Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-09 00:00:00

farelusivoly for CLOTHING BOYS from 6 to 20 years LEWIS. 3c CO W PA NY, Ranelawb-street. ROBERT MULLINER, (successor to GOILST XL Co.), (Late with Wm. Home, London), .CARRIAGE AND HARNESS MANUFACTURER, 511 and 41, GREAT CHARLOTTE-STREET, LIVERPOOL, MANUFACTURER. OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF ErASRIONABLE CARRIAGES. ote .4gent for the Patent Dioraples, for which a Prize Medal was awarded at the Great Exhibition. -- A Great Variety of New and Fashionable CARRIAGES always on view, which are ready for immediate use. Estimates given for repairs. CARRIAGES TAKEN IN EXCHANGE. Good Standing on moderate terms. Carriages sold by Co-n mission. Merchants suppliei with Carriages for exportation on liberal ersns. BOYS' CLOTHING MADE WITH GREAT TASTE, At LEWIS & COMPANY'S, Ranalagb-street. it limerriat - iVateg.—Ebts Dan. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, 16, Exchange-bu idings, 350 barrels Med,una Rosin.—J. H. Rayner and Co. At half-past one o'clock, at Golding and Nash's saleroom, Corn Exchange, Brunsw ck-street, about 1,200 carrels Flour.— J. and . Harnett. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, 2, Dale•street, 138 bags Coffee.—Browne, Hunter a.,d Co. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, Victoria-buildings, Hackin'e hey, 50 boas Cocoa.—Corrie and Co. At half-past one o'clock, at the broker's office, 10, Chapel-street, 127 tons Guano.—A. R. Cox and Co At twelve o'clock, 400 boxes Pearl Sago, and 19 bales Jute.—Cox Brothers. At the brokers' office. Colonial-buildings, 36, Dale-street, 182 chests Cougou, and So bags Coffee —Bustiby ana Co. At twelve o'clock, at the broker's office, Lancaster-buildings, 100 tons Oak Bark.—James Gordon and Co. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, York-buildings, Dale-street, 450 boxes Pearl Sago, and a quantity of Rice.—Pattinson and Clark. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, 21, Oldhall-street, 123 bags 8 barrels Cocoa.—Buchanan, Browne and CO. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, Victoria-buildings, Hackie's hey, 100 bales Jute.—T. W. and J. C. Harrop and Cc. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, Water-street, 5,00) bags Rangoon Rice. —Hall and Jones. :JO For particulars see advertisements. AivIUSENIENTS, PUBLIC IM.EEI'INGS,:&c. THIS DAY.I Row. Am parr HEATRE—Draillable Performance-7 p.m. HENOLER'S GRAND CIRQUE VA RIR r Dale-street-7 p.m. TEUTONIC HALL (Upper), Lime-street—Diorama oflndia-2 p.m. PRILHARMONIC HALL—Mr. Russell's Lecture-8 p.m. faxmot's HALL, Bo:d-street —Valentine Vousden-8 p.m. FIZEMASON'S HALL—Gallery o: Anatomy-11 a.m. to 10 p.m. LLSOP'S CRYSTAL PALACE, Lime.rreet-10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Royal. CoLosszum—General Entertainment-6.30 p.m. ZoeLootcAL GARDEN S—Grand and Varied Entertainment,.: :Cal"' For parti,ulars see: advertisements. iTije jq'tirtiTru TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1857 THE DAY'S NEWS. In the House of Commons, last night, a long discussion took place on the working of the civil service. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that although the government had instituted ex aminations—yet the executive did not abandon the right of appointment. The hon. gentleman did not say whether the person selected should be fit and proper—in fact, the right person in the right place. But he evidently left the impression that if any of the Ministry, or other influential parties, should wish an appointment—why the government reserved the right of granting such an appoint ment, whether the party was fit or not tc fill the situation. A sufficient commentary on the present system of examinations. The recognisances in the Cashel election petition were announced by the Speaker as unexceptionable. Mr. Wilson stated that the way in which the Australian mail contract was being carried out gave the government the utmost satisfaction. It had been intended that branch mails should be established between Victoria and several other of the Aus tralian Colonies, but so far this had not been done, no doubt, through some misapprehension. How ever, renewed instructions had been sent out, and it was hoped that in a short time the scheme would be in full operation. Lord Palmerston stated that the forces at the Cape,which were now entitled to return to England, would for the present be detained in that colony, as it would not be prudent to remove them. He thought that the Govern ment might be granted the power of using their discretion respecting the removal of the regiments. The Bill, having for its object the admission of Jews into Parliament, was read a second time, after several petitions having been presented against the measure. Subsequently, Sir Frederick Thesiger gave notice that on the bill going into committee he should move that the words, "on the true faith of a Christain" should be re-inserted. The Fraudulent Trustees bill was read a seeond time. In the House of Lords, no business of im portance was transacted. The Asia has arrived with one week's later news from America. There is but little interest in the advices now to hand. A new Governor was to be sent to Utah territory, and a Western man is said to have been elected for the post. Strong measures were to be adopted against the Mormons, and a large military force is to be despatched against them. Dred Scott, and his wife and two daughters, were emancipated at St. Louis, on the 26th ult. Mr. Morse, late commissioner to Bogota, who had arrived in Washington, expresses no doubt as to the eventual settlement of the difficulty between New Granada and the United States, in a manner satisfactory to both parties. Several of the New York journals anticipate a financial and commer cial crash in the States. In Michigan and other places the people were starving for lack of bread. The gold of California and Australia, the land, railroads, and other speculations were assigned as the cause There had been terrible storms of rain and hail in North Alabama, West Tennessee, and Arkansas, and the valley of the Mississippi. The damage done to all descriptions of crop had been great. The crops in Texas were threatened with total failure from the absence of rain. The Canadians had exhibited their loyalty by celebrating the birthday of her Majesty. Kansas advices to May 21st, state that Secretary Stanton had issued a proclamation for the election of delegates to the Constitutional Convention on the third Monday in June ; returns from nineteen out of twenty-six counties were in, giving 9,251 legal voters. It was said that many Republicans were going over to the Free State National Demo cracy; also that as attempt was made by Northern Democrats to send Free State men of that party to the Convention. Monterey papers of the Bth ult. report that the Administration of Vidaurri conti nued popular, and the State politically at peace. The Governor had left on the 7th for the Federal capital. Dates from Mexico are to the sth ultimo. President Comonfort had returned to the capital from Tacubaya. There was an active canvass going on pending the candidates for the Pre sidency and seats in Congress, and on the Bench of the Supreme Court. General Comon fort and Senor Lerdo Sejada were the most popular candidates for the Executive chair. Th Archbishop was dangerously ill. Santa Anna's friends were intriguing for his restoration to power. Detailed accounts from Australia to the 14th of April are to hand. Parliament was to re-assemble on the 15th, and the Parliamentary verdict on the O'Shannassy Ministry would then be given. The Inspector General of the Penal Department, Mr. Price, had been brutally murdered. He had been set upon and so maltreated by a number of convicts, at Williamstown, that he died next day. When this became known among the convicts in the Colony the greatest insubordination prevailed, and had not measures of a determinated nature been taken, there is very little doubt that much bloodshed would have taken place. Fortunately quiet had in a manner been restored. The immigra tion scheme of the Colonial Government met with most determined opposition, and several meetings condemnatory of the measure, had been held. The population of the Colony in ten weeks had increased 11,000 souls, making the total popula tion on the 14th April about 363,000. The gold fields continued to yield pretty fairly considering the seaaon of the year. The absence of rain had interfered with the workings, but as soon as the wet weather had set in, it was hoped that the escorts would materially increase. A full sum mary of the news will be found in another column. The advices per the Overland Mail do not add anything of importance to that received by tele graph. General Ashburnham, with his staff, arrived at Bombay on the 4th, and were to leave for China in a few days. Three months at least are, it is understood, to elapse from the ratifica tion of the Persian Treaty before Bushire and Mohammrah will be evacuated. The former place is, and will continue to be, occupied by the Ist, the latter by the 2nd division. Letters from Afzal Khan, at Balkh, to his father, the Ameer, speak of a report that the Russians have marched a force upon Bokhara, the Khan of Kokan aiding them to the best of his ability. The ruler of Bokhara was endeavouring by negotiation and promises of servile submission to ward off the impending., blow. A despatch from Marseilles says that the Rajah of Hindore having died, the territory is to be annexed to the British possessions. News from the Cape of Good Hope represents the colony as very prosperous. Railway works and immigration at the public expense were con templated. The frontiers were tranquil, but the Kaffirs were suffering great privations. From the Continent there is little or no intelligence. A. circular by the French Minis try of the Interior, has been addressed to the Prefects of Departments. explaining the course they are to pursue with respect to the Im perialist candidates who may present themselves in competition with the official candidates put forward by the government. The minister desires that complete liberty shall be allowed to these candidates. The Moniteur publishes additional despatches from Kabylia, announcing fresh submissions from Arab tribes. No further hostilities have occurred and the campaign may be considered at an end as far as fighting goes. The troops will, however, find ample employment in the construction of roads and other works of civilisation. The Turkish Empire appears in a very bad state indeed. Failure of all the bank projects, taxes on Ch►istians and Jews with payment in advance for two years, serious insurrections in the northern provinces, adjournment of the settlement of the affairs of the Danubian Principalities—such is a picture of the state of the Empire of the Sultan. Locally there is nothing stirring. Three stabbing cases were brought before Mr. Mansfield, at the Police Court, yesterday, and the worthy stipendiary sent the prisoners for trial. WE are the advocates of the interests of the working classes. Capital, without labour, is useless. Hence it is that we are, at all times, most anxious to see a proper understanding, and good feeling, kept up between the employer and the employed. Influenced by this principle, we have witnessed with deep regret the existence of a strike in two important branches of manual labour, namely, the Cabinet-makers and Stone masons, and are sorry to learn that, as yet, there is hut little prospect of a settlement of the trade disputes in question. On Friday last, there was a meeting held at the Clarendon Rooms, for the purpose of enabling three gentle men, the Rev. H. S. BROWNE, Mr. WILLIAM RATHBONE, and Mr. J. R. JEFFERY, to arrange the Stone-masons' strike, and to hear what both masters and men had to urge in support of the respective positions which they have assumed. From the proceedings at this meeting, we learn the requirements of the operatives, and these we sum up in brief—a decrease in the hours of work, an increase in the rate of wages, and a geeater stringency in the binding of apprentices. In reply to these demands, the master operatives showed that they were unwarranted, that the workmen had overlooked the political economy of the question, by disregarding its two main ele ments, supply and demand. And there was some force in the remark of Mr. GLAISTER, that '‘ there was no real ground for these demands, as there was a surplus stock of labour in the market, and were they to raise the price, society might turn round on the masters, and ask, " Why make such demands, when there are plenty of workmen in the market at the present rates ?" It was evident that the operatives went to the meeting on Friday with the full intention of not abating one jot of their demands, or else they would have listened to, and acted upon, the very proper suggestions put forth by Mr. JEFFERY, who treated the matter in a very business-like manner—and thereby have saved a discussion of nearly four hours' duration. If anything, the master operatives showed the best disposition, and we deeply deplore the fact, that the operatives themselves should have been so blind to their own interests, as not to have manifested a disposition- to concede some little differences, and to return to their work, seeing that they totally failed to show that the present supply and demand for Stone-masons warranted the strike. We are not going to argue this question for the purpose of causing a greater conten tion between the masters and their men, nor shall we lose much time in controverting a fallacious principle put forth in connection with the strike by one of our weekly cotemporaries, who contends that the claim for the slight advance of wages is a just one, inasmuch as rents and provisions are not cheaper in this Borough than in other places where higher wages are paid. Our cotemporary should know that the price of wages or rents have nothing at 211 to do with the subject. The value of labour, like every other commodity, is fixed by its supply and demand alone. We cannot, therefore, counsel the conti nuance of the strike under the hope that the masters will give in, and the operatives prove triumphant. The proceedings of Friday do not warrant such an expectation, and once again do we request all the parties concerned to see and come to amicable terms with each other. The case of the Cabinet-makers is nearly similar to that of the Stone-masons. They, too, desire considerably increased wages. But it would seem as if they had determined to carry matters with a higher hand, for we are credibly informed that every workshop of the master cabinet-makers is guarded by a couple 01 sentinels, who use all kinds of enticements and intimidation to compel any strange workman from working at any of the shops who have advertised for hands. Now, this is not only illegal, an offence which the law punishes with severity, abut one which every well regulated society sets its face against, and will not tolerate. If an employer does not feel himself justified in accepting my rate of wages, I have no right to injure him in his business, or seek to compel him by unjustifiable means to pay me my demand. This is the rock on which all trades' unions split. No one will deny their desirability as a means of regulating their respective callings, and of being a barrier to any acts of oppression or tyranny on the part of the master ; but the moment they go beyond that boundary, that moment do they become illegal and inflict injuries on not only the members themselves, but upon society at large. We all know the lengthened strike which took place at Preston some years ago, and how it resulted—the poverty and suffering which was inflicted upon the operatives, the ruin it caused to the tradesmen of the borough, the loss which the mill-owners sustained, and the trifling advantage which the operatives gained by their lenghthened refusal to meet the overtures of their employers. To the Masons of Liverpool, and the Cabinet-makers, as well as their employers, we would, in the spirit of kindness, say, think of these things, and beware of a similar result. You are each links of the same chain in the social scale. . The prosperity of the employer must tend to the comfort and happinees of the employed. Meet each other, then, in a spirit of fair play. Let moderation guide your deliberations ; and seek, by mutual charity and goodwill, to put an end to a dispute which inflicts pecuniary loss upon all concerned, and disturbs society by the public inconvenience which it produces. THERE are still many of our Fiscal regulations which bear unduly, and exercise a mischievous effect upon several branches not only of our native industry, but the trade and commerce of the country. It has been the boast of several of the late Parliaments that all undue restrictions upon commerce should be removed ; but, despite these patriotic declarations, the Government authotities still cling to remnants of the anti quated Tory regime, and in nothing is this more clearly visible than in the anomalies, the incon sistencies, and the restrictions which appertain to the Timber trade. On Saturday last we gave an extract from the elaborate and excellent Circular of Mr. EDWARD CHALONER, which sets forth that such is the state of our Customs' regulations, that Baltic sawn timber can be sent out to our Australian Colonies at a cost much below American. and even cheaper than deals, the product of our own Colonial possessions. Indeed, so paternal are our Customs' authorities, that before we can export or even bond the latter, we must pay a Customs' duty of 7s. 6d. per 1,000, which is about 8k per cent. on prime cost. Furthermore, we are prohibited from transhipping them to another Colony belonging to the British Crown without paying the aforesaid imposition. This tax, be it observed, is confined to timber the production of British Possessions. All other foreign timber, sawn or unsawn, may be tran• shipped or bonded, free of the aforesaid tax which is put down as equal to about 50 per; cent. on the prime cost of Baltic or foreign deals. The inference of all this is, that our Colonial-grown timber, New Brunswick, Quebec, &c., is subject to a duty of at least 81 per cent., while the production of the Baltic provinces, or indeed all other foreign possessions, is so treated as to save to the owner some 50 per cent. of its first cost. But the evil does not rest here. According to the existing law, we can bring a ship, built of our Colonial timber, pitch pine in her masts, spars, and planking, and she can be sold free of duty; but the very material of which she is constructed, being her cargo, is taxed as aforesaid. Again, on looking over the tariff of duties levied on timber, we find that furniture, and most ship-building woods, the growth of foreign countries, are admitted duty free, whilst pitch pine, extensively used for both, are taxed from 7s. 6d. to 10s. per load. Lastly, we perceive, from the foregoing facts, that we are not satisfied with rewarding the foreigner by giving him employment to supply the most desirable of all ship-building woods— pitch pine—but the Customs here step in, and add an additional tax of 22 to 26 per cent. on the cost of a wood grown in a country producing cotton, the duty on which has been abolished ; and though this latter is also produced in British possessions, the former is not imported from any of our colonies. This is a state of things which should certainly be remedied. Its continuance gives rise to many and serious injuries to British interests. The foreigner is enabled to compete with our colonists. The terms are unequal, and hence much of that trade—the supplying of many of our more distant colonies—Australia in particular, is taken out of our hands and given to foreigners. The country last named is an extensive purchaser and consumer of wood for the purposes of social and commercial life, but they are too wide awake to pay for colonial tim ber with the tax named hanging on it, when they can supply themselves at a cheaper rate through other channels. This, however, is only one item of the disadvantages of the present unfair THE NORTHERN TIMES.- LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1867 land unequal system. We pride ourselves upon 1 the supremacy of our mercantile marine. It is the boast of the United Kingdom to know that there is not a sea or navigable river on the face of the earth where our ships, great or small, are not to be found pursuing the peaceful and civilising art of commerce. Among the Parians of the Celestial Empire, in India, on the Russian waters, in the . Mediterranean, all over the American continent—in, around everywhere, and in every clime, do the trade connections and pursuits of Great Britain and Ireland. extend. Nevertheless, we cannot import timber for the purpose of building or repairing our ships from our own colonial possession, without paying a duty, which we. kindly remit to the foreigner. As a matter of course, our "Aberdeen clippers" —those vessels famed for the swift passages which they make—have to be constructed at a greater cost, from the tax placed upon the raw material, than other countries more favoured can produce them at. Liverpool, Glasgow, and Belfast, besides other places of minor note, have made ship-building a great feature of their ports. Our timber duties stare them in the face, and they are obliged to compete with Brother JONATHAN and other foreign ports, thereby losing—or at least running- the risk of doing so —their fair name, as builders of fast sailing and strongly constructed vessels. This is followed by a loss to such parties, and the shipbuilders themselves are deprived of employment, and either betake them to other pursuits, or seek in foreign climes labour and a living which they cannot find in their native land. Independent of the above considerations, there are others equally objectionable, because their consequences are equally destructive to the prosperity of the country. From the fact that ships cannot be constructed or repaired in this country on equal terms with those built in countries which do not tax ship-building woods, the shipowner is, as a matter of course, unable to charter his vessels at the same rate as the foreign shipowner. This throws much of our carrying trade into the hands of other countries, and, as many foreign vessels can, by the nature of the commercial treaties existing between their country and Great Britain, clear out duty free, the revenues of the country lose thereby. Enough has been said to show that, view the matter as we may, it is one on which are broadly stamped, injustice and partiality—that discourages the trade of this country, gives foreigners an advantage over our artisan popu lation, and must ultimately tell against us, a ship-building people. Lord STANLEY, or his coadjutor, Mr. LOWE, could not employ their time to better advantage than to do away with the anomalies, the inconsistencies, and the restrictions to which we have alluded. The exercise of their talents in this cause, will confer greater benefit upon the people than the concoc tion of a dozen bills for the abolition of local dues on shipping. In the one case, a truly national benefit will be conferred; in the other, the grasping purpose of jealous clique can only be promoted. Should they fail to do so, it is not too much to expect that Lord PALMERSTON " will give the matter his personal attention." The question is one which cannot remain Unadjusted. The whole community have too great a stake in it to permit any government to overlook it for any length of time. THE COTTON SUPPLY. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) A PUBLIC Meeting has been called for Friday next, to consider the subject of a larger supply of Cotton. We are pleased to notice that the Secretary of the Association for depriving Liverpool of her lawful Town Dues has found better employment, as Secretary to the Association for obtaining an increased supply of Cotton Wool. Doubtless a great deal may be said on this subject—and patriotic and praiseworthy it is beyond all doubt—but we question ♦ery much if one single individual attending tha meeting dreams of the object being attained by the efforts of this Association. Let us inquire, for a moment, what is the great aim in view ? In plain terms, it is " cheap Cotton." Whether it will remunerate the planters to grow it cheap, is not worth attention to a cotton spinner but the Association may be sure that planters will study that part of the argument ac well as the patriotic view of the subject. At the prices now current it will pay handsomely to grow Cotton ; and if those prices be maintained, it will be grown to the heart's content of all Lancashire. But let us warn the trade. Are not the means n..w set in motion to obtain cheap Cotton, the very means to open the eyes of the grower, and prevent him over-planting ? We strongly prognostigate that the planters in the United States will look upon it in this light, and will say, " No, gentlemen, we see what you want, you want us to grow double crops, to reduce prices or your benefit and our ruin," and the end will be that they will mako no effort to plant more, but go on in their old plan of growing the acreage they have negroes to cultivate, with ease and comfort to themselves. It is very fine to talk of India—spinners know well enough it is not East India Cotton they want—they want the fibre, and colour, and cleanliness of the Cotton grown in the Southern States of America, and this the East Indies have never, and never will produce. Brazil, Egypt, and the West Indies, produce long stapled Cotton, and that is not wanted—there is enough of it now, and no one grumbles at its price, as the profits realised by spinners of this class of Cotton for years back, and at the present time, are handsome, almost to the term of " coining." Every one knows that the cultivation of Cotton can be increased to a great extent in these three quarters, but growers know well that they will " sup sorrow" if they do. We do not wish for one moment to disparage or throw any obstaele in the way of this new Association. We say— "go on and prosper ;" but we do think that the old story of "Love's LabourLost" may be applied to these gentlemen, for they, and we, nod every one in the trade know well t hat the cure is now in course of application—price. It may be a blister for the moment, but it will be a strengthen ing plaster in the end. Before concluding, we would ask one question : Has not the price of Cotton, for an average of years, been too low ? It has : it could not be grown, at the prices averaging of late, to leave a sufficient remuneration to the grower eu c h as — e t n o tto c n lin o w p il e l n fl s o at u e ri h sh im in. for his labour in a climate The question for the consideration of the manufacturer remains to be solved by himself. Can he not insist on such a price for his goods that will compensate for the altered value of the raw material ? He can, and must ; and there is the secret which all the Associations in the world cannot help him to. It rests with himself the cry of the trade has been, " Yarns up and Cotton down " But they have at last found that in crying Cotton down, they have depressed their own market, and the result is that Cotton has got up, and they have been so accustomed to think of it as impossible to get up, that Cotton has be come the master in spite of all their efforts ; and the cure in their own hands, of asking more money for their yarn) is a remedy that they have hardly thought worth while at tempting. Let them do this, and leave the natural demand to work out for them a supply, which neither Associations, government control, nor speechifying can add one ball of Cotton to—unless it pays. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph. HOUSE O+±' LORDS.—MONDAY. The house met at five o'clock. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION. The Earl of DONOUGHMORE asked whether there would be any objection on the part of the Government to lay on the table a statement of the income and expenditure of the Ecclesiastical Commission before the Ministers' Money Bill came under discussion, that they might have informa tion as to what funds were available to carry out the object of the measure. Earl GRANVILLE replied he should be most happy to give all the information in his power. THE SCOTCH LAW OF LEGITIMACY. "Earl GREY presented a petition from Mr. W. P. R. Shedden, complaining among other things that by a decision of the Court of Session in Scotland in 1803, and of that house in 1808, obtained in his infancy, he has been deprived of his statutes of natural born subject of this realm, and as the legitimate child of his parents, and of the means of duty investigating, in any court of law, the qnestion of such statutes, and causing the same to be recognised, and praying for such relief and redress as to this house may seem meet; and to move, to refer the said petition to a select committee. The LORD CHANCELLOR considered the appeal in the case to their lordship's house unprecedented ; the pro per tribunal to decide the question being a court of law. The noble :and learned lord then proceeded, at great length, to review the proceedings in the case, justifying the decision of the court of session. Alter a lengthened discussion, a division took place upon the question, whether the petition should be referred to sa select com mittee, which resulted in the rejection of the motion by 19 to 11. The house adjourned at a quarter-past 11 o'clock HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY. The Speaker . .took the chair at four o'clock. NEW MEMOIR. The Earl of Fife took the oaths and his seat for Banff. PRIVATZ BILLS. The Cork Gas Bill, the North-Eastern Railway Bill, and the Tralee and Killarney Railway Bill, were severally read a third time and passed. THE SLAVE TRADE AND CUBA. Mr. Kinnaird presented a petition, signed by nearly 2,000 of the principal inhabitants of the Island of Jamaica, complaining of the non-enforcement of treaties with Spain relating to the abolition of the Slave Trade, and the con sequent increase of slavery in Cuba, and the difficulties of free labour competing with slave labour in the Spanish colonies. CASHEL ELECTION PETITION. The Speaker announced that the recognizances of the election petition in reference to the borough of Cashel were unobjectionable. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION AND REFORMATORY SCHOOLS. Sir George Grey gave notice for to-morrow (this day) of the introduction of two bills—one to amend the acts relating to the Ecclesiastical Commission, and the other for the extension of Reformatory Schools. ADMINISTRATION OF Jirsrlcia IN INDIA. Sir E. PERRY gave notice that on Thursday next, in the resolutions of the member for Perth, in reference to India, be should meve as an amendment to the second resolution that the evils complained of might be remedied by the appointment of proper persons as judges and magistrates. THE MOHTMAIN LAWS. Mr. HADFIELD asked the Attorney-General whether it is intended to bring in a Bill to amend the Mortmftin laws in England, and to assimilate the laws there to tbo.ie of; Scotland and Ireland, and especially to give facilities to transactions for charitable institutions connected with real, leasehold, and copyhold estate rounaed upon valuable consideration on money lent and otherwise, and whether the same is by way of purchase, mortgage, lease, or other wise. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied that the Government were aware,of the importance of the subject, but did not think that it could be dealt with in a satisfactory manner. Should, however, the bill of which notice had been given by the member for Durham; the same as that introduced by the hon. gentleman last session, the Government would lend their assistance in carrying it through the house. THE CIVIL SERVICE. In reply to Mr. D. O'CONNELL, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER stated that no decision had as yet been come to in reference to Civil Service superannuation. The reports of actuaries on the complaints of civil servants, which was to be presented as a supplement to the report of the Civil Servants Com mission had not as yet been received. NAVAL OFFICERS OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL. Sir G. C. PECHELL inquired if the Secretary to the Treasury, who heard the case of certain naval officers of Greenwich Hospital, has been favourably considered, and which was referred to the Treasury by the Lords of the Admiralty, praying that they might be placed in the same position with regard to the receipt of half pay as other officers of that establishment. rMr WiLsoN stated that the half-pay of officers, at the Greenwich Hospital, was suspended, except in the cases of the governor and deputy. governor, during the receipt of civil pension, and the government saw no grounds for making an alteration. MUNICPAL BOUNDARIES IN SCOTLAND. In reply to Mr BAXTER, The.LOno ADVOCATE said it was his intention to bring in a permissive measure, for the extension of municipal boundaries on burghs in Scotland, and to pass it, it possi ble, in the present session. RARBOUBS. In answer to Mr BAXTER, Mr WxLsoN stated that it was the intention of govern ment, in the course of next week, to enquire into the har bours of the United Kingdom. MAILS TO AUSTRALIA. In reply to Mr ADDERLEY, Mr WILSON stated that the arrangements entered into last August, for the conveyance of mails to Aus tralia, was now in full operation, and being ,performed to the satisfaction of the government. Branch mails were to be established betwee❑ Melbourne and Tasmania on the one hand, and New Zealand on the other. But some delay had taken place by misapprehension. Instructions, however, had been sent to the local authorities to see that part of the agreement carried into effect. FORCE AT THE CAPE. Major S• WORTLEY asked when, without in any way lessening the force a the Cape of Good Hope, it is the intention of government to remove the 6th, 25th, and 73rd Regiments, whose period of colonial service has expired some time, and to replace those regiments with three others. Lord PALMERSTON thought the question had been fully answered, on a previous occasion, by the Under Secretary for War. Though the term of service had expired, the exigencies of the public service kept them at the Cape. It was very natural that the friends of soldiers on foreign stations should be anxions to know when regiments were to return home, but he thought their movements should be left to the discretion of the government. (Cheers.) THE ADMISSION OF JEWS INTO PARLIAMENT. On the motion for the second reading of the Oaths Bill. several petitions were presented in favour of the adm'ssion of Jews to parliament. The bill was read a second time, amidst cheers, without any discussion. On the motion for going into committee of supply, VIE CIVIL SERVICE AGAIN. Lord GODERICII drew attention to the last re(plBosr7t)o,fwtahse Civil Service Commissioners, and to the prese n t system of the admissions to the civil service. The g enera l result t i‘ ) f i ay t , e l w B o s r s k , d i n o g w o n f the the system, l4th f F r o e o i t f s t first y e e s a t r a blishment in b. that 1,906 certificates of competency had bean granted, of which 1,805 had been given on examin at i on, and 101' on reports of heads of departments, whilst in the same period 956 candidates for certificates had been rejected. Since he had last brought the subject before the house, the com petitive system had been adopted partially by the Home office, and wholly by the Board of Works, hut he regretted to say that it had not yet been adopted by the important departments of the Admiralty, the Exchequer, the Foreign-office, the Post-office, and some others. It had been supposed that the consequence of adopting this system would be, that persons would be appointed to clerkships who would be above their work ; but the report of the Civil Service Commissioners was conclusive upon this point, and ,howed that any such fear was groundless. (Hear, hear.) The country at large took (he believ e d) a grea t i n t er est in this subject, and those who wr-re best informed upon it were strongly impressed with the i m p or t a nce of extending the system of appointing civil servants, but not on account of their influence, but on account of their merits. Mr. BASS asked who had the nomination to civil service appointments. Mr, Rica said,t. , at previous to the promise given to throw open the appointments to competition, the number of candidates applying, was greater by forty per cent. than the number during the last six months. Mr. MALnis wished to know whether a nomination carried an appointment, or only nomination ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER declared that the Government had never intended to throw open appoint ments to the civil service to public competition, and stated that the promise given was merely to the effect that every candidate should undergo an examination, and that had been carried out. Since that promise was given the num ber of competitors had increased, but the right of making the appointments was vested in the Crown, and it was not intended to abandon that right. Subject then dropped• THE JEW BILL.' Sir F. THESIGER gave notice that he would in com mittee of the Oaths Bill move the re-insertion into the oath of the words, " On the true faith of a Christian." ARMY MSTIMATRS. The house then went into committee of supply, and the remaining votes of the army estimates were agreed to. MISCELLANEOUS BILLS. The Probate and Letters of Administration Bill was brought from the Lords and passed. The Report of Supply was brought up and agreed to. The Report of the Committee on the Sound Dues was brought up, and leave was giv en to b r i ng in a bill founded upon the resolutions. The Joint Stock Companies' Bill went through committee. FRAUDULENT TRUSTERS. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading. of the Fraudulent Trustees Bill. Mr. SERJeANT KINGSLAKE, while approving of the prin ciple of the measure, thought that the employment of trust money without, at the time, arty intent to detraud, should be punished as the root of the evil. Mr. NEATE and Mr. ROLT also objected to the details of the measure. The ATTORNEY.GENERAL replied, expressing a hope that members would set forth their views, in the forms of amend ments to be moved in committee. The bill was then read:a second time. SAVING BANK?. On the motion for the second reading of the Savings' Banks Bill, Mr. Trauma deprecated interference by government officials with banks, and regretted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had not consented to refer the bill to a select committee. After a discussion, in the course of which Mr. Ayrton opposed, and Mr. G'yn supported the measure, the bill was read a second time. The Alehouse Licensing Bill was read a second time. The motion for the second rearing of the Married Womens' Reversionary Interest Bill was opposed by Sir E. Perry, but was carried on a division by 151 to 6, and he bill was accordingly read a second time. The other business was disposed of, and the house adjourned before one o'clock. THE CRYSTAL PALACE. THE GREAT HANDEL FESTIVAL. This, the greatest Musical Congress ever assembled, owes its existence to the anxiety of the Sacred Harmonic Society to promote by their example the commemoration, in 1859, of the Centenary of Handel's death in such a manner as would be alike worthy of the great master, and of the widely-diffused musical knowledge of the present day. In carrying out this object, it was found that the central transept of the Crystal Palace offered a spot for this display far beyond any other existing building. The space appropriated to the orchestra alone occupies a clear area of 168 feet width by 90 feet depth, This extent exceeds the entire capacity of any other music-hall in this country, and has the additional advantage of great height, and of ample means of approach, and for general arrange ments. The orchestra, which has been constructed in a somewhat flattened curve, rises from the floor at a front elevation of 8 feet, and is from thence continued in a series of semi-circular steps, varying from 10 to 15 inches each, to a total height of 47 feet. These rises are 34 in number, of which 11 are appropriated to the band, and the remaining 23 to the chorus. Ample space has been given to the orchestra, the violins having 15 square feet, and the double basses and violoncellos 24 equate feet for each desk. The chorus are all placed on raised benches, each individual having twenty-one inches in width, by thirty inches in depth. When it is remem bered that the usual allowance in churches is only sixteen inches for each person, it will be seen that the con venience of the performers has been well attended to. Tne balance ana disposition of the instrumentalists has received much attention from Mr. Costa. The band consists of seventy-six first violins, seventy-four second violins, fifty violas, fifty violoncellos, fifty double basses, eight flutes, eight oboes, eight clarionets, eight bassoons, twelve horns, six trumpets, six cornets, three ophicleides, eight serpents, nine trombones, two pair of kettle-drums, one large long drum, six side drums ; 385 per formers in all, who are arranged at 202 desks. The chorus, originally intended to consist of 2,000 voices, slightly ex ceeds that number. The entire orchestra, therefore, is, as near as possible, 2,500. Every seat and stand throughout the orchestra has its appropriate number, and a staff of 38 superintendents, having from 50 to 100 performers under their immediate supervision, will identify and record the attendance of each individual day by day. In the arrangement of the instruments in the orchestra, great care has been taken to give all of each class of instrument a connecting link with each other. The accompanying instruments comprise thirty-six violins, twelve violas, twelve violoncellos. and] twelve double basses, with the usual wind band. A consider able portion of the repieni wind is arranged in two of the avenues which separate the division of the chorus. In the centre, between the organ and the band, the large drum made by Mr. Distin for the festival will be a con spicuous object. It is between six and seven feet in diameter, and, when gently struck, produces a tone resembling the booming of a deep pedal-pipe. The chorus comprises about 1,000 metropolitan amateurs, 200 pro fessionala chorus, and nearly 850 choristers, carefully selected and rehearsed from the great provincial choral societies and the cathedral choirs. Tbese latter will arrive in London on the afternoon of Friday, the 12th of June, and the final choral rehearsal will be held in Exeter Hell at half-past six o'clock the same even. ing. With the exception of a very few seats reserved for distinguished visitors, the entire area, gallery, and platform, will, on that occasion, be occupied by the chorus, who will be arranged in double choir. "Israel in Egypt" will probably be the principal feature of this rehearsal, and it is expected that the 2,000 voices thus assembled, will produce an effect far beyond anything ever before witnessed. The preparations are gradually but rapidly progressing to wards completion, and thus far every arrangement has been most satisfactorily carried out for the festival. The month of June, 1857, will be a memorable era in the annals of music, and never yet was such maenificent homage paid to any composer, as this, to the genius of Handel. The rehearsals have had the desired effect of making the chorus accustomed to the baton of Mr. Costa, and the care and attention which the ladies and gentlemen have given to them, inspire perfect confidence that oratorios will be given with such sublime and magni ficent effect, that all who hear will acknowledge the power, the grandeur of these compositions of Handel. The interest which this meeting has raised in musical circles is daily increasing ; doubts and fears which might have nhetfdeoxatchoir Fund will give a grand choral ser existed in ady quarter as to its result have . all subsided, and ed ereo c l lu iss : s e ue d :3ttir e v i nat o yal m attending the festival will thus order hr n ad e teer vto or accommodate general expectation Ncyeameran joodya s o a frrt parties ipheeeeresrafvave principalns. tickets ii g snt t feeling wgve whichgaor bnahwillde available utonfalmwdoyart exists. c s oo i tt musical ra t wrtnieiimlsae In that week attend at a moderate expense. To musical week will present several attractions ; the Westminster Abbey, and, in connection, with al Society, have their annual dinner at 'Free -11. After dinner, madrigals, &c. will be sung by f p o r u in nd ce th o e f have a o Ehtvab f t: iniimaeivrnease t eeoe h tn3idenav a b e anutos g baec:l dle ri esse e hn rndd e i a attg d about 200 voices. The acred Harmonic Society have also arranged to have a performance of Mr. Costa's oratorio, Eli, at Exeter Hall, on the evening of Wednesday, the 17th of June, to which it is intended to invite all who Among those who have secured stalls attend from the country to take part in the festival. The and the t b h e e tickets have already been taken to a considerable extent, Majesty, Prince Albert, names of the principal nobility. As the festival will be andhonoured r by membersthe presence royalof h family, m M i a l y j Prussia and other distinguishable foreigners, a result as beneficial in a pecuniary as in a musical pot of Tiayr may reasonably be anticipated.