The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-08 00:00:00

~.....--

Mr. Angerstein, M,P„ and his Constituents.

briefly referring to various measures about to be
brought in during the ensuing session.

Having answered several questions in a satisfac-
tory manner, the following resolution was unani-
mously carried :—" That this meeting thank Mr.
Angerstein for giving them the opportunity of meet-
ing him, and desire to express their satisfaction at
his conduct as their representative in parliament."
A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman ; and
three hearty cheers having been given for the hon.
gentleman and the Queen, the proceedings termi-
nated.

Last evening Mr. Angerstein, one of the members
for the borough of Greenwich, in accordance with
his usual custom, met a crowded meeting of his
constituents in the Lecture-hall, Greenwich. Mr.
B. COOK occupied the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said it was with very great plea-
sure and satisfaction that he introduced their es-
teemed member, Mr, Angerstein, to his consti-
tuents. They all knew that he was a true friend of
progress, and he was quite sure that they would
listen with attention to the hon. gentleman's resutra
of the past session,
Mr. AeroEnsTent then came forward, and was
loudly cheered. After some preliminary observa-
tions, he said the practice of the metropolitan mem-
bers meeting their constituents was a very useful
one, and calculated to do a great deal of good at the
present moment. There were gloomy clouds abroad
which, if not properly watched, might involve this
country, the highest in civilisation, in a dangerous
storm. On looking back to the time when he last
addressed them he saw abundant matter for con-
gratulation. We had been blessed with a plentiful
harvest, a harvest the like of which was seldom
known, and he was quite certain that there was not
a thinking man who had not owned to a far-seeing
and Almighty Providence his thanks for that plen-
tiful harvest, coming as it did when a portion of
the country (he alluded to Lancashire) was in great
distress. Another important fact was the arrival of
her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra, and
her subsequent marriage to the Prince of Wales,
the heir apparent to the British throne—an event
which every Englishman regarded with great satis-
faction. (Cheers,) Amongst the nations of En-
rope—he might say the world—England was
almost the. only country enjoying the blessings
of peace ; but on examining our situation, it was
almost impossible to say how long we should be at
peace. From east to west, and from north to south,
there were unfortunately indications of war, and
unless our ministers acted with prudence and judi-
ciousness the country might be involved in war. If
we looked to America, or whether we went so far
east as Japan and New Zealand, or so tar north as
Denmark, the aspect was threatening. With re-
spect to their local affairs he was glad to see that
they were in a prosperous state. There was a pro-
spect of the Greenwich dock being carried out—a
matter of great importance to the town, as it was
intended to apply to Parliament for an extension of
time to complete the undertaking. With regard to
the Greenwich Railway it was very desirable that
there should be railway communication between
Greenwich and Woolwich, and they all felt that if
possible the railway should be carried out, and he
believed that there was an evident intention on the
part of the promoters, and of all persons interested,
to carry the matter to a successful issue. He now
came to the railway question. His colleague (Mr.
Alderman Salomons) had promised to bring the
question before the House of Commons, and he (the
speaker) would give it every support. (Hear.) He
was one of the first to bring forward the question,
and the action of the Government upon it had not
been satisfactory, as it was thought that the ques-
tion should be considered as a whole. He fully be-
lieved that they were entitled to rate government
property just as well as the property of private in-
dividuals. (Hear, hear.) During the past year
the strong hand of death, he regretted to say, had
done its work. Lord Lansdowne, Sir G. C. Lewis,
3lr. Ellice, Lord Elgin, and others illustrious for
their name, talent, ability, and services, were gone.
The hon. member having paid an eloquent tribute
to the memory of the noble dead, continued—.
The last session of Parliament might be called
a barren session ; but as they had expunged from
the statute-book many laws it left them compara-
tively speaking little to do. Although he called it
a comparatively barren session, yet laws which had
existed for (300 years had been erased, modified, and
made simple. They owed a great debt of gratitude
to the noble lord who held the woolsack, Lord
Westbury, who had been instrumental in providing
us a simple code of laws, which he was happy to
state had received the sanction of Parliament. With
respect to the bill for the augmentation of benefices
introduced by the Lord Chancellor, that noble lord
had given up the patronage of 320 livings solely in
the hope that the monies from the sale of the next
presentations would be placed to the credit of
smaller benefice; and thus enable the Church to look
respectable, as many of the clergy, as they were no
doubt aware, were passing rich upon £4O a year.
Another great bill, which was of great advantage to
the country, especially to the suffering people of
Lancashire, the Union Relief Aid Continuance Bill,
he was glad to tell, on the authority of Mr. Farnall,
her Majesty's commissioner—and no one better able
fur the work in hand could possibly be found—that
the bill was entirely a success. The object of the
bill was to raise £120,000 out of the public funds
upon the security of the rates. Mr. Farnall had
stated that the operatives of Lancashire had done
and were doing their best to earn the wages at the
work which had been provided for them. In fact,
the bill was a complete success. The conduct ofthe
operatives under their terrible calamity was deserv-
ing of the greatest credit. It showed that the
working classes were to be trusted, and he hoped to
see, as time progressed, that they were worthy to be
more trusted. (Cheers.) During the past year the
amount lost to the operatives of Lanca;shire in wages
alone was between 18,000,000 and £9,000,000,
while the oapital of the mine cvners in round num-
bers was about £5,000,000. The enormous amount of
loss in wages pressed very hard upon the operatives,
and he regretted to observe that the superior class
did not show so much vitality as was evinced by
the lower class. There were several other bills in-
troduced into Parliament which were lost, intro-
duced, no doubt, with a good object, but without
success. He might mention Mr. Somes's bill for
closing public-houses on Sundays. (Hisses.) He
quite agreed with Mr. Somes that the public-house
was not the happiest place for a man to spend his
Sunday's, but he did not see why he should be
deprived of the liberty of doing so if he was so
inclined. (Cheers.) He, therefore, voted against
the bill. Another bill proposed to convert the
Exhibition building of 1862 into a permanent in-
stitution, and he was glad to think that the country
was not saddled with an incubus which it would
never forget. He then referred to the budget of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which, although
encumbered with certain proposals which did not
become law, received the general concurrence of the
house. It conferred two great boons on the country
—the reduction of the duty on tea from ls. 3d. to
ls. in the pound, and the reduction of 2d. in the
pound on the income tax. Notwithstanding those
large deductions, the decrease in the revenue
amounted to less than two millions, while there was
an increase in other articles of consumption to the
extent of £1,300,000, so therefore there was only
an actual deficit of some £BOO,OOO. With regard
to the private business of the house, a feast had
been provided for the members which he thought
would be very difficult to digest. (Hear.) In our
foreign policy Lord Palmerston and Lord Russell
had been placed in a somewhat difficult position.
However, he apprueed of that policy, and every
right-thinking man would do the same. It
had received the sanction of both sides of the
house. With respect to America, a policy of
strict neutrality and non-intervention had been
observed under circumstances of a most peculiar
nature. Having lamented the present struggle in
America, he expressed his opinion that Lord Rue-
bell was able to deal with the American question ;
it was in safe hands. Our ministers had done very
well ; if they hod been angels they could hardly
have done beter. However much we sympathised
for the Poles, still we could not bre make matters
worse by engaging in a war with Russia. For
Poland we sympathised, but could not go to war for
her. With regard to the Schleswig Holstein ques-
tion, it looked very dangerous, and he thought that
Denmark had been badly treated, as the treaty of
1852 placed her in a position from which we had no
right to remove her. The suggested Congress was
rightly objected to by Lord Russell. He should
like to know, supposing we had joined it, and con-
sidering the state of affairs at present, when it would
terminate its sittings. After some further ohe.ervar•
tions the hon. gentleman concluded his address by

The Romsey Labourers' Encouragement
Association.

ROMSEY, Thursday.
The annual meeting of this association was
held this afternoon, and in the unavoidable ab-
sence of Lord Palmerston the Right Hon. W.
Cowper, M.P., presided. Amongst the other
gentlemen present were Sir C. Rawlinson, the
Mayer, Mr. Lordan, the es-Mayor, the Vicar, Lieut.
Allsop, and many of the leading gentlemen of the
neighbourhood.
The dinner given to the successful candidates
took place in the Town Hall, after which the prizes
were distributed by the Right Hon. W. Cowper,
who pointed out to the successful candidates the ad-
vantages of cultivating habits of industry, honesty,
and sobriety. H 9 strongly recommended them to
attend a little more to the simple rules of health,
observing that there were many cottagers who had
not yet discovered that the air which they breathed
over and over again became as foul and as dirty as
the water is which they washed their hands. Many
people were not aware that air became as dirty as
water would be to drink, Many were so afraid of
admitting the cold air that they excluded the fresh
air. They continued breathing the same air over
and over again, thus sowing the seeds of disease
which too frequently terminated fatally. The right
hon. gentleman concluded his remarks by recom-
mending those labourers who had a little more than
sufficed for their daily wants to resist the tempta-
tion of wasting their money in useless and wasteful
indulgences, and to guard themselves against those
fatal habits which too frequently deprived men of
all power of self-control, and led to their ultimate
ruin.

At the close of the right hon. gentleman's address
three hearty cheers were given for Lord Palmerston,
and three more for Lady Palmerston.
Mr. COWPER said he was quite certain Lord and
Lady Palmerston would be very much delighted
to hear of the manner in whica their names had
been received. Nothing could have kept his
lordship away but illness, for he felt an espe-
cial interest in the success of the society, and
would be most gratified in finding that two of the
cottagers on his estates had received prizes, and that
prizes had been awarded to persons employed on
his farm for good conduct.
A large party of the subscribers afterwards dined
together at the White Horse Hotel ; Mr. Cowper
presiding.
The usual loyal toasts were given and received
with the greatest cordiality.
The CIAIRMAN, in proposing " The Army, the
Navy, and the Volunteers," said—When we cast
our eyes over the Continent, and see in every direc-
tion perplexities and difficulties, wars and rumours
of wars, we naturally look at home to see whether
our brave defenders are in a position to give us
security and peace. We see on the Continent, under
the name of a desire to deliver and promote
nationalities, most menacing designs; and there
seems to be no real ground for satisfactory security
except in the bravery and efficiency of our army,
our navy, and our volunteers. (Cheers.) Our army
have shown their prowess in recent as well as in
earlier times ; and the men who have never been
beaten in a pitched battle are still fairly represented
in our existing army. (Cheers.) Our fleet, which
has gained a victory wherever it has appeared, has
reach an amount of efficiency which it never knew
before, by means of a combination of newly-dis-
covered mechanical skill and the energy of our
sailors. (Cheers.) Oar volunteers, rising as they
do with enthusiasm over the length and breadth of
the country, are the most sure guarantee that Eng-
land need never fear the invasion of a foreign foe.
(Cheers.) I know of no spectacle more gratifying
to the English nation than the energy, the patience,
the perseverance with which the volunteers have
continued year after year to exercise themselves
for a coming day which may be, and I hope is,
far distant, and the sacrifice which they have made
of time and amusement in order to fit them to
defend their country are worthy of all praise and
of our utmost gratitude. (Loud cheers.)
Lieutenant ALLsor responded.
Sir C. RAWLINSON then proposed " The Health
of Lora Palmerston," which was drunk with three
times three, and was followed by the same for
Lady Palmerston.
Tile CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the
evening, " Success to the Ramsey Labourers En-
couragement Association," said—Every one will
admit that the condition of the agricultural labourer
has greatly improved in recent years. Our free-
trade policy and wise legislation have cheapened
the necessaries of life and have placed withi❑ the
reach of the labourer luxuries and enjoyments
which he could not before command. But still
there are many disadvantages and privations to
which that class is exposed, and which we all
earnestly desire to remedy. I do not allude to such
imaginary grievances as that of the tiller of the
soil not having any share in the ownership of the
land. Such a complaint as that rests on a fallacy
and a delusion. If it were possible to make the
labourers the owners of the land which they are
tilling, it would be a retrograde movement in agri-
culture. The great progress in agriculture
of late years has been due to the concentra-
tion and application of capital to an amount of land
which is sufficient to justify the favourable employ-
ment of that capital ; and it would be going back
to times of less prosperity—it would be following
the example of countries less prosperous than Eng
land in agriculture, if we were to aim at such an
absurd and impossible object. (Hear, hear.) But
in a humbler way there are many things which
might be done to improve the condition of the
labourer. It is distressing to find men unable to ob-
tain cottages in which they can bring up their chil-
dren decently. It is not the fault of the labourer
that he is not in a condition to build his own
cottage or provide one for himself. He is
obliged to depend upon what may be within his
reach. It is also an object of great regret that so
very few of the labouring classes are able from their
earnings to lay by sufficient to keep them in old age,
if they should not have children or relations who
will undertake the care of them. But what I desire
for the agricultural labourer is that he should have
access to healthy and comfortable cottages—that he
should have allotments of garden ground of suffi-
cient size and at a moderate rent for his own culti-
vation—(hear, hear)—that he should be able to pro-
vide a good education for his children, and have
opportunities of mental reereation for himself—that
he should have fair wages for his work, and should
have within his reach the help which he needs in
times of sickness and old ege. (Hear, hear.) No
doubt there is amongst the agricultural labourers a
great want of skill in their special business. It has
ling been a cause of regret amongst those who are
interested in the progress of the labouring man that
he has not that amount of skill and proficiency
which is so desirable. I think these associations
have taken up that pviat in a very wise and prac-
tical manner, by applying to the agricultural
labourer that principle which is so much admired,
and which is so successful in the present day—the
principle of competitive examination—(hear, hear)
—for what we really do is to examine by corn peti
Lion those agricultural labours in the hope of stimu•
bating them to acquire more skill, and to give more
attention to that which is their proper business in
life. (Hear, hear.) This is the way in which the
race:of horses is improved—by the competition which
takes place in our Derby and St. Leger, and country
races. When persons are really competing for
an object which they value they will apply all their
energies to the work with an animation and zeal
which they would not exert for the object alone.
Competition stimulates exertion, endd, this society
has certainly been very useful in stimulating
the agricultural labourer to an improved exercise of

put in as evidence the report of Mr. Fibbs, the deputy
receiver of wrecks at Galway.

his tools in the business in which he is employed.
We shall have to require mere skill in the agricul-
tural labourers. We see that steam machinery is
about to make a considerable change in agriculture,
as it has already done in weaving and in other
branches of industrial manufacture, and we shall
require men who are able to manage and deal with
those steam engines which are beginning to wander
over the country. I look with satisfaction upon this
change under the aspect of its benefit to the labourer,
for the result must be that the labourer, becoming
more of a skilled artizan, will have higher wages,
and be saved from much of that druigery which has
to be performed by manual labour. In every walk
of industry the application of steam machinery has
raised the condition of the workman, and so it must
be with the agriculturist ; the labourer as well as the
farmer and the owner of land, will reap the benefit
arising from the application of science and skill to
the implements of husbandry. (Hear, hear.) In a
future year I think it will be well to bear this in
mind in regard to the subjects to be tested by this
competitive examination. (Hear, hear.) While skill
should be the main object to be rewarded, I should
be sorry to omit the offering of prizes for good moral
conduct; because there are a considerable number of
agricultural labourers whose excellence cannot be
tested by any single occupation, but whose merits
must be judged by the character they bear and the
satisfactory way in which they perform their duties.
By this combination we put forward both the merit
of the workman and his moral character. We com-
bine the skill and good behaviour of those persons
who are put forward as an example for others to
follow. (Hear, hear.) I think the association cer-
tainly has been of great value. Although not an
ambitious mode of benefitting the workman, it has
been practically useful, and a satisfactory mode
of attaining the object, and I think you
will all agree that in attending these meetings we
are helping on the good cause. (Hear, hear.) I
cannot sympathise with those who would apply the
rugged rules of political economy to the condition
of the labourer, and would leave him alone, let him
be independent, do not interfere with him, leave
him to the accidents of the labour market or you
will interfere with his independence. I cannot take
that view of the subject. I think that the labour-
ing men who join i❑ reaping the harvest which
gives food and wealth to the country are deserving
of the utmost sympathy and assistance wherever it
can be given by the influential members of the
community. (Hear, hear.) Although our agricul-
tural labourers do not risk their lives for their coup•
try they employ them in a useful and beneficial
occupation, and the gratitude which the rest of the
community ought to feel towards them should be
shown by doing what lies in our power to remove
the difficulties, the inconveniences, and the priva-
tions with which they are afflicted. lam sure that
every right-minded man will be anxious to do
everything in his power to improve the condition of
the labouring classes. There are cases in which
persons may do harm when they think they are
doing good, but this association shows a useful and
beneficial way of bringing public attention to bear
on the condition of the labouring classes, and assist-
ing in the development of their good qualities by
the force of public opinion. (The toast was drunk
with the usual honoars.)
The MAYOR then proposed the health of the chair-
man, who briefly acknowledged the compliment,
and proposed the health of the committee, the secre-
tary, and the judges, to which toast Mr. Allsop,
Mr. Lordan, and Mr. Hunt responded.
Several other toasts of a local character were after-
wards given and responded to.

Mr. O'Dowd said it was not usual to produce the reports
so made to the Board of Trade, but, with the consent of the
Court, he would undertake to do so.
Mr. Traill said the real question to be decided was, had
Captain Prowse acted judiciously in proceeding on the
voyage without th- harbour or port pilot, and, if he had
acted judiciously, whether he had acted skilfully.
It being now nearly five o'clock, the inquiry was ad-
journed.

fhb inquiry was resumed yesterday.
Capt. Nicholas Proem, having tendered himself for exa-
mination, Bald- -T was captain of the Anglia on her voyage
from' Liverpool to Boston, on Nov, 7 last. I hold a certifi-
cate of competency as master from the Board of Trade, dated
June, 1852. I have made 80 passages across the Atlantic,
and have been 18 times in and out of Galway Bay. I have
on three occasions passed through the bay successfully be-
tween the shoals, steering the same course as on Nov. 10—
viz., E N. Mutton Island Light is the only guide to the
roadstead. The tide flows east and west, or nearly so. The
two dangers are the Black Rock, to the northward, and the
Margaretta Shoal, to the southward. All vessels entering
the bay pass between these two dangers, the distance apart
being three-quarters of a mile. Mutton Island light is the
only light visible in coming through these dangers, and
affords only one bearing. Black Rock lies on the port side of
the vessel entering the roadstead. At high water that danger
is covered, but it shows considerably, perhaps to the extent
of five feet, at low water. It commences to show itself at
half ebb of the tide. The Margaretta Shoal is on the star-
board side of the vessel, and is always covered, but there is
a buoy to indicate danger. The signal of danger on Black
Reck is a perch, something in the shape of the mast of a
fishing vessel with a cross at top. The land by night over-
shadows this perch, or beacon, and at night, as also
by day, it is very difficult to see it until very near to it. I
always understood that the pilot's boundary extended to the
Arran Islands, and also that the compulsory pilotage was
between the roadstead and the rock—but nevertheless I was
always anxious to take a pilot whenever one could be found
outside, and was always on the look-out for one. On two
occasions, having the Mutton Island light direct ahead,and
steering E. 3- N, I thought this course took me somewhat too
near Margaretta Shoal, and I made a report to Capt. Thom-
pson upon the subject. During 7 voyages since that time I
have invariably steered E N, and found that course to
carry me in a good fair mid channel. I have steered this
course on two occasions in the Anglia, and with the same
compasses I had on board at the time of her stranding on
Black Rock. I expected to find a pilot at Black Head, but
the pilotage regulations of the harbour are miserably car-
ried out, On two previous occasion I had to go into the
roadstead without a pilot, once by day and once by night.
The great necessity is to take a pilot outside of danger,
where they can be of use, but I have had to take him on
board on several occasions when within danger, and, sup-
posing the wind to be blowing a gale from the westward I
do not think it would be possible, with any amount of wait-
ing, to get a pilot outside the entrance. (Captain Prowse here
read the entries made in the ship's log of the voyage from
Liverpool, and which is contained in the evidence of the
chief officer on the first day of inquiry.) Had the weather
at 6.45 p.m. of the 9th been as clear as it was at three
a.m. of the 10th, I should have gone into the har-
bour, notwithstanding there was no pilot on board,
as I considered there was not the shadow of an excuse
for remaining any longer, and I should have expected
to be severely censured by my employer for losing
valuable time had I done so. Had I remained at anchor
under Black Head until daylight I should not have been
in the roadstead until between nine and ten o'clock.
Mr. Traill—Can you account for the vessel being
stranded on Black Rock, the light at Mutton Island being
ahead of you ?
Capt. Prowse—lt has been given in evidence that the light
bore E N, and, if this was so, I cannot account for it; but
I think that the engines being worked at " dead slow" the
compasses must have seen attracted by the land.
By Capt. Harris—l have never noticed in passing slowly
through the roadstead whether the compasses have been
affected or altered by attraction of the land. On two previous
voyages the same compasses were used, and were then found
correct; and at Galway, after the stranding, they were
found not to be affected, having corrected themselves.
Mr. Traill—lt would be an impossibility for the compasses
to have corrected themselves as you mention.
Mr. Valiance, on behalf of the company, said—As that
was all the evidence proposed to be taken, he wished to hand
in for the use of the Court a copy of the regulations issued
to commanders of the company's vessels, one of which regu-
lations was as follows :—" You are aware from the nature
of the engagements of the company with her Majesty's Go-
vernment, it is of the greatest importance that your passage
should be made with the utmost possible rapidity ; but I
am directed to impress on you in the strongest manner,
that even that most essential object should be regarded as
subservient to the safety of the ship and passengers. You
are expected, therefore, never to incur any danger for the
sake of effecting a rapid passage, and I cannot too strongly
express the importance of the utmost possible caution when
you encounter fog or ice; and if darkness or the weather
should indicate danger, that you should rather Ley to and
await daylight or improvement of the weather, than pro-
ceed under manifest risk, You will enter in the fullest
manner in your logbook all the ,facts and reasons of your
conclusions. You will, of course, at all Limes ascertain your
true position, giving due consideration to the effects of cur-
rents and variation of compass, and in nearing land you
will keep a most careful and constant look-out, and the lead
continually going."
Mr. Sharkey then addressed the Court on behalf of Capt.
Prowse, contending that he had used every precaution and
discretion under the circumstances in which he was placed,
and handed in several letters bearing testimony to his high
professional character as a nautical man.
Mr. Traill said there were two points for the Court to
consider, viz., whether Capt. Prowse was justified in mak-
ing the entrance b the harbour without a pilot ; and
secondly, if so, whether such entrance should have been
taken at so early an hour as 3 o'clock in the morning with-
out such pilot.
Captain Harris said the whole fact appeared to him to be
simply whether it was prudent or imprudent for Captain
Prouse to enter the harbour at the time stated. From the
facts as he gathered them, the vessel was due in Galway at
4 p.m. of the 9th, and Black Head was made at 5 30 p.m.,
or very near the proper time. At the time of finding the
weather thick he thought Capt. Prouse had acted prudently
and properly in putting back for the night, having fired
gums and used blue lights, as a signal for a pilot, and no
pilot coming OR board. On the Admiralty chart the light on
Mutton Island was marked as bearing E by N, and not E
N. In his opinion, on entering the harbour, every precau-
tion, such as heaving the lead, was carried out; but it ap-
peared they had been groping about at night for a buoy,
about which there was no need to care, if the light was visible
and ahead. It must also be taken into consideration that
the passage was very narrow, the angle not being more than
10 deg., and that it required great nicety in navigating at
night time. He could not, therefore, help thinking that
Capt. Prouse was hardly justified in running in before day-
light, and as a prudent commander he would not have done
so himself. There was an Admiralty agent on board, and his
advice was that this individual should be consulted under
such circumstances, and if he testified to what was being
done as correct as entered in the leg, all responsibility and
blame would be taken from the company. His own opinion
was, and he was sorry to have heard the blame put upon
the compasses, that the error lay in running the vessel on
E N, with the tide on the starboard side of the ship.
Mr. Traill, in expressing his concurrence in these obser-
vations, remarked that it was kith pleasure the Court had
arrived at the conclusion of delivering up to him (Captain
Proms) his certificate.
Captain Frouse having thanked the court, the proceed-
ings terminated.

PENAL LEGISLATION IN SEBNIA.--The differen
modes of punishment specified in the Servian code
are death, hard labour, imprisonment, dismissal from pub-
lic functions, fine, the bastinado, civil degradation, a prohi-
bition to exercise certain trades, and lastly, expulsion. The
persons condemned to death are shot; they may, however,
dispose of their property by will. The punishment of
hard labour is for periods of from two to 20 years. The
convicts are employed in prison or in the fields, and wear
chains varying in weight from five to ton pounds, accord-
ing to the judgment of the tribunal. Women do not
work outside the prison, and are never charged with chains.
Persons condemned to imprisonment are put to some em-
ployment, and in certain cases this punishment may be con-
verted into hard labour, eight months of the latter punish-
ment being counted as equivalent to one year's imprison-
ment. Fines cannot exceed one-third of the fortune of the
person condemned ; if that proportion is exceeded, the sur-
plus is converted into an imprisonment, at the rate of one
day in prison for every 10fr., to the amount of 1,500 fr., and
beyond that sum, of one day's imprisonment for every 15fr.
The bastinado is only applied to servants, apprentices,
workmen, and thieves or vagrants, and never to persons
who have attained their fiftieth year. In the latter case im-
prisonment is substituted for the bastinado, according to a
fixed scale, the minimum of the bastinado, or ten strokes,
being converted into three or 15 days' imprisonment, and
the maximum into from three to six months' imprisonment.
Civil degradation is pronounced for periods of from ono to
five years. The prohibition to exercise a trade is applied
to such persons as have been guilty of a crime through the
medium of that calling It may be perpetual or for a
limited period. Expulsion from a certain locality with
forced residence in a certain place is limited to a maximum
of two years. Foreigners alone can be banished from the
country. The regime of the prisons is mild, and the labour
imposed on the convicts far from excessive. The food,
which consists of two pounds of bread and three ounces of
meat, or a portion of beans daily, is wholesome, and the
clothing good and .suflicient. On New Year's Day and on
the Princes' fete day, a certain number of pardons are
accorded to convicts who have served one-half of their
time, and whose conduct has been without reproach. The
two principal prisons in Servia are those of Topehid‘.(6,
near Belgrade, for prisoners under sentence of hard labour,
and of Tehupria for persems condemned to simple imprison-
ment. Each o them h aco4.4etnothoiva for about 500
pri-oners,

ME SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8, 1864,

THE WEATHEIt

On Wednesday night the temperature indicated
by the thermometer in Hyde Park tae 15.30 deg.
—that is to say, 4 deg. below that of the previous
night. Yesterday morning, at 9 o'clock, however,
the mercury had risen to 19 30 deg., a temperature
31 deg. higher than that of the preceding day. The
wind was from the N.N.E., and i❑ the morning the
atmosphere was dry, but foggy. Towards evening
the temperature rose several degrees.
The sheets of water in the Parks presented yes-
terday a scene more animated than on any preced-
ing day. The crowd and the assemblage of car-
riages in Hyde Park and Rotten Row are said to
have been larger than any seen there since the
opening of the Great Exhibition in 1851. At one
time, it was computed by Mr. Young, the secretary,
and Mr. Williams, the superintendent of the Royal
Humane Society, there were not fewer than 7,000
persons upon the Serpentine. A great many per-
sons were received into the house of the Royal Hu-
mane Society with heads cut. Their wounds were
dressed by Mr. Young and Dr. Christian: Two
serious accidents happened—in particular one to
Mr. Hudson, of Newcastle-court, Strand, and another
to Mr. John Edwards, of Barnet. These were also
attended to at the Royal Humane Society's receiv-
ing•honse. When night fell, skating and sliding by
torchlight commenced. In St. James's Park, had
it not been for the exertions rendered by Deputy
Superintendent Perry and the men under him, it is
quite probable that several lives would have been
lost, for at one period no less than 3,500 persons
were skating or sliding upon the ice, which towards
the after part of the evening began to part. Seve-
ral persons fell- in. Five persons had wounds
dressed by Dr. M'Cann, of Parliament-street, and
Mr. Laughnan, who assisted him. In the Victoria
Park yesterday about ten or eleven thousand per-
sons were either sliding or skating upon the ice.
No accident beyond a few cut heads occured during
the day.
At Chatham on Wednesday night the thermo-
meter fell to 10 deg. The whole of the canals and
ponds in the neighbourhood were covered with ice
several inches in thickness, allowing vast numbers
to skate and elide. The canal leading from Roches-
ter to Gravesend was yesterday visited by some
thousands of persons. The water in the docks at
Chatham dockyard was yesterday frozen over, but
in consequence of the rise and fall of the tide the
ice was not of sufficient thickness to allow of per-
sons venturing upon it. There was yesterday a
quantity of ice in the harbour which had been
floated down the stream, showing that the upper
portions of the river were frozen. On both the
South-Eastern and the London, Chatham, and
Dover railways every precaution is taken to pre-
vent accidents during the frost, by a constant exa
mination of the tires of the carriages and engines,
which in consequence of the intense cold are more
than ever liable to become fractured.
The weather since Friday has been bitterly cold
in the Eastern Counties. The rivers and water-
courses were yesterday covered in some places with
ice of more or less thickness. In one country dis-
trict the thermometer has descended as low as 22
deg. below the freezing point, but the variations of
the instrument at the Norfolk and Norwich Literary
Institution have been as follows since the com-
mencement of the new year:—Jan. I—Highest,
33 cieg. ; lowest, 30 deg. Jan. 2—Highest, 34 deg. ;
lowest, 29 deg. Jan.4—Highest, 30 deg. ; lowest,
25 deg. Jan. s—Highest, 31 deg. ; lowest, 25 deg.
Jan. 6—Highest, 27 deg. ; lowest, 19 deg, Jan.
7—Lowest, 18 deg.
Oa Wednesday the frost continued with unabated
severity in the neighbourhood of Nottingham.
Yesterday a dense fog prevailed. The canals were
all frozen over, and transit was entirely stopped.
Upon the river Trent masses of ice had formed, and
in some places it was said the river was frozen over
—a circumstance of rare occurrence.
In the Midland Counties the frost of Wednesday
night was remarkably severe. In the country round
Worcester the thermometer fell as low as 10 deg.,
and was 12 deg. at daybreak yesterday. The day
was cloudy, and it rose very little all day. The
ground, being unprotected by snow, is frozen to a
considerable depth, and the earth is white with hoar
frost, which the sun when it shines has not the
power to melt. The wind went round from E. to S.
on Wednesday eeeuing, but yesterday the weather
cock pointed N.E. There is every present indica-
tion of protracted cold weather,
The severe frost still continues in Yorkshire. The
lowest temperature marked at 'Malkin on Tuesday
night was 24 deg. The keenest frost of the season
occurred on Wednesday night, when the mercury
receded to 12 deg. The highest temperature in the
shade on Thursday was 25 deg. The effects of the
severe weather upon the wheat crops are beginning
to cause anxiety to farmers, who all wish for a
covering of snow. The lakes at Castle Howard and
\Vellum are daily crowded with skaters. Oa the
latter, on Wednesday afternoon, some alarm was
caused by a young man having a severe fit on the
.ce. There is every prospect of a continuance of the
frost.

Diet, but for the benefit of the Prince whom they
have temporarily ousted. In Holstein, however,
it is notorious that the Duchy is administered under
the protection of G-rman troops, not for the Sove-
reign who has been ousted—namely, Christian of
Danmark—but for a pretender, who, by the assist-
ance of the Federal troops, has been able to secure
a revolution in his own favour. Denmark may,
therefore, naturally reproach England with having SI
persuaded her to relinquish a portion of her domi-
nions without having thereby secured the slightest
possible advantage. Had Denmark contemplated
—or, more correctly speaking, had she felt assured
—that matters would have taken their present
course, she would not have evacuated Holstein, nor
with a knowledge of what has since taken place
would England have counselled such a step, It is
now clear that Germany will not be content with
Holstein; and if a war is inevitable, Denmark
would have been all the stronger with that Duchy
in her possession. However, it is now idle to in-
dulge in regrets. We simply refer to the past in
order to show that, if either Denmark or Germany
have reason to feel aggrieved by the policy hitherto
pursued by England, it is certainly not the latter
Power. We cannot therefore forbear expressing out
astonishment at the violent attacic made upon the
English Government by the Breslauer Zeigung,
journal published in the capital of Silesia. 'rho
article in question is headed the" English Threats,"
and the public will be surprised to hear that it is
thus the mild remonstrances adapted by Earl Rus-
sell to the Diet at Frankfort have been characterised
by our Prussian contemporary. In a recent despatch
the Foreign Secretary, as our readers are aware,
directed the attention of the German representatives
to the existence of the London Treaty, and warned
them that " over hasty steps" on their part might
lead to serious complications. Tnis piece of advice,
which most persons will concur in thinking wes
very moderately expressed, the Breslauer Zeitung
alleges has been followed by an intimation from
Earl Russell that, in the event of German troops
crossing the Eider, England would " not be able to
avoid affording the assistance requested by Den'
mark." We are not in a position to contradict out
contemporary upon this point ; but if such a notifie
cation has been made to the Diet by the Foreign
Secretary, it meets with our hearty approval. BO
wherefore should Germany be indignant because
England refuses to stand quietly by and permit the
disintegration of Denmark ? Earl Russell is not,
we are told, in the same position as Herr von Big'
mark. No, he is not ; but we cannot help observe
ing that our contemporary has continually spoken,
of him as if he were. We can readily tinderstann
that the only idea that a Prussian journalist call
form of a Government is that of a body of men
acting in uncompromising antagonism to the mass
of the nation. It is under the influence of this notion
that it is assumed that Earl Russell and his col'
leagues do not command the confidence of the coup'
try, and that, in the event of their aiding Denmark
to repel a German invasion, their policy would be
disavowed by Parliament. We can only assure our
contemporary that the English:Cabinet is composed
of Ministers holding seats in either House of Par
liament, and that their tenure of office depends not
on the will of the Sovereign, but on the approbation
of the majority of their fellow-senators. It is there'
fore, in the highest degree improbable that thei
would counsel the Crown to pursue a policy which
would not be approved of by the country. If, then,
her Majesty's Ministers felt themselves called on to
aid Denmark in resisting the invasion of Schleswig
they would do so from a conscientious belief that
they were giving effect to the wishes of the
English nation.