The Sun. — London, England, 1864-09-10 00:00:00

The, Danish Despatches. The following is the conclusion of the second series of despttcl aes recently laid before the Danish Rigsraad EXTRACT FROX A DESPATCH OF THE DANISH MINISTER AT STOCKHOLM TO X, HALL, PRESIDENT OF THE COUN CIL AT COPENN LAGEN. " Dec. 4, 1863. "M. le Mini stre,—ln reply to the communica tions I have been charged to make to the Stock holm Cabinet, conformably to your excellency's orders in des patches Nos. 27 and 28, Count Man derstrom hag. addressed a despatch dated the day before yestei day, to Count Hamilton, which the latter will have already brought to your excellency's knowledge be fore the arrival of this report. You w ill, therefore, be aware that the Stockholm Cabi net does not consider the present time opportune for proceeding to signature of the treaty negotiated in the course of the summer. "The explanations which Count Manderstrom gives of the point of view of his court are in complete the indications I have been in a position to forward to your excellency. I could, therefore, confine my self to referring thereto, but I request permission to profit by the opportunity of the departur e of Major- General von Blucher, who has kindly offered to take charge of this report, to have the honour of adding a few words which I particularly request your ex e:liency to regard as entirely confidential. " Since I have been aware of the project of a treaty of alliance with us, I have suspected that Connt Nla.nderstrom took part in it mainly to cover the res ponsibility of the king, who had gone to o far in his conversations with his late Majesty King Frederick VII. For I know that, notwithstanding their sympathy with our cause, th e great majority of the Swedish nation was not thoroughly pene trated with the conviction that the well•nnderstood interests of the country might counsel active co. operation in a conflict which did not in the main touch it very nearly. Thus it was impossible to con ceal from myself that the idea of a treaty of alliance •enth us, even under such circumstances as obtained (hiring the past summer, was unpopular enough. The Scandinavian party alone, which is not unmet.• ous, entertained this idea. Others, who considered' it a means of augmenting the military farces of the counL`ry, did not oppose it. With few exceptions, however, the majority is content to have discovered a pretext, plausible enough in its eyes, to abstain from the signature of the treaty. 1 will not be understood to say that the face of affairs is so far changed that we could no longer count upon the sympathies, and, up to a certain point, also upon the assistance of this country, Upon the contrary, our course is considered just. They are indignant at the perfidy of Germany and of the Government, bat they - : are rejoiced that an expedient has been found which permits Sweden to withdraw with honour from the elogagements she was on the point of contracting with tta. Count Manderstrom has frequently told me, and he has repeated in his despatch of the day be fore' yesterday, that the position of affairs was no longer the same now as in the summer. While at that time the matter was a special case of aggres sion against Denmark upon the part of :.Germany, under pretexts sought in Federal relations, the question has now assumed larger demensions—it has become European. Sweden is interested in it in the same degree as the other signitary Powers of the Treaty of London ; and further, she has duties to fulfil not only towards her neighbours but also towards herself. Ttie conjuncture of political affairs is of the most critical character. If we are unwilling to believe in an alliance between Prusia, ,Anstria, and Russia, it is not judicious to lose sight o f the possibility of an alliance between Russia and France. If I were r.ot apprehensive of repeating what has been said I would point out that Count INlcuderstrom is most desirous of avoiding the isola tion of Sweden from the action of the other Powers, seeing especially the fatal influence such an isola tion would exercise upon the course of events when the time shall have arrived for having recourse to mediation in our dispute. 1 venture to add that I believe Count Manderstrom sincere in the wishes he expresses for a fortunate issue to the struggle in which we are engaged. His despatches, his official language, and his private conversation affords proofs of that sincerity, and I believe that he worthily re presents his country alw from that point of view.. (Signed) " W. SCHEEL-PLESSEN." EXTRACT FROM A DESPATCH OF THE DANISH MI NISTER. AT STOCKHOLM. " Dec. 10, 1863. Actuatel by the alarming news brought the day before yesterday by the telegraph according to which a Federal execution in the Duchy of Holstein appeared imminent, I have thought it my duty to represent once more to Count Manderstrom the opportun'sness, nay the necessity, of coming to our aid. The count listened to me with marked attention, assured me of the lively interest he took in the present state of affairs, but repeated the same reasons as he brought forward when upon a previous occasion I endeavoured to decide the Stockholm Cabinet to active co-opera tion. While thanking the count for the diplomatic steps he had taken in our favour, I asked him if he did not think the time had arrived to go still fur ther. Unfortunately he was not of my opinion. In the long conversation we had upon the subject, and which clearly showed the sympathies he felt, the count among other things said Without the means of proving 'the fact, I believe that Austria and Prussia have promised England and France not to exceed the limits of a Federal execution, un founded as this extreme measure be. I believe also that the withdrawal of the patent of the 30th March will stop the march of the Germa❑ troops, but I fear lest another pretext might be discovered by Putting forward the Federal decree of the Ist October, which has now no longer any reason to exist. The rer l(S . igned) "W. SCHEEL-PLESSEN." to the minder of this series of documents relates negotiation between Denmark and Russia. ; In reference + ~o therethe report of the Political gfihseßrana6dsisaawyseescarcely : "Our relations witt by the rejection of changed of Franc last English the position proposal, and acceded to the Englishe. proposal of the line of the While Baron Brunnow Schlei, and himself brought a project of frontier line, he opposed forward . partition with an Undefined the proposition made by France on the 22d J une. indications are found show i ngthat he w as i nclined t t o fie thate pursued at t h e to take up a dif f erent co urse Conference. Thus he said in the the proposition of Ju ne 9 that, far from rejectinghave been ProPoaltion f or a personal unio n, he would su pport it, having instructions in that sense to his Government. T hi s s tatement coincides from is shown from another q ua rter to have beenes with view of the Russian G overnmen t at the Conference, It will be interesting to se e ho w this view repeat edlyle appears. "A despatch from the Danish Minister at St. Petersburg, dated April 2L, says that a Ru ss i an statesman, whose opinion deserves attention, as , sumes that the Danish Government is not inclined to make the required concessions, which would run counter to the prevalent opinion in Denmark. France doeobot wish for war, but as is universally believed in St. Petersburg, fora condition of affairs which would ultimately facilitate the execution of her plans, and especially re nder p ossible the appli cation of universal suffrage, by which means she would be able to obtain territory in Germany, if even of quite an unimportant bartioter. It is even asserted that the Swedish armaments result trow French infletuce, that Sweden way &rive Borne advantage from possible events. "Upon the 10th May the same ambassador writes' ' : —' The Vi ce -Ch ance l lor (Pcince ofGotrte i sch l a k o ff) has h used the exp ress i on, " t h e unionhehies" to Imo tor tte firat titneohearvinze that Germany w°9l6 not renounce thi cottlitien, but than advantmgcoul eireumstancs mir- i "t remit or n le i s ts s ezecution, and that Russia will '' .her aesiste ance in this regard. T '.t must be for us continued the Paince, ' by not being too stet:. you, ' born, to the con ference, to reader the task of the friends of Den mark easier.' upon the 27th the ambassador writes :—"l'he vice-Chancellor told me that from his information be mint fssevae the diamt:eibt.n.elit of the monarchy would be preferred by Denmark to personal union, which would render the maintenance of the in tegrity possible. With regard to the London treaty, Prince Gortschakoff declared that he, for his part, could not accept any reproach ; that he had warned us of the dangers our policy was pre paring for us, and that he had neither notified before the war, nor at the present time, that we attached great value to the integrity of the mo narchy. . . It is my impression that if the King's Government endeavoured to obtain the per sonal union unreservedly and complete, Russia would support this combination without going to war. Russia would consider this the only means, under existing circumstances, of maintaining the integrity of the monarchy. . . Your excellen c y will be already aware that the idea has at last oc curred to the Cabinet of Vienna to propose to Den mark to enter into an alliance with Germany. liy this means the integrity of the monarchy would be preserved. To judge by the prevalent opinion among us (the Danes) this idea would unquestion ably be rejected; but provided we could lay aside a feeling which, perhaps, may not outlive the pre sent generation, it must be admitted that the plan might faring forth good fruits without neces sarily injuring the Danish nationality. It would not cut as off from future development ; it would give us a prominent place on account of our naval strength ; it would permit us to keep on the most friendly footing with our Scandinavian neighbours ; it would possibly place Sweden in the same relation to Germany as previous to 1848. Of all the great Powers it would only be distasteful to France, but the part played by that Power at the present crisis does not seem such as to require one to take into consideration what she may think convenient. The ambaesador goes on to state that in case the monarchy should be dissolved, the Russian Empe ror would probably declare for the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, and that his claims would also be advo cated by Prussia. " Upon the Ist June the ambassador reports : ' Now that England has abandoned the Treaty of London—a course at which France is not displeased —Russia cannot stand alone in its maintenance. The Russian Emperor has, under these circum stances, determined to make over his rights to the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, who, according to the opinion of the Imperial Cabinet, would be a less mi• pleasant neighbour than the Duke of Augustenburg, the latter being to a certain extent a rebellious sub ject, and having taken up an unquestionably hostile position towards Denmark. . . The sudden and un foreseen attitude of England with regard to the London Treaty, it is assumed here, results from the English statesmen having found no inclination among us to consent to personal union with the two Duchies, by which, in their opinion, as in that of the Russian Government, considering the situation brought about by the war, the integrity of the monarchy could only be preserved. It is considered here that the integrity of the monarchy hae been sacrificed to considerations of internal policy. Considerations of foreign policy would not have brought it about with absolute certainty.' The ambassador then refers to the line of separation, and continues :—' Provided the settlement of the frontier produces difficulties, the opportunity would not then present itself for returning to a basis, which unreservedly accepted, might still maintain the monarchy in its integrity.' " A despatch of the 9;h June says:— 'Prince Gortschakoff assumes that the Holstein Estates will be convoked as to the future of the severed portions of the country, and that there are influential men in Holstein who have not declared in favour of the Prince of Aug,ustenberg. With these he considers negotiations might be carried on, so that the autonomy of the separated portions might be secured while the integrity of the monarchy was preserved, as an expression of opinion of these men might be made use of by the Cabinets.'" Terrible Conflagration in Lincolnshire. About 10 otelock on Friday morning a fire, attended with most disastrous results, broke out in Billing hay. It was first discovered at the corner of the main street leading to Lincoln, on the roof of a thatched hovel in a yard belonging to a man named William Scott, wood dealer. The wind at the time was blowing a gale frcm the west, and the sparks flew in all directions. The flames quickly extended to the remaining buildings in the yard, and thence the burning straw was blown upon a thatched cot tage and outbuildings belonging to Robert Newton, a carrier between Sleaford and Lincoln. The build ing was completely gutted, as well as the stable and carthouse, with other buildings adjoining. The flames next communicated to a brick and thatched cottage, which was levelled with the ground in a few minutes, all the furniture being destroyed. They then extended across the road in an easterly-direction and two brick and thatched cottages were quickly on fire, and were soon consumed with nearly all their contents. In the rear was a quantity of farm build ings and produce, none of which escaped, The flames then appeared to make a sudden leap and reached a ,row of cottages across another street. One of these, occupied by Robert Wilsen, and another by John ,Stevenson, were burnt to ruins, as well as many useful farm buildings in the rear. An oat stack, hovel, and pigstye belonging to C. Croft were also consumed. The moat serious loss, however, was that lof Thomas Gilbert. The house was a substantial stone building with thatched roof, which had recently undergone ex tensive repairs. Nothing but the walls remain. In the yard were two oat stacks, two haystacks, three straw stacks, stables, and other outbuildings, none of which escaped, and it was only with the greatest possible difficulty that an adjoining stack yard was saved. The Primitive Methodist Chapel opposite was also burnt out, as well as a cottage in the occupation of William Gadsby, The produce of two acres of wheat, adjoining a stack of wheat the produce of four acres, belonging to W. Sharp, was totally consumed, and the poor fellow was not insured. Beyond this long list of terrible disasters a quantity of furniture was destroyed in removal, nearly all the houses in the village in the imme diate neighbourhood of the fire being cleared out. At the spot where the fire originated, a fat pig, which the owner had given £4 for a few days ago, was burnt to death, and at another place three or four pigs were burnt. The hour at which the fire broke out was rather unfortunate, as most of the cottagers were out in the harvest field. As soon as the alarm was given they quickly returned, to find the comfortable home they had left only a few hours before a smoking mass of ruins. The Billinghay engine was quickly got out, but owing to the long distance from which the water had to be fetched it ' was some time before it could be made of much ser vice ; when, however, it commenced it proved very useful, and a messenger being sent to Tattershall soon arriv e d w i t h another eng i ne, an d between the two, with other help, the spread of the fire was somewhat prevented. The high wind, however, did not allow ing property, and it ex ertion that the co although the thatchfla To wards evening 1%3: 1a n of much help being rendered to the burn further outbreak. The lo;:wh is hoped, if the wind abet sWtaeanr;only with the utmost conflagration could be checked. was obtained over it, and straw continue burning it will fall very heavily there will not be any as th e y are generally of the poorerNcelaars upon the sufferers, few Nearly the lt Occur. of m are insured, and rence is a most distressing one. wowen, and children have to be a ccomuso Y dat )0 d men, with temporary lodgings in the v ill age Schoolroom, and their Sufferings must be very great for some tittle, LW they have lost their little all. It is to be hoped that steps will be promptly taken to afford them temporary relief. The best possible order prevailed, the local police rendering efficient service ; and nearly every roan, women, and child in the village t tuned out to /pre #l.4T3tence. [ADVEATISEMENL.I-11olloway's Ointment and Pills,— rho Knife superseded.—All ufllctod with ulcers, diseases of the bones and inflammations of the joints should read this testimonial to the curative powers of these healing and purifying remedies. Mr john Allen, 17, Denmark-street, Leicester, suffered severely from a bad foot for three years, durin g whi c h long period he was under surgical treatment without any perceptible benefit. He resolutely objected to amputatio n , w hich seemed the on l y course open, till he providentally tried Holloway's remedies. These gave him great relief, and at last completely c ured him . Spo t s , blemishes, sorer, and skin diseases arising from impoverished blood or a rec kl ess course o f lif e, w ay be removed by the judicious use of Holloway's ointment and pills. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 10, 1864. Naval and Military Intelligence, The reinforcements of Royal Engineers, selected from the depot and other companies at head-quarters, Brompton Barracks, Chatham, to augment the companies of Royal Engineers serving at Malta and the other stations in the Mediterranean, were inspected at the Royal Engineer Esta blishment yesterday, prior to their proceeding from head quarters to embark on board the vessel taken up for their conveyance by the Government, The War Department transport Marlborough yesterday went alongside the Ordnance-wharf in Chatham harbour and shipped seven of the large 100 pounder wrought iron smoothbore 61 ton guns, together with a number of light Armstrong guns, with which she afterwards dropped down the river to the ironclad frigate Achilles, 20, 1,250 horse power, which will receive the remainder of her armament in the course of a few days. A letter received from the Channel squadron describes the great sailing success which has attended the ironclad frigate Enterprise, 4, 160 horse power, Commander Rowley, in her trials with the other vessels composing the iron fleet. The Enterprise, it appears, beat every other ship on a wind with the single exception of the flagship Edgar, 71, Capt. G. T. Hornby, which was only about 100 yards before her on a four hours' sail. The new breech loading gun manufactured at the Royal gun factories in Woolwich Arsenal on Mr Westley Richards' principle, which fired a couple of rounds a few days ago at the proof butt with charges of 101 b and 151 b of powder respectively, has been returned to tho factory for examina tion. It has been found necessary, therefore, to delay the continuation of the proof sine die. The block by which the breech loading apparatus is closed was found, after each round, to have considerably expanded, and the pro cess of closing the breech was after the second round proved impracticable. Mr Richards, who was present at the proof, suggested the application of a rough file on the spot, in order to render the mechanism available without much delay, so as to admit of a continuation of the proof by firing two additional rounds, with a relative increase of 51b each charge. The expansion of the block, after the second round, was found to have increased to such an extent that a com plete reorganisation, if the gun be again brought forward for proof, will be absolutely necessary, Major-Gen. E. C. Warde, C. 8., commanding the garrison at Woolwich, attended by his Aid-de-Camp Capt. A. H. W. Williams—Major It. J. Hay, Brigade Major—Capt. W. C. Nangle, Deputy-Assist-Quartermaster-Gen.—and other officers, went down to ,Varlet' yesterday and inspected the 3d division of the depot, Royal Artillery, in command of Brevet-Col. W. F. Hay, in continuation of his half-yearly inspection of the district under his command. The following appointments and promotions have been made at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Charles R. Forest, to the Bombay—Lieut. John G. V. Holbrook, to the St, Vincent— llr George Duncan, surg. to the Esk—William Crawford, surg., to be surg.-superinte ndent to the Porchester convict ship—the Rev, J. B. Smyth, to be chaplain and naval in structor to the Brisk—Silas H. Liddell, second master supernumerary, to the Victory—James Carlisle, acting chief engineer, to the Fisgard, as supernumerary—William Giles, engineer, to the Fisgard, as supernumerary—George West, of the Fisgard, for the Bustler, and John W. Smith, super numerary of theFisgard, confirmed as engineers —John B. Grant, assist.-engineer, to the Hector—Henry Hall, assist,- engineer, to the Brisk—W. Nicholson, assist.-engineer, to the Fisgard, for hospital treatment—R. Stevens, of the Royal George, F. Baldwin, of the Warrior, Charles Ware, of the Adventure, G. P, ,Bissaker, of the Marlborough, H. R, Wills, of the Sutlej, and G. Hastay, supernumerary of the Asia, promoted to be engineers —and G. H. Newbury, of the Firefly, to be acting engineer. which forbids any one to take more than one prize except in the case of the challenge cup, money, and private prizes, they are not shown. Wimbledon targets and marking, ex cept for the Challenge Cup. Ensign Phillip's prize—An University pewter, to be shot for by five members of No. 1 Company who completed the most drilla by the inspection : five rounds at 250 yards—Private Kneller, 12 marks. Mr Frederick Besley's prize —A silver cup for second class shots of the 26th Middlesex; seven rounds, 200 and 500 yards— Colour-Sergeant Ayris, 37 marks. Mr J. B, Hale's prize, value £5, for second class shots of the sth battalion and Customs Volunteers at the outports ; five rounds at 200 and 500 yards—Colour - Sergeant Barnes, 25 marks. Captain Jonsa's prize, value £5 ; same conditions as preceding, seven rounds at 300 yards—Sergeant Cresswell, 16 marks. Money prizes shot for by the 26th Middlesex and Volunteers of country corps in the Customs' Service, five rounds at 200 and 600 yards. Entrance fee 2s 6d each. Country corps free. Private Christian, 27 marks, £3O, won tie; Private Orem, 27 marks, £lO ; Private Minter, 24 marks, £lO, won tie; Staff-Sergeant Lakeman, 24 marks, £5; Sergeant Stevens, 23 marks, £5. Captain Dobell's prize, a silver cup, for second class shots of the 26th Middlesex and Cus toms' Volunteers at the outports, five rounds at 200 and 500 yards—Lieutenant Burton, 25 marks. The Hon. Mrs F, Goulburn'a prize, for first-class shots of the sth battery and Customs' Volunteers at the outports, five rounds at 300 and 600 yards—Sergeant Stevens, 27 marks. The Lieutenant-Colonel's Prizes--First, a silver cup, second, a ring; third, a Robinhood pouch—same rules as preceding prize, five rounds at 000 and 600 yards—Sergeant Fry, 30 marks—Sergeant Cotteman, 21 marks—Private Boddy, 18 marks. Major Hamel's prizes—A silver cup for second class shots of the sth battalion and Customs Volun teers, at the outports—five rounds, at 200 and 500 yards. Private Jennings, 26 marks. Qurrtermaster Sergeant Wailis's Prize.—A plated tankard, for members of the 26th Middlesex, five rouads, at 200 and 500 yards. Capt. Jones, 26 marks. The challenge cup, value £25, to become the absolute property of any ono winning it two years in succession, five rounds at 300 and 400 yards, Hythe target and marking. Captain Jones, 13 points—Sergeant Ste vens, 12 points—Sergeant Stevens won the cup last year. Messrs. Firman's prize. —A silver cup for second class shots of the 25th Middlesex, five rounds at 200 and 500 yards, Private Oram, 27 marks. Major Collet's prize.—A silver cup for second class shots of the sth battalion, five rounds at 200 and 600 yards. Private Edgar, 25 marks. The regimental prize, value £6, for second class shots of the 26th Middlesex, five rounds, at 200 and 300 yards. Pri. vote W. H. Barton, 25 marks, Mr Sidney S. Dipnall'a prize.—A silver cup, for members of the 26th Middlesex, who have made 12 points in the third class thia year, five rounds at 200 and 300 yards. Private Seward, 24 marks. A silver fish knife and fork, value £5, given by a few gen tlemen of the Comptroller General's-office, for Volunteer's of Middlesex Corps in the service of the Customs ; five rounds at 200 and 500 yards. Ensign Gardner, 25 marks. Hay's Wharf prizes, value £5 ss, given by the proprietors of Hay's Wharf for No. 6 Company, second class shots ; five rounds at 200 and 300 yards; Sergeant Holttum, 24 marks, a rifle—Colour Sergeant Barnes, 21 marks, a ring Captain Hunt's and Lieut. Wrightson's priz 3s—a rifle and a silver cup for No. 5 company ; five rounds at 200 and 300 yards. Corporal Woolston, 17 marks, a cup—Private Archer, 16 marks, a rifle. Prizes to the value of over 100 guineas were competed tor on Wednesday between the members of the 11th, Capt Coracaden's, or Covent-garden, company of the 22d Middle sex (Queen's Westminster) Rifles, at the regimental ranges on Wormwood Scrubbs. Capt Tyler, the adjutant of the 2d battalion, officiated as umpire, while Capt Corscaden directed the firing. The rilver challenge cup, value 70 guineas, which had been subscribed for by ladies, was shot for at ranges of 200, 500, and 600 yards, five shots at each distance. Private Seymour became the winner by a score of 37 marks. This cup must be won three consecutive years by the same member before it can become his absolute pro perty. The cup given by Capt Corscaden, value 10 guineas, was competed for in five shots at 300 and five shots at 600 yards, and wen by Private Johnson with 40 marks, The next prize was Lieut Lewin's Cup, value five guineas. The ranges were 200 and 550 yards, five shots at each distance. Private Clark won with 27 marks. Ensign Laurence's cup, value five guineas, was shot for at the 250 and 500 yards ranges, five shots at each, and won by Sergeant Booking with 27 marks. The fifth prize shot for was one of the value of seven guineas, presented by Mr Barringer, representative of the central committee. Private Webster was the winner with 24 marks, The Honorary Members' Prize was won by Private Seymour, who made 25 marks. The fifth annual Enfield rifle prize meeting, open to all England, of the Cinque Ports Artillery and Volunteer Rifles, commenced on Tuesday, at the ranges erected at North Down, between Margate and Broadstairs. Private W. Dutton, of the 22d Kent, was the winner of the first prize, a Steward's Lord Bury's telescope and £3 10s, with the extraordinary score of four consecutive bull's eyes and a centre, out of five rounds, at 500 yards, thus making 19 out of a possible score of 20. In the contest for the Isle of Thanet prize, worth £2O, divided into four parts, the first prize being £6, Private Mortleek, in shooting off, stood first, havingtroade two centres and a bull's eye. In class B, including the competition for a gold watch value £2O, for the greatest aggregate score during the meeting, the amount was £5O, divided into ten prizes. The first, £l5; second, £10; third, £7 lOs ; fourth, £5. Between 70 and 80 en tries had been made for these prizes. Captain Williams, 19th Middlesex, with a score of 30, won the first prize; Pri vate Dixon, 7th Cinque Ports, the second ; Corporal Gould, 37th Middlesex, the third. On the third day the first busi ness was to settle the extra prizes of the meeting, Ire the first series, the first prize iu money and a Stewards Lord Bury Telescope, was won by Private Dutton, 22d Kent; second prize and telescope, Private Burfield, 9th Kent; second series.—lst prize, Private Deighton, 14th Middle sex; 2d, Private Andrews, St. George's. Third series—lst prize, Private Deighton ; 2d, Private Bohn, 16th Middle sex. The grand contest of the day was for class C. he sum of £5O divided into 10 prizes--lot, of £l5; 2d prize, £10; 3d, £7 lOs ; 4th, £5. In addition to these prizes a gold watch, value 20 guineas, to he presented to the competitor making the highest aggregate score at the B and C classes —ranges 400 and 600 yards. Sergeant Montgomery, of the 30th Middlesex, and Private W. Dutton, of the 22d Kent. had tied for the highest aggregate score with 56 each, and on shooting off Private Dutton won; but was subse quently beaten by it being announced that a score of 58 had been made by Private Deighton, of the 14th Middlesex, On Monday the return match between the Wisbech and Ely Rifle Corps was shot off at the Wisbech range, eight members of each corps, the competitors being with one ex ception the same as at the first match. The distances .vere 200, 400. and 500 yards, seven shots at each distance. The Ely again won, beating their opponents by 42 marks, the winners making 380 marks, and Wisbech 338. The average of Ely was 47'50, and Wisbech 42.25. The Norfolk Volunteer Service Association commenced I its annual prize competition on Tuesday, at Great Yar mouth. Carbine prizes presented by the town of Yarmouth and open to efficient Artillery Volunteers belonging to the Ist Norfolk battery were shot for at 200 yards, seven shots ' each. There were 20 competitors, and the first prize (£5) was won by Sergeant-Major Mach. The next competition was for the Officers' Challenge Vase of the value of £4O, open to the officers of all the volunteer corps in Norfolk. The ranges were 200, 500, and 800 yards, seven shots each. There were 12 competitors. During the whole contest the rain poured down in torrents, so that most of the gallant officers shooting were drenched to the skin. The prize was won by Captain Gurney, of the let Norfolk, who, shooting with an Enfield, made at 200 yards two bulls' eyes, two centres, and three outers, or 20 points ; at 500 yards three bulls' eyes, one centre, two outers, and one ricochet, or 19 points; and at 800 yards one bull's eye and two centres, or 10 points, making an aggregate of 49 points. A competi tion succeeded for prizes given by the Mayor and town of Yarmouth, open to enrolled and honorary members of all volunteer corps in Norfolk. The ranges were 200 and 500 yards, and the prizes were, first, a piece of plate of the value of £lO, given by the Mayor of Yarmouth ; the second, £6 ; the third and fourth, £5 each. Corporal Agger, of the 3d Norfolk, was declared winner of the plate, Sergeant Hart of the second prize of £6, and Pri vate Wilson of the third prize of £5. Corporal Gunn won the other prize of £5. In a contest open to all corners, with any rifle, the ranges were 300, 500 , and 600 yards, fi ve rounds eath ; and the first prize was £lO, the secon d £5 ; £2 for the best score at each range. There were 44 ocm petitors. The first prize was won by Captain Hawker, of the South Middlesex, who made a total of 52 points. Cor poral Ringer was second with 47. At the recent distribution of prizes in Leicestershire by Mrs H. St. John Holford, Private Kelsey received Mr Tur ner's challenge cup. Private Anderson was presented with the Ladies' Prize, £lO cup, shot for at Melton. Private Brookes, with a score nearly equalling that which took the Queen's Medal at Wimbledon, next received Sir Henry Halford's prize (£10), Ensign Biggs, Lieut,- Col. Halford's prize of £7, and Capt. Millican a telescope value £5. Lieut.. Col, Raiford, before the presentation of the Duke of Rut land's prize took place, remarked that there was a tie be tween Lieut. Biggs and Capt. Millican, but in shooting off the former was most successful. Ensign Biggs then re ceived, at the hands of Mrs Halford, £2O and a handsome silver medal commemorative of the occasion, and Captain Millican the second prize of £5. For Major Clarke's prize of £5, for the highest score made by the competitors in the Ladies' Prize, or first stage of the Duke of Rutland's prize and Sir 11. Halford's prize, there was a tie between Private Brookes and Lieut. Smith, both having made 74 points. In accordance with their desire, the money was divided be tween them. The last prize, presented by Mrs Halford, was one to the Lieut.-Colonel himself, he having that day won the monthly challenge cup, presented by Mr W. Brookes, to encourage shooting for the Queen's Prize at Wimbledon. A return match between eight members of the 9th Devon, and eight members of the Ist Devon Rifles tool: place en Tuesday. The prccoulings were watched by a large com pany of spectators with great interest. The shooting was at 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards, five rounds each distance. The 9th representatives made a gross score of 390 against 358, and consequently won the match. The first prize shooting of the 12th Devon Artillery took place on Friday, the 2d inst. 12 detachments took part in the competition, money prizes being awarded to those making the highest aggregate score. Eight-inch hollow shot were tired from heavy guns on a temporary platform at a target, consisting of a small red flag, distant 1,700 yards. Major Palmer, R.A., acted as umpire, and considered the shooting had been good. Battery Sergeant-Major Moore took first prize, and Sergeant Stephens second. Out of 48 shots fired, S bulls' eyes and 11 centres were scored. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE, CALEDONIAN. The report of the directors states that, after pay ment of the dividends on the preference stock and shares, amounting to £47,718, there remained £122,574, out of which the directors recommended a dividend on the crdinary stock of the company at the rate of 61 per cent, per annum, leaving a sure plus of £2,992 to be carried to the credit of the con tingent fund, which would then, after certain de ductions, amount to £11,326. The revenue and working expenses, contrasted with those of the cor responding period in 1863, showed that the revenue amounted to £468,950, against £409,318, showing an increase of £58,732, and the working expenses amounted to £182,113, against £165,381, showing an increase of £16,732. The working expenses were £3B 18s per cent. against £4O 8s per cent. of the receipts. The expenditure of capital during the half year amounted to £300,946, which was repre sented by lands, works, and plant for new anches to the amount of £217,238, by additional land, works, and plant to meet the requirements of the rapidly expanding traffic on the other sections of the railway to the amount of £22,043, and by the company's subscriptions towards the capitals of the Wemyss Bay, the Bushby, and the Portpatrick railways, £61,667, The Cleland, Stonehouse, and Leith branches were abort to be opened for goods and mineral traffic, and the Rutherglen and Coat bridge branch was approaching completion. Acts were granted in the last session of Parliament to sanction an agreement for the use by this company of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Company's line to the harbour of Glasgow, and the formation of a joint station at the harbour, the company being thus enabled to modify their own Harbour Branches Bill so as to save them the cost of an independent access; to authorise the construction of a short branch to Tennochside for the mineral traffic of the district; to sanction the company's acquisition of the Hamil ton and Strathaven Railway ; and to enable this and the Glasgow and South Western Company to make a branch from the Glasgow and Paisley joint line to Govan, on the south bank of the Clyde below Glasgow, and to improve the access to the Eglinton goods station. The company suc cessfully opposed during the past session the several schemes promoted to their disadvantage, with the exception of the Glasgow City Union, which, sup ported by neighbouring companies in breach of their engagements to the Caledonian, received the sanction of Parliament. The capital account showed that £10,241,658 had been expended, leaving a balance against the company of £00,291. The re venue account for the half-year ending the 31st of July showed that £476,250 had been received and £192,730 expended in working the traffic, £4,996 for feu duty and ground rent, £56,682 interest on loans, £2,609 debentures, and £48,910 for guarani, teed dividends, leaving a balance of £170,292. PETERBOROUGH, WISBEAOH, AND SUTTON An extraordinary and general meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, 41, Par liamentary-street ; Mr. Fox in the chair. The notice convening the meeting having been read, _ _ The CHAIRMAN proposed a series of resolutions to the following effect :—That pursuant to the powers contained in the Company's Act of last Session there should be created 5,250 shares in the undertaking of £2O each, such shares to be denomi. nated A shares; that the shares of the company created by the company's Act of 1863, numbered from 1 to 9,000 and amounting in the aggregate to £lBO,OOO should be cancelled, the owners of the 3,441 shares issued having consented to surrender them, and that there should be created in lieu thereof 7,500 shares of £2O each, to be denominated B shares, and 1,500 shares of £2O, to be denominated A shares ; that the A shares created by these reso lutions, amounting in the aggregate to £135,000, should be iesucd on the conditions that the holders of such shares should not be entitled in any finan cial year to any dividend on such shares until the owners of the B shares had had assigned to them a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum; and that the A and B shares should be disposed of in such manner and to such persons as the directors might think fit. Mr. HUNT seconded the resolutions, which were carried neon con. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. Railway Traffic Returns for the Week. Miles Opened. Receipts. Railways. „..____ -.....--,...--_,......_, 1864. 1863. 1864. 1863. .£ L Belfast and N, Counties 135 136 2,3C2 2.471 Belfast and County Down 49 49 760 721 Blyth and Tyne 2B 28 2 , 190 1 , 847 Bristol and Exeter 1215 1211 7,654 7,279 Caledonian Cambrian 9l 84 1,916 1,6)3 Cockermouth& Workington Bl 85 389 329 Cork and Bandon 2O 20 338 392 Cork, Blackrock, & Passage 65 65 210 374 Cork and Youghal ,.. 321 321 533 510 Cornwall 651 533 2,064 1.7u5 Deeside „ 17 17 519 383 Dublin & Ilelfast Junction.... 63 63 1,517 1.501 Dublin and Drogheda 75 75 1,713 1,863 Dublin and Meath Dub. & Wicklow and Wcxtd 915 51 4,137 3,630 Furness, &c 5O 5 0 3,355 3,043 Glasgow & South-Western Gt. Eastern,Nrfk.,&E.Union Great Northern 387 351 35,370 32,951 Great North of Scotland 5B 58 1,815 2,045 (It. Northn. & Westn. (Irel.) 714 711 671 531 Ut.Southn. &Westu.(lrind.) 3871 3515 8,437 8.801 Great Western 1205 1158 73,947 65,595 Hull and Hurnsea l3 - 153 _ Inverness & Aberdeen June lO6l 1061 1,855 1,625 Inverness & Perth Junction 1195 - 2,950 - Irish North-Western 145 145 1,597 1,745 Kent Coast 27 10 2,950 125 Lancashire & Yorkshire 403 3955 43,387 39,356 Limerick and Ennis. Limerick and Foynes 265 26/ 9 5 111 Llanelly 461 464 795 731 Londen & North-Western London and Blackwall 5l 5. 2,115 2,009 London & South-Western Lond. Brighton, &S. Coast 267/ 2611 24,199 22,289 London, Chatham, & Dover 725 7 2 4 8,053 6 452 Do. Metropolitan Extension 111 101 2,415 1,335 Man.,Sheffield,&Lincoinsh blanch. S.Jun.&Altrincham 94 05 1,449 1,302 Maryport and Carlisle Metropolitan Midland (incl. N.-Western).. 641 641 52,147 48,403 Midland Gt.We s tn. of Irind... 262 2595 5,905 '5,524 blonkland Montuouthsh. Rail. & Canal 44 44 2,990 2,818 North British, Edin., Perth and Dundee N-Eastern and Stock. & DarL 1095 1095 65,006 59,285 North London 9 9 3,373 3,t 55 North Staffordshire 254 252 8,755 8,345 Rhymney l9l 191 1,031 744 Scottish Central Scottish North-Eastern l3B 138 6,062 5,792 Somerset and Dorset 66 391 962 405 South Devon ..».. 794 751 4.787 4,745 South-Eastern....... 306 306 31,662 30,506 Taff Vale 57 57 6,027 5,567 Ulster Vale of C1wyd........ lO 10 '255 214 Vale of Neath 431 434 2,908 2.543 Waterford and Kilkenny 3l 31 449 4:1 Waterford and Limerick 77 77 1,358 1,378 West Cornwall 271 271 855 859 W. Hartlepool Harbr.&RaiL W'haven,Cleator,&Egrmnt lO 7 742 578 Whitchaven Junction l3 13 1,053 891 Whitehaven & Furness Jun 35 35 997 811 FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. Austrian B2B 828 Bahia and San Francisco - Belgian Eastern J unction 261 265 Bombay, Baroda, & Celt. India 1855 1855 Detroit and Milwaukie lB5 185 Dutch Rhenish ....- Eastern Bengal Eastern of France East Indian Grand Trunk of Canada 1335 1335 Great Central of Belgium lBO - Great Indian Peninsula 553 495 Great Luxembourg 134 134 Great Southern of India Great Western of Canada 345 3 4 5 Madras 417 447 Madrid, Saragossa &Alicant 650 490 Northern of Canada ... ..... Northern of France 697 697 Norwegian Trunk Ottoman Paris, Lyons, & Mediterrn lBO5 1713 Paris and Orleans 1614 1491 Pernambuco 771 771 Royal Danish 69 69 Scinde... South Austrian Southern of France Victorian 196 196 Welland .-..-.... 25 25 West Flanders W. and N.W. of France, 960 960 39,974 33,888 298 336 318 2,057 1,067 7,249 8,312 69,712 64,640 21,476 18,731 2!,432 18,052 6,425 6,132 5,703 4,403 4,032 505 652 6,776 3.925 17,805 17,490 1,733 1,0' , 8 61,711 59,86 t 1,465 1,345 395 '3OB 130,827 131,293 72,180 68,038 595 452 1,728 2,889 54,896 51,916 34,326 34,323 8,774 10,117 898 663 1,308 1,305 57,958 54,733 THE 'WILTSHIRE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.—L or d Palmerston has signified his intention of being prescnt the presentation of the priz3s by Lady Herbert of Lea, in Wilton Park, to the successful competitors at the Wilt- shire County Rifle Asso3iation, and the 300 guineas All Corners' Meetings, to be held at Laverstock, near Sails. bury, on 'Wednesday, the 14th inst., and following days. The presentation will take place on 'Wednesday, September 21, and the event will be made the occasion of a grand fete in the beautiful and classical gardens at Wilton. The prizes amount in the aggregate to the handsome sum of nearly £7OO. Lord and Lady Palmerston, with other die tinguished visitors, will be the guests of Lady Herbert at Wilton House, THE VOLUNTEERS. The "amended rules" issued by the National Rifle Asso ciation for competitive trial of rifles for 1865 are as follows : —L The annual competitive trial of rifles shall take place at Woolwich, commencing at 11 o'clock a.m., on the 22d of November next. 2. Each competitor shall furnish six com plete rifles of precisely similar description. 3. The condi tions as to bore, weight, pull of trigger, stocks, sights, shall be as follows :—A. Bore. Minimum, 451. B. Weight. Maximum, 101 b. The barrels and stocks not to be weighed separately. C. Length of barrel, 33 inches. D. Pull of trigger. Minimum, 61b. E. stocks.;; Half stocked, All the barrels of any one set of rifles may be fired from the same stock. F. Sights. Regulation Enfield, but so arranged as to admit of any other sights being subsequently fitted to the rifles. 4. Any person intending to compete shall, on or before the 22d of October next, pay an entrance fee of £lO, and shall at the same tiros sign a letter to the secretary in the annexed form accepting the conditions of competitions as here laid down. Each competitor may enter more than one description of rifle, subject to these regulations and to the payment of an additional entrance fee of £lO for each additional set of rifles. 5. The rifiss shall be delivered at the office of the Association before 11 o'clock a.m, on the 21st of November, and shall be tested and examined be tween the hours of 12 and 5 p.m. on that day, in presence of the Council, by the Superintendent of the Royal `mall Arms Factory. The rifles delivered by any competitor will not be accepted without the certificate of such super intendent that the conditions Nos. 2 and 3 have been complied with by such competitor. 6. Each competitor shall, previous to the trial, fill up and sign the annexed paper, stating the particulars of his rifle and ammunition, and the price of the rifle, 7. The charge and ammunition used by the competitors at tho trial shall be the same in all respects as stated by him in such paper. 8. The price of the rifle shall in no case exceed £2O ; and shall include the cost of a disc aperture back-sight with Vernier scale and a covered slot foresight with graduated laterial adjustment. The rifles must admit of these sights being fitted to them. 9. These rifles of each set shall be taken indiscriminately for trial, and these shall be numbered, from Ito 3. The rifles shall be tried in the order in which they are numbered. 10. The order of shooting shall be de termined by lot, to be drawn by the secretary not less than 15 days previous to the 22d November. A letter will be assigned accordingly to each competitor for each set of rifles delivered by him. Notice will be given to eaoh competitor of the letter drawn for him. 11, Letter A, rifle No. 1, shall commence the trial ; letter B, rifle No. I, will then be taken, and so on in succession; and after the rifles No. 1 have been fired, then rifles No. 2 will be fired, commencing with letter A. The firing shall be continued from day to day with the letter and number next in order after the rifle last fired on the previous day. 12. The rifles shall be fired from fixed mechanical rests, Government rests shall be assigned by lot to such competitors who do not bring their own.* 13. Each competitor eholl be responsible for the adjustment, fitting, and general condition of the rest used by him dur ing the trial. Each competitor shall either be present to fire his rifles, or shall appoint a representative to do so. 14. The distance fired at shall be 1,000 yards. Eight trial shots shall be allowed for each rile before the 30 competitive shots are fired. Thirty competitive shots shall be fired con secutively from each rifle. 15. No cleaning during the 30 competitive shots shall be allowed. 16. The diagrams giving the mean radial deviation and taken as at the School of Musketry at Hythe shall decide the figure of merit of the rifles. 17. The description of rifle that gives the best figure of merit shall be selected as the one with which the Queen's Prize, second stage, shall be competed for at the ensuing prize meeting of the association. 18. The figure of merit determining the best description of rifle shall be the aver age of the three rifles of one description. 19. No mechani cally fitting loading reds shall be used. 20. Competitors may use the clinometer to take the angle of elevation, which shall be recorded by an officer appointed for that pur pose. The clinometer may also be used to readjust the angle of elevation during trial, but only in presence of this officer, and with the sanction of a member of the Council, or, some person appointed by the Council. 21. No telescope shall be used by competitors or spectators after the trial shots. 22. Competitors shall either be present themselves or appoint some one to be present at the target when the dia grams are taken off. They or their representative shall sign the diagram, which shall also be countersigned by the ' secretary, or by some person appointed by the Council. 23. The secretary shall select one of the three successful rifles to be kept by the Council a s a pattern arm. 24. The suc cessful competitor shall be required to supply to the asso ciation, by the Ist of May, 1865, 60 rifles, which shall in every respect be similar to the pattern arm, except that they are to be fitted with a back-eight and foresight of the description mentioned inCondition 8, and the price of which shall not exceed that stated in the annexed paper. The GO rifles, when supplied, shall be submitted to the Council, and such an examination of them will be instituted by the Superintendent of the Royal Small Arms Factory as will satisfy the Council of the perfect soundness of the rifles and of their conformity with the pattern arm. Every rifle which he shall certify to be nct made in accordance with the pattern arm will be rejected, and the competitor shall supply another rifle in lieu thereof, which shall be sub mitted to examination in the like manner. 25. The suc cessful competitor shall supply at a fair price such quantity of ammunition, of the same quality and kind as used by him at the Woolwich competition, as may be required for the sighting of the rifles previous to the Wimbledon meet ing, and for the use of the competitors in the second stage of the Queen's prize. 25. Subject to the above regulations the competition will be conducted under the direction of the Council, or their officer appointed for the purpose whose decision is in all cases to be fiaal. (Here follows a copy of the form of paper to be filled up by the competitor.) The shooting f or th e pr i zed o f t h e s th Mi ddlesex Admi nistrative Battali on Rifl e V o l unteers (the 26th Middlesex), Her M a j esty ' s Customs, and 42d Middlesex(St.Katharine's Dock C ompany), (Grey29„oltalh.isDatolawt7a,bnuattti ibt under a e command of Lieut.-Colon( 1 , took 1,? ace, by the kind permission of Lieutenant srceore:::eflgel ou a we t ni n e : r aonf days,l airn(i injunctionl r r t a fi , 1 r ‘,,,, (1 1. en , on g ur ietcebine n issued to prevent shootines fi nally commenced at the range rented by the battalion at ththee n r u e,z e i r n o t f errupt e i o ti n to t r o s s o k n p s l u a b ce which somewh a t a ff ected . sequent occasions, I n all other respects the meeting has been most successful. Higher scores were made in some in. stances than those returned as having won prizes ; but, as they were made by men who were disqualified by the rule * Facilities will be affurdTrl by the Superintendent of the R7.,yal Laboratory at Woolwich for competitors to lit their slide bare to the testa any time previous to the trial, SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, TIMES.—The return of Royal Sovereign from her second experimental cruise recalls our atten-' tion to the question of Cupola Ships and the treat ment of Captain Coles's invention by the Admiralty. The history of this innovation in naval architec ture, short as it is, is long by comparison with that of other so called improvements which have been adopted one year only to be superseded the next. The cupola principle has now been before the world for nine years; it was strongly recommended for use in the Russian War by a committee of eminent naval officers in November, 1855 ; it was submitted to a crucial test in April, 1862, by the formal selec tion of the Royal Sovereign for the purpose of cone version ; it has since been the subject of constant discussion among naval engineers, and it has under.. gone a final ordeal in the late voyages of the Royal Sovereign. It is now time that the public should be informed whether it has or has not succeeded. If not, or if its value has been so impaired by more re cent experiments in gunnery or armour-plating that it has ceased to be worth adopting, let us not throw good money after bad. Captain Coles will still be entitled to our gratitude for the labour which he has ei.pended upon what appeared, not only to good judges in this country but to our American res:als, a most promising discovery, and no one will think that he has been unduly rewarded by the £5,000 assigned to him in 1862 by the Admiralty. If, on the contrary, Captain Coles has performed all that he undertook, and the seagoing qualities of shield-bearing ships have been fully verified by ex perience, the sooner we avail ourselves of this im portant result by the construction of similar vessels the better for the efficiency of our Navy. In order to understand the merits of the case, so far as they can be grasped by landsmen, we must recur to the original proposals of Captain Coles, and the original objections urged against them. Captain Coles's original model was adapted to gunboats with a light draught of water, and capable of carrying heavy guns over the shallow waters of the Baltic or Black Sea. After the war with Russia was at an end he still advocated the same design, with some slight modifications as applicable to coast de fences. It was with reference, we believe, to this object that the experiments which first convinced the Admiralty of its utility were carried out in the Trusty, and the exploits of the Monitor occurring a few months afterwards placed the defensive advan tages of turret ships beyond dispute. The real doubt was whether they would be suitable for service on the high seas. Capt. Coles boldly asserted that they would and pledged himself to build two classes of ships against all competitors, the one shot proof rafts for the defence of harbours, the other seagoing fri gates and lineeof-battle ships. "I will undertake," he said, "to prove that on my principle a vessel shall be built nearly:looft. shorter than the Warrior, and in all respects equal to her with one exception, that I will guarantee to disable and capture her in an hour; she shall draw four feet less water, require only half the crew, and cost the country for building at least £lOO,OOO less." The Admiralty did not think proper to accept this challenge, bat they made over the Royal Sovereign, an old three-decker, de signed by Sir W. Symonds, to be transformed into a 12-gun shield-ship on Capt. Coles' plan. Many were the misgiving of naval men as to the working of the turret principle in a ship of this size. It was at first suggestel that it would be impossible for her to carry masts at all, owing to the great space re quired for the " training" of the guns. It was next insisted that, even if fitted with only five shields and manned by a reduced crew, she would not con tain sufficient stowage room or accommodation for officers and men, It was predicted that she would never be able to carry her guns at the requisite height above water with all her stores and armament on board. That she would work terribly, and prove very unmanageable in a sea-way, was assumed al most as a matter of course. Now, it is these forebode ings which ought to have been set at rest, one way or the other, by the trial trips of the Royal Sove reign. It must be admitted that Capt. Coles was placed at a great disadvantage in having to operate on a vessel which had not been laid down with aview to such a superstructure as his cupolas. Even if the Royal Sovereign had strained more than she ought in pitching or rolling, allowance should have been made for this circumstance ; but as she had behaved admirably well, and answered all the expectations of her constructors, it is surely desirable that fur. ther development should be given to this system. We are far from impuing to the Admiralty, as at present constituted, any deliberate wish to suppress the ideas of independent designers. When we are told that no less than 596 suggestions for shot proof vessels had been submitted to them in the three years previous to 1862, we can almost sym pathise with the official presumption against each new plan that comes before them. If there were anything like agreement among private firms and men of science about the best method of arming ships of war, the Admiralty might be blamed most justly for shutting their eyes to it, but it is noto rious that no such agreement exists. Last year there was a grand conference at the Institute of Naval Architects, where the various projects were most ably represented and canvassed, and the only two points upon which a tolerable degree of unani mity was attained were the superiority of iron to wood, and the probability that greater calibre in guns and greater thickness in plates may yet be achieved. The grand controversy between whole plating and half-plating, as well as all the minor controversies about the depth of immersion, the shape of turrets or central batteries, and their re volving or stationary character, remained unsettled as before. The fault of the Admiralty does not consist so much in its hesitation to give large orders for vessels that may be obsolete before they are launched, or even in its jealousy of competition, as in its persistence in practices which it admits to be exploded, and its neglect of pri nci p les which it ad mits to be of high practical value. In short, it is the vis inertia, rather than active obstruction, that has to be overcome. The Admiralty might have been perfectly justified in declining to take up Capt. Coles's theory, or it may possibly be able to show reasons for pronouncing it a failure; but if it is a success, and that in spite of the unfavourable con ditions under which it was tested, why not allow Captain Coles at le as t to build a man-of-war in his own way ? If he has triumphed over all obstacles, with make-shift materials and assistants who die. trusted his scheme, may we not expect still more satisfactory results if his hands be left free ? It was creditable to the judgment of the Admiralty, as well as to that of another Department of the Government, that Messrs. Laird's steam rams were purchased for the public service, and great things are expected of them, but we are not aware that there is any notion of reconstructing the British navy on this model. Cupola ships would not be a substitute for these, but for the wooden vessels, or iron vessels of an exploded type, which the Admi ralty persist in building, while they confess, if challenged, that they are all but worthless. If in the present transition state of naval architecture we must buy our own experience, and cannot wait to profit by that of our neighbours, let us at least avoid proved waste, and risk our expenditure on attempts that have some claim to approximate towards the ultimate ideal. POST.—It would seem that the German Powers are resolved to wring the submission of Denmark and the patience of Europe to the uttermost, and that they are not only driving a hard bargain usuriously but suicidally, and so as to constitute a precedent which is sure, sooner or later, to be quoted against themselves. It is impossible to dissemble the consequences of this proceeding. Whether Denmark yields to what can only bo described as extortion, or whether the extreme pressiire provoke a desperate resistance, it is plainly not calculated to promote peace or to restore confidence on the Con tinent. There can be no doubt that Prussia is pri marily answerable for such an iniquitous, and at the same time perilous policy. It must be admitted that Austria has hitherto made war and peace on the principles which actuate great military powers. In Italy and in Hungary, in her triumph and in her humiliation, she maintained the dignity and the forbearance which have preserved to her the respect of Europe. The Government of Vienna has exercised its authority sternly, severely, op pressively ; but it has never descended to mean.. ness, nor ever betrayed its martial honour; and, even now, though bound by a new and dubious alliance, Austria will, it is to be hoped, repudiate a transaction which is averse from all her antecedents. Prussia, on the contrary, when successful, has copied the license of brigandage, and when defeated has naturally experienced corresponding treatment. The passion which animated Blucher reigns in the breast of Bismarck ; and forgetting her own mis fortunes, and ignoring an obvious responsibility, deaf to the suggestions of prudence, and insensible to the claims of justice and mercy, it is Prussia that inscribes vie victis! on the flag she has herself more than once furled in the presence of an invadieg army. The Prussian idea carried out, would com pass the destruction of the defeated Power. Prussia has seized the Duchies, and now modestly requires a mortgage on the remaining Danish territory to retrul‘urne her fc.r the expenses incurred in the seizure, It is not, however, the mcseey that she wants so much as the security. The right of fore closure is what is really sought. Plainly, the com mand of the Baltic is contemplated. It is the dream of naval power which has inspired this monstrous claim. The demand, it is true, is made in the name of the Duchies; but that is only adding insult to injury, and the subterfuge is trunsparent. Now, what is the sum of the ability on which Prussia is presuming ? She is exulting in her might, and re joicing over an inglorious victory. This is the day of her strength—strength acquired by the toleration she is abasing. Austria is her accomplice; the minor German Sovereigns are her satraps, and the people of Germany either her dupes or her slaves. She, commands a considerable and efficiently equipped army, a force capable, if well handled, of putting down any professorial insurrection in Berlin, but which Austrian officers believe they could give good account of in the field. For the rest Prussia depends on an alliance that is at present simply for" midable in its diplomatic appearance, and on the reluctance of England and France to engag e prematurely in a war the results of which they cannot forecast. The latter is, probably, not the least consideration ; for Count Bismara>t would hardly have demanded from Dew mark more than she could with honour and Neal* rity afford to pay if he had not been intimately persuaded that he was dictating terms to a fallen and friendless nation; and this, that aggravate& the criminality and cowardice of the proceeding, j e the fatal error which Prussia may not discover until it is too late to retreat from the position &be has taken up. Every act arising out of the aggres s Biwa which has gratified Prussian ambition at the expense of Denmark proves more and more cogently that it is necessary to maintain some code of inter' national law, and that such a law can only be main' tained by force of arms. It is too evident that, 0 ° things now are, the Powers of Europe think the'', may do what seems right in their own eyes, an d that the possession of might is often held to consti . tutu right. This, however, cannot go on, and in one way or in another the securities for peace must be re-established. Prussia is only heaping fuel on th e fire she has kindled, and her avarice can precipitat e the inevitable conflagration. We do not ask rb t , e Germans to believe what it is not likely they Wil l now believe until the conviction is brought home to them ; but they might at least take warning frail the history of their own country, and from its actri e ' condition. Let them place nu dependence on the military power of Prussia, for it is neither more De r less than it has been in times past. No doubt th e Prussians could have beaten the Danes single' handed, and would have done so if Austria had not/ for reasons of her own, resolved to keep them l e d view. That was altogether an unequal battle, 0 13 , one, it should be remembered, in w hi c h th e DanioP people, as a people, did not take part. The invasiee of Denmark Proper would be quite another affair; and within the last few years a far greater Polde r than Prussia has paused in a career of victory rathe' than accept an extension of the conflict. Many re: cent predictions have not been verified, but it remain: true that the first cannon-shot fired in the Balt ° will proclaim war on the Rhine and in the Adrie c i tic. If there ever was a question that exacta moderation it is that which is the subject of discus( sion in the Vienna Conference. According to a' law and all reason the liberated Duchies should psi the cost of their liberatio n . Th ere i s no measure of extortion which, in so far as Europe is concerne d ' Count Bismarck may not practise upon the peopl e he has emancipated. It is right that they shell', be made to feel practically the worth of their d e liverance. But to pretend that in parting 'W' Denmark violently they are entitled to make 0 13 ' 4 claim for compensation, either as regards the Sall e Dues or the Danish fleet, and, above all, that Prue' sia is entitled to prefer and support such a claire; is only not absurd because it has been seriotiel; mooted. Prussia is mistaking both her own Pol l tion and the position of Denmark. The Dani s monarchy, it should be observed, is intact. De n t mark has lost nearly half a kingdom, but W°: o remains to her is her own past all quibble. There are German Powers that hold provinces which are not nearly so securely guaranteed to them aa t„, little land he reigns over is to King Christi They cannot, as he does, rely on the royaltY of their subjects, and they have forfeited, as he 11 not, the confidence of foreign Powers. Prudence", for it is, we fear, useless to think of moderation d , should therefore advise Prussia to hold her hue „ She has already done more than enough to exa o l 3 ": rate Europe, and the indignation of powerful i nt tions has not been restrained without diffiew h ti o i In this country we have every reason to desire t'.'4 the Prussian throne should be sustained e! j o strengthened; but we cannot help seeing the l o policy which is tyrannical to the weak will Pr e a , weak in itself when opposed with its own argo merits ; and that those who attempt to crush t its vanquished will, when their turn comes, invoke , 130 vain the aid of the justice they denied, and mercy they refused to consider. COUNTRY MARKETS. LIVERPOOL—FRIDAY. a We There was a small attendance of buyers to-day, a u ,, gd must quote wheat about 3d per cental and flour Gd 1 :' 11 0 per barrel and sack cheaper. Oats and oatmeal th e ' ol d easier. Beans scarce, and prices unchanged. Peo t er barley slow. Indian corn offered freely, and nearly 19 qr decline on the week. STAMFORD-FRIDAY, • The supply of wheat at to•day's market was 110'1 leaf and sales took place at about the previous week's P r :,; t o . —White wheat, 42s o 4os • red, 41s to 43s per 3 6 Barley, malting, —8 to —a ; grinding, 33s to 3651rer, 4 , 0 t Oats, 22s to 28s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 40s to --• 43 ; qr. ; new, 36s to 425. W AKEFIELD—FRIDAY. Of The demand for wheat was slow to-day, and the pric o o last week rather lower ler both old and new sorts. 136 the turn dearer. Averages for the week : Wheat 712 qrs., at 4ss 9LI Oats Barley.. . 160 Peas Beans LINCOLN—FRIDAY. 0 4. White wheat new, 44s to 48s Barley, grinding.. 27S L" 0 1 Red do. Old white 46s to 508 New do ..20s tlio Red do. 41s to 45s I Beans. 3 7 8 to o , Barley, malting...33s t0 . 36s 1 Beans, new 36s to CORK-THURSDAY. The following were the quotations this morning :"'", P7 1 1 wheat, 8s Od to 8s 6cl; white, 8s 3d to Os Od , harlel c iio ld to Os Od ; oats, 5s 10d to Os 3d ; black do., 50 6s Od ; bere, 6s 10d. COAL M . Prices of Coal per Ton at s. d. ,KET. the close of the market• A• Byass's Bebsido West Hartley ~,20 3 Holywell 17 6 Eden Main 19 0 Lambert's West Hart- Walls End. 9 Hartlepool ......... • East Hartlepool ..... ,9 South Hartlepool.... • 9 South Kelloe ........1g 0 Heugh Hall .........'2O Hetton l9 .4 Braddyll' a Hetton.... Pensher Primrose 1s l9 Cassop ..... • s Riddell ....... is v o Harton 1 9 U Framwellgato .. ••• • • Belmont ...... 53 ; sold, 51, ley 20 0 Tantleld Moor l3 9 Clarke's,Weet Hartley 20 3 Walls End. Haswell James ..18 3 IVharncliffe 17 9 elloe.. ships at market Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. t 15 Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton .. sep • 0 via Marseilles 600'4 Brazil and Cape Verds , by British packet. 00t; 0' Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena &P t ' 1g; China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton SeP;* 17 via Marseilles E4 3 I ) ". Falkland Islands Gibraltar via Southampton Sep t ' 0 0' India (Calcutta ), and Ceylon, via Southampton Sol ) t. via Marseilles Sept. 10 , India (Bombay), via Southampton .. Sept' 4 . -... via Marseilles Sept' Portugal.... Oct. , 4 i i' Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Selo' 0' via Marseilles s e pt• j i, Newfoundland .. Sept' Oporto and Vigo .. Sept' iii U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... by U.S. packet.... ' by Canadian packet. Sep t ' All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Pern, I s o pt. California. and British Columbia.. 1 _... ----- London: Primed and PrNished by IVILLIAMANVI,t,,,/5.f of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TUE SUN Of t1 0 Strand, In the Precinct of the lavoy. ,n the 4 141.idllesez --Saturday, September 10,1864. Births. O p ! FTERS.—On the 7th inst., at Kingswood, Epsom, thenignO of Lieut.-Colonel Fyers, C. 8., 2d Battu. Rifle Br' of a son. VIAN.—On the 9th inst., at The Woodlands, Lew is ' the wife of W. J. Vian, Esq., of a daughter. WOODWARD.—On the 9th inst., at 2, St. James's -te !;0 1, Regent's-park, the wife of Lionel Mabbdtt Wood Esq., of a son. Marriages. Boxxxxxx—JEssor.—On the Bth inst., at Saint Pol Cneshnnt, Thomas Clitton, eldest son of W. Bolor te ru' Esq., of Cheshunt, to Catherine Ann, eldest datll9 4. the Rev. John Jessop, M.A., of Cheshunt. 14 0 , h 0 4 2; SALMON — BIRCH ,— On the 6th inst., at Trinity v - 4 1 Bath, Captain H. R. G. Salmon, to Harriet Fran ce ,,W only daughter of Lieut.-Col. W. C. Birch, of the Army. Deaths. 9° BARTIER.—On the 7th inst., at Morton Abbey, 7. latO Captain James Barber, formerly of the Hon. 1 0 ' 4 'et Company's Service, aged 77. 110 04 BuclrANAN.—On the 18th Aug., suddenly, near Algeria, Colonel James Buchanan, Royal Marine 6 71. s ett GORE.—On the Sth inst., at Chapel-place, Vexe s t Montagu Gore, Esq., agd 64. ren GOULDEN.—On the 7th inst., at Canterbury, M arl 'atl 4 of the late Thomas Goulden, sen., of S. George'' . aged 91. St' fj ; MERIDYTH. —On the 7th inst., at Stockport. Charlios o hope Meridyth, of the Inland Revenue, &Inertia London.