The Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-14 00:00:00

_.!__ THE BIRKENHEAD RAILWAY COMPANY. Pursuant to the following notice, a meeting of the directors and shareholders of the above company was held on Saturday, the 12th instant, in the Secretary's office, Birkenhead : "Notice is hereby given, that the next ordinary half yearly general meeting - of the company will be held at the company's offices, in Cathcart-street, Birkenhead, on Saturday, the 12th -day of January next, at noon precisely, for the general purposes of the undertaking. "The transfer books of the Company will be closed on Monday, the 31st instant, and remain so &Ail after the meetidg: $, Chairman. JOILISTON, Secretary. . " t'ompany's Offices, Cathcart:street, Birkenhead, 18th December, 1860." The meeting was presided over by Samuel D. Darbi shire, Esq , of Pendyffyrn, Conway; and amongst the other directors and shareholders present we observed the following gentlemen :—Thomas H. Holderness, Esq. (Deputy-Chairman), of Liverpool; William Titherington, Chester; John A. Hobson, Manchester; Win. H. Petit jean, Manchester ; Joseph Harger, Birkenhead; H. C. Beloe, Liverpool ; J. Rogers, Chester ; &c., &c. The CIIAIRMA.N called on the Secretary to read the notice convening the meeting. Mr. W. Jouisszoll then read the notice, and was about to,read the report also, when The CHAIRMAN remarked that, probably, as there was such a paucity of sharelibldeis in attendance, it would not be netessi* have the report read, as, doubtless, P.lliiresent had copies of it in their hands. Mr. TITHERINGTON--The report is very short, indeed, and there will not be much time occupied in the reading of it. The CHAIRALIN—Oh, very well ; so then I suppose it is the pleasure of the meeting to have it read. The report was then read as follows , REPORT OP THE DIRECTaItB the ProDrietdrt at the Half-yearly getiefai meeting, held at the bbritpfinills Office§i thtlitartLstreet, Bikkenheadi on gaitirdaY, 12tH 1661: he Pri3prietots at the last half yearly generat Meeting were infoihik that the agreement for the working the undertakine Fit* the Birketahead Railway Company, by the London and North-western Railway and Great Western Railway Companies was completed, for the term of 999 years, subject to the a pprova! of the Board of Trade. On the 16th of November last the Board of Trade granted a certificate of their approval of the agreement, and on the 20th of that month the two companies were placed in possession of the rad Way, working stock, Stc„ and arc now in pursuante tlibreWith working the traffic of the line. In (imitate° With the arrangement, a bill has been pre pared and deposited with Parliament by the three companies, for the ensuing session, for the absolute transfer of the rail way to the London and North-western and Great Western Railway Companies, jointly, subject to the terms entered into between the Birkenhead Company and the two companies. Under the provisions of the agreement, the dividend on the consolidated stock of the company, for the half-year ending 31st December last, will be after the rate of 2} per cent., and will be payable on Monday. 21st instant. Stern. D. DARBISILIMS, Chairman. Birkenhead, sth January, 1861. - • The CHAIRMAN then addressed the meeting. He said that the report was short, but, he hoped, satisfactory, and, consequently, he had only to say a few words to them. It was, he thought, rather pleasing to find that they were unable to hold their meeting at the exact time appointed for that purpose, in consequence of the non attendance, of a sufficient number of shareholders, this fact, per se, showed that the shareholders were perfectly satisfied with the position of affairs, inasmuch as they did not trouble themselves about attending ; and they seemed not to think it their duty to come in large num bers to call the directors to account: (hear, hear.) He had now only to state, in referent° to the report, what in fact appeared oh the r'a'ce of it, and that was, that the aanctiott of the Board Of Trade had been obtained for the agreement for the working of the undertaking of the Birkenhead Railway Company by the London and North- Western Railway, and the Great Western Railway Com tianies, completed for a term of 999 years. This ipproval and sanction had been obtained after a considerable amount of delay, and after a great number of memorials had been presented to the Board of Trade against the arrangements which the Birkenhead company had entered into, and which the company had taken very good care to make operative only within the powers granted by the act of Parliament ; so that they would thus see that the memorialists gained nothing by theirmotion— There was one rather curious circumstance connected with these memorials, and that was the very strong family resemblance that could be traced amongst them. TAlriugh.) One appeared to be so very like the other, that, a person could scarcely distinguish them. (Laughter.) It also stated in the report that a bill had been prepared and deposited with Parliament by the three companies, for the ensuing session, for the absolute transfer of the railway to the London and North-Western and Great Western Railway Companies, jointly; subject to the terms entered into between the Birkenhead Com pany and the two companies. The object of this clause was, as they were all aware, to . carry out, or rather to transfer the undertaking entirely to the two companies. This was done to give the two companies more absolute control over the property, and to relieve the Birkenhead company also. It would likewise have this beneficial effect, that it would entirely do away with the necessity of having a separate board. Of course, so far as they (the directors and shareholders of the Birkenhead Rail way Company) were concerned, this would be an advan tageous arrangement, and not merely to them, but far more so to the other two companies. Of course, if any of the shareholders present desired to ask a question, or to be informed on any particular matter connected with the report, he should be most happy to give every informa tion his. power. , (Hear, hear.) He declared that under the provisions of the agreement, the dividend on the consolidated stock of the company was at the rate of n per cent. He then moved that the report read be received, adopted, confirmed, and entered on the minutes. He asked if any of the shareholders had a question to ask before the motion was seconded. No person having made any observation, Mr. ROGERS said, I beg' leave to second the motion. The Cu AIRMA.N then proposed the next resolution, that the dividend for the half year ending the 31st of December last, as provided for by agreement, dated the 31st August last, between the Birkenhead Railway Company and the London and North:Western and Great Western Railway Companies, on the consolidated stock of the company, (as declared in the report) to be after the rate of 21 per cent., and be payable on Monday the 21st inst. Mr. TITNERINGTON—I have great pleasure in second ing that resolution. The CHAIRMAN—That is the entire business of the meeting, gentlemen. (Hear, hear, and laughter). Mr. ROGERS—I beg to propose a vote of thanks to our excellent and esteemed friend the chairman, for his ~ ble and dignified conduct in the chair, and the praise. worthy manner in which he discharged his onerous duties. (A laugh.) The motion was seconded by Mr . Beloe, a ft er which the chairman returned thank s ana the meeting separated. A MUNIFICENT GIFT.—On Friday the National Life boat Institution sent one of its best double-banked lifeboats, accompanied with a transporting carriage,' to Llandudno, near Liverpool. The cost (X 200) is defrayed by two ladies,• resident in Liverpool, in memory of a departed sister, and the boat itself is named The Sisters' Mernorial. — A - commodious and substantial Muse 'has been built for the reception of the lifeboat, her stores, and carriage. In fact there is probably not a more com plete lifeboat establishment on the whole coast than at Llandudno. • THE ADELPHI PANTOMIME.—" Prince Peerless " con tinues to have a triumphant run. New " points" are made nightly by the artistes concerned, and duly appre ciated by a discriminating audience. Mrs. F. Lloyd, Mr. Steyne, Mrs. Dentith, Mr. Swanton, and Miss Henderson, invest their characters with an esprit which could not fail to be successful. On Wednesday last (the juvenile night) one of the largest audiences ever seen within the walls of 'this theatre bore testimony to the success we are now recording, and to all appearance this pantomime will continue its run to Easter. The little army of volunteers are especial favourites, while the harlequinade, with Mr. Cousens, Gardner Boleno, Mr. Matthews, and Miss Beach, increases, if possible, in rapidity and rollicking fun. The persecuted " bobby" deserves a word of praise for his neat and cleanly appear ance; in fact, every one concerned appears to do his or her best to continue the run of this successful piece. 'COMMISSIONS SIGNED.—By the Queen : 3rd Man chester or 40th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps—H. W. Heaton, late of I4th foot, to be Adjutant from the B th December, 1860.—8 y the, Lords Lieutenant : Lan cashire-22nd Lancashire Artillery Volunteer Corps— H. K. Gill, gent., to be Honorary Assistant Surgeon. 2nd Lancashire Engineer Volunteer Corps—T. Duncan, Esq., to be Captain ,• C. Sherlock, gent., to be First Lieutenant ; T. Duncanson, gent., to be Second Lieutenant.—Memorandum : Her Majesty has been graciously pleased t o accept t h e res ignations of the com missions held by First Lieutenant J. Railton in the sth Lancashire Artillery, and of Captain J. Fenton, in the 24th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corp s . Cheshire — Earl of Chester's Yeomanry Cavalry —Cornet T. H. Marshall to be Lieutenant, vice Palin, resigned ; P. E. Warburton, gent., to be Cornet, vice Oust resigned 2nd Cheshire Royal Militia—Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept the resignation of the com mission held by Captain N. W. Stephens in the above regiment, from the 7th December, 1860. EXPLORATION OP THE INTERIOR OF • AFRICA.—OR Saturday at noon, a meeting of cotton brokers, and other mercantile gentlemen, was held at the Cotton Salesroom, for the purpose of bearing an address from Mr. John Petherick, her Majesty's Consul at iihart7n, with reference to the proposed further exploration of the interior of. Africa. His Worship the Mayor, pre sided, and briefly introduced the lecturer to the meeting. Mr. Petherick stated that Government, having fitted out an expedition from the South, had refused to make any furthe r gr an t ; and his object was to appeal to the public generally, under th e auspices of the Royal ' G eogr aphical Society, for the further expedition, to organisation o f a be cold , by should .himself. His proposal is .that it Proceed from his residence at Khartown south ward towards Bondokora, where be hoped to meet Capts. Speke and Grant, in command of the expedition starting from Zanzibar, and to whom lie would render assistance with the view of discovering, as expected, in the imme diate vicinity the sources of the Nile. The speaker eiPre , sed his concurrence in the views given by Consul Henson before the Royal Geographical Society, that cotton was to be found in the interior, indigenous, and not merely in - the for m of- plant, but ' of a trie,iirid that with proper cultivation it could be made to yield au abundant supply. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Petherick, and several gentlemen handed over to him donations in promotion of the object in view. A vote of thanks was also passed to the Mayor, and ter minated the proceedings. LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.-SATURDAY. (Before Mr. RAFFLES.) WHO STOLE THE GOOSE? ThomailValinsleq; a never-ma Y-care sort of lookink homo, was,pat to the bar on a charge of baying stolen " the goose," belonging to john King, of St. John's Market. The long pending inquiry made by the boys in the streets, and the men in the pantomime, and the wits in the taveriis and other places of, ,‘,11 , 10 stole the goose ?" has at length been answered; gild the delinquent bas thus been found. out. , The prosecutor eatised seine brighter 14 !,he manner in narrated the loss pf."goosey,"! which was somewhat aftei: the -following fashion. Having, made a bow,that would have -graded any professor of '" Here we are," in the pantomime, smiled graciously- around, and thus addressed his wor ship. Mai it pleaSe' your hOnour, sir, I purchased' a goose for 4s. al'. yesterday, and 'intended it for my own , consumption, (Laughter.) I laid it nicely. down behind the stall, and when I went to look for it I' found it had turned Walker—(laughter)—at all .events it was flown out of that, whether ,on the wing or other- wise I can't say. I never suspected Torn would do such. a ,thing i , - as.-1 know hini for. Years and. always . thought the best of. him; lio*efer, human nature is - frail, and Tom's nature wasn't fit td hold out against a. fat ioose. Here Tom interrupted the speaker, and said John, you know it wasn't me ; it was the drink that done it In r_cply to Mr. gpffiCs the prosecutor Said a witness saw the prisoner take the goose, and hide it behind a stall in St.'.Tames's Market. A Witness was called and proved this interesting fact. Prisoner : Jem Hayes knows where it is, and it was the drink that done it all. 'Prosecutor! If I .get the goose replaced, as it was for my own consumption, I won't press the charge. He is a man I know for years, and I did not think he would do it. It was finally arranged•that the glitise, or one in its place, or the value thereof, should be given to Mr. king for his own "consumption" by the ,priso-. net) and then the latter was set at liberty, so that, after all, the question of 4 Who stole. the goose not yet settled in a satisfactory way. THE OkßelE OF . tOitGEltt AGAINST 1‘1111";. • . CATTEItELL.. z In our paper of Thirrpday„Wereported at length the charge made against Ars, patterell, by. Irs, liarris of Berry-street,' for fererrY. The accused was then liberated on her husband's bail. The case came on again on Saturday, when Mrs. Catterell appeared to answer the charge. Mr. Deighton, instructed by. Mr. Cobb, appeared for 'Mrs. Catterell. Mr. Raffles asked chief superintendent- Kehoe, was. there any more evidenee in the case ? Mr. Kehoe replied he was not aware of anything . additional in the shape of evidence ; in fact, the Matter 'had . been taken out of his handS altogether, and put into the hands of Mr. Walter, the public proSe cuter. Mr. R,affies said if there was no farther evidence, in the case, he hall made up his mind , what to do; but, perhaps it would, be better to send for Mr. Walter, and hear what he had to say. After some time, Mr-Walter appeared in court, when Mr. Raffles asked him if he had any more evidence to offer in the case. Mr. Walters said he had not. , The , only evidence was the signing of . the post-office order by the prisoner Mrs: .Catterell'; but he had not the Terser/there who sent the money. Mr. , Raffles said that would make very little dilterence, in deed, as it was very donhtful, iti his mind, whether the money was not paid into the till. of Mrs. Harris by Mrs. Catterell, as the latter alleged that she had paid it into the till, and there mis'no evidence to silOW that'she littd not, and therefore he would, give her ,he benefit of the doubt, and discharge her. After some ; •short conversa tional.discussion, Mr. Raffles said—As there is no farther evidence in this case, must discharge the accused. .Mrs. Catterell was then discharged. Mr. Deighton then said, now that the prisoner was discharged, he thought it his. duty, not only to the public, but to himself and the pri-' soner, to say something in reference to the manner in which she had been treated. After a long imprisonment, in a bad state of health, because she could not find hail, she took her trial on Tuesday' last before the RecOrder' and a jury, .and, after .a long and patient trial, that jury acquitted her of the charge. One, would have thought that after such suffering she would be allowed one night's liberty; and in a Christian country like thii one would have thought that humanity and justice would have suffered her to enjoy her liberty one night; but no, before she left the building, when she had been aequitted by the jury, she was again arrested'and carried back to priSon by what were . called two officers of justice, with out any Warrant or authority whatever.: The next day she , was brought before this cenrt, when the public:AroSeeueor was brought in to . proceed in the charge against her, against all justice, hUmanity, and reason: He (Mr. Deighton) did not' wish to make any charge against Mr... Walter, because that gentleman could not tell how the Wide imposed on him ; but he did not think such conduct was calculated to uphold the respectability of the law, which ought to be administered purely, without any'fraud being practised by the police force. Having said thus much, he thought he lad per formed his duty. Mr. Raffles said, since he had heard' the case last time, be had seen the Recorder on the subject of the trial. He found that the facts were as stated; and that the jury, after two hours' deliberation, returned . a verdict of not guilty. The point of the forgery was brought before the jury by the learned Recorder, and they having had a doubt about that,, gave her the benefit of the doubt, and acquitted her. If she were now sent for trial it would be substantially putting her on her trial h second time ifor the same 'offence, so that he would hot deem it' his duty 'to send her for trial, but give her the benefit of the doubt, of the jury and discharge her. He must, say that although the jury discharged her, they did not impute perjury to .Mrs. Harris. Mr. Kehoe said, in regard to the police, they had ,no alternative but to take Mrs. - Catterell into custody, as' she Was given in charge to.the. officers by Mrs. Harris for forgery. Mr. Raffles .said Mrs. Harris had suffered by' somebody. Mr.:Kehoe—She has been brought into the Bankruptcy Court. Mr. Cobb- r And deny it has been by .niy client. Mrs. Catterell was then finally discharged. , ; .,SUSPICIOUS CASE. Detective officer Marsden brought up a boy named William Henry Pearson, on a charge of having stolen 10s. 6d. from his employer, Mr. Jackson, •poulterer, London-road. It appeared that the lad took the money out of the till, and alleged it was due' to him for wages. On the Sunday after Christmas Day, the shop of Mr. Jackson was robbed of £56 in gold, and Marsden said he suspected some one about the place, and asked f or the lad's remand, which was granted. ..-_~ WHAT'S TO BE DONE ? Mr. Bluck ' on behalf of a Mau named Robert John ston, applied to his worship under the following circum stances Black said he was aware that his worship could not do anything for the applicant, but he would not be satisfied unless' he beard the decision from his worship. The applicant' had separated 'from his wife some - time ago, in ii'oniequenee . 'of her drunken habits, and it appeared, that a day or two since the wife managed to steal their daughter, who is five years of age, away from school' where 'the father had placed . her; and he. now wanted the magistrate to assist him in getting :her back.—Mr. Raffl es sa id he could not ass i s t th e a pplicant, as.the mother h ad a s good a r i g ht, to the child as the father, up to seven years of age.—kr. Black said he would' advise the father to sled back the 'child 'again. (Laughter.)—The applicant then' left, apparently very displeased. The Niagara, which left.LiVerpool on • Saturday for Halifax and BoSton, took out £190,000 in specie. AN IMPROVED SPRING VENTILATING BEIL—The production of the fbinidation 'of a bed which, by its elasticity and'flexibility, shall conduce to a greater degree of ease and comfort to the.person lying.upon, it than attainabl e 'by the' ordinary matt ress , i s a deside ratum that has been long soughtafter.; and to this end' spring mattresses of various kinds of construction have been introduced and patented, with more or less success. Steel and wire springs, India-rubber, &e., have each been tried in turn; but thes e , f rom atmospheric influ ences and other causes, become•affected and fail Ao. answer the purposes for whichthey were ' intended. Moreover, there are 'other and_more erious. objections to spring mattresses—they t d ed o not admit of ventilation ; their flexibility is restricted h t a o rb elasticity ; they are and , the exP4nSe th en ei t r t c h o em stri f i . construction i p n i s it e e c ei til t e b le ni rm a i t n n ; heavy and cumbersom e ; they e egter priceen general which rtiol hasa have e. willr recently, rsure Messrs. B pa u te rk n e ted and a l ve o l ., ever coming into o of 31, C o h s u Church street, and simple contrivance which, whilst it very possesses more than all the advantages_ sought to be attainedpsess mattress, is free from the objections which atytaachsptorinitg, and, in fact, supersedes the use of a mattressi altogether. sn The invention consists of a veryntstrueted frame of woodwOrk, formed of t wo side and .- end supporters, which can be made t o su i t a bed lvt; dimensions. In the head and foot be am o f this frameany are sunk concave sockets, or curved rece sses , into which are placed . a corresponding number of ovalLform e d supporters, running, of course, longitudinally, Th' es , supporters serve ;all the purposes of a spring mattress, without any of its drawbacks. The consistency of which the supporters are made, while it will support double the weight that maybe placed scion them, : give s th em an elasticity not surpassed by the best spring mattress ; hut, in addition to this, the way 'in which the supporters fit into the recesses, or grooves, ateach end of the bed,' is such that the foundation of the bed moves with the ?notion of the person lying upen it, and, by'altering the, position, conduces to ease and comfort. Another great advantage of the contrivance' is; that constant ventila tion is kept up immediately beneath the bed ;' and all these desirable objects are attained at such a light, expense that no doubt; when it becomes known, Burke's patent ventilating spring bed-frame will be brought into universal use, having the edVantages of Comfort, sim-' plicity; compactness, ventilation, 'cleanliness, portability, and remarkable cheapne'zs to recommend its ThiS new patent bed-frame, besides being adapted to household beds, is particularly iteSirable for ships, hospitals, bar &c. We understand that it has b e en in s p ec t e d our principal - shipoWners, cap t a i ns , an d i'boatyc some of others er'sconnected with shipping, and that it has been highly commended.. Messrs. E. Thonipsen and Co., Messrs. Wilson and Chambers, and several other houses i n passenger trade are, we are told, intr the odu e . n u g s t t r h a e l in a l. patent bed-frame into their ships; that the Victory and Flower of tle Forest have been so fitted ; and that Mfrs. Nuke and Co: are now so houses fitting the Red Jacket, and arc in treaty to fit up several other vessels. A number of large furnishing have also availed . themselves of the invention,. and the bed-frame, for the reasons before enumerated, 'is espe cially deserving of the attention of medical gentlemen and the directors of 'hospitals and other medical .insti- I tutions. . PREStNtA.TI6N Td tiEOT.-COL. XING. . On Saturday a presentation took place in connection with the Volunteer Movement upon the Cheshire side of the Mersey, which will, no doubt, be as interesting to our readers, as it must have been gratifying to the gentleman who was the object and recipient of the gift. The name of Lieut.-Col. King has been long and closely connected with the Volunteer Movement ; his important cervices hate been recognised, by the highest authority,. next to the queen, in Cheshire—hy the Lord-Lieutenant of the 60tiliity;itii6 has signified his approbation of Col. - King's donditot in connection with the "Volunteer Mote- Went by Waking bird one of his deputy-lientenarits: ite has been recently promoted from the.command of the second to that of the first dheshite Mies. The officers and members of his 'own corps, heating that he Was about to. leave them, deemed this a fitting opportunitY for presenting him with a substantial mark of their respect and esteem. .. A committee was soon or ganised, to whom, the management of the affair Was entrusted, and it was resolred that it should be confined to' the members of the Second Cheshire Rifles, The presentation • took place on Saturday, afternoon, at Oxton; in a patent tent, the inside of Athlrl was festdoned with wreaths of evergreens. The tent itself was of such an e*triorditia:fY siidPe chid COmz position as to defy descriptioii. The greater portion that is to. say the roof and two sides—were of common galvanised iron, one of the remaining sides was of wood, While an .old brick wall did service for the other. The " novelty" was upon the whole a "telling" one; it was evident; at least, that the Sir Christopher of the village . had studied variety, possibly for effect, probably for want of material. At all events there was no foun dation for the charge of, sameness, which is frequently advanced by connoiseurs against works of art; the tlcsit.e to avoid this, ,upon the wliole, was painfully con spicuous. The " edifice " was altogether as grotesque an exhibition of the handiwork of man as a tour through New Zealand or a journey to the North Pole. Mould be likely to supply. The tent Was Well filled with 'ladies and gentletten, the centre being appropriated to the metnhers and band. of Abeend' Che Shire Rillei. then the platfofin were Mflikvenscroft (in the chair); Mr. lOhn Laird, Rey. Mr. Tattersall, Colonel King, Captain Chambres (Wal lasey Rifles), Captain Horner, and other officers and gentlenien. The. CHAIRMAN said they were assembled there to witness the presentation to. Colonel Ring, of a plate which had been subSCribed • for that purpose by the members of. the 2nd •Company of the Cheshire Rifle Volunteers, on the occasion of his promotion to the Lieut.-Colonel Commandership of the Ist Battalion. It was intended as a mark of respect and an acknowledg ment•of the great services which he had rendered the volunteer movement generally, and in that quarter especially. As soon as it was known that Colonel King was to be promoted, there was one unanimous feeling among the members of his company,.which was that some steps ought to be taken to get up a subscription. The consequence was that a meeting was called, and they nosy saw the result. The subscriptions had been confined to the niembers of the 2nd Rifles, because it was thought that the gift would have greater value in the eyes of their coinmauder from having emanated solely from those 'volunteers whoth he had laboured to instrtict, and with Whom he bad been so long connected.. Tie thought they would agree with him in thinking that those men who had devoted their time to,. aiding and fostering the volunteer movement deserved well of their country. It had no doubt been 'a great national, benefit, for unless they looked back and considered the state which the country was in two years ago' they could not properly appreciate the changes that had taken place. Eighteen months ago, when the movement -was first started, the country was panic stricken. If the official journal of France spoke mysteriously of an,approaphing war, or if anyone .made a speech of a hostile character, we were seized with apprehensic;n of invasion. To add to our discomfiture, we were told that our arsenals were almost entirely use less, that oar navy was far inferior to that of France, that if a force of foreign soldiers were once landed it would be useless to contend against them, as we had no efficient standing army. Let-them reverse the picture. Great Britain had now regained her respect ; and if any foreign force would only now dare tot hint at invasion we, could point him tto our 15.0,000 volunteers. Colonel King, since the commencement of the movement, had devoted' himself, bbdy and soul, to its progress. He believed that it was to Col. King that that meeting was due;nver: which Mr. tnir:di presided ; to him was also d,ue the organisation of the different corps which had been formed 'in that neighbourhood. Since that time he had devoted himself almost entirely to the progress of the movement generally, and to his own improvement. With this view he proceeded to Hythe, where he won the good opinion of all who came into connexion with him. The Osten and Claughton district had reason to be proud of its company and of the gentlemen command, ing it. 'At the competitive shooting Col. King did his best ; and he had met with a reward for his exertions, by being made by the lord-lieutenant of the county a depUty-lieutenant. When the proposal for this testi monial was first considered, there was a little difference of opinion as to, what shape it should take. Some sug gested a sword, and others a pair of pistols. At length however, it was decided"to choose the handsome silver ornament they saw before them. He concluded by call ing npon ,Captain. HOrner. 1 . . CaPtain Hon= then came forward to present the testimonial. He was glad that Mr. Ravenscroft had, by making such an eloquent speech, taken a great.,' deal out of his hands. There was nothing for him but to simply present the candelabrum on behalf of the 2nd Cheshire Volunteers, as a mark of that esteem in which Colenel King had always been held by them. Might he long live to enjoy it.' The . cadelabrum was then, amid much applause formally presented to 'Colonel King. It consists of a centre piece in solid silver, representing a vine tree, around the base of which are grouped three figures of volunteer rifiemenin the picturesque costume of the 2nd Cheshire Rifles. The figures are portrait models of members of that corps, and the natural lineaments, as well as the dress and accoutrements, are carried out with scrupulous correctness and fidelity. The figures being all executed in frosted silver give an appearance of delicacy and finish to the whele piece, which has a most graceful effect. On One side of the base are Lieutenant-Colonel King's arms, on another the date, and on the remaining side the following inscription "Presented. : to Captain Vincent Ashfield King, by the 2nd Company of the Cheshire Rifle Volunteers, on the occasion of his promotion to the Lieutenant Colonelcy of the Ist Battalion, as a token of their esteem and regard, and the grateful remembrance of his services to, the volunteer cause." The following address, which was read by the Rev. MK. Tattersall, accompanied the present :-- To Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Ashfield King, Deputy-Lieu tenant of the county of Chester. We, the offl , ..ers, effectives, and honorary members of the 2nd Cheshire Rifle Volunteers, request your acceptance of this candelabrum. as .a tributisof the respect, and esteem we bear you, and as a record of the good feeling which has ever existed between us during your com mand of the corps. Believing that it is mainly due to your untiring exertions and self-devotion that our company owes its present prbsperity, we must ever retain a"pleasing recol lection of your connection with us, and feel sorrow, selfish though it may be, that duties,of a higher nature have called upon you to resign your command. We gl.idly avail ourselves of the present opportunity of congratulating you on the distin guished honour couferred upon you by our Lord-Lieutenant, and of expressing our conviction that the responsible position of Lieut, nant-Colonel of the Ist Battalion of,Cheshire. Rifle Volunteers could not have been conferred upon one more likely .to impart strength to the Volunteer Movement, Before parting allow us to express our heartfelt wishes that every happiness and prosperity may attend you in private and.public life,.and that you may long be spared to enjoy the honours eo • justly conferred upon you. Lient.-Colonel Kiss, . who, on rising, was received with most enthusiastic applause, and who evidently laboured under deep emotion, said : My friends, believe me there are moments of one's life which ought to be the most pleasurable, but in which one's feelings are, perhaps, more akin to pain than pleasure, and such are my feelings at this moreent. I feel that I must try to keep them Wider strict control, for if I do not I shall not be able to thank you as I ought. Most assuredly, I have sufficient at this moment to" . excite me, when I look upon this magnificent token of your regard for me, and when I think upon that address which has just been read, full of the kindest feelings towards Me. When I reflect that all now here have come to do me honour, to show their respect and regard for me—when I see so many fair ones, I may well feel at this moment the force of those sweet words of the poet — How sweet are looks which ladies bend On whom their favours fall. —(Cheers). I may indeed well:feel unmanned ; I may well feel agitated. The question Which naturally arises in my breast is, "What have I done to deserve this ?" and this is a question which I cannot answer satisfac torily to myself. I feel that others have done as much, aye, perhaps more, than I have, and have not been rewarded like me. My kind friends—Ravensworth, Horner, and Tattersall—who have, addressed you, have dwelt on my services ; but what are those services ? If I have been attentive to my duty; if I have done my best to master the mysteries of drill—in doing this I have only done my duty. Again, if I have been kind and courteous in commanding you, this,. again, was only what was my duty as a Christian gentleman to do. (Applause.) No, my f r i e nd s ; I feel I 'do not deserve this mark of your kindness. I feel it is not my merit which has deserved it, bUt your kindness which has given it. (No, no !) But. this is not the only reward I have received.for doing my duty; I have been selected as the man to, command the Rifle Volunteers in this district, and this, is surely an honour of which any man might be proud, but myself more especially, seeing ' that this district is my own native place—the place where my fathers have lived—the place where I hope to live and to die. This command is, indeed, a great honour,' for it means that I am to command the very cream of the man hood, the energy, and the loyalty of the Hundred of Wirral. (Cheers.) But then, es if this honour was not enough, and indeed far too much, the Lord Lieutenant (a nobleman of such sweet, such simple manners, that every man:-who hes the pleasure to know him must love him) has not; been content with showing me, every personal kindness, but has been kind enough to make me one of his deputy-lieutenants--(applause)—and has heaped further 'honours upon pie. Belieye me I feel that these _.1.17()Jr _T__ i f. am i THE DAILY TIMES, -MONDAY; .JAN uAE,Y 14, ISUL_ honours may be a trial Mid a fcriipfatiori to me, and that I tid/ well pray edriiestiy that, 'at tiatt tdakifier n'e . more ptoud; the are given to make me more lowly, more humble. ihe oCeasioi ageais to call for it; allow me to say a few wofdS 11017 tfie start M the Voluntem: Movement some eighteen mon& have heard of various 'claimants to the honour of being the originatois of this glorious movement, which has swept as a torrent over the whole country. Now far be it from me to disparage the exertions and merits of any one, but when a man claims to be the originator of this Movement, I cannot help thinking he must have a fair opinion of himself. No, depend upon it, God gives to few, to tefy few men, the mental . power of directing the mind of a great natiOft. This is far too grand, too dan gerous a gift to be giten to many. Ateotding to my opinion the originator of this great Voltteteer Movement Was the will, the Mind; of a great and free people— the English nation': (Cheers:)' Thai I may hate been an humble instrument in this part of the country, perhaps it would be mock modesty in m'e to deny. I well remember, in fact I do not think I shall ever forget, a fine morning in May, 1859, just at the time when men's minds were deeply stirred about the risk of invasion and our defenceless position. On this morning I was quietly smoking my cheroot after breakfast, when my dear neighbour, Ledward, came iu, find said with a, thrilling earnestness which I shall never forget, "king, I hate hdd a deal of talk with many upon the necessity of a voldnteer Mofemerit, and we all say that you are the man to take it up in this neighbourhood." Now, although I might have well felt that I had neither the talents or the position to take the lead in so grand a movement as this, yet I can assure you there was an earnestness, aye, a solemnity, in Ledward's manner, which so impressed me that I did not 'hesitate one moment, but answered him in an instant, " Well, I will ; I will do my best." From that day I hope I have done my best ; I hope I have never shirked or shrinked from any labour or duty which could help forward the volunteer cause ; and be lieve me, though mayhap the work has been hard, I have never for one moment regretted the step I then took. No, I have always rejoiced I took it, for each day con vinces me more deeply of its necessity, in a national poitit of 'tier( )=(cheers)—and surely I ought also to rejoice, seeing that it has given me many dear and intimate friends. it was , very soon after this that my connection with you commenced, and hot well I remem ber that bright July morning when we met on Olton Common, at six o'clock, in dresses of all shapes and colours, and had our first drill ; how well I remember the eager ness, the delight which all had in learning ; and how well rewarded we were when we were able to execute a few of the most simple movements. Last spring we all felt proud when we were able, at the review in Birken head-park, to execute' our manoeuvres with fair precision. I am sure all must remember with pleahure the thrilling scene ; and I shall never forget my sensations as I marched on the ground at your head. Last summer we all enjoyed the target practice. lam sure I shall never forget the keen enjoyment I had in it. As I sat smoking my cheroot on the Bidston road, waiting for the 'bus, it was delightful. Then came the drive down to Lea.sosve, and the pleasant chat; then the keen excitement at the target practice. How pleasant it was to congratulate those who had shot well and get out of their class ; how sweet, too, to sympathise with those who had not been so fortunate. Although the work was hard, I shall never forget the enjoyment at it; and this enjoyment, I am certain, arose because we were all happy together, and all took an interest in each other. And 'why were we happy ? Because we were engaged in what was good and right and manly: Yes, believe me, this was the main cause of our happi ness together. We were learning an art which was to teach us to defend our dear native land, if ever we were required to do it. Yes, depend upon it a man is always happy when he is doing what is right—always unhappy when he is doing what is wrong. Ever since our com pany was established there has been the same kind and. sweet feeling amongst us, and I do not think there has ever been any unpleasantness amongst any of the members of it. I cannot lay claim to any merit in having promoted this feeling. No t . I believe it.has_all_ arisen from your kind and good and Christian feelings. I believe you considered the Volunteer Movement as a solemn, a serious duty which you owed to your country, a duty which was not to,be taken up lightly, but when it was taken up ought to be worked at with the earnest ness which it 'deserved, and so I believe you are actuated by high and by lofty principles. You have had to do exactly what other coMpanies have done. You have had to pass through what I think is the severest test and ordeal of a Volunteer Company—that is, you have had to send in' to the Lord. Lieutenant the names of the gen tlemen to whom you wished commissions to be given. Now, although there have been various candidates, and some were favourable to one man, some to another man, yet, the moment the choice was overithe gentleman selected was always warmly and heartily congratulated by the whole company. Believe me, I have often been deeply gratified and affected by this proof of your excellent good feeling. lam anxious to dwell upon this, because I feel, and feel strongly, that it is upon this kind and good feeling that the success of the Volunteer Movement mainly depends, and if it does not exist, it will fall to pieces like a rope of sand. You have always yielded the most willing obedience to me, such an obedience'that . it is alliays delighful to command you; and believe me it has cost me a severe pang to give up the command of you my dear company. I often feel that in the higher rank'which I now hold, I shall never have the happiness, the delight, I had in the command of the 2nd Cheshire. (Cheers.) I can assure you what helps to reconcile me to the loss of my command of you is the knowledge that I leave you with three gentle men as officers who, I am certain, will all do their duty to the very best of their ability ; and I can pay them no higher complinient than when I say they are worthy to command the 2nd Cheshire. (Cheers.) I cannot help haying a word upon the exquisite taste which has been shown in the shape of the magnificent testimonial you have given me. It will always be before my eyes. It will always remind me of my dear 2nd Cheshire, at that sweet, aye, at that sacred, time when dear friends are gathered round my board, and when, with sparkling wine, there is "The feast of reason and the flow of soul." But especially let me thank you for giving it to me in a shape, not of selfish enjoyment, but in one that will add to -the enjoyment of every friend who enters my house; aye, will add to the enjoyment of that one whom I love the most dearly on earth, of her, who, like a good English woman, has entered most heartily into the volunteer cauie ; who has cheered,me on in it by her kind smile; who has submitted to the sacri . - lice of the frequent loss of her husband's society with out a complaint ; aye, even with cheerfulness, because she felt it was his duty. Yes, believe me, it is she, and she alone, who deserves this testimonial. (Loud applause.) This beautiful work of art will remain as a Memorial of your regard for me, and in after years my child will prize it highly as a mark of the regard in which ber father was held. Besides its intrinsic value it will haie a greater one in my eyes, because I shall always look upon it as the bond which still connects me with the 2nd Cheshire. Now, let me offer you my poor but heartfelt thanks, not only for. this but for all your kindness to me since I had the honour to command you, and may God bless you all. (Great cheering.) A. vote of thanks was then moved to the chairman by Mr. Wm. Jackson, M.P. ; and, after a similar compli ilea to the ladies, the proceedings terminated. THE HETTON COLLIERY EXPLOSION. On Thursday the coroner's inquiry into the cause of the terrible explosion at Hetton Colliery, by which 22 lives were lost, was brought to a close before T. C. May nard, Esq. The Coroner remarked that he did not intend to ex amine Mr. Wood, as he was an interested party ; but he would like to ask Mr.. Wood to state what was the plan he suggested for the •prevention of a similar explosion in future. Mr. Wood said, after all the evidence they had heard here, he thought it was practicable to make these flues safe in future; but it could only be done by sending into them a large quantity of air. It would be seen from the *evidence that there was something like 70 square inches of opening into these flues, and Mr. Matthews had stated that the flues at South Hetton bad only 25 square inches. He proposed to obviate future danger by opening a door from the side flue into the engine flue, and have it so constructed that you could not shut the damper without opening the door. The Coroner having briefly submitted the points they had to consider, the jury were left alone, and shortly after returned their verdict as follows : "We find that the'said John Greaves, and 21 other persons, who, on the 20th of December last, came by their death in the East and West Minor Pits of Hetton Colliery, had been killed by an explosion of inflammable gas, which had accumulated in the flue leading from the boiler of Davison's engine to the up-cast shaft—which gas .was not generated in the workings of the said pit." TUE Naw BISHOP.• 01' WoucEsrEu.—The Very Rev. Dr. Peel, Dean of Wordester, has issued a mandate to the Canons Residentiary to appear in the Cathedral on Thursday•next, in order to proceed to the election of a Bishop, in the room of the Right Rev. Dr. Henry Pepys,' deceased,. under a corgi d'aire granted to the Dean and Chapter fox that purpose oand also to consider a recom mendation ,made by Her Majesty that the Dean and Chapter' `should elect as Bishop of the vacant see the Rev.: Dr: Henry Philpott, Master of St. Catherine's College, Cambridge, and' Residentiary Canon of Norwich Cathedral. The Bishop nominate has not yet formally resigned his collegiate 11IastershiP, but he will do so in the course of a day or two, in order that the appoint ment may be .filled up in the course of the forthcoming term. The gentleman elected to the Mastership of St. Catherine's College will succeed of right to the canonry at Norwich, the one being held with the other by Act of tParliament. :By Dr. Philpott's elevation a chap laincy to his Royal Highness the Prince Consort becomes vacant. GREAT MALvEns.—Dr. Stummes having just left Dr. Wilson's Hydropathic Establishment, where he has been resident phy sician since 1848, is continuing the hydropathic practice at his private residence, Abbey Villa, Malvern, until his new establishment is completed. His patients have the privilege of using the public douches and other baths newly erected by Dx: Gully. OVERLAND MAILS. The Calcutta Express Mail arrived on Satur das'' • and firotight files of papers from Calcutta to the thhof to'coemberi 1 1 Zong Kong to the 29th of '.koVetnber, Melbou'rne to the 24th of November, taut 4ififd foiye Qlst of . November . . All the pignoWi nes% been antieipatect by the two telegranis wd ifive allteatly• published,• with the following. exceptions PEKIN. Pekin is described to us as distinguished from other Chinese cities by its size, the splendour of its walls, and the breadth and regularity of its streets. These latter are almost all unpaved. Though the houses are neatly carted in •front, they are on the whole rather mean icSfaing—ii and the streets are either badly paved, or riot peed at all. The temples are described as magnificent, though sotto' or them show signs of neglect. THE COOLit At Amoy the Jock Company continues its labours with success; aid at Swatow, or in its uefghhourhaucl, some attempts hase seen made to kidnap coolies ; one lorcha full of them having heeen despatched to Diacao. FOREIGN STEAMERS IN THE INLAND \ WATERS: At Canton an important concession has been obtained froth the Getetnor-General, chiefly, we nnderstaud, through the eXertioils of Mr. Hart. Permission has been given to the Vo-peep?, a foreign steamer, to run in some of the inland waters, and trade With iium-chook, a Village among the silk villages to the West of Canton ; and also to Shek-loong, a village from whence stlgar may be exported in large quantities, in the Toonkoon district. This is the beginning of what may be an immense carrying traffic. CHINESE EMIGRANTS. Another matter of importance at Canton is the difficulties which are said to be arising in the way of the emigration of coolies to the West Indies. Mr. Austin has threatened to shut up his depot unless some difference is made between him and the Spanish agents. A more serious difficulty is that a number of peasants, who were coming down to Hong Kong to emigrate, were stopped on their way by the mandarins. THE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND. (From the New Zealand Gazette of Nov. _7, 1860. THE BATTLE Or MAHOETAHI. The Taranaki Herald, dated the 10th of November, has the following : The most brilliant and desperately contested action ever yet recorded in the annals of New •Zealand was fought on the 6th of November, at Mahoetahi. On one side were arrayed the Waikatos, resolved to win the day, and deluded with the notion (since expressed by one of the, prisoners) that they had only to fire a few rounds to accomplish this ; and on the other side our own forces were arrayed, equally resolved to conquer, and allay the presumption of the enemy. The main body of the Waikatos lay in a raupo swamp well concealed from observation, and another body occupied an entrench ment on the crest of Mahoetahi Hill, in which were'some intrenched whares. The 65th detachment which had formed the advanced guard during the march from town, now formed a line of skirmishers, under Lieuts. Baillie and Toker, at• the base of the hill, and extended towards their right. This body was commanded by Captain Turner. The Rifle Volunteers continued this extension towards the left, under the direction ofrMajar Herbert ; and the 40th Regiment, commanded by Lieut.- Colonel Leslie; were massed in . colUmns, 'forming the reserve ; while the detachment 12th Regiment, under Major Hutchins, ,which had formed' the 'rear guard during the march, now remained in charge of the bag gage and spare ammunition, &c. The detachment Royal Artillery, under Capt. Strover and Lieut. M'Naughten, tendered, as usual, important service. The whole force was commanded by Major-General Pratt, C. 8., who, throughout the engagement, occupied a foremost place, and was much exposed to the hot and rapid fire of his, determined enemy. The WaikatOs' commenced the action by firing the first shots from 'an old entrenched position in the crest of the Mahoetahi Hill. This was quickly returned by the skirmishers ; and, after a short fire, the 65th and volunteers rushed up the hill, and.stormed that,position. In performing this service they were exposed to heavy flanking fires, but it was not until they had entered the entrenchments that they experienced any loss. Within that confined space a heavy fire from the entrenched whares laid law a gallant son of the Rev. H. H. Brown, a volimteer, not sixteen years of age, and Private F. Rooney, Light Company, 95th Regiment; while further towards the left Mr. Henry Edgcomb, aged twenty, also of the volunteers, received his mortal wound. Here Captain Turner' was struck in the face, by a,musket ball, and Colonel Sillery slightly wounded. A rush was now made on the where, and the bayonet speedily silenced all further annoyance. This service was accom plished by the 65th and Rifle Volunteers. Some shells thrown into the Raupo Swamp caused the Waikatos to quit their lairs, and now commenced the work of extermination ; for a detachment of the 40th, under Major Nelsony-and a company of the 65th, under Lieu tenant Talbot, from Waitara (the latter advancing in beautiful skirmishing order), came up from the north side of the bill, and the light company of the 65th, led on by Lieutenant Urquhart (then forming a flank guard), closing on their centre, together with a good show of Rifle Volunteers, the rebels were almost sur rounded. Men dashed into the swamp, and a hand-to hand ehcounter followed, and the bayonet and the butt-end of the rifle, when the bullet had missed, speedily convinced the brave enemy that the avenger was at hand. They commenced their retreat, still fighting with desperate valour, and in one of these encounters Private M'Givern met his fate, though not before the enemy had felt the effects of his prowess. They gradually got in the Hui rangi road, followed by a party of the 65th, under Lieu tenants Urquhart and Talbot, their retreating footsteps marked by pools of blood, and a storm of shot and shells bursting over and among them. In their terror they threw away their arms and pouches, and any articles of clothing that impeded their flight, and their pursuers followed them to near the Waiongana River, when fatigue alone compelled them to desist, for the day had been intensely hot, without a breath of air. The melee in the swamp had been a succession of des perate hand-to-hand encounters, and many instances of courage were exhibited on both sides. Private Gilligan, 65th, chat ono Waikato, and brained another with the butt end, of his rifle, Many other daring acts were witnessed, but must remain unrecorded, as the individuals could not 'be identified. But the bayonet played a con spicuous part in the exciting - scene, When all but the dead and mortally wounded Waikatos had disappeared, a reconnoitring party, under Major- General Pratt, composed 'of 12th, , supported by,6sth, proceeded to Ngataiparirua, and came in sight of "a' pah having a red flag flying, but it was speedily hauled down, and a white flag, half-mast high, succeeded it. The party then proceeded round by Puketakaure, and thence returned to Mahoetahi. In the course of the afternoon, after having buried in one grave some 28 or 29 Waikatos, the main body returned to the town (having left a strong force to retain possession of the field of battle) laden with the Maori spoils, in the shape of double-barreled guns, ornaments, shawls, &c., many battered and bloody, proving that they had not been parted with willingly. On the, force passing the town barrier, loud and con tinued cheers proved to them that their conduct was duly appreciated by their countrymen. The list of ca sualties will prove who bore the brunt of the day :- 65th Regiment, 2 killed, 10 wounded, 1. officer wounded; Volunteers, 2 killed, 4 wounded; 40th Regiment, 1 wounded. The natives were all Ngatihauas, a powerful tribe of Upper Waikato, the same who sought to make a dis turbance out of the Maori foan I dead at Patumahoe. The total. loss of killed and wounded is reported by The friendly natives to be 71. Some wounded must have escaped, and, dead, probably yet lie in the high fern. As ascertained by us, their loss is 42 killed; wounded, 2 ; taken prisoner, 1; making a total of 46. The natives killed were all Waikafos. On this occasion we can give a more satisfactory account of casualties than we have been able to do on previous occasions : KILLED. 65th Regiment—W. M‘Givern. F. Booney. Volunteers—F. Brown, H. Edgecombe. Wooing. _ Lieut.-Colonel C. Sillery, D.Q M.G., slightly. 40th Regiment—E. M‘Kay, slightly. 65th Regiment—Capt. Turner, severely; Sergeant J. Knight, severely; B. Boyhan, very severely; T. Coleman, severely; P. Connolly. severely ; IL Gibson, slightly; D. M'Briertv, very severely ; W. C. Ray, , severely ; R. Whitlow, severely ; G. Wilmot, very severely ; J. Lalley, dangerously; Corporal W. Roberts, slightly. Volunteers—J. Ward, slightly ;• R. Dingman, slightly ; W. Vercoe, slightly ; T. Valle, slightly. The following insulting letter was forwarded to the British authorities by a New Zealand chief on rebellion : " Pulcekob%r Nov. 1, 1860. "Tp MR. PARRIS.--FRIEND : I 'hare , heprd your word. Cenie to fight the, that is very good ; come .inland, and let us, meet each other. Fish fight at sea- 7 come inland, and stand on our feet ; make haste, make haste, don't Felon. it. Thiit is all. I have to say to you—make haste. " From WETINI TAIPORUTIT, " From Ponoxonu, " From all the Chiefs of Nagatihaua and Waikato. TEE SAN FRANcisco NEVi SILVER AllNY.S.—Aceounts from San Francisco to the 9th of November shoW that highly sarguine expectations are still entertained of the results shortly to be derived from the Washoe Silver Mines. •A respectable and cautious merchant, who had hitherto looked with doubt on alt the statements regard ing them, now Writes' that the testimony which has reached him on the subject leaves little rdom for dis belief. It is averred that the quantity exceeds both in extent and richness all previous mining experience. "Persons perfectly conversant," it is stated, '• with the mine 3 of Mexico and Peru say that there can be no com parison between these and theiWashoe mines, and the main trouble at present seems to be that the ore is too rich, and therefore too difficult of reduction." OFFICIAL DESPATCH OF LORD ELGIN. SUPPLEMENT TO TEE LONPON GAZETTE OF FRIDAY, JANVARY 11, SAYURDAY, JANUARY 12, 18G1. Foreign Office, January 12, 1861. The folloWing . de*tteh ‘vas received this day from the curl of Ingin, Her Majesty's High mmissioner and Plenipotentiary in China : Tien-tsin, November 13, 1860. 3fy Loun,-4 bar . ci: the' honour to enclose herewith the translation of a dcsvat'eli Which received from the Prince of Kung on the 2nd of thi;3ntonth, embodying an edict from the Emperor, which direds that the treaty of Tien-tsin of the year 1858, and the convention' of Pekin of the year 1860, shall be published throughout the empire.. Your lordship may remember that by the terms of the last article of the convention in question the withdrawal of her Majesty's forces from Pekin is made contingent, inter alia, on the issue of an imperial edict to the above effect, and that this stipulation was the subject of a correspondence between Lieutenant-General Sir Hope Grant and me, the copy of which was transmitted to your lordship in my despatch of the alst ultimo. The language of the edict forwarded to me by the Prince of Kung is very full and satisfactory. It amounts to a ratification and adoption by the trriperor of the treaty and convention in the most public form. I must add that the prince has shown every disposition to give effect to it. The documents referred to have not only been published in e.rtenso in the _Pekin Gazette, but have also been printed on placards. These proceedings will, it may be hoped, go fat to ensure the faithful execution of their pro visions. The despatch in which the prince communicated to me this edict was preceded by another, in which he enclosed, and requested me to forward, letters respecting the cession of the Kowloon Peninsula, the payments due at Canton on the Ist December next, and the legis. lation of emigration, which had been addressed by him to the local functionaries, whose duty it will be to see these measures carried out. A translation of that des patch is also transmitted herewith. On the 7th instant Mr. Bruce reached Pekin, having hastened up from Shanghai, in complianCe with my re quest. His arrival was most opportune, as it was very impor taut that before my departure from the capital I should be able to confer with him on various matters, and more especially on the subject of the place of re sidence for the future of her Majesty's representative in China. Mr. Bruce informed me that he was perfectly willing to take up his abode in Pekin at once. On con sultation with Baron Gros and Gen. ig,natieff, however, I found that the latter was about to leave Pekin for the winter, and that the former was of opinion that it would not be advisable that M. de Bourbillon should establish himself in the capital until the spring. I considered it therefore tobe my duty to advise Mr. Bruce to return with me for the present to Tien-tsin, and to remain there until a suitable residence should be provided for him in the capital. In order, however, that there might be no misapprehension on the part of the Chinese Government in reference to this point, we selected a house which we thought might be adapted to the purpose, and which was procurable on easy terms, and we accepted the ser vice of Mr. Adkins, one of the student interpreters, a very promising young man, who volunteered to remain in Pekin, and to superintend the arrangements necessary for putting it in order. I think it right to mention that Mr. Wade, Mr. Parkes, and Mr. Morrison severally intimated to me their readiness to stay at Pekin, if I thought the public interest would be promoted by their doing so. Having taken these measures I wrote to Prince Kung to express to him my sense of the good faith which he had evinced in the matter of the publication of the treaty, and to inform him that her Majesty's forces would at once retire to Tien-tsin. I added, that I pro posed to pay him a visit, with the view of taking leave of him, and that I should bring with me Mr. Bruce, who had just arrived at Pekin. I enclose a copy of the letter which I addressed to the prince on these subjects, and of his reply. In introducing Mr. Bruce to the Prince of Kung on this occasion, I was especially desirous to convey to the latter the impression that the rank and authority of the former was in no degree inferior to mine. Accordingly, when the visit which I had offered in my letter took place, after con versing for some time very amicably with the prince, I requested the interpreters to inform him that with us the person representing the Sovereign always holds the highest rank ; that peace being happily concluded between the countries, my task was at an end ; that Mr. Bruce, therefore, resumed his functions as the Queen's representative in China, and that I proposed, with the prince's permission, to cede to him the seat of honour which I was then occupying. On the following morning the prince returned our visit, and I pur posely absented myself, in order that Mr. Bruce might receive him alone. They had a long and some what interesting conversation, in which, as in several interviews which he had previously had with me, the prince showed much less reserve than the provincial functionaries, with whom we have formerly dealt, ever dared to do, in discussing delicate questions, such as the advisability of the mission of a Chinese Ambassador to England. Mr. Bruce took occasion to state that his correspondence would be henceforth with the Chinese Minister for Foreign' Affairs at the capital, and that though he was returning to Tien-tsin until his residence at Pekin was prepared for his reception, he would be at hand, and ready to come up at any time if public busi ness required his presence. Before the prince left I entered the room to thank him for having paid me a visit of adieu, and we parted on good terms.—l have, &c., (Signed) ELGIN AND KINCARDINE. The Lord John Russell, &c., &c., &c. HORRIBLE CASE OF CHILD MURDER. On Friday, Mr. William Carter, the coroner for the eastern division of the county of Surrey, held an in quiry at the County Terrace Tavern, New Kent-road, respecting the murder and mutilation of a female child, found in Trinity churchyard, Newington. Samuel Simmonds deposed that he was a conductor belonging to the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from . Tire, and on Tuesday morning he went with his fellow-servant (Hall) to place his escape in the churchyard. Having done so; he bid his mate " good morning," when saw a parcel wrapped in paper lying oA the stonework to which the iron railings are attached. He saw the foot of a child protruding from the parcel, and steam coming out of it. He at. once communicated with Mr. Inspector Read, and an officer of the M divi sion was sent for, and he immediately attended. The parcel was opened, and was found to contain the dead body of a child, which was quite warm. Alfred Gyford, police constable, No. 83, of the M. division, said that his attention was called, on the morn ing of Tuesday last, by fire-eScapenian Hall. He went and saw the body of a child in the parcel, with the head, one arm, and both legs severed from the trunk. The remains wore taken to the station, and afterwards he handed it over to Mr. Cook, the officer of the parish. The learned Coroner, at this stage of the proceedings, went to view the remains of the child. Mr. Thomas Cook, the summoning officer of the parish of Newington and St. George the Martyr, South wark, said that he was sent for on the morning in ques tion and took charge of the mangled remains. From two to three inches of the skull were broken in, and one-half of the brain exposed. Ile had been unable to find out who were the parents of the child, or who had committed the act. Mr. Thomas Joseph William Marsh said that ho was a surgeon practising at No. 1, Rockingham-row, New sent-road; and on Tuesday morning he was shown the body of the deceased child. The entrails were cut com pletely through, allowing the contents to escape. There was a cut oh the left side through the base of the skull, and which extended through the left. eye. That qpeared to have been one sweeping cut which had gone back wards as far as the lower edges of the side of the head, and that had penetrated through the brain. There was another cut on the right side of the head, which had not gone through the bone. The stomach was exposed, but not injured, and die chest was whole. The heart and lungs were healthy. The lungs were fully developed. He examined the lungs, and found that they bad been charged with air, and he tried them in water. The learned coroner summed up at great length, and remarked that he thought there was only one course the jury could adopt, to return a wilful murder against some person or persons unknown ; but if the jury thought that an adjournment would do any good be would willingly consent to it. The enquiry was eventually adjourned to January 25. FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE CLARENCE Door.—On Saturday five men were'engaged in repairing the pier at. the Clarence 'Dock, when the stage on which they were standing gave way, and two of the workmen were pre cipitated into the water. One of them was •saved by catching hold of a rope flung to him from the pier, but the other poot fellow was drowned: His body was not recovered till low water. THE OIL WELLS OF AMERICA.—The present viEld of the wells in Pennsylvania. and New 'York is more than 85,000,000 gallons a year. Discoveries in other States are reported, and the amount produced .May safely he estimated at 15,000,000 gallons more during the present year, making an estimated amount of 100,000,000 gallons, to be gathered up during 1851. This oil readily sells by the wells in its crude state at 45c. per gallon, making the value of the whole amount 0,000,000 doh.. In market it sells at 40c., and when purified at 75c., making its commercial value 75,000,000 clots., or more than £15,000,000. This oil is said to be valuable for lubricating purposes, no less than for illu minating. Shuuld this prove the case, it will beexported largely to this country. Adding this to the United States list of exports will have a strong tendency to keep the balance of trade favourable to that country. It is now sent to Australia, and it promises to rank second only to cotton on the United States list of ex ports. • • -7 • ""*" LATEST NEWS. (EY BRITISH AND IRISH MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.) FRANCE. PARIS, Jan. 12. The Moniteur of to-day says the report that a change would take place in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is without any foundation. The Emperor never thought of depriving himself of the enlightened and devoted concurrence of M. Thouvenel. PARIS, Jan. 13. The Moniteur contains a decree convoking the Senate for the 22nd January. THE FRENCH FUNDS. PARIS, Jan. 12, 3.25 p.m. The Bourse has been inanimate, but the firm ness exhibited yesterday has been maintained. Rentes closed at 67f. 15e., or se. lower than yes terday. DENMARK AND THE. FEDERAL DIET. COPENHAGEN, Jan. 11. The second edition of the Dogbladet publishes a warlike article, in which it recommends to Government the immediate formation of arma ments, and the removal of the ammunitions and war materiel from Rendsburg and Holstein. It concludes by asserting that Denmark can only secure her natural allies by a courageous attitude. NEW RAILWAY THROUGH THE TYROL. BERNE, Jan. 1. Austria and Bavaria have notified to the Federal Council that they declare henceforth to co-operate with Switzerland for the construction of the pro jected railway round the Bodenese. Austria gave as a reason for her resolution that the German traffic should now pass through the Tyrol. ROME. ROME (via Marseilles), Jan. 8. The Pope has despatched provisions to Gaeta. The reported revision of the Concordat with Aus tria has been denied. Mgr. Merode remains in office. ITALY. The Sardinians have passed through the province of Rieti, on their march against the insurgents in the Abruzzi. PRUSSIA. DECLARATION OF AMNESTY. BERLIN, Jan 12. The official Stauts Atezeiger contains a royal de cree proclaiming an amnesty for high treason against the country offences against his Majesty, crimes and offences constituting an abuse of the rights of citizens, and. for those persons who have been convicted according to civil law for resisting the authorities of the state or disturbing public order. To those who have evaded judicial enquiry and legal judgment by taking to flight, permis sion is granted to return freely, and, in the event of their being afterwards condemned, the Minister of Justice is to make proposal for their pardon. The King himself will decide in the cases which have been condemned by' military tribunals, pro vided they implore pardon. THE EAST. RECAL OF ONIAR PASHA. VIENNA, Jan. 13. The Neuiste Nachricliten publishes the follow ing news, which it pretends to have received from a reliable source :—The Porte has recalled Omar Pasha from exile, and has appointed him com mander-in•chief of the army which is to be con centrated on the Danube. GAETA. GAETA (via Marseilles), Jan. S. Since Saturday last the fire of the besiegers has been terrible. After the departure of the Cala brian deputation another arrived from Naples, to converse with the King. The Times has received the following despatch : VIENNA, Jan. 12. The French Ambassador yesterday officially informed Count Rechberg that the French fleet will leave Gaeta on the 19th instant. MURATIST DISTURBANCE IN NAPLES. NAPT,Es (via Marseilles), Jan. 8. A riotous assemblage has been dispersed ; and numbers of the rioters, amongst whom were seve ral Muratists, have been arrested. Nearly all the troops forming the garrison of Naples have been sent into the provinces. CONCLUSION OF THE ARMISTICE. NAPLES, Jan. 12. Francis 11. has accepted the armistice. The French fleet will leave Gaeta on the 19th instant. • •..! • •,, •r. NAPLES. - - - RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTRY. Prince Carignan has arrived, and has been en thusiastically received. Prince Carignan was saluted by the English fleet. The Council of Lieutenancy have tendered their resignation to Farini. The proclamation of the King has produced an excellent effect. • The new Councillors of Lieutenancy have been well received in Sicily, and tranquility is re established in the island. INSURRECTION IN SICILY. A formidable demonstration against La Farina has taken place at Palermo. La Farina had ordered the arrest of Crispi. The National Guard opposed the execution of the order, and compelled the Lieutenantcy Council to resign. MAIL NEWS. ARRIVAL OF THE RIPON. SOUTHAMPTON, lan. 12. The Ripon i .with the heavy portion of the Bombay and Mauritius. mails, has arrived. 'She brings 48 passengers, V)55 in specie, pearls value 56,100 rupees, and 957 packages of cargo, in cluding 416 bales raw silk value £40,000. The Ripon left Alexandria on the 26th of December, Malta on the Ist inst., and Gilialtar on the 7th inst. ...The war steamer Ferrel had tarived at Cadiz, from Tanjier, with 14 boxes specie, for warded by Mr. Ichenique, the Royal Comissioner, to the care of the Civil Governor. One of the .boxes is said to contain Moorish gold coin. It is stated that there are 40,000,000 rupees on hand at Mogadore towards the payment of the war in demnity. Trade at Mazagan is languid. Th e Emperor's rescript for allowing the exportation of Corn had not been received. The market was stocked with Indian corn, &c., awaiting vessels, chartered some time since, but which had not arrived in consequence of the westerly wind. 'A subscription had been opened at Gibraltar for maintaining and providing passages for the 65 volunteers left behind by the captain of the Melazzo. Gibraltar Exchange, 504 to 50i. Freights unchanged. THE PENINSULAR MAILS. • SOUTHAMPTON, Jan. 13. The Alhambra, with - the above mails and £2,470 in specie, has arrived. - Political news unimportant. LISBON, Jan. 7.—Exchange on London, 51,; ; Paris, 526 ; Amsterdam, 42- 1 -; Hamburg, .48 ; Genoa, 423; Rentes, Three per Cent., 471 ; Coupons, 47f ; Deferred, 38 ; Bank of • Lisbon, 562; Commercial Bank of Oporto, 262; Mer cantile Bank, 260. CUTIVARD AMERICAN MAIL. QUEENSTOWN, Jan. 13. The R.M.S. Niagara arrived here this after noon; and, after embarking mails,' passengers, and latest telegrams, proceeded for Halifax and Boston. All well. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE PERSIA. QUEENSTQiVN, Jan. 12. The royal, mail steamship Persia, from New York on the 2nd instaut, arrived off the harbour at 1 o'clock this morning, but owing to the thick weather was unable to communicate with the shore until 6.30, when, having transferred all her mails except thOse for . Liv'erpool; she proceeded all well. The Australasian, North American, and Kan garoo, had arrived out. . • THE CRISIS. PREPARATIONS, FOR WAR. THE NORTHERN STATES. MOST IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS. • WASHINGTON, Jail. 1. Yesterday was the most exciting day experi enced in Washington since the opening of the present session of Congress. In view of the recent intelligence of movements at Charleston the principal interest centred in the congressional proceedings, it being expected that some allusion would of course be made to events which have transpired during the brief holiday recess. In the Senate galleries a great crowd was gathered, the attraction being a speech by Senator Benjamin, of Louisana, which be inti mated would be a secession speech. After some preliminary business Mr. Powell, of Kentucky, chairman of the Special Committee of thirteen on the state of the Union, reported that the committee had been unable to agree, and asked that the journal of their proceedings be printed. Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, offered a resolu- tion, which was objected to ,and laid over, requesting the Secretary of War to inform the Senate - relative to the condition of the arms in the national armories, &c. The special order territorial business was then postponed, and Mr. Benjamin proceeded to make his secession speech, which he closed with a declaration that-the South could never be sub- jugated. A scene of indescribable confusion thereupon ensued in the galleries, which were finally cleared by the Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. Baker of Oregon, obtained the floor for a rejoinder, but yielded to a motion to adjourn. The House also had an exciting session. Mr. Pryor, of Virginia, offered a resolution declaring that any attempt to preserve the Union by force would be impracticable, and demanded the previous question, which was ordered. After considerable objection to the vote - being taken, and a somewhat excited discussion, the resolution was tabled 98 to 55. Indications are not wanting that President Buchanan may be induced to adopt a more decided course towards South Carolina. The . democrats in Congress from New York and the North-west called upon him in a body yesterday; and notified to him that he must maintain the dignity and supremacy of the Government or he could no longer rely upon their support. At a Cabinet meeting held subsequently the Presidenj was understood to say that South Carolina had misunderstood and abused his forbearance, and had forced upor. - them useless and - daiigeiouS issues, making the question a military instead of a political one. It was rumoured that the South Carolina com missioners were busy in telegraphing to Governor Pickens, who having heard that the revenue cutter Harriet Janet is to be sent to Charleston with sealed orders, threatened that unless she came with a white flag she will be fired upon by the State troops. Various other rumours were afloat; among them one to the effect the commis sioners yesterday received an official answer of the President to. the demand, and another that troops had been ordered to Charleston. The Sovereign Convention, of South Carolina remained in secret session all day yesterday. The arsenal at that place, containing a large quantity of arms and military stores, had been taken possession of by the South Carolina troops. Military preparations were actively progress ing, and the services of volunteers from the: adjoining States had been freely tendered. COMMERCIAL. NEW YORK, Dec. 31.—There was a strong market for stocks, and an advance of 6 per cent. on Illinois Central shares, and from 1 to 21- per cent. on other descriptions. Money : No altera tion in rates. Exchange, 104 to to 105 per cent._ The bank returns show an accession of 52,900,000 to the specie average. _ The cotton market was again firmer on Satur day, with a good demand from trade. The sales embrace 4,000 bales, chiefly from store. W e „ yr quote middling Uplands 111 c, and at the close some holders demanded 11ic. Flour was less active, the upward tendency having operated to check sales. The market closed firm at about the previous day's quitations ; sales about 7,000 brls.. An improved feeling influenced the market for wheat sales, which were moderate, and prices unchanged. Corn was firm, and in good demand, with more doing. Pork Sugars were steady, with sales of from 600 to '7OO hhds. ; 160► ditto Melado; and 1,200 boxes coffee, unchanged, and sales light. Freights were firmer, while engagements were moderate. NEW ORLEANs, Dec. 29, 1860.—Cotton: sales 10,000 bales, at 11 c to 11 c for middling. Sugar steady, at 4c to 3c for fair to fully fair. Freight s: Cotton to Liverpool, 2e. MARINE DISASTERS. WRECK OF THE BRITISH SHIP EMPEROR. BOSTON, Dee. 30.—The British ship Emperor of London, Captain Mowlem, from St. John's for Penarth Roads, with a cargo of deals, sprung a leak on the I'ith instant, and bore up for Boston this morning. She ran on Schooner tar, Chat ham. The crew left in a boat, and stood out to. sea on account of the surf on the beach. The. cgptain stayed by the ship, and was taken off this afternoon, by a life-boat. The vessel, probably, is a total loss. BOSTON, Dec. 31.—The schooner W. E. Dar lington, at this port from Baltimore, picked up, yesterday, at ton o'clock, a mile off Chatham, a boat's crew of sixteen,men, belonging to the ship Emper. WELLINGTON, Dec. 31.—The ship Elma, or Liverpool, 100 days from Bombay for New York, with flax-seed, wool, and senna, in a sinking con- dition, ran ashore on Friday night, the 9th, three. miles N.E. of NOV Inlet Light. The captain and. crew were saved; vessel bilged. The weather is. heavy, wind from N.E. The following appeared in our later editions of Saturday : THE WAR DEPARTMENT. The Herald mentions Sir John Ramsden as Lord De Grey's successor at the War Department. , The Times understands that Mr. Baring va succeed Lord De Grey as Under Secretary of State for the War Department ; and that Lord De Grey will talic Mr. Baring's place in the. India Office, and represent that department in the House of Lords. The thaw continues, but is not rapid. Lord Derby, on Wednesday, went out for the first time since his recent illness. , An extensive undertaking is in course o f organisation, t o b e ca ll e d the Merchant Shipping Company. Negotiations are pending between France and all the other continental states for the abolition of passports. The marriage of Lieut.-Colonel Cost Lady Florence Lascelles will take place at the Duke of Bumleach's, Dalkeith Palace, on the 29th instant. A marriage will shortly take place betw een George Whitelock Lloyd, Esq., of Stranealy Castle, Waterford, and Lady Anne Butler ,. daughter of the late Earl of Carrick. The Earl and Countess 1)e Grey have been summoned to Ripon in consequence of an accident to Mr. \Tyner, M.P. for Ripon, father of the Countess. . The Post's Paris correspondent states that the Governments of Italy, Spain, Greece, and Turkey are already contemplating a reformed tariff, in accordance with that lately contracted between England and France. The will of the late Duke of Norfolk has been proved: personalty under, ooo . T he wit nesses are Michael Ellison, of She ffield, gentle man, and Marcus Smith, Sheffield, land-surveyor. £9O The dispositions y confined contained i the the family.w. are very andfew, ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY. On Friday morning an accident occurred near the Cheddington station to the up night mail train, Which leaves 'Birmingham at 1.20 a.m. The tire of one of the wheels of the parcel van flew, off, and the next C a rriage,'containing four passen gers, was hurled off the line, and also the brake van. The train was passing through Cheddington station at the time, and, the carriages coming in •Oolent collision with the platform,the brake-van was thrown on thy ra ils again in its right posi. „ being killed, rim). The' rain era* theu qu ick ly stopped. Fortu nately there were' lio passengers in the middle pitch dank, and compartments of the carriage thrown off the line, or they could scarcely have escaped as that part of the.. carriage the passengers. smashed. Cheddington i t i o ot i . la h \ e ,ae i g st r a e t a i t onforth em excitement aii3lretrvaaiipl prevailed all aa l i N o , a i l i b g een a s s u t : P a P ir: No serious injuries enpear . Major General D. A. Cameron has been nomi nnt ed to the command . of the troops in New Zealand, who has nominated his staff; but after: the news which has been received, is considered doubtful. tnr for week' LIVERI OOL :ROYAL INFIRMARY.- 11 C- 11 • n u t , 45 ending January 12, 1861. Admitted:. in-pe, - DP Discharged:, oat. out. patients, 17 ; Surgical casualtieS. 24. i _ ; de out . ; his departure euroi r 21 ; relieved, and at own request,Relruarnn in the patients, 0; irregular, 0 ; dead. _:._ w 4 Na thbone, jun., and house. 188: . Visitors : Messrs. •• • ir ,... e i surgeon , Mr. J. G. Livingston. Physician, Pr. "" Stubbs. %"~.~