The Sun. — London, England, 1857-04-20 00:00:00

week. Captain Gossett, R.E., has already ieft•for Cork. The Hon. Captain Bury, R.E., remains in charge of Kilkenny, which is henceforth to be at tached to the Curragh district. It having heen determined to rednce the artillery force quartered at Balliucolig from three companies to two, the company under command of Captain Thomson, numbering 136 rank and file, re?eived orders a few days ago to hold themselves in readi newa for the route, and on Thursday morning they were accordingly directed to prepare for their de parture. Having started in the afternoon from their quarters in heavy marching order they . ar rived in Cork at about six o'clock, the same even ing, in charge of the captain of the company, and were subsequently billeted throughout the city for the night, preparatory to their departura per steamer for Bristol, en route to Woolwich, where they are to join the head-quarters of the Royal Artillery Corps. THE BALLOT IN AUSTRALIA. cone: ms quietness and general order, the proceedings of votes by ballot, on Thursday, were a complete triumph over the antiquated style of voting. If vote by ballot is so un-English as Dr. Palmer emphatically declares it to be, it has this advantage, that men record their decision in sober earnestness and with proper decorum, instead of, as heretofore, in the midst of excitement, and when the mind was almost incapacitated from judging in a calm and rational spirit, But the real object of the ballot— to give the electors a fair opportunity of returning the most eligible candidates—has been already so fully real ised by the late elections for the Central and Southern Provinces, that we have very little fear for the result of Thursday's election." At the South Melbourne election the following were the words of the returning officer, on declaring the poll— " I hope one day all will be in favour of the ballot, for the ballot never will be overturned. The report of its successful operation here will go home and strengthen the hands of the popular party in England, who are working towards the same great end." That it will do so is beyond a doubt. The arrival of Mr. Nicholson in England at this particular mo ment, with the Victorian Ballot law in his band, and the narrative of the first elections held under it, is to be regarded as a most auspicious event for the popular cause. The Society for promoting the Ballot (the most useful political association we are acquainted with) is entitled to our applause for the judgment with which it has availed itself of the presence of the Australian reformer to give a fresh impulse to the question. It is wall done to make ' the public as extensively acquainted as possible with the achievements and experienos of such a man. (From the Examiner.) We published last week the secret-suffrage clauses of the electoral law of the colony of Victoria, printed in accordance with an address of the late House of Commons. The history of the introduction of the vote by ballot into Victoria is briefly tit's. The co lony in 1855 obtained a new constitution from the Imperial Parliament establishing two houses of leg islature, both elective, and a responsible ministry. The then existing legislative body, called the Legislative Council, only partly elective, was charged with the preparation of an electoral law, to constitute the electoral body, and regulate the mode of holding elections. The electoral law, introduced by the existing colonial ministry, proposed to esta blish open voting, as practised in the mother coun try. A leading member of the Legislative Council, Mr. Nicholson, a man of great intelligence and energy, who had filled several important posts in the colony, made a counter-proposition in favour of the ballot. The ministry resisted, were defeated in the council, and resigned office. Mr. Nicholson was called to form a government, but declined, in con sequence of his intention to visit England. The old government resumed their places, but perse vered in resisting the ballot, disputing the point inch by inch with the opposition, who were, how ever, not to be outdone in vigour and determina tion. Mr. Nicholson proposed the necessary clauses iu the electoral law, and carried them by still larger majorities than that which had originally sanc tioned the principle. In the debate on the third reading, the Attorney-General of Victoria croaked the most awful warnings of the ruin which secret voting was sure to bring down upon the devoted colony. No Attorney-General at Westminster could have performed the raven's part more ad mirably. The ballot was folly, the ballot was revolution, the ballot was un-Australian, and the immediate setting of the Victoria sun, never again to rise, was predicted in a most lachrymose strain of a colonial crown-lawyer, mimicking Eldon at the Antipodes. It is only just, however, to the Diabolus Regis of the other hemisphere to add, that he afterwards publicly recanted some of his strongest objections, seen to be untenable by the light of experience. Mr. Nicholson, who is still in England, has been welcomed, as he well deserved to be, by Parlia mentary reformers in every part of the country. Several public entertainments have been given to him, and he has availed himself of these and other opportunities to relate the history of the move ment which he led with so much spirit, and brought to so triumphant a close. Example is of immense weight in the business of the world, and that of one of our greatest and most flourishing colonies seizing the earliest opportunity of applying the principles of plain common sense to the problem of securing the genuineness of the elective franchise, will not be lost on the people of England. How often have we not heard the parrot cry that there is something in the Anglo-Saxon race that revolts with shuddering from the notion of voting in secret T Well, here is an Anglo-Saxon community, and a vigorous specimen of one, which has revolted most conapicuously in the opposite direction. Let us hear no more, therefore, of the Anglo-Saxon argument against the ballot. Vic toria has knocked it in the head, and after full experience of the evils of the open poll, for it was the experience of those evils that called the ballot party into existence, and supplied Mr. Nicholson and his friends with the artillery of argument that carried the day. Again, how many times have we not heard it re iterated that it was beyond the mechanical inge nuity of man in any part of the world to devise a machinery for tile conduct of an election on the plan of secrecy. Mr. Nicholson's answer is very short. " We have done it in Australia," and he has told the British public what the process is. " The mode he said was a very simple one. There was a returning officer fora district, and he held a nomination ' tbe same as was the custom in England. Supposing a ' poll was demanded, it opened at 9 o'clock in the morning , and closed at 4in the afternoon. The voting was by ballot papers furnished by the returning officer, who took with him tothe booth the electoral roll, and a number of ballot papers, containing the names of the candidates. In a pah lie room each elector came up to vote, and miglht be ques tioned by any one, this being done with the view of avoid ' ing the possibility of personation. As soon as an elector's identity and right to vote had been established, he was handed a ballot-paper, and then passed into a private room, where he was required to mark out the names of the candidates he did not vote for, arid then to fad up and place the ballot-paper in the ballot-box. He was then pa , std out by another door. The mode of voting was secret in this way ; no one had an opportunity of knowing what, names he had marked out, or what parties he had voted for or against. In a large constituency, such as Mel bourne, with 8,500 electors. they had various election booths, and in these rooms are sub-divisions over which are the letters indicating where individuals must record their votes, After a person came out of a ballot-room he could say how he had voted, but he had it not in his power to show how he had voted. He was perfectly free in this is spect, therefore, from all influence." Corruptly tampering with the box appears to be most effectually guarded against; another thing stated ten thousand times to be beyond the reach of human wit. " One great evil suggested against the ballet was, that the returning officer might tamper with the ballot box ; but, in Victoria, each candidate was allowed t nominate a scrutineer, who sat by the returning officer during the whole proceedings, and until the poll was closed. It was impossible for a returning officer to suc ceed in tampering a ith the box with such a scrutiny as that. Each scrutineer has the opportunity of seeing the ballot-box before it is locked up, and placed for the re ception of votes and at the close of the poll to see the votes counted. In the elections in Victoria there were some close contests ; in one large district the successful candidate vas returned by a majority of twelve, in another by a majority of one, and in another by the cast ing vote of the returning officer, but never had a return ing officer been charged with making a false return. 'Another check upon the returning officer was, that the returning officer when he delivered a ballot paper signed his name to it, so that, to be any imposition, they must very successfully forge the name of the returning officer." Although so recently established, it is to be ob served that already the ballot has ceased in Victoria to be a theory. It has be-n tried, and has given unmixed satisfaction to the public. Of course the experience of its advantages is brief, but what more was it ever possible to say foe the wisest and most valuable of human institutions, in the first days of their working, than that to the extent of their working their efficiency was proved ? We subjoin a few testimonials borne by the Australian journals to this satisfactory operation of the ballot in the first elections held under the new law. We give them as we find them in one of Mr. Nicholson's speeches, beginning with the evidence of the Melbourne Herald : • " At the date of our last summary, the Upper House elections were pending, and the utmost public interest was excited as to the resist. The polling for the Central Province (jlelbourne and suburban districts) came off on the 26th ult., when the ballot was tested for the first time in the colony, and operated in a manner which not only satisfied the expectations of its mCst sanguine ad vocates, but actually won over as converts some of those who were previously its most determined opponents, both in and out of the Legislature." His next extract would be from the Argus, this and the Herald being the two leading papers. It had reference to the election for St. Kilda : ta" The polling for the two representatives to serve this district in the Legislative Assembly took place yester day, and passed off with the most exemplary good order and quiet ; indeed, with the exception of all the dead walls in the neighbourhood being covered with placards in all the colours of the rainbow, a stranger in the dis trict accustomed to election scenes in the old country would have exhibited some amount of incredulity on being told that an active election contest was proceeding. Not a single complaint against the working of the ballot or of any underhand or unfair pvaotices reached our ear during our visits to the polling places. The amount of excitement which prevailed during the day was anything but active, so far as we could observe by the collection of persons about the booths; but at the close. of the:poll considerable interest was manifested in the result." The returning officer for St. Kilda was strongly opposed to the ballot, but he stated (as recorded in the Argus) on declaring the poll : "The returning officer said he thanked the meeting for their kindness, and in doing so could not help bear ivg testimony to the favourable working of the ballot, although opposed to it in principle himself. His assistant officers joined with him in asserting that during the pro cess of election, especially in the Windsor district, there had often been less noise in a polling booth than in a place of worship. That proved the strict propriety of the proceedings." Mr. Nicholson convAlered the testimony of Mr. Hammill, the returning officer in this instance, as of great value, as it shows that, although a consis tent opposer of the ballot, his practical experience as returning officer compelled him to acknowledge its success:— The Melbourne Age, in speaking of tke Geelong election, stated : " The ballot on this occasion bas shown what a safety valve it is to the people. Mr. Slade, in his address, had the effrontery to say that the voluntaries ware in the mi nority, but this shows his ignorance . of public opinion, which the ballot on this occasion has proved. The bal lot has saved many a man from having a mortgage fore closed upon him, as was the ease under the old system, where a man exercised his own free will." As to the Geelong election, the Geelong Observer says : "The ballot saves the people from much of the an noyance they would have suffered under the old regime. When party malice and individual rancour have done their work, the ballot affords a few minutes for, calm re flection,• and in that few minutes, honesty, capacity, use fulness, and character will have the victory, and, after all, the chances are in favour of the best men." He then read from the Ballarat Examiner, Sept. 15, 1856 : Let us mention one or two more points in which Mr. Nicholson informs us that secret suffrage has already verified the predictions cf its advocates. Personal canvassing is, of course, absurd under the ballot, and we are not surprised to learn that it ceased almost entirely at Victoria with open voting. " It was a remarkable fact that in Victoria canvassing had almost ceased to exist. It was the practice there for candidates to address public meetings such as the pre sent, but private solicitation was all but entirely abo lished. In many cases candidates had declared that • they did not canvass, and that was the reason why they were popular. A letter from Mr. Kerby, in the Mel• Ourne Argus of Oct. 11, said The ballot being now the law of the land, ought to be carried out with strict integrity. An advertisement emanating from Mr. M'Dermott's committee invites the electors to hear him, as he has altogether abstained from a personal canvass, "so unfairly a lopted by other candi latex." If such has been the case I quite agree with him in denouncing such proceedings, and am therefore anxious to let the public know that, as far as I am con cerned, the charge cannot be brought against me, and I challenge any elector, if I, in any one instance, directly or indirectly, resorted to such a practice. I would much rather, by using fair means, be an unsuccessful candi date, than the reverse, and a successful one." • Observe also another operation of the ballot-box. One of the notorious and worst effects of the pre sent unprotntel state of the franchise in England is the virtual political annihilation at every election of multitudes who, being placed in the dilemma of voting at the hazard of their personal interest, or abstaining from voting at all, choose the latter side of the alternative, and might therefore just as well be disfranchised by positive law. It will be worth inquiring what proportion of the electors of the United Kingdom left their franchise unexereised in the elections which are now just concluded, and the Ballot Society would do well to collect and publish the facts. We have no doubt that the number will be found very considerable, aisd just as little that its magnitude is chiefly to be ascribed to the state of the law, which mocks men with privileges only t ) be used at risks to which political extinction is a preferable evil. Now, hers is what we are told of the effect of the ballot at Melbourne, actually more than doubling the effective constituency; for elec tors that dare not vote might as well not exist at all ; the law gives them a barren' right, which the ballot-box alone can convert into a practical advan tage. 76 It might be said, when all this quietness prevailed, that there was not sufficient interest taken in the elec tion. But what was the fact. An election took place at Melbourne some time before the last general election. The number of the constituency was about equal on the tw• occasions. At the first election a large amount of money was spent by both candidates, of whom he (the epealeer) had the honour of nominating one, and then nut of the 8,000 electors, but 2,000 recorded their votes ; whilst at the last election, under the operation of the ballot, out of the same number of electors, and accompanied by no noise or excitement, those who re corded their votes numbered over 5,000. In South Melbourne only twelve electors failed to record their votes. In another a very remarkable and almost un exampled circumstance occurred, for there only one elector did not record his vote out of the whole district. It was manifest that, however much people were pressed or driven to the poll, under a system of open voting, they were influenced by considerations of various kinds, and many of them•read° it their business to get out of the way so as to escape from voting. Now, however, under the ballot they recorded their votes in more thau dcuble proportion they did formerly. " " The election for the weetern provincem-As far ha THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 20, 1857 and we may expect to Fee the French nation, under the sway of its present intensely selfish vices, dwind ling more than under the guillotine of the Ter rorists, or the desolating wars of the first Napoleon. Her declining population is the reproachful record 'against her. THE INEQUALITY OF THE POOR-LAW RATES. (Prom the Times.) Whatever may be the general prosperity of the nation, it is pretty clear that a certain amount of pauperism must be considered permanent in the metropolis and the great towns. Even in the At lantic cities of America there are the aged who cannot work, and the journeymen of depressed trades who cannot get work, to be provided for. This great capital and its suburbs, with nearly 3,000,000 of people, must therefore expect to have its perpetual multitudes of unfortunates, who must be maintained by those who are able to make a liv ing. The question of Poor-rates is, therefore, one of the most Important which can affect the house holder. That the inevitable burden should sit equally on all, the constant drain exhaust no one more than another, is a matter worthy of the most careful legislation. But how stands the case in London ? Is not every one aware that in certain parishes the Poor-rate is but a trifle—that, in fact, there are no poor to be supported—while in others the householders are burdened with a most oppres sive impost ? It is well known that sometimes one street lets better than another adjoining it, simply because the former is in a parish of respectable resi dences and well-to-do shops, while the other belongs to a district which contains some nest of poverty, squalor, and crime. But, not only are parishes of what may ,be assumed as equal wealth unequally taxed, but the working of the system is to give to those that have, and to take away from those that have not. It is eviddiat that the parishes which are the most free from paltry tenements will be those inhabited by the richer classes, while the poor will live among those who are almost as poor as them selves. The wealthy will therefore be freed from a burden of which the industrious and struggling cannot get rid. The rate in the pound for differ ent parishes in London varied in the year 1856 from Md. to 3s. 4d. And which wet e the parishes that presented this strong contrast ? The rich, aristocratic, and Royal parish of St. George, Haaover-square, paid the ltd. ; while St. George's in the-East paid the 3s. 4d. Of the lightly-taxed parishes we may mention St. James's, Westmins ter, rated at 10/d. ; Paddington, at lid. : Isling ton, at. Is. Oid. —all fashionable or respectable loca lities ; while, on the other hand, we have Shore ditch rated at 3s. 41d. ; Whitechapel, at 2s. 74d. ; Bethnal-green, at 3s. 2d. ; St. George's, South wark, at 2s. 11d. ; Rotherhithe, at 3s. 0 3 / 4 d. ; and so on. It is evident, therefore, that those districts in which the poor have their' dwellings are con demned to pay a much higher rate than the more fortunate neighbourhoods which have been swept of inferior tenements. The consequences of such a sytem are obvious. The poor are employed all over the metropolis, and yet there are on'y certain districts in which they can live, it being the direct interest of the parish, the landowner, and the builder to destroy the kind of houses inhabited by the labouring classes. Thus, not only are the sol vent inhabitants of the poor parishes taxed exorbi tantly, but a burden is imposed on the poor them selves—the burden of living in places far from their work, and wasting time and strength in passing to and ire. An " Association for Promoting the Equalisation of the Poor-rates and Uniformity of Assessment" observes in its address that the pre sent laws are unjust and cruelly oppressive, their effeot being that in those parishes where property is of the greatest rateable value the charge for poor rate is so light as to be only nominal, while, on the contrary, in those parishes where the houses are small, and where the labouring man can find a residence, the poor-rate is most oppressive, vary ing from 3s. to 45., 55., and even 109. in the pound per annum. In the former case it will be found to be only 4d., 3d., 2d., and in a few instances only id. in the pou. d for the year. All these facts point to something like a general rate for the entire metropolis ; and there is, indeed, much to be said in favour of such a scheme. London is a city of an extent out of all proportion to the other towns of England, and it is the onlylarge city in this part of the kingdom. It might, then, be not unfairly considered as an exceptional region, and, as' it has its Central Criminal Coutt, it might be furnished with its General Poor-Law Board and rate. But there are, on the other hand, many difficulties. The metropolis has been well described as not so much a city as an aggregation of neighbourhoods. The gentry and, tradespeople of at. George's and St. James's, of Belgravia and Tyburnia, have as little to de with the manufacturing population of Lambeth and Southwark, the maritime race of Wapping and Blackwall, or the vast labouring population of Bethnal-green and its neighbourhood. In fact, London is a metropolis properly so called, with its Court and Legislature and administration of justice; but it is also a great seaport, and a great manufacturing city. To throw all these to gether, and tax each individual according to the wants of the whole, would be pretty much as if Liverpool, Mancheater,land one or two favourite watering-places were united to support the poor of the whole. It would be conceding the principle of central as opposed to local rating ; and, were it established for London, it might soon be demanded for the entire kingdom. But leaving this great question aside for the pre sent, we think much may be done by the parishes themselveq. There is no doubt that at present there exist great inequalities, from the system of fititious rating which prevails. Instead of rating all houses equally some are made to pay on their rack-rent, some on two-thirds, and some on not more than half. It is evident that this is an inherent defect which will render ineffectual any scheme for an equalisation of burdens. Even we're London united for rating purposes, the inequalities for rating would exist as heretofore so long as some parishes or parts of parishes were only half-rated, while others paid up the full rental. It is certainly a great hardship for St. George's-in-the East that property-tax value should be 106,469!., while its poor-rate assessment amounts to 153,2971.; also for Bethnal-green and Whitechapel that a similar ex cess should appear.; while St. George's, Hanover square, with a property-tax value of 1,027,5801., should only be assessed at 694,3801. We find that this rich parish is not only lightly rated from the absence of poor, but that the nominal rating is in reality much less, from a low fictitious value being substituted for the real value of the property. Under the present system this nominal rating is no test of the real burden on the parish. Until, there fore, uniformity of assessment be attained, either by the voluntary action of the parishes or by the interference of the Legislature, there can be little hope of a practical equalisation of poor-rates ; and the great Metropolitan Union, with its general rate of is. in the pound, must remain a vision of the future. EAST INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY. The. Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's steam-ship Pera, Captain Soy, reached Southampton this day, at half-past eleven o'cicck p.m., with mails and dates from the above places. On her outward voyage the Pera experienced fine weather and strong favourable winds. She ran from Southampton to Gibraltar in' 3 days 22 hours, and to Malta in 7 days 3 hours ; we believe an unprecedented passage. Homewards she met with westerly winds in the Mediterranean northerly up the coast, strong S. W., with a heavy N.W. swell across the bay, and S.E. winds, with fine weather, up the Channel. Her dates of sailing were :—Alexandria, April 5 ; Malta, Apiil 9 ; Gibraltar, April 14. The Pera brings 152 passengers, amongst whom are Captain Lane, Dr. Darnton, Captain Clapcott, Captain Yard, Dr. Hastings, Colonel Lloyd, Col. Hughes, Captain Cannon, Captain M'Donald, Captain Barclay, and Sir W. Baynes, lady, and family. • _ _ _• Mre. Bray, passenger from Bombay, died on the morning of the 18th April, off Ushant, of disease of the lungs. She also brings Mrs. Hartley, and the body of James Hartley, Esq., who died en board the com pany's ship Alma, on the 19th ult., two days' sail from Ceylon, on his return from India, aged 56 ; and it may in all truth be recorded that in him were eminently combinei the noble qualities of the honourable, upright, and honest citizen ; the kind, affectionate, and indulgent parent ; the fond and faithful husband ; the true and valued friend ; and the charitable and generous man. His loss will be lon° , and deeply mourned by all who knew him ; but who can say bow deeply by the widow and children he has loft behind him, and by those friends who were more immediately connected with him, and who for many years had felt the influence of his kind and benevolent heart. The freight of the Pera consists of 6 packages of specie (value not specified), 10 boxes of oranges, 1 cane of opium, 1,636 ba!ei of silk, 50 cases of silk, 90 tales of flax, 57- bales of wool, 28 bales of in cease, 64 packages of gum, and 233 packages of sundries. Her Majesty's ship Tartarus was at Alexandria. Admiral Lord Lyons was daily expected atMalt:), from Constantinople, with his fleet. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's ship Alhambra arrived at Gibraltar on the morning of the 14th inst. At three p.m. on the 14th, off Cape Trafalgar,. exchanged colours with the Royal Yacht Squadron schooner Centaur, standing to Gibraltar. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. Arrivals and departures of British ships reported at Gibraltar from the 6th to the 13th inst., inclusive : April 6—Tbe Royal Yacht Squadron schooner Clay more, R. M. Wood, commander, 13 days from Genoa for England ; brig Jessie Thomas, from Alexandria, with maize, for Gibraltar for orders, barque Blackness, tram Marseilles, in ballast, for Cardiff—cleared ; barque Rose, from Alexandria, with barley, for Cork—cleared ; barque Repeater, from Trieste, in ballast, f rr Quebec—cleared; barque Mary, from Malta, in ballast, for Gibraltar, for orders ; barque Victoria, from Malta, in ballast, for Car - Jiff—cleared ; brig Stanley, from Cagliari, with salt, for Pooh—cleared ; schooner Zephyr, from Taranto, with oil, for Hull—cleared ; br;g Minuet, from Velez- Malaga. in ballast, for Newcastle—cleared. April 7—The steam eloop Curlew, Commander Hor ton, returned from Tangier last evening, having on board her Majesty's charge d'affaires, John flay I'rummond Hay, Esq., C. 8., who left for Tetuan in the same steamer at half past six this morning. Her Majesty's screw line of-battle ship Cressy, Captain Warren, and steam frigate Magicienne, Captain Vansittart, which arrived on Fri day night from Malta, left the bay this morning under steam tl the westward. The steam tug Bustler, in charge of Mr. lalkner, left about two p.m. for England, where she is to undergo a thorough repair of her machi nery. The steam sloop Sphynx, Captain 11 7 11111°U, which arrived from Malta on Saturday bound to Sierra Leone, will leave this afternoon. Schooni r Isabella, from Galata, with maize, for Cork—cleared ; schooner Marian Zagury, from Corfu, with maize, for Gibraltar, for orders—cleared for Gijon ; barque William and Anne, from Barcelona, in ballast, for Savannah—cleared. April 3—The whale of the wind•bound vessels have succeeded in passing the Straits since yesterday morn ing, when the wind veered to eastward. Her Majesty's steam rloop Sphynx, Captain Wilmal., steamed to the westward at half-past two o'clock yesterday afternoon ; brig Unity, from Algiers, in ballast, for S Nansea ; bar-• quo Vulcan, from Cartbagena, with lead, for Newcastle —cleared ; schooner Victoria, from Tangier, in ballast, ha. Gibraltar, consigned to Mr. Martinez ; her Majesty's sloop Curlew, from Tetuan ; brig Renovation, from Car r lesgena, iu ballast, for Quebec— cleared ; brigantine Geaver, from Valencia and Tarragona, in ballast—clear ed ; brig Clara Heckman, from Legliorn, with marble, for Boat in—cleared ; brig Undaunted, from Malta, in ballast, for Sutderland— cleared ; schooner Sir John Newport, from Carthagena, with lead, for Newcastle— cleared ; barque Charles, from Cardiff, with coals, for Gibialtar ; brig Alma, from Palermo, with fruit, for Philadelphia— cleared ; steamer PliasOe, from Constan tinople and Smyrna, with a general cargo, ;or London, consigned to Messrs. Middleton, Bland, and Co.— cleared. April 9—The steam packet Colombo, from Southamp ton, with mails and a general cargo, for Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria ; steamer Thalia, from Valencia, with fruit, for Cork, consigned to Messrs. Grahams and Co.—cleared ; brig Asia, from Thrall and Constanti norle, with maize, for Cork—cleared; brig Charlotte, from Rio (Elba), with iron ore, for Newport —c'ea , ed ; brig Pacific, from Mazzarelli, with locusts, f Dart mcutb, for orders—cleared ; barque J .seph Bushby, from Genoa, in ballast, for Gibraltar, for orders, cot signed to Messrs. Carver, Brothers ; brig Jane Price, from Malaga, in balla.t, for Gibraltar, for orders, coc signed to Messrs. D. Garese and Sons ; steamer Earl of Lonsdale, from Tangiers; with bullocks, for Gibraltar, consigned to Mr. Mateos ; her Mnjesty's steam-sloop Curlew, from 'rangier ; schooner Mkrit, horn Garrucha, with copper cre, for Swansea—cleared ; barque Mag'a Charta, from Scala Nova, with barley, for Cork, for orders—cleared ; screw-steamer Berwick, from Malaga, in ballast, for London, consigned to Messrs. Peacock and C. April 10—The screw-steamer Britannia, from London, with a general cargo, for Gibraltar and Cadiz. consigned to Messrs. Peacock and Co. ; briganline Eliza, from Newcastle, with coals, .for Gibraltar; screw-steamer Albanian, from Liverpool, with a general cargo, for Gibraltar and Genoa, consigned to Messrs. Carver, Brothers—cleared. April 11—The schooner Premier, from Scilly, with potatoei for Gibraltar, consigned to*Messrs. Turner and Co. ; birque Exelsior, from Marseilles, in ballast, for &ields—cleared ; barque Swift, from Malta, with salt, for Jersey—cleared ; barque Albert Grosby, from Mar seilles, with a general cargo, for Montreal—cleared. April 12—The schooner Bee, from Palermo, with fruit, for London—cleared. April 13—The steamer Melita, front Liverpool, with a general cargo, for GibraPar, Malta, and Constanti nople, consigned to Messrs. Middleton, Bland, and Co. —cleared. Twelve noon—The steamers Albanian left at half-past 2 p,m. on Saturday for the East, and the Mirwick at 6 a.m, yesterday for the west. A Spanish paddle-wheel steam-sloop and the British barque Sun derland passed from west to east yesterday afternoon. EXCIIANGES.—London, DO days' date, 51 3.16; Paris, ditto, sf. 36c.; Marseillo4, ditto, sf. 37c.; Genoa, ditto, 5E 30c, ; Madrid, 8 days' sight, I . ldis. ; Cadtz, ditto, die. ; Malaga, ditto, ciis.; Seville, ditto, I die. ; Ali cante, ditto, die.; Valencia, ditto, die.; Barcelona, ditto, 4 die. FIRST-CLASS SHIP CHARTERED BY THE PROPRIETORS OF AN EQUESTRIAN COMPANT.—A first-class American packet-ship has been chartered by Messrs. Howe and Cushing, proprietors of the great United States Circus, to convey their artistes, stud, and exhibition properties from New York to Liverpool.—Liverpool Journal. [ADVERTISEMENT.} —Fifty Thousand Cures without Medi cine, by Du Barry's delicious Revalenta Arabica Food, of in digestion (dyspepsia), flatulency, constipation, nervous, bilious, and liver complaints, debility, cough, asthma, consumption, ezc.—Cure No. 71, of dyspepsia, from the Right Hon. the Lord Stuart do Decies—" I have derived considerable benefit from Du Barry's Revalenta, Ara bleu, Food, and consider it due to yourselves and the pubic these Iinos.—STUART DE to authorise the publication of Dzeiss."—Cure No. 49,832—" Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cotigh,'constipa tion, flatulency, spasms, sickness at the stomach and vomit ing, have been removed by Du Barry's excellent food. -- MARIA JOLLY, Wortham Ling, near Diss, Norfolk."—From the Dowager Countess of Castlestuart. Cure 52,612.—" Ross trevor, County of Down, Ireland, 9th December, 1854.—The Dowager Countess of Castlestuart feels induced, in the in terest of suffering humanity, to state that Du Barry's excel lent Revalenta abiea Food has cured her, after all medi cines had failed, of indigestion, bile, great nervousness, and irritability ------- of many years' standing." This food deserves the . , confidence of all sufferers, and may be considered areal blessingte.ethnlnetiriesfrewmill The battery of artillery now lying at Norm= Barracks, under the command of Major Arbuthnot, .bupported by t hbee celebrated cheerfully answered. efeere - 0 f is under orders to proceed to Alderthott. It is ex- Chemistry, Dr% Andrew u re ; Dr. Shorland ;' Dr. flarvey , Dr. Campbell; Dr. Chttiker ; Dr. Wurzer ; Dr. Ingram; pe t ted that the corps, which comprises six pus . Lord Stuart de Decies; th e D owager C oun t ess o f Castle proceed thith er t hi s d a y (Mon and 156 men, stnart; 3(40r-ova. Thomas King, and many other respectable day) r ! persons, whose health has been restored by it, afterall other The engineer district of Kilkennyhas been broli.en mea ns of cure had - failed: 'For fu r th er par ti cu l ars , respect up from the I s t of April, although the order for ing this invaluable food our readers are referred toDußarrri the purpose was only received within 'the past advertisement in nether part of this paper. THE DEPOPULATION (01? FRANCE. (From the Examiner.) The massacres of the first revo'ution,. and the wars of Napoleon, may sufficiently account for the diminution of the French population up to a recent date, but a new cause is now in operation, tending powerfully to the same result. The old frugality of the French has been banished by the present regime, and luxury and extravagance ate now the prevailing habits. Saving and hoarding are at an end, and people live up to 'their means, if not beyond their means. In Paris the immense increase of handsome equipages must strike every eye, and the other signs of enlarged expenditure are abundant. Women, who play so prominent and important a part in the affairs of France, have of course taken the lead in this new fashion of extravagance, and many of them do not think it unreasonable to devote a third of their husbands' income to their own toilettes. And this . is not confined to Paris, it runs through the whole country, and every provincial town is a Paris in miniature in the features of a new luxury and ex travagance. And the freer indulgence in every sort of enjoyment is concurrent with an universal aug mented cost of living. A French authority, who has written on the subjec t of the high house-rents of Paris, attributes that enhancement not to the demolition of old buildings, but to th 3 new habits of expense which have sprung up within the last few years. And if this be the fact in Paris, it will also account f a. the advance of prices throughout the provinces. The subdivision of property, whatever may be its merits in other respects, lends its aid to the gene ral propensity for extravagance. A young man, a younger brother, gets his little share of pro perty, and launches at once into the pleasure it may place within lus reach. He goes up to Paris with a few hundred or 'thousand francs, and spends his capital , as if it were an income, He is asked after by some one who has met him in better days, and the stereotyped answer is—He has disappeared. There are oubliettes in society for these prodigals. • Some find th,ir way to Africa, where they carry muskets ; some to the jail ; some to the bottom of the Seine. None recover by industry the footing. lost by Families do not generally run the road extra vagance.to ruin so fast. They follow the fashion of ex pense by living fully up to their incomes, and the husband endeavours to extend the means of enjoyment by a litsl6 gambling, under the com mercial name of speculation. One prudence only is observable, and that is in avoiding the charges incidental to a number of children. The saying so common in England, " where Heaven sends mouths it sends meat," is unknown in France, and the number of mouths to be fed is adjusted strictly to the means of feeding them. A hus band and wife have one or two children, or none at all, as the Times observes, according to their ideas of what they can afford. Of course, then, in proportion to the enlarged expenditure for objects of luxury and show is the circumscribed space for the nursery. The stables cut into it, the coach-house cuts into it, above all, Ma dame's toilette. Where you would see with English habits half-a-dozen healthy boys and girls walking with their parents, you see instead, in the Bois de Boulogne, a fine lady in a hand some open carriage. The horses, the coachman, the footman, are in lieu of the children. Every thing cannot be afforded. A choice must be made, and we see what it is. The preferred issue of the French couple are :their own favourite pleasures, dress, equipages, good living, gambling. Children would narrow the means for these enjoyments, or leave for them no means whatever ; therefore chil dren are not born to curtail their parents' pleasures. And the want of them is not felt where all is given to the gratification of vanity and the senses. The drawing-roam, the dining-room, the promenade, and the theatre fill every moment and satisfy every wish ; or it is only when these things stale and pall that a desire arises for the new plaything of a boy or a gill. Of course there are exceptions to these habits, and here and there will be found families with domestic enjoyments, but the number of them has been much diminished by the order or disorder of extravagance so countenanced and encouraged by the present dynasty. The evil is not confined to the wealthy classes ; it descends through all classes with the modification of circumstances. The shopkeeper and his wife, the aitisau and his wife, are all for the vanities and enjoyments within their reach, as muchas the millionnaire and his wife. The occupation for the thoughts which politics once pro vided being gone, the general pursuit now is plea sure, and the means of obtaining it, by hook or by crook, generally on the miry field of the bourse. In such a state of things there must be a tendency to every sort of degeneracy, moral and physical, RUSSIAN RAILWAYS. Messrs. Bariug, Brothers, and Co. hive issued their Russian Railway prospectus, and their name is the only English one comprised in the board of direction. The sum they ask from London capital ists out of the 12,000,0001. first to be raised is 2,000,000/., instead of between 3,000,000/. and. 4,000,0001., as originally contemplated. The sum in Paris having likewise been reduced, it is to be presumed an estimate more accurate than that originally entertained has been formed of its pro bable reception. The statements now put forth fail to modify any of the features already com mented upon. The guarantee, after allowing for sinking fund, is to be only 4 11-12ths per cent, the working expenses, in the face of universal experi ence, are put as low as 45 per cent., and the diffi culty as to crossing the marshes with which the country abounds is simply disposed of by the state ment that they " will be avoided by a proper selec tion of the route." The number of miles to be con structed are 2,535, at a cost of 16,511/. per mile, or about 43,000,000/4 and the whole must be made within 10 years. It is not stated in what quarter the extra proportion first intended for London and Paris is now to be allotted. The Prussian public, who are best qualified to form an opinion of the pr: spects of the enterprise, both commercial and political, are understood to be disposed to limit themselves to the modest amount of 200,0001., or less, although the proposed extension of the Warsaw line to their own frontier and the intimate business connexions of their bankers and others with St. Petersburg might be supposed to operate in its fa vour. Upon the Court of St. Petersburg and its agents the duty of making up the deficiency from the failure on this side will therefore apparently fall, and the advices for the next few months will perhaps describe the eagerness with which the mer chants of that capital, who usually. never put out their money at a less interest than 10 to 12 per cent., are seeking to be allowed to contribute. With regard to the prospect of the 2,000,0001. being taken in London it must be inferred that M essrs. Baring, before they issued the prospectus for that reduced amount, were able to calculate that it could be made up by their own subscription and that of personal friends who would feel it incum bent on them to afford assistance. The first pay ment is to be 6/. per share, and the period for ap plications is from the 28th of 'April to the sth of May. The contractors stipulate for 6 per cent. of all profits 'beyond - the guaranteed dividend and I sinking fund. LAW INTELLIGRACu'.- 4pril 18. .-- VICE-CHANCELLORS' COURTS. (Before Vice-C'uancellor Wood.) INJUNCTION AGAINST MR. DILLOTI'S ACTING— WEBSTER V. DILLON. The plaintiff in this case was Mr. George Alfred Webster, the present lessee of Sadler/ Wells Theatre, and the defendant was Mr. Chas. Dillon, the well-known actor. The application was on behalf of Mr. Webster, for an injunction to restrain Mr. Dillon from violating an agreement entered into between the plaintiff and defendant, and from acting at Drury-lane Theatre, or at any other place, without the sanction or permission in writ ing of the plaintiff during the twelve nights com mencing Monday next, the 20th inst. The agree ment upon which the present motion was founded was contained in a letter addressed by the de fendant to the plaintiff, which was in the following words :—" My dear Sir—l agree to play for you at the Sadlers' Wells Theatre, for twelve consecu tive nights, commencing on the 20th of April, that provided I provide Mr. Barret to play the old . men in the pieces, you will allow me a clear half of the gross receipts, after you have deducted 20/. per night. . Provided also that I play among my pieces the characters of William Tell, Rolla, and Ingomar." The plaintiff, in his affidavit in support of the motion, stated that in pursuance of the above agreement, he had made the necessary arrangement and preparations for the performance of Mr. Charles Dillon at the Sadlers' Wells Theatre for twelve nights, and that he had gone to consider able expense towards producing the several pieces named in the agreement. That on the 15th of April the plaintiff received a letter written by Mr. Dillon's direction, in which it was stated that he (Mr. Dillon) would only act in the play of " Vir ginias" at Sadlers' Wells Theatre, on the 20th of April, and that he should decline to act in any other play on that evening. Tbat this was a five act play, and that the defendant well knew the plaintiff could not perform such a play at Sadlers' Wells Theatre, since he was precluded by his agree ment with the lessee from performing five-act plays. That the defendant threatened to perform at Drury lane Theatre on Monday next, and in consequence of these circumstances he was compelled to apply for this injunction. Mr. Swanaton, who appeared for the plaintiff, cited Lumley v. Wagner as an authority in favour of the application. The Vice-Chancellor granted the injunction to restrain the defendant from playing at any other place than Sadlers' Wells Theatre during the ordi nary hours of performance at that theatre for twelve consecutive nights, commencing on the 20th April, the plaintiff undertaking to abide by such damages as the court should direct. (Sittings at Nisi Prins, at Westminster, before Mr. Baron Watson and Common Juries.) RANSOM V. BASVILLE—REVELATIONS OF THB PRINCE OF WALES CLUB. This action was brought by the plaintiff to re cover 501., as money lent by him to the defen dant, who pleaded never indebted, and that the money was lent for the purpose of gaming. Mr. E. James and Mr. Mills appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Sergeant Ballantine and Mr. J. Simon were counsel for the defendant. The learned counsel, in opening the case, said the defendant had- pleaded that the money was lent for the purpose of playing a game—and then there was a blank, but he believed it would turn out that the money was not lent to play any game at all. The defendant, in 1852, was a glitter ing star in the fashion, and the plaintiff was largely engaged on the turf, and in betting tra.usactions, and he-had lent the defendant the sum sought to be recovered at his request, and he gave the plaintiff an T 0 U'of a Mr. Pitcher for that loan ; but it turned out that there was a balance due from the defendant to Mr. Pitcher which would much more than cover the I 0 U. The defendant had left his creditors when a very large defaulter on the turf, and had gone to reside in Paris, and was not found out till a short time ago, when the present action was commenced against him. If the defendant's case, as set up, was true, viz., that the 501. was not money lent, of course the defendant would come forward and support it. The plaintiff was called and said—l was ac quainted with the defendant in 1852, and had known him for 10 or 12 years. I remember the York August Races Meeting very well indeed ; and I was at the Prince of Wales Club-house, in St. James-street, in the course of that week. One night I was in the refreshment room of that club, and the defendant came in after me and said, "Well, old fellow, lam cleaned out." I hid bein ' playing up stairs, and he said he had asked the people up stairs to lend him 301., and they had fused, and he said " Would you .lend me 30/. till Monday ?" He also said he *anted it for a parti cular purpose, but for what he did not say. I then gave him three 101. notes. Monday was the set tling day for the York meeting, and this occurred on the Friday previous. The settling was at Tat tersall's, where he promised to meet me on the Monday. Ho afterwards said he wanted 201. more, which I gave him, and he gave me an I 0 U, accepted by a Mr. Pitcher, for 1001:, and he said he would pay me on the Monday. I did not see him on the Monday, nor could I find him out, but 'my attorney did ; so, on the Monday I saw Mr. Pitcher at Tattersalls', and he said the defendant ought to be ashamed of himself, as be owed him a larger sum than the amount of the I 0 U. Cross-examined—l do not know that Pitcher is a gambler. > The defendant was not drunk when I lent him the money. The Prince of Wales Club is a gambling-house, but I never met Pitcher there. I have been to the club once or twice. I cannot tell who kept it. I mean to swear I don't know who kept it. There were a great many people playing there, but I did not know them. I don't know that they play on the Sunday, as I have never been on a Sunday. I was playing " hazard" there with my own money. Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—Do you know what a " bonnet" is ? Don't be delicate. I don't mean a lady's bonnet. (A laugh.) Mr. James—Nobody knows what a lady's bonnet is now ; it is impossible to desctibe it. (Continual laughter.) Witness—A " bonnet" is a fictitious player. I had 2001. or 300/. in my pocket when I lent the plaintiff the money.' I had been playing that night, and had been very successful.. I was playing at the same table with the defendant, and he told me that he had nothing to lose. I did •not see the de fendant playing. I heard him say that, he bad just come from York. When he said he was cleaned out," I presume he meant that he had been cleaned out at York. I won the whole 50/. at the table which I lent him. I began to play with about 1201. or 130/., perhaps more. I was living at that time where I am now —namely, at Church-street, Chelsea. I have no other means of living than by gambling. I bet on horse races. I have lived 15 or 20 years as a gambler. I have no business. lam 43 years of age. I always con trived to live by gambling, I was an engraver. Re-examined—The defendant and I met a good deal at races. It is a common occurrence to lend money as I lent this 50/. I had nothing at all to do with the Prince of Wales Club-house, merely going as any other gentleman might who went to the house; The defendant was in the habit of playing a good deal. I met him at nearly every race that I went to. The plaintiff's attorney was then called, but his evidence was not of any importance. It being intimated that no witnesses would be called for the defendant, Mr. James summed up the plaintiff's evidence, mid contended that his client was entitled to a ver- . diet. The question was not what his character was, but whether his statement was true, or not • and on the other side no witnesses had been called to contradict it. • Mr. Sergeant Ballantine then addressed the jury for the defendant , and submitted that the plain tiff's evidence could not be relied on, a n d h e here fora asked them for a verdict f or hi s client. It had • been said, Why was not the defendant called ? The reason was because he did not want all his past life raked up for the amuse men t o f the C o urt and public. There could be.n o doubt that the money was lent for gaming, and probably found its way back into the plaintiff's pocket and the pockets of those who kept th e house. He concluded by ask inc, the jury for a verdict for his client. Mr. Baron Watson summed up. He thought it was much to th e di sgrace and dishonour of the de fendant's famiiy that he should have instructed his counsel to impute perjury and cheating to the plaintiff without bringing forward any evidence to support those imputations. If they believed the plaintiff's evidence they must find their verdict for him. The jury immediately found a verdict for the amount claimed-501. 's Ointment and Pills [ADVERTISEIEENT].—Ho tIowa Y still unrivalled.—John Winterton, of Empingham, Rut land, takes a pleasure in informing krofessor Hullo way of the happy effects he has experienced by the aid of these inestimable remedies, He was a sufferer for four years with an ulcerated leg, and repeatedly under medi cal treatment for the same, without obtaining the plight est alleviation of pain. Having beard of Holloway's ointment and pills he determined to test their virtues. After using them for a time, to his astonishment arid delight his restoration to health was complete. Sold by all medicine vendors throughout the world ; at Profes-or Holloway's establishinent, 244, Strand, London, and 80, Maiden lane, New York ; "by A. Stampa, Constanti nople ; A, Guidim Smyrna, and E. Muir, Malta, Naval and Military Her Majesty's State yacht the Victoria and Al bert, Captain the Hon. Joseph Denman, has just been taken into dock at Portsmouth to be embel lished for her Majesty's summer cruise. The Royal Sovereign, 131, screw—The time approaches for the launching of this magnificent three-decker, and the greatest interest is felt to witness so imposing a spectacle. Every arrange ment is being made by Admiral Superintendent Martin to afford as much accommodation as possible to the public. It is still telieved that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will be present, with other branches of the Royal family. The Royal Sovereign is larger than the Duke of Wellington, but smaller than the Marlborough. Her dimen sions are : _ _ _ Length Breadth Depth of hold Burden Her armament will consist of— 279 ft. 10 in. 60 4 25 4 3765 tons. 16 8-in. 65-cwt. guns on the lower deck. 20 32-pr. 68-cwt. guns ditto. 36 32-pr. 68-cwt. guns on the middle deck. 36 32-pr. 45-cwt. guns on the main deck. 22 32-pr. 25-cwt. guns on the upper deck. 1 68- - pr. 95-cwt. pivot gun. - Her engines, 800-horse power, can be worked up to 2,500. Hellyar, the dockyard carver, has been rart!cularly successful in producing a figure-head. The launch will take place soon after 11 o'clock on Saturday, the 25th instant.. • The Terrible, 21, paddle-wheel frigate, is in No. 1 dry dock, Sheerness, hastening her repairs. The Renown 90, and Emerald, 50, are both in the Sheerness basin, fitting their machinery, &c. The Hesper, iron screw store-ship, under orders for China, will leave Woolwich in a few days. Her alterations are now completed, and on atrial trip down the river, it was found that she could main tain a speed.of 10 knots per hour. The Pylades, 21, screw corvette, in charge of Mr. W. H. Sharpe, is at Sheerness. er machinery proved most satisfactory on her late trial ; she forms one of the first-class steam reserve. The Vesuvius 6, paddle-wheel sloop, is still in the harbour. The lieutenants have joined her, but we have not beard who is the captain ap pointed to the command. The Cyclops, 6, steam frigate (not commis sioned), hai her compasses adjusted last week ; she is waiting further orders. The Fur:ous, 16, paddle-frigate, Capt. Osborne, C.B. having fitted out for the Cliina. station, went out Of Portsmouth harbour to Spithead on Satur day, and there awaits sailing orders. Her convoy of gunboats is nearly ready. The Firm, Lieutenant Nicolas, went out of harbour on Saturday and took in her powder and shell. The Drake, Lieutenant Arthur, and Janus, Lieutenant Jones, are ready for sea. The Melville two-decker, Commander Trollope, fitting out at Portsmouth as an hospital ship for the Chin% squadron, is nearly complete in her rig. The Amphitrite, Captain Tatham, fitting out at Portsmouth for tbe Coastguard service, is complete in the rigging department, and will leave the fitting bay in this day. The Sylph, mercantile steam vessel embarked at Portsmouth on Saturday a company of :Royal Ar tillery, and left with thew for. Jersey, whence she will rdturn with the depot of the 72d Highlanders. A letter from the Pacific squadron, dated the 27th Feb.,. gives the follc,wing a moveirefits oa that station :—"The Monarch, 84, stag, is at Va!oaraiso. Rear-Admiral Bruce arrived at Callao in the mail steamer Luna, and hoisted his flag in the President, 50, Capt. Fre& r;ck. The latter leaves to-morrow (the 28th) fur Engl ,, nd, when the Tribune, 31, Capt. H. Edged, will hoist the Admiral's flag until the arrival of the Monarch. The Tribune had made lv r self popular,, ptcyL ct ng all mercantile interews. All the ladixs of the place attended Church service on bcard with their tamilies. The Tribune got up a play, which went cff well ; then the American mer chant fleet gave a grand hancru.t, to her captain and officers on boird a 2,000 ton cl.pper ship, at wl.ich 260 sat duwa to a banquet.. Toaits and speeches followed, and dancing wound up the evening. The 22d—Wasbiugton's birthday, the frigates saint« d and dresied ship. On the 23d the Tribune left. On passing through the English merchant fleet they all dresssland saluted ;it was quite a gala day. Thy Tribune ,returned the salutes, and the Ame - ican ' merchant.ships retnrued the ralules for Washing ton's birthday. The Eak, 20, is at Panama; the Havanuah, 22, en roqte to Valpara'so ; the Alarm, 26, gone to San Blas for freight ' • 'the Brisk steam alcop sailed for Englind ; the Pearl, 20, at the Caitielpts." The iron screw steam gunvewel Mina, Lieut.- Connaluder R. H. Roe, rowed up to - Woolwich on Friday morning by a merchant steamer, was on Saturday. inspected by tile,eutnelodore of the dock yard, when the crew was mustered, cleared for ac tion, and went through general quarters. The commodore was highly wi.h the discipline of the ship's crew and the gunnery manceuviel. The Mui made the run fr•im sierra Leoni enirely ender canvas, and hawing fair wind the who'e dis tance she performed the voyage in 35 days, and landed the rziiils the Lizard. Th tran3p irtMooresfort embarked her troops on &runlayfor China, viz.. 2 companies of the Royal Att , llery, Clots. Longden and‘Middle ton's companies, consi4tiug oF 14 officers, and 23) rank and Pilo of the 13;h battalion, to,etti:r with 3 complete batteries, 130 tons of r.-s , :rve stores, and 150 tons of military baggage. The embarkation t , ok pla t ca at 2 o'clock, and the vessel was towed down the river at 5 o'clock p.m., amid the eteo.rs of the Ouiwrons . ; persons who bad assembled to witness the departure.. After the removal of the Moores fort, the Neleu , , whichb ad been several days anchored at th buoy, took up her position to pre pare fur the embarkation of Captain Knox and Captain Barstow's companies of the and 10th ba.talions, who are under osiers to embark on Wednesday noxt,, likewise fur Hon g Kon g . • The Cumberland is put out of No. dry dock and berthed in the fitting basin under the shears, to be masted and rigged. Her officers i.nd crow were mustered on Friday last by Captain the DO Hon. Lord F. Kerr, in command of the flag-...h'p Waterloo. The Vesuvius has this day been taken into No. 3 dry dock to have her valves, feed-pipe, and bottom ezam;ned. The following officers have taken up their commissions and joined this ship :—Mr. R. L. B. Hea I, Actin g -Aqiiwant-Surgeon, and Mr. Wm. Wallace, Clerk.' The Terrib'e is ordered to be ready by the ;Ist May next. She is now undergoing 'extensive re pairs in her hull and machinery The -crew of the Miranda will be paid off at ShesAness to-morrow (Tuesday) Sir F. Baring, Bart., M.P. for the borough of Portsmouth, bas paid a visit to Portsmouth, and received a deputation from the sailniakers and rope makers belonging to the yard, complahling that they were not paid wages on the same scale as the men of other department?. They felt it as a great grievance that, while shipwrights were receiving 275. a-week, and painters 233., they only Rot 21s. Sir Francis. thought the better course fur them to pursue was to send a petition to the Board of Ad miralty, through the Admiral Superintendent Mar tin, and he would do all in his power to assist them in the just object they had iu view ; he had already forwarded their case to the First Lord of the Admiralty, and was awaiting Sir C. Wood's re ply._ The deputation were introduced to Sir Franciq; at the Fountain .13.0te1, by Mr. Alderman Levy. Owing to the large number of ships of war now lying in ordinary in the Medway, it has been found impracticable for the troops belonging to this garri son to continue their practice with the Enfield rifle and ball firing, as it appeared that the lives of the men on board were endangered. An order has ac cordingly been issued by the commandant, directing that tile troops undergoing rifle instruction shall discont:nue ball thing until the Lords of the Ad miralty have directed the removal of the vessels of war from St. Mary's-creek, out of the range of the The following appointments were made on Saturday at the Admiralty : Lieut. W. E. Gordon, to the Melville ; Lieut. F. W. Sullivan, of the C4stor, TlarY-Lientenant to Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir F. Grey ; R. Onslow, mate, to she VOSUViUS ; W. A. K. Craven, mate, to the Cumber;and ; R. Evans, midshipman, to the Curaberlaud ; C. F. Rothatr), naval cadet, to thz. Cordelia ; W. H. Haswell, clerk, to the Hima laya; and T. J. Giles, clerk, to the Hastings. DEATH OF COMMANDER Roox.E.—Commander Charles Thomas Rooke died on the 16th instan, at Cheltenham, in the 51st year of his age. He entered the navy April 11, 1821 ; and &Alined his first commission May 10; 1827. His succeeding appoint mentri were—June 20, 1827 ; and Nov. 20, 1830, to the Is's, 50, and Eclvidera, 42, C a p t ains Sir Thomas Staines and Hon. Richard Saunders Dun da.s, both in the Mediterranean ; and Feb. 11, 1833, to the Vic'ory, 104, flag-ship of Sir Thomas Williams, at Pottsmenth, where he remained until superseded in the spring of 1835. Sig promotion to the rank of commander took place Nov. 23, 1841. THE BANK RETURN. T e Bank Return of laa week was quie suf ‘lecutly unfavourable to ju , tity, indeed to et mpel the Bank to raise its rate of discount. ThHre was a cie,:trease of bullion to the extent of 643,839/.. when compared with the previous re turn. But besides this the reserve of notes has diminished by no less a sum than . 1,120,645/., and was thus reduced to 3,507,475/. The amount of notes in reserve in the spring of 1847 was at one time (in May) as low a# 2,741,0801., or about 760,0001. less than that oT la,3t week. In the autumn it declined to little more than a million, and then the Act of 1844 bad to be suspended. The exchanges are still against us, and should more gold be withdrawn from the Bank, the rate of discount must again be immediately raised. A more decided and evident condemnation of Peel's whole monetary system could not possibly be afforded than we have now presented in this country by these constantly recurring rises in the rate of discount, and the attendant contractions of the nation's circulating medium. If with the enormous advantage which the unex pected discoveries of gold give to the bullionists, we are exposed to these evils, what would have been the condition of the country with free trade and a contracted currency, and no arrivals from California and Australia ? We have no hesitation in saying that the distress and ruin would have been perfectly appalling, and the result either the overthrow of the existing institution of Engl Ind in the attempt to obtain relief, or the overthrow of the bullionist monetary system.—Derbyshire Courier. Country Markets. HADDINGTON GRAIN MARKET—ArnmI7. WHEAT, I EARLEY OATS. Big.oE. 58s Od 45s Od 33s 3d 1 46s Od First... Second 36s 3d ) 37s ld )28s 1d ) 37s 8j Third 29s Od I ',Os Od 123 s 6d I 34s Id Total quantity of wheat in market, €O9 qrs., 602 sold barley ~ 190 qrs., 162 sold oats si 365 qrs., 365 sold IP beans ~ • 112 qrs., 112 sold AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER. Wheat, 1/. 16 3 4-12ths I Barley, ...IL 17 .1 10.12t1s Oats, ... 11. 8 1 10-12ths i Beans, ..... 14 17 8 9-12 tis PP P DALKEITH GRAIN MARKET—APRIL 16. Qrs. Best. Current. lure' for 346 Wheat . 492 Oats 199 Barley 4ls Od 36s 9d 39 Peas & beans 40s oa 3 4s 70 34, 01 ABERDEEN-APRIL 17. Potato oath 21s Od to 22s Od 1 401bs per bushel Common oats 203 Od to 21s Od Bere 3ls Od to 34s Od f 1531 b. Barley 31s Od to 34s Od - II Wheat, red (spring)36s Od to 37s Od 621bs „ , white 30s Od to 46s Od Oatmeal 16s 6d to 17s 6d per boll. Flour PROVISION MARKET. Beef, per lb .. .. 6d to sa Mutton, per lb. 7d to 9d I Lamb, do., Oti Od to 0,4 Veal, per lb ... 8d to Os 10,1 Pork, per 1b...03 6d to Os 7d Salmon, per lb Os to Os Grouse, per brace Os to Os Tallow, p atone, Os to lOs 0:1 Rabbits, each... Butter, p lb. is oa to 04 01 Eggs, p doz. Os 8d to Os 101 Hens, p pair 3s Od toes 6J Chickens,do. 28 Od to 2s 61 Ducks, do., 2s 0(1 to 2s 61 Ducklings,do Os Od to 0e 01 Turkeys, each 4s Od to 53 01 Potatoes, per pock, Od to 121 3d to 4d. Butter for exp mtation (present cure) per cwt....V6s to 104 s Eggs, wholesale price, per dozen RETAIL PRICES. F10ur,14113 08 Od to 2s 6d Barley flour,l4lb.oB to 28 2d Oatmeal Os Od to is 9d „ dust, Beremeal Od to 18 10d „ per lb 2d to 2id Peasemeal... 03 Od to 2s 8d Sids, 7J Cheese, per imperial st 4-lb. 10af...7d. I :one, 4s. Od. to 4s 5d 12-Ib. 105f...3id. DUBLIN. Amin 17. There was a decidedly better tone in the corn market to. day, and we note wheat Gd to 9d., and oats 3d to 6d dearer than on Tuesday. Barley steady, without alteration in value. In Indian corn rather more business done, but no improvement in price. White wheat, 31s 6d to 33s 6d ; red ditto, 303 Od to 32s OA ditto new, —s ; barley, malting, 168 to 25s 6d ; grind. ing, 158 to 208 ; oats, old, 12s to 148 Od; ditto, new, —1 Od to 15s Od ; oatmeal, 13s 6d to 15s; bare, new, 168 to 18s Od ; r4pe9-4, 303 Od to 32s Od per brl ; batten' flour, 17s 64 to '24s 01 per cwt; Indian corn, 33s 01 to 353 Od per 480 lbs. LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL. APRIL 18. STOCK EX.CHANGE.—Tho market was dull to-day, and the rates of all the leading stocks have declined. The fol- lowing were the sales : London and North Western, 105 i # i — Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 39i Lancashire and Yorkshire, 102 Ik—South Eastern, 2 a —Eastern Counties, 3 .4—Blackburn, 83—Grand Trunk of Canada, 15—North British, 11 —North Eastern, Bev. wick, 24—Great Western of Canada, 25i ex d.—Ditto, new, 2.16.3. prem. ex (I.—London and North Western, Eighths, t i dis.—Midlands, 82i ;—East Lancashire, fifths, 5 per cent. pref., 5,i. MANCHESTER, APRIL 18. STOOK EXCHANGE.—The market to-day w ag d o i ng a quiet business, and prices were slightly easier. South Eastern and Doverg, 221 9-16—Eastern Counties, 1113 — East Lancashire, 09—Midlands, 82 4 — London and North Western, 1051—Lancashire and Yorkshire, 102—Ditto, new 91., p. BIRMINGHAM, APRIL 18. STOCK EXCHANGE. The market was doing only limited business to-day, and chiefly in local stocks, but quotations for railway shares were well supported, and in some instances a shade higher than on Friday. PROCLAMATION OF O UTLAWRT.—On Thursday the fel lowi,g persons were called upon to surrender to the s everal writs against them, under penalty of outls w. y —Robert Honey wood (two suits), Sir Robert Jukes Clifton, Bart, the Hon. Francis C. Lawley, John Bias sPv !airy Lionel Widrington Standish, ward Stanley, Stratton, CharlesW Willoughby Gunstone, the Hon.' Brownlow Thomas Montague Cecil, and George Loftus, commonly called'Lord George Loftus. tnevaattssmttsr. SPORTSMhN AND GR NTLEME X Or Ta g ARMY AND NAVY;—.g _ tl. Solomons, opticians, 39, Albe marle-street, Piccadilly, W. Observe—opposite the York Hotel.—Portability, Racecourse, combined with great power in Field, Opera, and general out-door day anti night powerful waistcoat pocket Penpective GlaSses, weighing only four ounces, each contain'ng 12 and 18 lenses, con structed of•Gernan g'ass, will show distinctly a person's countenance two ana a half and three miles. They serve every purpose on the race-course, and at the opera houses, country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at 8 to 10 miles. They are also invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, and yachting. Single ones, the a z of a walnut, po , sessieg the same groat power. Her Maje.ty's Coait-Guards are making use of them a+ d-y and, night glasses, in preference o ail others; they have also i:ecome in general usa by gentlemen. of the Army and Navy, and by sportsm en, gentlemen, game" keepers, and tourists. The most powerful and brilliant telescopes, poße.sing such extraordinary power that some► three and a-half inches, with an extra ast•onomical eye' piece /rill-show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the same telescope can be seen a per - Ben's countenance three-and-a -half miles distant and an object from 14 to 16 miles. All tie above can be had of larger and all sizes, with increasing powers, at:d are secured bi ker Majesty's Royal Letters Patent, Newly-invented Spectacle Lenses of the greatest transparent power. nil valuable advantage derived' from this invention is, that vision become - I preserved and strengthened; very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight at the most minute occu - eation—can see with these lenses of a much less magnifying power —and they do not require the fre quent change, to the dangerous effects of further portal' ful assistance. Persons can be suited at the most remote part of the world by sendin Y one of the glasses out of their sped tc'es in a letter, and stating the dist ince from the etc they can read t , mall print with it, and those who have not made use of Spectacles by sta in: their ago. Deafness.---it newly-invented instrument lot extreme cases of deafness. called the Sound Magn'fier, Organic Vibrator, and invisible Voice Conductor. It fits so into the ear as not to be in tb: least percept bl e; th e un pl easa nt sensa tio n o f s i ng i ng noise in the head is en ti re ly t emo 9 ed. It affords instant re lief to the deeest persons, and enables them to hear distinctly al church and at public assemblies. 39, Alhemarle•street, Picea* dilly—opposite the York Hotel. BIRTHS. 044 soy. On the 18th inst., at 46, Wilton-crescent, Mrs. Erie C' Smith. On the 17th inst., at Frampton Vicarage, Dorchesteri the wife of the Rev. John William Clarke. OF A DATAIITIER. On the 17th inst., the w if e o f Willi am Thee& Esi., of Campden Lodge, Campden-hill, Kensington. On the 17th inst., at Lansdowne Villas, Lansdowne road, Clapham, the wife of Mr. John G. S. Pilcher—twinl MARRIED. On the 15th inst., at St. James's, Paddington, Mag n us Forbes Morton Herbert, Esq., Ekon of H. H. R. 13 °" "0 Guard, and lat e Captain 4th Regt., to Henrietta , younge . r ". daughter of Sir R o b er t G unn i ng , B art . , of Horton, tharn ptonshire. a jor On the 15th in s t., a t St. L u k e ' s Ch urc h , Jersey, M 0 Philip Dickson, o f th e R oya l A rt ill ery, to C ons tanc Phipps, third daughter of Philip Champion Toker, gsq" of Doctors'-commons, London. DIED. On the 16th inst., a t B r i g ht on , the Rev.. Dr. Samu el Holland, precentor and prebendary of Chichester, roe ° of 13,2audeseret, Warwickshire, aged 85. On the 16th inst., at Millington, Sussex, James Dresve t e a 6 ' Esq., of Dallington, and the borough of Southwark, lig 72. ‘, 0 ' On the 16th inst., at Ch ape l- street, Bedford-row, Ch Miles, Esq., aged 53. On the 15th inst., a t B rown bi lls, near Barden:lt j obs Haywood, Esq. On the 17th inst., at 13, Clement's-inn, Mr. Th G°3° Hilder, aged 64. On the 17th inst. Mrs. Elizabeth Willoocke, o f 981 Goswell-street, aged 7. of On the 17th init., Lydia, the wife of Thomas Napier' Rye-lane, Peckham, aged 81. delights • On the 17th i ns t., at I s li ng t on , Rhoda, eldest dslig of the l a t e Wm. Brown, Esq., f Tichfield-street. LONDON: Printed and Published by MUR,DO 131 of No., 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, 1; 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savohiin the O w ': of Middlesex, Monday April 0, :857- • .-- - - - 3 1 the 101 nu of, eve ere, illg Ilaul the and char gate are ; add, allu ( gant thou th e les s bas,. Mer Dire Cana a col tho 1 imp( twee adjo: occu nolo; Com] man Prod arid that Bawl Gar( duri: deta tnen card for threl tur a pro \ of tl of ti harm is si Gert nals the Ivor] after mod Fair the Gro ordt take it v g othi taa 3 Ce n and eir e ter no l , 8,, e ilia . ] Tra offs oal th e '. ti ne IX.