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

C' iar EDITION OF SIR E. BIILWER LYTTON'S NOVELS AND TALES. Crown Bvo., cloth, 2s. L BILA ; or, The SIEGE of GRANADA ; and CALDERON the COURTIER. b By Sir EDWARD BIILWER LYTTON, Bart , M.P. With a Frontispiece. RAROLD and LUCRETIA will complete the series. London: Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly. HEADING FOR TRAVELLEBS.—NEW VOLUME. In aTew days, price ls. CIIARACTER anti ANECDOTES d CHARLES the SECOND. Recently published : MONTENEGRO mid the SLAVONIANS of TURKEY. Is. 6d la'he VILLAGE DOCTOR. Is. FRANKLIN'S FOOTSTEPS: A Sketch of Greenland. la. 6d VAGIC and WITCHCRAFT. Is. OLD ROADS and NEW ROADS. Is. Loudon : Chapman and Hall, J4Q3, ' WELLINGTON DINING-ROOMS, Entrance, 160, PICCADILLY. eploadid Establishment (formerly Crockford'e Club) IS NOW OPEN to the Public, on a adds of magnificence unprece dented in London, combining extreme merati f on rar in e . ch an arr insetwtii uneseeptionable Coolartgind moderation Bin eth the co mg nui ug rtjadipeadence of a public -roomand “Ilimoolati.pn of a first-rate club. Charaeg—Dinner from the joint, with vegetables, bread, Etre4l2 w ithor fish, 2s. 6d. •, ditto, with soap. ~ 2s. • ditto, soup et a * R h, as • t_m ' ade dishes, with the joint, as per bill of fare ; made Ashes, wit hd4sthe joint, but with vegetables, bread, cheese, &c., Is "74Extra. W alter, each person, 3d. The Wines and Beers will be sold by Imperial measure, and the l it igators all marked, so that the quantity paid for will be actually *applied to the consumer. The Public will, therefore, appreciate this novel arrangement, more particularly when they understand that the Imperial pint contains four-fifths of what is usually sold as a bottle. The Dining-Roem will be open from Half-past Two, p.m., until Vine. p.m. - The magnificent Suite of . Saloons, on the first floor, fitted up for Er fl oklng, Reading, and Chess, will be well supplied with the London, Jrievincial. and Foreign Papers, Magazines, Books of Reference, etc.; wiled Tea, Coffee, Ices, Seltzer Water, etc., will be supplied from tgkeven a.m., by Mr. Ward, of Bond-street. The Dining-room will be open on Sundays at half-past Eve sirelook. Lescee, HEIY TI ;COMAS MUNDY, 160, PiccadDiy. le i th May, 18.58. SD4OYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.--Open for the season Whit-M on d ay an d f our wing days.—The Zoological Cotectien contafas a variety of in -ter, sting specimens, and the Gardens throughout have been improved and beautified. The Pictorial Representation is an extensive VIEW et the BAY and FORTS of CHIJSAN, painted by Messrs. Denson, ap4 et dusk is represented the attack of the Chinese are-rafts on the Br tish fleet, explosion-ships, So.—Grand Vocal and Instrumental Concert. Engagement of the eminent vocalist, Mizs Cicely 3Tott. Condueter, Mr. Godfrey.—Mayday Games and Rustic Sports, May pat arid Morris Dances. "Pop goes the Weasel," by 25 coupie, eon tlatte4 by Mr. Flexmore.—An extra Military Mull itnr!nz the clay; *ne : and at dusk a grand displ a y o f Fi rewor ks, coatbined with th 'feast oil lAtaterns and ether displays. —Doers open train 9 in the itiforlting. Admission, Is. ViRATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. ffunr the management of Mr. Buckatane. TR'S ETENING, MAT 13, Will be performed THE LADY OF LYONS. Supported by ews. Howe, Curri, Rogan, and Barry Strhvan ; and Miss Helen • ffri t it. %/Pltr othteN, MR. BUCKSTONES ASCE ST OF MOUNT PAR t A , 3NUs. cwielude with. OUR MARY ANNE. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STUEET. U.ader the Management ot Mr. Charles Kean. THIS EVSNING, MAY /3, will be ;erf,A•rned the Tragedy of MACBETH. Principal cha , Tacicrs lkr. and /ars. C. Kean. 'kr chne:tide with the , ney, - Drama, adapted from the French of 6 , :ribs; by Mr. Pa/grave Simpson, ca 11,4 NIARCO SPADA, o.l;ay.cters by Mew , . W. Lacy, J. Vining, Ryder, Oralaartl, and ./i.ver..tc.; Misses Heat% and C. Leclereq. I:O7AL LYCEUM TITEA.TRE. Uhler the Management of Mattante V*Atria. THIS EVENING, MAT 13 War Le performea A.S.S. Characters by Meimii. F. Mathews, Eater, and Iteslore; Mrs. "ialaenartata and Mhis Irytalhana. Alter whi01„1. FAST TRAIN—IIICII PRESSCRE EXPRESS. .4par4eters h, Messrs. C. Mathews, Baker, sitd Suter. b• itglow4id by TILYINU IT ON. PrincipAl character by Mr. Math.ws which will he Weil a DIVER TISSEM.f:.N T, iii which )118.3 rtir7ria Wright will appear.' .^010. 1 .114e. iyith TILE CRITIC. Characters by C. Ma• filaitttws, and R. Roxby ; Miss zit. ticorp:i, and Airs. TIIEATRL ROYAL ADELPIJI. l'44.rietor, Mr. B. Webster. —Directress, Mads.me Celeste. MIS EVENING, Mu 13, WM be jyasented TIDE ROUSED LION. Characters by Messrs- B. 'Webster and Wigan; Mrs. Keeley, and Mrs. L. Murray. Attar which, A DEsPERATE To be rowed by P A lIENT4 AND GUARDIANS, T. cu.' ode sith Till: DANCING SCOTCUMAN. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEAT/lE. I3uoe and Manager Mr. Farren. THIS EVENING, May 13, WIN be performed THE IS)ILLER OF DERWF.NT WATER. ebaracters t 3i *pers. H. Fallen, F. twbson, Shaldera, G. Cooke, and Owlee; Mesdames Anderson and E. Turner. ♦fter which, UNCLE CROTCHET. Supported by Mr. tar n, kc. To be followed by MACBETH. Supported by Mr. flamnel Mac beth and Mr. F. Hobson; Mrs. Sarah Macbeth and Mrs. A, Phillips. To eoneludts with THE 5 COTTAGE. Lisittte, Miss H. Gerdes. ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. .it • stir)ltanue with a generally expressed wish, Mr. W. Cooke has tha honour or Itonotmeing that A GRAND JUVE , ILF. MORNING I'ERFOR MANCE - - „Al* talc , . peace on WHIT-T'UESDAX, May 17, commencing at kt.reo o'clock. liy Permission of the Commandant Col. Clark, 8 li.. and by special Invitation from Mr. W. Cooke, the Boys 01 the Duke if Aost's .'choo.l, with their Band, will attend. L ASTI` FIVE NIGHTS of THE KA PI II WARFARE, which must be vtitbdravn for the entirely new sporting Hippo Drama, illustrat- Jong 14,N TILE TURF, to be produced Ll* the WHITSUN 1 )M1 Trim EVENING, MAY 13, AM during the week, the entertainments will commence with the ITv(lectacle of A3IAKOSA ; or, Scenes of Kafir Warfare. followed by ilel:splay of Equestrian Scenes in the ARENA, As wing Mr. Coo s's /Only-trained steeds. The infant Victor %Wide Cooke knd his pet Drawing-room Poly. The Entertain eupported by the eminent Artistes of the lUablislirnent. 'to carloads with Hugo Vamp, Esq 's, new Ce Drama, entitled Wit A DJG; ;or, Life at the Diggings. ~_llea-otllee open daily from Eleven to Fotfr. stage Manager Mr. V. Wait. WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. IP iv% Dar --Morning 46 Mill. after 41 Evening 8 mil:Lat. 5 Xe-Meeauev—Vorning 22 rain. after 5 Evening 45 miu.aft. 5 TDB WEVIIIER.—Sox Orrice, Mit 13. THERMOMETER, 11l TILE SHADE. 88—highest since noon yesterday. 4&—lowest this morning and during the night. 54 this day at moon. BAROMETER, 30.11. WIID, S.l3.—Fine breeze, awl cloudy weather. Heavy Baia in the night. " r 6,, ' "14 1- 1 ...0 44 AA P -41 AC"' `''4 - 0,44,411 2 '491 ' dr:,-414#411e, LONDON,. YRIDAV, MAT 14, 1353, --.2*- Mr. GLADSTONE'S proposition , A ith ro,!a t rd to the eentemplated extension of the Legacy _Duties re quires much careful consideration before it can receive the Legislative sanction, or be suffered to pats into a law. It must not be forgotten; that the Right Hon. Gentleman intends completely to alter the btcsis of the impost, creating a new end far more productive tax, on a very different illation from that alrendy in operation. It ma no Ipnger be a duty on bequests, but a tax sweuginiono. Every person coming into pos meigion df property, reel or personal—whether under a devise or settlement, taking either as ab aolpie owner or merely as tenant for life, or other interest- , —must pay a tax varying from 1 to 10 per cent., if his possession has been occa kioned by the depth of a, former proprietor. The slistinetions 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 rposee, a new tax on settled and real property, calculated to produce 2,000,0001. sterling per annum; and, as such, it imperatively •demends the calm and attentive deliberation of akt House as to its prof able results, before it can permititd to pass through its various stages. it were an existing source of revenue, the argu ment so frequently resorted to by Financial -Xinisters Wight be available, viz., that he could sot afford to relinquish so 'productive an impost. 'Fit that argument, weak and unsatisfactory as it under *le most favourable circumstances, is totally inapplicable in the present instance. The =WOW must therefore be dealt with on its broad eta. We must, to ttse the words of Mr. Dts -3421a, " a,* oursellves, is it a just tax I is it ab 4treetedlY 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 country ? 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 core pare the two, in order to ascertain whi c h i s at the same time the most equitable and the most expudient, to be well assured that we are not .elopting a course alike oppos e d t o j ustice and eund policy. _ Nos: before entering on these important consi flaratiGns we may considerably- narrow t 1 owl _ w•e freely 'eilderi g to i\lr. L 41. Di, TO :SI,: S e 1 itinently entitled for (!}3i i,r Cl''J tpri IVafd v sundry Tna tiC3 to ehcusive measure he has brutu;ht for that if th4l r ic k II 0 vii ed gi-: Ind to be retaibe“ exten- Leguoy Die w bg U Liu.—that no other pion to real property option reunified for Mr. GL ADS TONE, or Minister at the head of the Financial Dopartifient, 'Lig to listen respectfully . to tho voice of public . Aad. to yield to "the pressure from wit) 'GAS" n Afich wall no lonoer be resitcd. AU , .1, 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 Exchequer 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 GLAD 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 A 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 merchimt, 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 shoe s the great practical inconveniences, the ruinous results, of a tine 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 ver; problematical reduction and ultimate abolition of the Property Tax. We ask the fundholders, 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 half-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 of 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-. slot's. 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 bers of the Committee our admiration for the so licitude they have evinced for the well-being of the country in every stage of their prolonged inves tigation. Scarcely anything of real importance, referring 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 tion 4, of pay and prize-money, and especially the clause of the Act sth and 6th WILL. IV., c. 24, relati ng to bou n ty." Ei g hthl y , "All regulations .it ,-;amen ,canners." Ninthly; pressnt ,t,oTpehotatywateoefrsgoaoudd conduct badges and of pensions." Tenthly, "The putry of seamen into an tlr coast-guard and docy of seamen into Greenlbi‘sit :Y arils." Eleventhly i i s t t ioi t s ;, ita " k 'Yhe admission and their sup to the consideration of the Comstnuliiiiieteetes, port therein." The,,e were submitted ai it is upon these eleven propositions fo r inquiry that th,, committee have now definitive ly pronounced. Before they a110v , . 1 ti ~Leieseives t c arrive at aaly 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 without 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 BYA3I 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 next paragraph. That paragraph (§ 5) expresses itself in one part as , follows :—" The general cha racter of the evidence thus' brought before us, con firmatory as it is of our own experience, has led us forcibly to the conclusion that the present system of entering seamen into 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." 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 proclaims the 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 ideration 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 lcution, " These evils would, in our opinion, be eifotaally 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 coi: siderations 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 flaw in the language of the Report, we cannot but hail with unalloyed satisfaction the whole of the remarkable clause in which this fantas tic slip of the tongue, or rather of the pen, is encountered. For the Report thus affords us ample reason to augur well for the future de velopment of the most national, but hitherto the most neglected, of our warlike professions. The precise manner in which it is proposed that the service shall be reorganised will be interesting , matter for subsequent and more deliberate consi 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 front page. We have attended all the previouo 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. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY 'EVENING, MAY 13, 1 853. 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 60. to 7id. ; 300 Egyptian, at 61d. to Is. 2d. ; an d 500 Surat, at 3d. to 4fd. 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 suf f iciently favourable under ordinary circumstances, 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 the assistance likely to be received 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 Gazette 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 I for Transfer, and are now 1001 #. For Account they are 1008 I. The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have been 1031, and since 102/. The Three per cent. Reduced Annuities are 991 to 100. South Sea Old Annuities are worth 99k. Exchequer Bills continue at par to 4s. premium, and India Bonds are at 30s. premium. Foreign Stocks have been dull. The Spanish Committee's certificate is only 6±, #, and the New Deferred Bonds have dropped to 23'4 to 24. Por tuguese 5 per Cents. are worth 38i to 39. Mexican Bonds have dropped to 268 Y. Peruvian Deferred Bonds have receded to 65 and 64. Buenos Ayres Stock is st..iady at 714 to 72. The Railway Share Market has been flatter, the decline being about per cent. on the average. French Shares are quiet. Centrals have rallied, however, to 1 to 21- premium. Canada Trunk Shares are to 1A premium. ,The Gold Mine Shares are heavy, scarcely any thing doing. United Mexican Shares have im proved. Metcalfe Mine are 12 to 13 premium ; Jamaica, 41 to 5k premium ; Port Royal, 18 to 1i premium ; and the Sue River, 1/ to # premium. The Land Companies Shares have been dull. Oriental and South Australia Bank Shares are in some request, and also the Australasia. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY. (From the Official List.) Business dons 3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 99i- 100 99i 3 per Cent. Consols Annuities New 3.1 per Cent. Annuities Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 India Bonds, £lOOO India Stock Ditto, under £lOOO South Sea Old Annuities South Sea New Annuities Consols for Account Ist June Exchequer Bills 14d. June. March. £1000....,... par 4 par 4 £5OO par 4 par 4 Small par 4 par 4 PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY. Brazilian Newßouds, 1829 & 39, 5 per Cent lO3 Ditto New, 1852, 44 per Ceut lOOl Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent 72 14 Grenada Bonds; Deferred Greek Bonds, Red Ditto, Blue Mexican 3 per Cent. Peruvian Bonds, 44 per Cent. Peruvian Scrip Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 44 per Cent 1044 Spanish Bonds 3 per Cent 49 Spanish 3 per Cent., New Deferred 231 4 Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 6ll I p Dutch Exchange 4 per Cent. Certificates 064 THREE O'CLOCK. 1001 100“ Consols.... Ditto June Account 261 2 30 p 994 100 1001 THE ATTEMPT TO EXTORT MONEY . FROM THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. • • MARLBOROUGH-STREET—(Tins 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. The court was crowded to excess, and on the bench were the Marquis of Stafford, Mr. Scholefield, M.P., and other gentlemen. 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. At a subsequent period of the day the Right Hon. Mr. Gladstone entered the court, and the prisoner was again placed at the bar, and the depositions having been taken by Mr. Leadly, the chief clerk, the prisoner was fully committed for trial. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MAY 12. (From 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, IL ' Bailey, Crawshay Hamilton, G. A. Rolaertson, P. F. Ball, Edward Herbert, Sir Thomas Scott, Francis Bankes, G. Jolliffe, Sir W. 0,11. Sibthorp, colonel Barrington, Viscount Jones, Captain Smith, Wm. M. Bentinck, Lord H. Kelly, Sir F. Smyth, It. Bentinck, Geo. P. Kendall, N. Spooner, R. Booker, Thos. Wm. King, James King Tolleraache, John Buck, Lewis W. Knox, W. S. Trollope. Sir J. Butt, Geo. Medd Laffan, It. M. Vivian, J. Ennis Child, Smith Liddell, H. G. Walcot, Adm. Cl'ohnondeley , Ld. II Long, W. Wodehouse, E. Coirolly, T. Malins, Richard Wyndham, Oen. Davison, R. Mandeville, Viscount. Wynn, Sir W. Disraeli, B. Manners, Lord J. Torte, Eliot I'. Fantham, E. Basil . Michell, W. Fellowes, Edward Moody, C. A. Finer, Sir Edmund Newdegate, C. N. Freshfiehl, J. W. Oakes, J. EL Galway,lViseount Ossulston, Lord Vansittart, George II Gaskell, J. M. Pakington, Sir John Stanhope, J. B. MAJOItITY — NOES, 120. Acland, Sir T. Geach, Charles O'Brien, Cornelius Aghonhy, 11. 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. Bernie, Alexander Pilkington, James Bethell, Richard Hardie, Archibald Price, W. P. Biggs, William Beard, J. I. Ramsdell, Sir J. Brotharton, Bright, John Joseph N e en rh e e a rt ge ; s G. idn l e l y . W. lstaucsuse,ilrl; J. C. Brown, H. Heys', orth, L. Sawle, C. B. G. Cardwkll. Hon. E. Hushes, W. B. Scholefield, W. Chamb• .Trs, Thomas Hume, Joseph Seobell, Capt. Charter is, F. 'rat, William Scully, Francis Clieethatm, John Ingham, It. Seymour, W. 1). Cobtiend Richard Inglis, Sir R. H. Shalt°, It. 1). kf.'..oc , ,s, Thomas S. K.catim; , Robert Shelley, Sir J. V. Coffin, W. Keating, 11. S. Smith, John Benj. kr.lrook, J. Keogh, William Smith, Rt. Iln. R. lrosst , y, F. Kershaw, James Strutt, Edward ( towder, R. King,P. J. Tattered, H. W. l). %shy , ood, Sir G. IT. Langston, J. ?I. Thompson, George I •unittnrig, Via. Largton, H. G. Thornely, T. sir J. , Lockhart, A. E. Vernon.}. E. H. Dud: en, G. Loveden, P. Villiers, Rt, 1111. C. ()Ludo T:), A. Lowe, R. , Welmsley, Sir J. , e,,,i.,, William Mackie, J. Whalley - , G. H. ''%a'art, William M'Gregor, John Whitbread, Samuel F4,gati, %V. Marshall, William Wilcox, B. Feilden, hi Massey, W. Williams, W. Oergus, J t •ho Masterman, Jolw Wilson, James Far, us , ,r... Joseph Miall, E. Winning ton, Sir T. E witsger:ll, qtr J. Milligan, Robert Wise, A. Fitrgerayd„ W. R. S. Mills, T. Wood, Sir C. Fitzroy, .ten. 11. Motesworth, Sir W. Young, Sir John Forster C. Moncrieff, J. rennxisa. Fox , B. Moreton, Lord Hayter , Hon. W. Fox, W..f. Murrough, J. Y. bluilfrave, Earl TILLERI. 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 S 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 Priticess of Salerno, visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, yesterday, at Clarence House, St. James's. Her Royal Hiemesses 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 Anus. Maria Dawson and. Lient.-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 in 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. Walshr F.R.C.S. (Worcester), Mr. Southam, 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, arid Dr. Clark. The dollars and bar silver brought by the last West India steamer have been sold at 590. 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 Z{.l- per rupee. THE RIVER PLADr.—The American advices 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, dm 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 importanoe 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 Thus. King, Esq., in the chair. The report stated that since the last annual meeting 420 policies had been issued, assur ing the sum of 108,789/. 145., yielding a revenue of 3,663/ . . 178. lid. During the year 271 proposals had hen received for the assurance of 112,2691. 3s. Of these 197 had been ampted, assuring 69,918/. 65., and yield leg an additional annual revenue of 2,2871. 4 , 4. 7d. The number of policies issued in three years is 617, assuring 173,653/., and yielding a gross annual revenue of 5,051/. 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 aims as s ured, and all other liabilities, there remained a profit of 12,777/. 11s. sd. The accumulated fund amounted to 3,0001. There have been but two claims by deaths in the course of the year, fur the sum of 7001. The report was adopted, after which an election of direc tors took place. THE COMMITTEE ON DOCKYARD PRO MOTIONS AND APPOINTME.NTS. (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 E;rl . 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 abs o l u t e se l ect i on 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 t arl 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 coLvorsations, 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 Inland Revenue, to recover penalties against thd defendant, for publishing a journal called the Potteries • Free Press, containing news, without being stamped in accord ance w ith th e prov i s i ons 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. Phinn said heWOUI(i 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. SECONDARIES 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 engraving. 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 defanit. 111 - r. 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 from. 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 have 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 lie had pawned the painting. The jury gave a verdict for 1567.—viz., 1001. general damages, 501. for the painting, and 61. for plate. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (THIS DAY.) d 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 bad 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 fallen 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 contradictory 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.) • John White, 26, wrtchmaker, 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 f ound 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 Hoxton, 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 making false entries in the ledger. He had also tried to fix the crime upon a person who hadleft prosecutor's service for Australia, but for which there was no foundation. He was transported for seven years. THE DUBLIN EXHIBITION. The Dublin Industrial - Exhibition 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 effort§ 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 hall, 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 paint flitted across the 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 ot 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 hall 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 kihdly 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 Tlsomas Lawrence, Charles 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' magters. 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 f the Queen and Prince Albert— are hung ; and behind this is the mediaeval 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 zame 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 department, 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 also 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 ; 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 Lord-Lieutenant expressed his regret 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 ness, the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the chair. BLACKFRIARS AND SOUTHWARK BRIDGES. Mr. R. C. BIICKNALL then moved that the further consideration of the report on the reference in relation to the proposed erection of a new bridge between Black friars and Southwark bridges, delivered in on 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 Blackfriars bridge,'and the one proposed at Paul's-wharf, and as to the mode of raising the funds for the purpose. Alderman SALoßtorrs differed entirely from the state ments 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, ho 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 of his scheme for the erection of a new bridge between Blackfriars and Southwark bridges, as proposed in the pamphlet 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 construotion, and for the approaches, did that gentleman deviate in a single instance. Mr. T. H. HILL 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 net consider that a new bridge, as proposed, was zeoessary, besides which, 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 opinion in that case there 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 manner. _ Mr. GRESHAM quoted from the report of Robert Stephenson, Esq., in favour of Southwark•bridge, 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 the Metropo litan \ bridges, and the necessity for increased bridge accommodation. Deputy HARRISON showed that the Bridge-house Estates Committee had not the pecuniary means of pro moting the project of Deputy Bennoch. The rent and income of the Bridge-house Estates, upon the credit of which he wished to raise the amount of money required, was 32,000/. per annum. There was a chargo upon this of 6,0001., reducing the sum to 26,0001., and, taking a set-off an nua ll y ( which would expire in 187) of 21,5501., they would find that the present net annual incorat was only 4, 450/., out of which they had to provide for annual re pairs, and the lighting and watching of Blackfriars-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 73,1001., the small sum of 7831. only, while the rebuilding of Blackfriars-bridge, as already agreed upon, would amount, as estimated, to 350,0001. Mr. H. 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 consider 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.--POrts74(ffla alfccr dian. THE FRENCH EMPIRE• wh T e l n ier t c h e is a a it l i o e n le g x a v r a t s ic article written in the ie le on only the are report—{otport_tha the ,Government had prepared a bill restoring to tn it S was penal code the punishment of death in political cases, which had been abolished by the Provisional Govern ment. The Siecle professes to disbelieve that any such intention was entertained, and enters into a variety ?, arguments to prove that it must be right in its judgmen ts There is in France a strong repugnance to the pri nci p of the punishment of death in any case, and many pe e eminent men have advocated its abolition even in 0 of murder. No greater proof can be given of tt success which their speeches and works on this mi ject have produ c ed than the frequent verdicts ° extenuating circumstances by juries on the . horrible cases of murd er an d parricide in order to prteo vent the judges from applying the penalty of dente o the criminal. If this feeling, which we neither condein_ nor approve, leaving the app rec i a ti on of it to our rea der ! , , exists even in cases like th ose w hi c h we have menti o n ed, it must exist equally, if not in a stronger degree, a s 7 0 gards political crimes, which although very heinous the eye of the legislator, are not regarded with the same, horror by the population. When M. de Laraartine Pr s i posed the abolition of capital punishment for polititc. treason, he declared that he w as an . advocate for n:t abolition of it generally, and hoped the time was 1 ! 8 far distant when it could be proposed and like y f i l adopted. In the meantime, he said, the Pul ) ,.,d meat of death could very safely be abolished for pohli i s, offences, thus declaring that he considered the Pit is mind to be fully prepared for the latter, although to might not be so for the former. Without entering in os the question as to whether the pe n alty o f death forte_:.o additional guarantee against t reason — w ith o ut intlip whether anything has occurred t o p rove that what r i e g not prevent treason against th e G overnmen t of Ch s „ X., or against that of Louis Philipp e , wo uld be 1 1 e t effectual now, we cannot co n ce a l f rom ourse lves the i,e that there is a strong feeling in favour of the c °ll i adopted by the Provisional G overnmen t. The ach ro e motive for that course may ha ve b een per h a ps to s " c-i b u il t impunity for the chief actors in the Revolution , whatever the motiv e ma y have been the act itself , certainly popular. w on. There is nothing el se o f i n t eres t i n t h e original CO'" of the Paris journals. The Legislative Body met on Wednesday, M. P" Haul ~ f in the chair. The President presented a bill, hayi- I) Nb e e its object again to p u t i n f orce A rts. 86 an d 87 t he Penal Code; also a bill for the better organisation c bf i pel mortgage societies. The M arqu i s d'A n d e l arre preser ve , a report on a local bill. The discussion on the bill lating to the civil pensio ns was resume d , and agair,.os'• journed to the next d a y. Th e procee di ngs then te" nated. of The following are the terms of Articles 86 an ° l A ' y the Penal Code, in the bill presented on. Wechl. D e lc by the Government at the sitting of the Legislative P ° A These articles, as formerly worded, and which relate 00 the pain of death in political matters, were abolishe' r , February 26 by a declaration of the Provisional G° le ",i, ' ment, and by Art. 5 of the Constitution of N° l/ ' 1848. The new articles run thus : of "Art. 86. Every att em pt aga i ns t th e lif e or pers °, , the Emperor is punish e d w ith th e pa i n o f parried 6 Every attempt against the life or person of the men', of the Imperial family i s p un i s h e d w ith t h e pa i n o f oe 3 o f Every offence, publicly committed against the Per s°ll t of the Emperor, shall be punished with an imprisownet 0 from six months t o fi ve years, an d w i th a f i ne of ° s o 500 f. to 10,0001'. The guilty person may, in be interdict e d from the whole or a porti on o f his Cl : ve i civil, or family- r i g ht s d ur i ng a per i o d equal to ths": 4 l, the imprisonment to which he shall have been co ndeinsm That period s h a ll run f rom t h e day on which the go' party 817shalave undergone his punishment. " Art. Any attempt, the object of which sha ll t he either to destroy or change the Government, o r „it:- e o r tinhabitantsshalleu r bet op t nu o tna ti nh k se e da u w p di order of succession to the Throne, or to excite the e a th e rm re d e s eath ag pr a o . i ' l n ' o s n t g th in e g i e authority, The Monit the se' lion of the Corps Legislatif to the 28th inst. a ll At the Bourse yesterday there was bu a stl3 in amount of business transacted, with a general decline prices compared with W e d nes d ay ' s final cinotatis,nr The Three per Cents. for the account, however, steadily maintained, and had - imp rove d 1 0c. at the b ye s of the business. A fall of Sc. t oo k p l ace i n the l .4 - a if per Cents. for cash, and of 15 c . i n th e F our -and-3'l'oe per Cents. In the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. t r ., ‘ co end of the month the declin e was 10 c . B an k o f -r l '.,e3 Shares remained without variation. The closing 1 3 1 • were :—For cash, Three per Cents, 81f. Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 104 f. For the ac, c , °- v er Three per Cents., 81f. 85 c . ; F our -and-a-gaff Cents., 104 f. 30c. ; Bank Stook, 2,730 f. There is osa change to report in Mortgage Bank Shares, or in t ied of the Socidt4 Mobiliere, the former being still 0, at 885 f., and the latter at 940 f. Th e d own waru "ibe dency in prices previously noticed as existing i° I ,v Railway Share Market has not been arrested, a dr, t o having again occurred i n th e s h ares o f near ly a°,6y,, important lines ;in Paris and Rouen to the extent of 3 and in the remainder of from 2f. to 71 each. In ° I ro shares th ere was an - i mprovement of 2f. F i na l (1 0 1 0 1 tions :—Northerns, 930 f. ; Orleans, 1,107 f. ; paris h ' Strasbourg, 934 f. 25c. ,• Paris and Lyons, 962 f. „ Paris and Rouen, 1,145 f. • Lyons to the Mediterrat' a 845 f. 50c. ; Weste rn of France, 795 f, 50 ; Rouen Havre, 542 f. 50c. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 668 f. SPAIN. „A r id There is no politi ca l n ews o f i n t erest i n the N_ A e" - 0 journals of the 7th. Th e Mi n i s t ers h ad assembles it council at Aranjuez. Count de San Luis (Sartorie B )4o tinued to be spoken of for the department of F ° „ . ' - d iO Affairs, and there was a rumour that General Na 14- 0 e likely to be appointed Ambassador in France. flii io I)iario publishes in a suppl emen t a report o f the " Ti te, de Sotomayor, General Jost d e l a Concha, M. 111`i thee and other senators, who f orme d th e comm ittee °. uof Senate on the railway question against the c onceso o lo lines made by the Bravo-M ur ill o C a bi ne t . The Piprpte3, announce that the Empress o f th e F renc h h as pre s .,;, a large oil painting to th e c h a p e l o f S t. L ou i s bY the Franciscan convent a t C a di z , w hi c h i s frequentedbet • French residents, and th a t th e C ountess d e M o nte et of Majesty's mother, has p resen t e d a crown ancl,%l ths jewels to the statue of th e Vi rg i n i n the church - Lady of Grace at Madrid. GERMANY. fr° l/1 The Nouvelliste of Hamburg contains a letter f r oo Kiel, of the sth, which says :—" I have just learn e ," ie d a good source that the Cabinet of Vienna has °,„ 3 '' - to the Danish Government, in the most positive te,." - ei :c'g . suspend the works of demolition at the fortress ()IL' t the burg. It has been even said at Copenhagen 71;i0 re works, already demolished, are to be rebuilt, but port requires confirmation." 01 11 The New Prussian Gazette has the follow -v o w, Vienna, dated the 7th :—" Prince Danilo of gonr and Berda has taken his departure for Cettiaf f ri7; Baron de Mamula. Before his departure be p ai ",. e ici);,:i to Colonel O'Donnell and to Chevalier d'Ett en 4lo - 0 express to them in person his esteem. Baron de l 11 i 4 t t is to represent Austria a t th e C on f erence , wil .e j tl 33 t take place this year at Kissingen. It is believuiris s. Count d'Appony, a t present Ambassador of . 14 101 0. 0 the Court of T ur i n , i s t o b e name d A m b assa dor at o The Vienna Gazette contains the following ' ' boils ; Minister of Foreign Aff a i rs an d o f t h e Emperor at hold has charged th e A m b assa d or o f A us tria P ' re ss 13 , to request the Minister of Foreign Affairs to eit: thanks [to .Lieut. Lefdvre, in command af: steamer the Narval, an d t o M . Lesparde u # l). . 0 0 b , general of Franc e a t Beyrouth, Tor the serve stata they rendered to the Austrian steamer the when she went ash ore on t h e coast of Syria' RUSSIA. fortiutt;'3 A letter from Warsaw of the 6th, in a Fran' in ""be l nal, says :—" The Emperor Nicholas is expec t— r„ je city towards the end of the next week. T h , e ,c, t {of several reviews of troops, but his Majesty.wW - 1:3 0 ,a - ce a long stay. On the 18th or 19th he vvi" t r Vienna. From the preparations making ill of Lazienki and other Imp er i a l residences, liotri°of that his Majesty expect s t o b e v i s it e d by some Jii 3l ;„ e r• personage on his retu rn . It i s h o p e d that th e l ots -to the Belgians will come. It is, h o wever, n° t - s 'A c iontf. tain that the Czar will c ome di rec t from t he lon g Warsaw, as he may first pay a visit t° gip- Russia ar ti t o co op- Russia is continuing :h er warlike prep which it is assumed that her negotiations tinople are not going on favourably." ;otir THE VICTORY AT TRAFALCO. SIR,—I had TO T e H d E heTI0II:•rs. Hall volit11:: sE:7Derrforißenodps oTfHE not singularicea.Juetiyasnonenlig. thil subject,peeh,negaln,goamepceleninenthine cbo3ntutieol4lo,o.,,,uk °fp ast:: would call public attention to it. r It is, that tilel,.°Trafallilr: actually have who tenants* in 18531 and it speaks as highly in ilvr° fiise e ''' . 0 and aristocratic " First Lords' " discrimination in t i ter o the fortunate and enviable . iir o f a ..1.0 0 P ' ; d pi ll CcieVaedilt:f.milattyl e 2 : l 1 1 . : 1 1 g . e r y°111,:r10' er the • —I nin ' Sir' :1 0° ' service. __. Roj o e e als t° 119 15 am. :0:61 obedient.Eteixatnas.rnitifs ecetw7x,ror:o fromuiv: gentlemen, arrived o the t eenih have, Ti m e s . " .. . . , The adnatral aPP,..cagt er ' s tidemutterillanStirß7;e7seisurgiaorranders CarslaXe an ,'""- ee THE PAROCHIAL CONTEST IN ST. electsF°eßS.Oil of terday was the last day of polling.for the poorss, vestrymen , and auditors for the parish of St. ' 0 .00 10 when the excitement which prevailed on the two T o eSl )B ' h p e a l oi days was completely thrown into the shade, u cially in the vicinity of Vestry-halb o—ere Were took place. The numbers at the close of the as follows : 9,536 -2 For the Pink List .. .. .. ....................... ..,613 For the Blue List .......................... Majority for the Pink List ............ 9 t 1 : 0 30' The triumphant " Pinks," inin3ediately a ii nto pro . fc n oe o lls u so n iwoF e ns ei: e w n h t i cohf consistedthe yes, themvsaeril : a l ubd , sep t, o i zs t : cabs, and vehicles of' every description, with , b. A o b ° 3 ' 4 ing and colours flying, and perambulate' a late hour last night the result was For the Blue List ........................... . „ i '1.... 0,19 List-- Her Actual majority for the PM exciting p oi b , . The proceedings of one of the most...h 9/0,, — the Pink list ............................. f2..,:g1s contests which has ever taken place itt the r“ — AdetcliaerePd 7 Pancras thus terminated.