The Sun. — London, England, 1864-04-01 00:00:00

" THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN" Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, Baa be had Every Evening of G. R. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, llyde-park. COALS. —The LILLES HAL L COMPANY'S COALS. Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis'.......26s. per ton. Double.. 2ls. per ton. Top 255. I Nut 5........ los. „ Deep • • 225 • Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf, i."addington, W. Beat Coke Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent. ALION'S WELCOME to a LlON—Dorset Divinity—Our Own Correspc ndent at the Volunteer Review, 4c.—in FUN, This Week. One Penny. THEATRE ROYAL DRUR Y-L AN E. Managers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and F. B. Chatterton. THIS EVENING, will be produced a Grand Stage Revival of Shalcipere's Chronicle or Historical Play, entitled the First Part of HENRY THE FOURTH. No pains or expense will be spared to render this it presen tation of our National Author's most popular, and may be paid, most representative English Drama, a becom ng Coro.- me noratf on, in example, at the National Theatre, of the grandeur and comprehensive character of his genius. The cast will include impersonations by those eminent Artists, Mr. PHELPS, Mr. Walter Montgomery, Mr. Walter Lacy, Mr. B ddisoa, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Robert Roxby, Mr. Barrett, Mr. E Phelps. Mr. Rayner, Mr. H. Vandenhoff, Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. Ellerton, Mr. Fitzjames, Mr. Neville ; Miss Edith Wynne, M ss it,se Leelereq, ind Mrs. Edmund Fal coner, supported by all the Members of the Drury-lace (em ploy. Toe new and characteristic scecery will be entirely de signed and painted by Mr. William Beverley. The coszumes, armour, ,tc , will be fashioned from designs by It. W. Keene, Esq , t then from illustrated MSS. of the period, and other author; ties. Prec.eled by a Transatlantic Extravaglnz 1. by J. M . 3lorton, Esq., entitled THE AL 4111.1f ' A in which 11r Belmore and Miss Lydia Thompson' will appear. I JrHE ATRE ROYAL HAY NI ARKET.- Sole Leseee and Mana7er, Mr, Buckstone. THIS EVENING, April 1, OCR AMERICAN COUSIN: Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Chippendale, Rogers, Clark, Gordon, Braid, &C. ; 3lesdames Angel, Lindley, fill, Barris, Snowden, &c. After which, the new Easter piece, entitled VENUS AND ADONIS. Messrs. Compton, Wm. Farren, Coe. &C. ; Mes dames Louise Keeley, Snowden, Nelly rower, Hill, Wright, Eo ers, &c. To conclude with MY HUSBAND'S GHOST. Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE...-. Sole Lesee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, PAUL'S RETURN. After which, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. The Two Dromios, by the Brother 3 Webb. To conclude With, sth time, a new Farce, by J. M. Morton, Esq., entitled DRAWING-ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, AND ATTICS. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENING, the performances will commence with THE DAY AFTER THE FAIR: Messrs. Widdi combe, Garden, Moreland, and Miss E. Lavenu. Alter which, at Eight o'clock, the 12Gth Night of BEI, DEMONIO, a Love Story, in Twelve Tableaux. Characters by Messrs. Jordan, Charles, J. Brougham, Emery, Morton, Raymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford, Collett, Sims ; Miss Kate Terry, Miss E. Lavenu, Slrs. Lee, hiss Elsworthy. The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge is :Dade to the occupants of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either for play bills or for the safe keeping of hats and cloaks, and that the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to receive any gratuities whatever. Box-office open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7. THE SHEFFIELD DISASTER. Mr. PECHTER, having thoroughly recovered from his late accident, will positively APPEAR. on SATURDAY next, April 2, in BEL DEJIONIO, when the whole of the profits of that evening will be given in Aid of the Funds for the Sufferers by the late Calamity. NTEW THEATRE-R0 {AL, ADELPHI. 4 1_1 Soal Pro - rotator and Mantwer, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE PRETTY HORSEBREAKER : Mr. J. L. Toole and Miss Woolgar. _ _ At 8, LEA H : Miss Bateman, supported by Messrs. A. Stirling*, R. Phillips, Billington, Stuart, Eburne, Stephenson ; Miss IL Simms and Mrs. Billington. To ennelude with THE AREA. BELLE : Aressrs. J. L. Too!e, P. Bedford, ,et. Romer, Miss Woolgar, and Mrs. H. Lewis. Commence at 7. MISS BATEMAN.-L E A 11.-THth EVENENG and EVERY EVENING.—Miss Bateman will re-appear in her great impersonation of the Jewish maiden notil further notice. In order to give due effect to t:lis most remarkable suc.lesik of the season, ealire , y new somery by the celebrated artists Messrs. Ranson and sons, and Thompson. New dr.7sses and appo'ntments have bet n prepared for its production.—N. is. In consequence of the pressing and numerous applications at the Box-otfi2e, ar rangements have now been - nade by which Seats m,y be ob tainei a Fortnight in Advance. ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, under the Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER. Crowded with Rank and Fashion. —The greatly successful new Comedy every Evening.—Re-engagement of those cele brated artistes, Mr. and Mrs. C. Mathews.—Amongst the artists engaged are Mr. Benj.Webster, Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr.. 7. Clarke, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. F. Robinson ; Miss Herbert, Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Fanny .Josephs, Miss Patti Josephs. Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Stirling - . Every Evening*, at 7, the favourite Fare of FORTY AND FIFTY: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Matthews. At a quarter before 8, the successful new Comedy, by L. Buckingham, Esq., entitled TILE SILVER LINING: Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. F. Robinson, Mr. Ashley, Mr. Montague ; Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Stirling. After which, COOL AS A CUCUMBER. Mr. Charles Mathews. To conclude with UNDER TIIE ROSE : Mr. Ashley and 31:53 A. Cottrell. . Commence at 7. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. 11. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, a new Comedietta, A HUNT FOR A HUSBAND. Niter which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, ORPFUEUS AND EURY DICE : Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton, Mesdames Swanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &e. Concluding with MATtGATE• SANDS. Commence at 7. The Weather—Sun Office, April 1, 1864. THERMOMETER. This day at Two o'clock Barometer-29.07. Wind—South-West ; fresh breeze, and fine. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Sms Div.—Morning, Bh. 20a1.—Afternoon, Oh. lOrn fo-moltn.ow.-I ,, lonaing, 9i. 51m,—Afternoon,:10h.13Gm c ,-7.4 atlito LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1864. The Revenue Returns, which will be found else where tabulated symmetrically with a view to en sure thus facility in the way of reference, reveal altogether a result radiant with promise in regard to the future, with solid satisfaction in regard to the present, and with considerations fraught with consolation in regard to the past. And all this for the simple reason that these Revenue Tables, exactly as they stand now, give all possible indica tions of the advancing and expanding prosperity of the population. True, that there is a deficiency of nearly £225,000 upon the last quarter as com • pared with the last quarter of the year preceding—.a deficiency not far short of £400,000 upon the whole twelvemonth as compared with its predeces sor. Bat—while the fact is so, undeniably—it is a fact resulting not from any falling off in the re sources of the country, but simply, solely, and wholely from Mr. GLADSTONE having used his pruni eg e. knife last year, it will be remem bered, with so bold a hand. There has been a decrease upon the year in the Customs alone to the extent of £Bo2,ooo—a decrease attributable chiefly to the reduction last year of the tea duties by no less than sd. i n the pound. Again, last year, as we all know, the income tax was diminished by 2d, in the pound. Yet, then, it is true, instead of the consequent falling 0,-,ev proving to be in any way rawarkable, it is, on the contrary, very much less o f a falling off than could reasonably have been anticipated. It is a falling off, in fact, upon the who l e o f this twelvemonth last past of no more proceeds of th e year 1864 than 1 1 , 483,° " —the under the bea d of Income Tax bein g £9,084,000, while in 1863 under the same head they amounted to 110,56700' And, rememberi ng that every penny in the pound under the Income Tax has hitherto been estimated as representing in round numbers about £1,100,000 revenue, the lowering of the imp os t, l as t year to the extent of 21, in the pound having resulted in a falling fl' of £1,483,000, shows as clearly as that two and two make four, that the result is certain there eovld have been reasonably hoped for by upwards £700,000---seein g that the actual diminution has been £1,483,000, whereas the twopence in the pound shou.4l hare been held to represent .V 1200,000 or thereabouts. There is noticeable an increase of Tenn this year by £323,000 under tho head of stamps—stamps having yielded in 1864 £9,317,000, and in 1863 £8,994,000. Taxes, again, so-called have improved by the sum of £168,000 on the year just ende , 3, the yield under them in 1863 having been £3,150,000, whereas in 1864 it has been a yield there of £3,218,000. If the Customs have produced to the revenue during this last twelvemonth a total less by near the £BOO,OOO, as already shown, than they did in the year immediately preceding—the Excise has considerably more than made up the deficiency. There, instead of the returns show ing any falling off at all, much less falling off to the extent of £BOO,OOO, and upwards there is an increase of more than ISOO,OOO, there is an increase of fully £1,052,000! The Ex cise returns, whieh in 1863 amounted to £17,155,000, having in 1861 advanced U an aggregate of £18,207,000. The falling off upon the year's re venue, as compared with the revenue yielded by its immediate predecessor, is to the extent of £394,593 —the national income amounting, in the year end ing 31st of March, 1864, to £70,208,963, as com pared with an income of £70,603,561 from its immediate predecessor. Upon the whole, therefore, the results are eminently encouraging. The Chan cellor of the Exchequer having himself anticipated a modest surplus of £500,000, finds his anticipations exceeded agreeably enough, now that he is about to submit his newly prepared Budget to the House of Commons, by about £2,000,000. The Conservative demonstration at Exeter at which Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE made his remark able speech on the condition and prospects of the Ministry, was one of considerable importance. These meetings are increasing in frequency and numbers, a sign that the party which they represent is gathering its forces and preparing for active exer tion. it is a sign, too, of that probability of success which has a wonderful effect in stimulating the enthusiasm and enforcing the convictions of politi cians. Although the greater part of the territorial nobility and a large proportion of the landed gentry are known to incline to Conservative views and feelings, still it requires some prospect of success in the political arena to awake such animation in rural retreats. The meeting at Exeter was by no means unimportant, since the leading men of the county at' ended it, and it had a specific purpose, being held to promote the return of Lord COUR TENAY, eldest son of the Earl of DEVON, for that city. The coming election was of course prominent among the topics of debate—that election which is beginning to show with terrible distinctness through the vista of the future. " Next year at farthest —possibly this year" is the warning cry sounding very differently in the ears of the Ministerialists and of the Opposition. It has often provoked very different feelings in:their respective ranks, since time after time, when the Conservatives have ap pealed to the country on Government questions, the answer has been unfavourable. They have usually lost in a new Parliament any temporary advantage which they may have gained in the old, and the threat of a dissolution has been a potent weapon in the hands of the Government. The Liberals had a most captivating programme—Reform, Retrenchment, Free Trade, Peace, and National Honour were foremost in the list, while the Conservatives had nothing they could bring prominently forward as their own, But unfortunately for Lord PALMERSTON'S Cabinet and supporters, people have begun asking when the performance is going to begin, and discover that Reform means rest; retrenchment, lavish expendi ture ; free trade, a duty on foreign rags ; peace, an embroilment in half a dozen places ; while the maintenance of national honour has made us the laughing-stcck of Europe and America. Under such circumstances the public feeling has been gradually turning towards less voluble professors, and it only needs the Opposition to come forward with a bold, manly, and independent foreign policy to secure the respect and support of the people. The addresses the other evening were in harmony with the general feeling on this matter; in face, no considerable body of influential Englishmen could be got together at present without express.- ing some of that indignation and irritation so uni versally felt throughout the country at the attitude which England has been made to assume. Lord COURTENAY, the future candidate for Exeter, whose address gives promise of his being no idle or inca pable representative, very truly said, with reference to the peace-at-any-price policy of the day, that, although war was a cause of great evil, and the misery arising from it was incalculable, there were evils nearly as great. It was a grave matter for a State to abdicate its functions, and an evil greater than war itself was the loss of national spirit. " The noble lord very justly reproached Earl RUSSELL with having in sulted Russia without benefiting Poland, and having lost the friendship of the Confederate States to subject themselves to nothing but insult from the Federal Government. Mr. GARD, the Conservative member for the City, boldly declared that the present state of things could not last much longer, and expressed his conviction that the Opposition had already a majority in the House, a majority which they might reasonably hope would be greatly increased at the next general election. The Hertfordshire victory was of course cited as an inspiriting example, and probably the success in that case will lead to several others, since it has encouraged the Conservatives to united action, and has given them the stimulus of that hope which is always so powerful an auxiliary. A sanguine man has tenfold the chances of success of a desponding and hopeless mortal. Mr. DISRAELI, as Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE amusingly told his hearers, is what his enemies call a sanguine man, and his friends a man of great courage, and to his possession of those qualities the Conservative party unquestionably owe much of their recovered position. All its members are now recovering spirit and energy, and are looking forward with confidence to the promise of the future; but it was not so at one time. It is to be hoped they will profit by the experience of the past, and when they attain their long sought ambition they will show that they have taken warning by the errors of their predecessors, by pursuing a firm and consistent policy abroad, and by faithfully fulfilling the pledges which, in the hour of anticipated triumph and doubtful suc cess, they have given to the public at home. The correspondence between the Government and the Alessrs. LAIRD is now before the public, and it is satiskzttory to know that there is thus an oppor tunity cf becoming more intimately acquainted with the details of this remarkable case. In the first place, there was a churlishness on the part of the Government in refusing to publish the official correspondence which put an r,ppropriate finish to the long course of unccurteous conduct and unwar rantable interference which distinguished the whole of their proceedings in the matter. It was not of so much consequence in BO far as regarded the de sired information being circulated, but it was of importance, as it testified, to the total want of fairness that characterised .the authorities, and it was an insult alike to the Messrs. LAIRD and the public in general. Thosa who study the reports here presented to notice will be amazed at the tigitta of AlAffling excuses, and large and impotent conclusions which mark the whole course of the official communications. It is lamentable to reflect upon the state to which political hesitation and paltry concurrence with the demands of a bluster ing Government have reduced our Ministers, when they stoop to play such a part before an influential firm as that here concerned in the dispute, and which discussion they know must eventually be come potent to the whole nation. What a mass of subterfuge and double-dealing must take place in those inner circles of correspondence by which the wheels within wheels of official and diplomatic occurrences are carried on. A more straightfor ward course than that adopted by the Messrs. LAIRD could not have been found. Their frankness must have been a marvel to those who dealt with them in this very underhand transaction of the authorities of the realm ; their moderation was surprising, considering tho severe tests to which they were put by the shifting policy and irritating demeanour of their opponents, and their decision furnishes an excellent example for all who may hereafter be placed in positions somewhat similar. It is to be trusted that it will be long before another instance of such unjustifiable interference with the rights of the subject, such contempt for tne inte rests of the community, and such wilful disregard to the honour of the country takes place. At all events, if they cannot alter the course of events, the public can now judge for themselves of the details of this vexatious affair, and form an opinion as to the inconsistency which marked the course of conduct pursued by the Government, an incon sistency which never attends the actions of those who act from definite principles and do not veer about to suit the purposes and satisfy the demands of arbitrary Statesmen in other lands, but firmly maintain the course which honour, truth, and jus tice sanction, certify, and uphold. Could anything have been more absurd than the excuse given for seizing the vessels, that information received by Government authorised them to believe " that a forcible abduction" would'take place of one or both the ironclads. It is really almost incredible that men in such a position of importance should stoop to such mean and paltry devices. Only those who are ashamed of what they are about would think of having recourse to such expedients. The answer of the Messrs. LAIRD is a very proper one to this ridiculous supposition, and this one paragraph of itself is a sure and suffi cient denial to the extraordinary suspicion thus put forward :—" Both vessels are incomplete and unfit for sea going, the second vessel has not even got masts or funnel in, and both are in the sole charge of our own people." This in itself is a decided ree futation of the statement made for the express pur pose of authorising more extreme and stringent measures. Messrs. LAIRD also very properly sug gested that when the falsity of the same information had been discovered the " vexatious restrictions," which were causing them such incalculable loss and annoyance, might be removed. But a more unime pressible man could hardly be found than our Foreign Secretary, and what was it to him if all kinds of disasters occurred to our own subjects, if only the cherished friends on the other side of the Atlantic were appeased. Another very discredi table thing was the refusal on the part of the au thorities to comply with the request for a trial trip of the El Toussain being made, Such an act of gratuitous insult is quite unparalleled. It would appear as if throughout the whole course of these proceedings the efforts of the Government were directed ,to effect one object, and that to provoke and irritate the Messrs. LAIRD into some overt act of contumlcy or opposition, which might furnish a good excuse for taking the most decided steps and proceeding to extremities. Such a gratification was withheld from them by the decided demeanour and judicious self-control of the parties in question. How many there are, however, who could not, or would not, brook such insults patiently, and, therefore, would be goaded to a fury which would prove fatal to them. Another important consideration is that suggested by Sir HUGH CAIRNS, in his memorable speech in the debate in the House concerning these vessels. It is that the Government have no right to ruin the subjects of this realm by their uncalled for interference and vexatious delays. In this instance it is a firm which is rich enough to sustain the losses inflicted by Ministerial attacks that has been selected, but the argument is the same as if it had been one of moderate means, or struggling with difficulties. The whole course of these proceedings is characterised by the greatest inconsistency, and the more we study the details the more we must regret that English Ministers should thus violate the spirit of the English Constitution. The Injustice of the Income Tax,, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] THE WAR IN JUTLAND, COPENHAGEN, MA.RCH 31 (Nine p.m.) The Dagbladet of to-day says :—" At Assen derup, where tho Danes took 23 Hussars prisoners, the Prussian troops burned several farms out of revenge. " Ten Hussars were taken prisoners to-day," THE PRINCIPALITIES. BUCHAREST, MARCH 13. A motion expressing censure and want of con fidznce in the Ministry has been rej-2cted by a large majority in the Cnarnbers. THE POLISH INSURRECTION. ST. PE rERS BURG, Amur, 1. The Invalide Busse of to-day accuses the Wel lachian Minister, M. Kogelnitrehana, of openly sympathising with and tolerating the revolutionary Poles. The latter, however, are reminded by the Incalide that now that they are prevented passing by way of Galicia, the only course open to them is through Bessarabia, Podolia, and Volhynia, where both the troops and populations are ex tremely hostile to their cause. THE BRAZIL MAIL. LISBON, MARCH 31. The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's ship Parana, from the Brazils, arrived here to-day, and will leave for Southampton at four p.m., with 114 passengers, £7,743 in specie, 703 bales of cotton, 100 barrels of tapioca, 350 rolls of tobacco, and 221 packages of suudrieg, FRANCE. PARIS, APRIL 1. The Conslitutionnel of to-day publishes an article, signed by M. Limayrac, pointing out the difficulties to be resolved in the question of the Duchies. The writer says :-- "Considering the diversity of pretensions, France would not consent that a Conference should take upon itself to decide the destiny of the Duchies, either by choosing for them a Sovereign or dividing them between such and such Powers. The only possible solution would be to ask the people what form of government and what Sovereign they wish to have. This solution would be in conformity with the principles of the Imperial Government, and would be the most equitable one. This alone could afford European order, general peace, mud serious and durable guarantees." Lady Cowley gave a splendid ball at the British Embassy on Tacaday night, the company—for whom 900 invitations had been given —consisting of the members of the diplomatic corps, the ministers and other high dignitaries, and the elite of the fashionable society of Paris. The new ball room was definitively inaugurated on this occaion, and presented a most charming appearance, from the admirable manner in which the lighting was managed. The chandeliers descended only in part through the ceiling, so that the glare of the gas was greatly diminished; in addition, by means of flues, the heated atmos phere was allowed to escape, whilst a supply of cool air, introduced by other pipes very ingeni ously contrived, ensured to the room a most agree able temperature, even when crowded with dancers. The flooring below also attracted much admiration, being composed of most artistically arranged marquetry work. Tho whole of the lower salons were thrown open o❑ the occasion. An excellent supper was provided at about one, and dancing was afterwards resumed until an early hour in the morning. The attention of Earl Cowley and of.the ambassadress to their numerous guests was the sub ject of general remark. J3ounsE, March 3 l.—The market still remains in the same dull state, but without any material varia tion in prices. Threes, for the Account, are un changed at 65f. Sac. Mobilier has improved to 1,047 f. 50c. Railway Shares quiet, but firm. The market closed as follows : 41 per Cents .. 93 40 Do. end month.... 3 per Cents Do. end month 65 8o Credit Mobilier 1 650 Do. end month 1052 50 Bank Shares 3297 50 Credit k . oucier ITN Roman Italian Loan 67 95 Do. end New ditto Do, end month.... Russian Austrian Spanish Threes.,,, Rome Debt e•vait• Deferred FAIL Cash. Account, 997 50 997 50 970 976 25 Orleans Northern New ditto Lyons and Meditsrranean 950 • • 95° New ditto - 900 • • 7 6°7 50 S Althorn Western .. 520 • • 525 Eastern .... ..... .., .. 480 .. 480 SarJinian. Austrian ...... Lorcl)..lrd North of Spain Saragossa 587 50 .. 590 Ditto to Barcelona THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 1, 1864. TO THE EDITOR or THE £L'X. Sir,—When the income tax was imposed on the industry of the country, it was justified, or attempted to be justified, by representing that the reduction of duties on various articles imparted into the country would prove an equiva lent. Now, sir, what is the result? Why, not one article do we get cheaper since the imposition of it, and Earl Russell more than once in his place in the House of Com mons denounced it as an unjust tax. It is a tax, too, which causes more iniquity, and proves more oppressive, than all the Customs and Excise put together. Taxes must be imposed; but the income tax proves delu sive, inquisitorial, and oppressive ; and why should it be continued in a time of peace If this is worthy of a corner in your widely-circulated journal, please insert it,—l am, your most obedient servant, A CONSTANT READEII. Stoke Newington, March 31, 1861, MARRIAGE OF A NEW ZEALAND CHIEF.--At the parish church of St. Anne, Limehouse, yester day, Kamariera To Wharepapa, one of the New Zealand chiefs now residing at the Strangers' Home, Limehouse, was married to Elizabeth Reid, of the parish of Marylebone. The Rev. E. Day, 8.A., was the officiating clergyman. FLOGGING OF WOMEN IN AIISTRI:tN POLAND. — A letter from Lemberg (Galicia), in the Press of Vienna, says : —" Since the beginning of the month the military tribunals in this province have been actively occu• pied. they try, on an average, four cases a day. A certain number of persons have been condemned to corporal punish ments for various offences, particularly for having insulted sentinals when on duty. Several individuals have been bastinadoed or whipped for that misdemeanor, among them them two women—Julia Choroctowka, a dressmaker, aged 34, who received 10 lashes, and Catherine Samborska, a servant, aged 20, who had a similar punishment. A. great number of persona have been condemned to imprisonment for from one month to four." SYMPATHY WITH DENMARK.—A public meeting convened by the Mayor, and over which hi: worship pre sided, was held at Newcastle on Wednesday night, and pro nounced emphatically on the side of Denmark. An amend ment was moved, but was almost unanimously rejected. Sympathy with the Danes in their gallant struggle with Austria and Prussia was enthusiastically expressed; and the crowded assembly, desiring that in any measure which might be taken by this country the integrity and indepen dence of Denmark may be the end in view, declared in fav our of the extension of material aid to the invaded nation if peaceful means should fail of securing that otj ict. These resolutions the mayor was requested to sign on behalf of the meeting, and transmit to the First Lord of the Trea sury and to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. — Newcastle Chronicle. AN ODD Arl , AY OF PUTTING it.—More than 9,000 clergymen--h a t is, we presume, more than half the clergymen of England and Ireland— are said to have signed the Oxford declaration that they hold the Bible to b 3 the Word of God, and not merely to contain it• .nd also that the punishment of the cursed equally with the life of the righteous lasts for ever. In other words, half the English c lergy have abjured all but textual criticism of the most wonderful history and literature in the world, and assented to s doctrince which ought to make them maniacs of re morse, if they have ever lost a moment that might have helped to snatch a single human being out of the hands of God. We now know that 9,000 English clergymen ought to think capital punishment the most shocking of political crimes,—✓Spectator, THE SIEGE OF FREDERICIA, The Sz'?,cle puhlishei the following correspondence from Copenhagen, which La .Patrie republishes with " duo reserve" _ " COPENHA GEN, March 27. " I have very important news to send to you to-day. Two days since the Austrian ermy sud denly abandoned the positions it held round Fre dericia, an act which our most able strategists could not explain. The reason has been discovered. All the Hun ga rians b e l ong i ng to the Austrian army, offi cers as we ll as men , h a d a greed to pass over to the D i nes, to j o i n th e m in fighting t he common enemy of their nationality. General Gablerz was informed of the conspiracy only a few hours before it was to be carried out. He im mediately ordered a retreat from Fredericia. An investigation was instituted, which resulted in a number of Hungarian officers and men being sen tenced to death. A private letter from a Danish officer, which reached Copenhagen this even ing, and which I have before me, states that the number senten c ed wa s not less than 300 . S o much is certain th a t th e night before list heavy platoon firing was h ear d i n the Austrian quarters, probably the execution of the sentence. The Hungarians, it seems, revolted at the odious work they had to perf orm . Th e Italians drafted into the Austrian regi men t s s h are t h e same sentiments. The turn of the P o l es o f t h e G ra nd 1-)achy of Posen will come next. The German journals will doubt less deny the truth of this statement ; but the fact is true, and if I am the first to announce it to you it will doubtless soon be repeated in other quarters." - We are requested to state that the meeting which was to have been held this day at the London Tavern, to consider resolutions in connection with Sir Moses Monte fiore's recent philanthropic visit to Morocco, is unavoidably postponed until Wednesday, the 11th instant., at 1 o'clock. THE HEALTH OF THE POPE. —A correspondent of the _Dcoats, writing from Rome on the 23d ult., says :—" You must wish to hear LOW'S of the health of the Pope, It is tolerably satisfactory. The august patient is only a little weak. He follows no other treatment than that of rest. It cannot be der...ed, however, that his state still requires care." THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL.--Richmond, the Confederate capital, had a population of 33,000 according to 1 , lea rebellion andb annually, ni h l ni e oi latter t lt tlhye the the last census. The capital contains Hendon's celebrated statue of Washington. Jefferson Davis' residence is a private mansion. Th© city has 6 banks, 13 newspapers, and 23 churches. Mr, Davis worships at a Presbyterian church. rolling mills, forges, furnaces, Richmond has 4 cotton 50 tobacco factories, flour and ho exportsr a d v n e abnece ordnance feonlif Richmond ht m hm e e o n r nswedasrreemr reached ca i hct material. o a7i the rebellion in turning out 11 0 B i o n :0 0 f o o s o h re o d p t o h s and its imports 750,000 dollars. Richmond was founded in 1742, and made the capital of Virginia in 1779. It is the centre of five great railroad communications—viz,, to Fredericksburg, York River, Norlolk, Danville Va., and Jackson's River. THE STEAMER CITY OF NEW YORK.--QUEE NS . TOWN, Thursday.--The sea is rising fast at Daunt's Ro, , k. No lighters or steamers can get alongside the City of Niw York, and it is expected she will shortly break up and wash into deep water. AMERICAN AFFAIRS, A writer in the Times gives the following in teresting account of the state of affairs of the war now raging in America :—Now that the American war becomes again of stirring interest, it may be well to survey the field of operations embraced in the coming campaigns The Northern people have deluded themselves for months past with tales of refugees and deserters about the demoralisation and starvation of the South. Nothing, from the first, has been more remarkable than the credulity of the Federals, except it be that perkm s in this country, of some intelligence, should also permit their judg ment to be swayed by the anecdotes of President Davis's coachman, or the statistical and military knowledge of Miss Anna Dickenson. It is now known that the cotton crop of the South last season reached 800,000 bales—l pure addition to the growth of all the [bed required by its people. It is in the midst of this surplus capacity of a country able to feed twenty times its present population that tales of starvation have been believed in by every loyal Unionist ; and while they were amusing themselves with another theory, that of despon dency, the people of the South were urging their Congress to pass heavy taxation bills and a more rigid conscription law, thus eagerly proffering money and life in the service of their country. It has been known here for months past that the Southern armies would take the field in greater force than at any previous period of the war. Any Federal would have smiled at this assertion a month ago ; perhaps he will not do so now. Even before the real campaign has begun all these delusions are shattered. At every paint, even in Florida, strong forces are encountered where none were supposed to exist, and already Meade is on the defensive, Thomas repulsed, Sherman defeated, and the great cavalry movements at an end in utter failure. Sherman's operations show clearly the nature of such a war as this, and what is to be its issue. He under took iu the State of Mississippi what the North undertakes over the whole Confederacy. He suc ceeded in marching right across the State, but to what advantage ? Without attaching any weight to the rumour of a disastrous defeat at Meridian, his loss would be sufficiently great in incessant skirmishes and the stragglers left behind on such a march. At the departure of the steamer, New York would have willingly compounded the loss at half of his army. The cavalry column that issued from Memphis, and like an avalanche was to sweep all be fore it, had but a short and very ignominious career. Only the other day it was believed throughout the North that the victorious Sherman was at Selma, no one apparently knowing of the existence in his way of a great river, the Tombigbee, held by the Confe derates, and long ago appointed as the line of defence against a movement from the Mississippi. It was forgotten, too, that at Selma his position would have been that of Burgoyne at Saratoga, with exactly the same prospects. There was another theory of his marching to Mobi;e, no one knowing that he would have to cross a pine barren of 80 miles, short of water and bare of forage for so much as a grasshopper. . The Federals appear to be as ignorant even of the geography of the South as they have proved themselves to be of its resources or the spirit of the people. In the neighbouring State of Louisiana General Banks employs himself in the noble pursuit of re enslaving the negroes—the terms of Federal slavery being infinitely worse for the negro than those of his former condition. He is busy, too, in getting up a sham Government of speculators, sutlers, and foreigners, to aid by their electoral vote the re-elec tion of Mr. Lincoln. If tha statement be correct that Magruder is marchirg into the State from Texas, these schemes may have to be abandoned for more serious work. Magruder may well be tired of inaction in Texas, where the Federal occupation of a fe w points on the coast is obviously intended for effect only. In Florida the most discreditable affair of the war has occurred, another result of moving away from the gunboats. Not that it was discreditable for brave men, exhausted by long marches, to be de feated with heavy loss, but that the ruler of a country, whose only alleged qualification is common honesty, should be found employing his troops and engaging his private secretary in the work of manoeuvring for his own re-election. It is, of course, assumed that the people of the Nord' will tamely submit to be ruled by one re-elected by what every one knows to be sham votes. Such a compliment was surely never paid to a people before ; and the question arises whether in the history of human affairs a country was ever conquered by attorneys transformed into Generals, with forces directed, by the tactics, not of war, but of electioneering. In Georgia nothing more hopeless than the Fe deral prospects can well be imagined. Three years have proved what it is to advance upon Richmond, across the narrow intervening portion of Virginia, but that is mere amusement when compared with the conquest of Georgia from such a Uase as Chatta nooga. Apart from the repugnance of all people to see great districts of their country laid waste, it would be good strategy for the Confederate General to lure on General Thomas to Atalanta, standing entirely out of his way, and simply barring out his return. Georgia is as large as England, and every man in it is enrolled for service. What can be done by any army of 40,000 men, with an equal oppo nent to overthrow, and with such a country to con quer? It is idle to talk of the invasion of regions such as these, except so far as rivers can be ascended, and the strip of land they command. Tne marcti of an army through such a country is like one furrow run through a field. We tried the experi ment in South Carolina—to our cost. In that Sate the war is limited to throwing shells at the housas of private individuals. The siege is virtually over, a very costly failure, and the fire is kept up plainly for appearance sake. It does not seem to be intended to get up a " bogus" represen tation for this State. South Carolina has forced from the Northerners what they rarely yield to aught human or Divine—that is, respect. Stone fleets, monitors, even that wonderful creation the heroic negro conscript, all have gone for nothing, and Charleston seems unlikely to be sowed with salt in our day. In North Carolina the negro Federals made an inroad to the ruin of innumerable fowls, and the death of one poor Confederate soldier whom they met and hung. The Union sentiment of that State is well known to all except its own inhabitants; but this is not, the way to promote it. A General Wild, who commanded this valorous raid, has since, in the department of Butler, charged a clergyman of the Episcopal Church with being disloyal in his sermons, and sentenced him to sweep the streets of Norfolk for three months. It is a new way to bring back a people into fraternal union to begin by offering insults to the women of the coun try, and then to . its clergy. By the latest accoants the invaders of North Carolina were congratulating themselves on being under very strong shelter, without having permanently advanced one mire inland in the course of more than two years. A war of this nature may be divided into two portions. The first consists of those operations in which naval forces can co-operate, This combina tion of power, csnpled with superior numbers, must be on many points overwhelming. The wonder is, not that the Mississippi should be forced, but that it was held so long. Any one informed beforehand of the elements of the contest might fairly have taken it has granted that most of the ports would be captured, if not all of them, and that every navi gable river would be ascended. Instead of this only one great port is in the hands of the Federals at the end of four years, and no one of the rest seems likely to be taken throughout the war. Im portant as the progress of the Federals has been in this stage of the war, it is much less than oar own was in the revolutionary war at the end of an equal term. They have taken but one leading port ; then there was but one left untaken. What the ultimate result , of our greater successes was appears to be altogether forgotten. And now comes the second stage of the war, be yond the reach of gunboats, when Sherman has to advance into Mississippi, or Seymour into Florida. Here comes the really decisive struggle, man to elan, and he must have a strange spirit who does not instinctively feel that the man who defends his home and his property will fight differently from the mercenary bribed by env:mous bounty. Even if there were a doubt on such a point, an analysis of all the battles of the war would end it. When there has been any approach to equality in numbers arid position the victory has ever been with the South; in many instances they have triumphed against both. And where is there now a single direction in which there is a prospect of further progress of the invaders ? Is it at Richmond, Charleston, Savannah, or Mobile, which last is more defensib!e than any of them ? That element, space, now comes into view vvas pointed out at first as decisive of the issue. Who can conquer a country so extended that un army in the minat of it is no more than a cluster of flies upon a mountain side ? The very absence of popu.a.ion, though it weakens the defence, is still more fatal to the attack. In a well peopled country an army may defy the populace and live upon its spoils, but it cannot feed on cotton or forage in pine barrens. It is a singular spectacle that is now presented to us. In one part of the continent a Federal Union is abandoned, and a foreign ruler welcomed to (-nit the evils of that system. The Americans attributed the bloodshed in Mexico to the vices of a sanguinary race. How do they account for their own ? And while the Federal system is abandoned in one quarter in sheer disgust it is attempted to force its continuance upon another people by all the atroci ties of this war. There was another Federal Union in Central America, which broke up into separate States. There was another—Columbia, which had the same fate. Tnere was a fourth, called the United States, Its turn has c me. THE SENTENCE ON MAZINNI, The Court of Assizes of the Seine yesterday tried Mazzini, by default, for his share in the plot against the life of the Emperor, for which Greco and his accomplices were condemned in February last. After reading the indictment, which was in substance the same as that against the others, and which was given in extenso at the time, the Avocat-General, M. Mervailleux-Duvignaux, addressed the Court as follows :—" Messieurs : The crime imputed to Mazzini is established, and we have therefore no occasion to adduce any further proofs. You are still under the impression of the words pro nounced from this very seat, some weeks ago, by the venerated chief whom we had the honour to assist, and whose task, so painfully interrupted, it is now our duty to complete. At the same time as the guilt of the accused present was established, so was that of the one absent ; but it is expedient, especially on account of the audacious denials which the latter has published in foreign journals, to give a rapid and instructive retrospect of the past. Using the right given to us by Art. 470 of the Code of Criaiinal Procedure, we repeat, with the act of accusation : ' preceding attempts on the life of the Sovereign have had the same originator, Mazzini; the conspirators received from him in structions, money, and arms.' When, in 1857, Tibaldi and several other Italians appeared before this Court of Assizes, accused of a plot against the life of the Emperor, they had Mazzini for their accomplice; a complete investigation had clearly demonstrated that Tibaldi, thenorganiser at Paris of the plot formed abroad, and the pos sessor of the arms prepared for the execution of the crime, was himself merely the instrument of Mazzini. To the circumstantial details given on that head by the prisoners Grilli and Bartolotti, was added the still more decisive proof derived from the correspondence seized. Several documents written by Mazzini, which have been already read in this court, and which we reproduce now, contained, under date of 10th June, instructions at once precise and cautiously drawn up, given to Massarenti and Campanella by the real chief of the conspiracy. Mazzini indicated to the conspirators the two principal centres of action : at Paris, the residence of Tibaldi; at London, the house of James Stens feld and his wife, whom he designated as 'James, the friend at the brewery,' and Caroline.' It ex-' pressly resulted from these papers that the two men most recently admitted into the plot would find the rtquisite funds at Stanafeld's, and direc►ions and arms at Tibaldi's. At the same time two letters, also seized during the investigation, addressed to Mazzini, signed Caroline (the baptismal name of Mrs. Stanafeld), and bearing the post-mark of Walham •Green, the quarter where Stansfeld's brewery is situated, contained, along with private matters which left no doubt as to the origin of the letters, the following passages : the first, of the 16th June, said :—' I have received your dear and anxious ❑ote by Mr. Nathan, who brought it himself. The second, of the 19th June, began with these words:--' I have received the money, and James will of course carry out your instructions.' Mrs. Stansfeld wrote thus in reply to a letter from Maz • zini, dated the 11th, containing a remittance, the forwarding of which was announced by a letter from the same, dated the 10th, which was also seized, and is included among the written evidence. Lastly, in Tibaldi's possession was found a memorandum-book containing the address of the brewer, James S tans feld, and he confessed that when in London he had been in communication with that intimate friend of Mazzini. Your high jurisdiction regarded Mczzini's guilt judicially proved, and the sentence of transpor tation was pronounced against him by default. In DLc., 1858, a man named Donati was arrested at Paris on a charge of plotting against the Emperor's life. Overwhelmed by the evidence against him, he confessed his criminal design, and after having at tempted to maintain that he had not received in structions from any one, lie was ob'iged to ac. knowledge whose instigation he had obeyed. In the course of May Mezzini had given him a ren chzvous at Stansteld's brewery, and a conversa tion there took place on the projected attempt, and on the time and place where the crime might be most easily consummated. A few days later, at the same place, the plot received its definitive organisation. Donati committed suicide i❑ prison its January, 1859, thus giving a sad guarantee of the sincerity of his revelations. Lastly, in the late trial, Mazzini again appeared, choosing among his confederates the conspirator whom he considered possessed of most energy, giving him, in May, 1863, instructions to address his letters for London to Rosselly, 58, Middleton-square, the resi dence of the banker Nathan, drawing up with his own hand a detailed note, wnich was, as it were, the vocabulary of the plot; then, in Sept., 1863, re suming the enterprise after a momentary suspen sion; giving again, in his own hand, the new ad dress, Flower, 35, Thurloe•squere, which is the resi dence of Stansfeld, directing the choice of the inti mates whom Greco was to accept as accomplices ; sending arms, and lastly, procuring, through the medium of the Nathan whom you a:ready know, the money which was to facilitate the flight of the assassins after the attempt. Such are the facts which it is important that you and the world ehoula know. It is now incumbent on you, Messieurs, by a solemn judgment, to proclaim the truth respect ing this conspirator." Tne court then retired to deliberate, end afterwards delivered its judgment in the following terms :- 1 Whereas it is proved by the procedure that Mazzini, in 1863, was guilty of a plot having for its object an attempt on the life of the Emperor, the said plot, determined be tween several persons, having been followed by an act com mitted or begun for preparing its execution ; and Whereas the guilt of the said Mezzini results princi pally from the declarations and confessions of the con demned prisoner Greco and from two papers found on the person of the latter, written by Mazzini, and which are : 1. a no a beginning with the words, "Da Parigi a Lundra, to Mine. Rosselly, 58, Middleton-square," and ending with these ; 1, a piano by Broadwood ;" 2, a note thus worded : " Mr. Flower, 36, Thurloe-square, Brompton, London." Whereas, likewise the crime of which Mazzini is declared guilty is punishable by Arts. 86 and 89 of the Penal Code, which have been read ; Applying to him the said articles, the court condemns Mazziui to the punishment of transportation, and conjointly to the costa of the trial with Greco, Trabucco, Imperatori, and Scaglione." ENTERTAINMENT EY THE CHANCELLOR OF TEIE EXCHEQUER TO WORKING MEN.—Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone yesterday afternoon entertained at luncheon 20 of the exhibitors at the recent South Londcn Exhibition, headed by the Rev. Newman Hall and Mr. Murphy. They were invited to take with them some specimens of the exhi bition, which was generally done, and Mrs. Gladstone ac cepted with evident pleasure some of the articles—including a case of stuffed birds, exhibited by Mr. Hawkins, a drug assistant ; a picture of Mont Blanc in a snow storm, by Mr. Broughton, a self-taught artist; an 4 a porcelain flower-basket from Mr. Hopkinson. The company were conducled by Mr. Gladstone through the museum of pic tures and other works of art, and separated very much pleased with their novel entertainment, 6 la rt TA rural .-0,..---- •etA, 4 HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, March 31. The Queen walked and drove the grounds ibis morning, accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Louise. The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales rode o❑ horseback yesterday morning, attended by Lieut.-Colonel Keppel. The Prince and Princess of Wales drove to KO' , in the afternoon, and visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge. SANDRINGHAM, March 31. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, with the infant Prince Albert Victor, are expected to arrive here to morrow afternoon. Considerable alterations have been made here bince their highnesses left Sandringham, which now begins to assume en appearance befirting a residence of royalty. The "Norwich gates" have been fixed at the Dersingham entrance of the park, at the end of the splendid avenue of lines, and present a very imposing aspect. On either side of the gates wilt be placed some very tasteful corresponding tracery, and each padestal is surmounted with the Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle. The beautiful residence of Lieut. General Knollys approaches completion. The house will, unfortu nately, not be really till September, but considerable additional accommodation has been provided by the erection of what is called " The Bachelor's Cottage,' the residence for the equerries in the park, and the construction of sleeping apartments over the new stabling, a portion of which is still uncompleted. Toe royal stables have been considerably enlarged and beautified according to the plans of Rlr. lium• bert, the architect to the Prince of Wales. Death of the Princess of Coorg. Her Highness the Princess Victoria Grouramma of Coorg, god-daughter of the Queen, died prema turely on Wednesday at the house of her husband, Colonel John Campbell, in George-street, Portman. square. Most people who remember the circum. stances under which the Princess of Coorg was taken under the protection of her Majesty a dozen years rgo will feel their interest renewed by the announcement of the early death of the daughter of the last of the Haleri Retj The father of the Princess of Coorg, Veer Rajun der, was the namesake of his famous uncle. Veer Rajunder Waddeer, who he succeeded in 1819, when a boy of 15. The uncle was one of the few friends of British sovereignty in India. The English people drat heard of the Coorgs in connection 'with the Mysore were against Hyder Aii and Tipp° Sultan, extending over 12 years-17G2-1798. Hyder Ali night have exterminated the British but that Veer R junder refused to allow him to pass through his territories, and all his efforts against Coorg were unavailing until the treachery of Sing R *kinder put the Rajah and his family within his power. The Rajah allowed our Bombay army, under Gen. Abercromby, to pass through his territories and join the fumy of Cornwallis, a liberty which indi. rectly led to toe success of the British at Seringa patarz. In 1794 (October 26), Veer Rajunder con cluded a treaty with the Elsi, India Company—a treaty of friendship with the company " as lung as the sun and moon endured" against Tippoo Sultan, who was thereby ensured an "eternity of punish ment." In 1834 the late BAjab, who is describ3d by tra vellers as a fine, hospi:able, sportsmanlike man, got into trouble with " John Company," and was sent off to Benares ; the company, according to his own statement, sacking his palace and confiscating a vast deal of his property. Ultimately he was pen sioned off on £6,000. In 1852 the Rajah came to Ligland on the under standing that his pension was to be continued for the year of his absence. His avowed object was to bring over his daughter to be adopted by the Christian Queen of this country, to whom, remain ing himself a strict Brahmin of the Sudra caste, he wrote a letter, begging her Majesty to educate the princess like an English nobleman's daughter. " for the Almighty had given tier the knowledge of all things concerning Indian matters, and had placed her over a great nation." In the meantime, the Rajah was one of the lions of the London sea son ; he appeared at levees and State balls, " wear ing an Oriental costume of great magnificence, en ricaed with gold bullion and embroidery, the body of the dress being wholly formed of a gold fabric." The East India Company and the aristocracy gene rally entertained him besides. On the 30th June the princess was baptised in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty, Viscountess tiardinge, and Mrs. Robert Drummond (wife of M,joi- Drummond, of the 3d Bengal Light Cavalry, who was in attendance on the prince), were the godmothers, and Sir James Weir Hogg, Bart.,M.P., chairman of the East India Company, was god father, the ceremony being performed by the Lord Primate (to whom the Rajah had written a touch ing appeal on behalf of his daughter's Christian education), Lord Wriothesley Russel!, as Deputy Clerk of the Closet, and the Dean of Windsor (the Hon. Mr. Wellesley), as Private Chaplain to the Queen. Her Majesty confided the education of the princess to Mrs. Robert Drummond, under a special agreement between the Rajah on one hand, and the Board of Control and the East India Company on the other. liuluckily the Rijah fell into misfortune, and. being, as he thought, ill-treated by the company, by Lord Dalhousie, and by all the Indian authori ties, contrived to become the hero of various Par liamentary debates, the memory of which it is un necessary to revive, further than to say that the origin of them was the withdrawal of his highness's pension (which, however, was even cually restortd), and that the champions of his cause were the Mar quis of Cianricarde in the Upper, and Mr. Miicer Gibson in the Lower, House of Parliament. The Princess Gouramma was confirmed and admitted as a communicant, under the auspices of the Queen, and a few years ago she married Colonel John Campbell. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the infant Prince Albert VLctor of Wales, leave Marlborough Roust shortly after noon to-day to proceed to Sandringham, Norfolk. It is. expected that their royal highnesses will remain in comparative retirement until the third week in this mo nth. The Earl of Listowel has arrived at Thomas's Hotel, Bea',keley-sqaare, from Kimbolton Castle. Lord Brougham is stall at Cannes, and in the best of health. The noble and learned lord is ez. pected to arrive in Paris the week after next, and, after a brief stay there, the venerable peer will arrive in London at the close of the month. Baroness de Clifford has arrived at her residence on Carlton-house-terrace, for the season, from her seat in Leicestershire. Count Sandoz has left Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley . ,quare, for Vienna. Sir Thomas Sebright and family have arrived at the Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood. The Right Hon. the Cnaneallor of the B l eb° . quer and Mrs. Gladstone have arrived in town for the season. Mrs. Gladstone's first assembly will take place on Wednesday next. Colonel Farquharson has returned to Thomas et Hotel, Berkeley-square, from Scotland. The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough he" arrived at their residence in Sc. James's-Equare for the season, horn Blenheim Palace, neac Woodstoc ic ; The Earl and Countess Spencer, by their I.as letters, had arrived at Constantinople from And intend to visit Athens before they return. Th noble earl and countess are no t ex p ected heine until the first week in the ensuing month. The United Kingdom Railway Officers V ana Servants' Association held its half-yearly wean?' last Wednesday, at the London Bridge HOW? Hotel, T' Esq., Sheriff of London and Middlesex, in the chair' t Mr. T. Alfred Burr, secretary , read the report, which t ests c that upwards oi 2,000 members had been enrolled in a ho l Dea th Pension and Accident Fund , and nearly 4,000 in the De Fund. £586 had been p aid for deaths. A special douat of £5 ss, from the chairman was announced.