The Sun. — London, England, 1864-10-27 00:00:00

Lord Malnaesburj on Public Affairs. At the annual dinner of the South Avon Agricul tural Society, held at Christchurch, Hant, on Tues day evening, Lord Malmesbury presided. The noble earl spoke at some length upon the condi tion of the army and navy, on the necessity of farmers depending less on wheat as a staple trade, and leper) the foreign policy of Earl Russell, In proposing the " Army and Navy," Lord MALMESBURY said—Gentlemen, I proceed to propose to you a toast which I am sure you will drink with that enthusiasm which you always ma nifest at such meetings—that is the Army and Navy. With respect to the army of this country this bo rough has been long acquainted with its discipline and good conduct. For many years we were fa voured with the presence of very distinguished curps of the army that were residing at the barracks be longing to this town. lam sure we all regret that the circumstances which have lately taken place - with respect to the army generally have deprived us of their company, and of all the advantages which in many ways their company and society have given us. Gentlemen, I am one of those who, with all respect to those at the head of the army, and be lieving that their scheme may be a good and a right one, end that a concentration of troops is the right thing to establish—that by so concentrating them on certain points they learn more of their duty, being in large bodies of men ; yet I am still, for every reason (I mean political reasons) inclined to regret that the army is not so much distributed over this country as it formerly was. I regret it for this reason : I think that, ready and content as Eng lishmen are to pay taxes for the honour and preser vation, and safety of their native land, there is still a natural liking among them to see now and then what they pay for. (Hear, hear.) Feeling that they have a glorious army, a well-disciplined army, commanded by officers who are gentlemen, and who are obeyed by brave men, I say that they were proud to see that army quartered among them, and pleased to enjoy what they might fairly wish to enjoy, namely, the pecuniary advantages, for such they were, of such an establishment. It now makes a very great difference to many towns in this country, owing to the withdrawal of a portion of the army from those particular neighbourhood. It seems to me that the army might just as well be quartered in winter in country towns, where they would have every advantage as in portable camps where they can do very little. It appears to me that the country towns would thus reap the advantages to which I have referred, and that the country generally would be more satisfied with seeing the eau for which they pay. Now, I can exemplify this by what takes place in France. In France, as you all know, the whole of its enormous army of 300,000 men is quar tered in that country, with the exception of 60,000 men in Algiers; and as there are no colonies the great bulk of the army is in France itself. With re spect to our army that is not the case. Oar army is quartered over the face of the globe, and very few regiments are quartered in England. Consequently the money and wealth of this country goes forth to the colonies for the maintenance of that army, and is not spent in the country from which it is derived. Now, in France, the money spent for the army is principally spent in France itself, and so well is this fact appreciated by the Government that if the Em peror wishes to show his displeasure towards a town on account of its being mutinous, or acting illegally, or in hostility to the Government, he does not fill the town with soldiers in order to keep it in subjec tion, but withdraws the army and make the towns people's pockets feel the loss. There can be no doubt, therefore, that to a certain degree the old plan was more agreeable to the people of this country, and it would prove more advantageous to the officers and men comprising the army if, for a certain period of the year, like the French army, after being in camp, they were returned to country quarters. I do not, in saying this, ireteni to cast anything like a reflec tion on the discipline of the army, which, I believe, we must all admit to grow day by day more efficient than it has hitherto been. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the navy I sincerely hope it will prove the foremost and most valuable insti tution of this country. You may depend upon it that it is upon the navy our security, prosperity, and importance in Europe depend. Ido not feel at all satisfied at present that our navy is in that state of comparative strength ;as regards other maritime countries that it ought to be. Ido not blame the Government, I do not blame the Admiralty ; I can only blame circumstances, which have obliged us to lose the whole of the advantages, which for cen turies we possessed, of building greater and better ships than other countries. What has happened ? First of all, the invention of steam, and then the invention of ironclad ships, have changed the state of affairs. Everybody had to begin again— we had all to start afresh—and therefore England lost all the start which she had gained at least a century before, and all the advantages of a great war. We had to begin to build a new navy, and that navy is now in course of reproduction. But other countries —France, Spain, and Italy—are all building ves sels of a similar character, and if you will IoA into the matter you will find that the French, in point of a new class of ships, are equal to ourselves. Many years and a vast expenditure will be required to place us in the same position with regard to other countries which we occupied 20 years ago, when, if we were at war with two or three maritime coun tries, we might meet them on equal terms. There fore, whoever may be at the head of affairs, and whatever party may place their favourite leaders in that position, I hope they will always consider the maritime power of this country as paramount to everything else, although for some time to come it will not prove a perfect guarantee of our safety. (Cacers.) In reply to the toast of the Houses of Parliament, Lord MALMESBURY rose and said—Gentlemen, the health you have just drank so very kindly, with full glasses and loud cheering, I thank you for, and sincerely. It is certainly not the first time, and I hope it will not be the last that I shall be re ceived in this " house' in that flattering manner. I may say I am almost wearied year after year, and more than once or twice a year, in thanking you for your friendly disposition and kindness evinced towards me and my family. My friend who proposed my health in such kind terms, very properly said this was not a political but an agri cultural meeting, Yet, gentlemen, it is very diffi cult to separate the two subjects, politics from agri culture and agriculture from politics. It is impos sible that agriculture can prosper, except - under Government, except our politic.ll institutions are free and our governors act with prudence and judg ment. Therefore politics are as indispensable a part of the consideration of every farmer of this country as the sowing of his wheat or of his turnips ; and not only that, but the state of Europe is of essential consequence to the farmer. There is no man, perhaps, in the country who feels more im• mediately and more deeply the effects of the diffe rence between a state of peace and war than the farmer. In a state of peace in which, thank God, we are now, and are likely to remain, we have the advantages which we enjoy this moment of meeting calmly, quietly, and cheerfully to investigate the subject upon which our whole lives are principally employed—that of agriculture—of quietly arguing and experimentalisiog upon new inventions and new theories, all of which could not be done 'n the same spirit and with the same usefulness in times of turmoil and war. Therefore, I say, gentlemen, that politics are an essential part of our trade as land. lords and farmers, and of our general condition as agriculturists. Although we aro far from London, and spend our lives far from the Houses of Parlia ment, as regards material distances, we ought to be most active in our minds in observing what is essential to our prosperity, and to the general pros. perity of the country. Gentlemen, there is no class of persons in this great empire that is so useful, so - grandly useful, I may say, to their fellow country. men, as the farmers. It is a question of food, and they produce food. Food is the first necessary, not only of course for animal life, but plenty o f food is the first essential necessary to the prosp er i ty of this empire. And this leads me, gentlemen, to a sub ject which I think is well worthy of your consi deration. You are producers of food. You natu rally, in entering into the trades and employments which you follow, have considered how that em ployment may bo made most profitable to yourselves. Weil, you consider what kind of food is the feed which ycu can dispose of with the grea use to your fellow-eubjects,and the greatest profit to yours selves. Four years, gentlemen, as you are aware, and, of course, none so well as yourselves, wheat was the staple upon which farmers entirely depended but I will venture, with all deference to those pre sent, to observe that that time, if not past, is rapidly passing by. It appears to me that it is well worthy of your attention, not hurriedly, but quietly, and after great observation of what is going on —not only in this but in distant countries—it is well worthy of your consideration whether wheat .s still the staple upon which you ought to rest all your capital and dependence. It evidently—to me at least—has arrived at this point, that we can be fed, that we are fed to a very great extent ; and that we can be fed to a much greater extent by foreign wheat. Now we know—we aee obliged to know—that the population of this country has in creased so immensely within the last 30 years, that with all our exertions, all our capital, all our im provements, we are unable to find bread for that population. We find we must not only use a word our forefathers used, when they said they " submitted" to importation, but we are now actually thankful for it, because we do not grow wheat enough in this country —I mean within the three islands—to feed the people with bread. Now comes the question to what extent can that importation be carried. No doubt to a great extent it will be ruled by demand and price, and the figure at which freights can be ob• tained. As to quantity, I believe that if the Ame. rican war were to cease, and may it please God that it shall shortly cease, America could send any quan tity of wheat to this country. The question there fore for you to consider is, at what freight it can be brought to this:country after it leases the American shores, When you have got that figure, and the average figure of what it is worth on the American shore, you will be best able to judge whether this hereafter can be, as it is now called, a wheat grow. ing country or not. Now looking at the future— looking at the position of the times, I am of opinion that the farmers of this countryshould not any more count on the growth of wheat alone, but that they should look forward to the production of other food. I need not remind you OR this occasion how much other food has risen in value of late ; how much dairy produce, sheep and cattle have risen in value. Bear those points in mind; do not let yourselves be surprised by a course of years of low prices of wheat, and do not depend on that particular staple for carrying out the trade in which you have embarked. Gentlemen, I must say that to a certain degree my attention has been called to this from having been twice within the last 12 years in an official situation which enabled me to ascertain from her Majesty's consuls abroad, and other persons officially employed there, what was the state of things with respect to the growth of wheat in those countries. I tell you fairly that I believe at Chicago, in America, if even no w the war ceased, railroads and canals would be made, which would enable any quantity of wheat— at least whatever quantity was required and was remunerative to send to this country—to be imported. Gentlemen, I hope I do not trespass upon the even ing too far. I have no wish to indulge in what were called last year in some of the newspapers, "extra Parliamentary ntterances"—a rather grotesque ex. pression, 'which I find has been dropped lately. I do not wish to bore you, bat met as an agricultural body, and called together as we are called together, for investigating the interest of agriculture and its various chances, I have taken the opportunity of thus addressing you. No doubt a great deal has been said respecting the growth of food in this country. I think it is one of the most important subjects to which a Minister of the Crown or any man can possibly direct his attention. This is a time of peace, and I trust that peace will continue ; I see no chance of anything but peace if we are quiet, if we do not meddle, if we do not give too much advice when unasked, if we do not offend other countries, if we do not promise and then re tract, if we follow in fact the feeling of the country, and it is always public opinion which guides and influences the Government. lam much mistaken if that feeling is not to mind our business come pletely and let others mind theirs. I remember a story told by the late Lord Alvanley, and with all respect to the noble lord at the head of foreign affairs I think it might ba told him with some point. The late Lord Alvanley said ho was ac quainted with a gentleman who was in every re spect an excellent fellow, but that he had a habit of giving advice when it was not asked, and of med dling with people's business constantly, and (Afar ing to help them when they did not want it, and not being very ready to assist them when they did want it. (Laughter.) Well, this gentleman became rather unpopular with his friends, and ono of those whose temper was rather shorter than the others, after snubbing him several times, threatened him if he bothered him again with his interference to inflict upon him a castigation which certainly did not hang over hie head, but which he gave him to understand would be of a very unpleasant charac ter, and that he was very likely to be ejected in the manner to which I have referred. Upon this the gentleman went to Lord Aivanley and said " I em placed in a very disagreeable position. I don't like staying at home quietly, yet I don't like going out to meet him. I don't like going into a room where he is. What am Itodo ? I should be very much obliged to your lordship to tell me." " Sit down directly," replied his lordship. (Loud cheers and laughter.) Well, I should advise Lord John Russell to sit down, and nothing more—to sit per. fectly quiet, and I feel thoroughly convinced that if this were done in our Foreign-office we should enjoy the blessings of peace for a long time. Under this blessing agriculture in this and other lands will prosper, and we shall not be mixed up with the turmoils of other countries, and their several disc putes. We shall erjJy those great liberties which, thank God, we have enjoyed for nearly two cen• turies. We shell look back with pride to the great victories which our ancestors gained, and the great empire they have conquered for us without any reproach to ourselves. We shall certainly acquire by cur calm and dignified position the respect of other nations, who probably will then come to us for advice and assistance for themselves. (Loud cheers.) THE MANIA FOR COLLECTING POSTAGE STAMPS, —lt there be an argument to be found anywhere for the existence in human nature of acquisitiveness, pur a simple, without any imaginable good to be derived from the object acquired, it is assuredly to be found in the new mania for collecting postage stamps. One of the albums brought into existence by this popular delusion is a sort of machine for the promotion of irrational covetousness ; a perpetual suggestion of wants which are no wants, and of desirable acquisitions which are not desirable. Of the eighteen periodicals said to be published for the benefit of stamp collectors, the shops in all the great towns which traffic in old stamps, the immense expenditure of time and cor respondence, not to say money, which this mania has cost, there is no need to tell. It is rather desirable, however, to be forewarned that a rare American or Greek stamp on your letter will probably ensure its being stopped in the post-office, and that Messrs. W. H. Smith's pretty round green and purple labels form temptations which your num ber of the Reader or Spectator is very little likely to sur vive. I have know letter-carriers in Italy write to my servant, after I had left a town, imploring the return of any which might come to me through other channels. Report says that the wives of certain directors in Italy have the richest albums in Europe. The knowledge of the fact would be infinitely consolatory, no doubt to those who have endured agonies of suspense from the cessation of their correspondence with absent relatives. I knew ORO lady, whose husband was in America last winter, and about whom she neaturally felt great anxiety. Ho wrote, as it proved, every mail, but for six weeks she never received a letter. The stamps he used were probably peculiarly rare and valuable. Truly, Sir Rowland Hill's magnificent in ventions ought not to bo turned into plaything I—ltalics, by Francis Power abbe. [ADVERTISEMENT]. —Holloway's Ointroect..—Bad legs, wounds, ulcers, and all descriptions of sores cured by the proper and diligent use of this inestimable preparation. To attempt to cure bad legs by plastering the edge of the wound together is a folly, for should the skin unite, a boggy, diseased condition remains underneath, to break out with tenfold fury in a few days. The only rational and successful treatment, as indicated by nature, is to re duce the inflammation in and about the wound—soothe the neighbouring nerve—to cool the heated blood as it courses along its vessels—and to render the thin, watery, ichorous discharge consistent and healthy. Holloway's Pills should be taken at the same time to purify the blood, and expel the obnoxious humour from the system. Railway and other Companies. ROYAL MAIL STEAM PACKET. The half-yearly general meeting of this company was held yesterday at the London Tavern; Captain Mangles in the chair, The Secretary, Mr J. M. Lloyd, having read the notice convening the meeting, the report, an abstract of which has appeared in The Sun, was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN ; in moving its adoption, said the con tinued success and progress of the company were such that it would not be necessary for him to trespass on their time at any great length, This was part'cularly desirable in the present state of matters, and in that view he thought the shareholders would agree with him. They had had no mishap during the period under consideration, the receipts were favourable, the expenditure was not greater than they exa petted, and the ships had kept their time both at home and abroad. (Hoar, hear.) There was no occasion to detain them for any length of time, as their report and accounts were so clear and explicit ; but as there might be some new share holders present who were not so well up in their affairs as others he there saw before him, who attended their meetings regularly, and were very useful shareholders, it might be necessary for him to enter into a few details. The greater part of the report was occupied with explanations of the accounts. It showed that the statement of receipts was sa tisfactory, and when they looked at the expenses they were not more than could be expected under the circumstances. There was a reduction in one item of £5,800, but other items ware in excess of what they were at the corresponding pe riod. It was stated in the report that in consequence of the increased receipts from freight and passage money the defi ciency on the credit side of the working account was less than might have been expected. Those who attended the last meeting would recollect he had stated that he hoped a sufficiency of traffic would be obtained by the company to make up for the reduction in the subsidy. That expectation had been to a certain extent realised. The reduction in the subsidy amounted to £25,000 for the past half year, so that owing to the excess of expenditure on the one hand and the decrease in the total receipts of the working account the sur plus fell short of that for the corresponding six months of 1863 by £14,024. Ho thought, as their ordinary receiptefor goods and passengers on working showed a steady increase, that their loss on the reduction of the contract money or sub sidy would in a short time be more than compensated. They would very soon have as good a surplus on working account as they had before they commenced working under the reduced subsidy. The directors and managers looked with considerable anxiety to the item of " coals, freight, and all charges," which amounted in the past half year to £95,559. They could not drive the ships at the requisite speed without a large consumption of coal. The increase in that item arose from an increase of freight; they were obliged to take up freights at the current rate. This in crease amounted to £1,895, but at the same time there had been a saving on the consumption of coals of £2,474, leav ing the actual increase in that item £2,421 on working account. He thought that showed the great care and super vision exercised in respect of the expenditure incurred in keeping up the rate of speed they had to maintain. The amount at the credit of the repair and renewal account must vary from time to time, being sometimes more and sometimes less, as it would be impossible at the end of each half year to exactly meet the money they had set aside for the purpose. They had a balance in favour of the company on that account for the same half of 1863 of £6,464, but at the end of the past half year it was only £126. It was right to call their attention to that account, as they had to put new boilers and superheating steam apparatus in the Atrato at an expense of £25,000, and he was happy to say the only other heavy repair they would have for some time would be that of the Tasmania. They would soon see that the small balance they had at present in their favour in that account would be increased. They must not suppose, from what he had stated, that the Atrato had been an expensive ship. She had been ten years in their service, and had only cost them about £5,000 a-year. If they looked at the sums they had heretofore put by for repairs and renewals they would not consider that excessive. He hoped in the next year their expenses under this head would be light. The next paragraph related to the general reserve fund, in which there was a credit of £36,000, and, as truly stated in the re port, it was for the purpose of meeting the losses on old ships, and intended for the Magdalena, Trent, Thames, and Clyde. He would not include the Teviot as that loss had already been paid off, those four old ships were still in their servic?. He would leave the Parana out of that estimate, as she was of great value, and when done with as a steamer would make a good sailing ship. The four old ships mans tioned stood on the company's books at a reduced cost of £37,000, while they had a reserve of £36,1'00 to meet any loss on them, and they would sell for £4,000 or £5,000 at least when they were done with them, so they would see the company was in a perfectly safe position. The state of their insurance fund was very satisfactory; there was a balance in their favour of £240,180, but there was a charge against it of £6,581 for the Spanish ship that had been run down, and there were also the expenses of getting off the Wye when ashore at the Island of Nevis. The whole expense of getting her off and repairs would not exceed £2,500. B 6 thought great credit was due to Mr Cameron their agent at St Thomas, for the prompt despatch of one of the company's steamers to her assistance, and great credit was also due to the energetic exertions of the officers and men of the Tyno in getting off the Wye with so little damage and at so small an expense to the company, He then adverted to the great delay in completing the four new iron ships ordered for the company. They had suffered considerable inconvenience from the shipbuilders not having delivered the ships, but fortunately the company's ships had been able to keep their time. The Postme.ster could see that the directors were not to blame for the delay, and that they had done all they could to secure the early delivery of those new ships for the service. A few days ago they had received notice from the Post-office that they wished to give up the Honduras route. This service involved steaming 15,846 miles, for which the cemprny received £8,886; they undertook it at the wish of the Government, and they would relinquish it as requested. That service would be no loss to the company. They had the Derwent on the route, and if the merchants of Honduras wanted any service under taken which would pay the company they would do it for them. The report mentioned that the state of the accounts enabled the directors to recommend that a dividend of £3 per share out of the ordinary profits and a bonus of £2 per share from the insurance fund be declared fret of income-tax. With regard to the insurance fund he thought it right to pay a tribute to Captain Abbott, who had recently died in their service. He had been altogether 19 years in their service, and during 17} years of that time he had been in command of seven of the company's ships, and had never touched the ground or injured a ship the whole time. (Hear hear.) It was due to the late Capt. Abbott to state the high opinion the directors entertained of the services of that gen tleman. He believed they had several officers in their ser vice equally careful. He concluded by moving the adoption of the report and statement of accounts. Admiral WHISII seconded the metiers. In reply to questions it was stated that shipbuilders gene rally would take any amount of orders, whether they could execute them or not in the time specified. Their managers got the utmost amount of penalties they could for delay, but there was a limit to penalties. The contracts were made so that it should be for the interest of tha contractors to complete the orders properly, and in every case by the time specified. There were ample funds in hand to pay for the new ships when they were delivered. The report was then unanimously adopted; and the pro • ceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors. ENNISKILLEN, BUNDORAN, AND SLIGO. . - The report of the directors states that under the energetic action of Messrs Brassey and Field the construction of the lino was in rapid progress. Mr Field, on a lake visit, ex pressed his confidence in being able to open the line to Bun doran early in the ensuing summer. The agreement of this company with the directors of the Irish North-Western Railway Company for working the lino would be immedi ately brought before the proprietors for ratification. The directors, alive to the great want of hotel and house ac commodation at Bundoran, were happy to say the chair man had given a site for an hotel, the plans of which were in the hands of an eminent architect, and a considerable sum had been suEscribed. The tourists' requirements would also be provided for by an hotel on the west bank of Lough Erne. The directors had taken measures to keep alive the powers under their Act for the extension, of the lino from Bundoran to Sligo, Lord Palmerston instantly appreciating the vast benefit to the district, and the bone fide nature of the undertaking, had given more than nine miles of the land required for the railway, as well as a largo pecuniary subscription; and the directors had re ceived the support of other proprietors, thus enabling them to promise an early contract for this important portion of the project, The capital account showed that £100,054 had been received, and £158,532 expended, leaving a balance of £1,492, At the recent sale of the stock and furniture of the Cafe do Foy, in the Palais-Royal, a dispute arose as to whether the famous swallow painted on the ceiling by Carlo Vernet belonged to the landlord or the outgoing tenant. The former claimed it as a fixture, and obtained an injunction from a judge in Chambers to prevent its removal until the right of property should be decided in duo course of law. THE EMPEROR'S DOG.-31. Louis Bertrand, well known in the French sporting world, has addressed to the France the following particulars respecting the fine deg which is the travelling companion of the Emperor of Russia :—" This animal is not of the Newfoundland breed, as stated, but a fine jet black setter of large size and beau. tiful form, with long silky hair. His name is Milrod, and he is of the same breed as Black Rake, one of the spaniels which I last spring presented to the Egyptian Prince, Ilalim Pacha. Milrod was at one time an excellent shoot ing dog, but since his promotion to the rank of favourite, he rarely does any work, except it may be occasionally to act as a retriever, and fetch any he ad of game his master may have shot. He is excessively gentle and the insepa rable companion of the Emperor, following him through out the palace, and even into his cabinet. At night ho always lies at the door of his nxaster's chamber. The Emperor generally feeds the dog 'himself, and never any one but his personal aide-de-camp to give him any food whatever," FHJ SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 27, 1864 The Charge of Swindling by a Pretended Heiress. Yesterday the young woman giving the name of Mary Hcrsfall, and representing herself as the niece of Mr Hors • fill', M.P., was brought up on remand at the Greenwich Police court, before Mr Maude, charged with fraud and rubbery. The court was most densely crowded during the hearing of the case, but although represented by a solicitor on the first examination, there was no legal adviser in attendance on prisoner's behalf yesterday. Mr T. Wavell, with Mr R. F. Dempster, attended to watch the case on behalf of the Uni versal Mercantile Association for the protection of traders from fraud ; and Messrs, Dud and Longstaff ,, , solicitors to the London Association fur the Protection of Trade, were also present. The prisoner, on being placed in the dock, was accommo dated with a seat, and remained with her face covered and sobbing during the examination, and appeared to be very reluctant that anyone should see her when she was re quested by the magistrate to stand up and show herself for the purpose of identification. Mr Alfred Randall, jeweller, of London-street, Green wich, said—About three or four days before the 27th of August the prisoner came to my shop with Miss Harvey, who is a customer, to have her initials engraved on a silver spoon and two forks. On the 27th of August the prisoner came alone and ordered a gold watch, value £l5. I was not then at home, but my wife saw her. The watch. was not delivered to the prisoner, and when I came home I wont to Miss Harvey's to ascertain if I should be justified in allow ing the prisoner to have it. I saw Miss Harvey, who took me into the library, and the result being satisfactory, I sent the watch. On the following day the prisoner came to my shop and chose a gold guard, value £6, and said if I would send a bill for the two—meaning the watch and gold chain — she would send me a cheque for the amount en the morrow. I let her have the guard, and in a week afterwards, as I did not receive the cheque, I sent a note for it. About half an hour afterwards the prisoner called with Miss Harvey's housekeeper, who said in prisoner's hearing that they deeply regretted Miss Horsfall was placed in the position she was, but as her solicitor was out of town she could not obtain a remittance to pay me yot awhile. On the 17th September the prisoner came to my shop again, alone, and selected a watch and chain, and in consequence of what she then told me I sent the articles to Miss Harvey's, with a note not directed, with instructions to my apprentice, who took the things, to wait for an answer, as the prisoner had told me Miss Harvey had given her permission to have the same placed to her account. By Mr Maude—lf the prisoner had asked for the second watch and chain to be credited to her in her own name, I should not have done so, because I thought it was all wrong, as she had not paid me for the gold watch and chain as she had promised. The reason I took the precaution of sending the second watch and guard with a note to Miss Harvey was that it would bring to her knowledge that the articles were obtained in her name. Mrs Louisa Randall, wife of last witness, confirmed her husband's evidence, and added that on the prisoner calling and choosing the first guard she also selected a ring, which was sent to her. Mrs Harriet Blanchard said—My husband is a linandraper carrying on business in Church-street, Greenwich. In the month of September last the prisoner purchased a silk dress at the shop, for which she paid, and which she is now wear ing. On Sept. 15 the prisoner again called and selected a silk dress, to be sent to Miss Harvey, for that lady's inspec tion, and afterwards came again and said Miss Harvey had authorised her to order 32 yards of black silk, at 4a 3d per yardos she required it for some of her pupils. The silk was obtained from a house in the City, and sent to Miss Harvey's on the following day. On the 24th. Sept. the prisoner again came to the shop, and said —" You showed me a small silk check dress the other day I wish to see, as I and Miss Harvey have agreed to let one of the young lady pupils have it, as she has been disappointed in not receiving a dress from the country." I showed her the check silk dress now produced, and she agreed to purchase it. I wished to send the dress to Miss Harvey's, butthe prisoner said she would take it herself, and did so, as the young lady wished to leave by the 11 o'clock train. The remnants of silk produced are part of the 32 yards ordered by prisoner for and sent to Miss Harvey's. Wm. Herring, ehopman to Mr Lawley, pawnbroker, said —I know the prisoner perfectly well as a customer, and have had repeated transactions with her. On Sept. 19 the prisoner brought a remnant of black silk, which she pledged for 30s, in the name of Ann Walker. On 24th Sept. she also pledged another remnant of silk and a lace fall. The dress piece she represented as belonging to her sister. Ou this latter day she also pledged a Lair bracelet with dia mond. Mr J. Phillips, pawnbroker, Blackheath-hill, produced a remnant of Bilk pawned by the prisoner, and which was identified as having been obtained from Mr Blanchard•s. Miss Mary Leith,llarvey said—l keep a ladies' boarding school at Ashburnham house, the Grove, Blackheath. In the first or second week in August the prisoner was brought to my house by persons giving the names of Mr and Mrs Wilkins, who said they had made a mistake in bringing her there for another Miss Harvey, who formerly kept a school in the neighbourhood. I had had no previous acquaintance with them, but from their appearance and manners I had no reason to doubt of their being persons of respectable po sition, in society. Mrs Wilkins appeared to bo a lady in manners and speech, and they wished, and the prisoner too, that no time should be lost in the latter being received into my establishment. On the following day the prisoner came with a letter, written by Mrs Wilkins, and dated from 254 A, Oxford-street, London. I have not that letter now here, but it was written in a ladylike manner, and by a person of education. The prisoner then entered the estab • lishment, but her want of education was such that I was ashamed to allow her to remain with my other pupils, and she became a parlour boarder. I remember going with the prisoner, as stated, to Mr Randall's shop to have her ini tials engraved on two forks and a spoon. Somo few days afterwards Mr Randall called upon me in reference to a gold watch, and I told him I believed all was correct, the prisoner having previously told me she had a cheque for .110 in her pocket, in addition to which I understood she was a young lady of property, The prisoner told me her own watch was at Whistler's, in the Strand, being repaired. I know nothng of any property subsequently obtained by the prisoner from Mr Randall and Mr Blanchard, and certainly never autho rised her to obtain anything in my name. Being a parlour boarder, she had facilities for going out which no pupil would be allowed to keys. I had no authority from the prisoner's friends to pay for anything she purchased, as I understood she was of age. She had told me she possessed £4OO a year, and expected £BOO. If the goods named were sent to my;honse they must have been intercepted by some ono, and according to the dates the articles wero obtained the prisoner had the opportunity of intercepting them, as she was staying in the dining-zoom. Mr Carttar, solicitor, said he was instructed by Mr Wil kins to offer an explanation as to the way in which he and Mrs Wilkins had been induced to accompany the prisoner to Miss Harvey's. Mr Maude said that at present Mr Wilkins could have no lccus standi in that court, but perhaps it would be well that some such explanation should be given. Mr Carttar said the name of Mr and Mrs Wilkins had appeared in the public, papers, and upon seeing which Mr Wilkins had written to the several editors, who ho (Mr Carttar) thought, under the circumstances, had very pro perly declined to publish the letters so sent, but leaving Mr Wilkins to come to that court and to give any explanation that;might be asked from him upon oath. Mr Wilkins VittS a most respectable tradesman carrying on business at 254 A, Orford.street, and he had to complain of being a victim of the prisoner, she having, by false represontaticn, obtained from him an agreement to lot her a house for 12 months, and which ho had upon lease from the Marquis of West minster. Mr Maude said it would not, perhaps, be necessary for Mr Wilkins to explain particularly in what manner ho had been imposed upon by the prisoner, but Mr Carttar could, if he chose, put any quest i on to Mi ss Harvey with a view to establishing hi s (Mr Wilkins's) respectabili t y . Miss Harvey, i n avower to M r C ar t t ar, said she had since made inquiries, a n d b e li eve d M r and Mrs Wilkins to be respectable people, and that they acted bona fide, but had been equally deceived as herself by the prisoner. Fire mistake in supposing that no persons of such name were to be found at the address given arose from there being three similar numbers in the same street, and at only one of which inquiry was made ] Examination continued—The prisoner had represented herself as niece to Mr 'Rental], M.P., and Colonel Horsfall. On the 24th September, there being a week's vacation at Michaelmas, I accompanied the prisoner to Bath, where she said her uncle, Colonel Horsfall, was staying. We stayed at a private hotel that evening, and the Sunday and Mon day following. While at some of my own friends with the prisoner, my brother brought me down several tradesmen's bills for goods obtained by the prisoner ; including the silk and dresses and the second watch and guard. I asked her respecting these things and she denied having had the silk and dresses, and also denied that she had obtained the watch and guard in my name. My brother abo told me some jewellery had been missed from my house, arid I left Bath and returned home, leaving the prisoner, who promised to return to Blackheath at the end of the week, at Bath. Mr C. w. Barber, grocer, - of Greenwich, said—On the 111th September the prisoner came and ordered a dozen of wine, half sherry and half port,to be sent to Miss Harvey's. The wine was sent, with an invoice, and the next day the prisono again called, said the wine was very much approved of, and ordered some grapes and biscuits which she took with her. On the 21st September she called and ordered five dozen of jam, to be sent to Miss Harvey's, for Miss Hors fall. These goods were sent, but I have since .had the greater part returned to me. Three tradesmen at Blackheath here stepped forward. From one the prisoner had obtained a riding habit, pledged at Bath ; from a second she had been measured for and obtained a riding hat, and with the third she• had incurred a rather heavy debt for horso hiring, and had instructed him to select and purchase a horse for her. Miss CarolineOtley, housekeeper at Miss 11, srvey's, said— On Saturday, the 24th September, after Miss: Harvey had left with the prisoner for Bath, I missed two diamond brace lets, a Maltese gold chain, and a half-hoop gol kl ring from a casket in the room in which the prisoner slept l. I know the articles to have been safe a fortnight previously, and the bracelet now produced, and tbund pledged at Mr Lewley's, is one of the bracelets stolen. Mr Philips here said he believed a bracelet had been re ceived in pledge at his shop. Ho left the court to ascertain, returning shortly afterwards with a bracelet, which was identified by Miss Otley as her property, and which had been pawned in the name of Ann Walker. Detective officer Margetson, P. division, deposed to tracing the property, and also the prisoner, who was apprehended by him in Dublin, as already reported. Mr Maude said it was scar,:ely necessary to go into small cases against the prisoner, who had committed numerous offences, because they had already two clear cases of timid, and one of felony against her. It was not for him then to say anything regarding the prisoner, because she would be dealt with by another Court, to which he was about com mitting her. He could not help remarking, however, that she appeared to be a very clever person, first of all in suc ceeding in deceiving a business man of the world, which Mr Wilkins might be presumed to be, and who, by her specious manner, appeared to have been the innocent cause of her introduction to and acceptance by Miss Harvey, and who, finding the prisoner backed up by this respectability in her representations, had also fallen a victim to her. The prisoner was then fully committed for trial on three charges at the November sessions of the Central Criminal Court. Extension of Australian Colonisation. In respect of its relation to the rest of the world, and espe cially to the great highway of commerce between Europe and the eastern shores of Asia, through the Indian Archi pelago, the now station at Point Somerset claims the first attention. The triangular district of North Cook, extending from Cape York southwards to Cape Grenville on the eastern coast, and to a point on the same parallel of latitude upon the western coast of the peninsula, which is now under the supervision of Commissioner Jardine, is likely to prove a most important acquisition. It will probably forward the establishment of regular communication by way of Torres' Straits, between the colonies of Eastern Australia and Tas mania on the one hand, and India and Europe on the other. The successive abandonment of the three military establish ments at Melville Island, Raffles Bay, and Port Essington need not be regarded as presenting any reason for distrust ing the present enterprise. The site now occupied is likely to prove more salubrious, as it is open to the sea breeze both from the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and is far better adapted to promote the chief design of those stations by affording means of lessening the dangers of the passage by Torres' Straits. It is also better situated for promoting communication with Papua and other islands of the Archi pelago. It is surprising, when the history of British and Dutch enterprise in the East Indies is reviewed, that Papua, with its lofty mountains, its vast area, its luxuriant vegetation, and mime/ens population, should not have been brought before now into communication with the trade of Europeans. The establishment of the new settlement in North Cook may soon lead to the opening up of such a communication, and to the introduction of civi lisation and Christianity into that large island. Then, also, the settlement successfully commenced atßockingham Bay will extend the colonisation of Queensland far on towards the new station at Point Somerset. And when the Queens land Government carry out their intention of forming another settlement at Endeavour River, the district of South Cook, in the intervening space between Rockingham Bay and Cape Grenville, will give something like completeness to the occupation of the eastern coast of this continent. Port Hinchinbrook, in Rockingham Bay, is described as a perfectly landlocked harbour, about two miles in breadth and 26 in length, with soundings of from four to 12 fathoms at low water. Mr G. E. Dalrymple, the com mander of the expedition, pronounces this harbour to be equal to Port Jackson. Already he has discovered a way, through the high range at the back of the harbour, to the broad and fertile valley of a fine river, which he called the Herbert, running eastward to Halifax Bay. In a short time the route by the Flinders will be extended to a new settlement on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria, con - necting the Pacific and the Gulf by a road only about 350 miles long. Stations have already spread down the Flinders to within 100 miles of the Gulf, and will soon, by reaching its shores, give protection to the telegraphic line to India via Timour and Java. Western Australia has also con tributed in no small measure to prepare the way for the extension of colonisation, by the expedition of the schooner New Perseverance along the western and north-western coasts. The report given by Mr Jas. Martin contains most encouraging details as to the extent of avail able soil and the amount and variety of mineral and veget able resources in the hitherto unoccupied districts of the Glenelg (the second river of that name in Australia, unfor tunately for our geographical accuracy), of Augustus Island, Roebuck Bay, and Dampier Land. He estimates the available land explored in these districts at 6,592,000 acres, capable of carrying 3,336,000 sheep. He considers also that 250,C00 acres in the Glenelg district are specially favourable for the growth of spices, sugar, tea, and coffee; and on the higher ground cereals may be grown. In this district there are numerous bays,having safe anchorage; end 13reeknock harbour,containing about 20 square milee,is land. locked,and abounds with beautiful bays. The harbours of Roe buck Bay, and Lagrange Bay afford little convenience for ships ; but the alluvial soil in the neighbourhood is adapted for the growth of many tropical productions. Last, *oath Australia, while awaiting the result of the spirited move ment for the formation of the settlement at the mouth of the Adelaide River. on the northern coast, which may form the great outlet of the colony towards India and Europe, has employed the abilities and experience of the well-known Australian gold discoverer, Mr E. 11. Hargreaves's, to test the probability of goldfields being found in their territory. And theugh Mr Hargreaves's report, dated July 27, states that his visit has proved a failure so far as a paying gold field is concerned, he has given much valuable informa tion concerning indications of copper, silver, and bis muth in variousj localities ; and his opinion of the pastoral capabilities of the northern part of the colony, that is, the centre of Australia, is very high.—Sychaey Empire. Daring Burglary at Sheffield. During Monday night a robbery of a very extensive cha racter was effected in the house of Mr Moss, at Tapton Mount, Glossop-road, Sheffield. On Monday Mr Moss had made arrangements to travel to Torquay, with his wife, and in anticipation of their departure a large quantity of silver plate had been packed in the plate chest, aad would have been removed to Mr Moss's bankers for security yesterday morning. Nothing was heard during the night to attract attention, but at 7 o'clock in the morning the servants found the lower rooms ransacked. An entrance had been effected through the window of the dining-room. The robbers had broken a pane, and then with a large centrebit they bored out one of the panels of the shutters. When they got into the room they would find the door locked on the outside, but they removed one of the panels and unlocked the door, and then found themselves in the passage, At the foot of the stairs, opposite to the door of the drawing-room. In this room Mr Moss had left the plate chest, and the robbers seem to have gone straight to the spot where this valuable booty was deposited. On a table in the drawing. room was a writing desk, looked, and this was carried with the plate chest into the garden at the side of the house. They smashed the desk, but in the latter there was nothing to reward their search, The plate chest contained silver plate, and Mrs. Moss's personal jewellery, to the value of £3OO, and with this booty the burglars made off. The stolen property cons'ets of the following articles :—Ten silver table and dessert forks, eight dessert and table spoons, and two sauce ladles; dozen fiddle pattern silver teaspoons, half a dozen fancy do., three pair of sugar tongs, one pickle fork, ten sugar and salt spoons, butter knife, three pair of silver knives and forks, a richly chased fish knife and fork, two corks, silver tops ; two fancy gilt spoons, richly chased marmalade and cover, gold English lever watch, heavy gold Albert chain and hook, with gold dog, pencil and locket, all gold ; two short brequets, four small gold seals and gold heart, gold bracelet band, diamond and turquoise snap, ditto onyx padlock, brooch, amethyst, and pearl, box pearl brooch, emerald and pearl brooch, turquoise box-brooch, small gold brooch with drops, mourning brooch, mourning diamond ring, silver teapot, coffee pot, sugar basin, and cream jug, richly chased with bird tops; filagree silver sugar basket, basket work silver sugar basin, filagree silver inkstand, oval silver tea caddy, two silver caddy shells, the bottom of a silver cruet frame, four silver salt cellars, oval, with four legs each; one chased large, and one plain small muffioeer ; waiter, round, beaded edge, and ditto chased different; half-pint measure, fluted, and gilt in side; pierced oblong cake baskets, two chamber candle sticks, two taper stands, sauce boat, toast rack, pin tray, engraved napkin rings, 11 fiddle pattern table forks, 10 do. dessert do., 19 table and dessert spoons, and five ladles ; shell pattern skewer, Indian ring and small hoop, 12 gold buttons, 10 do. turquoise enamelled, pair gold wrist buckles and bands, two hair bracelets with pearl snaps, one ditto with engraved snap. The famous swallow painted by Carl Vernet on the ceiling on the Cafe Foy, Paris, is the cause of a law-suit. The landlord opposed at a late bankruptcy sale of the tenant's effects the right the latter claimed to sell it. The tenant founded his claim on the fact that the swallow was painted after the lease he holds was signed, and the landlord contends that by being painted on the ceiling the swallow has become a fixture. The affair has been provi sionally decided in favour of the plaintiff, who, should he gain his suit, will not have much to boast of, for the ori ginal swallow has long since disappeared under at least 20 different coats of paint. _ _ _ The ship Soindia, a new iron vessel, making her first voyage from Calcutta to London, under the command of Captain Carr, was abandoned on the 13th Sep tember, off the Cape, she being dismastod and in a sinkirg condition—so leaky that Captain Carr did not think she would float till morning. Two vessels—the Aminta, of Liverpool, and the Alicia Annie, of Sunderland—subse quently fell in with the Scindia and towed her into Algoa Bay. The prize is valued by competent authorities at not less than £150,000, The silvors, having given her up to the proper authorities and agreed to halve the salvage, pro ceeded on their respective voyages. The Scindia was of about:1,000 tons, and her cargo is given as 5,040 bags rape seed, 34,030 hides, 35,8401 b tea, 7,249 bags sugar, 1,381 bags saltpetre, 210 bales cotton, 210 bags lao dye, 195 bags shellac, 2,000 bags jute, silk, indigo, ko. She was amply covered bi insurance. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—One of the cases heard at the Mansion house on Tuesday involved a point of great delicacy and importance. About ten days ago a suicide was committed within the jurisdiction of Mr Serjeant Payne, the coroner for the City, and an inquest was duly held upon the body. At that inquiry it was proved that the deceased person when first dis covered after the commission of the act, was still alive, and that in his desk were found two letters, one addressed to the coroner and jury, and the other to his wife. The latter, however, conveyed no di rection by means of which it could be delivered, and the police, therefore, in their anxiety to bring the wife to her husband before life had fled, broke the seal of the letter addressed to the coroner, in hopes of finding in its contents a clue to the address of the other. For this act the Coroner summoned the constable who had broken the seal, and though the summons was not unreasonably dismissed and the policeman acquitted of wrongdoing, it appears to us that the question should not be left without notice. Mr Serjeant Payne seems to have lost sight of the strongest point in hie case. If he had put aside all incidental matters and confined himself to the simple charge. we doubt whether the justification of the policeman would have been quite so complete, or, at any rate, whether the acquittal of the officer could have taken exactly the form which it received. There was no question whatever about the propriety of the motives by which the police had been actu ated. Humanity alone impelled them to look after the dying man's wife, and when it was decided to break the seal of a letter in hopes of discovering the required address, the order was duly given by an inspector to his subordinate for that purpose. In fact, it was all done with the best of motives, and with'unimpeachable regularity of form, but was the act itself justifiable? That was the true question. Sir Robert Carden held that "there was no vio lation of duty on the part of the police," but we doubt whether the real point at issue could be thus ruled. It appears to us that there was a violation of duty, but that the offence had been committed for purposes so laudable and under impressions so natural that it might very fairly be condoned. Here was a letter addressed to certain parties and sealed. The seal was broken by other parties on their own authority. Now, did their authority extend to this length ? life know that the Poet. office officials claim the right of breaking a seal when a letter in their custody cannot be delivered owing to the imperfection of the address, but for this there is at any rate a theoretical justification. Every letter once posted is held to be the property of the Postmaster-General until it is delivered ac cording to its address ; and if therefore this delivery cannot be accomplished, the Postmaster is but dealing with his own in ordering the letter to be opened. But in this case the police were not, under any assumption, the proprietors of the letter which they discovered. It belonged to the Coroner and jury, and when Sir R. Carden remarked that the Coroner's own right in it was imperfect, and that he himself " ought not to have opened it except in the presence of the jury," he was surely admitting by implication that the police " ought" not to have opened it at all. In short, if the question is put in direct words, what are we to consider would be the answer ? Has a police officer any right to break the seal of a letter for such a purpose as existed in the case before us ? No doubt the act was so excus able that it would have been hard to visit it with any penalty, but were the police actually empowered by law to do as they did ? We cannot but think that Mr. Serjeant Payne's impression was correct, and that when he determined, not from any feeling of private resentment, but with a sense of public duty, on summoning the constable, he had the right on his side. No man has a right to break the seal of a letter intended for another person. Unfortue nately, the real issue was obscured by incidental matters, until the important question seemed to be missed. The Coroner stated that after the opened letter had been handed to him, and the inquest had been concluded, a reporter asked permission to copy it. Tnis permission Mr. Payne declined to give, on the ground that such documents had an injurious effect on minds in a morbid state, and occasionally produced imitations of the acts to which they referred. The next day, however, he read in a newspaper, not, indeed, the whole letter, but chose very portions which he would least have wished to be published, and he seems to have arrived, therefore, at the conclusion that the police had not only opened the letter, but had copied it, and had allowed the copy to be used. In the end, indeed, he surrendered what was really the strong point of his complaint, by saying that " he did not complain of the opening of the letter exactly, but he did complain that it was not sealed up after it had been opened." This, however, was tantamount to giving the case up. If the police had done no thing to be complained of in breaking the seal of a letter, they had certainly not committed any breach of law in omitting to reseal it. Upon this supposi tion any one who has been infamous enough to break open another person's letter has only to re seal it to excuse his offence. It is not so, for the act is as infamous afterwards as it was before. Moreover, it had been proved by evidence that the supposed harm had not been done. The reporter came forward and explained that he was not in debted to the police for any communication or in formation whatever. He had never so much as known that the letter had been in their possession. He took down his report word for word from the Coroner's own mouth, and if the document was im perfectly given in the publication that was because the Coroner was imperfectly heard. The published portions of the letter were the portions which were read to the jury distinctly; the omitted portions were those which were read too indistinctly to be accurately taken down. It appeared therefore on the whole that if Mr. Payne "did not complain exactly" of the one act which was questionable he had not muah complaint to substantiate on any other score, and so the decision of the magistrate was natural enough. We refer to it, however, ourselves because we are by no means satisfied on the main question by which the case should have been governed. Was this proceeding of the police justifiable in point of law ? That there were many reasons for condon ing the offence we do not for a moment deny ; but was the Inspector who gave orders for breaking the seal of a letter addressed to other persons acting within his lawful power and authority P Was there not au excess of duty, however venial it might have been 1 1 Are we to suppose that the police partici pate in the powers exercised by the authorities of the Post-office P Be it remembered that in this case there was no doubt or obscurity about the destina tion of the letter. It was addressed distinctly to parties who would easily have received it in due time and course. We do not overlook the fact that if anything ware to be done it must have been done immediately. The police opened the coroner's letter on the instant, because they had not a minute to lose its finding the wife of a dying man, and we ought not, indeed, to disguise the fact that the con stable took the greatest trouble, and even expended money from his own pocket, in endeavouring to do this service to humanity. Still, was it not doing evil that good might come P This is the question which we think should be considered before the ease is forgotten. The police undoubtedly deserve credit for their motives, which were commendable in the extreme, but it may be inferred from the result of this proceeding that a constable has a general right, in the execution of what he may regard as his duty, to break the seal of a private letter, and that infer ence, it appears to us, should not be tacitly or in considerately allowed. POST.—The Chinese rebellion is thought, in China at least, to be extinguished. This is perhaps the most satisfactory part of the chequered intelligence that the mail has brought us from Eastern Asia. The Emperor of China has distributed his rewards and punishments to friends and foes on a principle which reminds us of the saying that the gratitude of royalty is repaid by a smile and its enmity by the gallows. His imperial Majesty has rewarded his successful Gen. Sangkolinsin with a present of seve ral packages of tea and some cooling medicine. He has at the same time ordered the two principal leaders of the rebellion to be brought to Pekin, where - they are expected to undergo the penalty of being brushed to death. It requires some periphrasis to properly describe the refinement of this torture ; but it may be briefly stated as consisting in the application of wire brushes to the persons of the victims until the flesh is torn away and nothing but the bones remain. The revolution, under this ordeal, is supposed to be punished, and the cause of Celes tial legitimacy vindicated. Let it be hoped that this is really the end of the slaughter and massacre that have filled the pages of Chinese correspondence for many years past. The apparently final discoma fitu re of theTaepings has come upon the Imperialists themselves, and upon our own mercantile colonies on the Chinese coast, with considerable surprise. It is not very long since there was some apprehension entertained whether the Taepings would not over throw the Tartar dynasty and drive the Imperialists out of successive cities, until they at length reached Pekin. The great city of Nanking was in their hands —and Shanghae was trembling at their approach. However, the Imperialists, with the aid which they derived from European military skill, and especially at the hands of the French, captured Nanking, and there they revenged themselves with a fabulous massacre said to have involved one hundred thou sadd Taeping victims. The present mail brings us the further intelligence of the rebels having been driven out of Hoochow, which is looked upon in China as their last military standing point. Nor does this place appear to have been surrendered until after they had endured hardships with a heroism commensurate with their barbarity. They had pul led down houses for firewood— they had even raked no the onffine of the dead_ and Impripa fm. same purpose. Rice had come to an end; supplies were failing them ; and their communications were at length completely cut off. Part, at any rate, of the garrison contrived to effect a retreat without beat of drum; and this consideration serves to import some doubt into the complete extinction of the rea bellion. But having encountered so many disasters; having been cowed by the nearly equal barbarity of the Imperialists themselves; and, having lost their principal leaders, it is hardly likely that what re• mains of this once formidable body will be able to regain its former organisation. In that case the rebels may probably by degrees be dispersed. That is certainly the most favourable anticipation; but it is one that appears to be so generally entertained by the European public and press in the Chinese cities open to our trade, that it is probably based upon clearer premises than we have at present ade quate means of arriving at in this country. The peculiarity of this extraordinary movement in the Chinese empire consisted in its combinations of a religious with a political character. The Taepings set themselves up for religious reformers. Their object was entirely to upset the established religion of China, as well as the reigning dynasty. The ree ligion they professed was an extraordinary corn• pound. It was based apparently on certain doctrines of Christianity, which they contrived to mingle with the most debasing superstitions and grovelling obscenities, which they deduced either from other systems of theism they had met with in the east of Asis, or from their own imagination. Part probably came from one source and part from the other. The fragments of the Christian religion which they con trived to pick up and distort are best explained, as a part of their creed, on the supposition that they represented the traces of former Christian missions sent by the different churches .into the interior of China at different periods. However, instead of loving their enemies, or even their neighbours, they learnt only the principle of exterminating both the one and the other. Why they ever derived support from any part of the Chinese population may per haps be understood, even though their tyranny was incomparably worse than that of the Imperial Government. The Chinese administration was so corrupt and oppressive that there were many who instinctively caught up any alternative that offered to it before they had had any opportunity of cow' paring the one tyranny with the other. In the meantime the corruption of all parties—both Teed pings and Imperialists—was such that at last the original cause of the war grew forgotten. The Imperialist Generals and the Taeping Generals ap' peered to have arrived at an understanding with one another. Each was to be permitted to ravage certain provinces and districts; and, so long as neither interfered with the other, each army acted merely as a swarm of locusts upon the country. Both desolated the civil population, while neither did any injury to the other. This state of things continued for a long time, and possibly it would have been so even to this day had it not been for the Anglo-French military expedition to Pekin, which Lord Ellenborough somewhat hastily criti' cised as likely to subvert the throne of the Emperor of China, and to render the Taepings everywhere supreme. The Celestial Government, it is quite clear, learnt from that expedition a respect for European arms, and, to a certain extent, for European prin ciples. They listened to European advice, and even accepted military and political assistance from us. From that date the military opposition of the Imperialists to the Taepings appears, for the first time, to have taken place in earnest. Had such a change occurred at an earlier period it is probable that the Chinese civil war would not have continued for so long a time. The last European campaign in China clearly produced a great effect upon the Go' vernment at Pekin, and one which is already being felt in the farther provinces of the empire. We have since supported the Chinese dynasty, and we have endeavoured, not without considerable result, to reform its system. With that policy the suppression of the rebellion, if it has really happened, is to 1 1 great extent connected, and we hope that the cone fidence this event cannot fail to create will give a fresh impetus to European commerce► COUNTRY MARKETS. HULL-TUESDAY. Since our last a fair amount of business has been done in the corn trade. The supply of English wheat has jig' proved, and prices continue without any material change* Choice old foreign wheat in request, at extreme rates; /a" ferior qualities a dull sale. Fine high mixed, 42s to 440. At our market to-day there was a moderate supply of English wheat, which met a ready sale at the quotationO of last week. Fine foreign wheat was in request, at full currencies; other descriptions were in limited sale, with no change in price. Grinding barley 6d dearer. Oats, beano? and peas sold slowly at about former rates. LYNN-TUESDAY. The weather was stormy and wet on Saturday and Sun' day, since then it has become more settled. At to•day'S market the attendance of growers was good, with a fair supply of wheat, and late prices were fully supported. Sales ready. The supply of malting barley was pler.tifu/t at late rates ; grinding sorts ate dull. For beans and oats trade was firm. White wheat 43s to 45s 1 Barley Red.. 37s to 38s I Grinding Beans .40s to 42s I Oats . Old ... 36s to 37s I Peas *: : — 2 23 2 96 sass ttto to : 3.....23101i Averages Wheats, 38s 4d—barley, 30s 3d—beans' 30e 3d. MARKET HARBOROUGH—TvEsDAy. White wheat,' . 42s to 458; red, 38s to 41s per 36 stone' Malting barley at 31s to 34s per qr.; grinding, 26s to 3 0 1 per 30 at. Oats, old, 25s to 275; new, 20a to 25s per 30 at. ; beans, 36s to 428 per qr. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE—TuEsnLY. At our corn market to-day the supply of wheat sv B6 small, and only a middling attendance of buyers. The wheat trade was slow at former rates. Barley, beans, and peas rather lower. COAL M. Prime of Coal per Ton at s. d. F. (1 ; Baddle'sWest Hartley 19 6 Cowpen Hartley 19 6 Haswell t g ' Hastings Hartley ....19 6 Hartlepool Wylam 18 6 South Kelloe 20 9 Eden Main 20 3 Ships at:marl LRKET. the olose of the market. Walls End. :et, 9 ; sold, 9, Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. Nov. 19 ' via Marseilles Nov. 12. Brazil and Cape Verde, by British packet. Nov. 4 ' Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena Oct. 29. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton Nov. 2„ , via Marseilles Oct. 21') Falkland Islands ..... ____ __ _____ _ ... - Gibraltar, via Southampton Oct. 27. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton.. Nov. 2. via Marseilles, Oct, 27. India (Bombay), via Southampton Oct. 27. .-- via Marseilles Oct. 21. Portugal.... Nov. 4. Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Oct. 21 ' via Marseilles Oct. 21 ' Newfoundland .. Oct. 0. Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... Oct. 26. , by U.S. packet.... ,0 no by Canadian packet. Oct. :4 All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, I o a t. 29. California. and British Columbia.. The Tribunal of Commerce of the Seine has juil t given judgment in an action brought by M. Durand , proprietor of the Hotel de Strasbourg, near tha Eastern Rai l° way station, against M. Sciallero, of a similar establishmen ts formerly called the "Hotel d'Allemagne," but to which be has lately given the name of" Hotel du Chemin de Fer de Strasbourg." The' plaintiff alleges that the words " d i/ Chemin de Fer" are written in such small characters nu the defendant's sign as to be scarcely visible, and that confasi eil is consequently caused between his establishment and the defendant's. He therefore demands that the said sign ph ial be altered or suppressed, and that the defendant shall be condemned to pay him 3,000 fr. damages for thus virtually usurping the name of hie hotel. After hearing counsel, the tribunal decided that the defendant should, within a wee! from the date of the judgment, have the words " du Chael— de Fer" printed in letters of the same sire as the other words, and that he should also pay the plaintiff the ° 300 f. as damages, with all costs of suit. Births. 4, CATENDISH.—On the 24th inst., at 40, Hertford-B,r -04 Mayfair, Mrs. Charles Cavendish, of a son. MARSHAM.—On the 25th inst, at 14, New-street, Sprioq gardens, the Lady Constance Maraham, of a eon 011 heir. MTLLER.—On the 22d inst., at Mandarston, the w if e W. Miller, Esq., M.P., of a son. Vcaux.—On'the 24th inst.Jat 7, Seamore-place, Cur2OW street, the Lady Alice Des 'Watt; of a daughter. Marriages. BROMLEY—PERRY.—On the 25th inst.. at All Sou ls Langham-place, James Bromley, E sq. , t o gall third daughter of Thomas D. Perry, Esq l 131 Oxfor street. LOWER — MARSHALL.—On the 25th inst., at the Ihbel 7 " to Church, Romsey, Wm. Thomas Lower, Esq., ' bag Agnes Basilia, younger daughter of the late Lieu t • - Marshall, K.H. Deaths. CRAVEN.—On the 24th inst., at •Brighton, Charles I ° llll Craven, Esq., aged 81. „ EDWARDES.—On the 22d inst„ at Huntingdon, Henry Edwards, aged 81. Vir LANGFORD.—On the 22d inst., at the Vicarage, ton, Oxon, the Rev. William Watson James A• ford, aged 63. LEVINGSTON.—On the 24th inst., at Ventnor, the le Bev' of Levingston, M.A , rector of St. Lawrence, I Wight. -------7.-1,0. London: Privaed and Prbllahed by WILLIAM ANDB' F ' ' j ig, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SIM Office 10 ' a t Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, )11 the CQllnti