The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-16 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY. E CURRENCY QUESTION working in connection with their present line of steam-ships --. to Aspinwall, would be capable of performing the voyage e , To Tete. ea., T „.,_ ---. EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES. between Southampton and the Australian colonies in a poshlietli;o ren8:11 ?lisdoes the export of a few millions of gold, satisfactory manner, as respects the speed, regularity, .and t comfort of the passage, and at the same time earn sufficient sat' a profit to the exporter, jeopardise the 4 111 1 0 ' 3, the Bank of England, depreciate , the value of 'o support the new undertaking. Proposa ls have also been r enders ion a i made to Government for an extended postal service between securities, and creat a feeling of panic which I lean. __ the operations of the most legitimate trader Panama, Australia, and New Zealand; and, it seems, there NO Perilous as those of the most reckless speculator ? is reason to believe that very favourable arrangements may teX,peitro'fsibaenefit which an individual . derives from the be made with the United States Government for the erg 0 golduetrimental to the prosperity of the nation ? conveyance of letters between New York and Australia, po geop I,nee:dmits that " all partial evil may be universal. by way of Panama, and between San Francisco and sal, can understand how the reverse of this pro- Ina•vh i n c an be tr - Australia by the same route. The contract which be o i r - -nal teem the le eductiveue—how the good . w . hich arises to an has recently been entered into by government with the pursuit of a leg . ate trade should . Australian and European Company, is for the conveyance of elee erth , •of evil only to the community at large. ire eiirreneAle_ss,such is the fact. Bat why ? Simply, because the mails to Australia by . way of Suez ; but, granting that ma -gh at `r of the country rests ono metallic founda- this route is the moot suitable for communication with Aus- N ow is to say, is based on gold. tralia, the present contract is for a monthly communication ar, are as the sinews of trade, as well as the sinews of only, which before long wil/ not be considered sufficient. l_reiecie,rePresented by that one ' word MONEY ;and and as a There is consequently a reasonable ground for the belief !.f 01 . gold, by the act of 1844, is made to imply rcity that the establishment of a monthly line of communication ite g i7 ; it follows, as a natural consequence, that with Australia by the Isthmus of Panama, departing between ti ee ',!older other circumstances, the profitable ex oat the times of the Suez line, and thus securing a fortnightly out. Weal i th e coca . 1 1 9 , 0 . modity gold would necessarily increase communication with those colonies, would confer on them a f e . wader' Y e (paradoxical as such an assertion really great benefit, and would be productive of a large amount of iti tiet ition _ existingo_ circumstances, it actually saps the traffic. Should these undertakings came into active opera ,,,ilth3 t our prosperity. It results in poverty—not lion, of which we see no reason to doubt whatever, we shall la th °Mai n then have no withless than four organised lines of steam coin la. e lite.h, Proceeding is more plain than: this."—Money eiu'Raieh ' c 'o'doi our commerce. Without money it must municaaon Australia. These will be the European oezNerefor and die. Gold is our only legal money. If, and Australian Steam Shipping Company, from Southamp iavnegueei,zvtiess:elili our gold, it matters not what we get in ton, via the Isthmus of Su , z ; the Royal Mail Steam Packet the life-blood of our commerce. Company, from the same port, via the Isthmus of Panama; h e r de eeri _Li , what we have a right to demand—some the Austrailian Auxiliary Seam Clipper Company, fr9m , o tthe as e Pted or Pu" an °f money. Give us money that cannot L on d on ; an d l ast, but not least, the line of Messrs. Gi b b s, artcle of commerce then the trde the export ti 7 e ' and Bright and Co., from Liv er p oo l.—A us t ra li an G aze tt e . b of can no i longer be drained of its life-blood a by eliotietary gold. e ity „, .Panics w ill no l onger be possible. Commer ee ar,:i s loos will seldom occur. Certainly, they will tlr s a eh '''e frm a se an,.,0 " legitimate and profitable trade in the , g ce sale of gold, or any other commodity . Jo FI N WILL COTTON FROM NORTHERN USTRALIA A gentleman, writing from Manchester, throws out the following suggestions with respect to the capabilities of the Australian continent for growing cotton :—" The rate at which the manufacture of cotton has for some years increased is obviously so much greater than the present cotton growing countries can meet, that it is desirable to look for other likely sources of supply ; and to this point my atten tion was directed by a communication from Captain J. Lort Stokes, R.N., on the subject of a convict settlement on the Plains of Promise, discovered by him at the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria, in North Australia. From what was then said of the range of temperature, 50 degrees to 90 degrees, this being what is req aired for the growth of cotton, and the facility with which labour of a sort suited to the climate could be obt dried from China, Canton being little over 2,000 miles from the Plains, I was induced to write to Capt sin Stokes for further information as to soil and climate, with which he has kindly furnished me. To enter into details would occupy too much space, but it may be stated that the region referred to is free from the extremes of heat and cold of Southern Australia, and has the further advantage of more rain. The soil is a light-coloured mould of great depth, and, in the opinion of those qualified to judge, who have examined some that was brought to England, is of a rich quality. As to climate, the range of temperature throughout the year is from 50 deg. to 90 deg. ; there is, therefore, no interruption to vegetation ; and from the report of Captain Flinders, R.N., who was in the gulf from 4th November, 1802, to 6th March, 1803, rain was frequent during the prevalence of the north west monsoon from December to February, after which the weather became settled. Both captain Stokes and Dr. Leichhardt, in different years, visited the plains in July and August (the close of the dry season), and found them covered with long grass ; there must, th ere f ore, b e mo i sture to sustain vegetation for six or seven months, a period sufficient to mature cotton. It therefore appears as if both the climate and soil of the Plains of Carpentaria will be better suited to the growth of cotton than any country we are now acquainted with, except the southern districts of the United States of America ; but as this must remain a theory with out it is tested by experience, I would suggest that the matter be brought under the notice of government, and that measures be taken to send a small force of Chinese labourers, under parties acquainted with the culture of cotton, to a point on the Albert River, where they could be maintained for two or three years at little expense, which time would be sufficient to test the capability of the country for the growth of cotton, and, if succes,ful, individual entrprise, aided by the facility with which labour could be got from China, would soon extend its culture." To T HE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES. tO t e I ' 4 got e wh at „ pan hour before my usual time this morning '. lll • .d • W." would say to the castigation he received fitmentri,Ll,ll American Bullionist," Judge of my disap • hen, after carefully examining the four pages of the f t : rr.el,,,y.ttli TIMES, I could find no letter on the subject ,, of the t sli ng of It may be all very well for "J. W. to affect a lic et t c , °ll tempt for his opponents, but a writer who under "itiej,lo"alighten the public, ought, surely, to reply to a fair I t Z t e !eep h , 64 What we want at present is cheap money, not 11,`" for tr , tr ash. J. W. show us how we are to td ett, er ; we have enough of the latter in his own letters. th tke eoe44 gullible John Bull, let me give thee a word of the e, of of til es r:11.11g these currency reformers. They would rob Wi t h right sovereigns under the pretence of supplying 'rnty of money. And give thee a garland woven fair, Take care. 'Tis a fool's cap for thee to wear, Beware. ;4 0 6 .3 , Trust th em not, they are fooling thee. " tow,j,"„;ent ervant, G UINEA G OLD. "I; Oct. 15, 1856. aheir Tlit Roma OF THE NORTHERN TIMES . 4 tri: en llit me to ca ll y our a tt en ti on to some trifling 44ne1fOr 7 tty l etters No. 2 and 3. In No. 2, paragraph . sr paragraph eleven, for 4, e tell 4 „,s, ot?uses" read "prem i ses ; " %le, read " exchanges ;9 , paragraph . thirteen, , for Sal e of =staking," read "avoid mistaklng. lio t I ; it " t ?! this opPortunity to thank " A British American has given to my first ,etter for the extra publicity he 4°4111' republishing so large a portion of itthe gh TIMES of to-day. i i 4 l 4 ;ft 4.,. "v e e l e e r; n r ab h l a c ve not yet written a syllable in favour currency," I do not exactly sea I n t• ;9 11 , 1 (1 be catechised as to my experience of its wor of lta reference to the curiously original definition NI Da . earrenc.., r„ that it is made up partly of real value, 1. 1%4 s o e , Credit value, I shall not trifle with the com :2,llr Your readers by dwelling upon its absurdity. ;:uers°,,cB,_Pondent says, ihat I propose to enlighten your t 14. Bate currency estion, and begs that I will do Fie must alio% me to follow my own t t; '°re f'„ 44 Y a foundation as wide and deep as I pleae, 401 he irs pro, e! d a to . raise the superstructure, whose coin pie - kral of: impatient to witness. Moreover, if the with et " gold, under existing laws, does not in any . way with- Bull' our kateri 1 't and , 4A British American ioo lli est” pro sperity , A. F . „ it is nonsense y to suppose that it does, why tv7 anxious to make more haste than good speed 'I 4.111 e. 154° hurry, my opponent must excuse me if I take L rei , J. W Pool, 14th October, 1856. TR &DVERTISEM ENT. 1 TO SHIP OWNERS' WHO ARECAPITALISTS, AND WISH TO KEEP THEIR MONEY TOGETHER, AND NOT PAY HIGH PREMIUMS FOR INSUR• IRON SHIPS CLARE'S PRINCIPLE THE ONLY MODE THAT WILL ENSURE SECURITY TO LIFE AND PROPERTY WILL LAST A I AT LLOYDS FOR EVER, John Clare, Junior's commercial experience developing where the def2cts lie in what are called iron vessels, con structed by people who are not mechanics in either intellect or skill, but upon the "tin-pot" principle, he will leave that proportion of tho tract, to porgono of that class who have turned out sinking coffins to consign to watery graves her Britannic Majesty's subjects who are marine travellers in such things as the Orion, Ida, Tayleur, Faith, Forerunner, H.M.S. frigate Birkenhead, and many others, including a number of colliers that foundered with their crews, all of which were inefficiently and unmechanically constructed, in accordance with the " tin-pot" principle. The public are ignorant of what they travel by when on board the present description of iron vessels, as they are unsafe and unseaworthy from their bad construction and the light material of which they are composed upon the " tin-pot" principle. If security to life and property be the desideratum the marine department of the Board of Trade have in view, they ought to put their authority (i.e. if that board is sincere in its intentions towards the public,) into effect forthwith, and cause a scale and mode to be laid down upon which iron vessels will only be allowed to be built. Until that is done, there will be no end to vessels foundering, &c., and sinking from collisions, such as the Imogene— sacrificing some £60,000, but, providentially, no life. As my attention has been directed to the art of iron ship building, to attain the climax whereby safety to life and property is practicable upon scientific and mechanical principles, the development of which appears to have given Mr. Charles Bean (the editor of the Liverpool Albion.) great offence, as it will naturally prevent him puffing his friend, Mr. John Laird. of Birkenhead, in the way he has done; as the said person told me last Wednesday, that he put that scurrilous document in his publication, on the Bth inst., because I had been running his friend (Mr. John Laird) down, which false accusation I flatly denied. He qualified it, and said, no—but you have his ships. Mr. Charles Bean said, if you give a tit, you must take a tat. I said, if Mr. John Laird, or any other person, calling himself an iron shipbuilder, made coffins to drown people, I, as a man, would do my best to protect my fellow-men from a watery grave. As I was a man, and always treated every person as one, that was a man in principle, and as I always as a rule spoke of people as I found them, I only wanted the same courtesy extended to me. I will take care Ido not commit myself by an unmanly action. I told Mr. Charles Bean that any person who might be annoyed at my ideas, and provided I was right, might write as much as they chose about me, if they attached their names and address to it, then he could not be blamed; but he was much to blame for lowering the dignity of the Albion if he were not the concoctor of that document, as he stated that the poetry at foot had given him and his friend, Mr. John Laird, such great offence, which appeared in the Albion a short time ago. For the good of the public, I again cause it to be printed. The French floating batteries that repelled the 64 lb, shot in the Crimea, and built from the designs furnished by myself to his Imperial Majesty the Emperor, also, the same plans being carried out by the British Government at the close of the war, by building at Messrs. Robert Napier and Sons, Govan, on the Clyde ; Messrs. Palmer Brothers, at Jarrow, on the Tyne; and Messrs. Samuda Brothers, at Blackwall, on the Thames. Floating batteries from the same plans and designs as were furnished by me at the request of the Admiralty on the 9th and 16th of July, 1855, but originally brought before the Hon. Sir M. F. H. Berkeley and Sir Baldwin Wake Walker, the Surveyor of the Navy, at Somerset House, on the 11th of June, 1854. This admission by the British Government building Iron Floating Batteries, as thus described, is a convincing proof that my ideas are sound and efficient in naval archi tecture, whereby ships may be constructed on scientific and mechanical principles. J ohn Clare, thou hast a good old name, O ! shall it not be known to fame ? • H aply the sailor far at sea N e'er shall forget to honour thee. C an skill so well brought out as thine L ong fail as it deserves to shine ? A h i Jack, as his pure draught he'll drink, R eally full oft of Clare shall think. E ach novice o'er his glass shall ask Who was it made this water cask? And men the proud truth shall declare The inventor of this cask was Clare ; Nor casks alone, but o'er the sea Clare's ships shall float from damage free ; So sailors now shall drink pure water. Nor fear the cannon-ball's dread slaughter. Few are the dangers which environ Ships made, as Clare's are made, of iron ; Masts, spars, and ribs may well defy Dangers from foes, from wave, or sky, And when, far o'er the Atlantic sea, Another home belongs to thee, Your house of iron, all complete, So strong, so beautiful, and neat, Will make wife's, daughter's , son's fond prayer A blessing on the name of Clare. SHIPOWNERS , TO SIIIPO YTS CUM LEVJT4TE. PERSONS desirous of havinfr, VESSELS bnitt•that can neither Leak nor Sink may obtain efficient Ships through the medium of the undersigned's patents, who is now prepared to execute all orders confided to him. JOHN CLARE, Jun , Sole Inventor and Patentee of Improvements in Shipbuilding, Metallic Masts, Spars, &C., upon scientific and mechanical principles only. Exchange-buildings, by the Underwriters' Rooms, Liverpool. " NOT ASHAMED TO BE A BRITISH AMERICAN BULLIONIST." TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES. was much amused by a letter which appeared in your columns of this morning, signed "A British American Bullionist.'' Having been for some years resident in Canada and the United States, you must allow me to say a few words, of rather a personal nature, about your corres pondent. Certainly, he need not be ashamed of his country; on the contrary, his country or his countrymen may well blush for him. But, surely, he makes a mistake when he imagines himself to be a " British American Bullionist." One would rather take him for a Yankey gentleman of that vulgar kind who are distinguished by a free and easy kind of gait, blue swallow tail coat with brass buttons, peculiar shirt collars, and boots long and loose; whose physiognomy is generally rather elongated, and whose skin is a little too like parchment, who are never without an odd quid of tobacco, and whose style abounds with such elegant pasages as the following :—" In the name of fortune, Mr Editor, let him do it soon—let him tell us whether his reading on the subject has been in books less than fifty years old or not. Let him tell us whether he has ever witnessed the working of an irredeemable paper currency abroad or not. If he has, let him tell us in how many places." Why did he not add, " Let him tell us whether he has ever been in New York—let him tell us whether he has ever witnessed an indignation meeting—let him tell us whether he has ever eaten a pumpkin pie—let him tell us whether he has ever tasted a mint julep. If he has, let him tell us in how many places ?" Such an addition, with a few notes of admiration, would, no doubt, have "shut up" "J. W." at once, and knocked all his darned ideas into one 'tatnal heap, and buried them for ever and for ever. I correspondent is no cocked hat ty tt irer of the Tiwes leading jourr eau mtelligenee from your ear it will make it " feel bad." But to be •- , litEcult, what does it signify to any of your TRANSATLANTIC STEAM NAVIGATION, (From the New York Journal of Commerce) It is our purpose in this article to take notice of the growth and development of transatlantic steam naviga tion, and to show what has been accomplished by citizens ' of the United States in this department of naval art since they took the field in 1847, in competition with their riva's of the British Isies, who, for nine years previous, dating i with the pioneer voyages of the Sirius and Great Western in April, 11338, had retained the monopoly of the trade by steam-ships between the two continents. Allusion will be made to our progress in naval architecture, the diffi culties that have been encountered from inexperience and disaster, and to the measure of pecuniary success which has thus far attended our efforts. The prospective corn - pletion of the leviathan steamship Great Eastern on the one side of the Atlantic, and the Adriatic on the other— both of which will far out-distatice anything of the kind before attempted, and inaugurate a new era in (wan navigation—seem to point out the present as a suitable time for a glance at the past. The powerful incentive arising from the urgent prosecution of rival interests, backed by the skill, wealth, and scientific knowledge of two enlightened nations, has doubtless contributed to the mutual advancement of England and the United States in this matter. An interval of but 18 years has elapsed since the first vessel wholly propelled by steam crossed the Atlantic (though we claim the honour of despatching, in 1819, the steamer Savana, the arrival of which was duly chronicled at Lloyd's), and now there are fourteen lines of steamers, comprising 48 vessels, plying' between Europe and the United States. Recently not less than fifteen arrivals of foreign steamers have taken place in a single month, narrowing the Atlantic to a ferry. The preponderance of foreign enterprise, as shown by the Shipping List, is not remarkably flattering to Americans, considering the achievements of our own Fulton. ,just fifty years ago, and the liberal encouragement to USE AND ABUSE OF THE MAGNETIC BEAR INGS OF VAUXEIALL CHIMNEY, AND THE UTILITY OF THE " DUMB CARD " ON SHIP BOARD. 40, Tower-buildings East, Liverpool, October 13, 1856 THOMAS C.HIIRT, ESQ., SECIETARY TO THE UNDERWRITERS, ASSOCIATION Dear Sir,—l am directed by the Liverpool Compass Committee to send you some remarks on the use and abuse of the magnetic bearings of the Vauxhall chimney which have been painted upon the dock walls, with a .view to their publication for the information of under writers, shipowners, and others. In addition, employing these bearings, as at first pr3posed to, for testing the accuracy of compasses which have been compensated in dock, and for ascertaining the amount of existing corn, pass errors, a tendency has been observed to use them for the magnetic adjustment of ships' compasses in the river, a purpose never intended by the Committee, and which, though quite possible under favourable circumstances, should, as a general practice, be discouraged. It may be thought if a captain is expected to adjust his compasses at sea, that a professional compass adjuster should be able to do the same in the river with the additional facilities all'ow'ed by the dock marks. Abstractly, such adjustment is very simple ; but in practice difficulties supervene to make the attempt, to say the least, undesirable, if not hazardous, as will be seen by the following considerations : -- To render ion of a ship's magnetism to consider a as resolved into two directions at right angles to an attn!etion fez: and-aft and another towards the sid across the ship, e- - compensate the last, the ship is held as steadily as possible in the direction of the magnetic meridian while the necessary magnets are placed across the deck. To compensate the fore-and-aft attraction, the ship must be kept.for a short time with her head magnetic east or west, to allow the fOre-and_aft magnets to be placed in position. Now, to do this across the tide of the Mersey, while in tow of a steam tug, is very difficult, as well as attended with great risk of collision with the ships which crowd the river. Again, it may happen that, at the sime the ship is leaving dock to proceed at once to sea, the shimmy to which the bearings refer in ty be concealed by fog, or that delays in getting clear of the dock may consume the short time allotted for river adjustment, and then the ship must either be hurried to sea in an unsatisfactory condition, or be obliged to anchor in the river with a loss to those concerned, instead of the anicipated saving of time and expense. Reference to the circulars issued by the Compass Cotn_ mittee will show that its members never contemplated the adjustment of ships' compasses in the river, and they take an early opportunity of warning shipowners against wishing it, except under very special circum stances, Compass adjustment should be attended to in dock, care being taken to select for it such docks as will allow a favourable position for the shore compass; or better still, one of the docks prepared for the process should be employed, and then the chance of error froni local attraction on shore will be prevented, as here no shore compass is necessary. The proper uses of the magnetic bearings of Vauxhall chimney are, to test the accuracy of dock adjustment by a few observations made in the river—to ascertain if the deviations given in the tables are correct or not—to afforci shipmasters in general facilities for testing the quality of their compasses, and the existence of any local attraction from the presence of iron in the fittings of the ship or in her cargo—to enable the captains of iron ships, on their return to port, to decide whether new adjustment be necessary, and to assist them to obtain for themselves, with great ease and accuracy, new deviation tables. t T h h e e i s ) e e a a r r i e n g t s h eimportant o a s e n ( d i t , ani to legitimate i c u ll s etsli the Compass asli which Committee desire to confine them. Another subject connwed with these bearings to which attention is invited, is the utility on shipboard of a portable, gimballed, duinh-card, fitted with a lubber_ line and sight-vanes. When properly made, the dumb card is in many respec:s superior to the Azimuth compass. . Unfortunately, comparatively few ships are supplied with either, and in very many the only compass in use—the steering compass—is so placed below the bulwarks, or concealed by the binnacle, that it is next to impossible to take bearings with them within half a point of the truth ; and to such the newly-painted magnetic bearings can be of little service. But the dumb-card aptly meets the difficulty, and enables any one in the river to obtain the true bearing of the ship's head almost instantaneously, and with surprising facility and correctness; and that whether the ship be at anchor, swinging with the tide, or moving ever so rapidly through the water. In short, the Compass Committee esteems this instru ment so highly as to he of opinion that its use, in port, will. double the value of the magnetic bearings which have been painted on the dock walls at their suggestion, and, at sea, that it will be found more accurate and useful than the Azimuth compass itself.—Believe me, dear sir, your very obedient servant, W. W. RUNDELL, S. RE\TARKABLE SPEECH BY A RUSSIAN MERCHANT. Among the feasts at Moscow by which the late coronation of the Czar was attended, was one given by M. Basile Koklreff to tho deputations of peasants and merchants, assembled from the prin cipal cities of Russia. M. Kokoreff was formerly a peasant, but is now one of the wealthiest merchants in Russia, and has made himself singularly popu lar throughout the empire by his profuse generosity and enthusiastic, patriotism. The last occasion upon which his name was brought prominently before English readers was in connection with a grand banquet given by him at Moscow to the soldiers and sailors returning from the defence of Sebastopol. At the late dinner to the merchants he delivered a speech sufficiently remarkable to repay translation. It is not long since (he said) that at this very place, Moscow, the heart of the Russian nationality, the Musco vites feted the welcomed and heroic defenders of Sebastopol. We were then expecting peace,and were consoling ourselves with the hope of soon profiting by its happy results. To-day peace is no longer a hope, it is a reality ; and now again in the same city of Moscow, we are celebrating, heart and soul, the holy coronation of our beloved monarch, the author of the peace and so many other blessings. Here also are united the representatives of the whole nation, as well as gentlemen, the d e l egates of our bourgeoisie. Let et efore, manif es t i n unison the sentiments w4oehuti us,h w h .feel at the ad ven t of these recent blessings. y also, e Our gracious sovereign has been pleased to order that our children should henceforth frequent without any restric tion the University course. He has ordered the revision of the relations between government and commerce ; and the revision of the tariff, which cannot fail to quicken our industry. All our relations with foreign nations are rendered easier. His Majesty has also been pleased to authorise the foundation of art Industrial Society, under the direct patronage of the heir to the throne. Happy the s p t e u o d p y l n a g n andgrand a means t s s future satisfyingwhe nits h princes em r aasptpl yin l ththem selvese betimes to the sacred d u t y of learning its wants and midst of all these events, the " Society of Navigation and of the Commerce of the South and of Russia," has been established, the aim of which is to expedite our relations with Europe, and to facilitate our exports and imports. Russia has always been able to confess her faults as welt as recognise her merits. Let us, therefore, frankly declare, gentlemen, that, in point of commerc. end industry, we are, in many respects, rather behind. Our merit at present esnsists in the desire to improve ourselves by intelligent practice. It is a fact that in the industrial life of a people, certain and complete success is less easily obtained by the theoretical precepts of books than by a continuous contact with other peoples. By this contact we acquire expe rience, ideas, taste, and establish new relations which are sure to be maintained, because they rest. upon common interests—the only stable securities for treaties of peace. In order to arrive at this end, the surest means is facility and rapidity of communication with foreign nations. The question of steam boats and railways is at present a question of human interest, because it is by their means that nations can be united in a community of interests and in feelings of fraternity. In regard to commerce, there exists amongst us the most contradictory opinions. Some still speak of a Chinese wall; others of free trade. But, be .certain, gentlemen, that such questions are never resolved by extremes ; their true definition can only result from an international exchange of ideas. When, by means of steam, we shall be able to unite ourselves more closely with foreign merchants, more expert than We are in point of industry, and exchange with them our ideas, then we shall arrive at the exact and true definition of the very principles of commerce—a definition which is deeply interesting to the whole of Europe. It wilt then happen that we shall see here in Moscow, the centre of the internal commerce of Russia, as well as in the other cities and ports of the empire, representatives of the principal commercial houses of Europe. We shall then be able to learn every day here in Moscow, and at a fixed hour, the progress of business in Paris, London, and other places, and be able, when we are assembled as now, with the glass in our hands, to learn by telegraph the health of our children, who may be placed in foreign countries in Russian houses of commerce. When I review in mind all the pregnant consequences which must infallility result to nations from their union, by means of commerce—a union based on common interests—l cannot refrain from proposing to you, gentlemen, to drink at once and unanimously the following toast, "To European commerce, to foreign merchants, our elder brethren in industry, and to my honourable col leagues the merchants of Russia." The above was received by the company with loud and repeated hurrahs." The personal appearance of M. Kokoreff, while delivering this speech—.his long beard and hair cut a la moujile, and his warmth of manner—did not by any means lessen the effect of his words. serious, which i readers what books " J. W." has read they were printed, or whether he has nem abroad ? , If he deals in facts, and his facts show that 1119 Bullionist's theory is incorrect, why should he condescend to answer such absurdly irrelevant questions as those propounded by your correspondent? "J. W.," so far from attempting to affect the truth of the statement—that " we are not such fools," &c.— congratulates the country en the fact, that the leading journal, in adopting such a line of argument, has abjured the cant of the bullionists, that wealth cannot increase unlefs gold increases too—that, in fact, an increase of gold and an increase of wealth are synonymous terms. The only argument in the letter of . your Yankey correspondpnt is, that if we ship goods abroad that only realise £90,000,00), and import goods that amount to 005,000,000, we must pay the balance of £15,000,000 in coin. on the Kubjee, or 's Now, there is no such necssity. The balance might be arranged by an export of bullion, which does not mean an export of coin. Again, our great critic says that it is " nonsense" to assert that a country, entirely dependant on gold for the means of circulating its wealth, can be impoverished by an export of gold. Now, this clearly shows that your correspondent makes use of words, the meaning of which be does not understand. It is not " nonsense" at all. Without a circulating medium no country can prosper, and it is impossible to export our currency and keep it at home at the same time. Therefore, an export of gold, while gold is the basis of our currency, means a diminution of our wealth. In conclusion, allow me to ob9erve that I consider Mr. YAnkey Docile very impudent for rushing iuto print as the champion of the Bullionists of Liverpool. - Unless lam mistaken, they will be much dissatisfied with the blustering production of their protect3r. For my own part, lam a very dispassionate observer of the currency question, or, indeed, of any other question, and would not have trespassed upon your valuable space, had not your facetious correspon dent called himself "A British American," which he ought rot to have done.—l am, sir, yours very respectfuly, • SINBAD THE SAILOR LIVERPOOL FINANCIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION, At the weekly meeting on Thursday, J. T. Danson, Esq., of Camside Form, Ba , nston, Birkenhead, was unani mously elected a Member of the C PARLIAMENTARY REFORM—FROM WITHOUT OR FROM WITHIN ?—A second letter from the gentleman who recently addressed the President, in recommendation of a popular movement to obtain addit onal members for the Metropolis, and other populous places, was read. It was principally in answer to suggestions that incalculable good might he effected by forty or fifty members of the House of Commons banded together, to prevent " count-out" and " no house" expedients, for the evasion of unpleasant discussions—to support good measures, and to oppose had ones. Oa this subject the writer says, "It appears mast clear to me that the key -note must be sounded without the walls, and taken up within them. Ido not believe there are in the whole house fifty or forty, or even thirty men to form the small party you describe ; if there were, they could not sustain themselves—if tiro country continue' silen , , for a single session. If there were one man—only one—of the ripe and ready talent ; and commanding influence to form and lead such a party, it might, be done—but is there such a one? I _b e li eve no .. It is 'the silence of the country that paralyses the members in the house. I fancy it will be found, in the history of all parties, that they took their rise in the country amongst the people, out of doors, and found their leaders and supporters as they progressed. You will observe that Ido not propose the introduction of a Reform Bill. The time for that is not yet come. I want to raise the question in ( 4 etail by ruttier- ous petitions, emanating from divers localities, each show ing a grievarce or deprivation sustained, and a population (say of 100,000 people) too large to be abs‘dutely slighted. My hope is, that there are many active minds in each of those localities, twho, though they might be lukewarm on the subject of a general reform bill, would soon warm with zeal and energy in the cause of their own locality. General topics have failed to rouse the people, as your experience testifies. There ate several reasons for this—but it is un doubtedly a fact, and the fact we have to deal with now ; therefore, I say, try the local topics. The basis in each locality will be the same, the principles of the remedy sought identical, and they will form the foundation stones of a party in the house, and a party in the country, as well as the matter for a general measure. In the existing state of things in the country, the formation of a strong party in the house appears to me to be impassible, because, at present, although there are many grievances to be redressed, and many reforms required, there is no one on which the liberal members generally are in perfect harmony with each other, and the country also. I think this movement may be made to furnish the requisite bond of union." FREE MADE CONGRESS AT BRUSSELS.-Mr. F. Boult being unable to attend the meeting, left a brief report of his Belgian mission for the information of the council. He was unable, it seems, to do all that be desired in the way of urging the views of the Financial Reform Association respecting commerce and taxation, because, when he informed the committee that these included the sb rlition of all taxes on commodities and materials of manufacture, and the substitution of direct taxation, they were much alarmed, and begged that he would not broach such views at any of the meetings, being apprehensive that, if he did, he might upset the whole affair. They concurred generally in his opinions, but considered them too t'ar advanced for the Continent, which was, as yet, little beyond .the very threshold of Free Trade. What they had to battle with, in the first instance, was, they sa'd, Protection, and, in order to succeed, it was quite essential not to attempt too much in the onset. Acknowledging the force of this objection, Mr. Boult abandoned his original intention, but prepared a paper, stating fully and clearly the views of the association he represented on the subjects of commercial legislation and taxation. This document is to be included in the report of the proceedings of the Congress, which will be published in a month or two. Mr. Boult also alluded to the fact, that the French Government is in favour of Free Trade, but dare scarcely move in that direction from appre hension of the protected interests. He suggested that if this country were to abolish, or greatly reduce, the duties on French wines, brandies, and silks, the vine growers and silk growers of France, forming very numerous classes of the population, would at once become free traders, and the hands of the government would be immediately strengthened in its movements towards Free Trade. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.—A resident in London, of great practical knowledge and experience, has supested to a member of the council that no effectual good can be done, in the way of preventing jobbery and fraud, until parliament enacts that, with goods of every kind furnished to the government, printed invoices shall be sent, which invoices, together with samples, shall be open to the inspec tion of all persons wishing to see them, at the places from which the goods are sent. THE ROYAL FAMILY.—Tbere was a short discussion on a recent announcement in the Court Journal, to the effect that next season will probably witness a change in the domestic economy of the Royal family, owing to the marriage of the Princess Royal (not yet sixteen years of age), and the Prince of Wales (a b y under fifteen) taking possession of Marl borough House as his future residence. It is stated that her Royal Highness is without an apanage suited to her position, and that such a state of things has only been " per mitted in order that one a plication to parliament may nce of suffice for an outfit for the marriage, and a permanent al provisions,i i t befitting e s fi ta tt t i e n d g th h a e t r , h , high independent of A all As t o o th t e b r ePri considera tions, it was felt that when Prince Alfred (then a boy under twelve years of age) was removed to the Royal Lodge in Windsor Park, it was hardly possible to keep his elder brother much longer within the dominions of the royal nur sery. Not that it is intended to surround the Prince of Wales with anything like a court; he will still be considered as a student, and his household will be a domestic one, at any rate for some two or three years to come." As to the mar riage, it appears shockingly premature; but whenever it takes place, the Royal parents should provide the dowry. As to the Prince of Wales, it is to be hoped that parliament, before making any provision for him, will insist on knowing what has become of the revenues of the Duchy of Cornwall, which belonged to him. Taking them at £40,000 per annum, there ought to be something like £600,000 now in hand for him. What has been done with it? steam-ship [t the Govern nt has at various times afforded, by its contracts for carrying the mail. Out of the 4t3 steamers, but 12 are of kmerican construe tion. It is, however, to be considered that but nine years have elapsed since our operations commenced, , vhile fore;gn companies have been eighteen years engaged in ocean steam navigation, or exactly twice as long as our. selves, and that Ihe period of their monopoly gave them advantages against which it was difficult for us to con tend. A series of untoward events have no doubt contributed to this result. Not only have our steamers been run at enormous expense—in several instances absorbing the entire profits—but disasters has swept off a number of our best ships, following close on the heels of enterprise, with waving hand. Four of our most valu able steamers have been entirely lost—two having been driven ignominiously ashore and broken up ; a third was sunk by a collision, with nearly all on beard ; and a fourth, the noblest of the fleet, has never been heard from, but is supposed to have struck an iceberg. Foreign companies, especially when the greater extent of their operations is considered, appear to have been more fortunate. They have lost, in all, four ships from their American lines. The President was lost in the year 1841 ; no one knows how or where. The Columbia, in nautical phrase, " broke her back " on some rocks on the American shore of the Atlantic. The City of Philadelphia went to pieces on the rocks near Cape Race. The City of Glasgow sailed from Liverpool on the Ist of March, 1854, and has not since been heard of. The Great Britain had a narrow escape in Dundrum Bay, coast of Ireland, but has since been restored to service. The disasters to steam ships may be summed up as follows : Name. Fate. President...... Columbia . Humboldt City of Glasgow Never heard of. Ci y of Phil tdelphia All hands saved, Franklin AU hands saved. Are, c A few saved ..., Pacific . Never heard of, Valuatio , . dols 350.000 .....300,01 0 507 000 .... 20 ) 0 0 300 000 480,000 ,720 000 680.000 Total, exclusive of cargo..... 3.537,000 If cargo was included these figures would ba nearly trebled. Considering the entire number of steamers afloat, disasters have not been remarkably frequent; but for tune's smiles have been bestowed most freely on our competitors, notwithstanding the acknowledged superi ority of many of our ships an I the excellence of their personal equipment. Even our domestic lines this fact holds true, as we have lost seven fine steamers, mostly on the Pacific coast, viz., the Independence, which sunk in the Pacific, with 120 lives, and the Tennessee and St. Louis —total wrecks. The San Francisco, valued at 300,000 dole, was lost in the Atlantic in the same year, with many valuable lives, the Yankee Blade in the year following, besides the ill fated Rhode Island, and the North Carolina, in the year 1355. It is estimated that 1,420 lives and 7,930,000 dols. in property have been lost in steam-ships since the year 1853. Steam-;hips, as a whole, have not been a dividend paying property to such as have invested in them. The Ocean Steam Navigation Company, which was the pioneer American line, has been running nine years without any serious accident, and though at one time threatened with extinction under a heavy load of debt, has been paying regular semi-annual dividends of 5 per cent. for the last three years. Their boats are not calcu lated for great speed, but are good 12-day steamers. The Havre line, next established, paid a dividend of 7 per cent. about two years ago, but disaster early checked its pro mised careerof prosperity. These comprise all the pecu niary successes we have as yet to chronicle out of the domestic trade. Some of the Chagres and California lines have paid very handsomely. The Collins' line, established in 1850, has not paid even simple interest to the stockholders. The original estimated cost of this line was 2,500.000 dollars, but a renewed effort on the part of their English antagonists made it neecessary to enlarge the size of their proposed steamers from 2,000 tons, as stipulated in the contract, to 3,000 tons. The sum of 1,130 000 dollars was subscribed for their construction, and after the increased pay allowed by Congress an effirt was made to fill up the stock to the required amount, but without success, and the line has since :been maintained by private enterprise, aided by government patronage. When Mr. Collins and his associates proposed to build a line of steam-ships the Cunard line was regarded as the first in the world, having run 11 years and reduced the i v 1 e 3 r i n t o o o 1 N a e n w d po o r s k t . o n In to o u n a d b e o r u t a t k 12 ing the days—equalpassagene lv( 1 ) n e t t :r .te p oe r n i s say e l i n competition with the resources of established British capitalists there were great obstacles to be surmounted, the chief of which was inadequate financial ability ; but a naturalised citizen of more than 50 years' residence volunteered alone to furnish more than 2,000,000 dollars, and thus assured the success of an enterprise in which the character and commercial power of the country was largely involved. It was then said to Mr. Collins, "You may sink the whole of the capital invested, but must not make a failure." What has since been achieved is matter of history. The first year the Col lins' line was started the passage to New York was made in less than ten days. The Cunardors have since made eight ships, all designed to beat that time, and one ship (the Persia) has succeeded , on the eastern passage only. On western passages the performances of the Collins' line are still unequalled. Of the Philadelphia and Liver pool line it is stated that a loss of 15,000 dols was incurred on the first voyage of the City of Baltimore, on the second about 10,000 dols, and that the last voyage barely paid expenses; so that the enterprise has thus tar not proved remunerative. Passing now from a financial view of the subject to observe what progress has been made in this department of naval architecture, we have strongly markediresults. Fulton's steamer Claremont left New York for Albany on the 7th day of August, 1807, di'pelling all rational doubt as to the successful application of steam to navigation. It is instructive to notice subsequent conquests of science and art in this direction, giving fleeter wings to commerce, contracting the space of oceans, and:accelerating the strides of communication between distant continents. The following table, giving the relative sizes of the largest steam ships that have been built, affords some idea of what has been accomplished Length Atlantic (Collins').... Carp. Meas. Great 3,000 Great Britain Vanderbilt. • . . , 5 100 Niagara, U.S. steam•frigate. 345. Himalaya • . .350 .... 3,800 Adriatic (Col iL5')...... ....... .... 354 5 588 Persia. 390 . . 5 600 Great Eastern The completion of the Adriatic and Great Eastern will be looked to as to events of great interest. A gentleman just returned from Europe, and who visited the great steamer building near London, says the hull is as yet not more than half built, and none of the machinery is yet put into her. The number of men at work on her is now reduced to 300, so that the work is not proceeding so fast as formerly. April is spoken of as the time when the launch will probably take place. The gentleman above referred to, who is a president of one of our steam-ship companies and a connoisseur in naval architecture, says the ship is of a beautiful model, and there appears to be little doubt as to her success, particularly as regards speed; but how she will pay her enormous running ex penses is a problem which yet remains to be solved. The hull is 700 feet in length by 60 in breadth, made of a double thickness of iron plates, which are laid on either side of a longitudinal framework, combining the strongest method of construction with the least weight of material. The vessel is divided into 10 water-tight compartments, with sub-compartments, so that each portion would be self-sustaining in case of wreck. Both screw and side wheels will be used. The latter will have six boilers, and the former four engines and the same number of boilers. The shaft of the screw is 160 feet long and weighs 60 tons. The diameter of the screw is 24 feet . ; of the wheels, 56 feet. The speed of the ship average 16 knots per hour, under steam. The masts will be seven in number, spreading 6,500 square yards. A semaphore, coloured lights, and the electric telegraph will be employed in conveying orders between the officers, she tain according as their use may be found necessary. Her first is expected to voyage will probably be to Portland, Maine. The Adriatic from our own workshops, is very near completion, and, from the impreved machinery with which she is fitted, and alcsuhleatwiennisnaos doubt o ou th b e t b s the excellence of her model, many are disposed to enter_ for our:mechanics, and will in all probability excel, not only in workmanship, but in all the . qualities which con stitute a first-class steam-ship. She is, without exception, the largest ship in the world yet launched, whether of timber or iron. The Persia (iron) is longer, but she has 5 feet less beam, and 14 inches less depth of hold ; so that her actual size is not equal to will alm b os e t s i u n s e c r e e p d t i i b b l l e e c . that of the Adriaticby something like 300 tons, Com Eastern she is a pigmy, but she is with: the t Great s as lare ar. will b e required to meet the demands of tra d e l to come, and quite as large as can t: 4 , r withfor some advantage years to her owners. The un. any eAdriatic principal d . imensions of h are as follows, a r"3 i—Lenoth, 354 feet breadth of beam, 50 ; ; depth of hold feet " She will ; diameter of wheel, 45. have oscillati • •ng engines of 2.ooo.horse power, with cylin ders,loo inches in diameter and 12 feet stroke. Her boilers will be eight in number. The whole ship will be AUSTRALIAN COLONIES 4t) et -'ners Will remember that we have lately ventured iv e tit r e 's the most sanguine anticipations that before long f tit at:.., 4l4 li ave in active operation more than one line .w o e a te glad 'Qrarnunication with the Australian colonies. realised t° per that these expectations are likely to b te e a ll (I illu ell more quickly than . we t, i)Pa se, orhad ventured -.14 , .• n I e ven to hope, was possii!le. i, '' gular f act . . It is, however, a '40% 4; I Which is neither to be explained by any . Preti o * 8 of Political economy nor to be reconciled with us e . isrsza IPertence that no sooner has government stepped fc) r th e td ' 1 " at a heavy expense subsidised a new company leser,i mop conveyance of the Australian mail,, than lt vie tiir ; rival undertakings have been directly organised. 10, 58i ' l eert ~ atnl .7 appeir that in this case the extremelylarge n., tn far Y granted to the European and Australian Company, forerenfretti creating a monopoly, will probably proves ea eellik,rlr of several regularly organised lines ot m I tpe ne tl ieatio n. In this case no one will grudge th . e . fi!eertaei:f,rthis outlay, which can be only temporary, for it ur wbi e, that at the expiration even of the first five years, 4 ' l Ai h e , a. the contract has been awarded to the European re cur galian Co 111 _ernment will be in a posLio t°llf,lles:rvlnieltee.h ti d ( n ) r t p e h a f e n a y v:ou g r o a i bl terms for the continuance first consideration n of this matter, Patti:l:4B4°ll naturall suggests itself, why did not these t heir s ' w ho are Y 44 capital . no w so ready to come forward and embark e wh„„ th en these undertakings, offer themselves at a lertio-ciu Was apparently better openin for their tia i eont`',,and they had no heavily subsidised competitors ""'q u ,, - ",u : against ? There are several obvious answers to ..Xeitie-4`,on. The terms proposed by government r f ef suez a , tv hieh l t v ,elY to the overland route by the Isthmus of t it ' t l itled 1," authorities had, after much consultation, , deter rA e at)) Po sts P°ll as the most eligible and quicke.trou te . for a i ! eieTril eona na ' unication, in which speed was to be the eel 'io cu t. We are not prepared to say at that this 44 44 1 1 ! Was wrong, , , considering the means hand for 44 ir, s it, and it must only in fairness be considered a a re s 4like ehertnient in a matter in which .he several schemes I l s t ' r ,er ' in il l ttie d• This ground was apparently occupied by a * " .4 ri CQM PIoy and we were much astonished, in common it . 111,1,4-Y other;,,that they did not succeed in obtaining kc4lY l'l tile lie 4 lace the close of the war has not it t ,e - ril ru lu e e n ta t te , tl thep mercantile steam navy from . the an t,illt:laa t,EFansport service, but it has also given n der N u this as well as to other commercial un - lea r Again', the rapid reaction which during the present . b ee s ,,,, t n aken. then in the prosperity of the iu . stralian h j k l° r0e443., prepared n only d pa t r h t e iall confirmed, and v. e were extraordinary y change w il ;4 l f ert u u s nat re for . cu d In this and in thewhich prospects the 11%')cl't eoaerLl_ostepYromn promising for the future, we entertain gre,e,rtakie,,"ent. expectations that one and all of the new reeolltly to i L s Will nut only succeed themselves, complete development of the but contribute 1 4 48 0f 'e A r i l l a s o t re i,a pid and klt e ti° 4 l4°4 t Ze " Australian and European o S n tea s m at N ar a d v a i y - I s l a It, 411,1°'2°Panay t whose first vessel departs Ic'titil fo ' r lvill he' followed by three others in each successive the tlef ° the , Purpose of taking the eastern portion o b 6l 4l , tilr e r ill e- tt t 4 il i e •stlimus of Suez, previous to the commencement p t . e be e .. ar service in February next, two other schemes °f pos es tu Propounded during the last fortnight. One 1 1 4' ny:I l ieb ° Nre l la k iP a fleet of vessels with the auxiliary screw, experience in the eq,, ~f e l l . ,l . art,e r7 a,v!, a . mostfavourable ep, ip - ottiv,riationging to Messrs. Gibbs, Bright and this tr ° erts of'in magnificentW that this firm intend in Al a i' ~a.e. Thitleir fleet and employ them thei- Lt earn N ay ! Other proposal ein w ata o te p s rt,t i),perations „Lgati .on Company, , ro r p ro os m e t t o h e Royale xtend c 'tap a Y. the i st ,irt this direction, and avail themselves of the The first of these new k J , n!es st4 4 9stis of Panama. tti,.; eat it h rte ~3 ltaelf the Australian Steam Clipper Com . - ,onablisCh,"ead quarters in London ; and its object is ' 4 'ith °rl and - "et of a direct communica . t l ion , e b l e ip tl p v e e r e s n , k anziii Au t r o t' by means of fast sat . In a 4 q 1 a rY st th e tns, earn power to propel them in of t eenip att As the result of a comparison betwe g e h n t one of th ae lar. r 3 s hips and a vessel running on account of one t se steons of ti a Tn o4 , •-. companies, the dirc l to e r o s st cl o a n im ly to prove I linti! a tnou tt g u the proposed vessels w 1 one-half 1 th e u th e q c. those lately employed . , and consume one- i ih ba ttit I lantity of carry . three times coals, yet they will Dr e o fla rlle Llsf ;l ar go, making the passages in less or at least . Ph,?, r e4 ia , We understand that the company is 044t.atel,tantio,0efitshr,veeer.y v f e a s y s o e i , i a r .; ably, and that it has already the first of these, called the dl the 1 04 1 s,-. l° be despatched from London fur Melbourne tii e tork ~ 4,vember next, calling at Plymouth._ The t hat th; ° ,; (2 , t his company state ' that . " they feel convinced 44 4 ve t- Ya g e can be performed in about sixty days out 4 4a1 ) , 3 a1 1 Y daYs bo rne •" With respect to the other th' fp' "Y tho Panama. route, the directors of . the Royal 04); n„e-eau.°',, Pack.et Company, sensible of the position which 4,4 sh ow 11, point out, in the circular addressed to the n well e rs, the benefit they would confer upon themselves, I a c as t 1.: 4 , ets, wh h.e public, by establishing a line of mail , steam A klar ld 101 lvould s.rve at once as a link to connect both tistr pia,atld Ite United States with New Zealand and tn i. ter kie i li "Y the way of Panama. Calculations have been tlt i b eh lead them to believe that a line of auxiliary u. , es se i . -4 trni- s might be stationed between Panama and 14 by the R lal 1 8 e oya al St e Packet Company,which, ' divided by eight water-tight compartments of oak, six inches thick, fastened in the strongest manner. Her e timated cost is 850,000 dols. In all the mechanical details of the construction of this remarkable ship human skill seems to have done its utmost. At the present time the construction of steam pr•lpellers for ordinary mercantile service seems to be attracting more attention. The Novelty Iron Works have a very fine working model of a prop e ll er eng i ne, an d it i s an ticipat e d that ultimately this class of vessels will occupy an important place in our mercant il e mar i ne. F or naval purposes,its superiorty is undoubted. THE MILITARY FRICAS AT BRIGHTON We have already stated that a series of " freaks," as they were mildly termed, had of late been prac tised by certain of the officers of the 4th or Qne"n's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons, now stationed at Brighton, on some of their own number, and particularly upon one Cornet Ames, which had resulted in a report to the Horse Guards, a special enquiry into the circum stances by General Lawrenson, the General commanding the brigade of which the regiment forms part, and the close arrest of three officers—namely, Lord E. V. Tem pest, Cornet Birt, and Lieut. Winstanley, preparatory, as it is supposed, to a court-martial. The account in question was in several respects imperfect, and we are now in a position to throw additional light on the whole transaction, 49 far at least as regards the outrage upon. Cornet Ames—for outrage it undoubtedly was, if the attendant circumstances are capable . . of being established in evidence—which led immediately to the official enquiry before General Lawrenson. Lord E. Vane, one of the officers implicatf already known to fame in connecti ed in the aff.tii. n with a serioi sault he committed just about a year ago upon the .nanager of the Windsor Theatre, for which he was fined .E. 5 before the local magistrates, and had afterwards to pay £25 in damages in an action of trespass tried in the Court of Queen's Bench, arising out of the same trans action. Mr. Thomas Harting Ames, the cornet on whom the " freak " in question so-called was practised, is about 22 years of age, and the son of an independent gentleman —not of a clergyman, as was erroneously stated— residing in the neighbourhood of Regent's park, London. He only joined the regiment so recently as the 13 , ,h of August last, and, almost prom the very day he did so, he has been subjected to a continual series of " practical jokes," as they are designated in co ninon parlance. These he bore good.humouredly for the most part, and to show that he was not wanting in esprit de corps it may be stated that on one or two occa sions when he entered his room, and unexpectedly found some of his brother officers there—at present it does not appear whom—taking liberties with his property, he quietly pocketed the affront, and sat down and entertained them for the remainder of the night. Recently, on return, ing to his quarters, he discovered that his room had been forcibly entered in his absence, and his stook of candles melted in a vessel on the fire, and hung outside the window, with some of his regimentals. Even this, which was only one of a great number of affronts, does not seem to have exhausted his _forbearan ce ; and it was not until au assault and great personal in dignity had been played off upon him, that he appealed to his commanding officer, Lieutenaut-Colonel Low, for protection. It happened iu this way, according to the best information that can be obtained in a matter on which so much secrecy is observed in military society at Brighton. It ought first, perhaps, to he stated that Cornet Ames is said to be a young man of a frank, pliant disposition, but, though the son of a gentleman in good circumstances, not having either the means or the incli nation to launch into extravagant courses, he seems to have given umbrage to seine of the younger among his brother officers by personal habits little iu accordance with their own in some respects. The regiment to which he belongs is stationed at two separate places in Brighton, one being the Preston Barrcks, on the outskirts of the town, and the other the Pavilion Barracks, in its centre, and about a mile and a half distant from the former. The officers mess is at the Preston Barracks, and there, too, are the quarters of the three officers now under arrest. Hornet Ames, on the other hand, though called on to do duty daily at the Preston barracks and to dine at the mess there, has rooms in whic!t he lives and sleeps at the Pavilion Bar: racks. On Sunday, the 21st S Ttember last, he dined as usual at the mess, where, as he has complained to his friends, he received some insulting language from Lord E nest Vane. On that occasion, we believe, Lord Ernest Vane sat at table, with Birt on his left hand and Ames on his right, while Winstanley was seated opposite, but not immediately. During dinner, it is said, Lord Ernest Vanp kept up a constant fire of taunts against Ames in an under tone, accompanied with many offensive expressions, which we forbear repeating at the present stage of the enquiry, After dinner Ames took two or three glasses of wine, and then, about half past nine o'clock, rose to depart. He was followed, however, into the passage by Vane and Birt, both of whom seized hold of him and dragged him into Lord Vane's room, Lieut. Winstanley and Cornet Fyfe following. There he was forcibly held down on a sofa by Birt and Vane, while Winstanley went into Vane's bed-room and brought a pair of scissors, which he gave to Vane, arid with which Vane completely denuded him of hie whiskers on the left side of his faoe, Winstanley and Pyfe looking on. This escapade over he (Ames) was dragged along the passage to the antechamber adjoining the mess room, in which co gee is served alter dinner, and in this condition pushed violently in, were some of the rest of the officers were, by Birt and Vane. He appears to have made what resistance he dared to this treatment, but was overpowered by superior force. Here, st h il o xd a s . f e e v e e vt r ii o , lilgei o th n c, e is inclined to ask w h a t use he made of his l egs an d arms, while subjected to all violence siluerelyishe mig ay h o t u h ng ave m e a m n Plo; v e e d il all his nigh o g ff re t a h t is na in ta l r i a g l u m it) e % an sToo f do hu justice,defenceh with far w rm e more effect heotte statesoward that he so far controlled his feelings as to forbePr to strike men who were his superior officers, even under that amount of provocation, knowing that to do so was a high military offence under the articles of war. One cannot but smile at the notion of a man ever being charged with such an offence under the circums!aeces. lie finally lefc, the Preston barracks ab ut half-past ten o'clock, and returned to his quarters at the Pavilion. He had reached the top of the stairs leading to his apartments, and was about to apply the key to the door of his sitting-room, which he had locked oa leaving in the earlier part of the (lay, when he heard voices at the foot of the stairs which he recognised, but whose the voices were it would nut be desirable to state here, for obvious reasons. Not wishing to encounter the parties, knowing who they were, he retired by another way to a part of the court-yard, from which he heard them burst open the door and afterwrds saw a light in his room and the shadows of people inside on the window-blinds. On their retiring from the barracks, which they did in no long time, he proceeded to his room, where he found that the furniture had been turned topsy trirvy, his drawers pulled out of their places, and his linen thrown about the floor, two of his hats smashed, and hi,s, bed completely saturated with water. He slept on the tioo., of his room that night. Other damage was done, but it is unnecessary to give the d e t a il s . N ext morning he related' the whole circumstances to the adjutant of the regiment: Lieutenant Jennings, with a request that he would report them officially to Lieut.-Colonel Low in command of th e depot, which he did. Lieut.-Colonel Low in his turn re ported them to the Horse Guards, which led to the special cr . .quiry by Gen. Lawrenson, and to Lord Earnest Vaue, Ha indignityrd i pumpingn A' Cornet Birt, and Lieut. Winstanley being called on to deliver up their swords, and being plat d under close arrest, hi which they have remained since Monday week, when the visit of Gan. Lawrenson was made. It is stated, as a matter of course, that either a court martial, or what is called a " court of enquiry," will be held to investigate the transactions in question, as the Judge-Advocate or his Deputy shall decide, it remaining, we believe, with him accordiug to custom , to decide by which of these tribunals the offence is cognisable. This statement of fag has been collected with great pains and care, and, in the main, we believe it is such as wi'l be given in evidence before any military tribunal by which the matter may be investigated. 14tuch of it is necessarily and unavoidably, under the rryvz ,i o nola f eusl :ss a leoa n yl: ex parte character, and it must be read with that qualificas ties ; but it is substantially that on which the advice of counsel has been taken, before whom it was laid by ar k h o t i h st L cih e hi oge professional cril degree, we et s wed e e, r i. justi ce, t o o f .i , publish hi N Y l ui m r :i a t oli u Ae n uni' d i e e ns r e s na t a nt n ds t o i hl i i h se e i ft : de b' n ea i r e c iw . t s n i i I i t u l h g t:i h n a ew d ; whatever to Aapttat b )phri mrryooi pi eebssjnerst it lossiaAnbdasi i hllaiteri eyilahl eq. is eu A t fdmtoegehl m i sluseaentt cne e iclos s i cteattn . tuaii hsmorsoreean T fi ct ghoy h mhat. e vhtebiaetneolnogttrthictai remains ltee r roiaecomnekium e €eear att ffi inihwngs e esi: e ttat r etihine s ooodeu en i r s m ps:ea p ri ah l v it i :e c i_vis a ehl implicated a alone, feeling,z ud t o with insure hiss thefdriorengenerdei friends a t t e nh s de t im plied iu the memordroasi, ahp m u rie s m a o e matter army, c os, allrsuai would o, professional have . ‘ p iv e a u rva b iedt l meanstvigroundsreciensne be by st f a h ted that Corne ' t r memorandum hd l u t em a hs t iti i mhti f s h jte hl e utel o yah v ,ma e lne r stn l 1 overlooked sucho 3bo k :f e ebe d ytvoe rtyh eo rac e an enes ril rine outrage the the late commander in chief, in he reterenTe to a rd r o i f offered to an ensign in the 60th Regt., at Preston, in that 1. 11 id guardian ,'' of he had tamely submitted to the gross and insulting language t be i ng governed and contr have considered applied to him or to the minding in Chief's knowledge, would unworthy to hold Ensign es a commission in her upon him, and if the facts personalhad eorn come n todi indignity of Corn "is"thEevegryuao T ea r. " If," said Hardin g° on that occasion, "Ensign ---- , 1 1 1e d his byo continued, wt nh e honour, articlesh hisaot r- laid dea , n in the Judge-Advocate's letter he shrinks from availing circulated by the Secretary at War, in transmitting the Mutiny Act and the articles of' war of that year to every twe ',ll ,ae a tr j hi. e eb s t sel y eth ' e s iirss s e e tc r arl v reay i nn e rk e al ~ yt vv. regiment, that if an officer passes over without notice an insult offered to him he is liable to be brought to a Court martial, not because he declines to fight a duel, but because himself of those means whi c h t h e articles of war an d t h e j ust i ce o f hi s b ro th er officers place at his disposal, when redress for an insult is not prevented by his own misconduct."