The Sun. — London, England, 1863-04-14 00:00:00

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE: A letter from Constantinople, dated April 2, says that the departure of the Sultan, which had been fixed for the early part of this week, has again been put off, and the day now named is Saturday next, This delay must not in any way be attributed to any vicillation on the part of the Sultan. He has quite made up his mind on the subject, and the urgent representations which have been made to him against it have rather contributed to confirm him in his determination. I have reason to believe that, in a private interview which took place be tween him and the British Ambassador, the latter endeavoured to impress the Sultan with the evil eff.ects which might attend this ill advised scheme, and urged upon him the feeling of uneasi ness with which this voyage is looked upon by the public at large. These representations have failed to shake his decision. Without moving officially in the matter, the representative of France, I am in formed, encouraged the contemplated voyage, with the object, it would seem, to benefit the interests of the Suez Canal, which, while it is being proceeded with actively, is, as regards its political obligations, in an uncertain and unrecognized position. The news arrived here by telegraph on Saturday evening last of the completion of an agreement be tween the Turkish Government and the conces sionaires of the new Imperial Ottoman Bank for a new loan to the nominal amount of £6,000,000, to be issued at 68, the contractors receiving 5 per cent. commission. Information of this loan will probably have reached London at the same time, but it gives rise to various considerations sufficiently important not to be considered out of place in this letter. In apprehension, no doubt, of the criticism which might attend this new appeal for pecuniary assist ance, the Turkish Government have conducted the negotiation with a degree of mystery which has baffled all attempts on the part of the public here to penetrate the secret ; and, although I was ena bled to prepare your readers, in a previous letter, for this new financial combination, I can safely affirm that no person here, outside the limited circle of those directly interested in the matter, had the remotest knowledge of the fact until the affair was completed, and the arrangement signed in Paris. Twelve months have hardly elapsed since the negotiation in London of a loan for £8,000,000, which, as usually represented on such occasions, was to have sufficed to place the finances of the empire in a healthy and prosperous condition and, enable the Government to dispene with any further assistance of this nature, and the public is once more informed that Turkey is again, financially speaking, in extremis. Within that time, also, the home debt has been increased by two issues of Consolides, one of 5,000,000 and the otherof 12 ,000,000 Turkish pounds, representing nearly £17,000,000, the greater pro portion of which have found their way into the European markets, and principally in London. It is marvellous, when all these fabulous sums are added up, to witness the credit with which the Turkish Empire seems to be invested in the eyes of European capitalists; and, in endeavouring to ac count for this phenomenon, one naturally looks about him to ascertain whether the advancement and prosperity of the country in any way justify this reek less confidence in its good faith and itsresources. With regard to its good faith, it is but fair to say that in their foreign engagements the Turks have not been found wanting up to the present; and this argument, and the comparison which it suggests with other Governments who have proved defaulters, tend to enhance the value of Turkish securities. It is, however, the only argument which can be brought forward, and its weight is considerably dimi nished by the consideration that, while meeting their European engagements, they are by no means so punctual or so scrupulous in the observance of their local obligations. They are shrewd enough to perceive that default, or even delay, in meeting the dividends and interest on their European loans would involve them in hopeless ruin, and hence the promptitude manifested to meet those engagements at any sacrifice. With regard to resources, it is diffi cult to arrive at any accurate data on the subject. For several years past their financial expositions, which always represented an anticipated surplus of revenue over expenditure, have not been con firmed by results. Year after year, instead of a surplus, a considerable deficit has declared itself, which had to be met either by European loan or the more costly process of local accommodation. And now there is every reason to believe that the Budget of 1862, published in London with such pomp and exultation, will fall short of its pro visions by at least £4,000,000. This unsatisfactory result will not, of course, meet with any authorised publicity, but in its stead preparations are being made towards the publication of the Budget of 18634. I have reason to know that it will hold oat still more brilliant prospects than its predecessor. Let me endeavour to anticipate this publication, and to point out the real state of the case. It is not improbable that the forthcoming financial state ment will represent, and with good grounds, the revenue of the country to have increased to the sum total of £15,000,000, and perhaps even more. This fact will be immediately seized upon by in terested, but not over reliable, critics, as an indica tion of increased prosperity. It is shown positively, and 1 do not dispute the fact, that there is a con siderable augmentation in the Customs receipts and in the sales of the Dimes or tithes ; but this must not be construed as indicating either increased production or an improving administration. It is simply the result of the additional imposts which have been levied, and whether the country is able or willing to suffer such excess of taxation is a ques tion which it does not matter for present purposes to inquire into. That the country possesses inex haustible resources, which only require a proper administration to make them available, no one is disposed to dispute : but the most patient inquiry and investigation do not show that any such ad ministrative progress has been effected. It is absurd to talk of increased production when a good portion of that which the soil of Turkey has afforded for many years and is now yielding cannot, for want of roads, find its way to a marketable desti nation, and rots on the place of its growth. Let it, therefore, be understood once for all that until there is a radical change in the whole system of government, until the provinces are administered by men having the interests of the country in view, and not the acquirement of great wealth in the shortest possible time, at the expense of the working classes —until such a day arrives, if ever it is des tined to-dawn on this unhappy country, a ny financial statement Showing i ncreased revenue mus t be taken to imply, not the advent of increased prosperity, but a system of grinding and oppressive taxation. It is not probable that the amount of the public debt and other liabilities of the Turkish Government will be represented in the forthcoming statement as they really stand, and it is well to give an outline of them for the edification of those whom it may con cern. It was officially represented iu Parliament on the eve of the negotiation of the loan of 1862 that the s 4 public debt of Turkey" was £14,000,000. Th e financial statement of the Turkish Government gave the total at £32,000,000. Both these statements fell short of the real amount ; but let us see what it stands at on the present day. The different loans negotiated in London with the comparatively small amount yielded by the Mires subscription, and in cluding the arrangement which has just been con cluded with the new Bank, represent, after provid ing for the reductions effected by sinking funds, a sum total of £29,000,000, The securities which have been issued here, comprising Hasne-Tahvilis and old and new Consolides, reach a total of £18,000,000. Th es e particulars are incontrovertible, inasmuch as the information is within reach of any one disposed t o inquire into the subject. By comprising in this debts of the Civil List, incur re d stateme nt the heavy by the late Sultan, the liabilities of the different de partments, and the depreciated metallic currency (Beshlicks), it is not unreasonable to affirm that the whole debt of Turkey amounts to £55,000,000, to meet the dividends of which at an average rate of 6 psr cent. interest and 2 per cent. sinking fund, a yearly outlay of over £4,000,0 00 is required. This on a revenue of £14,000,000, or even £15,000,000, in no inconsiderable sum. There would not, ho wever, be any cause fiz unreason able alarm with a good Government and a reform ing and retrenching Policy ; but of this we have not TEE SUN, LONDON, its yet seen any very encouraging indication, and the question naturally arises, how long will the Turkish Government continue to avail itself of the un d'lc facility which has been afforded to it of effect ing such considerable loans, every succest.ive one of which must plunge the country into gt eater diffi culty and necessite the imposition of in sh burdens, which the impoverished state of the labouring classes can so ill support ? If any of these sums had been used for the development of the resources of the empire—the construction of road, for instance, of which the country is entirely destitute, some good would have been attained ; but in this respect there is nothing to show, and, with the exception of the loam of 1862, a portion of which was devoted to the withdrawal of the paper currency, nothing is known of the employment of these fabulous sums, e xcepting that they have been expended. A measure which has long been in contemplation, connected with the provincial administration, is about to be put into execution. It is the establish ment of a commission, the members of which are to proceed immediately to the different provinces. The declared object of this measure is to obtain through the medium of the commissioners information as to the real position of the provinces with the view to their improvement. The commissioners are to be invested with considerable powers over the local governors, whose proceedings and administration it is their mission strictly and impartially to investi gate and report upon. They are, moreover, to point out defects in the present system of government, and to suggest such measures as may be considered best to be adopted towards the improvement of their condition. Such a scheme, if properly carried out, would indeed confer enormous advantages upon the country. Nothing can be more iniquitous and more corrupt than the present system of provincial government, and it is no wonder that the pro vinces should have fallen to such a low pitch of degradation and decadence. Here, indeed, is a wide field for improvement ; but it is to be feared that the proper means for effecting it are not at command. Admitting the determination to be honest and sincere, the difficulty would be to find men in the governing class more worthy than those who have hitherto infested the provinces and left a blight upon their fertile plains. The same difficulty and uncertainty attend the selection of the Commissioners who may be charged with such missions. There is nothing, as a general rule, that the country people dread more than a Commission of this sort. In most cases they have to satisfy the rapacity of two men instead of one, for it is not unfrequent that the Commissioner joins with the Pasha to share the spoil, which, of neces sity. must be increased in proportion. It is but just to say that in this instance two of the officials so selected are reputed honest and trustworthy, and will repair to their posts with a serious determina tion to discharge faithfully the mission with which they have been intrusted. It is to be hoped that any disclosure or representation they may make will not be hushed up in the same manner as in the case of the frequent inquiries which are instituted on the corrupt practices of Pashas in the capital, and which never lead to any result. There is one subject which at this moment forms the theme of general conversation here, and some apprehension, to which it would be desirable that the serious attention of the Sultan and of his Government should be directed. It is the insolence and insubordination of the soldiery in the capital. Although lam willing to make allowances for a certain amount of exaggeration which always attend a rumour of this sort, and makes it degenerate into a panic, yet the matter has come so often and so strikingly under my own observation that I cannot help thinking it may assume serious proportions if not checked in time. In one of the first letters which I addressed to you from here, I alluded to the insolent and offen sive " swagger" of the soldiers, which strongly reminded one of the Janissaries of old. Since that time the spirit of intolerance and provocation has increased tenfold, and not one day passes by with out some serious complaints of unprovoked insult and ill-usage of Europeans in the streets of Pera and Stamboul. The misfortune in this country is that the attempt to raise the military spirit of the people provokes a revival of the fanaticism which was so fast disappearing under the week, but tolerant and mild rule of the late Sultan Abdul Medjid. The Sanitary Condition of Barracks and Military Hospitals. cubical space per man ranges frnm 341 to 690 feet, which last is the maximum. We give the measure ments. "In the Wellington Barracks, it is 500; in St. George's, 520; in St. John's-wood, 341 ; in the Tower, 483; in Regent's-park, 690; in Knights bridge, 458; about 380 in the Magazine Barracks, Hyde-park ; in Portman-street, 374." Even this moderate space is said to be liable to considerable reduction, according to the wants or distribution of different regiments. The instruction to the medical officers is to provide 600 cubic feet for each soldier, and certainly under sanitary views it ought no more to he subject to restriction than the rations. The ventilation of the London barracks is very defective, and though Dr. Arnot's ventilator is attached to the flues of the chimneys in many of the rooms it is broadly stated that "in no one instance is there any satisfactory method in use for supplying a sufficiency of pare air, and at the same time preventing draughts." It is further com plained that the walls and ceilings are not cleaned often enough for health, that there are no means carrying away the effluvia from the burners of the gas lights, and that noxious exhalations are permit ted to escape from the ash pits and diffuse them ! selves through the close atmosphere. In this de partment of the London barracks no arrangements are made to secure decent privacy, though this evil has been avoided in the new barracks at Portsmouth and Aldershot. It is recommended that " each large barrack should be provided with two iron carts, each capable of containing the daily refuse, one of which should remain at the barrack as a receptacle for the refuse, to be taken away and emptied every morning, when it would be replaced by the empty one " The lavatories are condemned, being placed on the basement in cold and gloomy cellars, satu rated with moisture ; and, as to the baths, there are but five in the Wellington Barracks for 1,500 men, so that while 'cleanliness is proclaimed as a virtue its practice is really denied. The libraries recently introduced are favourably spoken of, being con ducted with care and attention, although the venti lation and lighting might be improved. To this same defect the school-rooms are exposed. What is re markable and most discreditable is the want of day rcoms—there is not a single one in all the London barracks, if we except a disused riding school at the Portman and St. John's Wood buildings. The ac commodation set apart for married soldiers and non-commissioned officers is very inadequate, and generally not well ventilated. The atmosphere of many of the rooms is foul, several of the divisions having no excess to the external air. In Portman street they are described as " unfit for human habi tations." The laundries in all the London barracks inspected by the commissioners are washhonses, without any drying apparatus, and the soldier is frequently exposed to the danger of wearing damp linen. We are sorry to pursue this course of censure. It is like travelling from Dan to Beersheba, and finding it all barren—but unless truth is recorded there is no chance of remedies being applied. We enter the kitchens, and find them without space or light, the utensils scanty, the cooking bad, and it is asserted that " the meals of the soldier can be but mere sustenance, if, in their vapid sameness and moderate quantity, they are even that." Here is a general description—" Steam smoke, blackness, filth, and disorder are the moral conditions of these places in some of the barracks we have visited." This is the more condemned by the commissioners because, in their judgment, there would be no diffi culty in erecting suitable apparatus for baking, roasting, and boiling. We now come to a small oasis in this desert. The London barracks are well supplied with good water except the Tower. Government has bored some artesian wells. The Tower receives 2,000 gallons a day—partly by Thames water, which is not fit to drink ; the remainder is drawn from the Mint arte sian well. What is worse than all, the hospital kitchen used to be supplied from the Thames, but that nuisance has been recently abated. The report then enters into a minute criticism of each of the London barracks under a separate heading, and from that survey the commissioners direct attention to the provinces. Into the details of the country barracks our space forbids us to enter, and indeed we should have to repeat most of the evils already pointed out, of course under various degrees of modification in the several loca lities. We propose, however, to notice some of the principal. Edinburgh Castle barracks cover an area of 11 acres of irregular surface at an elevation of from 350 to 431 feet above the level of the sea. The The lrst report of the commissioners for inquiring buildings belong to very different eras, some being into the health of large towns and populous dis- ancient, others modern. The situation, though tricts was published in the year 1844. It collected exposed, is healthy, and there can be no external . and circulated most valuable information on the stagnation of air; still the mortality has been great laws of life, and led to especial investigation of the by comparison. At Edinburgh Castle the deaths state of barracks. The parliamentary paper now from chest diseases and fever are put down at 10 before us is an appendix to former reports which per 1,000 strength. At Piershill barracks, about have been noticed in these columns. The public two miles distant, at under 3 per 1,000; and at mind is now sufficiently awakened to the import- Leith Fort, about 21- per 1,000. The difference is ance of reform, and pretty well familiarised with very remarkable considering the airiness of the site, the deadly effects of defective drainage, imperfect and it is accounted for by bad construction in the ventilation, scanty supplies of water, atmospheric building, which deprives the interior of ventilation, impurities, and want of personal cleanliness. All and further by overcrowding. The greater number these evils generate, either collectively or separately, of the troops are lodged in the new barracks, acute, chronic, and ultimately organic disease, espe- which show a very faulty system of architecture. cially scr, fulous affections and consumption, in ad- Ihe passages and corridors are gloomy ; the win• dition to fever and other forms of disease. It was dow space is much too limited ; the overcrowding is a wise remark of Dr. Southwood Smith, one of the excessive. There are 447 men under one roof. By most eminent among the sanitary commissioners one of the returns of the barrack-master there is on the health of towns, that the fever tax was a only 181 cubic feet per man in ono of the rooms; heavier impost than any levied by Parliament. in another but 302, which last is the maximum. Now, one of the most fruitful sources of this tax The total regulation in men is 447; at 600 cubic is overcrowding, whether in towns or in private feet of air per man it would be only 270, so that dwellings. The aggregate density of the popu- the deficiency in air is 177. This is a fatal excess lation to the square mile may be approxi- of overcrowding. It is further observed that the mately computed in England and Wales at attics and basement are hardly fit for occupation, 275 persons to the equate mile; but if we confine and that no part of the building is ventilated. In ourselves to 21 of the principal. towns the average the old barracks 134 men arc crowded into a space ratio rises to 5,045 persons to the square mile. The only suited to 93, to give them the proper quantity rate, however, becomes vastly higher when it is of air. Now, surely the state of the Edinburgh limited to the builded area. Thus i n Leeds, it is Castle barracks is highly discreditable to the autho -87,256 ;in Manchester township, 100,000; i n Liver- cities, for nature has:given a highly salubrious situa pool parish, 138,224. If we take the metropolis, tion, which man his vitiated. which hes a very extensive range of outskirt, the The Royal Barracks of Dublin are built on ground population falls to 50,000 to the square mile ; but if sloping from Arbour-hill towards the River Liffey. we select a portion of London, it may be stated on The main structures are ranged in three squares, the authority of Mr. Farr that in the East and West and the space being covered with lofty buildings, London Unions the inhabitants number 243,000 there are great impediments to light and air. In persons to a geographical square mile, which he many respects the laws of health are violated in the considers the greatest density attained to in the architecture, the connecting passages being badly heart of any English city. However, Dr. Duncan, ventilated. The accommodation for the men is de of Liverpool, cites a still more remarkable case of ficient by 30 per cent., taking 600 cubic feet of air agglomeration in that famous seaport, for he speaks as the standard, for 1,917 men are alloted to a space of a population of 12,000 crowded together on a stir- only sufficient for 1,288. These buildings have a face of 105,000 square yards, which gives a ratio of fine external appearance, but it furnishes a very 460,000 inhabitants to the geographical square mile, delusive test of the interior. There is a great want We have placed the subject in this general point of of window space. view that we may the better consider the condition The general report closes with various accounts of barracks in which soldiers are pressed together of cooking apparatus in barracks and hospitals. into a narrow space without any proper regard to The culinary departments appear to be very unsa those laws of life on the careful observance of which tisfactory. In some places where gas is used, the their health essentially depends. It is to overcrowd- cooks do not know how to regulate its use, and use ing and the long train of consequences attendant on too much. In others, the meat is too much done on it that the high rate of mortality is due, and it was the outside, and raw within. Complaints are made the knowledge of this fact that induced the inspee. of great los s by excess o f h ea t, an d a ca s e is shown tors of prisons in England to recommend "not less of 2311 b. being taken out at 151 b. The new than 1,000 cubic feet of air for every prisoner as boilers in the Wellington Barracks have proved a being essential to health and ventilation." This failure ; four were broken in three weeks, and allowance is large, though it is a venial fault to err nearly 'all at Aldershot, owing to the expansion on the sii,e of excess; however it is safe to affirm a nd contraction of the iron. The public have heard that a doily supply of 600 feet of pure air is abso- much of Captain Grant's stove from debates in lutely essential to maintain the healthy composition Parliament, but the report remarks that his oven of the blood, does not heat properly or regularly, that the meat The report commences with an account of bar- has constantly to be shifted, and that it is not large racks in the London district, and it appears that enough. " The two boilers nearest the oven do those of New Kensington, the Tower, Wellington, not cook, only make the water warm." Captain and St. John's Wood, though recently built, are Grant's stove has been used in the kitchens at very defectiv e i n st ruc t ura l arrangement. The Aldershot, and a minute statement is given of its sites of those known as St. George's, Knights- performances. It appears to be a very dirty con bridge, and Portman -street, are surrounded by loft y trivance, owing to the soot on the boilers which buildings,whi c h d epr i ve them of the free circulation falls on the plates. On the use of gas for cooking in of air ; and it is complained that all in the metropo- barracks the report speaks unfavourably. A cook Titan district are scanty i n w i n d ow sp ace , f or which must be very skilled in regulating temperature to there seems to be no excu s e, a s i n building s of solid roast by it. It requires gas o f goo d quality. Those construction window s p ace costs l ess than the ma- who are curious in the p rocesses of the culinary art sonry of the wall. The stai rcases are d escr ib ed as may derive instruction or amusement from the too narrow, while the " ablution rooms, bath rooms, closing pages of the report, which describe the and kitchens are defectively planned and con- various kitchens of the metropolitan hospitals. At structed." In the New Kensington cavalry barracks, Guy's they appear to make the most of a verything, the most recently built in the London dist r i c t, the for the conde nse d s t eam i s used in the laboratory rooms of the men are placed over the stables— an for medical purpos es , an d, on analysis, is found to be pure. At the Colney Hatch Asylum a single arrangement which must be severely condemned, gas oven holds 144 large pies. In six of the principal and largest barracks the The general conclusion to be arrived at from the (Before Mr. Baron Hughes and Mr. Baron Fitzgerald.) DUBLIN, Saturday. A respectable-looking man named Joseph Harcourt was indicted for having, on the 15th of February last, pro • posed to William Smith to kill and murder Isaac Wight man Dickinson, Esq., of Ashgrove, near Newry. He was also indicted for having made a similar proposition to a man named William Graham on the same occasion. Mr. Serjeant Sullivan, Mr. Barry, Q.C., and Mr. Bey • tagh, instructed by Mr. Anderson, Crown solicitor, pro secuted on the part of the Crown; Mr. Sidney, Q,C., and Mr. Curran, instructed by Mr. Charles Fitzgerald, senior, appeared for the prisoner. Mr. Serjeant Sullivan briefly stated the case for the prosecution. William Smith, examined by Mr. Barry, Q.C., de posed,—l reside in 4, Fownes•street, where I have lived for about two months. lam now six weeks out of em ployment. I had been an assistant draper in 47, Capel street. I know the prisoner for the last ten years, during which I saw him about twice a year. I had resided at one time in the same house with prisoner, where I got acquainted with him—in 16, Upper Erne-street. He only lived there a couple of months. He afterwards resided in Newry, or about it. When he was in Dublin he was employed on " Slater's Directory," and I knew,him to attend lectures in Trinity College. I saw prisoner at my lodgings at Fownes-street, on the night of the 14th of February. I had not seen him for six months pre vious. I was sitting in the room with the landlady when ho was brought in, accompanied by a man named William J. English, at about 12 o'clock. English said, " Allow me to introduce a man you don't know, an old member of T.C.D." That was said as a joke, for he was aware I knew the man before. I shook hands with him, and the three of us went out together to Mr. Gorman's beer shop in Crown-alley, where we had some porter and sand wiches. We then went down to Mr. Barbe's beer-shop in Temple-bar, where we remained until two o'clock: I was not tipsy. I left them behind me in the shop. I remember that in Gorman's the prisoner mentioned something about shooting. I did not understand him at the time, and I have no recollection what he said in reply to the questic n as to what he alluded to. Before I left he invited me to meet him at Walsh's Hotel in the morning to breakfast with him, and I agreed to go. I saw him again in the morning, he having called at my lodgings about nine o'clock, and he told me he was going out and would meet me at the hotel in half an hour. I went to the hotel, and not finding the prisoner there, I went to Mr. Graham's at 2, Foster-place, where I knew he visited, and found him there. We re mained there till ten o'clock, and then went back to Walsh's and had breakfast. When a stranger left, who had been at breakfast with us, prisoner told me he had come to Dublin on a certain business, and that he might as well put a job in my way as in anybody else's, and that I might as well have a few pounds in my pocket as not, as I was out of a situation. He addressed me by the name of Moses, which is a nick name 1 go by. (Laughter.) He said I might go to America on the money. I asked him what was to be done, and he said there was a party living outside Newry who did not live on amicable terms with his wife, and that it was the wonder of the country that he " was not popped long ago :" that, if he was once popped, it would soon blow over, as he was so much disliked no one would take any trouble in finding it out. He mentioned that Mr. and wasin selo s ar iee a p te , b h e e ds w i e n nt t d h e e w o n ne te roo th m e , e, when kinson s s l h e e pt s aM e n rv rds a .t n hD t. ait He said he had had a conversation with the lady on the afternoon of the day previous to his coming down to Dublin, and that he told her be would try to get a person here to do the job. He said that she took her purse out of her pocket, and told him to take what amount he liked out of it, and that he only took two sovereigns. He did not mention any sum as the price of the deed, but he said the lady had £B,OOO in her own right, He said he would come up to Dublin in the course of the following week, and that he and I could practise shooting at Rigby's. He said I could go down and stop about Newry for a week, until I would learn the geography of the pl ace ; an d th a t h e was on such terms with Mr. Dickinson that he would have him placed playing chess opposite the window in such a posi tion that I could put the bullet through his forehead. It was to be done with a double-barrelled gun, so that if one missed the other could be " slapped" at him. He asked Graham if I was a good shot, and he said he did not know. Harcourt said he thought that if I would go down to Newry for a week it wou ld b e a good plan. Graham said " Young man, you had bett er be very cautious of what ycu do, for it strikes me you are only try ing to get the man out of the way, to marry his widow, and enjoy his property." Har court said, "Not at all," that he wanted to go to America. I had no further conversation with him. Mr. John Donnelly, a medical student employed in the establishment of Mr. M'Bride, of Newry, deposed that a day or two before Christmas prisoner asked him to pro cure him some prussic acid. Witness said, 44 Sure you could get it yourself at some of the shops." Prisoner re plied that if he went to any shop they would kick up a fuss about it, and would ask questions, and would likely keep a record of the transaction. He said he wanted it to poison rats, and that he would give it to them in milk. Wit ness said he would get some for him. The prisoner called at Mr. M'Bride's establishment. Witness was behind the counter in the shop, and gave him some in a phial. The quantity was something less than a drachm. _ _ Mr. George Henderson, of Newry, deposed to having had a conversation with the prisoner on the 2d March, on which occasion prisoner called Mr, Dickinson an infernal scoun drel for his conduct to his wife. Mr. James Conville, apothecary, Newry, deposed that the prisoner called at his establishment shortly before Christmas, and asked for some strychnine, which witness refused to give him. Wm. Nesbitt examined—Deposed that the prisoner and he had a conversation, some time in August, in reference to Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson. He expressed sympathy for the treatment she was receiving from her husband. He added that Mr. Dickinson was one of his best friends. On the next occasion the prisoner stated to me that he had been in timate with the lady. He said Mr. Dickinson was a "ruf fian," and that it would be no harm if he were put out of the way. I said to him that any person that would, directly or indirectly, be the means of taking away any one's life, would never be happy here or hereafter. I took him by the band and said, " Harcourt, for God's sake, give up this." " Oh, my dear fellow," he replied, " you quite mistake me ; a hair of Dickinson's head shall never fall, directly or indirectly, by me." He never after that men tioned the subject, but often expressed sympathy for Mrs. Dickenson for the treatment she was receiving frou., her husband, and I think any feeling person would do the same. He said he would have nothing to do with it. To Mr Sidney—Prisoner had a loan of a revolver of mine. He borrowed it of me years before Mr. Dickinson came to that part of the country. The prisoner's mother has been insane for a number of years, and when his mother saw the revolver on the table it used some way or other to tran quillise her. Some short time ago I asked him for my re volver, and he returned it to me, and I believe he got another. Head-constable Kenneth deposed to having seen the prisoner on the night of the 28th of February in the de mesne of Ashgrove. It was about 9 o'clock. Witness was concealed in the garden. Saw the prisoner enter the garden through the gate, and go towards the house. On seeing witness, he said it was a fine night, and turned back and left the garden. He walked away till he had got to the corner, and then ran towards his own house. Patrick Bowen, a man in the employment of Mr. Rigby, Dublin, deposed that prisoner had called at Mr. Rigby's shooting gallery in February last, and fired six shots with a pistol. Mr. Corry, resident magistrate, was examined, and proved the handwriting of Mr. Dickinson to a marriage settlement, securing to Mrs. Dickinson a sum of £4,500 in the event of her surviving her husband, in addition to her own marriage situation for four months. Cress-exami ne d by Mr. Sidney--I have been out of of a year o u t o f employ Previous to th a t I was upwar d s employment. I was li v i ng at h ome par t o f employment about six wee ks, having been in the last the time with my mother, supported by her. I cannot say who christened me " Moses," but I have the name for about twenty years. English introduced the prisoner to mo in the way of a joke, as he knew that we had met be fore. I was perfectly sober when I met there, but not so when I went home. I could not recollect what was going on. I never before was in Gorman's beershop. What was said in the shop about shooting was not spoken loud enough for English to hear. Prisoner did not mention any ill-treat ment particularly that Mrs. Dickinson received from her husband, except that they slept in separate beds, and that she was ill-treated. I was sober at breakfast next morning. I agreed to go t o Ri g by' s to practise shooting. I did not agrte to lear n th e geog raphY of the place. I told him that as soon as he brought the money it would be all right. What are your terms for murder—have you a scale P—l do not deal in that way at all. Did you fix the sum for doing the job ?—I never agreed to do the job at all. When I said that when he brought the money it would be all right, I did not mean to say I would do the job, but I led him to understand that I would do so for a certain purpose—to get evidence to have him arrested. I might have taken the money and had him taken too. Did you mean to say that, while the men were playing chess at the table opposite the window, you were to slap at Mr. Dickinson, you being hid in the shrubbery at some distance F—l was not to be there at all, according to my own idea. But according to the plan ?—Yes. I did not encourage him to do it. I could not tell whether the man was in earnest or not, his character had been so good previously. I wanted to see if he was in earnest when I said it would be " all right." I listened to whatever he told me, but I did not say " all right" to everything. I used the expression —" He is running in the cannon's mouth." Mr. Miller took my information bef ore M r. Wyse. Did you ever swear, since you were quest ioned about this case, that, in reply to e veryt hi ng s aid to you by Harcourt, you said " All right ?" N o answ er. Are you in the police force youreelf—are you any sort of constable ?—I was at one time. • - And it did not pay .Jpecial constables never are paid I was so in '4B. John Graham, sworn and examined by Mr. Beytagh—l am housekeeper at the Hibernian Gas Company's house in Foster-place, and live there. I have known prisoner for 12 or 13 years. I saw him at my place at 9 o'clock on the mo rning of the 15th F e b ruary He told me he h ad invited Smith to breakfast at Walsh's Hotel. Smith came in shortly after, and they both went away. They returned, and stayed from 12 till two o'clock, after which we went to Walsh's hotel. We got some drink brought to us to his bedroom, in which we sat. Prisoner, addressing himself to me, told me that there was a party living in Newry who was not living on good terms with his wife—that it was the wonder of the country he was not shot long ago. He asked if Smith was a good shot, and I said I did not know, Prisoner then said that if Smith would go down to Newry for a week or so, as he was hard up, he could ge t a few pounds, and the party could be put out of the way at once. I don't know whether any name was mentioned then. I told him to be very cau tious, as my impress on was that he first intended to get the man out of the way, an d then to marry his widow. S m ith did not refus e t o go. After th re e o'clock, the same day, I was talking to hi m i n t h a y a rd of my house, and he f asked if Smith could b e d epen d e d u pon to do this job for k him. I said decidedly not that he only wanted to get all the information he could, and then ha ve him arrested. I , told him that 1 knew nothing about Mr. Dickinson,out that he was a man of some means, and that it would be b e tt er for his wife to come to some agreement —to have a divorce—and let her be allowed £3OO or £4OO a year, but not to have the man murdered. I gave him that advice. He said that Mrs. Dizkinson wished t o b e free. I 1 told me he had been at Rigby's practising with a rifled revolver for an hour. When I told him that Smith could not be depended on, Le said— fortune, Proved also two letters in Mrs. Dickinson's writing which were found in prisoner's lodgings. Mr. Sidney objected to the production of the letters, but the objection was overruled by the Court. They were as Follows : " Sunday Evening. "I have finished reading the accompanying chapters of Colenso. You said something of rebinding them. Do not take the trouble for me, for I dare not keep the book in my possession, but if you will keep it yourself as a little Me mento of one whose sorrows have outweighed her faults — (the rest is immaterial.) The next letter was as follows :-- "Dear Mr. Harcourt, —The boys, as at present advised, intend going to Cooley to-morrow, with their father and uncle, so that it will be unnecessary for you to resume at tendance on them to-morrow. Mr. D. has not desired me to write this note; so, perhaps, he will speak to you him self. If you aro out about ten, or half-past ten to-morrow, I may see you.—Yours faithfully, " C. DI@KINSON." Mr. Sidney then addressed the jury on behalf of the pri soner, and commented with great severity on the con duct of Mr. Dickinson, which, he said, raised the pri soner's indignation, but he contended that the prisoner had never any intention to injure him. The prisoner had, to some extent, inherited the mental malady with which his mother was affected, and was in the habit of using strong language, much stronger than he really intended. At the conclusion of Mr. Sidney's address to the jury there was applause in court for its ability. Several witnesses were then examined, who had known the prisoner for years, and all gave him an unimpeachable character. Mr. Baron Hughes charged the jury, who, after twenty minutes' consideration, returned into court with a verdict of guilty. Mr. Baron Hughes, in sentencing the prisoner, com mented on the enormity of the offence of which he had been convicted, and sentenced him to the fall punishment allowed by law-10 years' penal servitude. One of the jurors said that they were desirous of recom mending the prisoner to mercy on account of his previous good character, but another juror stated that they wore not unanimous in the recommendation. His lordship said that even had the recommendation been unanimous he would not attend to it, as previous character was no ground for mercy in a case of the kind. NATIONAL GALLERY.—The vote proposed this Session for the National Gallery is £16,028, an in crease of £4,075 over that of last year. In the purchase of pictures more than £lO,OOO was expended last year. The most expensive purchase made was an altar-piece in three compartments, painted by Carlo Crivelli, representing in the centre the Nladonna and Child ; on the right of the spectator St. Sebastian, dressed as a warrior ; on the left St. Jerome, as a cardinal The predella contains, in the centre, the Nativity; on the right, the martyrdom of St. Sebastian; on the left, St. Jerome doing penance. On the pedestal of the column of the frame, on the right, is a small figure of St. George ; on the corresponding pedestal, on the left, St. Catherine. Among the other purchases of the year are a landscape by Hobbema, £1,675; a land scape by the late James Ward, R.A., with cattle of life size, £1,600; and portraits by Gainsborough of Mrs Sid dons and Dr. Schomberg, £l,OOO each, A portrait of an astronomer, by Ferdinand 801, 1662, was presented to the nation last year by Miss E. A. Bennett The late Dr. Darling bequeathed to the nation Hayden's " Punch, or Mayday," and four pictures were bequeathed by Lieut.-General Sir W. G. Moore, K.C. B.,—namely, St. Hugo, St. Catherine, " Ecce Homo," and the Madonna and Child. The number of visitors to the National Gallery in Tratalgar-square in 1862 reached 904,892, of wh om 154,806 came in July and 161,449 in August; at South Kensington the number doubled that of the previous year and reached 1,241,360. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Ointment and Pills.— Indisputable Redmies.—ln the use of these medicaments there need be no hesitation or doubt of their cooling, heal ing, and purifying properties. Holloway's preparations roust always do good—both should find a place in every household. The Ointment stands unrivalled for tho faci lity it displays in relieving, healing, and thoroughly curing the most inveterate sores and ulcers, and in cases they act as a charm, as thousands will testify who tried them, and would have lost their limbs by amputation but for this won derful medicine. The Pills by purifying, stimulating, and regulating every organ, greatly assist the remedial virtues of this excellent Ointment ; they cannot possibly do any harm, bnt will always do goud when the printed directions are followed TlMES.—There appears to be all the usual curio sity as to the Budget of Thursday next. We cannot ourselves pretend to know what is coming, and if tee did happen to know we should certainly have been sworn to secrecy. While our financial mea sures, however, are founded on inquiries which take the form of " Returns," it is impossible to prevent a good deal of leakage. The results of that leakage were stated in a letter under the head of our City Intelligence yesterday. As the writer of that letter states the rumoured alterations with the express view of showing that we are not yet justified in making them, it is possible that his objections have already had due weight in the proper quarter. It is also very possible that he takes a merely probable anticipation. As we are reducing our war expendi ture, it is likely enough that we shall also reduce our war taxes, viz.,—the income-tax, and the exist ing duties on tea. Our financers have assumed for some time that if a direct tax is to be reduced there must also be a similar boon to the larger class of British consumers. So, probably, this rule will be observed now. But our thrifty and judicious cor respondent interposes the remark that we are hardly in a condition to be throwing away millions with the right hand and with the left. He says there has been no actual increase of revenue to speak of during the last financial year. That increase looked at first sight nearly a million; but more than three quarters of it were a mere matter of account, which had no right to appear as revenue at all. It occurred in the Miscellaneous Receipts, and was the payment of three-quarters of a million by the Indian to the Imperial Government on the transfer of the Indian army to the British Crown. With that exception we are much as we were ; and with Lancashire in its present state, with the American Civil War raging, and several other wars imminent nearer home, we are not in a condition either to expect a very improving revenue or to reduce our defences to the old peace scale. However, we are promised, by estimate, a reduction of two millions, which, with the real increase of revenue, makes two millions and a quarter to be dealt with. According to our cor respondent, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is falling into the common error of spending money twice over. A reduction of 2d. in the pound on the income tax will be a sacrifice of two millions and a half, and, of course, will only have an indirect and remote tendency to recover itself. The reduc tion of sd. a pound in the duty on tea will be a sacrifice of more than a million, and will only re cover itself when the British public consumes half again as much tea as they do now. So there comes the very natural question whether we can spare, on those two heads alone, not far from four millions. But there are some other alterations, or rather retractations, anticipated, which involve a sacrifice of that which to a Chancellor of the Exchequer may well be dearer than millions. Mr. Gladstone is an ingenious and experimental financier. He has in vented or adopted various plans for making taxa tion either perfectly equitable and proportionate, or perfectly uniform and insensible. if you know that you are paying just what you ought to pay, or if you don't reflect that you are paying at all, then the result equally answers the purpose of the financier. The new stamp duties upon all sorts of mercantile transactions were expected to come under the latter head. Instead, however, of the tax falling on the mercantile public like flakes of snow, each almost impalpable, though accumulating into a vast and ponderous heap, these duties have from the begin ning been a serious annoyance. It is rumoured that Mr. Gladstone thinks the time favourable for aban doning his own p e t progeny, and so getting out of his little quarrel with the mercantile public. So saidmu e h t o f for one e do o p m i e e c d e i o n f i t n h g e e f n e u r i n I t y. of B t h a e t e a I n a Bo e n r e a r t e i ssra scale of sugar duties. The attempt to adjust the duty commercialiaoseu n p, uN vn lb eb O t 12 ande i nr t peore h fae a eci s tani l uea e edl d ie t. b o o:0 d a rf upon sugar in exact p roportion to its value, its strength, y and the uponpl andarebgmoobuoiaruddmns course,to worldan manufacture, a o o f at eudvrnaets,yi is o a ns manufacture. It has produced the importation of an immense quantity of sugar purposely inferior, or in a low state of preparation. A fair assessment of the duty requires a uniform test, which in the nature of things is impossible, seeing that it would require one man to be always present. at every examination. They who know the world well say that where fairness is impossible there are people who will profit by that impossibility, and know how to make the best of it. It is now proposed, we are told, to abolish all these distinctions of colour, weight, and grain, and to substitute the two broad classes of refined and un refined. One other alteration is mentioned, which, like the rest, tells tales of the struggles constantly waged between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the foes of his peace and revenue. The duty on chicory is to be raised, it is said, to equal that on coffee, which even then will suffer great disadvan tage in the fraudulent competition. Should the authors of these speculations and anticipations upon the budget prove to be correct, it will only illus trate the inevitable roughness and hardness of finance. After all, taxation is nothing better than a kind of black mail, which repudiates nice distinc tions, and has no other test of fairness than the diffi culty of successful resistance. The financier comes with his scales and weights, his measures, his tests, his gauges, his thermometers, hygrometers, and all sorts of clever devioes for extracting taxes under chloroform. All the attempts to make the burden either fair or unfelt are sure to fail. It is,;a burden still, do what you will with it. Force, and force alone, reconciles men to part with a large share of their incomes or their earnings to the Rob Roy of Whitehall. His followers must be fed ; they are able to take what they want, and will not be denied. Necessity concludes all argument. If you once be gin to reason, or to attempt scrupulous fairness with the taxpayer, if you once descend to a morbid sym pathy with his feelings, you are in a false position, and will have to back out of it before long. There are complaints in which the patient quarrels with everybody and everything, thinks his doctor a mur derer, and every draught or pill a device to worry or insult him. The only way to deal with hi m is to be sharp, for he will yield to command, though not to reason or kindness. That is the course which alt financiers come to at last. Like the youthful Nero, they shed tears at first when they have to sign an order for a great spoliation. But as they grow older they see this is real kindness, for all bear well what they cannot help. Make a tax s fa a i n r d , challengetaxpaerya will claimscrutit ly for its justice, and ten thou your pity with tears. Tell them it must be paid, and that in a good round sum, without any demur or evasion, and they will feel as happy as the shepherd who has just escaped with his life from a wild beast by the sacrifice of one of his flock. PosT.—lf the Russian Government intended to keep leith with the Polish insurgents, and if the latter could be expected to place confidence in the promises of the former, the general amnesty just granted by the Czar might not improbably bring the insurrection to a close. As regards the mani festo itself, it is to be observed that, except in refe renca to the amnesty, it deals in the vaguest gene ralities. All Poles who shall lay down their arms before the 13th of May shall be fully pardoned. Exceptions are made in the cases of persons guilty of ordinary crimes, and who have taken part in " offences committed by the army." It is not very clear what offences are here referred to; but we will presume that it is the intention of the Government to pardon all offences directly flowing from the in surrectionary movement, It is, however, in its reference t o th e f u t ure a d m i n i strat i on of Poland that the Imperial manifesto is especially obscure. The necessity of guarding Poland from a recurrence of disorders similar to the present is fully recognised, as is also tt.e propriety of establishing a system of self-government; but no means are indicated by which these ends are to be attained. " The obli gation rests with us to preserve the country from the return of disorders, and to open a new epoch of political life based upon the rational organisation of administrative local autonomy." This is precisely what the Polish nation has been for years struggling to obtain; but which, notwithstanding repeated promises, has been hitherto kept from it. Institu tions based upon " the rational organisation of ad ministrative local autonomy" have been promised to Poland; nay, if we are to trust the language of this manifesto, have been actually granted to her, eaffil t h e o a e u y g h w h i e t n e t, e h r e t y a in e y shakes d eeesueh one's resu l t f s a i e t a h t i h n e t p h r e e ir . sent civil war. In turnin g , t h erefore, to the mode by which the " new epoch of political life" is to be opened we are surprised to find no other means suggested than the further adoption of existing in stitutions. "W e h ave already laid the foundations of this aut onomy i n the institutions which have been granted, but whose efficacy has not yet been put to the test. It is our desire to maintain these institutions, while reserving to ourselves the right of proceeding with their future development accord ing to the requirements of the age and of the coun granted coun try."lf,how,top eleavnedri it was ala t w h f e el institutions fertheGeve a r i n r m ea e d n y t to seize upon whom they Polish and citizens withoutto the con viction of any offence, deport uttermost extremities of the Russian empire, it might with justice be urged that these institutions needed to be r emodelled. If, however, those insti tutions were radically good, and satisfied the de mands of the Polish nation, surely there is a bitter irony in saying that their " efficacy has not yet been put to the test," because they have been habitually ignored by the authorities at Warsaw. The truth is that if the institutions alleged to have been granted to Poland had been respected, we never would have heard of the present revolt. And this brings us back to the point from which we started, namely, the bad faith kept by the Russian Govern ment with the Polish nation. The reference which TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 14, 1863. facts contained in the report is decidedly unfavour- I able to the provision made by Government for main taining the health of the army. This neglect is not only impolitic, it is ungrateful and inhuman, and the whole barrack department demands a searching re form. Our colonial empire exposes the soldier to try ing vicissitudes of climate, for he must serve either beneath the Tropics or in the neighbourhood of the Pole. Such residences shatter the strongest physi cal constitution, and give the most powerful claim to at least a healthy dwelling when the soldier is quar tered at home. Ignorance can no longer be pleaded in extenuation of palpable omissions of foresight. The laws of life are known, and the Horse Guards are bound to obey the admonitions of science. We are ' far from insinuating that any wanton indifference exists, but the evidence is too strong to allow us to declare that proper judgment has been exercised. It is proved beyond doubt or cavil that disease and death arise from easily preventible causes. This charge rests on the highest medical testimony, and it throws a fearful responsibility on the military authorities. The crying evil is overcrowding, and it may be easily removed. It is idle to murmur at the cost, for a nation is unworthy of the protection • of a military force if the life of the soldier is sacri ficed to the false economy of stinginess. TRIAL FOR INCITING TO MURDER. "There is no person for it now but you and I. You can go down to Newry in the evening, and return in the morn ing. It will blow over, and you will have £5O for your trouble." I said T was the last person in the world that ho Should make such a proposition to—not exactly angry at him, for it was as a friend he asked me. Heard him pro pose it to Smith. Prisoner stated that he had been rather intimate with Mr. Dickinson's wife. Cross-examined by Mr. Curran—l lived in Newry for some years. I was master of the workhouse there, but left it because I had too much to do. There was an investiga tion into certain charges, at which I was honourably ac quitted. An old man named Wm. Mullin was sworn, and exa mined by Mr, Barry, Q.C.—He said—Well, my lord, I wish to inform you lam a little forgetful. For instance, if, before my breakfast, I said my morning prayers, and I was asked whether I did or not through the day, I might not just remember whether or not. I just wish to say that. (Laughter.) He deposed—l live near Newry, and follow the chimney-sweep business. I am a dealer in marine stores and a farmer. I know the prisoner. I saw him about a week before he was arrested. He said, "Did you not hear of this thing that has happened between Mr. Dickinson and his servant maid ?" He told me a story of something that occurred there, and I said Mr. Dickinson had no business acting in that way. Harcourt said that Mr. Dickinson should be put out of the way. He said he could get him put out of the way for a few pounds, and that he would give me LW if I would get it done for him. Witness was proceeding with a rambling statement, when Mr. Baron Hughes said—Are you aware that if you do not conduct yourself properly you are liable to be sent to prison ? Witness—l would be glad to be put in prison, my lord, if I did not do right. Any man who does not do right de serves to be put there. (Laughter.) Examination continued—l told him I was independent and did not want his money. I did not think he was in earnest. He was not all right, for he came in just like a man playing a tune on a fiddle. He said if I would do the job he could be popped through the window. My little girl was present when he said this. He had a revolver with him with one barrel and six chambers. He also said he had poison with him. Cross-examined by Mr. Sidney—My memory is very bad. Harcourt spoke in the presence of ray child. I did not mind what he said, and the reason of that is, that I think he " wanted a slate on his upper story." (Laughter.) Acting Inspector Smith, of the G division, proved having arrested tho prisoner, in company with Acting Inspector Daley. They found in the apartment a bottle labelled " Prussic Acid—poison," Also a dagger and a pistol, capped and loaded. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC 101311,NAL S. the Czar makes in his manifesto to the institutions already supposed t o be established in Poland is in it self almost sufficient, by the ie tniniscences it calla up, to secure the refusal of the proffered amnesty. Regarding the present positions of the Russian Go ve:nment and of the insurgents, there seems little reason to expect that, on the strength of vague pro mises, the latter would now be content to lay down their arms. The revolutionary Government has been successful beyond its most sanguine hopes, and it is now, when it has succeeded in securing the in tervention of three great Powers in behalf of Po land that it will abandon its menacing position. Unless they are driven into much greater straits than those in which they now are placed, the insur i gents will not accept the amnesty unless accom panied with a guarantee that they will not at some future time be again driven to take up arms in de fence of their liberties. In one sense the publica tion of this manifesto may be accepted as an indica tion of a merciful policy, though the conviction en tertained at St. Petersburg that it would be re jected would preclude the Russian Government from claiming credit for its leniency in the eyes of Eu rope. It is a little curious that the manifesto was issued immediately after intelligence reached St. Petersburg that England, France, and Austria had despatched notes to the Russian Cabinet on the subject of the Polish disturbances, but before those notes could possibly have arrived. Their tenor, however, was known in St. Petersburg on Satur day, and it may be tbat the Russian Government has precipitated the publication of the manifesto in order at the same time to avoid acting apparently at the dictation of the three Powers, and to be able, in reply to the notes addressed to it, to point to the concessions which it has already made. However this may be, it is to be hoped that the Czar will not consider that, in publishing the manifesto to which we have directed attention, he has done all that his Polish subjects or the European Powers can legitimately demand at his hands. He has himself recognised the necessity of giving to the Polish na tion an autonomy, or system of self-government — and all that is required of him is that such a system may not only be granted, but hedged round with such safeguards as may prevent the repetition of such outrages as those which led to the present in surrection. HERALD.—We confess that we can hardly under stand how it is that, at this moment, when the Poles are offered all that it is possible they can get, our contemporaries who take them under their special protection should try to prove that Russia confesses her weakness, is afraid of them, and, at the same time, represent the Russians as a people who ought to be driven out of Europe, and with whom Poland can have no peace. No doubt men who have dreamed about the reconstitution of the Polish kingdom, who sympathise with the Polish passion for independence, wilt consider the offers of Russia very pitiful—only an amnesty and institutions which must take some years to develop into a real autonomy. But it is not a question of what the Poles ought to have, but of what they can get, and it is the duty of their friends in this country to exert all the influence of their counsels in in ducing the Poles to accept the wiser but less heroic course. The Poles themselves are but too likely to propose to carry on the conflict to the last. The spirit of self-sacrifice inspires them, the hatred of the Russians fires them, and the men who are now in arms are but too much disposed to continue a hope less contest until they are themselves exterminated. We can hardly blame them, although their conduct must infliet heavy evils upon their country. But it is for their friends here to judge more calmly. If our contemporaries cannot bring themselves to counsel subjection to Russia, let them at least ab stain from attempting to aggravate the passion of the Poles ; let them have the common honesty not to hound on the Poles to what they know to be a suicidal struggle. Nor is the offer which the Czar makes quite so trifling as has been represented. Of course the institutions which he has sought to esta blish must appear trifling to the Poles as compared with national independence, but looked at in them selves they are well worth accepting. They pre sent good foundations upon which to build up, first municipal, then provincial, and ultimately national liberties. They offer the Poles a school in which they may gain political experience, and, above all, they offer a large share of the first of liberties, that of the individual. At the very time the insurrec tion broke out a most liberal law for the security of personal liberty, elaborated by the Council of State, appeared in the Warsaw Gazette. It will, of course, be said, " Of what use are such laws ? they will not be executed ;" and we do not suppose that at any time Russia apprehends insurrectionary move ments they will be; but at least they offer some guarantee for ordinary times, and they are signs that the co-operation of the Poles themselves is only needed to ensure them a full development of liberty. But let the character of the institutions established in 1801 be as unsatisfactory as the worst critics of Russia please to represent them, that does not affect the question which the Poles have now to deter mine. Their ultimate subjugation is certain. Will they yield now, and take these liberties and work them ? or will they continue the contest, and reduce their country to a waste, only to submit a few months hence to a rule worse than any yet im posed upon them ? It is all very well for them to talk of selling their lives as dearly as possible, but it is not only th e i r own li ves t h at t h e y se ll ; they will sell their country too if they continue the hope less contest. COUNTRY MARKETS. lb.' COLCHESTER-APRIL 11. A small supply of wheat. Trade was firm, at formal' currencies. Barley was in moderate show, and no change in value. Beans and peas dull , but not cheaper. Wheat, white 46s 52s Beans, Mazagan .. 30s 338 red 42s 48s middle & small.3ss 428 Barley Oats . 20s 26s gray 358 38s GLOUCESTER-APRIL 11. To-day there was a small supply of English wheat from the farmers, which sold at fully the prices of last week, with a firm trade. Foreign wheat in retail demand, at late prices. Barley, peas, and beans unchanged. Oats firm. ,D--APRIL 10. .day there was a fair supply aprovenient in prices. Trade teas, Partridge- 37s 40s White 39s 400 Boiling .. 40s 430 thin 35s 380 Ditto now —s —0 Beans, Tick, old 340 390 new —s -- 0 Harrow Ticks „Ma 400 new —s — 0 Mazagan 3OO 380 CHELMSFO At this corn exchange to• of wheat offered, with no ix very dull. Wheat, old white...3os 53s new ..35s 49s old red....37s 46s new 35s 448 Barley 28s 368 Chevalier Grinding 22s 31s Malt. Chevalier 64s 69s Oats 20s 28s KIRKCALDY GRAIN—APRIL 11. We had small supplies of wheat, barley, and oats to-day , which sold much the same as last week. Wheat. Barley. Oath. First....3os Od I 23s Od . 21s Od Second ..40s Od 25s Od 24s 6d Thira....—s Od —s Od —s Od COAL IN , I'rloes of Coal per Ton al e. d. Carway and Duffryn Malting . 19 6 Lambert's West Hart ley 15 0 Tanfield Moor 12 0 anfield Moor Butes l2 0 alker Primrose 11 6 Eden Main ...14 9 Wylam l5 6 Hastings Hartley l5 3 Holywell ..15 3 Byass's Bebside West Hartley ....15 3 1 Ships at marker ARKET. the close of the market. s. a • Cowpen Hartley 15 3 3 West Hartley 15 Walls End. Haswell .. l7 6 Hetton l7 6 Hartlepool... l6 9 Kelloe Braddyll'a Hetton 16 0 Tunstall ...... l4 6 South Hetton ..17 3 Whitworth 14 9 Riddell .... 14 3 ,t, 66 ; sold, 40. Births. COLLINS.—On the 11th inst.t Mortimer-road, St. John't? Collins,C wood, the wife of Captain of a son. PTCIOII.—Ou the 11th inst., at 14, Suffolk-street, Pall-mall, the wife of the Rev. Francis Pigou, M.A., of a (laugh" ter. SOUTHAMPTON.—On the 13th inst,, Lady Southampton: of a daughter. Marriages. lIALFORD—DowGLAssE.---On the 11th inst., at Maryle . bone Church, Edward Halford, Esq., of The Grove, Hammersmith, to Francis Jones Trist, eldest daughter of the late Thomas Dowglaese, Esq., of Blandiord square. WEBB—Lusx.—On the 11th inst., at St. Paul's, Avenue; road, Regent's-park, H anmer William Webb, 8.A., ° 1 Pembroke College, Cambridge, to Frances Emily, eldest daughter of Robert Lush, Q.C. Deaths. COOPER.—On the 12th inst., the Rev. Edward Jame! Cooper, M.A., incumbent cf Hawes, Yorkshire, age' 32. DAVIES —On the 11th inst.. at Prospect Villa, Twicken ham, Thomas Davies, Esq., formerly of Hanover-street , Hanover-square, MORETON.—On the 10th inst., the Hon. Herbert Moreton? second son of the late Earl of Dude, aged 35. WALLEIt.—On the 10th inst., at 4, Myddleton-squar a t Pentonville, Arthur Waller, Esq., formerly of the Stock Exchange, London, aged 86. WRIGHT.—On the 13th inst., Henry Wright, Esq., late ocl Brunswick-squar e , and f Betchworth, Surrey, age d 71. TEMPLETON.—On the 11th inst., John Saml. Template ri f Esq., at the Charter House, aged 64. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDREW% of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE Suri Office, No. 0 1 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County' 0° Middlesex.—Tuesday, April 14, 1863.