The Sun. — London, England, 1863-08-03 00:00:00

The Duke of Cambridge at Fishmongers' -HalL On Saturday evening the Wardens of the ancient and wealthy Company of Fishmongers presented the honorary freedom of their guild to the Duke of Cambridge, and afterwards entertained his Royal Highness at a magnificent banquet in their stately corporate hall at the north end of London-bridge. A guard of honour, under the command of Captain McLachlan, and composed of members of the City of London Rifle Brigade, of which the Commander in-Chief is colonel, was stationed at the entrance to the hall, with the band of the regiment. His Royal Highness arrived shortly after 6 o'clock, and was received at the entrance to the building with every mark of respect by Mr. Cubitt, M.P., Prime War den ; Mr. Joseph Underwood, Mr. James Spicer, Mr. Walter C. Yenning, Mr. F. B. Henshaw and Mr. G.:orge Moore, Wardens; and Mr. W. Beck with Towse, clerk of the company. Tne crowd collected outside raised an enthusiastic cheer as the Duke alighted from his carriage, and the band played the Na'ional Anthem. His Royal Highness was first conducted to the Board-room, where, in the presence of the Warden and Court of As sistants, and such of the guests as had then arrived, the freedom of the company was conferred upon him with all the customary ceremony, in pursuance of a resolution of the governing body passed at a previous meeting, the formal document being en closed in a gold casket of great beauty and intrinsic value. The Duke having made the customary declaration, Mr. CUBITT, the Prime Warden, addressing him, said, May it please your Royal Highness, the mem bers of the Fishmongers' Company rejoice in the circumstance of your Royal Highness having in scribed your name among those of other Royal, illus trious, and distinguished personages who have honoured this ancient guild during many cen turies by enrolling themselves among its mem bers ; and I am sure I am expressing the earnest wishes of this company when I say we all hope that your Royal Highness may long continue to occupy the important position in which you are so de servedly placed, and in which you have engaged the the affections of the people of this country. We hope also that your Royal Highness will, as often as convenient, favour ns with your company on festive occasions like the present. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE, in reply, said,—Mr. Prime Warden and Gentlemen,--I feel highl y flattered by the compliment which the members of this ancient guild have been pleased to pay me in making me an honorary member of their company. It is one with which many members of my family have been for years associated. It is, besides, one of those institutions which we all prize, and which I for one should be sorry to see abolished. I trust the guild may last as long as the country in which we have the happiness to live, and I am sure that, as far as I am personally concerned, besides the pleasure whicb it will afford me to meet you here whenever I have an opportunity of doing so, I shall always be de lighted to see the ancient guilds continue to flourish. With that the ceremony, which was conducted by Mr. Towse, the clerk, concluded, and the Comman der-in-Chief was escorted by the Prime Warden and the rest of the authorities to the banquetting hall, where a very influential company had been invited to meet him. His Royal Highness was conducted to a seat on the right of Mr. Cubitt, the Prime Warden, who presided at the dinner, and whose year of office commenced that day. Right and left of the chairman sat the Right Hon. Lord Cranworth, the Right Hon. Lord Justice Knight Bruce, the Right Hon. Robert Lowe, M.P. Lieu. tenant-General Maclean, Colonel Sir A. Horsford, K.C.8., Colonel French, M.P., Lieutenant-Colonel Clifton, Lieut.-Colonel C. F. Keppell, Colonel Fraser, Captain Ives, Captain Isaac, Captain Harris, Sir S. Morton Peto, M.P., Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P., Mr. R. W. Crawford, M.P., Mr. Goschen, M.P., and Mr. Tite, M.P. Among the general company were Mr. Mitchell, M.P., Mr. W. Murray, M.P., Mr. Harvey Lewis, M.P., Mr. J. Abel Smith, M.P., Mr. McCormick, M.P., Mr. Getty, M.P., Mr. Locke, M.P., Mr. Bovill, M.P., Mr. Charles Pressley, C. 8., Mr. W. U. Arbuthnot, Alderman Humphery, Go vernor of the Irish Society, and Mr. William Hum phery ; Mr. Thwaites, chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works; the Master of the Drapers' Com pany, the Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths' Com pany, the Master of the Cooks' Company, the Pre sident of the Royal College of Physicians, the Trea surer of Christ's Hospital, the Treasurer of Guy's Hospital, the Treasurer of St. Bartholomew's Hos pital Dr. Kelley, Dr. Price, Mr. John Hibbert,Mr. John Hercy, Mr. P. F. Robertson, Mr. R. Seaman, Mr. E. Ball, Mr. S. Olding, Mr. E. Atkinson, Capt. M'Lachlan, Lieut. Barton, Lieut, W. W. Towse, Lieut. Webb and Assistant-Surgeon Chater, of the London Rifle Brigade. The dinner was of the sumptuous description for which the company are famous, and was served with the aid of all their magnificent appliances. On the removal of the cloth, the Loving Cop passed round the board, and the toasts of " Her Majesty the Queen" and "The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Rest of the Royal Family" were drunk by the company. Mr. CUBITT, the Prime Warden, then proposed " The Army and Navy and the Volunteers," asso ciating with the toast the name of the Duke of Cambridge, the Commander-in-Chief. There could be no Englishman, he said, who did not feel that a deep debt of gratitude was due to his Royal High ness for the care and ability which he had exhi bited during many years in promoting the effici ency of the great army of this country, and espe cially for the solicitude he bad always shown for the comfort of the soldier. (Cheers.) Who could ever doubt that an army so trained and organised, and having regard to the affection subsisting between all ranks of it and the Com mander-in-Chief, would prove the material of which it was made whenever it might be called into active service. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE, who was received with cheers, said, in responding to the compliment, Mr. Prime Warden, my Lords, and Gentlemen,—You have done me the honour of proposing my health in a moat acceptable manner to myself, in conjunction with that service with which I have been associated rwrehha which, as the eariiest period of my public life, and for greatest affection easily imagine, I entertain the on and regard. As respects the posi tion of th e ar t period in arms, I flatter myself that during the which have had the honour of enjoying the confid ence as the head o f the army Sovereign and of the country e e the service has in no respect thatretrogradedotlemenseinn trust w as pl ace d i n m y h an d s . (Cheers.) w e are livi ng i n a coun t r y i n which we all d es i re see Peace and p ros p er ity i n every part of the world,ecause we feel that if the w orld is kept at peace,thba be a most happy an d fortunate state of things will for this great com mercial empire; but I hav e always felt, and I be lieve that is the general feeling of country, that in order to attain that mach - desired a the end it is essen tial that the efficiency of the services ways fully maintained, for that efficiency should be al ways opinion, the best guarantee we can have for the is, in my con tinuance of peace. Ours is a great empire we h av e vast interests at stake ;we desire tob be ; Power ful in every par t of the g lobe ; a nd , desiring that, carry we should have po wer and stren gth to ou r wishes, which cm only be accomplished out ut me ans of services efficie nt in all res pects , and if they are kept ecient the peace of the world, as far efficient as this empire is concerned, has the best guarantee for its perservation. With that object in view, the country, feeling strongly on the subject, came for ward a short time ago, in a most noble and patriotic spirit, and produced an army of volunteers as an auxiliary to the regular forces. It is a spectacle which I do not believe has been equalled iny other part of the world. A vast number of men n a —l believe I may now say 150,000 —have banded themselves to gether, under the fostreing care of the Government, as an auxiliary to the army of this great empire, and the result has been that we all feel now a de gree of confidence and satisfaction in knowing that the country is really not so unprotected as it was formerly said to be. I think that circumstance re flects the greatest credit on the general feeling of loyalty and devotion to the country evinced by those who have so occupied and organised themselves, and I have always endeavoured, as a military man, to foster and encourage that noble and manly spirit which has now grown into a fixed principle in sup port of our military system. Gentlemen, the Prime Warden and this company have this day ct , e me a great honour. You have selected me to become an honorary member of this ancient an important civic company. It is a compliment ghly value, first as a compliment paid tomyselfpe onally, next as a compliment to the royal family to which I be long, and thirdly, to the service with which I am more immediately connected. Although I can well believe the first two reasons must have operated in your mind in doing me this honour, I cannot but feel the compliment is really more due to the cir cumstance of my being connected with the army than to any other, for I feel that it is to the army I owe everything as regards my present position. I have from early life been associated with the service. I have invariably found among its members the greatest support and the kindest feeling towards myself; and it is my pleasure and pride, after serv ing in the lower grades, to find myself at the head of this noble profession. It is a profession of which I am sure the country has a right to be proud, and which will at all times do its duty, in whatever po sition it may be placed. As you are well aware, the army of this country has often been placed in diffi culties and dangers, but these , have been overcome, and the result is that England possesses an army which it delights to honour. On this occasion you have honoured the army by drinking the toast which you have been pleased to associate with my name, and yod have also honoured me as the head of the army by electing me a member of this ancient and honourable company. I feel that this is the greatest compliment which you could have paid me and them, and I beg to thank you in the name of the army for the honour you have done it in my person. (Cheers.) The PRIME WARDEN then gave the toast of .‘ Her Majesty's Ministers," remarking as he did so that it mattered little which political party was in power provided the Government for the time being was composed of men earnestly desirous under Pro vidence of promoting the welfare of this great em pire, and its just position among nations, the pro. sperity of its people, and the peace of the world. The company would probably concur with him in thinking that the country was never in a more sa tisfactory condition, on the whole, than at present. He coupled with the toast the name of the Right Hon. Robert Lowe, a member of her Majesty's Government. Mr. LOWE said there was always some delicacy in returning thanks for a toast like that, which seemed to trench on the confines of party politics; but, happily, at no period was that delicacy ever lees than at present, for it was the rare felicity of the present Government to see the old distinctions of party almost wholly obliterated. (Hear, hear.) That was not the time nor the place to go deeply into the causes of that most happy state of things. It had arisen from the settlement, in an amicable spirit of compromise, of a vast number of questions which had divided the statesmen and politicians of the country into hostile camps, and was due also in a great measure to the high personal character, the great attainments, and the conspicuous place in the public eye of that remarkable man who had out lived a generation of statesmen—(cheers)--and who led, with almost unexampled power, popularity, and authority, the deliberations of the House of Commons, of which he was the ornament and the trusty head and adviser. (Cheers.) He would only say on behalf of the Government that as a body they were gentlemen sincerely anxious to do their duty, and to discharge conscientiously towards the public the functions devolving upon them. It was not for him to say that they had been the cause of the present happy state of things ; but he believed the second Government of Lord Palmerston would in future times be regarded as one of the most glorious in the national history. We were happy at home, our empire was extending, and he believed we were never more respected by foreign countries." These advantages had been secured by the practical wisdom of the people and by the con cord of our public men, and long might ouch astate , of things continue. (Cheers.) The toast of " The House of Lords" followed, the PRIME WARDEN associating with it the name of Lord CRANWORTK, who briefly acknowledged the compliment, dwelling on the important part which that assembly played in the Constitution of the country, its deep-rooted seat in the feelings of the community, and on the public advantages which result from the admission into its ranks from time to time of men who had fought their way in life and gained a seat in it, not from ancestral con nections, but from merit, citing the names of Carys fort, Ashburton, and Overstone as worthy of men tion in a company, for the most part, engaged in the pursuits of commerce. To the toast of " The House of Commons," Mr. R. W. CRAWFORD replied, stating that at no time did that assembly more fitly represent the opinions of the country at large than at present, and that there was no well-matured opinion which did not find a ready expression in it. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE said he had a duty to perform most agreeable to himself, and which he was sure would afford equal satisfaction to all whom he addressed. He had the honour of sitting next to Mr. Cnbitt, the respected Prime Warden of this ancient corporation, and the very fact of his having in two successive years filled the office of chief magistrate of this great and important city was the best proof that he was honoured and respected by his fellow-citizens. (Cheers.) With their and his permission he would propose his health, coupling with that toast " Prosperity to the Fishmongers' Company," of which he had that day become a member. He had at times heard it said that these great companies had seen their day, and that it would be better that they should cease to exist. He did not share that feeling ; on the con- , trary, he believed, and. that was an opinion he had long held, that those companies had very useful and important public duties to perform, and that they discharged them with the highest credit to the body corporate and with a great amount of general good. For himself he should always entertain a grateful recollection of the hospitality and kindness with which he had been received on this occasion; he believed in that respect he might also speak for the rest of the guests; and he hoped this great and ancient corporation might " flourish for ever, root and branch." (Cheers.) The toast was drunk with ac c l amat i on. Lord Justice KNIGHT BRUCE, wh ose name b ad been connected with the toast of "The Bench and the Bar," said, speaking of the Judges, it was thei r destiny to pass a great part of their lives in dis satisfying and displeasing half the litigants wh o came before them, unless, indeed, at times when they succeeded in disappointing both sides. (Laughter.) Nor, he said, ought they to expect or wish to be popular, but it was impossible not to feel sensible of the good opinion of men at once upright, intelligent, and independent. They did so feel, and they gratefully acknowledged it on this occasion. Mr. BovILL responded to the toast on behalf of the Bar. The PRIME WARDEN then gave in succession "The Corporation of London and the City Com panies" (for which the Master of the Drapers' Coln- Pany spoke) and the" Royal Hospitals," associating the name of Mr. Foster White, treasurer of St. Bar tholomew's. araethe to a i lli a young Th e compa n y separa t e i s h ort l y a f ter 10 o ' c l oc k . In the course of the entertainment the bargemaster present e d Royal Highness and the Prime rowed in at the race on thewThearmmeesilfwor badge given hothhealdivtehrayt andday by Mr. Thomas Dogget, deceased, a famous comedian of his time, in commemoration of the happy accession to the The of the family of her present Majesty. T Ro e th wi l a i n. of Prinoe's-stairs, Young, er was Thomas e r t t e h wrg e ti a. years, ie.: T pare rmt h s o e , erfyinot wereßritannia nmhoie: accompanied by about half a had gained this distinction in dozen f whom, named Campbell, beari:gtrhtnseevteral medals on his breast, was recognised by bridge as having served in the fi a during the Crimean war. The competitors l ' race, according to custom, rec e i ve d each a counplethef bottles of wine from the hands of th e Prime War. den, and the former winners of the coat and badge one bottle each, with some kindly hints as to the prudent use of it. On the gold casket, containing the record of the freedom presented to the Duke, are several bas reliefs—copies of some of those on Trajan's column at Rome, recording his victories over the Dacians and S.4maritans, or inhabitants of part of the Danu bian provinces and Russia. A selection of vocal music, under the direction of Mr. Henry Buckland, was sung by Madame Rudersdorff, Mr. Baxter, Mr. A. Austin, Mr. W. Cummings, Mr. Lewis Thomas, and others in the course of the evening. Mr. Harker acted as toast master. The company provided suitable entertain. ment for the Volunteer guard of honour from the London Rifle Brigade, who had received the Com mander-in-Chief on his arrival. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. SATURDAY REVIEW.—The party history of the session is soon told. At its commencement, there were indications that the Opposition contemplated a grand assault. The cession of the lonian Islands was a measure which seemed to furnish a fair battle-cry, and it was generally calculated that, with the help of the discontented Lishmen, the Oppo sition leaders could command a majority, assuming that they might count the votes of all their nominal adherents. But the project was either never entertained,or was speedily given up. Three or four of the members who were pro minent in the extinct Protectionist party expressed on the first night of the session their feeling that Lord Palmer merston represented their views as closely as any Minister for whom they could hope, and avowed their determination to hinder any immediate change of Government. This mutinous demonstration had the effect of proclaiming an armistice for the session. Party action on the part of the Opposition became hopeless as far as regarded any substan tial result, and damaging as an unnecessary advertisement of disunion. Mr. Disraeli appears to have accepted the situation with philosophy, and has retired for the time from all political contests, except those in which Church questions are involved. On two occasions only have the Opposition attempted a distinctly party move against the Government—in one of which they were successful, while they failed in the other. Both of them were provoked by Mr. Gladstone. At a moment when everything was smooth before him, and the seductions in taxation which the Government were enabled to make had almost buried in oblivion the past eccentricities of his finance, he made a proposal devised apparently for no other purpose than to remind the world that he was unchanged. The tax upon charities was recommended by no other con sideration than that it was a pedantic exaggeration of prin ciple which was likely to irritate the greatest number of persons for the smallest possible gain. After the measure was defeated, Lord Palmerston, with characteristic gene rosity, asserted that it had been brought forward with the full approval of all the Ministers. But it is difficult to be lieve that it was ever formally submitted to the Cabinet. The most unobservent student of English opinion upon the subject of charitable endowments would have been able to predict the result of such a proposal. Mr. Gladstone ap peared to have an inkling of its fate himself ; for he made a strenuous effort to carry it by a coup de main, before the aggrieved bodies, whose movements were sure to be slow, could be roused to action. Foiled in this manoeuvre he made no effort to save it. He delivered a speech in its behalf which was one of the finest of his efforts; but it was evidently composed not for the purpose of convincing his opponents, which he abandoned as a useless labour, but in order to vent upon all charitable persons—past, present, and to come— his irrepressible anger at being driven to retreat. He was unable, however, to procure the advocacy of one single in dependent member, and was forced to withdraw the project after a very brief debate. Upon the second occasion on which the Opposition forces were mustered against him, he was more successful. The subject of de bate was one of those personal questions which keenly ex cite the House of Commons, but are profoundly indifferent to the country, It was the proposal to cancel Mr. Church ward's contract, in punishment of his electioneering sins in 1859. Though the details of the case were much disputed, there was little question as to its main feature. The largest charity could not doubt that Mr. Churchward had timed his application with a view to the impending Dover election, and had relied much upon his political merits for its suc cess. On the other hand, whatever his sins might have been, it was an awkward precedent for the Queen's Govern ment to set, to ask the House of Commons to cancel a con tract that had been made by a former Government in her name. It was a case of which the merits were sufficiently balanced to enable men to vote according to their partisan allegiance. A slight desertion in the ranks of the Opposi tion resulted in a majority of eight in favour of the Govern ment. A subsequent attempt on the part of the Con servatives to reverse the decision was foiled by an ignomi nious rivalry of a pigeon-match ; and Mr. Churchward's contract was finally quashed by a majority of 14. SPECTATOR.—The Ministry has lost heavily, as well by the death of Sir C. Lewis—who was judgment to that col lective mind, as Lord Palmerston is force and Mr. Glad stone conscience and imagination—as by the shortcomings of those who survive, The Premier has made no blunder, but he is visibly older, and though time has not impaired his audacity or visibly diminished his tact, it is slowly but imperceptibly sapping that almost physical energy of thought which, and not insight or foresight, is his intellec tual claim to reign. He is coachman, and will be; but the observer does not feel quite so certain that he will always turn the corners so sharply without ever touching the kerb. It is becoming possible to conceive of Lord Palmerston mak ing a blunder, not from want of sympathy, as in 1858, but ' from want of nervous force, which has hitherto been incon ceivable. Earl Russell, too, has not gained in public estima tion either by the Brazilian or Polish despatches. He may be, and probably is, in both cases in the right, but there are traces in the former dispute of an irritation which deprives diplomacy of its one merit—freedom from personal or na tional passion, and in the latter of something not widely distinguished from political feebleness, The Six Points in tensely irritate Russia without exciting either among Poles or Englishmen any corresponding enthusiasm. On the American question the old Whig chief—for Lord Palmerston is no more a Whig than he is a radical—has almost alone among the aristocracy stood firmly to his great principles,but the rigid justice, the honest preference for freedom displayed by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, have been devoid of a trace of that warmth which might have bound a great people to us for ever. He has been judge, not politician, and plain tiff and defendant alike quit his tribunal with cheeks red wirh an irritation which does not quite subdue respect. Throughout that discussion and all others this session "languid Johnny," as Bulwer sang or chanted--for the verse is very like the kind most popular in the streets—hais not once "growled to glorious John." Nor has Mr. Glad stone advanced. His budget, it is true, was successful, teed his speech on defence of his tax on charities raised for ever the appreciation of educated men of his magnificent intel lectual power. There has not been such a speech since Macaulay in half an hour kJ/slashed Lord Hotham's success' , iul bill forbidding the Master of the Rolla to sit in the 11088 of Commons. It actually changed votes on the spot, men pledged to their constituencies murmering that it was im possible to resist. But, nevertheless, Mr. Gladstone has not advanced. The death of Sir Cornewall Lewis has left him heir apparent to the Liberal leadership, and as accidental leader he has on one or two occasions failed. He managed the vote of the Kensington purchase like a clever attorney —Mr. Ayrton would have done it as well—and showed a temper which, if he wants Liberal votes as well as the ad miration of Liberals, he must restrain. A sort of hard rather than fiery temper, a disposition to snub severely, is very general among our governing men, and by no means without excuse, It is almost the only social defence against the pitless pressure, intrusion, and impertinence to which they are of necessity subjected. Peel showed it always, and so did Lord Grey, and Lord Granville is probably the only politician of standing in whom it is totally absent. But this attitude is not the less consistent with so much of self-re straint as leaves all faculties unimpaired, gives mere baiters no hope of success, and spreads through a party that glow of confidence which soldiers feel when they watch the grave serenity of their leader. Tact and temper do not count in a competitive examination, but they are indispensable in governing men, and there was no tact in telling the house that as it had been led on so far it must pass the next vote ; no temper in the disdain with which the Chancellor satirised men who had voted the purchase of ground, but refused to pay for the sheds which lumbered it. The scene annoyed all cool heads ; for Mr. Gladstone ie our chief, be it as leader or conqueror, and to make a great one he must be rid of this. There is no drawback save one, which in England has always been insurmountable. We have had vicious Ministers of the first class, many Ministers who could not talk, two men whose word was worthless, at least one who drunk hard, and one a recognised coward ; but Parliament has not, since Clarendon's day, borne a Premier with a thin skin. Sir G. Grey failed in his single bill for amalgamating the London Police, and adhered during the session to a condemned system of penal discipline with the obstinacy which, to men of the world, suggests a conscious feebleness of will. The Duke of Newcastle has been prominent only in the removal of two judges on charges very possibly true, but at all events made in the dark; and in the sash and doubtful measure which ended in the transference of a vast section of a conti nent by a sale with secret conditions. As for the smaller fry, Sir Charles Wood is what he, always was, a block out of which a peer may be hacked, but of little other value; and Lord Granville is, as ever, the suavest representative of an extinct school of gentlemanly politicians. The single exception is the Duke of Somerset, whose opinion as well as his action daily inclines politicians to try once more the experiment of placing the Naval Department under one man's control. For the rest, the Cabinet, though still . . stron it g, rules. , s on the whole, lost ground in the opinion of those EXAMINER.—As far as party action or legislative result can be deemed true tests of healthful vitality, the session just closed must be regarded as the idlest and most inane which the present generation can remember. Nothing has gtr ao been attempted by those who would, and nothing has been tinkering accomplished by those who could, repair or amend our domestic institutions. On neither side of the table that divides the Haves from the Have-n o t s i s it a ctually alleged that n o thi ng requ i res to b e d one. T hat was the o ld cree d of Conservatism; baeoltt s oldering and the ient t m au h . a a f A al l l l e y n our OUt fi y a o ll u d n i g t T i s o o r n ie l s y c b r a y m dint r of u hu that it is made to hold to- TI-1E SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 3, 1863 petitive examination at the hustings in what is called gradual progress. When canvassing for votes they are all loud in repudia tin g the obsolete notion of its being possible to stand still. They are all ready to move on at the proper pace and at the proper time, but it is clear that their only notion of either consists in what may be necessary to outflank their Whig rivals in a forward march. When, therefore, these latter have shut themselves up in quarters which they have no mind to change at any ascertainable time, the only busi ness of their unadventurous adversaries is to lie in their trenches watching them. The one side won't venture out, even to forage for fresh provisions; and the other does not get the word to try and break in. So the grass grows high, and the weeds thrive all round and between them ; and if it were not for the honour of the thing, both might as well leave off sham soldiering and take to some unpretentious and inexpensive branch of industry. There are those who fancy they can explain the listlessness and fruitlessness of Parliament by asserting that under the terms of some mys terious form of courtly truce all legislative contention and competition has been indefinitely adjourned; and that to secure the kbservance of this parliamentary cartel the command of both hosts has been confided to the same hands. But, for our parts, we are very sceptical about the personal reading of events, and we every day become more so. We do not believe in Lord Palmerston's power of po litical mesmerism. On the contrary, we are inclined to think that if the veteran minister saw any strong disposi tion on the part of either people or aristocracy to move, he is just the man who would most adroitly place himself at the head of the movement. He has never been a theorising or inventive statesman, He never initiated any great change of policy, and no statute bears his name. But the same may be said of nearly all those ministers who for a long time have held the chief place in the Government of this country. The prime knack of retaining office under a con • stitutional system like ours consists not in originating but in conceding popular measures, when they are ripe for con cession, and not before. A minister with strong tendencies towards resistance and reaction may ne doubt do something (though not so much as some people imagine) to keep back the growth of opinion and to delay useful change. But every minister who has guided long the administrative councils of England has contrived to do so in tho main by watching carefully how the current sets and how the wind blows, and in trimming his sails accordingly. We give Lord Palmerston credit for no little sagacity of this kind ; but how can he exercise his skill in steermanship when there is nothing beneath him but stagnation, and nothing aroma(' him but fog? If nothing has been done in the way of legislation during the recent Session worth thanking for, it is because nothing has been seriously or earnestly asked from Parliament by the people. Ours is, after all, neither more nor less than a representative system of rule ; and if good desires are not distinctly and decisively expressed in Parliament, no Administration can be expected to carry great or good measures, fur practically no Administration is or can be able to do so. It is mere shabby hypocrisy to pretend the contrary. Government has been asked to do nothing in the Session of 1863, and has constitutionally done it. It may be much to be lamented that parliamen tary rule should thus become discredited in the eyes of the world, and the more so at a time when various empirical devices, professing to be better, are set up for public admi ration. But the real question is—Who is to be blamed ? And, as old friends of the people and of progress, we say unhesitatingly the people, or at least the constituencies, themselves. - - - LONDON REVIEW.—The Parliamentary session of 1863 will not occupy a distinguished place in our legislative annals. The Govern men t opened it without professions, and they have closed it without conspicuous achievements. During the session the House of Commons sustained, in the death of Sir G. C. Lewis, a loss which is not likely to be soon repaired. Calm, sagacious, candid, he had inspired an amount of confidence secon d only to that which is felt in Lord Palmerston himself. Ills death leaves Mr. Gladstone without a competitor for the leadership of the Liberal party, just when h e h as succeede d i n making it clear that he is incapable of discharging the duties of the post. Still un rivalled as an o ra t or h e h a s seriously compromised his authority with the House of Commons, by failures of tact and temper; and by an apparent incapacity for appreciat ing the feelings and modes of argument of average English men. The loss of life which unfortunately occurred during the popular rejoicings on the marriage of the Princo of Wales roused Sir George Grey to a momentary exhibition of vigour. But the bill which he introduced for amalga mating the city w ith th e metropolitan police was opposed. by the united f orce o f the mun icipal dignitaries of England and Wales; and the Home Secretary was fain to retreat from the storm he had raised, under the shelter of a techni cal objection to th e manner i n which his me a sure had been proposed. A si m il ar want o f success attended his efforts to save garotters f rom th e i n di g nity of flogging ; and as he suffered severely in th e d e b a tes which a rose out of his con duct in the M'Lachlan case, and also out of some other act s of his administration, it can scarcely be denied that his de partment of th e Government ' has fallen materially in public consideration during the session. The most mortify ing Ministerial def ea t was , however, that which attended their propo s iti on t o purc hase the Exhibition building . at Kensington Gor e . The su pport of Mr. Disraeli and Sir S. Northcote was un availing against the general sus picion of a j o b, an d the univers al determination to throw off the yoke of a well-known clique. Success was, no doubt, hopel e ss under any circumstances. But, for the contumelious manner in which the vote was negatived, the Government have mainly to thank Mr. Gladstone's in discreet and irritating advocacy. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had an opportunity of carrying through the financial measures of the year with general assent But Mr. Gladstone was n ot content to rea p the advanta g es of a safe but commonplace unanimity. Although he might have enjoyed the popularity of remitting taxes without the sub stitution of new b urthens, he deliberately preferred the gratification of a morbid taste for financial perfection. In order to round off a few angles and fill up a few g a p s w hi c h seemed to mar the f air proportions of our fiscal system, he proposed to compel clubs to take out spirit licences, to abolish 0 upon the renn. country,e They for theewere e still sake less of the exemption fro m income-tax en j o y ed b y chariti es , and to levy an additiona l dut y on carriers' carts. The Ho use o f Comm i Commons were naturally indisposed to inflict a large amo un t of petty annoyance adding some 3000 to the ve inclined to mulct our great charitable and educational in stitutions. C OURT JOURNAL. — parliament has b een prorogue d at a somewhat mo mentous time, when we should have been greatly content to have still h a d it s a d vice and decisions on some of the quest io ns which ar e now agitating Europe in every direction. B ut we su pp os e it would have been too much teoyhsahvoeuladsksetodpofinvLnderoYmean nyM.P.'s or no bl e l ords that during all this heat and dust, even though the peace and prosperity o f E ng l an d were dependent up on their doing so. Certain it is that her pee eh that th ere was a painful embarrass men d o , or ot heetransactions few Majesty's Govern ment have no very gr ea t cause to congra tulate themselves on the ses sion just b roug h t to a close, nor at the prospect f or the fut ure, and it was very ev id en t in the in eanoeynadlSvouring to av o id any allusion to impend ing diffi cu l t i es , and that th e G overnment might make m e a whichur T e sa Taking nwgthhi all which e theythe mosthav capital have proposed, opose out fth thhaivnegscairrntihedneonnsiwdeirthatiofonr,ew cannot but feel glad at the course which the Ministry have p ursue d w i t h regar d to theigu Governments . contest in America, and that they have very wisely alike disregarded the taunts and insults of the Northerners and of their allies in England, and the fiery, impetuous appeals made by such ardent admirers of the South as Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Lindsay. The quarrel is one of the moat savagely and fiercely conducted that has ever been witnessed in the course of modern history, and, as is the case with all hot headed combatants, they would only shower their blows on the head of any unfortunate but well-meaning person who ventured to step in and interfere between them. But in the other dealings with foreigfi Powers we cannot so warmly approve of the policy which the Government have thought fit to adopt. In fact, they have succeeded most where they have been content to leave everything alone; but as that has only been the case with regard to America, we find that affairs look anything but promising in those quarters where our Government have chosen to interfere. The se of the session has been marked by a very sad series of losses, or changes, amongst the greatest of the land. First, the Duke of Hamilton was suddenly snatched from his family, and, not to speak of the recent deaths of Lord Downes, the Earl of Mornington, Lord Macdonald, General Halkett, and Sir Cresswell Cresswell, we have sustained a severe loss by the unexpected demise of the Marquis of Normanby, a nobleman greatly respected and admired by all with whom he came in contact, however much they might differ from him in politics. His loss will be greatly felt abroad, where he was perhaps better known than in England, owing to the many years during which he lived at Paris and Florence as the Ambassador of Great Britain. As a thoroughly sincere and very able supporter of the fallen dynasties of Italy, the opinions of the deceased nobleman must at least command our careful attention ; but when he generously came for ward as the champion of the oppressed, and the enemy of the bigoted, the knavish, and the tyrannical, when he de s ounced misrule, as much under the sway of a professedly liberal Government as under that of a Bourbon or aDuke of Parma, none but those who se nature is incapable of sym • pathising with liberty and toleration can fail to respect the advocacy of Lord Normanby, or to regret that the present Government was not more willing to listen to his earnest ad vice. A future age will, perhaps, be better able to appreciate his qualities and talents, for then the vices of the Italian Government. which he has so strenuously denounced, will stand forth unscreened by the blind partisanship of the multitude ; and the nation, moreover, will not merely think of him as the opponent of Victor Emmanuel in the English House of Lords, but will regard his character and career as a whole, as a statesman, orator, author, and the life-long friend of the oppressed. TKE LAW TIMES.—The session has closed, and its results are before us. Law reform, which has filled so prominent a place for many years, has come to a sudden stana .s. ill, but one measure of this class—the Expurgation of the Statutes —being among the doings of 1863. There are many small bills eff ec ti ng tr ifli ng i m provement s , b ut f or these the country is indebted more to the activity of private members than to the energy of the Government, which seems to have been for once well pleased to delegate its duties to volunteer law-makers; but, fortunately, with such good effect, that it is to be hoped th a t th e exam ple th us se t may be more ex- tensively followed in future, and private members permitted to undertake some of the lesser work of legislation, which officials may deem to be beneath their dignity. As for law reform, the results of recent endeavours in that direction do not give occasion for much regret at its absence from the congratulations of the Queen's closing Speech. The Bank ruptcy and the Transfer of Land and Registration of Titles Acts have not tempted to further efforts by their authors. The first has proved to be a monstrous failure—or worse—a monstrous mischief; the others have been almost inoperative, and threaten to die of pure inanition. So it has been, and so it will be, so long as law reform is allowed to be dictated or meddled with by mercantile committees,amateur lawyers, and not entrusted to experienced lawyers,' who, knowing the existing law, can alone know how to amend it. The lull of the last session is not the result, as some suppose of exhaustion of subjects for law reform ; there is abundance of work for real reformers to do. We need to name only the reconstruction of the Procedure in Magistrates' Courts, the Law of 1 rusts and Trustees, and the Law of Partnership ; but the Parliament and country are wearied of schemes spun out of the brains of theorists, and law reform will not resume its popularity until it is restored to the charge of practical and experienced hands, whose work may not be so ornamental in aspect, but will be vastly more efficient in its operation. Naval and Military Intelligence. THE NAVY. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and the officers of the Controller's Department and Board of Works, having completed their inspection at Chatham and Sheerness yards, proceeded to Woolwich on Saturday, in the Admiralty steam yachts Vivid and Enchantress, for the purpose of inspecting the naval armament equipments in the Royal Arsenal. Capt. S. E. Parish, commanding the Ardent, and Commander Lysaght, of the Fis gard, representing the Commodore and Superinten dent of the yard (absent on leave), met their Lord ships and party on their stepping on shore. Rear- Admiral Eden and Capt. Drummond landed at Woolwich Dockyard from the Vivid, and proceeded to London. The Duke of Somerset, Sir F. Grey, Mr. Stansfeld, Lord C. Paget, Admiral Robinson, Mr. Reed, Col. Greene, and Capt. Hall landed at the Arsenal pier from the Enchantress at 10 o'clock, and commenced an inspection through the manu facturing departments of the establishment. They proceeded first to the Royal gun factories, where they were engaged upwards of an hour with Mr. Anderson, acting superintendent of the department, in examining the multiplicity of designs and draughts of guns for sea service submitted for their Lordships' sanction and approval. They also visited in succession the whole of the department, passing through the various forges and workshops now standing idle. The party appeared to be struck with the deserted appearance of the Royal gun factories since their last inspection. The Board and accom panying officials then proceeded to the gun store, where they inspected with much interest guns on the new breech -loading principle which supplies the expanding gas ring, introduced by Mr. Broadwall, and now under proof by the Select Committee of the Arsenal. They also examined some models of Krupp's c ast - steel guns wh i c h h ave b een sub mitted to trial and fired successfully. Passing onward, they entered the shell foundry, under the super intendence of Lieut.-Col. Boxer, which department IS likewise comparatively still. Leaving the shell foundry, the party passed through the joiners' and wheels' branches of the carriage department, exa mining the naval productions of the establishment, such as the carriages, platforms, and equipments for ships' guns. They afterwards visited the cartridge mills and machinery-room of the Laboratory, where they terminated their inspection. They left Wool wich by the 1.5 train for London. Her Majesty's paddlewheel sloop Ardent, Capt. Parish, in basin at Woolwich, has been stripped and dismantled, and will be paid out of commission on Wednesday. The officers and crew who returned in the Ardent, engaged latterly on service in the River Plate, were Capt. Parish (promoted), Lieuts. H. D. King and C. J. H. Bliss, Master T. Oyler, Sarg. G. B. Moore, M,D., Paymaster Geo. W. Muir (acting), Chief Engineer Geo. Park, and 89 petty officers and seamen. The state of the ship and crew since her reception in basin at Woolwich has been highly commended. The paddlewheel steamer Salamis, 250 horse power, which, according to rumours current at Chatham within the last few days, is intended to be fitted as a yacht for his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,was taken out of Chatham harbour on Fri• day for the purpose of making her first trial of speed on the completion of fitting of her engines. The en gines were in charge of Mr. Ravenhill, of the firm of Ravenhill, Salkeid, and Co., by whom they have been manufactured, and the trial was watched on the part of the Admiralty by Mr. Baker, chief engineer, Mr. Lang, master shipwright, under whose superintendence the Salamis was built at Chat ham Dockyard, and other officials belonging to the establishment. The vessel was in charge of Mr. Blakey, second master, Queen's pilot at Chat ham. With 180 tons of coals on board the salamis drew 9ft llin aft and 9ft 6in forward; or, in other words, she was on a nearly even keel. She is fitted with Morgan's patent feathering floats, and her engines are fitted with all the modern improvements. The diameter of the cylinders is 61in, and the length of stroke 4ft 6in. She has four boilers in which the steam is generated, and 12 furnaces, in addition to which she is fitted with superheated steam apparatus. The vessel was taken considerably past the Mouse light, as far as the entrance to the Downs, when with Lull boiler power the speed of the vessel was very satisfactory. Two runs were made at the measured mile, Maplin sands, at about three-quarter speed, and, notwithstanding that the paddlewheels were only making an average of 34 revolutions per minute, the vessel attained an average speed of close upon 15 knots per hour. With an improved trim and with 33 revolutions of the paddlewheels there is little doubt that she will attain an average of 16 knots per hour, which is exceedingly satisfactory. During the trial her engines worked with remark able smoothness, and, notwithstanding that it was the first occasion of their being tried, there was no priming and no occasion to stop the machinery on account of hot bearings. Directions have been received at Chatham Dock- , yard from the Admiralty for the construction of a 12. gun iron vessel, the first of a squadron of iron fri gates of a somewhat smaller size than those of the Warrior and Achilles class, which are to be built from the designs of Mr. Reed, Chief Constructor of the Navy. The new vessel is to be commenced in No. 2 dock as soon as the Achilles is completed, which will be in about three months. She is to be about 80ft shorter than the Achilles, and altogether will, it is anticipated, be a decided improvement on the present large iron steamers. The following appointments have been made at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Henry S. Sandys to the Recruit; James N. Dick, Burg., to the Medina; and Arthur G. St. George Ponsouby, master's as sistant, to the Nile, for surveying. THE ARMY. The following important changes are to take place in Aldershott Camp is the course of the pre sent week :—To-morrow the Royal Horse Guards Blue, under Lieut.-Col. Baillie, are to march from the North Camp to Windsor. On the same day the Ist Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards, under Colonel Dairy mple, are to leave for London, being relieved by the 2d Battalion Grenadier Guards. On the same day the 2d Battalion Ist Royals, under the command of Col. Holcombe, will leave for Ports mouth, to replace the 20th Regiment, which has embarked for India. On Thursday the 12th Royal Lancers under Lieut.-Col. Oakes, are to leave for Hounslow, Hampton Court, and Kensington. Col. Smythe, C. 8., commanding the 76th Regi ment, now stationed at Aldershot t, has received orders to increase its strength to 900 rank and file, with the usual proportion of officers and non-com missioned officers. The first flying column of the season marched out from Aldershott on Saturday, the Ist inst., under the command of Major-Gen. Russell, commanding the 3d Infantry Brigade. It consisted of the Cara bineers, a detachment of Royal Engineers, a detach- Ment of the idilitary Train, the G Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery, the Ist Battalion of the 3d Regiment, the Ist Battalion of the 24th Regiment, the 2d Battalion of the 60th Rifles, and a detach ment of the Commissariat Staff Corps. The column marched to Woolmer, where it was to halt yester day. It marches to-morrow to Beacon-hill, halts there on Wednesday, marches on Thursday to Stand. hurst, halts there over Friday, and returns to Alder shott on Saturday. On Friday Ensign Cumberland and seven rank and file of the 82d Regiment, and Ensign Vigne, of the 67th, left the camp at Colchester to join the service companies of those regiments in India. In the course of last week 54 rank and file of the 103 d Regiment, and 38 rank and the of the 98th (accom panied by Capt. Edwards and Ensign Roberts), left the camp with the same object. Further draughts of officers and men are expected to leave the camp on Thursday or Friday for . India. Lord De Grey and Ripon has appointed Capt. E. F. Du Cane, RR, inspector of military prisons, and Sir G. Grey has also appointed Capt. Du Cane a director of convict prisons. Capt. Du Cane was officially employed for some years in Western Aus • tralia, and since his return to England has been engaged in the War-effice. The hired freight ship Louisa sailed from Spit head at 2 p.m. on Saturday for Hongkong, leaving the anchorage by the Needles passage before a fine breeze from the S.E. She had on board the follow ing troops. viz.-22d Company of Royal Engineers —Major Edwards, Lieuts. Williams and Bond, 100 non-commissioned officers and men, 12 women, and 15 children. Commissariat Staff Corps-4 staff ser geants, 4 women, and 8 children ; 22 men, 4 wo men, and 2 children. Royal Engineer Department —Clerks of Works Walker and Diack. The 27th Regiment, 4 women ; the 99th Regiment, 4 women. Staff Assist. Surg. Wood proceeded in the ship in medical charge. A portion of the Portsea town line of fortifica tions, at their north-western extremity, and extend ing from high water mark to the Unicorn-gate, have been disarmed and handed over by the War Department to the naval authorities at Portsmouth to be incorporated with the plot of ground on which the Admiralty have already caused operations to be commenced for the building of naval barracks. The Portsea lines of fortification are all about to be le velled with the ground, and their site appropriated to barracks and parade and drill grounds. For all defensive purposes they have long been useless. The extensive suburb of Landport, which is considerably larger than Portsea itself, runs up to the very foot of the glacis, and surrounds ditch, bastion, and cur• tain in such a manner as to leave the guns on the works nothing whatever to point at but the bedroom windows of the peaceful inhabitants outside the walls. A new code Of instructions for establishing auni form system, at home and abroad, of Artillery duties, has been issued from the Horse Guards, by command of his Royal Highness the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief. Under the new regulations the commanding officer of Artillery in a garrison or district is responsible for the whole of the ordnance, ammunition, and stores within the limits of his command, and will make such a distribution of his force as he may consider best for the public service. The field officers are directly responsible to the commanding officer for the whole of the ar mament and stores of that portion of the fortress or works assigned to each, and will report weekly. These portions of the fortress or works are to be divided into Artillery districts. Each district will be in charge of a captain, or, if there be not enough captains, the senior lieutenant; and the subalterns will be distributed to the districts in proportion to their extent. Each officer in charge of a district will be responsible to the lieutenant-colonel under whom he may be serving for everything connected with the works under his charge. The distribution of the portion of the Coast Brigade which may be serving in a district, is also vested in the command ing officer of Artillery, who will take care that all the officers, &c., composing it are employed at such points and in such duties as will cause the greatest possible benefit to accrue to the service from their experience. When master gunners are attached to any of the districts of a station, the captains in charge of such districts will, of course, avail them selves to the utmost of the services of these carefully selected and well-instructed men. As soon as an officer joins a garrison, he is to make himself ac quainted with the arrangements of the ordnance and stores in every district in the garrison besides that to which he may be particularly attached. For this purpose he will go round every district—if a captain, twice with the captain of the district ; and if a subaltern, once with the captain and once with a subaltern of the district. The captain will men tion in his weekly report the names of such officers as have been round with him or his subaltern in conformity with this order. The completion of this order is limited to four weeks from the period of officers joining the garrison, at the end of which time they will themselves report in writing to the commanding officer their having complied with the same. THE VOLUNTEERS. The annual fete and regimental dinner of the Queen's Westminster Rifles took place on Saturday at the Crystal Palace. Besides an amateur thea trical performance, which was given in the theatre that last week was known as " Richardson's," there were footraces far a series of money prizes, steeple chases, blindfold racing, long jumping, and high j ump i ng . At the dinner Lord Grosvenor presided, supported by Lady Elcho, Lady Charlotte Russell, Lord Elcho, Lady Constance Grosvenor, Lieut.-Col. the Hon. C. H. Lindsay, Major Geo. Russell, Major Hughes, &c. A large number of ladies were pre sent. The Chairman proposed the toast, The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," to which Col. Lind say replied for :he army and Major Hughes for the volunteers. Lord Grosvenor replied to the toast of " The Queen's (Westminster)," proposed by Lord Elcho. The annual inspection of the Ist Tower Hamlets Administrative Battalion, comprising the 3d, 7th, 10th, and 12th Tower Hamlets Corps, by Colonel Morris, C. 8., took place on Saturday evening at the Cricket-ground, Cockburn-road, Bow-road. The Volunteers, to the number of 700, were under the command of Lieut.-Col. Buxton, M.P. The inspec tion commenced shortly after seven p.m., and the inspecting officer, Col. Morris, having examined the arms and accoutrements, the regiments went through a variety of evolutions in a creditable and soldier like manner. At the conclusion of the inspection the regiment formed square, and Col. Morris, in ad dressing the Volunteers, said that, with regard to the general efficiency of the corps, the battalion movements were fairly executed, and the ground not being of a satisfactory nature he must congratulate the commanding officer, Col. Buxton, on the manner in which he had handled the regiment. The arms appeared to be clean, but the firing was defec tive. Next year he hoped to see them on ground where they could skirmish a little. The regiment then marched to the Whitechapel schoolrooms, where an excellent supper was provided by Colonel Buxton, to which 720 sat down. The third annual prize meeting of the Ist Surrey Rifles was held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday last, the 29th, 30th, and 31st of July, at the regimental ranges, Rye-hill, Peckham. The chal lenge cup given by Lieut. Puckle, hunorary secre tary of the corps, value 10 guineas, conditions 150, 200, and 300 yards ranges, five rounds, was won by Private C. Waterman with 46 marks. Mrs. Mac donald's prize, value 10 guineas, conditions, 200 and 300 yards, five rounds, was won by Private Curtis with 30 marks. The Kenning ton (No. 2) Company's Challenge Cup, value 20 guineas, conditions 500 and 600 yards, five rounds, was won by Private Macrone, with 25 marks. The Camberwell (No. 1) Company's prizes were com peted for at 450 and 550 yards, seven rounds. The first prize, £l5 15s. was won by Private Fisher, with 45 marks; the second, £lO 10s., was won by Private M acrone , w ith 37 marks. The pri nc i pal officers' prize (at 500 or 600 yards, five rounds), £lO 10s., was won by Private Macrone-31 marks. Throagh an order received from the War-office on Friday to stop the shooting at the range until fur ther orders, no prizes were won that day. The long range shooting and unfinished prizes are to be shot for at Plaistow this day. The Essex Volunteerscontinue to " keep the game alive." The Tendring Hundred Company has had a competion at the butts at Wheeley for an electro plated tankard. The shooting Was at ranges of 200, 500, and 600 yards, and Colour-Sergeant Bones proved the winner, making 41 marks. Five rounds were fired at each range. On Wednesday ten of the Colchester corps and ten of the Tendring Hundred company had a match at Weeley. Colour- Sergeant Bones again made the highest score and. became entitled to a cup, which was subscribed for by the whole party previous to the commencement of the shooting, which was conducted at ranges of 200, 300, 500, and 600 yards, five shots e^.ch. The score at the close stood as follows :—•Colchester, 414 ; Tendring Hundred, 389. The 2d Essex battery of Artillery has had a competition for prizes at West Tilbury. The first prize, a silver cup of the value of £lO, given by Captain R. Baker, for competition among twenty members who had attended the greatest number of drills from January 1 to June 8, 1863, was shot for at 200 and 300 yards, five rounds each, and was won by' Gunner Mann, who made 23 marks. The Fecund prize, of the value of £5, was given by Lieutenant C. Asplin, and was open to all members who had attended eight drills from January 1 to June 8 ; the shooting was at ranges of 100 and 200 yards, and Sergeant Sackett and Sergeant-Major Biddell tied ;in shooting off the former won. A prize, of the value of £5, was given by Lieutenant F. Asplin, upon the same condition as the former ; Gunners Reeve and Tomlin tied, and in shooting off the former won. A party of 17 of the Brent wood company have competed at their butt for a silver cup, which was won, after a well-sustained match, by Private Meadway, who had to shoot off a tie with Sergeant Taylor. The Suffolk County Me Association will hold ite annual prize meeting at Ipswich on Thursday and Friday, September 10 and 11. The 2d Suffolk battery of Artillery shot for a number of prizes last week. The first contest was for a challenge cup presented by the honorary members, the shoot ing being of 200 and 300 yards, seven rounds each. After several ties had been disposed of, Surgeen Rand was proved the winner. The next prize, the ladies' cup, was won by Gunner J. Cardy. The third competition was between second-class shots for a silver cup presented by the commandant of the corps, Lieutenant R. D'Eye ; the ranges were 200 a►nd 300 yards, seven rounds each, and Second- Lieutenant Cobbold proved the winner. The third- , class shots competed for three prizes of £2, Xl,and 10s., given by Captain W. R. D'Eye ; the ranges were 150 and 200 yards, five rounds each, and the prizes were won respectively by Gunners Laws, Emmany, and Bartlett. A prize offered to the corps by the honorary memberr was won by Capt. E. D'Eye, who made 25 marks at 100 and 200 yards, five shots each. The Ist Norfolk Administrative Battalion formed an encampment on Wednesday in Gunton-park, the seat of Lord Suffield, Lieut.-Col of the battalion. The encampment was continued on Thursday and Friday, and was broken up on Saturday. COUNTRY MARKETS. .V. YORK-SATURDAY. There was a limited show of wheat to-day, and the trade was dull, at rather lower rates than last week. Oats about the same as last Saturday. Barley scarce, and for grinding sorts the demand was firm. Beans made steady prices. _ . - Wheat,' red 44s to 46s I Oats.... 22s to 24 9 White do ....48s to 52s Beans 40s to 42s Barley .29s to 30s Peas to --s Malt, 62s to 64s per qr. ; rye, 34s per qr.; flour, 34s to 36s per sack. GRANTHAM—SATURDAY. The crops are in a satisfactory state. , and promise well. —New white wheat, 49s to 53s ; red, 45s to 47s per 36st. ; malting barley, —s to —s per qr ; grinding, 285,t0 30s ; oats, 24s to 26s ; beans, 38s to 408; peas, 36s to 38s. NOTTINGHAM-SATURDAY. Our market was again sparingly supplied with wheat, and the demand was slow, at is per qr less money. A heavy erop is expected. Barley scarce, and business dull. Oats about the same as last week. Beans scarce, but healthy. —White wheat, from 48s to 54s ; red wheat, 42s to 495. Barley—malting, 35s to 398 ; grinding, 27s to 30s. Oats, old, at 25s to 31s Od ; new, 22s to 295. Beans sold at 41s to 455 per qr, ; new, 37s to 425. NORTHAMPTON-SATURDAY. A limited supply of wheat to-day, which came to hand in good condition. The market quiet, prices being a shade easier. Barley scarce, but late prices supported. Oats in moderate show, with a quiet business. Beans also scarce. —White wheat, 44s to 488 ; red, 43s to 46s ; fine, 48s to --s per qr. Barley, 36s_to 40s—grinding, 29s to 3 8 s; Oats, 24s to 30s per 24 stone. Beans, 37s to 40s. Peas, 36s to 42s per qr. LEICESTER-SATURDAY. Our market was fairly supplied with wheat, and some new samples were offered and sold at 52s per quarter. —Old white wheat, 46s to 51s ; new, 458 to 528 per 36 stone. Old red, 44s to 50s per 36 stone. Barley, malting , new, 348 to 38s per qr.; grinding, 27s to 30s ; old oats, 27s to 3!s; new oats, 24s to 26s per 24 stone. Beans, new, 38s to 42s per 38 stone ; flour, 30s to 36s per 20 stone. NORWICH-SATURDAY. There was a fair supply of wheat at market to-day, but the demand being slack the advance established last week was nearly lost. Little business doing, however, farmers being reluctant sellers. White wheat. 46s to 49s Red wheat 43s to 483 Malting barley ... 38s to 40s Chevalier barley 36s to 373 Distilling do 33s io 36s Oats.. 24s to 28s Flour, 32s 6d to 33s Gd per sack from the miller. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. ..Aug. 18. via Marseilles .. Aug. 13. .drazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. Aug. 4. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena.. Aug. J• China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. Aug. 2. via Marseilles ...Aug --, Falkland Islands. Gibraltar, via Southampton Aug. 2. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Aug. 2. . . . - via Marseilles Aug. --• India (Bombay), via Southampton Aug. 10. via Marseilles Aug. 4. Portugal..... Aug. 4. Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Aug. 2. via Marseilles Aug. ..... Newfoundland Oporto and Vigo .. U. S. and British N. America, ty Brit. packet.... Aug. 5 , by U.S. packet.... by Canadian packet. Aug. 7. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneritle • Aug. 10. Bahamas, via New York Mexico.. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, 1 ' Aug. 13. California. and British Columbia.. Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur chasing Horniman's pure Tea; very choice at 3s. 4d. and 4s. "High Standard" at 4s. 4d. (formerly 41. Bd.), is the strongest and most delicious imported. Agents in every town supply it in packets. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—Consumption, all nervous, bilious. liver, and stomach complaints, in every stage, are only ag gravated and accelerated by drugs of every description, but perfectly curable by Du Barry's health restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which had been considered hopeless. We quote a few.—Cure No. 62,914. Miss Lange, 18 years of age, cured after the medical men had abandoned all hopes of her recovery from the last stage of pulmonary consumption, with fearful cough, expectoration , exhaustion, spitting of blood, perspirations, hollow cheeks. emaciated to a skeleton. She is now, thank God, a perfectly healthy, blooming, fleshy girl,—N. Lange, Commissaire de Police. Cure, No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley Surrey, of t hirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver' derangement, and partial deafness.—Cure, No. 47,121. WO Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion. gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies. —Cure, No. 54,816. The Rev. James T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk. of indigestion and torpidity of the liver, which had resisted all medical treatment. In tins, 11b, 2s 9d; 21b, 4s 6d; 51b Its ; 121 b, 22s ; 241 b, 40s. Barry du Barry and Co., No. 77. Regent-street, London ; also For tnum and Mason; and a ll grocers and chemists in every town of the United Kingdom. Births. FLowER.—On the 31st ult., at Pine House, Camberwell• green, the wife of John Swan Flower, Esq., of a Baugh.. ter. LODDER.—On the 30th ult., at Fauldtrees, Rothesay, Mrs. E. F. Lodder, the wife of Commander Lodder, R.N., of a son. PERIGAL—On the Ist inst., at 28, Hereford-square, Broocir ton, the wife of Frederick Perigal, Esq., of a daughter. Marriages. CL EAVER--SEWELL.—On the 30th ult., at Saint Barnabas Church, Pimlico, the Rev. Euseby D. Cleaver, to Julian Helen, eldest daughter of the late General Sir William H. Sewell, K.C.B. COBBOLD—DRAGE. —On the 30th nit, a t Westerfield, Ips- , wich, Nathaniel F. Cobbold, Esq.. 'fourth son of J. C. Cobbold, Esq., M.P., to Maria Caroline, the youngest daughter of the Rev. Charles Drage, rector of Wester field. Deaths. Bucx,—On the Ist inst., at 14, Walcot-place, Lambeth, Mr. Thomas W. Buck (of the firm of Buck and Wootton, aged 66. CARR.--0a the 30th ult., at Nymans, near Crawley, Sus sex, Wm. Carr, Esq., aged 68 . COPE —On the 30th ult., at Spark - hill, near Birmingham , Charles H. Cope, Esq., aged 77. HUXLEY.—On the Ist inst., George Knight Huxley, Esql of 41, North Bank, Regent's - park. KENNINGTON.--.012 the 31st ult., at L asswade House, ne ar ItA E N d D in A b L zg — h o , C a li rithrlees3Kusetnnuliz a Kennington, ' Esq., a ge d 56. The Wandering Farm, Kingston-on-Thames, Mr. Edward Randall, late of Brix• ton, aged 62. London: Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREW S, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, a t T HE SuN Office , No. 112 : Strand, in the Precinct of the bavoy, in the CountY 01 Middlesex.—Monday, August 3, 1863.