The Sun. — London, England, 1856-09-19 00:00:00

._~~ Wk l ea Yes .arn from Iredit In. 'sures for its, Par' „ ices on ffice, s ad )positions establish ,tories for Austrian o f g iving t' Brail a ' provide d 3uropean inning to Braila g tly,estab' - . A u stria o f Brio' s - R o me . . von this s.ador at d for his l ed tha t , tun ity 0 . lin inter- that the an ac ute rcePtible rn, N• 1•; r he IP°r" Tiesne Is of Won e' In i;r°"°' _ w ow 1:10°' ,ne, -Blanche, from Ds' port, d itt ;pier doeningmer' "orniog* Young et, lev Err ~s~clp~', ept. 11' A mt in. ?Pi e ' , t‘ 4 O gr ' lll • ; rig , ' fret° r-stestraer. fax ; slaroaael Pokle sn • st f • bf iln, ore Broare n t' lig broul- , rt libd°°' ~1853 • finr ol ' CAP. 1 to )ntlnn• d i n , on 01 ,E. es frog' 3ut ( 1 • 7 ,1 13 i sec. one W.] fittipt planed ie • e ht the ,rde. it bag be.°loS. the ,t, ro," l ite 110 ~itiebi tin% e*6. ,ging do' p r vo ter, P tigh t to 3I „ ch or!,g! iy N. ” sPbe r :-- li le ' Co r a lio tb° G. Df b'g b ' de* P" r of to o nal °-". ga . he to i„ :1;3°0 to loge , t , the pole t ° gotP" he WI Liiater 40,11/ et pror , feet. ;lass* .420* b. attA" , yin' .. refer Ittor Dans libt MARKET MONEY AND COMMERCIAL INTELMG3 CITY, Two o'CLoor.. The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed quietly, without any material change. The sales amounted to 8,000 bales, 1,000 of which were taken for export, and 1,500 on s,oeculation, com prising 440 Pernam and MaranhamL, 6id. to 7/d. ; 100 Bahia, bid. ; 250 Egyptian, 6i , d. to Bd. ; and 400 Surat, at 41d. to sid. per lb. The Railway Share Market closed very animated, with au appear ance at a slight improvement. The Colonial Produce Markets this week have generally remained in a firm and quiet state, but for some of the principal staples a steady demand has prevailed. For sugar there has been a good inquiry, and although no quotable change in prices has occurred the tendency has been upwards. Yesterday, however, there was rather less buoyancy, and some descriptions were heavy. The stocks of this article as well as of every other staple continue in excess of those at the corre sponding date last year. Coffee has not been pur chased to any considerable extent, owing to the firmness of the holders who ask higher prices. Rice has been taken freely, and at an advance, in consequence of die improvement in the corn market. Cocoa is ls. to 2s. dearer, rum has been in moderate request, and spices remain steady at previous cur rencies. Cochineal is dull, indigo firm, and tallow active at 6d. per ewt. advance. Accounts from Berlin, of the 16th inst., state that a treaty of co mmerce and navigation was con cluded on the 23d: June last, at Monte Video, be tween Prussia, as representative of the Zollverein union, and the 11 restern republic. The term of eighteen months I I as been given to ratify the treaty, and the formalit ic3s necessary for its ratification have already beei t accomplished on the part of the South American rtate. A telegraph m( tesage from Madrid mentions that nothing has been resolved on by the Government, relative to the es tablishment of the octroi duties, or the disamortim ition of the clergy lands. Letters from Constantinople report that the subject of railvi ray communication throughout Turkey is again I ecome a matter of interest, since the Government have granted a concession for the construction of a line from Smyrna to Aidin, and from Trebizond t Erzeroum. The great question is the line from Constantinople to Adrianople. To concede this line, or that from Alexandretta to Bag dad, is considered at present premature. There is also a combined 1 knglo-French company, with an immense capital, i ormed, who offer to the Turkish Government subs tantial guarantees to construct a railway direct froi n Constantinople to Trieste, and to Bassorah by Bs The liabilities of the Rnyal British Bank are now stated at 540,000/., and the assets at 340,000 i., but no official inform ation on this subject has yet been published. I t is also alleged that the 501. per share still m ipaid will be called up at onoe. To-morrow the meeting of shareholders takes place, and jib will, no doubt, be numer ously attended b y the unlucky shareholders, who will immediate ly be called upon for the 50/. per share yet unpai d. These parties are in a pecu liarly unfortunate p osition, as of course they were kept in ignorance of the rotten state of the concern, although it is asserte d that the Bank has been tot tering for years past. The buoyancy not; .ced yesterday in the market for English Stocks h as been succeeded by a partial reaction, and the mai kot is in rather an excited state. Whether the present- weakness is the result of the closing of Bull accounts or of Bear transactions it is difficult to say, brit it is most likely that both these causes are in or .eration, as certain parties are known to be speculate ing for a fall. It is impossible to get rid of the impression that the money market will continue strin d ent, notwithstanding favour able indications .may occasionally re-appear. At present, in the absence of political news of importance, the niLarket is solely influenced by monetary prospects . While affairs on the con tinent remain in s ttch an undecided state—with the export of silve r. continuing active, and the enhanced terms of discount that prevail—it is difficult to conceiv 9 how the public mind can become settled wi. th regard to the probable course of prices ici the markets for speculative securities. Consols for money have been 94i and 941 f. The account; quotations have been 94i and 941 Yesterday, at the official close, the money value was 9ti I, and the account 94f 1, although subsequently there was a slight decline. Exchequer Bills are , Is. firmer, viz., 13s. to 16s. premium ; and the - Bonds are 991 1. East India Bonds are 17s. premium. Foreign Stocks ar u dull and heavy. Turkish 6 pot:Cents. have declined to 1031 21, and the 4 per Cents. are nominal- Russian 5 per per Cents. have been 108, and. the 4} per Cents. 97k, and Sardinian are 911 to 92. The following are the nominal prices of Foreign Stocks : Grenada Deferred Bonds, 7 to 7i ; Mexican, 22f to 23 ; Peruvian, 79 to 81 ; ditto per Cents., 55 to 57 ' • Portuguese 3 per Cents., 45 to 46 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 108 to 110 ; ditto 4i per Cents., 96 to 98 •, Spanish 3 per Cents., 43f 441 ; ditto Deferred, 24f 251 ; ditto Certificates, 5 6 ; ditto Passive, ei 7. An almost complete suspension of business in American Securities is reported by Messrs. D. Bell, Son, and Co. The following quotations are merely nominal ; Redeemable. Per Cent. Vnited States 6 per Cants. 1867-1868...1041 105 i Vnited States 6 per Cent. Bonds 1868...104] 105 i STATE SECURITIES. Alabama 5 per Cent ... 81 83 Kentucky 6 per Cent. Bonds 1863-1872... 90 Maryland 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds)... ... 90 92 Massachusetts 5 per Cent. (Sterl. Bonds). —lOl 103 Mississippi 6 per Cent. Pl. Bk. Bonds 11341 - 71871... 40 42 Mississippi 6 per Cent. Union Bk. Bonds ::: 15 16 Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Stock Pennsylvania 5 per Cent. Bonds . ..1877... 78 80 Tennesse 6 per Cent. Bonds ... 86 88 south Carolina 5 per Cent. Bonds (Baring's) 1858-1868... 94 93 louth Carolina 5 per Cent. Bonds (Palmer'■) 1866... 87 89 Tirginia 6 per Cent. Bonds 1886... 82 83 LOANS OF CITIES. Montreal 6 per Cent. Bonds 1856-1865... 83 85 RAILROAD BONDS. Illinois Central 7 per Cent. Ist Mortgage, not Oonvertible 1875... 831 84i Illinois Central 6 per Cent 1875... 82 83 Illinois Central 7 per Cent. Freeland Bonds 1860... 90 91 Illinois Central (Shares), V. 15 paid . ... 6 7 p Michigan Central Bp. Cent., Convert 1860... 94 95 Do. do. do. 1869... 91. 92 New York Central 7p. Cent., Convert 1864... 92 93 Now York Central 6 per Cent., not Convertible 1883... 80 82 New York and Erie 7 per Cent. Ist Mort gage New York and Erie 7 per Cent. 3d Mort _ _gage _ 1883... 86 87 N:York and Erie 7p. Cent. Convertible 1862... 83 85 N. York and Erie 7 per Cent. Sinking Fund 1875... 83i 84} Panama Sterling Bonds 1864... 91 96 Pennsylvania Central 6p. Cent., Ist Mort 1880... 89 90 The Railway Share Market is depressed, owing to the decline in the Funds. In some of the prin cipal shares the re-action has been to per share, and a fair amount of business has been done. The Foreign rules quiet, and the Colonial heavy. The Great Western of Canada have dropped to 231 1, owing to rumours of further dissension among the directors. Rigas are prem. Cobre Copper Mining Shares are 11. to 11. 10s. lower. Joint-stock Banks rile dull, and in Miscellaneous there are very few transactions. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES. ( .Fl.lnn the Ojicial Liat: rk ns i n c.u. done. 3 per Cent. Consols Annnitier ch ii 1 i 1 India Bonds, £lOOO Ditto, under £lOOO l4 Consols Jor Account E xliequer Bills, lid. £IOOO. nodl3 16 p • groan l3 16 p Ditto Bonds, 1858, 34 per Cent 49i 1 Ditto, 1859 PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Equador New Consolidated l5 Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 1811 Ditto, 4 per Cent. Ditto Account Ditto 1853, 3 per Cent 4ss Russian Bonds, 1822, 1: St., 5 per Cent lOB Ditto 4i per Cent. Sardinian Bowls, 5 per Cent. flip P Mel Bonds, 3 per Cent — Ditto Account 441 Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent. T irkitli Rends, 6 per cent lO3 Ditto Account .. 1034 2i i nitto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent. Ditto Account otvwervis on the above .Iyable in Londe!, Dutch Exchange, q per Cen., 12 Guilders 65i Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates TIIREB 0' GLOOM Cesisole, nAoney .. , . , ... ... ••• .. ... ...,._244 $j Ditto forAccoutd s 'elot.4 - ' „, 94i $ x df. x d lay.) LAW INTELLIGENCE.--(This Day). BANKRUPTCY COURT. (Before Mr. Commissioner Holroyd.) IN BE BAKER. This bankrupt was described as of Bartlett's-buildings, London and Birmingham, stationer, &c., and to-day came up for his certificate. Mr. Chidley supported, and submitted that the bank ruptcy had been almost unavoidable. The bankrupt had expended a considerable sum of money in preparing a plate of the Town-hall, at Birmingham, but on being pressed by his creditors, had assigned his property to them, but after some delay it was all sold, and all the expenditure up to that time had been in vain. Had the plate been completed, the plates would have been de livered to subscribers at a guinea each, and the cost of production would have been under 3s. each, and thus have yielded a profit which would have cleared the bankrupt from all his difficulties. His Honour said that the expenditure bad exceeded the profits, but taking into consideration all tbat had been urged by Mr. Chidley, he would grant a second class certificate, to be suspended for three months. Mr. Chidley—ln this case your Honour will grant protection I His Honour—Certainly. SECONDARIES COURT.—(Tnis DAT.) (Before Mr. Secondary Potter.) nox Y. BEAN. The plaintiff in this action is an estate and house agent, and defendant a lady residing in St. John's Wood, and the claim was for 4/. 25., the balance of an account for agency. The plaintiff charged in the first instance for adver tisements in a circular published by himself, also 11. ls. as commission for plaintiff's Services in endeavouring to let the premises for defendant, and 31. ss. 6d. under the head of "to commission upon 1631., the highest amount asked or obtained, or agreed to be paid, whenever the property be disposed of, whether by plaintiff's agency or otherwise." The defendant had paid 11. 10i., and denied her iiabi. lity beyond that amount. Plaintiff was called, and proved the agreement as to the last item in the account, but on being asked whether he had let defendant's house, said he had not. The jury were some time in con3idsring their verdict, and ultimately gave a verdict for 3/. 63. 6d., expressing an opinion that the case ought not to have been brought into this court. The learned Secondary said it would be better simply ,o return a verdict than to express opinions. The verdict was then entered fur the plaintiff. CRIMINAL COURT.—(This Day.) (Before Mr. Justice Williams.) Hugh Shaw, 29, a respectably-dressed young man, was charged with unlawfully obtaining, by false pre. tences, of Thomas Jones a promissory note for 3501., with intent to defraud. Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Gifford prosecuted; Mr. Sergeant Ballantine and Mr. Lewis defended the prisoner. It appeared from the evidence that the transaction in question arose out of a variety of bill transactions be tween the prisoner, the prosecutor, and a money agent named Graham, but the particulars, which were of an intricate nature, were devoid of general interest. The prosecutor said he was induced to place the note in the prisoner's hand on his statement that he eould get it discounted through the Manchester and Salford Bank, where he had an account, but which was now denied by the prisoner, who said the note was given to him to get discounted on his statement that he thought he could get it dis counted through his uncle, who had an account at the above bank. The bill, however, got into the hands of a person named Tucker, and the prosecutor had received no consideration for it. The transaction occurred in January last, but no proceedings were taken against the prisoner until after a period of seven months, and when he was in Lancashire Gaol arrested for debt. Negotia tions bad been going on previous to January between the prisoner and Jones's father, relative t• a partnership in a slate quarry in Wales. The jury acquitted the prisoner. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day. ) BOVT-STREET. LOITININIF By LETTKA-OAIRISBIL—Two men, named Hall and. Rook, letter-carriers in the Kensington district, were summoned for loitering in the delivery of the* letters, Mr. Peacock, the solicitor to the Post-office, said the present proceedings were instituted by the Post-office under the act 1 Vic., chap. 36, sec. 7, which subjected letter-carriers, or any other person, who wilfully retarded a letter or letter bag, to a penalty of 20i. The present proceedings were instituted to show to the large body of letter-earriers that the Post-office were determined to put down the practice of loitering and entering public houses by letter-carriers. One of the men did not com mence hi■ delivery until 40 minutes alter the regular time, and the other 27 minutes. Henry Bingham, — an officer attached to the General Post-office, stated that in consequeace of instructions he received he proceeded to Kennington-common at 20 minutes past eight, opposite the post office kept by Mr. Simpson, in Octagon-place. He saw the two men leave the post office with their letters at a quarter before nine, and proceeded down the Clapham•road, towards the Greyhound public house. Oa reaching the public house four letter-carriers met, and then they all went into the house together, and took up their positions at the bar. He (the officer) then en tered, and saw the four drinking out of a quart pot, with their letters in their hands. They remained in the house eight minutes, and then proceeded a short way, and all four remained talking in the street for fifteen minutes; two of the men then left, and Hall and Rook returned to the Greyhound, and he saw them drinking out of a glass at the bar. They remained five minutes longer, and then they returned to the street, where they remained talking for three minutes. Alter this Rook commenced delivering his letters within two or three doors of the Greyhound. It was then 25 minutes past nine. Hall left the street at 20 minutes past nine. Mr. Sculthorpe stated that the eight o'clock despatch is the last delivery. The letters would be ready for de. livery at a quarter before nine at the Kennington Post office, and it was the duty of the prisoner to go there and get the letters and commence the delivers in five minutes after. The deliveries ought to have commenced at 10 minutes before 9. They were not justified in loVering. Rook said he had a letter to deliver at the public house, which, however, turned out ns.t to be a fact. A solicitor having addressed the magistrate on behalf of the two men, Mr. Jardine said he thought the present a very impor tant case, and that the Post•oflice authorities had acted very properly in bringing it forward. Ho did not sup pose the whole of the penalty, viz., 2111., was sought to be inflicted, and be thought a fine of 11. each would meet the nbjeot in view. Mr. Wontner asked for the fine to stand over, to see whether the men offended again. Mr. Peacock said he had no power in the case. Mr. Jardine said the fine must be paid. The men were servants of the public, and they ought to be sharply looked after. If the money was not paid in a fortnight a distress warrant would issue. RoBBERy sr A WAlTER.—Francis Bland, a waiter at the Northumberland Hotel, Northunaberland.street, Strand, was placed at the bar on remand, charged with stealing the sum of 401., the property of a gentleman named Ryanns. Mr. Ryanns stated that on the Ist of September he was staying at the above hotel, and on the morning in question he gave the prisoner a 501. note and idesired him to get gold fora. He returned in a short time with 10 scvereigns, and informed him that was all the cash they had in the house at that moment. But the remain ing 40i. he would bring as soon as the bank opened. lie remained in the house for two days after the occur. rence, but the prisoner did not return with the money. He had since received 40/. from the landlord of the hotel. Mr. Locket, clerk to Messrs. Wood, coal merchant, Strand, knew the prisoner .as being the waiter at the Northumberland Hotel. On the let of Septamber he came to the office of Messrs. Wood and asked for change for a 50/. note, at the same time saying his master was from home. He gave him tea sovereigns, and a cheque for 30 pounds, telling him it that would suit him ho could have the cash and cheque, and that he could call and get the remaining ten pounds in the afternoon. He took the money and cheque, and at about 3 o'clock the same afternoon be called and got the remaining ten sovereigns. He had not seen the prisoner since the occurrence until the commencement of the present pro ceedings. A clerk from Messrs. Drummond produced a cheque for 301., which had been cashed 'at the establishment on the first of September. The cheque was identified by Mr. Locket as the one he gave to the prisoner. The landlady of the hotel stated that the prisoner came to her on the morning in question and said a gen- THE SUN, LON.OuN, FRIDAY EVENING KEPTEAIBER 19, 1850. tleman in No. 9 wanted change fora 60/. note. Not loving that amount in the house, she sent the prisoner to Mr. Wood to ask him to oblige her with the change. He returned and proceeded up stairs, s.nd she heard him count ten sovereigns on the table. About five o'clock on the evening of the same day the prisoner quitted his situation without the slightest notice, and never re. turned. Sergeant Thomas said on the evening of the 4th Sep tember I apprehended the prisoner in King-street, Norwich. I told him I was a police-constable, and he must consider himself in my custody for stealing 401., the property of his master. The prisoner said, " I did do it, but a gentleman owing me money at the hotel had promised to pay me on that day. I had been twics for the money but could not succeed in getting it. I took too much drink, and I did not know what I was about." I searched him, and finding no money upon him, I asked him what he had done with it, and he informed me he had purchased a suit of clothes, a silver watch, and that he bad left 81. with his master, who resided at Norwich, to pay his journey back to London on the following Monday. The prisoner declined making any defence, and was fully committed for trial. IRISLAND. DUBLIN, THURSDAY MORNING. TIILEGRAPEI COMMUNICATION WITH AMERICA. The people of Galway have taken alarm at the start obtained by their southern rivals, and the se ' lection of Vac' port of Valentia for communication by telegraph with America is more than likely to revive the movement in favour of a western packci station. A local paper (the Vindicator) says : " It is rather odd that Valentia should have been se. lected. as the fittest spot for communication with Ame rica by electric telegraph, while so important a city as Gal.way has been overlooked. We suppose the lord of Valentin had sufficient interest to bring about such a re s ult, and exercised it in a proper quarter, while the mer• chants and authorities of Galway slept carelessly on their posts. However that may be it is quite certain that the working of the electric telegraph between Great Britain and the States must cause an entire revolution in tke state of things now existing. Our present postal arrangements will be totally unsuited to the velocity of communication which the telegraph will have rendered so desirable. Letters that now take nine or ten days to reach their destination must, in great measure, cease when a message can be flashed iu a few minutes across the Atlantic, and the prices of corn or provisions, or of ti;e funds be received as quick as the lightning can make response. " The time has really arrived when our public boards, gentry, merchants, and traders should bestir themselves. The electric telegraph will have rendered Liverpool ob ' solete as an American packet station, and the long and dangerous channel navigation must be scouted by the whole country. Postal communication with the United States can only be maintained by a fleet line of steamers which shall be able to run across from Galway in three or four days. The necessiV of the case, the exigencies of the times, and the telegraph will at last bring round that consurnmatiou 8 0, desirable, and Galway, by the force of circumstances' must be the Transatlantic Packet Station for Britain." AisT AMERICAN WHALER IN CORK HARBOUR. The Cork Examiner of yesterday has the follow. ing paragraph : "Among the numerous arrivals to our harbour from all parts of the world it is seldom that the flag of an American whale•ship floats opposite Queenstown. A whale-fishing brig, called the W. F. Safford, 172 tons, belonging to New York, arrived in Queenstown on Fri day last, from Nova Zembla. On her voyage, which was merely an experimental trip, she captured throe whales, from which nearly eight tuns of oil have been obtained. A new system has been introduced, by which it would seem that this valuable animal is more surely, safely, and speedily destroyed than by the old means, and we understand that the credit of introducing the present mode belongs to the captain of the W. F. Saf ford. Instead of being harpooned as formerly—a course that was dangerous to life and uncertain in the result— the fish are now shot, and after the ball enters the flesh it explodes in the body on much the same principle as a shell. The effect of the explosion is generally to shatter that portion of the fish where it has entered, and it sel dom fails to reach a vital part. Capt. Roys, the master of the whaler, is at present in Birmingham, where he is having some guns of a peculiarconstruction made, which be expects will be highly effective in the capture of those fish. As we stated, Capt. Roys is at present merely engaged in an experimental trip, and his ship is at present in Cork harbour for the purpose of enabling him to judge of its suitability as a place of despatch for the fishing-grounds. It is hiftintention in the summer months to fish in the North Seas, and in the winter to visit the coast of Patagonia, and he is anxious to ascer tain whether this harbour would suit him as an inter mediate port at which be might refit and replenish his stores. We believe it is the intention of Capt. Roys to apply for patents for invention to the English and Ame rican Governments." ELECTION OF A BOMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP. The election of a successor to the late Bishop Murray of Ferns took place on Monday, wh©n the Rev. Dr. Furlong , one of th e M aynooth professors, Archdeacon Bardn, and the Rev. Patrick Keat inge were nominated for presentation to the Holy See. According to the recent policy of the Court of Rome it no longer follows as a ;matter of course that any of the three so chosen by,the Irish priest hood will meet with the approbation of the Sove reign pontiff,. Since the importation of Dr. Culen from Italy to Ireland domestic election—one of the best features in the government of the Rornish Church—has become little better than solemn farce. FREOA OF THE BRIG GAZELLE ANA HORRIBLE MASSA CRE. On the 21st of August last year the brig Gazelle, Cap tain W. T. Parkin, sailed from Sydney, bound to Wood lark Islaud, having on board a quantity of stores for the missionary station there, and, as a passenger, the Rev. Mr. Murraconi, an Italian clergyman, whose intention it was to assist in the objects of the mission at that island. Considerably anxiety having been manifested as to Uri, safety of the brig and those on board, and several letters having appeared referring to the subject, in April last the schooner Favourite was chartered for the pur pose of going in search of the missing vessel. The Fa vourite has returned to Sydney, having discovered that the - Gazelle was a total wreck on the Woodlark Island, and that every soul on board had been murdered by the natives. Is will be seen by the sequel that the intelli gence gleaned from some of the boys belonging to the island is in several cases contradictory, but this may be accounted for in some measure by the difficulty which it is natural to suppose musk have existed in either party making himself clearly understood. On the 4th of May last, at noon, in latitude 9 degrees 14 minutes south, and longitude 153 degrees 27 minutes east, Cap tain Barrack, of the Favourite, discovered a wreck, apparently a brig, lying on her starboard beam ends, on Woodlark Island, lowermasts and bowsprit stand ing, lower rigging swinging about, and bearing W.N. W., distant five miles. At two p.m. the schooner got abreast of and within two miles of her, and found her to be a brig with the stern knooked away, the planks In her bottom gone, and in every respect a total wreck. At 4.30 p.m. Captain Barrack stood in for the harbour, and shortly afterwards hove to for a canoe, which came alongside of her with six native boys. The information obtained from them, and subsequently from other of the natives, was noted at length in the Favourite's log-book, from which the following extracts are taken :—" One of the boys in the canoe came on board, and on being ques tioned by Mr. Ramondi (a missionary acquainted with the language of some of the South Sea Islands) delivered cards to him, having on one side the name Mr. W. T. Parkin,' and on the other ' Gazelle,' written in pencil. The boys' answers to Mr. Ramondi were for the most part vague'and unsatisfactory, so we thought it advisable not to go up the harbour that night, but brought to' near the entrance, set a double anchor-watch, and loaded our guns and mulcts. The night passed quietly afloat, but large fires were burning on shore, which the native boy said indicated that the natives•were alarmed 'est we were going to destroy the village for plundering the brig. Mr. Ramondi's interpretation of this boy's story is, in substance, as follows :—The brig got on the reef some time in last September. The crew did not land there, but afterwards went away in boats to Cape lleaais ; that two white men had been killed at an island called Madden, ail he believed the rest were murdered at the island of Javonsee. This story excited our suspicions, and we kept the boy on board. The next morning, at ;clock, a canoe came alongside, having in it four boys, most of whom had been to Sydney, with the missionaries, and whose versions of the loss of the brig and murder of those on board, agreeing as they d.d, in all the material points, with each other, appear to be as near the real facts of the case as can be obtained. The old men of the village told the boys to ask the captain if he was angry, and that they wished to trade with him, as they had plenty of yams and figs, and wished us to come near the village with the schooner.' Being under the impression that this was a scheme to entice us amongst them, as no other canoe and no old men (as is generally the case) came off, we dec:ined to do so. The boy we have brought to Sydney confirmed these suspi cions, a', when I mentioned my intention to visit the wreck, and explained that I could discover if the crew were murdered, he, under the influence of a reward, stated that the brig was close to the reef, missed stays, and went ashore ; that shortly afterwards, by a plan devi-ied by a chief, eight canoes went off, six men in each, without spears, but the tomahawks concealed, their in tention being to murder the whole crew. The natives pretended to be very friendly, and a number of them went on board the brig; in a few minutes one of the natives tomahawked Mr. Mtn raconi, another immediately afterwards murdered the captain, and killed every soul on board with their tomahawks ; they then plundered the vessel of everything that excited their cupidity, leaving the dead bodies on board. The boys belonging to the mission (but who bad no part in this horrible act) went on board and threw the corpses into the water. These statements were corroborated by other natives questioned by Mr. Ramondi. Under these circum stances I did not send a boat from the schooner to the wreck, not thinking it would be safe to leave so few hands on board. I then shaped my course off the island." THE WESTMINSTER CLOCK BELL—WEST HARTLE. rooL, Wednesday, Sept. 1 7. —After the unfortunate mishap which occurred in connexion with the shipping of this monster bell on Saturday last, an examination was made to ascertain whether the bell had sustained any damage by the fall. The result of the examination was perfectly satisfactory, not the least injury could be perceived. Two timbers had been placed at the bottom of the schooner's hold, for the mouth of the bell to rest upon. At the time of the accident the bell was sus pended at about a height of 12 feet from the hold, and inclining over towards the larboard side of the vessel, owing to the shears not being swung far enough over the deck. This caused the bell, when it descended, to fall with one side of the mouth upon the keelson, and the other upon one of the timbers laid for it s bed, at the same time striking the side of the vessel, and starting her timbers. The vessel was surveyed by Lloyd's agent on Monday, when it was found that the damage to the bull was only of a trifling nature, and it was determined to allow the bell to remain in the vessel, which, after undergoing the necessary repairs, would be able to carry her freight. She was brought out of the basin yesterday, after being temporarily caulked, and placed in the Swainson Dock, from which she will proceed to-morrow into Mr. Pile's graving dock, to be thoroughly repaired and fitted with new mast, &c. In order to do this the bell will have to be removed frem her. It is expected that she will be able to proceed )n her voyage in about a fortnight from thin date. _HIGH PRICE OF CORN. (From the Times ) The relations of the corn and money markets are as perplexing as any celestial phenomena. Perhaps.the more general rule is that of contraries. A wet summer or a war which sends corn up sends the funds down, and when funds go down shares of course follow with still more violent oscillations. This is a very intelligible state of things. In the Dutch barometer, at the approach of fine weather, the lady in the silk shawl comes out, and her companion in the cloth cloak goes in ; and vice versa when it threatens rain. But the two markets are not always the Castor and Pollux of ; the firmament, for sometimes they are both elated I to Heaven, or both hurled below in reluctant corn- panionship. It has been s o l a t e l y. F or a b ou t two , ' months wheat and Three per Cents., nobody could say why, have been coming down together, and the other day both presented to their respec tive admirers a very lugubrious aspect. Within a few days they have almost simultaneously, yet neither with very good reason, taken to rise ; and the recovery in both cases has been considerable— Consols 1, and wheat ss. a quarter, or more. These are no very great fluctuations, indeed, but the wisest,heads are puzzled to find out a satisfac tory reason. Reasons, of course, can be easily as signed, but it is not so easy to say why a reason should operate at one time and not at another. Nobody could deny a month ago, or a fortnight ago, that trade was fairly prosperous ; that there was a fair prospect of abundance ; that we seemed to be in good train for the settlement of our vari ous differences ; that the railway returns were more favourable than ever ; that there was money enough coining from the gold fields ; and in the Bank of England there was no such diminution of bullion as to cause any disquietude. In spite of all this,' funds and shares dropped and dropped day after day. Some said these were speculative sales, and true enough, as bad been predicted, the, settlement-day was the date of the reaction. Not a reason was given that had not operated, or been fully expected to operate, months and months be fore. Even the demand for money abroad, which constituted the immediate drain on the market, had been distinctly foreseen as the necessary re sult even of reviving enterprise, and of that general squaring of accounts that would arise at the termi nation of a war. The drain of silver to the East admits of ai ready explanation, as was yesterday pointod out in another part of our columns. It merely arose from our having to buy in China the raw silk we could not obtain in France and from our usual exchanges with I n di a being disturbed by the payment of railway calls. True, there was another cause, which for a time more directly affected the shares of all , mercantile associations, and that was the failure of the Royal British Bank. The disappearance of 150,0001., or even twice that sum, in imprudent advances, seems itself a very slight affair. Many a private failure discloses a much larger deficiency. This . was merely the common case of half-a-dozen acting partners, under the specious name a directors, " playing ducks and drakes" with the money of their sleeping and very simple copartners. To say that they helped themselves and their friends from the till, till the till was found to be empty, would be an unfair way of stating the fact; though the result was much the same, and will generally fol low, when .directors are not men of the highest stamp. There are, however, dozens of such banks, as well as assurance and other companies, the shareholders of which would be puzzled to say what they know of their directors, what reason they have to trust to this or that man, and whether they would think a 1,0001. note perfectly safe in his hands or not. There are known principles of human nature very applicable to these cases. There ,ia no real' security against fraud, or commercial practices leading to the same result, except charac ter. In the long run character is the only dependence, and of course it is a point .on which people have to judge for themselves. The common error is to think cleverness, sharpness, a touch of roguery, and even a slight share in some question able but successful transactions, better than a dull compound of scrupulous honour and plain common sense. It is rather remarkable, however—we speak without the slightest reference to the recent failure —how often the men who have suddenly surprised the world by frightful defalcations have never had a character for exact and delicate honour, and have even avowed a different code of morality. They who trust such men deserve to lose their money. What is more, when there is no certain knowledge of the men whom you are absolutely trusting with your money, it becomes, to say the least, mere gambling ; for, there is no real difference between an ivory cube, which when thrown up into th e a i r may fall on tills side or that, it is impossible to say which, and a man concerning whom you cannot say whether he will spend your 1,00/. in propping up a friend's bad speculation, or put it to some safer and less private use. It is the drawback of new associations that they are in the hands of new men, who may be honourable and prudent enough, but are not certainly known to be such. Such are the general principles applicable to the subject. Nevertheless, there is a large class which is only taught by experience, and which prefers it, own experience to that of others. When, therefore, a bank or a railway company is suddenly turned in side out, the shock to the weaker portion of the public is all the greater from their habit of only learning by such catastrophes. The alarm then spreads fast enough, and scarce a j int-stock bank escapes suspicion, because ono appears to have been ill-conducted. No doubt the recent failure had its effect on shares of all kinds, and that to an unrea sonable extent. As to the fluctuations of the corn-market, the recent fall was intelligible enough. It was owing to the ascertained goodness of our harvest, which, after a period of excessive heat, followed by rather more rain than was desirable, turns out to be abundant and well got in. The present rise is another question, and it is ascribed to the damage done to the French crops by the inunda tions, and to the fact that the harvest generally in the South of Europe is below the average. It is presumed, then, that we shall not supply our wants with such facility as heretofore, or with such convenience to the usual course of trade. But surely this inconvenience must be exaggerated when the Americans are at this moment calculating, not what they can supply—for on this point they appear to think their resources boundless—but what we can take. Free trade has given such encouragement to agriculture in the Western States that we have only — to give the word and any quantity is forthcoming. So say the American papers, though it is not unlikely they may find the definite sooner fathomed than they ex pect. But, at all events, it appears that the im port of British manufactures into the States has this year been much more than usual, and there is now some anxiety lest there Elould not be a suffi cient demand for their agricultural produce to balance the account. If, then, we are to trust to Atnerican speculations, a scarcity is about the last thing we need apprehend. What, then, makes the present rise f There is just now a demand in excess of the supply. That is a suffic;ent account of the matter, though, rerhaps, not the whole account. We know, however, of no adequate reason. It may be that.farmers having recently sold wheat at 80s., and being flush of money, cannot make up their minds to part with it at 655. There may be deeper reasons for the pre vent state of the market. But farmers have the game in their own hands. They can now sell at a remunerative price. If they pre fer to hold out for higher, and are ultimately re duced to accept les.; than what they now refuse, it will be their own affair. (From. Galignani's Messenger.) The Siecle contains some remarks on a subject which, although not political in its character, is of the highest importanc?—the fabrication of bread at a cheap rate. If the populations of any nation are to be kept tranquil and contented, the bitter pangs of famine must be sedulously kept at a distance ; for the sight of a hungry family is capable of urg ing the best-intentioned man to desperate attempts against property and government. Hence all statesmen have paid the most particular attention to provide sufficient food for every person placed under their protection. It was actuated by such views that the French Government lately extended to Dec. 31, 1857, the measures decreed for facilita ting the importation of corn into France. Nothing could be more logical or more prudent than such a course, for there is one very marked fact which dominates in the whole of this question of corn, and that is, that France does not herself produce sufficient corn for her ordinary consumption. It is true that occasionally an unusually abundant harvest gives a surplus for the following year ; but, if a quinquennial or decennial average be taken the result will be found a deficiency. The Siecle gives some statistics on this head which bear out our assertion : " From 1815 to 1825 we imported 9,014,369 hecto litres of corn of all kinds, and exported 1,978,179 hecto• litres, making a difference between the imports and exports of 7,036,190 hectolitres: From 1825 to 1836, an interval of 12 years, the quantity imported war 21,775,246 hectolitres, and that exported 9 484 915 bee tolitres being an increase of imports of 12,290,331 hecto litres. In the period cf 1836 to 1846 the import of corn was 11,923,896 metrical quintals, and the export 3,638,245 metrical quintals. The difference in favour of the imports was therefore 9,922,616 metrical quinta/s,' or 1,288' 1 651 hectolitres a year. This quantity must, howevtr,i be redniedi 'by 173,654 bectelitreS, , being the' excess of the export over the import of flour. The average of this last period was therefore 1,008,701 hec tolitres. From 1846 to 1854 the importation of corn of all Janda amounted to 42,02,201 metrical epiAtals, and t the exports to 51,767,034 metrical quintals. The imports therefore exceeded the exports by 685,167 metrical quin tals, or 901,539 hectolitres, being an annual average of , 112,693 hectolitres. This deficit is less ccnsideiable ' j than that which we have pointed out in Co former periods, but it if we add to it that of 1855 and 1856, of which we have not yet the exact returns, it will doubt less exceed the highest total we hare given." In the face of this insufficiency of corn for the or dinary consumption of France during the last forty years, it is not temporary measures, the Siecic de clares, that ought to be adopted fur allowing its free importation, but a constant admission of all articles of food without any duty or impediment whatever. With corn brought in at all times, and under ev e ry fl ag , a su ffi c i ency o f foci. would be an i assured matter, whether in peace or war. But even then, enough would not have been effected to give cheap bread to the poorer classes of the popu lation. Our contemporary conceives that the Go vernment ought to go farther, and direct its atten tion to procuring a cheaper mode of fabricating bread. The bakers' monopoly ought, it thinks, to be abolished, and steam-power be employed on a large scale in mixing the dough and forming the loaves into shape. A better system of centralising labour in this most important matter ought to be adopted, and vast establishments organised for the general public, as has been done with such advan tages of economy and salubrity for the army. Un fortunately, our contemporary treats the subject somewhat too generally to lead to any particular reselt ; but its suggestions seem so well adapted to the matter that we hope to see some further ob servalions on the subject from the same pen. TE JISHORTEST ROUTE ACROSS TEE ATLANTIC. Like the king who cried for a new pleasure, I should think that many European travellers would be glad to hear of some new route. I will tell them something of a very grand one which assuredly has the merit of being novel to most people. It is across the Atlantic ferry and up the gulf and river St. Lawrence.- I am not going to write any fancy sketch, but a simple narrative of what I myself have seen ; and I will add some indubitable geogra phical facts which I have reason to believe are un known to many who ought to know them. I start from Quebec (whence there is railway and water communication cheap and commodious to all parts of the North American continent), in one of the screw steamships of the fortnightly line of the Mon treal Ocean Steamship Navigation Company. This line is essentially Canadian, being principally owned in Canada, supported by Canadian traffic, and a small annual subsidy of twenty-twothousand pounds from the Canadian Government for postal service. I need not tell you what a magnificent harbour Que bec possesses. It is capable of containing an unlimited quantity of shipping, and more than a thousand ships may be seen in it at once. The citadel crests a high and steep rock, and the city of Quebec and its fortifications show well from the harbour, while in e very direction around the scenery is magnifi cently beautiful. Its background is a mountain range, while the foreground is dotted with villages and little white houses of the Canadian farmers. As the steamship proceeds down the noble river, Quebec is soon hidden from the view ; but, pano rama-like, new beauties open up. First, there are the Falls of Montmorenci, formed by a small river being precipitated over a ledge of rock about three hundred feet high, as I judge by the eye. The large and thickly settled island of Or leans is next an object of interest. On both sides of the river the houses of the habitans form almost a continual street for hundreds of miles, while here and there a group thicket than usual form a vil lage, of which the most conspicuous object is a white church with its spire. Almost every house or other building is painted white or whitewashed, and the effect of this is very beautiful, for the white fairly glitters in the clear bright air and sunshine of the Canadian climate. The lines of the farms may be scan clearly marked out ou either side, and these look peaceful and seeding ; while behind and above all, a little distance back, the mountain's lift their stately beads towards:the sky. The mountains for the most part are covered with forest, and islands of various . orms and sizes, also thickly clothed with trees, dot the river here and there, and they are beautiful objects to look upon. There are hundreds of miles of such scenery. As you steam downwards the river assumes more gigantic proportions, and it is 15 miles from bank to bank. Now you pass the mouth of the Sague nay, the most wonderful river in the world—in credibly deep, with perpendicular aides of 'rock, which in some places reach to an enormous height above the surface of the water. As you steam on the river still becomes wider, and you_lose sight of one of the banks. On the whole no man can sail down the St. Lawrence, and not admit the truth of the statement of Mr. M‘Gregor, that "this river and the whole country unfold scenery, the magni ficence of which, in combination with the most de lightful physical beauty, is unequalled in America, and perhaps in any other part of the world." The works of nature here are truly on the grandest scale, and they serve to mane—but not solely—the Canadian proud of his country. Three days' steaming, or a fraction over, have taken us through the Straits of Belle Isle to the island of this name, where we bid adieu to land, and stretch out ou the broad surface of the North Atlantic Ocean. At this point, let it be observed, one-third of the voy age is accomplished, and something less than six days' steaming will bring us in sight of Tory Island, on the north of Ireland, which is 24 hours' sail from Liverpool, in comparatively smooth water. You, sir, will have perceived that I have indicated the shortest route across the Atlantic Ocean; but as this geographical fact is of the very greatest impor tance, not only to the most considerable of the British colonies in America, but to the whole of that continent, as well as important to large inte rests in Great Britain—to say nothing of other con siderations—l will write some particulars of compa rative distances. I copy the figures from Mr. Keefers's map, which was prepared by the Govern ment of Canada for exhibition at the late Paris Exposition. Any one can verify them on a globe or accurate map. The distance from Quebec to Belle Isle is 705 miles. From Belle Isle to Liver pool 1,878 miles—in all 2,583 miles. The distance from New York to Cape Race is 1,010 miles ; Cape Rice to Liverpool by Cape Clear, 2,003 mies—in all 3,013 ; but the Cunard steamers run round the north of Ireland, and thus reduce the distance from New York to Liverpool to 2,980 miles. In either case, however, it is clear that the St. Lawrence route has very great advantages in point of distance, and to this must be added the great advantage which the river, for one-third of the way, affords for steaming, to say nothing of the magnificently beautiful scenery of the St. Lawrence to glad the eye of the traveller. The distance from Belle Isle to Tory Island is exactly 1,655 miles, which is all the purely ocean navigation in the sailing circle, of which the St. Lawrence forms an arc, of the route of the Canadian steamships, against 3,013 miles by the route by Capes Race and Clear from New York to Liverpool, or 2,980 wiles by the route of the Cunard steamships. These figures require no comments. It may be added that the distance between Liverpool and Boston is not so great as between that town and New York, but it is still very largely in favour of the St. Lawrence route, and the voyage to Boston is ocean navigation all the way. Another mode of putting the case is this—lt is no further to Hamilton, at the head of Lake Ontario, from Liverpool, than it is from Liver pool to New York ; and let it be well borne in mind that the moment you touch any of the Cana ' dian cities you have railway, water, and telegraphic communication with the whole continent. Such being the facts, what is the result of the summer's experience of the Canadian line of steam-ships which only commenced to run last spring ? Just that which might be expected. They have wade the shortest voyages (the Persia excepted) across the Atlantic, and furnished regularly the latest news to the whole American Continent, in advance of ' the Cunard and Collins steamships. The Canadian steamships are nevertheless of less size and power (although they are beautiful vessels and fast sailers, and the wants of passengers are well cared for iu them) than those of the lines just mentioned. Take one instance : the Baltic left New York on her last trip on the same day that the Anglo-Saxon left Quebec, yet the former arrived in the Mersey 40 hours after the latter. The time made by the Anglo-Saxon between Quebec and Liverpool was 9 days and 23 hours. The same vessel, in her outward voyage, reached River du Loup (the telegraphic station below Quebec) in 10 days and 2 hours from Liverpool, and Quebec and Montreal a few hours later. She made the passage to Quebec in two days less time than did the Asia or the Atlantic which sailed nearly at the same. Of course the Canadian newspapers give the utmost possible pro minence to these facts, and they cannot be too widely spread in Great Britain. An effort is being made in Canada to induce the British Government to make Quebec and Montreal the ports at which the British steam-ships touch which receive imperial aid for postal service between Great Britain and North America, and the argument drawn in favour of the change is very strong.lts drawback is the winter, for it is only during the summer months that the St. Lawrence is open. Portland, how ever, has a magnificent harbour, which is always opera and it is connected by, railway with Quebec arid kOntreal, and all other parts of the continent. But my purpose is not to pursue this argument. I have stated the facts and I have done. I think I have said enough to induce the enterprising Euro pean traveller some time to take a trip across the Atlantic .4erry, and see the new world. I must .hot, however, omit to add that the Canadian Go. ; vernment are now lighting the lowe r St. Law ; rence, the Gulf, and the straits of Bel le Isle ; and that, when this is done, Quebec may 'fay claim to being one of the safest ports on the Nortl t Americas continent. As it is now, I know that some very intelligent sea captains prefer the route through the Straits of Belle Isle to that by Cape Race and the banks of Newfoundland.—From the Corres pondent of the Daily NetcA. THE SILVER DRAIN. (From the Times' City Article.) The facts already discussed with regard to the drain of specie to India and China have a bearing on. the question as to the influence to be exerted on prices by the gold discoveries. "Granting," it will be said, " that the adverse consequences of the present condition of trade between Europe and China must be sustained, not by England, but by France, from the loss of her silk crop, still the hoardinc, universally practised in the East m us t greatly check s that general increase of wealth and prosperity which are looked for from the flooding of Europe with the treasures of Australia and Ca lifornia." This supposition is entirely erroneous. When the gold discoveries were first announced it was pointed out that whatever might be their ex tent it could constitute no addition to the wealth of the world, and that, although they would produce the grandest results, these would be confined to the impulse they would exercise in attracting man kind to the settlement of new regions, and to a disturbance of the relations of debtor and creditor, which, as far as concerned all fixed contracts, would prove extremely advantageous to the former. As the value of gold depends entirely on its scar city, no addition to the quantity held will be at tended by any corresponding addition to the worth of the total ; that is to say, if the world possesses one hundred millions of gold to-day, and another hundred millions are discovered to-morrow, it will find itself no richer, because gold, in relation to , other articles, having thus become twice as plenti ful, it will then require two sovereigns to purchase the amount of goods that in the first instance might have been obtained. for one sovereign. All expectation, therefore, of visible consequences in the shape of a great concentration of the precious metals in this country, or in the United States, or even in the various batiks of the chief cen tres of commerce throughout the globe, were delusive. The relative stock held in each coun try was still destined to depend upon the balance of its other imports and exports, while the increased supplies would go on: quietly diffusing themselves in every quarter according to the unal terable laws of trade. If, owing to the augmented quantity, a greater number of pieces of gold are now required in every transaction, the mode of absorption of that which has lately been produced is perfectly comprehensible ; and, supposing the yield to become a thousand times greater than has yet been witnessed, the consequences will still be manifested in no other way than in a proportion ately increased abundance of gold coin in the hands of every individual. The amount held by the vari ous banks of the world has - never, perhaps, been equal to a 20th part of that which is in circulation, and hence, although their stocks must increase in proportion to the commonness or the metal, the effect in their case is comparatively insignificant. Supposing an addition to the, circulation of an amount calculated to affect the Prieek of all com modities to the extent of 25 per cerif.,"all the in crease that could positively be looked for in the aggregate held by the several banks would be about one-fourth. The hoarding practised by the: people of India and China must of course delay this diffusion ; but,. so far from checking the activity and relative pro sperity of the gold-finding nations, it must operate to perpetuate the ardour of the search just to the extent that it retards the depreciation of the arti cle. It is the hoarder only who can suffer, since t4O is accumulating a substancewhich7s daily.diminish ing in value. There is little reason, hqyrever, to suppose that this hoarding has withdrawn any amount calculated materially to intetrupt the changes in - progress. Even it twenty out of the hundred millions sterling produced in the last eight years have thus been buried or converted into or naments it can only have reduced by one-fifth the speed of the general movement. Notwithstanding these conclusions, it, will, per haps, be denied that there are any signs of prices having as yet been influenced. This is a point on which.each person must be allowed his own opinion, because no labour could collect the facts requisite to demonstrate the actual state of the case. While the gold discoveries are operating to produce dear ness, all the discoveries of science are tending in an opposite direction. The agriculturist thus extracts from his laud crops which a few years back would have been deemed incredible, and the Manchester spinner and Birmingham manufacturer are enabled to multiply goods at a . cost regulated by little else than the wear and tear of machinery, while at the same time the extension of steam navigation is fa cilitating the acquisition of every kind of raw ma terial. Because beef or bread, cotton and woollen goods, hardwares or trinkets, may be as cheap or cheaper than they were when California was un known, we are not, therefore, to conclude that there has been no result. The probability is, as was long ago pointed out, that, even if the time should arrive for gold to be depreciated to a quarter of the value at which it stood iu 1848, the possessor of a fixed income will find that he can still procure as many of these articles for his money as he could at that period. But his state will have been one of stagnation, and the results of all the advancement of society in comfort and luxury will be simply to leave him where he was while the standard of living has been rapidly improving. A person with 5001. a•year, if he could obtain now no more than was procurable for the same money half a century back, would be in a disagreeable position, and it is an effect of this kind that the holders of fixed in comes must henceforth be expected gradually to experience. Whether he can already trace its com mencement in the augmented sums demanded for all kinds of labour, in the increased possession of gold among classes where it was formerly a rarity, and iii the general scale of ,expenditure of every bran3la of the pspulation, must be for bins to de termine. Certain it is that there is no other way in which the question can be tested, and that those who look elsewhere for proofs of the action of the increased supply will look in vain, no matter to what extent it may be multiplied. SOUTH WARK. THE COMMISSIONERS OP POLICE AND THE METROPO LITAN BuILDING AOT.—Tbe owner of extensive premises at No. 1, Dockhead, Bermondsey, was summoned be• fore Mr. Seeker, by direction of the Commissioners of Police, under the new Metropolitan Building Act, for having a great portion of his premises in a dangerous state. Mr. Rums, the Purveyor, with Inspector Price, ap pointed by the Commissioners of Police, attended to support the charge. Mr. Reeves said that on the 22d of May he received in formation that the defendant's premises were in an un safe condition, and by direction of the Commissioners of Police he surveyed them, and found them to be in such a dilapidated state as to be dangerous to the public. There was a chimney-shaft and a large portion of the wall so shattered that unless it was imrae diately pulled down the lives of the passengers would be endangered. The Commissioners of Police under the provisions of the act of Parliament required the defendant to pull down the dangerous portion of the premises in question and rebuild them. Mr. Joseph Price, the Inspector appointed under the new act of Parliament, said he served the required no tices on the defendant to pull down and rebuild the premises. He corroborated Mr. Reeves's statement relative to their dangerous condition. Mr. Seeker usked what was required to be done ? Mr. Reeves replied that the premises were in such a dangerous state that they ought to be pulled down im mediately. Mr. Becker accordingly made out an order for the defendant to take them down within 48 hours and pay all costs. The owners of several houses in Bent-street and White street, near St. George's Church, were also summoned under the same act of Parliament. These houses are in a very dilapidated condition, and, although falling almost in the street, densely occupied by poor people, whose lives are in danger every day. They have been surveyed carefully by Mr. Reeves and Inspector Price, and cer tified to be dangerous. Mr. Seeker made the usual order, with costs. BENEYOLIINCE.—The magistrate has received th •l second half of a 5/. Bank of England note, from A. 11 R. W., No. 60,981, for the poor-box of this court. THAMES. ILLICIT DISTILLATION.—Benjamin Jeffries, Jas. Vor rig', and Adam Sims, were brought before Mr. Selfe, charged with illegally working a private still in an un entered place. Leonard Lee, an officer of Inland Revenue, said he went to the house, 11, New-street, Stepney, and, upon entering at the back of the house, discovered Morris in the act of pouring out spirits from one vessel to an other, and on going upstairs met Jeffries coming down. He found a large copper still in full operation, with a fire under,it. The still was charged and giving off spirits. He found two gallons of strong spirits in a pan, and a large quantity of molasses, wash tube, and all necessary apparatus for carrying on illicit distillation. Frederick Pargiter gave similar evidence, and believed the still had been in operation some time, and the re venue defrauded to a considerable extent., .He found Sints in a room up stairs, and he denied having anything to do with the still. Jeffries, in defence, said he was the person working the still ; and Morris said, " I plead guilty." Sims de- Oared lie was innocent of any knowledge of the still. Mr. Selfe said he had a doubt in favour of Sims, and gave him the benefit of it by discharging him. He con victed Jeffries and Morris, and sentenced them to pay a fine of 30/., and in default of payment to be imprisoned and kept to bard labour for three calendar months. John Allen, an elderly man, of No. 25, Trafalgar place, North-street, Bethnal-green, was charged with a similar (donee. Mr. John Vanstone said he was an officer of inland revenue, and that he went yesterday to the house No. 1, Pleasant-place, Pleasant-row, Stepney-green. He entered the house by the front door, and on going into a back room, discovered a copper still, charged with gallons of molasses wash, and running of spirits. There were three gallons of rnannfactured spirits in bladders. It was commonly called "jigger stuff" among the trade. The prisoner made no resistance, and walked quietly with him to the station-house. The prisoner said Mr. Vanstone's statement was oor. rect. Hg worked the still for another man. It was not his own. Mr. Selfe asked if the prisoner was known. Mr. Vanstone—Oh, yes, sir; we are very old acquaint. antes indeed. He has been convicted of working private stills more than once. Mr. Selfe—Do you press for a penalty on a second conviction I If so, you must prove it formally, and I shall then be compelled to fine him 1001., and in default six months' imprisonment, and hard labour. Mr. Vanstone—l only ask for the lowest penalty. Mr. Selfe fined the prisoner 301., and in default three months' hard labour. SCOTCH AFFAIRS IN 1856. Under this' heading a traveller in Scotland writes in a morning contemporary of yesterday a rather amusing medley of facts and inferences : "The railroad, and steamer, and electric telegraph have put a new face on Auld Scotland ;' dirt is less sacred, the English less foreign, and wisdom is not claimed as a Scottish monopoly. Newspapers here are improving in tone, though still tremendously ecclesiaWcal, and town councils do not devote more than half their time to theology. Lord Palmerston's letter to the clergy of Edinburgh, however hetorodox in divinity, has had a salutary sanitary effect. The closes in the High-street are occasionally washed down, and the chief streets are not so perilous to passengers. The Highlands are rapidly replenishing the lowland towns with unskilled labour. It is a remarkable and too suggestive fact that the Irish have been displaced at Greenock and Port Glasgow by the Highlanders underworking them. " The Evangelical Alliance concluded its meetings at Glasgow a few days ago; the whole thing appears to have been very dull, though very good. " The Free Kirk people are building medieval chapels, with tapering spires and niches, as if for taints, all over Scotland. "The harvest is very promising. The potatoes, how ever, are extensively diseased. Labour seems abundant, stud the working classes appear satisfied. "It is universally understood here that the Duchess Dowager of Argyll has joined the Roman Catholic Church, in spite of the advice of Dr. Pusey, of Oxford, who has been labouring to draw her back. The Duchess of Buccleuch and the Marchioness of Lothian have also ' gone over' to the Roman Catholic Church. They have all entered by the porch of the Scotch Episcopal com munion, which people here regard as the half-way house. " There is less of ecclesiastical controversy in Scotland than there used to be. "The repairs and restoration of the cathedral of Glas gow are admirable, and now nearly ended. "A great battle is being waged in the newspapers on the comparative morality of the Scotch and English. The Scotch are convinced that they beat the English hollow. There are two great points. The English beat their wives, which the Scotch do not. The Scotch get often blin fou' with whisky, which the English do not. Is it a perfect equation t Is it better to drink whisky, or to beat wives " There is great need of a more patriotic and liberal spirit among some of the heritors of Scotland in reference to the conservation of ancient ecclesiastical remains. Some of the noblest ruins are crumbling away in the rains and frosts with scarcely an attempt to arrest the calamity. A very remarkable instanca of this is seen in the ruin of Jedburgh Abbey. Part of the nave is en closed as a Scotch parish church, with ugly tiers of gal leries, the recent flat roof occasionally descending in fragments, and the remainder of it, consisting of exqui sitely beautiful Norman pillars and doorways, and win (lows, is day by day going to pieces. "The Scottish service, tastefully performed, is really very beautiful, andlts severe psalmody, as in Glasgow Cathedral, is something impressive in one of these noble edifices. " Throughout the counties the little lairds, often upstarts, imitate the great lairds in religion, habits, and sympathies. Were the Duke of Buccleuch to turn Mormon, at least a hundred lairds around him would turn Mormons too. This habit is nearly universal, and, as not a few of the aristocracy have turned Romanists, we shall bee not a few of the aspiring laixdo follow." VICTORIA MILITA Y HOSPITAL. The whole of the foundations of the Victoria Military Hospital, near Netley Abbey, in Hampshire, are now laid, and the walls of the building are rising above the ground, so that a notion of the size and figure of the building can be formed. About 500 men are at present employed on it, but next year the number will be in creased to upwards of 1,000. In consequence of the distance of the hospital from any village, rows of wooden huts or Australian shanties have been built for the workmen on the grounds, wherein are bunks or beds fur the men to sleep in, arranged like berths on board ship. There is also a wooden general store house and club room, where the men get refreshment, purchase necessaries, and meet for club purposes. No drunk enness is allowed on the grounds or works. Cot tages and farm-houses in the neighbourhood have been acquired by the Government for their staff of officers, who reside there to control the works. The frontage of the hospital will be 1,400 feet, or more than a quarter of a mile in length. The general depth will be 200 feet. In the centre, however, the depth be nearly 300 feet. The hospital will be 50 feet high, and three towers of dome-like shape, which will grace the centre block and two wings, will each be .100 feet in height. Nearly 3,000,000 bricks have been used in merely laying the foundations. The spot on which the hospital is built is about 60 feet above Southampton Water, and the drainage of the hospital has been effected upon the most improved plan. The main sewer, of great magnitude, and of an elliptic form, runs along in the centre of the building, parallel with the front. The stone dressings with the plinths will be of Cornish granite. The view from the towers will be magnificent, overlooking as it will the New Forest, the Solent sea, the Isle of Wight, and the British channel. ' Prince Albert visits the works often, and takes the greatest in terest in them. The hospital will accommodate 1,000 patients, besides affording a residence for a large medical and government staff. The centre biopic of the building, projecting 90 feet from the frontage of the wings, will contain the apartments of the staff. Behind this block, in the rear of the building, will be the chapel. The 'Government is buying up much land in the neighbour.. hood. The view of the hospital from the ships and steam ers going up and down Southampton Water will be irn• posing, o wing to the immense proportions of tits strut• ture and its nearness to the shore. From Southampton, and from Cowes, in the Isle of Wight, which are si tuated 12 miles apart, will be distinctly seen the largest building in Europe. The hospital will, it is expected, be completed in two years' time. It will coat upwards of a quarter of a millio❑ sterling. Barracks will, it is expected, ultimately le erected in the neighbourhood. Two piers have been built out into Southampton Water for the purpose of landing building materials, and a railroad has been formed from one of the piers to convey the,mate rials of the works. Some of the upper class of workmen were employed in erecting a pier for the. Royal West India Company at Chagres, and their shanties are adorned with ornithological and vegetable curiosities from Central America. - ARRIVAL OF TAR JOSEPH TARRATT.- - resteiciey the Joaeph Tarratt, that _sailed from .Melbourne ivith the mails of the 10th of June, was off the port of LiverpooL By the arrival of the Keut, that sailed from Melbourne the satne day, and the Sardinian that sailed on thq 26th of the month, her news has been anticipated. The Joeephlarratt has on board gold to the value of 88,0001• ',, n. , .. i st ::, :, i I