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

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TY-TIB DAY.—Morning, Sh. 20m.—Afternoon, 9h. lOm. ro-moußow.-Morning, 9h. 51m.—Aftemoon,:10h.:36m. ALION'S WELCOME to a LlON — D orset Divinity—Our Own Correspondent at the Volunteer Review, te.—in PUN, 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 Reyival of Shakspere's Chronicle or Historical Play, entitled the First Part of HENRY THE FOURTH. No pains or expense will be spared to render this presen tation of our National Author's most popular, and it may be said, most representative English Drama, a becom;ng Com 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. Waiter Lacy, Mr. A ddison, Mr. Ryder, Mr. hobert Roxby, Mr. Barrett, Mr. E Phelps, Mr. Rayner, Mr. H. Vandenhoff, Mr. t_4. Belmore, Mr. Ellerton, Mr. Fitzjames, Mr. Neville; Miss Edith Wynne, M ss Rcse Leclereq, and Mrs. Edmund Fal coner, supported by all the Members of the Drury-lace Ccm pany. The new and characteristic scenery will be entirely de • sio - ned and painted by Mr. William Beverley. The costumes, armour, &c, wi:l ha fashioned from designs by R. W. Keene, Esq , taken from illustrated MSS. of the period, and other autuor.ties. Prece•led by a Transatlantic Extravavn7s, by .T. M. Morton, Esq., entitled THE AL ABAII3. in which Mr. G. D e lmore and Miss Lydia Thompson will aPpar. THEATRE ROYAL HAYM ARKET.— Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone. THIS EVENING, April 1, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN: Messrs. Sothern, Buckstone, Chippendale, _Rogers, Clark, Gordon, Braid, &O. ; Mesdames Angel, Lindley, Hill, Harri 4, Snowden, &c. After which, the new Easter piece, entitled VENUS AND ADONIS. Messrs. Compton, Wm. Farrell, Coe. &c. ; Mes dames Louise Keeley, Snowden, Nelly Power, Hill, Wright, Ro4ers, &c. To c)nclude 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 AT I ICS. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Sole Management of Mr, Pechter. . THIS EVENING, the performances will commence with THE DAY AFTER. THE FAIR: Messrs. Widdi combe, Garden, Moreland, and Miss E. Lavenu. A ster which, at Eio-ht o'clock, the 12)th Night of BEL DEHONIO, a Love Story, in Twelve Tableaux. Characters by Messrs. Jordan, Charles, J. Brouglasm, Emery, Morton, Raymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford, Collett, Sims ; Miss Kate Terry, Miss E. Lavenu, .3lrs. Lee, Arles Elsworthy. The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge is made to the occupatlts of Boxes, Box-placeJ, or Stalls, either for play bills or for the safe keeping' of hate and cloaks, and that the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to xeceive any gratuities whatever. Box-office open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7. THE SHEFFIELD DISASTER. Mr. PECHTER, having thorougialy recovered from his late accident, will positively APPEAR. on SATURDAY next, April 2, in BEL DENIONIO, when the whole of the profits of that evening will be oivea in Aid of the Funds for the Sufferers by the late Calamity. INTEW THE ATRE-RO YAL, ADELPHI.-- VA Sole Proprietor and Itranwzor. Mr. B. Webster. ..rms EVENING, THE PRETTY HORSEBREAKER : Mr. J. L. Toole and Miss Woolgar. At 5, LEAH: Miss Bateman, supported by Messrs. A. Stirling, R. Phillips, Billington, Stuart, Eburne, Stephenson ; 3riss H. Simms and Mrs. Billington. To conclude with T A E AREA BELLE : Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, R. Romer, Miss Woolgar, and Mrs. H. Lewis. Commence at 7. F ! BA N I NGa and E E V A A N EI EVERY EVENING.—Miss .—EL E A H EN.,ING. 3riss .— Ba ' i i teman ..L7ll- I vt, ill re-aprear in her great impersonation of the Jewish nwiden ur.til further notice. In order to give due effect to tams most remarkable success of the season, entire,y new scenery by the celebrated artists Messrs. Dansan and 'Sons, and Thompson. New drrss2s and appo'ntments have been prepared for its production.—N.B. In consequence of the pressing and numerous applications at the Box-al •e, ar rairTements have now been made by which Seats rat y be ob tainel a Fortnight in Advance. R OYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. under the Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER. Crowded with Rank and Fashion.—The greatly successful new Comedy every Evening.—Re-eng,agement 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. J. 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 f orourite Fare of FORTY AND FIFTY: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Matthews. At a quarter before 8, the successful new Comedy, by L. Buckingham, Esq., entitled THE SILVER LINIXG 31r. Charles Mathews, Mr. F. Robinson, Mr. Ashley, Mr. Montague; Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Stirling. After whioh, COOL AS A CUCUMBER. Mr. Charles Mathews. To conclude with UNDER, THE ROSE : Mr. Ashley and Mtss A. Cottrell. Commence at 7. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborounh. THIS EVENING, a new Comedietta, A HUNT FOR A HUSBAND. After which, the Grand Christmas 13nrlesque, ORPHEU.S AND FURY L) ICE : Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton, Mesdames Swanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &c. Concluding; with MARGATE SAN DS. Commence at 7. 111 HE THUM) EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containing the Latest SPORTING INTEL L 1GE20.3E, pan be had Every Evening of G. It. GIANIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4. Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. COALS. —The LILLESHAL I - , COMPANY'S Direct from their own Collieries. 3rarquis' 26s. per ton. I Double 21s. per ton. Top 255. „ Nuts.. l9s. „ Deep .225. Well screened and deli - rercd within five miles of their De pots, Westbourne Pde':-road, W., and 17, South Wharf, t'addlngton, 'V. Best Core Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent. The Weather—Sun Office, April 1, 1864. THERMOMETER. This day at Two o'clock Barometer-29.67. Wind—South-West; fresh breeze, and fine. 7 Elij Re " I ArkO k I,4"*NA-*,-• LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1864. The Revenue Returns, which will be found else. where tabulated symmetrically with a view to en slave 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 twelvemontk as compared with its predeces sor. But—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 Praaing.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 leso than sd. in the pound. Again, last year, as we all know, the incom e tax was diminished by 2d, in the pound. Yet, then, it is true, instead of the consequent falling, off proving to be in any way remarkable, it is, on the contrary, very much lees of a falling off than Could reasonably have been an ticipatcd. It is a falling off, in fact, upon the whole of this twelvemonth last past of no more 011,11 £1,483,000 —the proceeds of the year 1864 under the Lead of Income 'fax being 0,084,000, while i n 1863 under the same head they amounted to £10,567A0* And, remembering that every penny in the pound under the Income Tax has hitherto bleu estimated as representing i n round numbers about £1,100,00 0 revenue, the lowering of the impost last year to the extent of 2a. i n the pound having resnited in a falling ff of £1,483,000, shows as clearly as that two and two make four, that the result is certain there could have been reasonably hoped for by upwards .1:700,000 —seeing that the actual diminution has been £1,48 3 , 000 , whereas the twopence in the pound should have been held to represent £2,200,000 or thereabouts. There is noticeable an increase of cantle this year by £323,000 under the head of stamps—stamps having yielded in 1864 £9,317,000, an d in 1863 £8,994,000. Taxes, again, so-called ha ye improved by the sum of £168,000 on the year just ended, 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 lei s 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 £BOO,OOO, there is an increase of fully £1,052,000! The Ex cise returns, which in 1863 amounted to £17,155,u00, having in 1861 advanced t 3 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 £391,593 —the national income amounting, in the year end ing 31st of March, 1864, to £70,208,963, as com pared with an income of £70,60 . 3,561 from its immediate predecessor. Upon the whole, therefore, the results are eminently encouraging. The Chan cellar 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 NORTHCOTE made his remark ab:e 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, eince the leading men of the county attended it, and it had a specific purpose, being held to promote the return of Lord COUR TENAY, eldest son of the Earl of DavoN, 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 hod 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-stock 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 polfcy 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 fact, 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 th e y a tt a i n t h e i r 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 borne. The correspondence between the Government and the Messrs. LAIRD is now before the public, and it is satisfactory to know that there is thus an oppor tunity of 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 au appropriate finish to the long course of uncourteous conduct and unwar rantable interference which distinguished the whole of their proceedings in the matter. It was not of so much consequence in so 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. Those who study the reports here presented to notice will be amazed at the tiling of aliafain oxcuaee, and lame 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 the 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 eubjecl, such contempt for the late. rests of the community, and such wilful disregard to the honour of the country takes place. At all evente, 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" wouldlake 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 unim• pressiblo man could hardly be found than oar Foreign Secretary, and what was it to him if all kinds of disasters occurred to oar own subjects, if only the cherished friends oil 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 t to effect one object, and that to provoke and irritate the Messrs. LAIRD into some overt act of contumacy 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 Rallies in question. How many there are, however, who could no`, or would not, brook such insults patiently, and, therefore, would be goaded to a futy which would prove fatal to them. Another important consideration is that suggested by Sir HUGII CAIRNS, in his memorable speech in the debate in the House concerning these reesels. 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, TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. 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 p eace ? If this is worthy of a corner in your widely-circulated journal, please insert it.—l am, your most obedient servant, A C6NSTANT READER. Stoke Newington, March 31, 1861. MARRIAGE OF A NEW ZEALAND CHIEF.—At the parish church of St. Anne, Limehouse, yester day, Kamariera Te 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 AUSTRIAN ?OLAND.— 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 olifmces, 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 31, who received 10 lashes, and Catherine Samboraka, a servant, aged 20, who had a similar punishment. A great number of persons have been condemned to imprisonment for from one month to four." SYMPATHY WITH DENMARK.—A public meeting convened by the Mayor, and over which his 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 he 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 ofject. These resolutions the mayor was requested to sign on behalf of the meeting, and transmit to the First Lord of tha Trea sury and to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, .Yezy cqstle Chronicle. AN ODD 'WAY OF PUTTING it. —More than 9,000 clergymen—that 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 6'3 the Word of God, and not merely to contain it; and also that the punishment of the cursed equally with the life of the righteous lasts for ever. In other words, half the English clergy have abjured all but textual criticism of the most wonderful history and literature in the world, and assented to a doctrince which ought tto 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 tho hands of God. We now know that 9,000 English clergymen ought to think capital punishment the moat shocking of political crimeo,-4ectleor, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.] THE WAR IN JUTLAND, COPENHAGEN, MARCH 31 (Nine p.m.) The Dagbladet of to-day says At Assen derup, where the 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 eon fidnice in the Ministry has been rejected by a large majority in the Chambers. THE POLISH INSURRECTION. SP. PETERSBURG, Arita 1. The Invalide .Busse of to-day accuses the Wal lschian Minister, M. Kogelnitsehana, of openly sympathising with and tolerating the revolutionary Poles. The latter, however, are reminded by the Invalicle 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 aro 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 sundries. FRANCE. PARIS, APRIL 1. The Constitutionnel 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 :- 1 " 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, and serious and durable guarantees." Lady Cowley gave a splendid ball at the British Embassy on Tuesday night, the company—for whom 900 invitations had been given —consisting of the members of the diplomatic carpe t the ministers and other high dignitaries, and the elite of the fashionable society of Paris. The new ball room was definitively inaugurated on this occasion, and presented a most charming appearance, from the admirable manner in which the lighting was managed. The chandeliers descended only is 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, The whole of the lower salons were thrown open on 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 ambaesadress to their numerous guests was the sub ject of general remark. BOURSE, March 31.—The market still remains in the same dull state, but without any material varia tion in prices. Threes, for the Account, are er changed at 65f. 83c, Mobilier has improved to 1,0471. 50c. Railway Shares quiet, but firm. The market closed as follows : 43 per Cents. 93 40 Do. end month 3 per Cents Do. end month 65 85 Credit Mobilier 1050 Do. end month 1052 60 Bank Shares 3297 50 Credit k oncier 1270 Roman Italian Loan 67 95 Do. end month — "Sew ditto Do, end month..., ft usflian Austrian Spanish Threes,. , Home Pobt . .... . Deferred .. 45 RA IL "AYS. Cash. Account. 997 50 .. 997 50 970 976 25 Orleans ... Northern New ditto Lyons and MeditTrrancan New ditto .. Southern Western ...... Eastern •........ ....• Sardinian ...... Austrian Lombard ........ North of Spain .... 5arag055a.......... Ditto to Barcelona 950 _- „ 950 - 900 - •• 658 75 .. 657 50 520 - .. 525 - 480 .. 480 - 3 70 ~, 362 50 406 25 .. 410 - 548 75 .. 648 75 49;) 488 75 587 50 .. 590 --- 280 - - 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 campaign. 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 persons 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 Auna Dickenson. It is now known that the cotton crop of the South last season reached 800,000 bales—a pure addition to the growth of all the foed 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 in 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 Mobile, 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 the 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 few 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 bs 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 manceuvring for his own re-election. It is, of course, assumed that the people of the North 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 base 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 Ganeral 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 ❑ent 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, The march 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 State the war is limited to throwing shells at the houses 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 Batler, 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 accounts the invaders of North Carolina were congratulating themselves on being under very strong shelter, without having permanently advanced one mile 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, coupled with superior numbers, must he 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 onr 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 man, and he must have a strange spirit who does not instinctively feel that the ma❑ who defends his home and his property will fight differently from the mercenary bribed by enormous bounty. Eyen THE SIEGE OF FREDERICIA, The Siecle publi s h es t h e f o ll ow i ng correspondence from Copenhagen, which La Patrie republishes with " duo reser ve " : " COPENHA GEN E March 27. ~ I have very important news to send t o y o u today. Two day s s i nce t h e A us t r i a n army sud denly abandoned th e pos i t i ons i t h e ld round Fre• dericia, an act which our most able strategists could not explain. The reason has been discovered. All the Hungari ans b e l ong i ng t o the Austrian army, officers as we ll as men, h a d agreed to pass over to the Danes, t o j o i n t h em in fighting the common enemy of their nationality, General Gablenz 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 investisation 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 reac h e d C ope nhagen this even ing, and whi c h I h ave b e f or e me, states that the number sentenced was not less than 300. So much is certain that the night before last heavy platoon firing w as h ear d i n the Austrian quarters, probably the execut i on o f the sentence. The Hungarians, it seems, revo l te d at the odious work they had to perform. The Italians drafted into the turn of the P o l es o f t h e G ra nd Austrian regi ments s h are t h e sa me sentiments. The Duchy of Posen will come ne x t. Th e G erman j o urnals will doubt less deny the t ru th o f t hi s sta tement; but the fact is true, and if I am the first to a nnounce it to you it will doubtless soon be repeated in other quarters." We are requested to state that the meeting which was to have b een h e ld thi s d ay a t the London Tavern, to consider resolutions in c on nection with Sir Moses Monte fiore's recent postponed until Wednesd a y, the 11th in stant , at 1 o 'clock. philanthropic visit to Mo rocco, is unavoidabl y THE HEALTH OF THE POPE. —A c orres pondent of the Deb a t s, wr i t i ng f rom Remo on the 23d ult., Pope, It is t o l era bl y sa ti s f ac t or y. that his state that of rest. It canno t b e d eL 4 4 ) t° lvcver ' "Ys :—" You must wish to hear newis,hoef t a h u e g h u e s a t l p th ati o e f nt th i e s only a littl e wea k. H e f o ll ows no other treatment than still requires care." TIIE CONFEDERATF, CAFlTAL.—ltichmond, the Confederate capital, had a population of 33,000 according to the last census. The capital contains Hondon's celebrated statue of Washington. J e fferson Davis' r esidence is a private mansion. The city h a s 6 banks, 13 ne w spapers, and 23 churches. Mr, Davis worships at a Pr esb y terian ch urch. Richmond has 4 cotton and 50 tobacco factories, flour and rolling mills, forges, furnaces, machine shops, and the latter have been of immense service to the rebellion in turning out ordnance and other war material. Before the rebellion the exports of Richmond reached 7,000,000 dollars annually, and its imports 750,000 dollers. 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, Norfolk, Danville Va., an d Jackson's River. THE STEAMER CITY OF NEW YORK.—QUEENS TOWN, Thursday.—The sea is rising fast at Daunt's Rock. No lighters or steamers can get alongside the City of New York, and it is expected she will shortly break up tula wash into deep water. if there were a doubt on such a point, an analydi of all the battles of the war would end it. When there has been any approach to equality in numbers and position the victory has ever been with the South ; in many instances they have triumphed against bcth. 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 defensible than any of them ? That element, space, now comes into view was pointed out at first as decisive of the issue. Who can conquer a country so extended that an army in the miast of it is no more than a cluster of flies upon a mountain side ? Tho very absence of popu,arion, 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 er forage in pine barrens. It is a singular spectacle that is now presented to U 3. In one part of the continent a Federal Union is abaudoned, and a foreign ruler welcomed to end the evils of that system. The Americana attributed the bloodshed in Mexico to the vices of a sanguinary rare. 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 atrocil 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. There 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 Mezzini, 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. Merveilleux-Davignaux, 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 Criminal Procedure, we repeat, with the act of accusation : The preceding attempts on the life of the Sovereign have had the same originator, Mezzini; 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 the;r accomplice ; a complete investigation had clearly demonstrated that Tibaldi, th euorganiser 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 Messarenti 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 Stans 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 requisite funds at Stansfeld's, and directions and arms at Tibaldi's. At the same time two letters, also seized during the investigation, addressed to Mezzini, signed Caroline (the baptismal name of Mrs. Stansfeld), and bearing the post-mark of Walhana -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 note 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 Mazzini's guilt judicially proved, and the sentence of transpor tation was pronounced against him by default, In Dec., 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, he was obliged to ac. knowledge whose instigation he had obeyed. I❑ the course of May Mezzini had given him a ren dezvous at Stansfeld'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 in prison in January, 1859, thus giving a sad guarantee of the sincerity of his revelations. Lastly, in the late trial, Mezzini 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, which 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 uwn hand, the new ad dress, Flower, 35, Thurloe•squaro, which is the resi dence of Stausfeld, 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 already know, the money which was to facilitate the flight of the assassins after the attempt. Such are the Gets which it is important that you and the world should know. It is now incumbent on you, Messieurs, by a solemn judgment, to proclaim the truth respect ing this conspirator." The court then retired to deliberate, and afterwards delivered its judgment in the following terms : • " 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 Wkereas the guilt of the said Mazzini 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 note beginning with the words, "Da Parigi a Londra, to Mme. Rosselly, 58, Middleton-square," and ending with these ; 1, a piano by Broadwood ;" 2, a note thus worded : " Mr. Flower, 35, Thurloe-square, Brampton, 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 Mazzini to the punishment of transportation, and conjointly to the cogs of the trial with Greco, Trabucco, Imperatori, and Soaglione." ENTERTAINMENT FY THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER TO WORKING MEN.—Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone yesterday afternoon entertained at luncheon 20 of the exhibitors at the recent South Louden 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 gist's assistant ; a picture of Mont Blanc in a snow storm, by Mr. Broughton, a self-taught artist; and a porcelain flower-basket from Mr. Hopkinson. The company were conducted by Mr. Gladstone through the museum of pic tures and other works of art, and separated very much pleased with their novel entertainment, Vs ok, • ~-. (ti Ijnrt tirtifiar HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, March 31. The Queen walked and drove the grounds this morning, accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Louise. The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales rode on horseback yesterday morning, attended by Lieut.-Colonel Keppel. The Prince and Princess of Wales drove to KeVf 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 since their highnesses left Sandringham, which now begins to assume tin appearance befitting 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 will be placed some very tasteful corresponding tracery, and each pedestal is surmounted with the Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle. The beautiful residence of Lieut.- General Knollys approaches completion. The house will, unfortu nately, not be ready 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. The royal stables have been considerably enlarged and beautified according to the plans of Mr. Hum 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 ego will feel their interest renewed by the announcement of the early death of the daughter of the last of the Haleri Rajahs. The father of the Princess of Coorg, Veer Rajun der, was the namesake of his famous uncle. Veer Raj under Waddeer, who he succeeded in 1819, when a boy of 1.5. The uncle was one of the few friends of British sovereignty in India. The English people first heord of the Coorgs in connection 'with the Mysore wars against Hyder Ali and Tippoo Sultan, extending over 12 years-1782-1798. Hyder Ali might have exterminated the British but that Veer Raj under refused to allow him to pass through his territories, and all his efforts against Coorg were unavailing until the treachery of Sing R tjunder put the Rijah and his family within his power. The Rajah allowed our Bombay army, under Gen. Abereromby, to pass through his territories and join the :limy ot e Cornwallis, a liberty which indi. rectly led to the success of the British at Seringa patam. In 179 i) (October 26), Veer Rajuuder con cluded a treaty with the East India Company—a treaty of friendship with the company " as long as the sun and moon endured " against Tippoo Sattan, who was thereby ensured an " eternity of punish. ment." In 1834 the late Rajah, who is described by tra vellers as a fine, hospitable, 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 England 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 ❑obleman's daughter. " for the Almighty lied given her 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 riched 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 Hardinge, and Mrs. Robert Drummond (wife of Major 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 Russell, 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. Unluckily the Rajah fell into misfortune, and being, as ha 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 nis highness's pension (which, however, was eventually restored), and that the champions of his cause were the Mar quis of Cianricarde in the Upper, and Mr. Milner 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 Victor of Wales, leave Marlborough House 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 month. The Earl of Listowel has arrived at Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, from Kimbolton Castle. Lord Brougham is still at Cannes, and in the best of health. The noble and learned lord is ex 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 square, for Vienna. Sir Thomas Sebright and family have arrived at the Queen's Hotel, Upper Norwood. The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exche 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's Hotel, Berkeley-square, from Scotland. The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough have arrived at their residence in St. James's-square for the season, from Blenheim Palace, neac Woodstock. The EArl and Countess Spencer, by their last letters, had arrived, at Constantinople from Cairo, and intend to visit Athens before they return. The noble earl and countess are not expected hom e until the first week in the ensuing month. The United Kingdom Railway Officers' and Servants' Association held its half-yearly meeting lastMednesday, at the London Bridge House motel, Cave, Esq., Sheriff of London and Middlesex, in the chair. Mr. T, Allred Burr, secretary, read the report, which stated rhat upwards of 2,000 members had been enrolled in the Pension and Accident Fund, and nearly 4,000 in the Des! Fund. £586 had been paid for deaths. A special donation of £5 6s, from the chairman was Announced. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 1, 1864.