The Press.
London, England, 1858-09-18 00:00:00

THE PRESS, SEPTEMBER 18,1858.

896

oeive that these wise precautions have been laid aside
under the impressions of a false economy. It is the
natural wish of her Majesty's Government to contribute to
the safety and protection of the distant dependencies of
the British Crown, but the necessities of the empire have
withdrawn many troops, and may compel the withdrawal
of more. In a critical period of our history, these
necessities at home, and a strain upon our resources,
both in men and means, have called forth the generous
and loyal sympathies of her Majesty's subjects in many
parts of her colonial empire. But it is not alone by the
material addition of a new regiment to the line, or by
munificent contributions in aid of those who have experi-
enced the sufferings and losses of a barbarous warfare, or
by the expression of a loyalty and devotion, that the
English colonies can give the mother country an effective
support in seasons of trial and difficulty. It is by
evoking the means of self-defence and internal protection,
by enabling this country to avail herself to the utmost
of her own military resources, and by dispensing with the
troops which, so long as they could be spared, have been
freely given, that the \Vest Indian colonies will best mark
the spirit which, iam persuaded, animates them. It is
a sacrifice which the mother country has a right to claim,
and which the colony ought to be the first to approve. It
was therefore with gratification that I have observed
during the recent riots the readiness with which so many
gentlemen have hastened to enrol themselves on the side of
c7.ler, and to place their services at the disposal of the
governor. It is with still greater satisfaction that I have
learnt the intention to form volunteer corps, alike to secure
the colony from aggression abroad and to maintain peace at
home. The more fully that this selfreliant feeling is
confirmed, and that these precautions are adopted, the
less will be the prob of the danger, and the more the
discipline and the efficiency that can be communicated to
the new force the less will be the expense and the diffi-
culty in preserving a high standard hereafter. There can
be no safety to life or security to property, and to the
transactions of commerce in that community, which does
not earnestly and resolutely seek to develop within
itself the requisite force to vindicate the dignity of its own
laws against the outbreaks of internal disorder. I watch
with interest the progress which the colony ender your
government is makirg in this important and salutary
direction, and her Majesty looks with confidence to the
loyalty and good feeling of the inhabitants of her West
Indian colonies in rendering their utmost support to the
authorities in this somewhat difficult, but necessary and
laudable undertaking. You will take an early opportunity
of making these sentiments known to the Legislature
.of
Antigua.

BRITISH COLUMBIA has already occupied the atten-
tion of the Colonial Secretary. Sir E. Lytton has
made arrangements for opening a bank at Van-
couver's Island, and ultimately in Bntish Columbia.
He has also suggested a plan for uniting a fortnightly
postal commun►cation to New Zealand and South
Australia via Panama, with a postal service by the
same route to Vancouver. Mr. Brew, of the Irish
constabulary, who served with great distinction in
the Crimea, has been appointed to organize a con-
stabulary police in British Columbia. Two chaplains
are sent to the colony by the Society for the Pro-
pagation of the Gospel.
THE REPORT ON THE PURCHASE OF COMMISSIONS
IN THE ARMY, on the evidence of Sir C. Trevelyan,
has been published. The committee appointed by the
War office discussed Sir Charles's recommendations
or suggestions seriatim. Having given definite an-
swers to certain questions of detail specifically put
to them, the committee proceed to show their bear-
ing generally upon Sir C. Trevelyan's statement.
Sir Charles, they remark, has estimated that a net
reduction of 81,8661. a year, as compared with the
present expense of the purchasing portions of the
army, would result tram his propositions ; but OHb
commiitee, differing from him in the important item
of the expense of the full-pay retirements, estimate
that an increase of about 220,000/. a year would be
thrown on the public, plus the cost of compensating
officers who have bought their commissions or ob.
tained by service a claim to sell. And there are
circumstances which might not improbably add still
more to this increased expenditure, arising out of
the proposed discontinuance of widows pensions.
The inquiry of the committee was confined exclu-
sively to the financial bearing of Sir C. Trevelyan's
proposition. The calculations of the committee are
endorsed, as correct, by an able actuary, Mr. Charles
Gellicoe, vice-president of the Hon. Institute of
Actuaries.

MR. PATRICE Coi.ouuor has been appointed to
the vacant judgeship in the. lonian Islands. The
essential requisites tor that appointment are an in
timate knowledge of the Greek language and of
Roman law ; and Mr. Colgtilynin is not only a pre-
eminent scholar in ancient Greek, but speaks the
modern language with the facility of a native, while
be is the author of the most learned and authorita-
tive recent work upon Roman civil law.
A AlttErtso of GREENWICH ELECTORS and
others, held on Thursday evening, amid considerable
confusion, was addressed by Mr. Ernest Jones, as a
candidate for the vacant seat for the borough. A
resolution in favour of manhood suffrage, the ballot,
triennial parliaments,and re-arrangement of electoral
districts, was carried unanimously, but a resolution
in favour of Mr. Ernest Jone N's candidature fell to the
ground, an amendment being adopted to the effect
that it was better to wait before selecting any condi-

date, inasmuch as the new writ could not issue for
several months.

THE WEST RIDING, according to rumour, IS to be
cut up into two parliamentary constituencies in the
Reform Bill of 1850.

THE INVESTIGATIONS into the state of the store and
clothing depots at Weedon, Woolwich, and the
Tower, will be resumed on Tuesday next, in No. H
Committee•room at the House of Commons.

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paragraph 20, the committee divided, six to t•ix, on
an amendment of Mr. Percy, deprecating any sewage
arrangement that might injuriously affect other
towns and places on the banks of the river; the
chairman again voted against the amendment, hi h
was therefore negatived by his casting vote.
motion was made for the removal of the mud bank
under the terrace of the Palace at Westminster, and
the raising of a bank of gravel along the terrace to
within a few feet of high-water mark at the terrace
wall, and for the continuance of such bank uniformly
to the distance of about 200 yards on each side of
the terrace, so that the eddies continually depositing
sewage matter may be got rid of. The committee,
dividing, rejected the motion by eight to four votes.
Tfrowss ALLSOP, the alleged accomplice in the
attempt made by Orsini anal his two confederates on
the life of the Emperor of the French, has returned
to London ; the reward of 2001. offered for his
apprehension having been withdrawn after the
acquittal of Dr. Bernard, indicted for the same con-
spiracy. There is no doubt that Mr. Allsop has
been in London for a week or two, though he has
escaped obsereation until now by all save his own
immediate relatives and a few others. It is said that
on quitting this country, he went first to the United
States, and after remaining there some time pro-
ceeded to Mexico, and thence again to California.
From California, so soon as he found it was safe for
him to do so, he returned direct to England. Mr.
Allsop was at one time a member of the Stock
Exchange and resided at Natfielti-house, near
Reigate, his own property. He formerly lived at
Redhill, in the vicinity of Lincoln.
THE COMET of Donati, according to Mr. J. R. Hind,
who wntes from Mr. Bishop's observatory, in the
Regent's-park, under date of Monday, presented
itself as a very conspicuous object in the north eastern
heavens from three to four o'clock that morning, the
sky being remarkably clear. Its nucleus was as bright
as a star of the second magnitude, and, tnoogh not
planetary in appearance, bore high magnifiers better
than any comet he remembers to have seen. 'fbe
tail, which might be traced in the " comet-seeker."
about five degrees from the head, consisted of &single
ray, very well defined on the side preceding
with
reference to the direction of motion, but fading away
indistinctly on the opposite side. A very faint ray of
light emanated from the nucleus towards the sus, as
previously remarked in several of these object:. an 1
he thought at momenta that a short " fern " or
"sectiou" issued therefrom at right anglei to the axis
of the tail. The increase in the brightness ~f this
comet is so nearly in confarmity with theory that
there is a high probability
of it hieing visible with
telescopes in full sunshine about the epaet of
maximum brilliancy in October. The apparent
diameter of the nucleus is about five seconds of are,
and, as the comet is still upwards of 10,000,000
miles from the earth, the real diameter is over 3,000
miles. Taking the apparent length of the tail attire
degrees, its true length appears to be about .5,000,000
miles. Encke's comet was very distinct is the clear
morning sky. As the Mercury of comets it Iri!I
always possess interest for the astronomer, though
just now the far brighter one of Donati wi I of coure:
attract more general attention. He adds the! the
path of the comet appears to be very well represent/
by a parabolic orbit, and, consequent(,, it is:o
likely to revisit these psa ts of space for a kw ha.'

yam
A FEARFUL SCENE AT A FIRE happened )a Tueinia:
morning about five o'clock. A fire broke out on the
pre mines of Mr. Thomas Macrow, a tead!aler, No.l
William's•place. Walworth-road. So string a hot'
had the tire obtained, that it was fount imisai•ibl'
for any one to get down stairs, and Mr. and !dr,.
Macrow made tor me of the windows. Rarinswordi,
the conductor of the Royal Society's escape,
tmme
(timely proceeded with his machine to the burnini
house, and arrited just in time to resew from
the occupants of the house. He was obliged to
carry- Mrs,
tMheachreoaw,
heated
dlowsn themo ke.ladder, she bang! nu'ea*
c
Bible
THE SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM has been
during the week ending Sept. 11, by WO liert",.'''
The total number of visitors from the mailing Of t"'
Museum is 582,147.