The Sun. — London, England, 1864-06-01 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS—Last Evening, The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at 5 o'clock. Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from various cattle dealers and others inKincardineshire against the law of hypothec. The Earl of DERBY presented a petition from Lanca shire against the County Courts Bill, PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bulbs were read a second time :—Dundee Churches and Hospital, Garstang and Knot End Railway, Sunningdale and Cambridge Town Railway, North British Railway (Perth Branch). The following bills were read a third time and passed : E r ith Tramway, Chichester and Midhurst Railway, and Chelmsford and Hernston Lane Head Road. EAST AND WEST JUNCTION RAILWAY, AND BLOCKLEY AND BANBURY RAILWAY BILLS, Lord CHELMSFORD moved the re-committal of these bills, on the ground of the exclusion of certain evidence and undue curtailment of the right of counsel to cross-examine witnesses before the select committee,to which the bills were referred. Lord STRADBROKE, chairman of the committee in question, entered into a detailed explanation of the circum stances relative to the two bills, and defended the course the committee had pursued. Not taking evidence and not per mitting to cross-examine by counsel, formed no part of the case of those who were now complaining of the conduct of the committee. The motion was negatived without a division. On the motion of Earl GRANVILLE, the Penal Ser vitude Acts Amendment Bill was read a second time. The other business on the paper was disposed of, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS —Last Evening, The ►SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock, PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Scottish Central Railway (Dundee and N ew t y l e Extension) Bill was rea d a third time and passed. PERU. Mr. WEGUELIN asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether her Majesty's Government had received despatches relative to the seizure of the Chin chit Islands, belonging to Peru, by a Spanish naval squad ron; whether it was the opinion of her Majesty's Government that the occupation in time of peace of the territory of a friendly nation, without cause or declara tion of war, and the forcible detention of individuals of that nation to serve as hostages, was consistent with the usages of civilised nations, or the dicta of international law ; whe ther her Majesty's Government were prepared to admit the claim put forth by the Spanish Admiral and the Spanish Commissary of the right on the part of the Spanish Crown tc revindicate the property of said islands, a right they assert similar to that which Great Britain sanc tioned when she restored the island of Fernando Po, Azmolon, and Coserco, after a formal and uninterrupted possession during a considerable number of years : and, whether her Majesty's Government will interpose their good offices to bring about a settlement of the trifling matter of dispute which has led to these high-handed proceedings on the part of the Spanish officials ? Mr. LAYARD said that he was sorry to say he could not give satisfactory information on this matter. On Saturday last her Majesty's Government received dispatches from the British representative at Peru, from which it ap peared that the seizure alluded to was in consequence of certain claims not having been acceded to. THE STEAM RAMS. Mr. HODGKINSON asked the Secretary of the Admi • ralty, whether it was intended that the price to be paid for the Confederate rams shall be the subject of a supplemental vote, or whether it will be paid out of money already voted for some other purpose ? Lord C. PAGET said it would be his duty to bring on a supplemental estimate in reference to this subject. MR. HERBERT'S PICTURE. Mr COX asked the First Commissioner of Works whether ho could make any arrangements by which the public may have the opportunity of viewing Mr Herbert's picture in the peers' robing room. Mr COWPER. answered in the affirmative. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. Mr BAXTER asked the hen member for Sunderland if he intended to bring on his motion with reference to the Confederate States of America on Friday ? Mr LINDSAY said that he would postpone his motion to the 17th of nest month for political considerations. OUR RELATIONS WITH BRAZIL. Mr. NE WDEGATE asked the - Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if it was not the duty of the English Consuls who remained in Brazil since the suspension of dip lomatic relations to report to Earl Russell everything which concerned the English Government or English interests; and had her Majesty's Government not received from the Consul at Rio or otherwise information of a speech made in the Brazilian Senate, on Feb, 24, by M. Sinimbre, lately Minister of Justice, defending the conduct of the Under Secretary who wrote to ask the judges to vote a,7,ainst Mr Reeves, producing all the correspondence with the British Legation, and describing Mr Christie's notes complaining of the Under Secretary's conduct, by order and with ap proval of Earl Russell, as " most impertinent." Mr. LAYARD said that the consuls had sent their reports, but he thought it would not be advisab!e to answer the question of the hon. member. MR. LYNALL THOMAS'S GUN. Mr. GREGORY asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether the trials of Mr. Lynall Thomas's gun had been concluded, and whether, on the conclusion, a report of the trials would be laid before the house. The Marquis of HARTINGTOS said that the trials of these guns were for the present suspended in consequence of the bankruptcy of Mr. Thomas. POLAND. Mr. HENNESSY wished to know, if certain despatches relative to Poland which had passed between Count Wale ski and Count Persigny, w3uld be laid on the table of the house, and whether they were authentic. Lord PALMERSTON said that, as he understood the question, it appeared despatches were sent to the Prussian ambassador, but whether these were authentic or not he could not state. Mr. HENNESSY said he considered the answer most unsatisfactory, and would move that extracts of these despatches should be laid on the table of the house. CHINA. Mr. COBDEN moved the following resolution :—" That in the opinion of this house, the policy of non-intervention by force of arms in the internal political affairs of foreign countries, which we profess to observe in our relations with the States of Europe and America, should be observed in our intercourse with China." He said that all parties in China, including the natives and Sir Frederick Biuce, oar representative, were dissatisfied with the policy this country had pursued towards that important empire. He contended that the policy of this country was defective in every element, and so far from being conducive to the interests of our commerce had a tendency and result directly the reverse, and he quoted statistics to show that the tra :e with China was less extensiv e th an that with Egypt, not withstanding the immense population and facilities afforded by the former country for the purchase of our articles of production. The fact was that China was the only country where we endeavoured to force our trade by violence, and the result was that in that direction our trade failed instead of being in a flourishing condition. What was the reason of that result ? It merely arose from a mistaken notion that, In order to extend trade with the Chinese, we should force on them our political connections. He condemned ministerial statements as being calculated to mislead, and accused Lord Palmerston as being a master of the language necessary to carry out that object, and the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Layard), as being one of his most apt pupils. (Laughter.) His observations applied to both parties of the house when in the Ministry. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He contrasted the policy suggested by the late Duke of Wellington in reference to China, which was one of kindness and forbearance, to that adopted recently by this country, which was the very opposite. The hon. member went at con siderable length into arguments in support of hie v i ews, an d was listened to with great attention by a house crowded on both sides. Be stated in conclusion that his object was to obtain a promise from Government that there should be a committee appointed to inquire into the nature of our relations with China and Japan. Mr B. COCHRANE seconded the motion. Mr LAYARD said it was somewhat curious that a ques tion like this, which had during the present session been More frequently before the house than almost any ether, should have received so little attention from hon. members. Theyali ght all congratulate themselves on the speech which they had heard f rom hi s h on . friend, who was always ori ginal in his views,and on the present occasion more original than usual. $ e (Mr Layard) would do his best to answer his hon. friend ; and first he would remark that he thought the teason why on many occasions it was difficult to get together a house to listen to a debate on China was not that the Government was deairona to count out, but because members felt the deep r esponsibility they would incur by di c tating a policy to the Government, and forcing them to pursue a particular course of action. If the Government had followed the advice !yen ay several m em b ers of that house on the Chinese question, most dis astrous result s wou ld h ave ensued, not only to the interests of trade, but also to the lives of a large number of British subject,. Indeed, those hon. gentlemen themselves must have felt this, b ecause they always avoided pressing the house to a divi s i on on any definite resolution. It was o ften said in that house that the duty of her Majesty's Government was si m pl y to protect the treaty ports and defend their trade and com merce ; but that was a question of degree, and not a ques tion of policy. The hon. gentleman who brought forward this motion introduced a new policy, and declared that they should entirely abandon the present policy in China, and that. all direct relations with China should cease. That was an original view, which might be expected from his hon. friend's great capacity and knowledge; but it was an opinion from which he should dissent, and one which he wou'd show it was impossible to pursue. He confessed he had heard with surprise the remarks of his hon. friend, that there had been a decrease in the trade of this country with China, for the returns of the declared and real value of the exports and imports proved a remarkable increase in that trade during the last few years—the only exception being a diminution in the cotton trade, consequent open cotton famine. His hon. friend had that evening started a new and original policy, but the remarks with which he sought to enforce it were not very Logical. s hon. friend referred to the example of Singapore, established as a free port by the exertions of Sir Stamford Raffles, and suggested that her Majesty's Government should pursue the same course, and, instead of having any commercial intercourse with the Chinese in the rivers, establish treaty ports. But if this country wanted to convert Chinese cities into free ports the consent of the Chinese Government should beob. tained. The fact was that Shanghai had virtually beeotne a free port, and when Hong Kong had been ceded to this country it was only after having defeated the Chinese that the concession had been obtained. But if the Chinese Goa. vernraent chose to withhold their consent, what weal the course then to be taken ? If it could not be obtained by indirect negotiation, what other means where they to adopt ? But his hon. friend forgot that there were other Powers represented in China as well as England, and what ever demands this r.,onntry made would be preferred also by those Powers. Her Majesty's Government had often been charged avi.'da having assisted the Chinese Government against the Taepings. (Hear.) They had so far assisted as to prevent the Taepings from entering the treaty ports and destroying British produce. Notwithstanding what had been often stated by his hon. and gallant friend behind him (Colonel Sykes), his own impression was that the Taepings were mere marauders, who had no respect for treaties, and that if they had been allowed to go into the treaty ports the British trade there would have been annihilated. Admiral Hope, who bad been somewhat sanguine in this respect, had, with some others, tried the experiment in China, but it had signally failed. With regard to the 30 mile radius hon. gent tlemen appeared to run away with the idea that each treaty port was to have a radius of thirty miles. But this was a mere military line, which had been pointed out for the necessary defence of the towns—no principle had been laid down beyond that necessary one, that large centres of commerce should be protected against hordes of marauders who were going to destroy their trade. It was true the 30-mile radius had proved a farce. He was not going to defend the conduct of those officers who had thought proper to exceed this limit ; but he might observe that her Majesty's Government had often expressed censure upon them. His hon. friend had alluded in the course of his speech to Sir Frederick Bruce, and stated that his policy differed from the policy of her Majesty's Government. There had never been any difference of opinion between her Majesty's Government and Sir Fre derick Bruce with respect to the policy to be pursued in China. Over and over again he had borne testimony in that house to the great ability and tact of Sir F. Bruce in the conduct of negotiations in China. He would read an extract from a despatch to show that, even upon the subject of the Employment of foreign officers by the Chinese Go vernment, Sir F. Bruce was in accord with her Majesty's Government. Then, had their relations with the Chinese Government improved ? He ventured to think that the existence of that very correspondence between the two Go vernments was a proof of improved relations between the two countries. He believed that the acceptance by the Chinese Government of Lord Elgin's mission was one of the most important concessions ever made by China to Eng land. And then as regarded the treaty with Japan, England was not the first to enter into commercial relations with Japan. The United States of America and Russia were both before them—and what would the country have thought if Russia and America had been allowed to enter into com mercial relations with Japan while England refused to do anything of the sort ? It was all very well to talk about the Taepings, and about their being subjected to a foreign dynasty. Bat the actual state of facts was nothing of the kind. The present dynasty, so far from being unpopular, was looked upon as having conferred great benefits upon the country. Not a single Chinaman had joined the Taepings. In conclusion, he would appeal to the house whether, after the explanations which had been given, the Government could have followed any other policy in China. Lord NAGS said the policy which he and those who thought with him advocated with respect to China was a policy of strict neutrality on the part of all our employtlis, both military and diplomatic, which would prevent them from meddling at all in Chinese affairs. For the last two or three years their policy had been directly the reverse of that; and if now they were compelled to fall back upon a policy of neutrality, that was because they had tried a dif ferent policy, and it had c^mpletely failed. The British Government had been imposed upon by the representations made to them, and it wag entirely owing to their neglect, and the carelessness with which they had sent forth that expedition, that British authority had been exposed to a slight in China by the contemptuous dismissal of Captain Osborn. The Government of that ccuntry was centrally strong and locally weak, and at the present time Captain Gordon was not, as was supposed, in the service of the Em peror of Chine, but was in the service of the Foo•tai of Shanghai, who habitually set aside all orders he received from Pekin. It was a disgrace to her Majesty's Govern ment that an officer in her ➢lejesty's uniform should he in command of such a force, and should be a witness of such atrocities as had been perpetrated at Foo-choo. 1 Mr. B. COCHRANE also censured the policy of the Go vernment, and observed that he should very much like to see a debtor and creditor account prepared, showing the losses which the country had sustained on the tne hand, and the advantages it had acquired on the other. He thought the balance so struck would supply an instructive and suggestive lesson. Mr. LIDDELL instanced the vast diminution which had taken place in the production of silk in the districts which were the scene of the Teeping war as a consequence of the policy pursued by her Majesty's Government of espousing the Imperial cause. Referring to the withdrawal of the order in council permitting English officers to take set vice with the Chinese Government, the hon. gentleman ex pressed a hope that it was not only prospective but retro spective, so as to apply to CaptaiLs Gordon and Cocke, and other officers who were already in the employ of the Em peror. Mr. GREGSON approved of the policy of the Govern ment, and maintained the absolute necessity of holding and defending the treaty ports. Sir J. ELPHINSTONE dissented from the recommenda tion of Mr Cobden to withdrawfrom the treaty ports and esta blish a series of free ports along the coast of China. Hs thought that the Government were bound to provide some means of repressing the disorders and irregularities which prevailed there, and endeavour to pave the way for some amelioration of the system of government in China. Mr. WHITE believed that the continuance of the policy hitherto followed in China would act most disastrously on British interests and British honour in that part of the world. Mr. KINGLAKE, referring to an expression made use of by the noble lord (Naas), to the effect that Captain S. Osborn had ignominiously withdrawn, said that although he himself understood the meaning intended to be conveyed, he wished to afford the noble lord an opportunity of making clear the expression in his speech. Lord NAAS said he had no intention of saying anything in the least disrespectful to Captain Osborn, whose conduct was beyond all praise. (Hear, hear.) Colonel SYKES denied that the policy agreed upon by the Ministers of Russia, France, and America was identi cal with that pursued by her Majesty's Government. In fact, it was just the reverse. The Taepings had been re presented as desolators of the country, but if that were really the case, how did it happen that the districts occu pied by them had furnished us with nine-tenths of the silk which we obtained from China? Lord PALMERSTON—There is this remarkable cha racter in the discussion, that while my hon. friend the member for Rochdale has taken a very wide and large view of the question, according to his notion of it, those who had followed him on the other side of the House had taken a very narrow and combined view, and had limited their ob • servation s to the recent transactions of the Government in regard to their policy in China. It is almost unnecessary to express an opinion with regard to the expedition of Cap• tain Sherard Osborn, and the employment of Major Gordon and the others, because he had stated upon a former occasion that the orders in Council under which these afters were employed had been recalled, and there is no intention to renew th em . Therefore that policy is entirely at an end, at the same time that I entirely differ from those who con demn it. There was nothing ignominious either in the original undertaking of Captain Osborn, or on the grounds on which he declined to continue the service. On the contrary, the whole conduct of Captain Osborn from be ginning to end did him the highest possible honour and did the country honour also. At the sa me t i me, these measures have failed, and I am sorry for it ; b ut they have failed, not from any fault of those wh o planned or those who engaged in them, but they failed simply from the effects of those international jealousies which are too apt to prevail in a country like China. m y non. friend the member for Rochdale, on the other hand, blames the whole policy of the Government of England in respect of our intercourse with China—not simply the con duct of a single administration. But, now, was our inter course with China sought for simply by the Government ? I admit at once that it the monopoly of the East India Com pany bad been continued, none of those wars would have occurred. In that case our intercourse with China would have been very restricted; there would have been no na• tional honour at stake,and the Company would have thought it better to submit to any indignity rather than break off with the Imperial Government. But it was not within the choice of the English Government to continuo the monopoly; the whole country cried out against it. and therefore it was abolished. Then ensued a series of conflicts with Lhe Chinese Government, which brought us down to the treaty of Pekin. The hon. member for Rochdale was very sentimental upon the objecti - aas made by the Chinese Government to allowing a British resident to go to Pekin; but 1 take leave to say that, if there had been a British resident at Pekin at the outset of these die. I take th e l arger view, putes none of th ese wars would have ta k en p l ace . Th e n and I say the house and the country ought to consider, not the particular expediency of one in dividual measure in the cuurse of our policy with respect to China, but they ought to consider tha great features of our policy. I quite concur in the opinion that eur object in China is simply trade. But then trade must bo protected by treaties. But was the extension of trade by treaties a matter of indifference to the nation ? Let me recall to the house the great dellght which was felt throughoit the country 'Upon the conclusion of Sir H. Pottinge's treaty. Indeed, I remember myself endeavooit!ng to abate the exul tation into which the hones and the country was thrown upon the ocoaeielt 'arthat treaty being announced. I very much tegfc'et 'with the hon. and gallant officer on the other ego in the description he gave of the Taepings; but there can be no doubt, in waging such a tar as this, there will be guilt on both aides, thotgh we must admit the balance of crime to be tcatly on the side of the Taepings. (A laugh.) When that war will come to an end, it is be.:rcnd the power of any man in this country to ptedict. We know very well that for three thousand years China has been the seat of turbelett disturbances, revolts, and rebel lions; and thnterure it would be sanguine to expect an early terreivation of the war. But, sir, somebody said our objects lb the war were selfish. Well, selfish no doubt they are, in a national point of view. But those who think this question relates solely to the particular merchants who export to China and eche have their establishments there take a nar row and very limited view of the matter. Those merchants are merely the outfall by which the thousand rills of the country find their way to the great markets of the world. Those merchants are the means by which are supported the industries of hundreds of thousands of the working classes. Therefore, those persons who would have this change of policy, to narrow our foreign markets, and lessen the breadth of our trade, are taking the bread out of the mouths of the working classes of this country, and depriving them of the means of gaining a livelihood, (No, no, and hear, hear.) As soon as we cease to trade with foreign countries, the industries of those classes are stopped, and they are de prived of the assistance they would obtain from the mar kets for their industries in those countries. Therefore I do not admit the justice of the expression that ours has been a selfish policy, in the sense it was used. I say it is the duty of the Government to provide, not for the mere extension of the revenue, nut for the develop ment of the general industry and prosperity of the country, and to enable the industrious classes to pursue their calling with advantage and suc cess, and make themseives happy and prosperous at home. I say, then, that the policy the Governments of this country have pursued from the time of the East India Company to the present time has been successful. I am persuaded that our relations with the central Govern ment of China are now so firmly established as not likely to be shaken, and that by those relations we shall find the commerce of the country annually increasing; and if we should be able to get an unrestricted commerce with so large a population as that of China, it would be of immense ad vantage to the increasing prosperity of the country. Mr. BRIGHT said the noble lord was more sanguine than the house generally was on this question ; for, looking over the debate which had occurred that. night, it appeared to him that, with little exception, there had been expressed nothing but condemnation of all that the noble lord had done and approved of with regard to China within the last thirty years. The honourable member for Lancaster (Mr. Gregeon) had expressed that sort of con fidence in the noble lord that might have been reasonable in him towards a person older than himself some sixty or sixty-five years ago. (A laugh.) He had followed the noble lord with a placidity that was perfectly charming, and, Le supposed with a view of following the noble lord, the honourable member had been touting in the City for China merchants who followed the policy of the noble lord. He understood there were from 120 to 150 English merchants in China, some in extensive busi ness, and some not very considerable. Well, the policy of the noble lord ordered that there should be one ship of war from this country to support each three of those merchants. (Heir, hear.) Thal was a state of things with regard to our commerce which did not exist in any other part of the world. No doubt the merchants had a stake in that coun try, but the people of England had a stake also ; and, look ing back to the last 30 years, there was scarcely any portion of the history of this country of which they could less be proud than of our relations with China. Not only had the policy of the Government been condemned from both sides of that house, but it was evident that Sir Frederick Bruce himself was disgusted with it. We were, in fact, getting into a state of difficulty and mismanagement, from which nobody seemed to know exactly how we were to be extricated (Hear, hear.) The noble lord had admitted, as part of his defence that night, that everything he had said in regard to our more recent policy had been a failure; and though, as he said, the failure of the plane might be no blame to the Government, the house would probably think that the con ception of plans so absurd and impossible was a blame to them. (Hear, hear.) Then the noble lord had treated them to some observations on these Chinese marauders. The noble lord said the natural history of a war tetween all highly-civilised and semi-barbarous nations was, that un• pleasantness arose, disputes were occasioned, wars followed disputes, and afterwards were carried on for such a length of time that the highly civilised nation had been battered pretty nearly to pieces by the semi-barbarous nation ; then the semi barbarous nation became entirely submis sive, and nothing could positively be more friendly and harmonious than the future relations of the two nations. (Laughter.) That was what the noble lord told them, and that was what he expected to be the result of his policy. lie believed that our breaking through the se clusion of the capital city of Pekin had shattered the whole political and social system of an empire containing one-third or quarter of the whole population of the globe. If he were the noble lord, he should not speak boaetingly of a policy wbich had brought about such a grave and disastrous result to so large a portion of the human race. The noble lord had even an audacity beyond that ; for he had charged the hon. member for Rochdale, by implication, with not having any regard for the condition of the interests of the industrious clams of this country. The noble lord attempted to per suade the house that the Ulna trade was of so great im • portance to the working classes of this country as to make it worth while to indulge in the policy which he had carried out. The truth was, the profit of the export China trade for thirty years past had not paid the cost of the wars which bad taken place, and if the same course was pursued with regard to the rest of our foreign trade, we should require 2,000 ships of war for its guardianship. The policy of the noble lord for some time had been a total failure, and he hoped he would for once come to the conclusion that he was not infallible, and that the united good sense and wisdom which sprang from experience, as shown by the discussion in the house that night, was rather that which ought to govern a great question of foreign policy like this, than the prejudices which the noble lord had so passionately cherished for thirty years, that they seemed at last to have got the better of his reason and his judgment. (Hear, hear.) The motion was then withdrawn. Mr Alderman SALOMONS obtained leave to bring in a bill to facilitate the traffic of the metropolis by improving the communications across the river Thames, and Mr HANKEY a Bill for defraying out of fees a portion of the expense of carrying into effect the Charitable Trusts Act, 1853. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 1, 1864. SCHOOL INSPECTORS' REPORTS. Lord PALMERSTON moved the nomination of the Select Committee on Education (Inspectors' Reports), to consist of 15 members Mr CLAY moved, as an amendment, that it be referred to the General Committee of Elections to nominate a select committee of five members. After a long discussion, in which Lord PALMERSTON signified his readiness to adopt the amendment, Mr HENNESSY moved that the debate be adjourned. Upon a division this motion was negatived by 61 to 30. The discussion was then resumed with some degree of warmth, and ultimately the debate was adjourned. The orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house adjourned at 25 minutes to 2 o'clock. The National Colonial Emigration Society, Yesterday afternoon a public meeting of the promoters of this society, which was established in June, 1862, for the encouragement of emigration generally to the British Cs.. lonics, was held at 'Willis's Rooms, King-street, St. James's, and was presided over by the Right Hon. Lord Lyttelton, president of the society. The proceedings were commenced by Mr. Arthur Hodg son, the hon. secretary, reading a report from the council of the society, which gave a detail of its operations during a period of 19 months. From this document it appeared that in the course of that period the society assisted in sending 104 emigrants to Canada, 3 to Vancouver's Island, 6 to New South Wales, 81 to Victoria, 120 to South Australia, 85 to Queensland, 17 to Tasmania, and 3 to Western Australia ; while to the New Zealand Provinces they had sent 42 to Auckland, 235 to Canterbury, 12 to Nelson, 6 to Wellington, 1 to Otago, 1 to Southland, and 10 to Hawke's Ba 3 , which, with 2 sent to Natal, made a total of 731. It also appeared that over and above this number, since the close of the society's financial year in December last, 100 ether persons had been assisted by the society to emigrate to the Canadian, Aus tralian, New Zealand, and Cape Colonies. A large number of those assisted had come from the distressed districts of Lancashire and Cheshire, and special donations ire aid of that particular class of emigrants had been received to the amount of £591 14s 10d, which included a grant of £661 made by the Mansion-house Relief Committee. Endeavours were being made to pron.ote the formation of co-operative committees in each colony for the purpose of affording to newly-arrived emigrants the benefit of their advice and as sistance,as also of receiving and transmitting to this country any moneys that colonists might wish to send to their friends or relations about to emigrate. In order, however, to carry out and render permanent the operations of the society, it was necessary that the amount of donations and annual sub scriptions should be considerably increased, and an earnest appeal was made to the public for funds in order that the society might be enabled more effectually than had hitherto been done to carry out its benevolent object, From the balance -sheet it appeared that the total receipts from June, 1862, to Jan. 31 last had been £3,339 4s 4d, and the total expenditure £2,566 173 9d, of which £1,575 152 6d was in the shape of grants to emigrants, while there was a balance at the bankers of £772 68 Bd. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, stated that while there was at present no particular pressure which rendered emigration on a large scale necessary, still the effect of such a society was always needed to help on the natural and healthy flow of emigration which would at all times be more or less going on to the colonies. While there was no particular reason in England, there was in the far north of Scotland, in the Hebrichs, a large population suffer ing very severely, and to whom emigration to some of the colonies N`; - ould 1e a blessing, and whom, did its means per mit—which they did not at present—the society would readily assist in sending there. Cases such as that showed the absolute necessity of some such organisation, and he hoped the means would be afforded to enable the society more effectually to meet them. The Rev Mr CROFT, in seconding the motion, thought they should make it known to the public—seeing the stream of emigration which was proceeding to the States of Ame rica —that, with the assistance of the society, emigrants could get at as cheap a rate to the Australian colonies as they now get to New York. The report having been accepted, Mr MERRYTA.LE then moved a resolution to the effect that, as a well-regulated system of emigration was calculated to increase the prosperity of the mother country, and as the society provided such a system, it was deserving of the sup port of the public. The resolution having been seconded by Mr Sporns- WOOD, it was unanimously adopted. The office-bearers of the society for the current year were then reelected, and the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the noble chairman. Threatened Extension of Church Bates. a Yesterday a deputation waited on Lord Palmer ston, at Cambridge , house, to represent to his lordship the necessity for so altering the Church-building Acts Consolidation Bill as to carry out the intention of Parliament in respect to church rates. The de putation consisted of the following members of Parliament :—Lord Henley, Sir C. Douglas, Sir F. Crossley, mills,A r SpierndSe.rM, Mr Pete,Diliwyn, Mr Hadfield, Mr J. R. Mr. J. White, Mr Sutton Western, Mr Dodson, Sir F. Goldamid, Mr Lawson, Mr Leafoam, Mr Potter, Mr Ayrton, Mr G. S. Lefevre, Mr Pilkington, Mr Hardcastle, Mr Baines, Mr Alcock, Mr Paget, Mr Hibbert, Mr Wickham, Mr Pease, Mr Danby Seymour, Mr P. A. Taylor, and Col. Sykes. Sir Charles Douglas intro duced the business of the deputation, by reading a statement respecting their object, which was de scribed as being, not to state general objections to church rates, but to urge the necessity of inserting in the bill now before Parliament, a clause distinctly prohibiting the levy of church rates in new parishes. The deputation submitted that a great injustice would be done if the acts were consolidated without giving effect to the intentions of the legislature. It was also pointed out that the omission of any clauses from the present bill would not redress the griev ance complained of ; while the consolidation of the law would, practically, put an obstacle in the way of further legislation. Finally, it was urged that the opponents of church rates were not desirous of taking away a power already exercised, but of pre venting power being planed in the hands of those to whom it had expressly been declared it ought not to be given. The general terms of the reply given by Lord Palmerston induced many of the deputa tion to hope that the arguments now had some weight. Though his lordship declined to give any pledge, he stated distinctly that the object the Go vernment had in view was to consolidate the various acts and not to introduce any amendments either on the one side or the other. His lordship said that he was informed by the Attorney-General that in the opinion of the hon. and learned gentleman such would really be the effect of the measure ; at all events that was the intention of the Government. If the law was doubtful at present, it belonged to the proper judicial tribunals to determine the law. To remove the doubt would be in fact to alter the law; and that was a course which the Government did not propose to adopt. If the result of judicial decisions was to show that the law was not what it ought to be, the parties aggrieved would be at liberty to try End bring about en amendment. It was said that by consolidating existing laws new force was given to them, but his lordship demurred to that proposition; and as to the statement that the committee had made certain alterations in the position of the clauses, if they had done so that was not tantamount to making an alteration in the law itself. His lordship pro mised to consult the Attorney-General and the Home Secretary in reference to the views placed before him by the deputation, and concluded by reiterating that the object of the Government was not by strategy to alter the law, but simply to bring together the various enactments that were scattered through several acts of parliament with reference to the church building question—a state of the law which was very inconvenient to those who had to administer it. A conversation took place after the statement of the noble earl. It was suggested that as it was purely a church question, and would not benefit dissenters, the latter had a right to ask the Government to waive the present bill until the law on the subject was settled, and that, as there is a case now before the legal tribunals of the country (Gough T. Jones) which turns upon the construction of the acts, it would be unfair to bias that case in any way. Lord Palmerston said that the deputa tion were asking for two pledges, first, that the Government would postpone the Consolidation Act, and then that they would alter the law. The only pledge that he could give, however, was that he would consult his colleagues about it. One hon. member stated that there were not six clauses of the bill as it stands whioh were identical with the corresponding clauses in the old acts. His lordship asked whether the meaning was altered,and the reply was that it certainly was. Some further conversation took place, in which a clause was read to his lordship which would pre vent the ant giving power to levy rates for district churches, and a confident hope was expressed that, as both the pro-rate and the anti-rate parties were desirous that no alteration should at present be made is the law, the Government would allow the bill to drop. It was also stated that the anti church-rate party was not fairly represented on the committee of last session. UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE. CAMBRIDGE, May 31. At a congregation this day it was proposed by special grace to pass honorary degrees in law upon those whose names have already been published — to wit : the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cam bridge, Prince Louis of Hesse, Earl Granville, the Duke of Manchester, Earl Stanhope, Earl Spencer, Earl Carnarvon, Viscount Eversley, Lord Palmer ston, Lord Leigh, Lord Harris, Sir E. B. B. Lytton, Sir William Page Wood, Sir Charles Eastlake, General Knollys, the Dean of Westminster, Mr. Hope, M.P., and Mr. Watson, president of the Royal College of Physicians. Opposition was offered to several of these graces,bnt the one propos ing to confer the honorary degree upon the Duke of Manchester was carried by 133 placets to 5 non placets. The grace proposing to confer the honorary degree upon LTA. Leigh was non.placeted, but carried by 127 placets to 4 non-placets. The pro position to confer the honorary degree upon the Rev, the Dean of Westminster was at once non placeted, and that amid cheers and hisses from the galleries where und e r gra duates most do congregate. The poll being taken, however, there appeared— placets, 120; non-placets, 19. This, a result not formally announced, but understood, was received with loud cheers. Voting followed with regard to the recommendations of the library and astro nomical syndicates, and the changes proposed ; these were all matters of detail, and call for no observa tion. Grace 33, however, proposed to carry into effect the late recommendations of the syndicate in regard to the proposed changes in the ordinary B.A. examination, and the pass examinations having re ference thereto. The grace proposing the adoption of the scheme was rejected by 54 non-placets to 47 placets. SURGERY.—Examined and approved for the de gree of Master in Surgery--Alfred Gcdson, M.A., Trinity College. , AW.—Bachelors of Law Examination, Easter Term—Examined and approved—Bullock, Christ's ; Cordeaux, Christ's ; Haldane, Trinity ; Henslowe, Erman. ; Ds. Jardine, Christs ; Lidderdale, St. Peter's; Martin; Trinity Hall ;1)8. Mozeley, King's; Nichols, St. John's ; Ross, E., Trinity. J. T. Abdy, LL.D. ; F. W. Gibbs, M.A. ; Henry Davidson, ; L. T. Baines, M.S. At the congregation mentioned above the follow ing degrees were conferred—M.A., Augustus Henry Hunt, St. Peter's College; Wm. Henry Hutchinson, Pembroke College; Fred. Wm. Blumberg, Caius College; Wm. Clavell Ingram, Jesus College ; Chas. Tremlow Royde, Christ's , College ; John Rakes, Sidney College. L MM., Geo. Wm. Marshall, St. Peter's College. James Phillips, M.A., of Dublin, was admitted ad eundena graduin. Alleged Poisoning of Three Children. Yesterday morning Mr W. Carter, the Surrey coroner, resumal the investigation into the alhged poisoning of three children of henry and Ann Webber. The jury, which was originally empannelled in a cottage near Spa Bottom, between Esher and Cobham, re-assembled at the White Lion Inn, Cobham-street. It appeared from the evidence taken on the first occasion, that Henry Webber was a sawyer, residing with his wife and five children at a lodge adjoining the residence of Captain Bretterton, midway between Esher and Cobham. Oa Wed nesday, the 20th of last month, John Webber, one of the children, aged five years, was suddenly seized with violent vomiting and purging, and he died in 18 hours, without having been seen by a medical man. On the same day Henry, a boy aged 14 years, was attacked with precisely similar symptoms, but medicine being given him, ho ulti • mately recovered. On Friday, the 22d, Eliza, aged two years and six months, was taken ill in the same way, and she died in 15 hours, None of the children had eaten food, other than their regttlar sustenance. Henry Webber was too ill upon the first occasion to be examined, but by great care has survived, and gave minute evidence as to the action of the poison. Henry Webber, aged 14 years, deposed—l reside with my father at Spa Bottom. His present wife is not my mother. Eliza was my half-sister. I was taken ill on the Saturday before the Thursday on which she died. My head ached ver; much. I was not sick. I felt unwell in the bowels at seven o'clock in the morning. My brother John was lying dead at that time, at.cl he had been taken ill in the bowels at first in the way I was. I had medicine given me on the Thursday night, and it was in the form of a powder. My stepmother gave me the powder, mixed in a tea cup, and she said she had given Eliza some powder too. I saw a powder given to John on Monday night. I gave it to my stepmother, but I did not see her mix it. Neither I nor my brother or sister had eaten anything in the woods. Our usual food was bread and butter or dripping, and beef. We had tea to drink, and we never wanted food. My father and mother were not in the habit of quarrelling. All the children were treated alike. I never heard my stepmother make any threat. She used to beat me and her own chil dren when we deserved it. Dr. Albert J. Bernays, Professor of Chemistry and Phy siological Chemist at St. Thomas's Hospital, said that he received from a police-constable, a jar containing the sto mach and intestines of Eliza Webber. He made an analysis, assisted,by Dr. Lees. The exanfinatian of the con tents of the stomach was without result. In the tissues of the stomach there was found arsenic. It was distinctly present, but in a very small quantity. The purging and vomiting would have the effect of removing the larger quan tity of arsenic had it been taken into the body. It was, in his opinion, totally impossible that the arsenic could have been conveyed in the chalk mixture given by Mr. Smith. Looking at the evidence, he should say that some of the symptoms were consistent with poisoning by arsenic, and others were not, which certainly raised a doubt in his mind whether arsenic had caused the death. Dr A. Swaino Taylor, F.11,C.5., Professor of Chemistry and Medical Jurisprudence at 11 ay's Hospital, was then sworn, and he said that he received from a police officer 4 oz. of blood, and the liver and heart, both kidneys, a por tion of the brain, and the bladder of the deceased child Eliza Webber. In the brain and heart he found no traces of mine ral poison of any kind. He took 12 oz. of the liver and found no trace, not the thousandth part of a grain of arsenic. When a person died from arsenic traces of it could be found in 4 oz, of liver, that was when the person died in the same space of time atter the taking of anenic, as the illness of this child had lasted. He deemed it unnecessaey to examine the bladder and kidneys, as when arsenic was not found in the liver, it was never traceable in these organs. He got about 4 oz. of evacuation, He tested them and found no arsenic, but there was a trace of mercury, which was to be seen on the copper gauze produced. The Coroner said that a small quantityof calomelhad been prescribed for the child by the surgeon called in. Would that have accounted for the appearance of mercury ? Dr. Taylor said undoubtedly it would. He tested and found that the mercury was not due to the presence of corrosive sublimate. He had entirely failed to find poison. But he could not giv 3 an opinion as to the cause of death until he heard all the evidence as to the symptoms present before death. The Coroner then read over at length the evidence in question, which showed that all three children had been at tacked in precisely the same manner. Professor Taylor said that after hearing all the evidence, and bearing in mind the results of tue analysis, he came to the nape conclusion as Mr. Smith. that the child died from ii.flammation of the stomach and intestines, not caused by mineral poison. He might say that children were very sus ceptible to inflammatory action arising from the effusion of cesspools. Contiguous to Weber's-lodge was a cesspool, which, though perhaps not necessarily emitting a n , ,xious smell, ought to be removed. He was inclined to consider that such was the cause of the singular attack from which the two children died. But even if he had found arsenic in the quantity mentioned by Dr. 13ernays, he would still consider that the poison had not caused the death, but that it was due to gastro-enteritis. The Corner having summed up, The jury returned a v, rdict " That deceaseds' deaths arose from gastroenteritis the result of natural causes." AQUATICS. ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB. The first regatta of the above distinguished club this sea son took place yesterday, and was one of the finest matches on record, although is is touch to be regretted that the rain which fell heavily during the afternoon marred much of the pleasure which would otherwise have been experienced in witnessing it. There were four prizes for competition for the first class—cutters exceeding 3.5 tons, a prize value 100 soya for the first boat—and 50 sovs for the second. For the third class, exceeding 12 and not exceeding 20 tons, a prize of 40 ewe, and 20 sovs for the second boat—and the following had been entered and started : First Class, Yachts. Tons. Owners. 1. Illoequito ..•• 59 .. M. T. Ouldsworth 2. Sur ge 5l Mr. W. W. F. Hay 3. Astarte . . 4. Volante GO .. Mr. H. Maudslay 5. Vindex Third Class. 1. Vampire 2O .. Capt. J. E. Commerell, RN, 2. Satanella 13 . , Capt. B. Bennett 3, Dudu l5 .. Captains Baldeck and Rudge 4. Zerlina 5, Alexandra l5 .. Mr. G, Harrison Half a minute time per ton for difference of tonnage. The course originally intended for the larger craft was from Gravesend round the Mouse Light and back, and for the smaller round the Nore Light and back, but owing to the wind being dead on end and the flood having begun well to make ere the larger class got more than 3 miles below the Nore, the course was reversed and they turned round the steamer, which was there anchored for the purpose, the lesser yachts going nearly the entire distance. The Prin cess of Wales steamer had been chartered by the club for the conveyance of members of the club and their friends, and left London-bridge at ten in the morning with a very large and fashionable party. The vessel proceeded direct to Gravesend at full speed, where at two o'clock the noble commodore, Lord Alfred Paget, ordered a gun to be fired for the fleet to get in readiness, which was succeeded by a second, in five minutes afterwards, to start. Of the above fleet the Mosquito, the far-famed clipper of former years, then the property of Lord Londesborough, has not been engaged of late in match sailing, but although built about 15 years ago, her owner gallantly entered her in this race to contend ageinst the new clippers of the pre sent day. There she was,back in her old form, and well she played her part in the great race which followed. The Surge is an entirely new boat, by Tepe, of Fairlie, last year, and was very successful in the Irish Channel. The Astarte was also new from the hands of Roy, of Southampton, and the Volante and Vindex are both well known as very fine wea therly craft, the former of the two being an old boat. In the third class the Vampire has fbr years been well known as the most formidable boat of her class; the Satanella is a new boat, by Aldons ; the Dudu, a new boat, by Hatcher ; the Zerlina, a new boat, by Panhill; and the Alexandra, a boat of last year, by Mr Harrison, her owner. Besides the Prince of \Vales there were two other steamers and the fol lowing fleet of gentlemen's yachts accompanying the races: —The Stella, Cyclone, Antagonist, Aquiline, Mars, * Violet, Agatha, Medea, Night Thought, Syren, Whirlwind, Phenix, Minos, Phantom, Fleur-de-lis, Blue, Bell, and others. When the signal was fired simultaneously for the start of both classes, the seamanship on board the yachts was worthy of this great club, and soon their elegant spars were covered with canvas, We may treat of the first class at some length, but the third class were soon lost in the attention bestowed on the larger craft, The Volante was very quick to get her canvas up, Surge next, then Mcsquito and Vindex, The Surge was first away, the Mars second, the Vindex third. There was at the time a nice wind from E.N.E., which freshened into a whole sail breeze. They all made a board directly to the northward, the Vindex smartly setting her topsail, which was immediately followed by the Surge doing the same ; the Mosquito, which had a nice berth at the start, leading the Vindex, Surge, and Volante, the latter racing close in shore. The Musquito and Surge now began to steal away from the others. The Astarte had gone about astern of ail the others first. The Mosquito immediately drew away from the Surge, and the order by the Lower Pier at Gravesend was Mosquito, Surge, Volante, Astarte last. Nearing East Tilbury the Mosquito was leading by some lengths, the Volante and Vindex crossing each other on different boards, Soon after this the Mosquito was two boards ahead of the second boat, and showing her fine turn ing properti es as i n d ays of yore. The S urge was at this rime fourth, and the Astarte last. In the lower part of the Reach tee Mosquito had slightly increased her lead. The Astarte and the Volante were now engaged in a very fine race, when the Volante was by accident unfortunately put hors de combat. The Volante it was thought did not turn so fast to windward as formerly, and the Astarte having dis posed of the Surge by passing her on the same tack, had become almost level with the Volante. The Astarte going about under the lee of the Volante, and not being quick enough her boom caught the topmast stay of the Volante, broke her Mast, ~ thich, falling, broke the gaff and her top sail hung over the mainsail to' leeward. Thin was entirely the effect of accident, and, being so, no protest to an made by the owners of the injured craft. This left the Astarte second, the Vindex third, and the Surge fourth. Half-way down the Lower Hope the Mosquito was still a couple of boards a-head, the Vindex and Astarte holding a fine race for the second place. At the middle Bligh Buoy the Mosquito still led as before, the struggle for second place continuing between the Vindes and Astarte ; but on arriv ing at the Chapman the Astarte went ahead of her, the one being on the port and the other on the starboard tack, the Astarte holding a very good wind, but, as it was thought, being somewhat slow in stays. Off Southend the Astarte forereached the Mosquito, both being on the starboard tack ; but in the next board the Astarte, being hampered by a schooner, had to bear up, and thus give the Mosquito an advantage, by which she profited, and so again took the lead. Tho Astarte and Vindex now shifted their topsails, and set jib-headed ones; but the Astarte again gradually overhauled the Mosquito, the wind freshening, and went into first place, which she continued to hold till rounding the steamer. Throughout the journey down, the Vindex had proved herself a very fine yacht to windward. There was a signal of protest by the Vindex against the Astarte for not giving way when upon the port tack, as she was bouni to do, but it V. as not persevered in. The rounding was as follows : H. 1 Astarte 2 Mosquito 3 Vindex 4 Surge 3 20 25 In rounding the Vindes broke the jaws of her gaff. They all now spanked up before the wind with a flowing sheet and good flood tide under them, and nothing occurred worthy of notice upon the return, the race finishing in the following times and order : 11. M. S. 1 Astarte 2 Mosquito 3 Vindex 4 Surge Of the third. class match we are not able to say much, for the reason before assigned. The Vampire, Satanella, and Dudu were very smart in setting their canvas and getting away, but the Zerlina and the Alexandra were somewhat slower. The first three were soon in trim, but the Zerlina getting her peak halyards foul was thrown astern of the others. Placed in a line below the others they also made a board to the north shore, and the Vampire soon after the start took a decided lead, which she held some distance up, There was some fine sailing between the Alexandra and Dudu, and was continued to Thames Haven, where the Alexandra led, the Dudu second, and Vampire third. but oil approaching the Chapman, the wind freshening, the Vampire passed her boats and took the first place, and from that point continued to lead all the way down. No time was kept at the turning boat, but the following is the order in which they rounded : Vampire three minutes ahead. Dudu second, by a minute. Alexandra one minute ahead of the Zerlina, which was six minutes before the Satanella. They kept the same order all the way home, finishing as follows : S. 1. Vampire 2. Dudu . 4 55 3 3. Alermdra 4. Satanella Zerlina, not timed. The noble Commodore then presented Mr. A. Duncan, of the Vindex, with the fist prize of his class, and Mr. Houldsworth, of the Mosquito, with the second, winning by time ; Captains Cermoran and Baldock, the owners of the Vampire and Dudu, with the prizes of their class. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Watt, the steward of the Princess of Wales, for the excellence of the provi sions on board, SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. HERALD.—" Aide toi, Dieu t'aidera." The manly and self-reliant motto of the Confederate States seemed at first a too arrogant challenge to their enemies and to the world. When four years ago the new republic drew its sword and threw away the scabbard, its case appeared desperate to those at a distance who calmly calculated the chances of its success or failure. The Northern and Southern peoples of the late Union, sprung from the same stock and nurtured in the same traditions, did not seem so dissimilar that either side could he supposed to have a moral advantage which would neutralise a dis parity in numbers. Subtract from them the doubtful populations of the Border States, and we have less than six millions of Southerners to con tend with at least twenty millions of Northern men. It did not seem possible at first that the small minority should succeed in asserting its rights without the ectise assistance of powerful friends. No such friends volunteered to the rescue, and most of us regarded the cause of in dependence as lost, and looked pityingly on the Southerners as doomed men. The event has most happily disappointed each melancholy forebodings. We are now in the middle of the fourth year of the war, and at every point of the wide battle-field the Southerners have by this time the best of it. Hope less, desperate, in the last stage of exhaustion of money and men, the North has braced itself up for one more convulsive onslaught on the Confederate lines. Fresh as at first, and stimulated with con fidence gained by repeated victory, with resources which are but just developing, and a supply of material and men who seem to spring from the ground in their country's need, the South has set itself defiantly ag ainst the mighty hosts of its an tagonist, tend hurled them back, bleeding and wounded from the lines of Richmond. Such a spec tacle as this has never been seen in the world. It is satisfactory to find that now and then the right can triumph over might—that the just cause, however weak, can prevail by the mere reason of the confidence in its justice, which arms the breasts of ifs champions with triple steel, The Southerners have acted up to their brave motto and well earned their reward. They have grandly proved themselves a nation, and have earned the applause of Europe, of the world, and of posterity. Ti r e may venture already to speak of this campaign of Lee as the greatest of the many triumphs of a great gene. rat. If his previous exploits had not earned it, his successful resistance to the immense army of Grant would have vindicated for him, alone among Ame rican generals of this second revolutionary war, the title to rank with the great captains of Europe. He is probably the only man in America who knows how to handle an army of 100,000 men. The attacks made upon him have been disjointed attacks, each by a general of a division of 30,000 or 40,000 men. There has been no effective combination between his assailants. Sedg wick does not come up until Hancock is defeated. Burnside is somewhere in the rear while Warren is being annihilated. The whole mass of the Confederate army, kept well in hand, and played altogether like the pieces on a vast chessboard, has been set at work to crush these generals in detail. Vigour is, doubtless, a quality most essential for a soldier, and this military attribute may be claimed for General Grant. But the history of the campaign so far confirms the opinion which we ventured to express at the out set, that In science and strategy, the qualities which command success in such extended (7nerations, Grant is a mere infant in the hands of Lee. The statements of Northern telegrams, and the com ments made upon them in Europe, as to the repulse of Lee and his retreat over a vast extent of country, are known by this time to be fictitious and illusory. He has not been defeated. In all the sanginary struggles from the sth to the 13th he was victorious. He gained two pitched battles—one at Wilderness, on the 6th; the other at Spottsylvania, on the 12th. He has not retreated over a single mile of ground, but has assumed and successfully defended the posi tion which from the very first he intended to occupy, which is eight miles south-east of the Rapi dan lards, and bars the road to Richmond. With his camp behind and in front of the Po River, he fights behind earthworks which were labori ously constructed under his directions after the battle of Gettysburg. On hilly vantage ground, or in thick woods where the Confederate soldier, invisib'o to the enemy, can shoot him down at his leisure, the guns and rifles of the Southern ermy can play with most deadly effect on bodies of the enemy which may imperil themselves on the plain in front. In the battle of the 12th the advantages of this position were well seen. The losses of the Confederates are supposed to have borne no comparison - with those of the army of Grant. The slaughter of the Federals was such as has no parallel in history. Whole regiments have disap peared from the muster-roll, whole divisions have been annihilated. There is no room for the wounded in the town of Fredericksburg, where the open streets have been turned into hospital wards, and the foot of man and horse stumbles as it treads on the gaunt prostrate forms of dead and dying. The wisdom of Lee's strategy has been terribly vindi• cited in a judgment which recalls to the minds of remorseful Northerners the destruction of the host of Sennacherib by the breath of God. It will take 100,000 men to repair the gaps that have been made in the Federal army, and with what sort of confidence can this hetacemb of fresh victims be expected to march to the death for a broken Union, whose knell has now been sounded on these bloodstained Virginian fields? General Grant has paid the penalty of his over weening presumption. M'Clellan long ago pro nounced the direot advance to Richmond to be utterly impracticable. Hooker attempted it and was ruined. Meade reconnoitered it, and coin cided in the opinion of APClellan. Grant, nothing daunted, rushed for ward and gave battle on the presumption that in the long run two men must conquer one, this being the simple secret of his vaunted strategy. It is possible, that when he crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, Grant 'al tended a flank march upon Richmond, by way ?- Gordonsville, where he would have appro.aehed on the west side, comparatively undefended. Lee' rendered this movement impossible by moving Iv' ward at once and attacking Grant at Wilderness.. He turned his right wing, and cut him off from Germania Mills and the Rapidan River, driving him eastward upon Fredericksburg as a base of operations, and leaving him no choice but to take the direct road to Richmond or retreat, Having accomplished his purpose in the battle of the 6th r Lee again took up his impregnable position at ,Spott sylvania, against which Grant has hurled hi& legions in vain. When the Federals are sufficient ) :l exhausted it will ba Gomel Lee's turn to assume the offensive. POST.—The debate on our flinese policy, which about a month since was abruptly brought to a cone elusion by a "count out," was resumed last even in g by Mr. Cobden. Mr. Cobden suggesi:,ed that our existing difficulties might be overcome, and eo escape Effected from an embarrassing sitelation, hY, the establishment of free ports and the confinement of our trading operations to places thus subjec:ed IS'ct° our own immediate jurisdiction. But, as r : Lay and observed, Shanghae and Hong Kong are ea' the present moment free ports, and the rstablishinen g of others could only be effected by the cession to us of Formosa and some other islands in the Chi? w' Seas. This cession would, however, be refused by. the Chinese Government, for the very sufficieee" ; reason that the establishment of a number of free' ports would enable us to absorb the entire of the external trade of the empire. But whether this were so or not, we should find ourselves obliged to adopt the same measures for their protection and for the maintenance of our commercial relations with the interior which we are now compelled to employ, nor could we ever hope to isolate ourselves completely from the country which would constitute the base of our operations. It has beet: more than once asserted that we are assisting th e i Chinese Government to suppress a rebellion, an d thEnby departing from that broad line of policy which we have for at least half a century scribed to ourselves in respect to the internal dis sensions of foreign States. This is, however, grave error. To us it is a matter of indifference what dynasty rules at Pekin. Bat we are obliged to recognise a de facto Government, and me °' especially so because it. manifests a desire of keep' ing faith with us. The Taepings are in arms ostensibly for the purpose of subverting the exist , . tug Government, but in reality for the sake of plundering every town into which they can effect att entrance. No one affects to doubt what would be' the consequences if Shanghae fell into the hands of the Taepings. It would be given over to indis' criminate pillage, and such of the inhabitant s as remained in it probably put to the sword' If the rebels were actuated by the motives which in other countries not unfrequently lead a section of the population to resist the established Govern' ment, it might be an open question whether we wore justified in aiding the Emperor of China to resist his revolted subjects, but under present cir cumstances no alternative is left us but to co-operate with the authorities in resisting a common enen 3 9' But we content ourselves with acting on the de fensive. We have not sent an army to China to assist the Emperor in subduing the Taepings; N rs are satisfied with taking measures to prevent their encroaching on territory which, though not abso lutely ours, we are justified in considering u nder our protection. Our position in China may be anomalous, and our relations with the Imperial Go vernment may be peculiar, but the former could 0 0t be abandoned, nor the latter seriously modified without jeopardising the lives and property of large numbers of individuals who have taken up their residence and invested their capital in China in th e belief that they were entitled to claim the protec' tion of the British Government. COUNTRY MARKETS. LIVERPOOL—TUESDA.Y. There was a good attendance both of town and conntil dealers at market to-day, and more business was done than` for a long time past. Wheat met with a good consureP tivo demand at Id to 2d per 100Ib dearer on the week. Flour more inquired for, but nominally unaltered in price, Oats and oatmeal a slow sale, the latter article especial i li In Indian corn there was a limited business, and quoted 3' per qr dearer. Barley, beans, and peas were steady at Pre vious rates. SHEFFIELD—TUESDA. Y. At our market to-day there was a small supP l of Y wheat in bulk. Higher prices were asked, but eventua l ' , a fair business was done at last week's extreme rates. Beans and barley at late rates. Oats advanced slightlY. Flour and other articles as before. Od Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushels 15s Od to 1 6 s White I, , Us Od to 18s Oa New red ' lss Od to 16 80 a New white ~ If , 17s Od to 18s ° 2 4 Beaus If If ids 6d to 17s 6d Peas, per qr 40s Od t o 445 01 -` 1 Grinding barley, per qr Malting ditto, „ 32s Od to 3 550 i /I Oats l9s Od to 24a au Flour; is 4d to la Sd per 14 lb. MARKET HARBOROUGH—TITESDAY. White wheat, 41s to 445; red, 36s to'39s per 36 5t0, 11 ,, e. Malting barley at 30s to 35s per qr.; grinding, 26s to hu,,t ) per 30 st, Oats, old, 24s to 275; new, 20a to 23s per at. ; beans, 36s to 42s per qr. MELTON MOWBRAY—TUESDAY. The following were the currencies :—New white wheat! 40s Od to 43s Od; new red, 36s Od to 39s per 36 stone! beans, 38s to 40s for old ; new sorts, 35s to 37s per 38 Il e ' ; barley, 33s to 35s .for malting., and 27s to 29s per qr• grinding ; new oats, 19s to 23s Od per 24 stone ; old, to 285., LEEDS—TUESDAY. There was a small show of fresh wrain this week, all d fair business was done in wheat, last Tuesday's rates beu'' rather exceeded, Oats and beans were firm, Avera,;es—May 30—Wheat 39s 5d per clr• —Barley 31s fild - —Oats - - —Beans 355 Od - —Peas .30s 01 BRISTOL—T UESDAY. There was a moderate attendance of millers to -day. i ! but a very inactive business doing. English and torig, wheat held tor is per qr more money. Barley dull. a trifle easier. Beans made is above late rates. Pea" - other spring corn dull. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. Joi e IS; via Marseilles June ri Brazil and Cape Verde, by British packet. Jun e 5, 7 . 9. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena., Juno ‘;' China, Penang, and Singapore, via Seuthampton.June '',?,, via Marseilles June ' Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton June India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton June 1 7 , via Marseilles Juno India (Bombay), via Southampton June 1 4 . 5. via Marseilles Jane "• Portugal.... Malta, Egypt, and Ad e n, v i a S out h ampton June' 's via Marseilles June Newfoundland Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... June S ' by U.S. packet.... „ by Canadian packet. June• 411 parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, 1 June 1 0 ' CJifornia. and British Columbia.. [ADTERTISEVENT.]—HoIIoway's Ointment and rti'"' il t Conclusive Evidence.---Scareely a day passes witr o i, leaving behind it some proof of the curative powers of Pal: tp . lows 's world-esteemed Ointment and Pills. A lady ' 0 44 from Allerton, Notts, on the 7th March, 1864,--" 'to leave to state that a few weeks ago I had the misfortun e a bruise my leg most severely. To my great surprise e l3 O inexpressible delight, your wonderful remedies were sooner applied than they gave me ease, stopped i n flanw - 0 tion, and made a perfect cure in an incredibly short ttr uB tl l, Testimonials such as the foregoing, which might be V 3 iv e, tiplied to any extent, should consol the afflicted, and h ie b hope to the despairing, when worn out by maladies seem unreliecable. Births. CoorEn..—On the 28th ult., at 5, Bryanston. squaretaid wife of Lieut.-C o l one l Ed war d C ooper , o f a $ Oll daughter. CAPEL.—On the 31 s t tilt , at 25, Frinces•square, T 3ilg. water, the wife of Arthur R. Capel, Esq., of a son. ..„1. LAMBERT.--On the 28th ult., at The Lodge, Great vern, Lady Lambert, of a son. eh, WiLsoN,—O n th e 29th u l t ., a t E as t Hill, W a ndso the wife of G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R,S., of a son. Marriage& DAVIES.—GILUERT.—On the 21st ult , at Mayfie hi ),„ S , 0 sex, M. G. Clement Davies, of 5, Love - lane,. e, ' Caroline only daughter of Mr. W. Gilbert, Morel 11° ' s Mayfield. STURBS.—CORP.—On the 25th ult., at the Church °Ve t' , Martin-on-the-Hill, Scarborough, Wm Thens lBSE %e Esq., second son of the Rev. George'Stubbs, of I"' f , S• ter, Durham, to Anne Cramond, eldest daughter ° Carp, Esq., of Kensington, Middlesex. Deaths. rot- BURDEN.—On the 29th ult., at Ladbroke-place , ting.hill, Miss Sarah Burden, furmerly o. t 31, Picea— aged 71. 3 ci s FRANKLIN.—On the 25th u!f ~ at Leamington , • r Franklin, Esq., M.D7, - a — ged . 8 0. LEWIS.—On the 29th ult., at Bryanston-street, e W. Lewis, Esq., age! 62. Phi llipei PHILLIPS.—On the 29th ult., at Clapham, rhiliP Esq., aged 62. WHEELER.—On the 29th ult., at Belgrave - P te 1/°llset Leicester, Thomas Wheeler, aged 65. „ ;c t Witimur.—On the 29th ult., at his residence , hill, Robert Wright, Esq ,of the Corn Excbangel lane, aged 75. $, London : Primed and Prtylished by WILLIAM ahD T )V. of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Inn Surf Once Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy. n. the Cony Ttliddleeex --Wednesday, June 1, 1864.