The Sun. — London, England, 1861-09-19 00:00:00

LAST WEEKS OF ALFRED IaLLON'S S . PROMENADE CONCER. THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN. THIS EVENING. Vocalists :—Mdlle. LANCIA, Mdlle. LAURA BAXTER, Mr. WEISS, and Mr. VELtNON RIGBY , who will make his first appearance, and sing "Let me like a soldier fall," "lily own , m y guiding star," and "My pretty Jane." Spohr's sym phony "The power of sound "—Grand Opseratic Selec tion, "Il Trovatore." New song; by F. Mori, "A thousand miles from thee "—Mdlle. Lancia. Overtures, Polkas, Qua drilles, Galops, Sze. Commence every Evening at 8. Promenade, ls. Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON. To-morrow (FRIDAY), a Symphony by Mendelsiohn On SATURDAY next a Grand VOLUNTEER NIGHT, when Beethoven's Battle Symphony will be performed by the ORCHESTRA (OF NEARLY ICO PERFORMERS). assisted by Two Volunteer Bands under the direction of Mr. Stanton Jones. HEATRE'. R,O YAL, HAY MARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. 13. Backstone. TUTS EVENING. the nerforrnane,es win onmme nem with FAINT HEART NEVER WON FAIR LADY. After which, a new Comedy, entitled FIE SOFT SEX. Mr. C. Mathews, Mr. Buckstone: %lr. Comp t T on, Mr. E.Villiers, Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Wilkins, &C. With THE CRITIC: Mr. C. Math ews ' To conclude with the Ballet, BACCHUS AND ARIADNE. Commence at 7 ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. mana,er---'slr. Edmund Falconer. EVERY EVENING, at Eight o'clock, the new and suc cessful comedy, WOMAN ; or, Love against the World. Characters by Messrs. Walter Lacy, Addison, Herman Vezin, J. Robins , Mrs. Charles Young, Mrs. Weston, Miss Murray, and Miss Lydia Thomson. Preceded by, each evening, the new and original farce untitled TELE FETCHES; or, The Onconvanience of Single Lif e . Tim O'Rlly, Mr. Edmund Falconer ; M ary O' Brady, Mi s s Lydia Tho ei mpson. prices as usual. Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7 Box-office open daily from I l till 5. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. This Theatre will E-OPN on MODA, Septemer ~g l, when Mr. and Mr ß s. Di Boncicault N will Y re-appear b in THE COLLEEN BAWN. This Drama will be played for a limited number of nights during the preparation of the new American Drama, by Mr. D. Boncican't, entitled THE OCTOROON ; or, LIFE IN T., 0 ITISIANA. Box-office open on Thursday, Sept. 19. NIERB URY HALL CONCERTS, AND. FINE ARTS GALLERY. Mr. SAM COWELL every Evening at Nine and a quarter to Eliken.—Also, Grand Selections from TROVATORE, TRAVIATA, NORMA, MARTHA, dtc., by Miss Russell, Miss Ernst, Mr. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, Mr. Morley, and a powerful Chorus. The Comic department comprises Messrs. Harvey and French, "The Nerves " Mr. Marshall—Mr. Wood and his talented Son and Miss Harriet Coveney. Musical Director, Mr. Jonghmans. Admission—Hall. Bd. ; Stalls and Balcony, is. T H E OXFORD, 8, OXFORD-STREET. EVERY EVENING A Grand Selection from Verdi's new opera, " Simon Boc canegra" (now produced for the first time in this country), by Mis. 4 Russell, Messrs. C. Greville, Tivoli, Greene, Morley, and Herbert ; also from Verdi's " Macbeth " by Madame Enderssohn and the entire Company. Full band and chorus. Conductor, Mr. F. Jonghmans. Varied Comic entertain ments by Messrs. M. P. Foster, Sam Collins, Harvey and French (the Nerves), E. Marshall, and W. Randall. Hall, sixpence; Balcony and Stalls, one shilling. Private Boxes, 30s. 6d. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tit DAY.—Morning, 2h. sm. —Afternoon, 2h. 20m. To-mop.now.-Morning, 2h. 37m.—Afternoon. 2h. 50m, THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, SEPTEMBER 19, 1861. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 62—highest since noon yesterday. 47—lowest this morning and during the night. 65 —this day at noon. BAROMETER-30.22. Wm)) South-Westerly moderate; with cloudy weather. Heavy fog yesterday morning. 4 11 , v tit ' 4 _Se • ; ' ' • 77-Z _,-k ,4>i) tix ,; 0 • 'Vic -.2 , i; r ~: Z, ~ .::.: rprrr STLTN. LONDON, THURSDAY, SEPT. 19, 1881. England has one great interest in the American war, to show the falsehood of the American cry, that "COTTON-IS KING." The South relied on their King to compel European States, France and Eng land at least, to break the blockade, and by pur chasing their cotton, loaded with an export duty, at once to £ll the pockets of individuals and their National Exchequer. The North relied on the power of cotton to procure moral support for the Washington Government, that a speedy termina tion of the quarrel might open the cotton supply to Manchester this autumn. Both parties are, as they ought to be, disappointed. The angry North turns round and upbraids us with want of sympathy in their determination to be one monster nation, instead of two large ones. The South alternately half threatens, and half cajoles• No cotton for you, it says, unless you break blockade for us, for we prohibit its shipment except at Southern ports ; but cotton and a free trade tariff too, if you only load your cotton at our wharfs protected by the guns of your navy. France and England are, however, provokingly indifferent to both. They adhere to the obvious duty of neutrality, and fulfil it honourably. Nei ther, however, England especially, can afford to be indifferent to cotton itself. The bread of mil lions of its people can never be an object of unconcern to a nation and its rulers, and Eng land is bracing herself to meet the difficulty. Al ready she has begun with the first palliative—to spin and weave a little less. Both masters and men understand, when the supply is obviously dimi nished, that they better betake themselves in time to half rations. Very conveniently for them, they have been rather overworking themselves of late. The great foreign markets are overstocked, and im proved ptices for what is already made will par tially compensate, in many cases, for doing less business for a time. The operatives will, of course, feel the slackening of business most, but they very wisely for themselves aim rather to keep up the rate of wages than to work longer at lower wages. The latter would only hasten the day, when at the present rate of supply they would have no thing to work upon at all. The best operation of the war and its conse quences on England is, however, that it compels attention to India. There are several sources of supply, indeed, such as Queensland, Jamaica, Cen tral America, and others, from which supplies might be obtained ; but none can be mentioned with India, a s the land of prompt resource under the pressure of the occasion. There we have at once, an actual growth of cotton which would, without feeling it much, meet all our wants, an d which a little additional inducement would increase till we and all Europe could be amply supplied. Mr. LAING, who stated at Cal cutta that he regarded America's afficalty as India's opportunity, meets the Cotton Lords at Manchester to-day, prior to his return, with renovated health we trust, to India. And the Cotton Supply Asso. ciation is busily at work, sending out its agents and implements, and corresponding with the Indian Government. Some of its correspondence has just been' pub lished, and it is on the whole creditable to both parties. The association points out to the Govern ment such hindrances as it thinks the Government might remove, and the Government, even when it does not fully concede the correctness of the statements placed before it, meets then all in a candid spirit. There is in the Indian official's communication, none of the old hauteur.with which that class of gentle men, used to treat all "oitsiders"and "interlopers' 'wive ventured to suggest any course of conduct to the Civil Service and the Government. The asso u points first to the necessity of improving the quality, c i an . indi sp ' ensa , 6l lag, and packing, of the cotton, as the increase at qut• condition, in the absence of which no however, I. , he o l o tY would be of any avail. This, is the province ojaegeu, ut observes with truth, is agents wad Capitalists alone. The Government cannot possibly facilitate such 'work. At the sameltime it does acknowledge that to im prove the roads and means of conveyance is its duty and that all which the finances of the country per mit in that way shall be done. More to the point is the complaint of the Asso ciation, in regard to the want of courts of justice and the burden of the Stamp Acts. The land in the cotton districts is chiefly held by poor ryots. They need advances of money to enable them to grow the crop. For this purpose a contract is ne cessary, and the Government requires it to pay a heavy stamp duty, which makes it practically dif ficult to issue the contracts at all in the manner re quired. Then, when the contract has been made, there are no courts all over the country to enforce its observation ; hence the flow of English capital among the cotton growers, is doubly checked—the contract is heavily taxed, and when made, is inefficient. The reply of the Government on these points by uo means meets the case. To encourage cotton cultivation, they ought at once to have abolished stamps on cotton-growing contracts for some years at least; and they ought to pledge themselves to find means to enforce the contracts promptly, and not leave cotton planters, as they have indigo planters, to be victims of the roguery of the most cunning race of sharpers in the world. The land tenure is also brought before the Go vernment again; The reply promises fairly, but is not all that might be desired. There is much timid old Indianism about it. We hope Mr. LAING, with his business-like view of matters, will put all this right. With the waste lands the Government ought not to have a moment's hesi tation. Though the quantity relatively to alllndia is small, it is absolutely large; and all that Europeans would purchase, reclaim, and improve, ought at once to be offered to them, and to natives too, on reasonable terms. Then, with regard to the vast quantity of the land of which the Government is the landlord, and of which the land-tax forms so large a part of the revenue of the country, it is im possible that it can enjoy the benefit of European capital unless the land can be purchased and possessed in fee simple. If, as has been repeatedly suggested, the purchase money were never less than would extinguish an amount of debt of which the interest was equal to the tax paid by the land, the Indian Exchequer could be no loser. It would lose at most only the prospective or rever sionary benefit of any improvements made on the land. But those improvements belong in all equity to the improver, and shortsighted must the Government be which did not see in the increased wealth of the country the means of increased re venue from other taxes. An annual land tax, fluctuating with what the cultivator can make the land produce, is the most perfect instrument for keeping the land ill cultivated which can well be conceived. The Indian Government repeats what it has said before, that the Indian cultivator, in regard to the growth of the plant, though not in the subsequent case of the produce, has nothing to learn from agri culturists anywhere. To this the association de mur. They think the difference between 600Ibs. per acre in America and 1001bs. per acre in India more than can be explained by mere difference of climate ; and that what has already been received from India itself, under an improved system of cul tivation, proves that a great deal might be accom plished in that respect; and they reasonably trace the miserable state of Indian agriculture to the defective tenure of land as the chief cause. The lovers of the startling and horrible, those who prefer a melodrama at the Victoria to the fineot comedy of SIIAKSPEARE; who turn from questions which affect the destiny of nations and the annals of science and industry, to pore over the ghastly details of a cold-blooded murder or the dismal records of some terrible catastrophe, will have little cause to complain of the year 1861. Public attention has been divided between crime and disaster. We have scarcely recovered the shock of one appalling accident before another nearly as terrible carries desolation to many a home. Our attention is diverted from a crime of unusual daring and singularity committed in close vicinity to one of the busiest thoroughfares of the metropolis to another, in some respects, equally remarkable in the higher ranks of life. Within the last few days two officers in her MAJESTY'S service have paid with their lives for the enforcement of a trivial regulation, and murders of every kind have been remarkably frequent. Notice has been at tracted to the deficiencies of our fire-engine system by a conflagration of fearful magnitude, costing not only wealth and property, but valuable life, and the unusual number of lesser fires has been everywhere commented upon. Frequent explosions and accidents of various descriptions have fillled up the intervals between the greater catastrophes, while the very elements have swelled the list, and the latest news brings us intelligence of a gale so severe as to peril the largest vessel in existence. Truly it does not say much for the ad vance made in either wisdom or morals in this our vaunted age of progress. Among all the extraordinary events of the current year none perhaps have more forcibly veri fied the timeworn adage that " Truth is stranger than Fiction," than the remarkable case which has lately appeared in our columns, mid beside which the romances of cruel uncles and lost heirs are tame and uneventful. The actors in this drama are members of a class which is generally supposed to be raised above the level of ordinary temptations. The lady who has been the victim of so much suffering and anxiety, bore a name well and widely known. Miss BURDETT married, when only sixteen, Mr. RICHARD GUINNESS HILL, the defendant in the trial before us. We are not told what were the gentleman's private re sources, but, as he belonged to a wealthy family, he was probably not penniless. His wife, however, possessed a large fortune and a considerable estate. Having been happily married for several years without family, she, unfortunately, made a will in favour of her husband in case of her dying childless. This intention was, however, defeated by the birth of the hapless little heir, whose brief life has seen such strange vicissitude. Whether by accident or design, the circumstances of his birth favoured the wicked projects of his heartless father. He was born at a wretched little country inn at a distance from all friends and relatives. By what means the treacherous husband succeeded in per suading his too credulous wife to entrust the child to other hands we are ignorant, and this is ono of the most astonishing facts in the casefrP.Acting, however,with ablind eonfiden ce,which shemusthave afterwards bitterly regretted, she gave the child in charge to a girl of 14, the daughter of the woman who was nursing her. The poor little infant, at an age when the tenderest care is generally lavished on the children of wealthy parents, was despatched by a train, which arrived in London at midnight, when its inhuman father was waiting at the staTion. The conduct of Mrs. HILL in despatching her infant, under such suspicious circumstances, was certainly reprehensible, but it is difficult to speak with adequate severity of the proceedings of her husband. The most har- DIE SUN, LONDON, THURSDA.Y EvONING, SEPTEMBER 19, 1861. dened and heartless villains, the most bloodthirsty ruffians have often been found to show Some lingering care or tenderness for their own off spring, and frequently, indeed, their very crimes have been committed on the plea of enriching or benefitting them. What shall we say of a man of birth and fortune, brought up with the refinements of society and education, deliberately accosting a strange beggar-woman in the Haymarket and desiring her to take charge of his infant son and reat it like her own—seeing with his own eyes the little famished, ragged urchins shivering in the wet and begging in Lon don streets? Truly, the love of gold has something to answer for. The tale goes on. Two women, whose dirty and dissipated appearance struck even the country child, receive the hapless little heir and disappear with him into the vortex of London pauperism. Who would have thought it likely that the child should be reclaimed, the vil lany frustrated, and the culprit held up to public reprobation. Yet so it is. After fruitless entreaties to see her child, which were only met with ill•usage, the wife left her unworthy husband, and in return to his wishes for a reconciliation, prompted doubtless by his desire for her income, she insisted on being told what had become of the missing infant. She met his assertion of its death with a request for the registry, and finally entrusted her case to those gentlemen to whose shrewdness and energy its success is due. The little heir to £14,000 a-year was found in a low court, in the worst stage of poverty, dirt, and ill-usage. We must refer our readers to the report of the case for a narrative of the means by which it was traced, and the links in the chain of evi dence supplied by the most trivial circumstances. And retributive Providence has made the refusal of the intoxicated woman to surrender the shawl in which the child was wrapped an instrument of discovery ; while the un usual prudence which made Mrs. ANDREWS and her associate, afraid to keep the money in their own hands, has brought forward the registry of the Savings Bank in confirmation of their story. The prisoner himself has corroborated the name of FAREBROTHER, and many other points confirm the tale. The unfortunate child was taken by its mother to Brussels, whence she was induced to pro ceed to London in order to secure the prisoner, who could not be taken in Belgium, and who, it was guessed, would follow her. The project was happily successful, and unless Mr. RICHARD GUINNESS HILL can totally disprove the whole of the charges so circumstantially brought against him, we trust he will meet with the punish ment he so richly merits. It has been stated in some quarters that he is only amenable to law on the charge of entering a false registry; this can hardly be the case ; but if so, the reform of our criminal code is indeed urgent. However, his punishment is certain. He will not only, if the charge is proved, hs.ve forfeited all chance of the coveted estate, but he will have lost for ever the esteem of his fellowmen, and will be held up to the public odium which such a crime deserves. In any case the trial may certainly be ranked among the causes celebres of modern times. Sir H. VERNEY proposes to introduce a new college, one we are sure very much needed—a college for landlords. He confessed for himself and his brother landlords that " they were wonderfully deficient in knowing their business." He professed his astonishment that while for all other professions a severe course of study was thought necessary— while a: doctor, lawyer, or sailor must work hard to fit himself for his business, it was supposed that a landlord was born fit to discharge his duties. He lamented that he had been brought up to other pursuits and had no landlord training; and he strongly urged on the rising generation of landlords to qualify themselves for their task. Like a true respecter of vested rights, he considered honourably the case of the stewards. He seemed to think, however, that they could put in no claim for compensation. Their services would still be required, and they would serve with far greater pleasure to themselves under the eye of a land lord who knew his business. We should like to see the landlord college. It would doubtless be far better for farmers to deal with proprietors who understood agriculture thoroughly. They would certainly sympathise better with the requirements of their tenants. Sir H. VERNEY did not say so, but surely a land lord who knew his business could not be a game. preserving landlord. What man who knew what it is to till and cultivate land carefully through months and years, could endure the sight of sport vermin destroying wantonly all its produce. It must deprive the sport of its amusement if it was known to be purchased by such mortifications to the culti vator. We should not despair even of soundly educated landlords themselves repealing the game laws. But one thing on which Sir H. VERNEY did in sist, we are sure all landlords who could pass a land lord examination before they came to their estates, would assent to—the necessity of long leases to good agriculturists. He acknowledged the kindly feeling existing between many landlords and their tenants-at-will ; but still showed how impossible it was to expect the investment of capital in land except under at least twenty-one year leases. With a lease of that length, a man of character, skill, and industry could borrow, if requisite, the capital needful to improve the farm. It is needless to say that no man would place his own _capital at the discretion of his landlord, by sinking it in his farm, much less that of another man ; if, indeed, any man could be so foolish as to fence, drain, marl, and clay, the land of a yearly tenant for him. We have often thought the posi tion of yearly tenants very much like that of ladies living under the protection of gentlemen—if the feeling be really honourable between the parties, why not place themselves under the bond which neither could legally break ? Failure to do so must be held to imply something not confessed. In the case of the yearly tenant, living under the pro tection of his landlord, we presume the understand ing is that in that relation two things which should belong to the former are securely held by the land lord—the game and the vote. The PRUSSIAN NAVY.—Gaignani says An official document just published in Prussia shows that the navy of that country consists at present of 40 vessels, in cluding those in course of construction—viz., 2 frigates, 4 corvettes, 1 brig, 2 transports, 3 advice boats, 1 vessel for lodging troops, and 27 gun-boats. There are, in addition, about 40 boats and other light vessels. THE BOILER EXPLOSION •AT ROTHERHITHE.— The jury last night returned a verdict that thq_Peceased died from scalds by the acciaental explosion Os: a steam boiler, their opinion being at the' same time expressed that the weights to the safety valve were not pr4erly con structed. The forthcoming dividend of the Scottish Central rtailway will be at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum. GUN ACCIDENTS.—A few days ago Mr. Charles Armstrong, of Bristol, met wit h a serious accident from the gun of his brother Isaac, whilst engaged in partridge shoot ing. At Ringslaall, a poor girl, while gle,,ning, was acci dentally shot by Mr. H. F. Squirrell, of King's Lynn. Her injuries, however, were not of a dangerous nature. The gentleman made all the recompence in his power. The burial of Dean, the rifleman who was accidentally shot, took place at Brereton Churchyard, Rugeley. The deceased's regiment followed, the band playing the Dead March in Saul. r , " v r.l VIENNA, SEPT. 19. The Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian will be present at the coronation of the King of Prussia at Konigsberg. An imperial patent convenes the new Istrian Diet for the 25th of September. Two Istrian Deputies of the Nessuno party have resigned their seats. CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, SEPT. 19. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Pera, Captain Jaalies3n, with the heavy portion of the Calcutta, China, and Australian mails, arrived off the Needles at 10.10 a.m. PRUSSIA. The whole of the Prussian army is to be repre sented at the coronation at Konigsberg by the Generals in command and the commanders of regi ments, both of cavalry and infantry, and the bri gadiers of artillery. The Berlin papers contradict the rumour that an immense number of petitions for patents of nobility had been presented to the King. It has been stated that, during his Majesty's late visit to the Rhine provinces, nearly a thousand such applica tions dad been sent in. This is described as a gross exaggeration. The petitions are not numerous ; many are only for renewals of former patents, and the applications are almost exclusively from the class of landowners. ITALY. General Cialdini has addressed a strongly worded letter to the Municipality of Naples, rebuking the members of the Council for wasting time in useless debates, and neglecting the real work required of them. After stating the many wants of the city, particularly a system of cleaning the streets, the General says : " Though these things may appear novelties at Naples they have all been accomplished elsewhere ; we are not proceeding in the dark ; you have only to imitate examples that have been set you on every side. My character and the uniform I wear compel me to speak with the utmost frankness, and conse quently I must inform you that it is generally believed in the city that you have occupied several of your meetings by mere questions of words. It would be well if the situ4tion of the country per mitted such an employment of time; Italy would wear the aspect of a happy Arcadia. But, under present circumstances, discussions on language and grammar have little interest, It appears to me that there are graver questions to be considered: The treasure of the present crisis is time. The public fears that this treasure—its precious capital —is being uselessly lost." The Due de Gramont, before leaving Rome on the 11th, had an audience of the Pope. The city continues quiet. In consequence of orders from Turin, the outposts of the Piedmontese army, on the frontier of the Papal territory, have been with drawn to a greater distance from the boundary. MONTENEGRO. Despatches from Ragusa state that Omar Pasha has not yet crossed the frontier of Montenegro; he was completing the investment of the territory on the east, and operating by movable columns against the insurgents of the Herzogovine. FRANCE. A letter from Paris says :—At last the question which has considerably agitated some parts of the press seems settled. The King of Prussia is to come to France in the beginning of October, and the inter view is to take place at Compiegne. If one is to be lieve rumour, all kinds of questions are to be consi dered; and there is even a talk of a preparatory journey by the Prussian Minister of Foreign Affairs. There is to be a serious talk about Denmark and Schleswig and Holstein, about eventualities which might lead to a Scandinavian kingdom, a word about the Polish question, and more than one about the kingdom of Italy; in fact, about everything in general, and some others more in particular. All those on dits are only so far of some import ance fcr the present as they show a tendency to turn people's eyes to that side which has hitherto not attracted much attention. All those meetings of associations and:" Vereins" all over Germany, under different nambs and with different objects, show more or less ilia the frantic disease of nationality which makes such progress in Europe has not spared the sober Germans either ; and although the form is mild, and the German con- 1 stitution is not very favourable to it, there are unde niable preliminary symptoms, which have by no means escaped the attention of their neighbours on the left bank of the Rhine. The assiduity with which these symptoms were chronicled would be alone sufficient to show this,—the pa triotic example of the Duke of Coburg, in placing his army under Prussia; the suspicion that Baden, and perhaps others, might be inclined to follow; rumours of the great impend ing changes in the internal government of Prussia, extension of suffrage for the elections, and freer movements of the municipalities, with the intention of rivalling the much-talked-of Liberalism of Austria ; the subscriptions for a national fleet ; and, lastly, the prominence given in the late concentration to the 7th Corps d'Armee, composed of men from Rhenish Prussia and Westphalia, together with the dinner by the King, and his allocutions. With the exception of the subscriptions for the national fleet, which rouses now and then a slight sneer on German national liberality, these symp toms are recorded without much comment; never theless, the impression is that they are the precursors of a new spirit, which ought not to pass unob served. This had probably a good deal more to do with the importance attributed to the journey of the King than any positive information on the object of the journey. Every one knows that France is the land of fashion, and what a wonderfully capricious deity Fashion is. No contradiction is too strong for her, —she does not care for it, strong in the feminine argument, " I will." Ultramontanism is now the fashion among the upper ten thousand, and those who would like to be thought some of them. This is natural enough, as a line of distinction, which is diffi cult enough to find in this land of egalite. But what seems rather unnatural is that while they cry down on one hand Italians and all others who are eager to establish their nationality, they have been all along the most ardent partisans of Poland, likewise in search of her nationality. All others are demo cratic and revolutionary, this latter alone is sub lime. This double thesis, sufficiently absurd in itself, becomes doubly so by the manner in which it is upheld by the clerical papers. M. de Montalembert, who has lately been in Hungary and Poland, takes up the cause of Poland in one of the last numbers of the Correspondent, and the article has been reprinted under the title, "A Nation in Mourning." Certainly M. de Montalembert has the talent of turning into gold whatever he touches. His own strong convictions and fiery imagination throw un consciously the halo of poetry over the most prosaic subject ;—how much more over one which must com mand universal sympathy ! It would have been difficult to preient the cause of Poland in a bright( r light and plead it more eloquently ; it is only a pity that he does' not keep more in the back ground the too palpable motives of his enthusiasm, so that in the end one has to ask oneself—ls he pleading for Catholicism or Poland ? And this doubt, if it can be called so, spoils considerably the effect of the whole, so that it looks now and then lik e a poetical religious theory, applying not unfrc quently the bed of Procrustes to historical facts order to make them fit in. A short resume may not be uninteresting to yolir readers. The article begins with a retrospect on " lost illu sions and important efforts," and finds in this ship ) wreck of politics a rock from which as from a light house there blazes the flame of a great cause justly defended—a light which brightens the soul. It is Poland where a whole people is under the sway of a moral sentiment ; a nation in mourning, a nation gay naturally, which has abandoned all gaiety and mourns, praying to God, " Lord, give us back our country, give us our freedom." M. Montalembert quotes some of the prayers, and exclaims "This is sufficient to show how different the cause of Poland is from the cause of revolution in the rest of Europe." Everything has been attempted against her, and nothing has succeeded; she is as firm now as ever. Establishing a contrast between the effete nations of the West and Poland, he says,—" The most re volting in the former is, that never in the history of the world has successful crime and plausible tyranny found so much indulgence—nay, approbation." If the national morality, as M. Montalembert calls it, has been preserved in Poland, it is owing to the complete absence of home despotism. In dividual freedom was, on the contrary, pushed to an extreme. But, what was more difficult, they have resisted all temptation of Panslavism and material welfare, as well as revolutionary doctrines. If all this was possible, it was by aith and social peace, which exist, according to M. Montalembert, nowhere more than in Poland ; and he developer this point at considerable length, putting forward Catholic Poland as a double barrier against schis matic Russia and Protestant Germany. Then, after a tribute paid to the late Prince Czartoryski, comes an historical résumé in which the partition of Poland is ascribed to the down fall of monarchy in Franco in 1793, and the " comedy' of Napoleon I. in Poland exposed, while the crime of the monarchs of the Holy Al liance and of the Conservative party towards Po land after 1814 is equally denounced. Ihe last chapter shows the chances for Poland. Russia can no longer maintain this situation. Al ready the youth of the country sympathise with the movement. He has, indeed, some apprehension lest even con stitutionalism should be turned in Austria to the profit of bureaucratic centralisation ; but neverthe less thinks that, with regard to Galicia, she looks upon it as a temporary possession, which she would be ready to give up, provided it did not fall into the hands of Russia. Prussia is the worst; she denationalises more systematically than Russia, and seems by no means disposed to part with her share. The hope in this respect is in German and Prussian ‘. democracy." Then comes a digression in the Unitarian ten dencies of Germany, which M. Montalembert thinks certain, and which, according to him, will lead not only to great changes on the Rhine, but likewise on the Vistula. Prussia, when she becomes Germany, cannot keep Posen. • While detesting the means, M. Montalembert ad mires in anticipation the work of the justice of God. The only fear is lest the Poles should feel too much tendency towards their future liberators— democratic Germany, and become the curse of the North, as Italy, inaugurated by Pius IX., has become of the South. This fear is inspired by the vote of the Poles in favour of Vincke's motion on Italy, and he warns them against contaminating themselves with Garibaldi and the like of him, for Victor Emmanuel does the same work with the Italians of the North towards those of the South which the Russian Slaves want to do with the Polish Slaves. The interest of the pamphlet, as you will see from this extract, is not exactly in the arguments ; it is in the eloquent language, which would make one read a treatise by the same hand on the differ ence between a bluebottle and a common fly. BOURSE, Sept. 18.—The market has been ra ther more animated to-day, but prices have not been materially altered. Threes, for the Account. are now at 69f. 20c. Railways quiet, but firm. The following are the last quotations :- 0 per per Cents ... 96 20 Credit Fancier 1225 Do. end month.... 96 301 Belgian 41 3 per Cents Do. and month 69 20 Roman Bank Shares — —, Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 765 ' Spanish Threes — Do. Account 767 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans l4lB 75 .. 1420 Northern New ditto 912 50 .. 913 75 Lyons and Mediterranean 1028 75 103 J Geneya 360 Southern 657 50 .. 660 Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard THIS DAY'S MARKETS. CORN EXCHANGE. iMf ERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES. Wheat, 54s 6d ; barley, 36s 4d ; oats, 22s Ild ; rye, 33s 4d ; beans, 41s lld ; and peas, 38s Od. THE Six WEEKS' AVERAGES. Wheat, 51s lld ; barley, 33s 3d ; oats, 24s 9d ; rye, 36s 3d ; beans, 43s 4d ; peas, 36s 6d. ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, 104,987 ; barley, 11,930; oats, 12,301; rye, 305 ; beans,. 1,352 ; peas, 555 quarters. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKEL Our market to-day was but moderately supplied with beasts; nevertheless, all kinds moved off slowly, at Mon day's currency. The top quotation for the best lots was 4s 8d per 81b. Although the show of sheep was by no means extensive, the mutton trade ruled inactive, at late prices. The best Downs and half-breds realised 5s 4d per 81b. Calves, the supply of which was rather limited, moved off slowly, on former terms. There was a good de mand for pigs, at very full prices; but milch cows were a dull inquiry. Per Sib. to sink the offal. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Crse. & inf. beasts 2 10 3 21Primecrs-wool do. 4 2 4 10 Second quality do. 3 4 3 6 Pme. S'thdown d 0.5 0 5 4 Prime large oxen 3 8 4 2 Largo orse. calves 3 6 4 0 Prime Scots, &c. 4 4 4 8 Prime small do 4 2 4 8 Crse. & inf. sheep 3 2 3 4; Large hogs 3 10 4 4 Second qualitydo. 3 6 4 0 i Small porkers 4 64 10 Lambs, Os Od to Os Od. Suckling calves, 21s to 30s; and quarter-old store pigs, 22s to 30s. TOTAL SUPPLY Beasts Sheep and lambs.. .. 7,860 Calves Pigs 4OO FOREIGN SUPPLY. Boasts 2BO Sheep Calves Pigs MEAT MARKETS. NEWOATE AND LEADENHALL. The supplies of meat to-day are moderately good, and the demand rules steady, as follows :—Beef, from 2s 10d to 4s Od, mutton, 3s 2d to 4s 4d ; lamb, Os Os Od ; veal, 3s 10d to 4s 10d; pork, 4s Od to 5s Od per 81bs to sink the offal. SouTnALL, Sept. 18.—Prime stock commanded a steady sale at full prices, otherwise the trade ruled inactive at barely late rates':—Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 8d; mutton, 3s 4d to ss 4d ; lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; veal, 4s Od to 48 8d ; pork, 4s Od to 4s 10d per 81bs. by the carcase. ROMFORD, Sept. 18.—There was a fair demand for stock to-day, and prices were well supported, as follows ! Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 8d ; mutton, 3s 8d to 5s 4d ; lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; veal, 4s Od to 4s 8d ; and pork, 4s Od to 4s 10d per 81bs ; suckling calves, 14s to 19s ; quarter old store pigs, 21s to 29s each; and milch cows, £l9 Os to £l9 Os each. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £2 10s to £5 5s Od; clover do., £3 lOs to £6 Os ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 14s per load. A moderate demand. CUMBERLAND.—Mea4ow hay, £2 15s to £5 ss; clover do., £3 10i to £.6 Os; and straw, £1 8s to £1 16s per load. Trade dull. WITITECTIAPEL. — Meadow hay, £2 103 to £5 5s ; clove!, do., £3 10s to £6 Os Od ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 145 per load. A slow trade. COAL MARKET—SEPT. 18. tirrieee of Coal per Ton at the eloke of the market s. (1. Bate's West Hartley 14 6 C:.trway and Daffryn Malting 24 0 Do. Anthracite 21 6 Lambert's West Hart- S. a• _ . 1ey.... Wylam l5 6 Davison's West Hart ley ....15 6 Holywell 15 6 Hastings Hartley l5 0 tenfold Moor 12 9 TanfieN Moor Butes l2 9 Can's Hartley. • 15 0 Carr's Original Hartleyls 0, 'l3yass's Bela side West Hartley ...15 3 Craighead Steam 14 Bower's West Hartley 15 3 Grey's West Hartley 14 9 Haswell Gas. 13 0 \\Talker Primrose 12 0 West Hartley 15 6 Walls End. Haswell l9 ( 0 Tees 19 0 Ships at market, Walls End. Pittington •• . ...... 16 0 Peases West ......... .14 6 Hetton ..... 18 3 Keiper Grange.... ..17 9 Stewart's.... ........ 19 0 Sheriff Hill.. ........ 14 0 Byron „l6 9 Hartlepool..... ....... 18 9 South Kelloe.. ........ 18 0 Ileugh Hall ..........17 0 Framwellgate ........17 0 Gosforth ............. 16 9 Rid dell . • ........ 16 9 llarton ..............17 0 Durham ............ 15 0 Russel's lletton ......17 9 Thorpe .......... 17 0 K &doe .............. .18 6 South Hartlepool••• • ..17 9 Trimdon Thornley.... 16 0 Trimdon. Hartlepool ..18 6 Casson .....••• lB 0 Thornley ........ l5 6 S out h nett= ...19 0 Hetton ........ 162; sold, 142. THE GREAT EASTERN DI-SAHLI:P. (From the Cork Examiner.) The Great Eastern arrived off Cork harbour this (Tuesday) evening, in a very damaged state. She encountered a very heavy gale about 280 miles to the west of Cape Clear on Thursday, and had both paddles completely carried away. The top of the rudder post (a bar of iron 10 inches in diameter) was wrenched away, so that she was unable to answer the helm. She lay like a log in the trough of the sea from Thursday evening until two o'clock on Sunday, rolling all the time, her bulwarks almost touching the water. The furniture of the cabin and saloons was completely broken to pieces, and the greater part of, the passengers' luggage was de stroyed. A cow-shed with two cows in it broke into the ladies' cabin, and both cows were killed. The passengers and crew expected every minute that the vessel would go down, and they spent a great part of the time at prayers. Between 20 and 30 of those on board, including several ladies, had limbs, ribs, &c,, fractured, and numerous cuts and bruises were inflicted. A temporary steering gear was fitted on Sunday, and the vessel mane for Cork har bour, sailing with her screw at the rate of nine knots an hour. She is at present moored about one mile outside the lighthouse of Cork harbour. The announcement of the disaster to the Great Eastern on her voyage out from Liverpool was the topic of conversation and excitement yesterday, not only in the city, but throughout the metropolis. The telegram received by the Great Ship Company, and posted at their offices in Cannon-street, re ceived from Captain James Walker, the commander of the vessel, was as follows : " Queenstown, Sept 9. " Having lost both paddles and rudder-head in a terrific gale, I have been compelled to put back until put to rights. " J. WALKER. " To the Directors of the Great Ship Company." From other information received by the authorities, it appears that the vessel left Liverpool on the 10th inst., with 400 passengers and a large general cargo, a complement both of passengers and freight considerably larger, indeed, than she has car ried on any previous voyage, arising from the feeling of confidence and security that had been established by her previous successful voyages, and more particularly her last from New York to Liver pool, when it will be remembered a testimonial was presented by the whole of the passengers, number ing 212 in all, to the commander and the officers, expressive of their appreciation of the great vessel and her working, and recommending her on the ground of her ample accommodation, easy motion, and safety, as one of the best vessels in which the public could cross the Atlantic. On the present occasion every berth was taken, there being 400 passengers, including several families, on board. Between 100 and 200 passengers occupied the berths in the principal cabin, saloons, and state rooms, at passage rates of from £2O to £2B, and the remainder of the passengers occupied the intermediate and steerage cabins at from £7 to £lO respectively. All went well till on Thursday last, as she was under full steam and sail, she encountered a terrific gale about 280 miles to the west of Cape Clear, which swept away both her paddles. Nor was this the only damage, for at the same time the top of the rudderpost, a bar of iron of immense size, being ten inches in diameter, was wrenched away, so that the vessel was no longer able to answer her helm. Her steering gear was also shat tered and gone, so that she lay, like a huge log in the trough of the sea from Thursday evening until two o'clock on Sunday, her bulwarks almost touch ing the sea furrows, and rolling and pitching about, the passengers expecting that she would every moment go down, and offering up prayers for their deliveience. The rocking and rolling of the vessel displaced and destroyed the furniture of the cabin and saloons, throwing the passengers pell-mell about the cabin. Everything that occupied the upper deck was washed away, and a large part of the passengers' luggage was destroyed ; while be tween 20 and 30 of those who were on board, includ ing several ladies, were bruised and maimed. No particular. of their names or of the precise injuries they have received have as yet come to hand, nor does it yet appear that any of the officers or crew were lest. The passengers are all safe. One of the cowsheds, with two cows in it, was washed into the ladies' cabin, and caused indescribable confusion. On Sunday evening, after two days' suspense, a temporary steering gear was fitted up, and the dis abled vessel made for Cork harbour, running with her sciew at 9 knots an hour. Her flag of distress was sighted at about 3 o'clock in th 9. afternoon of Tuesday off the Old Head of Kinsale, and her Ma jesty's ship Advice at once steamed out to her assistance, and towed her to within one mile of the lighthouse off Cork harbour by about 9 o'clock, where she remains moored. She will, on clearing out, be towed forthwith to Liverpool, where she will be laid upon the gridiron and repaired. The principal directors and officers of the company started yesterday for Cork and Liverpool with a view of instituting a rigid inquiry into the causes of the catastrophe, and telegraphed special instructions to their agents at the respective ports. IRON ;lIIPBUILDING ON THE MERSEY. We stated last week that arrangements were not finally concluded as to Messrs. John Laird, Sons, and Co. building oue of the new iron cased frigate al of about 7,000 tons measurement. Since that time , we understand the contract has been settled, and the work will be proceeded with immediately. The Black Prince, Defence, Warrior, and other vessels of this class, already constructed, have been built on the slipways and launched in the usual manner, which in vessels of this class involves considerable risk and the necessity of launching before the armour plates are all complete. As Messrs. John Laird, Sons, and Co. possess the only private grav ing-docks in the country capable of receiving vessels of this large class and great draught of water, it is, we hear, their intention to build the new ship in one of them, roofing it over, and fitting the sheds with travelling cranes and other conve niences, so that the ship may be entirely finished under cover, and floated out of dock ready for sea ; and also with the engines and boilers fitted on board, in case the Admiralty should decide to have them put in here, instead of sending her to a dock yard for that purpose. By these means the work can be more efficiently completed, and the men em ployed will have the advantage of working under cover. It is stated that the vessel will require two years to build, employing during that period 1,000 to 1,500 workmen, an immense advantage to the town of Birkenhead, which will gain largely by an increased expenditure among the tradesmen and artisans of the township. Workmen are now ac tively employed upon the troopship of 3,000 tons, lately ordered by the Admiralty from the same firm, and on several other large new iron and wood vessels ; also in repairing the Galway ves sels Hibernia and Columbia. The engine work shops at this establishment are also fully employed in making new engines and repairing others. The Birkenhead Dock works now in course of comple tion by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board will possess greater facilities for the reception of men of war of the largest class than, any public or private docks in the country. The great float, of 120 acres, having a minimum depth of water of 22 feet, is already opened, and railways, cranes, and other appliances are now being com pleted, which will render these docks a most suit able place for fitting out steam vessels of the largest class, and lead, we hope, to a large amount of Go vernment work being given out on the Mersey. W e noticed some time since the launch by Messrs. Jahn Laird, Sons, and Co„ of a steam tug vessel for China, called the Island Queen. She has been built for Mr. M‘Farlane, who was for many years resi dent in China, and who thoroughly understands the river navigation of that country. She is about 400 tons measurement and 110 horse power, the engines being made on Messrs. Laird and Sons' diagonal principle, which has been so successful in the Inca and other vessels. In this instance they are fitted with surface condensers, and, as great improve mentolks this m looked in , achinery was e forward to with considerable interest, we have ascertained the fol lowing particulars of several trials the Island Queen had made within the last few days :—She made her first trial trip to Douglas, Isle of Man, thence to Holyhead, and from there to Liverpool, her average speed being 10 knots, and the consumption of coal to 10 tons hi 24 hours. During this trial the weather was bad, with strong winds and heavy sea. The next trial was to ascertain her efficiency as a tug-boat ; and on Wednesday last she towed out to sea, from the Mersey, a new vessel belonging to Mr. Edward Bates, called the Edward Percy. The Edward Percy is about 900 tons measurement, and was drawing fully 18 feet. She towed this vessel easily at the rate of eight knots per hour, .which is considered a first-rate result, looking at the nominal power of the steamer and the size of the vessel towed. The consumption of coal during the time she was towing was at the rate of 12 tons in 24 hours. The surface condensers worked beauti fully, the vacuum being steady, at 28. Two other trials were made, each of four hours' duration. In one case she made a speed of eight to nine knots, with a consumption equal to six tons in 24 hours; going 10 to 11 knots, the consumption was equal to 101 tons. So far, therefore, this improved class of engines with surface condensers has proved satis factory, and its advantages will be more apparent When contrasted with engines on the common plan, especially for long voyages, the boilers being kept perfectly clean and free from the incrustation usual when ordinary condensers are used. The various trials having been satisfactory, the Island Queen will be despatched for China in a few days.— Liverpool Albion. GRAVING DOCKS OF THE 1 1 1E1?SEY AND FOREIGN _PATRONAGE. Some of the largest and best graving docks in the world are situated on both sides of the Mersey, and foreign governments seem to be fully aware of the fact and appreciate it. We believe that no port in England has received more patronage from the Turkish and Egyptian governments than Liver pool ; while Russia and several minor continental powers have also taken advantage of the immense facilities afforded at Liverpool for the completion and equipment of vessels intended for the different naval powers. Even our own government have at length begun to recognise in Liverpool anew dock yard, and at the present moment arrangements are being matured at Birkenhead tor the laying of the keel of an iron war steamer, which will eclipse in size and power such vessels as the Warrior, Defiance, or La Gloire. This vessel will be built under cover, and a large shed is now being erected over one of Mr. John Laird's graving docks for that purpose. While France and Russia, Prussia, and a number of the German States ere in a perfect furore about increasing their fleets—indeed, there are public subscriptions opened in Germany for making a navy—and while our own Government is pursuing " the even tenor of its way," the Egyptian execu tive are in their own quiet way, without increasing their navy, making it more useful and effective, but not without incurring an expense which is far from being in accordance with the prin ciples of sound economy. We have now in Liver pool and Birkenhead two Egyptian vessels under going a process of rebuilding. One of these is the Fied Gehashd, a paddle steam yacht, belonging to the Viceroy of Egypt. This vessel is to be length ened 75 feet, and we understand that this is to be accomplished by cutting the vessel in three pieces —the engines, paddle-wheels, their boxes and sup ports remaining stationary, while the two ends, stem and stern, are drawn away, one up and the other down the dock 40 and 30 feet respectively, an alteration in the bow giving the additional five feet. This vessel, when completed, will be 391 feet in length over all, nearly filling up the No. 1 Dry Dock at Woodside; her breadth of beam is 73 feet, which is too wide for her to enter any other than the dock in which she is at present, the gates of which are 85 feet wide. This vessel will be fitted up under the superintendence of Messrs. G. For rester and Co., of the Vauxhall Foundry, who, we understand, have charge of the other Egyptian Government vessels now undergoing repairs at Liverpool. In the Queen's Dock there is at pre sent a vessel called the Sergohah, of the Egyptian navy. As she now lies —the very acme of dilapi dation—we have before us a good specimen of what can be accomplished by a diligent attention to accu mulation of filth and an inherent desire to be lazy and careless. This vessel has been cut in two by Messrs. Clover and Royle, and is to be lengthened 20 feet at the stern and 80 feet amidships, while her upper deck will be raised about one foot. From a sailing vessel she will be altered into a screw steamer, and of course her carrying capacity will be materially increased; and it will be March or April next year before she is finished. So great a havoc had inattention and dirt and filth caused in this vessel that nearly all the timber from the upper deck to the keel .ppeared charred and rotten. All the outside planking and most of the ribs of the vessel had to be removed and their place supplanted by fresh timber; in fact, "when completed," observed a gentleman connected with the alteration, "this vessel will hardly have a foot of her original tim ber in her. She will be new from masthead to keel." But the expense? " Why, it will cost as much, and more, to repair the Sergohah than it would to build a new ship." And this is Egyptian. economy. Messrs. Forrester, who are making en gines for the above vessel of 500-horse power, are also "mending" the Nile, a paddle-steamer, and daily expecting the rebuilding of another Eastern frigate. _ _ In looking round at the various graving docks on the Mersey, we find that all those capable of taking in the largest steamers are full, and the repairs to which will take many months for their completion. Two of the Galway Company's steamers are being strengthened, viz., the Hibernia, in Mr, Laird's, and the Columbia, in Clover and Royle's yard. Another of the Galway boats is expected round from Southampton for repairs, because there are no docks at that port large enough to accommodate her. Liverpool, it will thus be seen, affords better fa cilities for shipping repairs than any other port in England, and when the immense new graving docks across the Mersey are completed, and the entrances to those already constructed enlarged, I Liverpool would become the great harbour of refuge for such vessels as those whose size and tonnage will prevent them from entering other ports. The capabilities of doing large repairs in private docks with all the appliances in machines on the premises is so apparent, especially for iron ships, with the furnaces, puncturing and shearing machines close at hand, give such an immense saving in time to and from the ship, that it is no wonder these docks are sought after for heavy repairs, where they can be closed up, and lay undisturbed until completion. THE RFV. JAMES LONG AND THE CALCUTTA MISSIONARY CONFERENCE. At a special meeting of the Calcutta Missionary Confer ence, held on Tuesday evening, July 30, with a very fully attendance of members, the following resolutions were adopted and ordered to be published 1. That this conference has viewed with much concern and regret the proceedings recently instituted against one of the'r number, the Rev. James Long, for the part ho took in publishing an English translation of a native drama, the Nil J)uipan. The members of this conference have known Mr. Long too well, and have witnessed his zeal in connection with the native press for to many years, too doubt the per fect accuracy of the statement he has put forth, explaining the history of his connection with that production, and the reasons which induced him to assist in making it known as an exponent of native thought and feeling; and they deeply regret that, after the statement appeared, he should have been subjected to a prosecution, especially by a form of pro cedure which has been characterised as the harshest known to English law, and should on that harsh form of trial have been condemned to imprisonment and fine. That while they cannot but regret that, in the introdue- Voa to that translation, Mr. Long has not more carefully guarded himself against the supposition of having adopted as his own all the sentiments and representations of the native author, yet, confidently relying on the purity of his motives, and highly respecting his missionary character, this conference sincerely s ympathise with him in his pre sent untoward position, and cordially assure him of their contibued affeotion and respect. 2. That the conference do not feel called upon to pro nounce an opinion on the judgment exhibited in the mode adopted for circulating the Nil Duipan ; since on this subject, the party chiefly concern, d, the (late) secretary to the Bengal Government, has already made the :most ample ack nowledgments; but they 'entirely concur with Mr. Long in his appreciation of the importance of the native press, and of a watchful attention to its productions. If the effect of the recent trial should be to restrict freedom of action in the translation and republication of native works, the conference have reason to believe that serious detriment may ensue. 3. That the members of this conference lament exceed ingly the continuance of any estrangement between the non•official classes and the Government, or between the different classes of the community themselves; and they therefore refrain from the expression of any opinion, which might uen un wittingly provoke further content i on. The me morialpresented by me m b ers of this conference to the Lieut.-Governo r o f Bengal, asking for an i nqu i r y i n t o re n e w giy the social condition of the millions of this great province, embodies all that appears to this conference as of most pressing urgency in connection with its public interests. And they cannot but believe that their motives in giving due attention to these and similar questions, as providential circumstances may suggest, will not be misconstrued by any who take into account the very peculiar circumstances of this country, or have at heart the welfare of its inhabitants. (Signed) ALEXANDER DUFF, Chairman. JOgr l4 gVkliEl% Secretary,