The Sun. — London, England, 1853-05-13 00:00:00

CHEAP EDITION OF SIR, E. BULWEE LYTTON'S NOVELS Ant TALES: " • Crown Bvo., cloth, 2s. LEILA. ; or, The SIEGE of GRANADA ; and CALDERON the COURTIER. __ _ By Sir EDWARD BULWER LYTTON, Bart, M.P. With a Frontispiece. HAROLD and LUCRETIA will complete the series. London : Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly. READING FOR TRAVELLERS.—NEW VOLUME. In a few cliffs, price Is. CHARACTER and ANECDOTES of CHARLES the SECOND. Recently published : MON TE NEGRO and the SLAVONIANS of TURKEY. Is. 6d. The VILLAGE DOCTOR. FRANKLIN'S FOOTSTEPS : A Sketch of Greenland. Is. 6d. MAGIC and WITCHCRAFT. IS. OLD ROADS and NEW ROADS. Is. London: Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly. T HE WELLINGTON DINING-ROOMS, Entrance, 161, PICCADILLY. This splendid Establishment (formerly Crockford's Club) IS 2COW OPEN to the Public, on a scale of magnificence unpreco dented in London, combining extreme moderation in charges with the meet unexceptionable Cooking and Bill of Fare and uniting the tudefendenqe of a public dining-room with the comforts and aecemmodation of a first-rate club Scales of Charges.—Dinner from the Joint, with vegetables, bread, cheese, am., 2s. ; ditto, with soup or fish, 2s. 6d. ; ditto, with soap. and fish, 35.; made dishes, witu the joint, as per bill of fare; made dishes, without the joint, but with vegetables, bread, cheese, &c., is extra. Waiter, each pitaon, 3d. The Wines and Beers will be sold by Imperial measure, and the decanters all marked, so that the quantity paid for will be actually 11 ipylied to the consumer. The Public will, therefore, appreciate thi s novel arrangement, more particularly when they understand that the Imperial pint contains four-flfihs of what it usually sold as a bode le. The Dining-Room will be open from Hoff-past Two, p.m., until Nine, p.m. The magnificent Suite of Saloons, on the first floor, fitted up for Smoking, Reading, and Chess, will be well supi lied with the London, proymeial, and Foreign Papers, Magazines, Books of Reference, &c.; and Tea, Coffee, Iciis Seltzer Water, ev.o• , will be suppli e d from eleven a.m., by Mr. Ward, of Bond-st ree t - The Dining room will be open on Sundays at half-past Five o'clock. Lessee, HENRY THOMAS MUNDT, 160, Piccadilly. Nth yey, 1853. RO) AL SURREY ZOOLOGIC AL GARDENS.—Open for the season Whit-Monday and four r os est ing days.—The Zoological C o ll ect i cn contains a variety of in -I}g gpeciresns, and the Gardens throughout have been improved and beautified. The Pictorial Representation is an extensive VIEW of the BAY and FORTS of CHURN, painted by Messrs. Denson, and at dusk is represented the attack of the Chinese fire-rafts on the British fleet, explosion-shps, ke.—Grand Vocal and Instrumental Concert. Engagement of the eminent vocalist, Miry Cicely Nott. Conductor, Mr. Godfrey. - May-day Games and Rustic Sports, May pole and Morris Dances. "Pop goes the Weasel," by 25 couple, con °acted by Mr. Flexmore.—An extra Military Band during the day time; and at dusk a grand display of Fireworks, combined with the Feast of Lanterns and other displays.—Doers open from 9 in the .posing. Admission, Is. THEATRE ROYAL, lIA.YmARKET. Trader the management of Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING. MAY 13, Will be peiformed THE LADY OF LYONS. Supported by )(Assn. Howe, Corrl, Roger,, , and Barry Sullivan; and Mise Helen raucit. Aeliter which, MR. BUCKSTONE'S ASCENT OF MOUNT PAR NASSUS. To conclude with OUR MART ANNE. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. under the Management of Mr. Charles Keel. THIS EVENING. Mar )3. 'MR be performed the Tragedy of MA,CLETII. Principal Cha racters by Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean. To conclude with the new Drama, adapted from the French of Nona. Scribe, by Mr. Palgrave Simpson, called MARCO SPADA. Principal characters by Messrs. W. Lacy, J. Vining, Ryder, Graham, and Everett; Misses Heath and C. Leclereq. ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, MAT 13, Will be performed A.S.S. Characters by Messrs. F. Mathews, Suter, and Rosters ; Mrs. Macnamara and 311ss Wyndham. After which, A FAST TRAIN—IIIGH PRESSURE EXPRESS. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, Baker, and Suter. T 9 be followed by TRYING IT O.N. Principal character by Mr. C. thews To which will be added a DIVERTISSEMENT, in which Miss 7tosina Wright will appear. To conclude with THE CRITIC. Characters by Messrs. C. Ma. thews, fe. Matthews, and R. Roxby ; Miss St. licorge, and Mrs, M senamara. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster. —Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, MAT 13, Will . 13e presented THE ROUSED LION. Characters by Messrs. B. Webster and Wigan; Mrs. Keeley, and Mrs. L. Murray. t ter which. A DESPERATE. DAME. To be followed by TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS. It, conclude with TUE DANCING SCOTCH Al AX. secondly, that any measure would be defective and incomplete which omitted settled property, and did not place it on the same foundation as that which passed by bequests. From" these data it naturally follows, that the only alteration that remained for the Chancellor of the Etchequer was either to abolish the Legacy Duties altogether, or to introduce such a measure as that now under discussion. This, however, does not re move the question from the category in which 'it has been placed, that, as a new tax, it must be supported by much stronger arguments than would be required for the retention of one already in operation. The tax for which it is to be substituted, also becomes an important element in the calculation, one that should be disposed of in the first place. Every tax is a grievance. We must therefore inquire into the relative advan tages and disadvantages of those respecting which a comparison is to be instituted. The new tax, then, is required for the gradual' reduction and ultimate abolition of the Property and Income Tax. That will be manifest from the financial statement of the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, and from the nature and circumstances of the case. It is by means of the additional revenue to be obtained that the Income Tax can be reduced from 7d. in the pound to 6d. in 1855 and again to sd. in 1857 ; and, finally. abolished in 1860 (that is to say, if Mr GLan- STONE'S views can be carried into practical execu tion in these respects); and that we are, indeed, even destined to see the end or even the re duction of an impost which, if fairly and justly apportioned, would be of all others the best and most eligible for the commu nity, not merely for the working classes, but also for the owners of accumulated and realised property, the territorial aristocracy, and the moneyocracy. The new tax is calculated to pro duce £2,000,000 sterling ; taken with the existing duties on legacies, which must be dealt with at the same time, the amount would be £3,500,000, which would be nearly equivalent to 7d. in the pound on schedules 1 and C. There could not, of course, be any alteration in the other sche dules, for, unfortunately, skill and industry are not hereditary ; and no financier, we believe, ever had the hardihood to put forward, or would venture to enunciate, such a proposition as that the widow and children of a professional man, or of a merchant, a manufacturer, or a trader, should be required to pay a heavy tax to Government, not on the property bequeathed to them, but for the ability, the genius, the wealth-producing powers of which they have been for ever deprived. The question, then, merely rests with the owners of accumulated and realised property of any description. They are the parties who are alone concerned. And it is for them to decide whether it would be more desirable to pay a pro portion of their income in each and every year, or to be called upon, at uncertain intervals, to pay a large proportion of their capital. We believe that the former plan would be, in every respect, the most eligible for the parties, and for the com munity ; and we want no further evidence in sup port of the assertion than that taken before the Copyhold Commission, which shows the great practical inconveniences, the ruinous results, of a fine amounting to one or two years' rental on the improved value. Parliament had to yield to the loud and general complaints on the subject to change the law that had prevailed for centuries, and even to tamper with " the rights of property," in order to avert the serious evils incidental to the system ; and yet, within one short year of the pass ing of that salutary statute, Mr. GLADSTONE proposes to act on the condemned principle, to revive the impolitic system in its worst forms, and, practi cally, to bring all the freehold lands in the United Kingdom into the most objectionable kind of copyhold tenure. And this immediate grievance is to be borne in place of the contingent and very problematical reduction and ultimate abolition of the Property Tax. We ask the fuudholders, the landed proprietors, the owners of any kind of property, to consider calmly and attentively both propositions, and say which they would really desire to have adopted, and that, not from preju diced or party feelings, but in accordance with the real merits of the case An intelligent traveller once said, that a person having to change his money some hall-dozen times in going into dif ferent small states would find it gradually vanishing from the expenses of the operation and the extravagant demands of the money-changers. If Mr. GLADSTONE'S views should be adopted and carried into practical execution, the inheritor an estate that has gone through four or five suc cessions within a few years —a matter very pos sible—will find himself hoplessly embarrassed, and obliged to part with the fair domains that had been handed down through a long line of illustrious ancestors. There is another point that must be inquired into. By what machinery does the Right Hon. Gentleman propose to carry the tax into operation ? Let it not be forgotten that it is a tax, not on the income, but on the capitalised value of the inheri tance. How is this value to be ascertained ? And if it can be averaged for the purpose of the tax on successions, what is there to prevent its applica tion to the Property and Income Tax, thereby removing the only impediments to an equitable adjustment of that impost ? We submit these interrogatives for the consideration of the Hon. Gentleman. It would be well if they were pre pared with satisfactory responses before giving their votes in favour of the new tax on succes sions. At length the Report on Manning the Navy has been issued by the Committee. Long and eagerly expected, it has at last arrived. It would be impossible, notwithstanding our impatience hitherto in this matter, to regret for one moment the delay which has actually occurred. Although to all appearance unconscionably protracted, for that delay we have now, in this really masterly Report, been fully and most satisfactorily com pensated. Without any further preface, we would here at once express to the different mem ben of the Committee our admiration for the BO lic i t ude they have evinced for the well-being of the country in every stage of their prolonged inves tigation. Scarcely anything of real importance, feferring to the matter under inquiry, has been by them overlooked, either through neglect or in difference. They appear to have gone carefully through every one of those eleven sections which were submitted to their scrutiny by desire of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. They have entered scrupulously into all, not forgetting a single detail ; and they have rendered their in quiry effectual because they have conducted it systematically. Firstly, they have considered " The entry and training of boys and seamen, and the periods of service for which they are engaged." Secondly, "Whether such periods of service could be advantageously extended, and the regulations which it would be advisable in such case to adopt." Thirdly, " The practicability of permanently re taining the services of boys and seamen, as is the case with the Royal Marines, so as to insure the means of rapidly manning her MAJESTY'S ships when required for service." Fourthly, " Whether a period of service abroad might be followed by a period of service at home, in the coast guard, dockyards, or home ports." Fifthly, "Whether a reserve of seamen might not be or ganised to remain in England, reference being had to the scheme recently laid before Parliament for that purpose." Sixthly, " Whether measures could be adopted at the present time, in order to secure the services of a large body of seamen for the defence and general service of the country in a case of emergency." Seventhly, " The ques tions of pay and prize-money, and especially the clause of the Act sth and 6th WILL. IV., c. 24, relating to bounty." Eighthly, "All regulations at present in force relative to petty officers and seamen gunners." Ninthly, " The award of good conduct badges and of pensions." Tenthly, "The entry of seamen into the coast-guard and dock yards." Eleventhly and lastly, " The admission of seame n into Greenwich Hospital and their sup port therein." These were the subjects submitted to the consideration of the Committee, and it is upon these eleven propositions for inquiry that the Committe e have now definitively pronounced. Before they allowed tkuusetirefi to arrive at apy ROYAL OLYMPIC; THEATRE. Lessee awl Nlanager Mr. Farron. • THIS EVENING, May 13, WM be pert rined TILE MILLEIt OF DE It WENT WATEIt. Clciroctots by Messrs. rI. Farm:), F. llcbton, Shaiders, G. Cooke,atld Charles; Mesdames Anderion awl E. Ttr nor. Atter which. UNCLE CitOTCHEL Acn, &C. To be f0119w;c1 by MACIIETII. Stiwrled by Mr. samuel Mac beth dmi M.-. F. Iti , bsan; Mrs. Sarah Macbeth and Mrs. A. l'hillips. To conclude with THE :31V15.3 COT PAGE. Lisette, Miss H. Gordo*. led by Mr. Far- ASTLEICS ROYAL AMPUITHEATRE. Sole Leases an Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. Inc rnpFIIII:v with a generally•expressed wish, Mr. W. Cooke has honor o: announcing that A GRIND JUVENILE MORNING l'ERF , )it MANCE ViAl take place on WHIT-TUEsD kr, May 17, rotiirnenci.it at Wo o'clock. My Permssion of the Cotrutia , laoi Col. Clara, It ii , IV by caicial Invitation from Mr W. Cooke, the Lioys of the Duke of York's -chool, with their ilanJ, will atten.t. *L SST FIVE NIGHT , : of THE KAFlit WARFARE, widch must be withdrawn for the eotlre,y new spotting Ilippo Drama, illustrat ing LIFE ON TUE TURF, to be produced t r the WHITSUN aoLIDAYS. THIC KVENINtI, M AT 13, And diming the we,k, the entertalnments will commence with the grand Ppectaele of A NIAKOAA ; ur. Scenes of Ktiflr Werfere. To be tollowsti by a cl - splay of F.ritiostri•An Scenes in the ARENA, intraluelog Mr. t ooke'ei highly-trained steeds. The infant Victor Claude Cooke and his pet Drawing-room P ny. The Entertain ment- supportird by Ds, eui'nent A riiqes of no Establi,hroen% 'l,, coniaide with Hugo Vamp, Lsq 13, new Comic Drama. entitled IN FOR A DIG; ur. Litt, st the Diggings. g,,,.otriu,. op.!) daily from Eluter, to Four. Stage Man r. Mr. W ebt. 111UB WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. T tr.. DAT —MeTlling 46 min. after 4 I Evening 3 min.aft. 5 TI-"lealow—Morning 22 min. a ft er 5 Evening 45 min.aft. 5 THE WEATHER.—Sus OFFICB, MAT 13. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 58—highest since noon yesterday. 45—lowest this morning and during the night. 54-- this day at noon. BAROMZTER, 30'11. WIND, S.E —Fine breeze, and cloudy weather. Heavy rain in the night. • f a 67 -.& 1 • / 111111, LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1853. Mr. GLADSTONE'S proposition with regard to the contemplated extension of the Legacy Duties re quires much careful consideration before it can receive the Legislative sanction, or be suffered to pass into a law. It must not be forgotten, that the Right Hon. Gentleman intends completely to alter the basis of the impost, creating a new and far more productive tax, on a very different foundation from that already in operation. It will no longer be a duty on bequests, but a tax on successions. Every person corning into pos session of property, real or personal—whether under a devise or settlement, taking either as ab solute owner or merely as tenant for life, or other limited interest—must pay a tax varying from 1 to 10 per cent., if his possession has been occa sioned by the death of a former proprietor. The distinctions between rents and personalty, settled or unsettled property, will, so far as the tax is concerned, be henceforward and for ever anni hilated. It is, therefore, to all intents and purposes, a new tax on settled and real property, calculated to produce 2, 000, 0001. :lee rling per annum; and, as.such, it imperatively dannsmis the calm and attentive deliberation of ithe House as to its probable results, before it can be permitted to pass through its various stages. If it were an existing source of revenue, the argu ment so frequently resorted to by Financial Ministers might be available, viz., that he could not afford to relinquish so !productive an impost. But that argument, weak and unsatisfactory as it As under the most favourable circumstances, is totally inapplicable in the present instance. The matter must therefore be dealt with on its broad merits. We must, to use the words of Mr. Dis- RA pmr, " ask ourselves, is it a just tax ? is it ab stractedly a just tax ? is it a politic tax—a tax that can be vindicated an principle ?" and, if so, is it a tax adapted to the state and condition of the sountry ? We must also reflect on the grounds on which this new impost can be justified ; and if it should be intended as a substitute for any other public burden, we should carefully com pare the two, in order to ascertain which is at the same time the most equitable and the most expedient, to be well assured that we are not adopting a course alike opposed to justice and ound policy. Now before entering on these important consi derations we may considerably narrow the n co ntrcversy by sundry a d m i ssions, which we freely and willingly make, rendering to Mr. ,T r, LADSTO NE the justice to which he is eminently entitled for the comprehensive measure h e h as b rought for ward. An d fi rs t , we acknowledge that tei r ex if the Legacy Duties were to be retained, h ten sion to real property was inevitable,—that no option remained _ for Mr. GLA.DSTONF., or any other Minister at the head of the Financial Department, but to listen respectfully to the voice of public opinion, and to yield to "the pressure from with eat" which gPuld uo logg er be raided, And, THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 13, 1853, conclusion whatsoever upon one solitary particu lar, they appear to have invariably subjected the subject in hand to a minute, and painstaking, and almost, so to speak, microscopic investiga tion. They have, to this end, examined both seamen and officers in the Royal Navy, besides others connected with the mercantile marine, as well as divers shipowners and public functionaries. From these different sources, moreover, they acknowledge, and not withoo considerable reason, to have derived " much valuable information." Every separate statement made in the course of the document seems, indeed, from those portions which we have already perused attentively, to have ' been admirably well authenticated. A catalogue of the various witnesses summoned before the Committee is given at the close of the Report as a sort of appendix ; while as early as the fourth section of it we find honourable men tion_of the Admirals of the Fleet, Sir BYAM MAR TIN and Sir GEORGE COCKBURN, to whom the Committee allow themselves to be largely indebted for their many inestimable observations. Perhaps the most notable announcement made throughout the whole of this important and ela borate document is one which occurs in the very :►ext paragraph. That paragraph (§ 5) expresses itself in one part as follows :—" The general cha racter of the evidence thus brought before us, con- rmatory as it is of our own experience, has ed us forcibly to the conclusion that the )resent system of entering seamen into her MA rEsTY's Navy for short terms of servitude, and ,hen discharging them, is highly detrimental to is interests and efficiency, and requires an entire revision." Now, if only for that one announce ment we should welcome the Report before us with no common degree of satisfaction. It is a declaration that goes to the very core of the existing grievance. It asserts what we ourselves have long maintained. It proclaimsthe existence of an evil which we have for years past in these columns, again and again, in the strongest terms of which our vocabulary is capable, denounced and reprobated. After this the matter under con sideration cannot be once more—as it has been already so frequently--cushioned. It must now, perforce, extort the interposition of the Imperial Legislature. For it has received at last an of ficial recognition. A committee has at length been found to avow in so many words that " the present system of entering seamen in her MA JESTY'S Navy for short terms of servitude, , and then discharging them is highly detrimental to its interests and efficiency, and requires an entire revision." Having spoken thus directly to the point, and that too in the plainest possible language, the Committee go on to explain how it is they would sug gest that the evil complained of should be remedied. Among other things they say, with out further delay in the way of mere circum locution, " These evils would, in our opinion, be effectually remedied, so far as the peace establish ment of the Navy is concerned, if both men and boys were entered for longer periods." Bearing all these considerations in view, they avow, Shortly afterwards, that they have arrived unani. mously at the conclusion " that the time has ar• rived for placing her MAJESTY'S Navy on a more permanent basis, on a similar principle to that established in the Army and Marines," adding that the change would be calculated, in every respect, to be productive, both to the Crown and to the Seamen, of numerous and solid advantages. Al though we cannot, of course, recognise how any basis that is once permanent can be rendered more permanent," and although we would hereby enter a passing exception to that ludicrous !law in the language of the Report, we cannot 'nit hail with unalloyed satisfaction the whole of Le remarkable clause in which this Mutts- is slip of the tongue, or rather of the is encountered. For the Report thus affords Is ample reason to augur well for the future de- elopment of the most national, but hitherto the nost neglected, of our warlike professions. The precise manner in which it is proposed that the :iervice shall be reorganised will be interesting matter for subsequent and more deliberate eons: deration. We have much pleasure in directing public attention to a Report of the Fourteenth Annual Meeting of the Shareholders in the NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY, which will be found in our froni page. We have attended all the previous meetings of this excel lent Institution, but never saw so full, so re spectable, and so satisfied an assemblage as we witnessed on the present occasion. We cannot but feel assured that this is a very auspicious augury of its future and increasing prosperity. COURT CIRCULAR. OSBORNE, THURSDAY. Her Majesty, accompanied by the Princess Royal, Princess Helena, Princess Louisa, and Prince Arthur, drove out yesterday afternoon in an open carriage and four, attended by Colonel the Hon. C. Grey. His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horseback, attended by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon. Their Royal Highness the Duke and Duchess d'Aumale, and the Princess of Salerno, visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, yesterday, at Clarence House, St. James's. Her Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent, accompanied by the Duke and Duchess d'Aumale, and the Princess of Salerno, and the Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe, and at tended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson and Lieut.-Colonel F. Seymour, honoured the Royal Italian Opera with her presence last evening. A deputation in support of a Bill for Medical Reform, prepared by a committee of the association represented by the deputation, had an interview with the Earl of Aberdeen yesterday, at his official residence la Downing-street. The deputation consisted of Sir Chas. Hastings, M.D., D.C.L. (President of the Council), Dr. Robertson (Northampton), Dr. Webster (Dulwich) ' Mr. Mousely, F.R.C.S. (Leeds), Mr. Noble, F.R.C.S. (Manchester), Mr. Bottamley, F.R.C.S. (Croydon), Mr. Walsh, F.R.C.S. (Worcester), Mr. Sontham, M.R.C.S. (Manchester), Mr. Bree, M.R.C.S. (Stowmarket), Mr. Cartwright, M.R.C.S. (Oswestry), Mr. Stedman M.R.C.S. (Guildford), and Mr. Hastings (secre tary). The deputation was introduced by Earl Beauchamp, and was accompanied by Mr. Cowan, M.P., Mr. Ricardo, M.P., Mr. Wakley, Dr. Barnes, Dr. Cormack, and Dr. Clark. The dollars and bar silver brought by the last West India steamer have been sold at 59id. and 61d., being a decline of id. per ounce, which is chiefly to be attri buted to the East India Company having lowered their rate of exchange id. per rupee. THE RIVER PLATE.—The American advises contain a newspaper extract to the effect that intelligence had been received from the river Plate by the barque Pea cock, that the commissioners of the belligerent parties at Buenos Ayres had concluded terms of peace, which were awaiting ratification by Urquiza on the one hand, and the authorities of Buenos Ayres on the other. It is said the conditions are liberal, and such as will be likely to satisfy both sides. At the same time, the most revolting cruelties are alleged to have been committed by insurrectionary parties in the interior of the country. The date of the intelligence is not given, but it is re ported to have been confirmed by the Eliza Jenkins, which has just arrived at Liverpool from Buenos Ayres, whence she sailed on the 9th of March, without bring ing any letters. SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STRAND.—The Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers—at the request of the Commissioners of the Board of Health—are taking most extensive measures for the salubrity of the densely-populated neighbourhood of Drury-lane. the adjacent streets, courts, &c. For the purpose of carry ing out these sanitary improvements, by the cutting a main sewer from the Strand, up Newcastle-street, Wych-street, and Drury-lane, to Holborn, that part is closed to vehicles of every description. The following are the streets in that vicinity which are to have the benefit of a common sewer, viz. :—Holywell-street and Wych-street, in the Strand ; Newcastle-street, Hough ton-street, Holles-street, Blackmore-street, Stanhope street, Denzell-street, and Princes-street, Drury-lane, and several of the courts. This work, although it causes many of the streets to be closed to public traffic for the present, will eventually be of the greatest importance to the salubrity of the inhabitants; KENT MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOClETY.—Yester day the annual meeting of this society was held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street---John Thos. King, Esq., in the chair. The report stated that since the last annual meeting 420 policies had been issued, assur ing the sum of 103,7891. 145., yielding a revenue of 3,6631. 17s. lid. During the year 271 proposals had been received for the assurance of 112,2691. 3s. Of these 197 had been accepted, assuring 69,9181. 6s. and yield ing an additional annual revenue of 2,2871. Is. 7d. The number of policies issued in three years is 617, assuring 173,6581., and yielding a gross annual revenue of 5,9511. 2s. 6d. The expenditure had been far below the average of the most economically conducted of similar institu tions, and after making the fullest provisions for the sums assured, and all other liabilities, there remained a profit of 12,7771. 11s. sd. The accumulated fund amounted to 3,0001. There have been but two claims by deaths in the course of the year, for the sum of 7001. The report was adopted, after which an election of direc tors took place. MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE -(THIS DAY.) CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were estimated at 7,000 bales—of which 1,200 Ameri can were taken for export and on speculation. The market was firm, but tame. The sales com prised 6,000 American, 300 Pernam and Maranham, at 6}d. to 70. ; 300 E g y p ti an, at 60 ; . to Is. 2d. and 500 Surat, at 3d. to 4id. per lb. Railway Shares were dull, at rather lower prices. In the produce markets prices have this week been firmer, and business has been moderately good. Sugar has been brisker, and at rather improved rates. The export demand continues large. Coffee, on the other hand has been dull, Plantation Ceylon being the only quality in request. Mocha has fallen Is. to 2s. In cotton a steady business has been done, and holders are disposed to ask higher rates. The indigo auctions have opened heavily, and prices are not so good as at the last series. Tallow has been firm. Tea is nominally higher, in conse quence of the advices from China. If the scheme of the Chancellor of the Exche quer for the conversion of the debt had come be fore the public several months back it might have had a better reception, but at the present time the value of money is a drawback, and the feeling that the rate of interest will still further advance ope rates in part as a bar to the success of the scheme. At any rate the offers of voluntary con version are, up to this date, very limited in amount. Satisfied, however, that the terms offered by Government are sufficiently favourable under ordinary circumstance; we do not relinquish the hope that they will have the effect ultimately, whatever present difficulties may occur, of inducing acquiescence. The period which is allowed to carry out the conversion will naturally cause many to hold back for awhile. Another and almost distinct matter is the South Sea Debt. If the holders of this do not voluntarily convert, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will pay them off at par, and then arises thequestion. Can he find the means? Looking at the surplus revenue, and judging of th e assistance likely to be r ece i ve d from the Bank, we consider it beyond a doubt that the Chancellor will be able to meet any demand upon him from that quarter. Lastly, as to Exchequer Bills, these are exhibiting great weak ness, and have been as low as par, because the proposed rate for the new bills is under what the current value of money seems to justify. It would be unreasonable, however, to assume that Govern ment must regulate its payment with reference merely to the value of money for the day. Parties who hold Exchequerßills take them as yielding a fair average return, and the main thing to be considered is whether we are to have money permanently dearer, or even as dear as at present. We scarcely antici pate any decided change, and think cash will find ready employment for some time at full rates; con sequently there is some doubt about the renewal of Exchequer Bills. Probably the Gantte of this evening, or of Tuesday next, will contain the usual official notice. Advices from the Continent represent the weather as being equally as severe there as in Eng land. The English Funds are flatter, sales having been pressed for money. Consols have been 1001 / for Transfer, and are now 1001 For Account they are 1001 1. The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have been 1031, and since 1021. The Three per cent. Reduced Annuities are 991 to 103. South Sea Old Annuiti es are wor th 991. Exchequer Bills continue at par to 4s. premium, and India Bonds are at 30s. remiuni. Foreign Stocks have been dull. The Spanish Committee's certificate is only 6f, #, and the New Deferred Bonds have dropped to 23 to 24. Por tuguese 5 per Cents. are worth 38i to 39. Mexican Bonds have dropped to 261 I. Peruvian Deferred Bonds have receded to 65 and 64. Buenos Ayres Stock is steady at 711 to 72. The Railway Share Market has been flatter, the decline being about per cent. on the average. French Shares are quiet. Centrals have ralliecj, however, to 1 to 21 premium. Canada Trunk Shares are to 11 premium. The Gold Mine Shares are heavy, scarcely any thing doing. United Mexican Shares have im proved. Metcalfe Mine are 12 to 13 premium ; Jamiaica, 4 to 5f premium ; Port Royal, 11 to 14 -1 3 - premium ; and the Sue River, lf to premium. The Land Companies Shares have been dull. Oriental and South Australia Bank Shares are in some request, and also the Australasia. FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK THIS DA.Y, (From the Oigcial List.) _ Business done :3 per Cerat. Reduced Annuities 99i 100 99 :3 per Ceet. Consols Annuities New 34 per Cont. Annuities Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 Eudia Bonds, £lOOO Ditto, under £lO9O. South Sea Old Annuities , ioutli Sea New Annuities Consols for Account Ist June Exchequer Bills Id. £lOOO.. £5OO Small 30 99,1 ..... 100 June. March. par 4 I par 4 ...... par 4 I par 4 par 4 par 4 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOC • , 4tz: . lian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Dit'.;o 5 per Cent. (Rothchild's) Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cont., Greek Bonds, Red Ditto, Blue Mexican 3 per Cent. Peruvian Bonds, 44 per Cent. BB4 Peruvian Scrip 3 i P Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto 44 per Cent Spanish 3 per Cent., New D e f erre d 23i 4 Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 64 p c HALF-PAST TWO, looh g nal Consols Ditto Jun© Account 72 li THE ATTEMPT TO EXTORT MONEY FROM THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. MARLBOROUGH-STREET —(THIS DAY.) William Wilson, the young man who was remanded from Wednesday last on the charge of attempting to ex tort money from the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was brought before Mr. Bingham for further examination. Tile court was crowded to excess, and on the bench were the Marquis of Stafford, Mr. Scholefield, M.P., and other gentleman. Mr. Bingham, addressing the prisoner, said from enquiries that have been made I feel it my duty to re mand you till Thursday next, at two o'clock. It was reported that the prisoner had, on a previous occasion, endeavoured to obtain money from another of her Majesty's Ministers. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MAY 12. (Front the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons. ) WAYS AND MEANS.-INCOME TAX' Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "moiety,' in order to insert the words " third part," instead thereof Question put, " That the words third part' be there in serted :" The committee divided—Ayes 60, Noes 120. MINORITY-AYES, 60 Alexander, J. Granby, Marquis Palmer, Robert Arbuthnot, Gen. Greene, J. Potter, R. Bailey, Crawshay Hamilton, G. A. Robertson, P. F. , H 1 o e gi c e r . t, s , i r ir w. T . h c o 4 m . 1 1: s S i e b o t t li t o , r F p x:a c n o e l i o s ne a Ball, Edward Bankes, G. Barrington, Viscount Jones, Captain Smith, IA in. M. - ktentinck, Lord H. — Kelly;Slt F. - Smyth, It. Ben:hick, Geo. P. Kendall, N. Spooner, it. Boo'oer, Thos. Wm. King, James King Tollemache, John Buck, Lewis W. Knox, W. S. Trollope, Sir J. Butt, Geo. Medd Latian, K. M. Vivian, J. Ennis Child, Smith . Liddell, H. G. IValcot, Mm. Cholmondeley, Ld. H Lonc,l W. Wodehortse, E. Conolly, T. malhis, Richard Wyndham, Gen Davison, R. Mandeville, Viscount. Wynn, Sir W. Disraeli, B. Manners, Lord J. Yong, Eliot T. lorrnham, E. Basil Michell, W. Fellowes, Edward Moody, C. A. Filmer, Sir Edmund Newdegate, C. N. Freahlield, J. W. Oakes, J. H. Galway, Viscount Ossulston, Lord Vansittart, George II Gaskell, J. M. Pakington, Sir John Stanhope, J. B. TELUIS. MAJ GRIT Y— NOES, 120. Acland, Sir T. Geach. Charles O'Brien, Cornelius Aglionby, H. A. Gibson, T. M. O'Connell, Maurice Alcock, Thomas Gladstone, William O'Flaherty, A. Anderson, Sir James Goodman, Sir George Oliveira, Benjamin Atherton, Wm. Goulburn, H. Peel, F. Baines, M. T. Graham, Sir James Pellatt, A Barnes, T. Greene, T. Phillimore, J. Bell, J. Hadfield, G. Thillimore, R. J. Berkeley, C. L. nestle, Alexander Pilkingtou, James Bethell, Richard thistle, Archibald Price, W. P. Biggs, William Heard, J. I. Rainbden, Sir J. Bright, John lieneage, G. H. W. Russell, F. C. illotherton; Joseph ' Herbert, Sidney ~ Sadleir, J. Brown, H. ' Heyw orth, L. Sawle, C. B. G. Cardwell, Hon. E. Hughes, W. B. Scholefield, W. Chambers, Thomas Hume, Joseph ' Scobell, Capt. Charteris, F. Hutt, William Scully, Francis Cheetham, John Ingham, R. Seymour, W. D. Cobden, Richard Inglis, Sir R. 11. Shafto, 11.1). Cocks, Thomas S. Keating , Robert Shelley, Sir J. V. Coffin, W. Keating, H. S. Smith, John Benj. Crook, J. Keogh, William Smith, Rt. Ifn. It. Crossley, F. Kershaw, James Strutt, Edward Crowder, R. King,P. J. Tapered, H. W. Daqhwood, S P.• G. H. Langston, J. H. Thompson, George lirumianrig, Vis. Langton, H. G. Thornely, T. Duke, Sir J. Lockhart, A. E. Veinon.G. E. H. Duncan, G. Loveden, P. Villiers, Rt, Hn. C. Dunlop, A. Lowe, R. Walmsley, Sir J. Evans, William Mackie, J. Whalley, G. H. E wart, William 31'Gregor, John Whitbread, Samuel Fagan, W. Marshall, William Wilcox, B. Feilden, M. Massey, W. Williams, W. Fergus, John 31asterman, John Wilson, James Ferguson, Joseph Mirth, E. Wilmington, Sir T. E Fitzgerald, Sir J. Milligan, Robert Wise, A. Fitzgerald, W. R. S. :Mills, T. Wood, Sir C. Fitzroy,- Hon. L Molesworth," Sir W. Young, Sir John Forster, C. Moncrieft, J. TELLW. Fox, R. Moreton, Lord Hayter, Hon. W. FM W. J. Mumugh, J. P. kiWgom Earl THE COMMITTEE ON DOCKYARD PRO_ MOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. (THIS DAY.) EXAMINATION OF THE EARL OF DERBY. The committee sat this morning at 12 o'clock ; Lord Seymour in the chair. The first witness called was the Earl of Derby. The noble earl was received by the committee standing, and a similar mark of respect paid to him on leaving the room. The examination was conducted by the chairman. The noble earl having taken his seat at the table, The Chairman said—ln consequence of statements which have been made before this committee, I wish to ask your lordship whether upon the formation of your Government you made any stipulation or condition with the Duke of Northumberland respecting the pro motion or patronage, I should rather say of the Admiralty ? The Earl of Derby—When I first formed the Govern ment, of which I was at the head, I asked the Duke of Northumberland to do me the honour of taking office in it as First Lord of the Admiralty, and the only condition which I made with him was this, that he would have the entire and absolute selection of the naval members of the Board, choosing those members for the service whom he should think were most likely to be to the public advantage ; and also that he was to have the whole and absolute control over all appointments and over all promotions, so far as they related to the naval service of the country. I did go so far, of course, as to require, in accordance with the usual custom, that two of the naval lords should be members of the House of Commons, and I certainly now regret that I did not add a further condition, that upon their first appointment they should be persons conversant with Parliamentary habits and Parliamentary practices. The Chairman—ls the committee then to understand that you think inconvenience to the public service arose from the Lords of the Admiralty not having sufficient acquaintance with the House of Commons The Earl of Derby—There was this inconvenience that perhaps as between them not being connected with the House of Commons, and the Secretary of the Admi ralty being connected with it, there was not so full an appreciation of their relative positions and the demands to be made upon both as there would have been if the Lords had been personally conversant with the House of Commons. The Chairman—The committee then may understand that you did not make any arrangement with the Duke of Northumberland respecting this transfer of the civil patronage of the Admiralty to the Secretary of the Admiralty ? The Earl of Derby—None whatever, I never learned of that transfer until a long time after, and I considered the Duke of Northumberland entirely responsible for the administration of the department of the Admiralty. The Chairman—lt has been alleged before this com mittee that Mr. Stafford has stated he was under pres sure from your lordship and Mr. Disraeli'as to the dis tribution of the patronage. I wish to ask your lordship if that is so ? • The Earl of Derby—l should be very much surprised to hear that Mr. Stafford had made any such statement, because I have a high opinion of Mr. Stafford's honour, and he must have known that such a statement was en tirely inconsistent with the fact, and that there was not the slightest foundation for it. The Chairman —Has your lordship anything farther to state ? The Earl of Derby—l am not aware that I have. I am at the service of the committee to give such informa tion as I can, without introducing private names and private conversations, which I should feel myself pre cluded from doing. His Lordship then withdrew. Mr. Tufnell, M.P., was under examination when our report left. COURT OF EXCHEQUER-(THIS DAY. (Before Mr. Baron Parke and a Special Jury.) THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. COLLET. This was an information, filed at the instance of the Commissioner of In'and Revenue, to recover penalties against the defendant, for publishing a journal called the Potteries Free Press, containing news, without being stamped in accordance with the provisions of the statute relating to the publication of newspapers. The Attorney-General and Mr. Phinn appeared for the Crown, and the defendant conducted his own case in person. The main facts, as to the contents and publication of the journal, having been admitted, The defendant contended that the production was not a newspaper within the meaning of the act, and that he had not knowingly and willfully evaded its provisions, as he had informed the Commissioners of his intention to publish the paper, but they had taken no notice of his communication. The jury, under the direction of the learned Baron, almost immediately returned a verdict for the Crown for three penalties of 201. each. Mr. Phinn said he would not ask for more than one penalty, and he would not press that if the defendant was not in a condition to pay—the only object of the commissioners being to try the question as to the legality of such publication without a stamp. SE `CONDARIES COURT-(THIS DAY. (Before Mr. Secondary Potter.) "BAILEY AND BROTHERS V. HUNT. This was an action to recover damages for the wrong ful detention of a valuable painting and copperplate engravin•~. The plaintiffs are the well-known print publishers in Royal Exchange -buildings, and defendant is an engraver. The damages were laid at 1001., independently of the value of the property. Defendant suffered judgment to go by default. Mr. Sleigh, counsel for the plaintiff, stated the case, from which it appeared that in the spring of 1851 there was a match in the north of England between two cele brated race horses, Voltigeur and the Flying Dutchman. The plaintiff employed an eminent artist, Mr. Hale, to give the race, with portraits of the animals, and he ac cordingly painted a picture, which was given to defendant to engrave a plate frozn. An agreement was made by which defendant undertook to complete the engraving in three months, and he was to be paid 101. a month the first two months, and 501. when the plate was completed. 201. was paid, but defendant never returned the picture, or finished the plate, and the latter was, of course, use less after such a lapse of time ; but there was no doubt that if it had been furnished at the time required, plaintiff would h?ve realised a considerable profit, and the damages now claimed were far below the loss sustained. Mr. Bailey was called and proved the facts. The print was to have been published at three guineas. The defendant was called, and, after at first refusing to answer, admitted he bad pawned the painting. The jury gave a verdict for 1561.—viz., .1001. general damages, 501. for the painting, and 61. for plate. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (THIS DAY.) OLD COURT. (Before Lord Chief Justice Jervis and Mr. Baron Alderson.) ALLEGED MURDER AT THE REGENT'S CANAL. Thomas Mackett, 30, described in the calendar as a labourer, was placed in the dock on an indictment charging him with the wilful murder of Eliza Lee, by thrusting her into the Regent's Canal. Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Clark conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Parry defended the prisoner. It will be recollected that last session the prisoner was put on his trial for the same offence, but the jury, after remaining in deliberation for several hours, were dis charged without coming to a decision, one of the jury becoming unwell, and a medical man having declared that his life would be in danger if he were not released. The prisoner was, however, ordered to be de tained, to be tried by a fresh jury. The evidence given at the former trial was published at considerable length, and the whole circumstances being familiar to the pub lic, it is unnecessary to report them on the present occasion. The principal points were these. The prisoner and the deceased had cohabited together, but for some time prior to this event were separated, and prisoner had either married or gone to live with some other woman. On the 31st of January , the deceased went and found him at his work, as a mason, in Portland-town ; and after he left off, they went to several public-houses, and were seen drinking at about 11 o'clock, at the Regalia, in Augusta-street, near the Regent's Canal. Almost after they had left some one who was in the gardens of the Regalia heard the noise of a person in the water and upon running round met a man whom he believed to be the prisoner, running quickly from the spot, and this person said that a woman had either Alen' or thrown , herself into the water, and he escaped. Shortly after wards the woman was got out quite dead. The next day when the police went after the prisoner he made several contriidictory statements, and some things that were known to have been in the deceased woman's pos session on the same night were found at his lodgings, and-a portion of them had been pawned by another woman at the request of the prisoner. The case was proceeding when we went to press, and will probably last the entire day. NEW COURT. (Before the Recorder.) .Tohn White, 26, watchmaker, was indicted for stealing four watches, and five watch cases, the property of Joseph Savory, and another, his masters. Mr. Thompson prosecuted, and Mr. Robinson was for the prisoner. It appeared that two years ago the prisoner was a workman to Messrs. Savory, of Cornhill, the watch makers ; and the property in question was work given to him, which he had to keep locked up in his drawer. Having absented himself from his work, his drawer was broken open, and the property missed. It was found that he had gone to France, and nothing was seen of him until a few weeks ago, when one of Mr. Savory's workmen met him at Holton, and it turned out that for 18 months he had been working for a Mr. Hedger, of the City-road. The jury found him guilty, recommending him to mercy, in which the prosecutor joined. Sentence-5 months, and hard labour. THIRD COURT. (Before the Common Sergeant.) John, Whaley pleaded guilty to embezzling sums 'amounting in all to about 901., the moneys of Nathaniel Machin, his master. Mr. Payne, for the prosecution, said that the master of the prisoner was a wholesale confectioner, and the embezzlement had begun as far back as two years ago, and from that time down to the period of his apprehen sion he had stolen above 2681. by m a ki ng f a l se entries in the ledger. He had'algo - tried to fix the crime upon a person who had left prosecutor's service for Australia, but for which there was no foundation. He was transported for mon you. THE DUBLIN EXHIBITION. The Dublin Industrial El was yesterday inaugurated by his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and a banquet, at which many distinguished guests were present, was given in the evening at the Mansion-house. This Exhibition presents certain remarkable features, in addition to those which naturally characterise a national collection of specimens of native and foreign in dustry. It is scarcely possible to over-estimate the im portance of such an undertaking to the welfare, social and commercial, of Ireland, and it is most desirable that its antecedents and its present condition should be under stood in England, to which Ireland looks, and will not, we hope and believe, look in vain, for a cordial recogni tion of efforts to follow out the noble example so magni ficently set in London in 1851. The effect of the building, as seen on entering, even in the state of incompleteness in which it remained up to a late hour on Wednesday, is very striking. The great ball, which is 425 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 105 feet high, is a noble apartment. The building is supported by cast iron pillars, with wrought iron trellis girders, sustaining the galleries, and these pillars, coloured blue, with white moulded ornaments, as capitals, have an ex tremely light and graceful appearance. There is an entire absence of glare. The painters had not, on Wednesday afternoon, completed their labours, and were still swing ing on stages at various heights, or being gradually raised high in air, theatrical wise while pots of p a i n t flitted across th e scene, at the ends of ropes, or shot up hastily into the roofs. It was, therefore, not easy to form a final impression of a system of decoration de pending so much upon lines of colour, while the lines were broken and interfered with in so many directions ; but the general appearance of the hall gave good promise of singular elegance. This hall would be the scene of Thursday's ceremonial. It has an organ at each end, that at the further extremity, and beneath which the orchestra for the musical performances is raised, being a contribution from St. Peter's College, Oxford—the work, however, of an Irish builder. Of the contents of the area it is as yet impossible to speak with certainty, for the great hall is more backward than any part. In the hall to the right of the spectator who enters from Mer rion-square is the machinery in motion, of which the dis play will be large. A new feature is introduced, the motive power which will work all the machinery being given from a bar, or rod, running nearly the whole length of the hall. In the ball to the left, which is devoted to the Fine Arts, is the portion of the Exhibition which is most complete, and which is a most interesting and valu able one. The fine apartment is filled with pictures kindly lent for the occasion by their owners ; and such a collection as is now brought together can hardly be seen again. These works have been gathered by the unremitting assiduity of Mr. John Deane. The present notice not proposing to deal with detail, but only to furnish a gene ral idea of the building, it need merely be said that her Majesty, and a great number of distinguished possessors of paintings, ancient and modern, have contributed, and that among the works are some of the very finest of Danby, Etty, Cooper, Creswick, Grant, Sir Edwin Landseer ' Sir Thom as L awrence, Ch ar l es Landseer, Herbert, Wilkie, Turner, Calcott, Collins, Chalon, and Winterhalter, among painters of the present century ; and there are also pictures by Claude, Cuyp, Vandyk, Titian, Canaletti, Domenichino, Hogarth, and other masters. The French and German schools are also represented. This hall is divided at its farther end by a screen, upon which the Winterhalters—full length por traits of the Queen and Prince Albert—are hung ; and behind this is the medimval court, decorated with great beauty, with stained glass and a ceiling of blue and gold stars, and with a number of those remarkable features which excited so much atten tion in the similar department at the Crystal Palace. The two halls are 355 feet by 50, and 65 feet in height. The fine arts hall will, from the .brilliant cha racter of its contents, and from its completeness, be the feature of the Exhibition until the other arrangements are finished, and, probably, throughout the whole period it remains open. The hanging the pictures has been confided to the care of Mr. Grieve, the ' artist, whose name is a guarantee for the skill with which every duty he undertakes will be performed. In the compartments are the textile fabrics, the greater portion of the foreign goods, the sculpture depaitment, which contains many fine works, and among its curiosities a statue, supposed to be by Raphael, and one of the only two assigned to him. A full-length statue] of Mr. Dargan, by J. E. Jones, is one of the most appropriate ornaments of the Exhibition. There is also an admirable East Indian collection, contributed by her Majesty, the East India Company, the Asiatic Society, and Lord Gough, and there is a Japanese show; of exceeding interest. There is als6 large provision for furniture and for carriages. The galleries contain miscellaneous ar ticles, and the view from them, looking down into the side halls and compartments, strangely recals the diver sified perspective of the Great Exhibition. From the galleries banners are hung forth, and their colours and heraldic blazonry materially aided in the coup d'ceil on Wednesday. The inauguration of the Exhibition went off bril liantly ; about ten thousand persons were present. The weather was lovely. The honour of knighthood was conferred upon the architect, now Sir John Benson ; and the Lard-Lieutenant expressed his regmt that Mr. Dargan had declined the highest honour it was in his Excellency's power to bestow. COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterday a Court was held for the dispatch of busi ,ess, the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the, chair. BLACKFRIALS AND SOUTHWARK BRIDGES. Mr. R. 0. BUCKNALL then moved that, the further consideration of the repoit on the reference in relation to the proposed erection of a new bridge between Black friars and Southwark bridges, delivered in en the 14th of April, 1853, he then proceeded with. After the CHAIRMAN had introduced the report, he simply moved that the Court should agree with the Committee in the same: The motion having been seconded, Mr. Cox moved, as an amendment, that the report be referred back to the Committee, that the parties might confer with her Majesty's Government as to 431ackfriars bridge, and the one proposed at Paul's-whar9 and as to the mode of raising the funds for the purposs. Alderman SALomoNs differed entirely from the state meets made in the report. He advocated the opening of Southwark-bridge to the public free. The worthy alderman repudiated many of the statements made by Mr. Bennoch, in his recent publication, entitled, Are more Bridges needed ? He (Alderman Salomons) thought that Mr. Stephenson's report was conclusive in favour of Southwark-bridge, which that gentleman thought was all that was required. The question, he considered, was not ripe for consideration, as to the erection of a new bridge. He had no shares in South wark-bridge, nor any interest in it, directly or indirectly, but he did hope that some communication would be made by the Court with the Southwark-bridge proprie tors, with a view to an arrangement as to the opening of the said bridge to the public. Mr. BENNOCH, at great length, brought before the Court the whole of the principal features ofi his scheme for the erection of a new bridge between Blackfria,rs and Southwark bridges, as proposed in the paraphlet he had published. The majority of these propositions have, from time to time, appeared in the public papers, so that it it is not necessary to repeat them here ; but this may be said, that neither as to the necessity for the bridge, on the ground of increasing traffic, or the. cost of its construction, and for the approaches, did that gentleman deviate in a single instance. Mr. T. H. HALL ridiculed the idea of a new bridge being erected for the sum Mr. Bennoch had set down. He thought, with some judicious alterations, that South wark-bridge would answer all the purposes required. Mr. DE JERSEY did not consider that a new bridge, as proposed, was nec essar y, b es id es w hi ch, the Bridge house estates were pledged for many years, so that they had not the power to provide funds for the proposed erection. Alderman LAWRENCE strongly argued in favour of additional bridge accommodation. As to the raising of the funds, he was of opinio n i n th a t case th ere wou ld b e not the slightest difficulty. He thought that the popu lation might be taxed at the rate of a few/pence in the pound for such a purpose ; and as to the Corporation being responsible, he considered that the Bridge-house Estates Committee or the Corporation need not fear be ing in debt in such a case. He should glory in seeing the City in debt five millions of money, as the municipal authorities in France were, the money having been laid out in' public improvements stretched over a period of years as to payment. He was, for having the plans made for the new bridge, and for inquiries being insti tuted for the raising of the money as soon a possible, and in the best manlier. Mr. GRESHAM quoted from the report of Robert Stephenson, Esq., in favour of Southwark-brid ge , and urged delay in the matter, because of the motion of Mr. Oliveira in the House of Commons, with reference to a general inquiry into the present state of ithe metropo litan bridges, and the necessity for increased bridge accommodation. Deputy HARRISON showed that the 'Bridge-house Estates Committee had riot the pecuniary means of pro moting the project of Deputy Benuoch. The rent and income of the Bridge-house Estates, upon 'the credit of which he wished to raise the amount of money required, was 32,0001. per annum. There was a charge upon this of 6,0001., reducing the sum to 26,000 L, and, taking a set-off annually (which would expire in 1871) of 21,5501., they would find that the present net annual income was only 4, 450/., out of which they had to provide for annual re pairs, and the lighting and watching of Blac kfriars-bridge at 7001., and for the interest on 73,1001., namely, 2,9671.; total, 3,667/. They had left, to pay off the existing debt of 73,100/., the small sum of 7831. only, while the rebuilding of Blackfriars-bridge, as already agreed upon, would amount, as estimated, to 350,0001. Mr. li. L. TAYLOR, at this stage of the proceedings, proposed the following amendment (Mr. Cox having by agreement withdrawn his), namely, "That ; the further consideration of the report be adjourned, and that it be an instruction to the committee to conitider in the mean time whether it be desirable to throw open 'to the public Southwark-bridge, and to ascertain if the proprietors are willing to dispose of their interests therein," and further, that it be an instruction to the committee "to confer with her Majesty's Government as to raising the necessary funds and to report to the court." This amendment was eventually carried, , and shortly afterwards the court adjourned. DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH RAILWAY. — We feel great pleasure in stating that letters have been re ceived from the solicitors of the above projected line, announcing that no further opposition is to be antici pated from the existing companies. We trust the com pletion of this undertaking will be as successful as its commencement has been auspicious.—Portsntou 44 Guar dian, THE FRENCH EAIPIIif. ' There is a long article in the Siècle on the repo't—for when the article was written it was only a report the tt ° the Government had prepared a bill re storing. penal code the punishment of death in politie 7rn. which had been abolished by the Provisional G . ° 0 ment. The Siècle professes to disbelieve that a _n ) .' et f s intention was entertained, and enters into 3 V3 i rl o pt. arguments to prove that it must be right in its jutiple There is in France a strong repugnance to the Pr' ie ry of the punishment of death in any case, and nea!l os o eminent men have advocated its abolition even In of t he of murder. No greater proof can be Oen. s utr success which their speeches and works on T oo of ject have produced than the frequent Yon' ho st n horrible extenuating cas e s o f circumstance smurder and parricide juries e ide i o n : rde t r h e .el , o4 re to vent the judges from applying the penal t y of d 30n the criminal. If this feeling, w hich we neither no nor approve, leaving the appreciation of it to our 7 0 4 exists even in cases like those which we hav e reentio pr it must exist equally, if not in a stronger deg hein re e ' oo is gards political crimes, which although very e pee the eye of the legisl a tor, are not regarded with th pro' horror by the population. When M. de L3 1,131.6 10) 1 posed the abolition of capital punishment for P, rt he treason, he declared that he was an advocate ; n ot abolition of it generally, and hoped the time `,°, o isi far distant when it cou ld be proposed and Piot. adopted. In the mean time, he said, the PO ment of death could very safely be abolish ed for po offences, thus declari ng that he considered the P ugh mind to be fully prepared for the latter, alt,„,io o might not be so for the former. Without enterlses the question as to whether the penalty of death for_ddi additional guarantee against treason—without inctlrtiii whether anything has occurred to prove that to c 7 ist ies not prevent treason against the Governmen t c ' f b e X., or against that of Louis Philippe, Would 00 0 effectual now, we cannot conceal from ourselv e ! c ooll that there is a strong feeling in favour of t ie obi° adopted by the Provisional Government. ,060 motive for that course may have been perhaPe Revolutl°, be 1 10 impunity for the chief actors in the whatever the motive may have been the act itse l f certainly popthinular. 11 131° There is nog else of interest in the original e° of the Paris journals. •t., The Legislative Body met on Wednesday, -• . v g , in the chair. The President presented a bill, ba'nofthe its object again to put in force Arts. 86 and 6 f t A ll e Penal Code; also a bill for the better o rganis 3t ' ° ,;s o esw mortgage societies. The Marquis d'Andelarre P' bdl a report on a local bill. The discussion on the aia lating to the civil pensions was resumed, an d 7, ter °. journed to th e next day. The proceedings the tit nated. ;." The following are the terms of Articles 8 6 1 3 , 40 ' . e so; the Penal Code, in the bill presented on i S t '; Pc l ,; by the Government at the sittingofthe Leg is e,l e ste u ,, ) These articles, as formerly worded, and which the pain of death in political matters, were av ° ,..d o cerf February 26 by a declaration of the Provisionait %roc, ment, and by Art. 5 of the Constitution 1848. The new articles run thus ;-- „of "Art. 86. Every attempt against the life or P e rr i r9(i c i"O' the Emperor is punished with the pain If Every attempt against the life or person of We of the Imperial f am il y i s punished with the Pin c ne°f t n o f Every offence, publi c l y comm i tted aga i ns t the es the Emperor, shall be punished with an inalot s° ; f from six months to five years, and with a r - idit`; 500 f. to 10,000 f. The guilty p e rson , may, i n c i " c ' c b i e vi i l n , t o er r d f i a c m te i d ly- f r r i o g m hts tla d e uri w n h g ole a o p r er a io p d ort e i g oif' f ; d i rvoil h o t e ;i f , the imprisonment to which he shall have been e ell tl That period shall run from the day on which the party shall have undergone his punishment. 1 , goll h l* eith " e A r r t t o . B d 7. es A tr n oy y attempt the t e he th ob e je G ct ov o e f rn y w h i e e til ' et ; th o e r .ie r it i; order of succession to the Throne, g or to ex e l I r . zens or inhabitants to take up arms against t ile authority, shall b e punished ith death." c , the s- The Mona:tear contains A de cree prolonikno sion of the Corps Legisl a tif t o th e 28 t h j u st. 0 131 P,,. At the Bourse yesterday there was hu peci ipe am ric o e u s nt c o om f b p u a s r i e n d es e The Three steadily maintained, i e e dsuw,ttransacted nu i e m t swa o d p u o ia r ut k o yoh v u' sa e u d i tg? : 0 1911 ; i : I;etllctubt;e the °re r°: if e of the business. A fall of sc. per Cents. for cash, and of 15c. in the p a;011T-811cloir. tb per Cents. In the Four-and-a-Halfper Centa• f f rsv ,e ," end of the month the decline was 10c. B ank • o- e r P. riw ; Shares remained without variation. The closTa 05c . , were :—For cash, Three per Cents, ~_B l' A c cole ' Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 104 f. For in e pri b lf 1 0 0 Three per Cents., 81f. 85c. ;F o r and-a") - ,,, is ", ocChfeatnint) change .e,stolocOire4etfp.6o3mr report co.ibn;il ißive Mortgage gt h S a eg t Stook of former n 2 ek , r 7 s u b 3 he o - ai f nr . li s t h i l e ; rl th t e ej : ; „, or ° NJ at 885 f., and the latter at 940f. m The being dency in prices previously noticed as existing deoliii; Railway Share M ar k e t has not been arrested,:' Ott: having again oc curre d i n t h e s h ares o f near'l of °I important lines ; in Paris and Rouen to the .pextentn,4oo- and in the remaind er of from 2f. to eac (1° (1 7f h. fe '" shares there w as F al an improvement of 2f. 111 is tions :—Northerns, 930 f. ; O r l eans, 1,107 f. - f ‘, l 5' C . Strasbourg, 934 f. 25 c . ; P ar i s an d Lyons' n" - ;, 6 0 "A' Paris aneßouen, 1,145 f. ; the ot 845 f. 'soc. ; West ern of Fran y ce, 795 f 50c. ; °-en Havre, 542 f. 50c. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 6681- SPP journals se ofis n th o s po 7 l t i h ti . cal T r e w A AlN. s iin of i i t n e te a re i s ia t d in as t s h e e I m bi4 o , council at A ran j uez. Count de S s au r Liiis (Sartorfgree tinned to be spoken of for the department c 6 Affairs, and the re was a rumour that Genera l likely to be appointed Ambassador in France. Diario publishes in a supplement a r e port of t" T " fso,„" - e de Sotoinayor, General Jos6 de la Concha, Y l Lfof and other senators, who formed the conui t ''„ - s io n° lo Senate on the railway question against the 0 , 1 1111,1 lines made by the Bravo-Murillo Cabinet. l i zi e '; se° announce that the Empress of the French has P' e t he°, a large oil painting to the chapel of S~. Loins in bf Franciscan conv en t a t Cadiz, which is frecill_er"-fi ' o P o f French residents, an d that ie Countess de Nit set Majesty's mother, h as presen t e d a crown 29 ',1, of t ' 9 jewels to the st a t ue o f t h e Vi rg i n i n the &Lir" Lady of Grace at Madrid. GERMANY. „ r fr f r° o 'll The Nouvelliste of Hamburg contains o _;. i ti i e e dl - O ° A Kiel, of the sth, which says :—" I have just le p „)leL to a good source that the Cabinet of Vienna ha s T a not i4 the Danish Government, in the most positive 'v, 1 1 ""; suspend the works of demolition at the fortress a' th , e t burg. It has been even said at Copenhageatvolis works, already demolished, are to be rebuilt, 1312- f r o port requires confirmation." The New Prussian Gazette has the followirfe4 Vienna, dated the 7th :—" Prince Danilo of 3 1 ,'., and Berda, has taken his departure for Cet'itl,ll tip Baron de Mamula. Before his departure 1 93 „ - eiel l A 1 to Colonel O'Donnell and to Chevalier d'Et t , e , -r ttsr l- t e o express to them in person his esteem. Baron P o t is to represent Austria at the Conference , w,', 1 ,, c 1 t' o t take place this year at Kissingen. It is be„ 1 1 . str ia Count d'Appony, at present Ambassador er-P-4,00-1:0 the Court of Turin, is to be named Ambassador 3, 0 1 1 : The Vienna Gazette contains the followiag,: , o 13,,, 1 10 Minister of F ore i gn Aff a i rs an d of the En 2 P er°. t hold has cha rge d th e A m b assa d or o f Austria' es' to request the Mi n i s t er o f Foreign Affairs t o e f ilr be W6r l: thanks to Lieut. L e fd vre, i n com mand e f ' coa!,• 11 o li steamer the Narval, and to M. Les rde, tm pa ice s 0 , general of Fran ce a t B eyrout h , f or th e sere sta° they rend ere d t o th e A ustr i an steamer the when she went ashore on the coast of Syria" nai A , slaeytste:r_fr,o,mThWe Emperor arsaw ßU of S tN S h l ei .: 6h . tohlas, inisaezeentke f a ort oil ci o l ibe : city towards the end of the next week. il r v e ot for several reviews of troops, but his Majesty ` c :ii 1 018 1 e ° a long stay. On the 18th or 19th he 0- the ra 3 : r s Vienna. From the preparations makilig i n 1 Ape t o of Lazienki and other Imperial residences, iiii„strof that his Majesty expects to be visited by sor b , Joigi, e r personage on his return. It is hoped that ,s, the Belgians will come. It is, however, 13 "`VieiO4. tain that the Czar will come ' direct frora ary - 0 Warsaw, as he may fi rst pay a visit W Russia is co n ti nu i ng h er war lik e prePov i st Cow which it is assume d th at h er neg otiation s tinople are not go i ng on favourably."titobves, iroo, THE VICTORY AT TRAFALGO. noticed a 'ye —..-- ~ PC' DV el' ry T s O in :E ar EDITOR OF THE TIDIES. , gliv , 0 SIR, —I had hoped some friends of the officer s w it] , le g, subject, but as none hav i e he l n , o a m p e e n rf o e n ct ir :tr eLu g ueerlit°3,llllollib:, would call public attention to it. It is, that the,.c,rrafAo`„. actually two gentlemen, engaged in the battle ° '_,,i, of 11 .01 who have arrived at the fortunate and enviable .7,1170 f a ll ti o tenants* in 1853 1 and it speaks as highly W • 00 disc °. r eth and aristocratic " First Lords' " discrimination,..lout iDtec.cry merit as it must be inducive to gentlemen Wi t :, Tour „ T. and connexions to enter the service. —I W's;, , obedient servant, it - • "' 6, Half-moon-street, Piccadilly, AlaY . 12. ' ig t° i .l f4 * Extract, from the "Tinos."—" The a dmiralilina u cast e ' Admiral Sir G. westpkal, Commanders e a rslake a nd Lieutenant Rivers and ?Ohara." CONTEST A venAB.---- oi THE PAROCHIAL CONTE ST IN Sr. PA , - -- t ion terday was the last day of polling.for the ,_e le -p c s ocilt vestrymen and auditors for the parish of St. ' re . v iotl' when the excitement which prevailed on the two t f re or e days was completely thrown into the s hade, il'.._ no lil as cia f l o ly Flloo in wr the vicinity of Vestry-hall, where ° lv ' lo 1 W e took place. The numbers at the close of the P For stthh:--ee Blue Pink List ................................................... .. . j:______ . : 9 : 61 3 5 6 91S 0 . Majority for the Pink List ..... .. • r .. o P the a . The triumphant " Pinks," imrvediately aft' • e t r '' nouneercent of the result, formed themselves_boton, cession, which consisted of carriages, I v - a us ', ?Os pl; a ca l b a s t , eF a oh n ro d tu v hrt e 3 hicles of every description, with P :-. 4 sil• 3 ing a F n o d r c t o h lo e y ßap r s s litnu fl ek ying, and perambulated the '' follows : nightLlistist ............ re5u1t ....... .w . . a . s . ................ 1 .. a : r . 87 1l e 1 Actual majority for the Pink List••• . n a bit t t. The proceedings of one of the most excitingairoci as contests which has ever taken place in t ile I' Pancras thus terminated,