The Sun. — London, England, 1863-02-27 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS—Last Evening. The LORD CIIiNCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. The Archbishop of CANTERBURY presented petitions from the inhabitants of Canterbury, praying for a measure to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors during certain hours on Sundays. ROME. The Marquis of NORMANBY said he had given notice to the noble earl (Earl Russel) privately of his intention to ask him two questions. One was relative to the delay which had taken place in the production of the dispatches from which he had quoted in his late speech on the subject of Rome. They had not yet been produced, and a wrong impression might be excited by such delay. The other point upon which he wished for in formation was, that within the last week there had ap peared in the French and German newspapers a despatch, dated the 14th of the present month, from Cardinal Antonelli, giving an account of the transactions of th. English Court with Rams, and stating that Mr. Odo Rus sell had taken the initiative in the negotiations. He wished to know if the version he had alluded to was true. If rot, he hoped he would be able to give it a denial. Earl RUSSELL said that if his noble friend wished for those despatches, or some extracts from them, he should have them. With respect to the de spatch alluded to, he certainly was not responsible for any thing that Cardinal Antonelli might have written to the Nuncio at Paris. It was not true that he (Earl Russell) had written a letter to Mr. Odo Russell of the nature re ferred to in the alleged despatch of the Cardinal, nor any letter to the same effect. He was aware, from the very fact of the appointment of M. Drouyn D'Lhuys, that the French Government were likely to continue the occupation of Rome, so that he could not have written expressing his disappointment that the Pope was not about to leave Rome. Ile wished, further, to say, that Mr. Russell was not an ambassador to Rome. He had been, till the consolidation of the Italian Government, an '""" at Florence, and afterwards at Naples, and since then Cardinal Antonelli having asked what character he held at !tome, he had been made attache direct from the Foreign office. He had not made any proposals to Cardinal Anto nelli which would have been without the range of his duty, but he had simply listened, like any private individual, to statements made to him by Cat dinal Antonelli. Earl DERBY said the alleged dispatch of Cardinal Antonelli affirmed that Mr. Odo Russell's account of the interview with the Pope was incorrect. Earl RUSSELL had communicated with Mr. Odo Rus sell on the subject, but he had not yet received any answer from that gentleman. The subject then dropped. PRINCE OF WALES' ANNUITY BILL. This bill was read a first time. GARDENS IN TOWNS PROTECTION BILL. Lord REDESDALE moved the second reading of this bill, which was the same as that which he had introduced last session. This bill was accordingly read a second time. ENGLISH CHURCH SERVICES IN WALES BILL. This bill passed through committee. DURHAM UNIVERSITY. The Bishop of EXETER complained that the regula tions requiring that the ordinances of the Commission of Durham should be laid before the house for forty days before they came into effect, were evaded by the forty days being spread over two sessions, sixteen days in one and twenty-four in another. The LORD CHANCELLOR said the act distinctly stated 40 sessional days, but it could not be construed into meaning that the whole of those days should be in one ses- 81012. The Bishop of EXETER said he would then give notice that to-morrow he should move an address to her Majesty, praying that she would be pleased to withhold her confir mation from the ordinances which had been laid. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening. The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. NEW MEMBER. Mr. MIREZR took the oaths and his seat for Lisburn. SECOND READINGS. The following bills were read a second time :—Athenry and Ennis Junction Railway (Abandonment)—Birming ham and Sutton Coldfield Extension Railway—Private Telegraph Company—and Stockport District Water. The second reading of the Deal Improvement Bill was postponed until to-morrow, PETITIONS. Mr. C. TURNER and Mr. MUNDAY presented petitions against the Rate-in-Aid Bill ; Captain JARVIS and Lord STANLEY, from officers in India, complaining of the amal gamation scheme, and praying for inquiry; Mr. BRIGHT, from Birmingham, and Mr. HODOKINSON, praying for a repeal of the fire insurance duty; Mr. BRIGHT, from Bacup, Lancashire, for a reduction of the national expen diture; and Admiral WAI,CoTT. in favour of an equalisation of the sugar duties. EPPING FOREST. Mr. COX, from Bethnal-green, praying that the public rights might be preserved. INTOXICATING LIQUORS. Mr. LAW SON, from Norfolk, against the sale of intoxi cating liquors on the Sabbath. NOTICES OF MOTION. MARRIAGES (IRELAND). Mr. DAWSON PEEL—That to-morrow, on going into Committee of Supply, he should call attention to the anomalous state of the marriage law, and propose, " That in the opinion of the house, it is expedient to make some amendments therein." (Hear, hear.) THE COMMERCIAL TREATY BETWEEN FRANCE AND ITALY. Mr.W. E. FORSTER—That to•morrow he should ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether our Foreign Office had in its possession a copy of the re cent commercial treaty between France and Italy, now awaiting ratification, and also of the new Italian tariff, and if so, whether he would lay copies before the house ; also whether he was aware that several days ago a copy of those documents were laid on the tables of the Italian Chambers. THE CASE OF PATRICK BOURKE. Lord J. BROWNE asked the President of the Poor Law Board, whether, in the promised inquiry into the circumstances attending the removal of Patrick Bourke from Leeds to Westport, he had taken any steps to secure the attendance of the representatives of the Irish Poor Law Commissioners ? Mr. C. P. VILLIERS replied that he had only to-day received the explanation of the authorities. They denied the statements alleged against them, and stated they were ready to meet the fullest investigation into the subject. He should take care that due notice of the day for holding the investigation was transmitted to the noble lord and others interested in the matter. SMALL MADE PARCELS TO HONG KONG. Colonel SYKES asked the Secretary to the Treasury on what grounds British manufacturers and others were pro hibited from transmitting to India and Hong Kong speci mens of textile fabrics of British manufacture under the book post restrictions, as they were permitted to transmit them to France and elsewhere ? Mr. F. PEEL replied that, with the single exception of France, the principle adverted to did not prevail. That arrangement was made in 1861. The Post-office did not carry parcels containing specimens of textile fabrics or trade parcels elsewhere to other countries, which he attributed to there being considerable difficulties in the way. REGISTRATION OF ASSURANCES (IRELAND). Sir E. GROGAN asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he intended to introduce any bill for the registration of assut ancee during the present session? Sir R. PEEL replied that the Government had prepared a bill, and he purposed immediately introducing it. THE LICENSING LAWS. 11.1 r. LAWSON asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, the house having rejected the Liver pool Licensing Bill, he was prepared to introduce a general measure for amending the licensing laws? Sir G. GREY replied that the Government experienced some difficulty in introducing a general measure, owing to the rejection of the Liverpool bill. He could give no posi tive assurancl as to the period when the Government would be able to introduce a general measure. BURMESE PRIZE MONEY. In reply to Col. NORTH, Sir C. WOOD replied that some delay had taken place in consequence of the discovery of some irregularity, which had been corrected, and he apprehended that now no delay would take place in the distribution of the money. CO NTINUANCE OF THE RATE IN AID BILL. In reply to Mr. COBDEN, Mr. C. VILLIERS intimated that he intended to post pone proceeding with this bill until Monday, when it would stand as the first order. Committee Postponed until Monday. CORRUPT PRACTICES AT ELECTIONS. In reply to Mr. Pse xt, Sir G. GREY said that in consequence of the absence of the Attorney-General from a domestic affliction, he should postpone the committee until Monday. C om mittee accordingly postponed until Monday. PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES' AN NUITIES BILL. This bill was read a third time. BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. AS CHIEF THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. REED - - NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR. Sir F. SMITH said ho desired to bring before the house a question of privilege. Ho ,felt it was his duty, to the utmost of his power, to uphold the dignity of the house. It would be in the recollection of the house, that a few nights ago, whilst the naval estimates were under discussion, he made some remarks upon the appointment of Mr. Reed, as chief constructor of the navy. He con sidered that appointment open to question ; but, at the same time, in speaking of Mr. Reed, he thought he carefully guarded himself from making any unkind or un generous remarks. He asked the other evening whether the person appointed to this important post had ever built a ship, adding that if the question were answered in the negative, th e appointment could not be regarded otherwise than a most improper one, because the holder of the office exercised great control over all the dockyards, and the selection of an unqualified officer wonld assuredly lead to lack of proper management and discipline. He (Sir F. Smith) urged, in support of the unfitness of Mr. Reed for the appoiutment, that he had never been a member of tIP College of Naval Architecture. It appeared that Mr. Reed had been brought up in one of the dockyards, and had raised himself from a very humble position to one of some importance. As only a humble man himself, he (Sir F. Smith) liked to see men rise, and rejoiced that Mr. Reed had been successful in elevating himself in his profession. He (Mr. Reed) had been sent to the School of Mathematics and Construction, and had probably dis- tinguished himself there. Still, as he was not a member of the College of Naval Architecture, and had never built a ship, he (Sir F, Smith) must take leave to say he did not consider him fitted for the appointment conferred upon him. He could not in that case have had sufficient practical ex perience to discharge properly the duties of his office, and therefore it was wrong to place him at the head of an im portant department of the navy, though he confessed he should have been glad to have seen him falsify the opinion he had formed with respect to him. Now, yesterday he received a letter from Mr. Reed complaining of what he had said in that house : " In the House of Commons last evening, I hoard you deny that I had belonged to the Admiralty School of Naval Architecture, which, though, true verbally—(l aug ht er )— i na smuch as the school was entitled School of Mathema tics and Naval Construction,' is calculated to convey a most false impression, inasmuch as the school in question was, in fact, a school of naval architecture inferior in no respects to that which bore the name previously. Further, I heard you state that I was without a proper knowiedge of my profession—in fact, that I knew nothing about the matter. Now, I call upon you to say why you made this false and libellous statement concerning me in your place in Parlia ment—(laughter)—and on what grounds you justify or at tempt to justify it. I beg to assure you that I have not sought the appointment which the Admiralty have given to me, and I think you are bound, if you feel called upon to put forward the claims of a constituent of yours as superior to mine, to do so without subjecting me to personal abuse in a place where I can have no opportunity of answering you. (Laughter.) Now, first of all, it is quite clear that the writer refers to Mr. Lang. No one who knows him can doubt his being the best naval architect we have, and perhaps the best in the world. Mr. Lang is not a constituent of mine, he never was a:constituent of mine, his name is not on the register of Chatham, and it never will be. (Laughter.) I trust the house will feel with me that, as a member of Parliament, I am not to be subjected to attacks of this kind in the per formance of a simple duty:. (Cheers.) I can assure the house, and I can assure Mr. Reed, that I have no ill-will against him, (Hear, hear.) I shall be glad to see him rise in his profession, and if appointed by the Government, I hope he will succeed and be useful to the service. I may be allowed, however, to doubt his ability to do so, But I think if we are to be curbed in the performance of our duty by letters of this kind, the House of Commons will be de graded ; and I, for one, cannot stand under a stigma of this kind, of making statements that are false and libellous. The expressions imputed to me by this gentleman never passed my mouth, nor can I find any trace of them in the news paper reports. But if I did not say it on the former occa sion I am ready to say it now ; therefore Mr. Reed will gain nothing by the step he has taken, for I do say if he has never constructed a ship the appointment is an improper one. I was about to move that Mr. Reed be called to the bar of the house—(Cheers, and cries of " Move") My noble friend was about, when he stopped me, to propose I should wait until—(renewed cries of "Move")—lf Mr. Reed has sent an apology, that would satisfy me. (Move.) Then, sir, I move that Mr. Reed be called to the bar of the house. (Cheers.) The SPEAKER—The hon. memberhaving read a docu ment which he thinks a breach of privilege he will be good enough to bring it to the table. Sir F. SMITH brought up the letter accordingly, and it was read to the house by the clerk at the table. The hon. gentleman then moved that Mr. Reed be called to the bar. Sir G. GREY said it was not usual to call a gentleman to the bar of the house till the house had decided that the conduct complained of was a breach of privilege. Lord C. PAGET agreed that the letter read was a most improper letter, but asked the hon. baronet to postpone his motion, that he might procure a suitable apology from Mr. Reed. Mr. ROEBUCK said the offence, such as it was, was an offence against the house, and the apology, if there was one, ought to be made at the bar of the house. The question was then put, and unanimously agreed to, that the letter in question was a breach of the privileges of the house. Sir F. SMITH then moved that Mr. Reed be called to the bar of the house to-morrow (this day), which was also agreed to. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES' ANNUITIES BILL. The bill was read a third time and passed. THE NAWAB OF THE CARNATIC. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr. BAILLIE called attention to certain transactions in India between the Government and the native nrinees from me year .itno uo wnwarus, oumpitauing of violations of treaty engagements, and moved a resolution, " That, whereas by a Royal proclamation addressed to the na tive princes and peoples of India, published November 1, 1858, it is stated " that we desire no extension of our pre , sent territorial possessions, and while we will permit no aggression upon our dominions or our rights to be attempted with impunity, we shall sanction no encroachment on those of others ;' and again, We hereby announce to the native princes of India, that all treaties and engagements made with them by, or under the authority of, the Honourable East India Company, are by us accepted, and will be scru pulously maintained ;' so, in the opinion of this house, where differences of opinion have arisen with respect to the interpretation of such treaties, the questions at issue ought to be referred for decision to her Majesty's Privy Council." Mr. SMOLLETT seconded the motion. Sir C. WOOD defended the Government of India, and expressed a hope that the house, in dealing with such mat ters, would not refer them to the Privy Council, but would leave them with the responsible Government. After a few words from Colonel SYKES, The house then divided upon Mr. Baillie's motion. Ayes _ 24 Noes lO4 Majority against HASLAR HOSPITAL. Sir J. HAY wished to correct an impression which ap peared to prevail that, in his allusion the other evening to the prevalence of a loathsome disease amongst the boys in the training ships, he had intended to include also Haslar Hospital. He had been informed that there were no cases in the hospital. BARRISTERS (IRELAND) BILL. In reply to the SOLICITOR-GENERA L , Mr. HENNESSY said he had no objection to postpone this bill till after Easter. SUPPLY.-NAVY ESTIMATES. The house then went into committee of supply. Upon the vote of £i65,322 for expenses of the Admiralty Office, Mr. LINDSAY gave a general outline of the very mul tifarious duties which the Board of Admiralty have to perform, and said he much doubted whether, in the event of another great war, that board, as at present consti tuted, would be found sufficient for the requirements of the public service• It was at present a small and almost irresponsible body, consisting merely of a first lord, five other lords, and a couple of secretaries, who had to be shipbuilders, dockyard-makers, builders, bakers, butchers, carriers, and many other things. He would propose, in stead, to have one chief of the department, who should be called the Minister of Marine, or any other name that might be preferred, and should be a Secretary of State. There should be under him a committee of six, appointed by himself, subject to such control as Parliament might impose. The first man of that committee should be the controller of the navy, who should have charge of every thing pertaining to the construction of ships, and to analyse, investigate, and report upon all new improvements and in ventions. There should then be a storekeeper-general, then an officer to superintend the mending of the ships, then an engineer of works to superintend the building of docks and wharves, next an ac countant-general, and lastly one who should do everything necessary that was not included in , the duties of the other five. The hon. gentleman said it was not his intention to make any motion. Admiral WALCOTT said the Board of Admiralty, which was charged with the moat responsible duties apper taining to the navy, was displaced with every change of Government, a practice which he entirely disapproved. It was most important for the efficiency of the navy that there should be practical officers, and the only way of ensuring that objedt was by making the officers feel that rewards" would follow merit, and that the same favour would be shown to all who exhibited diligence, talent, honourable ambition, and gallantry in the service of their country. (Hear, hear,) Mr. W. 'WILLIAMS called the attention of the noble lord to some items for temporary clerks, and suggested that they should be taken on permanently when required. The hon. member pointed out some matters which were put in the appendix, and expressed his opinion that it would be more regular to have them in the body of the votes. Mr. WHITE asked the noble lord the Secretary to the Admiralty by what authority the gunboats of her Majesty had been handed over for the service of the Emperor of China; and also by whose authority stores and supplies of ammunition had been suppliel to that expedition. When the house was called upon to vote large sums the Govern ment should state whether they proposed to apply a portion of them to an external or foreign object, so that the whole question should come before the committee. Viscount P ALMERSTON said the arra ngemen t a ll u d e d to by the hon. m em b er had been sanctioned by her Majesty's Government, as they thought it desirable that these gun boats should be used for the protection of British subjects and British commerce. The whole expense of the boats and stores would be defrayed by the Chinese Government, and no part would fall upon this country. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BENTINCK concurred with the hon. member for Sunderland (Mr. Lindsay) as to the irresponsibility of the Board of Admiralty, but he could not agree with him that a civilian was the proper man to place at its head. In his opi. nion, the only way to improve the Board of Admiralty was by placing a naval man at ite head, and that he should not be moveable with a change of Government, Sir M. PETO said he had ventured last session to im press upon the Government the importance of attending to the question introduced that evening by the hon. member be low him, but it had produced no effect during the recess. During the last 30 years, from 1829 to 1859, there had been 17 First Lords of the Admiralty, the duration of whose se parate terms of office had been one year 10 months and a fortnight. There had been 103 other changes during that period. In the last years there had been four general changes, and there had been during that time five First Lords and thirty-four other lords, How was it therefore possible that the business of the country could be so con ducted as to result in success ? The term of office was so short that the Board of Admiralty was only in office just sufficient time to become acquainted with their position and duties, but nothing of the actual working of the department. Lord C. PAGET said that the difference of opinion that had been expressed showed the difficulty of the subject. A permanent Admiralty, he believed, would destroy the neces• sary control that now existed, and its absence would lead to extravagance and expenditure. If they got rid of the term " board," many of the complaints now made against it would vanish. It was not in reality a board, but a responsible Minister, with a council to advise and assist him. The de partment, like every thing else, had its defects; but the more he saw and considered the vast and complicated duties it had to discharge, the more he thought it worked as well as could be expected. He instanced several minute points of detail in the working of the board. The business had greatly increased of late, and he had been obliged to separate the transport from the victualling department, and appoint an additional clerk. He explained the various objections that had been taken to some of the items in the ♦ote. Mr. LINDSAY said that with regard to the transfer re ferred to by the noble lord, there had been a considerable increase of expenditure, with po more work to be done. So far from there being a saving of £5,000 on this vote, there was an increase of £1,765. Sir M. PETO considered this a good time for the Go vernment to consider the organisation of the Admiralty: We were in a placid state with regard to public affairs, and theits wars uovr ao littlo brought forward by tho Govern ment, that he considered they might very well take the subject into their consideration with a view to its improve ment. Mr. BENTINCK again pressed his views on the com mittee in favour of a permanent board. He did not think it would destroy the control of the house. He doubted if they would ever arrive at a solution of the question. The system was attacked from the belief that it was to the fault of its operation, and not the bad intentions of the heads of the department, that the country did not get what it ought to for its money. Mr. WHITE said this subject had been repeatedly brought before the house, but as yet with no satisfactory result. The vote was then agreed to. On the next vote, of £299,695 to defray the expenses of the cosst guard, Mr. LIDDELL impressed upon the Government the ne. cessity of maintaining the active force of the navy in full, notwithstanding the strength of the reserve force. Although great efforts were made to transform the reserves into good seamen, still no captain would be satisfied to go to sea with a crew composed of men drafted from the reserves. The noble lord told them the other night that nearly 17,000 men had been enrolled in the reserves. Now that did not agree with the official returns, and he hoped the noble lord would explain the discrepancy. Lord C. PAGET explained that all he meant to convey the other night was, that from the adoption of the plan up to the present the number enrolled had been 17,000; but, of course, that number had been diminished by deaths and desertions, though not much by desertions. At the present moment the number was 14,500; but during the course of the year they expected the force would be raised to 18,000. Mr. BENTINCK was informed that there was a certain number of owners of large merchant vessels who had ex pressed themselves anxious, in cases where their officers and crews belonged almost exclusively to the naval reserve, to be allowed to carry a blue ensign. He wished to know whether there would be any objection to such vessels being so distinguished. Mr. LINDSAY asked who now filled the office of Capt. Brow n, the late Registrar- General of Seamen, and whether any increase of remuneration had been given to the ship ping masters for their great attention to the extra duties required of them in connection with the naval reserve. Mr. M. GIBSON said that Mr. Mayo had succeeded to the position lately occupied by Capt. Brown, whose retire ment arose from failing health and advancing years. Both th e Admiralty and the Board of Trade had acknowledged the meritorious way in which he had discharged those du ties. He believed that the shipping masters in some cases, had an addition to their remuneration. Lord C. PAGET said he would refer to the Admiralty the proposition that ships commanded by officers of the Royal Naval Reserve, and manned to a great extent by resprwa be allowed to hoist the blue ensign, and he was sure that anything wnicn oouta be done with propriety to encourage the officers and ship owners who had taken so much pains to create and main tain this reserve, the Board of Admiralty would agree to. (Hear, hear.) The vote was then agreed to. On a vote of £71,961 being proposed for the salaries and expenses of the scientific department of the Admiralty, Mr. CHILDERS asked whether it was the intention to publish the charts, remarks, and journals of Capt.Denham, who had for 10 years past been engaged in most valuable services in the South Seas? Lord C. PAGET said that Capt. Denham had done good service to his country by the charts and maps he had made, particularly with regard to the very intricate navigation of Torres Straits, which he had rendered not more than ordi narily difficult. He was not prepared to say that they would publish Capt. Denham's journals, but they were pub lishing his charts and remarks. Sir J. PAKINGTON hoped to hear that in some marked manner Capt. Denham had received the approba tion of the Board of Admiralty. Lord C. PAGET said that the suggestion should receive attention. The vote was then agreed to. On a vote of £183,316, to defray the ealaries and contin gent expenses of her Majesty's naval establishment at home, Sir H. WILLOUGHBY asked whether the Admiralty had taken into consideration the question of reducing the establishments of our vast dockyards, which were meant for the production of wooden ships. Lord C. PAGET said that the observation of the hon. baronet applied rather to votes 8 or 9 than to the pre sent ; but he must not suppose that, because they were building fifteen or twenty iron-cased ships, the great mass of our wooden fleet was to be done away with. Cor vettes, sloops, and gunboats would still be built of wood in the dockyards for a long time to come. The noble lord ex plained that there was an increase on the vote of £4,000 for the purpose of organising the whole number of dockyard clerks into one single establishment, so as to admit of their being removed from one yard to another, at home, or being sent abroad, without interfering with the promotion of the particular dockyard in which they had been serving. In answer to a question from Mr. Dalglish, the noble lord said that audit clerks had been appointed at each of the dock ' yards, to check the accounts, responsible only to the Ac countant-General. Mr, LAIRD could not understand how the Government could keep their accounts, If it were true, as he had heard, that there was no stock-taking of the stores. Mr. CHILDERS complained of the withdrawal of the grant to Wesleyan chaplains. Mr.SCHOLEFIELD said the proceedings of the Alabama tended to shake his faith in the supposed vast superiority of iron over wooden vessels. Mr. LINDSAY said the speed of a ship did not depend upon the material of which she was built, but upon her lines. The vote was agreed to. A vote of £36,370 for naval establishments abroad was also agreed to. Upon the vote of £1,112,878 for wages to artificers, dc., at home, Mr. W. MARTIN hoped, now that Government influ ence was to be done away with, the Order in Council would be confirmed by Act of Parliament. Mr. DALGLISH could not understand how £1,100,000 could be spent in labour only upon the six ships they had heard about. Taking half the amount only for them alone, it came to £lOO,OOO a ship. (Hear, hear.) Lord C. PAGET said they had been doing many repairs that ought to have been done years ago. If the hon. gen man would only wait another year—(oh, and laughter)— he would understand it thoroughly. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY would impress upon the noble lord, the Secretary to the Admiralty the importance of laying before the committee an accurate account of the outgoings. Lord C. PAGET would admit that in one particular there was an omission, and this was that they did not take stock every year. The matter had been under their con sideration, and it was only given up because of the great cost which it would entail. The committee should remember that if they were to take stock at all they should do it thoroughly, and bring into account everything in the dock yards, however minute ; and ho submitted that such stock taking would be an expensive process. Sir M. PETO thought the noble lord could not give the committee a better idea of the defective system of the Ad miralty than the statement he had just made. It was the practice of the firm with which he was connected, and whose transactions were more extensive than those of the Admi ralty, and spread over different countries, to take stock every year. The process no doubt entailed trouble and ex pense, but they considered it necessary, for how else could they strike a balance? Sir G. BOWYER could not understand why stock-taking could not be performed by the officers of the dockyards, without entailing any expense upon the public. Mr. SEELEY said they should not rim away with the notion that stock-taking cauld be p er formed without entail ing considerable expense ; but it was for the house to say whether such expense was to be incurred. The noble lord had spoken of double entry, but all he could say was that he had examined the accounts in the course of the recess, and that they were net kept by double entry. They were rHE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 27, 1863. no more than a mere estimate, and consequently delusive and fallacious. Mr. LINDSAY said he should move that the chairman report progress until they had all the items before them. Mr. LAIRD would support the statement of the hon. member for Finsbury. Ho had been connected with a large engineering and ship-building firm for thirty years, and they always found an opportunity about Christmas for taking stock. He was sure that in a week or ten days the same thing could be done in the dockyards. The motion for reporting progress was then withdrawn. Mr. AYRTON did not wish it to go forth that the ac counts in the dockyards were not well and accurately kept. He had vi, ited one dockyard and inspected the accounts, and he thought nothing could be more full and accurate than the manner in which they were kept. After a few words from Lord LOVAINE and Mr. LIND SAY, Lord C. PAGET informed the committee that the ac counts were now being kept by double entry, and would be shortly laid before them in that form. At present it was the practice to take stock triennially ; it would lso for the house to determine whether in future it should be done annually. Mr. G. BENTINCK contended that the Admiralty should do that which was the invariable practice of every mercantile firm, namely, take stock at the end of each year. The vote was then agreed to. The vote of £69,957 for wages of artificers, &c., employed in her Majesty's establishments abroad was agreed to. On the vote of £1,334,051 for naval stores for the build ing, repair, and ow fit of the fleet, steam machinery, and ships built by contract, Sir M. PETO mov€d that the sum of £266,663 for timber, masts, deals, &c., should be reduced by £250,000, on the ground, first, that it was not required, and secondly, that the Government had already improperly appropriated that amount from votes destined for another purpose. He con tended that it was unconstitutional to appropriate a sum oj money for other purposes other than that voted. It was useless for the committee to deliberate upon these estimates if the will of the Admiralty was to set their decisions aside. It was a want of good faith towards the committee. Lord C. PAGET said this sum was for contracts en tered into two or three years ago. They were obliged ro take their contracts iu advance, or they would never get the timber they required. When these contracts were entered into fault was found with the Government for not having a large stock of timber on hand. He took credit for having so large a stock of good seasoned timber. Mr. LINDSAY said the noble lord had not answered the question whether the First Lord was to over-ride the decision of the Committee. Lord C. PAGET said the Duke of Somerset had divided the vote into two sections to prevent the Admiralty from applying money voted for the second to the first section. Formerly it was all one vote. It was considered the depart ment had the right to appropriate one sum to another in the same department, provided the original amount was not ex ceeded. That would not be the case in future with regard to the timber vote. Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said it was the alteration that had been made in the Appropriation Act that was at the root of the evil. In future unapplied votes would have to be surrendered to the Treasury. Mr. LAIRD said the Government ought to decide what ships should be constructed, and stop the others. The Ad miralty would do well to consider the subject. Timber was always valuable, and if it was not wanted it could, be sold. In answer to a question from an hone. member, Lord C. PAGET said the timber was contracted for in 1861. The amendment was negatived without a division. Mr. LINDSAY asked for the amount of the tonnage of the iron-plated ships now under construction to be ready in April, and also the number and tonnage of such ships now being constructed by France. For that purpose he moved that the chairman report progpess, The committee divided. The numbers were— For reporting progress Against it Majority —6l Mr. LINDSAY wished to know whether the house would have the information in detail upon the vote before the re port would be brought up. Lord C. PAGET said that the details would be laid upon the table in the course of ten days or so, but not before the report would be brought up. Sir J. PAKINGTON asked whether the Admiralty in tended to persist in putting iron plates on wooden vessels ? Lord C. PAGET replied in the affirmative. A long discussion ensued, in which Sir J. Hay, Lord Pal merston, Sir J. Pakington, Mr. Laird, and Mr. Lindsay took part. Mr. LINDSAY moved that the vote be reduced by £134,000, which was about the sum set down for iron plates for the five wooden ships which the noble lord (C. Paget) said the Admiralty intended to build. Lord PALMERSTON said that the motion would pre vent them from having any plates for either wooden or iron ships. A discussion took place, in which a great many members from both sides of the house urged the Government either to withdraw the vote altogether, or, at all events, to post- pone it for tiw prcaont. - Lord PALMERSTON then rose and said that the best arrangement would be to submit a statement to the house, no steps being in the meantime taken with regard to these five ships—(hear)—showing what time would be required to complete them, and what would be the cost; showing also what would be the cost and time of building the five ships proposed by the Admiralty. The house would then be able to judge whether it would prefer the longer time and the greater expense, or the shorter time and the lesser ex pense. But that was not the real question in volved in the present vote, which was to provide armour plates for ships already built and ready to receive them. He hoped, after that explanation, that the hon. gentleman would not insist on a motion which did not go to the point he had in view. Mr. LINDSAY then withdrew his amendment, and the vote was agreed to. A vote for -C857,349 for steam machinery was also agreed to, and the Chairman was ordered to report progress. The Telegraphs and the Malt Duty Bills were respec tively committed pro forma for the introduction of amend ments. POST-OFFICE SAVINGS BANKS BILL. This bill was read a second time. BILLS CF EXCHANGE AND NOTES (METROPOLIS) BILL. This bill was read a second time, MARRIAGES REGISTRATION (IRELAND) BILL. Mr. MONSELL obtained leave to bring in a bill to pro• •side the registration of marriages in Ireland. MARRIAGES (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion of Sir E. GROGAN, the order for bringing in a bill in reference to marriages in Ireland was dismissed, with a view to hia introducing another measure with the same object. DISEASES PREVENTION (METROPOLIS). On the motion of Dr. BRADY, leave was given to intro duce a bill to regulate the removal in hired or public car riages of persons labouring under infectious diseases in the metropolis. SALMON EXPORTATION. On the motion of Mr. BRUCE, leave was given to intro duce a bill for prohibiting the exportation of salmon at certain times. CHANGE OF NAMES. On the motion of Mr. HENNESSY copies of correspon dence between Mr. Richard David Jones, or Mr. Richard David St. Paul, and the Secretary of State, tho Lord Chancellor, and Clerk of the Crown, in relation to change of name, and the alteration of his Rame in the commission of tle peace for the county of Leicester, &c., was agreed to. Sir G. GREY,however, observed that, as Mr. Jones had been allowed to change his name, it would be as well to let the matter drop. The other orders were disposed of, and the house ad journed at 20 minutes to one o'clock. ;We are authorised to announce that the Volun teer Corps cf the city of London, to which authority has been given to be under arms on the 7th proximo, are to be at the stations respectively assigned to them at one o'clock precisely, and that the order of forma tion for each corps will be communicated hereafter to its commanding officer. The Volunteer Corps that aro to assemble in Ilyie-park must be on the ground at two p.m. No company of this force is to be less than 24 files or more than 32 files. PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S LATEST.—A Washington correspondent of a New England journal says that though the President looks haggard and careworn some new boa mot fron him is always in circulation. The last was uttered at a Saturday public reception, when a Western paymaster, in fill major's attire, was introduced, and said, " Being here, Mr. Lincoln, I thought I'd call and pay my respects." " Fron the complaints of tho'solders," responded the President, "I guess that's about all any of you do pay." A SLIGHT AISTAKE.—WhiIe General M'Clellan was at dinner at the Massasoit-house, on his passage through SpE iugfeld, two ladies plundered a military cap, which they suplosed to he the General's, of both its but tons, tearing then out ruthlessly, to be preserved as me mentoes. The mortification of their feelings and the red ness of their faca can be imagined when one of the Aides put on the mutil,ted cap, and the General put on his own, which was intact Those buttons have not been preserved, but the story Ins been, and is told oftener than the two ladies wish to hear it. [ ADVERTI SEMINT.]-11olloway's Pills.—Bodily Health. Nothing can be more worthy of our earnest attention than the maintenance of our health„ These purifying Pills taken occasionally, inmodorate doses, thoroughly expel from:the system all noxicas matters which have gained admission from the food, ak, or other sources. Holloway's Pills are the best remedi(s fora weak, foul, irritable stomach, which they effectually cleanse and render fit to digest any aliment satisfactorily. r :hey likewise exert a corrective power over the liver and ki meys, and are the beat domest i c a p er ient hitherto known. All a ffli cte d with temporary o r confirmed ill-health may t arn t o th ose Pill s w i th t h e conso ling reflec tion that they p ill g i ve ease and strength, if they cannot permanently cum SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—The whole English nation may be said to have gone into committee upon the reception of the Princess Alexandra. How to give the utmost eclat to the pageant of the 7th, and how to signalise the general holiday on the 10th, are now the ques tions of the day. Let none, whatever be their age and whichever their sex, affect to be ashamed of feel ing a keen interest in them. The enjoyment derived from sights of this kind is made up of a great many elements, some of which defy analysis. Theimme diate gratification of curiosity may be slight and momentary, but it is enhanced indefinitely by the pleasure of looking forward to it and the pleasure of being in kindly sympathy with all our fellow countrymen, the pleasure reflected from the very thought of what it must be to be the objects of all this loyal enthusiasm, and a variety of other plea sures equally unselfish in their motive, yet equally agreeable in their result. In order, however, that these sensations of pleasure, whether more or less refined, should be experienced at all, it is indispen sably necessary that the spectacle itself should be a success, and not a failure. The sense of disappoint ment must be excluded at all hazards. The waste of pleasure and the amount of pain which this sense, oppressing the minds of mil.ions, would directly produce, is too serious a thing to be treated lightly. It is thus that every circumstance of the Prince and Princess's passage through London becomes a matter for public consideration. The vast sum of money which will been spent by public bodies and private individuals in mere decorations and the line of seats is some measure of the importance attached to it. The Corporation of London alone " will probably expend £30,000 or £40,000, and the temporary balconies which will be erected at every available point on the route will represent many thousands of pounds. As for the illuminations, many of which will be seen by very few, their total cost cannot be estimated with any degree of certainty, but we believe that the gas companies have declared themselves unable to meet the demand unless the consumption of gas in private houses be reduced for the night. All this shows that the inhabitants of London are determined, on their part, to spare nothing in doing honour to the Royal pair. It is the more incumbent on those who have the arrangement of the procession and the subse quent festivities to consult their wishes and inte rests as far as possible. We are sorry to observe that a very inadequate appreciation of this responsibility seems to prevail at the Home-office. We had always fancied that it was the privilege of the Lord Mayor to receive royal visitors at the gates of the city, and to lead the van of the cortege until they reached the verge of his jurisdiction. This etiquette was recog. nised in the Queen's first entry into the city, and is recommended by good taste as well as by precedent. The proposed reversal of this order on Saturday week is by no means a trifling matter. Nothing can be trifling which in the slightest degree mars the harmony of the proceedings on an occasion of such importance. This'is no ordinary visit of a foreign Princess to the capital of Queen Victoria. It is the formal introduction of a Princess of Wales to those who will one day be the subjects of her husband, and who are already her devoted wellwishers. The whole population of the greatest city in the world will have forsaken their ordinary avocations, and at a great sacrifice of time and earnings will have arrayed themselves by ranks and tiers, far as eye can reach, along a line of several miles, on purpose , to pay the highest compliment in their power to their future Sovereign and his bride. This is a homage of which thegreatest potentates might well be proud, and which deserves every encouragement which the Government can give it. There is a famous warning of Burke's about " the mischief of not having large and liberal ideas in the manage ment of great affairs." This sentiment is not less applicable to the conduct of a national ceremony than to the administration of a colonial empire, and we trust that it will not be forgotten by the Home office. It is no secret that the purpose of placing the carriage of the Prince and Princess in the vanguard of the procession is to get it over as quickly as pos sible, and enable them to traverse the streets at a trot. There could not be a greater mistake. If a rapid transit to Windsor were the great object, it would possible to avoid the metropolis altogether. It was thought, however, and wisely thought, that, as the wedding itself was not to be celebrated in London, the Londoners should be gratified with the first sight of the Princess whom we are beginning to call our own. It. would be a sad pity to spoil the grace of this concession for the sake of saving half an hour. What is half an hour compared with the opportunity of winning the hearts of thousands on thousands " Let my people see me," was the kind and truly Royal saying of our own Queen, then scarcely older than the Princess Alexandra, as she passed through the crowded and echoing streets in the year of her accession. When she entered Paris, as the guest of the Emperor, in 1855, the dißappointment of the French was extreme because, owing to a miscalculation o f th e tid e , th e carr i ages containing the august party did not make their ap pearance till dusk, and then drove past too rapidly for her features to be identified. We heartily trust that no such contretemps will occur on this great occasion, and, above all, that no official crotchets will be suffered to spoil its popularity. Where illustrious personages are to be greeted with a public welcome the procession should be arranged on very simple principles—the escort first, the heroes and heroines of the day in the centre, and the retinue last. It should pass at a foot's pace, without hurry and without interruption, and we may add that at this rate two hours would amply suffice for the whole passage from the Bricklayers' Arms to Paddington. POST.—Regarded as a manifesto addressed by the Government of the United States to the Euro pean Powers, the American Foreign Secretary's despatch must be regarded as a most remarkable document. It professes fairly and dispassionately to state to the world the true position of affairs on the American continent. Hitherto Europe has been obliged to trust to information derived from un official sources, and, as might have been expected, has been seriously misled. Finding by the mails which almost daily reach us that during the past two years a bloody war has been waged between the North and South, we ventured to conclude that the conflict was of a protracted nature. This has been a grievous error. Judging by newspaper ac counts, we fancied on striking a balance of the in- 1 variable vicissitudes of war that the North suffered more severely than its opponents. Seeing that the largest and best appointed army that the North has been enabled to bring into the field has been unable to force its way one hundred miles from the Federal capital, we not unreasonably accept that, fact as a proof of Northern weakness and Southern prowess. Judging from the premium at which gold is quoted in the American money markets, and the difficulties experienced by the Federal Government in their attempts to contract loans, we were led to conjecture that the Federal credit was at a very low ebb. But it now appears that in all these respects we have been egregiously mistaken, and that, arguing from false premises we have been neces sarily led to erroneous conclusions. The true state of affairs in America is now made known on au thority which cannot be questioned, and Europe is told to view with admiration the results of one of the most successful wars of modern times, and to congratulate one of the strongest, the most pa triotic, and best organised of Governments on the success with which it has trampled down sedition in its dominions. When the French Minister, by way of saying particularly civil things, assured the Federal Government that he was aware "they did not despair of giving more active impulse to hos tilities," and that "the protraction of the struggle • had not shaken the confidence of the Federal Go vernment in the definitive success of their efforts," he little thought that he gave cause for offence. Mr. Seward, however, hastens to point out "the unintentional injustice " of such language. " So far from admitting any laxity of effort or betray ing any despondency the Government has, on the contrary, borne itself cheerfully in all vicissi tudes with unvarying confidence in an early and complete triumph of the national cause." Lest such a statement might fall on incredulous ears,Mr. Seward tells the Ambassador at Paris how " the land and naval forces of the United States have steadily advanced, reclaiming from the insurgents the ports, forts, and posts which they had treacher ously seized before the strife actually began. Then follows an enumeration of the States, or portions of States, which constitute " the small territory still left to the rebels, but which is held by the Federal il troops " in close blockade and siege." The Federal Government, in a word, does not hesitate to submit its achievements to the test of comparison, and is i ready to maintain that, "n no part of the world, and in no times, ancient or modern, has a natio n put forth energies so vigorou s, and achieved suc cesses so signal and effective, as those which have marked the progress of the contest on the part of the Union." Having thus succinctly stated for the information of the French Secret ar y f or F ore i gn Affairs, the authentic history of the American war, Mr. Se ward expresses a natural apprehension lest the French Minister had taken other light than the correspondence of the American Gover nmen t f or hi s guidance in ascertaining its temper and finances. We think it extremely probable that lie did. Under a " peaceful democracy," such as exists in America, where the utmost freedom o f d e b ate and the most extreme license to the pr ess are perm i tte d , muc h diversity of opinion must be e x p ec t e d t o prevail. But if a stranger wou ld d es i re to acquaint h i mself with the real sentiments of the people, he would hear them expressed in the council chambers of those whom the people heel chosen to represent them, and to administer their laws. If M. Drouyn de Lhuye, instead of trusting to newspapers,would only take the trouble of consulting the statute-book of Congress and the executive ordinances, he would discover the unanimity amd fixedness of purpose of the American nation. He would then satisfy him self of the confidence entertained by Congress iii the ultimate success of their present undertaking by the liberality of their mousy grants, and of the ability and skill of the administration by the judg ment and promptitude which characterise all their measures. After such a course of study, he would doubtless come to the same conclusions with Mr. Seward, that the Northern " resources are yet " abundant, and the credit adequate to the existing emergency. It is scarcely p, ssible to treat this strange document seriously. It is certainly im possible to test it either by arguments or facts. If a man avers positively that black is white, or that two and two make five, of course, if you are not as great a fool as himself; you will not attempt to reason him out of his strange delusion. In like manner, we shall not attempt to prove that Mr. Seward's letter is a tissue of delusions or falsehoods from beginning to end. If he says that this Go vernment possesses credit, thought it is unable to raise a loan even among its own citizens—if he says that the armies of the North have been victorious, although at the very instant he was writing the despatch he well knew that the greatest of its armies was in process of dismemberment, after hav ing undergone a continuo's series of defeats—if he calls the aggregate area of the Southern States a small territory in defiance of what geographies and atlases say to the contrary, why we can only treat him as we would a perverse man, who, for the mere sake of obstinacy, wilfully misstated facts. But as Mr. Seward is not a lunatic, and as we believe him to bs much too shrewd to suppose that any one will be inclined to believe his statements, we are natu rally led to inquire what motive could have induced him to write so much (what his countrymen would call) " bunkum." Perhaps he expects to gain in Washington amongst certain classes a little poli.• tical capital, and, in exchange for that, is indiffe rent about the contempt he must incur in Europe. Still emanating, as this document does, from the Federal Cabinet, it is truly incredible that that body should have sunk as low as to endorse as its own, in the face of the world, so much arrant falsehood and absurd nonsense. Sergeant Glover v. Count de Persigny and K Billault. JUDGES' CHAMBERS—FEB. 26. (Before Mr. Justice Wightman.) This extraordinary case, which was some time since before the Court of Queen's Bench, came be fore Mr. Justice Wightman, at Chambers to-day, the plaintiff appearing personally in support of an application made on affidavit. It appears that after the case had come before the law courts an order was granted by Mr. Justice Wightman, dated Dec. 23, 1862, appointing a com mission to be held in Paris to inquire into the plain tiff's claim, and giving power to the plaintiff to examine Count Fialin de Persigny and the other witnesses in chief on interrogatories and viva voce. The order provided that on or before the 3d of Jan. the attorneys or agents of the parties should ex change copies of the interrogatories they respec- tively proposed to administer. No examination was to take place prior to the 12th January. The re turn was to be made on the 30th January; but on the 2d February the defendants obtained an order from Mr. Justice Crompton extending the commis sion to the 30th April. This order the plaintiff now sought to set aside, in order that he might proceed to trial of the case in England. From a statement made by Sergeant Glover, it transpired that the plaintiff was formerly proprietor of the Morning Chronicle, and the defendants were Ministers in the French Government. The action was commenced on the 2d May last. Every step was taken under the Common Law Procedure Act. Atter substituted service was made on the defen dants at Paris, Count de Persigny appeared in Lon don, whereon a declaration was served upon him. Pleas were made and issue was joined in June, but it was not until the last day of Michaelmas term that the Court of Queen's Bench ordered M. Billault to plead to the declaration. A fortnight's time was granted, which was afterwards extended,and finally the same pleas (nil indebitatus and non assumpsit) were pleaded. Special application was made by the defendants, Count de Persigny and M. Billault, for their own examination and that of other witnesses at Paris, and after some delay the judicial order al ' ready alluded to for such commission was signed by Mr. Justice Wightman. Pursuant to such order in terrogatories were duly exchanged between the re spective parties—those of the defendants' being for themselves,whilst the plaintiff's interrogatories were for the Due de Bassano and M. Mocquard, secretary to the Emperor Napoleon 111. The plaintiff then proceeded to allege that he had been proprietor of the Morning Chronicle for two years without any communication direct or indirect being made from him to any person either incidentally or officially connected with the French Government, but in No vember, 1856, Baron Lionel de Rothschild, M.P., and Mr. Uzielli, late a principal partner in the banking firm of Charles novena end Co., stated to him that they were in personal communica tion with the French Ambassador (Count de Per signy), who was anxious to secure the lllornzng Chronicle on behalf of the French Government. He (the plaintiff) was then put in commmunication with M. Brouard, the French avocet. After a brief negotiation the plaintiff's presence was required in Paris. He w ent there and received from M. Brouard a French written communication, who stated that he had just received such from the chef of the French Embassy in London, that it had been written at the dictation or inspiration of Count de Persigny, who wished it translated, and then in serted in the Morning Chronicle. M. Brouard said he had shown it to M. Billault, who approved of certain suggested alterations. It was accordingly translated, and appeared as a leading article in the Morning Chronicle in December, 1856, being an attack on the gimmes newspaper, and in vindication of the French Minister, M. Billault. The learned Sergeant said he now proposed to put in an affidavit in support of his claim that the order for the commission might be set aside with a view to the trial of the case in England. The Solicitor for the defendants said that this was the first he had heard of an affidavit in the case, and he should certainly ask for an adjourn ment, that he might be able to answer it. Sergeant Glover said he had been six weeks in Paris on this business, and he hoped the learned judge would dispose of the application without farther delay. He had come from Paris for the purpose of making the affidavit. He thought he had a right to hand in the affidavit. Mr. Justice Wightman said he certainly had, and he himself would read it. The learned Judge then received, and read aloud, the following extraordinary document " I, William Glover, of 58, Burton-crescent, in the county of Middlesex, sergeant-at-law, the plain tiff in this cause, make oath, and say—lst, That this action was commenced on or about the second day of May last, and that issue has been joined thereon; and I further say that by an order made by the Hein Mr. Justice Wightman in this cause on the 23d of Dec., 1862, on the application of the said defen dants, it was ordered that a commission should issue out of this honourable Court for the purposes as ex pressed in that order. 2d. And I further say that on or about the Bth day of January, 1863, a draft, purporting to be a commission out of this honour able court for the purposes expressed in the above mentioned order, returnable on the 30th Jan., 1863, was, as I am informed and believed, served on my • then attorney, Mr. Rose, but whether such a com mission was ever duly issued, I am unable to say, and by the said order it was provided that the 12th of January was the earliest day on which the ex amination of the witnesses could commence. A copy of such commission was sent to me by my said attor ney on or about the 12th of January last. 3d. I say that the defendants' attorneys have delivered copies of the interrogatories on the defendants' part, and interrogatories have also been delivered on my be half. 4th. That Thomas Pickford, Esq., her Ma jesty's Consul at Paris, and Mons. Delainay, of No. 35, Rue St. Honore, in the said city, are the com missioners named in the said commission, and I say that both the said commissioners were, at the date of the said order, and ever since have been, and now are resident in Paris, as I am informed and believe. sth. That on the 13th day of January last I arrived in Paris, under the expectation and with the intent of being present at the opening of the said commis sion, and for that purpose I took with me a great quantity of documental evidence in order to meet the case of the defendants before the said commie sioners, and to be exhibited here in evidence in support of my own case ; and I say that I remained in Paris for 37 days in the daily expectation of be ing called upon by the said commissioners to attend before them with my evidence ; but I say that ou my applying to the said commissioners on different days during my late sojourn in Paris, I was in formed by them that my commission had not arrived, nor had been delivered to either of them at those periods, and that they were ready and willing to act and commence proceedings under the said com mission directly they received the official docu ments authorising them to do so. And I fur ther say that I am informed and believe that the commission is yet in the hands of the defendants' attorneys, and that the s a me i s s o retained by them for the purpose of delay, and that no step what ever has been taken by them to forward the exe cution of the said commission for the same reason, although I duly informed the defendants and the said commissioners of my arrival in Paris, and my readiness to commence proceedings under the said commission. 6th. That on the 2nd day of Feb ruary inst., after the lime for the return of the coin- t mission had expired, the defendants obtained era order of the Hon. Mr. Justice Crompton, whereby the return of the said commission was enlarged for three calendar months from the 30th d ay of January' until the 30th day of April next; and I say there was'no reasonable ground for making such order, or for extending the time for such return; and I say that' Bauch order was made without a summons or any notice ha:_ i ns been served on me, and With: out my having any knowC.4se that any such appli cation was being made; that ~4 1 'e said order Who made on the application of the defendants, although. without any opposition being made on the part cr my attorney, who informed me that he stated that he had retired from the cause. I further say that was not informed of such order having been made . until the 7th of February, when I received a ;Ledo in Paris from my late attorney, informing me that the order had been made, and giving me notice that he withdrew from the cause. And I say that had I been informed of such application being about to be made, I should peremptorily have instructed raY attorney to oppose such application. And I say that such application and order were made durw log my residence in Paris as above mentioned: and that had I had any notice of such proceed ings I should have proceeded from Paris to London to oppose the same personally. 7th. I say that) , have ever since the date and opening of the said commission been prepared to proceed to the exsinv nation of the witnesses and the other proceedings in the said commission. And I say that duringfq stay in Paris I have incurred great expenses is endeavouring to get the said commission proceeded with ; that every possible delay has been throw" in my way by the defendants and by persons acting as I am informed and believe on their authority. That I have been compelled to take legal opinions in Paris as to the best way of compelling the de fendants to proceed with the said commission, and have incurred great expenses, which have turned. out entirely useless on account of the conduct .01 the defendants. Bth. That whilst sojourning 11 .. Paris, in order to attend the said commission , 1 was arrested on a flimsy pretext at my hotel, on the 30th of January, by three policemen, one of whom I was afterwards informed by a high per sonage in authority in Paris was a member of the Count de Persigny's secret police ; that after being dragged from the hotel I was throttled by two of the policemen, who stuck their knuckles into 1339 neck and caused very considerable pain ; that they also dragged me in a brutal and disgraceful manner through several public streets to two police stations at each of which I supplicated that some person should be sent to the English Embassy (very near thereto), in order that I might receive assistance or protection, but these police persons laughed at th e proposition, and treated it with ridicule. That was then put into a cold and damp dungeon cell, the door locked, and there solitarily confined as e` prisoner for several hours. That my health we s very much injured from the brutal treatment and other disgraceful conduct which I then experience al besides my clothes much torn by the police ; o' 4 although unaware of having committed an offen . ce , yet on being brought before a commissary of police I was immediately discharged, having been lectured and told, forsooth, that I must be very cautious whilst in Paris about my conduct, and avoid doing anything to cause my future arrest. Why suo ll intimidation or threat should be given to me as dif' ferent from any other British subject, I verily believe was on account of my being in Paris . tc: attend the said commission issued at the specla h ' application and request of the defendants, Cour de Persigny, Minister of the :Interior, and of Di' Billault, for the purpose of themselves and otker persons being examined and cross-examined as wit nesses in this cause and action'; and, in short that tuf life and liberty were not safe during the time I was in Paris, owing to the hostility of the defendant s towards me, the improper use of their power las members of the French Government, and their desire to stifle all proceedings in this matter, and t° prevent publicity thereof. 9th. And further, I sal that I believe there has been nothing to prevent the said commission being proceeded with except the dislike of the defendants to the holding of the conk; mission at the present time in Paris, on account 01 the disaffected state of the French people, and the exposures that may come out on the holding of such commission. That the defendant and all the wit' nesses and be examined reside in or n e a r Paris, an there is no reason whatever, save as aforesaid, wby the commission should not have been returned by the 30th of January. 10th. I further say that ce the 13th of February, 1863, I forwarded to th . s defendant Count de Persigny a notice written ku French, the trenslated copy whereof is annexed, 0 111 h I forwarded a corresponding notice to the defendan t M. Billault. I forwarded the said notices by put" ting the same into the letter-box of the distri ct post-office ; and although I believe the defendantts received the said notices, they neither of them took any notice thereof or communicated with me on the subject. 11th. And I say that I have been adviser` that this cause may be brought on for trial at th e ensuing spring assizes if the depositions to be takes under the said commission be returned and file d within the next fortnight, and that it is my wis h and inclination to bring on the trial according l .9' And I say that it is essential for the ends of justi ce in the case that I should be enabled to try the case as soon as possible." (The notice referred to in th e , tha t unless was an intimation to the defendants m' unless the plaintiff heard from them before the 17t 11 of February, fixing a day for the opening of Or commission, he should move the Court of Queen Bench for the suppression of the commission, an d for liberty to proceed to trial forthwith.) Mr. Justice Wightman (to the defendants' ecli citor)—Do you wish to answer that affidavit ? The solicitor—lf you please. Mr. Sergeant Glover said he was in his lordshie hands, and would bow to any decision he might make. Mr. Justice Wight man then ordered the affidav it to be filed, and adjourned the further bearing of the case until Monday. COUNTRY MARKETS. ` MANCHESTER—FEB. 26. A small attendance at our market this morning. E ng r lish wheat declined is per qr, and American fully 21 F o r ltOlb, with a very slow sale. Flour scarcely inquired 0: and must be called 6d to is per sack lower. Oats and oaL meal at about late rates. Indian corn in favour of buyer s ' English beans unaltered, but Egyptian were 6d per c l r lower. BIRMINGHAM—FER. 26.1 400 English wheat was sold at 48 s t o 56 s f or w hit e , and an to 56s per 36 stone for red. B ar l e y, new malting*, 4730 w 00 42s per qr ; grinding, 24 s t o 28 s O a t s , o ld, 24s to 30 per 30 stone; Irish, 22s to 255. Beans, 40s to 448 per 1 1 1. • Peas, 40s to 48s per 36 stone. PLYMOUTH—FEB. 24. White, 56s to 608; red, 54s to b6s per qr; D an tzio, 674 to 58s ; American, 51s to 55s ; Spanish, — s to —s ; R u ; sian, —s to —s. Barley at previous rates-34s to 385,.,P:a qr for malting; grinding, 27s to 28s; oats, 23s t 0278; beans, —s to —s ; flour, 38s to 41s Od. EDINBURGH GRAIN—FEB. 25. A good supply of farmers' wheat to-day, which met 6 slow sale at the prices of this day week. Wheat on the top 3s Od up. average 2s 5d down. Barley on the top is Od down ...average Os 6d down' Oats on the top is Od up. average Os 6(1 up. Beans on the top 2s Od up... average Os bd uP• Flour sells as follows :—Whites, 45s Od ; extras, 42s 6d ' superfine, 40s 6d ; fine, 38s 6d. Total Supply and Sales. Wheat ... 1109 qrs Sold 528 qrs Barley... 997 qrs Sold 466 qrs Oats Beans 286 qrs Sold 181 qrs CORK-FEL 25, Rea The following were the quotations this morning 6 0 wheat, 6s rd to Os 6d ; white, 7s 6d to lls ld ; barley, to 6d to 7s 4d ; oats, 5s 6d to 8s Od. ; new here, —s ° d —s Od. DERBY SMITHFIELD—FEB. 25. A plentiful supply of fat beasts to-day. The numb - t of sheer was also good, and of excellent quality. A s ll° I supply of fat pigs. Calves were a large show. Hides, 7d to oa Beet Cid to 7d Veal Mutton Bd to 9d Pork . 5d to +5 4 Lamb 3 — d d to to 4f - d; d calf skins, d 4 t s o 3d 6d .per stone. Births. CgoDE.---On the 25th inst., at Plymouth, the wife of Csl4' T. P. Coode, R.N., of a daughter. HANDCOCK.—On the 25th inst. a t 14, Dawson-stre et, Dublin, the wife of the Hon. Robert Handcock, of daughter. LAWIIENCE.—On the 26th inst., at Copse-hill, wimbl e• don, the wife of Mr. P. H. Lawrence, of a daughter. Marriages. CLINTON—FALKNEn—On the 24th inst., atUpton, Notte l 't Charles Henry Fynes Clinton, Esq., to Ellen Graetaet daughter of P. R. Falkner, Esq., of Upton Hall. 3 DEVITT —Smrra.—On the 25th inst., a t Old G r avell i f , Chapel, Thomas Lane Devitt, of Warwick-road, - UPS, Smith, e ; Clapton, to Fanny Theodora, eldest daughter of E. hs q ., of Hackney. Deaths. B A TESON.—On the 24th inst., Ri c h ar d Bateson, Of Liverpool, aged 93. CAurBELL.—On the 24th inst., at Southsea, John C 313313. bell, M.D., R.N., ag e d 70. CUMING.—On the 22d inst., at Springfield House, ''„ r Lothian, the Hon, Mrs, L es li e C um i ng, of Sk e ldon, shire. Fox.—On the 24th inst., at Wanstead, Essex, Eb erle°. Fox, aged 70. ROGERS.—On th e 2 4th inst at Dalston-rise, C. E°vo.oerSo Esq., aged 94. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDO No , of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tim SUN Office , t y 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the Coi— of Middleaex.—Friday, February 27, 1861