The Sun. — London, England, 1864-05-31 00:00:00

DiFERIAE PARLIAIMT . T HOUSE OF LORDS—Last Evening, The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS._ it The following bills were read a second time :—Viscow Guillamore's Estate, Shiel's Charities, Stirling Wr‘b 3r, London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway (Ouse Vs Xley line), Edinburgh and Leith Sewage, Bedford and Cambr is Ige Railway, Haddenham and Sutton Railway, West Not t )1k Junction Railway, and Harwich Corporation. The following bills were read a third time and passed..:— Pnoklechnrch Roads, Greenwich and South Wes ti :rn Docks, Hedon and Patrington Roads, Newport Turniyike Trusts, Portmadock and Beaverpool-bridge Roads, N orth Eastern Railway (additional powers), and Scarborough. Talley Bridge. COUNTY COURTS BILL. The Earl of DERBY presented a petition from Roch dale praying that the County Courts Act Amendment Bill might not be read a second time. Lord COLVILLE, in the absence of Lord Egerton, pre sented a petition from Macclebfield against certain clauses in the Country Courts Bill. - . Lord FAVERSHAM presented a petition from York against tLe bill. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The Earl of CLARENDON laid on the table a bill pro viding that appointments to be made in the governing bodies of the public schools should be subject to any future legis lation on the subject. After a few remarks from Lord LYTTZLTON and. the Earl of STANHOPE, the bill was read a first time. The motion for the second reading was fined for this day week. NEW ZEALAND. Lord LYTTELTON asked w hat the intentions of the Government were with respect to a loan for which the New Zealand Government had requested the guarantee of this country, and called attention to the present state of the native question in New Zealand. He regretted to be obliged to come to the conclusion that the condition of the native population of the colony was retrograding both socially and commerc i a lly, and that their state was perhaps about as bad as any in her Majesty's dominions. The great want of the colony was a kind of police, in order that some sort of government might be enforced amongst the natives, who, at the present time, were utterly unrestrained in all their actions. The present Secretary of State had, as far as he had acted, done well ; and he hoped he would be induced to go on in the manner in which he had began. He thought it absolutely necessary that the ex penses of the war should be thrown upon the colony, because as long as they would make war at other people's expense there was no knowing how long it would continue. Many of the people in Auckland actually derived the greatest benefit by the continuance of the hos tilities, and, under such circumstances, it was absolutely necessary that those who had been the cause of the outbreak should be made responsible for expenses that had thereby been incurred. Lord GRANVILLE described some of the difficulties with which the Government of New Zealand had had to contend, and in defence of the present policy, urged the necessity of convincing the native population of the power of Englat d. Lord LYVEDEN said the natives had been alienated from the Europeans, and did not believe their promises. The question was how the confidence that once existed could be restored. He believed the colony would never be at peace so long as the settlers could draw on the purse of Great Britain for cost of wars of which the local expendi ture was so profitable. Lord CLAO - CARTY advised a policy more equitable towards the natives, who had never been fairly treated. Lord GREY traced most of the difficulties of the colony to its political constitution, that had thrown all the govern ing power into the hands of the white settlers. The subject then dropped. The order of the day for going into committee on the County Courts Act Amendment Bill was postponed till Friday. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening. The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock. THAMES CONSERVANCY BILL. The Sheriffs of the City of London appeared at the bar of the house and presented a petition from the Lcrd Mayor and corporation of London against this bill, and praying to be heard by counsel. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Clyde Navigation, London Necropolis and National 'Mauso leum, Rammell's Patent (Improvements in Pneumatic Railways and Tubes) Bill. WEIGHING GRAIN (PORT OF LONDON) BILL, Mr AYRTON gave notice that on the second reading of this bill he would move that it be net proceeded with, on the ground that it was calculated to benefit the corporation of London. and not the public. THE RESEARCH. Sir F. SMITH asked the Secretary to the Aimiralty whether he had received from the naval Commander in-Chief at Devonport any official report of the damage done to the Research in the late experiment; and, if to, whether he had any objection to lay it upon the table of the house; and, if he had not received such report, was it their intention to call for it ? Lord C. PAGET said that from the returns he had re ceived it appeared the damage which the vessel sustained would cost the public £l9 in labour and £5 in material. Sir F. SMITH said that on Thursdsy next he would move that the returns in question should be laid on the table. Lord C. PAGET—I have no objection to do se. SILVER COIN. Mr. BAINES asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the Mint were taking any measures to remedy the present deficiency in the supply of silver coin ? Mr. PEEL replied in the affirmative. THE RUSSO-AMERICAN LINE OF TELEGRAPH VIA BEHRING STRAITS. Mr. WATKINS asked the secretary of State for the Colonies if any application had been made to her Majesty's Government, or to the local authorities, by or on behalf of Mr. Collins, the Concessionaire of the Russo• American Line of Telegraph, intended to pans via Behring Straits, for permission to carry a portion of such line through Bri tish Columbia—and, if so, whether such permission had been, or was proposed to be, given ? Mr. CARD WELL said that such application had been made and permission for the construction of the work in question had been given on terms that were determined. THE LOWER PROVINCES OF NORTH AMERICA. Mr, HOP WOOD asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if a union of the three Lower Provinces of North America, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Ed ward's Island was in contemplation ; and, if. so, what was to be the nature of that union, federal or legislative. Also, what steps, if any, had been taken by these provinces towards the union, and if they had received the approval of her Majesty's Government. Mr. CARDWELL said that the three colonies had agreed to appoint delegetes to consider the expediency of bringing the three provinces under one government. EY-GOVERNORS OF COLONIES. Sir W . JOLLIFFE asked the Secretary , of State for the Colonies, when the memorials and correspondence of the ex-governors of the colonies on the question of their super annuation, and rewards for services, moved for by th e h on. member for Honiton, were likely to be in the hands of the members of this house. _ Mr. CA.R , DVVEL --- said he hoped the papers relative to the matter would shortly be in the hands of members, but he believed that their contents were familiar to them all. THE NATIONAL GALLERY AT BURLINGTON HOUSE. Mr F. S. PO WELL asked the First Commissioner of Works whether hd intended to afford the house an interval, and, if so, what interval for deliberation after making his statement relative to the Government proposal for erection of the National Gallery at Burlington Rouse before asking the house to vote money for that purpose. Mr. COPPER said that personally he would wish to meet the views of the hon. member without infringing the rules of the house, which prohibited any discussion on a vote in supply until that vote was proposed. He had no wish to avoid giving the fullest information in committee of supply. In order that an opportunity might be afforded for ample discussion of the vote it would not be taken to night, but on the next evening, when it could come on first. THE GAOLS BILL. In reply to Mr. NEWDEGATE, Sir G. GREY said that he proposed to proceed with this bill as quickly as possible as the other house was desirous that it should be sent up to them for consideration as soon as possible. THE STEAM RAMS. Mr HODGKINSON—In reference to Mr Solicitor. Gene ral's statement in the Court of Exchequer on Thursday last, that the case of the A.ttorney-General v. Laird, and others, re:Wive to the seizure of the Confederate rams, had been arranged, asked Mr Attorney-General whether the arrangement alluded to involved the purchase of those vessels ; and, if so, wh et h er only at their fair value or at some higher price; whethe r th e inducement to the Crown to make such arrangement was a doubt as to th e construc tion and applica t i on of the p rov isions of th e F oreign En listment Act with regard to equipping and arming vessels; whether it was part of the terms et arrangement that the alleged misdemeanour under the seventh sectio n of the Foreign Enlistment Act should be condoned by th e Crown, and that no claim for compensation fo r th e Beim.: should be made by the defendant s ; and, whether any legislation would be proposed in order to obviate in future the doubts and difficulties attending the construction and enforcing of the Foreign Enlistment Act, and thus prevent the arrangement of the recent case operating as a premium to ship builders to speculate on building vessels of war for belligerents. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that the house was probably aware that in the month of September just prior to the seizure of the vessels named, persons who , q 7ese nted themselves as their owners, made overtures to the G o vernment for their purchase, which were refused, but these were rejected on the ground that the amount asked exceeded their value. The Government, acting on the it .formation received from the Admiralty, agreed to punt . iase the vessels at a much larger price than was asked, the 1 anderstanding being that there was no admission made by 'alleged owners of any misdemeanour, or any admission on tine part of the Government that such misdemeanour had not been committed. The Government had not acted upon a belief that their case would not succeed, but from a desire to terminate the controversy relative to a very im portant subject, the continuance of which might be ?attended with very injurious consequences. There was no condonation of the misdemeanour by the Crown, and under the terms of the arrangement it was quite impossible that there could be any clause for compensation. With regard to the last question, he hoped it would not be found necessary to introduce any new legis lation on this subject, but that parties would be influenced by what had already occurred, and Government would act up to what they considered was the law in reference to this matter. In reply to some other question, the right hon. and learned gentleman said that the amount on the present value of the vessels was £195,000 and that £25,000 would be re,quired for their completion. £300,000 had been asked for them. THE REVIEW IN HYDE-PARK. In r oply to Major Kxos, Si r G. GREY said that the arrangements on Saturday wrire made after communications with Sir Richard Mayne, raid due deliberation on the means best adapted to provide for the convenience of the public, and the result was that there was no obstacle or impediment throughout the pro ceedings. Mr PAITLL asked some information as to the arrange , ments that had been made. Mr CO WPER said that 4,000 tickets had bean given to the commanding officeis of the volunteers for distribution amongst their respective corps. He observed that the con duct of the male spectators towards the ladies was most un gallant in preventing their seeing the movements of the volunteer corps. DUTIES ON SPIRITS. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr. WHITESIDE moved the following resolution : That, in the opinion of this house, it is expedient that the existing duties on spirits should be reduced. He referred to the views and opinions which had been expressed by the Chancellor of the 'Exchequer with regard to the duties upon spirits; to the course of legislation, in pursuance of his financial policy, on the subject of those duties, and to its unfortunate fiscal and moral results, especially in the stimulus given to illicit distillation, which, as he showed, had largely increased in Ireland, with its inseparable com panion, crime, attributable solely to the present high duty. The last increase had, he said, led to extensive and poison ous adulteration, and, as his last experiment had failed, he urged the Chancellor of the Exchequer to retrace his steps. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, after a general reply to the observations of Mr Whiteside, remarked that the question did not apply to Ireland alone, but to the three kingdoms, and that the policy which guided the Go vernment in relation to the duty on spirits was the reverse of that which they were bound to keep in view with regard to other branches of trade ; they had hal to look, not to the expansion of the trede, hat how to raise from the smallest area of consumption the largest amount of duty. The pro posed reduction of the duty on spirits from 10s to 8s would not, in his opinion, replace, by the increase of consumption or by the reduction of elicit distillation, the loss of duty; nor would it be justifilble to legislate with the view of aug menting the consumption of ardent spirits. He disputed the inferences drawn by Mr Whiteside from his facts re garding the increase of illicit distillation in Ireland. Accord ing to all the evidence, though those might have been an occasional increase, it had never been so great under the present as under the low duty. Sir S. NORTHCOTE said that, although the Chancellor of the Exchequer had been disappointed in the results of his experiments, he did not think Parliament should at once pronounce against it and reverse its policy. He thought it would be better to wait till this subject had come before the committee now sitting on Irish taxation. After some remarks by Lord C, Hamilton, Mr Monsell, and Lord Naas, the resolution was withdrawn. MR HOME AND THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT. Mr ROEBUCK wanted to ask a question of the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and it was one to which he begged the attention of the noble lord at the head of the Government also. It referred to the treatment of an English subject abroad. This gentleman, Mr Home, had a power, he believed, of bringing spirits to his call. (A laugh.) He was what was styled a Spiritualist ; but that had nothing to do with it, for Mr Home was, he believed, a man of good behaviour. Well, this gentleman went to the Papal States, and did not controvert any of the regulations of the Roman Government. Ho had gone to Rome to cul tivate one of the fine arts, and in order to carry out that design he took a studio and incurred considerable expense. Some time after his arrival he received a notice desiring him to call on Signor Matteucci, the Minister of Police. He went to Signor Metteucci's office, and the Minister asked him his age, and on his stating it Signor Metteucci expressed his opinion that Mr Home was eight or nine years older than he stated himself to be, to which opinion the gentle. man himself demurred. The controversy went on, ant Signor Metteucci said " You have published a book. in France and England stating that certain spirits wait upon you? ' " Well," said Mr Home, "I have done that," " Then," said Signor Metteucci, " will you undertake that no spirits will come to you while you are in Rome 2" (A laugh.) Mr Home replied " No, I cant do that; the spiriis come to me of their own accord ; they dont come when I call them, and I cant answer for the spirits—(laughter;— but I. will answer for this, that I will hold no sean'e—l will do nothing to solicit their corning to me—l will do nothing contrary to the law of the city of Rome." There upon Signor Metteucci gave him to understand that he should not be interrupted in his stay. Some time after wards the person second in command of the police of Rome sent for Mr Home, who went to his office and found no one there. After his return home he received a peremp tory message to wait upon this second Minister of Police, and on presenting himself the following day that functionary said to him, " You were not here yester day." Mr. Home replied, " I was, and I have a consul to prove it." The other then observed, "I don't care whether you were here or not, you must go out of Rome in 40 hours," lhat was the whole story. (An ironical " hear" from one or two hon. members.) Well, "hear." (A. laugh.) He had heard the noble lord at the head of the Government talk about Civis .Romanus sum on one occasion. He now wished for a very much stronger application of the term. Mr. Home was an English citizen, and wherever he was the aegis of England should protect him against any in fringement upon his liberty which the law did not allow. (Hear.) He wanted to know whether the noble lord at the head of the Government wculd allow any English citizen to be treated in the 'limner Mr. Home had been—whether he would not protect an Englishman wherever he wandered with the narae of an English citizen. He wanted to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whom he now perceived in close consultation with the noble lord, whether he veould not protect this gentleman against the proceedings of the Papal Government. God knew that he had no feel ing about the Papal Government; and as for the old gen tleman at the head of that Government, ho had a high re spect for him, and hoped he might live many years in the enjoyment of his high position. And as for Mr Home, in the presence of the right hon. gentleman the President of the Board of Trade (Mr. M. Gibson), he must say that he regarded this spirit-calling as an hallucination. (Laughter, and hear, hear.) He had no feeling on the subject of that wonderful power, except one of, he might say, contempt for the whole thing—(renewed laughter, and hear) ; but Mr. Home being an English citizen, he was anxious that this country should protect him as long as he did not disobey the law. That gentleman, at forty-eight hours' notice, was put into a railway carriage and ignominiously ex pelled out of the Roman States; and when Lord Russell was asked what he would do, he said, " I will do nothing." (L aughter.) It might be said that Mr. Home went into the Roman States knowing that the Pope was all-powerlul and despotic; but—he knew he was going on a violent hypothesis —if an English merchant went to Russia, and the Emperor Raid Cut off that English merchant's head," would Zuo gland stand it ? (A. laugh, and hear, hear.) H e appealed to the noble lord to protect this unfortunate gentleman, and he begged to ask whether anything had been done by her Majesty's Government to procure him redress. Mr. L.AYARD much re g r etted that Mr. H ome h a d pu t himself in the position which led th e R oman Government to call on him to leave Rome. Home appeared to have nthlaewinsiercTuer's)e helaV- well, the Roman Go had, or b e li eve d h e i v n e f r i n m . g e e n d t t s h a idR that had, with certain spirits of the other world was against their law—(a laugh)—and they required him in consequence to leave Rome. Without saying for a moment whether Mr. Home had or had not communication with these spirits, and sithout attempting to justify the Roman law or palliate the conduct of the Roman authorities, yet the Roman law wa s as he had described ; and when a gentleman was in a coun try it was his duty to conform to its laws—or, if he did not so conform, the Government had a right to remove hi m should it think fit. Under our own Alien Act wh en a foreigner had violated our law we could remove him. ear e could not force another Government to retain a British subject in their territory who violated their laws. When Mr. Home was first called upon by the Roman Government to give certain explanations regarding a certain work that he had published and a certain intercourse which he was supposed by them to have with by no means a good spirit, but a spirit quite contrary—(a laugh)—officiel communi cation on his behalf was made to the Roman authorities, but they were determined upon the matter. They thceght it altogether wrong that a person with such mysterious visitants should make Rome his dwelling-place, and com pelled him to depart in order to stop all intercourse there with the evil one. (A laugh.) He did not say that that was not foolish, bat such was the law of Rome—and the house would see that it was not a question of their protect ing a British subject. Mr. Home had not been coufined,or his property confiscated—all that had been done to him was that he was made to quit Rome within a certain time. That, no doubt, had caused him inconvenience, as he had spent some money upon a studio, and had desired to follow his profession as a sculptor at Rome. Her Majesty 's Govern ment had mad e suc h remonstrances in thecase as its nature permitted, but those remonstrances were unavailing, and he was afraid they could do nothing to compel the Roman Government against their will to receive this gentleman and his spirits. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) Mr HENNESSY said that Mr Home was a gentleman who stated that he had intercourse with spirits, who fore told future and related past events, and he believed that he accepted fees for his seances. [Mr Roebuck—Never.] Sup pose he had done so. [Mr Roebuck—Suppose he had not.] (Laughter.) What, however, he wished to point oat was that in this country we now had very stringent laws against conduct similar to that of Mr Home, rortune-tellers and persons attempting to foretel events were liable to be taken up and punished by our laws. He would not discuss whether our laws or the laws of Rome were sound or not. What he asserted was that in each case they were founded on the same principle. There were a great number of English residents at Rome every year, and he had heard many of them state that nothing could exceed the courtesy and at tention they always received from the Papal Government. (Hear.) This was the only complaint he had ever heard of against that Government, and he was glad to learn that her Majesty's Government thought it was not well founded. (No.) Mr SCULLY said the hon. member for Sheffield had made a mistake in bringing that complaint against the Roman Government. That Government and Mr Home were quite agreed; the only difference between them was as to three spirits—(laughter) —for whose good behaviour that, gentleman could not be answerable. The only persons to blame were the obscene spirits in the habit of calling occasionally on Mr Home. (Laughter.) The hon. member for Sheffield said he had a great respect for " the old gentle man" at the head of the Roman Government. That was not a decent mode of reference, and it was not justifiable on the hon. member's part, even although he had a bigotted pre judice against Catholics. (Mr Roebuck signified dissent.) The house had been occupied all that evening with spirits, and nothing but spirits—(laughter)—and he thought they had had enough of them. (Hear, hear.) The President of the Board of Trade had left the house, not liking, perhaps, to face the spirits on that occasion. (A laugh.) The hon. member for Sheffield had asked what Earl Russell would do it an English merchant, not a gentleman, had his head cut off at St. Petersburg. Why, he would do exactly what he had in regard to Mr. Home—nothing. Russia was too strong to go to war with. But if the merchant who was not a gentleman had his head cut off by the Roman Government, Earl Russell would then go to war, because the Roman Gove nment was weak. The hon. member for Sheffield must know, as a lawyer, that the Roman Govern ment in this case had acted within its strict right. Eng land used to extirpate Papists, as she called them, at her pleasure, without receiving any remonstrances from foreign Powers. The men thus sent away were not even foreigners, but their own countrymen. As for foreigners, England had always excluded them whenever she liked, on any excuse or on no excuse, He trusted they would not have a renewal of that night's exhibition ; and he could not see what on earth could have been the hon. member for Sheffield's object, unless it were the propagation of his extraordinary doctrines. The house then went into a Committee of Supply on the Civil Service Batimateti, when a great many votes were agreed to, after much discussion. The proposed vote of £4,000 for a lunatic asylum in the Isle of Man was negatived upon a division by 95 to 73. THE NELSON COLUMN. £l,OOO towards four colossal lions conchant, to be placed on the base of Nelson column, Trafalgar-square. Admiral WALCOTT trusted that some earnest effort would be made to complete the column, and thus to remove from the country the imputation of having neglected the memory of one of her greatest sons. (Hear, hear.) Mr. W. WILLIAMS also thought it disgraceful that the completion of the monument should have been so long delayed. Mr COWPER regretted that the work should not have been finished, but the delay had not arisen from any want of care, but rather the reverse ; for Sir Edwin Landseer had been exceedingly fastidious in his preliminary studies. He (the right hon. gentleman) trusted that the first lion would be cast in the course of the year, and after then he trusted that no long time would elapse before the gallant admiral had the pleasure of seeing one of the finest works of art of these days. Sir M RIDLEY said that individual to whom the com mission had originally been entrusted had contracted to supply four lions, each different from the rest, for 6,000 guineas. If that was so, he did not see why the British public should be called upon to pay £17,000 for the same work. Sir G. BO WYER observed the house had been told last year that Sir Edwin Landseer was going every day to the Zoological Gardens—he presumed at feeding time—to study the lions. Now the public were told that they were only ping to have one cast some time this year. He trusted, however, that the right hon. gentleman would give them some more precise information on the point. He hoped the four would not be all alike—and he thought that it would have been better to have engaged four artists. He really could not understand why Sir E.Landseer should have been commissioned at all. Because he was a great painter at animals was not a very satisfactory reason why he should be a good artist in bror ze. Indeed he should have thought that Sir Edwin was one of the worst persons to whom the work could have been entrusted, for the great merit of his painting was the great finish of his work, whereas what was wanted was something bold and striking. (Hear, hear.) Lord J. MANNE RS believed that one of the lions would be ready for casting in the course of the month. The hon. baronet seemed to find fault with Sir Edwin Landseer for going so often to see the lions at the Zoological Gardens; but the fact was that if the lions would not go to Sir Edwin, Sir Edwin had no alternative but to go to the lions. He believed that in a few months the hon. baronet would admit that those who had selected Sir Edwin Land seer had done well. (Hear, hear.) Mr. GREGORY reminded the House of the heraldic painter, who thought the first real lion he saw as an ex ceedingly misshapen animal. Sir E. Landseer had been selected in order that the British public might see what a lion was really like. The vote was agreed to. The CHAIRMAN having been ordered to report progress, The LORD ADVOCATE moved the second reading of the Writs Registration (Scotland) Bill, explaining the object of the measure, and the ground upon which it was proposed. Major HAMILTON moved that the debate be ad journed, and this amendment was seconded by Mr. SMOLLETT, and ultimately agreed to. Other bills were forwarded, and the remaining orders and motions having been disposed of, the house adjourned at half-past one o'clock. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY gl, 1864. Naval and Military Intelligence, Major-General Sir Richard Dacres,K.C.B., com mandant at Woolwich, last week terminated his final inspection of the whole of the district within his command, and forwarded a most favourable report of his inspection to the Field Marshal Com manding-in-Chief. The term of his appointment (five years) will expire to-day, when he will give over the command to his successor—Colonel E. C Warde, C. 8., who will be promoted to the rank of Major-Gen., according to regulations, on his assum. ing the post of commandant. Last night the officers of the garrison entertained Sir Richard nacres at a farewell banquet given in his honour, at which were present Viscount Sydney, Lord Lieutenant of Kent ; Alderman Salomons and Mr Angerstein, the two representative members of the borough ; Commodore Dunlop, C. 8., Superintendent of the Dockyard ; Col. Mitchell, commanding the Woolwich division of Royal Marines; Major .Gen. Sandham, Lieut.- Governor of the Royal Military Academy ; Col. Sir David Wood, K.C.8., commanding the Royal Horse Artillery ; Biigadier General Lefroy, President of the Ordnance Select Committee; Col. Hawkins, commanding the corps of Royal Engineers; Col. Kennedy, C. 8., commanding the Military Train; Cul. Hay, commanding at Warley ; the heads of departments and officers commanding brigades and divisions throughout the garrison, consisiing of 110 persons. Sir David Wood, who had been elected chairman, proposed the toast of the evening, which was responded to in a manner which clearly denoted the satisfaction it gave every one present to testify at their farewell meeting their appreciation of the sterling qualities which have marked the whole period of Sir Richard's command. It was intended to present the General with a valuable sword on his departure, but he could not be induced to accept any testimonial of value. The local corps of pensioners in the Chatham dis trict, having completed their annual course of train ing, under the command of Colonel R. Jenkins, underwent their official inspection by Col. I'. Lemon, C. 8., Colonel-Commandant of the Chatham divis,on of Royal Marines, on Chatham-linee yester day. The number of men on the ground was nearly 400 of all ranks, formed into six companies ; they represented what may b e t erme d tk e e ff ect i ve por tion of the pensioners, the men beyond a certain age being exempt from the annual. training. Each man was foruished with 15 rounds of blank car. tridge, in anticipation of the manoeuvres being rather more extensive than those hitherto attempted by the pensioners. After the customary salutes the companies formed in line and went through the manuel and platoon exercise, at the termina tion of which they marched past th e sa l ut i ng post in Blow and quick time. At the close of this por tion of the inspection the customary manoeuvres were gone through, the whole terminating with forming squares for the purpose of resisting cavalry. The inspeclion concluded with the whole line ad vancing in e Oumn and giving a general salute. At the close of the inspection Col. Lemon informed the corps, through Col. Jenkins, of his complete satisfaction with the manner in which the men had acquitted themselves, and intimated that his official report would be highly favourable. The pensioners will re-assemble this morning at St. Mary's Bar racks for the purpose of returning their arms,cloth ing, &c., until they are again required for their periodical training. The mounted C battery 9th Brigade Royal Artil lery has received orders to hold itself in readiness to proceed from Chatham garrison to Leith Fort early in the ensuing week. By direction of the authorities at the War Department a number of new description of military pontoons, similar to those in use in the Austrian service, have been received at the headquarters of the Royal Engineer esta blishment, Chatham, for use by the officers and men of that branch of the service in pontooning opera tions, which commenced for the season yester day. The Austrian pontoons are considered to possess several advantages over the ordinary " Blanshard" and other pontoons in general use in the English service, and in order to test their merit, as well as to ascertain their alleged superiority, they will undergo various trials, nada- every variety of circumstance, during the present summer. The portion of St. Mary's Creek at Chatham, hitherto pontooningkyard extension, a new purposes, having been settaken apart in for for pon toon-hard has been formed on th e o pp os it e s id e o f the doc the harbour, near Upnor Castle, where a suitable establishment and buildings have been erected for the accommodation of the officers and men while going through that portion of their engineering instruction under Col, Lovell, C. 8., the head of that department. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS—May 30. (Before Mr Payne.) THE ALLEGED VICTIXS OP POLICE PERSECUTION. William White, who was convicted on Thursday last of shoplifting, and was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude, was placed in the dock. Mr Payne said—You were convicted before me, 'on Thursday last, of the offence of stealing from a tradesman's shop, in conjunction with two other persons, a roll of cloth, of the value of £3. I have had you brought up to-day for the purpose of informing you that I have, after considera tion and consultation with others, determined to postpone your sentence until next session, to enable inquiry to be made into the truth of your assertion that you were the victim of police persecution. But I think it my duty, in consequence of remarks which have been publicly made upon the case, for the sake of the administration of justice, to say a few words about it. It has been said that the case was a trifling one. I cannot agree with that opinion. When a single person steals an article of small value, the case may be said to be trifling; but when three persons, one of them an old offender—go out together and remove for the purpose of stealing from a tradesman's shop an article worth several pounds, although through the vigilance of the police they do not cat ry off the article, it does not appear to me to be at all a trifling case. It has also been said that the jury might have acquitted you, Ido not see how, upon the evi dence, and using their common sense, they could have acted otherwise than they did. If they had found you not guilty upon the defence suggested, they would, in substance, have declared the policeman to have committed a most wicked offence, viz., that of having failed in one charge, and, in consequence, entirely fabricated, or, as it is called, trumped up another, and this only on assertion without any evidence. I am not responsible for the verdict; but I feel bound to say that, both in fact and in law, I consider it was a just one. For the sentence I alone am responsible. It was proved that on a former occasion you had been, for a robbery of silver plate, sentenced to five years' penal servitude, which would have expired on the Bth of this month, You were discharged on a ticket-of-leave at the end of 4 years, and did not produce any evidence as to how you bad spent the past year, The principle upon which I have acted in passing sentence is this —as long as I can see any means of combining the reforma tion of the offender and the protection of the public, I always endeavour to do so; but when, by numerous imprisonments and a long term of penal servitude, it appears that the offender will not reform, then I think it right to consider mainly the protection of the public. But you asserted that you were the victim of police tyranny. I have always had a strong opinion, which I have often expressed in public, against the interference of policemen with criminals who have got into employment, and have several times caused investigations to be made into such matters. I did not do so at the mom'nt in your case because I thought that as you had instructed your counsel to accuse the policeman of a most wicked charge, and which charge the jury had by their ver dict declared to be unfounded, I could not rely on your de cimation. But on the next day, and before the remarks appeared to which I have referred, your counsel was told that the court would do what it could to forwari an inquiry on the subject. I may further add that neither the jury nor myself were aware before the verdict of the previous con victions. You will be brought up again next session, and such sentence will then be passed upon you as any alteration of the circumstances may require, or as after careful consi deration may be thought just and proper. Mr Harwood (a magistrate on the bench)—Hear, hear. (Some counsel laughed.) I am astonished that several members of the bar should look at me and laugh. I dont know for why, because I concurred in the remarks of the judge, and I should have thought to have been borne out by them instead of being laughed at. In a case of a prisoner named Henry Dixon, tried on Thurs day last, he was brought up yesterday to receive judgment, as a policeman stated that he knew the prisoner as a com panion of thieves, and had seen the prisoner frequently within the last seven months in the company of two noted thieves, The prisoner denied that statement, and said that he was at that time in Feltham Reformatory. Yesterday it appeared that what th e prisoner then stated was correct, for he was only discharged from there in March last. _ _ Mr Payne said that the constable must attend to explain his positive statements, and he should like to know why he was not present now. The prisoner had been remanded for him to make inquiries, but he had not attended, and he should take notice of it. Mr Itibton, who defended the prisoner, said a strict in quiry ought to take place, for if gentlemen of the bar said anything against the police he for one knew what a burst of obloquy they had to undergo, and he did say that the police ought to be cautious in what they swore to, as they were mostly the principal witnesses against prisoners. The matter was then further deferred until nest session. (Before the Assistant-Judge.) PROSECUTION OF VENDORS OF INDECENT BOOKS AND PRINTS. John Pearson, of No. 2, 14i-111-auk -street, Westminster, and Jean Paul, of Cecil-court, St, Martin's•lane, were in . dieted for uttering and vending certain indecent prints and books. Mr Sleigh prosecuted on behalf of the Society for the Suppression of Vice, and Mr Ribton defended the prisoners. Both the prisoners pleaded guilty to the indictments. Mr Ribton said he wished to address a few words to his lordship, as this was a very peculiar case as far as Pearson was concerned, and he did sincerely hope that when his lordship was made acquainted with all the circumstances, he would consider the ends of justice would be answered if Pearson was allowed to go out on his own recognizences, or find substantial bail to come up for judgment when called upon. He had spoken to Mr Sleigh, who represented the Society for the Suppression of Vice, and ho was content to leave the matter in the hands of the court. He should call a number of witnesses to show that Pearson had borne a good character, had been for many years in the service of Mr. Carter, a builder of Eastcheap, and as regarded the charge against them, it came out in this way :—A cata logue published by him was sent to the country, and this was submit[ed te, the society. The prisoner Pearson lived at No. 2, Millbank• street, Westminster, and a person went there to purchase such articles as were referred to in the cata logue ; but he wished to state that these books and prints were purchased in an ordinary sale in the rooms of auctioneers of undoubted respectability, and those catalogues he held in his hand, and where his lordship would find a description of the books an I prints then before the court. He referred amongst others to lot 321 in one of those catalogues. This was Pearson's first offence, and as he had bought these things at public auction, together with their being no pub lic exhibition to shock public decency, he trusted the pri soner would be dealt with mercifully by the Court. The Assistant-Judge, having examined the catalogues, asked if the attention of the scciety had been directed to them, as they were catalogues issu ed by some of the most respectableir. Sleigh book said theauctioneers society o weref the innoet aware, and they d:d is not believe until they saw them that these persons would sell such objectionable books. Mr. Ribton said when the defendant was waited upon by the officers of the society he showed them the catalogues, and told them where the books were purchased. The Assistant Judge Would like to know the person in the country to whom the catalogue was sent and the position of life he was in. Mr. Sleigh said sometimes information came anony mously to the societv,and there wer e obvious reasons for this, The Assistant Judge —gave these catalogues been sent to schools or establishments? Mr. Sleigh—No doubt they aro extensively circulated, but it is only occasionally that we hear of them. Several witnesses were called who gave Pearson a good character. In the case of Paul it was said that he went to another person, on being a pplied to, and procured these objection able things for him. Paul said the man had been for two years a personal friend, and had dined and drunk at his:house, and he only got these things at his earnest request. The Assistant Judge said this war a most aggravated case as regarded Pearson, and he must express his surprise that such firma as have been mentioned should have in their catalogues and sell such works as these, The catalogues issued by Pearson appeared to have been widely and exten sively circulated, He hart not the slightest excuse for doing so, as he was is employment, and with a good income, while for his own advantage he was circulating these infamous publications throughout the kingdom. A large number of persons were joined together and used the greatest exertions for the purpose of extending principles of morality amongst the people, but here was the source of poison which might carry ruin into the families of all. The court would but ill discharge its duty if it did not pass upon Pearson a ses'ere sentence, which was that he be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for 12 months, As regarded Paul his offence was not so bad, and the sentence of the court was that he be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for six months. It was also ordered that the attention of the book auc tioneers should be drawn to their catalogues. Brutal Assault by a Schoolmaster, Edgar Glennie Smith, a schoolmaster residing at Beeken ham, was summoned yesterday at the Bromley petty ses- sions, of which Mr. Alderman Wilson was chairman, for having on the 12th inst. unlawfully assaulted and beaten a little boy eight years of age, named Robert W. Ruck, son of Mr NV. Ruck, a solicitor, residing at Grocers' Hall. Mr Sergeant Ballantine appeared for the prosecution, and Mr R. Adams for the defendant. The case excited a considerable amount of interest, and the small roc , . at the Bell Inn in which the magistrates meet was crowded to excess during the hearing. Mr Sergeant Ballantine, in opening the case, said that the summons was taken out under the 24th and 25th of Victoria, which gave to the magistrates the power of sum marily dealing with cases of this description in a manner which they had not previously possessed. The defendant was a gentleman keeping a private educational establish ment at Beckenham, and the complainant a child, eight years of age, who had been placed under his care. The father of the complainant, being desirous of sending two of his sons to an establishment where they would be taken care of, sent them down to Mr. Smith's school. As one of the sons was of delicate health, suffering from glandular swellings, it was considered necessary that they should be sent to a school where they would be treated with the greatest kindness. Accordingly the boys were sent to the defendant's school on the express understanding that per sonal chastisement was on no account to be resorted to. and it was upon the assurance that Mr. Smith would only use persuasion and endeavour to win the love of the boys that they were sent to his establishment. Notwithstand ing this, however, the conduct of the defendant towards the younger boy was such as to render him unfit to have the charge of children, and which he could not but term brutal in the extreme. The boy was set to learn lessons, and because he was unable to ac complish them to the satisfaction of the defendant, he flew at him and beat him unmercifully about the face and head, so as for a time to completely shatter his nervous sys tem. His head, face, and ears were fearfully bruised, and although he was immediately placed under medical care the marks of violence had not yet disappeared. The ordinary excuse which schoolmasters put forward in such cases could not be used hare, inasmuch as Mrs. Ruck—being of opinion that personal chastisement did very little good to children — had expressly stated that it should not be used to her boys ; and in consequence of Al r. Smith's statement that he never flogged his pupils she had been induced to send her sons to his schools. The conduct, however, of the defendant on the day in question was more like that of an Irish labourer having no control over his temper than that of a man who had charge of the education of children. The elder boy,after his brother had been beaten, found means of writing to his mother and relating the circumstances. The father, imme diately upon being made acquainted of the fact, went down to the school, took his son away, and placed him under medical care. He would call evidence to prove the state in which the boy was found by his parents. His client brought this case forward simply on public grounds, and he trusted the Bench would so deal with it as to make it an example to others who had the care of children. Mrs. Esther Ruck, the mother of complainant, deposed that her youngest son was of delicate health, suffering from enlargement of the tonsils. When she first saw defendant she asked whether his boys were ever beaten, as she strongly objected to that mode of punishment. He replied that they never were, remarking that he began by making a boy love him. She consequently sent her sons on the 13th April. On the 12th of May she received a letter from her eldest boy, who stated that his brother had been severely beaten by the defendant. Her husband immediately fetched him from the school, when she found some bruises about his head and face, his ears being completely black; there were also marks over his nose and neck, and his eyes were also blackened. She communicated with Dr. Jefferson, who immediately attended him. His nervous system was much shattered by the treatment he had received, and when he moved about he complained of giddiness and pains in tLe head. Sho could hardly say that ho had recovered now. Two other medical gentlemen, Mr. Barford, of Wokingham, and Mr. Burney, of Croydon, had also at tended him. In cross-examiration by Mr. Adams, the witness said she had distinctly told the defendant and his sister that her son was suffering from ill health and must not be beaten. Esther Ann Ruck, the daughter of the last witness, who was present at the first interview with the defendant, corroborated her mother's evidence in every particular. Robert Ruck, the complainant, deposed that on the 12th inst. he was unable to do the work set him by Mr. Smith, who consequently struck him on the head and lace with his hands, repeating it rtbotr, 30 times. Ho tried his best to do the task, but was unable. From the evidence of Dr. Jefferson, Mr. Barford, and Mr. Burney, it appeared that the boy had been most bru tally handled, and that his health had thereby been consi • derably impaired for some time. The bruises which they found on his head, neck, and ears, must have been caused by extreme violence. Mr. W. Ruck, the father of the complainant, deposed to having, in consequence of a letter from his eldest son, gone down to the defendant's school at Beckenham, when he found his youngest boy in the state already described. In cross examination he admitted having used very strong langu ige towards the defendant, and threatened to knock him down, remarking that the state in which he found his son made him lose all control over his temper. Mr. Garrard, the boy's grandfather, corroborated the statements of the former witnesses, with regard to the in juries inflicted on the complainant. For the defence, Mr. Adams called The defendant's sister, who stated that she was present when Mrs. Ruck first saw her brother, and she did not hear him say that he never beat his boys. Robert Farquhar, an assistant to the defendant, said that he had assisted in teaching Robert Ruck, aNd had found him to be an obstinate boy, and deserved the thrashing wh'ch the defendant had given him, F , ve boys, named Henry Wilson, William Grove Parker M'Crea, Henry Ilot, and Carlton Adams, wera called, and stated that the complainant had not been severely beaten, having only received a just punishment, which they would not have objected to themselves. la cross-examination by Mr Sergeantßallantine, M'Crea admitted that the defendant had previously told him to say that Robert Ruck had not been much hurt, and that he de served the punishment. Mr Ottawell Watertield, of Sheen, with whom the de fendant had been a teacher for some years, and the Rev. W Chalmers, rector of Beckenham, spoke to the defendant's' character, stating that they believed him to be a quiet, good tempered man, and could not account for his having beaten the boy Ruck. Mr Sergeant Ballantine having replied upon the whole case, The magistrates retired, and after an absence of about a quarter of an hour, returned, and fined the defendant £5. There was a counter summons taken out by the defend ant Smith against Mr Ruck for an illegal alleged assault, arising out of Mr Ruck having shaken his fist in the de fendant's face. After a brief consultation, however, with Mr Sergeant Ballanline, Mr Adams consented to withdraw it. Me parties then left the court. Another Benefit Society in Trouble. At the Southwark Police Court yesterday, Mr Ody, the solicitor, of Trinity. street, Borough, attended with a poor man to ask for a summons against the treasurer and trustees of the Helping Hand Benefit Society, held at the \Vateruian's Arms, Barnham-street, Tooley-street, to show cause why they neglected and refused to pay his client John Huggins, a free member, a certain amount duo to him from the sick fund of the society. Mr. Ody said his client was a very poor man, and some few years ago was induced to become a member of the Help ing Hand Benefit Society on account of the high promises set forth in their book of rules. He paid his contributions regularly, and considered himself entitled to any benefits alluded to in the rules, one of which set forth that any mem ber becoming sick shall be entitled to 108. a week for so long a time. His client unfortunately for himself became sick a short time ago, and was compelled to declare himself on the sick fund. He received the weekly sum regularly for a few weeks, but all at once it was stopped, and when he went to the society to know the reason, he was told that he had been expelled because he had broken one of the rules of the society by being out of his house beyond the hours specified in the rules. He explained that the poor man was in want of a loaf of bread, and while he was gone to a baker's near his house for one, he was met by one of the stewards, and he reported the circumstance to the society, and on that sole account he was expelled. The Clerk read the rule in question, and observed that there could be no doubt that the rule applied to members following some employment. It could never have contem plated a poor man being expelled for buying a loaf of bre ad . Mr, Ody was of the same opinion, and ho contended that it was a he-d case for this poor man. These societies, if allowed to go on uncontrolled by the law, would be a curse to the poor man i nstea d o f a b ene fit. 'Therefore ho hoped his worship would grant the summons applied for. The Clerk—ls the society enrolled accor ding . to Act of Parliament, and are th e ru l es cer tified by Mr. Tidd Pratt? Mr. Ody, after examining them carefully, replied in the negative. The Clerk told hikn that as such was the case the magis trate could not interfere. He must go to the C,unty Court. SPfIUT OF TEE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—The wearisome but inevitable prelimin aries being at an end, the Conference has at last enteral on the basin cee of pacification. Whether its success till he equal to its good will remains to be seen. This depefids alinost wholiy on the spirit in which the German Powere rateive the eorepre• mise which the neutral States have enalem.tted to the belligerents. It is proposed that Holstein and that patt of Schles wig which contains a German population shceld be definitely annexed to the Ger man Confederation. What is to be the extent of this State, who is to be its Governor, what relatloza if any,it is to bear to the Danish Monarchy, are questions on which opinions may be divided, and which, at any rate, have not yet been formally ex amined, for the bare proposal so to divide one of the Duchies was sufficietit for a single meeting of an assembly of which promptitude is certainly not a conspicuous quality. It can hardly be said that the scheme of a personal union finds much favour with any party. The Danes are against it ; the inhabitants of the Duchies look upon it as likely to lead to a revival of the alleged on pressions exercised during the late King's reign; and Europe generally judges that to create a sti.l larger Holetein, with a divided allegiance and antagonistic authorities, would be only to sow the seeds of future disquiet. We may then presume that the meaning of the neu trals, or of this country, at least, was that the Ger man population of the Duchies should be severed from Denmark by being placed under an indepen dent Sovereign chosen by themselves, or succeeding according to hereditary right. Whether the Prince of Augustenberg or any other scion of German Royalty shall be the chosen of the Conference or of the Schleswig-Holsteicers is a matter of indifference as soon as it is admitted that a part of the disputed territory is to be finally separated from Denmark. Noreen we suppose that the precise limits of the new German State have been fixed upon by any of the representatives. If the Duchy be divided according to race and language, it is easy enough to point out a portion which must be German and a portion which oughtcertainly to be lett Danish; but between these two there is the much-contested district which has been the cause of most of the bad blood between German and Dane. In all but the most northern region of the Duchy there are Germans to be found, and even in parts where the Danes are the majority there are not only Germans scattered about the country, but congregated around little centres so as to form communities having a public opinion and capable of taking part in public life. To draw the line, therefore, between the hostile races will be a matter of no little difficulty. While a mere cutting off of the southern districts of Schleswig ,and an annexation of them to Holstein would leave thou sands of German families shut out from their cher ished nationality, a line drawn much north of Flensburg would undoubtedly include a great num ber of thorough Danes, and make them follow most unwillingly the fortunes of the new Dachy. The reception, however, of this proposal by the repre sentatives of the belligerents was such as scarcely to encourage the neutrals to enlarge on details. We are afraid that neither Austria and Prussia on the one side, nor Denmark on the other, gave reason to hope that the well-meant proposition which received the sanction of this country was looked upon with favour by them. It may be that the Germans heard with suspicion the desire expressed that they should abandon their scheme of a fortress on the Eider and should not consent not to fortify Kiel. These pro positions were made on Saturday, and formed part of the plan for dividing the Duchy of Schleswig. What may be the purpose of the neutrals in urging this we are unable to say. It seems to us that if Southern Schleswig be made German the Eider will be a purely German river, and the right of the Confederation to place a fortress on it can hardly be contested by any foreign States. As little does the fortification of Kiel seem a scheme which should excite any suspicion on the part of foreigners, or justify their demanding of Germany that the project should be abandoned. Kiel is the best harbour which Germany would possess in the Baltic. It is the harbour which would be the headquarters of a national fleet, if ever one should come into exis' tence. For years it has been coveted by Germany for this one purpose, and if it passed into their pos session, and became a station for any frigates or steamers of the future, the Germans would natu rally be as anxious to place it in security as we ourselves are with respect to Portsmouth. They might fancy that on their fleet depended their whole power in the Baltic, and this fleet would not be safe unless they had the means of making their chief harbour secure against an attack from the navies of England or Russia. But whether these matters influenced the belligerent representatives, or whether the project of allowing Denmark to re tain ar.y part of Schleswig was in itself inadmis sible, the Prussian and Austrian plenipotentiaries merely undertook to refer it to their respective Go vernments. Then came on their part thecounter proposition which has been for some time expected. A few weeks since something ike jealousy reigned between the two allies. Austria, which had never entered into the war so enthusiastically as her neighbour, began to conceive that she had been led on by the wily Bismark in order to aggrandise her hereditary rival. The Prussians, who had been eclipsed by the Austrians during the early part of the campaign, no sooner captured the position of Dyhbol than they wore suspected of forming de signs unworthy of the disinterested spirit in which they professed to have begun the war. To extend the Prussian States into the Danish peninsula, farnodm which they tooccupyby right of conquest the territory had forced the Danes, was the pro • ject attributed to them; and this belief was so ge neral as to force us to the conclusion that it was not altogether unfounded. We cannot but think that there were persons at Berlin who were disap pointed to find how much such a scheme received the oppositicn of Austria and excited the of the smaller States. But if the project was seriously entertained it has now been completely abandoned. The King of Prussia seems to have found that if he wishes for the "hegemony" of Germany he must not begin by seizing for his own use conquests made in the name of the Fatherland. The two allies have been recanciled, and have returned to their old affection for legitimate right. The gainer by this renewed unity of view is the Prince of Au. gnstenburg. This Prince has played a part suffi ciently politic since the Danish quarrel became serious. At first he entered Holstein with the occupying army, and received the homage of his would-be subjects. But when the allied armies began the campaign, and he received a significant hint to desist from passing his pretensions, he re turned to comparative retirement, and thus avoided acquiring the of those who were able to make or mar his fortunes. The Prince is now reaping the fruits of his prudence. To his hereditary claims to the favour of the inhabitants is now added the support of the two victorious antagonists of Dan mark. After considerable discussions, both Prussia and Austria have agreed in urging his claims to the three Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauen burg, on the ground that the Treaty of 1852 has been set aside, and that the Prince is the legitimate heir to the throne of all three. A proposition to this effect was made on Saturday at the Conference, and formed the counter-proposition to that which found favour with the neutrals. Ofcourse, the Danes were instant in their rejection, but they, too, have referred home, and the Conference meets again on Thursday for them to bring forward their own pro posal. Thus there is at least this gained, that each party has made, or is about to make, its proposal, the belligerents being likely on each side to ask more than they expect or will be content to take. For our own part, we cannot see anything better than some such compromise as has been suggested by the British Government. To divide the people of the Duchies according to their race and language is the best way of composing disputes which arise from the administration of a people's affairs by officials who are strangers in speech and manners. There can be no disgrace to the Danish Court if it accepts this ; nor, on the other hand, can the Ger man part of the Duchy complain if a certain num ber of Danes are allowed to remain in the Monar chy in which they have been born and bred. .Pro bably, if Prussia and Austria agree to this project, the resistance of Denmark may be overcome; but should they persevere and demand the Danish pore tion of Schleswig for the Prince of Augustenburg in the name of hereditary right, a contest may re. commence likely soon to grow dangerous to the peace of Europe. POST.—The causes of the frequent rebellions of the natives of New Zealand against English rule are by no means so recondite as the speeches of some of those who joined in the debate in the House of Lords last evening would lead us to believe. Scarcely any nation ever yet ousted another— whether by fair means or foul—from its territorial possessions without from time to time being obliged to employ violence to secure the fruits of its pos sibly easy and peaceful conquests. The tale of our New Zealand colonisation is one with which in all its essential particulars we have been long since made familiar. It is the old struggle for supremacy between a civilised and a savage race which in our own persons we have waged before in every quarter of the globe, The Anglo-Saxon is driving out the barbarian, and, however the process may be effected, however various the means which are employed, the result must always be one and the same. Some races gradually vanish, and are silently absorbed, without making an effort to avert their inevitable fate; whilst others either more conscious of the dangers to which they are exposed, or more ener getic, make spasmodic but vain attempts to preserve their existence. Of the two classes, examples are furnished in the Australian continent and its ad ,ining islands; tor whilst in the former the aboriginal inhabitants disappear before the advance. of the settler and make no sign, in the latter they` challenge his pretensions, dispute with him inch by inch the territory which he covets, and willingly sacrifice their lives in efforts to arrest his progress. The Now Zatilenders are a hardy and a resolute race ; and when, upwards of five-and -twenty , i'ears ago, British colonists first settled on their s hone, careful observers predicted that the task which the settlers were preparing for them selves ens one of no ordinary difficulty. Indeed, so deeply rooted did this conviction become, that the Home Government, then direetsel by Lord Melbourne, used its influence to arrest the scheme of colonising New Zealand. Its effosis , . however, were vain, End from that time to t he present it has been cue long struggle for pre eminence between the immigrant and the native population. Whatever coarse we had pursued, whatever might have been the policy we had adopted, it may be regarded as an accepted fact that the New Zealand race never could have been amalgamated with our own, and never wueld have given way to the slowly but surely increasing colo nial population without some such efforts to assert' its independence as that which we are now in self' defence compelled by force of arms to repress. Oar government in New Zealand may have been faulty, but, even if it had been unexceptionable, the Maorice would sooner or later have rebelled. Although, however, rebellion in New Zealand might be considered as a necessary evil of endea vouring to colonise that country, it is not the less' incumbent on the British Govenment to adopt every means which seems calcu?ated to reconcile the con flicting claims of the colonists and the natives. It cannot be denied that the Government have been most desirous of conciliating the aboriginal populae tion ; but it is very questionable sshether the bee'S method has been pursued to gain that end. Whets the first rebellion was suppressed, in 1847, the' colonial authorities exercised almost absolute cosy trol in the administration of affairs, and there are those, amongst whom is Earl Grey, who attribee the recent disturbances to the modifications inteo duced in this form of government. A large section of the colonists demandedrepresentative institutions and a responsible Government, and their demands were complied with. An act was passed in the year 1852 by the Imperial Parliament, creating, so to speak, a constitution for the colony, and giving to the settlers the institutions they desired. Un fortunately, however, some of the principal admie nistrative offices were made elective, and the execu tive power was thus placed in the bands of the settlers, whilst a short time afterwards the autlas• rities were made responsible to the Colonial Legis lature. This, Earl Grey maintains, was a grave error, nor was it redeemed by the seeming share given to the native population in the adminis tration of affairs. It is probable that, had the absolute regime been persisted in, and bad the supreme power not been placed in the hands of a class whica had the strongest motives for abusing it to the prejudice of the native population, matters might, for a time at least, have followed a different course. But, as we have already observed, sooner or later the Niaories would have become alarmed at their gradually waning influence, and would have appealed to arms. Whatever the form of govern' ment, orin whatever hands it was placed, the great point in dispute between the colonists and the also' rigines would equally have remain e d t o b e d ec ided, namely, the right of possession in the soil. As Lord Lyveden expressed it, the settlers desire to acquire the land and the natives to keep it, and these con flicting desires cannot both be satisfied. A most important question, however, was raised last even ing, which, though not hitherto overlooked, has never elicited a final reply. By whom should the expenses of these repeated wars be borne—by the mother country or by the colony ? A loan is about being raised to defray the expenses entailed by the present Maori rebellion, and the proposal that It should be guaranteed by the Home Government naturally presses this matter on our consideration in a most practical form. However interested the mother country may be in the preservation of its colonies, it is apparent that it is the primary duty eL the colonist to protect themselves. If, with a vie° to their own personal advantage, a number of British subjects choose to settle in what may be regarded as an enemy's country, they should be prepared to bear the risks incidental to such a venture in con sideration of its prospective advantages. If they are compelled to make war with the natives in order to maintain their already acquired possessions, the' are not entitled to call upon those whom they hav e left behind in the old country to pay the e spenses of a war projected for their exclusive benefit. Thi s was fully recognised by Lord Granville last ?see" ing. The colonists, he said, were bound to meet the charges of the present war, and should not hope to suppress the rebellion at the expense of the mother country. This is reasonable; and if the colonised in New Zealand think otherwise, and suppose that English taxpayers will pay their debts, they w ill tied themselves mistaken. COUNTRY MARKETS. __~~~.r.._____~.. COLCHESTER—MAY 28. We had a small show of wheat on offer at this market to-day, and last week's prices advanced Is per qr. Beans and other articles inactive, Wheat, white 42s 46s Beans,Mazagan..2Bs 323 red Barley Oats 2os 25s 3.1 s 3 C B . grey NORTHAMPTON—MAY 23. White wheat, new, 33s to 42s ; new red, 35s to 37 8 ; old. 38s to 42s per qr. Barley, new malting, 34s to 368' grinding, 25s to 30s per qr. Oats, 19s to 27s per 24 stone• Beans,.3Es to 375. Peas, 32s to 36s per qr.l GLOUCESTER—MAY 28. There was a small supply of English wheat to-day frall the farmers, which sold freely at fully the prices of Jae t week. Foreign wheat in moderate demand, and no change in value. Grinding barley at a slight decline. In beans and oats a moderate trade. CHELMSFORD—MAY 27. At this corn exchange to-day there was a fair ahoy/ 0f wheat, and in the sales made last week's rates rather ice" proved. In Spring corn a limited sale, and at forme r prices, Wheat, old white 30s 45s new 43s 47s old red 34s 37s new 36s 408 Barley 25s 33s Chevalier ..26s 36s Grinding 20s 28s Malt Chevalier . 64s 68s Oats 20s 26s Peas, Partridge 36s 369 White 30s 349 Boiling ... 38s s Dun 31s 3 ° 9 Ditto new _ s --s Beans, Tick, old 34s 369 new —S --- .. 9 Harrow Ticks 3.ls 3 u 9 new —s - -9 Mazagan '?3a 336 KIRKCALDY GRAIN—MAY 28. We had a small quantity of wheat and oats and only tsc ° samples of barley to-day. Sales of wheat and oats in favota of sellers. Barley unchanged. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Fir5t....338 Od I 258 6d 1 16s Od Second ..34s Od 26e Od 17e Od Third.... 366 6d 286 Od 188 6d COAL M , Prim of Coal per Ton at ‘ItKET. the close of the market. s. el • s. d. Hastings Hartley ....15 9 Tarffield Moor l4 0 Tanfield Moor Butes 14 0 Walker Primrose 13 3 Wylam 16 6 West Wylain l5 6 Eden Main .....15 6 Walls End. Braddyll's Hetton 15 9 , East Hartlepool 16 6 Hetton 16 6 South Kelloe l6 0 Haswell South Hetton ...16 6 Tunstall .... , Riddell f Framwellgato ..IG 6 16 Caradoc Stawart's 17 ,t. 83 : sold. 58. Walls End. Goeforth l4 9 K elloe Hough Hall 16 0 Ships at marker [ADVERTISEXENT.i—HoIIoway'a Ointment and Pills.-- Experience.—This que,tion is often asked by sufferers from t r tumours, abscesses, and other alarming diseases :--" 1 V„, 13. 4 1 , treatment of my malady is the safest and surest unsolicited testimony of thousands points out HollowaY Ointment and Pills as the most reliable of all curative alea ll6. The drugs of which they are compounded are highly purifr ing, very strengthening, and altogether uninjurious. / 1 1 Oi n tment, when applied to the affected part, counteracts all bad humours which are feeding the disease and poisonia the system. The Pills purify the entir e f rame . Many ' ll6- lignant diseases, which begin in a mild and curable feral, have been stopped in their suspicious course by these valuable remedies, and m an y cancers h ave succu mbed t° them. Births. ---- CRAVEN.—On the 26th inst., at South Norwood•P arlct the wife of George P. Craven, Esq., of a daughter. FARRAR --On the 26th inst., at Bushey-hill-terrace, Ca ° berwa, the wife of Francis Farrar, Esq., of a son. v . WARREN.—On the 29th inst., at 61, Montagu-square / ; the wife of Captain Augustus Warren, 78th Highlan der of a son. Marriages. Id_ SCOBELL—O'NEIL.--On the 28th inst , at Saint George,," Hanever•square, Mr. Robert W. Scobell, ' of Park-0 8°4 Grosvenor-road, S.W., and Billiter-street, city, t° Park-OCIO. Sophia, youngest daughter of Charles 'Ne l ' Esq., cf Denbigh-road, Bayswater. TONGUE—BURTON.—On the 26th inst. Stat.' , at Aldridge , - a fordshire, Captain Vincent Tongue, 4th Bat. 60th It i .% ex to Janet, the daughter of Joh Burton, Esq., AL.- Walsall. Deaths. BARYON.— B On ~t c h u e r 2 a 7 t et ho ti np s ti . t , t ov n e rya ns d u dF d enl l y, the Ex c. 1 1 . 24. BRIDGER.-0a the 28th inst., at Edmon a to r n e , y, l llW r. i of the Green Dragon Hotel, Bishopsgate-street, ag 74. ` Milts, d o g g eerj - DA i j ia l i S l O io N t; -- i p ar n is t , h T e h 2 o B m th as i D ns a t v ,, iso in n, t E he sci A ., v i nN ., de ag la cci r 6 o sl ta TORRENS —On the 27th inst., at 16, Craven-hill, Lien Colonel Robert Torrens, F.R.S. Vios TUCK.—On the 27th inat at 7, Or rap N tha ton-square , Tuck, aged 73. London: PrinZed and bra by WILLI AM ANDA— ' 12 : of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at an Sus Unite N (4 „i tit, Preemc ;hf savoy , n the Coo t " - iflifileeez —Tuesday, May 31, 1861.