The Sun. — London, England, 1863-09-04 00:00:00

""1 . _ PAPE lit L., ',.; S:' , l ;1 5 :•'- 1- ,% V i e, ---- --t 1 ,..., o';,, A 0, 1-1. _ ~.....„ el r.,/ :',, n il7* •,'' tn k.A..- . e-4\-7.."?•4. 42);=14t,40` ... - t . Yini - 1-:::-:;'. A - :, il ,4:•:' , ... 4 -4..• -. 4 7 , ' 1 .7.. - ' : 0 4 4 4 . -„ , were not expected to take more than the lie,..,iltitti t. .- ,;, ~.! • L --..-...- 1 4. II / ...... , r , ,,.,, when a visitor had drank out of a vessel he could blend iJ. S 0 ,4 ..: , ~2 \I" 1 / 4 ' % 1 .V (lin . a tit .. r"%r -fl lIV, - ',,,,' ,'-: s• - : , • -,...?,,. - ~1-7-4,;4.'i1 ` PitoZire—v, ;%, 1; , • 1. ...........,'`` .-. ' . to one of a number of attendants who were always near, , .",. - .• .t. ~ L* \ \‘ : ,;ts \ I , -., XI -- -.. .i4-t i i l4'.. ,010 .. .---1 1 111011 11111 61k 4 4' " ' CI igit''l'\-1 -4, 16' 1- ‘ lll l.* ••".....' ' ' ' '' ' 2 ' . 11 6 . "41111 - 1 41--'-'''' , . '-1 1 1. ,'" 1' .... 4424' , -; !' ~, ..,.. z ..„ ) ... .. ~ f ~, ~„.. 1 • _. and who were glad to finish elf the contents. While all A-,_ ,.. ''' ,r .-., , ~ , this toasting was going on, 31 guns were fired in honour of • ~,, , ee ,' yore 7 C :4 4 `'. C7'' ‘'hiliiilrn! ''‘ lliiil ' i c teii (4 ,44Lik L3sl4lll-i cUr l4 l:oo 16 • 65 : j ; 11(. .. 1 ' - ! - ) R Or r ' 'A ' t's i :4-; ' : • -:*r.- ' - ......e.- i / 0f ..."1 *4. '"; '-',., '7 ', 4 ,. the visit ; and when Mr. Gaaitsettuned to Whydah ho had ' ' ;' ,. ... , ,t.Z., / 1 • .... : .. , .9,....' 1-3 EMEM BE R, WE SUP AT EVANS' RVERY EVENING THIS WEEK after Alfred Mellon's Promenade Concerts. y are on did finally denied on--of EA.—VAC (NCIES f or MIDSHIPMEN en d APPRENTICES in a first-class London shipping firm. Premium mod.rate. Also apprentices without premium.— Apply to SIMMONDS an d Co.. 38. St. Mary-at-hill, East cheap, E.C. Third Officers and Stewards wanted. ?stirred :h. By 11855, ,e path parti lich it lealing ,wercd ne anY fruit, ale, or tering, landed land." sing ill eessary occult ed be in the w ive to na y be iteamer erience the in nr they ommit- bovine be gap; of 1855 3arcase, etables, custody )le to a carcase, poultry section Icy and al ends. :ed the iisances a. The sions of "with .sed and ent fur le proof or de lan,rest able in- whose tionable penalty se, &e., ?, with he cora- n of not prices 6d at former 298 to 32s 25s to 30s 22s to 27s 40s to 44s —s to ---" been de as a small fi by 1 0 0 51 L was tiro r at r ather peas were ed, and at to 50s Odi to 47s ()lAA to 48s O d to 45s Od to 37s Od t o 28 s Od to 35s Od to 31s Od to 31s Od to 28s Od ito 13d to osl3ld to osl 3 d to 45s Od to 44s CI to 42 5 () ," (1 to 3 4 s ''d tc 3f;'od tc 333 Od to od to od to 0 3 1 to 52 5 °'„ £0 0 u ri 9 0 u 0 0 ° 5 10 0 e show of tes of last .or. Ne vi is wan 111 38s to 40 0 30s to 32 5 22s to 2 65 —s to --45 rket. c1 .:16 - 6 ... e l ::.17 '' )1...17 6 1, ....16 7 ,., ....18 „u ....17 v„ ~...18 u ....16 ....16 7 .Sept. Oct. 0 ,Sept. 2S • Sept. l c , ' .Sept. 11' :Sept. Sept. S e pt. I ,;* . . Sept. 1 " .Sept. ,' . Oct. 5, . Sept. lu n . . Sept. Sept. 11' :Sept. 11' t.Sept. 4. .Sept. , 1 4 ° ' .Sept. :=s a ' Sept. °' t Sept. 14, ae cure of d General n.y part 0 , l er f u l tha t •emineuc. I disorder° Df dispuis s of thes e 3 thatt 1, streng ,ll : )th phy° l ' actions O r d and 0 - pills sto ~. wife of 13' Lie wife ° Gro s°B' MildnOP , the wif9 t. ITirk'es, atosti.. v to Ik1 81.13 e ; shbourrt-' Hiss AO rise, 11 0 I 86 , Eliz3l)o, cant 13. in Griffith Jersel' Di. Fre"' es a o t ol er--I3‘v' r O.l County 0 THE ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY. nEAD OITICES, 29, Lombard-street, London, and Royal Insurance buildings, Liverpool. Total. Anneal Revenue exceeds £son,oio. Accumulated Funds in hand over 1,030,000. Chairman in Liverpool: CHARLES TURNER, Esq., M.P. Chairman in London WILLIAM WAINWRIGHT, Esq• EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1862. li i r lee h tdi e nu : poo ir in e i c tt t os o sm rs haa o kr f eeh pe Royal Insurance Comp an y are now pa h o e i, ! i r er a s ec ns t om ed periodical Report at the BRACH. The Directors have. a FIRE s p'easingl N y as unexpectedly, at the close n the year, tn announce, fo , the first time, that the Fire Premiums have not only reached, but exceed £400,000. The high comparative position held by the Royal in the Government Returns of Duty is agsin fully maintained. The profit of the business of the year exceeds considerably the amount realised in the preced.ng year, and in fact sur passes that of any year. with but two exce p tions, sine- the c ommencement of - thi • Office, the balance tl the credit on account of British and Forei.,n Insurances being £45,107 10s. ", and of the North American business, whichis kept sea rately, £11,007 16s. 10d. LIFE BRANC FT. The very gratifying duty now falls upon the Directors to state the sum assured on n policies for the year 1862 exceeds even that of the veer 1861 by £lBO,OOO, and has arrived at the almost unexampled amount for a single year of £ 701 ,427 on 1,408 new policies issued. Until within the last few years it is believed that such a sum assured as that which has just b< en announced as the result of one year's business way all but unheard of. This portion of the Company's business hes been carefully watched. and cannot fail to give much satisfaction to the shareholder, as well as no small encouragement for the lutere to the participating life assurer. Evidence of continued care in the selection of lives is amply afforded by a statement of the number rejected. These have amounted to 311 for the year, on which the aggregate sum proposed for assurarre mounts to X 43,281. Various degrees of ineligibility have led to these lives being declined. No small number of the Assurance t. ompanies of the day record their accepted lives annually at a sum not much. if at all, exceediwz those which the Royal has declared as inadmis sible in a single year from deterioration of some kind or another. If, to complete thcir review, the Directors now advert briefly to the United Kingdom, they have to announce that to Fire Business its progress has been undoubtedly more rapid than that of any other Company established either in Lon d3n or elsewhere, except when amalgamations have taken place. The returns of duty have proved this. In Life, the amount of New Policies already reported make all other evidence needless. - The Directors conclude their present Report with the expression of an opinion that the prospects of the Royal Insurance Company were never brizliter, and of a consequent hope, founded on a grateful remembrance of the past, that the future may unfold for it a sphere of still greater m aeni tilde, combining, distinguished commercial success to tine Office with a lengthened career of usefulness and piiltection to the public. PERCY M. DOVE, Manager and Actuary. JOHN B. JOHNSTON, Secretary in London. NORWICH UNION FIRE INSURANCE SOCIETY. The business of the Company exceeds £70,000,000. The duty paid to Government for the year 1862 was £85,062, and the amount insured on farming stock, £10,086,332. A bonus of three-fifths of the profi's periodically made to parties insuring, who have thus. from time to time, received sums amounting in the aggregate to L 410,000 ; and the Society now holds a large Reserve appll'able to a future iionus. The rates of premium are in no case higher than those charged by the other principal offices making no returns to their insurers. For pro.pectuses apply at the Society's Offices, Surrey_ street, Norwich ; and 6, Crescent, New Bridge-street, Black friars, E.C. PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL LIFE A SOCIATION. Established 1840. TRUSTEES. Thomas Baring, 'E I sq., M.P. Wm. Geo. Prescott, E sq . Thomson Hankey, Esq., M.P. Baron L. de Rothschild, M.P. Mutual Lit , . Assurance for all classes. This Association has now in existence 6,000 policies, for a total sum of £1,500,000. The Annual Income is £51,000 The Accumulated Fund exceeds .. 20, 00 It has paid in Claims 112,000 The whole of th e p ro fi ts are divided quinquennially among the Members Three divisions have already been made' when the following sums have been added as bonuses to the policies Dec. 31, 1847 .. „. £5,400 1852 • • • • .. 11,500 „ 1857 .. .. 23 200 1862 .• 56,500 making. the total bonus additions, £96,600. Bonuses ma:i be received in cash or applied to the reduc tion of premiums at The option of the assured, in lieu of an addition to the ol.cy. Attention is especially invited to the system of free or paid up policies introdnced by this Association, by which the sacrifice so often submitted to on the relinquishment of po icy is wholly avoided. The balance—sheets of the Association are open to all, whether assurers or otherwise. Active and influential agents will be appointed in unrepre sented districts. WM. THOS. L 1 FORD, Secretary. Chief Office, 15, Moorgate-street, E.C., Aug 1, 1563. A.D. 1720. ROYAL EXCHANGE ASSURANCE CORPORATION (Established by Charter of his Majesty George the First) FOR SEA, FIRE. LIFE, AND ANNUITIES. Offices, Royal Exchange, London. Branch Office, 29, Ball-mall. OCTAVIUS WIGRAM, Xsq., Governor. GEORGE PEARKES BARCLAY, Esq., Sub-Governor. Sir JOHN HENRY BELLY, Bart., Deputy-Governor. henry Bainbridge, Esq. YY Yv Wilmot Holland, Esq. Robert Barclay, Esq. Earl of Leven and Melville. John Garratt Cattley, Esq. Chas. Jno. Manning, Esq. Mark Currie Close, Esq. Henry Nelson, Esq. William Davidson, Esq. The Hon. Josceline W. Percy. Thomas Dent, Esq Charles Robinson, Esq. Alexander Druce, Esq. Samuel Leo Schuster, Esq. Fredk. Jos. Edlmann, Esq. Eric Carrington Smith, Esq. R iversdaleW. Grenfell, Esq. William Soltau, Esq. Pobt. Amadeus Heath, E. Joseph Somes, Esq., M.P. Wm. Tetlow Hibbert, Esq: William Wallace, Esq• Jas. Stewart Hodgson, Esq. Chas. Baring Young, Esq. Medical Referee, Smirrm SOLLY, Esq., F.R.S. FIRE and LIFE ASSURANCES may be effected with this Corporation on advantageous terms. In the Life Department, assurances are granted with par ticipation in Profits, or, at lower Premiums, without such participation. The Reversionary Banns on British Policies has averaged nearly 2 per cent. per annum on the sum assured. Equivalent reductions have been made in the Premiums payable by persons who preferred that form of Bonus. The divisions of Profit take place every Five years. Any sum not exceeding X 15,000 may be insured on one Life. This Corporation affords to the Assured—' Liberal participation in Profits—with exemption from the liabilities of partnership. A rate of Bonus equal to the average returns of Mutual Societies—with the guarantee of a large invested Capital Stock. The advantages of modern practice,—with the security of an Office whose resources have been tested by the ex perience of nearly a CENTURY AND A HALF. The Corporation have always allowed the Assured to serve in the Militia, Yeomanry, or Volunteer Corps within the United Kingdom, free of charge. ROYAL EXCHANGE, LONDON. ROBT. P. STEELE, Secretary. NORTH BRITISH AND MERCANTILE INSURANCE COMPANY. Established 1809. Incorporated by Koval Charter and Special Acts of arliament. ACCUMULATED AND INVESTED FUNDS, £2,122,828. ANNUAL REVENUE, £422,401. LONDON BOARD. John White Cater, Esq., P. du Pre Grenfell, Esq. Chairman. A. Klockmann. Esq. Charle • Morrison, Esq., De- John Alone' t, Esq. .Pii_ty i hairman. I J nius S. M erzan, Esq. A. IA- . 11e Nrrovave, Esq. G. Garden N icol, Esq -rAtWard Cohen, Esq. John 11. Wm. Schroder, Esq, J ames du Buisson, Esq. George Young, Esq. Ex-DIRECTORS. 11. ~, _ Campbell, Esq. 1 Robert S•nith, Esq. ~",- C. Cavan, Esq. Frederic Somes, Esq. l - - ir. Rani, Esq. Manager of Fire Department—Georg' IL Whyt ing. _ Manager o f Lif e D epar t men t —W. F. Birkmyre. ''''uPe r intendent of Foreign Department—G. H. Bur nett Secretary—F. W. Lance. General Manager—David Smith. Th e FIRE DE PARTMEN l'. Co 1iinr,4„,.. -124 1)any grants insurances against Fire in the United Mercantile"'l' d all foreign countries. Risks in the Port of London accepted at re dliced rate s , ass.. Pftr ;-" Prnmptly and liberally settled. I r .d,,; e 'Fr Risks.—The Director 4, having a practical know the.- °I f°reign countries, are prepared to issue Policies on ~,,- Inoßt l avourfole terms. In all cases a discount will be -° wed to Merchants and others effecting such Insurances, f holl ..,urng the l as Te few 1\ ~ . owing Statement exhibits the improvement effected No. of Policies 1;5 1 lssued. Sums. Premiums. 185 9 ........ 455 18 0,,,.... 6-5 ..... . 449,913 ..... 74i • . 4'5,6-19 1811 ....... 78; ........ 527,6?6 1862 ....... 1,n37 ........... 768,331 al Tlubhr:itisizein.44ienvaLYfr Entire Se urity egeaaefrussurtenlisie number of Policies issued was 3,623, 2. 3. ' T Ch E e e: l : a rdp r ave g :a e i tin n y t oajot: Bonus ° oo a ft Assurers.d4tdh2it'e9io2n Offices 9 l are:- I.—unrestr,etea- tion further Bonus at the neat investiga a7lready declared, and the afforded by varied Tables of premiums cond t Policie s —and general on Paoprpml iscoaftilouroaptosthale and eryiil information t e i s o u n re w d ill be furnished In deap...... Frith 0 HEAD OFFICE S : .... LON DON. ....... 58, Threadneedle-street. Eniwn,,,Gn...6l: keizcZnd:rellettstildiogs. NORTH BRITIMI . __ AND MERCANTILE INSURANCE COMPANY. WEST -END OFFICE: R, WATERLOO-PLACE, PALL-MALL. Secretary—ALEX. J. RUSSELL. rill-TE LAUNDRESSES to liet — :; -- ite ii" -- ------ ~,, "le I Queen Adelaide say, that ‘ BRIGG-8' Aus TRA. $ 27BtY t'ARCH. needs but to be tried to be approved Wholesale Agent, Harper Twelvetrees, Bromley -b Y.uovv, . ANEVER FAILING REED Dr. SCOTT'S BILIOUS and LIVER Pitts, .--- pared without any mercurial ingredient, from the recipe p c, re.. Scott, of Bromley, Kent, will be found invaluable to all 1, 13 ), r ' suffer from bilious and dyer complaints, indigestion, w i n - d ° Purifier spasms, giddine'ss, dizziness of the eyes, Am. For habituai costiveness, as f.: lzriily aperient medicine, and as a of the blood, they are truly excellent; mild in their opera_ tion and grateful to (he stomach, they create appeite, pre- W Y " t e digestion, and stre ,,,, then the whole nervous system. sold by W. Lambert, 6, King, William-street, Charing-cross. London and by mol- dru:sts, in boxe3,ls. lid., and three timeo the quantity in one, 2a. Pd. Be sure to :via for Dr. Scott's Milan and Liver Pills. The genuine are a square green sac:age, with " William Lambert," engraved cn the stamp. No. 22,211. MR. lIOSKINS' NEW WORK ON EGYPT. Just ready, in 1 vol.. with Illustratio , :s, 155., 4 WINTER IN UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT. _ _ By G. A. HOSKINS, Esq., Author of " Travels in Ethiopia," " Spain As it Is," &c. Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-street. NEW NOVEL 1)7 the Author of "COUSIN GEOFFREY." Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vols., EFT TO THEMSELVES. Ji.4l By the Author of "Cousin Geoffrey," &c. " A very touching story. It is one of the most clever boons of theseason."—United Service Mag. Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-street. Now ready at all the Libraries, in 2 vols., 285., LORD WILLIAM LENNOX'S FIFTY YEARS' BIOGRAPHICAL REMINISCENCES. "Lord William Lennox has given u, in these two very charming volumes a pleasant glimpse of society. Ihe worx cannot fail to amuse and interest all who read it."—Sun. Burst and Blaekett, 13, Great Marlborough-street. ARMY CONTRACTS. Commissariat Office, Aldershot, 2d September, 1863. TENDERS will he received at this office, until noon, on WEDNESDAY, the 30th September, 18e3, from persons who may be willing to enter into Contract for the supply of FOR GE, in such quantities as may be required, from Ist November, 1863, to 3 st October, Is6i, for the use of Her Majesty's Forces stationed at Aldershot Camp, and within the com mand. Forms of Tender and Conditions of Contract may be ob tained on aptdication at this oflice, by letter or in person, between the hours of ten and four o'clock. The Tenders must be properly filled up and signed, and delivered at this office (under closed envelope, marked on the outside " Tender for Forage"), and no Tender will be noticed unless made on forms obtained from this office, and delivered by the hour appointed. HENRY B. MORSE, Deputy Commissary-General. TH E OXFOR D, 6, OXFORD STREET, W. THIS EVENING, will be performed Operatic Selections from Sir Henry R. Bishop's THE SLAVE and Halevy's MUSKETEERS (first time in England). Principal Artistes—Miss Russell, Miss Ellison, Messrs. Green, Bernardi, Huish, &c., with full band and chorus. Conductor, Mr. F. Jonghmans. Flute Solos by Drew Dean, &c. Comic, by UNSWORTH ("or any other man"), Eugene, W. Randall, A. Lloyd, and George Hodson. Also, a Pei forrnance by Herr S lIALKENBACH on his wonderful instrument, the PIANO ORCIIESTRE, contain ing a full baud of 40 instruments. 1 he LEA LL his juet been newly Decorated and Ventilated, and is one of the most Beautiful in the Metropolis. Open at 8 o'clock. Admission, ed. ; stalls and balcony, is. ; private boxes, 10s. 6d. CANTERBURY HALL " GHOST."—In order to gratify the curiosity of' nightly-increasing crowds, Mr. C. MORTON has transferred the representation of Pro fessor Pepper and Henry Dirks, Esq.'s. world-famed spectral Illusion, "Tin GHOST," from the Picture Gallery to the Concert Hall, where a new and elqrant stage is erected, affording a more ample view of the Illusion from Stalls, Bal cony, and lndy cd the Hall. He has also arranged for Mr. A. Silvester to give (with all that gentleman's latest im provements and effects), REPRESIaNTATIONS EACH EVENING, at Ten o'clock. All the other Musical and Pictorial attractions as usual, including Operatic Selections, &c. ; Ht. sworth (the modern Demosthenes), Eugene, Arthur Lloyd, George Hodson, dz,e. ROYAL ALHAMBRA PALACE. The GHOST ! The ORO -T ! ! The ONLY COAII‘' GHOST !! ! —The beautiful FAIRY FOUNTAIN.--A Grand Divertissement by Signora Rachele and Mariannina and Signor Guiseppe France,co, assis , ed by a corns of Twenty young. Ladies—Selections from favourite Operas : Principals. lines IWGregor, Mr. Albert, Signor Georgia! (the new Italian tenor), and Mr. Vernon Rigby. NIC 0 STA, the Great Vio linist. wi lt make his First Appearance in England on Monday next, at the ALHAMBRA. ARGYLL ROOMS, Windmill-street. Piccadilly. NOTICE.—The above elegant Rooms will be Opened on SATURDAY, September 5, entirely redecorated under the sole direction of Messrs. Delicourt, of Paris, decorators to the Palaces of the Emperor Napoleon. The artistical work will be done by Messrs. Biggs and assistants. The musical department under the directorship of Mons. Jullien, and chef d'orchestre. The band will be chosen from the Household Troops and the Royal Italian opera Houses. This celebrated band is well known by the public, and will be called in future the London Band, and will be represented by the best artists of the present day. Conductor of the Rooms and Manager, Mons. GRENET. Sole Lessee, R. R. BIGNELL. Admission, ls. ESTABLISHED 1533. BOWDEN'S lERATED GINGER BEER. in Jill glass or stone bottles, warranted to keep good twelve months. Lemonade, Soda-water, rotass, Seltzer, and every description of Mineral Waters,—Manutactory, No. 3, White Hart-street, Drury-lane, W.C. PAGE'S BRICK, TILE, AND PIPE MACHINE, for hand, horse, or steam power, are the most simple and efficient extant.—Ful: particulars and prices obtained of the makers, E. Page and Co., Laurenc e Pountne y place, Laurence Pountney-hill, Cannon-street, RC, where they may be seen in operation daily. MONEY PROMPTLY ADVANCED by a Private Gentleman upon FURNITURE (without removal). Leasehold and Freehold Property, or Reversions, &c., in sums from £2O to £soo.—Mr. Howard, 18, Queen street, Cheapside. TO Persons in WANT of MONEY (in Town or Country).—A. GENTLEMAN is willing to MAKE ADVANCES of CAS tl , without delay, to respectable person= (male or female), on their own security. The utmost secrecy can be relied on.—Apply (it by letter enclose tour s tam p s) to W., at M r. Robertson's, Accountant, 40, King, William-street, London-bridge, E.C.—Money advanced on Dock Warrants. CELEBRATIONthe BIRTH of SHAKSPE ARE, at Stratford-lipon bert of the TERCENTENARY Avon. The Ter cen t enar y C omm itt ee ( o f w h i ch Sir ico N. C. Ha m ilt on , Bart , K.C. 8.. is Chairman) are no receiy to the ing SUBSCRIPTIONS, and they may also be p account of the Tercentenary Committee, at the Stourbridn.e o ! and Kidderminster or Warwick and Leamington Banks, Strattord-upon-Avon • Messrs. Greenway, Smith, and Greenway, Warwick ;' or their ondon agents, Messrs. Smith, Payn e , and Co , Messrs Hanburys and Co., or Messrs. tilyn and Co • bankers, London. The Terce ntenary Committee, in su b m itti ng th e subscrip tion list to the nation, most earnestly appeal to the admirers of Shakspeare for their aid and assistance. The Committee the rest b iri their claims upon the gr oun d th at Strattord i s not on l y lace s of S hakspeare. but the centri , of attraction to all admirers of the great Poet's works, and that it was his hme, the tow n h e loved, and where he' lived and died. ,ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road in the immediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail. way Terminus, at King's-cross. --- Patron—The QUEEN. President—The Duke of BUCCLEUCIT, K.G. Treasurer—Edward Masterman, Esq. dins was the first hospital to introduce the principle of free atant admission to the destitute sick, without the for mality of zovernors' letters, It is entirely devoted to desti tution in its most pitiable form—viz., that which is accom polled by sickness and disease, and is now of sufficient magnitude that, with adequate support, it may be rendered capable of admitting . Into its wards a very large proportion of the casual sick of this great metropolis. It requires but the funds in order to have 500 beds available for the reception of these the most wretched of our fellow-creatures. Moreover, it gratuitously affords medical advice and medicine to more, on the average, than 3,000 out-patients a week. The Weekly Board feel it their imperative duty to make an EARNEST APPEAL to the public for continued support, to enable them to admit and relieve the distressing cases that daily present themselves. Contributions are received by the 'Treasurer, Edward Mastertuan, Esq.. Nicholas-lane; also by Messr s . C outts and Co. ; Drummond and Co. ; Flerries and Co. ; Ransom and CO. ; Prescott, Grote, and Co.; Smith, Payne, and Co. ; Glyn and Co. ; Jones Loyd and Co. ; Barclay and Co. ; Denison and Co Warns, Gurney, arns, Deacon, and Co. Co.;; Overend, and Co. ;lioi ; sbet and Co. ; Messrs. J. Barned and Co., Liverpool and at the HoopitaL STANFORD S. SMITH Secretary. ROYAL NATIONAL LIF E-BOAT INSTITUTION (Incorporated by Royal Charter). PATRONESS—Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. PEEsinENT—Vice-Admiral the Duke of Northumberland, K.G., DEr C u t T i y A_f e rt nmAlAlTlTAr_s.Tßhaerminags, I C : h sq a . p , m M a . n P , ., E P sq .ll ;;F S :R , .V s ..P , v . . p. APPEAL. The Committee of Management have i to statett ife l o nc a e t the beginni n g o f the year 1880, the Roya National Institution has expended £32,000 on various LifeboatE Estab lishments on the Coasts of Eng , and , Scotland, and Ireland. The number of lives saved by the Life-boats of the Society. and other means, since its formation, is 12,800 ; tor which services 82 Gold Medals, 718 Silver Medals, and £16,480 in cash have been paid in rewards. The Institu tion has also expended £07.000 on Life-boats, Life-boat Transporting -cart lazes, and Boat-houses. The Committee desire to express their grateful sense of the generous support which they have received from the Ilritish public during the past few years, a support which has enabled them to establish their present rna.lniflcent fleet of 123 Lifeboats on the shores of the United Kingdom Deeply sensibte, however, of the great responsibility that rests on them to maintain their fleet in a thoroughly efficient state, and its Crews practised in the management of their boa, enontnin t u s tarl - a yi ' mn h c i e7 h lm e teo a , t , O ard n y l t y eh ae b n im e e e ff isut e l e yu t e pe d heop b led y a ei ni,ztleaarngadel perpetuating classes es p te e tsi r ae m tif antnghee:i so great and truly national a work. The Committee gratefully acknowledge the following con tributions:— [Ter Majesty the Queen .. .. .. •. . annual Pn nu a l 540 5 0 0 8 . d O O 2d don. 2,5 0 0 (Claemoio,bceloll,otnheel Colonel, Mrs... G. .. .. : : (7outts and Co. Messrs., Bankers ••• .. • annual 1 1 0 annual 10 0 0 Currie, Wm., 1;:scl., - • • • • • .. 4th don.lo 0 0 Erie, Lord hief Justice .• • • . don. 10 10 0 , 1 ' v ' ahsn Harvey,sn a° l r i ,t i V l n, Fenwick, t; N: is e . : E A s d ci m , i c iV s t S i o r r A a . lifeboat K.C.8.3 .y, .1 Carriage • • • • • • • • .. 250 0 0 Tran- W.!_ilou• • .. don. 30 0 Martin, Sir Henry, Bart. • • • • • • 7th don.lo 0 0 Moore, Rev. G. B. .. .. .. .. don. 15 15 0 gh ' R : b ' e y y. G. G. and Mrs. Smith, Mrs. George, Greenwich .. .. • • 30 0 Stirling, Col. Sir Anthony, K.C.B. .. .. annual 20 0 I:i:itiyastihoiirasdany,ll4:eitmonua-siuspuer.-.Mare, collected by her - • • • • • • .. 16 16 0 ripti.o.ns win be thantfully re_ annual 5 0 0 d'Ere . sby, Lord h . sc . iNee'rv,e,,l by the Bankers of the lintitu . tiou,.M ., essrs. Willi s, Co.,val. and Co., 76, Lombard -street , cr , srs. Coutts and rp . , '' • Strand ; Messrs. Berries, Farquhar. and Co., 16, St. alT!.',l's-street, London • by a.l the Collectors of Customs R u ie u hl a d nk l ers i.n the Unit'edliingdom; and by the Secretar john.sue,a;vt4isaetp:sht London, atthe Office IT. .of the Ingitution, 2'l, .THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 4, 1863. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That the Meeting of this Company, to be held in London, on Friday, the 18th day of September, 1863, will be made Special, for the follow ing purposes, that is to say : To consider and approve an Agreement between the Great Western Railway Company and the Cxbrld:lv and Rickm,ns worth Railway Company. under het revisions of " The Ux bridge and ifiekmansworth Railway Act. 11S6 I." for the usr , , woring, and maintenance of the Railway of the latter Lom pany, and for other purposes. To consider and approve a Lase to the Great Western Railway Company of the Ely Valley Railway, under the powers of " The Great Western, Ifereferd Ross and Glouces ter, and Ely Valley Railways Act, 1t02," and to authorise the subscription, by the Great Western Railway Company, of a sum not exceeding £35,0 0 to the undertaking of the Ely Valley Railway Company, and the raising the amount so authorised to be subscribed in the manner prescribed by the said last mentioned Act. To authorise the creation, conjointly with the London and North Western Railway Comp ,ny, of Birkenhead Capita', not exceeding .C174,1;8 it s., for the purposes of the Birken head Railway, under the powers of "The Birkenhead Hallway (Vesting) Act, To authorise the raising of £227,562 for the general pur poses of the Company, under the powers of " The Great Western Railway (Capital) Act, 1861,' • by the creation of Shares or Stock in the Capital, by such Act authorised, with a Preferential Dividend not exceeding. £4 Its, per cent. per annum thereto, as well as to enable the Directors to issue the same, part passu, with the sum of £1,000,060 Capital, which was created at a special general meet►ng, held ou the 30th May, 186., under the powers of she same Act ; the whole of the said Stock or Sharps to be subject to such terms and co ,-. ditions as the Directors may prescribe, and to be offered to the Proprietors of the Company in the first instance, and afterwards the residue, if any, to be disposed of as the Board may determine. To c nvert, from time to time, as and when it may occur, all or any of the Prelerential ..hares of the united Company which may have already been, or which shall hereafter he paid up, into Stock of the like denomination. . , The special business will be taken immediately after the hall-yearly business shall be concluded. RICH D. POTTER. Chairman. W. FENTON, Deputy-Chairman. Paddington Station, Sept. 2, 1853. The Fortifications of Portsmouth. It has been said that as a people we have in the matters of harbours and breakwaters cast our money more liberally upon the waters than has been done by others, but it is doubtful if the same can be said of the precautions we have taken in protecting cur shores nginst the ambition of other nations. We are now, however, engaged in spending some millions in strengthening the defence of the kingdom at ail its most vital points- As a natural sequence to such, a course a reactionary cry was raised, the work on foundations tor the marine forts at Spithead was suspended, and at the same• time it was understood that the chain of forts on Portsdown would not be proceeded with beyond a certain point until the subject was brought formally before the House of Commons in the usual course by the Premier. The significant majority with which the vote on the Fortifications Bill was recently passed by the house sufficiently indicated the determination of the coun try generally to support Lord Palmerston in plac- ing the defences of the kingdom on an efficient basis, and the result of this decision is that the S pithead 'orts will be proceeded with, and the chain of forts on Portsdown completed. Several plans for the forts at Spithead have been submitted, but none as yet have been officially selected and determined upon in all their details, nor is thoiprecise form in which the Portsdown forts are to be completed yet agreed upon. Both are subjects of vast importance and general interest, and, as they form the salient points of the outer cordon of defence constructing round our chief naval arsenal, we shall say a few words respecting them. The introduction of rifled ordnance utterly nullified the confined area of all then exis- Ling lines of defence surrounding fortified posi :ions such as Portsmouth dockyard and arsenal, and the lines had, therefore, to be considerably extended, so as to increase the distance between the points of attack and defence. In the instance of Portsmouth the northern and southern extremi- ties of its proposed lines of defence (the central fort on Portsdown-hill and the marine forts on the Noman and Horse Shoals) form parts of nearly a circular defensive line, of about nine miles in diameter, between the points named. Portsdown may be considered as commanding all approaches to the port from landward (supposing that an enemy may have Effected a landing on any part of the ad jacent coast), and the Noonan and Horse Forts, through the narrow channel by the Warner Light, from in the latter instance, that s the a ;NeedlessuppoCsihnag also, in rendered impassable to any iron fleet. The position of Portsdown is nearly seven miles in extent, and runs nearly parallel with the line of coast, or the anchorage of Spithead, and its centre rises to a height of 460 feet above Ordnance level, anp is here at a distance of about 5,000 yards from Portsmouth dockyard, while the large powder magazines at Tipper, and the shipping moored in the upper part of the harbour, lie at its very base. the vast importance of such a peaition and the im perative necessity for including it in the general plan for the port's defence are thus evident, and, although the extent of the plan including Ports down somewhat staggered even Sir John Burgoyne yet that able officer, in his evidence before the De fence Commission, admitted freely that the defence of the port of Portsmouth would be imperfect with out it, and the fortification of Porisdown was there fore decided upon, and has been completed in its first stage. It is being crowned with seven forts— Purbrook, Farlington, and Cookhorn, at its eastern extremity, Wallingford at its western, and Widley, Southwick, and Nelson inter- mediately along its crest. These forts are being constructed on an exceedingly simple plan, being somewhat of horseshoe form, with the toe of the shoe pointing inland, and the becl of the shoe to wards the sea of Portsmouth, but of strong trace and prodigious strength, the base line along the hill's crest. This finishing of the forms of the forts at the base line is the most important paint for con sideration in connection with the completion of the works. A common-sense view of the question would argue for a simple military road connecting the forts along the hill's crest, and thus leaving the gorges open, the latter standing towards Portsmouth, and if they are only intended as a defensive adjunct to Portsmouth and its dockyard, this is doubtless the only sensible idea that can be entertained. It is, however, said that the Royal Engineers strongly advocate the construction of " iron-eased" keeps to close the gorge of each work. It can scarcely be believed, however, that such a proposition can be seriously entertained. If an enemy once got suffi ciently close to find that a fort on Portsdown was too hard a nut to crack by bombardment, he would imply, as the hill is of a chalk formation, cut a gal lery or tunnel in the chalk, and blow the whole affair, " hen keep" and all, into the air. So far as the works have proceeded at present, their general design, if left, as suggested, as open forts to the rear, connected by a military road, has been magni ficently conceived and executed. At the east end of the hill the works are the least forward of any, but here may be seen the unusually formidable na ture of the " trace." It is commanded by three works—Farlington, Crookhorn, and Purbrook. All three have yet proceeded in their construction but little beyond their formation of parapet and ditch and general outline. Their height reaches 300 ft. above Ordnance level. Farlington commands the eastern point of Portsdown, and will mount 18 of the heaviest guns on, its terre-plein, with mortar batteries on the angles of its surround. ing ditches, each battery mounting three mortars. A sunken gallery communicates with Crookhorn, which will mount 16 guns on its terre-pleiu, with six guns in the angles of its ditch. A continuation of the same sunken gallery leads from Crookhorn to the main work at this eastern end of Portadown, Purbrook—which will mount 21 guns on its terra plein, nine guns in caponnieres in the ditch, and three mortars in the ditch's west angle. It has a nearly straight face of 240 ft., looking inland, the open gorge being opposite the west side of Lang ston harbour and the eastern side of Portsmouth harbour. The ditches surrounding the three works vary in depth, according to their position, from :35ft to 50ft: Sunken galleries from the interior of the works communicate with the mortar batteries and caponnieres in the ditches. The walls of the ditches themselves are supported in their vertical formation by chalk and brick masonry, and these formidable outer obstructions are carried out generally in the entire line of works along the hill's crest. At Wal lingford, the fort which commands all approaches to Portsdown at its western end, the arrangements are somewhat different, owing to its position, but continue of the same comprehensive and formidable nature. It will mount 56 guns on its terre-plein, four of them being in casemates it la H&xo at the angles. Caponnieres project into the ditch, mount ing three guns each at each angle, and have molter hatteiies in the rear. Sunken galleries communi cate between the enciente of the work, the capon nieres, the mortar batteries, and an advanced covered way on the right shoulder, which mounts three guns, sweeping the line of ditch. It stands at an elevation of 140 ft. above Ordnance level, has a right front of 520 ft., a left front of 326 ft., a right flank of 43711., and a left flank of 383 ft. Its gorge is as yet open like the rest of the Portsdown torts, and looks towards the seacoast. Although not sttictly speaking Leioneing to the line of Portsdown forts, still it must be considered a " Portsdown" fort, as erected on3the low land at about a mile distant from Fort Wallington, and nearer the line of seacoast stands Fort Fareham, the village of Fareham, which stands at the upper most head of Portsmouth harbour , being situated between the two forts. Any attack upon the posi tion of Portsdown from the westward must include Fort Fareham, which must therefore be considered conjointly With the seven bill forts already noticed, It is a work of more than ordinary pretensions. Like the forts on Portsdown it may he generally described as of horseshoe shape, with five faces of 221 ft., 173 ft., 313 ft., 364 ft., and 400 ft. respectively. It will mount 50 guns on its terreplein, double Halo casemates being at each angle. The terre plein is supported on massive brickwork arches, which give the necessary accommodation for the garrison. and the whole work will have an eleva tion of 36ft. over the surrounding country, its front being well covered with earthwork. The ditch en compassing the fort is 15ft. in depth, 119 ft. in width at the top, revetted in brickwork, and with Oft. of water. Portsdown is thus the base of the great polygon of works designed and now being carried into execution for the defence of Ports mouth. South of Portsdown is the anchorage of Spithead, and the proposed sites of the marine forts which are to defend Spithead and Portsmouth from the sea. While Portsmouth is being thus engirdled with a vast net of fortification?, it is impossible not to acknowledge, on examining the general plan, that in the channel of approach from the sea stands the Achilles' heel of the whole plan. Only five hours' steaming from the greatest military port of another country, there is not at present existing one single obstacle to a hostile squadron steaming into Spit head whenever it may choose, and bombarding and destroying Portsmouth dockyard, its shipping, and its arsenals at pleasure. It is imbecility at its ex tremest point to speak of any effectual resistance which could be offered by the existing fortifications now supposed to defend Portsmouth and Spithead from such a disastrous result. They are old works which would fall :o the ground from the concussion of any guns fired from their parapets of sufficient calibre to inflict damage on an ironclad fleet. To show the truth and importance of this statement, it is here necessary to observe that the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour, Southsea Castle, and Fort Moncton form a triangle of which Spithead is the base, with Portsmouth Harbour at the apex, and that the guns at these three points are the only pre sent obstacles to the entrance of an enemy's fleet from the sea. Southsea Castle is a very old stone built work, partially covered with earth on its flank, and is in such a dilapidated state that not a gun has been allowed to be fired from its walls for months past, not even for blank practice. The front face of Fort Moncton, which faces Spithead, and is sup posed to cross fire with Southsea Castle, is the weakest part of the work, and would certainly not bear the concussion from the fire of heavy ordnance. In these two points, therefore, at the base of the triangle, there are at present no existing means for the defence of Portsmouth from a sea at tack. The batteries at the mouth of the harbour are armed with 3' L and GS poun ders, and a few 110 pounder Armstrongs, but they are useless as opposed to iron-clad ships, nor will they carry guns of sufficient weight and calibre to prevent iron-clads forcing the entrance of the harbour. The knowledge of these facts justly gave the Government the strongest argument possible for the completion of their scheme for the marine forts which arc intended to remedy this very weak point in the armour of Portsmouth. The Government plans for the defence of Spit head from a sea attack consist of the three marine forts of the Horse, Noman,and Sturbridge, all three to be constructed on shoals abutting upon the nar row deep water ways of Spithead. The two first named will lie south of Spithead, and be the first obstacles to the entrance of a hostile fleet from the Channel. The Sturbridge (built on the Sturbridge shoal, off Ryde, Isle of \\night) can only be of ser vice after a fleet has forced its way into Spithead, and therefore its use under any circumstances would be very problematical. From its position, even if it missed an enemy's ship, it must strike a friend, es its shots in either case would plump either into the town of Ryde or Fort Moncton. It is situate at ' 1 4,500 yards distance from the Noman and Horse forts, and is about 6,800 yards from the dockyard. It stands, in fact, or rather is intended to stand, in the centre of the ground into which an enemy's fleet must never be allowed to enter, and by its fire would injure its friends more than its enemies. So well is the inutility of this proposed fort under stcod, that Capt. Tyler, of the Royal Engineers, has not hesitated to condemn it in letters to the public press, and proposed in lieu to erect a fort on the Warner Rock, outside the Noman and Horse forte. The three forts would then form a perfect triangle, with the " garner" as the apex and it advance, and if constructed and armed as contemplated no iron ship should ever swim past them. All parties appear now to agree in the expediency of constructing these marine forts, provided they are bailt to carry guns of sufficient power to smash in the sides of any iron ship that may come between them. The Government plans have, how ever, been severely criticised from the (let() of the first report of the Royal Defence Commission, and various plans have been submitted, some on evidenc b,,fore the Commission, and others from non-official sources, either to prevent an enemy from ever en tering Spithead at all, or for rendering it so hot after he had got there that ho would be glad to quit it again. Sir John Dalrymple Hay, R.N., when examined before the Defence Commsssioners, proposed that a boom should be placed across the channel between the proposed Horse and Noman forts, and that 12 iron-cased vessels should be connected together by chains and moored inside in support, and that 12 vessels, under steam, iron-cased, should be ems ployed, in addition, to offer the first line of defence against the enemy. Capt. Tyler, R.E., in lately reviewing this proposition of Sir John Hay, advo cates the additional defensive force of six steam rams, worked by double or " twin" screws, inside the forts, and considers that under such circum stances of defence, with a fort on the Warner Rock, it would be impossible for any hostile ironclad fleet to enter Spithead by its southern channel. A plan has been proposed by Mr. W. Austin, C.E., for closing the passage between the Horse and Noman forts by means of floating batteries of pecu liar construction and light draught of water, con nected by chain cables with the forts, that appears to possess a great originality of idea, with simplicity and economy. So far these plans relate only to the closing of the waterway between the Noman and Warner shoals, through which an enemy's fleet can only reach Spithead from the Channel by the southern passage. Another plan has been submitted to the authori ties by Mr. Pineo, C.E., of Portsmouth, a gentle man, by his position and knowledge of the waters of Spithead, well qualified to give an opinion, which, from its economical estimated cost, its com prehensiveness, and the manner in which it enters into the extension and defences of the port, deserves special attention. Portsmouth harbour is separated from the outer deep waters by a series of s hoals, generally known as the Spithead shoals, w hich ex tend in a triangular form from the na rrow mouth of the harbour to opposite Southse a Castle, and thence to Moncton Fort opposite ltyde. From the harbour's entrance to Southsea Geode is the " har bour channel," about three quarters of a mile in length, a narrow, tortuous entrance, and parallel with it extends the Spithead shosl3, which run, or rather trend back, to Fort M oncton, standing on the opposite peninsula of la nd and nearly opposite to Ryde. The triangular piece of land which thus forms the shoals which separate the harbour channel of Portsmouth from the deeper ssater of to enclose Spit head anchorage, Mr. Pineo proposes t with two tiers of whole baulk cofLrdam piles, with ties and braces, &c., filled with excavations from the shoals, which (the shoals) would then be of suffi cient depth in the area enclosed within this piling for two basins —one at the base of the triangular formation, to be an inner floating basin of about 200 acres ; and the outer one, at the apex of the triangle, to be a tidal basin of about 120 acres, with openings to elinNV of the flow of the tide into the LITERATURE. COLBITRN'S NEW MONTHLY.—" The Shadow of Ashlydyst "is continued. It now records the ap- preaching death of Maria. That long-suffering lady is fast drawing near to the goal where the weary _ may find rest, and there is nothing to regret in her death. It is melancholy to pruse the passages where Maria is taking leave of leta, her cherished child. When trying to make her believe the aad reality approaching, she said sho would look down upon her from heaven: "Meta turned her eyes to the uncurtained window, looking up to the winter evening sky—" Has heaven got windows ?" she asked. " I think it has ; I think that God allows us to look down on the dear ones we have left; at least it is pleasant to think so when we are about to leave them, Meta, darling ; it can do you no harm to think so." It would hardly be possible to convey a more truthful picture of the sorrows and sufferings of life then is done in this story. We ate shown how the sins of others are visited upon the un offending and guiltless, and how, as in the case of Thomas Godolphin and Maria, the burden is often too heavy to bear. But their portion is not all dark ; and when they reach the end of their painful course, the death of the sor- row-laden is better than the life of the sinner, who, in care less ease, is shifting the burden to other shoulders, and de termines to enjoy himself, setting care and memory at defiance. " John, Lord Carteret," figures as Sir Nathaniel's worthy of this month. The sketch of his career will at- ract notice. The Life and Letters of Washington Irving Form the subject of an interesting article. It is very en ertaining to follow the anecdotes collected of this remark- able man ; and the writer seems thoroughly to have appre ciated his subject. "Strathmore" is continued, and is as exciting as ever in its foreign style. "Twice Sacrificed" is the first part of a melancholy tale, from the Danish. It is well written, and ably exemplifies the imprudence and misery that result from the disgraceful practice of marriage de convenance, which obtains so much abroad. " Homo Hominum Deum," is the title of some very impressive verses that record a touching picture of the misery inflicted by the heartless votaries of fashion, and the ruthless rulers of business upon the helpless beings who are doomed to stitch, stitch, stitch, till life becomes a burden, and death is gladly hailed as a rescue from toil, and a release from cruel slavery, The last sad scene is truthfully and touchingly described. BENTLEY'S MIS CELLANY.—The lively and en tertaining story of " Six Weeks at Hunsdon Manor" is continued at some length, though it chronicles no more important incident than a " At the Tower Window with Sir Walter Raleigh" is the title of an essay suggested by the well•known anecdote of Sir Walter's burning a volume of his History of the World in disgust at the contradictory versions given him of an affair which he had seen with his own eyes. The dif f iculties in the way of the impartial his torian have forced themselves on the minds of many emi nent men, -whose opinions are here cited. In concluding his reflections the writer pertinently remarks that every modern writer who tells the story of Sir Walter and his irreconcileable witnesses gives a different version from his fellows I We meet with a lengthened history of Count Wale, the first prisoner of Chillon, which is taken from the French, and may serve to interest the reader, although it is far too long and diffuse. A sketch of the career of Sir John Hawkweed, one of the most eminent of the Free Lances of the middle ages, pays a high tribute to his abilities as a commander, " After the Battle" is founded on the narrative of a French gentleman, who, happening to pass through Upper Italy at the time of the late Italian war, became a spectator of the supplementary horrors of Solferino. He was an actor also in the har rowing scenes he records, since he devoted himself to the succour of the unfortunate victims of the war, together with a few other voluntary assistants, some of whom were obliged to abandon their charitable offices, overwhelmed with distress. Truly such scenes as he describes strip the gaudy colours from the triumphs of the battlefield, and might serve to disenchant the most enthusiastic. The ex travagant production of M. About, entitled " The Notary's Nose" (of which a resume was some time back given in the columns of The Bun) is summarized for the benefit of the English reader. It might almost read for a caricature of " sensation" novels, as " Firmilian" was a satire on the modern school of poetry. The editor's animated story of "Cardinal Pole" proceeds his devotedroceedswith hinetaedr. THE interest. In the present in stalment Derrick Carver m ee t s t h e fate which has so long been hanging ECLECTlC angingv REVIEW.—An essay on one of the een celebrities of the era of the R e f orma ti on — Ul r i c h von Hutten — opens this numb er . I t i s fol lowedsome curious and instr uc ti ve details of the pe on some ne w competi ecnuelcontaining by an e thnological paper on th e " Races of Europe, " ri int ii s g of u European ourable families. " A T r i a d o f M uses " ameThe eccentric Swedish Queen, torsgivesChristina, fora fena fair is and t poeticalrh re fame. subject of an arti c l e f ounded on a re cently published life. Otherpapersenatnhd merit, subjects complete a number of average interest GOOD WORDS.—The pencil of Mr. Millais this month very beautifully illustrates the Parable of the Woman, broom and lamp in hand, search ing about the floor of her house for the lost piece of silver. this There a ! is a sine p n r e n t m t y b e b r u t b r y a t h a e n r e t f b e fantastic drawing, illustrator, delineative moreover, "Childhood." The letterpress is, for the most part, as usual, very excellent. Not the least worthy of perusal among th e contentsd by geana Alfordbrie fle nf tte c r a to nte th rb e nr E y d , i i t n er reo f Good Words, penned . ference to the last ill-natured attack upon himself by the self-appointed critic on the Dean's "Plea for the Queen's English." With this gentlemanly but caustic note the number for September is brought to a conclusion. 31 1 : 1 ; a szL h A a N s E it o s tr u s sua M l A li G b A e z ra m l E a s ll . — o : a i n h c e e S of ix s P t c o n r % and sketches, one of the most ingenious being the tale of a madman, who, being taken by a friend to a lunatic asylum, suspected the truth, and contriv ing to abstract the papers of admission, certificate, &c., in troduced his companion as the maniac, and himself as the sane guardian. The Yollet gives its fair readers an extra plate of fashions, and some very good advice in a slightly improbable story, entitled " The Wedding Bonnet." Vie Boys' Own Magazine is full of attractions, the very titles being enough to fascinate the young reader. We have rr Th e Story of the Black Prince's Page," ci Th e Young Horseman," "In th e A frican Bush," " Up in the Alps," and " Midshipmen Ashore." It is plentifully illustrated, and offers astounding riddles, puzzles, and perplexities of all sorts to the solution of the skilful. IVewton's London Journal presents its usual supply of recent information on e proceeded teil eßonse:eiwiyoprintedsl e w . Dt i t b h iee . tal a. n ir d: aehrhiformeronfa comprehensivem_ n ; .te,n. ewicontains.en,i repertorye to e, t u at a nb s le t all matters connected with patents and the patent law. Cassell's Popular Educator and illustrated History of variouspresent se elranatt2 2n.Lid terature rtires reign.ainformation. The Boys' Own Library and The Boys' P en ny Magazine are good samples of their class. the former „ --_-_ M ON UMENTS TO LOR ts D YRON'S .DAUGHTER ADA, AND HIS GRANDSON , VISCOUNT OCKIIAM Two handsome monument s ha ve just been finished erec ti ng r7 n of N t e h w e s a te b a o d ve A n b o b b ey le , paenrasonthfr latter ter i n the to being the placed l3lm e o parish church of Ripley, Surrty. They are both Gothic monuments, of white Carrara marble, are most elaborately carved, and are ornamented by the arms of the family, the whole having been executed by Mr. T. Gaffin, the sculptor, of the Quadrant, Regent-street. The following are the in scriptions :—'• In the Byrons vault below lie the remains of Augusta Ada, only daughter of George Gordon Noel, sixth Lord Byron, the wife of William Earl of Lovelace. Born 20th Dcc., 1815, diod 27th Nov., 1852. R 1.P." " In memory of Byron Neel Viscount Ockham and Baron Went worth eldest son of William Earl Lovelace. Born 12 th May, 1836, died Sept. 1. 1862." It will be remembered that Viscount Ockham ' before his death, had been working as a smith i n one o f the dockyards. —..4d. STAMPED ....sd. harbour channel. The cost of the construction is estimated at 3:450,000 only, and this also includes the construction of wharfs over the piling 200 ft. wide, with lines of railway on the inner and outer faces, a coaling depot for ships of war ou each side of the apex of the work, each capable of boiling 50,000 tons, with a lighthouse over each. In addition to the immense tidal and floating basins which would t hue be added to the resources of Ports mouth as a naval arsenal, the adoption of this plan would have the effect of throwing the inmost circle of Portsmouth defences from their present position at the harbour's mouth to the extreme edge of the outer shoals, the 200 feet outer quay room, or as we have termed it, wharf room, affording magnificent space for the erection of any number of guns of the largest calibre. This measure would effectually ren der impassible the holding of Spithead anchorage by an enemy even supposing ouch enemy had forced successfully the channels of entrance, and for this cause alone, leaving out of the question its other advantages, will doubtless receive the serious atten tion it deserves at the hands of the authorities. Whether the fort be eventually erected on the Sturbridge or on the Warner it is evident from what has been here stated that the shore batteries on the sea faces of Portsmouth required altering altogether both in design and in their powers oi„ offence; and this is now being done at the two extreme points of the base line of the triangle referred to—Southsea Castle and Fort Monckton. Southsea Castle had a short time since erected on either flank two earthen auxiliary batteries, at a cost of £15,000. These are now, of course, useless against iron ships, and new works have been commenced of a very different cha racter. They consist of a long arm connected with the Castle, extended out on either flank, the Castle being made the centre of the work, but it will be altered altogether in its character. These flank works will be curvilinear in all their outlines, and will be fitted with platforms to sustain 22-ton or even heavier guns. They will be iron-faeed, and each embrasure will be of iron on the Thorncroft plan, and shielded, On the right flank of Fort Moncton is being con structed a very extensive mortar battery, which will be also corvilinear in all its outlines : and a similar battery is now completing on a low bluff adjoining the seabeach at Puekpool, a short dis tance east of Ityde. What is required now to arm these two last-named butteries with is an improved mortar for throwing monster shells, for the vulner able part of an iron ship is her upper deck, and all we are as yet endeavouring to do is to smash in her armour-plated sides. _ _ Thus far we have endeavoured to describe what is being actually done, and what has been proposed for the defence of Spithead from attack by the south-east channel. There is, however, a side entrance for iron-clads to reach Spithead existing in the Needles channel, and here measures are being taken to close, if possible, the passage against them, and Hurst Castle is the point selected. The earthern auxiliary batteries which flanked the Castle in a similar manner to the old flanking sup ports of Southsea have been removed, and precisely similar iron•faced and embrasured works to those Southsea is receiving are being stretched along the beach from either flank of the Castle, with this addition. that in the case of Hurst, the guns will all be mounted in bomb proof easemates, and it will be, therefore, of a stronger and more extensive character than Southsea. It is certainly to be hoped that the new work at Hurst may be found sufficient to close the passage between the main and the Needles against an enemy. Thousands upon thousands sterling have been lavished during recent years upon the Needles passage, and yet the latest, or one of the latest, works of the Royal Engineers—Fort Victoria—stands a monument of their folly, a shell-trap at the base of a cliff, a thing that has been spoken of with derision by even naval and military officers, and in the presence, too, of the Defence Commission: Mr. Craft's Visit to the King of Dahomey The only section of the British Association which possessed any very special interest yesterday was that which has been through out the most popular—the section devoted to the discussion of geographical and enthological ques tions. Yesterday it was unusually crowded to hear Mr. Craft give an account of his recent visit to the King of Dahomey. Mr. Craft commenced by re peating what he stated in the section the other day,— " That both his grand-parents were Africans of pure descent, that they were kidnapped and sent to America, that he was born there and had lived there as a slave. Ile was now fortunately out of America. He had been in Eng land some 12 or 14 years, and confessed—though he did not wish to insult any American lady or gentleman who might be present—that he did not like America, and, of course all negroes had reason for sharing that feeling of repug nance. He now considered himself an Englishman of African parentage, unfortunately born in America. The subject for consideration was Dahomey. There was a great deal of difference with regard to the people of that country. Some extraordinary accounts had been printed of what took place there, and those accounts had induced him to go there and to ascertain whether those accounts were true or false, and whether anything could be done to change the bad habits of the people in that part of the world. His friends were much opposed to his going, and said that the King of Dahomey would be sure to cut his head off as soon as he laid hands on him. He felt, however, that it was his duty to go, and at length a committee was formed for the purpose of buying presents and making hie mission as suc cessful as possible. At that period the Government had given up Dahomey as a bad job, and felt they could do nothing in the matter ; and Mr. Layard, the Under-Sec retary of State for Foreign Affairs, after informing him of the opinion held by the Government, and saying that ho should be glad to see him on his return, told him ho candidly thought he never would get back again alive. He gave him, however, a letter of introduction to the Go vernor of Lagos, requesting the Governor to give him every assistance and protection in his power. He sailed from Liverpool to Lagos about nine months ago, and went to Dahomey through the lagoons in canoes. They day after they leached the town where the King was staying, mes sengers came saying that his Majesty was ready to receive his visitors. Here he might observe that, in thus giving a truthful account of what he saw and heard, he must not be understood as apologising in any way for the barbarous ells • toms of the place. He wished simply to state the truth. The King also sent a rosewood liquor case, furnished with cut•glass bottles, containing different kinds of spirits. This was for the purpose of enabling the great men to drink to the health of Mr. Craft in the name of the King. He then got into a hammock, and proceeded to the palace. O n hi s way he saw in the market-place 12 platforms, 40 feet high, 150 ft. apart, and perhaps loft. or 12ft. square. On each side of the platform was a man in an upright position, and quite dead. These persons had all been executed the night before. 1 hey were clad in accordance with the fashions of the country, and in their hands or otherwise attached to their persons were calabashes filled with native produce, and a cord, to which were fastened two or three sheep. The meaning of all this was that one Dahomey tribe held an anniversary in honour of their victory over a neighbouring tribe. When he came to the other side of the palace, he found thousands of natives assembled. As they pagsed through the crowd of natives saluted them, and when they came into the palace yard they found thousands of the principal people of the country. The chiefs stood on the right hand of the King, while on his left there were 2,000 or 3,000 Amazons, attired in their gayest costume. The King himself sat under a large tent, and was surrounded by his wives and a few officers of the Amazon regiment. When they approached the King they bowed to him, and ho returned the salutations. Ho was was seated on a raised plat form about 10ft. square, covered with handsome cloth. He immediately rose and shook Mr. Craft and his companions heartily by the hand, saying that he was glad to see him, and thanking him for taking the trouble to pay him a visit. He also inquired very kindly after his health, and after the health of her Msj€sty the Queen and of the members of the British Government, to all which Mr. Craft replied that he believed they were very well. He then inquired whether the Queen had sent him to Dahomey, to which Mr. Craft answered ' No,' but that he came at the request of a number of English friends of the King's, who desired to promote civilisation in Africa, and to encourage a legitimate trade between the people of Eng land and Dahomey. He also told him that, though they did not come directly from the British Government, he knew they had the good wishes of the GJvernment, who would be very glad if something could be done in the way he had proposed. The King seemed at once to understand the matter, and Fgid it was all right; and he proposed succes sively the healths of the gentlemen who had sent Mr. Craft, of Mr. Craft himself, and of her Majesty the Queen- It was customary at the palace to taste a little of every thing that was offered in the way of drink, but visitors 31 guns fired by way of returning the compliment. After this entertainment the party were conducted to the other side of the palace, where the. Amazons were dancing. There were 200 or 300 young women thus engaged, and they danced very prettily, making very graceful figures. _ _ Although the dancing was kept up all day, and the youup,- women must have been very tired at night, somehow they seemed quite as fresh as they were when they began in the morning. There was also a grand review of the Amazonian regiment, which marched about in varioul directions, and went through all its evolutions, rra,, whole of the King's property was then brought forward and exhibited to the visitors, thousands of men and women being employed in carrying the articles backwards and forwards. There were among these gold and silver or- narnents, and epeeimeEs of almost every kind of European manufacture. By this time Captain Burton arrived at Da- homey, and a grand review of the troops took place in honour of them all. It was quite true that human sacrifices took place, though not to the enormous extent that had beeu painted. The King of Dahomey was quite black enough, but not quite so black as he had been painted. The sacrifices took place from three different causes. They were partly religious, partly demonstrative of power, and partly festive. Women and children were never sacrificed. When a num ber of women and children were captured, they were either sold or given to tho soldiers and others as wives. The chil— dren were undisturbed ; the strong men were sold as well ag the women, if anybody would buy them; but the old men. and women and those that could not be turned to pecuniary account were offered up in sacrifice. When he was at Da homey he saw a large number of children of different tribes. The tribes were distinguished from each other by the tattoo marks, and almost every child ho saw had a natural mark. The people of Dahomey thought it rather against their dignity to tattoo themselves much,and had only tattoo marks on the temple, but other tribes were tattoed very much, and in avariety of patterns. The reason why they sold the young men was that they considered it dangerous to have such a strors• antagonistic element in their midst. The King gave him four boys for his friends and one for himself. The :s es of the boys varied from 9 to 11 They were captured by the King in an expedition against a neighbouring tribe, and at the same time he took a native missionary who had been trained under the Church Missionary Society, and sent home to teach his heathen brothers. The King of Dahomey, judg ing that this man was a native, acid believing that ho had assumed the European garb for the purpose of deceiv.. ing him, thought it necessary to treat him with greater severity than his other captives, and accordingly had him crucified. But many of the chiefs expressed their regret to Mr. Craft that this had occurred, and ex cused themselves by sa3 ing they did not know that the poor man was under the protection of the English. The boys whom the King presented to him he had given to his friends, though, of course, they would not regard them as slaves, but would educate them and bring them up as British subjects. In reference to the sacrifices, M. Jules Gerard made a mistake when he said that the King danced in pools Lf human blood and fragments of human flesh. lie was there on the occasion to which M. Gerard referred, and could positively declare that nothing so unseemly took place. Ile was very sorry to differ from M. Gerard, but a regard for the truth compelled him to make those statements. 110 regretted that Capt. Burton was not present to corroborate his statements; but he had seen a letter from that gentle man in the Anglo-African newspaper—a periodical pub. lished weekly or monthly at Lagos by a coloured gentleman —and in that letter the captain made no allusion whatever to the horrible things which M. Gerard said he saw. There was also a letter in the Times of Tuesday from a gentleman writing from Catherine-street, Strand, who stated that he had received a:letter by the last mail from Capt. Burton, but that in that letter there was nothing at all about the extra ordinary cruelties to which M. Gerard referred. Commo- dore Wilmot had also given an account of Dahomey which differed very much from that of M. Gerard ; and he was able to testify to the truthfulness of the commodore's state- ments. There were only one or two other points to which it was necessary for him to refer. With respect to the agricultural capabilities of the country, he regarded it as a cotton-growing region. Nothing could be said in defence of human sacrifices, but there was no harm in stating that the pecuniary element en t ere d i nto the qu e stion to a very large extent, and that if the natives could be brought to believe that it was their interest to cultivate cotton and sell it to Europeans they would abandun the slave trade. A. great deal had been said by Commodore Maury about Africa not being a cotton-growing country. Now, Com modore Maury was a very high authority on winds and tides, and so long as ho kept to his own element he w ou ld not interfere with him; but when he landed at Natal, and began to talk about cotton, he was very liable to find his statements criticised. A lady who was in the room had shown Mr. Craft some cotton which had been grown at Natal, and very good cotton it was ; the lady was Mrs. Richardson. Commodore Maury seemed to be of opinion that cotton would not grow well unless it was nipped by frost every year, Now, Natal was in about the same latitude as Egypt, and as Egypt could grow very good cotton with out frost, why, he asked, might not Natal, if care were taken to cultivate it? With regard to West Africa and Dahomey, he could testify that cotton was grown there in abundance. Abbeokuta joined Dahomey, and a very con siderable cotton trade had sprung up there during the last few years. At the present time there was a blockade there owing to some difference between the British Government and the Abbeokutans, and consequently the cotton was not exported ; but he knew for a fact that merchants were buy ing it up in considerable quantities, and storing it up with a view of sending it out of the country as soon as the blockade was over. He believed that the'slave trade was carried on by the people of Dahomey for the purpose of gain. Slave dealers went to the chiefs of different tribes and induced them to go to war with one another, and remained behind the scenes for the purpose of buying up the slaves that were captur.ed in the war. In this way heathen captives were found to supply the market created by these Christian dealers in human flesh. Now, he thought that if the King of Da homey and his chiefs could be interested in the cultivation of cotton, and could be brought to feel that it was more pro fitable than the traffic in slaves, they would give the latter up altogether. :Accordingly, he had told the king that the demand for slaves would not exist for ever; that slavery was becoming very unpopular ; that the Americans were at war, and that it might happen that before the war was closed slavery would be abolished, in which case there would be a very limited demand for slaves. (Hear, hear.) lie might state that the Americans had prohibited the slave trace, but in spite of that a large number el slaves had. been taken to Cuba, smuggled across the Gulf of Mexico into Florida, and carried thence into the interior of the Southern States. He told the King he believed it would pay him to attend to the cultivation of cotton, and not only to its cultivation, but to its manufacture. The King seemed interested in his statements, and replied that if ho could point him to a good market he would be very glad to grew cotton on a large scale. The King also offered him a large place for carrying on his business—a large square at Wydah, surrounded by a mud wall about 20ft. high, and containing several storehouses. He also offered to facilitate his movements in any way, and gave him, moreover, about 300 samples of cloth of European manufacture, and said that the people of Dahomey would readily purchase of that kind if they were imported from Europe," Mr. Craft then exhibited several articles of native manufacture which he had brought from Dahomey ; among these were two cushions made of native leather, and having a sort of embossed surface of a gay pattern. `These formed the principal furniture of a Dahotticy dwelling. There were also several specimens of native manufactured cloth, which was made of narrow strips dyed in gay colours principaily yellow and red. Another article was an amazonian sword, made apparently of very good steel, pro duced in the country. Mr. Craft also exhibited a cartridge-box, ornamented with cowries, or native coin, and pouches or bags of different hinds, a ll more or leas ornamented. There was also the backbone of a boa constrictor, which, it was said. was a very useful thing to keep off evil spirits, and also to cure people of the back-ache. Other articles were exhibited, such as beads of bone, and bamboo baskets, made with great ingenuity to fit into one another. Mr. Craft concluded by saying tha.; he did not think that the King of Dahomey or his people would grow cotton from any high Christian motive, at least in the first instance, but that he was convinced that if they saw that they could do it profitably they would cultivate it upon a very large scale. Mr. Craft was very warmly cheered in concluding his address, which, however, scarcely excited the discussion in the section it is likely to do elsewhere. Dover and Calais are now within 11 hours of each other. The "James Penn " crosses the Channel in that time. This rapidity is due to improvements in the marine engine. Grey hair is restored to its natural colour, and tic doloreu:c and nervous headache cured by Herring's magnetic brushes. Their undeviating success is due to late improvements by the inventor. N.B.—Counterielts are being made. Offices, 32, Basingliall-street, London. THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES,—The con. tract for the new India and Foreign offices to i e erected by Mr. Scott, the architect, has been let to Liessri, Smith and Taylor, whose tender, £195,573, being the lowest, was accepted. The other tenders, making 11 in all were Messrs. Little, £2o9,6ls—Messrs. Higgs, £206,669 — Messrs. Rigby, £206,109-111essrs. Piper and Wheeler, £200,385--Mesers. Myers and Son, £198,560-lesers. Holland and Hannen, -=,-Pl97,lB7—Messrs. Cubitt, £196,750 —Messrs. Kirk, £l96,soo—Messrs. Lucas, £196,270—and Messrs. Baker, £195,800. The foundations for the entire building in 14 feet of concrete are all finished, aryl that por tion of the structure intended to be appropriated fur the Use of the Indiseeffiee has just been commenced. B. d.