The Sun. — London, England, 1861-07-06 00:00:00

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION. — C. F. HANCOCK, Jeweller and Silversmith to the Queen, 3?, Bruton-street, Bond-street, having been selected by the Cynamittee to make the " BADGE " to be worn by the Members of the " National Rifle Association," begs respectfully to inform them that it may be procured at his Establishment, or on the grounds at Wimbledon, in SILVER, and in GOLD ENASIELLED , price Three p r ice 7s. W., Guineas. rr c HEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET. .1 [ A cme, Mr. J. B. Buokstone. THIS EVENT NG, the performances w ill c o mmence With THE MIDDY ASHORE. Mrs. E. Fittwilliam. After which THE OVERLAND ROUTE. Messrs. Chas. Mathews, Buckstone, E. Villiers, Rogers, kc. ; Mrs. Wilkins, Mrs. C. Mathews, and Miss E. Weekes. Followed by TARING BY STORM. Mr. C. Mathews. And THE GALICIAN FETE. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Lessee and Manafr,er, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, the new comic drama, entitled A HOMESTEAD STORY, Messrs. Ryder Shore, and Miss M. Harris. After which, KING LEAR. King Lear, Mr. Phelps : Edgar, Mr. Edmund Phelps. MISS MARY PROVOST will make her first _I- appearance in England as ROSALIND, in AS YOU LIKE IT, at the Royal Princess's Theatre, TUESDAY, July 9th. EW TIMATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.- sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING MR. GORILLA. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, Billington ; Miss Kate Kelly, Miss E. 'Mune. After which (225th time), THE COLLEEN BAWN. Mr. D. Boucteault, D. fisher, Billington, Falconer, Stephenson, 'C. J. Smith. Romer, Howard, Ward ; Mrs. Boucicault, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chatterley. To conclude with the successful new Farce, entitled A TURKISH BATH. Mr. J. L. Toole. Mr. P. Bedford. Doors open at half past B—Commence at 7. revenue. One thing is, howeer, wanted : something like good government and security for the investment of capital. The traditional exclusive government of the company must be got rid of. The Civil Service of India hates European " interlopers," as they haughtily term them. They resist in all pos sible ways the acquisition of land in fee simple by Englishmen; they resist, that is, the grand con dition of the most effective cultivation of the country, and of inducing capital to flow to India . All this must be changed. We must have justice in India as accessible as in England, and not only the abolition of the company, but of its bane ful traditions. Shall the fate which not so very long since befell Savoy and Nice be allowed also to befall the neutral provinces of Switzerland ? That in a few words was the purport of the inquiry addressed last even ing in the course of an exceedingly able speech by the hon. member for Bridgewater to her Britannic MAJESTY'S Government. The integrity of the dominions subject to the head of the House of Savoy was guaranteed to the princes of that dynasty by the Treaty of 1815. So in likewise did that Treaty of Vienna guarantee to Switzerland the indepen dence and integrity of what are called the neutral provinces as well as the independence and integrity of the integral portions of the Swiss Confederation. But the Treaty of 1815, the Treaty of Vienna— torn originally by the swordpoints of the Northern Emperors, by those of the Austrian KAISER and the Russian AUTOCRAT—has been rent asunder by the more audacious sword of the Conqueror of , Magenta and Solferino. It is now little better, we all know, than so much waste paper—and, for any value that it has for the preservation of what is called the Balance of Power in Europe, it might as lief long since have been sent to the butter-shop or the trunkmakers. Savoy and Nice—we are refer ring of course to an event which we are aware is as much a thing of the past as though it were divided from us by a dozen centuries, and yet an occurrence in itself so recent as an outrage upon public opinion, that it almost seems as though it had taken place but yesterday—Savoy and Nice every one remem bers to have been cleverly' hocuspacused from the possession of VICTOR EMMANUEL into that of his Imperial Ally, his generous and magnanimous Ally, NAPOLEON 111. The neutral provinces of Switzerland may follow—probably will follow in the natural course of things—are absolutely certain to follow, policy toTllow,asthe simple de ve l o pment of the BONA of Annexation.— Unless ! "Unless" —What ? Is it not obvious ? Unless, simply, in half-a-dozen words—England sees that it does not ! That is the only remaining guarantee for the maintenance of the integrity of Switzerland for the vindication of the threatened independence of the neutral pro vinces. It is because he recognises this fll u y and absolutely, that Mr. KINGLARE recalls the attention of the House of Commons to it ; a n d, while doing so, endeavours to elicit as plain an explanation as our mysterious habit of diplomatic ' reticence will permit from the responsible member of her MAJESTY'S present Government. In obe dience to this earnest entreaty, to this almost solemn adjuration from the hon. member for Bridgewater, who was supported in his appeal by the equally earnest, though less solemn, arguments of the hon. baronet the member for Tamworth— Lord JonN RUSSELL expressed his opinion frankly enough, it must be acknowledged, to the House of Commons yesterday, when referring to the pre sent situation and future prospects of the Swiss Confederation. Frankly enough, we again confess —but hardly, after all, satisfactorily ! One remark of Mr. KINGLAKE'S, however, should certainly be borne in recollection before we go any further into the consideratiou of this matter—in reference, that is, to the " securine. c , of the neutrality and inde pendence of the Swiss Confederation," as (we might almost say) promised in Her Most Gracious MAJESTY'S Speech from the Th rone a t the com ment of the present session of Parliament. It should be especially borne in mind, then, with how much reason the member for Bridgewater thus described the course, nowadays, pursued by the reigning Eat- _ THE suN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 6, 1861. rIANTERBURY -HALL CONCERTS AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. EVERY EVENING._ - - Two Grand Selections from celebrated Operas, including Verdi's new Opera. THE BAL MASQUE (first produced in England at this Establishment), with a Chorus of Forty Voices, and upon a stale unequalled at any other Concerts. Miss Russell, Miss Ernst, Mr. Greville, Mr. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, Mr. Bernard; popular Solos on the Cornet-s-piston, by Mr. Levy (the first performer of the day) ; the Brothers Conrad (in an entirely original entertainment on the double rope, not to be seen elsewhere); continued success of Mr. Wood and his talented little Son. The Comic Department comprises the followinc , favourites: —Mr. Marshall, Mr. Hollingsworth ; the NERVES, by Messrs. Harvey and French ; and Mrs. Lawrence. Musical Director, Mr. JONGHMANS. T " XFORD, 6, OXFORD-STREET. This noble building being n ow com p letet its architectural beauty, elegance of ornamentation, and brilliancy of lighting render it one of the sights of the metropolis. Open Every Evening. The programme is varied, and includes Selections (by a full company of principals, p9werful band, and chorus) from " Macbeth" and "Un Ballo in Maschera." both operas by Verdi, the compo ser of the day—The wonderful Solos on the Comet-a-Piston of the renowned LEVY—Scotch Duets by the Misses Stuart, and other vocal and instrumental music of the highest order. Conductor, Mr. F. Jonghmans. The Comic portion of the entertainment is supported by Miss Green, Messrs. Sam Collins, Harvey, and French (the Nerves) W. H. Wieland, E. Marshall. and W. Randall. Admission, Hall, sixpence ; Balcony and Stalls, one shilling. Private Boxes, 10s. 6d. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 12h. &sm.—Afternoon, 12h. 55m. To-monatow.-Morning, lh. 16m.—Afternoon, lh. 40m THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, JULYI6, 17381. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 68—highest since noon yesterday. 53—lowest this morning and during the night. 69—this day at noon. BAuomETEE-29.51 ; rising. WlND—Southerly; fresh, and squally, with cloudy weather and passing showers. ,x , 3 ~., ,:,,__,. 4.„,_) ,if.,,,,,,•, ~_,..,...._,„..,,,,,...„,t4,„,,,,, r,-.Z.-7•!to-61c ~ -1 - --1 c, ..:: .02'.-- s. •,... 4 *,..- - , ..„ THE SUN. LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1881. The subject of Lord SHAFTESBURY'S long and able speech last night is one which will interest great numbers, and ought to interest all of us. India, though so discreditably treated as a bore by our House of Commons, is a country for which the House of Commons is daily becoming more and more directly responsible. It is not a savage dis trict of Central Africa, where philanthropists are the only Englishmen who have any interest in the condition of the people—it is not even a " Savoy and Nice," where our interest is little more than that of a noble and inextinguishable English sen timent—lndia is a country which we govern, in the name of the QUEEN, through two despots, a resi dent one at Calcutta, and another sitting in the British House of Commons, as member for Halifax. Two Autocrats, more or less directly dependent on the English Parliament, have the welfare of India in their hands. We say so advisedly, because it is notorious that India, of all countries in the world, is one which looks to its Government to lead, guide, and control everything ; and, what is worse, to originate everything. That this is so, is very much our own doing. The natives may be, and are, little competent for self-government, but we have never allowed them to govern themselves. We found them ready to exchange their Mahommedan masters for us, and either through native princes, or directly, we have governed them in oriental fashion. We have issued our edicts, and they have submitted to them as to the decrees of fate, Hence it is trifling to think of achieving anything important in India without our two Viceroys bestirring them. selves to attain it. And Sir CHARLES WOOD and Lord CANNING, or any other of our lords who is sent there at the cost of £25,000 a-year to that country, are not likely to rouse themselves beyond routine, unless public opinion be strong enough here to compel them to action. We are, therefore, much indebted to Lord SHAFTESBURY for moving on the subject of Indian canals, irrigation, roads and railways last night. It was said, and truly, that he had not undertaken the part of Indian Chancellor of the Exchequer, that he had not indicated whence the funds were to come, which should be applied, promptly, to under takings confessedly enormously profitable to the Indian Exchequer. This is perhaps hardly fair. It scarcely' falls within the province of a Peer ; and it is perhaps enough for him in this stage, to have studied the subject as he has done, and to present a strong case, so strong as to make the " will," which in this country at least, always finds the " way." Mary of the documents quoted by Lord SHAFTES BURY are, of course, familiar enough to those who have taken an interest in Indian progress, but he has done the good service of combining the pith of them all within the compass of one very readable speech, and thus of presenting to the British public the strong case which exists for immediate action, in a form in which they can easily receive it. He will not, we trust, let it drop. It is only by per severing in making the country acquainted with what is done, in contrast with what might be done so profitably, and at the same time with so much good statesmanship and benevolence, that we shall over come the inertness of our Indian officials both there and here. p We hav e ourselves before pressed on public atten tion the immense value of canals, irrigation and cheap railways in India. re confess we were, after hearing what had to be said against them, convinced of the general soundness of Sir A. COTTON'S views. White hi gh ePeed ii ways were in course of construc tion, at a l arge coat, and slow rate, India might see whole districts decimated by famine, and but a small extent of count ry ould b e connec t e d with the coast. But tanks andcanals Would at once begin to fertilise, to create produce,together th to bear it away to the coast ; and wouhl with cheap though slow railways — like those which well in America — so enrich vast district s , that, a t time 'permitted, high speed railways could easily s be substituted for those wh ich were but railway pioneers. Facts have strikingly confirmed Sir Al COTTON'S views. The profit to the Indian revenue itself, after enriching thousands of natives half starved before, is almost fabulous; yet it is undis puted' and indisputable, the revenue actually paid by the districts irrigated and furnished with canals according to his plan, being more than doubled; and that solely from the effect of the irrigating and navigable canals. The system actually adopted, that of railways of the expensive English kind, costing not less than £lO,OOO or £12,000 a mile, have paid, better even than could have been expeeted ; but, while a hundred miles of these was making, five times the number of miles might have been opened on the low speed plan, would have paid equally well, would by this time have connected the cotton districts with the coast ; and it is not too much to say that at this very moment the four or five millions of Manchester might have looked with perfect confidence to India for the supply which is likely to fail them from America. Nor must we forget that the advantage would have been reciprocal, that Manchester would have sent back along these same railways her mauufactured goods in return. It seemed to be assumed that to accept Lord SHAFTESBURY'S proposal of an address to the Queen would have been a kind of tacit censure on the Government, for neglecting the extension of such works as irrigation and internal navigation. That was not his lordship's intention, and the pro posal was withdrawn, but we may hope his lord ship's address to the House of Lords will answer almost as good a purpose. The one thing needful is to get the public mind at home impressed with the conviction that something must be done. The arguments are principally two. Certain and enor mous profit; certain salvation of our subjects from famine. One fact in illustration of each is as good as a hundred, and a hundred might be given. In regard to profit, the revenue from two districts, in all respects relating to this subject as alike as possible—Cut tack and Tanjore, is in the former case £85,000 ; in the latter £470,000. Land in Cuttack is worth 308. an acre ; in Tanjore it is worth £5. Cuttack, with by far the better supply, naturally, of water, has had in twenty-three years three famines, four droughts, seven inundations. The aggregate excess of revenue from Tanjore over that of Cuttack has been £6,970,000 ! And this Government revenue, be it remembered, only represents an immensely larger amount of profit to the natives. With regard to the deliverance from famine, it is hardly necessary to adduce further illustration than the one just mentioned ; we may add, how ever, the Ganges Canal. It has been left imper fect ; the distributing channels have not been con nected with it—yet, in the present famine, we are told that " its beneficial effects could not be over rated ;" that but for it "broad lands, now covered with wheat and other cereals, would have had no crop." And, in figures, Capt. TURN BULL calculates that through it 339,243,8401b5. of grain have been supplied in this disastrous season, equivalent to the support of 644,718 men for a year ! The fodder produced by it at the same time saved the cattle, and the Government itself saved about £200,000 of PEROR wheneTer he is bent upon carrying out one of these flagitious annexations. Ex uno disce onznes. So thinks Mr. KINGLAKE, when considering these wonderful Napoleonic schemes of annexation. Nay —he argued candidly last evening that "The Em peror of the FRENCH must forgive him if he said he felt it his duty to construe all his actions and all his words with constant reference, not to the mere fact of the annexation of S avo y and Nice, but to the peculiar process by which that annexation was effected. Taking that formula—the annexation of • Savoy and Nice—as his guide, they were now in the denial stage. It was solemnly denied that there was any intention on the part of the French Government of annexing any part of French Switzerland. That being so, he ventured to say — following his formula—what would be the next stage. His guide told him that the next stage would be a solemn assurance that there never should be any annexation of any part of French Switzerland to France without consulting the great Powers of , Europe. The next stage would be an actual annex ation, accompanied by a mere statement of facts to the great powers of Europe." If the argument of the hon. member for Bridgewater is declared by any apologist of the imperial Government to be little better than a gratuitous perversion of facts, and a ' wilful exaggeration—Mr. KINGLAKE can already appeal to History for the most complete and exact justification of everyone of his foregoing statements. It is written there — it is already historically upon record—that, thus, precisely thus, after this cunning fashion, His Im perial MAJESTY manages to carry out, like " THE SLY LITTLE MAN" that he is, and that Bon Gaul . tier has sung him to be, his adroitly contrived schemes of annexation. Why, the true character of the Italian cam paign of NAPOLEON 111. is by this tine a matter of European notoriety. If any additional light had been required to bring it thoroughly out to view before the face of all Christendom, that additional light would have been afforded last even ing in the House of Commons by the speech there and then delivered by the noble lord her Britannic MAJESTY'S Foreign Secretary. Only—additional light of any kind upon this matter we did not want. The facts particularised yesterday by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, we already recognised too plainly. We knew them all beforehand—so that our Imperial ally cannot possibly feel the smallest umbrage at Lord JOHN'S having again let out of the bag a cat that has already jumped out of it and been poked in again soon afterwards so re peatedly. "It appears now," says Lord JOHN RUSSELL, "to be clear, not from any diplomatic documents, but from what has been reported and not denied, that before the Italian war took place, in the summer or autumn of 1858, an agreement was made between the Emperor of the FRENCH and the Prime Minister of the King of SARDINIA, by which hopes were held out that France would assist Sardinia in case she should be attacked by Austria, and that if the result of the war should be to give Lombardy and Venice to Sardinia ; in that case Savoy and Nice were to be surren dered to France." Exactly : that was—as plainly as it can possibly be put in a single sen tence—the compact entered into,the understanding, or whatever you may please to call it, as Lord JOHN himself calls it, very moderately the "agree- ment." This was, in fact, a project on the Emperor NAPOLEON'S part that, supposing him to have lived upon the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, would have given him high rank among those modern buccaneers—the Filibusters. It was the sketch ing, in fact, of the outline of a genuine fili bustering expedition. Insomuch so, that when the Liberator of Italy entered the plains of Lombardy, at the head of his splendid army, there to summon a great nationality to rise in arms and co-operate with him in vindicating its independence—he, who was then looked upon as a sort of a political QUIXOTE, was merely, after all, under a pretence of magnanimity, under a masque of chivalry, doing the bloody work of war upon a large scale—for "a consideration !" For a payment as paltry and sordid as it was treacherous and sly ! And now—precisely the same course being pursued by the French EMPEROR in his conduct towards Switzerland, the same identical course bein g pursued by him that was pursued by him formerly in regard to those coveted possessions of Nice and Savoy—there is some show of reason, at any rate, in the anxiety expressed by Mr. KINGLAKE that the British Government should not be again deluded into a shameful toleration of any such monstrously unjustifiable scheme of Annexation. What were Lord JOHN'S closing remarks last even ing in reference to this delicate and mo mentous subject then under discussion ? They were these:—" I trust," he said,— [Speaking, the reporter intimates, "very indistinctly," so as to be heard with difficulty in the gallery. The noble lord, by the way, almost al ways does speak " very indistinctly" when he is delivering a speeoh of more than usual importance. Can it be designedly ?]--: " I trust," said Lord JOHN RUSSELL yesterday, " that whatever may have been the case last year, when the lamentable occurrences took place to which I have referred, I do trust that in this spirit of concert and harmony between the two great nations of Europe the peace of the world may be preserved." Ainsi soit-il. But — not if the fair fame of England is to be dragged in the dust in the train of the French EMPEROR, while His MAJESTY, after this fashion, like any cut•purse swash buckler of old Alsatia swags booty after booty by means of annexation upon annexa tion. The Countess of Leicester and the Ladies Coke have left town for the Portland Hotel, at Southsea, en route for Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight. The Countess of Fife has left Claridge's Hotel for Scotland. His Excellency the Prussian Minister and the Countess Bernstorff have left Prussia House for Carlsbad. His Excellency Count de Lavradio has just re turned to this Court from his mission to Hanover. We are requested to state that his Grace thn Lord Archbishop of Canterbury will hold the Convocation of the prelates and clergy of the province of Canterbury at two `o'clock on Tuesday, the 9th inst., solely for the purpose of the report of the Lower House being formally communi cated to the Upper House. pre presented t e Cobden d t o MR. COBDEN.—The Lord Mayor, following the usage on oc cas i ons w h en th e f ree d om o f the city of London is present men t o in a recognitionbanciue banquet at t o h f e p .A u l b a l n i c a services, ion-h onae whichain viteds take will place month.on the e i v h en e in ein the g o o p f a l n V y Wednesday, the several members of both Houses of Parliament ' about 30 of Mr. Cobden's political and p ersona l friends, Mr. Bright being am ong the number invit e d ; th e masters and wardens of the 12 great civic companies, the members of the Court of Al dermen, and many of the Court of Common Council. THE FIRE IN TOOLEY - STREET.—Yesterdav morn ing Mr. O'Conner, partner of the late Mr. Scott, commis sioned some half-dozen men, under his direction to renew the search for the remains of his deceased partner ; and at three o'clock in the afternoon their efforts were rewarded by finding a gold repeater watch, a gold chain, several half sovereigns, a shilling, a sixpence, and a threepenny piece, all of which had been very much burnt ; and after a little f u rther search some small b ones were picked up, which have been examined by Dr. Vinin g , the district medical officer, who pronounces them to be those of a human being. The above articles were found rather to the left of where Mr. Braidwood was lying. The ch ain has been identified by Mr. O'Conner as that of his late partner, Mr. Scott. Two men, who have been co?lecting grease in the common sewer, were so overpowered by the poxious air as to be obliged to be taken last night to Guy's _ tiespital. One of the men had fortunately recovered, but the other in an insensible condition. At 12 o'clock last night the til; was far from being extinguished, but it is only occasionally that it shows itself beyond the lofty walls. -n -~ L &rt EST NE V b. ~ 4 , ------ s' TURIN, JULY 6. The Gazetta di Torino of to-day says : " We have reason to believe that the state of the Pope's health is very serious." Kossuth has arrived at Turin. The Italia of to-day denies the authenticity of the proclamation, stated by some Italian papers to have been addressed by General Pinelli to the in habitants of Terra di Lavoro. The fire in the manufactory of Messrs. Lefevere, at Naples, was purely the result of accidint. PESTH, JULY 6. The Address, as originally proposed by Mr. Peak, was yesterday adopted by the Lower House of the Hungarian Diet. It is said that it will be presented to the Em peror in the same manner as the Address of 1790. PESTH, JULY 5. It is believed that the conferences on the Address which have recently taken place between the prin cipal members of the Hungarian Diet will result this evening in the unanimous adoption by the Lower House of the Address to the Emperor as originally proposed by M. Deak. PARIS, JULY 5. The Monzteur of to-day announces that the sub scriptions to the 300,000 bonds, repayable in 30 years, will be opened at the Bank of France on the 11th, and is to be closed on the 16th inst. The bonds will be issued at 440 f. each, bearing an annual interest of 20f., and redeemable at 500 f. The amount realised is to be applied to the construction of railways. The Moniteur also says :—" The Emperor has arrived at Vichy, and has been warmly received." General Beaufort d'Hautpoul has arrived here from Syria. The Patrie of this evening gives a denial to the report current on the Paris Bourse that disturbances had broken out in Jerusalem. The Pays of this evening says :—" A Russian squadron, consisting of four frigates, one corvette, and a schooner, has arrived off Beyrout." The official Staatsanzeiger of this evening pub lishes a Royal Manifesto, countersigned by all the Ministers, according to whiPh the coronation of the King and Queen of Prussia will take place at Konigsberg in Octobert next. The ceremony will be performed in presence of the members of both houses of the Diet, and of those personages who will be summoned from all the provinces of the kingdom as witnesses. MADRID, JULY 5, EVENING}. The insurgents have fled from Loja, and have dispersed in the neighbouring mountains. They are pursued by the Royal troops. CALCUTTA, MAY 28 to JUNE 12. A rupture took place between the Nawab of Bhawulpore and his Minister, Ahmed Khan, on May 25. The Minister garrisoned his house with 250 men and two guns. The Nawab's troops attacked the house and over powered the Minister, who, with two brothers, was killed fighting sword in hand. Measures will be taken to look after the ex- Nawab of Bhawulpore, and to secure the frontier and prevent interference. No excitement now exists in the Santhal dis• tricts. Mr. Laing sailed for England in the Colombo on the 9th inst. The Nizam of Hyderabad expressed to the Resi dent his determination to dismiss his Minister, Salar Jung. He has since been reconciled to the Minister. The circulation, under the frank of the Bengal Secretariat, of the printed translation of a Bengal play called " Nil Buyent," created new excitement among the indigo planters. The printer was pro secuted for libel by the Englishman newspaper. He pleaded guilty, and has been fined 10 rupees. Funds.—Fives, at 4r. 4a. to sr. 6a. discount. Five and-a-Halfs at lr. 2a. to lr. 4a. premium. LIVERPOOL, JULY 6. The Royal Mail steamship Asia, which sailed to-day for New York, took £109,650 in specie on freight. TRE COMET. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR,—Allow me to, draw attention to a circum stance relating to the present comet which escaped my notice when I sent my communication on the 3d inst., but which is one possessing some interest. It appears not only possible, but even probable, that in the course of Sunday last the earth passed through the tail at a distance of perhaps two thirds of its length from the nucleus. The head of the comet was in the ecliptic at 6 p.m. on the 28th of June, distant from the earth's orbit 13,600,000 miles on the inside, its longitude, as seen from the sun, being 279 deg. 1 min. The earth at this moment was 2 deg. 4 min. behind that point, but would arrive there soon after 10 p.m. on Sunday last. The tail of a comet is seldom an exact prolongation of the radius vector, or line join ing, the nucleus with the suns towards the ex tremity it is almost invariably curved; or, in other words, the matter composing it lags behind what would be its situation if it travelled with the same velocity as the nucleus. Judging from the amount of curvature on the 30th, and the direction of the comet's motion as indicated by my orbit already published, I think the earth would very probably encounter the tail in the early part of that day, or, at any rate, it was certainly in a region which had been swept over by the cometary matter shortly before. In connexion with this subject I may add that on Sunday evening, while the comet was so conspi cuous in the northern heavens, there was a peculiar phosphorescence or illumination of the sky, which I attributed at the time to an auroral glare ; it was remarked by other persons as something unusual, and, considering how near we must have been on that evening to the tail of the comet, it may per haps be a point worthy of investigation whether such effect can be attributed to our proximity thereto. If a similar illumination of the heavens has been remarked generally on the earth's surface, it will be a significant fact. On Wednesday, at midnight the tail of the comet was 100 deg. in length, terminating near the star Gamma Ophiuchi. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, J. R. HIND. Mr. Bishop's Observatory, Regent's Park, July 5. HAY 111A.RIET THEATRE. MR. BUCKSTONE'S BENEFIT. The annual benefit of Mr. Buckstone, which is always one of the principal events in the Haymarket season, will take place on Friday next, July 12th. A new Comedy will be produced on the occasion, with a new Ballet, and the beneficiaire will speak an address. Through so long a series of years has Mr. Buckstone, as author, actor, and manager, contributed to the amusement of the public, that the mere mention of any opportunity being afforded for a special recognition of :he obligation the laughter-lovers of the metropolis are under to him, will be sufficient to secure for him a throng of eager supporters. That the house will be crowded cn that evening may be looked for ward to as a certainty, for the extra attractiveness of the programme would alone ensure a full attendance ; but, coupled with the name that is invariably associated with rich humour of the most genial kind, the beneficiaire will find his chief difficulty will be to find room for those who wish to acknowledge the enjoyment they have derived from it. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. The energetic lessee of this theatre seems fully alive to the importance of securing a continuance of the tide of good fortune which has set in at his theatre. "As You Like It" is announced for Tuesday next, in which Miss Mary Provost—a lady new to the metropolis—will appear as Rosalind, Mr. Phelps as Jacques, and Mr. H. Vezin as Orlando. The great attraction, however, will be the pro duction of Othello, with Mr. Fechter as the Moor, and, ac cording to rumour, Mr. Ryder as lago, Mr. W. Farren as Cassio, Miss Reynolds as Desdemona, and Miss Elsworthy as Emilia. If this be the cast, we cannot but think it is exceedingly weak, considering the great amount of talent now at the command of Mr. Harris. The public have looked forward to the production of " Othello" with great interest, believing that Mr. Phelps, our best English actor, would sustain the part of lago, and thus fairly enter the lists with the talented Frenchman. How such is not to be the case we cannot say, but we should imagine Mr. Phelps cannot refuse to play the part from any fear of un favourable comparisons being drawn between him and Mr. Fechter. Surely Mr. Fechter cannot object to Mr. Phelps. Both gentlemen are great in Their respective lines, which are as distinct as possible. Besides, Mr. Phelps, we should think, would gladly embrace such an oppor tunity, as he is a thorough artist, and one far above that paltry, petty jealousy so prevalent amongst our actors. Then, again, Desdemona ; with Miss Heath in the Theatre, it is inexplicable why Miss Reynolds is to play the part; and although Miss Elsworthy will sustain Emilia very well, Miss Atkinson would give a more forcible reading of the part. Mr. Wm. Farren, according to the line of business he has been play ing, is about the last man on the stage who ought to attempt the part of Cassio. He is undoubtedly very good in the lover parts in modern comedy, such as those pro duced at the Haymarket Theatre, which, if the cast be cor rect, he is about to quit, but Shakspere is far beyond his power. Mr. Harris cannot hare been at a loss for a gen tleman able to support the part of Cassio, as he has in his company one who has been generally accepted as the legi timate successor to Charles liem!,le, viz., Mr. H. Wain. At Sadler's Wells last season he was entrusted by Mr. Phelps with many of the parts he himself for years performed, and those who had the good fortune to witness his Leonatus Posthumus in " Cymbe line," Mark, Antony in " Julius Ceusar," and Romeo, enjoyed a gratification not often afforded to the oldest play goer. Yet with this gentleman in the company, Mr. William Farren has been selected for the part of Cassio. Truly this is one of the curiosities of management. Mr. Shore will make a very good Roderigo, as of late he has made Shakspeare his study, and has not been inapt at his task. The caste, we fully expected, would have been as follows : Othello, Mr. Pechter ; Ingo, Mr. Phelps, sen. ; Cassie, Mr. Vezin ; Brabantio, Mr. Ryder; Roderigo, Mr. Shore; Des damona, Miss Heath; and Emilia, Miss Atkinson. With all these artistes in the theatre, the wonder is why it is not BAYSWATER ROAD RAILWAY.—The adjourned meeting of the Metropolis Road Commissioners in reference to this railway was held yesterday at the offices, 'White hall-place. The previous meeting, on the 20th June, was called by Lord Portman and Sir John Shelley, commis sioners, and was numerously attended. On that occasion Mr. Train applied for permission to extend his line of rails through Notting-hill, and also to make a double line, and the application was supported by a meraorial signed by some thousand persons. On other hand, Mr. J. E. Bradfield; applied that the original order made by the commissioners last November should be revoked, which application was supported by a memorial signed by Mr. Beresford Hope, Lord Harrington, and about 2,000 of the most infuential residents in the neighbourhood, and others, who claimed a free right over the highway. Mr. Dunford and Mr. Harvey appeared on behalf of the tradespeople of Notting-hill, and made a similar application to that of Mr. Bradfield. The commissioners decided to take the opinion of counsel on a legal question; and yesterday, having met, they resolved, by a large majority, that the present rails should be re moved, and the road restored to its original state ; and they gave Mr. Train to the 4th October to carry out their reso lution. THE CHANNEL FLEET AT KTRKWALL.---We are indebted for the following to the Orkney lierald:—" On Saturday morning intelligence reached this place that the seven vessels of the Channel Fleet now cruising on the east coast had left Leith, and that their next port of destina• tion was Kirkwall. On Monday intelligence was received that the vessels were tacking about between Tankerness and the south end of the island of Shapinsha, and were moving down towards Kirkwall, the wind being westerly, nearly right ahead, but, as the tide was turning also against them, it was thought they would anchor in some of the bays outside till the evening. However, they kept moving on, led by the Revenge, Admiral Smart's flagship, and it was sur prising even to those best acquainted with the rapid cross tides and difficult navigation of these narrow channels how the large war-ships were managed. They moved slowly on, sounding their way, and by half-past 12 the Admiral's ship anchored off Carness Point, in Kirkwall Roads. Half an hour afterwards she was followed by the Aboukir, which anchored to the right or north side of the Revenge. A strong adverse tide, running at the rate of 10 miles an hour, having now set in, the wind also being right against them, the other five vessels anchored in the Bay of Holland ; and between seven and ten in the evening they all entered the RatshoedadAws,dimtaianirdatha,,s ship n e cli iw o e red to the north and west of the R Nenge. The weather continues gusty, wind west, and frequent thick, drizzlin g s howers, some of which came on in the fore noon just wh en the vessels were passing between Shapinsha and the mainland, and interfered both with the signalling coafst anchor,theagniwficheincht wasves rselrscilifrpotmly an swered re. A sa l u t e of 13 guns was fired from the fort when by the Revenge. The fleet is expected to remain here till Saturday." I r7tire O o p , REP.P.7: h T i A te T , LONGFORD.—The election of a member for . , 4 , 11 0 Ceunty of Longford, in the room of lienr— 4.,,nk place on 'Thursday. The - Nyb,9 was only eaniidate proposed was Col, Luke I , therefore, duly elected, FRANCE AND ITALY. la Patrie has the following :—" It is asserted that in consequence of the recognition of the king dom of Italy, the cities of Florence and of Naples ceasing to be considered by us as capitals, Franc e will establish consuls-general there. French con suls and consular agents will be established in other towns of the ancient kingdom of Naples. The exe quatur for these agents wit be granted by his Ma jesty King Victor Emmanuel." BOURSE, July 5 —The animation which was ap parent in the market yesterday has been but of short duration, and prices have again receded in consequence of sales for realisation. Threes, for the Account, are now at 671 80c. Railways are also slightly lower. The following were the last quotations : ft per per Cents ... 97 50 Credit Foncier lOO2 50 Do end month.... 97 40 Belgian 41 lOO 3 per Cents Do. end month 67 85 Roman Bank Shares 2820 Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 666 25 Spanish Threes 4B Do. Account 667 50 Home Debt .. 46 50 RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans 1375 .. 1378 75 Northern New, ditto Lyons and Mediterainean 962 50 .. 963 75 Geneva 390 .. 390 -- Southern Western Eastern Sardinian .. Austrian Lowbard 493 75 .. 495 THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF LONDON. The Commercial Bank of London have issued the following notice to their shareholders, proposing a return of £lO per share of the paid-up capital of £2O. It appears that strong hopes are entertained that the liqielation will ultimately result in a return of the whole amount. Should this be realised it will afford proof, looking at the adverse -state of the stock and money-markets that has prevailed ever since the winding up was resolved upon, after the dis covery of Durdin's frauds in February, of the sound position of the establishment at that time, and of the absence of any imperative cause for a cessation of its business : " Commercial Bank of London, Lothbury, July 2. " Referring to the meeting of the proprietors of this bank held on the 19th of March last, and to the resolutions passed at that meeting, the directors have now the pleasure of in forming you that they have paid off nearly the whole of their banking liabilities. " Under these circumstances, the directors are desirous of making the earliest possible return to the proprietors of a pm tion of their share capital. The realisation, however, of the remaining assets of the bank will necessarily be attended with some delay, and with the view therefore of accelerating a payment to the shareholders, and of meeting the expressed wishes of many of them, the directors have made an arrange ment with the London and Westminster Bank for such an advance as will enable them to return at once a sum of £lO per share. " Should the shareholders generally sanction this ar rangement, the directors will be prepared to make a pay ment of £lO per share on the 31st day of July inst. I am, sir, your obedient servant, " A. R. CUTBILL." DORCHESTER GAOL.—On Thursday evening Bruce, alias Carpenter, the convict who escaped from Dor chester Gaol the previous afternoon, was brought back by police constable Byrnes, who had apprehended him in the neighbourhood of Puddletown•.wood, about five miles off. It was found that he had not sustained anything like the injury which might be imagined from the desperate nature of his leap, his foot only having been bruised in falling after his summersault over the wall, and this he says he was afraid would have prevented bis proceeding further. He is a slight active man, and expresses his iuteiatiou of Mak ing kaether attempt, THE PAPAL STATES. The following letter has been received from Rome, dated the 29th of June : " The Holy Father was sufficiently recovered to celebrate mass in the Papal Chapel of St. Peter. He likewise assisted at vespers in the Sistine Chapel yesterday. He chanted the prayers with a weaker voice than formerly, and he looked delicate, but altogether he is much better. It cannot be denied, however, that the swelling of his legs at his age is a serious matter. " The officers of the army of occupation was in formed yesterday by the respective colonels that the kingdom of Italy was acknowledged by the Emperor Napoleon. Extracts were read to them from a despatch received from the Minister of War on the subject. This despatch appears to be intended to prepare them for a change in the Emperor's policy towards Italy. The officers in general have no other political opinions than those of the Emperor. They are complete Gauls, and they laughed heartily when they heard General de Goyon announce the news, after having heard him so frequently declare that Piedmont had reached her climax, and should shortly descend. In the same way the General expressed an opinion that the Emperor would never withdraw his fleet from Gaeta. The colonels of regiments strongly recommended the non-com missioned officers and soldiers to refrain from speak ing on political suhjects in the coffee-houses, and by no means to encourage revolutionary excite ment among the Roman population. Such is the substance of the communication made yesterday to the French officers. In my opinion, there is a strong feeling among the French soldiers to sympa thize with the Romans. General de Goyon is im plicitly obeyed by his troops, but there are few of them who participate in his personal opinions. " It appears that the ex-King of Naples has defi nitively abandoned the idea of fixing his residence at the Villa Albano. The Queen likes the Corso and the promenade of the Pincio more than the country. She is as fond of amusement as if she had not lost a Crown. " Proclamations have been posted throughout Umbria and the Sabine recommending the popula tion to celebrate the rcognition of Italy by public rejoicings. Eighteen pupils of the establishment of St. Michael have been expelled for insurrection against the President, and for crying ' Viva Cardi nal Tosti, and down with Milella ! Viva Gari baldi !' Cardinal Tosti is the late director of the establishment, and still lives there. Milella is the present director." THE lONIAN ISLANDS. ARRIVAL OF THE EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA CORFU, JUNE 28. This little island, already, as headquarters of fleet under Rear-Admiral Dacres, a centre of attrac tion, is now honoured with the presence of no less a personage than her Imperial Majesty the Empress of Austria. Last week a telegram from Vienna brought the sudden news that the Empress, with whom the climate of Vienna had again disagreed, had selected Corfu for her residence, and the day following an Austrian frigate, the Adria, Captain Barry, arrived with her Majesty's secretary, Councillor Bayer, who had been sent on in great haste to make arrangements for her reception. A boat was specially despatched to the Lord High Commis sioner, who was absent on a tour of inspection in the Southern Islands, to inform him of the circum stance, and he immediately returned to Corfu in order to receive the Imperial guest. On Monday the Austrian war steamer Elizabetta arrived with part of her Majesty's suite, and on Tuesday the Austrian steamer Grieff and the Fan tasia steam yacht arrived, the latter with his Im perial Highness the Archduke Ferdinand Maxi milian on board. The Empress, who is observing a strict incognito, arrived the same evening. All salutes and guards of honour have been dis pensed with at her express desire, and she landed yesterday in a private manner at a country house, which has been placed at her disposal by the Lord High Commissioner. This house, which is known by the name of the Casino, is situated on a pleasing eminence overlooking the sea, and distant about a mile from the town of Corfu. It was built by Sir Frederick Adam, and has pretty grounds about it. Never having, however, been regularly inhabited, it is greatly in want of repair. Being unfurnished, and her Majesty's furniture not being expected from Vienna until the end of the week, it has been temporarily fitted up with what could be spared from on board the Austrian steamers, and, as it lacks many of the comforts of a common-place English country house, may be pronounced a very modest abode for an Empress. Her Mitjeety ie accompanied by the rilueess of Tour and Taxis, the Countess Hunyadi, and some other ladies. Count Funfkirchen is the Aide-de- Camp in Waiting. A general sympathy is felt hero for the Imperial invalid, and it is with pleasure that I can report some improvement in the state of the Empress's health since her arrival in this mild latitude. The British fleet at anchor here is composed of the Caesar, 90, screw, Captain Mason, flagship of Rear-Admiral Dacres ; the Orion, 91, screw, Cap tain Frere; the Queen, 86, screw, Captain Hillyer ; the Victor Emmanuel, 91, screw, Captain Clifford; the Gannet, 11, screw steam sloop, Commander Lambert ; the Intrepid, 6, gunboat, Capt. Marryatt ; and a considerable numbor of men of war are soon expected on their return from Beyrout. Admiral Codrington has come from Malta in his yacht the Azoff, wi,h his family. The heat has set in-85 in the shade. BANK RETURNS. The Bankers' Magazine furnishes the returns of the cir culation of the Private and Joint-Stock Banks in England and Wales for the four weeks ending June 1. ,These returns, combined with the circulation of the Scotch and Irish Banks for the same period, and the average circula tion of the Bank of England for the four weeks ending the 29th of May (the nearest date furnished by their returns), will give the following results of the circulation of notes in the United Kingdom, when compared with the previous month : May 4, s June 1, 1861. 1861. 'lncrease. - Decrease. -- Bank of England... 20,190,96 19,850,4 A, 349,535 Private Banks 3,358,126 3,109.275) 148,851 Joint-stock Banks 3,067,043 2,912,1621 124,881 Total In England 26,625,13 26,001,863:_ Scotland 3 4 487,945 4,533,808; 545,861 Ireland 6 ,521,.85, 6,329,831 101 '3 54 United Kingdom, i 37,137,260 36,865,503 271,757 And as compared with the month ending the 2d of June, 1860, the above returns show a decrease of £2,094,441 in the circulation of notes in England, and a decrease of £2,632,546 in the circulation of the United Kingdom. On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the seve ral banks the following is the state of the circulation : Ile English private banks are below their fixed issue The English joint-stock banks are below their D 60,195 fixed issue Total below fixed issue in England.... £1,511,373 The Scotch banks are above their fixed issue .. £1,784,528 The Irish banks are below their fixed issue .... £24,663 The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of Eng land in both departments during the month ending the 29th May was £12,354,858, being a decrease of £697,700 as compared with the previous month, and a decrease of £1,304,388 when compared with the same period last year. The following are the amounts of specie held by the Scotch and Irish banks during the month ending the let June : Gold and silver held by the Scotch banks £2,668,751 Gold and silver held by the Irish banks.. 2,221,777 L 4,890,628 Being an increase of £20,853, as compared with the previous return, and a decrease of £157,890 when compared with the corresponding period of last year, THE SEMI-MONTHLY CHINA MAIL. —Yesterday an influential deputation waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to represent to him the importance of continuing the semi-monthly mail to China. Among those present were Messrs. W. Buchanan, M.P., W. Nichol, M.P., Har vey Lewis, M.P., James Youl, J. Mackinnon, Andrew Henderson, T. Jones Gibb, Walter Gledstanes, T. Griffith Frith, G. G. Macpherson, James Matthews, Robert Smith, C. G. Mansell, and F. J. Angier. Mr. Spxeuel Gregson, who introduced the commission, referred to the memorial which had previously been presented. He thought the Government should not hesitate about the payment of even £12,000 a-year for the mail service, should even this be re quired. Now that the Tae-pings had approached Pekin, and the Emperor was dying, it might be most injurious to trade to cut off the usual communication with China. Mr. Buchanan then presented a memorial from the Chamber of Commerce in Glasgow, enforcing the views of the commis sion. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said they must consider that their application was virtually one for a new subsidy. Neither he nor the Post-office authorities were aware that there was any increase of communication with China in consequence of the fortnightly mail, and it was a very delicate thing to grant subsidies on grounds not strictly post ti. It had been said, no doubt, that an increase of postage might obviate the difficulty; but h e was not re pared to give an opinion o n the p oint, a nd he would rather they should consider the question and communicate with him again through Mr. Gregson. The Government had 'D no knowledge of the approach of the Tae-pings, anti cipated death of the Emperor of China, or of of the an alleged surrender of Tien - tsin. After a long conversation it was arranged that the Postmaster-General should be commu nicated Chancellor with, andthe E t x h c a h t el Mr. Gregson en the e hshouldeet asi write the to the sentative of those interest e d in t 1t rer,_ 4Astralia, - 1 : 114° 7A China and LITERATURE. BULWER'S LIBRARY EDITION. It is the " prose epic" of Harold that within the last two months has been placed in the hands of the subscribers to this noble edition of the Novels and Romances of our English Boccaccio. Fre quently as the work has come before us ere this, in reprint after reprint, it has never appeared under a more attractive guise than in these two volumes, the twentieth and twenty-first (not as the publishers, by some unaccountable miscalculation, reckon them to be in their advertisement, the twenty-first and twenty-second) of the pr esen t re-issue in a collected form of Sir Edward Lytton's extended and world famous series of imaginative compositions. A reviewer in the Edinburgh, incidentally referring to this historic romance of Harold, shortly after its original appearance (it was in a criticism upon " Mabillon"), first directed attention to the exquisite adroitness, the cunning of hand, the skilful balance . of judgment, by the aid of which the writer of this remarkable fiction, delineative of the Rise and Fall of the last of the Saxon Kings, combined in his enthralling story of " Harold" the most loyal adherence to the truth of history with the most poetic regard to the presence everywhere through out his narrative of the b eau tif u l an d t h e pic turesque. No praise was ever more richly merited. It is an eulogium that the author of " Harold" had earned by his extended and laborious investigation'', as an antiquarian and as an archaeologist. the assiduous toil with which he has authenticated the accuracy of his every statement, historics.ily con sidered, may be recognised throughout the work, in the terse but ample because direct and explicit references (in the shape of foot-notes, &c.) to the very page and volume of the remote anna lists, and the antique chroniclers. Upon a minuter, upon, so to speak, a more microscopic exa mination of " Harold," however, the amplitude in scope and the precision in detail of these prelimi nary historical and archteolo4ical investigations on the part of the Romancist become more and more appreciable to the reader, more and more fully elicit from him mingled words of gratitude and ad miration. Now it is by reason of those resol,ute labours on the part of Sir Bulwer Lytton—before ever he took pen in hand to write these radiant pages of Harold, that the readers of Harold are enabled to look upon the scenes and events, the persons and the localities therein depicted—with a perfect reliance the while upon the trustworthiness of the wonder-working Magician within whose magic circle (the outline of this literary microcosm) they stand. entranced ! The spell that is upon them throughout coming only to a close indeed with the last tremulous movement of that true Wizard's, wand when wielded by a writer of real genius the steel pen or the " gray goose quill." Resear3bes like those with which Sir Bulwer Lytton qualified himself to depict thus aecurately the historic and romantic career of King Harold but too frequently, as the readers of this class of fiction are well aware, result in pedantry, or in what may be called a dull over-weight of authentications. From this the irrepressible vitality and elasticity of our author's abounding imagination would infallibly have guarded him at all times, under even the most un favourable circumstances. But, as if to guard him self effectually from the risk of any such detrimental influence being apparent in his historic romance of " Harold," Sir Edward appears to have made his researches as a whole—a preliminary. We have evidence of this, in fact, in the extraordinary rapidity with which this " prose epic," in a dozen books, was written. Shutting himself up a volun tary prisoner in the library of the country house of his friend the Rigbt Hon. Charles Tennyson D'Eyn court, the novelist, within the astonishingly brief interval of two or three weeks at the outside, penned:. —certainls it must have been con amore, manifestly it was from first to last currente calamo—thewhole of this tragic and pathetic story of " Harold." For the wonderful speed with which it was accomplished, particularly remembering at the same time the sur prising elaboration of its accomplishment, the writ ing of Harold by Bulwer as a literary achievement may rank with the writing of the Corsair by Byron —the " Corsair" having (as Moore relates) been, written entirely within the compass of a fort night. Aristotle's advice about the nine years is very well no doubt in the long run—but rare and shining instances like these—instances visible here and there in the empyrean of Literature.-- afford resplendent illustration of the absolute in dependence of genius of all the times and seasons set down with rigid formality in the Critic's Almanack. Byron 's " Corsair" penned within & fortnight, Bulwer's " Harold," produced within an interval of equal brevity—of still more surprising brevity, remembering, as we ought, the far larger dimensions of the latter production and the ever present need there was for historial accuracy thronnhmit savers. part of ito computsitioll--ByrollV " Corsair," we say, written within a fortnight, Bulwer's " Harold," written with yet greater swiftness, Dryden's " Ode to St. Cecilie," written within twenty-four hours, Burns' "Tam o'Shanter," written (with bursts of weeping and laughter) within a very few days—each of these famous masterpieces (with others here unenumerated)—not , having been laid by "nine years," nor yet for that matter nine months, but published immediately upon its completion, is known to have won its way to popularity, to an enduring popularity upon the instant of its appearance. EXPLOSION of A MAIL-TRAIN ENGINE. RUGBY, JULY 5. Last night, shortly after half-past ten o'clock, a fearful explosion of a powerful locomotive engine, which had brought down the Irish mail train from London, took place on th e T rent V alley line, about four miles from this place, resulting in frightful injuries to the engine -driver and fireman, a post office clerk, and serious injury to several passengers, caused by the sudden break down and stoppage of the train, as well as involving a vast destruction of property. The Irish mail left Euston Station at its proper time on Thursday evening (8.30), and proceeded at the rate of a little over 40 miles per hour, arriving at Rugby at 10.25. The engine then appeared to be in perfect order, and the driver, as is usual, pro ceeded to one of the stand pipes on the down line to take in water. Having filled his boiler, he came back and couplied on to the mail train, and pro ceeded on his journey. The engine and train had. proceeded about four miles down the Trent Valley line, in the direction of Nuneaton, and had just fat tained its usual running speed, when an explosion took place, and the whole of the upper part of the engine and boiler, fire and firebox, indeed, every part of the machinery, excepting some few of the tubes, were dashed into thousands of pieces; the framework of the engine, as well as the tender, was thrown over, and partially down, an embankment, whilst the guard's break van, and the post-office, which was next to it, were in an instant heaped one upon the other, some being splintered and smashed. The explosion was of such a character that it was distinctly heard both at Rugby and Nuneaton ; and with as little delay as possibly engines with assistance were despatched to the spot. The driver and stoker were found at the bottom of the embankment dreadfully scalded and otherwise injured, the latter so much so that he had to be conveyed to an adjacent village, where he shortly after, it is stated, expired. A clerk in. the post-office was, by the violence of the shock, dashed from one end of the post-office carriage to the other with such violence as to cause him the most serious injuries, which, having been attended. to, he was removed, together with the engine driver, to the Royal Hospital at Birmingham, where they in a hopeless condition. Several medical gentle men speedily arrived from Rugby at the spot where the explosion took place, and it was then found that some five or six passengers were more or less in jured; some were conveyed on to Birmin g h am , / were taken b w a l c ei k ls b t yotthheersn,pamt ma t e t i r r ai o n w t n o L r o e n q d u o e n st . Telegraphs of the occurrence were at once conveyed to Wolver ton, and Mr. M'Connell, the locomotive superin tendent, with a large body of workmen, speedily their ex er ti ons the d o arrived, win e b urte remained o a n w e i d t h sbtlaone blocked i e n d g p till an advanced hour this morning, and t h e down-train had to pro ceed for some distance on the up-line. the works The explosion t oo k place under almost similar circumstances to th e l ocomotive explosion which occurred some f ew months back whilst em rpclroio?swesa.dy It at the believed Great Northern inh a tha t if u thest runninga Station n n d a e tt r he g Kilno gnroun d King 's ao is distance between London and Rugby the plates of the fire box had become over heated, in fact red hot, and that when the engine, after taking in fresh water, got into full motion, the pumping of the cold water into the boiler from the tender caused the steam to generate to so great an extent that the plates c /uld not bear the pressure, and hence the explosion. It will be remembered that in the King's cross case, the engine did not explode till it was put in motion some time after the water had been pumped into the boiler. During yesterday Mr. Cawkwell, the general manager, and other authorities of the line, visited the spot for the purpose of instituting an inquiry into th e caus e of the catastrophe. It has been impossible, at the present moment, to ascertain the names of the pas sengers injured, or the exact nature of their but they are reported to be progressing favourably. Colonel Durand, C. 8., left England yesterday for Calcutta, having previously resigned his seat as a mem ber of the India Council, The election to fill the vacancY thus created will take place iu about a fortnight.