The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-29 00:00:00

SHAKESPEARIAN TERCENTENARY.

A meeting was held at Stratford-upon-Avon yes-
terday, for the purpose of deciding upon the man-
ner of celebrating the tercentenary of Shakespeare's
birthday in 1864. The chair was occupied by the
Lord-Lieutenant of the county, Lord Leigh, and
the meeting was one of the largest held in Stratford
for several years.
It was agreed " that a national memorial shall
be raised to Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon,"
as the place of his birth. For this purpose money
will be sought throughout the country.
After some animated discussion as to the best
mode of celebrating the tercentenary, it was re-
solved :-1. To extend the educational advantages
of the Free Grammar School of King Edward VI.,
Stratford, in which Shakespeare was educated ; and
to found and establish one or more scholarships and
exhibitions at the Universities in connection with
the school. 2. To found a triennial prize for the
best poem or essay on Shakespeare, to be open to
public competition. 3. To lay out New Place Gar-
dens, and open them to the public, and otherwise
properly celebrate the tercentenary at Stratford.
Mr. BENNETT, the tragedian, proposed that a
magnificent statue should be erected in hie native
town, which should be worthy of the nation and
the genius of Shakespeare.
Thirty-two voted for the motion, and 32 against ;
the noble chairman giving his casting vote against
the motion.

We are requested to state that the next Exami-
uaiion for Direct Commissions will the fencommenc Mond
list
ay,
the 3d August. We are also requested to stae that
of candidates for this examination is complete.
SOUTHERN ENGINEERS.—The negro soldiers in
the department of the Gulf having already proved
themselves efficient and obedient soldiers, it has been cloter-
mined to turn their mechanical skill to accunt.
of n Recent
' letters from Baton Rouge report that a regimentegro
engineers is now organising at that point. When tilled
this regiment will consist of over 1,200 able-bodied men,
who will bo attached to the engineer corps of this depart..
ment, and be employed in bridge and road building under
the instruction of competent officers. The blacks are proud
of the trust reposed in them, and whenever they a
em-
ployed in military duty give ample proof of intelligence,
euceindustry, and capacity. Their first detail for the difficult
and important service of the engineer department of the
army is
an important experiment,iaere the result of which will
be observed with curious st
r ,--A fit York l'iraes,

Lord de Grey, Secretary of State for War, accom-
panied by Cul. Jervoise, R.E., of the Royal Defence
Commission, has been engaged at Portsmouth during
the Whitsuntide recess in inspecting the lines of de-
fensive fortifications surrounding the port. On
Tuesday he embarked on board her Majesty's steamer
Fire Queen, Master-Commander Paul, and, proceed-
ing to the westward, inspected the forts at Hurt-
point, the Needles, and Fort Victoria inside the
Needles, after wards landing at Yarmouth, and sleep-
ing at the hotel at Freshwater. The next morning
he embarked at Yarmouth again on board the Fire
Queen, and went to the Royal Military Hospital at
Netley, in Southampton Water, where he spent a
considerable time in going over the different parts
of the hospital. After leaving Netley he returned
to Portsmouth in the Fire Queen, and slept
at the Portland (Hirst's) Hotel at Southsea.
Yesterday morning he visited the dockyard, and
accompanied by Vice-Admiral Sir Michael Sey-
mour, G.C.8., and Rear-Admiral Superintendent
George Elliott and Captain C. P. Coles, R.N., went
on board the Royal Sovereign turret ship. On leav-
ing the Royal Sovereign his lordship embarked on
board the Fire Queen from the dockyard, and visited
the sites of the proposed marine forts at Spithead
on the Norman Horse, and Stonrbridge shoals, and
her Majesty's iron frigate Black Prince, lying at
Spithead. He afterwards landed at Stokes Bay, and
inspected the lines of defence on the west side of
Portsmouth Harbour with the advanced outlying
forts. This day, Friday, his Lordship will make a
minute inspection of the forts on Portsdown-hill,
and the partly completed lines of defence, at Hilsea.
On Tuesday, Major-Gen. Stransham, inspector-
Gen. Royal Marines, commenced his half-yearly in-
spection of the Plymouth division, which was at 10
o'clock formed in marching order round the barrack-
square at Stonehouse, where the Inspector-General
was received with the usual salute. After inspec-
tion of the men under arms, the division was
formed into open columns of companies, right in
front, and Gen. Stransham made a minute exami-
nation of kits. At 3 p.m. another battalion, com-
posed of 10 companies of 20 files each, paraded in
the Brickfield, Devonport, for drill, and was drawn
up in line, facing the east, to receive the inspector.
The battalion was exercised by Lieut.-Col. Lam-
brick at the manual and platoon drill. Lieut.-Col.
Connolly was then called on to exercise the batta-
lion in the bayonet drill, which was admirably per-
formed. Col.-Commandant Holloway, C. 8., A.D.C.,
then put the men through a series of battalion and
light infantry manoeuvres, the whole of which were
well executed: On Wednesday, at 9 a.m., the In-
spector-General visited the ship gun drill battery,
for the purpose of seeing a detachment put through
the gunnery exercise. He then went to the girls'
school and to the Millbay barracks, where he exa-
mined the boys' school. In the afternoon a battalion
of eight companies, of 16 files each, was paraded in
the Brickfield, where various officers were called
upon to manoeuvre the battalion, which then re-
turned to barracks. The inspector-general next
proceeded to St. Nicholas's Island to witness the
practice from the Armstrong guns.
The Royal Artillery brigades otherwise unem•
ployed yesterday assembled in the barrack field at
Woolwich, and, having been inspected by Major-
Gen. Sir R. Dacres, commanding the garrison, they
marched past in divisions. The battalions of Royal
Marine Light Infantry were mustered on Woolwich
common, and went through a course of battalion
movements; and the 60th Rifles, in command of
Sir E. F. Campbell, Ist battalion, stationed at
Woolwich, went through a course of sword exer-
cise on the Royal Artillery parade.
1 The enrolled pensioners belonging to the Wool-
wich division, consisting of 397 hale, robust looking
men, averaging about 45 years of age, who have
been called out for their eight days' annual drill,
yesterday went through a most brilliant course of
musketry and file firing, in command of Major D.
H. Mackinnon, Staff Officer of Pensioners. The
pensioners will assemble this morning and will go
through a course of battalion movements,and on the
following day they will be inspected by Col. Sir
E. F. Campbell, Ist battalion 60th Rifles. Only
three men have this year been absent on the sick list,
which speaks well for the sanitary condition of the
corps, 400 in number. During the whole course of
training two absentees and defaulters only have been
reported. By the established regulations, the pen-
sioners are not entitled to remain in the corps after
the age of 50, but they retain their pension and are
no longer called upon for eventual service and an-
nual drill. On their discharge the vacancies are
filled up by more effective men.
Official instructions, as announced yesterday at
Woolwich, have been received from the Horse
Guards to the effect that no military demonstration
will take place on the 6th of June, as anticipated, in
celebration of the Queen's birthday. The public
departments of the dockyard and the Arsenal will
be closed from Saturday to Monday, and the usual
drills of the troops will be dispensed with.
Detachments of the 53a Regiment returned to their
headquarters yesterday from Portland and Wey-
mouth, having been relieved by other detachments
from the 26th (Cameronians), the headquarters of
which are stationed at Gosport.
The enrolled pensioners of the South-west district
numbering 350 men, under the command of Colonel
Moon and Captain Driver, marched to Southsea-
common yesterday, where they were officially in-
spected by Colonel Inglis, 53d Regiment.
The corps of local pensioners in the Chatham dis-
trict, having completed their usual period of train-
ing, were inspected on Chatham lines yesterday
morning by Col. H. Jervis, commanding the first
battalion at Chatham garrison. The number of men
under training this year has been reduced, and theo
force inspected yesterday consisted of about 400
men of all ranks, who were formed into six of
panics, the whole under the command of
"I-
R. Jenkins, the officer in charge ofoili
teheo
aurt:
pensioners in the Chatham district.ou
rival of Colonel Jervis on thesvginrtghend the veterans
usual salute,
his left breast
man p
were formed in line andt
gave
nearly every three, and in several
resen h
ornamented with two,
instances five medals. The companies were then
put through the manual and platoon exercise, after
which the force broke into companies, and the
ast took place,
usual marching p
Orders have been received at Chatham garrison
from the Horse Guards, directing two offitersi.
Istnd
76 non-commissioned officers and men of the
battalion of the 12th Regiment to be held in readi-
ness to ;embark for India, to reinforce the service
companies of the teginient.

The first division of the depot brigade Royal
Artillery, being considerably below its fixed estab-
lishment, orders have been received from the Horse
Guards, directing 200 non-c)mmissioned officers and
gunners to proceed on Tuesday next, from Watley,
to join the head-quarters of the first division. The
detachment, after undergoing a course of instruc
tion at the School of Gunnery, Shoeburyness, will
embark for India with the reinforcements of the
Royal Artillery about to be despatched to India in
the course of the present summer.
The H battery Royal Horse Artillery, "n com-
mend of Lieut.-Col. Michell,
head-
quarters, Woolwich, yesterday
on
Saturday.
marched fromfor
Al
de
morning, r
shett, and will arrive at the camp

At Jamaica the Legislature had been prorogued
by Lieutenant-Governor Eyre, who, in his speech,
stated that no official announcement had been
made as to a successor to Sir Charles Darling.
Business, which for some time past had been dull,
was becoming more active, and stocks of provisions
were not large. The island was generally healthy.
Heat had been excessive, the usual rainy season not
having yet commenced. Crops were being gathered
in in good condition, and shipping active. Among
the recent Acts passed by the Legislature is the
retransfer to the British Government at their re-
quest of the forts and fortifications; and it is stated
that Port Royal is to be at once strongly fortified.
From Trinidad there is no political news. Weather
very dry and favourable for sugar making; but the
crop will be far short of what was anticipated, owing
to the heavy rains in February and March ; while
the cocoa crop, on the contrary, will far exceed any
previous year by £2,000,000. Trade in general very
dull throughout the island, owing to the low price
of sugar, scarcity of money, and great commercial
distress. Mr. Scott's ordinance for the relief of
debtors under £lO came into operation on the Ist of
May, when 46 were released from the Royal gaol.
Shipping plentiful. Freights 435. for London and
Clyde; Havre, 70f. per ton. Per French steamer
Cacique (new line) 333 bags cocoa were shipped for
Havre, being the opening of a direct trade with
France. Bank rates of exchange—buying, 470;
selling, 485.
Our correspondent at St. Lucia writes as follows
on the 11th instant :—" Sugar making progresses
favourably, but still the yield is far from eatisfac-
tory, and the crop in general throughout the islaud
will fall short of that of last year. The Chancellor
of the Exchequer says the duty is about half the
cost of this article. I regret to say he has derived
his information from a very bad source. In this
island sugar of the very best quality made is sold
from Bs. to 10s., and the duty charged on it in Eng-
land is 133. 10d., which is fully 3s. 10d. per cwt.
more than the cost of the article. Again, a hundred
weight of sugar sold in England at 325., there are
expenses upon it, including duty, freight, broker,
and merchant's commissions, &c., not less than 21s.
6d., thereby leaving the producer only 10s. 6d.,
which cannot pay him. Sugar is considerably
heavier taxed than tea, and this, I am sure, the
right hon. gentleman would have admitted, had he
obtained proper information on the subject.—No
alteration in exchange."

There is a complete dearth of news from Deme-
rara. The arrivals of breadstuffs for the fortnight
had been moderate, and prices for flour hilly sup-
ported. The market was well stocked with all
kinds of salted provisions. The stock of rice was
heavy, and no quotable change in price. Tonnage
was ample for present requirements, and freights
remained unaltered. The weather had been showery
and favourable for growing crops.
At Barbadoes dry weather had set in. Reaping
operations in the outer parishes were considerably
advanced. A deficient crop was considered certain.
The quality of the sugar continued good. There
had been 15,656 hhds., 1,296 tierces, 4,924 barrels
sugar shipped to Cate.

Within the last month two crews of 500 and 345
negro slaves have been captured just previous to
their being landed at Colon Bar, opposite Havan-
nah. In April the Vanderbilt, Linoma, Tioga, Oc-
toroon, and Hauttsville (Federal ships of war) were
at Havannah, previous to leaving for their various
cruising stations. The Wahachusets called in for coal,
but was refused on the ground of scarcity. The cap-
tain of the Dream arrived reporting that his vessel
was blockaded at Barracoon, about 15 miles from
Havannah. A British gunboat was sent to
F his
assistance, upon the appearance of which then e
me-
w:
dcaeain c y ; the result
Ad
ral ship made a speedy retreat,
to prosecute her voyage. miral Bailey, of the
rt ot
hhea had
decisionresig I) eodf
West Gulf blockade, has been superseded.lea%the rea
The Provincial Government of New Granada had
int sf:breantoehdresa,lpt oMreaus
of which it was thought would be the re-electio j
of Gen. Muscaro. The interior was perfectly
ori awo leNrelsiegncrtto:o.
Some rumours were prevalent that the capital was
about to be removed from Bogota to AS
Panama.
Cartitagena and Santa Martha were healthy. Ship_
meets of indiarubber to the S -
States had fallen to
300 dole. per ton, and business
American exchange.
tamhlleethg ii
esanpße
was being done in
The steamship Callao
ports, arrived at Panama , from the South Pacific
Whitehead difficulty on the 6th at noon. The
-
in Chili had
the withdrawal been settled by
of the claim, '
almost unanimous in consequence of the
British residents inexpression of opinion by the
r Chili that the affair had
not been properly
and that theeprdeseemnatedd to the Govern-
ment,ett.fiable. The prospects for the bwaarsvesnt in jcu sh
ill;
were good. Bolivia was quiet. In Peru affairs
were progressing favourably since the Government
had passed into the hands of General Causeeo, in
consequence of the death of San Roman. An ex-
clusive privilege for 20 years had been granted
to Mr. George Petrie for the establiehmbenot
of an hen floating dock in Callao, which Ncchlki c:ngf
the greatest importance to the ntimeronsar.artopua.
frequenting that port, as well as to
the navel
the only
drone in the Pacific; San FranFisetotii3B6ladfvontat;,„.
other place in those seas im's"sing,„,Lie and ur.c;r-
The news from Mexico is
th tthe
i
vaeryrencti had tuf-
tain. Reports were afloat
ent but as yet no de-
fered heavily in an engagena ,
tails have come to hand.
-------=.

The King of Prussia addresses his Generals in Berlin one
day, and his words are in print in London the next. The
latest improvements on magnetic action have rendered this
and many other results undeviating. For instance, Herring's
magnetic brushes—in restoring gray hair to its natural
colour, and in eradicating the agony of tic dolorcux and
nervous headache. N.B.—Counterfeits are hein,
offices, 32, Basioghall-street, London.