The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-02 00:00:00

THE UNITED SERVICE.—The United Service for
this month contains several articles of unusual in-
terest, the first being oa the war between France
and Mexico, rendered all the more exciting at the
present moment by the triumph the of French arms
at Puebla, when their success was by many deemed
to be very doubtful. The writer furnishes an elaborate list
of the vast stores and munitions of war which have been
orwarded from France. In a paper on Sir Morton Peto's
views on naval and military expenditure, the editor does
not show either him or the Manchester school much mercy,
and we fear that, in many instances, his strictures are well
merited. He asserts that whenever it happens that the
representatives of commercial or manufacturing classes
attempt to deal with public expenditure or Army and Navy
estimates, they base their arguments on figures, which are
incorrect. Under the head of " Internal Organisation of
the French Navy" is the title of an article which furnishes
some curious statistics of the early history of the French
marine during the last two centuries. A sketch of Singa-
pore and a coasting voyage along the Cochin China coast,
through the Straits of Rhio, Banat, and by
other ocean stations, gives a brief but succinct
description of them. In a review of the French campaign
in Cochin China, the history of French operations reach the
latter portion of the 18th century, It is not to be supposed
that the United Service would pass over the remarkable
trial between the Earl of Cardigan and Lieutenant-Colonel
Calthorpe, in which, of course, the charges are thoroughly

sifted, and the ridiculous accusation of oowsrdice against a
man• who, -whatever his faults, is at Igast free from any sus-
picion of want of courage, is speedily disposed of. The in-
teresting account of a trip to Vancouver's Island
and British Columbia is concluded. " Greenwich
Characters" is amusingly written. Chapter 111. of " Mili-
tary Studies" relates exclusively to the management
of cavalry in the field, and draws attention to the use
made of this important arm in the late campaign in Italy
between the French and Austrians. Papers on " Depot
Battalions," and the " Reminiscences of a Cadet," with the
usual naval and military intelligence, complete the number.

COLBURN'S NEW MONTHLY.—" The Shadow of
Ashlydyat" is continued, and in this instalment the
end comes for Thomas Godolphin. That sad suffer-
ing man, so weary of the march of life, is at last

Ln-peace, and one feels a sense of relief as the bells

ring out on the evening air, telling of the troubled i
soul freed from anxiety, and the stricken heart passed from
the reach of the destroyer. George Godolphin's sins are
beginning to find him out. Ilis first victim is his brother,
his next will be his wife. Already has she 'whispered a
warning to him—she does not think that she will be able to
start with him for India, where he had been fortunate
enough to gain a situation. This tale is a very sad one, but
not the less true to life in its solemn woes and dreary days
of care and nights of waking. It is now on the verge of
conclusion apparently, and its interest has become very ex-
citing. " Revelations of the Guillotine" is a sombre
sketch that will be attractive to those who delight in the
dreadful catalogue of crime and bloodshed which occupies
the page of history in so many divisions. " Cardinal
Fleury," is the title of Sir Nathaniel's descriptions this
month. " Three Cardinals have reigned in France, Riche-
lieu, Mazarin, and Fleury. With least genius, Fleury had
the art of proving sufficient unto the day and the demands
thereof, without resorting to the axe, like Richelieu, or to
intrigue, like biazarin —he continued their work
of isolating the Crown by lowering the no-
blesse." ''his paper is a very entertaining and
instructive one. " The Japanese Flowery Land" re-
fers to a narrative of a journey to that place, and gives

a flourishing account of the " joys of Japan," inter-
spersed with more serious matter for consideration.
" Strathmore" is a life romance, by the author of " Gran-
ville de Vigne." It is to be hoped that this new work
will contain sentiments more congenial to the tastes of
English readers than its predecessors. "An Artist's
Study in the Quartier Latin" is an amusing modern
exemplification of the tale of Bluebeard. The story is
agreeably told, and the description of holidays given at
the commencement of it will carry many readers back in
thought to the days of their long past youth. " Red-
ding's Literary and Political Recollections" are ably de-
scanted upon; and "A Fast Pilgrim" is a brilliant sketch
of an amusing work of travels. " The Queen and the
Dying Soldier," by Nicholas Michel, is the title of some
verses, which contain a graceful allusion to an affecting
incident which took place on the occasion of the Queen's
late visit to the hospital at Netley. These verses record
the circumstance in a touching manner.
Now stood she by a couch where, ghastly pale,
A veteran languished ;—brightly shone the day,
But ah I like night upon a darkening vale,
On him death's shadow lay.

His soul was flitting to that unknown land,
Where he, she loved, his crown of glory wore,
Looking, perchance, down on her, smiling bland
On deeds lie shared of yore

The sinking hero heard that gentle voice ;
Light o'er his features broke—revived his heart,
His spirit seemed a moment to rejoice,
While Death held back his dart.

To see the kind, the mighty Sovereign here—
Queen of the realms where never sets the sun—
Beside his lowly bed, a sorrowing tear
For him whose course was run,

'Twas honour, joy, sweet consolation given;
Oh, to have stemmed the battle's fearful scene,
And die like this—he poured warm thanks to Heaven,
He bless'd that pitying Queen.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)
We give below, from the _Richmond Sentinel of the
12th inst., a despatch of the Secretary of State of
the Confederate States to Mr. Mason, their com-
missioner in England, which makes known the
causes of the late revocation of the exequatur of the
British Consul at the port of Richmond, in doing
which Mr. Benjamin takes occasion to explain the
grounds of Jiff Davis's action and the views which
govern the policy which he is put suing. This
despatch is numbered 24 :
Confederate States of America,
Department of State, Richmond, June 6th.
Sir,—Herewith you will receive copies of the
following papers :
A. Letter of George Moore, Esq., her Britannic
Majesty's Consul in Richmond, to this Depart-
ment, dated 16th of February, 1863.
B. Letter from the Secretary of State to Consul
Moore, 20th of February, 1863.
C. Letters patent by the President, revoking the
resignation of Consul Moore, sth of June, 1863.
D. Letter inclosing to Consul Moore a copy of the
letters patent revoking his resignation.
It is deemed proper to inform you that this action
of the President was influenced in no small degree
by the communication to him of an unofficial letter
of Consul Moore, to which I shall presently refer.
It appears that two persons named Malony and
Farrell, who were enrolled as conscripts in our ser-
vice, claimed exemption on the ground that they
were British subjects, and Consul Moore, in order
to avoid the difficulty which prevented his corre-
sponding with this Department, as set forth in
the paper B, addressed himself directly to
the Secretary of War, who was ignorant
of the request made by this department for the pro-
duction of the consul's commission. The Secretary
of War ordered an investigation of the facts, when
it became apparent the two men had exercised the
right of suffrage in this State,thus debarring them-
selves of all pretexts for denying their citizenship ;
that both had resided here for eight years, and had
settled on and were cultivating farms owned by
themselves. You will find annexed the report of
Lieut.-Col. Edgar, marked E, and it is difficult to
conceive a case presenting stronger proofs of the re-
nunciation of native allegiance and of the acquisi-
tion of de facto citizenship, than are found in that
report. It is in relation to such a case that it has
seemed proper to Consul Moore to denounce
the Government of the Confederate States to one
of its own citizens as being indifferent "to
cases of the most atrocious cruelty." A copy of his
letter to the counsel of the two men is annexed,
marked F.
The earnest desire of this Government is to enter-
tain amicable relations with all nations, and with
none do its interests invite the formation of closer
ties than with Great Britain. Although feeling
aggrieved that the Government of her Majesty has
pursued a policy which, according to the confessions
of Earl Russell himself, has increased the disparity
of strength which he considers to exist between the
belligerents, and has conferred signal advantage on
our enemies, in a war in which Great Britain
announces herself to be really and not nominally
neutral, the President has not deemed it necessary
to interpose any obstacle to the continued residence
of British consuls within the Confederacy by virtue
of exequaturs granted by the former Government.
His course has been consistently guided by the
principles which underlie the whole structure of our
Government. The State of Virginia having dele-
gated to the Government of the United States, by
the Constitution of 1787, the power of controlling
its foreign relations, became bound by the action of
that. Government in its grant of an exequatur to
Consul Moore. When. Virginia seceded, withdrew
the powers delegated to the Government of the
United States and conferred them on this
Government, the exequatur granted to Con-
sul Moore was not thereby invalidated.
An act done by an agent while duly autho-
rised, continues to bind the principal after the
revocation of the agent's authority. On these
grounds the President has hitherto steadily resisted
all influences which have been exerted to induce
him to exact of Foreign Consuls that they should
ask for an exequator from this Government as a
condition of the continued exercise of their func-
tions. It was not deemed compatible with the
dignity of the Government to extort, by enforcing
the withdrawal or national protection from neutral
residents, such inferential recognition of its
independence as might be supposed to be im-
plied in the request of an exequatur. The
Consuls of foreign nations, therefore, established
within the Confederacy, who were in the possession
of an exequatur issued by the Government of the
United States prior to the formation of the Confe-
deracy, have been maintained and respected in the
exercise of their legitimate functions, and the same
protection and respect will be accorded to them in
future, so long as they confine themselves to the
sphere of their duties, and seek neither to evade or
defy the legitimate authority of this Government
within its own jurisdiction.
There has grown up an abuse, however, the re-
sult of this tolerance on the part of the President,
which is too serious to be longer allowed. Great
Britain has deemed it for her interest to refuse
acknowledging the patent fact of the existence of
this Confederacy as an independent nation. It can
scarcely be expected that we should, by our own
conduct, imply assent to the justice or propriety
of that refusal, now that the British Minister
accredited to the Government of our enemies, as-
sumes the power to exercise authority over the
consuls of Great Britain residing within this coun-
try, nay, even of appointing agents to supervise
British interests in the Confederate States. This
course of conduct plainly ignores the exist-
ence of this Government, and implies the
continuance of relations between that Minis-
try and the consuls of her Majesty resident
within the Confederacy prior to the withdrawal of
these States from the Union. It is further the
assertion of a right, on the part of Lord Lyons, by
virtue of his credentials as her Majesty's Minister
at Washington, to exercise the power and autho-
rity of a Minister accredited to Richmond, and offi-
cially received as such by the President. Under
these circumstances, and because of similar action
by other Ministers, the President has felt it his
duty to order that no direct comm unication be
gene
mitred between the consuls of neutral nuttof
in the Confederacy and the functionaoriunstry.
those nations residing within the enemy's
All communication, therefore, betweetnneheeornfAeldaell
jesty's consuls or consular aents in
Nether
t toe vessels
neutral
atrohrrii arriving
and foreign countries,
tile, will hereafter be restricted The Presi,
from or despatched for neutral ports.
re-
dent has the less reluctance
leinfasemlitoiseisntgo
for
ccdres.
striction because of the E, worded by the fleets of
pondence which are now
the Confederate and
en neu
nt reatulrtarsdat eel a
iraososudhuai
eeiiy suga
Increasing, d in
and the
regular trade betwe,
ade, which i s upheld by
Confederate ports.
in spite of the paper Tbhiinsek
her Majesty's Government
~ in
e fi6 ts ofa and
t h
oi disregard,tChoc'ens
dutiesftehdee rPa cr eyo
h
f
sident conceives, of t
of the dictates of pub lid law, a
impartial neutrals.
You are instructed by the President to furnish a
copy of this dispatch, with a copy of the papers ap-
pended, to her Majesty's
Foreign Affairs.
y, your
respectfully,
I am, very obedient servant,
(Signed) J. P. BENJAMIN,
Secretary of State.
Hon. James. M. Mason, Commissioner, &C.,
London.

Official intelligence has been received at the
Admiralty of the deaths of the following officers
since the Ist of April :—Admirals the Right Hon.
:he Earl of Lauderdale, G.C.8., Sir J. Louis,
Bart., and J. Carter; Vice-Admiral G. W. Cour-
Y ; it Shepherd
; Capts. W.
IFe.neßurne:r-ta Admiral,C.B, 3
WH. . Higgs,
_ T. Smith, C.
lstoaanyn,ldeGeyr,.s Reed,tianstiyßutton, J. a Raymond, J. Wat
and P. H. Somerville ; Corn-
ui ,
J. Sampson, W. Wnithrr, W.
Pitman, J. TORTC, R. B. Johnstone, W. G. Rhind,
G. Elvy, the Hon. 0. W. M. Lambert, and T. Bull
Lieuts. W. Crawford, W. T. F. Mudge, H. C
Streeten, A. Jeykill, E. C. Tinling, W. Clark, J.
Gordon, A. Corbett, J. Elmsley, and A. Leathart ;
Masters J. N. Willis, T. H.. Fraser, E. A. Carey,
W. D. Strong, J. Sanford, and G. Wilson ; Chief
Engineer S. Stephens; Second Mastars. G. Harris
and H. Collins; Chaplains—Revs. C. B. Haslewood,
M.A., and J. B. Snders, B.A. ; Surge. J. Niven,
M.D., D. Ramsay, M.D., 3. M. Tl'oll ClarkeM.D.,
~
E.
Caldwell, J. Thompson, M.D., W. , M.D
and 3. Ellis : Assist.-Surgs. I. Clarkson au Pen.
Macdonald, M.D.; Paymasters G. Penfold,lL Pen-
galley, S. Davis, R. Simmons, and L. E. Beckett ;
Assist.-Paymasters W. H. P. M. Gillham, D.
sV.
Hamilton and A. D. Johnstone. Royal Marine--
Lieut.-Gen. T. Nearing; Major Gen. T.P. Dwyer;
Lieut.-Col. C. 0. Hawley; Capts. H. T. Fox, and
J. Howley ; Lieuts. E. E. Hill, C. J. D. Napier,
A. M. Lyons, and L, D, Thierry.
The following appointments were made at the Admiralty
yesterday afternoon:—
Richard Muniay, paymaster (additional), to the
Britannia.
Naval Cadet Nominated—Frank Wyley.

THE ARMY.
' Yesterday Major-Gen. Bloomfield, Inspector-
General of Royal Artillery, accompanied by his
aide-de-camp, Major Teesdale, visited Sheerness for
the purpose of inspecting No. 1 Depot Brigade,
Royal Artillery, stationed at Sheerness Barracks.
The gallant General was received by the Col.-Com-
mandant, W. R. Nedham, ILA., Col. Freeth, R.E.,
commanding Royal Engineers, Col. Talbot, R.A.,
commanding the Depot Brigade, and the principal
officers of the garrison. He first proceeded to in- '
spect the troops, which were formed in line, and
after a salute broke into open column, and marched
past in slow and quick time. He then went through
the columns and inspected the accoutrements. The
men next broke off for light and heavy ordnance
exercise with 110-pounder Armstrong, 68-pounder,
32-pounder, and light field guns, &c., performing
the various evolutions in a manner which gave ex-
treme satisfaction.
The deaths of the following officers have been
officially reported at the War-office since the lat of
June :—Gen. Sir J. Hanbury, K.C.8., K.C.H., Col,
of the 99th Regiment; Lieut.-Gens. R. Jones, Col.-
Commandant, Royal Artillery, and T. Wearing, Col.
of the Plymouth division of Royal Marines ; Major-
Gen. Sir J. Jebb, K.C.8., Royal Engineers. Lieut.-
Cols.—H. L. Gibbard, Royal Artillery ; A. Munro,
16th Regiment ; and P. Aubin, 57th Regiment ;
Capts, L. S. P. Gowan, 6th Dragoons (killed by a
tiger near Mhow) ; C. D. Beavan, Royal Artillery;
W. Wynne, Coldstream Guards; W. G. Hawkins,
15th Kegiment ; F. A. Macreight, 17th Regiment;
A. J. Lane, 50th Queen's Own; E. A. Stotherd,
60th Rifles (wrecked in the Anglo Saxon); M. W.
Heath, Royal Engineers ; R. Warner, sth Fusi-
leers ; R. Hart, 66th Regiment; J. Maclean, 103 d
Regiment ; and A. H. Ormsby. Lieuts.—O. F.
Layton, Royal Artillery ; H. Clarke, Military
Train (wrecked in the Anglo• Saxon) ; H.
A. Ellis, 82d Regiment ; C. J.Holbreok, 95th Regi-
ment; D. F. Murray, 3d West India Regiment; J.
Garstin, 15th Regiment ; J. Winckworth, 75th
Regiment; J. C. Peach, Royal African Corps; R.
H. Fitzgerald ; and Baron E. Heimburg, King's
German Legion. Ensign A. Autran, King's Ger-
man Legion ; Deputy-Commissary-Gen. S. Hop-
kins; and Surgs. F. 0. Brien, 69th Regiment, and
P. White, 72d Highlanders.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER.
Yesterday this company opened the portion of their
Metropolitan Extension from Herne-hill to Beckenham.
The importance of the completion of this link of the com-
pany's extension will be understood from the following
facts :—Until yesterday persons going from the Victoria
station to the continent had to proceed by way of Balham,
Streatham, Norwood, and Crystal Palace—a very cir-
cuitous route, over bad gradients and not very desirable
curves; whereas, by the opening of yesterday, passengers
proceed direct from the Victoria terminus via Herne-hill
to Beckenham, not only saving three miles in distance,
but having the advantage of excellent gradient and an almost
direct line. The length of railway opened yesterday is about
4i miles. Leaving Herne-hill station we proceed over a
viaduct of 30 arches, 1,000 feet in extent, which has been
most substantially completed, and from a distance has a
very picturesque appearance. Beyond this is an embank-
ment of a mile and a quarter, with an average height of 20
feet with a slope of 3to 1. Midway in this embankment
is the Dulwich station, This portion of the works has
been of an expensive character, but the outlay has been
a wise one, inasmuch as almost perfect security has been
obtained for the traffic, and all practical railway men
know that in works of this character the first expense is
the cheapest mode of execution. This policy of structure
has (much to the credit of the company, and no doubt else
to the judgment of the contractors) been carried out over
the whole of the works. Following the embankment is a
cutting of one-third of a mile in extent, with slopes of 4
hto
1. This brings us, when at the depth of 60 feet, wilt.;
tunnel under Sydenham-hill, and at the face of twist.
there is now being erected a station for the acconioT his
tion of the neighbourhood. In the con.structi_on_ lased.
tunnel no fewer than 32,000,000 bricks have Turn some
fliudiire blue
The work consists of eight layers of brit,:i
parts of twelve, of which 4,000,000 are Seat:tsuitial
bricks. This This work is of the most
there
is no railway
racter, and it may be truly said that
thae
country surpassing
structure of a similar character inexeentio. Immediately
it in solidity and excellence of
under nine lines of rail-
and Brighton Com-
beyond the tunnel the line
great, but tbegy
way belonging to the South-
contractors
contractors in contending
'Allies, The difficulties °f rEsaseshater:
been
and that,
complaia from the
with this portion of surmounted,
have been more than satiefaot
the WO
rosy
as we understand,
witudou and 13 -
tighten. officials.
South-Eastern. or the Lthilese lines
Passing the bridge over
the
pwe come to a small
• h bring° us t° Penge station and an em-
cutting which character to th
bankment—sirailar it_l_
Deckenhana e one already men-
tioned—brings as to
may congratulate
• The London, Chatham,
and Dover C°lnPantllie through ongrattdate themselves upon
having got rid---for ough traffic—of the recent cir-
cuitous route. The portion of the line opened yesterday
will be theareat service to them for the continental traffic,
aid
when works shall have been
completed to the Far..
ringdnn_street station they
t the company's Victoria station
- may fairly look for a very
passengers. We con-
siderable increase of their through-
per-
ceive from the time-bill of
and Elephant and Castle traffic that they run 38 trains daily
between those points
at very moderate rates-

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' FETE.—The annual din-
ner of the licensed victuallers' schools was held yes-
terday in the Aslsburnham Pavilion at Cremorna-gardens,
and was attended by nearly 2,000 persons. Captain Towns-
hend, of the firm of Samuel Allsopp and Co., was in the
chair. After the usual toasts were drunk, the toast of the
evening, " Success to the Schools," was proposed, and Mr.
Smalley, the secretary, read the list of subscriptions,
Messrs. Allsopp heading it with a donation of £l,OOO. In
proposing the healths of the officers of the institution, the
chairman announced that the secretary, Mr. Smalley, had
just handed in a cheque for the munificent sum of 1,000
guineas. The announcement was received with prolonged
cheering. Nearly £4,000 was subscribed during the even-
ing towards the funds of this excellent charity. After the
dinner a ball took place in the gardens, which was kept up
to a very late hour.
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ion,
na-
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that tetter
it is invaluable in skin diseases, scald head,
,
tooth rash, chafings, and the many varieties of rashes and
eruptions, well known and deeply dreaded in the nurser
thei y r
Trivial maladies may by it be met and conquered at
outset, and all future mischief overcome beforo it has
gained hold upon the constitution and endangered future
health. Full directions are wrapped round
with each
theot best of
ointment. Holloway's unguent may be applied
results in many diseases to which the sufferer silently sub-
mits because the task of investigating them would be both
difficult and delicate.

NEWSPAPv , •
Ff*rastl ii.q)4F----::'
ri,
4.
STEAM FIRE-ENGINE -:,,;•;:, '----1---Y,---- --,-,-z:;,::t,-,-,;\
2n,, tyz,....\,
Yesterday a series of experiments, I. M , _ .._4:7..1/4);---:_,::p
-.1-'• tfe, :::i..-.A ..,
themselves, and in their result likely k___, ..e.,,1.V,‘/447/
highest importance, was commencedlieldliW,/
Palace gardens, with a view to test and asleataina s
by actual competition which is the best descrip-
tion of steam fire-engine out of the many different
no
machines of the kind now made. There is
doubt but that attention was first directed to
the importance of this question by the great
n
fire among the wharves at London-bridge, when
the one or two steam fire-engines the used
so completely eclipsed and outdid all that Nos ,
effected by the hand engines as to literally leave
no room for comparison between the two. On
that same disastrous occasion also the general pub
lic became informed of a tea which had until thves
en
been known only to the Fire Brigade themsel
—the utter inadequacy of our means to check or
properly deal with any extensive coefiagration.
Ir, was due to the dead stillness of thar, bum-
vier night, and not to the engines of tho
fire brigade, steam or head, that the south
side of London was not destroyeel, and insurances
companies saw for the first time that there really
could be fires by which they could lose heavily', and
might even be ruined. Since that time the attention
of those interested in the preservation of property
from
fire has been constantly directed to the im-
provement of steam fire-engines, and it was to
ascertain which was in all points, or in most points,
the best of the many competitors that the trials at
Crystal Palace were commenced yesterday, and
thewi
llbecontinued during to-day and most probably
to-morrow also. These trials are conducted under
the immediate superintendence of a committee of
gentlemen, having tashehon. Duke
secr of
ns oubt
Caw e-
lheemrleannda for chairman,apt. Sh
tarp, and including among its members the most
eminent mechanical engineers in the kingdom.
The engines produced for trial are divided into
two classes—the small class, consisting of those not
exceeding 30 cwt., and the large class,
of those
exceeding 30 cwt. and not exceeding 60 cwt. those
weights not including coal, water, hose, or other
gear. The premiums will be £250 for the best
engine, and £lOO for the second-beittee direct
in each t
their
The chief points to which the comm
attention, in addition to the oathsconsid of cost
and weight, are those which relate general
efficiency of the machines as fire-engines, combin-
ing, among other points of excellence, rapility in
raising and generating steam, facility of drawing
water, the large volume thrown, the distance to
which it can be projected with the least amount
of loss, and simplicity, accessibility, and durability

of parts.
In order to carry out these trials with perfect
uniformity and fairness, the committee provide the
fuel (Welsh coal), and the pipes for the hose—all of
one pattern. They have also provided a strong rail
for a rest, to which the branches may be attached
during the trial, though eaeh competitor is at liberty
to lash a spar to his branch, or to use any other con-
de
trivance which may assist in giving a coreect li-
very to the water, the desire being, of course, to
apply the tests as much as possible to the engine
and as little as possible to the men.
One of the principal objects to be ascertained
being to define the quantity of water which each
can project through the atmosphere to certain
heights and distances, the committee have prepared
a set of water-targets and tanks, arranged in such &
manner that the water can be measured after deli-
very. These targets consist of canvass hoods with
circular openings of six feet in diameter, having at-
tached to each a tail or shoot, through which the
water is conducted into a gauged tank standing be-
low, from which the quantity delivered within the
opening of the target can be read off by
means of a
graduated index.
A great many engines of different kinds have
been entered for this trial, Messrs. Shand and
Mason and Mr. Merryweather being the principal
English competitors, as against the American ma-
chines, of which two will compete during these
trials. To the chief of these, the Manhattan, an
accident occurred on Tuesday, by which it has
been partially disabled, and is not likely to
be fit for work before this day. In its place,
however, another American engine entered the_
lists, and worked better than any American tire-
engine we have ever seen, for it must be under-
stood that the American steam fire-engines ore as
much behind the steam fire-engines of other °nun-
', tries as the most pretentious politicaisl
behind association
y
called the New York Fire Brigade
other fire brigade in Europe in real usefulness. The
amateurs who constitute the fire brigade of the Em
pire City are wonderfully organised for politica.
demonstrations, torch-light processions, and the
worse
than useless at a fire ; and the New York Fire
espe Bri-
gade is, if possible, badly imitated in these rcts
in all the Northern cities except Boston.
IThe znua;
ter of the fire engines and the firemen, variesua
costumes, near the lower basin of the founta.itn_srew: a
very pretty and animated sight, entities_ d
large concourse of visitors the aspect who
day was as
quisite gardens wore throughout
Well be conceived.
brilliant and beautiful as can. Nve, bitbese ex-
mer of surpassing
It would have been thought a /-
tools less beautiful by
gaiety and richness in any god developed by art
nature and less cultivated 611 .
than those terraced garden! which form an almost
admiration among all foreigners
endless theme for Just now they are in the
who come to visit them-
heir fall summer bloom. It would
• us recital to enter into de-
perfection of their
tedious
made with
made with the engines yester-
ptaeirlhsaopfs
t 0
uee atrial,
day, esp may be regarded as
iiramar
dcult ones to be gone through to-day. As
eporiealtr. as they
Y to the more important
manedrely
far as bey went, however, the superiority rested
clearly with the
i tahnidn h
eighte engines of Messrs. Shand and
goon. They were the first to get up steam from
taskeo
1d winatwer inminutes, fulliwnnotreks: athcceomnpthliesrhiiintigiktihnigs
nearly ten. They were the first to throw through
their target th •
eir allotted quota of a thousand gal-
lons of water, and the distance to which they pro-
jected their massi •ve column of water vertically into
the air as __ clearly
overtopped the rather feathery
shoots of th •
eir antagonists. The smoothness and
g quietness, too, with which their engine worked was
L,57 remarkable, as, indeed, was also that of Mr. Merry-
-Iweather's ; whereas the American engine was, or
a- seemed to be, tearing itself to pieces, and vibrated
11 g •
in such a manner and exhibited such signs of strain-
aey
hat, jug, that it appeared evident it could never be relied
the on to work for any time without breaking down, as
;isle. it was expected to do every moment yesterday. If
small it survives the much more difficult trials to be
L em- gone through to-day it will be contrary to the anti-
men- ci •
pataons of almost every engineer on the ground,
lham. .

IRISH CONVICTS.—The Director of Convict Pri"
sons in Ireland has to report that the convictions
rose from 368 in 1861 to 592 in 1862. He attributes this
increase in the numbers sentenced to penal servitude to the
prevalence of distress in many parts of the country. The
numbers confined in the country prisons also increased frora.
2,916 on the Ist of January, 1862, to 8,055 on the Ist of
January, 1863, and the number of paupers receiving relief
from 59,584 to 65,847. As might be expected, therefore,
the reconvictions also show a considerable increase, so con-
siderable as in that single year to raise the percentage of
relapses among the whole number of convicts discharged
since the beginning of 1856 (the percentage either re-
sentenced or having their licences revoked) from 9.9 at the
end of 1861 to 12.44 at the end of 1862. The lecturer at
Smithfield Intermediate Prison reports that the difficulty of
inducing employers of character and position to employ
the convicts on their discharge can only be known to those
who have to contend with it. He says the task is humili-
ating in the extreme.
GAME PROSPECTS.—AII trustworthy accounts
speak favourably of the excellent sport which may
be expected on the various moors in Dumbartonshire and
the western district of Perthshire by the 12111 of August.
The fine weather wo have experienced for a considerable
time back has no doubt had a most beneficial influence on
the newly-hatched coveys, which appeax healthy and un-
usually strong, and generally number from eight to ten
birds, There are more than an average number of black-
cocks to be seen this season on the ranges frequented by
them. Hares are reported not to be numerous, but the
present appearances to afford excellent
leverets are unusually strong at this early date. Partridges
are expected from
sport in due course ; and accounts agree in representing
roe-deer to bo numerous, and
in first-rate condition. On
the whole, the prospects of the sportsman are more en-
couraging in this district of the country than they have
been for several seasons Wt.—Scotsman.