The Sun. — London, England, 1863-09-04 00:00:00

ie days ny Lind vague. proach- Rachel, special r, I also is with begins : Lsons in Rubini, t to call rs must ate for atinued rice and a great ls ; and proved als who is only 44 who superb nines of ;tresses, sioned ; been so as since less the it. The ;her; I e could in Lon- her was ity and ramide, ►bini, so ;er, and, ng eye , • -as to be I of cos y by his , nergy; was at *oduced ipensa- Dments, Rachel passage I said, of bra- Never- ;en pre tct, and Le tenor So pic- also so d never dui as public. udsonaa execu lut I do s, His he line. Fuan he -. The f Tam singing parable the wa s; ig men s been ding so stacato :..larion. -andeur Fanciful superi to vul- eat was sigh as Ls dear. Lands at and 6,1 Lble at• rain, a F.,nglish on this emand. re , but Indian wheat, rencieS. and 40s 36s to s to 30$ . per qr. :--Red rley, 65 s 9,1 to met A l e y met is were 1 up. I down. l down. 1 up. 38s Od ; tnd the a num ; prices and a to 7 ,1 to ad r stout, pt. 18. pt. 12. et. 5. pt, 28. pt. 18. pt. 12. pt. 10. pt. 18. pt. 12. pt. 10. .pt. 4. A. 6. pt. 10. pt. 4. pt. 17. pt. 11, pt. 4. pt. 10. pt. 24. pt. ,8. pt. 14. New Dinted. ade in Barry, tehall, e wife n and Le wife Glou- DI Le stance Aar°, ophie, ;uffolk EWE' 0. 11 2 . DIY 01 G•.si EMEMBER, WE SUP AT EVANS' EVERY EVENING THIS WEEK after Alfred Mellon's Promenade Concerts. EA... VACANCIES for 'MIDSHIPMEN And ki APPRENTICES in a first-class London shipping firm. Preinium modorate. Alvo apprentices without premium.— Apply to Sllrlit)NDS and Co.. 38, St. Mary-at-hill, East cluap, E.C. Third tillie2ers and Stewards wanted. T HE ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY. 'HEAD OFFICES, Lombard-st+•ec , t, London, and 'Royal Int urance buildimzs, Liverpoel. Total Animal, Revenue exceeds rs o o,o'n. AccurnulatetiFund3 in hand over 1,0:;0,000. Cliftirnyin in Liverpool: CDARLES TURNEIZ, Esq., M.P. Chairman in London ..... IVILLIAM WAINWRIGHT, Eeq. EXTItv , t-S FROM THE REPORT FOR TILE YEAR 18a2, The ,rectors or the Royal InsurAnce Company are now at Q ! upon to m ake. their accustomed periodical Report at the in?, of its Shareholders. FIRE 1111ANCTI. ofThe Directors have. as p ea/singly as unexpectedly, at the Pl 7 the year, to announce, for the first time, that the Fire A-niums have not only reached, but exceed .C 300,000. Z lie hi Goy 'lntteirtoilnarras of Dutytiveposirion held by the Royal in the is ag , in fully maintained. .IThe profit of the business of the year exceeds considerably 1, a mount realised in the preced•ng year, and in fact sur- Passes that of any year, with hut two exceptions, since the commencement of flit- , Office, the balance to the credit on , a ccO, unt of British and Forei;_ , ,u Insurances beine..ols,loi 10s. and hf the North American business, which is kept sepa -%lelY, £11,097 lfis. 10d. LIFE BRANCA'. The very gratifying duty now falls upon the Directors to R ate the sum assured on n 'W policies for the year Igo2 e xceeds even that or theyesr 1,861 by £lBO,OOO, and has arrived at the almost unexampled amount for a birw - le year of ;_ 70 1,427 on 1,498 new policies issued. Until within the last years it is believed that such a sum assured as that %ihich ham just been announced as the result of one year's business IVZIS all but unheard of. This portion of Company's business has been carefully the , . watched, and cannot fail to give much satisfactton to the f 4 hareholder, as well as no small encouragement fur the Int. re to the participating life assurer. Evidence of continued care in the selection of lives is amply afforded by a statement of the number rejected. These have amounted to 311 for the year, on which the'agfrregate sum proposed for assuran^e , mountA to .£ 41,2 S t. Various degrees of ineligibility have led to these lives being declined. No small number of the Assurance ( ompanies of the day record their accepted lives annually at a sum not much, if at all, exceeding those which the Royal has declared as inadmis sifle in a single year from deterioration of some kind or anoth,-.T. If, to complete their review, the Directors now advert briefly to the United Kingdom, they have to announce that in Fire Business its progress has been undoubtedly more rapid than that of any other Company established either in Londan or elsewhere, except when amalgamations have taken place. The returns of duty have proved this. In Life, the amount of New Policies already reported make all other evirienee needless. The Directors conclude their present Report with the expression of an opinion that the prospects of Royal Instrancs Company were never brighter, and of a consequent tome, Co on a grateful remembrance of the past, that . the future may unfOld for it a sphere of still greater magni tude, combining distinguished commercial success to the OfDce to the a lengthen e d career of utifefulness and protection public. PF.RCY 91. DOVP. Manager and Actuary. JOHN B. JOHNSTON, Secretary in Loudon. NORWICH UNION FIRE INSURANCE SOCIETY. The business of t ! ie Company ex cee d s £70 , 000 , 000. x 55,062, The duty paid to G overnment for the year 1862 was 4C10,e86,332 and the amount insured on farming stock, A bonus of three -fifths of the profi's periodically made to Parties insuring, who have thus, from time to time, received Nams amounting in the anT,rregate to £410,000 ; and the Society now holds a large Reserve appli^able to a future Bonus. The rates o f premium are in no case higher than those their insurers. cliar-rrel l by the other principal offices making no returns to l''°r I) uses appy Crescent the Society's Offices, t Tt Black -s.reet, Norwich; and 6, New Bridge-s re , iriars E CSurrey _______ , . pa"IBENT CLERKS MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION. Established 1840. Tho r , TRUSTEES. TI ~- , idarintr, Esq. IGeo. Prescott, Esq. !--'l3ll Tran - key, ' l.:;q., M.P. I Baron L. de Rothschild, M.P. ruf... h . , s-ial T ~A -Af' Assurance for all classes. . tot a l 2 Nocia; ion has now in existence 6,000 policies, for a £51,000 ec pa r d y n la c te la d im E s uncl exceeds .. 2 o,' 00 The im. - lie of the profits are dixided : q : uinq : u .. enn l i l a 2 ll o y oo amon g Wh rrh n :47l : i } :th l AoA e st f u,5a001 IPcoo Three .inei s divisions . have kgeies-1.e.. following sums have been added as bonuses to the Dec. 31, 1847 £ ,400 ~ 1852 1857 1 8 52 .. . • • • • • - 1 , 0 the total bonus additions, £911,500. Lion 'loft's" ma; be received in clsh or applied to the reduc addi t i - ,. Premiums at the option of the assured, in lieu of an Att -- ', 1 4 to the e y. 11 D n is especially invited to the system of free or paid. ETterifi)eies introdpced by this Association, by which the Po ebalanee_ iey e f' so often submitted to on the relinquishment of Th e 18 wholly avoided. sheets of the Association are open to all, i` t n i r assurers or otherwise a seated districts sod influent'' 1 agents will be appointed in unrepre- .. 31:500 .. 23 200 .. 56,500 Chief WM. THOS. LINFORD, Secretary. 15, Moorgate-street, E.C., Aug 1, 1863. A.D. 1720. poyA, EXCHANGE ASSURANCE CORPORATION (I'';slablished by Charter of his Majesty George the First) -FOIL SEA. FIRE, LIFE, AND ANNUITIES. Offices, Royal Exchange, London. Branch Office, 29, Pail-mall. OCTAVIUS WIGRA3f, Esq., Governor. Sir PEARRES BARCLAY, E sq., Sub-Governor. Jouzv HENRY PELLY, Bart., Deputy-Governor. DIRECTORS. n en rot) P ainbricle-e, Esq. Wiimot Holland, Esq. I, l , arclay, Esq. Earl of Leven and Melville. (ar ratt Cattlev, Esq. Chas. Jno. Manning, Esq. M'illii-C;trrie Close, SCI. Henry Nelson, Esq. Al xns Den Davidson, Esq. The Hon. Joeceline Percy. Esc', Charles Robinson, Esq. rreedoS. er,liruce, Escb Samuel Leo Schuster, Esq. Edlmann, Esq. Eric Carrington Smith, Esq. Potßiver Grenfell, Esq. William Soltau, Esq. TN • ArryAdeus Heath, Esq. Joseph Somes, Esq., 3r.r. ja ,, • Tettow Hibbert, Esq.! William Wallace, Esq. St'?ivart Hodgson, Esq. ' Chas. Baring Young, Esq. Medical Referee, SAMUEL GOLLY, Esq., F.R.S. Col ;_p irt y_r i a .F t a lo ti n d o L n I L E ; a A n S t a S g U e o l tuAsN te C rin ES s. may be effected with this 4 _'.o e Life D epartment, assurances are granted with par ''clnation in Profits, or, at lower Premiums, without such parti< i portion. The nev e 1 ria nearly 2 perrsce°nt.l7 Banns on British Policies has averaged tivalent payable by persons N _ per annum on the sum assured. reductions have been made in the Premiums The divisions of P v ro b fl o t p t r a e i t c e e rr pi e a d eo th e a y t e f r o y rm Fiy of e Bonus. years. Any sum not exceeding X 1 5,000 may be insured on one Tilts Corporation affords to the Assured—. :Liberal participati on i n Profits the liabilities of partn ership. — With exemption from .A rate of Bonus equal to the aver r eturns of Mutual Sr cietics—with the guar an t ee o 1 a lar g e invested Capital Stock. he ulvantftrzes of modern PraetiCe,—with th of / an Office whose resources have been tested b e y s tl c ie uri ex t 37 - perience of nearly a CENTURY AND A MALE, within the The Corporation have always allowed the Assured to serve in the Militia, Yeomanry, or Volunteer Corps tuittxl Kingdom, free of charge. ROYAL EXCHANGE, LONDON. SOBT. P. STEELE, Secretal NORTH BRITISH AND MERCANTILE INSURANCE COMPANY. Established 1809. I ncorporated by Royal Charter and Special Acts of Parliament -ken •411113 LATED AND INVESTED FUNDS, £2,122,8Z1 ANNUAL REVENUE, £422,101. LONDON BOARD. j A h h il airm l in an it . o Cater Es . IP. du Pre Grenfell, Esq. Ularle, Nforrison, Esq., ' De.: ~.11 1 ify ( hairman. I J.,nius S. Morgan, s riq ~ , ,,x, _Iv -De rrovave, Esq. I . A To * b li n i°e M k ol m le a ` n t, n E E sq ls . cl :__ . G. Garden Nicol, E Esq. James ard e o h ea, Esa. ax aeo do Btdason, Esq. 1 John H . .. y. W oun m g . A. R. ~., EX-DIRECTORS. , SC E l s i g ro . er, 1" . . e 6 - 2 1 oPbell, Esq. Robert Smith, Esq. , r• I: i t ' °4lll , Req. Frederic Somes, Esq. • alii Es M , gq. Ist-vimer of Fire Department—Georg H. Wbyting. S ilPerifl - t,, a ," otz of Life Department—W. F. Birkmyre. — tt of Foreign Department—G. H. Burnett. secretary—F. W. Lance. General Manager—David Smith. FIRE DE ?ARMEN l'. . tz .The C o , .aing.dern—watlY Err4hts Insurances against Fire in the United dki.„„__.alld all foreign countries. _ 0„,...--,-.4utile all in the Port of London accepted at re' ~..., rates Led • the it,toat toareigna , jeoreit J)Lomptly and liberally settled. to. a practical know 'edge of 1 . " 184 —The Directov, 1 sea a discount will be allotted to such Insurances. countries, are prepa a red to issue Policies on la ur rch a n le t t s e a r i t l n c i4. o 4n ra al efr c eettag The toi LIFE DEPARTMENT le during, th e r a in g_eStvtatement exhibits the improvement effected ix 0• ofs Policiesyears 1 2 58. Issu e d . Premiums. Sums. Z 12,565 18 8 7 850 ......... 455 ........ Z. 377,425 14,; 1 6 18 0, ....... W• 5 ........ 449,913 14,071 17 7 11 1 ...... 415 ........ 4'5,649 1A,553 2 9 2862 ....... IA 37 ........ 7ri 14 Thus thee years the number b 23,641 0 0 assuring large sum ot The leading features ot the' 1:. , 17 2 1 9 g r Pohcies 2. The large Bonus adceti 1. Entire Se•urity to As u°lllce are : r e rs' vg, t d d y tTha d et e l c he l es a a r O e tr d ip . nrv a e em n a d : t g.m r : prospect of a turther°llOn . • issued was 3,623, 3. Tthiradvantazes afforded by —unrestreted erniditi v.: wgistiol f Pollclesand general liberality in dealin inforetnAatsisounrewdill be furnished Forms of Propo,al and every on appiication at the BEAD OFFIcES :....LONDON. ....... 58, nk Threadne E edle-street. DINBURGII... 4: ketwo ils- a Reildttgs- NORTH BRTTISH AND ce IVIE street, RcA:; -- - , A -I. INSU RANCE COMPANY x,, ILE WEST-END OFFICE 8, WATERLOO-PLACE, PALL-MALL. Secretary—ALEX. J. RUSSELL. THE LAUNDRESSES to her lat e Riov Queen Adelaide say, that " BRIGGS' AUSTRALIA et te•- S t"ARCEI needs but to be tried to be approv e d s ole v i T holesate Agent, Harper Twelvetrees, Bromley-by: l3o 4e london, E. ANEVER FAILING REMEDy.- Dr. SCOTT'S BILIOUS and LIVER PILLS, prt o,red without any mercurial ingredient, from the recipe of Dr. Frott. of Bromley, Kent, will be found invaluable to all who Fuller from bilious and dyer complaints, indigestion, wind. , n 3 " m3, giddiness, dizziness of the eyes, &a For habitual costiveness as a famil y aperient medicine, and as a purifier of the b lood, they are truly excellent; mild in their opera tion and grateful to the stomach, they create appetite, pro mote dizestion, and strengthen' the whole nervous system. Sold bye-. Lambert, 8, Ki ng William-street, Charing-cross. tjnien the quantity onclon, and by most druggists, in boxes,ls. ltd., and three in one . . 2s. Be sure to ask for Dr. Scotte's Bilious and Liver Pills. The genuine are a square lita m en v. PaQka g e, With " William Lambert," engraved on the No. 22,211. MR. lIOSKINS' NEW WORK ON EGYPT, Just ready, in 1 vol., with Illustrations, 155., A -WINTER. IN 11 PPEE, AND LOWER EGYPT. By G. A. HOSKINS, Esq., F.n.G.s., Author of " Travels in Ethiopia," " Spain As it Is," &e. Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great 3larlborough-street. NEW NOVEL by the Author cf "COUSIN GEOFFREY." Now ready at all the Libraries, In 3 vols., LEFT TO THEMSELVES. By the Author of "Cousin Geoffrey," &c. " A very touching story. It is one of the most clever boolEs of the reason."--United Service Mag. Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Mal lborough-street. Now ready at all the Libraries, in 2 vols., 285., 1 oRD WILLIAM LENNOX'S FIFTY YEARS' BIOGRAPHICAL REMINISCENCES. "Lord WUliam Lennox has givcn u+ in these two very charming' volumes a pleasant glimpse of society. Ihe worL cannot tail to amuse and interest all who read it."—Sun. Burst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-street. ARMY CONTRACTS. Commissariat Oa7e, Alderanet, 2d September, 1863. MENDERS will be rPeeired nt, this offiee, until noon, on WEDNESDAY, the 30th September, 180, from persons who m a y be w illi ng t o enter i nto Contract for the supply of FORAGE, in such quantities as may be required, from Ist November, I+-63, to 3 st October, 1561, for the use of Her Majesty's Forces stationed at Aldershot Camp, and within the com mand. Forms of Tender and Conditlons of Contract may be ob tained on apilication at this office, by letter or in person, between the hours of ten and four o'clock. The Tenders must be properly filled up and signed, and delivered at this office (under closed envelope, marked on the outside "Tenser for Forage"), and no Tender will he noticed unless made on forms obtained from this office, and delivered by the hour appointed. HENRY B. MORSE, Deputy Commissary-General. TUOXF 0 R D, R, OXFORD STREET, W. THIS EVENING, will be performed Oneratic Selections from Sir Henry R. f - ishop's THE SLAVE and Haleyy's MUSKETEERS (first time in England). Principal Artistes—Miss Russell, Miss Ell'son, Messrs. Green, Bernardi, Huish, &c., with full band and chorus. Conductor, Mr. F. Jonghmans. Flute Solos by Drew Dean, itc. Comic, by UNSWOR,TH ("or any ether man "), Eugene, W. Randall, A. Lloyd, and George Hodson. Also, a Performance by Herr S CHAL IiENB ACH on his wonderful instrument, the PIANO ORCIIETRE, contain ing a full band of 40 instruments. 'lllO !TALL his just been newsy Decorated and Ventilated, and is one of the most Beautiful in the Metropolis. Open at 8 o'clock. Admission, Ed. ; stalls and balcony, le. ; private boxes, 30s. 6d. CANTERBURY HALL " GHOST."—In order to gratify the curiosity of nightly-increasing crowds, Mr. C. MORTON has transferred the representation of-Pro fessor Pt pper and Henry Dirks, Esq.'s, world-famed spectral Illusion, " Tin; GHOST," from the ricture Gallery to the Concert Hall, where a nrw and el-gal:it stage is erected, affording a more ample view of the Illusion from Stalls, Bal cony, and byi yof the Hail. He has also arranged for Mr. A. ,ilvester to give (with all that gentleman's latest im provements and effects), REPRESENTATIONS EACH EVhNIiG, at Ten o'clock. All the other Musical and Pictorial attractions as usual, including Operatic Selections, Bc. ; sworth (the modern Demosthenes), Eugene, Arthur Lloyd, George Hodson, tto. OYAL ALHAMBRA PALACE. The GnosT ! The GFIO T! ! The ONLY COMIC GIIOST !! ! -The beautiful FAIRY FOUNTAIN.,—A Grand Divertissement by Signora Itachele and Marfannina and Signor Guiseppe France , co, assisted by a corns of Twenty young Ladies—Selections from favourite Operas : Principals, lies M`Gregor, Mr. Albert, Signor Georg - ini (the new Italian tenor), and Mr. Vernon Rigby. NICOSIA, the Great Violinist, will make his First Appsaranee in England on Monday next, a t the ALHAMBRA. ARGYLL ROOMS. Windmill-street. Picc a dilly. NOTICE.—The above elegant Rooms will be Opened on SATURD AY, September 5, entirely redecorated under the sole enaction of Messrs. Delicourt, of Paris, decorators to the Palaces of the Emperor Napoleon. The artistical work will be done by Messrs. Biggs and assistants. The musical department under the directorship of Mons. ,Tullien, and chef d'orchestre. The band will be chosen from the Household Troops and the Royal Italian (Ipera houses. This celebrated band is well known by the public, and will be called in future the London Band, and will be represented by the best art sts of the present day. Conductor of the Rooms and Manager, Mons. GRENET. Sole Lessee, R. R. BIGNELL. Admission, ls. ESTABLISHED 1833. 1 OWDEN'S JERATFD GINGER BEER. in glass or stone bottl-s, warranted to keep good twelve months. Lemonade, Soda-water, Fotass, Seltzer, and every description of Mineral Waters.—Manufactory, No. 3, White Hart-street, Drury-lane, W.C. PAGE'S BRICK, TILE, AN]) PIPE MACHINE•z, for hand, horse, or steam power, are the most simple and efficii.nt extant.—Ful: particulars and prices obtained of the makers, E . P age an d Co`, Laurence Pountney place, Laurence Pountney-hill, Ca ~ non-street, E.C., where they may be seen in operation daily. NIONEY PROMPTLY ADVANCED by a Private Gentleman upon FURNITURM (without removal\ Leasehold aril Freehold Property, or Reversions, &c., in sums from £2O to £SOO.—Mr. Howard, 18, Queen street, Cheapside. TO Persons in WANT of MONEY (in Town or Country).—A GENTLEMAN is willing to MAKE ADVANCES of CASH, without delay, to respectable person ,, (male or female), on their own security. The utmost secrecy can be relied on.--Apply (it by lett er enclose lour stamps) to W., at Mr. Robertson's, Accountant, King* Will la m-street, London-bridge, E.C.—Money advanced on Dock Warrants. OELEBRATION of the TERCENTENARY of kj the BIRTH of SHAKSPE ARE, at Stratford-upon- Avon. The Tercentenary Committee (of which Sir Robert N. C. Hamilton, Bart , K.C.8.. is Chairman) are now receiv ing SUBSCRIPTIONS, and they may also be paid to the account of the Tercentenary Committee, at the Stourbridge and Kidderminster or Warwick and Leamington Banks, Strati ord-upon -Avon ; Messrs. G reenway, Smith, and Greenway, Warwick ; or their I o n d on agents, Smith, Payne, and Co , Messrs anburys and Co., or Messrs. Glyn and Co. banker 6, London. Messrs. H The Tercentenary Committee, in submitting the subscrip tion list to the nation, most earnestly appeal to the admirers of Shakspeare for their aid and assistance. The Committee rest their claims upon the ground that Stratford is not only the birthplace of Shakspeare, but the centre of attraction to all admirers of the great Poet's works, and that it was his home, the tcwn he luved, and where he lived and died. ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL. Gray's-inn-road, in the immediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail way Terminus, at Ring's-cross. Patron—The QUEEN. President—The Duke of BUCCLEUCH, K.G. Treasurer—Edward Masterman, Esq. This was the first hospital to introduce the principle of free and instant admission to the destitute sick, without the for mality of zovernors' letters. It is entirely devoted to desti tution in its most pitiable form—viz., that which is accom panied by sickness and disease, and is now of sufficient m pable of agnitude that, with adequate support, it may be rendered ca admitting into its wards a very large proportion of the casual sick of this great metropolis. It requires but the funds in ord er to have 500 beds available for the reception of these the most wretched of our fellow-creatures. Moreover, it gratuitously affords medical advice and medicine to more, on the average, than 3,000 out-patients a week. The Weekly Board feel it their imperative duty to make an EARNEST APPEAL to the youblio for continued support, to enable them to tdmit and relieve the distressing cases that daily present themselves. Contributions are received by the Treasurer, Edward Masterman, Esq., Nicholas-lane; also by Messrs. Coutts and Co. ; Drummond and Co. ; Berries and Co. ; Ransom and Co. ; Prescott, Grote, and Co.; Smith, Payne, and Co.;Giyn Jones Loyd and Co. Barclay and Co. Denison. DCo.;O d G ; W Marne, eacon, and o. , veren , Gurney, and d Co. ; Messrs. J. Earned and Co., Liverpool Co. ; Nisbet an ital. and at the Hoop STANFORD S. SMITH Secretary. a a n n d d CC00..: ;$ OYAL NATIONAL TION LIFE-BOAT INSTITU (Inoorperated by Royal Charter). PATRONESS—Fier Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. PRESIDENT—Vioe-Admiral the Duke of Northumberland, F.R.S. ruArnuAN—Thos. Baring, Fsq., F.R.S., V.P. DEPUTY-CIIAIRMAN -MOMS Chapman, Esq., F.R.S., V.P. APPEAL. National Lifeboat 'the beginnin g ' o f t h e year 1880, the Royal. The Committee of Management have to state that, since Institution has expended £32,000 on various Lifeboat Estab lishments on the Coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The number of lives saved by the Lite-boats of the Society, and other means, since its formation, is 12,8004 for which services 82 G o ld M P d a l s, 718 Silver Medals , and £18,480 in cash have been p a id i n rewards. The Institu tion has also expended £87,000 on Life-boats, Life-boat Transporting-cart iages, and Boat-houses. The Committee desire to express their grateful sense of support which they have received from the the past tow y ears , a su pport which tßhrietigsehnpeurobulisc darinz. has enabled them to establish their present magnificent fleet of 123 Lifeboats on the shores a the United Kingdom. Deeply sensib'e, however, of the great responsibility that rests on them to maintain their fleet in a thoroughly efficient state, and its Crews practised in the management of their i wo. boats, which can only be effected by a l arge and pe:manent annual income, they earnestly appeal to all classes of so their The Committee gratefdliy acknowledge the follo w i ng con g tributtons e o r u e a n t t r a y n m d e t n r u t l o y a id tio tn n e ar a n upholding and perpetuating .. ~ .. annual 50 1 £ a. d fTer Majesty the Queen n 0 1 0 0 ( C :l fr rk. pb C el o l l . o t n h e e l, H ll 7 A . . Mr • . •• an nua l 5 0 0 . :I , 4 a n s r t I :,:veSierV7 Currie, Wm. Esq., • • Coutts and Co., Messrs., Bankers .. .. . .. .. 4 a t n h n d u o a n l . l o o 0 0 0 0 . •• •• don. 10 10 0 Erie, Lord Chief Justice • Perlwick,cost of aLifeboat d " don. an I ran • • 250 0 0 sportinff Carria,cre • ___. • • .. • • don. 30 0 .• • G. J., Esq.,Baitrrat.l Sir A .. ., K.C.8... .. 2d 25 0 0 narvey It G G and mrs. .. 7th don. 10 0 0 ...le , r e nt , a i e e Henry,.:d . • • . . don. 15 15 o Smith, 51 V• • 3..• • •• 3 0 0 Greenwich • • • • stir„n P G"rge 'B— g, Col. Sir Anthony, K.C. . .. annual 2 0 0 Thn """8 Lad Weston-super-Marc, Lady,i,il6 16 0 7, .. •• •• Willoug:l4 d• • • • • • • annual 50 0 Eresby, Lord .• • • • • n n - and Annual Suhscrl Donau R ...... collectedby her (steed by the 13 Institution, Messrs. Willis, Percival, and Co, ;6, of the m rd street ; Messrs. Coutts and oons witi be thankfully re- Co., 59, Strand; Messrs. Berries Lombard-street; and Co., 16, St ,I ame,l's•street, London.; by .1 * the Collectors of Customs and Bankers in the United kingdom; and by the Secretary Richard Lewis' Esq., at the Office of the Institution, 11, 3400 n-street, Adelnhi, London, ti - VA.:. : //-//e - 1" _TN \ S PAPP-T."11 cy , ▪ \ 7 ), r : . 4.o•l :_tt i , - ;.s‘,, • i Y 44 . 0 • 4,43 4 , 0 p r were not expected to take more than e. fire - 4 4; - it • CLUI • At e t ) , r.dr, • •••.t- „sof. , C. - -*.l, ,, r.a's- (v • .„. eg1410 1111611 - 1734. k 1::,„ . 4 0 • • f • I , - 1, 1 4 c 1111 P.‘*;:' ' ' ' a I • 4. c 144.1." '4l DIE . ' t" , 'lO 4 0100 ' - DRoIT• ""\\ when a visitor had drunk out of a vessel h e to one of a number of attendants who were always near, and who were glad to finish off the contents. While all this toasting was going on, 31 guns were fired in hon our of the visit ; and when Mr. Craft returned to Whydah ;he had 31 guns fired by way of returning the compliment. After this entertainment the party were conducted to the other side of the palace, where the Amazons were dancing. There were 200 or 300 young women thus engaged, and they danced very prettily, making very graceful fis ;urea. Although the dancing was kept up alt day, and the 'outs women must have been very tired at night, somehow' tiny seemed quite as fresh as they were when they began in the morning. There was also a grand review Df the Amazonian regiment, which marched about in v irious directions, and went through all its evolutions, Trio whole of the King's property was then brought fc rwa:d and exhibited to the visitors, thousands of meta and women being employed in carrying the articles back wards and forwards. There were among these gold and sih.er or naments, and specimens of almost every kind of Btu rpeatt manufacture. By this time Captain Burton arrived at Da homey, and a grand review of the troops took plaice in honour of them all. It was quite true that human sacrifieca took place, though not to the enormous extent that had been painted. The King of Dahomey was quite black er ough, but not quite so black as he had been painted. The sacrifices took place from three different causes. The were partly religious, partly demonstrati ve ofpowe Y r, and partly festive. Women and children were never sacrificed. When a num ber of women a n d c hi ldren were captured, en p they were either sold or wereg ivend b un to s the tu r soldiers ; h teg andststrong a swives.The chil dren men were eresold as well as the women, if anybody would buy them ; but the old. men pecuniary account women and those that could not b e turned to a ccount were offered up in sacrifi ce . W hen he was at Da , bomey he saw a large number of children of different tribes. The tribes were distinguished from each other by the Jattoo marks, and almost every child he saw had a natural raark. The people of Dahomey thought it rather against their dignity to tattoothemselves much,and had only tattoo rnarka on the temple, but other tribes were tattoed very much, and in avariety of patterns. Thereason why they sold the young men was that they considered it dangerous to have such strong antagonistic element is their midst. The Ii ing gave him four boys for his friends and one for himself. The ages of the boys varied from 9 to 12. They were captured by the King in an expedition against a neighbouring tribe, arid at the same time he took a native missionary who had been trained under the Church Missionary Society, and sent home to teach his heathen brothers. The King of Dahomey, judg ing that this man was a native, and believing that he had assumed the European garb for the purpose of deceivs ing him, thought it necessary to treat him with greater severity than his other captives, and accordingly had him crucified, But many of the chiefs expressed their regret to Mr. Craft that this had occurred, and ex cused themselves by sas ing they did not know that the poor man was under the protection of the English. The boys whom the King presented to him he bad given to his friends, though, of course, they would not regard them as slaves, but would educate them and bring them up as British subjects. In reference to the sacrifices, M. Jules Gerard made a mistake when he said that the King danced in pools of human blood and fragments of human flesh. He was there on the occasion to which M. Gerard referred, and could positively declare that nothing so unseemly took place. Ilia was very sorry to differ from M. Gerard, but a regard for the truth compelled kim to make those statements. Ile regretted that Capt. Burton was not present to corroborate his statements; but he had seen a letter from that gentle man in the Anglo-African newspaper—a periodical pub lished weekly or monthly at Lagos by a coloured gentleman —and in that letter the captain made no allusion whatever to the horrible things which M. Gerard said he saw. There was also a letter in the Times of Tuesday from a gentleman writing from Catherine-street, Strand, who stated that he had received a:letter by the last mail from Capt. Burton, but that in that letter there was nothing at all about the extra ordinary cruelties to which M. Gerard referred. Commo dore Wilmot had also given an account of Dahomey which differed very much from that of M. Gerard ; and he was able to testify to the truthfulness of the commodore's state ments. There were only one or two other points to which it was necessary for him to refer. With respect to the agricultural capabilities of the country, he regarded it as a cotton-growing region. Nothing could be said in defence of human sacrifices, but there was no harm in stating that the pecuniary element entered into the question to a very large extent, and that if the natives could be brought to believe that it was their interest to cultivate cotton and sell it to Europeans they would abandon the slave trade. A great deal had been said by Commodore Maury about Africa not being a cotton-growing country. Now, Cams modem Maury was a very high authority on winds and tides, and so long as he kept to his own element he would not interfere with him; but when he landed at Natal, and began to talk about cotton, he was very liable to find his statements criticised. A lady who was in the room had shown Mr. Craft some cotton which had been grown at Natal, and very good cotton it was; the lady was Mrs. Richardson. Commodore Maury seemed to be of opinion that cotton wo sld not grow well unless it was nipped by frost every year. Now, Natal was in about the same latitude as Egypt, and as Egypt could grow very good cotton with • out frost, why, he asked, might not Natal, if care were taken to cultivate it P With regard to West Africa and Dahomey, he could testify that cotton was grown there in abundance. Abbeokuta joined Dahomey, and a very con siderable cotton trade had sprung up there during the last few years. At the present time there was a blockade there owing to tome difference between the British Government and the Abbeokutans, and consequently the cotton was not exported ; but he knew for a fact that merchants were buy ing it up in considerable quantities, and storing it up with a view of sending it out of the country as soon as the blockade was over. lie believed that the slave trade was carried on by the people of Dahomey for the purpose of gain, Slave dealers went to the chiefs of different tribes and induced them to go to war with one another, and remained behind the scenes for the purpose of buying up the slaves that were captured in the war. In this way heathen captives were found to supply the market created by these Christian dealers in human flesh. Now, he thought that if the King of Da homey and his chiefs could be interested in the cultivation of cotton, and could be brought to feel that it was more pro fitable than the traffic in slaves, they would give the latter up altogethei. 'Accordingly, he had told the king that the demand for slaves would not exist for ever; that slavery was becoming very unpopular; that the Americans were at war, and that it might happen that before the war was closed slavery would be abolished, in which case there would he a very limited demand for slaves. (Hear, hear.) Ho might state that the Americans had prohibited the slave trace, but in spite of that a large number of slaves had been taken to Cuba, smuggled across the Gulf of Mexico into Florida, and carried thence into the interior of the Southern States. He told the King he believed it would pay him to attend to the cultivation of cotton, and not only to its cultivation, but to its manufacture. The King seemed interested in his statements, and replied that if ho could p=int him to a good market he would be very glad to grow cotton on a large scale. The King also offered him a large place for carrying on his business—a large square at Wydah, surrounded by a mud wall about 201 r. high, and containing several storehouses. He also offered to facilitate his movements in any way, and gave him, moreover, about 300 samples of cloth of European manufacture, and said that the people of Dahomey would readily purchase of that kind if they were imported from Europe." Mr. Craft then exhibited several articles of native manufacture which he had brought from Dahomey ; among these were two cushions made of native leather, and having a sort of embossed surface of a gay pattern. These formed the principal furniture of a Dahomey dwelling. There were also several specimens of native manufactured cloth, which was made of narrow strips dyed in gay colours principally yellow and red. Another article was an amazonian sword, made apparently of very good steel, pro duced in the country. Mr. Craft also exhibited a cartridge-box, ornamented with cowries, or native coin, and pouches or bags of different kinds, all more or less ornamented. There was also the backbone of a boa constrictor, which, it was said, was a very useful thing to keep off evil spirits, and also to cure people of the back-ache. Other articles were exhibited, such as beads of bone, and bamboo baskets, made with great ingenuity to fit into one another. Mr. Craft concluded by saying that he did not think that the King of Dahomey or his people would grow cotton from any high Christian motive, at least in the first instance, but that he was convinced that if they saw that they could do it profitably they would cultivate it upon a very large scale. Mr. Craft was very warmly cheered iu concluding his address, which, however, scarcely excited the discussion in the section it is likely to do elsewhere. Dover and Calais are now within 11 hours of each other. The "James Penn " crosses the Channel in that time. This rapidity is due to improvements in the marine eng,ne. Grey hair is restored to its natural colour, and tic dolorcux and nervous headache cured by Herring's magnetic brushes. Their undeviating success is due to late improvements by the inventor. N. B.—Counteri eits are being made. Offices, 52, Basioghall-street, London. THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES.-"-'The con tract for the new India and Foreign daces t o be erected by Mr. Scott, the architect, has been let to Messrs . Smith and Taylor, whose tender, ,E 195,673, being the lowest, was accepted. The other tenders, making 11 in all were - Messrs. Little, £2o9,6ls—Messrs. Higgs, £2C6,66? — Messrs. Rigby, £'lo6,lo9—Messrs. Piper and Wheeler, £200,335 —Messrs. Myers aud, Son,. £l93,s6o—Messrs. Holland and llanuen, £197,437 —Messrs. cubitt, £193,751 —Messrs. Kirk, £l96,soo—Messrs. Lucas, £193,270—and Messrs. Baker, £195,800. The foundations for the entire building in 14 feet of concrete are ail finished, and that por tion of the structure intended to be appropriated fur the use of the India-office has just been commenced. ~~Q~ ~~~~ THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 4, 1863. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That the Meeting* of this Company, to be held in London, on Friday, the 18th day of September, ISB3, will be made Special, for the follow ing* purposes, that is to say:— To consider and approve an Agreement between the Great Western Ifaaway Company:lnd the Uxbridge and ffn:kan its worth Railway Compar.y. under he rovisions of '• The Ex id,,e and if ickmansworth I:mail - ay Act, ISG for the use, wor• , ing. ' and maintenance of the Railway of the latter Loaf, pany, and for other purposes. 'to consider and approve a L. ase to the Gnat Western a a d ,a t y Corotiniiie,ato authorise ry, Railway Company of the Ely Valli y !faraway, under the powers of ' The Great Western, liereti , rd ss and Glouces otthetrea, and ssil m riot x o''ni c l e te e by d y in ßt g .lal l tl i ( l, r o 3e's o a tA t o lcV t t: h s e lrG, Valley Ifailw.y Company, and the raising the undertakingamount so authorised to be subscribed in the manner prescribed by the said last mentioned Act. To authorise the creation, conjointly with the London and North Western Railway Comp iny, of Birkenhead Capita . , not exceeding X17 , 1,1;81, s., for the purposes of the Birken head Railway, under the powers of "The Birkenhead Hallway (Vesting) Act, I>Ail." To authorise the raising of £217,562 for the general pur poses of the Company, un d er the powers of " The Great West,rn Railway (Capital) Act, 1861,' • by the creation of Shares or Stock in the Capital, by such Act authorised, with a Preferential Dividend not exceeding £4 its, per cent. ptr annum thereto, as well as to enable the Directors to issue the same, part passu, with the sum of £1,00,000 Capital, which was created at a specal general meeting, held on the 301 . 11 May, 186 , under the poweC+ of the same Act ; the whole of the said Stock or Shar s to b.! subject t,., such terms and co. , ditions as the Directors may prescribe, and to be offered to the Proprietors of the Company in the first instance, and afters ards the residue, if any, to be disposed of as the Board may dwtermine. To c m ert, from time to time, as and when it may recur, all or any of the Preierential shares of the united Company which may have already been, or which shall hereafter be paid up, into Stock of lie like denomination. The special business will be taken immediately after the half -ycarly Dulness shill be concluded. RICHD. POTTER. Chairman. W. lENTON, Deputy-Chairman. Paddington Station, Sept. 2, 1833. LITERATURE. COLBURN'S NEW MONTHLY.—" The Shadow of Ashlydyat "is continued. It now records the ap proaching death of Maria. That long-suffering lady is fast drawing near to the goal where the weary may find rest, and there is nothing to regret in her death. It is melancholy top:ruse the passages where Maria is taking leave of Meta, her cherished child. When trying to make her believe the sad reality approaching, she said she would look down upon her front heaven. "Meta turned her eyes to the uncurtained window, looking up to the winter evening sky—" Has heaven got windows ? ' she asked. "I think it has; I think that God allows us to look down on the dear ones we have left; at least it is pleasant to think so when we are about to leave them, Meta, darling; it can do you no harm to think so." It would hardly be possible to convey a more truthful picture of the sorrows and sufferings of life than is done in this story. We are shown how the sins of others are visited upon the un - offending and guiltless, and how, as in the case of Thomas Godolphin and Maria, the burden is often too heavy to bear. But their portion is not all dark ; and when they reach the end of their painful course, the death of the sor row-laden is better than the life of the sinner, who, in care less ease, is shifting the burden to other shoulders, and de termines to enjoy himself, setting care and memory at defiance. " John, Lord Carteret," figures as Sir Nathaniel's worthy of this month. The sketch of his career will at tract notice. The Life and Letters of Washington Irving form the subject of an interesting article. It is very en tertaining to follow the anecdotes collected of this remark able man; and the writer seems thoroughly to have appre ciated his subject. " Strathmore" is continued, and is as exciting as ever in its foreign style. " Twice Sacrificed" is the first part of a melancholy tale, from the Danish. It is well written, and ably exemplifies the imprudence and misery that result from the disgraceful practice of marriage de conversance, which obtains so much abroad. " Honto Hominum Deum," is the title of some very impressive verses that record a touching picture of the misery inflicted by the heartless votaries of fashion, and the ruthless rulers of business upon the helpless beings who are doomed to stitch, stitch, stitch, till life becomes a burden, and death is gladly hailed as a rescue from toil, and a release from cruel slavery, The last sad scene is truthfully and touchingly described. BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.—The lively and en tertaining story of " Six Weeks at Hunsdo❑ Manor" is continued at some length, though it chronicles no more important incident than a pic nic. "At the Tower Window with Sir Walter Raleigh" is the title of an essay suggested by the well-known anecdote of Sir Walter's burning a volume of his History of the World in disgust at the contradictory versions given him of an affair which he hh.d seen with his own eyes. The difficulties in the way of the impartial his torian have forced themselves on the minds of many emi nent men, whose opinions aro here cited. In concluding his reflections the writer pertinently remarks that every modern writer who tells the story of Sir Walter and his irreconcileable witnesses gives a different version from his fellows! We meet with a lengthened history of Count Wala, the first prisoner of Chillon, which is taken from the French, and may servo to interest the reader, although it is far too long and diffuse, A sketch of the career of Sir John Hawkwood, one of the most eminent of the Free Lances of the middle ages, pays a high tribute to his abilities as a commander, " After the Battle" is founded on the narrative of a French gentleman, who, happening to pass through Upper Italy at the time of the late Italian war, became a spectator of the supplementary horrors of Solferino. lie was an actor also in the har rowing scenes he records, since he devoted himself to the succour of the unfortunate victims of the war, together with a few other voluntary assistants, some of whom were obliged to abandon their charitable offices, overwhelmed with distress. Truly such scenes as he describes strip the gaudy colours from the triumphs of the battlefield, and might servo to disenchant the most enthusiastic. The ex travagant production of M. About, entitled " The Notary's Nose" (of which a resume was some time back given in the columns of The Sun) is summariz,al for the benefit of the English reader. It might almost read for a caricature of " sensation" novels, as " Firmilian" was a satire on the modem school of poetry. The editor's animated story of "Cardinal role" proceeds with interest. In the present in stalment Derrick Carver meets the fate which has so long been hanging over his devoted head, THE ECLECTIC REVIEW.—An essay on one of the celebrities of the era of the Reformation— Ulrich von Hatten—opens this number. It is fol lowed by an ethnological paper on the " Races of Europe," containing some curious and instructive details of the pe culiarities of our European families. " A Triad of Muses" gives a fair and favourable criticism on some new competi tors for poetical fame. The eccentric Swedish Queen, Christina, is the subject of an article founded on a re cently published life. Other papers on theological subjects complete a number of average interest and merit, GOOD WORDS.—The pencil of Mr. Millais this month very beautifully illustrates the Parable of the Woman, broom and lamp in hand, search ing about the floor of her house for the lost piece of silver. There is a pretty but rather fantastic drawing, moreover, in this same number by another illustrator, delineative of " Childhood." The letterpress is, for the most part, as usual, very excellent. Not the least worthy of perusal among the contents being a brief letter to the Editor of Good Words, penned by Dean Alford of Canterbury, in re• ference to the last ill-natured attack upon himself by the self-appointed critic on the Dean's "Plea for the Queen's English." With this gentlemanly but caustic note the number far September is brought to a conclusion. MISCELLANEOUS MAGAZINES.—The Sixpenny Magazine has its usual liberal allowance of stories sane and sketches, o n e of th e most ingenious being the tale of a madman, who, being taken by a friend to a lunatic asy l um, suspecte d the tru th, and contriv ing to abstractard ian. j andhe Pellet so gives its fair readers an ex tra in troduced hi s companion as the maniac, and h i mse lf a s the me very good advice in a slight l y improbable story, ent i tled " The Wedding Bonnet." 24. plate of fashions, the papers of admission, certificate, &c. , Bogs' Own Magazine is full of attractions, the very titles being enough to fascinate the young reader. We have " The Story of the Black Prince's Page," "The Young :Horseman," "In the African Bush," "Up in the Alps," and " Midshipmen Ashore." It is plentifully illustrated, and offers astounding riddles, puzzles, and perplexities of all sorts to the solution of the skilful. Newton's London Journal presents its usual supply of recent information on a ll matters connected with patents Mad the patent law. Cassell's Popular Educator and Illusttated History of England are proceeded with. The former contains most various instruction, while the latter has come down to the pr es ent reign. Beeton's Dictionary of Art, Valence, and Literature is a closely printed and comprehensive repertory of information. The Boys' Own Library and 2he Boys' Penny Magazine arc good samples of their class. __,_ ,- M ON UMENTS TO LORD IdYRON i 5.... DAUGHTER ADA, AND HIS GRANDSON. VISCOUNT OCRHAm --. Two handsome monuments have just been finished erecting to the memory of the above noble personages, the former being placed in. Newstead Abbey, and the latter in the in scriptions; :.--i• parish church of Ripley, Surrey. They are both Gothic monuments, of white Carrara marble, are most elaborately carved, and are ornamented by the arms of the family, the whole having been executed by Mr. T. Gaffin, the sculptor, of the Quadrant, Regent-street. The following are the in tlioaartyt hv, eldest Vis count o u n of Augusta Ada, only daughter of George Gordon Noel, In the Byron? vault below lie . the remains sixth Lord Byron, the wife of William Berl of Lovelace. Born 20th I)Qc., 1815, died 27th Nov., 1852. R 1.P." " In memory of Byron N,el Viscount Ockham and Baron Went worth, Ron Ock o h f a: il b l e in fo nl re i 8 636, died Sept. 1, 1862," It will be remembered death,E hi a s rlLove b la a c d e b . ee ß n as a smith in one of the de Ir d c yar S, owrnorkl2ilt): The Fortifications of Portsmouth. It has been said that as a p2ople we have in the matters of harbours and breakwaters cast our money more liberally upon the waters than has been done by others, but it is doubtful if the same can be said of the precautions we have taken in protecting cur shores aginst the ambition of other nations. We are now, however, engaged in spending some millions in strengthening the defence of the kingdom at all its most vital points. As a natural ac quecce to such a course a reactionary cry was rained, the work on foundations for the marine forts at Spithead was suspended, and at the same time it was understood that the chain of forts on Portsdown would not be proceeded with beyond a certain point until the subject was brought formally before the House of Commons in the usual course by the Premier. The significant majority with which the vote on the Fortifications Bill was recently passed by the house sufficiently indicated the determination of the coun try generally to support Lord Palmerston in plac ing the defences of the kingdom on an efficient basis, and the result of this decision' is that the Spithead forts will be proceeded with, and the chain of forts on Portsdown completed. Several plans for the forts at Spithead have been submitted, but none as yet have been officially selected and determined upon in all their details, nor is the precise form in which the Portsdown forts are trebeitimpleted yet agreed upon. Both are subjects of vast importance and general interest, and, as they form the salient points of the outer cordon of defence constructing round our chief naval arsenal, we shall say a few words respecting them. The introduction of rifled ordnance utterly nullified the confined area of all then exis ting lines of defence surrounding fortified posi tions such as Portsmouth dockyard and arsenal, and the lines had, therefore, to be considerably extended, so as to increase the distance between the points of attack and defence. In the instance of Portsmouth the northern and southern extremi ties of its proposed lines of defence (the central fort on Portsdown-hill and the marine forts on the Noman and Horse Shoals) form parts of nearly a circular defensive line, of about nine miles in diameter, between the points named. Portsdown may be considered as commanding all approaches to the port from landward (supposing that an enemy may have Effected a landing on any part of the ad j Acent, coast), and the Nomau and Horse Forts, through the narrow channel by the Warner Light, from sea ; supposing also, in the latter instance, that the Needles Channel is rendered impassable to any iron fleet. The position of Portsdown is nearly seven miles in extent, and runs nearly parallel with the line of coast, or the anchorage of Spithead, and its centre rises to a height of 460 feet above Ordnance level, anp is here at a distance of about 5,000 yards from Portsmouth dockyard, while the large powder magazines at Tipnor, and the shipping moored in the upper part of the harbour, lie at its very base. fhe vast importance of such a pocition and the im perative necessity for including it in the general plan for the port's defence are thus evident, and, although the extent of the plan including Ports down somewhat staggered even Sir John Burgoyne yet that able officer, in his evidence before the De fence Commission, admitted freely that the defence of the port of Portsmouth would be imperfect with out it, and the fortification of Pmesdown was there fore decided upon, and has been completed in its first stage. It is being crowned with seven forts— Purbrook, Farlington, and Cookhorn, at its eastern extremity, Wallingford at its western, and Widley, Southwick, and Nelson inter mediately along its crest. These forts are being constructed on an exceedingly simple plan, being somewhat of horseshoe form, with the toe of the shoe pointing inland, and the heel of the shoe to wards the sea of Portsmouth, but of strong trace and prodigious strength, the base line along the hilt's crest. This finishing of the forms of the forts at the base line is the most important point for con sideration in connection with the completion of the works. A common-sense view of the question would argue for a simple military road connecting the forts along the hill's crest, and thus leaving the gorges open, the latter standing towards Portsmouth, and if they are only intended as a defensive adjunct to Portsmouth and its dockyard, this is doubtless the only sensible idea that can be entertained. It is, however, said that the Royal Engineers strongly advocate the construction of " iron-cased" keeps to close the gorge of each work. It can scarcely be believed, however, that such a proposition can be seriously entertained. If an enemy once got suffi ciently close to find that a fort on Portsdown was too hard a nut to crack by bombardment, ho would simply, as the hill is of a chalk formation, cut a gal lery or tunnel in the chalk, and blow the whole affair, " iron keep" and all, into the air. So far as the works have proceeded at present, their general design, if left, as suggested, as open forts to the rear, connected by a military road, has been magni ficently conceived and executed. At the cast end of the hill the works are the least forward of any, but here may be seen the unusually formidable na ture of the " trace." It is commanded by three works—Farlington, Crookhorn, and Purbrook. All three have yet proceeded in their construction but little beyond their formation of parapet and ditch and general outline. Their height reaches 300 ft. above Ordnance level. Farlington commands the eastern point of Portsdown, and will mount 18 of the heaviest guns on, its terre-plein, with mortar batteries on the angles of its surround ing ditches, each battery mounting three mortars. A sunken gallery communicates with Crookhorn, which will mount 16 guns on its terre-plein, with six guns in the angles of its ditch. A continuation of the same sunken gallery leads from Crookhorn to the main work at this eastern end of Portsdown, Purbrook—which will mount 21 guns on its terre plain, nine guns in caponnieres in the ditch, and three mortars in the ditch's west angle. It has a nearly straight face of 240 ft., looking inland, the open gorge being opposite the west side of Lang- Eton harbour and the eastern side of Portsmouth harbour. The ditches surrounding the three works vary in depth, according to their position, from 35ft to 50ft. Sunken galleries from the interior of the works communicate with the mortar batteries and caponnieres in the ditches. The walls of the ditches themselves are supported in their vertical formation by chalk and brick masonry, and these formidable outer obstructions are carried out generally in the entire line of works along the hill's crest. At Wal lingford, the fort which commands all approaches to Portsdown at its western end, the arrangements are somewhat different, owing to its position, but continue of the same comprehensive and formidable nature, It will mount 56 guns on its terre-plein I four of them being in casemates 2 la Haxo at the angles. Caponnieres project into the ditch, mount ing three guns each at each angle, and have mortar batteries in the rear. Sunken galleries communi cate between the enciente of the work, the capon nieres, the mortar batteries, and an advanced covered way on the right shoulder, which mounts three guns, sweeping the line of ditch. It stands at au elevation of 140 ft. above Ordnance level, has a right front of 520 ft., a left front of 326 ft., a right flank of 437 ft., and a left flank of 383 ft. Its gorge is as yet open lik e t h e le e of the Portsdown forts, and looks towards the seacoast. Although not strictly speaking belonging to the line of Portsdown forts, still it must be considered a "Portsdown" fort, as erected on;the low land at about a mile distant from Fort Wallington, and nearer the line of seacoast stands Fort Fareham, the village of Fareham, which stands at the upper most head of Portsmouth harbour, being situated between the two forts. Any attack upon the posi tion of Portsdown from the westward must include Fort Perehean, which must the:refer° be cousidered conjointly with the seven hilt forts hire ;44 noticed. It is a work of more than ordinary pretensions. Like the forts on Portsdown it may be generally described as of horseshoe shape, with five faces of 221 ft., 17 , 3 ft., 313 ft., 364 ft., and 400 ft. respectively. It will mount 50 guns on its terzeplein, double Haxo casemates being at each angle. The tare plcin is supported on massive brickwork arches, which give the necessary accommodation for the garrison, and the whole work will have an eleva Lion of 36ft. over the surrounding country, its front being well covered with earthwork. The ditch en compassing the fort is 15ft. in depth, 119 ft. in width at the top, revetted in brickwork, and with 9ft. of water. Portsdown is thus the base of the great polygon of works designed and now being carried into execution for the defence of Ports mouth. South of Portsdown is the anchorage of Spithead, and the proposed sites of the marine forts which are to defend Spithead and Portsmouth from the sea. While Portsmouth is being thus engirdled with a vast net of fortifications, it is impossible not to acknowledge, on examining the general plan, that in the channel of approach from the sea stands the Achilles' heel of the whole plan. Only five hours' steaming from the greatest military port of another country, there is not at present existing one single obstacle to a hostile squadron steaming into Spit head whenever it may choose, and bombarding and destroying Portsmouth dockyard, its shipping, and its arsenals at pleasure. It is imbecility at its ex tremest point to speak of any effectual resistance which cou'Al be offered by the existing fortifications now supposed to defend Portsmouth and Spithead from such a disastrous result. They are old works which would fall :o the ground from the concussion of any guns fired from their parapets of sufficient calibre to inflict damage on an iron-clad fleet. To show the truth and importance of this statement, it is here necessary to observe that the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour, Southsea Castle, and Fort Moncton form a triangle of which Spithead is the base, with Portsmouth Harbour at the apex, and that the guns at these three points aro the only pre sent obstacles to the entrance of an enemy's fleet from the sea. Southsea Castle is a very old stone built work, partially covered with earth on its flank, and is in such a dilapidated state that not a gun has been allowed to be fired from its walls for months past, not even for blank practice. The front face of Fort Moncton, which faces Spithead, and is sup posed to cross fire with Southsea Castle, is the weakest part of the work, and would certainly not bear the concussion from the fire of heavy ordnance. In these two points, therefore, at the base of the triangle, there are at present no existing means for the defence of Portsmouth from a sea at tack. The batteries at the mouth of the harbour are armed with 32 and 68 poun ders, and a few 110 pounder Armstrongs, but they are useless as opposed to iron-clad ships, nor will they carry guns of sufficient weight and calibre to prevent iron-clads forcing the entrance of the harbour, The knowledge of these facts justly gave the Government the strongest argument possible for the completion of their scheme for the marine forts which are intended to remedy this very weak point in the armour of Portsmouth. The Government plans for the defence of Spit head from a sea attack consist of the three marine forts of the Horse, Noman, and Sturbridge, all three to be constructed on shoals abutting upon the nar row deep water ways of Spithead. The two first named will lie south of Spithead, and be the first obstacles to the entrance of a hostile fleet from the Channel. The Sturbridge (built on the Sturbridge shoal, off Ryde, Isle of Wight) can only be of ser vice after a fleet has forced its way into Spithead, and therefore its use under any circumstances would be very problematical. From its position, even if it missed an enemy's ship, it must strike a friend, as its shots in either case would plump either into the town of Ryde or Fort Moncton. It is situate at 4,500 yards distance from the Noman and Horse forts, and is about 6,800 yards from the dockyard. It stands, in fact, or rather is intended to stand, in the centre of the ground into which an enemy's fleet must never be allowed to enter, and by its fire would injure its friends more than its enemies. So well is the inutility of this proposed fort under stood, that Capt. Tyler, of the Royal Engineers, has not hesitated to condemn it in letters to the public press, and proposed in lieu to erect a fort oa the Warner Rock, outside the Noman and Horse forts. The three forts would then form a perfect triangle, with the " Warner" as the apex and in advance, and if constructed and armed as contemplated no iron ship should ever swim past them. All parties appear now to agree in the expediency of constructing these marine forts, provided they are bailt to carry guns of sufficient power to smash in the sides of any iron ship that may come between them. The Government plans have, how ever, been severely criticised from the date of the fii•st report of tho Royal Defence Commission, and various plans have been submitted, some on evtdenee before the Commission, and others from non-official sources, either to prevent an enemy from ever en tering Spithead at all, or for rendering it so hot after he had got there that ho would be glad to quit it again. Sir John Dalrymple Hay, R.N., when examined before the Defence Commsssioners, proposed that a boom should be placed across the channel between the proposed Horse and Noman forts, and that 12 iron-cased vessels should lie connected together by chains and moored ineide in support, and that 12 vessels, under steam, iron-cased, should be em ployed, in addition, to offer the first line of defence against the enemy. Capt. Tyler, R.E., in lately reviewing this proposition of Sir John Hay, advo cates the additional defensive force of six steam rams, worked by double or "twin" screws, inside the forts, and considers that under such circum stances of defence, with a fort on the Warner Rock, it would be impossible for any hostile ironclad fleet to enter Spithead by its southern channel. A plan has been proposed by Mr. W. Austin, C.E., for closing the passage between the Horse and Woman forts by means of floating batteries of peen- liar construction and light draught of water, con nected by chaincables with the forts, that appears to possess a great originality of idea, with simplicity and economy. So far these plana relate only to the closing of the waterway between the Noman and Warner shoals, through which an enemy's fleet can only reach Spithead from the Channel by the southern passage. Another plan has been submitted to the authori ties by Mr. Pineo, C.E., of Portsmouth, a gentle man, by his position and knowledge of the waters of Spithead, well qualified to give an opinion, which, from its economical estimated cost, its com prehensiveness, and the manner in which it enters into the extension and defences of the port, deserves special attention. Portsmouth harbour is separated from the outer deep waters by a series of s hoals, generally known as the Spithead shoals, which ex tend in a triangular form from the narrow mouth of the harbour to opposite Southsea Castle, and thence to Moncton Fort opposite Ryde. From the harbour's entrance to Southsaa Castle is the " har bour channel," about three-quarters of a mile in length, a narrow, tortuous entrance, and parallel with it extends the Spithead shoals, which run, or rather trend back, to Fort Moncton, standing on the opposite peninsula of land and nearly oppo s it e to Ryde. The triangular piece of land which thus forms the shoals which separate the harbour channel of Portsmouth from the deeper water of Spithead anchorage, Mr. Pineo proposes to enclose w ith two tiers of whole baulk cc,fferdam piles, with ties and braces, &c., filled with excavations from the shoals, which (the shoals) would then be of suffi cient depth in the area enclosed within this piling for two basins—one at the base of the triangular formation, to be an inner floating basin of about 200 acres; and the cuter one, at the cpex of the triangle, to be a tidal basin of about 120 acres, with opeainge to allow of the flow of the tide into the STAMPED ....bd. harbour channel. The cost of the construction is estimated at £450,000 only, and this also includes the construction of wharfs over the piling 200 ft. wide, with Enes of railway on the inner and outer faces, a coaling depot for ships of war on each side of the apex. of the work, each capable of holiin,r; 50,000 tons, with a lighthouse over each. In addition to the immense tidal and floating basins which would thus be added to the resources of Ports mouth es a naval arseoal, the adoption of this plan would have the effect of throwing the inmost circle of Portsmouth defences from their present position at the harbour's mouth to the extreme edge of the outer shoals, the 200 feet outer quay room, or as we have termed it, wharf room, affording magnificent space for the erection of any number of guns of the largest calibre. Tnis measure would effectually ren der impossible the holding of Spithead anchorage by an enemy even supposing such enemy bad forced successfully the channels of entrance, and for this cause alone, leaving out of the question its other advantages, will doubtless receive the serious atten• tion it deserves at the hands of the authorities. Whether the fort he eventually erected. on the Sturbricge or on the Warner it is evident from what has been hero stated that the shore batteries on the sea faces of Portsmouth required altering altogether both in design and in their powers of offence; and this is now being done at the two extreme points of the base line of the triangle referred to—Southsea Castle and Fort Monckton. Southsea Castle had a short time since erected on either flank two earthen auxiliary batteries, at a cost of £15,000. These are now, of course, useless against iron ships, and now works have been commenced of a very different cha racter. They consist of a hag arm connected with the Castle, extended out on either flank, the Castle being made the centre of the work, but it will be altered altogether in its character. These flank works will be curvilinear in all their outlines, and will be fitted with platforms to sustain 22-ton or even heavier guns. They will be iron -faced, and each embrasure will be of iron on the Thorncroft plan, and shielded, On the right flank of Fort Moncton is being con structed a very extensive mortar battery, which will be also corvilinear in all its outlines: and a similar battery is now completing on a low bluff adjoining the seabeach at Puekpool, a short dis tance east of Ryde. What is required now to arm these two last-named butteries with is an improved mortar for throwing monster shells, for the vulner abl© part of an iron ship is her upper d ec k, an d a ll we are as yet endeavouring to do is to smash in her armour-plated sides. Mils far we havo endeavoured to describe what is being actually done, and what has been proposed for the defence of Spithead from attack by the south-east channel. There is, however, a side entrance for iron-clads to reach Spithead existing in the Need:eo channel, and here measures are being taken to close, if possible, the passage against them, and Hurst Castle is the point selected. The earthern auxiliary batteries which flanked the Castle in a similar manner to the old flanking sup ports of Southsea have been removed, and precisely similar iron-faced and eanbrasured works to those Southsea is receiving are being stretched along the beach from either flank of the Castle, with this addition, that in the case of Hurst, the guns will all be mounted in bomb proof casemates, and it will be, therefore, of a stronger and more extensive character than Southsea. It is certainly to be hoped that the new work at Hurst may be found sufficient to close the passage between the main and the Needles against an enemy. Thousands upon thousands sterling have been lavished during recent years upon the Needles passage, and yet the latest, or one of the latest, works of the Royal Engineers—Fort Victoria—stands a monument of their folly, a shell-trap at the base of a cliff, a thing that has bun spoken of with derision by even naval and military officers, and in the presence, too, of the Defence Commission: Mr. Craft's Visit to the King of Dahomey. The only section of the British Association which possessed any very special interest yesterday was that which has been through out the most popular—the section devoted to the discussion of geographical and enthological ques tions. Yesterday it was unusually crowded to hear Mr. Craft give an account of his recent visit to the King of Dahomey. Mr. Craft commenced by re peating what he stated in the section the other day,— " That both his grand-parents were Africans of pure descent, that they were kidnapped and sent to America, that he was born there and had lived there as a slave. He was now fortunately out of America. Ho had been in Eng land some 12 or 14 years, and confessed—though he did not wish to insult any American lady or gentleman who might be present—that he did not like America, and, of course all negroes had reason for sharing that feeling of repug nance. He now considered himself an Englishman of African parentage, unfortunately born in America. The subject for consideration was Dahomey. There was a great deal of difference with regard to the people of that country. Some extraordinary accounts had been printed of what took place there, and those accounts had induced him to go there and to ascertain whether those accounts were true or false, and whether anything could be done to change the bad habits of the people in that part of the world. His friends were much opposed to his going, and said that the King of Dahomey would be sure to cut his head off as soon as he laid hands on him. He felt, however, that it was his duty to go, and at length a committee was formed for the purpose of buying presents and making his mission as suc cessful as possible. At that period the Government had given up Dahomey as a bad job, and felt they could do nothing in the matter; and Mr. Layard, the Under-Sec retary of State for Foreign Affairs, after informing him of the opinion held by the Government, and saying that he should be glad to see him on his return, told him ho candidly thought he never would get back again alive. He gave him, however, a letter of introduction to the Go vernor of Lagos, requesting the Governor to give him every assistance and protection in his power. He sailed from Liverpool to Lagos about nine months ago, and went to Dahomey through the lagoons in canoes. They day after they reached the town where the King was staying, mes sengers came saying that his Majesty was ready to receive his visitors. Here he might observe that, in thus giving a truthful account of what he saw and heard, he must not be understood as apologising in any way for the barbarous cue • toms of the place. lie wished simply to state the truth. The Sing also sent a rosewood liquor case, furnished with cut-glass bottles, containing different kinds of spirits. This was for the purpose of enabling the great men to drink to the health of Mr. Craft in the name of the King. He then got into a hammock, and proceeded to the palace. On his way he saw in the market-place 12 platforms, 40 feet high, 150 ft. apart, and perhaps 10ft. or 12ft. square. On. each side of the platform was a man in an upright position, and quite dead. These persons had all been executed the night before. They were clad in accordance with the fashions of the country, and in their hands or otherwise attached to their persons were calabaches filled with native produce, and a cord, to which were fastened two or three sheep. The mean ing of all this was that one Dahomey tribe held an anniversary in honour of their victory over a neighbouring tribe. When he came to the other side of the palace, he found thousands of natives assembled. As they passed through the crowd of natives saluted them, and when they came into the palace yard they found thousands of the principal people of the country. The chiefs stood on the right hand of the King, while on his left there were 2,000 or 3,000 Amazons, attired in their gayest costume. The King himself sat under a largo test, and was surrounded by his wives and a lew officers of the Amazon regiment. When they approached the King they bowed to him, and he returned the salutations. He was was seated on a raised platform about 10ft, square, covered with handsome cloth. He immediately rose and shook Mr. Craft and his companions heartily by the hand, saying that he was glad to see him, and thanking him for taking the trouble to pay him a visit. He also inquired very kindly atter his health, and after the health of her Majesty the Queen and of the members of the British Government, to all which Mr. Craft replied that he believed they were very well. He then inquired whether the Queen had sent him to Dahomey, to which Mr. Craft answered ' No,' but that he came at the request of a number of English friends of the King's, who desired to promote civilisation in Africa, and to encourage a legitimate trade between the people of Eng land and Dahomey. He also told him that, though they did not cone direct:y from the British Government, ha knew they had the good wishes of the G ,vernment, who would be very glad if something could be done in the way he heel proposed. The King seemed at once to understand the matter, and said it was all right; and he proposed succes sively the healths of the gentlemen who had sent Mr. Craft, of Mr. Craft himself, and of her Majesty the Queen. It was customary at the palace to taste a little of every tlaieg that was offered in the wey of drink, but visitors wark, A. 0- amen Rich- Pood rman, IgtODI ~,