Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-31 00:00:00

4 AMUSEMENTS, PUBLIC MEETINGS, Ex. THIS DAY. RoTAL AN PIIITHEATBE—Dranutic Performance -7 p.m. OLArroN HALL, Clayt n-square —Gordon Cumming-8 p.m. CoLossant —General Entertainment-6.30 p.m. ZooLoozckt. GARDENS—Grand and Varied Entertainments. Ausor's Carsx.ba. PaLaca, Lime-street —lO a.m. to 10 p.m. Or For particulars see advertisements. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1857. THE DAY'S NEWS. ' We have still further particulars of news from India. A despatch from Marseilles yesterday (Thursday) states that there was a panic at Cal cutta on the 14th June, but owing to the energetic measures of the authorities, confidence had been restored before the departure of the mail. The English troops and inhabitants were act ing firmly. Part of the plot had been to take Calcutta on the 23rd of May. It was most complete in its arrangements when dis covered. Sir Patrick Grant had arrived at Cal cutta from Madras, and acting as Commander-in Chief, but Sir Henry Somerset, in Bombay, really held the supreme sommand of the Bengal army. Fifty regiments had ceased to exist. The 70th Native Infantry were thanked by the Governor for their loyalty. The 6th Native Infantry, at Allahabad, rivalled them in expressions of attach ment, but rose upon their officers and foully murdered them at Ferozepore, on the 13:1. Mili. tary executions had taken place. There were not the slightest symptoms of disaffection in Madras or Bombay. A mutiny of the Nizam's Cavalry, at Aurungabad, had been at once pnt down by General Woodham. On the 13th June another sortie from Delhi was repulsed with great loss. On the 16th, all was quiet ; 3,000 rebels were en camped outside the Ameer Gate. Delhi was not likely to fall till more troops arrived ; it was defended by 30,000 mutineers. In the House of Lords, last night, Lord Brougham expressed his satisfaction at the conduct of the people of Martinique, in repudiating the scheme of the French Government respecting the free negro system. The Earl of Ellenborough wished to know why it was that the papers referring to affairs in India, which had recently been laid before the house, did not contain the proclamation of the Governor-General of India of the 16th of May following, declaring in strong terms the determination of the Government to adhere to its former practice of not interfering with the religio❑ of natives. The noble lord then enlightened the house on the whole bearings of the case, and expressed his dissatisfaction that such proclama tion had been so long delayed, seeing that it was so necessary that the natives' mind should be disa bused of notions entertained by them respecting this particular matter. He then alluded to the cartridge question, and wound up by asking if such a state of things would have been allowed had the Marquis of Wellesley or Warren Hastings been in India. Earl Granville on the part of the Governmeut said, that there would be no objec tion to produce the proclamation. He at the same i me defended the Governor-General against the attacks of the Earl of Ellenborough, and said that by paying the utmost attention to all that was taking place in India, he (the Governor-General) had risen ie the estimation of all Europeans in India. The Duke of Argyle stated that there was no grounds for the complaints respecting the cartridges. Lord Canning on learning that the native regiments objected to the use of greased cartridges, he had given orders that the troops should purchase their own, and therefore avoid any unpleasantness. The House of Commons had an early sitting yesterday, during which the Police (Seotland) Bill went through committee, several unimportant amendments having been made. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the second reading of the New Zealand Loan Guarantee Bill. Sir J. Trelaw ney opposed. He insisted that the British public should not be called upon to guarantee a loan of £500,000 without some sufficient security. This they had not. He accused the committee who had been appointed to inquire into the subject as being biassed before they inquired into the matter, as the majority of them were in favour of colonial interests. After some other remarks, he moved that the bill be read a second time that day six months. The debate on the subject occupied the House until ten minutes to four, when, by the rules of the House, it had to be adjourned. A mes sage from her Majesty, thanking the House for its address to her upon Indian affairs was read. At the evening sitting Lord Palmerston announced that, after so decided an expression being given by the House on the Superanuation Amendment Bill, the government thought it their duty to make no further resistance to the proceeding of the bill. Mr. Stafford explained, in answer to a question, that the mails from India arrived at Trieste at nine o'clock on Tuesday morning. A telegraphic despatch was accordingly forwardrd to the Foreign offiee, but it did not reach until half-past twelve on Wednesday. He could not explain the delay. After Tuesday next government orders of the day are to have precedence to any other business. Another phase of modern xne.ioty has hoer witnessed at Birmingham. Some Mormons or Latter-day Saints, as they call themselves, have been in the habit of meeting quietly in their own chapel in Birmingham, to worship after their own manner. An orthodox Christian preacher, who evidently had more zeal than sense, has been lately preaching a " crusade," as the Birmingham journalist says, against these " saints," and his hearers have consequenly deported themselves in the true crusading style, tumultuously invading the Mormon chapel, and violently interrupting the service, mobbing the congregation, and wrecking the building. A formidable opposition is organising itself against the Thames Conservancy Bill, which is considered obnoxious by those having interests in and on the river, and likely also to be very detri metal to the public interest. A. meeting was held yesterday on the subject, and resolutions to oppose the bill were agreed to. What about the Mersey Conservancy Bill ? A deputation waited upon Lord Palmerston yesterday, on the question of supplying raw cotton. We are not in possession of his lordship's reply, but wo presume that he would seriously promise to do all iu his power to cause that pressing want to be met. Several interesting assize cases will be found reported at the length their importance requires. It will be seen that the Earl and Countess of Har rington, have been mulct in damages to the extent of £750, for a series of libels on a clergyman, the rector of the parish in which the defendants resided. The usual weekly meeting of the Dock Commit tee was held yesterday. A memorial from the owners, shippers, and consignees of timber cargoes arriving in Liverpcol was read. It set forth that the accommodation for that trade was anything but adequate, that even now there was upwards of twenty vessels lying in the Mersey, timber laden, unable to find room to discharge, and calling upon the committee to look into the matter. A letter from Messrs. Edward Higgins and Company respecting the cranes belonging to the Dock Committee, was read. These cranes are guaranteed to lift a certain weight, but in two cases when they were used by the Messrs. Higgins they had broken down, though the weight of the material was much under that which the cranes were registered to lift. Both communications were referred to the Harbour- Master's Committee. The Sub-Committee of the Marine Department recommended that an ad electric telegraph between Liverpool and Holyhead, including communication with the semaphore stations, which it would be necessary to retain. The recommendation was confirmed. The health of the town is below the average. The deaths last week were 238, being 12 more than the average of the preceding nine years. Bowel complaints are at present very prevalent. Our French intelligence continues to insist upon the extreme probability of something like a rupture between the European Powers on the question of the Principalities. It is thought that Louis Napoleon will again call the Paris Conference together. Perhaps in this very Conference we have the nucleus of a high court of European arbitration. The Emperor returned to Paris on Wednesday afternoon from his rural retirement. To show that he feared not assassination, he drove through the streets in an open barouche, unattended. In Holland the small Ministerial crisis has passed away. The three Ministers who had ten dered their resignations in consequence of differ enees arising out of the Education Bill, retain their portfolios at the earnest request of the King, who tried but failed to secure the services of any other Statesmen. The rest of the foreign news is unimportant. In fact, the affairs of England, and the revolt in India, principally occupy Continental poli tic ians. IT has often seemed as if misfortunes and losses came in heaps, and not singly. Now that we have got a Chinese war and a formidable Indian rebellion on our hands, the petty Greek republic of the lonian Islands think it the fitting time to give us a little annoyance. It is written in ~ESOP—that veritable chronicler of the sayings and doings of the lower animals—that when the lion was supposed to be sick and dying, the ass, for the first time, ventured to give him a sly kick. When England is supposed to be weak or embarrassed, then all the birds and beasts of ill omen send up a note of mutual gratulation, and gather themselves together in hope of dividing the spoil. In this they may be reckon ing without their host. England has, indeed, something upon her hands at present ; but she has encountered far greater perils, and still came off triumphant, and so will she now. The decline and fall of England is at present a myth, true only in the pages of Louis BLANC. It is known to most of our readers that, ever since the year 1815, seven of the lonian Islands have been formed into an independent republic, under the protectorate of England. The whole population does not exceed about a quarter of a million. We send them a High Commissioner, and they choose a Parliament for themselves. In this little spot—which would not be missed from the map of the British Empire, were the Mediterranean to swallow it up to-morrow—a great fuss and display of rhodomontade were made the other day in the Greek Parliament against the Protectorate. A pretence was put forward, that some party or parties, at present unknown, had made the atrocious proposal that G ORM C U M M I N G, LION HUNTER, Will appear T HI3 EVENING, and Every Evening (except Saturday), till further notice, in Liverpool, at the CLAYTON-HALL, CLAYTON-SQUARE, And, surrounded by the SPOILS and TROPHIES of his HUNTING ACHIEVEMENTS, Give his MUSICAL and PICTORIAL ENTERTAINMENT, Dscriptive of his EXPLOITS and ADVENTURES in the FAR INTERIOR OF SOUTH AFRICA. The Hunter's Narrative will be illtutrated by a Novel Series of DIORAMIC SCENES; And the NATIVE BUSH PEOPLE from the GREAT KALAHARI DESERT, Will appear in their Characteristic Dances. A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, At Two o',Aock. 1141lzaission to the Gallery. ls ; Area Stalls, 24 ; Dress Circle, 3s. Commence at Eight o'clock precisely. M ISS SMITH IN LIVERPOOL. AFULL LENGTH AND CO!tHECr LIKENESS or MISS SMITH Is jug added to ALLSOP'S CRYSTAL PALACE WAX-WORK EXHIBITION, LIME•STIIEZ r, LIVXRPOOL, _ _ Modelled from a Drawing taken dUri , ,g her 'I rial at Edinburgh, and POSITIVELY THE ONLY ONE I'AKEN. The above Exhibition consists of One Hundred WAX FIGURES, as large as Life ; Empero s, Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses, Dukes, Lords, Statesmen. &c., &c., of all Nations; t' gether witk SCULPTURE GALLERIES, cootiioing m Ey Hundreds of Antique and Modern Stat ;ary, varying from five to fourteen feet in height. The Walls of the Palace are decor its I with Massive Looking Glasses, and Silk Flags and tianne , s. In the Evening the Pa ace is illuminated with a numbi.r of Massive G ass Chandeliers. TA° Exhibition h enlivened by Performances on a GRAND CON CERT ORGAN at intervals. Open from ien a.m. to Ten p.m. Admission, 6d. Children, 111.1 f-price. M. L'A N G E L I E R. W. ALLSOP resnactfoll7 intimates to tho inhabitant. of Li•-orpoul, Birkenhead, and Vicinity, that he is now in Gla gow, engaged in saodelling a FIGURE of L'ANGLIER, from the only Photograph (on Glass) in Glasgow, which he has pn , chascd; and it will be ready for inspection, by the side of MISS z,M1711, in a few days, in his WAX WORK EXHIBITION, LIME-STREET, LIVERPOOL. Glasgow, Jo y 25, 1857. Z OOLOGICAL GARDENS, LIVERPOOL. •.ILA DAYS EVERY DAY (SATURDAY EXCEPTED), THIS EVENING (Finney), the Langhable Comedietta, TO OBLIGE BENSON. And every Evening a Favourite Play. SIONOR I'RANCOIS, the French Horcules (every Evening), In his Surprising Feats of Strength, assisted by his India-rubber PUPIL. The Magnificent CITY OF MOSCOW wfl, at Dusk, be beautifully lillaminated—the hit. Coronation Fete of the Ernperor Alexander, Auld all the Palaces, H uses, Bridges, :cc., being lighted with gas. At a Quarter to Ten, the FI AEIVORK.S will take place at the Great Picture, conclud.nz with a Grand Classical TABLEAU. % k r On MONDAY' next, Aug•ist 3, the GRAND UNITED 0 RDEB Of 0 ODFELLOW6' GRAND I.ETE and G ‘LA will take place, for which an array of Talent have been engaged. A 'mission Is. Children 6d. All Improper Characters prohibited admission into the Gardens. OOLOGIOAL GARDENS, LIVERPOOL. The Lessee is happy to inLorm his Patrons that he has Engaged Mr. W. F. WALLETT, the celebrated Jester, and the DELAVANTI FA MI LY, For FOUR DAYS, commencing on TUESDAY next, the 4th August, And three following days. Mr. W. F. WALLETT, the Shakspe,lan Jester, has had the distin guished mark of Royal favour, in bzing patronised by Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and most of the Crowned Heads of Europe. The DELAVANTI FAMILY will give their Extraordinary and Wonderful Entertainment. The DRAMATIC COMPANY, which has nightly been received with such enthu tactic applause, will perform each evening, EXTRA and SPLENDID FIREWOitIiS wi'l take place each even- I ng, in a_dition to the other Amasemeats of the Gardens. Admission, Is. Children 61. 110 nmerrtat Ebi4 Dap. At twelve o'c'ock, at the brokers' office, 16. Exchange-buildings, 2,5,0 bales Jute.—J._R. Rayner and Co. At twelve o'clock, at the broker,' office, 9, Rumford-street, 750 bales Jute.—Whitaker, Whitehead till Co. At twelve o'clock, at the broker's office, Exchange-street West, lo bags Cowries.—Macgrr gor Laird, j an. At twelve o'clock, 74 bags Bombay Saltpetre.—Cox Brothers. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, Oldhall-street, 79 pkgs. Bees' Wax,—Gladstone and Sergeantson. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers office, 18, Hackin's-hey, 1,158 bags Horn Waste and Shavings.—Balmain and Hill. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' cffice, 2, Da'e-street, about 11 tons &pan Wood.—Browne, Hunter and Co, At twelve o'clock, at the broker's office, 30A, Exchange-street East, At Twelve o'clock, at the broker: office, Oldhall-street, 100 bales Jute, 132 bales Jute Cuttings.—James Bateson, Sons and Co. At twelve o'clock, at the brokers' office, Apaley-buildings, o'.dhall street, a quantity of Lima Wood, Fastic, and Sumac.—Rooke, Okell, and a pence. At twelve o'clock at noon, on the (nay, east side of Huskisson Dock, a quantity cf l'imbar.—E3ward Chi' oner. 10" For particulars see advertisement*. THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY, JULY 31. 1857. this Greek republic should be converted into an English colony. Search was made, but no such party or proposition could be traced back to anything actual. Of course the thing is a mare's nest. No British party ever imagined such a thing, but Russian agency and Greek restlessness conveniently avail themselves of this pretence in order to give us a little embarrassment at this moment, when we are embroiled farther east. The notion of making these self-important little men of a tiny republic into a British colony is absurd enough, because, if they only knew it, this would be conferring far too much honour upon them to be incor porated with an empire, on whose standard the sun never sets, and—what is yet more—which is among the foremost of the nations in the march of civilisation. Mtich as we disapprove and contemn the spirit which lately showed itself in the Greek. Parliameni, we by no means disapprove of their wish to retain their nationality, or even, if they prefer it, to their joining them selves to that remarkably well-governed state, called the Kingdom of Greece, under King Onto. Whether this could be safely permitted in the existing relations of Europe, we do not decide. It is for statesmen to determine, who understand the interdepe'ndence of nation', and what may be required, by what is called the balance of power. Still we have no wish to overbear, oppress, or ignore any nationality, however tiny, and however feeble, if they them selves are anxious to preserve it. Oftentimes, probably, the severest punishment that Heaven could send us would be to grant us our prayers ; and, if other reasons permitted it, probably the best retribution of this Greek insolence would be to grant the prayer. We engage to defend them from foreign aggression, and prevent their being swallowed up by any of the great powers. But there is no accounting for tastes, and if they prefer a tyranny to some small measure of freedom, in Heaven's name, let them have it ; we shall be well rid of them— and they will glorify themselves by exchanging dependence on a first-rate power for incorporation into a tenth-rate state. There is no use in forcipg institutions to which the people are not fitted—of which they are not capable. Like spoiled children, let them be gratified a little. The forms and institutions of England are too advanced for them, too good for them. Why should we cast our pearls before them ? As they cannot rend us, they will, with Russian help, try the safer work of undermining us. In the language of the venerable book, we say, " Let them follow their own ways, and be filled with their own devices." But there is one thing that England will not tamely permit. She will not tamely permit that either by supple Greek or wily Russian the lonian Islands should be turned into a focus of conspiracy or a source of annoyance against herself. She will extinguish it on the same principle that she extinguishes Greek piracy, as a nuisance in the midst of the This storm in a tea-pot is hardly worthy of the attention of Britain. We notice it now, in order to urge our rulers to be just to all, and fear nothing. If England assume to tyrannise, and imitate Continental despotism, then she can expect nothing but disturbance, annoyance, and rebellion. There is a thirst for freedom and progress, which is of God and not of Govern ments, and which cannot be put down and finally quelled. Let our readers be just to Canada, just to Australia, just to India, and just to those insolent little Greeklings, and they will be sustained by Providence and the people of England. To the Greeks, also, we would tender this safe counsel—" Gentlemen, you are deceived as to the weakness of England. You are within sweep of the lion's tail. You may venture too far. Beware !" THE Civil Service Superannuation Bill was the subject of a renewed debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Despite the deter mined opposition of the Government and of most of ex-Cabinet ministers, who now hold seats in Parliament, the measure passed a second reading by a majority. of sixty. This is a very proper decision for the House to arrive at, and should teach those in power that the continuance of a system of injustice and oppression towards the public servants of the country will not be tolerated by the people's •epresentatives. The debate of Wednesday called forth speeches from Mr. GLADSTONE, Mr. DISRAELI, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and they each argued the question in its threefold aspect— feeling, justice, and expediency. The case put forward by the civil servants amounted to this " Leave us alone ; let us take care of ourselves. If you believe—if you can get the country to act on the belief, that our nominal salaries are more than we deserve, move Parliament to reduce them, but do not compel us to pay a heavy per-ccntage on salaries which we believe to be insufficient, and which no one considers excessive, in order to provide a fund from which not one seventh of those compelled to contribute to it can ever, by any possibiliiy, derive any benefit." As the law now stands, the salary paid to the civil servants is nominal in amount ; and great as this grievance is, it is rendered much more galling from the fact that it is partial in its operation, and that high paid officials of the state are exempted from the imposition of the tax. Now, whenever the case has been investigated, the claims of the civil servants have been considered, as was nothing more than j ustice. Committees and com missioners, with the strongest desire to support the present system, and uphold the Government views of the subject, have been forced to come to the conclusion that all schemes of deductions should be swept away. The common sense view of the matter repudiates the idea of enforcing provident habits by Act of Parliament. It is to repeal this very questionable piece of legislation that Lord NAAS brought forward his Bill. It consists of one clause only, and is directed to the single object of repealing the superannuation clause in the Bill of 1834. The opponents of the Bill object that it leaves the old scale of super annuation allowances untouched, and, as a matter of course, fails to carry out the intentions and re commendations of the Royal Commissioners, to whom the question was referred. This is true to a certain extent; but on whom does the blame rest ? If - the Government had been thoroughly impressed with the importance of the subject, and made up their mind to carry out in an honest and candid spirit, the recommendations of the Commissioners, by introducing a Bill abolishing reductions, and improving and altering the scale of superannuation, no one can doubt that not only the House of Commons but the Civil Servants themselves, would have approved and supported such a measure. They took a position exactly the reverse ; they fell back, as vuc of our metropolitan eutemporaries says, " upon red tape," entrenched themselves in the precedents of Downing-street, and marshalled in front of their position an imposing array of Heads of Departments. But the promoters of the Bill introduced by Lord NAAS understood their tactics too well. They made an attack on only one poiut, namely, the deduction system, and exerted all their power to carry out s in its entiriety and integrity, the chief . - ecommendation of the Royal Commissioners of 1856, namely, that the full amount of their present nominal salaries be paid to the Civil servants without deduction and without re-vision. Mr. GLADSTONE delivered a short but pithy speech against the measure, and stated what we can hardly believe to be founded in fact—viz., that the civil servants of England were over, rather than under, paid. Will any man be rash enough to aver that the Post-office clerks and the lower grades of the Custom-house and Excise officials are paid anything like a sum commensurate with the importance and useful ness of the duties they have to discharge ? A Post-office clerk, after years of service, is con sidered well paid if he gets 30s. per week. True it is that the heads of departments get more; but these are exceptional cases, which can only be obtained by the few, while the many have to toil day and night for a pittance which no mer chant would think of offering to his common clerk. The Chancellor of the Exchequer argued against the expediency of the Bill, but the House was not disposed to follow his advice, and man fully carried the second reading by the majority already stated. We hope, therefore, that the Government will Liot oppose the measure any further, but promuie Iw r avbawJ, accLug mat they are not in a position to resist its aims and objects with effect any longer. Let us hope, too, that, having this grievance remedied, it will add to the value of the civil service, by introducing greater mental ability and moral worth. Not that there is much cause for general complaint thereon. We may further add that it is somewhat singular that the government should take a view of such a matter in complete antagonism to their general - supporters in the House of Commons, and that they should insist upon providing for the families of those public officials against their wish or desire, and that, too, as a measure which has conferred little or no advantage for the cost it has incurred. GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY or CANADA.—The Lancashire Shareholders intend to call a Meeting of the Proprietors to propose the following' resolutions :—lnasmuch as the Government and Legislature of Canada have unanimously decided byl the late 'Act:'of the Provicnial Parliament, that the political element should be - eradicated from the Board of Directors, it is resolved.—That in the appoint— ment of Directors to serve on the Canadian Board, it is essential solely to select gentlemen of commercial ex perience, connected with the general trade of the province and of the Western States. That the names of five gentlemen be submitted to the London Board for election, as representatives of the English Shareholders, such nominees to be residents of Quebec, Montreal, Prescott, Kingston, and London, C. W.—That 'all extensions be deferred, excepting the level between St. Mary's and London, until the Victoria Bridge is opened, and proper terminal' accommodation provided at Quebec in connexion with shipping and goods. THE MAYO ELECTION WRIT.—A: lively debate was got up in the House of Commons, on Tuesday night, over the question of issuing a writ for the county of Mayo, to supply the vacancy caused by:the:unseating of Mr. G. H. Moore. Colonel French moved that such a writ do issue, upon which Mr. Scholefield, the chairman of the com mittee which had unseated Mr. Moore, moved a counter resolution to the effect that the Irish Attorney-General be directed to prosecute the Revs. P. Conway and Luke Ryan, Catholic priests, for undue influence and intimida tion exercised upon the electors at:',the last election, and that, in the meantime, the writ be suspended. In support of this motion, Mr. Scholefield referred to the fact that two witnesses who had given evidence before the com mittee had, on their return, been hunted through the streets like wild, busts, which showed that the priests had almost put an end to freedom of election. This accusation brought up Mr. Maguire, who defended Mr. Moore and the priests, and described the evidence on which the latter had been charged with "cursing " certain electors as utterly contemptible. Mr. Baillie urged the issue of the writ, on the:ground that the electors shouhl, not be punished for the sins of the accused priests, viho were non-electors. To this view Lord Palmerston r'.,plied, urging that the non issue of the writ would be a positive protection to the electors, who would knovi, from the manner in which the judges; dealt with the offending priests, if they might exercise the suffrage unmolested. Lord Claude Hamilton insinuated th'e.t the [rish Attorney - General (who is a Roman Catholi , . s ) could not be trusted to conduct such a prosecution. The Attorney• General replied to this taunt with berznming temper, and assured the house that the case Wight be safely entrusted to his hands. The debate wa.`:, wound up by Mr. Bowyer, who characteristically de'aled [the " cursing" imputed to the priests, but asked 'if, even were it true, it was an offence ? Would the hov.'4e on doubtful testimony, " rouse the feel ings of the people 9f Ireland" by proleeuting two priests? The answer of the house was in the affirmative, the reso lution to prosecute being carried by 153 to 24 votes. On a subsequent vote, the suspension:of the writ was agreed to by a majority of 128 to 21. The prosecution of these parties is a bold step, and we have little doubt that Mr. Boviler's anticipation, that it will rouse public feeling across the water, will be fully ,realised.—Manchester Examiner. THE TRANSATLANTIC TELEGR ‘l9l. —The wonders already accomplished by the electric telegraph, j which, like all other implements of every day use has long been familiar to the public, has given rise to expectations not easily satisfied and not likely to subside. It is regarded as an easy affair by those who sea the telegraph in hourly operation in oar own country, and who find it communica ting readily with the nations of the continent, to extend the same means of communication indefinitely. If we can bridge the British channel and the Irish sea, why not the Atlantic and Pacific, and thus put a girdle round the world ? Electricians have already had considerable, we might almost say, disheartening, experience of the first difficulty—that of sinking the cable. We all remember how, while the Crimean war was waging, the electric tele graph hung fire, and how, in despite of modern science, we were obliged to wait for information by the old fashione 3 modes of conveyance. The reason was that the telegraph failed in consequence of the impossibility of laying the cable so as to complete the communication. What were the immediate causes of failure can be only guessed, as we cannot survey the bottom of the sea and seek them out. A rocky bottom may chafe and tear the cable se as to destroy its efficiency without severing it ; and the injury may remain undiscovered, because, once sank, it is often impossible to fish it up again. Thus, two Mediterranean cables of enormous length have been lost and abandoned. To insure an efficient line of carnum lication, the cable must be laid down uninjured. As cables of this sort have been hitherto made, there must have been a fortunate °or:- currence of events to secure that result. Ia the first place, there must have been temperate weather for the laying down ; then, there must have been no accident causing a destructive strain on the wire ; and there must have been no " kinking" of the coil in paying it off the drum to settle it in the bed of the sea. All these things might happen in a sea comparatively shallow, where the weight of the sinking portion of the cable was but a few hundred weights, but where the sea is a mile or more in depth, and the weight of the sinking cable is many tons, the tendene3 of the whole is to sink in a mass, and every precaution taken to secure its gradual and safe deposition on the bottom is far more likely to be defeated than to prove suc cessful ; and in effect these endeavours have been defeated so often as to throw considerable doubts in the minds of some on the final success of any grand undertaking of the kind. Of the other great diffimity, that of sending the electric current along the thousands of miles of submerged cable, experience has taught us less. We have not yet had the chance of trying more than a few hundred miles. It may be that even with a complete and uninjured cable between this and the American shore, the electricity will not travel in sufficient power to deflect a needle, and some further discoveries in science will have to be made before communication is established. To propel a message a great distance, it is found that prodigious electric force is indispensible, and it is said that some of the batteries in use now in the London offices a-e already of a power far exceeding anything that was contemplated to be necessary ; further, it is found that electricity thus intensified, so to speak, charges the conducting wire, thereby defeating or retarding its own purpose—a phenomenon which the most skilful electricians are at a loss to deal with. Some objectors even go so far as to assert that this retarding influence, whatever may be its cause, will prove a f a t a l o`)staele to any submarine bond between this and America' Be it understood, however, that we entertain no such opinion ourselves, having too much faith in human energy and enterprise, and in the resources of science against seeming impossibilities. Everything will depend upon the success of both vessels in laying down the cable uninjured in the bed of the ocean. In order to facilitate this diffi cult operation, various plans have been proposed. Among the rest, Messrs. Winkins and Wetherly, of Wapping suggest the use of a hollow tube, or trail, of sufficient length to reach nearly to the bottom, and buoyed up by floats in au reeneee puoiti..- ouch' a tube we Lute might be paid out at a rate of swiftness or slowness determinable by the inclination of the tube in the water, and accidents from the rapid uncoiling of the cable would be avoided ; and it is further evident that the friction of the line with the tube would, by preventing a strain on a particular part, much lessen the liability to breakage. On approaching the shore, it is sugested that the tube or trail be loosed from its floats, and allowed to sink with the cable, for which it will act as a protective covering, where such a thing is most needed. We do not know whether this plan will be adopted; if not, it will be because someting deemed equally good, if not better, has already been de termined upon. Oae thing is certain—neither labour, expense, nor caution will be spared in the laving dawn of the cable, the success :of which operation is vital to the great undertaking.—The Leisure Hour. REVOLT IN MADAGASCAR.—" The news which we receive from Madagascar," says the Cerneen of the Mauritius, "is most important. A revolt had burst out in the province of Emirne, and upwards of 4,000 insurgents had made their appearance at Tananarivo before the Queen, claiming protection against the acts of brutality of her delegates in the provinces. But not only their com plaints were unattended to, but 1,800 were arrested and thrown into confinement, to be put to death on the Ist of June, at the fete of the Bath,' the greatest of ,the Hova people." The accounts received proceed to say :—" It appears, however, that Prince Rakoute, on learning this decision of the Queen, formally protested against so sanguinary an order, and affirmed that the execution should not take place. He added that already too much blood had been shed by his mother's government, and that it was his fires intention for the future to see that a more humane and more equitable system of administration should be acted on with respect to the Hova people. This declaration, made publicly, in presence of the Queen, of her ministers, and of the whole court, had produced an immense sensation, and grave events were expected, in case the government ventured to proceed to the execution of the prisoners. M. Lambert (the French agent) had quitted Tamatava on the 17th May to proceed to Erairne, followed by the precious objects which:he was:charged to convey to the Queen and to Prince Rakoute. This latter had sent five of his aides-le-camp to meet him, and the Queen had placed at his orders a numerous escort. It was supposed that he might reach Tanan.arivo in about a dozen lays, in time to be present at the gcaat fetes of 'the Bath.' " The presence in the waters of St. Louis of eight vessels of war of the French division In the Chinese seas had produced at Tamatava a great sensation. THE VALUE Or "KNOWING WHERE TO STOP."—The following myst - drious advertisement was, until very re cently, exhi;ited in the sh')w-frame of a photographic artist, in a leading street in Dublin. We print it verbatbdt:-4 , Photograph of the hammer and razor found in th. e Broadstone Canal and now proved to be the weapons w..tth which the late Mr. Little was murdered by order of his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant !" The author of the sentence certainly brings his Excellency into dangerous complicity with that fearful tragedy. What shall we say of the hasty clergyman, who announced, in one breath, when asking the prayers of the congregation, that " a sailor going to sea his wife desires the prayers of the con gregation !" Eu verite, the interview with the honest mariner's better-haf must surely have beer, a service of considerable danger. We may as wel), while discussing the oddities of punctuation, add anP;ther instance of " the obscure," as shown in the ;advritisement, by an eccentric horse-dealer and auctioneer ; ,11 Dublin, of " a handsome phaeton the property of an dicer with a moveable head ordered abroad 1" But, to come nearer home, we observe that the " celebr?',ed Spanish minstrels" announced the perfortimoe; at their concert, of various " native melodies harmonised for six voices attired in their national costume!" We always thought that sound was " vox et praterea nihil," but here we find it, taking consistency and body. We know not what costume airs can assume—except, perhaps, zephyr-coats. Well may we exclaim, with the Latin poet—slightly altering his text—" Omne gui tulit punctum, miscuit utzle dulci"—that he who removes every point confounds what is useful with what is amusing ! Belfast News Letter. SLAVERY IN THE DUTCH WEST INDIA COLONIES.—The Echo of the Hague, of the 24th instant, says :—" We have now before us three bills for the abolition of slavery in the West Indies, just presented by the Minister of the Colonies to the Second Chamber. From a rapid examina tion of them, we can affirm that they only nominally abolish slavery—a fact which will surprise no one when it is known that they are based on the ideas of the govern mental commission which was nominated some time ago to adjourn the solution of the question. According to these projects, the government will disburse a sum exceeding 12,000,000 florins to purchase the slaves, who are after wards to be allowed to c , ntinue to work for their masters as previously, or to labour under the direction of public functionaries in phalanseeres specially established for them ; but they are not to regain their real liberty until they shall have reimbursed the expenses of their pretended emancipation, and shall besides have obtained the consent of the authorities. The object seems to be to establish in the Wcst Indies a sycles of black communism." THE COURT, &c. OSBORNE, JULY 28.—Her Majesty, accompanied by Prince Alfred, Princess Royal, and Princess Alice, honoured Colonel and Lady Katherine Hareonrt with a visit at St. Clare, near Ryde, yesterday. The royal dinner party included the Princess Royal, Princess Alice, Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps, and Captain Crispin, R.N. RETURN OF THE PRINCE CONSORT.—His Royal High ness the Prince Consort arrived off Dover in her Majesty's steam-yacht Osborne, from Antwerp, at 3.20 p.m., oa Taesday, and immediately after landed in Dover harbour, in one of the boats belonging to the Osborne. The landing at Dover of his Royal Highness was totally unexpected by the authorities there. It was, how ever, caused by the threatening aspect of the weather, there being almost a gala of wind from the south-west with a heavy head sea when the Osborn) arrived off the port. The Prince was received at the landiug-place by her Majesty's naval superintendent of the port, Captain M'llwaine, and by the commandant of the garrison, Colonel Lysons, both of whom accompanied him to the railway station, where, short as had been the notice, a special train, lender the energcCe directions of Mr. Johnstone, the station master, had been prepared. It left Dover for Portsmouth via the Redhill station of the South Eastern Railway and the London and Brighton Rail way, at 3-40 p.m., Mr. Johnstone riding on the engine. A. royal salute was fired from the Drop Rettaubt, on the heights, the moment his Royal Highness stepped on shore. The Prince Consort arrived at Portsmouth at twenty minutes past seven o'clock. Her Majesty's yacht Fairy came over from Osborne with her Majesty and family on board to meet him. His Royal Highness embarked in the state barge from the new landing place of the dock yard, and left in the Fairy about half-past seven. The usual salutes were fired. THE VISIT OF THE EMPEROR AND E➢iPRESS' OF THE FRENCH TO OsBoRNE.—On Tu sdav evening her Majesty's ship St. Vincen', 101 guns, Captain Elliott, Caesar, 91 (in ordinary), screw two-decker, ILA Blenheim, 61, sorew twc-decker, Captain the Hon. F. T. Pelham, C.B , were ordered to be got ready immediately to go to Spithead, to await further orders, pending the visit to Osborne of their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress of the French. Other ships, it is supposed, will be sent to the same rendezvous from other ports. AMUSEMENTS. ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—The grand balloon ascent from these beautiful gardens took place on Wednesday evening. It is needless to say that the event was attractive, and the operation quite successful. After a splendid ascent, the wnere quru furore was created. The enterprise and spirit which characterises the able and liberal proprietor of this deservedly favourite resort have, we are glad to find, met with a hearty response from the public, who flack in large numbers to enjoy the most pleasing evenings, where everything intellectual is provided for them. The gallas prepared for next week are quite majestic, and cannot fail to please thousands. CLAYTON HALL.—Mr. Cumming continues to interest and instruct crowded and fashionable audiences at this little prince of houses. Last evening the hall was very fashionably and fully attended, and the company were delighted by the graphic delineations of forest and hunting life, given by the able lecturer. There is a freedom about Mr. Cumming's description that is always welcome, one never tires of the brilliant pictures he incessantly presents, and whilst you are rivited in attention by some startling incident, he has the happy turn to illustrate the whole by some ludicrous accident—a thing inseparable from the life of an African hunter. Those who have not read his book, will find iu the entertainment a history of bush life in Mika. never before presented to Europeans. We shall make some extracts from this work, but at the same time, a visit to the hall will amply repay in intellectual enjoyment. Docron OF Laws.—We are much pleased to announce that a European Diploma of Doctor of Laws has just been conferred on W. M. Fisher, Ph.D.F.R.A.S., of this town. We have c irefully inspected the beautiful tablet which reflects the highest credit on the talents and scholarship of this spirited gentleman. One dissertation required for this high literary honour was the " origin, progress, and present state of the British Constitution ;" another, << the solar system, including comets, universal gravitation, laws of Kepler," &e. In all these difficult and interesting sub jects, our esteemed friend has been eminently successful,, and carried off the palm of victory. PLUNDER OF PUBLIC Menem—lnformation has bean received at the chief police station, Scotland-yard, London, of two extensive acts of plunder by government officials, who have gone off with a large amount of public money. The individuals who have thus gone off are a clerk of the Transport Office, Liverpool, who has abconded. with upwaids of 4,0001. ; and a clerk in Customs at Hull, who has gone off with 2,500/. Both delinquents, it is thought, have either left or will try to get out of the country. One is a person of great attainments, speaking the continental languages fluently. He moved in the first circles, and is accompanied in his flight by a young lady of good family. Warrants have been issued for their apprehension. RITCHIE'S CORK Bans.—We have had an opportunity of examining specimens of these really useful articles, and although we heard much of their superiority, were quite surprised to find them so admirably adapted for the camp, emigrants, and sea service. They are composed of cork, and perfectly waterproof. Past experience has proved that at sea this surpasses all other descriptions of beds. The company by whom they) are manufactured— " The Patent Mattress and Cork Fabric Company" —have received numerous testimonials, setting forth the excellent qualities of the beds among them are letters from the Surgeon Superintendents of the Ocean Monarch and James Fernie. From these documents we learn that the follow ing were some of the results of a trial of them in a voyage to Australia. Ist —The cork bed is at first somewhat harder than the ordinary cotton mattress, but it soon becomes soft during use. 2nd.—ln cold weather it ap pears to be quite as warm as the cotton one ; while in the hot weather it is cooler, and in all respects far more com fortable than the other. 3rd.—To determine the value of the cork bed with regard to dryness as compared with the cotton one—says Dr. Rowland—l caused one of each sort to be thoroughly saturated with water, and then to be placed in the sunshine to dry. The cork bed was dry at the end of one day, the cotton one was still wet on the evening of the second. 4th.—Tbe cork bed is not liable to the objection of obstructing the ready passage of the heat and moisture of the body, but the cotton bed is. Sth.— At the end of the voyage it was found the cork beds were in every respect as good as when placed on board, while the cotton beds used in the same manner and for the same length of time, are lumpy and uncomfortable, many of them having quite lost the shape of mattresses, being quite reduced to mere bags with a large hard lump of cotton at one end. The cork beds are made of all sizes, and at various prices, ranging from four or five shillings to twenty-three or four. They are well suited for schools. workhouses, asylums, hospitals, &c. Mr. Ball, of Cum berland-street, we observe has been appointed sole agent at Liverpool for the company, 'and will gladly permit an inspection of the beds by anY 'party calling at his office,