The Sun. — London, England, 1868-06-11 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, The Times opposes the Telegraphs Bill, It thinks that arguments enough have not been advanced to shew that it is wanted. The preamble, on which the Chancellor of the Exchequer relied for the success of the whole bill, is exactly what has never been proved at all, nor, indeed, as is now said, ever regularly debated. According to pre cedent, the bill ought to have been submitted, like a rail way bill, to a committee of the House, before which the preamble, or, in other words, the principle of the measure, could have been fairly argued. This condition had never been satisfied, and the House felt the want of the cus tomary assurance. Not one of the speakers against the bill disguised the recommendations of the mea sure. They all thought it of promise sufficient to merit careful discussion, but not of such self-evident expediency as to put discussion out of the question. It is very easy to see and to appreciate what the proposal offers us. Telegraphic communication is not employed so commonly as it ought to be ; it is costly, it is imperfect, and it requires a development which, perhaps, a Govern ment administration would ensure more successfully than any other agency. Many petitions had been presented in favour of the bill, though in Mr. Goschen's judgment the expression of opinion thus obtained was not quite so important as the Chancellor of the Exchequer imagined. Still there had been a movement, no doubt, in support of the measure ; but, on the other hand, the opposite side had not been heard at all, and when the case was pressed for decision it occurred to everybody how 'much that side might possibly have to say. The proposal was to attach the telegraphs to the Post Office, but this would be to take a step of at least unusual tendency. The Post Office is the only remaining example among our institutions of a Government monopoly—a monopoly worked, no doubt, to the public advantage, but a monopoly . still. Would it be politic to enter upon an extension of that principle to the inevitable discouragement of the private enterprise which has made us what we are? Was it safe to place open corre spondence:under the control of;Government,or to intrust the transmission, say, of political intelligence at a period of agi tation to Government officials ? Would a speech of Mr. Bright's, it was asked, be reported with as much exacti tude as a "speech of Mr. Disraeli's by Conservative clerks dismissible at pleasure ? Then, could Government ever succeed in working the telegraphs for railway purposes? Mr. Hunt, who acknowledged the importance of this question, offered, on behalf of the Ministry, to do what ever could be done ; but it was admitted that the great companies were all in a state of alarm at the prospect opened by the bill, and the public will understand what this alarm imples. We certainly cannot afford to have accidents mul tiplied through the derangement of the machinery-by which lines are worked. In short, it has never yet been thoroughly considered by the light of sufficient evidence whether, upon the whole, it would be politic to extinguish the private telegraph companies now existing, and transfer their business to a department of State. That, however, is the material question. As to the terms of purchase, no doubt they could be adjusted, and this part of the argu ment hardly needed the pains Mr. Hunt bestowed upon it. What he ought to have proved was precisely what he took for granted—the expediency of the transfer. Ever since Sir Robert Napier telegraphed that he had taken charge of the son of the late Theodorus, and intended to place him in Dr. Wilson's establishment at Bombay, the Daily News has been expecting the beginning of a dispute as to the religion in which the unfortunate boy is to be brought up. It does not know whether Sir Robert is a Presbyterian ; but Dr. Wilson is, . and, what is worse, a Free Churchman. A correspondent of the Guardian, writing from King's College, Cambridge, asks if it is fair to thy' boy to place him under Dr. Wilson's charge, seeing that the Presbyterians made light of the whole sacramental system on which the Abyssinian Church has, amid many superstitions and in the utmost depth of degradation, retained her hold. Another point raised by the same correspondent will, we think, strike the public as of much more importance. It is urged that Sir Robert's own experience of the climate of Abyssinia must have proved to him that it is very diffe rent from that of Bombay ; and that it must be a dange rous experiment to transplant a boy of eight years of age from the bracing atmosphere of those healthy highlands to the relaxing and enervating influences of such a climate as that of Bombay. This is a matter which deserves con sideration. The Herald lays down that an attempt to bring about social revolution and to establish a fresh set of conflicting interests in every family in the empire may indicate either the crudity of immatured thought or the vaultings of excessive ambition. It may also shew that the innovator is a man wonderfully in advance of ;his age. Our cortem porary is afraid, however, that it cannot accept the latter of these alternatives as likely to happen in the case of Mr. Shaw Lefevre, whose scheme for recon stituting society on a new theory of the marital relation, was on Wednesday discussed at the morning sitting of the House of Commons. The honourable and learned gentleman has doubtless given some attention to the subject, and it is equally certain that he has under taken its public advocacy with the very best intentions. Still, it might have been as well if he had left so important a matter to be dealt with by some one with greater claims to authority than can be advanced by himself. Yet the bill which he has introduced is one which, if carried, would change the aspect of affairs in every family in the kingdom, and would rejoice the heart of every strong-minded female, with advanced views on woman's rights, though in that event we should probably hear a great deal more than we now do about husbands' wrongs. Mr. Lefevre has been impressed with the hardships occasionally re sulting from the power over his wife's property, which the law gives to the husband, in virtue of which all her per sonal property not settled to her separate use becomes his absolutely, and very extensive rights are obtained by him over the rents and profits of her real estate. Of course, everyone has met with instances ih which some worth less or luckless fellow has used this power to his wife's disadvantage, has squandered her money in dissipation, or has lost it in unfortunate ventures. It is, however, already possible to prevent these mishaps by mar riage settlements, though the policy of doing so has been not unfrequently questioned. But Mr. Lefevre's bill proposes to go a great deal farther. If it should ever be carried, every household would have two distinct and separate sets of pecuniary interests. The married woman would retain her fortune, and with it her right to sue and her liability to be sued, just as if she were single. Nor is the operation of the bill designed to be prospective only. Existing marriages are to be brought under its influence, and all the incidents of a separate estate are to attach to the parties who contracted them. The 'Standard declares Lord Elcho to be a victim of political rattening. his lordship (says our contemporary) took a most prominent, indeed a leading part, in effecting an amendment of the law relating to masters and work men, the alteration sought and obtained being wholly in favour of the latter. It was natural enough that those who as a class had benefited by this piece of legislation should be anxious to shew Lord Elcho in some way or other a sense of their appreciation of his services. Accord. ingly the executive committee which was some years ago appointed at Glasgow to forward the good work —now, thanks largely to Lord Elcho, completely effected— proposed to entertain his lordship at dinner. Forthwith there arose a chorus of dissentient voices. A meeting of working men was held, and resolutions condemnatory of the executive committee and disclaiming any connection with the proposed banquet were passed. It was quite true that Lord Elcho had laboured strenuously to put them on amore advantageous footing with their masters and had been entir e ly success f u l ; b u t h e h a d presume d to differ from pendentcourse in the matter of therfory Reform Bill. For this divergenc e of opinion between him and them they washed their hands of him entirely, and considered all obligations to him fur his labours in their behalf more than cancelled. The dinner took place, it is true, for it was after it that Lord Elcho gave vent to the not unnatural bitterness of his feelings. But we gather that it was not a very triumphant affair. Only fifty people sat down to dinner, and the tone of the speakers shewed that they were in a small, and as the suggestive ph rase o f t h e d ay has i t a " miserable" minority. The Telegraph devotes a leader to working men's clubs. The movement is still very young, and may not be quite strong enough to stand alone. Theref3re, a union is re quired to keep it on its feet. A child that is unable to walk is not disgraced by being carried ; but the child well tended grows apace, and often becomes big and strong enough to carry his nurse. A nascent cause mustieerforce have supporters and patrons. The Anti-Corn La w agi tators had their League; Catholic Emancipation would not have been carried without the Catholic As sociation ; and in both these instances men of rank and fortune were mingled with the more plebeian friends of the enterprise. Even in the essentially democratic Society for the Diffusion of Useful Know ledge, the original committee comprised many noblemen, without their of Parliament, and professors ; and their aid and patronage the Penny Maga:ine could not have been established. But in the course of a few years it was discovered that on the foundation laid in that work a whole edifice of cheap literature had been established. The chill, in fine, had grown up. There was no longer a raion clYtrc for the Penny Magazine. It had done its work, and it was wisely discontinued. So may it be with working men's clubs. The union is at present in the pincer stage—the epoch of felling the forest, of digging and delving, and sowing seed ; and the public gratitude is (111 , 3 to those personages of high rank and in fluence who have so valorously undertaken the part of backwoodsmen. By and by a comely settlement will emerge from the wilderness, and the pioneers may turn their attention to some new jungle to be cleared. There are waste lands enough about us, Heaven knows, to keep the whole House of Peers continually busy with the axe and spade of reformation. Nor need the work ing men who are members of these clubs feel in the slightest degree ashamed at having to pass through a preliminary stage of tutelage, or even at receiving some material support from the wealthy at the outset of their club career. More than one of the lordliest club-palaces in West-end London could never have been built or opened without the substantial help of rich and public-spirited noblemen and gentlemen, who in the beginning took up debentures towards the necessary capital, and subse quently most genero us l y surrendered their securities. THE RECENT PANIC IN THE CORN TRADE, In an interesting article in the Daily New on the corn Dade, it is stated that, owing to the splendid weather luring the last few weeks the British corn trade has experienced several 'violent changes, almost partaking of the character of a revolution, occasioned by the irresistible fear of a coming extensive fall in prices. In the import trade there has also been a heavy panic, the like of which has not been experienced for years in that important branch of commerce. One the first day of the present month, which proved a kind of Black Monday, the actual price of several kinds of wheat sud denly declined from 14s. to 16s. per quarter. The effect was astounding. The corn markets throughout the country instantaneously became seriously agitated, Abroad the startling news was quickly telegraphed to every wheat-exporting port, to every leading city and town, thereby producing corresponding excitement and depres sion of prices, besides checking the further export of grain to this country. For a time enterprise became com pletely paralysed, and neither buyers nor sellers appeared to know what to do. As the true state of affairs became known the panic gradually abated, and prices began to resume their old position. The real effect of an abund ant harvest will probably be to prevent further rises in price rather than to bring about any marked decline. During the week ending May 30, 1864, the average price of wheat in this country was 395. sd. In 1865 it had risen to 41s. 11d. ; in 1866 it was 475. 5d.; in 1867 it rose yet further to 655. sd. ; and during the corresponding week this year was 725. 3d. Had the old corn laws remained unrepealed, bread would have been abso lutely at a famine price, and the country filled with suffer ing and discontent. As it is, the supplies from abroad have hitherto prevented wheat being so dear as it must otherwise have become. Still there is little reason for hoping that the price of wheat will exhibit much of a down ward tendency this year. Granted that the harvest of 1868 proves unusually good, that it is heavy in the ear, and is safely stacked , still a very considerable proportion of it will be required to replenish our now almost exhausted granaries, and to make secure provision against the pos sibility of a bad harvest in 1869. It is the same abroad. Consequently, should the coming harvest prove ever so abundant, it is not likely to produce any material or continued decline in price. But are our harvest pros pects so very good ? Are they so very encouraging ? Seldom has the wheat-plant been in ear so early as during the present season. It is thirty-four years since we have had a corresponding forward development of our wheat crops, and should no unfavourable circumstances inter vene we may look for the commencement of harvest operations in our southern districts about the second week in July—an unusually early period. So far matters are promising ; but from abroad we have less hopeful accounts. Complaints come from France, Italy, Hungary, the Danubian Principalities, and the South of Russia- In Germany, the rye crop, which fur nishes the staple food of the people, has been unfavourably reported of in several places—frost, rain, drought, hail, and thunderstorms having in suc cession tended to render it doubtful whether the actual yield will reach the level of previous years. Although during the last four or five weeks symptoms of a slight fall in prices have been perceptible, the quantity of grain sent to market has diminished week by week. It is contrary to all precedent, to all rule, for the farmer to sell his stock when prices rise, or to hold it back when they are falling. There cannot be the least doubt that the quantity of grain actually existing in this country and on the continent is extremely limited. The harvest of 1868 will be required to repair the deficiencies of the harvests of 1866 and 1867. This alone ought to show that low prices are not yet to be thought of. Last year we imported 9,031,564 quarters of wheat and flour, the whole of which was consumed as fast as it arrived. At least an equal quan tity will be required also this year, but it will be pro. curable only on condition of paying a price higher than that given on the Continent. The quantity of wheat and flour imported by us during the first five months of the present year was 3,442,000 quarters, leaving a balance due for the remaining seven months of 5,590,000 quarters. Little mention has been made of America, but what has been said of the Continent applies also to that country. As to importations from Australia, there exist difficulties in the way of profitably importing antipodian grain produce, except on a scale too limited to produce any appreciable effect on the home market. Altogether, even under too most favourable conditions, there exists little probability of the price of wheat in 1868 descending to that prevailing in 1864 or 1805. LAW AND POLICE. APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER CF SHARES.—Before the Araster of the Rolls a case was heard in which a gentle man named Weston applied to have the name of a trans feree of his shares in the firm of Smith, Knight, and Co. (Limited) inserted on the share register instead of his own. It appeared that Mr. Weston sold his shares to a Mr. Birnie on the 18th June, 1866, and sent the transfer to the office to be registered on the 10th. In the beginning of July IDCG a resolution was passed to wind up the com pany, and the directors, subsequently to such resolution, informed Mr. Weston that they could not register the transfer to Mr. Birnie, inasmuch as that gentleman's address was not inserted therein. The directors - at the same time asked Weston to furnish them with Birnie's right address, but this request does not appear to have been complied with. On behalf of Weston, the present applicant, it was contended, first, that Birnie was a most respectable man, and that the plea of informal address was mere moonshine on the part of the directors ; and, secondly, that the directors had no power under the com pany's articles of association to refuse to register a transfer bond fide made previously to the order to wind up. The court held that the directors, being trustees for all parties interested in the company's assets, were entitled and bound to exercise a discretion in all cases of transfer and registry. The application was refused, but no order was made as to costs. AN ECCLESIASTICAL QUESTION.—III the Court of Queen's Bench an application was made, on behalf of the archdeacons of the diocese of Carlisle, for a writ of prohi bition to the chancellor of the same diocese to restrain him from exercising archidiaconal jurisdiction in the archdea conry of Carlisle and Westmoreland. The question to be raised in the case was as to the effect of a provision in the Ecclesiastical Commission Act. MANSLAUGHTER BY A GIRL.—At the Central Criminal Court Isabella Davidson, a servant, was indicted on the coroner's inquisition for the wilful murder of her infant. It seemed that the prisoner, who was out of a situation, took the child to a Mrs. Stokes, who lived in Chelsea, and agreed to pay 3s. Gd. per week for the support of the child. Soon after an application was made for an in crease of the weekly allowance, which, however, was not given, and the accused fetched her infant from Mrs. Stokes'. Early the next morning the gardener of Park House, Fulham, was at work when he discovered a parcel lying on the footpath, and on. opening it discovered the body of a newly-born infant. A cloth was drawn tightly over its face, in fact, so tightly that the nose was considerably flattened, the eyes protruding, and every indication that death had taken place from suffoca tion. The prisoner was suspected, and on being charged with the crime, said " I did it ; shall I be hung ?" The jury found the prisoner guilty of manslaughter, and she was sentenced to penal servitude for ten years. HIGHWAY ROBBERY AND HEAVY SENTENCE. —At the same court Daniel Cocklin, 27, tailor, was charged with highway robbery. The prosecutor was Mr. William Henry Hicks, a tutor, living in Islington. He had been dining with a friend at Bow, and was on his way home at night. He had treated a young man whom he had met, and had asked him to see him home, he being very tipsy. About ten o'clock he found himself in the Borough Market, being attacked by a number of men and his arms being pinioned, and he distinctly saw the prisoner rifling his pockets. His watch and chain, purse, tobacco-pouch, and pocket-comb were stolen from him. He raised a cry of " Police !" and all the men ran away. The beadle of the Borough Market, hearing the cries, saw the prisoner running away from the spot, and followed him and caught him. He had seen the prisoner near to a standing van, and after he' gave him into custody he found there the watch and chain, tobacco-pouch, and purse. The jury found the prisoner guilty. Numerous convictions were proved against the accused, and this time the sentence was ten years' penal servitude. Ti CASE OF MADAME RACHEL.—At Marlborou,h -r. a s t t r t c e c n t d ' attended i S t a h y r er,f . Kingswell, therom offi e c e o a o c f h \ b t r t r i d E e r d , w U r p d p i ec e w S i t s . , Martin's•lane, and Mr. Richards, of the Thistle and Grown, St. Martin's-lane, who had consented to become bail for Madame Rachel. In reply to questions from Mr. M. Williams, Mr. Kingswell said he had known Madame Rachel for twenty years. Ire believed her husband lived at ZO, Maddox-street, and was " an independent man, living on the earnings of his wife." As far as he knew, not a shilling had been deposited in order that he might become bail. Mr. Richards had been asked by Mr. Kings well to become bail for Madame Rachel, and was guaranteed against loss by Mr. Leverson. Mr. M. Williams said he must object to this last bail, as he was told that Madame Rachel's property was in Paris. Mr. Sayer would undertake to say there was property in Maddox-street belonging to Madame Rachel worth at least £4,000. Mr. Leverson said he had chambers in Dean-street, but did not pass by the name of Phillips. Mr. Knox thought he must . be satisfied with the bail tendered. Madame Rachel was then released. THE SUN, LONDON THURSDAY EVENIND, JUNE 11, 1868. THE REPUBLICAN TICEE7. (From the Anglo-American Times.) The Pall Mall Gazette, which undertakes to set us all right regarding affairs East and West, Ame rican and Turkish, says that " the nomination of General Grant as the Republican candidate for the Presidentship indicates the weakness which under lies the apparent strength of the dominent party in the United States." Now the nomination of Gene ral Grant simply indicates the moderation and good sense of the American people, most of whom care not a straw either for Democrat or Republican, and bitterly dislike both Copperhead and Radical. They believe that the country wants above all things an honest man at the helm--a sensible man, one not wedded to a "policy," not committed to a party, whose nomination will he received in the South in a way no other Northern leader can hope for, and whose known desire and intention it is to root out corrup tion, and to establish that much-needed thing—a Civil Service Reform. For the first time almost since the days of Washington the nation has been able to indicate its candidate, setting the political wire-pullers at defiance. The party that did not take Grant courted defeat, and the party that did take Grant were compelled to accept a man free from party ties. Objectionable as it may be to extreme partisans to be compelled to put forward as their candidate a man uncommitted to their party, and free when he thinks fit to throw them overboard, they . were compelled to do so. The very fact that lessened his value in their eyes greatly enhanced it in the eyes of the na tion. If Grant had thrown himself into the politi cal arena he would simply have become a party leader with the weight of a great name ; but men would have divided either for or against his elec tion, as they agreed with . or opposed his politics. Although the enumeration of such opinions is, as a rule, indispensable to candidates who offer them selves for the most influential posts, yet we are convinced that the less a man is a politician who aspires to the Presidency of the United States the bet ter for the country. Kings and rulers ought not to have party politics ;—the people, the whole people, and nothing but the people—is the motto for a Go vernor ; and, as a rule, any individual of ordinary ability, tact, honesty, and education, picked out of any village, would make a better President than the man steeped to the eyes in the political in trigue which forms so large a portion of the train ing of an American politician. Our readers know that Grant was born at Mount Pleasant, Ohio, April 1822 ; that he was nominated to the West Point Military Academy, where he graduated in 1843 ; that he served during the Mexican war, and left the army, in which he held the rank of captain, iu 1855, finally joining his father in business at Galena, Illinois. He obtained the command of the 21st ttegiment Illinois Volunteers on the breaking out of the war, commencing a ca reer of military success seldom equalled, but through which it is needless here for us to follow him. There was little real interest, although great dramatic effect, in Grant's nomination at Chicago, for all knew that he would be named, but none could predict who would be the Vice-President, — four candidates being held by their backers to have good prospects of success. The first ballot gave Wade 149, Fenton 132, Wilson 119, and Colfax 118 ; this was the start, the seven other candidates being far behind, down to Pomeroy with his one vote. The cry at first in Chicago was, " Wade and Vengeance," and at one time the backers of the President of the Senate telegraphed to him that they felt pretty certain of success. The second ballot added 21 to Wade's former vote and 31 to that of Colfax, the list then standing—NV ade 170, Colfax 149, Fenton 140, and Wilson 113. The third ballot gave Wade an increase of 8 and Colfax 15. Curtin was then withdrawn, which left 40 votes in the fourth ballot for the other candidates. Of these, with the constant defections from the weaker runners, Wade got 26 and Colfax 22. The vote now stood—Wade 2)4, Colfax 186, Fenton 144, Wilson 87, and Hamlin 25. This proved that the contest was between Wade and Colfax, and, the object being to defeat Wade, the strongest competi tor was selected. In the fifth ballot the delegates spoke out, giving Colfax 522, Fenton 75, Wade 42, and Wilson 11 ; and therefore Schuyler Colfax was declared the nominee for Vice-President. This gentleman was born in the city of New Yolk, in March 1823, and has therefore not long completed his 45th year. His family ha I sacrificed much for Republican principles, and as a boy he had not the advantages that wealth confers. At fourteen he was removed to Indiana, a State then of the wild West, and one to whose fortunes he has ever since been attached. When 17 years of age he was se lected to an office at South Bend, Indiana, where he began work as a printer, establishing and editing the South Bend Register, with which till very re cently he has k e pt up hi s connec ti on . B e i ng i n politics a Whig he was nominated by that' party for Congress in 1851, and though then defeated he was successful in 1856, and so great was his popu larity that he has been returned at every successive In 1863 he was chosen Speaker of the House, in which post he has remained till the pre sent time. Mr. Colfax has marked natural ability, aided by a merry, genial temper, which makes him a favourite wherever he goes, and this is very strikingly shown by the number of friends he re tains among even extreme Democrats, although himself so broadly marked with the Republican stripe. Ile has been an earnest and consistent politician, and possessing great oratorical powers, he has freely used his talents in aid of his party. He is one of the most effective lecturers ; in proof of which, we may remark that by one alone, certainly of great merit, "'Across the Continent," he cleared nearly £2,000. He is small and slender in make, with a handsome, well-shaped head. A New York Demo cratic paper says, that " scarcely a Democrat lives ho either could say, or would wish to say, one unkind word of the Radical nominee for Vice-President. Colfax is never great, never striking, never shiny, never startling, but he Chas always been sound and moderate in a certain pleasant way that de lighted one party, while never giving any offence to the other. If any Radicals have to win, Grant and Colfax are the least obnoxious that could be named." When Grant was informed that Colfax had been nominated as his colleague be was much pleased. We can well imagine that he felt a relief to have escaped the man who declared that "when he talked politics Grant talked horse," and he was pro bably sensible that the ticket happily combined two natures which would act in unison. Grant's popu larity is not of a kind liable to change. Momen tarily he may excite annoyance, as the Iron Duke had done when the windows of Apsley House were smashed by the mob ; but then the actors soon re pented and were ashamed. His popularity is not political, nor founded on oratorical success, nor merely personal, influencing those with whom he comes in contact, but, like that of the English Duke, it is a national pride in a great name, and a national belief in the sound sense, honesty, capacity, and patriotism of the individual. With Colfax the case is different. He is a genuine and enthusiastic party man, thoroughly relied on by the Republicans. Unlike Grant, who is not a " magnetic " man, who is cold, reserved, impassive, and whose presence does not arouse enthusiasm, Colfax is eminently calculated to attract and excite affection in all around him. Without genius he is one who warms up easily, and is then seen to greatest advantage. Grant's name is a tower of strength to the extremities of the Union. Colfax is a tower of strength at the seat of Government, and, working in good faith with his chief, he will bring an accession of power addressed greater than his ability wa rran t s . Wh en hi s elec tion was kno wn i n W as hi ngton h e was f a i r l y mobbed delighted potiting f t r o i e t u h d e a r , e ald e n in e residence e o s f p t o h n e s o e f lie . cial chief magistrate, he said, " Yonder White House, he regretted to say, was dishonoured by an un worthy occupant." Grant, as usual, was brief, yet short as was his speech it is the longest he has been known to make : "Gentlemen," ha said, " being entirely unaccustomed to public speaking, and without the desire to cultivate that power---(laughter)— it is impossible for me to find appropriate language to thank you for this demonstra tion. All that I can say is, that t•.o whatever position I may bo called by your will, I shall endeavour to dis charge its duties with fidelity and hotwsty of purpose. Of my rectitude in the performance of public duties you will havo to judge for yourselves by my record before you." Another proof is afforded of Western influence at the Chicago Convention by the fact that an old and well-established rule was infringed, that of selecting the ❑ominees of the party from widely separated parts of the Union, both the candidates being Wes tern men, the one from Illinois, the other from Indi ana. Grant and Colfax accepted the ticket, as we learn by telegram from Washington, dated May 30, a matter about which there was no doubt, although many of the Democratic papers had asserted that Grant would refuse to run. He expressed his opi nion that the platform was a strong one. document, with the instance of Alabama still fresh in people's memories, argues, to the writer's mind, unusual assurance. The unusual assurance was in the writer, who used this journal as a tool to dis seminate false ihtelligence. It is evident he knew no more of the subject than of the present proceed ings of Dr. Livingstone, or of any other unknown actions, and he woul I hav3 been fully as justified in inventing, for the benefit of the public, a detailed narrative, as in criticizing a declaration, of the merits of which he had not taken the trouble to inform h imsel f. —.4 nylo-.4merican Times. THE SOUTHERN CON TiE/V 2'/ ONS. The Republican Convention congratulates the country on the assured success of the Reconstruc tion projects of Congress as evinced by the adop tion in a majority of the States lately in rebellion of constitutions securing equal civil and political rights to all, and regard it as the duty of the Go vernment to sustain these institutions. It is worth while on this important subject to glance at the nature of these Constitutions, and to ascertain what the real grounds are for the congratula tions of the Convention on the progress of Re construction. The States brought back, as our readers are aware, are Arkansas, the bill for the admission of which has been passed by both Houses of Congress, the Senate on June 2 having adopted it by 34 against 8 votes ; North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana have passed the House of Representatives, and the bills were about to be sent up to the Senate ; the majority in both assemblies in favour of the admis sion being so large as to secure the measure against any contingency. We have seen so much ridicule, contempt, and abuse thrown upon the State Con ventions assembled to frame the Constitutions that we looked for little that is good in the instruments prepared. So continuous and so telling was the sarcasm, such a fertile subject of ridicule did the " Cuffees" and " Sambos" furnish, who bad the audacity to come forward as the framers of Consti tutions for States in which they had lately been sold as chattels—so agreeable is the feeling even to Republican minds of race or any other supe riority, that while these Conventions found numerous detractors, they found few defenders. These detractors is scarcely any instance had deigned even to glance at the work of the Conventions so formed. Sambo was there—and what can be ex pected from a pig but a _grunt. The very man who has just enjoyed his slice of ham can thus m m- Ho the pig, one of the most useful animals, and, as a Turk said, the only one "good from the snout to the tail." We have, however, before us the tes timony of one who has carefully examined these Constitutions. No one can say that the writer in the Nation is unqualified to form an opinion. Se lecting those of Alabatna and Florida as fair speci mens, he says Alabama was the first State in the field with a Constitution quite as R idical as any since published, and subsequently invested with a peculiar interest by reason of the struggle over its adoption, and the practical lesson taught by that struggle. The writer represents it as differing little in most respects from its predecessor, which was so satisfactory to its opponents. The radical innovations are the establishment of universal suf frage without tests, for white and black alike, which is coupled, of course, wits the formal abo lition of slavery, and the recognition of the supre macy of the National Government. From this point the old and the new Constitutions run in parallel and similar courses; the new taking up every topic of the old until the subject matter is exhausted. The first additions were matters of necessity, bat the last additions were matters of expediency, and on their utility the document must be judged. They are comprised mainly in Articles XI. and XII.; the former establishes by a long and thorough series of enactments a complete sys tem of universal popular education, with ample sources of revenue to maintain it permanently in vigorous working order. The latter creates a bureau of industrial reso urces , w ith large powers and cor respondingly important duties, among which are the discovery and investigation of all the material resources of the State, and the general diffusion of information concerning them, as well as itnpr we inents in machinery, agriculture, and manufac tures. The writer declares it to have been the honest object of the framers to keep all of good transmitted to them from the past, and to engraft upon it all the improvements suggested by later years. Time Constitution of Florida has more points of interest and novelty, and presents more matter for astonishment than any of its fellows_ Twenty out of eighty members of the Convention were blacks, yet the Constitution probably surpasses in Conservatism that of any State in the Union. A stable—and what is gene rally termed a "strong"—administration must, one would say, have appeared to these politicians to be the sunznzumbonum. Thus the Governor and Senators hold office for the unusually long terms of four years, and the members of the Assembly two years. The Executive arm is further strengthened by the privilege of appointmentin conjunction with the Senate to nearly every office of trust, power, or executive importance in the State. On the other hand, the legislative is limited to an annual session of only sixty days unless sp .cially convened by the Governor, when it may hold another session of twenty days. The Governor appoints and the Se nate confirms the Judges, of whom those of the Supreme Court hold their position for life or during good bebaviour, and those of the Circuit Court for eight years. The customary Governor's council or advisary board is a Cabinet proper, in which sits a Commissioner of Immigration and a Superinten dent of Public Instruction ; and to judge from the duties mapped out for this latter functionary he will be the busiest and one of the most powerful officials in the State. Provision is made against bribery and tumult at elections; principals and seconds to duels or challenges, and persons inte rested in any election bet or wager are denied the right of suffrage ;. officers may be impeached for drinking, gambling, and any conduct detrimental to good morals. After the year 1880 the Legisla ture is bound to pass laws requiring educa tion qualifications in all persons voting for the first time after that date. Now who are they who have passed the Constitutions thus framed ? The members were chosen by the com bined votes of blacks and whites, without either educational or other restrictions. Tue canvas on the part of the Republicans was active and thorough, and the negroes in the first flush of a power of the extent of which they were fully in formed. ,In Virginia, North Carolina, and Mis sippi, the black delegates were outnumbered by the white Conservatives. In all the States except Louisiana (where the yellow fever had frightened away multitudes of whites) and South Carolina, the black members were in so small a ratio as to be by themselves utterly powerless. In all the others the proportions ranged from a minimum of one-fifteenth in Arkansas to a maximum of about one-quarter in Florida. These figures prove that an immense majority of the coloured people must have thrown their ballots for white candidates, and a not incon siderable minority conferred their votes on thorough paced Conservatives ; th us showing that they were not influenced by th e di v iding line of colour, nor, indeed, by the de s i re t o return those whose prin ciple it was to establish their ascendancy. That they chose wisely is best proved by the work ; when this is better underst oo d th r oughout the Union it will go far to justify Congress iu its policy of Reconstruc tion, and to break downtime prejudice which exclu les coloured men from the suffrage in the loyal States. These facts will be hailed with pleasure by the nu merous advocates of the coloured people in this country, as well as in America, and it is seldom that we have recorded anything with more satis faction. These proceedings are the best guarantee of a return to peace and prosp.rity in the Southern States than which few subjects now agitating mankind are of greater importance. Let any per son compare these facts with sack an article, for instance, as that which last Thursday appeared in of c re ro ce u n s t a p ir ro t e o ee th d e in fi g r s st alm ost ludi the Pall Mall Gazette, where it is asserted that the r es Congress oluti oa of giveth Chicagotheeaii Con vention. The adoption of the tone into a formal THE REPUBLICAN "PLATFORM.', The platform laid down by the Chicago Conven tion is in a high degree satisfactory. Three ques tions required skilful handling, and met it from those who framed the declarations. The first re lated to Negro Suffrage ; the second to Impeach ment ; the third to the Tariff ; on all others the Convention being able to speak out. The resolu tion which stands second on the list refers to the Suffrage, and steers through the shoal by maintain ing the right of all loyal men in the South to vote, while leaving it to the loyal States to adjust the suffrage for themselves. Therefore, what the Con vention says is simply this :—That in the ten States now being re-admitted the negroes shall have the right to vote, whether the majority in those States like it or not. But in all the other States, if the majority so decree, the negroes shall not have the right to vote ; so that the party throws overboard the principle while holding fast to expediency, using the strength of the negro down South, but not supporting his weakness up North. This is not a bad shuffle, and will, doubt less, in the first instance, give strength. It may,. too, in the long run, prove a wise course, as time only is required to educate the people up to the necessary point, while any attempt to enforce prin ciple against prejudice will assuredly be fatal to the party trying it. It is, however, a position on every side open to attack ; indeed, logically, abso lutely defenceless, for the effect is to condemn negro suffrage where the negroes are best fitted to exercise it, and where, if not, they can do least harm, and to bestow it where they are least fitted, and where, if unfitted, they can do most harm. The Convention was, however, on the horns of a dilemma, and has taken the only sens ible means of escape. It was known that, as an expression of Republican opinion, the policy of the PRESIDENT would be condemned,and the Impeach ment approved. No one is therefore surprised that the resolutions heartily endorsed this feeling, but the question was, whether the Republican Senators who voted against conviction would by resolution be denounced, an I a dethand made on the Senate for conviction in the coming vote. Although orators were allowed full latitude in ventilating their feelings against the " recreants," and al though the Union League made a strong effort to get the Convention to class them " with those traitors to their party and country, COWAN, DIXON, DOOLITTLE, and AZ , IDREW JOHNSON, with the as surance that the traitors' doom awaits them," which the Managers depict as " suspension on the gibbet of everlasting obloquy ;" yet the Convention wisely resisted, holding fast in this instance to principles, and looking rather to good in the future than to vengeance in the past. Thus a dangerous split, which would surely have followed had the Conven tion read out of the party so many of its best men, may yet be avoided. Touching the subject of Protec tion, the Convention declares it to be due to the labour of the nation that taxation should be equalized, and reduced as rapidly as the maintenance of the national faith will permit. This may be inter preted in any way, and really means nothing. To equalize taxation the first step is to abandon pro tection, for taxation cannot be equal so long as one portion of the community is mulcted for the benefit of another portion. These are vague words, over which- Free-traders and Protectionists may puzzle thei brains in vain, but if any meaning can be extracted t rather tends to favour the doctrine of the Free traders. The agriculturist of the West can scarcely hold his labour to be placed on equal terms with that of the maunfacturers in the East so long as his produce is free, while theirs is artificially upheld. A feeling inimical to protection can, we think, be seen in the proceedings, and perhaps in the resolu tions. It is well known that if BEN. WADE was strong on any principle, it is that of Protection to native industry. When the delegates discovered the candidate most favoured they selected him, al though at the moment BEN. WADE stood first, and with all but unanimity threw the Protectionist over board. Tue taxation ia other respects is on capital more than labour ; the income tax being a direct levy from realized wealth rather than from earnings. Nothing could be more emphatic than the planks laid down regarding the honest payment of the National Debt. Here there is no prevarication; there is no desire to obscure their meaning ; broadly and distinctly they take them up, and paint on them the determination of the party to redeem the debt, not according to the letter only, but to the spirit of the loans under which it was contracted, preserving the utmost good faith to all creditors, both at home and abroad. It should be borne in mind that the West was said to favour repudia tion, but, if ever with any truth, it is now mani fest that the discussion of the subject has changed the opinions which formerly prevailed. If this be so, it is a very happy sign; for it sh ows how eas ily the people can be made to app rec i ate the arguments by which the false theory was de molished, amid this leads to the belief that any ques tion if time be given has a good chance of being settledon its merits. ANDREW JOHNSON, of course, is reproached for the corruptions which he is said so shamefully to have nursed and fostered, but we have some recollections that before ANDREW JOHNSON'S stump speeches and indiscreet words hal been "fen n essee a small d egree of corruption h ea rd beyond prevailed, which has been nursed and fostered not by him, but by the system. Where ANDREW JOHNSON is to blame, is in the care lie bestowed on nursing and fostering the brat which nearly destroyed him, 44 my policy," which brought him into direct colli sion with Congress, and wasted the time that might usefully have been employed in reforming the Civil Service. It was not that he fostered, but that he did not strangle the monster, that calls for blame; and it is because we look for so different a course from GRANT on this very point, that we so sincerely rejoice at his nomination. An English paper, astonished at the eighth Resolution, says, " it is late in the day to deplore the death of ABIWIA3I LINCOLN and the accession of ANDREW JOHN SON," —a natural blunder to make. The journal in question overlooks the fact that this Convention assembles but once in four years—that it last as sembled to nominate ABRAHAM LINCOLN, who, within a year afterwards, was assassinated, and now that a Republican Convention assembles to nomi nate another candidate for the Presidency, it natu rally expressed regret at the sad fate of that candi date so endeared to the party. As the Convention considered it to be its duty to denounce the course of ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S successor, it prefaced the resolution with the words to which we allude. The 9th is the usual bait to catch the Irish vote, so also is the 12th, and are of no importance, except as a handle for stump orators in c mvas4ing the States. Foreign immigration should, the 11th resolution de clares, be fostered by a liberal and just policy. The more populous portion of the Eastern States have no fancy for this immigration, which demoralizes the masses, lowers the scale of intelligence an I culture, increases vice, crime, and poverty, an I gives a hamlle to polLical corruption. If the employing class gains, the working class loses by competition in the labour market. But in this Convention a Western influence was dominant„ and whether the East likes it or not, immigration benefits the West, and is benefited by the noble prairies to which the hungry of Europe are invited. IVe discuss the first principle declared, in a separate article, and there fore need not allude to it here.—Angio-Anzerican Times. The State Department, it is announced, has re quest?d the Prussian Minister to ask his Government for the recall of Baron Kussorow, one of the principals, and Count Lottum, a snow], who wore engaged in the recent duel near Washington, their conduct having been con trary to the laws of the United States against duelling. Both gentlemen are attached to the Prussian Legation. AIONEY AND BUSINESS. (Front the Spring field Republican.) NEW YORK, Friday Evening, May 22. The money market continues without excitement, and almost without interest ; the change being very slight, and the tendency towards greater ease and a greater supply of loanable funds. The current rates of New York and Bos ton are not above G par cont., and many loans are placed as low as 5. There is a steady flow of currency from the country to the city banks, and the modes of disposal are by no means adequate to those of supply. The cause for the situation is attributed partially to the general dullness of business, and to the almost entire absence of speculation in the stock market. Pending the decision of the Impeachment trial, and the turn which events subsequently will take, the speculators aro more than usually cautions, and employ only a small amount of money in their business ; the manufacturing and commercial industry of the country is only partially occu pied at best, and the effect on the in eney market is simply what might be expected. There are predictions that the close of the Impeachment trial will revive the activity of the speculators, quicken the demand, and tighten the money market. Should these results be realised, nothing worth gaining will be secured. A tight and firm money market, on a legitimate and healthful demand, is an en couraging sign of business improvement and confidence, but stringency and an insatiable demand for money, imply, or mainly, for speculation, is a sign of anything but a favourable condition or satisfactory result. The political campaign will create and sustain such excitement all summer; but it is, however, doubtful if the regular cur rents of business and industry are at any time in free and liberal operation, and the money market in consequence will be unsettled and fluctuating. When the administra tion adopts a decisive policy, which commands the respect of the people, and adheres to it, then will be the time of business confidence, activity, and prosperity. But if the money market is dull and stagnant, it is not so with that for permanent securities. The , promises of the United States to pay its debts have never been i❑ better demand than at the present time, and the price of all the varieties of bonds is steadily advancing. The progress and result of Impeachment has evidently strengthened public confidence in the stability of the Government, and especially has it encouraged the holders abroad. They, with. the rest of the world, find new proof of the American theory that our Government is sure to live, succeed, and pay its debts. The Republican Convention at Chicago has planted itself and the party squarely and cre ditably upon the basis of payment of the debt in gold, and this, not so much as a party or partisan measure, as from a sense of the simple justice of the action and the ineffable meanness of doing anything else. The party will accept the declaration as the first principle of its policy, and will find in it an honest and honourable position. The special causes of the active demand for Government Securities are partly from the general with drawal of money from speculation, partly from the large foreign sales, and partly from the fact of largo investments by the farmers from the proceeds of their last year's crops. The supply is comparatively limited, and it is reported that the Secretary of the Treasury has closed out the last of the Ten-forty Beads on advantageous terms. Seven thirties are especially wanted in consequence of their con vertibility into a Five-twenty Bead dated July 1, 1863, which will be issued June 15. The new bends will then be exchangeable for the June Seven-thirties, and holders will be allowed 7 3-10 per cent. anti interest on their bonds from June 15 to July 1. The conversion of Seven -thirties into Five-twenties still continues at the rate of about 31,000,013 per day, m est of the exchanges being given in the issue of 1867. Gold has hardly moved a figure daring the week, and Vie range of fluctuation has boon less than 1 per cent. Tho closing rate of Thursday was 1391, an 1 the market is quite dull and deserted. The acquittal of the President had no elect, and speculation 53)313 utterly deal. There is an abund int supply, although the exports have lately been unusu illy heavy. The steamers of Wednesday took out over $1,030,0.)0, and those of Thursday $530,030. The total supply for the week, ending We In4slty, was aboat $5,230,000, of which $1.,170,000 was gold by the United States Treasurer, $1.,170,030 was brought by the California steamer, and $2,410,000 was paid in coin interest. Against this, the total amount drawn from the market was $0,051,030, or three-fourths of a million more than was re ceived. The stxt erneut of the New York banks on Satur day morning showed a reduction of the supply of specie iu their vaults of $317,763, and the amount drawn out for use, in excess of deposits, must have reduced the amount con siderably mere. The export demand and the amount paid in custo:ns will pre'eably be large for sometime t) COITIVIII , I even though the President should be acquitted on the re maining ten Articles of Impeachment, and no others be reported, it would not b 3 wise to predict a very marked or speedy decline in the price of gold. Aid whether there is or not is of comparatively trifling importance. The United States sells gold freely, nowadays, from half a million to a million and a half daily, and somebody is making a fortune out of the very liberal percentage allowed. The sales have amounted to g 233,030,000, and the comtniss7on on this to the comfortable sun of $231,030, and more than one-half of this amount has been pail to a house of New York brokers, which contains a relative of Secretary 31‘Calloch, which doesn't look very well, to say the least. Jay Cooke made $1,500,000 in selling the Steven-thirties, but that doesn't give any claim for unlimited future Trea sury speculations. The most respectable as well as the most economical way for the Government to dispose of its gold would be to put it up at auction to the highest bidder, and sell it in the open market. Ralway and miscellaneous shares are dully and heavy, in sympathy with the rest of the market, and the tendency of the prices is d ownwar d . T he railroads generally show an encouraging i ncrease o f earnings, and the spring busi ness is opening unusually wall. The New York and New Haven Railroad is before the Connecticut. Legislature for leave to increase its capital stock to $10,000,000, and the bill is already through one branch. It was managed with ability and shrewdness, the pretence being that the com pany wished to expend the proceeds in laying steel rails for the entire track of the road, but it is hinted that there is a cat under the meal, which will make its appearance in due time. If the company are really anxious to improve their equipment, let them not forget to put some of their money into new and respectaUe cars. Those which they have run, to the annoyance and disgust of the travelling public, are a disgrace to the wealthy and flourishing corporation, and ought to give way to something safer, more comfortable, and creditable. The railroad legisla tion in this session of our Massachusetts General Court will not be very important, unless some new develfp ments arise. The Legislature has found the liquor ques tion and the governor altogether too much for it, and will not attempt any other matters of consequence in its pre sent unpleasant state. The Kansas Pacific Railroad lately announced the completion of an additional section of 20 miles, and the South Pacific Railroad Company has just been organized at New York, and will operate on the old line of the South-west Pacific Railroad of Missouri. The Central Pacific Railroad of California earned, last year, upon loss than 100 miles in actual operation, $1,037,901 in gold, and the earnings of the first quarter in 1868 have been 50 per cent. greater than for the same time in 1867. The not earnings for 1808 are estimated at $ . 2,500,000, from which, after deducting $1,000,000 for interest and pay ments, the remainder will be applied to the construction of the road eastward. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company will pass its usual quarterly dividend of June 1, and Pre sident M'Lane announces in his note to the directors that their relations to the " Opposition " line remain un changed, but declares his determination to fight it out on that line. He says that in his " judgment there can be neither arrangement nor compromise with it, which would not prove a greater evil to our interests than a continua tion of the struggle for the object of compelling its with drawal, a result which I believe can be obtained, but only by unflinching firmness and unrelenting persistence in our present policy." Breadstuffs and provisions continuo to decline slowly at Ne iv York, but the demand is small, and only for home and immediate consumption. The business done in wheat has been rather larger than usual, and as the receipts have been hardly equal to the demand, the price is firm and higher. Cotton is no higher, and the market shows no signs of improvement, and the wool market is in a similar situation. The mercantile business for dress goods and prints is poor, and the late season operates very unfavour ably. Goods are low, andjbut few sales are made. The market for foreign goods is not active, and the jobbers and importers are accumulating large stocks. Tho receipts of cattle at the Cambridge and Brighton markets this week were unusually large, and the price gave way about one cent on a pound. The receipts of sheep were small, and those from the west sold at higher rates. (From the Wall-street Journal.) FRIDAY EVENING, May 22. The supply of Money is rapidly increasing, and far ex ceeds the demand, large lots being offered (without being taken) on call at Five per Cent. First-class paper is scarce and discounts are readily effected at Six per Cent. No. 2 is superabundant and ranges from 71 to 12 per cent. per annum. Government Stocks are very firm, although to-day some what less active. The Treasury is buying Seven-thirties at the current high quotations. The Assistant Treasurer has bought this mouth about• 510,000,000 of Seven-thirties. The whole authorized issue of Three per Cent. Certificates has been absorbed within about 5709,000, and this small balance is likely to be taken up before the end of the week. Gold is very stiff in view of the continued large ex ports, and has to-day scarcely varied, having opened and closed at 1.39. American silver sells at 5 to CI cents below the price of gold. Mexican Dollars are still quoted at 103,1 to 1031 in gold. _ . Foreign Exchange is quiet, with, however, a fair busi ness doing. Ibtilroa4 Stocks are brisk, and wo note to-day a general advance of 1 to 11 per cent. Miscellaneous Stocks do not show much animation, the exception being Pacific Mail, which is a trifle better. Mining Stocks show very little change, and the business continues on a very small scale. Petroleum Stocks are active, and a good business is doing. United States is strong and scarce, and Union has advanced to 65 25. There is a good demand for the stocks of all companies owning their properties in fee simple. Express Stocks are quoted as follows :—Adams, 58 to 581; American, 551- to 561; United States, 571 to 58 ; Wells, Fargo, and Co., 2-14 to 25 ; Merchants' Union, 35 per cent., 29i : to 29k. The following report has been presented to the board of directors of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company by the Auditing Committee:— "Office of the Pacific Mail Steamship Conipany, New York, May 20. " To the Board of Directors. " The Auditing Committee respectfully report that in consequence of delay in the transmission of the Pacific accounts they are unable at the present time to lay before the Board the customary quarterly statements and balances referring thereto. They have, however, exa mined the company's securities, and found the same cor rect and in order. " They bag leave to submit tho accompanying report of the Presileut to their committee, on the subject of dividends, whicli they have unanimously adopted, and to recommend its acceptance by the Board. " WM. DENNISTOUN, Chairman. " JONATHAN THORNE, " GEO. B. 1 - IARTsoN, " Auditing Committee." PRESIDENT'S REPORT TO TIIE AUDITING COMMITTEE. I beg leave to report that our relations with " the Op position" remain uncha.nge I, and to add that, with such knowledge of, and experience in, the case as I have been able to acquire, there can be neither arrangement nor compromise with it, in my judgment, which would not prove a greater evil to our interests than a continuation of the struggle for the object of compelling its withdrawal ; a result which I believe can be obtained, but only by un flinching firmness and an unrelenting persistence in our present policy. In view, therefore, of such a continuation of this struggle for the preservation of the company's business integrity, with the consequent vital importance of main taining the largest amount of strength and resources, I respectfully recommended that the considerations of the question of a dividend be postponed, and indefinitely. All of which is respectfully submitted. (Signed) ALLAN MCLANE, President. On motion, the report of the Auditing Committee was unanimously accepted and adopted by the Board of Directors. (Attsst) THEO. F. JOHNSON, Secretary. The following were the closing quotations this evening for the Railroad and Miscellaneous Stocks : N. Y. Central 1291 Erie Hudson Reading Mich. South. & N. I B7 Illinois Central Cleveland & Pittsbrg 854 North-West North-West Preferred 771 Canton... 504 Rock Island Cleveland and Toledo 108 Fort Wayne Pacific Mail 924 Atlantic Mail 33 Quicksilver W. U. Telegraph Mariposa Preferred Ohio and Mississippi 3O l Water Power 2li Cumberland The following for the Ne Merchants' America Butchers and DroverS 123 City Now York Manhattan Mechanics' Union Phenix 1074 Tradesmen's Gallatin National Merchants' Exchange 113 Seventh Ward State of New York Commerce Ocean lO5l American Exchange.— 119 Bank of the Republic ll7 Bank of North America 110 Eleventh Ward 105 Mercantile Fulton First National 2034 New York County 145 Marine 145 By telegram from San Fr, we have the following quotah Gould and Curry Savage ••• ..• ••• CholarPotosi Ophir ..• ••• ••• Hale and Narcross Crown Point ••• Yellow Jacket Belcher ••• .•• ••• Alpha ... Kentucky Bullion Overman ... Empire Mill Imperial ••• ••• 4.94 Confidence Amader ••• • •.. Exchequer ... •.. Quartz Hill „,„ ..• •.. 17 Lady Byron ... ••• The following wore the closing quotations for the various Public Funds of the United States in New York : Sixes, 1868, registered 143 to 1431 Sixes, 1868, coupon Sixes, 1881, coupon ll5l to 1131 Five-twenties, 1862, coupon Five-twenties, 1864, coupon Five-twenties, 1863, coupon Five-twenties, 1865, coupon, new - to 1101 Five-twenties, 1867, coupon ... Ten-forties, coupon lOO4 to 105 Seven-thirties, 2d series Seven-thirties 3d series Oregon War Loan, Sixes, 1881 , York City Bank Stocks:— Manufac. and Merchts' 103 Mechanics' Association 118 Broadway Hanover Irving Metropolitan People's Market , ll5 Nassau lO4 Shoe and Leather ll7 Corn Exchange 126 Continental lo3j St. Nicholas Common wealth Importers and Traders' 129 Central National Pond h National lO7 Ninth National Park l5l Leather Manufacturers' 170 Oriental Bank l3O Tenth National East River Pacific l6O Chatham l4B ,ncisco, dated May 20, 1868, ,ions:— ... $l3O per foot ... 3,147 „ ... 220 „ ... 165 „ .., 2,119 „ ... 2,110 .„. :.: I*o ,", .. '305 ',, ..• ••• 17 ... 200 pr share. The following vessels compose the North German fleet which, on the Ist of April, hoisted the North German flag. It possesses only seven sailing vessels. 1. The Barbarossa, of 1,313 tons burden and nine guns. 2. Three sailing frigates : the Gefion, the Thetis, and the Niobe, together containing 3,909 tons and 114 guns. 3. Three brigs of war: the Rover, the Moskito, and the Bela, to gether containing 1,367 tons and 38 guns. For local de fence, 36 gunboats. Steamers of War—For the defence of the coasts : 14 second-class screw gunboats, together 3,458 tons burden, 840 horse power, and 28 guns; also, two cut ters, together 1,376 tons burden, 400 horse power, and 14 guns ; one screw steamer, 445 tons burden, 400 horse power, and 14 guns; 1 screw transport steamer, 280 tons burden, 50 horse power ; ironclad, no guns ; 8 first-class screw gunboats, together 2,400 tons burden, 640 horse power, and 24 guns; 4 screw corvettes, together 1,543 tons burden, 1,200 horse power, and 62 guns; 5 light screw frigates, together 9,104 tons burden, 1,950 horse power, and 140 guns. Ironclads.-5 ironclads ; the Prince Adal bert, the Arminius, the Friederich Carl, the Kronprince, and the Konig Wilhelm, together 15,338 tons burden, 3,500 horse power,and 62 guns. The entire fleet contans 83 vesselS, which are together of 43;898 tons burden,B,9Bo horse power, and armed with 553 guns. They will shortly be armed exclusively with cast steel guns. These shoot very far, are lighter and more durable than the heaviest artillery", and, therefore, every way more suitable for ships. Thus the iron-clads carry almost exclusively 300-pounders, and frigates 72-pounders. While the heaviest iron-clads of 6,000 tons burden will require a crew of only 700 men, the large wooden ships of 3,300 tons of former times required a crew of 1,000 men. The steamers, with the exception of two cutters, are fitted out with a complete tackling, so as to be able in case of a naval combat, storm, or other accident, to employ full sailing power. Thus a corvette steamer will only need coal for 60 days on a voyage of three years. [ADVERTISEMENT. j—liolloway's Ointment and Constant Success.—No diseases are more trying to the temper and more exhausting to the constitution than the pains in muscles and joints caused by exposure to wet or cold. Wherever the seat of suffering it will only be neces sary to foment the affected part with warm water, di"' thoroughly, and immediately rub in Holloway's inesti mable ointment to obtain ease. Gout, rheumatism, neu ralgia, and tie-doloreux aro soon relieved and ultimately cured by the use of this unequalled unguent, aided by Holloway's purifying and aperitive pills. Under this ju dicious treatment the afflicted parts soon cease to ache and shortly regain their natural feelings and appearance. These remedies are invaluable for curing spinal affections and nervous disca sex. Births. DAVIS —On the 9th inst., tho wife of Edmund F. Davie , Esq., of 6, Cork-street, Burlington-gardens, W., of s " son. FERGUSON—On the Bth inst., at Raith, the wife of Colonel Munro Ferguson, of a son. FORD —At Zeeluyt House, Cheltenham, the wife of CaP t * St. Clair Ford, of a daughter. Marriages. FRASER—LAIMBEER—On the 9th inst., at St. Mark's, Tol' lington-park, Holloway, George P. Fraser, of 8, Fnrni' val's -inn solicitor, son of W. Fraser, Esq., of Limerick to Mary ' Ann, daughter of the late Charles Laimbeer, 0 Torrington, Esq. SEARLE CuEEsEmAx —On the 9th inst., at the parts 11 church, Reigate, James, eldest son of J. Searle, Esq., °, Farze-hill, Redhill, to Edith Elinor, young e st child 0 h G. Cheeseman, Esq., of The Observatory, Redhill. Deaths. VKLAND —On tho 7th lust at 5, Waterloo-croscent, Dover, James Blaxland, Esq., aged 78. BELL— Oa the Bth inst., at Leamington, John Fox Be lit Esq., late of The Highwood, near Uttoxoter, aged 71. BitlCE—On the 9th inst., in Harley-street, Brigadier-Gen• Edward Brice, C. 8., Royal (Madras) Horse commanding the troops at Nagpore, aged 59. -lIAMP On the Bth inst., John "lamp, of Overseal, Leic2s tershire, aged 76. MILLS—(.n the 7th inst., at St. Leonard's-on-Sea, Lieut'' (Jul. C. EL Mills, ll.M.'s Ileugal Army, aged 40. M'llouAL—On the 10th inst., at Richmond, Surrey, W . rj . M‘Doual, Esq., aged 33. WiLsox —On the 9th inst., at 38, Mildmay-park, gr. r• Wilson, aged 85. London : Printed and Published by ViriLLIA.M ANDREW";' of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Mit Sox 031ce, No 11 Strand, in the Precinct of the Sr vuy, in the Coll 2 U' Middlesex.--Thursday, June 11, 180. R jh Prize Itj SO the Ob han's N 14 Abv hold Id* Forn Prol lilt( I] MA FilOt GI; so.' be brl str Ti ho Co fel ed CI Ni ira at; al