The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVEMNG, NO 12, 1863.

rpo PERSONS SEEKING LANDED
IL ESTATES, TOWN AND COUNTRY RESIDENCES,
FREEHOLD AND LEASEHOLD INVESTMENTS, AND
PROPER riEs GbNERALLY—
To BE HAD GRATIS, at the principal Raliway Bookstalls
throughout the kingdom, or at the Auction and Estate Offices,
No. 67, Chancery-lane, London, Messrs. E. and H. Lumley's
"FREE PROPERTY REGISTER," containing a varied selection
of landed and house properties now in the market, from
the nobleman's mansion, with its manorial domain, to the
cottage with its few acres.
OWNERS OF PROPERTIES wishing to Sell or Let can em-
brace the opportunity that the medium of this ReL;is!er
affords, by sending the particu!ars of their properties to the
Estate Offices, e 7, Chancery-lane, London, as the Messrs.
Lumley can in most cases introduce immediate customers,
where the property is of an chara,ter, thereby avoid-
ing the disadvantages of delay and its attendant incon-
veniences. _ _ .

THERE IS NO CHARGE incurred, unless a tenant or pur-
chaser is introduced through Messrs. Lumley's Agency,
and then only the usual moderate commission.
Auction and Land Offices, 67, Chancery-lane, London.

THE DISCOUNT CORPORATION
(Limited).
The Business of the Company will be commenced at 34,
Abchurch-lane, on MONDAY next, the 16th inst.

By order.
ROBERT SLATER, JUNIOR, Secretary pro tem.

THE MADRAS IRRIGATION and CANAL
COMPANY.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That the NINTH ORDI-
NARY GENERAL MEETING of the SHAREHOLDERS
of the MADRAS IRRIGATION and CANAL COMPANY
will be held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate- street, in
the City of London, on SATURDAY, the 28th day of Novem-
ber inst., at One o'clock precisely.
The Transfer Books of the Company will be Closed from
the 18th to the 2sth inst., both days inclusive.
By order of the Board of Directors.
JOHN WESTWOOD, Secretary.
27, Cannon-street, London, E.C., Nov. 4,1833.

IIEATHER'S TRUST.—Under the manage-
ment of the CLOTH WORKERS' COMPANY.—At
a COURT. to be holden on the 2d DECEMBER next, this
COMPANY will distribute to SIX POOR WIDOWS of
DECAYED It OUSEKEEPERS the amount divisible under
the above Trust, being about £8 to each. Printed forms of
application may be obtained at the Company's Offices, Cloth-
workers' Hall, Mincing-lane, London. The applicant must
insert therein particulars relative to her condition and cir-
cumstances, and name references from whom information
may be obtained for verifying the same. The application,
with certificate of her marriage, and a certificate or other
proper proof of he death of her husband, must be left at
the Company's Hall previously to the 23d November instant,
addressed to

ROBERT BECKWITH TOWSE, Clerk.
Clothworkers' Hall, November, 1863.

LIFEBOAT SERVICES.—During the recent
heavy gales some of the boats of the National Lifeboat
Institution saved 67 persons from different wrecks. The
Committee of the Institution earnestly AP PEAL to the
public for ASSISTANuE to enable Them to meet the con-
tinued heavy demands on the Institution's 125 lif eb -At estab-
lishments. Contributions are received by all the London
and country bankers ; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis,
at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, W.C.

A GREAT DRAWING OF PRIZES
WILL TARE PLACE AT

ST. JOSEPH'S RETREAT, HIGHGATE, LONDON, N.,
On THURSDAY, the 26th of NOVEMBER, 1863, to aid in
liquidating the Debt still remaining on the New Church and
Organ ; and to assist in establishing the English Mission of
St. Nicholas in Paris, now under the charge of the Passionist
Fathers. _ _ _ _ _ . . .

The prizes of the first catalogue consist principally of
objects of art and other precious articles, presented. by His
Holiness, several Cardinals, Princes, and other persons of
distinction in Rome.
TICKETS ONE SHILLING EACH.
The amount realised will be disposed of as follows :—That
arising from the sale of tickets in England will be applied to
St. Joseph's, and that from the sale of tickets in France to
St. Nicholas', in Paris.

THE DRAWING OF PRIZES WILL BE ON THE
PRINCIPLE OF THE ART UNION.

Any one purchasing or aiding in selling 25 tickets will be
entitled to a large Engraving, either of the Death of St.
Joseph, or of Blessed Paul of the Cross, which will be
forwarded by post upon receipt of 4 postage stamps.
Catalogues as well as tickets may be had on application at
St. Joseph's Retreat, Highgate, and at 34, Rue de Berri, Paris.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, Gray's-inn-road,
in the immediate vicinity of the Great Northern Rail-
way Terminus, at King's-cross.
Patron—The QUEEN.
President—The Duke of BUCCLEUCH, K.G.
Treasurer—Edward Masterman, Esq.

. _
This was the first hospital to introduce the principle of free
and instant admission to the destitute sick, without the for-
mality of governors' letters. It is entirely devoted to desti-
tution in its most pitiable form—viz., that which is accom-
panied by sickness and disease, and is now of sufficient
magnitude that, with adequate support, it may be rendered
capable of admitting into its wards a very large proportion of
the casual sick of this great metropolis. It requires but the
funds in order to have 500 beds available for the reception of
these the most wretched of our fellow-creatures. Moreover,
it gratuitously affords medical advice and medicine to more,
on the average, than 3,000 out-patients a week.

The Weekly Board feel it their imperative duty to make an
EARNEST APPEAL to the public for continued support,
to enable them to admit and relieve the distressing cases that
daily present themselves.

Contributions are received by the Treasurer, Edward
Mas Lerman, Esq., Nicholas-lane; also by Messrs. Coutts and
Co. ; Drummond and Co. ; Harries and Co. ; Hansom and
Co. ; Prescott, Grote, and Co.; Smith, Payne, and Co. ; Glyn
and Co. ; Jones Loyd and Co. ; Barclay and Co. ; Denison
and Co. ; %V Maras, Deacon, and Co. ; Overend, Gurney, and
Co. ; Nisbet and Co. ; Messrs. J. Barned and Co., Liverpool
and at the Hospital.

STANFORD S. SMITH Secretary

STATE OF TRADE.

DUNDEE, Nov. advices received by
telegram report that there are no sellers of flax
there at 48 roubles for Kl. This has tended
to make holders firmer here to-day, and a fair busi-
ness is reported on sellers' terms. Tow and codilla
are also quite as firm as before, especially fine, which
is very scarce. The demand for jute continues ac-
tive, and prices tightening. Anything offering at all
worth money is readily taken, but stocks in sellers'
hadds are very light here. The demand for yarns
keep up remarkably well, and a large business
would have been done to-day at full prices had
spinners been in a position to take on more orders,
but their inability to do so circumscribed sales. For
linens the inquiry was also active, both for the home
trade and for export, but manufacturers are unable
to meet buyers to the extent desired, being already
so far foresold. Less business was in consequence
done than on previous market days. Prices both of
yarns and linens are fully maintained.
LEICESTER, 11th.—The hosiery trade is more
quiet, and there is not so much doing in fancy or
regular hosiery goods, business being usually quiet
at this period. In the rural districts there is also
lees doing. Yarns are realising very high prices,
and the market is firm, spinners being fairly em-
ployed. In wools there is no material change,
prices are high and the tone of the trade is firm.

NOTTINGHAM, 11th.—The lace trade continues
quiet this week. There are a few American and
other foreign orders in the market, but they are by
no means large. There is no improvement in the
demand for black silk laces and edgings. The silk
quilling trade is also quiet. Stocks of all descrip-
tions of goods, both silt and cotton, are very low,
everything being now executed to order. There is
no material change in the hosiery trade. Consider-
ing the high price of the raw material, there is a
fair amount of business doing in hosiery goods.
Yarns have an upward tendency.

HANDEL'S " ODE FOR ST. CECILIA'S DAY,"
which was one of the principal attractions at the Dusseldorf
Musical Festival, will be brought forward during the
coming season by Herr and Madame Goldschmidt.
THE DRAMATIC AUTHOR AT REHEARSAL—In
my imagination I had always pictured a stage
rehearsal as a very pleasant affair. Realising it. I found
that, as the author, I was regarded as an enemy by every
one who had a part in the piece ; and that I had not only
made all the actors inimical to myself, but to each other.
The leading low comedian and the leading young lady had
been on the best terms possible until I sewed the seeds of
discord between them by providing them respectively with
the parts of Jack, and the Giant. Jack confided to me pri-
vately that, so far as the lines were concerned, she would
much rather have been the Giant; while the Giant pro-
tested, for the same reason, that he would have infinitely
preferred to be Jack. There was only point on which they
were unanimous, and that was in their hatred of me, and
their envy of each other. The discontent of these two was
so unreasonable that I could treat it with indifference; but
it cut me to the quick to be pitifully informed by the second
old man, whom I had been partly instrumental in casting
for Mother Hubbard, that his line of business, until he had
joined that theatre, had been tragedy, and that he had been
accustomed to enact Macbeth and Coriolanus. I had a
fellow feeling for the second old man, and could have sym-
pathised with him, if he had been commonly civil. But he
would insist upon altering may a coupletseT Thus,
without
tucainngy
" gags," which I could not
ePpperros'isted in su,bstituting for
expression, " Iloilo boys, there
rhsaid was safe to bring the house
goes another
also took similar liberties, and finished
down. The Giant
little game ?" "Who's your
lines with "What's your
ar hvyemrye.n ore er
te a
joke,sgouny ,wt”hhweahvieuevhl
vulgar
e
hatter ?" "How's your
subject of the dialogue. I pro
with such nonsense, and
my name to appear in connection
down for him.
I words set
of the streets which had feet ?" and other slang expres-
sionsad nteostreedlatthiaont
Iwehoautledvenrottoalltohwe
begged the Giant to speak only d
he had the audacity to
say that there was not a laugh in the whole piece,
had his reputation to study too ; an
and that,
I had my reputation to study, The Giant retorted that he
to." hit the people
unless he was permitted to do something
up," it would bo damned,---kiekons's thel'eu 10Hrig."

SPORTING NOTES.

THE LIVERPOOL CUP.

The Great Autumn Cup to be decided to-morrow has a
very poor acceptance—not a third of those originally handi-
capped having been left in. The field will scarcely number
a dozen, to be selected from the following :

Fairwater, 5 yrs, Bst 121 b
) Custance
Balham, 5 yrs, 7st 121 b Judd
Catch 'am Alive, 4 yrs, 7st 11lb
Camerino, 5 yrs, 7st 91b
Blithfield, 3 yrs, Est 131 b
Somersault, 5 yrs, 6st 13Ib
Golden Pledge, 3 yrs, Est 101 b J. Loates
King Charming, 3 yrs, Est 11b Cameron
Laertes, 3 yrs, sst 101 b Noble
Chaff, 3 yrs, Est 3lb ......... ..•
Trap, 3 yrs, 6st 11b .... • J. Grimshaw
Nebula, 3 yrs, sst 101 S, Mordan

Fairwater heads the list with the steadying weight of Bst
121 b. She is one of the best mares in training, but I fear
the heavy course will stop her. Balkam is a good sound
horse; and, besides, heavy ground will just suit him.
Catch'em Alive is in first-rate form, and must be near
winning. He would have won the Cambridgeshire much
easier had he not lost start and been shut in at the finish.
Somersault I expect will be kept for Shrewsbury Handicap.
Golden Pledge has been backed for as much money as any
horse in the race, but at present he occupies a very
suspicious position in the market, and I think he is as
likely not to see the starter as he is to win. Blithfield has
always run well; and looking at the position he held in the
Cesarewitch, where he was fourth, his chance almost seems
second to none. He is well worth backing for a situation.
The only other that has any chance of troubling the judge
is Chaff, who has often been going to do a good thing; but
has not. I believe he tries this time, and may secure a
place in the first three. My impression is that the judge
will place

CATCH'EM ALIVE
BALHAM 2
BLITLIFIELD
A FRESH MAN.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL AUTUMN MEETING.

The second of these supplements to the racing meetings
of the year, which the Houghton week at Newmarket was
formerly supposed to close, commenced yesterday on Ain-
tree. The first of them at Worcester passed off as favour-
ably as a course half under water would allow; and a tole-
rably Ni ell filled programme promised; despite bad weather
and heavy ground, a good meeting at Liverpool. The
annual steeplechase and the autumn handicap are the two
events, the latter more especially, that engross speculation,
affording to both bookmakers and backers the last chance of
retrieving losses, tiding them over the dull period of the
year, and, as the phrasa goes, " giving them something to
winter on."

Eight events, a rather large number, considering the
short November day they were to be decided in, were on
the card, a hurdle race commencing the proceedings won,
after a good rece, by Pot Pourri beating Bowman and eight
others. Lord Stamford's colours were borne in the van in
the two next races, Alpheus disposing of his two opponents
with great ease in the Juvenile Stakes and Gemma carry-
ing off the Flying Handicap, after a near set-to with Far-
fella at the finish.

Cutaway defeated a small field for the Knowsley Nur-
sery, which was run nearly one hour beyond the time
marked on the card ; the many tedious delays at the post
compelling us to close our parcel, and leave the remaining
events for the telegraph to tell.

The sport was good, but the attendance meagre in the
extreme. 'Lord Sefton and a party of friends from Croxteth
were the only notabilities on the Stand. The ground was
very heavy.

A Handicap Hurdle Race of 40 sovs, added to a sweep-
stakes of 3 sovs each. Winners extra. Two miles;
over six flights of hurdles. 24 subs.
Mr T. Wadlow's Pot Pourri (in. 71b yrs.. _

White) 1
Mr J. Davies's Bowman, 5 yrs, 9st (Thorpe) 2
Mr G. Hodgman's Soothsayer, aged, 9st 61b (R. Sly) 3
The following also ran :—Gladiator, Margery, South
Australian, Puss, True Heart, Nightingale, and Baron of
Avon.

Betting-5 to 2 agst Soothsayer, 3to 1 agst Pot PourLi,
5 to 1 agst True Heart, and 6 to 1 agst any other.
Immediately after starting Pot Pourri, in company with
Gladiator, Margery, and Baron of Avon, made the running
to the first flight of hurdles, which Gladiator cleared in ad-
vance, but running out on lauding he lost his place, leav-
ing Margery in command, who, with Baron of Avon, Gla-
diator, and Avongrovo lying up, came past the Stand
nearly abreast, but rounding the top turn Pot Pourri took!
a clear lead, attended by Margery, Baron of Avon and
Avongrove at the same time bolted towards the stables
leaving Soothsayer, Puss, and Bowman in attendance upon
the leaders. Rounding the Bridge turn Margery took a
decided lead, which she retained to the flight of hurdles at
the distance, where she was joined by Pot Pourri, Bow-
man, and the favourite, the lot clearing them nearly abreast.
Half way up Margery was beaten, leaving the issue with
Pot Pourri, Bowman, and Soothsayer, the three clearing
the last flight nearly abreast, but in a few strides further
Pot Pourri drew in advance, and won a fine race by a
neck; Soothsayer finished a bad third, Margery was
fourth, Baron of Avon fifth, Puss sixth; True Heart and
South Australian were the next two. The others did not
pass the post.

The Juvenile Stakes of 5 sovs each, with 30 sovs added,
for 2-yr-olds; colts, Sst 101 b; fillies and geldings, Bst
71b. Maidens allowed 61b. 'Winners extra. T.Y.C. 7
subs.
Lord Stamford's Alpheus, Bst 41b (J. Mann) 1
Mr Marsh's Orphene, Bst 111 b (including 41b extra)
(E> Harrison) 2
Mr VV. Phillips' Persuasion, 9st llb (inc Sib extra)
(Midgley) 3
Betting-5 to 4 agst Alpheus; and 6to 4 agst Per-
suasion,

Alpheus making use of a favourable start came on with a
clear lead, was never after approached, and won in a canter
by three lengths, Orphene defeating Persuasion by a length
for second.

The Flying Handicap of 5 sovs each, with 100 sovs added,
for 3-yr-olds and upwards. Winners extra. T.Y.C.
48 subs.
Lord Stamford's Gemma, 4 yrs, 7st 61b (carried 7st 711))
Duke of Beaufort's Farfalla (J. Mann) 1
,
Mr. Bell's Pupil, 4 yrs, Gst 121 b yrs, 7st 41b ..(Deacon) 2(E. Taylor) 3
The following also ran :—caraorino, Bernice, Queen of
My Mary, Wetsail
Trumps, Newchurch, Amaz mian,
Rosins, Schoolmistress, Jack's Alive, and Mousetrap.
Betting-5 to 1 agst Gemma, sto 1 agst Farfalla, 6to 1
agst My Mary, 7 to 1 agst Wetsail, and 10 to 1 each agst
Queen of Trumps and Pupil.

A long delay at the post was followed by an admirable
start, but after running a few strides, Pupil in the centre
drew away in advance, having the favourite next the rails,
with the Queen of Trumps and Bernice next, the others,
who were widely spread across the course, being headed by
Farfalla on the extreme left. They ran thus to the en-
closure, where Mann steadied Gemtna, and waited with
great patience to within a few strides of home, where she
came out, and won a fine race by a head, a like distance
Bernice
ewtsaasil,f°ll,llrlotuhs'ectrloaspe,
separating the second and thi‘iridy;Mßaerryn,
up ; Queen of Trumps fifth,
and Newchurch next. Jack's Alive was last.
A Sweepstakes of 10 sous each, for all ages, for two-yr-
olds and upwards ; weight for age. The winner to
be sold for 150 soy& Three-quarters of a mile. 7 subs.
............
Mr. Bird's Birkenhead, 2 yrs, 6st 1
(Carroll
Lord Westmoreland's Rothschild, 2 yrs, Est )
(J. Grimshaw) 2
Mr Watt's Birthday filly, 4 yrs, Bst 6lb (J. Snowden) 3
Lord Bateman's Miss Livingston, 4
yrs, Bst 51b
(11. Grimshaw) 4
Mr T. Hughes's Miss Emma. 5 3 rs, Sat 51b (D.llughes) 5
Capt. Christie's Spicebox, 6 yrs, Bst 81b ...... (Custance) 6
Betting-5 to 2 agst Birkenhead, sto 1 each agst Miss
Livingstone and Miss Emma, and 6 to 1 agst any other.
One slight failure preceded the falling of the flag, in con-
sequence of Birkenhead refusing to join his horses, When
they got away the Birthday filly ran in company with Miss
Livingstone, Spicebox, and Rothschild to the distance, where
Lord Bateman's filly dropped back, leaving
Spicebox in
attendance upon the leader to halfway ups where the favou-
rite came up on their right, and won very easily by two
lengths; a head between the second and third. The other
three were close together, some four or five lengths in their
rear.

The Knowsley Nursery Stakes (Handicap) of 5 sous each,
with 80 says added, for 2-yr .olds; winners extra. T.Y.C.
36 subs.
Mr Barber's Cutaway, 7st ................(E. Taylor) 1
Mr Craven's Practitioner, 7st 41b.......... (T. French) 2
Mr Saxon's Jano Shore, 6st 41b .......... (W. Sharpe) 3
Mr Wood's Rose, 7st ...........• ...... (Warrington) 4
The Tyke, Fauconberg, Rothschild, Confederalist, Alice
Lee, and Fanny Seaton.
Betting-5 to 2 agst Alice Lee, 5 to 1 each agst Practi-
tioner and Rose, 100 to 15 agst Cutaway, 7 to 1 agst Jane
Shore, 8 to 1 agst Tyke, and 10 to 1 agst Rothschild.
The favourite, after several failures, got away, in advance
next the rails, closely followed by Cutaway, Practitioner,
and Jane Shore, the others, with Rose at their head, lying
wide on their right. At the distance Alice Lee cut it, and
her place was taken by Practitioner, Jane Shore going on
third, with Rose lying up. At the enclosure French made
au attempt to reach the leader, but failed, and was beaten

very cleverly by a "lock, a length and a half between the
second and third, a neck separating the third and fourth,
The Tyke being fifth, with Confederalist next.
A Handicap Plate of 40 sous, for 3-yr-olds and upwards;
winners extra. T.Y.C. 14 subs.
Lord Stamford's Cassidia, 3 yrs, 7st 21b (Whiteley) 1
Lord Westmoreland's Confidence, 5 yrs, 7st 21b
Mr T. Hughes's Pilot, 4 yrs, 64 61b .. (I'. French) 2
....... (Morris) 3
Mr Watt's Daniel O 'Rourke filly, y .
rs, 7st 2lb
(11. Covey) 4
Pupil, Erythia, Who's Who, Prairie Flower, Funfre-
luche, and Lord Dundreary also ran.

Betting-5 to 2 agst Cafisidia, 7to 2 agst Pupil, 6to 1
agst Confidence, and 100 to 15 agst Pilot.

The favourite, in company with Pilot, made play to the
distance, where they were joined by Pupil, who halfway up
took a slight lead, but swerving through distress, at the
finish she just won by a head; a length between the second
and third. On returning to the scale, an objection was
lodged by the owner of Confidence on the ground of foul
riding, which, after an investigation by Capt. White and
Sir W. Codrington, the latter acting for the other stewards,
the race was awarded to Lord Stamford. Subsequently, a
protest to such ruling was put in on the grounds of Capt.
White having bets on the race.

The Aintree Plate (Handicap) of 50 soya for all ages. A
winner of any handicap after the publication of the weights
(Oct. 30, at 10 a.m.) 71b extra; entrance 2 soya; one
mile. 21 soya.
Lord Bateman's Despair, 4 yre, fist 131 b (in 71b extra)
(H Grimahaw) 1
Mr H. Rich's East Lancashire, 3 yrs, let .... (Cannon) 2
Mr W. Whittaker's Sorceress, 2 yrs, Sat 711)
(J. Grimshaw) 3
Mr Kenyon's Lord Dundreary, 3 yrs, 6st 81b.. (Dixon) 4
Mr H. floater's Lady of the Isles, 3 yre, Est 71b (Loates) 5
Mr Frank's Zuleika, 6 yrs, 7st 61b... (Hopatead) 6
Betting-7 to 4 agst Despair, 3to 1 agst Lady of the Isles,
and 4 to 1 agat East Lancashire.

Sorceress cut out the work, followed by Zuleika and the
favourite to the turn into the straight, when she ran out,
taking her attendants with her, which let up East Lanca-
shire, who came on with a clear lead to half way in the
distance, where he was caught by Despair, who won cleverly
by a length; four lengths between the second and third; a
bad fourth.

The All-aged Selling Stakes of 3 sous each, with 25 added.
2-yr-olds 7st 91b, 3-yr-olds 9st 21b, 4-yr-olds and upwards
9st 91b. Mares and geldings allowed 31b. Winners of
100 sous clear in the present year, slb extra. Winner to
be sold for 80 soya in the usual way ; if entered to be sold
for £6O, allowed 51b ; £4O, 101 b; and £2O, 141 b. Winner
to be sold by auction, and any surplus over the selling
price to go to the Race Fund. T.Y.C. 13 subs.
Mr C. Fletton's Prescription, 2 yrs (£2O), 6st 111 b
(J. Grimshaw) 1
Mr Bird's Highland Mary, 2 yrs (420), bet 61b.. ( Ward) 2
Mr Hall's Acceptance, 2 yrs (£2O), Est 61b (Kay) 3
The following also ran :—relscombe, Reviver, Cariboo
filly, Airedale, Atlas, Manchester, Eola, and Annington,
Betting-3 to 1 agst Prescription, 7to 2 agst Airedale,
4 to 1 agst Highland Mary, and 5 to 1 agst Annington.
The favourite, in company with Acceptance, Cariboo filly,
and Telscembe, made the runniag to the stand, where
Highland Mary ran through her horses and took the second
lace but was unable to reach the leader, who won cleverly
by a length; half a length between the second and third.
The
good fourth; Telscombe fifth; the
otherse
abreibaoteonfilolity was a .

THE RACE FOR THE £4O HANDICAP PLATE.—A protest
GREAT AUTUMN Cur.—Earl of Surrey was
has been entered against Cassidia receiving the stakes.
THE
scratched at 7.20 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday).

OPENING OF THE BELGIAN CrrAmBERS.

The following is the full text of the speech deli-
vered by his AlajestY the Ring of the Belgians at
the opening of the Chambers, a telegraphic sum-
mary of which has already appeared :
Gentlemen,—After the testimonies of affection and devo-
tion of which I have been the object, and which have
touched me profoundly, I am happy to find myself again in
the midst of the representatives of the nation.
I continue to receive marks of confidence and sympathy
upon the part of foreign Governments.
Since the last legislative session the country has seen the
accomplishment of an event which was the object of its
legitimate and long-continued wishes—the Scheldt is irre.
vocably set free. Carried out by common agreement with
the Netherlands, the suppression of the toll, which bur-
dened navigation, strengthens our good understanding with
a neighbouring and friendly people, The complete liberty
of our fine river, sanctioned by all the Powers, henceforth
constitutes a portion of the public right of maritime States.
The diminution of the dues collected in our ports renders
still more efficacious the freedom of the Scheldt, and a series
of international regulations stipulates for guarantees and
new facilities destined to increase our intercourse with most
markets of the world.
Our commerce and trade will not leave barren the advan-
tages now secured to them.
Thanks to the intelligent efforts of those who devote
themselves to its pursuit, agriculture does not cease to make
progress. The products of the earth serving for public food
are abundant. This favourable result moderates the trials
which unfortunate events have imposed upon a portion of
our labouring classes, by whom they have been courageously
submitted to. We are able to hope that the last traces of
this situation will speedily be obviated by the development
of our trade, the prosperity of which wo are glad to an-
nounce, and which will acquire still greater scope under
the beneficent influence of free competition.
A bill will be laid before you to render the tariff re-
sulting from our recent convictions of general application,
and to extend further the reforms of our Customs'legisla-
tion.
Rapid and economic means of transport exercise a more
marked influence daily upon the prosperity of nations. The
questions therewith bound up have constantly attracted the
solicitude of my Government. The last railway concession
continue to be carried out. Among the lines which have been
decreed several will be thrown open to traffic at no distant
date, and various contracts, the object of which is to ex-
tend the network of our railways, will be laid before the
legislature.
Modifications, favourably received, have been introduced
into the tariffs of the State railways. My Government is
occupied with introducing still further reductions, while
seeking to unite financial requirements with the interests of
trade and commerce._

The state of the finances is, moreover, satisfactory, not-
withstanding the considerable increase of expense occa-
sioned by the necessity of accommodating the salaries of the
State employda, the magistracy, army, and clergy to the
price of the necessaries of life.
In order to impart increased free expansion to Individual
activity, it is requisite to place our laws in harmony with
the progress sanctified by experience. A Bill for a revision
of the Commercial Code drawn up in such a spirit will be
placed before you, and while awaiting its sanction, proposi-
tions embodying new rules for the constitution of joint-stock
societies will be submitted to your consideration.
The right of lending upon interest, implicitly conceded
in the revised penal code by the suppression of the penalties
against usury, will be definitively settled in a bill that will
be placed before you,
Our constitution, as well as our organic laws, in agree-
ment with our traditions, have secured great liberty of
action in our communes. Nevertheless, various measures
have already been adopted to simplify and accelerate the
progress of administrative affairs. New arrangements will
be proposed to you, which while extending the power of
the permanent deputations of provincial councils, will
render the exercise of the privileges of communes more easy
and more rapid.
As soon as the Chambers shall have agreed upon the
principles which ought to regulate judicial organisation,
parti 2ularly with regard to the formation of assize courts,
my Government will finish the task it has undertaken of
revising the code of criminal law.

A bill for the rural code will also be laid before you.
It is not only in material order that we announce the
prosperous condition of the country.
The national spirit animates all classes of society, and
displays itself in the feelings of patriotism which reign in
the civic guard, as well as in the army.
Noble emulation exists everywhere to contribute to the
intellectual and moral development of the country,
The Belgian school shone with especial lustre at the In-
ternational Exhibition at London. Our fine arts contribu-
tions—in which, nevertheless many of our principal masters,
being occupied upon important works of monumental paint-
ing, were not represented—have shown that rising talent is
upon the increase. The country is entitled to hope that our
school, while continuing to become more perfect, will be
still worthier in the future of the glorious traditions of the
past.
Public instruction in all classes keeps pace with th
of the people. Popular instruction, which never ceeas
engage the interest of the public authorities,
fur-
ther daily. In many localities the schoolsb
for the number of children requiring to
condition of things demands constant be taught. This
communes, the provinces, and the State.sacrifices from the
be asked of 3ou to assist in building New creoits will
schools. and furnishing
re spreadsnu ffi si wishesnto

The projects which I havejust enumerated, and those of
which I have previously spoken, will suffice to render your
labours fruitful. I hope, gentlemen, you will afford my
Government the loyal and efficacious assistance necessary
to attain our common object.

-
Mr. BROUGII furnishes the Haymark:et Christ-
mas burlesque, and Mr, BYRON, as usual, those for Covent-
Garden and the Strand, with possibly, also, that for the
Adelphi,