The Sun. — London, England, 1863-12-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, PRiDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 11, 1863. times, ofte ---- ._ - -- ' a on. Ilehalf of crowned heads and against peoples; ' ant to held that E ng l an d, if s h e wou ld r e- Last L ayar d, M.P., for South- tam her ( 'l7uninc , Mr. A. H• 'position as a first-rate Power. Inl. , exert work, m et his constituents at the Bridge-house a wr AI influence on the questions of European con -114 cerr,, tel, L ondon-bridge, for the p ur p ose of renderin g which affected:her interests. To do that how an accat tnt of his Parliamentary conduct, and ex. e . ie•r, she must be prepared to incur h-avy expenses ; pressiri g his views on the present state of public f ©nd that rjxpense, he believed, English men would affair 3. The meeting wasvery numerously atteno,a . not grudge. The Government possessed the best On e ntering the room the hon. member was 'sadly information of what took place on the Continent, abet ,red. lie was accompanied to the ple,fi ltin b y and could alone know the state of foreign arms.- Tn as ly of his most influential suppor'xre in the ments. In 1861, Mr. Cobden wrote a pamphlet, boi:ough. entitled " The Three Panics," in which he tried to Mr„ Layard and his Constituents. persuade us that our armaments were too large, — infinitely larger than those of France ; and he quoted returns to show what the French armaments were. Now, cariously enough, an official report of the state of the French navy at that time, to which anybody could refer, had been published, and he would quote a few facts from it. In France they bad a system of what were called " supplemental credits"—that was to say, a certain estimate was taken for the year for the fleet, th e manning, the building of vessels, and the rest; but beyond that, the Minister had the power of drawing extra credits, which did not appear in the estimates. Now, in the ,House of Commons the mistake had been made of taking the French estimate alone, without the supplemental credits. But the real state of things was as follows:-1861—Vessels estimated for, 171; number actually armed, 315; estimated expenditure, £4,999 948; supplemental credit, £3,350,000 ; total, £8,349,948; men on shore, esti mated, 4,259; actual number, 8,113; excess, 3,854 ; at sea, estimate, 26,366 ; actual number, 42,840 ; excess, 16,474 ; t o t a l excess over est i mate, 20,328; excess of expenditure in dockyards, £1,800,000. He mentioned these facts to show how careful our Government ought to be, and how heavy a responsibility for the defence of the country rested upon them. In Europe the elements of disturbance were to be seen on almost all sides. The French Emperor had proposed a Congress for their settle ment, and Englishmen, being a practical people, always looked to see whether any project that was proposed to them was likely to promote or defeat i'.B end. Having given every consideration to the Emperor's scheme, her Majesty's Government, acknowledging the good intentions of his Imperial Majesty, had yet come to the conclusion that a Con gress would not practically attain the object in view. The arguments of Lord Russell's despatch on that head were, he thought, unanswerable. The good sense of the English people had at once seizcd the drift of those arguments and recognised their force. Secret diplomacy had often been denounced, and in diplomatic negotiations a certain amount of secresy was indispensable to their success; but in this case the official despatches were submitted to the public, and on the whole, approved by them, almost as soon as they were written. It Russia would not give up Po land under pressure of the three Powers, she would not do so under the pressure of a Congress. Austria would not give up Galicia, nor would:Prussia give up Posen. Neither was France likely to give up Savoy and Nice, whatever might be the decision of a Congress. But if these questions were raised, how could animosities be avoided, ending most probably in war? No country had less to fear in going into a Congress than England ; none less of selfish inte rest to seek. Selfish feeling, also, was utterly alien to the decision which the British Government had taken in this matter. He was surprised that their Italian friends had jumped so quickly at the proposal of a Congress. Of all the countries which had most to lose from a Congress Italy was the first, because the majority of the Catholic Powers would, no doubt, have decided that Rome should remain in the hands of the Pope against the wishes of the Italian people ; and Venetia, also, would have been worse situated than ever. (Cheers.) He would not at tempt to explain the Danish question to them, be. cause, perhaps, he did not quite understand it him laugh)—but her Majesty's Government had there likewise endeavoured to persuade the con tending parties to come to an amicable understand.. ing, and to respect treaties, which after all must be the bases of all peace. He trusted that that warning voice would be heeded, and that a fruitless war, perhaps involving untold calamities to Europe and to the Powers immediately concerned, would be averted. (Hear, hear.) He approached the subject of Poland with feelings which he could not w e ll describe. History scarcely furnished k ease mor e deplorable, more horrible, or in which the Powers had been more helpless. A policy almost of exter mination was being carried out in that unhappy country, enforced relentlessly against young and old, woman and man. The contemplation of it natu rally made an Englishman's blood run cold. (Cheers.) But with all their sympathy for that down-trodden race, the English people felt that they would not he justified in going to war for them. Short of that the Government had done what it could in their behalf. He wished it could have done mote. The opponents of the Government said in one breath that it had done too much and that it had done too little, saying at one moment " Why did you say you would not go to war ?" and at another, " You gave encouragement to the Poles." These two things were irreconcilable. If the Government said at once that it would not go to war, how could it have given encouragement to the Poles ? Some argued that it ought to have done nothing ; but if at the time the insurrection broke out her Majesty's Go vernment had not remonstrated with Russia, as it was warranted by treaty in doing, wou ld i t not have been visited with the reprobation of the country ? Sad as was the position of Poland, he did not despair. The history of nations showed that great crimes always brought about their own punishment. The result of the great deportation of the Polish people, instead of destroying disaffec- tion in Poland, would be to carry disaffection else where; so that the cruelties now committed by Russia might ultimately bring about their own punishment. For the policy of strict neutrality pursued by the Government in regard to America he confidently claimed the approval of the country. ll'at policy could not be carried without extreme difficulty, as was exemplified by the case of the iron clads. It had been often asked why our merchants should be allowed to supply munitions of war to one of the belligerents and not allowed to supply ships to the other. The answer was very simple— the law prohibited the sale of ships, but did not prohibit the saie of munitions of war. Tue Govern- ' ment had endeavoured to enforce the law to the uttermost, but without straining it one tittle. The Government was bound to protect the rights of British merchants ; but on the other hand, those merchants had likewise a duty resting on them as honourable and up right citizens. For the sake of private gain they ou ght not to expose their country to the risk of bein g R Plunged in ar with a kindred nation. (Hear) ci a le il e Z . turned from the West to the East. Assacia 7 i , the chairman of the Manchester Cotton country whic htha t article had done most to supply the defi in our markets, and which had been most lee: tt t l i ele The to the cultivator and the buyer, an extefinances of that Power had also contemplated, and uittwhich even he could not have E4Geovernment were putting i vv i n a p s r f o r v u e r d ke t y o . H e mentioned these their Budget exhibiting to rrevenue and expendt who had prosdti.tuted th chair of History ' tfohrewwaor forward world the e t h s e ta fi trest of tore. upon him by things in answer to the attacks made Gold Oxford, Smith, of with astonish- O by xf m or i d n , gling in the _my ar se n a tit party strife. went Mr. Cobden's statement that we s ad one Coming to China and Japan, he read spirit of Cortex Etna P to zarro, i nose regions in the inevitable our only object being "loot," and the in e • re ult of our policy being to make us mast ers 0 , China. The truth was that our policy no , Con : stated iu avoiding quarrels with the provincial go vernors of China, and in having recourse to t h e Central Government, with the view t o a r i gh t un derstanding with it, treating it es eve civilised nation, admitti ng our own should any obligations for to ;yards it, and expecti ng f rom it, in turn, respect our treaty rights. In r egar d t o British officers en tering the service of th e Chi nese G o vernment, they were to all intents and purposes Chinese officers while they continued in that employment. The same practice had been followed from time imme tnorial. Peter the Great, whose empire was very much in th e same state as China now was, organised his fleet, his army, and his civil administration, Mr. G. NEWMA's occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the be is m ess . Mr. LAYARD then presented himself, and was greeted with vehement cheering. He said it was a custom Eithor g the ancient Egyptiaus when a man died for his friends and enemies to assemble to say all the gi rid and evil they could of him, in order to see wh , e' ther he o ug ht t o h ave a t i c k et f or cross i ng the gu if which separated him from the realms of the b lessee]. With us it was a custom to go through tlta•s ceremony during a man's lifetime, if he hap pened to be a member of the Legislature ; and once a year he was obliged to appear before his friends arid enemies to submit to all manner of cross-ques tionings and examination, in order, if possible, to obtain a ticket which should carry him over the gulf of a general election to the happy period of a new Parliament. (Hear, and a laugh.) If he Were fortunate enough to obtain that pass from them he should feel amply rewarded for presenting himself to them on that and other occasions. It had been a frequent practice with public speakers to abuse the late session, and assert that nothing had been done by Parliament. He did not quite agree with that statement, but even if it were true there would not, after all, be very much to complain of. Parlia ment must be a reflex of public opinion in this country, and if public opinion were anxiously bent on the carrying of any great measure, they might depend upon it that an opportunity wotdd be given in Parliament to those who were really i n favour of them to make their influence felt. To use a common expression, they could not have sensation Parliaments if they had no sensation questions in the country. Certa i n l y , in the late session nothinr. had been done to extend the suffrage or amend the representation of the people; but he did not infer from that that the Liberal members who had pre viously taken a deep interest in those m easures were now less inclined to support theal than they had been a few years ago. Mr. Baines and Mr. Locke King had buta thought it unadvisabte to press their proposals relating to the th borouc and the counts franchise on th e attention of the House. have done so might he' e damaged instead of promoted the cause they sincerely had at heart ; and no doubt they had shown a wise discretion. Scarcely any allusion 'to the extension of the suffrage was to he met with in any of the recent " extra Parliamen tary su ut'teeances." He did not argue from that that a,a extension was not necessary ; on the con trery," he believed that it would be a wise course to ccmcmide it, and that it was eminently deserved by the :people. At former periods of our history, when unexpected distress occurred among the community, vielent scenes of disturoance were witnessed and a in ritual estrangement of classes. That was because 7the people then had not the advantage of a free press and a widely-spread education. They did not know exactly what their rights and their re lations to the rest of the cemmunity were, and they iramedietely attributed to wrong causes the sufferi'a'gs which pressed upon them at tae moment• Now however, the people were intelligent, and inatr .ucted in the maxims of political economy, and did not ascribe to the Legislature or the Govern = seat a distress which neither could prevent. The nueble attitude of the cotton operatives of Lance sihixe had brought into prominence the high quail thas of the British workman. He regretted deeply 'lite speeches lately delivered by two eminent men, both personal friends of his—he meant Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright. They were painful speeches. (No.) He was expressing his own opinion—(cheers)—and must, say he thought his hon. friends greatly mis mederstood the position of the people of England. Having had some experience of most countries in :Europe, he maintained that, notwi'hstanding the evils which existed in England—and God knew he did not seek to make light of them—our labouring classes were infinitely better off than the labouring classes of many other European countries. He did ot now speak of our colonies or of the other side of the Atlantic. It was stated in the speeches to which he referred that if the working man had political power he would have land, and that if he had land he would be prosperous. Now, reversing that, did the working man who had land necessarily enjoy political power? Would those acquainted with the cond.ition of the labouring men in France, for ex ample, assert thee he enjoyed or exercised political power ? He said that he did not, and granting that the franchise did not go so low with us as it should do, yet he m aintained that, indirectly, our working classes exercised more political power than was wielded Ir . / the same classes in any other country in Europe. (Hear, heir.) Messrs. Cobden and Bright had (lei.% ounced the want of education in this coun try, a i dirtning that our people were not educated up to dr) a level of other nations. (" They are not.") It 'ai; - ,P,h.t sound like a paradox, but that arose from the . t. ceEtt amount of liberty enjoyed in England* eisia or any other continental State might pass BchN't hi" • h►Obliging every man to send his children to "° l , but it was impossible to pass such a law in this , craatr this ram.t Y. A large portion ot our peot;ee insisted in on being left alone, they would not have a au compuls ory education, and c l a i me d t h e r i g h t to ccate 1 ,4 4 - per. Bre thou ,13, children as th e y th oug ht p ro . forced upon tilt education in England could not be greetly left to e "Ist Pe.o N ple by the St a t e , an d mus t b e ee eves really epp, s ,, a. Effort, nobody amongst us that ceu id be said ab its diffusion, and the wo.sl: clu tie s uc h an accuteatt: t a the aristo crac y did not in hear.) They he ard a g at.hat again s t the m . (H ear , educated"d democracy. a deal of t a lk a b out " an desideratum of any philosov4 al e )t, it was the highest be teal have such a de mocracy ; but the n it should. as to ereabie it to re co g nis e tho,,teru l educated, so moralowed restraints la which made a man f eel what , to the r i g ht s of others as well eato himself, In game countries they had seen the e ducated democracy swamped by 'the uneducated. To him, indeed, th e uestion of the franchise was a qu,stion of education , ; he w ou ld give the suff ra ge to the man who had the intelli gence t o use i t, b u t not to him who h a a not iitle‘h intel l igence. (Cheers.) Th e last session co u l d lio , altogether be called a useless sess ion. for_ it had Wit nessed the springing up of a desire for econom y. The great object of Mr. Gladstone had been to culcate the importance of a reduction of expeedi lure ; and last session he had been enab led to lower the tea duties and the income-tax. True, the pro posal to deal with public_ charities had to be with drawn ; but all who beard or read Mr. Gladstone 's masterly speech on that subject would feel that an alteration in the discreditable state of those institu tions must one day be attempted. (Hear.) Having alluded to the removal of St. Thomas's Hospital from that district as a gross violation of the founders will, Mr. Layard proceeded to the foreign questions which had been discussed during the past session. Messrs. Cobden and Bright told them that they ought to have nothing to do ;with such subjects, yet, strange to say, two-thirds at least of their own re oadt sp eec h es were d evo t e d to f ore i gn po li t i cs. (A vo - " Don't run them down.") He did not run dy down, but met argument by argum e nt. It w impossible to keep this country from fo reign politics. r • h aagies men were determined to maintain that _ i<; which ti : e . y ui vit ce among the nati o ns of the work entitled by their intelligenc e and their noble trat4iti• • ons. Did they believe that wilb an extended suffrage the terf er ence with foreign quest; , oh y s 7ll\l rily' d haze no in pathy lately show n f or Poland had emanatedte sym pathy"more from the lower classes than u from the higher and f" , r from the Government " mg the lead, they it we re, been comp t i l ,_, hed, as si to restrain the popu (Hear, hear-) It w as Jar ardour es often said that did not meddle with the United State.- other peopie's k,,..5t themselves to thernwv affairs, but That but was not es. might be poet:dist() for them, po:saible for of the European family, wo were us. As a member from Ameri ca , -- in a totally different category was not advocating the o dious policy of i . nterv et ,„ tion, a policy adopted by this country I n former with the assistance of Englishmen, Frenchmen, and Germans. An Englishman at present held the post of admiral in the Turkish navy. We had an enormous trade with China, and the Taepings, a ruthless horde of marauders, threatened its destruc- tio n seizing the treaty ports. We h a d i n t erpose d o b protect y oar trade, and that wa s th e ent i re extent t of our interference. Our exports to China had risen from £1,027,000 to £5,451,000 in six years. Here was a statement of the trade with Hanko W since that place had been taken from the Taepinge and opened to our commerce. " Ratko?, 18 62,—Total value of trade, 1862, £6,189,951, showing an increase of £3,011,482 10s. over previous year. Of tonnage—Aggregate, 290,536, of which British 128,478, showing increase of 1,061 vessels and 196,103 tons over previous year. At Shanghai, again, the duties collected in December, 1869, were £122,000; in December, 1861, £281,500," would do, otherwise they would have no business to be in office. The acts of Government were marked by liberality and patriotism. In placing Mr. State fold at the Admiralty, in choosing a man like Sir J. Lawrence as Governor-General of India—(cheers) —and in their other appointments, he believed they had earned the approval of the public. For these and many other results of their administration of public affairs he thought he could therefore con scientiously claim for them the support of their countrymen. (Loud cheers.) That increase to our commerce had been most valu- able at a time when our cotton trade was paralyse& He now turned to Japan—a subject which no doubt would give rise to many important discussions. Some _ _ _ - - 200 years ago, the Japanese admitted Euro• peens, chiefly Catholic missionaries, into their ter- Several questions were then put to the hon. mem ber hall, most of which were of localpersons in In replying b interest. said that considerable progress had lately been made in the abolition of the lash in the army and navy, and that the destruction of the dwellings of the working classes for metropolitan railway im provements had led to evils which called for serious public attention. A resolution thanking Mr. Layard for his address and expressing approval of his public conduct was then adopted by the meeting, amid loud cheers, and the proceedings terminated. ritory. Religious dissensions, afterwards springing up, the Government thought the Christians were op posing their authority, and a massacre took place, when many of the missionaries were slain and the rest expelled the country. From that period until very recently there was scarcely any intercourse be tween Japan and the outside world. He did not know whether in these days any nation could com pletely isolate itself from the rest of mankind, but that was not the question. But it was the Russians and Americans who first broke through the isola tion of Japan by obtaining treaties from its rulers on behalf of their traders; and he maintained that our Government, under those circumstances, had, no alternative but to establish similar rela tions with that country. Had they refused to do that they would have been told that whenever there was a fight they were sure to put their noses into it—(e laugh)—but that when trade only was concerned they would do nothing to secure for our merchants the privileges enjoyed by Russians and Americans. Well, Lord Elgin had negotiated a treaty with the Tycoon, placing us on the same footing as those other nations. We commenced no aggressions on the Japanese, but simply established ourselves where we had a right to be. Sir R. Alcock had scarcely taken up his residence in Japan before the British Legation was attacked, one inter preter and two foreigners murdered, and several other persons dangerously wounded. We, however, made allowance for the difficulties of the Japanese, who asked ns to defer going to certain ports to which we were admitted by treaty, and they sent a mission to the British Government to make that request. We received their embassy with every mark of friendship, and not only granted their re quest, but prevailed on other Powers to do the s me. The treaty gave foreigners the right of tak ing exercise on the high road to Jeddo. One day three Englishmen and a lady were riding there, when they fell in with one of the Daimios, who appeared to have hated foreigners, and who conse quently gave orders to his followers to attack these innocent strangers, who had drawn up on the side of the road to avoid his party. The lady and the other gentlemen escaped with their lives, but Mr. Richardson was most barbarously murdered. For these outrages we demanded reparation from the Japanese Government, together with the punishment of the chief by whose orders they were committed. file Japanese Government made an apology and paid over a large sum of money, but said they could not punish that independent Daimio, who did not re cognise their authority, but must leave us to deal with him ourselves. Our only course then was to tell them that if they could not control him we would punish him oursels es. If we had not done that, and any further outrages occurred, the Japanese Government could easily have again urged that they were powerless to coerce the wron gdoer, and British subjects might have been murdered with impunity. Admiral Kuper was accordingly ordered to go to Kagosima and punish the Prince of Sutsume. Re dress having been refused, our squadron took possession of three steamers belonging to that prince. Much misapprehension existed as to the tonduct of the Admiral on that occasion. It had been said that having seized these three steamers he flaunted them before the Japanese, that they naturally fired on him, and that he had no right to put himself in the way of making them fire upon him. Now, the bay or harbour of Kegosima was very narrow, or not more than 4,000 yards wide at its broadest part. It was blowing a gale, and the Admiral went into the bay to get out of the gale. He seized the vessels, and could not get out again, without passing the batteries, which fired on him as he came out. What could he do under those circumstances ? If he had allowed the Japanese to injure his vessels and kill his men without re senting it, everybody would have said he had acted a part unworthy of a British officer. Moreover, the Japanese would immediately have said that the English fleet had been beaten, and there probably would have been a general massacre throughout Japan. He was therefore bound to return the fire. The castle of the Prince was immediately in the middle of the town. A Japanese town it should be remembered was built of lath and plaster. A CM flag r a tion ensued—a great calamity which no one deplored more than her Majesty's Government. He was not there to defend it for a moment; but it was impossible to return the fire of the batteries without running the risk of setting fire to the town, built of such inflammable materials. It was most lamentable that a large number of innocent people should have been exposed to that misfortune, and it was most unfortunate that an English fleet should have been the cause of it ; but the thing was inevitable, and they ought to give some credit to our naval officers, and wait till they had had an oppor tunity of giving an explanation of their acts. Hon ourable men at a distance from England, discharging difficult and responsible duties, ought not to be con demned hastily or accused of cruelty and barbarity until they had had a fair hearing. (Hear,) The Go vernment were not responsible for these things, but there were other persons really responsible. Helwould speak with tenderness and respect of British mer chants, but the greatest difficulties of the Govern ment in these matters originated with our merchants. Great houses like the Lindsay's, the Jardines, and others would not do anythingcalculated to involve us in war ; but the moment the Japanese ports were opened there rushed thither a swarm of adventurers who thought the only use of a British Minister or a British fleet was to enable them to secure their dis honest gains. These adventurers went there, looking upon the people as their lawful prey, and did things some of which might make men's blood run cold. The blue-books showed how they put forward ficti tious and monstrous claims in unreal and even in decent names. When thesis men, who were a dis grace to the English name, got into trouble, the first thing they did was to call on their own Govern ment to defend them. If they wore cot listened to, they raised a loud outcry, and wrote home com plaints against our official representatives. The British merchant was entitled to protection for his lawful, but not for his unlawful trade. (Cheers.) Our countrymen were bound to respect the native population among whom they lived, to act like honest traders, and abstain from injastice and fraud. (Cheers.) He had recently come from Italy, where he telt proud to see that the sympathies of Englishmen had not been thrown away, and that that great country was making the most extraordinary pro gress. England certainly never stood higher than at this moment in the estimation of the world. Her influence was never greater, because she sought to commit aggression upon none and envied none. She wished to see every country enjoying peace and that the rosperity, and her independent position placed her tiiStthe very front rank of nations. It was ottets said ttfaT h that was in no degree due to the present Go ztenl'ent, and that their political opponents would (sie t. l 3 , the same as they did. Now, everything press. They e g „ E , theirOve Government did was censured and con demned by opponents, and by the Opposition South, and for atop blamed . for not recognising the that their steam rams. Ought he the into very war N o v r tihte t e not to infer from their opponents would eoTe, and plunge the ed States ? He be cipiccuinesdutreythat on that and on many other questions the press:. t. Government acted better tiA, their topponents If the Court is satisfied, we also are satisfied with its deci sion. The President—Then the application is withdrawn? The Prosecutor—lt is simply withdrawn because it is irrelevant. The President—Yes ; the Court considered it irrelevant. The Prosecutor—Then we simply withdraw it. After a pause, The Prosecutor—Will the Court allow me to ask one more question of Ardessar before he goes ? The Prisoner—May,l beg to ask the Court whether the prosecution is not closed and the defence also ? How, there fore, is it possible to recall the witness ? The President—We will see what the question is. Colonel Pipon (Judge Advooate)—Am I to understand, then, that the Court has decided that this matter is not relevant to the charges? The President—Yes ; the Court decide that. The Prosecutor—The prosecution feel themselves bound, under those circumstances, to withdraw the application. Prisoner—With great respect to the Court, I must be permitted to observe that the prosecution is conducting this case in a manner in which no criminal case has ever been conducted before. If Ardessar is recalled and reques tioned, I must withdraw my statement that the defence has been closed. After a short pause, The Prosecutor—We withdraw the application to recall th Le witness. The President—The Court is adjourned till 10 o'clock on 'hursday, the 17th inst, • THE RACING SEASON OF 1863, (From, Me Saturday Review.) It is a common error to exaggerate the importance of con temporary events, but if the racing season of 1863 has not been of superior interest to many preceding seasons, it must at any rate be allowed that, at the present moment, it is more vividly remembered. It is always difficult to determine whether the best horses of any particular year are excep tionally bad. Facts may be adduced in support of either opinion, and thus, while one party insists upon the merit of Lord Clifden's performance in the last St. Leger, another party asserts that he had a very moderate lot of horses to contend against. It will, however, scarcely be contested ,hat one ()Vent of the last season deserves to be classed among the most remarkable which the Turf has known. The dead heat between Buckstone and Tim Whiffler for the Ascot Cup, and the deciding heat in which Buckstone was victori. ous, afforded a spectacle never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. In spite of complaints that racing, as at pre- sent managed in England, does net conduce as much as might be desired and expected to the improvement of the English breed of horses, it must be owned that the produc tion every year of two or three horses of the quality of Buck stone is a result which justifies a very large expenditure of time, trouble, and money. That the result is appreciated abroad is proved by the eagerness of foreigners to purchase English horses which have attained to the highest repute- tion in their respective years. If, in order to produce a small number of first-rate horses, it is necessary to make many experiments, it follows that encouragement must be given I to breeding, and the best of all encouragements is to provide plenty of stakes to run for. A justification is thus found for the system of handicapping, which is designed to give everybody a chance, and for two-yr-old races, which are in tended to offer what breeders of every kind of stock demand —viz„ a prospect of some early return for capital expended. It is perhaps doubtful whether the development from year to year of the existing system of horse-racing is attributable to its soundness or to that growth of wealth and population which has introduced larger figures into many branches of statistics. It is, however, certain that the number of horses entered for the great races increases every year; and the number of races, great and small, has become so large that in eight months of incessant activity, extending from March to November, it is scarcely possible to get through the business of the regular racing season. The comparative quiet of the four winter months is devoted to discussing the results which have been arrived at, especially with re ference to the two-year-olds, whose recorded performances are anxiously compared in the hope of attaining some in sight into the chances of the ensuing season. Already the newspapers contain regular returns of betting on the Two Thousand and the Derby of 1864. The French Fille de l'Air is first favourite for the Guineas, and if she were en- tem' for the Derby she would doubtless be first favourite for that race also. In her absence, the first place in the Derby betting is occupied by Scottish Chief, making the fourth horse of Mr. Merry's that the public has elevated to that position in the last five years. Steeplechasing,,mixed with a little flat racing,was carried on pretty steadily all through last winter and early spring. The racing season proper may be taken to have commenced at Northampton on the 24th of March. Even at this early period of the season, two-year-olds run, and are watched with interest only inferior to that excited by horses a year older. The meeting at Northampton brought out that splendid five-yr-old Asteroid, and one or two other veteran performers of high merit ; but at this moment the most interesting fact recorded as occurring at Northampton is that the two-yr-old filly Molly Carew beat Midnight Mass, an undeniable good colt of the same year, with tolerable ease. The Newmarket Craven meeting, which began on the 6th of April, was marke4 by two events which attracted perhaps more, and a third which certainly attracted less, attention than it deserved. The French mare Stradella beat, in different races, two of the best horses of her year— Buckstone and The Marquis—and thereby acquired a re putation which proved disastrous to those who backed her afterwards fit the Chester Cup. Macaroni, who was then little regarded, won a three-yr-old stake with great ease, and thus afforded a hint of his quality whizila only the dis cerning few turned to profitable account. The Epsom Spring Meeting showed Molly Carew to be the best two yr-old then out. On the 21st of April, the race for the Two Thousand Guineas taught the public what Macaroni really was. He won this race rather easily, but it can scarcely be doubted, after subsequent experience, that ho had a moderate lot behind him. The four days' sport at Chester next claimed attention. That meeting did not result in the discovery of any unsuspected prodigy of a three-year-old, but the race for the Cup was one of the most interesting of the season. It was won, after a fine struggle, by Asteroid, carrying over that severe course the crushing weight of 9st 4lbs, and giving nearly 2st for a year to Stradella, who at Newmarket defeated The Marquis at nearly equal weights. At the same meeting, however, Asteroid failed to give Ist for a year to Buckstone, who brat him very easily by a length. The nearly approaching Epsom meeting now absorbed all attention. It will be re membered that Lord Clifden had held the place of first favourite from the very commencement of the betting, although at one time the French horse Hospodar came to nearly even terms with him. The reputation of Hospodar was founded on his having won both the Clearwell and the Criterion stakes in the previous autumn, and it was de stroyed by his utter failure for the Two Thousand Guineas. It is remarkable that Fille de l'Air, like Hospodar, has won the Criterion and become first favourite for the Guineas. It is justifiable to regard Hospodar as something of an im postor, but whatever may be the result of next year's racing, Fille de l'Air has done this year several things which leave no doubt of her genuine quality. Indeed, if one were called upon at this moment to name the best two-year-old out, it would be difficult, upon public running, to look anywhere but to the French filly. But, dropping the prophetic, and returning to the historic vein, let the mind revert to that most miserable of holidays which Londoaers endeavoured to enjoy on the Derby day of 1863. The rain, the mud, and the umbrellas--these features of that dismal festival are remembered almost as vividly as the figure of Challoner bringing up Macaroni to overhaul Fordham and Lord Clifden. There is no need to tell how that Derby was won by a short head, and how the ring and Mr. Naylor and his friends triumphed, while the public generally lamented with Lord St. Vincent. Tho weather on the Oaks day was as fine as on the Derby day it was wretched. The result of the race was a surprise, even to many of those who ought to have known something about the winner. Queen Bertha was scarcely backed for a farthing, and 40 to 1 was offered against her before starting. She was guided beautifully by Aldcroft into the first place, defeating, among other com petitors, Isoline, who afterwards won the Goodwood Cup, and Borealis. From Epsom the scene changes to Paris, for now those who make horse-racing a business attend meetings in France as well as in England. Horses cross and recross the Chan nel with far greater facility than a few years ago they found in moving from Surrey to Yorkshire, although the most enthusiastic admirer of Mr. Cobden could scarcely ascribe the opening of this branch of trade to his diplomatic labours. The greatest international race-meeting hitherto held was that which witnessed the contest for the Grand Prix de Paris on Sunday. May 31. Then, for the first time, did a quiet orderly French race-course resound with all the babel of an English ring. " Parlez- vow frangais ?" inquired an excited Yorkshireman of a native. " Oui, monsieur," was the polite reply. "Then I'll lay agin the mare to a monkey." It will be remembered that La Toucques, " the Frgnch Blink Bonny," as she was called, from having won both the French Derby and Oaks, was the first favourite for the Grand Prix. Lord Clitden was the next best favourite, but he was so evidently amiss after his Epsom exercises, that his going was aptly com pared to that of a cat upon hot bricks. The race fell to The Ranger, who had shown some form in the early spring, and, as his friends averred, had been disappointed in the Derby when Saccharometer and King of the Vale fell and ha had to come round them. The French mare sustained her reputation by running second, and she afterwards in creased it by a performance upon English ground. It may, perhaps, be interesting to notice the reasons adduced by Viscount Daru, in a letter to Admiral Rous, for holding this had race on a Sunday. It appears that this arrangemo detaeatieug been objected to in England, and the write d r, that " the greatly to find an amicable solution," country" did habits and social necessities of his d wi. In France, not allow those with whom he acted to arran g"thwerhich it deserves, racing has not acquired the importanceatious institution, useful Only for a small minority is it ;Nr number it is only , an to public interest." For which D e.p 11 give a holiday, but agreeable spectacle, to wlai:ke ale Pone. It would be an illusion for which they will not a P a rliamentary adjournment for to hope to see in Francethe they races, the Derby. If a "2- day be chosen fur . w ill attract uo t3rectators, "In Frazee, the social and reli- gious customs permit that, after the accomplishment of the pious duties, the rest of the day should be devoted to repose and amusement, and we know of none more inno cent or more suitable to offer to a population than a spectacle which attracts by its magnificence and recommends itself to notice by its usefulness." The Vis count goes on to urge, in effect, that as ho and his French friends have always kept Sunday in England, his English friends ought not to insist on keeping it in France. He considers that the same rule applies to either case—namely, to respect and conform to the habits of the country where one happens to be. He adds, that "in such a democratic country as ours" it would be unwise to hold the races on a day when only unoccupied persons could be present at them ; and he concludes by expressing regret if the French Jockey Club, on whose behalf he writes, should have shocked anybody in England. The answer of Admiral Rous to this letter, on behalf of the English Jockey Club, admitted that the French Club were bound to name the day most suitable to the gratification of the French public. Thus it was arranged that the Grand Prix de Paris should be run for a Sunday, although the principle of reciprocity of habits propounded by Viscount Daru was not adopted by Admiral Rous, who doubtless saw that it was question able, if not dangerous. Only one day intervened between the Paris meeting and that of Ascot. The Cup day was graced by the presence of the Prince ftncl Princess of Wales, and it saw the finest race of the year—such a race, indeed, as is only likely to be seen once in many years. Tim Whiffler as a three-yr-old had beaten everything he met. After winning the Chester Cup and other races, he fairly ran away at Goodwood from a field which comprised some of the best horses then in training. At Doncaster he met Asteroid, ,the best horse of his year, and beat him. At the same meet ing he encountered Buckstone, and again triumphed. It was natural to bet odds on such a horse against Buckstone for the Ascot Cup, and the public supported him enthusiastically. But Tim had not improved with age, though his speed was undeniable and his action as beautiful as ever. All that Rogers' splendid riding could do was to bring off a dead heat. Nevertheless, in the deciding heat, 6 to 4 was freely laid upon Tim Whiffler. The same tactics were put into play in both heats. Tim forced the running at a tremendous pace, and the second heat was actually run in 14 seconds less than the first. But it was evident, even as he came up the hill the first time, that he felt the weight he was carrying, and his distress as he climbed the hill to the winning-post the second time was terrible. Buckstone, a far more powerful horse, beat him easily. No one who saw that finish expected to see Tim Whiffler at the post again, and indeed he has never started for a race since that day. Mr. Merry's fortune on the great day of the Royal meeting was remarkable. Besides the splendid prize of the Cup which Buckstone gained for him, he won a race with Scottish Chief, whose running on that day is doubtless remembered by those who are now backing him for the Derby, and another race with Gladstone. The chief features of the latter half of the season, particularly ' Goodwood, York, and Doncaster, will deserve notice on some other occasion. There was fine racing at these three I places, but nothing so memorable as the two contests for ' the Ascot Cup. THE CRAWLEY COURT-MARTIAL. NINETEENTH DAY. ALDERSHOT, Thursday. The Court reassembled to-day at the usual hour, and by noon had completed the whole of the inquiry, as far as the evidence for the prosecution and for the prisoner is con cerned. It now only remains for Colonel Horsford, the prosecutor, and Colonel Crawley, the prisoner, to address the Court, after which the Court will be closed to consider their finding. An adjournment of a week has been granted at the request of the prisoner, to enable him to prepare his address, and after its delivery, a further adjournment of two or three days will, it is expected, take place to enable thel prosecutor to make a final reply. After the adjournment oft the Court to-day it was intimated that the prisoner might, if he should be so advised, probably call some few witnesses as to character, but it is probable that he will be content with his case as it now stands before the Court. It has been stated that Colonel Crawley had instituted legal pro ceedings against the proprietors of the Cornhili Magazine, for the publication in their November number of the article so seriously affecting his character in connection with the proceedings which form the subject of inquiry by the court martial. Our reporter was informed that there was no truth whatever in this report, as Colonel Crawley believes that his honourable acquittal by the Court will form the most complete answer to the many calumnies to which he has been so unjustly exposed. After the Court had been formally opened, Colonel Pipon (the Judge-Advocate) said—The Court had considered the question put at the close of the proceedings yesterday, and the objection of the prisoner. The Court were of opinion that if the objection were pressed they would recall Dr. Barnett, and the question might be put direct through the Court. Colonel Crawley again protested that any conversation at which he was nut present could not be made evidence against him. The Prosecutor withdrew the question. Frangee, the Parsee merchant, who was under examina tion when the Court rose on Wednesday, was recalled for cross-examination by the prosecutor. Had you any conversation with Sergeant Cotton about the bill ?—Yes. Will you state what passed ? Question objected to. The President said the same course must be pursued as in the former case. The Prosecutor thought the Court might put the ques tion. The Prisoner protested against such a course. The Court was bound by evidence as well as the prosecution. The President—Usage is our law. We want to arrive at the whole truth. We dont know much here about the laws of evidence. The Prosteutor—We leave the matter in the hands of the Court. The President —Very well, then, go on with some further evidence. Examination of the witness was resumed. The Prosecutor —When you had that conversation with Sergeant Major Cotton, was Mrs. Lilley present ?—Yes. Did you make an arrangement to buy Sergeant Major Lilley's goods F—l made an arrangement with Sergeant Major Cotton in Mrs. Lilley's presence to buy them, What was that arrangement ?--About the furniture and other things belonging to the late Sergeant Major Lilley. Wae Mts. Cotton present when you made that arrange ment ?----I think she was, but I dont remember properly. Did you go to Mrs. Lilley's to make that arrangement ? —They sent for ale. Did you send a bill to Mrs. Lilley ?—I did. Look at the bill (produced), and tell me if that is the bill ? —lt is. Was that bill paid ?—Yes, it was paid. Who paid it ?—I said yesterday that it was paid out of the furniture and things I bought. Who settled with you about it ?—Mrs. Lilley and Ser geant-Major Cotton. Did Mrs. Lilley say anything to you about it when she settled ?—I do not remember. The President—Have you your books with you F—Yes, sir. Produce them, and point ont the entries of these bills before the Court. Are they in English ?--No, sir. The books were produced, and the entries were read aloud by the witness, being checked as ho proceeded by the president, who held the bill in his hand. The subsequent examination of the books by members of the Court occupied a considerable time. The prosecutor said the spirits specified in this document were supplied chiefly by the witness's clerk, who had not been brought to England, and only a portion by the wit ness. The witness also stated that a pass-book was sent when the articles were applied for, but that pass-book was not produced, and no reason was given for its non-produc• lien. Moreover many of the articles were supplied to the horsekeeper, and there was no proof that they ever reached Sergeant-Major Lilley at all. The Prisoner objected to this statement being proceeded w ith. The proper time to make it would be in the prose cutor's reply. The President concurred in this view. Mr. E. G. Syms, of the Adjutant-General's office, was called by Colonel Crawley, and asked whether on Tuesday evening he received a notice from him to produce Sir Hugh Rose's "Historical Memoirs of the 6th Dragoons ?" Mr. Syms said he received such a notice, but it was not signed ; and he told Colonel Crawley's friend who handed it to him that he had not the document with him, and that the proper way to proceed would be to apply officially to the Horse Guards.. e notice o n n t t 7l i e ' a lr i did a a s d e smo must tr accept the eccoe iu) P tn r st e eh hef t o h r e nmoatl prisoner's tel l notice, youafnrcidi distinctly fl e e t ?' what everpyroiu- passed between you and him must be considered as a private conversation ?—He certainly told me that in his opinion the notice was to be received as a formal notice ; but whether he added anything about its being a private conversation, I cannot say. Even if he did so, the one thing would contradict the other; when he told me it was to be a formal notice the conversation could not be consi dered as private. Did not the prisoner's counsel deliver it to you as a formal notice, and did you not follow him afterwards into my room to speak about it, and was it not this latter conver sation which you were told was not to be considered as in validating the former notice ?—I have no recollection what ever of any conversation which professed to invalidate a former notice. There was no conversation of the kind. The Prisoner--May I now request that the Court be ad journed for a week to prepare my address in defence ? The Prosecutor—We would feel obliged if the court would call Sergeant Major Cotton, Mrs. Cotton, and Dr, Barnett upon this new matter. The Prisoner—May I beg of the court that the prosecu-. tion should state the grounds upon which they propose to take such an unexampled course as that which they call upon the court to adopt, and to state what is the new matter to wnich they refer, and how they consider them selves entitled to reopen the prosecution, in order that 1 may answer the grounds upon which they make such a demand ? The Prosecutor—lf the court will allow me I will put in the statement in writing, which I was just about to read, and which contains our reasons for the course pro posed. The Court retired to consider the question, On return ing into court, Colonel Pipon (Judge-Advocate) said—the Court have decided to refer the question to the Judge-Advocate-Gene ral, although the matter appears to the Court to be irrele vant to the issues that are called upon to try. Under these circumstances will the prosecution press any further in quiry with respect to the legal merits of the question ? The Prosecutor—We leave it to the Court entirely. I thought it was the Coutr who wished to make the inquiry from the Judge-Advocate-General. We are quite satisfied. Colonel Pipon (Judge-Advocate) —If you press the re calling of Dr. Barnett and Sergeant-Major Cotton a'ter what has been said as to the legality or illegality of such a course, the Court think it necessary, as there is so much difference of opinion, to refer the matter to the Judge-Ad vocate-General, if you still wish the inquiry should go on. The Prosecutor—l understood you to say that you in tended to inquire from the Judge-Advocate- General whether it was legal to press this or not. The President.—No. If you wish to press it the Court will certainly make the inquiry. The Prosecutor—We want to press everything which will make the matter clear to the Court, and if this inquiry is made of the Judge-Advocate-General, and he says the witnesses may be recalled, of course we shall wish to press it. The President—The Court are quite satisfied. They want no further evidence ; but they say what you now wish to Rresss is irrevelant to the issues which they are called upon to try. The Prosecutoo,---We leave the matter with the Court. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS TlMEs.—Birmingham has long enjoyed a repu tation for successful counterfeits, but all former specimens of its craft are totally eclipsed by the magnificence of that now revealed to the public. Few people will have forgotten a certain memorable event of the year 1858. A Royal visit was paid, on a most interesting occasion, to the town of Bir mingham. The authorities or the leading inhabi, tants of that opulent and populous borough had re solved on providing its working classes with the invaluable advantage of an open park for their re creation and exercise. This judicious design was carried into execution ; a suitable site was selected, " the People's Park" was duly formed, and when the Queen acceded to the invitation of the Mayor and other officials to proceed to Birmingham and open the park for use, it was universally felt that her Majesty's gracious compliance was not unde served. The scheme was beneficent enough to merit Royal countenance, and that countenance was ac corded. Aston Hall and Park were delivered by the Queen and Prince Consort to the people of Bir mingham for their advantage and enjoyment, and the promoters of the undertaking gained signal credit for their liberal and patriotic policy. A strange story, however, has now come to light. This park, which was thus offered to the people, and which the Queen was thus asked to bestow, had never been really acquired by the reputed authors of the gift. The property had not been purchased, nor had the money for buying it been raised. Tne real owners were a certain banking firm, who retained a natural right of resuming the estate in default of the requisite satisfaction in law ful money. - What sum was demanded for the park, what amount was actually contributed, or what designs were entertained for procuring the remainder, we need not inquire, but a correspon dence which we yesterday published contained evidence enough to prove that when Birmingham acquired such a distinction five years ago the price of her honour had not nearly been paid. In short, it comes to this—that if what ought to have been done in 1858 is not done now and that quickly the People's Park at Birmingham will be the People's Park no longer, but will relapse to the owners, who have been willing to sell it, but who have never been able to get their money. With the correspondence itself the public must have been greatly edified. In October last the late Mayor of Birmingham, discerning the impending " catas erophe," and feeling that the ejection of the people from the Park which they bad received at the hands of their Queen would " be stigmatised as a disgrace to all parties concerned," addresses himself in his difficulty to the Lord-Lieutenant of the county. In this communication the facts of the case are admitted without disguise. To save the Park, or, as we should rather say, to acquire it, a sum of no less than £28,000 —representing we believe fully two-thirds of the whole purchase-money—is imme diately needed. The Mayor thinks the Town Council could be successfully moved to provide 120,000, and it strikes him that if the Lord-Lieu tenant would move the County to provide £B,OOO the thing could be done. To this suggestion Lord Leigh replies by a very natural remark that if the Corporation of Birmingham requires £28,000 for purposes essentially proper to the town, and is ready to vote £20,000 of this amount, it would surely be better for so wealthy and important a body to go one short step further and raise the whole at once, instead of soliciting contributions from gen tlemen at a distance who had already subscribed enough to indicate the interest they had in the pro ceeding. However, not to be abrupt in the matter, his Lordship undertakes to consult the County magistrates at the next Quarter Sessions, and then to send the Mayor an official reply. But for this reply the Mayor does not wait. He interposes a brief but emphatic epistle to the effect that, even if the Council had the means of raising so large a sum as £20,000, " they never could be induced to apply that amount, or, indeed, any larger amount than he had mentioned, in the purchase of Aston Park ;" so that, he adds, " unless we have help, the catastrophe which every right-minded person must deplore will inevitably and immediately ensue." The help did not come. Lord Leigh had intimated to the Mayor in a friendly tone that, as the object of the Park was to benefit the Birmingham people, as the design was conceived by the Birmingham authorities, and as the Queen had patronised the scheme on the invitation of Birmingham, Birming ham ought to be at the charges of the undertaking ; and in this reasonable view of the case the gentle men of the county appear to have concurred. The magistrates expressed an opinion that the Lord Lieutenant should not move in the matter, and so the Mayor and Council were left to their own resources. In this predicament they took another and a still more objectionable step. With a strange blindness to the character of the case, the Mayor ventured on placing it before her Majesty, from whom, if from anybody, such a revelation should have been care fully concealed. Availing himself, with strange infelicity, of the communication made by the Queen in July last on the subject of the accident in Aston Park, the Mayor enclosed to Sir Charles Phipps the correspondence which we have described above. If this measure was adopted in the expectation of obtaining from her Majesty what had been vainly besought from the gentlemen of the county , it failed in its purpose ; but it produced a reply from wle!ce the Birmingham authorities may derive iastructus b n and profit. Her Majesty much regrets to hear of having e contingency which the Mayor describes, hmaveia4 hoped, as of course everybody else did, tha t r h k e which required for securing to the y p a rovided." d on laeenndn estimatedee undesirable rable nowe shortcomingsr y t to persondeprive in was given to them " hadbeen e * ane t n o believe that, But her Majesty " is still nnw illeivaegalth is found in p s t b o r p a t r rhoye rmpeople the P in a locality in which so much b proximity to the hard labour by doted, funds can be wantingt the value y b t y weh t o h ei f ee e heetwhich temporary they which it would be population an words . the authorities of l3iming hamhave been tauegatejta u ve se ry of i n j A ul s dn t j o ct n iho eu P sse a r a k n y , t is known. read what will be f .g e o lt od by th e e e the " may now do since, and it would have dheo.nistbtoe makestory The least o nreyoe have done so with as little publicity as It was, of course, assumed_ by t been be. . more. Queen t todpb ti fios e escyfis c rive o bceo u laet n n.ty t and by the public, when this ' Park was opened with Royal pomp, that the estate had really been enjoyedac quired by those wh o it to others. E ven if the purchase-money had not been actually or wholly rae toerp leaveait d he d o c nowomn doubt, . e t t e should about have ft tt the the been so provided f o finality of the bargain gift. We all know that public works are occasion ally saddled wi t h d e b ts , an d th a t if no n ew building were opened till it had been absolutely paid for very few would ever be opened at all. But there is a limit to the margin allowable in such case, and that limit the Birmingham authorities have very largely exceeded. We are told, indeed, that of the £40,00 0 which the Park was to cost, not £lO,OOO had ever beau raised, so that Birmingham got the credit of a liberality which had never been exercised, while the presence of Royalty itself was invoked to lend at a splendour to the counterfeit . This is g oing a were re deal too far. The promote rs of Aston Park under no obligations to do as they did; but if they chose to express this solicitude for the welfare of their poorer fellow-townsmen, and to present the people of Birmingham with a public Park for their pro recreation and enjoyment, they were bound toated vide the price of the gift before they appropri the its credit, and, above all, before they solicited Queen to become the donor of the prize. POST..—There is no class in the country that hae held its own against a crowd of adverse circutu.° stances so bravely and successfully as that whiell has this week been exhibiting s ome of the resits o! its industry and p erse verance in the Agr icultural Hall at Islington. The British farmer h as had to meet di ffi culties that he of all men w as the least prepared to encounter, and he has no t only over' come them, but has renewed his stre n g th in the struggle. For a while his heart failed him, and he n e felt as if he was too old to begin life ag ain on a ,sc_ system. But better and more hopeful though" revailed, and, in bracing himself to the needful exertion, he awoke for the first time to a full OPT hension of his natural ability and his proper pow tion. Like Sydney Smith, who said he 1 1 °1 1111 c knew a turnip from a carrot when he s et so"' tilling his own glebe, the farmer brought himselflf study the whole art and science of cultivation, an' laying aside old ideas and old implement s, aduPte every mechanical invention for economising labour s. and improving the land. He saw tha t be n'us' keep abreast of the age in which his lot wag en and he mended his pace and conformed to the conr moo requirements of progress. He called upon hth energy, and, as a good steed answers to the ti g hte ; -ng rein, it came in time to carry him over t difficulty ; and now competition has long ceased t: be a terror in his way, and he even rejoic es g n arl rivalry which has established his superiority es agriculturist and elevated his character as a r11;13,-; Still there are some who, more witty than W 1 persist in amusing themselves at the ex - the British farmer, and the cattle show w - ee . t , e is made a target for their spent ridicule. For most part it is evident that these humorous eritlie are laughing in the dark. They talk abo ut call as they talk about Rosa Bonheur's pa inting li and though they can relish a prize sirloin wh en „ o . is cooked and served up to them, as to it s prOd", l 0 tion they admit frankly enough that they ari,t, the hands of the graziers and the butchers• underlying all this affected indifference , there rt., mains the solid fact that we are as a nation cuter about our food. Even those who eat lias,t;ii in moments snatched from business, appreeitna juicy steak or a tender chop. The procuri n g of go al and wholesome meat is, indeed, a matter of gerletto concern, and if but few of us look minutely int° t he by which it is obtained, we are all la ic° rested in the result. Wo have to pay a hig h P,r er for prime joints, and we expect them to aa s : . ict their description. Besides, so much has been 10r of late about diseased cattle, and the necessity 4 veterinary inspection, that what was used to be a'of a question of taste and luxury had become (113 %a health and safety. The importation o f fereo. cattle has been attended with very disastr ous b e ets . " sequences. The free trade in live stock ha s worse than a failure, for it has cost tie so through the disease it has introduced, than 00.01 reckoned in the present market price of meat, Wiltilre is also to be charged to its account—and a 1061 %ot which was recommended for the bene fi t of the P r od has actually been the means of placing animal this out of their reach. There is now, therefore, special reason for encouraging home prodnel intl by and if art and science are fostered and promotedseg exhibitions, and if the blood and breed of to r o f are maintained by race meetings, it seems ,t,(ll,,,ti4st the least of it, unreasonable to undervalue a ' t''',, l ol mas cattle show, including as it does an an i ,' o r gathering of persons from every part of the ' ll B dom who are engaged in what is, after allt. o r 1 primary and fundamental occupation of the .L' t to ash people. As regards this year's show, ,0, considered to have been quite up to the avernrqu There has been no falling off either in quality al.vg form—and if there has been no new fe ature, not claiming prominent and marked recognition, Da .4 traordinary instance of merit, it ha s not been 040 to any want of interest in the competition. 4, Smithfield Ciub, too, is in a flourishing c on dit 3- a having a handsome cash surplu s in reserve, f'l,o with the means of increasing th e p remiums it O' n, —and, with a new and popularised constitution, there is every reason to expect that its future P,r ' ceedings will sustain the confidenc e t he a g ricail- rists as a body place in the justice of its decisiolt; and warrant the public support which has b e kio largely extended to it. There ar e interests t.tlch country cannot afford to neglect , a nd that vv.btito has been represented at Islington is one, anare, or chief of them. Every other int erest is less subject to external influences—but thimsode, li ke c adent o f the nation of which it is the staff, is ind e P en all foreign control. COUNTRY MARE. TB. 111ANCHESTER—TntrusPAY. n ip rivX At our market this morning the English Wa ft ' - I , e s was generally affected by the damp weather, and all e '"b: i• slowly at is per qr lower. Foreign met a ness, although offered at 3,1 per 1001bs decline on the ra l :,, e jc 6d per s of this day se'nnight. Flour a slow sale, an d er load chespe, lower. Oats very dull. Oatmeal 6d P Indian corn and beans in favour of buyers. • vei7 6 _ BRlSTOL—Tista tsviY. We had a good supply of English wheat to•day, sold slowly, at a decline of is per is per quarter. on week's rates ; for foreign wheat scarcely any inquiry's, "e; nominally at last Thursday's prices. Barley, a g?°,4 l . vi e mand for fine sorts , inferior quiet, at late rates. .0`,;11, a slow trade. Beans were without inquiry. Maize (4 ---- BIRMINGHAM—TwunaDAY. as ° Wheat was in fair supp l y to-day, and sales were t i lod e, very little change in prices,. and with a limited to osi Barley pressed fo r sale, but without finding buyers rices. extent. Oats, beans, and peas slow, at previous P d 36 4 English wheat w as sold at 40s to 46s for white, 41 ' 3 26 t° to 44s per 36 stone for red. Barley, new malting/ to 3 011 42s per qr ; grinding, 26s to 30s Oats, old, malting/ 6 0 . per 30 stone ; Irish, 18s to 245. Beans, 4 0 s to 0 Peas, 36s to 44s per 36 stone. A good EDlNBURGH supplyoff ar -- ers? g s lir l o c oh i sale a dt on a t t rather he top 2 1 s o lower prices up. vi l —t a: P t e d w Ea L C :e .l9v * .hil3 . ll : r e re t Ye sj . 61 per r q e ni r aadnvda. nc a e n . d prices peans l a n n l d ly as high. altered.O a Barley on the top Is 6d down Oats on the top la down... .Bd do „ 9ci do'ivr' 'a ver3se OS ‘ 2cl dc'w lP Beans on the top is Od down .. aavveerar:e Os 9d ig 5d 1 /1 3. Total Supply and Sales. 46 9 qr Wheat.. • ..... 657 qrs ........ Sold S Barley• • ••• . • . 2171 q rs Sold 1329 Sold 156 qrs Oats Flour sells as follows i ttlAr rs hites, 4181sOodl;d extras' -gs q 7 1 ' 398 vl; superfine, 37s Od : • fine, 35s Od. --"---------- a'o ° d No HomE complete without a Waco% A" . h i e . $", SEWINM G-ACHINE. Simple, compact, efficient, dura.,. • o f ; noiseless. Warranted to fulfil all the req uiremen t ', o o 9 perfect family machine. Prospectus fr ee on applies° / No. 135, Regent-street, W;—[ADVT.] A fill P o [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Ointment an. 111 o; Healing not Harmful.—No application has met W! to eo l same universal approbation for curing all external a l e de e 'f as that which this linguent has received. Skin external ale ulcers, fetid discharg , is, burns, blistered surfaces, non ! 1, similar affectiens are at once soothed, and put on toio t , to soundness by Holloway's Ointment. With b 1 9 0, 04 ment and his Pills the wealthy may save themselvst ,00‘, sufferiag, and the poor may help themselves to has be 6 these medicaments are reasonable in price and can vi',,i, chased in every hamlet. They have effected cureS of ov„ f joints, swelled legs, and ulcerated limbs, and oPe l/ c otie ri the prospect of a happy future atter every hope of rt . had been given up. ------ --------- Births. lier" 0 . _.-f ArchdeaconOii the Sth i F n s i t. u , B 00THBY.—On the Bth inst., at Welwyn Rectorlt - Lady Boothhy, of a son. i a k t e T s, h o e f t e l a d n a o u n g r h yi ee r.o ' se ; y ,e, A 0 1° PrrinArr.—On the Bth inst F i t o h u e L w x i I T N., the wife of Wm, pitra.)at:littElo, U t ple d r au ll r i i hter. i ‘ l" . WARDEN,—On the 9th inst., At O s t :ld Court, 111 „ 13111 Wells, the wife of HenryWardeannEsq., of a °". fr Marriages. ~ G orq,to B UTLE R — PARNTHER.—On the 9th inst., at bi" . y• til' 3 ,, ' Prf v o u r a d re, the Hun, St. John Butler, second son 0; r ev' Dunboyne, to Ann widowofßobert 0 141 Anne Es f r.., q., o. —ratton-street. ' ct . 1 / 01j e ff Tuumn—SWINTON.—On the Bth inst.,, at ' - '; ‘ , 1:1 1).„ P ",44 Chapel, Edinburgh, Major Tulloh , H.M.s 4, 1 0 ' 1 ;'" to Harriet, daughter of the late George Swirl' " B.C.S. E r i Deaths. I V, Er l CLARK —On the Ist inst., Willia m Ilislop , -- li r . late of 1, New-square, Lincoln's-inn. 103 36 all, GRAZEBROOK.—On the 3cl inst., at Park -h „ e minster, Charles GrazebroOk, Esq., aged 6 1 . .. osen tat, l e s t s GUEST —On the 6th inst.. Mr. John Guest, rep,'.o,str' of Messrs. Edwards Brothers and Co., 110° P a, Blackfriars. Josep h JoHNsoN.—On the 6th inst. , at Portobello, to e° at son, Esq., formerly of Ea sin g wold. a ll-Va le f 1/1 LANYON.—On the Sth inst., lienn , Cov , .Lanyon, Esq., aged 66. of 36 ' l e STEVENS.—On the 10th inst., J. Le e Stevetl 9 , C. ' non-street, aged 67. 9 , "...7 WEEKS.—On the B th inst., a t Mortlake, Surre !' .., Weeks, late of Picca dill y . 1 ,,,i A 11:. London : Prino:d and FuNislied by WILLIAx- CO .' ;N ..° o. of No. 112, Stran d, Printer, at TUE Su zi ~, CO upti Strand, 'n the Precinct of the r iavo v. u te Middlesex..—FridaY. December 11, 1563. fikh e , ,PE E Gra ) tr e h e ,. th, tA „Th e 41 3 ' 1 th e ;'-• Provb /co L,;, ,_ Ci' 11 ai ere , ZeAi: ttree','l'am '-,..:. N( Lift Lditi btrin Pi 1)" p, . ,In FAN' ~, TIT 1 , 11,T1 4 E D 0; QA.L l ibera .4e Et I.lox, 1 2.1'1; Thf to w i Grli l'i loy li li T 1 1 011 Did l bl . : i ....l ii aim 1 : t 4.A, ~,