class of vessels. Although we were necessarily ignorant on many points of detail, I did propose again to build three, which accordingly were commenced. We have therefore now amen of these ships in the course of completion. We are now preparing some of our wooden ships for plating with iron. Ido not think they w 11 be very efficient ; but these ships will be at least as good as the French. My opinion is, that we ought really to construct our ships of iron ; but the whole subject is one of great difficulty. Every day brings out new points and new difficulties. When I came into office two things came upon us at once—novelty in shipbuilding and novelty in the construction of our guns. I came into office in 1859. The late Government had ordered the Warrior to be built, but had calculated that it would carry the old style of ar mour. It was not calculated for the new style of rifled guns, but for the old style of armour. When I came into offic3 I naturally called the attention of the Board to these subjects. With regard to iron ships, I saw various persons, naval men having a knowledge of engagements at sea and men of great experience in shipbuilding, with the view of acquir ing all the knowledge Ithat could be had on the subject. They said their opinion was that we should build ships of thin iron, so as if it were impossible to keep out shot to keep out shell. I said before doing so I should like to have some experiments tried. We had some experiments at Ports mouth, and one of the first was upon an iron target of less than an inch thick. The result was that round shot, in striking the iron, broke into pieces, but passed on into the vessel, and 700 pieces of iron were picked up inside the ship. That showed that round shot produced as bad an effect as any shell. It seemed, therefore, that merely to case with thin iron would be to expose men-of-war to as great de struction as possible, while they were loading the ship with unnecessary weight. We had no end of suggestions and recommendations. Some people recommended indiarubber, others a thick matting of hemp, others chain armour. The answer I sent to these gentlemen was that, if they would send their experiments to Portsmouth, we would try them. I myself saw chain armour tried, and the very first shot de stroyed it. Indiarubbcr and hemp were equally inefterive. Last year it was said we should slope the sides of vessels, and shot striking at an angle would glide off; but when we I came to try Sir William Armstrong's bolts, the slope made no difference at all, That was the last answer I received from Sir William Armstrong. Then it was said that the iron should be 4i inches thick. I was rather doubtful whether that would be sufficient. I ordered the vessel to be laid down at Chatham to have such flotation that she might carry at least 6 inches of iron. I thought 6 inches tolerably safe. I now find that Sir Wm. Armstrong's guns have fired through 8-inch iron with the greatest facility. (Hear.) In building these iron vessels it is a great problem where we are to stop. Thin iron won't do; thick iron is very little better. It is therefore very difficult to say how we are to make our vessels safe. One fact is clear, and to that we have chiefly addressed ourselves—namely, if we cannot make ourselves so secure as we could wish, at least we should arm them with as good weapons of offence as possible, and by ordering that our ships should be armed with Armstrong guns we felt that we were taking a course which would produce the greatest effect, while, at least, it would be a safe mode of proceeding. With regard to these different experiments, the noble lord says the Admiralty have always been changing their policy. Why, my lords, the reason is obvious. The world is changing ; alterations are going on everywhere. So far from the Admiralty vacil lating, from the time we came into office we have gone on in the course which I believe your lordships will say was the right and proper course for us to adopt under the circum stances. My noble friend the other day said 'we were going on building three-deckers and laying down ships of war; but what is the fact ? The last three-decker ordered to be built was in January, 1855. It is quite true that two three deckers were launched in the course of 1859, but these three-deckers had been nearly finished for a long time ; their engines and everything had been ordered ; it was, therefore, thought better that they should be launched, and thus make room for other work to be gone on with. Well, then, it was said why do you go on with two-deckers ? Now we have not been going on with two-deckers. The last two decker ordered was by the late Government in 1859. The present Board have ordered none. But it is said the Admiralty is going on ordering new large wooden ships. Nothing of the kind. It is quite true we have ordered small vessels, corvettes, sloops, and some frigates and gun vessels; but if you mean to keep up the maritime power of this country we have not yet arrived at that forward state in which we can leave off building. We have been building what we thought would be most useful, and we have ordered them all to be armed with the new guns, and, instead of carrying the large number of guns they formerly used to do, our vessels will carry few guns, but guns of great power. (Hear, hear.) The noble earl referred to our gunboats, which he said were rotting in harbour, but if these were armed with a 100-pounder they would be most formidable vessels—(hear, hear)—and would serve most materially to defend our coasts in case of hostile aggression—(hear, hear) regard slight g vv a h r i d 1e b object t o e what being hoa ft themselves m attackoseulgfvoher ought to the to small do i theyn enemy.tit e w (wH o presentu ae l ; d ro,f there are two or th ree courses that h e ar.) a Withv e r Preparation,y might be adopted. If there was any immediate necessity for al arm, we could and the readily cut down some of th e three-deekers and case them in iron. I have had calculations made, nd case I vessel i f you were to cutts ight down,igt bear say 4 -inch n ; b . lh e Royal iro Albert, u t an a veryi niron, i it would no t then be effective ship—the ports would be too near the water, and it would not be so good a sea-going ship as I should wish the a o t framesh e r course cut Admiralty to build, unless there was any pressur e ; f or next t o buildbe adopted. a far a a ed. we have Another e m y u e i t g a rfhetwr certain e t 0 g o hsuomet extent line-of-battle ships. We can easily add to the length of vessels and make effective wooden ships, which . we can use hereafter as wooden frigates or as iron-cased ships. Another course would be to order frames of iron ships to be prepaied with a view to ease them with thick iron. Then comes the question of what iron they ought to be constructed, and tho best mode of fastening the iron plates. Every day new questions arise. lam unwilling to advance too fast, because I feel that we can advance much more efficiently by waiting a little kinger. ( Hear.) It is only a few days since the last of these experiments took place with 8-inch plate s . I am ve r y anxious- to do ' , aye greatll in my a power, and I have or d ere d 6-i nc h p l a t es. IL. doubt whether the mode of fastening the plates is sa.ftsfac tory. On that account, therefore, I thought a trial should be made before we laid down the scale; and that done, we felt we might rely on the power we have in building iron vessels if the country at once takes it in hand. We know what the private yards in this country can do. (Hear, hear.) We shall socn produce a fleet of iron ships far greater than all the other Powers of Europe besides. (Hear.) It is true, as the noble earl has stated, that France is not the only country which is building wooden ships to be covered with iron. There are some being built for Russia. I do not know where the contracts were taken, but contracts are in course of execution for Russia and also for Spain. One wooden ship covered with iron bas likewise been built for Sardinia. The French ships are for the most part wooden ships covered with iron. I believe the best ships will be found to be those which are built of, as well as covered with, iron. Ours are iron shipswith two coverings —one of teak 26 inches thick, and one of iron 41 inches thick. That is how the Warrior is built, and I have no doubt it will offer great resistance to shot and shell. Com plaints have been made that the Admiralty are going on buying large quantities of timber. We must do so, and especially we must continue to purchase consider able quan tities of teak, if we persist in building our ships with teak coverings. Teak, I need hardly say, is the best timber for that purpose, because it is of all woods the least liable to decay. 1 hope I have made a satisfactory statement in answer to the remarks of the noble earl. The Earl of CARNARVON—The noble duke has said nothing of the two ships built at Toulon for Italy, or of the two more which are ordered. The Duke of SOMERSET—I cannot say what is doing in the French dockyards. I know there was an iron cased ship built for the Sardinian Government in France, but I believe it was built, not in any Government dockyard, but by a private trader at Marseilles. I know nothing of the second ship, but the noble earl may be correct in his state ment. All I can say is, that in the fact that iron-cased ships have been, and are being, built for Italy and Spain, I see no great cause for alarm. It is very natural that other Powers should desire to advance as well as France and England, and we have no reason for believing that either the Italian or• the Spanish ships are meant to attack us. (Hear, hear.) At the same time, it is our duty—and espe cially the duty of the Admiralty—to watch the progress that is making, to follow our own course, and to make such preparations for maintaining the maritime position of this country as may seem to be necessary. For that lam quite prepared. (Hear, hear.) The noble earl, in referring to the works going on at Malta, thought it expedient to go back six or seven years. What has been brought to my notice since I have been at the Admiralty with respect to Malta is that we want more harbour accommodation there —not merely dock accommodation, but accommodation in the harbour for our vessels. On that subject I communi cated with my noble friend at the head of the Colonial office, and also with the local government at Malta. The con clusion we came to was that the Imperial Government and the local Government should each pay half the expense of deepening the upper part of the Great Harbour at Malta, that the merchant vessels should be put in that portion of the harbour, and that the lower part should be given to us as the place most convenient for our fleet. We have sent out vessels to dredge the upper part of the harbour accordingly, and operations are now in progress for proving increased accommodation for our large ships. The noble earl says that in the event of war the French fleet after a battle would go back to Toulon, while we eould not repair our ships at Malta. That certainly is so. The French have great ad vantages over us in the Mediterranean, because Toulon affords much more ample accommodation than we have at Malta, even taking into account the two harbours there. Beyond those two harbours, as every one acquainted with the ground knows, it would be impossible to extend the accommodation, and they will hardly suffice for the fleets of England, if we must have great fleets in the Mediterra nean. There must be difficulties in that respect, but this country has met difficulties before, and I have no fear that wo shall be unable to meet and overcome them again. (Hear.) At the same time, we have taken care to enlarge the harbour accommodation. and the local Government has met us in a generous spirit, having agreed to pay half the expense. We are cutting out stones for making wharfs and piers connected with the new works, and we have given directions that those stones shall be taken from a place which will eventually form a canal between the two har. tours, isolating them from the houses and private property in the neighbourhood. I have no doubt that the improve ments, when completed, will prove a great advantage, not only to our vessels of war, but also to the local Government and the inhabitants of Malta generally. The noble duke concluded by urging their lordships to pass the bill, stating that, although it repealed en Act which repealed former Acts, it would not on that account have the effect of re viving those repealed Acts. Earl GREY—I am sure your lordships must have heard the statement of the noble duke with great satisfaction. (Hear, hear.) For my own part, instead of finding fault with the Admiralty for being too fond of change, I am rather disposed to blame them for being too slow in adopt ing improvements. What I complained of two years ago was, not that we were adopting new inventions, but that when new inventions had been tried, and found to a great extent successful, we still went on building ships of the line which it was morally certain would never be used. I ob jected to that in 1850, and I think I was right in doing so. I did not mean to censure the present Board of Admiralty, because I was ignorant as to what they were about. We have now heard from the noble duke what is the course he is really pursuing. I believe that course is the proper one —not to hurry on too rapidly with new inventions until they have been fairly tried, but, on the other hand, when there are newjnventions which hold out every prospect of being successful, not to continue spending money in build ing vessels which in all probability will be useless ; to make arrangements for the rapid creation, in case of neces sity, of a large force of that description of vessels which will be most wanted and most serviceable, but not, under the influence of panic, to proceed too fast in the construc tion of ships which will not be likely to answer. Let me add tnat I was extremely glad to hear what the noble duke stated with respect to gunboats and the smaller class of vessels. IL i 3 übviously not wI t , In the rat, of no oT, Li a • ordinary improvements which are constantly being made in modern artillery, to build enormous ships in which a very large number of men would be exposed to certain destruc tion. I think the smaller kind of vessels, armed witb Arm strong guns, will prove the most useful we could have; and in a recent visit to Portsmouth nothing gave me so much satisfaction as to see our fine fleet of gunboats in such a state of preparation. In the event of any sudden attack there is no force on which we could so safely rely as upon these gunboats, armed with rifled guns. (Hear, hear.) The bill was then read a third time and passed. WILLS OF PERSONALTY BY BRITISH SUBJECTS BILL. The report of amendments was brought up and received CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE BILL. Earl GRANVILLE moved the third reading of this bill. The Earl of WICKLOW rose to call attention to the hardships which the British papermaker would labour under as long as difficulties were I heown in the way of the importation of foreign rags. He found from the reports in the public press that it had been stated by the gentleman who had been mainly instrumental in carrying out the commercial treaty with France, and when he had urged upon the French Government the expediency of allowing the free exportation of rags, the answer returned was that they were then engaged in negotiating a commercial treaty with Belgium, and until that treaty had been concluded they could take no steps in the matter. The objection then made upon the part of the French Government had, how- ever, now no ground upon which to rest, inasmuch as he found that the treaty between France and Belgium had been concluded. He hop(d, therefore, her Majesty's Minis ters would be able to inform the house that further steps had been taken with a view of obviating an injustice to which the papermakers of this country were still subjected, owing to the difficulty which lay in the way of their procur ing the raw material of their manufacture. Earl GRANVILLE sail that urgent representations had been made to the Governments of the various countries from which rags were exported with respect to removing the veryhigh duty ontheir exportation which at present existed. The treaty to which the noble earl alluded as having been concluded between Belgium and France gave, he believed, considerably increased facilities in that respect, but he hoped the Government would be in a position before long to give some mere satisfactory assurance on the subject. A point, perhaps, of even treater importance was, that there should be a systematic collection of rags in this country-- an organisation in which he had been informed by an emi- nent papermaker we were entirely deficient. The bill was then read a third time and passed. RAGGED SCHOOLS. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY, in moving for a return of the names of the witnesses who gave evidence respecting ragged schools before the Education Commissioners, re peated his complaints of the manner in which ragged schools had been treated by the Commissioners. The Duke of NEWCASTLE defended the commis sioners. They had merely stated that, in comparison with the higher schools, they were not entitled to grants of pub- lie money. The return would be a difficult one to obtain, but if the noble earl particularly wished it, he would try to get it. The subject then dropped, on the understanding that al] the information possible would be given to the noble ear] on the subject. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—YESTERDAY. The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock. CONSOLIDATION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW. The SOLICITOR -GENERAL moved that the house do go into committee on the bills on the paper relative to the proposed consolidation, the whole being reported at the resumptiim of the house at 6 o'clock. Mr. AYRTON said that the first of these bills contained a proposition of such magnitude that it had the effect on a former occasion of changing the Government of the day. He concurred in such a sitting as the present, but he hoped the substantive questions the bills involved would be re served for a subsequent decision of the house. OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON BILL. This bill passed through :committee, with some slight verbal amendments. LARCENY BILL. This bill, coneiiting of upwards of 120 clauses, passed through committee. MALICIOUS INJURIES TO PROPERTY BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. Clauses up to 12 were agreed to. On clause 13 being proposed, Mr. 11‘MAHON said in the select committee be pro posed that this clause should be omitted, but without suc cess, as his objection still held, and the result of the clause would be to remove to a criminal court disputes between landlord and tenant which had hitherto been con sidered in a civil court, he hoped the committee would strike out the clause. The 6InicITOR-OENZAATI cl9feqdocl the clattac. did not so much relate to landlord and tenant, but the un lawful and malicious injuries to the person. Mr. LOCKE supported tie clause. The clause was agreed to. Clause 14 was agreed to. Clauses 16 and 17 were agreed to, with some trifling amendments. The remaining clauses of the bill were agreed to. FORGERY BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. The whole of the clauses were agreed to vithout amendment. COINAGE OFFENCES BILL. The house went into committee on this bill. Clauses up to 30 were agreed to. On clause 31 being proposal, Mr. M'MAHON objected to this clause, as it created a power altogether new. Nothing was so common as to mistake the genuineness of a piece of money, and it appeared to him monstrous to give the power of as resting persons without warrant for passing bad coin. A lady some time ago was taken up on suspicion of passing counterfeit coin. The coin turned out to be gold, and the lady recovered damages from the person who gave her into custody. The SOLICITOR. GENERAL thought the clause ab solutely necessary. After a few remarks from Mr. Cmos,sand Mr. DENMAN, Mr. HUNT objected to the clause. He thought they should be careful, while they were setting traps for the guilty, that they did not catch the innocent. He thought it highly objectionable that favour should be given to any trader to call in a police officer and give into custody any person offering a counterfeit coin. Every one at some time or other had a counterfeit shilling passed upon them, which they, not being aware of, might offer in making a purchase, and it seemed highly cbjectionable to give power to any individual to order the arrezt of that person. Mr. LOCKE supported the clause. A person giving another into custody for passing counterfeit coin was liable to an action at law if he did so without good and sufficient reason. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said the clause was framed purposely to enable the utterer of base coin to be apprehended when th* offence was committed, because it was generally the case that when a man uttered a base coin with an intent to defraud, he generally had some evi dence of importance in his favour. The committee divided on the clause, when there ap peared— For the clause Against it 7 Majority —sB _ The clause was agreed to, as were the remaining clauses of the bill. ACCESSORIES AND ABETTORS BILL. This bill passed through committee. CRIMINAL STATUTES REPEAL BILL. This bill also passed through committee. The sitting of the house was then suspended till six o'clock. The house resumed its sittings at six o'clock. CHURCH-RATES ABOLITION. In answer to a question put by Mr. S. ESTCOURT, Sir J. TRELAWNY said that it was his intention to proceed with the Bill for the Abolition of Church Rates on Wednesday, but that the time which had been taken up in negotiation on the question had not been wholly lost. TROOPS FOR CANADA. Mr. AD DERLEY asked whether it was true that three more regiments of infantry and a force of artillery were under orders for North America, and that the Great Eastern steamship had been engaged for their transport, and if so, for what locality they were destined, and whether they were to be paid for from the Imperial or Colonial Trea sury, and if from the firmer, whether such expenses had been provided for in the Estimates ? Mr. T. G. BARING replied that two regiments of in fantry, in addition to the regiment previously under orders for Canada, and a field battery of artilleryhad been ordered to proceed to the colony, and he believed that the two regi ments of infantry and the battery were to proceed by the Great Eastern steamship. (Hear, hear.) The payment of the passage had been already provided for in the Estimates, and no additional expense would be incurred. The expense of the movement of the troops would be borne by the trans port service. COLONELS IN THE ARMY. General LINDSAY moved that a humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will be graciously pleased to take into consideration the present position of the officers promoted to the rank of colonel, for distinguished service in the field during the war in the East in 1855 and 1856, who, when the list of colonels was revised in 1858, were unfortunately overlooked in the recommendations of the Royal Commission of that year, by which their prospects in the service have been seriously injured. He stated that the Government had intimated to him that they would offer no objection to the motion. The gallant member proceeded to point out that the effect of the new rule, adopted with respect to colonels, had been to inflict considerable hardship and injustice upon the class of officers whose case he pro posed should be inquired into by the Commission. The extent to which these officers had been injured was shown in a return recently presented to Parliament, and from which it appeared that Colonel Troubridge had lost by this rule as much as 85 steps, and was so much further re moved from the rank of general by reason of his appoint ment as colonel. In the cases of Colonel Herbert, Colonel Eawaras, the Ear! of Longford, Sir David Wood, of the Artillery, and others, had suffered similar injustice. Colonel Lake, who was with Sir Fenwick Williams at Kars, had lost 56 steps; Colonel Emden and Colonel Chatterton had lost 9 steps in regimental, and 104 in the collective service of the country. There were not less than 200 offi cers who had to complain of the operation of the existing regulations. Mr. T. G. BARING stated that it was the intention of Lord Herbert, in conjunction with the commander-in-chief, to appoint a commission, and it would not therefore be necessary to discuss that position of the officers referred to in the address. That position was in strict conformity with the recommendations of the two commissions, and was not, therefore, duo in any way to the administration of the army, and he trusted that some mode would be devised for remedy ing a state of things which had probably never been in tended by those who bad framed the regulations. The motion was then agreed to. CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE BILL. The SPEAKER informed the House that the House of Lords had agreed to this bill without amendments. CASE OF MR. BARBER. Mr. BRADY moved the following resolution ;—Tha the strong claims of Mr. Barber upon the favourable con sideration of the Crown, referred to in the report of the select committee on his petition, have not been satisfied, and that the circumstances set forts in his petition to the house are entitled to the consideration of her Majesty's Govern ment. Sir G. GREY opposed the motion, contending that the claims of Mr. Barber had already been fairly considered and satisfied. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER also opposed the motion, which would involve tha most dan gerous precedent of compensating every innocent man who was unjustly committed. _ . After some further conversation, the motion was nega. tived without a division. NEW ZEALAND. Sir J. TRELAWNY then moved :—" That this house has heard with surprise and concern that the Governor of New Zealand has used forces entrusted to him by her Ma jesty for the protection of the inhabitants and the impartial administration of affairs within that colony, in depriving several of her subjects of certain property in land situate on the river Waitara, such property having been tendered for purchase by Teira, a member of the Ngatiawa tribe, who had no power to sell without the consent of the chieftain, Wiremu Kingi." He did not ask the house to support re bellion in New Zealand, but as the Government had thought proper to support Governor Browne, and to promote him for the course he had pursued, and as the house would have to vote supplies for the war in New Zealand, it was but fair that the house should have an opportunity of expressing its feelings. The hon. member was proceeding when it was moved that the house be counted, and there being but 31 members present the house adjourned at ten n:inutes past eight o'clock. Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton is to commence "A Strange Story" in All ,the Year Round on the 10th of August. The publication of the story is to be concluded in six months. [ADVEILTISEMENTI—We quote a few more of the extra ordinary cures without medicine effected by Du Barry's delicious health-restorin g R eva l en t a Arab - lea Food : Cure No. 180.-25 years nervousness, constipation, indiges tion and debility, f rom w hi c h I h ave su ff ere d grea t m i sery, and which no medici ne cou ld remove or re li eve , h ave b een effectually cured by D u B arry ' s Foo d i n a very s h or t ti me, W. B. Reeves, 181, Fleet-street, London. No. 4208, eight years dyspepsia, nervousness, debility, with cramps, spasms, and nausea, for which .my ser vant had consulted the advice of many, have been effectually cured by Du Barry's health-restoring Food. I shall be happy to answer any inquiries. Rev. John W. Flavell, Ridlington Rectory, Norfolk. Avoid Pills and Medicines : they invariably aggravate and perpetuate diseases ; their annoyance, disappointment, and expense may be avoided by using Du Barry's Food which, at a few pence per day, saves Se times its cost in other remedies, removing effectually, without purging, constipation, indigestion (dyspepsia) nervous, bilious and liver complaints and all their consequences. Certificate No. 36,418. We find it the safest remedy. Andrew Ure, MD., F.R.S,, Dr Harvey, Dr. Wurzer, Dr. Shorland, Dr. Campell. Let invalids avoid th e fearful dangers of spu rious and injuriou, imitations offered under a variety of false pretences. Nevill's imitations are prohibited by the high Court of Chancery under a penalty of £5,000 against Alfred Hooper Nevill and his agents ; and the pretences that Nevill has a patent for Arabica Food and that Du Barry's are connected with such patent gre utterly false. No canister is genuine without th e name B arry D u B arry and Co., 77, Regent -street in full, on thespal and wrapper. distrustedmiivieiins aillrleosth4earsc.arriPaagckeefdreeinantinrescelilpbt. Shopkeepers who attempt imposition in one article must 2s l " 2l .P6 lf. dt. a ;t : 2 d l t . d b : 44. 51b. ; 121 b, 225, ; 24th. 40s, The of Post-office order by Barry Du Barry and Cc, 77. Re. gent-street, London ; Fortnum Mason, and Co. Abbit, 60, Gracechurch-st ree t ; 4, Cheapside ; 63 and 150, Ox bard-street ; 330 and 451 , Strand; 49 and 60, Bishopsgate street ; Batty, 16, Fi ns b ury Pavement oa,dealers ; Petty, Wood Phillips and Ce , and Co., King William-street Oity ; at 127 Hi7h Holborn; awl all groom. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. ASCOT RACES.-TUESDAY. The Trial Stakes of 5 soya each, with 100 added; weight for age, &c. ; the winner to be sold for 600 sovs. New mi. e. 14 subs. Lord Portsmouth's Buccaneer, 4 yrs, 9st 21b (J. Goater) 1 Mr. R. Ten Broeck's Satellite, 5 yrs, 9st 81b (G. Fordttara) 2 Baron Niviere's Wedding, 5 yrs, 9st 81b .... (Watkins) 3 The following also ran :—Naiad, Handsome Jack, Fan nie colt, Parasite, Principal, General Hesse, Cock Robin, and Liberality. Betting-5 to 2 agst Buccaneer, sto 1 agat General Hesse, 6 to 1 agst Liberality, 7 to 1 agst Satellite. After Buccaneer had run to the bottom of the hill the lot was arranged in pretty good order, and when the flag dropped, Liberality, Principal, Satellite, and the Fannie colt formed the front rank. At the Stand, Buccaneer, who had been lying off, crowded all sail and went to the fore, attended by Satellite and Wedding. From that point the issue was confined to the first three. Wedding being beaten at the Royal Stand, and Buccaneer, shaking off Satellite, won cleverly by half a length, two lengths between the se cond and third. Clear of them came the Fannie colt fourth and principal fifth, heading the others, who were pulling in. Cock Robin lost start, and in his progress up the course, ran against several posts, which he knocked down like skittles. A Handicap Plate of 100 sovs, for three-yr-olds and up wards. Straight half-mile. 34 subs. Capt. Lane's Southport, 3 yrs, Est 101 b....(Woodhouse) 1 Mr. Wyndham's Lisbon, 3 yrs, 6st 121 b Mr. Payne's Gabardine, 3 yrs, Est 41b (Parsons) 3 The following also ran :—Angelo, Predictor, Rosalind, Vergiss Mein Nicht, British Prince, Camerino, Redpole, Barbiton, Little Dick, Carbine, Arabia, Jessie Brown, and Medora. Betting 4 to 1 agst Vergiss Mein Nicht, 6 to 1 agst Little Dick, 7 to 1 agst Rosalind, 10 to 1 agst Southport, 12 to 1 agst Camerin and Lisbon. Upwards of half an hour was cut to waste before the horses could be drawn up in proper order to effect a start. They seemed all to be playing at cross purposes, and the jockeys seemed to think that a rule of contraries had been established for their especial benefit or amusement. The breakings away were so frequent, and nearly every starter took part in them, that we have no necessity to specify the repeated failures. Before the flag was lowered even the most industrious speculator, who seldom likes to omit an opportunity of " laying," closed his book in sheer weari ness, while the patience of that portion of jthe spectators who were indifferent to the mere racing was quite ex hausted. Ultimately the flag fell to a very straggling start, Barbiton and Carbine being left so far in the rear that they were never enabled to show in the race. The front lot comprised Southport, Lisbon, Vergiss Mein Nicht, and Rosalind, the others, with the exception of the two mentioned, running pretty nearly abreast at their heels. Opposite the Grand Stand Southport and Lisbon separated themselves from the ruck and finished the race together, Southport winning by a neck, a length and a half separat ing the second from the third, Vergiss Mein Nicht was fourth, Rosalind fifth, Little Dick sixth, and Arabia seventh. Predictor was last of those that took part in the race, but far behind him came Barbiton and Carbine trot ting in. The Gold Vase, given by her Majesty, added to a Sweep stakes of 20 sovs each ; weights for age, with certain penalties and allowances. Two miles. 10 subs. Mr. Savile's Parmesan, by Sweetmeat, 4 yrs, Bst 101 b (Aldcroft 1 Mr. F. Valenti ne ' s Silverhair, 3 yrs, fist 21b (Challoner) ) 2 Count Lagrange's Royallieu, yrs, 7st 31b (Grimshaw) 3 The following also ran :—Cantine, Aurelian, Ebony, Sporting Life, and Lupus. • Betting-7 to 2 agst Cantine, sto 1 each agst Ebony, Parmesan, and Royallieu, 6 to 1 agst Aurelian. They jumped away abreast, Parmesan taking a slight lead, but passing the Royal Stand Silverhair joined him, and led round the top turn, Aurelian taking close com pany with her, and Parmesan being next, the four run ning side by side; the next lot, headed by Sporting Life, being in compact order about two lengths off. On enter ing the Swindley Course they slightly split, and Parmesan resumed the lead, Sporting Life going on second, Ebony third, and Silverhair fourth. Parmesan increased his lead at the Lime Kilns, Ebony, Sporting Life, and Silverhair retaining their relative positions, Lupus toiling on in the extreme rear. Parmesan carried on the running to the straight, which he entered next the rails, Sporting Life and Silverhair being next. At the distance Spotting Life and Ebony compounded, and were beaten, and Royallieu and Cantine went on in pursuit of Parmesan and Silverhair. Mr. Savile's colt, however, held his own to the end, and won by two lengths; the second beating the third by a length. The others were scattered, Lupus walking in last. A Maiden Plate of 100 sovs, for two-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 51b. Half a mile. 27 subs. Mr. Merry's Knave, Bst 71b Mr. Valentine's Hippodamia, Bst 71b Count Lagrange's Absinthe, Bst 51b The following also ran :—Deceptive, The Cutler, Tarra gona, Ernestine colt, Perambulator, Brava, Bacchus, Miss Livingstone, Annette, Summer Breeze, Walpole, Snow drop colt, Tom Sayers, Peru, Southerly Wind. Betting -2 to 1 agst Knave, sto 1 agst Walpole, 6to 1 agst Cutler, 10 to 1 agst Tarragona. The usual difficulties were experienced at the post. Some jockeys would not go back, and some horses would stand still, and it was not until neatly an hour after the appointed time, 2.50, that the lot got away. The start was pretty good, only Cutler getting off on disadvantageous terms, and he was last throughout. To define the relative positions of the " leaeers" was impossible, and even the jockeys them selves were not agreed as to the order in which they left the post. As the horses crossed the road, Summer Breeze, Absinthe, Deceptive, Tarragona, and Knave showed prominently in front. At the distance, however, the race was virtually over, for the Knave came out and ran home the winner by two lengths. The others pulled up, and finished "anyhow," Hippodamia being second, three lengths in advance of Absinthe, who was third. Deceptive was fourth, a length from the third, Summer Breeze fifth, and Tom Sayers next. On being unsaddled, Walpole was attacked with the " meagrims." He fell, rolled on his back amongst the crowd that surrounded him, but was quickly on his legs again. Madden weighed in llb short of weight. The trainer of Southerly 'Wind was fined two sovs for not de claring his colour. The Third Year of the Ninth Ascot Triennial Stakes of 10 sovs each, for four-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 71b; fillies, Bst 41b. Once round. To start at the distance post. 28 subs. Lord Ailesbury's St. Albans, by Stockwell, Bst 71b (L. Snowden) 1 Baron Rothschild's King of Diamonds, Bst 71b.. (Wells) 2 Mr. Gratwicke's Allington, Bst 41b (E. Sharp) 3 Lord Ailesbury's Plumper, Bst 41b (Drew) 4 Betting-2 to lon St. Albans. Plumper rushed to the front, and was soon in possession of a long lead, King of Diamonds lying second, and Ailing ton being last, a long way behind. They ran without change until entering the Swinley Course, when St. Albans "hanging" very much, drew into the second place, and on passing the Brick-kilns the lot slightly closed up. As they headed the hill, on making for the last turn St. Albans joined his stable companion, and coming away by himself just after entering the straight, he cantered in the winner by six lengths. The third was beaten double that distance. The Ascot Stakes of 25 sovs each, 15 ft, and 5 only if de clared, with 200 added ; winners extra. Two mile and a half. 44 subs, 22 of whom declared. Mr. Ten Broeck's Optimist, by Lexington, 4 yrs,Ro ri7cha stl m 3T 1 Lord Ailesbury's Intimidation colt, 3 yrs, sst 131 b (Buck) 2 Mr. Brayley's Weatherproof, 2 yrs, sst 71b .. (Whiteley) 3 The following also ran :—Moorcock, Horror, Frederick, Danae, Conscript, Bandsman, Rapture, Knightsbridge i Juno, Jackal, and Prince Imperial. Betting-5 to 1 agst Prince Imperial ;6to 1 each agst Weatherproof, Optimist, and Horror; 7 to 1 agat Jackal; 12 to 1 each agst Moorcock, Juno, and Conscript. A capital start was made at the first attempt, and on settling on to their legs Weatherproof took her colours to the front and led past the Stand, with Rapture, Knights bridge, Jackal, and Juno running in a cluster at her heels, the others being well laid up. At the saddling enclosure Rapture rushed to the fore and led alternately with Juno and Weatherproof round the top turn, but on nearing the Swinley Course Prince Imperial temporarily showed in ad vance, but soon after dropped back again, and Rupture once more took the lead, followed by Prince Imperial, Juno, Weatherproof, and Optimist, but they ran so close and sa frequently shifted their positions that it would be absurd to attempt to indicate the order in which they passed the Brick Kiln turn. After rounding it Weatherproof and Rupture ran side by side for a short distance with him, Jackal, Prince Imperial, Intimidation colt, and Optimist being close up in a body in their wake. Rupture soon afterwards gave way, and in the straight Optimist and the Intimidation colt went in first and record, with Weatherproof, Horror, and Baud ;; ,,, man tailing in hopelessly after them. Horror was, how ever, quickly disposed of, and the race was left to the first two, Optimist winning easily by two lengths ; three lengths between the second and third; Bandsman was fourth, Moorcock fifth, Prince Imperial sixth, and Jackal seventh, all pulling up. Juno, who was beaten before rounding the turn, walked in last. Pretendant was struck out at 12.50 p.m. The trainer of Rapture was fined 2 sovs for not de claring his colours. The Queen's Stand Plate of 300 sovs, added to a sweep stakes of 10 sovs each; weight for ago; winners extra; allowances, &c. T.Y.C. 37 subs. Mr. Merry's Buckstone, 2 yrs, Est 51b (Hayward) 1 Count Lagrange's Marignan, 3 yrs, 7st llb (in. 31b ex.) (Grimshaw) 2 Count Lagrange's Gab r i e l d'Estrees, 3 yrs, Bst 21b (Fordham) 3 The following also ran :—Woodford, Babette filly, Miss Julia, Sleeper, Twilight, Jeddah, Leontes, Pellucid, Lady Ripon, Amsterdam, Overton, Feu do Joie, Mainstone, Re yille, Penalty, Lucky Lad, and General Hesse. The betting opened at even on Buckstone, but closed at 5 to 2 agst him, 4 to 1 agst Marignan, 6 to 1 agst Twilight, 7 to 1 agst Jeddah, S to 1 agst Hesper, 100 to 6 each agst Miss Julia and Leontes. The start was a pretty fair one, Twilight having some" thing the worst of it. When the flag fell, Marignan jumped off with the lead, but after going about 100 yards Buckstone took up the running, with Marignan, Mainstons), a►e Ba bette filly, Jeddah, and Gabriel d'st + rees, showing the most prominently in his wako, Wo attempt a detailed de scription of such a race would be ludicrous, for it was im possible to distinguish all the animals, lying well up in such a mass of shifting colours as the jockeys' jackets formed. Just before reaching the stand, Buckstone and Marignan quitted their pursuers, and came away locked together by themselves. They could scarcely be whipped apart, and Buckstone won by a short lead only. Three lengths off, Gabriel d'Estrees was third, Jeddah a bad fourth, Pellucid fifth, Leontes and Babette filly heading the ruck. The Ascot Derby Stakes of 50 soya each, h ft, for 3-yr old colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 31b; winners extra ; maidens allowed 71b. Swinley Course. 15 subs. Baron Rothschild's Janus, Bst 71b (Wells) 1 Lord Exeter's Knight of St. Patrick, Bst 71b.. (Aldcrof.) 2 Lord Strathmore's Struggler, Bst (L. Snowden) 3 Mr. Merry's -- Itarlight, Bst 7th (Custance) 4 Betting-6 to 5 agst Janus, 3to 1 agst Starlight, 4to 1 agst Knight of St. Patrick. Janus led throughout, the others keeping pretty close company; at the distance Knight of St. Patrick became second, but failed in his effort to catch Janus, who wan by four lengths, a bad third—Starlight walked in last. The First Year of the Fourth Ascot Biennial Stakes, of 10 sots each, with 100 added, for 2-yr-olds; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 31b. T.Y.C. 64 subs. Baron Niviere's Alerte Bst 31b (W a tki ns ) 1 Mr. Fisher's Lord Burleigh, Bst 71b (D. Hughes) 2 Mr. 1. Valentine's Carisbrook, Bst 71b (A ldcrott) 3 Cutler, Clockmaker, Exchequer, Manrico, Watchfire, Morocco, Keane, St. Lawrence, and Jung Frau also ran. Betting-6 to 5 agst Carisbrook, 4to 1 agst Morocco, sto 1 agst Jung Frau, 6 to 1 agst Alerte, 10 to 1 agst any other. Alerte took the lead on rising the hill, and ran home an easy winner by two lengths, the second beating the third by a length and a half. Clockmaker was fourth, Cutler and Jung Frau heading the next lot. LATEST BETTING. GOLD CUP. Even on Thormanby (taken) 7to 2 agst St. Albans (taken and offered) 4to 1 agst Parmesan (taken) THE DERBY, 1862. 10 to 1 agst Buckstone (taken) BETTING AT MANCHESTER—TUESDAY ASCOT GOLD CUP. Even on Thormanby (taken) sto 1 agst Parmesan (offered) 6to 1 agst St. Albans (taken) ROYAL HUNT CUP. 100 to 6 agst Buccaneer (taken) 20 to 1 agst Cheesecake (taken) 20 to 1 agst Seclusion (offered) 20 to 1 agst East Sheen (taken) NORTHUMBERLAND PLATE. Bto 1 agst Underhand (wanted) 10 to I agst Yorkminster (offered) 100 to 8 agst Rapparee (offered) 25 to 1 agst Viscount Brignall (offered) THE NORTHUMBERLAND PLATE.—Viscount Brignal was struck out at 2.30 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday). DEST.RUCT 10 A' 0 P THE MUSIC HALL IN THE ROYAL SURREY GARDENS. This once splendid structure, probably erected in less time than any similar building in or near the metropolis, was yesterday afternoon almost totally destroyed by that fearful and devastating element-- fire. The hall in question, as most of our metropolitan re4ders are aware, was of considerable dimensions, the frontage facing the lake being not less than 140 feet in length, and taken from one Bilge to the other, it was 90 feet wide. The ground floor was fitted up in a most expensive manner, and at one end was the stage for pantomimic representations, and also the well-known orchestra designed by the late M. Jul lien. The galleries rose three floors high, and were most elaborately fitted up, the fronts being formed of iron trellis work picked out, so as to resemble gold and silver. A variety of national arms and, flags were projected frcm the fronts of those gal leries, whilst in front of the great lake were two large open-air galleries, having corrugated zinc roofs for the accommodation of visitors to witness the pyrotechnic displays. At the four corners of the hall were as many towers, which rose as high as 120 feet from the base. These had each most re markable domes with a kind of golden dagger at the top, and could be seen fdr miles distant. Upon the outside of the verandahs were suspended flags from beautifully-decorated staffs, representing vari ous nations. Unfortunately, little if anything is now left to show the beautiful effect mice produced by this building. Certainly a few twisted and mis shapen iron columns, that once supported the edi fice, can be seen, where the different galleries stood, and the massive stone columns on the ground floor are so fretted by the boiling water that fell upon them, as to appear far from being sufficiently safe for any one to enter the place. The roof of the building was lighted by means of several hundreds of gas jets, whilst eighty chandeliers supplied the light to the various galleries, the front of the latter being decorated with carved or moulded figures. From careful inquiries made on the spot during the raging of this fearful fire, our reporter was informed, that about 10 minutes to two o'clock in the afternoon, two persons, named Fray (fornierly a sergeant in the H division of the police), and con stable Langley, of the A division, were proceeding along the W alworth-road, on the top of an omni bus, when they noticed smoke issuing from the roof of the hall, but not of any considerable extent. Knowing the construction of the building, and that no chimney was near, they felt satisfied that the premises were on fire. They therefore immediately proceeded to the gardens, and, strange to say, Mr. Inspector Worels, of the P division, who was pro ceeding to give evidence respecting a smoke nuisance in the same neighbourhood,also discovered the fire at the same time, and no doubt they would have been able to have extinguished the flames in the course of a few minutes, had they been able to have reached the roof, for, according to the state ment of the persons present, the fire was little larger than three feet square ; but the only means of getting to the roof was by a ladder at the other end of the building, which was unknown even to the master carpenter of the establishment. All of a sudden, and before any one could get to the roof, a plumber's brazier fell through the roof unto the top gallery, firing in its descent the stuffing of the flooring below, and then the work of destruction continued to spread with the greatest vehemence— in fact, as fast as any fire has travelled for years in the metropolitan distriot. Immense volumes of smoke rose high in the air, and then huge sheets of flame broke through the roof. At this conjuncture it became doomed apparent de that the noble building was mr. o m t att b h e ews s , to t r he ye h d e . head carpenter, who was at dinner in an adjoining house, at once proceeded to the place, and, with the assistance of the men under him and the police, succeeded in removing the scenery and most of the stock in the ground floor of the hall, into the gardens, but the fire continued to progress in a way too fearful to describe with accuracy. Information having been despatched to the various engine -stations, and also to the chief station of the Metropolitan Police in Scotland-yard, in the course of a very brief period the engines of the Lon don Brigade from Waterloo-road, Southwark-bridge road, the large engine of Hodges's distillery, under the personal superintendence of Mr. Hodges, dis tiller, andleveral others of the brigade, under the direction of Mr. Superintendent Braidwood and Mr. Henderson, the foreman of the D district, attended, as well as others of Messrs. Burnett's dis tillery, Price's candle works, and the immense steam land engine, built by Messrs. Shand and Mason, of the Blackfriars-road. By order of Mr. Henderson, and Mr. Braidwood, his superintendent, the steam and several of the manual power engines were taken into the gardens and backed to the lake, which the Southwark Com pany's mains kept feeding with water, whilst Mr. Phipps, the secretary of the Lambeth Company, di rected the working of the engines from the outside of the gardens from the mains of that company. Such showers of water, unless at a river-side fire, have scarcely ever been witnessed as were thrown upon the flames; notwithstanding which, they continued to progress, and about three o'clock the whole of the galleries, which were considered fire-proof, pre sented an appearance approximating to some grand pyrotechnic display, for the fire curled round the iron work in front, melting the metal, at the same time seizing upon the elegantly-appointed stalls and sofa seats. Even the lofty iron columns which supported the roof could not withstand the intense heat, and they were twisted like bows, some fall ing from their perpendicular position and allowing gallery after gallery to topple to the floor. This was a scene fearful to look upon, but still more fearful to hear the noise occasioned by the falling of heavy timbers and beams that stretched across the galleries. The sensation caused by this was comparison t o w h at followed, a b out threeno hi n i o'clock, when at least sixty feet of the four great great towers f e ll, almost at the same mo - The noise ma d e was like a di scharge of m artillery, and it seems a perfect miracle that several of the firemen had not been crushed to death ; as it was, one of Mr. Hodges's firemen was severely cut about one of the hands. Mr. Brown, surgeon of the fire brigade, was in attend ance to render assistance in case any of the firemen should be hurt. With the exception aft the slight accident ab ove referred to, no other person up to nine o'cl oc k l ast n i ght h a d b een i njured. The walls of the Ina i n b uilding an d also . the remainin m hi o t in e a en n t d ar m ily r .to fall. the tions of th e towers are i n an exceedingly dangerous g por m cond e i s ti s o r n s. , canhas d .j.H. .w expected county and Am? Imuroce 01406. c m u cod- soli, jun., surveyor to various fire offices, were early in attendance, to look after the salvage for the com panies interested in the loss. Captain Harris, one of the com m i ss i oners o f pol i ce, w i th supe rintendent Price, H, and Beckerson, L, with Inspector Worel, Dun, Constable, and others, were remarkably early in arriving, and they were instrumental in keeping an immense crowd out of the gardens, and conse quently out of danger. The four towers which were about 120 feet high, have fallen nearly one half, and the remaining por tions are still in a very insecure condition. From the inquiries made last night there seems no doubt but the fire was caused through the carelessness of some workmen, who had been employed in repair ing the roof, leaving one of the "devils" burning there whilst they went to dinner ; a similar occur ence took place the previous evening, from the same cause, in the premises of Mr. Allon, No. 4, Victoria Cottages, New-cross, Deptford, which partially de stroyed the roof of the house. At nine o'clock last night a great body of fire still remained in the hall, and there seemed no chance of its being entirely extinguished until an advanced hour this day. The whole of the contents were uninsured, but the building, which was erected at an expense, it'is stated, of £16,000, was insured in the West of Eng land, and several other fire offices. Unfortunately, the destruction of this splendid lyric temple will disappoint a great number of per sons, many having taken tickets for the grand con cert, at which Sims Reeves tu4 other celebrities were to take part in the ensuing week. The gardens were, however, thrown open to the public last night, minus, of course, the entertain ments in the hall, and the public will be admitted as usual until the hall is rebuilt. Messrs. Bishop and Caldwell, whilst entering into a contract for advertising the approaching musical entertainment to be given by Prince George Galitzen, were ap prised of the disaster, and upon hastening to the gardens found the great hall in one body of flame. One of the musicians named Browning was fortu nate enough to save £3O worth of musical instru ments belonging to him, and several other bands-- men were also equally fortunate in saving their music books and instruments. With the exception of some of the side chare;ber s on the ground floor and the bars, the hall may be said to be burnt out. ANOTIIER.ROBBERY AT THE GENEIML POST-OFFICE. ,For some time past the author;:ties of the Post office have had under investigation several cases of mysterious robberies which have taken place inside the establishment, two of which have been lately made public, namely, the violation of the tills of the, Receiver's office, in the south side of the centre hall, and the abstraction of moneys therefrom, and the breaking open of the desk of Mr. Leal, one of the clerks employed there, and the stealing of £9 19s. 6d. from his private drawer, cash belonging to the Clerks, &c., Widows' and Orphans' Fund, of which he is the honorary treasurer. For some time past it has been noticed by the officers of the stores department, that those in what is called the bag room" have run unaccountably short. In his particular part of the building ire St. Martin's-le-Grand, some hundreds of bags, most, of them now being made of canvas, and mar.,v used for the reception of foreign and colonial cor respondence of considerable value, are stored, the part of the prem'ses occupied for the purpos-4 being in the basement at th e north-eastern er A d o f the building. The knowledge of this fact, and the re cent failures on the part of the exerAtive to dis cover the thieves in the former cages, who are be lieved to be persons employed ur,,on the establish ment, has caused a most rigid system of detective inspection to be adopted throughout all parts of the office accessible to labourers, porters, and other " unclassed" or " supernumerary" employes. The result was that on Monday evenin at a little after eight o'clock, 8,-,a departure after the departure of the outward mails, one of the men employed in the "bag room," was stopped in going out of it by an officer who noticed his bulky appearance. Upon. searching him, six canvas bags of the best quality were found concealed round his person, most artfully arranged underneath hi s apron. Upon his residence being visited by the officers, several other articles of morn in Post-office property were f oun d, and on Tuesday g he made disclosures which may not only implicate several other parties, but lead probably to the elucidation of the mysteries which have long' surrounded the previous robberies in the depart ment. COUNTRY MARKETS. BRISTOL—Turn 11. At our market to-day there was a fair attendance, and a better business was doing, at the late decline. A general impression prevailed that prices for all grain had seen the lowest point for the present. LEEDS —JUNE 11. Our market to-day was fairly attended by millers, and the trade in wheat was of a dull character•, at a decline of is to 2s upon last week's rates. Bow, fully is lower. Barley, oats, and other articles unaltereo,. LYNN—JUN 13 U. There was a moderate attendanc e . '1 he supply of wheat was middling, with a slow busi-ness. Good sorts receded is on previous quotations; inferior ls to 2s ch ea p er . B ar l ey in short su ppl y , a t barely 4 :ne prices of last week. Oats were in slow demand. ?Jeans in short supply, and less firm in price. Old white 56s to 59s Old red 50s to 54s Barley, ..... 28s to 42s Oats .22s to 26s Beans .42s'to 46s Peas 48s to 54s NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYNE—JUNE 10. At this corn market there was a small supply of wheat. The trade was slow, and the prices were 18 lower than the rates of last week—white making 60s to 675, red 54s to 61s. The supp l y of barley was small, and not much changed in val ue. Oats were in steady request, with a firm sale, from 24s to 33s per 24 stone. Beans met with a ready sale, ft om 42s to 54s per qr. —ji t l o N -d E ay ll ,. Therewhich sold wasiV lE a L ni T i Od middling n M g O showW B of R A w Y heat at Is under the previous week's rates for all descriptions. Barley less inquired for, maintaining late rates. For oats the trade was very quiet. Prices :—White wheat, 553 Od to 59s Od ; red, 47s Od to 53s per 36 stone ; beans scarce, at 52s to 55s for old ; new sorts, 39s per 38 st. ; barley, 40s to 44s for malting, and 28s to 34s per qr. for grinding; oats, 29s to 38s Od per 24 stone. NORWICH CATTLE. The show of store cattle to-day was large. The num ber was greater than the demand, and fully one •fourth re mained unsold. Scots, 4s Od to 4s 6d ; shorthorns, 3 5 6d t o 4 s ; I r i s h , 3 s Od to 3s 6d ; Devons, 45 to 5s 6d (estimated weight when fat). Fat beasts a good show, and sales brisk, at 8s Od to 8s 6d per 141 b. Sheep--There was a good supply of sheep in the pens. Fat sheep 8s Od to 8s 6d pe r s t one ; prime, Os Od. Pigs—A fair supply. Store pigs,, 15s to 18s ; fat pork, 7s 6d 8s Od per stone. THE MAILS. MAILS DUE. Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South ampton) .. .. .. .. • • .. June 18. Do. (via Marseilles) June 12. Brazil and Cape Verds .. .. .. .. July 4.1 Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, &c. .. .. Cuba and Mexico .. .. .. .. .. June `£3. Canada, &c. (via L'derry) .. .. .. June 12. Cape of Good Hope, &c. .. .. .. July 2 China, Penang, and Si nga p ore (via; S'ampton) June 18. Do (via Marseilles) June 1 2 • Gibraltar (via Southampton) .. .. .. Overdue. India (Calcutta), Ceylon, &c. (via Southampton) Jun : 12. Do. (via Marseilles) ju v il erdue.. June 12. • • June o 19. India (Bombay), (via Southampton) .. Do. (via Marseilles) .. • ; June 11. Lisbon .. .. .. June 6. .. .. .. • . Overdue. Malta, Egypt, and Aden (via Southampton) :. Do. (via Marseilles) .. June 11. United States, California, &c. .. Vigo, and Oporto .. .. • • • • 'ffe .. 0 verdu Western Coast of Atrica, Madeira, Ten,e7a, &c. Juno Ig. e. Cuba, l3. West Indies and Paci4c, Carthozeua' BIRTHS. DRANDT.—O n the 11th inst., at Woodford, the wife of R. Brandt, Esq., of a daughter. MAUDE.—On_t o h n e 9th the ilnolfstth John Alexander 4a,t 83190,acnaetn-sbtrreiedtg, te Mrs. Henry Maude, prematurely, of a son, stillborn. RA H D y e d i e- F p F a E rk, the wife Alexander Radcliffe, Esq., e erz li :c n e, of a daughter. O m V v er e - r S i aglUaAri; e_setoyUtllhte ROSTOVTZOFF-13RMIDAG.T.ANit.---IoAnGthe MARRIAGES. inst., at Saint to Mary, eldest daughter ot Dr. BriNEdgini Arthur Wolfe, M c mp o a l e a nr s o: R lov o f s o t oß o i v wu tz si cs o hi ff a.: , C e Louisa t Oh:tisasnElY. —On the 10th inst., at Cambridge, the co o m lFle m Eg on W R AG o L e e.D : C l ' D st 'o , Alex. J. D. D,O .. ~ Fellow and Tutor theof Clarei,ev. orier, younger daughter of rsey, 8.p., of C or p us Ch r i s ti C o llege. DEATHS. BEWICKR.—On the 7th inst., Calverley Richard Bewicke, Bedborough, Esq., late of New Zealand, aged 42. BEEDBll"ito:U t P — le o ll ll. ° l. ll l: ' l K st en in t' st a .. ed at 63 R . otterdam, Henry PREEgAN.—On the Bth inst, Charles Rayner Freeman, Esq., of Upland I.lall, near Stowmarket. RUGHES.—On the 7th inst., at Lower-parade, Learning. ton, Mr. David Hughes, lato of Talgarth, South Wales, 'aged M. HAMBROUGH.—On the 6th inst., at 14, Princes-terrace, Hyde -park, Albert John Hambrough, Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S., of Steephili Castle, S.W., aged 41. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TrIE SUN Office, No. 112,Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, I the ccoutity st Middlesex ) WediNficlith Jilin 12, Isoll THE st7N I TLONDON, 'WEDNESDAY EVENING,' JUNE 12, 1861.