The Sun. — London, England, 1863-07-08 00:00:00

THEATRE -ROY Ai" HAY MARKET. Lessee. Mr. J. B. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, a new Farce, entitled AN UNLUCKY MORTAL. After which, 44th time, a new and original comedy, entitled FINESSE ; or, Spy and Counter-Spy : Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Howe, Mr. Chippendale, Mr. and llrs. Alfred Wigan, and Miss Louisa Angel. To be followed by the new Farce, EASY SHAVING: Messrs. Compton, W. Gordon, Rogers ; Miss Louise Keeley, Miss Fanny Wright. To conclude with THE STAR OF ANDALUSIA. Commence at 7. THE DUKE'S MOTTO HLNDRED AM) FORTY-SEVENTH NIGHT. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.- tinder the Sole Management of Mr. FECHTE THIS EVENING, to commence with an Original sketch, entitled A SUDDEN ATTACK. Messrs. Shore, Garden, H. Widdicomb, Miss Henrade, and Mrs. Lee. After which, at a Quarter -past Eight, the Romantic Drama, in Three Acts, and Pr3locrue, entitled THE DUKE'S MOTTO, by Paul Peval and John Brougham. The principal character will be sustained by Mr. Fechter, supported by Messrs. J. G. Shore , G. Jo rdan, J. Brougam, H. rViddnombe, F. Charles, Garden, Raymond, Dawson ; Misses Carlotta Leclercq. Kate Terry, E. (.avenue, and Elsworthy. Doors open at 7, commence at half-past. Acting-Manager, Mr. H. Barnett. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. G. Vining. THIS EVENING, at Eight o'clock, Shakespere's Play of ROMEO AND JULIET. Romeo, Mr. Walter Montgomery; Mercutio, Mr. G. Vining; Friar Lawrence, Mr. H. Marston; Apothecary, Mr. Belmore ; The Nurse, Mrs. H. Marston ; Juliet, Mdlle. Stella Colas. To be preceded by the new Comedietta, entitled COUSIN TOM. NEIV THE ATRE-RO YAL, Sole 'Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, THE IRIiH TIGER. After which, at Eight o'cloek, a new drama, entitled THE HAUNTED MAN; OR, T E GHOST'S BARGAIN, in which will be exhibited Professor Pepper's adaptation of the Great Spectral Illusion. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Phi:lips, &mart, Billington, C. J. Smith; Mrs. Altred Mellon and Miss H. Simms. Followed by a new Burlesque, ent►tled ILL-TREATED IL TRO VATORE. ME ssrs. Toole, P. Bedtord, R. Phillips, Ebnrne, C. J. Smith, Romer ; the Sisters Nelson, Carry and Sara, and Miss K. Kelly. Commence at 7. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, MY WIFE'S SECOND FLOOR. Mr. Clifton. Followed by WHILE THERE'S LIFE THERE'S HOPE. Mfssrs. W. 11. Swanborough, Parselle, Voltaire, G. Honey ; Misses Ada Swanborough, L. Thorne, F. Hughes, Mandera, and E. Bufton. After which. the Great Burlesque, ALI BABA ; OR, THE THIRTY-NINE THIEVES. Messrs. Honey, Turner, Danvers, Mesdames Ada Swanborough, Saunders, White, Button, and Hughes. Commence at 7. rpHE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," Contalaing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, can be had Every Evening of G. R. GLENIE. NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. The Weather—Sun Office, July 8, 1863. THERMOMETER. This morning This day at Two o'clock 74 __ _ _ Barometer-30.16. ; light, and fine weather. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Das DAY.—Morning, 7h. 21m.—Afternoon, 7h. 45m, To-xoßnow.-Morning, Bh, 14m.—Afternoon, Bh. 42m 4 , 4 11 - ) 44314 LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1863. CHARLES LAMB'S Essay upon Roast Pig has long since familiarised us all with the brilliant idea occurring to the Chinese discoverer of that same delicious edible, immediately after his (luckily) burning his fingers with the hot crackling and then tasting it ! His instant notion being—who by any possibility can have forgotten it ?—the conflagra tion of a whole house, to furnish forth again that one savoury and entrancing dish. Not an Elian Philosopher since CHARLES LAMB wrote that re nowned Essay—that Essay of Essays, ELIA'S masterpiece—but has exulted, of course, over the Chinaman's notion as over a flash of genius, reading on (whenever the book opened at that chapter) with a watering month, turning the well-thumbed leaves until they could be turned no longer for very laughter. Laugh, however, as we may at the Chinaman's simple but rather costly plan of burning down a house to get at a dinner—of Roast Pig ! England has been doing now for nearly two hundred years past very much the same kind of thing, is actually doing it still, or at any rare conniving at its being done. Nay, not simply permitting and authorising a proceeding as ridiculous in its extra vagance as that suggested in the realms of fancy frequented by the Great Humorist's imagination, but one far and away still more preposterous in its absurdity, in its utter fatuity, in its ultra-extrava gance. And this, not for a dinner or a dish, but for a garment or the mere trimming of a garment. During the reign of King CHARLES 11., in the year 1670, otherwise one hundred and ninety-three years ago, a Royal Charter was granted by his MAJESTY to the Hudson's Bay Company, by the name of " The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay." And by this Charter a vast tract of territory was vested in the Company, together with the sole right of trade and commerce, and, with that right, all " mines royal," as well then ::!scovered as not discovered in those same vast and fertile regions of North America. The Company has since then been in existence aed--working. The Royal Charter has since then, with one or two renewals, been in force continuously—is still in force to this day. To what end—we all know. To the end that that g i g antic territory, in dimensions about the size of the half of Europe, shall enable the said Company of Adven turers, as represented by the successors of the origi nal projectors of the same, to trade year after year profitably for themselves in—fur ! henever the fact here referred to is thus put plainly in so many words, it seems to us each time, almost be yond the reach of credibility that it should be, as we have here stated. And yet it incontrovertibly ts precisely as we have stated it, and it has been so now for close upon two centuries. Familiar though the fact is, notorious though it is, as (for we may actually call it this) a geographical, a political, a social, and even a religious anomaly, an anomaly affecting detrimentally the interests of mankind, whether in regard to civilisation or in re gard to Christianity—it is just now vividly and especially brought under our con sideration by the circumstance that the whole of the Hudson's Bay Company's territory en masse is now being talked of as having been transferred by that company to an entirely new company, this latter being entitled the International Financial Company, Limited. A brief but perti nent and suggestive letter, addressed to ourselves, and signed " Traveller," will be found in another part of our impression of this evening—in the course of which communication the writer throws out a hint that we aincerely hope may at once be acted upon—a hint, namely, to the effect that the whole of this extraordinary affair be forth with venti lated in the House of Commons. For some few weeks past it has been the subject of a good deal of club talk. It seems to us still a thing almost beyond belief that so vast a territory should be coolly made a matter of mere ordinary barter between a couple of mercanti le associations. An answer ought certainly to be elicited from the re sponsible Minister upon the Treasury bench. And under any circumstances the opportunity ought to be seized, or if nut within our grasp it ought as rapidly as possible to be made and grasped — an opportunity, by availing ourselves of which, We might at length turn to better account so noble a dominion as that which has hitherto been set apart for the mere acquisition of fur as an article of com merce. A, co untry having an estimated area of 1,400,000 square miles,or in other words of upwards of 896,000,000 acres— , .a good part of the soil of which is wonderfully fertile, bearing wheat and other cereal crops in abundance—ought assuredly, for the national good, for the general advantage even of mankind, to be turned to a little better account than the comparatively poor and humble account to which we have hitherto turned it. The resolution moved by Mr. COCHRANE last evening appears on the whole to be an advisable one. The terms were as follow :—" That the large sums annually voted for public buildings and im provements in the metropolis are not expended in a satisfactory manner, and that with a view to the efficiency of the Office of Works, it should be consti tuted on a different basis." Mr. COCHRANE explained that his object was that the Government might con sider the subject during the recess, so that arrange ments might be made which would enable the Office of Works more adequately to carry out the requirements of the public service. The hon. gen tleman truly said that he thought theftaectioe as f w thei a r having had so many discussions on this topic reason why the resolution should be moved. not the fault of that House that the architecture It w a o s f the country was so indifferent,tified their marked disapproval in h d y e t e h d e t i h r e v y et h e a e d f ttehse of Commons, the House o th e r night. The country ina w sm as uc m h u a c s h th in e d s e t b r t u e c d tur t e o t h e country. Instea at South Kensington wdasefnhg "a joy fe ot ei t e orem ai o nad r v is e gr e a r c; to M fa r u . l tCyoacrEtr arrange merits ! e i t e w n o t u e l n d h te a v e e r i b t i e e e i n a e a a n t i l n e c n u g h t u h s .t the a w M erits at present in vogue. He thought many in consistencies accrue from the First Commissioner being constantly changed, the average term of office by that individual being seldom more than two years. The consequence was each new official de ranged the plans, and overthrew what had been done by their predecessors. He blamed no particu lar commissioner, bat what he blamed was the sys. tem. He then enumerated some of the vast sums voted for different purposes, which seemed never applied in a right form. So much as LBO,OOO had been voted for putting a floating light on the Little Bass's Rock, Ceylon, which was a reckless and extraordinary proceeding. •He then referred to a remark made by the noble lord at the head of the Government—" Our streets are narrow, our open spaces seem small, our public buildings not showy. What is the reason of the inferiority of this city as compared with other first-rate towns in regard to the condition of the space occupied and the character of the buildings ?" The noble lord had argued that the inferiority was attributable to the Board of Works. Mr. GLADSTONE had also said that for a long time it had been observed, and with rare unanimity, that every possible evil of vacillation, uncertainty, delay, and expense, and many others, attended our method of management of these great questions of public works. The hon. member concluded his impressive speech with the following words—" Was this state of things to go on for ever ? Perhaps the house was not aware of the amount of money which was spent on these public works with such unsatisfactory results. Since 1848 no less than £2,273,000 had been ex pended in that way, and all they got for the money were the Brampton boilers,' the National Gallery, and the additions to the British Museum. The hon member for Finsbury had proposed that the First Commissioner should, as in France, be sur rounded by a body of practical advisers. Had such a system been in operation he did not believe that the scene of Thursday last would have been possible. Either the council would have appreciated the objections to the buildings, or they would have recommended :he purchase with such authority that it would have been at once agreed to." Mr. COWPER, of course, was at some pains to do awa y with the impression made by Mr. COCHRANE'S speech, but be did not succeed very well. He denied that the department of the Office of Works was responsible for the public buildings referred to by Mr. COCHRANE. The question that naturally suggests itself to the mind on hearing this state ment is, of what use is that establishment at all ; and ought it not to be responsible ? He considered that the office ought to be increased in authority instead of being diminished, and he thought that a great part of the faults complained of in regard to public buildings was owing to the Government not having sufficient authority. This is quite absurd, because the Government of the day can always control these matters at the outset, and when Mr. COWPER referred to the nostrums of gentlemen who thought they knew better than their neighbours, he had better have looked at home, among his friends and coadjutors, who glory in the erection of frightful buildings, and appear to think all archi tectural objects are satisfied provided large sums of money are spent in their construction. It is a pity that some redeeming point should not appear in the history of this wasted session. The House might have, at least, agreed to a resolution which urged the Government to reconsider its ways and to amend its faults and imperfect arrangements. Mr. CowPER has had his way, but it ought not really to be matter of rejoicing to him or any of his col leagues that more immunity is accorded to them to deface the metropolis of the world with hideous structures, and to lavish sums that might rebuild ruined cities or works that no continental capital would allow to remain a day to disgrace their na tional taste, and to be a scandal to their reputation as critics a of the excellent admirers of the bea u tif u l and architecture. sculpturein It is highly s atisfactory to all who have t a k en part in forwarding the Public Works (Manufac turing Districts) Bill, to find so eminent an autho rity as the Earl of DEBBY raising his voice in its favour. Few men have had more opportunity than the noble earl of arriving at sound and just con clusions with respect to the extent and the character of the L ancas hi re distress. His position in the county, and long r es idence among them, must have familiarised him long ago to the peculiarities of the quick-witted " hands" of the neighbouring dis tricts ; while the liberality, the energy, and the readiness which he has displayed on their behalf since the first signs o f general distress, have set a noble example to hi s compeers. One of t h e fi r st who assembled i n d el i beration at Bridge water House, he was spe e dil y elected by his associates to fill the vacancy unexpectedly caused by the death of their noble chairman, and since he has assumed the presidency of this important and powerful organisation he has allowed no claims to interfere with his fulfilment of its onerous and laborious duties, The large subscriptions - which he has added to the coffers of the Relief Fund have been less re markable gifts, than the time, thought, and labour he has so readily accorded. His efforts in the cause have been universally appreciated and respected, awl the expression of his opinion in any matter connected with the Lancashire distress carries with it very great weight. It is, therefore, satisfactory to find the noble earl expressing his decided ap. proval of the measure introduced by Mr. VILLIERS, and remarking that he considered it to be founded upon reasonable principles, and calculated to give considerable relief to the manufacturing districts. Lord DERBY then proceeded to give some particu lars respecting the present conditio a of the relief f u nd. He remarked that he belie ,ed the extent THE - SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 8, 1863 of the efforts which had been made during the past year on behalf of the distressed districts was hardly known, and said that, including a sum of £150,000 employed in the pirchase of food and clothing, the total amount subscribed last year w L 1,900,000. Thi s l arge sum,mustas n b o o l e r s e s m th e m an it - bered, is entirely exclusive of thee charity, whose extended and unostentatious exclusive of £70,000 in o m mvoaliennzeswayisllLnoervderDbEenfßulyly, known. There still re or in prospect of receipt, about 6 f f o r ,o t s t O of o n privateb hand, ei e thingso OO tto cannot be l:ieufsebythe Committee.c Thethe pamososnesnstiognivoefn thmeon :lordships that this mB comparatively t t t e the e ha s noblebeen as favourable earl u d wr u sa c rb e M nl d t eshadf state r ny t o t s ah m i t io ee nn i L r hoped to continue to remain inuethro noh ug o hth ou e god. comingAvewry ableinter, allowing things and moderate letter of Sir J. KAY SHUTTLEWORTH, recently published, expresses simply and clearly the grounds that the executive committee have for an ticipating a favourable conclusion to the present difficulties, while they prepare at the same time for a sharp struggle next winter. The inclement season will drive home those operatives who have been finding casual outdoor work in other districts, while the numerous branches of employment opened by the genial harvest season will of course be closed. Yet the future of Lancashire is hopeful notwith standing. As Sir J. KAY SHUTTLEWORTH reminds the public, the supply of cotton, if America does not furnish it, will ultimately come from other parts of the globe. The uncertainty of the war has been a great drawback to change or improvement ; bat it will not block the way for ever, and however severe the temporary pressure may be, we cannot doubt that not only will our Lancashire cotton trade revive with all its old spirit, but that it will, as Sir J. K. SHUTTLEWORTH observes, be re-esta blished on a firmer basis than ever, because it will no longer be suffered to depend exclusively on one source of supply. India, Africa, Queensland, Jamaica, will be our safeguards against another such emergency, if our manufacturers have learned anything from the lessons of the past. We cannot hope for any very great improvement in the state of employment, says Mr. FARNALL, before this time next year, and the necessity and uti'ity of a bill like that of Mr. VILLIERS' is manifest. It is most gratifying to learn that no less than 47 local com mittees have been able to suspend their operations for the present, both as the evident proof of the diminished distress and the consequent saving of the means in hand for the coming autumnal season. - _ Are the Southern States Rebels or not if .-- - . -.-- , '! 1' , • - --40 1A V/e.W (1111 rt ..*--, •:4:t1.146, c tc, , , _niE7 v --- - ----' Irtlakr , 4 1 - HER MAJESTY, °MANE, July 7. The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Louise and Princess Leiningen, drove out in a carriage and four yesterday afternoon. Lord Alfred Paget attended on horseback. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—The United States, unlike the United Kingdom, are composed of several sovereign States, equal in honour and dignity, which, by the will of the people of each State, can adhere to, or separate from, the Federal Government, by the Constitution. This was called by the late Dr. Chan ning " a league of sovereignties," and is admitted by the letter of General Scott to the President, when advising him to let the wayward sisters go in peace. The Foreign-office is aware of this from the Federal Government being unable to carry out international laws in the case of South Carolina, the laws of that sovereign State being paramount to those of the United States. The Ashburton Treaty could not be signed by the Go vernment of Washington without the consent of the sove•. reign State of Maine being obtained. Mr. Horace Greely says " the Southern States have every right to secede, and to deny them that right would be against all ideas of liberty and freedom." Now the Southern States are not rebels bat Sovereign States con federated together for the public weal, and as such ought to be recognised by the Great Powers of Europe, differing in this respect from colonies or subject states. The speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer must have a telling effect on the debate. He stated boldly that reunion was impossible ; that the North was fighting for an object unattainable ; that to do so was criminal. Now, if such be the case, as 99 out of 100 Englishmen admit, why not recognise the South, and thus prevent in 1864 the repetition of the years 1861, 1862, and 1863, with all their carnage—desolation and but ning of cities and towns, and wasting of whole districts of country. With out recognition, the war will last for years—with recogni tion, the verdict of the public opinion of Europe, the war would be brought to an immediate close. We all say recognition must take place. If it does at once it will benefit North and South. Humanity, justice, international law, and self-interest call on the House of Commons to support Mr. Roebuck's motion—the power of slavery w, ill be reduced, and the North become a free State indeed. X. Y. Z. Hudson's Bay Company versus the Crown and Canada. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sir,—The statement that the sale of the stock of this company will transfer to another company the whole of British America between Canada and British Columbia, equal in size to half of Europe, and with fertile districts double the extent of France, is not correct. The country in question, belonging wholly to the Crown or to the Crown cud Canada, and not to the Company, while they should have all facilities for trading, mining, and commercial pur poses, there should be no exclusive privileges, no monopoly, no prescriptive rights, but all placed on an equal footing. The prairies of British America will afford a rich soil and a healthy climate for settlement, but instead of transferring them to a company they ought to be formed into colonies, offering free grants to settlers for the first six or seven years. . - A question asked in the House of Commons might bring from the Government a denial of the above statements. TRAVELLER. ALHAMBRA PALACE. Mr. Wilde is certainly one of the most enterprising ma nagers is the metropolis. No sooner does he secure the services of some bright particular star for the Alhambra than he is in search of another, and every addition he makes to his attractions is either of the most extraordinary or in teresting description. The latest novelty he has introduced is a troup of Maori warrior chiefs from New Zealand, who go through a performance of the greatest peculiarity. It is all times interesting to learn the manners and customs of aboriginal nations, and there can be none more so to the world at large than New Zealand. The Maoris, we are in formed, were induced to form themselves into a party under the guidance of Dr. M'Gauran, first to aid him is his desire to exhibit to the nations abroad the ad vanced state of civilization in that perhaps wildest of all countries, to show the many interesting customs, ceremonies, traditions, and manners of their race in peace and war, and also to gratify their own desire of seeing the civilised world, They are seven in number, and as a bady of men they are remarkable for their warlike and manly appearance, as well as for their intelligence and superiority. The names and condition of the party are as follow—Tomati Hapimana Wharinaki, a chief of very great rank and influence of the Tawera tribe, in the Bay of Plenty—ancestors very great warriors—a magistrate of New Zealand ; Pauro Whakaheko, a chief of rank and in fluence of the Tawera tribe ; Pene Tutu, a chief of rank of the Negato Kahungugnu tribe, East Cape; Meini Kereti, a chief of influence of the Ngati Kahungugnu tribe, East districts;N w:rshtieh rnAeeptPrueerstarehinbatel: ions given arc Cape ; Henari Piri Mete, half-caste of the Ngapuhi tribe of I. Rangatira Moetara, a young chief of great rank influence a H :d kiatl; of the Rarawa tribe of Kaitaia, Bay of a of P g u r n e g a a t tu ra ra n , k a , y an ou d ng fro c m hief th o e f King, Pota arthe canoe, bl r Maori games tat l h s te l a a uF nd o s al Maori i d the single and double war dance. A description of the performance is intensity, and elicited the most unbounded W and aik w a r t e o stli c n o g u , n i t a r u y nch c i o n u g sinthetwo the Risariles, have en tirelyquite impo s sible ; it is, throughout, marked with the greatest applause. The incomparable Spanish gymnasts, feats now performed are still more astonishin g Wilde, we see, has changed their performances, and what is fh m an ore r , h t o h se e given on their first appearance. Mr. that while w i tness i ng the unique per f or mance theaudience placed a st rong netting beneat h th ese venturous youths, so need have no fear of dangerous results to the artists. The beautiful Fairy Fountain is still exhibited, and daring the evening Herr Schalkenbach plays several pieces on his new " piano otehestre," which combines a band of 26 in struments. Altogether the entertainment at the Alhambra is of first-rate excellence. Mr. Brown, Who some time since retired from the firm of Longman and Co., of Paternoster-row, has given £l,OOO for a stained-I;I4EII'dDAD'S'? in St, Paul's Catlledral, LATEST INTELLIGENCE. REUTER'S TELEGRAMS. REVOLUTION IN GEORGIA. VIENNA; JULY 8. The Vienna papers of to-day publish a telegram from Constantinople confirming the news of the outbreak of a revolution in Georgia (the Russian province in Asia). Prince Cholakoff, with 200 soldiers, had been wounded near the citadel of Zalatai. The Tartars had jcined the insurgents. EGYPT. The Nord states that the correspondence between the French Government and that of Turkey relative to the Suez Canal is still actively carried on. It is believed that only one of the several conditions laid down in the circular of the Turkish Government is now maintained. Ismael Pasha demands that the clause conceding the lands bordering the fresh water canal to the company shall be annulled. The Nord asserts that the French Government will not annul any of the existing conditions. FRANCE. BOURSE, July 7.—The market continues firm, but without, up to this hour, any further advance, Threes, for the Account, being unvaried at 68f. 75c. Railway Share Market quiet, and without much change. The market closed as follows : It per Cents .. 96 85 It a li an L oan 72 10 Do. end month.... - - Do. end month 72 20 3 per Cents Do. end month..,. 68 60 Do, end month 72 60 Credit Mobilier.... 1197 50 Russian Do. end month.... 1192 50 Austrian Bank Shares 3405 Spanish Threes.- .. 53 75 Credit Fonoier 1332 50 Home Debt RA IL WAYS. Cash. .Account. Orleans lO2O .. 1020 Northern .... New ditto — • • --- Lyons and Mediterranean 1035 1032 50 Geneva............ Southern Western Eastern ........... 502 50 .. 500 Sardinian Austrian Lon-hard 50 North of Spai n Saragossa.,,,.. 695 .. 697 50 Ditto to Barcelona 373 .50 .. 370 The Hudson's Bay Company's Territory, In further illustration of the momentous quea tion affecting those regions of British North Ame rica—a question discussed to-day in our first leading article, and r e f erred to elsewhere in a brief commu nication add resse d to us by an intelligent cone spon dent— we are tempted to quote the following passages f rom a petition transmitted from the Liverpool Financial Reform Association, and pre sented by that association as far back as 1858: TO THE HONOUR ABLE THE COMMONS OT THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GRE AT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, IN PAR LIAMENT sh o ASSEMBLED. Wll, Th Humbly at the British possessions in North America, entitled the Hudson's Bay and Indian territories, exceed the whole of Europe in extent—abound in agricul tural and mineral wealth, possess facilities for a most com plete system of inland water communication, and enjoy many other natural advantages and sources of commercial greatness, which render them a most eligible field for British colonisation. That the alleged rights of absolute ownership and exclu sive trading over the whole of these immense regions, held by a small number of private individuals, are contrary to justice and public policy; and that such rights and privileges have been exercised in a man ner most prejudicial to the British colonists settled therein, to the native races, and to the interests of the empire at large. That the poss ess i on of such mons t rou s privileges by a few persons, to th e manifest injury o f a ll t h e re st of the com munity, is directly opposed to the theory of free trade, so happily inaugu ra t e d b y your honoura bl e house, and ought, therefore, to be fo r th w i t h a b o li s h e d. That your petiti oners have l earn t with great apprehen sion, and even with dismay, that a legislative measure is about to be submitted to your honourable house continuing the monopoly of the Hudson's Bay Company, so far as re gards the Hudson's Bay and Indian territories,with no other modification than the cession of certain districts to Canada, on what a re ca ll e d " equ itable principles," by which phrase your petiti oners u nderstand that either Canada or the mother cou n t ry i s t o pay the Hudson's Bay Company for the c e d ed di str i cts; an d that your honourable house is to be advi se d to rat if y this arrangement, "whatever may be the v a lidi ty or ot h erw ise of the rights claimed by the Hudson's Bay C o mpany under the charter," and this mainly on thr ee gr ounds- I st, the maintenance of law an d order; 2dly, presumed fatal effects to the Indians from open competition in the fur trade ; and, 3dly, the probable by destruction of the more valu able fur-tearin g animals at no distant peri o d. That yo ur petitioners believe that the charter granted King Charles the Second to the Hudson's Bay Company was invalid ai initto, becuuse it conferred powers and privi leges contrary to the laws of England, without the sanction has sinc e usurpe d t e rritories expressly excluded from its ope ex P of Parliament ; and that, even if it were legal , the company ged to France, and should now form ration, which then belon part of Canada. . _ _ _ That, in the opinion of your petitioners, the legality or illegality of the charter, and, if it be legal, the limits of the company's jurisaic,ion under it, ought to be decided by a competent judicial tribunal favour n f th any q e n ue nna sti p o a n n o y f , compen sationwhetner is entertained, and th at to p l ead for the application of equitable principles" in n its claims be valid or invalid, without reference to any such principles against the company, involves i p n e v ti o t l i v o e n s er n s o , t w s h im ol p ly ly in a s n ufa i i insuffi cient. consistency but a denial o f j ustice to t he people of Grea t Britain and Canada. etanint'ht.aarte:hienrtenaesoonpsinailolnegoedt for treating th e va lidi ty or non validity of the charter as a matter comparatively unimpor tant That your petitioners cannot beliave that a sy s t em w hi c h creates such intense diss atisfaction amongst the one small body of British settlers under the suay of the Hudson Bay Company as to induce amongst them a d es i re to t h row oil their all eg i an ce to the British .Crown, and which i nv i tes constant en c r oachments on British territ or i es , now lying waste and unoccupied , by citizens of the United States, is conducive to the maintenance of law and order. That your petitioners greatly doubt the s i ncer it y of a sympathy for the Indians, which is coi nc id ent w i t h exact ing from them profits ranging from 200 to 2,000 per cent. on every article the company buys or sells, as a l so w i t h a de crease in their numbers, and with little or no progress in their civilisation, or improvement in their condition. That your petitioners, believing that the vast regions which it has been the object of the Hudson's Bay Com pany to retain, as nearly as possible, in a state of desert na ture, for the breeding and hunting of wild beasts, may, under a proper system of colonisation and government, be• come covered with populous towns, and flourishing cornmu nsoirtiteescioffnßtrihAtisThT,,siutobdjecststa,tewshaonwdouoltdherotfhoerreiwginsechouanyterirees: would rejoice in such a consummation, even though it should be attended with the extinction of all fur-bearing animals. That, whether as regards Vancouver's Island, the Hud son's Bay territories, or the Indian territories, the great natural advantages possessed by them all will be best de veloped by their severance from a company whose policy has always been, as it still is, opposed to all development excepting that of a paltry trade in furs, realising only a few hundred thousand pounds annually from nearly half the continent of America, whose imports and exports, under ether auspices, would soon be estimated by millions sterling. CLEVER SHAVERS !.-._Talleyrand told Lord Hol land, " A king by birth is shaved by another. He who makes himself king shaves himself." Napoleon, like Wel lington, shaved himself. Mr. BOUCICAULT'S THEATRICAL REFORMS. — It is well known that Mr. Boucicault had no sooner realized a fortune at one of our London theatres, than he made the discovery that our theatre accommodation was ex tremely defective, and promised that be would set to work and amend it. With this view he became the lessee of Astley's Amphitheatre, and effected certain alterations which were not generally accepted as improvements. He also stated that he inteadcd to purchase houses on each side of the theat re, and toconvert these into wa i t i ng saloons, corridors, &c., for th e comfort an d conven i enc e of his visi tors. Not content with these promises, he orga nised a "Theatr e C ompany, " whose management included som e high sounding and influential names—he pitchedupon site in the Haymarket , opposite Mr. Buckstone's establish ment, and somehow sr other made the public believe that preliminaries were satisfactorily settled, and that in a few days the build ers would commence. Bat t h ese splendid projects appear to have leen doomed to a hasty and rather undignified abandonment. The Westminster Theatre has suddenly closed its doors, and the threatened houses on either side remain unme.ested. With regard to the grander scene at the West-end, :he proprietor of the coveted site declared that he had no parted with his property and did not intend to. Subsequently, the broker of the Theatre Company advertised his severance from the project, and fi na lly, we understand, hat the dukes, lords, and so on, who had been persuaded to lend their names to the specu lation, have withdrawn .heir support..—.Builditig .Acws. The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales, attended by Captain Grey, honoured Mr. Frith with a sitting yesterday, for the picture he is painting of his Royal Highness's wedding. The Countess of Zetland had an interview with the Princess of Wales, and presented to her Royal Highness articles of woollen manufacture, presents from the islands of Shetland. The Princess was attended by the Marchioness of Carmarthen and Lord Harris, K.S.I. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam bridge, the Princess Mary, and the Duke of Cam bridge visited their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House. The Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by the Marchioness of Carmarthen and Captain Grey, went to Chiswick in the afternoon, and visited the Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland. • His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange honoured Colonel and Mre. White (of Woodlands) with his company at dinner on Monday, at their residence in Bel grave-square. There were present, in addition, the Duke and Duchess of Montrose, the Countess of Jersey and Lady Caroline Villiers, Viscount and Viscountess Ingestre, Lord Loughborough, Viscount Sudley, Hon. Geo. Cadogan, Hon. C . Carrington, and Mr. Augustus Lumley. Later in the evening Mrs. White had a small dancing party. The Earl of Bantry has left Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-square, for Bantry Castle, Ireland. Mr. and Lady Virginia Sanders entertained at dinner on Monday, at their residence in Eaton-square, the Duke of Newcastle, Lord and Lady Proby, Lord and Lady Rendlesham, Earl Annesley, Viscount St. Lawrence, Lord Londesborough, Lady Moles worth, Colonel and Lady Caro line Towneley and. Miss Towneley, Hon. Mrs. Barrington, Hon. Mrs. Dudley Carleton, Mr. and Mrs. Newton, and Mr. Corry Connellen. ROYAL ENTERTAINMENT AT CHISWICK.—Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales yes terday honoured the Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland with their presence at an afternoon party at her grace's beautiful villa (the late Duke of Devonshire's) at Chiswick. A party, chiefly belonging to the family, and the youthfu branches, began to assemble shortly before four o'cicck, and had collected before the arrival of the Prince and Prin cess of Wales. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE, MR. SIMS REEVES. Our great English tenor appeared at this house last evening, and in a character with which he has long been identified—the Edgardo of the" Lucia.' Mr. Sims Reeves has rarely been heard to more advantage than on this occasion. His superb voice was in the finest order, and was made the medium for conveying the most manly and affecting tenderness which the music could demand. More boisterous Edgardos it has often been our lot to hear, but never one who infused the character with more genuine emotion. Of this great merit his duet in the first act—his prominent scene in the second—in which even " the Malediction" denoted as much agony as fury—and not less his exquisite "Fra poco," were notable examples. It was through out, in fact, a performance of the very highest order. Mr. Reeves was most cordially received on his first entrance, and rewarded for his exertions by a very earnest summons at the close of every act. When we say the Lucia was Madlle. Titiens we comprise in those few words all the eulogy, and therefore criticism, that could possibly be uttered. The acknowledged Queen of Lyric Tragedy renewed on this occasion all those marvellous impressions whiah we had lately the pleasure of recording. In her superb passion, as well as voice, she marked every trait of the devoted and doomed maiden with an excellence that left no emendation conceivable. Of all living singers Madlle. Titiens is the one we leave with the most regret and return to with the most confidence. M. Gassier was again a very ade quate Enrico, and the band and chorus were irre proachable. The new divertissement of "La Fills de I'Armee" concluded the entertainment, in which Madlle. Pocchini exhibited ail her known exuberance. • (From the Times.) Mr. Sims Reeves may at this moment be fairly cited as a singer, in varied accomplishments, without a rival. The artist who shines as Mr. Reeves has shone in the great oratorios of Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Spohr, who sings the "Death of Nelson," or " The Bay of Biscay," as well as the elder Braham, who is thoroughly 1 at home in the chamber music of Mozart, Beethoven, and the other great composers, who imparts an irre sistible charm to the humblest English ballad, and who at the same time makes such a figure in the loftier walks of Italian opera as to place him side by side with the most eminent representatives of that particularly attrac tive school, exhibits a versatility of power, a variety of re sources, and a pliability of talent of which but few in stances can be cited. It is not, however, our present task to dilate upon the qualifications to which the great Eng lish tenor is indebted for his extraordinary popularity. We have merely to record, in a word, the entire success of his performance of Edgardo at Her Majesty's Theatre. His conception of the part was admirable, and his execution of the music faultless. Seldom has an Edgardo appeared entering with more earnestness into every situation, making more of every point, embodying, in short, with more poeti cal completeness the character of Lucia's chivalrous and romantic lover. To say nothing of the duet with the heroine, in the first act, and the renowned " Fra poco"—delivered with exquisite feeling—in the last, the Contract scene (finale to Act II.) was a masterpiece of dramatic singing, the famous " Maledizione" being declaimed with a pas sionate intensity that brought out all its meaning. The audience were enthusiastic, and recalled Mr. Reeves at the end of every act—twice, indeed, after the third and last. (From the Daily News,) Edgardo is one of Mr. Sims Reeves's best impersonations • both as a singer and as an actor our En g lish tenor may challenge comparison with any former representative of the Master of Ravenswood, whose unhappy fate has been so melodiously set by the Italian maestro. His singing in the pathetic passages was marked by suave expression and ten derness, while in the more passionate situations his decla matory power was displayed with most dramatic effect. The performance, indeed, throughout was of a high order. Mr. Reeves was called on at the end of each act. !(Frant tLe Morning Advertiser,) Ant M. presented, in the madness of Lucia, the perfec tion of vocal execution and histrionic genius. The tender "Sparse a di rose," " Ah non piangere," with the marvel lous execution of "Il del clemente" excited a perfect furore, and bouquets were showered to the gifted singer who was twice called to receive a perfect ovation. The last scene, which Edgardo has to himself, culminated Sims Reeves's triumph. The recitative, subdued, soft, and clear, was given from the back of the stage, and the con trast, on advancing, in the last line, "Tu della gioia in seno io, della morte,' evinced the pathos and power of the singer's voice. "Fra poco " was a finished specimen of vocal art. "Tu the a dio," with the death scene, once more evinced the success of Mr. Sims Reeves, the unap protohed quality of whose voice and style every impartial musician must admit. A Supplement to Humboldt's " Cosmos" is an nounced in the shape of a" Correspondence between Hum boldt and Heinrich Berghaus in the Years 1825-58." The Mandoline, says the Reader, is an instru ment, the tinkle of which is a familiar sound in the ccifia of Italian towns, and is a pleasant accompat•iment to the sip ping of lemonade and ices under the sky of a southern night. The instrument is a sort of dwarf guitar with a bulbous back, in shape rather like half of a big melon fitted with a tail ; and its tone is the tiniest of tinkles. A NEW PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS IN THIS AGE OF RAILWAYS.—S warms of locusts have lately lodged on the Ottoman Railway and compelled the engine driver to proceed with great caution. The locusts, on being crushed by the engine on the rails, make them excessively greasy and slippery, so that the wheels will scarcely bite. The consequence is some degree of danger, and sand has to be dropped on the rails to give the wheels a hold. Seve ral trains from Ephesus have been considerably behind time though the locusts taking possession of the line." IMPBISONMENT FOR DEBT.—There has been an increase in the number of prisoners for debt. In Whitecross-street Prison yesterday the number was 102, and on Friday there were 126—the highest number since November, 1861. Some of the persons were committed by County Courts, and as the law now stands they cannot when in custody petition under the new Bankruptcy Act, It was expected that an alteration would have been made in the law. Naval and Military Intelligence. THE NAVY. The Channel Fleet arrived at Spit head yesterday. At 10 the ships were in sight from Ports mouth. In another hour the Nab Light vessel was passed, and the fleet was steering in for the narrow waterway between the sites of the proposed marine forts in two lines, in the following order :—Port Division (under all plain sail, the wind being light at about west) :—Edgar, 71, screw, wooden liner, Capt. G. P. Hornby, bearing the flag of the Admi ral Commanding, Rear-Admiral of the White, S. C. Dacres, C.B. ; Emerald, 35, screw wooden frigate, Capt. Arthur Cumming ; and Liverpool, 39, screw, wooden frigate, Capt. R. Lambert. Starboard Divi sion, under steam at low boiler power :—Black Prince, 40, screw, iron frigate, Capt. J. F. B. Wain wright, leading the line; Royal Oak, 35, screw, iron-cased frigate, C-ipt. F. A. Campbell; Defence, 16, screw, iron frigate, Capt. A. Phillimore ; and Resistance, 16, screw, iron frigate, Capt. W. C. Chanily.:rlain. The Trinculo, screw gunboat, was in company as tender to the flagship. The fleet is ar ranged in two lines; the Edgar, Emerald, and Liverpool being anchored along the Spit shoal and forming the inner line, and the iron ships forming the outer line at their anchorage in deeper water; the Resistance and Edgar are at the extreme west of the two lines, and the Defence and Liverpool hold the eastern positions. Rear-Admiral Dacres landed at the dockyard from the Port-Admiral's steam yacht Fire Queen during the afternoon. Private letters received yesterday from her Ma jesty's corvette Clio, dated Rio de Janeiro, June 9, state that the ship was to go into dock there on the following day, the 9th, and it was expected she would remain in about 14 days. She was expected to sail from Rio for Spithead about the 29th or 30th of June. The first division of gunboats at Portsmouth was yesterday manned from the ships in commission in the harbour, and proceeded outside under steam, where they were put through a vari, ty of naval evolutions, the commanding officer flying his pen nant on board the Pigmy, paddle steamer,and sig nalling thence his orders. The Mosquito squadron returned to the harbour again in the afternoon. The following appointments were made at the Admiralty yesterday afternoon : Lieut. John Inglis to the Excellent. Paymaster Singleton to the Saturn. To be First-class Assistant Engineers—P. Bland, Cum berland ; J. Forrest (a), Edinburgh; J. K. Keay, Hima laya:; W. B. Trenwith, Megaira; Alex. Reid;Cumberland ; E. Ramsay, Sphinx; and A. Shanks, Asia. To be Acting First-class Assistant Engineers —J. MiGraw, Centaur; A. M'lntyre, Wrangler; T. Ritchie, Ariadne ; J. Finlay, Nile, for Nimble; and T. INVFarlane, Scout. THE ARMY. The Portsmouth division of Royal Marine Light Infantry were yesterday inspected by Major-Gen. Lord W. Paulet, C. 8., the general officer command. ing the south-west district. The division was formed in two battalions in brigade order in line, and after receiving his lordship marched past in slow time and in grand divisions. They afterwards went through several brigade movements with great steadiness and precision. At the close of the movements Lord Paulet expressed to Col. Ayles, C. 8., and the offi cers and men on the ground his entire approval of their general appearance and drill. His lordship visited the barracks, &c. Messrs. Green's ship Trafalgar, Capt. Taylor, R.N.R., has arrived at Spithead with time-expired end invalided troops from India. Eighteen deaths occurred (luting the voyage, and two births. The Trafalgar sailed from Madras on the 4th of March, the Mauritius on the 15th of April, and St. Helena on the 27th of May. Since leaving the latter place she spoke the following ships :—On the 6th of June, in long. 3 19 N., 23 22 W., the Dutch bark Vier Gebroeders ; June 9, in let. 8 31 N., long. 26 47 W., the bark Corsair; on the 15th, in lat. 23 30 N., long. 36 28 W., the Bremen bark Yuca ; on the 17th, in lat. 25 52 N., long. 37 2 W., the brig Valid, and on the 26th in lat. 40 38, long. 3 25, the schooner Premier. The troops will be transferred from the, Trafalgar by Government steamers soon after noon to-day. The invalids will be conveyed to the Royal Military Hospital at Netley, and the time-expired men to Portsmouth, to be sent on by rail to their regimental depots. The Wimbledon Meeting "of the National Rifle Association. Though the actual commencement of the prize meeting at Wimbledon does not take place until to-day, the sharp crack of Enfield and small bore was unremitting yesterday from 1.30 p.m. until the darkness of the evening had so far advanced as to make good shooting difficult. The running deer, sighting, and pool tar gets were steadily patronised, soon after gunfire at 1 p.m. announced that the bust ness of the day had commenced. This was the only part of the day's programme in which th e National Rifle Association was interested, the remainder of the ranges being given up for matches, from which they derive no pecuniary benefit, but which they kindly allow to be decided at Wimbledon before the serious business of competing for the Queen's Prize begins. These consisted of county matches between Middlesex, Lancashire, and Gloucester, in which the competition was for honour and a memento, in the shape of an university pewter ; the Middlesex competition for the National Rifle Association bronze medal ; and a similar competition between the Uni versities of Oxford and Cambridge, the fortunate winner of the medal being entitled to compete for the Queen's Prize. All day on Monday, and up to noon yesterday, nothing was going on but the final touches to the tents, the targets, the mantlets, and the sheds. Monday was, however, relieved in its monotony by a totally unexpected visit of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who, attended by an equerry, Capt. Grey, and a solitary groom, rode over by way of Patney, and reached the entrance to the ground shortly before 4 o'clock. Thanks to the ceaseless supervision which they have all along exercised over the preparations, Lord Elcho, Lord Bury, Earl Ducie, Capt. Mildmay, and other mem bers of the council, had not left, His Royal High ness was received by them, conducted over the ground, and the general arrangements explained to him. He first visited the refreshment tent, and inspected the means by which Mr. Jennison hopes successfully to meet every legitimate demand in the important department of the commissariat. Then proceeding to the range of the 200 yard pool target, Earl Ducie fired with a Whitworth rifle at the right-hand target, upon which his Royal Highness took the rifle after it had been reloaded, and demon strated that to his other accomplishments he has added much more than aversge skill in the use of the rifle, by making in the keeeling position a centre not more than half an inch from the bullseye, Major Raiford, who was introduced to his Royal High ness, then made a good shot in the sitting position ; upon which theprince, being desirous of testing that mode of shooting, fired several shots, making two good outers and three centres. Changing his Whit worth for a double-barrel sporting rifle, his Royal Highness missed with both barrels, evidently from the rifle being incorrectly sighted ; for, on again trying the Whitworth, an outer, just under the centre, and finally a bullseye, bore testimony to the steadiness of his eye and hand. His Royal Highness then proceeded to the curve along which the rue ning deer performs its rapid journeys. Having mi nutely inspected the deer, and the mechanism by which it is turned, the party returned to the firing points, where amid a large number of spectators, whom the visit of the Prince had brought together, some interesting practice took place. Lord Eta° first fired a couple of shots, which were marked as centres, showing that no vital part had been hit. The Prince then made several misses, from not being ac quainted with the sighting of the rifle; but, profit ing by his experience, followed with a centre close to the bullseye, as the fatal spot behind the shoulder is called, another near the haunch, another in the loins, a third farther forward, and then three centres in succession. A few shots with a different rifle were less successful. Tae rifle with which he succeeded so well was a double barrel, made by Mr. Smith, armourer to the association. His Royal Highness was so well pleased with the performance of this LANCASHIRE. Sergeant Kemp, 3d Manchester 34 Captain Fenton, 24th Lancashire .. Ensign Brazil, 61st ditto Private nasal], 21st ditto Capt. Heaton, 3d Manchester Capt. Maxwell, Liverpool 11,8. Private Ashton, Liverpool R.B Private Sprott, Liverpool R.B .. 30 Private Formly, Liverpool R.B . . 32 Private Blanche, Ist Lancashire 33 T0ta1.... Average 63 6 COUNTIES IN ORDER OF MERIT Lancashire Gloucestershire 56 . 3 Middlesex 56.5 The match between the City of Edinburgh and the City of London, for which accommodation could not be provided at Wimbledon, came off at the range of the city of London Rifle Brigade at Plais tow, last evening -42 men on a side—the Wimble don ranges, 200, 500, and 600 yards, five shots at each. After a very closely•contested match, the registered scores gave the victory to the City of London Rifle Brigade by 3 marks. Verification, however, of the target at 600 yards showed that 1 mark had to be subtracted from the English • tar get, and 3 added to the Scotch, making the Edin burgh competitors the winners by 1 mark. The fol lowing were the competitors, with their gross scores : On the Scotch side—Corporal Good., Capt. Smith, Ensign Millidge, Private Robt. Bruce, Capt. MlGibbon, Private Neilson, Lieut. Kinnear, Pri vate Ferguson, Private Walters, Sergeant Yorslon, Private M'Leod, and Private Thompson. Gross score, 392 marks; average, 32-6. On the English side, Sergeants Stuckey, Heath, Albiston, Cornbe, Drane, and W. Walker ; Privates Mackenzie, Win ser, Frere, Young, Foster, and Butler. Gross score, 391 ; average, 32-58. The English side lost the service of two of their best men, who were compet ing at Wimbledon for the Bronze Medal; the Scotch fired under the disadvantages of a long journey and a strange range; the result showing that the com petitors were very evenly matched. MARKETS—This Day. MARK LANE. Fresh up to our market this morning a very moderato supply of English wheat was received. Both red and white qualities, however, met a very inactive sale, and Monday's prices were barely supported. The show of foreign wheat on offer was large. The demand for all descriptions was in a sluggish state, yet pikes ruled stationary. Floating cargoes of grain were in slow request, on former terms. The supply of barley on sale was very moderate. Both for grinding and distilling qualities, we have to report a slow sale, at late rates. Malt changed hands slowly, at Monday's currency. The market was moderately well supplied with oats. Good and fine parcels were decidedly firm; otherwise, the trade was dull. Beans and peas moved off slowly, at barely late rates. All kinds of flour were in slow request, and, in some instances, prices had a downward tendency. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Whea t. isarleY. Malt. Oats. Flout. English.— 460 10 1,660. I 250 Irish 830 ski voraign 1,610 860 f 39,980 BOROUGH HOP. No change has taken place in the value of hops since we last wrote. Good and fine qualities command a fair sale, and prices rule firm. WHITECHAPEL. The supply of meat is only moderate, and for prime qualities the trade is firm. Beef, from 2s Od to 4s 4d ; mutton, 3s Od to 4s 4d; lamb, 4s Sd to 5s 8d; veal, 3s 6d to 4s 2d; and pork, 3s 4d to 48 2d per Blbs by the carcase. NEW DUTY ON STAGE CARRIAGES.--Under the New Inland Revenue Act, just printed, the duty on stage carriages licensed to carry not more than eight persons is reduced to 10s., and ler a supplementary licenca for the period, 6d. The duty per mile to be id. For carrying more than the number licensed a penalty of £lO to be en forced for every offence, weapon, that he at once ordered one to be made for the next deer-stalking season. Before leaving the ground his Royal Highness stated his intention of visiting the ground again, most probably on the 13th, to witness the match between the Lords and Commons, and the contest for the Alexandra Prize. The match to which the greatest amount of inte rest attaches, from its affording a sort of standard by which to judge of the progress which the highest class of rifle-shooting is making in this country, is the international competition between the eight picked shots of England and eight of Scotland. The ranges are the longest at which, even in these days of long range. competitions ever take place; while the number of shots fired makes it next to impos sible that anythitg but steady good shooting can succeed. The distances are 800, 900, and 1,000 yards —l5 shots at each range. Last year the average marks of the English eight reached 111.25, the highest score being 121. On the Scotch side the average was only 90.50 marks ; Captain Horatio Ross's score of 113 being the highest. The efforts made by the Scotch to attain a better result this year, and by the English to maintain their position, has led to an improvement in the shooting, which appears likely to leave last year's shooting far be hind. Captain H. Ross for Scotland, and Lord Bury for England, have selected their respective teams by rigorous competitive trials of skill, which have re sulted in the selection of the following for England; Viscount Bury (ex officio), Earl Ducie, Capt. Heaton, Mr. Martin Ridley Smith, Lieut.-Col. Halford, Capt. Hawker, South Middlesex Rifle Volunteers, Mr. A. Ashton, Capt. Rowland, 55th Regiment, and Mr. A. Salvin, as a reserve candidate. On the Scottish side the choice has fallen on Captain H. Ross (ex officio), Captain Ed. Ross, Mr. Farquharson, Mr. C. Ross, the Master of Lovat, Mr. Colin Ross, Mr. Hercules Ross, Mr. Maxwell, and Mr. Henry as a reserve. The recent shooting of some of these gentlemen is said to be the finest on record. Some idea of the splendid shooting which is likely to take place may be gathered from the following qualifying scores, each competitor shooting twice over the ranges:— Captain Edward Ross Mr. Farquharson Mr. Cohn Ross Master of Lovat 278 Mr. Henry Mr. Maxwell For the competition for the Middlesex bronze medal 36 competitors mustered in front of the coun cil tent at one p.m. yesterday, and were told off into squads. Captain Flood Page, previously to their marching off, announcing that the Middlesex Shoot ing Association, which had been formed under the auspices of Earl Grosvenor, was prepared to give four prizes of £5 to those making the highest scores. Though competition commenced at 1.45, it bad not concluded early enough to allow of the scores being verified for publication. It is believed that Capt. Field, Hon. Artillery Company, a member of the 36th, and Private Richards, of the Ist City of Lon don, made the highest scores. To-day the details will be known. The county competition, any rifle, any position, 10 shots at 600, and 10 at 800, resulted as follows: GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Total points at 600 800 yds. yds. Total. Earl of Ducie Ist Lieut. Penny, Ist Gloucestershire Ar tillery Gunner Hyde, Ist Gloucestershire Artillery 31 20 51 Ist Lieut. Hanson, Ist Gloucestershire Artillery, G l9 13 32 Gunner Hansom, Ist Gloucestershire Ar- tillery Sergt. Gibbs, Ist Gloucestershire Rifles 33 28 25 29 31 J. Baker, Ist Gloucestershire Rifles 33 G. Miller, Ist Gloucestershire Rifles.... 35 Colour-Sergeant Clutterbuck, 6th Glou- • cestershire Rifles Sergeant Holloway, sth Gloucestershire Rifles T0ta1.... Average MIDDLESEX. Sergeant M. Smith, V.R. 36 Lord Bury, Civil Service .. 32 Captain M'Gregor, London Scottish..., 28 Private Porter, Queen's Private Mills, V.R. Sergeant Thornbury .. Lieut. Hawker, South Middlesex Corporal Pell, Inns of Court Sergeant Brooks, 12th Middlesex Captain Oxley, 19th Middlesex .. 30 Total Average 271 56.6 283 56.5 566 th pa LE th Bi foi Pe YE bt ea