The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-05 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

TEA.—A fair amount of business has been done in the
late arrivals of the new season's crop, and full rates are cur-
rent, particularly for fine qualities of greens. A rather
large quantity of China is announced for public sale this
day.
SUGAR.—The market has been dull, the operations
having only been to supply immediate requirements.
Good grocery qualities, however, maintain full rates. In
the refined market there is little change of importance
to report.
COFFEE.—There has been a steady demand for Colonial
descriptions, and good and superior qualities maintain
former rates.
Rim—The operations have been on a very limited scale
without any material change in quotations.
TALLpw.—Business has been less active, and in some
instances a slight decline has taken place for sorts. P.Y.C.
on the spot is quoted 41s 9d ; June delivery, 42s 3d to 42s 9d,
and last three months 45s per cwt.

THE SEA FISHERIES.

The Royal Commissioners, Professor Huxley and Mr G,
Shaw Lefevre, appointed to inquire into the condition of the
sea fisheries of the United Kingdom, concluded their in-
quiries, so far as regards Cornwall, on Friday, when a
largely attended meeting was held in the Town-hall, St.
Ives. Several witnesses were called, and a mass of evi-
dence was given, of which the following is the pith :
The mackerel and pilchard fisheries were chiefly carried on
at St. Ives, where there were 247 seine boats and six com,
panies, and according to the number of seines in each so
the turns were taken. A shoal of fish was detected by em-
ploying " huers ;" they endeavoured to surround the shoal,
and then towed the net into shallow water. The fishers got
one-ninth share of the " take" in the seine fishing. A wit-
ness said the only complaint was of the drift men encroach-
ing on the time by going out too early in the evening. He
had seen a shoal of about 40,000 hogsheads, but only 4,600
hogsheads could be saved. Shallow,;seines would be use-
less, as the fish would go under. He had heard that the
trawlers injured spawn; plaice and whiting were damaged.
The pilchards were exported chiefly to the Italian ports.
William Rouse, a fisherman, said, of most kinds of fish
found on the coast he believed the ground seines de-
stroyed spawn—eg., plaice, sole, and turbot. Many of the
drift fishers came within the 1,000 fathoms stated by the
Act. Hook fish were scarcer than formerly ; the whiting
spawn was killed extensively; whiting was frequently sold
four or five inches in length. A witness named Roberts
said he had not known of any prosecution of the drift
men for infringing on the section of the Act, for in the
night the boats might go where they preferred; the
seine owners could not operate at night. The
average length of seines was from 200 to 260 fathoms.
Sometimes the fish moved at the rate of lf mile per hour,
At the Guildhall, Penzance, on the previous day a vast
amount of evidence was given before the commissioners, in
the course of which it was stated that the average cost for
a boat properly fitted for herring, pilchard, and mackerel
fishing was about £7OO. It was believed that there would
be a good deal of oyster and crab fishing if they were not
caught during spawning time. The ground nets destroyed
a great number of small fish. There were about 1,000 men
employed in fishing in Newlyn and Mousehole. The ling
fish was almost annihilated ; lobsters had greatly fallen off,
but hook ish had not much decreased. The Newlyn boats
were generally away to the North Sea 13 or 14 weeks, and
returned in time for the mackerel season, which lasted about
eight weeks. The pilchard season commenced at Mid •
summer. One witness said he had drifted for herrings and
only carried one light in the boat, He knew there was a
regulation respecting the lights, but it was not acted on.
Thepleased
men might
;there was go trawling, drifting, or fishing, as they
ed ;he
inspector to inquire into such matters.
p no
ias
The small seines interfered with the large ones. There were
about 250 drift boats, and they shot over and broke the
shoals of the fish and scattered them, The firing of guns
t
was not good for the fisheries ; the shock disturbed the fish.
Joseph Green, a master of mackerel, pilchard, and drift
boats, of 20 years' standing, stated with regard to the
pilchard seines, that last year a shoal of fish came along,
and one of the small seines interfered, and in consequence
of the dispute the shoal passed on and was lost. This year
he saw another collision. The shoal of fish came, and a
large seine pulled in a position to intercept it. A small seine
ran across her bows, and a contention arose, the consequence
being that the shoal was lost. On another occasion, after
the larger seine had shot out, a small seine did the same.
About 70 hogsheads were caught by ;the small one, but
about 30 hogsheads were killed in the meshes, and, after
being in the water three days, were sold for manure. That
was owing to the seine not being properly constructed for
that sort of fishing. He should say that no seine should be
smaller than 180 fathoms long and 1.2 fathoms deep. The
large seines generally were about 200 fathoms. Smaller
seines than 180 fathoms would be injurious to the fish and
cause a great waste. He was in favour of the extension of
the fence months, as much benefit, in his opinion, would
be thus derived. He also thought there should be a limit
for the drift boats. Several witnesses endorsed the views
expressed, and the Commissioners assured them that every
attention would be given to the evidence adduced.

COLOUR,nmuch
Writesaus
amused
s follows
by your
AN ADMIRER OF'
the Spectator, in regard to the reported change of
fashion adventured upon by H.R.H.H. the Prince of Wales,
as described by our contemporary in a lively article recently
quoted in The Sun :—T
in-
genious article on " The Prince and the Fashions," yet I
read with some regret, thongh not surprise, your acquies-
cent sentence against colour in men's costume, I can by no
meens see the force of your reasoning. I am old enough
to remember a time when every gentleman excepting
clergymen wore a coloured coat; and I cannot but call to
mind the lamentations which prevailed on the introduc-
tion of black. "Now, it was said by repining elderly
ladies, "we shall see nothing but gloom and a great
deal of shabbiness for the remainder of our days."
I have some sympathy with them still, I lament over the
gloom which settled upon us somewhere about 1820, I believe
and think it has lasted much too long. lam sick of rusty
• black, the shabbiest of all garbs. I well remember the
bright, handsome, respectable blue coats which middle-aged
doctors like Sir Astley Cooper and the first Dr. Parry of
Bath always wore, with their polished metal buttons. I
cannot, of course, go back to Goldsmith's peach-coloured
coat, or to the beautiful sky-blues, or rich clarets, or rubies
that were known in the Grandison time. But even these,
absurd as you may think them (and I by no means recom-
mend peach blossom to the Laureate), gave a distinctive
character to men, and took off from the insipid formality of
our modern gentiemen's costume. If economy is in ques •
tiou you must not recommend black velvet ; a specimen
hero and there would be noble and imposing, but it must bo
only a specimen,

The Railway Invasion of the City,

Yesterday, at 2 o'clock, a conference of members of Par-
liament representing the city of London or connected with
it, and of bankers, merchants, and other principal citizens,
was held in the banking house of Messrs, Rothschild, in
New-court, St. Swithin's-lane, in reference to the impend-
ing railway invasion of the city, which has given rise to a
great deal of public anxiety and alarm. Baron Rothschild,
M.P., occupied the chair, and there were present, among
others, Mr. R. W. Crawford, M.P., Sir Samuel Morton
Peto, M.P., Mr Tito, M.P., Alderman Salomons, M,P., Mr
F. W. Russell, M.P., Mr John Abel Smith, M.P., Mr S.
Morley, Major Snell, Mr J. P. Gassiott, Mr Trowel.. Mr
Corrie, City Remembrancer, Mr Charles Candy, and Mr B.
W. Horne.

It was stated in a circular convening the meeting that a
public meeting was recently held at the London Tavern for
the purpose of considering in —:hat manner the city of Lon-
don could be best protected against the various Railway
bills now before Parliament, which propose to occupy space
within its limited area so greatly needed for business pur-
poses, The meeting was very numerously and most influ-
entially attended, resolutions were passed and a committee
appointed to effect the objects sot forth. The House of
Commons had appointed a select committee to consider all
the Railway bills which affect the metropolis, and it meets
on the 11th of April. A petition, praying that legislation
with respect to all railway schemes which propose entering
the city of London shall be postponed until some of the large
works already sanctioned shall be further advanced, and
time thus obtained for more mature consideration, had been
almost unanimously adopted and most influentially signed.
It had, therefore, become necessary to consider carefully in
what manner the objects of the petitioners could be best
attained.

Mr. S. MORLEY, as chairman of the committee appointed
at the public meeting, enumerated the public works which
had been already sanctioned within the city, and were now
in course of construction or in contemplation. These, he
said, included three bridges across the Thames, two for
railways and one for ordinary traffic at Blackfriars; the
Thames Embankment, the new street from Blackfriars to
the Mansion-house, a railway station in Cannon-street, and
two others in Broad-street and Finsbury-place, together
with an extension of the Metropolitan. Railway, for all of
which a large number of houses had yet to be taken down,
in addition to those which had been already demolished.
There was also the projected viaduct over Holborn-val-
ley, to which Parliament had given its sanction,
and which would involve an enormous destruction
of property. There existed at present, he said, a feeling of
deep anxiety among citizens as to how they were to find
spate in which to conduct their various business, and he
believed it would be most acceptable to the great body of
them if the Legislature could be induced to abstain until
next session, at least, from sanctioning any fresh projects
until those which he had enumerated, and some of which
were advancing rapidly, were completed. The memorial
reflected the sentiments of a large proportion of the citizens
on the subject. They did not in the least present them-
selves before Parliament in any antagonistic spirit, but
they were of opinion that the limited area of the city of
London, the seat of an immense and rapidly increasing
trade, should be protected against the intrusion of any rail•.
way which was not absolutely requisite for the convenience
of the public, and it would be a great relief to them to be
spared, for a time at least, from the imposition of any fresh
schemes. All the bankers, he believed, had signed the
petition, and a very considerable number of tho leading
merchants and trading classes. They utterly repudiated
the idea of needing at present the schemes which were now
in contemplation. He knew men who were absolutely at
their wits' end as to what they should do in the event of
projects with which the city was threatened being carried
out. All that the petitioners said was, " Spare us for the
present," and he believed that a widespread feeling in the
city of London was reflected in that wish.
A conversation followed as to the course to be taken with
the view to give the greatest possible effect to the wishes of
the petitioners before the House of Commons. Mr. Craw-
ford was of opinion that, not represen ing any corporate
interests, the memorialists could have no locus stancli before
the committee of which Lord Stanley is chairman. Any
petition, he said, against a particular scheme would be re-
ferred by the house to that committee, and not be consi-
dered singly by the house upon its merits. With the
view of testinG that matter, he said, he recently moved the
house to postpone a particular line of railway—namely,
that from Blackfriars-bridge to the Tower, but he did not
succeed, and the bill was now in the hands of the com-
mittee. The petitioners might be able to obtain a hearing
before the committee through counsel, but in that case there
must be a private interest to represent. Mr. Morley said
the petitioners made no reference in their petition to any
particular line. Alderman Salomons remarked that the
memorialists were merchants, bankers, and many other per-
sons interested in the question, and their petition might
possibly be referred to a select committee. Mr. Tite re-
minded the meeting that the committee of which Lord Stan-
ley is chairman was one to which all the schemes in the
city were to be referred. The petitioners did not object to
any particular scheme, but to all the schemes for the pre-
sent, and it would be, therefore, of no use to them to have
their petition referred to Lord Stanley's committee. They
ought rather to endeavour to interest Lord Palmerston, as
the head of the Government, in the matter on its merits,
and when the petition was presented Mr. Crawford or some
other city member might move that it be read at the table
and referred to a select committee to consider the previous
question, so to speak. Mr. John Abel Smith suggested that
it would be desirable in that case to move also that the peti-
tioners be heard by counsel. Mr. Morley said he should
like Lord Palmerston to see a deputation on the subject be-
forehand, believing that if he was assured that beyond all
controversy there was a deep feeling of anxiety on the sub-
ject among men engaged in the various departments of
banking, trade, and commerce, and that their object was
not to oppose in any unreasoning sense, but simply to ask
that time might be given, his lordship would support a pro •
position so reasonable. Mr. Corrie, the City Remembran-
car, remarked that the bills in question having been read a
second time, and referred to Lord Stanley's committee,
there would be a difficulty in taking them out of the hands
of the committee; but if this petition and that of the cor-
poration of London on the same subject were presented to-
gether, a motion might be made to refer them to the com-
mittee, with an instruction to inquire as to whether it would
be desirable to postpone legislation for a time. The corpo-
ration of London had instructed him to consider the
schemes in question very carefully,'and he had that day
had a conference with one of their committees on the sub-
ject. They had gone through the various bills and come to a
decision as to which they would not oppose. They had
agreed not to oppose the Charing-cross Railway, the North
London Railway, or the London, Chatham, and Dover Rail-
way Bills of the present session, inasmuch as they only
asked for powers to perfect schemes previously sanctioned
by Parliament, and which the corporation rather regarded
as improvements than otherwise. They should, however,
move the insertion of clauses with the view to promote the
public convenience in some respects. With respect to all
the other schemes the corporation would petition Parlia-
ment to postpone them.
It was eventually decided that inquiry be made as to the
course to be taken to give the greatest practical effect to the
prayer of the petitioners, consistently with the forms of the
house, and that, before the petition was presented, Lord
Palmerston be fished to see a deputation on the matter.
The conference then terminated.

CENTRAL. RELIEF FUND.—The usual fortnightly
meeting of the Executive Committee was held at
the Town-hall, Manchester, yesterday—Sir J. Kay Shuttle-
worth, high sheriff, presided. The honorary secretary re-
ported that £6,241 15s 8d had been received daring the past
fortnight, and that the balance in the bank was £133,2103s
gd. That morning £29 8s sit had been received from Red-
ditch and £329 Os 8d from Darlington. Mr Parnell re-
ported that there had been a decrease of persons receiving
relief in the fortnight ending March 26, from the guardians
of 27 unions, of 6,687. The hon. secretary having presented
his monthly report, Mr Parnell said, in answer to r Wor-
rall, that more money would be wanted than therMe was to
lend under the Public Works Act. If it should so happen
that, from unforeseen circumstances, certain local authori-
ties did not want the whole sum placed to their credit, it
would be very desirable for them to let the Poor-law Board
know, so that any surplus might be apportioned among
others really needing it. Mr Ashton said he had been in-
formed, by persons upon whose testimony he could rely, of
efforts to stimulate emigration from these districts, which
he deemed of such importance to the working classes that
publicity should be given to them in order that this disclo-
sure might operate as a warning both to the agents and their
victims, or, if untrue, be authoritatively denied. He under •
stood that persons, representing themselves as agents from
some of the mills in America, were engaging people here for
factory work in that country. Each man engaged received
a certain sum for outfit and passage money, and was required
to sign an agreement binding him to repay the advance
within a period of 90 days of his arrival in America. On
stringent measures being adopted to enforce repayment the
emigrants who had not then saved sufficient money were
induced or compelled to enlist in the army. The system was
first tried with single men, but as many of them contrived
in some way to raise the cost of their individual expenses it
was now being applied to married men with families of chil-
dren over 10 years of age, whose emigration expenses were
much larger. Consequently men so situated had scarcely
any prospect before them but enlistment when pressing de-
mands were made for the repayment of the emigration loan.
After some explanations had been given of the delay in sup-
plying boots for the men employed on public works, the
committee proceeded to make grants of money to the local
relief committee.
AI. CAHOURS has presented an important memoir
to the Paris Academy on Ike Respiration of Fruits.
THE WAY THE MONEY GOES.—A Parliamentary
return of the gold and silver imported into and exported
from each Presidency of India states that, in the year
1863, the gold and silver imported exceeded the export by
no less than £19)367,764. In the last eight years this excess
of import over export in India has reached the enormous
value of £109,652,917. Bullion has been coined in India
in the present century to an amount considerably exceeding
£200,000,000.

Newmarket July
Carlisle
Pontefract
Abingdon
Cambridge
Liverpool July
Stamford

Au
Brighton 2
Brighton Club
Lewes
Huntingdon .. ..
.. 9
Wolverhampton
11
Reading
16
Eghani ..
18
Oxford

SEPT]
Weymouth 1
Warwick September 6
Leicester 8
Bridgwater
Doncaster

Nottingham •
Winchester l9
Southampton .. 2O
Chesterfield
King's Lynn
Goodwood

- - -
Dover
York August
Yarmouth
Plymouth
Lichfield
Stocktcn .... 3O
Devon and Exeter
Derby
KBER.

Brecon .. 19
Richmond
Monmouth 22
Manchester Autumn
Newmarket First October 27

A NEW BAROMETER,

A new barometer, with a scale of long range, wai
exhibited at the Society of Arts, on Wednesday
evening last, by Mr. Hicks, of Hatton-garden. The
barometer consists of a tube hermetically sealed at
the upper end, but open at the lower end, the upper
half of the tube being of smaller sectional area than
the lower one. A sufficient quantity of mercury
being poured in, and the tube reversed, the column
of mercury distributes itself in the two portions of
the tube, so as to assume a length corresponding to
the weight of the atmosphere at the time. It is
obvious that, if the tube was of one diameter from
the top to the bottom, the column of mercury which
would be supported at a given time would no
longer be supported when the pressure of the
air decreased, and the column could only be
ihortened by a certain portion running out
of the bottom; but the difference of diameter
in the upper and lower portions of the tube
(in the new barometer) enables the excess in
'en gth, instead of running out, to spread tat erally.
If, for instance, the pressure of the air diminishes
so that it is capable of supporting only a column
shorter by one inch than before, in the ordinary
barometer the mercury sinks one inch only, but in
Mr. Hick's barometer the fall, according to the re-
lative area of the two tubes, may be increased to
almost any extent. Thus, supposing the sectional
areas of the upper and lower portions of the tube
to be such that one inch of mercury in the upper
fills only nine-tenths of an inch in the lower, it is
clear that, if ten inches be withdrawn from the
upper tube, they will only fill nine inches of the
lower portion of the tube, and thus, while the whole
column is shortened one inch, the surface of the
mercury in the upper tube will be lowered ten
inches ; or, in other words, for every change of one
inch in the length of the barometric column a range
of ten inches is obtained. The smaller the diffe-
rence between the diameter of the tubes, the greater
will be the range obtained. The method by which
Mr. Hicks practically obtains the seals for each of
his barometers is the placing it and a standard
barometer in connection with the receiver of an air-
pump, and, observing the fall in each ease, he gra-
duates accordingly. Mr. Hicks also adopts an
ingenuous method of measuring tree length of the
barometric column itself, and thus gets readily a
standard barometer which is well adapted for moun-
tain measurement, inasmuch as the difficulties of the
cistern and its necessary corrections is got rid of.
This he effects by graduating from the centre both
ways. By means of two verniers reading to
1-1000th of an inch, he takes the two readings of
the distance from the central point, adds them
together, and the total is the correct length of the
barometric column at the time. Mr. Hicks also
exhibited a mercurial maximum thermometer of
novel and simple construction.

MISS BRADDON, the popular novelist, is busily
engaged upon a new sensation novel, which will appear
aarly in l‘rlay. It is rumoured that the new work will sur-
pass " Lady Audley's Secret" in dramatic force and
strongly developed interest.
SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEDIL—Easter week.
free.—During the week ending April 2, 1864, the visitors
have been as follows:—On Monday, Tuesday, and Satur-
day, free days, open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday, open from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m.—
total, 27,518 ; from the opening of the Dluseuto, 4,512 ,771