The Sun. — London, England, 1863-03-12 00:00:00

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, CO VEN T GARDEN. THIS EVENING Ealie's] new Opera, the ARMOURER O NANTES : Miss , Mrs. Cook. Miss A. Hiles, Messrs. W. H. Weiss, 11 Louisa Corri, Santley, A. Cooke, C. Lyall, and W. Harrison. After which. FREYA'S GIFT, an Allegorical Ma3que, in which Miss Louisa Fyne will appear. TATRE-ROY AL, HAYMARKET.-THIS EVENING, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. After which, RASSELAS. Miss L. Keeley. To conclude with OUR MARY ANNE. THEATRE -ROYAL, DRURY-LANE-THIS EVENING, BONNIE DUNDEE. To conclnde with LITTLE GOODY TWO SHOES. NEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI.- THIS EVENING, ONE TOUCH OF NATURE. Mr. B. Webster. Foll3wed by A VALENTINE. Concludinz with ARTHUR AND BERTRAND AND GEORGE DE BARNWELL. ROYAL LYCELTNI THEATRE. - THIS EVENING, A SUDDEN ATTACK. Atfer which, THE DUKE'S MOTTO. To conclude with an Epithalamium to the Prince and Prin cess of Wa es. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-THIS EVENING, AURORA FLOYD. Miss A. Sedgwick. To conclude with THE HONEYMOON. ANOTHER LARGE ISSUE OF THE WEDDING SUN Is now Publishing. Notwithstanding that we had anticipated and prepared for an immense circulation, the demand on Tuesday was at once so rapid that the whole of our first impression was exhausted within a few hours after we went to press. Owing to the time required for printing the plates, we crave the in dulgence of the public for a short time, and promise to supply all demands for copies of this Extraordi nary Edition as early as possible. THIS DAY.—Morning,.. ...6h. 21m. —Afternoon,.. 6h. 45m. TO-MORROW.—Morning, ..7h. 14m.—Afternoon..7b. 45m. The Weather---Smi Office, March 12, 1863. THERMOMETER. Highest since Noon yesterday. l9 Lowest during the night This day at N00n..... Barometer-29. 10 . Wind—Southerly ; fresh and gusty, with dull weather, 42'1 rA . " g , . LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1863. The news by the City of Washington, although containing no matter of special interest or impor tance, exposes more and more the weakness of the Federal armies, and the discord and threatened dis union of the Central and Western States. The latter demand that the navigation of the Mississippi be opened, and to accomplish this end a formidable army has been sent against Vicksburg. What will be the result of this attempt ? It is simply a chal lenge to try conclusions on another spot which the Confederates, elated by the victories on the Rap pahannock, before Richmond and Fredericksburg, and at Murfreesburg, will not be backward in accepting. The trial of skill must, in all probability, result in their favour. The defences of Vicksburg are as strong, if not stronger, than those thrown up at Fredericksburg; while, on the other hand, the Federal army, encamped on the opposite side of a broad river, cannot find a spot on the enemy's side on which to land with any prospect of success. It is most probable that no actack will be made at all ; or, if drawn on by popular precipi tancy, the General will only lead his troops to slaughter and, destruction. Regarding Charleston, which,when the war is terminated, and the Southern States honourably acknowledged, looks forward to become the New York of the Southern Confe deracy, the capture seems to be as remote as that of Vicksburg. There seems to be a fatality against the Federal arms. Since their ludicrous exhibition at Bull's Run at the opening of hostilities the Northern troops have vindicated their character as soldiers. The daring and desperate charge at Fredericksburg against practically impregnable defences will be remembered hereafter in American history as equal in daring if not in result with the storming of the heights of Abraham. Yet bravery did not avail, they were met with equal courage and determination by men who are fighting as it were for existence. Should the North relinquish the contest it would be but foregoing a useless enter prise. For the South to give in would be acknow ledging the supremacy of the North and in reality owning their own inability to carry on the contest, thus for ever forfeiting the ascendency which for so many years they held in the Senate and Congress of Washington. ILA defeat, disaster, and impend ing ruin avail not with the Cabinet of Washington. Mr. LINCOLN is by this time a free agent; for a time he has got rid of national representatives; he has yet to deal with popular opinion, when the de mocratic influence comes into the ascendant. Can he raise his forced conscription without general revolt The Senate are bound to obey the order of the PRE SIDENT ; but although he can override a verbal or written protest, his power is of no avail against an armed resistance. Let him reduce Vicksburg, now the centre of interest in the war, and capture Charleston, the main port of the South— " Brief strife, but fierce—his efforts raise A bright but momentary blaze." The spirits of the Federals would rise, and the war party rejoice, and the votaries of war remain quiet ; but the conquest of the South would be no nearer realisation, and a few more months of bloodshed and desolation would be vouchsafed to the a l r eady suffering continent. I f he fail will he confess his fault, and boldly ask a nation already tired of the war, to follow the example of England, and give up with a good grace what justice and reason required. Or will he rashly plunge into an European war, with a view to reunite the State for mutual protection. This were simply madness. England does not want to go to war unless driven to it by insult such as the Trent affair, which the American Government were only too glad to compromise. France is able to hold her own, and with her powerful fleet and numerous army, would prove an awkward customer to the Yankees. No, the war must end by exhaus tion. No last effort like NAPOLEON'S Hun dred hays, closed by a glorious though overwhelm ing defeat. Internal discord, such as one State acting against ano ther—one General quarre lli ng w ith his colleag ue —the white troops firing upon their black auxiliaries, and the blacks returning the fire—the depreciation of the value of paper, and the general discontent of the troopsat their non-payment, which is even now resulting in conti nual desertion, will, before long, bring the people to their senses, and, seeing the hopelessness of this struggle, make them call upon a Government which cannot make war to make peace. We published the other day the Report of the Royal Commissioners appointed to consider plans for making a communication between the Thames Embankment at Blackfriars-bridgo and the Man sion House, with other matters referred to them, such as extending the embankment roadway east ward from Blackfriars-bridge to Queenhithe, and also the plans for uniting the intended embank- Talent at Westminster-bridge with the existing embankment at Milaink. We must say that the Commissioners have entered into the merits of ,he various suggestions submitted to them in a careful spirit of investigation, having an eye more o economy than to the general effect which might be arrived at by a more liberal expenditure. The Commissioners seem to have been deterred from attempting anything beyond the present exi gency of the question. With them, sufficient for the day is the evil or the good thereof, wholly over looking that they were bound and indeed were ex• petted to lay out the improvement so as to be a groundwork or foundation for the future. They must have been aware that in a metropolis of this extent—with a population daily increasing, some consideration was requisite to meet the necessities of posterity. Houses are not built for a day or a year, bill - , for an age, and public buildings ought to be constructed for all time—not only as an orna- ment to the present but as a lasting memorial of our taste, and an example to generations yet un born. In fact we of the prftent are but as trus- tees to those who succeed us—and in our conduct we should aim BD to act that our successors may have just cause to be proud of their forefathers, and strive to emulate the worthy examples left for their benefit and edification. Of the several plans submitted for making the communication to the Mansion-house we think that recommended by the Commission of 1861 the best, inasmuch as it will open up the whole way from Blacktriars-bridge in a direct line, and so relieve the traffic pouring down from the west as well as that coming in from the south over Blackfriars new bridge, and other new bridges in contemplation. It was proposed to extend the rcadway on the Thames embankment as far eastward as Queenhithe, but the extra cost was objected to, not, we think, with suf ficient reason as a matter of expense, if the exten sion were really expedient; but as the new street to the Mansion-house intersecting new Cannon-street would take off the traffic going over London-bridge, and the line along Thames-street running parallel with the river, would meet the other requirements of trade, there was not the same necessity. " The following is the comparative cost of the three suggestions exclusive of works :-1. The road and embankment from Biackfriars-bridge to Queenhithe, and the consequent improvements, £768,640 net. 2. The street to St. Paul's, widen ing St. Paul's Churchyard, as well as Walbrook and Charlotte-row, £713,654 net. 3. The street pro posed by the Commission of 1861, £460,015 net. For these reasons, and having fully considered the question in all its bearings, we come to the conclu sion that the line of street proposed by the Com mission of 1861 is the best that can be suggested, and we therefore recommend it for adoption." Having disposed of the Eastern part of their in struction the Commissioners turn to the West, and here we think they have recommended certain im provements, but they might have gone further. Had they but taken half a leaf out of the Paris book of renovation they would have better con sulted the wants which have so long been an eye sore to native as well as foreign visitors to those venerable edifices in the immediate vicinity of the Legislative Palace of the Empire. Not only Westminster-hall, but the memorable aid glorious old Abbey might have commanded more respectful attention. Indeed, all our great public buildings I are cooped up and confined within narrow limits wholly detracting from their grandeur as well as beauty. And but for their own elevation towering above their pigmy companions they would be lost in their wilderness of common-place heaps of brick and mortar. Indeed the incongruity is very damaging to our national taste as it is disrespectful to our character on the score of civilisation. If we be rich we lack the proper means of displaying our wealth so as to redound to our credit. In fact we have been so much engrossed in our commercial pursuits as to have overlooked the opportunity which the march of time has thrown in our way. And now when a 'air chance presents itself we hesitate to take ad. vantage of a circumstance which may not occur again for centuries to come. To make the Thames embankment we levy duties on coal and wine for a certain period. If that plan of meeting the expen diture be just, surely its extension for a few years more cannot be objectionable, seeing that the im provements are made for the pleasure and benefit of those who succeed us. The commissioners think, and perhaps rightly, that to continue the embank- ment in front of the Palace would be not only encroaching too much on the river but would be very undesirable, as interfering with the architectural beauty of the Palace, and be offensive to our legislators in their long line of committee-rooms facing the river. They therefore propose to clear away the buildings con- tiguous to the Houses of Parliament in Abingdon street and those southward, which are very objec tionable not only from their meanness, but from their proximity to Victoria Tower, which might be endangered in case of fire. They further propose that the ground these premises occupy should be Bleared southward as far as the line of Wool-street, or 415 feet, and that so much of it as extends to the line of Great College-street, or 230 feet, should be embanked, kept clear of buildings, and laid out and planted as ornamental ground. We are of opinion that such an application of this space would relieve the palace from great danger and nuisance, would form a suitable appendage to the south front of the palace, and be an agreeable embellishment to that part of the river. We recommend further, that the houses in Poets'-corner, Old Palace-yard, Abingdon-street, and the mews in the rear, should be taken down ; the Chapter House, Henry the Seventh's Chapel,'and the south front of the abbey, being brought fully into view ; the residences which stand between the Chapter House and the garden to the south be removed, and the site so cleared, laid open, by which a clear space from Henry the Seventh's Chapel to Great College-street would be obtained, about 200 feet wide in its narrowest part . They also suggest that six or eight first-class houses might be erected at right angles with the river, and looking on the ornamental ground be tween them and the Palace. Another improve ment is also suggested by running the line of Vic toria-street across the enclosure to the north-east of St. Margaret's Church, so as to avoid the traffic along Westminster-bridge, and facilitate commu • nion with the Courts of Law and the Houses of Parliament. Next, they propose widening King street on the west side, so as to relieve the pressure in Parliament-street ; but, though that would be an improvement so far, we cannot but thick that the block of houses between Parliament-street and King-street should be cleared away bodily, and open the view minster Hall, grandly out from the Abbey, West and the Houses of Parliament. The excessive expense would not be so great as to deter from such a magnificent improvement, which woula be a s pectacle for all time. Wh en R ENN IE was pointing out the beauty of his handiwork in having constructed Waterloo-bridge, in all its noble sim plicity, his Scotch friend, while admitting the fact, said, " Aye, man ! but what did it cost ?" " Never THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 12, 1863. mind the cost," retorted RENNIE, "a hundred years hence people will not ask the cost, but who built. it !" Arid iu the same spirit, we say, let the im provements at Westminster speak for themselves, and be worthy of our liberality, while they redound to the national honour. bation of my past conduct—support and nourish my faith, and I look forward with hope to the future of this great people, who have not in vain made so many sacrifices to attain the rank which belongs to them among the civilised nations of Europe. Be convinced of the pleasure which in my humble retirement is afforded to me by the affectionate words you address to me, and rely on my deep gratitude and sincere attachment. " B. ESPARTERO." The Neapolitan Brigands. Pilone's band of brigands and Pilone himself were within an ace of beicg made prisoners the other day. For some time past commissaries of police have been stationed in all the slopes of Vesuvius. One of them was lately informed that the brigands had ordered a grand Sunday supper at a farm called Carole, near the To►°reannunciati cemetery. The Portici corps of bersaglieri and the local national guard were thereupon ordered out. The united force marched towards the spot at an early hour in the evening, but they made so much noise that the brigands took the alarm and escaped, leaving, how ever, their supper behind them. The troops found plates laid for 40 persons, maccaroei smoking ho , turkeys all ready for the spit, omelettes, and wine. A single brigand who lagged behind was wounded, taken prisoner, and shot in cold blood the next day, after having been pressed in vain to give in formation about his comrades. So precipitate was the flight of the band that they abandoned, be side their food, 40 waterproof cloaks and several muskets and powder flasks. The inhabitants of the farmhouse fled with them. The authorities before leaving burned the house down by way of example. It is supposed that Pilone must have crossed the Nole Valley and taken refuge in the thick woods of Avellino. The failure of this ex pedition against the brigands is the subject of much ill natured laughter in Napes. A facetious journal publishes a caricature representing a great general playing at blindman's buff (a la Gatta cieca) with a brigand. The general has his eyes ban daged and gropes his way, while the brigand tickles him with a feather. There is a rush to buy this journal. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS) POLAND. CRACOW, MARcil 11 (Evening). It is confirmed that the independent members of he Council of State for Poland have tendered their resignation. The members of the Municipal Council of War saw have also resigned. PRUSSIA AND RUSSIA. BERLIN, MARCH 11, Evening. The Staatsanzeiger of today, in its nonofficial portion, denounces as an entire fabrication the statement made by the Opinion Nationale upon the 9th inst., of the purport of the Convention between Prussia and Russia of the Bth February. The Staatsa4zeiger further denies the truth of the remarks in the Moniteur of the 7th inst., that an explanation had been asked of the Prussian repre sentative at Frankfort by the Federal Diet of the disadvantages stated as likely to result from the Convention to the German Confederacy. The Staatsanzeiger goes on to observe that Eng land alone of the Great Potters has adopted the form of a despatch to express in a friendly manner her objections to tho Convention. The Govern ment know nothing of any verbal representations said to have been addressed to them upon the same subject by Austria and other German or non- German Powers, as well as by France. THE ITALIAN LOAN. TURIN, MARCH 11, Evening. A report is current that the contract for the new loan was signed to-day by Messrs. Rothschild. The rate at which it will be issued is not yet known. The Chamber continues the debate upon the budget. The Minister of Agriculture stated that the cattle disease had not extended throughout the kingdom, being confined to a few cases which had occurred at Orvieto. TURIN, MARCH 12, Morning. The conclusion of the new loan is confirmed, but the conditions are not yet known. It is believed that the house of Messrs. Roths child has taken half the loan at 69i, and that the other half is to be divided—a part being advanced by the Italian bankers and the credit banks, and the remainder being provided by publio subscrip- ..........••••........ AUSTRALIA. PLYMOUTH, MARCH 12. The Prince of Wales, from Melbourne o❑ the 2d December, has passed up the Channel and arrived in the Downs with 17,1350 z. of gold. FRANCE. PARIS, MARCH 12. Deepatahea received here from Constantinople, dated yesterday, announce that a Turkish army will be concentrated at Shumla. The Moniteur of this morning says :—" The Conatitutionnel announces that the troops forming the camp of Chalons will be assembled between the 20th and the 31st March. " This news is entirely incorrect. '1 he camp will only be formed at the end of May as in previous years." PARIS, MARCH 11. The Patrie of this evening announces that the Prince of Reuss, Secretary to the Prussian embassy at Paris, left this morning for Berlin. Several evening papers state that Prince Metter nich, the Austria Ambassador at the French court, will leave Paris to-morrow for Vienna. The journey is connected with the affairs of Poland, and the Prince will only be absent a few days. The Emperor presided to-day at a council of the ministers La _France of this evening says :—" Earl Russell has addressed a despatch to the Powers who signed the treaty of Vienna, stating that the present con dition of Poland renders diplomatic intervention desirable, to require from Russia full and entire execution of the first article of the final act of the treaty of Vienna, of June 9, 1815. France cannot but perceive, in the initiative taken by the English Cabinet, an echo of her own views." The same paper states that Sweden and Portugal have given in their adhesion to the views of Earl Russell, that Austria shows a disposition to adopt the same step, but that Prussia and Spain have not it per Cents 96 50 Do end month — 3 per Cents Do. end month 69 70 New 3 per Cents Do, end month — Credit Mobilier 1207 50 Do, end month 1208 75 RA IL' AYS. Cash. Account. Orleans lllO .. 1112 60 Northern New ditto • • Lyons and Mediterranean 1187 50 .. 1190 Geneva 4lO .. 385 Southern 760 .. 765 Western Eastern .... ..... Sardinian .......... 385 .. 385 Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa 7OO .. 702 50 Ditto to Barcelona yet returned an answer. Speaking of our Extraordinary Edition of Tuesday evening, Le Pays says :—" This journal (The Sun) is printed entirely in blue ink, and contains on the first page a double medallion, gracefully and radiantly defined upon a background of azure. This double medallion encloses, in one portrait of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, and in he t the other the portrait of H.R.H. the Princess Alexandra. The two portraits are coloured, and beneath the medallion one reads, God bless, &c." THE BOURSE,—PARIS, March 11.—The market has been again heavy, and a further decline in prices has taken places. Threes, for the Account, are now at 691. 65c. The Railway Share Market s quiet, but prices in general better maintained than the Rente. The market left off as follows: — Bank Shares 345 -- Credit koncier 1475 Piedrxiontese Fives Italian Loan 7O Russian Austrian Spanish Threes 52 Home Debt SPAIN. MADRID, MARCH 11. It is stated that Senor Antonio Gonzalez, Nlini ster Plenipotentiary of Spain at the Court of St. James's, has tendered his resignation, and that Senor Comyn will be appointed to replace him. The Government intends proposing a modifica tion of the press law. The Madrid journals of the Bth contain no po litical news of interest The Contemporaneo an nounces that the Duke and Duchess de Tetuan intena in the spring to make a tour in Germany. Although the duke, says that journal, has decided on retiring from power, ho doss not intend to abstain from taking his seat in the Senate. Gen. Espartero has addressed the following letter to his friends at Seville, who bad sent him their congratulations, dated Logrono, 28th ult.:— " Estimable and kind friends, I receive with lively satis faction the congratulations which the Liberals of the dis tinguished city of Seville have addressed to me on the occa li sion of my fete. I accept theta with the more gratitude as it is not an adulation to the powerful, but affec tionate saluation to the friend who, far removed from power, lives retired with a quiet conscience, offering up the most ardent prayers for the happiness of his dear country, No; I atn certain that good Spaniards will not forget ma; they think, with reason, that the best reward that can be given to the services 1 have rendered to my country is t o give me from time to time the striking proof that I still live in their hearts, Those marks of affection—tacit appro. NATIONAL CHORAL SOCIETY, Last night, at Exeter Hall, the National Choral Society performed the oratorio of "Elijah." The evening was rendered interesting by the introduc- tion of the National Anthem, in which Mr. Sims Reeves sang a solo verse introduced for the occasion. It called forth warm applause during its delivery— Bless England's Royal son, Bless her whose love he's won, Close to his side; Deep breathes a nation's prayer, God bless Victoria's heir, And her the young and fair, God bless his bride I Mendelssohn's Wedding March was played, and elicited great enthusiasm. The oratorio was skilfully rendered. Mr. Sims Reeves, who is inimitable in sacred music, appeared to full advan tage, and though in this oratorio he has little to do, yet he acquitted himself admirably. " Then shall the righteous" he gave with great effect, and some attempt was made for an encore, which he wisely declined. The beautiful trio, " Lift thine eyes," which was sung by Miss Palmer, Miss Cox, and Miss F. Lancia, was enthusiastically encored, as it deserved to be. Mr. G. W. Martin was the condultor, and the band and chorus consisted of 700 performers. A very large audience appeared satisfied with the perform ance, and altogether a most successful effect was produced. Mr. Santley sang with great spirit his nurriproao morcoaltx, anrl gave great satisfaction. In the solo " Is not His Word like a fire," he espe cially distinguished himself. The other vocalists were Mr. Carter, Mr. Winn, Mr. Theodore Diston, and Miss Julia Elton. The managers of this affair have every reason to be satisfied with the effect produced, and the greatest credit is due to those who so ably seconded the efforts of the spirited originators. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. A dramatic version, in four acts, of Miss Braddon's novel, "Aurora Floyd," was produced here last evening with per fect success. Mr. Cheltnam is the adapter, and there is no character or incident of the slightest importance in the work he has not sacceeded in retaining. The novel of "Aurora Floyd" is not of so dramatic a character as that of " Lady Audley's Secret," though, possibly, it is superior as a literary production. The heroine is equally well de lineated as Lady Audley, perhaps even better by the novelist ; but her characteristics do not tell upon the stage. The emotion is not of so violent a character, and the know ledge that she is guiltless of the great crime laid to her charge takes away from the intensity of the personation. The acting of the principal parts is very good, and con tributes largely to the success of the piece ; and though there is nothing particularly striking in Miss Sedgwick's conception of Aurora, she plays it with genuine feeling. Mr. H. Veein has little opportunity for display, but in the scene where he is torn by his suspicions cf his wife, he played with an intensity that made us regret his character had not been more elaborated by the adapter. Mr. Roxby, as Jasacs Conyers, is very effective, and Mr. Seyton's Matthew Hargraves was an exceedingly good performance. The honour of the evening, however, was carried off by Mr. Belmoro. His impersonation of the sickly, half witted clown, in whose ignoble bosom the sense of wrong rankles like poison, who is devoured by a ravenous thirst for revenge, and who is prostrated by an abject terror of death, is an admirable histrionic portrait, alike original in conception and artistic in execution. The piece has been very prettily placed upon the stage, and at the fall of the curtain the applause was genuine and en thusiastic. The Roman Catholic Clergy and the Polish Insurrection. The well-known French writer, Edward Quinet, has addressed the following letter to the Roman Catholic priesthood : I witnessed the resurrection of Greece, of Italy, of Romania; I pray heaven that it will yet permit me to see that of Poland. This resurrection depends especially on the Catholic clergy. Too long has it justified mein accusing it of repressing modern right and ranging itself on the side of the strongest. I now entreat it to refute me, and I say to it, with clasped hands, "You have a solemn, unique opportunity, not only of closing our mouths, but of com pelling us to return you thanks. Profit by it. It was you who in the last century struck down the heart of Poland, and thereby caused its ruin. Undo that. You can do this better than any one else. Bring back to life this oorpse, call forth this Lazarus, and we shall be compelled to bless you. It is true that Ido not ask of you simply words, col lections, remote sermons, in the walls of the church. I ask you for that in which you aro so rich when you choose — for acts. You have a hundred times had acts for despotism ; have one for liberty. You knew how to make a Vendee against revolution; make a Polish Vendee. Remember what you have been able to do for the cause of the past. Arm yourself with the same weapons for the cause of the future. Crush us with your victory. I call for it, I salute it, Iwill recognise it. Take the cross ; march at the head. Let your tocsin sound from the top of St. Peter's at Rome. Let it be heard from the Vistula to the Niemen, in every city, in every village of Poland: Let a whole people at this signal leave its fields and bo free—be free through you. To you shall remain the honour—to you the power. You will have obtained two things—you will have the glory of having saved a nation and of having dispelled the illusions of your adversaries. It will be shown that the force which you have exerted to compress, you possess also for setting free. Veytaux (Switzerland), March 7, ISO. E, QUINET. DISGRACEFUL RIOT IN CORK. CORK, Wednesday. About 10 o'clock last evening a stone was hurled at the windows of a chemist in Winthrop-street, which was immediately followed by several others, breaking a quantity of glass. 'When the crash of the windows was heard, the crowd got up a cheer, which drew the constabulary towards them. At their approach they were assailed with stones and sticks, and groans were given for them. Stone , throwing continuing, the police charged and cleared the street at the point of the bayonet, in doing which several persons were knocked down in the rush and injured. When driven out of Winthrop-street the mob ran on to Pembroke street, where they took up a position opposite the Commercial Hotel, and stretched from the Hi bernia Hotel on one hand to the Post-office on the other. Here stone-throwing again commenced, and the place had to be cleared by the mounted consta bulary. After they had passed on, however, the mob again returned and battered in the windows of the Hibernia Hotel, and the illuminated devices outside the house. The Commercial Hotel was next attacked, and in less than 10 minutes almost every pane of glass in the front facing Pembroke-street was broken. At times the showers of stones thrown from hundreds of hands were really terrifying, breaking in, as they frequently did, at one volley, the entire sashes of the windows, while others of the stones rebounded off the walls of the house and fell among the people, inflicting in many instances severe cuts and bruises. A scene of the utmost dis order here prevailed. Numbers of the people fled terror-stricken, while the ruffians who remained only redoubled their efforts on beholding the con sternation and destruction they were causing. Such was the determination of the mob that scarcely any force could quell them. Although they fled at the charges of the constabulary, they returned and did not stop until they had made al most a complete wreck of the windows of those who illuminated. The organisation of the rioters seemed complete. In one of the rows the mayor received some rough usage. At midnight the military were sent for, and one company of infantry soon arrived, but their services were not required. After they had retired, how ever, a set of ruffians broke in the windows of the Crown solicitor. Two arrests have been made. The city is now tranquil. THE ROBBERY BY A LADY AT PRESTON.—Mrs, Jessie Black, wife of Captain Black, whose apprehension on a charge of stealing a quantity of jewellery at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, we announced last week, has been again brought up and further remanded until Friday, when the case will be fully investigated .—Manchester Guardian. " NldLe. Livry,"says the Gazette des Etrangers, "is decidedly saved. We have just read a letter, not written, but dictated and signed by her, in which she an nounces to one of her friends that she will be able to re ceive her in ten days." DEATH OF SIR JAMES OUTRAM. We learn by telegram that the death of Sir James Outram, K.C.8., took place in Paris at one o'clock yesterday morning. This distinguished officer, who acquired so great and deserved a reputation by his military and political services in India, was born in 1806, at Butterley-hill, Derbyshire. His father was a civil engineer of some celebrity, and he himselt was educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, whence be went out as a cadet to India in 1819, and was afterwards appointed adjutant to the 23d Regiment of Native Infantry, being for some time previously in command of a body of irregular troops. From 1828 to 1835 he served in Candeish, and in the latter year he was employed in organising a regular farce in Guzerat. In 1838 he was aide-de camp to Lord Kt ane, and took an active part in the capture of Guznee. He subst quently performed, in succession, the functions of political agent at Goo jerat, and those of commissary in the Upper Scinde, besides undertaking the duties o British Rcsident at Hydrabad, at Sattara, and at Lucknow. In all these capacities he especially recommended himself to the esteem of his superior officers as well by his military vigour as by his administrative qualities. In 1842 he was appointed commissioner to nego tiate with the Ameer of Scinde, in which positio❑ he adopted views at variance with those of Gen. Sir Charles Napier, a difference which found very decided expression, after he quitted Scinde, in the publication of a work in two volumes, in which he severely criticised the conduct of Sir Charles relative to the conquest of that country. Nevertheless, the views he entertained on the policy of Sir Charles Napier afterwards received the approbation of the directors of the East India Company. He visited England on furlough in 1843, and in the following year he was appointed to a command in the Mahratta country. In 1847 he was appointed Resident at Baroda, and also at Bombay, where he unflinchingly expos, d the official venality then prevalent, and which he was largely instrumental in suppressing. In 1856 he was nominated by Lord Dalhousie successor to Sir John Lawrence as Chief Commissioner of Oude. Iu the military operations in Persia, in 1857, he took the most active and prominent part, and was raised to the rank of lieutenant-general in that year. As Sir Henry Lawrence's buccessor at Lucknow, the noble part he played during the mutiny in India, and more especially in connection with the advance of Sir Henry Havelock's force, are yet fresh in the recollection of the public. In 1856, while in the chief command of the Persian expedition, he was made C. 8., and in 1856 he was rewarded with a baronetcy. He was afterwards made fa G.C.8., and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general. He returned to England in 1860, greatly shattered in health, and on several public occasions has been received with the honour justly due to his eminent public ser% ices and his high personal character. .gf AtxA • Court er-44. HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, March 11. Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia, attended by Countess Bruhl and Captain Lucadon, went to Claremont, and visited the Queen Marie Amelia. His Royal Highness the Count of Flanders, attended by Major Burnell, left the Castle this morning for London. Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Christian of Denmark, Prince Frederick, Prince William, Princess Dagmar, Prince Waldemar, and Princess Thyra, took leave of her Majesty at three o'clock to-day, and left the Castle for London, at tended by the Ladies and Gentlemen of their suite, and Colonel F. Suymour, Groom in Waiting to the Queen. His Royal Highness the Duke of Coburg, at (ended by Baron von Wangenheitn, Baron Gru'otn, and Baron Schleinitz, also took leave of her Majesty, and left the Castle. Lit ut.-Col. the Hon. D. de Ros attends the Duke to Dover. Lad) Churchill has succeeded the Countess of Caledon ca Lady in Waiting ; and the Hon. Morti mer West has succeeded Colonel F. Seymour as Groom in Waiting to her Majesty. Immediately after the marriage ceremony on Tues day, her M ajt sty returned privately to the Castle by the north terrace, to be in time to receive the Prince and Princess of Wales at the grand entrance, where her Majesty cordially embraced them, and accom panied them to the Princess of Wales's apartments. Evening Parties at, St. James's Palace. We are authorised to state that invitations will be issued by the Lord Ct.arnberlain, by command of the Queen, for an evening party at St. James's Palace, on Friday, the 20th of March, in honour of the Prince and Princess Wales, and at which their royal highnesses will be present. A second evening party will take place after Easter. ROYAL LITERARY FUND. The annual meeting of the members of this society was held yesterday in their rooms, Adelphi- :errace ; the Bishop of Oxford in the chair. The report of the general committee, which was read, stated that during the past year £1,500 had been granted in the relief of fifty•four applicants, who were men of letters. Of these grants six were of £lO, ten of £l5, eleven of £2O, eight of £25, ,ix of £3O, two of £35, four of £4O, three of £5O, one of £7O, and three of £BO each. Of the money granted, a sum of £25 remained unapplied. '1 he Permanent Fund now amounts to £23,639 Is. 10d., producing £709 &. 4d. per annum in interest. The Newton property stock amounts to £8,167 15s. 11d., producing £245 Os. Bd. per annum interest. The rents of the Newton property at Whitechapel amount to £203 per annum. The Permanent Fund was last year increased by a legacy of £1,139 ls. 10d., bequeathed to the society by the late Mr. Patrick Kernan. The total income of the society for the year, including a balance of £3BB 10s. 7d. brought forward from the previous year, £309 4s. received in donations, and £512 6s. the net pro ceeds of the annual dinner, amounted to £2,061 14s. 11d., leaving in hand a balance of £289145. 4d. .The report was adopted on the motion of Sir H. ELLIS. Earl Stanhope was elected president of the lac °let y as successor to the late Marquis of Lansdowne, and it was announced b 3 the right rev. cnairman that the new president would take the chair at the next annual festival. The Bishop of OXFORD then rose, and said that there was a matter which, although not in the paper, might with grace be made a part of their proceed ings. He thought it becoming that they should present an address to the Queen on the marriage of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; for, as her Majesty was the patron of the society, they ought to give expression to loyalty and sympathy in'everything that concerned the happiness of their beloved Queen. He had, before coming to the meeting, drawn up a form of address, which he wuuld read ; and if they approved of it, he would move it be adopted and forwarded to her Majesty. His lordship then read the address as follows : We humbly approach your Majesty as our most Royal patron, repeating to your Majesty the expression of our affectionate attachment and our reverence for your throne; and we desire to add our hearty and loyal congratulations at the marriage of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to a Princess worthy of the high station to which she has been called, and assure your Majesty of its being our earnest prayer to Almighty God th at H e w ill b e p l ease d to crow n with His heavenly blessing that great alliance, and make the Prince and Princ ess o f W a l es pat ems to the next generation of those high domestic virtues which it has been given to you and the Prince Consort to exhibit in this. This address, having met with the approbation of all present, was fo rma lly p u t t o the m e eting by the right rev, chairman, and unanimously approved. I The proceedings shortly afterwards terminated. On reaching Windsor, on Tuesth,y, Lady Pal merston, who was accompanied by her daughters, the Countess of Shaftesbury and Lady Jocelyn, was in debted fur a carriage to a gentleman in the crowd, who, seeing her apparently in despair of getting any further than the platform, rushed gallantly into the courtyard, and, after great efforts, succeeded in securing a vacant carriage for her. The Prince and Princess of Wales. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales contemplate a residence o about a fort night at Osborne, when they come to town for a very short stay, on their way to pass the Easter holidays at Sandringham Hall, the Prince's seat in Norfolk. Alteration in the Litany. The Lords of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council had a meeting yesterday at the Council-office, Whitehall. Present—the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord President, the Duke of Somerset, the Duke of Newcastle, Viscount Palmer ston, the Bishop of London, Sir George Grey, Bart., the right Hon. E Cardwell, and the Right Hon. R. Lowe. At the meeting it was ordered that in morning and evening prayers in the Litany, and in all other parts of divine service where the royal family is particularly prayed for, the following form shall be observed : '• Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the royal family. St. George's Chapel, Windsor. Notice nes been given officially that St. George's Chapel,with the temporary State Rooms at Windsor Castle u,ed at the marriage of their Rays' Hign nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, will be open to the public from ten to five o'clock every da3 this week, and on Monday and Tuesday next week. After that time the chapel must be closed, in order to prepare it for the usual services of the Church i❑ E aster week. No tickets of admission are required. Prince and Princess Christian, Prince Frederick, Prince William, Princess Dagmar, Prince Waldemar, and Princess Thyra of Denmark, arrived at the Palace Hotel, Buckingham-gate, yesterday afternoon, attended by Colonel Francis Seymour, C. 8., from Windsor Castle, In the evening their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Chris tian of Denmark, the Princess Dagmar, Prince Frederick, and Prince William of Denmark (attended by Colonel F. Seymour, C. 8.), his Royal Highness Prince Frederick of Hesse-Cassel, and his Serene Highness the Duke of Hol stein-tilucksburg, dined with his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, at his residence, Gloucester House, Park-lane. _ -- ---- The Duke Augustus of Saxe Coburg, the Duke de Nemours, and the Prince de Joinville have arrived at the Clarendon Hotel. -- ------ The Count de Flandre, attended by Major Burnell, has arrived at the Clarendon Hotel from Windsor Castle. Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar had a dinner party last night at his residence in Portland-place. A small circle were present. His Highness the Prince Corigliano, Baron Ver there, and Count le Werzien have arrived at the Bruns wick Hotel, Jermyn-street, from Paris. The E.rl of Derby was rather better yesterday and the previous day, but is still confined to his room. Owing to his illness the noble earl was unable to accom pany the Countess of Derby to Windsor on Tuesday to witness the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales, although honoured by her Majesty's commands. The Marquis of Douglas left town yesterday to join the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton at Nice. Viscount Palmerston returned to town on Tues day evening from Windsor Castle. Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Dugdale Astley have left Farrance's Hotel for Elsham Hall, near Brigg. Mr. Adeane, M.P., and Lady Elizabeth Adeane have returned to town from the continent. THE RECEPTION OF THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA AT GRAVESEND —Mr. ►Satws, the Mayor of Graves end, has great satisfaction in communicating the following letters, received from Viscount Sydney, Lord Lieutenant of the county of Kent, and Major-General D'Oxhohn, expres sive of the satisfaction afforded to the Prince and Princess of Wales by the recent proceedings in that town : " Windsor Castle, March 9, 1863.—Sir, I have the honour to inform you that I have received the commands of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to convey to you on his own behalf, as well as that of her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra of Denmark, their royal highnesses' great satisfaction at the arrangements made by the town of Gravesend on the occasion t f the disembarkation of the Princess at the port of Gravesend and her royal highness landing in the county of Kent. lam also to add that the warmth and loyalty of the reception their royal highnesses met with was most gratifying. I have to request you will be good enough to make this known to the corporation anti town of Gravesend, and have the honour to remain, sir, your obedient servant, SYDNEY, Lord Lieutenant of the county of Kent. The Mayor of Gravesend, Kent." 4 , Windsor Castle, March 9, 1863.—Major. General D'Ox holm has received the commands cf her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra of Denmark to thank the Mayor and Corporation of Gravesend for their address on the cc casion of her landing on the shores of England, and to express to them the sincere gratification felt by the Princess at the cordial and affectionate welcome with which her royal highness was received by the inhabitants of their borough." THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION, The following are the arrangements for the dis tribution of new rifles to competitors fur the Queen's Prize at the Wimbledon Meeting of the National Rifle Association for 1863 I—That new rifles shall be issued to the competitors for the Queen's Prize, in exchange for Government rifles held by them as members of the corps to which they belong. 2—That upon the issue of the new arms to competitors, the rifles previously held by them shall be immediately delived into the stores of their respective corps. _ _ 3—That the rifles thus returned shall be retained in store by commanding officers, and held available either to replace arms that may become unserviceable, in abatement of the 10 per cent. of the new arras now allowed in exchange for old arms, or for the service of any new members that may join the corps. 4—That commanding officers of corps shall forward a ra , port to the War-office that the arms have so been returned into store, and a certificate that they shall be kept clean, and not leave the armoury or be used fo r any other purpose until required for the above services. s—That the distribution of, and all arrangements con fleeted v. ith the new rifles, be carried out by the National Me Association; and further, that the association shall forward a report to the War. office, Pall-mall, giving the names of the competitors to whom rifles are issued and the corps to which they belong. 6—That all new rifles supplied by the War De p artment for the above-named service shall bear a disti nctive mark on the barrel, so that t he y may be at any time identified. THE NAVY--IRON v, WOOE, _ .. 0-_-_ The following stecerek,nt relating to the odvan. tapes of iron and wood, and the relative cos;',of th ese materials in the construction of ships for hOr jesty's navy has been issued : Admiralty, March 2. Taking it for granted that it is essential for this country to possess a number of ships armour-plated equal to that of any other power, the first conside• ration must be with regard to such ships as we re' quire ,'whether they shall be of wood or iron P Th ese are two important points involvad in this coneide' ration 1. The nature of the material. Iron possesses these ad.- vantages over wood. An iron ship can be built of larger dimensions than a wooden ship, with no loss of strength. An iron ship has more rigidity and strength of structure, as a whole, than a wooden ship, though locally weak and liable to be pee etrated by blows, which would fall harm' lessly on a wooden ship. An iron ship has much greater durability in certain parts of the structure, indeed in alt parts where no wood is in contact with the iron, than wooden ship, acid ter a lap-e of years the iron frame would have suffered next to nothing as compared w ith a wooden ship. But a_ aiust these advantages must be set—The seri ous local weakness of the comparatively thin plates of which the bottom of an iron ship is necessarily composed the danger, consequently, of getting on rocks in such ships, and the necessity which this weakness , ntails of constructing double bottoms, thw artship bulkheads, water-tight compa' ments, sluice-doors, &c., and various other complicated arrangements, which add both to the weight and cost of an iron ship : the rapidity with which the bottom of an iron ship gets foul, and the immense loss of all the ship's quai l ' ties that follows from the adhesion of marine zoo phytes ; no practical remedy has been found for thin; serious disadvantage ; repeated docking and cleaning is the only palliative ; the extreme uncertainty as to the quality of the materials used ; in fact, the small quantity of really good iron o: the best ship-building qualities that can be found in the market ; the prodigious ravages cans= d bY the splinters of iron when the plates ara broken and smashed by shot; and the far greater facility with which iron ships can be pierced below their armour-plating hi submarine guns than wooden ships ; lastly, as the Pro gress that may be made by artillery, and all destructive agents of warfare, is quite without a limit, the immene a price paid in an iron ship for durability may not be advantage, as new forms for ships of war may, befoaren long, be absolutely requisite—the iron ship of tte day, for which so large a price has been paid, rag not be the weapon we require to-morrow. It may prove therefore wiser an more economical to supply the wanted the moment by a cheaper and less durable structure, which at least is of the same quality as those with which we may have to contend. The most able designer of vr. r ships in Europe, whose success has been so remarkable, Mr. Dupuy de L'Ome, is of this opinion, and construct. the ships that are to form the French line-of-battle of wood in preference to iron. 2. The second point to be considered in this question i.irt Where and how the ships, whether of wood or ir on, sh°l` be constructed 7 If iron is the material preferred, we h° the choice of either incurring a large outlay in our dock' yards for the requisite plant or of building by contract. In one dockyard only (Chatham) we can build in iron with. out any fresh expense. If, therefore, we ta ke the other alternative, and build by contract, the followi ns serious disadvantages attend upon our doing so. 11/5 first practical fact that cora• before us is, that in n o one instance have the contractors kept to their agreements COI the Government, either as to time or cost. Though tb,e cases are notorious, and will be found in a tabulate d for'' annexed to this paper, I will quote one or two instances The Warrior was ordered on May 11, 1859; the contractor. agteed to deliver her complete in July, 1860 . She wasdeli: vered on Sept. 20, 1861, and not quite comple ted till l 7 24, 24, 1561. The contractors agreed to build her for £210,225t including extras. They claimed, and ultimately receiveof £254,728. The Black Prince was ordered on Oct. 6, 1 859 „; The contractors agreed to deliver her complete on Oct. 1 " 1860. She was delivered, incomp l ete , on November IS' 1861. She was not completed for some months a ttervia r l by the artificers of the dockyard. The contracto rs agree, 6 o build her for £230,254. They have claimed for 11' £259,751, and part of this claim is still under considera tion; she has, however, cost the Admiralty, up to this 1115/ ,.. e ' £249,751. In both of these ships, but more particularly by Warrior, some delay was occasioned in completing b.' alterations made in the course of building. Th e Dole° was delivered, incomplete, four months after th e contrail' tors' agreement. The Resistance was delivered, ine rr ,T: o plate, 10 months after the contractors' agreement. Elector, if delivered in the course of the month of Mare l will be seven months behina 4 the time agreed upon 113 Valiant should Lave been delivered, according to the origili'd contract, in Aug., 1862; the contractors failed, and reone t t s the Admiralty to annul their agreement. Ano ther contr 7 was made, with a fresh party, to deliver the sh i p in Iklare ;s 1863; there is no prospect whatever of the w t ; being finished for six months alter that d6.,„-' The same or even greater delay has taken i . lace in the d ot livery of the Orontes and Tamar, although these ar e io simple construction, and are not armour-plated. Th ere ip s no prospect that more than one out of the fou r iron ePho last ordered will be delivered till many mon ths atter t periods agreed upon. It is not, therefore, one contractor 00', urge shipbuilder, but all who have failed in th eir agre,4 ments, and this clearly indicates the great uncertain`i attending this mode of construction. Two other difficulties present themselves : d 1. The general slovenliness of the work perform. iron shipbuilders rendering the presence of an Adini r inspector necessary on the premises wherever the 0011°4 ships are building, and leading to many difficulties be tW the contractor and the Admiralty ; and 2. The great temptations that beset the contract°To owing to the cost and difficulty of procuring good iron, use inferior and cheaper metal. Again, after a contract is signed, no alte ration or 1131; provernent, however great, can be made without forc e ' witting to any terms the contractor choos es to en de g, Strikes of workmen, strikes of disputes in tr' l t o all interfere with the progress of the work , and alwnYetbe the prejudice of the Government. But if wood he o r material selected, the place of building will be our own df yard, with all the plant, appliances, an d materials air' id. at hand. No more money will be required than ach 3t iisi ready appears in the navy e stimates; whereas, if the owiro are built of iron by contract, the whole of the money rol e ' o s to do so must be voted separately, and in addition to . ordinary navy estima tes, and the increase of the total ch ee, to the country could only be diminished in a small degr if at all, by the discharge o f a l i mited numbe r of worka , e en title t o pensions or gratuities, for it would still be necessarld retain that large portion of workmen who are emploYe repairs, fitting and refitting ships, and in building the tie ler classes which are essential for the protect i o n of our trade in the distant corners of the globe. In every way , i r on fore, the system of building by contract arm our-plate a . cite d ships would be more expensive than building arnaourPod ships of wood in our dockyards. The wo oden shit), thmoito in some respect inferior in rigidity to the iron, andn°;iscl so strong as a whole, is yet , if we may believe the cl e Not accounts we have received of such ships as the Gloire,r t he mandie, Magenta, and Solferino, perfectly sufficien t ° e ffec t weight it has to bear. Very bad weather has had n° ap e on the Gloire, a wooden ship plated from stem to stertl'iriocl therefore far more heavily loaded and more severelYbeco; than any of our iron armour-plated ships ha ve Yet ai' none of these ships having armour plates at th eir °t' o ties. Great addition to tae strength of the wooden .004 tures is given by iron beams, iron decks , fi llin g in be ll or the timbers, diagonal bracing, &o.; and, taking all idodlf cumstauces of the case into consideration , i seems decior preferable, at the present time, to bui ld these ships f irotttl dockyards of wood, rather than in private yards an d ° to 0 0 As a comparison, the probable cost of the Il ee e vei ll t Valiant, armour-plated ships, has been taken; being only partially armour plated, and the accounts /I t , completed, an addition must be made, to conse' re with the wooden ships proposed to be built. Cost of a ship of 4063 tons, iron and partially 40600:0 armour-plated, if built by contract .......... Add estimate, if wholly plated ................ ,4 Cost of a wooden ship of 4,200 tons, and of greater strength than those now building, wholly armour plated, for wages and materials £170,000 (estimated) .. • • • • Add, as in the case of private firms, for general charges incident to the 17,000 above, 10 per cent... • • • /0 ° Cost of a wooden ship built in the 4 1 dockyard ~ • • • • • • _ d ie The cost of building the Royal Oak, as furnislo 0 accoun t a nt of Chatb am Dockyard, for labour 03,,, ih terials, with 2 pe r cent. added, is £151,970, includt value of materials already provided beton the 000 :or% es 0 , private builder would do, the C O :00 10 toOak ` commen ced; add in g to this 10 per ce nt. for a t,OlO al for building amounts to about £lo,ooot 00,00 charges. to any c orrections arising from the auditing the ° 0 ( whe n they are completed. The time required to 13 oli o to iron ship by contract has been 25 months (in tb° j the Hector). To build the wooden ship l e isureil t if the beat advantage w ou ld t a k e a b out as long' Dl Vec t , ° „; much pressed as the c ontractors h ave b ee n for til l ' 0 y er and if the workmen were entirely uninterrupt ed, tb might be shortened to 21 months. 0 , 9 .be 53 of of A tabular statement is appended, mentionins 014101, the iron ships built and building by contract. d o olf from this that the cost actually incurred oP°llp24o/ nor has been £254,728 ; the Black Prince, '' o 76. i 0 the Defence, X 173,478; and the Resistance, Xl7Bilecter;eft,i " cost by contract, including extras," of the 0 pr e aeli £172,677, and the time of delivery is during yeA O 0 ,1 1 month; the cost of the Valiant is £ 207,212, IV73,1,0;0011, vered ; the Dromedary, £11,325; the Orontes, 3 w ill? will probably be delivcred in April next foll°otcr L 68,188, to be delivered at the same time. TP e Agt o .. c i t itl vessels have also not yet been delivered LL9,393 ; the Minotaur, L 321,117; the Nort bm £295,295; and the Prince Albert, £113,167. a sti the will £4O rnai' ally( thir held 7thal the eat( aec spri is 1 meg req blit eon on NI eh