Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-23 00:00:00

3r arting Atittitigenre.

LATEST BETTING.
TWO TIIOUSAND GUINEAS.
4to 1 agst The Wizard (t) 13 to 2 agst Lupullus (t)
9to 1, .., Buccaneer (t)

THE CHESTER CUP.
25 to 1 agst Longrange (t 200 45 to I agst Arsenal (50 to 1t)
to 9) 45 to 1 ... Timandra (t)
33 to I Viatka (t freely) 50 to I ... Special License(o
100 to 3 ... Theodora(ttOtol) 50 to 1 ... Gridiron (o)
40 to 1 ... Promised Land ( o 50 to 1 ... Uncle Ned (t 1000
40 to I ... The Squire (o) to 15)
40 to I ... Birmingham (t) 50 to 1 ... Gaspard (o)
40 to ... Satellite (t) 66 to 1 ... Napoleon (t 1000
40 to 1 ... Rl. Sovereign (o) to 10)

•
DERBY.
40 to 1 agst Rester (t) 40 to 1 agst Larichester(t4stol)
40 to 1 ... Cramond(t4stol) 45 to 1 Paleface (o)

MANCHESTER BETTING.
Five, of the great Spring Handicaps having now been well
circulated, it may with _propriety be said that the preliminary
business, as regards the programme for the sporting.eampargn' ;
of 1860. has been already.accomplithed, and every lover of turf
sports has, no doubt, ere this, devoted some time in comparing
the various- imposts • 'yet, withal, 'very little briskness is dis- •
curable in the market. The Chester Cup, as a matter of course,
claims almost exclusive attention ; indeed, we have not seen or
heard of any attempt to bet upon any of the other handicap?.
,Longrange still holds the position of first favourite at 25 to 1
'leered), the next in demand being his stable. companion,
Viatka ; and, although 1000 to N and 500 to 15 were laid
against her, so stiff were the CO3IIIIIiSSiOLIS in her favour that
30 to 1 could not have been obtained at the close to money;'
and we shall not be surprised in a very short time if she is not
much in advance of Longrange in the market.—For the Derby,
attention was confined to outsiders. Cramond was in some
force at any advance upon 40 to 1, although, in one instance,
1,000 to 20 was laid against him ; but, from subsequent offers,
it was tolerably evident that those odds were over the 'market
odds Restes was, nibbled at, at 40 to 1, and .five points more
becatac obtainable against Paleface. There has been a stand-
ing commision in the market for several days to take any
tempting advance upon 40 to 1 about Lanchester.—The Liver-
pool Steeple Ckase seems to be' entirely shelved until the
I weights 'are published. The quotations were published in
Saturday's paper. , .

First Lord is struck out of the Metropolitan, City. and
' Suburban, and Nes, market Handicaps.
The Pontefract Meeting is fixed for Thursday and Friday,
the 12th and 13 h of July, being the two days immediately
following the Liverpool July Meeting.
THE FAR WEST.—Mr. Richard Storkdale, of Skerne, near •
tFDi
aar irr
yf fiNv.efleoli:t
a hasb
lya
large
:ee purchasedsptrprice,
us
taornaf
nhr J.
oht
rnos
Fillte,a,tnreat , ,
located obfyllrfalel tonaintp,orotTriehnfel
e
field and neighbourhood daring the ensuing season. A better •
selection for the country he is to occupy could not possibly
have been made, as he is one of the best looking horses in the
kingdom, and his immense power and substance stamplim as
L the coming hunting sire of the district.

The following was omitted on Saturday :
ALTCAR COURSING CLUB.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20.
President : The Earl of Sefton.
Stewards : Capt. Bathurst, J. Spinks, and J. C. Wilson, Eaq.
Judge: Mr. Dalzell. Slipper : Mr. Raper.
Hon. Sec.: T. D. Hornby, Esq.
By permission and under the patronage of the Earl of Sefton.
MOLYNEUX STAKES.
. , SECOND TIES.
Ayrshire Laddie beat Greta Beatrice beat Congre6 (late
Jung Bahador beat Seabird. , Resolution).
Scotchman beat Nosegay.

Ayr:h'e
Mr. Jones' THIRD TIES.
Lacidie bJungßahadur Beatrice beat Seotchrnan.
, FOURTH TIES.
Ayrshire Laddie divided with Beatrice.
WEST DERBY STAKES;
Lord Sefton's Sobriety beat Mr. Gibson 's Maid of the Mill.
Sobriety beat Jack Snipe and won the stake.
CROXTETH STAKES (MAIDEN.)
SECOND TM&
Jack Snipe beat Mr. Hornby's Helmet.
Barbelle beat Limited Liability
---- .
TILE CHASE.
The CHESHIRE HOUNDS will meet on
Monday, Jan. 23 at ........................................... :Vale Royal'
Wednesday, Jan: 25, at .....................................................
Thursday, Jan. 26, at ....................................... Cholmondele
Y
Saturday, Jan. 28, at ...............
... Darnham
Monday, Jan. 30, at ................ Belmont
Wednesday, Feb. I, at ....................................... Oulton Park
Thursday, Feb. 2, at ....................................... Duddon Heath
tSaturday, Feb. 4, a ... .. .. , . .:._ ......................
At halt-past ten. .......... Mere Hail
Mr. MEYNELL INGRAM'S ~ HOUNDSwiII
Monday, Jan. 23,0 n
26, at _..........................................Eat0n Wood
Thursday, Jan.
Saturday, Jan. 28, at Drakelow
At a quarter Rolleston
to eleven.
at meet

Hanner ran .a
bye

Advertisements will be inserted in this colons'
at the rate of 6d. per line, paid in advance.
Short Sporting

CORRESPONDENCE.

. _
[We do not hold ourselves responsible
.fir tke opioions of

our eorresponeknts;)

THE. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.
SlR,—the halls of St. Stephen's will open on Tues-
day amicist.the.greartoot bustle and excitement, and Par-
liament will assemble,—" big with the revelations of a
nation's fate," to discuss whether the fate of this mighty
empire is to be any longer entrusted to the hands of the
present " incapables" who sway its destinies, or whether-
the guidance of the State ship will not be handed over
to those who have the confidence of the people of this
country.
_ The present session is looked forward to as one of the-
most important that, has. assembled since our gracious;
queen ascended the throne; and, not only are the eyes,
of this country fixed upon its deliberations with the.
Most intense interest, but the eyes of Europe •and the;l
world will watch its proness with the deepest concern., '
The- two great parties in•Flie House are at present nicely
balanced. . But there is this great difference betweea-i
them,—Lord Derby and his Conservative phalanx are-i
firmly united 'for the support of, great. Constitgtional
principles, and to show to the people of this free country
that they are ready

" With.hearts resolved and hands;prispncek
The blessings we _enjoy to. guard."
_But, sir when I come to look at the other side ()lithe
pltture, it presents a dark foreboding. We have Lord,
Palmerston and his party, composed, as it is, of Whigs,'
Radicals, and Republicans, whose desire and aim are to
wrest from is every blessing and privilege which our
glerious Constitution has conferred upon us, and thus
t9.satiate the- wild .and insatiable desire of the revolu-
twnists. The day has gone by when the people of these
kingdoms will suffer those proud .institutions, which'
stand as a beacon light to attract the admiration of the
other nations of the earth, to be levelled with the dust,
a even impaired; and woe to the tuthless hands that
would stir a stone connected with them. Let, them, the
rallying word be, " Perby and the Constitution of
Epgland."
I feel satisfied that during the progress of the session
the invaluable journal which you so ably conduct will
ventilate to the people of Liverpool, through its editorial
columns, every matter of importance that may charac-
terise the proceedings of the present Parliament.—l
am, sir, your obedient servant, VERZTAS.
'January 21, 1860.

COUNTY MAGISTRATES' COURT.--SAwn.D/T.

(BeforeW. HALL and J. STEWART, Esqrs.;and Captain

RATS On GAME.—Three miserable-looking youths,
named, John_ Etches, William Etches, and Richard
HOward, labonrers, residing in the township of West
Darby; ~were brought up on a charge of trespassing in
pirsult of game on, certain land, in the occupation of
Mr. Wm. Ellison, on Sunday, the 15th inst., without the
lie-tense or consent of the person having the right to claim
game thereon. Mr. Parker solicitor, appeared on be-
half of the defendants, , arid the prisoners were pro-
ceeded against at the instance. of -Mr. .Spinks, who
claiMed the privilege of the game on. the land in
Bullfield, a labonrer in the employ of
Mr. Spinks, deposed that about noon on. Sunday, the.
15th inst, ha observed the prisoners.skulking about
on Pit land in question. He walked across the, field
adjoining the one in which the prisoners were, hunting;
and hid himself in a ditch. Presently afterwards,.the
prisoners beat at the fence to where he was concealed ;
and he 'was able distinctly to recognise them. They had
two dogs with them, one, he believed, a springer; and
the other a lurcher. He slipped away and gave infor-
mation to Mr. Spinks, and one of the,prisoners was ap-
prehended on the spot. Afr. Parker, 'on the part of the
priioners, denied that there was any game whatever in
the neighbourhood, and that the poor fellows were only
hunting out rats for aniuseinent—a laudable undertaking,
for, which they deserved thanks rather that punishment.
Mr. Hall said the bench were of opinion that the case
was of so trifling a description that it would be impossi-
ble to convict, and the prisoners were therefore dismissed
with a caution:

A YOUNG THIEF. - Mary Ann Ennis, about ten
years of age, a diminutive and sickly looking little
girl, was placed in the dock on a charge of steal-
hg two shillings' worth of wearing apparel from
the house of her mistress, Margaret Stubbs, at BoOtle.
Tab girl was suspected of several petty embezzlements.
and thefts ; and as the present case was clearly proved
against her, she was ordered to be imprisoned for fourteen
days,'-and at the expiration of that period to be sent to
the reformatory for three./ers._
rifibionuiNAlFlFltountity.--2-Antlretv- Guthrie was
charged with a robbery under the. following, peculiar
circumstances appeared_ that on Wednesday morning
the prosecutor, Mr. Al inward, of Breckside Farm, West
Derby, met the prisoner accidentally in Lime-street.
They were perfect- strangers; but 'somehow or other,
which did not transpire in evidence, Mr. Mill Ward was
induced to go to the 13risoner's lodgings, and they
there went to bed together. The prosecutor soon fell
asloep, and when he awoke in the morning found
that his companion had dedamped, after' having
dressed himself in Miliward's clothes, and taken a gold
watch and chain, and" 12s. 6d. is money. Officers
Owen and Mooney having been informed of the circum-
stance, went in search of the delin7uent:, and at nine
o'clock on Friday evening found him enjoying himself
at the Coliseum, in Paradise-street. He was then
dreised in the prosecutor's garmenta, but the watch was
not found in his possession.-_- It was afterwards ascer-
tained that abhad -been. pledged by him at :Downey's,
Copperas-hillrand the guard at a pawntiroker's shop
in Great Hoiner-street. The prisoner. was remanded
till. Tuesday.

LIVERPOOL POLICE CotTRT.—§ATURDAY,

• (Before Messrs. SMITH and ATKIN )
• .
ASSAULT IN THE WORKHOUSE.—Winifred
was brought up on the charge of assaulting. Anne Low
ther. They itefe' both inmates of the workhouse, and
it appears they had quarrelled about a child's cloak.
From words they came to blows, and Mullin seizing a
tin can, inflicted several severe injuries on complainant's
head. A note was sent from the surgeon stating that
he could not yet state what might be the consequences
of the wounds. The prisoner was accordingly remanded.
STEALING WATCH ES AND WEARING APPAREL._
Jane Blue, a middle aged woman, was charged with
stealing two watches from Mr. John Edward Silk, 27,
Portland-place. The wife of the prosecutor stated that
the prisoner came to their house on Friday night week,
inquiring if she dould hilve 'apartments. Her husband
she said was a sailor, and being in expectation of his
return, wished to have a comfortable place ready for
him. Raving agreed about the rent of the apartments,
she-feigned herself ill and intimated a desire to go to bed.
She was accordingly left alone, and in a short time was
heard comig down stairs and going out at the front door.
Mrs. Silk immediately went up to the room, and discovered
that the watches were gone. Information was im-
mediately given to, the police.-Art assistant of Mr.
Tunstall's, pawnbroker, ---
London-road, deposed she had
offered one of the watches for pledge at their establish-
ment, and an assistant from Mrs. Sarah Walter's stated,
that he gave her £2 upon the' other. Mr. Silk identi-
fied both the watch Je h Armitage, who keeps an
so p
eating-house es'—
ehale-street, then appeared, and charged
the prisdnergrirtgofmoring to his house about a fortnight
ago, and en
a st apartments in a similar mariner.
After firing.
.tbere
time, went out, taking
with her his own over-coat, and twosl?e
shawls belonging
toittedd his
for trier and his wife.—The prisoner was mothcom-
mal.
STEALING BONES.—A dock labourer,
cr hael
named Michael
Smith,
ed
with stealing
Smith, was brought up by Police-officer 763,
about Blt appeared -tolbs. of bones.,
prisoner was employed in discharging- the cargo of the
brig Caesar, lying in the Queen's-dock,..
oon 'ridgy last.
tn
The officer apprehended him in eact f taking the
bones away from the quay. He was remanded.

THE PROGRESS.OF THE
high above the busy thorough-
ELECTEIC TELEGRAPH,—In
various parts of London,
fare, numerous workmen are busily
to another. .These
employed in passing
the electric wires from one situation
will ere long form a curious and striking
this means of
feature of the
streets of the metropolis. Every week
communicating
h will prove
as we have before said, the electricbtelegyap
information is being more adopted ; and,
a means of increasing the power of the police,
the alarm of fire, and important for many purpose2th t
of spreadinog.
business. It is not unlikely that the laying on of e
&egraph, in important establishments, printing offices,
ii t
&e. will become as necessary as in the case of gaslight
and water,—BuiNer.

'ACHE GREAT EASTERN.

.31COIDENT AN THE SOUTILAIPTON
• WA:II4ER. CAPTAIN HARRISON, • THE
tETßgrars SON, AND THE ,COXSWAIN
MROWNED.

...Miifertundes, says the Observer, .erowd eheavily upon
itheeidlole but unfortunate Great Eastern. "fie last, but
byete means the least of the many .calaraities that have
'befellen it, is the death of its able and universally
esteemed commander.—Few men have been placed in
'wee &ying and more difficult eircumstsnices than those
-with whicliCaptain Harrison has been-sarrounded,since
'the first appointment to his command. By his -stead);
'adherence to a manly andlikest course, Capt. Harrison
had wen the esteem . and Tespeet -of all with whom
the came in contact. As _ a naval man his abilities
.and experience were unquestioned; and when di-
-rectors and hareholders were indulging in miserable.
-squabble's, an contrac,tors and greedy speculators were
considering how they might best snake the great ship
answer their mercenary purposes, the public confidence
in the merits of the undertaking was almost entirely
sustained by the knowledge that Captain Harrison was
still the commander of the ship. The experienced sea-
man, the able engineer, the thorough man of business,
,the honest and independent servant, one of the few
remaining props of the great undertaking has followed
to the grave the originator and 'designer of the Great
Eastern. The announcement of the death of Captain
Harrison has thrown a .&loom aver every one connected
with the company, and in the:town of Southampton a
feeling of almost personal interest was evinced in the
matter by the inhabitants when they heard of the sad
event.
The circumstances under which the death tool Atm
are peculiarly distressing.. On Saturdisy morning Capt.
Harrison had occasion to leave the ship, now lying at
her moorings in the Southampton water, to procee to
Southampton on business connected with the Great
Eastern. A boat was lowered shortly after breakfast,
and in company with-Doctor Watson, the surgeon of the
ship, Captain Ley, the estimable purser, his son, a lad
of about fourteen,years of age, and six men of .the crew,
the captain proceeded to Hythe, where his. wife and'
daughter are residing. After' leaving them, Captain'
Harrison and the other officers of the ship pro-
ceeded on to Southampton. The wind, which
had been blowing very. fresh, increased to a most
violent gale from the south-weat before the
boat reached the entrance to the dock. As the
boat was entering, and while in the act of lowerinc, the
sail, a heavy gust of wind caught the boat and calisised
it. The whole of the occupants were thrown. out ; some
of them were fortunate enough to seize hold of parts of
the rigging, or, of the boat; Capt. Harrison clung to an
oar, by which he was supported for a short time. The
Indus, one of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's
ships, lying in the dock, put off two boats, which arrived
at the scene of the disaster in a few minutes, and after
considerable exertion the men sucee led in picking up
Capt. Harrison, who was in .a state of utter unconscious..
ness, and was lying with his body across the oar, and his
arms and legs under the water. Capt. Ley was also picked
up, very much bruised about the head, and 'bleeding
extensively. Dr. Watson was also recovered in a state
of extreme exhaustion, as well as the six men of the
ship who were in the boat. The son of Captain Ley,
an amiable and highly intelligent lad, was not then
'foiled, and his body was not recovered until some time
after. The rescued men were brought ashore, and all
received the utmost possible attention and kindness from
the.officers of the 'lndus, and others connected with the
Peninsular and Oriental Company, as well as the offie
cials of' the dock. The condition of Captain Harrison
-was such as to call for immediate attention_ and active
exertions, with .a view of. restoring' hiin -to conscious-
ness. Medical men were summoned, and
_not fewer
than six' were in attendance, who-resorted to-every pos-
sible mode of restoring him to animation. Galvanism and
every other means whieh medical skill could suggest; ware
unavailing to save life. The first intimation of the sad
event was conveyed to the directors of the great ship'
company by Mr. Hedger, the harbour master of South-
ampton, about eleven o'clock. ' The telegram briefly
stated "Poor Harrison is drowned with Ley's son, by
the upsetting of a boat." Mr. Yates, the secretary,
immediately telegraphed back for further particulars,
and the directors entertained a lingering hope that pos-
sibly he might have been resuscitated ; but shortly after-
wards a second telegram arrived supplying some of the
details given above. Mr. Trotman, one of-the oldest
and most attached friends of Captain Harrison, imme-
diately proceeded to Southampton, to render any assist-
ance in his power to Mrs. Harrison under the terrible
calamity which has befallen that estimable lady.
Captain Harrison possessed in a most remarkable
manner the confidence of the late Mr. Brunel, and when
-it became necessary to consider the appointment of a
commander of the great ship, he reported to the directors
his' opinion of the qualifications necessary in the captain.
He stated in effect that such an officer ought not not to
be merely an experienced'naval man, but one whohad a
practical knowledge of naval engineering, and who would
be able to comprehend and deal with the many im-
port and practical questions' which would necessarily
arise in the development' and carrying out of .this;:
great experiment, Such a man in every respect was
Captain Harrison, and he appeared to have been
admirably adapted for the important 'position which
he occupied. He had a thorough knowledge of all -
the details of the construction of the ship, had watched
its growth and progress from its earliest state to its pre-
sent condition, and not the least among the many diffi-
culties which committees of investigation or boards of
management may have in future to deal with, will be
the
_appointment of a successor to Captain Harrison..
The shareholders of the company, however much they
may be divided on other questions, will at least be
united in theireregret at —the melancholy accident
which has deprived- them of so valuable and devoted
-a servant. Captain Harrison displayed at a very
early age his predilection for a sea life, • and was
apprenticed to, the merchant service, and even before
he was out of his time was entrusted with a command.
His service at the commencement of his career was prin-
cipally in the West Indies and on the coast of South.
America. The wars at that time existing between the
minor states on that sea-board frequently placed the
vessels under the charge of Captain Harrison in juxta-
position with a formidable enemy. On more than. one
occasion •he has been in action, and invariably fought
his 'ship with success. After serving eight years in
those latitudes, he accepted an appointment with the
Cunard Company, and commaoded the Acadia, Britannia,
Hibernia, Arnenca, Africa, and Arabia. In these vessels
he acquired that immense experience which gained for
him the title of the "Atlantic Navigator." Capt. Har-
rison crossed the Atlantic so many times' that he would
pleasantly say after counting up to 157 he had left off
his " dead reckoning." As, however, each of these
vessels made from ten to fourteen voyages a year, an
estimate may easily be made on the subject. While
engaged in this command his knowledge, searnanshipv
and manly bearing ,attracted the'eattention of=some'-'
of the principal promoters of the Grand Trunk Rail-
way of Canada, who were also interested in the Great
Eastern Steam' Ship, and- their influence induced,'
Captain Harrison to relinquish his engagement on
the Cunard line, which he .had held for fifteen years,
and to accept the command of the Great Eastern. His
services to-that.6O` mpany, which date froth January 1,
1856, were invaluable ; and the numberless persons•
whom business or pleasure has led to visit the monster
vessel will bear eager testimony to the admirable tact
and politeness of the commander while he was placed in
the most trying position. Those who were on board the
great ship when the explosion caused so much consterna-
tion will readily testify how much confidence was created
by his coolness, and how his foresight and grasp of mind
enforced discipline in a temporarily alarmed and dis-
organised crew. •
Captain Harrison had, we are sorry to hear, invested
all the savings of his professional career in the great
undertaking with which he had identified himself. He
was sanguine of the success of the great ship, if only the
proper means were adopted for developing its great
powers and capabilities, and if its management were
palnalocendginthtehmeshelayneds,s of a board possessing unity of action
knowledge without Al
1101::vesrilec
e s guidedin
ebvyerthat e
pparratemtiecnatl
must he wholly unattainable.

A SECsOoNuTDHAAmCvCTOONIE::
Saturday Night.
It is our painful duty to announce that a dreadful
circumstance occurred at Southampton this morning
(Saturday), which has occasioned intense excitement and
the utmost sympathy in the town. About half-past ten
o'clock Captain Harrison, the commander of the Great
Eastern, with Mr. Watson, the surgeon of the ship, a
youth named Ley, son of the superintendent of the
purser's department, and a boat's crew of six men,
arrived from the great ship off the Southampton Docks,
As they were rounding the wooden jetty at the

entranoe to the tidal 'dock, iiith a lug sail ,net., s
sudden :squat!, .caught-Lths --boat, and- before- the --crew
could lot, go
.the. halyarils, it was.. upset.,- The accident
was witnessed from the docks, and a large num** of
boati immediately put 'off to the assistance of those who
Fad itee* precipitated into the water. The six men
were *eked up; 'but we regret to' have to state that
Captain Harrison and _the youth ley were drowned.,
Dr. -Watson -sank twicebefore he vas 'rescued. Captain
Harrisen was a quarter of an hour in the water' and it is
presumed that his heavy clothes had preventedhiM from
gaining the
.surface. The bodies of Captain Harrison,
and the :boy Ley were without delay conveyed to "the
dock.watchhouse, when Dr. Wiblin, Dr-.. Lake, and other-
medicalgentlemen who bad been called in rendered every
assistance which medical science could suggest, but.
•it was without avail, for life was found in each ease to
be quite extinct.' Captain Engledue, the
"of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, Mr. P. Hedger,
the•dockinaster, Mr. Levy, and others were. on the spot,
giving directions to those who- displayed great activity
m attempting a rescue. The bodies were taken to the
Emigration Depot. The weather was extremely stormy
at the :time. of the lamentable eatastrophe7-the rain was
pouring down in torrents, with strong gusts 'of wind
from S.S.W , and there -had been
'a perfect`
hurricane" from an, early hoar in the morning.,
We are informed that Captain Weeks, of the
Penin-
'sular and Oriental CoMpany's steam-ship Indus, lying
at the entrance to the docks, observed the position of
the Great Eastern's boat just before the accident, and
foreseeing it probability, with a lug sail set in such
weather, ordered out a boat's crew, and had one of the'
Indus's boats in the water it the Moment when the, un-
fortunate accident 'occurred. It was the sad task of Dr.
Wibliti to communicate the melancholy intelligaice of
theoatastrophe to Mrs. Harrison. As may naturally, be
expected, the dreadful event has tbrown quite a gloom
over-the whole town.

INQUEST AND VERDICT. • ..
An inquest was held this afternoon-on the body of
'Captain Harrison,: before Mr. Col/Well, when the follow-
ing.<evidence was given before the coroner and ury :--
R. Pinhey, chief Officer of the Indus, said—This
morning the Indus was, lying outside the dock, anchored
close to the entrance. • About ten o'clopk I was standing
on the dock quay, having Just left the vesser. I saw a.
boat rounding the entrance to the docks. It was a
ship's gig. She had , a lugsail set. It appeared to me
that the teat was on :the s7tarbOard tack. The sail was•
being lowered, when she jibbed, and immediately the
haat caps'z-,,d. I saw several persons in the water,.
and saw- our boats loWered and go to their assistance.
The wind at the time was blowing very hard from the,
south-west.
By a Juror—Did you notice what reefs were in the
sail ? Witness—No.
Henry Edwin Smith, second officer of the Indus said
—I was on board the Indus thiS morning at ten'o'clock.
She was lying across the dock entrance. I saw a gig
boat running under a lug sail coming towards the docks.
The wind was free and blowing Very hard. The boat
appeared to be pitching a great deal. It Was high water
at the time. As she neared the dock-head the captain
of the Indus called my attention to the boat as to how
she was, pitching. Soon after she capsized. I cannot
say whether she jibbed or not, Or whether the -lug was
fully set. We immediately lowered "two beats and picked,
'up several persons. Ido not know the captain, and
cannot say whether he was picked up or not. Every,
,exertion was made by our boats to save those who were
capsized.
Mr. Brown, third officer of the Indus, said : was on
the quarter-deck at ten this morning, and saw a gig-
-boat running up the station. She was on the starboard
tack, with the wind right aft. As she was rounding to,
port, and as they appeared to be in•the act of lowering.,
the sail, she capsized—the sail jibbed. Our boats imme-
diately went to the scene Of the accident. We- piCked
up 'four in the gig-and one in the jolly-boat. Saw. Cap-
tain Harrison and the , doctor of the .Great Eastern
straggling in the. water, locked ,in each' other's arms.
The jolly-boat picked up the captain. He never moved
after he was put in the boat. He was black in the face,
and foaming at the mouth. I was.not in the boat that
picked up the captain, consequently. could, not
whether the person picked up in the jolly-boat was the
captain or not.

Dr. 'Watson, of the Great Eastern, said : We left
Hythe this morning at ten o'clock, in the ship's gig.
There were six of the crew, including. the coxswain;
also Captain. Ley and his son,' And Captain Harrison,
the latter acting as superintendent. There was a strong
Wind freth the S.W., and we had- a lug sail, double
reefed. We were on the starboard tack. We neared
thedock 'entrance.' Captain Harrison was st:ering, and
the boat did. not seem to answer her
_helm- well:. The
sea-was roae-h, and the boat'was yawing about. Captain:.
Harrison gave orders to lower the -sail, when the boat ,
was taken aback -by an eddy wind and capsized: I,
twice gothold of Captain Harrison. Captain Ley was near
me the last time I got hold of him. On the first occa-
sion the captain made a grasp at the boat to right her,
but- she Went over keel' uppermost. I went Under, with
the captain, and after coming= up I got hold of the bow
of the boat, with Ley's son in front of me. I jammed
him between myself and the boat, to keep him up, hold-
ing Captain Harrison at the same time. Capt. Harrison
tried again to right' the boat; in doing, which I lost my
hold. I made two 'or three strokes, and caught held
again of the boat, where I remained till .1 was picked
up. As soon" as I was rescued I saw Captain Harrison
in the'shed. He Appeared to be dead. Had him re:-
moved to where there was a fire,-and'uied "all Proper
remedies, without effect.

Dt; Wiblin said that he attended Captain Harrison,
with several oth6r doctors, and Used every exertion,
without effect. In his opinion Captain Harrison died
,from suffocation or from apoplexy.
The coroner summed up the evidence, and the jury
returned a verdict of "AcCidental death," and a deeply
sympathetic, feeling was expressed for the bereaved
widow.

A NEW GAS LIGHT.—A new light company has just
been started in London. If its prospectus is to be re-
lied on, coal gas may in time be superseded. It is ,called
the Universal Lime Light Company, and it proposes to
' purchase and work a patent by which we, may have a
cheap and powerful light, a single jet of it being "equal.
to 40 argand, or 80 fish-tailed gas burners." Its power,
unassisted by a reflector, is said to be "d 0 times greater
than the present argand oil lamp used for coast lights."
,The public will be anxious to learn if these promising
statements can be realised; and the new-light will make
rapid way if it can be given to the public at half the
price of gas.
A BitAvE OFFCER.—NEWQUAY, CORNWALL, Jan. 20.
—During some recent violent storms on this coast, very
brave exertions- were successfully made by Mr. Tregidgo,
chief officer of the Coast Guard at Newquay, and others,
to save the crews, consisting of eleven men, of the
French wrecked vessels Union, of St. Vadst, and Anais,
of Vandes. The:lugger Anais came first on shore near
NewqUay .:-The crew immediately, took 'to the
rigging, the Ter(S'el ,breaking up fast, and tremendous
seas rolling successively over her. A communication
was-soon formed with the .vessel by means of the rocket
apparatus. The surf, however, was so furious that the
men who worked it had often to wade up to their waists
to *rescue the sailors; but on this occasion Chief-officer
Tregidgo particularly distinguished himself. ,The poor,
foreigners, did not understand how to avail themselves of
the rope that had been thrown to them.' Tregidgo, with a
courage-that sent a thrill through everyone who witnessed
his noble daring, rushed into the surf up to his neck, and
directed the crew on board how to secure the lines, by •
which means the whole of them, six in number, were
safely hauled on shore amidst the acclamations of the
spectators. Shortly afterwards intelligence was received
at New Quay that the Union was on shore at Crantock
Beach, about two miles off. Mr. Tregidgo, with his
men and others, drenched to the skin as they were, pro-
ceeded off with all despatch with the rocket apparatus
to the scene of danger. A communication was effected
after two attempts with the 'wreck. Four of her crew
were safely brought on shore, and the fifth man,
having been washed overboard, was saved by the
promptitude and gallantry of a fisherman wading into
the heavy•surf to his rescue. A life-boat has long been
wanted in thisdangerous locality, and had the rich Duchy
of Cornwall extended that help to our shores which might
so naturally have been expected from it, one might have
been here long ago. It is, however, satisfactory to know,
that through the liberality of a benevolent lady, the
National Life-boat Institution has offered to station
here, forthwith, a life-boat, if the inhabitants of the
locality will do their part in the matter. The same
valuable institution has presented to Mr. Tregidgo its
third service clasp, in admiration of his recent noble deeds.
ttiree
secondhe
raedwos no
service
rtreijocioe
wrecked
es;
ea
cskp eod f occasionsvtbeses rlse.c societye i received ehdfeo
for aiding
dt
imtnuegt
institution
and
asaves
also given
seconded his to intrepide men. who so laudably
efforts saving the two unfor-
tunate vessels' crews.

•
CONSERVATIVE DEMONSTRATION IN
---ESSEX.

Corn, Friday,
A long-anticipated entertainment to-Mr. T.- J. Miller
and Mr. P. 0. Papillon,- the -respected Conservative
members for this borough, came off last evening in-the
Corn Exchange, ,which was densely crowded by a party,
of between 600 and 700 persons. The chair was occu-
pied by Mr. IL .Wolton, who was supported by several
of the clergy and principal inhabitants of the town. -
The usual loyal and complimentary toasts were
received with enthusiasm.
The Chairman,- in terms of warm eulogy, then pro-
posed the toast of the evening, " The healths of Mr.
Miller and Mr. Papillon," :whom he defended against a
charge of-bribery and corruption at the last election for
the' borough—a eharge which lie contended had been
often repeated, but never substantiated.
The toast, was drank.avith three times three.
Mr. Miller, M.P and Mr. Papillon, M.P., severally
returned thanks.- - •
Mr. H. E. Green proposed ".The health of the Mems
bers for -the county of Essex;" `-which would again, he
expressed his hope, be represented by a glorious "Con-
servative ten." (Cheers.) • -
Mr. T. Smith next gave "The Conservative Members
of the House of Corn/oohs," and'observed that he trusted
that before Parliament again adjourned Lord Derby
would be in the iicendancy, and that that extrordinary
man, Mr. Disraeli,- Would be' the''leader of the house.
Of, the obligations, which the country owed to Mr: Dis-
raeli, 3fr. Smith added that he believed the public were
not fullynsensibles
Mr. Peacocke, M.P. for- Maldon, was loudly cheered
on rising to respond to. the toasts, , The hon. member
laid—Of the House of Obininolis it bus been well ob-
served that the pulse of Europe beats in accord with the
tone of its discussions, and never can there have been a
time-in which every one of its members can have felt
more deeply the responsibility of the duties entrusted to
him than on the eve of a session, when affairs of the
greatest importance will be submitted to the house—
when it
-will have to take into consideration not only the
state of Europe, not only the reform of our constitution,
but also the defence of our shores against aggression from
without. I have never been: an adulator of the public
Press, and more especially of; the_ paper which is called
the leading journal ; but I believe that upon the present
occasion the public Press. has deserved well of the country.
It has roused England to a sense of insecurity; it has
appealed topublic opinion 'and to the patriotism of her
citizens, and in obedience to. her summons her men have
sprung up to, do her bidding.. ,(Hear; hear,) , Not that
I feel that—at-all events for some time to come—there
is the slightest danger of an invasion of this country,
and I will tell you why._ _ Ittltere_is one point in which
the cuirass of England is vulnerable ,it is the Catholic
population. 'This is perfeetly wall known to every foreign
popentate—indeed, I believe- there is not a foreign sove-'
reign who does:not • exaggerate it, therefore any foreign
enemy who desired to commence an invasion of this
country would seek to obtain the sympathy and cons
fidence of that portion of the population. But after grave
and, doubtless, mature consideration, Louis Napoleon
has determined to adopt a diametrically opposite course ;
he leans upin this country for support ; he has dismissed
M. Walewski, his Minister for Foreign Affairs; whoie
anti-English principles-have long been notorious ;he has
flung down the gauntlet to the most powerful Catholic
'institution in France; and he has avowed that he, at all
event s,i nspiredthe sentiments promulgated in thepamphlet
'entitled" The Pope and the Congress." (Cheers.) That
pamphlet lays down two propositions-L-first, that the
Pope, in the interest of the 200,000,000 Catholics in the
world,- ought" to be an independent sovereign ; and-
secondly, that his territory should be as small as is coms
patible -with his independence.- believe this expresses
the feeling upon the subject of the great portion of
reflecting Englishmen. They see that it is necessary
that the -Pope should be an independent sovereign,
because if he was dependent on any one country, it
would give tob great' preponderance to that country;
but at the same time the feeling of every Englishman,
whatever his political opinions or religious creed, is that
he would wish to condemn as small a portion as possible
of his fellow men to the misrule of an ecclesiastical form
so
of government. Gentlemen,
upon
this
sub jelctfeel
thatthatl will
our opinions
fioutirstharere
disdnss the -question, but there is one subject upon which
I feel public ?pinion may perhaps be misled, and that is
Austria. 'I am afraid-that public opinion, irritated by the
obstinacy, despotism, and blindness -which that Power has
lately displayed, may perhaps be misled into thinking
that it is the interest of England that Austria should. be
.weakened. -Austria is, geographically speaking, the
natural ally of England. - Look at the map. She...is
placed in the centre of Europe a barrier against Russia
aggranclisenaent on the one sid Russian and Fxench encroach-
ment on' the other. There are two doctrines which
England ought to assert at the forthcoming Congress;
viz., that Austria should be powerful, and that Italy
should. be free. These two doctrines, so far from,
being conflicting, are perfectly reconcileable. I
believe there is_ no person who knows anything
of the, state of Italy who is not aware that the
possession of Venetia by Austria is rather a source
of annoyance than a source of strength to her.
In time of war it is always an enemy threatening her
flank, and in time of peace, it requires a large portion of
her army to keep it in order; the feeling of the country
is growing worse and worse ; and it may be said that
although the soil of Venetia forms a portion of Austria,
its inhabitants do not form a portion of- her population.
(Hear, hear.)., So strongly am I convinced that both in
a financial and military point of view the abandonment
of Venetia by Austria would be a matter- of gain to her
that I feel sure she retains it only as a point of honour.;
and, therefore, I think it the duty of this country rather
to invite her in a conciliatory and friendly manner to:
-abandon Italy than to irritate her by menaces, and to
assail her by the bayonet and the sword. Perhaps,
after all, a congress may not take place,; and if this
shoiild turn out to be the-.9se, I for one shall net_ regret
it, because I do not 'wish to see England entangled in
foreign alliances, or embroiledin foreign quarrels. I feel
certain that in, the _approaching session we_ shall -have
quite enough to do io attending .to our own affairs.
without in'volving ourselves in those of our neighbours.
There is no doubt that in the approaching' session of
Parliament one of the most prominent topics will be the
questien of Parliamentary Reform, and I believe there
-is one coniictiooimiversally expressed upon that subject
—viz., that the question should be finally settled. People
are sick of the eternal discussion of this question, and
they ask- for something more stable and more settled
than annual ministers and biennial parliaments. There is
'no doubt that when the question of reform is submitted
to the House of Commons the great Conservative party:-
will be a most powerful instrument, either for good or
for evil. It may, by allying itself with the independent
Radicals at one moment, and with discontented
Liberals at another, carry on a system of harassing
guerilla warfare, cause great ' vexation to the Gover-
nment, and -place it in minorities upon various questions
of detail ; 'but I for- one unhesitatingly say I believe
such a policy to be, Unworthy of a great party. , A tern-porary triumph, a- fleeting majority—aye, even a tern-
iporary- retention-of office, held by the ignoble. tenure,
of contemptuous sufferance at' 'the hands of extreme
Opponents—advantages like these I- hold to be dearly
purchased at the price of a temporary abandonment of
your principles. It is the proud boast of the great Con--
seriative party that it comprises within-its ranks re
great portion of the respectability of the country. To
continue to preserve that 'support it Must continue to
deserve it, and to continue to deserve the support of
the respectable portion of the 'community it must
pursue a policy which is respected, and to be respected it
must be respectable. In this country, if a party wishes
to be respected it must identify itself with certain
principles and lay tioWn a certain policy, and it must
adhere to those principles and to that policy through
prosperity and adversity, through good -repute and
through bad repute. (Cheers.) England, we ' have been
told, does not love coalition. Above all she does not
love coalitions between extreme sections and extreme
opponents, and r have no hesitation in saying, that in
the interest, at all events, of Conservative principles,
it is to be desired, if a reform bill is to be proposed
and passed, that the Conservative party should be in
opposition and not in office ; for, if you are in office, how
does the question stand ? If a Conservative government
introduces a reform bill, you have a Liberal opposition.
knocking it about, and making the provisions of the mea-
sure more democratic. On the other hand, if you have a
Liberal administration in office, you have a Conservative
opposition fashioning the details in a Conservative
sense. Of
_course is arguing in the dark for one
moment to pretend to say what the plan of the present
Government is. They have kept their secret most
remarkably well, and I am rather inclined to think that
this arises from the fact that they have no secret to keep.
I believe that up to the. present moment, the details,
which are in reality the, principle of the measure are not
ab
nfinally agreed
huspso ns
p.
us
ptornu et,h
sc e
sr
ut t t
Mr. a
ccardi

well has addressed the Ancient Society of Druids at
(Word; but he did not tell us Much; and T Fife
heard, the right hon. gentleman, I never knew hiin..to
say much. With decorous dulness he told us that the
Government were prepared to lay upon the- fable of the
Rousq of Commons• a measure which would-widen the-
basis of the Constitution, and be a fair and final settlement
of the.question.:- The sallie has been said of every Reform
bill which has been been introduced. We have had of late
years considerable experience upon the subject; and upon
each and every occasionit has been state-Met the
was to widen the basis of the Constitution-,-to create,
not to destroy—and that the measure:proposed was to
be a fair and final settlement of the question. (Laughter.)
But I believe it may be said of each of the three mea-
sures we have seen introduced -that, so far from pleasing
everybody, they had pleased nobody. (Laughter.) We
are told that whenever this reform` bill shall beintro-
duced the great Coggetvative party will be destroyed. I,
for one, do not believe it. I--have faith in the vitality
of the Conservative party, because I have faith in
the vitality of their principles, because I have faith
in 'their creed, and because I have faith in their
traditions. ' I belieie that no reform bill, hOwever par-
tial in its nature, or however unfair in its details, can
destroy those great Conservative principles which are
connected-with so many noble names and so Many noble
achievement in the history of our country. I believe it
cannot destroy those great principles of constitutional
Toryism , for which Halifax lived, and for which
Falkland died—those great principles which have
kindled a • flame of such dazzling brilliancy in the
works of: Bolihgbroke which are immortalised in the
page of history
.by the, never-to-be-forgotten name of
William Pitt, and last,- though not least, in the undying
memory of George Canning. (Cheers.) For us, who
emphatically.boast that we are still members of the Tory
party, it is no small fact that we have a beacon.in those
great names; .and acting on their precepts, animated by
their counsels, and emulous of their fame, we may yet
hope to defend successfully, against the avowed hostility
of enemies,- and, what is harder still, the hollow friend--
ship of, false. friends, the beleagured citadel of those in-
stitutions, which are at once the envy and admiration of
the world. (Loud cheers.)
A few other toasts of a local character having. been
given, the proceedings terminated.

LETTER OPENING IN THE PARIS
POST-OFFICE.

The Paris correspondent of the Times says :--Whether
there has been any new organisation going' on in the
more secret branch of the Paris Post-office—the penetraliit
where suspicious-looking letters are operated upon—l
am not aware, 'but it is certain that a blunder now and
then occurs which would indicate the presence of an un-
practised hand. A gentleman, of undoubted respectability
posted, in London last month a letter, addressed to an
American friend in Paris. In a week or so, the Anierican,
whom I may call " T." returned the letter, with an enclo-
sure, stating that my informant---whom I call " M."—
must, in the hurry of writing many letters, have put a
wrong enclosure into the envelope. " M." saw that
the seal.had not been broken, but that the body of the
envelope had been torn, and that ihere adhered- to it a
small portion of delicate pink-coloured-paper, which
was not what he had used. The enclosure was a letter
from a lady in London' to him unknown, written to a
lady in Paris .(also unknown-to him), to whom she had
enclosed an order on a. Paris bank for payment of
sonic- articlek of Millinery. pure-minded himself,
did not at the -moment suspect any :tampering. with
letters at the 'French Post7office, but wrote back
to T. suggesting that he might have made a
mistake, and might , know either : the . lady' wire
-wrote the letter or her" to whom it was addressed.
T. replied that he knew nothing of either, and that the
whole matter was a mystery: only to be explained by a
systematic opening of letters in the French Post-office.
The next step taken was -to write to the la ly in London,
to inform her how her letter and draft had- got into
the hands of M. This procured M. a visit from a gen--
tlenian connected-with a mercantile firm of high standing
in the city, who observed that the lady's letter and
draft had been duly posted by one of their
clerks, and that the two enclosures were in an
envelope with a black border. 'M.'s original' letter
to T. was also in an envelope with a black border;
and this led to the supposition, well or ill founded,
that: the parties who-on that particular 'day had such
little regard for private correspondence found but- two
letters with black borders, and having, certainly
with
strict impartiality, opened—arid lead them both, they
committed the blunder of placing the wrong enclosure
in the wrong envelope. M.'s letter to T. has not ye
been discovered.

The above has been brought under our notice- by one
of the parties interested—T. It may not unreasonably
be suspected, we think, that the "secret branch of
the Paris Post-office" there is- an. "organisation " for
prying. into English, and probably other correspondence.
It is desirable, ;therefore, that our countrymen should be
on their guard.

EXTENSIVE FIRE AT CHELMSFORD.
£lO,OOO WORTH OF GRAIN ;DESTROYED,

One of the most disastrous fires which has for many
years_ occurred in Essex broke out on Thursday _night,:
shortly before ten o'clock, at the extensive steam flour
mills belonging to •Mr. T. D. Ridley, destroying to the
extent of many thousand pounds. The building, which
was of the most snbstantia/ kind, consisting of several
floors, and having all the requisite gear for working a
great number of stones, is situated within a short
distance of the 'goods 'station of the Eastern Comities
Railway, at Chelmsford, and shortly! before the hour
named smoke was observed to come from the smut-room,
at the top of thd building. The alarm was given, and im-
mediately the flames burst forth and enwrapped the upper
part of the building, defying all efforts on, the part of
a large-body-of firemen, with several engines from the
town, and one from the adjoining town of Ingatestone,
to arrest their progress. One after another the floors
fell in with a heavy crash, carrying with them the mill-
gear, and. before the flames were subdued on Friday
morning the.buildincr was completely gutted. Upwards
of £10;000 worth of corn and flour were consumed, and
the damage done- to the building and machinery can be
little short of a similar sum. Mr. Ridley is insured for
a large amount, but he will be a leser of several thou-
sand pounds. Fortunately all the stock and horses were
saved. The premises of the Elstern Counties,Railway
Company were at one period in great jeopardy, kit for-
tunately the wind blew in a contrary' direction, or the
conflagration would have been even more serious.

WRECK NEAR NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND.—
NEWBIGGIN, Jan. 20.—This'morning at one o'clock, the
barque Alice Gill, from liamburgh to • Shields, came "on
shore, at Spittal Point, near this village. It was blowing
hard at the tinie,,and a:strong sea running. Notwith-
standing the early hour of the morning, the life-boat of
the National Life-boat - Institution was soon manned
and launched, and immediately afterwards proceeded off
to the assistance of the ship's-crew. Having remained
an hour and a half alongside the vessel, so as to be
ready, if necessary, to save the men's lives, she returned
to the shore, the crew laving decided to remain on
board until low water, when they fortunately got
ashore in safety, and succeeded in saving their clothes
and other . valuable articles. The ship, which was in
ballast, is now on the rocks, with five feet of water in
her hold, there being little or no Chance of her getting
off. The life-boat's crew will be paid by the National
Institution £l3 for their prompt services on this
occasion.

THE 'ENGLISH CHAPEL IN PARIS.—The Rev. Mr.
Gurney has addressed a letter to the Patrie, correcting
certain statements made by that journal concerning
the circumstances which led to the closing of his
Chapel. Mr. Gurney states that, in December,
18.57, he made an application in the usual form for
authorisation to open a _chapel. for
_public worship
according to the rites of the Church of England, and in-
stead of receiving a written answer, he was visited by two
functionaries, who assured" hina of the Minister's
friendly, feeling towards him, and who gave him express
permission to open the chapel at once, without any
restriction as to the languame" in which the service
should be performed. Under these circumstances,
Mr. Gurney says that he had good reason to be sur-
prisetwd, when, after duly performing the service
for o years, he was officially informed on the 7th
inst. that he must not do so any longer. Mr. Gurney
concludes with asserting that the article in the Dibats
gave an exact account of the facts. The reverend
gentleman's letter is followed by a note in which the
Rank maintains the accuracy of its own version of the
case, and declares that, after making due inquiry; it is
able .to state that no person was ever empowered by the
Minister of Public Insti uction to give the authorisation
mentioned in Mr. Gurney's letter.

,ERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW.

,The Chamber-of Cornmeree-for Liverpool, throu,glbitil
chairman, has addressed the following letter to the Tltegli.o
•A
dent or the Board of Trade :
Liverpool, JA/luau 19,-1864h
Sirt.,—*The evils which arise from the liability ee
privateproperty on the high seas to capture and confisl
cation, in time of war, recently attracted much attention,
in' out own and other countries. The lubject was oili
of very great importanze to those -interests which, it it
the especial duty of -this Chamber to watch over ana
protect, and I am requested by. the Council to lay their'
views upon it before you.
It will be in your recollection that, shortly after the"
outbreak of the recent war with Russia, the. President
of the United States took occasion to invite all maritime
nations to consider the desirableness of declaring the
inviolability, 'in time of war; of all neutral property
under belligerent flags ; as well as of property belonging'
to- belligerents conveyed in neutral vessels—stating at
the same lime that this was not a claim which had been
made for the first time by neutrals, though it had never'
been fully admitted by belligerents. These two points
were definitively agreed to at the close of the Russian
war, by the representatives of the chief European
Powers assembled at Paris in April, 1856, and were
o f accompaniedeffiei
e n tblockade,by two
and other
ab resolutionsolishin g;
ri
definingate
To These the Government of the 'United States was
invited to accede, and the President expressed his
erin theg. nature
wil-
lingness to do so, provided-that the declaration could be
so extended as to effect the object for which' he pre
sumed it was intended, viz., to secure the immunity"
of all private property on the ocean from capture. The
Paris resolutions,: by establishing the rights of neutrals,
had virtually conferred full protection on merchandise
afloat, but, by some strange inconsistency, had withheld
this protection from the ships engaged in its transport.
It was to correct this anomaly that the President of the
United States proposed to add to the resolution abolish-
ing privateenng a clause affirming " that the privet°
property of subjects and citizens of a belligerent, on the
high seas, should be exempt from seizure by the armed vessels of the other belligerent, except it be contraband."
To this proposition he stated, in his message of Decem-
ber, 1856, that the Emperor's of Russia and of the
French had given their adhesion, and had also expressed
their willingness to co-operate in obtaining the assent
of other Powers.
More recently the citizens and commercial associations
of the German and Swedish ports, and the Chambers of
Commerce at Marseilles and other French ports, have
agreed to resolutions claiming the immunity now enjoyed'
by private property on land,. for the same description of
property on the ocean.
• ~
From this simultaneous and widely-felt public senti-
ment, it appears to this chamber that the time has Or
arrived when a proposition, so consonant with the more
humane practice of modern warfare—so necessary -3
complement of what has been already done for the pro-:
lection of private property—and so vitally affecting the, ,
_highest interests of civilised nations, should receive n'
permanent settlement, and be incorporated as a funda- .1
mental principle in international law.
To such a propOsal it would seem to be the interest,•
as well as- the duty, of. England to give her most -
strenuous support. As the greatest commercial and
shipowning country in the world,- it appears to 'us that
she must suffer more than any other by a custom which
exposes property on the ocean to seizure.
It has been argued, indeed, that it would be wise in
this. country to, submit to this loss, en the ground that
her naval superiority will enable her to inflict still
greater losses on any other maritime Powers with whom
she may be at. war, .notwithstanding the comparatively
small value of their commerce and shipping..
• It is easy to show that' this opinioft is utterly with-
out-foundation.
The only great maritime Powers with whom we can
be involved in war are France and America.
In a war with France; her whole mercantile marine
'would be compelled to lie idle in port, but her oversea
commerce, which in 1858 amounted to £142,160,000 of
exports and imports instead iming amiihilated as in
former wars with thi d
s country, would, in virtue of the
Dedaration of Paris, be carried on in neutral bottoms.
On the other hand, the commerce of England, which
is double that of France, would enjoy the same
immunity -under neutral flags ; but her mercan-
tile- 'tonnage Which is five times as great, would still
be liable to capture. Our ocean steamers, our
ships in the Colonial, East Indian, American, and other
long voyage trades, would be thrown out 'of employment,.
for it would be impossible to seal up the. steam cruisers
of France in her ports ; and 'the premium of insurance
on valuable goods in English bottoms would, therefore,
be enormous. That part of our shipping whirl would
thus at'once be doomed to compulsory inactivity would
be greater'in value than the whole tonnage of France,
and the remainder, though it might be employed for s'' '
time, under the protection of convoys, in the transport
of goods of little value, and on which the war premium
would be comparatively trifling, would yet be subject
to great disadvantSge, and would rapidly be displaced by
neutrals. The ultimate result would be,,if the war was
of any duration, that our whole carrying trade would
be conducted in neutral bottoms, manned by the very ,
sailors who, if the proposed change in international law
were adopted, would have continued to sail under the.
British flag.
It appears to this Chamber that such a result would
be as disastrous in a political as in a commercial point.
of view. •
In the event of a war with the United States of• Am-
erica, the. ocean would swarm with steam cruisers and
steam privateers, (for the United States -have not abo-
lished prirateering), and the- premium of insurance on
goods in belligerent bottoms would be so enormous that
the commerce of both countries would be limited to that ,
small' portion of it which could be carried on in neutral
vessels,
.The consequent distress, destitution, and dis- •
affectiOn, especially in the manufacturing districts of
England, would be such as to appal the boldest advocate-
of the ancient but not time-honoured practice, of taking,
burning, and destroying merchant shipping on the high
seas.
It would appears. then, that the liability of ships to.
capture would inflict greater injury on England than on
any other maritime power in time of war ; and, in time'
of peace, it places our shipping under serious disadvan-
tages, on even the mere rumour of misunderstandings
with other countries. During the recent war in ItalY-
the premium against war risk alone on. English ships
and their cargoes from the East Indies was not less
than per cent. ;in consequence, American shipping
_obtained decidedly. higher freights; and it.. was well:
known in commercial circles that large credits were sent
out accompanied by instructions to give a preference te
-American vessels in the shipment of,; the produce pur-
chased under them.
we have.
Nor
already staken out it be
his overlquestion renders t_vance further._ooked that the ricepossary
that
we should, as a matter of consistency, advance
For if the merchandise of the enemy can be protected
from seizure by placing it under neutral flap, and if Iris.
n ships i British ports or already at sea shall be declared
by order in Council exempt from capture for a specified
period—as was done at the commencement of _hostilities
with Russia—it would follow that our cruisers have been
already deprived of one of their most formidable means
of crippling theresources of a hostile country; and it•
cannot surely be considered worth while to retain this•
weapon merely against mercantile shipping, when it has,
been virtually abandoned against merchandise at sea.
It would be needless to occupy your attention further
by dwelling on the many benefits which our commercial'
operatie-Ai—oar 'relations with our colonies—and the
general interests of civilisation and humanity, would
each and all receive, were the principle of respecting .
private property on sea and on land to become part of
the law of nations. It is surely
_unnecessary for this
Chamber to defend the proposition from the objections
which have been urged against it, as tending to weaken
our naval supremacy, convinced, as they are, that nothing
which injures our trade and deprives our shipping of
employment can by possibility become a means of
strengthening our national resources in time of war, or
augmenting our efficiency as a great naval power.
I have only, therefore, to expresa 'the earnest hope. of
this Chamber, that her Majesty's Government will give"
their favourable consideration to a measure which it is
believed must be in unison with their convictions ; and'
that, in the event of the assembling of a Europeark
Congress, they *ill instruct our representatives there to
support any proposal that may be made, having for its
object to secure the immunity from capture at sea 01
private property, or the persons of private citizens.
I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient-
humble servant, C. ROBERTSON, President.
The Right lion. T. Milner Gibson, M.P.,
President of the Board of Trade.

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