The Sun. — London, England, 1861-03-26 00:00:00

INDIAN FAMINE RELIEF FUND. In aecordance with the suggestion of several corre spondents, Messrs. Grindlay and Co. beg to announce that they are prepared to receive and remit by each mail to Colonel R. Baird Smith, C. 8., the secretary to the Calcutta Relief Committee, any contributions forwarded to them in aid of the above fund, and which will be duly acknowledged in the " Times " and the " Home News. - East India Army Agency, 55, Parliament-street, London. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 26, 1861. T HEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMIRKET. Lesmee, Mr. J. B. Blackstone. On EASTER MONDAY (April 1)„ will be performed A DUKE IN DIFFICULTIES. Mrs. Stirling, Miss F. Haydon. Mrs. Wilkins, Miss Fanny Stirling, Mr. ttuckstone, Mr. Compton, Mr. Howe. &v. Alter which, will be revived, with entirely new scenery and effects, and all the original music by the late Sir Henry Bishop, the melodrama of.THE MILLER AND HIS MEN, Cemmenoe at 7., NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. Novel Attraction for the Passion Week. —;TO-NIGHT ( enesday), and every evening during the Week (Friday ex cepted), the celebrated Italian Illusionist, Chevalier ANTO NIO POLETTL in his extraordinary and wonderful enter tainment of NATURAL and CHYMICAL MAGIC; and Pell's (the Original Bones) Ethiopian Minstrels. Doors open at half-past Six, commence at Seven. Box-office open To morrow (Wednesday), Thursday, and Saturday, from 10 to 5. No charge for booking. ADELPHI, NEW THEATRE-RON-AL. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. Ben). Webster. On EASTER MONDAY, a new drama, AIAGLIORE, PRESTIDIGITATOR. Messrs. B. Webster, J. L. Toole, D. Fisher, Ac.; Miss K. Kelly, Miss El. Simms, Ac. After which, OUR FEMALE AMERICAN COUSIN. Miss Julia Daly. Doors open at half past 6—Commenee at 7. CANTERBURYstmi-H nster ALL -road. CONCERTS!!! We Proprietor ........C. Morton. A Grand Selection from Verdi's new Opera, IL CORSARO, (This opera has never been produced in this or any other country, except at these Concerts), having met with that de cided success which charactisei the most popular works of this great Master, will be performed EVERY EVENING ; together with a Selection from LA FIGLIA DEL REGGI mENTO, by Donizetti, Principal Artistes—Miss Russell, Madame Maria, Miss Tyrrell, Mr. H. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, H. Drummond, and C. W. Bernard. Director, Arr. F. Jonghmans. The Comic Department comprises Messrs. E. Marshall, A. B. Hollingsworth, J. Blanchard, F. Bell, W. IL 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. T H E OXFORD, No. 6, OXFORD-STREET. Madame Parepa, Miss Russell, Madame Marietta, and Miss Poole ; Mr. Swift, Mr. George Genge, Mr. Charles Greville, and Mr. Santley ; •Mtss Rosina Collins (the celebrated Vio liniste), and Mr. Levy, in addition to a host of talent, will appear at THE GRAND INAUGURATION CONCERT THIS EVENING (TUESDAY), March 26 THE OXFORD, 6, Oxford-street. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tsui DAY.—Morning, 112. 30m.—Afternoon, lh. 52m. To-uomtow.-Morning, 2h. 11m.—Afternoon, 2h. 20m. THE WEATHER. — SUN OFFICE, MARCH 26, 1861. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHLDII, 58—highest since noon yesterday. 44—lowest this morning and during the night. 58—this day at noon. BluoNrETzu-29.70. WIND--South-Wasterly—light ; with cloudy weather. LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1861. To-day we have before us the instrument which defines the mode in which one of the greatest social and political changes of modern Europe is to be effected. It is a change in what is now called Europe, but the country and the inhabitants are, as they were in ancient times, Asiatic rather than European, and the manifesto or decree of the CZAR has in it quite as much of the Tartar as of the Western character. Allowing for the effect of contact with a higher civilisation, and the improved education of the Czars themselves, since the time of PETER TIIE GREAT, we may trace in this remark able document the hand of the divinely appointed Ruler of the people, their chief Priest as well as their King, their Father as well as their Monarch, in short all that a Russian peasant understands by his customary cry of—" GOD and the CZAR." The institution, whose end is now commenced, and which is, at most, not to outlive two years, is by no means so ancient an institution as some imagine. It was originated in 1599, only, therefore, about two hundred and sixty years ago, by the usurper BORIS GODUNOFF, and its original intent seems to have been to restrain the wandering habits of the people, to make them amenable to regular Govern ment, to induce them to commence habits of civili zation, and perhaps as much as anything to make it possible to levy taxes on them, and to raise sol diers from among them. It was not a European but an Asiatic feudalism. The right in the soil was held to be with the nobles, and the peasants were settled in localities, in which they had to pay to their chief three days' labour in the week, for the right to cultivate their share of the village or communal soil, the other three days for themselves. This was the simple origin, it would appear, of all the oppressive usages which the nobles have for nearly three hundred years engrafted upon it, Russian serf dom has not been in many respects so bad as American slavery ; on his own land the serf was a sort of freeman, and his master could not sell his children or separate husband and wife; but he could send him into the army, or vex him by fixing days for service inconvenient to him ; or if he were in a city, and thriving as a tradesman, could order him home at once to his village and to agricultural service; and in numberless ways he had acquired a power to make his life intolerable to him, if dis posed to tyranny. At this moment, however, the strange fact is, that while Anglo-Saxon Republicans in America are seceding and recombining in order to maintain a far worse system of slavery than that of Russia, the despotic CZAR is doing his utmost to strike the fetters off his faithful and devoted peasants. And ALEXANDER 11. will do it too. Some of us may feel a little disappointed not to see in the Im perial manifesto an immediate freedom conferred on the serfs ; but besides that we ought to call to mind our own West India apprenticeship, we cannot, with our imperfect acquaintance with the details of Russian peasant life and relations, take upon us to pronounce that the CZ AR has not adopted the best course after all. We may be confident that he is sincere ; the conduct of the House of ROMANOFF towards its own serfs proves that. We may be sure, too, that he is " master of the situa tion." The nobles dare not resist him. They dare not resort to the good old Russian substitute for dissolving Parliament, the assassination of their EMPEROR ; it would, they know, and indeed say, be the signal for a universal massacre of their order ; they are but about 100,000 among forty millions of serfs, who would certa inly take a bloody revenge for the mur der of their protector. Hence, though they have submitted with an ill grace, and tried every obstructive and delaying measure which did not appear like direct Opposition, and which would not create a rebellion, they have never dared to refuse obedience to the Imperial will. The pea sants on their part have waited with exemplary patience, knowing that they and the CZAR had the nobles secure and helpless between them, and that the final result could not be long delayed. It is not a little striking to us Westerns to notice the religious as well as paternal style of this remarkable historical document. The CZAR speaks of himself as he common fathe r Of all, and of the nobles as dwelling originally in affectionate patriarchal rela tions with their peasantry ; and he laments that, in the course of years, " The simplicity of morals diminished as the diversity of the mutual relations became complicated, as the paternal cha racter of the relations between the proprietors and the peasants became weakened, and, moreover, as the seigneurial authority fell sometimes into hands exclusively occupied with their personal interests, those bonds of mutual good will slackened, and a wide opening was made for an arbitrary sway which weighed upon the peasants, was unfavourable to their welfare, and made them indifferent to all progress under the conditions of their existence." He commends, however, the present nobles of the Empire for what they certainly well knew to be no merit of theirs —he, on his part, " came to the conviction that the work of a serious improvement of the condition of the peasants was a sacred inheritance bequeathed to us by our ancestors—a mission which, in the course of events, Divine Providence called upon us to fulfil." And then, turning to the nobles, he adds :—" We also count upon the generous devotion of our faithful nobility, and we are happy to testify to that body the gratitude it has deserved from us, as well as from the country, for the disinterested support it has given to the accomplishment of our designs. Russia will not forget that the nobility, acting solely upon its respect for the dignity of man and its love for its neighbour, has spontaneously renounced rights given to it by serfdom actually abolished, and laid the foundation of a new future, which is thrown open to the peasants." Though not easy for us to appreciate the precise bearing and probable working of all the arrange ments, this much is quite clear,—the peasant will for two years remain liable to the obligations of the old regwie; though we know from our own ex• perience in the West Indies that their masters mar be glad to commute sooner an exceptional position unpleasant to both parties. A certain portion of his land he is to have as necessary to his main tenance, and for the purchase of the remainder ho may arrange with his landlord ; a fixed rent is to be paid, if the landlord can get it from a person who is not a tenant at will. And for the settlement of all disputes on terms and arrangements between peasants and landlords, special courts are to be extensively created. Government is to aid with loans for the purchase of the property, but how the vast amount requisite for the conversion of the land into the property of the peasants, needy too, as se many of the nobles are, and unable to live without fair payment, it is difficult to understand. We must, however, hail the measure as one of the best omen. It will render war impossible for Russia till the arrangements are settled—when the peasants become small freeholders or copyholders, then time will be too valuable in a country posses sing so much spare land, to be wasted in war. A middle class will also arise, and Czars may be come in tithe the fathers of domestic industry and progress, rather than the domineering plagues of Eastern Europe. It will be a fearful calamity if London is again to witness a strike among the building operatives. Already there are serious threatenings of it. But, GOD grant that these ominous tokens of an appa rently oncoming evil may be speedily and utterly dis sipated ! It is doubly alarming because the thou sands upon thousands of workmen in this branch of trade have barely as yet begun to recover from the disastrous consequences brought upon them selves last year by an unequal, it might even be termed a suicidal, struggle of a precisely similar character. But it should besides this be borne in especial recollection, before it may turn out to be too late, that between the past strike, the dreadful strike of 1860, and the seemingly future strike, apparently in some points of view the inevitable strike of 1861, there has befallen these unfortunate bricklayers, these hodbearers, these toiling Israelites among the masterful Egyptians by whom they are employed, another and a very severe trial, for which, however, they themselves are in no way respon sible—an ordeal allotted to them by an inscrutable dispensation of Divine Providence. Midway between the bygone summer of 1860 and the approaching summer of 1861, there came that severe and length ened wintry season, which necessitated the inter ruption, for so long a period, of all kinds of build ing operations, throwing out of employment the very men who most needed work, and that, more over, at the precise period when they most urgently required it, both by reason of the severity of the weather and of the calamitous prolongation of the then recent idleness to which they had, during so considerable a portion of 1860, been voluntarily subjected. It must be quite manifest to any one, upon an instant's reflection, that another strike coming now so soon after its lamentable predecessor, (that preceding strike having been, in its turn, almost immediately followed by a frost that in London alone threw hundreds of thousands of the industrious population upon the charity of their fellow-creatures), must prove, should it most lament ably come to pass, in spite of every endeavour to prevent its appalling apparition—must prove, in that deplorable contingency, disastrous beyond all reasonable calculation. The sufferings caused by the " turn-out" in 1860 are surely not yet forgotten. They will hardly be forgotten for years to come by the sufferers themselves. They still live vividly enough in the recollection of all amongst us who looked upon them as sympathising spectators, as spectators struggling—how inadequately, it is woeful yet, to this moment, to have in remembrance !—struggling, each in his own way, as sympathising spectators to minister some mite, some drop, some atom of relief or comfort to those who were being sacrificed to the Moloch Conspiracy. The sufferings again, the yet more recently and yet more wide-spread sufferings, consequent upon the severity of the last winter and its long con tinuance as a preventative of labour, cannot in their turn have in any way faded out of the memory of the mass of the population. It was, too, visible all through that death -dealing frost, to be lost sight of, or to be regarded by anyone as a matter of uncertainty. It stalked howling through the streets, d a y after day, in the form of clusters of working-men, fathers of families most of them, pleading for a dole of charity from the passers by. It besieged in hungry crowds the offices of the police magi strates, where relief in kind was distributed to n umerous applicants as from the Conventual grille of the Middle Ages, or, in later times, from the buttery hatch of the Old English country gentle man. At this moment we do verily believe that a bonfire of really terrible dimensions (remembering the frightful significance of each little pasteboard flake composing it!) might be made in one of the public places of this capital, a huge and mo,t melancholy bonfire, composed entirely of the pawn tickets for poor furniture and poorer cicthing not yet redeemed from those readily accessible bankers and usurers of the masses, pawn-tickets obtained for the bare necessities of existence, for the daily crust and the nightly garret-roof—by reason, first of all of that accursed strike of 1860, and secondly, and, 1 41 Ets ! how soon afterwards, of that Wintry season that has but just now terminated. Yet already, hard upon the heels of these redupli cated calamities, come these - sinister forebodings that in the summer of 1861 the strike of 1860 will be repeated. It is scarcely credible that men, to their own grievous detriment, and to the mental grief and bodily anguish of their wives and children, should thus obdurately persist in acting in a manner so miserably insensate. Why, the strike of last year —which at its close, recollect, proved to have been utterly abortive, realising none of the objects for the attainment of which it was rashly originated—why, that strikeof last year was so visibly evil in its effects, was so glaringly pernicious and destructive, that it absolutely told its tale upon the periodical returns of the Bills of Mortality. True, that throughout the mournful history of that terrible strike, the opera tives who ceased labour, the operatives who were the first and the most grievous of all the sufferers from it, evidenced, from first to last, the noblest capacity for endurance, the most affecting calm—(a calm stoical, however, in its stubbornness, rather purely Christian, seeing that it was, so to speak, wilfully self-necessitated)—the most affecting calm under a world of accumulated privations. Yet all these were virtues born out of wrong— virtues utterly thrown away and lost fruitless of any good whatever, for they result, as we all know, in nothing but death, disease, and wretchedness. Bearing in mind, moreover, that latterly there has been a distinct conciliatory advance made by the masters to the workmen with a view to the recon ciliation of these long existing differences—here surely is afforded to both the very opportunity for the effectual prevention of the recurrence of these most miserable strikes, the very opportunity (for their effectual, and we will hope, permanent pre vention) which by all those who like ourselves are merely looking on at the disputants, as it were, from without, could most eagerly have been desi deratcd, The advance which is understood to have been now made by an intelligent cluster of the em ployers is one simply to the effect that by paying the labourer henceforth by the hour instead of as hitherto by the day, the bone, as one may say, would be taken out of the wrist of each noisy leader of the nine hours' movement. Instead of paying the workmen as hitherto by the day—a system yielding about 335. a week to the better class of mechanics, and about a pound sterling per week to the ordinary day labourer (pay yielding remu neration at the rate of 61-d. an hour to the former, and 4d. an hour to the latter, that is, to the ordinary day labourer) instead of paying them thus, it is suggested that the employers should remunerate the employed by the hour, thus placing the time of the employed more at his own disposal and apportionment. It is proposed more over that while paying the skilled mechanic by the hour his pay should be set down, not at the rate of 61d. per hour, but at the rate of 7d.—the day labourer still receiving his 4d. What may be thought eventually by the workmen of such a com promise as the one just now particularised, time alone can demonstrate. Let us only trust most earnestly that the concession made now by the masters in offering any proposition at all with a view to a reconciliation of all differences on the question, and to the obliteration of all heartburn ings in the past, may be so far responded to by the honest-hearted workmen themselves, that the latter may evidence in return a reasonable amount of moderation. A repetition of the strike may thus most surely be guarded against ; and instead of our beholding masters and men any longer idly and periodically breaking straws together, while the former are seriously injuring their fortunes, the latter wearing their hearts out meanwhile in use less longings and cruelly self-inflicted privations— we may hear at length that they have mutually and wisely contented themselves in one way or another with simply splitting the difference. M. KOSSUTH bas certainly got money's worth for his notes, even should he never be able to use one of them. The affidavit we publish to-day will be read not only by most Englishmen, to whom it will be, notwithstanding its legal form, a positive treat, but it will be read all over France, the French EMPEROR having an interest rather in its publica tion than its suppression ; it will find its way all through Germany itself, and not be easily kept out of Austria proper, while the Italians will cordially welcome it to their tongue and to their country. Nothing can keep it out of Hungary, for Lord JOHN RUSSELL will be unable to send her MAJESTY'S steamer the Banshee, to carry off copies of the affidavit, as she carried away the Hungarian arms to Constantinople ; and the clear assertion of undeniable truth by the ex-Governor of Hungary, will brand FRANCIS JOSEPH not only as a usurper in Hungary, but as a traitor to the hereditary claimant of the throne, FERDINAND V. It is said, indeed, that the present court of Austria are endea vouring by every means to get FERDINAND to abdi cate the throne of Hungary, as he did that of Austria, that they cannot persuade him to do it, and that they consequently keep him a virtual prisoner. Quite certain it is, however, that if KOSSUTH'S appointment to be Governor-President of Hungary be passed by, there is no evasion of the fact that FERDINAND V. is the living and rightful King of Hungary. Our courts of law, appealed to by the Emperor of AUSTRIA, will certainly thus far do him justice ; the pleadings will prove that that he may be Emperor of what he calls Austria, but that he is not King of Hungary. The court itself would almost seem, however reluctantly, to be obliged to enter into the inquiry. How can it sus tain a demand from the King of Hnngary, unless the plaintiff can prove that he is really King ? We shall wait with some interest to see what Sir HUGH CAIRNS' client will have to say to all this. His counsel, it will be remembered, found this reply so puzzling that he had to apply for an ex tension of time to put in his rejoinder ; what ability can do for Count APPONYI and his Master, Sir HUGH CAIRNS will assuredly do ; but we do not see how he can turn a usurper into a King, that King being yet living in the dominions of the usurper himself ; and his subjects being unanimous in asserting that he is still their King. M. KOSSUTH proves, indeed, that he is himself still in the position to which he was elevated by the Diet, and the duties of which he solemnly swore to fulfil. That if FRANCIS JOSEPH were King of HUNGARY he would have no power to issue notes ; that hs is the only person authorised to issue them ; that the Royal Arms spoken of by the plaintiff do not exist in Hun gary ; that the use of the emblem, so called by the plaintiff is the right of every Hungarian, and spe cially of the nobles, to which class KOSSUTH belongs ; that the notes are in no sense " spurious notes" being only what they profess to be, and imitations of no other notes in existence ; and 'Luther, that he had not attempted, and did not intend to attempt, the introduction of these notes into Hungary while the present system of forcible dominion existed there. He explains also the purpose for which he wanted them, which was to do justice to the persons who suffered by the Austrian confiscation of the Hungarian notes of 1849, and its shameless robbery of the national bul lion from the Hungarian Treasury on which that circulation was based. The answer appears to be superabundantly complete on all points, and we do not wonder that, on behalf of his client, Sir HUGH CAIRNS asked for time. We hope he will get nothing else for him. The Marquis and Marchioness of Chateaurenard have left Wilton-crescent, and taken up their residence at Albert-gate House. Earl Brownlow has left town to join Lady Marian Alford at Rome. The Countess of Antrim was safely delivered of a son on the 22d inst., at Glenarm Castle, Ireland. Viscountess Palmerston will have an assembly on Saturday, the 13th of April, at Cambridge House. Lord and Lady Herbert have left Belgrave square, for Wilton House, near Salisbury, for three weeks. Their Serene Highnesses Prince Frederic of Schleswig-Holstein-Augustenburg and Prince Victor of Hohenlohe•Langenburg arrived at Windsor Castle on Sun day night. The Archbishop of York has left Claridge's Hotel for the Archiepiscopal Palace, York. The Duchess of Leeds and Miss Lane Fox are passing a few weeks at St. Leonard's-on-Sea. The Marquis of Exeter has arrived at Claridge's Hotel from Burghley House, Stamford. Sir Henry and the Hon. Lady Alildmay have arrived at their house in Eaton-place, from Dogmerstield Park, Hants. The Right Hon. R. A. C. and Lady Mary Hamilton have arrived at Farrance's Hotel, from Lincoln shire. The Hon. George and ilrs. Barrington have arrived at their residence in Hertford-street, from visiting Viscount and Viscountess Barrington at Beckett House, Berks. Lord and Lady Itokeby leave town on Thursday for Hazelwood House, Herts, for the Easter holidays. Lord and Lady Foley have left Grosvenor-square for Worksop Manor, Notts. Lord Courtenay has arrived at the Hotel Bristol, Paris, from a tour in Algeria. Mr. and Mrs. Barton and family have left Claridge's Hotel for Paris. Mr. and Mrs. Dudley C. Majoribanks have arrived at the Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood. THE LATE DUCHESS OF KENT.—COWES, March 25, 1861.—Out of respect to the memory of her late Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, the inhabitants of Cowes closed their shutters during the day of the funeral, the flags on shore and afloat were hosted half-mast high—the Royal Standard and the other flags at the R. Y. S. Castle were also at half-mast, and orders were given for the guns to be fired minutely from the R. Y. S. battery; but a letter was received from Dr. Davids, stating that the Rev. Mr. Hughes was so dangerously ill that the firing of the cannons might cause his death, they were, therefore, not discharged. The rev. gentleman was doing duty for the Rev. J. B. Atkin son, at the Old Church, at West Cowes, on Sunday even ing, when, in the middle of his sermon, to the dismay of his eongregation, he was seized with paralysis ; he became almost inaudible, his sermon was suddenly brought to a close, and it required the assistance of Dr. Gibson and one of the churchwardens to remove him from the pulpit. THE NEW ACT ON BANK OF ENGLAND PAYMENTS. —Yesterday, the act which received the Royal assent on Friday, was issued respecting certain,payments to and from the Bank of England in relation to the National Debt. The primary object of the Act is to reduce the scale of allowance to the Bank for managing the public debt as much as Eio,ooo a-year. The new allowance will commence from the sth of April next, the commencement of the financial year. Besides, a new regulation as to the balances on the dividend account, there is an important alteration with re gard to the transfer of stocks and annuities, including the East India stock. The provision recites that the closing of the transfer books before the half-yearly payments has caused great inconvenience " by reason of the stock so transferred carrying the right to the current half-year." It is considered desirable to increase the facilities of transfer, and the act provides that the books may be closed on any day in the month preceding that on which the dividends are payable, and the proprietor of the stock shall bo entitled to the then current half-year's dividend, and the person to whom the transfer is made after the closing of the books shall not be entitled to the then current half-year's dividend on such stock. It is further provided that the period for which the books are closed shall not exceed 15 days. SETTLEMENT OF THE BATH STRIKE.—The differ ences between the operative masons and their employers have been settled, and on Monday the men resumed work. During the last few days deputations from the employers and employed have met several times to discuss the points at issue. The result of their conferences was a recommen dation to their respective bodies of the following arrange ment, to which both parties have agreed :—The employers to give their men an immediate advance of 4d. per day, and to allow them to leave work at four o'clock on Saturdays ; and the men, on their part, to promise to make no further demand within 12 months from the present time. Either party must give six months' notice of any intention to make any alteration in the rate of 'wages nr the hours of labour. The operatives have thus gained the whole of their demands, and the only, exaction made from them is that they shall not strike again:within a year, and that they shall give six months' notice of any intention to strike. The advance of wages already made in several branches of the building trade has induced the plasterers and painters of this city to form a society, with a view to the improve ment of their condition. FRANCE AND ITALY.—Although England may lend every succour to Piedmont, the Government of that country is, and will continue to be, the intimate and insepa rable ally of France. It is in compliance with the persis tent advice of Louis Napoleon that Piedmont displays the most surprising activity in augmenting her fleet. There are at this moment constructing no fewer than eight frigates and four corvettes in the dockyards of Genoa, Naples, and Castellamare, where there are constantly employed more than 5,000 shipwrights ; two iron plated frigates are also now constructing near Toulon, on account of Piedmont, and a contract has been concluded in France for two other vessels of the same description. In a few days a project of law will be presented by the Government to the Italian Parliament, demanding a supplementary, credit of 30,000,000 of francs, exclusively destined for the construction of six other frigates. CURIOUS OMEN, OR COINDIDENCE.—On Wed nesday night, or rather Thursday morning, at three o'clock, the inhabitants of the metropolis were roused by repeated strokes of the new great bell at Westminster, and most per sons supposed it was for a death in the Royal family. There might have been about 20 slow strokes, when it ceased. It proved, however, to be due to some derangement of the clock, for at four and five o'clock WI or twelve strokes were struck instead of the proper number. On mentioning this in the morning to a friend, who is deep in London antiquities he observed, that there is an opinion in the City that any thing the matter with St. Paul's great bell is an omen of ill to the Royal family ; and ho added, I hope the opinion will not extend to the Westminster bell. This was at eleven on Friday morning. I see this molting that it was not till one a.m. the lamented Duchess of Kent was considered in the least danger, and as you are aware she expired in less than 24 hours. Ido not pause to comment on this curious coincidence, but to ask whether any one can give any fur ther particulars as to this opinion.—Cwrespondent in " Notes and Querns.,' ELECTION LAW AMENDMENT BILL.—The Cor rupt Practices Prevention Act of 1354 expires in August, and Sir G. C. Lewis has therefore brought in a new bill to be substituted for it, in the main renewing the existing law, but embodying alterations suggested by the select committee which considered the subject last year. The elec. tionauditors are not continued ; the scheme proved a failure ; but all payments are to be made through an authorised agent, and as the publication of election expenses affords protection against illegal expenditure to candidates and their friends really desirous to avoid it, an account is to be rendered to the returning officer and published in local newspaper. The pecuniary penalty for bribery,treating, or undue influence is reduced from £5O to £2O, and that for accepting a bribe to £lO, and the clause requiring that the penalty be sued for in the superior courts is omitted. The of fence of treating is extended ti the corruptly providing enter tainment by a candidate for 1 irsons other than electors, with a view to influencing the election, and the votes of all who corruptly accept such entertiimaent and of voters paid for furnishing it are to be void. No money is to be given to a voter for travelling expense:, but conveyance may be pro •ided for him at county elections. The clause pro viding for payment of coss by the prosecutor on the failure of an indictment for bribery is discontinued, as not in accordance with he ordinary course of crimi nal law, and tending to iglispose any one from prose cuting. It is made a niMemeanour for a person em ployed by a candidate for ihe purposes of an election to vote thereat. There are sone clauses for regulating legal proceedings, and proceedino before election committees; treating may be proved befov proving agency. A certificate of indemnity given by Comnissioners to a witness racking a true disclosure is to extend .nly to such prosecutions and punishments as he was liable to at the time when he gave his evidence. County polling districts may be altered on the petition of 50 voters. A commission of inquiry may be issued on the joint address 0) both houses, where a petition alleging extensive bribery, beating, or other corrupt prac tices at any election is presorted within a limited period after the time for presenting election petitions. Ono re commendation of the commitme is not adopted, the resolu tion carried by Mr. Ayrton Ly a majority of taw, that any person in the employ of ancthr be at liberty to absent him self for the time necessary fo; the purpose of voting for the I place where he resides withost being subject to any loss of wages, or other penalty. EXPLOSION AT HOUNSLOW POWDER MILLS...s.A working charge explosion :ook place at the Hounslow Powder Mills of Messrs. Crrtis and Harvey on Saturday evening, just previously to tie cessation of work. The re port was unusually loud, but as the material was in a very imperfect state the damage due is unimportant, and what is far more satisfactory no person was in any way inillrod• FUNERAL OF HER ROYAL I: UGLINESS THE LATE DUCHESS OF KENT. (From the Court Circular.) The remains of her late Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended by Colonel Lord Tames Murray, Equerry to her late Royal Highness, and the Hon. Spencer Ponsonby, Comptroller in the Lord Chamberlain's Department, were removed from Frogmore-house, at four o'clock yesterday morning, to St. George's Chapel, Windsor, and placed near the tomb of her late Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte. Four of the members of the late Royal Duchess's household fol lowed in a second mourning coach. Viscount Castle rosse, Vice -Chamberlain of the Queen's household, received the body. At half-past 10 o'clock those who had the honour of receiving the Queen's commands to attend the ceremony of the funeral were conducted to seats in the choir. The Belgian, Hanoverian, Portuguese, Prussian, and Saxon Ministers, Earl Granville, Viscount Palmerston, and Lord John Russell, were on the north side. The Earl of St. Ger mans, the Duke of Atholl, and the Marquis of Ailesbury occupied seats on the south side of the choir. The remains of her late Royal Highness were moved at 10 minutes before 11 o'clock to the nave, and shortly after the Royal Family and other Royal personages were con ducted by Viscount Sydney, Lord Chamberlain, from the Chapter-room of St. George's Chapel, to their places in the procession. The remainder of those appointed to take part in the procession passed from \Volsey's Chapel to their places. The Canons of Windsor present were the lion. and Rev. Edward Moore, the Rev. Lord Wriothesley Russell, the lion. and Rev. Charles Leslie Courtenay, and the Rev. Fre derick Anson. The opening sentences of the Burial Service—a chant adapted from Beethoven—were sung by the choir while the procession moved up the nave to the choir of the Chapel. The body was placed in front of the altar at a quarter past 11 o'clock. The coffin, of crimson velvet, was covered by a pall of black velvet, bearing eight escocheons of the arms of the late Duchess of Kent. The Hon. and Very Rev. Gerald Wellesley, the Dean of Windsor, stood in the front of the altar and read the first part of the Burial Service. The anthem (Luther's Hymn) was performed, the solo part being sung by Mr. Tolley, a gentleman of the choir. The Dean continued the service. " I heard a voice from Heaven" (Croft) was sung by the choir. Dr. Elvey presided at the organ.' The Dean concluded the service, and the coffin was then lowered. Sir Charles Young, Knight, Garter King of Arms, pro claimed the style of her late Royal Highness :-- "Thus it hath pleased Almighty God to take out of this transitory life unto His divine mercy the Most Illustrious Princess Victoria Maria Louisa, widow of the Most High, Most Mighty, and Illustrious Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathern, and mother of her Most Excellent Majesty Victoria, by the grace of God, of the United King dom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, whom God bless and preserve with long life, health, and honour, and all worldly happiness." The Prince Consort and the Prince of "Wales were attired in mourning, and wore the riband and badge of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. The other Royal per sonages in the procession, the Foreign Ministers, and the Queen's Ministers and officers of State present at the cere mony were also attired in mourning, and those who are members of Orders of Knighthood wore their respective insignia. The service was concluded at 25 minutes before 12 o'clock, his Royal Highness the chief mourner and the other Royal personages were conducted out of the chapel, the "Dead March," in Saul, being played by the organist. The chaplains to her late Royal Highness, the Rev. Messrs. Fisher, Pitman, and Pitt, and one of the Equerries of the Royal Duchese, Lord Howden, did not take part in the procession, being unable to attend. Lady Anna Maria Dawson, the Hon. Lady Phipps, Lady Charlotte Dundas, General Sir Robert and Lady Gardiner, and Dr. Robertson, of Balmoral,'who had been honoured by the Queen's com mand to attend the funeral, were also unavoidably pre vented from being present. Their Serene Highnesses Prince Frederic of Schleswig- Holstein-Augustenberg and Prince Victor of Hohenlohe- Langenburg arrived at Windsor Castle on Sunday night. OXFORD, MARCH 25.—DEGREE DAYS.—Congre- gations will be holden for the purpose of granting graces and conferring degrees on the following days in the ensuing term :—Wednesday, April 10; Thursday, May 2; Friday, May 10; Saturday, May IS, Candidates for degrees are required to enter their names in a book kept for that pur pose at the Vice-Chancellor's house on or before the day preceding the day of congregation. CONSECRATION OF THE BISHOP OF WORCESTER. Yesterday morning the ceremony of consecrating the Right Rev. Dr. Henry Philpott, who has been nominated by the Crown to the bishopric of Worcester, rendered vacant by the death of the Right Rev. Dr. Henry Pepys, took place in the private chapel of Lambeth Palace. The Brighton Railway traffic return shows this week an increase of X 2,005, and the South• Eastern an in vl ,0000. The traffic receipts of the Great Western Rail way of Canada, for the week ending March 8, were £9,410 sterling, being £667 more than in the correspond ing week of last year. The traffic receipts of th© Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada, for the week ending March 2, were £13,008 sterling, being £1,407 more than in the correspond ing week of last year. EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN SKELETON.—As the workmen employed in sinking a foundation for the enlarge ments now being made in the parish church of Mullioger, Ireland, were pursuing their work at the east end of the building, they discovered amongst the other remains of human beings, the perfect skeleton of a man measuring over seven feet in length, and which appeared from the im mense size of the skull and other portions—such as the bones of the hands, jaw-bones, &c.—to have equalled in its other dimensions its extraordinary height. Its position war considerably deeper in mother earth than that at which human skeletons are generally found. There was barely sufficient appearance of a coffin to prove that it had received proper interment, but everything connected "with it indicates its having occupied its lonely tenement for several centuries. FATAL SCAFFOLD ACClDENT.—Yesterday morn ing a frightful occurrence took place in Great Marlborough street, by which a bricklayer was almost instantly deprived of life. It appears that the deceased was at work on a scaf fold erected to repair the front of a house, when a putlog slipped and the unfortunate man fell with great violence to the foot pavement from the height of 50 feet; he was in stantly removed in an unconscious state to Middlesex. Hos pital, but was dead before he reached the institution, his skull having been completely shattered by the fall. REDUCTION OF THE ARMY IN IRELAND.—In consequence of the extremely peaceable condition of every part of the country, in which the military has been acting for a long time pastas an armed police, it is, we understand, the intention of the War-office to reduce the troops sta tioned in this country by at least one-third of their present number. Arrangements, it is stated, are being made to have this plan put into execution as soon as possible.—Freaman's Journal. THE SHAM FIGHT AT BRlGHTON.—Yesterday afternoon, in accordance with a requisition to the mayor, a public meeting was held at the Town-hall, Brighton, to adopt measures for a general holiday in that town on Easter Monday, in order to afford an opportunity to all classes of the inhabitants to witness the volunteer review. The chair was occupied by the mayor—Mr. F. Algar—and resolutions were adopted in accordance with the objects of the meeting. Lord Ranelagh, who is now residing at the Bedford Hotel, is actively engaged with other officers in making various arrangements for the event, and at the last Ineeting of the Brighton directors and guar dians it was resolved to place at his lordship's disposal for head-quarters the newly erected Industrial Schools, which are situated on the scene of action, in the vicinity of the race-hill. The grand stand will be occupied by the Lord Lieutenant of the county, the Earl of Chichester, and other distinguished visitors, with the band of the sth Dra goon Guards, which will attend by permission of Colonel Calthorpe. The several corps of volunteers will proceed to the ground by various routes, and will enter the race course by the south end, passing between the two lines of spectators, The whose force is expected to be on the ground at half-past eleven o'clock, and two lines of defence will be formed, to meet a supposed enemy, whose force is conceived to have landed at Shorehr,m and to bo advancing therefrom. One defensive line will face the grand stand and extend for about a mile, whilst the second will stretch its length from the head-quarters to Oven.dean. The artillery on the extreme left will first open fire on the supposed enemy, and the several evolutions ineWental to a conflict in the battle-field will then be carried out in accor dance with a programme laid down. The most complete arrangements will be made for the accommodation of the public, who, from the nature of the etc selected, will obtain an excellent view of the spectacle LADY DOCTORS.—" Mrs. 1)oetor Elizabeth Blackwell, describes the successful efforts of herself and sister during nine years in foundirag the New York Infir mary for Women and Children, iu which poor women and children are treated by these l adies,—the main object being, however, to provide ladies who are engaged in the study of medicine opportunities for seeing and assisting in practice, presenting such guarantees to the profession of intelligence and earnestness on th e p ar t o f it s s t u d en t s th a t they may in time gain admittance to other medical charities. Tho In firmary has a board of consulting physicians. With re gard to the question in medical ethics, whether women should be all owe d an d encourage d to prac ti s e medicine, Mrs. Blackwell says :—' It may be interesting to the pro fession here to know that it was settled in Englamd two years ago, when the General Council of Medical Educa tion and Registration of the United Kingdom received the testimonials of a lady-physician (herself), and enrol led her name in the medical registrar for 1859.' "—Medical Times and Gazette, LATE - LATEST NEWN PARIS, MARCH 2G. The Noniteur of to-day announces that the in terest on Treasury Bills has been raised to 4, 41, and 5 per cent. respectively. TURIN, MARCH 25. In to-day's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies M. Audinot made an interpellation (of which he had previously given notice) in reference to the affairs of Rome. He expressed his belief that the Government of the Pope was incompatible with the liberty and independence of the country and the civil rights of any civilised nation. He asked the Ministry whether any negotiations were being carried on for the purpose of terminating the foreign intervention at Rome, or what other measures the Government had in view for the solution of the question ? Count Cavour replied :—" We have a right to have Rome as the capital of Italy. The city of Turin is ready to sacrifice her position. But we must go to Rome with the consent of France, when all sincere Catholics will be convinced that the Church, far from suffering, will gain by it. The union of the temporal and spiritual power has always and everywhere been a source of evil. When we enter Rome we shall proclaim ample liberty to the Church, and this liberty shall be guaranteed by a special statute. If the Court of Rome persists in the union of the two powers of the Papacy, its policy will be responsible for the schism which might result therefrom." This speech was much applauded. PESTH, MARCH 26. The Congregation of the Comitat of Posega has adopted a resolution declaring the Council of the Empire to be an institution incompatible with the constitution of the kingdom. The Congregation has also protested against the sending of representatives to the Council of the Empire. ITZEHOE, MARCH 25. The Speaker of the committee for examining the Danish proposals made an interpellation to-day, in which he stated that the budget had not been sub mitted to the Estates of Holstein, as had been announced by the Danish Government to the Eng lish Government. The Royal Commissioner replied that he would refer the matter to Copenhagen, and requested the Assembly in the meantime to adjourn the discus sion of that question. ITZEHOE, MARCH 26. In yesterday's sitting of the Estates of Holstein the proposition of the Committee that the proposal of the Danish Government, in reference to the bases of a Constitution for the whole kingdom should be rejected, was unanimously agreed to. In reply to the interpellation respecting the budget made by the spokesman of the Committee, the Royal Commissioner stated (in addition to what was reported yesterday evening) that the discussion of the budget, in so far as it con cerned Holstein, would certainly be readily per mitted to the Estates. SHANGHAI, FEB. 6. The troops at Tien-tsin are shut in by ice. The mail of the 10th October was the last that had been landed. General Collineau died on the 15th of January. Tontai is levying a heavy tax on the native dealers. The Yangtze expedition is to leave on the 9th inst. The rebels are making demperate efforts to go south. Business is completely suspended. CANTON, FEB. 15. The Fearnought has been beeched near Hong Kong. The Spartan has put back to Foo-chow-foo, having grounded. It is reported from Japan that the Secretary of the American Legation had been murdered at Yeddo. The British and French Ministers had tied to Yakshama. The United States Minister remained at Yeddo. SINGAPORE, FEB. 22. A French mail service has been established be tween this place and Saigon. ;POINT DE GALLE; MARCH 3. Lord Elgin left yesterday for Suez. FRANCE. BOURSE, March 25.—The market remains in the same inanimate state, but with the prices of Saturday generally well maintained. Threes, for the account, are now alternating between 68f 15c and 68f 20c. Railway shares quiet, but firm. The following are the last quotations :- 41 per per Cents ... 95 90 j Credit Foacier 940 Do end month.... 95 90 Belgian 4} — 3 per Cents Do. end month 6B 20 Roman Bank Shares .. 2880 Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 665 Spanish Threes 4B Do. Account ...... 662 50 ; Home Debt RAILWAYS. ' Cish. Account. Orleans 1417 50 .. 1420 Northern New ditto 9OO .. Lyons and Mediterranean 955 .. 953 75 Geneva 3BO ' .. 381 25 Southern 542 50 .. 542 50 Western • Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard 475 .. 472 50 k ar iS, 7 14 e ~ , , _ • se 4 • f- dr:"Z7.1.410 .. ' n; • ' 7175. 4 4 . - -ri • • * •-•••.'•••• THE SUN. DENMARK. The Boersenhalle gives the following as the text of the King of Denmark's answer to the letter addressed to him by the Duke of Oldenburg : " Palace of Christianborg, March 15. " Your Royal Highness has thought proper to communicate in a letter of the 2d February your opinion on the measures which I ought to take con cerning the differences existing between my Go vernment and the Germanic Confederation as to the position of the Duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg with regard to the other parts of the Danish monarchy. I have examined the tenour of that communication with the attention it de served, and, to my great regret, I have found the views propounded by your Royal Highness too nearly akin to those of a subversive party which has already once attempted rebellion against the sovereign of its country, for me to make them here the subject of lengthened discussion. As a King, and as head of the elder line of Oldenburg, I shall be myself the first called upon to form a judgment on the royal promises of my ancestors and prede cessors on the throne of Denmark. I think I may confidently assert that I have not less at heart the welfare of the countries committed to my charge than any other Prince whatever, and, more for tunate in that respect, I receive in the affection of my people an amp l e recompense f or m y e fforts. Unhappil y , a mistaken conception of the public relations has hitherto opposed, in my country of Holstein, the settlement of constitutional affairs. But I am most happy to say that I shall never be under the necessity, in either part of the monarchy, to seek the assistance of a foreign Prince to keep my subjects to their duty. And if I do not see, any less than your Royal Highness, in the return to “ good and durable understanding between , my countries and Germany, the best guarantee of a favourable development of their reciprocal inte rests, I may hope that my unceasing efforts, of which I have recently given proofs, will ultimately attain that end, however difficult such a consumma tion may have become from the attitude assumed by those of the German Governments, among the foremost of whom I have been grieved to see your Royal Highness. Accept the assurance of nay distinguished consideration and of my friendship, with which I remain your Royal Highness's affec tionate brother and cousin, " FREDERICK." THE SOUTH LANCASHIRE WEAVERS. RIOTOUS DEMONSTRATION AT STALYBRIDGE. On Saturday last, what is designated the Execu tive Committee of the weavers of South Lancashire , assembled at the Temperance Hotel, Tib-street , Manchester, to take into consideration the position of affairs in reference to the power-loom weavers now on strike owing to a reduction of wages. Man' chester, Ashton, Stalybridge, Hyde, Oldham, Clithe roe, and many other towns were represented by dele gates. After a very lengthy discussion, the majority of the meeting decided that, although the present turn out was not in accordance with their views, the workpeople generally having over-ruled the advice of the various committees, it was now the most judicious course to cease work, as in 1842, until their demands were complied with. It was fur ther resolved to hold a conference of delegates from all the manufacturing towns in East and South Lancashire on Good Friday. The delegate from Oldham stated that there had not been any reduction offered there, and that, consequently, the hands were at work. But if a general turn out were considered desirable, he was of opinion that a large procession to Oldham would cause a ces sation of labour. Considerable discussion ensued relative to the disposal of the funds now in hand ; and after some other routine business the meet ing broke up. In accordance with resolutions passed at meetings held at Stalybridge and Ashton, on Saturday, meetings of the weavers were held yes terday ; and the following is a summary of the proceeding :—At half-past five in the morning from. 200 to 300 assembled on the Plantation Ground at Stalybridge, when short addresses having been delivered by one of Mr. Leech's operatives, named Cooper, and one of Messrs. Cheetham's hands, named Gresswell, it was agreed to adjourn until 8 o'clock. A little after that time a monster meeting of some thousands took place. John Goodfellow was called to the chair. He said he felt great interest in the present agitation. Their just course was to oppose the reduction, for there was no necessity for it, and therefore it ought to be resisted. Mr. J. Cooper concurred with all the chairman had said. ,He advised them to be determined to have their price, and keep the peace. The masters at two mills had said on Saturday that if " Leech's weavers" did, not go in they would lock up. Now, the hands had been charged with dictation, but he thought that was dictation at any rate. It was only for him further to say that if Stalybridge did not do its duty the weavers of Glossop would come and " fetch them out, which would be serving them the same as they served the Glossop people at the last strike." Mr. George Gresswell said that Cheetham's hands" would not come out unless locked out or fetched out. He wanted to know what they at that vast meeting intended to do; and therefore he would ask the workpeople of Messrs. Cheetham, Bayley, Harrison, Benson, and all except those oMessrs. Leech (who are out). if they intended to stop out, to hold up their hands. (A large number of hands were then held up; and, on asking those to hold up their hands who intend ed to go in, not one was held up.) The meeting then separated. At Ashton, a large meeting was held in the Market Place, at ten o'clock. An operative named Jardine occupied the chair. The vast gathering was briefly addressed by Messrs. R. Mellor, W Billcliffe, and G. Gresswell, who inculcated unity , perseverance, and a determination to maintain their stand at all hazards. The second speaker strongly urged an agitation for an eight hours' bill, and recoul• mended all married women to cease working inside the factory. A procession was then formed, which proceeded from the Market Place to Ryecroftt through Dukinfield, on to Stalybridge, and fre g 131 thence large numbers proceeded to Glossop. Tjl operatives who remained in Stalybridge went rouaLe to those mills where any weavers were at work , and by shouting, &e. endeavoured to get the band ° out, and in some instances succeeded. At Messr s ' Bayley's mill they forced open the large gate. P when the workpeople came into the nil" yard, and some acceded to the wish of th e mob, and came out. At two o'clock, between twe and three thousand assembled again on the Plantation ground, and after passing a resolution to remain out, formed in procession to revisit those mill° where any weavers were at work. They were parading the town when our parcel left. All was tolerably quiet. Several thousands of the weavers at Hyde and Newton, all of whom are on strike, proceeded 0 " Glossop, yesterday morning, headed by a band 01 music and a number of police officers. We hav e not heard of any disturbance. LATEST PARTICULARS. We learn that Glossop presented a scene to-daY such as has seldom before been witnessed: the influx of power-loom weavers is estimated a upwards of 12,000. They went there singing " Britons never shall be slaves," in which they wer e joined by a band of music. A meeting was he'll and addressed by seven delegates, all of whom urged upon the hands of Glossop to cease work ; and they agreed to do so. The vast multitude returne d to Stalybridge and Ashton between seven an eight p.m. singing the above chorus. It i s arrange 7. that the operatives of Hyde and N ew t on v isit Stockport to-day (Tuesday), and th ose o f St a ll: bridge and Ashton go to Oldham " to get the hands out." Monster meetings w ill b e held tls" morning with this object. IRELAND. DUBLIN, MONDAY MORNING' , The Right Hon. Richard Wilson Greene, es Baron of the Court of Exchequer, died on S a t ur day' at his residence, Stephen's - green, in the 70 th ye s ; of his age. He was the eldest son of Sir JOS' Greene, formerly Recorder of Dublin. Called to the bar in 1814, his talents and industry gradually W° for him the highest distinctions in his professio n ' Under the Government of Sir Robert Peel he sysl made First Sergeant. He was Solicitor-Gene ra when the present Master of the Rolls filled the offil of Attorney-General, and in 1844 he w as engage ( in the State prosecutions when th e l aw officers . ° l , the Crown had to contend with the most form'', able bar ever mustered in the Dublin courts. O'C (3l/ nell used to say that his opinions had " the ster lo3 / ring of legal power." In times of great politiest excitement he enjoyed the respect of all parties, a 1 only for his judicial qualities; but for his perso n ; worth. He was elevated to the Bench by Lol; Derby's Government in 1852. During the Nvb ° o period from that time till his retirement about tf,l months ago he suffered intensely from a paisr , o malady. This however was not the cause of death, which resulted from gastric fever, with wh i .., lie was attacked about a fortnight since. His e°l ' o duct as a judge gave universal satisfaction. 0019 A. few days since the members of the bar presente,`; through their chairman, an address to the lel f Baron, expressing their admiration of his chara ct : , as a judge, and their esteem and regard for 131 v as a man. There is a strong desire felt by the mercanti lf . ) , c lasses in this country that there should be u itl , formity in the Bankruptcy laws here and in Ellt land, and accordingly much satisfaction is felt t o the announcement that the Chief Secretary is i ;e bring in a bill immediately afte r E as t er for t; further amendment of the Irish Ba n k ru ptcy so as to assimilate it to the new l aw a b ou t toberess-re for England. The merchants of Belfast and Cork t o, anxious to have a provincial Court of Bankrup t ' 6 in each of those cities, which would no doubt b e be great public convenience. Seine idea u 3 05; i f ,l3 formed of the amount of business done in the J r li a Bankruptcy Court from the following tabu x, statement which has appeared in the Dal& press:— Number of returns of bankruptcy and for arrange - 01 0 ment T.. es •o •. 90 0 Number of sittings of the Court in Bankruptcy • • '45 9 Number of petitions of insolvency .. • • 99% 3 Number of sittings of the Court in Insolvency • • BEFORE THE CHIEF REGISTRAR. Number of sittings held •• •• •• • • Number of bills of costs taxed (amounting to 350 £10,131 7s. 5d., and containing 26,173 items) • - Number of accounts of official assignees vouched 169 (amounting to (L 121,171 16s. 6d.) • • BEFORE THE CHIEF CLERK IN INSOLVENCIC• 139 Number of sittings held Number of bills of costs taxed (amounting to £1,769, 11 0 and containing 6,714 items) Number of assignees' accounts vouched • • • • An important case was decided in Cork on t - a turday night in an action against the Cork ° l b , Passage Railway, when Miss em ma Johnson °0 1 tained damages for injuries s ustaine d on the 1i.:11,0, to the amount of £1,2 50, a nd costs . Mr. wiTaa side was engaged specially as her c oun sel, and P" another ovation at the conclusion of the trial. The Hibernia, wh ich was t o have sailed fron u Galway on the 26 th inst., and w hi ch w as obliged g,, put into Cork, owing to the damages she had rained on her way t o the s tation, has be en lying' .10 Cork harbour since Tuesday. The C o nstitu a ti y says, " She is going into the Messrs. Browns °,l, for survey. The Columbia is announced to take place of the Hibernia." 11 , al ar 11 Ir