The Sun. — London, England, 1857-02-28 00:00:00

T HEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE.— Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. acting Msnager, Mr. C. Mathews. Stage Manager, Mr. R Roxby. Scenic Beverley. The eminent Comedian, Mr. Charles Mathews, every evening. Great Success of the Grand Christmas Pantomime, the most magnificent ever produced on the English stage. THIS EVENING, her Majesty's Servants will perform the popular Comedy, A GAME OF SPECULATION. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, A. Younge, R. Roxby, Vincent, Tilbury, Templeton, G. Honey ; Miss 6f. Oliver, 2,1 r0 . Selby, Miss Barnes, and Miss E. Wadham. After which will be produced SEE, SAW, MARGERY DAW ; Or, Harlequin Holiday, and the Island of Ups and Downs. The reduced prices as follows, varying throughout the house to suit every one :—Galleries, 6d. and is. ; Second Circle of Boxes, ls. 6d. ; Pit, 2s. ; First Circle of Boxes, 2 s. 61; Dress Boxes, 35.; Stalls, Ss. ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d., IF. is., 11. 11s. 6d., and V. 25.! ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING, will be performed A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. After which, a new grand Christmas Pantomime, called ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP; or, Harlequin and the Genii of the Ring. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huliue ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; Co lumbine, Miss C. Adams. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven, with the successful new Comedy, in three acts, entitled, DOUBLE-FACED PEOPLE. Characters by Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Chippendale, Mr. Compton, Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Clark, Miss Reynolds, Mrs. Poynter, and Mrs. E. Fitz wir lam Followed by (11th time) a new drama, called A WICKED WIFE. After which (60th time) the new comic pantomime, entitled THE BABES IN THE WOOD, or Harlequin and the Cruel Uncle. The scenery of the opening story painted by Mr W. Callcott. The pantomime produced under the direction of M. Milano. Harlequin, M. Milano ; Columbine, Fanny Wright; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ; and Clown, Mr. Driver OYAL LYCEtM THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. C. Dillon. THIS EVENING, will be performed the new play. in five acts, by Westland Marston, Esq., entitled A LIFE'S RANSOM. Lord Revesrlale, Mr. C. Dillon ; Bancroft, Mr. Stuart ; Felicia Revesdale, Mrs. C. Dillon. After which, a new farce. entitled MY FRIEND FROM LEATHERHEAD. Mr. Toole, Miss Wilton, and Mrs. B. White. To be followed by CONRAD AND MEDORA; or, Harlequin Corsair and the Little Fairy at the Bottom of the Sea. The burlesque opening by W. Brough, Esq., founded upon the ballet of Lo Corsair, as produced at Her Majesty's Theatre. The harlequinade upon things in gene ral. The new and magnificent scenery painted by Mr. F. Fenton. Conrad (the Corsair) Miss Woolgar Birbarto (his lieutenant) Mr. J. L. Toole Medora Mrs. Charles Dillon Clowns Mr. H. Marshall The box-office open day, from 11 to 5, under the super atendence of Mr. Chatterton, jun. Carriages conveying parties 1.) the Private Boxes to set down at the State entrance in Burleigh-street. T HEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Les, , ee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed the popular drama of IRELAND AS IT IS. Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams. After which, A NIGHT AT NOTTING-HILL, in which Mr. Wright and Panl Bedford will appear. Followed by a new Piece de Caractere, entitled IN AND OUT OF PLACE. Mrs Barney Williams. To conclude with the new original comic drama, called BARNEY THE BARON. Barney O'Toole, Mr. Barney Williams. OYAL SURREY THEATRE, %) Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING, an orig;nal play, in three acts, entitled A BIRD IN THE HAND WORTH TWO IN THE BUSII. Roderick Praiseworthy, Mr. Shepherd. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE SUMMER QUEEN. Harlequin, Mr. F. (aver ; Clown, Mr. Buck ; Pantaloon, Mr. Bradbury; till Four Sprites, the Finis Fa. wily ; Columbines, Meidames Marie and Agnes. r HEATRE ROYAL, SADLER'S- WELLS. Under the Matngement of Mr. Phelps. VHS EVENING, will be performed HAMLET. The characters by Messrs. Pho!ps, H. Manton, T, C. Harris, L. Ball, A. Rayner, J. Ray, Haywell ; Mesdames Atkinson and Ebnrne. To conclude with THE SENTINEL. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEA / TRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. This Evming, the new drama, by Tom Taylor, Esq., called A STIEEP IN WOLF'S CLOTHING. A CONJUGAL LESSON, Lull Lby, Mr. F. Robs,n. Followed by the new farce, 1 y Bayle. Bernard, Esq., ellled A SPLENDID INVESTMENT. Commence at ha7f-lo.st Seven. STLEY'S ROYAL A iPETITIIFAME. Lessee and Mansker, Mr. W. C oo k e . Continued and unabated Success. This Evening, will be preented the theme of the most flattering culogiurn from the whole of the press, the operatic drlma of ROB ROY, with Equestrian Illustrations invented !iy Mr. Wm. Cooke, and with the original music. Rob Roy, Mr. James Holloway. After which, the Equestrian SCENES in the C:RCLE To coneluile with the equestrian comic pantomime of PAUL PRY ON HORSEBACK. Commetce at seven o'clock. Dress Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 35.; Private Boxes, front 1/., no charge for booking ; PA, 2s ; Gallery, is. ; Upper Gallery, 6tl. twx o ffice open from Eleven till Four, Stage Manager, Mr. %V. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. fIANTERBURY HALL, Westrainster-road.— i OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popnla , 7 Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, &c., viz.: Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss I3runell, Miss Summers, and Madame Marietta ; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. Jonghinans, R. Grover, T. Farrant, S. Jones. J. Barker, W. Melling. P. Corsi, Senor Antonio M. ale Solla, and E. L. Hime ; Masters Austin, Bennett, and Corti ; Me3srs. Sam Collins, E. Mackney, and C. J. Wilkins. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmoniuw, .T. Caulfield, jun.; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clock pre c'sely. Suppers, &e., until twelve o'clock, ;lIGfl WATER AT LONDON BRTDCIP. TriTg D. T , --31orn. 23 min. sfl'. 4 —Plvening 49 ml 2. aft. 4 1 1 4-MORRow—Morn. 8 win. aft. s—Evening 28 min.aft. 5 T iE WEATHER-am OFFICE, FEBRUARY 28. THIR3fOI4IITER, IN T3R SHADI. 50 -highest eines noon yesterday. 44 lowest this horning and during the nigh:. 55 -this dsy at noon. FA%nqrrr,P, 3056. WIND, S:W.—Light, wit's fine, mild weather. „:. 4 "salei fl/44:„J LON )ON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1867 The Adjourned Debate upon the Canton Diffi culty, briefly opened last evening by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman the member for Midhurst, was again adjourned until Monday on the motion of the Honourable and Learned Gentleman the member for Tavistock. The lawyers had the dis cussion yesterday almost entirely to themselves. And never, assuredly, were more extraordinary differences of opinion manifested within the walls of the Legislature. black, Bla c k was w hit e , an d w hit e accordingly as the "facts" of the case were examined through the colouring lens of poli tical predilection. The "Arrow" was a British vessel, beyond the faintest shadow of a doubt, according to the supporters of her MAJESTY'S Go vernment. The "Arrow" was undeniably no British vessel at all, according to the sympathisers with her MAJESTY'S Opposition. Consul PARKES was at one moment vilifiedfor his insolence and precipitation, ana at another eulogised for his moderation and forbear ance. Admiral SEYMOUR condemned by Some as cruel, and commended by others as humane. S ir JOHN BowitlNG, if we were to believe one autho rity, Was actuated solely by a petty ambition to make a sort of a triumphal entry into Canton, he ralded bymandarins and surrounded by tom-toms ! His Excellency, on the other hand, if we were to credit another authority, was influenced exclu sively by a, most laudable ambition, to extend as far as lie . po3sibly could, by legal means, the advantages of British Commerce and the blessings of European Civilisation. At one moment we were told with impressive ferv.air that the injuries already in flicted upon the Cantonese, by our war-vessels, was altogether so wanton and destructive that "humanity shuddered" at the mere remembrance. While shortly after wards the whole affair was pooh-poohed as the merest " flea bite" imaginable ! And so the pendulum of debate oseillated between the extremes o party opinion. The actual truth of the matter, as usual, lying pretty nearly midway between those extremes. The "Arrow," far example, being virtually British —having been chartered not long before as a Bri tish lorcha at Hong Kong—having sailed into the harbour of Canton under the British flag—having conveyed thither British merchandise. Consul PARKES, again, having acted, from first to last, neither tardily nor precipitately: but most judici ously, as it appears to us, upon the festina lente principle. At once demanding reparation for the public outrage to a banner hitherto never outraged in any part of the world with impunity—yet allowing more than a fortnight to elapse before the enforcement of that prompt demand by the guns of the British squadron. And so with the rest of these statements and counter statements : startling by their contrast, and irreconcileable by the sheer force of their exaggeration. As we have already observed, the lawyers had it mainly to themselves in yesterday's discussion. The adjourned debate being opened by the Learned Recorder of Hull, and again adjourned by the Chancellor of Chichester and Salisbury. The House being addressed intermediately by her MAJESTY'S Attorney. General—by the Lord-Advo cate of Scotland—and, from the front bench of the Opposition (and, therefore, as a matter of course, on "the other side"), by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, the member for Enniskillen. Sir Merriam BETH= spoke ably enough on the part of Ministers—challenged to give his opinion at the earnest behest of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, the Member for Midhurst. The Lord Advocate challenged to speak by no one, and acting solely upon the diclrate of his own conscience—pronounced his views still more ably : delivering, in point of fact to our thinking, incomparably the best speech yet delivered in behalf of the cause represented in this Chinese Difficulty by the Members of the Administration. The watchful presence of several distinguished menfbers of the House of Lords, sitting under the shadow of the Strangers' Gallery, did not fail to impart an additional zest to a debate which—be it here said with all deference to the Hop. and Learned Gentleman who yesterday opened the discussion—notwithstanding the conscientious in dependence of "some," is, unquestionably, t„) a very great extent, coloured by the flush of pas , sion, and Warped by the bias of party! Otherwise black would not appear so white to some—or white so black t) others. Alabaster glooming into ebony, and ebony blanching into alabaster—ac cording to the light of party or the eye of the partisan. Doubtless, on both sides of the House, many who think strongly upon this matter, think also conscientiously. ‘Ve are • ready at once, for example, to believe this, and to recognise this in the instance of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman last mentioned, more particularly when it is ob servable that the emphatic declaration of his in dependence was en forced in the presence and hearing of the leaders of his own party by a magnanimous tribute to thell . Chiefs of the confronting Government. But others are not by any means either thus candid, or, let us add at once, thus conscientious. Every one there cannot follow the vivida vis anim,i, either in recording his vote or in enhnciating his opinions. This, be it said, even of those who delude themselves into the belief that they aro independent members of the House, Or, AS Sir ERSKINE PERRY expressed it, by a ludicrous lapsus ling lice on Thursday evening, " Independent members of the Government." The bias of party—irre sistible though scarcely perceptible—guides by the sli ahno-t conceivable, unerringly guides the bowl of Politicil Opinion t) tie right or to the left of the goal of a Parliamentary Divi sion. And so—doubtless unconsciously to thew selves (with a few rare exceptions), will it be in regard to the division of AI )nday evening or ra ther of Tuesday morning. A Division neverthe less—be it remembered—affecting not so much the fate of an Administratism as the Honour of the British Crown and the glory of the British Con stitution. Although the contest on the precious Budga has been postponed, it has not by any means been abandoned. Ministers have gained one victory, but certainly under I:,y no means auspicious omens, or such as to afford reasonable expect stions of future triumphs. Their most efficient allies on the last will be arrayed against them on the next occasion, and every collision will take place under varying circumstances. The general character of Mr. DISRAELI'S motion was very favourable to his adversaries. It committed him to no specific reforms, and the whole tonour of his argument showed that he no longer recognised the distinc tion between permanent and precarious incomes for fiscal purposes. He also proved, beyond the possibility of dispute, that it would be utterly impossible to carry out the so-called GLADSTONE compact of 1853, or to altogether relinquish the Income Tax in 1860, or for many sul sequent years. Under these circumstances many professing fiscal reformers voted against his resolution, although prepared to attack the Bud get in detail on what they considered to be suit able opportunities. They did not, in truth, desire the overthrow of the PALMERSTON Cabinet, although greatly displeased with the financial scheme. There will, however, be no excuse when specific questions are brought under the consideration of Parlia ment. The independent members whose "most sweet voices" were uplifted in favour of the Gc vernment on a mere abstract proposition cannot disregard all their former professions when the more equitable apportionment of the Income Tax is demanded, or additional duties on tea and sugar are objected to. Ministers must then either yield, be defeated, or gain a doubtful vic• tory by the aid of their quond am opponents —_a victory far more dangerous to their own interests than the most decisive defeat they could sustain. The whole system of taxation requires eten: sive revi3ion. The people urgently demand that the sums to be collected should be fairly and equitably levied, so that every British subject should contribute to the liquidation of the national liabilities, and the maintenance of the national establishments, in proportion to his means and position. They do not by any means wish to evade any legitimate responsibility, but they bit terly complain of the undue advantages heretofore enjoyed by the favoured classes, and insist that the unjust and inequitable practice should be forthwith abolished. A si d eration the et ie factally l great parade has been made 01 the 16,000,0001. l e vi e d un d er the thereof m was Inco me Tax. B ur, without even taking into epractically levied d a considerableportion Schedul e D we ma y ry, u n d e r , tobacco, sixßaty. that more than 35,000,0001. arcle otf eba o general coosumpti-m, was; raised on viz., malt, spirits, Sugar , s are reason- utterly independent s 2 of an th d e I r v e in ve e : nue that render it highly advisable - that tLese va rious charges should be materially • • mitigated ; and it is perfectly notorious that from 50 to ~00 per cent. more than finds its way into the X.,..ctiequer is extracted from the pockets of the consumers, besidse occasioning the practice of adulteration, whieh is alike injurious to the morals of the deal ers and the health of their customers. That sys- tem, which prevents the complete development of our trade which must follow if the incontestable doctrines of Free Trade were carried to their legitimate conclusions which hinders England from becoming the commercial emporium of the world—is maintained solely in order that capi talists generally, landholders, fundholders, and all in possession of accumulated and realised property should escape with comparative impunity, while those deserving of the greatest encouragement— the very " thews and sinews" of the nation— should be ground down and oppressed to the very dust. The hinge on which the whole system vibrates is the iniquitous assessment of the Income Tax. Until that all-important problem is fairly solved we can hope for no fiscal reforms worth speaking of. There must be taxation in some shape. The exigencies of the Exchequer must be satisfied. If the Income Tax be altogether abolished we must adopt a retrogade policy, and raise indirectly the required amounts. There is no real difficulty in the Income-Tax question. As the Times—now the champion of the moneyocracy—long since declared, any actuary of moderate experience, any clerk deserving a salary that would subject him to the impost, could, in the course of a few hours, prepare a scheme that would be a vast improve ment on the existing law. The pretended diffi culty is merely an artful contrivance to enable the wealthy classes to evade a just liability, and to transfer the burden, which, in justice and equity, they ought to sustain, to the shoulders of their poorer brethren. The impost is rendered so odious and intolerable that there is a universal demand for its total abolition—whereas, if fairly and equitably assessed, it would be by far the best tax for the community, as it would be one of the most productive for the Exchequer. Let the Fiscal Reformers, then, exert them selves before the opportunity for its amendment is irretrievably lost. They well know that the anticipations as to its abolition inlB6o are utterly fallacious. They will still be asked to renew it for a further term. Sooner or later it must be modi fied, and there is no use in postponing the inevit able task. Sho'ill it he impossible to carry the improved law into practical operation during the present session, let the tux be only granted for a single year. If the people exert themselves earnestly and energetically, they will obtain speedy redress. But, on the other hand, if they appear apathetic or indifferent, their fiscal chains will be riveted more closely, and they will only have themselves to blame for the very unpleasant consequences that must ensue. The game is in their own hands ; they have only to play their cards properly to insure a decisive victory. Last Wednesday the Association for the Re peal of the Taxes on Knowledge held it 3 sixth annual meeting at St. Martin's Hal!. It will be remembered that on the 4th a deputation waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and had a Lin; conference with him, and that on the 13th, the night of the Financial Statement, he again snubbed in pretty cool style the advocates for the repeal of the duty on paper, and fire insurance, and for lower ing of the duties on foreign wine. The meeting on Wednesday was, therefore, Act 111. in the Farce, as it must yet be termed, of the Paper- Duty Repeal. The meeting appears to have chiefly used the arguments and topics employed by the deputation. The gentlemen composing it, made out a clear case that the duty very seriously interfered with the manufacture, and that it fell heavily on many persons who use paper in their trade, but with especial weight upon the authors and publishers of cheap books and of newspaper:, and most unfairly of all on persons who published ho:ks which had the misfortune not to be popu lar. Such unlucky manufacturers of int llectual commodities couldclaiin no drawback on the duty paid by them for the raw material which they could not sell. We are not in the secret of how far this last argument might have specially ap peal.,d to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's sy,n pathies. Some of tie facts mentioned by the deputation will be interesting to general readers. It seems that in the United States where there is no duty. on paper, the amount used is three times as much per head as that used in England, and that all kinds of materials, such as the excise duty and regulations prohibit here, are there fully employed. The sartples of brown paper made of flax, straw, old leather, Indian corn stalks, palm leaves, and damaged marsh hay were produced ; they were sold at prices belo w. the duty charged in England ! The natural consequence, too, is that the'manufae ture is so much improved that two persons could produce in America 100 reams in eight hours of a sheet exhibited to the Chancellor, of remarkable gloss and fineness. The reduction of the duty from 3d. per lb. to three-half pence and 3-10ths of a farthing per lb. had increased the production of paper from 70,654,587 lbs. in 1835 to 171,209,295 lbs. in 1853 ; but the manufacture is now stationary or rather receding. The addition of 3.loths of a farthing in 1839, too small a sum to charge tile o9nsumer, had been the ruin of a great number of small papermakers. If the duty were entirely repealed such a vast expansion of the trade was considered probable, by manufacturers, that the consumption .of taxed articles by the persons em ployed in the manufacture would go far to indem nify the Exchequer. It appears that many merchants pay heavily for packing paper. One firm was mentioned by one of the deputation which paid 700/. a-year, 3001. of it duty. The most interesting fact to us is, how ever, the bearing of the tax on the diffusion of knowledge. It is, we believe, precisely on its di f fusion that it presses most heavily. It may be of but trifling account in the price of a large book, that is if the work be successful. On cheap and educational publications, and on newspapers, it weighs very heavily. Mr. CHARLES KNIGHT, so well and honourably known as a publisher of books for the million, paid eighty thousand pounds for copyright and editorial labour, and in the same timefifty thousand pounds for paper duty. A daily paper of 20,000 circulation would pay 2,9401. annually for duty The Chancellor of the Ex chequer asked whether newspaper readers would pay less for their paper. The reply was, they would be certain to have either a better paper or a cheaper one. This, of course, we c•tn fully bear out. Where it is not worth while to in crease the size of a paper, the material, rcechi:- mica], and literacy improvements to be made in any journal, are always considerable, and the competition in these is always proportioned to the means at the manager's disposal. At the meeting the speakers had it, of course, all their own way. The repealers boasted, natu rally enough, of their triumph over the Adver- tisement and Stamp Daly. We question whether they would not have done better to act as the Free-traders did. They attacked the giant mono- poly, corn ; with its fall all other monopolies fell thickand fast. Had they carried the abolition of the Paper Duty first, the others could not have long survived. Now they have a deity to attack, of which, as they al.rays before alleged, the two for- 711 E SUN, VONDON, SATITIVDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 28, 18517 mer were partially destructive. The consequence is that the Paper Duty rose again last year, and they find the Chancellor of the Exchequer a greater enemy to them than before. THE PRINCE OF WALES. WINDSOR, FRIDAY. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has again been out with the royal harriers. The Prince, attended by his tutor, Mr. Gibbs, came from Buckingham Palace early on Thursday morning, traveling by the Great Western Railway from Paddington to Slough. His Royal Highness was here met by Col. Hood, Col. Sey mour, Capt. King, R.N., Mr. C. Davis, the royal hunts man, Mr. J. Nash, several of the officers of the Life and Foot Guards, and other gentlemen and yeomen of the neighbourhood. The Prince and party rode to the farm of Mr. J. Nash, of Langley, where a fine hare was soon started, and after a capital run killed in the neighbour hood of Stoke Park, the residence of Mr. Labouchere. Two other hares were also found, which afforded excel lent runs in the vicinity of Langley and Slough. It was I remarked that the Prince took some capital leaps, in a sportsman-like manner. The Prince left Slough at half past two o'clock, on his return to Buckingham Palace. The meet of the royal harriers to-morrow (Saturday), will be at Old Windsor. HAYMARKET THEATRE.—The Qeeen and Prince Al bert, accompanied by the Princess Royal, and attended by Lady Churchill, Major-General the Hon. C. Grey, and Lieut.-Colonel Ponsonby, honoured the Haymarket Theatre with their presence on Thursday evening. ADELPHI THEATRE.—Her Majesty and Prince Albert, with the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, honoured the Adelphi Theatre with their presence last evening. The royal suite consisted of Lady Churchill, Lord De Tabley, Lord George Lennox, Major-General the Hon. C. Grey, and Lieut.-Colonel Ponsonby. A lieutenant of the United States navy has invented an instrument which when applied to the keel of a vessel gives the depth of water near shore or upon shoals, with out the use of the lead, wherever the depth does not ex ceed two fathoms. A board of naval officers having re ported favourably of it, the invention was about to be applied to a government vessel. THREATENING LORD JOHN RUSSELL.—Mr. Selfe, the magistrate of the Thames Police court, yesterday, issued a warrant under the Lunacy Act, against a Mr. Bell, formerly a watchmaker, in Cornhill. The poor man laboured under the delusion that he had been grossly slandered by his lordship. From the evidence produced there was no doubt as to the insanity of the man. In consequence of the alleged scenes of debauchery resulting from the Greenwich Easter and Whitsuntide fairs a number of the inhabitants 4 the town have sent in a memorial to the Chief Commissioner of Police pray ing for their suppression. It is also the desire of " the inhabitants of the town" to exclude the Londoners from the park on Sunday, and have it kept as a private square for themselves. M. Sallee, arquebusier to the Emperor Napoleon, has invented a post office automaton, which takes up every letter as it is thrown into the box, places it under the stamp, where it receives the postmark and date, and throws it nut again for delivery to its destination. The process indicates the number of letters thus stamped. It is said that no less than 200 letters may be stamped jby this machine in one minute. The General Post-office has made a trial of the invention, which has turned out satisfactory, and it is now in treaty with M. Salles for machines to be furnished to all the principal postoffices throughout Franca. The illegibility of postmarks, so often complained of, will, it is said, be completely ob viated by the use of the automaton. WESTMINSTER BRIDGE.—On Wednesday evening a meeting of the inhabitants of estminster-road and its vicinity was held at the Vestry-hall, Kennington, upon the subject of Westminster-bridge, Mr. C. Hinton in j the chair. Mr. Wileinson moved, and Mr. Archbutt seconded, a resolution to the effect that the meeting viewed with the greatest apprehension any removal of Westminster bridge from Its present site,—a proceeding which, in their opinion, would cause the ruin of a large number of occupiers of houses in the borough of Lam beth, without conferring the slightest advantage upon the public. Mr. W. Williams, who took this view of the subject, expressed his surprise that Sir B. Hal, should have made any objection to the retention of the present site of the bridge after it had been approved try Sir C. Barry and Mr. Page. Several rate-payers ex pressed their dissatisfaction at the conduct of Sir B. Hall. The resolution was carried unanimously, and it was arranged that in addition to a petition to Parliament a representation of their wishes ehoull be made to Lord Palmerston. THE STRIKE OZ NAVVIES AT THE BIRKENHEAD DOCK WORKS.—LIVEILPOOL, Feb. 26.—A. meeting of the turn outs, about 500 in number, was hold at Birkenhead yes terday, at which it was stated that the object of the strike was to obtain an advance of 3.1. a day in their wages, making the sum 33., loam./ of 24. OA. They asserted that there 'vas no feeiing by the Irish labourer; against the employment of Englishmen. This morning Messrs. Thomson, the contractors, introduced about 400 labourers to supply the places of the turn -outs. They proceeded to the works about 1 o'clock this afternoon, but directly they commenc:d oper'aticns the turn-outs swept down upon them in all their strength, and drove the new men before them in every dire,cti,ne, violently assaulting those who stood their ground, and doing considerable damage to the wheelbarrows and other implements. The police force being inadequate to preserve the peace of the to ern, the magistrates have sent to Pre-ton for the military. METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.—AL the weekly meeting of the Metropolitan 13 tard of Woxks yeste:- day, Mr. J, Thwaites in the chair, a deputation from the Camberwell:vestry attended, for the purpose of objecting to any part of the 200,0001. borrowed by the Metropolitan Cornmiseioners of Sewers being charged upon that parish. Mr. Bodkin appeared in support of the objection, and, after some discus sion, a motion was submitted by Mr. Turner, that the Board was not at liberty to comply with the report of the deputation. To this proposal an amendment was submitted to the .effect that the decision of the Board should be postponed until the opinion of the -At torney and Solicitor General should be taken as to whe ther the Board had the power to adopt the prayer of the memorial. The amendment was rejected by 27 to 8, and the original motion was carried. The next mat ter on the paper was further to consider the financial statement to assess moneys on the several parts of the metropolis for defraying the expenses of the Board in the execution of the Metropcl.s Local Management Act, and direct the issuing receipts foi obtaining payment of the sums assessed. Objections were made to the discus sion of the subject at that time, and ultimately it was agreed that the consideration of the financial statement should be postponed ti'l Tuesday nex t. COURT OF COMMON COUNOlL._yesterday a Court of Common Council was held, at which various subjects were brought under consideration. In answer to a ques tion, Mr. Deputy Bower said the architect, Mr. Bunn ing, had laid before the Improvement Committee a plan for covering a portion of the vacant ground in 6t. Paul's churchyard. A letter was read from the Metropolitan Board of Works respecting the opening of Southwark bridge free of toll, and was referred to the Bridge-house Estates Cornmittese A report from the City Lands Committee, recommendingi mprovements at the Session House, Old Bailey, was adopted, and it was referred back to the committee to carry it into execution, in conjunc tion with the Court of Aldermen. A report respecting the drawback on coals was read and adopted. One-of the suggestions of the report is that the Chancellor t f the Exchkquer shall be consulted in order to ascertain his views respecting an amendment of the act relating to the subject. A deputation from the coal whippers of the port of London presented a petition praying the Court to institute an inquiry into their present deplorable condition and to devise a remedy for it. The petition was referred to the Coal and Corn and Finance Com mittee. Mr. Anderton gave notice of a motion, the object of which is to ascertain the value of several vacant sites of land within the city of London, which might be purchased for the erection of baths and washhouses. The Court voted 1051. towards the erection of a new school-house in Golien-lane, and 521. 10s. towards the six ragged schools in St. George the Martyr, South wark. REPRESENTATION OF GLASGOW.—GLASGOW, Thurs day.—The Sheriff, Sir Archibald Alison, has fixed Mon day for the nomination of a member to fill the seat vacant by the resignation of Mr. John M`Gregor. Mr. Walter Bu c h anan, a gentleman of very h i gh character and standin g as a merchant, and universally respected as a private c i t i zen, has, as formerly stated, agreed to come forward. His requisition has been signed by gen tlemen belonging to all sections of the Liberal party, as well as by a considerable number of Liberal Conserva tives. It appears, however, that the event is not likely to pass over without a contest. In an address published this morning Mr. James Merry has offered himself to the electors. He is a wealshy ironmasterp principally known as a patron of the turf ; but has neither education nor social BtatuB at all sufficient to justify his aspiring to be the successor of even John M‘Gregor. He has money enough, however, to enter the lists, and pltfcle enough to fight it out. ILs address is received with more dEri sion than respect. This afternoon Mr. Buchanan held his first meeting with the doctors in the Trade-hall, which was crowded to suffocation ; the Lord Provost in the choir. In the course of his address the candidate briefly declared his political principles, referring to the pror-inent part he had taken, whEn a young man, in the ,giu.tion for Parliamentary Reform, and also for the is peal of the corn laws, and the advancement of the free trade policy. He was ready to extend the franchise with the progress of education, and he gave a modified ad herence to the ballot, in so far as he thought a ithout being nurle nation L l, it might , districts of the cou n t ry where it was needed. In reference to Forb es M ackenzie ' s Act, which so much agith h he w ted Sco'ud, 1 be Extend E d to those as disposed to retain what was un doubtedly good in the measure, but at the same time would vote for a com m itt ee to jar:vire into its alleged oppressive operations. In reference to education he would willingly support such a measure as that introduced last session by the Lord Advocate. Mr. Buchanan was interrogated at the close of his address, but beyond stating that he would not vote for annual Parliaments and household suffrage nothing of moment was Elicited. On the motion of Mr. Stewart, the late Lord Provost, seconded by EL Crane Ewing, Mr. Buchanan was declared a fitting person to represent Glasgow in Parliament; after which the sieeqrg separated. THE ROYAL BRITISH BA AT K AND MR. UMPH_REY BRO WN, TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR, —My attention has been directed to a para graph in your publication of the 25th inst., in which Mr. Humphrey Brown is represented as having, at a meeting at Tewkesbury, on Tuesday last, used the following language, as applied to me. Mr. Coleman had "put forth to the world that he owed the bank a sum of 70,0001., that that statement had been put forward by Mr. Coleman for the most dastardly purpose, that of creating in the mind of the public a feeling that he, Mr. Coleman, was the man to bring people to book. It was a disgrace to Mr. Coleman, and was a downright lie." I pass by the consideration of this language, and shall direct myself to the facts in which alone the public are interested. It is perfectly true that I stated at the meeting of the shareholders of the Royal British Bank, held at the London Tavern, on the 20th day of September last, that Mr. Brown was indebted in a sum of 70,0001. The amounts standing to his debit on the day that the bank stopped payment being as follows : £ e. d. Drawing account 37,997 18 3 Discount ditto Past due bills 7,569 6 2 Advances Together 75,31311 2 In addition to which there was interest from the 30th June to the sth September. The amount stated by me was, therefore, considerably less than the actual balances of the books. Except the above past due bills for 7,5601. 6s 2d. the only securities held by the bank were the fol lowing ten ships mortgaged to them by Mr. Brown. : The Rory Brown „ Wasp „ Bride „ Hero 432 „ „ Madonna 256 „ „ Helen Lindsay „ Ocean Wave „ Hornet 1,285 „ „ Ambrosine 457 „ „ Magdalena Also an equitable charge on BUII.IO freehold property stated to be worth 1,0001. Five of these ships proved valueless to the bank under the following circumstances :, The whole of the ships were mortgaged to the bank iu 1854. The fist five, however, being Gloucester ships, I was informed that Mr. Brown had requested that no registry of the mortga es should be made there, as it would injure his posi tion, and that ho had promised that on their re turn from their then voyages he would have them registered in London, when the mortgages could be entered. Mr. Brown, however, subsequently again mort gaged the three first of these ships to their full value,' and to other parties, to the prejudice of the bank ; he sold the two next without the consent or knowledge of the bank, and also drew against the freight of the Ambrosine ; and I was assured that no part of these proceeds had been paid to the bank, and that the directors did not discover these facts till August, 1856, when they learnt that the secu rities which they had up to a few days before con sirlered to be of the value of 50,0J01., had by these acts dwindled down to about one-half. With these facts and figures I leave the public to judge of the truth of my statement ; and as to the language applied to me personally, I can with much pride allow it to pass with that contempt it deserves. Apologising for the length of this communication, I am, Sir, yours, &c., J. E. COLEMAN, 36, Coleman-street, Feb. 27, 1857. THE MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY, The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Tagus, Capt. E. Christian, sailed to-day with the mails for Vigo, Opoito, Lisbon, Cadiz, and Gibral tar, 31 passengers (24 first-class, 6 second, and 1 deck), bar gold value 53,1421., and 1,5001. in sove reigns for Cadiz, and a general cargo. Among the passengers are the Count and. Countess Lavradio, dse. The Tagus also tikes out Captain Tregear, Messrs. Gaby and Fox (two of the company's offi cers), Mr. Cerinac (the company's superintendent shipwright), Mr. Abbinett (the diver), and 33 men, with a quantity of requisite gear to render assist ance to the steamer Madrid on the rocks off Vigo. Nothing further is known here as to that vessel's couditon. The next succeeding steamer for the P.mincoi!fir pentl, on -Elio 7th proximo, will bo the Alhambra. The Indus, Captain G. 13, ocks, is pre wing to take out the India and China mils on the 4th, arid the Ripon, Capt. R. W. Evans, with the homeward mails from that quarter, is due on the same day. The Royal Mail Company's steamer Atrato, Capt. Wooley, leaves on the 2d with the West India, Mexican, and Pacific mails, and the Avon, Capt. Revett, on the 9th, with the usual mails for Br azils and the River Plate. The Orinoco, Capt. Sawyer, is due on the Ist, with the next homeward West India and Pacific mails, but is not expected tefore the 3d. The Tamar, Capt. Jellicoe, with the Brazilian ma il s , i s not looked for till towards 111., close of the month, having been de layed at Vigo two or three weeks on her outward passage by an accident to her machinery. SACRED HARMONIC SOCIErY. Mr. Costa's oratorio of " Eli " was again per formed by this society last night, at Exeter-hall. This talented and successful work has already acriieved a reputation, and its merits were attested by the crowds who assembled to hear it last even ing. Mr. Costa himself was the conductor, and the orchestra was as usual very efficient. Madame Rudersdorff and Miss Dolby task the parts of Hannah and Samuel, and d'stinguished themselves very highly. Madame Rudersdorff, who took the soprano part, was very successful in the air, " I will extol thee." and Miss Dolby rendered the music allotted to Samuel with her usual abi lity and expression. It had been antici pated that Mr. Sims Reeves would have been prevented from attending by illness, but ho did appear, and, not with , tanding the rules of the society, was much applauded in the air ‘ * PhiliAines, hark !" This passage, which is the most striking i n th e oratorio, produced its usual effect—the chorus catching up the war cry, and the admirable adaptation of the instruments are very effective. Signor Belletti took the arduous part of Eli, and acquitted himself with credit. Mr. Mon tent Smith and Mr. Thomas, two promising singers, who have lately appeared at this Society's perform ances, undertook the minor parts. The hall was crowded in every part, and the audience apparently highly gratified. The " Creation" will be the next oratorio given by this Society, and will be performed on the 13th of March. MR. ALBERT SMITH.—The " Ascentrof Mont Blanc,". which had been interrupted of late by a severe domestic affliction in the family of this most popular of " enter tainers," was on Thursday night resumed with all the éclat that usually belongs to it. THE PEOPLE'S MONDAY EVENING CONOERTS.—The Lord Mayor has kindly forwarded, through Mr. Under- Sheriff Anderton, a donation of 51., in a id o f t h e F und now being raised for defraying the expenses incurred in establishing the Cheap Concerts for the People at St. Martin's Hall. His lordship, with several of his friends, recently attended ono of these popular concerts, and was so highly pleased with the result, that, in compliance with the express wishes of the managing committee, he promised, at the earliest opportunity, to pay another visit, with the Lady Mayoress, and, he hoped, the I Sheriffs and their ladies. THE BANK CHARTER ACT.—Yesterday an important return in reference to the Bank Charter Act was issued, showing the operations of "banks of issue." The names of 47 banks are given which had ceased to issue their own notes prior to the order in council, according to the provisions of the act.7th and Bth Viet., c. 32. The amount of the authorised circulation of the banks w as 712,6231. On the 13th of December, 1855, the amount of Bank of England notes issued under the order in for replacing council, the amount of circul a ti on with. drawn by banks of issue up to that date, was 475,000/., since which date no further issue had been made. Fur ther, it is shown that seven banks have ceased to i sue their own notes since the order in council, and they were authorised to have a circulation of 111,0201. ACCIDENT AT A BREWERY, RATCLllT.—Yesterday morning, between 9 and 10 o'clock, a shocking accident occurred at the premises of Messrs. Walker and Sons, I llo,phin.Brewerv, Broad street, RAW if, to a man named R4ger Spauswick, aged 45 y ears. H e was standing on I the side of a copper containing a large quantity of boil ing liquor, when he slipped and fell in, and was scalded in a most fearful manner. Ile was removed to the Lc:IL- I don Hospiy, where Mr. Jenkins, the house surgeon, nmelered every assistance to alleviate the poor fellow's sufferings. He lies in a dangerous state. THE VICTORIA CROSS.-I‘fr. C. F. Hancock, of Bru toi.--frreat, has been intrusted with the manufacture of the Vict,ria Cross for distribution among the officers and privates of her Majesty's soldiers who distinguished them selves for their valour in the late Crimean war. The Cross, which is of the order " Victoria, instituted and created 29th January, 1856," is manufactured from the metal of Russian guns captured at Sebastopol. It is of the Maltese pattern, and bears the inscription, " For valour," the escroll being the Royal Ardis. It is to be Worn by the navy with a, blue ribbon, and by the army with are I. In execition it is neat, and will form for the distinguished wearers a pleasing souvenir of their ' toils and perils that are past. The decoration carries : with it a pe r , s i on o f 101 . a year. 1 TFST f4l LA I • CHINA. PARIS, FEB. 27. Lettera from Macao, of the 10th of January, ,state that the Emperor of China had just placed in a state of siege the five ports of the Empire open to Europeans. The Paris correspondent of the Times (second edition) says : " The French and Turkish Ministers at Teheran have received instructions to support England in the present difference with Persia. The former, in particular, has, I understand, been charged by his Government to urge on the Shah the necessity of ratifying the treaty which has been negotiated in Paris, and the draft of which has been submitted to the English Go vernment, and otherwise to co-operate to the ut most of his power towards the satisfactory solu tion of the question. If Russian influence be not uppermost when the treaty is received at Tehe ran it will be ratified ; if otherwise, the chances are, as I have already mentioned, against us. In the meantime it is stated that an armistice has been agreed on between the officers commanding the British troops in Persia and the Persian forces. The armistice will be in force for three months, and will date from the Ist of March. Three months would be about the time for the treaty to reach Teheran, and an„answer to be received. Having alluded to the convention said to have been concluded between Russia and Persia on the 18th of January, I may again notice the fact, which has not been denied, of the visit of a general of en gineers, accompanied by other officers of the same arm, to the country about Mount Ararat and the pass of Bayazid, and of their having examined and taken plans of it, no doubt with a view to the erec tion of forts. The object, as averred, was simple curi osity or harmless study of topography —as harmless, no doubt, as the archaeological visitrof the Russian officers to Athens before the war broke out, when King Otho was ordered to be ready. "It is announced in the Patric that the Russian Government has recently despatched a memo randum to the Russian diplomatic agents in foreign countries, in which the union of the Danubian pro vinces is said to be as natural as it is desirable, inasmuch as the population of the two Principali ties are the same by descent, by religion, and by language, and that their union cannot by any means be prejudi!_iat to European interests. " The Neuchatel affair is not improving, and, from what we can learn, all the parties concerned are in a very bad humour with each other. The Emperor Napoleon cannot but feel mortified at being duped by the King of Prussia, . . . whose word no man relies on ; `Who seldom says a foolish thing, and never does a wise one.' "His Imperial Highness finds he has gone too far in lecturing the poor Swiss, as he took the liberty of doing when he thought he had' the King of Prussia all to himself, and in pledging himself to the Swiss that all would be right. He finds now that all is not right. Then the King of Prussia is angry that Dr. Kern should have pro claimed in all tha 'cabarets' of the Confederation that the Emperor of the French showed him his l Hyatt) and confidential l e tt erz , i n w hi c h th e de scendant of the Great Frederick was understood to pledge his word that if the prisoners were set free renunciation would follow. These effusions were of course most amicable, a n d no t a little :? senti mental, and they bore the impress (so at all events we are told) of being composed in those moments when the Royal heart is most expansive. Then again the Federal Government is annoyed that the hopes it held out to the Cantons are not yet realised ; the Cantons are indignant that they are not realised, and feel that they have been duped; and poor Dr. Kern, conscious of having acted with much indiscretion, and of meriting the charges of overweening vanity, if not of more serious faults, is worried to death by reproaches, to some of which he has certainly laid him self open. Russia has not named her Plenipoten tiary ; until that is done no day can be fixed for the opening of the Conferences, and people here begin to suspect that there is an understanding on this point between Berlin and St. Petersburg. The King is also vexed that the Royalistsshould, before they were liberated, have signed a declaration that, on their restoration to their country, they would abide by the laws of the Canton of Neu chatel ; and, as might be expected, his Majesty profits by every circumstance to avoid fulfilling his promise —or what was entirely under stood as a promise. The Emperor of the French is much to blame in this,affair; the moment the pri soners were liberated he should, without any delay,' have summoned the King of Prussia to keep his word. He showed bad taste and no small ingrati tude towards the Swiss in the beginning ; the best way of redeeming his error was to have compelled bis prevaricating brother' to perform his part of the implied bargain." The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post (second edition) says : " An exchange of despatches has lately taken place between the Cabinets of Vienna and Turin of a somewhat serious nature. M. Buol is understood to have protested against the encouragement which Piedmont offers to the national cause of Italy. The reply of M. Cavour is said to be dignified and loyal. The correspondence is reported to have been submitted to the Governments of England and France, The Austrian Cabinet has found, I hear, little sympathy in Paris, 'whilst at th e same time her Majesty's advisers have not, by any Means, encouraged the threatening language of Austria. The relations between Austria and Pied mont are not likely to improve. The former Power seeks to bully the Sardinians, and they are not in a position to accept insult." FRANCE. The following telegraphic despatches have been received : TRIESTE, 26TH.—Intelligence from Constanti nople has been received to the 20th. The commis sion for organising the Turkish gendarmerie had been nominated. The English fleet was still at Bujukdere. Two intendants had been arrested at Constantinople for being concerned in a c onsider : . able robb er y f rom th e t reasur y of the Sultan. The Hungarian Mehemet Bey had accepted a high com mand among the Circassiaus ; and 400 Pohs who had bel onge d t o th e legion had left for Circassia. The Russian flotilla in the Caspian Sea was, it was said, to land 2,500 men at .A,strabad. Letters from Athens to the 21st announce that a Greek student ' was found concealed with arms on his person in King Otho's cabinet and arrested. He wag de clared to be insane." 4 ' TRIESTE, 26TH, EVENINO —Advices from Bom bay to the 2d state that Mr. Murray had a rr i ved at Bushire, and that the English were establishing i their head-quarters at Bassora." " MARSEILLES, 26111.—News ha s been received of ed from Palermo to the 21 st. Theoffi le c a ia ci l jour nal er Sicily states that Spinozza, second tivegla's movement, and several other fugitives, were is; were arrested by the assistance of the peasants. Letters from Naples to the 23d gate that the ut rnrlst tranquillity prevailed there." " TURIN, 26TH.—The Grand Duke Constantin© arrived here to-day." BOURSE, Feb. 27.—The following were the last quotations : Cash. fr. c. 4i per Cents 3 per Cent 5..........- 69 75 New Loan — Bank! Shares 4,200 Roman ..... Credit Mobilier 1,415 Austrian Belgian Fives 99 - Spanish Threes Piedmontese (5) 9O 75 Home Debt RAILWAYS —FOR CASH. fr. C. fr c Orleans 1,415 Western - 820 Northern 970 Strasburg Lyons 1,437 50 New Ditto 765 Mediterranean 1,825 Grand Central Lyons Geneva Cette End of Month. —fr. —c. 69 85 AUSTRIA. The Emperor of Austria visited several interest ing monuments of Milan on the 23d, and among others the Church of San Carlo, lately decorated with two fine subjects executed in stained glass by the Chevalier Bagatti-Valsecchi. His Majesty then honoured the studio of the sculptor Magni with a visit, when he admired some of the latest works of that artist. Here M. Colla, a scene-painter of much merit, laid the plan of a new cemetery for the city of Milan before the Emperor. The cemetery, as as far as we may judge by description, is con ceived much in the taste of the Cemetery of Pere-Lachaise, and it is proposed to select a space outside the town for it, between the Porta Comasina and the Porta Nuova. His Majesty then visited the Mint, a building dating from the teign of King Desiderius (757). Here a medal was struck in his presence, commemorating the Imperial visit to Milan. The next place the Emperor honoured with his presence was the Civic Museum, where he particularly examined the collection of Subalpine fossil shells, which is highly interesting. His Ma jesty afterwards returned to the palace. A letter from Vienna states that M. de Bruck, Minister of Finance, had arrived in that city on his return from Italy. PRUSSIA. A letter from Frankfort, of the 24th, states that the marriage of Mlle. de Prints-Truenfeld, niece of the Count de Buol, to the Baron de Majthenyi, a Hungarian nobleman, was celebrated on the pre vious day at the chapel of the Austrian legation. Count de Rechberg, the Austrian envoy, president of the Germanic Diet, and General de Schmerling, president of the Federal Military Committee, acted as witnesses to the bride. There wore also present all the staff of the Austrian legation in full uniform, several members of the Diet and the diplomatic corps, and other persons of distinction. The Prussian Correspondence of Berlin says : "It is untrue that M. de Wildenbusch, Prussian Ambassador to Constantinople, has been recalled, as stated by some journals. That diplomatist h9.s merely obtained temporary leave of absence to visit this capital." The - Berlin Chamber of Deputies terminated the general debate on the divorce bill on the 25th. Att. 1 was then adopted in these terms : " Amongst the causes of divorce hitherto admitted, the following shall ce ase t o ex i s t-1 , reciprocal consent ; 2, incompatibility of temper ; 3, improper intercourse, when on:y suspected ; 4, insufficient proof of exemplary conduct of a wife separated from her husband." This decision abrogates Art. 687 of the general law of the country. A letter from Berlin of the 23d, in the Cologne Gazette, says :—" We are assured that the affair of Neuchatel has taken a , favourable turn during the last few days. Instructions for the ambassador at Paris, Count de Hatzfeldt, are to be sent off in a few days, and it is said that they are of such a nature as to leave no doubt of the early conclusion of the affair." According to letters from Hamburg, in the New Prussian Gazette, it appears that the last ac counts given of the proceedings of the Schleswig Diet went too far, in saying that they had de cided that the German language should be the one generally u - ied. What really took place was the adoption of a proposition for an address to the King, praying his Majesty to interfere in favour of instruction in the German language. His proposition was adopted after a very stormy discussion, which lasted not less than seven hours. The session of the States of Schleswig has been closed, but before separating it rejected the propo sition of the Government, relative to the levying of the taxes for the years 1856-57 and 1857-58. It was on the occasion of this rejection that the Royal Commissioner declared that such conduct was a violation of the constitution, and rendered the majority responsible for the consequences which may result from it. NEW SOUTH WALES. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. PLYMO UTH, SATURDAY MORNING. The Maid of Judah, Captain Merchant, which left Sydney for London November 27, was off this port last night, and has landed several passengers and a mail, consisting of 30 bags, from Sydney and New Zealand. She has 6,000 ounces of gold and a large quantity of colonial produce. Gold averages 3/. 16s. 6d. per oz. The season was bad, but the produce is increasing. The total amount brought by the western, southern, and northern escorts from January 1 to November 22 was 109,511 oz. Wool was coming down slowly, in consequence of the bad condition of the roads. A great rise has taken place in shares of the Bank of New South Wales and the News- South Wales Marine Assurance shares. The former have advanced 5/. or 25 per cent., and the latter 1/. per share or 50 per cent. on the paid-up capital. The Vocalist was to leave for London, Nov. 13th ; the Wooloomooloo, Dec. 10th ; the Ellen borough and the Dunbar, Dec. 20th ; and the Nim roud, early in January. Her Majesty's ships Juno and Herald were at Sydney. The Maid of Judah left Sydney November 27th, rounded the Horn December 27th, and crossed the Equator Jan. 25th. She experienced strong and constant north-east winds from 30 deg. N. to the Channel, The following vesels were signalled :—Dec. 5, lat. 44.5 S., lon. 1.59 E., H.M.S. Electra, from Melbourne, for England ; Jan. 22, lat. 40 S., lon. 26 W., the Migrator, from London, for Ceylon, and the Bougers, merchantman ; Feb. 7, lat. 33 N., lon. 46 W., the Serina, and the French bark Lucie • Feb. 12, lat. 37.10 N., lon. 41.5 W ., rounde d ship Rover's Bride, of St. John's, New Brunswick, timber-laden, water-logged, and abandoned ; hull apparently in good order, bulwarks carried away, deck-house washed down, main hatches open, boats gone, and one anchor on forecastle ; topmast gone and foreyards in the slings, main and mizen yards aloft, mainmast head broken off by the rigging. This fine-looking ship had been but recently aban doned. There were no barnacles or sea grass of any kind on the vessel ; she is about 900 tons, and right in the track of homeward-bound vessels. LITERATURE. Revelations of Prison Life ; with an \ Enquiry into' Prison Discipline and Secondary Punishments. By George Laval Chesterton, Twenty-five years Governor of the House of Correction, at Cold Bath Fields. Hurst and Blackett. A third and revised edition of an exceedingly interesting work, reviewed a few months back in the columns of The Sun, a work which fur.. nishes entertainment to the mere lover of excite itlicadtihtsotehirne,ca ) ment, materials to the novelist and the romancist, and useful information, together with practi cal suggestions, to the prison reformer, and philanthropist. A work to be read by all, and from which many pr.-gnant morals may readily be eliminated. The author pronounces strongly in however, made favour pages. oa ng . e s The of f lva i t chargeahhs e i tl pelthatamn r o o . of incompleteness, Pla t e h na e rms C i ose i n t e y stwus s owus i no refutation, e. P ear - t m ed to i e n on t t h e es m o . bi p bb vo l uy e a ul i t 1 : : t at et all rme events e t i n :: , soang organised the s n t a r a n r Yd' of the • • appropriate prison la cr . criminal by provision for the protectio lease of the culprit on the n ex o p f i makes .no adequate rsao.tic.otentyofonhitshteerrine of imprisonment , The author evidently expresses his firm convictio 'KJ n at the perman en t re f orma ti on of a lar ge class o f conv i cts in this country is not t o b e h o op e e d have for. . ta k e o The to classde depredation referred edationais te being all those h a means of livelihood, and Lave been long habitu ated t o a the wretched fascinations and flagitious practices incidental to such a career (pp. 219). The - case of " nine-tenths" of this class he pro nounces " u'terly hopeless." This is remark able, considering the quarter from which it emanates ; Mr. Chesterton, though a strict disci plinarian, having shown himself throughout his prolonged career, by no means one of those who have lost all hope of the reformation of depraved humanity, but rather a believer in the doctrine that the worst has some good in him. SIR Join AVNEILL. —We are authorised to state that the hon. baronet who presides over tho Poor-law Board, and who has won golden opinions by his inquiry in the Crimea, declines, from various causes, to repre sent Glasgow, or any other constituency, in Parlia ment.—Glasgow Mail.