The Sun. — London, England, 1868-02-07 00:00:00

THE EXPEDITION 70 ABYSSINIA. BACKWARDNESS IN THE PREPARATIONS. The Times special correspondent, writing from Annesley 13ay, on January 18, says :—" Notwithstanding all exertions, I cannot say that, up to the present moment, much progress appears to have been made, though there is reason to hope the turning point has been reached at last, and that the Abyssinian force will soon cease to mark time between Annesley Bay and Send& If the English public, by this time naturally getting impatient, wonder at the delay, and consider that the task of carrying so many tons so many miles is, after all, not such a very ilifficult one, where no expense and no labour in spared, I ran only furnish them with one explanation : the Abyssinian Expedition was in a peculiar degree one in which success depended upon a good start, and un- Luckily the start was a very bad one. As the force had to land on a waterless and barren coast and to carry a large stock of food and forage sixty miles up a mountain pus, it was obviously an all-important consideration —first, that the commissariat should not have to feed one man or beast more than the lowest number absolutely required for the conveyance and protection of this stock ; and, secondly, that the number thus employed should be in the highest state of efficiency. Even under these favourable circumstances, the undertaking is one about as arduous as an army could be well called on to face—probably a more arduous one than any army has ever yet successfully got through. If a mule, which bears a load of 1501 b. exclusive of equipments, and eats 131 b. a day, has to carry what it eats a difficult journey of 60 miles and back, it cannot carry much besides. It requires an immense number of animals working on these condi tions to accumulate a reserve in anything like reasonable time. But when the animal, in addition to supplying its own food, has to keep up a constant supply for other animals, which contribute themselves nothing to the general stock, the commissariat are puzzled to find provi sions enough even for immediate use, far less for future e►ner gencies. In an ordinary campaign, where the neighbouring country supplies provisions, an animal unemployed deprives the force merely of his own services, but here he also deprives it of the services of the animal employed to carry food for him. In an ordinary campaign, again, the loss of a week does not necessarily involve any further loss worth taking into serious consideration ; here the loss of a week means the consumption in idleness of a week's supply oat of the stock which it has taken so much time and labour to get together, and which is wanted to support active operations against an enemy. In such an expedition as the Abyssinian, the great bulk of the fighting force—every soldier, in fact, not wanted for a baggage-guard — should not appear on the scene of operations until the commissariat has got together all the supplies it wants, and it should then appear fully prepared to march against the enemy. This is, no doubt, an ideal standard of perfection far more easily put forward than attained ; but, unluckily, in our Abyssinian expedition there has not been even an approach made to it. So far from getting ahead of our fighting force, and being in a position to lay up a reserve stock for it, the commissariat has had a hard struggle to keep it living on from day to clay, from hand to mouth. Now and then there has been a positive scarcity, though not such as to be severely felt, of provisions required for im mediate use, Hence the great difficulty now experienced in stocking Senaf6, and all the time and labour required for the task. In round numbers 18,000 men have now ar rived here, and of these only some 8,000 are at Annesley Bay. Food must be carried to the remaining 10,000 5,000 of them being as far off as Senaf4 —before one pound's weight can be put by as reserve. A WIDE-AWAKE AFRICAN. The Post correspondent writes from Zulla, January 19, raying :—" I will now give you the latest news of the Abyssinian ' difficulty,' bat I will nut vouch for the truth of it. An influential gentleman from the kingdom of Tigr4, of prepossessing manners and appearance, but probably a thundering liar, and bearing the euphonious patronymic of Muzcha, has arrived in camp, and an nounced that the King, through whose territory oia route will lie for upwards of a hundred miles, is quitt willing to be friendly, and facilitate onr progress in every way ; but that his dignity requires that we should apply formally for permission, and preseat him with soma backsheesh,' lest he should be lowered in the estimation of his subjects if we walked calmly through his dominions without so much as ' with your leave' or by your leave,' which I imagine we could very easily do. In compliance with the monarch's views, Major Grant, the celebrated African traveller (whose service are at the disposal of Government) will start to-morrow as ambas sador extraordinary and plenipotentiary from Sir Robert Napier to Prince Kassai, bearing a polite message and the necessary number of guns and shawls. His highness is wide awake, and has begged it may be distinctly under• stood that he does not want `Brummagem' goods, and that none but first-rate articles will be acceptable ; so he is to have really valuable Indian shawls and Westley Richards'i inost elaborate double-barrelled weapons. Major Grant will take but a very small retinue, as the Tigr4 prince is fearfully jealous and touchy' at anything like Pa demonstration of force, and if the party is limited anu select there is much less chance of any one's toes being trod on,' either morally or otherwise, so that the plan proposed is decidedly the wisest. A better selection of an ambassador could not have been made, as Major Grant is thoroughly conversant with African manners, customs. and ` notions,' and will steer clear of blustering or truckling. It will, of course, be a grand thing to b( assured of a peaceful march over 100 miles of our journey, but when Prince Kassai has once got his backsheesh,' as likely as not he will shew the cloven foot, and, even if he preserves a strict outward neutrality, he will probably connive at the attempts of his subjects to plunder us whenever opportunity offers. Such is the African character ; ' what is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh,' and I believe the cardinal virtues of the Abyssinian to be lying' and theft.' " THEODORE AND HIS CAPTIVES. The letter in the Daily News is dated Zulla, January 20, and contains the following passage :—" Letters have been received from two of the captives at Magdala—Mr. Bassam and Dr. Blanc—bearing date December 23. There was no alteration in their condition ; they were all well, and had had no further communications from Theodorus. His Majesty was known, however, as Reuter puts it, to be ` marching upon Magdala.' He was in the province of Wadala, but what progress he was making was not known; indeed, it is doubted now whether he was marching at the top of his rpeed. Those who hold the opinion that he is not, are by no means destitute of grounds for their belief ; for, say they, what reason has Theodorus to hurry? He knows now that he has the coveted captives virtually in his hands once more ; know ing that, why should he long to re-enter Magdala? At present he is feasting his army and followers on the fruits of the fairest provinces of Abyssinia--fruits, too, which cost him nothing ; in Magdala he cannot maintain an army for any length of time, and without an army his life in the hands of the infuriated peasantry would not be worth an hour's purchase. His game is to seize the pr-i soners just in time to play his trump card, as previou* determination or the impulse of the moment may influence him. On the other hand, there is good reason to hold by the opinion that the movements of the Negus are as expe ditious as circumstances over which he has long ceased to have control will permit. The chief of Talanta (or Dalanta) is obstinately opposing his advance ; and though this rebel has not many men who can wield the sword and spear, he can muster a goodly number who can handle the spade and pickaxe. Instead, therefore, of waiting to join battle with a superior foe, Talanta cuts up all the roads, demolishes the bridges, and throws up as many impediments in his liege lord's way as time and the means at his disposal will permit. Wakshum Gobazye, too, arrant coward as he is, has not lost sight of Theodore, but sends bodies of men forward to lie in ambush oa the hills and cliffs by which he must advance, with orders to watch their opportunity, and, Abyssinian fashion, hurl down large stones upon him, a proceeding tolerably safe for themselves, and very unpleasant for the Emperor. Wakshum, it may be remarked, evidently means to be ' in at the death ;' he has lately sent a couple of messengers to Ge nera l M erewe th er w ith a l e tter con taining expressions of delight at the advance of the Eng• fish army, urging great hast e , an d prom i s i ng cor di a l co operation. These different views meet with well-informed adherents, all of whom, however, readily admit that it matters little what detains Theodore —choice or necessity —so long as he cannot be checked altogether, or at least de layed until the roll of the British drum is heard in Mag . Iola." A TROOP OF SCINDE HORSE __ _ • Tho Herald correspondent dates from Mulkatta, January 19. Here is an extract sheaving what he thinks of the Scinde Horse :—" No troops have landed, with the excep tion of considerable numbers of the Scinde Horse. I was anxious to see this regiment, which I have seen highly praised in books, but which Indian officers, with whom I have conversed on the subject, have generally spoken of in terms the reverse of complimentary. I confess that their appearance is not imposing. The men are dressed in long green frock coats, green trousers, black belts, and sabretaches, red sash round waist, and round turban—a picturesque uniform in itself, but the long coat has a clumsy effect on horseback. Their horses are, without exception, the very ugliest set of animals I ever set eyes on. A greater contrast between these men and horses and the smart 3rd Cavalry at Sensid could hardly be conceived ; for the 3rd, in the way they sit their horses, in their carriage, equipments, and steeds, might compare without disadvantage with a crack hussar regiment ; and yet the men are individually a fine set of fellows, inched, are almost too heavy for cavalry. The great point which has been urged in favour of the Scinde Horse is, that they carry their own baggage, and are We- Pendent of commissariat or transport train. This is, of course, a most valuable quality ; and in India, where I forage and provisions are purchased readily enough, it is probable that the regiment may be able to move about to a great extent upon its own resources. Here it is altogether different, and the regiment have indented upon the Transport Train for just as many baggage animals as other cavalry corps would require. The only use of the herds of ponies which they have brought with them is, to carry very large kits for the men's use—a matter of no advantage whatever to the public service, and, on the con trary, involving great expense, as these ponies were brought from India at the public expense, and have now to be fed and watered. I shall probably have to return to this subject during the campaign, as this system is one which has been strongly advocated and as strongly attacked among Indian officers. The railway continues to creep forward, and the first engine made a trial trip to-day upon it. Although there is little more to do than to lay the sleepers into the sand and to affix the rails, there is at present only a mile complete. One dry watercourse has been crossed, and here iron girders have been laid ; but these nullahs should be no obstacle whatever to the progress of the work, as parties ought to be sent forward to get the little bridges, or any small cuttings there may be, finished in readiness, so that no pause may be occa sioned in the laying of the line. The country, with the exception of these little dry watercourses, which are from three to five feet deep, is perfectly flat, and the railway might, at any rate, be temporarily laid down with great ease and rapidity, especially with such a number of men as are employed upon it. As it is, it is impossible even to predict when it will be finished to Koomaylo." AN EASTERN ENTERTAINMENT. The Telegraph letter gives a description of a grand entertainment given by Abd-el-Kader Pasha to Sir Robert rapier, on board the Egyptian frigate :—" All the princi pal officers in command, and private gentlemen attached to the force, also had the honour of receiving invitations. At dusk the ship was most tastefully and brilliantly illuminated entirely with lanterns. Where on earth they came from, or where stowed away, is a mystery. Ther• were rows of lanterns along the yards, and at the mast heads, and down all the stays. From each masthead to the royal yardarms was stretched a rope, running from yard arm to yardarm down to the deck, with lanterns suspended from it ; all along the hammock nettings on deck were lanterns ; and at each port on the main deck was a lantern. The appearance of the vessel from the shore was most beautiful. An Egyptian transport and steamer were also illuminated. The rows of lanterns on board the frigate were very cleverly arranged in such a manner that at whatever point of view they were seen, they presented regular geometrical figures ; and when going off to the ship it was very pretty to see them changing, as the masts and yards were seen at different angles. At about a quarter-past seven the Commander-in-Chief left the Dunder in a gig, and was followed by a large barge belonging to the Octavia, towed by a steam launch. As his Excellency ascended the ladder, the band played the Egyptian Hymn, and he was received on deck by the Pasha A.bd-el-Bader. Seats were arranged all along the deck, so that every one on arriving could sit down, and there was none of the crushing and confusion that generally attend large dinners. As soon as all were assembled dinner was announced. The tables were arranged on each side of the deck, with a semicircular one joining them at both ends. There were awnings spread over head and on each side, but the deck would have been pleasanter without them, the heat was so great. The tables were very tastefully laid out ; plenty of cande labra, quantities of gold plate, and well-selected glass made altogether a scene that I little expected to see in Annesley Bay ; everything was as well done as it could be anywhere. About seventy persons sat down to dinner. The food was excellent ; and, as to quantity, it beat any German table d'hOte dinner hollow. After dinner, coffee and cigars were handed round—such coffee as is only to be got in the East—and we were treated to a display of fireworks." THE CAMELS AND THE MULES. The Star letter says :—" Batches of mules and camels for the Transport Train have been arriving almost daily from the countries bordering on the Persian Gulf. Most of these animals are the very picture of poverty and wretchedness, utterly unfit for the work they are intended to perform. These it would be a decided saving to the English exchequer to shoot before they have eaten an ounce of costly provender, not to speak of its being an act of humanity. Things are coming to this complexion now; orders have been issued that all glandered animals or animals unfit for work are to be shot forthwith. A cargo of camels arrived the other day from Aden, of ,whom about half (between eighty and ninety) have been pronounced good for nothin g by a committee of inspection, and will be sent down to the head of the bay to Arraphale, to browse for a month or two, if perchance they may recover. They had been collected at Aden in great num bers by a contractor and he. not being able to find transport for them t< Annesley Bay so rapidly as he ex pected, was obliged to put them on the shortest of commons, proper food not being procurable. A number of coolies arrived from Calcutta in a deplorable condition from typhoid fever, which had broken out among them during the voyage, carrying off about ten per cent. of them and prostrating about fifty per cent. more. These men mu.,t either have been in a very sickly state before embark ing or the vessel must have been unfit for such transport duty, and in either case the Calcutta authorities are much to blame. A quarantine camp was at once formed, and proper medical assistance, of which they were deficient on board, supplied, so they are now speedily recovering. A strict investigation will, no doubt, be made into the case. The general health of the troops continues ex !client." DINING ON HORSEFLESH. - vn Thursday night a horseflesh banquet, or, to give it finer title, a diner de cheval—or, still finer, a banquet hippophagique—was held at the Langham Hotel, Portland place, under the presidency of Mr. W. Forsyth, Q.C., supported by Sir John Lubbock, Dr. Russell, Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P., Mr. Charles Dickens, jun., Mr. Herman Merivale, Mr. Field, the celebrated V.S., General Browning, &c. Upwards of 160 gentlemen sat down to dinner in tne magnificent banquet-room of the hotel. The fine room was in some portions of it appropriately decorated for the occasion. Approaching the centre of the apartment just where the chairman sat, were equine masks—heads of horses made of pasteboard ; and to those uninitiated in the eating of horseflesh, as they passed by to their seats at the banquet table, those gracefully-formed models were looked at by them—and it must' be confessed that they could not be blamed—as the prognostics of the doom to eat something indigestible certainly, if not to suffer the horrors of nightmare. That state of mind might be come to after discussing the choicest amontillado, vin du Rhine, champagne sec, Chateau Perayayne, Volnay St. Peray, and the various liqueurs with which purveyors of public dinners provide those who patronise them, and which on Thursday, at the Langham, were in quality unquestionably good. Anyone w ho looked upon the company as they assembled in the anteroom must have surmised that they felt that what they were about to eat was good and wholesome, and that they were determined to make a trial of it. It was possible to see men who bad taken guinea-and-half tickets tremulous about the first morsel they would touch, and there cannot be a doubt that among many of the gentlemen partaking of the banquet there were some who turned up their noses and made faces before they had touched a morsel of the equine food, which were enough to turn any u onkey in the Royal Zoological Gardens from his daily pubulum. But, as the time—or rather the hour after the time—came on, people settle down, and thought they would set their stomachs in proper fortified order by im bibing sherry, which beamed through a hundred decanters. The dinner began, and, beef or no beef, horse or no horse, it was a splendid banquet. Now, at- the top of the bill of f a re was the motto, I ` Les prejuges sont des maladies de l'esprit humain," a very appropriate- one -for such a ban quet, no doubt. Well, we first had two soups, "Le consomme de chei'al ct l' A B C, or, in plain English, clear horse soup, called by some name settled by the owner and patentee—if there is one—A BC. There was also soup "a la puree de destriers," which means the soup—or rather the pure soup—of chargers. Well, it must be stated that the thick and the thin soup made out of the- horseflesh contrasted, in our opinion, very remarkably—indeed in advance of that which at public - dinners is supposed to come from the flesh of oxen. N o doubt the nausea which the very idea of horseflesh created was made sedative by the amontillado sherry which washed it down ; but there could be seen at the table many and many a grave gentleman who had without fear or trembling encountered his daily cut -)f beef and two-pennyworth of vegetables in the City, although he was the heir to a princely fortune, who did not think his nobility could descend to the eating of common horse. But they all settled down, and, for very shame, " horse sausages," " loins of horse," "cutlets of horse," " roast ribs of horse," " horse tongue," " horse ribs," loin, shoulder, neck, legs, saddle, and every part known to the butcher, were devoured by the gentle men who assembled for that purpose at the Langharn Hotel. It must be expected that an opinion would be given in these columns as to the actual meat. Well, this is the truth : The horse soup was so excellent and well-flavoUred that no one could institute a damaging comparison between it and that which at Willis's or the London Tavern one gets a Julienne , or the soup that is called by some extraordinary name, but which has neither within it extraordinary flavour nor substance. It was a different thing with the meat—the roast horse—very good to taste, of excellent flavour, not one bit wilder in its flavour than the flesh of oxen. It should be remarked here that the horseflesh was evidently cooked too much—that it 'had been done to " rags," as it is said, and that no flavour, on that account; could be got off it. However, we were favoured with an underdone cut off a sirloin of horse, and it is but just to say that it eats as tenderly as any sirloin of beef could. During the eveninc , a man dressed as a herald entered the banquet-room, and: playing on a horn, " The roast beef of 01(1 England," ushered in what the chairman called the Earl or the Marquis of Horse—that which in ox flesh would becalled the Baron of beef. lt must be re membered that this was not a dinner made from the ordi nary horse which one could catch in a field, or find quite gone beyond his labour in a cab-master's yard. The horses which supplied the main feature in this banquet r e o r n t r e i v st a s r , i o m u ' s ho gu h i a s d es t i a n ste w d bi t c l i i i e g d a e st li r g ,, h n t o s pilli c i . c f h were fed up for th e occas ! on . M any na t ura li sts an d s ?) i r e s i e l t fl i e fi s c h g u a s ra t l French cooks can serve it up, determined th a t no should be spared in doing justice to the horse cooked in all conceivable Gallic modes. Paris being admittedly the headquarters of hippophagy, an English commissioner was despatched to the gay French capital, his mission being to confer with the. Wading authorities there on the introduction of the various preparations and condiments which make horseflesh particularly palatable, and also to procure, what cannot be obtained in England —a stock of horse oil, which is made from t h e f at o the horse, care cllly refined. RaILTVAY AND 02I1Elt COMPANIES. LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN. With a view of making the public aware, at the earliest period practicable, of the dividend likely to be declared by this company at the ensuing general meeting, Mr. Stephen Reay, the secretary, states that the accounts, though not yet finally audited, or approved by the board of directors, show a ba lance sufficient to admit of a dividend for the past half year at the rate of 61 per cent. per annum. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 7, 1868. for debenture stock should do so on the payment only of the odd shillings and pence to make up their debenture stock to even pounds, on sums amounting to and upwards. The capital ac count showed that £709,604 had been expended, leaving a balance of £11,449 against the company. GREAT NORTHERN. The directors of this company have determined, with the concurrence of the auditors, to recommend the proprietors, at the general meeting on the 22d inst., to declare a dividend for the half year ending the 31st of December last at the rate of £7 10s. per cent. per annum on the original stock of the com pany, giving, for the half year, £3 15s. per cent. to the original stock, £3 per cent. to the B stock, and £4 10s. per cent. to the A stock. These rates will make the dividend for the whole year 1867 as fol lows, viz.:—£6 per cent. on the original stock, £6 per cent. on the B stock, and £6 per cent. on the A stock. BRISTOL AND EXETER. The directors have resolved to recommend at the ensuing general meeting that a dividend be declared for the half year ended the 31st December last at the rate of 41 per cent. per annum, leaving a ba lance of £1,165 to be carried forward. LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN. The report of the directors of this company states, that the balance available for dividend i5£214,34 from which the directors recommend that a divi dend be declared at the rate of 5i per cent. per an num, payable on the 2d of March, leaving a balance of £10,303. The gross revenue for the past half year compares satisfactorily with that of the corre sponding period of 1866, notwithstanding the con tinued depression of trade which generally pervades the country. The passenger traffic presented an increase of £34,820, and the goods' department an increase of £10,486. The amount of debenture bonds has been reduced in the past half year by £197,420, while in the same period the debenture stock issued by the company has increased by £299,035. The average rate of interest on the mortgage debt has slightly increased, being 4.44 per cent., as compared with 4.40 per cent. for the corresponding half of 1866. The total traffic receipts in the half year ending the 31st of Decem ber last amounted, on 5061 miles, to £853,129, against £807,499 iu the same half of 1866, showing an increase of £45,630. The working expenses, including taxation, amounted to £420,883 against £419,721, showing an increase of £4,162. The net revenue for the past year amounted to £432,236, and for the corresponding half of 1866 to £390,778, showing an increase of £41,468 ; and that it was earned at an additional cost of only £4,162, or about ten per cent. The train mileage run in the past half-year was 16,654 miles less than the cor responding period of 1866. The utmost attention has been given to the working expenditure in each department, and the result is that reductions have been effected in the locomotive and carriage depart ments and in the maintenance of the line while in the working of the Salisbury and Dorset Railway has caused an increase in the traffic department. The permanent way, stations, and works have been efficiently maintained during the past half year. Steel rails have been further used at and about the stations where the traffic is consi derable. The only work which the company have commenced since August last is the short connecting line with the London, Chatham, and Dover Com pany's system, near Herne-hill, authorised by the Companies Act, 1867, which the Chatham Com pany were authorised to execute in 1864, and which it was part of their bargain with theSouth-Western Company to make. The board have suggested that a proper passenger station ought to be placed at the junction of the branch with the Charing cross main line ; that the South-Eastern trains should stop at such station, and set down and properly rup passengers to and from the company'srailways, ly in accordance w well as local with those charged passengers, byat fares the South-Eastern Company between Charing-cross and their other stations; but the latter company decline to concur in the necessary arrangements. In conclusion, the director s co ngra t u l a t e th e pro pwroirektorbsy other n their com b p e a i n ug ies n o o f projected a n i nv as v n eew or l i i n e c e o t t b n e or petwg nature com i ng before Parliam ent session of 1868. There are, nevertheless, besides the Amalgamation Bill o f the South-Eastern, Brighton, and London, Chatham, and Dover Rail way Companies, one or two other bills seeking run ning powers to which the attention of the board must be directed. The capital account showed that £16,208,960 had been expended, leaving a balance of £116,918. ITEXIIAII AND ALLENDALE. The half-yearly general meeting of this company was held on Monday at Hexham ; Mr. W. B. Beau mont, M.P., in the chair. The report stated that the total length of the line now open was 12i miles. The directors regretted the delay in making provision for passenger traffic, They had not, how ever, hitherto seen their way to incur the necessary outlay for the alteration a the junction, the erec tion of stations, and other incidental expenses. The mineral and goods traffic since the opening of the line had been as satisfactory as could have been reasonably expected ; but sufficient experience had not yet been obtained to justify reliable estimates of the amount and cost of work ing such traffic. The report was adopted, and, after some discussion, resolutions were carried to the effect that the remainder of the ordinary shares of the company required to complete the capital of railway No. 1 be issued, at such a rate of discount as the directors might deem expedient, and authorising the exercise of the borrowing powers conferred by the Companies' Act, 1865, for railway No. 1, when the company was in a position to do so. PORT CARLISLE. The half-yearly meeting was held at Carlisle on Tuesday ; the Rev. J. Heysham in the chair. The CHAIRMAN moved that a dividend of 3 per cent. per annum on debenture stock and of 21s; per cent. upon ordinary stock be paid. The motion was agreed to, and the proceedings terminated. LONDONDERRY AND ENNISKILLEN. The report of the directors states that the rent of the railway for the six months, £13,000, had been received from the Irish North-Western Company by weekly payments, less income-tax. The transfer fees, &c., and the balance from the last account being added to the rent, gave a gross total of £13,134, from which was deducted interest on Government loan and on debentures, office, and other expenses, amounting together to £4,109, leaving a disposable balance of £9,025 towards the payment of dividends and arrears. The directors recommended that the dividends, at the rate of 5 per cent per annum to the 31st of December last, be declared on the £3,062 stock B ; also the dividends, at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, on the £31,850 stock A ; also the dividends, at the rate of 5 per cent., together with 1 per cent. on account of arrears, making 64 per cent. per annum, on £247,738 stock B, leaving a balance of £lOl. The directors regretted that they were still unable to find a market for the deben tures, and in consequence they had in hand £12,849. The result of the resolution passed at the last meet ing, authorising them to exchange deferred divi dend warrants for debenture stock, was that £8,075 had been taken up, making the total amount of debenture stock issued £54,145, thus reducing the debentures subject to renewal from £150,000 to £95,855. The directors had no alter native, but to recommend that deferred dividend warrants should be issued for the amount of divi dends to the 31st of December last, which dividend warrants might be exchanged, at the option of the holders, for debenture stock bearing interest at 5 per cent. per annum. The directors recommended that in future all such proprietors as might be de sirous of exchanging deferred dividend warrants ()UDE AND ROHILKUND. The ordinary general meeting of this company was held on Wednesday, at the City Terminus Hotel, Cnnnon-street ; Mr. W. Dent in the chair. The report was taken as read. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said the future operations of the company would depend upon the decision of the Government of India as to the lines which were to be first con structed. The directors expected by every mail to receive information that it had been filially settled to complete the line between Benares and Luck now, with branches to Byrain Ghat and Fyzabad, comprising 230 miles. The directors had given the shareholders the opportunity of paying up on their shares, and that had put the company in funds for some time to come, but if they were to proceed with the new works further capital would soon be required. The districts they would have to serve were very favourable for the construction of rail ways, and with the exception of crossing the Ganges near Cawnpore, there was not an engineer ing work of any difficulty to be encountered, and as the embankments would not exceed 3ft. in height, the line would ba formed by digging a ditch at each side and throwing the soil on the line. It was expected that some arrangement would be come to with the Government of Bengal respecting the Nulhatee line, as the residents in the neigh bourhood were anxious that it might be allowed to remain for the benefit of the district through which it had passed. In reply to questions it was stated that a com mittee of Engineer officers had been appointed to report on the line and rolling stock of the Cawn pore and Lucknow Railway, with a view to ascer tain whether some improvements might not be made in the construction and working of that line before commencing the other lines. It was stated by the managing director that the alterations requi site in the rolling-stock that had been sent out were not important, and the expense would be small. The report was adopted, and the directors were authorised to convert into stock the shares as and when they were paid up in full. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman. GRAND TRUNK OF CANADA. The traffic receipts on this company's lines for the week ending Jan. 18 amounted, for conveying 18,334 passengers, to £6,132 ; for mails, &c., to £1,027; and for 16,643 tons of freight and live stock, to .£l6,oB6—total, £23,215, against £22,380 for the corresponding week last year, showing an increase of £865. ENGLISH AND FOREIGN CREDIT (LIMITED). The ordinary meeting of this company was held on Tuesday, at the offices, Winchester -buildings ; Mr. G. Sheward in the chair. The report stated that the net profit during the half-year ending December 31 amounted to £5,442, including £1,332 b roug ht from the preceding half year. The dire c t ors re commended a dividend of ss. per share, f r e e o f i n come-tax, which would ab sorb £2,990, leaving a balance of £2,452 to be car ried forward. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulating the shareholders upon re ceiving a better dividend than might have been an ticipated, and assured them that it had been honestly earned. The question as to their advances to the Italian companies had not been settled, the case having been adjourned by the Court. The securities of the company had been estimated at the value at which they were originally received. In consequence of the state of inDnetary affairs, the directors had to some extent contracted their busi ness, but they had not been obliged to make a call on the shareholders or to sell any of their securities at a low rate to meet their engagements. The report was unanimously adopted, and the dividend of ss. per share was declared. The retiring directors and auditors having been re-elected, the proceedings concluded with thanks to the chairman. RAILWAY BILLS. Yesterday,_rooni N in o Frere's Cou r t, h e ld i n Com mittee-room 16, the standing orders were de clared with in the case of thes St. to Ives have d `Vest Cornwall Junction Railway, m i ee aa been complied the Burry Port and Gwendeath Valley Railway, the Belfast Central Railway, and the Newry and Armagh Railway Bills. In the Court presided over by Mr. Palgravc, Room 17, the standing orders were declared to have been complied with in respect of the North London Railway. OUR FOREIGN POLICY. (From the Round Table.) The position of the United States, as one of the leading nations of Christendom, has assume d suc h vast proportions that the consideration of the gene ral principles determining our attitude toward foreign nations and communities urges itself with greater force upon public attention than at any pre vious period of international history, The Monroe doctrine, relating in its wider sense to the annihi lation of European influence and power on the American continent, has lately been developed into the Seward doctrine of downright acquisition of powers, and whatever foreigneed regarding the perils terogeneous ra ces and t a e t r t e r intdo argumentsriniegs a s nm t i l aa l yd h d e b l i t d e i o b an y d voafn ch of the expansion of the republic to an extent that imagination, it must be passion for •an en largement of the n ation al domain is only the reflex -coneesdeeedms that tobewilder this national the ional of the lust of every individual citizen for greater wealth ; and whether it be called manifest destiny much seems to be cer otarini n , inordinate t haemsbeint ? e n 0 , f t h t i s h e people were taken at any time in regard to the acquisition of any new territory—whether it were Alaska or St. Thomas, or Cuba or Porto Rico, or Canada or Greenland —the chances would be in favour of an affirma tive vote. We believe that the dangers arising from heterogeneous races and from a formidable addition of public officers are, on the whole, counterbalanced by the advantages that are likely to accrue to our safety, commerce, and industry from the annexation of these new arenas ; while the adoption of a civil service system based upon stringent t e st s of i n t egr ity and qualification would tend to di m i n i s h t h e dangers of new addi tions to the appointing power and the conseq uen t abuses and dem ora li zat i ons . At the same time, it cannot be denied that if the various races scattered auspices of American instit u t ions. From upon this conti nent are to b e elevated in the scale of civilization, it can on ly be done under the in spiring the broadest p o i nt of v i ew o f humanity there would seem to be a clear gain to civilization w hen an y of these communities are admitted to Americau citi zenship, and, consequently, to education, political liberty, and the avenues to industry and wealth. Great Brit a i n h erse lf, ac cording to De Foe, is made up of th e mu d o f a ll nations, and without wishing to apply thi s disparaging epithet to the various races of our own community, it is not less true that the Anglo-Saxon claim to the exclusive parentage of Americans, at the present stage of our census, ceases to have much practical value. The Celtic and Teutonic elements are far more powerful at this day th an t h e E ng lish elements were in the early days of the R e public ; and apart from this problem of preserving the institutions of our fore fathers under the co-operation of these in many respects heterogeneous influences, there is the other problem of lifting up the Africans and Asiatics to our standard of civilization without crushing them as we have crushed the aboriginal Indian races. Faith in the stability of the republic is not wanting. What is want ing is comprehensive statesmanship, and a general de termination to select only the best qualified men for executive, legislative, and administrative functions. Another consideration suggests itself which there is, we fear, some ,and in regard to misapprehension even in official quarters. The opinion seems now to pre vail that, in order to proceed with the progress of territorial acquisition on this continent without mo lestation by foreign powers, their jealousies must be overcome by the assurance that this Government and people will henceforth ce.ise to manifest any interest in the progress of freedom in Europe ; or, in other words, that we shall be at liberty to Americanize the whole American continent pro vided we frown upon any movement that may tend to the Americanization of England and Europe. We may spread the gospel of liberty among negroes, Esquimaux, and Chinamen, pro vided our foreign ministers and consuls, our Presi dent and Secretary of State, our Senators and Re presentatives, refrain from making the moral in tluence of American ideas felt in regard to the pro gress of Italy, Greece, Hungary, or to that of the masses of the British, German, and French people. This is surely in some respects narrow and un dignified policy. It certainly seems tantamount to proclaiming to the world that we are in different to any kind of tyranny, whether prac tised by emperors, kings, sultans, or popes, as long as we are left at liberty to clutch more land. Not that we are in favour of international entanglements or of quixotic crusades in favour of a universal Americanization, but we contend that unless our progress of territory in comparatively barbarous States goes hand in hand with the pro gress of our moral influence in civilized or semi civilized countries, we fall from our high estate. We increase in size, in that case, in the same pro portion that we decrease in moral prestige. It would certainly place us in a much nobler position should our foreign policy be so conducted that whenever a collision occurs between a superior race struggling for liberty and an inferior race bent on keeping it in bondage America should lift up her voice in favour of the oppressed na- tionality, as was done in the days of Clay and Webster in regard to Greece and Hungary, and lately in respect to Crete. Our foreign policy should be conducted in such a manner as to give the assurance to mankind that, although we may not think proper to interfere in foreign affairs by the force of arms, all the political, diplomatic, and moral influences of this country will be thrown in the scale of liberty and progress. Unless this be done, our foreign ministers will remain only more or less ornamental accessories of courts, and foreign min isters at Washington will continue to constitute a little monarchical coterie unwholesomely encourag- ing to the unrepublican and frivolous ingredients of American society, and to reside in this country not so much for the purpose of representing to their governments the bright and promising aspects of our polity, as for that of playing the parts of con ceited critics assuming feudal airs of superiority over a superior civilization. Unless this be done, they will continue to inform their emperors and kings that all this country in reality wants is more dol lars and collectively more empire, and that all its protestations about liberty and humanity are simply theories—the mere impracticable effusions of demagogues. Precisely at this moment of the aggrandisement of our empire we should augment the manifestation of our sympathies toward those nations that are now struggling for the same liberties which we had the happiness to conquer, and our foreign minis ters should be instructed to express them with dignity and emphasis. We may then present the spectacle of a nation wielding its power with magna nimity, filled, it may be, with the inflexible ambition of imposing its rule upon all the races of this conti nent, but without forfeiting the privilege of bidding God-speed to the struggling nations of the other hemi sphere. It is only in this manner that we can escape becoming dwarfs in a moral sense, while we grow to be giants in physical dimensions. It is only i n this manner that we can reconcile the world to our material progress, only thus that we can go forward without abdicating our position as a nation that feels a deep Christian interest in the progress of freedom and humanity everywhere. A KANGAROO HUNT IN SO Urn A USTJULIA. o- (From Wilkes' Spirit of the Times.) Soon after landing in the colony, my friend and I received an invitation from a squatter, living three hundred miles from Aclelaid3, • asking as to spend Christmas with him, in order to witness a grand kangaroo hunt which was to conic off at that time. We of course accepted, and in less than a week we started on our journey, taking with U 3 our rifles and a deer-hound we had brought from England. After three days' jolting and bumping in a mail coach --one of those tong-bodied American machines which nothing short of a precipice can upset—we were not sorry to find our friend waiting with his buggy and a pair of ponies to take us over the remaining nine miles to his station, which we reached safely about three p.m. on Christmas Eve. In this part of the world the 25th of December Ls usually ushered in by hot winds and a tempera ture which entirely destroys our pre-conceived no- dons of the festival ; but on this occasion we were in luck, and when dinner came it was quite cool enough for us to enjoy the roast beef, and even the brandy-fire on the plum-pudding did not seem op pressive. Our festivities, however, were not very much prolonged, as the grand hunt was to take place the next day, entailing an early start. Ac cordingly we were called before daybreak, and by the time we were up found that the saddling had already commenced ; as about sixty men had to be mounted, saddles soon ran short, and sheep skins tied on by a piece of rope were in great demand for the riding blacks and station men. My friend and I had bath had some experience with rough oohs at home ; and, under the delusion that we were fair riders, had expressed our utter uncon cern as to our mounts—indeed; in our secret hearts we were rather anxious to try an " Australian buck- jumper. The horse chosen for me was a dark bay, a fine showy-looking animal, but one that evidently had the greatest objection to being girthed up, whilst the very unamiable way in which he laid back his ears made me determined to be preplared for the worst. The mounting was quickly accom plished, but no sooner was my weight in the saddle than my steed's back curled up, down went his head until nothing could be seen in front of the saddle, then came a frightful sensation not to be described, and the next moment I found myself uncomfort ably seated on a hard piece of ground. The horse was soon caught, but no one would hear of my making another attempt ; so I was fain to content myself by exchanging mounts with a long-legged, light-whiskered, sunburnt young fellow who had taken rather a fancy to me on the previous day. Armed with a huge hide-whip, he was soon on the bay's back, who this time screwed himself up higher than ever, until the middle of the saddle only touched him ; then up he went high enough to take a four-foot fence, and down again on the same spot, with this difference, that his tail was now where his head was before, the same proceeding being re peated for upwards of forty " bucks." Thrice as many, however, would have made but little diffe rence to his rider ; at every jump there was a loud crack, and the long hide-whip left its mark on the ribs or shoulder, until at length the horse gave in, and moved off a more tender if not a wiser animal. We are now all fairly mounted ; our way for a few miles lying through some mallie scrub, and then to the plains beyond. Much discussion takes place as to the best way of managing the hunt, and at last it is decided that we shall form a crescent shaped line, with 150 yards between each man ; the whole of us are then to move slowly towards the sea, so as to drive the kangaroos before us on to a point, with a small neck, which afterwards in creases in size until it contains about eighty acres. 0 At last all are placed, the starting signal is given, and the word passed from man to man down the line. The blacks on foot, about eighty in number, are at the south end, and altogether we muster 110 men, so that our line extends nearly ten miles, and we shall have to ride eight miles across the plains. After a while the salt bush begins to take the place of the hideous " mallie scrub," so that the country is more open and we can see before us. ' On wo go until all the bushes are left behind ; but so far nothing meets our glance all over the vast plain, except a straggling eagle or two. I am beginning. to despair of seeing a kangaroo, when suddenly at my right hand, scarce fifty yards away, up jumps a regular " old man." The dogs are soon after him, and one called Veno catches him, throwing him nearly over ; he sown rights himself, but by this time the other dogs are come up, fastening on anywhere ; doing their best, however, to keep clear of those ugly fore paws and still more terrible hind ones. It is not to be though, for he has Victor (the largest hound) in a grip like that of a grizzly bear, where he is held until the kangaroo gradually lifts one of his hind legs, and then with a long kick down goes the dog torn right through the middle, howling and snapping, at his own flesh. " Well done, Veno !" who, nothing daunted by his companion's fate, has the " old man" by the hamstring, and rolls him over ; now the dog has him by the jugular; there comes a prolonged panting, a gurgling in the throat of the kangaroo, and all is over. Poor old Victor lies beside his foe. Oae of the party comes cantering up, looks at the dog, and seeing that the case is hopeless puts the poor fellow out of his misery. There is no time to mourn though, so we leave him to the eagles and pass on, scarcely so anxious for another kan garoo. Half an hour passes, and we have nearly four miles to go ; a great shouting gradually approache s from where the blacks are, and about two hun- dred kangaroos come bounding along at a great rate ; they are soon half a mile away, never once attempting to break the line. The shouting is now astounding ; every one takes it up. Kangaroos are racing in every direction ; just to my left comes a great rush, and straight through the line goes a 't flying doe," one of the fastest sort ; two dogs are after her and gaining fast, when, just as they are on the point of catching her, something is suddenly thrown from her, and away she goes at double speed. Curiosity tempts me to see what eau havebeeu thrown down, and there, hidden in the long grass, is a pretty soft-skinned little kangaroo, wriggling about its im mense tail and kicking violently. Poor little fel low ! just taken from a warm pouch to be cast down in such a rough manner. But lie still on that soft grass, and perhaps when the sun is setting, and no danger is at hand, your mother will come hop ping up, peering among the spinifex and wild oats, till she hears your little grunting ; then once more will she lift you up and carry you off to some dis tant timber, where you shall grow and grow until you become a great fellow six feet high and your tail weighs 241 b. But all this time we have left the line where we ought to be, the kangaroos can now be seen on all sides. Some 300 have mauaged to break through our ranks, and the men are closing up at a trot. Grey figures are jumping about in every direction over the sand-hills, which look like waves on the horizon; the whole plain seems to have gone mad. Now comes the tug of war ; only about a mile more to go, and the pace a canter. Whips are cracking, whites shouting, blacks yell ing on every side ; no wonder the kangaroos are :rightened. A mob of about a thousand come rush in g up, trying the line at every point, but in vain, for we are pretty close now—at length one great fellow breaks through, and is followed by a mul titude ; our men close up nearer than ever, but no thing can stop the mad rushes with which large mobs come down every minute. There goes one of them against a horse, sending him and his rider clean over, but doing n) further damage ; when the dust clears away, however, we see a large grey heap that stirs not, with two fierce dogs standing over it, showing that at least one kangaroo has paid the penalty of his boldness with his life. Some thousands of kangaroos have by this time breken the line, and we begin to think that all our labour is in vain ; but our more experienced friends say that there will still be plenty on the point, which is now close at hand ; so, hobbling our horses, we all walk down to the entrance of the peninsula, and wait till the natives come up. The beginning of this neck is covered with bushes, amongst which a few kangaroos are seen, and we hope there are many more in the timber lower down. Ten natives are told off to beat the bushes ; our rifles and pistols are loaded ; the blacks have their boomerangs and waddies ready. Right soon are they wanted, for to the south two or three hun dred kangaroos appear, but swerve and again e_.l( their covert. Another lot are driven out, and come straight for us, headed by an old fellow who seems their leader. Shots ring out, many fall, but the others come on without flinching. The old fellow in front is still sixty yards off ; the blacks are ter ribly excited, and flourish their boomerangs in a fr mtie manner. Three jumps, and the leader is close on us, when from my right comes a whirring and whistling ; something rushes past, catching the old fellow between neck and shoulder, tearing away muscle and bone, and then he falls over on his side. About thirty were shot by the time I had reloaded, but plenty more are seen amongst the bushes, the frightened mob rushing on the line occasionally. As, however, by this time we are pretty cool and used to the work, very few escape. The " lubras" (native women) join in the attack just like the men : one very old lady, with grey hairs and legs about as thick as broom sticks, got so excited that she deliberately walked out to meet a " boomer," with nothing but a small waddie" in her hand. At first the kangaroo did not quite know what to make of matters,. but, being too tired to run, he accepted the challenge, hopped up to her, and, on her stick missing his head, caught her with his strong fore paws, and held her without the slightest trouble, until luckily the other black came up and stopped him from using his hind claws. The old lady was fearfully frightened, but not much hurt, saving a long furrow or two on her cheeks ; it will be long, however, before she cares to face another boomer. Kangaroos are lying dead all around us, and the dogs show signs of severe struggles; one magnifi cent yellow hound has an ugly rent in his neck, through which the blood keeps spouting every time he breathes, but a few stitches with needle and silk soon make him feel more comfortable. Our own deerhound, who has done wonders, has some sharp cuts, but none through the skin ; he seems very tired, and, in fact, all of us are wishing the slaugh ter was over, when the blacks in covert again be gin to yell, and up come 14 emus, with their foolish little wings flapping and their huge bunches of feathery tails shaking as they stride along, remind ing us much of the tales of seven-leagued boots— an emu's stride when fully extended being rather more than 10ft, On they come, the boomerangs flying amongst them, and making their sides rattle ; one was cut through the neck of an emu, leaving the head hanging only by the skin—a feat which even our black friends appreciate. A few shots are fired, killing all the emus but four, who are soon lost to sight across the plain. The black beaters now come up, and say that no more kangaroos are left ; men are sent to count the killed, with the number of which the squatters are very much dissatisfied. Last year they killed 2,000, but now the number is put down at only 400. This slaughter seems very cruel, but something must be done, as kangaroos are increasing in numbers very fast ; and as two of them eat more grass than three sheep, a squatter cannot afford to feed 3,000 o r 4,000 of them on his land. The men come back and report 623 killed, count ing all, from the pink little things without a hair on them, up to the great, fierce fellows with arms like a gorilla. All the horses are brought up, but only a few dogs appear ; most likely many of them have chosen shady places to lie under and lick their wounds. When evening comes they will feel better and follow us home—so say their owners, who ought to know their ways ; but we have an idea that many a one has lain down never to rise again. My friend and I have once more managed to get together to talk over the events of the day, both acknowledging that we have seen a great slaughter rather than a hunt. Many of the men are now leaving us for their stations, perhaps twenty or thirty miles distant ; we shall soon be at home again. All seemed tired, but in good spirits, and quite ready for the late dinner, which we fancied we could smell in the dis tance for the last half-hour. And so ends our first kangaroo hunt. NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. VALETTA, Feb. I.—lt has already been reported that the squadron is to leave port about the sth of February. We now learn that the Commander-in- Chief will temporarily shift his flag from the Cale donia to the Lord Warden, and proceed in the latter vessel on a visit to Athens, lie will be ac companied by the despatch vessel Psyche, and will probably visit other ports in the Levant. The Lord Clyde is to visit Naples, and the Caledonia, Syra cuse. The other ships are to proceed as before stated—the Lord Warden to relieve the Arethusa at the Piraeus, the Racer to relieve the Cruiser on the coast of Syria, and the Trinculo to relieve the Tyrian in Candia. News has been received of the arrival at Patras, seven days from Malta, of her Majesty's gunboat Wizard. Her Majesty's ship Enterprise returned on the 30th of January from a cruise in the Malta channel, calling at Syracuse. Accounts continue to be received of very stormy weather in the Mediterranean, and our port is al- most full of vessels under average. The English bark Fame, which left Malta on the 13th of January for Cork or Falmouth, put back on the 29th, under command of the mate r. R. Perkin, the master, Capt. W. Shield, having been washed overboard by a heavy sea on the 24th of January, when about 30 miles from the island of Sardinia. The Mecklen- burg brig Michels also put in here a few days ago in command of the mate, a heavy sea having washed overboard the master, Capt. Peter Niemaun, when to the westward of Malta. The Ceylon, from Southampton, experienced frightful weather in the Bay of Biscay, and had three of her boats carried away. One man was rather seriously injured, but no lives were lost. For the last two or three days it has been blowing a gale from the northward and eastward, with a heavy sea running into the har bour. On the afternoon of the 30th of January, while her Majesty's screw frigate Endymion was taking up her berth, after being under the sheers for the purpose of shipping machinery, she was caught by a heavy squall and fouled the Turkish ironclad Mahmoudiah, carrying away the bowsprit of the latter vessel. She also fouled her Majesty's armour-plated ship Lord Warden, damaging some of the latter's boats and the accommodation ladder. After these mishaps the Endymion took up her moorings, without sustaining any damage herself. She was in charge at the time of Capt. Roberts, the Queen's harbourmaster. Mr. 11. 11. Shanks, secre tary to the Naval Commander-in-Chief, returned to Malta by the last Marseilles packet. Capt. Far quharson arrived by the same vessel. A court martial was held on the 28th of January on board her Majesty's ship Hibernia, to try Mr. Edward Pinkner, gunner, third class of her Majesty's ship rrinculo, on two charges, of absenting himself without leave and sleeping out of the ship, contrary to orders. The Court was composed as follows : Capt. W. R. Rolland. of her Majesty's ship Lord Warden, president ; Capt. R. Dew, C. 8., her Ma jesty's ship Lord Clyde; Capt. W. Wake, her Ma jesty's ship Endymion ; Commander G. L. Nor cock, her Majesty's ship Ilibernia ; and Comman der L. Brine, her Majesty's ship Racer. Mr. R. Munday, officiating, Judge-Advocate. In conse quence of the very high testimonials produced by the prisoner, who pleaded guilty to both charges, he was only adjudged to forfeit one year's seniority as a warrant officer, to be severely reprimanded, and to be dismissed from her Majesty's ship Trill culo. Mr. W. Scamp, C.E., the late deputy-director of engineering and architectural works to the Admi ralty, who has retired with a full-pay superannua tion after a lengthened period of service, transacted his last official business at Somerset-house on Wed nesday last. Messrs. Napier and Sons, of the Clyde, are build ing for the Dutch Government a steam ram of about 3,000 tons and a turret ship of 2,000 tons• They are intended to be fitted with Skinner's steer ing apparatus, similar to that successfully tested by her Majesty's ships Industry and Supply, by which one man alone can steer in the most boisterous weather with ease, and free from danger. The Royalist, screw sloop, 11 guns, 669 tons, 150-horse power, Commander Loftus Jones, arrived at Spithead early yesterday morning from the east ward, en route to the West Indies. In consequence of the additional duties devolving on the division of the metropolitan police doing duty at Chatham dockyard, it has been decided to make a considerable augmentation in the strength of the division. Yesterday detachments from the Ist battalion of the 14th Regi►Went, Ist battalion of the 10th Regi" meat, and the 31st Regiment, to the number of 11 7 non-commissioned officers and men, left Chathani garrison and proceeded to Tilbury Fort, for duty at that station. The detachment from the 2d Depot Battalion, on duty at Tilbury through the pas t winter, rejoined at Chatham garrison yesterday. The 7th company of Royal Engineers, numbering 5 sergeants, 2 buglers, and 86 sappers, left head quarters, Brompton barracks, Chatham, yesterdaYl and proceeded to Milton for the purpose of under' going a course of ball practice at the Government rifle range previously to embarking for colonial service. Improvements and alterations in the bakery of the Commissariat Department at Aldershott noW being made, consequent on the introduction of stem for bread-making, necessitated the removal of chimney shaft 75ft. in height, and which for several years had been in an unsafe condition. The re moval of the shaft was safely effected under the superintendence of Colonel Laffan, commanding Royal Engineer, on Tuesday. A few bricks being taken out, 180 z. of powder in one ounce packe t° were placed in the spaces, and being fired the shaft toppled over in beautiful style, and in the direction intended. The following appointments were made yesterday at the Admiralty :—Navigating-Lieut. J. R. Aylet'' additional, to the Cumberland, for service in th e Forte; Navigating-Lieut. Francis B. Christian, to the Cumberland,' for service in the Eclipse ; B. Ommaney, midshipman, to the Arethusa ; George Drury and Henry C. DaWson, midshipmen, to th e Charybdis ; George W. Adam, midshipman, to the Challenger ; Claude Paget and Robert T. Wood, midshipmen, to the Royal Alfred ; Francis B. 13 ' Simpson, midshipman, to the Blanche ; Arthur C. Clarke, midshipman, to the Royalist ; James P u bs field, engineer, to the Indus, for service in th Midge; 'William Fenton, engineer, to the Indus' for service in the Hart ; Leopold M. Green (A)! engineer, to the Asia, for service in the Harriet' George F. Sutton, engineer, to the Fisgard, service in the Rocket ; John Spinks, engineer, t` c i the Formidable, for service in the Lizard ; an Samuel 11. Frenhaun, first-class assist.-engineer, ,0 the Royal George. Births. A" MANNER G OTTO—On the 4th inst., at Hampstead, the Wife of,'..- ward S —O Gotton the 4th inst , q., of a so. at 6, Cumberland-terrace) the n Lady John Manners, of a . son. t IV STAVELEY —On the sth ult., at Poona, Bombay,—il' Staveley, of a son. Marriages. CRUM—CAMPBELL—On the sth inst. Glasgow,Glasow, Graham Crum, Esq., second son of the late W. rtji:t., Esq., of Thornliebauk, Renfrowshire to Jean MarY,,,A, younger daughter of the Rev. John 11‘Leod Cal,Vl"- Laurel Bank, Pattick. HorKiNs—SlNtEs—On the sth inst., u Weymo tb, James Hopkins, Esq., the second son of the late li Hopkins, of the Bank of England, to Clara , the sec-,s, daughter of the late Henry Simes, of Vine H all, 6°'6- Deaths. WO - FonnEs—On the Ist inst., at Stoke-by-Nayland, & ter, General Thomas J. Forbes, R.A., aged 88. te r, FOSTER—On the 4th inst., at Great Yarniouth, Esq., of Cambridge, aged 59. ,-, OAP JEJEE111101:—On the 4th , Mazagono Castle, v°,7 ;4 1) Ileerabace, the second daughter . of Sir Jamsetjee J e)- lioy, Bart., aged 21. SIMPSON—On the Ist ult., at the Victoria llotel, 31'11,jorsIti51 Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Simpson, of t he Bengal Artillery, aged 44. Job s W IGIITMAN—On the 4th inst., at 65, Charing- o. ' 9s ' ' Wightnian, Esq., late of Addlestono, Surrey o nE O London : Printed and Published by WILLISSI A- --;„ IV of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tau Sus Oalce , yOf Strand, in the Precinct of the Si voy , in the o°° M AliddlesoL—Friday, February 7, 1868.