The Sun. — London, England, 1868-02-19 00:00:00

EIPTRIT OP THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, Lord Russell's letter to Mr. Chichester Fortescue on the state , of Ireland is, the Times observes, one of many essays called'forth by the revival of the so-called Irish question. frlt is distinguished, however, from the rest, and especially om the pamphlet of Mr. Mill, which has just appeared, by two characteristic peculiarities. In the first place, it is entirely free from what Lord Stanley called political quackery. It is the production, not of a doctrinaire, bat of a practical statesman, duly sensible, indeed, of the mis government which in former times justified Irish discon tent, but not insensible of the inveterate faults in Irish character which the beneficent legislation of the present century has failed to eradicate. Dealing with the second part of Lord Russell's letter, which treats of the political and moral state of Ireland, and contains his ultimate views on the disposal of the Irish Church, the leading journal points out that he abandons the old appro priation scheme without reserve as inadequate and obsolete, and arrives at the conclusion that a triple endowment of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, and th e Roman Catholic Church, out of the existing Church revenues, is the best solution of this most intractable problem. The reasons he gives for deprecating the redistribution of revenues within the Established Church, now under the considera tion of a commission, are not unworthy of attention. Such a plan would not only fail to meet the demand for religious equality, but would actually remove Protestant clergymen from places where their residence is most valuable to places where it would be thrown away. The bitterest enemies of the Establishment admit that an educated man, living in a poor district, may by his example, his influence, his custom, and his charitable ministrations, confer great benefits on all around him, without distinction of creed. If you carry away this "resident country gentleman in a black coat," as Swift calls him, from a remote parish in Munster to a thriving town in Ulster, you will have done what, in Lord Russell's opinion, is positively mischievous. At all events, the grievance of the Roman Catholics would remain wholly nrrredressed, and this grievance constitutes the whole question. The course recommended by Lord Russell would not, as he maintains, involve three Established Churches, but only three en dowed Churches, all recognised by the State, but none directly connected with the State. The most serious objection to it is one to which he does not advert, though it can hardly have escaped his notice. The pro vision which he advocates is not, as he expressly states, " a salary voted by Parliament like the old grant to May nooth and the present Regium Donum," but a permanent endowment, practically independent of parliamentary control. Now, this is an arrangement which Parliament, representing the State, will hesitate to make with any religious denomination, and which it is very doubtful whether public opinion would sanction. It would not, however, be impossible to modify it in such a way as to overcome reasonable scruples on the ground of State policy. It would be too much to expect that it could be satisfactory to members of the present Established Church, though even they might prefer it to a secularisation of Church property. With respect to its acceptance by the general body of Roman Catholics, we are disposed to agree with Lord Russell. The bishops naturally dread the idea of becoming, in any sense, pensioners of the • State, but it has yet to be proved that their sentiments are fully shared by the Catholic priests, or shared at all by the Catholic laity, of Ireland, on whom the real burden galls. Speaking of the Scotch Reform Bill, the Post says:— Notwithstanding all his ingenuity, Mr. Disraeli has not been able to hit on a fundamental principle for the apportion ment of representative power, or, if he has, he has not ventured to submit it to the acceptance of Parliament. As a sincere worshipper of Democracy, he might with plausibility and consistency suggest the division of the kingdom into electoral districts ; but though, for all we know to the contrary, he may be educating his followers with a view to the adoption of such a system, they are probably not sufficiently far advanced to accept the suggestion. The most that can be done is to make a mild approximation to the new doctrine of the representation of numbers. Seven additional mem bers will be given to Scotland, and (unless it be the intention of the Government to take that number of seats from Ireland) to the House of Commons. The num ber is arbitrary, and was, as probably as not, suggested to the Government by the magic number which the ancient magicians regarded with so much reverence. Hard headed Scotchmeu might be excused for not seeing the matter in this light, and some who took part in the debate on Monday night, like Oliver, asked for more. The retort of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the demand was ii his happiest vein. He said that if the present measure was not passed, it was just possible that on a future occa sion Scotland might possibly be refused any increase what ever in her representative power. We entirely concur with Mr. Disraeli, and, if the Scotch people really desire to send a greater number of representatives to the House of Commons, we advise them to close with the generous offer which is now made. The Daily News, dealing with the resignation of the Premier as certain, asks the question whether Mr. Disraeli or Lord Stanley shall be head of the Government as well as the leader of his party. Our contemporary can easily imagine what would be the secret wishes of the majority in the Tory ranks. They would ask but a short time to consider whether they would rather acknowledge for their chief the son of an aristocratic house or the parvenu poli tician who has made his way only by his own brains, and whose authority they have a thousand times kicked against even while submitting to it. But Tory wishes will go for very little. Mr. Disraeli is master, and may have what he chooses. He cannot be discarded—he cannot be dis pensed with. If he yields his claims, which intrinsically are unquestionably higher than Lord Stanley's, it will be of his own self-sacrifice and magnanimity. Far be it from us to doubt that such qualities may be displayed by the present Chancellor of the Exchequer. In his career their exercise has not yet been called for, and opportunity may reveal their existence. Nay, we may go so far as to feel certain that they will not be wanting if it is evident that the existence of the party depend on the abnegation of the leader. If, then, Lord Stanley's premiership should be insisted on by the squires, it is far from improbable that Mr. Disraeli would gracefully yield rather than break up the Government. The Standard, speaking on the same subject, says that every Conservative feels that Lord Derby can be implicitly trusted, not because he professes Conservative views, but because his very nature is formed on the Conservative model. The event of last session—the thorough unity which on so trying a question as that of Reform was con stantly maintained between the party and their chief—is a striking proof of this confidence. Had such a task de volved upon Sir Ti. Peel, the Conservative party would have been broken up for the third time. But a leader whose heart is with his supporters, who is known to think and feel as they do, and t o h ave no interests or objects apart from theirs, may command an almost unlimited faith and allegiance from men who can say to themselves, " His ends are ours ; his views of honour and duty arc those we understand and profess ; h e i s neither tricking us for our good, nor sacrificing us to some new lights of his own ; what he is willing to concede cannot but be neces sary, what he recommends cannot but be the best that we can accomplish." This is the feeling with which the Con servatives have always regarded Lord Derby. And the reason plainly is, that Lord Derby's ideas of political expe diency and personal honour are those of his order and of his party. The pride and ornament of his p ar t y, L ord Derby is in an especial sense the pride and ornament of the House of Lords. The same qualities which command tlw confidence of the Conservatives endear him to his i order. He is in every respect the very type and deal of the English nobleman ; the representative man of an aris tocracy which has preserved its manhood and its vigour of intellect as of body.by an equal rivalry with all competi tors in every field of public service and personal dis tinction. "Mr. Seely, says the Telegraph, has renewed his crusade against the abuses of our Admiralty management ; mov ing for a select committee to inquire into the application of the moneys vo t e d b y P ar li amen t an d i n t o thestate of the te docky ar d accoun t s. N or was h e w ith ou t groun d s f or motion ; for he showed what mysteries of blundering still rrii 4 . c eAnain to be unearthed. The public correspondence some weeks back proved, not only that gross abuses exist, and that the official mind persists in ignor ing them, but that even the heads of departments themselves oft The now histoe'n do not understand their own case. first " pigs " which the honourable mem berthe Frederick discovered, i ll and the subsequent cases of mus, were glaring 'am' the Brisk, and the Cad explained away by the vehement and were certainly not in whi : ii elent denials and retorts, on one or two points, s, thgal Such is th e managemen t o f Charge is now more swe untepin ' Ir. Corr y in dulged. But the the Admiralty acco even a trained accountant, to tell. Seely defies any one, o, what is the real cost of anything. Whatever the results of the step may be, the member for Lincoln deserves a acknowledgment of thanks fur his useful and arduous labo resolutely to an of our legislators who devote them v -b i ll e ' s .s. The number assault on specific abuses is unfortunately but the high ground that Mr. Seely has already gained limited ; public estimation, through his vigilant sagacity gained in sustained energy in restoring the duty boasted bZ,r ii "Th e Grand Inquest of the Nation," the Keeper of the p 4 ( , 1 1 e . Purge, once more proclaims that the community is not' -'. slow to recognise a true servant of the country. The Star does not appear to regard the deputation to Mr. Gladstone as an unqualified success. Of the really important question—how far is a certain degree and kind of coercion absolutely essential to the maintenance of such an organisation, and, if essential, how far is it justifiable? —both parties seem to have fought shy. wh en Mr. Gladstone brought rp this .or that instance of a ny,de (I f c.creion, 110 was g, , encrally met by the 6tateinent, dui thtlu.;B quite correct, that the ex ample he selected NS'a.S that of sonic body not be longing to the regular organisation. Again, when Mr. Gladstone pointed to the unfairness of the regulations which restrict or prevent the labour of women, the answer was so obvious and easy that we are surprised it was not instantly given. Other trade organisations of a different rank in society prevent the competition of women. No IPgalised profession allows N%omen to work in its ranks. el'ew organisations of any class or kind whatever are fully open to women. It is obviously, then, quite absurd to complain of mechanical organisations because they enforce limitation where other associations supposed to be more liberal-pindel enforce an actual MR. GLADSTONE AND 2LIE TRADES UNIONS. The conference between the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M. P., and the deputation from the London trade societies' delegates took place yesterday afternoon. The deputation consisted of Mr. George Potter (joiner), chairman of the delegate meeting, Mr. J. T. Thinning (bookbinder), Mr. H. Broadhurst (mason), Mr. W. Lawrence (tailor), Mr. M`Namara (plasterer), Mr. Joseph Leicester (glass maker), Mr. Squire (painter), Mr. Lewis (brushmaker), Mr. Cohen (cigar-maker), and Mr. R. Hartwell, secretary of the Working Men's Association and the delegate meeting ; and represented very many trade societies. It was mutually arranged that the points to be discussed should be reduced to four, with the collateral questions arising out of them, viz. :-1. The limitation to apprentices; 2: The minimum rate of wages ; 3. Piece-work and over time ; 4. The restraint of trade by trades unions. At half-past two o'clock the members of the deputation were received I,y Mr. Gladstone, when Mr. GEORGE POTTER opened the proceedings in a speech of some length. He dealt with the four questions seriatim, and concluded by maintaining that trades unions were not in restraint of trade, hut only in restraint of the overweening tendencies which spring from the conscious possession of large resources in capital au I machinery. Mr. GLADSTONE : Perhaps it would be well if I were now to state my general view of the matter, and to refer to certain rules that I have heard of as existing in certain trades and certain neighbourhoods. That will give you all an opportunity of taking exception to anything I may say. Before I begin I should like to put aside two points. First, I shall not say a word about any violence exercised by working men towards their fellow workmen, because I do not suppose, for a moment, that that would be a subject of contention between us. That is evidently a thing most hostile to your main objects, and producing the most violent reaction in the breast of society. Nor will I say anything about the remedy of which you have been de prived by a judgment in a court of law against fraudulent officers. lam not able to give anything like a positive assurance of what I shall do in Parliament on the subject. I can only state my uninstructed impression that the remedies against fraud ought to be maintained in full efficiency as long as the unions or societies are acting within the limits of the law, even though one may think some of their objects and modes of action impolitic. I am bound also to say, as far regards the mere fact of the unions being in restraint of trade, if the members are to suffer as regards the security of their property on that account, I must institute an inquiry to see what other combinations of classes or trades have been and are distinctly in restraint of trade—combinations which would deem themselves very ill-used if they were to be deprived of the legal remedies appertaining to them- Now, when in this conversation I speak of a " right," I wish to remind you of the two senses in which we use that word. A man has a right to do a thing which is proper to be done ; and he has also a right to do many things which are not proper to be done. A landlord has a right to turn out all his tenants at the expiration of a given notice, but he would be extremely wrong to exercise such a right. Now, with regard to the principle of associations among working men with a view to the diminution of the amount of labour and getting the best price for it that it will bring in the market, I can take no exception to associa tions on that principle. I rather think it is a natural mode of what one may call self-defence in that friendly strife which must always go on between the capitalist and the labourer. I can conceive also many good reasons for that association of working men, independently of their title to obtain the best terms they can for their labour. There is a beneficial tendency in the simple fact of association among working men. It is obviously beneficial to society that the members of trades should make provision for themselves and their infirm members by benefit societies. There is an important question, on which I do not now enter, as to the economical effect of combining benefit societies with trade rules. I have under stood from persons conversant with assurance, that a benefit society, to be a good one, ought to extend over a wide area, and not to depend upon the vicissitudes of a single trade. That, however, is not the immediate question before us. I will endeavour to state to you where my objections or exceptions begin. lam not prepared to say that a strike is in itself a thing unjust or improper. I apprehend it requires great judgment to determine when a strike is warranted by circumstances ; but in principle I am not prepared to say that the thing is wrong in itself. Then, there are further questions with regard to the right that unions exercise in certain cases in refusing to work with non-union men. It seems to me that that is a very extreme right. Ido not, however, dwell upon it, because I am not prepared to say that we can expect it to be altogether renounced. I think it an extreme right, and one that raight be exercised in such a way as to assimilate it very much to that which I have just referred to—of a landlord turning out his tenants without any why or wherefore at the expiration of a given time. I may say, in passing, that I view with much interest the experim -nts which appear to hold out some promise of a means of ad justment between employers and labourers. I heard, in Oldham, only a few months ago, a very good account of the working of a system of that kind, carried on by a body composed of operatives and employers. I hope to see the extension of that system if the machinery is found to work. There is another thing I saw in Oldham, with great satisfaction—that is, what they call a co-operative mill — and there are various such mills, I believe, in Lancashire and Yorkshire. There is nothing I look upon as more full of promise than these institutions, provided they be com mercially sound, because nothing is so desirable as that which puts working men in the condition of both capitalist and labourer. It supplies a link between those two classes, and as a system of that kind extends it creates a body of men who would be, of all others, the fairest judges of these questions, and whose opinion would form a powerful element of mediation. .Do not let me be understood as saying that society at large has any reason to complain. It is difficult to raise questions between class and class. Of course, society has reason to complain of all unreasonable and excessive use by any class of its privileges ; but that is a point very difficult to define. It is not the bearing of certain restrictions that prevail more or less in trades unions upon society that I shall animadvert upon, nor their bearing upon employers. The restrictions imposed upon employers in many cases have had a most powerful effect in stimulating invention, and the introduction of machinery might have been less rapid but for the fact that in some businesses employers have found themselves hard driven by what they have thought the restraints im posed upon them. The question I wish to raise is whether certain of these restrictions are beneficial to the labourers. The whole .body of labourers of the country go farther than the limit of each trade union. I will not under take to say that some of these restrictions are beneficial to the carpenters, considered as car penters, or to the bricklayers as bricklayers. I look at the whole of the wage-receiving population of the country, and I own it appears to me as a general rule that regulations in restrain of labour go to diminish the aggre gate amount of the fund which constitutes the whole wages of the country. Of course there is a difficulty in drawing a line with precision. I may be told that the argument, if it were taken without limitation, would imply that every man was to slave from morning to night, seven days in the week, without any consideration for his health or his mind. I have not a word to say against limitations imposed with a view to the preservation of health and social considerations. Let me refer, for a moment, to the rules against women, boys, and men. There was a rule of which I have often heard in the porce lain business in the Potteries, which appears to be a very strong one, that a woman was not allowed to paint porce- . lain with a rest for her wrist. The practical operation of that, I understand to be, that no woman can do fine work in porcelain where that rule is observed. Of course it may be said that the labour of women competes with the labour of men ; that women can work cheaper than men ; and that the men are thrown out of employment. My answer to that is, I cannot look upon women as a class of beings alien and separate from the men. If they do compete with the men they are the wives and daughters of the men ; and if their labour is cheaper than that of the men it is for the benefit of the men themselves as a class ; that is to say, the aggregate earnings of the labouring class in the community and in that particular trade are greatly increased. With regard to the boys, it is exactly the same thing. The boys, whose entrance into trade is more or less fettered and barred—sometimes by limiting the number of apprentices, and sometimes by forbidding them to labour except as apprentices—do not come into the world of themselves. It is said that apprentices have small wages, and that that is a reason for limiting their labour. If that is the fact, the question is, whether it is not desirable that they should work as unapprenticed boys, and obtain the best wages the market would afford. It appears to me that the best condition of the labouring classes is that in which the way upwards is the easiest and the most open. Well, gentlemen, that will, perhaps, suffice to suggest to you anything you may desire to say. But pray understand me. Ido not presume to say how far these things prevail. I have so many other things to think of that I am quite ignorant on that point. Several members of the deputation joined in the dis enssion which followed the right hon. gentleman's address, and at the c l ose of the arguments Mr. Potter thanked Mr. Gladston e for the courtesy with which he had heard them. OUTRAGE ON A FENIAN WITNESS. - Patrick Joyce, a pablican, of St. Patrick's quay, Cork, bas been committed to gaol under the Lord-Lieutenant's warrant for Fenianism. The out-offices and haNurd of Mr. John Hannon, Rathcormack, was maliciously burned on Sunday night. This is the third incendiary fire on his premises since he gave evidence for the Crown at the special com mission on the trial of a Fenian head -centre. MR. MILL, M.P., ON IRELAND. The pamphlet issued by Earl Russell on the state of Ireland has been followed by one from the pen of Mr. J. Stuart Mill, M.P. for Westminster. There is a remark able difference in tone'between Mr. Mill's declaration of policy and Earl Russells. The former is eager to expunge the shame which our oppression of Ireland has stamped upon the English name. The latter is desirous to accom plish the same end, but he has to be forced into action ; he Is terrified at the obstacles which beset his path, and he m3ets every difficulty with a makeshift scheme. Lord Russell hovers about the skirts of the Irish question ; he admits the Irish Church to be a grievous wrong, and the Irish tenure system to be justly disliked by the Irish people. But he cannot take courage boldly to abolish the one and to change the other radically. Mr. Mill, on the other hand, goes right to the heart of the question. He alludes briefly to the position of the Church Establish. ment, and gives his voice for immediate and total abo lition ; but he does not pause long over this point. He add] asses himself to one even more vital to Irish interests, and more likely to be fought for boldly by the Tory party. The greater part of Mr. Mill's pamphlet is occupied with a discussion of the laws of land tenure in Ireland, and he promulgates no new doctrine ; he merely reads his recantation of some of his more recent opinions, gives an explanation of his error, and reverts to the views which he had long ago expressed in the early editions of 1 - 0 g " Political Economy." For the years of comparativ quiet which intervened between the great disaster of the famine and the end of the American civil war in some degree deceived Mr. Mill, as they did other people. He was led to believe that emigration had so far slackened the competition for land in Ireland that it was not necessary to adopt the "heroic remedies" he had once recommended —namely, the conversion of the Irish pea sants into a proprietary class and no doubt Mr. Mill was justified in believing that a few years ago it was possible for the English governing class to purchase the tranquillity of Ireland for a much lower price than it can now be bought for. A fair measure of tenant compensation, with a liberal system of State loans to occupiers, might even in 1860 or 1865 have done much to reconcile the Irish masses to the English connection. But Eng land was blind, for she would not see. The hour of opportunity passed ; and the spirit of Irish discontent was still unappeased, when the fall of the Southern Con federacy set free the Irish-American soldiery, and set the spark to the train. Under existing circumstances, and having regard to the excited feelings which now prevail in Ireland, Mr. Mill acknowledges that the minor remedies from which he once anticipated the best results would effect no great practical benefit. He returns to his first idea, his " heroic remedy," the appointment of a commis. sion, with compulsory powers, to examine every farm in Ireland that is let to a tenant, and commute the present variable for a fixed rent. There must be ascertained in each case what annual payment would he an equivalent to the landlord for the rent he now receives, provided that rent be nut excessive, and for the present value of whatever prospect there may be of an increase from any other source than the peasant's own exertions. This annual sum should be secured to the landlord under the guarantee of the State. He should have the option of receiving it from the national Treasury by being inscribed as the owner of Consols sufficient to yield that amount. Every farm not farmed by the proprietor would then become the permanent holding of the tenant, who would pay either to the landlord or the State the fixed rent that had been decided on. ENGLISH CAPTIVES IN AFRICA. - - --~- A correspondent of the Morning Herald writes : "It is now, I believe, acknowledged as an established fact, that the ship St. Abbs, wrecked in 1856 upon the island San Juan de Nuova, did not go down with all on board, but drifted off the reef, and was swept with the current to the coast of Africa. In the report read before the Royal Geographical Society, in March 1866, Colonel Rigby proved that the numerous articles bearing the Government mark, which were brought for sale from Magdesho to Zanzibar, in 1859, were identical with articles known to have formed part of the St. Abbs' cargo. Also the curious fact, proved by nautical cal culation, that the highest tide of the month oc curred upon the very night on which the ship disappeared from the reef, coupled with the knowledge of the immense force with which the current sets directly towards the Somali coast, leaves little room for doubt in the minds of the most incredulous. Had the ship gone down some one of the bodies of the twenty-six persons who remained on board must have been washed on the shores of the island, and it is hardly conceivable to the most \ i id imagination that the numerous cases, containing Looks, nautical and surgical instruments, billiard balls, &c., should have drifted side by side, across the ocean, a distance of 800 miles, arriving at Magdesho, and subsequently offered for sale at Zanzibar, without any appearance of ever having been in the water. Assuming, therefore, that the ship drifted with the current to the Somali coast, near Magdesho, and that the above-named articles were obtained from the wreck by the natives, the question naturally arises, What became of her living cargo--twenty-six of our fel low-countrymen ? " In the same year, 1859, these reports were made known to the British Government through the evidence of pil grims from Ceylon and the Mauritius, returning thither from Mecca, where they had met with other pilgrims from Magdesho, who in consequence of some delay had bet n un able to proceed on their pilgrimage by sea, and had there fore taken the old caravan route through the interior, following the course of the Webbe Shebeyli for some distance, and then striking northward for Zeylah. On their journey they had seen and spoken with many white captives among the Somali tribes, who begged them to forward intelligence of their existence when they arrived at Jeddah. The pilgrims found that their only means of sending this information was by charging the pilgrims from Mauritius and Ceylon with the message, which was faithfully delivered to our authorities, and in this way the report first reached Colonel Rigby at Zanzibar. From this time Colonel Rigby appears to have felt confident that these captives were no other than the survivors of the St. Abbs wreck ; and surely his con viction, formed at that time, with the knowledge of the circumstances, must carry considerable weight. Such an opinion formed upon the ground of evidence is worth far more than any conclusions drawn from a due consideration of facts' in England. Colonel Rigby obtained information confirming his opinion from a native of Magdesho, who, upon hearing that £lOO per head would be given for each captive restored, volunteered to return to Magdeshe by land for the purpose of obtaining their rescue. This man unfortunately fell into the hands of a hostile chief at Jarnoo, who imprisoned him for several months, and when his release was effected he returned to Zanzibar destitute. Those who are acquainted with the native character would see in the fact of this man's readi ness to start upon his errand, without any other induce ment than the reward which depended entirely upon his success, a signal proof of his own conviction that the rescue of the captives was feasible, and therefore it appears the more incomprehensible that no further effort was made until six years later, when Colonel Playfair, then consul at Zanzibar, received a hide upon which English charac ters were cut. These letters had attracted the notice of the purchaser, and for this reason the hide was delivered to Colonel Playfair, who commissioned the Arab merchant to return at once to Magdesho in order to make further inquiry from the original vendor, and, if possible, to trace out the clue. Of the result we know nothing. The letters cut upon the hide are said to be N.E.B.M. ;' but where is the hide ? Was it sent to England for the inspection of the relatives of those who are believed to- have used this means of drawing attention to their existence in the tenth year of their captivity ; or are we to add another link in the chain of evidence of culpable neglect by finding that the hide has not been sent home, but may yet be lying at the consulate in Zanzibar, or even cast away as worthless? Is there no one in England who can throw any light upon this question, and explain why, in each attempt to obtain authentic tidings of our captive countrymen, the persons empl d o y to h o d n a v e v s e been t iigate the natives. matter ; yet Eur E ur within European h ea kedn oawt a o s lyee y da e gr t olu eovoff Zanzibar, thn teere the the reported massacre of the Baron V o n d er Decken an expe diwatinyo having in w a was c h c i o c m fi h t p t t accompli d s e h b e o a d u r t o i , t n s m o whichbej t e c h t fas death ga r i e n t i . u n: ng The Australian mail which has just arrived had no New Zealand mail, the latter not having arrived at Sydney when the mail packet left that port. The New Zealand mail missing is that of the middle of December. The next New Zealand mail will be the one of the begin. ning of January, rid Panama, and will reach Plymouth the latter end of this month. A joint stock company for the erection of working men's dwellings has just been founded in Brussels, under the patronage of the Belgian ImmobiMre. The King has taken a hundred shares of 5 )of. each, and Count de Flandres fifty. The General Industrial Com pany, the Bank of Belgium, and the Mutual Company of Manufacturers have each taken a hundred, and the Immo biliZ„re has subscribed for two hundred. The capital is tJ be 5,000,000 f. A WHOLESALE MURDERESS.—The General Cor respondence of Vienna says :—" A letter from Pesth in rms us that the daughter of a man employed on the roads near that city, and who resided in a cottage between Alt-Olen and Uercem, has just confessed, in a fit of re morse, that in concert with her father she had committed not less than sixteen murders during the last ten years, for the purpose of robbing their victims. Seven skeletons have already been discovered by the authorities, and infor mation given by the young woman has led to the finding of the nine others." THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING; FEBRUARY 19, 1868. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. LINCOLN SPRING MEETING.-TUESDAY. The campaign, anticipated with such interest by all classes of turfites, was opened to-day at the county townst of the Fen country with unequivocal success. Neve-r within the annals of Lincoln has the meeting been of such., importance or induced a larger attendance of the sup porters of the turf. The fields were strong, and the racing of a very interesting nature. Appended are details : The Trial Stakes of 5 soya each, with 3C added; three year olds 7st 31b, four Bst 101 b, five 9st 51b, six and aged 9st 10d; mares and geldings allowed 31b; maiden three olds at the time of starting allowed 41b, four and upwards 71b ; the winner of 100 sovs in any one year 51b, twice or 200 101 b extra; the second to save his stake. One mile. Duke of Newcastle's Speculum, by Vedette—Doralico, 3 yrs, 7st 131 b Mr. R. Walker's Catton, 3 yrs, ist 31b (Kenyon) 2 Mr. H. &wile's Blueskin, 3 yrs, Gst 131 b (Butler) 2 The following also ran : -La Ferte Fresnel, The Tra veller, and Lady Diana. Betting—Even on Speculum, 4 to 1 agst Catton, 5 to 1 agat Blueskin. At the second attempt a good start was effected, Traveller taking a slight lead of Blueskin and Catton, Lady Diana and Speculum being slightly in their rear, La Ferte Fresnel whipping in. After going a quarter of a mile, Speculum took up the running, Catton and Blueskin remaining in close attendance till rounding the bend for home. Here Blueskin dropped back slightly, and for a moment Catton looked formidable, but at the distance he was in difficulties, and Speculum won easily by a length. Blueskin was third, beaten six lengths; La Ferte Fresnel, fourth, The Traveller, and Lady Diana finishing together, and being placed by the judge fifth and sixth. The Brocklesby Trial Handicap of 5 sovs each, with 30 added ; winners of any race after Jan. 28 (at eleven a.m.) 71b extta ; the second to save his stake ; Brocklesby Stakes Course ; 38 subs. Lord Westmorland's Indian Star, by Sabreur or Under hand—Star of India, 5 yrs, 7st 131 b .. (Kenyon) 1 Mr. J. P. Craven's Sir Oliver, 4 yrs, 7st 61b (Cameron) 2 Mr. Chaplin's Problem, 4 yrs, 7st 81b (Jeffery) 3 The following also ran :—Salliet, Goodfellow, Skylark, Moon Beam, Maid Marian, Ninny, Veni, Miss Camerine, Kate Kearney, Peggy. Queen of Italy, Benevolence, Fes tival, and Lady Allcash. Betting-100 to 30 agst Indian Star, 6 to 1 agst Salliet 100 to 15 agat Benevolence, 8 to 1 agst Festival, 100 to 12 agst Skylark, 10 to 1 each agst Maid Marian and Ninny, 100 to 8 each agst Sir Oliver and Queen of Italy, 100 to 7 agst Moonbeam, 20 to 1 each agsC Goodfellow and Pro blem. A delay of fully 20 minutes preceded the start, which was effected eventually on level terms, but after taking a few strides Indian Star, in the centre of the course, showed slightly in advance. When two hundred yards of the journey had been traversed, however, he drew back to his horses, and was headed by Benevolence, Moonbeam, Sal liet, Maid Marian, Problem, and Festival, who ran in a straight line across the course, the most prominent of the others being Kate Kearney, Goodfellow, Ninny, and Queen of Italy. The positions as given above were held till half way up the straight, when Kenyon again brought Indian Star to the front, Sir Oliver simultaneously head ing Benevolence and Moonbeam. Mr. Craven's horse ap peared to have the best of the struggle at the distance, but Indian Star answered gamely to Kenyon's call, and won very cleverly by a neck. Problem was third, beaten a head only from the second ; Moonbeam and Benevolence were next, so close together that the judge could not di vide them ; Maid Marian was sixth, Salliet seventh, Sky lark, Festival, and Kate Kearney next, in the order named. The two last were Lady Allcash and Veni. The Innkeepers' Selling Stakes of 5 sovs each, with 30 added ; three year olds Bst, four 9st, five and upwards 9st 51b; mares and geldings allowed 31b; maidens having started three times allowed 51b ; the winner to be sold for 30 sovs. About six furlongs. Mr. P. Price's Cater, by Caterer—Vergiss mein Nicht, 3 yrs, Bst (Parry) 1 Lord Westmorland's Buckenham's dam filly...(Kenyon) 2 Betting— 6 to 4 on Cater, who made - the running for about one half the journey, when the Buckenharn's dam filly took it up to within the distance. A splendid race home then ensued, Cater winning cleverly by a neck. The winner was bought in for 40 guineas. The Brocklesby Stakes of 10 sovs each, with 80 added, for two year olds; colts Bst 101 b, fillies and geldings Bst 71b. Straight run in (about half a mile). Count Lagrange's Curieuse, by Monarque—lolla, Bst 71b (Grimshaw) 1 Sir C. Rushout's Hilda, Bst 71b (Whiteley) 2 Mr. T. V. Morgan's Electricity, Bst 7lb (IL Covey) 3 The following also ran —Adolphus, King of the Rovers, Alpenstock, Sister to Veda, De Vere, Rahab, Ventnor, Fenian, Resistance, Sunflower filly, Lure, Cicada colt, Ac cident's dam filly, The Rajah, Jove, Gitano, Sister to Lemor ale, Retort, and Workman. Betting-5 to 1 each agst Sister to Veda, 6to 1 each agst Curieuse and De Vere, 8 to 1 agst Lure, 10 to 1 agst the Sunflower filly, 12 to 1 each agst Electricity and the Cicada colt, 14 to 1 each agst Alpenstock and Klng,of the Rovers-20 to 1 each agst the Rajah, Sister to Lemonade, and Jove. The anxiety evinced by several of the jockeys to get away, and the fractiousness of some of the competitors, the most prominent of whom being Gitano, prolonged the delay. The flag at length was lowered to a moderately good start, Curieuso immediately showing in front of her horses. On the whip hand of the French filly, and slightly in her rear, lay Sister to Veda and De Vere, Ventnor, Sister to Lemonade, Retort, Workman, Electricity, and Hilda being most prominent of the remainder. The bright colours of Rahab and those of Accident's dam filly being distinguishable in the rear. Curious° assumed a stronger lead as they approached the distance, and J. Grimshaw letting her come along she without being headed won in a canter by three lengths. Hilda and Electricity, wide of each other, finished a close race home for second place Hilda saving her stake by a neck only. Sister to Veda ran fourth, close up with Electricity; De Yore was fifth, not more than a bead in rear of Sister to Veda, whilst Ventnor was sixth, the Sunflower filly seventh, King of the Rovers, the Cicada colt, Retort, Gitano, Alpenstock, and The Rajah next, in the order named; then came Workman, Adolphus, Resistance, Lure, and Sister to Lemonade. The last three Were the Accident's dam filly, Fenian, and Rahab, who were eased within the distance. The Lincolnshire Handicap of 100 sovs, added to a Sweepstakes of 15 sovs each, 10 ft. One mile. 79 subs. Sir C. Legard's Indigestion, by Plum-Pudding, dam by Coranno, 6 yrs, 7st 6lb (Maidment) 1 Mr. W. Feaster's Lady Zetland, 3 yrs, list 71b (W. Platt) 2 Mr. Pryor's Artesian, 5 yrs, 7st 81b (H. Covey) 3 The following also ran :—Historian, King Charming, Leases,Midwife, Skirmish, Czar, Sweet Willie, Ul Vigorous, hus, Fe o co o l a r u , thieen, Belzoni, Ainsley, Grey Stocking, Easby, Ligurian, Rhine Wino, P u rveyor, Redi vivus, and Caprera, Mordan weighed for Beanstalk, 4 yrs, 6st 61b, but the horse became so fractious on his way to the post that Mordan returned with him to the enclosure, and did not go to the post. Betting--12 to 2 agst Cauthleen, 7 to 1 agst Purveyor and King Charming, 8 to 1 agst Czar, 100 to 6 agst Indi gestion, 20 to 1 each agst Historian and Feodor, 23 to 1 each agst Ligurian, Vigorous, Grey Stocking, Ainsley, and Leases, 33 to 1 agst bkirmish. The twenty-four competitors reached the starting post, and Mr. M‘George took them in charge, a few minutes past the appointed time, 3.15. After a very slight delay a good start was effected, Grey Stocking being quickest on her legs, but when they had fairly settled down the run ning was taken up by Lady Zetland, who, at'a moderate pace, showed the way, Grey Stocking, Rhine Wine, Mid wife, Liguarian, Czar, and Ulphus following in a cluster. This body of horses was succeeded by King Charming, Artesian, and Indigestion, Historian, Skirmish, Feodor, Ainsley and Vigorous being prominent in the ruck— Leases, Cauthle.en, and Sweet Willie, who begun badly, being in the rear, and even thus early so far behind the leaders as to leave them no chance of success. When a quarter of a mile had been accomplished there was a slight change in the positions of the competitors in the van. Lady Zetland still retained a clear advantage, Rhine Wine and Grey Stocking being now attended by Czar, Artesian, and Ulphus, Midwife and Ligurian hav ing beaten a retreat. Making the turn for the half-mile post Indigestion advanced into a more forward position, and about two hundred yards from the turn into the straight took his place at the girths of Czar and Artesian. Making the bend for home Indigestion headed Lady Zetland, and when fairly in the straight as sumed a slight lead. Czar and Ulphus were beaten simul taneously with the cha ng e in the command ; and Pur veyor, mwandoehhaids effort, been well udpyiinngthe away, rtt was passed by Ligurian.ck from the half- m il e post, The issue from the distance was confined to Indigestion, Lady Zetland, and Artesian, the remainder of the field being somewhat " spread-eagled ;" Indigestion increasing his advantage at the commencement of the enclosure, won in a canter by two lengths from Lady Zetland ; and a length behind the latter was Artesian, third ; Ligurian was a bad f our th ; C zar, w hile running in fro n t at t h e bend f rom h ome, b roke down, b u t c l ose up w ith M r. D over ' s colt, fifth ; P urveyor s i xt h , Grey Stocking seventh, and King Charming, who had never been formidable in the race, eighth; Easby ninth, Skirmish tonth, and Leases next. Caprera, Vigorous, Ainsley, and Historian in com pany came neat; Rhine Wine, Ulphus, and Feodor pulled up on the post. The Hurdle Race Handicap of 5 sovs each, 3 ft, with 50 added; winners of any hurdle race or steeplechase after Jan. 28 (at 11 a.m.) 71b, of two, or a stake amounting to 200 sovs 121 b extra; the second to save his stake; two miles, over six hurdles; 35 subs. Mr. C. Fletcher's Orne, by Fenek Khan—Princess d e l a Pais, 4 yr s , lO s t 71b' (W. White) 1 Mr. Pawley' s R ov i ng M a id , 4 yrs, lO s t 51b (W. Reeves) 2 Mr. White's Ri s k, 6 yrs, lOst 71b The followin g a l so ran : --Musketeer, Heurlys, Claribel, Turmoil, and Master Tom. Spurgeon, 4 yrs, lOst 31b, was weighed for, but did not get to the post. Betting —2 to 1 agst Orne, 4 to 1 agst Risk, 5 to 1 each agst Roving Maid and Spurgeon, who at the first hurdle in his preliminary canter positively refused, and was not further persevered with, Roving Maid and lieurlys made the ymming to the ascent of the hill beyond the Grand Stand, where Orne was nearly pulling White out of the saddle, and on reach ing the crest of the hill the duke's horse dropped into the rear. No perceptible change occurred till the bend into the straight was reached, where Orne was leading by half a dozen lengths. Increasing the advantage to the Stand he passed the post ten lengths a winner; a length separating second and third; Master Tom next, Ileurlys fifth, Tur moil sixth, Claribel seventh, and Musketeer last. The Gone Away Plate of 50 sous, and 5 for the second; three year olds lOst, four list 121 b, five 12st 51b, six and aged 12st 71b. About two miles on the flat. Mr. W. Hedley's Denmark, by Rataplan—The Queen, 5 yrs, 12st slb •• (Mr. R. Walker) 1 - Mr. G. J. Archer's Rosette, 3 yrs, lOst 21b...(T. French) 2 Mr. R. Calder's Marksman, aged, l3st 21b (Mr W. Bevill) 3 The following also ran Miss Barbara, Militia- Ivan, Rod Cross knight, Bit of Gold, Moll in the Wad, Barrington, Wicket, Triplet, Charlie, Latona, Carthusian, Brilliant, Barnby Moor, Look Out, Sir John Barleycorn, The Fet, Blue Jacket, and Her Ladyship. Betting-4 to 1 agst Marksman, sto 1 apt :Rosette, 6to 1 each agst Look Out and Denmark, 8 to 1 agst Charlie, 10 to 1 agst Bit of Gold. - i)enmark made the running and continued the lead till reaching the hill, followed by Scarriugton, Brilliant, La tona, 'Triplet, and Miss Barbara, tho others close up in a group, The Pet being last. On descending the hill the lot became so scattered that a quarter of a mile separated the the first from the last horse. On rounding the bend for the straight, Denmark was challenged by Rosette, who had latterly beou improving her position, but the former shook her off, and won by three lengths, Rosette being two lengths ahead of Marksman ; Scarrington fourth, Brilliant fifth, Charlie, Triplet, Miss Barbara, Militiaman, Barnby Moor, and Sir John Barleycorn mare following in the order Darned, the rest walking in, Blue Jacket being last of all. SALE OF LORD JERSEY'S STUD. This event took place at Tattersall's on Monday after noon, in the presence of a crowded yard, when the follow ing prices were realised:— Gs. Vespasian, b b, 5 yrs, by Newminster—Vesta (Sir C. Legard) 600 Deceiver, br m, 5 yrs, by Glenmasson —Mermaid, covered by Lord of the Isles (Mr. Mather) 51 Aspirant, br b, 5 yrs, by Prime Minister—May Morn ing (Mr. Jones) 40 Elegance, br m, 5 yrs, by Newcourt—Nuneaton, by Orlando; covered by Lord of the Isles; no engage ment (Mr. C. Snewing) 66 Grand Cross, h b, 4 yrs, by Knight of St. Patrick— Besika (Mr. Hetherington) 380 Grand Duke, b h, 4 yrs, by The Great Unknown— Grand Mistress (Mr. Warner) 270 Mameluke, b c, 3 yrs, by Stockwell Lelia (Mr. Price) 580 Prince Regent, br c, 3 yrs, by Gemma di Vergy, out of Pavilion (Mr. Brayling) 165 Prince George, br c, 3 yrs, by Prime Minister, out of Shunting v (Mr. Bryan) 240 Victress, b in, 4 rs, by Lambton—Raund's dam (Mr. G. Payne) 130 Clarice, b in, 4 yrs, by Drogheda—Constance (Mr. Warner) 40 Cork Jacket, br c, 3 yrs, by Lifeboat—Lygonia (Mr, Woolcot) 230 Boreas, ch g, 3 yrs, by Weatherbit —Butterfly (Mr. Rogers) 29 La Rose, br f, 2 yrs, by Clara—Elinor (Mr. Brayley) 155 Somerton, b c, 2 yrs, by Neville—Sunflower (Mr. Dore) 20 Chesterton, ch c, 2 yrs, by Ben Webster—Aline (Mr. Henderson) 29 Luna, br f, 2 yrs, by Camrino—Bonny Blink (Mr. Jones) 50 Honour, b g, 2 yrs, by Neville --Veracity, (Mr. Gulliver) 20 The Tavern, br g, by Turnus, a steeplechaser, (Mr. Jones) 65 British Oak, br g, 3 yrs, by Touchwood—Heart of Oak (Mr. Brown) 20 Poacher, b c, 2 yrs, by Oulston—Marinette, (Sir W. Throckmorton) 20 B c, 2 yrs, by Kettledrum—lmperatrice ...(Mr. York) 70 David, br c, 2 yrs, by Promised Land—Fist (Sir W. Throckmorton) 40 Mercury, ch c, 2 yrs, by Chevalier d'lndustrie Superstition ...(Sir W. Throckmorton) 30 Conrad, b c, 2 yrs, by Buccaneer—Viscountess (Mr. Woolcot) 400 Br c, 2 yrs, by King Tom—Lady Alice (Capt. Machell) 47 Bc, 2 yrs, by Mildew—Wish (Mr. Guest) 25 Br c, 2 yrs, by Van Galen—Violet (Mr. Brayley) 80 Br c, 2 yrs, by High Treason —Treason (Sir W. Throckmorton) 33 Bc, 2 yrs, by Rattle—Mary Stuart (Mr. Brayley) 20 Olympic, br c, 2 yrs, by Neville—Emma (Sir W. Trockmorton) 40 Musa, ch f, 4 yrs, by Oxford, dam by Mountain Deer Ibis Meliora, b f, 3 yrs, by Optimist—Queen Christina (Mr. Brewer) 100 Lily, br f, 3 yrs, by Cape Flyaway Elf rida (Mr. Brayley) 255 Minerva, br f, 2 yrs, by Big Ben —Battaglia (Mr. Price) 45 Fragrance, ch f, 2 yrs, by Ace of Clubs—Perfume (Mr. Brewer) 41 Bay Filly, 2 yrs, by Cavendish—Rodpole (Mr. Brayley) 186 Greenback, b g, 4 yrs, by Glenmasson—Grasshopper (Mr. hill) 42 Lisette, ch m, 6 yrs, by Yellow Jack—Ninette, by Slane (Mr. Brayley) 170 Elite, b f, 4 yrs, by Big Ben—The Despised, by Meteor Shooting Star, br c, 3 yrs, by Neville—The Despised (Mr. D. Collins) 47 COURSING. THE WATERLOO MEETING. LIVERPOOL, Tuesday Night. The draw for the Waterloo Cup has resulted as fol lows : Mr. Burden ns. Hawke agst Hon. C. C. Molyneux ns. Symphony. Mr. Wise ns. What's the Tip agst Mr. Bates ns. Royal Seal. Mr. Randall ns. Cock Robin agst Mr. Marfleet ns. Trifle. Mr. R. H. Jones ns. Just Coming agst Mr. ingleby ns. Innkeeper. Mr. J. Savage ns. Crumb agst Mr. Mallaby ns. Bethel!. Mr. J. Jardine ns. Patent Lever agst Mr. Patterson ns. Peer of the Realm. Mr. W. G. Barron ns. Belzoni agst Mr. J. Cunningham ns Bedlamite. Lord Stairs ns. Strange Idea agst Dr. Richardson ns. Tak Tent. Mr. Bartholomew ns. Dreadnought agst Sir C. Molyneux ns. Mallet. Mr. Swinburne ns. Stonewall Jackson agst Mr. F. John stone ns. Jesuitess. Mr. J. Dunlop ns. Julio agst Mr. J. Hodson ns. Saucebox. Mr. Russell ns. Shy Jack agst Mr. Vine ns. St. Gris. Mr. Williams ns. Dark Rhitornell agst Mr. Neville ns. Sunbeam. Mr. Green ns. Gipsy Girl agst Mr. T. L. Reed ns. Tees maid. Mr. J. Johnston ns. Justitia agst Mr. Deighton ns. lington. Mr. S. C. Lister ns. Charming May agst Mr J. Hyslop ns Ebony. Col. C. Goodlake as Moss Trooper agst Mr. W. Long ns. Sir John. Mr. W. M. Gilmour ns Ghillie Callum agst Lord Garlies ns. Great Go. Mr. Dean -- ns. Weasel agst Lord Grey do Wilton ns. Peruvian. Mr. Evans ns. Royal Letters agst Mr. W. H. Massey ns. Master Ivo. Mr. Legh ns. Lobelia agst Mr. Wyndham as. Bishop of Oxford. Mr. iiaxon as. Christmas Day agst Mr. E. Croft ns. Cham- pion. Mr. Blanshard's Bab at the Bowster agst Mr. Trindor ns. Whig and Fiz. Mr. T. Smith us Caller Hoe agst Lord Eglinton's Fa- vatic. Mr. J. Blackstock ns. Bell of Scotland agst Lord Lurgan ns. Master Magrath. Mr. J. F Armistead ns. Attila agst Sir Robert reel ns. lialista. Mr. Gibson ifs. R►onald agst Mr. Bland ns. Letitia. Mr. C. F. Allison ns. Abyssinia agst Mr. Clark us. Mario- nette. Mr. R. Jardine ns. Improver agst Mr. Brandriff ns Action. Mr. T. Brocklebank us. Brigade agst Mr. J. Spinks ns Jane Anne. Mr. J. 11. Blandon ns. Crossfell agst Mr. 11. Hayward ns. Rustic Chance. Lord Sefton us. Spiced Ale agst Mr. A. Graham ns. Gela chossa. [ADVERTISEMENT.] Consumption, and all nervous, bilious, stomach and liver complaints in every stage are only aggravated and accelerated by drugs of every description, but perfectly curable by Du Barry's health-restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which had been considered hopeless; such as indigestion (dyspepsia), cough, asthma, con sumption, habitual constipation, diarrhoea, all gastric derange ments, haemorrhoids, liver complaints, flatulency, nervousness, biliousness, fevers, sore throats, diphtheria, catarrhs, colds, in fluenza, noises in the head and ears, rheumatism, gout, impu rities, eruptions, hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, palpitation, heartburn, headache, debility, dropsy, cramps, spasms, nausea and sickness, even in pregnancy or at sea, sinking fits, bronchitis, scrofula, tightness of the chest, pains at the pit of the stomach, and between the shoulders, tte We quote a few.—The Pope's health restored by Du Barry's Food. Cure No. 68,413.—" Rome, July 21, 186 G.—The health of the Holy Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning all other remedies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food, of which he consumes a plateful at every meal. It has pro laced a surprisingly beneficial effect on his health, and his Holiness cannot praise this excellent food too highly." From the "Gazette du Midi,' July 25. Cure No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, timber mer chant, of Fernley, Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derangement, and partial deafness.— Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieutenant of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 49,832. " Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness and vomiting.—MariaJoly.' Important Caution.—Beware of the many unsavoury and more than sloppy imitations to which, without authority, Baron Liebig's name is most audaciously attached. In tins at Is. 10.; 1 lb., 2s 9d. ; 2 lbs., 4s. 6d„. 5 lbs. 11s.; 12 lbs., 225.; 24 lbs., 40s.—BARRY Du BARRY and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, London; also Fortnum and Mason, 182, Piccadilly; and at 61, Gracechurch-street; 4, Cheapside; 63, 150, and 298, Oztuctitrtot sap mod. and all gr can R 4 chemists. A FEW WORDS ABOUT IRELAND. Several of our ablest contemporaries, and particularly the Pall Mall Gazette and Times, have entered on a discussion of the state of Ireland- since his Eminence, Cardinal Cullen, published, in his recent Pastoral, some statis tics regarding the real condition of the sister island. His Eminence states that Ireland has lost more than three millions of her in habitants; and this is so manifest, that no one dares to question it. Now this one broad fact, in our mind, speaks trumpet-tongued for the sinking state of that kingdom ; and with such a falling off in the population, it would require very clear figures, and solid proofs, to con vince enlightened and impartial men that Ireland, with a rapidly decaying population, is advancing in material prosperity—the para dox which our contemporaries would fain lead the world to b3lieve. Love of country is a natural feeling, implanted by the hand of God in the breast of man, and although some may be of a roving spirit, yet the bulk of mankind —and none more than the Irish—wish to live and die in the land of their birth. This being so, our contemporaries have undertaken a serious task in trying to persuade reflecting people, whether at home or abroad, that Ire land is prospering whilst her population is rapidly declining. Indeed, if this alleged prosperity were true, no man would know it sooner than Cardinal Cullen, and none would rejoice more than his Eminence at having it in his power to proclaim such gladdening in telligence. The vital question for the consideration of our statesmen at the present day is this : What is the real condition of the people of Ireland ? Is the material wealth of that country increasing ? Are the great masses of her people better off now than they were be fore the famine of some twenty years ago ? The Irish people—and they ought to be good authority on the subject—declare that they are not better, but are actually worse off than they were in 1845, when the Devon Commis sion pronounced them to be " the worst fed, the worst clothed, and the worst housed people in Europe." The Pall Mall Gazette has pub lished some rows of figures, since copied, and relied on, by the Times, and other of our con temporaries, with the object of proving the prosperity of Ireland. Admitting the correct ness of the figures, we wish we could discover in them any proof of that national prosperity in allegation of which they are so confidently put forward, and shall now impartially examine them, to see if they at all lead to this desirable conclusion. Cardinal Cullen states three most important facts. The first is, that more squalid poverty is to be seen in Dublin alone than in all the great cities of France, Austria, or Spain. The second is, that the number of Ireland's inha bitants has decreased about three millions. And the third, that the number of houses in Ireland has decreased about four hundred thousand. The first of these facts is manifest to all ob servant travellers who have gone through France, Spain, Austria, and Ireland ; for there is scarcely such a thing as squalid poverty to be seen in any of these more favoured kingdoms, and, comparatively speaking, only very little poverty of any description. The second, as to the immense reduction in the population of Ireland within these late years, is not denied —for no man can gainsay this melancholy truth. And the third, as to the diminution in the number of the houses of the poor, is not denied in terms, although the tables published by the Pall Mall Gazette are well calculated to confuse and mislead the general reader on that point. Our able contemporary reduces the houses of Ireland to four classes, and shows a certain limited increase in houses of the first and second class, from which we are asked to infer the general prosperity of the country. We need not observe to Irishmen or those ac quainted with the real condition of Ireland that the masses of the people of that country —the farmers, operatives, and labourers— do not live in first, neither do they aspire to second-class houses ; and, therefore, the in crease in the number of these houses proves nothing as to the material comforts of the masses of the population, which is the real question at issue. The recent increase in the number of houses of a superior description in Ireland is to be traced to two causes, each in dependent of any increase in the general prosperity of that kingdom. Before the pass ing of the Emancipation Act the Catholics of Ireland were crushed in spirit, and although many of them had previously realized consider able sums of money in mercantile and other pursuits, yet they continued to live in inferior houses and in obscure quarters of the several cities where they carried on their business. Emancipation first raised the position and spirit of the professional classes in that country, and Catholic barristers, physicians, solicitors, and others, soon after the year 1829, began to remove to a better class of houses. The next measure that raised the Irish Catholics was the Corporation Reform Act, which O'Connell forced from Parliament in 1841, whereby Catholics were enabled for - the first time during the last two or three hundred years to take their natural position in the civic government of their country. They rapidly became town councillors, aldermen, and mayors of their respective cities. This soon brought them into contact with the Irish Government. They began to attend the lev6es and drawing-rooms of the Lord-Lieutenant. Many of them on passing the Civic Chair were raised to the position of Justices of the Peace ; their wives and families were no longer satisfied to live in comparative obscurity ; and first and second class houses soon began to spring up for their accommodation. But if trade and commerce do not improve beyond what they now are and have been of late years, a very grave question remains to be solved, namely, how long this class of people shall be enabled to maintain the increased expenditure which their altered position and new dignities have thus imposed upon them ? Another cause of the increase of houses of a superior class in the cities, large towns, and sea-bathing places in Ireland, is to be traced, not to the general prosperity of the country, but to the fallen circumstances of very many of the landlord class, who were much injured in the early years of the Encumbered Estates Court, when fee-simple estates were sold at little more than a nominal value. Kingstown, Rathmines, and other suburbs of the Irish metropolis—and the same may be said of other cities and sea-bathing spots along the coast—have increased rapidly of late years ; but their increase is owing, principally, to the number of country gentlemen who have gone to reside in them for purposes of economy, being no longer able to keep up their former expensive country establishments, nor give lucrative employment to a vast number of persons, which they formerly did, as com pared with those they are now able to em ploy. These men found themselves suddenly reduced in circumstances by the famine, aggravated by the operation of the Encum bered Estates Court. Some of them were wholly ruined in the first years of its existence. Others, who saved a remnant of their here ditary estates, ashamed to live in the country where they could no longer maintain the style to which they had been accustomed, flocked to the cities, or settled in villas along the coast. But while this effects a saving in favour of the class of Irish landlords who have thus become straitened in circumstances, it is a very heavy loss to those who were employed by them; and it is manifest, therefore, that, although the altered circumstances of Ireland have caused an increase in the number of first and second class houses, yet the change, so far from prov ing the general prosperity of the country, proves but too plainly that the building of such houses has injured instead of serving the kingdom at large. Having now disposed of first and second class houses, in which the people of Ireland do not live, let us examine the admitted facts as to the third and fouth-class luAlses which they do live. Have these houses in creased in number, and improvea in condition, within the last five-and-twenty years, as has been the case with the corresponding classes of houses all over England and Scotland ? We shall not go beyond the figures of our con temporary to show that the very reverse is the fact, for both the third and fourth-class houses have decreased within that period. The houses of the third-Class, properly described by our contemporary as being composed of several rooms, are those occupied by the Irish farmers who pretend to some sort of comfort, and these, so far from increasing, have fallen off from 588,440, in the year 1851, to 553,496 in the year 1861, being a decrease of no less than 34,944. This wholesale sweeping away of about 35,000 of the best of the farm-houses of Ireland is certainly a strange proof to adduce in favour of the growing prosperity of that country. Yet such is the reasoning of many of our leading journals. And this being so with regard to the third, or better class of farm-houses, let us see how it fares with the fourth, or lowest class, occupied by the poorer farmers and by the labourers of that country. We again turn to the figures of the Pall .31 - all Gazette, and find by them that the houses, or rather the cabins of the fourth class, which, in 1841, numbered 625,356, became reduced in 1861 to 197,062, being a decrease of 428,294. If it could be shown that, as these houses or cabins decreased in number, those of the superior kind, enumerated by our contem porary, in the third class, had increased in a corresponding ratio, we would then readily admit his conclusion that Ireland was growing prosperous. But so far from this being the case—so far from the more comfortable cot tages or cabins of the industrial classes improv ing, we find them actually swept off the face of the earth to the number of 34,944, which, added to the 428,294 of the poorer.dwellings, now proved to have been destroyed, make a total of 463,238 houses of the industrial classes that have been tumbled down by Irish land lords, without any others having been built in their stead, and yet we are asked to believe, with this evidence staring us in the face, that the condition of the Irish people is im proving ! It is worthy of remark, that the houses of the third class, that is, the more comfortable and substantial class of farm houses, increased in Ireland between 1841 and 1851—during which period were the severest years of the Irish famine ; and that this same class of houses decreased between 1851 and 1861, during which certain public writers, who profess to enlighten the world on the true state of Ireland, would fain lead the public to believe that the sister country has been advan cing in agricultural wealth and general pro sperity. As so many of our contemporaries have begun the discussion of this subject, and as we deem it one of the most important that can now occupy public attention, we purpose returning to it, and hope to explain in our next how this seeming paradox is to be ac counted for, of the substantial farm-houses having increased in Ireland during the ten years within which that country was afflicted by a famine unequalled, in modern days, in any country of the world, either for its severity or its long duration. Our contemporary has also set down other figures in alleged proof of the growing prosperity of Ireland. These, too, we intend examining carefully, and shall expose the fallacy that lies concealed beneath them. THE MUSICAL TATTERSALL'S. The " Oxford"—or " The Musical Tattersall's," as this hall has not inappropriately been described by the sporting correspondent of the Daily Telegraph—. demands particular notice in these columns, de voted as they are primarily to sporting matters. This inauspicious event took place about three o'clock on Tuesday morning last, and on our re porter calling to inspect the scene of devastation about eleven, he found this elegant edifice a mass of charred and blackened ruins open to the sky, with, it may be said, little left but the bare walls. The origin and course of the fire it is not our purpose to attempt to trace, nor, like many of our contem poraries, to suggest means by which it might have been prevented, but we may remark if the roof had been constructed of iron instead of timber-- why it was not in these enlightened days we are at a loss to understand—the catastrophe of Tuesday morning could not possibly have taken place with anything like the serious results we have recorded. The loss of this noble building, with its magnificent decorations and the high-class entertainments to which it was dedicated, can be considered little short of a metropolitan, if not a national, calamity. Contrasted with the other Halls devoted to w hat should be music it stood alone. .Who could listen to the accomplished singing of Miss Russell here, and the pseudo-genteel stuff of Mr. Vance, for instance, elsewhere, —who to the impassioned de clamatory vocalisation of Miss Fitz-Henry and the discordant clap-trap of Mr. Nash's cornet song,-- who to the clever sentimental and real buffo dis plays of Mr. Green, and the painful attempts of a hundred and one self-styled comic artistes (save the term !) without feeling the superiority of the catering at the Oxford to that of all o ther similar places in the town ? It is true Messrs. Morton and Jonghmanns had to put their experienced heads together at holyday sea sons to meet the demand for holyday entertain ments, alias nonsense and trash ; but even this was done most judiciously, and only such of the " great (1)" people who preside at other halls employed as were totally free from vulgarity--- 5 selection of no easy accomplishment. The loss of " The Musical Tattersall's" to the racing community will be irreparable, for it was there alone that on the eve of every important event they could meet their provincial brethren and constituents, and those sporting amateurs yclept " the public," whose money is so essential to the support of the noble pastime, and who, it may b° said in reality, there parted from it to some tune. We need only refer to the extraordinary gathering during the Derby and Ascot weeks to illustrate what we mean to those who have been present; and those who have not, have missed a scene of ex' citement and au opportunity of studying character never perhaps to be reproduced, unless in the smile Hall, which we trust will speedily be restored to both the lovers of rational enjoyment—where the otium cunt dignitate of cigars and refreshments are permitted,—and to the sporting fraternity, whose interests are identical with our own.—Facing Times. The oldest inhabitant of Quebec asserts this to be the coldest winter in his memory ; not so much fro' the occasional state of the thermometer as the steady average degree of cold. Births. ABBOTT —On the 17th inst., at 4, Belsize-square, 11 11113 r stead, the wife of Thomas Abbott, Esq., of a son. BnowNE—On the 17th inst., at Bath, the wife of major F. Browne, Eengal Staff Corps, of a daughter. FrrzßoY On the 15th inst., at 18, Queen's-gate-garden the wife of Germander eorge D. Fitzßoy, 12f son. Marriages. t,C1(11 r COCKING—LANE—On the 17th inst., at the parish cptl- Streatham, the Rev. Ralph D. Cocking, 8.A., incumb e d o of St. John's, Maida-vale, W., to Sibylia Elizabeth, e' daughter of Captain J. E. Lane, R.N. rei HERBERT—SHELTON—Oa the 15th inst., at Si , pit i • iP Camden-square, N.W., Charles Henry Herbert, EF ( 11. 1 11 Staple-inn ' solicitor, to Lila, youngest and N u o f daughter of the late John Hammond Shelton, E 4•" Chelsea. Deaths. BROWN—On the 17th inst., at Tho "lollies, Bexley, J'w Thomas Brown, Esq., aged 79. GIBSON— On the 18th inst., at Gibson-square, Isli n g t°l3t Frank Gibson, aged 70. , JENKINS—On the 16th inst., Martha Jenkins, widow °',", late C. J. Jenkins, E sq ., o f Boxeth, near 11 311-v" aged 75. nt' KENNER —On the 16th inst , Mrs. Marth Kenner, .tel e d t square, Middlesex, formerly o f th e I s l e o f N'''b aged 69. SANDFORD—On the 16th inst., at 19, Rutland-stree t, burgh, Daniel Charneek, second son of the Rev. - I)3D- Fox Sandford, aged 3f years. SMITH—On tho 16th inst at 5, Prospect Villas, r hill, Adam Smith, Esq.,. of Bid street, SollthW3' t aged 52. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM AND'* — 112, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tits SIN Odlce' N .° t of Strand, in the Precinct of the SP voy, in the 0211/3 ' Uidalef3a , Wellefalth robruarY 18 18" Th ho t for Ch( 8 0V( rein star and Yea, ne s , dig e tier N, ~,,. C I 13t1 1 fo r d fo od Wal t C I .iro rt Of Vou, Yea r 211, P _l l i 41 s , gr Co