The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-17 00:00:00

BREAD.

The prices of wheaten bread in the metropolis are from
id to 7d, of household do., 5d to 6d per 41b loaf.
HIDES AND SKINS.

Market hides, 561 b to 641 b, 2d to 3d 641 b to 721 b, 3d
to 3,1 d ; 721 b to 801 b, 3d to 32d ; 801 b to 881 b, 31d to 41d ;
881 b to 961 b, 4d to sd; 961 b to 1041 b, 5d to kid ; 1041 b to
1121b,—d to —d. Horse hides, 10s Od to lls Od ; calf skins,
light, 2s Od to 4s Od ; full, 7s 6d to Os Od ; polled sheep, 5s
Od to Gs Od; half-breds, 4s 4d to 4s 9d; Downs, 3s Ltd to
4s 3d; lambs, 3s 6d to 78 Od.

A Flapper for the Admiralty.

Under this title " Caveto" has the following good and
well-timed article in the Examiner of to-day :
Sir, —Always doing, seldom done, and when done 'badly
done at an enormous cost, is the motto of our Board of Ad-
miralty. The Times occasionally thunders at them, but it
is generally distant thunder, the _Daily Telegraph speaks out,
the AT my and Naay Gazette sometimes groans with a per-
turbed spirit, and sometimes is satirical. Alt in vain, the
great proprietor of the borough of Totnes, the ducal bearer
of Britannia's trident, assures the House of Lords that he
rules the waves, and Rear. Admiral Lord Clarence Paget,
as Mr Disraeli assures us, hitches up his trowsers, and in
a manly, British, mariner-like manner repute " how many
bells it is," when his grace replies, " Make it so," and the
_ _

Houses of Lords ar,d Commons are satisfied with that briet
account of their affairs in true man of war fashion. The

time may come, however, when disaster must cause the
country to overhaul the Admiralty logs in a sharper spirit,
fur I feel convinced that disaster alone can achieve that good
end. Is it not disgraceful that, instead of arming our ships
after the manner and power of other nations, we lag behind
them all P Every foreign man-of•war which takes to the
sea is armed with the moat effective guns, while our
boasted armour-clads sail up and down the channel, their
officers feed and are fed by mayors and corporations, and
while the people rejoice in their noble appearance, old sea-
men shake their heads, and exclaim, looking at their de-
ficient armaments, "Lucky we are not at war.'
I find the following passage in the last number of the
Army and Navy (mutt&
"Defence, armour-plated iron screw steamship, Captain
Augustus Phillimore, 3,720 tons, 600 horse-power, arrived
at Bristol on Wednesday, and Captain Phillimore immedi-
ately addressed a letter to the mayor of the city, announce.
Of course to be admired ; no doubt her construction as a
man-of-war is admirable, but then her armament ought to
be equally worthy of admiration. Now what is that arma-
ment ? Why it consists of ten of the old Brown Bess
family of smooth-bored 68-pounders, and eight of Arm-
strong's useless breech-loading whisker-Bingeing 100-
pounder rifled guns. " What a falling off was there!"
Kearsage was armed, let us now look at a passage in the
sloop of war
Philadelphia, has been ordered to be
Service Gazette. from the United
" The iron-clad frigate New Ironsides, now repairing at
Federaleen AhomwertthottertANrcaevri; a
all possible despatch. She has been thoroughly overhauled,
and it is ascertained that she received but little damage
new battery of 11-inch Dahlgren guns prepared for sea with
while in. Charleston harbour. She will have an entirely
navy yard and two new 150-
pounder Parrott rifles, The work on the new screw frigates
at the Philadelphia
the vessels are expected to be as good as any Which will be
is progressing finely, and
turned out at any of the yards."
Be it understood that the 1.50-pounder Parrott rifled get::
take the
carrying heavy charges of powder, can pierce any plates as
yet inVonted. Verily the Americans are wide awake, the
of Admiralty, " the throstle cock's
head of their navy bereau sleepeth not, but as for our Board
1 have now, sir, called your readers' attention to the
West. Let the direct their observation to the North. What
are the Russians about ? They are employing our
engineers to make their guns; as for their ;ships,
following fro.n the Observer .4
" The Russian fleet has just been strengthened by the
addition of a magnificent iron-elad frigate, called the Sevas-
topol, which was launched in the Cronstadt docks on the
24th ult, It is stated to be one of the largest and most for-
midable of attlied Veseels yet constructed in Ilttropee She
nearly equals the Black Prince and Warrior in her dimen-
sions) and far exceeds those of the (Moire and Normandie.
At her line of flotation she measures 3JO feet in length, and
her greatest, breadth is OA sin. When ready for ilea she
will dealt 00ft at the poop) and 24ft at the chains. Her
plates are 4iin. thick, fastened to a double cowing of teak
from bin. to Gin, thick. Her engines will have a nominal
force of 800 horse poster) and, she will be armed with steel
guns of the greatest calibr.'
Well, here is a nice NtUstleVy duck
for our Waters! In
the time of the old Franco-Russian war, the French used to
of the Russian soldiers that the
say they Were very brave fel-
(bete), that lows, brit so 'Utterly stupid , when you had killed
them it was necessary to knock them down to convince them
they were dead. This I dere say is applicable enough to the
Russian serf soldiery) not so to their officers, who are gene .
rally as poliehed as they are brave, and as well informed as
these ot any service in Europe. In the last war the Rus-
sians had to sink their own ships ; take care, in the event
of another war, that they don't sink yours.
Had we not better set the Flappers to arouse the Lords
of the Sleepy Islands? We have lost our best chance ot
putting an end to the brutal slaughter and demoralisation
of the Americans of the die-United States. Neither side
thank us nor like us ; the Northerners hate us consumedly.
Had we taken the part of the Southerners, away would have
gone the great Monroe doctrine, away would have skedaddled
the spirit of filibustering, away would have vanished all
ideas of annexing the Canadas. Thu South would have been
closely connected with England. A nation of growers would
have naturally sought a league of importers. We should
have commanded peace and secured its blessings, Let the
Yankees and Secessioners make peace, and how long will
you enjoy it ? If they unite, look out for an attempt to clip
the Britiahcrs' wings' Ido not mean to say that we have
taken a wrong course. perhaps we have adopted the soundest
of the two, because most consistent with political morality,
if there be such a thing; but I am not at all convinced that
it is either the safest course, or one most conducive to the
immediate interests of the country- At all events, with the
note of preparation all around us, it is no time for our Ad-
miralty to indulge in their unwholesome slumbers.

CELITECII RATES AT STAPLEHURST.—At the in-
stance of Mr Henry Hoare, churchwarden of StaPlehurst,
25 summonses have lately been served on the inhabitents
for church rate, ranging front 3d to 203. On the day of
hearing at Cranbrook Petty Sessions, none of the parties
summoned were in attendance. The bench adjudicated 17
cases, and in 14 made orders for payment forthwith with
coats.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,

DONCASTER RACES,-FRIDAY.

The Don Stakes of 50 sous each, h ft, for 3-yr-olds; colts,
Bst 101 b; fillies, Bst 71b. Last mile. 6 subs.
Mr IL. C. Naylor's b c The Beaver (Challoner) 1
Captain Gray's b c King George (F. Adams) 2
Mr Bone's Coup d'Etat (Custance) 3
Betting-6 to 4 agst The Beaver, 7to 4 agst King George,
and 3 to 1 agst Coup d'Etat.
The two favourites raa in close company, King George
having a slight lead, which he retainedito the distance,
where The Beaver headed him, and won after a fine race by
a head. A bad third,

The Town Plato (handicap) of 100 sovs, for 3 yr•olds and

upwards. Red House in.
Sir J. Hawley's Washington, 3 yrs, Git 41b (Mordan) 1
Mr K. H. Jones's Skylark, 3 yrs, 6,t 8:b (Cranshaw) 2
Mr York's Lytham, 3 yrs, Get 1015
The following also ran • —Argonaut, Lady Louisa, New-
market, G illus, Trumps, Durham, The Beadle, Rapture,
Petitioner, Jane Shore, Clairvoyante, and Farnham.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Washirgtou, 6to 1 each agst Beadle
and Lytham, 10 to 1 each agst Lady Louisa and Durham,
10J to 8 agst Gallus, and 100 to 6 agst Clait voyante.
After a tedious delay at the post, caused by Clairvoyanto
refusing to face his horses, the fl ig was lowered. Jane
Shore got off in front, followed by Lytham (next the rails),
Skylark, and Washington, in which order they ran to the
bend, where Lytham took a clear lead. At the stand ho was
collared by the favcurite, who, after a fine race, won by a
length; the same distance between the second and third ;
Clairvoyante was fourth, Lady Louisa fifth, Rapture sixth,
aad Beadle and Jane Shore headed the next lot; the last
two were Trumps and Farnham, the latter of whom had
been left at the post.
The Doncaster Stakes of 10 sovs each, with 100 added, for
3-yr-.lds; colts, Bst 101 b; fillies, Bst 6'b; the second

received 60 sous, Last mile and a half. 87 subs.
Mr W. S. Cartwright's Ely .. (Custance) 1
Mr W. Hudson's Coast Guard .. (Challoner) 2
Mr J. Scott's Tooi-Tooi
The following also ran :—Peon, Washington, Brindisi,
Narbonne, Columbine, Alabama, and Durham.
Betting-6 to 4 Ely, and sto 1 agst Peon.

"In the year 1863 and 1864 I twice visited Dahomey,
a country the savage and somewhat peculiar customs
of which have made for it a name in Europe. My first
flying trip lasted one month—from May 18 to June 17. It
extended only t• Kana, a ruined town where the King
Tillagiatura was in country quarters. The second visit was
prolonged to nearly three months, between Dec. 8, 1863,
and February 26, 1861, and its length enabled me to learn a
modicum of the Don, or national language. I am induced
to offer the following remarks in the belief that my experi-
ence will rectify many popular fancies. Few places in
Africa have been more ccp:ously written of than Dahomey,
and yet so well informed a journal as the Saiw they Re-
view (July 4, 1863) gravely tells its readers that "the King
of Dahomey has letely been indulging in a sacrifice of 2,000
human beings, simply in deference to a national prejudice,
and to keep up the good old customs of the country." II
will presently appear how the reviewer ruisund, re tood the
matter. And first of the word Dahomey—not Daho'me.
The esieterce of this once great military empire was first
made known to Europe by a letter dated Abouey, Nov. '27,
1724, addressed by Mr. B. Lamb or Lambe, agent for the
English African Company, to Mr Tucker, the Commandant
of the English Fort Whydah. In it he describes, as an eye-
witness, the dreadful slaughter of the people cf Allada, an
island and independent city, by the conquering King Aga-
gia Dosu cf Dahomey, "when there was no stirring for
bodies without heads, and had it rained blood it could not
have been thicker on the ground." Yet the Kings of the
rival settlements were Scotch cousins after the following
fashion; "About 1620, an old and wealthy chief of Allada
Proper, died, and left his dominions to his three sons. These
agreed that the eldest should reign in his father's stead,
which he did in peace and prosperity, under the name of
Allude Khosa, or King of Allada. ' De' the youngest
or some say, the second, invaded the upper waters of
our charts, and founded Hwebona,' which we have since
known as Little Ardrah, or Porto Novo. Hence the Dahee
mien King still calls him of Hwebona brother, although
now under French protection. . . The little province of
Ukwaur belonged to a chief named Aursee, who allowed the
ambitious stranger to settle there, Dalto, by degrees be-
coming powerful, encroached upon a neighbouring king-
dom, Dauh, meaning the shade in the rainbow. As his.
followers greatly increased, and he was even seeking more
ground from Dauh, the latter exclaimed in truth, Son,
thou wilt build upon my stomach.' Dauh bided his time,
slew the king, and erected upon his corpse the old palace
of Dahon•, meaning the Dauh's stomach. Hereupon the
Ffons changed their name to Dahomans, and thu., about
1625, arcse the once great military empire familiar to the
ears of Europe. The extent and population of Dahomey has
been grossly exaggerated. Its superficies cannot be more
than 4,000 square miles. Commissioner Forbes put its po-
pulation down at 200,000 ; M. Walloon, 900,000 ; Commo-
dore Wilmot, 180,000. I would reduce it to 150,000, of
whom perhaps four-fifths are women and children. The
population is not a third of what the country could support.
The annual withdrawal of both sexes from industry to slave
hunting and the customs of the capital, the lack of repro-
duction in Amazons, and the losses by disease, have made
the country in parts a desert. So contemptible is the Afri-
can Power which is perhaps the best known throughout
Europe. Capt. W. S, Cumming is the first Englishman
that visited a Dahoman monarch. Since his day (1726) the
custom has been regularly kept up. . . The grand cus-
toms take placeonly after the death of a king. They cele-
brate the annual rites in splendour and in bloodshed. Tra-
vellers giva terrible accounts of the slaughter which accom-
pules the rites. Dalzell (1791) said they lasted three
months, and were marked almost every day with human
blood. Capt. Taylor and Mr Hogg, Governor of Appalonia,
were present, and both affirm that not less than 500 men,
women, and children, were sacrificed. The last grand cus-
toms were performed in November, 1850, by the present so •
vereign, in honour of the manes of his father. The horrors
of the rite were exaggerate I with ridiculous adjuccts. It
was reported that the King floated a canoe and paddled
himself in a tank full of human blood. The report arise
from the custom of collecting the gore of the victims in pits
about 2ft deep and 4ft diameter. The reports of Wesleyan
missionaries show that very little change has taken place in
regard to the number of victims. The yearly customs form
continuations of the grand custom, and periodically supply
a departed monarch with fresh attendants in a shadowy
world, The Dahomians declare that this world is man's
plantation, and the next is his home. They of course own
no future state of rewards and punishments. The number
of victims has been greatly swoilen by report. Mr James
at the beginning of the present century found the maximum
of three several years to be 65. Commissioner Forbes owns
that in the later years of the Ring's reign, not more than
36 heads fell. Daring my second visit 40 men were put to
death. I presume that an equal number of women were
sent to the next world, but if so the executions took place
within the place. The men were all criminal and war cap-
tives. No innocent Bahamian is ever killed on these occa-
sions, and the King imprisons these accused of capital
offences. He is so particular about the lives of his subjects

that throughout the empire coroner's inquests must follow
every death, and certify that it has not been violent. 'The
time cf execution is the hour of darkness. The public
stays within doors under pain of death, The King per-

sonally suporintends the executiuns. Some are clubbed and
others are beheaded by the Mingham, or Premier. The
second Minister also takes his part in the tragedy. After
death the bodies are exposed in the market place for a few
days, after which they are thrown into the city ditch. I.
is not, however, at the customs that the great loss of life
takes place. At in the city of Great Benin and at
Thomasi, the capital of Ashanti, almost every day wit•
nesses some deed of blood. Whatever action, however
trivial, is performed by the King, it must be reported to
his sire. A victim, almost always a war captive, it
chosen, the message is delivered to him, an intoxicating
draught of rum follows it, and he is despatched in the best
of humours. I heard of only one case where the victim ob-
jected to lose his life; but those who were prepared for the

customs which I witnessed sat looking at the various cere-
monies beating time to the music, and eyeing all my move-
ments. At my request the King pardoned about half of
them, but no man thanked me. There are two ethnological
particulars in Dahomey which require notice—the corpo-
real du •lity of the King and the precedence of women over
men. The monarch is double, two kings in one. Iha King
has two courts, masculine and feminine, and the high ail
cars of both courts correspond in name and dignity. .
Of the Amazons about two-thirds are said to be maidens—
a peculiar body in Africa—the remaining third having been
married. The fighting are not de fac o married to the Bing,
but it may take place at his discretion. The Amazons affect
male attire, especially when in uniform. There is nothing
savage or terr.blo in their appearance. When young they
are compelled to dance, to tales violent exer,ise, which ren-
ders them somewhat lean. As they advance in years they
grow in weight, and many of them are subjects for the
treatment of Mr Banting. The soldiers are not divided into
regiments. There are, however, three distinct bodies. The
King generally pays distinguished strangers the compli-
ment of placing them in command. I had this honour, but
was not entitled even to inspect my corps. In 1863 I saw
all thetr women troops marching on service out of Kann,
and a careful computation gave a grand total of 2,038 ; but
of these one-third or one-half were unarmed or half armed.
Tuesday, March 15, 1864, the present King carried out
his favot,....
-ite project—an attack upon Abeponta, where his
father
in the ame and fame. The attempt was contemp-
tible xid resulted in a loss of 1,000 killed
bad lots
eat :2
reme,
and about 2,000 captured, Thus Dahomey yearly loses
prestige.
-

JOHN FROST, THE CHAR TIST.— ble John Frost,
the well known Chartist leader of Monmouthshire,
has lately reappeared in public. Since his return to this
country through the Queen's clemency he has lived in re-
tirement at Stapleton, near Bristol. In his 84th year, as he
tells us, a hale and hearty man, he is now engaged in writ-
ing a series of letters to a Newport contemporary, the Star
of Gwent; and it is curious to see how the opinions of this
once formidable leader of the mob have been toned down by
time and circumstances. Adversity has, no doubt, done
much, and it is not presuming to believe that the gradual,
safe, and satisfactory progress of our political system has
not left even for Chartism, at least in its formidable guise,
a leg to stand upon. In one of his letters Frost gives
interesting details of his life after he was convicted.
On his way to Van Diemees Land in the Mandarin convict
ship, he was asked to join a mutiny. " When we were
within a few days' sail of the Cape of Good Hope a prisoner
brought me a letter. The writer was a prisoner, a smart
little man. He had been a mate of a ship, and was pretty
7ell educated. It was handed to me with great caution,
as if it c.:2ntained something to be knoin to me only. I read
it, In this lett,: I was informed ' that it was the determina-
tion of the far greater ;art of the prisoners.
me, they begged to take possession
of the ship; that, having grey.. confidence
confidence
me to join in the plan; and the wree.er assured me that my
orders should be obeyed.' This letter put ru, into an awkward
position. To conceal it from the superintendent, should the
fact conic to his knowledge, would have been deemed a :rune,
and of the worst sort. On the other hand, Idi 1 not likt:
to betray the writer. I showed the letter to Mr Williams.
He seemed to favour the experiment. Let us look at the
matter carefully,' said I. ' Suppose this skouli be a trap.
We have made one mistake ; do not let us make another.
Suppose we should attempt and be killed, it would not
be
a very honourable death! Suppose we should succeed, do
you think that wo should exercise authority v
sonei sthe
the letter." On arriving at their destination
I will have nothing to do with o deetrled
e repeated
" When the superintendent returned on board
superin-
tendent intercedes with the Governor, but withobut success.
b ve sincerely—that
GlJvernor, and he assured us-
3nd ;he' Frus,t,' said he
to us the conversation which he had had with the
ho was sorryb for ever. I am'
we are about to part
in
all
have been under my cora-
happy to tell you that since
payouf a
he had not succee
bea
gentleman; and mark,'
mend you have acted the
noi.ficantly, nothing that you
nknowsn to me; and with
that you did,
seaaiidd,hnee,tlhoieekging at me ve.rysi.g
you have acted the part
of a gentleman. I address lire
me
thinking,
this knowledge I again repeat ilact:hs that e language to you, Wil-
g and it confirmed
did, was unknown to me. Then
you said, nothing that you slivasmpsicionls.bwihsiFirlghuaadg °Preuerviou -ly formed.' Nothing that
he must have been acquainted with the afiair of the letter.
No doubt of it.'!

Immediately the train stopped, notwithstanding
*an order had been issued by the railway authori..
ties prohibiting ail persons from the ticket plat
form, there was a tremendous rush of people
from all directions. The workmen came
swarming over the trucks and engines stand.
ing on the different lilies of rails, and all the
arrangements for the prevention of confusion
were in an instant swept away. The crowd, itn.
mediately they saw Inspector Tanner look oat
of the window of the centre compartment of
the last carriage of the express train, instantly made
towards it, and then cries of " Muller, Muller,"
became loud and frequent. The curosity of the sight-
seers was, however, bat in a slight manner gratified
as the inspector never for an instant moved from
hie position at the window of the carriage.
The prisoner Muller, as he occupied his seat,
looked exceedingly pale and glinted. He wore
an old straw hat, a shabby black single-breasted
coat, and drab trousers.

In about 4 or 5 minutes the traia again moved
onwards, and at 16 minutes to three, it arrived at the
Euston-station, where an enormous crowd had
assembled. A strong body of police was in attend•
ance, but the moment the train entered the
station it was mgt with tremendous groan.
ing and clapping of hands. By an ar-
rangement with the police authorities, one of
their vans was in attendance for the convey.
ance of the prisoner to Bow street; but directly
Inspector Tanner appeared with the prisoner

the excitement of the crowd was immense. The
people rushed towards the officer and his prisoner,
and seemed as if they would have torn the latter
limb from limb. Muller for an instant seemed
quite unnerved, but Inspector Tanner urged him
forward, and then, in the most agitated manner,
be entered the police van, which quickly drove
out of the station, followed by thousands of
people. The appearance of the arrival plat-
form at Euston-square was extraordinary, as not
only every point from which a momentary glimpse
of the prisoner could be had, was occupied, not even
excepting the tops of all the carriages forming the
reserve trains.

The scene in Bow. street was of the same descrip-
ion.

While the charge was being entered against
Muller at the station house by Inspector West,
his firmness forsook him, he burst into tears, and
in that condition he was removed from the dock.

The Departure of Muller for London.

(BY TELEGRAPH.)

Inspector Tanner, with Muller, left Liverpool
this morning by the 9 o'clock express train, which
is duo at Euston•rquare at 2.30.

ARRIVAL OF MULLER AT BOW.hTREET.
At 25 minutes before 3 o'clock this afternoon
the Liverpool express train drew up to the
ticket platform of the London and North
Western Railway near the Camden-sta.
tion. The first face which was reoog4
raised by those who had the privilege of
being on the platform, was that of Jnapectcr
Tanner, who gaarded his window, that of the
carriage, carefully, so as not to allow even
a chance of escape.
Ho was taken to the police-station at Bow
street, and the charge of murder formally entered
against him by Inspector Tanner.
The examination will take place on Monday.

The Self-Accused Murderer of Mr, Briggs,

EXAMINATION AND DIECHARGE-11IIS DAY.

At the Worship-street Police-court, before Air Cooke,
this morning, George Augustus King was charged on
remand upon his own confession with being concerned with
Muller in the murder of Mr Briggs.

Mr B. J. Abbott said that since tho List occuion the
evidence that could be produced was strongly in favour of
the prisoner, but his conduct was by no means satisfactory.
_ _

Thorns Richbat, a ticket collector at Fenchurch-etreet,
said he saw the late M Briggs at the foot of the North
London stairs at a quaiter to ten on the night of the

murder.

Mr Vann, on the part of the accused, said that when he
was charged upon his own confession with being tLe mur-
derer, he also was dinged as" drunk and incapable."
Mr Abbott said that the prisoner had written a most ex.
traordinary letter to Mr Briggs, jun., and, as it was in
court, perhaps it had better be read.

Mr "Safford, clerk, then read the letter, which was sent
from Coburg-cottages, Ford-row, dated July 15, 1864. In
it the prisoner said that he condoled with the bereaved
family, and called down the vengeance of Heaven upon the
guilty murderer, as the law of the land was to mild for
such wretches. He (prisoner) having assisted in conveying
the body of the late Mr Briggs to the Mitford Arms, de-
clared that he had been nearly run over by a passing train
while on the line, and he hoped, as be had lost three or four
days' work, that he should receive a trifle from Mr Briggs.
Mr Leigh, gentleman, of Hackney, said he knew the
late Mr Briggs, and saw him at Bow on the night of the
alleged murder. There wore two men in a first-class car-
riage with him, but prisoner was certainly nct one of those
two,

Mr Inspector Honey said the prisoner had been on tho

stage.

Mr Cooke told the prisoner that his own confession had
been upset by the most positive evidence, and he would be
discharged ; but he had been most properly punished, and
it was to be hoped that the result of this case would deter
other persons from forcing themselves upon the public.
The prisoner was discharged.