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

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE, NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—LIVERPOOL, April 1, CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Baron Martin.) BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. The plaintiff, Betsy Jones, is a servant girl, who formerly held a situation in Liverpool, but who at the present time is residing in the family of a sur geon at Halifax, Yorkshire. The defendant is Matthias Boumthrey, a master joiner, carrying on business at Heswell, in Cheshire, but at the time when the alleged agreement to marry the plaintiff was made was only a journeyman joiner, working in Liverpool. Dr. O'Feely appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Waddy for the defendant. Dr. O'Feely, in stating the case to the jury, said the parties in the action were in a comparatively humble sphere of life—the plaintiff, Betsy Jones, being a servant girl in the employment of a surgeon at Halifax ; but he apprehended that the condition of the plaintiff would not interfere with the jury in regard to the transactio I, but that they would give it the same attention as if the parties occupied a more exalted position in society. It would ap pear that in the year 1859 the plaintiff was in the service of a lady residing in Huskisson street, in this town ; and the defendant, who was then working as a journeyman joiner, was engaged on some property in the neighbourhood, and became acquainted with the plaintiff; and from that time 'up to a recent period it would appear from the letters that had passed between the parties that a Warm attachment had existed between them. The defendant was in the habit of visiting Betsy every Sunday ; and his conduct was such throughout as might be expected from a young man who was deeply in love with a young woman. In the summer of the year 1860 the plaintiff's then mistress and family removed to New Brighton, and while there the plaintiff constantly received letters from the de feudant expressing the warmest attachment for her, and he from time to time also visited her at New Brighton. Most of these letters had been lost, but there was one preserved, which possibly the defen dant had written to the plaintiff in the warmth of his attachment,and contained a piece of poetry which WAS probably his first effort in verse, and which had been no doubt prompted by his attachment for the lady in question. He would read the defendant's effort in poesy to the jury. It was as follows— " Fcrget me not! Let not the past fade from thy memory— The heart that ne'er from thee can roam; In health and sickness let thy motto be— ' Home, sweet home.' " If there were no other letters in the case he thought that the above extract would show the attachment of the defendant at the time in question for the 'Plaintiff, and which had no doubt made him think and long for the comforts of home with his beautiful lady, and had suggested his effusion, in which he enjoined her to make her motto, " Home, sweet home." Letters from the defendant continued to be received by the plaintiff during tee year 1860, and he (the counsel) also believed during 1861, when he left town in the exercise of his employ ment and went to Woolton. Then, however, the letters from the defendant became more fre quent, the attachment, no doubt, progressing and increasing, the defendant no doubt receiving ample encouragement from the plaintiff; and extracts from some of those letters he would read to them. Those letters had fortunately been preserved, and he could read from them to show that the de fendant, although not so poetically struck as his former effusion showed him to be, still, like a re spectable English mechanic, his love for the plain tiff became stronger, and if not so poetically ex pressed was quite as strongly shown by his subse quent letters to the plaintiff. One of these letters he would read as a specimen, and although it was a solid matter of fact one, it would show the at tachment he felt for the plaintiff, and was such a communication as might be expected from a re spectable English mechanic. The first letter he would read was dated the Ist January, 1561, and was as follows :—(The learned counsel then read a very common place love-letter). His Lordship—Have you any letter that can show the existence of the contract alleged to have been entered into by the defendant to marry the plaintiff. Dr. O'Feely—l cannot say that there is any let ter in the collection which actually points to the fact of a contract existing between the parties, but I read the letters which show a very warm attach ment. The existence of such contract I will show by oral testimony. In 1826 (the counsel continued) a coolness arose between the parties, and about this time the defendant commenced paying his addresses to a widow, and when this came to the ears of the plaintiff, she, with the usual perception of a jealous woman, at once went to the defendant and demanded an explanation. He would show that the defen dant had in his letters stated that he had formed no other attachment but that for the plaintiff ; and he proposed to prove, by the evidence of a Mrs. Jevons, that he had conducted himself to the plaintiff as if he were engaged to her, and in tended to make her his wife. In one of his letters, which would be the last that he (the learned gen tleman) would read, the defendant said to the plaid tiff—" I hope it is cold enough for you these days. I have been very nearly roasted—for the shop is very hot—it is nearly as hot as love." In this way matters went on until June last, when suddenly, and without any excuse, the defendant—in the hey day of his affection—without any explanation broke off his engagement with the plaintiff, and married a widow who was possessed of some property. This was a result that could scarcely have been expected after the expressions of attachment made by the defendant, which the letters read had shown—it was scarcely to be believed that he would have so soon forgotten the lady to whom he was so much attached ; but such was the case, and he (the learned counsel) hoped the jury would give the plaintiff substantial damages for the wrong she had sus tained by the conduct of the defendant. The following evidence was then called: — Mrs. Edith Jevons said she was the wife of Ellis Jevons, and resided in Liverpool. Knew the plain tiff and the defendant; knew the plaintiff some time, and the defendant since he was a boy. He was now about 25 or 26 years of age; the plaintiff was about the same age. The parties often visited witness's house. Dr. O'Feely—Did they act in a way lovers generally act towards each other ? His Lordship—What way is that ? (Laughter.) Dr. O'Feely—That; is a married lady, my lord ; she knows. Witness replied she thought they were always very fond of each other. She did not know what made her think so. (Laughter.) In reply to a question the witness said she had forgotten what took place when she was being courted. Dr. O'Feely--But appearances would revive the remembrance. Now, did this young man behave towards the plaintiff as Mr. Jevons did when court ing you ? (Roars of laughter.) Witness—l cannot tell, it is so long ago. Had heard the parties speak of marriage, and on one occasion when the plaintiff was out of a situation defendant suggested they had better get married. The plaintiff replied that she wished to wait a little time longer, and that then their circumstances might make them more comfortable. That was in 1860. The lady whom defendant had married was possessed of some property. Her father purchasedi property from witness's father, and w as now n possession of some houses built on the land. Was aware that de fendant by the death of his mother had come into possessionof some money, but did not know the amount. Mrs. Sarah Rawlinson, who lives in Oliver-street, Windsor, and with w h om the defen d an t had lodged, said the plaintiff had visited at her house, and defendant w ere t h ere D e fendant respect. always seemed to show plaintiff every an d she together. Dr. O'Feely—Did he ac t as lover_ from what you saw ? (laughter)- --- Witness—l believe he did; but I never saw thing pass between them. Kn ew the defendant' a ; handwriting, but could not swear that the letters produced were written by him. This being the whole of the evidence, his lo said he thought there was no case—no evidence of a contract between the parties. 1)r. O'Feely submitted that the evidence of Mrs. Jevons showed an implied contract. His Lordship said Mrs. Jevons had not stated that she ever heard him speak of marriage, except w hen the plaintiff had advised him to wait until their circumstances were improved, and then, by her answer, the plaintiff had absolved him from any c mtract that might have existed, Dr. O'Feely submitted that that was a promise on the part of the defendant. There was only a condition named, and they had now evidence that that condition was fulfilled. His lordship said the question was whether marry ing the old widow lady had i m p roved the p osition of the defendant. (Laughter.) He advised Dr. O'Feely to withdraw a juror. Dr. O'Feely consented to a non-suit being en tered, which was accordin APR gly 2 done. IL . (Before Mr. Justice Keating and Special Juries.) HARGREA VES V. GILL BROTHERS.—STRANGE REVELA TIONS OF MONETARY TRANSACTION'S BETWEEN MAN CHESTER MERCHANTS, SC°. An action to recover £645 65., money lent. MS. Edward James, Q.C., in stating the case said the plaintiff, Mr. Win. Hargreaves, was a commis sion agent, carrying on business at 13, Marsden square, Manchester; and the defendants, Messrs. Gill Brothers, general merchants, in business in High-street, in the same city. The action was for the recovery of £645 65., money lent by the plain tiff to the defendants on three different occasions, from September to October in last year. Mr. Stansfield, the confidential clerk and cashier to the defendants ) called upon the plaintiff, re , resented that his employers were in need of the sums asked for to meet certain liabilities, and that by their re quest he had come to borrow the amounss. Mr. Hargreaves, the plaintiff, gave eTidence cor roborative of the foregoing. In e ms-I-examination by Mr. Temple, Q.C., the plaintiff acknowledged that he considered the interest he was to be paid for the loan of the money, for a day or two, very large. On one occasion he had received £24 for the loan of £4OO for 21 days, and on another £8 for the like sum for the same time. Stansfield never said that he was borrowing money on his own ac count. By Me. James —One or two of the procuration drafts are endorsed by the defendants. Stansfield said that defendants were in the habit of buying goods from parties who were " hard up" and on the verge of insolvency at very low prices, and by which they made large profits; and thus it was they could afford to pay good interest for loans. Prior to the three transactions now in question plaintiff said he had lent defendants £1,600 for a brief period, for which he (plaintiff) received £57. Mr. Freeman, clerk in Seweli's Bank, Manches ter, proved that £464 odd had been paid into that bank by Stansfield to th.: credit of the defendants at the time the money was lent by the plaintiff, and which included three cheques handed to him (Stans field) by the plaintiff. Mr. James Briggs, merchant, Manchester, said he had known the defendants six or seven years, and on several occasions had lent them money (from £lOO to £800) on the application of and through Stansfield, for which he (witness) received "We O U's," signed "Jonathan Gill Brothers, pro G. W. Stansfield," and the loans were paid with the inte rest, generally by Stansfield, but sometimes by the defendants. Messrs. Gill Brothers had told witness that they would pay the plaintiff £3OO ; but witness told them that was ridiculous, and he was sure the plaintiff would not receive it. Cross-examined by Mr. Temple—When he lent the money nothing was said about interest ; there was a perfect understanding between him and Messrs. Gill and Stansfield. Mr. Gill said he would not find in his hooks any such sums due to the plaintiff as he represented as being owing to him. James B. Cruikshank, iu the employ of Mr. Crompton, of Manchester, said he had lent money to the defendants under precisely similar circum stances to those described in the preceding cases ; that Messrs. Gill never repudiated the authority of Stansfield to borrow on their account; and that Messrs. Gill had repaid him on one or two occa sions, but were now in his debt. Hargreaves, and until he met Mr. Hargreaves in the street on the 18th of October, he was not aware that Stansfield had borrowed any money from the plaintiff. Had frequently met Hargreaves at Briggs's office and at Tyson's chop-house, within a month or two of that time. While they had an account at Andrews's bank he endorsed a few, per- THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, _1863. haps half-a-dozen, of Andrews's drafts. Had no knowledge that money was taken from their cash box and paid into Andrews's bank by Stansfield. Had known Briggs for several years, and had had large dealings with him in the way of their busi ness. They had been in the habit of borrowing money of him for a day or two. They were not entered in the books, but a memorandum was put in the cash-box and destroyed when the loan was repaid. Remembered only one occasion when in terest was paid to Briggs at the rate of five per cent. and half the bank commission. We are not aware that Stansfield was borrowing large sums of money from Briggs, paying large interest and giv ing City Bank drafts and 1 0 U's. Never autho rised Briggs to make an offer to Hargreaves of £3OO in settlement. Briggs said the plaintiff would settle the matter for £5OO, and asked him if he would make an offer for £3OO. Told Briggs that he was not to make an offer to Hargreaves on his (Gill's) account. The witness was cross-examined at considerable length by Mr. James with reference to the circum stances under which he found the £5BB in Stuns field's drawer. He said that in looking. in the drawer for a stamp, on the 13th of October, he saw the bags containing that amount. Stansfield said it had been sent in by Briggs to be deposited in the safe for security, and he made no further inquiries respecting it until the claims upon the I 0 U's were made. The amount of these I 0 U's was £B,OOO, and not one of these had been paid by him. Mr. Dobson Gill gave like evidence. Mr. Reuben Spencer, in the service of Messrs. Rylands, Manchester, gave an account of an inter view with Hargreaves, who applied to him to assist him in proving Stansfield was Messrs. Gill's cashier, and was authorised to borrow money. Hargreaves said he had been lending money to Stansfield on the We 0 U of the firm, and that be had never stepped across the street to ask Messrs. Gill whether he had any authority to do so. Told Hargreaves he was a most vicious and improper person to be in the community of Man chester, and that his conduct was calculated to nn determine the safety of every firm in Manchester. Hargreaves replied that he did not say anything so hard as that, and witness then told him he was a great fool. The plaintiff stated that he had got into the mess, and he wanted witness to help him out. He said if he went in for large profits he must have great risks; to which Hargreaves answered that he had made some money, but he had got into the mess, he wanted (Mr. Spencer's) advice on the sub ject. Witness replied, " Well, if you ask me what I should do I should be ashamed to show my face in a court of justice to make the claim; if you ask me what you should do, I refer you to your legal ad viser." (Laughter.) Witness then told him he had nothing more to say to him, and bowed him out of the office. (Laughter.) Mr. Temple then summed up the case on behalf of the defendants ; after which Cross-examined by Mr. Temple—Had borrowed money from Mr. Gill. Had advanced money to Messrs. Gill that belonged to his employer, and without his knowledge. Saw Mr. Booth, the de fendant's attorney ; told him the defendants ()wed him (witness) a sum of money, that his employer was threatening him with proceedings, and that Messrs , . Gill had better give him £2OO to set him right and enable him to pay his employer. He might have said also that they (Messrs. Gill) had better pay the amount, that he might not state all he knew in reference to the transaction. Wit ness was not paid, and in consequence of not being able to refund the amount due to his employer, he had been dismissed. After some further evidence, Mr. Temple addressed the jury for the defendants, and said the only question for the jury was whether Stansfield had the authority of the defendants for borrowing the sums in question and signing the procuration pipers. G. W. Stansfield examined by Mr. Quain—l en tered the employ of the defendants in 1856. In May 1861, I opened an account at the City Bank with Jonah Andrews on my own amount. Soon after I got the drafts of that bank discounted. In 1862 I borrowed money from Mr. Briggs from time to time on behalf of Messrs. Gill. I subsequently became acquainted with plaintiff. In August, 1862, I asked the plaintiff to discount me £4OO of the City Bank drafts, which he did, giving me £3BO, keeping the balance for the discount. I paid the £3BO into my account at Andrews' bank. I gave plaintiff the pro curation "We 0 U's," but not with the knowledge or sanction of the deendants. Plaintiff subsequently discounted a second amount for £4OO on the same TIMES.—From time to time we have announced terms, and I gave him (plaintiff) alike acknowledg- the progress towards completion of the little fleet ment, without the knowledge of my employers (the now fitting out for the service of the Government of defendants). Oa the third occasion I borrowed £72 China. Three ships have already sailed—the Pekin, from the plaintiff, and got a cheque for £62, which the China, and the Amoy; the first two despatch I took to Mr. Waterhouse, who refused to cash it vessels, and the third a gunboat of little draught. unless it was endorsed by Messrs. Gill Brothers. I These three are now making the best of their way went to Mr. Gill, who endorsed it, and Waterhouse to the Cape of Good Hope. Three others, of which then cashed it. Mr. Gill did not ask me any ques- one is a despatch vessel and two are gunboats, will tions, being under the belief that it was taken in the almost immediately be completed by the contractors; usual course of business. On Oct. 3d I asked the and, as we may be sure that Capt. Osborn's duck plaintiff if he could lend me £4OO or £5OO on ac • lings will be turned into the water assoon as hatched, count of Gill Brothers, and I got £370 and three the English portion of this China Expedition may cheques, which latter I paid into Sewell's bank to be practically considered as afloat. Some other the credit of Gill Brothers ; took a corresponding vessels are being built in America ; but all are amount in cash from Gill Brothers' cash-box; £2OO heavily armed, sea-going craft, able to buffet with to the City Bank on my own account, and gave the tempests of either of the stormy Capes. There Cruikshank the remainder. Another similar trans- are others of a lighter draught and more tender action took place on Oct. 18th, on which day An- construction, intended for the narrower and shal drews's City Bank stopped payment. Mr. Hate lower of the inland waters, which are to be con greaves (the plaintiff) subsequently ascertained the strutted at Whampoa. When united, these vessels, truth, and I told him I would make it " all right" of which the largest is a despatch vessel, and the with him. I left Messrs. Gill's employ immediately smallest will be a tiny river steamer, will form a after this became known. very respectable mosquito fleet. They are not Cross-examined ty Mr. E. James—l assisted Mr. Warriors, and they are not armed with guns to Gill in making up his books at his house, during a pierce Warrior targets, but they are sufficient for fortnight after this, but my wages were paid by Mr the purpose in hand, They have been all built and Cruikshank. I know what in England they call armed under the immediate eye of Capt, Osborn, writing my masters' name on a document without who best of all knows the exigencies of the service their authority—it is forgery ; but Ido not consider to which they are to be put, and who can also ap- I was guilty of forgery. (Laughter.) Putting my preciate every advantage offered by the latest dis hand into my master's drawer and taking their cpveries in naval gunnery and shipbuilding. The ' money without authority amounts to stealing—but force will be as efficient as the means at command I do not say I was guilty of stealing. (Renewed and the necessity of sailing half round the world laughter.) I had no authority from my employers to allow. It will certainly be strong enough to sweep do either. I was at the Theatre Royal one night before it any sea or river enemies it may find in since I left my situation, not in company with Mr. China. If it does not number a cupola ship or a Gill, but with a gentleman exceedingly like Mr. steam ram among its constituent vessels, it is at Gill. Mr. Gill has spoken to me since, but he merely least a very good example of what can be done with inquired whether I had a situation—nothing care, skill, and economy towards forming a fleet for further. (Laughter.) about half the money cost by one of our Ironclads. Mr. James—Where did the £5BB come from that It is manned also with a picked force—chosen as you say you placed in your employer's drawer ? a force which is to show an example of dis- Witness—l got from Mr. Fielding between £3OO cipline as well as of valour ought to be chosen. and £4OO, and the remainder by discounting hills ; The Order in Council in England and the perrnis £2so I got from Briggs. sion of the Foreign Minister in Paris have practi- Will you swear you got one farthing of that tally placed the naval services of England and money from Briggs ?—Yes. France before Capt. Osborn for selection—for this Will you swear that £5BB was found in the is an adventure in which every professional seaman drawer ?—Yes. possessing youth and health and ambition would be His Lordship—l cannot understand how you ac- anxious to take part; and not only have the officers count for the £5BB. been selected with the greatest care, but the crews Witness—l cannot give any further explanation have been picked like yachtsmen. Mr. Lay is al at present from memory ; I am so confused that I ready gone, and so soon as Capt. Osborn has pushed hardly recollect anything. his last ship from the shore he also will travel over- The witness underwent a most severe further land to meet his flagship, now preparing to depart cross examination, but his answers were generally towards the rendezvous on the other side. From " I don't recollect." this small but carefully equipped force we expect Mr. Jonathan Gill, one of the defendants, said he great achievements. It ie a curious proof of our had the principal management of the business car- confidence in the appliances of civilisation and in ried on under the style of Jonathan Gill and the skill of our countrymen, and it is a pleasant Brothers. Stansfield entered their employment in token of the improvement in public morals, that 1856, and having been clerk for some time was ap- while we send out six small ships and a little band pointed cashier. Was in the habit of balancing of men to take part in the civil war and intestine Stansfield's cash book, generally at intervals of not commotions of a conglomerate of mankind number more than a week. For some time they had been ing one third of the human race, we never ask our doing an extensive business; they had an account at selves whether it is possible that so small a forty Messrs. Seweil's bank ; they had also for some time can have any effect upon such a vast Empire, but an account at Jonah Andrews's City Bank; it was only whether the cause in which they go is a good closed in June, and had been open for only about cause, and whether the use they will make of their nine months. Was not aware that they had power will be such as may be creditable to a Chris any transactions with Mr. Hargreaves except tian people. Reiterated wars and continual layers for a sum of £8 or £10; no other transactions of Income Tax have forced upon our public some appeared in their books. Met. Hargreaves on the slight study of Chinese matters, and, although the morning of the 18th Oct., when he asked, "Are you popular notions of China ate still somewhat responsible for your cashier's IOU ?" Replied vague, there are a few ideas which have become that they were not except they authorised him, and tolerably fixed in the mind even of a London inquired why he asked that question. Hargreaves elector. We have all, for instance, come to the s aid he had I 0 U's for £6O in his pocket, and conclusion that the marauders who are called Re showed them.f e TOM Said, " I don't know anything about eel s, or Taepings, or Tu Fei—which last designa them, but circumstance that came to my tion , a l t ho ug h C o lo n el Sykes gravely states it as a knowledge last night I believe Stansfield has been name of a rebellion, means simply " highwaymen"— having some transactions with Andrews's bank; are not a p o litical party or a national party , but with me, and well see Stuns - simply a social disease. We know that they are however, come along t Stansfield, "Well, George, only the idle, the destitute, and the ignorant, con field." Plaintiff said m e ; 0 y . 0 . 0 told me the money was gregated upon an enormous scale and plunderin in you have deceived no for Gill s ." ‘; Well, I can't help it great multitudes; and we know that there is da " Hargreaves thing to be said in their favour, except that they on l ye to said, "Well , George, y o u for the may occasionally aid the least scrupulous and I'll make make itStaalnlsrfiiegihdtsaolidi 'N pass'" Stuns- spectable of our merchants to smuggle in goods money, what sort of a Sunday wil l field said he could not help it, but if the City . was right plaintiff would be right. as I must ook l At that was rumoured thatthe bank was stopping. Stuns- p b they 1 field said £2OO and someoddpounds belonged to and y g asked witness to give the difference to Hargreaves . Briggs, alluding to £5BB found in his drawer, time an : , maylessen the price of silk at Shanghai by plundering the districts and selling their booty, p d o ri r :in all the up country stocks into that tasto a place of safety. Mr. Bruce has, Earl Russell, attributed the exis reaVe.S. Said he could not then promise t tence of this predatory multitude to three causes— tillanything about i iriareaatd Y espatch to he had made inquiries. Never• dto the . mentioned if the amounts were entered they would be all right. Lion plaintiff anything about looking and means of subsistence; secondly, a gradual deteriora adense population pressing closely upon the into his books, of the military force of the Empire; and, As Hargreaves was going awaywitness asked him thirdly, if Stansfield had ever borrowedmoral teaching as a sufficient check on the conduct money . from him, and on saying that he had, the influence of an absolute reliance on him if he allowed him any remuneratiare well assigned, and Hargreaves said he generally receivedw n. of the people. These causes ' n in producing the perni drafts,itcneitssy asked of onfanrhulherass, had d d iatssuoffipecriaentitoguaran tee for the obedience and was allowed £5 for every £lOO for 14 cions effect we now see. may be the or 21 days- Said he must have known that the causes the effect is b this time universally under money y was not for them, and that they had no stood. It is agents now in Lon need said that there are to borrow. Hargreaves said he had often don baying talked the matter over to his wife, and said to her be smuggled into China a ß n a d t, ba w r up and shipping •arms and powder to Tae they must get 50 per cent. profit to enable them to pings in exchange gathered in for the plunder pay this large interest. Told Hargreaves he knew Hangchow and S h - districts ooc ow and in the rich there was no other person in their trade made half of the silk manufacture, The proceedings of these of 50 per cent. profit. Asked how it was that he worthies will, however, only illustrate the shrewd h te a r t e e d ve t r o these first began to lend to Stansfield, and the plaintiff remark to be found in a des replied that he had done it because Briggs had made printed in the last China Blue-book, " The moral lots of money out of him. M r . Gill d en i e d th e evi- evils of smuggling in China are not redeemed by despatch from Lord Elgin, dente given by the man Cruikshank. N ever gave `any material benefit to the general interests of Stansfield any authority to b orrow mone y f rom trade." Whenever those arms are used, it will be Mr. James replied on the whole case. His lordship summed up the case with great minuteness and carefulness, reviewing the whole body of evidence, and pointing eut its frequent contradictions. The judge severely censured the conduct of the witness Cruikshank in offering to abstain from saying certain things if he was paid money by the defendants, and said it was a most shocking and shameful admission on the part of a witness sworn to tell the whole truth, and one tending to sap the very foundations of the admi nistration of justice. Stansfield was a witness who, by his own confession was a priori disintitled to credit; but the law made him a competent witness, and the jury must exercise their own judgment as to how far they would believe him. The jury retired to consider their verdict, and were a long time in deliberation. Eventually they returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages £645 6s. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. against the interests of European commerce as much as against the Imperial Government, and against all feelings of humanity. What is this fleet going forth to effect ? We do not ask what the plan of operation may be, for in all probability none has yet been resolved upon—but what are its general objects ? These have been already stated with more or less precision, but as the explanations are buried in reams of diplomatic correspondence they have not been read by the public. Let us, then cull such information as we can obtain from the jilue-books. In the first place, this Anglo- Chinese fleet goes to establish Imperial authority on the Yang-tze. In this object political and commercial considerations equally combine. In a deepatch from Mr. Wade which is printed in the Blue-book before us it is clearly shown that the Taepings have never " held" any province of China, although they have infested several. They have, however, held one city. Pil laged, ruined, and decayed as is the once magnificent city of Nankin, broken to potsherds as is Ds Porce lain Tower, burnt or dispersed as are the celebrated libraries of the Golden Island, desecrated as is the cemetery of the Ming dynasty, whom these Tae pings commenced by professing to revere, Nankin has still been undoubtedly " held" by these people. Nankin was the southern capital of the enormous Empire. If there had been any life or constructive power in the Taepings, it might have been the capital of a new empire carved from the too un wieldy old one. Ten years experience has, however, proved that there is nothing of these qualitiesin the Taepings. Instead of being the capital of a Go vernment, Nankin is the stronghold of robbers, whence they issue:and to which they return. As a matter of prestige to the Imperial arms the first serious task impose upon Captain Osborn will be to recover Nankin. The Taepings foresee this, and are using their best endeavours to provide against it; but, as they have already ruined the city and exhausteii the neigh bourhood, it is not probable that the defence will be much prolonged. This will be a blow upon the head of the rebellion, but it will also be good ser vice done to honest traders. The Yang-tze river in China—an empire without roads—is the great high way ; and as Nankin is oil the Yang-tze, the esta blishment of this piratical power at Nankin is like the establishment of a confederacy of highwaymen half way up Cornhill. Any set of policemen who would destroy such a nest of depredators would de serve our thanks. We shall be very glad to hear of the fall of Nankin, and of its being held, to prevent bloody reprisals, by Capt. Osborn's force. To ex plore the inner waters, re-open the traffic upon the Grand Canal, establish telegraphic communications along the principal therougnfares, and teach the Chinese the use of steam, i 3 the second and not less important object of those who are now going out to China. There are many great rivers in China yet to be surveyed, and many great commercial cities still unknown. It is not that civilisation is wanted, but there is in China a hitch in its progress. After running tar ahead of the rest of the world it has stopped, and has allowed the rest of the world to pass. Clothed with imperial authority, and having conquered Nankin, Capt. Osborn will be able to pre sent steam and electricity to minds perfectly capable of understanding their practical importance directly they see them in work; end if steam and electricity once take hold of the interior of China, and of the commercial instincts of the people who dwell there, the bitch is removed, and civilisation will march forward again there as it does here. A third object is to put down the piracy which now exists between the open ports. But all - these are second to the first great necessity of breaking up the nests of the Tae in ro bbers, and putting the Imperial Government in a position to protect its own people and discharge its obligations towards other Powers. The first is a necessary preliminary to the other two. All these, however, are objects which must command the sympathies of every one who does not seek to make money by supplying the Taepings with the instruments of robbery and mas sacre, or who does not desire to use the Taepings as a covering party to some operation of smuggling, or who is not under the influence of some incurable delusion. There are persons, of course, in each of ,hese catagories, but they are, we apprehend, very 'ew in number, and utterly without consideration either here or in China. HERALD.—The Danish Government has ta ken a step which promises to bring its dispute with the German Confederation to an issue. It has adopted the Eyder-Danish programme. By a proclam a t ion in which he records the failure of his efforts to com bine the different portions of his monarchy in a com mon constitution—a failure which he attributes to the interference of the Federal Diet in the interior affairs of the monarchy—the King announces his intention to give Holstein an independent and, to a certain extent, an isolated position in the monarchy. It is to have its own army, the strength of which the Estates and the King will determine, under the supervision, we ought to add, of the Diet at Frankfort. It is to share with the rest of the monarchy the civil list, the appanages, the public debt, the navy , the department of foreign affairs, the domains, the customs, and the postal arrange ments. The Estate s are t o h ave a d e lib era ti ve vo i c e in all these arrangements, and if it is found that no agreement can be come to between them and the Rigsraad on the part of Denmark proper and Schleswig, a further separation is, when pos sible, to be made. Holstein is, in fact, to be governed by the King of Denmark as its Duke with out any int er f er ence of the Danish Ministry or nation, and in co- o p e ration with the Estates of Hol stein. It is to hold much the same position toward s . Denmark as L uxem b o urg does to Holland. And in proposing to give this autonomy to Holstein the King - Duk e p roposes to give it very liberal institu tions. He orders that bills for the establishment of a constitutional control of the finances, a liberal electoral law, the liberty of the press, the right of petition and association, and religious freedom, shall be laid befor e th e H o lstein Estates. It has long been evident th a t t o t hi s m easure the Danish Government must ultimately come. Naturally, it has put off th e evil day so l ong as t here remained the faintest hope that some sol ut i on o f the question might be arrived at which would establish the unit y of t he monarch y without at th e same time placing it entirely under German infl uence . The grant of this independence and autonomy t o Holstein necessarily weakens t he monarchy, and D en mark, a very small state placed in a very important position , can very ill afford the loss. P ractica ll y H o l s t e in wi ll cease to be an element in its reso urces . Th e Holstein army will be under the control of the Holstein Estates. Far more than the fair pr o p ort i on of com mon expenses will have to be borne by Denmark-f!chleewig, and it may be safely predicted th at w h enev er the Government of Denmark is obliged t o make an y and the question whether t .0 provide in especial call its people, e a for the . national defenc e . or money to pay them. the Holstemers will not give a man or a penny. But no other settlement is possi ble,Denmark. For years presses for settlement. . For fifteen years it has weighed like an incubus upon the gallant little nation stood in arms toldefend its rights; war was not going on all th e time, but an armistice only put an end to actual fighting ; the armies stood ready to renew the contest. Peace brought a nominal settlement of the dispute, but it has not the less in flicted the greatest evils upon the people of Den mark. They have been obliged to surrender the liberal constitution which the King freely gave them, and would have faithfully maintained. They have been obliged to keep their armaments upon a war footing; the weight of taxation has been great, and the deve opment of the national resources has baen checked. During all these years the Danish Government has been honestly labouring to estab lish a common constitution, which, leaving to each portion of the monarchy complete control over its local concerns, would give it an influence, propor tioned to its population an d t axa ti on , in the deter tn . 'nation of affairs com mon t o a ll. But it soon found that the Holstei ners an d t h e G erma n Govern. ments. whom it sought t o sat i s fy, wan ted something far different. In vai n d i d i t o b ta i n f ro m the Dan es , in deference to the demands of Prussia, the surren der of a portion of their liberties; in vain did it frame the common const i tut i on i n s uch a mann e r a s to give Holstein and Schleswig even more than their due share in the national councils. In vain did it propose to leave the Holstein nobility the same overwhelming power in the Estates. The constitu tion was hardly est a bli s h e d b e fore the Holsteiners raised loud outcries against it, and the German Bund, on pretences which it hae now thrown over board, since the abandonment of Denmark by the Western Powers at Earl Russell's instigation, has emboldened them to throw off the mask, insisted upon its abolition f or H o l s t ei n and Lauenburg. The Danish Government yielded. Since then it has sought in vain to satisfy the exigencies of the Confederation. What Holstein and Prussia, its patron, have from the first sought and now ask is a common constitution, which should place it in the power of either Holstein or Lauenburg—of five hundred or of fifty thousand people—to bring the whole legislation of the monarchy of two millions and a half to deadlock. The demands of Prussia practically amount to the pretension that Holstein is to rule Denmark ; and that notable scheme is now supported by Earl Russell. Two years ago be de clared it a monstrous pretension, now he recom mends it, dressed up in his own phraseology, as the best compromise for Denmark. In 1861 he aeclared the demands of Prussia quite inadmissible, and Sug gested himself two or three schemes for the solution of the question, one of which would have practically arranged the difficulty in much the same way as the Danes now propose to settle it ; hut Prussia would not secede, and his lordship, determined to settle the matter, turns round and puts the screw upon the weaker power. The Danes will not, cannot, accept a settlement which would immediately trans fer the government of the monarchy from Copen- hagen to Itzehoe, of rather to Berlin,, and must ultimately destroy its integrity as well as its inde pendence. They are resolved, at any cost, to resist such a claim, and they are equally resolved to settle the question once for aa. In conceding the autonomy and independence of Holstein they give Holstein and the Confederation more than either is entitled to ask. The King in effect says, " Holstein is undoubtedly a German duchy, and the German Diet will always have a pretence to interfere in its government. True, the constitution of the Confederation does not sanction the interference it has made ; but the Diet insists that it alone is the judge of its own powers, and abandoned by England and France, which undertook to protect the integrity of my kingdom, I cannot resist this iniquitous inter pretation. So I will govern Holstein as its Duke. I will give the Holsteiners a constitution, and if it does not suit the Diet, the Diet may modify it, and I will accept the modification. But Schleswig is no German land, and I will allow no interference in its affairs. I give up Holstein, but I draw closer the connection between Schleswig and Denmark. Tnev shall form the Danish state proper." He gives thus the Confederation and the Holsteiners more than they have ventured to ask; but it is not what they want, and therefore they will not be satisfied. The Holsteiners hanker after the revival of their old connection with Schleswig, from which this new arrangement would more completely sever them, and the German Confederation cares nothing about the Holsteiners, but wants to have still the means of interfering in Denmark, and exhausting its re sources. The only settlement which would satisfy either the Holstein Estates or Prussia would be one on the model eithaipropounded by Earl Russell. It is certain, therefore, that they will do the utmost to defeat the plan now adopted by the Danish Go vernment, and will try to hold it to the promise to give a common constitution, which they themselves defeated. But Denmark clearly makes the last sacri. fice she can make in conceding the independence of Holstein, and, well aware of this, she will e.dhere resolutely to the plan. The threats of Germany will not alarm her. The Danes deem it better to fight boldly for their independence than to yield it. up to the menaces of a power they successfully with stood fourteen years ago, or to the recommendations of false friends. They have the right with them, and we believe that they will have the victory. France and England, for all the which Lord Russell feels for the nation he has tried to injure, .will not allow Prussia to attempt the destruction of a nation which has the keys of the Baltic in its keeping, and has the strongest moral claims upon the sympathy and support of each. The Danes have chosen their opportunity well. Prussia cannot impede the exe cution of this plan without committing as gross a violation of international law and morality as she has just peryetrated in Poland, and even Herr von Bismark Schonhausen will not dare to thus defy Europe. DAILY NEWS.—A startling rumour has reached Paris from Warsaw. Credible or unfounded, it has at least contributed signally to confirm the conva lescence of the public securities, which, from the moment of the victorious return of M. Fould to office after half a day of indignant abdication, had shown decided symptoms of recovery. There are doubtless warm friends of Poland even on the Paris Bourse; but money markets are seldom sentimen tally disposed ; and our readers will easily under stand that the only news from Poland which could send the funds up must be news of the defeat of the Polish patriots, or at any rate of the suppression of the insurrection and the restoration of the orderly and pacific authority of the established Government, by those admirable preservers of life and property, and protectors of civilisation, the troops of the mag nanimous Alexander 11. " Order reigns at War• saw," sent the funds up in Paris, and so did the event of the field of Waterloo. Anything for a quiet life, is the moral of all " per cents.," and the politi cal thermometer rises and falls according to the same law of financial nature in all the Bourses of Europe. The rumour to which we at present refer, however, is not quite so peremptory as Marshal Sebastiani's message. It says nothing of the resto ration of order in the disturbed districts of Russian Poland, nor does it report any decisive Russian vic tory over any main body of the insurgents. Indeed, since the retirement of Langiewicz from the scene. the mistake of a Dictatorship seems to have been repaired. How the Central Revolutionary .Com mittee was induced to commit the obvious mistake of committing the national cause to one man's for tunes in this mortal struggle of a comparatively un armed, undisciplined population, against a perfectly equipped and organised army, moving with the dull regularity of a machine, and the concentrated fury of pestilence in a crowded city — rem ains unexplained. Whether the error—for grievous error it was—orig▪ i nated withLangiewicz himself, and was only accepted by the Central Committee in defe rence to t hat leader's hasty judgment, or in consider ation of his brilli▪ ant exploit, or in order to maintain an example of undivided counsels , or t o kee p soma rival chief at a distance, we know not. Not a shadow of doubi l khas been cast upon the honour and purity of Langie wicz ; but his assumption of the central and supreme powers of a civil and military government almost at the outset of a guerilla war, was an act of folly. Here was a people flying for dear life into the woods and wilds from proscription, standing at bay in moun tains and morasses, with scythes and billhooks, facing bayonets and artillery ; if ever safety and triumph depended on the multiplication and dis persion of forces, rather than on combined opera tions and "decisive battles," surely it was here and now. There was the memorable catastrophe of 1830.31 to warn against an insurrection which is concentrated and crushed at the centre, instead of being worked from the circumference, and gathering to a focus from a thousand points at once. The sur render of Langiewicz, therefore, unfortunate as an incident, has been regarded by many of the most judicious friends to the cause as far from detrimental to the chances of the contest. And since his disap pearance we know that the desultory operations of the patriot leaders have in several instances resulted in achievements not of unsurpassable valour only (for to celebrate Polish valour is to paint the rose), but of substantial importance to the revolution. Poland is an inexhaustible soil of heroism, and for every fallen or captured leader spring forth a thou sand of the bravest and most skilful soldiers born, whose chivalrous valour redeems the very name of soldiers from infamy of the Russian trade of blood. On the capture of Langiewicz, Prince Gortschakoff, it seems, lost not a moment in announcing to the French Ambassador that now that the insurrection might be considered at an end, his magnani mous master was ready to declare his merciful intentions towards his rebellious and ungrate ful subjects. This magnanimous Emperor, who, if he has not authorised the wholesale murder of women and children, the burning of defence less villages, the sack of private houses, and the devastation of fields and farms, has, with Imperial brevity, 'commanded " extermination"— this merciful Alexander 11., whom Prime Ministers extol for the very goodness of heart which they once attributed to his father Nicholas—is as susceptible and as tetchy about his good intentions in 1863 asin 1856, when Count Orloff persuaded Lord Clarendon to desist from making any allusion to Poland before the Congress of Paris. Prince Gortschakcff, how ever, in volunteering this assurance the other dae, was, in the language of semi-official journals, " at least premature." It was full early to make pro mises of clemency, while his master's soldiers were rioting red-handed in murder, arson, and rapine, wherever they could slaughter and rob unresisted ; while the Central Committee was at work, a nation in arms, and patriot leaders mowing down the Cos sacks, and harrowing the ground for freedom's har vests. It cannot be said that with the loss of Lan giewicz the struggle has declined, rather it has caught new vigour from difficulty and desperation. If there seems at this early Easter time a women tary lull in the ardour of sympathising Europe, the last word of the British Parliament at parting was for Poland, and the first word at meeting, we may be sure, will be for Poland again. The Easter ho lidays have not suspended the interest of every free people in the fate of a nation fighting for its life; nor is even the expression of that interest inter rupted by more immediate and more trivial pre-oc cupations. Was not Lord Palmerston reminded Poland in the midst of his popular triumphs a Glasgow and Edinburgh P In France, though per haps the revivals of public spirit may be on the sur face oily, and though the independent and Liter al party are preparing for the general election at home the cause of Poland is keenly felt to be one with the honour of France. The semi-official newspapers as sure the Freneh public, in mysterious paragraphs, that, when the hour comes, it will be seen that the Emperor has not abandoned Poland. So, too, at Glas go wLord Palmerston declaredamidst tumultuous cheering, that the diplomatic intervention of Eng land, in concert with other Powers, is being and will be exerted in behalf of Poland. The Premier, who in his most unguarded moments knows how to measure his words on foreign policy, utters a regret that it is not in the power of the British Govern ment to " decide the destinies" of that interesting nation. Meanwhile the Poles, not unmindful of the melancholy fact that, however interesting a nation may be, its meek and passive protest against tyranny gains no new friends among the Powers of Europe, and makes even diplomatic intervention a dead letter, are struggling to decide thei r own destinies at the sword's point. After Easter the fighting season for insurgents comes, when Natu re herself is clement and propitious to patriots. Every month, every si eek, every day, this insurrection perseveres the sympathy of Europe is enlarged, and the demand on the intervention of th e Powers be comes louder and more exacting. It is easy to taunt public writers with sitting at th e i r ease an d urging brave men to useless and fatal conflicts. No such taunt will deter us from asking what the Poles or any other suffering nation have to hope from the diplomatic intervention of the Powers, so long as that interVention consists in appealing to the mug• nanimity of the Ciat. What did " diplomatic in tervention" do for the Poles between 1831 and 1856, or even in 1861, when the population of Warsaw were offering themselves up unresisting victims, in the streets and at the alters to the tender mercies of the Czar ? Yet, if we are to b-lieve the rumour that comes from Warsaw to Paris, the Central Revolutionary Committee at Warsaw are actually invited—indirectly and unofficially, we need not add by—by the Governments of France and England to stop the insurrection and order the patriot bands to lay down their arms, while the Governments of France and England are pressing their diplomatic intervention, more or less aided and approved by Austria, upon the good heart of Alexander IL ! Be• fore the Polish insurgents can know the nature of this diplomatic intervention, what are its proposi tions, its aims, its promises, and, in event of failure, its consequences to themselves, they are recommended once more to lay down their arms, and to stand waiting with their eyes shut and their mouths open for the fruits of diplomatic intervention; possibly, for the condescending good intentions which Count Orloff hinted in 1856, and the Grand Duke Con stantine was sent to Warsaw to fulfil; possibly, for the grant of national institutions to the Duchy of Warsaw, or even the creation of a new Russian Kingdom of Poland out of the Duchy of Warsaw and the incorporated provinces. Possibly, too, for the uncovenanted magnanimity of the Czar. And while the insurgents are disarmed and meekly waiting upon the Powers, what is to be the attitude of the Russian army in Poland ? Let us be per mitted to treat this rumour as a sorry fable until it becomes a fact. When it is a fact, diplomacy will have surpassed itself. It will not have left a noble nation to be mu-dered, but it will have stepped in to save the murderer's reputation, by requesting the victim to dispatch itself. QUEEN.—The Premier has been spending a busy week of it. No sooner was Parliament up for the holidays than he hied him to Glasgow, there to make speeches, attend meetings and dinners, and take the principal part in the ceremony of inaugu rating himself as Lord Rector of the Glasgow Uni versity. Some of our readers are probably aware that to be elected President over a great University _ _ has, for some time past, been a matter of ambition with the Premier. At first sight, it is not very appirent why a man who wields so much power as to be very well able to dispense with the outward signs of dignity, should care very much for such a post; but it is a well-known phenomenon in human nature that men of great ability sometimes pride themselves upon the very qualities of which they are most deficient, and deem themselves specially fitted for positions for which they possess the qualifications. So it is with Lord Palmerston. Whatever we may think of his policy, his ability as a diplomatist and a debater is not to be called in question ; but he will have it that he is a scholar. Before the late Prince Consort was buried, canvas sers, acting in the Premier's behalf, were at Cam bridge, attempting to secure the lately vacated Chancellorship for their Principal. The suggestion was, however, so unfavourably received by persons of influence in the University that, in spite of a good deal of support promised by those who were content to postpone the credit of their uni versity to their own respect for the dispenser of loaves and fishes, it was very speedily withdrawn. At Glasgow, however, the Premier has been more fortunate (though, to be sure, Glasgow is not Cam bridge); and he can now congratulate himself on occupying the position which his ambition has long prompted him to covet—the presidence over a real university. The speeches which he delivered upon the occasion have been lauded by some of the news papers as if they were oracles of wisdom, instead of being, what to most persons of taste and judgment they must appear to be, compositions of the merest platitudes and common-places. The Times calls the Glasgow speech an " oration of which a philoso pher might be proud." Does this mean that Lord Palmerston is no philosopher ? If se, the compli ment is, after all, but a left-handed one. But really we know of no philosopher (except, indeed, the" pro verbial" one) to whom that speech would not have been the very reverse of creditable, although the cheers with which the good people cf Glasgow accepted some of the boldest and most obvious truisms would almost lead one to imagine that they shared the " philosopher" theory of the Times. The proverb " live and learn" is an old fashioned one,thougn we do not recollect what diluted form Mr Tupper has given to it in his great work ; but when Lord Palmerston metamorphosed it into phrases which occupied about a dozen lines of small print, the Glaswegians cheered and applauded as it he had told them something very wise and very novel—" The real truth is, that the education of a sensible and intelligent man continues to the last day of his existence. (Cheers.) For there is no day in a man's life, no time of existence, in which, if his mind is alive, if he keeps his ears and eyes open to impressions and observations, that he will not be continually adding to the stock of his ideas and thoughts, and in which he will not add to the store of his knowledge, and increase that information which is useful to him both here and hereafter. (Cheers.)" Not content with this he returns to it once more, and worries the poor old proverb again in this merciless fashion :—" Well, gentlemen, it has been said that the proper definition of education is that it is an art which teaches man to live, and if that be a true definition it confirms what I have just stated, that man learns better how to live by the experience of every day which passes over his head." The audience was, of course, highly delighted at this, as also they were at several other pieces of useful information which the Premier was good enough to impart in this wonderful exercitation. He told them, fcr example, that "speech and writ ing" are " two gifts which we enjoy." To be sure Dogberry was of opinion that " to write and read comes by nature ;" but even the celebrated con stable of Messina did not think it necessary to ex plain to the attentive watch that speech and writing are the means we employ for "deprecating anger, and conciliating love and friendship; promoting our interests and propagating our opinions." Here, again, is another of the gems of the Premier's ora tion. "Well, gentlemen," said he, " the foundation, I may say, of all ornamental education—or all edu cation indeed —must be found in the ciasaical works of Greece and Rome." Of course he may say so ; and we, on the other hand, may deny the state ment, and ask if education was denied to all who lived before the classic works alluded to were pro duced, or if it be impossible to those who are not now acquainted with those works. This, however, is the kiud of vulgar slip slop which the 2imes de signates as worthy of a philosopher. LAW TIMES.—Tbe Lord Chancellor has grace fully played a liberal part in the voluntary abandon ment of the patronage of more than three hundred of the smaller livings to which he presents by virtue of his office. So small are they, that the bene fice often proves to be a burden, as none of them offers a sufficiency for the most modest household. ft is calculated that the advowsons of these livings (if they may be so called) would, if sent into the market, procure a sum in purchase-money that might be advantageously emp lo y ed in augmen them, and it is rightly thought iag th r at oy pri t v o at t e h o ei w r ne owners would be likely to contribute im provement out of their own pockets—an aid which the Lord Chancellor could not give to them if he would. The advantage of this measure to the Church and the people are obvious ; but it should not be forgotten that, in resolving to abandon the privilege of presenting to more than 300 of such benefices, the Lord Chancellor is making a sacrifice t u a m m e e r d o . u s Itp a in t r a o 3, 11 a b g e e s w h a h t i cla this,h ml like g e h t m h o a s v t e o kept o u f nb n pieces of patronage, is more of a plague than a pleasure to the possessor, making for him few friends but a multitude of enemies; but even while complaining of the annoyance, the owner would be reluctant to part it. Lord Westbury has come for ward to proffer the resignation of a large slice of his ecclesiastical patronage, and he is entitled to applause and honour for what he has done in the of matter. A HORRIBLE PROFANITY!—AND, WHAT IS MORE, IN EXECRABLY BAD TASTE I—One of the speakers at the working men's soiree in Glasgow, the other day ' e nJed his address to Lord Palmerston in the foll ow i ng words. We give them exactly as they were uttered, and with them the indignant interruptions o f t h e audience. Turning to his lordship, Mr. Cullen said— LA me express, on the part of the working men of Glasgow, that while his lordship has received often th e commands of his Sovereign while he has received the plaudits of the Senate—he has also received the unanimous approbation of the citizens of Glasgow. May he be long spared, and when relieved from the cares and toils o f s t ate may behave an easy translation from time to the felicities of immortality, and when he enters the presence of Him who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords—(hisses)—m a y he receive that welcome—(hisses and derisive cheering) —may he hear the words front Him— " Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord," (Cheers.) g Pa ll a s . haveG. e n nowe.r al been A p - 0 r 0 [ A b a p t i v o E n ß .. LI . r s E h N e i s tN e w ; in before the public nearly 30 . years, for removing indiges -I—ellHenotllpouwiairy' tion, heartburn, loss of appetite, low spirits , . headache, and constipation. Holloway's Pills have receives the commen dation of thousands, who have sent the highest testimonials of their efficacy from all parts of the world. The value of this medicine in the liseases incident to youth cannot be too highly extolled ; it purifies the blood, harmonises the action of the different vital organs, and thus inevitably gives strength to the whole system. Holloway's Pills are acknowledged to be the best known " Family Medicine." They cannot be taken at any time without fear, as they neither irritate or inconvenience the most delicate consti tution. COUNTRY MARKETS. ~ STAMFORD-Antm 2. Our market has been sparingly supplied with wheat, it being held a day earlier, in consequence of Good Friday.— White wheat, 48s to —8 ' • red, 44s to 47s per 36 stone. Barley, malting, 38s to 41s; grinding, 28s to 33s per qr. Oats, 22s to 26s per 24 atone. Beans, old, 34s to 42s per qr. ; new, 38s to 40s. WAKEFIELD-APRIL 2. The wheat trade ruled quiet to-day, and prices were fully as dear for fresh English descriptions. In other sorts there was no alteration. Barley dull, and prices about the same as last week. A thin attendance. DERBY—APRIL 2. In consequence of Good Friday falling on the regular market day our usual market was held to-day. The supply of wheat was tolerable, and the demand ruled quiet at the prices of last week. EXETE: APRIL L. Wheat, white.. 68 3d to 68 4d I Barley.. 4s 3d to 4s Od Ditto red .6s Od to 6s 3d I Oats .. ..... ..2s 9d to 3s 6d Flour, fine, 36s to 37s ; seconds, 348 to 35s per sack. CATTLE. Fat beef, p sc., 10s0d to 1 0s 9 d Ewes, per lb .... 51d. to bid Pork carcases, ils6dto 8s 6d Wethers, d 0...., 61d to 7d Lamb, p 1b.......—d to d Fat calves, d0...61d to 7". Rough fat, 3id per lb. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. TRAFFIC RECEIPTS FOR THE WEEK- Miles Opened. Receipts. wayi 1863. 1862. 1863. £ Belfast and N. Counties 136 136 Belfast and Comity Down 49 49 Myth and Tyne 2B 28 Bristol and Exeter 1214 167 Caledonian Cockermouth & Workington B4 85 Cork and Bandon 2O 20 Cork, Blackrock, & Passage 6l 64 Cork and Youghal 324 324 Cornwall 531 531 Deeside l7 17 Dublin & Belfast Junction ... Dublin and Drogheda 76 63 Dub. &Wicklow and Wextd 485 485 Dundee, Perth, & Aber. Jun 3l 31 Edinburgh and Qrlasgow 1691 169} Forth & Clyde Junction Furness, &c 5O 51 Glasgow & South-Western Gt. Eastern,Nrik.,&E.Union Great Northern 330 330 Great North of Scotland 5B 58 (.3t. Northn. & Westn. (Irel.) 7ll 711 rit.Southn. & Westn.(lrind.) 329 329 Great Western 992 9615 Inverness & Aberdeen Juno 735 73 4 Irish North-Western 145 130 Irish South-Eastern 254 251 Lancashire & Yorkshire 3954 3951 Limerick and Ennis.. Limerick and Foynes 2 261 Llanelly 4 461 London & North-Western London and Blackwall 5l 51 London & South-Western Lond. Brighton, &S. Coast 2504 2115 London, Chatham, & Dover 724 724 Lond., Tilbury, & Southend Man.,Sheffield, & Lincolnsh Blanch. S.J un.& Altrincham 94 oi llaryport and Carlisle 2B 28 Metropolitan 3l Midland (incl. N.-Western) 630 Midland Gt.Westn. of Irind 2495 Monkland 715 Monmouthsh. Rail. & Canal 44 North British, Edin., Perth and Dundee N-Eastern and New. & Car 8941 North London 9 North Staffordshire 254 Oswestry and Newton... 42 Rhymney 195 St. Helen's Canal & Railway 52 Scottish Central Scottish North-Eastern 1324 Somerset and Dorset 394 South Devon South-Eastern ‘ Stockton and Darlington Taff Vale 55 ' Ulster Vale of Clwyd.. Vale of Neath 254 Waterford and Kilkenny 3l Waterford and Limerick 77 West Cornwall 274 W.Hartlepoolilarbr.&Rail lB W'haven,Cleator,&Egrinnt • 7 Whitehaven Junction l2 Whitehaven & Furness Jun 35 FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. &ntwerp and Rotterdam 52 Austrian B2B Belgian Eastern Junction 26 Bombay, Baroda, & c en. India 167 Buffalo and Lake Huron l6l Detroit and Milwaukie lB5 Dutch Rhenish lOBl Eastern of France ' East Indian 8831 Grand Trunk of Canada lO9O Great Indian Peninsula 4(15 Great Luxembourg 134 Great Western of Canada 345 Madrid, Saragossa &Alicant Northern of Canada ...... .• Northern of France 7Ol Norwegian Trunk Ottoman Paris, Lyons, & Mediterrn 1491 Paris and Orleans 1340 Pernambuco 774 Royal Danish 69 Sainbre and Meuse 6B South Austrian Southern of France .... 777 i.Velland. ... 25 West Flanders W. and N.W. of France 758 1862. £ 1,949 1,846 610 544 1,692 1,827 6,065 5,833 15,737 15,135 311 281 190 137 386 1,30 378 1,23 ► .247 '283 1,287 1,265 1,470 1,429 1, 48 1,208 1,106 1,184 7,712 6.908 '256 237 2,986 2,364 8,515 7,802 27,302 24,8 , ,2 26,903 23,486 2,061 1,982 512 278 7,615 7,2 . :5 54,594 50.460 1, , J96 818 1,764 1,518 '395 518 31,230 28,nt 187 186 132 105 553 556 84,679 76,280 1,666 1,425 20,147 14,917 16,179 13,8 a 3,225 1,560 1 077 867 15,178 13,017 1,108 1,022 1,378 927 1,981 - 39,607 35,661 4,288 3,043 1,4M6 1,713 2,500 2,422 614 1921 71i 3451 8671 132 39i 7o 306 181 10,996 9,615 40,359 87,041 3,697 2,702 7,802 6,89 k 1,005 641 13.54 1204 1, , 97 765 1,944 1,809 2,978 3,024 4,430 4,565 .363 294 3.253 3,193 17,020 15,141 9,542 8,135 5,537 5,070 1,915 1,695 1330 777 207 172 2,0 sO 2,007 464 386 1,232 1,056 822 769 4,428 3,330 707 422 875 5:J6 773 618 1,045 1,C02 33,374 37,164 266 274 1,534 Bth 2,021 1,114 3,544 1,633 3,839 3,572 46,506 49,258 16,788 12,801 9,139 6,279 4,859 4,308 14,576 11,193 15,568 13,150 2,025 960 47,513 46,862 411 370 118.577 121,117 60,018 56,786 1,286 - 1,630 1,245 44,270 49,022 21,449 24,979 952 867 36,906 34,659 Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Auslralia and Mauritius, via Southampton ..Apr. 18. via Marseilles .. Apr. 12. Limn and Cape Verde, by British packet. Apr. 6. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and Sr. Helena.. Apr. 1. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. Apr. 4. via Marseilles ...Apr. 21. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton Apr. 4. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Apr. 4 via Marseilles Apr. 12. India (Bombay), via Southampton via Marseilles Apr. 4. Portugal.... ...... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Apr. 4. via Marseilles ..Apr. 4. Newfoundland ..Apr. 1. Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N.America, by Brit. packet.... Apr. 1. __ ... . by U.S. packet - by Canadian packet Apr. 3. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe .. Apr. 10. Bahamas, via New York Apr. 9. Mexico All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, I Apr. 16. California, and British Columbia.. THE MOON—IS IT INHABITED ?—AS soon as we get a glimpse of the mountain ranges, volcanic caters, and vast plains of our satellite, the natural in quiry is—ls it inhabited P The re is a sufficient general re semblance, at the first glance, to prompt the inquiry; but— Does minuter inspection countenance the hypothesis? We have not the more obvious proofs of habitableness. We do not find cities, ramifying streets, or such diversities of colour as would indicate cultivated districts, though we have telescopic power to diecover such traces if they ex isted. If peopled with beings like ourselves, we might natu rally expect single buildings, which would be quite dis cernible by the telescope; for in the moon blocks of stone could be raised by one man, that would require, in this globe, the united energies of six. Here, structures are very limited in magnitude by the tendency of the weight to crush the stone ; but there, from the lightness of the materials, the range would be much wider. No such buildings, how ever, no trace of cities, no proofs that the soil has been dis turbed by the plough, or that yellow harvests alternate with green fields, have been discovered. There is no neces sity, however, that the inhabitants should be after the type of man's &Ally constitution; we can conceive intellect united to a very different corporeal organisation ; and we know that there is a very wide range, even in this globe, in the conditions necessary to sustain life. Still we must start from some essential conditions of life in this globe, if we are to make our argument one of analogy. No doubt it may be said that God could, in the case of the planetary bodies, make life dependent on totally different conditions. This is true, but is a totally different question from that of analogy. The question is one, not of possibility but of proba bilit, and the probability is to be derived :from the existence of conditions in the moon similar to those on the earth. While ignorant of the absence of air and water in the moon, the many other points of similarity would afford some pre sumption, now that the essential conditions of life on our globe are found to be wanting. If it be held that life may be sustained by totally different means, then the hypothesis is best sustained by finding points of difference instead of similarity.—God's Glory in the Heavens. Births. DOUGLAS.—On the 2d inst., at Manilla House, Peckham rye, Surrey, Mrs. J. Douglas, of a daughter. FITZ IiERBEILT.—On the 27th ult., ht Nettleworth Hall, Notts, the wife of Colonel Fitallerbert, of a bon. G AisFOR D.—On the Ist inst., at flagstone, Gloucestershire, the wife of Major Gaisford, of a eon. TINSLEY.—On the Ist inst,, at Barnes, the wife of Edwd. Tinsley, Esq., of a daughter. Marriages. BIDLAKE—SHARMAN.-011 the 2d inst., at Westminster Chapel, John P. Bidlake, 8.A., of The Priory, Islington, to Phebe West, eldest surviving daughter of Frederick Sharman, of West-square, Southwark. HARVEY—GARLAND.—On the 2d inst., at Hackney, Mr. W. D. Harvey of 52, Notting-hill-square, Bayswater, to Hannah, only daughter of Thomas Garland, Esq., of Madras House, Hackney. Deaths. EGG.—On the 26th ult., at Algiers, Augustus Leopold Egg R.A aged 46. _ ./ Goonwni.—On the Ist inst., Ralph Willis Goodwin, of Burnham Abbey, youngest son of the late J. Goodwin, Esq., of Dachet, Bucks, aged 42. GOSTENHOFER.—On the 2d inst., at Brighton, Frederick L. Gostenhnfer, of Liverpool, aged 45. SPACEMAN.—On the 29th ult., at Holloway, Wm. Fredk• Spaelauan, Eeq., aged 65. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREWS. of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE Suw Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County Hithileses. — Saturday, April 4, 1863.