The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-04 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The departure of the Racoon from Leith has been delayed
owing to sickness on board, and the time of her leaving is
now uncertain. On Saturday Prince Alfred disembarked,
and took apartments in Douglas's Hotel, Edinburgh. He
visited Hulyrood, and saw part of the volunteer revlcw fu
the park.

A letter dated Malta, June 26, says :—" Her Majesty's
despatch steamer Psyche arrived at Malta on June 15, from
Marseilles, looking in at Tunis en route, but bringing no-
thing of importance thence. Her Majesty's screw steam
transport ship Orontes left on the 18th for Gibraltar with
867 rank and file, 189 women and children of the Ist batta-
lion 9th Regiment. She will thereat embark the 2d Regi-
ment for Bermuda, and from this lastnamed port convey to
Spithead the 39th. Her Majesty's screw steam line-of-
battle ship Marlborough, bearing the flag of the Comman-
der-in-Chief Vice-Admiral Robert Smart, K.H., accom-
panied by the Meeanee screw steam line-of-battle ship and
the Liffey and Magicienne steam frigates, left Malta to
exercise great gans on the 22d. The first two returned to
port on the 25th, and the Liffey has orders to sight the
Palace signal station at noon on the 26th, to attend to any
signal that may be made to her. The Magicienne has been
sent on, it is said, to Susa, whence the Firefly surveying
vessel arrived on the 24th, to replenish fuel, and then to
return to her hydrographical labours in that vicinity. Her
Majesty's screw steam gunboat the Foxhound left port on
the 22d, and after communicating with the Admiral in the
offing is said to have been despatched to Tunis, for which
port the Orlando steam frigate left on June 24."
The Frederick William screw line-of-battle ship was on
Friday officially inspected at Portsmouth by Rear-Admiral
Superintendent G. Elliot, and commissioned for coastguard
service at Portland, to take the place of the Colossus screw
line-of-battle ship, Capt. Codd with the remaining officers
and crew of the Colossus having been turned over to the
Frederick William. The Colossus, which has lately been
fi,ted at great expense with new wire rigging, has been, by
the commission of the Frederick William, placed on the
invalid list of the Portsmouth Steam Reserve.

The Urgent screw troopship got up steam on Friday to
test her machinery preparatory to commission by Capt. S.
11. Henderson, who has been employed in superintending
her repair and outfit. She is rigged, and is now taking on
board the remainder of her tanks. stores, kc.
The Royal yacht Alberta, in dock at Portsmouth, is
having her deck saloons and general fittings entirely recon-
structed, and in a much lighter manner than was the case
when she first arrived at Portsmouth from Milford. Under
these alterated conditions, she will not only be much more
sightly in appearance, but she will also afford considerably
more space about the decks for the accommodation of her
Majesty and suite when on board.
Her Majesty's 11-gun sloop Racer, Commander:Saulez,
was on Friday furnished with directions to leave her moor-
ings in the ordinary at Woolwich, and go down to the Royal
Arsenal on Monday to ship her ammunition in preparation
for sea. Her present orders are to adjust compasses at
Greenhithe on Tuesday, to sail on Thursday, calling at
Plymouth, proceed to the Mediterranean, Cruise aluug the
Spanish and Italian coasts, and probably winter at Malta.
Her complement of men and officers has been well selected
for that service. The Racer is a newly built vessel, and
has only served one commission—viz., on the North Ame-
rican and West India station, in command of Commander
Algernon M'Lennon Lyons, by whom she was paid off at
Woolwich.

The Immortalite, 35 gun screw frigate, Capt, Geo. Han-
cock, arrived at Spithead on Saturday from Bermuda, which
place she left on the 15th ult. She brought home Lieut.-
Col. Ord, R.E. (Governor of Bermuda) and Mrs Ord and
family, accompanied by Mr Plow, private secretary to
Lieut.-Col. Ord, who disembarked from the frigate soon
after her arrival, and, landing at the dockyard from the
steam yacht Fire Queen, Staff Commander F. W. Paul, pro-
ceeded by train to London. The Immortalite also brought
home from the different ships in Rear-Admiral Sir James
Hope's fleet 18 seamen and marine invalids, 20 supernu-
meraries, and two prisoners under sentence of transporta-
tion, all of whom were transferred to the flagship Victory
by the Sprightly steam tender, Master Commander Allen.
The Immortalite was commissioned by Capt, Hancock at
Portsmouth on the 16th November, 1860, and it is expected
will go into the same harbour to pay out of commission.
The ship appears to be in excellent order.
The Dromedary, screw storeship, Master Commander
Brown, arrived at Spithead yesterday, from the Mediterra,
nean, with naval invalids and ordnance and naval stores.
The invalids were transferred by the Sprightly steam tender
to the Victory, flagship in Portsmouth harbour, and the
Dromedary afterwards sailed for Woolwich to discharge her
stores. She sailed from Gibraltar on the 12th June, and has
since that time experienced a continuation of heavy gales
from N. to N.E.

The Speedy screw gunvessel, 60 horse power,lllester Com-
mander Burner, sailed from Portsmouth on Saturday for
the Channel Islands, to resume her duties as tender to the
Dasker, 2, paddle vessel, Commander P. D. Saumerez, em-
ployed on that station for the protection of the fisheries.
The following officers and rank and file of the Royal Ar-
tillery belonging to Woolwich garrison are under orders to
sail from Gravesend for India daring the present month,
viz.—For Calcutta, in the chartered transport Sydsnham,
probably on the 7th inst., Capts. Jackson and Tottenham,
92 men, 11 women, and 9 children. On the Bth inst., for Cal-
cutta, in the Conflict, Capt. Brown, Lieuts. Wane, Stone,
Pearson, andißuckle,Ridingmaster Johnstone, Assist.- Surg.
Hinge, 69 men, 3 officers' servants, 1 child, 8 women, and
10 children. For Bombay, probably on the same day, in the

In Ireland the removal of tollgates has been effected by
charging the repairs of the roads and the existing debt upon
the rates of the counties and baronies, the roads having been
submitted to the supervision of the county surveyors.
In South Wales, where some years ago great dissatis-
faction prevailed in consequence of the frequency and appa-
rently unjust distribution of tollgates, owing to the exces-
sive number of trusts, great improvement has been effected
by an Act of Parliament which consolidated the trusts,
regulated the number of tollgates, and provided for the ex-
tinction of debt by the advance of a sum of money out of
the Consolidated Fund, to be repaid by terminable annuities
of 30 years.
Your Committee fully concur in the conclusion arrived
at by the committee of 1836, " that the abolition of tolls
throughout the kingdom would be beneficial to the com-
munity," and they think that the anticipations of that com-
mittee as to the probable effect of railways have been to a
great extent realized, the traffic being now chiefly local, and
the tolls being generally paid by the ratepayers.
In the words of Mr Wrightson, "The through traffic
has been diverted by the railroads; the roads have become
a local burden, and the trustees have been driven to the
multiplication of bars."
Wherever the ratepayers are the principal tollpayers,
the inference would appear to be inevitable that it would
be better they should contribute to a rate which would be
administered under their own supervision or that of their
representatives than continue subject to tolls.

Tolls appear to your committee to be unequal in pres-
sure, costly in collection, inconvenient to the public, and
injurious, as causing a serious impediment to intercourse
and truffle.

Mr Wrightson estimates the cost of each gate at £25, and
he thinks there are at least four gates in each trust, which
is probably too low an estimate, bat, as the number of trusts
th, p,,qt of rAlection, even on this estimate,
wou:d be very large.

Mr Macefield states that in the Leominster trusts it
taken one half of the revenue to pay the expenses and esta-
blishment charges, while the repairs are put upon the
parishes. Mr. Wrightson adds that the cost of renewals is
enormous. Were the system as productive and as satisfac-
tory as it is in many instances notoriously the reverse, the
existence of a double set of officers in one district would
still, in the opinion of the committee, be unnecessary and
extt avagant.
Cases are not rare of trusts in which the whole produce
of the tolls, after payment of the establishment charges, is
absorbed in the payment of the interest of the debt, while
arrears accumulate, and the whole burden of the mainte-
nance of the roads is thrown upon the parishes.

This parochial burden, cantemplated by the existing law,
and of inevitable incidence whenever tollgates are removed,
will, in the opinion of your committee, press unequally and
unjustly on many small, poor, or peculiarly situated
parishes, and they therefore recommend the adoption of a
more extended area of rating.
Your committee are far from saying that there may
not be some districts in the north of England or elsewhere
in which the abolition of tolls, under the exising state of the
law, would be unsatisfactory ; but they think such cases are
exceptional, and that tolls should not therefore be continued
generally over the whole country.
From the annual returns, as well as from the evidence of
Mr Leslie, it would seem that the bonded debt of England
and North Wales may now be taken at a nominal sum but
little exceeding £4,000,000. In the opinion of Colonel
Pennant and of Mr Wrightson the current value of this
debt is about £3,000,000, which sum might be liquidated
by an annual payment of say £lBO,OOO for 25 years.

On the whole, your committee are of opinion that the
abolition of the turnpike trusts, as now existing, would be
both beneficial and expedient, and might be practicable if
the kystem adopted in Scotland or in South Wales could be
acted upon in each county in England and North Wales.
Your committee are of opinion that, pending the aboli-

tions of the present system, attention might with advantage
be directed to the circumstances of the several trusts whose
Acts are continued from year to year by the Annual Con-
tinuance Act; and if it should be found that the power of
Parliament might be beneficially exercised, in order to pro-
vide for the more speedy extinction of the debt of any trusts
—to secure a full consideration of the propriety of abolish-
ing trusts which are free from debt (now amounting to more
than 100), or to obtain economy of management by the con-
solidation of several trusts; your committee suggest that
such trusts should be excluded from the operation of the
Continuance Act and be obliged to come to Parliament for
a renewal of their acts.

THE MANAGER AND THE CONDUCTOR: It is ex-
traordinary that Costa should have failed where it was na-
tural to conclude his experience would have made him ab-
solute master, viz., in the adaptation of his music to the
singers' voices, The artistes all complained (in an under-
tone, of course) that the " Tessitura" was too high for them,
and that if the management continued to give Sig. Costa's
opera, injury to their voices would be the inevitable conse-
quence. One great singer (an especial friend of the com-
poser) urged this point strongly on the director, at the
same time expressing his surprise at Costa, who had had so
much knowledge of the voices of the company, should
compose for them a tremors. But for these energetic re-
monstrances the opera might have been given oftener, not-
withstanding the serials loss it entailed upon the treasury.
For I felt how deeply signor Costa was interested in its
success, and as a matter both of good .will and policy, I was
desirous of pleasing my conductor, Combined, however, with
the private complaints of the artists, were the expostulations
of the subscribers, and in spite of personal inclinations I
was obliged to withdraw the opera. The composer, as he
could not suspect the artists, and slow to believe in dissatis-
faction of the subscribers, consequently threw all the blame
on the management; and although I had laboured hard to
procure an opposite result, he ascribed to me the compara-
tive failure of his opera. This incident is one among marl'
that tend to show the wisdom of the law laid down at the
Grand Opera of Paris, peremptorily forbidding the produc-
tion of any composition either of the chef d'orehestre or the
director of the music.—Lutnley's Reminiscences of the
Opera.
THREATENED STRIKE IN THE BUILDING TRADE.
—The building trade in Manchester is in a highly flourish..
joinerst have chosen
s
ing state, and the contracts in the bard of the principal
builders are exceedingly heavy. The
this as a favourable opportunity for making a demand for
advance of wages to the extent of 2a per week. A meeting
of 16 of the principal wasters decided Inanimcusly to reject
the demand, and six others have given in their adhesion to
this decision. They complain that, with the heavy contracts
they are now holding, and have taken on the faith of a con-
tinuance of the present rate of wages, such a course would
involve considerable loss. One builder estimates that this
advance would involve £35 per week extra in his present
wages payment. A strike took place some time back at the
new assize courts building at Manchester, but was defeated
by the contractor obtaining workmen from other parts of
the country. The men, however, have to work under the
constant protection of the police. It is expected now that
there will be a general strike in the trade,

fti: g
The annual dinner or the National Association for the
Promotion of Social Science, with which is now united the
Society for Promoting the Amendment of the Law, wee
held on Saturday, at the Ship Hotel, Greenwich. Lord
Brougham, the president of the association, occupied the
chair, and the company included Mr Cargill, M.P., Mr
James Heywood, F.R.S., Mr T. Chambers, Q.C. (the Com-
mon Sergeant), Mr M'Queen, Q,C., Mr Sergeant Wool-
rych, Mr Sergeant Burke, Mr Joseph Parkes, Mr T. Web-
ster, F.R.S,, Mr G. Goodwin, F.R.S., Mr R. R. Torrens,
Dr Wadilove, Dr Hancock, Mr C. Clark, Mr Hastings, Mr
Westlake, Mr Wendt, Mons Chalet.
After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts had been drunk,
Lord BROUGHAM rose to propose the toast of the evening.
He said that of all social sciences there was none so im-
portant as the amendment of the law, and they ought to en-
deavour to place their laws on the best possible footing. He
ought to give a summary of the labours of the Law Amend-
ment Society during the past twelve months, but as they
would be found detailed in the report, he would only allude
to one or two of the latest attempts at law amendment,
telipts to amend and improve our laws, of which his bill to
Their worthy colleage, Sir. F. Kelly, had made various at-
preve:A gross bribery and corruption at elections had beer..
ono of the moot important. If that bill, or a considerable
portion of it, had been carried before the last general
tion, we should not have seen those disgusting cutrages ct
all law, as well as of all morals, Which the last general
election produced. Another bill he had introduced was
for a court of criminal appeal. His learned friend considered
that it was quite impossible that he could go on much
longer without a regular reformed method of revising the
judgments recorded by juries. He (Lord Brougham) wished
that bill, with the various modifications and additions of
which it was susceptible, all possible success. There had
also been some important measures propounded by the Lord
Chancellor in the House of Lords, and one of those was or
a very great importance—he meant the County Court
Amendment Act Bill. If that bill, or anything like it, had
passed, he would venture to say that it would have shut up
the county courts altogether. County courts without the
power of commitment were absolutely impossible. Thera
were, however, parts of the bill which he considered ex-
cellent. He referred especially te " tension of eq&t
able jurisdiction to these •;a, :mid be a very
great improvement. It had teen attempted over and over
again, but had always failed ; still he hoped the Legisfaure
Wouxu La inducen to passes nacaouro with that object. Them
there was the subject of the limitation of actions on simple
contract debts. He thought that the limitation of six years
was a great deal too long. The bill proposed one year,
which, on the other hand, was a great deal too short, but
the Lord Chancellor admitted that it was too short, and
said he was prepared to adopt two or three years. It was
unfortunate that these two excellent provisions were found
in bad company, because they suffered accordingly, and dm
bill had to be withdrawn. The noble and learned lord, after
some further observations, gave " The Law Amendment
Society," a toast which met with a most cordial response.
Mr T. CHAMBERS (the Common Sergeant), in proposing
"The Health of the President," alluded especially to his
great services in the cause of law reform, and observed
that those members of the legal profession who were the
strongest opponents of the measures he was instrumental in
passing were now the first to acknowledge their great value
and usefulness,
The toast was drunk amidst loud cheers.
Lord BROUGHAM, in reply, said he had always consi•
sidered that our jurisprudence was generally good, and he
had only endeavoured moderately to select those parts
which were detective, or partially defective, leaving the
great body of it untouched. No doubt many of the
changes he had been the means of effecting were at first
bitterly opposed, not only by members of the profession,
but by the judges themselves. He would mention only
one of the chief instances—the great, and he thought the
most beneficial change which had happened in cur juris-
prudence during the last fifty years, of allowing the parties
in a suit to give evidence, and in some cases compel-
ling them to give evidence. This was at first opposed by
the whole bench, and every attempt was made by the then
Lord Chancellor, his excellent friend Lord Truro, to prevent
its becoming law. Lord Truro went to Lord Lyndhurst and
appealed to him whether it were possible to open such a
floodgate for perjury as that of allowing parties to give evi-
dence in their own cause. Lord Lyndhurst heard him, but
would give no favourable answer, only observing " You may
depend upon it that the measure will be carried, and you
must make up your mind to that." As Lord Lyndhurst had
foretold the bill was passed and the effect had been salutary.
(Cheers.) And to do the learned judges who most stre-
nuously opposed the measure justice, he must say that a
year afterwards they :confessed that it was of the greatest
possible use in accomplishing that which was the great ob-
ject of all trials, namely, ascertaining the truth, The noble
and learned lord then went on to say that he could not
avoid alluding to what he considered was the present hate-
ful state of things in regard to the Dano-German war.
(Hear, hear.) There was a too prevailing feeling in
society, and in the country, particularly among the upper
and middle classes, that this country had been humbled, if
not disgrace% by its refusal to aet. -ow, it was very
well to say, " We feel for Denmark, as oppressed by her
powerful neighbours, as we feel for Poland, as ecuelly
treated by her tyrannical foreign G rvernments; but still
we ought to have done more. We ought not to have
confined ourselves to protests and disapproval, to re-
probation end lamentation; but we ought to have
ac ed when we were clearly in the right, and when our
adversaries were clearly in the wring, and we are mortified
and humbled, if not disgraced, by having done nothing,"
Nvw, my opinion is the reverse of that. (Cheers.) My
opinion is that we should have been humbled and disgraced
if we had not expressed what all of us felt, and had a right
to feel, and that it would have been dishonest if we had not
felt, and cowardly if we had not expressed our horror of the
conduct of those who oppressed the one nation, and still
more of those who oppressed, pillaged, and plundered under
the name of "conquest," the other. He meant the German
Powers, who thought they had gained glory by the strong
attacking the weak, instead of which the real glory to bo
gained was, if the weak had attacked the strong, and
had been enabled, which, unfortunately, they had not,
to beat them, (Hear, hear.) Tho people of this country
had resolved that there should be no war, and whatever cer-
tain classes might think, or seem to think, the people were
right in their resolution. (Hear, hear.) They had no right
and certainly they had no duty, singly and unsupported, to
make war in favour of those ill used—gross and grievous as
the ill usage might be, and cruel, insulting, and blundering
as those might be who ill used them. He could not help feel-
ing it was rather a step in social progress that, instead of
having recourse to the sword on all occasions we should have
recourse to moral pretest—to plain, honest, and manly
remonstrance, complaint, and reason—that we should try
the effect of that moral influence upon them and the
public at large; and that we who were not parties on one
side or the other, having taken these steps and made these
protestations, given that advice and entered into these nego-
tiations for the right and against the wrong, should stop
short of actual force, and not throw away our forces upon
an impossible expedition for the sake of revenging the in-
jury of others. He was far from saying that any menace
or throat, either direct or which might be construed into
a threat, ought ever to be used on such an occasion, He
hoped it had not been used. If any had been used he
thought it was an error, He agreed with Mr John Stuart
Mill, one of their members, that if they could not be chival-
rous they were bound to be honest. (Cheers.) It was
honest to protest, and the Government would have been
disgraced and dishonoured, and the country humbled if they
had not made such protestation, and if they had not given
their advice, which was pretty sure to be rejected, against
wrong-doers and in behalf of the injured. (Loud cheers )
In conclusion he begged to thank the company for the kind
manner in which they had received the mention of his name.
Mr M'QUEEN proposed " The Legislature," which was
responded to by Mr CARGILL, M.P.
The next toast was " The National Association for the
Promotion of Social Science," given by Mr J. Fli'vw°")
and replied to by Mr HASTINGS, the general secretary.
Several other toasts were drunk before the onraPanY sepaa
rated.
Teta Bill,
The Oxford University

In the first division Friday on night 290
members voted; in the second, 340; and in the
third, 344. The first division commenced at 29
minutes past 11, when several members who had
paired till half past were just prevented voting.
These, with others who arrived while the Opposi-
tion were speaking against time, increased thenext
vote by 60. Just before the final division three
more members arrived two of them opponents and
one a supporter of the bill. One of the Conserva.
tivesbad also, we believe, been found asleep in the
gallery, and was brought down to vote in the last
division, the Opposition thus obtaining their majo-
rity of two. It would have been one less had not
Lord Henley left the house after the first division,
not knowing that a second and third would follow.
In all the divisions the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer and the Attorney-General voted with the op.
ponents of the bill. Sir G. Grey took no part in any
of them. Mr. Disraeli, Sir E. B. Lytton, Lord
Stanley, and Sir J. Pakington also abstained from
voting. Mr. Atgerstein, the Liberal member for
Greenwich, and Mr, Leveson-Gower, the Libtral
member for Itjgate, it will bo seen, voted against
the bill.

The bill was supported by the following members
of the Cabinet—Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Gibson, Mr. C.
Villiers, and Sir C. Wood;' and by the following
members of the Government—Mr. F. G. Baring,
Mr. Brand, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Childers, Sir W. Dun.
bar, the Solicitor• General, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Chi-
chester Fortescue, Mr. Gilpin, the Marquis of Hart-
ington, Mr. Headlam, Mr. Hutt, Mr. Layerd, the
Lord Advocate, the Attorney-General for Ireland,
Lord C. Paget, Sir R. Peel, Mr. F. Peel, and Mr.
White.

LONDON, MONDAY, JULY,4, 1864.

The House of Commons meets to-night under
circumstances of the utmost interest and impor-
tance. The result of the debate to be commenced
this evening will, it is no exaggeration to say, be
awaited with anziety, not only by politicians and
partiz ins, but by the country and by Europe. The
question at stake is not the rise or fall of a States-
man, the triumph or downfall of a Party. It is
not a question between, Lord PALMERSTON and
Lord DERBY, between Mr. GLADSTONE and
Mr. DISRAELI. It is not even a question of peace
or war, it is a question, to us Englishmen, of far
more importance—it is a question which vitally
concerns the honour and faith of England. It is
not so mach that our supremacy in the councils of
Europe is at stake ; much as we may justly value
that, there is something still dearer to us all—our
own national integrity and self-respect. This
integrity and self respect, we believe, may, as we
have more than once reiterated, be even yet
honourably maietained without War. Whoever
can accomplish that desirable result is the man of
the hour, the Minister for the people, no matter
what his party. If Lord PALMERSTON and Lord
BUSSELL can achieve this object, their triumph
in the division will be right welcome. If, as they
seem to intimate, that power has slipped from their
grasp, then, indeed, their defeat will be a subject
of general satisfaction. The present is one of those
occasions so justly recognised by Sir ROBERT PEEL
on the subject of the Corn Laws, when the inte-
rests must give way to the paramount
of Party
interests of the people- While these grave inte-
rests are at issea, it ie somewhat surprising to
notice the gay flippancy with which Lord PAL.
MERSTON on Saturday, as ;Taster of the Trinity.
house, proposed the health of her MAJESTY'S
Ministers at the vast
- ()Mary banquet. Equally
amazing, under the circumstance; i 8 the language
of another veteran statesman at
anoth3r banquet
•
which took place on Saturday At the Law Amend-
ment Society's Dinner, Lori 13P.e-r-
---GttaAt actually
designated the present disastrous resultof attemnted
arbitration as " a step in social progress." e
1 can•
not help feeling it," said the noble lord, as rather
a step in social progress, that instead of having
recourse to arbitrament of the sword, we should
have recourse only to serious complaint and reason.
ing with the wrongdoer—that we should rather try
the effect of the moral influence and the expressed
opinion of the public who are wholly disinterested
both en one side and the other—that we should have
made protestations, have given our advice, and have
entered into these negociations in order to support
the right and to condemn the wrong—l say that it
53 a step in social progress, that having done all
this, we should stop short of actual force and refuse
to throw away our forces is an impassible expdi-
tion for the sake of revenging the injury that
has bezn dna to others. I am, howoyer, far

from insinuating that any menace or any threat,
either directly uttered or in any language which
could be construed into a threat, should ever be used.
I hope that nothing of the hind has been used (!) If
such hare been used, I must say that it has been a
very grave error." A very grave error, indeed, as
judged by the remit. The "step in social
progress," which w© are called upon to
admire, leaves cur confiding friends at the
mercy of relentles3 foes. Had Captain PEN effec-
tually stayed the arm of Captain SWORD,
then, indeed, we should be ready with
Lord BROUGEIAM to exult in this " step in social
progress," but when the result of the pacific inter-
ference has only betrayed the victim end exasperated
the offender we cannot for the life of us recognise the
ndvantoge. To fold oar arms and behold the
destruction of friends we have deluded by false
promises, may be a "step in suciel progress," but
it is certainly not the conduct for which. England
has been hitherto distinguished.

The new Holy Alliance is not likely to obtain
the renown of its predecessor, although it may
become notorious in its way notwithstanding,
Russia, Austria, and Prussia seem determined to
keep their affairs constantly before the world. The
game has been carried on for some time, and no
matter how numerous are the victims, provided
on'y that the despotic and tyrannical Powers can
hold their own, and prosecute their plans, Poland
was the special mark for sacrifice last year, and now
Denmark and the Duchies are doomed. M. BIS-
MARK'S communication to the Count de Gorrz, at
Paris, is a remarkable production, and especially at
the present juncture it bears a deep significance.
It proves the insatiable love of power that seems to
possess the Powers alluded to, and their determi-
nation to leave no effort czacritct iu order to accom-
plish their ends. The chief object of the despatch
is to acquaint the Count with the substance of
1 what had passed at the meeting of the Sovereigns.
The Emperor ALExANDER made certain proposals
to King WILLIAM, which are descanted upon. It
was all along understood, by those who were at all
initiated into the secret of affairs, that the real
object of this meeting was to consider the crisis
now at hand in public: matters, though the
pretext of ill health founded a very good ostensible
reason for arranging the convenient mode of
rencontre. M. BIsMARK rejoices at the favourable
attitude which tha Cabinet of St. Petersburg as-
sumes towards them in the question of the Duchies.
It appears that there is only one point of differ-
ence between the combining parties, being as to
the right of succession. The CZAR wishes the
Duke of OLDENBUrtG to be chosen, while M.
BISMARK emphatically declares the " lively sym-
pathies" of the Prussian Rsyal family are in favour
of Prince AUGSTENBURG. It would have astonished
many persons a short time back could they have
conceived the faintest notion of what extremities
would occur. That in the present enlightened age,
renowned for its march of freedom and its love of
liberty, it should happen that the Sovereigns of
various States should meet together and deliberately
plan and propose to dismember Duchies, to confis-
cate the property of other nations, and to pub their
own puppets in nomination for the rule, would
appear incredible. They seem to think that they
can emulate the arbitrary doings and sweeping
changes of the first NAPOLEON, without possessing
a tithe of his genius, his skill, or his martial
prowess. It is, indeed, a reproach to the
Western Powers of Europe that such a
contretemps should have occurred, as this meeting
of the Powers of the German league with the Auto•
crest of the North. France may deplore the cir-
cametances, but no blame really attaches itself to
her ruler or her Ministers. Without enrnirg into
1 collision with England it was impossible to make
any salutary change or to effect any important ob-
ject. Had Earl RUSSELL done nothing at all, and
left the French EMPEROR alone, it is certain that
these sad casualties would not have occurred. He
persisted in taking the lead, and the result has been
confusion worse confounded to all the parties con-
cerned. It is a striking instance of the harm that
is wrought by the want of decision, and the absence
of a firm and decided tone in matters of this kind.
We have been told that if we kept quiet, things
would right themselves, and peace be preserved. If
it is so, at what a cost has it been gained. .111,
BISMARK triumphantly avers that the " moral)
and, if necessary, material concurrence of 'lassie°
is secured to their policy. This is a pretty pass for
England to come to; while she has been inactive,
the destinies of Eurcpe have been handed over to
the tyrant who rules on principles diametrically
opposed to the fundamental doctrines of her consti.
tution. It is as idle as insulting for a Cabinet to
declare that they cannot help it ; they ought to
have done so. M. BISMARK announces as one of
the chief points of his intelligence that the
Emperor ALEXANDER and Prince GORTSCUAKOFF
distinctly gave them to understand that " it would
be desirable from every point of view to sign a
treaty or convention between the three Powers
which should be based on the reciprocal guarantee
of the territory of each Power !'' This is decided,
at all events, and the meaning of it must be th ~t.
the three States are to assist each other all they can
and make common cause against all efforts at
treedom or escape on the part of the oppressed.
Stripped of the circumlocution of detail with which
ministerial and official harangues surround the
subject, this is the real conclusion to arrive at.
Austria has proved the sharpest in the affair, for
the suggestion that " Russia should declare in an
unequivocal manner that she will give her material
assistance to Prussia and Austria, in the event of
a war with the Western Powers for the affairs of
the Duchies," is a master-stroke of policy. The
Cabinet of St. Petersburg is anxious to settle the
details of the vexed Polish question, and wishes for
the concurrence of the two Powers, hence the Cabinet
of Vienna intends to make political capital out of
the business; and obtain some sign of support and
token of assistance from the mighty forces of the
CZAR, before pledging itself to concurrence in the
views and wishes of the EMPEROR and his confi-
dential assistant, Prince GORTSCHAKOFF. It is a
sad and solemn spectacle to see the star of liberty
on the wane, as it undoubtedly and assuredly is
with these conclaves and consultations, these meet-
ings and man ceavres. After centuries of struggle,
and when so much misery has been endured for the
cause of freedom, it is now forced upon us as taus
welcome intelligence indeed, but not less authentic,
that the present is a dark era in the history of inde-
pendent nations. Those who should do something
are inactive ; those who do harm are remarkably
zealcus in the performance of their ungracious and
i unworthy taSkS. If the leading Powers of Europe
are to be the members of this Holy Alliance, it is
indeed time for those who have the integrity
and independence of nations at heart to be up and
doing. RoeP ,
may well bid the world farewell for
a season if the sovereigns who met at Kissingen are
to be the arbiters of the destinies of peoples, and
the deciding judges from whom there is no appeal.

There is no more difficult subject for
legislation
than our dealings with half civilized nations.
is easy enough to frame a treaty, to decide which
ports shall be open to our commerce, and what Shall
be the limit of foreign is the country;

neither is it difficult to provide that Europeans
shall be held responsible to their own Governments
for any misconduct, and to stipulate that the native
authorities shall punish their own subjects for any
infraction of the treaty. All these matters are
very easily arranged on paper, but no sooner are
commercial relations actively established than a
thousand little difficulties spring up with which
it is very embarrassing to deal. Englishmen, who
are unfortunately by no means remarkable for
courtesy or deference to local prejudice in more
civilised countries, are often reckless and rude in
their bearing towards the crafty, cruel, and
treacherous native, who seldom or never fails in
outward observances. The traders, too, are often
regardless of anything but the interests of trade,
and push their advantages mercilessly. The autho-
rities, overawed by superior strength, are afraid
openly to break the terms of the treaty, but are
very willing to overtook any breach of it on the
part of their dependants. The natives, on their
side, who have been professing good-will while
cherishing a hidden animosity, often play their part
with knife and dagger, so that the agreement
which began so smoothly is very apt to end
in a tedious and costly war. There are
many unavoidable obstacles to the main-
tenance of a friendly feeling between such
opposite races. The energy and bustle which is
the soul of commercial enterprise, is quite out of
place in the sleepy and indolent East. The two
races, moreover, do not yet know how to deal with
each other. Englishmen are never famous for a
ready comprehension of other men, and the Eastern
nations, as we know, regard all Europeans as " bar.
barians," so that diplomatists and statesmen have
no easy matter to deal with when legislating for the
interests of commerce, and it might easily be fore-
seen that Earl GREY, in moving his resolutions on
Friday night, would find a very plausible ground
for a virtual attack upon the policy we have hitherto
pursued in Japan. The noble Earl brought forward
a series of cnarges against Englishmen, both effieho
and independent, beginning with Sir RUTHERFORD
ALCOCK himself, who went up a road where he had
no right to go, and ending with the riots excited
by intoxicated sailors. There may probably be
grounds for the general complaint whether or no
the particular instances cited may have been exag-
gerated, but Lord GREY'S resolutions do not tell us
how to remedy the evil in any practical form. The
proposal to submit English subjects to the jurisdic-
tion of
,Japanese authorities is altogether prepos-
terous, and would never be tolerated by English-
men. It outrages our humanity to witness or even
to hear of the tortures which the Japanese, in com-
mon with most Eastern nations, inflict on each other,
while the low value attached to human lifeputs their
administration of justice on a totally differen'
footing from that of any civilised or Christian com-
munity. Lo-d GREY says that such a system could
not be worked i❑ Europe, and that if English sailers
at Havre or New York, or American and French
sailors at Liverpool, were exempt from the inter-
ference of tne police, and could only be dealt with
by their own Cinema, it would be impossible to
maintain order in those towns. It is difficult to
understand how the noble lord could make so extra,
vagant a comperieon. He can scarcely compare
the traffic at the Japanese ports to the commerce of
Liverpool or New York, but he seems to have totally
overlooked the important fact that all European
nations as well as the American States act upon
recognised principles of law and justice—that
crimes are regarded in the same light, and are
punished in the same proportion, whether at Havre,
New York, or Liverpool, and English authorities
have no reason to expect, when submitting their
subjects to the jurisdiction of those places that they
will hear of an innocent man being knocked on the
head for not performing the ko-ton, or of a man
guilty perhaps of participation in a theft or a riot
being impaled, broken on the wheel, or otherwise
tortured to death. One of the great objects which
civilisation should set before her in entering into
dealings with such semi-barbaric races is the ame-
lioration of their code of justice, and it would be a
very rash and inconsistent beginning to subject our
own people to their jurisdiction. The object which
Lord GREY has in view would be better attainea
through the medium of the Consuls, who might he
instructed to keep a strict watch through their
agents over the conduct of European sailors in
the ports, and to notice promptly and punish
sharply any breach of the public peace. Unfortu-
nately there is now too much, the feeling of hos-
tile parties, the Japanese making common cause
against the English, and vice versa, instead
of the better class of both races combining
to punish offenders, Neither will it do to suppose
that all the blame has been on our side. The mur-
der of Mr. RICBARDSON was an unpardonable act
of wanton aggression, and had it been overlooked,
there would have been no safety for life or limb
thenceforward in Japan for Europeans. The Go-
vernment then acted well and wisely in insisting
upon reparation, and by so doing took the most
effectual means of preventing the recurrence of such
an outrage and of avoiding hostilities. We must
secure the great principles of respect for life and
property before we Citl hope to arrange minor mat-
ters. For the rest of the charges the best answer
is given in the words of Earl RUSSELL'S very tem-
perate and sensible reply to Earl GREY, on Friday,
when he said--" I know of no particular regula-
tions which could be introduced which could remedy
the present state of things, and we can only hope
that while the commercial intercourse itself with
Japan is productive of great benefit, the abuses
which attend upon it will in time to removed by
the exhibition of better conduct on the part of our
own country men, who have the remedy entirely in
their own hands," It is idle to suppose that any
interference on our part can reconcile the differences
of the Japanese authorities, bat we can certainly
take care that no faults of our own pvt us in colli-
sion with the national prejudices, and we trust that
those Englishmen who nave hitherto abused their
power and position will be shamed by the general
denunciation of their conduct into better and more
peaceable behaviour.

COLLEGE OF PRECEPTORS.—At a meeting of
council of this corporation, on the 2d July, the
diploma of licentiate was granted to Miss Brakie, of Upper
Belgrave-place, and that of associate to Miss S. T. Bayer,
and to Mr George Mosley, of Holgate Seminary, York. Tho
following gentlemen were elected members of the College
—Mr G. Adair, York-terrace, Everton, Liverpool—Mr H.
P. E. do St Dalmas, Dartmouth—Miss M. A. Harris, Bland-
ford House, Reading—Rev. J. Hunter, M.A,, Trafalgar-
square, Brompton—Mr John Jones, Grammar School,
Ludlow—Mr Isaac Patchett, Queensbury, near Halifax—
Mr W. H. Rowlatt, Church House School, Ealing—Mr S.
Summers, the College, Worthing—Rev. C. S wete, D.D.,
Elm Grove, Ealing—Mr W. C. Taylor, the College
Worthaig.

AT COMMEMORATION.—It happened, on one
occasion, that some lady visitors had accidentally
mingled with the crowd ; and even the chivalry of Young
Oxford could not prevent their being sadly crushed. The
young ladies screamed, when a gallant proctor appeared
within tho gates an: cried out, " ettn, you make a read?"
" Yee," shouted the square cape, "It I open the gates,"
said the proctor, " will you pledge me your honour that
you will not come in ?" " Yes," again shouted the square
caps, The proctor unlocked the gates and threw them
open; the unclergraduces passed the young ladies saiely
within the railed enclosure— he proctor locked the gates;
and then, but not till then, the undergraduates renewed
their struggles to smash the obstacle ; whereupon, said the
observant proctor—" I glory in being an Oxford proctor;
for I have had a proof that Oxford men are men of honour.''
—Zonsfol