Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-13 00:00:00

GRAND BANQUET TO CAPTAIN HUDSON AND OFFICERS OF UNITED STATES' FRIGATE NIAGARA. On Saturday evening the members of the American Chamber of Commerce entertained Captain Hudson and the offieers of the Niagara (which lies in the Sloyne receiving on board her pordon of the great Atlantic Submarine Cable) to a banquet_ of the most recherche descripti in, at the Adelphi Hotel. At either end of the barqneting-room the walls were elegantly and appro priately decorated with trophies of flags of England, America, France, Sardinia, and Turkey. The garniture of the tables consisted of exquisite bouquets of flowers and fruit, the ete it e dinner being served from the side tables. The waiting was perfect, and was much commended, a butler attending to every rig ,t and a waiter to every four guests, the duties of the former being exclusively confined 'o the servine:, of the wines, which were numerous in variety and r e f the choice-t vintages. The guests were Captain Sends and the officers of the United States frigate Susquehanna, Col. Bell, C. E , Lieut. R viers. Caotein Sehomberg,:ReN , Capt. Bevis, R.N , Commander Fenw:ck, of thr, Akbar, the Directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Compar4y, Mr. Charles T. Bright, engineer to the company, &c. The naval and military ffi •ers appeaeed in full uniform. The chair was ably cveupiel by M'e.. W. Rathbone, in the regrected, but unavoidable absence of Mr. W, Brown, M.P., chairmen of the Atlantic Telmraph Company ; and Mr. G. Maxwell filled the vice-chair. The following is a comple-e list of those present : Officers of 'the Niagara : Capt. Hudson, Lieut. Todd, Lieut. Wells, Lieut. Kennon, Dr. Lynah, Messrs. Washington, Everett, Herron, Kellog, Moore, Nt"-Elwell, Willard, Eldridge, s.nd Mnllaby, private secretary to Professor Morse. Directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company : Messrs. G. Rowness Carr, J. Pander, J. Dug tale, jun , E. Johnston, H Harrison, G. Maxwell, C. W. R. Piekering. C. T. Brigh-, engineer to the company, and G. Seward secretary. officers of the Susquehanna : Capt. Sands, Mr. Brown, first lieutenant, Dr. Pinkney, surgeon, Mr. Haineselieutenant, Mr. Hamilton, lieutenant, Dr. Maccown, first assistant-surgeon, Mr. Queen, Mr. Sands, rapt , in's secretary. Other guests: Col. Bell, Lieut.- Col. Rogers, Capt. 'Schomh erg, RN., Capt. Bevis, R N., Rev. J. R. Conor, Capt. Feawiek, R N., H. M. S. Akbar. _Dinner Committee ; Messrs- W. Rathbone, chairman, G. Maxwell. vice-chairman, H. Stolterfoht, G. Warren, C. W. 11 Pickering, H. C. Chapman, D. Malcomson, M G. Mel come:Ai, (Malconason and Co ,) C. Maciver, W Oxley, V. Pontz, E. Rathbone, W. Stuart, and C. Eannders. Messrs. Boyd, T. Stolteiefob.t, (Boyd and C 0.,) W. Barber, Frost, (8. F. and Co.) A. Maeg ego'', Stewart Brown, (B. S. and C 0.,) Bird, (Bird and Gilleban ) Campbell, (A. Dennistoun and Co Rome, (E. Evans and C 0.,) Guion, For end, and G. A. _Brown and J. Parker, honorary seer taries. The nature of the I , anquet, which out-Radleyed Radley, in the excellence and abundance of the materials composing it, will best be seen I / a copy of the 'BILL OF FARE. Starry a,d A!atleira. PREMIER SERVICE. Clear'rartie and Tartie Fins. Mose:le Cnp. Champagne, Champagne. C Sam pague, Cararea and Ch ezry Brandy, 'ofrtte. d Port. s tarp. Ma doia• POISSONS. Crimped Salmon and Turbot. Red Mullet I White Belt ENTREE?. Lamb Cu tleti an Cucumber. Larded Sweetbreais and Pease. T nBLZ DE COTE—PIECES DE RESISTANCE. Haunches o' Venison Roasted. N-cks of Venison stewed in Burgundy. Chickens, Rams, and Tongues. Roast Lamb. F.COND SERVICE. Roast Leverets, Goslings, and Dneklings. RELIEVII3. Apricot Omelets. lee Cream Pines. Both =use Grapes. Fetches. ^•ectarines. Gooseberries. Cherries. id Biscnitc. Currants. • lite'ons. Bra died Cherries. Crystalized Fruits. Almond Ca'ses. Oranges. M r . j - cdiffe's efficient string and brass band occupied the orchestr, t, and did much to enhance the pleasure cf the ev mine On site ing down to the banquet a blessing was asked by the Rev. J R. Conor, who also returned thanks at its con- The 4 (lfkart rune eau saw tneir American friends had shown them t such an excellent example in their gallantry to the ladies that he was sure they would permit him to propose, as tl to first toast, the illustrious lady who occupied the throne of '`.l...eat Britain, and who had proved herself to be an example I worthy of imitation as a mother, a wife, and as the mistress of her household. (Cheers) He gave" Her Majesty the Qu een, the Duchess of Lancaster," and Gcd bless her. (Che 'era.) " God save the a Queen." The CHAIRMAN said it was next his privilege to give the health of the Pre tident of the United States. (Cheers.) His late residence amongst us had enabled us to estimate those great talents which were now devoted to the services of his country in a higher sphere. The prosperity of America was Englat td's gain. (Hear, hear.) And upon these two countries re eyed the responsibility of solving the difficult question of s. elf - government , and of showi n g t o the world the grand spectacle of liberty securely seared - upon law. (Cheers.) He had great pleasure in giving " the President of the United States," calling, with it, for three times three. ((Ire at cheering.) " Hail Columbia !" The CHAIRS:AN next ga re what, he said, was the toast of the evening. A ship cf war had entered our port from America, upon the g-acefu 1 maiFsion of peace, in aiding an undertaking which he had faith ill believing would prove one of the greates - t victorie • .of science and skill over the elements. (Cheers) It w to .also adding a link in the chain which, he hoped, wou bind the two countries in the sacred bonds of brother. 1 2.30 d. (Cheers.) The toast he was about to give was, "Captain Hudson and the officers of the United States frig ate Niagara," and welcome to them on their coming on the ► important mission which brings them to this.port. (area techeerieg.) Captain HensoN, in rising to respond, was warmly re ceived :—Mr. Chairman and get. ttiemen, (he said,) I can hardly find words which will adeo.eately express my feel ings in thanking you for the receptic to which you have given me, couched in language such as tha e which has just f a ll en from the chairman. In fact, we 1 lave met with nothing but one sustained series of hospita /ides : wherever we have been it has been the same. We eome here on a mission, unexpected on our part when appointed to the ship. I erust we shall carry this vest mission safely through, tend that we shell be enabled thus to complete another link in the chain of sempethies and good feeling which now binds the two nations. (Cheees.) That good feeling shonld never be allowed to cease. (Hear, hear.) We are united by so many ties that disunion between us is as a want of unity in. a family. We are united by the ties of blood and the ties of commerce ; we speik the same language, are governed by the same laws, and there is nothing that weuld operate so much towards the destruetio . n of freedom as a quarrel between the United States areal Great Britain. (Applause.) We are set up as an e'.vilaPlia to the rest of the world to see whether we can govern ourselves. It is a problem that we have not long been engaged in, but you have carried it out for centuries, age by e:ge. (Cheers). In this enter prise, therefore, I trust wet may be successful. Every effort on oar part shall be mode to attain that end ; and if our efforts are crowned with ,success, all we shall wish will be to electrify each other, caring nothing as to'who shall triumph on the water, the greind triumph being under it, keeping matters smooth on its sualaca• (Cheers.) The next toast was the faithful pareors of all denomina tions on both sides of the Atlantic, couelled with the name of the Rev. John R. Conor. The Rev. J OHN R. ,C oxes , i n respondin'g• said, for the first time in his life he had the honour to stand in connec tion with the American flag. He was born en a soldier's hut, under the flag of Britain ; he belonged to tJle national church of his country, and had bean led always to respect our own and every other national flag. All had e'eligions feelings associated with them. He might, indeed, say something in reference to the American flag, but he knew his American friends waited for no compliments. A greet compliment, however, had been paid to the order to which he had the privilege to belong, is the appeal to drink the health of all faithful pastors throughout the wild Ha looked upon this as a memorial of " Auld Lang Syne." America o ice received pastors from England, and for many years they remained under the government of England ; but now they governed their own church, and he believed that no more efficient set of churches existed on earth. (Cheers.) It was said, some hunaded years ago, by Mather, in New England, that Gcd was winnowing his wheat in Fu land ; and taking the best cora to the new world. (Applawie.) Every person drinking to the faithful pastors thrcinghout the world must imagine that they were the descendants e. 4 ,1 that good corn which was tattered, centuries back, from England to that far-famed land—the land of freedom. (Appieuse ) In conclusion, he expressed a hope that no difference would hereafter divide the two countries, but that pees would quite them closely together for ever. (Cheers.) ETREMSTS Jellies and Marbree of Fruits. Pic • ed Crabs an i Lobster Salad Artichokes Sauce Piq ant. -Brandy Cream and cherry 'rousts, Mayonaise of Oster, &c. Corr ,nts and Raspberry Tarts. Prawns. THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOI, MONDAY, JULY 13, 1857. The Ctrainitex, calling for a bum;" r, gave e Th e arm y and navy on both sides the wate A " coupling with the toast the names of Major Queer., and Lieut. Boyd, U.S. Marines, Colonel Bell, C. 8., I :ieut -Colonel Rogers, Capt. Sands, RN., Capt. Schombev g, RN., Capt. Bevis, R.N., and Captain Fen wick. (Dran' n with enthusiasm ) Band : " Auld Lang ",d y ne." Colonel BELL, C.B , j rose with great pleasure to return thanks for the hournur they had done the British army and navy. We had a very small army : there we e very wealthy men in Liverpool, but we had a very small army. He did not think tli e e'y could place m ee than 120,000 fighting men. During t' ee past year the state had been pleased to take a great "'teal of trouble, and manifesting a deal of anxiety, to re n e u ce the army down to its lowest level, and now they ere trying to build it up as fast as they could, because it was felt that the country could not do without a larger army. England had great possessions, very much scat tered, and she could not do without her army. She had jealous neighbours. who would be very glad to step over, and look into our fine shops in Liverpool and Manchester, and help themselves. (Laughter.) And they might depend upon it that nothing would 'keep them off but our soldiers and sailors. We had a loyal and patriotic army—men who would stick to their Queen and their colours ; men who would stick to their officers and. their duties. The British soldier was a terrible fellow. (Laughter.) When reluired to march against the enemy of his country, his firing was sharp and quick, and his bayonet irresistable ; no body of men could stand against the fierce thrust of the British bayonet. (Cheers.) This was beautifully illustrated at the great battle of Inkerman, where some thing less than 8,000 British soldiers sustained and beat back the shocks of the Russian army for the first three hours of that bloody day. (App'ause ) They would not move; they would not retreat ; there they stood, fighting grandly under a shower of 1,700,000 shot, and, though every man's pouch was expended, the bayonets cf those 8,000 men beat the Russian army. (Cheers.) Having made same passing allusion to the want of British troops in India as the cause of the present insurrection in that country, the gallant colonel derailed his experience of Canada and the United States nineteen years ago. In our North American colonies there was open rebellion, and the whole country was in a state of disorganisation, while in the adjoining United States, on crossing the St. Lawrence, he found that the face of the country presented a magnificent spectacle under the influence of agriculture and the peaceful arts. On witnessing this he could not but exclaim, " How the devil's this ?" (Great laughter) On return ing from his tour of inspection he told his friends that the United States were one hundred years in advance of Canada, and asked for an explanation, which had since come practically. The Canadians had obtained the right to manage their own affairs, and they were now going a-bead. (Cheers.) It was a magnificent country ; and they m;ght depend upon it that every country where liberty and freedom of action existed must go a head. (Cheers.) In conclusion, he expressed a hope that every person present would live to see the day when the cap of liberty would he placed high and dry over the crown and sceptre of every de-potic monarohy on the earth. (Great cheering ) Lieutenant BOYD, on behalf of the army of America, referred in graceful terms to the active service witnessed by the gallant colonel who had just sat down, from the days of the Peninsular war to the Crimean campaign, and testimony to whose gallantry was borne by the honours which glittered on his breast. (Cheers.) For the army in America, he assured them, if ever called upon to assist the Queen of England, no one would be more ready than himself to obey the call. (Cheers.) Captain SANDS, RN , of the Susquehanna, in responding on behalf of the American navy, remarked that it was a hopeful sign for the future that ships of war belonging to these two great nations should meet in mid-ocean for the purpose of laying a telegraph cable, which he hoped would for ever cement the union between them. (Cheers.) He fel , himself incapable, he said, of adequately expressing his thoughts on this occasion, and he claimed permission to call upon an officer of his ship, Dr. Piukaey, a descendant of the illustrious Mr. Pinkney, who would say what he (Captain Fends) would wish, bat could not. Dr. PIaKaY, on being called upon from the chair, said, England and the United states, the mother and the daughter, were preparing io act in consort for the successful comple tion of the great and glorious work,—the one in all her splendour and her power, in the might of her eloquence, the vastness of her resources, and the greatness of her ancient chivalry ; with her long list of statesmen and orators, whose names challenged the admiration of the world, and would live in the grateful memory of posterity as long as high intellectuality, burning eloquence, and sterling wisdom should continue to be revered; and the other, with one foot resting on either ocean, rapidly rising to a position which reflected lustre on her birth, whose heroes and statesmen and orators had proclaimed to the world that they were trained under the power and influence "f co. Pus.. (n.pplaune.) .hateland and the United States were here assisting in the aarultlll V 1 two of the freest and most enlightened Governments in the world. They were here witnessing the achievement cf one of the most wonderful events of modern times—an achievement that would annihilate distance, and bring the two countries into such close contact, that the pulsation of each would be felt by the other from its centre to its circumference. (Applause) They were engaged in laying a cable which would roll England and America together, closely connecting them by cementing the best feelings of amity, and so binding them as to deepen their admiration one fur the other. It was a beautiful coincidence—nay, it was more, it was a providential coincidence, as wonderful as it was beautiful—than in less than a century, in the very month of July, memorable as containing the birthday of the daughter, one of her enterprising citizens should have stepped forth in the fulfilment of Franklin's prophecy that a thought con, eived in England should bs communicated to the United States in the moment of its utterance. (Cheers.) Having referred with pride to the achievements won by Nelson in the thunder of Trafalgar, he said they were now ssembled, Englishmen and Americans, mingling their con gratulations—in a land where Shakepeare poured forth his song of enchantment, and Milton gave to the mother-tongue the very soul of melody —on an approaching triumph, greater than that obtained amidst the thunder of Trafalgar, —the triumph of peaceful science, which sought to link two nations in a community of interests, because they hid a community of language and laws, a community of com merce and religion. (Cheers.) Might the first sentiment transmitted by that new chain from America be "Health and Prosperity to England's Queen, the model mother of the world ; and long life and continuance to the happy relations already existing between the countries." (Cheers.) Permit him, in conclusion, to express the solemn convic tions of his own heart—and he was sure he expressed those of the distinguished captains of the American navy present—that all that they required to secure a long peace was to know each other better. Prejudice could not stand in the light of a better acquaintance with each other. (Hear, hear.) And now that Providence was about to open up a communication, wonderful as it was easy, by which we should soon be able to converse with each other in the still voice permeating the depths of the ocean, it would be a disgrace indeed if we did not exchange the sword for the pruning -hook, and love and bless the residents of either shore.—(Cheers) England and the United States ! might they succeed in laying the telegraph cable in the bed of the Atlantic Ocean, and when there might it serve to unite them, and to strengthen the resolve to do nothing to jeopardise the peace at pre sent existing.—:(Cheers.) Bussed by Providenc with the power of blessing each other, let them do all they could to keep together the ties which bound them, bringing about a community of sympathies, a reciprocity of friendly acts, and doing ad they could to strengthen that bond. (Applause.) Captain SCDOMDEEQ, B. N., acknowle7ged the toast on behalf of the British navy. He breathed the spirit of that navy, he said, when he welcomed Captain Sands and the officers of the Susquehanna, and Captain Hudson and the officers of the Niagara, to the shores of Great Britain. Speaking of the enterpeise about to be undertaken, he con ceived it to be one of the greatest compliments that could have been conferred upon the British navy to have been called upon to engage in the great work. Referring next to thnt gratifying spectacle presented by the good offices which were continually being exchanged between America and England, he alluded in graceful terms to the return of the Arctic ship Resolute, a noble compliment paid to this country by the Government of the United States, which he was sure the British nation would never forget. Of the American mercantile marine he spoke also en words of commendation, observin g t h at, d ur i ng the five years he had been privileged to live amongst the merchants: of this port, nearly half-a-million of her Majesty's subject.% had crossed the ocean for the United St ates i n American ships, the officers of which had been distinguished for ability and attention to their duties, while he bore testimony to the 'willingness of the agents and owners of the vessels to do everything that was requisite to convey those people in comiort to their destinations. The CuAts&wr, after briefly apologising for the absence I of tia, - .• 31, , :y0r, who had been unavoidably prevented from being present, gave "The Health of the Worshipful the Mayor of !dlyerpool " (Cheers.) Band.-- ,, Fi n e ,71d English Gentleman." Lieutenant WELL, zho brought over the Resolate, having been called upon by the Chairman, referred to the kindly feeling with which he was rneived when he landed in England on that mission. A deputation waited upon him from Liverpool, headed by one of her merchants, Mr. Gravel , with an address, whi c h prove d to hi m t h at Eng land and America were bound together by the closest ties of friendship. (Hear, hear.) me CIILIBMAN said they had heard a good dial about I the Atlantic telegraph, with respect to which they had been much indebted to those gentlemen who had originated the schema—the directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Com pany. They had so far conducted their operations with energy and zeal; and he hoped, and believed, that they would command success, and accomplish the undertaking. He gave them " The Directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, and prosperity to their undertaking," coupled with the name of " Mr. George Maxwell." (Cheers ) Mr. Mexweee, in the absence of the excellent chair/T.. ONa of the company, Mr. Brown, thanked them for their cor wishes. He, for one, th ;ugh he had no knowled: ge of science, had perfect reliance upon the knowledge; and acquirements of the scientific men by whom he wes sur rounded. He placed reliance upon their intelligence, their skill, and their indomitable energy, whether he looked to Captain Hudson and Captrirt Sands, or to every man engaged on board their ships in handling the cable, and he made sure of success. (Cheers) He did not allow himself to doubt that they would be successful in laying do en the crowning won der of the 19th century. Commercially speak ng, it was an enormous adventure of the deepest consequence. (Cheers.) We knew hew much countries suffered from a long suspense, and the want of intelligence, commercially, socially, and nationally. (Hear, hear.) If we had had international telegraphs fifty years ago, the sophistry of diplomacy would have been turned aside, and hasty words spoken for a nation would have bsen apologised for on the instant that offence was perceived to have been taken. (Cheers) He locked upon this as one of the greatest en ter p ices upon which the country could possibly be engaged. (Hear, hear.) It was gratifying and delightful to see two great maritime powers, like the United States and Great Britain, sending out two of their choicest ships, not to carve and hack and smash each other into splinters, but to lay down a link which should bind for all time the two greatest civilisers of the human race. (Cheers.) He could only say that the eighteen gentlemen with whom he heel the honour to be associated in directing this enterprise, if they had nothing else to boast of, were bringing into the boardroom just the same zeal as that which animated every one connected with the undertaking. They were resolved to do the work—(cheers)—and he hoped that when next the hosphality of the American Chamber of Commerce was exercised, it would be in sending a message to New York, asking " What was the next toast ?' (Cheers and laughter.) Theirrespected chair man of that evening (Mr. W. Rathbone) was one of the oldest American merchants in this town. When the trade was first commenced, they were content to ran vessels every two months to New York, then every month, and every fortnight, and now they would be having an ex ehange of communications about every five minutes.— (Cheers) In conclusion, he expressed his regret that Mr. W. Brown, M.P., the chairman of the company, who could have done much better justice to the occasion, was not present to respond to the toast. The CHAIRMAN said commerce would but get badly on without the aid of science ; and he was sure on that self ' interested account, if on no other, they would join with him in cordially drinking the health of Mr Bright and Mr. Whitehouse, the engiueers of the Atlantic Telegraph Com pany, with the addition also of the name of Professor Morse. (Cheers.) Mr. PICKIMING, one of the directors, wished to express a belief, before Mr. Bright rose to respond, that if it had not been for the research, skill, and energy originally displayed by Mr. Bright, when the sounding; were taken, along with Professor Morse and Mr. Whitehouse, the Atlantic cable would never have been made. Mr. Bright was undoubtedly nrt only one of the fir ,, t engineers, but he believed he was the first electrician of the day. (Hear, hear.) Mr. CHARLES T. BRIGHT expressed the obligations he felt for the kind manner in which hia,own tame had been introduced, and received in cant ection with those of Pro fessor Morse and Mr. Whitehouse, each of whom had done great and important service. The case was somewhat analag , ue, in point of reasoning, to that of Reubens and Schneider, the great masters, who worked together in dif ferent departments on the same canvas, but arrived at the same results. If they needed any encouragement in the work before them, they would derive it from the good wishes which greeted them every day. As engineers, they had especial reasons for holding in kind and grateful remembrance the merchants of Liverpool, for the support they had given on various occasions to enterprises of great moment. Had it not been for their excellent chairman and vice-chairman (Mr. Rathbone and Mr. Maxwell), and such as they, we should not have had a railway in England at the present time. At a period when, to support the theory of running trains by means of locomotive steam engines was considered to be tantamount to the possession of but a very thin partition indeed from madness—(hear, hear)—the great idea was taken up by Liverpool merchants, including some of the gentlemen then present, who had the same confidence in the statements of their engineer, Mr. ' Stephenson has had now been expressed by Mr. Maxwell. (Cheers.) He had to thank them for the very substantial en nonrlihe nrnmnta.r,e of the arta ayn a 110 rfril; uari in Liver pool an in Lancashire. He belived that if it had not been for the support received in the northern part of the county, they would have bad great difficulty in bringing the enter prise to a practical bearing this year. It will, however, (he continued) become my part in the play as an actor, and not the speaker of a prologue better to say very little of what has been done so far, but to wait until the curtain is raised. It, however, may be of interest that I should report progress by stating that 800 miles of the cable are new safely coiled on board of the Agamemnon, at Green wich and 600 on board of the Niagara (Cheers) The manufacture cf the entire 2,500 miles is now completed, and I see no reason why we should not meet together at Cork before tne end of the month, so as to commence actual operations early in August, the very best period for the undertaking. (Cheers.) Capt. HUDSON gave, " The Health of the Chairman," which was received with three times three. Band : " It is a way we have in the army." Mr. ReeesoNe having briefly acknowledged the cempl ment, referred to the trial which is being made in the Akbar to reform the clever, active lads, who, having no thing else to do, became pests to society. Instead of putting them in prison, they were trying the experiment of directing their activity and talent to a useful purpose, and that in a way which would relieve the pockets of the Underwriters by transforming them into educated, active, intelligent, able-bodied seamen. The work was progress ing most successfully, ,thanks, in a great measure, to the exertions and aptitude of the superintendent of the Akbar, Oapt Fenwick, whose health he had great pleasure in proposing, (Cheers ) 'lltule - Bri s tannia." A call was made for Capt. Fenwick, when it was aster• tained that he had left the room. The CHM/014N next gave " The Press," coupled with the name of Mr. Mallaby, of the New York Herald. Mr. MALLABY, in responding, said he had left New York on board the Niagara,lnot in his capacity as a journalist, but as the private secretary of Professor Morse, whom he proceeded warmly to eulogise, claiming for him the dis tincticn of having successfully laid the first submarine cable, in 1842, between the Batteries, at New York, and Gover nor's Island, a distance of little more than one mile. That line, though small in extent, was the great precursor of the Atlantic cable. The CtiatamaN next gave the healthy of the Hon. Secre tary and Treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Chapman and Mr. Stolterfoht, who responded in appro priate and graceful terms. " The Ladies" was given by Mr. Pinkney, and res ponded to on behalf of the fair sex by Mr. Maxwell, iu a humorous speech. Captain HUDSON gave Tito Commerce of Christian nations : its enterprise carries civilisation and enlarges the circle of human freedom, elevates communities and nations, and spreads, far and wide, evidence amongst men which no other human agency could effect (Cheers.) Mr. WARREN proposed " The health of the captain and ofEcers of the Agamemnon, companion-ship to the Niagara, given in connection with the chain of synapdhy which links the Anglo-Saxon of the old world and the Anglo- Saxon of the new world" After a few additional impromptu toasts, the company adjourned to the coffee-room, and the party soon after wards broke up. VACANCY IN TILE CITY OF LONDON.—The Advertiser says there will now be a new election for the City of London, Baron Rothschild having explicitly pledged himsslf, both in speeches and by letter, to resign should the bill for the removal of the Jewish Disabilities not be carried this session. liamenao, July 10.—The Swedish Chambers, consider ing the necessities imposed on the country by the Western alliance of November, 1855, have voted considerable sub sidies to be applied to the construction of fortresses, and to the augmentation of the national means of defence, military and naval. THE SOUTH YORKSHIRE COAL TRADE. —The coal own'rs of South Yorkbhire hive determined on making an advance in the price of the Barnsley hed of coal, both " hark." or steam coal, and " softs," which is considered to be art imprudent step, particularly at this time of the r ar. If the advance bad been made in August instead of July, there is every probability that it would have been attended with success, but now it is doubtful whether the advance can be maintained. The Great Northern railway Company, who art; large customers, and pur chase extensive!y in the South i: - .:' rkshire market, appear determined t o res i st the azvance, an j the consequence is that there are at present no fewer tlno six extensi ve collieries nearly at a stand, and the owners seem inclined to suspend operations until they can obtain an advance cornmeusurate with the wages of the colliers; being also , of opinion that coal will pay well for keeping in the pits. I IHE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY. .e following is the substance of a petition to the House of .I.mmons, alopted at the last weekly meeting of the C ouncil of the Live pool Financial Reform Association, ' Awl ordered to be forwarded to Mr. J. C. E wart for pre , sentation " That, in the opinion of the petitioners, neither mem bers of Parliament, nor the corn nercial, manufacturing, and industrial classes, are generally aware of the important consequences involved in the continuance or cessation of the privileges of the Hudson's Bay Company. That this Company Irtlds nearly the whole of British North America, part in pretended virtue of a caarter from King Charles the Second, and part by Royal License, in conformity with a comparatively recent Act of Parliament. That the terri tory thus consigned a body or private individuals, con tains millions of acres of fer+ile ar ible land ; abounds in mineral wealth ; is capable of producing immense quan tities of corn, hides, tallow, hemp, flax, and other valuable commodities ; possesses the finest system of wa'er commu nication in the world; is admirably adapted for colonizt tion; and is endowed with all the necessary requisites for a most extensive commerce. That the only use to which the Hudson's Bay Company has put this vast and almost boundless territory has been to retain it as a hunting ground for wild beasts ; the only trade which it has carried on—one in their skins and furs. That the charter was void originally, inasmuch as it conveyed powers of exclu sive trading, of se , zing and imprisoning British subjects, and confiscating their property, such as the Sovereign himself does not possess; and never had the sanction of Parliament, exc •pt during the reign of William the Third, when it was confirmed for seven years, and no longer. That, even if legal, the granting of such powers was con trary to public policy and public justce, and they ought at once to be abolished. That the same objection applies to the powers and privileges granted by royal license. That, as regards both charter and license, it is probable that family, personal, and political influences alone have in duced the sacrifice of the public good to private advantage, and therefore parliament and the public have a right to know who the shareholders are." The prayer is for a return of the names of the share holders, the number of shares held by each, the amount of the paid-up capital, and the rate per cent. of the last year's dividend, immediately, and the adoption of such measures as may be necessary to abolish the monopoly of the Hud son's Bay Company, bath char:ered and licensed, at the earliest possible period, THE LIVERPOOL HER ,ILD AND THE CATHOLIC CLERGY OF THE ISLE OF MAN. On Saturday, after the usual business had been dis charged at one of the po ice courts, Mr. Aspinall, barrister, instructed by Mr. Yates, applied to the sitting magistrates, Messrs. Bolton and Stewart, for a summons against Mr. Ousley, the proprietor and editor of the Liverpool Herald newspaper, on the ground that he had, in that journal written and published in the issue of the 4th July, a false, acandelous, &c , libel, on the catholic clergymen of the Isle of Man. The learned counsel handed up the article to their worships, who perused it (not a'oud) and then expressed their readiness to grant ttie summons, but were of opinion that the applicants should be present. Mr. Aspinall said, Mr. Yates was instructed by the clergy, and appeared on their behalf to make the application and that was the usual way. Their worships, after a short consultation granted the summons for Tuesday, (to morrow). CORONER'S C OUR T.-SATu RDAY. The Coroner held the follow inquests on Saturday : On the body of Patrick Doran, aged 53, who resided at 36, Dwerry-house-street. The deceased was found dead in bed on Friday morning, under the circumstances stated in our paper of Saturday. The inquest was adjourned to Tuesday to produce further evidence. On the body of a new-born child, that was found in the Canal. The evidence showed it was still• born, and the jury found accordingly. Tim SLUMS IN WALTON PRISON.—On the body of William Scary, twelve years of age, who hung himself in Walton gaol, under the circumstances published in our paper of swurday. The de2eased was the son of a second hand clothes' dealer, who resided in Marybone, and was remanded fcr seven days on a charge of having beaten hii mother, and whilst in gaol managed to hang himself with his hankerchief from the bell putt in the wall of the cell. The jury found a verdict of fell° de se. LOUGH DERG. Lough Derg is a small inland lake near the West coast of County Donegal. It is situated in a wild and unculti vated dis•rict of country, and is surrounded by a chain of _a_ auvuitia,iun. j,le 1814.11C1 Calltu Patrick's Purgatory" is in this lake. It is oval shaped, nearly level on the surface. but. rocky and quite barren. Its entire extent is less than one acre, and it is situated about half-a-mile from the main land. There is a tradi tion among the peasantry that this spot was once a favourite residence of St. Patrick ; a rock is shown whereon it is alleged that he was accustomed to spend one-third of every night in prayer; a cell is exhibited where it is said that he spent another third; and there is also a cave, or " Purgatory," where he passed the remainder of the night in acts of pennance and religious .humiliation. On the stone is a cleft or print alleged to have been made by St. Patrick's knees, and other traces of his visit are shown on various parts of the island, which are all very wonderful, indeed. The result is that, even up to the present day, the spot is regarded by large numbers of the Irish population as a very holy place; and for the last thousand years, at a certain season of the year, many enthusiasts of the Roman Catholic communion have been accustomed to repair to it from all parts of the country, as penitent pilgrims, either in discharge of what they conceive to be a religious duty, or in expiation of some particular offence. The pilgrims are conveyed to the island in a ferry-boat; and the average number of such passengers is estimated at thirteen thousand yearly. Numerous priests are in regular attendance throughout every season ; and there are two chapels, and a long range of miserable cabins, upon the island. One of these chapels is for confession of the penitents, and the other for general worship. Teem are also circular walls about two feet high, enclosing sharp stones, frag ments of glass, and some wooden crosses. These enclo. sures are called " saints' beds," or " paths of pennance ;" and round these circular beds, on materials expressly intended for laceration, even to the bone, the pilgrims crawl in miserable torment, upon their naked knees. There is also a building round which the pilgrims walk barefooted, 1111.011 stones placed with the spike end uppermost, arid arranged so as to form narrow paths circling within each other like the " walls of Troy," and the exercise on this statien is continued, with torn and bleeding feet, till the strength or endurance of the pilgrim is entirely exhausted. Their food is a small quantity of bread or oatmeal, and water; and of this they partake sparingly, and only once in the day; but in the prison or purgatory—a dun geon where the light of day is never allowed to enter, and in which every pilgrim must remain for twenty-four hours —food of any kind is strictly prohibited. While in this purgatory they are not allowed to sleep for a single moment, and a man with a large hand-bell and a switch, is kept in continual exercise upon the devotees to keep them in a wakeful state; it being the popular belief that a single nod, while in that locality of expiation, " would lose the soul for ever." Twenty-four priests are the regular number for officiating in this place, each in his turn for the space of one hour ;and towards the supp or t o f this clerical body each pilgrim pays from 2s. upwards, in pro portion to his ability. In former times, and in some cases even yet, the pilgrims remained upon the island for a period of nine days, sleeping at night upon the ground, without pillow or covering. The number of penitents who still continue their annual visit to this " place of purification" is exceedingly large. A modern traveler relates that, " on first sight of the spot the eye could rest on little more than a mass of human beings, crawling slowly about like worms upon the carcase of a dog, the stone spikes penetrating their nerves and muscles till the brain reeled with agony." On first approaching the lake the pilgrim kisses the earth, and repeats a certain number of prayers ; and on arrival upon the island he " prostrates himself again, and greets it with fifteen holy kisses and another set of prayers." Then follow scenes of most extraordinary " jostling, elbowing, scrambling, and penitential ejaculations, along the blood-stained station paths ; during every circuit of which the pilgrim repeats fifty-five prayers to the Virgin Mary, and five prayers to God." Those purgatorial observances originated at a very early date; and in 1632, when, in consequence of the increasing scandal, the island was cleared by order of the State, Sir William Stewart, who was charged with that duty, found an Abbot and forty Friars located upon the premises ; and reported that there was then a daily resort of four hundred and fifty pilgrims, who paid a clerical fee of eightpence each for their admission. TRANSPORTS OF TIV,OPS TOINDIA.—The ships engaged by the East India Company yesterday (Friday), for 'he conveyance of troops, comprised six steamers and eleven sailing ve;sels. The six steamers are to go to Dublin to take regimen at that port ; four of the sailing vessels will proceed to Portsmouth and remainder to Dublin. EVENTS ir Isom—The Daily Fetes says it is understood in the event of anything of an alarming character happen. ing in India the agents of the Pe❑insular arid Oriental Company, at Calcutta, would probably despatch the steamer for Suez a day or two before her regular time, in which case her news might be known in Loudon by this evening. It is supposed that the vessel was despatched at the usual day, and is thought that the telegraphic anticipations could not possibly roach London before Saturday afternoon and may probably be delayed till Monday. Many parties are disposo t o d educe a favourable augury from the delay POLICE COURT.-BAnunA7. LIVERPOOL. BEFORE MR. R. &MIL. MORE INFAMOUS HOUSEKEEPERS.—Inspector Hough brought up, on a warrant, Mary Evans, charged with keep ing a house of ill-fame at No. 6, Montague-street, and having proved the case by some witnesses, the prisoner was sent for trial. Elizabeth Farmer, who lives at No. 8, in the same street, was charged by the same inspector for a like offence, and, proof being given, she was also sent for trial, (This proceeding, on the part of the police, is highly commendable, as the suppression of such dens of infamy will preserve many thoughtless young men from destruc tion. Why do the plied authorities not visit the houses in Hotham-street, which have caused the ruin of many, and will destroy more, if not put down by the law ?) CAUTION TO MARKET CARTERS. —Denis M'Allister, a market gardener, residing at Sefton, wag charged by officer 764, who said he saw two persons in Queen's-square veg-table market obstructing the way with carts of vegetables. He put them away, when the prisoner pushed his cart into the passage, and refused to remove it ; he became very disorderly, and used foul language to him, at the same time caught him by the arm and acted most disorderly. The prisoner said he only wanted the privilege of other markets. Mr. Sheil said he could neither allow the thoroughfare to be blocked up, nor the police to be interfered with, and he fined the prisoner 103. and costs. The fine was paid, as the pri soner had about £2O in cash on him at the time. CHARGE OF EMS, ZZLEMENT.—WiIIiam B. Pettrell, who was engaged in the mu,ic-shop of Anhu and Inch, South Castle -street, was brought up by detective officer Smith, on a charge of having embezzled several sums of money belonging to his employers It appeared that on the 2nd April Ihe prisoner received Xi 4s. 6i. from Mr. Drink water, of Church-street, and it seemed that he had not accounted for it to his employers. Mr. Drinkwater proved having paid the prisoner the money, and Miss Inch proved that he had not paid it over, nor had he accounted for it. The prisoner said be received the money, but Bs. of it belonged to himself. Smith asked for a remand, as there were other cases against him. He was remanded to Tuesday. EXTENSIVE PLUNDER BY A SHOPMAN.—A well-dressed young man, named Samuel Freeman, who had been en gaged in the drapery establishment of Mr. Bagot, Rauelagh-street, was brought up by detective officer Sullivan, on a charge of having stolen about £4OO worth of goods, consisting of silks, cloths, and all sorts of drapery goods, the property of his employer. The case was singular and mysterious, the following being a nar rative of what has been at present elicited. The prisoner was in the employment of Mr. Begot for some four years, but nothing wrong was suspected of him up to a recent period, when he got leave of absence for a week. It seemed that he had made a claim on Mr. Clamp, an agent for Messrs. Kempton and Co., carriers, for damage done to some goods, to the amount of £l7. It appeared that he was in the habit of forwarding goods by Mr. Clamp to Halifax, to his mother, and the claim was for alleged damage done to some goods so sent. This led to an in quiry by Mr. Clamp, and it was found, then for the first time, that he was Me. Bagot's servant—as he never gave his residence or told anything about himself, except his name, to Mc. Clamp. This, of course, roused the suspi cions of Mr. Begot, and the police was communicated with, and detective officer Horn went on the scent. He found that for some time past the prisoner was in the constant habit of sending parcels to Hali fax, as described. He proceeded there, and found that a day or two before, the prisoner's mother had sent a large quantity of bales, &e., to the house of a friend at Howarth He went there, and found that the goods had been removed to an empty shop in Keightly, in York shire. And after a good deal of manceuvering, and offering a high rent for the shop, which (he said to the owner) he intended to open as a shoemaker's shop, he got into the shop, where he four., d about twelve hundred weight of goods, worth nearly £4OO, and the greater portion were identified by Mr. Begot as his property, having his private marks, and he swore he had not sold them. In the meantime the prisoner did not return to his place, and Sullivan went in search of him, and after nearly a week's chase, he arrested him on Friday near Ormskirk. The officer said when be arrested the pri soner he said, " I have taken the goods, and I will plead guilty." He was remanded for further evidence. [The mystery about this case is, that Mr. Begot did not know of his being robbed all the time, and how the prisoner got out the goods is another secret.] "BETTER FAR THAN ANY LAWYER !"--A. person named John Wignall, well known as a " hanger on" about the Police Court, was charged by James Walker, a gardener, living at Kirkdale, with having obtained 5s from him by means of false.nrstAnr.a. some legal business to transact—Prisoner : Speak up, man, and let me hear you. Mr. Walker went on to say : I had some legal business to transact, and I came down here with the intention of engaging Mr. Goodere to do it for me. I met the prisoner, and he spoke to me outside the court, I told him what I wanted, and then he told me that he could do the business betterfar than any attorney— (leughter)—in fact, that he was better far—twice as good as any lawyer in Liverpool. (Loud laughter.) Mr. Sheil : And did you believe him ? Mr. Walker applied a couple of his fingers to his head, and made rapid movements of the digist through his brain, amid consider able laughter, which was greatly augmented when he replied, very lamb like, " I did." He went on to say : He issued two writs for me, one against the keeper of a certain house in Hotham-street, her name is Margaret Trouton, and he charged me 5s for that. He also issued judgment against the house, and charged me 5s more, and I have since discovered that the whole proceedings are quite i legal. (Laughter.) Mr. Garnett (Chief Clerk) : Did you know he was not an attorney ? So, I did not. Mr. Shiel : Did he tell you he was an attorney ? No, sir. Mr. Bheil : I don't see the false pretence here. Had he told you that he was an attorney it would alter the case. Mr. Walker : Well, he told me he studied for a long time as a lawyer, and that he might be one, only he wasn't—(great laughter)—and that he was in a lawyer's office, and done great service there —(renewed langh•er ; that he was ten times far and away better than any one I could employ. (Laughter). Mr. Shiel : And you believed him—did you ? Well, I think so. Mr. Shiel : There is no false p'etences here.. Mr. Walker : Bat I came to engage Mr. Goodere, and that fellow (the prisoner) told me that he was twice as good—in fact, he was the best lawyer in England, Mr. Bhiel : Discharge the prisoner. [this Mr. Walker is the person who charged Buckley a day or two since under similar circum stances. The toleration of a set of the vilest ruffians in Liverpool about the court and main bridewell, entrapping all who they can lay claws upon has rendered the name of the court and justice a farce—" A. mockery, a delusion, and a snare ;" and we have no hesitation in saying has brought the magistrates into public con tempt for a'lo wing such scoundrels to prowl about so. A complaint of this description was made a short time since to Mr. Strong, one of the presiding magistrates at College street Police Court, Dublin, and he made a peremptory order to have all such rascals who were found in the precincts of the court taken into custody by the police, and when brought before him he would deal with them as they deserved. Now, has our worthy stipendiary, Mr. Mansfield, or the borough magistrates, less power than Mr. Strong, of Dublin ? If they possess the same authority —which no doubt they do—they ought to exercise it with prompt energy, and wipe away a standing public disgrace.] . SERIOUS CHARGE —Mary Jones, who resides in St. Anne is. terrece, Richmond-row, was brought up by detec tive Kennedy, on a charge of having caused the death of a child named John Garry, aged three years. It appeared that, some days ago, the child was near the house of com plainant, and it was alleged that she threw it off a window stool, and that its head was much hurt. It lingered up to Friday, when death ensued, and, from the evidence of Surgeon Thomas, there was no doubt death was the result of injuries on the head, and whilst the ceild was alive he said, as well as he could speak, that the prisoner hid done it. The prisoner was remanded, in order to procure the evidence of a woman who sells fish, and who was the only person who saw the whole of the transaction. STRANGE Case —George Burke, Anne Wall, and Bridget M'Bride, were brought up by detective officer Smith, on the following charge the 27th of February last, the tailor and drapery shop of Mr. Schwarniskey, of White chapel, was broken into and robbed of a quantity of clothes, five pounds in money, a brooch, and other articles, and the week after, a second robbery took place in the same house. Burke was a tailor working in the shop, and on Friday he entered the place, when the owner recognised some of the stolen clothes on him. He was at once given into custody. & L eith then went to the place where all the pris4ners lived, i n 12 1 mm-street, and there he got with the females other things il'eat had been stolen out of the shop. The husbands of the woneen are at present in jail for being concerned in other robbries. The prisoners were remanded. OXFORD ELECTION,—Lord Monck has issued an address concu:ring in the principles of civil and religious liberty, extension of popular rights, in the reform of an electoral system, and of municipal and educational establishments, emancipation of trade, and remission of taxes pressing heavily on industry. Lord Monek's opponent 15 Mr. Thackeray, the novelist. On Friday evening h e Addressed upwards of a thousand persons at the Town Hall. Ire advocated vote by ballot, extension of the suffrage, the social happiness, the knowledge, and the power of the people, and, if elected, he would use his best endeavours to Populerise the government of this country. SWINDLING ON A. GRAND SCALE. The Tribunal of Correctional Police, at Paris, on Saturday, tried by default a married woman named Duboys and her son, a young man 30 years of age, for swindling. The circumstances were curious :—The woman, it appears, is the wife of a superior employe of the ponts-et chausees, a highly respectable man, and for some years she lived happily with him. M. Duboys having received an appointment in Martinique, went to that island, leaving his wife and son at Paris. On his return, after the lapse of a few years, he learned that the woman, for whom he entertained a profound affection, had assumed the title of Countess de la. Vigerie, to which she had no right whatsoever, though La Vigerie was her maiden name ; that she had run into debt, obtained done. tions 'from the charitable on pretext of bringing up a foundling, an Indian, whom she had adopted, and had com mitted other reprehensible acts, besides bringing up her son in a way that no good mother would. Profoundly afflicted, M. Duboys deemed it prudent to separate from her, and he obtained a few years back an appointment in Algeria. After his departure the mother and her son took to swindling as their regular means of livelihood. They established what they called a " Society of Progress and General Welfare," the objects of which were rather vari ous-1. To moralise youth by gratuitous lessons in drawing, music, and sculpture ; 2. To establish religious singing associations ; 3. To relieve the widows and daughters of functionaries in distress; 4. To supply pure milk to the Parisian population by means of an office called the " Laiterie Imperiale," with a capital of 600,000 f; and 5. To get up a lottery of 400,000 f to relieve the distress caused by high rents. This society, they pretended, was not only under the special patronage of the',Ernperor and the Empress, but had been formed by their Majesties, and was started by funds generously contributed by them. The subscription to it was 24f a year. The prisoners took a splendidly furnished apartment in the Rue St. Honore for its offices, and while the male prisoner attached to himself a private secretary, and aide-de-camp (such was the title given), and a number of inferior employes, his mother, who called herself directress of the society, sur rounded herself with a number of females, to whom she promised different places. The mother and son talked in the most magnificent way of their intimacy with the Emperor and Empress, showed presents which they said their Majesties had made them, and often went to the Tuileries to, as they alleged, see their Majesties. Not content with the Emperor's friendship, the young man, besides, gave himself out as a grand officer of the Legion of Honour and as a Knight of the Garter. Notwithstanding all this, subscriptions to the society came in but slowly, but foolish tradesmen eagerly gave credit, and among them were a horse dealer, a dressmaker, a confectioner, &c. The pri vate secretary and other employes were also persuaded to make advances of money and to sign bills of exchange. The accused, moreovar, attempted to swindle a tailor out of a quantity of spleadid uniforms and liveries for the " functionaries of the administration," and for their servants ; but the tailor intimated that he :could not give up his goods without being paid first. The insolence with which the accused talked of great personages was really remarkable ; they gave grand parties, at which figured Russian princes and princesses by the dozen—at least people calling themselves so— and one day they pompously announced that Marshal Magnan would not only visit them, but meant to lend them the band of the Guides. Although they pretended to be on very intimate terms with the Emperor, the man on one occasion complained to a person whom he wanted to dupe that his Majesty had not paid him a sum of 15,000 f. which he had promised ; " but," said he. " at a review, I went without ceremony up to the Emperor, and, taking his horse by the bridle, said, Your Majesty must pay me !' on which the Emperor gave a draught on the Public Treasury for the money I" He also represented to his dupes that the Emperor had directed him to hire the Jardin d'Hives, in order to give a public explanation of the objects of the Society of Progress and General Wel fare. At length tradesmen, not being paid, asked for their money, on which the mother and son decamped to Belgium, where they have since remained. The tribunal condemned them severally,' to five years' imprisonment, and I,ooof. fine. A FRENCH BURGLARY. The Court of Assizes of the Haute-Garonne has just been occupied two days in trying eight then for burglary and six women for complicity in the same. It appeared that a very old gentleman, named Montauriol, resides in a large house called Chateau de Bastards, in the commune of Mongiscard, and has all his life been accus tomed to keep a large part of his fortune, which is in specie and bank notes, in his house. The male priso ners, all worthless characters, of the adjacent village o Montesquieu, formed the project of breaking into tbef house and stealing the money. Accordingly, in the night of the 25th of September last, they went to the chateau, carrying with them several sacks, which they proposed to fill with the money, and also taking a horse to carry their booty away. To effect an entrance they began cutting a hole in the outer wall, but the dogs barked so furiously that they deemed it prudent to take to flight. Two or three nights after tf,.. 3 . rand:blow-1 tho ottompt, but for the Is aloe reason it failed. At length, in the night of the Ist December, they went to the house, and while some kept watch around it, the others made a hole in the wall which enabled them to undo the fastenings of a door. They then entered and ascended to the room in which old M. Montauriol was sleeping. His female servant, who was the only person in the house besides himself, hearing a noise, came from her room, but the men pushed her back into it, and fastened the door. The eld man having been roused, uttered loud cries, and one of the burglars, dragging him from the bed, told him they were twenty in number, and would murder lam if lie stirred ; but he continued to cry out, and they beat him violently about the head until he was silent. They then went into the room in which the money was kept, and, breaking open a cupboard, proceeded to fill their sacks with money. Mean while, the female servant, opening her window, gave the alarm. Some farm labourers, in the service of Mon tauriol, hearing the cries hurried to the chateau ; and ou their approach the burglars took to flight, carrying with them the money which they had collected. They after wards divided the booty in different proportions according to the share each had had in the burglary. As to the women, who were wives of six of the men, they also received portions of the stolen money. On some of the burglars being arrested, one of them made full revelations respecting the whole affair. The precise amount which was stolen was not known by M. Montauriol, but the prisoners themselves confessed that it was 35,835 f. The jury acquitted the six women and one of the men, who was very old, and convicted the other seven prisoners. The court condemned them to periods of hard labour, varying from six to 20 years. In the course of the trial it was stated that the sum M. Montauriol was accustomed to keep in his house was not less than 1,000,000 f, of which about 100,000 f were in gold, 100,0001 in bank notes, and the rest in silvan It was also stated that his total fortune is about 2,00u,000f, and that he made it by speculations in houses, land, and corn; but that, notwithstanding his wealth, he lived in the most miserly manner, and was stated for many years not to have eaten meat or game. The old man, who was called as a witness, is perfectly blind, but he proved to the court that he could by the mere touch tell one bank note from another.—Galignani's Messenger. The Fife Journal reports a subterraneous fire ill the Dysart coal seam. In the village, says the same authority, " the walls are rending, the line is bursting at some places off the walls, numbers of the doors will not shut, and some of the floors are bursting asunder. The farmhouse of Branaton is torn, and swayed, and propped to hold it up." GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF TILE PRE3BYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND.—This court commenced its annual sittings on Monday evening, in gay -street Presbyterian Church. 1 here was a very large attendance of ministers and elders, and the public generally. The meeting was for the pur pose of electing a moderator for the ensuing year. There were two candidates—Dr. Gu'ly and Mr. Johnston —the former being chosen by a large majority. POLICE LAW IN Dunreer.--The corporation, at its meet ing on Monday, resolved to petition parliament against a most arbitrary and mischievous bill brought in by the Irish Secretary (Mr. Herbert) and the Attorney-General. If it pass, the police will supersede the functions of the local magistracy —be at once the witnesses, judges, and execu tioners is all cases of misdemeanour, and be the best paid body in the kingdom. It will then be an honour to be a policeman. Of course, the area and amount of taxation must be vastly exte n d e d t o meet this arrant job. A SCRUPLE OF CONSCIENCE. —111 the progress of a cause in the Court of Exchequer, a gaunt figure entered the Court, attired in the garb affected by the Society of Friends, and wearing a conspicuous white hat, with a prodigious brim. He had not prcceeded far when his attention was drawn to his breach of decorum and etiquette —to say the least of it—by a hint from the usher. But he replied with a " friendly" shake of the head, and marched stiffly and slowly to the further end of the Court. At this point another usher, of rat h er dwarfish stature, but more experience, approached, and told hi m to " take off his hat" in a tone which drew the eyes of all the Court on tho offender. He, however, did not remove his hat, but gravely bowed his head, till the brim of his hat came within reach of the usher; who, with equal gravity, removed the hat, and Politely returned it to the owner. Upon this, the Quaker took his seat, and all the Court, following the example of the Chief Baron, laughed se llt r h u e p y l e might; for never was th e cause o f at him, "conscientious as well so exposed to r idi cu l e. TRH AUSTRALIAN M AIL: Little expectation is now entertained that there will he any Australian mail arrival this month to supply the gap occas'oned by the breaking down of the Oneida. The agent of the company in Aus tralia contemplated despatching the Simla, supposing she should arrive in time, lout there is hardly any prospect of that arrangement having been found possible. It wan only by this means, or from the despatch of an ext ra steamer by the Bombay Government, that there could have bden a chance of the receipt of later news from India, pending the neat telegraphic accounts by the regular 4yer land mail.