The Sun. — London, England, 1863-12-11 00:00:00

Mr. lAayard and his Constituents. Ls.st evening Mr. A. H. Layard, M.P., for South wark, met his constituents at the Bridge-house Hotel, London-brid,9,e, for the purpose of rendering an account of his Parliamentary conduct, and ex pressi.ng his views on the present state of public affairs. T'ae meeting was very numerously attended. On entering the room the hon. member was loudly cheered. He was accompanied to the platform by many of his most influential supporters in the borough. Mr. G. NEWMAN occupied the chair, and briefly intredviced the business. times, often on behalf of crowned heads and against peoples; but he held that England, if she would re tain her position as a first-rate Power. most exert a moral irfluence on the questions of European con cerns which affected;her interests. To do that how ever, she must be prepared to incur h -avy expenses ; and that expense, he believed, Engliat men would not grudge. The Government possessed the best information of what took place on the Continent, and could alone know the state of foreign arma ments. In 1861, Mr. Cobden wrote a pamphlet, entitled " The Three Panics," in which he tried to persuade us that our armaments were too large, — infinitely larger than those of France ; and he quoted returns to show what the French armaments were. Now, curiously enough, an official report of the state of the French navy at that time, to which anybody could refer, had been published, and he would quote a few facts from it. In France they had a system of what were called " supplemental credits"—that was to say, a certain estimate was taken for the year for the fleet, the manning, the building of vessels, and the rest; b u t I beyond that, the Minister had the power of drawing extra credits, which did not appear in the estimates. Now, in the House of Commons the mistake had been made of taking the French estimate alone, without the s upplemental credits. But the real state of things was as follows:-1861—Vessels estimated for, 171; number actually armed, 315; estimated expenditure, £4,999 948; supplemental credit, £3,350,00 0 ; total, /8,349,918 ; men on shore, esti mated, 4,259; actual number, 8,113; excess, 3,854; at sea, estimate, 26,366; actual number, 42,840 ; excess, 1 6,474; total excess over estimate, 20,328 ; excess of expenditure in dockyards, £1,800,000. He mentioned these facts to show how careful our Government ought to be, and how heavy a responsibility for the defence of the country rested upon them. In Europe the elements of disturbance were to be seen on almost all sides. The French Emperor had proposed a Congress for their settle ment, and Englishmen, being a practical people, always looked to see whether any project that was proposed to them was likely to promote or defeat its end. Having given every consideration to the Emperor's scheme, her Majesty's Government, acknowledging the good intentions of his Imperial Majesty, had yet come to the conclusion that a Con gress would not practically attain the object in view. The argnments of Lord Russell's despatch on that head were, he thought, unanswerable. The good sense of the English people had at once seizcd the drift of those arguments and recognised their force. Secret diplomacy had often been denounced, and in diplomatic negotiations a certain amount of secresy was indispensable to their success; but in this case the official despatches were submitted to the public, and on the whole, approved by them, almost as soon as,they were written. It Russia would not give up Po land under pressure of the three Powers, she would not do so under the pressure of a Congress. Austria would not give up Galicia, nor would:Prussia give up Posen. Neither was France likely to give up Savoy and Nice, whatever might be the decision of a Congress. But if these questions were raised, how could animosities be avoided, ending most probably in war ? No country had less to fear in going into a Congress than England ; none less of selfish inte rest to seek. Selfish feeling, also, was utterly alien to the decision which the British Government had taken in this matter. He was surprised that their Italian friends had jumped so quickly at the proposal of a Congress. Of all the countries which had most to lose from a Congress Italy was the first, because the majority of the Catholic Powers would, no doubt, have decided that Rome should remain in the hands of the. Pope against the wishes of the Italian people ; and Venetia, also, would have been worse situated than ever. (Cheers.) He woula not at tempt to explain the Danish question to them, be cause, perhaps, he did not quite understand it him self—(a laugh)—but her M.tjesty'S Government bad there likewise endeavoured to persuade the con tending parties to come to an amicable understand ing, and to respect treaties, which after all must be =he bases of all peace. He trusted that that warning voice would be heeded, and that a fruitless war, perhaps involving untold calamities to Europe and 'o the Powers immediately concerned, would be averted. (Hear, hear.) He approached the subject of Poland with feelings which he could not well describe. History scarcely furnished a case more deplorable, more horrible, or in which the Powers had been more helpless. A po;icy almost of exter mination was being carried out in that unhappy country, enforced relentlessly against young and old, woman and man. The contemplation of it natu rally made an Englishman's blood run cold. (Cheers.) But with all their sympathy for that down-trodden race, the English people felt that they would not be justified in going to war for them. Short of that 'Mr. LAYARD then presented himself, and was greeted with vehement cheering. He said it was a custom among the ancient Egyptians when a man died for his friends and enemies to assemble to say all the good and evil they could of him, in order to see whether he ought to have a ticket for crossing the gulf which separated him from the realms of the blessed. With us it was a custom to go through thot ceremony during a man's lifetime, if he hap pened to be a member of the Legislature; and ODer..l a year he was obliged to appear before his friends and enemies to submit to all manner of cross- ques tionings and examination, in order, if possible, to obtain a ticket which should carry him over the gulf of a general election to the happy period of a new Parliament. (Hear, and a laugh.) If he were fortunate enough 'to obtain that pass from them he should feel amply rewarded for presenting himself to them on that and other occasions. It had been a frequent pre ctice with public speakers to abuse the late session, and assert that nothing had been done by Pexliament. He did not quite agree with that state'tent, but even if it were true there would not, after all, be very much to complain of. Parlia ment must be a reflex of public opinion in bent is country, end if public opinion were anxiously e on the carrying of any great measure, they might depend upon it that an opportunity would be given in Parliament to those who were really in favour of them to make their influence felt. To use a common expression, they could not have sensation Parliflraents if they had no sensation questions in ra h g e e d o did d amend not infer the the country. Certainly , in t he late sess ion nothing had been done to extend the suffrage of the peop le ; but from that that the Liberal members who had pre viously taken a deep interest in those measures were now less inclined to support them than they had been a few years ago. Mr. Bathes and Mr. LtAke Xing had both thought it unadvisable to ptess their .proposals relating to the borough and the county franchise on the attention of the House. To have done so might hale damaged instead of promoted the cause they sinc ere l y had at heart ; and no doubt they had shown a wise disoreton Scarcely any allusion to the extension of the suffrage .. was to be net with in any of the recent "extra Parliamen tary u t terances." He did not argue from that that such a n "tenaiwo was not necessary ; on the con trary, he belie , . ed that it would be a wise course to concede it, anal that it was eminently deserved by the Pe°Pl.e. At former periods of our history, when unexpec ted distress occurred among the community, violent 'scenes of disturbance were witnessed and a =Qua], estrangement of classes. That was because the pemple then had not the advantage of a free prQss and a widely-spread education. They did not know exactly what their rights and their re lations to the rest of the community were, and they immediately attributed to wrong causes the sufferings which pressed upon them at the moment. Now, however, 'he people were intelligent, and instructed in the maxims of political economy, and did not ascribe to the Legislature or the Govern ment a distress which neither could prevent. The noble 'attitude of the cotton operatives of Lanca- shire 1 . .. ad brought into prominence the high quali ties of the British workman. He regretted deeply the Erpeeches lately delivered by two eminent men, "no:1g personal friends of his—he meant Mr. Cobde❑ and Mr. Bright. They were painful speeches. (No.) He was expressing his own opinion—(cheers)—and must say he thought his hon. friends greatly mis 'understood the position of the people of England. Having had some experience of most countries in .Europe, he maintained that, notwithstanding the evils which existed in England—and God knew he did not seek to make light of them—our labouring classes were infinitely better off than the labouring clas3es of many other European countries. He did not now speak of our colonies or of the other side of the Atlantic. It was stated in the speeches to which he referred that it the working man had political power he would have land, and that if he had land he w ould. be prosperous. Now, reversing that, did the . .vorking man who had land necessarily enjoy poYLtical power? Would those acquainted with the condition of the labouring man in France, for ex ample, assert that he enjoyed or exercised political e power ? He said that he did not, and granting that the franchise did not go so low with us as it should do, - yet he maintained that, indirectly, our working cla,,ses exercised more political power than was wi e.l?..ed by the same classes in any other country in Ear ope. (Hear, hear.) Messrs. Cobden and Bright had denounced th e wan t o f e d ucat i on i n t hi s coun ts y, affirming that our people were not educated up 'to the level of other nations. (" They are not.") It might sound like a paradox, but that arose from the eree.. , sa, amount of liberty enjoyed in England* a I :,: s :t ns tr any other continental State might pass ee l le , 3l : 3 b hging every man to send his children to thie „ al t t it was impossible to pass such a law in twis matter A large portion of our people insisted in coria;:ion being left atone, they would not have educate their per, and claimed the right to per. But thou education as th e y th oug ht pro forced upo n th e education in England could not be Prl greatly left t o l' e ,°Ple by the State, and must be vut _ - Was really opposed t : effJrt, nobody amongst us that could be said Et b a i ts diffusion, and the worst at the aristocracy did not in cludesuch an aceusati o hear.) They heard a ge Zthat against them. (Hear, educated" democracy. No dda'ibsal of talk about " an , it was the highest desideratumdesideratumof any pbiloti opher t to have such a do mocracy ; but then it sho uld be t thoe nlly educated, so as to enable it to r eco g nise ow ed to the rights moral restraints s ome countries which made a man fee l what be acy swamped of others as well as to himself, In they had seen the educat ed detneer the uneducated. To him , indeed, question by the franchise was a question of education give the suffrage to the man who had gence to use it, but not to him who had not Em e ," , intelligence. ( Ch eers .) The la st session Cou ld not altogether be called a useless session. for it had w i r.. nessed the springing up of a desire for econom y. The - great object of Mr, Geedstone had been to in caleate the importance of a reduction of expendi ture; and last session he had been enabled to lower the tea duties and the income-tax. True, the pro posal to deal with public charities had to be with - . drawn ; hut all who beard or read Mr. Gladstone 's masterly speech on that subject would feel that an alteration in the discreditable state of these institu tions must one day be attempted. (Hear.) Having alluded to the removal of St. Thomas's Hospital from that district ass gross violation of the founders will, Mr. Layard proceeded to the foreign questions which had been discussed during the past session. Nlessrs, Cobden and Bright told them that they °ught to have nothing to do with such subjects, yet, strange to say, two-thirds at least of their own re speeches were devoted to foreign politics. (A " Don% run them down.") He did not run Yoasr down, but met argument by argument. It ' was :In 11) , nAgn I,,ll , isible to keep this country from foe Englishmen were determined to maintain ee„, B. . Pace among the nations of the world to which th ey were entitled by their intelligence and their noble traditions,trsuffrage Did th e y b e li e v e th a t w ith an extend e d su they would have no in terference with for,i r , lately show, for q_eeestions ? 11rhy, the sym pat , rotand had emanated more from the lower classes that, from the high so far from the Govern ment taking the l er and, they had, as i t were, been eem Pelled to restrain the popu lar ardou r. (Hears hear.) It w as often said that the United States did not meddl e ""u other them to -r people's affairs, but kept but them selves. L e m, Was That might be possible for them, -ut possible fEuropean family, for us. As a member the "Y, we We , in a totally different ca tegory from Am e • -- 1 . 1 was not advocating the odious policy of interven tion, a policy adopte d by this country in former the Government had done what it could in their behalf. He wished it could have done more. The opponents of the Government said in one breath that it had done too much and that it had done too little, saying at one moment " Why did you say you would not go to war ?" and at another, " You gave encouragement to the Poles." These two things were irreconcilable. If the Government said at once that it would not go to war, how could it have given encouragement to the Poles ? Some argued that it ought to have done nothing ; but if at the time the insurrection broke out her Majesty's Go vernment had not remonstrated with Russia, as it was warranted by treaty in doing, would it not have been visited with the reprobation of the country ? Sad as was the position of Poland, he did not despair. The history of nations showed that great crimes always brought about their own punishment. The result of the great deportation of the Polish people, instead of destroying disaffec tion in Poland, would be to carry disaffection else where; so that the cruelties now committed by Russia might ultimately bring about their own punishment. For the policy of strict neutrality pursued by the Government in regard to America he confidently claimed the approval of the country. That policy could not be carried without extreme difficulty, as was exemplified by the case of the iron clads. It had been often asked why our merchants should be allowed to supply munitions of war to one of the belligerents and not allowed to supply ships to the other. The answer was very simple — the law prohibited the sale of ships, but did not prohibit the sale of munitions of war. The Govern ment had endeavoured to enforce the law to the uttermost, but without straining it one tittle. The Government was bound to protect the rights of British merchants ; but on the 'Mier hand, those merchants had likewise a luty resting on them as honourable and up right citiz:.ns. For the sake of private gain they Zht not to expose their country to the risk of R e l' l rilunged in war with a kindred nation. (Hear) turned from the West to the East. Mr. ''-heetha tai 511 , the chairman of the Manchester Cotton Assoeiat country vitde'°ll4l3' that morning told him that the eimicy of that had done most to supply the articledefi in oar markets, and which had been most liberal ;vas Turkey. The nuances the cultivator and the buyer, exte ::inces of that Power had also and its a wh u ich even he cow(' not have improved to an ti gild were putting ltaoterdt,he first efts theira Budget exhibiting to He mentioned these thr.evenue and expendi ture. him b g% in answer to the tcfc:renwtwealliordrPld the state attacks made upon Mr. Gold win Oxford, who had prostituted the chair f bna H it . h o , of by m i ng ling ill the dirty a . reo tt of party et rif r e y Coining to Chin a and s he read With astonish ment Mr. Cobden's statement that we had gone to and P'zarro " loot,' and the in evitable $ our only object being those regions in the spirit of Cortes ' to make us re sult of our policy beingmasters of China. The truth was that our policy no, con_ sisted in avoiding quarrels with the provincial g o _ vernors of China, and in having recourse ,htot n the Central Government, with the v iew to any . should derstanding with it, treating it a s We civilised nation, admitting our own obligations to wards it, and expecting from it, in turn , respect for our treaty rights. In regard to British officers en tering the service of the Chinese Government, they were to all intents and purposes Chinese officers while they continued in that employment. The same practice had been followed from time imme morial. Peter the Great, whose empire was very much in the same st a t e as Chi na now was, organised r his fleet, his army, and his civil administration, with the assistance of Englishmen, Frenchmen, and Germans. An Englishman at present held the post of admiral in the Turkish navy. We had an enormous trade with China, and the Taepings, a ruthless horde of marauders, threatened its destruc tion by seizing the treaty ports. We had interposed to protect our trade, and that was the entire extent of our interference. Our exports to China had risen n nt t o a f k t e h n e f t r r o a m de th w e it T h a H e; n n k g o s w an s d in o c p e e t n h e a d t to our commerce. from £1,027,000 to £5,451,000 in six y ears . H ere h statement e b m e e s was placea " Hankow, 1 862.—Total value of trade, 1862, £6,189,951, showing an increase of £3,011,482 10s. over previous year. Of tonnage—Aggregate, 290,536, of which British 128,478, showing increase of 1,061 vessels and 196,103 tons over previous year. At Shanghai, again, the duties collected in December, 1869, were £122,000; in December, 1861, £281,500," would do, otherwise they would have no business to be in office. The acts of Government were marked by liberality and patriotism. In placing Mr. Stans fsld at the Admiralty, in choosing a man like Sir J. Lawrence as Governor-General of India—(cheers) —and in their other appointments, he believed they had earned the approval of the public. For these and many other results of their administration of public affairs he thought he could therefore con scientiously claim for them the support of their countrymen. (Loud cheers.) Several questions were then put to the hon. mem ber by persons in the hall, most of which were of local interest. In replying to his interrogators, he said that considerable progress had lately been made in the abolition of the lash in the army and navy, and that the destruction of the dwellings of the working classes for metropolitan railway im provements had led to evils which called for serious public attention. A resolution thanking Mr. Layard for his address and expressing approval of his public conduct was then adopted by the meeting, amid loud cheers, and the proceedings terminated. That increase to our commerce had been most valu able at a time when our cotton trade was paralysed. He now turned to Japan—a subject which no doubt would give rise to many important discussions. Some 200 years ago, the Japanese admitted Euro peans, chiefly Catholic missionaries, into their ter ritory. Religious dissensions, afterwards springing up, the Government thought the Christians were op posing their authority, and a massacre took place, when many of the missionaries were slain and the rest expelled the country. From that period until very recently there was scarcely any intercourse be t ween Japan and the outside world. He did not know whether in these days any nation could com pletely isolate itself from the rest of mankind, but that was not the question. But it was the Russians and Americans who first broke through the isola tion of Japan by obtaining treaties from its rulers on behalf of their traders; and he maintained that our Government, under those circumstances, had no alternative but to establish similar rela tions with that country. Had they refused to do that they would have been told that whenever there was a fight they were sure to put their noses into it—(a laugh)—but that when trade only was concerned they would do nothing to secure for our merchants the privileges enjoyed by Russians and Americans. Well, Lord Elgin had negotiated a treaty with the Tycoon, placing us on the same footing as those other nations. We commenced no aggressions on the Japanese, but simply established ourselves where we had a right to be. Sir R. Alcock had scarcely taken up his residence in Japan before the British Legation was attacked, one inter preter and two foreigners murdered, and several other persons dangerously wounded. We, however, made allowance for the difficulties of the Japanese, who asked us to defer going to certain ports to which we we /t o e admitted by treaty, and they sent a mission to the British Government to make that request. We received their embassy with every mark of friendship, and not only granted their re quest, but prevailed on other Powers to do the s me. The treaty gave foreigners the right of tak ing exercise on the high road to Jeddo. One day three Englishmen and a lady were riding there, when they fell in with one of the Daimios, who appeared to have hated foreigners, and who conse quently gave orders to his followers to attack these innocent strangers, who had drawn up on the side of the road to avoid his party. The lady and the other gentlemen escaped with their lives, but Mr. Richardson was most barbarously murdered. For these outrages we demanded reparation from the Japanese Government, together with the punishment of the chief by whose orders they were committed. The Japanese Government made an apology and paid over a large sum of money, but said they could not punish that independent Daimio, who did not re cognise their authority, but must leave us to deal with him ourselves. Our only course then was to tall them that if they could not control him we would punish him ourselves. If we had not done that, and any further outrages occurred, the Japanese Government could easily have again urged chat they were powerless to coerce the wrongdoer, and British subjects might have been murdered with impunity. Admiral Kuper was accordingly ordered to go to Kagosima and punish the Prince of Sutsuma. Re dress having been refused, our squadron took possession of three steamers belonging to that prince. Much misapprehension existed as to the conduct of the Admiral on that occasion. It had been said that having seized these three steamers he flaunted them before the Japanese, that they naturally fired on him, and that he had no right to put himself in the way of making them fire upon him. Now, the bay or harbour of Kagosima was very narrow, or not more than 4,000 yards wide at its broades' part. It was blowing a gale, and the Admiral went into the bay to get out of the gale. He seized the vessels, and could no get out again without passing the batteries, which fired on him as he came out. What could he do under those circumstances ? If he had allowed the Japanese to injure his vessels and kill his men without re senting it, everybody would have said he had acted a part unworthy of a British officer. Moreover, the Japanese would immediately have said that the English fleet had been beaten, and there probably would have been a general massacre throughout Japan. He was therefore bound to return the fire. The castle of the Prince was immediately in the middle of the town. A Japanese town it should be remembered was built of lath and plaster. A con flagration ensued—a great calamity which no one deplored more than her Majesty's Government. He was not there to defend it for a moment; but it was impossible to return the fire of the batteries without running the risk of setting fire to the town, built of such inflammable materials. It was most lamentable that a large number of innocent people should have been exposed to that misfortune, and it was most unfortunate that an English fleet should have been the cause of it ; but the thing was inevitable, and they ought to give some credit to our naval officers, and wait till they had had an oppor tunity of giving an explanation of their acts. Hon ourable men at a distance from England, discharging difficult and responsible duties, ought not to be con demned hastily or accused of cruelty and barbarity until they had had a fair hearing. (Hear.) The Go vernment were not responsible for these things, but there were other persons really responsible. He,would speak with tenderness and respect of British mer chants, but the greatest difficulties of the Govern meet in these matters originated with our merchants. Great houses like the Lindsays, the Jardines, and others would not do anything calculated to involve us in war ; but the moment the Japanese ports were opened there rushed thither a swarm of adventurers who thought the only use of a British Minister or a British fleet was to enable them to secure their dis honest gains. These adventurers went there, looking upon the people as their lawful prey, and did things some of which might make men's blood ru❑ cold. The blue-books showed how they put forward ficti tious and monstrous claims in unreal and even in decent names. When these men, who were a dis grace to the English name, got into trouble, the first thing they did was to call on their own Govern ment to defend them. If they were not listened to, they raised a loud outcry, and wrote home com plaints against our official representatives. The British merchant was entitled to protection for his lawful, but not for his unlawful trade. (Cheers.) Our countrymen were bound to respect the native population among whom they lived, to act like honest traders, and abstain from injustice and fraud. (Cheers.) He had recently come from Italy, where he felt proud to see that the sympathies of Englishmen had not been thrown away, and that that great country was making the most extraordinary pro gress. England certainly never stood higher than at this moment in the estimation of the world. Her influence was never greater, because she sought to commit aggression upon none and envied none. She t e wished to see every country enjoying peace and prosp er i ty, an d h er i n d epen d ent pos i t i on p l ace d h er in the v er y f ront ran k o f nat i ons . I t was o ft en sa id that Go vernment, t that was in no d egree du e to the present Go and that th e i r p o liti ca l opponents would d o cEte tly th e same as t h ey did . N ow, everyt hi ng that the Government did was censured and con dperemns.ed Tnet; opposite than their opponents South, and for s Were blamed . for not recognising the with h d o n t P h P a l t og t. the steam rams. Ought he i n )u ot :6B : u o r:t in Gt f ho e e r ve f rv r u co n u i rse, and plunge the manyted States ? He be coelairinyenc:aPenthe'at their opponents would other questions the pclioeruynetarythianttoonwtahrar THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 11, 1863, (From the Saturday Review.) If the Court is satisfied, we also are satisfied with its deci sion. The President—Then the application is withdrawn ? The Prosecutor—lt is simply withdrawn becauk it is irrelevant. The President—Yes ; the Court considered it irrelevant. The Prosecutor—Then we simply withdraw it. Atter a pause, The Prosecutor—Will the Court allow me to ask one more question of Ardessar before he goes ? The Prisoner—May.l beg to ask the Court whether the prosecution is not closed and the defence also ? how, there• fore, is it possible to recall the witness? The President—We will see what the question is. Colonel Pipon (Judge Advocate) —Am I to understand, then, that the Court has decided that this matter is not relevant to the charges? The President—Yes ; the Court decide that. The Prosecutor—The prosecution feel themselves bound, under those circumstances. to withdraw the application. Prisoner—With great respect to the Court, I must be permitted to observe that the prosecution is conducting this case in a manner in which no criminal case has ever been conducted before. If Ardessar is recalled and reques tioned, I must withdraw my statement that the defence has been closed. After a short pause, The Prosecutor—We withdraw the application to recall the witness. The President—The Court is adjourned till 10 o'clock on Thursday, the 17th inst, THE RACING SEASON OF 1863, gious customs permit that, after the accomplishment of the pious duties, the rest of the day should be devoted to repose and amusement, and we know of none more inno cent or more suitable to offer to a population than a spsctacle which attracts by its magnificence and recommends itself to notice by its usefulness." The Vis count goes on to urge, in effect, that as he and his French friends have always kept Sunday in England, his English friends ought not to insist on keeping it in France. He considers that the same rule applies to either case—namely, to respect and conform to the habits of the country where one happens to be. He adds, that "in such a democratic country as ours" it would be unwise to hold the races on a day when only unoccupied persons could be present at them ; and he concludes by expressing regret if the French Jockey Club, on whose behalf he writes, should have shocked anybody in England. The answer of Admiral Rous to this letter, on behalf of the English Jockey Club, admitted that the French Club were bound to name the day most suitable to the gratification of the French public. Thus it was arranged that the Grand Prix de Paris should be run for a Sunday, although the principle of reciprocity of habits propounded by Viscount Daru was not adopted by Admiral Rous, who doubtless saw that it was question able, if not dangerous. It is a common error to exaggerate the importance of con temporary events, but if the racing season of 1863 has not been of superior interest to many preceding seasons, it must at any rate be allowed that, at the present moment, it is more vividly remembered. It is always difficult to determine whether the best horses of any particular year are excep tionally bad. Facts may be adduced in support of either opinion, and thus, while one party insists upon the merit of Lord Clifden's performance in the last St. Leger, another party asserts that he had a very moderate lot of horses to contend against. It will, however, scarcely be contested that one event of the last season deserves to be classed among the most remarkable which the Turf has known. The dead heat between Buckstone and Tim Whiffler for the Ascot Cup, and the deciding heat in which Buckstone was victori ous, afforded a spectacle never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. In spite of complaints that racing, as at pre sent managed in England, does net conduce as much as might be desired and expected to the improvement of the English breed of horses, it must be owned that the produc tion every year of two or three horses of the quality of Buck stone is a result which justifies a very large expenditure of time, trouble, and money. That the result is appreciated abroad is proved by the eagerness of foreigners to purchase English horses which have attained to the highest reputa tion in their respective years. If, in order to produce a small number of first-rate horses, it is necessary to make many experiments, it follows that encouragement must be given to breeding, and the best of all encouragements is to provide plenty of stakes to run for. A justification is thus found for the system of handicapping, which is designed to give everybody a chance, and for two-yr-old races, which are in tended to offer what breeders of every kind of stock demand —viz„ a prospect of some early return for capital expended. It is perhaps doubtful whether the development from year to year of the existing system of horse-racing is attributable to its soundness or to that growth of wealth and population which has introduced larger figures into many branches of statistics. It is, however, certain that the number of horses entered for the great races increases every year; and the number of races, great and small, has become so large that in eight months of incessant activity, extending from March to November, it is scarcely possible to get through the business of the regular racing season. The comparative quiet of the four winter months is devoted to discussin g the results which have been arrived at, especially with re ference to the two-year-olds, whose recorded performances are anxiously compared in the hope of attaining some in sight into the chances of the ensuing season. Already the newspapers contain regular returns of betting on the Two Thousand and the Derby of 1861. The French Fine de l'Air is first favourite for the Guineas, and if she were en tered for the Derby she would doubtless be first favourite for that race also. In her absence, the first place in the Derby betting is occupied by Scot, ish Chief, making the fourth horse of Mr. Merry'B that the public has elevated to that position in the last five years. Steeplechasing,.mixed with a little fiat racing,was carried on pretty steadily all through last winter and early spring. The racing season proper may be taken to have commenced at Northampton on the 24th of March. Even at this early period of the season, two-year-olds run, and are watched with interest only inferior to that excited by horses a year older. The meeting at Northampton brought out that splendid five-yr-old Asteroid, and one or two other veteran performers of high merit ; but at this moment the most interesting fact recorded as occurring at Northampton is that the two-yr-old filly Molly Carew beat Midnight Mass, an undeniable good cult of the same year, with tolerable ease. The Newmarket Craven meeting, which began en the 6th of April, was marked by two events which attracted perhaps more, and a third which certainly attracted less, attention than it deserved. The French mare Stradella beat, in different races, two of the best horses of her year— Buckstone and The Marquis—and thereby acquired a re- Only one day intervened between the Paris meeting and that of Ascot. The Cup day was graced by the presence of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and it Eaw the finest race of the year—such a race, indeed, as is only likely to be seen once in many years. Tim Whiffler as a three-yr-old had beaten everything he met. After winning the Chester Cup and other races, he fairly ran away at Goodwood from a field which comprised some of the best horses then in training. At Doncaster he met Asteroid, ,the best horse of his year, and•beat him. At the same meet ing he encountered Buckstone, and again triumphed. It was natural to bet odds on such a horse against Buckstone for the Ascot Cup, and the public supported him enthusiastically. But Tim had not improved with age, though his speed was undeniable and his action as beautiful as ever. All that Rogers' splendid riding could do was to bring off a dead heat. Nevertheless, in the deciding heat, 6 to 4 was freely laid upon Tim Whiffler. The same tactics were put into play in both heats. Tim forced the running at a tremendous pace, and the second heat was actually run in 14 seconds less than the first. But it was evident, even as he came up the hill the first time, that he felt the weight he was carrying, and his distress as he climbed the hill to the winning-post the second time was terrible. Buckstone, a far more powerful horse, beat him easily. No one who saw that finish expected to see Tim Whiffler at the post again, and indeed he has never started for a race since that day, Mr. Merry's fortune on the great day of the Royal meeting was remarkable. Besides the splendid prize of the Cup which Buckstone gained for him, he won a race with Scottish Chief, whose running on that day is doubtless remembered by those who are now backing him for the Derby, and another race with Gladstone. The chief features of the latter half of the season, particularly Goodwood, York, and Doncaster, will deserve notice on some other occasion. There was fine racing at these three places, but nothing so memorable as the two contests for the Ascot Cup. putation which proved disastrous to those who backed her afterwards for the Chester Cup. Macaroni, who was then little regarded, won a three-yr-old stake with great ease, and thus afforded a hint of his quality which only the dis cerning few turned to profitable account. The Epsom Spring Meeting showed Molly Carew to be the best two yr-old then out. On the 21st of April, the race for the Two Thousand Guineas taught the public what Macaroni really was. He won this race rather easily, but it can scarcely be doubted, aft 3r subsequent experience, that he had a moderate lot behind him. The four days' sport at Chester next claimed attention. That meeting did not result in the discovery of any unsuspected prodigy of 1.4 three-year-old, but the race for the Cup was one of the most interesting of the season. It was won, after 'A fine struggle, by Asteroid, carrying over that severe course the crushing weight of 9st 41bs, and giving nearly 2st for a year to Stradella, who at Newmarket defeated The Marquis at nearly equal weights. At the same meeting, however, Asteroid failed to give Ist for a year to Buckstone, who beat him very easily by a length. The nearly approaching Epsom meeting now absorbed all attention. It will be re membered that Lord Clifden had held the place of first favourite from the very commencement of the betting, although at one time the French horse Hospodar came to nearly even terms with him. The reputation of Hospodar was founded on his having won both the Clearwell and the Criterion stakes in the previous autumn, and it was de stroyed by his utter failure for the Two Thousand Guineas, It is remarkable that Fille de l'Air, like Hospodar, has won the Criterion and become first favourite for the Guineas. It is justifiable to regard Hospodar as something of an im postor, but whatever may be the result of next year's racing, File de l'Air has done this year several things which leave no doubt of her genuine quality. Indeed, if one were called upon at this moment to name the best two-year-old out, it would be difficult, upon puolic running, to look anywhere but to the French filly. But, dropping the prophetic, and returning to the historic vein, let the mind revert to that most miserable of holidays which Londoners endeavoured to enjoy on the Derby day of 1863. The rain, the mud, and the umbrellas—these features of that dismal festival are remembered almost as vividly as the figure of Challoner bringing up Macaroni to overhaul Fordhain and Lord Clifden. There is no need to tell how that Derby was won by a short head, and how the ring and Mr. Naylor and his friends triumphed, while the public generally lamented with Lord St. Vincent. The weather on the Oaks day was as fine as on the Derby day it was wretched. The result of the race was a surprise, even to many of those who ought to have known something about the winner. Queen Bertha was scarcely backed for a farthing, and 40 to 1 was offered against her before starting. She was guided beautifully by Aldcroft into the first place, defeating, among other com petitors, Isoline, who afterwards won the Goodwood Cup, and Borealis. From Epsom the scene changes to Paris, for now those who make horse-racing a business attend meetings in France as well as in England. Horses cross and recross the Chan nel with far greater facility than a few years ago they found in moving from Surrey to Yorkshire, although the most enthusiastic admirer of Mr. Cobden could scarcely ascribe the opening of this branch of trade to his diplomatic labours. The greatest international race-meeting hitherto held was that which witnessed the contest for the Grand Prix de Paris on Sunday. May 31. Then, for the first time, did a quiet orderly French race-course resound with all the babel of an English ring. " Parlez- yens frangais ?" inquired an excited Yorkshireman of a native, " Oui, monsieur," was the polite reply. " Then I'll lay agin the mare to a monkey." It will be remembered that La Toucques, "the French Blink Bonny," as she was called, from having won both the French Derby and Oaks, was the first favourite for the Grand Prix. Lord Clifden was the next best favourite, but he was so evidently amiss after his Epsom exercises, that his going was aptly com pared to that of a cat upon hot bricks. The race fell to The Ranger, who had shown some form in the early spring, and, as his friends averred, had been disappointed in the Derby when Saccharometer and King of the Vale fell and he had to come round them, The French mare sustained her reputation by running second, and she afterwards in creased it by a performance upon English ground. It may, perhaps, be interesting to notice the reasons adduced by Viscount Daru, in a letter to Admiral Roue, for holding this race on a Sunday. It appears that this arrangement had been objected to in England, and the writer, "desiring greatly to find an amicable solution," declared that "the llw habits and social necessities of his country" did not allow those with whom he acted to arrange otherwise. F racing has not acquired the importance which • institution, useful Only for a small minority is it " a seriouusmi it deserves. numb©r it is only an to public interest." For the great,3rwina give a holiday, but agreeable spectacle, to which p 0 7 1° it would be an illusion for which they will not make Parliamentary adjournment for the Derby. If a wee to hope to see in France a be chosen for the races, they will attract no spectators, weekday France, the social and reli- THE CRAWLEY COURT-MARTIAL, NINETEENTH DAY. ALDERSHOT, Thursday. The Court reassembled to-day at the usual hour, and by noon had completed the whole of the inquiry, as far as the evidence for the pro, , ecution and for the prisoner is con cerned. It now only remains for Colonel Horsford, the prosecutor, and Colonel Crawley, the prisoner, to address the Court, after which the Court will be closed to consider their finding. An adjournment of a week has been granted at the request of the prisoner, to enable him to prepare his address, and after its delivery, a further adjournment of two or three days will, it is expected, take place to enable thel prosecutor to make a final reply. After the adjournment of the Court to-day it was intimated that the prisoner might, if he should be so advised, probably call some few witnesses as to character, but it is probable that he will be content with his case as it now stands before the Court. It has been stated that Colonel Crawley had instituted legal pro ceedings against the proprietors of the Cornhill Ilagazine, for the publication in their November number of the article so seriously affecting his character in connection with the proceedings which form the subject of inquiry by the court martial. Our reporter was informed that there was no truth whatever in this report, as Colonel Crawley believes that his honourable acquittal by the Court will form the most complete answer to the many calumnies to which he has been so unjustly exposed. After the Court had been formally opened, Colonel Pipon (the Judge-Advocate) said—The Court had considered the question put at the close of the proceedings yesterday, and the objection of the prisoner. The Court were of opinion that if the objection were pressed they would recall Dr. Barnett, and the question might be put direct through the Court. Colonel Crawley again protested that any conversation at which he was not present could not be made evidence against him. The Prosecutor withdrew the question. Frangee, the Parsee merchant, who was under examina tion when the Court rose on Wednesday, was recalled for cross-examination by the prosecutor. Had you any conversation with Sergeant Cotton about the bill ?—Yes. Will you state what passed ? Question objected to. The President said the same course must be pursued as in the former case. The Prosecutor thought the Court might put the ques tion. The Prisoner protested against such a course. The Court was bound by evidence as well as the prosecution. The President —Usage is our law. We want to arrive at the whole truth. We dont know much here about the laws of evidence. The Prosecutor —W e leave the matter in the hands of the Court. The President—Yery well, then, go on with some further evidence. Examination of the witness was resumed. The Prosecutor —When you had that conversation with Sergeant Major Cotton, was Mrs. Lilley present?—Yes. Did you make an arrangement to buy Sergeant Major Lilley's goods ?—I made an arrangement with Sergeant Major Cotton in Mrs. Lilley's presence to buy them. What was that arrangement ?--About the furniture and other things belonging to the late Sergeant Major Lilley. Was Mrs. Cotton present when you made that arrange ment ?—I think she was, but I dont remember properly. Did you go to Mrs. Lilley's to make that arrangement ? —They sent for me. Did you send a bill to Mrs. Lilley ?—I did, Look at the bill (produced), and tell me if that is the bill ? —lt is. Was that bill paid ?—Yes, it was paid. Who paid it F—l said yesterday that it was paid out of the furniture and things I bought. Who settled with you about it ?—Mrs. Lilley and Ser geant-Major Cotton. Did anything to you about it when she settled The President —Have you your b oo k s w ith you ? —Yes, sir. Mrs. 7—l doL Lilley Yt say anything Produce them, and point out the entries of these bills before the Court. Are they in English ?—No, sir. The booksh who were Pbeinroduced, a n d t h e entr i es were read aloud by g checked as he proceeded by th e president, the bill in hi s h an d . The subsequent t ew itness,held examination of the books by members of the Court occupied a considerable time. The prosecutor said the spirits specified in this document were supplied chiefly by the witness's clerk, who had not been brought to England, and only a portion by the wit ness. The witness also stated that a pass. book was sent when the articles were applied for, but that pass-book was not produced, and no reason was given for its non-produc ion. l‘loreover many of the articles were supplied to the horsekeeper, and there was no proof that they ever reached Sergeant-Major Lilley at all. The Prisoner objected to this statement being proceeded with. The proper time to make it would be in the prose cutor's reply. The President concurred in this view. Mr. E. G. Syms, of the Adjutant-General's office, was called by Colonel Crawley, and asked whether on Tuesday evening he received a notice from him to produce Sir Hugh Rose's " Historical Memoirs of the Gth Dragoons ?" Mr. Syms said he received such a notice, but it was not signed ; and he told Colonel Crawley's friend who handed it to him that he had not the document with him, and that the proper way to proceed would be to apply officially to the Horse Guards. By the President — Was the prisone r ' s f r i en d th e pri soner's counsel, and did he not tell you distinctly you must accept the notice as a formal notice, and that what ever passed between you and him must be considered as a private conversation?—He certainly t o ld me that in his opinion the notice was to be received as a formal notice ; but whether he added anything about its being a private conversation, I cannot say. Even if he did so, the one thing would contradict the other; when he told me it was to be a formal notice the conversation could not be consi dered as private. Did not the prisoner's counsel deliver it to you as a formal notice, and did you not follow him afterwards into my room to speak about it, and was it not this latter conver sation which you were told was not to be considered as in validating the former notice ?—I have no recollection what ever of any conversation which professed to invalidate a former notice. There was no conversation of the kind. The Prisoner—May I now request that the Court be ad journed for a week to prepare my address in defence ? The Prosecutor—We would feel obliged if the court would call Sergeant Major Cotton, Mrs. Cotton, and Dr. Barnett upon this new matter. The Prisoner—May I beg of the court that the prosecu tion should state the grounds upon which they propose to take such an unexampled course as that which they call upon the court to adopt, and to state what is the new matter to wriich they refer, and how they consider them selves entitled to reopen the prosecution, in order that I d m e a m y an an dr er the grounds upon which the y make such a The Prosecutor—lf the court will allow me I will put in the statement in writing, which I was just about to read, and which contains our reasuns for the course pro posed. The Court retired to consider the question. On return- ing into court, Colonel Pipon (Judge-Advocate) said—the Court have decided to refer the question to the Judge-Advocate-Gene ral, although the matter appears to the Court to be irrele vant to the issues that are called upon to try. Under these circumstances will the prosecution press any further in quiry with respect to the legal merits of the question ? The Prosecutor—We leave it to the Court entirely. I thought it was the Coutr who wished to make the inquiry from the Judge-Advocate - General. We are quite satisfied. Colonel Pipon (Judge-Advocate)—lf you press the re calling of Dr. Barnett and Sergeant-Major Cotton a ter what has been said as to the legality or illegality of such a course, the Court think it necessary, as there is so much difference of opinion, to refer the matter to the Judge-Ad vocate-General, if you still wish the inquiry should go on. The Prosecutor--I understood you to say that you in• +ended to inquire from the Judge-Advocate-General whether it was legal to press this or not. The President.—No. If you wish to press it the Court will certainly make the inquiry. The Prosecutor—We want to press everything which will make the matter clear to the Court, and if this inquiry is made of the Judge-Advocate-General, and he says the witnesses may be recalled, of course we shall wish to press it. The President—The Court are quite satisfied. They want no further evidence; but they you now wi s h t o presss is irrevelant to the issu es which they ar e ca ll e d upon to try. say what The Prosecutor—We leave the matter with the Court. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS TlMES.—Birmingham has long enjoyed a repu tation for successful counterfeits, but all former specimens of its craft are totally eclipsed by the magnificence of that now revealed to the public. Few people will have forgotten a certain memorable event of the year 1858. A Royal visit was paid, on a most interesting occasion, to the town of Bir mingham. The authorities or the leading inhabi, tants of that opulent and populous borough had re solved on providing its working classes with the invaluable advantage of en open park for their re• creation and exercise. This judicious design was carried into execution ; a suitable site was selected, " the People's Park" was duly formed, and when the Queen acceded to the invitation of the Mayor and other officials to proceed to Birmingham and open the park for use, it was universally felt that her Majesty's gracious compliance was not unde served. The scheme was beneficent enough to merit Royal countenance, and that countenance was ac corded. Aston Hall and Park were delivered by the Queen and Prince Consort to the people of Bir mingham for their advantage and enjoyment, and the promoters of the undertaking gained signal credit for their liberal and patriotic policy. A strange story, however, has now come to light. Tbis park, which was thus offered to the people, and which the Queen was ails asked to bestow, had never been really acquired by the reputed authors of the gift. The property had not been purchased, nor had the money for buying it been raised. Tne real owners were a certain banking firm, who retained a natural right of resuming the estate in default of the requisite satisfaction in law ful money. What sum was demanded for the park, what amount was actually contributed, or what designs were entertained for procuring the remainder, we need not inquire, but a correspon dence which we yesterday published contained evidence enough to prove that when Birmingham acquired such a distinction five years ago the price of her honour had not nearly been paid. In short, it comes to this—that if what ought to have been done in 1858 is not done now and that quickly the People's Park at Birmingham will be the People's Park no longer, but will relapse to the owners, who have been to sell it, but who have never been able to get their money. With the correspondence itself the public must have been greatly edified. In October last the late Mayor of Birmingham, discerning the impending "catas trophe," and feeling that the ejection of the people from the Park which they had received at the hands of their Queen would " be stigmatised as a disgrace to all parties concerned," addresses himself in his difficulty to the Lori-Lieutanant of the county. In this communication the facts of the case are admitted without disguise. To save the Park, or, as we should rather say, to acquire it, a sum of no less than 1128,000 —representing we believe fully two-thirds of the whole purchase-money—is imme diately needed. The Mayor thinks the Town Council could be successfully moved to provide £20,000, and it strikes him that if the Lord-Lieu tenant would move the County to provide £B,OOO the thing could be done. To this suggestion Lord Leigh replies by a very natural remark that if the Corporation of Birmingham requires £28,000 for purposes essentially proper to the town, and is ready to vote £20,000 of this amount, it would surely be better for so wealthy and important a body to go one short step further and raise the whole at once, instead of soliciting contributions from gen tlemen at a distance who had already subscribed enough to indicate the interest they had in the pro ceeding. However, not to be abrupt in the matter, his Lordship undertakes to consult the County magistrates at the next Quarter Sessions, and then to send the Mayor an official reply. But for this reply tie Mayor does not wait. He interposes a brief but emphatic epistle to the effect that, even if the Council had the means of raising so large a sum as £20,000, " they never could be induced to apply that amount, or, indeed, any larger amount than he had mentioned, in the purchase of Aston Park ;" so that, he adds, " unless we have help, the catastrophe which every right-minded person must deplore will inevitably and immediately ensue." The help did not come. Lord Leigh had intimated to the Mayor in s friendly tone that, as the object of the Park was to benefit the Birmingham people, as the design was conceived by the Birmingham authorities, and as the Queen bad patronised the scheme on the invitation of Birmingham, Birming ham ought to be at the charges of the undertaking ; and in this reasonable view of the case the gentle men of the county appear to have concurred. The magistrates expressed an opinion that the Lord Lieutenant should not move in the matter, and so the Mayor and Council were left to their own resources. In this predicament they took another and a still more objectionable step. With a strange blindness to the character of the case, the Mayor ventured on placing it before her Majesty, from whom, if from anybody, such a revelation should have been care fully concealed. Availing himself, with strange infelicity, of the communication made by the Queen in July last on the subject of the accident in Aston Park, the Mayor enclosed to Sir Charles Phipps the correspondence which we have described above. If this measure was adopted in the expectation of obtaining from her Majesty what had been vainly besought from the gentlemen of the county, it failed in its purpose; but it produced a reply from whice. the Birmingham authorities may derive instruction and profit. Her Majesty much regrets to hear of the contingency which the Mayor describes, having hoped, as of course everybody else did, that the means required for securing to the people the Park which was given to them " had been permanently p in a locality in which so much But her Majesty " is still unwilling to believe b i e s li r f e e o v i v i e ri t a ha i t n , proximity to the hard labour . b w y e secure to the to temporarydep.ri deprive e pro duced, funds can be wantthien g t a w o lt hich it is value of which they popuiation an enjoyment and of which it would be have been taught to use of Aston Park, by very injudicious and estimaten d e si r a now th-e u the authorities of B• them." In these words h a m may read what will be felt by every perso n i n the known. •ti country when the story / The least they can now do is to make good the shortcomings of five years since, and it would have been more discreet to have done so with as little publicity as possible. It was, of course, assumed by the Queen and by the public, when this Park was opened with Royal pomp, that the e s t a t e h ad really been ac quired by those who enjoyed the credit of presenting it to others. Even if the purchase-money had not been actually or wholly paid down, • it should have been so provided to:. as to ea ve no doubt about the finality of the bargain or the completeness of the gift. We all know that public works are occasion ally saddled with debts, and that if no new building were opened till it had been absolutely paid for very few would ever be opened at all. But there is a limit to the margin allowable in such case, and that limit the Birmingham authorities have very largely exceeded. We are told, indeed, that of the £40,000 which the Park was to cost, not £lO,OOO had ever been raised, so that Birmingham got the credit of a liberality which had never been exercised, while the presence of Royalty itself was invoked to lend a splendour to the counterfeit. This is g oin g a great deal too far. The promoters of Aston Park were under no obligations to do as they did; but if they chose to express this solicitude for the welfare of their poorer fellow-townsmen, and to present the people of Birmingham with a public Park for their recreation and enjoyment, they were bound to pro vide the price of the gift before they app ro p riated its credit, and, above all, before they solicited the Queen to become the donor of the prize. POST.—Tbere is no class in the country that has held its own against a crowd of adverse circum stances so bravely and successfully as that which has this week been exhibiting some of the res its of its industry and perseverance in the Agricultural Hall at Islington. The British farmer has had to meet difficulties that he of all men was the least prepared to encounter, and he has not only over come them, but has renewed his strength i n the struggle. For a while his heart failed him , and he felt as if he was too old to begin life again on a new . system. But better and more hopeful thoug hte prevailed, and, in bracing himself to the needful exertion, he awoke for the first time to a full apPre hension of his natural ability and his proper poi" lion. Like Sydney Smith, who said he hard poi" knew a turnip from a carrot when he se t about tilling his own glebe, the farmer brought h imself r study the whole art and science of cultivation, ow; laying aside old ideas and old implements , adopted every mechanical invention for economising labour and improving the land. He saw that be Meet keep abreast of the age in which his lot was 0 04 and he mended his pace and conformed to the con' mon requirements of progress. He called upon his energy, and, as a good steed answers to the tighte rig rein, it came in time to carry him over the difficulty ; and now competition has long ceased to be a terror in his way, and he even rejoices in 5 rivalry which has established his superiority as n il agriculturist and elevated his character as a 113 ,": Still there are some who, more witty than persist in amusing themselves at the expense f),, the British farmer, and the cattle show eSpe Ci4l , l : 7 is made a target for their spent ridicule. For the most part it is evident that these humorous critic s are are laughing in the dark. They t a lk about o°l as they talk about Rosa Bonheur's painting% and though they can relish a prize sirloin when is cooked and served up to them, as to its prod".°' tion they admit frankly enough that they are ut ' 1° the hands of the graziers and the butchers. B underlying all this affected indifference, there re mains the solid fact that we are as a nation 1 111 : r it r cular about our food. Even those who eat in moments snatched from business, appreciate ( 6 1, juicy steak or a tender chop. The procuring of go° l and wholesome meat is, indeed, a matter of gen e Z concern, and if but few of us look minutely int° t i e. process by which it is obtained, we are all in"; rested in the result. We have to pay a high Pr i p e t for prime joints, and we expect them to alo w d their description. Besides, so much has been s for of late about diseased cattle, and the necessitY veterinary inspection, that what was used to be 4°3 0 1 a question of taste and luxury had become one health and safety. The importation of foreig' cattle has been attended with very disastrous i. e ci p il ; sequences. The free trade in live stock has ue n - r a worse than a failure, for it has cost us be through the disease it has introduced, than es, ° .,,h reckoned in the present market price of meat, vt1"1-0, is also to be charged to its account—and a ineastinoa which was recommended for the benefit of the rod has actually been the means of placing animal if h io out of their reach. There is now, therefore, special reason for encouraging home productie°„ and if art and science are fostered and promoted 'els exhibitions, and if the blood and breed of 11°1103, are maintained by race meetings, it seems, t ° B t , the least of it, unreasonable to undervalue a Ch ri us i mas cattle show, including as it does an 9/31 4 , gathering of persons from every part of the etio dom who are engaged in what is, after all, „,. primary and fundamental occupation o f the is lish people. As regards this year's show, i'de. considered to have been quite up to the aver° l o There has been no falling off either in quality er.ris form—and if there has been no new feature, netblv, claiming prominent and marked recognition, 11° traordinary instance of merit, it has not been oscil; to any want of interest in the competition. Smithfield Cinb, too, is in a flour ishin g conditie a having a handsome cash surp lus in reserve, 5e1..0 with the means of increasing the prem iums it oftel. —and, with a new and populari s ed constituti°P; ° there is every reason to expect that it s future Pr ceedings will sustain the confidence the agrice ll°, rists as a body place in the justice of its decisioot; and warrant the public support which has be e . s largely extended to it. There are interests t°,,lta country cannot afford to neglect, and that has been represented at Islington is one, an o r rn ori.,_ e chief of them. Every other interest is less subject to external influences—hut thicsieuJr the nation of which it is the staff, is indeP en all foreiga control. COUNTRY MARKET P. _____-.----o- MANCHESTER—TxtritsnAI' ,„„t o ffering At our market this morning the English W , "' la d „,h so was generally affected by the damp weather, O B—,l bust slowly at is per qr lower. Forsign met a very ness, although offered at 3d er 100 lbs decline on the r'',‘„ of this day se'nnight. Flour sale, and 6d per saes a slow ,, be get. lower. Oats very dull. Oatmeal 6d per ina" c Indian corn and beans in favour of buyers. lituiteu ...e5 BRISTOL—Tmuns i.Y. whit We had a good supply of English wheat today, IL i,t week's rates; for foreign wheat scarcely any sold slowly, at a decline of ls per is per quarter o T A inquirf .., ' Jo . nominally at la.st Thursday's prices. Barley, a goo o t mand for fine sorts , inferior quiet, at late rates. 000_1. a slow trade. Beaus were without inquiry. Maize cll'' ----- BIRMINGHAM — T wunsDAY. Wheat was in fair supply to- and and sales were 1 0 ,_ a g e d fl e! very little change in prices, and with a limited " Barley pressed for sale, but without finding buyers O ice B. e xtent. Oats, beans , and p eas slow, at previous Pd 364 English wheat was sold at 40s to 46s for white, 0 to 44s per 36 stone f or red. Barle y , new malting, ""' to 3e 428 per qr ; grinding , 26 s to 30s Oats, old, 226 e qr. per 30 stone ; Irish, 18s to 245. Beans, 40 s to 44$ P Peas, 36s to 44s per 36 stone. A ood slowgood demand, sale atr 11 t E su D pp l i N y ß n U f R fa G rni li era ? w ß h A e l a N t --to.DdEayO., iv pi taic u ra et i : her lo p w ri e n r ea pr f i n c l e l s y than ah i g l a h s . t a ctive , Nv c r a t s : tere. Barley 4l ' d 6d per qr advance. Beans and peas were lu ia . Sd down. Wheat a on the top 2s Od up. .... average 0 ) ; 9d sown' () B a rley on the top is 6d down ........germ. ............. 0 ,2 d dowo' ts on the to down.. ***** averag e . 1 ; scl uP. Beans on the op a ls Od down a verage '— Total Supply and saes. Wheat ... 657 qrs ............. Z l l d d 1 469 q q t r i 8ar1ey........2171 qrs ... Oats Beans l5O qrs ........ Sold 11 2 g r '„ 4 Oa; Flour sells as follows :—Whites, 415,0 d ; extras) superfine, 37s ,Od • fine, 35s Od. ~,, G 10133 No HOME complete without a ViracOX A ,, - ‘,, 0 4 SEWING-MACHINE. Simple, compact, efficient, durauf of s noiseless. Warranted to fulfil ail the requirereen"i , At perfect family machine. Prospectus tree on aPPl icat ° , No. 135, Regent-street, W;—[ADVT.] f d pills [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Ointmen t en with t- Healing not Harmful.—No application has met W l ,„, e ot o same universal approbation for curing all external al'_'"dee? as that which this Unguent has received. Skin soreporiol, ulcers, fetid discharrs, burns, blistered surfaces. aa i e ; 3 re similar affections are at once soothed, and put Oil t s Oi Pt i; to soundness by Holloway's Ointment. With h i yo tle„ ment and his Pills the wealthy may save theruselvegii f,ioc` suffering, and the poor may help themselves to healt h fq these medicaments are ,reasonable in price and can r ,f PI chased in every hamlet. They have effected cures - 0 00 joints, swelled legs, and ulcerated limbs, and op the prospect of a happy future atter every hope of had been given up. .------" - .- ' Births. iler tAt BOOTLIBY.—On the Bth inst., at Welwyn Rector l t Lady Boothby, of a son.fiaphr FFOULIEES.—On the Bth inst., at The Canonry, St' the wife of Archdeacon Ffoulkes, of a daughter . F ITMA N.—On the B th inst., at 10, Upper liornsoY N., the wife of Wm. Pitman, Esq , of a daughter'britls6 WARD EN. —On the 9th inst., a t Oakdeld. Court, Tn Wells, the wife of Henry Warden, Esq., of a O tt. Marriages. „ BUTLER—PAILNTHER.—O n the 9th inst at St• square, the H on . S t , J o h n B ut l er , second son of o tll ,thd r ' Lord Dunboyne, to Anne, widow of Roberta. rur 't# Esq., of Grafton-street. TULL OI I—SWINTON —Oa the Bth inat., at Chapel, Edinburh . , Major Tulloh, to Harriet, daughter of the late George Swill B.C.S. _ late o E f -. T, Deaths. CLARK New-square, Lincoln's-inn. P 3 , 14 On the Ist inst., William Hislop Clarke, d inst., at Par a ,, , cld°r‘ URAZEBROOK,—On the 3 k-h .. - i min3ter, Charles Grazebrouk, Esq., aged 61. w ive GUEST —On the 6th irst.. Mr John Guest, represen ot, of Messrs. Edwards . Brothers and Co , Holland'stre Blackfriars. JOHNSON.—On the 6th inst. , at Portobello, Joseph son, Esq., formerly of Easing wold. LANYON.—On the Sth ins t,, at l i onn all-vale , " Lticira Lanyon, Esq., ed 66. f 6 Ca ll ' STEyENS,—On th ag e 10th inst., J. Le e StOVCII9, 0. - I non-street, aged 67. 11r• C. WEEKS.—On the Bth inst., at Mortlako, Surrey, ' . Weeks, late of Piccadilly. -- London: I"rirc.ed and Published by WILLI.IOIAND„,,,,, fil, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TuE SUN O gee ' .4 .„. of Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, ALI the Cou. • Middleeex.—Friday, December 11, 1863. b y rhe ANY , 7% Dr "lON Si an , Pare Next —cues, SP, Gra n by the Errh e , t ..........____ R~ li T lf he '-'4. At nui 3 ; yin b E t his CO th e 111, ho o p No T troxir, No Lifelditto D nrin Q Pr( Poi "arino La Sur ur libersal ' Porrn . e Re; Lo ud 1.011, 30 OS ~DtNg 0•:VI T he 1 Lo w er Gran, TR T Thou, T' 4 1 4 111 4 11 1 s . ttE4 , Ale teleb:l; zht.A Pfi ~jl SATj A' to - 1 . , 1 2ST v tql w e Cll r e tieui