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

PARLMMT HOUSE OF LORDS—Last Evening. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. PETITIONS. Lord BERNERS presented a petition from Tottenham, in Middlesex, against the Prison Ministers' Bill. PASSENGERS' ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Duke of NEWCASTLE moved the second reading of this bill, the object of which was to improve the regula tions relative to passenger and emigrant ships. PRIVATE BUSINESS. - _ The Athenry and Ennis Junction Railway (Extension of Time:) Bill, the North Staffordshire Railway (Additional Powers) Bill, and the Teign Valley Railway Bill were read a third time and passed. COURTS OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND BILL. On the motion of the Duke of ARGYLL, the Commons amendments to this bill were considered, and agreed to. BRITISH COLUMBIA BOUNDARIES BILL. The report of amendments to this bill was brought up and received. The Naval Medical Supplemental Fund SocietylVinding up Act, 1861, was read a third time and passed. The Telegraphs Bill was read a third time and passed. TL .e Jurisdiction ut Justices Bill was read a third time. The District Parochial Churches (Ireland) Bill was read a third time. The report of amendments to the Oaths Relief in Crimi nal Proceedings (Scotland) Bill was brought up and ie• ceivcd. The Commons' amendments to Salmon Fisheries (Scot land) Act Continuance Bill were considered and agreed to. The Mutiny (East India) Act Repeal Bill passed through committee and was reported. THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD. A conversation arose relative to the printing of the peti tion presented by Earl Russell on Friday from certain heads of colleges, professors, and tutors of the University of Ox ford, for removing the present subscriptions required for academical degrees. In the absence of the Bishop of Ox ford, who placed the motion on the paper, the subject dropped. FORTIFICATIONS. In reply to Lord PORTMAN, Earl DE GREY said no sums had been placed in the estimates for the purpose of proceeding with the fortifica tions in Somerset with a view to protect the British Chan nel. The land alone was bought ; and in the event of his remaining in office he should see that the necessary steps were taken for carrying out the matter, which he considered of the highest importance. POLAND. Earl GREY gave notice that if the noble marquis (Clan ricarde) should not be in his place on Friday next to pro ceed with the motion relative to Poland, he begged to give notice that he should bring the subject before their lord ships that day week., as he thought it was of the highest importance that the house should not separate without some further notice of the affairs of that country. Earl RUSSELL said he would on Friday, if he couli do so with public advantage, make a statement relative to Po land. If circumstances should prevent him doing so on that occasion, he would state when he hoped to be able to do so. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening. The SPEAKEZ took the chair at fair o'clock. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The Lands Improvement Company Bill was read a third time. The Dundalk and Greenire Railway Bill was read a second time. LODON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY COMPANY'S BILL. This bill was read a second tune. Mr. Alderman SIDNEY then moved " That it be an instruction to the committee on the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway (No. 1) Bill, that they do admit the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London to be heard upon their petition with reference to the railway already authorised in the City of London, and for the insertim of a clause. prohibiting the railway company from carrying a viaduct over Ludgaie-hill." The hon. member contended that the making of a viaduct over Ludgate-hill was opposed by the corporation and the inhabitants because it would interfere with mach valu able . property, and would constitute an unsightly object. The company got their bill without due consideration having been given to the enormous interferenee which would be caused to property. The suc cess of an underground railway was problematical at the time the objectionable powers were given, but now that success had crowned such a venture there was no reason why Ludgate. hill should not be crossed by a tunnel. Mr. MASSE Y said it would be a bad principle to introduce and shake faith in their legislation, to abnegate what had been deliberately done by the Legislature no further back than the last three years. (Hear, hear.) The bill before the house merely sought some ordinary powers, and had nothing to do with the viaduct over Ludgate-hill. He hoped the house would reject the motion. Sir J. SHELLEY opposed the motion. Mr. CRAWFORD could ,not, though one of the City members, support the proposition. Mr. LOCKE said two lord mayors gave evidence in sup port of the bill ; and at the' time it was passed the City held a large stake in the Metropolitan Railway. ARRIVAL OF LORD PALMERSTON. Lord PALMERSTON entered the house from behind the Speaker's chair . at 25 minutes past 4 o'clock, and on taking hikseat on the Treasury bench was loudly cheered by 'hon. Members on hoth sides. The noble lord appeared a little- paler than usual, hut, otherwise, in the enjoyment of his ordinary health and spirits. The noble lord walked a little lame, and carried two sticks. After a few words from Mr. TITE, the motion was re jected without a division. On the motion of Mr. MASSEY, the following motion was agreed to :—" That standing orders 187, 188, and 216 be suspended, and that the committee on the bill have leave to sit and proceed upon Friday next, and that all petitions praying to be heard against the said bill be deposited on or before Thursday next." ORANGE LODGES—PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND Mr. MAGTJIRE gave notice that on Thursday next he should direct a question to the Under Secretary for the Colonies in respect to the incorporation of certain Orange lodges in this island. PERSIA—THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. Cul. SYKES gave notice that he should on an early day ask whether any covenant had been entered into by the Government for the construction of this telegraph. MILLINERS AND DRESSMAKERS. Lord RAYN HAM gave hotice that on Wednesday he should move for leave to introduce a bill to regulate the hours of labour of milliners and dressmakers. HAWKERS' LICENCES• Mr. FERRAND asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether poor men or women hawking pots, house sand, green groceries, or other articles of a like description, were required to take out a hawker's licence ; if not, and the Ex cise officers had compelled any persons to do so, whether ho would give instzuctions for the money to be remitted. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that instead of wishing to place a heavy tax on these people he had been instrumental in reducing the former impost People eelling goods of their own manufacture were corn pelted to take out a licence at a small cost. No complaints of any hardship had reached him. If any cases of hardship had occurred he should feel glad to be made acquainted with the particulars. BANDA AND KIRWEE PRIZE MONEY. Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked the Secretary to the Trea sury whether it was true that the opinion of the law officers had been taken on the subject of the Banda and Kirwee prize money, and that the opinion they had given was in 4avonr of the preferential claim of Sir George Whitlock's force ? Lord PALMERSTON replied that it was the opinion of the law officers of the Crown that no law or precedent existed to guide the distribution of the money. Therefore the mode in which it would be distributed rested entirely with the discretion of the Crown. The Government had come to a decision on the matter, and its nature would be announced in a few days. ALTERATION OF THE CIRCUITS. Mr. HADFIELD asked the Attorney-General whether he would introduce a bill for the alteration of the circuits before the next assizes commenced, or at what other time ? Sir G. GREY replied that he feared that such a bill cculd not be carried into practice in the present session o Parliament. THE INDIAN ARMY. Mr. BEAMISH asked the Secretary of State for India when the report of the Royal Commission on the Indian army would bo laid upon the table of the house ? Sir C. WOOD replied that the report had nut yet been completed. FIRING AT BRITISH SHIPS BY FEDERAL CRUISERS. In reply to Mr. FITZGERALD, Mr. LAYARD said that communication had been re ceived:at the Foreign Office tallying with the statement which had appeared in the newspapers, to the effect that a Federal cruiser had fired upon an unoffending British s hip at Nassau. A similar account had appeared in some of the American papers. It appeared that the captain of the vessel denied the statement. Mr. Sewall had written to Lord Lyons, stating that he would ma k e i nquiry, and, if true, the fullest reparation would be made. (Hear, hear.) THE GREEK LOAN. In reply to Mr. FITZGERALD, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied that the arrangements with respect to the charge of £4,000 a year would have first to be diplomatically arranged, and then to be submitted to Parliament for approval. Bat this could not be accomplished during the pesent session. RECOGNITION OF THE SOUTHERN STATES. ADJOURNED DEBATE. Mr. ROEBUCK hoped the noble lord would fix Thurs day, or at the latest Monday, for the resumption of the debate. Lord PALMERSTON reminded his hon, and learned Mewl that thin was the month of July, and that he hoped the business of the session would be brought to an end by the close of that month. He proposed to proceed with the fortifications to-night, and to take the second : ading on Thursday. He would name Monday for the esumption of the debate. _ . _ Mr. ROEBUCK hoped the noble lord wo d permit the adjourned debate to stand first in the pan Lord PALMERSToN would take care t' at the utmost fixity should attend the arrangement. (Laughter.) POLAND. Mr. WARNER asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether there was any foundation in a statement which had appeared in the newspaper la France, to the effect that England Ras so far committed upon the question of Poland, that, in the event of a war arising out of it between France and Russia, she could not remain neutral? Lord PALMERSTON was glad to be able to reply to he question, The standing policy of England had been not to enter into prospective contracts and engagements, the exact nature and bent of which could not be foreseen. The Government had entered into no arrangement, and were, therefore, perfectly free to act according as the events, as they occurred, might seem expedient. HIE GREAT EXHIBITION. On the motion for going into committee of supply, Mr, AYRTON rose to m ove, that, in the opinion of this house, the purchase-money of the land at Kensington should be applied by the Commissioners of the Great Ex hibition of 1851 towards discharging the liabilities of the commission, and that the commission should be determined, and the property now held by the commission be vested in the Crown, subject to any interests now existing therein, and to any charges thereon." The hon. member reminded the house that, in consequence of the commissioners of 1851 having a surplus of 4180,000 at their disposal, it became a question how that large sum was to be appropriated. It resulted that a new commission was issued, and autho rity was given to them to consider what was to be done with the fund. They were authorised to buy and sell land, and not only is frame a scheme, but to carry it into execu tion. In that way power was acquired to deal with a fund which for all practical purposes might be said to be derelict. The commissioners came to the conclusion that the only convenient course for them to take was to carry out some great scheme within the area of the metropolis for the pro motion of science and art, but at the same time they sug gested that before any such scheme could be carried out it was necessary they should be in possession of land for the purpose. At the opening of the session of 1852 allusion was made to the subject, and her Majesty declared, in her speech from the throne, that she had directed a comprehensive scheme to be laid before Parliament. The question thereupon assumed a national aspect, and a sum of £177,500 was voted to enable the Government to co-operate with the commis sioners in the purchase of a lot of land. Subsequently, find ing that their powers were not sufficient to enable them to obtain all the land they wanted, the commissioners came to Parliament for a local Ant, compelling proprietors to sur render their land to the commissioners. By the exercise of these powers the commissioners obtained possession of no less than eighty-six acres of land, at the price of £355,000. In that way a practical partnership arose between the State and the commissioners, which was a very unfortunate part nership for the State, as the State was in a minority of five to one upon the board. The partnership survived for two or three years, but at last it was found so irksome that the right hon. gentleman the member for Bucks (Mr. Disraeli) came down to the house one day and announced that the Government had come to the conclu sion that it were better it should be dissolved. Ultimately the State was allowed to occupy twelve acres of the land, getting back at the same time a sum of £120,000, the rest of the estate valued at between £300,000 and £lOO,OOO. But the State did not actually get even these twelve acres ; they were only permitted to use it subject to a proviso that the land was appropriated to the purposes of science and art. Having made the above pre- fatory statement, the hon. and learned gentleman asked what had the commissioners ever done for the promotion of science and art. Twenty-two acres of the land had been appropriated to the formation of the Horticultural Gardens, which was nothing more than a mere fashionable promer ade—a garden in which neither science, art, nor nature was apparent. (Hear, hear,) So revolting, indeed, was the place to English taste and feeling, that there were great doubts whether it could be maintained. Since they took what was called " the Boilers," what had been done ? Arrangements had been made for establishing one of the finest cafes in London ; and it was resolved that the national taste should be cultivated in that respect, and that things should be made attractive by means of beer, cheap wines, and gin sling. This great tavern was to be the grand, the all-pre vailing feature of the place ; the public were never to escape from it, no matter what way they turned ; it was to be the sine qua non. It was no doubt a very convenient thing to have a place to eat and drink in ; and, like ex cursions to Richmond, it was right they should have their "Star and Garter" in the centre of their opera tions. This was the great work which had been ac complished. What the tavern cost they did not know, but they knew what the Horticultural Gardens cost—sim ply 22 acres of land and a grant of £.50,000. (Hear, hear.) The proceedings of the commissioners, from first to last, had been tainted with over-reaching and chicanery; and surely there never was a more curious combination of ideas than that exemplified in the Exhibition building— a glass dome, pieces of wood and iron in the walls, and paintings like an immodest casino, (Laughter, and hear, hear.) He would not go into details, for, after the decisive vote of Thursday, it was not necessa y to do so ; but still it was necessary to coneider whether they had made an ab solute purchase of the land. There were conditions annexed to the purchase of the land, which were not known to the law of this country ; and it therefore became necessary to inquire into the nature of these conditions, and the position of the parties making them. One condition was that the land should be applied to purposes in connection with the advancement of science and art ; and the second condition was that the land should be connected with the tavern and drinking house. He wanted to know whether that was a decent condition to impose in a matter of the sort, and whether Parliament would allow the public interests to be subordinated to the will and pleasure of those commissioners, There was only one remedy by which they could disen tangle themselves from those commissioners, and that was by getting rid of them altogether. (Cheers.) If the com missioners continued they might be sure of a repetition of the embarrassing, circumventing intrigues which they had witnessed in the present session. For his own part, he would not like to see a repetition of the exhibition of Thurs day last; but, at the same time, he thought that exhibition did credit to the House of Commons. (Hear.) But when intrigues took place, it was the duty of hon. members to a , press themselves in terms of indignant disgust. He eon ' tended that the position of the commissioners was anomalous and embarrassing, and that it was the duty of Parliament to intervene. There might have been some reason for giving up the constitutional aspect of the question dur ing the lifetime of the illustrious Prince Con sort, who had devoted himself so exclusively to science and art, and under whose guiding influence- some great purpose would be ultimately worked out. But now the whole thing was changed, the commissioners had ful filled their part, and it was now time for Parliament to re lieve them from further responsibility. There was a sum of £120,000 to be paid for the 17 acres of land ; the value of certain ground rents was estimated at £162,000 more; then there were 15 acres estimated at £225,000; making in the aggregate £507,000. There was also the reversion of the 22 acres to the Horticultural Society in the course of 60 years, or whenever the public got tired of visiting the gravel walks and stucco of the Horticultural Gardens. Well, these were the assets, and now for the liabilities. They had bor rowed £120,000 from Greenwich Hospital; £50,000 from other parties, and they had given a rent-charge to 'Messrs. Belk and Lucas amounting to £17,000; making in all £187,000. What he wanted was to get rid of the excrescence of the commission; for, having lost its great head, it had nothing to accomplish. (Cheers.) Mr. LO WE said he would state the position occupied by the e mcommissioners in of 18,51. In 1850 h er Majesty issued a ssio and subsequently a c h arter, the object of which em t h e coimesimonisswioanserreseangmnoiereeti ebsytnenndAedetfieefldvonfrlacia-- was to give m ti o e n n . t p'al:ShB eedcoinn3nllBs4. After the great Exhibition of 1851, the commission came into the possession of a surplus of £lBO,OOO ; that surplus, together with a further sum of £177,000 granted by Government, had been applied towards the purchase of the Kensington Gore estat e . T he com mission and the Government were partners in the purchase; but the joint ownership between the commission and the Government was put an end to in 1859. The Govern ment at tlfat time took twelve acres, on. which the buildings of the Department of Science and Art were erected, for £60,000, being about one-half of the value. That was the precise legal position of the Commissioners, who might be regarded generally in the light of charity trustees who held no public money in their hands, If it could be shown that their charter of incorporation had been improperly obtained, then it could be put an end to by scire jacias, or if its powers had been abused it could be with drawn by quo warranto. Those were the only means known to the law for the sudden or violent revocation of atcharter, which would otherwise virtually expire when the func tions for which it had been granted had been fulfilled. But then came the question, why, out of a vast number of cor porations existing upon a similar basis, should the house be asked to declare that that particular one ought to be abo lished ? What had it done ? It had no public moneys in its hands, and no public duties beyond those declared in the charter. The fact of its having been warmly supported by his late Royal Highness the Prince Consort should have been a guarantee that it was at least deserving of som e littl e consideration. It should be borne in mind that the c3mmis sioners of 1851 were not the managers of the Exhibition of 1862, and it was no proof of chicanery on the part of the commissioners of 1851 if the hon. gentleman established discreditable conduct on the part of the commissioners of 1862; but, before hon. gentlemen came down to the house and made charges of the kind they had heard that evening, he thought it was not too much to ask that they should use sufficient diligence to make themselves acquainted with the facts. The hon. gentleman charged the commissioners with having built a tavern, but it was obvious that a refreshment department was indispensable to the success of the whole undertaking. At all events, he hoped Parliament would not recommend the abrogation of the charter upon that ground. (Hear.) Theleoramissioners had provided the coun try with funds to the amount of £220,000 for the promdtion TIM SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 7, 1863, of art, and they were still in possession of property worth at least £300,000, without doing wrong to any one. He did not suppose that any public body whatever, however care fully chosen, could act for ten years and escape the critics of the House of Commons, who always understood every thing so much better than the persons practically acquainted with the subjects of their criticism—still, he thought no reason had been shown for asking the house to confiscate— for that was the effect of the motion —the funds of what might properly be called a charitable corporation. Mr. H. SEYMOUR said the right hon. gentleman wanted to know why the commission should be put down. He thought the more pertinent question was, " Why should it be kept up ?" and unless the Government could show better reasons for its maintenance than he had heard he should vote for the motion of his hon. friend the mem- ber fer the Tower Hamlets. Mr. T. BARING, as a commissioner both of 1851 and 1862, said he was not ashamed of what had been done on either occasion, and believed their efforts had been greatly for the benefit of the country. When they were charged with misapplying public money, he begged to ask what public money they had had. It was merely a sum received in shillings and sixpences, the same as for seeing some pri vate exhibition ; and he denied the right to touch dinr the money or the produce of it. (Hear, hear.) As for the commissioners having done nothing for 15 years, that was not their fault; and he thought the proposition to bring their labours to an end by a summary resolution of the house was most monstrous. The house then divided. The numbers were— For the resolution Against it Majority against .. The resolution was therefore negatived. CHINA. Lord NAAS, in calling attention to the affairs of China, which he was induced to do so in consequenee of the man ner in which the debate bad been brought to an abrupt close the other evening, said he wished to endeavour to elicit some explanation from her Majesty's Government on the state of our relations with that empire. It seemed to him that since the treaty of Pekin, which was concluded in October, 1860, all the old traditional policy of Great Britain was thrown away, and that they were now entering upon a new state of things. In days gone by we had acted in a spirit of hostility to the Chinese authorities, and thereby had encouraged the Taepings; but since the treaty of Pekin the instructions of Earl Russell and of Sir F. Bruce were explicit, that neutrality would be ohserved on the part of the British between the Chinese authorities and the Tao. pings, unless where force was necessary for the protection of British subjects. Earl Russell expressed at the outset his wish to maintain neutrality, the only armed interference being a defence of our treaty rights, and the settlements occupied by her Majesty's subjects; but he proceeded to show how, step by step, that policy had been abandoned, and instead of occupying a neutral position, we had been in terfering in every way in almost all the internal affair s of China. He refer s ied to the events of the last two years, com mencing with our interference in the 30 miles radius of Shanghai, which had had the effect of involving that dis trict in serious troubles and miseries. The partisans of both sides had suffered alike—each party beheading the other with little mercy, and upon the excuse that they aided the opposite side—the Imperialists being, in fact, as bad as the Taepings, Ningpo and the country around, which was in the hands of the insurgents, was afterwards seized upon by Consul Harvey, with the consent of the French and Ameri can consuls, as a foreign settlement for the three nations. Next came the accidental killing bythe insurgents of several English in a salute that was fired. Explanations were given which were at first deemed satisfactory, but afterwards was sent in a kind of ultimatum ; in which Captain Drew asked three things—first, an ample apology; secondly, the remo val of all the guns, &c., from the battery ; and thirdly, that means should be taken to prevent a repetition of the disas ter. The insurgents assented to the whole of the proposi tions, It appeared that some way from Nangpo there were some gunboats belonging to a pirate whom the Imperialists hired to come up and attack Nangpo. Upon that Capt. Drew sent word to the Taepings that if they fired a shot, even in their defence, he would bombard the town. A shot was fired, but it was not known by whom ; and upon that Capt, Drew bombarded the town till two o'clock, when he went to dinner. At 3 o'clock he landed his men, drove out the rebels, and in the evening he handed the city over to the Imperialist Government. That was the way in which our officer conducted affairs in that country. He believed there had been no . attempt to establish the 30 mile radius around Ningpo; but, in February last, Capt. Drew accompanied a force of a nondescript character to attack Shonhing, a walled city, about 110 miles from Ningpo. It was called the French contingent, and was commanded by a Frenchman who had belonged to the civil service. It consisted of about 500 men, accompanied by Capt. Drew, and they took with them boats, in which to bring away the plunder. The first night was occupied in plundering an Imperial village, and the next day they advanced to the attack of the town, Capt. Drew accompanying them as a spectator, as he said, but in reality acting as their commander, and advised the attack. The result, however, was, that the force was ignominiously beaten and driven back, and in that wretched skirmish the French commander was killed, and the lieutenant in the encounter was shot dead through the neck. It was impos sible to say that Captain Drew was not in actual command of this force, for there was his own authority that he was, and moreover that he borrowed eighteen howitzers from General Staveley for the purpose of the expedi tion. As for Lieutenant Singney, who was killed, having been present only as a volunteer, he reminded the house that that gallant officer was there under the command of his own captain, and he asserted that he was acting as much in the discharge of his public duties as if he had been fight ing on board his own ship. The noble lord then proceeded to animadvert upon the appointment of the foreign inspec tors of customs at eight ports, and to point out that the authority which they exercised was sure to bring them in collision with the local legitimate authorities. In the next place, he pointed out that the force which had been organised last year in this country under the command of Capt. S. Osborn, could have been despatched to China fcr no other object than the restoration of the Imperial authority ; at the same time, that there was no evidence whatever that the Imperial authority had been given for raising the force. It was quite clear that one of the first things the force would attempt would be the capture of Nankin, and the highest and most reliable authorities distinctly were of opinion that no measure could be more impolitic or more unlikely to lead to the restoration of order than dispossessing the Taepings of Nankin. He would now come to another force, which was entirely separate from the Customs and from Capt. Sherard Osborn's, and this was the force called the Anglo-American Contingent. In the year 1860 a Mr. Ward, of whose nation ality there was some doubt, arrived in Shanghai. It was be lieved that Mr. Ward had formed part of Gen. Walker's fili bustering expedition ; but, however this might be, as soon as he arrived in Shanghai he proposed to organise a foreign legion, which was to consist of all sorts of men, negroes, Manillas, &c. The formation of a legion of this triad was one of the worst things which could happen, in consequence of the depredations that were being committed in the East ern seas, where adventurers and scoundrels of all nations assembled for the purpose of rapine. This foreign legion had, after some time, been disbanded, and Mr. Bruce wrote expressing great satisfaction at the event. Colonel Ward then turned his attention to drilling the Chinese, and proved successful to some extent ; but he fell when leading an attack against a town in China. The noble lord then referred to the successors of Colonel. Ward, and submitted that it was a most dangerous principle to have British offi • cers induced to give up their commissions and become the officials of a foreign power. Capt. Sherard Osborn would probably receive as much pay in his new capacity as the general commanding the British contingent in China. He believed it would be no longer possible to set up the plea on behalf of these men that they were in the pay of the Empe ror of China. This force of Capt. Osborn's would be always regarded by the rebels as a British force. Their uniform would be very like that of the British navy, and the Chinese people would look upon them as a British force. It was only necessary to refer to a statement of Prince Kung, the Prime Minister of China, to show in what light the Impe rial Government viewed the several foreign armed forces which were being organised to aid the Imperial forces. lie thought he had now shown that, while her Majesty's Go vernment had laid down the doctrine of strict neutrality in 1860, that doctrine had been entirely departed frcm. With regard to arms, it was found that the contending parties got well supplied, especially the Imperialists, and he was afraid the Americans had largely entered into that trade. In general terms he condemned the system of interference adopted in China, a policy which, in parallel instances, had almost invariably done more damage to the interfering state than to the parties it operated against. If China was to be governed upon Chinese principles, it must he governed by Chinamen ; but if it was to be governed virtually by European interference, it must be upon European principles, or that interference must be utterly ineffectual. The noble lord then quoted from Sir F. Bruce and Dr. Lake, a eminent Chinese scholar, in support of his views, and concluded by saying that our continued interference roust only prevent the natural settlement of the conflict, and during a long series of years crimes would be constantly committed in our name that could not but bring a blush upon the face of every Englishman who heard of them. The truth was, that all the richest provinces of China, those from whence our greatest supplies of tea and silk were derived, had been in the hands of the rebels, as they were called, since 1854, and the opinion of the commercial classes universally was, that if the objectionable interference of Europeans were not withdrawn, those " rebels" would very soon shut up their ports and rivers, and stop our trade there altogether. (Hear.) They never had adopted that course yet, but nothing was more natural than that they should do so. The noble lord then alluded to the rapid advances made by Russia in forwarding its territorial boundary line to the Amoor river, and to within three days' sail of Shanghai. The fact that the telegraph would probably soon be laid down, so as to bring China and St. Petersburg within eleven days of each other, showed the interest taken in the trade with that country. France, however, was in a diffe rent position, and her commercial interest in the country was very s ma ll i ndeed. The objects of the French were purely ecclesiasti ca l, an d were well defined. For centuries the French Ch urch had taken a most active interest in Chinese mission s • and he could not see how, with holier and higher objects than we had, we could complain, and say that they should not do that in the interests of roll gion which we did in the interests of trade. (Hear, hear ) Ho fully recognised the difficulty of receding from the policy the English Government had entered on in China. He ad- mitted that it could not be abandoned at a moment's notice; but, remembering that the longer it was continued the more difficult it should be to recede, he recommended as the only practical course that notice should be given to the Chinese authorities that at the end of three or four years they should themselves be prepared to govern their country without assistance. (Hear, hear.) Sir H. VERNEY suggested that such notice was already given by the fact that the order in council extended over only two years, and that the sole object of British interfer- ence was to teach the Chinese Government how to rule. Peace and tranquillity in the empire was of far more im portance to British interests than any influence which the English Government could exercise in the country. He was of opinion that our interference in China had resulted in the protection of the life'and property of British subjects, and in Shanghai the latter had increased sixfold in value. Mr. LAYARD said he felt no misgivings with regard to the policy of her Majesty's Government in China, Looking at the small number of hon. members then present, and re collecting how few were present on a former occasion, he was at a loss to understand how China could be considered an important question in that house. If our policy in China was so bad as it had been described by the noble lord the Government were deserving of the severest censure, and he was surprised the noble lord had not concluded with a mo tion condemnatory of their conduct. The policy of her Majesty's Government had been to treat China as a civilized country, and not like Russia, to consider her as a barbarous empire; and it was therefore wrong to make her Majesty's Government answerable for the misgoings of France and Russia, During the last two or three years our policy in China had changed. Not that the home Government had changed in their views, but circumstances had greatly altered, so as to render a change necessary. For merly we dealt with the local authorities, but now we had access to the Central Government. Since the Treaty of Tientsin, which was ratified at Pekin, we had had a Minis ter at the latter place, and the result had justified the im portance of having a Minister there; for, instead of desul tory negotiations with subordinates, who often deceived the Chinese Government, we had direct communication with the latter, and instead of exchange of short notes passed between the respective authorities, and the Chinese were be ginning to see the necessity of keeping their treaty obliga tions. We had had two objects in view : first, to strengthen the Chinese Government, as the best means of restoring tranquillity there; and, secondly, the necessity of their ob serving treaty obligation with all nations ; to accomplish which it had been necessary for us to support a liberal party in that country. Sir F. Bruce had had great difficulties to contend with in China, and more especially from those who ought to have supported her Majesty's Government in that country. Sir F. Bruce had sketched out a policy of conci liation, and in that her Majesty's Government entirely con curred. No doubt many things in connection with China were open to criticism ; but on the whole our policy had been a just one, and had been most consistent with the in terests of this country and China. The real cause of our difficulties in China did not arise from the Tartar element, which lied been the cause of that chronic anarchy that had existed so long in that country. Sir F. Bruce, in the first instance, had to disabuse the Chinese mind of the prejudice they entertained that we dealt with them in too high-minded a manner, and that we had a desire to cheat them. He first obtained a concession from the Chinese for the opening of the carrying trade between the north and south of China, and then the opening of the Yang-tse-Kiang. Those two concessions had been obtained without going to war, at an expense of perhaps a million of money, and so far from our being at war with China, we were never so far from it as at that moment, and all that we were now doing was to assist them in establishing a system of good government. They defended the treaty ports, because of the enormous mass of British property that was concentrated there. If the Taepings got hold of them, the property would very soon be destroyed. Captain Sherard Osborn and his brother officers were no doubt still subjects of the British Crown; but, inasmuch as they were under the command of the Chinese Government, they were not responsible to the Eng lish Government. But, on the other hand, what bad been the effect of the creation of this new force? Why, it enabled them rapidly to reduce the number of British troops em ployed in China. In 1860 there were 21,000 British troops in China ; now there were little more than 4,000. The 30 miles radius round Shanghai was maintained entirely upon the advice of military men, and as a defensive precaution. It was the universal opinion of all persons connected with China, whether as agents of our Government, as merchants, or missionaries, that the Taepings were plunderers, and nothing else. They were asked, why not allow the Taepings to take possession of the ports, as they would not injure our trade ? but that was not the opinion of the merchants, and they showed that such was their opinion when Shanghai was threatened by the Taepings. The feet that had been orga nised under the command of Capt. Osborn was intended to put down piracy, and piracy alone. By the treaty the Chinese Government pledged themselves to put down piracy, and if they did not do it the English authorities were allowed to do it ; indeed, the whole object of maintaining so large a fleet in the Chinese seas was for the suppression of piracy. With respect to the appointm ent of forei g ners as superin tendents of customs at the t reat y p orts, it was true that that arrangement led to a great outcry; but that was very natu ral, because, up to the n, foreign merchants were in the habit of evading the pay ment of customs duties alto g ether. It was, however, equally a fact that the customs revenue of China had since their appointment increased enormously, and they had the testimony of some of the leading merchants to the great boon con ferred u p on British trade b y the esta blishment of a well -defined s y stem of custom- house regu lations. The next difficulty was that of dealing with Bri tish subjects in China. It was these parties who were con it was they who sent letters and re q uests to hon. members stantly e n deavouring to thwart the policy of Sir F. Bruce, and to get up opposition to her Ma j est y 's Government in tha t t house. hech Ie Chinese ewthasat ths hardly possible for Sir F. Bruce to convince country was desirous of acting in good faith, when the British subjects resident there committed acts in direct violation of the treaty. (Hear, hear.) These p as ti es a t one time took possession of land, and refused to and called on her Majesty's Government to support them in give it up ; at anot her they committed acts of smu gg lin g , violation of the treaty. He believed he had shown that the policy of the Government was a just and wise policy; that it was a policy tending to peace, and not war; and that the prospect of a war with China was never more re mote than at present. What was it that hen, members o pposite desired to see don e ? Did they want to have the officers of noble lord (spo ke of Sir F. Bruce as becomin g P r i me Minister in China ; but that was not a correct statement customsem employed withdrawn,loyed i adand that no English o ffi cers should the Chinese t roops ? The be of the facts. Sir F. Bruce had colleagues at Pekin, and he had the sanctio n and concurrence of the Fren ch and that by the syst em th ey were now Ame ricanpur- Ministers. The noble lord h a d re f erre d to Dr. Legge. He had great re s p ect for Dr. Le gg e as a say,yere g tting rid of the c l ass o f "b raves " alluded literary man; and egg e. So far from there being a re b e lli on i n Ch i na and any necess it y for sendin g out 60,000 men to suppress st h u( on c y o g upl theydr . o L n w l it, they were actually reducing the force in China. His own conviction was that the rebellion was gradually break ing up, and th at one great ste p towar ds its entire suppres sion was tha t of having the Chinese t roops officered by There was no an a l ogy b e t ween their position th e ir position in Chi na . Th ey h ad from a small acqu ired the entire po ssess i on o f I nd i a, whereas they' did not want an y thin g in China but to strengthen b iEn e n g lg i id n s h i a n t a g a ne the rule of the Chinese Government, and enable them to put down disorder. The noble lord, like the hon. and gallant member for Aberdeen, fell into the mistake that the country which had been overrun by the Taepings was actu ally in their possession. This was not the fact. When they took the spoils they departed to another part of the country, and the only city which appeared to be permanently pos sessed by them was Nankin ; and even this was represented as a " deserted city," for no attempt was made to revive trade there. He believed that when Nankin was taken the rebellion would die out. With regard to the opinion of Lord Russell, upon which so much stress was laid, it was neces sary to remark that at the time the speech was made the rebellion was at its height, and the Chinese troops were en tirely unorganised. Now, however, circumstances had t s o a a n and u tranquility,wouegnt the h people e a ti w h o lly changed, and it w as the opi n i on o f Si r F . B ruce that the rebellion would fall with the fall of Nanki n . (H ear , ear.) I m i es of re might b r e s v s d p e e r a - c sgine, b u e h h h wou ld again return to th e pu rsu it s o f agr i culture and in dustry, when the canals would be covered w ith b oats , w h e n new markets would b e o p e n to B r iti s h tra d e, and when it saw h would be said that the policy of her Majesty's Government had contributed to the general interests of humanity,• as well as the particular interests of this country. (Cheers.) Mr. F. FITZGERALD said the house had heard two long and instructive speeches that evening upon China, and he thought he might claim for his noble friend that he had presented the entire question to them with great force and lucidity. (Hear, hear.) The speech of the hon gentleman must have been also interesting, and it was a remarkable instance to show how a man might make a very good speech without replying to one of the points which had been urged against a particular course of policy. The hon. member then referred to the language of Consul Meadows and other English officials in China,and contended that it was not the language of neutrality, but one highly inimical to the Tae pings. The right hon. gentleman then referred to the rapid increase of Russian influence in the China seas and sur rounding territory, and condemned the policy of her Ma jesty's Government throughout, as hurtful both to our com mercial and political standing in that country. Lord PALMERSTON said he had listened with great attention to the very long and able speech of the noble lord who began the discussion, but he was still at a loss to dis cover the source of the censure which the noble lord had stated he was prepared to pass upon her Majesty's Govern , ment. (Hear.) He confessed it seemed to him something new to hear from that side of the house enthusiastic praise of the rebels in 'China ; to be told that rebellion was a sacred institution, and that it was an interference contrary to our duty as a nation to support the Imperial dynasty. (Hear.) In the caFo of Italy, would the noble lord and the right hon. gentleman be prepared to show the same sympathy to those who had cast off their allegiance as they did for the Tae- Pings ? (Hear.) He apprehended not, but that they had one policy for one country and another for the other, The main question was, had the policy of her Majesty's Govern ment been founded in good faith, and for the benefit of the country ? (Hear, hear.) A few years ago we had been in constant hostility with the Chinese Government, but now the whole state of things had been altered, end we were on the most friendly terms with the Government of China. We had access to the Supreme Government, which we had always before been debarred from by the local and provincial au thorities, and the noble lord had himself quoted returns showing the immense increase in our commerce with China during the last three or four years. Let the house compare the trade with what it had been when it was merely a branch of the East India Company's business, and with what it would be when the whole resources of the country bad been - opened up. It would then seem that a great part of what the noble lord intended for censure was, in fact, praise of her Majesty's Government. His complaint was that the Government were teaching the Chinese the system of go vernment as practised in Europe, and enabling them to collect their revenue and increase it on fair and honourable principles, after the manner of European nations. Well, he would admit the charge ; and, in fact, he would take it as the great merit of her Majesty's Government; and it was clear that the noble lord, having come to curse, had been obliged to remain to bless them. (Hear, and a laugh.) The policy of China had muoh altered of late with regard to English and foreign nations, and he thought it would be folly to interfere to upset the present course of proceeding. The noble viscount then defended the proceedings of the Government in seeking to preserve the trade of Ningpo un interrupted, and said it was nothing very uncommon for one friendly State to lend officers and men to another to instruct both soldiers and sailors in the art of protecting their own territory. The noble lord said Captain Sherard Osborn had been needlessly sent to China to endeavour to destroy the pirates, because anybody could destroy pirates. But they must first catch the pirates, and that was just what Capt. Osborn had gone to do. With regard to the encroachments of Russia and France upon China, the noble lord (Lord Naas) said that there would be great danger of a collision if we remained there, so his advice had been that we should quit the spot. He could not admit that policy. It was true that Russia had made encroachments on the northern provinces of China, and that France was a rower which had a great tendency to extend itself--(laughter)— but France and Russia and England were perfectly agreed at present in their policy with regard to China, and were in no danger of coming into collision. (Hear.) The Go vernment of China, too, was friendly, instead of being hos tile, and he had not the least doubt that if the internal dis turbances could be suppressed and tranquillity restored to the interior of the empire, we should find in our commer cial intercourse with China a source of national wealth and national prosperity which was now but little anticipated. He trusted that in a few years we should see the result of the faithful, straightforward, and friendly policy which we had adopted towards the empire of China, and he was convinced that if the house would wait for its ex perience, they would see that, so far from deserving censure, it entitled the Government to praise, and was emi nently advantageous to the interests of the country. (Cheers.) Mr. LIDDELL contended that the noble lord had avoided the whole question at issue, and reiterated that it was our policy in China which had destroyed the authority of its Government. Colonel SYKES pronounced the so-called Tartar Govern ment a myth, and asserted that the authority of Prince Kung was not obeyed one hundred miles beyond the walls of Pekin. He denied that we could rely on the Imperial Government for the regeneration of China, and he gave in stances to show that its civilisation was of a very question able character. Cruelties had been committed on bothsides. It had been said there was no Government to treat with in dealing with the Taepings. Sir G. Bonham, however, pledged himself to treat with thorn on behalf of the British Government, but the latter would not let him keep faith with the Taeping chiefs. He feared our policy was one of suppression, and misconceptions were the result, Mr. GREGSON supported the policy pursued by the Government in China, observing that we had never been in a happier state with China than at present. The greatest harmony prevailed, and our arrangements had given general satisfaction in that country. After some observations from Mr. WHITESIDE, in Ix hich he charged th© Government with assuming the legitimate functions of the Chinese Government in China, The discussion came to a close, and the house having gone into committee of supply pro forma, immediately re sumed. FORTIFICATIONS AND WORKS. The house having gone into committee, Lord PALMERSTON rose to move for leave to intro duce a bill in continuation of the bill brought in last year for the purpose of authorising the issue of terminable annuities to continue those works which had been already sanctioned by Parliament for the defence of the dockyards and other stations. Of the amount authorised to be issued last year, a sum of £600,000 still remained unexpended , that sum would not be sufficient to pay for the progress of the works to be completed between that time and July of next year, and therefore they asked for a further issue of £650,000. He was happy to be able to state that the works already constructed had been exceedingly well executed, and that they would prove a very useful defence to the coma try. He should mention that, generally speaking, the works to be found in the schedule of the bill were works already sanctioned; but last year, in consequence of the doubts about the relative merits of forts and ships, the vote with respect to the forts at Spithead was suspended. But the ex perience which they had since derived from the war in A merica showed that forts were remarkable antagonists to ships ; and, moreover, the progress of improvements in the construction of cannon in this country showed that solid shot and even shells would pierce ships constructed like the Warrior ; and he had no doubt that it could be done at 1,000 yards; but, as at Shoeburyness, they had only a range of 800 yards, they had not been able to experimental-ise to that extent. As the present motion was only with the object of introducing the bill, ho would not detain the committee further, beyond expressing a hope that the house would be willing to read the bill a second time on Thursday. The noble lord concluded by moving, that, towards providing a further sum for defraying the expenses of the con struction of works for the defence of the Royal Dock yards and Arsenals, and of the ports of Dover and Port land, and for the creation of a central arsenal, a sum not exceeding £650,000 be charged upon the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom; and that the Commissioners of hpr Majesty's Treasury be authorised and empowered to raise the said sum by annuities for a term not exceeding 30 years—and that such annuities shall be charged upon, and be payable out of, the said Consolidated Fund. Mr, S. FITZGERALD asked whether the construction of a central arsenal would form any part of this year's plan. Lord PALMERSTON said it would not. Sir F. SMITH did not think the action of the American war had at all altered the position of matters ; he con tended that the erection, of the Spithead forts would be quite useless. Sir S. M. PETO was likewise of .opinion that the Ame rican war had not altered the position of the house on the question of the construction of forts at Spithead. There was no parallel between Charleston Harbour and Spithead. There was no difference of opinion with regard to the point upon which the judgment of the house had been so strongly expressed last year. They only asked to have all the de tails brought before them so that they might be in position to discuss it fairly and freely next Thursday. Mr.'AYRTON wished to know how it was that while a central arsenal was one of the objects included in the reso lution, they should be told at the same time there was no vote to be taken for it. Viscount PALMERSTON explained that what was meant was, that no vote was to be asked for this year. Mr. Alderman SALOMONS said. he had paid a visit (some years ago to Charleston, and from what he knew of that harbour he would be prepared to support any proposal of the Government for fortifying their own harbours. Mr. OSBORNE said he would not °ppm; the motion, out of compliment to the noble lord, whom they were glad to see once more in his place (eheers)—but he would be ready to meet the noble lord fairly next Thursday. Sir IL FERGUSSON contended that there was great similarity between the harbour of Charleston and Spithead, and he couldonly express his surprise at the statement made by the hon. and gallant member for Chatham. In reply to Mr. LYGON, The Marquis of HARTINGTON stated that very diffe rent results would attend an attack on Spithead, as com pared with Charleston, for both the ships and the guns would be entirely different. Sir I• HAY said the difference between Portsmouth and Charleston dockyards was that the latter could not be bom barded without taking the forts outside, whereas Ports' mou th could be shelled by guns of long range with p er f ect safety to the enemy, He therefore opposed the erection of the forts. Mr. LOCKE, as a layman, thought that a fort added to a floating battery must be better than a floating battery alone—(hear, hear)—and therefore he should vote for the forts, as he always had done. Sir J. FERGUSSON said the distance of the Portsmouth forts would be 8,000 yards from the dockyard, whereas Forts Moultrie and Sumter were only 6,000 yards from Charleston. Mr. NEWDEGATE strongly advocated the prompt completion of the national defences. Sir J. ELPHINSTONE thought a system of chains across the harbour would be as good as forts. The resolution was agreed to, and leave given to bring in the bill. The Greenwich Hospital (Provision for Widows) Bill was read a second time. The Vaccination (Scotland), the Police Improvement (Scotland), the Provisional Order, the Stipendiary Magis trates, and the Prisons (Ireland) Bills, were read a third time and pissed. Other bills were advanced a stage, and the house ad journed at half-past one o'clock. The "gentler sex" at sixty look with complacency on whitened tresses, but to youth it is a calamity; remediable, however, by liCrrillg'S magnetic brushes, &c., of which Dr. llassall reports, " I regard them as the most p.7:rfect brushes hitherto made, as respects their mechanical constraction and their magnetical action." They are the remedy for grey hair, neuralgia, rheumatism, &c. N.8.-- - 2ounterfeite are being made. Offices, 32, Basinghall•street, Lnden. The Wimbledon Meeting of the National Rifle Association. There is little reason to doubt that the great national rifle meeting which commences this morn ing at Wimbledon will far exceed any meeting of the kind which has been previously held. Profiting by last year's experience, the council have remedied little defects of organisation, and removed a source of serious dissatisfaction in the principal competi tion of the meeting. For some weeks past Lord Elcho and his confreres in the council have been actively engaged in personally superintending the carrying out of details which will tend very much to insure the success of the gathering. Many mem bers of the association who knew and felt that its most important function was to increase as much as possible the taste for and skill in military rifle shoot ing, deprecated during the past year a course of action which tended to unduly foster the use of the small bore target rifle, at the expense of the less accurate but more useful Enfield. This course would tend to produce a few thousand splendid shots, who, with their delicate and complicated and wonderfully accurate weapon, would never miss a six-foot circle at a thousand yards. At the same time, the judi cious encouragement of the military weapon will assuredly lead to as great an improvement (so far es our volunteers are concerned) as has been introduced in small-arm practice since the musket and bayonet superseded the how and the spear. It is much to the credit of the council that they have felt the force of this reasoning and have shown a liberal disposition to encourage the use of what may now fairly be termed the " national weapon." The wisdom of this course is already manifest in the fact that over 1,300 volunteers have entered to compete for the Queen's price, against 1,100 last year. of whom only 901 actually fired. Very tew volunteers who go to Wimbledon This year will fail to try for some of the prizes offered for the competition of rifles of the Government gauge. In this way it is to he hoped that the council will see the wisdom of their decision. There is plenty of room tor still further progress ; but, as a first step in the right direction, they deserve all praise. The arrangements on the ground have been so well studied, and proved so satisfactory in previous years, that very little change is observable. The office tents of the association are again pitched in the ring fence to the south-east of the windmill, while the volunteer camp, increased largely in the number of tents, again dots the dry ridge overlook ing the valley of the Running Deer. Last year 66 officers and 146 non-commissioned officers and pri vates availed themselves of the convenience of the camp. This year the numbers are 115 officers and 320 non-commissioned officers and privates. To the latter increased accommodation has been afforded by giving a tent to every four privates, instead of one tent to every six, as last year. Better camp equipage is also provided, and one serious discom fort of last year, want of water, obviated, by an adequate service. For this accommodation each volunteer on arriving will deposit 12s. From this sum ss. will be deducted, however short the stay ; but beyond five days, is. will be returned for each day short of 12 which the volunteer may remain. Lieut.-Colonel Luard and Captain Buxton are in charge of the camp. The contract for the commis sariat department has been taken by Mr. Jennison, of Manchester, whose admirable arrangements and excellent accommodation justify the anticipation that the result will be in marked contrast to the miserable failure of last year. A novel and most agreeable feature in the general arrangements is the establishment of a club, reading, and writing rooms, which will be opened gratuitously to all members of the Association, and to general visitors at ls. per diem. There will be an electric telegraph station on the ground, from which messages will be transmitted to town at ls. each. Last year the Council inaugurated at their Wimbledon meeting a new system of scoring, by which bull's•eyes and centres were adopted at all ranges. The object of this was to give to steady shooting the advantage of which it was frequently deprived by mere "fluking" or chance. This new system answered its purpose so admira bly, that its adoption, except for class shooting, at once became general. This year a still greater boon will be conferred on riflemen. At present the system of marking in general use is for a man, protected by a mant:et, to watch each shot as it strikes the target, roughly signalling its position by means of appropriate flags, and washing off the marks when they become too numerous. The markers at the last and previous meetings of the association were fatigue-parties of the Foot Guards, men altogether unused to the duties. It was not, therefore, a matter of surprise that mistakes were made. All fear of in correct marking is now obviated by the adoption of a system of marking which possesses all the advan tages of the Swiss system, in addition to peculiar merits. It is the invention of Capt. Hill, of Brent wood, and consists of having appropriate discs to show bulls-eyes, centres, and outers, each of which has at the back a small brush. On a bullet striking the target, the marker at once erases the mark, and in doing so indicates to those at the firing-point the exact position of the shot. By this plan the target is always clean ; there is no loss of time in stopping to wash targets; mistakes in marking are impos sible ; ',the markers run no risk; and, lastly, the assistance this mode of indicating the position of the shots affords to a rifleman in correcting errors tends rapidly to make him master of his weapon. There has been an increase in the number of targets to 60. At all these, except those on the Swiss system and those for pool firing, when only the bulls•eyes are signalled, the marking will be on Capt. Hiles sys tem, which will, no doubt, hereafter rapidly super sede every other. The total value of the prizes offered for competi- tion is £4,300, or nearly double the amount of those won last year. This year the association will have a running deer of their own (that of last year was the property of Mr. Lancaster) which is coloured so as to represent a Highland Red Deer. Another moving object for military rifle practice represents a volunteer in the act of "doubling." The figure, which is from the designs of Mr. - Watt, is vigorous and life-like. One side is painted to represent a grey uniform, the other scarlet. The number of times which each is hit may tend to settle a moot point as to the best colour lf volunteers' clothing. The proceedings to-day will be preliminary to the actual commencement of the meeting to 'morrow. They consist of the com petition between the representatives of the Middle sex corps for the county bronze medal, the winner of which will be qualified to compete for the Prince of Wales's prize, the Middlesex and Lancashire match, other county matches, sighting practice, and pool firing. A match certainly not less interesting than that between two counties, and quite as much of a representative character, was brought about by a challenge from the Ist City of Edinburgh to the Ist City of London, to shoot, 10 men of a side, at the Wimbledon ranges, five shots each. The coun cil, however, decided that no targets could be ap priated for the purpose. The gallant challengers, however, rather than be disappointed, have accepted the offer of the lst City of London to shoot at their range at Plaistow, and the match comes off this day at 4 p.m, THE AUSTRALIAN RIFLEMEN.—A short time ago a challenge was received in England from an Australian battalion of Volunteers to shoot an equal num ber of Volunteers in this country—the latter to be selected from the best shooting company of enrolled Volunteers for the year ending 1862, the firing to take place at any range not being the range of the respective corps. This challenge was addressed to the Council of the National Rifle Associa tion, and it appears that the best shooting company of Volunteer Rifles in England for the year 1862 was the No. lof the Nottingham Robin Hoods. This company has de• dared its readiness to accept the challenge, and on Satur day morning Lieut.-Colonel Wright received a letter from the Council of the National Rifle Association stating that an answer accepting the challenge had been sent to Aus tralia. The contest will take place in September. Th e distances aro 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 yards ; five shots at each range. The shooting will take place at the same time bEngland and Australia-10 men from each corps. Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur chasing Horniman's pure Tea; very choice at 3s. 4d. and 4s. " High Standard "at 4s. 4d. (formerly 4s. Bd.), is the strongest and most delicious imported. Agents in every own supply it in packets. Railway Accident at Wolverhampton, Yesterday afternoon an accident bappenei on the London and North-Western Railway at Wolver hampton, which occasioned injuries to upwards of 20 persons. The third•class train which leaves Liver pool at 7 15 a.m. was a quarter of an hour late on arriving at Stafford. On account of this delay, an engine that usually leaves the shed of this company near the Bushbury junction at Wolverhampton, to take up a train at the passenger station in that town, was not allowed to pass the Bushbury junc tion at the customary hour. At 12 45 the Liver pool train had duly arrived at the ticket platform of the Wolverhampton station, and the officers had scarcely commenced to collect the tickets when an alarm was raised that a collision was about to hap pen. The collectors ]efc the carriages and closed the doors, and the engine and tender that had been kept waiting at Bushbury junction came up at a speed of About 8 or 10 miles an hour and ran into the rear of the train, which was a very long one. The force of the collision shattered the end and sides of the guard's break, van, and materially damaged two third-class carriages which were next to it. These carriages were filled with passengers, 23 of whom received injuries which required immediate surgical attention. Of these, four were conveyed to the South Staffordshire Hospital, in Wolverhampton. Their names are Thomas Armstrong, aged 48, traveller, of 7, Gorton lane, Gorton-brook, Manchester—general internal, but not serious injuries; Elizabeth Knight, aged 11, of Dudley Port—wound of nearly 3 inches in len,th over the right eye; Matthew Hantley, aged 33, of Benacre-street, Birmingham—injury over left cheek bone and other facial contusions; John Hantley, aged 5, son of the last named—slight injury to the abdomen ; and Thomas Hall, aged 30, of 52, Edgware-road, London, a city mis sionary—cat over the laft eya. There was also con veyed to an inn in the town Mrs. Elizabeth Hinton, of Penkridge, aged 50, who is suffering from injuries to the stomach. Two of the injured persons who were conveyed to the hospital have since left ; and excepting the two who are now there and Mrs. Hinton, the remainder, after having had their in juries attended to by surgeons sent for fron - Wol verhampton and Birmingham, proceeded to their destinations or returned home the same afternoon. No bones have been broken, and it is not expected that any deaths will result. John Oliver, the driver of the engine that ran into the train, is understood to confess that he alone was at fault, for the auxi liary or distance signal, which is 800 yards from the ticket platform, and can be seen a m►le away, was " against him." He is understood to have been at the time on the wrong side of his engine, and thus to have had his view intercepted by the funnel of the engine. More cases continue to be reported ; 31 persons are now known to be injured—one, it is feared dangerously. COUNTRY MARKETS. -- -- ~►~ GLOUCESTER-JULY 4. The show of wheat to-day was pretty good, with a small attendance of farmers. English wheat declined is per qr., and foreign, with a limited sale, also is down. Oats were 6d per qr lower in value. Beans and peas at late rates. COLCHESTE •JuLI 4. A moderate show of wheat, with a fair business doing and the prices of last week were rather improved. Wheat white ..46s 56s Beans, Mazagan .30s 33s red 42a 52s middle & small.3ss 42s Barley Oats CHELMSFORD-JULY 3. At this corn exchange to-day there was a very thin attendance, and the small amount of business done ren dered prices almost nominal. In Spring corn there was no alteration. Wheat, old white 30s 53s new 14s Ns old red 36s 48s new 34s 45s Barley 2bs 36s Chevalier 2Bs 40s Grinding.. 22s 31s Ma1t..... 61s 67s Chevalier ... 64s 69s Oats 20s 28s Peas, Partridge 37s 40s White 39s 40s Boiling 4os 43s Dun 35s 38s Ditto new —s —s Beans, Tick, old 34s 39s —s Harrow Ticks 3ss 40s new —s Blazagan 3os 38s KIRKCALDY GRAIN-Jrzx 4. We had small supplies of wheat, very few oats, and only one parcel of barley. Sales slow, and prices about the same as last week. Wheat. Barley. Oats. First....33s Od 27s Od I 23ikOd Second .. 39s Od —s Od 24s Od Third....--s Oct —s Od —s Od COAL MARKET. Prima of Coal per Ton at the close of the market. s. d. Buddle'sWest Hartley lb 3 Davison's West Hart- _ _ Hetton l7 3 Walls End. s. d. _ _ • _ _ _ ley.. Wylam l5 6 I t Hartlepool' 16 6 West W y1am......... 15 0 ; Trimdon Hartlepool 16 6 Carway and Duffryn 1 East Hartlepool 16 9 Malting , 19 6 South Hart1ep001......15 3 Eden Main 15 3 K elloe West Hartley ..15 31 South Kelloe l5 9 North Pelton Gas 13 3 ; Cassop l5 9 ranfield 11oor Butes ..13 6 ' Tunstall Whitworth Walls End. Haswell.... .. l7 3 Heugh Hall 15 9 ' Riddell. ... .... 15 0 James .' 14 0 t Framwell gate.. l4 Ships at market, 71; sold, M. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. AuKralia and Mauritius, via Southampton. July 19. via Marseilles ... .. July 13. brazil and Cape Yards, by British packet. July 5. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena.. June 29. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. July 19. via Marseilles ...July 13. Falkland Islands Gib! - altar, via Southampton .. July 2. Intlia (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton J uly 2. via Marseilles July 10. India (Bombay), via Southampton July 10. via Marseilles July 5. Portuga1.... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton July 2. via Marseilles July 5. Newfoundland .. July C. Oporto and Vigo U . S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... July 2. by U.S. packet.... by Canadian packet. July 3. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneziffe July 10 Bahamas, via New York July 30. Mexico All Caparts of West Indies, includiug Chili, Peru, J and British Columbia.. July 14. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Avoid medicines= they always aggra ♦ate chronic complaints, but Du Barry's Delicious Health Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, which saves fifty times its cost in other remedies, invariably cures them, restoring perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, healthy liver, pure blood, refreshing sleep, functional regularity, and energy to the most disordered or enfeebled. We extract a few out of 60,000 Cures :—Cure No. 58,216 of the Marchioness de Brehan, Paris, of a liver complaint, wasting away for seven years, debility, with a nervous palpitation all over, bad digestion, constant sleeplessness, the most intolerable nervous agitation, and dreadfully low spirited.—Lure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieut. of Waterford, of many years dyspepsia.—Ne. 49,832. "Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness, and vomiting.—Maria Jolly." —Cure No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derange ment, and partial deafness.—Cure No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies.—Cure No. 54,816. The Rev. Jas. T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, "of indigestion and torpi dity or the liver, which had resister all medical treatment." In tins. 1 lb., 2s. 9d. ; 21b., 4s. 6d ; 51b., 11s. ; 121 b., 225. ; 41b. 40s.—Barry Du Barry and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, London ; also Fortnum and Mason ; and all Grocers and Chemists in every town of the United Kingdom. Births. BINGHAM.—On the sth inst,, at 50, Portland-place, Lady Cecilia Bingham, of a son. MATHESON•— On the 4th inst., at 38, South street, Gros venor-square, Mrs. Matheson, of Ardross, of a daugh ter. STANLEY.—On the 2d inst., at Cambridge, Mrs. Sidney Stanley, of a son. Marriages. AVELING —CLIFFORD.-012 the 2d inst., at St. Mary's, Stoke Newington, Stephen Thomas Aveling, Esq,, of Rochester, lo Mary, eldest daughter of the Rev. U. S. Clifford,M.A., of St. Mary's, Norton Folgate. WELBT—WORTLEY.-011 the 4th inst., at Saint George's, Hanover-square, William Earle Welby, Esq., M.P., to the Hon. Victoria Alexandrina, only daughter of the late Hon. Charles and Lady Emmeline Stewart Wortley. Deaths. CAVELL..--On the sth inst., at Baudsey Hall, nesr Wood bridge, Suffolk, J o h n Cavell, Esq., of Mecklenburgh. square, London, aged 71. DOWNES.—On the 2d inst., at Anglesea, Hants, Captain Downes, R.N., aged 58. IRELAND.—On the 2d inst., at Upper Harley-street, Thos. James Ireland, Esq., of Ousden Hall, Suffolk, a Dep.- lieut. for the county, aged 71. SADQuovE.—On the 4th inst., at DaWon, Mr. William Sadgrove, aged 60. SHARP.—On the 4th inst., near Dublin, Lieut.-Colonel Richard Palmer Sharp. late of the 72d Highlanders, the eldest son of the late Richard Sharp, Esq., Apps Court, Surrey. London: Printed and Published byWILLTAM ANDREWS, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE Sax Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the 3avoy, in the County of Middleees.—•Tueeday, July 7, 1863. THE LC Incorporated ni Liability of e his shares. Capital Deposit ss. on to exceed ss. months from Sequent Calls P. M. Hayward lklajor P,mtord, Frederick. Aug( Club. Frank Cole, l T. LittlEwood, 7 J. Stevens, PRI IVi The English Charles Mr. S. T. C, Tempon This Comma, Cocoa-Nut F.l granted to Geoff The principa improved pile great dorabilil Manufacture. The superior over the prowl when it is etat liege and door surf ace hithert if no anoint full. Specimens seen at the of Prospectuses a T HE Ll' (Incorpo Capital, I Deposit, ss. p probably 1( which no fu General Boile George Bucha bury). George Chan Exchange Major Frede Croydon. Edward F. El Mount, Hai Patrick P. Gc E. Bassett Ke Francis L9PC India), Nei ] Lewis Munn Club, W. George Peace square. Lo' Charles G. Pi walk, Tern' William I'm England—Tl Branches. Scotland—Tl Branches. Ireland Th Branches. India—The Messrs. Wit MANAGE The Dirct secured the the United Empire, an ceived prom will enter i July next, Plan of the rates, will b Arrangem which a la once and vaned. The Direc bun of the their Consu transactionf tion, and afl be placed Meets. Th wants of ti Life Offices rate at les offices ordii The Dir( handsome time. The value by the larg risen, and bonuses wi aseertainee Interest atmum,un The liabi unpaid on Local 13 - United Ki shareholde Prospect from, and Agencies, Company. mentioned T HE Deposit of ment, of not lE Should lei Depcm The Liabi their SI "Comp VICTOR IS, Phil David , h Londm William Bow-10 J. Irvine rk, I Manch C. Sevin, church Lagos, Benjamil 6, Cros Soutl Londo ►SOLICIT STOCKS; MAN Fen nave of th Ti arm, cons tend busi to tl to tl £ll To I Sha pan any rise for •