The Sun. — London, England, 1863-04-04 00:00:00

(i - Y Al; :ITALIAN* OP RA,E COVENT GARD 11N.—Mr. Gye has the honour to announce that t he OPERA SEASON of 1863 will commence on TUESDAY, April 7. The Prospectus with full particulars may be ob tained at the Box-office, and at the principal rausicsellers and librarians. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.- Mr. MA.PLESON has the honour to' announce that the OPERA. SEASON of 1863 will commence on SATUR DAY, April 11. The prospectus, with full particulars, may be obtained on application at the Box-office, which is open daily, under the superintendence of Mr. Nugent, from Ten to Six; and at all the principal Libraries and 3lusicsellers. THE ATR E-R OYA L, DRURY-LANE,-, Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. On EASTER MONDAY, for the 347th time in London PEEP O'DAY. Messrs. Henry Lorraine, Walter Lacy, C Verner, Addison, J. Graham. G. Spencer, T. Neville, Etc ; Misses Cleveland, Clara Weston, M. Hudson, &c, To conclude with MAGIC TOYS. Valentine, Miss Lydia Thompson. Commence at 7. THEATRE -ROYAL, HAY MARKET. Leamce, Mr. J. B. Thackstor.e. On EASTER MONDAY, will be performed MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Hero, Miss Ellen Terry; Beatrice , Miss Louisa Angel. After which, an apropos Dramatic Sketch, Introducing a Panorama of the Tour of the Prince of Wales in the East. To conclude with BORROWING A HUSBAND. Pamela her first appearance), Miss Maria !Tares. THEATRE -ROYAL LYCEUM OPEN, under the Sole Management of Mr. FECIITER. On EASTER MONDAY, to commence with an s. S hore, Oginal Sketoh, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messr Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee. After which, at a Quarter to Eight, a New Romantic Drama, in Three Acts and Prilogue, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, by 'Paul Feval and John Brougham. The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Fechter, aunported bE . Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, H. \ ccimpe, mlntre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, H. Butler, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry, E. Lavenne, and Elsworthy G . Stage-Manager, Mr. . Vg. Acting-Manager , Mr. H. Barnett. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE Lessee and Manager, Mr Lindnk On Easter 'Monday the drama of AURORA FLOYD. Mizs Amy Sedr,,wiek, Miss Henderson, and C. Se Mrs. Simpson ; lace, Mes and srs. R. Roxby, D i e lville, G. Belmore, yton, Collett. To conclude with a new whimsical Extravaganza, entitled BEAUTIFUL HAIDER ; or The Sea Nymph and the Sallee Rovers. NENV THEATRE-R0 f AL, ADELPHI. — Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING (15th time) AURORA FLOYD. Miss Avonia Jones, Miss H. Simms, Mrs. Billington ; Mr. Benj. Webster, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. R. Phillips. Mr. Billington, Mr. Stuart, Mr. Sefton, Mr. Romer, Mr. C. J. Smith. After which, A VALENTINE : Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford, Miss Kate Kelly, and Miss Seaman. Commence at 7. IVIE THIRD EDITION OF THE SUN," 1 Containing theeLvtest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, Can be had Every Evning ot G. R. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. NOTICE. THE WEDDING SUN Is still Publishing. The Weather—Sun Office, April 1, 1863. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday Lowest during the night 37 , This day at Noon . Wind—West; light, with fine weather. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. r4lg DAY. —Morning, 2h. 50m. Afternoon, 2h. 30m. T To-moTtRoW.-Morning, 2h. 50m.—Aft ert oon, 3h. Bm. AV 11 ni p pa.). aw 444 , at ,111111 kit - Ae 41tor'tt., LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1863. Lord PALMERSTON, we may be sure, has done -wisely in airing his reputation during this last week in Scotland. It is about the best use, politically, to which hec ould have put the earlier part of the Easter recess—the leisure time coming immediately before Easter. The enthusiasm of the noble veteran'srecep tion in the far north, if it fails in any way to strengthen the position of the Ministry as a whole, acts at any rate as a timely reminder (a re minder really in the very nick of time) of the popu larity appertaining- personally to its head, a popu larity that of late was becoming very much discre dited. After all, however, there is no gainsaying it—there is no possibility of blinking or ignoring the fact that, individually, among all our leading statesmen—Lord PALMERSTON enjoys a popularity altogether unrivalled. As the one sole basis, how, ever, upon which to rely for the stability and main tenance of an Administration otherwise than in its chieftain's reputation dean npopular, we still be lieve it to be quite inte. Powerful as the Cabinet is in the ability of its members, strong though it is in the Personal Popularity appertaining to its Leader, if it still doggedly pursues the course it has been so long and so very obstinately pursuing, we are perfectly well satisfied that every moment it runs the hazard of a sudden collapse. The Op position at any moderately tempting opportunity is quite formidable enough to outnumber the hetero genous mass capable of being mustered upon a di -Vision night to the right hand of Mr. SPEUZER, that motley and painfully dissatisfied throng of so-called supporters of the administration ! More and more distinctly the real Liberals, the independent Reformers below the gangway, upon the Government side of the House, have come to reorganise—in the Willis's Rooms compact A Do, and in those famous Resolutions which ousted Lord DEBBY and his colleagues for the sake of clearing the way to office for Lord PALMERSTON and Ms colleagues—(just what Sir HUGH CAIRNS tersely called it) A Dodge ! Since then, we know that systematically Reform has been coolly and de iiberately given the go by. We know and see only too well that it is given the go by still. The fact that it was so had became so flagrant last year that one of the foremost Liberals in the House, one of the gr eateet among the Practical Reformers of the Age, Mr. COBDEN, towards the close of last session pretty plainly threw off all further appearance even of aiding with her MAJESTY'S Government, with this deplorably and, under the circumstances, dis gracefully do-nothing Administration. Mr. COBDEN being all the more to fling away the mere powerfully incit ed, thus show even of friendli ness, by a consideration —surely a very bitter consi deration to him at once as an Economist an d a Reformer—that while Ministers are doing just nothing in the way of Reform, they are doing, as one mig ht sa y , j ust ever ything in the way e of Expenditure ! Going such lengths in the way o f profligate disbursements, that even the Tories cried out at last, in indignation, " Hold, enough!" That the leader of the Tories in the House of Commons could apply to one of the most flagrant instances of the wholesale extravaglnce sanctioned by the Government, one of the happiest of his phraseolo gical taunts —namely, when he spoke last year, as every one well remembers, about our bloated armaments ! After Easter, however, comes the Budget and after -Budget---a possible Division! Ministers would do Ni ell betimes to right themselves, before the tug of war begins this session—to right them tiefres with the House and with the Country. They c an yet do it. How ? Anyone might see it, as tile phrase is, with half au eye. They are nomi • maliy—for they took cffice as such — d Economists. Let them at last justify their right to both designations. Let them strove themselves by their policy to be both Reformers and Economists_ There is yet tibiae for it. And if they act thus —though but by an afterthought—they may, even now, set the array of this formidable Tory Opposition at defiance. If nob—if they still persist in: following out the same dpgged,iand disappointing, and really disgrace- ful course they have hitherto pursued, the sooner they are defeated the better ! The sooner they give place to worthier men and abler adminis trators the more rejoiced shall we be both as Reformers and as Economists. The speeches that were made at the Loyal National League Meeting in New York are in teresting to peruse, and the attentive observer will find matter for refection in their study. General COCHRANE, the first speaker, adopted a very decided tone, and advocated a far more striking policy than has hitherto ruled the counsels of his friends at home or influenced their doings in war, at the same time they were not open to the charge of neglecting his maxim, that people at war should use every means of victory over their enemies. The Federal Government from the outset of the conflict have never stopped to consider whether the means they adopted to gain their end were creditable or other- wise. Witness the sinking of the stone fleet at the harbour of Charleston, and the unmanly conduct of General BUTLER towards the ladies of New Orleans. The plan proposed by General COCHRANE is to enlist the services of the blacks. In speaking of the strength of the forces of the South, he observed: "You have yet in their own fortresses a multitude of allies, and those allies are the blacks." Further on, he thus explained his meaning. "In such a position as this in such an attitude of the armies of the United States, we are brought to the conviction that we must resort to those means which will bring this rebellion to a rapid and successful close. If you add to the able-bodied men of the Soath the four millions of blacks, you have 5,700,000 engaged against us, a very large portion of them within the enemy's country, familiar with its fastnesses, men who of all others would be most valuable as auxilia ries. Add the blacks to our side, and you reduce the &tee of the South to 1,300,000. Then we would stand relatively, the North to the South, as 53- to 11, or as 9to 2. In that proportion success lies with us. It is only when you have invoked the aid of that portion of the Southern strength that you can deal the rebellion a fatal blow, and achieve success in favour of free institutions," He concluded his remarks by a vehement passage in support of his proposal stating that their armies and their citizens alike accepted its truth, and when it was once adopted their success would teach the world beyond the Atlantic that the people of America were resolved to end this vexations struggle that rebellion had thrust upon them. General HAMILTON then spoke, and was very indignant on the subject of arrests. He said it was very natural for the Government to make a mistake now and then, surrounded by enemies as they were, and molested by sympathy abroad for treason at home. Harassed and perplexed, they might perhaps have arrested some who did not say so much as they ought to do of their honasty. " Then the whole brood of small-fry politicians raised the cry, ' Why, this is the most tyrannical Government under heaven.'" He continued in the same vehe ment strain, declaring that when the Government arrested a reptile, not for the purpose of executing him, but for confining him, many declared that such tyranny could not be borne. Whereas, said the Gene ral, the very fact that men went about complaining of such a state of things proved that they lied. "If this had really been a tyranny, a thousand such heads would have rolled from the block before now." If the new doctrine is to call those who differ from them reptiles, and the new code of liberty only to stop short of capital punishment against such offenders, the world will not admire General HAMILTON'S regenerated America. The General next spoke of foreign politic; and insisted that the people should support the Government, and tell our public servants that we are not afraie of Fcreign Powers. We bow not at the footstool even of the great Nephew of his Uncle. He said he wished them to sympathise with Mexico, and not to see it overrun by the French. On the sub ject of restoring the Union with the institution of slavery, General HAMILTON became still more ex cited, and used language that never would be tole rated at a public meeting in this country. " I have heard it said recently that in high places it has been suggested that it would be a pleasant sight to see JEFFERSON DAVIS and his compeers returned to the United States Senate. I could almost find it in my heart to say that if those are the terms upon which restoration of the Govern ment and salvation to the country is to be had, then let all perish in one common ruin ! If they are restored to their constitutional rights, they had once the right to the Senate Chamber and to protection of their property ; but by their re bellion and resistance to the constituted authorities of the Government they have forfeited all such rights, and they have now the right, if they can be caught, tried, and convicted as they ought to be, and no doubt will be, executed for their offsnce." These are rather strong expressions even for the United States, and - if some calm, reasoning indivi duals had been present he Might have reminded" these energetic speakers that abuse is not argu ment. General HAMILTON concluded by a glowing eulogium upon the Government, declaring he would support it though in doing so he lost his best friend, and that, whatever might be said of its ahortcomings and inefficiency, " it had still its armies in the field, and there were counsellors able to lift up the nation from the mud and mire of the present hour, and to place it firmly upon the path of success." Really the truth of this may be doubted. Nothing that has yet occurred can at all coincide with this declaration, and it is not probable that any success will attend the counsels of the Worth, notwithstanding the vehement counsels of its advo cates. There is always something wrong in a cause when so much violence is necessary to bring it for ward, and certainly the records of this Loyal National League meeting in New York do not tend to impress us with either the dignity or the decorum of its orators. They appear to the world as advocates of a cause that seems to de pend upon the bluster of its opponents, and to owe i ts vital principle to intolerance. The remarks of the Hon. ROSCOE CoNKIN, if possible, were more exaggerated, if l ess stor my than thos e of his pre decessors. H e sa id, a dd ress i n g his audienc e, "You come as heirs o f an i mmortal her i tag e, to maintain a Governmenthas ever incontestably seen." the wisest and j ust the world an inflated style, an d w h ere is the use of such ful some praise concerni ng an W hatcan w institituti on e that has of hasfa s i u le c d h so entirely as that of the American Union. It is at once the object of pity and scorn to the civi lised world. " How are the mighty fallen" may well be said when we look on the remains of the Republic WASHINGTON wa s so justly proud of. It is of no avail that the upholders of the Northern cause seek to sustain their courage by these meetings ; they will not give strength where is no real force ; they will not im part hope to despair, and they certainly will not bring peace where there is no peace. The state of affairs in New Zealand has long been a disgrace to the English Government. The natives, encouraged by the timidity or indifference of the authorities, grow daily more insolent and encroach- THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 4. 1863 ing. In olden times the colonisation of a savage country was too often attended by acts of reckless cruelty towards the native inhabitants. The pos session of the soil was the great object, and the European invader thought little of the rights of the original possessor. The cruelties of CORTEZ and PTZARRO dimmed the glory of the Spanish conquests in Central and Southern America, and the gradual disappearance and extinction of the Aborigines even now usually keeps pace with the increase and prospe rity of the settlers. Of late years the minds and con sciences of men have become more alive to the rights and claims of others, and the natives in our colonies have met with more considerate treatment. In this, as in all other matters, however, there is a risk of rushing into the opposite extreme, and where the number of settlers is small and the country uncivilised the danger of allowing the allowing the natives pre-eminence is manifeatly very great. In New Zealand, especially in the Northern part, the diffi culty is increasing, for the Maories encouraged by the indulgence hitherto shown them are becoming absolutely intolerable. A letter from a New Zea land settler, who has come over to this country for a short time, gives a very uninviting picture of the state of affairs he has left behind him. It seems from his report that the natives consider themselves the rulers and pass arbitrary laws, which they compel the settlers to submit to. They have recently claimed the right of search ing Europ( an houses, with the object of seizing any spirits or liquors in the possession of the owners. A gentleman writes to the Hatches Bay Het ald complaining that a party of these agreeable visitors had seized and removed from his place a hogshead of porter and four casks of ginger wine, for which seizure he had no remedy. Another case is men tioned, in which the natives applied for the loan of an article, and being refused, coolly took it by force, for which the loser could get no redress. The settler we have already spoken of says in his communication that it is useless to talk of obtaining redress through a magistrate, for, if you could get one to send a summons, the native would light his pipe with it and laugh at you, when nothing further would be done. More flagrant, however, than any encroachment on the rights of settlers is the conduct of the Maori to the Government. A high road, which has long been in need of repair, is about to be metalled by the proaineial authorities. As soon as ten ders aro called for, a native writes to the Go vernment, forbidding the continuance of the work unless on payment of a preliminary sum of £l,OOO. It is certainly high time Oat something should be done, and that the natives should learn, from the firm and decisive atti tude assumed by the British authorities, that the lives and property of settlers are no longer to be at the mercy of their caprice. If the British Government in New Zealand do not succeed in ob taining, the respect of the Mioriee, they will forfeit that of their own countrymen, and the settlers will take the law into their own hands if they can ob tain neither protection nor redress from the lawful authorities. The letter we have referred to above asserts that if a white man should be killed by the natives the settlers will certainly take it up. This is a state of things much to be deprecated hat how can we blame the settlers for wishing to defend themselves against such tyranny and oppres sion. It is always a mistake to allow savage and ignorant men to think the authorities are afraid of them. If once the power of . the Government is firmly established, and the natives are taught to respect it, it may be safe to show lenity and indul gence ; but until a wholesome dread of the law is enforced throughout the island, there will be no peace or order. If the settlers are left to take matters in their own hands and to inaugurate a war whose length and character may probably be com mensurate with the contest between the Kaffirs and the Cape settlers, the result will be disastrous, Meanwhile the prospects of this healthy and fertile colony are languishing, and the great body of settlers would gladly quit Northern Zealand if they could find pur chasers for their property. Sir G. GREY had better look to it at once. He has tried the in dulgent and temporising method long enough. Let aim see what other plan he can try to secure justice to British residents in a British colony. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTLI'S TELEGRAMS.) THE POLISH INSURRECTION. COPENHAGEN, APRIL 3. The steamship Ward Jackson, belonging to the Hartlepool Steam Navigation CJmpany, has ar rived at Malmo, in Sweden, from Eugland. She brings 190 Polish volunteers, of whom 26 are officers and engineers, and a large cargo of arms and ammunition. The Swedish Government has confiscated the ship, probably with tae view of protecting her from the Russians. The Poles have been permitted to remain in S weden. A fire broke out yesterday on board the Ward Jackson, which was, however, extinguished in three hours by the Poles. OUR Among the papers jt th , ! annual account of COUNTS. kingdom, showing, for dealt, and to what an follows : ist issuLd by the Beard of Trade is the value of the imports into this the last three years, where we have lount. Our intpoas have been as FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Russia .. Sweden .. Norway .. Denmark Prusgia Mecklenburg -Schwerin Hanover Oldenburg and Knip- hausen Haitse Towne Holland • • Belgium France Portugal, Azores, Ma eira • • • • • • Spain and Canaries .. Italy .. •• •• Austrian Te , ritories : Venetia, Muria, Cro atia, and Dalmatia .. Greece Turk•'y, European : Natoiia, or A: is Minor W,:llachia Mo davia Syria and Palestine. Other vorts • • Egypt (including the transit from India and China) •• •• Tripoli Tunis • • •• Algeria Morocco Western Africa(foreign) Cape erde Islands .. Eastern Africa Bourbon •• • • Persia • • • . French Pos. in India .. Dutch Pos. in India : J,Va Sumatra .. Other Possessions _ Philippine Islands .. Borneo Slam China,liongkong inlB6o Japan Ibian , s in the P,..cific le'oreion West Indies .. Flay. i and St. Domingo United States Ports on the Atlantic Northern Southern Ports on the Pacific.. Mexico • • • • Central America .. New Granada .• Vent zuela Equactor .• Peru is Chili Brazil • • •• Uraguay Argentine Confeieratn. Patagonia Northern whale fishery Total foreign countrieal BRITISH POSSESSIONS. Heligoland . • • • Cha , nel Islands .• Gibraltar Malta and Gozo lonian Islands Western Alrica(Brit sh, Ascension St. Helena .• • • Cape of Good Hope Caifraria Natal• Mdurit ius • • •• Arabia—Aden Korria Mooria Islds. India — Bombay and Scindel lei adras Bengal an t Fern 10,20 ',193' 3,1 c , 3,308 1,160,9J7 2,575, 5S 7,511,21 495,105 257,251 49,423 7,027,741 8,256,6 , 0 4,079,245 17,774,037 2,27R,782 4, 10,495 2,7.8,524 9%36 677,341 3,1 s 0,3 2,232,2 :5 72,500 10,317,012 61 13,954 1,572 2;0,421 1,800,619 89 , 13,633 8,925 170,6251 333,816 15,503 6'8,798 12,517 75, 46 9,393,76+ 167,5:11 208 3,151,692 126,067 1 44,708,513 18, 89 41,727, 021 99x,221 221,8 0 5'5,190 21,990 107, 33 2,5'0,142 1. 9,347 2,5 6,2'7 2,2r9,; 80 867,0`z8 1,0.'7,755 9,543 145,2,i4 -1~7i6i1,1 g10,4r2 1 352,511 195,3 A 267,731 141,13 31,0, 2I 1,609,78 101,72: 1,684,26 15,100,5271 12,82?,C88 2,620.720 951,205 2,255,837 6,410,89 5 4i2,431 284,081 36,479 6,058,490 7,692,- 95 :3,817, , 00 17,826,616 2,397,423 4,632,720 2,4.0,061 527,916 718,10 7,0,544 2,103,480 1,528,510 1,T!3,299 77,425 0,8(33 8,'=•98,4931 14,6931 33,32 i 498:688 1,51.5,433 1,1 , 0 495 5,5.11 79,7521 184,74? 6,481 26, 0 53 816,?,6j 1E62. 15,153,071 $',698,216 1,105,429 2,163,748 8,796,e10 20,9. 7 276,033 20,952 5,8+7,875 7,859,601 4,b53, , 90 2!,602,676 2, 4 04.305 3,931.183 2,617,911 384,825 795,27: 707,511 2,460,580 1,804, 4 ;23 643,524 128,22 301 12,225,392 6,078 ,532 47,264 434,041 1,719,801 5 163,176 12,4951 Singapore and Eastern' Straits Ceylon •• •. llong,ong 1,0 i 4,04 2,274, 48 China) 25,08 8,93,581 53,687 4,760,43 137,47 S 21,736,132 t 26,917,.98 70 ,572 49,3t9,6021 Australia West Australia South Australia Victoria New South Wales Queens land Tasmania New Zeal,nd 03,6 01 31 - ,520 313, 6) 433,060 24,5561 £4,802 3,164,552 125,416 2,116,89!, 2,631 480 639,717 1,471,649 4,220 130,615 93,336 2,690 164,609,014 544 638,7:2 133,834 143,437 213,157 194,213 14,538 1,321, ,, 75 3,471 96.901 1,914,042 t 11,331,63 2,12 4 ,05 3,505,0. 21,963,6521 1,915,425 2,251,019 137,86 73,,4301 2,867,445 1,829,369 4:a7, ( 06 44,244 6,4f;9,243' 81,6 G British North America Bermudas .. • • Brit. West India Islands Britian Guinea Belize (Brit. Ht , nduras) Falxianci Islands . • 6,826,96'2 7,624 4,392,311 1,595,10 309,020 7,33 P 7os,sro 32,2 2 37,824 11,982,2::5 591,855 19,610 4439 513 151,719 34. 6 i3l Total of British Pose 28 237.593 1, , 68,915 353,846 7,69',361 019,458 492.310 811,304 42,959,437 9.397 Total of Foreign Coun tries and British Foss. 2,901,342 2,040,124 t 131,088 465 t'62 511,357 210,530,8731 6, 01,01871 95,( 23 2, 393.92 3i1,982 2863,34 4,4 '_4,1:7 092328 1,133,( , 71 2,200 1(2,623 161,28 •,sil 56i 653, 14 97,553 110 734 339,245 234,709 2,391 1,412,362 23,976 81,423 967,714 21,922,7 8 3,512,133 8,714,676 34,140,597 2,375,813 2,45-,262 54.72, 63,P,9 866,581 2,571,630 2,078,819 165,673 457,614 611,445 8,667,2_0 . 1 14,121 4,051,937 1,761,341 26.117 4,767 52,676,0101 7,110,703 3,449,327 78,642 4,644,961 1,561,343 299,746 20,131 217,485,02 65,3 :7,169 226,592,72 0 LONDON CHORAL UNION, The inaugural meeting of this new musical association, which is designed to work on a broader basis and under more complete and methodical organisation then any at present in existence, was held last evening at Cambridge Newman-street. Mr. Leicester Buckingham was in the chair, and the hall was well filled by the ladies and gentlemen who have already enrolled themselves as mem bers of the society. After a few preliminary observations, the CHAIRMAN called upon the managing director, Mr. Lockyer, to state the reasons which had led to the establishment of the "Lon don Choral Union," and the results which it was hoped would be attained by its formation. Mr. LOCHTER then came-forward and was warmly greeted by the audience. He read a terse and well digested paper, which may be looked on as the prospectus of the new assn. ciation. He adverted to the success of the National Melo dies Concerts at St. James's Hall, the choir of which formed the nucle•:s of the London Choral Union, an evidence of the thorough competency of the executants for the work which they had now undertaken, and dwelt upon the desirability of affording them a larger scope for the display of their tried ability. The London Choral Union proposed to devote itself to the study and interpretation of the best works of the greatest composers, thereby affording an opportunity to native genius to make itself known to the public. W eekly rehearsals would be held every Thursday, commencing at eight, and terminating at half-past nine, and at the con certs to be given in St. James's Hall no work would be allowed to be performed which had not been diligently practised and thoroughly mastered. In order still further to ensure the perfection of these public representations periodical performances would be given, as an intermediate step between the class-room and the public, and at these new vocal and instrumental works might be introduced on trial. There would be no compulsory annual subscription, and it was intended to place the tickets for the series of con certs at such a price as would render them accessible to all the members--who would, moreover, enjoy the usual privi lege of complimentary admission. The CHAIRMAN, in an earnest speech, which frequently elicited warm responses from tho audience, enforced the claims of the tam society. He dwelt upon the humanising and ennobling influence of the fine arts, among which music stood pre• eminent, not only as the most purely spiritual, but also as the realisation of the philosophic dream of a universal language by which the inspiration of local genius could be carried to the hearts of all mankind. He pointed out that this language, like all others, must bo carefully studied, and could be made familiar to the masses only by the reiterated exhibition of fine exemplars—in other words, by the conscientious performance of such works as this society had taken in hand. He touched upon the elements of success which the " London Choral Union" had within itself—a programme which afforded ample scope for action, an admirably trained and efficient choir, which had already earned its laurels, a managing director in Mr. Leckyer, whose precious services to other kindred societies had proved his worth, and a musical director in Mr. Fredk. Kingsbury, who was known to all who were familia r with his professional career as a musi cian waose whule - s culed devotion to his art was coupled with sound judgment an d rare m usical ability. in Inuncoo.nlanclud labours he adverted to the growing love of music as the fruits which had sprung from the past of such societies, and urged upon the members of the i London Choral Union suc h perseverance in their gooa wor k as would lead to yet richer results in the future. Mr. FREDERICK KINGSBURY, who was received with warm. applause, made a few tellinr , and practical obser.va p,huenmct,nianlidtiys,peannsdabcolenstcio tons upon the means which the members of the society must themselves employ to secure its success. Diligence, conscientious o a attainment har d work f t w h e e r were, assuredexcellence t o which they aspired, and they would find him as rigid as he hoped they would be energetic. ts M ep ro r i ed M de du throughoutfNo n , A t e T rm , second ed he e b y ll lr. L o proceedings,cx A vote of thanks to th e caa i rman, which was move d by d greatest enadaittem. T W:ic a h ji wer b e ri c e h fl a y ra r c e: ;'• INDIA. CALCUTTA, MARCH 16. Grey shirtings and twist firm. Indigo quiet. Exchange on London, 2 O. Freight flat. BOMBAY, MARCH 15. Piece goods and twist advancing. 54 per Cent. Government Securities, 1151. Freight quiet. CHINA. CANTON, FEB, 28. Grey skirtings and water twist higher. Total exports of tea to date 97,375,0001b5. Exchange on London, 4 81. SHANGHAI, FEB. 23. Silk firm, but quiet. Total export to date 71,250 bales. Exchange on London, 6 21. LISBON, MARCH 29. The Duke de Louie, in reply to a question put to him in a recent sitting of the Cortes, said that" the Government had the intention to represent to Russia that, after giving an ample amnesty to all the persons compromised by the recent events, it is necessary that the political rights promised to the Poles by the Treaty of Vienna be re-estublished." The Cortes afterwards voted a motion of sympathy with Poland. The Ministry has not the confidence of the Cortes, chiefly on account of the £500,000 of the late loan kept in rese rve , and of the projected in crease of the property t a x. It is said that the party of the Duke de Sal danha has strongly urged him to return to Lisbon, considering the resignation of the Duke de Lou'e as imminent. Judgment has been pronounced in the Portu guese Courts against Mr. Lindsay, M.P., in the matter of the Union Mercantile Company. Mr. Francis Morrogh Walsh, one of the Direc tors of the new Anglo-Portuguese Banks, has lately visited Oporto and Lisbon to organise details con nected with the commencement of business. The establishment will shortly open. The weather is fine and seasonable: Rentes 474 to 48. Exchange on London, 544 d. FRANCE. PARIS, April 4. L'Opinion Nationale says, with a significant and almost sinister force, that the Ministers of the King of Prussia, in seeking to justify the course they had recently pursued in regard to the affairs of Poland, have on;y aggravated their position by the "retieences" left among these sor rowful truths. BOURSE, April 3.—The market continues firm, but without any further material advance in quota tions. Threes, for the Account, are now at 69f'. 85c. Credit Mobilier Shares show a further improvement. The Railway Share Market has rot been very animated, but the prices of yesterday have been, up to the present time, generally maintained. The market closed as follows tl per Cents 96 25 Do. end month — 3 per Cents Do. end m on th 69 70 New 3 per Cents Do. end month — Credit Mobilier 1389 Do. end month 1372 50 g 0 IL' Bank Shares 3260 Credit k oneier ... , 1480 Italian Loan 7l 80 Do. end month 7l 80 Russian Austrian Spanish Threes — Homo Debt - WAYS. Cash. Account. 1105 .. 1108 50 1040 .. 1050 ****** Northern *** New ditto ******** • Lyons and Mediterranean 1215 --.. 1220 Geneva ................ 435 .. 442 50 Souther n .. .. 752 50 .. 756 25 MLBKETS—This Day. and the t ra d e i s i n a s l ug g COVE NT GARDEN. at full pri ces. With veg itables the market is well supplied, The supply of f ru it is small , an d the demand rules stead y ish state at our quotations. otUIT. Colonial do., each 0 oto 0 Grapes,per lb. 0 oto 0 Foreign d 0....... 1 oto 2 _Melons n a s p p . l . e . 8 . ......... 9 0 8 . d o o . t t o o 0 0 1 . 0 uO. Cherries, per lb. 0 oto 0 0 - A s. d. a d 0 , Foreign ditto, pun() oto 0 0 01 Filberts, per lb .. 2 oto 2 6 Nectarines, per dz 0 oto 0 0 , Walnuts, per 100 0 oto 0 0 Oran 0 1 Almonds, per bus 0 oto 0 0 0 Cobnuts, per lb O. oto 0 0 Apples, per ht-sy. 2 oto 4 0 i Figs, per doz 0 oto 0 0 Pears, per do .... 0 oto 0 0) Damson .. 0 oto 0 0 Lemons, per 120.. 3 6to 7 0 ; Plums, per du. .. 0 oto 0 0 Oranges, per 100 4 oto 10 0 Currants, per ILsv 0 oto 0 0 Gooseberries hf sveo oto 0 o', Greengages, pr do. 0 oto 0 0 Strawberries pr pt 0 oto 0 0 Ras p berries, p r p t 0 oto 0 0 yEGE TABLEs. 6 Shallots, per lb •. 0 oto 0 ( Ireens, dz b unc h 3 ot o 3 Cabbages, pr doz 0 9to 1 3 Horseradish, pdo 1 oto 2 0 Red ditto Cauliflow ers, pdz 1 oto 3 0 oto 0 0; Parsle y , p er ditto 0 oto 0 0 Savoy do., p r d z. 0 o to 0 9 Celery, per ditto 1 oto 1 0 0 1 Beet, per doz. .. 1 i, to 2 6 0 Small salad, p. pn, 0 oto 0 0 New ditto, pr p n t 0 9t o 1 Brocoli, per b un. 0 10 to 1 0 , Parsnips, per do. 0 oto 0 0 Potatoes, per t on 80 t o 130 0, Mushrooms.p ptl. 0 9to 1 0 Turnips, dz bu nc h 1 6 t o 2 0 , Artichokes, each 0 oto 0 3 Carrots, pr do 4 6t o 5 6 ; Cabbage lett,score 0 oto 0 0 Cucumbers 0 oto 0 0 f Mint and skyory..o oto 0 0 Garlic, per lb Sorrel, per sieve 0 oto 0 0 Radishes, dz hnds 0 oto 0 0 Green peas,n.-sv. 0 oto 0 0 , Tomatoes, doz... 0 oto 0 0 Brus. sprouts,h.s. 1 3to 2 0' Chillies, per ditto 0 oto 0 0 Onions, doz. bn.. 1 3to 1 6 ) Capsicums, per do 0 oto 0 0 New Do., dz bun 0 oto 0 0 Rhubarb, per bun 0 2to 0 0 French beans, h.s. 0 oto 0 0' Asparagus, pr do. 0 oto 0 6 Leeks, per bunch 0 oso 0 0, Seakale, par bun. 0 oto 0 0 NENVGATE ANL LEADENHALL. 0 Turkeys, 4s Od to 8a Od; geese, 5s Od to 7s Od each ; goslings, sOdtoOs Od ; ducks, 2s Od to 3s t'd ; ducklings, Os Od to Od; rabbits, is 6d to 2s Od each; wild do., 10d to is 2d ; pigeons, s6d to is Od each; Surrey fowls, 8s Od to 13s Ott; chickens, 6s Od to 8s Od; barn-door fowls, 53 Od to 7s 6d ; capons, Os Od • hares, 3s Od to 3s 6 d ; ptarmigan, Os Od to Os each; pheasants, Os Od to Os Od ; putrid ges,Os Od to Os Od ; woodcocks, 3s 6d to Os • snipes, Os to Os Od; teal, Os Od to O s Od ; w ild d uc k s , Os Os; to Os Od ; widgeons, Os Od to Os Od ; plovers, O s 6d to is Od each ; guinea fowls, Os Od to Os Od ; roa sting pigs, 5s Od to Gs Od each; Ostend fresh butter, lld to is Id • English, is ld to is 4d per lb ; English eggs, 8s Gd to 9s Od ; French do., 5s Od to 7s Od per 120; leverets, Os Gd to Os Od each. BILLING SGATE. Salmon, is 6cl to 2s Od ; trout, Od to Os ; eels, scl to 10d ; prawns, Os ; pike, skate, 6d ; sturgeon, and halibut, Od per lb. ; turbots, 3s Odto 15s; c o d, 3 s Od t o 12 s Od ; brills, is Od to 6s Od; doreys, is Od t o Es 0(1; mullets, Os Gd to is 6d; lobsters, is Od to 4s; crab s , i s t o 3 s Od ; p l a i ce an d gurn ets, Od to Os Od each; soles, 6d to is 6d per pair ; common oysters, s to —s ; natives, 48s to —s per bushel ; whitings, 2s Od to 8s; haddocks, 3s to 12s ; smelts, is Od to is 6d; flounders, Os Od per d ozen ; mackerel, COs per 120 ; fresh herrings, 6s per 100 ; bloaters, Os to Os per 100 ; carp and tench, Os Od to Os per brace. NEWPORT. Beef, from 2s 6d to 3e 8d ' •najitton, 3s 2d to 4s 2 d ; veal, 3s 6d to 4s 6d; and pork, 3s 8d to 4s 8d per Blbs. ty the carcase. WIIITECIIAPEL. Beef, from 2s 6d to 33 8d ; mutton, 3s 2d to 4a 2d; lamb 5s 8d to 6s 4d ; vt al, 33 6d to 4s 6d ; and pork, 3s 8d to 4s 8d per Blbs by the carcase. BREAD. The prices of wheaten bread in the metropolis are from 7 3 / 4 d to Bd, of household do., 5 3 / 4 d to 7d per 41b loaf. HIDES AND SKINS. Market hides, 561 b to 641 b, 22d to 2id ; 641 b to 721 b, 24d to 3d ; 721 b to 801 b, 3d to 31d ; 801 b to 881 b, 3d to 4d ; 881 b to 961 b, 3id to 4id ; 961 b to 1041 b, Od to Od ; 1041 b to 1121 b, Od to Od. Horse hides, SA ed to lOs 6d ; calf skins, light, 2s 6d to 4s Od ; full, 6s Od to Os Od ; polled sheep, Os Od to Os Od ; half-breds, 8s 6d to 10s Gd; Downs, 7s Od to 8s Gd; lambs, Os Od to Os Od; shearlings, is 6d to Os Od. HAY MARKETS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £2 Os to £4 Os Od ; clover do., £3 10s to .£5 108 • and straw, £1 lOs to £1 16s per load. Supply moderate, trade Lull, and prices drooping. CUMBEitLAND.--Meariow hay, £2 Os to £4 Os; clover do., £3 lOs to £5 108 ; and straw; £1 lOs to £1 16s per load. A heavy demand. WHIIECHAPEL.—Meadow4y, £2 Os to Xi Os; clover do., £3 lOs to iô lOs; and sin* l k lOs to £1 168 per load, Trade 0311. • y.. 18'0. CRYSTAL PALACE. There are fewer places in Europe where a fine public holiday is more keenly enjoyed than inion don, and yesterday was duly appreciated by some million and a half of people, to whom a holiday in the week is as rare as it is welcome. Where this vast mass of pleasure-seekers went all the suburban roads round the metropolis showed plainly enough. Richmond, Hornsey, Hampstead, Highgate, Dul wich, Greenwich, Clapham, and Blackheath, each took its quntum, but, as usual, the great centre and really great holiday of all wes kept at Norwood There was not the same overwhelming and rather noisy gathering which makes Boxing-day, or the Foresters' fete at the building, such a marvellous sight, but there was, nevertheless, an audience of some 40,000 people, nearly all of the upper working classes—the elite of the operatives and small trades men making, on the whole, as pleasant, orderly, and almost as well dressed an assemblage as the Crystal Palace often draws together. The great influx of visitors did not take place till after 1, but from that hour almost every minute witnessed the arrival of monster trains; while the pretty lanes and quiet by ways through Dulwich were covered with long ranks of spring carts, some freighted to the very shafts with the junior members of the family, and roomy, comfortable vans, though, on this occasion, uncom fortably crowded. As is always the case on Good Friday, the main and almost only attraction at the building was made to consist of a concert of sacred music ; to the E ffieiency of which, yesterday, Madame Rudersdorff, Mr. Sites Reeves, Mr. Weiss, and the chorus of the Italian Opera contributed. To hear this all the places around the centre transept, the gal leries, and every seat in the Handel Orchestra, even to the topmost tier, were thronged with a dense assemblage, which listened with a most deco rous attention to every note of the music, and occa sionally asserted its right to an encore with a burst of applause that almost shook the building. The mere sight of this great audience, concentrated be ne'Ath and among the decorations which were put up for the rec-nt bridal fetes at the palace, was alone well worth the journey to Norwood. The finest effect of all, however, was when the Evening Hymn was sung by the Nisitors, with tolerable accu- I racy as to time and tune; what it lacked in this respect being redeemed by the solemnity and pathos of the great volume of sound pealing through th builoing. It is, perhaps, only at the Crystal Palace, 03 these cccasions, that 30,000 or 40,000 people can be heard singing one well-known hymn together, and its effect is sufficiently near the sublime to be quite beyond portrayal by mere verbal description. The National Anthem, from the most loyal inde pendence with which everybody thought fit to join in it at the wrong place, was far less effective. After the concert there were performances on the great organ, with the band of the Coldstream Guards, a finale which gave every one time to promenade the building, which is now looking almost at its best. Whole banks of rhododendrons are in bloom of every tint, and all the fine arts courts are being put in order for the approaching season, which is expected to be one of unusual brilliancy and profit. The gardens, of which it is not too high praise to say that no other public gardens surpass them either for their own ornamental or landscape beauty, or the prospect they command—are just now, of course, in much the same condition as other out-door gar dens of the same kind. But the fountains, terrcees, and statues—the beautiful combinations of ever ' greens and rare groups of firs which dot the lawns make these grounds seem always in bloom, and, with the Londoners' true love of gardens and flowers, they were thronged yesterday with all the holiday folks, at the building directly the corcert was over. Some few games were going forward here and there, and the lake was covered with pleasure boats, which were moved about by parties all more or less unacquainted with the art of managing them and who with the most perfect good humour tan into each other and the bank, and otherwise made believe to be rowing. The archery and cricket grounds also were well attended, but, as a rule, there were fewer games going on than is usual on such holidays, and the great mass of visitors were very quiet. It must have been late before the building WEIS clear, 1 61. ) 4' 46: •-• 041111 Ortribir. HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, April 3. The Queen, accompanied by his Royal Highness Prince Arthur, and attended by Lady Augusta Bruce, walked in the grounds yesterday afternoon. Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse drove. The Queen, Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse, Prince Alfred, Princess Helena, Princess 1 ouise, Prince Arthur, and Prince Leopold, attended divine service this morning in the private chapel. The Rev. H. Ellison preached the sermon. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred has returned in good health. Dr. Armstrong, R.N., who accom panied his Royal Highness home, left Windsor Castle last night, having previously received the Queen's thanks for his care and attention during his Royal Highness's alarming illness. TFIE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.—Their Royal Higlincssei the Prince and Princess of Wales continue at Sandringham in the enjoyment of complete privacy and retirement. Their royal highnesses have been making one or two excursions into the surrounding country, and as the weather has been extremely fine the district has been seen to the best advantage, The period for the de parture of their royal highnesses from Sandringham has not yet been fixed, but it will not be prolonged for more than another weak The prince and princess have intimated their intention of returning to town via the Wisbeach route, and a letter has been received by the mayor of Wisbeach, from Lieutenant General Knollys, announcing that the prince will have pleasure in receiving an address from the Town Council. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge ar rived at Plymouth last night, on a tour of inspection of the new fortifications. He is accompanied by Colonels Clifton, Bingham, and Jervoise, and Sir R. Airey. The Duchess of Wellington will leave town to day for ..-trathfieldsaye. The Duke of Sr. Albans and Lady Diana Beau clerk have left town to pass the recess at Redbourne Hall. The Duchess of St. Albans and Viscount Falkland wi I not leave London. The E irl of Dudley has left his residence in Park lane for Whitley Court, Worcestershire. Lord Kinn,iird's town mansion in Lower Gros venor-street has boon taken by the Earl of Chesterfield for the season. Lord Londesborough is now staying at the Hotel Bristol, Paris, on his return from his expedition to the Nile. Viscount Palmerston will arrive in town to-day rora Scotland. The Bishop of London will leave town after Easter Tuesday for a week or ten days. The weekly levee usually held at London House, St. James's-square, will therefore not be held on Easter Tuesday, or on Tuesday, the 14th inst. Dundreary's Farewell Speech, The Haymarket Theatre was filled with a highly fashionable audience on Wennesday evening, on the occasion of Mr. Sothern's farewell benefit—a fare well, however, which playgoers will be glad to learn is only for a season. The long-sustained and stile unfl igging popularity of Mr. Sothern's marvellous impersonation of Lord Dundreary is a dramatic phenomenon, yet it can cause no surprise to those who comprehend the real merits of the performance.' It is not only irresistibly humorous but pyscholo gically true. Not that Lord Dundreary is to be looked upon as a special type of aristocratic imbe. cility. That he is a lord is a mere dramatic acci dent, for his intellectual kindred are to be found in every class. His muddle-headed logic. —sometimes reasoning rightly from wrong premises, sometimes reasoning wrongly from right ones—is reflected constantly i❑ Parliament, on the platform, and in the drawing room ; and it is to the recognition of this fidelity to nature as much as to its over whelming drollery that the great and legitimate .access of thi3 performance must be fairly ascribed. At the end of " Our American Cousin," in which he played as admirably as ever, Mr. Sothern csme forward in obedience to an enthusiastic call and .;poke a' follows : " It affords me infinite gratification, ladies and gentlemen, to receive so very hearty a tribute at your hands upon the occasion of this my 396th performance of the character of Dundreary. After so lengthened and continuous a repre sentation it might fairly have become unpalatable, but your happy presence and enthusiasm to-night indicate that even further doses might be administered with safety. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) However, I have felt that a change of air and scene would be desirable, and on Monday next I commence an engagement in my native town of Liverpool. Under these circumstances, fate wills us to be strangers until Christmas next. You may then perhaps extend your gene rous favour to " Brother Sam"—(great expressions of ap proval)—but mind, if successful, he may inundate you with the entire family—father, mot her, sister, brother, nurse, and a terrific chain of cousins. (Loud laughter.) Amongst the innumerable reports which are constantly going off in society, one is, that the Lord Dundreary is going into a galloping consumption. He is going into nothing of the kind. Does he look like it? (Roars of laughter, and ' Not a bit of it.') I beg confidentially to intimate, as one knowing something'. about the matter, that he never was better in all his life, (' Serve you right,' and cheering.) Perhaps I may refer, incidentally, to his lordship's birth. He was born, then, oddly enough—(a laugh)—not that it was odd that he was born—(laughter) —because that's one of these sort of things that might oa cur 'to any fdlah'—(tho laughter here was excessive) — neither was he born oddly; but—but in the usual way, (Great laughter.) However, oddly enough, he was born on the let of April —yes, on the Ist of April—(renewed laughter)—the day on which he now, for a time, takes his farewell, with a grateful and deeply-marked remembrance of your great and distinguished patronage." Mr. Sothern then retired, and another outburst of continued applause brought him for a third time before his admirers; but he merely gave a Dundreary chuckle, and shaking his right hand to the audience, like the flapping of the wings of an idiotic sea gull, said quaintly and significantly, " Bless you! bless you !" As every one has seen Dundreary, every one can imagine how intense was the merriment which this benediction excited. A GIGANTIC JOKE. (From the A" cotsinan) It may be proper, by-the-by, lest some of our Leith friends should pretend they do not see it, to mention what was the gigantic joke which the Premier played off yesterday. After having been fully informed of what had been and is about to be done in the way of docks, he said gravely to the men of Leith—'' To your honour be it said that all you have, and, I believe I may assert also, all you are going to do, has been done by the expenditure of your own capital and money, and therefore it is doubly honourable to you than if it had been the result of donations from other parts of the empire.'' Nothing could be better than this, addressed to people who a few months ago " applied the sponge" io one great debt, and a few weeks ago contracted another almost as great. Some Leith folk may try to say that his lordship was not making a joke, but only a mistake—that he really knew no better, or worse. But Lord Palmerston is not the sort of man to make such a 11 istake, and he is the very sort of man to make such a joke. Out of Leith, peopl, may suppose that the Premier had drawn a parti cular conclusion as to Leith from the general pre inise that Scotch people have not been in the way of asking, much less of getting, " donations from (,ther parts of the empire" for such purposes. Bui that supposition is inadmissible, seeing that, in tht debate only a few nights ago on the Galway Can tract, Mr. Whiteside, in the hearing of Lord Pal merston, went into the Lk-ith affair with his usual fulness and emphasis. No, depend upon it, it wag .1 joke; and, like most of Lord Patmerston's jokes, add a good d ea l o f mean i ng . And, as First Lora A the Treas ur y, he was entitled to be the maker of that joke, and L e ith was well entitled to be its sub ject. The Treasury had prepaid well for it. It was said of the prodigal Buckingham, and his love of having people about him with whom he could make fun, "He had hisjest, and they had his estate." S'a it is here. The First Lord has had his jest— and Leith has had £263,000 16s. 6d. A new volume of thc Bunyan Library will con tain " An Essay on the Improvement of Time, and Literary Remains," by John Foster, author of the celebrated essays on the " Evils of Popular Ignorance" and "Decision of Character." The "Essay on the Improvement of Time" has never before been printed, and will occupy from 150 to 200 pages. NEW ZEALAND, A New Zealand settler says you allow me a space in your paper to say a few words on New Zealand affairs. I have lately returned to England, having been in the Nor thern Island of New Zealand for nine years, and therefore know something of the natives, and the way in which they are governed, or rather the way in which they govern us. From letters and papers which I received by the last mai' I find things going on much as I expected they would. The natives not only treat our laws with contempt and ridicule, but take the law into their own hands. I will extract a few cases from the papers to show the way in which the natives are going on :—" Rescue of a pri soner by natives.—Stephen M‘Greevy, a police-constablo at Clive, laid an information yesterday against Tamaana Manahia, Kinita, Paraone, and other natives, under the following circumstances :—A native, named Mita, was given in charge, on Thursday, the 27th inst.. about three in the afternoon, by Edward Bedding'on, for having stolen a pair of trousers from his stores. He was locked up ac cordingly for safe custody, previous to bringing him up before the resident magistrate at Napier. About ten o'clock at night the natives complained of came to the lock-up and demanded that the prisoner should be liberated, which was, of course, refused. They then seized the policeman and dragged him away from the door, where he had taken his stand, and proceeded to break open the loek-up which they succeeded in doing, and liberated the prisoner. The policeman resisted, and showed much spirit, as he regained his place at the door several times ; and it was only when he was overpowered by numbers that the door was forced. There were 14 or 15 natives who took part in the proceeding."—Hatekes Bay Herald, Nov. 29. This letter is from Poverty Bay to the Hawkes Bay Herald was a lucky thing for me that I did not bring with me the puncheon of rum I bought at Stuart, Kinross and Co.'s sale, as when I arrived here I found a tremendous hubbub among the natives about Europeans bringing spirits or liquors of any kind into the bay, the right of searching European houses by the muanga having been established, as well as other most arbitrary native laws. Being well aware that beer, wines, and so forth, were not included in the act, I did not take the trouble of even concealing the porter and ginger wine. They allowed me to take it inland to my place, and then they came and demanded it, giving me the choice of hand ing it over quietly or having it taken from me by force. I refused to give it them, so they entered my house and took therefrom one hogshead of porter and four cases of ginger wine, which goods are now in their possession. Had they been able to make out that I had been giving or selling any thing of this description to any of their people I should not have cared eo much ; but this I positively affirm I have not done, directly or indirectly, and they have consequently committed a deliberate theft. Let me know what you think I should do. A pretty state of affairs, but nothing more than we must expec , as long as the natives are treated as They have been : they are allowed to do whatever they like; we have no check upon them ; they know it, and laugh at us.' I will extract another case from the papers, a case of borrowing. " Mr. Shirely informs us that in the course of last week a number of natives called at his house and asked him the loan of a working collar; this he declined on the ground that he wanted it for use, whereupon without more ado the natives entered his stable, coolly appropriated the article they wanted, and walked off with it just as if such a procedure were a mere matter of course."—lbid. He can get no recompense, but has to grin and bear it— a most humiliating state of affairs. People in England will say, sue ely there are laws and magistrates out there why not get a summons against them ? If you could get a ma g'strate to Bend one, as soon as the native rep dived it he would fold it up and light his pipe with it, 'augh at you and think no more about it; and you could no do no more unless you wrote letters to the governor and the papers; and if any notice were taken of your letters, you might get a promise that the case should be inquired into, but it would be put off and off till it was forgotten, and you would hear no more about it. Things cannot last in this state much longer. The natives are getting worse and worse every day; and if some white man should be killed by the natives, and the Government do not take the case up, the settlers will, The natives also step roads being made and improved, as will be seen from another extract from the Ilawkes Bay Herald of Dec. 9 " A few weeks ago the contractors were engaged metal ling the road between Mgarurora Ferry and the township of Clive. For this work permission had been obtained, yet because the labourers 'resumed to remove shingle from the seashore on the other side of the river (of no use to any one) for the purpose of metalling the road, the natives forthwith seized the fl t punt which was used in transporting the ma terial across. True, after some negotiations, including, we suppose, an admission of the indefeasible right of the natives to all the shingle cast up by the sea henceforth and for ever, the punt was given up." Again, the road from Clive to Havelock, used as such for many years past by the settlers, is about to be metalled with by the Provincial Government. The want of such a metalling has long been a serious grievance on the part of the inland settlers. Yet no sooner are tenders for the work called for, than a native writes to the Government, forbidding them to go on with it, but adding that they may do so on pay'ng the moderate sum of £l,OOO I The Daily limes thus alludes to the present aspect of the native question : " E very day of delay in recognising and boldly meeting the difficulty strengthens the antagonism of the Maories. While Sir George Grey ii visiting and talking amongst them, they are consolidating the alliances and organising their plans of action. Old :euds are, by the influence of a national movement, teing healed or set aside, and every thing tends to the belief that, when the struggle doescome, •or come it will, and that sooner than many suppose, the rebellious NI - lodes will be found well prepared. And yet here are many persons who, in their horror of war, have allowed their senses to be blinded to its imminent proximity ,ho ould have us disc edit theexis' ence of any teep-rooted iisaffection on 'ho part of the Maories, and would have it believed that the scourge of war may by a skilful nand be turned aside. But they , propose no remedy which holds forth any probability of success. Sir George Grey unites in himself every qualification for dealing with the natives. He is personally popuAar with them, is familiar with their language, customs, and character, and yet he finds the natives worse to handle now than he did when he first arrived. He has conceded everything that the p ,cifie ten dencies of the philo-Maori school could have desired, and yet that policy has been miserably deficient in success. W hat he intends to do is of course as yet uttknown, but we may be sure that ere long he will be compelled to adopt a policy as energetic as the policy hitherto followed has been weak and vacillating. The natives must be treated with firmness and decision." Some people say, let us avoid war, for if the sword be , drawn we shall most of us be ruined ; but I say, let it be at once—it is inevitable—so better be ruined now (if need be), than some years hence, when we may have more to lose. They say again that in a few years we shall be so strong in numbers that the natives would be overawed; but who will come to the Northern Island with things in this state ? _Utley are now leaving in numbers and going south, partly attracted by the gold-field, but all disgusted with the way in which the natives are allowed to go on. There are hun dreds of settlers who would leave the Northern island at once if they could sell their sheep runs and other property, but no one will buy while things are in this state. T am deeply interested in New Zealand affairs, having come to England for a short time only, intending to return in a few months. A LIZARD AT CHURCH. On one occasion, while travelling in one of the mountainous and somewhat barren counties of North-Western Georgia, in the early spring time and upon the Sabbath day, I reined up my horse at the front of a humble log church situated :n a beautiful grove. The congregation had assembled, the inside being pretty well filled by the white set tlers living thereabout. I entered and took a seat. The warm Southern sun looking down upon the earth with its balmiest and kindliest greeting, the tall and reverend form of the aged pastor breaking to his simpie-minded hearers the words of Divine life, and the rapt, solemn expression of upturned faces all filled the soul with the beauty and dignity of the Sceiptures. Just at this moment a lizard, pro bably revived by the sun's hot rays, ventured into the holy sanctuary upon the back of a seat whereon sat an old and carewon disciple of the church, with out coat or vest. The extreme heat of the day was 'simple apology for the scantiness of his apparel. By ins side sat a lovely red-lipped daughter, apparently 18 yearsof age; behind them a mischievous-looking urchin of about 14. Seeing the lizard stretched at its lazy length, undecided whether to proceed or exit from this thronged human habitation, the parent of all mischief put it into the lad's head to catch it by the tail. As he did so he quietly leaned forward towards the old man, who was inclined in a patieut hearing attitude, and dropped it down the 6,p in his loose home-made pantaloons. Feeling the roughness of the creature's claws he jumped, hur riedly and excitedly, from his seat, bringing his hand round with great force. The lizard, perceiving his retreat cut off, turned for a retreat and gained admission beneath the coarse cotton shirt. Here, upon the bare flesh, his claws were intolerable. In on agony of fright, with huge drops of sweat standing out upon his forehead, and his eyes pro truding from their sockets, the old man man began to disrobe. The preacher ceased his feeling exar ration ; the eyes of all the congregation were turned upon so strange and unaccountable a scene. Two of the deacons advanced towards him. His daugh er, in great alarm, sprang from her seat, and j ump log up and down, and wringing her hands, screamed out, " 0 lordy, lordy ! caddy's got a fit !" " No, darter," cried the old man beneath the thick folds, ".its no fit—it,', 4 Ecsnake 3"--10rFer's New Monthly. t F f I