The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 11, 1863.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

Arming the Negroes by the South.

(From the Index.)

Without placing absolute credence in the startling
intelligence brought by the Hibernian, it is safe to
speculate upon it, if not an actual fact, at least as an
event which has recently entered into the range of
immediate probabilities. We have, in the various
rumours that preceded this last direct announce-
ment, so many indications that the question of
arming the slave population has been under
careful and serious consideration in the Confe-
derate counsels. It is also certain that the
same subject has been frequently discussed by
the Confederates and their friends in Eu-
rope within the last few months. The South-
ern mind, therefore, on both sides of tile ocean
has been ripening for this step, and, if not
already taken, is prepared to take it. Intelligent
observers of the struggle have long been aware that
as a last resort the South possessed an element of
latent strength which, whenever called forth, would
at once shift the numerical superiority to the side
which has heretofore been the weaker, and thus end
the conflict. Those who knew the temper of the
Southern people knew that if the alternative were
fairly presented between independence and the
maintenance of negro slavery, it would not hesitate
an instant to sacrifice the latter to the former. The
choice made, it is not in the Southern character to
resort to half-way measures. If the measure be-
came expedient it would be carried out thozoughly
and without delay. If negroes were to be.
armed, the arming would be en masse. The
chief obstacle lay not in any fear of the use
the negroes might make of their arms; on that
subject, except in the few localities where the
negro has been corrupted by long contact with the
Yankees, no Southern man ever entertained a doubt.
The difficulty was in the repugnance which a proud
nation, regarding the bearing of arms as a privilege
and an honour, must necessarily feel in extending
that privilege and that honour to a servile race. But
at the call of patriotism the Southerners would sacri-
fice this repugnance, as they have sacrificed property
and life, without hesitation and without vain regrets.
Our only reason for doubt, then, is that we do not
believe the stress of military necessity so great as
to warrant the use of this last, though infallible,
reserve. At the same time it must be remembered
that the South is led by men who will not wait
until driven by necessity to resort to a measure
which they foresee that the public safety may re-

quire.
The force which the South can thus suddenly
throw into the scale, ensuring prompt success, is
easily available. Five hundred thousand would,
indeed, comprise nearly the whole number of able-
bodied negroes within the jurisdiction of the Con-
federacy, but these could be spared with less detri-
ment to agricultural pursuits than any equal pro-
portion of any other labouring population. The
South has abandoned all its usual staples. Nothing
is now asked from the soil but food. For the pro-
duction of this, black female labour will suffice ;
and in health, hardiness, and strength, the females
of the African race far exceed the peasant women
of continental Europe. The rich lands of the cot-
ton region are easily tilled, and the young and
aged who cannot fight can grow corn and tend
cattle. Nor is there any serious difficulty
in organising this force. In the South, unlike the
North, the relations between the white man and the
black are well defined, and are accepted by both
without question ; they rest upon a reciprocal con-
fidence and a perfect understanding of each other's
character. The white man, therefore, will not feel
degraded or in an anomalous position in command-
ing negro troops. If the discipline of the planta-
tion is less rigorous than that of the camp, it is
nevertheless an admirable preparation for the lat-
ter, and has moreover the merit of furnishing,
ready to hand a class of efficient non-commissioned
officers; accustomed to the exercise of delegated
authority over those of their own colour,
and to the responsibility for their good
behaviour. Even the scarcity of arms is
no insuperable obstacle. There ere, probably,
enough of fire-arms for a select corps of negroes,
already familiar with their use; and as for the
others, it may be doubted whether they would not
be more effective in the field with the more primi-
tive weapons which the blacksmith's shop on every
plantation could readily forge out of the imple-
ments of husbandry. A hundred thousand negro
pikemen or scythemen would probably be a more
formidable body for immediate service than the same
number of raw recruits entrusted with unwonted
weapons. There is no doubt, also, that the most of
the negro levies would be quickly thrown across the
Northern border, where at worst they would have to
meet foes no better armed or drilled than them-
selves. As for the negro's courage, when supported
and led by his master, not against him, we have
never entertained a doubt. The Confederate negro
troops will be as much superior in steadiness and
effectiveness to the black levies of the North, as the
Sepoys under European officers were to the muti-
nous hordes of Nana Sahib. Besides, what the
negro lacks in that intelligence which characterises
the white American volunteer, he more than supplies
by implicit obedience and insensibility to danger,
and he thus possesses the very qualities which
professional officers are prone to consider the
highest of the soldier. If the military importance
of such an enormous accession to the numerical
strength of the Confederacy is almost beyond
adequate comprehension, the political and social
aspects of the measure assume even more gigantic
proportions. It is the moat complete scheme of
emancipation that visionary ever dreamed of, and,
though we cannot disguise the terrible danger of
thus subverting at one blow the whole social fabric

of a great country, it is undeniable that the experi-
ment, if it had to be tried, is tried in this form with
immensely superior practical prospects, and under
fewer disadvantages.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF DIIBLIN.—Hie grace is
sinking slowly. In addition to the ulcer in his leg his grace
has been attacked by other maladies calculated to weaken
his constitution, which had once been very robust.

THE LATE LORD PLUNKET.—An interesting
anecdote of the late Lord Plunket, recalled to the
narrator by the recent erection of a statue to his memory
in the hall of the Four Courts, Dublin, is published. "s'
T. M'Donagh," who has furnished Saunders's News-
Letter with the particulars of that episode, says :—“When
the late Lord Plunket was Attorney-General for Ireland
my deceased father had a suit-at-law dragging on its
slow length between the Rolls Court and the Court of
Chancery. It was at long-run set down for final hearing,
and the Right Hon. the Attorney-General was engaged as
leader with a fee of £lO 103., and a brief sent to his house.
The opposing leader was the Right Hon, Mr. Laurin; also
Messrs. Crampton and Green (afterwards judges). The
cause was two days at hearing. I happened to be at the
time in Dublin, and about mid-day walked into the Court
of Chancery on the third and last day of hearing. I was
then very young and buoyed up with wild enthusiasm of
effervescent spirits. I listened for a short time to one of the
opposing counsel (Mr. Crampton), 'who happened to be ad-
dressing the court on behalf of the defendants (my father
being plaintiff), and without a moment's reflection or pre-
paration I took from my pocket a small cross, which I
grasped in my right hand, and tt e words, in hoc Signe
Vincis' on my lips, I stood up and solicited the honour of
being heard for a few moments. The court, the bar, and
all were taken as if by electricity; the honour I sought for
was at once acceded to me, in a sweet, mill voice from the
bench, from the lips of a thin, delicate man (Lord Man-
ners). I was stating the unvarnished tale in so telling a
manner, that one of the defendant's urged on counsel to
compel me to sit down. You shall not,' replied /41r.Plutt•
ket, ' you would do a disgraceful act—the lady must be
heard out,' and sure enough I was heard out, At the con-
clusion of my address my head reeled, my eyes swam,
and
the scene before ms was chaos—that chaos I shall never
forget. On my leaving the gallery from whence I left the
court I was met by counsel, who told me a decree was
pronounced in my father's favour, and that the Attorney_
General wished to see me at his house the next
morning before court hour. Oa awakening the next morn-
ing, the events of the previous day appeared as a dream to
me, but on becoming conscious, I was soon on my way to
Stephen's-green, where the late Lord Plunket then resided.
I was sply in presence of the great and good man, who
c
jocodelyoeindip
ented me on my dcbut at the bar, handed
e
urn
me back his fee of £lO 10s., and told me, should I ever
• a friend in court to call on him,'
requirelily reply was—,
God bless you, sir, I hope I shall soon see you Lord Chan-
cellor.' He sailed that day for England, and when next he
was in court it was as Lord Chancellor of Ireland."

A singular disturbance took place a few days
k at Ton
in Spain, on the occasion of a bull-fight.
Ina c
place
the bulls inscribed on the programme, a
a of ra
one ga
of ,
harmless bullock was introduced into the arena. A storm
back
of indignation immediately arose. The public pelted both
bullock and toreadors, and finally broke into the ring mil
killed the animal with enonuotiE stones.

The Duke of Newcastle on the Volunteer

Movement.

On Wednesday, the D uke of Newcastle reviewed
the second Administrative Battalion of Notts
Volunteers
In addressing them at the eose of the
review, the noble Duke observed that although the
battalion had displayed great efficiency in the
movements through which it had Leen
put, he must
remind the members of what he had sai at South-
well last ycar—viz, that they did not pay suffi-
cient attention to company drill, which was essen-
tial to their efficiency. Alluding to the volunteer
movement generally, his Grace remarked hope
that not only the members of this battalion, but the
spectators by whom I am surrounded, and those
with whom they are associated, will not falter
in their endeavours to keep up this most admi-
rable) and I may say thoroughly independent, volun-
teer force. You all know how the movement
originated, and I am sure you feel with me that
an institution like the volunteer force was not ori-
ginated in a panic, and that it ought also not to be
continued in a panic. (Hear.) It was originated
for the security of the country, and from our expe-
rience of it we shall all be prepared to say that it
ought to be maintained. It is true that, as com-
pared with the position of the corps when first
established, the volunteers are now in a better state,
for Government now renders certain aid to batta-
lions, but there are certain continuous expenses to
be met, and which expenses are rather on the in-
crease. It is most desirable that those who, from
a variety of circumstances, cannot join the force,
should show their countenance of it by subscribing
to or enlarging their contributions. Government
contributes much more largely now than it did a
little time ago, but, notwithstanding this, volun-
teers have to meet expenses in the providing of
new uniforms and renovating the old ones,
which can only be met by increased aid from the
friends of the movement. In some instances lam
afraid the annual subscriptions to the expenses of
volunteers are less than they ought to be. The
volunteers throughout the kingdom have shown a
disposition for military duty far beyond what could
possibly have been expected ; and I am of opinion
that at present time they are just of as much value
to the country and as greatly required as when
they were organised, five years ago. The object
was to provide a force the efficiency of which would
be such that, should the necessity arise, the standing
army might safely be employed in any service and
in any place, whilst the defence of the country would
be adequately and most safely left to the volunteers.
Some wise people have said that they do not see
any good in the volunteer movement. They say
they never thought we should be invaded, and they
say that such was their opinion when the move-
ment commenced. These people, who, I may say,
speaking vulgarly, are called " funkers," were very
silent when the formation of volunteer corps was
mentioned, but they are now exceedingly bold when

they do not apprehend danger. lam of opinion
that the volunteer force has proved an incalculable
benefit to the people of this kingdom. I was not
one of those who expected when it was organised
that an invasion was about to take place; but con-
sidering the great and the extensive possessions we
had in all parts of the world, and the vast interests
at stake not only as regarded our own but future
generations, I regarded it as most imperative that
the force should be established. I trust the volun-
teers, and also their friends, will be impressed with

the necessity of maintaining the volunteer corps in
an efficient state, and that no feeling of dissatisfac-
tion will be allowed to check their admiration of it

Destructive Hail Storm.

One of tile most violent and destructive hail storms
known for a long series of years occurred a little before mid-
night on Wednesday last in the district of Reading. The
storm appears to have broke out in the neighbourhood of
East Ilsley, in Berkshire, and then to have taken a north-
easterly direction, doing in its progress an almost incalcul-
able amount of mischief. The lighting was forked, and the
flashes so vivid that the whole country around was lighted
up, presenting a scene of awful grandeur, and the crack-
' ling thunder which followed was quite terrific, arousing
many from their slumbers, and producing quite an electri-
cal effect upon them. At Compton there were eleven sheep
killed by lightning in a flock belonging to Mr. John Brown.
The storm was heavy at Aldworth, beating down the grow-
ing crops of barley, bruising and breaking off the ears, and
thrashing the corn cut and lying in swathes in the field.
Messrs. Hammond, Godfrey, and others, are sufferers to a
considerable extent from injury to corn, but fortunately
some of them were insured in the Royal Farmers' Office.
At Basildon the storm was equally violent, but great pro-
gress has been made in the harvest, so that there were only
barley and oats in the field uncurled. Of the uncut barley
and oat crop there is scarcely a vestige left that will pay
for the trouble of mowing and carrying, so much has it
been knocked about. The storm, or rather tempest—for
such it really was—passed on over the Oxfordshire hills,
and continued to rage with fearful violence, being awful in
the extreme. In its course crops were damaged, windows
broken, and houses completely deluged. On Thursday
morning hail was found in many localities to have drifted
along, and 'cart-loads were thus heaped together. At
Mapledurham, Oxon, the hailstones were found to be of
enormous size, and the sheaves of beans and oats standing
in the fields, were completely thrashed, besides doing
immense damage to unmown barley. On the farm
of Mr. J. Allaway, in that parish, the hail fell so thickly
that at sunrise next morning the ground was still covered
with it, presenting all the appearance of a winter's morn-
ing. The storm passed over Kidmere-end, near Peppard,
part of Shiplake, then it proceeded across Wargrave and
Ruscombe, going in an easterly course, at each of these
places the chief sufferers being farmers. In vat i9us parts
there were rabbits, partridges, sparrows, and other small
birds discovered to have been killed by the hail. On the
whole, a large breadth of barley, oats, and beans appears to
have been destroyed, but scarcely oily wheat., farmers
having, fortunately, carried this portion of their crop,
for
their loss would have been very great. In nearly every in-
stance, it is gratifying to learn, the farmers have secured
themselves by insurance in the London office—the Royal
Farmers' Hail Storm Insurance.

VIPERS IN iRANCE.—The large increase of thess
reptiles in France, observed of late years, having
become serious enough to induce the Government to sug-
gest to the Councils-General of Departments the propriety
of voting a sum of money for their destruction, the follow-
ing report presented to the Society of Acclimatisation on
the subject by M. Leon Soubeiran acquires peculiar interest.
The vipers known in France are of three kinds—the vipers
pelias, the head of which is covered with smooth laminae
instead of scales; the vipera aspis, with scales all over,
and a truncated head; and vipers ammodytes, also
with a scaly head, but ending in a soft point.
Vipers are extremely irascible, and although they
usually take to flight at the approach of man, they will
sometimes attack and pursue him. They sometimes pene-
trate into houses, and especially dairies, whither they are
attracted by the milk. They will visit the sheds where
sheep and other cattle are kept, and also baking-ovens, on
account of the warmth ; but most frequently they are intro-
duced into houses in the faggots used for lighting fires.
They remain in a state of torpor duringth e winter, and
make their appearance
again in spring, when they are most
dangerous. In the morning
they do not creep out of their
nests until after the
dew has disappeared ; hence the coun-
try people take good care to cut the grass for their cattle at
an early hour; the broommakers of the Let taking the same
precaution in collecting the brushwood they want. But
those most dto
expose danger are reapers, since vipers love
to get into the sheaves in order to lie in wait for rats. When
a person has been bit by a viper, a ligature should immedi-
ately be made above the wound to prevent the absorption of
the virus. The wound should then be sucked either by the
patient himself, or by another person whose mouth is free
from any solution of continuity. Then, if the two minute
wounds inflicted by the fangs be perceptible, they should be
cauterised with a redhot iron ; and if not, the place should
be rubbed with ammonia, or else butter of Antimony may be
applied. Internally a glass of brandy may be taken, and even
repeated, with good effect. All further treatment must be
left to the physician. The viper has many enemies, chiefly
crows, storks, hedgehogs, and pigs. The park of Chateau-
Vilain (Haute-Marne) being infested with vipers, the pro-
prietor put some wild boars into it, and in a very short
time there was scarcely a viper to be seen. But after the
destruction of the reptiles the boars turned their gastrono-
mic talents to the investigation of the rich trufle-beds for
which the park was celebrated, and committed such havoc
therein that the proprietor had all the boars hunted down.
Immediately afterwards vipers re-appeared in such fearful
numbers that wild boars had again to be introduced. In
some departments stars have been granted for their destruc-
tion. In the Haute-Marne the council of the arrondissement
of Chaumont in 1856 voted 1,500 f for the purpose, every head
of a viper being paid 500; the snm, however, proveil quite
insufficient, the number of vipers killed being 17,415. In
1858 the number was 11,582, and the total amount in six
years was 57,045 vipers in that single department. The
destruction of this reptile, however, is best effected by
favouring the multiplication of crows and pigs,—GaltguanE.
The Seine and the Marne are rising, to the great
satisfaction of local bargemen. The Seine, which had sunk
lower than the " oldest inhabitant" could possibly remem-
ber, is now 80 centimetres above low water mark at the
scales of the Font-Royal.

SECOND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST 4 O'CLOCK.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.---This Day,

LEICESTER RACES.—THIs DAY.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

SCURRY HANDICAP.
Lord of the Manor ..
Paddy O'Rourke
Aurora 3
ALL AGED SELLING STAKES.

1

Reindeer . -
Telseurebe
Mudme. Tag,liatieo
NURSERY HANDICAP.

Regina ......
Aurora ......
-
Greenland .
Six ran.
WELTER HANDICAP.—GIobuIe is left in.

Fight between an Ichneumon and a Cobra.

In a letter to the Madras Times, dated Trichin ly July
15, and signed by three officers of the Indian. s°eP° • :
find the following interesting account of a fight brevtiveceeenwae
mongoose or ichneumon and a cobra :—" We think the long-
vexed question whether the mongoose, on being bitten by
the cobra, retires into the jungle and finds some herb as an
antidote for the poison, or whether the venom of the serpent
produces no effect on the animal, has been at last settled.
On Saturday morning last, whilst seated in the messhouee
with several oilcers of the regiment, a servant came and
stated that a snake had been seen by one of the guard to
enter a hole in the ground close to where the guard was.
We immediately sent for a mongoose (a tame one, and the
property of an officer), and put him to the hole. He soon
began to scratch away the earth, and in half an hour a fine
cobra, about a yard long, came forward, with head erect, and
hood distended, to attack the mongoose, who seemed to care
nothing for the reptile, but merely jumped out of the way to
avoid the blows which the snake struck at him. The mon-
goose unfortunately had just been fed, consequently did not
show sufficient inclination to go in at him and kill him ; so
we secured the snake and carried him over to one of the offi-
cer's quarters to have the contest carried out there, after the
mongoose should have had a little time to get over his break-
fast. After a couple of hours rest we placed the cobra in a
room, with closed doors (we having in the meantime taken
up a secure station in the room from which we could observe
all the movements of the combatants) the mongoose was let
in and the figst commenced. The mongoose approached the
cobra with caution but devoid of any appearance of fear.
The cobra, with head erect and body vibrating, watched his
opponent with evident signs of being aware of how deadly
an enemy he had to contend with. The mongoose was soon
within easy striking distance of the snake, who, suddenly
throwing back his head, struck at the mongoose with tre-
mendous force. The mongoose, quick as thought, sprung
back out of reach, uttering at the same time savage growls.
Again the hooded reptile rose on the defensive, and the mon-
goose, nothing daunted by the distended jaws and glaring
eyes of his antagonist, approached so near to the snake that
he was forced, not relishing such close proximity, to draw
his head back considerably. This lessened considerably his
distance from the ground ; the mongoose at once seeing tho
advantageous opportunity, sprang at the cobra's head, and
appeared to inflict as well as to receive a wound. Again the
combatants put themselves in a position to renew the en-
counter, again the snake struck at his wily opponent, and
again the latter's agility saved him. It would be tedious to
recount the particulars of about a dozen successive rounds,
at the end of which time neither combatant seemed to suffer
more than the other; we will limit ourselves to describe
the final and most interesting encounter. The fight had
lasted some three. quarters of an hour, and both combatants
seemed to nerve themselves to a final
encounter. The cobra
changing his position of defence for that of attack, seemed
determined now 'to do or die.' Slowly on his
watchful
enemy the cobra advanced; with equal courage the mon-
goose awaited the advance of his still unvanquished foe.
The cobra had now approached so close that the mongoose
(owing to want of space behind, was unable to spring out of
reach by jumping backwards, as he had done in the previous
encounters) nimbly bounded straight up in the air. The
cobra missed his object, and struck the ground under him.
Immediately on the mongoose alighting, the cobra, quick
as thought, struck again, and to all appearances fixed its
fangs in the head of the mongoose. The mongoose, as the
cobra was withdrawing his head after having inflicted the
bite, instantly retaliated by fixing his teeth in the head of
the cobra. This seemed to convince the cobra that he was
no match for his fierce and watchful antagonist ; and now
no longer exhibiting a head erect and defiant eye, unfolded
his coil, and ignominiously slunk away. Instantly the
mongoose was on his retr,ating foe, and burying his teeth
in his brain, at once ended the contest. The mongoose now
set to work to devour his victim ; and in a few minutes had
eaten the head and 2 or 3 inches of the body, including the
venom so dreaded. We should have mentioned before, that,
previous to this encounter,the snake had struck a fowl,which
died within half an hour of the infliction of the bite, show-
ing, beyond doubt, its capability of inflicting a deadly
wound. After the mongoose had satisfied his appetite,we pro-
ceeded to examine, with a pocket lens, the wounds which
he had received from the cobra ; and, in washing away the
blood from one of those places, the lens disclosed the broken
fang of the cobra imbedded in the head of the mongoose. To
discover whether there was any truth in the assertion that
the mongoose owes its impunity from the bite of the most
venomous of serpents to its knowledge of a herb which is
an antidote to the poison, or whether, on the other hand, a
prophylactic exists in the blood of this extraordinary ani-
mal, rendering it innocuous to the bite of a reptile fatal to
all other animals, we have had the mongoose confined ever
since (now four days ago), and it is now as healthy and
lively as ever ; but should it in the course of a fortnight
show the slightest indisposition, we, in the cause of truth,
will not fail to inform you. We consider, therefore, there
no longer exists a doubt that in the blood of the mongoose
there is a prophylactic, and that the idea that is derives ita
Lrapunity from a herb is one of many popular errors."

Bank of England Return,•--Yesterday.

An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth Victoria,
cap. 32, for the week ending on Wednesday, the 9th day
Lf Sept., 1863:

ISSUE DEPARTMENT.

,ctes issued ...—..429155,030 Government Debt £11,015,100
Other Securities .. 3.634,900
Gold Coin & Bullion 14,535,030
Silver Bullion ....

X.,29,185,0301

£20,185,030

BANKING D,
oprietors' Capi-
tal
Rest £14.553,000
3,711,334
Public Deposits (in-
cluding Exche-
quer, Savings'
Banks, Commis-
missioners of Na-
tional Debt, and
Dividend Ac-
counts) . .
05it5........ 6,997,402
Other De p.... 12,909,481
Seven Day and
other Bills 720,511

,EPA.RTIIINT.
'Government Secu-
rities (including
Dead WeigtAn
nuity) £11,091,28f
Other,Securities 18,731,259
Notes
Goldn and Silver 810,45 g
Coi

£38,891,731

£38,891,731
RSICIALL, Chief Cashier.

Sept. 10, 1863.

STEAMER BIIRNT.--Few calamities have created
more sympathy
and regret in Toronto than the de-
struction of the steamer Zimmerman, at Niagaro, at an early
hour yesterday morning (Aug. 21). The Zimmerman was
looked upon as one of the "institutions" of this neighbour-
hood, and Captain Milloy as the most popular commander
on the Lake. Captain Milloy visited the steamer on the
night of Thursday about 10 o'clock, found all safe, and went
ashore to go to his house, which is situated about a mile
from the Niagara-wharf, leaving the watchman, Patrick
Lawless, in charge. The fire was first discovered by the
watchman, between the funnels, under the main deck, about
a quarter to 2 o'clock in the morning. He speedily gave
the alarm, arousing the second mate, Duncan Sinclair, and
the crew. The pumps were quickly rigged and water plenti-
fully dashed on the flames by the crew ; but their efforts to
subdue the fire were in vain. In a very few minutes
the entire deck was one mass of flames, and the upper works
in a blaze. The mate, Mr. M'Donnell, roused the ladies'
maid, Mrs. Smith, who was asleep in the cabin, and with
great difficulty got her ashore. He then returned to the
deck to endeavour to do what was in his power to put out
the fire, but he was driven back by the smoke and flames,
and got on shore by one of the lines. The second mate, Mr.
Sinclair, had been working alongside of him a few minutes
before he escaped on shore, and Mr. M'Donnell is of opinion
that he had endeavoured to get to the fore cabin to procure
some of hie clothing and perished in the attempt. The
watchman, Patrick Lawless, when last seen was working
at the pump, and while trying to reach the wharf he got
entangled in the flames and was burnt to death. The rest
of the crew escaped with slight burns, but lost all they
possessed. The town was, of course, alarmed, and the
brigade turned out with great alacrity. Capt. Milloy was
early on the spot, and gave orders to endeavour to scuttle
the steamer. The attempt proved futile, owing to the in-
tense heat, and, although the firemen continued their efforts
till a late hour in the morning, the vessel was burned to
the water's edge. She was allowed to drop down to the
end of the dock, where she now lies on the shoal, a charred
and shapeless wreck. The engines and boilers are rendered
completely useless, and not alveetige °garniture was saved.
The Zimmerman was built at Niagara in 1855, to ply on
the route bteween Niagara and Toronto, in connection with
the Erie and Ontario Railway. In 1859 she was purchased
from the trustees of Mr. Zimmerman by her popular com-
mander, Captain Duncan Milloy.—Toronto Glebe.
More than 12,000,000 cockchafers have been
destroyed this year in the canton of Bale, in Switzerland.
The amount paid by the authorities ae premiums for their
destruction has exceeded I,ooof,