The Sun. — London, England, 1857-03-14 00:00:00

GUILDHALL MEETING.—The unmistake able tr;kens of diAapprobat ion from the various speakers, urder the chairmanship of the new Lord May , r (Finnis), disconcerted all from the moment of his opening the business, e'en to the conclusion of the reading of its objects to the noisy assemblage, soon became apparent by the fid getty proceedings of the chairman. To keep order Finnis left his seat in charge of one of the bankers, and took np a po sition in advance of the platform, by the speakers. This un thought for movement placed "his lordship's" official seati a charge of his deputy, who from inadvertency, and fear of losing the post, quitted his station. Whence occurred a singular /surprise to the assembled multitude, namely, on the vote of thanks to the chairman being duly proposed and seconded, a scene something like the ghost in HAMLET eusued, When—up rose as of " itself," to return thanks from the /magisterial chair, on behalf of Mr. OSBORNE'S allusion to the colonies, the American Indian Chief, PETER BASQL-ET, in his official chain and medal. ,He stated, in good English, that his being set up by Palmerston, Aberdeen, and Derby as the spirit of Peel and Webster's Income-tax Law of 1842, under the ASHBURTON Commission—was none of his seeking. That as the Parliament of Britain, under the Congress of Vienna, had taxed all the colonies of North and South America, he became, through election, the soul-personification of the In dian and British fellow-citizenship, and although a sufferer now aix years of civil " bear-baiting" in England, he identi fied before them (under Captain ACRERLEY'S providential maintenance) the bearer of THIS Crown symbol of the city safetyship and living-representative 15 years of the 1842 commission for the A B C liberties of the natives of the two earthly continents of Asiatic-europe and America, as the Murraos doctrine for universal colonisation, via Anglo- Russia's Behring Straits. Peter B.'s case is to be seen in the Shipping Gazette of Thursday, 12th March, 1857. " Thus far" iv FINIS. T HEATRE ROYAL, DRUM LANE.— Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. Acting Mlnager, Mr. C. Mathews. Stage Manager, Mr. R Roxby. Scenic Artist, Mr. W. Beverley. Last Five Nights of the present Season. The eminent Comedian, Mr. Charles Mathews, every evening and Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, Last 5 Nights of the Grand Christmas Pantomime, the mast magnificent ever produced on the English stage. THIS EVENING, her Msjesty's Servants will perform the popular Comedy, A CURE FOR THE HEARTACHE. Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, Keeley, Vincent, Til. bury, Templeton, Carter, Walton ; Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss Cleveland, and Miss If. Oliver. After which will be produced SEE, SAW, MARGERY DAVir; - - - 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 ls. ; Second Circle of Boxes, ls. 6d . ; Pit, 2s. ; First Circle of Boxes, 2a. 6d. ; Dross Boxes, 3s. ; Stalls, is. ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d., 11,, ls., li. lls. 6d., and 2/. 2s. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, THIS EVENING, will be performed Shakespere's tragedy of KING RICHARD THE SECOND. King Richard 11., Mr. C. K an ; Queen, Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by MUSIC HATH CHARMS. R OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. C. Dillon. THIS EVENING, VIRGINIUS. Virginius, Mr. Charles Dillon ; Virginia, Mrs. C. Diilon. Followed by the gorgeous burlesque of CONRAD AND MEDORA. Miss Woolgar, Mr. J. L. Toole, dre. After which, a new farce, entitled MY FRIEND FROM LEATHERHEAD. Mr. Toole, Miss Wilton, and Mrs. B. White. The box-office open daily, from 11 to 5, under the super itendence of Mr. Chatterton, Carriages conveying parties to the Private Boxes to se down at the State entrance in Burleigh-street. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET. 11 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. will ism. After which, A WICKED WIFE. _ __ _ _ Followed by LEND ME FIVE SHILLINGS. To conclude with Moncrieff s conic drama of THE IRRESISTIBLES, THEATRE ROYAL, A DEL PHI. Lessee—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 Paal 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 BARNET THE BARON. Barney O'Toole, Mr. Barney ROYAL SURREY THEATRE, Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Crsswick. THIS EVENING, a new drama. entitled FRAUD AND ITS VICTI NIS. Messrs. Creswick, Shepherd. &c. After which, an original farce, entitled, THE SERIOUS YOUTH. To conclude with LES ARTISTES RIVAUX. Mr. F. Glover, Mr. Tapping, &c. THEATRE ROYAL, SADLER'S-WELLS. Under the Management of Mr. Phelps. minus EVENING, OTFIELLO. Othello, Mr. Phelps; Desdemona, Miss M. Eburne. To coucludl with THE HANDSO3IE HUSBAND. TRAND THEAT RE. —ll/14n %ger, M c. T. Payne.—Thii Evening will be per formed THE LAMPLIGHTER. After which, THE DEATH OF EVA, in which the Howard Family will appear. Followed by THE BLUE :JACKETS: To conclude with MAID OR WIFE. Commence at Seven. Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, Is. ; Gallery, 6d. R OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. ' THIS EVENING, (a new farce, called THIEVES ! THIEVES I ! Messrs. F. Robson, G. Vining, &c. Th• new drama, by Torn Taylor, Esq., A SHEEP IN WOLF'S CLOTHING. Followed by the new farce, by Bayle Bernard, Esq., called A SPLENDID INVESTMENT. And A CONJUGAL LESSON. Lullaby, Mr. F. Robson. Commence at half-past Seven. 4 STLEY'S ROYAL AMP MTH E ATRE. L 1 Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke. TUTS EVENING (first time) Shakepere's Play of KING HENRY THE FOURTH first Part), with equestrian illus trations invented by Mr. Wm. Cooke. Hotsplr, Mr. James Holloway. After which, the SCENES in the CIRCLE To conclude with a ditplay of Equestrian SKILL and SCIENCE. Commence at seven o'clock. Dress rirres, 4s. ; Upper Boxes 3s. • Private Boxes, from U., no charge for booking ; ; Gallery, Is. ; Upper Gallery, 6d. Rox-oflice open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. CANTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—Tho follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all the popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Duets, &c., via.: Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunell, Miss Summers, and Madame Marietta ; Mr. J Caulfield, Herr F. Jonghtnans, 'R. Grover, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling. P. Corni. Senor Antoaio M. de Sella, and E. L . Hime ; Masters Austin, Poanett, and Corri; Messrs. Sam Collins, E. Mackney, and C. J. Wilkins, Pianoforte, Mr. CJcil Hicks; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun.; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Seven o'clockre . sely. Suppers, tee., u n til t welve o ' clock. p IfIGFI WATER AT LONDON BRID4r.t.. THIS DAT—Mora. 6 min. aft. 4 —Evening 20 mid. mi.. 4 ro-Afosno4—torn. 33 min. aft. 4—Evening 43 raj, aft. 4 TiiE WEA.TEIER Orrrom, MIME( it. THIRMOMETER, IN Trill STI&DE. 48 —highest sines noon yesterday. 44 —lowest this morning and during the night. 66 —this day at noon. BAROVICTIEB, 29'17—a great fall. WIND, W.S.W.—Fresh, with occasional sunshine, and heavy passing clouds. It was quite stormy during the night, with rain. ~ ~~ ,§:1 1 t11, • LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1867 ......._. A distinguished. state____ sman and administrator, & politician skilled in diplomacy, a patrician in the very fullness and strength of his mid-career— .7.ofEs BRUCE, Earl of ELGIN —has just been selected b y ministers to Ci the i mport int and responsible office of our Negotiator with the Chi nese Government. It is a judicious appoiatment. All things con sidered, we believe the news of this app o i ntment the majority of the will be hailed by people throughout the country with unalloyed and un affected satisfaction. Lord ELGIN has a name o f popularity am o n g his fellow-citizens. He has never yet damaged his reputation by a blunder. A wonderful avowal to make in regard to any public man nowadays ! His energetic and yet eminently conciliatory administration of affairs in Canada, won for him the applause of two Ministers, the good-will of the whole community, and the conspicuous approbation of his SOVE REIGN. Since his return homewards from his great Colonial Governorship, he has lived for the most part in comparative seclusion--vigilantly observant, no doubt, of public events generally, but refraining, in the majority of instances, from any direct participation in them ) even as a sena for deliberating upon them in the upper branch of the Legislature. Whenever Lord ELGIN has spoken, however, during this interval of compara tive repose and privacy, he has invariably, to our recollection, spoken rather, as it were, with the calm and equally-poised judgment of a patriot than with the passion or pique of a mere politi cal partisan. Now that he is once more induced to emerge into public life, he does so, conse quently, without any diminution whatever to his prestige—on the contrary, be it said, with that appreciable increase to his influence, which naturally enough accrues from the mere circumstance of a temporary and dignified withdrawal from the political arena, after the honourable completion of a series of distinguished and protracted public services. It is now eleven years since the date of his appointment as Governor-General of Canada. Nevertheless he is at present but in the forty-sixth year of his age— the noble earl having been only thirty-five at the period of his departure for the opposite shores of the Atlantic, as the representative of his SOVE REIGN in the Two Canadas. He is, therefore, as we have said, in the prime of his life, in the full ness of all his powers—equally removed, we may believe, from the rashness incident to youth, and from the timidity not unusually the concomitant of old age. The very man apparently desired by all parties under the existing emergency. A man with large and wholesome experience. A man with already well-proved sagacity and determina tion. Accustomed to the responsibility devolving upon one of her MAJESTY'S representatives. Habituated to think with promptitude, and to act with vigour at a distance remote from the central authority. Familiar with the onerous and delicate duties of a plenipotentiary. Un biased, as much as one could reasonably expect an English Statesman to be, by mere considerations of Party. Inspired by a love of country. Animated by a jealous regard for the national honour. Interested, deeply and resolutely in terested, in the maintenance of the rights and properties, and much more, consequently, in the conservation of the lives and liberties of his fellow-countrymen in far-away corners of the earth. In one word, a thorough Englishman. Such we conscientiously believe to be the especial merits and qualifications of the nobleman who has just been selected by the Prime Minister for the won derfully delicate task of conducting our diplo matic negotiations with the Chinese Government in the capacity, with the authority, and under the official designation of her Britannic MAJESTY'S Minister Plenipotentiary and. Ambassador Extra- ordinary. Under the heavy pressure of his very grave re sponsibilities Lord MAIN may console himself with this most reasonable conviction—that the British People will not fail to remember, from first to last, the exquisitely delicate and compli cated labyrinth of difficulties out of which the Noble Earl is expected to extricate affairs at Canton. Allowances cannot fail to be made in simple justice, if only in consideration of the unusual entanglement of existing differences. And there is always this saving clause in every such supreme emergency the Gordian Knot, if it absolutely defies all the unravelling adroitness of Diplomacy—may at any moment be severed in twain, as it were, by a single blow from the trenchant glave of Britannia l Lord ELGIN must remember that—Lord ELGIN will remember that, while proceeding to the aid of Sir JOHN Bow- RING, as well as to that of Sir MICHAEL SEYMOUR, in his new capacity as her MAJESTY'S Plenipo tentiary. Electors, do not forget Prussia I Many will wonder what they are to remember—are they to recollect her dirty conduct before the war, at the beginning of the war, all through the war, and at the end of the war? Is it her bullying Neuchatel and Switzerland, hergetting the prisoners liberated to avoid a conviction for treachery, and her now playing the Emperor of the FRENOII false, and Switzerland too, by refusing to settle the busi ness ? Yes—all and any of these if they please ; but probably no effort of memory is needed—the contemptible meanness, the avarice, self-seeking, and political crouching of Prussia are never likely to be forgotten by the generation which has wit nessed the war with Russia. But what have Electors to do with Prussia just now ? Why bring her up at the hustings in 1857 1 Has Lord PALMERSTON indicated any wish to maintain the honour of England at Berlin or at Dantzic ? Lord PALMERSTON will have to guard both the honour and the purse of England in the new Par liament if we be not much mistaken ; and Prussia will be the source of danger. We pray, as in duty bound, for her Majesty Queen VICTORIA, for his Royal Highness Prince ALBERT, for ALBERT Prioca of Wales, and for all the Royal Family, the PRINCESS ROYAL surely included ; and amongst our prayers we certainly ask that they may never dishonour their position, nor disgrace their coun try, nor become channels to enrich German poverty, or to satisfy German longings for the proceeds of English taxation. We have had too much of that already. LEOPOLD of Belgium and Quee❑ ADE LAIDE will never be forgotten. True or false, it will always be believed that a German Princess instigated a Monarch, shrewd in such matters, to get her the enormous sum of 100,0001. per an num as the price of his signature to the Reform Bill, and for what on earth could it be wanted but for needy German Cousins ? Wow the rumour has been that the New Par- lianient will be asked for 50,0001. per annum ! for the interest of 1,000,0001. at 5 per cent., to t,) marry the PLINCESS ROYAL to a Prussian Prince ! Could Prussia and its Royal Family be degraded further ix the eyes of Europe, we should say that such a mercenary transaction would sink them yet lower. Happily for us the credit of Prussia is not in our keeping ; for we certainly would not discount a single draft on her honour. But we must bethink ourselves of the credit of our own Royal Family, and of our own pockets. These are points for the hustings. Nothing made Queen ADELAIDE so unpopular with the nation, nothing so indisposed it to mourn for her death, as the repulsive Germanism which taxed the people so unmercifully, either to enable her to roll in wealth, or to enrich her poor Ger man relations. We would not have our young Princess brought into the same mortifying posi tion. We should like our Royal Family to bo favourites with the country. They will be so if only reasonable support is asked for them, but if our Princesses are to cost us 50,0001. a year each—bless us—where is the end to be ? If the daughters are to be salaried in this; style, and the sons in proportion ; and if the latter are to swal low up military sinecures retained as special rewards for ♦eteran service, Lord PALMERSTON may rest assured that the country will think we pay too much for the whistle of Royalty, and that the opinion will spread that a President is better. Prodigiously less costly at least. Let electors be awake. There is the utmost will especially danger of a j ob. The Pr ince and the Premier need the voice of t he country to enable th em to resist the urgency of German, of Prussian, avarice. They must be able to reply that England will not endure it. That England THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY expects her Princesses to marry husbands who can support them—especially if they marry mem bers of a Royal family. That England would much rather have had nothing to do in the Royal marriage line with a country it despises more than any other in Europe, but that, if the young people are in love, N% by the country of the husband must maintain the happy pair. We have no objection to give our PRINCESS ROYAL 50,000/. as a dowry, and to have done with it. Against any further taxing of the country to enrich a Prussian husband we firmly protest. FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS REWARD PER AN NUM, then, to the electors, if they now speak out. It is in a new Parliament that Courts and Cabinets get through with such jobs as these. Nothing will ,prevent something of the kind but pledging the candidates to vote against it. It is folly to tilk of reducing expenditure if such annual burdens are to be inflicted on us. If taxpayers do their duty at the hustings; and on that condition only, they will obtain for them selves the reward of FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS PER ANNUM. The only ground on which the advocates of the Bank Charter Act now attempt to sustain it is, that it insures the immediate convertibility of the Bank note 1 That, under any circumstances, the holders of Bank of England paper are certain of obtaining the specified amount, without delay or annoyance. In this respect it has been stated to be the necessary complement to the Act of 1819, without which there would be no ade quate security for the effectual maintenance of specie payments. Mercator has definitively aban doned all pretences respecting its preserving an equable rate of interest, or even .not occasioning great fluctuation therein. " The immediate re demption of the paper issues" is the motto he has adopted—the sole ground that he puts for ward, and if that fails, cadit questio, the Act can not be sustained or justified. Let us, then, examine how far that single alleged advantage is well founded—whether it is, indeed, justified by the real fact, or whether, as we distinctly and unequivocally assert, that precious convertibility, for the maintenance whereof so many sacrifices are sustained, so much misery and suffering, is not, and has not been, greatly endangered by the very law whose sole recommendation is, that it prevents the possibility of such a calamity. Before we enter into this part of the subject, we shall refer to the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in which he confirmed that which we long since put forward, viz., that in the-event of the insolvency of the Bank of England, " all the creditors, the note holders, and depositors would have equal rights and equal claims to the general assets of the Bank," that in such a con tingency the funds of the Bank would be consi dered as one, notwithstanding the separation of the arguments. Arguing on this assumption, we shall proceed to show what not only might, but unquestionably would, have been the result but for the issue of the letter of the 25th October, 1847, which virtually condemned and annulled the Act of 1844—and the opportune discovery of the auriferous regions, wbich enabled the Bank with difficulty to meet all demands, and to main tain the convertibility of the Bank note, despite the restrictions imposed by the Act. But for that letter the Bank must have closed its doors within a few weeks if it could so long have withstood the pressure. The reserve in the banking department on the 23d, both of notes and bullion amounted to only 1,994,516 L not only for the parent establishment, but for all its branches. The amounts were thus distributed :—. Notes in London £981,615 Do., in the Provinces Gold coin in London Do., in the Provinces . 78,399 Silver Coin in London 104,045 Do. in the Provinces The proportion—Notes . £1,547,276 Specie 447,240 This comparatively insignificant amount was further reduced within the following week. On the 30th October it stood as follows : Notes in London Do. iu the Provinces 608,270 Gold in London 151,053 Do. in the Provinces Silver Coin in London 105,787 Do. in the Provinces 52,990 Total—Notes £1,176,740 Specie £1,606,384 ' These simple " facts and figures" will explain the position of the qtcssi National Establishment better than a score of far-fetched argu ments to prove—or rather to attempt to prove—what might have been done had the Government refused to incur the responsibility of illegally setting aside the express provisions of the Act; and, be it remembered, that the insertion of a clause in the Bill of 1844, investing the Go vernment with such a relaxing power, had beep, fully discussed and deliberately rejected—(a mat ter which induced the celebrated remonstrance of the London bankers of the 11th June, 1844.) The total means of payment were, in round num bers, 1,600,0001., and there were notes issued beyond the amount of bullion deposited in the vaults at Threadneedle-street, 14,000,0001., and deposits to the amount of 14,500,0001., of which the deposits of the London bankers alone exceeded 2,000,000/. ; so that by combined action, which, in self-defence, they should have been com pelled to adopt, the metropolitan firms might have brought the career of the Old Lady to an ignominious conclusion in a single day. The Governor and Deputy-Governor admitted that if any one, had called for anything beyond that 1,600,000/. " they must have stopped payment." Where, then, would have been the boasted convertibility of the Bank-note ? Where the security for immediate redemption of the paper issues, which " Mercator" now tells us was the sole object of the Act ? It is true that there was at that moment bullion to the amount of nearly 7,000,0001. lying idle in the issue de partment of no greater utility than an equal weight of paving stones, that, but for the separa tion between the two departments, and if the Bank had been conducted on the old principle, instead of being within 1,600,0001. of stopping,there would have been very nearly 8,500,0001. of trea sure in its vaults. But after the 1,600,0001. had been paid over the counter, the balance-sheet would have been thus :—Creditor, bullion, 7,000,000/. ; deficiency, 27,000,0001. ; total, 34,000,0001. Debtor, notes, 21,000,0001.; de posits, 13,000,000/. (deducting the 1,600,0001. paid). Total, 34,000,000/: There would thus, as we have already shown, been less than 21 per cent., or 4s. 2id. in the pouad for noteholders and depositors—" a beggarly dividend, less than paid to the creditors of the Royal British Bank." The other assets, excltisive of bills, were the dead weight or annuities for terms of years, which, it was admitted, could "not always be disposed of," and certainly not under tlfe then 'tate of affairs. There were also some 2,000,0001. of consols, which the Governor thought might have been disposed of—at a great sacrifice, and the sale whereof "might have strength ened the reserve by about one million." His experienced colleague, Mr. HORSLEY PALMER, however, differed completely from this view of the case. He said—" It would have been quite impossible in the state of public feeling that then existed to have gone into the market with a mil lion or a million and a half of securities, and have found Bank notes for them." While Mr. GLYN, an unexceptionable authority on such a point—declared, "I should say from what r saw at the time—that a sale of a million or two mil lions, which were the figures talked of, would have been almost impossible, without knocking down the funds to such a price as would have caused a further panic." While Mr. BROWN, M.P. for South Lancashire, doubted "whether they could have been sold at all I" and thought that, were it even possible, " the remedy would have been worse than the disease." The Ho nourable Gentleman gave the following graphic account of the emergency—" There was a com plete want of confidence between man and man. Hardly a contract could be entered into. Such, indeed, was the general feeling of instability and alarm, that by the last packet advices had been sent by many firms to America countermanding the orders which they had given for the importa tion into this country of articles of such prime importance as food. The same distress prevailed in other branches of trade at Manchester, and pro: ducers of goods for foreign exportation there were most unwilling to go on increasing their stock, and were actively attempting to convert their bills into bullion. In fact, both as to imports and exports, we were at a dead lock. The last accounts, too, from the United States were, he feared, not so flattering as he could have wished, either as to the supply of produce, or as to any prospect of the exchange being such as would prevent further demands on us for gold ; and the alternative of either allowing the drain to continue, until we parted with our remaining gold, or, of permitting the people to starve. The position of the country was simply this—that mills and manufactories were closed and closing —that operatives were being thrown out of work, and that artisans and workmen of all sorts were becoming in an equally distressed condition" ! 1 ! The measure aid representative of value had, in fact, almost altogether disappeared—with an impending famine, neither flour nor cereal pro ducts of any description could find purchasers. But better, far better, according to the heartless theory of the bullionists, to permit the people to starve—to see our famishing brethren perish in the streets from actual hunger, than to relax a single restriction, or endanger " the converti bility of the Bank note." The lives of the people were as nothing when compared with "the integrity of the standard !" And yet, with these unquestionable facts, of all of which he was perfectly cognisant, and which we defy him to deny in the slightest particular, MERCATOR has the reckless audacity—the un blushing hardihood—to declare, that " the Act accomplished all its legitimate functions on the occasion, and all went well (!) with the issue de• partment !" and to announce his conviction that " the steady force of sound principles (1), the clear deductions of scientific reasoning (! !), the emphatic verdict of experience (I I I), will not be hastily overruled 1" If what we have detailed above be the " legitimate results of the Act, then ought its framers to be held up to execration"—for never did ' malefactors mere eminently deserve condign pu nishment at the hands of a betrayed and exaspe rated people, driven beyond self-control by the extremity of misery and destitution. EVENING, MARCH l4, 1857. THE NEW. FOREST COMMISSION.—The New roreat Commissioners have been asked by Parliament to give an account of their labours and Expenses. As regards the latter, Mr. Commissioner Gale has kept no account of his travelling expenses, Mr. J. D. Coleridge " thinks he has spent 701. and 80/...' and Mr. Barstow estimates his expenses at 253. a-day. Nothing has been received by the Commissioners for remuneration or expenses, although they sat 32 (working) days al Southampton, 13 days at Lyndhurst, 12 days at Ringwood, 12 days at Christchurch, and one day (6 hours) at Salisbury. THE SUPPLY OF GUANO.—We have the satisfaction to announce that the Government have engaged to station a ship of war at the guano islands in Kooria Mooria Bay in August, and that the trade will then be thrown open to all British ships, and be protected by the Government from all molestation. Messrs Hindson. and Hayes, of Liverpool, the Government lessees of the islands, have received official notification of these facts. . THE CASE OF PRACTICAL JOKING AT BRENTWOOD. — A correspondent says :—" A memorial to Lord Palmer ston is now in course of signature by some of the jurors impannelled in this case (who reside chiefly in this dis trict), recommending a remission of the sentence passed by Justice Cresswell on Cooper and the Hoofs, and the substitution of a fine. In the event of the application succeeding it is understood the young men have promised to place 5001. at the disposal of the widow."—Chelms ford Chronicle. Very serious loss has been incurred by tradesmen in Southampton through the failure of Messrs. Copland and Barnes, of London, who had a contract for victualling the Royal Mail Company's ships. Large quantities of the victualling stores were supplied to Messrs. Copland and Barnes by the Southampton tradesmen. A. very great sensation has also been caused iu Southampton by another failure, that of one of the most respectable meu in that town. The report of the Bank of Egypt, preparatory to their meeting on the 24th, states that business was com menced at Alexandria on the 7th of July last, and that from that date to the 31st of December a profit was rea lised of 5,9411. The paid up capital was 125,0001. at the beginning, and was increased to 187,5001. on the 31st of October. It is proposed not to divide the pro fits until the expiration of twelve months from the date of opening. STATE OF TRADE.—MANCHESTER, March 13.—The advices in anticipation of the overland mail, just to hand, have had the effect of strengthening the market. In regard to India goods, and the prices for low qualities of shirtings, madapollams, jaconets, and T-cloths which were asked on Tuesday, have been fully supported. In some cases manufacturers have been asking rather higher prices. The same remark applies to yarns suited to the markets in India, some numbers of which are in fair demand. In other goods, such as cloths suited to the home trade, and in other branches of the export trade, there is no change. The report of the Ottoman Bank has been issued pre paratory to the meeting on the 26th. The profits from the commencement to the 31st of December have amounted to 31,4791., and a distribution of 15s. per share (being equal .to 10 per cent. per annum) is recom mended, which will leave a balance of 12,729/. to be car ried forward. It is stated that the introduction of a legitimate system of banking into Turkey has been fully appreciated, that branches have been established at Smyrna, Beyrout, and Galatz, and that a profitable ex tension of business may necessitate the payment of the remaining instalment on the shares. THE UNEMPLOYED LABOUR OF LONDON.—Yesterday at the meeting of the directors and guardians of the poor of St. Marylebone (Mr. Cole in the chair), Dr. Bach hoffuer stated that extraordinary as it might appear, during the recent pressure on that parish, consequent on the unemployed labour in the metropolis, Mr. Tubbs, their assistant-overseer, had relieved no less than 24,000 casuals who had applied at that workhouse for relief. The efficient and laborious duty was performed by the assistant overseer in each a manner, that the present board of guardians would not be doing its duty if it did not, before going out of office, put some highly compli mentary record on their minutes as to the meritorious conduct of Mr. Tubbs. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Anderson seconded the motion, and after some observations, Dr. Bachhoffner consented to add a similar compliment to the relieving overseer's staff. It was then carried unani mously. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.—The Hunterian lectures of the Royal College of Surgeons were commenced on Tuesday in the theatre of the college, when Mr. G. Busk, F.R.S., Professor of Comparative Anatomy and Physiology to the college, delivered his introductory lecture on the anatomy, physiology, and classification of the invertebrate animals ; in which the distinction between animals and plants was clearly pointed out, as well as the principles of the classification of animals ; and the scheme and object of the classifica tion proposed to be followed in the course of lectures now about to be delivered. TEE DOVER MAlLS.—Copies of contracts made by the Government since 1852 for the conveyance of mails be tween Dover and Calais and Dover and Ostend have been printed by order of Parliament. According to an agreement with Mr. Jenkings and Mr. Churchward in April, 1854, the mails were to be conveyed at a minimum speed of 13 knots an hour, by not less than six steamers, each being at least 100 tons burden, and of adequate horse-power. The Admiralty was empowered to deduct 151. in every case where the mails were not landed in time for the mail train. The contract was re newed in June, 1855, and will last till the 20th of June, 1863. THE DENISON AND LIDDELL CASES.—We (the Union) are requested to state that the hearing of the appeal of the Archdeacon of Taunton, in the court of the province, will not take place before Easter term ; and, possibly, not at the beginning at the term. The court had inti mated its readiness to take the appeal, or so much of it as could be heard before Easter, on Monday the 23d inst., and on alternate days following. But it is more convenient to wait till after Easter, and to this the court has given its assent. We have made inquiry in the properyquarters, and cannot find that any day or time has been appointed for giving judgment in the Westerton case. Reports are various as to the nature of the deci sion ; but most of them agree in affirming that the former judgments will be materially modified and the cross retained. POOR LAW MEDICAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.—A meeting of medical students was held on Thursday night at St. Martin's-Hall ; Ur. Leyard, M.P., in the chair. A number of resolutions (no less than eight) —spoken to chiefly by medical students of the various hospitals in London, and from Manchester, Bristol, and York, were unanimously passed: The sub stance of the first four of these resolutions was as fol lows ;—That reform was called for in the Poor Law medical relief system, ae, in the first place, it injured the efficiency of relief by crippling the resources, limiting the powers, and lowering the standard of skill among the administrators of that relief ; that the remuneration of the medical men employed was inadequate, and the supervision of their labours improperly referred to unprofessional persons ; and that the grievances set forth closely touched the medi cal care and wellbeing of the suffering poor. The last four resolutions were, that the delegates obtain petitions signed by all the students in England and have them presented to Parliament, and that thanks be given to Mr. Groffin for initiating the movement, and to the chairman for his kindness in presiding. VACANCIES, APPOINTMENTS, AND PROMOTIONS IN THE CIVIL SERVlCE. —Commissioners in Lunacy—Dr. Robert Nairne, physician and lecturer on medicine in St. George's Hospital, has been appointed a commis sioner in lunacy in the room of Dr. John R. Hume, deceased. The Dockyards—Mr. John Crealock, third class clerk at Davonport dockyard, has been promoted to the second class, vice Dent, superannuated. The Board of Trade—Mr. Richard S. Boles, principal coast officer at the Quoile, has been appointed receiver of wrecks for the Lough of Strangford. Mr. Edward Harcourt Charles Heselden has been appointed a clerk at the East and West India Docks in London ; Mr. William Allan Curr has been appointed a clerk, general business, in London ; Mr. Stanley Kingsford has been appointed a clerk, Long Room, in London. Inland Revenue Department . (Stamp and Taxes Branch)—Mr. Thomas Wallace has been appointed a supernumerary surveyor of taxes. (Excise Branch)--Mr. W. W. Page, supervisor of Crediton district, Exeter collection, has been appointed supervisor of Newcastle district, Stafford collection, at his own request ; Mr. H. G. Chubb, ex aminer, has been appointed supervisor of Crediton dis trict, Exeter collection ; Mr. G. Barber, examiner, has been promoted to Halesworth district, Suffolk collec tion. East Indies—Captain A. R. Thornhill, first as sistant, has been appointed to officiate as resident at Hyderabad pro tem., vice Mr. G. A Bnshby, deceased. Mr. F. Read has been appointed superintendent of forests in Oude. Lieut. F. R. Pollock and Mr. F. H. Cooper have been appointed deputy commissioners of the second class in the Punjaub. Lieut. P. Maxwell has been appointed an assistant commissioner of the first class in the Punjaub. Captain J. E. Fraser, Lieut. J. Perkins, Mr. S. S. Hogg, Lieut. T. W. Mercer, and Mr. R. F. Saunders, have been appointed' assistant commissioners of, the second class in the Punjaus. Cie/2 Service Gazette. FIELD LANE NIGHT REFUGE. —A public meeting in support of a new effort of the committee of the Field•lane Ragged School in opening a night refuge for homeless young females was held last evening in the schoolroom, West-street, Holborn-hill, under the presidency of the Earl of Shaftesbury. Mr. Tawell, thesecretary, read a detailed statement of the causes which had led to the opening of the refuge and the object contemplated. Among the first who had come forward to the assistance of the com mittee was the Earl of Shaftesbury, who had placed at their disposal 1501. The refuge was situated atthebot tom of Hatton-lane, and was open to public inspection day and night. It was presided over by a Christian matron, afforded a temporary, or even permanent shelter to homeless women, and provided them with clothes that they might go forth in search of em ployment. The noble chairman, in addressing the meeting, said that he could not conceive a class with higher claims on the sympathy of mankind than those wretched women. They were brought into distress by various causes—some on arriving from the country to get into service, others from being suddenly and harshly turned out of their situations, and others, again, from sheer distress. Many were marr i ed women, and girls, of untainted character, and this circumstance, added to their downright despair, imperatively called on all to come forward to their relief. The scheme was simple, very practicable, and wise in the extreme, and could not fail to achieve success. Resolutions approving the institu tion were moved and passed, the speakers being the Hon. A. Kinnaird, M.P., Dr. Cumming, Mr. J. Payne, Mr. Fordham, Mr. Vanderkist, and other gentlemen. At the Thames police -court on Thursday, K. Wos tein was fully committed for trial for stabbing two men named Van Eveyke and Charles Felix. At the close of the examination Felix was obliged to be conveyed to I the hospital. . - A private letter from Nice speaks very favourably of the health of the Dowager Empress of Russia, THE _AUSTRALIAN MAILS. An Australian merchant, in a letter to a contempo rary this morning, says :—" In the telegraphic summary of the intelligence by the present Overland Mail, I regre t to fi nd there is no mention made of the arrival at any of the eastern ports of the Australian mails, which ar e due in London, via Marseilles, on the 16th" inst., un der the new postal contract with the European and Aus tralian Royal Mail Company. As it is scarcely possible they can now arrive within the c ontract time and along with the Indian letters, I am desirious of learning if this company have made such arrangements that, on the arrival at Ceylon of the steamer from Australia, her mails and passengers shall be at once forwarded to their respective destinations In other words, are they de pendent or not on the steamers belongi ng t o th e Penin sular and Oriental Company which carry the usual fort nightly India mails between Ceylon and Suez / If tfi e y are, there is little doubt that it will be about th e en d o f the month before the Australian despatches come to hand. THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS.--SOUTHAMPTON, Thursday. —The European and Australian Company's steamship Jura, Captain Moodie, left here to day, at 2.15 p.m., for Malta and Alexandria, with the mails for Ceylon, Aus tralia, and New Zaaland, about 15 passengers, and a fair cargo for Alexandria. MALLS FOR THE lONIAN ISLANDS. In consequence of the withdraw?l of the vessels of war which were formerly employed in conveying mail 3 once a month between Malta and Corfu, arrangements have been made for despatebing ship letter mails to the lonian Minds by the private steamers which leave Liverpool three times a month (usually about the 6th, 16th, and 26th,) for Corfu. These ship letter mails will he made up principally for the transmission of soldiers' and seamen's letters and of books and newspapers, the general correspondence for the lonian Islands being forwarded as a rule via Trieste ; but any letters which the public may desire to send by ship from Liverpool, will be so forwarded, if specially ad dressed, " By Private Ship from Liverpool." Letters thus forwarded will be liable to a postage of Bd. per half ounce ; books to a postage of 6d. the half pound ; and newspapers to a postage of ld. each, which must in all cases be paid in advance. Letters to and from soldiers and seamen in Her Majesty's service, posted under the special regulations applicable to such letters, will be chargeable with the rate of id. only. By Command of the Postmaster-General. ROWLAND HILL, Secretary. General Post Office, 9th March, 1857. EXTRA MAIL FOR (CHlNA.—Yesterday notice was issued at the chief office, St. Martin's-le-Grand, that an additional mail for China, Canton River, Penang, Sin gapore, and H ong Kong, would be made up on the morning of the 20th inst., to be conveyed by the mail steam-packet Pdra, to sail from Southampton on that day with the mails for India ; Government having made arrangements with the Oriental Steam Navigation Com pany for it' conveyance on to Chii,a. An additional despatch will also take place to China on the evening of the 26th inst., to be forwarded via Marseilles. ALARMING ILLNESS OF THE SOLICITOR 'GENERAL.— It was stated this morning upon good authority that Mr. Stuart Wortley, the Solicitor-General, was suffering from a severe attack of brain fever. Sanguine hopes, however, were entertained by his medical attendants that the disease %could soon take a favourable turn. The Russian Prince do Lieven has arrived in Paris. The Countess of Clarendon will "receive" this even ing, at the noble earl's private residence in Grosvenor crescent. The Earl and Countess of Dunraven have taken a re . - sidence in Belgrave-square. L rd and Lady Digby have arrived at their residence in Burlington-street, from Dorsetshire, for a few days. The Baron and Baroness James Rothschild will leave town in a few days for Paris. Sir Elward and Lady Caroline Kerrison have arrived in town from Broome Hall, Norfolk. Lieut.-Col. and the lion. Mrs. Dudley Carleton have arrived at 42, Berkeley-square, from Lowesby Hall, Lei cestershire. - M. Pontiloff (Councillor to the Emperor of Russia), accompanied by his f amily - and suite, has arrived at the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street. A deputation from Bristol, consisting of Mr. Conrad, Mr. Fiozel, and Mr. Arthur Hare Palmer, accompanied by Mr. H. Gore Langton, M.P. bad an interview with Viscount Palmerston, on Th urs d a y, to present an ad dress, thanking his lordshi p t h at, i ns t ea d of yielding the reins of Government int o o th er b a nds, he bas re. sorted to the constitutional a l terna ti ve o f appealing to the people. LATEST NEWS. A letter from Constantinople, in the Trieste Ga zette, says :—" The Custom-house officers of Galatz lately seized a great number of Sclavonian books, which were about to be smuggled into Bulgaria. They contained, among other matters, prayers, in which it is asked from Heaven to destroy the Otto man empire, and to give it to the Orthodox Em peror. What is singular is, that these books con tain a notice, accordiug to which they have been printed by order of the Emperor Alexander 11., and with the consent of the synod. of the Greek Church." A letter from St. P e tersburg of the 4th, in the Debats, says :—" The journal] of this capital con tradict the assertions of so.vie of the foreign press on the subject of the moven?•ent of Russian troops beyond the frontiers of Persia, And of the cession of Persian territory to Russia, declaring that not a word said about it is true. "Despatches received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," says a Paris letter in the Emancipation of Brussels, " lead to the supposition that the late caimakan of Moldavia, M. Balache, expired from the effects of poison." The Imaum of Muscat, whose death on board a British frigate was lately announced, having left no legitimate heir, the English andYrench Govern ments, being the only Powers having representa tives in the late Imaum's dominions, have declared in favour of Hilal, the eldest of his illegitimate sons It is said that the French Government has de cided that the debt due to it by the Greek Govern ment shall be remitted, and the Emper or expresses a hope that all the money due to France, and com ing due by the Greek Government, will be expended in useful public works in the interior of Greece. The Paris correspondent of the Times (second edition), in his letter dated yesterday, says : " Despatches have been received this morning from the French Minister at Berlin ; they doubt less relate to the Neuchatel question, which has the disadvantage of wearing out every one's patience, except perhaps that of the King of Prussia. It is said that M. Rosenberg is ex pected on Monday to take part in the negotia tions. If it be true, as a Berlin paper affirms, that the Paris Conference has not the right to solve the question, it might as well dissolve it self at once. The new instructions are said to be to the effect that the recognition of the rights of sovereignty is the express condition of his Ma jesty's renunciation of that sovereignty. The Emperor, I presume, now sees cause to regret his extreme condescension to the King, and perhaps but for the esteem in which M. de Hatzfeld is per sonally held at the Court of the Tuileries, his dis appointment would be manifested more strongly." The following paragraph, from the Pays, the Government journal, corroborates the statements made some days since relative to an expedition to be sent to the Chinese Seas by the French Govern ment "IL has been said that a convention was signed between Franco and England to regulate the mode of co-operation between the two Powers in the affairs of China, and it was added that France bad engaged to furnish an expeditionary corps of 20,000 men against the Celestial Empire. We consider it necessary to rectify both facts. There has not been any convention, properly so called, signed between the two Governments. There was merely an exchange of notes, which is sufficient ; and, as to the very exaggerated amount of the expedition, it is reduced to the already known fact of ships and warlike stores placed under the command of Rear-Admiral Rigault de Gen ouilly." FRANCE. PARIS, FRIDAY EVENING. Letters were issued yesterday convoking an ex traordinary meeting of the Council of State for this day, under the presidency of the Emperor. The object of the meeting was to come to some decision on the long-vexed question of the tax on personal property. The impost itself, as well as the best mode of laying it on, has been discussed over and over again, and has almost turned the heads of financiers. The only thing all seem unanifnous about is the necessity of providing for the deficit by some tax or other. The newest project is the imposition of 15c. on every 100 f. on each share or " obligation," whether French or foreign, taking as the basis the average value of such securities for the last three years. It appears the Russian Government have sent orders to Bordeaux for the construction of a screw steam frigate of 500-horse power, to carry 60 guns, a screw steam corvette of 400-horse power for 30 guns, awl a paddle-wheel steam yacht of 400-horse, for the special service of the Czar. These vessels, which were ordered three months ago, are far ad vanced towards completion. The corvette will be launched in May, the frigate in September, and the yacht in December. Other orders of a similar kind are stated to ha7e been also received. A Paris letter, in the Independance of Brussels, says that on Monday next, the first anniversary of the birth of the Imperial Prince, an extensive pro motion in the army and Legion of Honour is to take place, as well as the distribution of 1,200 mi litary medals ; also, that on the occasion three days' holiday will be given to the pupils of the col leges. The Moniteur publishes a further list of French officers, soldiers, and civilians who are authorised to accept and wear foreign orders.and decorations. A Paris corresp on d en t o f the Nord of Brussels writes :—" A report that M. Berryer, jun., had been arrested is incorrect. He has left for the Chateau d'Angerville, in Beauce, with his father, where both together will prepare the defence which is to be made before the Court of Appeal. It is said that M. Berryer will himself defend his son, and that he has determined on closing his career as a pleader with this defence." BOURSE, March 13.—The following were the last quotations : _ Cub. fr. c. 44 per Cents 92 75 End of Month. -.fr. --- c . 71 - 3per Cents 7O 65 New Loan — Bank Shares 4,100 Roman ....... Credit Mobißey 1,415 Austrian Belgian Fives ...... ... Spanish Th rees .... Pieilmontese (5) — Home Debt RAILWAYS —FOR CASH. fr. c. fr c Orleans 1,445 W estern 835 Northern 971 25 Strasburg Lyons 1,472 50 New Ditto Mediterranean ...... 1,960 G ran d C en t ra l Lyons Geneva ...... 785 Trieste — Cette B3O Austrian Com. JERUSALEM. A letter from Jerusalem of the 15th ult. says : "The Greeks are renewing their vexatious pro ceedings towards other Christian sects. The Copts possess a small chapel built against the monument which covets the sepulchre of Saviour, and, as it Was recently damaged in the disturbances which took place on the occasion of the Greek ceremony of the sacred fire,' the Copts wished to repair it ; but the Greeks demanded of the governor of Jeru salem to prevent the m f rom doing so, on the pre - 4 text that, in virtue of au ancient firman, they alone had the right to make repairs in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, even in the portions possessed by other communions. It was subsequently ascer tained, however, that the Latins possessed another ' firman of a more recent date, which annulled wholly, or in pare, that of the Greeks, both as re gards themselves and other sects. The Greeks, then abandoning their firman, declared that orders from Constantinople gave them the right which they claimed. The Copts represented that this was not so, and that the proof of it was that other communions bad with . n a year made repairs in their chapels ; but the Greeks have appealed to Constantinople and as they are rich, p owerful, and unscrupulous, it is feared they will o bt a i n a deci sion in their kaTour, The Copts hays , lionyer, it is said, appealed tl the protect'on of the British consul at Jerusalem," SARDINIA. ------- --- In the sitting of the 10th of the Chamber of Deputies of Turin, M. Cassaretto complained that the tri-colored flags of certain vessels had been seized at Genoa, because they had not the azure bend of the House of Savoy. He contended that the tricolor was the only banner of Italy, and that law ought to be passed fixing the national colours at once. Gen. de Larearmora, Minister at War, replied that it needed no new law, and q uoted the decree of April 15th, 1848, issued by Charles Albert at Volta, and a circular of the Minister of Marine in 1851, prescribing that the azure bend should be added to the three colours. The seizure of certain flags was owing to the obstinacy of som e sea captains in refusing to conform to the law' Count de Cavour deprecated any discussion on the national colours as highly inopportune at the present moment, the question had be in settled by the decree of Charles Albert, and the inten tion of that monarch had clearly been to give the nation one single flag, and not two. The blue was a colour to which many Piedmontese wei e sincerely attached. " Say all !" here exclaimed M. Valero, a member of the left. " The great hopes awakened by the tri-colour must be associated with the glori ous and ancient traditions of the monarchy ei Savoy !" These words were received with loud cheers ; and after some further observations the Chamber voted the order of the day. A letter from Altona of the 10th, in the Cologne Gazette, says :—" England has promised to p a y her part in the redemption of the Sound dues, as 300 13 as Parliament shall have voted the necessary funds. England has never ceased to use all her efforts to bring the affair to a satisfactory conclusion. France has acceded, and the signatures to the treaty will be given by degrees, according as the different powers come to an understanding as to the mode of payment. I The session of the Prussian Chambers is ar proaching its turminaLion. The President of the Second Chamber, at its last sitting, informed the members that their labours Would probably termi nate before Easter. AMERICA. NEW-YORK, FEB. 28. , In the Home of Representatives another "scene' had occurred between Mr. Wright, of Tennessee, and Mr. Sherman, of Ohio. While the former wan speaking to a member who sat next to Mr. Sher man he was assailed by that gentleman throwing handful of wafers in his face. Mr. Wright then attempted to averge himself for the insult by as' saulting his opponent, but was prevented by the in terference of the members. Great ex,pitement bad ensued, and a duel is reported to be on foot. M'' Sherman alleges that Mr. Wright had looked in sultingly into his face, but that gentleman denies any intention to insult. The following is said to be a correct account of the new Mexican Treaty : "A loan of 15,000,000 dole., of which 3,000,000 dollie are to be applied to the payment of American chap* which are to be adjusted by a joint commission. " The remainder of the loan is unrestricted. "20 per cent. of the Mexican Customs' receipts is to be appropriated for its repayment. "The Treaty also contemplates a joint postal arrange; ment ria Tehuantepec as w e ll as th e t rans it of the route. " There is no stipulation for the cession of any terrig tory. "Neither Congress nor the President have authority t° contract a loan." The steam-ships Humboldt and Belfast had com e into collision on the Mississippi, and the former had sunk and dr owne d 20 o f h er crew, Inc" negroes. A fatal duel had taken place at Savannah between Messrs. HazenbrickandKimborough. The weapool used were rifles, and the former received a wound from which he died next day. Dates from St. Louis of the 25th ult. state that the Jefferson city correspondent of the St. Louts Democrat learnt by passengers from Kansas that II difficulty had occurred between Governor Geary and a man named Sherrod, growing out of the former refusing to appoint the latter to the 01l of sheriff as desired by the Legislature, and will"' had a fatal termination. Sherrod had avowed the purpose of killing Governor Geary, and, meeting him in the street, spat in his face. Governor Geary did not resent the insult, but his friend* got up an indignation meeting on Thursday, the 19th. Sheriff Jones, Sherrod, and others At' tempted to interrupt the meeting, and in the affray Sberrod shot Mr. Sheppard, one of Governor Geary'fi friends, four times, and wounded two others. Mr. Jones, Governor Geary's secretvray, thereupon shot Sherrod through the head, killing him instantly- Great excitement prevailed at Lecompton, and general fight was anticipated. Governor Gearfo residence was guarded by United States' troops: Sherrod is stated to be the man who was appointed by the Court to fill the vacancy occasioned by Sheriff Jones's resignation, and to whom Governer, Geary refused to gran t a comm i ss i o n on the ground of his habitual drunkenness. THE AFRICAN MAIL. PLYMOUTH, FRIDAY* The African Royal Mail steam-ship Niger, Cat George Corb e tt, arr i ve d h ere t hi s morn i ng ; a gale from the south east blowing at the time, whi ch rendered communication with her difficult.. oer ,i dates are—Fe rnan d o P o, J an. 3 0 ; B onny, Feb. I.° Lagos, Feb. 7 ; A ccra , F e b . 9 ; Cape Coast, Feb 10 ; Liberia, Feb. 15 ; Sierra Leone Feb. 20 Bathurst, Feb. 24 ; G oree , F e b. 25 ; Teneriffe) March 3 ; and Madeira, March 6. She brings 3 passengers, among whom are th e Rev. Mr. Mas on an d the Rev. Mr. Flock, from Lagos ; Capt. Raby, R.N., Lieut. Smith, R. 14 -1 Lieut. Harger, 2d W es t I n di a Regiment, an d Lieut. Bevonpo r t, di t t o , f rom Sierra Leone. Th e Rev. Mr. West, from Cape Coast, died on the Pas - _ - At Fernando Po were her Majesty's ships Mer" lin, Bloodhound, and Prometheus, with the mer chant vessels G u ildf or d, Prince George, and Cal4l - Commander Rathbone, of her Majesty's ship Bloadhound, died at Lagos,. Jan. 22. The coast was quiet. Trade moderate, and the season healthy. The cargo of the Niger consisted of 1,900 oz. Of gold dust, 508 puncheons of palm oil, 300 pieceo of ivory, 200 bags of cochineal, 14 casks of gum, and 127 pieces of camwood. MEMORIAL TO THE LATE LORD RAGLAN, G.C.8.--A; handsome memorial stone, in honour of the late lamented Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, G.C.8., is about to be weds(' in Badminton Church, near the seat of the Duke of Beaufort, in Gloucestershire, by Mr. Thomas Gaffie, the sculptor, of Regent -street. The monument, which is beautifully executed, is of white Carrara marble, Bur* mounted with military trophies, and in the centre is wreath of laurel encircling the words " Peninsula " and " Crimea." A t the bottom of the tables are the family' arms, with the Peninsular, Waterloo, and Crimean medals, and a cross of honour. HAYMARKET THEATRE .— He r M a j es ty an d his Roy al: Highness the Prince, with the Princess Royal and the Princess Alice, honoured the Haymarket Theatre with their presence last evening. The Royal suite consisted of the Countess of Desert, Lord Byron, Lord Chariot Fitzroy, and Captain the Hon. D. de Roe. PRINCESS'S THEATRE.—The Prince of Wales and the Prince of Leiningen, attended by Captain the Hon. D• de Ros and Mr. Gibbs, honoured the Princess's Theatre with their presence on Thursday evening. The Prince of Leiningen left Buckingham Palace yesterday for Port 'mouth. LTOSUM THRATIM.—" Virginina " was produced 1111 this theatre last night ; the characters of Virginius at his daughter by Mr. and Mrs. Dillon. There was a veil full house, and the performance was highly success ful. Mr. Dillon's Virginius was, on the whole, a powerful piece of acting, and he deserved the applause which be received. Mr. Smith, the lessee of Drury-lane Theatre, bag generously placed 501. worth of tickets of admission to the theatre for Wednesday next at the disposal of the committee of the Newevenders' Provident and Benevo• lent Institution ; and they appeal to the trade and other friends of the charity to assist them by their attend ance on that occasion, and thereby increasing their funds. THEATRE ROYAL, Dittiß T _ LAN _ E . _ Yesterday after noon a meeting of renters and nominees was held in the saloon, for the purpose of taking into consideration a Pr,g . position which had b een made by Mr. Gye to Mr. E. " Smith, the lessee, respecting the forthcoming opera sea son. The meeti ng was of a very stormy character, and to attempt to give anything like a report of the proceed' ings would be utterly impossible, as about 60 p er sons all spoke at th e same time, and the business from first to last was conducted in the most irregular manner. The question under consideration was the right of renters t o a seat i n th e house at every dramatic performance. Mr. Smith proposed, on the part of Mr. Gye, that 25 seats should be set apart for the renters, but this was objected to on the ground that by thus compromising their right they would thereby be binding themselves hereafter. An amendment was subsequently proposed to the effect that " 50 fr on t pit sea t s s h ou l d b e reserved for ba i t an hoer after the opening of the doors for the renters, and tha! , . after that time, they s h o uld b e accommo d ate d w ith seat s either in the pit or boxes." This was carried unanimously. ROYAL MASONIC INS TITUTION NOR B OYS .—The . nual festival on behalf of the Masonic Institution for the Maintenance a n d Ed uca ti on o f B o y s , the Sons o f Deceased and Decayed Masons, was held on Wednesday at the Freemasons' Tavern, under the presidency of th e Right Worshipful the Senior Grand Warden for the year, Br, Loxd Goderich, M.P.