The Sun. — London, England, 1863-01-02 00:00:00

It 0 YAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN. Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W. Harrison, sole Lessees. THIS EVENTNG, to commence with the Second and Third Acts of THE BOHEMIAN GIRL. Atter which, the Grand Comic Christmas Pantomime, en titled HARLEQUIN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Duors open at half-past 6—Commence at 7. THEATRE -R OYA L, DRURY-LANE.- Lessee and Manager, Mr. Edmund Falconer. THIS EVENING, the Comio Drama of THE NEXT OF KIN. After which, the Grand Pantomime of LITTLE GO 3DY TWO SHOES. Commence at 7. TREAT RE-RO VAL, HAY MARKET. Lesgee, Mr. J. B. Bucketone. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, will be performed OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Asa Trenchard, Mr. Buck stone ; Lord Dundreary, Mr. Sothern. After which, a new and original Extravaftanza, entitled lIASSELAS, PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA ; or, The Happy Valley. Rasselas, Miss Louise Keeley. Followed by A DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Rogers, and Miss Ilarfieur. THEATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM, Will OPEN, under the Sole Management of Mr. FEPTITER, on SATURDAY, 10th January, 1863, with a New Romantic Drama, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, in which the prin cipal character will be sustained by Mr. Pechter, supported by Messrs. G. Vining, J. Brougham, 11. Widdicombe, tyre, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond; H. Butler, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Leclercq, Kate Terry, E. Lavenne, and Els worthy. Box-office open from 11 till 5. NEW THEATRE-R0 YAL, ADRLPRI--- Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. It Webster. ~THIS EVENING, MARGERY DAW. After which, A TICKET OF LEAV E : Mess"' J . L.Toole, P. Bedford. and Mrs. Billington. .w. BAUNWELL ; To conclude with (7th time)" GEORGE " 13 '1, mi ss wooigar, or, Harlequin Folly in the Realms of Fan— i, Toole, P. Bed. Miss K. Kelly, Miss Seaman ; Messrs' ' l ; 2 ,tr . John Lauri ; ford, Stephenson, C. J. Smith. Rarifein l Clo wn' 'Mr. W. Hildyard olumbine, Miss Caroli ne Ad a ms ; Ca ntaloon, Mr. J. P au lo. The ceebrated Arthur and Bertrand. Commence at 7. ROYAL PR INCESS'S THEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. Lind's. THIS ir,VNNING, TIME TRIES ALL: Mr. H. Vezin and Miss Constance Aylmer. Aft, w hich, the New Grand CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME, ai jtmT WITH THE TUFT ; or, Harlequin and Mother shipton." Mr. G. Belmore, Mr. C. Seyton, Misses Gray and lindspeth, Mr. Milano, Mr. R. Power, Miss A. Collinson, and Mr. Raiford. The WEATHER.--Sun Office, Jan. 2, 1863. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday, Lowest during the night This day at Noon . .. 42 Barometer-29.57. Wind—Westerly; weather, fine and mild. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAL —Morning, 12h. 7m.—Afternoon, 12h. 36m, To-moltßow.-Morning, 12h. 59m.—Afternoon, lh. 25m. "a:1.1 . , §art 4 4/0 LONDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1883. The cotton year has not been a bed of down. Not to those who work it, nor to any extent to those who grow it. The advance in price, it is true, has been enormous ; not less than 20 millions sterling, for certain, is the augmented value:of the smaller quantity sent us ; but this vast sum " has been impounded by the successful speculators" in the transit of the cotton from the grower to the manufacturer. These are the men—the men of Liverpool chiefly—whom "Special Correspondents" should call to account. The public now know, on the high authority of Lord DERBY and Mr. GLAD STONE, not to mention other channels of informa tion, that the millowners, who were themselves embarrassed by the cotton famine, have shown a most princely liberality towards their workmen—a liberality which, the noble Earl says, throws the most munificent of other contributions entirely into the shade. But where are the names of those into whose hands the 20 millions sterling of advanced prices have gone ? We hope, for their credit, some adequate reply will be furnished to this question. To all classes but theirs the cotton year has been one which has left a mark on property, on wages, or on life and health itself, in too many cases, which will not be soon effaced. Numerous had been the warnings to the men of Manchester, not to be satisfied with one source of supply for the raw material of their enormous in dustry—a supply of eighty-five per cent. of all they consumed, and secured by slave labour only. Vainly also had the Government been warned of the necessity of so opening India to British agri cultural industry, that facilities of communication to the coast, and a tenure of land which would attract British capitalists and investors, should give to aux great Asiatic Empire the full benefits of British wealth and energy. All went on smoothly, and all were interested in supposing that smoothly all would go on. The statesmen were saved trouble—the monied men were saved risks. Our cotton trade had passed unscathed through the protracted wars with France. The Berlin Decrees, the American war, and the Orders in Council had left it uninjured. Till 1860 no shock from without impaired its prosperity. It went on with years of immense profit, and years of depression, but with a handsome average of profit, till no war in which we were engaged, but a civil war between Slavery and Freedom, in unholy union hitherto, at once cut off cur eighty-five per cent. of the material on which Lancashire and Cheshire lived. The plague spot, so often pointed to, suddenly spt ead. The question whether slaveryshould cover the yet unoccupied soil of the Federation, was put to the ballot in 1860. The ballot declared for free soil where it was yet free ; and forthwith one of the parties, which had appealed to the ballot, re fused to accept its decision, and appealed to physi cal force ! Almost immediately both parties joined in stopping the cotton supply to England. The motives were different enough. The South said wo will not send it ; the North said you shall not. The Southern chivalry thought to coerce the Eog_ lisp trader. " Cotton was king," they said, and they prohibited its export till England and France should recognibe and support them. They never doubted that a n Lion of traders was at their mercy. The Northern G:,,,iL:Lunent had no objection to our getting cotton, but it had a peat objection to " the Rebels" exchanging their cotton for military stores in Europe, and it therefore blockaded the Southern ports. Thus both parties combined to deny us the remnant of the crop of 1860, and the whole of the crop of 1861, and we have had little from Americ a this year which has not run the blockade. Last year we obtained from her 1,841,643 bales; this year only 72,461. It is interesting to notice the working of this fact throughout the year. The cotton brokers tell us that during the first six months prices advanced but little, and that, in consequence, the weekly de liveries to the trade continued at about the rate of the close of 1861—that is about twenty-nine thousand bales. During the nett three months the great rise in prices caused the closing of many of the mills ; business fell off so rapidly in the latter half year, that the' total of cotton consumed averaged for the year but a trifle more per week than half the consumption of 1860; and the diminution fell upon the latter half-year chitfly. The sellers of cotton, who ought to know what most affected the markets, tell us that it was the press writing so strongly on the probable cariV termination of the war which fora long tim e militated against high prices; and thus, in the first six weeks, caused both too rapid a consumptiG n of the stocks in band, and too great reluctance to risk anything in or d er s from India. The ~ ninety days" prophecies ag gravated the subsequent difficulties of Lancashire' by preventing the operation of timl natural preyen• tive alleviations. The effect on prices ~Q 8 such that what is termed "Middling Orleans', began the year at about a shilling a pound, and had scarcely advanced on that by the middle of June; but it went up in July quickly to eighteenpence, and on the first week of September was sold at half a-crown per lb ! On the sth of September, in fact, it was ascertained that the actual stock in hand was under sixty thousand bales, and our normal consumption of fifty thousand bales a week was reduced to eight thousand ! Then it was that the full terrors of the cotton famine stared both masters and men in the face. The enormous stacks of goods in hand, created by too rapid manu facture, and not checked, as it ought to have been at first, by rapid advance in price of raw material, prevented the rise of price in manufactured goods ; the manufacturers were brought to a perfect stand still between famine prices for raw cotton and plenty prices for the articles they could make from it. The storm thus burst on them almost suddenly, though its m utterings had been so long heard. • Mr, T IIO MAS BAZLEY has presented us with a calculation, which no man is more competent to make accurately, which shows the total effect on the amounts received by capital and wages respec tively, as the share of each, during each of the last three years now past. The share received in wages was— 1860. 1861. 1862. By operatives.. X 26,804,438 .. £22,194,448 .. £14,500,000 Bycapitalists.. 22,000,000 .. 18,000,000 .. 10,500,000 Of course for last year a small part of the calculation is an estimate; but it cannot be materially wrong. What a tale do these figures tell! Remembering, also, that two-thirds of the loss of twelve millions in wages fell upon the poor operatives chiefly in the latter half of last year, Mr. BAZLEY says there can be no doubt that these men received close upon twenty-seven millions for their work in 1860; it is within a fraction of figures as certain that they had received little more than half that amount by the end of last year 1 The lesson has been and is a severe one. We have awakened to it in a charitable point of view, but we must do something more. We must have an Indian Minister of very different calibre to the obstinate and unperceiving, though respectable, old Whig who now fills that post. We want, in fact, a STANLEY there; and if the Whigs cannot find us his equal, they must somehow put him there, for the sake of both India and Lancashire. Charity in its present conspicuous form is well ; it is the proper balance for the calamities which none of us can foresee, but which may alike overtake classes and individuals, the poor and the rich. But the true charity is to open up profitable work for men. And here, in one sense, is the province of the Statesman. It is his to remove those obstructions which will yield only to the resources of the State, and above all to offer those facilities which require but the abolition of mischievous usages however venerable. We need not insist now on the scope which India especially, and other colonies, offer to the Statesman for this legitimate exercise of his skill and his courage. Mr. CARDWELL'S speech at Oxford is one in every way satisfactory to peruse. The right hon. gentleman's discourse is not only characterised by his usual ability, but it contains sentiments alike hon ourable to himself and those whom he referred to. He commenced his speech by an allusion to what had loomed in the distance at the period when he had last addressed them a year ago, when there was a question "trembling in the balance which was to decide no less than that of peace or war between tw• great branches of the Anglo-Saxon race." This was the telegraphic message concerning Messrs. SLIDELL and MASON. Fortunately for the world that danger was averted, but for long years to come there will be many to deplore the results of the American war. In referring to these sufferers Mr. CARDWELL made the most strik ing point in his speech, and redeemed it from the charge of being merely a passing affair of the hoar, a thing to be forgotten when the business of to morrow put aside the cares and engrossments of to day. He thus preluded the remarks on the dis tressed districts There is, as you know, in the North a vast population, of energy unexampled and skill unrivalled, who worked long hours, and ob tained the great reward of labour; suddenly, as if the earth had denied to agriculture its increase, the only material of their industry was with drawn. In former times they had been accus tomed to prosperity ; it is true that they had also been accustomed to occasional re verses in periods when trade was naturally dull ; they were an independent people, they were a sensitive people, not willing to be dependent upon the liberality of others, and they have proved that they were a heroic people. Before this horrible war came upon them they were always ready to assist one another, and never willing to apply for assistance to those whom Providence had placed in a more fortunate position to themselves. Now at once, by one sudden blow, they have been deprived of the whole material of their labour, and what has their conduct been ? Gentlemen, Ido not hesitate to say that their conduct has been beyond all praise. I wiil nut attempt to disparage it by giving any feeble expressions of my own, hut I will say that it has realised to the utmost the language of the poet when he says, "' How sublime a thing it is to suffar and be strong.' " to the community at Nt the e praise sam can same time b i e t i t s h e gratifying award o f such conduct, but referred to, to mark the appreciation of thei e r efforts ; nothi ng i s so h ar d f or t h e ac ti ve as to b idle, and for the competent to suffer calamity through being deprived of the opportunity of exerting their skilled and proved ability. In the cruel sufferings of her children England has at least the consolation of knowing that they have come through the ordeal triumph antly, and shown that spirit of endurance which in happier times of prosperity crowded her stores with increase and stocked the marts of the world with their produce. This is the secret of the supremacy of the English nation, and this self-reliant principle, this defiance to the conquest of circumstances, however adverse, has ma de glorious the page of history in many a conflict w here in num bers the English were in a sad mino rity. The conflict now raging is a sadder one, a n d has been given to the com munitya lesson iattiaslltoevbeenttsr,usted that its darkest hour is past; but, must benefit them, and its around which - memory will be handed down will be from one generation to another, till a f ar distant posterity emulated to follo w so wort h y an ex ample. Mr. CARDWELL also made touching allusion to the loss sustained by the Royal Family, which had j ust fallen with a crus hi ng b low when he last me t his friend s . H e congratulated them that,although nothing c ou ld ever e ff ace that sad impression entirely from their minds, still, by the blessing of Providence, many mitigations of their sorrow had appeared. We had the prospect of an event which was to give tho heir of these realms a marriage of affection and a home of happiness. "We know well," said the right hon. gentleman, " that these words mean more than empty sounds, considering the ties that exist between the SOVEREIGN and her people. They are building upon the only true foundations, the hearts and affections of a devoted a nd united people." In concluding this brilliant discourso the right hon. gentleman thus referred to th e prospects of the year now opening before us, au opinion with which many may concur, "Let us THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 2, PM hope and believe that with a loyal and an uncom plaining people, with a buoy ant revenue, with a commerce, if affected by the events now occur ring, not altogether depressed, that we are des tined to appear during the present year under better and happier auspices, let us be thankful to PROVIDENCE for the great blessings which we have hitherto enjoyed, and let us trust that in future days we may be able to increase those benefits for the advantage of the community at home, while our revenae may enable us to do all that is necessary for the safety, honour, and happiness of the country, with a due regard to economy, and that, rec e i v i ng at the hands of Provide nce those great blessings ourselves, we may be permitted to be an example to other nations of unity with government, of indus try, and of peace." If a spirited tone regarding public affairs in general, a right comprehension of the position occupied by the operatives in the North, and a sanguine view of the future can render a member's address to his constituents a successful one, Mr. CARDWELL has every reason to hope that his oration of Thursday in the classic town of Oxford has been a pleasing one, and for many reasons it is a source of satis faction that English statesmen should speak out boldly and to the purpose on the several subjects that were touched upon in the course of the speech referred to. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. ITALY. TURIN, JAN. 1. The Minister of Justice has addressed a circular to the Royal Procurators in the Neapolitan pro vinces, urging them to recommend the dismissal of the judges who do not show sufficient zeal in the trials for brigandage. The same circular promises rewards to the persons aiding in the suppression of brigandage. A circular has been addressed by the Minister of the Interior to the Prefects, desiring them to open a national subscription to repay to families losses suffered through brigandage, and reward instances of courage displayed against brigands. The Minister says that brigandage is the result of all the evils bequeathed to Neapolitan subjects by the past Government, which obstructed the deve lopment of civilisation and education in the hope of finding the means of restoration amid the dis orders accompanying every political revolution. The Neapolitans, however, have deprived the partisans of the former Government of all hope by the support they have given to the present Admi nistration, but the entire nation owes to these people testimony of the common solicitude. It is requisite that all the Italian provinces should co-operate to avert the misfortunes of the South. Before, therefore, the course of law can be fully re-established in these provinces the Government appeals to the spontaneous concurrence of the nation. ROME, DEC. 31. The Pope attended mass to-day at the Church o Jesus. A Te Deum was sung in celebration of the ap- proaching new year. Many carriages accompanied the Pope to the church. His Holiness was in good health. JANUARY 1. The Pope received the officers of the French army of occupation to-day. In a long speech his Holiness expressed his con viction that repentant Piedmont would fall at the feet of the chair of St. Peter, as Jacob prostrated himself before the angel after having wrestled with him all night in ignorance of his origin. PRUSSIA• BERLIN, JAN. 1. The Ministry having asked the Common Council men of the metropolis to communicate to them the draught of their congratulatory new year ' s a dd res s to the King, they h ave refused to comply, and at once sent in the address to be for warded to his Majesty. Among other thi ngs the address says— " We feel confident that your Majesty will suc ceed in dispelling the grave apprehensions of the country, as the deplorable conflict between the Go vernment and the Chambers, which endangers the basis of the Constitution, confuses the public mind, and lowers the foreign estimate of Prussia, remains unsolved. In the new year may the King enter upon a course leadin g t o pease an d reconciliation !" The Municipality o f Ber li n h as sent a special address to his Majesty. FRANCE. PARIS, FRIDAY, JAN. 2. The Moniteur publishes an account of the New Year's reception by the Emperor at the Tuileries. The Papal Nuncio presented the homage and con gratulations of the Diplomatic Body. The Emperor thanked him, and added—" I am happy to see around me the representatives of all the Powers. They will be able to bear witness to my desire to uphold those friendly relations so re quisite for present and future security." PARIS, THURSDAY. The mortal remains of Cardinal Morlot are at present laid out in state, and the public were ad mitted, yesterday afternoon to the room. All the ground floor of the Archbishop's Palace is hung with black. The large salon hes been transformed into a Chapelle ardente, where the body is placed. The crosier and the archiepiscopal crucifix are placed at the head of the deceased, and his Cardi nal's hat at his feet. He wears the mitre, the pectoral cross, and the pallium. The features of the prelate retain all their usual mild expression. Two altars have been erected on either side of the catafalque for the celebration of masses. From nine o'clock in the morning until four in the afternoon every day until Sunday next, the faithful are admitted, and the arrangements made se cure a free circulation. A circular of the chapter has been published. It confines itself to merely announcing the death of the Archbishop, notifying the nomination of the capitulary vicars, and to pre scribing prayers for the deceased. Prince Alexander Stirbey has arrived in Paris. A new journal, entitled the Nation, and with M. r hanier de Cassagnac as chief editor, has just made Its appearance. A spler.did halo of various colours was seen around the moon last night at Paris. The year closed with unusually mild weather in Paris, the thermometer marking yesterday after noon, at 3 o'clock, 7 above zero Centigrade (44 3-5 Fahrenheit). conditionally accepted. M. von Pipitz, the Gover nor of the Bank, opened the sitting (between 80 and 90 persons being present) by addressing the Grand Committee to the following effect : "Never since the Austrian National Bank was established have its lawful representatives had a more difficult task to perform. On the 21st of December, 1862, the Minister of Finance made known to us the resolutions taken by the Reichsrath in respect to the charter of the Bank. At the same time his Excellency observed that the Tmperial Go vernment hoped the relations between the State and the Bank would speedily be settled, as it was of opinion that a satisfactory arrangement would have a very beneficial effect on the currency. It is not in the power of the Go vernment to modify the conditions made by the Reichsrath, and the Minister of Finance trusts that the representatives of the Bank will not lose sight of the fact. A few days ago the Directors of the Bank officially informed M. Von Planer that they intended to recommend the Grand Com mittee to reject that paragraph of the Convention in which it is the question of a conditional interest' (bed ingte Zins-vergutung) on the loan of 80,000,0001 ; be cause its acceptance would imperil the independence of the Bank. To this communication the Minister of Finance re plied that the Government neither wished nor intended to exercise any greater control over the management of the affairs of the Bank than it has hitherto done. As hereto fore, an Imperial commissary will take care that the sta tutes and regulations of the Bank are observed, but the Commission for the control of the National Debt has nothing more to do with the Bank than to see that it ful fils the condition of the new convention. When the Reichsrath meets again the imperial Government will try to induce that august assembly to alter that paragraph of the convention in which it is the question of a conditional interest of 1,000,0301 'if the National Bank should be willing to accept .lower fixed rate of interest.'" M. von Pipitz then stated that the direction of the Bank, being satisfied with the explanations given by the Minister of Finances, advised the Grand Committee unconditionally to agree to the proposed convention between the State and the Bank, and to accept the statutes and regulations drawn up by the Reichsrath. Sixty-six members of the Grand Committee followed the counsel of the directors, and unconditionally accepted the Bank Act; sixteen members were opposed to its acceptance, and four or five did not vote at all. Shortly before the sitting was at an end it was proposed to let the Minister of Finances know that the Bank was willing to accept 800,00011, as the annual interest on 80,000,000f1., but the motion found no favour with the Assembly, as one of its members observed that the matter ought to be left to the new Grand Committee which will be formed in the course of next month. The settlement of the Bank question has led to a further decline of one per cent. in the foreign exchanges. In the Wiener Zeitung of this date it is announced that an income-tax of 7 per cent. will be levied on the in terests of all kinds of Government Stock on and after the 2d January, 1863. The official paper also contains that law relative to the partial abolition of feudal tenure of which mention was made in the Imperial Speech. The rate of exchange on London has fallen to 14.80. THE BRAZILS MAIL. SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 2. The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's ship Tyne, with the above mail, passed Hurst Castle at 9 a.m. to-day. Trial Trip of a New Iron-Clad Battery. (From the New York Times of Dee. 17.) Yesterday morning, in compliance with orders from the Navy Department, the United States iron-clad battery Montauk started on her trial trip. In order that there should be no doubt about the result of the important expe riments, Secretary Welles appointed a naval commission to witness the trial trip and report upon it. The commission consisted of the following officers, all gentlemen of the bight professional reputation in the service :—Commo- dore Stephen C. Rowan, commander of the iron-clad frigate Roanoke; Captain Rogers, late of the Galena; and Captain John Rogers, of the Ericsson battery Catskill. The follow ing distinguished officers were also on board :—Captain Lacoffski, of the Imperial Navy of Russia; Captain Erzen leoff, naval constructor in the same service, and a Russian colonel of ordnance, Commodore Gregory, Engineer Stimers, Captain Worden, and others. At ten o'clock all embarked on the Montauk at the Navy yard, and at half-past ten o'clock, amid a severe shower of drizzling rain, the vessel shovcd off unaided, and headed up the North River. Her engines were put in quick motion, and with 27 pounds of steam on, gave fifty revolutions a minute. This was the first report. The distance from tho Navy-yard to the Battery was accomplished at the rate of about 5j miles an hour. Soon after the speed was increased to six, and she was ordered to be driven even faster, when the boilers began to foam. As the revolutions can be put up to 70, at least, with the remaining untested power of steam, the speed of the Montauk will be almost exactly that of the Passaic, seven miles an hjur. The tide was against her yesterday, and also a very stiff breeze, but their influence in retarding a craft so low down, and so " settled," was not very great. We stopped at the foot of Thirteenth street, to take on board Mr. Orr, one of Mr. Ericsson's representatives, who came to see how things worked. At twelve o'clock, ;off Thirty-fifth-street, 35 pounds of steam only produced 48 revolutions, 27 pounds having previously obtained 50, or two revolutions more, but the foaming of the boilers had not commenced during the first half hour. From Thirty-five-street up the river the pro gress was even and satisfactory. Six miles an hour was easily ac3omplished, notwithstanding the newness of the boilers. The trip of the Passaic did not seem to familiarise steamboat travellers with iron -clads, for they evinced all the characteristics of pristine curiosity as we passed. After a cold sail we reached the Palisades at about one o'clock, and made preparations to anchor; soundings were taken, and 15 fathoms of chain run out, which secured the vesssel. The Naval Commission then adjourned to the turret, and directed the initiatory movements for firing. Powder was taken from a steam-tug, which brought it from Bedloe's Island. Al about half-past two or three o'clock firing commenced. Three hollow shots, two solid ones, and two shells were sent into the bosom of the Balisades. They actually shook the entire ehore for hundreds of yards, and where the solid shot fell rocks and gravel, for nearly a quarter of a mile, rolled into the river. A gentleman came from shore and stated that the shots tore up the earth fearfully. He also informed parties on board that du. ing the Passaic's trial one of ber shot struck a tremendous rock, and sent it in frag ments in the air. The commission intended firing 10 shots, but only fired seven, as stated, it being rather dark to con tinue. The trial trip of the Passaic was made under the auspices of Captain Ericsson, who did not object to a minute report of it. The Montauk is in the hands of the Government, and Captain Worden, its representativcaoes not wish particulars printed. But the following statement of the results of the experiment can give no comfort or in formation to the enemy : First—The various principles involved in the experirnen are proved practicable. Second—That the turret port-hole need not be widened is now established beyond all doubt. Third—The Montauk, in her present shape, will go to sea on active service this week. Commodore Rowan and both Captains Rogers expressed themselves individually highly satisfied with the general success of the experi ments. Not a bolt gave way during the entire trial. The commission of course suggest improvements in various do tails, which can be effected in forty-eight hours. THE CRIMINALS UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATEI.--- A further application was made yesterday to the Home Secretary in the case of the old man Wm. Ockold, who was convicted at the last assizes at Worcester of the wilful murder of his wife at Oldbury, on the Bth of Novem ber last, with the view of inducing the right hon. gentle man to recommend the extension of the mercy of the crown; but Sir George Grey, after a long and anxious considera tion of all the facts of the case, could not find sufficient grounds to justify his interference with the due course of the law, and its extreme penalty was therefore carried into effect at Worcester Gaol at 8 o'clock this morning. In the case of Thomas Edwards, who was convicted at the Liverpool Assizes of the wilful murder of a woman named Isabella Tongue, no application of any kind has been made to Sir George Grey, notwithstanding the verdict of the jury was accompanied by a recommendation to mercy. The murderer will, therefore, be executed to-morrow at twelve o'clock. In the case• of William Morgan, convicted at Bristol of the murder of a police-constable, the Home Secretary has respited the sentence of death, and commuted it to penal servitude ]or life; and the same decision has been come to in the case of the married woman Elizabeth Boughey, who was convicted at Shrewsbury of the murder of her illegitimate child in August last. ANOTHER FRIGHTFUL DEATH THROUGH CRlNO- LlNE.—Yesterday evening an inquiry Was held at the London Hospital, by Mr. H. Raffles Walthew, the de puty coroner, respecting the d ea th o f Louisa IVlTartbn aged four years, who lost her life on Saturday last through her crinoline catching fire. It appeared that deceased's father, who is a silk weaver, residing in Brick-lane, left her and another girl alone in a room with a fire. Deceased put some apples on a tray, and endeavoured to bake them over the fire. Her dress, which was distended by a very capa cious crinoline, was thrust by it between the bars, and blared up instantly. The poor child rushed out upon, the landing, and nearly set the house on fire. She was ulti mately taken to the hospital, where she died in dreadful agony. 4 verdict of 46 Accidental Death" Was rettixned. THE GOVERNMENT OF ITALY. TURIN, Dec. 30.—The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Count Pasolini, has sent the following cir cular to the diplomatic agents of the King of Italy abroad : " Turin, Dec. 20, " Monsieur le---, I enclose a copy of the speech pronounced by M. Farini when he announced before Par liament the formation of the new Cabinet. By this general statement of the views of the Ministry of which I am a member, I am dispensed from any necessity to enter into long explanations of the direction which the present Admi nistration proposes to give to our foreign policy. 1 will take care to acquaint you with the intents of the Govern ment upon each of the special questions which may suc cessively engage my attention. In the meanwhile, I reckon, Monsieur le —, upon your able and active co operation to explain to the Government with which you are accredited what the real aims and views of Italy are. By consecrating all our efforts, on the one hand, to the in ternal re-organisation of the kingdom, and, on the other, to render more intimate and solid those relations which unite us to other States, we will show how the constitution of Italian unity has been a veritable progress towards the consolidation of the European balance of Powers. The Italians will never forget that these advantages were ob tained with the concourse and strengthened by the adhe sion of the most enlightened Powers. It was the justice of her cause, the firmness and moderation of her conduct, which won Italy this sympathetic co-operation. We shall do our best to secure a continuation of this favourable dis position in our behalf in the future, by energetically develop.. ing the forces of the country, a❑d by winning through our loyalty the confidence and the respect of the power without renouncing any of the principles on which the accomplish ment of our national destinies must be based. Italian unity, springing from the alliance of monarchy with freedom ' must continue faithful to its origin. It will always main tain that character, at once Liberal and Conservative, which has won her such earnest sympathies in the past, and which will procura her her own legitimate share of in fluence for the future.—Receive, Monsieur le —, &c. "PASOLINI.' COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, J. 1. Her Majesty the Queen took an airing yesterday. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Prince Louis of Hesse, attended by Lieutenant .General Knollys, Captain Grey, and Captain Westerweller, crossed over to Southampton yesterday in the Royal yacht Fairy, and went to Winchester to visit the Cathedral and the Hospital of St. Cross. Their Royal Highnesses returned in the afternoon. Her Royal Highness Princess Louis of Hesse drove out, attended by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of Malta and Canada, Despatches were sent to the Governors of the West India Islands, British Columbia, Bermuda, and to the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands. The Countess Fortescue was safely delivered of a daughter, on Wednesday, at Castle Hill. M. Alexandre de Laski has arrived at Claridge's Hotel from Paris. Mr. and Lady Henrietta Morant have arrived at 16, Park-lane, from their seat, Brockenhurst Park, Hants. Mr. and Lady Eleanor Balfour have left Cla ridge's Hotel for Bournemouth. The marriage of Marshal Canrobert with Miss Macdonald, of Grove House, Windsor, will be solemnised early in the present month. The Emperor and Empress have sent the bride elect an autograph letter, accompanied by a present of diamonds. Madame Tcherkoff and family have arrived at Claridge's Hotel. M. and Madame Delahaute have left Claridge's Hotel for Paris. M. and Madame de la Bouillim have left Cla ridge's Hotel for Paris. We have to announce the death of the Dowager Lady Stourton, in her 85th year. Her ladyship was third daughter of Mr. Thomas Weld, of Lulworth Castle, Dor setshire, and married in 1800 the Hon. William Stourton, son of the Right Hon. Charles Philip Stourton, who after wards became the 17th baron, by whom her ladyship had a numerous family. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean gave a "reading" at Kilkenny on Monday. The attendance of the aristocracy and gentry was large. They next will appear in Galway this evening, and on Monday, the sth inst., in Dublin. AN OLD FRIEND IN A NEW DRESS.—Le Nord of yesterday evening assumed an entirely new ap pearance, and was published in Paris instead of Brussels, It has been increased in size, contains six columns to the page in place of five, and is printed in entirely new type. In its programme, it claims to be regarded as a cosmopo litan organ, animated exclusively by those international ideas which it informs us have already so far united all civilised countries that they are now adopting " the same form of government, the same code, the same tariffs, the same system of weights and measures." It f ur th ermore _ _ _ says that it removes to Paris because that city is the po litical, industrial, and commercial capital of the whole world. lo place its cosmopolitan character beyond doubt, the Nord prints in its first column a string of advertise ments in all the European languages. wi S fe H o O f C a K m lN a G n CASE. ed — m o , n ea T n ll n u , r l s i d v ay ing m a o t r ß ni o ng wa l n as t t the 1 rees, Inear Chapelhall, Airdrie, was found dead in bed, during her husband's absence from home. The husband is in very poor circumstances, and had only 2s. in his possession h wh ee e x n he returned pendedilipu on Friday rehaein evening ocotton l fora ; shroud. ro l u O d i . d ofthis sum s thus exhausted, he applied to the inspector of poor for the parish of Bothwell, to get assistance towards the burying of his wife's remains. This the inspector declined to do, on the ground, we are informed, that the man was ablebodied ; and so the corpse remains unburied up to the present mo ment, and is now, of course, rapidly approaching a state of putrefaction. The case has been reported to Sheriff Logie. Glasgow Morning loarnak The Freeman's Journal records the death of John Patrick Somers :—One of the last, if not the very last, of a peculiar and remarkable race of men, of which ho may be the town eer model eit o to f oe said to have been the type, has passed away after a long and painful illness. For many years Mr. Somers repre sentedo. fm S e l a x e i n g n i s li th A h e em t t waseducated a eh c ma h bb e i has the suitedlong t cognateoe the e a s edtrs toohfetph parliament, n uaurm a if ;ee s nf c dot h :w o dw o e r l ohe t f i h oai :11 ill he so long pl a y e d . s s e s i s n e d h m i so re-election, e e l f e t c h t i e o n f e a n n d d - . ship and confid ence of leading men than did Mr. Somers O'Connell alw a y s took aninte o re s t whenever a sturdy and determined course had to be taken with factions individuals he relied upon the presence and support of Pat Somers, a reliance that never proved to be misplaced. The personal regard entertained for him by the present Premier is said to be something very uncom mon. To the last they corresponded as old friends, and at all times during his public career "my friend Pat Somers" was a welcome guest at Lord Palmerston's private resi- dente. ..:mrrlr.E J. l o IA . 1 has for some weeks lately KHES:iiEiwAR: h PROPERTY . AT STRATFORD. borough, and the archives ehrievseuls will o il f l been deeply engaged here i 'n , to the corporation of this present in looking over and carefully examining the records belonging place and put into a part of 4, The Birthplace," a portion of which will be expressly fitted up for the purpose, and greater security given for their preservation. The Town Council held a meeting on Friday last, at which they 111:ii: labours removed a n f d rom theirpainstaking agreed to the propositions of I\lr, J. 0. lialliwell.—Bir minghain Gazette, Importing tea without colour on the leaf prevents the Chinese passing off inferior brown leaves as in the usua kinds. Horniwan's tea is uncoloured, therefore always good alike, Sold in packets by 2,280 agents, ANTWEP,P. It was yesterday announced that the burgomas ter and a number of the members of the Communal Council of Antwerp had tendered their resignation at their last sitting. A report of the proceedings gives some explanations as to the motives for that resolution. At the opening of the sitting the bur gomaster stated that the Governor of the province had made known by telegraph that the validity of the elections of the 2d, 3d, and 4th Dec. had been recognised by the permanent deputation, and in consequence the newly elected members would have to take the usual oath. That ceremony was gone through by only 13, the others handing in decla. rations, which were read by the burgomaster, re fusing to accept the office conferred on them. Some of them assigned no reason for the resolution which they had come to; others stated that as some of their colleagues had been struck from the list they would not accept their nomination nor sit in a body which was acted on by pressure from without, and others refused from the reception which had lately been given to a deputation by his Majesty. The burgomaster announced the fact that he had him self tendered his resignation to the King, and would inform the Council when it had been accepted, He motived his conduct by saying that under existing circumstances he could not continue to exercise his functions usefully for the city and honourably for himself. AUSTRIA. 1 VIENNA, DEC. 30. Yesterday the long-mooted question relative to the acceptance or rejection of the Bank Act was definitively settled. At half past 6in the evening the Grand Committee of the Bank assembled in that palatial edifice in the Herrengasse which is known as the Bank Building, and after a prolonged and animated discussion it was resolved that the propositions made by the Reiehsrath should be un- Naval and Military Intelligence. THE NAVY. The annual official return of the number, name, tonnage, armament, and horse power of each vessel, both steamers and sailing ships, composing the British navy, was published yesterday under the authority of the Louis of the Admiralty. Including a numerous fleet of gunboats, the navy of England on Jar. 1 numbered 1,014 ships of all classes. Of this number there are 85 line-of-battle ships, mount ing from 74 guns to 131 guns each, according to their rating ; 39 of from 50 guns to 72 guns each ; 69 frigates of from 24 guns to 46 guns each, most of which are of a tonnage and horse power equal to a line-of-battle ship ; 30 screw corvettes, each mount ing 21 guns ; arid upwards of 600 frigates and ves sels of all classes mounting less than 20 guns. In addition to the above there is a fleet of 190 gun boats, each mounting two heavy Armstrong guns and of 60 horse power, besides a numerous squadron of iron and wooden mortar vessels built during the Russian war, and now laid up at Chatham. At pre sent there are 43 vessels under construction for the Admiralty at the various public and private dock yards, many of which will be completed and launched during the present year. The iron ves sels building are the Achilles, 50, 6,079 tons, 1,250 horse power, at Chatham ; the Northumberland, 50, 6,621 tons, 1,250 horse power, at Millwall; the Minotaur, 50, 6,621 tons, 1,250 horse power, at Blackwell; the Agincourt, 50, 6,621 tons, 1,250 horse power, at Birkenhead ; the Hector, 32, 4,063 tons, 800 horse power, at Glasgow ; the Valiant, 32, 4,063 tons, 800 horse power, at Millwall; the Tamar, 3, 2,812 tons, 500 horse power, and the iron cased frigate Royal Alfred, 34, 3,716 tons, 800 horse power, at Portsmouth ; the Ocean, 34, 4,045 tons, 1,000 horse power, at Pembroke ; and the Favourite, 22, 2,186 tons, 400 horse power, at Deptford. In addition to the above, the Royal So vereign, 3,963 tons, 800 horse power, is being con verted into a cupola ship, and the Enterprise, building at Deptford, for a shield ship, on the new plan submitted to the Admiralty. During the year 1862 the vessels launched at the several dockyards were the Caledonia, 50,4,045 tons, 800 horse power, iron cased frigate, at Woolwich ; the Royal Oak, 34, 3,716 tons, 800 horse power, iron cased frigate, at Chatham ; the Prince Consort, 34, 3,716 tons, 800 horse power, at Pembroke ; the Rattler, 17, 951 tons, 200 horse power, and the Columbine, 4, 669 tons, 150 horse power, at Deptford ; the Ja seur, 5, 80 horse power, atDevonpart ; the Orontes, 3, 2,812 tons, 500 horse power, at Blackwell ; and the Enchantress, 4, 835 tons, 250 horse power, and the Psyche, 4,;835 tons, 250 horse power, at Pem broke. The vessels now under construction at the various royal dockyards, exclusive of the iron and iron cased ships, are the Dryad, 51, 3,027 tons, 600 horse power, the Harlequin, 6, 950 tons, 200 horse power, and the Heli con, 4, 835 tons, 200 horse power, at Portsmouth ; the Bulwark, 91, 3716 tons, 800 horse power ; the Belvidere, 51, 3,627 tons, 600 horse power, the Menai, 22, 1,857 tons, 400 horse power, the Rein deer, 17, 951 tons, 200 horse power, the Salamis, 4, 835 tons, 250 horse power, and the Myrmidon, 4, 695 tons, 200 horse power, at Chatham; the Re pulse, 89, 3,716 tons, 800 horse power, the Dart mouth, 36, 2,478 tons, 500 horse power, the Wolve rene, 21, 1,623 tons, 400 horse power, and the Sylvia, 4, 695 tons, 200 horse power, at Woolwich; the Robust, 89, 3,716 tons, 800 horse power, the Ister, 36, 3,027 tons, 500 horse power, and the Bit. tern, 4, 669 tons, 150 horse power, at Devonport ; the Endymion, 36, 2,478 tons, 500 horse power, the Sappho, 6, 950 tons, 200 horse power, and the Circassian, 4, 669 tons, 150 horse power, at Dept ford; the North Star, 22, 1,623 tons, 400 horse power, at Sheerness ; the Tweed, 51, 3,027 tons, 600 horse power, the Trent, 6, 950 tons, 200 horse power, the Newport, 5, 425 tons, 80 horse power, the Nassau, 4, 695 tons, 200 horse power, the Guern sey, 4, 695 tons, 200 horse power, the Tartarus, 4, 695 tons, 200 horse power, and the Research, 4, 1,253 tons, 200 horse power, at Pembroke ; and the Prince Albert, 5, 2,529 tons, 500 horse power, at Millwall. Tho number of line-of-battle and other steamers composing the squadron on the North American station is 29, under the orders of Vice Admiral Sir A. Milne, K.C.B. The squadron in the Mediterranean, under the command of Vice- Admiral Sir W. Martin, K.C.8., numbers 28 vessels of all classes. The East India and China squadron consist of 32 vessels, the Admiral in command of that station being Rear-Admiral A. L. Kuper, C.B. The number of ships stationed on the West Coast of Africa assisting in the suppression of the slave trade is 21. The Pacific squadron, under the command of Rear-Admiral J. Kingcome, num bers 12 ships, and that on the south-east coast of America, commanded by Rear-Admiral R. L. War ren, 8 ships. There are six line-of-battle and other ships stationed at the Cape of Good Hope, and the same number are attached to the Australian station, under the orders of Commodore W. F. Burnett,C,B. The Channel squadron consists of the Revenge, 73, 3,322 tons, 800 horse power, Capt. C. Fellowes, flag ship of Rear-Admiral R. Smart, K.H.; the Warrior, 40, 6,109 tons, 1,250 horse power, Capt. the Hon. A. A. Cochrane; the Black Prince, 40, 6,109 tons, 1,250 horse power, Captain J. F. B. Wainwright; the Defence, 16, 3,780 tons, 600 horse power, Capt. A. Phillimore ; and the Resistance, 16, 3,710 tons, 600 horse power, Capt. W. C. Chamberlain. The following officers' deaths have been officially announced at the Admiralty during the past quar ter :-Admiral of the Fleet-Sir Graham Eden Hamond, G.C.B. Admirals-Sir Jas. W. D. Dun das, G.C.8., and Sir Chas. Sullivan. Vice-Admiral -Jas. Rattray (retired). Rear-Admirals-Richard Henry King (reserved), and Jas. Morgan (retired). Captains-Edward Marshall, Robert G. Craigie, Henry Pryce, George James Hay, C. 8., W. Smith, and Humphrey Butler. Commanders - George Western, Osborne W. Dalyell, Henry Crease, Geo. S. Bourne, Andrew Sims, Charles A. Lennock, Richard S. Maw, Simon E. Antram, George E Patey, George Campbell, Richard Weld, Samuel Chave, James Wallis, John S. Park, George Co man, Thomas Caswell, and David Dooley. Lieu• tenants—Samuel 0. Wooldridge, Engene C. Batty and Richard R. Metherell. Masters—William H• Crane, Jabez H. W. Rowlett, Edward L. B. Wil• Hams, and Will smith. Sub•Licutenant—John B. Fountaine. THE ARMY. In accordance with orders received from the War office, about CO non-commissioned officers and men were yesterday discharged from the army at the St. Mary's invalid depot, Chatham, and forwarded to their respective homes at the expense of the Go vernment. The deaths of the following officers have been reported at the War-office since the Ist of Decem ber:--Gen. Sir P. Bainbrigge, K.C.8., Col. of the 26th Cameronian Regiment; Lieut.-Gen. J. Ketchen, Royal Artillery ; Major-General J. Alves ; Col. A. Spottiswoode ; Lieut.-Col. W. D. Macdonald, 93d Highlanders ; and Lieut,-Col. W. F. Harvey. Majors—H. A. Vernon, Royal Artillery; W. G. A. Middleton, 93d Highlanders ; and A. Sievright, paymaster, 9th Foot. Captains—M. M. Mansell, Royal Marines; R. Baker, 57th Regiment; J. Morle, 3d West India Regiment : A. Menzies ; and R. C. B. Highmoore, Royal Artillery. Lieutenants—A. Benison, 64th Regiment; C. W. Creyke, 67th Re giment; A. Temple, ' Ist West India Regiment; C. Chevalier, 4th West India Regiment ; and E. Bol ger, 13th (Prince Albert's) Light Infantry. Ensigns --F. T. Blake, 67th Regiment ; C. S. C. Drysdale, 93d Highlanders ; and J. H. A. Rutledge, 67th Regiment. Quartermaster—J. M'Grath, 56th Re giment. Deputy Assist. C o mmissary-General 7 B. M, Mont anaro . Inspector General of Hospitais— W.. Bell, M,D. Assist. Surg.—S. Hope, 93d High landers. HER MAJESTY'S NEW YEAR'S GIFTS.—The annual gifts from her Majesty the Queen to the poor of the parishes of Windsor and Clewor were distri buted yesterday, under the supervision of the clergy and a committee of gentlemen of the respective parishes. The distribution took place at the Town-hall, Windsor, and not in the Riding-school, as on former occasions, when hes Majesty and the Royal family were usually present; £BO being expended in the parish of Windsor in beef and coals; and ill like warmer in Clewer parish. OUR CONVICTS. "S. G. 0.," in a letter to the Times, writes : There is one truth as to the treatment of oft-con victed felons which no one seems to me to like to speak out—viz., that they are systematically dealt with as men on whom obedience is not to be too much enforced; they are kept by force in cap tivity; they are more coaxed than forced to submit to the discipline of the prison. It would be amus ing, if it were not very irritating, to read in the Blue-books on convict prisons how the officials con gratulate themselves on the amount of submission they secure by indulgence. We are told how cheer fully tF e prisoners endure the sentences when they find that a certain amount of prison goodness will shorten their term of confinement. The advantages of prison life are so naively set forth ; all the little social sugar plums are so paraded,—the lectures on a model of the Tabernacle, from diagrams of tele scopic and microscopic discoveries,—the beautiful quiet of the schools, showing to visitors such a lovely picture of contented pursuit of knowledge— all go to prove that the great object is to enable each prisoner to get through his sentence in the most cheerful, contented spirit. Excellent diet, light work with little exposure to bad weather, a so called cell—in fact, an exceedingly convenient, well-lighted, warmed, and ventilated cabin, full of contrivances to secure comfort, with literature sacred and profane, free of cost ; most respectable attendance, all work to the one end—the inducing the villain, like a good fellow, just to be quiet and good, that he may not only shorted his sentence, but make his days those of pleasantness to himself and his warders. We wonder it don't answer; the felon class would. very much wonder if it did. The great mistake has been the confusion of the two things —pun ishment and reformation. We go through the farce of passing a sentence of penal servitude for so many years, or for life. It is only a blow from the fist of justice with the padded glove ; it is a hard blow so far as regards the penal hitting power, but then we have mulled the penal hand. That sentence neither really bruises nor draws blood; the felon at the bar is neither punished severely nor frightened; it is the bark of the judge, not the real bite of the gaol. He knows what it means at the very worst,--that the Government will be glad to get rid of him out of prison at a date far short of the sentence if he will only be—a good prisoner. It is clear to me that at Portland, Dartmoor, and Chatham the warders are more to be pitied than the prisoners. They have harder work, they never know a moment free of anxiety, their pay is low for the nature of their service, their numerical force not stifficient to secure their own safety and the safe custody of the convicts, except by the system of making things as pleasant to those gentlemen in difficulties as possible. It never would surprise me to hear of convict mutinies far more serious than any we have ever yet known. lam convinced, if the diet were changed for the worse, if the sentences were worked out to the full, and real work en forced, it would be madness to keep the staff of warders at its present weakness_ You may keep up a species of separation which shall defy conspir acies extending to large numbers of the prisoners, but the knowledge of their united strength, if brought to bear upon any one common object, is in itself a fearful element of danger. Let me now give my idea in this matter of convict treatment, only dealing with it generally, avoiding close detail I would never have large masses of" these dangerous men assembled in any one locality - . I intend only to speak of the oft-convicted, hard ened class. The buildings for their reception should be strong in material, but fitted within and without upon the principle that only safe, healthy custody was the object. The present gaols are really beautiful penal toys, the perfection of lodging house-for-single-men architecture, achieved with no respect to cost. In a better situation Penton ville would sell well as " chambers"for Bank clerks and M.P.'s of limited income. I would never have more than 300 convicts in one prison for firm, severe, penal treatment ; always relying far more on a strong, well-armed force of well-paid warders than upon locks and keys, chapel and school, lecture room and kitchen, to preserve discipline and enforce labour. Separation should be the rule at night, association in small parties by day ; but no party ever left without the presence of at least two warders. The actual prison building should be constructed on a principle affording easy com plete supervision ; as I have said strong, but I would have it in all its details rough-4 e., with as little of the comfortable ornamental dwelling as Possible. It should aim simply at this end—the sheltering in health and keeping in safety men who are under a sentence of punishment, not under a compulsory system of reformation. These buildings should, with all necessary acces sories, be in the centre of a large space of ground, walled in with very high walls, with but one or, at the most, two entrances. To the outside world I would show nothing but these walls and the strong entrance gates; all else should be matter of con jecture, not sight. No free labourer should ever go within the gates; repairs I would have done by a staff kept by the Government for this sole purpose. I would call these prisons, "Prisons for Severe Penal Servitude ;" in these should be worked out to the last hour the sentence passed by the judge. I would offer religious teaching and schooling, not to give the character to shorten the sentence, but to fit the criminal for a better life when his sentence is over. I would have the sentences never to ex ceed seven years; as the rule, to be short of this, except, of course, in those cases of capital crimes where life servitudes saves from execution. I am satisfied short severe sentences are better than long ones. There are arguments which will not bear public discussion against a too long separation from all the outer world of male convicts. It is my firm belief that solitary confinement for any length of time is altogether unjustifiable; insanity is, to me, the least of the evils it produces. In every case in which the prisoner, on a second committal for felony, has been proved to have used personal vio lence I would invariably have him flogged at the very commencement of his sentence. As to the nature of the work on which these men are to be employed, it is a matter of detail. I will only say it should not be the learning of a trade, but simply hard, tedious work enforced. I do not advocate some such system as this in stead of transportation, but as a matter of experi ment to diminish the number of those whom we must at last thus get rid of. I know it will be called inhuman, unchristian. I am too old to care for misconstruction of motive. lam satis fied that humanity to the peaceable and well behaved and Christian feeling for crimi n3.ls lead me to wish the number dimi nished. I c l a i m f or all men, garotters included, fair play. I want to make them better; the present petting system makes them worse. One of the chap lains of a conv i ct establishment in a British settle ment I see w an t s to stop the prisoners' grog, but he clearly sees why he fails—it might cause a mutiny. As to tickets-of-leave, not ooe of these men should quit the gaol but under licence for one year; this should be part of every sentence. Under that licence he should be under police supervision, and obliged to report himself from time to time. I am. quite satisfied many an employer would give a man from prison a chance of getting a character for in dustry when he knew the police would watch him who would never take one who had been a convict. un watched. I am wedded to my own small penal gaol plan, or I should admit myself wholly a convert to the Irish system. I will only add, I would have the diet full, but coarse —all that is necessary for health, but nothing more. I have faith that a few such prisons, of small cost, would work a penal revolution. FRENCH REFORIIS.--The Temps of yesterday, in commenting upon the reforms in the proceedings of the prefectoral councils just decreed, says :--" We think it excellent that those councils should be public, and that suitors should be heard in them; but we should d ein it not less rational if the minister judged journals and journalists in public after hearing them. In a word we should like the Minister of the Interior to generalise a little the ex cellent doctrine upon which his report is based, and we are certain he would very quickly recognise that what is good for prefectoral councils could not be bad for councils of a higher Wad." M( Altt maintu being oceasio The Wedn( occasio The a increae other A etnal lion, 131 reduces meats I particu Act The £120,0( At tE Compat of 21 pe A de( day aft( and con inencerc a few tended 1 for mor Febrnar India 5 place in businesF. The have be' support ditto 1E 41. E g Italian, 741; M New Lc. Spanish dis. 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