The Sun. — London, England, 1863-07-24 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARIAWI= HOUSE OF LORDS.—Last Evening. Tho LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. Lord Antnrnsu, of Wan Dot a. presented a petition from a place in Scotland, complaining of prosleytisin under the Poor-law Act. DANGEROUS EXHIBITIONS. The Earl of MALMESBURY called attention to the late fatal accident that occurred at Birmingham to an unfor tunate person called a " Female Blondin," who met with her death by being precipitated to the ground whilst performing on a rope fixed at a great altitude. Atter the accident the greatest indifference was exhibited by the people, and the committee having direction of the tete allowed the sports to go on, notwithstanding the terrible accident. He wished to know whether the Government had not some power by which a stop could be put to these highly dangerous exhibitions? _ _ _ Earl GRANVII,LE said he quite agreed with the noble earl as to the danger of such exhibitions, which he thought could only be enjoyed by those of the most morbid appetite. They had, however, now gone on for some time, and had hoped that public opinion would have discouraged such performances, but such was not the case. With respect to the particular case now before them, it would be better to wait until the termination of the coroner's inquest before the matter was fully inquired into. The Government had no power to put a stop to such exhi bitions. All they could do was to write letters to the managers or lessees of placeS where they were understood t o be performed, warning them of the extreme danger of such exhibitions, and informing them, at the same time, that they exposed themselves to all the legal responsibilities in the event of aceidents. In the metropolis that warning had been attended to, but the same feeling did not seem to pervade the provinces. He believed the great attrac tion of such exhibitions was the extreme danger of the per formance, and the same remark might apply to foxhunting. He had hoped that the good sense of the public would have led to the cessation of the performances, and he regretted it had not done so. The Earl of SHAFTESBURY said that the extreme interest that attached to these exhibitions was the tremen dous danger to which the performers exposed themselves. He believed that if the same exhibitions were to be given on a rope three or four feet from the ground, with plenty of sawdwit underneath, not five people would go to see it. The most effectual means for its extinction would be the Press, and he felt extremely gratified that the conductors of it had taken the matte l r in hand. It was greatly to be hoped that before on a more refined taste would prevail, which would lead the multitude to b.av greeter. ' , regard. for' the lives, and limbs of thehilfellositisitbjelasial t.!osio The subject then dropl4.act'o4 (ta) , i l - 8 1 1 - 10,11),) , 1 "1- f: - PRIVAIt The Scottidl 5cai1i;,,,44*.4.0,4Ap.#.44 , 14.r0atp , Railways Am a g "i n ti p oillillyfaaead." thirktillfziP passed. 4 ,•uw,l.L;l3a olw , Ala mama t i . REMOVAL OF PRISONERS (SCOTLAND) BILL. This bill was read a second time. TRUSTEES (SCOTLA B IL ND) . ACT AMENDMENT L This bill passed through committee and was reported. STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. NAVY PRIZE AGENTS' BILL. The report of amendments to this bill was brought up and received. FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL. On the motion for the third reading of this bill, Lord CRANWORTH moved that it be read a third time that day three months. A long discussion ensued, at the conclusion of which the house divided— For the third rending—Contents Nut-contents 25 Majority for the third reading —ls Lord CRA.N WORTH then moved, as a proviso to be added to the bill, " Provided always that nothing in this Act contained shall interfere with any rights held at the time of the passing of this Act under royal grant or charter, or possessed from time immemorial." After discussion the house divided — For the proviso —Contents 23 Non -contents Majority against the proviso .... —ll A motion by the Earl of DONOUGHMOR.E to restore the 20th clause was negatived on a division by a majority of 25, the numbers being 12 against 37. The bill as amended was then passed. The Fortifications (Provision for Expenses) Bill, the Public Works and Fisheries Acts Amendment Bill, the Vaccination (Scotland) Bill, and the Exhibition Medals Bill. were each read a third time and passed. The Nuisances Removal Bill, the Union Relief Aid Acts Continuance Bill, the Companies Clauses Bill, and the Turnpike Trusts Arrangements Bill went through com- mittee. The Railways Clauses Bill, the Waterworks Clauses Bill, the Turnpike Acts Continuance Bill, the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, and the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Bill were each read a second time. The house adjourned at 10 minutes to 8 o'clock. HOUSE OF COMMONS.--Yesterday. The SPEAKER took the chair at twenty-five minutes past twelve. DENMARK AND GERM ANY. Mr. S. FITZGERALD said he was unwilling the session to come to a close without endeavouring to obtain from her Majesty's Government some ex planation with reference to the present condition of matters between the German Confederation and the King dom of Denmark. The Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill made ample provision for the diplomatic service of the country, and, amongst important places involved, Frank• fort and Copenhagen held a principal place. He regretted that while the friendly relations between other Powers appeared to be only strengthened, those between the Germanic Confederation and the Government appeared to be embittered. He considered that the federal occupa tion of Holstein would be moat menacing to Europe, if Denmark resisted it. He thought it would be important to know what steps her Majesty's Government would take under the circumstances. Lord PALMERSTON said this was one of the most complicated subjects that ever engaged the attention of statesmen in Europe. He should not enter into details of what was called the Schleswig-Holstein affair, which was involved in the utmost obscurity of former times. The German advocates referred back to 1640 as the ground on which they maintained stricter relations between Schleswig and Holstein than those admitted by Denmark or any other Powers, He entirely agreed with the hon. gentleman (Mr. Fitzgerald) that it was a matter of British policy to maintain the independence and integrity of the Danish monarchy. It was not a large one, but it had its rights as well as larger States, and its geographical position rendered it the more important to this country that these rights Should be secured. The position the Government had always held was, that Holstein was a member of the German Con federation, and that that Confederation had a control over the affairs of Holstein as it had over other members of the Germanic Confederation, and that any arrangement made I:_t_ the King of Denmark, opposed to this fundamenta l rule, not justifiable, But they held that, w ith regard to 'n Schleswig, the German Confederation the Ger man i c C had no control , and Confederation bad no more right to presc ribe rules for it t h an other separate and pain,Portugal, England, Russia, or any Schleswig was a independent State. They held that matter of European arrangement. But still there were many Germans there, and the Government held that the German Confederation had a right to represent, if such a case existed, that hat the German inhabitants were not an equal placed upon tooting with the subjects of Denmark. Each matters ought not, toa however, under any circumstances, to justify an appeal s rm at s. (Hear, hear.) As to Holstein, the last stage only w tion, and that arose out of thewhieh was worthy of considera tion, in March last. H patent issued by the King of Garman Confederation e did not know what step the he remembered that an anecdote intended to take on the matter, but he desired that the Germanic Confederation of Talleyrand, who when a certain step which he consideredrrfederation should not take France, recommended them not to might be injurious to rate haste. Now precipitation was proceed with inconside the Germanic Confederation, but he was a characteristic of w good sense w ould p revent the m from taking g sure that th e i r wou ld be damaging to the peace of E n u a step whi c h n war broke out th ere, it mus t extend r°Pe ' for if a vo l ve many other sta tes i n its disastrousrtner, and in- As to the poli c y and course of the Gov ernmentconeequnces. as to these disputes, he might say that the Government were that the rights of Denmark should be nau desirous that if any attempt were made to overthrow thoseowrights that these matters would be subject for negotiationever" and not for war. Every effort should be made b her Majesty's Government to induce the patties to include y all disputes within the limits of diplomatic intercourse. (Hear, hear.) He had no doubt those efforts would be suc cessful, and he had no apprehensions of either immediate or remote danger. (Cheers.) THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA.— PRIVATEERING. Mr. COBDEN called attention to the exploits of the Oreto alias the Florida, the Alabama alias the 290, and the Japan alias the Virginia. The hon. gentleman hav• log dwelt upon the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act, and to the attacks which the above-named vessels had made upon the merchandise of a friendly power, remarked that every vessel which was captured by them was taken note of by the American Government. In all cases the e value of the vessels s eized were taken by deposition oath, and in all eases a claim was made for compensation on this country. The Government always resisted thee claims, but that was the most serious part of the mar, and he contended that in such cases every man ought to constitute himself a detective policeman in order that these proceedings might be frowned down. By every feeling of reciprocity toward s the American people we ought to strive to put down these illegal practices. He thought there was every claim upon the Government to prevent these armed vessels from leaving these shores. On this point he constantly saw fallacies running through the speeches of Earl Russell and the Solicitor-General, for they constantly confounded two things, the evidence necessary to detairj a vessel, and the evidence necessary to cony .In one case a Confederate vessel went out with a pi , ; ic party; that N i vas a most deceptive act, and the Goverment might have !prevented it by putting a Custom-:,AI: e officer on board!. He hoped that by no technical evr sion another vesse; for Confederate purposes would be all( wed to escape from these shores. The terrors of the civil war in Ame rica were frightful, bat he hoped they would not be ex tendell by any connection with it on our part. All he asked for was neutrality. (Cheers.) Whatever might be the issue of this dreadful war, let England keep clear of it. His voice would be mute, and what he asked was that Eng- land should be silent and sorrowful until this dreadful civil war was over. Mr. LAIRD denied that the Alabama went out of Liverpool in an improper way. Mr. COBDEN said he quoted Lord Russell. Mr. LAIRD said he was not responsible for what Lord Russell said. She went out of dock in the broad daylight. Mr. COBDEN—Did she take a clearance? Mr. LAIRD—She did not require a clearance. THE lONIAN ISLANDS. Lord J. MANNERS complained of the conduct of the Foreign Office in excluding Turkey from the proposed con ference to whom is to be referred the cession of the lonian Islands to Greece. He should like to know whether Turkey had made any demand to be admitted to the Conference. He considered that the cession of the lonian Islands was the most unpolitic, uncalled for, prejudicial Act ever com mitted. the Confe ren ce n C f . e BEeeNTwloNulCdlibeintqukuirenedbveffhoreethtehre mtheeetoingpinioofnthoef lonian Parliament ? Lord but t ea it t attention LMPAtothEeßhSoTn°. N g said entl e m h e had a n( M l r i . ste C n o e b d d e w n i ) t , h appeared to him that he an d her Majesty's Government, and he thought the count r y at large, started on the consi deration of the matter fro m a different point. He (the noble lord) looked upon the two parties as in arms against each other, and as such, belligerents, and therefore entitled to all the rights and privileges of belligerents. That which was running in the head of the hon. gentleman, and which guided his reasoning, as well as his feeling, was that the Union was in legal existence, that there were not two belli gerents, but a legitimate Government, and a rebellion against that Government. Now, what was the duty of a neutral with regard to two belligerents ? The American Government had laid it down for themselves, for they had laid it down that a neutral might supply a belligerent with ships, arms, ammunition, or any thing else, although they might be important ingredients in naval and military operations. The hon. gentleman complained that her Majesty's Government had not taken proper steps in this matter, but had rested upon information derived from the American Minister. He could assure the hon. gen -41eman that that was not the case, and he believed that the lon, gentleman and the Federal Government were not en titled to say that the Government had omitted to do anything law they could do in reference to this matter. At the same time he thought this country ought to enforce its law in these 'matters as stringently as possible. With regard to the ques tion of the noble lord (Lord J. Manners; he said the Sultan was not an acceding party to the protectorate. A treaty would be signed by the Powers before the meeting of the lonian Parliament. CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION) BILL. Thia bill was read a third time and passed. AUGMENTATION OF BENEFICES BILL. This bill, with some modifications, pastoed through com mittee, The Ram Duty, the Clergyman (Colonies), the Super annuation (Union Officers), and the Alterations in Judges Circuits Bills passed through committee. The Colonial Acts Confirmation Bill was read a third time and passed. The sitting was then suspended. At six o'clock the houso resumed. BANKRUPTCY FEES. In reply to three questions from Mr. COX, relative to the remuneration to the Crown Solicitor in the Court of Bankruptcy, and the terms of the order under which such remuneration was made, The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said that the gross sum he had mentioned on a former occasion as having been paid to Mr. Aldridge; was only the sum paid from the account standing in the frame of the Accountant-General in Bankruptcy, and would not include sums paid to him in respect to other branches of his employment, and which were paid in the ordinary manner. The 'gross sum received by Mr. Aldridge from all sources, during the first year of his appointment, was £3,565 Bs. sd. ; and deducting the disbursements, the net sum received was £1,519 7s. 10d., and the gross receipts daring the third half-year from all sources was £1,689 Bs. Bd. ; and deducting the disburse ments, the net receipts for the third half-year was £663 Is. 11d. With regard to the second question, the facts were these : The Lord Chancellor had originally made arrange ments for a single year's remuneration, but subject to revi sion after the working of that year. On looking at the ac count of the last half-year of the first year, the Lord Chan cellor said that a larger sum had been received than he had anticipated would be the case, and therefore in December, 1 1862, he directed Ddir Aldridge to be told that his remunera tion for the future should not exceed two-thirds of the for mer amount received under the original arrangement. The future remuneration of Mr. Aldridge would not exceed £1,200 a year, including everything. NEW ZEALAND. In reply to Mr. W. FORSTER, Mr. FORTESCUE said no application had been made by the Governor of New Zealand to the Governor-General of India. But the facts were these : The Governor of New Zealand, Sir G, Grey, had by the last mail written home to the effect that he had great reason to apprehend that the murder of the officers and soldiers of one of her Majesty's regiments would be the signal fora renewal of the war, and a formidable attack by the natives upon the European set tlers; and he made an urgent application to her Majesty's Ministers to increase the force in New Zealand by the ad dition. of one European regiment and of two regiments of Sikh troops from India; it being the opinion of military men in New Zealand who had served in India that those troops would be well adapted for New Zealand warfare. Her Majesty's Government had bad that application under consideration; and, in consequence of the critical condition of the colony, they had come to the decision that it ought to be complied with. COURT-MARTIAL AT MHOW. In reply to two questions from Mr. CONINGHAM, The Marquis of HARTINGTON said there was no ob- jection to lay upon the table a copy of the warrant granted to the Commander-in-Chief in India, confirming the sen tence on general courts-martial on officers. Lieut. Fitzai mon had not yet been removed from the adjutancy of the Enniskillen Dragoons, and if the hon, member referred to Army List, he would see his name still appeared there as adjutant of the regiment. It was true, however, that Lieut. Fitzsimon had been suspended by Col. Crawley, subject to the sanction of the Commander-in-Chief, who declined to take any further action in the matter until the conclusion of the crurt•martial on Col. Crawley, which was to take place in this country. One of the most important points the court martial would have to decide would be the difference be tween the statements of Col. Crawley and Lieut. Fitzsimon. He thought, therefore, the Commander-in-Chief was per fectly right in not sanctioning, in the meantime, the sus pension of Lieut. Fitzsimon. Mr. BOUVERIE said that two memorandums had al ready been laid before the house. Now, the second of those memorandums had been produced at his (Mr. Bouverie's) request. That memorandum was marked "private," and was not the document which he desired to obtain. Indeed he did not think it ought ever to have been published. He now wished to know whether there was another document signed by the Adjutant-General ; and, if so, whether there would be any objection to its production ? The Marquis of HARTINGTON said that a consider able amount of correspondence had passed upon the sub ject. He did not think it would be fair or convenient that he should produce one:out of a series of documents. (Hear.) If the hon. member wished to move for the production of the whole of the papers, the Secretary of State would con sider whether the request could be complied with, but under the circumstances, he thought it would be an unfair pro ceeding to produce one document out of the entire series. THE MURDEROUS ASSAULT IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE. t t ee h n e agers in a B la o t a e rd m o n f rd T e r r a o d u e s Mr. BLAKE asked attack by a maniac on two fellow- railway whether his attentionh til a : d F be r e e n id c e a n ll t ed of London, whereby they received wounds intended carriage on the North-Western line, P b a e s t s d w a ee a n er L io i n v a e l r y po e o n l d a a n n d . endan gering their lives ; and whether the Government provide means to enable passengers to obtain as taking any and what steps to compel railway com e japtaannicees into the event of outrage or accident ? a r l a l rt, to the eG companies,lßS 0N sai d e a — l n V ge theirha e attentionfrequ ent toy s t e h n e t circ t u- e neces sity of h av i ng communication between the guards an d h drivers, but I do not know that we have ever suggested that there should be communication between the passengers and the guards, Whether that is right or not it is not for me to say, but it is a subject well worthy of consideration. JAPAN. Mr. LIDDELL asked the Secretary of State for India whether any application had been made to the Governor- General of India for troops to be employed in Japan, and whether the Governer-General had the power of ordering troops for foreign service without the previous sanction of , Parliament? Sir C. WOOD—I am not aware that any application has been made to the Governor-General of India for troops for , Japan. , THE SEAT OF THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT. On the motion that the Speaker leave the chair, for the purpose of going into committee on the East India revenue accounts, Mr. G. DUFF called attention to the expediency of transferring the seat of the Indi an G overnment to some point more eligible than Calcutta. Sir C. WOOD said he thought it would be unwise to re move the seat of Government from Calcutta until a more desirable place was fixed upon, and that Mr. Duff had not thrown any additional light on this subject. After a conversation on the subject of the employment of Indian troops out of India, the house went into committee. THE INDIAN BUDGET. Sir C. WOOD rose, and laid un the table the following resolutions : 1. That the total net revenues of the territories and de partment under the immediate control of the Government of India for the year ending April 30, 1862, amounted to £3,098,196 sterling, and the charges thereof for the same period, other than military charges, amounted to £ 2,857,876 sterling. for the year ended April 30, 1862, amounted to £l ri l o , d o , other than military charges, amounted to £ 2,140, 2. That the total net revenues of the Bengal Presidency, sterling, and the charges thereof, for the samssespseterlin sterling. thleB6N2 North-Western d tern Provinces, for the year ended Ap ril 30, to 3. That the total net revenues of ther of: for the same £6,026,080 sterling, and the charges e amounted to £1,845,487 ther h t 4. That t peri od, ster li n o . ehantotmaliinitae ry t re c v h e ar nu g e e s s' of the Punjaub, for the thereof, for to £2,673,785 sterling, the same period, other than ya m ne i ad l r ita the ry nedec e dh h a a Ar r g g peri e s charges, 3 ~ amounted to £1,257,805 sterling. 5. That the net revenues of the territories and depart ments under the immediate control of the Government of India of the Bengal Presidency, of the North-Western Pro . vinces, and of the Punjaub together, for the year ended April 30, 1862, amounted to £22,864,574 sterling, and the charges thereupon, including the military charges, amounted to £15,469,629 sterling, leaving a surplus available for the general charges of India, of £7,394,945 sterling. 6. That the total net revenues of the Madras Presidency (Fort St. George), for the year ended April 30, 1862, amounted t0'£5,925,140 sterling, and the net charges thereof, for the same period, amounted to £5,605,809 sterling, leaving a surplus available in the above Presidency, for the general charges of India, of £19,331 sterling. 7. That the total net revenues of the Bombay Presidency, for the year ending April the 30th, 1862, amounted to £6,931,348 sterling, and the net charges thereof, for the same period, amounted to £4,627,011 sterling leaving a sur plus available in the above presidency, for the general charges of India, of £2,304,337 sterling. 8. That the total net revenues of the several Presidencies, for the year ending April 30, 1862, amounted to £35,721,062 sterling, and the charges thereof amounted to £26,002,449 ster.ing, leaving a surplus revenue of £9,718,613 sterling. 9. That the interest on the registered debt of India, paid for the year ending April 30, 1862, amounted to £3,134,897 sterling, and the charges defrayed in England on account of the Inaian territory, in the same period, including guaran teed interest on the capital of railway and other companies, after deducting ret traffic receipts of railways, amounted to £6,634,344 sterling, leaving a deficiency of Indian income for the year ended as aforesaid, to detray the above interest and charges, of £50,628 sterling. He was happy to say that on the present occasion he had a satisfactory statement to make, namely, to state the progress of the Indian revenue and expenditure for the last two years. The accounts with which they had to deal were those of 1861-1862, and the estimates for 1862-1863. With regard to the years 1861-1862, he was happy to say the accounts showed a steady increase of Indian revenue, and that in stead of there being a deficiency of £600,000, the actual de ficiency was only £56,000. (Hear.) The actual revenue was £13,829,000, and the actual expenditure was £42,911,000, snowing an increase of £918,000. The estimated expenditure was £13,800,000 ; the actual expenditure was .C 13,906,000, showing an increase of £374,000. There had been consider able increase in the land revenue, and a decrease in the sa lt revenue, for English salt had been substituted for the salt manufactured by natives. There was a considerable increase in the army expenditure, owing to the payment of some arrears; and a decrease in the duty on opium. But he thought he might congratulate the house that at so early a period after the Indian mutiny the Indian finances were in so favourable a condition. He had sometimes been accused of taking too sanguine and sometimes 100 desponding a view of ludiAn finance. His object, however, was to take a fair view, and it was satisfactory to finl that his anticipations had been carried out. He now came to the regular estimates for 1862- 3 of the probable expenditure. His budget estimate of 1862 showed a probable surplus of £900,000 and a probable defi cit of £BOO,OOO. In 1861-2 the estimated expenditure of re venue would be beneath the mark, and it appeared that the revenue was inct easing more rapidly than it was expected it would be in April last ; and although the expenditure was increasing, it had not increased to the same extent. About December last a despatch was received that the revenue was £920,000 higher than it was estimated by the council in April, and that the expenditure might be about £600,000, reducing the anticipated deficiency by £320,000. But when he came to the regular estimate, he was glad to say that while the increase of revenue was greater, the increase of expenditure less. The revenue in 1861-2 wa5£43,829,000, while that of 1862-3 was £45,105,000, showing an increase of £2,134,000. Of that sum an increase of no less than £1,552,000 was received from opium, making £7,886 000. The increase on salt was £284,000, and on the other articles of necessary consumption also an increase, which made the entire about two millions, The expenditure was higher by about £440,000 than had been calculated, but the reduction as regarded England was £395,000. There was a charge for the construction of the India House, for guaramtees to rail ways, and other matters, but the result was that the increase would be about £140,000. The case would then stand thus: Taking England and India together, and deducting the re venue from the expenditure, a clear surplus would remain of £1,287,000. (Hear, hear.) He believed that that was rather below than above the mark. The committee would also be glad to hear that in India they were in the habit of under-stating the revenue, and .Mr. Laing, calculating for 1861-62, did so to an amount of over £200,000; but compar ing the revenue of 1862-63, which was £45,105,000, with that of 1861-62 as £43,289,000 there was a net increase in the re venue of £2,134,000. Of that sum the increase in opium was £1,500,000, and in salt of £770,000. The expenditure for 1861-62 was £37,245,000, in 1862-63, £37,228,000, being only a reduction of £17,000, but that was owing in a great degree to the necessity of keeping up the army in a state of effi- ciency, and the construction of public works of great utility. He might add that, taking England and India together, the increase was about £46,000. The committee would see it was satisfactory to find that, while a decrease in the con sumption of a great many articles had taken place, the re venue still kept increasing. (Hear, hear.) He would come now to what the probable revenue and expenditure would be in 186364. The revenue was estimated at £45,376,000, the expenditure £44,490,000, so that there would be a pro bable surplus of £816,000. In that prospective state of revenue the Government of India felt themselves justified in reducing taxation to a certain extent, and to give a pledge that the income tax, which caused so much dissatisfaction, should be taken off altogether. (Hear, hear.) In the mean time it was intended to take off a penny in the pound, and take off 10 per cent duty on raw materials and other articles. These reductions on Customs duties, and the income tax would amount to £335,000, leaving a surplus of £llB,OOO. In this estimate of the revenue, as in 1862-63, opium figures —for it was calculated to produce eight millions; and the principal cause of the increased expenditure was the con struction of public works, which increased from £400,000 to £500,000 ; the establishment of a system of police to pre serve order and the tranquillity of the country, and other improvements found to be absolutely necessary. (Hear.) So far as the revenue went then, the committee woull per- ceive that it evinced a very general improvement in the material condition of the country, and he was bound to say that the reduction of the expenditure was mainly due to the _ _ exertions made by the Indian Government. Within the last three or four years that reduction had gone on steadily. In 1859-60 the revenue was £50,470,000, but in 1860-61 h was reduced by £3,475,000 ; in 1862-63, £3,044,000, and the reductions had gone on increasing up to last April ; but there would be an increase in the next year of £625,000, having a surplus of £418,000. The main reduction aro , e from a diminution of the military force, the cost of which, in 1858-9, was 251 millions, while in the present year it would be only 141 millions. It was still higher than before the mutiny occurred, but that was owing to the substitution of European troops, and the diminution of the native force. They had also abolished the Indian navy after a careful con - sideration, but he was bound to say that during its existence it rendered most distinguished service, and performed all the duties assigned to it in an admirable manner. So that taking altogether the highest charge, which was in 1859-60, £50,475,000, and the lowest in 1862-3, as £42,825,000, they had effected a reduction of £6,665,000. He did not suppose they could effect much reduction in the civil service in con sequence of the improvements which took place in the judi cial establishments, and the large number of civil servants who proceeded to India every year. There would be some reduction in the guarantees of interest to rail ways, by ex changes, and in other ways; but the item for public works would largely increase. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the rate of mortality iu India, great misapprehensions existed on the subject. The rate of mortality in Bengal in 1861 was 34 in a thousand, nearly half of which were cholera cases. In Madras it was only 12, and in Bombay 20, while in many of their colonies it was much higher. In Ceylon it was 38, in the Bermudas 48, and in the Mauritius 24, which, considering these temperate climates, ranged much higher. It was no doubt the duty of the Government to improve the sanatory condition of the army, not only as a measure of humanity, but on the score of economy. (Hear.) That, he assured the committee, would be attended to. Then as to reproductive works, Sir Charles Tre velyan had drawn up a very able minute on the subject. The total mileage of railways now opened was 2,500. 647 miles were opened last year and 759 miles in 1871; and he was happy to say that the Great East Indian Railway was now all but complete. The estimated expenditure on all the great lines of railways was £60,000,000. Of that sum £56,000,000 had been sanctioned, £48,000,000 raised and £46,000,000 expended. The railway traffic had increased from £390,000 in 1861-62 to the estimated receipts of £868,000 in 1863-64. With regard to the statement that the demand for the purchase of waste lands had entirely ceased since his administration of the affairs of India, he gave it Ihe most unqualified denial. The charge originated in the fact of the Government not being able to supply maps of the lands to intending purchasers ; but they had offered no obstacle whatever to the purchase of waste lands. In the North-Western province, for example, the governor re ported that almost all the available land had been purchased. In the next place, he was happy to be able to state that the cultivation of cinchona bark and quinine was on an exten sive scale an d was likely to prove very successful, espec i a lly in the Madras presidency. Upon a former occasion he had explained the measures taken by the Government to stimun late the production of cotton and to facilitate its transport to ' the seaboard. Thoie - exertions had been continued, but it was found that the gins sent out from Manchester did not answer. The right hon gentleman next showed that the consumption of British salt had largely increased in the natives allowing their prejudices to be overcome end admitting that clean salt was much better than dirty salt. Now, what had been done with reference to the debt of India That debt was reduced during the last year by about £1,000,000, but beyond that he had issued a notice in refer ence to debentures which became payable, £5,000,000 in October, and £3,000,000, stating that it was considered de sirable to create India ktock at a lower rate of interest than the present, and offer to the holders of those debentures to convert them into a new stock at 4 per cent over a period 01 25 years. He hoped the debt would be wiped off to a consi derable extent by the conversion of debentures into stock, but if his offer were not accepted he would still be in a position from the surplus revenue to pay off a considerable amount, for the policy ot maintaining large cash balances in India had been entirely denounced. He hoped that his statement on the position and finances of India had proved satisfactory to the committee, and he attributed the general employment and improved condition of the people of India, the peace, con tentment, and loyalty which pervaded from one end of the country to the other, to those measures which had passed the Legislature, and received the sanction and approval of the Home Government. The right hon. gentleman con cluded by formally submitting his resolutions. Colonel SYKES descanted upon the high rate of mor tality among the European troops in India, and advocated the reduction of the force, and the employment of a larger number of native troops. _ . _ Mr. GREGSON complimented the Chief Secretary on the satisfactory statement he had made, but complained of the excessive daty levied on salt, which was equal to 1,700 per cent. on the invoice price of the article. Mr. VANSITTART also observed that the statement was one for congratulation to the Indian Government, who had, mainly owing to Mr. Laing's policy, got the country out of a condition of chronic insolvency to one of compara tive prosperity. He hoped they would not again reduce our military force to such an extent as to endanger the safety of our countrymen who were scattered over so vast a territory. Mr. BAZLEY trusted that the measures which were being adopted to stimulate the growth of cotton in India would prove successful. Mr. Kianaird, Mr. Buxton, and Mr. Ayrton having also addressed the committee, Sir C. WOOD briefly replied, and the resolutions were agreed to. BRITISH COLUMBIA. Mr. C. FORTESCUE explained the reasons for intro • ducing the measure and the objects contemplated by it, adding details of the condition of the colony, and its pro gress, and the character of the population. Ho looked for ward, he said, to the time NI hen British Columbia would be most valuable to this country. Mr. WYLD said that the success of the colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver's Island had not been as great as it would have been under better management and a better constitution. The Hudson's Bay Company had exercised too much influence over the Colonial-office; and, as an in stance of it, of the 15 members given by the present consti tution to Vancouver's Island 12 were the nominees of the company. (Hear.) In the two colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver's Island the population, instead of increas ing, had decreased. The total population was 12 ; 000, and it was proved that although large numbers went temporarily to search for gold, they did not become settlers and colonists. The number of defaulters among public officials was very great, and the amount of their defalcations was enormous. There was a strong feeling in favour of the Sovereign of these realms; but the people saw a better Government under the United States in neighbouring territory, end far less corruption. (Hear, hear.) He gave credit to the Duae of Newcastle for the attempt to form a road to the Pacific, with telegraphic communication, but he should like to see that project carried out independently, and not through the intervention of the Hudson's Bay Company, by whom the interests of the colony had always been sacrificed. The telegraph line would pass through territory occupied by hostile tribes, and he was afraid that the Colonial-office, by granting land to the new company who were to stand in the place of the Hudson's Bay Company, would involve this country in a war as expensive as ths' Caffre War. Mr. AYTO UN objected to the bill en the grounds that it conferred enormous powers upon the Crown, and that it formed part of a great scheme of the Colonial Secretary for an intercolonial railway, which was a wild project that would affect the interests of the taxpayers of this country. The house then went into committee upon the bill, the clauses of which were agreed to, except the fourth, which was negatived. The Partnership Law Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. Colonel DICKSON called attention to Mr. Bateman's re port on the river Shannon, and moved for copy of reports made by the Inst,ector of Fisheries and by Mr. Forsythe, C.E., to the Commissioners of Public Works. Mr. PEEL did not object, and the motion was agreed to. Colonel DUNNE called attention to the report of the Committee on Holyhead Harbour, and moved that the re commendations made in the report be adopted. Mr. M. GIBSON said that, as yet, the Government had had no opportunity of considering the evidence taken by the committee, and of judging whether it bore out their re commendations. He admitted the present landing accom modation was insufficient, but he could not allow that the Government were bound to do anything more than provide forthe some landi eongonfvtehrse atiomails.n, Attar the motion was negatived with out a division. The house adjourned at one o'clock. The Alleged Murder in Gower-street. Last night Dr. Lrnkester resumed at the Lord Wellington tavern, University -street, the inciairy into the circumstances of the death of Michael Quin, aged 45, who was alleged to have been murdered on the night of the 27th of June. On the night in question, it will be recollected, deceased was seen to tall off the steps of 87, Gower-street, and being picked up insensible he was carried to the station house as being drunk. He was subsequently re moved to the University Hospital, where be died in a few hours. It was then found that his skull was fractured and several of his teeth knocked out The endeavour to find out who had inflicted the terrible injuries on deceased brought to light some strange facts. It appeared that deceased was a native of the south of Ireland, where he had a wife and family. Some time since they fell into great dis tress ; the eldest son enlisted in the 18th Royal Irish and the wife came over to England. In her absence the deceased formed an illicit connection with a young woman named Margaret Fergusson. This intrigue being discovered by the neighbours, he came over to England, bringing his paramour with him. He found lodgings for her in the house where his wife lived. When that fact became known there was, of course, a great disturbance, and the woman was turned out. Quin followed her, taking with him his furniture and leaving his wife in great dis tress. Meanwhile his son had deserted, and had become almcot the sole support of his mother. The deceased asked the son to leave his mother and go to live with himself and Fergusson, who would " make him more comfortable." Tne young man, at first, it is said, refused indignantly, but after wards said he would go, and take " the - Fer gusson from his father." He went, and in a month induced Fergusson to elope with him, and at the same time carried off his father's furniture. The father, furious at having been duped, gave informa tion to the authorities with a view to having his son arrested as a deserter. The latter, however, got clear off, and it is said he cast off Fergusson within a month. Tao deceased then formed a connection with a woman named Walshe, and it was said that threats of various kinds had been made with regard to him. Inspector Garfurth now produced several witnesses whose evidence merely went to show that deceased was a very sober man, and was quite sober when seen near the Marble Arch on the night in question. The inspector said that all efforts to dis cover the deceased's son had been unavailing. The coroner, in summing up, said that there appeared to be every reason to believe that the case was one of wilful murder, but there was no prospect now of evidence of the fact. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from fracture of She skull from a blow, but how or by whom the said blow was in flicted there was no evidence to show." [ADVERTISEMENT ]—Consumption, all nervous, bilious, liver, and stomach complaints, in every stage, are only ag gravate i and accelerated by drugs of every description, but perfectly curable by Du Barry's health restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which had been considered hopeless. We quote a few.—Cure No. 62,914. Miss Lange, 18 years of age, cured after the medical men had abandoned all hope; of her recovery from the last stage o Pulmonary consumption, with fearful cough, expectoratiol, exhaustion, spitting of blood, perspirations, hollow cheeks!. emaciated to a skeleton. She is now, thank God, a perfectly healthy, blooming, fleshy girl.—N. Lange, Commissaire die / Police. Cure, No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Friml e , Surrey, of Ihirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liv r derangement, and partial deafness.—Cure, No. 47,121. 31i s Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indig - estto , gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies.—Cure , N . 54,816. th e R ev. J ames T . C amp b e ll , F a k en ham, Norfol , of indigestion and torpidity of the liver, which had resist d all medical treatment. In tins, Ilb, 2s 9d ; 21b, 4s 6d ; 51p, 118; 121 b, 225; 241 b, 40s. Barry du Barry and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, London ; also Fortnum and ,Mason; and 411 grocers and chemists in every town of the United laingdot SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. -- ♦--- Temas.—Taking occasion from See y by some aretar memorial re cently presented to the Foreign Liverpool firms, Mr. Cobden fore the House the question yesterdayf building vessels for brou g h t be foreign belligerents. When a speaker ear nest, and generally so conye lean i t'o much in mat ters he discusses, can add so little to ou t with the it may be presumed that the s r knowledge, subject is pretty we ll e xhausted, and this is indeed the arguing on case. Politici a n s e and and lawyers, Federal partisan sym pathisers, the law officers of the Con federate Baron of the Exchequer have Crown and the Chi e f and both politically end le given their opinions, f e ctly well understood. 11; te e l by ly the subject is per the abstract propositions no . Cnt contained in the Liverpool dbden, me morial, and pointing out the interference of individuals in foreign dangers of such an law is now said to permit, might quarrels as the use ful turn to the discussion , h have given a the question as one of British in he preferred to treat ral States and possible Federallnjuetice to the Fede we, in our ill-will to the Republic,resentment. That great rebels in a piratical war against it, are aiding con sequently find to our cost that we have that we anger, are the assertions by whiche m ave incurred its to influence the British Parliament,r. Cobden hopes revision of the law. But we need not and obtain a is not the ground taken by the not say that this Liverpool memo rialists. who look solely to the consequences Baron Pollock's doctrine in case England of Chief any time be engaged in war, andwho shall at ask for a change in the law, as a means of inducing the world in general to agree to a principle more favourable to belligerents possessing a large mercantile marine. Wh e ther the Chief Baron's ruling upheld or not, it is perfectly clear that the Foreign be Enlist meat Act is a purely domestic enactment, intended to bind Englishmen for the a d vanta g e of n d England, and that no interpretation of it can give cause grievance to a foreign country . All that Aeleriea of or any other Power can dem and of the British Go vernment is that it shall not do, or all ow an y British subject to do, anything which is contrary o t inter national law. Mr. Seward or Mr. Adams bas no thing at all to do with the 59:h of George 111., any more than with the Act of Parliament which regu lates our street cabs. The Foreig n Enlistment Act gives no belligerent any right ' which he does derive from the doctrines which not . are accepted by nations as binding on neutrals. The whole question, then, ie whether international la w forbids a neutral to build for a bel.igereet a ship which may be used for warlike purposes. Now, without presuming to a nticipate the decision of the Cou rt of Exche q uer ne xt Michaelmas Term, we may say that the reason T of ine case combines with high authorities in favour of the affirmative. A ship is contraband of war, but so are rifles, cannon, powder, lead, cordage, and all other goods capable of being used in war. Yet that these may be supplied by tee neutral to either party without any breach of neutrality has never been contestee., except in an ire it able moment by Mr Seward last year, and even Mr. Seward did not per sist in an opinion which would have been contrary to everything that has been written end acted upon on either side of the Atlantic since his own nation has been in existence. Our traders have sup plied both parties with rigid impartiality during toe present war, taking their chance of capture by Federal or Confederate cruisers, which have an equal right to seize a cargo destined for Charleston and a cargo destined for New York. Do hese ships come under a prohibition weich does not apply to rifles and gunpowder ? We cannot see it, and we believe that no c ase and no passage from any legal writer has been cited to that effect, though all the ingenuity of the Federal lawvera has been at work. On the other hand, the terms of the Foreign Enlistment Act, as well as the dicta of tawyers ann politicians, seem to indicate pleinly that merely building a ship and selling it utiermed to one belli gerent gives no ground of complaint to the other. The words of the Foreign Enlistme nt Act are " equip, fit out, or arm a ship or vessel." As the Act was expressly intended to prevent anything that might be " prejudicial to and tend" the cha ng er to endangeence er the peace and welfare of this kingdom, of any prohibition whatever as regards the building or selling a vessel shows that the framers of that law had no idea that such ac Ac t could be made sagriev ance by a foreign Power. The eq ui nppingd arm ing of a vessel makes the p ort of the neutral thuspracti cally.a belligerent port, a nd if the vessel be e equipped and armed it se ts out at once a form to the idabl enemy, and gives a just g round of complaint belligerent whom it attacks. But what identity un is there between suen a case and tha t of a mere - a rmed vessel which is so ld to a belligerent ? Such i.vessel leaves the neutral port unarmed and defence less ; it is just as easily captured as any other piece of contraband goods ; as soon as it ie three miles from the neutral coast it may be seized by the enemy taken into port, and condemned, even though it be in the charge of aciew put on board by the builder, and though it may claim to be neutral property. It is precisely in the position of a cargo of gun powder or other material of war. The ship, the guns, the powder may all be consumed with equal legality by the neutral; and it is t he business such ess of t h e other bellige rent to look sharply after them specimens of c ontraband, and to prevent coming together in some foreign port, or on the high seas, arid by their combination constituting that " e quipped, armed, and fitte lout" ship of war which the F ore ign Eolist me nt Act, as w ell ae the princi- Jaw, forbids us t o send out of pies of internation al our ports. If this view to t h e subject be correct, it is evident that, according to the doctrines of inter national law, as they are accepted at present, the Federal Government has not the smallest ground of complaint against this country'. If our shipbuilders sell vessels to the Confederates, the Northern officers must try to get hold of them as they come out of the Mersey, an d before they take thanes ir armament musts o ben board. In default o f such vigi they content to hear of a Confederate man-of-war cruis ing about in the Atlantic. As to Mr. Cobden's course of argument, it is not likely to have much effect on the people of this country. With the usual infelicity of his school, he appeals to the moat un worthy motives. Re would frighten us into chang ing our law by threatening us with the future ven geance of his American friends. If certain vessels are allowed to sail, it " will probably lead to a rup ture between this country and the United States." We are to consider the effect of such a state of things on the minds of the shipowners of New York and Boston. 'The American G o vernment has taken depositions as to the value of each captured ship and cargo, and claims for the amount have been made on the English Government. M ajesty's Government had refused to acknowledge these claims, but some day, when the demand could be ma d e most inconveniertly f o r the Government, the ro bably be ei ther humiliation or war." resu lt would p hardly li will be trea ted very say t h a t such considerations We need ghtly by the British nation. We take our stand on right and i n t e rnational law, and if we have theses n our side we care not for the resentment of any pple whatever. Mr. Cobden's speech " called attention" to the memorial of the Liverpool•merchants, but bad nothing whatever to do with it. These gentlemen do not assert that any breach of international law has been committed by the selling of ships, but they . are alarmed at finding how weak intern io nal law I to change it. and they desThey ire that England shall call a Congress advise that the F o reign Enl istment Act shall be made more string en t, and that then the Foreign office s hould end eavour to "secure the assent of the Government of tbe United States of America, and other foreign countries, to the adopticn of similar regulations in t h os e countries al nited States the so"—thus admitting that even by the law of the Us which Mr. Cobden incriminates are perfectly legal. We have no wish to dispute the proposition of the erchants, that the present state of the Liverpool m law advantages to a weak nava l S tate a g ainst a s trong one, an d may consequently be prejudicial to England in some fuzure war. But that is nothing to the point. The question is what is the law, and it is evident that the document on which Mr. Cobden founded his speech expressly assumes the principle against which be inveighs. POST.—On the eve of the prorogation of Parlia ment the relations between Denmark and the German Confederation certainly demanded a pass ing word. Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald only ex pressed the sentiments entertained by the • • majority of Englishmen when he deprecated any attempt by. the Merman Powers to coerce Denmark the medium of a Federal execution. It is scarcely probable so long as a large proportion of the Duchy of Schleswig a re Germans, and eo long as that province remains onco an integral portion 1 exist of the Danish King dom, that perfect c between the latter and the great Federation of Cen tral Europe. Whilst Germans inhabit the Duchy tend supply a pretext for interference, and whilst that Duchy, with its port of Kiel, remains an object of envy to the German Powers, Europe may expect to hear from time to time those demands made of Denmark by the German Federation,which are spe cially characteristic of mighty States when addres, sub ing those whic h are comparatively weak. The ject matter of the dispute which has so frequently jeopardised the peace of the North of Europe ma p h a ve been, as Lo rd Palm y erston eterda b y o served o ne of the m ost complicated wh s ich has ever e ; gaged the att ention of statesmen, and its origin man' posoibly be c oncealed in the obscurity of earlj times; but, at all events, recent transactions hay tended so much to clear away complications and tp dispel obscurity, that it is by no means necessary la be either a prof ound statesman or a learned t' query to under stand fully the merits of the e ant} xisting . i ssue between the Danish monarch y and the Germah Diet. It is so clearl y the p olic y of Great Britain io maintain unimpaired the independence and int - gray of the Banish Kingdom, that one might le justified in treating with indifference threats the thre effect o i atswhicl i if carried into execution, would have lighting up a war in which Eenglanrk. But, d wou ld t, as u s nt ur o e r d th iy . be found on the side of Dnula nately, the tone in which . a tissuecertain B have treated the question . rt between jsh B D t a e t n e Denmark d p and the Confederation has given rise abroad to some pardonable misconc On rising from a peru sal of the ceiebrat eedespatchwhich in nEtahre autumn Earl Russ Russell addressed to the Danish Government was put in the House of last year one might wello Commons askthequyeessttieorndwayhibcyh Mr. S. Fitzgerald—What' would England n e g x ! e a e ra n d tio d n o in the event of the threat of a Federal carried out? The reply to this ques c t h io a ng o i t v e e r n th b 4 3 l Lord Palmerston is of so reassuring by co henceforth the German Powersnswilulehaevs of anyenoexcuse for ignoring the necessary consequences force. "As at tempt to coerce Denmark t to the policy and of Government an the Government are de desirous o re spect to these disputes,s This is a clear out that thee rights oi Denmark d sho t u c : , d ov h e e r m th a r i o n w ta t i h n o e ts d : and if any attempts were ma rights they would be resisted." spoken p o licy, o f which there can benom to misappre hension, re hension, and which will recommend itself it is as one. Denmark is not a large State, but s the Premier obs e rv e d, its geographical position a ren ders and independent as Russia ; whilst, it a matt er o f grea t importancethisto country that its right s would be secured. Since the r romul gation of th e or di nance o f t h e 30 t h M arc h, giving to the Duchy of Holstein a separate constitution, all pretexts for interference by the German Confedera tion in the affairs of the Danish monarchy has been completely removed. England, said Lord Palmer ston, recognises the right of the Diet to exercise the same control over the affairs of Holstein which they are empowered to exercise over those of the other States which constitute the Confederation ; but in respect to Schleswig they were considered to have no more right to interfere than in regard to any independent State not a member of the Confedera tion. This is so indubitably true, that it is to be regretted that Lord Palmerston entertained for a moment the frivolous pretext under which the Diet justify their interposition in respect to Schleswipe " There are many Germans in Schleswig," said Lord Palmerston, " and the Government held that the German Confederation had a right to represent, it such a case existed, that the German inhabitants were not placed on an equal footing with the sub jects of Denmark." But is there not a falLley lurking under the expression, Germans ?" If by that term was meant German subjects, then the ground for interference by the German Power whose subjects they were would be intelligible. But if by the term is simply meant persons speaking the Ger man language, and possibly cherishing German likings and German traditions, then the ground for interference becomes so shadowy that if entertained, and generally acted upon, there would be no end to the complications to which it would give rise. The population of Schleswig, it is needless to say, are Schleswigers and Danish subjects; sieee that Duch! forms as intimate a part of Denmark as Ireland does of the United Kingdom, and they can no more b called Germans because they speak the German lan. 7,uage than Belgians can be called French because they speak French. Without for one moment ate tempting to justify any distinctions which the D h Sovereign may draw between different classes of his subjects, if any such distinctions exist, it is evi • .:lently not open to a foreign Government to dictate to him in the management of the effairs of his kingdom. The Diet, indeed, confess that in regard to &hies wig they are not entitled to interfere, and it it only in the Duchy of Holstein that they threaten a F,deral execution. But by the royal ordinaece of March last the Holsteiners are placed in a position which leaves them nothing to desire, and their pro tectors, the German Powers, nothing to demand. Hence the dissatisfaction cf the latter at the pros pect of their sole ground for interference in the affairs of Denmark being removed. In the course of the spring several of the German powers" pro tested" against the course taken by the Danish So vereign in giving to his subjects in Holstein a liberal constitution, and a Federal execution was as usual threatened. The German Powers are, how ever, far from precipitate, and in the present condi tion of European affairs there is little probability of the execution taking place. Lord Palmerston has pledged the Government to make every effort to remit , this much vexed question within the field it has so long occupied—that of diplomacy. He is more sanguine about the results of friendly nego tiations than we are. As for the Danish Go vernment, the course they have to follow is simple enough. They cannot admit the principle of foreigi interposition in the conduct of their internal affairs. On the other hand, we hope—though we doubt it —that the German Powers will at length admit that a common tongue and a common lineage do not give them a right to prescribe the political privileges which the subjects of a foreign State should receive the hands of their Sovereign. The Fatal Accident at Aston-halls The inquest on the body of the woman calling herself the "Female Blondin," killed by falling from a rope at Aston-hall, on Monday evening, was opened on Wednesday afternoon, before Mr. W. S. Poole, one of the coroners for the county of War wick. The first witness was Edward Powell, the husband of the deceased, who stated that he resided at King-street, Borough road, St. George's, South wark, that he had been married 17 years, and dur ing that time his wife had followed the theatrical profession ; she belonged to the original " Huntine" family. She had been accustomed to walk upon the tightrope ever since she was th ree years of age, and had been in every town in England, Ireland, and Scotland; and never had a fall till nine years ago, when witness caught her. Mr. Charles Porter, the surgeon, who came up after the deceased fell, said that the fall was the primary cause of death. He judged the deceased to have been about 6 months advanced in pregnancy. The secretary of the Hall and Park Company was called to prove the letting to the "Foresters" for a fête. Nothing was said ' about the kind of entertainment to be provided, nor did the park committee act in any way as a check, or interfere with the kind of amusements. The " agreement " having been produced, it set forth that the committee of Foresters had the use of the park and bowling -green; also that one-fourth of the gross amount of the receipts at the entrance to the park and grounds, and for the sale of tickets, was to be paid to the company. The coroner called the attention of the company's secretary to the posting-bill, which gave a programme of the fête, and announced that " the committee had at an tm• trense outlay secured the services of extraordinary artists, the Female Blondin, Madame Genieve, &c." having done so,he asked whether, upon that bill being published, the attention of the Aston-park committee was called to it, and any remonstrance made against it. To this the secretary replied that no " official conamunication"was made to him about the bill; that nothing was said to his committee about it, and that they did not interfere. He admitted that the com pany had engaged the services of Blondin himself; but that they had refused to have anything to do with women. On Monday there were about 14,000 persons present in the park, while on one occasion, without the" sensational class" of amusement, the attendance did not exceed 4,000. The rope on which the woman was walking belonged to her husband. In reference to its condition, Mr. Henry White, foreman to Messrs. John and Henry Wright, rope makers, was examined. He said that he had looked at the end of the rope which was broken. Supposing it to have been sound it would have taken e weight of four tons to have Woken it ; the rope might have been examined before the breakage without the flaw being detected. The outward ap pearance of the rope was such as might deceive any one. To properly examine it part must have been opened. It appeared to have the dry rot—to have been used when wet and then put by. Each of the threads of which it was composed was supposed to be capable of bearing one hundredweight, but the rope was rotten and had no strength, the strands might be almost rubbed to pieces with the hand. In reply to the coroner, this witness said that a man unskilled in the examination of ropes might not have been abl e t o d etect that this one was defec tive ; but it was bad in every place and bad all through. In the state this rope was, and it having been subject to extra strain, the weight from a person's body would be quite sufficient to break it. The rope had not been spliced at the ends ; es to whether it had been in another part was a question for the husband of the deceased. Powell having been appealed to by the coroner, said " that the rope h a d not b een spl i ced b y hi m ," that he bought it from a maker in London who supplied all the profession with these ropes, and that he gave 1144. per lb. for it. The Secretary of the Foresters' Com mittee was examined ; he stated that he had never heard any complaint before the accident about the rope not being safe; at the time it gave way the deceased fell straight for a short space, and then upon her back. At this stage the inquest was adjourned. The rope was suspended thirty feet high, not thirty yards, as acci dentally stated. The Foresters' cTinmittee had ad vertised to the public that at an "immense outlay" they had secured the BL>rvices, &c. The following letter to the secretary of the committee of that body marks the truthfulness of that statement,aLd shows for what a small amount the writer was willing to imperil his wife's lite :—"6, King-street, Union street, Borough-road, London, June 17. Sir,—ln answer to yours, just received, permit me to state ( hat the lady will appear twice in the day and night —once in the kitten oon, and the other at night with fireworks, if you think proper; terms, £l5. We find all our own apparatus. You will have to find about six scaffold poles and a crab or winch to tighten the big rope; poles of course yon can bor row. This 1(40 is the principal artist now in Ell iman. Should this offer meet your approbation an answer by return witl oblige.—Yours respt ctfully, M. E. POWELL." Much blame is considered to be attecheO to the Aston-park Company, not only for making no remonstrance against a performance of such a character as this, which has terminated so fatally, but still more as the amount to be paid to them was dependent on the receipts, of which they were to have one-tourth of the gross. SUMMER ASSIZES. OXFORD CIRCUIT—STAFFORD, July 23. CIVIL COURT. (Before Mr. Baron Martin and a Special Jury.) WRIGHT V. IZOD. This was an action on a bill of exchange forLl,ooo brought by the endorsee against the acceptor. Mr. Sergeant Pigott, Mr. Powell, and Mr. A. S. Hill were for the plaintiff; and Mr. Kenealey, and Mr. Macna tnara were for *ue ch-feutiant. '1 he plaintiff was Mr. Ed win Thomas Wright, of Wolver hampton, and the defendant was Mr. William Izod, of Bir mingham, and the defence was that no consideration had been given by the drawer for the bill, and also that the bill was obtained from the defendant by the fraud of the drawer, who was Mr. Samuel Griffiths, of Wolverhampton, an ironmaster there, who has lately figured in the Bank ruptcy Court, and that the plaintiff took the bill with no tice of the fraud and without consideration. The accept ance was obtained as part of a payment of £3,000 to be made by the defendant to Mr. Griffiths for a supply of mel ing iron, upon a contract for such supply m , de between them on the 27th of December, 1861. upon a representation made to the defendant that Mr Griffiths had 200 or 300 tons of melting iron at Bilaton Brook; that he was making 40 tons of iron per week, and that he would deliver 600 ton iu a very short time; whereas the defendant said that there was no such iron there, and that they were not making iron at the rate of 40 tons per week, and that in fact, he never got the iron, though he had pn.id the consi deration for it. The plaintiff denied all this, and it ap peared that the defendant had got a part of the iron, which, however, he appropriated to a cheque for £l,OOO, which he paid as another part of the £3,000, and that he had also got £5O, and had received £l,OOO, which he put against another £l,OOO bill, the other part of the £,3000 payment. The ca,,e had occupied the Court since 11 o'clock, and has not yet concluded. COUNTRY MARKETS. MANCHESTER-JULY 23. At our market this morning there was a moderate at tendance of buyers, and there was a limited demand for wheat. Eoreign held for an advance of 3d per cental on last week's prices, whilst the little Engiish offs ring brought extreme rates. Flour y eglected, but no change in pric,e. Oats and oatmeal at the rates of last week. Beans and Indian corn at 6d per qr more money. BIRMINGHAM—JULY 23. The supply of wheat was less than usual, with a fair de mand, at prices the turn upwards. Oats not so well sold. —English wheat was sold at 48s to 56s for white, and 40s to 508 per 36 stone for red, Barley, new malting, 32a to 42s per qr; grinding, 24s to 28s Oats, old, 24a to 30s per 30 stone ; Irish, 228 to 255. Beans, 38a to 44a per qr. Peas, 36s to 44s per 36 stone. EDINBURGH GRAIN—JULY 22. A fair supply of farmers' wheat to-day, which met a slow sale at about the prices of last week. Barley in g ood demand, at full prices, Beans a fair sale, at about former prices. Oats met a slow sale. Wheat on the top 2s Od down average Os 7d up. Barley on the top 3s Od up average is 9d . own- Oats on tho top Os 6d up average Os 6d down. Beans on the top is 6d down average Os 9d down. Total Supply and Sales. Wheat ... 912 qrs Sold 653 qrs Barley... 79 qrs Sold 48 qrs Oats Beans 62 qrs Sold 6 qrs Flour sells as follows :—Whites, 42s Od ; extras, 40s Od ; superfine, 38s Od ; fine, 36s Gd. CORK—JULY 22. The following were the quotations this morning wheat, Ss Od to —s 01; white, 108 3d to —s Od , b ar te ) , 6s Od to Os Od ; oats, 7s 6d to Os Od. ; black do., 7s 2d to Os Od. DERBY SMITHFIELD —JULY 21. A good supply of fat beasts to-day, although the quality of the greater part was only of the inferior sort. The number of sheep atd lambs in the pens was large, and fat calves were plentiful. Fat pigs were a good show, but sales heaTy. Beef Mutton .... 6d to 7d 1 Pork Lamb . ...... 8;d t o 9d Rough fat, 3s 9d per stone Hides, 3d to 40; calf skins. 5d to 6d. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton . . Aug. I , B * via Marseilles Aug. 1 3 . Brazil and Cape Verde, by British packet. Aug. 4 ,.: Cape of Good Hope, A scens i on, and St. Helena. July V' China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. Aug. 2 . via Marseilles July 27. Falkland Islands .. Gibraltar, via Southampton ...... July 26. Italia (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Aug. 2 via Marseilles July 27 , India (Bombay), via Southampton July 26. via Marseilles Aug. 4. Portugal Malta, Egypt, and Men, via Southampton July 26 Newfoundland via Marseilles Aug. 6. Oporto and Vigo • U. S. and British N. America, by t U.S.packet by Brit. packet acet July 30. by Canadian packet. July 24. 10 W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe Aug. Bahamas, via New Y or k' . . July 30. Mexico.. .. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, 1 J u ly 29. California. a n d B r i t i s h Columbia.. Colonel Daboys-Fresney, whose nomination Commander m m o a n n i d te e a r r, in se th rv e e Legion e i g n h io t uo e f a H rm o y nou fr r om 17hasj8u3 to 1817. stappeared s t is now 105 years old. The France say s We are able to annnounce as certain that M. Pietri has req ues t e d the Emperor to p ut an end to the mission he fulfils at Bordeaux. His Mejesti has accepted the resignation, and given the. honourable senator a testimonial of his satisfaction. We learn that Mt Pietri's successor has been selected, and that his nominv tion will soon appear in the Moniteur." SEVERE FROST.—On Wednesday night last had frost of unusual severity at this season of the year. In several districts in this neighbourhood the potatoes are completely destroyed. We observed some fields yester day in Cromdale, Abernethy, and Du hill, in which th e potato tops we re th oroug hl y bl ackened, and laid down flat upon the drill s . Thi s i s a ser i ous matter, as it is very like ly to involve the en ti re l oss o f t h e cr op.—Elgin Courant. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills.- - In diseases of the skin and its glands the functions of the body become gradually depraved, through the blood becom ing tainted, and the nerves irritated. Hence arises the ne cessity of using Holloway's remedies in the earliest stages of these affections, before they have inoculated the systeEtt: Many serolittus pa'ients, who have been completely cured of their revolting afflictions, heartily recommend Holloway's Ointment Oiniment and Pills to the con s id era tio n o f a ll f e b o w-su , ierers. After fomentation the ointment should b e r ubbe! twice a day on the affected parts. The pills should be taken while the unguent is applied; they assist in th e wor k o f Pt rification, and facilitate the removal of all p oisonous an d o , noxious matters from the body. Births. Gross.—On Vie 23d inst., at Down-street, Piccadilly' Mrs. Thomas Gibbs, of a son. LOVELL.—On. the 23d inst., the Lady Rose Lovell, of daughter. KENNY.—On the 18th inst., at Ash Lodge, Surrey, tile wife of Major Remy, of a daughter. Marriages. • CORBALLIS—JERNINGHAM —On the 21st in s t., at th e British Embas s y, B russels, James Henry Corneille, Esq' of Rutoath Manor, co. Meath, Ireland, to Constall" aaughter of Frederick Jerningham, Esq. GREEN — BYERS. —On the 22d i ns t., at St. Jegle s'o „,. Church, Pi cca dill y, H enry G reen, E sq., Fakeniltrii, Norfolk, to M ary A nn, t h e e ld est daughter of t he late `V. Byers, Esq. Deaths. ETRE.---On the 23d inst., st 26, Prin3es-square, Sololll3 Le Grice E m ily, w if e o f G. L. P. E yre, E sq. , aged peter GEDOE.— On the 21st inst., at Bury St. Edmuud'R, Gedge, Esq., solicitor, aged 25. GOLDSMITH.— On the 21st inst , Mr. J. W. Goldsmith of Egerton House, Beckenham, and 32, Parliameal. street, aged 39. WARD.— On the 21st inst., at Salimuse Hall, No rfolk ' Richard Ward. Esq., aged 64. -- --- ---- --- nirS, London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM . ANDA, i " ii of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TI ' IE SuN Office. 1 'o•• , s ' i Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County . Middleaux.— Friday, July `44, 1863. r THE SON, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 24, 1863 I t