The Sun. — London, England, 1857-02-19 00:00:00

CIN DE RAILWAY COMPANY. At the second Annua l Ge ner a l Meeting of S I the above Company, held at their Offices, Gresham-House, ' Old Broad-street, ou Wednesday, February 18, 1857 W. P. ANDREW, Esq., in the Chair— Tlie following Resolutions were carried unanimously : Proposed by the Chairman, seconded by H. B. E. Frere, Esq., Commissioner of Scinde _ That this meeting receive and adopt the Report and Accounts of the Directors. Proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Charles Norris Wilde, Esq.— That Sir Herbert Maddock, M.P., and J. Edmund Ander. don, Esq., be re•elected Directors of this Company. Proposed by Frederic Warren, Esq., seconded by the Rev, William Bentley— That Alexander Mackenzie, Esq., be re-elected an Auditor of this Company. Proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Sir Herbert Maddock, M.P.— That this meeting des;re to record their acknowledgments to It B. E. Frero, Esq., Commissioner of Seinde, for his readiness in attending this meeting, and for the valuable in fermation he has imparted thereto. Proposed by Major-General Tremenheere, late Chief Engineer, Pnnjaub, seconded by Alexander Denoon, Esq.— That the best thanks of this meeting be tendered to the Chairman and Directors for the ability and zeal with which they have conducted the business of this Company. Proposed by H. B. E. Frere, Esq., seconded by Charles Norris Wilde, Esq.— That the cordial thanks of this meeting be tendered to W. P. Andrew, Esq., for his able and courteous conduct In the chair. (Signed) W. P. ANDREW, Chairman. THOS. BURNELL, Secretary. Gresham-House, Old Broad-street, Feb.lB, 1857. THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY LANE.— Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. Acting Manager, Mr. C. Mathews. Stage Manager, Mr. R Roxby. Scenic Artist, Mr. W. 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 an entirely* new three-act Drama, entitled THE BLACK BOOK. Characbers by Mr. C. Mathews, A. Younge, G. Honey, Mr. ♦intent, Mr. Tilbury, Mr. Lingham ; Misses Cleveland and W. Oliver, and Mrs. Selby. Afteiwhieh will be produced SEE, SAW, MARGERY DAN; Or, Harlequin Holiday, and the Island of Ups and Downs. Tho 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, Qs. 6d. ; Dress Boxes, 3s. ; Stalls, Ss. ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d., 11. ls., 11. lls. 6d., and 2/. 25.! 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, Mn. Poynter, and Mrs. E. Fitz wit lam. Followed by (4th time) a new drama, called A WICKED WIFE. After which (53d 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 ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. THIS EVENING will be performed A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. After which, a now grand Christmas Pantomime, called ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP; or, Harlequin 81t d the Genii of the Ring. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline ; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; Co luntine, Miss C. Adams. OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. C. Dillon. THIS EVENING, will be performed a new play, in five acts, by Westland Marston, Esq., entitled A LIFE'S RANSOM. Lord Revesdale,' Mr. C. Dillon ; Bancroft, Mr. Stuart ; Felicia Revesdale, Mrs. C. Dillon. To be followed by CONRAD AND MEDORA; er, Harlequin Corsair and the Little Fairy at the Bottom of the Sea. The burlesque opening by W. Brough, Fsq., onnded upon the ballet of Le Corsair, as produced at Her Majesty's Theatre. The harlequinado 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. IT. Marshall The box-office open daily, from 11 to 5, under the super stendence of Mr. Chatterton, jun. Carriages conveying parties ti the Private Boxes to set down at the State entrance in Burleigh-street. T HE.ATRE . ROYAL, ADELPHI Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENINO., will be performed the new and mi. ginal comic drama, ca'ieci BARNEY THE BARON. Bar ney .O'Toole, Mr. Barney Williams. After which, A NIGHT AT NOTTING-HILL, in which Mr. Wright and Pa al Followed by THE CUSTOMS OF THE COUNTRY. Melissa, Mrs Barney Williams. To conclude with MOTHER SHIPTON; or, Harlequin Knight of Love, and the Enchanted Whistle. Harlequin and Columbine (A la Watteau), Madame Celeste and Miss Wyndham ; Clown, Mr. Garden ; Pantaloon, Mr. Moreland; Scaramouch, Mr. Le Barr. Chameters in the bur lesque by Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. J. Bland, Mr. R. Romer, Madame Celeste, Miss Wyndham, Miss Mary Keeley, Miss Kato Kelly, Miss Arden, &c. OYAL SURREY THEATRE. .111 A) Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick. THIS EVENING, VIRGINIUS. Virginius, Mr. Creswick. After which, HARLEQUIN AND THE SUMMER QUEEN. Harlequin, Mr_ F. Clover ; Clown, Mr. Buck ; Pantaloon, Mr. Bradbury; the Four Sprites, the Fillis Fa mily; Columbines, Mesdames Marie and Agnes. TR AND T FIE A.TRE.—Manager, Mr. T. 677 Payne.—This Evening will be - per ( . ormed a powerful new drama, THE PRIDE OF POVERTY ; or, The Real Poor of London. Affer which, DON'T LEND YOUR UMBRELLA. To cmclude with the immensely successful novel Burlesque Pantomime of THE MAGIC MISTLETOE ; or, Harlequin Humbug and the Shams of London. The Fairy Christmas, Miss E. Wilton ; Good Humour, Miss Norhury ; Mercury, Miss Cameron ; Humbug, Mr. Herbert ; Cant, Mr. Bolton ; Baron, Mr. J. B. Johnstone ; Sir Roland, Mr. Clarke ; Lord Loveh, Miss Craven ; Addelp ate, Miss Cuthbert ; Crambo, Master W. Edouin ; Lady Agnes, Miss E. Jacobs ; Baroness, Ar. G. Lee ; Furbilosa, Mr. J. Howard. Novel Harle quivade : Clown, Miss Cuthbert ; Little Clown, Master W Edonin ; Pantaloon, Mr. J. Clarke ; Harlequin, Miss Craven ; Columbines, Miss E. Jacobs and Mdle. Collison ; Premier Dansense, Mdle. Marie Charles. Commence at Seven. Stabs, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. ; Gallery, 6d. A morning performance of the Pantomime every Monday at two o'clock R OY AL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred Wigan. THIS EVENING, a new drama, by Tom Taylor, Esq., called A SHEEP IN WOLF'S CLOTHING. Followed by the new farce, by Bayle Bernard, Esq., called A SPLENDID INVESTMENT. A new Fairy Extrayannza, by J. R. Planch6. Esq., called YOUNG AND HANDSOME. Messrs. F. Robson, Rogers, Leslie, G. Cooke, Danvers. Misses Swanborough, Thirlwall, St. Ca: se, Castleton, Bromley, Maskell, anti Mrs. Itelfort. Commence at half-past Seven. STLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Co o k e . • THIS EVENING—A Performance crowned with signal success !—The operatic drama of ROB ROY, illustrated by Mr. Wm. Cooke's Trained Horses, and acted with the origiaal music, with Mr. J. H. Cooke's Great Bridge Act. After which, the Equestrian SCENES in the CIRCLE. To conclude with the equestrian comic pantomime of PAUL PRY ON HORSEBACK. Cornmene2s at sevenTh'clock. !Dress Boxes, 45..; Upper Boxes, 3s. ; Private Boxes, from 1/., no charge for booking ; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, ls. ; Upper Gallery, &I. nox-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West, Equestrian Director, Mr. W. Cooke, jun. C A NTERBURY HALL, Westminster-road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance o Selections from all the popula , : Operas, Madrigals, Chckruses, Miss Glees, Brnets, tkc., viz.: Miss E. Pearc e , M rs . J . C au lfi e ld, ell, Summers, and Madame Marietta ; Mr. J. JoneP, Caulfield, Herr P. Jo/lel/jinn% H. G rover , T. F arran t , S . J. Barker, W. Melling, P. Corri, Sen or A n t on i o M . do Solla, and E. L Messrs. Sam. Dime ; M as t ers A ust i n, Bennett, and pianoforte,ri Collins, E. M ac k ney, an d C. J. Wilkins. Mr. Ceeil Hicks; harmonium, J. Caulfield, director, Mr. J. Caulfield. C ommence at Seven o'clock pre cisely. Suppers, &c., until twelve o'clock. MGR WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. TRIEI DAT— Morn. 7 Morn. 37 min- aft. 8-7 -vening 23 mi d . a ft . 9 oBROW min. aft. 10—E vening 50 nain.aft 10 TaE WEATHER—SuN OFFIOE, p limattany TITERMOUETER, THE SHAD 9 * f4—h!ghost since noon yesterday, 47—lowest this morning and during the L i g ht. 49 —this day at noon. I'AsomwrEß, 30.08 —rising. WIND, N. to N.E. Light, with doll weather. r 1 ri A *:C 7 7) 7 ':-7,: -..., C Y± 4%.54 4A V ,b ./ L9NDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 187. Mr. GLADSTONE has joined issue with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the proposed aug- nictitation of the tea and sugar duties. The Right Hon. Gentleman h as g i va a notice that o n going int) Committee of Ways and Means, he will move a resolution, that " the house will not grant any addition to the rates chargablo by the Customs Duties Act of 1855 on the articles of tea and sugar." This is meeting the queEtion fairly and distinctly. It is far better than the compromise suggested by the deputation from the impotters and dealers in tea to Sir G. C. LEwts. These gentlemen were induced to agree to that middle course in order to avoid the serious losses which might otherwise be sustained in consequence of their undue confidence in the Parliament and Government of the country. But they ought to have relied on the justice of their cause, and insisted on the com plete performance of the promises they had re ceived, or at least of the honourable understand ing entered into. Any departure from the straightforward course is to be deprecated, and although parties, threatened with a direot rob bery, may be willing to pay a species of " black mail," in order to save a portion of their pro perty, Parliament ought not to sanction such a composition. We yesterday explained the manner in which the importers and dealers in tea were induced to enter into very extensive contracts, in consequence of the existing law, corroborated by a distinct and positive answer from the Financial Minister, re specting the time when the reduced duties would come into operation. If ever Ministerial faith were unequivocally pledged to a particular policy it was that there should be no alteration, at all events, in the tea duties. Nor can any sudden or unexpected emergency be alleged so as to justify the contemplated change. Ths revenue is, in every respect, as flourish ing, and the reductions in the Naval and Military Estimates as extensive as could reason ably have been anticipated. Sir G. C. LEWIS could, therefore, on these grounds have no justi fication for changing his mind. But the facts, coupled with the significant hints in the Times, as to the oscillations of the needle of the War Income Tax settling steadily down at the point of April, 1855, and the declaration that it was utterly useless for the people to attempt t 3 struggle against their destiny, prove beyond the possibility of doubt that the Financial Minister had made up his mind to avail himself of the " pettifogging quibble," respecting that which he now assures the nation " was the result of a mere accident," and that being driven from that slight conve nient entrenchment by the decided manifestation of the popular will, he fell back on the tea duties as a mode by which through another quibble, even less defensible, he might recoup a consider able portion of the 5,000,0001. he was about so ungraciously and unwillingly to surrender. It has been said, in defence of the course adopted, that "it was the duty of the Govern ment only to give a literal answer to a literal question, and that any allusion, however slight, to the possibility of modifications would have been liable to interested interpretations, and that it was not their business to remind commercial per sons that every fiscal settlement must always be liable to disturbance, to meet any change in the annual requirements for the service of the State ;" in other words, that the Government did not de ceive them, but merely allowed them to fall into the trap baited and prepared for their reception I The weakness of this defence, which even an Old Bailey advocate might blush to put forward, shows the weakness of the cause itself. A high-minded and straightforward Gentleman would scoria to avail himself of such a plea ; and we are convinced that in private life Sir G. C. LEWIS would himself be the first to repudiate with just indignation any adviser that counsellor] him fn ffilrei an unfair an advantage. But, unfortunately, it seems to be the red-tapist principle, that all is fair in politics, as well as in war ; and the Right Honourable Baronet is too thoroughgoing a red-tapist to hesitate for a mc ment as to the course to be adopted. The appeal, therefore, must be to Parliament ather than to Parliament the Ministers ; and that app e al e now hope and believe, will be fully and completely successful. But if there had been no Ministerial promise— no honourable understanding on the point, there are abundant reasons for refusing to disturb the arrangements entered into respecting the tariff on tea. Nothing can be more injurious to the in terests of the consumer, as well as of the importer and dealer, than sudden and unexpected fluctua tions, that derange all the calculations of the trade, and occasioned very serious losses to all parties in any way concerned. The tea duty has been a perfect shuttle-cock for the last four years. No one could calculate, with any approximation to certainty, as to what might be the state of affairs, when the duty would become payable on the quantity for which he had transmitted orders to China. Many were alto gether deterred from that which became a gam bling speculation rather than a legitimate commer cial transaction, while those who carried out their intentions added a sufficient margin to cover the risk they were exposed to. A further alteration, such as that proposed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will be productive of very injurious consequences, for if it be sanctioned no one can tell when or where the injudicious interference may terminate. Next year another change may take place. When the sharp end of the wedge has once been introduced it is impossible to estimate the possible results. Besides, a retrograde policy, manifested in the re-imposition of indirect im posts, should be nipped in the bud. The settle ment of 1846 is not to be disturbed. We trust, then, that Parliament may agree to Mr. GLAD STONE' s proposition, and distinctly and positively refuse to sanction " any addition to the rates chargeable by the Customs Act of 1855, on the articles of tea and sugar." There is nothing like a little assurance. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Friday last, after the vast majority of the Rouse had rushed out, and left not evon a quorum on the benches, actually began to descant on his intended remissions of taxation. The truants had no idea of the intended consummation of the grand fiscal project. They just learned that for 1857-8 Mr. Chancellor meant to remit 9d. in the pound, or nine millions of Income Tax ; if, in deed, that could be called remission, which, with his " ratification" Act in his hand, he dared not demand. They learned also, that this so-called remission, left him two millions of the War Income Tax yet remaining on the year 1857 and that ho intended to retain that two millions per annum extra for two years more. Six millions, therefore, of War In come Tax w e are t o pay a f ter the deduction of Cie nin epence in the p oun d. P re t ty we l l that. A n d of th e nine millions given up, four millions is to conie back by 1860 , when the tax, it is said, will e t h e a e eG;LADUSTOwz zhnct e nA at of any rate it would cease under But this is not all. We will take the three years for which he professes to legislate— namely, those which te • rminate 1861. What does h e g in April, et back by that time of the nine millions he now proposes to remit—he gets back in that time at least TWELVE MILLIONS ! more probably allowing for increased consumption from remission o Income Tax and growing commerce, fully FOURTEEN MILLIONS ! The 4,000,000/. of Income Tax he avows ; nearly 4,000,0001. be gains by the whole of the war rates which he retains on tea. 4,500,000/, he as cer tainly gains by the war rate on spirits. These amount to 12,500,0001. Allow half a million for sugar, coffee, &c., which we believe to be consi derably under the mark, and a million for the increase in Excise and Customs, and we have fully FOURTEEN MILLIONS taken in three years for giving up nine millions this year. We are to pay, moreover, the 1,500,000/. on spirit duties in perpetuity. Sir CORNEWALL LEWIS is truly an admirable fiscal pawnbroker. He lends us some nine millions of our own money, and takes it back in three years' time with full fifty fire per cent, interest ! Thrifty sacrifice that ! The joke was, that Sir CORNEWALL gravely re counted to the House the reductions he had made. " The total amount of taxation which I propose to take off in the present year, &c.," said he, " will be found in the following table, and forthwith he enumerated remissions of duty on malt, tea, coffee, and sugar, as well as on income. Had the Premier used such language, we should naturally hare set it down to waggery ; but, of course, no one sus pects the worthy Baronet of that. The War Malt Tax, he well knew, was no remission of his. It went, because, by the Act, go it must, and he dared not dream of re imposing it. On all the other articles he actually proposes to retain war rates of duty which he has no legal title to at present, retaining a part even of the War Income Tax itself, and yet comes telling us of what he " takes off." Was " takes off " a slip of the tongue for "lays on ?" for that is the truth of the case. Of course the necessary incomil must be raised somehow—only let us not be hoodwinked. Let us be told plainly that nine millions of war tax is to cease in one shape this year, but two millions of the same tax to remain. Let us also be frankly bid that for the nine millions taken off fourteen millions are to be de manded back again by 1861. But the question which must be unsparingly canvassed on Friday next, and in the whole debate on the financial scheme, is, how the estimates can be safely reduced. We have seen the effect on this year's estimates of the national declaration that it would not pay the ninepence. Equally salutary would be the decla ratim by Parliament that it would not pay more than fifty millions, or thereabouts, per annum. A committee on the estimates would soon teach our Government hew to adapt them to a reason able national income. The Reports of the Inspectors of Factories to the Home Secretary, for the half-year ending tlst October, 1856, now lie before us, and if net very creditable to our legislators, are of considerable interest to the community. The Inspectors are four in number, and from their joint Report it is our intention to extract most of the information we are about to lay before our readers. The attention of Sir G. GREY is specially cued to the imperfections of the Act passed last session with regard to the fencing of mill-gearing and ma chinery. So ill adapted is the Act for the purposes contemplated that the Inspectors have felt it their duty not to take any proceedings in the way of reference to arbitration under it ! According to the new statute, a young person, we are told, performing, in his " ordinary occupation," an act which brings him in contact with unfenced.roill gearing, may still be compensated either by sum mary proceedings before a magistrate, or by an action at law for the bodily injuries he may have sustained ; but if a young peroon be vi Ara, by the manager or other person in authority, to do an act not in the course of his "ordinary occupation," but which he dare not refuse to do, which brings him in contact with unfenced millgearing, and he is injured thereby, he has no redress 1 In other words, persons who are well acquainted with the dangers their em ployment about machinery exposes them to are protected by law, while others who are forced to expose themselves to such dangers, in ignorance of them, and out of their ordinary occupation, have no protection whatever I Well may the Inspectors: remark, such persons " being unable to protect themselves, would appear to require the especial protection of the Legislature." We should think so ! The public will agree with them in their opinion. During the last half year, and just before the passing of this precious Factory Act, an action, we are told, was tried in Dublin, in which da mages to the amount of 2001. were awarded to the plaintiff, aged 22 years, who had lost his arm by the neglect of his employers to fence securely a round polished horizontal shaft, revolving nine feet from the floor. Messrs. HOR NER, HOWELL, REDGRAVE, and Sir J. KINCAID, the four English Inspectors, hearing of the suc cessful issue of the action recognised in it, it seems an instructive warning as to their own pro cedure under the new Act. By its provisions they were empowered to ref9r the question, whether the machinery in case of accident was safely fenced or not to arbitration. What effect might such reference have on the right of chil dren, young persons, and women injured by un fenced mill-gearing, to compensation by damages at the hands of a British jury ? In all probabi lity owing to the class of arbitrators to be se lected, according to the provisions of the Act, and other causes, positive prejudice and detri ment. For, strange to tell, the arbitrators are not to be chosen from the intelligent body of in dividuals who are daily employed' in factories, but from that of professional engineers, whose work as Mr. CUBITT, principal engineer, at the works of ROTIIWELL and Co., truly observes—. " Is done when the engine is fixed, and the gear ing put in proper working condition, the fencing or guarding being at the discretion of the mill owner." The arbitrators, too indifferent as they may be, are not authorised by the Act to compel witnesses to appear arid give evidence on oath. From tribunals so constituted what good could be expected ? Wisely, therefore, have the Inspectors refrained from calling them into existence, and giving them the opportunity to inflict injury on the hapless sufferer, and contented themselves with furnishing suggestions to the Home Secre tary for their improvement. The want of a comprehensive system of regis tration of births, &c., in Ireland is the subject of complaint, the Inspectors being unable to ascer tain the ages of large numbers of Irish children, in order to grant them certificates as the law re quires. The return of new factories shows an increase of 4,379 horse-power, making, with ad ditions to existing factories, and deduct'rig such as are unoccupied, an increase in the year ending October 31, 1856, of 2,455 horse power, ob tained both by waterwheels and steam. Adopt ing the average of four persons employed for each horse-power, the Inspectors calculate 9,820 ad ditional persons have been employed during the above period. The return, however, is con fessedly, on tt)eir part, unavoidably imperfect. The average increase in the number of factories from 1838 to 1856 was, it swears, at the rate of 32 per annuli, ; while from 1850 to 1856 it has been at the rate of 86 per annum. In the former period the increase was confined to cotton, TEE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEIVRTJARY 19, 1857 woollen, and worsted factories ; in the latter the principal increase has been in cotton and silk fac tories—the aggregate increase in the first being 14'2 per cent., and in the latter 66.0. The localities in which the increase has taken place have varied, we are told, considerably; and the report points out the migration, as it were, of trades from one part of the country to another. The increase of factories between 1838 and 1856 .has been 900, and of this increase Lancashire claims 360, Yorkshire 344, Cheshire 38, Not tingham 46, and Warwick 71. The cotton fac tories in the counties of Lanark (Glasgow), Ren frew (Paisley), and Antrim have decreased by 52. The woollen trade is becoming concentrated in Yorkshire, there being an increase in the number of woollen factories in the rious ridings during a like period of 200, while in Cornwall, Devon, Wales, and elsewhere, there has been a decrease of 82. The worsted manufacture is almost exclusively confined to Yorkshire. In Worcester, however, the worsted trade has been considerably extended. The flax trade flourishes more vigorously in Ireland than in any other part of the United Kingdom. The increase of flax-factories in Antrim, Armagh, Down, and Tyrone, in the like period, amounts tc 59 ; while both in England and Scotland there has been a decrease. The number of silk-facto ries has increased. The increase above spoken of is numerical, and does not include the increase of power, which is 59'366 between 1838 and 1856. Great. however, as this is, it is much below the actual additional force practically available and in motion for manufacturing purposes. The number of persons employed bears exactly the same pro portion for nominal horse-power as in 1838 and 1850, though there has been a vast extension of trade. This is owing to machinery. As many persons (800,000) are now dependent, it is be lieved, on the power-loom as were in 1838 on the hand-loom ; and wages • are better and steadier. The number of power-looms in 1836 (when they were chiefly used for cotton fabrics) was 115,801 ; the number in 1856 was 369,205. The number of spindles has increased in a greater proportion either than the number of factories or the power employed in spinning-factories. In weaving -factories there is a tendency to the exten sion of the trade among many occupiers rather than a concentration of it among a few. The extent of the increased power of production partly appears from the fact, that if the woollen and worsted fac tories in 1856 had produced in the same proportion as in 1850, the value of the exports would have been 7,800,000/. instead of ten millions— the actual average of the three years ending 1855. As to the employment of hands there has been a decrease of one-half of the number of children under 13 years of age, although two children are now required to do the work of one in 1835 ; a small decrease of boys between 13 and 18 years of age, and an increase of the proportion of fe males above thirteen years of age, chiefly in flax, cotton, and worsted factories. The largest pro portion of children is employed in worsted fac tories. An increase is reported in the number of men employed in the latter factories, owing, in some measure it is thought, to the prices of country wool being now very generally employed in the factories. In conclusion, the facts brought out by this Return - appear to be that the factory system is increasing rapidly, that fewer hands are employed in proportion to the machinery, though n the horse power, than at former periods, that the steam engine is enabled to drive an increased weight of machinery by economy of force and other methods, and 41...4 v.. ialt.a.vciavil quantity of work can be turned off by improvements in ma chinery and in methods of manufacture by in crease of speed of the machinery, and by a variety of other causes. It may be well to add that the number of accidents from machinery during the six months ending 31st October, 1856, was 1,919 I —1,037 males and 822 females.' A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing-street. Present—Viscount Palmerston the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the M arqu i s of Lans downe, the Earl of Harrowby, Sir George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, Mr. Secretary Labouchere, Lord Pan inure, the Chancellovreronfotnhse mEity,huourder,sStairnlCey. ofW oAodl., the derle ß y i , g t h h t e H ß on ig . l2 ll t . Hon. Mr. Baines, and the Duke of Argyll. - - The marriage of Miss Whitshed, eldest daughter of Sir St. Vincent Whitshed, with Colonel Bentinck, took p!ace yesterday, at St. George's Church, Harover square, in the presence of a select circle of the friends of both families. Lord Aveland is expected is town to-day from Stock ton Hall, Lincolnshire. Lady Peel is expected' in town to-day. Sir William and Lady Middleton are expected i n t own this week from Shrubland Hall, Suffolk. The Right Hon. Mrs. Vernon Smitb gave an evening party last night at her residence in Saville-row. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.--We understand that Mr. Gye will commence his next operatic campaign, at Drury Lane Theatre, on the 14th April. DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—The tide of popularity which has set towards "Old Drury " since Christmas will be turned to the advantage of Boleno, the' popular clown of the establishment, by all who visit the national theatre to-morrow evening, selected for the benefit of this clever artiste. In addition to the ordinary attraotions of the programme, several special novelties are announced for this occasion. ST. MARTIN'S Inee.--The fourth of the perform ances of sacred music for the present season, under the direction of Mr. Hullah, took place last night. Highly and deservedly attractive as the three pre. vious concerts bad been, that of last night was, if possible, still more successful. We have never heard the choral music of any oratorio given with greater precision or effect than were some of the finer pieces in "Judas Maccabeus" last night. The members of Mr. Hullah's first upper singing school may now take their place without fear by the side of the best trained choruses of any institution. The conclud ing chorus of the first part, " Rear us, 0 Lord !" left nothing to be desired. The magnificent com positions, "We never will bow down," and the "Hallelujah, Amen," were equally deserving of the highest commendation. The soloists were Madame Rederedorff, Miss Palmer, Miss Banks, Miss Moss, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Dawson. The ball was densely crowded in every part ; and, as at the previous performance of "The Elijah," num bers of persons were unatle to obtain admission. EAST Sussux.—The new writ for East Sussex was issued on Tuesday evening. A very close contest will take place between Mr. Dodsonsand Lord Pevensey. COLCHESTER ELECTION.—The nomination of a candi date for the representation of this borough, vacant by the resignation of Lord John Manners, is appointed to take place en Monday next. A correspondent informs us that the return of Mr. Wegnelin, the member for Southampton, will be peti tioned against, on the grounds that some of the polling. booths were closed before 4 o'clock p.m., and because the polling was suspended in one of the booths owing to the absence of the returning officer. PONTEFRACT. —Mr. Wiliam Wood, of Monkhill, is about to be brought forward as a candidate for the re presentation of Pontefract at the nex'; election, in oppo sition to Mr. Oli ve i ra, The latter gentleman, however, will, with confidence, appeal to his constituents when the necessary time arrives for renewing his term of repre sentation. EGYPT AND Ma BIBLE.—A course of three lectures on Esypt and the Bible is advertised in another page to be delivered at Crosby Hall, by Mr. John Gaisby, author of " Wanderings in the East." The lectures possess the elements of success, and we are glad to learn, from what we from time to time see in•the country papers, that success is everywhere attending them, and we aro sure the more they are known the better will they be attended. SUDDEN DE IT$,-.—Mr. C. K. Sala died suddenly on Tuesday night, in the New-road, Brighton, where he has been residing with his mother, Madame Sala, well known in musical circles. The cause of Mr. Sala's death was apoplexy. He was about to retire to his bedroom, after pl ac ing his boots outside the door for the servant, when he fell forward on his facie: The servant immediately gave an alarm, and when he was raised he was still alive, but before medical aid could be procured life was ex tinct. The deceased gentleman was 34 years of age. Up to the time of his death he was in the eejoyment of his usual health and spirits. THE GREEK LOAN. —From a return yesterday pub lished it seems that the balance due by the Greek Go vernment was 61,6981 58. 11d. The first experimental trip of the London, Harwich, and Continental Steamboat Company, from Harwich to Rotterdam, in the Company's steamship the London (2,298 tons), will take place on Saturday morning nut. THE SMITHFIELD MEETINGS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SIIN. Sin, —Will you do me an act of justice by insertion of the following The low-priced daily papers of the metropolis, in pre tending to give a report of my speech at Smithfield on Tuesday, have published as such an unconnected farrago of nonsensical declamation, not one syllable of which I ever uttered. The threepenny papers appear to have had but one reporter between them, for their reports are identical. Their misrepresentation is calculated to do me serious injury, and I come to you for justice. Your report of my words, so widely different from theirs, is correct, and I may, perhaps, be permitted to observe that, widely as you differ from my views, you never condescend to misrepresent the words I utter in the reports you give.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, ERNEST JONES. 143, Strand, Feb. 18. The sums paid into the Paris Savings Bank last week amounted to 518,584 f , from 5,133 depositors, of whom 787 were new ; and the reimbursements to 498,323 f. THE RIISSIAN-DTJTCII LOAN.—Yesterday a Parlia mentary paper was issued, showing that on the 31st December last the interest due on the Russian-Dutch Loan was 743,750 florins, and the principal 15,000,000 g )rips. The Moniteur publishes a decree extending to the 30th June, 1859, the authorisation previously granted to the Mouzaia Mining Company, to export direct from Algeria to foreign countries copper ore to the extent of 6,000 tons. A Parliamentary paper published yesterday shows the bullion operations of the Bank during the past year. The amount of bar and foreign gold taken to them was 7,070,831/., while the sums withdrawn were 1,967,6301. of bar and foreign, and 5,632,2761. of British coin, making a total of 7,599,9061. The weekly reviews from the Amsterdam and Rotter dam produce markets state that business had been rather more animated, and that prices continued to he" well supported. The operations in refined sugar had been at an advance, while coffee, tea, and indigo showed increased firmness. The lettere from Rouen speak of a rather better demand for manufactures, but there was no alteration in rates. It is now estimated that the Peninsular and Oriental steamer C. , 13mb0, to sail on the 20th for India, will take out 660,0001., principally silver. For the succeeding mail of th 3 4th, which will include remittances to China, about 230,0001. is already engaged. Not withstanding these arrangements, the stock of silver on the market has not been entirely absorbed, and the price yesterday showed inerea - ied heaviness. A correspondence between the Government and the Bank, just printed, shows the only advances on deficiency bills during the year to have been 2,000,000/. in the quarter ending the 31st of March. In the December quarter the Bank agreed to purchase at par 2,000,0001. out of the 4,000,0001. of Exchequer-bills authorised to be created last session, but the amount negotiated was ultimately limited to 1,000,0001. The half-yearly meeting of the Great Northern Rail way Company, called for the 28th inst., has been post poned'until the 12th March. This meeting will be made extraordinary, "to receive a report from the directors on the subject of the forgeries and frauds committed by Leopold Redpath on the company, and to authorise the directors to make application to Parliament, and take other measures they may deem advisable in reference thereto." A BISHOP PREACHING IN A PRISON.—On Septuage sima Sunday the bishop of this diocese attended divine service and preached in the county gaol. The text selected by his lordship was Isaiah, chap. i., v. 18 : "Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." From these words he addressed his hearers, first, on the plainness of sin ; and, secondly, on the fullness of pardon. The sermon was listened to with marked at tention, and several of the. prisoners were moved to tears. —Carlisle Pat. , iot. DISSOLUTION OF THE STEPNEY UNlON.—Yesterday, Mr. South well, bhe vestry clerk of the hamlet of Mile end Old Town, containing 65,000 inhabitants, received an official letter from the Central Poor-law Board, giving orders for the separation of the hamlet from the Stepney Union. The separation is to take effect on Lady-day next, and a board of guardians, to consist of 18 persons, are to be elected on the 14th of March. THE ART TREASURES' PALACE.—The Art Treasures' Palace at Manchester being now covered in and com pleted externally the executive committee threw open the great halt and picture galleries yesterday to the sub scribers to the guarantee fund and their friends, and to season ticketholders, for a promenade. A band of music was in attendance, and the ladies and gentlemen who availed themselves of this unexpected invitation to view the building in its present unfinished state were between 6,000 and 7,000 in number, despite the unfavourable weather which prevailed during the day. MADAME TIISSAUD'S EXHIBITION. The splendid chamber termed the Napoleon room has just been com pleted, and has opened the entire length of the various rooms containing the groups and figures exhibited. This room now contains most splendid mirors nearly sur rounding the appartment, ard giving great lightness and brilliant effect to the chamber. The figure of Napoleon 1., surrounded by Murat, King of Naples, MarshatNey, , DasveLee of Anetria, Fred er i c k Wiliam, the u King of Prussia, Alexander 1., of Russia, and Field- Marshal Pr . ll`e Blucher. The Australian mail steamer will leave Liverpool about five days previous to her sailing from Southampton wi h the mails. It is probable, however, that now there is a direct railway communication with the north of England, that before long the Australian packets will take in ail their cargo and passengers, as well as mails, at Southampton, and also land all their cargo and pas sengers at that port. This will depend, however, on the charges for the conveyance of goods from the north-west to the south of England by rail being moderate. It is expected that the Australian mad, which will be de spatched on the 24th in 4., will consist of about 600 boxes of letters and newspapers, each box weighing about three quarters of a hundred weight. LIVERPOOL, Feb. 18.—The United States mail at( am ship Atlantic sailed hence for New York to-day, with nine passengers, a full carp, and the usual mails. There is also on board, in custody, the man Winter, who, as stated in The Sun on Monday, was chased across the Atlantic by one of his employers in the Persia, and cap tured on entoring the river, charged with stealing $2,000. The ship Fortune, belonging to the "Black Ball" lire of packets, will 'sail to-morrow for Melbourne with about 157 passengers. She was to have taken her departure to-day ; but this meshing her first and third mates (Joseph Duncan and John Jones) were sent to prism for three months each, and their certificates were can celled, for having broken into the spirit stores, opened several packages, and wasted and drunk a considerable quantity of brandy, wine, and other liquors. They have been replaced by better men. THE VALPARAISO PACKET-STEAMER CHIME. —Th e Chilie, the first of a new line of packet steamers to run between London and Valparaiso, has been obliged to put back. She left the Channel in the early part of last month, but met with a severe storm in the Bay of Biscay, and was completely dismasted. The storm commenced during the night of the 20th of January, and at half past 3on the following morning her foremast went. All her rigging and gear, as well as her maintop Mast, were then cut away, and in the afternoon of the 21st,her mainmast went by the board, taking with it the second mate and a boy, who were, however, got on board before the mas was clear of the side. Part of the rigging became en tangled in the after part of the ship, and for some days prevented the screw from being lowered into its place, and it WM with great difficulty that she succeeded in reaching Plymouth, where she arrived on the 13th inbt., and now remains to refit. THE Loss OF THE STEAMER RAVENSBOI7RNE. —Not withstanding the assistance afforded by the Dutch Go vernment to raise the sunken steamer .Ravensbourne, which foundered on the morning of the Bth inst., off Flushing, abreast of the Royal Dockyard, all attempts to accomplish that difficult task have failed, and it is much feared that this vessel, will become a total wreck. The Ravensbourne left Antwerp at noon for London, and, in accordance with her usual custom, she brought up on reaching Flushing, in order to discharge the river pilot. There was also on board the Dutch Admiral (FUrguson) and his daughter, who being desirous of landing at the Arsenal, the Ravensbourbe, it is understood, was endea. vouring to effect that object when she unhappily was carried by the current on to some sunken piles, and in extricating herself no doubt stove in the forepart of the ship. The captain, finding the fore-compartment rapidly filling, immediately ran her for the dockyard, and suc ceeded in reaching the entrance of the main basin, when she grounded, and all efforts to get her in failed. About 2 o'clock the following morning, owing to the fore-com partment giving way, the mainhold and afterpart imme. diately filled, when the vessel slipped off the bank where she bad grounded and went down in deep water. All the passengers and crew (excepting captain and chief officer), with specie and deck cargo, had been previously lsnded. The captain and chief officer were on deck at the time when she foundered, and only escaped by jump. kg overboard and swimming ashore. Part of her cargo was insured at Lloyd's on the morning the steamer was lost. TRH CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANY.—In making comments on this undertaking, we have only acted in accordance with our acknowledged object, that of pro moting all legitimate enterprises that support the mining interest, or that have a tendency to develops such in terest ; and we repeat, that a water company, for the purpose indicated, is the most legitimate ; and, from the data that has been furnished us, it appears to be most profitable. We are glad to find that our opinion is con firmed by our excellent correspondent, Captain Matthew Francis, but as to the amount of capital required he ap • pears to be in error. The absolute capital asked for does not ixceed 145,0001., which cannot appear large if the extent of distance is looked to-35 miles in length and 600 miles in area—and through which hundreds of miles of parallel flumes or ditches are to be cut. There are, no doubt, valuable rights to be paid for, but the arrangement wade by the California Water Company, in this instance, seems most unexceptionable to the Eng lish investors, as those rights, whatever they amount to, will be included in the gross capital, and are to be paid for in class B shares, which are not entitled to receive dividends until 20 per cent, has been paid to the sub scribers. It must not be overlooked that the calculations made in the company's pamphlet, to which we have fre quently referred, are upon the maximum,, amount of capital, and whatever difference may arise in the pro jected arrangements will be so much saved . fcr the gene ral benefit of the shareholders ; but thoiie advantages, as stated, are solargo . that if only one-half were realised it would amply satisfy the English investors. All the accounts from California agree li that such enterprises are much wanted, while those ,in "existence at present pay almost fabulous diiidends.--!•ffinirl 1857. Journa/, Feb. 14, LATEST NE %VS. The Official Milan Gazette of the 14'h, in a leading article on the question of the Danubian Principalities, refers to the late article in the Moniteur on that subjt.e, and after observing that Austria and England join with Turkey in demand ing the separation, adduces arguments in favour of the latter course. It quotes a Vienna letter from the Journal de Frankfort, in which the writer attributes the article of the Moniteur to some secret object, known only to the Courts of Paris and St. Petersburg, which " might cause fresh clouds to accumulate on our political hori zon." The letter then says :—" On account of this demonstration, the Cabinet of Vienna is, however reluctantly, obliged to apply for positive explanations to the French Government, before it withdraws its battalions from the Principalities. If we are well informed, Baron Hubner will be directed to ask for the precise interpretation of this last singular manifestation on the part of France." The Paris correspondent of the Morning Pouf (Second Edition) says : " Advices from Florence state that the Grand Duke experiences great difficulty in forming a new Government. He wishes to gather about him Ministers who are favourable to the pretensions of Rome. M. de Bach, who is at present in Milan (one of the tools of Rome in the Concordat con tract), will start. in a few days for Rome. It is thought that he has been invited to Rome to re ceive the personal thanks of the Pope. " The French Foreign-office is still waiting de spatches from Berlin and elsewhere before the Neuchatel difficulty can be placed in the way of settlement." FRANCE. PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. The Legislative Body met yesterday at 2 o'clock; M. Schneider, one of the vice presidents, acting as President, in the absence of emu* de Morny, in the ch lir. Count Joachim Murat, the Marquis ch- Chaumont-Quitry, M. Tesneire, and M. Edouard Dallos were installed as secretaries. The President then addressed the depw ice in the following terms : "Gentlemen,—l am indebted to the absence of Conn: de Mercy, to whom the Emperor has confided an im portant mission, for the high honour of presiding over the sittings of the Legislative Body. To occupy thi. place of a man who is distinguished as much by hi personal qualities as by the sips' services which h. has rendered to the State, is a task the great im portance of which I am fully sensible of. I will devote myself to the duties of that high position with devotedness, and with the confidence that my honourable colleagues will be pleased to vouch safe to me the same kind feeling that they have heretofore accorded me. Have you not, besides, gen tlemen, constantly proved that you know how to unit, in your deliberations the calmness and the mature views which best suit the grave interests entrusted to you ? By still pursuing the same course, we shall continue to giv, our loyal, well-considered, and devoted co-operation to the policy of the Emperor." This address was received with loud marks of approbation. Leave of absence was accorded to Count d'Houdetot, Count de Montalembert, Gene ral Barn Grosse, and MM. Belmontel, de Chazelles, Cazelles, Chauchar..l, and Gi,clard. A letter was read from M. Benoit-Champy, expressing his regret at being obliged to resign his seat in the Chamber, in consequence of the new func tions to which he has been appointed. Leave was given to the Marquis d'Andelarre to print the remarks which he made last session on the bill relating to superior functionaries. A decree was communicated to the Chamber declar ing that in addition to the Imperial Commissioners, M. Baroche, President of the Council of State, is charged to defend before the Legislative Body al. bills presented during the present session. Abi I was presented to accord to Marshal Pelissier, Duke de Malakhoff, an annual dotation of 100,000 f., dat ing from the Bth Sept., 1855 ; also a bill to reo-n- DA° Q.t.:ninny eiy LLe buaget OI 12504 ; likewise two bills concerning exchanges of property ; and, lastly, fifteen local bills. The bureaux were then fixed by lot, in the usual manner, and the proceed. ings terminated. A letter from the banks of the Danube an nounces that the fort of Sulina, placed at the mouth of that river, had been given up on the 4th of February to the Ottoman Commissioner, Omer Bey, a captain in the Turkish navy, sent for that purpose from Constantinople. The fort of Sulina is situate on the delta of the. Danube. Omer hey is appointed naval commander of the district newly created, of which Sulina is the capital. The European commission appointed to report on the practicabi ity of navigating the Danube from Is•aktcha to the Black Sea is pursuing its objet' wi.h great activity. M. Backe, the Austrian dele gate, has presented his report, approved by the commission. It is, consequently, hoped that com merce in general will profit by the 15th article of the treaty of Paris, which declares the navigation of the Danube free to all nations. BOURSE, Feb. 18.—The following were the las quotations _ _ Cash. ft. c. End of Month. 4i per Cents 3 per Cents New Loan - . ...... _ Bank Shares 4,150 Roman Credit Mobilier 1,342 50 Austrian Belgian Fives .. Spanish Threes Piedmontese (5) 9l Home Debt RAILWAYS —FOR CASH. __ it. C. _ _ tr c Orleans 1,385 Western Northern Lyons 1,390 New Ditto liediterranean 1,775 Grand Central Lyons Geneva - Cette AUSTRIA. A letter from Vienna in the Debats says :—" The Emperor has just granted permission to the Arch duke Stephen, ex-palatine of Hungary, who for eight years has been living in exile in the environs of Coblentz, to re t urn t o A us t r i a . I n th e revolu tion in Hungary, in 1818-9, the Archduke Stephen caused himself to Le suspected by the Court for his political conduct, although he had left Hungary be fore the opposition to the Emperor's Government had assumed the character of revolt. Baron Koller, who, after being charge d'affaires ad i nterim at Constantinople, was nominated Minister at Berlin, and was aterwards appointed. Austrian commis sioner for the reorganisation of the principalities, has just received orders to proceed to Berlin as . minister, and has been replaced the eouun i, si Qll of the principalities by M. de Lie hmann, chief of the commercial division at the ministry of foreign affairs, and formerly an attache of the le ga ti ons at St. Petersburg and Constantinople. As to th e prin cipalities; if there are three voices against th e un i on, there are also three, Prussia, Sardinia, and R uss i a , in favour of the views of France, which has declared for the union, so that the balance appears o n thi s latter side. It is, however, said that R uss i a i s no longer favourable to the union, but it is certain that at the end of 1856 she declared th a t ' s h e was dis posed to adopt the views of France.'" TURKEY. A letter of the 9th, from Constantinople, says : Among the reforms which Reschitl Pacha is occu pied in carrying out, that of the conscription of Christians has been the subject of serious consider ation. At the general discussion of the matter two opinions were put forth, one, proposing to im mediately incorporate Christians in the regiments under arms ; and the other to form them into a special corps, and not to draft them into other re giments until they had gone through a course of regular drilling. The question has been submitted to a special commission charged to report on it. In consequence of the return of peace, some changes are also to be Made in the effective strength of the Mus.sulman army, in order to reduce the expenses of the State. Only two-thirds of the usual contingent , are to be called out, and the other third will lit exempt from service on payment of a certain sum, which is said to be fixed at 5,000 piastres (about 1,000 f.) The Grand Vizir is also occupied with the general organisation of a system of public in struction throughout the whole of the empire. A Ministry of Public Instruction is about to be form ed, and Cabouli Effendi, one of the most enlighten d men in the country, is to be sent into the principal towns iu Asia to organise public schools. It i s also said to be in contemplation to form a Ministry of Public Works." Two English line-of-battle ships Malta, were to quit the Boshorus on the 9th for but it was not expected that the remainder of the squadron would leave before the evacuation of the Principalities by , the Austrian troops. The fi x . man for the convocation of the Divans ad hoc in the principalities was expected to be published immediately in the journals of Jassy and Buch , . rest, after which the electoral list would be formed, ' and the election§ commence at the beginning of March. A letter from Varna of the 3d states that General Sokoloff, wi.o is at ached to the Russian army in Asia, had j 1 , ft for Erz-rourn, charged with a mili.ary mission on the part of Prince Bariatinsky, the commander-in-chief. It is posi tively stated that the oiject, of this mission is to decide on the line of fortresses which Russia is about to have constructed on some new territory ceded to her by Persia, in virtue of a convention signed, it is said, at Teheran at the commencement of last month. The territory in question, situat ed near the Armenian frontier, is of itself but of little importance. RUSSIA. The Aloniteur de ha Flotte pnbli.,hes a letter from Khiva, dated the 25th ult., which says : " The Russians have terminated the construction of a new fort at the mouth of the Goorgan, a river which flows into the Caspian Sea ; it is destined to keep in check the Tureoinan tribes, and is to be earrisoned by about 2, , .100 men. It is built on the plan of those which Russia already possesses on the coasts,7and which are garrisoned by 10,000 men. A hydrographical survey of the Caspian Sea, just completed, shows that the sea contains 68,500 square kilometres, and is as deep as the Black Sea, with about the same advantages and disadvantages of navigation. The Russi.n Government has or dered a corps consisting of the 13th division of in fautry, commanded by General Chruleff, and the 18th, commanded by General Wagner, to assemble on the banks of the Araxes, on the frontiers of Per sia. These two divisions form part of the army of Asia, which, under the command of Prince Baria tinsky, is destined to defend the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea. These steps have no doubt been taken in great part in consequence of the late events of Persia.' But what is more serious is, that the convention agreed to in January last between Rus sia and the Court of Teheran, for the cession of the territory which extends on the frontiers of Turkish Armenia between Bayazid and Nakhbschivan, will increaso tho Russian power in that part of .Asia and Prince Bariatinsky has received orders to esta blish without delay military posts and a small line I of fortresses in the newly ceded territory. THE LATE EARL OF ELLESMERE, We regret to announce the death of the Earl of Ellesmere, which occurred at Bridgewater-house yesterday after a very long and most painful illness. li'rancis Egerton, first Earl of Ellesmere, of Elles mere, county of Salop, and Viscount Brackley, of Brackley, county of Northampton, was born on the Ist of January, 1800. His father was George Gran ville, Marquis of Stafford, who afterwards was raised to the highest degree in the British Peerage as Duke of Sutherland, whose father, the preceding Marquis, had married Louisa, daughter a nd even tually co-heir of Scroope, fi rs t Duke of Bridgewater, to whose magnificent estates the Earl just deceased succeeded at the decease of his father in 1833, when he assumed the surname and arms of Egerton alone in the place of his patronymic of Leveson Gower. He received his early education at Eton, whence hp was in due time transferred to Christ Church, wheie lie graduated B.A. in 1821. In the following year Lord Francis Leveson Gower, as he was then styled, was returned to Parliament as member for the oocket borough of Bletchingley, and commenced his public career in the Commons as a Liberal Con servative, and a warm supporter of Mr. Canning and his party. He had, however, at an earlier date displayed a taste for literature and the fine arts ; and long before he had risked the broad glare of publication he had printed for private cir culation some poems which were at least respectable. He then pith ished a translation of "Faust," accom panied by flee and spirited versions of popular lyrics selected from the works of Gcethe, Schiller, Burger, Salis, and Korner, which passed through. several editions before he resolved to withdraw it from further circulation. In 1828 Lord Francis Leveson Gower was sworn a member of his Majesty's Privy Council, and not long afterwards accompanied the late Marquis of Anglesey to Ireland as Chief Secretary. From July to November, 1830, he held the office of Secretary at-War under the latter part of the Ministry of the Duke of Wellington. From 1826 to the dissolution in 1834 he sat fir the county of Sutherland. In the December'of the latter year he was chosen for the Southern Division of Lane,' shire, which he continued to represent down to Ins: elevation to the peerage, in 1846. On most important questions. he carefully abstained from identifying himself with any faction or party. We ought, how ever, to mention that 20 years before Sir R. Peel adopted the policy of free trade that measure bad been strenuously advocated by Lord Francis Eger" bviz IL" ILI VicLUG in Parliament ; that he warmly supported the project of establishing the University of London ; and that be actually carried on one ocmsion a motion for the endowment of the Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland. In the year 1839 his lordship was recommended by his medical advisers to spend a.winter in the East, and he accordingly proceeded in his own yacht to the Mediterranean and the Holy Land. the results of his observations he afterwards gave to the world in the form of notes to his poem en titled the "Pilgrimage " in which, havin g a dopted the staff and sandals of a palmer, he gave a highly poetical picture of the various scenes and places which he visited in the course of his tour. This volume has been since reprinted, but it has been withheld from further circulation for many years. In the few years previous and subsequent to this date Lord Ellesmere published his "Mediterranean Sketches," and printed for private circulation save' ral poems, among which the Lest known are " Donna Charitea ;" - "Blue Beard, a Parody f' the "Siege of Vienna," and the "Paria;" together with " The Mill," and a "Monody on the Death of Vie Duke of Wellington." Lord Ellesmere had inherited the magnificent pictures collected by the great Duke of Bridge water, and set a brilliant example to the possessors of similar col'ections by erecting a noble gallery at his town residence in Cleveland-gardens, to which the public have found ready admi.sion. Like most ducal houses, the House of Sutherland is built of a series of successive stages, and part at least of its fortunes may be said to have commenced from a comparatively humble origin. Thomas Egerton, the illegitimate son of Sir Ralph Egerton, of Ridley, having been brought up to the bar, ar rived at the highest honours of his profession, and filled during the reign of Elizabeth the posts of Solicitor and Attorney General, Master of the Rolls, and Lord Keeper of the Grr.at Seal. On the access sion of King James Sir Thomas Egerton was ap pointed Lord High Chancellor of England, and was raised to the peerage as Baron of Ellesmere_; a few years later he was advanced to the viscountcy of Brackley. An earldom had been already pro mised to him, when he died ; strange to say, the King, though a Stuart, kept his word, and elevated hi-) son and successor to the earldom of Bridge water. Not content with this mark of Royal favour, he appointed him Lord President of Wales, and of the marches thereof, and it is to this appointment that the world of letters is indebted for Milton's immortal masque of "Comus." His great-grandson Scroope, fourth earl, who was created Duke of Bridgewater in 1720, left two sons, who successively inherited the dukedom, and an only daughter, Louisa, grandmother, as we have already said, to the peer so lately deceased. The third and last Duke of Bridgewater was the projector of the cele brated canal which still bears his name, and which realised a princely fortune for himself and his suc cessors. The dukedom became extinct on his death, in 1803, though the earldom of Bridgewater con tinued for some 25 years longer in a distant branch of the family ; and the magnificent property of that house was devised by his grace to his nephew, George Granville, second Marquis of Stafford and first Duke of Sutherland, with remainder to his second son, who, as our readers are aware, has been successively known as Lord Francis Leveson Gower, Lord Francis Eget ton, and Earl of Ellesmere. It only remains for us to add that the nobleman who has so recently passed away from among us married in 1822 Harriett Catherine, eldest daugh ter o f Mr. Chafes Greville and granddaughter of the late Duke of Portland, by whom he had issue two daughters, of whom the elder is married to the Hon. G. C. H. Byng, grandson of Field-Marshal the Earl of Strafford ; and also five sons, the youngest of whom, Granville, was filled on the 27th of Jan., 1851, by a musket shot received acciden tally at target practice on board one of her Majesty's ships of the line. Of the other sons one is a cap tain in the navy, and another holds a captain's commission in the Grenadier Guards. His Lord ship's eldest son, George Granville Frances, Vis count Brickley, who has now succeeded to the Peerage as second Earl of Ellesmere, was born in 1823, and married in 1846 the Lady Mary Louisa Campbell, daughter of the Earl of Cawdor, by whem he had two children, Charles Granville, born is 1 847, and another son, born in 1854. His Lordship was elected for the Northern Division of Staffordshire at the general election of 1847, but accepted the Chiltern Hundreds in Feb., 1851, en the ground of ill-health. The deceased Earl was a Knight of the Order of the Garter, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Lancashire Yeomanry, a Deputy-Lieutenant for the county of Sutherland, a Vice-President of the Literary Fund, one of the Council of King's College, London, and a Trustee of the National Gallery. He was alto appointed Lord Lieutenant and Clistos Rotulorum of the County Palatine of 'Lancaster On the death of the late Earl of Sefton, in 1855. General Baron de Rottenthourg, one of the four &VP tants-general of the Old Guard, has just died at WO' gem, uear Paris, at the age of 87.