The Sun. — London, England, 1868-03-27 00:00:00

SPIRIT` OP TEE PUBLTO . JOURNALS. The discussion which took plaee on the night of the army estimates on the increase of the capitation grant to the volunteers, leads tlie . Tinto to take up that larger subject, the constittition of the entire British army. The present Govermneht haArecogaied the truth that if danger threaten tlifs country at any time the regular army will - be 4isufficient to avert it, And that the subsidiary forces of militia and volunteers must be brought into more 'Complete union with the regulars and with each other if they are to form one well-ordered and effective whole. In pursuance of this conviction a step has been made by uniting the militia, volunteers, and the reserve, which were heretofore each under its own separate colonel. They have now been placed under the command of a general officer of high rank. Now, we think that though an increase of the capitation grant would not be objected to by the public, such a grant ought to be combined with a more complete discipline,• and be conditional upon it. The nation will not grudge 20,5., nor even 405., more per man if it has the assurance that the men for whom it pays will be really available in case of war. What is wanted is to make the militia and volunteers a more thorough army for home purposes, and to accustom them to act with the regulars, so that these should Le con sidered rather the nucleus of the British army than the army itself. The numbers of our domestic force are at present quite large enough fur all purposes of defence. We do 'not want more volunteers, but we want those that are enrolled to be more thoroughly trained, and the increase of the capitation grant might be made conditional on this. It is only fair the State should demand from men whom it is disposed to deal with liberally that They should give a day occasionally to military exercises on a larger scale, and thus fit themselves to take their place in a real army. It is needless to recapitulate the arguments which have been already urged in support of such a combination of our military elements. We have had the examples of America and Germany to instruct us since the volunteer force was formed ; and while they fully confirm the prin ciple of that force, they enable us to judge how far it is deficient, and how it may best be organised for modern war. The Stardard takes up the question actually before the House. The arguments of the applicants for an increased grant urge that the force has now been in existence for several years ; it has worn out its first uniforms ; it is becoming a more costly burden upon the members ; it has to be kept up by artificial stimulants; the enthusiasm and the resources of private associations begin to fail ; the purses of the officers are overtaxed; the regimental bands, though indispensable, are costly ; and the exigencies of drill and display, drawing large numbers together at points of the country distant from their homes, are growing more onerous year by year. In one quarter, therefore, it was urged that a systematic increase of the Government grant for the whole force equally, should be proposed with the estimates, while in others it was only suggested that volunteers should be recouped in their authorised, certified, and unavoidable 'costs out of pocket. The latter proposal is to a certain degree acquiesced in by the Secretary at War, but he in dicates, at the same time, a truth which cannot be gain said. The original idea of our volunteer army was un questionably that of a self-supporting force, supplied, in deed, with weapons from the national army, yet otherwise dependent upon its own powers of self-sacrifice. So far from this theory having been acted upon in its integrity, the riflemen now cost the country £-100,000 a year, and their colonels are soliciting an extra donation of nearly half that amount. Agreeing with Sir John Pakington, that the claim may be made out on a future occasion, we agree with him also in thinking that this is not exactly the time to press it. The bill which the Chancellor or the Exchequer was prevented, by protracted debates in committee, from introducing for placing the telegraphs of the United King dom under the control of the Post-office authorities, is, in the opinion of the Pest, one which must meet with uni versaliapprobation. Whatever may be said of the evils of monopolies, there are circumstances under which they are productive of unmixed good. And these circumstances are very easily ascertained. The Post Office is a gigantic monopoly in the hands of the State, hut no one can enter tain a doubt that greater perfection of administration, stricter economy, and a more complete protection of the interests of the public are secured by placing the postal arrangements of the country in the hands of a particular department of the State, than by adopting in this respect a free-trade policy, and allowing any person who thought proper to establish a system of letter-carrying with a view to his own progt. The Ministerial scheme has the un equivocal merit of being open to . no objection as to prin ciple. Of course, persons 'may he found to differ in opinion as to the best means of carrying the object of the bill into effect ; but all must agree in considering that the transmission of all property in, and control over, the tele graphs of this country to the Government is eminently calculated to benefit the public. The fact of being sole masters of the field, and being in a position to turn their resources to the best account, must enable the authorities to use their wires at a lower cost, and, consequently, to transmit messages at a cheaper rate, than companies many of which are acting in opposition to each other, and which are constantly the prey of conflicting interests. We cer tainly do not much care for what are termed paternal Governments, which do everything for their subjects, and leave them little opportunity of doing anything of a general or public nature fir themselves ; but this proposed amalgamation of the postal and telegraphic systems in this country is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. The Daily .2Creles notices Mr. Disraeli's letter to the Earl 'of Dartmouth on the Irish Church question. The opinion of the Prime Minister, it says, which he thrusts upon his antagonists in spite of their disavowal, that the mainte nance of the Protestant Establishment of Ireland is essen tial to the union of Church and State in England, involves the principle of government which for centures has per verted the relations of the two countries. Ireland is to be ruled, not for her own advantage, but the interests of Eng land. A State Church is to be kept up there, in order to secure the safety of the State Church here. This practice goes far to justify the revived demand of the Limerick clergy for legislative independence. It is only by dis claiming it for the future, and undoing the effects of its operation in the past, that a real union can be secured. If we admit the duty of ruling Ireland for the Irish, and not for the English, and adopt Mr. Disraeli's doctrine of Church and State, the establishment of the Roman Catho lic Church is the inevitable consequence. To this con clusion all Mr. Disraeli's theories lead. It does not suit him at present to allow this. He may condescend to obscure the real tendency of his arguments by winking at the cries of " No Popery" and " Protestantism in Danger," which his followers are already beginning to raise. But the logical development of his doctrines is clear. The results to which we are led may be briefly summed up. The Protestant - Establishment in Ireland can be justified only on the principle that it is right to govern Ireland for the benefit of England ; and this side of Mr. Disraeli's doctrine we commend to the Irish Catholics. The abstract principle of the union of Church and State in its applica tion to Ireland involves the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church ; and this side of Mr. Disraeli's doctrine we commend to the Protestants of the empire, to whom, however, it will not be more distasteful than to Roman Catholics themselves. Is Herod of Jewry, asks the Telegraph, come to life again, that we are to hear of nothing but massacres of the inno cents? Dead babies thrust into holes in back cellars ; live babies set on the fire by drunken nurses ; little school children immersed in wash-house coppers by ignorant governesses ; little boys burned with red-hot pokers by female fiends ; girls of six horsewhipped within an inch of their lives by their stepfathers for not giving them alight for their pipes properly ; babies drowned, babies chopped up, babies hidden away,—thi. - 3 is but a sample, in deed, of the catalogue of infantile horrora which has been published within the last month. And now we are again told the sickening story of the baby-boiling in the Wigan workhouse. A girl named Catherine Dawber was tried at Liverpool, on Tuesday, for the manslaughter of a female child, seven months old. The girl was neither more nor less than an idiot ; yet, her imbecility notwith standing, she was entrusted with the washing and dressing of a child. The wretched simpleton filled a bucket with boiling water, and plunged the poor little baby's body in it. That was her idea of washing the infant. It needed drying afterwards, and, although it screamed dreadfully, the idiot scrubbed it with a rough towel, causing- the skin to peel off. In a few days the baby died from the injuries it had received. The, girl was, of course, acquitted. The Herald, in a leader on the impeachment of the President of the United States, does not go so far as to affirm that the American Commonwealth, unfortunate as it at present looks, is sick unto death. It would be a daring thing to assert that there are not in that extensive fasciculus of territories the honest, energetic, gifted men who may do for it what Cato and Brutus failed to do for Rome, and all our modern Republicans failed to do for France, England, and Italy. But, if so, where were they these twenty-five years during which Napoleon 111. was refounding France ; and how happens it that the most eminent and trusted of their politicians is standing at this moment at the bar impeached as a chief traitor? Perhaps the real hope of the Repui lie lies the other way—for when a commonwealth is in diffi culties, it is as possible. for it to live through the want of great men as in the more common case to perish by their possession. If the Republic had at this moment a Caesar, or even a Pompey, within its boundary, who shall say that the dictatorship which Mr. Johnson is charged with might not be in the possession of'somebody else ? In the meantime the marvel of the impeachment of the chief of this great commonwealth must be left to its results as another of the agents threatening a disinte gration. His suspense may not mean that of the execu tive energy of the country, but in a Republic, where the administrative power is proverbially weak, it can hardly be unattended with bad influences. So much government, so much obedience ; and when the chief depositary .of power is paraded as its chief debtor, it looks as though the very principle of authority were gone, and that thb whole hierarchy of order had fallen into fatal dimolution, BILLS IN PARLIAMENT. A bill has just been printed •• to amend the laws relating to places for holding petty sessions, and to lock-up houses, for tie temporary confinement of persons taken into custody, and not yet committed for trial." It is basked by Sir James Fergusson and the Home Secretary. Simply, its object is to enable two or more districts to join together in building a sessions-house and lock-up, and to maintain it jointly. Machinery is, of course, provided for carrying out this object. Another bill just printed is Messrs. Ewart, Baxley, and Baines's attempt to establish the metric system of weights and measures in this country. It seeks to have prepared by the Board of Trade a measure of length the same as that used in Paris, having the word " Metre" engraved upon it, this length to be the unit standard henceforth for the United Kingdom. The unit standard of surface is to be the square of ten metres, and to he called an arc. The unit of capacity for liquid and dry goods is to be the cube of the tenth of a metre, and to be called a litre. The unit of weight is to be the " gram," a thousand " grams" to make a " kilogram." The kilogram is to be prepared and kept in the custody of the wardcr of standards ; copies and models of the standards are to be made and sent to all places where they are required to be kept, and other copies may be made by magistrates, &c., for reference. • All the provisions as to rectification, &c., applying to Imperial weights and measures apply to the metric system. The Imperial and local systems are to be abolished in time, and no other weights may after a certain number of years be used. Until the expiration of that period the metric system is to be voluntary. The permissive Act of 1864 is also renealed. G-LADSTONE ON CHURCH BATES Severalof the clergy in the diocese of Bath and Wells lately addressed Mr. Gladstone, pointing out that the clause in his Chureh Rates Bill giving the churchwardens power of recovery only from those who had agreed before hand to the levy of a rate, would act very injuriously to the Church. Occupiers, especially the smaller ones, rarely attended vestries, and were reluctant to enter before hand into engagements of this kind, when not really un willing to concur in the object proposed. In the absence of their expressed agreement (should the provision requiring it be maintained), it would be very difficult for churchwardens to form any reliable estimate of the amount to be raised by any given rate. They therefore ventured to ask that the right hon. gentleman would re consider the question, whether it is impossible for him to introduce into his bill the provision that those who desire exemption from tl.c charge so long sanctioned by law should be required to claim such exemption, and that the absence of such claim should be held to imply a continued willingness to contribute. To this Mr. Gladstone replied as follows :—" I regret that it is wholly beyond my power to accede to the wish ex pressed by yourself and several other clergymen you have done me the honour to address to me. The principle of exemption was, I think, first proposed from the Liberal side of the House of Commons, very nearly twenty years ago. I spoke favourably of it at the time ; but it was rejected, or rather effectually repelled and discounte nanced by the supporters of church rates in general. At later periods, when they had become disposed to entertain it, the promoters of abolition hail apparently ceased to be willing to accept it. To introduce it now into my bill would be a fundamental departure from the basis of the measure, which is this : that on the one side it abolishes compulsion, and places church rates under the law of voluntary promises; on the other hand, it gives the option of preserving (or, I may add, reviving) in each parish the form and machinery of church rates, and it secures to those who may contribute to the church rate or fund that power of regulating within legal limits the application of the money which now belongs to the ratepayers at large, in cluding those who do not contribute to the rate. The fact is undoubted, that except in cases of discontent or agitation, the ratepayers do not attend the vestries. In theory, the argument is formidable that, such being the case, the church wardens will not know who will pay, nor, consequently, what rate to make. But I think it will be, and has already been found in practice, that in parishes of moderate size, and even in some large and populous parishes, the general disposition is sufficiently wen known to admit of calcula tions that suffice for action. I have been desirous in this letter that at least it should not appear that your pro posal had been treated with neglect; and the more so, because I have been compelled to answer so much less fully than I should have wished the letters which I have received on this subject from clergymen in all parts of the country. I think it might be for the convenience of the clergy, as well as of others, if you should think fit to send his letter to some well-circulated journal." THE SUEZ CANAL. The Duke of St. Albans, dating from Port Said, Egypt, Feb. 29, describes in the Times his impressions of the works on the maritime canal, across the Isthmus of Suez. llis Grace says :—" At the Suez end of the canal every thing seemed activity. I saw four large floating steam dredges at work, clearing a channel through the shallows of the Red Sea, and others being put together. I saw the Arabs busy on the other side of an embankment which divided the sea from the works, furrowing out the course of the canal. I had seen this part three months before, and the progress had been considerable. I saw the course of the canal beyond this marked by the enormous dredges standing above the mirage and the desert. There are sixty large and twelve small steam floating dredges, with more than a hundred attendant steam barges in work. The larger ones cost from £15,000 to £20,000, which may give you some idea of their size. They discharge their buckets of sand into the steam barges or into iron aqueducts 220 ft. in length, which pass their contents over the banks of the canal on to the desert beyond. Forty-eight millions of cubic feet were thus displaced last month, and 60,000,000, it is thought, will be done per month in the summer days. The last-mentioned machines are an invention peculiar to these works, and are due to M. Lavalley, who may be called the maker, as M. Lesseps is the originator, of the Suez Canal. The great difficulty has been found after the water rises before the dredges can be floated. As the salt-water canal is not filled between Suez and Ishmailia, passengers and cargo are forwarded thence on the fresh-water canal in steam launches and barges. This canal is of ordinary size, and will allow two large barges to pass each other, but I wish to speak only of the great Salt - Water Canal. The first point of interest after leaving Suez is at Great Shalouf. This is the most important cutting next to El Guisr. It is four miles in length, through clay, stone, and sand, and is dry at present. Three thousand European and Arab workmen are kept there. I was more struck here than anywhere else on the works. The canal is cut to its extreme depth, and the water will stand 26ft. deep at low water in the Red Sea. You look down into this enormous dry channel, with its busy hive of workmen scooping away the ground and filling the trucks, which stationary engines draw up and replace by others ; and while looking down on this magnificent work you almost persuade yourself to believe in large steamers passing to and fro here between the West and East, in the coffers of the company being filled with their dues, and in delighted shareholders drawing large dividends. At the Serapium, some distance further inland, you come on another piece of the canal finished, and it is here you meet the waters of the Mediterranean, which have been brought over half the whole distance in the maritime canal, and are kept hack from other portion of the works by an embankment of earth. From the Serapium you pass to Ishmailia, the capital of the company, standing on the pretty saltwater lake, Timsale, which has been filled from the Mediterranean to the depth of 20ft. Here are the homes of the company's officers. Church, gardens, streets, even the dogs, are European, and you forget that the Arab rules the land. I was there the last days of the carnival. Masqueraders promenaded the streets, and a ball was to be given at the Assembly Room. If financial ruin is immi nent, it sits lightly on the good people of the Isthmus." The Duke, after glancing at some of the other character istics of the country, tells us that where the canal enters the Mediterranean and forms the harbour of Port Said, a rapidly-increasing town has sprung up. He thus concludes his letter : " I came a sceptic, and leave a true believer in the completion within a short time of the canal across the Isthmus of Suez. The kindness and courtesy we every. where experienced were such as I shall always remember with pleasure, and I heard on every hand expressed the gratification all felt in spewing English people the progress they were making." A. requisition is in course of signature from members of the National Club, requesting the committee to call a general meeting of the club, for the purpose of protesting against the unconstitutionalattempt now openly made to rend asunder the National Church by disesta_ blishing that portion of it which extends over Ireland. A parliamentary return has been issued, skewing the sums expended, compared with the amounts granted, for army services in the year ended the 31st March, 1867. It appears that the savings on the different votes were .480,563, while on the other hand the deficiencies were £329,043, thus leaving the balance to be made good by an additional grant, £48,479. There were savings on the militia, yeomanry, volunteers, warlike stores, new works, and out-pensions, while the expenditure was exceeded in the several items of regimental pay, commissariat, clothing, barracks, medical service, manufacturing depart ments, miscellaneous services, and superannuations. One of the items of staff and regimental allowances is " beer money," which represents an expenditure of more than £llO.OOO per annum. • THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 27, 1868, EXPERIMENTS Arl SHOEBURY NESS. Experiments were carried on at Shoeburyness yesterday and the previous day by the Ordnance Select Committee. The first series was with diaphragm Shrapnel shells and fuzes, in continuation of the trials recorded by us on the 15th of January last. The objects were twofold—To ascertain the cause of the premature bursting of shells as noted in late experiments, and to test the accuracy of burning of the 1-inch wood fuzes for diaphragm Shrapnel shelli versus 9-seconds wood time fuzes, for muzzle loading gun. The guns used were the 8-inch 60 cwt., and 32-pounder of 58 cwt. For the purpose of ascertaining whether the premature bursting of the shell is traceable to some action of the bursting charge, 20 rounds were fired from each gun, the shells being loaded with powder and plugged ; charges, IQlb. common large-grained powder ; elevation, 5 degrees. Result :--None of the shells burst. Nineteen of each nature were re covered and carefully examined ; none of the load ing or fuze-hole plugs were found to have become loosened. To ascertain whether the premature bursting of the shells is traceable to any action of the fuze, 20 rounds were fired from a 32-pounder gun, the shells being loaded and fuzed with 1-inch wood diaphragm Shrapnel fuzes, all bored to 2-10ths. Elevation of gun, 1 degree. Result :—Five blind, 2 burst in the gun, 13 burst at various distances. The times of flight to burst varied from 9-10ths of a second to 1.7 seconds, so that is at a distance from about 360 yards the minimum, to 750 yards the maximum. Twenty rounds were then fired with similar shells, charges and elevation, but with the 9-seconds wood time fuzes for muzzle-loading guns bored to 2-10ths. Result :-1 blind, nine burst in gun, 19 burst at various distances. The time of flight to burst, noted by instruments, varied from 6-10ths to 1.4 seconds, that is, at a distance of from 275 yards minimum to 700 yards maximum. Twenty rounds were fired from an 8-inch 60-cwt. gun, with 10lb. charges, the shells, charges, and fuzes being as in the first series with 32-pounder. Result :-1 blind, 1 burst in gun, 18 burst at various distances—the times of flight to burst being from 7-10ths second to 2.4 seconds, that is, at dis tances from 360 yards minimum to 750 yards maxi- mum. Twenty rounds followed, shells and charges simi lar to the third series above, the fuzes as in the second series. Result :—None blind, none burst in gun, 20 burst at various distances ; the times of flight to burst being from 6-10ths to 1.3 second,that is at a distance from about 255 yards minimum to 470 yards maximum. The time of flight was taken throughout by an officer with a clock at the bat tery, and the estimated distance of burst ascertained also by observers placed at right angles to the picketed line of fire. The second experiment of the programme was to test case-shot, designed for use with 32-pounder breech-loading guns, for defence of flanks and caponnieres. The cases were of common tin, with iron ends ; weight, 491 b. ; length, 10.94 in. ; diame ter, 6.14 in. Contents, a segmento iron lining and 80 eight-ounce sand shot. Ten rounds were fired, with 31b. charges of L. G. R. powder—gun at about three-quarters of a degree elevation. Results : all broke up, some near and some 50 yards from the muzzle. The time occupied in firing the last four rounds (the gun being loaded for the first round) was noted as 53 seconds. The gun used in this ex periment is a service cast-iron smooth-bore 32- pounder of 46 cwt., converted to a breech-loader on Krupp's plan, and was mounted on a wrought-iron carriage and platform so arranged that the gun should not recoil. The weight of the carriage and platform being 22 cwt. 3 qrs. 111 b. The third experiment was to test a trough de signed at Shoeburyness from which to fire rockets of Hale's pattern. Five 24 pounder rockets were fired at nine degrees of elevation. They were placed at various distances in the trough, and grazed some at about 150 yards, others at 400 and 600 yards' distance. It was ascertained that the rockets made one whole turn in 5i feet, as shown on the trough by the gas marks from the vents. The experiments were conducted by the com mandant, Colonel Eardley-Wilmot, R.A., assisted Rdn b p y er a ; n, ptcct.A. T: Captain oeGtn A af ecoi ln l nl d l eFo e Lrlr r avue s li o eanir n gi n , goc it fffi, tr./RockyNels. RA., ColoneldoAt l Lieutenant e e l Fu committeelt.i Mayne I n ; a a sa y n y. n, t , epc E (rw. B.el (un attached), were nt a tt a ched), Colonel Shaw, R.A., Colonel Heyman, R.A., Secretary, and Quartermaster Behenna, It.A., Commissary of Stores. THE SILVER MINES OF NEVADA. (From a Correspondent of the New York Times.) The Comstock Lode, on which the Silver Mines of Virginia City and Gold Hill are situated, is pro bably the most productive mineral vein in the world. It is only a strip of land three miles long by 600 yards wide, yet it yields $12,000,000 an nually. Five thousand men are employed on it during the year, and the produce for each work man is about $2,000 per annum—an average of production probably equalled on no other mineral vein in the world. In 1865 there were 46 com panies working it, who owned 22,258 feet, and had excavated about 28 miles of tunnels and drifts, and 54 miles of shafts, wings, and inclines, with some 33 miles more of chimneys, &c. The longest tun nel made is the Latrobe —3,200 feet ; the greatest depth penetrated is by the Gould and Curry, 821 f e et. These companies have 44 hoisting and pump ing engines, aggregating more than 1,500 horse power; 76 mills are employee in reducing the ore, with an aggregate capacity for crushing 1,800 tons daily. They consume annually about 22,265 cords of wood, at a cost of about $l6 per cord. Their wood and timber together are estimated to cost annually about $1,000,000. Mount Davidson, in which this famous vein occurs, is a barren mountain (in Story County, Nevada), mainly of granite, though serpentine, quartz, syenite, gneiss and talcose, and calcareous rocks enter into its composition. Its summit is 7,827 feet above the sea level; while the vein itself and Virginia City are about 6,200 feet. The lode is a regular fissure vein, and subject to the usual displacements and faults of mineral veins, which show such an uncertainty over all mining opera tions. At one place it may be entirely interrupted by trap-dykes or other rocks, or the wall rock may be imbedded in it or other matter destitute of ore. The ore, too, is often deposited in " chimneys," which run lengthways with the vein, and thus carry the rich deposits out of one property into another ; so that the unfortunate company which had been gathering their hundreds of thousands one month may be entirely without income the next ; and yet after penetrating deeper they again strike on even a richer deposit, or they may labour for years with out meeting with any. I visited, during my stay in Virginia City, the Savage mine, as being one of the safest and best conducted, and also went over the works of the Gould and Curry, Hale and Norcross, and Empire. In the Savage we were placed on a platform in a shaft, and with a warning from my conductor we disappeared as if by magic from the cheerful sur face of the world, and descended with frightful rapidity some 600 feet into the bowels of the moun tain, getting wild glimpses as we passed of what seemed dark caverns, with lights gleaming and mysterious-looking forms wielding the pick-axe— which were the various levels with their workmen —until we landed quickly near the bottom. • These steam-worked shafts and platforms, how ever, seem very dangerous things, and I hear of constant horrible accidents in them. It was re markable how dry and commodious the various wings and levels and galleries were in this mine. My guide took fragments from each rock as we groped around the mine, and gave estimates of its value with perfect confidence. " This will pay $lO a ton, this $l5, this $BO, this $5OO, and this $2,000!" while all I could discern was a more or less dark shade of the sulphurets. He says (what I hear everywhere) that the companies now are careful not to commit the error of the Gould and Curry, and bring all their best ores at once to the mill; but they mix them and so average their product. A They all are working with far greater economy than they used to ; and when a branch of the Pacific Road touches Virginia City they hope to be able to bring down their expense for fuel (now $l5 a cord) and for lumber (now $45 per thousand) at least one half. My guide—a very intelligent leaseman who has risen from the workmen—says that the miners are constantly investing their savings in one, two, or three of the shares of these companies, and know ing the precise condition of their own mines they often make large sums. The cost of reducing the ore in the Savage was about $l6 per ton, and the yield averages about $44. In 1866 this mine alone, produced 30,653 tons of ore, and reduced 20,535 —valued at $1,303,852. During the 26 months after they began their works (April, 1863) they produced bullion valued at $3,600,709, and paid out in dividends over $BOO,OOO. During the first six months of 1867 the mine pro duced $1,815,000 of bullion against $711,553 in 1866, and divided $750 per share in the same period, or $600,000 against no dividend in 1866. Its shares were worth this summer about $1,700 per foot. The general opinion in the other mines seemed to be that this company had ore enough in sight to pay large dividends till August, 1868. Yet, that no sane mortal on the eastern coast should think of investing in this or any other Californian or Nevada line on the strength of such statement. Indeed, the more I see of mines and mining opera tors on this coast the more I wonder that Eastern capital can be directed to them with any confidence or reasonable hope. When a given mining stock is presented to investors in New York or New Eng land no one can possibly say how much real value it represents. It may all exist in imagination, or it may represent a bona fide mining claim ; but what its value will be a month or a year hence no mortal can predict. It may be even the best existing silver mining stock on the Pacific Coast, and yet in three months not be worth one half its pre sent price. The superintendent to whom I spoke in the Comstock mines said to me that he could not possibly predict what their product would be after a twelvemonth ; it might be tenfold their present ; it might be nothing. The business is the most un certain imaginable. It is said that the hills about Virginia City could be covered with the silver dol lars uselessly wasted by Eastern investors and specu lators in these mines. Then mining stocks on this coast have fallen to a large degree into the hands of the most unscrupu- lous gamblers. No such sharpers exist in the worn as deal in mining stock speculations in California and Nevada. Beside them Wall-street itself is rural and moral. Many of them have now large indivi dual and banking capital to back them. They can falsely reduce values, and purposely diminish pro duction, till they can lay assessments and " freeze out" the unhappy stockholders, and then buy in themselves ; or they can produce extravagantly a short time and " corral" a stock till it rises to fabulous prices and then sell out, leaving the unfortunate public the owner of a worthless property. The general rumour in California ac cuses the Bank of California, or its managers, of furnishing these unprincipled speculations. But while even the occasional prizes of silver mining remain as they do on this coast there will al ways be investors and speculators. Thus, take such fortune as this :—The Empire Mining Com pany was organized in Virginia City on March 7, 1863. On November 30, 1864, they had crushed about 25,000 tons of ore, and had received from it in bullion $1,043,720. No capital stock was ever paid in, though it was valued (in 1864) at a million ; no assessment had ever been laid, 'and the mine has paid all expenses, beside paying the owners $308,000 above all costs and charges. Its divi dends in 1865 amounted to $120,000. The pro perty, which had cost its owners nothing, was at one time worth $lO,OOO a foot. In 1866 it had fallen to $l,OOO ; it is now $lBO a share, or $l,BOO a foot. The fluctuations in some of these mining stocks have been marvellous; thus Gould and Curry was worth in 1859 $3 a foot ; in eight months it ros e to $6OO ; in less than two years it rose to $5,000, and reached once, we think, $7,000. It is now worth about $7OO. This company alone has taken out $14,000,000 worth of bullion, and has paid over $4,000,000 in dividends. There seemed to be very little doing in its works during my visit. The mine may, however, yet strike some deposit, and its value rise again. Hale and Norcross again has risen in a single year (1865-66) from $l5O to $1,275 per foot; it is now $3,250. This mine worked four years without discovering any ore of value, and expended $ 350,000 without ap parent result. In 1866 it struck pay-ore, and produced $736,394 in bullion in eight months. During the first six months of 1867 it divided $290,000 to its stockholders, and is now one of the most profitable mines on the Comstock Lode. There was a great increase in the product of many of these Comstock mines during 1867. Thus twelve of the most important produced, in the first half of 1866, an aggregate value of bullion of $1,926,707 ; in 1867, in a similar period, their product was $7,013,343. Their market value has increased also in a striking manner. The stocks of fifteen leading companies were worth, on July 1, 1866, $6,739,780 ; on July 1, 1867, they were worth $13,683,640. This increase of value is partly due to good luck, but partly to greater economy of working. It is said that nearly one-fourth of all the bullion received from Nevada during the past six months has been collected from the mills. The entire canyon through which the tailings and waste from the mills about Virginia City and Gold Hill flow to Carson River has been fiumed for several miles. The bottom of the flume is covered with blankets, which are changed every four or eight hours to collect the material collected on them. This refuse and waste is said to be worked at a higherprofit than some of the original ores. The whole yield of the mines on the Comstock Lode from 1859 to 1867 is estimated at $66,000,000, or about $44 to the ton of ore. The whole yield for Nevada for 1867 is estimated at $19,000,000, or say $17,500,000 for these mines. The ores of the Comstock mines are generally black and grey sulphurets of silver ; occasionally native silver is found. Combined with the ore are sulphurets in small quantities of iron, lead, antimony, copper, &c. The silver has gold also associated with it. The ores are treated by simple crushing and amalgamating. The great instrument for amalga mating is the pan, of which there are several kinds in use. It is generally a cast iron vessel two feet deep and from two to seven feet in diameter. A shaft rises through it, turned by steam or water, and to it are fastened pieces of iron, which are made to run over the movable iron•bottom and grind the pulp. Some have chambers at the bottom for steam, to keep the pulp at a temperature of 200 degrees. Into the pan is put a quantity of ore with salt, iron pyrites, quicksilver, and enough water to make mud. Thc--great object of the " muller," or grinder, is to grind thoroughly the material and to bring all the particles in contact with the quicksilver. The pan is worked about three hours and a half, and then water is run into the pulp to render it liquid enough to flow off through a valve in the bottom, into the " agitator" or "separator ;" as it flows off or runs over, it forms a genuine silver mud, in which the traveller has the satisfaction of wading for the first time in his life. In the separator pulp is mixed with a large quantity of water , a nd b y an arrangement of discharging openings is gradually strained and relieved of its earthly particles, until nothing but pyrites and liquid amalgam are left. The amalgam is drawn off from the bottom, and is washed in clear water and dried with flannel. It is finally strained through thick conical bags of canvas, which are beaten with sticks to drain them thoroughly. The hard dry amalgam is finally carried to the assay office, where the mercury is separated by exposing it to red heat in a cast iron cylindrical re tort. The mercury is vaporized, and then con densed by a stream of cold water in a " Liebig Condenser." The silver remaining is broken up and melted in plumbago crucibles, and cast into " bricks" or ingots of silver, which are assayed, valued, and marked accordingly. C. L. B. The prices of Horniman's Teas are greatly reduced ; their well-known superiority has attracted a host of spurious imitations; therefore notice all Genuine Packets are signed, Horniinan cf Co," London. 300 Confectioners are Agents in 1491494 4144 2,200 Ghtquitito the GiatutrY., COURT OF CaIILIIO.V COUNCIL. A special meeting of the Court of Commom. Council was held at the Guildhall yesterday, - Oat. LORD MAYOR (Mr. W. F. Allen) presiding. TIIE SHERIFFS' COURT. Mr. C. ROBINSON brought up a report from the Officers and Clerks' Committee in reference to thr, seal of the Sheriffs' Court, stating that Mr. Justice Willes had rescinded the order of Mr. Commissioner Kerr, requiring the substitution of the royal amii for those of the City. The learned judge, however, was of opinion that the words " Sheriffs' Court" should be altered to " City of London Court," in order to make the style of the court conformable to the act of last session of Parliament. The Reg;..s trar pro ten?. had accordingly laid before the co•n mittee a new seal containing this alteration, :and the committee now recommended it to the approval of the Court of Common Council. The report was adopted unanimously. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF TIIE METROPOLIS`. The debate on this subject was resumed by lir. Horner. It will be recollected that at the:netting of the court last week, Mr. Deputy Fry r loved a series of resolutions, which were in effect that in order to secure to the ratepayers of the in 3tropolis the light of self-government, recognising direct representation, and consequently direct responsi bility, it was desirable that municipalities should be established in the several metropolitan parliamen tary boroughs ; that inasmuch as the corporation of London had existed for many centuries as a distinct and independent municipality, its connec tion with the Metropolitan Board of Works was unnecessary and inexpedient, and that it be: referred to the Local Government and Taxation Colinmittee to consider and report what steps should 1 3e taken, with a view to assist in the introduction or munici palities in the metropolitan boroughs, and to relieve the corporation from its connection with the Board of Works. To these propositions Mr. Richardson moved as an amendment, that it was uuadvisable. to declare in favour of any plan of municipal go vernment until the co-operation of the corporation shall have been sought by that portion of the me tropolis which may desire to change its present form of local government. A long discussion ensued, and the debate was eventually adjourned. Mr. HoRNER, in resuming the debate, expressed his opposition to a measure which, if supported, must be attended with considerable expense. (Hear, hear.) Unless that court was prepared to furnish the money he believed the establishment of municipalities would not be desired by the already heavily-taxed ratepayers of the metropolis. He was not inimical to the extension of municipalities, but what he wanted was, those who desired them should take the initiative. having called attention to a circular in favour of Mr. Mill's two bills, which had been distributed among some of the members of the court, he expressed a hope that it would not in fluence their opinions, for if these bills were passed into law it would be at the expense of the corpo ration. At present their revenues were in their own hands, but how long they would remain so de pended upon themselves, and he therefore urged the court not to do anything prejudicia,l to their own interests. Mr. Deputy DE JERSEY remarked that no one would doubt the ability with which Mr. Deputy Fry had brought this question before them, and with many things he stated he (Mr. De Jersey) cordially agreed ; but in the main—the result at which he aimed—he most respectfully differed. He could not help saying with regard to this motion that it appeared to emanate from the Local Go vernment and Taxation Committee. (No, no, and hear, hear.) He was very much struck with some observations made by Deputy Fry as to the con nection of the Corporation with the Board of Works. Deputy Fry condemned those who permitted that connection, but ou making inquiries he found that Deputy Fry was a member of the court when that connection took place. He objected to the court accepting a proposition which simply enunciated a principle, but did not comprehend a plan ; and the reason why no plan was submitted was that the subject might be referred to a committee of "educa tion." (Laughter.) Ile did not believe the me- tropolitan boroughs would agree to the establish ment of municipalities, believing that the Corpora tion wanted them merely as a lever to get rid of its connection with the Board of Works ; and it ap peared to him, therefore, that the simplest course would be to pass a resolution affirming that it was desirable that the advantages of municipal govern- went sliould be extended to the several districts of the metropolis, but without taking any further action in the matter. Mr. FRICKER supported the resolution, and hoped they would not wait for the metropolis to goad them on to come to a determination. Knowing the advantages of local government themselves, they should at once take speedy action to secure it for others. Mr. H. GOVER said he could not support the proposal to refer the matter to the local govern ment committee, because those gentlemen were already pledged to a certain course. His opinion was that they should not deal with the question at all. They would doubtless require the co-ope ration of the metropolis in the future, as they had done in the past, on matters of great importance ; and they should not, therefore, place themselves in opposition to the expressed views of the vestries, who had declared themselves against the establish ment of municipalities. Mr. Deputy ELLIOTT declared that people out side the city were seared at the bare thought of municipalities ; and that if they did want them they would have taken action themselves. Mr. D. ROGERS said the question was whether the corporation, possessing the advantages of local government itself, should not step forward and en deavour to get those advantages for other people. At the present time the metropolis was nothing more than a chaos, there being so many divisions and subdivisions with regard to the management of its local affairs. As to the statement that the vestries did not desire the establishment of muni cipalities, he believed that was not so ; but that, on the contrary, they did desire them. (Hear, hear.) Mr. JESSE TURNER contended that there was nothing inimical to the privileges enjoyed by the corporation in the resolution of Deputy Fry. As to the Board of Works, there could he no doubt that if it continued for any length of time it must have increased power given to it, which would either be for good or evil, and he believed it would be for the latter. In concluding his observations, the hon. member alluded to the chairman of the Board of Works, and thought a person of more eminence ought to have been elected to fill so important a position, to which was attached a salary of £2,000 a year. (Oh, oh.) Mr. LOWMAN TAYLOR was satisfied the court did not agree with the disparaging remarks—(loud cries of " Hear, hear")—that had been made in refe rence to a man who had been appointed to one of the most important :positions to which any man ceuld be elected, who was so able and so well calculated to carry out everything which was entrusted to his care, and who had raised himself by his own ability to the office which be now occu pied. (Hear, hear.) The Corporation of London could refer to many of its chief magistrates who had risen in the same manner from very humble means to the very high and dignified position of Lord Mayor of London. (Cheers.) He had heard some remarks made against the Board of Works with considerable pain. That board was originally established to carry out the main drainage scheme, and he might say that there had been no additional duties cast upon it which he had not always opposed, believing that with the main drainage and the Thames Embankment they had enough to do. The honourable member then en tered into a lengthened defence of the Board of Works, and affirmed that the corporation had received from 1857 up to the present time £63,827 19s. 11d. for City improvements, as against £59,025 which they had contributed as their share of the Finsbury-park, Middle-row, Holborn, Southwark park, and other metropolitan improvements. lie would be quite willing to see the Corporation dis connected from the Board of Works, but he did not lie ( ) bow it could be done. The proper course to adopt was to do nothing at all. The subject had been ventilated, and that was quite sufficient ; and if the people of the metropolis were in favour of establishing municipalities, there was nothing to hinder them availing themselves of the privileges of the Municipal Corporations Act if they so desired. The Court was subsequently addressed by Mr. Medwin, Mr. Bedford, Mr. Bonneville, and others; and Mr. Deputy Fry having been heard in reply, a division was taken, and the amendment was carried by a majority of ten. The amendment having thus become the substan tive motion, Mr. BEDFORD moved, as an amend ment, "That it be referred to a special committee of twenty members, to be appointed at next Court, to consider the whole question of the future govern ment of the metropolis, and to report thereon to this Court." Mr. Bedford's proposition was carrie I by a majo rity of 17, and the previous question, which was next moved, having been negatived, the Court ad- ourned. RAILWAY AND OTHER CO.IIPANIES. METROPOLITAN DISTRICT. The half-yearly general meeting of this company was held yesterday at the Westminster Palace Hotel, Victoria-street ; the Earl of Devon in the chair. The report, an abstract of which appeared in The Sun, was taken as read, The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said he met the shareholders with more satisfaction than on some former occasions, when they had to regret the public distrust regarding railway undertakings. He was sorry to say that the general distrust did not exist without affecting their undertaking. Some time ago the directors had looked forward to an early opening of the line for remunerative traffic, but during the past half year, and close up to a recent period, the directors had felt very serious anxiety for the progress of the works, which could only be mitigated by the unaltered confidence in the soundness of the un dertaking, a reliance on the good feeling of the shareholders, and their continued support. The progress of the undertaking had been materially im peded until recently, when the proprietors and the public had shown their confidence in the concern by taking up all the debenture stock the directors were able to issue. (Hear, hear.) They were now en deavouring to remove the difficulties in the way of purchasing land, and they were actively engaged in getting possession of all the laud they wanted up to Westminster-bridge. It was quite true they hal to issue the debenture stock at a higher rate of in terest than they could have wished, but the ques tion of proceeding with the works became a serious one, and under all the circumstances the directors felt bound to issue the stock at such a rate as would insure their being taken up, so as to enable them to complete the important undertaking in which they were engaged. They also felt that the line should be opened at the earliest possible period. The di rectors had been in treaty with the Government for the purpose of laud for the station at West minster -bridge, and of the sum to be paid by the Company he believed there would be no rea son to complain. That and other purchases would put the company into possession of the land required for the portion of their line up to Westminster bridge ; this brought them to the Thames Embank ment, and he might mention that the company had been charged with causing unnecessary and avoid able delays in proceeding with the works, and with depriving the public of the advantages and accom modation those great works would afford. There was no ground for those allegations against the company, as they were ready to assist in construct ing and opening those works as soon as possible, and they were now preparing to do so. Of course the shareholders would recognise the advantages that would arise to their property by carrying ou the railway to Blackfriars-bridge. The contrac tors for the railway felt confident that a little more than six months after the Embankment works were in a sufficiently forward state to allow them to en ter upon the construction of the railway they could make and open the whole line between Westmins ter-bridge and Blackfriars-bridge. He believed the Metropolitan Board had not let the works from Temple-gardens to Blackfriars, and they pro posed to allow the contractor two years to complete that portion of the embankment, so that the rail way company would have to wait 13 months be fore they could commence operations. He hoped that a much shorter time would finish those works, and that the railway company would be enabled to work harmoniously with the Board of Works for the public interests. (Hear, hear.) The directors were doing their best to complete the portion of the line between Kensington and Westminster-bridge, and he ventured to hope that before the next half yearly meeting the line between those points would be opened for traffic. (Hear, hear.) Mr. SIIERRIFF, M.P., deputy-chairman, seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. In reply to a question, it was stated that the di rectors saw no necessity for applying to Parliament for power to raise further capital, and that much more than the whole of the debenture stock had been applied for, and none of it was issued at less than par. Mr. BEST said he was not satisfied with the re port ; he had eudeavoured to trace the progress of the works on the map, but was unable to do so, as the places on the map and those mentioned in the report did not agree. The stock was very low in price, and he thought if more information had been given in the report as to the progress of the works, it would have given the shareholders and public more confidence in the undertaking. They should have said something about completing the line to Westminster -bridge and when it would be ready for traffic. They should also have stated in the report the amount raised by the issue of the 6 per Cent. debenture stock. It would be a most serious matter for the company if the line should be de layed for two years before they could get to Black friars-bridge. He hoped that before half that time expired it would be completed. Mr. CULLUM thought the directors should have given the shareholders more information in the re port as to the works and the financial position of the company. The CHAIRMAN said the directors had given all the information they could up to the time the report was issued ; the accounts were made out on the same plan as those of the Metropolitan Railway, and the books of the company were open to the shareholders for inspection. The directors had stated facts, and the truth as matters stood. They had offered to co-operate with the Board of Works, so as to shorten the time for the completion of those important works. (Hear, hear.) It would have been a waste of funds to commence works on the Embankment two years before the line could be opened for traffic. He trusted that a much shorter time than two years would be sufficient to enable them to complete the railway. Mr. SIIERRIFY, M.P., explained that before they could commence the works on the Embankment an arrangement should be made as to the payment of £200,000 to the Metropolitan Board of Works for the privilege of carrying the railway through it. This sum was to be paid in such manner as Lord Stanley might decide. Then there was the cost of theiworks. It was quite possible to carry on the railway works cotemporaueously with the works of the Embankment, and to finish up as they pro ceeded with the works. Ile thought if the Board of Works would forego the receipt of the 8200,000 until the works were executed, that it would be for the benefit of the shareholders and the public. Th e company were not in a position to pay the money immediately, but if that part of the contract could be arranged so as to enable the railway company to &ley the payment till the works were retnunera ive all difficulty in that respect would he removed. Mr. Wven called the attention of the chairman to statements by Mr. Fairlie, at the meeting of the Society of Arts, and Mr. J. Samuel iu the news papers, ou the subject of rolling stock being gene rally construcied very much heavier than was neces sary ; as he was anxious that their rolling stock should be made on the best principle with a view to economy and efficiency. Mr. FOWLER, the engineer in chief, explained that he had given his attention to the peculiar re quirements of the Metropolitan Railway as to locomotive power, the construction of the car riages, and the working of the traffic. It was re quisite that the trains should stop in the shortest possible time, and start so as to acquire full speed immediately after leaving the station, so that the trains should be enabled to stop at every station, which averaged about half a mile apart, and at the same time to accomplish the whole distance much sooner than omnibuses could. Their trains had usually five carriages, which were -so con structed as to carry more than 12 ordinary railway carriages, and to occupy very much less station room. They were made as light as possible consis tent with the requisite strength ; and had a smaller amount of " dead weight" in proportion to the num ber of passengers carried than any other railway. They had also laid down solid steel rails, which stood the traffic admirably, and they had since added steel tyres to the wheels of the carriages as well as to the wheels of the engines. Ile did not think they cJuld do anything better than they hid done to insure economy and efficiency in working the metropolitan traffic. (hear, hear.) The CHAIRMIN sail they would endeavour to improve future reports, and they proposed on the next occasion to send out with the report a small map of the line coloured with au explanation. The report was then unanimously adopted, the retiring directors were re-elected, and also the re tiring auditor. Ou the motion of Mr. BEST, a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors concluded the pro ceedings. ARBROATH AND FORFAR. The report states that the balance at the credit of revenue was £11,002, out of which the directors recommended a dividend of 6 per cent. for the year on the whole of the paid-up capital, payable on the Bth of Aptil, leaving a balance of £571. DUNABURG AND WITEPSK. The directors in their report propose that the dividend should be £2 per share (less income tax), being at the rate of 5 per cent. on the nominal capi tal of the company. The final result of the opera tions of the company was that the whole undertak ing had been completed for less than £BO per share, instead of £B3, as originally estimated. The ex penditure on capital account amounted to £2,222,000, but this was reduced by £157,211, received from the Russian Government on account of the guaran tee, to £2,068,463. CITY OFFICES. A general meeting of this company was held yes terday at the offices, Palmerston-buildings,; Mr. Warner, in the chair. The report stated that with the completion of the Lombard-street property the buildings of the com pany would be finished. The liability to the con tractors had been reduced to £lO,OOO. The rental had increased by £2,430, the gross receipts amount ing to £31,100. The directors believed that a re turn of general confidence alone was wanted to greatly increase the value of the company's pro perty. The CHAIRMAN said the result of the half-year's working would not admit of a dividend. The com pany had suffered by the general commercial de pression, but not more than other companies. He could not say that the capital account was closed, but it would be closed as soon as the building in Lombard-street was completed. At present the in come did not meet the expenditure. The number of offices uulet was 287. Mr. Alderman DAKIN, in seconding the motion for the adoption of the report, said when all the offices were let the rental would amount to £70,000 a year. After a long discussion, the report was adopted, and a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. STATE OF TRADE. BRADFORD, MARCII 26.—There :s still a good consumptive demand for the better torts of wool, which realize fully late rates, though spinnT:s fre quently pay them rather reluctantly. Some of these sorts are rather scarce, which causes much inquiry without business being the result. Good Lincoln hogs realized from 18d. to 19d. per lb.. and wethers from 15d. to 161 A public sale of 1,500 packs has been held this afternoon by Mr. T. A. Frith. The attendance was large and the biddings went off rather spiritedly. The quotations current in the market were fully realized. There is a good busio ness doing in worsted yarns, and spinners generally are very busy. The demand for two-fold yarns is, if anything, on the increase. Spinners are again seeking higher prices, but in many instances more with a view to keep off orders. Except in leading spinnings of 30's super, single yarns are rather quieter. The rapid advance in prices is not yielded so quickly by consumers abroad, and shipping mer chants, though they are doing a fair business, are rather chary in giving the prices sought. There Is a very good demand for low counts of carded yarns- The piece market is rather quieter. [ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Pills.—D esirable Pos session.—Without health no amount of wealth, no means of pleasure, are of the slightest value. It is inconceivable how small a disturbance of the animal functions begets wretchedness, and how readily it may be rectified by a few doses of some purifying and regulating medicine su -11 as these world-renowned pills ; these have proved the best friend to mankind in every grade, in every land, and under almost every circumstance. Holloway's pills purifl the blood, rectify digestion, stimulate the liver and kid neys, and regulate the bowels.. When fevers, influenza, and other ailments aro epidemic, these pills should be taken occasionally by every one to keep the blood and system free from the seeds of the prevailing pestilence. [ADVEnTISE3fENT.l—Henceforth no one will doubt the valuable Properties of Du Barry's health-restorin- , Re v alenta Arabica Invalids' and Infants' Food, since to the thousands' of bless'ng s it has already received from Invalids whos3 position had bc.3 3 deemed hopeless, we may now add that of his Holiness the Pope' whose nealth has been perfectly restored by it after thirty years of unsuccessful medical treatment. We quote from the "Gazette du Midi," July 25th :—" Rome, July 21 ; 1866.—" The health of the Holy Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning 511 othei remedies, he has confined himself ent'..'ely .o Du Barry 4 Revalenta Ara,blea Food, of which he COOBO nes a plate,ul at every meal. It has produced surp; isingdy benetic'f- 1 effect on his hea4k, and his Holiness cannot praise this excellent food too highly." We extract a few out of more than 68,000 cures:—Cure No. 58,216, of the Marchiones s de Behan, of seven years' liver complaint, wasting away, deoility, nervousness, with a nervous palpitation all over , baa digestion ; constant sleeplessness, and tne most intolerable Iler: vows agitation. Cure No. 1,771: Lord Stuart do Decies, Lord Lieutenant o' Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia. N 0.49,8 32 " Fifty years' 'ndescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness , asthma, couAn, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness, and vomiting.—Maria Joly." Cure No. 46,270: Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of 30 years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derangement, and partial deafness Important Caution. -- Beware of the many unsavoury and more than sloppy imitation s to which, without authority Baron Liebig's name is most auda ciously attached In tins at Is. 11(1.; 1 lb., 2s 93. ; 2 lbs., 4s. Gd,; 5 lbs. lls• 12 lbs., 225.; 24 lbs., 40s.—BARRY DU BARRY and Co., No. 71 Regent-street, London; also Fortnum and Mason, 182, Piccadilly and at 61, Gracechurch-street; 4, Cheapside; 63, 150, and 211 3 Oxford-street; 330, Strand.; and all grocers and chemists. Births. BOUTERIE —On the 24th inst., at Yately Lodge, Farn borough, the wife of Lieut.-Colonel P. Arthur Pleyd'-'ll • Bouverie, of a daughter. DATY—Ou the 25th inst., at Kilverstone, Norfolk, the wif° of J. W. Davy, Esq., of a son. EDGELL —On the 24th inst., the wife of Col. R. J. Edell , of a daughter. Marriages. CitIGITTON- CHRISTIANSEN—On the 24th inst., at Jesm3lia Church, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Charles Edwin Crightoot youngest son of the late Wm. Crighton, Esq., to Helot' Georgina, youngest daughter of the late G. Christians en, Esq. MEYntex—BAGLEY—On the 24th inst., at St. George Q ' Hanover-square, Lewis, younger son of E. S. Meyri°"' Esq., of Queen-street, Pimlico, and Presteign, Radnor" shire, to Mary, eldest daughter of W. B4gley, of Will chester-street, Deaths. ABERCROMBY— On tho 25th inst., at Craigrownio flouo' Craigro‘vnio, Dumbartonshire, Alexander Abercroubi, Esq., aged 75. EILAcKwELL -Oa the 25th inst., at Highfield-road, Vl3:- laston, Samuel 11. Blackwell, Esq., aged 52. CooKE—On tho 25th inst., at Leaden house, near chester, Samuel G. Cooko, Esq , aged 77. limyAuDs—On the 21th inst., at The Chaco, King's LY 71131 Henry Edwards. L'sq., solicitor, aged 49. NEEDHAM —Ou the 21th inst., at Datchet House, DOI Lieut.-Col. the 11ou. Francis 11. W. Needham, late ° the Grenadier Guards, aged 71. SCOTT— On the, 21st inst., at Caroline Park, Ediubtlq t y to the Hon. Helen Georgina Scott, eldest daughter o late Lord Polwarth. ------- a London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDBO I :,/, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tan SuN Odlce, NO 0 Strand, in the Preeintt of the Ss voy, in the 0003:7 March 27,1868. AFTEI After D: After H After After 0 After St After N, After St After Pi London Sini THE LUNCHE CU] nigh-el:If &c. Pri vat NEXT OFF TI On and al P•tn. to One This celeb Prize 11reclal. It is Pure, Sold in tho Agents in 8, (ID Ohsnrvo th, hail's LL Wh GRANE Iu consequ new Songs ID anent; Miss astonishing Transfortnati SIDNEY FLU Dancer. Bishop's a Miss Brought Full Orehes the Great Ma The , The doors the p r i ces of at Mitchell's and all other the Hall front Special Not and will elope Pan, Jolly Nal Minstrels. IILOND CANTS' FIOLI ENGAGEM BLONDIN, the wonderf O'clock, and JAOICO, the Including ti 'talking llai Fred. 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Ad N ate,....._________Jnaan. 8 so b, OMR C aspen or ten d o- the 14),4*.-------inttml:rrie apnpEesai i ti deserir U BAR] and Inf.