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

he days my Lind vague. pproach- Rachel, ;e special ?,r, I also t is with b begins !asons in Rubini. at to call ers must nato for Dntinued °ice and y a great rts ; and , proved vals who it is only 814 who xi superb ;roines of Ictresses, Lssioned ; s been so Never- been pre ) act, and the tenor ;. So pic- is also so uld never übini as he public landsoule d execu but I do ers. Hip the line. i Juan he ny. The of Tam -16 Singing I mparable loch° was ling Wen has been ending so stacato a clarion• grandeur t fanciful se superi i to vul. vheat was I high as as dear. I hands at P a) and 6d erable at - A rain+ a v Eng l, 4 i an on this denia u ' efore, I . lut ad iudl33 of wheat, urrencieS. ;, and 405 ng, 36s to 24s to 300 [43.pr qr. ng barley, 6 3 5s Od to 'ch met larley me t .?,ans were ld up. 5d dowsn• Lod down. 3d up. qrs qrs qrs qrs s, as Od i 7, and the the nuin- A's prices ;e, and 0. Id to id i 5d to 51 4 per stow/ Sept. 18. bept. 13. . Oct. 5. Sept. 2 8 ' .Sept. Sept. Sept. 10. Sept. 18• Sept. 12• Sept. 10. Sept. ` 1 • Oct. O. Sep t. 10. Sept. 4. Sept. 17' Sept. 11' .Sept, Sept... 10. Sept. 24. Sept. Sept. 14. ie New ffoiuted. made IA ;e BarrYi rhitehall , • the Nvii l i e son to , the Wife rv, Glow ,iv of Le" ;,-nstance Atenba!ilt Lo Sophie. L., Suffolig uthwarko I G 5. rs , A• 0' SoanleOf of Rich' e, !dingto l3 t .~.~~°' D EEl't I c o . 11 2 County of 1 i A 6 ..- z., R EMEM BER, WE SUP AT EVANS' EVERY EVENING THIS WEEK after Alfred Ilellon's Promenade Concerts. QEA.—VAC kNCIES for MIDSHIPMEN end /.../ APPRENTICES in a first-class London shipping firm. Premium mod Prate. Al-o apprentices without premium.— Apply to SIMNIONDS and Co.. 38, St. Mary-at-hill, East cheap, E.C. Third Officers and Stewards wanted. THE ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY. MEAD OFFICES, 29, Lombard -street, Loudon, and Royal Inburancc buildings, Liverpool. Total Annual Revenue exceeds Lson,o^n. Accumulated Funds in band over 1,000,000. Chairman in Liverpool: CHARLES TURNER, Esq., M.P. Chairman in London AVILLIAII WAINWRIGHT, Esq. EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT FOR THE YEAR The Directors of the RoyallB62 Insursnee c o mpany are now called upon to mak e th e i r accustomed periodical Report at the fleeting of its Shareholders. FIRE BRANCH. The Directors have, as p'easingly as unexpectedly, at the close ot the year, to announce, for the first time, that the Fire Premiums have not only reached, but exceed £300,000. The high comparative position held by the Royal in the Coyernment Returns of Duty is again fully msinta'ned. The profit of the business of the year exceeds considerably the amount realised in the preced,ng year, and in fact sur passes that of any year. with but two exceptions, sines the commencement of thi. Office, the balance to the credit on account of British and Foreign Insurances being £15,107 10s. 5 d., and of the North American business, which is kept sepal. rately, £11,097 16s. 10d. LIFE BRANCH-. The very gratifying* duty now falls upon the Directors to state the sum assured on new policies for The year 1862 exceeds even that of the yesr 1861 by £lBO,OOO, and has arrived at the almost unexampled amount for a single year of £701,427 on 1,498 new policies issued. Until within the last few years it is believed that such a sum aosured as that which has just been announced as the result of one year's business was all but unheard of. This portion of the Company's business has been carefully watched, and cannot tail to give much satisfaction to the shareholder, as well as no small encouragement for the lut , *re to the participating life assurer. Evidence of continued care in the selection of lives is amply afforded by a statement of the number rejected. These have amounted to 311 for the year, on which the aggregate sum proposed for assuran mounts to £ 43,281. Various degrees ot ineligibility have led to these lives being declined. No small number of the Assurance Companies of the day record their accepted lives annually at a sum not much. if at all, exceeding those which the-Royal has declared as inadmis sicle in a single year frousi deterioration of some kind or another. If, to complete their review, the Directors now advert briefly to the United Kingdom, they have to announce that in Fire Business its progress has been undoubtedly more rapid than that of any other Compsnv established either in London or elsewhere, except when amalgamations have taken place. The returns of duty have proved this. In Life, the amount of New Policies already reported make all other evidence needless. -. The Directors conclude their present Report with the expression of an opinion that the prospects of the Royal Insuranc.: Company were never brighter, and of a consequent hope, founded on a grateful remembrance of the past, that the future may unfold for it a sphere of still greater mauni tude, combining' distinguished commercial success to the Office with a lengthened career of usefulness and protection to the public. PERCy M. DOVE, Manager and Actuary. JOHN B. JOHNSTON, Secretary in London. NORWICH UNION FIRE INSURANCE SOCIETY. The business of t!,e Company exceeds £70,000,000. The duty paid to Government for the year 1862 was £85,062, and the amount insured on farming stock, £10,086,332. A bonus of three-fifths of the profi's periodically made to parties insuring, who have thus, from time to time, received sums amounting in the aggregate to £410,000; and the Society now holds a large Reserve applicable to a future Bonus. The rates of premium are in no case higher than those charged by the other principal offices making no returns to their insurers. For pro.pectuses apply at the Society's Offices, Surrey street, Norwich ; and 6, Crescent, New Bridge-street, Black friars, E.C. PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL LIFE A SSOCIATION. Established 1840. TRUSTEES. Thomas 13aring, Esq., M.P. Wm. Geo. Prescott, Esq. I T homson Hankey, Esq., M.P. Baron L. de Rothschild, M.P. Mutual Lif. Assurance for all classes. This Association has now in existence 6,000 policies, for a total sum of £1,500,000. The Annual Income is £51,000 The Accu mu l a t e d F un d excee d s .. 2'0,. 00 It has paid in Claims .. 112,000 The whole of the profits are divided quinquennially among the Members. Three divisions have already been made' when the following sums have been added as bonuses to the policies Dec. 31, 1847 • _ 1852 .. 1857 .. Ma kinz the total bonus additions, £08,600. ti n i9 „? n , il ses may be received in cash or applied to the reduc additi on premiums at the option of the assured, in licu of an to the obey. Atte ntion is especially invited to the system of free or paid " l-,."" ulP i Vicies introduced by this Association, by which the ee so often submitted to on the relinquishment of Po i 4 Thy a wholly avoided. Wheth "e er ass balance-sheets of th Association are open to all, urers or otherwis e e. Ac tive and influential agents will be appointed in unrepre sented districts. X 5,400 11,500 23 200 56,500 WM. THOS. LIN FORD, Secretary. Chief "lee, 15, Moorgate-street, E.C., Aug 1, 1863. A.D. 1720. n ° AL EXCHANGE ASSURANCE CORPORATION ( Established by Charter of his Majesty George the First) FOR SEA, FIRE, LIFE, AND ANNUITIES. Offices, Royal Exchange, London. Branch Office, 29, Pali-mall. OCTAVIUS WIGRAM, Governor. GEORGE PEARRES BARCLAY, Esq., Sub-Governor. Sir JOHN HENRY PELLY, Bart., Deputy-Governor. DIRECTORS. Robert Ba henry Bainbridge, Esq. Wiimot Hollanand d, EMelville. rclay, Esq. Earl of Leven .john Garrett Cattlev, Esq. Chas. Jno. 3lanning, Esq. hark Currie Close, Esq. Henry Nelson, Esq. William Davidson, Esq. The Hon. Josceline W. Percy. Thomas Dent, Esq. Charles Robinson, Esq. Alexander Druce, Esq. Samuel Leo Schuster, Esq. Predk. Jos. Edlmann, Esq. Eric Carrington Smith, Esq. Riv ersdaleW. Grenfell, Esq. William Soltau, Esq. P obt. Amadeus Heath, Esq. Joseph Somes, Esq., M.P. i Wm. Tetlow Hibb er t, E sq. : Wi ll i am Wallace, E sq . Jas. Stewart Hodgson, Esq. ' Chas. Baring Young, Esq. Medical Referee, SAMUEL SOLLY, Esq., F.R.S. FIRE and LIFE ASSURANCES may be effected with this Corporation on advantageous terms. In the Life Department, assurances are granted with par ticipation in Profits, or, at lower Premiums, without such participation. The Reversionary Bonus on British Policies has averaged nearly 2 per cent. per annum on the sum assured. Equivalent reductions have been made in the Premiums payable by persons who preferred that form of Bonus. The divisions of Profit take place every Five years. Li A fe n . y sum not ex cee di ng 415,000 may be insured on one This Corporation affords to the Assured—' Liberal participation in Profits—with exemption from the liabilities of partnership. A rate of Bonus equal to the average returns of Mutual Societies—with the guarantee of a large invested Capital Stock. The advantages of modern practice,—with the security' of an Office whose re.sourees have been tested by the ex perience of nearly a. CENTURY AND A DALT. The Corporation have always allowed the Assured to serve In the Militia, Yeomanry. or Volunteer Corps within the f ree of charge. tufted Kingdom, ROYAL EXCHANGE, LONDON. ROBT. P. STEELE, Secretary. N ORTH BRITISH AND MERCANTILE INSURANCE COMPANY. Established 1809. Incorporated by itoyal Charter and Special Acts of Parliament. ACCUMULATED AND INVESTED FUNDS, £2,12!,828. ANNUAL REVENUE, £122,401. LONDON BOARD. John White Cater, Esq., P. du Pre Grenfell, Esq. Chairman. A. Klockmann. Esq. Charle • Morrison, Esq., De- John Mlle' t, 14:sq. Puty i hairman. I J..nius S. Morgan, Esq. A. De Arr.:wave ag G. Garden Nicol, Esq 14`.dward Cohen, Esq. F Es ' q• J o hn 11. Wm. Schroder, Esq. James du Buisson, Esq. George Young, Esq. Ex-DIRECTORS. A. IL Campbell, Esq. Robert Smith, Esq. • Cav-Am Fs Frederic Somcs , Esq . I) * P . ' 1, F. lta ' n 'Ager of Fire Department—Georg , H. ViThyting. su _ 1/tanager of Life Department—W. F. Birkmyre. l'orintendent of Foreign Department—G. 11. Burnett. Secretary—F. W. Lance. General Manager—David Smith. • FIRE DE PARTMEN P. ic T i n h z e do e m orri n a d ny a r l f l o i r it e s io lr , s c i o tr u a n n t e r e ie s s a . gainst Fire in the United duc Mercantile Risks in the Port of London accepted at re ed rates. Losses promptly and liberally settled. Poreioll Risks o ()reign countries, a discount will be ied g e f . ' f . Y The . D i re a c r t e o r p ;, e phaarvaidn to a i raraaec Folicca l lc e. n a o w o n fons raost favoura'de termq. In all cases allowed to Merchants and others effecting such Insurances. LIFE DEPARTMENT The followin Statement exhibits the improvement effected during the las' g few years : No. of Policies 1°53 ........ I f Policies Premiums. Sums. £12,565 18 8 £377,425 14,070 1 6 IK9 ........ 6 - '5 ... 4 . 4C 2' 9 ,1 0 3 14,071 17 7 18 0 ...... 74i ..... .... 1. . ,,, - ..... • 15,553 2 C ., 1811 ...... 785 ....... ... .. 527 ' 6 T 1862 ........ 1,037 ........ 768,33= Thus in five years the number of Policies issued Was 3 ,02:3, assuring the large sum of £2,928 917. The leading features of the Office are:- 1. Entire Se-nrity to Assurers. 2. The large Bonus additions alma ' i y declared, and the Prospect of a further Bonus at the next investiga 3. Thit:nad• vantal.'eg afford do - liberalit y "i n e lea c l 2-1-idictiY .sot Policies—and general Forms of Prop c ,„ m ana " l C N ''''.th the Assured. istried Tables of premiums on application at the eve-rY information will be furnished READ Orrictr • ....... SR, Threadneedle-street. EnlNntmcn 4, New Bank Iluildir.gs. NORTn.._——___________ • • .64, Princes -street. ratrusic -- A - i- 4 --------_, iNsITRA,„ - MERCANTILE COMPANY . WEST -END R+OFFICE , WATERLOO - PLACE, PAL L.tiALL. Secr etary — ALEX. ,I. Russm.a. THE LAUNDRESSES to her l ate m .. e Queers Adelaide say, th a t Sole !` BRIGGS' AITSst t'ARiAI needs but to be tried t o be appro ve T RAII'IAIkT d Wholesalt, London, .. Agent, Harper Twelvetrees, liruxoley-byn ow. F ALIVE N R.eIEVER FAILING 'Or. SCOTT'S BILIOUS and REMEDY LLs L'aT f without any mercurial ingredient, from the recipe'j,re of Bromley, Kent, will be found invaluable to all - ..), r * .er from bilious and dyer complaints, indigestion, %v ia 6, l:•asms, giddiness, dizziness of the eyes, &c. For habitaai coxtiveness, as a family aperient medicine, and as a. purifier aq the blood, they are truly excellent; mild in their opera tion and grateful to the stomach, they meats appeqte, pro 'note dif:estion, and streugtben the whole nervous system. Sold b y W• Lambert, S, King William - street , Charing - cross. London, and by most druggists, in boxes,ls. lid., and three times the q uant i ty in one,' 2s. 9d. Be sure to ask for Dr. Scott's Bilious and Liver Pills. The genuine are s square green package, with " William Lambert," engraved on the s tamp. No. 22,211. MR. HOSKINS' NEW WORK ON EGYPT. Just ready, in 1 vol.. with Illustrations, 155., A WINTER IN UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT. Ily G. A. 'HOSKINS, Esq., F.R.G.S., Author of " Travels in Ethtop]a," " Spain As it Is," &c. Hurst and Blackctt, 13, Great Marlborough-street. NEW NOVEL by the Author cf "COUSIN GEOFFREY." Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols., LEFT TO THEMSELVES. By the Author of "Cousin Geoffrey," " A very touching story. It is one of the most clever boots of the season."—United Service ➢iag. Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-street. Now ready at all the Libraries, in 2 vols., 285., LORI) WILLIAM LENNOX'S FIFTY YEARS' BIOGRAPHICAL REMINISCENCES. "Lord Witham Lennox has given u in these two very charming volumes a pleasant glimpse of society. 'the wora cannot fail to amuse and interest ad who read it."—Sun. Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-street. ARMY CONTRACTS. Commissariat Office, Aldertinot, al September, 1863. MENDERS will be received at this office, until noon, on WEDNESDAY, the 30th September, 1863, from persons who may be willing to enter into Contract for the supply of FORAGE, in such quantities as may be required, from Ist November, 1t63, to 3 st October, Is6i, (or the use of Her Majesty's Forces stationed at Aldershot Camp, and within the com mand. Forms of Tender and Conditions of Contract may be ob tained on avlication at this office, by letter or in person, between the hours of ten and four o'clock. - - ----- The Tenders ninstThrp - TO - Oerly filled up and signed, and delivered at this office (under closed envelope, marked on the outside " Tender for Forage"), and no Tender will be noticed unless made on forms obtained from this office, and delivered by the hour appointed. HENRY B. MORSE, Deputy Commissary-General. T H E 0 XF OR D, R, OXFORD STREET, W. THIS EVENING, will be performed Operatic Selections from Sir Hen r y R. ' llshop's THE SLAVE and Halevy's MUSKETEERS (first time in England). Principal Artistes—Miss Russell, Miss Ellison, Messrs. Green, Bernardi, Huish, &c., with full band and chorus. Conductor, Mr. F. Jonghmans. Flute Solos by Drew Dean, Arc. Comic, by UNSWORTH ("or any other man"), Eugene, W. Randall, A. Lloyd, and George Hodson. a Pei formance by Herr St_,IIALKENBACH on his wonderful instrument, the PIANO ORCHEbTRE, contain ing a full band of 40 instruments. _ 7 - he IlAnr, hqs just been newly Decorated and Ventilated, and is one of the most Beautiful in the Metropolis. Open at 8 o'clock. Admission, ed. ; stalls and balcony, is. ; private boxes, 10s. 6d. CANTERBURY HALL " GHOST."—In order to gratify the curiosity of nightly-increasing crowds, Mr. C. MORTON has transferred the representation of Pro fessor P. pper and Henry Dirks, Esq.'s, world-famed spectral Illusion, " THE , GHOST," from the Picture Gallery to the Concert Hall, where a ntw and elegant stage is erected, affording a more ample view of the Illusion from Stalls, Bal cony, and b)dy of the Hall. He has also arriuged for Mr. A. Silvester to give (with all that gen t l eman ' s l ate s t im provements and effects), REPRESENTATIONS EACH EVENING, at Ten o'clock. All the other Musical and Pictorial attractions as usual, including Operatic Selections, &c. ; Unsworth (the modern Demosthenes), Eugene, Arthur Lloyd, George Hodson, &c. ROYAL ALHAMBRA PALACE. —.Th e GHOST The Gilo-T ! The ONLY COMI GHOST -The beautiful FAIRY FOUNTAIN.—A Grand Divertissement by Signora Rachele and Mariannina and Signor Guiseppe Francesco, assisted by a corps of Twenty young Ladies—Selections from favourite Operas : Principals, M`Gregor, Mr. Albert, Signor Georgini (the new Italian tenor), and Mr. Vernon Rigby. NICOSIA, the Great Violinist. will make his First Appearance in England on Monday next, at the ALHAMBRA. ARGYLL ROOMS, Windmill-street. Piccadilly. NOTICE.—The above elegant Rooms will be Opened on SATURDAY, September 5, entirely redecorated under the sole direction or Messrs. Delicourt, of Paris, decorators to the Palaces of the Emperor Napoleon. The artistical work will be done by Messrs. Biggs and assistants. The musical department under the directorship of Mons. ,Ttillien, and chef d'orchestre. The band will be chosen from the Household Troops and the Royal Italian Opera Houses. This celebrated band is well kuown by the public, and will be called in future the London Band, and will be represented by the best artists of the prestnt day. Conductor of the Rooms and Manager, Mons. GRENET. Sole Lessee, R. R. BIGNELL. Admission, is. ESTABLISHED 1833. IOWDEN'S JERATFD GINGER BEER, in glass or stone bottles, warranted to keep good twelve months. Lemonade, Soda-water, , otass, Seltzer, and every description of Mineral Waters.—Manufactory, No. 3, White Hart-street, Drury-lane, W.C. PAGE'S BRICK, TILE, AND PIPE MACHINE 4. for hand, horse, or steam power, are the most simple and efficient extant.—Ful: particulars and prices obtained of the makers, E. Page and Co Laurence Pountney place, Laurence Pountney-hill, Cannon-street, E.C., where they may be seen in operation daily. MONEY PROMPTLY ADVANCED by Private Gentleman upon FURNITURE (without removal\ Leasehold and Freehold Property, or Reversions, &a, in sums from £2O to £500.-31r. Howard, 18, Queen street, Cheapside. TO Persons in WANT of MONEY (in Town or Country).—A GENTLEMAN is willing to MAKE ADVANCES of CASH, without delay, to respectable person (male or female), on their own security. The utmost secrecy can be relied on.—Apply (it by letter enclose four stamps) to W., at M r. Robertson's, Accountant, 40. Kim; William-street, London-bridge, E.C.—Money advanced on Dock Warrants. CI . ELEBRATION of the TERCENTENARY of NJ the BIRTH of SIIAKSPEARE, at Stratford-upon- Avon. The Tercentenary Committee (of which Sir Robert N. C. Hamilton, Bart., K.C. 8.. is Chairman) are now receiv ing SUBSCRIPTION, and they may also be paid to the account of the Tercentenary Committee, at the stourbridge and Kidderminster or Warwick and Leamington Banks, stratiord-upon-Avon ; Messrs. Greenway, Smith, such Greenway, Warwick ; or their London agents, Messrs. Smith,. Payne. a n d c o , M essrs H an b urys an d C o., or Messrs. brlyn and Co, bankers, London. The Tercentenary Committee, in submitting the subscrip tion list to the nation most earnestly appeal to the admirers of Shaksp eare for their aid and assistance. The Committee rest their claims upon the ground that Stratford is not only the bi rthplace of Shaksp eare. b u t th e cen t re o f a tt rac ti on to all a dmirers of the grea t P oet ' s works, and that it was hi s home, the town he luved, and where he lived and died. ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road, way Terinus in mthe im mediate vicinity of the Great Northern Ilan , at Ring's-cross. Pa tron —The QUEEN. President The Duke of BUCCLEUCII, B.G. Treasurer —Edward blasterman, Esq. This was the first hospital to introduce the principle of free and instant admission to the destitute sick, without the for mality of Fovernors' letters. It is entirely devoted to desti tution in its most pitiable form—viz • , that which is accom panied by sickness and disease, and is now of sufficient magnitude that, with adequate support, it may be rendered capable of admitting into its Wards a very large proportion of thet casual sick of this gre at metropolis. It requires but the ds in order to have beds available for the reoeption of these the most wretched of our fello w - creatures. Moreover, it gratuitously affords medical advice. and medicine to more, on the average, than 3,000 out-patients a week. The Weekly Board feel it their imperative duty to make an EARNEST APPEAL tothit public for continued support, to enable them to admit and relieve the distressing cases that daily present themselves. Contributions are received by the Treasurer, Edward Esq., Nicholas-lane; also by Messrs. Coutts and Drummond ll" ; rernlan' and Co. ; Herries and Co. ; Ransom and Co. rn • Prescott, Grote, and Co. ; Smith, Payne, and Co. ; Glyn .--,,ra•Co. ; Jones Loyd and tarclay and Co. ;Denison "" .NV dliaras, Deacon, and Co. ; Overend, Gurney, and and Co. Nisbet, and Co. ; Messrs. J. Earned and Co., Liverpool Co. ; d at the H osp ita l. an d STANFORD S. SMITH Secretary. R OYAL NATIONAL LIFE-130AT INSTITUTION (Incorporated by Royal Charter). P.A.,luoNEss—iler Most Orations Majesty the Queen. Pn',,ainENT—Vice-Admiral the Duke of Northumberland, K.G., F.R.S. e.,truTT-ChAimuArt—Thomas Chapman, Esq., F.R.S., V.P. r hAinmAN—Thos , Bar in g , Es q ., M.P., F.R.S., V.P. APPEAL. Royal National Lifeboat , he begi nn i ng o f th e year 1860, the The Committee of Management have to state that, since lishments on the Coasts of England. S cotland, and Ireland. Institution has expended £ 32 , 000 on various Lifeboat Estab ' Society, : , nd other means, since its f ormation, is 12,800 ; The number of lives saved by the Life-boats of the :or which ser v i ces 82 G o ld Medals, 718 Silver Medals, and .4:10,480 in cash have been paid in rewards. The Institu tion bas also expended £67,000 on Life-boats, Life-boat Transporting-cari iages, and Boat-houses. The Committee desire •to express their grateful the generoussuPPort which they have received from t he British public durin g th e pas t f ew y ea rs, a support which present ma gnificent fleet has enabled them to es t a bli s h th e i r sense of ot 123 Lifeboats on th e s h ores o f th e United Kingdom Deeply sensible, however, o t th e grea t res p o nsibility that ma's on them to maintain their fleet in a thoroughly efficient state, and its Crews practised in the management of their boats, unnu rlta v only be effected by a l arge an d permanent earnestly anpeai to all classes of their ' aidthem in upholding an d p er p e t ua ting' so countrymen income, omn h lm c e a , t they to peat and truly national a work. The Committee gratefully acknowledge the following con tributions:— 'Ter Majesty the Queen • • • • £S. d .. annual 50 0 0 • • .. annual 5 0 0 ic, pb c e inli Colonel, , It t o . Hon. M r 5 . .. G. .. . . . . annual 1 1 0 (2(Colaeniiirtts and Co., Messrs., Bankers .„ • • annual 10 0 0 C urr i e, win. Esq., • • • • •• • • 4th don.lo 0 0 Erie, Lord Chief ' Justice _ sr • , K.C.B. • • don. 10 10 0 Fanshawe, Vice-Admiral Sir A., C • . 2(1 don. 25 0 0 Fenwick, (4. J., Esq., cost of a Lifeboat and Tran_ sportinv, Carriage • • • ' • • • • 25 0 0 Harvey, Rev. G. G. andilra • •• •• don. 0 3 0 0 Martin, Sir Henry, Bart. • • • • • . 7 th don. 10 0 0 Moore, Rev. G. B. • • • • •• • • don. 15 15 0 Smith, Mrs. George, Greenwich .. .. •• • 3 0 0 Stirling, Col. Sir Anthony , 1i.C .8. .. .. an nual 20 0 Thom s . Lady, Weston-super-Mare, collected by he r .Ladyship • • • • • • • . 16 16 0 • • • Willoughby d'Eresby, Lord .• • • • • annual 50 0 Donations and Annual Subscriptions will be thankfully re liveci 1, 3 r the Bankers of the institution, Messrs. Willi e, ercivai d C 0.76, L bard-street ; Messrs. Coutts and Co • a n 0 , om „•• 59 . Strand ; :11 rs Berries, Farquhar, and Co., 16, si . "nle'va-c,treet, 1...4:1 ' d 5 0n . ; by a 1 the Collectors of Customs and P iticharad L ni :or B in the U n ited kingdom; and by the Secretary ' ,-1 8 Eso a t the Office of the 113.6tittA4i011, 14, johr"treet ' "lad, ' L ondon, W.J. .!,• 7..1. • ' ~,,,.. . 1 1k,- , /.-:-.', '. ' ,, 5 ,„ - .` ::-- '" ( 7.-i.),t " :\ ‘ Y•:‘ / # 9 9- • 'e ,47- --?- -- jr k"-1 13 •1 ` ‘.4 ti,' - 4,-;',..., - ..; 1:,,c-1 0 „ , t s , • --,-.•::, :..y) , t ; h., • „ _. II ~ . . . •••••••\ . I••••• IT - •.' •-; 'AZ ' ~ , ..., v . tey lei - : - .1„,. .1k;:../ . -2.-:: 41. i/ • , - 7...''' N , • v; - ''' 1 r,..04,, , AM' • i t r A , All „ : . • 11111114 .... , , , •• :.' • ,? 4 ), `,,- ,.., .k. , . Vi'l it , gt . A It( ' 44 ..4 ' .§ talrF,..) ••..., ' _ ? : i 0.-A- `,4-',,,1114,t i' 1 . 4"-A Y 7 1 . 13.4* 17i/ ----- 11, i "1 • • '•, „ , , vk\' • ', - ,-•••, ,Y 2 ,3 ;;Ir 4 _ . ••••••,...,,,,,,, ' .K ....... ol: . I•NiW 41 , - " , . i - i ' '' ' ' s °,4•• 7., ta . - ffp , ' telosp; -...-- - 16, _ ... 40 ~..4 / ~.,•• ! I_, .... -.Y. 4 . 1 / 4 .,, , ,•• ~.• •.• • - • . ' - „,. • , . ~. *, ,s, • .....i.glasi s... ? ''• . 4 '• ii • _go 0•.••' ._. , -am• •• ' ,- •-.-- ', - VI "' 'DROTC• ' \ . i l Ni.. - -'* • 4 , i) ) 4 , foiM , .....,0 so- 0•0• 1 . .„. _ 4 _ .....e.- DIE r ~ f t . _••wiL•Ja!iii. ,Ur .; ' •'• '.. -7 '......." - ./•• 7 , ''' _ all i1ti,,.1.,.,..„ Womentho oomk ni, were not expected to take more than the ;g-41,0 a when a visitor had drunk out of a vessel he could iriard to one of a number of attendants who were always near, and who were glad to finish off the contents. While all this toasting was going on, 31 guns were fired in honour of the visit ; and when Mr. Craft returned to Whydah he had 31 guns fired by way of returning the compliment. After this entertainment the party were conducted to the other side of the palace, where the Amazons were dancing. There were 200 or 300 young women thus engaged, and Althoughthey wo m ednanme must. ts d ht very eo prettily,nbgeci wasv e rkyepmaking tired u paa at night, e day,r very graceful andso m tethe eofiwg youngut h r e e figures. seemedng. hmiadanonni arnddentochfuutooei rroxa win": manufacture. uer u tirdi h i ntaes t ee. ni e . as Therefresh a wass they h y l werealso grand r N a v n h d e n reviewt ey of began the t d Amazonian regiment, live u tiirrva - r h oensiso i ea c (igitm h ucohiroatsn m pe,agttl ar arititunh c he h ioeSt e ustsu d hesaragetnt a oord b hnlods o ulau u aturot t nrifaoidn in messsdi.al v ecvan a ret r ir i rfliD e fi‘oc i nn i cer s easi u w .o h ni el e e n o f b e the n g e King's ,Briantloylple.l went torhte3lh. itewse t ipropertyn carrying tthen articles brought ba forwardbackwards w ards m br t e o el o ri k goifo but sold notor p n a a i m lite e ppey n ldlia t . s ce , aeen a ,i n idtoh d moa specimens of almost every kind of European though et different ff v teh i review enntoofer causes. ss troops hn extent t yt o h o wa k te rh p ea l a dp e ab e rete i l u ny partlyhe King demonstrative of power, quite an d partly black enough, festive. quite children i b d l raeenk werea as he e n h e a v d e been een sacrificed. painted. When e e n sacrificesa num ber un d omen and children were captured, they were either dren w h e r e e s u a n w d undisturbed i t a u r r g b e e d n u ; given to the soldiers and others as wives. The chit mthbeerstof children ofhf other r lff b erent tribes. and women and those that could nyotmthbeleenvmtwhu; would buy er e n re ed so to ld ur th al e tattoo the women, if anybody but the old men marks, and almost every child he saw had a natural account were suffered up in sacrifice. pecuniary aas well a 8 When he was at Da homey The tribes were distinguished from each o The people of Dahomey thought it ra th er againstmtahreki; dignity to tattoo themselves much,and had only tattoo marks on the temple, but other tribes were tattoed very much, and in avariety of patterns. The reason why they sold the young men was that they considered it dangerous to have such a strong antagonistic element in their midst. The King gave him four boys for his friends and one for himself. The ages of the boys varied from 9 to 12. They were captured by the Bing in an expedition against a neighbouring tribe, and at the same time he took a native missionary who had been trained under the Church Missionary Society, and sent home to teach his heathen brothers. The King of Dahomey, judg. ing that this man was a native, and believing that he had assumed the European garb for the purpose of deceiv.. ing him, thought it necessary to treat him with greater severity than his other captives, and accordingly had him crucified, But many of the chiefs expressed their regret to Mr. Craft that this had occurred, and ex cused themselves by saying they did not know that the poor man was under the protection of the English. The boys whom the King presented to him he had given to his friends, though, of course, they would not regard distil as slaves, but would educate them and bring them up as British subjects. In reference to the sacrifices, M. Jules Gerard. made a mistake when he said that the King danced in pools a human blood and fragments of human flesh. He was there on the occasion to which M. Gerard referred, and could positively declare that nothing so unseemly took place. He was very sorry to differ from M. Gerard, but a regard for the truth compelled him to make those statements. He regretted that Capt. Burton was not present to corroborate his statements; but he had seen a letter from that gentle man in the Anglo-African newspaper—a periodical pub- lished weekly or monthly at Lagos by a coloured gentleman —and in that letter the captain made no allusion whatever to the horrible things which M. Gerard said he saw. There was also a letter in the Times of Tuesday from a gentleman writing from Catherine-street, Strand, who stated that he had received a:letter by the last mail from Capt. Burton, but that in that letter there was nothing at all about the extra ordinary cruelties to which M. Gerard referred. Commo dore Wilmot had also given an account of Dahomey which differed very much from that of M. Gerard ; and he was able to testify to the truthfulness of the commodore's state ments. Ther e were on l y one or t wo o th er po i nts t o w hi c h it was necessary for him to refer. With respect to the agricultural capabilities o f th e coun t r y, h e regar d e d it as a cotton-growin g region. Nothing could be said in defence of human sacrifices, but there was no harm in stating that the pecuniary element entered into the question to a very large extent, and that if the natives could be brought to believe that it was their interest to cultivate cotton and sell it to Europeans they would abandon the slave trade. A great deal had been said by Commodore Maury about Africa not being a cotton-growing country. Now, Com modore Maury was a very high authority on winds and tides, and so long as he kept to his own element he would not interfere with him; but when he landed at Natal, and began to talk about cotton, he was very liable to find his statements criticised. A lady who was in the room had shown Mr. Craft some cotton which had been grown at Natal, and very good cotton it was ; the lady was Mrs. Richardson. Commodore Maury seemed to be of opinion that cotton would not grow welt unless it was nipped by frost every year. Now, Natal was in about the same latitude as Egypt, and as Egypt could grow very good cotton with out frost, why, he asked, might not Natal, if care were taken to cultivate it ? With regard to West Africa and Dahomey, he could testify that cotton was grown there in abundance. Abbeokuta joined Dahomey, and a very con siderable cotton trade had sprung up there during the last few years. At the present time there was a blockade there owing to some difference between the British Government and the Abbeokutans, and consequently the cotton was not exported; but he knew for a fact that merchants were buy ing it up in considerable quantities, and staring it rip with a view of sending it out of the country as soon as the blockade was over. He believed that the slave trade was carried on by the people of Dahomey for the purpose of gain. Slave dealers went to the chiefs of different tribes and induced them to go to war with one another, and remained behind the scenes for the purpose of buying up the slaves that were captured in the war. In this way heathen captives were found to supply the market created by these Christian dealers in human flesh. Now, he thought that if the King of Da homey and his chiefs could be interested in the cultivation of cotton, and could be brought to feel that it was more pro fitable than the traffic in slaves, they would give the latter up altogether. :Accordingly, he had told the king that the demand for slaves would not exist for ever; that slavery was becoming vary unpopular ; that the Americans were at war, and that it might happen that before the war was closed slavery would be abolished , in which case there would be a very limited demand for slaves. (Hear. hear.) He might state that the Americans h a d p rohibited the slave trade, but in spite of that a la r ge number of slaves had b e en taken to Cuba, smuggled across the Gulf of Mexico into Florida, and carried thence into the interior of the Southern States. He told the King he believed it would pay him to attend to the cultivation of cotton, and not only to its cultivation, but to its manufacture. The King seemed interested in his statements, and replied that if ho could point him to a good market he would be very glad to grow cotton on a large scale. The King also offered him a large place for carrying on his business—a large square at IV his movements surrounded several storehouses. He also offered to facilitate and gave him, moreover, about 300 samples European manufacture, and said h the people of Dahomey would readily purchase of that t y t o m en ot incloth any b ofy a mud wall about 2 0 fc. high, and w ay kind if they were imported from Europe." Mr. Craft then exhibited several articles of native manufacture which he had brought from Dahomey ; among these were two cushions made of native leather, and having a sort of embossed surface of a gay pattern. These formed the principal furniture of a Dahomey dwelling. There were also suveral specimens of native manufactured cloth, which was made of narrow strips dyed in gay colours principally yellow and red. Another article was an amazonian sword, made apparently of very good steel, pro duced in the country. Mr. Craft also exhibited a cartridge-box, ornamented with cowries, or native coin, and pouches or bags of different kinds, all more or less ornamented. There was also the backbone of a boa constrictor, which, it was said, was a very useful thing to keep off evil spirits, and also to cure people of the back-ache. Other articles were exhibited, such as beads of bone, and bamboo baskets, made with great ingenuity to fit into one another. Mr. Craft concluded by saying that he did not think that the King of Dahomey or his people would grow cotton from any high Christian motive, at least in the first instance, but that he was convinced that if they saw that they could do it profitably they would cultivate it upon a very large scale. Mr. Craft was very warmly cheered in concluding his address, which, however, scarcely excited the discussion in the section it is likely to do elsewhere. PRICK.... -..4d. STAMPED ....sd. harbour channel. The cost of the construction is estimated at X 450,000 only, and this also includes the construction of wharfs over the piling 200 ft. wide, with /Ines of railway on the inner and outer faces, a coaling depot for ships of war or: each side of the apex of the work, each capable of holding 60,000 tons, with a lighthouse over each. In addition to the immense tidal and floating basins which would thus be added to the resources of Ports mouth as a naval arsenal, the adoption of this plan would have the effect of throwing the inmost circle of Portsmouth defences from their present position at the harbour's mouth to the extreme edge of the outer shoals, the 200 feet outer quay room, or as we have termed it, wharf room, affording magnificent space for the erection of any number of guns of the largest calibre. This measure would effectually ren der impossible the holding of Spithead anchorage by an enemy even supposing such enemy had forced successfully the channels of entrance, and for this cause alone, leaving out of the question its other advantages, will doubtless receive the serious atter): tion it deserves at the hands of the authorities. Whether the fort be eventually erected on the Sturbridge or on the Warner it is evident from what has been here stated that the shore batteries on the sea faces of Portsmouth required altering altogether both in design and in their powers of offence; and this is now being done at the two extreme points of the base line of the triangle referred to—Southsea Castle and Fort Monckton. Southsea Castle had a short time since erected on either flank two earthen auxiliary batteries, at a cost of £15,000. These are now, of course, useless against iron ships, and new works have been commenced of a very different cha racter. They consist of a tang arm connected with the Castle, extended out on either flank, the Castle being made the centre of the work, but it will be altered altogether in its character. These flank works will be curvilinear in all their outlines, and will be fitted with platforms to sustain 22-ton or even heavier guns. They will be iron-faced, and each embrasure will be of iron on tbeThorncroft plan, and shielded., On the right flank of Fort Moncton is being con structed a very extensive mortar battery, which will be also corvilinear in all its outlines: and a similar battery is now completing on a low bluff adjoining the seabeach at Puekpool, a short dis tance east of Ryde. What is required now to arm these two last-named butteries with is an improved mortar for throwing monster shells, for the vulner able part of an iron ship is her upper deck, and all we arc as yet endeavouring to do is to smash in her armour-plated sides. Thus far we have endeavoured to describe what is being actually done, and what has been proposed for the defence of Spithead from attack by the south-east channel. There is, however, a side entrance for iron-clads to reach Spithead existing in the Needles channel, and here measures are being taken to close, if possible, the passage against them, and Hurst Castle is the point selected. The earthern auxiliary batteries which flanked the Castle in a similar manner to the old flanking sup spionir t i s l a o r f ir S o o n u . t f h a s e e e a d h a a n v d e ebmeehararseumroevdewd,oarhnsd ptroectihseolsye Southsea is receiving are being stretched along the beach from either flank of the Castle, with this addition, that in the case of Hurst, the guns will all be mounted in bomb proof casemates, and it will be, therefore, of a stronger and more extensive character than Southsea. It is certainly to be hoped that the now work at Hurst may be found sufficient to close the passage between the main and the Needles against an enemy. Thousands upon thousands sterling have been lavished during recent years upon the Needles passage, and yet the latest, or one of the latest, works of the Royal Engineers—Fort Victoria—stands a monument of their folly, a shell-trap at the base of a cliff, a thing that has been spoken of with derision by even naval and military officers, and in the presence, too, of the Defence Commission: Mr. Craft's Visit to the King of Dahomey The only section of the British Association which possessed any very special interest yesterday was that which has been through out the most popular—the section devoted to the discussion of geographical and enthological ques tions. Yesterday it was unusually crowded to hear Mr. Craft give an account of his recent visit to the King of Dahomey. Mr. Craft commenced by re peating what he stated in the section the other day,--- " That both his grand-parents were Africans of pure descent, that they were kidnapped and sent to America, that he was born there and had lived there as a slave. He was now fortunately out of America. He had been in Eng land some 12 or 14 years, and confessed—though he did not wish to insult any American lady or gentleman who might be present—that he did not like America, and, of course all negroes had reason for sharing that feeling of repug nance. Ho now considered himself an Englishman of African parentage, unfortunately born in America. The subject for consideration was Dahomey. There was a great deal of difference with regard to the people of that country. Some extraordinary accounts had been printed of what took place there, and those accounts had induced him to go there and to ascertain whether those accounts were true or false, and whether anything could be done to change the bad habits of the people in that part of the world. His friends were much opposed to his going, and said that the King of Dahomey would be sure to cut his head off as soon as he laid hands on him. He felt, however, that it was his duty to go, and at length a committee was formed for the purpose of buying presents and making his mission as suc cessful as possible. At that period the Government had given up Dahomey as a bad job, and felt they could do nothing in the matter; and Mr. Layard, the Under-Sec retary of State for Foreign Affairs, after informing him of the opinion held by the Government, and saying that he should be glad to see him on his return, told him ho candidly t h oug ht he never would get back again alive. He gave him, however, a letter of introduction to the Go vernor of Lagos, requesting the Governor to give him every assistance and protection in his power. He sailed from Liverpool to Lagos about nine months ago, and west to Dahomey through the lagoons in canoes. They day after they reached the town where the King was staying, mes sengers came saying that his Majesty was ready to receive his visitors. Here he might observe that, in thus giving a truthful account of what h© saw and heard, he must not be way for the barbarous cue understood as apologising in an y toms of the place. He wished simply to state the truth. The King also sent a rosewood liquor case, furnished with cut•glass bottles, containing different kinds of spirits. This was for the purpose of enabling the great men to drink to the health of Mr. Craft in the name of the King. He then got into a hammock, and proceeded to the palace. On his way he saw in the market-place 12 platforms, 40 feet high, 150 ft. apart, and perhaps 10ft. or 12ft. square. On each side of the platform was a man in an upright position, and quite dead. These persons had all been executed the night before. They were clad in accordance with the fashions of the country, and in their hands or otherwise attached to their persons were calabaches filled with native produce, and a cord, to which were fastened two or three sheep. The meaning of all this was that one Dahomey tribe held an anniversary in honour of their victory over a neighbouring tribe. When he came to the other side of the palace, he found thousands of natives assembled. As they passed through the crowd of natives saluted them, and when they came into the palace yard they found thousands of the principal people of the country. The chiefs stood on the right hand of the King, while on his left there were 2,000 or 3,000 Amazons, attired in their gayest costume. The King himself sat under a large tent, and was surrounded by his wives and a few officers of the Amazon regiment. When they approached the King they bowed to him, and he returned the salutations. He was was seated on a raised platform about 10ft. square, covered with handsome cloth. He immediately rose and shook Mr. Craft and his companions heartily by the hand, saying that he was glad to see him, and thanking him for taking the trouble to pay him a visit. He also inquired very kindly after his health, and after the health of her Majesty the Queen and of the members of the British Government, to all which Mr. Craft replied that he believed they were very well. He then inquired whether the Queen had sent him to Dahomey, to which Mr. Craft answered No,' but that he came at the request of a number of English friends of the King's, who desired to promote civilisation in Africa, and to encourage a legitimate trade between the people of Eng land and Dahomey. He also told him that, though they did not come direct:y from the British Government, ho knew they had the good wishes of the G ,vernment, who would be very glad if something could be done in the way he had proposed. The King seemed at once to understand the matter, and said it was all right; and he proposed succes sively the healths of the gentlemen who had sent Mr. Craft, of Mr. Craft himself, and of her Majesty the Queen. It was customary at the palace to taste a little of every thing that war oftred in the way of drink, but visitors Dover and Calais are now within 1.1 hours of each other. The "James Penn " crosses the Channel in that time. This rapidity is due to improvements in the marine englne. Gri:y hair is restored to its natural colour, and tic dolorcux and nervous headache cured by Herring's magnetic brushes. Their undeviating success is due to late improvements by the inventor. N.B.- -Counterfeits are beint,r made. Offices, 52, Basinaliall-street, Loudon. THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES. — 1 h 2, con tract for the new India and Foreign offices to - re erected by Mr. Scott, the architect, has been let to Messri, smith and Taylor, whose tender, £195,573, being 11,a lowest, was accepted. The other tenders, making 11 in all were Messrs. Little, £2o9,6ls—Alessrs. Higgs, £200,669-- Messrs. Rigby, £2o6,lo9—Messrs. Piper and Wheeler, £200,355--Mesers. Myers and Son, £l9s,s6o—Messrs. Holland and Hannen, £197,487 —Messrs. Cubitt, £190,750 —Messrs. Kirk, £l93,soo—Messrs. Lucas, £195,270—and Messrs. Baker, £195,800. The foundations for the entire building in 14 feet of concrete are all finished, awl that por tion of the structure intended to be appropriated for the use of the India office has just been commenced, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 4, 1863, GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. NOTICE IS HERE BY GIVEN, That the Meeting of this Company, to be held in London, on Friday, the 18th day of September, 1863, will be made Specatl, for the follow ing purposes, Unit is to say:— To consider and approve au Agreement between the Great Western Railway Company and the Uxbridge and Itickm ns worth Railway Company. under ; he t rovisions of " The Ux biiclgfe and it ickmanswoi th Railway Act. 1561." for the use, wor , fug, and maintenance of the Railway of the latter Com pany, and for other purposes. To consider and approve a L"ase to the Great Western Railway Company of the Ely Valley Railway, under the powers of "The Great Western, Hereford Ross and Glouces ter, and Ely Valley Railways Act, 1862," and to authorise the subscription, by the Great Western Raila ay Company, of a sum not exceeding .£35,0' 0 to the undertaking of the Ely Valley Railway Company, and the raising the amount so authorised to be subscribed in the manner prescribed by the said last mentioned Act. To authorise the creation, conjointly with the London end North Western Railway Comp any, of Birkenhead Capital, not exceeding £474,178 it's., for the purposes of the Birken head Railway, under the powers of "The Birkenhead Railway (Vesting) Act, 1t61." To authorise the raising of £227,562 for the general pur poses of the Company, under the powers of " The Great western Railway (Capital) Act, 1861," by the creation of Shares or Stock in the Capital, by such Act authorised, with a Preferential Dividend not exceeding £4 Its. per cent. prr annum thereto, as well as to enable the Directors to issue the same, part passu, with the sum of £1,00,000 Capital, which was created at a special general meeting, held on the 30th May, 186 , under the powers of the same ACt ; the whole of the said Stock or Shares to be subject to such terms and con ditions as the Directors may prescribe, and to be offered to the Proprietors of the Company in the first instance, and afterwards the residue, if any, to be disposed of as the Board may determine. To c avert, from time to time, as and when it may occur, all or any of the Preterential t hares of the united Company which may have already been, or which shall hereafter be paid up, intu Stock of die like denomination. The special business will be taken immediately after the half-yearly business shall be concluded. RICH D. POTTER. Chairman. W. FENTON, Deputy-Chairmen. Paddington Station, Sept. 2, 1853. The Fortifications of Portsmouth. It has been said that es a people we have in the matters of harbours and breakwaters cast our money more liberally upon the waters than has been done by others, but it is doubtful if the same can be said of the precautions we have taken in protecting cur shores aginst the ambition of other nations. We are now, however, engaged i n s p en di ng some m illi ons in strengthening the defence of the kingdom at all its most vital points. As a natural sequence to such a course a reactionary cry was raised, the work on foundations for the marine forts at Spithead was suspended, and at the same time it was understood that the chain of forts on Portsdown would not be proceeded with beyond a certain point until the subject was brought formally before the House of Commons in the usual course by the Premier. The significant majority with which the vote on the Fortifications Bill was recently passed by the house sufficiently indicated the determination of the coun try generally to support Lord Palmerston in plac ing the defences of the kingdom on an efficient basis, and the result of this decision is that the Spithead forts will be proceeded with, and the chain of forts on Portsdowu completed. Several plans for the forts at Spithead have been submitted, but none as yet have been officially selected and determined upon in all their details, nor is the precise form in which the Portsdown forts are to be completed yet agreed upon. Both are subjects of vast importance and general interest, and, as they form the salient points of the outer cordon of defence constructing round our chief naval arsenal, we shall say a few words respecting them. The introduction of rifled ordnance utterly nullified the confined area of all then exis ting lines of defence surrounding fortified posi tions such as Portsmouth dockyard and arsenal, and the lines had, therefore, to be considerably extended, so as to increase the distance between the points of attack and defence. In the instance of Portsmouth the northern and southern extremi ties of its proposed lines of defence (the central fort on Portsdown-hill and the marine forts on the Noman and Horse Shoals) form parts of nearly a circular defensive line, of about nine miles in diameter, between the points named. Portsdown may be considered as commanding all approaches to the port from landward (supposing that an enemy may have effected a landing on any part of the ad jacent coast), and the Noman and Horse Forts, through the narrow channel by the Warner Light, from sea ; supposing also, in the latter instance, that the Needles Channel is rendered impassable to any iron fleet. The position of Portsdown is nearly seven miles in extent, and runs nearly parallel with the line of coast, or the anchorage of Spithead, and its centre rises to a height of 460 feet above Ordnance level, anp is here at a distance of about 5,000 yards from Portsmouth dockyard, while the large powder magazines at Tipnor, and the shipping moored in the upper part of the harbour, lie at its very base. fhe vast importance of such a position and the im perative necessity for including it in the general plan for the port's defence are thus evident, and, although the extent of the plan including Ports down somewhat staggered even Sir John Burgoyne yet that able officer, in his evidence before the De fence Commission, admitted freely that the defence of the port of Portsmouth would be imperfect with out it, and the fortification of Pmesdown was there fore decided upon, and has been completed in its first stage. It is being crowned with seven forts— Purbrook, Farlington, and Cookhorn, at its eastern extremity, Wallingford at its western, and Widley, Southwick, and Nelson inter mediately along its crest. These forts are being constructed on an exceedingly simple plan, being somewhat of horseshoe form, with the toe of the shoe pointing inland, and the heel of the shoe to wards the sea of Portsmouth, but of strong trace and prodigious strength, the base line along the hill's crest. This finishing of the forms of the forts at the base lino is the most important point for con sideration in connection with the completion of the works. A common-sense view of the question would argue for a simple military road connecting the forts along the hill's crest, and thus leaving the gorges open, the latter standing towards Portsmouth, and if they are only intended as a defensive adjunct to Portsmouth and its dockyard, this is doubtless the only sensible idea that can be entertained. It is, however, said that the Royal Engineers strongly advocate the construction of " iron•cased" keeps to close the gorge of each work. It can scarcely be believed, however, that such a proposition can be seriously entertained. If an enemy once got suffi ciently close to find that a fort on Portsdown was too hard a nut to crack by bombardment, he would simply, as the hill is of a chalk formation, cut a gal lery or tunnel in the chalk, and blow the whole affair, " iron keep" and all, into the air. So far as the works have proceeded at present, their general 'design, if left, as suggested, as open forts to the rear, connected by a military road, has been magni ficently conceived and executed. At the east end of the hill the works are the least forward of any, but here may be seen the unusually formidable na ture of the " trace." It is commanded by three works—Farlington, Crookhorn, and Purbrook. All three have yet proceeded in their construction but little beyond their formation of parapet and ditch and general outline. Their height reaches 300 ft. above Ordnance level. Farlington commands the eastern point of Portsdown, and will mount 18 of the heaviest guns on, its terra-plein, with mortar batteries on the angles of its surround ing ditches, each battery mounting three mortars. A sunken gallery communicates with Crookhorn, which will mount 16 guns on its terre-plain, with six guns in the angles of its ditch; A continuation of the same sunken gallery leads from Crookhorn to the main work at this eastern end of Portsdown, Purbrook—which will mount 21 guns on its terre plein, nine guns in caponnieres in the ditch, and three mortars in the ditch's wee, angle. It has a nearly straight face of 240 ft., looking inland, the open gorge being opposite the west side of Lang ston harbour and the eastern side of Portsmouth harbour. The ditches surrounding the three works vary in depth, according to their position, from 35ft to GOft. Sunken galleries from the interior of the works communicate with the mortar batteries and caponnieres in the ditches. The walls of the ditches themselves are supported in their vertical formation by chalk and brick masonry, and these formidable outer obstructions are carried out ge nerally in the entire line of works along the hill's crest. At Wal lingford, the fort which commands all approaches to Portsdown at its western end, the arrangements are somewhat different, owing to its position, but continue of the same comprehensive and formidable nature, It will mount 56 guns on its terte-plein, four of them being in caaemates d ha Haxo at the angles. Caponnieres project into the ditch, mount ing three guns each at each angle, and have mortar batteries in the rear. Sunken galleries communi cate between the enciente of the work, the capon • nieres, the mortar batteries, and an advanced covered way on the right shoulder, which mounts three guns, sweeping the line of ditch. It stands at an elevation of 140 ft. above Ordnance level, has a right front of 320 ft., a left front of 326 ft., a right flank of 437 ft., and a left flank of 383 ft. Its gorge is as yet open like the rest of the Portsdown forts, and looks towards the seacoast. Although not strictly speaking belonging to the line of Portsdown forts, still it must be considered a " Portsdown" fort, as erected onlthe low land at about a mile distant from Fort Wallington, and nearer the lino of seacoast stands Fort Fareham, the village of Fareham, which stands at the upper most head of Portsmouth harbour, being situated between the two forts. Any attack upon the posi tion of Portsdown from the westward must include Fort Fareham, which must therefore leo considered conjointly with the seven hill forts already noticed. It is a work of more than ordinary pretensions Like the forts on Portsdown it may be generally described as of horseshoe shape, with. five faces of 221 ft,, 176 ft., 313 ft., 364 ft., and 400 ft, respectively. It will mount 50 guns on its terreplein, double Haxo cascmates being at each angle. The terre plein is supported on massive brickwork arches, which give the necessary accommodation for the garrison, and the whole work will have an eleea• tion of 36ft. over the surrounding country, its front being well covered with earthwork. The ditch en compassing the fort is 15ft. in depth, 119 ft. in width at the top, revetted in brickwork, and with 9ft. of water. Portsdown is thus the base of the great polygon of works designed and now being carried into execution for the defence of Ports mouth. South of Portsdown is the anchorage of Spithead, and the proposed sites of the marine forts which are to defend Spithead and Portsmouth from the sea. While Portsmouth is being thus engirdled with a vast net of fortifications, it is impossible not to acknowledge, on examining the general plan, that in the channel of approach from the' sea stands the Achilles' heel of the whole plan. Only five hours' steaming from the greatest military port of another country, there is not at present existing one single obstacle to a hostile squadron steaming into Spit head whenever it may choose, and bombarding and destroying Portsmouth dockyard, its shipping, and its arsenals at pleasure. It is imbecility at its ex tremest point to speak of any effectual resistance which could be offered by the existing fortifications now supposed to defend Portsmouth and Spithead from such a disastrous result. They are old works which would fall :o the ground from the concussion of any guns fired from their parapets of sufficient calibre to inflict damage on an iron-clad fleet. To show the truth and importance of this statement, it is here necessary to observe that the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour, Southsea Castle, and Fort Moncton form a triangle of which Spithead is the base, with Portsmouth Harbour at the apex, and that the guns at these three points are the only pre sent obstacles to the entrance of an enemy's fleet from the sea. Southsea Castle is a very old stone built work, partially covered with earth on its flank, and is in such a dilapidated state that not a gun has been allowed to be fired from its walls for months past, not even for blank practice, The front face of Fort Moncton, which faces Spithead, and is sup posed to cross fire with Southsea Castle, is the weakest part of the work, and would certainly not bear the concussion from the fire of heavy ordnance. In these two points, therefore, at the base of the triangle, there are at present no existing means for the defence of Portsmouth from a sea at tack. The batteries at the mouth of the harbour are armed with 32 and 68 poun ders, and a few 110 pounder Armstrongs, but they are useless as opposed to iron-clad ships, nor will they carry guns of sufficient weight and calibre to prevent iron-clads forcing the entrance of the harbour. The knowledge of these facts justly gave the Government the strongest argument possible for the completion of their scheme for the marine forts which are intended to remedy this very weak point in the armour of Portsmouth. The Government plans for the defence of Spit head from a sea attack consist of the three malice forts of the Horse, Noman, and Sturbridge, all three to be constructed on shoals abutting upon the nar- row deep water ways of Spithead. The two first named will lie south of Spithead, and be the first obstacles to the entrance of a hostile fleet from the Channel. The Sturbridge (built on the Sturbridge shoal, off Ryde, Isle of Wight) can only be of ser• vice after a fleet has forced its way into Spithead, and therefore its use under any circumstances would be very problematical. From its position, even if it missed an enemy's ship, it must strike a friend, as its shots in either case would plump either into the town of Ryde or Fort Moncton. It is situate at 4,500 yards distance trom the Noman and Horse forts, and is about 6,800 yards from the dockyard. It stands, in fact, or rather is intended to stand, in the centre of the ground into which an enemy's fleet must never be allowed to enter, and by its fire would injure its friends more than its enemies. So well is the inutility of this proposed fort under stood, that Capt. Tyler, of the Royal Engineers, has not hesitated to condemn it in letters to the public press, and proposed in lieu to erect a fort on the Warner Rock, outside the Noman and Horse forts. The three forts would then form a perfect triangle, with the " Warner " as the apex and in advance, and if constructed and armed as contemplated no iron ship should ever swim past them. All parties appear now to agree in the expediency of constructing these marine forts, provided they are bailt to carry guns of sufficient power to smash in the sides of any iron ship that may come between them. The Government plans have, how ever, been severely criticised from the date of the first report of the Royal Defence Commission, and various plans have been submitted, some on evidence before the Commission, and others from non-official sources, either to prevent an enemy from ever en tering Spithead at all, or for rendering it so hot after he had got there that he would be glad to quit it again. Sir John Dalrymple Hay, R.N., when examined before the Defence Commsssioners, proposed that a boom should be placed across the channel between the proposed Horse and Noman forts, and that 12 iron-cased vessels should be connected together by chains and moored inside in support, and that 12 vessels, under steam, iron-cased, should be em ployed, in addition, to offer the first line of defence against the enemy. Capt. Tyler, R.E., in lately reviewing this proposition of Sir John Hay, advo cates the additional defensive force of six steam rams, worked by dou ble or " tw in " screws, iside the forts, and considers that under such circum stances of defence, with a fort on the Warner Rock, it would be impossible for any hostile ironclad fleet to enter Spithead by its southern channel. A plan has been proposed by Mr. W. Austin, C.E., for closing the passage between the Horse and Noman forts by means of floating batteries of pecu liar construction and light draught of water, con nected by chain cables with the farts, that appears to possess a great originality of idea, witb simplicity and economy. So far these plans relate only to the closing of the waterway between the Noman and Warner shoals, through which an enemy's fleet can only reach Spithead from the Channel by the southern passage. Another plan has been submitted to the authori ties by Mr. Pineo, C.E., of Portsmouth, a gentle man, by his position and knowledge of the waters of Spithead, well qualified to give an opinion, which, from its economical estimated cost, its corn prehonaiventse, and the manner in which it enters into the extension and defences of the port, deserves special attention. Portsmouth harbour is separated from the outer deep waters by a series of s hoals, generally known as the Spithead shoals, which ex tend in tt ttiaogular form from the n arrow mouth of the haibotir to o pp osite Soutb6e Castle, and thence to Moncton Fort opposite Hyde. From the harbour's entrance to Southeea Castle is the " hwr hour channel," about t;ee-quarte,rs of a wile in length, a narrow, tortuous entraucc, and wallet with it extends the Spithead shoals, which run, or Moncton, standing on anea rly nds ; opposite hich thus ra ther trend heels, to Fort the opposite penineela of larniedceanofd to Ryde. The triangu lar forms the shoals which serrate the harbour channel of Portsmouth from the deeper water of Spithead anchorage, Mr. Pine° proposes io enclose with two tiers of whole baulk cofferdam piks, with ties and braces, &c., f i ll e d with excavations from the shoals, which (the shoals) would then be of suffi cient depth in the area enclosed within this piling for two basins —one at the base of the triangular formatiov, to be an inner floating basin of about 200 acres; and the outer oue, at the apex of the triangle, to be a tidal basin of about 120 acres, with -'l)4ainge to 9.1,10:7 of tai flow o the tide into the LITERATURE. COLBURN'S NEW MONTHLY.-" The Shadow of Ashlydyat" is continued. It now records the ap- proaching death of Maria. That long-suffering lady is fast drawing near to the goal where the weary may find rest, and there is nothing to regret in her death. It is melancholy to p 3ruse the passages where Maria is taking leave of Meta, her cherished child. When trying to make her believe the sad reality approaching, she said she would look down upon her frOin heave: " Meta turned her eyes to the uncurtained window, looking up to the winter evening sky—" Has heaven got windows ?" she asked. " I think it has ; I think tb at God allows us to look down on the dear ones we have left ; at least it is pleasant to think so when we are about to leave them, Meta, darling ; it can do you no harm to think so." It would hardly be possible to convey a more truthful picture of the sorrows and sufferings of life than is done in this story. We are shown how the sins of others are visited upon the un • offending and guiltless, and how, as in the case of Thomas Godolphin and Maria, the burden is often too heavy to bear. But their portion is not all dark; and when they reach the end of their painful course, the death of the sor- row-laden is better than the life of the sinner, who, in care less ease, is shifting the burden to other shoulders, and de termines to enjoy himself, setting care and memory at defiance. " John, Lord Carteret," figures as Sir Nathaniel's worthy of this month. The sketch of his career will at- tract notice. The Life and Letters of Washington Irving form the subject of an interesting article. It is very en tertaining to follow the anecdoOs collected of this remark- able man ; and the writer seems thoroughly to have appre- ciated his subject. " Strathmore" is continued, and i.s as exciting as ever in its foreign style. " Twice Sacrificed " . _ is the first part of a melancholy tale, from the Danish. It is well written, and ably exemplifies the imprudence and misery that result from the disgraceful practice of marriage de convenance, which obtains so much abroad. " Homo Hominum Deum," is the title of some very impressive verses that record a touching picture of the misery inflicted by the heartless votaries of fashion, and the ruthless rulers of business upon the helpless beings who aro doomed to stitch, stitch, stitch, till life becomes a burden, and death is gladly hailed as a rescue from toil, and a release from cruel slavery, The last sad scene is truthfully and touchingly described. BENTLEY'S MISCELLANY.—The lively and en tertaining story of " Six Weeks at Hunsdon Manor" is continued at some length, though it chronicles no more important incident than a pic nic. "At the Tower Window with Sir Walter Raleigh" is the title of an essay suggested by the well-known anecdote of Sir Walter's burning a volume of his History of the World in disgust at the contradictory versions given him of an affair which he had seen with his own eyes. The difficulties in the way of the impartial his torian have forced themselves on the minds of many emi nent men, whose opinions are here cited. In concluding his reflections the writer pertinently remarks that every modern writer who tells the story of Sir Walter and his irreconcileable witnesses gives a different version from his fellows I We meet with a lengthened history of Count Wala, the first prisoner of Chillon, which is taken from the French, and may serve to interest the reader, although it is far too long and diffuse, A sketch of the career of Sir John Hawkweed, one of the most eminent of the Free Lances of the middle ages, pays a high tribute to his abilities as a commander, " After the Battle" is founded on the narrative of a French gentleman, who, happening to pass through Upper Italy at the time of the late Italian war, became a spectator of the supplemensary horrors of Solferino. He was an actor also in the har rowing scenes he records, since he devoted himself to the succour of the unfortunate victims of the war, together with a few other voluntary assistants, some of whom were obliged to aband on their charitable offices, overwhelmed wi▪ th distress. Truly such scenes as he describes strip the gaudy colours f rom the triumphs of the battlefield, and mi▪ ght serve to disenchant the most enthusiastic. The ex travagant production. of M. About, entitled " The Notary's Nose" (of which a resume was some time back given in the columns of The Sun) is summarized for the benefit of the English reader. novels, as der. It mi g h t almost read for a car i cature o f sensation" modern school of poets " Firmilian" was a satire on the y. The editor's animated story of "Cardinal Pole" proceeds w i t h i nterest. In the present in stalment Derrick Carver meets the fate which has so long been hanging over his devoted head, THE ECLECTIC REVIEW.—Ats essay on one of the celebrities of the era of the Reformation — Ulrich von Hutten—opens this number. It is fol lowed by an ethnological paper on the " Races of Europe," containing some curious and instructive details of the pe culiarities of our European families. " A Triad of Muses" gives a fair and favourable criticism on some new competi tors for poetical fame. The ecc en t r i c Swedish Queen, Ckristina, is the subject of an article founded on a re cently published life. Other papers on th eo l og i ca l su bj ects complete a number of average interest and merit, GOOD WORDS.—The pencil of Mr. Millais this month very beautifully illustrates the Parable of the Woman, broom and lamp in hand, search ing about the floor of her house for the lost piece of silver. There is a pretty but rather fantastic drawing, moreover, in this same number by another illustrator, delineative of "Childhood." The letterpress is, for the most part, as usual, very excellent. Not the least worthy of perusal among the contents being a brief let ter to the Editor of Good Trords, penned by Dean Alford of Canterbury, in r e • ference to the last ill-natured attack upon himself by the self-appointed critic on the Dean's "Plea for the Que en ' s English." With this gentlemanly but caustic note the number for September is brought to a conclusion. MISCELLANEOUS MAGAZINES. —The Sixpenny 21rayazine has its usual liberal allowance of stories and sketches, one of the most ingenious being the tale of a madman, who, being taken by a friend to a lunatic as yl um , sus p ec t e d the truth, and contriv ing to abstract the papers of admission, certificate, etc., in troduced hi s compan i on as the man i ac, an d himself as the sane guardian. the _Met gives its fair readers an extra plate of f as hi ons, and some very good advice i n a slightly Horseman," "In th e Af r i can Bush," "Up in the Alps," improbable s t ory, entitled " The Wedding B onn et." 21te Boys' Own l'dagazine is full of attractions, the very titles being en oug h to fascinate the young rea der. We have " The Story o f the Black Prince's Page," "The Young and "Mid s hipmen Asho re ." I t i s plentifully illustrated, and offers astounding riddles, puzzles, and perplexities of all sorts to the so l ut i on of the skilful. _Newton's _London Journal presents its usual supply of recent information on all matters connected with patents and the patent law. Cassell's _Popular Educator and _Must, ated History of England are proceeded with. The former contains most various instruction, while the latter has come down to the present reign. Beeton's Dictionary of A r t ,science, and Literature is a closely printed an d comp rehensive repertory of information. The Boys' Own Library and the Boys' Penny Magazine are good samples of their class, MONUMENT O_LORD BYRON' S DAUG lITER ADA, AND HIS GRANDSON, VISCOUNT OCKIIAIM Two handsome monuments have just been finished erecting to the memory of the abo v e noble p e rsonages, the for mer being placed in Newstead Abbey, and the latter in the parish church of Ripley, Surrey. They are both Gothic monuments, of white Carrara marble, are most elaborately carved, and are ornamented by the arms of the family, the whole having been executed by Mr. T. Gatlin, the sculptor, of the Quadrant, Regent-street. The following are the in scriptions :—‘• In the Byrons vault below lie the remains of Augusta Ada, only daughter of George Gordon Noel, sixth Lord Byron, the wife of William 'Earl of Lovelace. Born 20;h Dec., 1815, died 27th Nov., 1852. R 1.P." " In memory of Byron N, , el Viscount Ockham and Baron Went worth eldest son of Willi a m Earl Lovelace. Born 12 th May, 1836, died Sept. 1, 1862." It will be remembered that Viscount Ockharn before his death, bad been working as a smith in one of the dockyards. ~ 1 1