The Sun. — London, England, 1861-05-30 00:00:00

The boats of the ships of Rear-Admiral J. Erskine's division of the Channel Fleet, lying at Spithead, mustered yesterday morning under the stern of the Edgar flagship, manned and armed, and afterwards went through a variety of manoeuvres under oars and canvass. The cadets of the Britannia training ships were also called away in their boats, and being formed into two divisions, pulled out of harbour and effected a landing on the beach, storm ing the western curtain of Portsmouth lines. The Duncan, 101, screw, resumed her experi mental trials at Portsmouth yesterday, using on this oceasion a three-bladed propeller with its lead ing edges removed. The draught of water was the same as on the last trial. The mean result of six runs gave the ship a speed of 13.289 knots, with 55 revolutions of the engines. The Sutlej, 51, screw frigate, had a most interest ing trial made on board of her in the steam basin of Portsmouth Dockyard yesterday with one of Dr. Normandy's steam water distilling apparatus. The trial was satisfactory in the highest degree. The apparatus produces 4,032 gallons of deliciously pure and cool water in the 24 hours. The screw steam frigate Immortalite, 51, Capt. G. Hancock, from Gibraltar, arrived in Plymouth Sound on Tuesday evening. The Immortalite was appointed to go into dock at Devonport yesterday (Wednesday). She left the Channel squadron at Plymouth on Feb. 9 for Lisbon, and from there was ordered to the Mediterranean, where she has since been variously employed. For some time while at Gibraltar she provided guard-boats to row guard in the port for the purpose of protecting the shipping from the Spanish Garda Costas, who were in the habit of creeping in by night, and carrying off vessels on the plea that they were smugglers, from under the guns of the forts. She was re called home per telegraph, via Valencia, on the 6th inst., while at Palma, in Majorca, waiting to re ceive the Empress of Austria there, and passed the Empress on the 9th inst. while between the port and the rock. She left Gibraltar on the 13th inst., and returned under sail to the chops of the Chan nel, when she got up steam. She experienced variable N.E. winds. At Gibraltar she left the Cockatrice, Supply, Argus, and Procris. On her passage home she signalled on the 20th inst. the barque John Arthur, and on the 27th the ships Surrey and Bury St. Edmunds, outward bound with troops. At Algesiras there were lying a Spanish line-of-battle ship, a frigate and a large number of smaller vessels. She was to go into dock on Wednesday, to repair defects, and is then to reinforce the North America and West Indian squadron. The Challenger, 22, screw corvette, 400 horse power, Capt. J. J. Kennedy, C. 8., having shipped her Armstrong guns and the remainder of her stores, left the Nore yesterday afternoon under steam. The Challenger proceeds direct to Portsmouth, and will afterwards be despatched to the American waters, together with the other vessels composing the squadron which the English Government has decided on stationing on the American coast during the civil war in the Southern States. Her Majesty's paddlewheel steamer Cuckoo, 3, 100-horse power, which sank off Chatham dockyard some time since, has been taken into the fourth dock at Chatham to undergo a thorough repair and to have the injuries she has sustained made good, after which she will be sent to Gibraltar for har bour service, instead of the Redpole, 160-horse power, now attached to that station. The Herald, 8, surveying -vessel, Captain H. M. Denham, which recently arrived at Chatham, will, it is expected, be paid off on Saturday next. She has been out eight years, and has only six seamen of her original crew now on board. The Industry, iron store-vessel, paid off at Wool wich yesterday, has been stripped, and is ordered to undergo examination for necessary repairs, after which she will be recommissioned by Master-Com manding Hodges. The Osprey, steam-vessel, was this day undocked, after repairs, and is ordered to be got ready for commission. Admiralty orders have been received sanctioning certain alterations to the basin at Woolwich dock yard, for the purpose of admitting the Adventure, screw steam-vessel, which arrived this week from China, and will require extensive repairs. The Escort gun-boat was yesterday morning re moved from Haslar slip to the north corner of the dockyard, where she has commenced taking in shot, one 68-pounder and one 32-pouuder. She will be masted to-morrow, and placed in the first-class steam reserve. Nearly all the convicts recently employed in Chatham Dockyard have been withdrawn, though a few still remain. The prisoners thus withdrawn are to be employed on St. Mary's Island in brick making. Good brick earth exists on the island ; .. .. and, of course, a vast number of bricks will be re quired for the new constructions and the wall for the proposed great enlargement of the dockyard. It is expected that an accession of convicts will shortly be received from Bermuda, some of whom will probably replace the men now withdrawn from dockyard:work. Admiral R. S. Robinson has paid an official visit to Chatham Dockyard, and inspected the prepara tions for building the Achilles, iron armour-plated vessel. These preparations have been actively pro ceeding. They are, of course, very different from those required for an ordinary ship. Travelling cranes, running along stakes on each side of the dock, will be employed in moving the large masses of iron which will be used in constructing the vessel. At the Devonport dockyard on Tuesday morning a fire occurred, apparently from spontaneous com bustion, Which might have led to very serious lose of property but for the vigilance of the police. The ascertained facptsasrie,th at as policema n W m. St owe ll, No. 121, was passing No. 4 a t h a lf- pas t f our o'clock in th e burning, g he ob serve d th a t var i ous packages were He sprung his rattle, when all the policemen in the oyardprmp as sem bl e d immedi ately, and with the hose extinguished the fire. Four of the ca ses containing machinery and a shipwright's chest wer e charred outside. t L isle. One side of a case containing oil was burn an inch thick and the hole is about a ro f ugh. It is foot squ are . The flame from it ascended to a number of spars used for shoring up ships in dock, and which are kept triced to the framework of the roof of the shed. These spars arc eight feet above the level of the yard, they are much blackened, and if they had become thoroughly ignited various costly buildings would undoubtedly have been burnt. The fire broke out among stores belonging to the contractors. The Lords of the Admiralty have given direc tions to Messrs. Taylor, of the Britannia works, Salford, to erect two of their travelling steam crane lifts, with elevating jibs, on the Anchor-wharf, at Chatham dockyard, to facilitate the loading and un loading of ships. One of the new cranes has been at work in the dockyard for several days past, and performs its task in a most expeditious and in 1 every respect satisfactory manner. Messrs. Taylor are also erecting four of their patent travelling cranes on each side of the second dock, to be used in lifting and moving the heavy slabs and ribs of iron used in the construction of the Achilles, 40. A British squadron, consisting of a three-decker and three steamers, was off Cape Florida, America, on the 7th. Vice-Admiral C. R. Moorsom, whose death took place on Sunday last, was born Sept. 22, 179 2. He was the eldest son of Sir Robt. Moorsom, K.C.B. of Whitby. He was educated at the Royal Naval Col lege, where he distinguished himself by gaining the first medal. He served at the siege of Cadiz as signal mate, in the Revenge, 74, under the late Sir C. Paget and Commodore Sir H. Hotham. He afterwards held the post of lieutenant in the St. Alban's, 64, and the Superb, 74, in the blockade of New London, Long Island Sound, and New York. He commanded the Fury in the attack on Algiers in 1816, in which that vessel threw more shells than any other of the vessels engaged. This result was attained by arrangements which were after wards adopted in bombships, by order of the Admi ralty. In the Prometheus he was in the exercising squadron under the late Sir B. Hallowell, and in the Ariadne he had the Racehorse and the Helicon tinder his orders for experiments in the Channel for I some months. After having been senior officer at the Mauritius and dependencies, he succeeded to the I command of the Andromache and the Cape of Good Hope squadron on the death of Commodore Nourse. He was captain of the Prince Regent, bearing the flag of the late Sir Robert Moorsom, commander in-chief in the Medway. To the connection of Admiral Moorsom with railway companies refer ence has been made elsewhere. As resident direc tor of the Chester and Holyhead Railway he had four steampackets under his direction at a time when the attention of the Government and the public generally was closely directed to the im provement of steam navigation and the substitution of steam for sailing ships. His duties in this office led him particularly to consider this question, and to address to the British Association two papers, the effect of which was the Steamship Performance Committee, of which he was the chairman, was ap pointed. Much of Admiral Moorsom's leisure was given to the study and exposition of practical naval science, and he was the author of several treatises on naval tactics. THE ARMY. Yesterday afternoon a Party of insane soldiers, sent home from various regiments serving in India, arrived at the Lunatic Hospital, Fort Pitt,Chatham, in charge of Surgeon A. A. Stoney, 94th Regi ment, the whole having disembarked at Gravesend from the chartered troopship Her Majesty from Kurrachee. Orders have been received at Chatham Garrison, notifying that the following reinforcements are to be despatched to the Cape of Good Hope to aug ment the British forces now serving at that station, viz. :-860 men of all ranks of the 2d battalion, 11th Regiment; 91 men of the 85th (the King's Light Infantry) ; 78 men of the 2d Battalion of the 10th Begiment ; 57 men of the 2d Battalion of the 13th Prince Albert's Light Infantry; and 20 men of the Royal Artillery. The whole of the above troops, together with a proportionate number of officers from each of the regiments named, will em bark at Portsmouth, the necessary amount of ton nage having been yesterday taken up by the War Department. Orders were also received at Chatham for seventy-three men of the Indian service, from the depot at Warley, to embark at Gravesend on June 15 for Bombay. The 47th (Lancashire Regi ment), numbering 860 non-commissioned officers and men, exclusive of officers, is to be despatched from Ireland to Canada, and will embark at Dublin for Quebec in the course of the ensuing month. The whole of the officers under orders to embark for India who have received leave of absence from their regiments at Chatham are ordered to join their respective corps at that garrison on June 14, imme diately after which date the reinforcements for India will embark. Lumps Fort, Southsea, has received its arma ment, which is now being placed in position by the Royal Artillery. It consists of 13 95 cwt. 68-pounders, and four 8-inch shell guns, the latter being placed two on each flank. The eastern and western cavaliers of the work will each ultimately be supported with one of the 100-pounder Arm strongs. The carriages work on raised racers— that is, semi-circular lines of metal raised about 11 inch above the terre-pleine. They are fitted with double-flanged wheels, the pivot usually seen in front of the traversing carriage being in this case discarded. The system has been officially tested some time since, and is stated to have answered admirably. Some recent experiments were made with the guns in the westein auxiliary battery of Southsea Castle with the same descrip tion of racer, but fixed on a raised rear tra vers9 solidly built. The shock comunicated to the rear flanged wheels in this case at each discharge of the gun loosened the masonry and brickwork. The fort is garrisoned by a non-commissioned officer's party of Royal Artillery. Several feet of water have been admitted lately in the ditch, but the condition of the escarp and counterscarp, on the water being again withdrawn, proves that such experiments must not be too often repeated. The work of forming the groins for the defence of the glacis of the fort from the inroads of the sea is being rapidly carried out. ROT AL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY. Monday, at one o'clock, the anniversary meet ing of this society, which has of late been as suming a position commensurate with its great objects, which are of universal interest, was held at Burlington-house, Piccadilly. In the unavoidable absence of Lord Ashburton, the president, Sir Ro derick Murchison was called to the chair. There was a large attendance of members. The accessions to the society since the last anni versary amount to the unprecedented number of 233 Fellows. During the same period the Council have to record the decease of 30 ordinary members and two corresponding—viz., the Chevalier Pedro de Angelis, of Buenos Ayres, and M. Daussy, of Paris. The society now comprises 1,510 Fellows and 54 honorary and corresponding members. Earl DE GREY had attended to receive, on hehalf of Captain John Henning Speke, of the Indian army, the Founder's Medal which has been awarded to him for his eminent geo graphical discoveries in Africa, his prudence and intrepidity as a traveller, and more especially for the discovery of the great lake Victoria Nyanza, as illustrated by the map constructed for the jour nal of the society ; and lastly, for the zeal with which he undertook, and is now carrying out, at the in stance of the society, the determination of the northern limits of the lake Victoria Nyanza, and the possible souroes of the White Nile. The CHAIRMAN having presented the medal in a complimentary address, Earl DE GREY expressed the very great pleasure he:experienced in accepting on behalf of Captain Speke that symbol of the high estimation in which the Royal Geographical Society held the services he had rendered, and was still rendering, to geo graphical science. He cordially and entirely con curred in the course which the society had taken in awarding that medal to Captain Speke. As presi dent of the society last year, he had the gratifica tion of presenting a similar medal to Capt. Burton, also an officer in the Indian army ; and connected as he (Earl de Grey) was with the Indian-office, it was a source of pleasure to him to think that officers of the old Indian army were amalgamating with the rest of the service without yielding any portion of the glorious heritage which, as travellers and geo graphers, seemed to be peculiarly their own. (Ap- J plause.) The Duke of NEWCASTLE (to whom the Chair man presented the Patron's Gold Medal on behalf of Mr. John M'Douall Stuart, for his very remark able explorations in the interior of Australia, and particularly for his last successful journey from South Australi a t o t h e waterparting of Northern Australia, as illustrated by his own maps) Said it afforded him great Lord Ash pleasure a t r o t e obey th e invitation e rthat Pr es id ent, purpose, f or two reasons—first, toattend f. because he was society, of unib o le f thisme member, important oc anxious to te s tif y his entire concurrence in the ob jects Imperial Govaenrd also nment, and more especially of which he was a 1 h to express on beh a lf o f whrieohaheania the department over preside, their entire approval d a labours and exertions o f that perseveringdB awarded. Sir R. Murchison had y t re h e honour to pathy in the and enter prising explorer to whom that memorial had been alluded to the former exploits of Captain Sturt, the predecessor of Mr. Stuart in that field of enterprise. Tir. —e (the Duke of Newcastle) was sure there was no m an who would feel less jealousy at the success of Mr. Stuart than that eminent individual. Mr. Stuart commenced his exploration under the auspices of Mr. Chambers, who provided funds for that purpose. He returned in August, "0 -e 1859, from one of his expedi tions, having reason to believe he should eventually . w succeed in the object he had in again with fresh means and appliances, Starting rt ing ulti mately succeeded in reaching a point 100 miles fur le ther north than that to which 11r.1r. Gregory had penetrated, when he was stopped by the hostility of the natives. He had travelled a distance of 3,000 miles and undergone great hardships, having, for instance, on one occasion passed 111 hours without water, under a burning sun ; and, although he had been driven back by the natives, he might fairly he considered to have accomplished the object he had at heart, which was to strike the north coast some where near Cambridge Gulf. It would be out of place at that moment to raise any controversy`on such a sub ject, but the result of Mr. Stuart's exertions, and the anticipations they held out for the future, convinced him (the Duke of Newcastle) that the Government had for the present done right in not forcing colo nisation on the northern shores of Australia. He anticipated that those shores would now very soon become peopled, though there might be some diffe rence of opinion as to the best means by which that could be done. The last account of Mr. Stuart was that he was about to start again, and the only cir- cumstance which he (the Duke of Newcastle) re gretted in connection with the expedition, upon which by this time Mr. Stuart must have entered, was that he had gone alone, without scientific com panions. But he anticipated that Mr. Stuart would be successful even without these companions, and he should have great pleasure in transmitting the society's medal to him, conscious as he was of the eminent services which that gentleman had ren dered to geographical science, and to the colony and his country at large. (Cheers.) Sir R. MURCHISON said—As our respected and noble president, who has truly the interests of our body at heart, has been compelled to leave Lon don for the north of Scotland, on account of the alarming illness of the noble chieftainess, his lady's mother, whose loss, if it should :occur, will grieve many a Highlander besides myself, I am unexpec tedly called upon to resume my old place as your president. I regret his absence the more because I feel certain that if Lord Ashburton had been pre sent he would have efficiently directed your atten tion to subjects of practical usefulness and import ance which are intimately connected with the pro gress of this society. Adverting to the death of the Earl of Aberdeen, who was one of the fellows of the society, and a great benefactor of it, Sir Roderick said—This is not the place in which the higher qualities and great characteristics of this distin guished statesman can be appropriately recorded. It is not here that we are entitled to trace, as was most eloquently done in a powerful daily journal, the main features even of his career. The enlargement of these topics must be left to the pen of the historian. Nor are we capable of analys ing the merits of the antiquary, who at an early period of his life obtained the cognomen of "the Travelled Thane, Athenian Aberdeen"—the man whose classic attainments and elegant appreciation of the fine arts rendered him for sc many years a chosen arbiter in all matters of good taste, whether in architecture or sculpture, and constituted in him an invaluable trustee of the British Museum. (Hear, hear.) We may, however, in common with many of our countrymen, declare that this accom plished nobleman conducted the foreign relations of this country with such dignity, urbanity, and good sense as to have earned for him the love of all our allies, and the profound respect of even our enemies. With a somewhat formal exterior, Lord Aberdeen was endowed with a warmth of heart and largeness of views which few but his intimate friends could appreciate. In this assembly it is, indeed, gratifying to make it known that the oldest of his friends was one of our Fellows, who still survives and continues to diffuse knowledge and comfort around him. This is that learned benevolent, and excellent man, Hudson Gurney, who was the companion of Lord Aberdeen in the year 1803, when they travelled from Paris into southern climes, and who kept up an intimate cor respondence with him through life. Just as every foreign Sovereign with whom he had intercourse honoured Lord Aberdeen, our gracious Queen so deeply felt his value as an enlightened, honest, and firm friend ; that while during his life she gave himsthe strongest proofs of her friendship, she also honoured his obsequies with special marks of her affection. (Hear, hear.) The feature, however, in his truly liberal character which most distinctly con nects Lord Aberdeen with this society is that he was the Prime Minister who upon my own representa tion perceived the desirableness of granting an an nual sum of money to maintain our society in per petuity, and in thus constituting it the map-office of the nation. Admitting that no scientific body could have stronger claims upon the consideration of the Government, most willingly did he approve of the motion of that honest economist, Joseph Hume, at whose instigation the House of Commons voted the grant which first enabled us to meet the difficulties of a rising society, and which has since been continued to us annually. I have often dwelt on the good influence exercised under our pro sperity by the grant, as obtained upon the admi nistration of my illustrious and noble friend, for it was the turning point of the great advance we were destined to make; and although it be but a small item in the many virtues of a great statesman, it is one which will always endear the name of Aberdeen to every geographer. (Hear, hear.) Passing on, among other topics, to the exploration of M. Du Chaillu in Western Equatorial Africa and the," gorilla" district, Sir Roderick proceeded to say, —Among the great desiderata which remained to be worked out in South Africa, one of striking in terest, which was alluded to at our last anniversary, has been answered by M. Du Chaillu, a Frenchman by birth and education, and now a naturalised citi zen of New York. We have since had an opportu nity of hearing from the traveller himself an account of his strange experience, of seeing his collection of huge anthropoid apes, quadrupeds, reptilia, and numerous birds, and of reading a detailed narrative of his eventful wanderings. Livingstone was the first to reveal to us the great and important fact that the region of Central Africa, extending northwards from the Cape Colony to 8 deg. of south latitude, is a plateau—land occupiedby great lakes, the waters of which, as previously suggested by mvqPlf, would he forma to escape to the sea thrrmgh gorges in subtending mountain chains of greater altitude than the central watery plains. Du Chaillu, on his part, has so extended his adventu rous explorations from the Western Coast north and south of the Equator as to describe for the first time the complicated river drainage near the coast, which he has laid down on a map, and also to demon strate that a lofty wooded chain extends so far into the heart of the continent as apparently to form a band of separation between Northern and Southern Africa. In many a tract to the north of this lofty zone Mahomedanism has extended its sway; but to the south of it, in these meridians, no green flag of the Prophet has yet been unfurled, while a few zealous missionaries, living on the coasts under the Equator and on both sides of the mouth of the river Gaboon have found centres whence to propa gate the gospel of Christ. It was in one of those seats of the missionaries that young Du Chaillu, taken thither by his father, who traded in the pro ducts of the country, first learnt the rudiments of the native language of the adjacent tribes, and ob tained sufficient information to induce him on his return to his adopted home to fit himself out with presents, medicines, and arms, and then to enter upon one of the boldest ventures which man ever undertook. (Applause.) In vain had the mission aries and trading blacks dissuaded him from such an undertaking by depicting to him the savage character of the tribe of men (many of them canni bals) among whom he must trust himself, to say nothing of the ferocity of the quadrupeds and the impenetrable nature of the densely-wooded jungles and forests he would have to traverse. An intense love of natural history led him to plunge into these hitherto unexplored wilds. The giant anthropoid ape gorilla, specimens of which had a few years only been for the first time brought to Europe by traders on the coast, was known to flourish in all his pristine vigour in the interior, and many a curious quadruped and bird were described as being common to that region. The die was, therefore, resolutely cast by the young naturalist, and, with a few black car riers and canoes, and without one white attendant, he dashed into thickets where no European had ever put his foot. Gaining the goodwill of chief after chief, and being at length considered by their sable majesties as a white spirit whose wrath might be fatal to them, and whom they therefore propitiated, he has been enabled, not merely to de scribe the singular habits of these peopl e , b u t a l so to make a sketch map of the region, and to define the course of the chief rivers, both before and after they unite in a network of streams as they approach the coast. When at the extreme eastern point of his tour, the information he derived from the natives led him to believe that the rocky and densely wooded mountains really extended for so great a - distance to the east that they might be very well supposed to send out emhranchments into those highlands north of the Uniayembe Lake of Burton and Speke, which these authors called the Mountains of the Moon. Including periods of re- turn to his friends the missionaries on the coast, and his voyages to and fro, he occupied nearly four years in these arduous explorations, and got together a greater quantity:of apes, quadrupeds, and birds (many of them never before seen) than pro bably ever fell to the lot of any one traveller. It is not of thesenotourp animals,rovincehe but w retoee know stima h t 3 tthaet, in therelative opinion the pre- ex istingpinionofsomeof the first zoologi s ts of Europe A ad ne m sac e r r hi i ip c s a t i , assoco A n l s . , D convincedi a a t e C si h i a as Chaillu 1 u has not only added greatly wnitet acquaint ance w ith the fau na b of South Africa,has, t b h y e m his t c h l a e t ar he an h d a animated s eye close an ofhe proved the h a bi ts o f t h e gor ill a eeds ) Strikingly at imself to be their successful assail an t . tractive and w on derfulAal )sr , c, i p ov i a . u they all carry in th emselves stantial truthfulness. Of thi s no an im were his who has f orme d s descriptions, press of sub the acquaintance of M. Du Chaillu, and looked i nto his open countenance and met his bright and piercing eye, can for a moment doubt. (Hear.) Aware that the f4ithful description of a region so extrava gantly exuberant in many natural productions, an d inhabited by gigantic apes, and in one part by a cannibal race, would probably he doubted by some cavillers, M. Da Chaillu is quite prepared to meet such objectors. He knows as well as we do that many of the discoveries of Bruce in the last cen tury were repudiated and treated as fables. But, with the advancement of geographical research, the detractors of Bruce have had their own names consigned to oblivion, while the wonderful and so called " travellers' tales" of the great Abyssinian explorer have been verified by his followers. Know ledge is indeed much more diffused than in the days 1 of Bruce, and to the honour of the contemporary press, the narrative of M. Du Chaillu has met with THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING; MAY 30,' 1861; one severe critic only, while all the weekly periodi cals of the last fortnight and the great leading journal, the Times, have treated his work with that praise to which, in the opinion of Professor Owen, as well as of many geographers, it is emi nently entitled. (Cheers.) His numerous friends and admirers have now only to express a hope that the work on Equatorial Africa may bring much profit as well as reputation to the undaunted ex plorer, who, despite of numerous fevers, has gone over some thousands of miles of hitherto unknown lands, and has brought to us unanswerable evidence of his fidelity of observation—evidence which the council of this society has considerately allowed him to exhibit to the public in our own apartments in Whitehall-place. _ In the evening the members of the society and a considerable body of invited guests, to the number in all of about 300, dined together at the Freema sons' Tavern. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. THE DERBY. The French Derby at Chantilly, from all we hear of it, must have partaken more of the nature of a well-selected fete champetre than a great notional race. No noise was there, we are told, of " discoreant travelling bands," "no pushing card seller," "no shoats, no riotous crowd." Even bets were quietly booked, and the conicourse, if we may apply so rude a term to the elite of Penis, were ruled by a handful of policemen. It must, of course, arise from a depravity of taste on our part, but after hearing such a description we confess to entertaining a strong opinion that the French Derby must have been a dull, 3low, and solemn affair; and, when the historian adds, in a moralising mood, that "it is strange so small a slip of water should keep up such a dif ference in the manners of twe great nations," we feel, on the whole, by no means remorseful, but rather inclined to congratulate ourselves on being on the right side of the water in this matter. Fancy Epsom Downs arranged after the French style—bandless, niggerless, devoid alike of sharpers and their prey, without tumblers, con jurors, organ grinders, gipsies, performing monkeys, or pre cocious children. Under such a regime in Surrey yesterday what would have become of the sallow vagabonds who now for a trifling consideration knock their battered visages about in mimic repetition of the great Sayers contest ? Have not that numerous and influential class who derive an inde pendence from the patrons of Aunt Sally vested interests in the ground ? Perhaps, under French arrangements, their claims might be compromised by making them checktakers, to see that every one went to his proper seat round the course, or enrolling them to act in a body under Mr. Super intendent Beaunash, to prevent any one not in evening dress from entering the Grand Stand. With a few such minor alterations and improvements, such as making blue veils and little dolls misdemeanours, and " three throws a penny" felony, without benefit of clergy, the Downs might be made a most orderly place, and even invalids go down to Epsom to drink its celebrated salts, and afterwards witness a mild and dispassionate Derby from their easy chairs. Yesterday, however, there seemed not the remotest disposi tion to approach this beau ideal of a French race. There was shouting and noise and pushing card-sellers, while the bands were certainly more numerous, and, if possible, more discordant than ever, amid the din of which one was only able to discern that by far the greater number supported " Dixie's Land," though a formidable minority rallied round " Bob Ridley," and rather spoiled the general effect of both. The road down was as crowded and dusty as the road always is on a Derby-day, which is saying a very great deal in a very few words. The great southern centre of bustle and confusion, the Elephant and Castle, was as thronged and as beset as ever. Everything seemed to muster there previous to starting, from swell drags, crowded outside with fast young men, and inside with turnip radishes with which to pelt the lieges coming back; there, too, aspiring clerks assembled and donned blue veils preparatory to going quietly down by rail ; and there also were young fellows who had so anticipated matters as even thus early in the morning to require a helping hand to steady them on the i oofs of busses. Foreigners ascribe our great metropolitan exodus on the Derby day to the national love of racing, which we all know is moonshine. If all the Downs were polled yesterday three-fourths would rather have missed seeing the race than seeing the road. What, in the name of goodness, would the race be with out the road to it, and the pic-nics and little parties, and the not little hampers ? The Derby-day is, in fact, Lon don's carnival and great day out. It is looked forward to as such, and the race, per se, is a mere item of amusement, to which the dust, hurry, confusion, noise, whirl, laughter, champagne, raised pies, salads, and fowls are all necessary adjuncts. It is rather the fashion to say that the glories of the road are falling off, though, to our mind, as far as the style and number of equipages go, they seem to increase each year, and never were they greater than yesterday. Through Clapham, where, as usual, all the upper windows were stuccoed over with babies and nurslings, and the drawingrooms and gardens filled with the brightest of belles, who made believe net to notice the passers-by, the stream of vehicles was dense and apparently interminable. Nor was it a whit less varied than numerous. Everything that could go on wheels, and very many also, as the event proved, that could not, seemed pressed into the service. Postchaises that had done duty any time these months past as pigeon roosts in the worst inn's worst yard came clattering along, the horses, warranted three parts blood and the other corn, inutuglug in an imperfect recollection of a canter, a feeble reminiscence which the old postillion fosters to the utmost by rising in his saddle now and then as if the animals really galloped. These, however, though slow, are sure, and, in the event of surviving the journey down, are more to be relied upon than the gay animal that is put to with his fore leg tied up, and who is certain to come out in his true colours on the first favourable opportunity. This, unfor tunately, he is sure to find in the narrowest part of the road, where the bewildered driver can only fall back upon the advice, tendered in peremptory directions, to "pull a one side," or in sarcastic reminders that "the coachman" must come out next time, as he is sure to be wanted in the hayfield—observations which occasion a state of mind quite unsuitable to administering to the eccentricities of a jib horse. We have often wondered where all the bad horses come from on a Derby day, and how it is that such very unexceptionable turns-out come to grief, or, in polite par lance, are "plunged in despondency," while a costermonger with all his family in a ricketty barrow, and a select party of immediate relatives on the shafts, gets down safely and in good time too. Such, however, is too often the fact, and some especially neat gets-up were yesterday backed off the road into a hedge, leaving their disconsolate occupants no other alternative, if they wished to reach the Downs, save that of getting into the shafts themselves. At the Merton pike there was the usual obstruction, annoyance, and delay. When will some one devise a method bywhich may be mitigated or a t l eas t it s this avoidance intolerable compounded nuisanc e f or? The Downs were crowded to an extent that we have sel dom seen. The hill opposite the stand and far past the paddock, and up on the left to the "corner," was one dense black mass of carriages and people—a houseless population as numerous in its crowds and as varied in its elements as that of the metropolis itself. It was a real Derby gathering, and, if possible, a Derby gathering exaggerated with all its queer melange of high and low—blacklegs and lords, card sharpers and countrymen, gentlemen and ladies, knaves, folks, foreigners, trampers, lame, inshort, w h om t o il or mone y cou ld h bringfools,atand together blindshowmen, n,; all, ear holiday London, and what does that not com prise ? Here is a blind man reading the Scriptare, while near him two other blind men led by dogs are playing so vehemently on whistles as unconsciously to drown his voice ; beyond these is a juvenile band whose performances one cannot overlook or pardon, even on account of their youth, and to these, after a brief interval of Aunt Sallys and cocoa-nuts, succeeds a conjuror, apparently swallow ing whole reams of coloured paper, and whose hard case we earnestly recommend to hon. members in the approach ing discussion on paper duties as a novel illustration of the manner in which this impost presses on some consumers. Towards two o'clock the huge concourse begins to settle down, and the " business" of the day begins, on the part of the public with lunch, and on the part of that small mino rity, the " racing public," with preparations for what is never mentioned at Epsom but as "the great event." In the matters incident to this latter we might fairly take a hint from the French Derby, where, we hear, the riders are weighed in a pretty and convenient kind of sum mer house. Under the Grand Stand is a sort of disused wine cellar, whitewashed clean enough, but as small, as ill placed, and as inconvenient as can well be imagined. Here the visitor finds himself among apparently a new race of pigmy men, with their gay-coloured silks shining brightly underneath great overcoats, who converse by winks and nudges of the elbow, and who, with bridle and saddle round their necks, proceed with solemn gravity to seat themselves in the scales and test in an amateur manner their precise weight before weighing by the proper authorities. Thera is nothing in the whole proceeding that is of interest, ex cept as suggestive of being capable of much improvement in regard to the vault where it takes place. From the weighing-room there is always a general move to the pa-- dock, the cool quiet of which pretty meadow comes in like a rest after the turmoil of the course. There is an odd muster always here—peers, trainers, jockeys, owners, backers, betters, all more or lessengaged with note-making on little slips of paper or small books, and all on the look out for authorities, " horsey" men, and what not. A queer looking man, vd,o:e attire, though good, is " slangy," and suggestive somehow of the stable, approaches the largest group and says something, at which they disperse as if a shell had burst among them :—" Dundee has been cough ing," and in a minute every one is commencing either to get th e o dd s or g i ve them, and at the mention of he favourite's name puts on a grave air and looks out in the distance, as if Dundee had eaten his groom, and his name was rather a painful subject than otherwise. A minute after and there is a great rush made as if the as semblage were fielding at cricket, and a brown, leggy horse stalks in with such a very little stable boy on his back that on the first glance you would imagine people were going to ' his assistance lest he should fall off and be killed. This (the horse we mean, not the litee boy) is Royalieu, and two minutes after Royalieu is nowhere in the betting books. Soon afterwards, though not immediately, a bright chest nut colt comes into the field, light, yet powerful in its step, holding its head well up, with a full inquiring sort of eye and wide tremulous nostril. There is rather a movemen made towards him, till the word is passed from mouth to mouth, when the followers at once drop off, and. it turns into a corner of the meadow, almost unattended save by a few determined admirers. it is not Diophantus, not even Rouge Dragon—it is only Kettledrum, who is forthwith consigned to a betting limbo almost as deep as that of Royalieu. Another dreadful rumour, and a good horse is reported bad in the hocks just as Dictator, Klarikoff, and the Dragon make their appearance. Dictator, a beautiful and powerful colt, rises in the market, and Klarikoft is quoted at an im provement, with a tendency to go up, all of which his superb appearance justified. All this while Kettledrum walks round in a corner with Yorkminster, the Drake, Kildonan, and others almost as good, and quite as unnoticed. Every one is waiting for the favourites, and at last they enter from opposite sides of the paddock, Diophantus, an exquisite chestnut colt, and Dundee, if possible, a still more beautiful black. Their condition was the perfection of training; their skins glistened with the sheen of silk, and every muscle of their bodies stood out in smooth, broad bands that seemed to expand with power at each movement. Diophantus was the most admired, as, with a lithe soft stop, he came into the paddock neighing and tossing his head, looking round upon his rivals with a high, disdainful air, as one who should say, " Cave, adsum." The rumoured cough of Dundee was still echoing round the paddock, so that other horses were, in racing terms, "inquired after," though, nevertheless, both favourites kept ahead of all. Their appearance, as we have said, justified this preference, for two finer animals have never been beaten at the Derby. Gently, and with the utmost care, the process of saddling for the race was gone through; though, quietly as it was managed, there were some horses whom it appeared to alarm and distress, and whom Mr. Rarey would have sad dled more quietly, though perhaps with more time. Time, however, on a Derby day is more than money; it is name and fame as well to both horse and owner, and when the bell is clanging and the course all but cleared, there are but very few minutes to spare. Only 18 horses started yester day, in number certainly a falling off compared with other years, when sometimes there were as many as 30 starters. They came out from the paddock in a little knot out upon the course amid the great mass of spectators, and, instinc tively, all broke into a canter and then a gallop. The course was not quite cleared. There were the traditional dogs (three this time) who ran an impromptu Derby of their own, howled at and worried into incipient rabies. There was the stout gentleman, too, whom no one would let under the ropes, sweltering up the greensward amid derisive shouts to "Ge in and win I" " What were the odds against him ?" and ironical queries as to whether he is to ride Mr. Spur geon's horse. But the noise stops as Dundee goes down like a hind moving over the turf with a long silent stride like the shadow of a horse. No one notices Kettledrum, but Rouge Dragon makes a great spurt and becomes popular among the "know-nothings." In a few minutes after the colours assemble at the starting-post, and go suddenly up the hill, amid a hoarse cry of " They're off I" and " Hats off I" But the course bell gives no sign, and after a minute of intense expectation they come back again. Another start and the Derby has begun as the little mass disappears behind the hill. Yet another minute for last feverish bets and the group emerges upon the horizon, all well together, like a group of flowers. The pace seems tremendous, yet all keep well up to the corner, when the leaders draw ahead ; the hum deepens into a roar as the colours of Dundee and Diophan tus seem well in front—every one waves something as they rush thundering up the course—the jockeys call on their horses, who make desperate efforts. At the last an unknown horse is leading, but the favourites rush in with a pace that puts their backers quite at ease, and the race is over in a minute, and No. 8 goes up at the post, and the winner is —Kettledrum. EPSOM RACES —WEDNESDAY. The Epsom Town Plate of 50 sovs (handicap), for all ages ; one mile ; the winner of any race (matches excepted) ' after publication of the weights (May 23, 11 a.m.) to ' carry 51b extra. Any number of horses the property of ' the same owner may run for this plate. Baron Niviere's Wedding, 5 yrs, Bst 41b (Watkin) 1 Mr. Hudson's Miss Emma, 3 yrs, Est 21b.. (G Parsons) 2 ' Mr. G. Simpson's Narcissus, 4 yrs, 6st 101 b (carried 6st • 121 b) (11 Grimshaw) 3 The following also ran :—Vulture, Wild Bird, The Don, and Tibbie Shields. Betting-7 to 4 agst Miss Emma, 7to 2 agst Narcissus, 5 to 1 agst Wedding, and 7 to 1 agst The Don. Mr. Jacobs declared to win with The. Don. The running was made by Narcissus, followed by Vulture, Wild Bird, and Wedding, in the order we have given them, Tibbie Shields being the last, a long way in the rear. On entering the straight the leading horses closed up, and ran abreast to the distance, when they were joined by Wedding, who took a slight lead at the Stand enclosure, and at the same time Miss Emma became second. A good race home between the three finished in favour of Wedding by three lengths, a head separating the second and third ; a bad fourth ; the others beaten off. The Derby Stakes of 50 sovs each, h ft, for 3-yr• olds ; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 21b ; the owner of the second horse to receive 100 soya out of the stakes, and the winner to pay 100 soya towards the police and regulations of the course, and 50 sous to the judge. Mile and a half, to be run on the New Course. 238 subs. Value £6,450. Col. Towneley's Kettledrum (Bullock) 1 Mr. Merry's Dundee Edwards) 2 Lord Stamford's Di o ph an i us (A. Edwards) 3 Mr. Henrys Xlarikc,ti (Fordham) 0 Lord Stamford's Imaus (French) 0 Count Lagrange's Royallieu Mr. Merry's Russley (M ithington) 0 Mr. Manning's Seven Dials (Sopp) 0 Mr. Thomas's Dictator (J. Osborne) 0 Lord Glasgow's The Drake (Aldcroft) 0 Colonel Towneley's Yorkmin s t er Sir C. Monck's Gardener (D. Hughes) 0 Sir J. Hawley's Rouge Dragon (Wells) 0 Mr. Parr's Kildonan (Clements) 0 Lord Lincoln's Lupus (A. Day) 0 Mr. Hamilton's Au r eli an (J, Goater) 0 Mr. Parker's Atherstone (S. Rogers) 0 Mr. Osborne's Lopcatcher (Challoner) 0 Betting-3 to 1 agst Dundee, 4to 1 agst Diophantus, 6 to 1 agst Dictator, 7 to 1 agst Klarikoff, 12 to 1 agst Kil donan, 14 to 1 agst Rouge Dragon, 16 to 1 agst Kettledrum, 20 to 1 agst Royallieu, 25 to 1 agst The Drake, 40 to 1 agst Yorkminster, and 1,000 to 15 each agst Atherstone and Aurelian. Precisely at the time set down the horses left the pad dock and took their preliminary canters, after which Mr. Martin Starling marshalled them in line, and in due course handed them into the custody of the starter, who lost no time in getting them to the post, and after one slight failure the flag was lowered, amid the shouts of the anxious spec tators, and they were off at 3 24—to an indifferent start, Rouge Dragon, Klarikoff, and Lupus being left many lengths behind. On settling into their places, Royallieu im mediately went to the front, and with Imaus, Diophantus, Kettledrum, and Yorkminster lying close up, cut out the work at his best pace; the rear division being headed by Dundee, who was running in the centre, Atherstone, Dicta tor, and Kildonan following in his wake, Rouge Dragon, Klarikoff, and Lupus still being in the rear. With little or no alteration they ran thus td the " furzes," when Dio phantus, as in the "Two Thousand," rushed to the front and took a slight lead, Kettledrum going on second close at his girths, with Royallieu, Atherstone, and Aurelian in close attendance. Descending the hill Klarikoff began to improve his position, and before the turn was made was on equal terms with his horses. Diophantus, on entering the straight, still held a conspicuous lead, Aurelian at this point lying second, Kettledrum on the whip hand; Klarikoff, on the lower ground next the rails, creeping up, was fourth ; then came Atherstone, Royallieu, and the favourite, the others presenting a lengthened tale, the last of them being Rouge Dragon, Russley, Lupus, and Seven Dials. In this way they ran to the road, crossing which Atherstone swerved, and drove Royallieu out of his stride, and in so doing sent him on to Dundee, who at that moment was in the act of coming up on the outside, and nearly knocked him over, but Custance fortunately had him in hand and saved him from falling, but before the distance had been reached, Dundee was observed to falter, and in a few strides further broke down badly, but gamely struggled on to the half distance, where he joined Diophantus, who with Kettledrum, Aurelian, and Klarikoff closely laid up, came on together to the entrance of the Stand enclosure, where Bullock called upon his horse, who answered with great gameness; and in a stride or two took a clear lead. Dundee at the same time made his final effort, but was unable to " act" through his misfortune, and was beaten, after a game struggle, by a length, defeating Diophantus by a head only for the second money, the latter beating Aurelian by a neck. Klarikoff, who never fairly got to his horses, finished an in different fifth, Royallieu sixth ; the others, headed by Imaus, Kildonan, and Atherstone, came in at wide inter- vals beaten off a long way, the last three being Lupus Rouge Dragon, and Seven Dials. The Manor Plate, of 50 sous; 3-yr-olds, 7st 41b; 4-yr-olds, Bst 101 b ; 5-yr-olds, 9st 21b; 6-yr-olds and aged, 9st 31b ; mares and geldings allowed 31b. Maiden 3-yr-olds, if they have run three times, allowed 31b; 4-yr-olds and upwards, 71b. The winner to be sold for 200 soya, if de manded, &c. One mile. Mr. W. Day's Deserter, 3 yrs, 7st 4lb (J. Adams) 1 Mr. Saxon's Jenny Longlegs, 4 yrs, Bst 71b (I. Snowden) 2 Mr. B. Land's Dartmoor,• 3 yrs, 7st 4lb (Clement) 3 The following also ran :—Cheesecake, Shepherdess, Brawn filly, and Little Gerard. Betting-5 to 3 agst Cheesecake, 4to 1 agst Deserter, 5 to 1 agst Shepherdess, and 6 to 1 agst Jenny Longlegs. Deserter jumped off with a clear lead, followed by the favourite, Jenny Longlegs, and Dartmoor; the others some lengths in the rear. On entering the straight, Deserter in creased his lead, Cheesecake shortly after being passed by Jenny Longlegs, the three running wide to the stand, where Cheesecake was beaten and was passed by Dartmoor ; Deserter, however, held his own, and won very easily by two lengths, Jenny Longlegs beating Dartmoor by a length for second. Little Gerard and the Brawn filly were the last two. The winner was claimed by Mr. Saxon. The Bentinck Plate of 50 sous (handicap) for all ages. Winners to carry slb extra ; three-quarters of a mile. Any number of horses the property of the same owner may run for this plate. _ _ . Captain Coates's Hesper, by Hesperus, 3 yrs, 7st 41b (A. Edwards) 1 Mr. Thornton's Curlew, 4 yrs, ist 101 b (inc. 51b extra) (Challoner) 2 Mr. Joseph Dawson's Neophyte, 5 yrs, 9st 71b (A. French) 3 The following also ran :—renalty, Von Strom, New Brighton, Rockley, Squire Percy, Prince Frederick, Sister to Morella, Girdle, Vigil, and Lady Louisa filly. Betting-5 to 2 agst Curlew, 7to 2 agst New Brighton, 6 to 1 each agst Hesper and Rockley, 8 to 1 agst Von Stroom, 10 to 1 agst any other. Mr. Jacobs declared to win with Von Stroom ; Hesper, in company with Curlew, Neophyte, and Sister to Morella, mado the running to the centre of the stand, when Reaper drew away and won in a canter by two lengths, Curlew de feating Neophyte by a length for second ; Lady Louisa filly was fourth, Sister to Morella next ; then came Girdle, Rockley, Von Stroom, Penalty, and Newßrighton, the last of all being Prince Frederick, who broke down badly. The Burgh Stakes of 5 sous each, with 30 soya added; 2-yr-olds, 7st 31b; 3-yr-olds, 9st llb ; 4-yr-olds, 9st 121 b ; 5-yr-olds and upwards, lOst 21b ; mares and geldings allowed 31b. The winner to be sold ?or 150 sovs ; but if entered to be sold for 80 soya, allowed 71b ; if for 60 soya, 141 b ;if for 40 soya, 211 b. 6 subs. Mr. Merry's filly, by lon,--Calliope, 2 yrs (L4O), sst 71b (Midgeley) 1 Mr. J. Dawson's Grant, 2 yrs (E4O), sst 71b (Wheateley) 2 Mr. Brown ns Nomad, 2 yrs (£4O), sst 101 b (O. Parsons) 3 Montebello and Miss Swift also ran. Betting-2 to lon the Calliope filly, and sto 1 each agst Miss Swift and Montebello, The favourite took the lead at starting, followed by Grant, with Miss Swift on the whip hand, who bolted at the Road and threw her rider. The Calliope filly continued her lead to the end, and won, hard held, by half a length, Nomad being a bad third. The winner was sold to Captain King for 255 guineas. LATEST BETTING. THE OAKS. 7to 2 agst Nemesis 4to 1 agst Silverhair 7to 1 agst Fairwater Bto 1 agst Caller Oui 10 to 1 agst Gabrielle d'Estrees 10 to 1 agst Tattoo 12 to 1 agst Brown Duchess 12 to 1 agst Vergiss-mein-Nicht 100 to 8 agst The Babette filly 100 to 7 agst White Wave (taken) 2HE PAPER DUTIES. (From the Times.) The inevitable day has come at last, and the fate of paper trembles in the balance ; or, if the metaphor be thought more appropriate, flutters in the wind. Will the kite go up, and carry with it by way of tail the Government of Lord Palmerston and its fortunes; or will it fall, and bring down with it in its descent the destinies of a Ministry and the hopes of a party ? Were there no other reason for wishing success to the abolitionists, it would be quite enough that by success, and by success alone, can we hope to rid ourselves of this interminable subject. But, while sincerely desir ing the abolition of a duty, from which this journal will receive its full share of advantage, we cannot forget the unprecedented course of events by which this result has been brought about, and the reasons which render it better to advance in a course ori ginally wrong than to stop short after matters have reached their present most extraordinary position. W hat may be the causes which have brought Mr. Gladstone into such close union and har mony with Mr. Bright and his friends it is scarcely worth while to inquire. This phenomenon has been in its time a nine day's wonder, and is now con signed to that limbo where other vagaries of the sameillustrious personage lie waiting for judgment. Nor need we now inquire what the particular mo tives may be which make a reduction in this parti cular duty at this particular time a matter of such overpowering and engrossing interest to a certain section of the Liberal party. Enough to say that there has long existed between Mr. Gladstone and this section a very strong community of feeling, and that for their exclusive gratification, and not the least in order to conciliate any one else, in the House of Commons or out of it, the arrangement was made which led, as we all know, to the great constitutional question of last session. Up to this point we confess we could see no reason whatever why the critical position of the revenue should be still further compromised by the abolition of a tax which had, indeed, its faults, like all its brethren, but which could be ill spared at a moment when the French Treaty made such serious calls upon us for reduction. But from this period commenced the inverted process by which what was origi nally wrong has been made to become right. The question has been removed from the domain of finance into that of politics. Mr. Gladstone is in a position to take advantage of his own wrong. We are obliged to do what is not financially ex pedient, lest we should do something which is still more politically inexpedient. A breach has arisen between the two houses. The Lords rejected a money bill, and by so doing created a budget for which neither they nor any one else in the world can properly be said to be responsible. They have given battle to the House of Commons on ground of their own selection, and have come victorious out of the conflict. The paper duty remains as a trophy of their success. It is not desir able that this trophy should remain. It is not desirable that irritating questions between the two Houses of Parliament should be mixed up with considerations purely financial. It might be better, as some have argued, to reduce the tea or sugar duties. The answer is that the reduction of the tea or sugar duties would have left unsettled the question between the two Houses, a question far more important than the incidence of any duty whatever. Were the paper duty to be preserved for this year, it would nevertheless be condemned to speedy extinction, and no one could invest capital with any confidence on the supposition either of its repeal or its continuance. It is one of the powers vested in a Chancellor of the Exchequer that he can not only repeal taxes, but render their continuance impossible. There is so much to be said, and said with truth, against every impost, that the condemnation of the Financial Minister is a deadly wound from which a tax cannot recover. No two questions can be more unlike than the question whether the paper duty ought to have been included among the s xeeping repeals of 1860, or postponed to tea or sugar in the financial arrangement of 1861. That which was wrong has become right, and the most superfluous of all financial caprices now comes before us in a form closely resembling a political necessity. Therefore, by all means, whatever have been the intrigues by which the repeal of the Paper Duty has been forced on an unwilling Cabinet, a hostile Par liament, and an indifferent public, however sordid have been the motives which actuate its most active supporters, and however injurious to sound finance and to the general interest of the public has been this discussion, we trust that the house will not allow itself to be deterred by indignation, which it may very excusably feel at the manner in which it has been treated, from removing all causes of future discord, and preventing the recurrence of disputes which have monopolised the attention of Parlia ment during the present session, to the exclusion of almost every other serious topic. These motives are of such weight and so very ob vious in themselves that it may seem scarcely worth while to recall them. But the decision of this even ing involves another set of considerations,which may possibly be found to be at least equally important. It is notorious that, should the repeal of the Paper Puty be rejected this evening, it will be on grounds entirely different from those which have hitherto been put forward. The duty is a mere screen. Mr. Disraeli has been long keeping the question in abeyance, in hopes that in the varied events of an existence so complicated as our own something might be found which could be turned to his advan tage. He has a minority so large that any casual source of unpopularity may at any time convert it into a majority. He has patiently waited upon Fortune, and the fickle goddess for once has been faithful to her ardent and confiding votary. The Government has found it necessary to cancel, in the ordinary course of business, the contract of the Galway Line of Packet s to America. This act has been one of common official duty. The Company broke their agreement, and were only after repeated failures, which left no hope for further improve ment, punished by the annulling of their co n t ract. Immediately all Ireland is in a blaze. I n t o t h at extraordinary country the notion that there ca n b e such a thing as a duty to the public which conflicts with the wishes and interests of individuals does not seem to have penetrated. Ireland desires a communication between her Western shores and the North American Continent, and therefore faults and irregularities which in the case of an English company would, as a matter of course, be visited by the cancelling of its contract, a re t o b e regar d e d as venial when committed by an Irish association, and it has been loudly threatened that if Government does not assent to this view of its duties it must forego the support, or rather undergo the combined hostility, of the representatives of a wronged and united peeple. Parties are very evenly balanced, and it was said that Irish votes would turn the Division upon the Paper Duty against the Government which had cancelled the contract. We have never any fear of such bargains. The great bulk of the party resents them, and by staying away more than makes up for the few votes so obtained. It is with deep regret, then, we hear it rumoured that terms have been made by which the support of the partisans of the Galway route has been secured. Any such arrangement , w h atever its terms, and however its object may be veiled, would he in our opinion a most lamentabl e concession. It is said that the subsidy is to be continued for six months longer. If this be true, th e mean i ng i s t h at £36,000 is to be paid to a private company in order that a raeaeure of imperial policy may be carried through Parliament. We trust this is not so. We refuse to believe it. Better a thousand times be defeated by a narrow majority than inaugurate once more in this country the reign of Parliamentary corruption. Let it one go forth that it is only by bribes out of the public purse that a Parliamentary majority can be held together, and the foundation has been laid for a reaction against our present constitution far more serious than anything that has hitherto been contemplated. (From the Morning Advertiser.) To-night the debate on the Paper Duties will be resumed, and we have no doubt, be also concluded. Before recording their votes, it is right that men' hers should distinctly comprehend the issues in volved in the division. The first great question which they will have to answer by their votes is this—" Is it wise, is it p o liti c, is it just, to esti!): guish, not for one year, but for ever, 'a source 01 taxation which contributes £1,500,000 annually to the revenue, without any one of her Majesty's subjects feeling the slightest pressure in paying their part of the sum ?" Viewed in that one light, there cannot, we should think, be two °pi' nions on the point.. All must admit that it would not be possible to imagine anything more inexpe dient than to dry up for ever, by a formal vote, source of revenue which is so little felt, and at the same time so abundant. If, therefore, there were no other considerations mixed up with the matter, that one fact ought to be sufficient to in sure the retention of the Paper Duties as the result of the division this evening. But then there is this other weighty considers tion,—that the proposed repeal of the Paper Duties has been literally forced on Lord Palmerston and the Cabinet by Mr. Gladstone. This is not denied either by the noble Lord himself, or by any of his colleagues. Neither the Premier nor any member of his Cabinet ventured to repudiate the charge, even when it was preferred by Mr. Disraeli in the House of Commons, at a time when the gather ing of the members was unusually large. Mr. Disraeli, indeed, put the thing in more expressive words than we have done. Fie charged Mr. Gladstone to his face .with .tbully ing" Lord Palmerston. And the silence alike of the Premier and the Chandelier of the Exchequer under so grave an accusation, was a virtual admission of its truth. The country is indignant at this, because, as we have said a thousand times over, there is no mail now, nor has been in the present day, so popular with the country, both personally and politically, as Lord Palmerston. He is a man whose noble nature, courteous manners, lofty patriotism, and eminent statesmanship, as well as unrivalled dipin" matic abilities, render :him the idol of his country men. So much greater the pity —so much deeper the national humiliatio rt and indignation, that such a man should be perpetually subject in Cabinet Coun cils, to the arrogant, acid even insulting demeanour of one who has not am atom of gen eros ity i n his nature, any mom than geniality in his manner. If, therefore, there Iv ere no other reason than the universal desire that Lord Palmerston should be placed beyond the reach of Mr. Gladstone's bully ing" demeanour, that ought to be sufficient to in' duce the house to vote for the retention of the Paper Duties,—for inasmuch as Mr. Gladstone 1 0 pledged over head and heels to Mr. John Bright and the Manchester Sabool, to carry the repeal of the Paper Duties or resign, his defeat this evening would necessitate his resignation and that of Mr. Milner Gibson. Lord Palmerston is a man of much too generous a disposition t o ma k e an admis sion to that effect, but there is no one in the country at all conversant with the facts of the case, who does not know that the resignation of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Milner Gibson would be to the noble lord a boon and a. blessing of the first magni tude, while the country would raise one load ulll - shout of joy on finding that the career of Mr. Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer had been thus brought to a termination. But in addition to all this, let it be remembered that no one wishes for the repeal of the Paper Duties except, —indeed, the proprietors of trie penny papers. It is not pretended that the country wishes the repeal of these duties. The country, on the contrary, is dead a gainst their remission. Not one solitary petition has been presented this ses sion for the abolition of the duties in question front any class of the community, whereas an immense number of petitions against the repeal of the Paper, Duties have been l a id on th e ta bl e of the House o f Commons from all classes and all parts of the country. But let hear the Times on this point. In its impression of Tuesday, that journal says, speaking of the proposed repeal of the Paper Duties :—" But what is the weak point of this measure ? It is that it cannot even pretend to be a popular proceeding. There is absolute', no such thing as a cry, or a cause, or even a public opinion in favour of the measure. There has been nothing to indicate that; a single labourer, or artisan, or shopman cares a straw about the repeal of the duty one way or the other. The agitation is con fined to Parliament -street; if you go southward into Lambeth, or northward Into the populous quarters of Broadway and Tothill-fields, you will find no more known about it than about the politics of the moon. The measure may be a very good one all the same. The French Emperor does some very grand things, but then he does them without public pres sure, and sometimes without public fore-knowledge. If the House of C ommons passes th i s measure, it will be acting imperially rather than as represent ing the people." There is no mistaking this language, and coming from the Times, the staunch supporter of the Go' vernment, such testi mon y is invaluable. If any member had any doubts before as to the vote be should give this evening, this extract from the Tunas ought to make him d eterm i ne at once to record his vote against a measure for which no human being► not personally int eres t e d , has expressed the faintest wish. The organs of Government are endeavouring to frighten members into the support of the Glad stone proposal to abolish the Paper Duties, by holding over their heads the threat of a dissolu tion. The menace is mere moonshine. And none know that it is so better than those who make use of it. Lord Palmerston no more dreams of s dissolution in the event of a Gladstone d e feat this night, than he dreams of restoring the Heptarehy. The idea, indeed, all things consi dered, is so supremely and so manifestly preposte rous, that it were a reflection on the intelligence of the public were we to set about seriously to dis prove it. No; there will be no dissolution of Par liament—none even of the Ministry. The only dissolution will be that of Mr. Gladstone, as Chan cellor of the Exchequer, and as a member of the Cabinet, followed by another " dissolving view," in the person of Mr. Milner Gibson. And with these two elements of weakness out of the Cabinet, the Government of Lord Palmerston would acquire a measure of strength which it has never hitherto known, and never by possibility can know, so long as it is its sad fate to have two such men among its members. They are a couple of Achans in the camp of Downing -street. The Lord Advocate, on Friday, will introduce a bill to amend the law rogarding conjugal rights in Scot land. [ADVERTISEMENT.] Pills and medicine invariably ag gt avate and perpetuate diseases ; their annoyance, dis appointment, and expense may be avoided by persons In indifferent health sending only their address to E. S. Barry, Esq., 77, Regent-street, W., London, and they will receive gratis - and free by post the " INvAzins' OwN GUIDE," or Natural Restorer, without medicine or ex pmse, of perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound langs, and refreshing sleep, to the most enfeebled, insuring the removal of indigestion (dyspepsia), constipation, liver complaints, nausea, epilepsy, paralysis, debility, nervousness, palpitation, cough, asthma, consumption, d ropsy, flatulency, diarrhoea, dysentery, bili ousness, fevers, sore throats, catarrhs, colds, noises in the ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpi tation, heartburn, headache, despondency, cramps, spasms , sinking, fits, bronchitis.— " Unquestionably the safest Guide to health." BIRTHS. BECKWITH.—On the 29th inst., at Surbiton, Mrs. Edwd Lonsdale Beckwith. of a son. HARRIS.—On the 26th inst., at Bedford-p ar k, C roydon, the wife of Mr. George Harris, of Change-alley, London, of a son. HORNBY.—On the 28th inst., at Lordington, the wife of Captain Geoffrey Phipps Hornby, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. ABBOT—ROTRERY.—On the 27th inst. at St. Margaret's, Westminster, the R ev . Frederick James Abbot, Chap lain to the Forces, to Harriet, only daughter of "William Rothery, jun., Esq., of 18, James-street, Buckingham gate, and Denbigh House, Halstnere. PHILLIP S — SLEIOII.—On the 28th inst., at All Saints' Church, Paddington, the Rev. Thompson Phillips, M.A., incumbent of Holme Eden, near Carlisle, to Eliza Catherine, second daughter of General Sir Jas. Wallace R.C.8., Colonel 9th Lancers. 1) _BATHS. BARROW,—On the 23d inst., at Brampton Vicarage, Hunts, the Rev. Edward John Barrow, aged 39. DYKE.—On the 28th inst., at 6, Eaton-square, Louisa Anne, eldest daughter of the late Colonel Geo. H. Dyke, Coldstream Guards, and niece of Sir Charles Lemon, Bart. JONES.—On the 28th inst. at Eldon Lodge, Vauxhall, Samuel Jones, Esq., aged 69. SOLLY.—On the 28th :nst., at Dent-de lion, near Margate, T. W. Solly, Esq aged GO. STEELE.—On the 26th inst., at his residence, Prince la Albert o 's-road, ol South Ken s i ngton, Henry Steele, Esq., te of Liverp. LONDON : Printed and rublished by MUEDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TeE SUN Office, 112,Strand, in the Precinct of the Swop, In the County of Middlesex 'l2llursday, May 30,1861. I