The Sun. — London, England, 1861-05-28 00:00:00

• THE WELLINGTON, 160, PICCADILLY. Gentlemen arc respectfully informed that the SALOON DINING ROOMS arc now OPEN for the Supply of LUNCHEONS and DINNERS, from One to Nine o'cloc mock p.m. Set Dinners a nd Dining rpm the t varied form. Dinners from the joint, 2s. Whitebait is now served daily THOMAS PRICE, Superintendeht. NB.—The Dining^ ROOMB will be Open as usual until a late hour on the Derby and Oaks Days. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET. Lessee, Mr. J. B. Backs tone. THIS EvENING, the performances will commence with new and original Comedy, entitled BLACK SHEEP. Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Compton, Mr. Howe, ex.c. ; Mrs. Wilkins, Mrs. Charles Young, Miss Lovell, dm. Atter which, will be revived, with entirely new scenery and effects, and all the original music by the late Sir Henry Bishop, the melodrama of THE MILLER AND HIS MEN. Commence at 7. B o OYAL PRINCE S S'S THEATRE.— Lessee and Manazer, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, TRUTH AND FICTION. Supported by Messrs. F. Matthews,Widdicombe, Shore, Cathcart, Garden; Miss C. Leclercq, Miss R. Leclercq, and Miss M. Harris. After which, KING LEAR. King Lear, Mr. Phelps : Edgar, Mr. Edmund Phelps. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.- Solo Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. Reproduction of "The Colleen Bawn."— The Adelph "Census" every Evenin'. THIS - EVENING, the successful new Farce, enfitle,4l A TURK 1811 BAT U. Mr. J. L. Toole. Mr. P. Bedford. Atter which (191st time), THE COLLEEN BAWN. Mr. D. Roucicault. elsher, tilllington, Falconer, Stephenson, C. J. Smith, Romer, froward, Ward ; Mrs. Boucicault, Miss Woolgar, Mrs. Billington, and Mrs. Chatterley. To be followed by a new apropos Sketch, THE CENSIUS.s Messrs. J. L. Toole, Eburne, Romer, C. J. Smith ; na Kate Kelly, Miss E. Thorne, and Mrs. Chatterley. . , Doors open at halt past B—Commence at 1. FRENCH PLAYS.-ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—Under the Direction of Mons. Lambert Dennery.—TlllS EVENING, LE FEU AU CONVENT. Messrs. Gravier, Larieu, Fabien, Led uc file ; Miss Anna Milker. After which, J'AI COMPROMIS MA FEMME: Geoffrey and Mdlle. Alice Theric. To conclude with LES TREMBLEURS. Messrs. Geoffrey, Bertrand, Fabien, Leduc Ills ; Madames Leduc and Pommier, and Mdlle. Delphini. Commence at a quarter before 8 o'clock. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.- THIS EVENING, Grand Equestrian performances— The-Great Excitement for the Race Week only—The Rocky Moun t a i n Wonders on the Flying Trdpez, the Ladder Feat, and their extraordinary acrobat performances —Concluding with the New Ballet, entitled " The Chamois Hunter ; or the Fiend of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water." Reduced Prices. Grand Complimentary Benefit on Thursday. 30th May, to Mr. Henry Magilton, of the Rocky Mountain Wonders, who met with the deplorable accident at the Alhambra, on which occasion the Christy Minstrels and a host of talent will appear. A STLEY'S.—THURSDAY, May 30.—A COM PLIMENTARY BENEFIT to Mr. HENRY MAGILTON, who met with the deplorable accident at the Alhambra. The following artistes have volunteered their services :—The Christy Minstrels, Messrs. Murray and Holland, the Brothers Berri, Thos. Handford, Mr. Young and his Dogs, the RoAcy Mountain Wonders, and the celebrated Clown, Mr. Bibb.— Box-office open daily. CANTERBURY -HALL CONCERTS AND FINE ARTS GALLERY. EVERY EVENING, A. Grand Selection from Verdi's new Opera, UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, (First produced in England at this Establishment), With a Chorus of Forty Voices. Also, Verdi's IL CORSARO, never performed at any other Concerts. Solos on the Cornet-a-piston, by Mr. Levy. The Comic Department comprises the Brothers Conrad (in their new and inimitable entertainments), Mr. Wood and his talented little Son, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Blanchard, Mr. Hol lingsworth, and Miss Rose Howard. Musteal Director, Mr. F. JONGH3IANS. T " F 0 R D, 6, OXFORD-STREET. Mr. LEVY, undoubtedly the best performer of the day on the Cornet-a-Piston--Grand Selections (on the most complete scale) from Dinorah, Martha, Stradella, &c., and other vocal and instrumental music, by Miss Russell, the Misses Stuart, and Miss Ernst, Messrs. Charles Greville, Fornari, Kimber ley, Bernard, Beaumont, Bervon, Huish, Signor Tivoli, and Mr. Henry Herbert, with full band and powerful and selected chorus, conducted by Mr. F. Jongrhmans.—The following , Comic talent, Messrs. W. Randall, J. Blanchard, W. H. Wie land, Hollingsworth, E. Marshall, Harvey, and French, and the Brothers Conrad in their latest and best entertainment, every evening. Admission, Hall, sixpence; Balcony and Stalls, one shilling. Private Boxes, 10s. 6d. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. This DAY.—Morning, 4h. 38m.—Afternoon, sh. sm• To-mosmow.-Morning, 6h. 24m.—Afternoon, sh. 46m. THE WEATHER.—Sper OFFICE, MAY 28, 1361. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHAM 68—highest since noon yesterday. 51—lowest this morning and during the night. 64—this day at noon. BAROMETER-30.12. Wm.—North-East—rather fresh and equally'; with dull, cloudy, cool weather. 4 i l k 47 , c , ' \ - I, j,_,!.:,•••,„, •It o . , t - THE SUN. LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1881. Which is, after all, to be " 7lae Derby Day"— and which the Favourite ? Wednesday (that is to-morrow), the 29th—or Thursday (the day after), the 30th of May ? Mr. MERRY's Dundee—or Mr. SEYMER'S Amendment ? There cannot be one moment's doubt about it but that if the motion for the latter had last night been pushed to a division her MAJESTY'S Government must indubitably have been defeated! And that they would have been defeated, moreover, by con siderably more than Eighteen. The Constitutional amendment proposed by the hon. member for North Warwickshire, as a matter of course, came to grief. We said yesterday that nothing whatever could be hoped for in that direc tion by the Conservative Opposition. The consti tutional part of the question had already been fully discussed in the House of Commons, and so far brought to something like a settlement. After the remarkable ability displayed, to no effect beyond the drawing forth from both sides of the House of a large amount of admiration, by Mr. MACDONOGII, in one of the ablest maiden speeches delivered by any new member in the present Parliament—it was seaicely probable that Mr. NEWDEGATE could make very much out of the same argument upon his forced revival of it in his own tardy Amendment. There, consequently —i n t h at Amendment—as we intimated plainly enough last evening, lay nothing whatever of danger to the financial schemes of her MAJESTY'S Government. And the result has certainly verified to the very letter the perfect accuracy of the observation. According to the-course pursued by the vast majority of the Conservatives last evening, when the House was " cleared for a division " upon Mr. NEWDE GATE'S amendment, the Opposition sire of the House [which was literary, and in the str:ctest sense of the words, "cleared for a division"] appeared to regard the constitutional matter-in-dispute as having already been decided by the House of Com mons upon the occasion of the previous discussion of it, and to have been decided, moreover, so far as it in any way affected the House of Commons itself, definitively. After sympathising, with no good result for themselves coming of itovith Mr. MACDONOGII—they seemed not to be in any way disposed to vote, in the same direction, with Mr. NEWDEGATE. The great constitutional authorities in the House had already spoken, and having spoken had afforded not the smallest shadow of a shade of hope in that direction. The Opposition had learnt f ro m the revelations of Sir til at. HEATHCOTE that one of th e i r f o rernoJt men, then' precluded alon e hi mself from speakiEg by tempo rary indis position, (Mr. WALPOLE) was tliamett ically opposed to the drift of Mr. MACDONOGII'S argument, and consequently would have been directly antagonistic to the tendency of m r. NEWDEGATE'S Amendment. Other leading men on the front bench of the Oppo sition 2n VI t think with 'Mr. WaLroLE, probably did think with Mr. Wai mix, and therefore --everything considered— nPun the mat urest reflection—the bulk of the Opposition acted last night with surprising promp t i tude and unanimity ! , They walker out of the House and away through the lobby altogether to avoid taki ng a ny part at all in the division—leaving cruelly in the l urc h poor Mr. NEWDEGATE and his all but tabooed Amendment. The consequence being, of course, something almost ludicrous under the circum stances : ayes 34, noes 195—clear majority of 161 against the Amendment of the hon. gentleman the member for North Warwickshire. Afterwards, however, came, in due course—that other Amendment, in which, as we said yester day, would be found the only chance of peril to the financial projects of her Majesty's Government. Clause 4 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Bill —to wit the very marrow of that bone of con tention between the Ministry and the Opposition -Clause 4, i.e., The Paper Duties, came at length in regular sequence under the consideration of the House of Commons then in Committee. Where upon, after the addition to the clause of a few ver bal alterations by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, up rises Mr. KER SEYMER and flings down that little golden apple of discord which has now to be scrambled for in real earnest—flings it down in the shape of that much talked of, and long threatened, and at length visible, other amendment. And there upon came the tug of war, when Greek met Greek— when Ministerialist encountered Ministerialist. For it was not simply that Mr. SEYMER'S amend ment for the setting aside of Clause 4—that clause which, if agreed to, will abolish the Paper Duties for ever and a day after the first of next October-- it was not simply that Mr. SEYMER'S daring and dangerous Amendment was advocated by other earnest Conservative members sitting among the ranks of the Opposition ! Those of course— a good many of them—spoke last evening ; and we may be tolerably certain too that they will un mistakeably vote (when the question comes to a division) for Mr. SEYMER'S Amendment. But— with those heart-and-soul Conservatives, with those thick-and-thin Oppositionists how many have spoken and will speak—how many will indubitably (when it comes to a division) vote upon the same side, namely, in favour of this wicked Amendment, though themselves sitting either above or below the gangway, among the crowd of the Ministerialists, among the rank and file of the cus tomary supporters of the PALMERSTON Govern ment ? For example, was there not, dead against the Paper Duties, and therefore dead against the Budget, and therefore dead against the Govern ment—the hon. baronet, Sir JOHN RAMSDEN, the Liberal representative of the largest of all the con stituencies, the great constituency of the West Riding of Yorkshire ? " Last year," said Sir JOHN RAMSDEN, "he (the hon. baronet) voted against the repeal of the paper duty for two reasons. In the first place he did not think that the state of the revenue was such that they could afford_to spare the tax; and in the second, if they were going to repeal any duty at all, he thought that the addi tional inc3me tax and the war duty on tea should have the preference. This year," he added, "he retained the same opinion, and was prepared to take the same course." Referring afterwards to the " baseless fabric of a vision," built up on the sandy and shifting foundations of the Budget estimates, he said—" They had this year a new definition of a surplus. Heretofore a surplus had been money in hand, or in some other form equally tangible and secure. It was unprecedented for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to come down to the house with a surplus not verified by any facts or accounts, but built merely on hopes and conjectures, every one of which was as liable to prove fallacious as the schemes of any speculator on the Stock Ex change. The process by which this surplus was obtained," he said further upon this point, " was very arbitrary, and, he feared, very illusive." This, remember—not from Sir •STRATFORD NORTHCOTE , not from Mr. BENTINCK, nor yet from Mr. HORS MAN, but—from the lips of Sir JOHN RAMSDEN, M.P. for the West Riding of Yorkshire. Remem bering still who it is that speaks, and the side of the House from which he is speaking—is there not something in the way of A Sign of the Times, something of an indication of the Way in which the Wind Blows, in those after remarks of the same Liberal representative, when he observed —" The budget that was made for fair weather must necessarily now be rent asunder. It was no disgrace, no humiliation, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to be beaten by events over which he could not possibly exercise any control; and if he persisted in the project now before the house, he would be acting, he (Sir J. RAMSDEN) would be bold to say, in the teeth of the real opinion of the house and of the country, and would be exposing himself not only to the charge of imprudence, but of rash and wilful imprudence, and further, unless every prediction was falsified, to future reprobation and condemnation." Cheers, as a matter of course, hearty and prolonged cheers, greeting words like those from the confronting and sympathetic Opposition. Then again —was there not spoken by Sir ROBERT PEEL as bold and thoroughly independent a speech as even that plain speaking and vivacious baronet has ever yet de livered within the walls of Parliament ? Like Sir JOHN RAMSDEN'S also—dead against the Paper Duties, against the Budget, against the Govern ment ! It assuredly begins to look ill, in regard to clause 4, direfully, dolefully ill for her MAJESTY'S Government. Particularly now when, with an exquisite tact of indiscretion, the more liberal of the Irish members are wantonly alienated from the side of the Government by the curiously perverse, because ridiculously inopportune proceedings, on the part of the Cabinet, in regard to the delicate question of the Galway Contract. It is whispered to our remembrance — Quern Zeus vult perdere prius dementat, Has it thus proved again with the once powerful and popular Cabinet of Lord PALMERSTON ? The House of Commons will be enabled to answer Aye or No to this on Thursday evening —for until that evening the debate upon the Paper Duties now stands adjourned. The Charleston correspondent of a contemporary, who is never tired of adverting to the ill-success • of Universal Suffrage and the Ballot in America, furnishes a striking confirmation, from what he sees and hears on the spot, of the view we gave a few days ago. It is not democracy, but I aristocra c y, aristocracy aristocracy in spirit, and aristoc racy in one fact, which lies at the bottom of the present dis ruption. We must even own that we were not aware that the purely aristocratic temper was any thing like so marked and bitter as it appears 'to be from the description of the Times' Correspondent, hardly that it went to such lengths in theory. Our observant traveller hears on all sides wishes for a monarchical regime, with the European grades of hereditary rank and title, and there was no concealment of admiration and envy of our own institutions as compared with those of Repub licanism. With a sigh, it was confessed, that the blessing of Monarchy was beyond their reach. however, could exceed' their contempt for the eilow-bred descendants o f the Puritan Republicans of the North. South Carolinians look down on New England as quite another race to themselves ; as a set of e t monopolists p n n a l r i s r t o s w i narrow-minded m e de commerce. i e g . o t s Theili religion and selfi s h State was founded by gen tl emen , an d h ders of the New England State cut we n the o f founders Carolina off the head of the first CHARLES, the cavaliers of Carolina offered his son the sovereignty of their State. It would really seem as if we ought, in gratitude, to side with the South and slavery; for, mingled with the pride of having achieved their independence, a strange regret is felt for the results and consequences, and " many are they who would go back to-morrow if they could." They know, however, that by our aristocracy, now, slavery would be ixn incubus not to be endured. They astonished their visitor by wishes that the May-flower had gone to the bottom, instead of cursing them with the presence, on American soil, of the Pilgrim Fathers and their descendants. But they could get on even with fanatics, " If they had been either Christians or gentlemen, for in the first case they would have acted with common charity, and in the second they would have fought when they had in sulted us; but there are 'wither Christians nor gen tlemen among them.' Such, we are told, are the expressions common in South Carolinian society. With the bitterest execrations they pray for a despotism, a tyranny, anything—but nothing will induce them to "submit to any union with the brutal, bigoted blackguards of the New England States, who neither comprehend nor regard the feelings of gentlemen ; man,woman, and child they would die first." All this is surely equal to any sentiments cherished for BRIGHT, COBDEN, and the Manchester School, by the House of Lords itself and its wide-spread connections down to the rural squirearchy in the mother country. But our traveller follows our re presentation of the case, from what strikes him as an eye-witness, by describing the Caroliuians as a Sparta aristocracy, resting on a vast population of Helots; and, with nothing else to rest on. They have the leisure and tastes of a genuine aristocracy, but, after all this is, he tells us, the true represen tation of Carolinian aristocracy. It really rests on the most immoral and unchristian basis con ceivable ; and its deadly hatred for the North, which has been growing.now for thirty years, has arrived at an implacability which must for ever prevent re-union under one Government. It seems, however, that a great change has come over their warlike aspirations since they have learned of the preparations of the North. "There is a sudden admiration, we are told, of pacific ten dencies," which it is not easy to account for, except on the supposition that tidings from the North have had their influence. No more threats to seize on Washington or Faneuil-Hall ; and JEFFERSON DAVIS' Message is now praised for its " moderation," and for other features which were not in such favour while the exaltations over the capture of Fort Sumter were resounding through the States. There is, we are informed, an evident change come over all, since it has become evident that the North is uniting as one vast army, prepared to reconquer all that belongs to the Federal Government as soon as the weather is suitable for operations in the South. Already, indeed, the South begins to find that the North is a power not to be foiled in its determi nation. The harbours of Virginia, Maryland, and Charleston are by this time sealed up, and probably those of the extreme South also. The Niagara, with, of course, a proper complement of swifter and smaller vessels, was to blockade New Orleans ; and the movements by land are hardly less instruc tive to the South. Maryland, though her mob and more fiery politicians are hot against the North, is compelled to succumb ; Baltimore is a Federal city, whether it likes it or not, and the Government uses the territory of the State for the transit of the numerous troops just as it pleases. Western Virginia has given in its adhesion to the Union ; and the " Old Dominion" will at least retain but half its former greatness; but it is highly probable that it will early become —indeed, may be while we write—the theatre of battles which will reduce it to submission. Her neighbour border State Kentucky, has already felt the power of the North; not only in its attracting regiments from its population, but in its not daring to venture beyond neutrality. Missouri has even witnessed the capture of 800 militia at Camp Jack son ; and Illinois commands the entire navigation of the Missisippi from the corn producing States of the North, by its position at the junction of the three great streams which, by their union, form the vast stream which conveys food from the North to the South. In Texas, betrayed by their officers, the States of the Federal Government have been disarmed by, the South. This was unfortunate ; but the scheme of the North seems to be to blockade the South, and to operate on the Border Slave States till the weather permits operations further South. Since M. DE PERSIGNY holds the press so com pletely in fetters that one Paris printer dares not even publish the speech of the Duo D'AUMALE at the anniversary dinner of the Literary Fund, and a second is compelled to give up a harmless youthful literary publication, La thane France, because the authorities advised it—we can hardly err in believing that what does circulate in France does so by the wish of the Government. On such a subject as the temporal power of the POPE, for instance, one so purely political in regard to the French Government just now, it is hardly conceiv able that anything striking, pointed, just adapted to popular apprehension, should be permitted to circulate, were it not wished by the Higher Powers. We may, just possibly, mistake the reason for permitting the unrestricted circuiation, but can hardly err in supposing that a reason for it does exist. What, then, can be the reason for allowing the unrestricted circulation of the handbill—" Our Holy Father, the Pope." Were it necessary to conciliate the clergy, we may be sure that fines and imprisonment would await all concerned in giving publicity to this, in a Catholic country—audacious document. From its small size, and sententious, clear, and racy style, it is obviously intended for the million. We should judge that the remark of a contemporary is correct, that while it affects, to a certain extent, the language of the uneducated and half educated, it betrays a higher origin. The thought is not vulgar; and the lucid style and arrangement show the work of a hand accustomed to the pen. It can hardly fail to create a sensation among the bourgeoisie and the reading portion of enunciated are n the p easan t ry. If their creed b e shocked at first, yet the suggestions o t e aeres easily forgottene has when distinctly so carry th e i r own evidence with them, that if resisted at first, they may return and gain assent. The paper is divided into three short sections, of which the first keenly satirises the " Holy Father" as a temporal ruler. "It is sickening to hear per petual discussions about the Holy Father —th e poor old man has made some mistakes which are his own look out "—his broken faith, his curses of civilization, his mistaking obstinacy for dignity, arid abductions of children for virtue, are all ridi culed, and if he overbalance himself and fall head long from the summit of temporal pDwcr—why, it is his cwn look out. But the last two sections are a direct attack on his Spiritual position. We can do without him, for—"it is not he who saves us"—" his name is not to be found on the lips of JESUS and his Apostles" —"the first Christians did without him, and were none the worse for it" —and after a longer and. severe attack,—the writer concludes— THE SUN, - LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 28, 1861.7 " Let us, then, tot trouble ourselves about the fate of the Holy Father." " Let us acknowledge CHRIST as our only Master ;" and after several more pithy illustrations of the sufficiency of JESUS CHRIST without the POPE—let me resume, he says —" Leave to those whom it concerns the right of settling the affairs of Rome ;—let us not trouble ourselves about the POPE ;-15t us take as a guide the Holy Gospels, and as Master JESUS CHRIST alone." This ecclesiastical and theological attack strikes us as fuller of meaning than that on the temporal power. It might, if such were the Imperial will, be prosecuted as defaming the religion of the State. Does its permitted circulation indicate that the popular mind is to be trained to dispense with a Pope, and that the Gallican Church, like the Eng lish Church, is to recognise its temporal monarch as its Head ? We have authority to state that it is expected that at her Majesty's drawing-room to be held on the 19th of June all ladies will vppear in mourning. The ladies of the corps diplomatique, the wives of her Majesty's Cabinet Ministers, and of her Majesty's household, will wear deep crape mourning with black ornaments. All other ladies attending the Court will appear in black, with black feathers, lappets, and gloves ; diamonds may be wort. Ladies to be presented on their marriage, and young un married ladies to be presented for the first time, may ap pear in white. THE PRINCE ALFRED.—His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, who is now on his way to Canada, is ex pected at home for a month's leave of absence towards the end of August. Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Frederick Thistlethwayte have arrived in Grosvenor-square from visiting Lord and Lady Henry Chotmondeley in Hampshire. HOLYROOD PALACE.—We understand that his Grace the Duke of Argyll has ceded to her Majesty the apartments on the east side of the quadrangle of Holyrood Palace, formerly in possession of his grace, whioh, with those on the north side relinquished last year by the Mar quis of Breadalbane, will afford materially increased ac commodation to the Royal household. The Hon. Mr. Pon sonby, comptroller of her Majesty's household, has just inspected the apartments preparatory to their being - placed in a proper state for occupation in autumn, her Majesty not intending to visit Scotland this year at an earlier period than usual. The whole of the Palace of Holyrood is now in her Majesty's possession except the north wing, still re tained by the Duke of Hamilton. The greater convenience and room which these arrangements will afford may, we should hope, induce the Court to prolong its stay amongst us, and possibly suggest to her Majesty the propriety of holding a levee in the Scottish metropolis.—Scotsman. DEATH OF ADMIRAL MOORSOM.—We regret to learn that this gallant officer, who was chairman of the London and North-Western Railway, died at five o'clock on Sunday afternoon, at his residence, Montague place. It appears that the cause of death was an operation rendered necessary in consequence of a wound he received in the arm at the siege of Copenhagen. At a Wharacliffe meeting of the London and North-Western Railway, held on the 18th instant, at which Admiral Moorsom presided, he appeared in excellent health. The admiral was influentially con nected with the railways of the country from their com. mencement, and took an active part in the promotion of the London and Birmingham line. The London and North- Western proprietors will feel the loss of the gallant admiral, whose position and inflexible integrity gave a high charac ter to his administration of their affairs, and the officers will feel it more deeply from the fact that they had the most implicit confidence in his consideration of their claims, and that he personally attended to any grievance they might complain of. TRINITY MONDAY.--Yesterday being Trinity Monday, a special general court was held at the Trinity house, on Tower-hill, at which his Royal Highness the Prince Consort was unanimously re-elected Master, and Rear-Admiral Robert Gordon Deputy Master, of that ancient corporation for the ensuing year. The Court then proceeded to the parish church of St. Olave, Hart-street, where Divine service was performed, and an excellent and appropriate sermon preached by the Rev. J. B. Lightfoot, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge. ACCIDENT TO THE STEAMSHIP COLUMBIA.—About 6 o'clock on Saturday afternoon the Galway steamship Columbia, which was undergoing some repairs (caused by her encountering icebergs on her last voyage) in Messrs. Clover and Royle's graving-dock at Woodside, suddenly fell over on the port side against the side of the dock. The crash of the fall was heard for a considerable distance, and it is said that the Columbia sustained some injury. For tunately no person was hurt by the accident. —Liverpool Daily Post. THE GREAT EAST ERN.—The _ greatest distance run by this steamship d uring her late voyage to New York was on her eighth day out, when she ran 348 miles in the 24 hours—a speed of 141 nautical miles per hour. The nd blew steadily against her from the westwati, so that she could make but little use of her canvass, and the Ame rican papers inform us that only half her steam power was employed during the voyage. The consumption of coal during the passage was from 159 to 295 tons p er d a y, an d the entire distance, 3,093 miles, was accomplished in 10 days. The New York Times says :—' It is now definitively understood that the ship will be offered for sale to the Government as a transport ship, but, should a sale not be negotiated, she will accept of a charter for that service. The Government will, no doubt, immediately avail itself of the opportunity to obtain so desirable an addition to their means of offensive or erations. , , MR. A. STEUART, M.P.—A long letter from this gentleman, dated from Banffshire, May 20, appears in the a ri a sa l h s r rY e m aldetnyoforesaw that public red-tapeism, Cambridge Chronicle of Saturday . . In the course of it he says •.—" It was right in medical advisers to say that lights, a crowd, and late hou y r i s me m au ig se ht l w do as n in o fo g rm oo e d d . t't b h e me e i n erre t rl aken to obtain a regular Happily they were wrong. I reutulersnefdorthpaattiennigtshttotoslDeerp. an d giving moderate attention to my pH adoN that n ui sdtc. discharge a gwt t eew'ps a :s l s o eha n senta e : , danbtl might days following on my own responsibility. My friends at Cambridge may be satisfied to learn that since then I have, vinatmeybusnaitniesesair, en enjoying the Lest of health. . . . I should not be slow to accedeto any inti ma ti on f rom o ld supporters either that I had failed to express their senti ments, or was likely in future not to be what they would wish their representative to be, otherwise I have no present intention of resigning into their hand s th e t rus t comm itt e d to me, as by the first week in June, at latest, and sooner, should I foresee a vote of first-rate consequence, it is my hope to be in my place at Westminster, with every confi dence for most of the rema ining weeks of the session, with at least ordinary regularity." THE CROPS IN YORKSHIRE.—The crops are looking well in many parts of Yorkshire. A little more rain would be very acceptable to farmers. The chief part of the mangold crop has been got into the ground. Wheat is much better than it was expected to be, and it is coming up very nicely, though in some places this favourable re • port is not borne out. The late severe frosts have some what interfered with potatoes, but present appearances in dicate an abundant crop. On the whole, the prospects of the agriculturist may in this district be regarded as cheer ing. THE EXTRAORDINARY TRAGEDY IN FLINTSIIIRE. —We briefly stated on Saturday that an aged couple, named Edwards, residing at Summer-hill, Holywell, had been found with their throats cut. The husband, who was 80 years of age, was dead ; but his wife, who is 75 years of age, was alive, and is likely to recover. It appeared from the evidence given at the inquest held on Thursday, that Ann Matthews, a niece of Edwards, went to her uncle's house about 11 o'clock on Wednesday morning, and find ing a window half open where the door key was placed, she took the key, unlocked the door, went upstairs, and found her uncle dead in bcd, and her aunt lying by his side. She immediately gave an alarm, and went for Messrs. Lloyd a9d Davies, surgeons. The husband was dead, but the wife was still living. The wife, when interrogated by Mr. Lloyd, produced the razor with which she said she had murdered her husband, declaring as her motive that "Edwards was troublesome and required constant at The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Sarah Edwards. BOND AND FREE.—While at the junction we witnessed a practical illustration of " Freedom v. Slavery." A very dilapidated darkey, whose garments were of all ima ginable hues, and a perfect labyrinth of rags, had come into camp to sell a few eggs. While he was there another ebony-hued individual came in, vastly important in his de meanour, attired in clean checked shirt, blue jacket, and jean pants, with cowhide sLos;‘,3 and felt hat, and in every respect a perfect Turveydrop in deportment. "Stan' back, you free nigger," said the last comer, "de gemman don't want nuffin out of dat baskit ; why don't you poor free niggers work and do suffin? (aside)—lazy debbils, ain't wuff their salt." Soldier—" Are you a slave?' Darkey (with a broad grin)—" Yaas,. boss, ain't nuffin else ! Ncbber seed a free nig with sich closes as dens on, yah, hah;" and he jerked back the lappcl of his blue jacket a la Unsworth. "I b'longs to Missus ober on de ridge dar. Makes plenty money now 'mong de sager mans." Soldier—" But you have to give the money t) your mistress, don't you ?" Darkey—" Um-rn ! me I Missus nuffin to do wid dat money, boss ! I, ain't gwine to keep hens an have mu lay eggs for missus. Mi ssus d on ' t want 'ern. Yah-h ! you j ony okin wid n i gger now. " Free nigger (with a dolorous whine)—" Sp ose 010 gub'ner gone dead, an' left me free nigger; dat my fault, e h?" Slave (with dignity)--" Don't talk back, man ; go way ; g'long and sell dens things ob your'n—l knows your h ungry. " F ree n i gger departs with an air of inferiority, and the slave puffs a cigar and shakes his head with a solemn countenance, as if he really Pitied the poor free darkey in ragged attire.---/Yrew York Journal of Cownierco. 7;1 t, • (11 - k - T yv s A Ili 11. ,LA NAPLES, MAY 25. To-day a band of brigands appeared in the suburbs of Sora, and threatened to enter the city, The National Guard and the troops exchanged some shots with the brigands, and pursued them for a distance of three miles. The firing continued at noon. BERLIN, MAY 27. In to-day's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies the Minister of Justice, replying to a question ad dressed to him in reference to the right of citizen ship of those individuals who had received the King's amnesty, said that the right of Prussian citizenship was forfeited by a stay of 10 years abroad. He said also that the amnesty only can celled other disqualifications which had been pro nounced against the refugees, the right of citizen ship being a public one, and not belonging to the category of those the forfeiture of which constituted a punishment remissible by amnesty. The Govern ment assumed, however, that the individuals who had received amnesty were no longer to be suspected on account of the offences which had been forgiven them. PARIS, MAY 27. The French ships charged to bring back the troops have arrived before Beyrout. The Beyrout Commissioners are pursuing their labours at Constantinople. The question of one chief is determined in the affirmative. It remains to be seen whether he will be a native or a foreigner. rranoo is in favour of the elloicc of a native chief. THE WEST INDIA AND PACIFIC MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY. The Royal Mail steamship Tasmanian, with the West India, Paeific, and Mexican mails, has arrived here. She brin gs 325 passengers, 1,860,160 dols. in specie, and 2,100 packages of cargo. She left St, Thomas on the 14th May. Several heavy commercial failures are reported in Chili, and business was not improving. Peru remains in an unsettled state. Prices of merchandise and produce had generally declined at Valparaiso, owing to a shortness of money. Bar copper was quoted at 18 dols. There is no political news of importance from the Pacific. Business in Jamaica was very dull, owing to the unsettled state of affairs in America, and prospects were very gloomy. The weather at Barbadoes was favourable for the young crops, but bad for sugarmaiting. The island was healthy. Governor Wodehouse left Demerara for England by the present mail steamer. The prices of breadstuffs at Demerara had a downward tendency. Rice was firm, at full rates. FRANCE. PARIS, MAY 27. The Correspondance Havas has sent the follow ing intelligence to the provincial journals :—" It is currently reported that Prince Napoleon has re signed the dignity of Grand-Master of the Free masons. Until the new elections in October, M. Doumet, member of the Legislative Body for the Herault, is said to have been charged with the provisional administration of the Order." " The accounts from Cochin China," says the llioniteur," announce a fresh success on the part of the French troops. The town of Mytho was taken possession of by the forces directed against it by Admiral Charner. This considerable result, which secures the possession of the Southern provinces, reflects the greatest honour on the naval and mili tary forces engaged. The Minister of Marine had been informed by Vice-Admiral Charner that an ex pedition had been sent to Mytho to take possession of that important place. A letter from that officer, of the 14th, announces that the town has been occu pied by the French. Reconnaissances had previously been made by means of the canals which intersect the country in all directions ; while at the same time a naval force was sent to the entrance of the river Gambcdia, which, as the Admiral was aware, had been barred by numerous stockades. Between the 10th and 13th April the troops under the com mand of Capt. Du Quilio, of the navy, marched on the town, and a division of gunboats under the command of Rear-Admiral Page crossed the bar of the river, and broke down all the obstacles which opposed them. Mytho was thus reached on both sides, and taken possession of. In one of the engagements which took place, Capitaine de fregate Bourdais, second in command of the expedition, who was on board one of the gunboats, was killed by a shot which struck him in the breast. This was the only casualty, and the sanitary state of the expedi tionary corps was at the above date most satisfac tory. The following are some particulars relative to the new bill on the press : " The measure repeals that provision of the decree of 1852 which declares the suppression of any journal that has been twice condemned for grave offences or infractions of regulations, within the space of two years ; so that for the future suppres sion would only follow condemnations for grave offences. It also repeals the clause which empowers the Government, after a single condemnation, to pronounce, in the course of the two following months, either the suspension or suppression of the journal condemned. Lastly, it modifies the effect of warnings, by enacting that they shall cease to have any effect after two years from their date. These changes, without departing from the princi ples of the organic decree of 17th February, 1852, will give greater security to the interests engaged in the press." BOURSE, May 27.—Business rather limited in amount, but in what has been done the prices of Saturday have been pretty well maintained. Threes, for the Account, are now at 69f 36c. Rail ways quiet, but firm. The following were the last quotations:- 4f per per Cents ... 96 40 Credit k oncier 987 50 Do end month.... 96 45! Belgian 4f — 3 per Cents Do. end month 69 40 Roman Bank Shares 2900 ! Austrian Credit Mobilier.... 708 75 Spani s h Threes 5O 25 Do. Account 7lO ! Home Debt .. 49 RAILWAYS. Cash. Account. Orleans 13:57 50 .. 1357 50 Northern 9BB 75 .. 987 50 New ditto Lyons and Mediterranean 930 932 50 Geneva * 425 .. 422 50 Southern Western Eastern Sardinian 375 Austrian Lombard , . VIENNA. The Vienna journals publish the following ordon nanee signed by the Ministers of State and of War:— In virtue of an Imperial resolution, the civil func tionaries of the State who hold office in the King dom of Hungary, as well as the financial guard sta tioned there, shall be, till further orders, subject to military jurisdiction like military functionaries, and shall consequently be amenable, in penal matters and questions of civil law, to the commandants-in chief and military tribunals of Buda and Temeswar. However, these persons will be treated in penal !clatters in conformity with the penal law of 27th May, 1852, and the right of appealing to the supe rior military courts is allowed them to the same extent as would be given them according to the civil code of penal procedure. SCHMERLING• DEGENFELD. General Garibaldi has sent the following reply to an address received from the inhabitants of Castel nuova•in-Monti ." The debate is ended : I am again General Cial dtni's friend. All that remains to me is the recol lection of your affectionate words, your thoughts worthy of Italy. 1 take advantage of this oppor tunity to send you some ideas relative to the parri cidal acts of the unhappy comedy which is now performing at Rome, and which the Italians must once for all put an end to. I should be glad to know that you share my opinions. " GARIBALDI." SPAIN. The Madrid journals of the 23d have arrived. A thanksgiving service was celebrated the preceding day in the Church of St. Pascal, at Aranjuez, for the restoration to health of the Infanta Donna Con- cepcion. The Queen, King, Ministers, and Great Officers of the Court, were present. The Gazette announces that the Queen has sent the usual notice to all the bishops of the Kingdom, mentioning that she has entered the last month of her pregnancy, and requesting them to have prayers offered up for her safe delivery. The works on the railway from Madrid to the Escurial were so far advanced that the line would probably be opened about the end of Jane. General Santana would arrive, it was expected, in the Spanish capital in about a month from St. Domingo ; he is to be accompanied by General Alfan and several influential persons of the colony. " OUR HOLY FATHER THE POPE." The following flying-sheet has been circulated largely in Paris : Always the same tune ! In the street and at home, in the newspapers and in conversation, at church and at the pothouse, we hear nothing else but discussions on our holy father the Pope. All this noise becomes tiresome. The poor dear old man may have made some mistakes—that is his misfortune, but it is his own look-out. If, as is said, he has broken faith with his people by making promises to them which he has never kept, I think that, after having exhausted their stock of patience, they have a right to say to him, " Holy _Father, we beg yuu a thousand pardons for leaving you, but we prefer to have for a temporal leader a brave and gallant King who keeps his word." If, as is said, he curses modern civilisation, and believes that liberty is meant for him alone, what is to be done ? Is not a shrug of the shoulders the best reply ? If he mistakes obstinacy for dignity, the non pos sumus for magnanimity, Castelfidardo for a glorious battle-field, the abductions of Mortara and Bluth for acts of heroic virtue—truly, the infallibility of the Holy Father appears to me to be somewhat at fault. If, as is said, the Holy Father is doomed to fa:l headlong from the summit of his temporal power, it will only be by his own over-balance, and because he did not think it worth while to give a substruc ture to his edifice by deserving the love of his sub jects ; and that is his own look-out. If the Holy Father followed in the steps of Christ, proving to us by his conduct that he is the first disciple of a kind and loving master; If, instead of reminding us of Peter's pence and the patrimony of the Church, he spoke to us of a celestial kingdom and of the treasures of faith and morality; • If he busied himself a little less with rifled cannon, and a little more with the spiritual weapons with which he would teach us to overcome injustice, idleness, and debauchery ; If, following in the steps of the Lord, he would drive the vendors out of the Temple that the whole edifice should contain only works of purity, charity, and piety ; If, in a word, he only gave us as a command the holy Gospels— Oh, then we should vie with one another to give him a welcome. A thousand voices would shout " Hail to the Pontiff we want ! Long live the Holy Father !" 111. But if he shuts himself up in his non possumus— if he refuses to take one step to place himself on a level with the age and to agree with Him who is the master of all ages, we have but one choice—to do without him. Let this alarm no one. His fall cannot hurt us, kcause it is not he who saves us. His name is not to be found on the lips of Jesus Christ or of the Apostles. The first Christians did without him, and were none the worse for it. In fact, he has entered the Church with his tiara resplendent with jewels, with his cortege of proud prelates, holding out his foot to be kissed by those who approach his throne ! He Was come dictating laws to the Kings and Emperors of the earth, claiming for himself alone universal supremacy ! He has come with his mouth full of invectives for his enemies, and for those who do not submit to his arbitrary decrees! He has come to abduct children from their mothers, to prohibit the clergy from marriage, to throw disorder broadcast into the Church of God ! He has come shouting, " To arms, to arms !" and but recently we have all heard the echo of his belli cose shouts, "Stand by me, Zouaves! Lamoriciere to the rescue ! Charge, Europe, in my name !" And how can he, then, call himself the representa tive of the meek and humble Jesus, whose kingdom is rot of this world, and who declined every crown except a crown of thorns ? How dare he claim the name of Him who came not to be waited upon, but to serve ; who had no place wherewithal to lay his head ; whose followers were the poor, and indigent, and sick; who came only to bless us and to save us ? How dare he compare himself to Him who blessed little children, and restored them to their mothers —who datlares marriage honourable for all men— who has said, " Put back your sword into the scab bard, for all those who draw the sword shall perish by the sword ?" " And Jesus Christ said to his disciples, You know that those who rule our nations treat them with authority, and that their Princes exercise authority , over them. With you this shall not be so, but other wise. Let you not be called masters, for ye have but one Master, who is Christ, and ye are all brothers." Let us, tben, i not trouble ourselves about the fate of the Holy Father. Let us 'acknowledge Jesus Christ as our only master. Yes, Jesus Christ, who gives to God only the title of Holy Father, and who said to his disciples, " Call no one on earth your father, for you have only one Father, who is in Heaven ;" Yes ; Jesus Christ, who offers himself to us as master, pontiff, interceder, and Saviour ; Jesus Christ, in a word, who died, but who lives from century to century, and who promises to us an only substitute, only vicar, till He returns in person —the Holy Ghost, which He gives as a guide and a consoler to all those who put their trust n him. Let me resume :—Leave to those whom it con cerns the right of settling the affairs of Rome. Let us not trouble ourselves about the Pope. Let us take as a guide the Holy Gospels, and as master Jesus Christ alone. The commercial letters from China by the present mail are satisfactory, since they indicate a general belief that even under the disastrous circumstances caused by the movements of the rebel armies there will still be a large business from the opening of the Yang-tse-kiang. AMENTABLE IGNORANCE.—A case was heard before the magistrates at Burslem, on Tuesday, wherein a lad of seventeen, named Abbott, was called as a witness. Before being sworn he was asked by the presiding magis trate—Can you read ? Witness : No.—Do you know what that book (the Testament) is? No.—Do you know what the Bible is ? No.—Did you never hear what the Bible was ? No.—How old are you? Seventeen.—Did you ever go to school? Yes.—lrow long ago? A long time.— What school did you go to ? Lamb's.-IVhat did they teach you there ? A, b, ab. This deplor able confession of mental blindness, we regret to add, was received with laughter by the people in court. The boy's evidence was of course'declined, and his father was then called, but his ignorance was :nearly equal to his son's. — Birmingham Gazette. THE BISHOP OF CHESTER PROHIBITING AN " ESSAYIST AND REVIEWER" FROM PREACHING AT LIVER rooL.—On Friday night there was a service at St. Chrysos bm's Church, Evsrton, Liverpool—of which the Rev. John Macnaught is tho incumbent—for the purpose of opcnir g the new organ which has recently been erected in that church. It had been advertised that the Rev. Henry Bristitv Wilson, vicar of Great Staughton, and author of one of the "Essays and Reviews," would preach a sermon on the occasion ; and in consequence of the notoriety which has re cently been attained by these divines, considerable curiosity was manifested as to the proceedings. A large congregation had assembled at the chtuch, and in the course of the service the Rev. Mr. Macnaught mounted the pulpit, and said it was with deep regret that he appeared before them on that occasion. It had been, as they knew, arranged and pub• licly announced that the sermons on the occasion of the opening of the new organ would be preached by his friend the Rev. H. B. Wilson. In the course of that afternoon, however, he (Mr. Macnaught) had been served with formal notice from the Bishop of Chester, which strictly admonished the Reverend Mr. Macnaught from permitting the Reverend H. B. Wilson from preach ing, from"perfornting divine service, or otherwise offieistin iii divine 9 ffice iu his church or district, THE NAT/ Y. PORTSMOUTH, MAY 27.—The Prince Regent, 90, screw steamship, was taken out of No. 3 dock into the ship basin this morning, after a very ex tensive repair. The Sultan, old 72, was taken into No. 3 dock to be converted into a receiving hulk. The Duncan, 101, screw steamship, was taken out of No. 8 dock this morning, and is expected to have another trip on trial to-morrow or Wednesday. The Megrera, iron screw steamer troopship, Captain Henderson, was taken into No. 8 dock this after noon, to have her bottom examined and to undergo repairs. The Rhadamanthus, paddlewheel steam storeship, Master-Commander Perch, arrived this morning from Woolwich, and went into the steam basin to land machinery. Admiral Erskine's division of the ships of the Channel squadron at Spithead are under orders to be ready for sea by the 6th June. The paddlewheel steam sloop Styx, 6, Comman der John H. Cave, from the West India station, arrived at Plymouth on Sunday, left Bermuda on the 3d of May, and came home under steam and canvass, having had fine weather throughout the passage, with westerly and southerly winds. Her hull and machinery are not in good condition. The screw steamship St. George, 90, Capt. the lion. Francis Egerton, with Prince Alfred, from Port Royal, Jamaica, was at the island, and was ap pointed to leave for Halifax. The Punjab, paddle steam frigate, Capt. Alex ander Foulerton, arrived at Spithead shortly after midnight on Sunday, from Bombay, with military invalids on board from troops stationed in the Pre sidency. The Punjab, formerly one of the East India Company's fleet of war steamers, now forming one of her Majesty's Indian navy, left Bombay on the Bth of February, and St. Helena on the 11th of April. In consequence of the whole of the convicts who until now were daily employed in Chatham Dock yard having been withdrawn from that establish ment to be employed in brick-making on St. Mary's Island, a number of the hired labourers who were to have been dischargel on Saturday last have been retained in the dockyard until a flesh supply of con victs shall have been for warded to Chatham from the other establishments. The following appointments were made yesterday at the Admiralty :—Charles Wotton, second mas ter, to the Steady ; James Leys, chief engineer, to the Asia, for charge of the machinery of the High flyer when the latter ship shall have been paid off; George Hostey, 3d class assist.-engineer, to the Fis gard, as supernumerary; Ebenezer Weymouth, assist.-paymaster, in charge of the Steady ; and W. K. Horne, assist.-paymaster, to the Blenheim. TEE ARMY. The chartered East India troopship Gosforth, 810 tons, belonging to Mr. T. W. Smith, arrived at Gravesend yesterday from Calcutta, with 146 officers and privates, 11 women and 18 children on board, from most of the British regiments in India, and a valuable cargo of indigo and rice. The invalid and other troops will disembark to-day, but owing to the crowded state of the invalid depot at St. Mary's barracks, only a portion will be forwarded to Chat ham, the remainder being sent to their respective depots. The Royal Artillery were landed yester day and sent to Woolwich. The Naomi, 709 tons, belonging to Mr. Vicker man, London, arrived at Gravesend yesterday from Ceylon, with troops, passengers, and a valuable general cargo. On the 4th of March, when to the eastward of the Mauritius, the vessel encountered a tremendous hurricane which lasted three days, during the continuance of which both the quarter boats were stove in, as also were the port bulwarks, the sea washing over the ship, filling the cabins with water and destroying the passengers' clothing. On the troops being inspected at Gravesend yes terday, 15 men of the 50th were ordered to be sent to join their depot in the Isle of Wight, and the remainder will be forwarded to Chatham to await their discharge from the service. Yesterday the East Indiaman Her Majesty, 1,112 tons, belonging to the firm of Saunderson and Co., came to anchor at Gravesend from Kurrachee. She brings home 212 men of all ranks, belonging to various regiments, with 15 women and 33 children. A melancholy accident occurred on board on Feb. 14, a few days after the vessel had left Kurra chee; Lieut. G. J. M. Taylor, 93d Regiment, fell into the sea, it is supposed from the porthole of his cabin, during the night, when he was suffering from sea-sickness. His body was not recovered. The invalid troops will be landed at Custom-house Quay this morning, under the superintendence of the staff from Chatham, and forwarded to that garrison. The Vernon, 995 tons, from Bombay, reached Gravesend on Sunday night, and will disembark her troops this morning, when the invalids and dis abled men will be forwarded to Chatham. The tents for the officers and men of the 2d and 3d battalions at Chatham have been erected at Fort Amherst and the King's Bastion, and it is expected that the first detachment of troops will proceed under canvass to-morrow, accommodation being provided for several hundred men. THE SYRIAN QUESTION. - The following is the Russian despatch on the evacuation of Syria, already indicated by tele-. gram : " To HIS EXCELLENCY COUNT KISSELEFF. " St. Petersburg, May 14. " Count,—ln proportion as the term fixed for the evacuation of Syria approaches its expiration, v*e cannot but view that eventuality with increas ing apprehension. Your Excellency was requested at the last conference at Paris to express the con viction of his Majesty the Emperor that the prema ture cessation of the occupation, before a definitive organisation and the instalment of a regular p owe r had replaced the guarantees acquired for the Chris tians by the presence of the Europea n t roops , wou ld entail calamities which the gr ea t P owers oug ht seriously to take into consideration in the interest of humanity and in that of th e i r own di gn i ty. We state with regret that none of the events which have since happened, or the accounts which have reached us, are of a nature to dissipate those fears. We see them even shared by foreigners of all countries resident in Syria, whose interest and whose very existence are at stake, and who have attested the unanimity of their wishes by a petition addressed, in the most pressing terms, to the great Powers of Europe. Be so good, Count, as to discuss this subject with the representatives of the Cabin ets who shared in the last deliberations. We believe we should be wanting in duty if we did not call their attention to the dangers which would fol low a recall of the troops if it were to take pla c e precisely on the day fixed without any r ega rd to the critical situation in which Syria would be left, and leaving unfulfilledi n our the preli m i nar y condi tions, which, our opinion, should have supplied the place of the guarantees of w hi c h th e Ch r i st i an populations will see themselves suddenly deprived by the departure of the troops which received from Europe the mission of providing for their safety. In such a case it on l y rema i ns t o us f orma ll y t o de cline, as we have already done, all responsibility as to the results of a determination, the consequences of which we have foreseen and indicated. Your Ex cellency is invited by order of our august master to allow no doubt to exist on this head in the minds of your colleagues. " Receive, Count, &c., " GORTSCHAKOFF." LONDON AND SpUTFI-WESTERN RAILWAY.—The directors of this railway have just issued a report, ,to be sub mitted to a special meeting of the proprietors on the 30th i ns t , relating to the measures which they propose with reference to the branch lines to Epsom and Chard. They recommend that the proprietors should authorise them to eff6cS the entire absorption of this branch into the com pany's system. After stating that they had for some time been desirous of buying up the remaining stock in the Epsom Company, and thus ending all differences by an amalgamation, and that they have made a provisional ar rangement for this purpose with the Epsom board, they say, " The general features of the arrangement are, that this company is to pay off the holders of the £40,000 origi nal ordinary capital of the Epsom Company by issuing to them so much of the 41 per cent. preferential stock of this company as will produce to those holders 3f per cent. per annum for the first four years, and afterwards 4 per cent. per annum on their stock; and is also to provide, not ex ceeding £25,000, for the liquidation of the expenditure and liabilities of the Epsom Company beyond its original share and loan capital of £93,000. This company will thus be come owners cf all the stock of the Epsom Company and liable also for its debenture debt of £23,000, and will, in fact, be purckaaera of the entire undertaking."